《Dungeon of Niflheim》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Birth Within an elegant stone courtyard decorated with a simple jade table and two matching chairs, a young man suddenly materialised, confusion clear in his expression. What? Where am I? He looked around trying to get his bearings. Surrounding the courtyard was a very well maintained and dedicated garden. Hundreds of nts of differing sizes and colours filled his vision. Pleasant streams of water could be seen in one direction whereas another had multitudes of insects and nt wildlife, frolicking without worry, a veritable paradise. Even though he had no idea where he was, the sight of this garden kept him calm and at ease. Beautiful isnt it? A voice suddenly grabbed the young mans attention, drawing him away from the splendid view. He turned around towards the jade table where the voice originated. Now sitting there was a handsome middle-aged man happily looking his way. He wasnt there earlier. The young man looked over at the table before and could swear that no one was sitting there. He felt rather unnerved about someone being able to suddenly appear without his knowledge. The young man scrutinised the middle-aged man before deciding to answer. The older man was dressed in a ck and gold kimono and had long ck hair that stretched well past his lower back. But the most prominent feature was his eyes. They were a deep all-consuming ck, the young man felt drawn in whenever his gazed wandered near them. Yes, I dont think Ive ever seen such a beautiful garden. The middle-aged man was giving off a powerful yet gentle pressure that convinced the young man to just respond honestly. After answering the middle-aged mans question, he was no longer as nervous. The middle-aged man gently smiled at him after hearing his reply. You dont exactly have anything topare it to, but Ill ept thepliment none the less hahaha. The middle-aged man lightlyughed while looking out towards his garden with pride. ..... Huh? The young man however was rather confused, his brow frowned as he processed what he just heard. What do you mean by that exactly? The young man decided to ask for rification. The middle-aged man once again looked towards him; his eyes still full of pride but aimed towards him instead. Thats simple, youve just been born, so you havent had the chance to see anything yet. The middle-aged man eagerly anticipated how the young man would react to this information like it was some sort of game to him. The information obviously gave quite a shock towards the young man. His emotions were clearly being disyed on his face, his eyes were wide open, brow tensed, and head tilted as he questioned what he just heard. He waspletely bbergasted; he was a fully grown man who could easily hold a conversation and identify the objects around him. No new-born should be able to do this, at least none that he knew. From your expression I can see that you dont believe me. The young man nodded his head in agreement. Alright then, how about you try answering two questions. First, what is thest thing you remember? Second who are you? The middle-aged man seemed to enjoy giving little pieces of information at a time given the eager smile that was stered on his face. What a weird old man. The young man internally scoffed when he heard the two questions. In his mind they were incredibly pointless he couldnt understand the middle-aged mans intent. Eh? However, once he tried to answer the two seemingly pointless questions, he drew a nk. Thest thing he remembered was arriving here in the stone courtyard, anything before that, nothing. He couldnt recall his name, age, or anything, he didnt know who or even what he was. He looked towards the middle-aged man with a hint of fear. I...I dont remember. The young man was quite afraid now, even the serenity of the garden couldnt subdue his current emotions. Rx, you cant remember because theres nothing to remember. Come sit down theres much we need to discuss. The middle-aged man gestured towards the remaining seat by patting it with his hand. The young man still rather disturbed didnt reject his offer and moved to take the seat. After he sat down the middle-aged man smiled warmly, obviously trying to calm him down. Here, drink this. The middle-aged man waved his hand in the air summoning a simple jade cup that was releasing steam and giving off a pleasant aroma. He took hold of the cup and inspected its contents. Im quite proud of my tea, hopefully its to your liking. The middle-aged man maintained his warm and friendly attitude as he talked. The young man nodded his head in thanks before blowing on the cup and taking a sip of the green coloured tea. Delicious. The tea seeped into every one of his taste buds overflowing his mouth with vour. It then proceeded to fill each and every one of his muscles and bones with energy, removing any fatigue or stress that had built up. All of his worries and fears seemed to be absorbed by the tea and eliminated, bringing a happy and satisfied smile to his face. Well? Its delicious, I feel much better now. Thank you. The young man closed his eyes and gave a slight bow. Hahaha thats good, very good. The middle-aged manughed and sent a very caring look towards him. The middle-aged mans gaze made the young man feel warm for some reason. Now that youve got a cup of tea and managed to calm down, we should get down to business. The young man nodded in eptance; he was ready for answers. First off lets do some introductions, Im known as Dark, but you can call me father, dad or papa which ever you prefer. A bright light started to radiate from behind Dark, as he said that, obviously aiming to increase the dramatic effect of the bombshell he just dropped. The young man however didnt react much, just calmly epting it, replying with a slight smile. He didnt know if it was due to the effects of the tea he was drinking but all he thought when he heard the word father was ah that sounds about right. Eh! I just said that Im your father and youre just sitting there without any reaction. I wasnt expecting you to run into my arms crying papa but still, you didnt even blink in surprise, so not cute hmph! Dark was clearly very disappointed with his response such that he started pouting and mumbling stuff like the girls were much cuter or hes just like his brother. Dark continued to pout and mumble for a good few minutes before finally looking back at the young man. He waved his hand summoning another cup of hot tea, this time for himself. He needed to drink some tea to help him get over his disappointment and continue with their discussion. However, he clearly wasnt thinking clearly. Ah! Hot. He forgot to blow on the tea to cool it down resulting in him burning his tongue. The cup dropped to floor as he started to hand fan his tongue in an effort alleviate the pain. Hahahahaha. While Dark was in pain the young man started tough. The juxtaposition from seeing his father transition from having a regal aura to his tantrum was difficult but bearable, but this was too much. Darks clumsy mistake pushed him over the edge resulting in him loudlyughing. And it took him longer than he would have liked to calm down. Sorry father, that was mean. He felt pretty guiltyughing at his fathers pain. Dark however was smiling, his tongue was no longer hurting nor were his feelings. Seeing his sonugh without restraint -even though it was due to him hurting himself- made him happy. No need, Im d youughed, it was pretty funny hahaha. Dark proceeded tough at his mistake as well, creating a very harmonious atmosphere between the two of them. Your eldest brother didnt evenugh once when I spoke with him which worried me. Darks eyes showed a sad expression as he mentioned his eldest son. Perhaps you just werent funny. The young man himself didnt want tough but couldnt restrain himself, perhaps his eldest brother just had more restraint or Darks jokes were bad. He pictured his elder brother being a cool silent type. Eh... you could be right. Dark tried to remember his discussion with his eldest son and realised what the young man said could have merit. I guess Im not that funny, seems I was worried for nothing. He no longer worried about his eldest sons attitude but still believed that his daughters were better. Anyway, since Ive introduced myself, I guess its time for me to tell you who you are. Dark then proudly smiled towards his son. The young mans ears twitched in anticipation, he suddenly felt incredibly excited, his heart started to strongly thump. Who I am. You and your siblings are something Ive worked incredibly hard on and are my proudest creations. All together there are 100 of you, all of which were born at roughly the same time, just a few minutes between one another. The young man smiled as he imagined the many brothers and sisters he had, 99 was a big number. You my son are number seven and your name......is Frost. Dark pointed towards Frosts chest as he said that. Frost...Frost...Frost, Frost kept repeating his name in his head, carving it into is heart so he wouldnt forget. He smiled kindly towards his father. Frost greets you father. Saying his name out loud made his smile grow bigger. He feltplete and at ease. Hahaha, happy birthday my son. Dark patted his sons shoulders with affection, epting his greeting and congratting him. That should do for introductions dont you think. Yes father. Good, next Ill tell you what you and your siblings are. Dark couldnt stop a smirk from forming as he mentioned that. Frost however was just eager to learn more about himself and didnt notice this. You and your siblings are the first of your kind, a unique existence, something Im calling...Dungeon cores! Dark paused to add dramatic effect but that was lost on Frost who just looked at him with a puzzled expression since he had no idea what his father meant by Dungeon cores. Dungeon cores? Yes, Dungeon cores! Dark repeated Dungeon cores back with gravitas hoping Frost would understand and feel the magnitude of what was being said. ...Youre going to need to say more than just Dungeon cores. Ah!... yeah sorry. Darks eyes stopped twinkling and he visibly deted from his self-built hype. Its probably going to be easier to show you than exining it,e. Dark proceeded to stand up and walk to the centre of the courtyard. He gestured for Frost to join him there. Frost nodded his head and acquiesced to his fathers request, joining him in the centre of the courtyard. Once his son stood by his side Dark waved his hands summoning out a dull white orb the size of a basketball. The orb floated by itself in between Dark and Frost at chest level. This is a Dungeon core, you have something simr to it within in you, think of it as your other half. Frost ced a hand on his chest trying to picture the core that was within him. The purpose of this orb is to allow you and your siblings to harness the power of creation and its what sets you apart from everyone else. Creation? Yeah, youre gonna love this. Dark lightly touched the floating core causing it to react. The dullness disappeared, reced with a gently increasing white shine. Once the core fully activated, it disyed a holographic screen that floated above it. This is the Dungeon menu; itll help you navigate and utilise the powers that the core provides. Darks right hand then started to be covered in a ck aura. The aura was then absorbed by the floating core causing it to release a slight shine as if it was happy. To use the power of creation youll need Dungeon points or DP for short, Im converting my mana into DP to show you an example, but youll need to acquire it another way. After pumping some mana into the core and revealing a proud smirk, Dark cycled through the menu until he came across a section with the heading [monsters]. The menu now showed a long list of different so called monsters, which were divided into ranks. Dark scrolled through the list until it showed a monster called [goblin]. One of the most important abilities youll have is summoning monsters, this will be integral to your survival. Dark made sure to empathize the word survival to Frost. He then clicked on the menu causing a glowing magic crest to appear on the floor. A creature quickly grew from the crest. What appeared waspletely green in colour and reached roughly one metre tall. Its frame was somewhat humanoid, but its appearance was very ugly, especially its teeth which were all yellow and crooked. It also came armed with a short rusty dagger and wore nothing but a dirty looking loincloth. This is a goblin, and it costs 30DP. Its one of the weakest and cheapest creatures you can summon however, if used wisely can be very useful, especially inrge numbers. Dark gave Frost some time to inspect the summoned creature. The goblin stood still, asionally releasing a few grunts as it stared towards Dark as if waiting for instructions. Frost moved closer to the goblin checking out its frame and weapon. He felt that weak was a very apt description. Its size was no more than that of a human child and a starved one at that considering the width of its limbs. The rusty dagger looked like it could cut flesh with difficulty but would easily be repelled by any sort of armour. Plus, since it was practically nude even a sharp stick could kill it. Frost stepped back afterpleting his inspection, he nodded towards his father. Dark waved his hand once again causing a magic crest to reappear beneath the goblin, this time consuming it. All that was left was the goblins right ear and a few of its fangs. Monsters are usually hunted for their materials. Different monsters have different uses. With a goblin its fangs are used in alchemy and the right ears are used for fertiliser as well as being a kill confirmation. Whereas with a wolf monster, its hide, fur and even meat would be desired. Frost intently listened to his father, afraid to miss out a single detail. He felt nothing as the goblin vanished only curious about the magic crest it arrived and disappeared with. He picked up the left-over fangs and right ear. There was still blood left on the ear and saliva on the fangs. Pretty disgusting, what use could there be for these. He thought while squeezing and rubbing the fangs. After he was done critiquing the materials, he ced them back on the still glowing crest. The crest then devoured the ear and fangs beforepletely vanishing. When a monster youve summoned dies like so, youll recoup 10% of its cost. With the goblin I summoned, the core received 3DP, its not much but itll add up over time. Chapter 2 Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Dungeon points (DP) So, for every 10 goblins that die Ill get a free one. Internally calcted Frost. The stronger the monster the more DP its going to cost you but whether a single strong monster or multiple weaker monsters is more effective Ill leave that for you to experiment with. Dark had an amusing smile on his face, he wasnt going to tell his kids everything. Where would the fun in that be. Frost instantly understood and smiled in response, he too felt that it would be rather boring to be told everything. Even the weakest monsters, if used strategically could take down something like a dragon. I think that covers monster basics; youll be able to discover the restter. Next up we should probably discuss the dungeon part of Dungeon cores. Dark gestured Frost to move back a few steps, Frost did as instructed. His heart started to thump loudly with anticipation for what hell be shown next. Dark once again manoeuvred through the dungeon menu, he came out of the monster section and moved to a section called [dungeon design]. After entering, the menu changed quite drastically, it erged to about 3 times in size and became three dimensional. Frost now understood why he was asked to take a step back. The menu now disyed multiple examples of pre-generated dungeons. Some had tens of floors, others had massive sections over 30 kilometres in size and even the smallest ones were 200 metres long. Many of the example sections had mazes or some extreme terrain such as deserts or mountain treks. Moremon environments were things such as forests or ins, there were even castle designs that spanned several floors. All of these examples differed greatly from one another, Frost thought each of them looked interesting but failed to realise the purpose of a dungeon. The onlymon trait was that it would take someone a long time to reach the end of them even without monsters blocking their path. ..... Dark watched his son intently as he studied the examples before him, he didnt want to immediately exin their purpose before giving Frost a chance to work it out himself, like is eldest brother managed to do. Dark zoomed in on a simple dungeon of five floors which had multiple room types. You can use the dungeon menu to create as many floors and rooms as you wish, each with the same or different environments, but like with monsters each design will cost you DP. DP again. Dark already mentioned that using the core would cost DP, but he hadnt yet said how he was to go about procuring said DP. Only that he couldnt convert mana into it like he did. Frost looked once again at the dungeon that was being disyed, trying to figure out what his father was hinting at. Does how I design my dungeon somehow affect the amount of DP I can gain? Frost didnt know why this would be the case but surmised it from the way his father was acting. His response caused Dark tough. Hahaha, yes how you design your dungeon, from itsyouts to the traps and monsters that dwell in it will most certainly be a major factor. At this point Frost still couldnt understand why they were connected and was confused as to how he would create and design a dungeon to gain DP when it costs DP to make in the first ce. Frost grew rather annoyed with the constant tid bits of knowledge he was being given instead of a straight answer. Dark picked up on his frustration when he started receiving frowns and res instead of smiles. Hit hmm. Dark lightly coughed. Lets address the elephant in the room then, how you acquire DP. Frost once again looked happily towards his father, encouraging him to answer directly. Your main source of DP will be gained from intruders that stay in your dungeon for a period of time and or die within in it. Frost had a lightbulb moment, having arge andplicatedyout would force the intruders to spentrge amounts of time within the dungeon, and the monsters would kill them. He now understood how they were all linked but.... Why do intruders give DP? He found that to be rather strange. Considering that the dungeon would also be his house wouldnt designing a home for others be beside the point. Good question, every living being contains life energy including you. That life force can be converted into creation energy or dungeon points as Im calling it for you guys. Technically its nothing new just a renaming along with a measurement scale. When people are in your dungeon, the core will slowly absorb their life energy and convert it into DP. When they die however, youll receive all of their life energy at once so definitely use that to your advantage. All of this information sounded like a lot to take in, but Frost found it to be quite simple, clearing up his remaining confusion. Im guessing the stronger the creature the more life energy it contains resulting in either gaining more DP from the intruder or costing more to summon one. Dark responded by tapping his nose with his finger. Exactly, man its enjoyable exining it to someone smart. Your 3rd sibling, well lets just say hes more brawn than brains. Darks brow subconsciously tensed and frowned as he remembered his third child. Anyway, thats how you gain DP but how youll attract intruders in and what the most effective monsters are Ill leave for you to experiment with, its more fun that way. Dark mischievously looked towards Frost with a smirk on his face. Frost agreed with this statement, being told exactly how to run his dungeon would be boring, trying out new monsters or different environments. Seeing how they y out even if theyre failures would be exciting. The corners of his mouth couldnt help but rise into a cunning smile as he conjured up different options in his head. Will the intruders notice the core absorbing some of their life force and will it affect their health? As Frost was pondering, this question cropped up. No, at least not in the short term. I havent tested it out on periods longer than a year, so itll be another thing for you to investigate. That was good news for Frost as he was currently imagining trapping intruders within the dungeon basically forever if possible. If theyre not affected over the period of a year then its unlikely that its doing anything to them that doesnt happen naturally in their daily lives. Alright weve covered introductions, gone over monster summoning, dungeon design and dungeon points what else is there... what else.... Dark ced his hand under his chin and tilted his head to the side as he tried to think of what else he needed to tell Frost. Hmmmmm.... Nope I got nothing.... What about you Frost, do you have anything you want to ask before you go? Frost twitched in surprise from being suddenly put on the spotlight. Not long ago he didnt even know who or what he was and now hes being asked what else he needs to know. Frost copied his fathers actions of cing his hands on his chin and tilting his head to the side as he tried toe up with something to ask. .... Before you go. Frost mumbled what Dark said subconsciously before grasping something. Where am I going? After he said it, he couldnt believe that it didnte to him sooner. What was going to happen to him next, where was he being sent to? Ah!... Damn I cant believe I actually forgot that part. Dark smacked his forehead with his hand in realisation at what an idiot he was. Sorry about that getting more and more forgetful in my old age. Old age Frost looked over his father but all he could see was a handsome middle-aged man actually he looked just on the cusp of entering middle-aged, way too early for him to be ming age for his memory. Youre going to the world of Nova, something my friend and I created a long time ago. Dark smiled with pride at the mention of Nova, his eyes revealing a sense of nostalgia. Now this world is big, and I mean BIG. Even with a 100 massive dungeons youll barely take up a fraction of it, so no need to worry about running out of space. Frost recalled some of the examples Dark showed him that contained hundreds of floors each over a 100 kilometres in length. About 60% of Nova is made up of water and the remaining 35% is made up of 5 major continents aptly named the north, east, south, west, and central continents with the central one being slightlyrger than the rest. The remaining 5% ounts for the hundreds of thousands of inds that dot the oceans. Each of thendmasses has their own preferred environments and monsters. For example, the southern continent is very hot and dry, resulting in many deserts and volcanos which fire based monsters like to call home. Many of thesendmasses as well as some of the oceans contain great kingdoms and empires created by some of the more powerful and abundant races, each with their own customs andws however.... Darks expression suddenly became dark, he was clenching his teeth together in anger and his eyes and aura radiated a strong pressure. Frost froze in shock. Be careful of the Holy White empire and their so-called Church of Light! Dark appeared to be forcing out these words as his teeth ground together. Pure hatred was all Frost could see in his fathers eyes, what could those people have done to cause such wrath to appear by merely mentioning their name. Dark spat on the ground as if he was ejecting something foul from his mouth before calming down. Just be wary of them, theyre dangerous. Frost made sure to memorise Darks words and promised himself to be careful. Anyway, theyre just a part of Nova, theres much more of it you can and should explore and interesting people you can meet, and I strongly advise that you do. After spitting, Dark returned to his joyful attitude and continued to exin the rest of Nova. Some of the seafood found in the oceanic kingdoms is absolutely heavenly and dwarven alcohol always goes down well h...h. Dark happily fired off foods and beverages that Frost should try, clearly trying to ovepensate on the good things after mentioning the Church of Light. Frost understood this but still listened intently as the description Dark gave of his favourite seafood caused his mouth to salivate. Beep! beep! Suddenly a loud rm started to sound from Darks wrist bringing an end to his ramblings. He pulled up his sleeve to reveal a beautiful silver watch. Out of time already, damn and I was really having fun here but oh well. Dark waved his hand causing arge magic crest to appear beneath Frost. It was fun chatting with you my son, I hope well get another chance soon, good luck. Dark started waving goodbye. Frost was frozen stiff from the shock of the sudden goodbye. Me too, bye. He said the first thing that came to mind before his vision was enveloped in darkness. Oh! onest thing. He could still hear darks voice but couldnt see him. Take care of that girl and shell do the same, have fu.... Before Dark could finish his sentence, Frost waspleted covered by the darkness of the magic crest and vanished leaving nothing behind. I really gotta time these things better, maybe I should have the rm go off a few minutes before the deadline instead of a few seconds. Dark pondered and fiddled with his watch switching between new times for the rm to go off. Alright time to call in number 8. Dark turned invisible and returned to his seat at the jade table before the next of his children appeared in the courtyard. Frost however was currently still quite shocked at his sudden removal from Darks garden. It all happened so quickly that he barely registered Darksst words, something about a girl. The current situation was certainly not helping. He was enclosed in arge ck egg about 3m in diameter, just enough room to befy. He couldnt feel it moving per say but it was certainly transporting him through space making him rather queasy. With no horizon to stare at its just a question of whether hell barf first or arrive at his intended destination first. Of which he still didnt know where, as Dark put it the world of Nova was big, he could end up anywhere even in the middle of the ocean, who knows. Oh well no use worrying about it now. Frost uttered, resigning to his fate. There wasnt much he could do to change it anyway, only wait. Chapter 3 Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Meeting his Guardian Frost travelled within the ck sphere for at least an hour or so before it abruptly stopped. He could no longer feel any magic or movement from it. Guess Im he......! His sentence was cut short before turning into a yelp. The bottom of the sphere suddenly opened up, dropping him without warning onto a cold hard surface a couple metres down. Boof! He fell right on his ass looking incrediblyical. Hahaha not the most elegant of entrances young master but certainly entertaining. A beautiful, charming voice startedughing at his current pose. Frost stopped rubbing his backside and looked towards the voice. Seeing the owner of the charming voice Frost was speechless, his jaw dropped open in awe. Before him was the most beautiful woman you could imagine. A breath-taking face armed with a cute button nose, silky long white hair, deep blue eyes, and prominent curves in all the right ces. Wolf like ears and tail matching the colour of her hair only added to her appearance and it was all wrapped up in a beautiful red and white dress. Frost wasnt the only one in awe, however. After the woman stoppedughing and witnessed Frosts face, she had a simr reaction. In fact, she even started to drool as she ogled his features. Damn Dark God-sama really went all out when creating you, Im almost jealous. The woman wiped away her drool while attempting to regain herposure. Her words shocked Frost. ..... Shes jealous... of what? Frost was still unaware of his own appearance so he struggled to understand why such a beautiful woman would be jealous of him. He tilted his head to show his confusion. Eh! You dont even know how dangerous that face of yours is. The woman was gobsmacked and slightly irritated. She fumbled around her dress patting different areas in attempt to find something. Here it is. Once she found the item, she tossed it over to him without so much as a warning. He reacted quickly, managing to catch it with both his hands. The item was a foldable mirror, perfect for applying or adjusting makeup. It was ck all over except for a few golden wolves adorning the lid. Frost understood the womans intentions and proceeded to open the mirror to find out what the big deal was. Once the mirror was open and reflecting his face he was once again speechless. The womans ims were justified. Early twenties armed with a perfect, brave looking face without a single wrinkle or blemish in ce. He looked like some kind of elven deity; smooth white skin, slightly pointed ears, beautiful long pale blue hair with streaks of white and finally his eyes were a gleaming silver colour. Witnessing his eyes in the mirror, they gave off a chilling aura simr to ice. Even though his appearance differed from Darks, there were still areas like his eyes that bore a strong resemnce. After a long inspection he closed the mirror and gently tossed it back to the woman with a smile on his face. He still felt that the woman had nothing to be jealous of but was very happy with his appearance. The woman almost fumbled her catch as she bore the brunt of Frosts smile making her lose focus. While the woman was putting away the mirror, he took a look at his current attire, wondering if it matched his looks. The mirror was too small to judge clothes. He was dressed in a white and pale blue kimono simr to Darks, just a different colour scheme, it helped make him look noble. Yes, yes you look good from every angle Mr narcissist. The woman was staring at him in annoyance as he twirled around looking at his clothes. Frost developed an embarrassed blush as she said that. Cough cough. He coughed lightly to gloss over his embarrassment and returned to normal. Thanks for the mirror umm.... Sorry, whats your name? Its good manners to introduce yourself first before asking adys name. The woman retorted still in a rather annoyed mood. Ah!... yeah, youre right sorry, my names Frost nice to meet you. Frost held out his hand in greeting. The woman at first gave him an evil sort of look, she looked up and down his body before releasing a light sigh. Her face changing into arge smile, she thrust out her hand confidently and shook his hand. Nice to meet you Frost, you can call me Maya; Im your assigned guardian so please treat me well. The woman or Maya hadpletely regained herposure. She moved in close and looked straight into Frosts eyes while showing a mischievous glint. Y...yeah nice to meet you M...Maya. Frost was a little embarrassed having her so close and looking right at him. He turned away from her first as a red blush filled his cheeks, Maya lightlyughed in triumph and released his hand before taking a step back. Youre so cute young master, this is going to be so much fun. Mayasment only served to increase his blushing. What did you mean by guardian? Frost attempted to change the subject by asking a question. Huh? Didnt Dark God-sama tell you about me? Maya brandished a rather puzzled look. Dark was supposed to tell him about her but obviously ran out of time. Ah she must be the girl he shouted about before the sphere closed. He didnt get the chance to, we ran out of time. He shouted something about a girl while I was being whisked away but nothing about guardians...wait did you say Dark GOD? That old mans a God. Frost struggled to believe that his father was a God given the personality he showed. But then again, he did say he created the world of Nova as well as many species, so it does fit. Yeah, Dark God-sama, one of the two creation Gods. Maya answered back like the knowledge wasmon sense, cementing the fact of him being a God. He just said he was my father. Frost welled up with pride, finding out his father was such a big deal would make any son happy. Plus, the fact that he didnt brag about it said a lot. Eh! Maya froze and eximed in shock from his answer, puzzling Frost. Whats wrong? The look in Mayas eyes had changed. She looked at him with confusion, awe, and a slight pain. Tears even started to form at the edge of her eyes causing Frost to panic. He didnt know what to do, a beautiful woman was starting to cry in front of him and he didnt know why. Maya seeing his panicked state, wiped the edge of her eyes and regained herposure and apologised. Sorry, youre the first of his creations that have been allowed to call him father and not Dark God-sama or Lord Creator... Im happy that he truly has people he epts as family. Maya smiled slightly while saying that however, she couldnt fully hide the pain she felt. She was truly happy but was also jealous of Frosts position in her Lords heart. Frost picked up on her pain and made an internal promise. Whenever hed go see the old man, hed make sure to bring her along. Since he didnt have time to tell me everything would you mind filling me in on the rest? I guess I have to, hahaha, Maya lightlyughed regaining her bright appearance. Im the guardian thats been assigned to watch over you while you adjust to the world and your abilities, think of me as a teacher and protector. Each of the dungeon cores such as yourself have been assigned a guardian. Though we cannot physically interfere with the dungeons defence unless absolutely necessary, we can advise on management,bat skills and about the world of Nova. Our purpose is to help you be independent within a year. After that we will leave, so lets make the most of it. Frost felt uneasy, his knowledge was limited, pretty basic, far from being able to establish his independence, was a single year enough? Sounds like fun Maya. Although the time hed have with Maya felt short, he nned to enjoy it. Alright now that weve got introductions out of the way lets get down to the real stuff. Maya grew passionate and sent a determined look his way. Frost responded in kind; great minds think alike. He also wanted to start making his dungeon as soon as possible. Maya touched a pretty silver bracelet on her wrist causing a small book to appear above her hand. Her actions were simr to Darks when he summoned the cup of tea. She held up the book so Frost could see. This is the guidebook that Dark God-sama gave me when I was assigned to be your guardian. It gives the basics steps on establishing your dungeon as well as some rules. Frost nodded his head while listening along. Maya opened the first page of the book. First well need to deploy the Dungeon core thats inside of you and then turn this area into your dungeon. Frost looked around finally taking in where he currently was. They were in some sort of closed off cave no bigger than 60m2. The ground was a mixture of loose gravel and rocks hardly screaming dungeon worthy. He frowned at Maya asking if she was serious. Dont judge a book by its cover, all of this will change once you create your dungeon, trust me. Although sceptical Frost decided to trust her. What do I have to do then? ce your hands on your chest. Frost followed her instructions. Good. Now picture your core and once you have a solid image say, summon core. Frost tried to imagine his core; he remembered the floating orb that his father showed him. Summon core, in reaction to his voice, a magic crest formed on his chest. It lightly glowed as a white coloured orb the size of a basketball slowly protruded from his chest. After a few seconds the orb was fully separated and floating before him. Frost touched his chest in awe, in disbelief that that thing was inside him. He felt no pain or difort as it came out, yet it came out his chest, how magical. Great now we can get some more information before the main event, touch the core and say status. Status, simr to when Dark handled a core, a holographic menu appeared above it disying all sorts of information. Status Name: Frost Dungeon number: 007 Guardian: Maya (Fenrir) Element/core type: Ice Skills/talents: [One with Ice] Location: cial Mountains Dungeon points: 15,000 Frost read through the short list of text asionally mumbling what was said. Well, what does it say? Maya asked after bing impatient. Frost turned to face her with a queer look. It says Fenrir Frost was looking closely at Mayas furry white ears and her bushy white tail. From his limited knowledge he knew about Fenrirs, they were some kind of legendary wolf monster equivalent to dragons in strength. Maya however looked to be far shorter than him and her only wolf like features were her ears and tail as well as slightly sharper than normal teeth. He couldnt help but frown towards her. W...whats that look for? Maya was taken back by his scrutinising look, unsure what caused it. Did Dark God-sama put something bad about me on that screen? Maya grew quite nervous thinking that was the case. She went over the multiple possibilities of what could have been written. Her fondness of alcohol, her violent temperament or even her bad sleeping habits the list went on. Her thinking was luckily stopped early by Frost. Youre a Fenrir? Frost questioned with a puzzled look. Umm yeah. Maya answered while rapidly blinking, not expecting that question? Arent Fenrirs massive wolf like creatures? He continued to ask unable to understand. Yeah. Maya was now the one looking strangely towards Frost. She couldnt understand his confusion. So, it wasnt anything bad but whats the problem with me being a Fenrir, does he not like wolves or something. Frost however understood the fact that stronger creatures could appear in humanoid form but still. He couldnt connect a massive and powerful wolf to Maya who barely stood at 160cm and looked as cute as she did. Sorry I dont have anything against you being a Fenrir just that... I cant really picture it. Shes looks more like a bunny rabbit than a wolf. He let slip a slightughter at that image. At hisugh Mayas lip started twitching and a vein protruded on her forehead. She clenched her teeth and balled up her fist attempting to restrain her anger. This again! Frost wasnt the first one to mock her appearance as a Fenrir. Many over the years especially her brothers made fun of her calling her the rabbit wolf. Even in her wolf form shecked that wild and dangerous look. No matter how strong she got it never changed, it was the main cause of her having a short fuse and developing a rather violent reputation. But ever since she was offered the position of guardian, she wanted to change that aspect of herself. However, a few minutes into the job she was ready to flip out. At this point steam was practicallying out of her ears and her face was turning red. Frost quickly felt a sense of danger a strong aura of blood lust was being emitted from her, resulting in his body filling with a great sense of fear. As though he was suddenly face to face with an overbearing predator and he was the prey. Mayas anger was clear as day and he immediately realised his mistake. Ah sorry Maya sorry! He waved his hands in the air and took a step back hoping to calm her down. A cold sweat dripped down his back as he saw her about to blow. He didnt mean to offend her in any way, its just that shes so damn cute and adorable. He didnt know what to do as Maya started to slowly move towards him cracking the floor as she moved. Shit! He couldnt think of an answer, so he listened to his instincts. He dropped to his knees and kowtowed towards her firmly knocking his head against the floor and shouted. Sorry! He remained facing the ground after shouting, hoping that it would be enough. Chapter 4 Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Establishing the Dungeon Frosts loud apology managed to calm Maya down enough to no longer see red. She found herself towering over Frost as he remained prone with his head down. Seeing this made her feel a wave of guilt, if it was her brothers or friends, she wouldnt but she only just met Frost. How was he to know of her reverse scale. She promised herself that she would try to change, her fists started to loosen, and her face began to regain colour as she repeatedly a little mantra she used in these situations. Frost wasnt able to see this as he was still facing the floor, he still had that cold sweat, and his heart was full of regret. He just met Maya and already wrecked her first impression of him. This standstillsted for a couple minutes or so. Frost refusing to even look Mayas way until he received her permission and Maya now fully calmed down staring at Frost with a coy look. Once the anger had left her body and she could fully take in Frosts current position she quite enjoyed it. Seeing Frost, who was nearly two metres tall cowering before her little frame gave her a rush of excitement. Even though Maya had features simr to that of a rabbit she was not an innocent one. She licked her lips as if she was looking at a tasty meal, Frosts enchanting face only added to her desire. Maybe this rtionship will work out after all. Maya was clearly in the S category. She subconsciously bit her lip as her imagination ran wild. The pain brought her back to reality and allowed her to regain herposure. No Maya what are you thinking, calm down girl theres a process to these things.... plus, technically youd be a cradle snatcher. Maya shook her head repeatedly at that thought,pletely removing her hunger. She released a deep sigh and began to speak. You can get up now. Even though she was still a little reluctant she told Frost to stand up. Frost didnt hear any anger in her voice, but it wasnt exactly happy either. Preparing himself for some form of punishment he slowly stood up and faced her. ..... First off, Im the one who should apologise, sorry. Maya immediately broke into a slight bow which caught Frost by surprise. He was expecting to be the one asking for forgiveness not the other way around, he was even too shocked to notice Mayas chest bouncing as she bent over. Ugh. Was all he could mutter. Sorry for getting angry at you, will you forgive me young master? Maya stopped bowing and looked directly into Frosts eyes waiting for answer. She meant what she said, this was her issue and nothing to do with Frost, so she wished to apologise and move on. Frost received her strong gaze allowing him to regain his thoughts. He instantly felt rather silly considering what just happened and believed he should just acquiesce and ept her apology. Only if youll forgive me as well partner? Frost smiled as he said this, he wanted to quickly erase this incident and go back to their earlier rtionship. He thrust his hand out towards her. Maya looked deep into Frosts eyes and understood his intentions. She smiled in response while reaching out to grasp his hand. Agreed, partner. The two of them smiled towards each other as they shook hands. The atmosphere was back to normal. It would probably be easier if we looked at the rest of the status information together. With the idea being he wont say something else unnecessary. Sounds good, Maya happily agreed. She moved right next to Frost so they could both read the screen together. After the details about you it says that my core type is ice. Frost didnt really understand the full extent of what that meant. I see, our current location makes a lot of sense in that case. cial mountains, Frost looked around the cave again. He didnt see any mountains or ice albeit the cave was very cold. Maya began to answer his queries without him even asking. Your core type being ice means that youll be adept in anything rted to that element and your monsters that you can summon will be ice based. Were currently located within the cial mountain range which is flooded with the ice element making it the perfect ce for your dungeon. They were currently within one of the cial mountains near the ranges southern entrance. The closed off cave was simply a hollow recess within the mountain. Outside however the mountains were covered in ice and snow, with blizzards constantly swirling around the upper parts. Your skill [One with Ice] should allow you to use ice magic more effectively, plus you should be immune to any ice magic damage. The problem is youll probably struggle or be unable to use other elements. So, Im a one trick pony. Frost could see the advantages of being specialised but also its negatives especially if he went against someone with fire magic. Hed probably melt if the fire was strong enough. He didnt feel disappointed though, hed just have to think outside the box to tackle such issues and have fun doing so. Frost smiled as he thought about what ice could do. Maya herself was mostly ice based but wasnt solely attached to it. Seeing Frost smile and the passionate look in his eyes made her intrigued. Whatre you thinking about young master? She coyly asked while licking her upper lip. Wondering if I could freeze fire. Frost knew that certain elements had direct weaknesses like his ice to fire and fires to water but he couldnt shake this feeling. He wanted to try it, freezing fire. Eh! Maya was shocked. He hasnt even learned any ice magic, yet he wants to do something impossible. Talk about ballsy or simply foolish. Maya shook her head deciding to ignore what she just heard. Moving on, looks like weve got 15,000 dungeon points to y around with... that should be more than enough to outfit an entire floor. Maya nodded and calcted a little with her fingers as she processed how to spend the DP. She read the guidebook prior to Frosts arrival so she knew a little bit about how much the starter items would cost. Frost however was quite puzzled by the figure; Dark had summoned a goblin in front of him earlier which cost a measly 30DP and he had enough for 500 of them. His thoughts were interrupted by Maya pping. Yosh! Now that we know a little more about you, we should get this show the road. Maya rubbed her hands together in anticipation. She turned to look at Frost, her eyes wide and sparkling like a child in a candy store. Her expression lit a fire in Frost as well, his hands started to quiver in expectation. What do I need to do? He stepped towards the core in preparation. Hahaha perfect, ce your hand on the core and proim deploy'' Mayas eyes swept upward at Frosts pre-emptive movement. Frost followed her instructions cing his still shaking hands on the floating core. He took a deep breath and loudly said. Deploy, once he spoke the status screen disappeared and the orb started to rotate and glow. It continued to rotate faster and glow brighter over the next few seconds before emitting and incredible sh, obscuring Frost and Mayas vision. Ah! What the! Frost and Maya both shouted as a strong gravitational force started pulling them into the orb without warning. The force was too strong to resist, and they were quickly sucked in. Space distorted and Frost and Maya suddenly appeared standing in a white room decorated with some simple furniture. The Dungeon core was also floating in the centre. Frost and Maya both patted down their bodies subconsciously, making sure everything was there before turning to face one another. What the hell was that? Frost asked while still quite panicked I...I dont know exactly, some sort of space magic? Maya was also in the dark about the situation. She responded by pulling the guidebook out to see if she missed anything. Frost while waiting for an answer decided to look around to calm his nerves. The room itself was a bit bigger than the cave maybe 70m2. The walls were a bright white or silver colour that made it seem more spacious. He could see simple items of furniture like tables, chairs, sofa, a kitchen area and even a couple of beds with a dividing wall. Ignoring the method that brought them here it was quite a nice little space. Ah! Found it, announced Maya with a degree of irritation in her voice. She almost mumbled out some coarsenguage on instinct. Frost turned around towards her. What is this ce then? Haaaaaa,e look at this. She let out a deep sigh and presented the open page towards Frost. Frost moved closer to read the text. All he could see was the same instructions that Maya gave him as well as a few tips on what to exin, nothing about their current situation. He looked towards Maya in confusion. Haaaaaaaaa, look at the bottom of the page in very small text. She let out an even deeper sigh this time. Frost looked at the very bottom of the page and there in very, very small text. P.S once the Dungeon core has been deployed all beings will be sucked into the dungeons private space to allow dungeon creation. The text looked as though it was scribbledst minute like Dark forgot about it until the very end. Once he read that he couldnt even get angry, in fact he startedughing. He easily imagined his father rushing toplete this guidebook with a half assed approach. Missing out some key details that in fairness probably wouldnt harm him but would definitely be noticed. Maya also startedughing, neither of them were harmed just a little surprised. So, this is my so-called private space. The room certainly had all the necessary facilities to live in and rx. Yeah, looks like it. Maya wondered over to the kitchen area, noticing a few magic appliances; some sort of oven, a kettle, and a hotte. The size isnt much but having somewherefortable like this out with the dungeon wille in handy. Since the dungeon core was floating in the centre of the room they could manage and view the dungeon from here. The space was more of a control room or hub than a private space, just outfitted with furniture. Can we expand or change things within this space at all? The room would be fine for a short while but prolonged time in such close quarters could cause friction to build up between the two of them. I dont see why not; it should be just another part of the dungeon. If we use DP, we should be able to add stuff. While answering, Maya was already ying around with the kettle, boiling some water to make tea of which was pre-stocked in an overhead cupboard. Frost hoped that it was the same tea Dark prepared for him earlier, so he patiently waited. He took a seat at the table happily watching Maya act like a housewife. A few minutester the tea was ready, Maya carefully carried the two mugs over to the table, she handed one of them to Frost before taking a seat opposite him. Thanks Frost gratefully epted the tea. He smelled the aroma before blowing and taking a sip. It was clearly different from the tea his father prepared but tasty none the less. Instead of green tea it was a fruit tea, lemon to be exact. Youre wee Maya smiled and took a sip of her cup releasing a light hum as she tasted the lemon. Pretty good stuff. Yeah, a nice bonus from the old man. Maya giggled when he said that. Whats next? Frost asked as his gaze turned to the floating orb. We can now start spending that 15,000DP you were given. Maya downed the rest of her tea before standing up and briskly walking towards the core. Frost followed suit. Dark God-sama should have showed you how to do this part at least. Frost nodded; Dark showed him how to summon monsters from the menu, but hed seen some of the other sections as Dark was flipping through. He ced his hand on the core causing it to react. Without needing to say amand word the core disyed the dungeon menu. The menu shown was divided into different sections such as monsters, design, traps etc... First we need to see what were working with. Maya shoved her way next to Frost gaining control of the menu. She entered the dungeon design section before stepping back. Like with Dark the dungeon menu drastically changed, it was now 3D and showed a single floor dungeon with three nk sections floating above the core. A nk te, three empty rooms of equal sizes and nothing else. Chapter 5 Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Establishing the Dungeon (2) Frosts face clearly showed that he was unimpressed. Maya however was full of excitement as she gazed in wonder at the floating dungeon map. Wow isnt that amazing, just a minute ago there was nothing but a cold dark cave, now theres over 100 times the space. Prior to Dungeon cores such a thing was impossible unless the Gods were personally involved, no amount of mortal magic could produce such a result. But now through the use of DP, beings like Frost could create them at will. Hearing Mayas opinion Frost felt quite embarrassed at his immaturity, unable to fullyprehend what just happened, only seeing skin deep. But its kinda dull looking while empty so lets rectify that. Maya cheekily smiled at Frost erasing his doubt as she felt the same way. Sure, what do you or the book suggest doing first? The three sections were all square in shape with their length and width being approximately 1km each way. Certainly,rge enough or even toorge for some kind of arena-based room but far too small for something like a forest or maze. The examples Dark showed him previously were generally muchrger in size, with the sections being split up into smaller rooms or their dimensions being elongated or circr. Frost hoped either Maya or the guidebook would give him some answers on how to replicate such rooms or at least guide him in the right direction. I suggest we look at the monsters you have avable to summon first so as to work out what type of environment would suit them best. Maya energetically answered without hesitation, she clearly put a fair amount of thought into this. ..... Frost agreed but was rather puzzled, Dark hadnt mentioned anything about limiting the types of monsters he could summon. Frost took back control of the dungeon menu at Mayas behest, returning back to the main screen and then entering the monster section. Now disyed in front of them was a very short list especiallypared to the pages and pages that Dark had avable. There was about 20 or so different monsters, each with different DP costs and ranks. They wereid out in order of rank then cost like such. [Monster] [rank] [cost] [Frost goblin] [G] [30] [Winter boar] [F] [90] [Frost wolf] [E] [150] [Pr bear] [D] [500] D-rank monsters were the highest rank that were avable as well as having the least variance, showing a mere three options, pr bears, yetis, or frost trolls. Huh theres no regr goblins. Frost clicked on the frost goblin monster to get some more details on it and was presented with a picture and a brief description. [Frost Goblin] Simr to a regr goblin in strength but has blue skin instead of green. They tend to live in cold climates causing them to be slightly smaller but more agile and resistant to ice magic than their green counterparts. Very weak monster, the size of a human child and simr in strength. Simple frost goblins are incapable of speaking themon tongue ande armed with a damaged dagger and some simple rabbit pelts for clothes. Thats actually a pretty good selection, the fact you also get a description about the monster is a nice bonus, plus itll save me having to exin about each one. Maya didnt say thest part out loud. Frost looked over the list of twenty or so monsters, a few certainly stood out whereas others looked pretty useless, but he still wished to try them at some point. When ites to actually choosing monsters, I wont give any input, leaving it entirely to your discretion. However, I dont rmend trying all 20 to begin with. Start with maybe 8 or so different types and see how they work out against intruders before buying more. Frost agreed with that point and already hallmarked a couple to try first. While having a closer look at some of the more interesting monsters he noticed a separate link called beasts. Maya, do you know what this page is for? He gestured towards the beasts section. In his mind he didnt see much difference between beasts and monsters. Oh yeah, beasts arent technically monsters due to not having a magic crystal in their bodies and due to that they tend to be smaller and less aggressive. They also cant get any stronger or evolve like monsters can. Maya gave a textbook answer without batting an eye. Monsters have magic crystals within them that can be used to power magic artefacts; be used in alchemy, casting magic and much more. So monsters are frequently hunted by adventurers for these crystals even if they dont have much else useful in terms of materials e.g., goblins. Beasts however are your basic forms of animals and are generally less dangerous, they dont have magic crystals like monsters but can still be very attractive to people due their meat and or hides. Frost went into the beast section. Again, there was a list of creatures each with their own costs but no rank. The beasts avable could be ssified as simple wildlife as there were rabbits, squirrels and even deer. Their costs were quite a bit lower than the monsters avable, rabbits costing a mere 3DP. What do you mean by monsters can get stronger and evolve? Frost picked up on that point. Within the frost goblins description, it said simple frost goblins which suggested there were others. Maya looked slightly shocked, she gazed at Frost nkly. W...what did Dark God-sama actually teach you? She questioned in dismay. In her mind Dark should have taught or given Frost this basic knowledge before he arrived. She wondered if shed have to exin every little detail to him as they progressed. Frost looked back on the time he spent with Dark and remembered him prattling on and on about food and drink for a while. His face scrunched up in irritation. Never mind Ill exin it. Maya got her answer from Frosts frown. Monsters can sometimes evolve after gaining enough strength into a stronger species. Outside of dungeons, monsters would gain strength through killing and eating other monsters or people and eventually they would evolve into their next form e.g., goblin to hobgoblin. However Dark god-sama reworked a fewws for dungeons, monsters will gain strength the same way, but youll be able to see it as a numerical value, known as levels. Once a monster you summoned has reached its max level, youll be able to choose from a list of options it can evolve into. I dont know the options avable but that was the basic details Dark God-sama ced in the guidebook, you can probably experiment by levelling as many different monsters as you can. Maya took a deep breath after exining that in one go before giving Frost a look to make sure he understood as she wasnt going to say that whole thing again. Luckily Frost understood with a single telling, he did however think it would be prudent to look through the guidebook himself, so as to fill in any nks he might have. Alright now that thats exined, and youve had a chance to look at the monsters avable, should we check out the environments? Maya exined a few additional things to Frost before bringing the monster subject to a close. Apparently, the monster roster would grow alongside Frosts knowledge and strength, Dark was clearly encouraging him to explore Nova. The max level of a monster is also determined by its rank, Maya didnt know every ranks max, but the book said that for those of G-rank it was level 10. Finally, monsters that are within the dungeon dont require food or drink due to being able to absorb the dungeons mana removing any upkeep costs. That sounds good, Ive thought of at least 3 monsters Id like to summon, the rest itll depend on the environment styles avable. Maya said before that his monsters and environments were ice based so he already had a good idea of what they could be. Frost manoeuvred the dungeon menu back to the dungeon design section bringing up the 3D hologram once again. The hologram was fully interactive allowing Frost to rotate, zoom and iste different parts of the dungeon, making designing much easier. He brought up the list of environments which was simr to the monster list just much, muchrger. Thats a lot to choose from. Frost scrolled through a few pages of options that were ranked by DP cost. The cheapest ranging from 1,000DP whereas a few of the more expensive ones reached over 1,000,000DP. Damn 1,000,000DP just for a single sections environment, what is it made of gold? Frost briefly took a look at one of the extravagant environments called primordial ice realm but quickly pulled out so as to not dampen his mood. Hed lose all interest in the environments he could afford if he got a taste of the best right away. All of these options could be customised to change theiryout, add unique features such as mines or unique nts as well as generate basic wildlife i.e., beasts. There was also the option to design your own environment from scratch, but it looked quite tedious and taxing to start with, easier to choose an environment temte and edit it to his preferences. Frost was spoiled for choice and looked towards his partner for assistance, she hadnt said anything about assisting with the choices of environments. Haaaaaaa sometimes too much choice isnt a good thing, give it here. Maya released a sigh before ordering Frost to relinquish control of the menu. She swept through like it was second nature, she must have had practise with something simr. Maya filtered the list to show only the basic environments and their temteyouts as well as limiting the cost to a max of 3000DP shortening the list to a much more manageable level. Just look at some of these ones to start with, you only have 15000DP so spend it wisely. Maya gave back the menu after saying her piece. The list was as follows: [Environment], [cost] [Winter Forest] [1500] [Ice ins] [1500] [Winter hignds] [2000] [Tundra] [2500] [Artic castle (interior)] [2000] [Ice Caverns] [2000] They were all simple temtes without any additional unique features just the basics. The artic castle especially sounded grander than it appeared, all it was, was an arrangement of cold stone rooms all fairly damaged. A few rooms would have broken furniture and old wooden doors, more of an abandoned ruins than a castle, plus it was only the interior. Youd enter straight from another section without seeing any outside castle features but what can do when youre on a budget. Each section would have to have its own environment so thats a minimum 4500DP right out the door. Plus considering the current size of the sections theyll need to be expanded to be of any solid use. Luckily, there was no extra charge for the environment based on the sections size. Frost thought that he should at least expand the first two sections once and leave the final section until the next shot of ie. The sections were currently ssed as small rooms each 1km by 1km. To increase the size to a medium room (5km by 5km) would cost 1500Dp per room so another 3000DP. Frost continued to mull over the possibilities before roping in Maya to bounce ideas off of. After about 30 minutes Frost and Maya had decided on which environments to use. So, were agreed? Frost tiredly asked Maya, all their back and forth was quite vexing as he desperately didnt want to fail in the eyes of his father. Yep, sounds good young master. Maya responding back while waving her hand showing she was done with the subject. Their selection was as follows. The 1st section would have a Winter hignds environment. The winter hignds was a collection of open snow-covered ins along with somerge cliffs and rocky areas as well as a partially frozen river that flowed through the centre of the room. Frost randomised the arrangement of the cliffs and rocks. For anyone to reach the second section theyd have to cross a vision obscuring blizzard and some fairly harsh terrain. The 2nd section would be a winter forest. It was full of frost covered trees and not much else. The trees themselves werent particrly special however navigating through it would still take a fair amount of time plus it should be easy for intruders to get lost when everywhere looks the same. The final section would be the artic castle (interior), since its thest area Frost thought having some smaller rooms with tougher monsters would be better than an openndscape. He also decided to expand the first two sections to medium size. How much is that going to cost you? asked Maya. 5500 for the environments and 3000 for the expansions so 8500DP in total, leaving 6500DP for everything else. Frost calcted with his fingers as he answered. He felt that 6500DP should be more than enough. Of course, the majority of it would go to monster summoning whereas the rest could be used for traps and items. At this point Frost hadnt had the chance to freely look through the dungeon menu as that would take several hours considering the amount of misceneous items he could purchase. There was even a section for purchasing magic spells, simple skills and even weapon techniques, the possibilities were endless. Father really went all out on designing this menu. Chapter 6 Chapter 6: Chapter 6: First time using DP Shall we discuss monsters now and after that how about another tea break? Maya suggested taking a break since she assumed choosing monsters would take a long time, especially without her input. Sounds like a n, Frosts lips turned upward; he quite enjoyed the lemon tea earlier and looked forward to another cup. Frost turned back towards the dungeon menu and once again began a long internal debate. Maya stuck to hermitments, refusing to give any advice on what to choose, whether this was by Darks instructions or her own personal teaching choice he still found it rather annoying. He had very little idea about how each of these monsters would fare or whether theyd even be worth their initial costs. After an hour or so he had only managed to pick five different monsters that he wanted with the prime reason being that they looked cool. The main issue was that he didnt know what his monsters would be fighting against. He knew thered be intruders of some kind butcked any specific information on who they were and how powerful theyd be. Wait a minute Maya said she wouldnt help with the choosing but she never said I couldnt ask questions. Frost had a lightbulb moment, he needed to know about the general area around his dungeon as well as the level of threat from intruders before he could make an educated decision. If all the intruders were equal to E-rank monsters, then it would be pointless to have lots of G-rank frost goblins. Maya, can you tell more about the local area? Frost raised head confidently with a flicker in his eyes as he asked this, positive that this was what she expected. Frost was correct once he asked that question Mayas eyes and lips turned up with pride. She was waiting for him to ask questions, if he just summoned random monsters without any knowledge, he could end up wasting all his DP, making recovery difficult. This style of teaching was her own decision, she didnt want to coddle her charge but push him and test his wisdom. ..... Of course, I can young master what would you like to know? Maya asked while smiling, encouraging Frost to ask away. Frost gave himself an internal high five on his thoughts being correct. Everything, he said without hesitation. His eyes fixated on her aiming to take in all she said. Instead of being stymied by his request Maya weed it. Knowing that this would take a while she moved towards the table and took a seat before gesturing Frost to do the same. Everything hmmm where should I start? Maya pondered while tapping her finger on the table. Could you start with the cial mountains? Frost quickly suggested. Ok then lets start there. Nova is split into 5 major continents with the central continent being thergest. Frost nodded along as he knew this part already. The cial mountain range is located in the far north of the northern continent also known as the Yangmir continent. The cial mountain range spans for tens of thousands of kilometres and is filled with an abundance of ice mana. The deeper you enter, the colder and more dangerous it bes. Frost remembered the coldness of the cave before deploying the dungeon core. It was cold but not cold enough to be dangerous. The dungeon youve just created is located within one of the first mountains near the ranges southern entrance, any deeper would be too cold to inhabit non-cold resistant humanoids as well as being too far from the nearby towns and viges. Humans and simr sapient races struggle to survive in incredibly frigid temperatures, only venturing within for short periods of time. Although I say that, outside the mountain is a constant blizzard and temperatures are below freezing for the majority of the year. Frost instantly thought of the first environment he chose, winter hignds. What Maya described sounded simr to the conditions of that environment. So, itll be an environment theyre used to hunting in. Frost didnt know yet if that would be an advantage or disadvantage. Our location is right on the border of the Northrend empire, which is made up of mostly humans, dwarves and beastmen. There are probably a few viges a couple hours trek from the dungeon, but our main source of intruders will be the adventurers from the town of Furano, at least in the beginning. Its about a day or so away by foot, well within usual travel distance of a regr adventurer. Furano, Furano, Furano, Frost internally repeated the towns name so as tomit it to memory. He was already aware of what certain creatures were such as dwarves and beastmen, so he wasnt surprised. The term adventurer however he only knew that they hunted monsters but not much else, his integral knowledge granted by his father was quitecking. I know that adventurers tend to hunt monsters so could you give any more details about that profession? If theyre going to be his main source of ie/enemies hell need to learn more about them. Maya once again looked pleased with his question, making Frost feel warm. Adventurers are people who embark on quests, whether thats hunting monsters, caravan protection, bandit destruction or even foraging for nts, as long as someone needs something done theres a quest for it. In Furano and pretty much any town and city there is an adventurers guild which manages the local adventurers and provides them with quests. So, theyre like organised mercenaries. Adventurers are ranked -like monsters- from G to S-rank, but a single adventurer would 9 times out of 10 lose against a monster of the same rank, since monster ranks are based on a group of adventurers fighting it. Adventurers often hunt in these groupsmonly known as parties, so they can even the ying field. To the best of my knowledge in Furano the highest ranked active adventurers are C-rank and theres less than a dozen or so. With the majority being around F or E rank. The strongest monster Frost could summon at the moment was D-rank and they cost too much to have multiple, so if a C-rank adventurer entered hed have to fight himself. The thought sent a cold shiver down his spine, he didnt even know his own strength yet. Its not all scary though, knowing that a majority of the adventurers are F-rank means even the G rank monsters should have their uses,e on Gobbos. Considering the strongest monster, you can summon is D-rank and the majority used will be lower, C-rank adventurers wouldnt have much reason to enter but... we should quickly teach you how to fight just in case. Maya curiously inspected Frost from head to toe analysing his potential for the level of training he could endure before breaking. To Frost it looked like she was eyeing him as prey causing him to break into a cold sweat. W...w...what about local monsters? He tried to sway the conversation away from being looked at like a meal. Well, in the immediate area theres arge forest which contains winter boars, frost goblins, artic foxes and several other low ranked monsters. If you head on deeper into the cial mountains therell be frost wolves, yetis as well as other higher rank monsters the further in you go. Theres even rumours of ice dragons and frost giants near the central belt. Excluding the possibilities of dragons and giants the rest of the monsters were featured in the dungeon menu. Maya continued to exin many other features so as to answer Frosts request for everything. She lectured for close to 2 hours or so. Frost was still as focused as he was at the start. Maya however seriously needed a drink, she talked so much that her voice had be hoarse, and her throat was irritated. Luckily, Frost had more than enough information to choose his first monsters allowing her to enjoy a short respite. You work out what monsters to summon, and Ill start making tea. Maya roughly said while rubbing her throat. As she stood up to walk Frost watched her with gratitude before walking over to the core. Frost nned to summon about 4500DP worth of monsters, leaving 2000 to spend on items, spells etc... secondary stuff to running the dungeon. The menu had a useful feature which acted like a shopping cart, he could add or remove choices beforepleting the purchase, his environment choices were still sitting there just waiting to be finalised. By the time the tea was ready and ced on the table Frost had finished, it was much easier for him to choose with the abundance of information he received. He even managed to decide which monsters would go in which section. As Frost moved to take his cup of tea, he couldnt hold back a prideful grin. Well, well someones happy. Maya yfully mocked him, as she smiled in return. Shed already started drinking her cup, so her throat was feeling much better. Yeah, Im pretty pleased with how it turned out, almost bang on my 4500DP target. Full of pride Frost grabbed his tea and took a swig not noticing Mayas mischievous smirk. The instant the tea touched his tongue however he was hit strong dose of mint, theplete opposite of the sweet lemon vour he was expecting. Much to Mayas dismay however he enjoyed the vour and quickly went in for a second taste. Tsk Maya clicked her tongue, obviously expecting a more entertaining oue. Her tea was the lemon one like before only Frosts was different. Frost knew the reaction she wanted and quite enjoyed seeing this side of her. Mischievousness suits her, he thought while quickly finishing his tea, revitalising his energy levels. Well, dont keep me in suspense. Irritated with Frosts smile Maya brashly demanded. Her annoyed frown and scrunched up nose looked incredibly cute to the smiling Frost, so he acquiesced to her demand. He showed her the menus purchase cart, all he needed to do was hit confirm. His choices were as follows: [Monster] [Rank] [Cost] [Quantity] [Frost goblin] [G] [30] [20] [Frost slime] [G] [20] [10] [Artic horned [G] [30] [10] rabbit] [Artic fox] [F] [60] [4] [Snow owl] [F] [60] [5] [Winter boar] [F] [90] [10] [Frost dwarf] [E] [120] [6] [Frost wolf] [E] [150] [5] [Pr bear] [D] [500] [1] And his section arrangement: [sections] [Monster] [1st] [2nd] [3rd] [Frost goblin] [10] [5] [5] [Frost slime] [6] [4] [0] [Artic horned [5] [5] [0] rabbit] [Artic fox] [4] [0] [0] [Snow owl] [2] [3] [0] [Winter boar] [4] [6] [0] [Frost dwarf] [0] [4] [2] [Frost wolf] [2] [2] [1] [Pr bear] [0] [0] [1] Clearly having more monsters in the first and second sections given theirrger size plus if all goes well intruders shouldnt even make it to the third section for a while. Frost nned on having thest andrgest of the castles rooms house the pr bear. It should have ample room to run wild while also limiting intruders escape paths. The grand total came to 4510DP just 10Dp off his target. Maya scrutinised the chosen monsters and theiryout hoping to find something toment on but there was nothing. It wasnt perfect but considering his limited budget and experience with the monsters she felt he did exceptional. Reluctantly she needed to praise him on his effort. Tsk, you did great young master I couldnt have chosen better myself. Even though she clicked her tongue it was followed up by a proud smile. Frost received her praise with delight, a slight blush also grew on his neck. He proceeded to finish his cup of tea before continuing their conversation. Maya found this to be rather cute. After a short respite So, will you look at traps, items or spells next? After finishing their tea Maya was in a much better mood. Happy with Frosts previous decisions she suggested spending the rest of the DP today. I think Ill look at traps next to finish off the rooms before looking at the spells section. Frost had a little innate knowledge of magic but was looking forward to using it himself. But first, he quickly moved back over to the dungeon menu. I think Ill summon the environments and monsters. He rapidly went to click the confirm purchase buttonpletely oblivious to the sudden shocked appearance on Mayas face. Mayas eyes shot wide open, she quickly tried to shout stop all while moving towards him however she was too slow. Frost confirmed the purchase causing the dungeon core to light up and rotate. Frost was so excited that he didnt notice Maya quickly appearing behind him. At almost the same instant Maya reached him, Frosts vision suddenly went dark, and he copsed, falling into Mayas arms that were ready to catch him. Maya wiped the nervous sweat that umted from her brow, she moved Frost down so that his head was lying on her knees. That was a close one, any slower and he might havended on his head. Maya was aware that this situation would likely happen, Dark told her that when Frost first uses the Dungeon cores power to summon multiple items the sudden influx of creation energy could knock him unconscious. That was why she was so panicked at his purchasing trigger finger; she wouldnt make a very good protector if she allowed him to crack his head open. Frost meanwhile waspletely out of it, unaware of Mayasints that soon followed his copse. Chapter 7 Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Lap pillow About 12 hourster Mmh Frost released a moan as he slowly came too, his head felt like it was hit by a brick and his guts felt twisted. The only thing that actually felt good was his neck, he could feel something soft and warm touching it. He reached his hand up, eyes still closed. His hand was stopped by something even softer with a significant bounce. He grabbed around trying to get a feel for it. Eh! A short yelp stopped his actions; the voice was familiar. Frost reluctantly forced open his eyes, with his vision slightly blurred he looked up towards the voice. There he saw Maya with quite a significant red hue on her face, her eyes showing a trace of panic. He immediately had a horrible feeling. His gaze slowly drifted towards the bouncy object his hand came across. Gulp! Sandwiched tightly between Mayas abundant chest was his right hand, still instinctively grabbing on. Colour quickly drained from his face in panic, his body filling with fear as he remembered how she looked when angry. His right hand however didnt seem to get that memo as it continued to grope her fervently, causing a more pronounced and erotic moan to escape her lips. This in turn caused Frost to deeply blush, his thoughts escaped him, and he said the first thing that came to mind. M...m...morning Maya, He managed to utter that with great difficulty. Maya in response just stared daggers at him, emitting a dreadful chill with her gaze. She didnt say a word, yet Frost understood her intentions. Remove it or lose it! Her message fully woke him up, like his hand was on fire he pulled it back causing her chest to shake. Her re didnt stop, however. Being unsure of what she meant this time forced Frost to quickly think, he already removed his hand and probably had an apologetic look on his face. Hmm why am I below her? He noticed that he was staring up towards her and then remembered the soft and warm feeling on the back of his neck. ..... Oh shit! He was currently receiving ap pillow from her, and as a thank you he groped her chest. Mayas re grew fierier by the second, filling Frost with panic and despair. He rolled over and off herp and away from danger, only now did he notice his body trembling. Maya had started to release some killing intent. They were both currently in a stand-off of sorts, Frost on all fours trembling as he stared at Maya, wary of any actions shed take and Maya frozen in a seiza position spitting fire from her eyes, still with a noticeable blush. This awkward statested for less than a minute, neither of them speaking, only silence. Frost grew more and more panicked, he didnt know why she hadnt shouted, insulted, or even beat him for his actions, she just sat there motionless, all thoughts expressed through her eyes. Wait, maybe she cant move? Frost didnt know how long hed been asleep for. If Maya had been giving him ap pillow for several hours, then she probably couldnt even feel her legs let alone move. Frost was correct, Maya had been sitting in the seiza position for the entire 12 hours, constantly checking Frosts state as hey on herp. Now after being molested, she was powerless to act, and boy did she want to act. Maya was currently thinking of many ways to make him squeal uncle, her embarrassment from moaning only added fuel to her rage. Frost understanding her current predicament tried sooth her seething anger. Y...you cant move your legs, right? He gingerly asked. ...... All he received in return was her angry re. Maya didnt sense his caring tone, she assumed he was mocking her since she couldnt move to beat his ass. S...sorry, how can I help? Frost responded as submissive as possible; she was ready to blow. At first, she just continued her ring but after a few seconds of him holding her stare with an innocent look, her anger started to dissipate. Seeing this Frost edged closer, willing to assist. Mumble mumble... Maya let out a few untrantable sounds. Sorry, what was that? Frost cupped his right ear hoping to hear her better. I said lift me up! In irritation or embarrassment, Maya shouted at him, a blush quickly started to fill her cheeks once again. She couldnt feel her legs at all, she tried to stand on her own after Frost rolled away but her legs didnt even tremble in response. She needed Frost to lift her up onto a chair so she could regain cirction. Maya continued to re at Frost after shouting, the only difference was that her arms were stretched out. Frost shivered the instant she raised her voice but held his ground the best he could. He looked back and forth between her eyes and outstretched arms in confusion. He wanted to help her but to do that hed have to touch her again, although that would be blissful in the short term probably not very good for seeing him live much longer, he was caught in a dilemma. Maya seeing Frost paralysed, unsure what action to take almost caused her to burst a vein in her forehead. She didnt care about him touching her again, she needed to move before the pain starts. The act of trying to stand on our own started the process, the pain was starting build up. Just get your ass over here now! She screeched a few octaves louder this time, revealing her urgency. This time it worked; Frost quickly shook his head to remove any unnecessary thoughts, moving quickly towards Mayas aid. Frost leaned in as if to hug her, so he could move her over to the closest seat. He picked her up slowly like a princess, cradling her legs and back. Maya was forced to lean close to his chest allowing Frost to get a clear view of hers and have his nose filled with the smell of her hair. She smells so nice, quickly shaking his head again to regain focus. The closest seat was where they previously drank their tea, the beds were probably morefortable but not nearly as close. Frost carried her gently towards the table before cing her on the seat. While being carried Maya didnt say a word, the instant her head touched Frosts chest her mind nked out. She could hear his rapid heartbeat as well as feel his well-formed muscles, now she was the one to feel embarrassed. Getting a princess carry from a prince charming, what girl hasnt pictured that at one point in their lives. Frost couldnt see her face due to their positioning, so he didnt notice the fact that she was smiling while he carried her. Once Maya was ced on the chair Frost took a few steps back, Maya looked towards him with a slight smile, no longer angry. Frost however felt that her smile was the calm before the storm. Before he could kowtow and beg for forgiveness again, Maya spoke first. Thank you, suddenly stopping mid squat, Frost became unbnced causing him to fall over sideways. Hahaha Maya couldnt help but startughing, Frosts appearance was very funny, his hair was in disarray and his clothes were wrinkled. Frost felt stunned. Wasnt she angry? He was fully expecting to face her wrath, notughter. Mayas unrestrainedughter quickly infected him. Hahaha Hahaha the two of themughed without restraint creating a harmonious atmosphere. Seeing that Maya had at least forgiven him on the surface, Frost felt it would be prudent to ask what happened. Ignoring what happened after I woke up; how did I end up on yourp in the first ce? Maya gave him a coy look when he mentioned ignoring the fact, he groped up her chest. Yes, lets just forget that. Maya decided to agree with Frosts intentions, she wasnt mad anymore anyway. Well to put it simply you tried to use too much of a power that youve never used before. The moment you clicked confirm on the dungeon menu your body was filled with the power of creation resulting in you falling unconscious so as to protect your body as it limates to the power. If I was just a fraction of a second slower, your head would have hit the floor. Maya sighed after she recounted her side of the story, she felt exhausted, and Frost felt incredibly guilty. If Maya hadnt caught me, Id be waking up with more than just a headache. Frost rubbed the back of his head as he imagined it being cracked open from the possible fall. How long was I out? His vision subconsciously drifted to Mayas legs. It must have been at least a few hours for her legs to gopletely numb like that. 12 hours, give or take, Maya responded without hesitation. 12 hours! Frost couldnt believe his ears. Yep 12 hours, we now have less than 2 and a half days toplete the dungeon. 12 hours what the fuck! I was on herp for 12 hours and I was asleep! Frost was annoyed for a reason that would probably get him pped. Tch what a waste.... wait less than 2 and half days. What do you mean less than 2 and half days to finish the dungeon? The actual timing left wasnt that big of an issue since he was almost done, the issue was that he was unaware of a time limit. I guess Dark God-sama left that out as well. Maya sighed again, slowly questioning the character of her God. She touched the silver bracelet on her wrist, re-summoning the dungeon guidebook. Here, look through this until I can feel my legs again. She tossed the book haphazardly with more strength than needed. Thud! The book mmed right into Frosts chest, he caught it, but the impact knocked the wind out of him. The book was no thicker than an inch and was A4 in size, but it felt incredibly heavy. The cover was simply ck with white text, no adornments, or pictures to make it more appealing. Dungeon guidebook the title was incredibly basic and to the point. He opened up the first page and began reading religiously, Maya would probably want a decent break, so he nned to inspect the book through and through. Maya watched Frost flick through the guidebook with purpose, bringing a smile to her face. This should make my job easier. She rubbed her legs trying to encourage cirction. Frost read the entire guidebook; it took him over an hour to reach the point that he was happy, understanding the major points it covered. Concerning his so called time limit, it wasnt exactly a time limit per say but if he didnt finish the dungeon by then it could be an issue. 3 days after being born each Dungeon cores dungeon will open to the public aka adventurers. Luckily however there was a few pieces of important information to prepare for it as well some key dungeon management notes. Although the dungeon will be open to the public, the core room (where the core is currently ced, at the end of the third section) will be protected by an imprable barrier for the 1st month. The guardians assigned will not take part in battle unless your life is in jeopardy and in that case, they shall only do it once. They will train and teach you how to fight on your own. Every 24 hours (one day) youll receive a set amount of dungeon points from the local mana vein, therger the dungeon the more mana it can absorb. The next family gathering will be in one months time. Any purchased traps will reset every 24 hours (as long as no intruders are present within said trap) for free, but DP can be used to speed up the process. Guardians are currently arranged to be by their cores side for the period of one year (365 days), but this may be altered. Intruders killed within the dungeon will release 10 times their normal daily DP level. Frost looked over at Maya once he was finished, the part about her leaving in one year was difficult to ept. Hopefully, it gets altered, he clenched his fist when thinking that. So, you up to speed now? Maya leisurely asked him after seeing him close the book. Her legs were fully healed after the break, she even did some light kicking exercises to make sure. Yeah, should be, Frost now knew roughly the same amount of information about dungeons as Maya. They were now equals or so he hoped. Chapter 8 Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Touring the Dungeon Good, good, now that my legs are raring to go and youve studied a little, how about we go and see the fruits of your passing out. Maya continued to kick the air to show off that she was fine, unable contain the excitement bubbling within her. The powers of creation, seeing someone other than a God do it was absolutely thrilling. Due to the incident happening once he woke up; Frost had entirely forgotten about the reason he passed out. My monsters, he regretted that he couldnt see his first summon in person but betterte than never. He smiled as he pictured his horde of monsters. Sounds great, he was raring to go as well. He handed the dungeon guidebook back to Maya who returned it back to her magical silver bracelet. I should definitely ask about that bracelet when I get a chanceter. Frost had seen Maya use that bracelet to take out and store the book several times, each time increasing his curiosity but there was a more pressing matter. From the guidebook he learned a few tricks in using the dungeon menu, such as exiting the private space. Frost walked over to the dungeon core and motioned for Maya to join him. Once Maya stood next to him, he grabbed her hand and with the free one he touched the floating core and said. Exit. The orb began to glow, and another space distortion appeared sucking them into the orb just likest time only in reverse. Eventually he should be able to exit the space as well as jump between locations within the dungeon with a simple thought but for now he still needed to use the menu and voicemands. ..... Space distorted, Maya and Frost suddenly appeared once it finished twisting. They arrived within a veryrge open area, a blizzard was ring in front of them, and thick snow covered the floor. Snow covered cliffs and rock formations as well as a half-frozen river could be seen far in the distance. Its a lot colder than the cave. Frost could certainly feel the drop in temperature quite clearly, but it didnt bother him in the slightest. Other creatures would shiver even at the mere sight of this much snow but to him it felt lukewarm at worst. Maya wasnt any different, she just stood there gobsmacked at the sight before her. Well, she is a Fenrir after all, itd strange if the cold weather bothered her. They had arrived at the start of the winter hignds environment, the beginning of the dungeon. Frost turned his head to see what was behind them. Before him was a massive stone archway at least 6 metres in height and 4 in width and it was blocked off by some kind of ck barrier preventing Frost from seeing the other side. I guess thisll disappear in a couple days. Envisioning the first set of intrudersing through the entrance filled him with excitement, he smiled evilly and clenched his fists together. His evil thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a strong sp on his shoulder. Maya had grabbed him with a sufficient amount of force, almost to the point of being painful. What the hell are you looking at a ck wall for?! She forcefully turned him around and pushed him forwards. Do you not see this amazing scene before your eyes, a simple small cave turned into this white wilderness. Look you can even see some of your frost goblins camping over there, look. Maya grabbed the sides of Frosts head forcing it in the direction of the goblins. In the distance, a few hundred metres away, a group of frost goblins were gathered in front of a rudimentary campfire. They look happy. It was difficult to see their faces clearly, but Frost felt that they were smiling and evenughing. The goblins were discussing their new home amongst each other through grunts and gestures since they couldnt speak themon tongue. They didnt have a need for food due to the dungeons ambient mana and the environment suited them perfectly. Plus, there were many fellow goblins to hang out with so as far as they were concerned this ce was heaven. Frost seeing the joyous atmosphere amongst his monsters broke into a proud smile, they were his monsters, his responsibility. Thats more like it, Maya removed her hands from the side of Frosts head. Their loud or rather Mayas loud talking managed to gather the attention of some of the nearby monsters. A few frost slimes were apparently nearby, hidden by the snow. Once they noticed Frost they jumped for joy, signalling to their friends before hopping along towards him at full speed. To the monsters Frost was their creator, their most important person so they moved like excited children seeing their father. Ugh! A slime that was closer than the others reached Frost first, jumping into his chest without warning, causing Frost to recoil back from the impact yet refusing to let it fall. Maya let out a slight chuckle at this sight. Frost responded with a slightly annoyed look, but his focus was primarily on the little white blob squirming around in his arms. It had no teeth, eyes, nose, or anything it was just a cold to the touch white blob that jiggled and hopped to express its emotions, pretty cute for a monster. Even though it couldnt speak, he was able to understand how happy and excited it was while itid in his arms. Its so cute Frost subconsciously said while petting the blob. Yeah, it is Maya agreed as she moved closer to pet the creature. The slime was slightly wary of Mayas hand, so it moved closer into Frosts chest. Maya smiled as gently as possible and stopped moving her hand closer, allowing the slime to take the first step. The little slime still slightly wary looked towards Frost for help. Frost smiled in response encouraging it that Maya was friendly. Seeing this the slime jiggled and instantly jumped towards Maya once it got permission. Maya initially just wanted pet the thing but quickly reacted catching it in her arms. The slime was now cradled in Mayas arms acting like a pet cat rubbing deeper into her chest to show affection. C...c...c...its so goddamn cute! Maya screeched before hugging the slime with everything she had, even rubbing her cheek on its soft body. Lucky bastard was the thought going through Frosts mind right now as he saw the previously wary slime being squished against Mayas bountiful chest, deforming its shape. He couldnt help his upper lip from twitching the longer he looked. He tried to think of something else to distract himself. Hmm maybe I should try that? The dungeon guidebook mentioned a few useful tricks he could try out. Menu Frost muttered quietly causing the dungeon menu to appear in front of him. Frost could ess the menu from anywhere in the dungeon with all of its features. He could even ess the menu outside of the dungeon but with much more restrictions. Frost manoeuvred the menu screen to cover Maya and the slime before clicking a small button in the corner. Kacha! The menu released a light clicking sound as it took a picture of the scene before it. One of the features unrted to the dungeons management was the ability to take pictures. Frost believed this scene was worth remembering. Luckily Maya didnt seem to notice his actions as she was fully engrossed in raising her intimacy level with the little frost slime. Frost then looked closely at the jiggling slime trying to activate the next ability the core gave him. Once he focused his vison a holographic screen appeared next to the slime simr to his own status page. Race: Frost Slime Name: Nameless Rank: G Level: 1/10 Any monster that he summoned; Frost could view their stats like such. And apparently the stronger he grew the more details hed be able to see, such as skills or known magic. Whether it would work on monsters he didnt summon i.e., intruders was unknown, another thing he needed to experiment with. After looking at the slimes stats, the other monsters had enough time to reach him, thus repeating the earlier instance of him receiving an impact against his chest. Frost was now surrounded by the remaining slimes in this room as well as the frost goblins from earlier, a fox and two rabbits. The other monsters were too far away to notice Frost and Mayas arrival, but he nned on greeting each and every one of them while travelling through the dungeon. Maya walked over to Frosts side with the frost slime in her arms. Frost had arge grin on his face as he greeted and petted each of his monsters, this sight brought a smile to her face. You look like an adoring father. She spoke her mind, bringing a happy blush to Frosts face. Thanks for thepliment. All of the monsters including the frost goblins looked cute to him. I hate to break up this happy get together but weve got a lot of space to visit. Maya gently ced the frost slime on the ground much to its reluctance as it had grown quitefortable. But it quickly changed gears after seeing its friends on the ground as well. Maya was right, the first room alone was 5 kilometres long, which would take them over an hour to walk even if they made a beeline straight to the next room. But they needed/wanted to inspect everyst detail. Frost couldnt waste all his energy here ying with the monsters, he even started tossing and catching the slimes up into the air. Yeah, I suppose your right. Frost caught the slime he tossed upwards and ced him back down next to his friends. Sorry guys but we need to move on and see the rest of the dungeon, go back to what you were doing earlier. The monsters looked quite sad at the fact but eventually listened to him. Waving goodbye to Frost and Maya as they returned to their previous actions. Frost then turned to face Maya and presented his hand before speaking. Shall we go then Maya? Mayas brow raised slightly seeing that Frost was asking to hold her hand as they walked. Her hesitation onlysted a second before she ced her hand in Frosts palm. Sounds wonderful young master. She moved closer so she could rest her head on his shoulder as they walked, fully intending to enjoy the experience. Frost slightly shivered from her actions; he didnt actually ce a great deal of hope on her taking his hand, but she went even further causing him to be a little nervous. The two of them travelled hand in hand when they could throughout the winter hignds, inspecting each of the major areas and greeting each of the monsters that dwelled there. Each monster reacted the same way towards Frost, even the wolves though they werent quite so attached, their tails still wagged side to side when he came close. In fact, the wolves had a greater reaction upon seeing Maya. They instantly flopped onto their backs, disying their bellies at the sight of her. Well since she is a fenrir, I can understand their reaction. Frost saw Maya rub the wolves bellies as if they were cute little puppies. For the frost wolves a fenrir was like their greatest ancestor or even a God to them. While visiting the half-frozen river Frost noticed that fish were swimming within it. Thats weird, I didnt summon any fish. He knew that there were fish avable in the beast category, but he definitely didnt select any. Maya, do you know why theres fish in the river? Thanks to the ambient mana in the dungeon neither him nor the monsters required food so there wasnt a need to add fish. They came with the winter hignds environment. Included in the cost is asionally some basic wildlife to help make it more realistic. It doesnt just include wildlife, however, remember about 20 minutes ago we came across some berry shrubs theyre also included. Frost thought back to the red berries bushes they came across earlier, the berries were fairly sweet and tasty. He didnt think much of it at the time, but it made sense. The fish in the river were prettymon whitefish, very cheap even if bought with DP. I see. Frost ced his hand in the river, feeling a fish rub against him as it swam by. These environmental temtes are incredibly useful, they contain many little surprises, father really put in a lot of effort. If Frost chose to design the environment from scratch, he knew hed miss many important background features such as this. Frost continued to marvel at all the little surprises and interesting oddities the winter hignds had to offer. Chapter 9 Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Touring the Dungeon (2) It took Frost and Maya several hours toplete their journey into the next section. Most of the time was either spent ying with the monsters they came across or taking a closer look at the free features that came with the environment. I feel like 2000DP for this was quite a steal. Frost couldnt help butment once they reached the end of the first section. Although it looks like a lot of stuff you need to remember that its all verymon things that could be found anywhere. Maya retorted; throughout their walk she didnt see anything that was very useful except for food. It would be different if the room came with a mine or quarry. I guess thats true. Maybe theres also some kind of bulk buying discount? Even if all the free features weremon there were many. Its a winter forest next right? Maya asked politely as she gazed at the gateway leading to the next section. The gateway was simr in style to the one at the entrance just a little smaller and less grand looking. DP could be used to create a more epic entrance, but they were on a budget, so they got the basic stonework one. The gateways needed to berge so monsters could easily move between sections and since thergest monster Frost could currently summon was a pr bear it would suffice for now. ..... Yeah, originally Frost didnt look forward to seeing the winter forest, given that it was the cheapest environment and was supposedly just trees, no rocks or even a change in elevation. But seeing all the interesting stuff in the first section his heart thumped with excitement. I wonder what creatures will be included or if theres any tasty nts. Frost found the red berries in the winter hignds fairly appetising even though even he didnt actually need to eat while in the dungeon. Unable to withstand his curiosity he stepped through the threshold entering the next section, leaving Maya behind. Maya was rather annoyed by his actions, fully expecting to be hand in hand again or for him to at least do the gentlemanly thing. Never heard ofdies first I see. Hmph! She pouted slightly before walking through the gateway but the smile on her face revealed that she wasnt really that bothered by Frosts actions. In the second section of the dungeon. Before Frost was another snowy room, this time he was unable to see 50 metres in let alone several hundred. Snow covered spruce like trees covered his entire vision as far as his eyes could see. The treesyout was fairly random, no maze-like routes just a simple forest. But 5 kilometres of the same looking stuff would make it very difficult to know your direction. The trees themselves varied in height at random intervals, ranging from 5 metres to a mighty 20. And some areas were so dense that they blocked out the sky. Equal to the first section the ceiling or fake sky mimicked the real thing and was approximately 50 metres or so up. This again was something that could be altered for DP. A low-level sky wouldnt do much good for aerial monsters but would suit Frosts current monsters just fine. Even though the arrangement of the trees was fairly simple it would still create many ambush opportunities for his monsters, allowing them to gain the upper hand in battle. Amazing was all Frost could say, the more he saw the more entranced he became. The development of the small cave into these environments gradually felt more and more impactful, his feelings started to mirror Mayas. Thats what Ive been trying to tell you. Maya responded with a smile, happy that Frost finally understood her meaning. She moved closer to one of the snow-covered trees and gripped it with her hand, caressing and squeezing different areas. Common winter spruce indistinguishable from the trees found outside of the mountain. Outside of the mountain where the dungeon was currently inhabiting was a forest that covered most of the area. ording to Maya the trees within the dungeon matched those of outside. She continued to inspect a few more trees that slightly differed in appearance. Artic maple and some birch trees, all incrediblymon in Northrend but all very heavily used, whether its for building, cooking or firewood. Maya was mumbling to herself after inspecting the trees, she was processing how to get the most out of suchmon materials. Frost moved closer and ced a hand on her shoulder putting a stop to her mumbling. Huh... what is it? Maya questioned, feeling a little annoyed that she was brought out of her thinking bubble. In response Frost slightly smiled and pointed towards the tree that Maya was currently grabbing. Maya followed his line of sight and where her hand was the tree had started cave in from the pressure. Without realising it she had started squeezing her hand incredibly hard causing the tree to be crushed. At this point the tree was close to buckling in on itself. Frost wasnt bothered if a single tree became damaged since it would eventually grow back quickly due to the dungeons built-in mechanics. But he noticed a few distressed squeaksing from the top of the tree when it started to shake under the pressure. Living within the half-crushed spruce tree were a couple squirrels that were currently holding onto the tree for dear life. Maya realising what she had done and hearing the squeaks caused her to slightly panic. She immediately let go of the tree and leapt up to catch the two squirrels before the tree finally buckled and fell towards the side. Timber Frost couldnt resist shouting that as the tree quickly crashed against the floor. Once the tree fell, he turned to Maya who was currently trying to soothe the angry and frightened squirrels out of guilt. Hahaha, he couldnt resistughing out loud causing a blush to appear on Mayas face. She couldnt argue back since she was the one that did something thoughtless. The two squirrels looked at one another after seeing Frostugh and Maya blush unsure how to proceed with their anger. Their house was just destroyed but they couldnt get mad, perhaps they were charmed by Mayas beauty, they ced their paws on her cheek to show that it was ok. When their paws touched her cheek, Maya instantly felt happy breaking into arge grin. Theyre so cuuuute! She rubbed her cheek against the little squirrels before cing them in another nearby tree. Frost at this point had managed to restrain in most of hisughing but still let out a little snigger every so often. Once she ced the squirrels safely into their new home and waving goodbye, she turned to face Frost albeit with a gaze that could burn through him. Are you quite done young master? She looked incredibly irritated while stepping closer towards him. Frost knew not push his luck, so he stifled hisughter before responding. Yes, yes Im done. He finished but he wasnt going to apologise, Maya noticed this and ground her teeth. So, Im guessing you came up with a few ideas for the trees? Frost casually asked as if nothing happened. Yes a few, the lumber could be used for buildings either in the dungeon or people looking to harvest it to use outside. Even though its fairlymon the wood itself is fairly strong and a good building material h h. Maya went on to exin a few different uses that may be beneficial to the dungeon in some form, the tree wasnt crushed for nothing it seems. Considering the dungeon would regrow the trees much faster than they would naturally, could that mean an endless supply of lumber? But would people really tread into a dangerous dungeon just for wood? The main use for lumber would probably be more for the dungeons monsters. Im guessing more intelligent species would like a proper house to live in, maybe the frost dwarves could use it? Frost thought about the frost dwarves that he hadnt seen yet, a few of them lived in this section of the dungeon. Frost dwarves werent like the sapient dwarf species that were found throughout Nova that could speak and have their own countries no, they were monsters and a fairly basic type. They were quite a bit stronger than the frost goblins since they were E-rank, but they still couldnt speak themon tongue or be called gifted in terms of crafting like their regr dwarven counterparts. Sure, they were better than your run of the mill monster, but their works wouldnt be shop worthy, making some crude weapons or shelters would be their limit. Other than the trees I also noticed a few nts growing nearby. Maya pointed a small patch of red flowers that were growing underneath one of the bigger Maple trees. That should be red dwindle. Red dwindle? The name sounded familiar to Frost but other than the fact that it was anothermon nt he didnt recall anything else. Along with other secondary ingredients it can be used to make low-level health potions. This might actually be incredibly attractive, especially if there arerger and more areas of it in this section. Health potion knowledge flooded Frosts mind at those words. low level health potions are always highly desired, they can assist in healing minor cuts or bruises making them recover almost instantly making them incredibly useful to adventurers, hunters, soldiers well anyone really. High level potions can even regenerate limbs if you can afford them. Thats... quite the bonus. ording to the knowledge he just received, low level health potions were constantly in demand so having one of the main ingredients present in the dungeon could be an excellent lure. Only if there arge patches of the stuff, even though health potions are in high demand the ingredients are still verymon so unless theres arge amount of the ingredients here, the danger may outweigh the reward. Maya presented the key problems with using it as a solitary lure. Hopefully, we find more as we travel then. Considering they found some right at the entrance of the 2nd section the chances of there being more was likely. Shall we head on in then? Maya was back to her regr excited self and wanted to get back to their walk. Sure Frost quickly answered back before taking a step deeper into the forest. After a few steps however he suddenly got an awkward feeling. Turning back, he saw that Maya hadnt moved. She was just patiently looking at him waiting for something. The awkward feeling in his stomach only continued to grow the longer Maya stared at him. Ah! After a few seconds he suddenly remembered. Frost walked closer to Maya and reached out his hand. Shall we go Maya? He remembered that he asked for her hand in the first section, and that she rather enjoyed it. Maya looked towards his hand and smiled. Yes, young master This was what she was waiting for, she liked Frost acting like a gentleman, it suited his handsome appearance. Frost smiled in response thankful that his action was correct. The two of them wandered through the second section much like they did in the first, investigating each and every nook and cranny that seemed interesting as well as greeting the monsters that came up to them. It wasnt until they were near the end of the winter forest that they came across the frost dwarves. All four were currently sitting in a protected de chatting (grunting) over a campfire. They must have put some thought into choosing their base. The de was quite sheltered by the trees making it difficult to attack, a fairly decent natural defence. The dwarves had even cut down some tree branches to make spikes, reinforcing the entrance. Frost and Maya looked at one another slightly impressed with their work before walking towards the campfire. The dwarves reacted quite quickly, picking up their weapons and entering battle positions. Their weapons were far superior to the goblins, one was armed with an iron battle axe; another had a hammer whereas thest two had maces. Their weapons looked to be made of iron that was well past its prime but still solid and each of them were outfitted with some animal hide amour making them look quite ferocious. Frost imagined that if he was an adventurer that idently wandered into this de, hed be dead in seconds, luckily, he wasnt. Once the dwarves saw his face, they instantly dropped their weapons and looked quite distraught, they had effectively pointed their weapons at their father, they felt ashamed. Chapter 10 Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Touring the Dungeon (3) It was hard for Frost to react in this situation. The dwarves looked like they were about to cry, which in itself was hard to manage but the main issue was that each of them looked like a middle-aged man armed with a full beard making him hesitant. Their appearance was too much for him to treat them like the frost slimes or wolves. They were basically burly short middle-aged men about to bawl their eyes out, not cute in the slightest. Maya sniggered at his side. Its ok, its an easy mistake to make dont feel bad. Frost tried to calm them down, even using hand gestures hoping they wouldnt cry. One of the dwarves even looked like he was going tomit seppuku even though his weapon was a blunt hammer. After much effort on Frosts part, he managed to calm them down without anyone crying or killing themselves. The dwarves now calm and collected saluted Frost like soldiers waiting for instructions. They seem a lot more intelligent and reliable than the goblins, perhaps... Seeing their actions and range of emotions gave Frost more confidence in having them be craftsmen albeit basic ones to start with. Good work in creating this base you should have no problems killing intruders in this area. Frost was inspired as he gazed over the sharpened logs that helped defend the entrance. Urah! Each of the frost dwarves grunted loudly while mming their hands against their chests with pride. Unknown to Frost the dwarves spent many hoursbing through the forest in search of such a good base hoping to be praised by him. Right, they cant speak either. Although they couldnt speak inmon tongue, they were able understand most of it, so they shouldnt have any issues following orders. ..... Frost moved towards one of the sharpened logs, he grabbed it with both hands and pulled it out of the ground forcibly. It was only a simple defence, so it came out of the soil fairly easily but still in one piece, no cracks. He then put some force along the log feeling how sturdy it was before exerting pressure on the tip until it snapped. Not bad, its simple but effective. They left enough of a tip that it takes a fair amount of force to snap. Maya knew a little about what Frost was doing but the frost dwarves werepletely in the dark. All they understood was that they had pointed their weapons at him earlier and now after calming them down he was breaking their self-made defences. The colour drained from their faces when the logs tip snapped with a loud noise, showing the amount of force Frost was exerting. They audibly gulped and looked towards one another for reassurance. You call this a barricade, pathetic! That was how the dwarves saw Frost at this moment. Frost however waspletely oblivious to this, he turned back towards them nning on praising them and asking them to try and make something but... Eh! Why do they look like they want to cry again? Pfft Maya released a restrainedugh since she understood exactly what was going on. You just broke apart, without hesitation one of their hand-built barricades with a smile on your face hahaha. Eh! Frost instantly realised how his actions must havee across, he felt guilty. He moved closer towards the dwarves to try and exin, ignoring their increased trembling. First off sorry. Frost did what he felt was natural, he bowed his head and apologised, holding that position until he received forgiveness. The frost dwarves jumped back when he bent down thinking that they were going to be beaten as punishment. Their eyes were closed in anticipation of either being struck or yelled at, but it never came. One of the braver dwarves opened his eyes first to see Frost bowing before him. He rubbed his eyes in confusion, struggling to believe what he was seeing. However, Frost was still there bowing, so he wasnt imagining it. He shook the shoulder of the dwarf next to him causing him to open his eyes and have the same reaction. Only after all the dwarves were gawking at him did one of them remember that he said sorry before bowing, this dwarf quickly tried to lift Frost up. Ungun the other dwarves followed their friends actions trying to force Frost to raise his head, they released a gentle grunt to show that they forgave him. Frost happily stood up with a smile on his face after hearing their voices. Thank you Frost genuinely gave thanks; he didnt want to be a symbol of fear for his monsters. He pointed to the remains of the sharpened log thaty on the ground. That was good work, I wanted to test its strength before asking you to try something and didnt mean for it toe across as it did. The dwarves now calm were able to understand his words. Magha? The braver dwarf grunted as if asking a question. He wanted to know what it was Frost wanted them to try. Frost smiled slightly in response. He wanted the dwarves to first make a few spears for the goblins since their rusty daggers seemed pretty useless, especially since their opponents would berger than them. Next would be building up areas with wooden barricades to help the goblins with defence. The frost goblins were incredibly cheap and weak so anything to help strengthen them even slightly would be a great bonus since theyre currently the most numerous of his summoned monsters. Plus, it being free was icing on the cake. Frost started to exin his requests to the now curious dwarves. Maya meanwhile simply took a seat by the fire and rxed for a while. That went better than expected. Maya spoke as she and Frost left the protected de. Frost spent 30 minutes chatting with the dwarves about making weapons, only receiving grunts or hand gestures in response. Maya couldnt understand the meaning of their grunts so she was shocked as to how he could maintain such an in-depth conversation with them. Yeah, theyre pretty smart and know their limits but all around they should be able give good results. The frost dwarves wouldnt be able to work anything like metal but making simple wooden weapons and stuff didnt faze them. Frost wasnt expecting much from them since they were only E-rank but still somethings better than nothing. The two of them continued to chat a little while walking towards the final section. The artic castle section next. Frost and Maya once again stood before a stone gateway which seemed rather out of ce in a room with nothing but trees. The final area shouldnt take as long since its smaller, plus I dont think itll contain anything useful like the forest. As they walked through the winter forest, they found multiple patches of the red dwindle flowers as well as a few more nts such as the spicy winter mushrooms which ording to Maya can be used to create cold resistance potions. I agree but it should look the most dungeon like I think. Frost believed that theyout of thest section felt more like a dungeon. He couldnt really exin why just a gut feeling he had. Well, well find out in a second. This time Maya took the first step through the gateway leaving Frost behind, a little bit of revenge. Frost justughed it off, thinking that she was just really eager. He quickly followed after her. Maya arrived through first with Frost quick on her tail. Wow was all she could say. This section was much different from the other two. I see what you meant by probably feeling more dungeon like. Maya had goose bumps on her arms as her eyes darted across the room. The first room was about 20 metres long and wide, broken furniture and shredded fabrics were littered throughout. There was even a disused firece with some old charcoal sitting in it. It gave her the feeling of an ancient, ruined castle that hadnt had any visitors for centuries. Cool Frost was just as amazed as Maya, even the walls looked old and dpidated. He didnt know what kind of usefulness the items in this section would provide but it certainly looked cool. He felt like this design was screaming treasure hunt. An old castles bound to have some hidden treasure somewhere within it. Of course, only if he puts it there, but others wont know that. This is just the first room and its already so interesting. Frost moved around touching all the broken furniture and damaged items, all of which seemed to be beyond repair and of little to no scrap value. Broken chairs with the wood crumbling, cracked iron candle sticks covered in rust and pieces of torn paintings were just a few of the items within the room. Its actually kind of spooky. Frost felt that way once he realised there were no sounds apart from the ones he and Maya were making, a silent abandoned castle. Frost audibly gulped as his mind was quickly filled with the images of ghosts and other spooky monsters. Theyd probably fit in well with this environment. Unfortunately, Frost didnt have ess to any undead monsters like ghosts and skeletons otherwise he would have definitely added some, even if he found them to be scary. Frost shook his head trying to remove that image from his mind, turns out hes not a fan of spooky stuff given the goose bumps that appeared on his arms. He moved over to Maya hoping to move onto another room where thered be some of his monsters to liven the mood. Are you done with this room? He asked calmly but his hands were fidgeting. Maya turned towards him unaware of his current mindset, she smiled before replying. Yeah, pretty much, what about you? Maya had been checking out the state of some of the materials, especially any metal to see if it could be reused in anyway but unfortunately it was too badly corroded plus the room would look rather bare if all the items were removed. Unlike with the nts and trees in the first two rooms, items that werent natural e.g., man-made wouldnt be reced for free so if some of the iron candle sticks were removed and melted down Frost would need to use DP to buy new ones. Im good to move on, shall we? Frost presented his arm for Maya to hook around while they walked. Im just being polite, polite. Frost convinced himself of that instead of admitting he was quite nervous and spooked by the castles atmosphere. He didnt have anything to be scared of in the first ce considering everything within the dungeon was under his control, including any undead monsters but that point was irrelevant at this time. Maya didnt suspect a thing and gratefully linked arms with him. The first room opened up into a narrow hallway which eventually split into 3 different directions. The castles arrangement wasnt thatplicated since it wasnt ssed as a maze. Each path would instead lead to different areas in the castle interior such as kitchen areas, bedrooms, and reception rooms. All of the monsters in this section were in the reception areas straight ahead since that direction led to the sections exit. There were a few winding hallways and small rooms before encountering the first reception room all in a simr style to the first room. The first reception room was fairlyrge at least 30 metres in each direction, it looked simr to what an old-fashioned ball room might be like, considering theyout and damaged piano in the corner. The ceiling was much higher as well and decorated with some precarious looking chandeliers. Awooo a frost wolf howled once it noticed their entrance. This room was guarded by a frost wolf and 3 frost goblins, a fairly strong defence force for such a small area but its thest section so it needed to be tougher. Garu The frost goblins grunted in response to the wolfs howl and as expected they all came rushing over to greet their master. Seeing his monsters running with smiles on their faces erased all his anxiety, if his monsters werent afraid, then how could he be. He needed to set an example since he was the master. Viewing the rest of the final section didnt take very long, after exchanging pleasantries with the monsters they quickly carried on. Less monsters meant fewer interruptions plus since thest section was smaller, they reached the end in under an hour. Growl in thest room beforeing across the core room was the D-rank pr bear. The strongest monster he could summon would of course be at the very end of the dungeon. It was easily 2 metres tall when still on all four legs, an absolute monster, much stronger than the E-rank wolves. Wow the difference between E and D rank is huge, no wonder theres such a price difference. This pr bear could easily squash one of the wolves or frost dwarfs with a single stomp, it also had less weaknesses such as the wolves poor defence or the dwarves poor agility. Frost stood at the entrance of the final room admiring the bears beautiful white fur. Wait if he acts like the others and runs into me, Ill be squished. The pr bear had noticed Frost and Maya and was quickly moving towards them albeit slightly differently than the other monsters. Maya picked up on this and raised her brow in recognition. So, hes roughly at that level. Maya internally thought as she gazed at the bears expression. The bear was now right in front of Frost peering down at him, Frost was just d that he didnt get squished and failed to notice the difference in attitude given off by the pr bear. Unlike the other monsters it didnt have that infatuation or over excitement when standing before its master but was calm and rather cold. It stared silently towards Frost inspecting him unsure on how to react. Weird the others didnt react like this? Frost was puzzled with the situation, while he didnt feel any danger from the bear it didnt exactly feel pleasant. Eventually after a long standstill the pr bear bowed its head making it lower than Frost, showing its allegiance. Frost smiled before reaching out his hand to pet the bears headpleting this so-called inauguration or test. After being petted the bear became much more amicable, rubbing up against Frost for attention like a big fluffy dog. Chapter 11 Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Traps Yosh yosh, youre quite a cutie. Frost continued to rub the pr bears fur, enjoying how soft it was. After having his fill of attention, the bear lightly butted his head against Frost before returning to his previous spot. Ill definitely need to summon more pr bears in the future. If not for their strength, then for their soft white fur. I wonder howfy it would be to fall asleep on its back. One of the main reasons that pr bear monsters were hunted was due to the softness and durability of their fur making it a perfect fit for expensive textiles. Youll probably need to increase your strength before you can do that. Maya chimed in putting an end to his thoughts. Hmm why? Of course, he couldnt buy another one now due to theck of DP that wasnt reserved but why would his strength matter. Didnt you see how it first reacted towards you? Maya let out a sigh before exining. At first it refused to bow its head, it didnt immediately ept you as its master. Frost remembered how it didnt run happily towards him like the other monsters but simply stared down at him. He initially thought that it was a personality issue but with Maya bringing it up. ..... Why? Strength! Maya shouted with conviction. Strength? Yes, your battle strength is probably in the upper D-rank level thats why it hesitated. Monsters usually wont obey those weaker than them, even if youre the summoner. Frost suddenly remembered something simr being written in the guidebook, it was also the reason why he didnt have ess to any monsters rank C or higher. So, Im a little stronger than a pr bear. Frost felt that it wasnt enough, ording to Maya, Furano had C-rank adventurers. If even by ident one decides to enter the dungeon thered be nothing he could do against someone that strong. His emotions were being clearly disyed through his facial expressions. Dont worry about it, thats why Im here. Maya tapped his shoulder to reassure him before gesturing towards herself. But I thought you couldnt take part in defending the dungeon? Frost knew that Maya was probably incredibly strong, but the rules stated that she wouldnt interfere unless absolutely necessary. Oh, you misunderstand, Im not going to fight. Maya tilted her head to the side looking innocent and cute. What then? Mayas smile suddenly turned evil looking in response as if she were looking at prey to toy around with. T.R.A.I.N.I.N.G She mouthed each letter before openly smirking. Ugh! The word itself wasnt scary but seeing Maya say it in such a way and with such an evil look sent shivers down his spine. How could I forget that one of the purposes of the guardians was to train their charge. But why did it sound so scarying from her mouth? Whats wrong? You cold? Should we work out to warm you up? Maya saw him flinch and tremble from her gaze, she was just toying with him since its impossible for someone with the [One with ice] skill to feel cold. N... n...no Im fine really. Frost rapidly shook his head and hands to prove he was fine. He felt he should avoid training with Maya, at least for now, for his own wellbeing. Tch... fine it was only a suggestion. She clicked her tongue at Frosts response even though she expected it. Frost seemed to have made the correct decision since she was nning to go extra hard on him due to his earlier blunder. Lets train at another time, I still need to buy some traps and magic first. Frost felt like he sessfully dodged a bullet. He currently had close to 2000DP left, half of which he nned spending on traps. Now that they hadpleted their journey through the dungeon the only ce left was the core room, whichy beyond the now prone pr bear. Unlike the doors or gateways previously seen, the entrance to the core room was of very high quality. The frame looked to be some sort of white jade covered in beautiful symbols that screamed elegant. It reminded Frost of the stone courtyard he first met Dark in, simple yet beautiful. Currently there was no door just an invisible barrier blocking ess to unauthorised intruders. To Frost and Maya though it was as if it wasnt there. I can feel the importance of the room just from the aura it gives off. As Frost walked closer, he could feel a kind of pressure bearing down on him. It wasnt painful or unpleasant, but it was definitely intimidating and making its presence known. That would be due to the mana stored and absorbed by your dungeon core. Its like a super condensed orb of mana so it gives off a pressure akin to gravity due to its mass. It felt powerful and very attractive but also familiar. Since the core was part of Frost he wouldnt feel as much of the effects as others would. ording to Maya however monsters from outside the dungeon would be driven insane by this aura. Their desires to devour it and absorb all the stored mana would takeover, even Maya was apparently affected albeit slightly. Therger and more powerful the dungeon bes the greater the range of this aura, attracting bigger and more powerful monsters to the dungeon as well as adventurers. Frost remembered that before the dungeon was deployed, he didnt feel much from the orb when it floated in front of him. Why didnt we feel this pressure when in the private space? Thats only a replica or remote control for the core so it doesnt have its physical properties, the true core lives in this room. Maya gestured towards the room before walking through the translucent barrier. Frost now used to the pressure followed suit. The room was only about 5 metres in diameter, too small to have monsters stationed inside but enough to safely store the core. In the middle of the room on a white pedestal or throne sat a glowing white orb, Frosts dungeon core. The pressure receded once they stepped past the barrier as if on reflex, it recognised Frost and pulled back its pressuring aura. It reminded Frost of an animal puffing up in the face of a predator then shrinking back down when its safe. Rather cute Frost began to rub the dungeon core in appreciation. The core seemed to react by heating up in the areas that Frost touched. This is effectively your heart remember, if it gets destroyed or damaged in anyway, youll also be affected. Maya quietly chimed in, hoping to remind Frost of the cores importance. Frosts hand lightly froze before continuing to rub the core. I know. He knew and understood the significance of the thing currently before him. He would never forget what his father or what Maya just said. He turned around to face Maya. Shall we head back to the private space; I believe you mentioned something about a tea break? Unperturbed by the sudden serious atmosphere he redirected the topic to tea. Maya stared silently at Frost for a few seconds, she saw the determination in his eyes and knew he took what she said to heart. She smiled coyly in response. Yes, I believe I did. She moved close to Frost and grabbed his arm so they could teleport to the space, unnecessary but much morefortable in her mind. Frost was just about to move them before he spoke. Oh! but not mint this time please. After receiving a nod from Maya, he thought of the private space and spoke. Teleport: private space. He still didnt have the hang of using the dungeons abilities without voicemands, but he felt it was better to practise this way than going through the dungeon menu. Space warped around the two of them sending them back into the private space. They were used to the shock of moving by now, so they werent even fazed. The moment they arrived Maya instantly got to work on brewing the tea whereas Frost moved over the core to look at the traps selection. I wonder what kind of traps would work well. He scrolled through the menu looking for the trap section. Huh, thats it. Frost instinctively said after opening the trap section. Ice spike pitfall Bear trap Frost mine It only showed three options. The first two were pretty self-exnatory, with the usual metal or wood spikes being reced by ice for the pitfall and the bear trap being a simple stand in it and get your leg mped. The Frost mine worked simr to the bear trap as it was pressure activated. ording to the description, once the victim activated it, ice aspected mana would forcibly enter them, freezing them solid. Of course, how well it worked depended on the persons strength and resistance for example it would have no effect on Frost due to his immunity to ice, in fact it may even have the opposite effect. Whats wrong? His loud voice disturbed Maya causing her to stop making the tea and turn around. Theres only 3 traps to choose from. Eh! Just three. Maya also acted rather surprised. considering that he had about 20 monsters to choose from she assumed thered be at least 10 different traps. Just give me a second to finish and Ille look. She turned back to finish making the tea since she was almost done. This time she went for green tea instead of the lemon or mint, a more refined and earthy taste which she quite enjoyed from time to time. Seeing that shed be another minute Frost kept fiddling with the screen hoping that hed missed something but no matter how much he scrolled or exited and re-entered the page the contents never changed. Could it be some kind of bug or was father really that stingy? Frost could think of several different trap types that would work in his current rooms, but he didnt have ess to them. It felt incredibly frustrating to him, the monsters he could understand due to his strength being a deciding factor but why would that limit the traps. His mind was spinning while he continually closely examined the entire page. Hmm whats that? At the top right-hand corner of the screen there was a small button with a saw and hammer symbol, hardly noticeable. He pressed the button causing the screen to change. -Trap Design These words were stered at the top of the new page that had be 3D. Hahaha Frost couldnt help butugh out loud, seeing the title reminded him of something written in the guidebook. Your database of items will increase alongside your world knowledge and strength however I hope that youll bring some unique options of your own to the table. How could he forget, he was gifted the ability of creation, the power of the Gods. If it doesnt exist, then why cant he make it exist. Frost didnt know that one of the main reasons Dark created the dungeon cores was because Nova had grown stagnant and needed some new and interesting creations. He hoped that his children, the dungeon cores would go on to create new species, environments, items and even empires, bringing new life to the world instead of it having to simple rely on the innovations of the Gods. Different perspectives bring out different possibilities, his children may be able to think of things he never could. Frost couldnt stop arge smile from forming as multiple ideas and concepts filled his mind. Apparently ording to the design page, the menu would work out an appropriate DP price once the design was finished. It didnt need nearly as much details as creating an environment from scratch, so the idea was a lot less daunting. Hmm what are you smiling at? Maya had finished with the tea and was bringing the cups over to the table. She initially came to rify the issue with the traps but saw Frost smiling instead. I had it wrong, father wasnt stingy with the options, just promoting the use of a different method. Actually, Dark was a little stingy he didnt put much thought into the options for traps, so it turned out a little bare but since Frost thought otherwise he wouldnt correct him. Frost moved over allowing Maya to see the 3D trap design workshop. Hmm Maya hummed with interest as Frost pointed out different tools. This will certainly help divide up the talent between the dungeon cores. Maya surmised. The more options they could develop the better theyd be at handling different scenarios increasing their survivability. Frost was still in the excitement phase and didnt truly grasp the danger of this world, but Maya knew all too well. She looked painfully towards Frosts smiling face, hoping hed never lose it. Better safe than sorry. Maya had made up her mind about something unknown to Frost. Now I should be able to design the dungeon the exact way I wish in future but for now I think Ill stick to the pre-set traps since I know their costs right off the bat. Complex and more interesting traps could wait until he had some ieing in that wasnt from the mana vein. The dungeon had just passed the 24-hour mark, so it sent Frost a notification about the vein giving out the daily mana dose of 30DP, equivalent to a single goblin. It may not sound like muchpared to the 15,000DP he started with, but hell get it every day and itll increase with the scope of the dungeon generating a great amount over time. Sounds like a good idea, considering the look on your face youd probably spends days and days designing all the traps youve got cooking up in your mind. They had a less than two days before the dungeon opens so he couldnt spent all that time on traps that he probably couldnt even afford. Hehe was I that obvious? Frost lightlyughed while scratching his temple in embarrassment. Chapter 12 Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Magic Ill make this quick then. Frost moved to randomly add a bunch of traps to his purchase cart, arranging them to randomly fill the first two sections, leaving thest one bare since he believed that the basic temtes didnt really do the environment justice. [section] [Traps] [Cost] [1st] [2nd] [Bear trap] [80] [0] [5] [Frost mine] [100] [2] [1] [Ice spike pitfall] [120] [5] [0] ..... 1300 DP a little more than nned but considering the room size these traps will hardly make a dent. He didnt care too much about how well these pre-set traps would perform since they should more than make up for their cost overtime due to resetting every 24 hours. He was more interested in if they looked cool or not, especially the frost mine. Depending on how strong the frost attack was, it could be a great support for his monsters. If they could lead the adventurers to into them, fighting a target thats frozen in ce would make them an easy foe even for a goblin. Of course, the stronger they are the less theyll be affected but still, its cooler than simply falling in a hole or getting your leg mped. Frost was just about to proceed inpleting the summon, his hand floating centimetres from the confirm button but going no further. He turned rigidly towards Maya. Youre sure I wont faint again? He didnt wish to pass out and feel useless. Yes, Im sure, your body already limated to using divine power. Summoning a few traps shouldnt even faze you, at worst you might feel dizzy. Maya responded confidently. Unless Frost summoned something extreme, he shouldnt end up in a simr situation in the future. Frost looked directly into Mayas eyes as she responded. Oh well at least if I do faint, I might get another chance at ap pillow. Frost smiled and firmly clicked the confirm button causing the core to once again glow and rotate. I wonder if the core actually needs to do that or if its simply for aesthetic reasons. Frost watched the core gradually get brighter and spin faster as if it needed a build up before performing a task. Suddenly Frost felt a wave of energy pass through his body. It was a warm and gentle feeling making him feel like his blood pressure dropped a little before quickly passing. The core stopped glowing, returning to its innate state once the feeling passed. That was weird. Frost patted his chest, stomach, head, and legs to make sure everything was fine. That was divine power flowing between you and the core. Divine power? Maya had mentioned this a few times, but Frost only knew that it was rted to his father and the Gods in some way. Yes, as far as I know its simr to mana but of a much greater quality in fact I believe that mana was originally derived from divine power. Remember the feeling of it flowing through your body, it should be useful for when we start training to use magic and chakra since the first stage is sensing the mana within yourself. Maya exined what she knew about divine power albeit with a slight jealousy in her voice. Even at her strength she couldnt gain the ability to harness divine power, yet Frost could from the day he was born, itd be strange if she werent a bit envious. Magic and chakra. Frost understood what magic referred to, but Chakra was new. At the mention of the word some ingrained knowledge came to this surface of his mind, it seemed that a lot of his given knowledge waspressed and needed a keyword to be expanded. Chakra in simple terms was internal magic, magic such as spells required a magic crest to be created allowing the mana to take form e.g., turning into a fireball and then flying towards the target. Chakra however didnt require a magic crest as the mana was internally kneaded into the desired form within the hosts body. Due to this it has some serious downsides. First of all, the individual using Chakra needs to have an innate mana element otherwise it cant be used, Frost for example has the innate element ice so he should be able to use it. Second since you need an innate element you can only knead chakra of that type meaning its less diverse than magic of which most people can use multiple elements. Third, since chakra doesnt utilise a magic crest, it cant maintain its shape once it loses connection with the caster meaning it can only be used for closebat, a few feet away from the caster and itll dissipate turning back into natural mana. So far it seems that theres no point to chakra however it does have some advantages. First, chakra is generally a lot faster to activate than magic spells since a magic crest isnt required to be drawn. Second the use of chakra can also be a lot more mana efficient given that theres less steps involved theres less wastage. And finally, probably the greatest reason why some people prefer it over magic is that its more of an instinctual process and not one of logic. To use spells people generally needed to be incredibly book smart as magic crests require a lot of knowledge whereas chakra is simply a feeling, manipting the mana within in you like a muscle. Chakra allows simple warrior types to utilise magic when they normally wouldnt have the mental capacity to do so. All this information flooded his mind in less than a second, but it still caused him to stare into thin air for a while. Maya started waving her hand in front of his face to get his attention when he didnt respond to her calling. Frost regained his focus milliseconds before Maya decided to flick his forehead. Her hand was inches away from his head ready to strike, seeing this he instantly understood what happened. I must have dazed off while processing the information but... why am I about to get forehead flicked. Frost slowly looked towards Mayas face with irritation in his eyes. Maya quickly averted her eyes out of guilt, she didnt expect to get caught so red handed. She looked away to avoid Frosts intense stare, but her hand was still frozen in ce primed to strike. This damn woman! Internally shouted Frost as he viciously grabbed onto her hand and pulled her towards him knocking her off bnce. Wwhahh! Maya wasnt expecting to be suddenly pulled, she didnt even realise her hand kept hovering in front of his face. The sudden jerking motion caused her fall forward. She was unable to brace with her arms due to Frost still grabbing one and the other waving about trying to regain bnce. Bang! Maya fell straight into Frost, their heads loudly banging against one another. Ow ow ow ow! Ow! Both Frost and Maya shouted in pain quickly rubbing their heads on reflex. What the hell was that about! Maya angrily shouted still rubbing her head that now had arge red bump developing. O I didnt think youd fall headfirst right into me, I just wanted to get your hand out of my face. Frost had a matching red bump quickly growing on his head. His thought process was that Maya would simply stumble a little before quickly regaining her bnce. Wasnt she supposed be super strong? He didnt expect to be able pull her with such forcepletely unguarded. Now not only does his head hurt, but it was also much more painful than if he had simply let her flick it. Ah god it hurts so much, how hard is that head of hers anyway? The pain steadily got worse and worse as the pressure from the swelling increased. O I knew idiots had hard heads but damn. Maya wasnt much better to her Frost was the one with the hard head. The two of them fiercely red at one another trying to hold back the involuntary build-up of tears forming. The red bumps on their heads continued to swell to fairlyrge proportions and after minute or so they were so big it looked like a giant red egg was being pushed out of their skulls. Pfttt Hahahahaha Their anger quickly subsided therger the bumps got. Therger they grew the moreical their faces became. Eventually they couldnt hold back theirughter anymore. Frost and Maya pointed andughed at one another without remorse, dishing out insults and jokes at each others expense. After good list of insults, they both calmed down. Sorry Frost apologised first since he felt he went a bit too far when Maya technically hadnt done anything yet. Apology epted Maya smiled while epting his apology before pointing towards herself and saying. [Heal] a magic crest appeared beneath her, releasing a warm green light. Frost watched in awe as therge red bump quickly receded until it waspletely gone, as if she never got hurt in the first ce. Other than seeing Dark use divine power this was the first time he had witnessed a magic spell being used. While he was staring, Maya smirked with pride before pointing towards him. [Heal] the same magic crest now appeared beneath Frost healing his injuries almost instantly. The healing magic entered into his body and spread around like the divine power from earlier, with the majority congregating at his forehead. It certainly feels simr. He patted his now t forehead, no pain or even difort. The healing spell removed all damage in a matter of seconds, he even felt more energised. Well, whatd you think? Maya curiously asked. She wanted to know how it feltpared to divine power. Awesome, I cant believe my heads back to normal. Frost replied honestly, surprised by such an application of magic. What I used is healing magic, a support type of magic with its own separate category in the elements. Healing magic although primarily linked to light-based magic is actually ssed as either non-elemental or life magic. Although there are light elemental healing spells the one Maya used was of the life element. A type of magic that anyone able to utilise mana can learn albeit with different results. Maya being fairly aplished with her magic could easily restore minor damage such a head bump within a second or two whereas for an unskilled user that may be the limit of their abilities and take much longer toplete. Life magic, non-elemental. Frost focused on those words. He remembered that earlier when discussing his status, Maya said that he may have difficulty with learning magics of elements other than ice. Since its separate from elemental magic would I be able to learn it? If the answer was a no, then he would try and create an ice-based healing magic, but he didnt even know if that was possible. Maya smiled in response. Smart he remembered. Yes, you shouldnt have any problems learning it however whether you have a talent for it is another thing entirely. Unlike with learning something like fire magic, Frost wouldnt encounter any obvious obstacles however if he wasnt talented, he might be stuck at only healing basic cuts and scrapes no matter how strong his mana became. Sweet, Frost didnt hear the part about him needing talent, only hearing yes you can. Turns out hes quite a greedy person, just one look at the healing magic and he already wanted it. If he wasnt talented then hed just need to work twice no five times as hard. The very idea of magic sounded fun to him, whether it was the end result of casting or the idea of reading and gaining the knowledge required to create magic crests it all sounded interesting. The fires of passion burned in his eyes as he stared at Maya. He hoped shed show and teach him more about magic,pletely forgetting about their earlier spat. So, hes the super enthusiastic type... how cute. Thought Maya, Frost looked like an overexcited child to her. Since youve purchased traps, youve effectively finished outfitting the dungeon so, I guess we could do some magic lessons next. Really? Frosttched on to her words with gusto, instantly closing the distance between them, clenching his fists, and smiling, his excitement overflowing. Magic magic magic! His mind was filled with pictures of him casting super powerful andplicated spells. Chapter 13 Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Channelling mana Ok ok, calm down young master Ill teach you geez. Maya could barely contain herself; Frosts current appearance was irresistibly cute to her. She held down the urge to corrupt him, releasing all but an evil smile. Shes definitely an S type. Frost was oblivious to her current thoughts, misreading her smile. In response to her words Frost mmed up, acting like an honour student, patiently waiting quietly for her next words. Alright since you dont know any spells as of yet lets purchase one. How much DP do you have left? Taking away the 1300 for traps that leaves 690DP I think. Frost opened up the menu just to rify. Ah! My mistake I forgot about the DP from the mana vein, weve got 720DP left. Hopefully, thats enough. Frost knew that he wouldnt be able to purchase a lot of spells with that remainder, but one should be okay right. We can purchase one spell then. Magic spells could be learned through reading and experimentation however purchasing from the menu would bypass that need, instantly granting the user all the necessary information required to cast the spell. Of course, theyd only have the knowledge, applying it would still take skill and practise. ..... Maya knew of a few basic ice spells that would be great for beginners and should be within budget but considering Frosts enthusiasm. Itll be best if its an attack spell. Thought Maya as she took control of the menu. She knew the perfect spell to start with, simple to use and enjoyable to master. This one! Maya suddenly stopped scrolling through the list of spells. [Ice bolt]: 500DP Creates a bolt of ice that can be fired like an arrow towards a target. Improving mastery of the spell allows for an increase in the bolts size and number. A simple yet very effective spell that would grow alongside the user, the perfect spell to start with. ording to Mayas knowledge there was in fact no limit to the number of ice bolts that could be summoned making it truly reflect the casters true ability. Maya herself was able to summon more than 100 at a time making it rival the capabilities of higher-level spells. Purchase this one. Maya relinquished control back to Frost, moving out the way so that he could have a quick look at the description. Frost didnt need to look as he believed in Mayas choice, after a quick skim through he swiftly purchased it. The core glowed once again but only briefly, probably due to only creating a single item. Almost immediately afterpleting the purchase a magic crest appeared above Frost. It released a thin blue book before vanishing. Frost grabbed the book that was even thinner than the guidebook given by Dark with interest, Maya didnt mention how he would go about acquiring the spell after purchasing. So thats how. Maya uttered as Frost was inspecting the books contents, it was full ofplicated text and magic crest images. How what? Frost asked rather puzzled. Its a magic skill book. It allows you to instantly absorb its contents by injecting it with your mana. You could also read and study it like a regr book to eventually cast the spell but thats less efficient. For books to be magic skill books they need to have been written with mana and have certain crests throughout. Its a very time consuming and expensive process which makes skill books fairly umon. Theyre mostly used by very rich people who dont wish to waste time. Nobles often buy a few skill books for their children to help them get ahead of their peers. Other than using an artificer (magic item creation profession) to generate the skill books they can be found in monsterirs akin to a reward for clearing them. Thats another reason why the adventurer upation is so popr. Inject my mana, Frost understood the principle but didnt know how. He tried to remember the feeling of having divine power flowing through him since Maya said it was simr to mana. He closed off his mind trying to focus, searching for the energy inside him. Maya patiently watched him; she gave him a hint with the divine power but if he actually managed to seed in manipting his mana without her assistance itd be very impressive. This silence continued for a few minutes before Frost grew irritated, veins started throbbing on his forehead due to the intense level of concentration he was generating. Why wont it move? He could feel the mana stored within his body, but he couldnt get it to move. No matter how much he pushed, pulled, or squeezed it wouldnt budge, any longer and hed probably just burst a blood vessel. Calm down young master, itd be weird if you could do it straight away. Maya announced noticing his increased frustration. She moved closer to him cing a hand on his shoulder. Im going to inject some of my mana into you, itll help generate a flow. Maya slowly started to inject her mana into Frosts body, it felt cold yet warm at the same time. Her mana reached throughout his whole body, moving past his mana encouraging it to move and circte. Good now try to redirect my mana to your hand. Maya continued to inject more mana into his body while giving him his next instruction. Frost listened and tried to redirect the mana towards his right hand. It was awkward at first but eventually he managed to do it. Mayas mana and a little of his now congregated within his hand causing it to heat up and feel swollen. Thats great young master now try and push the mana outside of your body and into the book. Maya released her hand from his shoulder stopping her flow of mana. She had given him enough mana to start the flow, anymore and his body would resist it. Frost felt the connection to Maya being cut off but didnt let it distract him, he was at the final stretch. He could feel his and Mayas mana fusing together, continuing to fill his right hand. He struggled to make it leave his body and enter the book. The mana in his body continued to grow more and more active, generating a stream of mana that grew more and more powerful causing swelling in his entire body. Push young master, you need to push. He could barely hear Mayas voice over the pressure in his body. He continued to try and force out the mana from his right hand, it felt as though it kept hitting an iron wall. His mana repeatedly mmed against it and getting repelled back repeatedly, bing more and more powerful with each rebuttal. Eventually and not a moment too soon he felt the wall crack which quickly spread before the wallpletely shattered releasing the torrent of mana from his body. Pwoaah! Once the wall fell mana started to loudly burst out from Frosts hand. A bright silver light quickly consumed his hand, the skill book and it didnt stop there. It continued to grow and grow mming into the ceiling of the private space with a loud bang. Shit! Shouted Maya with a shocked expression. She quickly raised her hands in the air to absorb the rampant mana that was released. Stop your mana! She quickly managed to get the raging mana under control before it broke the furniture, but Frost was still releasing more. Unless he closed the tap, it wouldnt stop. How? Frost didnt know how to stop it, more and more mana kept flowing out of his hand generating a more radiant silver light. The longer this went on the more drained and deted he felt, he had no idea what would happen when he ran out, but he knew it wouldnt be good. Imagine a wall that the mana cant pass through! Maya stood in front of him forcibly absorbing his mana after it escaped his hand. She could force his mana to stop through brute force, but it was better for the individual to stop it themselves only, Frost had a lot more mana than she expected. And it wasnt just the quantity but the quality of the mana that was an issue. Frosts mana felt incredibly dense much too dense for a beginner. A wall a wall a wall, Frost repeated what Maya said trying to construct a solid image, but it kept breaking. Every time he created the wall to block the mana it would be shattered almost instantly. Shit its not strong enough, what to do? what to do? He was at a loss. He tried to recreate the original wall that initially blocked his mana from escaping, but it was a poor imitationsting only a single second before breaking. Ah! sod it if one wont work how about dozens. Frost allowed the mana to flow freely out of his body as he tried to construct multiple walls before cing them before the tide. After making a super thick multiyered wall so to speak he dropped it right in front of the raging mana. Hold hold god dammit! He inwardly prayed as he felt the mana crash against the wall repeatedly with such force that his caused his entire body to shake. After a few seconds the wall was still holding strong, a fewyers were broken but nothing major. I did it Maya, its holding. Frost couldnt help but smile as he opened his eyes and looked at his guardian. Good, now you need to make it circte through your body repeatedly until it calms down. Maya stayed on task not getting distracted by small wins even though she was very impressed. Ah! Ok got it. Frost had forgot that even though he managed to seal his mana back in it was still raging around. If he didnt calm it down his body would pay the price. He closed his eyes concentrating once again on circting the mana throughout his body. This time he didnt encounter any issues with moving the mana in fact just the opposite, it frequently crashed around causing him pain. After about 10 minutes his mana had calmed down and was circting freely throughout his body filling every part of him with strength. Wow, the feeling was amazing, his whole body felt warm and full of energy. He subconsciously started punching the air repeatedly. How does it feel? Maya asked with a proud smile on her face. She remembered the first time she used mana, the power and warm feeling that filled your body was addictive. Normally people slowly feel the mana within them and over time poke and prod it along until they generate a flow. Its a much safer and easier method but it takes time plus you miss out in feeling the pure raw force of mana. Many people believed that doing the more dangerous and violent method that Frost went through allowed for a higher potential in mana mastery. As usually only the highly talented and people with strong backing use this method but its debatable. Frost turned to face Maya with arge smile. Amazing, it feels as though Im full of power. He continued to punch the air and shadow box as if to prove his point. Good how about the skill book, do you know how to cast the [ice bolt] spell? Ah! Frost hadpletely forgot about the reason he had to use his mana in the first ce. He stopped his punches and searched his mind. Cool, everything that was written in the skill book was now in his head. He now knew how to cast the spell [ice bolt], of course hed need to work on his mana control first. I got it. Perfect now we can get started. Maya showed an evil smile as she said that. Seeing how much mana Frost had, she knew hed be able to take a much more rigorous training regimen. Her smile sent shivers down Frosts spine. essing his mana was hard enough but that wasnt even the start. Maya opened up the dungeon menu. Lets move to somewhere a little more appropriate. She clicked something on the screen causing space for her and Frost to warp, teleporting them somewhere. In another room separate from the private living space and dungeon Frost and Maya suddenly appeared from a warp in space. The rooms dimensions were roughly close to 200 metres each way with a 25-metre ceiling. The walls and floor were white in colour and looked incredibly sturdy. Frost stomped on the ground to test its strength. It was absolutely solid but his foot didnt hurt as if it absorbed the entire impact yet there was no distortion or movement from the floor, a strange material. This the training room provided by the core, its simr to the private space but with the sole purpose of training. No matter how hard you hit or how strong your spell is theres no chance youll be able damage these walls. Maya knocked on one the walls as she said this. Well practise your magic, chakra andbat skills in here since it wouldnt be practical if we destroyed part of the dungeon whenever you train. She still had that evil smile on her face as she described the rooms purpose. Gulp Frost audibly gulped; he knew that with his strength theres no way he could destroy the dungeon so the fact that Maya brought him here. Shit! Shes gonna beat the crap out of me. Chapter 14 Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Using magic for the first time Frost couldnt stop his lips from twitching in fear. Mayas smile looked more and more evil the longer he saw it. Whats wrong young master, you look like youve seen a ghost? Maya lightlyughed as she said this. God his face right now is irresistible. Maya licked her lips as if she was looking at a delicious steak. Frost was right to be a little frightened, she fully intended to test the limit of the rooms walls. She hadnt forgotten his previous indiscretions against her, just waiting for the right time to teach him a lesson. Dont worry young master I promise to heal you good as new no matter how much you exert yourself. As long as he didnt lose any limbs, Maya was confident she could heal almost all injuries. Im a dead man. Frosts entire body started to tremble, he felt like a rabbit being stared at by a ravenous wolf. p! Maya loudly pped. Ok I think thats enough enjoyment for now. Her expression returned to normal after pping. ..... Anymore and I wont be able to resist. Eh! Frost was deeply confused, one minute he felt at deaths door and now she was back to normal, his mind was spinning in circles. I promised to give you magic training next not battle training, that will happenter. Maya calmly replied to his confusion. So, youre not gonna beat the crap out of me? As far as he knew magic training shouldnt involve a lot of physical activity, but he couldnt say for certain. Not now at least. Maya tilted her head to the side and smiled while saying this. So, Im gonna get beat up at some point. Frost deeply sighed; he knew deep down that he would be punished eventually for his actions but so soon. Ah forget it, it was worth it. The memory of a soft set of objects enveloping his hand came to the forefront of his mind. Shall we get started young master? Maya didnt know why but the current look on Frosts face made her irritated for some reason, his face looked very pable. Y...yeah sounds good. He quickly erased the image from his mind and regained focus. Now that youve got a spell our first target will be to make sure you can effectively use it. After that well go on to discuss more about magic itself and then move on to chakra. Maya suddenly gave off vibes of a knowledgeable professor all she needed was a ckboard and sses. Since youre now able to sense and move your mana lets just jump right in. Maya brought up a screen above her arm and clicked it a few times. As a result, a wooden target suddenly appeared in the centre of the room. Fire your [ice bolt] spell at this target. The target was roughly humanoid in shape and at least 2 metres tall. As long as he could properly form and send the spell in a straightish direction hed hit it but thats easier said than done. Frosts head switched between facing the wooden target and Maya as if he failed to understand what she just said. He knew that hed struggle to even form an [ice bolt] let alone fire it at a target. You want me to try and hit the target with an [ice bolt]? Frost asked while pointing towards himself. Hecked confidence in his mana control after repeatedly failing to stop it from running rampant earlier. Yes, I do. Maya replied without hesitation and with a slight nod. From here? The target was about 10 metres away from his current position. Yes she nodded once again. Frost looked at her silently for a few seconds before nodding in response. Oh well lets give it a shot. The steps needed to cast the [ice bolt] spell quickly filled his head. He first aimed his right hand toward the target and began building up mana. He imagined the magic crest in his mind and tried to replicate the shape with his mana. [Ice bolt] Frost shouted as the magic crest developed in front of his outstretched hand. It was rather crude and messy in appearance, but it was enough. The mana in his body filled the crest allowing it to produce a thin icicle that rapidly shot out towards the wooden target, grazing its left shoulder and shattering. Frost stood there speechless, his legs frozen in ce and his eyes wide open in awe. I... I did it. Yes, you did young master congrattions. Maya happilyplimented him. She didnt think hed be able to hit the target at all, expecting the icicle to break down after a few metres so she was pleasantly surprised. Of course, he was a long way off from the spell being considered useable, but it was a great start. That was...fun. Frosts gaze altered between his right hand and the partially damaged shoulder of the wooden target. Magic rocks! He clenched his fist and smiled before trying to shoot another [ice bolt], taking the same stance as before. [Ice bolt] [Ice bolt] [Ice bolt] He became engrossed in the spell, repeatedly firing spell after spell. Unfortunately, he wasnt as lucky as most of his shots missed the target, some were way off mark, but it didnt dampen his enthusiasm as he continued to cast. After firing the tenth spell or so his uracy began to improve, with him being able to target different limbs of the dummy. The bolt also seemed to be less rough and narrow the more he cast it. [Ice bolt] [Ice bolt] Thats his fifteenth shot and he still isnt tired, in fact the bolts look stronger than when he started. This fact puzzled Maya as she watched Frostugh and fire off spell after spell. For someone who just essed their mana, they shouldnt be able to continually use mana at such a rapid rate without losing control. He should be struggling to generate a detailed magic crest time after time and the ice bolt should have failed to form by now, but the opposite happened. The magic crest looked more and more perfect after each casting, resulting in a much more powerful spell. Has he already reached beginner mastery? Spells were divided into multiple levels of mastery, the higher the mastery the stronger the spell. [Ice bolt] for example would have more and stronger bolts appear as mastery increased. Beginner mastery meant that Frost was able to cast an ice bolt of the same size and strength repeatedly instead of being erratic e.g., sometimes being thinner or longer or weird in shape. Even if he was considered talented it should take at least a few hours or even days after casting the spell dozens of times, but he achieved it within a few minutes after the tenth shot or so. Monster was the word thate to the forefront of her mind, even she took at least 30 shots before reaching beginner level in her first spell. It must be due to that [One with ice] skill hes got. Refusing to acknowledge her inferiority to Frost she chocked his speed up to the inherent skill that Dark gifted him. [Ice bolt] [Ice bolt] After thirty shots the wooden target waspletely wrecked and covered in shards of ice. Only now did Frost feel a little strained by his constant use of mana but nothing to serious. I could probably cast it another 30 times before passing out. Frost roughly estimated the amount of mana left in his body. He stopped now to admire the remains of his work moving towards the target to closely inspect the damage. Most of the wooden dummy was broken with some areas having holes all the way through. Thest few ice bolts were strong enough to pierce through it and continue flying. Are you quite done young master? Maya suddenly spoke from behind him resulting in him flinching in surprise. Hepletely forgot about her and didnt notice her sneak up behind him. Ugh... yeah. Maya moved past him to touch the wooden target causing the top half to copse and fall over. Maya released a deep sigh at this. You really went all out. She shook her head in dismay. Frost didnt know whether to feel proud or guilty about wrecking the target she provided. Yes maam, Frost responded with his head down. Good looks like youve got a real knack for magic. Maya turned to face Frost nodding in approval. Frost blushed and rubbed under his nose in pride, getting praised by Maya made him feel really good. Since werecking in DP thatll conclude your magic lesson, just practise the spell in this room to help improve your mastery. Eh! Thats it Frost felt rather let down, hoping to have an in-depth discussion about magic or learn another spell. Yeah, you dont really need any guidance on a basic spell, and youve already reached beginner mastery so thats enough for now. Frost had already reached the desired level for magic required before the dungeon opens. He still needed to learn about chakra as well asbat techniques. More in-depth magic lessons can take ce after the fundamentals have been taught. But? Frost was quite fixated on magic and wanted to continue. Theres a set number of things I need to teach you before the dungeon opens. After weve done that, we can do more magic training ok. Maya took on a tone as if coaxing a child. Frost found her tone incredibly annoying and held back the urge to argue, simply clenching his fists in anger and ring. Maya saw the anger in his eyes and released a lightugh in response, she loved messing him, his reactions were always so honest and cute. Anyway, now that you can feel and use your mana freely lets try using chakra. Maya suddenly moved her mana towards her hand allowing it to escape like Frost had done before but with much more control. The escaped mana didnt dissipate or escape far before it started to cover her arm like some sort of armour. This is a good example, changing the shape of your mana into armour to protect your body. Maya raised her arm up high and suddenly punched the ground with incredible force releasing a huge bang as the chakra armour shed against the floor. She raised her arm up before Frost revealing theck of damage to the armour and her arm. When you reach my level, your armour can rival or even exceed that of the hardest of metals, fully protecting the body from damage and even the feeling of impact. Frost watched in awe; the entire floor shook when she punched it showing how much force she used. If Maya covered her entire body in that armour, shed be invincible regardless of how many ice bolts he fired at her. His eyes sparkled at this realisation. Maybe learning about chakra aint so bad. From the knowledge he knew about chakra it came off as something used by those inept at magic but now, well looks like he shouldnt judge a book by its cover. Maya shook her hand dissipating the ice chakra surrounding her arm. Another useful feature for chakra is this. She ced her hand out into mid-air as if to grab something and almost instantly ice mana exited her hand and took the form of a massive hammer. It can take the form of any weapon you desire as well as the strongest of armours well at least when ites to ice based chakra. Maya spun the massive hammer around as if it was weightless, erasing and re-summoning repeatedly to advertise its speed. Im not sure how other types of chakra work but ice chakra certainly shines when ites to physical manifestations such as weapons and armour. She waved her hand again causing the hammer to disappear. Your turn young master. She nodded upwards. Ok what do I do? Frost was very impressed with her disy of chakrapletely overturning his narrow viewpoint. You need to have a clear image of what you want your mana to do and then will it into that shape. I cant exin it much more since its more of a feeling than step by step instruction. Remember when I told you to create a wall to seal up your mana. Frost nodded his head as he remembered, the wall kept breaking and breaking until he created one of multipleyers. The process is simr to that but more detailed, try to make a simple shape first of all. Alright Ill give it a try. Frost closed his eyes and pictured the stream of mana within him. he found it much easier to connect and move it after using the [ice bolt] spell over and over. Simple shape simple shape. He thought of objects he could try and will the mana into. A cube, a sphere or perhaps something more elongated. His mana had now started to be more active, rapidly flowing around his body simr to when he was about to cast a spell. An image suddenly jumped into his mind after he felt the change in his mana. ..... Thatll work, now that he had a solid image, he just needed to mould the mana into shape. After 20 minutes of incredibly focused effort Frost sessfully managed to produce an icicle from his hand. The image he used was that of the [ice bolt] from the spell. It turned out a lot smaller and edgier than nned but he did it, he moulded his mana into shape without the use of a magic crest. The reason it took so long was that the shape continuously broke down while forming causing him to have to start over. By the end he was panting heavily and lying on his backpletely exhausted. Huhhhh uhhhh I...I...I did I...it. barely catching his breath he managed to dere his sess and raise the icicle towards Maya in anticipation for her approval. Chapter 15 Chapter 15: Chapter 15: The Church of Light Maya sauntered over, silently enjoying Frosts exhausted expression. After seeing the makeshift icicle that he produced she felt relieved. If he managed to perfectly reproduce an ice bolt on his first attempt, I dont know howd feel. Regardless of its crude and rough shape, Frost sessfully used chakra showing that he had a talent for it. His results were just a bit more normal, still genius level but closer to hers. She grabbed the icicle and lightly squeezed to check how solid it was. Crack! With just a little pressure the thing began to crack before quickly copsing and returning to simple mana. Seeing this dampened Frosts spirits, he didnt expect his hard work to break so easily. Maya however smiled at seeing this, not for any evil intention but out of pride, this was already considered impressive. Most impressive young master, not only does it seem that you have talent in magic, but your skill with chakra is also just as good. She nodded strongly towards him internally admitting her loss in terms of talent. Thanks Maya, Frost smiled and blushed from embarrassment. ..... Now all you need to do is practise. Mayas evil smile returned. For the next 24 hours including breaks Maya had Frost practise shooting tougher and moving targets with his ice bolt spell all while tossing things at him to break is concentration. On the chakra side it was rtively easy until he was able to create simple weapons like staffs and daggers as well as partially cover parts of his body with decent strength ice armour. After that Maya began attacking him with her fists, constantly smashing his armour and weapons to smithereens and sending him crashing into the walls. Every time he got injured, ran out of mana or was too tired to stand she would cast a healing spell on him and or theyd take a tea break before resuming the torture. After the 10-hour mark Maya stopped holding back her enjoyment,ughing as she tortured him, forcing Frost to endure her attacks like a mad drill sergeant. Even far in the future Frost would have nightmares about this hellish training regimen. That should be enough. Said Maya after sending Frost flying for the umpteenth time. After 24 hours of this brutal training Frost was prone on the floor trembling and convulsing in pain. [Greater heal] constant unfettered attacks caused the wounds on his body to be beyond basic healing spells. Maya had to use a higher level of healing magic if he had any chance of standing up anytime soon. You should have no issues using magic and chakra in basicbat now. Maya was incredibly impressed with his results. Frost rapidly improved throughout the 24 hours causing Maya to repeatedly increase her strength and speed. He should have no issues fighting anyone with D-rankbat ability, hell he could even give entry C-ranks a run for their money. Even in the final hours when she raised her speed to the C-rank level Frost could keep up with her attacks fairly well, dodging and blocking most strikes. Ughgghh! Frost groaned as the spell filled his body with energy healing the majority of his wounds. He slowly stood up, his body still shaking. Even though he was in such a bad condition his smile told a different story. Frost was ecstatic, he enjoyed every moment of the training. Even though the pain was excruciating he could feel his strength growing every time he was attacked. Maya looked over at his body struggling to stand and hisrge creepy smile with interest. He must be an M, she thought. Do you need another heal? Frost stumbled a few times while straightening his back, so she offered in case there was any lingering damage. Cough cough no Ill be fine. He rejected her offer while coughing and tensing his body until he stood straight. He refused an extra healing spell a few times throughout the training, feeling that it would be a waste to remove the pain as though he would miss out on something important. Alright have it your way. Maya shook her head unable to understand his thought process. She looked around the training room in wait. Remnants of wooden and stone targets were dotted around, most of which were covered in shards of ice. Luckily training targets were free to purchase otherwise theyd be in major debt. The most eye-catching feature however was the thousands of blood stains littered on the walls, floor and even the ceiling, Maya had smashed him against it a few times with her uppercuts. Disturbingly this leftover carnage was only from the past few hours. Everything in the training room would repair itself over time erasing their remnants of battle. If it didnt there wouldnt have been any room for them to continue training, the floor would have been covered by broken training targets. Its truly a very useful room. Maya couldnt help but voice her thoughts. The training room was briefly described to her by Dark as being akin to a simtion room. Everything would be free in the room because it technically didnt exist and couldnt leave. Since the room was so overpowered and way to useful Dark put restrictions in ce. It can only be used with your guardians. Only guardians can prepare and summon training equipment. It was temporary. Just like how Maya would eventually part from Frost so would the training room as its sole purpose was to help Dungeon cores gain enough strength to survive on their own. Anymore would be seen as unfair in Darks eyes. Yeah, I agree, Frost had managed to regain his stability and walk over next to Maya. Well have to make good use of it in the time weve got young master. She smiled teasingly sending a shiver down his spine. C...couldnt agree more Maya. Its true that he did enjoy the results of the training, but he still feared the means. Weve got roughly 24 hours before the dungeon bes public. We still need to do some weapon training but other than that I think were ready. Is there anything else you want to know or do before that? Theyd been in this room for an entire day, so she felt like doing something different. Hmm let me think. Frost went silent as he tried to think of things to do. I already know a little about the world and the local area so thats covered. Weve been over magic and chakra. Is there anything actually needed other than weapon training? Frost continued wrack his head for ideas, he too wanted a break from training but didnt want to waste the little time he had either. Ah! An idea suddenly came to him. Hmm you thought of something? Ummm sort of. Frost was rather nervous he wasnt sure if he should ask it or not. The Church of Light. He hesitated before whispering that. He remembered how angry Dark became at the mention of them and since Maya was an avid follower of Darks, he was worried about her reaction. Suddenly bloodlust filled the training room causing Frost to jump back and guard in reflex. Maya reacted in a simr way as Dark only much less restrained. Pure anger and hatred filled her eyes, she clenched her teeth and her entire body tensed as she red in Frosts direction as if he said the most abhorrent of words. Frosts body started to shake from the amount of killing intent being sent his way, his vision started to blur, and his face turned white, he was terrified. Maya! He used everyst ounce of his strength to call her name, the pressure was too much for his body, he felt he could pass out at any second. His shout worked, moments before he was going to ck out, the killing intent receded giving him a chance to breath. Sorry, Maya instantly felt waves of guilt seeing him gasping for air, she rapidly moved in to support his back. Its hu hu al...alright. He expected some sort of angry outburst, so he didnt me her. She rubbed his back gently to help his breathing. Do you really want to know? Her teeth clenched subconsciously as she asked. Its not really a question of want but more need. If this Church of Light caused such fury in his father and Maya, he felt it was integral to his survival to know about this enemy. Maya released a deep sigh, her brow furrowed, and her hand tightened on Frosts shoulder. Fine Ill tell you but Im going to need something stronger than tea. She shook her head sighing once again. Frost and Maya teleported out of the training room and back to the private living space. The training room should be cleared by the time they finished talking. Maya walked straight towards the cupboards and pulled out two sses instead of mugs. There was also tes and bowls in there but since they didnt have any food there hadnt been a use for them yet. Take a seat, Maya gestured for him to sit at the table while she touched the bracelet on her wrist. Arge green coloured ss bottle emerged into her hand, it looked cold to the touch. Maya proceeded to pour a fingers worth into her ss before downing it in a single gulp. Pshhaaa thats good stuff! A red tinge grew on her cheeks. She poured another ss for herself and one for Frost. Try it, she pushed the ss towards him with a smile. Frost grasped the ss and brought it up to his nose to smell it. It smells fruity. Assuming it would taste like the fruit tea he had only cold he copied Maya and downed it in one go. Cough cough, Frost coughed as if choking, taken aback by the intense taste of alcohol. Hahaha Mayaughed out loud at his reaction. What is that stuff? Cough cough. Sake and a strong one hahahaha. The sake as Maya called it did have a sort of apple like taste to it, but it was overpowered by the strong alcohol taste. Here have another, drink it slowly this time, savour the vour. Maya poured another ss for him. Frost looked at the liquid sceptically, his throat was still burning as he wondered why anyone would drink this stuff. He sighed and decided to give it another try, slowly this time. He lifted the cup towards his mouth and took a sip allowing the sake to move around his tongue before swallowing. Hmmm thats actually quite pleasant, I can taste some apple this time. His second taste was much better, he took another sip. Good, isnt it? Maya smiled as she watched Frost enjoy his first taste of alcohol ignoring the fact that he was only two days old. Yeah, if I drink it slowly, is there apples in it? He quickly finished his ss and asked for another. Good taste buds, yeah its a fruit sake with the main vours being apples and plums, one of my personal favourites. Maya happily filled him another ss after downing hers. I still dont see how youd need this to talk about something though? Sure, it was certainly a stronger taste than tea, but he didnt see the importance of alcohol. Hehehehe ask me that again after another couple of sses. Maya lightlyughed before filling their sses once again. 5 sses and 5 minutester. Wheew hehehe, Frosts face was as red as tomato, and he felt incredibly giddy. The more sake he drank the fonder he became, even more so than tea. However, after a few minutes he started to understand why Maya needed such a drink. He was tipsy, his words had even started to slur and his body felt hot and numb. Quite a pleasurable experience he thought. Maya wasnt anywhere near as bad as him since she was an avid drinker, she only had a slight blush but was in full capacity. Alright I think Im tipsy enough to talk without losing my cool. Frosts ears perked up at this, he shook his head to try and regain a little focus. I need to hear this word for word. Where to begin? Maya continued to pour herself sses, no longer refilling Frosts after he became red in the face. Chapter 16 Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Weaponbat I guess I should start with the God of Light. A new term, Frost knew that his father was the God of Darkness known as Dark but nothing about his colleague. The world of Nova wasnt created solely by Dark God-sama, it was a joint effort with Light God-sama. The two of thembined their powers to create the world and fill it with life since it was too difficult for a single God. Maya fiddled with her empty ss. Before you and your siblings Dark God-sama created thousands if not tens of thousands of different species for Nova as did Light God-sama. Frost was taken aback by the numbers and felt the greatness of his father. For example, Dark God-sama created ck dragons whereas Light God-sama created white dragons each having dominion over their respective dark and light magic. As Nova became more and more diverse in its inhabitants more effort was put into creating the next species. Eventually Light-God sama created a species known as humans. Mayas voice suddenly dropped an octave revealing her anger. At first and in general humans are just like dwarves or beastmen, not leaning to any one side and being adapt in many elements. Killing intent started to leak from Maya once again so she drank 3 sses in quick session. Several hundred years ago a church called the Church of Light was founded, no ones really sure how or why it started but they began to besmirch Dark God-sama. Which wasnt really a big deal as there were many in the past who had a vendetta against the Gods however, they quickly became incredibly radical and dangerous. They preached human supremacy in the name of the Light God, aiming to reduce any creations of Dark God-sama to ves or outright killing them. The ss in her hand shattered from her squeezing too hard. They established a human supremacist country known as the Holy White empire on the central continent and shortly after its creation it began expanding its borders through force, subduing and enving races such as beastmen which they abhorred most of all. Massive wars spread throughout Nova because of them resulting in an uncountable number of deaths, scarring the world forever. Maya could barely restrain herself; her eyes were aze, and veins bulged on her forehead. ..... With thebined effort of many countries and powerful people the Holy White empire was eventually restricted to the central continent unable expand any further. But they are constantly eyeing for weaknesses among the entities that fought against them, aiming to exploit them so as to achieve their goals. Cold sweat covered Frosts body and fear filled his heart. How could one church cause such horror? The more Maya talked the more fearful he became, the only sce being that he was on the Northern Yangmir continent, far away from them. Unfortunately for the vast majority of non-human species in the central continent they live in constant fear and oppression. Maya felt powerless at this thought tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She was a fenrir, not unlike a beastmen, her own kind were suffering such hardship. Why didnt father or even the Light God do anything? Frost couldnt understand, from his short interaction with Dark he felt that he couldnt be someone whod just stand by and watch this happen. Because they couldnt. Maya looked downward in pain. Huh why? If they created the world and all its inhabitants, then why couldnt they simply erase a little church. Dark God-sama and Light god-sama cannot interfere with the world on an individual level, they made this agreement right at the beginning of time so as to impart fairness. They can only erase entire species if they are deemed a threat to Nova and since not all humans were involved, they couldnt bring themselves to do it, leaving them powerless to act. Frost could feel the pain in her voice. But thats. Infuriating right, Frost couldnt help but agree, all that power but unable to do anything with it. He now understood his fathers reaction at the mention of the Holy White empire. How did they even manage to gain so much power? This was what shocked Frost most, how did this church manage to be so dangerous. Haaaaaaa Maya released a deep sigh. Originally they were just strong masters of light magic making them adept at fighting those with the dark element but that wouldnt be enough to fight so much opposition. Apparently, they managed to gain a divine artefact drastically increasing their firepower. Divine artefact? Another new term. Whats that? No ones really sure but it was rted to the Light God, luckily during the grand war it was destroyed ying a major part in the empire retreating. Maya held up her hands and shook her head, she knew nothing more than that about it. Frost took a deep breath strengthening his resolve. Tell me everything you can think of. Maya looked him directly in the eyes before nodding and downing the rest of the sake. For the next 2 hours Maya spoke of all the Holy White empire and the Church of Lights transgressions as well as the progression of the grand war step by step. ording to Maya the Church of Light still had hidden enves dotted around the other four continents so its still possible to run into them. Well... shit, was all Frost could say, his earlier assumption about being safe on the Yangmir continent was narrow minded. Now he needed to be wary of a hidden enemy. Thats an understatement but yeah shit. Maya cleared up the broken ss with a dustpan while replying. I cant say it was the kind of break I was looking for but hopefully that was what you wanted. She scraped the shards into a bucket in the kitchen along with the leftover sake bottle. Oh, and you owe me a bottle of premium sake, this shit was expensive. Ugh, Frost wasnt expecting that, but he understood her reasoning. Oh well I guess I could get her a bottle when we visit Furano. He nned to visit the nearest town shortly after stabilising the rate of adventurers. Yeah, I got what I wanted; shall we head back to the training room now? Performing some exercise would help relieve the built-up tension. Exactly what I was thinking young master, I really need to let loose. She whispered thest part while mming her fists together. A shiver ran down Frosts back. Shit whats she thinking now. The two of them teleported back to the now spotless training room to carry out the next step, weapon training. Hard to believe I bled here. There wasnt a spot of red left, it was back to a pristine white. Dont worry we can always make you bleed again. An evil smile returned to Mayas face. Demon, Frost muttered quietly under his breath. Hmm what was that? Mayas head swivelled round like a doll looking incredibly frightening. N...nothing Thats what I thought. She happily smiled sending shivers down his back. Alright weapon training lets get started. She loudly pped to start the lesson. Earlier when you were using chakra you created many different weapons such as staffs, daggers, swords and stuff right? Yeah, I didnt know which one fit me right or was best for the situation, so I tried lots. He even tried a massive hammer like Mayas, but it was far too heavy for him to use causing an embarrassing situation. Your status didnt reveal anytent skills in regard to weapon types so its natural to feel that way. She touched the silver bracelet on her wrist once again, summoning what appeared to be a lump of soft metal. A metal slime? It looked just like the frost slimes he summoned only grey in colour and motionless. Not exactly but I see the resemnce. Maya lightlyughed at hisment. This is known as morphing metal; it can alter its shape with the injection of mana. Maya injected a little of her mana into the metal lump causing its shape to drastically change. Maya now held a massive metal hammer in her hands. Here you try, She tossed the metal hammer towards Frost without hesitation causing him to panic and il his hands and brace himself for its weight. However, the instant the hammer left Mayas hands it returned to the form of a metal lump making it easy to catch. Without mana it cant retain its shape and even when in its weapon form its no better than simple iron. She shook her head in disappointment. If the morphing metal was incredibly strong itd likely put cksmiths out of business. Then whats the point of it? He fiddled around with metal lump, it was lighter than he expected, soft too. Suddenly a massive amount of killing intent rammed into Frost tensing his entire body. He instinctively raised his hands along with morphing metal in defence. He released his mana to create chakra armour, but it inadvertently flowed into the morphing metal lump causing its shape to quickly change. The killing intent receded once the metal took shape. A 2.5-metre-long ive was now held in Frosts hands in a defensive posture, he was still in shock from the killing intent, so he didnt realise the change. W...what was that for! He yelled in anger, they were having a friendly and educational conversation when out of the blue Maya sent an unbelievable amount of blood lust his way almost making him crap himself. Take a look genius. Maya nodded towards therge ive now in his hands with an evil smile on her face. Look at wha... his angry reply was cut short as he noticed the weapon in his hand. This is a... ive right? He closely examined it getting a feel for its weight. Yeah, looks like thats your mostpatible weapon type, rather unusual but a strong weapon. Frost continued to swing the weapon, sometimes with a single hand or both. It felt right in his hands as if it were an extension of himself. Since you dont have any weapon talent skills yet and you dont have too much experience the morphing metal is the perfect option. When youre subjected to enough force that you feel your life is in danger the morphing metal will take the form of the weapon most suited for you to defend yourself with. You can certainly use and even master other weapons like swords and even hammers like mine, but youll progress much faster and easier with the ive. Frost clenched tightly onto the ives handle with both his hands before ferociously swinging with his entire weight, releasing a st of wind. Awesome, it felt nothing like this when he swung the chakra dagger or staffs he made. Unfortunately creating a chakra ive would probably be beyond his capabilities at least in the short term. Maybe I should see how much one would be in the dungeon menu. He still had 220Dp actually probably 250Dp now since another day had passed. Unfortunately, this time your training wont really involve me personally getting involved as its more about improving weapon handling than simply fighting. Maya waved her hand building up mana. [Ice form: golem] an advanced magic crest formed in the middle of the room summoning what appeared to be an ice version of Maya although much rougher in appearance. It was armed with a ive simr to the one Frost wielded. This golem will be your sparring partner. Itll only use ive-based attacks and your job is to learn from it as you fight. Youre forbidden in using any magic or chakra, utilising only your ive for attacking and defending. Unless youre able to attain the ive mastery skill you wont be able to win. Maya had set the golem to have a specific level of strength as well as skill with the ive, unless Frost matched that skill level or surpassed it hed be unable to win without the aid of magic or chakra. Frost looked at the golem, its expressionless face giving him goose bumps. Whyd she have to give it her face? Maya moved away from the two of them summoning afortable sofa from the training menu to sit on. All she needed now was a tub of popcorn and a drink and shed be set. Begin! At the sound of her voice the golem entered a battle-ready stance, holding its ive high in the air before charging at Frost without warning. Ah shit! He quickly blocked the golems strike with the de end, narrowly avoiding being sliced in half. He obviously didnt defend very well considering the impact violently vibrated the handle hurting his hands. The golem didnt let up, pulling back for another strike. This time he chose to dodge by rolling out of the way resulting in the golems weapon striking the ground with a loud bang. Fuck, a single hit from that and Ill die regardless of her healing magic. Frost frowned in distress, his heart beating rapidly from his near-death encounter. His lips however were upturned in a mad smile, his hands trembling due to excitement, the thrill of battle. ..... Chapter 17 Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Golembat and weapon mastery Frost eyed the ice golem as it pulled up its weapon after realising it missed. It turned around robotically ready to attack once again. Try not to lose any limbs young master. Maya nonchntly waved while yawning, she was making herselffortable preparing to take a light nap, not caring about what might happen. Frost had a dumbfounded expression on his face as he heard that, his momentarypse in concentration allowed the golem to reach striking distance once again. Ah shit! Cant even have a second to think, isnt this a bit much for a beginner. You wouldnt chuck in someone who couldnt swim into the middle of the ocean. Thats exactly how it felt to him, the golem was just as if not faster than him plus it knew how to wield a ive while he didnt. Without magic or chakra, it was certainly going to be an uphill battle. He had to inelegantly roll away once again to avoid being sliced. This time however he attempted to attack as soon as he regained his stance. He swung down from up high simr to the golems first strike hoping to catch it off guard. ..... Pang! The ice golem quickly raised its ive, expertly parrying away his strike with ease leaving him wide open. The golem then smacked his chest with the butt of the ive severely winding him andunching him through the air. Ughhh! Frost coughed violently trying to catch his breath, his ribs had been bruised making every breath hurt. The golem didnt chase after him this time, allowing him to momentarily heal before taking a defensive stance and beckoning him with its hand. This filled him with anger, it wasnt the fact that a golem was toying with him that pissed him off but the fact that it had Mayas face. She did that intentionally that damn vixen. Frost took a painful deep breath to calm down, since the golem wasnt attacking and was waiting for him, he took some time to prepare. He closed his eyes and tried to picture the golems movements before repeating them himself. His eyes opened when he was ready. He slowly walked towards his opponent, taking a battle-ready stance when he was within a few metres of his target. The golem stood there silently in wait for his strike. After a few seconds of them staring each other down, Frost made his move. He slowly edged closer until he was in reach before once again swinging down, this time however it was more controlled and lighter. It made no difference to the golem though as it once again parried away his strike with a simple flick, easily finding the weak points in his movements. Due to it being a light swing he didnt be open to a counterattack, allowing him to roughly parry the oing bash, resulting in the ives butt merely scratching his side. The attack didnt end there though, the golem spun around, rotating its ive to slice off Frosts head. Shi.... He quickly ducked having a just a few hairs float down, before falling and rolling backwards. The golem once again entered a defensive stance beckoning him forward. The golem acted like an instructor, first teaching their student how to defend themselves before attacking. This process of Frost attempting to attack the golemsted for an hour before it was satisfied with his abilities, it then went back on the offensive having Frost be the one defending this time. Bang Vwing Pang, arge number of different sounds continued to escape within the training room. Frost and the golem were repeatedly swinging at one another without remorse, smashing their weapons together with extreme force. After several hours of pure ivebat, Frost was covered in cuts and gashes as well as multiple bruises from when he was struck with the handle or butt, hell the golem even kicked him a few times. The golem however was not looking so good either, there were cracks and fissures along its body, even its face looked as though it got punched repeatedly-which it did-, much to Mayas annoyance when she saw it. Frost was now fighting equally with the golem, matching its speed, precision, and technique. He could now safely parry away its strikes and counterattack but struggled to surpass it, thats why both of them were injured. Hu hu hu Frost panted heavily as he stood his ground against the golems onught of strikes. Several times throughoutbat he needed to reapply mana to the morphing metal since it kept denting from the blows. He could feel that he was on the cusp of grasping something, every time he sessfully caught the golem or parried its blows, he felt lighter, faster, like he was in the zone. He was currently parrying its unending attacks like nothing, as if he didnt feel their weight in the slightest. He was waiting for something. Now! Suddenly after one of his parries the golem waspletely unguarded giving him ample opportunity, this was what he was waiting for. Hed managed to understand its rhythm and exploit its weak points. The golems arms were in the air and weapon nearly escaping its grasp, Frost lowered his body before gripping his ive firmly with both hands. He smiled and mouthed the words thank you before rapidly swinging his weapon like a god of war, slicing the golem at its waist, cleaving it in two. The golems two parts smashed against the ground before fading back into mana, he seeded. Sweat was pouring down his forehead and he could barely feel his arms due to exhaustion but even, so he felt so full of energy. I did it, he jumped up in joy, fist pumping the air, ignoring his injuries. p p Maya started pping from her sofa, like a queen watching a diator match, congratting the victor. Well done young master you won. After hearing her voice all the tension in his body left resulting in him copsing onto the floor, prone on his back panting for every breath. That was fun. He truly enjoyed every second of that battle, from beginning to end he constantly felt himself improve and every time he did the golem would up the ante. Adding another attack to its moves or even increasing its speed constantly making him work. It was at this moment he realised he was a bit of a battle junkie. I could tell from therge smile you constantly had on your face that you enjoyed it. [Heal] Maya casted a healing spell to restore his skin from the gashes and regenerate his lost blood. There was a good chance hed faint now that the tension was gone if she didnt. Frost slowly stood up once the spell wasplete, using the metal ive to assist him. Check your status. Once he was fully standing, he opened up the dungeon menu to view his status. Name: Frost (007) Race: Dungeon core Element: Ice Skills: [One with ice], [Basic ive mastery] Spells: [Ice bolt] It was slightly different from thest time he looked, now he had a spell section as well the [Basic ive mastery] skill. Its there, I have the skill [Basic ive mastery]. He was unsure as to what it actually did for him, it was the same with the [One with ice] skill, he couldnt feel it or activate it in any way. Tsk, Maya clicked her tongue in annoyance, she expected as much since he managed to defeat the golem, she summoned but it still ticked her off. He was only supposed to get [Beginner ive mastery], [Basic ive mastery] was one level higher. Whats with the tongue clicking? Frost asked rather annoyed, he had no knowledge on the different levels of mastery. Nothing just a little envious. Maya rubbed her brow and sighed. The golem I summoned was actually a little stronger than it should have been. You think! He nearly lost his life a fair few times. I thought as much. He knew there was something wrong with the difficulty. The golem was far too adept at using the ive for a beginner. Ugghh, Maya groaned and looked to the side with slight guilt. The golem had almost [Basic ive mastery] like the skill you got instead of beginner level which is the first level of mastery when ites to weapons. So basic is the second level. Frost pondered wondering when he might have achieved the beginner level. Weapon mastery is spilt into 8 levels. Beginner Basic Adept Advanced Expert Peak Perfect And finally, Origin. However generally only the first six are taken into consideration since so few people ever reach perfect or origin level. Each sessive level is multiple times harder to achieve than thest and generally even after decades of practise people rarely surpass advanced mastery, with the majority being stuck at adept for their entire lives. The fact that you achieved basic mastery within a few hours is astonishing, your innate talent for the ive is truly unique. Even Maya who was considered a prodigy among the already legendary Fenrirs took 3 days of constant battle to achieve it. Of course, it may just mean that Frosts talent with the ive was incredibly high and that hes useless with other weapons but still its a miraculous achievement. Maya couldnt help but feel envious and a little annoyed, as if the system was rigged for Frost. She just hoped that hede across some difficulty in theter levels otherwise she wouldnt be able to hold her head up high. Maya wasnt exactly far off with her imagination. Dark didnt exactly rig the system, but he certainly made it easier for the dungeon cores to advance. He gave each of his children high levels of talent in differing areas in the hope that theyd be strong enough to survive the world quickly. Theyd still need to put in a lot of effort to improve further on, but their talent would make it far easier. Maya also couldnt reallyin since she too was born as a Fenrir and one with a high level of talent, Frost was just of an even more powerful species. Frosts face heated up with pride, the fact that he was only a single level beneath the worlds majority filled him with happiness. He smiled rather obscenely as he grew cocky. Dont get cocky, youre still considered weak in the grand scheme of things. Maya quickly shouted the instant she saw his irritating smirk. She half said this out of anger from her inferiority and half to teach him humility. Even though he was considered a prodigy, right now many could swat him like a fly before he gets to grow in strength. Cough cough, Frost coughed in response as he attempted to straighten out his face and regain hisposure. Now that youve achieved [Basic mastery] with the ive and your magic and chakra skills are enough to use in battle I guess were done here. She brought up the dungeon menu. Weve got just over half a day until the dungeon opens and 250DP left in the bank so do what you want until then, Im going for a short nap. Maya held her hand up as she yawned before stretching upwards straining the chest area of her clothes and teleporting out of the training room. Given the features of the dungeon, Maya and Frost didnt actually require sleep thanks to the constant stream of mana flowing within the dungeon but talking about the Church of Light, drinking, and then summoning an advanced golem for a prolonged period of time created a lot of mental fatigue and a taking a nap is the best and most pleasant cure, plus to get as beautiful as Maya it takes a lot of beauty sleep. Frost barely managed to say good night before she vanished from his sight. Well, what should I do? He couldnt use any of the training rooms features since Maya wasnt present, but he could still use the room itself. After being healed by Maya he didnt feel that tired, so he had more than enough energy to practise some more magic or chakra. ..... Chakra maniption didnt have a level system like magic or mastery like with weapons so its hard to gauge how good one was with it. Although he could generate ice armour on parts of his body it was nowhere near the same strength or density as the one Maya produced. Why isnt my chakra represented in my status? This questioned puzzled Frost after he learned about the different levels of weapon mastery. Spells had different levels depending on theplexity and strength of the magic crest used but chakra had nothing yet there was a clear difference. Even with his mind being full of questions about chakra, no new information suddenly flowed into him like earlier. How bizarre, it seemed as though he just needed to repeatedly train and train without any clear-cut system. This didnt actually bother him that much since he was fine with it, but it did puzzle him, whats the difference? Why do they have a system, yet chakra doesnt? Unbeknownst to Frost, Chakra was a very recent discovery. Only monsters were known to be able to utilise magic like attacks without crests, so they hasnt been enough time to establish a proper system as the world was still learning its capabilities. Dark had thought about trying to establish a system as he did with the monsters levels but either ran out of time, couldnt be bothered, or simply forgot but if asked hed probably respond by saying. If there isnt a system, why dont you make one. Even though most people would simply be in awe due to his status, Frost knew his true personality and would probably pick up on the false bravado. Chapter 18 Chapter 18: Chapter 18: First weapon Frost pulled up his hand to rub his chin subconsciously as he delved deeper into his thoughts. Donggg ow! He didnt realise that he was still holding onto the metal ive resulting in it bashing against his skull. He dropped the ive in response and rubbed his sore forehead while muttering some profanities. Once the ive left his hand it quickly turned back into a metal lump and crashed onto the floor. Ah! she forgot the morphing metal. Frost announced in realisation, Maya had lent it to him for the battle but left to sleep before he could give it back. After the repeated bashing it received from the ice golem, he had to constantly feed mana into it in order to reform its shape otherwise he would have been fighting with a deformed metal stick instead of a ive. Without the constant stream of mana, it was just a solid lump, useless for fighting. He was still rubbing his head in pain Perhaps I should buy a proper weapon. Even if Maya allowed him to keep the morphing metal, he felt that it wasnt a very good option. Hed find it nearly impossible to utilise chakra or magic while at the same time pumping mana into the metal to retain its form. I wonder what I can get for 250DP he could wait until the end of the day to receive another 30DP but a mere 30DP shouldnt make much difference. On this thought he brought up the dungeon menu to scroll through ..... Lets see, weapons, weapons ah here it is. He cycled through the menu until he found weapons. The list was fairly extensive and neatly divided into different sections depending on the type and quality of the weapon. Frost only had ess to the first two sections, with the others being locked, most likely due to hisck of strength or the menu being iplete. Anyway, it wasnt like he could afford the higher rank weapons in the first ce and with his current mastery hed only bring shame to the weapon if he did. Lets see the first section is ssified as one-star weapons and the second as two star. Simr to magic, weapons were graded on their strength. Basic iron weapons fell under 1 star whereas steel was considered 2 stars. An iron ive costs 150DP and a steel one costs 350DP so obviously a 2-star weapon is out of the question. Even the cheapest 2-star ive was still 300DP so even after waiting for the day to end wouldnt be enough. There was also a special material probably unique to Frost called pykrete which was predominantly made of ice along with sawdust or wood pulp to create a fairly solid structure. A pykrete ive fell under 1 or 2 star quality, by using older and stronger ice and or wood the weapon became higher in quality. Since the other sections were locked, he couldnt see if pykrete was avable as 3 star or higher weapons. Frost looked gloomily at his options, going for an iron ive would probably be the wisest choice but remembering how easily the morphing metal was dented in his battle with the ice golem filled him with doubts. Maya mentioned that the consistency of iron and the morphing metal were simr, at least with the morphing metal he could reshape it with mana but with iron it would be scrap metal, requiring to be reforged. Its a shame that the frost dwarvescked the required skills and equipment to repair it if it became damaged. He was at a loss on what to do, he felt that he really needed to have some form of weapon even if it was of low quality before the dungeon opened. The more he looked at the iron ive the more annoyed he got. Isnt 150DP a bit much, its the same price as a frost wolf. Frost was unsure how iron would hold up against a frost wolf, but it still felt a little pricey. He had nned to use weapons as lures or rewards for intruders to keep theming back but he felt price wise it would be rather costly in the long run. Frost didnt know too much about the state of weapons in the local area but within the nearby viges and even the town of Furano, receiving an iron weapon would be a very nice reward. Most adventurers rely heavily on their weapons and constantly have to repair or buy new ones after every quest or so, resulting inrge expenses. Iron weapons may be rather weak and simplepared to others but its the primary material used by adventurers under D-rank. Receiving a brand new, undamaged iron weapon would be a very nice surprise for low ranking adventurers. Even D and C ranks would probably appreciate it as they could sell it or keep it as a backup weapon. Adventuring may sound like an exciting and noble upation, but it takes a lot of preparation and money to do it properly otherwise you wontst very long. As Frost was weighing his options going back and forth trying to note the pros and cons of buying an iron weapon. Hmmm perhaps its because its a ive. Frost went out of the ive section and into swords to see if there was any price fluctuation. Since the ive would be at least 6ft long and a regr sword would be half that, it should cost less no? So, it is cheaper. Frosts guess was correct, though it wasnt half the cost it was certainly cheaper. An iron sword cost 100DP and a steel one cost 250DP. This meant he could currently afford to buy a 2-star weapon as long as it was a sword. Its a shame though that his talents suited a ive. Frost didnt know if he was talented with any other weapons but felt itd be best not to waste money on what ifs especially for his first weapon. Haaaaaa looks like Ill be buying an iron ive then. Frost released a deep sigh of resignation before he spoke. He wasnt exactly pleased with his decision but felt it was the most appropriate. After clicking confirm on his purchase and seeing his remaining DP dwindle to a meagre 100 points, a magic crest appeared on the floor in front of him. The magic crest glowed, and an iron ive slowly rose up from it reaching up until it stood at 7 feet tall. The design was fairly simple no adornments or engravings. The shaft appeared to be made of pine wood with the butt and de being made of iron. It came already sharpened and polished, light was reflected and bent when it struck against the de making it look quite pretty. It may look simple, but it was certainly a weapon, once swung it would deal a fair amount a damage, what use would adornments have in battle other than for aesthetics. Frost grasped onto the hilt lifting the ive from the ground and entering a battle stance in order to get a good feel for it. Once the ive left the floor the magic crest disappeared. Frost twirled the weapon smoothly and took several swings from different angles, overhead cuts, side sweeps, upper cuts, and stabs. The more he swung the happier he became; a smile quickly adorned his face. His initial negative view on purchasing an iron weapon was overturned, he felt that the ive was perfectly bnced, the weight was just right and the gleam from the de revealed its sharpness. Even a highly skilled cksmith wouldnt be able to create such a masterpiece. Although its base was still simply iron it was made to the highest of standards, Frost now felt that 150DP was too cheap. Hopefully, it holds up in actual battle. Regardless of how well bnced or sharp it was, if it didnt perform well in shing against enemies then itd be useless, a mere decoration. Actually, I might get a few of these in future to decorate the castle interior room, they should fit in nicely. He stopped swinging the ive and closely admired its simplicity, imaging the third section being decorated with iron ives on the walls. He pictured it especially ced above a roaring firece next to some sort of hunting trophy. Guess Ill practise for the next few hours at least. Coming out of his decorating mood Frost remembered that he needed to do something for the next several hours until the dungeon opens. He felt that Maya would probably like to nap for at least 2 or 3 hours, so he wont disturb the private space until then. For the next 3 hours Frost practised battling with his iron ive, shadow fighting the ice golem from earlier as well as practising his chakra control. He repeatedly improved the speed in creating chakra armour, unfortunately his control didnt reach the level in which he could create an ice ive, just slightly better daggers. He didnt improve too much with his magic either, just increasing his speed but unable to create an extra ice bolt. He was unaware of how much time had passed until Maya teleported into the training room and snuck up behind him. Boo! Maya shouted and grasped his shoulders from behind. Ahhh! Frost got the fright of his life; he was currently sitting cross legged going over the fight with the ice golem for the umpteenth time when Maya suddenly shouted and grabbed him. He was so focused on his thoughts that he didnt even notice her approach. What the fuck was that for? You scared me half to death. Maya currently had an extremely shocked expression. She expected to give him a scare but not such a big one. Frost had jumped several feet into the air and his chest was heaving up and down due to his raised heartbeat. She even forgot tough she was so shocked. Frost noticing that Maya was silent and frozen in ce allowed him to calm down. All his shock and anger vanished, he overreacted and could honestly say that hed probably do the same thing to her if the positions were reversed. Uhhh well that was a let-down. She wanted to give him a yful fright and have a littleugh, but her target acted like he saw a ghost. Haaaaaa Frost let out a sigh. I guess youve finished your nap? He said with slightly annoyed tone. Why yes young master I have, and it was great. A lot of beauty sleep is required to maintain these looks. Maya pridefully pointed to her face while bragging. Yes, yes youre beautiful, I get it. Frost shook his head in resignation, he had no counter argument. That I am, Maya grinned proudly. Are you here for a specific reason or just to annoy me? Hmmm probably thetter hehehe. Frost staggered almost losing his bnce at her reply. Weve got less than 10 hours left so what do you want to do? Ignoring Frosts stumble Maya asked without hesitation. She was all hyped up after having her beauty sleep and wanted to do something fun. Frost restrained his frustration, adjusting his rapid breathing before thinking. I think Im done with battle practise so something else. Frost had been in this room for hours and hours constantly pushing his limits and he was rather exhausted physically and mentally. He felt that he wouldnt improve much anyway with the time left so doing something more fun and easier would be best. He continued to think and run down options, there was nothing he needed to do but he didnt really know what he wanted. Maya patiently waited at his side. Alright first off a break in the private space, Ill figure out what to do after that. Luckily his clothes had some sort of self-cleaning feature that helped clean his body and clothes of sweat and bloodstains. Maya said it resembled the lifestyle magic spell called [clean up] when she first saw it. Lifestyle magic is nonbat magic also considered unranked magic since their power is too weak to be considered 1st circle. Anyone with even the smallest amount of mana should be able to use lifestyle magic with a little practise. Frost nned on learning a few in the future but for now the dungeon takes care of most of his needs. Chapter 19 Chapter 19: Chapter 19: The Dungeon opens For the remaining ten hours before the dungeon opens, Frost first took a short break in the private space to enjoy some tea. He chatted pleasantly with Maya, learning a little more about her and his father before engaging with his monsters, growing their bond. He yed catch with the frost wolves and discussed weaponry with the dwarves who had already gotten to work on creating little defence zones in the second section. They inspected some of the traps along with an entourage of goblins and slimes that refused to leave their sides. Basically, they rxed and had fun together since the important stuff was already done. Just a few more minutes. Frost and Maya returned to the private space, to sit at the table in wait. Frost was on the edge of his seat as he said this, full of anticipation. He watched the seconds tick away on the clock. The dungeon was set to open at 8am local time, 3 days after he arrived. The dungeon will only open at 8, who knows how long itll take to encounter any adventurers, rx. Maya tried to downy the event but couldnt help but smile. She was also incredibly excited but felt that she had to act cool, and calm given that she was the older one and his guardian. Yeah, yeah I get it but as soon as the clock strikes 8, Ill be able to see the outside world regardless of any adventurers. Frost had asked Maya to tell him about the outside several times so as to satisfy his curiosity. Every time he visited the entrance of the dungeon, hed be met with a dark ck barrier blocking his vision, making him feel rather ustrophobic. He desperately wanted to run outside and smell real fresh air. Dark repeatedly mentioned the size of Nova so he didnt want to be trapped inside for much longer. 5...4...3...2...1 Frost and Maya counted the remaining seconds left together and as soon as the clock hit 8 there was a loud rumble and an imposing voice entered both of their heads. Hello, my cute children, I hope you had a good time designing your dungeons because now the 3-day time limit is up, and your dungeons will be open to the public. I wish you luck kids and remember well be having a family gathering a month from now, so look forward to it, bye bye Dark spoke in a yful tone before vanishing. A family gathering, Frost felt overjoyed at the sound of that, he eagerly looked forward to seeing his many brothers and sisters. He looked over to Maya wondering if she heard the same thing. ..... Maya had indeed heard the same message and was momentarily stunned. Was that really Dark God-sama? Shed never heard him act like that before. He was always so formal and divine whenever she encountered him. Ummm Maya? Frost waved his hand in front of her face since she wasnt reacting to his voice. Ugh yeah she pulled her thoughts together, ending her daze. Did you hear? Frost softly asked. Yeah, the dungeons now open and theres a family gathering in one month. What do you think about this family gathering? That mischievous old man wouldnt do something so simple there has to be another meaning. I believe Dark God-sama intends to make this into some sort ofpetition. Instead of seeing how everyone is doing, its more likeparing whos a better dungeon maker. Maya gave her honest thoughts. I knew it, a simple family meeting would be to dull for him. Frost was truly excited about meeting his siblings but knew about his fathers yful personality. Sounds like hes alreadyparing the young masters and madams. Looks like well need to try extra hard to get a high amount of DP during this month. Thought Maya in response. A few momentster Frost remembered that the outside world was now open to him. His eyes lit up and grand smile adorned his face as he teleported to the dungeons entrance, leaving Maya behind. Maya was momentarily shocked and a little annoyed but understood his reasoning. She lightly sighed and smiled before following after him. Space distorted at the dungeons entrance; Frost appeared with Maya following closely behind a few secondster. Frost originally wanted to rush straight out without waiting for Maya, but he was ovee with anxiety. The idea of experiencing the world made him nervous, so he patiently waited for Maya to catch up. Before them, therge stone entrance which was previously blocked off by arge ck barrier was now clear. Frost could hear and feel the air from outside rushing into the dungeon. The air was cold and powerful like a blizzard, simr to parts of the dungeons first section but also different, it was proper air, not fabricated by the dungeon. Frost looked towards Maya in order to give himself reassurance and courage, he was a lot more nervous than he thought hed be. Maya looked back in his direction and noticed the peculiar state he was in. She smiled and grabbed his hand. Shall we go young master? She calmly asked while gently looking into his eyes. She felt that her young master was growing cuter every day. Frost felt the softness of her hand, it was smooth like silk and much smaller than his, yet it filled him strength. He looked towards her and nodded before quickly walking towards the entrance with her hand in hand. The two of them walked fairly quickly, passing through the threshold where the barrier once stood in a matter of seconds. Once they reached the end or rather the start of the dungeon they were hit by a strong cold breeze and a bright white light causing them to shield their eyes. The dungeon opened up into what looked like a winter wondend. To their backs was a massive mountain covered in snow and ice that reached up into the heavens. The halfway point couldnt even be seen let alone the peak. Multiple simr mountains could be seen attached to the sides and behind it creating a very imposing pressure. This was the first mountain of the huge cial Mountain range that spanned across arge chunk of the northern region of the Yangmir continent. Ahead of them was arge open ground covered in snow several feet deep before turning into a massive snow-covered forest. Strong winds were prevalent, throwingrge amounts of snow everywhere, making it difficult to see. Even though there was snow everywhere and strong winds, there wasnt a single cloud in the sky and a great orange sun was beaming down. Three moons could also be seen high up the sky, one being dark violet in colour and the others being blue. It was the strong light given off by the sun reflecting in the snow that nearly blinded Frost and Maya. Their eyes adjusted after a few seconds allowing them to enjoy the wonders of their current environment. Woah! Frost was blown away by the scenerys beauty, even though it looked very close to the dungeons first two sections albeit without the mountains it felt so much better. He couldnt quite exin it, but it was something instinctual, no matter how good the dungeons environment was it wasnt the real outside. His vision flicked between the snow-covered opennd and the unending forest of trees before he eventually took notice of the imposing mountain behind him. Holy shit! He craned his head up so far back in order to see that he fell backwards. Maya released a beautiful chuckle at this before offering to help him up. Frost blushed in embarrassment, rejecting her hand, and standing up himself. He felt like a countryside farm boy being shocked by the views of the big city. He took a few steps out with the dungeon hoping to get a better view of the mountain but it didnt help. At most he could see maybe a third of it but that was aplete guess, even the width of this mountain was imposing, looking left and right he couldnt even see the elevation change much let alone the end. Its got to be at least several hundred kilometres wide and thats just one of them. He could make out some of the other mountains behind it. Several kilometres away there was another mountain opposite and along with this mountain they constituted the southern entrance to the cial mountains. Arge valley meandered through the gap allowing ess. The cial mountains span tens of thousands of kilometres and take up the majority of the northern region. The deeper you go therger the mountains be; these few could be considered some of the smallest. Maya coolly informed him. Frosts face twitched; he couldnt fathom the fact that the mountain in front of him was considered small. Father really wasnt kidding when he said Nova was big. Frost shook his head at the thought before smiling. Oh well just means theres more of it to explore. He had no idea how long it would take him or if it was even possible, but he had the urge to climb each of the mountains in the cial Mountain range andugh out loud in triumph once he reached the peaks. Is there any other massive regions like this on the Yangmir continent? Frost asked like he was nning his bucket list. Theres a few, first off to the west and connected to the cial mountains would be the Storm Mountains which are constantly covered in lightning storms. Next would be the spirt swamp in the east which contains deadly poisons, both in nts and monsters. Finally, theres the wilnd prairie of the south which is home to a vast array of massive creatures. Theres many other danger areas but these are the biggest and considered the main four since each is situated in a different direction. Frost tried to picture each of the danger areas in his head. Maya didnt give many details, probably because it wasnt that important, but it didnt stop his mind from wandering. The Storm Mountains sounded particrly interesting, but itd have to wait till after the cial Mountains. Frost stared off into the entrance of the mountains marking it deep within his heart. Maya told him earlier that with his current strength it would be dangerous for him to enter even the outermostyer since it was filled with D rank and even C rank monsters. He turned his eyes back onto the forest which eclipsed the other directions. Does this forest have a name? Maya didnt mention it as a danger area so it mustnt be thatrge or dangerous. Its simply called The Northrend Forest as it is situated in the Northrend empire and lies before the cial mountains. Danger wise it isnt much, at most there may be an asional C-rank monster if youre very unlucky and D-ranks being rare. Its mostly filled with low level monsters and beasts, prime targets for low level adventurers and hunters. There should be a few viges dotted within it that live off hunting the local fauna and gathering herbs. Youll have to travel for at least a day to leave its boundary. Furanos about another half day trek from there, give or take a few hours. Maya happily answered his questions. A day and half huh. Frost nned to visit Furano as soon as possible, he wished to see a lively town and its inhabitants. Luckily, he could actually leave his dungeon unprotected for the first month due to the core room being sealed. Meaning there was no chance of him being killed while ying around in town. However, since he wouldnt be able to purchase anything new or alter the dungeon in anyway while he was gone, hed have to n ahead. He didnt want to lose out on precious DP just because he waited to travel. If it takes a day and a half each way then got to n for at least 5 days of us being away from the dungeon. Of course, hed spend at least one night in the town. As Frost was trying to n around his and Mayas vacation time to Furano, Mayas tail stood up and her ears twitched. Her face showed an alert expression before she quickly moved towards Frost at rapid speed. Young master we need to head back in now! She quickly grabbed Frost by the shoulder and dragged him back into the dungeon rather forcibly without exining why. Maya teleported the two of them into the private space before letting go of Frost, resulting in himnding on his butt. O he rubbed his ass while standing up. What was that for? He asked angrily. Maya had moved over to the dungeon core ignoring Frostsints. She brought up arge screen disy that showed the outside area around the dungeon. Frost wanted to berate her a little more but was distracted by therge screen that suddenly appeared. Thats outside the dungeon. He didnt know the core could act like CCTV and show the dungeon and outside it in real time. Watch Maya lightly smiled as she looked at Frosts slightly dishevelled appearance caused by her dragging. Frost was annoyed by her smile but obeyed her instructions. A few secondster there was some movement on the screen. Hmm whats that? Chapter 20 Chapter 20: Chapter 20: The Dungeons first guests Frost moved in closer hoping to see more clearly. At this point he could only see a few shadows moving within the edges of Northrend Forest. The shadows grewrger and clearer as they moved, they were heading right for the dungeon. Four figures quickly appeared from the forest and entered the open snow-covered in allowing Frost to get a good look at them. At the front was a tall human with rough features and short ck hair. He was armed with a sword and shield and adorned with leather armour. The sword appeared rather crude and well used but recently sharpened, his shield was made of wood and covered in some sort of monster skin, it too looked well used considering the number of repair patches it had. His leather armour was in one word simple, no fancy design just simply leather clothes with extra padding. Following the human was two beastmen of the cat tribe, they had grey fur, long tails, and yellow cat eyes. The two of them were a fair bit shorter than the human but were dressed in a simr style albeit with a hole for their tails. One was armed with a wooden bow and held a quiver full of arrows on his back whereas the other had two daggers sheathed at his side, an archer, and a scout. Finally, at the rear was a dwarf and the shortest of the bunch but much more muscr. He had red hair and a massive red beard and was armed with a giant two-handed hammer that was longer than himself. He too was dressed in leather armour protecting his chest, arms, legs, and feet. A group of average adventurers, a scout, archer and two fighters, fairlymon. None of them were geared with metal armour, Frost didnt know if this was due to being unable to afford it or perhaps metal armour wasnt highly desired in this climate. Adventurers! Frost eximed with joy once he could clearly see their faces. He fully expected to wait several days before hed see his first intruder, but it hadnt even been an hour and theres already four of them. He struggled to contain his excitement as he smiled wildly and clenched his fists. Now he knew why Maya quickly dragged him back. ..... Maya was also smiling just not as unreserved as Frost; she detected the party of adventurers moving in the distance and quickly sprang into action. It was in their best interest for Frost to remain hidden as part of the dungeon. She peered towards the screen examining the four adventurers gauging their strength before letting out a pleasant sigh. The adventurers werent anything special, Frost would have no issue killing them himself if need be. Frost and Maya watched the group of adventurers as they drew closer and closer to the dungeon lying in wait for their prey. Maya knew the rough strength of the party due to her overwhelming power; Frost however had no clue; he could only base it off their appearance and equipment until they actually stepped into the dungeon. After which the dungeon would show their daily DP amount giving him a more urate idea of their abilities. Adventurers POV The rough looking human slowly walked towards the mountain ahead of hispanions as if protecting them. Boss look! The scout beastman quickly shouted as he pointed towards the dungeons entrance. Before themy a giant stone gateway that led into the mountain. Eh! The boss appeared stunned when he noticed. That wasnt there a few days ago, was it? The human turned to his party members to make sure he wasnt forgetting. No boss Mn mn the two beastmen shook their heads in response. Dont remember that being there thest time we passed through the valley. The dwarven adventurer recalled thest time their group passed through the valley on their way to the cial mountains. They passed by this very mountain but there wasnt anything unusual about it and there certainly wasnt a giant stone gateway. The adventurers were currently on a quest to hunt a frost wolf, it wasmissioned by their local guild in Furano and had a rather good pay out, all the requester wanted was the monster crystal and ws. Meaning they could keep the pelt for themselves, talk about a jackpot. They were lucky they saw the request get put up allowing them to ept it before others got the chance. Usually, they wouldnt get to keep any of the monster parts and the pay would also be less, plus theyd get deductions for damage e.g., if they cut up the pelt too much. The person whomissioned this must have been some rich moneybags who didnt care for the pelt, probably a noble or some kind of alchemist. John the party leader didnt bother checking who the client was before immediately epting the job. They had passed by this mountainst week while on another quest to hunt winter boars but since John graduated to D-rank they spent all their money celebrating and needed a high paying job quickly. Strange John pondered on what the gateway could be. Ah! The dwarf eximed loudly as he realised what it was. John and his beastmenpanions quickly turned towards him in response. What is Thorin? John asked, he was still clueless and Thorins sudden outburst gave him a fright. Thorin took a deep breath to calm himself down, if he was right this opportunity that befell them could mean a lot of money. I think its a monsterir. Thorin slowly emphasized thest two words. M...m...monsterir, a bomb went off in their heads. Monsterirs were areas of dense mana created by the Dark God that spawn monsters. Whether its a goblinir or dragonir it always means money for the locals. Monsters would be continually summoned until either the source of mana was destroyed or depleted, but no one with any sense would willingly destroy the source otherwise theyd be enemies of the surrounding towns and viges. In fact, manyrge towns were created due to a monsterir being established nearby. Adventurers would repeatedly plunder theirs killing monsters in return for money at the guilds, and the guilds would then sell the materials to businesses formercial use, a constant flow of money. Of course, theyre downsides to monsterirs as well, if said monsters are too powerful it can cause the local areas to be overrun but eventually it just calls for stronger adventurers toe over, ones that dont bother with anything less than C-rank. Thorins exnation made sense since monsterirs could appear anywhere depending on the Dark Gods whims as they say. Usually, an area would be transformed to allow monster upation and this sudden entrance into the mountain fit the possibility. No way someone could hollow out a cave with such arge entrance in a matter of days, least of all without anyone knowing. The more they thought about the idea the more excited they became, just bringing back knowledge about a new monsterir resulted in a hefty reward, the more detailed it was the more money theyll get. John couldnt stop his lips from turning upwards. Lets put our current quest on hold and investigate, Jack do a quick sweep. Luckily their current quest had a fairly long-time limit otherwise theyd need to pay a fine. John looked towards the scout beastman known as Jack as he ordered. The smile had receded from his face, he started treating this situation seriously, if one of his friends got hurt itd be his responsibility since he was the team leader. Got it boss. Jack nodded before slightly crouching and moving silently towards the cave entrance. He closely inspected the nearby ground for any monster tracks which would highlight any monster types they might encounter. Seeing no tracks and not smelling anything, he moved closer to the stone gateway drawing his daggers in preparation for an attack. At this point his colleagues could only nervously watch in a battle-ready stance ready to move at the first sign of trouble. Being a scout was dangerous work cing you in great danger if you were detected. It took a lot of talent to be a good scout, finesse was required. Anyone can swing a weapon but not anyone can remain undetected as they moved. Once Jack reached the dungeons entrance, he closely inspected the ground and walls as well as sniffing the air. He was once again examining for any monster activity. Finding nothing he half smiled, and half frowned, finding nothing meant that this monsterir was very, very fresh. Not a single monster had left their as of yet since there wasnt any tracks or lingering odour. This was good news as it meant they were the first group to find it however it also meant that they had no idea what type of monsters they might encounter within. With their strength even multiple frost wolves would be dangerous let alone something like a dragon. Finished with assessing the dungeon, Jack quickly returned to safety amongst hispanions to announce his findings. Well how is it? The other beastman, the archer asked inquisitively. This beastman was called Fen and was childhood friends with Jack, they both grew up together in Furano and were the same age. Jack ignored his friends question and looked directly at John since he was the team leader. Once John nodded giving him the go ahead, he began telling them what he found. So, youre saying that its most likely a monsterir thats just opened and were probably the first ones to find it. John summarised the information hed been told since Fen was struggling to understand. Thats right boss. John ced his hand under his chin as he processed his thoughts. He was deliberating whether or not to enter the monsterir or return to the guild with their current information. Although the money did seem enticing, if they were dead how could they spend it. He sighed in regret, even though hed been promoted to D-rank their party was still considered rather weak. What do you guys think, should we risk it? John couldnte up with a firm decision by himself, so he asked his party members. Without hesitation Fen replied, Do it do it do it! While fist pumping. Unlike everyone else he didnt sense the danger. I think we should enter, if its too dangerous we can always leave. Jack answered with determination, he didnt want to pass up a chance at easy money. After hearing their answers John then turned towards Thorin the one whos opinion he cared about most given his knowledge of monsterirs. I agree with Jack we should enter, even if we returned to the guild and said a new monsterir showed up, wed need to have some information at least otherwise itd be pretty pathetic. Thorin was aware as much as John about their overall weakness but felt that they should attempt it, they were adventurers after all. Overall, they could be considered slightly talented since each of them were only in their early twenties, including Thorin and John even though they looked middle-aged. John let out a deep sigh before smiling and nodding vigorously. He agreed with Thorin and felt they should try. Alright lets do it but I want everyone alert and ready you hear, no one dies got it. He sternly shouted like a drill sergeant. His party members strongly nodded while smiling. Fen ced his hand on Jacks shoulder and looked at him seriously causing shivers to run down Jacks spine. W...w...what do you want, why are you looking at me like that? Fens gaze terrified him. Dont worry brother if you die, I promise to take care of your sister. Fen thumped his chest with pride as he made a solemn vow to his brother. Jack was suddenly filled with anger, his face turned red, and he swung his fist, smacking Fen right on the nose without mercy. Like fuck Im letting you anywhere near my sister you bastard! After punching he proceeded to kick his so-called brother, venting his anger all the while Fen was sniggering and pleading at him to stop. John and Thorin looked towards one another before bursting outughing. Same old Fen they both thought. Even though they were very tense a moment ago a single line from Fen cut right through it. Chapter 21 Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Ambush These guys are adventurers? Frost puzzledly looked at the screen which showed just outside the dungeons entrance, it also allowed him to make out some of their conversation. He was shocked with how they were acting especially that Fen fellow, he felt betrayed. He had the perfect idea of his first adventurers being incredibly professional and respectable but ended up with this ragtag group. Frost sighed as hemented his fate. Oh well at least they look fun, he thought. Out with the whole killing them for DP, they seemed like a genuine fun group of guys to him. Most low rank adventurers are like that, thats why so many die. Not due to ack of strength but usually due to letting their guards down. At this point in time, they wouldnt even notice a boare up behind them. Maya felt this was actually a good thing since theyd be a lot easier to kill even if it meant less DP. Frost however was not that pleased, he hadnt told Maya yet, but he didnt n on killing the first group of adventurers as he needed someone to return to Furano and give a report. He also wanted them to at least enter the dungeon so he wouldnt be bored but the team leader looked like he wasnt down with it. luckily his friends convinced him, at least this way hed get some DP. This might be rather annoying. Frost was pondering ways to keep them within the dungeon for an entire day without killing or severely harming them. He didnt know exactly how strong this group was but from the conversation he learned that the leader was just made D-rank, so they were manageable. Why? Maya was confused as she thought theyd be the perfect group for a first kill ..... I want them to stay in the dungeon for at least 24 hours before allowing them to exit, all without killing or maiming a single one. It wasnt as though he felt sorry about killing them or that he grew attached to his first intruders it was all strategic. If a weak party managed to exit the dungeon with minor injuries, it would attract the majority of adventurers in Furano. If he killed a couple sure hed get DP but in the long run his dungeon may be ssed as high rank drawing in powerful adventurers whod make mincemeat of the majority of his monsters. What? Maya looked at Frost as if he were a fool, she had clearly exined that killing people in the dungeon would give 10 times they daily DP so why did he not even want them injured. Just trust me, this way is better; you might not think anything of their strength, but I do. A single D-rank can easily kill therge sum of my monsters and a C-rank well thatd send me back to square one since not a single one of monsters would be able to fight someone of that level. Even though hed fought... well was beaten up by Maya he didnt actually know the full extent of her power but certainly themon and even the umon adventurers would be nothing in her eyes, so he needed to make her realise this. Ugh...you make a good point. Maya was shocked and couldnt argue against his logic, ultimately agreeing in the end. Seems youve got a real knack for this. Maya praised Frost for his future thinking. Hehehe thanks Frost smiled happily. By the way how strong are you, Maya? He believed itd be good to know for future reference, plus once he surpassed her, he could get revenge for the pummelling she gave him. Me.... Maya thought for a few seconds on how to answer. At least S-rank. Boom! Frosts brain frazzled from this information and his legs felt as though they turned to jelly. Of course, shes going to be that strong, shes a bloody Fenrir. He kissed his dreams of revenge goodbye as they floated away into the distance. After moping around for a minute or so much to Mayas confusion, the adventurer party took their first steps into the dungeon. Perfect now I can see exactly how strong they are. The more Frost used the dungeon menu the more adept he got at using it. He managed to bring up information on each individual intruder all while keeping up the live picture. Lets see the human is giving 80 DP; the dwarf 65; the scout beastman 50 and the archer is giving 45 for a total of 240 DP per day. Frost listed out the values stated on the screen. Thats sounds about right. Maya had guessed their rough strength when she first saw them. ording to her the breakdown for DP ie was roughly this: [Rank] [Daily DP] [G] [10] [F] [20] [E] [40] [D] [80] [C] [150] [B] [350] Apparently, A ranks havent been worked out yet due to the hope that none show up so early but from the previous pattern theyd most likely fall around 700 to 800 DP per day. ording to the table it meant that only the leader John was a D-rank whereas the others were still E-rank with the dwarf being slightly stronger. Of course, the menu didnt disy anything about their equipment or special skills or known spells, so the power estimation had to be taken with a grain of salt. If I can keep them within the dungeon for an entire day, Ill make 240DP, not bad exactly two frost dwarves.... Maya would that dwarf called Thorin have any issue killing the frost dwarves? When he equated his ie to frost dwarves Frost suddenly noticed that there may be an issue. Its highly likely that many of the intruders would be dwarves so he became unsure as to how theyd react to his dwarven monsters hell he didnt even know how his dwarves would react to them. Maya looked at him strangely. Theyre entirely different creatures so thered be no issue. She replied with indifference. Any monster regardless of appearances was still a monster, they were entirely different from the sapient races. Only when monsters achieve a level of intelligence and can speak themon tongue are, they then considered differently but even then, theyre still dungeon monsters and would fight against any intruders to protect their master. Thats good, a weight was lifted off Frosts shoulders after hearing that. Perhaps in the future when he had ess to more advanced monsters they could speak and mingle with some intruders, but the frost dwarves could only grunt making the issue mute. Frost and Maya continued to watch the group of adventurers edge closer and closer into the dungeon chatting asionally about strategies on how to keep them within the dungeon. Adventurer POV Woah! Jack couldnt help but shout as they walked through the dungeons entrance. He was stunned by the scenery before him, never in a million years would he believe that he was within a mountain. Jack had never been within a monsterir and had no idea of what to expect so he was blown away when he saw the beautiful winter hignds before him. The others were also captivated, only Thorin who had been to a monsterir before was fine but even he was a little shocked at how detailed and borate the environment was. Its like weve never left the outside. Fen mumbled as his mouth hung open. The only difference was that it was slightly warmer, and the blizzard wasnt as strong and for northern grown men it was actually a fairly pleasant temperature. Since the environment is simr to outside it means that the monsters should be simr as well. Thorin took a step forward and spoke. Out of all of them he was the most knowledgeable, as his hobby was reading plus, he had a rather strong uncle who took him into a monsterir filled with goblins when he was just starting out as an adventurer. So far this was good news as the strongest monster found in the nearby vicinity was probably D-rank or even maybe just E-rank frost wolves, the very thing they were hunting. So, youre saying we may be able toplete our current quest and gain info on this monsterir at the same time? John smiled at the notion and his eyes saw piles of money floating in front of him. Its possible, Thorin looked towards his team leader with a fervent gaze and nodded. Fen and Jack both smiled at this as well, if a monster walked by right now, itd probably be spooked by their creepy smiles. Alright enough lollygagging lets get to work! John was the first to break from the money filled haze and quickly ordered his teammates to get back on track. Usual formation, Jack you scout ahead with me behind you, Fen and Thorin you guard the rear, and well move slowly got it, no surprises. John called out his orders one after another as he became serious. Yes boss! The three of them loudly shouted as they moved into position. The group of adventurers slowly made their way through the first section moving at snail space, inspecting, and noting down bits of information as they passed. Frost had advised his weaker monsters to mainly steer clear of this group so as to avoid being instantly killed but itd be weird if they didnte across as single one. After travelling for an hour or so the group had barely made any progress, the blizzard was affecting their sense of direction and the deep snow made it difficult to travel quickly but as of, yet they hadnte across as single monster which was rather strange. Theyd entered a monsterir, a monsters home, their guarded territory. Normally monsters are incredibly aggressive and any sign of intruders within their den is met with fierce resistance but after an hour they havent even seen a shadow move let alone a monster. Thorin and Jack found this very strange, Thorin due to his knowledge of monsterirs and Jack due to his job as a scout. Jack hadnt found much traces of monsters as they moved but that was mainly due to the falling snow, any footprints left would quickly be covered up. Hmm, suddenly as they were travelling something caught Jacks attention causing him to move further from the group. John and the others didnt think much of it since he was a scout and just allowed him the rush ahead. Jack moved ahead and found multiple bushes covered in small red berries, he reached down to take one for closer inspection. He held the berry in between his fingers lightly rolling it around before squeezing it and sniffing. Acai berries, he instantly recognised the berry. Acai berries were fairlymon berries that grew in cold climates, they had a sweet and spicy taste that helped keep away the cold. Theyre alsomonly used as a secondary ingredient for cold resistance potions and make an excellent snack for long cold journeys. Just as he was about to shout over to his teammates about his find he felt a sense of danger causing goosebumps to form on his skin. Suddenly without warning a frost goblin jumped out of the snow, it was lying prone near the acai berries in ambush. It had its rusty dagger drawn and aimed for Jack hoping to stab him. Even though the goblin had the advantage of surprise it was still only a G-rank monster, meaning its power and speed werent much. Jacks reflexes were quite good since he was a scout and allowed him to dodge most of the goblins thrust. Ahh! But he was only able to avoid a serious blow, the dagger still ripped into his right side giving him a nasty gash that bled quite profusely. Unfortunately, the leather armour didnt protect that area talk about unlucky. Shit! He shouted in pain and quickly jumped backwards in order avoid the goblins second strike all while holding pressure on his wound to reduce blood loss. His loud shout alerted his teammates causing them to quickly rush to his aid without hesitation, but itd take them several seconds to reach him. Jack was now face to face with the frost goblin that stabbed him. Its dagger was covered in his blood, and it had an evil smile as it relished in its sess. Mother fucker! Jack lost his cool when he saw the goblin lick his blood from his dagger andugh his way. He quickly drew his own iron daggers andunched one right at the goblins head while holding the other in a defensive position. The goblin wasnt expecting a dagger to be thrown at him and was caught off guard. Given its speed and strength there was no way it could avoid this. Ptshh, the dagger thrust directly into the goblins forehead killing it instantly and releasing a fountain of red blood that stained the ground. As the goblins body bled out and fell backwards a loud group of grunts echoed around Jack. Crap! Another three goblins suddenly jumped out of the snow andunched themselves at Jack, daggers drawn and screaming. Chapter 22 Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Ambush (2) Jack was currently beset from three different directions, armed with a single dagger and a painful gash still spilling blood on his right side, things didnt look promising. Under regr circumstances this ambush would be nothing to him, hed use one dagger to block, the other to sh and frequently use kicks but that was impossible with his current injury. Shit Im not really going to be killed by a goblin am I. If he had time to cry, he would. Goblins one of the weakest monsters there is and here he was almost on his deathbed, the shame was infuriating. Jack managed to ce himself in a defensive position allowing him to block one of the goblins with remaining dagger and shoulder barge another, but he was stumped about the third, at this rate itll stab his spine, likely crippling him. Fwoosh! The moment he blocked the first goblin and bashed the second away and when the thirds dagger was centimetres away from his back an arrow flew passed digging into the back of the third goblins skull, killing it instantly and saving Jack from a crippling blow. John and Thorin were still a few metres away and couldnt help but Fen was an archer. Seeing his childhood friend in danger he quickly drew his bow andunched an arrow quickly killing the third goblin. Thanks Fen I owe you one! Jack smiled and roared in joy as he shed the first goblin, leaving arge cut on its chest before pushing it down on the ground. The second goblin however managed to regain its footing and came in for another strike. Seeing its deadpanion and that Jack was about to stab the other pinned underneath him filled it with rage. It grasped his rusty dagger with both hands to add more force and bolted towards him, aiming for his back. This time however Jack wasnt worried, he revealed a sly smile and mouthed the words too slow before stabbing the struggling first goblin in the throat, silencing it forever. Seeing blood spurt from its allies throat only made the second goblin more enraged, it increased its speed only seeing red unaware of the danger from behind. ..... Shwing! Suddenly the goblins vision started tilting, it could see Jack smiling at him, but he wasnt getting any closer. Eventually Jack looked as though he turned 90 degrees. The goblin waspletely confused and died not knowing what happened. John had arrived behind the goblin and shed him in two, separating his lower and top half. The goblins forward momentum caused its upper body to move forward and then fall over resulting in the goblins change in vision. Its body was now in two separate parts, joined by a thick stretch of blood and organs, a gruesome death. Bleurgh! Fen threw up the moment he arrived, the revolting scene and the smell was too much for him. Even Thorin and Jack were unnerved even though he was the one that was rescued. John appeared rather embarrassed and pale in the face. He didnt expect it to turn out so grotesque. Fens and Jacks kills only had blood so why did his end up in organs being sshed on the ground. After throwing up Fen quickly scanned the area for any more hostile monsters. Thorin joined him kicking away areas of deep snow to check for any hidden enemies. After they were confident that there werent any more monsters, they both sighed in relief before turning to Jack. How bad? John asked worriedly. The goblins dagger was rusty and jagged causing the wound to be torn up, increasing the pain and recovery time. Such daggers are fairly easily repelled by leather armour but when it catches the skin it really leaves a nasty mark. Ill be fine boss, theres just a lot of blood, nothing major was injured. Jack was somewhat lucky and or skilled, the dagger didnt reach any arteries or slice his intestines resulting in no major damage. Given time and a few healing remedies hed back to shape in no time. Unfortunately, none of them knew any healing magic and were a fairly poor group of adventurers so they didnt have any healing potions on hand. Jack was currently giving himself some emergency treatment; he withdrew a grey cloth that smelled strongly of herbs and used it to rub away the excess blood before tightly pressing it on the wound. Thorin alcohol! John shouted out while raising his hands in preparation to catch. Here, Thorin withdrew a yellow gourd from his bag and threw it over to John. John easily caught the gourd and looked at Jack with pity. This is gonna hurt... a lot. He looked into Jacks eyes to make sure he was prepared. Jack clenched his teeth hard and tensed up before nodding strongly. Seeing that he got the ok, John yanked out the gourds cork and vigorously poured the strong alcohol onto the herb scented cloth. Ahhhh! Jack screamed in pain, he felt that his insides were boiling as if John had just poured acid on his wound. Ignoring hispanions screams John quickly withdrew another scented cloth from his bag and pressed it tightly onto Jacks wound. Resulting in another scream before he bound it round tight creating a bandage. Thorin looked on with pity, if only he knew magic, or if they had a healing potion they wouldnt need to use such painful measures. Fen however visibly trembled, he didnt have much tolerance for pain, thats why he trained as a rear guard, less chance of injury. After ten seconds or so the pain subsided, and colour returned to Jacks face as his breathing normalised. Since they were poor, they needed to resort to using strong alcohol and red dwindle infused cloths to provide emergency treatment. It was far less effective and much more painful, but it allows a patient to recover within a few hours allowing them to continue fighting. Acquiring red dwindle nts in raw form wasnt too hard and non-drinkable alcohol was also fairly cheap making it amon concoction for low level and cheapskate adventurers. Some even say that it heals much more naturally if you need to withstand some pain, but most would use a potion or spell if given the option. After seeing that Jack was in a stable condition, John quickly scanned the area. They needed to make camp for a few hours to allow the medicine to work its magic, otherwise the wound would reopen. Unfortunately, there wasnt much in terms of shelter nearby. For the past hour or so theyd been wandering across snow covered ins only seeing a few rocks but nothingrge enough to protect them from the wind and cold. The acai berry bushes were the first sign of vegetation theyd seen within this ce. Fen, Thorin you two split up and try to find some shelter, youve got 20 minutes, after which meet back here. Ill guard Jack and dispose of these bodies. If he just allowed the bodies to remain, the smell of their blood would attract more monsters and in their current state theyre a man down actually two since someone would need to guard Jack in the fight. If they didnt manage to find shelter within 20 minutes, itll be too risky to move Jack any further, so theyd need to make do with what theyve got. Luckily since they grew up in the Northrend empire theyre used to having nothing but snow for kilometres and became quite adept at making snow shelters. But that takes time and energy as well as being weaker than stone. Got it boss Fen replied enthusiastically before quickly dashing off. The smell of the disembowelled goblin was really bothering him so any excuse to move was readily weed. Thorin simply nodded and looked gently at Jack before walking in the opposite direction. Splitting up isnt necessarily the safest option but itll be the fastest and they were in need of speed. Once Thorin and Fen were out of sight and Jack was sitting calmly he got to work disposing of the goblin bodies. Bleurgh! As John moved closer to the goblin he killed the stench overwhelmed him causing him to gag. God why do goblins smell so bad, dont they ever bathe. He pulled out another strong-smelling cloth and wrapped it round his nose and mouth as a mask to block the smell. Even though they didnt ept a goblin killing quest theyd still receive payment for turning in monster parts and their crystals. Goblins and other G-rank crystals were only good for powering simple stuff like house lights for a couple of days so theyre always in high demand. High demand however doesnt mean money, theyd be lucky to get 2 coppers for a single crystal but moneys money. John deftly cracked open the goblins skulls to remove the monster crystal, unfortunately the one Fen killed had its crystal shattered by the arrow making it worthless. John internally chided Fen for his carelessness as he continued working. Other than the crystals, only the goblins right ears were epted as materials. Everything else was either worthless or not worth the effort, the ear is also used as proof of kill and its only valid use is for fertiliser. He heard that the fangs could be used to make some sort of insect repellent but here in the northern part of Yangmir where the weather was coldest there wasnt any need. Theyd be paid not for the material value but more for the act of subjugating the monster. John had heard of a few adventurers cook goblin meat when they ran out of food but the very idea of that made him nauseous. After professionally dissecting the goblins and packing away the useful materials he dug up a pit about 30 metres or so away from them and buried the remains. It wouldntpletely obscure the dead goblins scent, but itd help. Back in the private space Well, that went better than expected. Announced Frost, he and Maya were watching the battle through the dungeons video feature. Frost didnt want to sacrifice his weaker monsters but knew that if none turned up, theyd get suspicious. Thus, he formted a n only expecting to force them to put their guard up but low and behold the frost goblins actually managed to inflict a decent injury to one of them resulting in a forced camp for several hours. He knew that theyd pass the acai berry bushes eventually, so he ordered four goblins to hide under the snow and ambush them when they got a chance. When Frost witnessed the first goblin seed in its ambush, he was ecstatic, a G-rank monster just wounded an E-rank adventurer talk about a worthwhile trade. However, when he then saw the remaining goblins leap towards their target he actually panicked, he didnt want to idently kill one of them, so he started rooting for the adventurers much to Mayas displeasure. When he started shouting No! No! No! Stop! and waved his hands about Maya gave him a frosty look. You were the one who nned this ambush and now that its working better than expected you want it to fail, what the hell. Was what her gaze tranted as. Umm Maya sarcastically agreed with him. To be honest she also didnt think that the frost goblins would perform too well, they were G-ranks after all. What surprised her most was the restraint they showed, normally monsters, especially those with low intelligence rely solely on their instincts andck patience. But when Frost asked them to hide under the snow and wait until the exact moment, they ignored their instincts and carried out their instructions perfectly. She felt that she underestimated goblins. Maya couldnt actually be med for her view; regr goblins wouldck that ability however whenever they have a leader their abilities greatly improve. For example, if goblins had a goblin king their discipline could rival that of human soldiers, Frost basically fulfilled a role simr to a goblin king, so they obeyed without question. That should buy us at least 4 hours worth of DP. Frost ignored Mayas eye rolling and sarcastic reply, knowing full well he deserved it. It seems I also received a dose of DP when that scout was injured, he actually gave me 50DP, thats his entire daily ie. I guess that nasty injuries give a percentage of their kill amount. In this case since the scout would give 500DP if killed, Frost received 10% or 50DPs worth. Frost didnt know if hed still get 500DP if he killed him now or just 450 but his daily DP stayed the same. Frosts excited face quickly slumped when he realised that he hadnt actually made any DP in fact he lost some. 4 hours of daily DP which still might not happen would be 40DP plus the 50DP from injuring the scout thatd only make 90DP, enough for three goblins and he lost four. Tch Frost loudly clicked his tongue as he started to regret going down the non-killing path with this group. Chapter 23 Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Delving deeper Fen and Thorin returned shortly after John finished burying the goblin remains. Thorin appeared taciturn he obviously failed to find a decent shelter area. Fen on the other hand was fairly spirited, the ce he found wasnt exactly great, but itd be better than a snow shelter. Theres a rock formation that can provide semi-decent wind protection about 600 metres that way. Fen pointed with his thumb almost directly behind him with a smile. He felt happy because he found something and Thorin didnt, he had a rather childish personality. Thorin shook his head and lightly sighed, ignoring Fens childish attempts at provocation. Good, Ill carry Jack, you lead the way. Thorin you guard our backs. John moved over towards the sitting Jack. Jack nodded and braced himself for some pain, he could walk to the site, but it would pose some risk, it was safer to be carried while he healed, reducing his range of movement as much as possible. John removed his backpack handing it over to Thorin before he slowly picked up Jack, being careful not irritate the wound. Ssss Jack released a sharp inhale as he was lifted off the ground, no matter how gentle John was it still hurt. Fen had a distorted look as he witnessed his friends painful expression. ..... Once Jack was safely secured on Johns back, they slowly moved out, keeping their guards up for any monster attacks. If Frost sent his frost wolves to attack right now, hed probably make an easy killing. It took them 20 minutes to reach the campsite Fen found. It wasnt exactly much but itd do. Before them was arge snow covered cliff alongside manyrge rocks that would help block out the wind as well as provide a decent defence against monsters. It would have been perfect if there were arge cave in the cliff, but beggars cant be choosers. The overhang of the cliff would be enough to block most of the snowfall, allowing them to start a fire. As they were experienced with camping the group set off immediately into preparing the site. Fen cleared away an area of snow and started to unpack their gear. Thorin set up some pre-emptive rms around the area to notify them of any encroaching monsters. John lowered Jack onto a nket in the most sheltered area before taking out some tinder and dry branches out of one the backpacks. [Ignition] John uttered and suddenly a small orange me appeared on his index finger. He ced the small me next to the tinder quickly setting it alight. John used the lifestyle magic [ignition], it didnt need a magic crest only a clear image. It turned mana into a tiny me, perfect for lighting a fire or seeing in the dark however it held zero offensive power and was easily blown out. Though none of them could technically use magic, lifestyle or unranked magic didnt count. In fact, their lives would be very difficult if none of them could use the [ignition] spell, so much time would be wasted making a fire. Very quickly a nice campsite was prepared, the area was now dry and fairly warm. The group of adventurers were sitting closely around the fire warming their bodies. Thorin had started preparing food, a pot filled with soup was hanging over the fire as he stirred it asionally. The others were currently snacking on some meat jerky as they waited for the soup to be finished. They nned on resting for a few hours at least in order for Jacks wounds to heal. How much longer Thorin? Fen asked as he fiddled around with his slice of jerky. It wasnt even midday yet, but they were starving, especially Jack, the medicine took a lot of strength out of him. Just another minute you brat! Thorin almost struck thedle against Fens head in annoyance. You said that 5 minutes ago! Fen ignoring Thorins frustration angrily retorted. You! Thats enough Fen, itll be ready when its ready and Thorin if you dont know the exact time just say soon. John was getting a headache dealing with the two of them. Thorin always took a long time to prepare meals when it was his turn to cook, whereas Fen was fast, but the food always tasted terrible. The best cook was Jack, but they couldnt ask him to cook when hes supposed be resting. Whats our n after this? Jack asked sternly as if the argument between hispanions was non-existent His question caused John to flinch Jacks already been injured, and weve barely covered any ground, would the guild give us much or any money. How would it look if we gave up after a small skirmish with frost goblins. John was stuck, he cared deeply about his friends safety and had a gut feeling that this ce was far more dangerous than it let on. I hope you arent going to say that well head back. Jack announced rather angrily. They had already decided to investigate this monsterir and just because he got injured shouldnt mean they should stop. Besides hed be healed in a few hours anyway so whats the big deal. Hispanions saw the conflicted look in their leaders eyes and to be honest they felt quite irritated. As their leader and the strongest member shouldnt he be more aggressive and ambitious. We are all young men in the prime of our lives shouldnt we be more confident and reckless. This was one of the main reasons why it took John so long to reach D-rank, he was rather wishy washy. Even though his strength met the criteria his leadership was rathercklustre. They hoped that with his official promotion hed be a bit more gung ho but here he was sitting on the fence again. They all sighed before pping their leaders back. Lets carry on boss. Dont be such a worry wort. Ill be fine in a few hours, lets keep going. They all said encouraging words before mbering for bowls of the now finished soup. Their actions left John stunned, a nk look adorned his face. Eventually he broke into a wide smile andughed before pouring himself arge bowl of soup. The group of adventurers camped for close to 4 hours before deciding to continue. Jack spent most of the time lying down and taking it easy allowing his injury to heal fully. The herb cloth and alcohol worked wonders; Jack didnt even have a scar left after removing the bandage. John and Thorin took turns on watch duty whereas Fen was tasked with taking notes about the monsterir as well as drawing a simple map of the areas they travelled through. The more data they provided to the guild the greater the reward theyd get, plus if they provided a detailed guide itll help them in being promoted to the next rank. Currently Thorin was just a tad short of reaching the level required for D-rank, this monsterir investigation may be enough to immediately promote him. Then their adventurer party would have two D-ranks and could take on higher level quests, surpassing the average rabble. Looks like theyre starting to move young master. Since watching the adventurers do nothing for hours was boring, Frost teleported to the training room to do some magic practise. After seeing John use the lifestyle magic [ignition], he had Maya exin a few others, and with his talent he picked them up fairly quickly. Maya was thus left in charge of asionally checking in on them. Oh! perfect timing, Frost turned around to face Maya. He currently had a small me on each of his fingers, silently waving side to side. He clenched his fist erasing the mes Lets head back then. He opened up the menu to see the adventurers before teleporting back into the private space with Maya. He had changed the set up in the private space a little, moving the chairs and table closer to the floating dungeon core. He could disy arger picture if he used the actual dungeon core and with the chairs it felt like they were watching a movie, Maya had even opened up another bottle of sake- of course a less expensive one. Its good that theyre continuing. Frost grabbed a handful of cracker like snacks that Maya had prepared to go along with the sake, something called pretzels. Yeah, now we can try out a few more ns. Maya downed a shot of sake, reddening her cheeks. They didnt spend all their time with magic practise, they also discussed a few measures in which to extend the intruders stay. Frost also hoped that one of them would run into the prepared traps but given the size of the room and their careful movements itd be unlikely. The two parties couldnt be more opposite in their situations, Frost and Maya were pleasantly enjoying a good show whereas John and hispanions were risking their lives. Once thest of the gear was packed up John gave the order to move out. They moved even slower this time and didnt allow Jack to run and investigate ahead in case of another ambush. The group quietly travelled through the first section without anything else happening immediately. Due to the blizzard masking their tracks and obscuring their view they ended up taking a very winding path. Eventually after another couple hours journey, they reached the massive river that flowed through the centre of the room. With most of it being frozen it was safe to cross but areas where the ice was broken, or non-existent schools of fish could be seen swimming. Boss look. Fen excitedly pointed at a non-frozen part of the river, since he was an archer, his eyesight was the best and noticed the schools of fish first. He was so excited that he was prepared to rush over immediately but was quickly blocked by Johns arm. Stop! He wasnt going to have another one of his friends injured due to letting their guard down. Even though in the past two hours they hadnt been attacked they dide across several monsters. They witnessed a group of artic horned rabbits hopping along as well as a few frost slimes, but they chose to ignore them. Chasing after G-rank monsters wasnt worth their time and energy. Once John stopped Fen from rushing over, he gave Thorin and Jack a nod before they slowly moved over in formation. Given their proximity to the cial mountains, fish was quite rare in Furano. Ice fishing was pretty much the only recourse other than importing and was quite a popr past time, especially among the cat beastmen like Fen. Artic cod, pink salmon I even see some pr herring. Fen quickly announced as his mouth started to salivate. Fen was an avid fisher and could name many different types from a single nce. Although theyre fairlymon fish its an interesting find, at least we wouldnt go hungry anytime soon. Jack chimed in; he was drooling in anticipation as well. He frequently went fishing with Fen whenever they had some downtime. Thorin however found this to be quite bizarre, they were currently within a monsterir, yet fish were swimming around without a care in the world. As far as he knew this was unusual, of course his knowledge wasnt that deep and monsterirs were inherently strange ces, so he left it at that. Alright theres fish here, note it down Fen and lets move on. John sternly ordered, he wasnt that big a fan of fish plus he couldnt swim and wanted to cross this river as soon as possible. Eh! Fen and Jack both looked at their leader crestfallen. They gave the schools of fish onest look of desire before turning away and moving on. Tsk Frost tutted loudly; he had nned another sort of ambush around the fish. A few frost slimes were hiding in the river alongside the fish ready to pounce and the artic foxes were waiting at the riverside out of view ready to attack them from behind. He could have easily still had them attack but since his aim wasnt to kill and only practise, he didnt bother giving the order. The foxes thus retreated so as to not get spotted, the slimes stayed where they were. They found the river to be quite a pleasant hideout, plus they enjoyed ying with the fish. It was another 3 hours before the next event happened. At this point the group of adventurers were nearing the second section, they wereing across more and more rock formations. On the way they were dive bombed by a couple of snow owls that nearly forced Thorin into a spiked pitfall trap causing him to sweat profusely. Luckily John had grabbed him by the beard and pulled him to safety. The owls quickly flew off after Fen started firing arrows their way, they turned around and somewhat smiled at Thorin as they pped their wings tauntingly. But that was nothingpared to what faced them now. Chapter 24 Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Dishevelled appearance As the adventurers neared the entrance to the second section Frost grew more and more nervous, he was unsure on how to proceed. On one hand he didnt want to sacrifice any more of his monsters. When Fens arrows nearly downed one of his owls his heart skipped a beat, but on the other hand he also didnt want the first group of adventurers to head in too deep, revealing more of the dungeons secrets than necessary. Frost was currently slouching in his chair as he watched the adventurers edge closer and closer to the gateway. He was cupping and rubbing his chin as he debated his next steps. Should I let them enter the next section or not? Frost had already revealed a few of the monster types present in the first section to John and hispanions while keeping the others hidden. More than enough to give them a decent idea of what to report to their local guild. In case he decided to end this little venture here and now Frost arranged for his stronger monsters to surround John and hispanions. The frost wolves from this section waited on the left while the winter boars manned the right. He also called in another two frost wolves from the winter forest to guard the gateway. Pretty much overkill for the group but thats only if they fought. Ideally when they see or hear this many monsters, theyd quickly retreat thus concluding the game. Ah! Screw it lets just end it here. Frost shouted, he had grown rather bored of having to hold back when dealing with these intruders, anymore and he might just kill them all, he had be impatient. His loud shout had woken up Maya who took a short nap after drinking a lot of sake. She was currently sprawled out on her bed with a nasty headache. She quickly sat up causing her ample chest to sway up and down. Ughhhh she released a painful moan as she rubbed her head and stood up, her long silky hair was messed up pretty bad due to her sleeping posture and her clothes had be fairly dishevelled showing off a lot of her jade white skin. ..... Not knowing of her current revealing appearance, she walked out of her room and into the lounge where Frost was. Do you have to be so loud young master? She questioned while moving closer. Oh, Maya good mor...... Frosts sentence was cut short the moment he saw her. Her dress was incredibly loose and was no longer covering what it should. Her long white legs were on full disy along with her small shoulders and an ample amount of cleavage. In fact, it looked like they were about to pop out. Frosts mouth hung open and his eyes became bloodshot as he intensely focused on the beautiful sight before him. His nose felt hot, and blood threatened to trickle down into his open mouth. He had the strong urge to howl and leap towards Maya as if she was a helplessmb. Maya quickly noticed Frosts unusual expression and the fire in his eyes. She trembled instinctively and a blush grew on her face and neck. She felt that the situation was weird, she only went for a nap and was unaware of her current appearance. She followed the direction of Frosts piercing gaze, looking down towards her barely covered chest, she was stunned. Her current appearance couldnt be more seductive, no wonder Frost looked the way he did. Her thoughts nked out immediately, she repeatedly shifted between looking down at her dress and the almost drooling Frost. Kyaahhhh! As soon as Maya fully registered her situation she screamed and ran back into her bedroom leaving Frost shocked and bewildered. He was only 3 days old, so hecked experience with women, especially one as beautiful as Maya. It was a miracle he didntpletely copse into lust, merely having bloodshot eyes and a dry mouth. It was probably a good thing that he didnt given into his urges. Given Mayas strength and her embarrassment, she may have idently killed him if he lunged at her. A few momentster Maya returned from her room with a cold expression. Shed rearranged her clothes and brushed her hair then walked slowly towards Frost. Even though her face was icy and quite terrifying, a light redness could still be seen on her neck, revealing her true feelings. Frost was still sitting in the same spot unable to forget the beautiful image from earlier. He was so deep in his thoughts he didnt notice Maya currently approaching him with a dangerous expression. When Maya was standing over him, he still hadnt noticed. The lustful look still remained on his face invoking Mayas wrath. Suddenly she raised her right hand towards him. She pulled back her middle finger with her thumb and bang. She flicked his forehead with so much force that Frost was sent flying out of his chair. Crash! Frost was caughtpletely unaware and couldnt even brace himself as he was sent hurtling into the private spaces wall, releasing a painful groan on impact. Luckily the private space was incredibly durable, there wasnt even a single blemish on the wall after he crashed into it. However, this also meant that Frost suffered a severe blow due to its hardness. His head was currently ringing, and his back was in severe pain. Mayas forehead flick was akin to getting smacked in the head with a sledgehammer, arge red welt had already formed on his forehead quickly growing in size. His back wasnt much better, luckily nothing seemed broken, but the pain was substantial and would result in a serious bruise. Frost couldnt help but groan every time he moved, he struggled to maintain his bnce due his dizziness. It took him a full minute to stand up and look over in Mayas direction, he was angry. His eyes now spurted a different kind of fire as he stared her way. This crazy women, it wasnt my fault you left your bedroom looking like that so why did you smack me so hard without warning? The more he moved the more pain he endured and the angrier he became. He started stomping his way over to Maya while his face started to change shades, to red and then finally purple. Originally Maya felt much better after flicking Frost, she felt that she had regained some of her pride. She couldnt forgive the lustful look on his face that caused him to not even notice her when she returned. Let me help get rid of those indecent thoughts young master. Was what she thought of as she sent him flying. A strong blow to the head shouldve helped rearranged his thoughts. However, it seemed to have worked a little too well. As she witnessed Frost struggle to stand due to the pain, her heart started to waver, she felt pity and then guilt. These feeling grew more and more amplified as Frosts anger escted. She reacted too violently. As Frost drew closer and closer Maya struggled to look his way. Her eyes darted to the side, and she started biting her lip. Frost didnt say anything as he stood before her. He was much taller than Maya and was currently looking down at her creating a rather imposing pressure. Maya knew she was wrong, and she was currently looking downwards unable to meet his gaze. Her body was slightly quivering, and she felt an indescribable amount of pressure emanating from Frost. Even though she could easily kill him with a flick of her wrist she felt pressured as if she was in the presence of her natural predator. It reminded her of the Dark God, only not quite as majestic. This silent standstill went on for a brief period, when Maya was at her limit from the pressure, when her body was visibly trembling and cold sweat was running down her back, Frost spoke. Seiza! He spoke a single word, but his voice was full ofmanding authority. Boom! Maya reacted immediately; her instincts took over forcing her into submission. She plopped down into the seiza position creating arge sound as her knees hit the floor. Good now cast a healing spell Frosts authoritative voice continued as he gave his next order. Maya acquiesced without hesitation, casting a high level healing spell curing Frost of his back pain, and eliminating the massive red lump that he was sporting on his forehead. As the cool feeling of the healing spell filtered through his body, Frosts anger somewhat dissipated. He was no longer in any pain so the temporary pressure that he was emanating receded. He didnt consciously use his aura to pressure Maya, it was instinctive. In fact, he didnt even realise what he was doing, the pain was clouding his thoughts. Even though the pressure had receded, Maya continued to remain in the seiza position, refusing to stand until she received permission. With his mind now clear and the pain gone Frost spoke as he usually did. Do you know what you did wrong? He asked. Yes, young master Im sorry, I shouldnt have used violence. Maya answered from the heart. T...this woman she still thinks that I should have been punished. Frost was at a loss for words, he wasnt aware of the lust filled face that she saw after tidying herself up, so he believed he got smacked around just for seeing her so suggestive. As soon as he thought of the instance, the image of her seductive appearance filled his mind again. Fortunately, Maya was still looking downwards otherwise she might have smacked him again. Frost shook his head to focus, feeling slightly guilty about what he saw, he decided to lighten her punishment. As punishment youll remain in the seiza position for the next two hours and then well forget that this event ever happened. Of course, if Frost chose to remember it in his private time whos to stop him. Maya felt rather miffed on hearing Frosts response somehow she felt hoodwinked as if he got off too lightly but then remembered his overbearing pressure that caused her to tremble and quickly agreed. Frost returned to his chair, picking it off the ground whereas as Maya was sitting in the seiza position as they watched the dungeon screen disying the adventurers. Theyd currently been in the dungeon for close to 12 hours or half a day, so Frost decided to wrap it up. He believed he could squeeze another 4 or 5 hours out as they retreated to the dungeons exit. Maya if you were them howd you react to the current line-up? Frost quickly filled Maya in on his ns and current monster deployment. If theyre smart, theyd take a defensive formation and retreat carefully while fending off attacks. Thats the only chance theyd have. Not a single one of them can outrun a frost wolf and theres one for each not counting the winter boars theyd have to deal with. Maya calmly started to give her opinion. If theyrepletely retarded and cowardly, theyll simply run like crazy but since theyre so close knit its unlikely theyd abandon one another. And thest possibility is for them to bravely fight until death, courageous but impossible for them to seed. Frost nodded along; he picked such a strong line up to make sure the third option was an impossibility, removing it as an option. Itd make hisst 12 hours of effort worthless if they all died in a ze of glory. If necessary, he was going to give them a breather by pulling back the monsters, so theyd take the chance and leg it. Haaaaa Frost sighed and shook his head, he could only do so much. The next step relied on the decisions of the adventurers. John and hispanions walked ahead slowly maintaining formation, they had rather dreary looks on their faces, especially Thorin. When he almost fell to his death in a spiked pitfall trap, he was grabbed by his beard thus a few locks were removed. He now sported a small bald patch on his upper lip. The others were feeling down as well since they felt toyed with throughout this entire journey. Other than when they killed the frost goblins, theyd been unable to get any wins. The deep level of snow and the frequent blizzard obscuring their view gave them no small amount of fatigue. The only thing that kept them going was the idea of the guilds rewards and the fact that they hadnt encountered any high rank monsters. Originally, they were supposed be hunting a frost wolf, so they were prepared for some difficulties as theyd be travelling through the cial mountains normally. But this ce just seemed unlucky as though an ident was waiting to happen. Haaaaaa John sighed as they walked, he too felt rather stressed about the close calls theyd encountered in this monsterir, it reaffirmed his desire to have hispanions and himself grow stronger. Chapter 25 Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Frost wolves After another 5 minutes of careful movement their field of vision drastically changed. A massive stone wall reminiscent of the mountains exterior filled their sight, they had reached the end. Fen was the first to notice given his superior vision. The moment he saw it he couldnt help but smile. His smile quickly turned into augh which got more and more unrestrained. The moment that John was going to p Fens mouth shut he saw the wall, halting his arm in ce. We did it, weve reached the end. John startedughing as well, his cheeks flushed red, and his fists were clenched in joy. Jack and Thorin had simr reactions.... At first. Awoooo! All too suddenly a deafening howl resounded from nearby tossing an ice-cold bucket of water on their celebration. The four of them quickly turned in the direction of the howl, now noticing arge gateway in the stone wall leading to another area. They were too far away to see inside but they instinctively knew it wasnt the exit. Well...shit! Strangely the one to curse was the polite Thorin. This momentarily shocked the three of them as it was so rare to hear him swear. They even forgot about the loud monster howl from a second ago as they turned back to face their friend. What are you looking at me for! Thorins face flushed red as he shouted unable to understand why his friends all turned to face him when they just heard a loud monster howl. ..... Jack was the first to reply. N...no reason just thinking the same thing. The other two nodded along. Thorins face started twitch seeing the three of them in perfect sync. Am I the only one who remembers were in a monsterir? He sighed as he thought this. Awoooo Awoooo quickly pulling them out of their reverie was another howl, in fact two howlsing from the hole in the wall. Frost wolves, two of them. Their faces quickly turned stern at Johns statement. Fighting two frost wolves was within their means but still posed danger, especially when fighting in unknown territory. Plus, this monsterir had been anything but good to them so far. Suddenly another two howls came from their right. Fuck! Four frost wolves, we cant fight that. Fen started trembling and his legs quickly turned to jelly. He was the weakest one in the group and the most likely to die if unprotected. John could probably handle two E-rank monsters, but frost wolves were quick and agile. Itd only take a second of error for one to bypass his guard and lunge at Fen. Jack wasnt doing much better; his face had turned pale and cold sweat was pouring down his back. He was filled with fear, every pore in his body was screaming run, yet he was frozen in ce. Only John and Thorin were rtivelyposed, with their strength even with a few mistakes theyd likely be able to survive so their bodies didnt feel as much pressure. Shit! Shit! Shit! Throughout this entire room the strongest monster we saw was an F-rank owl so how did we suddenly end up surrounded by four frost wolves! What the hell! Johns mind was in chaos, the previous monster and trap encounters were one thing, but four frost wolves was on another level. However, he was the strongest here and the team leader he needed to take control. He quickly calmed down his emotions and tried to think of a n. Calm down we must have entered their territory, as long as we back off, we should be safe. Well use our usual formation, Thorin you and I will guard the front while Jack and Fen will guard the rear but dont turn your backs to them and move slowly. John quickly gave his instructions and helped arrange his teammates into a defensive position. He had no idea if this would actually work considering they were in a monsterir. The concept of territory would probably cover the entire room, but he had to give them some form of hope. The fact that they encountered little to no monsters as they approached this area helped make his argument sound more convincing. Hearing their leaders imposing and confident voice filled them with strength, Fens legs stopped shaking, Jacks cold sweat stopped and Thorins fists and jaw unclenched. They quickly regained their faculties and nodded towards John before moving into position, weapons drawn and their eyes darting around in anticipation for any movement. These movements however gave the frost wolves enough time to enter the picture. Awooo! The group shuddered before looking over at the gateway. There standing at 1.5 metres tall was arge white wolf looking down on them. Its body was covered in white fur with dashes of cobalt near its paws and forehead. Beautiful yet dangerous are the words normally used to describe frost wolves. Their pelts, a highly desiredmodity yet the animal itself is incredibly aggressive and dangerous. If that wasnt enough, its eyes were blood red and as bright as fire, invoking fear among even the most veteran of hunters. Beneath the beautiful and deadly exterior lies 100s of kilograms of pure power, enough to crush trees and bones with a simple sh of its paw. And a massive jaw that could crush a mans head and rip it from its base in a single motion. In the Northrend empire there isnt a single more revered and feared monster, so many adventurers die to these creatures every year in the name of riches, failing to understand the danger they pose. Even one of knight regiments of the royal family is called the frost wolf battalion. Closely following behind was another frost wolf with simr stature. Awoooo! To their right another frost wolf showed up, appearing from behind the rock formation. This one growled and bared its fangs as soon as it saw them but didnt move any closer. The three wolves patiently watched the group of adventurers slowly back away step by step. Crap wheres the fourth! John was sure he heard four different howls, but he could only see three. Suddenly from arge protruding rock just a dozen metres from them an aggressive howl arose along with thest of the frost wolves revealing itself. The wolf quickly pounced towards its prey, cutting its howl short. There was no better opportunity for it to attack than right now. It had a clear line of sight towards Fen the weakest of the bunch plus he was the only one who could attack from long range, making him a considerable threat. The wolf was able to iste the strength of each member with its instincts alone and knew that the rest of them would take more than a simple surprise attack to kill so it aimed for Fen. It used itspanions to distract their attention while it silently moved towards their rear, hiding behind therge rock. The wolf lunged without hesitation, its mouth wide open ready bite on Fens neck and its forelegs stretched out to pin him down. With its speed and size, it could cross the dozen odd metres in a single leap giving the adventurers no more than a couple seconds to react. Shit Fen jump back! John screamed as he moved into action. The moment he lost sight of the final wolf he was prepared for some sort of ambush. Wisely, their defensive formation left little gap between them allowing them to aid one another rapidly if need be. By having Fen jump backwards it bought him an additional 2 seconds giving John the time he needed to attack and block the frost wolf. Fen responded instantly, jumping backward towards Thorin quickly passing John as he dashed towards his original position. This wasnt the first time theyd moved like this; many a time Fen had been singled out by the more agile and powerful monsters due to hisck of strength. In fact, this move of his was pretty much second nature, he didnt even need to think as his body responded instinctively to Johns order. When situations like this crop up so often you tend to learn how to use it to your advantage. By using Fen as bait, knowing hed be attacked the rest of them could easily n an attack on the unprepared monster. As like other the frost wolves theyd faced in the past this one was caught off guard. It felt that it was the one in control and had attacked at the perfect timing only to be ambushed by the one adventurer it didnt want to fight against, especially alone. Right now, itspanions were eagerly watching from a distance and were too far to lend any aid. All of this seemed tost a long time but really only a matter of seconds had passed. By the time the frost wolf hadnded, Fen had already moved back to safety beside Thorin. His bow was drawn with an arrow ready to be fired its way at any moment and before it stood therge and powerful human with his sword raised high in mid swing. The wolf felt fear and panic, its instincts warned it wasnt a match for thisrge human and that if that sword was allowed finish, its swing, itd be seriously wounded. The wolf quickly yelped for aid as it strained its legs to resist its current forward momentum hoping to dodge the iron sword aimed for its neck. The sharp cry for help greatly rmed the other frost wolves who quickly grew angry and howled in response before dashing towards the group of adventurers. Ding! Johns sword narrowly missed the frost wolf due to its quick thinking, but his attack didnt end there, in fact he never intended for his sword to kill it. Itd be too easy for a frost wolf too die from that. No, he just needed it to be unable to move for his next strike. John knew he didnt have a lot of time after hearing the howls from the other wolves so the moment his sword missed, he quickly pulled back his sword arm and took a heavy step forward, smashing his sturdy shield into the wolfs face with his entire weight. A shield bash, even with a simple wooden shield was a formidable attack when done correctly. It required great strength and timing to make it a decisive move. There had been tales of an S-rank shield bearing hero knocking a dragon unconscious with the power behind this move. Of course, John wasnt nearly at that level, he didnt even have the official skill, but it was enough to send the wolf flying and disorient it. One upside to fighting frost wolves was the fact that they were all attack, they had little in the name of defence. You stop their movements and theyre pretty much a sitting duck. The frost wolf took the entire force of the shield clean on its face, breaking its snout. It was sent flying back several metres, its nose covered in bits of blood and mucus, but it was still conscious. The wolf had managed to move backwards slightly to alleviate about 20% of the shields impact allowing it to retain its conscious, albeit in major pain. It released a mournful wail as it flew back much to the panic of itspanions resulting in them dashing even faster. Now! John shouted out as he turned to face Fen. This move consisted of him and Fen working together. Once a monster was knocked out or sent flying Fen was to fire off arrows into its defenceless body. Like clockwork, Fen was already primed and ready to fire. He armed his bow with a tempered iron headed arrow, regr iron, or stone one wouldnt be able to pierce very deep given his strength. Ptaangg the arrow was let loose the instant he received the order, rapidly flying towards the recentlynded frost wolf, aiming for its chest. If they managed to kill one of the wolves itd make escaping a whole lot easier. At this rate, the arrow would sessfully find its target, the wolf though conscious was in extreme pain and severely disorientated, even if it could see the arrowing it wouldnt be able to dodge in time. The instant the arrow was about to pierce into its chest and heart a shadow leaped past and smashed the arrow apart like a fragile twig saving the frost wolf from certain death. Shit! they were too quick Jack grumbled as he clenched his fists and teeth in frustration. The other frost wolves had arrived and one of them was able to reach its injuredpanion in time, biting down on the flying arrow and shattering it to pieces. The four wolves now stared at the four adventurers with extreme hatred, especially the injured one. It wanted to rip John to pieces and smash his nose apart in revenge. Luckily even though its nose was broken and bleeding, once it regained stability its fighting prowess wouldnt be too affected. Chapter 26 Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Retreating They were back to square one, in fact probably worse off given the wolves anger, they were even less likely to let them leave now. Other than slightly frustrated however, John and his group werent actually too disheartened by their failure as though it happened all the time. Dammit such a good chance wasted! Fen thundered as he lowered his bow. He never did get much chances at killing strong monsters especially frost wolves, so he was the most annoyed. Back to n A boys, we defend and move back from where we came. On Johns orders they reformed their defensive formation, with Fen and Jack at the back and John and Thorin at the front facing down the angry wolves. Move out! They once again started to slowly move backwards with their weapons drawn in preparation for the next attack. In some ways the wolves being angrier and more aggressive would work in their favour. Their attacks would be simple and more reliant on brute force than sneaky ambushes plus a lot of their aggression will be aimed at John who is the best equipped defence wise. As expected, the wolves werent just going to let them go. The injured one kept to the back while the rest quickly dashed after them asionally lunging and biting at John or Thorin. Whenever the pressure on John became too much Fen would fire off some arrows and Thorin would take his ce to give him a breather. They continued to retreat and be attacked for the next hour or so, really testing the limits of their endurance. John and Thorin sported multiple cuts all over their bodies and Fen had long run out of arrows. Jacks iron dagger had actually snapped at one point when he shed at a frost wolfs hind leg. ..... Luckily, he had his spare steel dagger but struggled to use it in fear of it getting damaged. He was the only one with a steel weapon and he treasured it very much but now wasnt the time to be stingy. Jacks other job was to make sure of the path they were heading in was the one in which they came. Which in the deep snow and confusing terrain wasnt easy in regr times let alone when being attacked by multiple frost wolves. On the other hand, the wolves werent doing much better, they also had deep cuts and were clearly running out of stamina, one had a few ribs broken whereas another had a piece of iron dagger lodged in its leg. It could be considered a stalemate at this point in time, the wolves even lost most of their anger and were more filled with trepidation and dread. At this point they were wearily watching the group without attacking. All seemed to be in the adventurers favour, the frost wolves should give up soon and theyd be out of danger but suddenly. Pgyaaah A loud squeal was heard from behind them causing not only the adventurers to turn and look but also the frost wolves. The ground trembled as sixrge boars appeared, each with massive white tusks and huge frames built for charging. W...w...winter boars, Thorin said as he gasped for air. They were truly exhausted and couldnt fight goblins let alone winter boars. If frost wolves were about agility and attack then winter boars were the opposite, they were only quick when charging in a straight line and their tough hides could take arge beating before any real damage could be done. To put it simply they were the worst kind of opponents for them in their exhausted state. Too tired to dodge their charges and too weak to put any strength in their swings. Their current formation would only work with four frost wolves but would quickly crumble against winter boars. Depression quickly sunk in, the adventurers knew that they could no longer win this fight, it was a lost cause, they wouldnt even be able run let alone stand against them. Images of their loved ones filled their minds as they faced certain death, tears started to flow from their eyes as theyughed pitifully. Even John was no exception, they were doomed. Its been an honour brothers. John spoke quietly but his friends heard every word, feeling as though they were struck by a hammer. The tears grew more and more fervent as they stared at one another. To die with ones brothers, theres worse ways to go. Thorin smiled wildly and shook his head. Haaaaa goodbye Sarah looks like I wont make it back. Jack sighed as he said goodbye to his girlfriend. Ah dammit I knew I should have asked Emma out regardless of the consequences. Fenmented his cowardice to ask out Jacks sister resulting in him receiving a death re. Even though their death was assured and closing in on them the atmosphere around them was rather jovial. They werent afraid and will face their next life together. Unbeknownst to them however the frost wolves didnt look much better as if theyde across their arch enemies at their weakest points. If John and the rest noticed theyd see panic in the wolves eyes and their bodies slightly trembling. Wolves and boars do not get along, even among monsters theres a strong repulsion between them. Wolves hunt and kill boars as prey whereas boars are strong enough to kill wolves if they have the numbers, its not a strict prey and predator rtionship due the boars strength. Now that the boars had superior numbers and the frost wolves were exhausted and injured why wouldnt they feel afraid. It was an instinctual and primal fear that filled them,pletely eclipsing their attention on the adventurers. At this point the wolves had entirely forgotten about them as they stared at the winter boars in the distance. John and his group patiently waited for their deaths, hoping to at least take some down with them but nothing happened. The boars and wolves werent even looking in their direction, as if they were invisible. John couldnt help but feel a twang of anger in his heart at their dismissal but that onlysted a second before he realised the situation. How could I forget, just because theyre monsters doesnt mean theyd work together. Due to the panic from being besieged on two sides he failed to recall this fact. Once he realised, his mind quickly got to work on an escape n. Quickly grabbing the shoulders of his friends, he silently whispered the situation trying not to draw any attention. The group quickly stopped crying and became stern, they had been given a second chance and needed to grasp it tightly if they wished to live. Like a well-oiled machine the group swiftly got to work. They crouched down silently and moved away from the two groups of monsters without so much as a peep. Only when they had travelled for another hour did they stand up straight and dare to breathe fully. They had seeded, they were safe from danger... for now. About 10 minutes or so after they left when the tension was at its highest and the winter boars were about to ruthlessly charge at the wolves intending to trample them to death Maya appeared between them and released as strong killing intent. Back off! She shouted before ring at the two parties. Pgyaaah! Awoooo! Almost instantly both parties screamed in fear and ran in opposing directions. Maya sighed and shook her head before teleporting back to the private space. Its done. Good, I didnt think the animosity between them would be so bad, especially since theyre technically under my control. Frost had found out just a few hours into the second day that some of his monsters didnt exactly get along. The resentment between the frost wolves and winter boars was rather strong, a few times either he or Maya had to step in before any of them was injured. Luckily given enough time the dungeons ambient mana would heal most of their injuries but its better to not have them in the first ce. It was rather unusual as the wolves or the boars didnt have any problem hanging out with either the goblins, slimes, or owls. They werent too keen on the foxes but not to the same extent. Unfortunately, thebination of frost wolves and winter boars were the ideal strength he wished to convey to the group of adventurers, otherwise he would never have used the two of them. Their territories were normally at the pr ends of the section so as to avoid confrontation. They only grouped together under Frosts orders thus leading to this situation of them facing off against one another instead of the intruding adventurers. You may have summoned them, but they still have their own free will and personalities to an extent. Even Dark God-sama cantpletely control his creations so, how could you? Maya tantly responded in a rather patronising tone. Frost felt that he just received an invisible p to his ego. Good point, he sighed and shook his head as he agreed with her. Well, it worked out somehow. The adventurers have now retreated with some minor injuries and a decent amount of information to make this dungeon a prime hunting ground. All in all, Frost felt that hed done a good job and that theyd achieved the desired objective. An almost D-rank party managed to enter the dungeon for almost an entire day and make it back with only a few injuries and thats when unprepared. The dungeon should be able to handle multiple parties of simr strength without too much strain and if a stronger one does show up theres always the pr bear in the final section. The pr bear was another difficult monster, it refused to allow any other monster into its room whether thats goblins, dwarves, or even the frost wolves it would roar at them before charging straight for them. Even when Frost went to visit it, it clearly wasnt that happy. Frost didnt know if it was due to it being a bear and D-rank or if it was simply antisocial as an individual but as long as it guarded the core room, he could let it behave however it wished. Guess now we just try to milk them for some DP as they try to leave. Currently the group were running as fast as they could to put some distance between them and the wolves however, they still needed to find their way out, all without dying. Theyd need to at least make a short stop in order to attend to their injuries and then find their bases before setting out. Frost was confident that he could have them reach the 24 hour mark in the dungeon giving a nice round numbered ie. Tea? Maya asked as she gracefully meandered over to the kitchen to fill the kettle. Yes please, unlike the adventurers who were in dire straits Frost and Maya were having a great time sitting back and rxing as they watched the situation from thefort of their lounge, almost as if they were watching a movie or ying a video game. Meanwhile across the snowy ins the group of adventurers were fleeing with everything they had leaving drops of blood as they went. They didnt stop running for at least an hour. Sounds of banging and crashing ensued when all four of them copsed into the snow from exhaustion, desperately wing for each breath. They ran to their very limits not even hesitating to stop until they felt the tension of death rx. The group panted and heaved for a good couple minutes before regaining the ability to stand up and move. The group didnt say anything to each other as they quickly looked around for some form of shelter. At the moment they looked terrible, bloodstains all over their clothes, cuts and bruises covering their bodies and severely damaged equipment. Johns shield was barely holding itself together with half of it missing. All of their leather amour had various w and teeth marks greatly reducing its effectiveness. Most of their weapons were blunted or chipped, Fen was out of arrows and one of Jacks daggers hadpletely broken and was still lodged in one of the frost wolves. They were not in the best of states, in fact if they didnt see to their injuries it could prove fatal, thats why they moved into action without orders or hesitation. They werent out of danger yet. Chapter 27 Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Aftermath of the battle After a short recon, the group of adventurers grouped back up to report their findings. Luckily for them the blizzard was currently rather mild at the moment, making it easier to see and move around. Anything? John asked with a stern expression, he hade up empty in his direction, nothing but open ins without protection. His face was currently drained of blood, and he looked as white as a ghost, out of everyone he suffered the most damage. But since he was the strongest and the leader, he needed to take the brunt of the attacks resulting in the most injuries. At the moment he had already lost feeling in his shield arm and every breath he took caused him severe pain, some of his ribs were even broken. N...nothing on m...my end. Fen replied with difficulty, he was still struggling to catch his breath and his firing hand was covered in cuts resulting in constant dripping of blood but other than that he was the least injured. I came up empty as well. Thorin answered with a very deep and gravelly voice much different to his usual academic voice. He received a few blows to his throat and chest altering his voice (think Christian Bales batman voice). He also had a broken nose and a couple cracked ribs. This just left Jack, they all turned towards the scout with pleading eyes hoping he found something, anything they could use. Jack felt the pressure that weighed on his results but wasnt worried. ..... I found a cave that could fit all of us without issue. Jack responded with determination and the others felt as though they could see the light. Good, good lets move quickly, the longer we dy the worse off well be. John smiled and felt ted, finally some good news he thought. The idea that the cave may be upied never even entered his brain as the group set out with purpose, still leaving a slight blood trail behind them. If Frost hadnt ordered for the rest of his monsters to ignore them, they could have easily followed the blood trail and killed them in their weakened state. But they couldnt really be med for that they had just faced a near death experience and were all rather young and inexperienced, itd be weird if they didnt make mistakes. The group quickly moved towards the cave,pletely ignoring the possibility of encountering another monster. Shortly the four reached their destination. A massive boulder easily over 15 metres in height and double in width and depth stood imposingly before them and at the bottom was a cave entrance not more than 2 metres in diameter, a perfect shelter. The groups eyes immediately lit up at the sight, their tense hearts seemed to rx, and a smile came to their faces. Jack had only seen the cave from a distance only seeing the rough geography before he ran back to tell hisrades. The cave was much better than anticipated, easily defendable andpletely blocked out the wind and snow. The four of them instinctively looked towards one another before rushing towards the entrance without fear. Only when they were about the cross the threshold of the cave did John suddenly feel something wrong, a weight was pressing on his heart making him feel ufortable. As he was pondering what the feeling could mean an unpleasant smell entered his nose from the caves entrance immediately bringing a frown to his face. Suddenly he realised what the feeling was telling him. Shit! Wait! He shouted loudly towards his teammates who already entered the cave. The smell was unmistakable, a foul odour; a mix of days old sweat, urine, and repulsive body odour... this was a goblin cave. At Johns shout they quickly froze in ce, the dangerous feeling that they felt earlier flooded their bodies once again. John quickly moved to the front with his shield raised as far as he could as he took position in anticipation for an attack. For a few seconds there was utter silence, their eyes and ears strained to pick up any sign of movement. John still had his shield raised blocking ess, but nothing happened. No monsters jumped out to attack or even shout in rm, the cave was silent and empty. Was I overthinking it? John slowly lowered his shield and rxed. The group each took a thankful deep breath as they once again lowered their guard and slowly entered the cave. The smell was only more prominent the deeper they went causing their eyes to water from its intensity. Unfortunately, this caves advantages trumped the horrible smell. While this cave is or was definitely a goblin cave it was currently deserted making a fine shelter. Even if the goblins returned, they upied the defensive advantage so there was nothing to worry about, hell theyd even stand a chance against the four frost wolves with this sort of terrain. Only one wolf would fit through the entrance at a time making it a simple case of taking them out one by one and with Johns strength it wouldnt be that hard. Fen get a fire going and start making camp, Thorin prepare all the medical supplies we have and boil some of the snow outside for cleaning, Jack you stand guard. John managed to squeeze out a few orders before being filled with intense pain resulting in his body convulsing and his face being drained of colour. The pain was strong enough to make him dizzy causing him to stumble and fall backwards. Boss! All three of them shouted and leaped towards him at the same time, catching him and preventing his head from knocking against the floor. John passed out. His injuries were severe and the pain immense, now that theyd safely left danger and were making camp his body finallypletely rxed sending all the adrenaline dyed pain towards him at once. The agony was too much and to protect itself, his brain shut down to repair the damage. The three of them quickly understood what happened, causing them to bite down hard and clench their fists to the point blood escaped in frustration. John had been inflicted with far more injuries than his teammates, far more. They could feel John carrying the pressure throughout the entire fight, many times theyd feel cornered and unable to move but suddenly John would appear before them taking the weight and defending them from danger. Theyd be left to stare at hisrge back as he hollered orders. John was far too good for them; he had the ability to be a truly strong adventurer. Even his promotion to D-rank was dyed because he stuck with them otherwise, hed have made it a couple years ago, maybe even C-rank would have been right around the corner. The three of them had never felt so frustrated and disappointed with themselves as they did right now. Bang! After settling John down safely onto the ground Thorin smashed his fist against the caves wall, drawing blood yet he didnt feel it. We need to be better! He harshly said through his clenched jaw, his eyes were filled with rage and fire as he turned to look at Fen and Jack. He made his vow and was waiting for them. He wasnt disappointed, their eyes were revealing just as much fire and determination. Power, Jack drew his steel dagger and stared deeply into the metals shine, and he imagined using it to y foes. For John, Fen looked over at their leader lying on the floor, his body trembling as he slept and looking as though a simple breeze could end him. The three looked at John before nodding towards one another with conviction. They set off toplete Johnsst orders. Jack stood guard outside and prepared some rudimentary rm systems. Fen started to unpack their food, and camping supplies before gently moving John onto a nket. Thorin started to prepare all their medical supplies, which wasnt much. They had no potions only herbs and a few ointments, not enough to properly heal their wounds, especially Johns. At best they could only provide some emergency treatment that would allow them to leave the dungeon. Once Thorin prepared a few herb infused cloths and boiled some water to help clean their wounds his eyes drifted towards the stitose John. Perhaps passing out was a blessing of sorts, the herb cloths would illicit a huge amount of pain when applied to such grievous wounds, at least this way hed be able to sleep through the worst of it. Meanwhile back in the dungeons private space Is that a lucky coincidence or some act of fate? Frost rhetorically asked Maya not expecting an answer as he watched the group of adventurers enter the goblin cave. Depends on whether you believe in fate or not. Maya easily replied but a small blush appeared on her face as she said the word fate. Her eyes also drifted towards Frost at that moment, but he was oblivious. The cave they entered was actually a goblin cave and was recently inhabited however its previous upants were brutally killed inbat several hours ago. The group of four goblins that the adventurers killed earlier when ambushed were the previous owners so whether its fate or a lucky coincidence is up to debate. Unfortunately, since the dungeon menu isnt omnipotent, Frost and Maya couldnt see within the cave, but the map did show that four enemies were inside, represented as four red dots. Since watching a giant rock was rather boring and knowing that they wouldnt leave anytime soon. Frost closed down the dungeon viewer. A secondter space warped within the first section, near where therge battle started. Maya and Frost both appeared. Frost ced his thumb and forefinger into his mouth in the shape of a C before loudly whistling. In response to his loud whistle several wolf howls sounded off before they moved in his direction. They were here to inspect the extent of the frost wolves injuries. The dungeons ambient mana would be able to heal most minor injuries, but major ones would be difficult. For example, if one of the wolves lost a leg, it could close the wound but wouldnt be unable to regrow the limb. Shortly 4 frost wolves bounded towards him like a bunch of dogs greeting their master, they rushed up and started to rub their heads against him affectionately and asionally lick him. Hahaha stop that tickles. Their rough tongues were incredibly ticklish on his nose. Luckily, it didnt seem as though there was anything to worry about, some of their wounds had already begun to heal. Even the deepest of cuts and therge gaping hole left by an iron dagger was shrinking in size and beginning to scab over. At this rate theyll be back to normal in a day or two. Frost was incredibly happy at this sight, recing even a single frost wolf would be arge expense for him at this moment plus hed grown rather attached. Ok ok ok thats enough all of you down. After finishing his inspection of their wounds, he had them all sit down before him. The wolves happily obeyed and sat in a line waiting patiently but their tails were still wagging from side to side. This garnered a cute chuckle from Maya. Right since each of you did so well earlier its only right that I reward you. Frost smiled widely towards the wolves; he discussed the topic with Maya earlier on what sort of reward would be appreciated most by them. Technically he didnt need to reward them at all but felt that that would be wrong as their master, so he ignored the DP expense and bought something. At the mention of a reward the wolves eyes lit up and their tails swished with added strength, sweeping away lots of snow. (Think of a dogs reaction when you say walkies or treats) Frost signalled to Maya who at some point was holding arge white container in her hands. At his signal Maya waked towards the antsy frost wolves and opened the box. The moment the lid was opened a powerful scent of meat escaped causing the wolves to drool. Mammoth steaks, the dungeon wasnt just able to create monsters, weapons, and rooms it could also create certain foods, in this case four raw mammoth steaks. Sirloins from the D-rank monsters juvenile woolly mammoths costing 15DP a steak. Each one was easily 3 times the size of a beef sirloin and much heavier. Without further ado Maya tossed each of the wolves a steak which they easily caught and dug into immediately. Chapter 28 Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Delicious steak Seeing the frost wolves eat with such gusto brought a smile to Frosts face. Meat was definitely the right way to go. In fact, the steaks looked so good that he wanted to try one himself, cooked of course and thats exactly what he did. After waving goodbye to the wolves- not that they noticed- Frost and Maya returned to the private space where in he bought another two steaks for him and Maya. Theyll be in that cave for at least a couple hours so might as well enjoy myself. He joined Maya in the kitchen wherein she taught him how to use the appliances and he helped to season the steak before Maya grilled it slowly over a me conjured by magic. Higher grade monster meat was different from regr beast meat and required a stronger approach when preparing. A regr me would take too long or fail entirely so magic fire was required instead, Maya said its to do with the residual mana left within and that regr fire cant prate through mana very well. Even with magic fire it still took an hour before she was done with cooking. She cooked it slowly on a low heat to make the meat even more tender and absorb the entire set of seasoning as well as amply massaging the steak before cooking, resulting in something magnificent. ..... Finished Maya happily announced as she rubbed sweat off her brow, she put a lot of concentration into preparing the meat. Frost perked up at her voice, at this point he had been patiently waiting at the table for quite a while, only able to sneak a few peeks over Mayas shoulder before getting elbowed and yelled at. Maya slowly removed the two steaks from the grill pan and ced them on tworge wooden tters she prepared earlier. Frost had already ced the necessary cutlery and poured- with Mayas permission- tworge sses of wine. Maya insisted that a good steak needs to be partnered with a good wine, red in particr. Frost wondered how much alcohol she had stored away in that bracelet of hers. Once Maya had reached the table Frost could finally get a look at the final product. If the group of adventurers could see that the person responsible for their injuries was currently enjoying a perfectly cooked steak, prepared by a gorgeous woman while they were bleeding and barely hanging on, theyd probably die from anger. The mammoth steak was sitting proudly on the wooden tter nearly falling off the side due to its immensity. Maya had cooked them as medium rare so as to retain a lot of its juices of which were glistening under the light, almost like crystal. The steak had barely an ounce of fat on it, only a slight sliver running on the outside that was almost translucent, making the mouth water at the sight of it. But the most impactful thing of all was the smell, it was heavenly. Frost started drooling the moment it reached his nose, meat! Such a strong aroma of meat, much more impactful than beef but not unpleasant or gamy like bear or fish. Frost repeatedly took deep breathes through his nose almost subconsciously, the smell was addictive. God damn if thats what it smell like then hows the taste. With his eyes wide open and drool pooling at the side of his mouth he fervently stared at therge steak ced in front of him. Hahaha Maya cutely giggled at his current appearance. Dig in young master, no need to hold back on my ount. Maya used her ice chakra to quickly slice up her steak before elegantly picking up a piece with her chopsticks. She ate with ss, verydylike, not takingrge bites and covering her mouth as she chewed, very beautiful and graceful. Frost however was not so tact in his methods. With Mayas permission he instantly dug into the steak, stabbing arge knife into the centre, lifting the entire steak with a single motion, and biting viciously onto the sides, tearing offrge chunks at a time. Beauty and the beast would a very apt description of their current situation if the beast was incredibly handsome. As Frost bit off arge chunk of meat he could see the pure pink flesh that made up the steak, a perfect medium rare cooking. The steak was incredibly juicy and tender, he didnt even need to chew before the meat started to melt in his mouth releasing intense bursts of vour. Frosts eyes opened wide in shock, he felt as though his mouth had exploded with a strong meaty taste, he even had the urge to moan in pleasure. Delicious! He shouted loudly as he swallowed the massive chunk of steak easily, sucking his tongue and gums vigorously for any residual vour. Before Maya could thank him for thepliment, Frost started biting off an evenrger chunk of steak and stuffing himself silly. Maya paused as she watched Frosts animalistic approach to eating. Hes already a third of the way through it with a few bites, he hasnt even touched his wine yet. Although Maya found the steak delicious -well of course it is I cooked it- she was much more restrained, taking a sip of wine after every bite and relishing in the mix of vours. By the time she was halfway through, Frost hadpletely devoured his steak and was licking the wooden tter clean of any lingering juices. Getting nothing back but the taste of wood Frost appeared depressed. In his gloom his eyes inadvertently turned to Maya, well to be more urate her half eaten steak. His greed and desire oveing his restraint he started to salivate and etch closer to her however; his wishes were stopped abruptly. Bang! Back off young master! Maya without even looking his way smashed her chopsticks against his forehead sending him packing, she was not going to share even a single bite. Although the strike wasnt as heavy as her earlier one, he still went flying into the nearby wall and a red welt appeared on his brow as though he received a powerful finger flick. Frustrated and ambitious he quickly stood up You didnt even know what I wanted, whyd you hit me? He didnt even get a chance to ask/steal a piece off her te so howd she know. Maya coldly turned in his direction and looked as though she was staring at an idiot. Pity and contempt could be seen in her eyes making Frost feel as though an invisible dagger was stabbing his heart. However, his desire for the steak outweighed his shame, he continued to stare Maya down ignoring her contempt. The mammoth steak was simply heavenly, he was willing to do almost anything to get another bite. His shameful attitude didnt perturb Maya in the slightest, she continued to eat her steak at a leisurely pace all while staring him down. So, you werent trying take this? She gestured by waving a piece of mammoth steak and like a baby chick Frosts gaze followed the floating piece of steak wherever it went, even an idiot could tell his intentions let alone Maya. Maya smiled evilly before quickly stuffing the piece of steak into her mouth. Mmmhmmmhm! Tasty, she exaggerated her chewing and provocatively licked her lips clean after swallowing. If Frost wasnt so focused on the steak, hed see how sexy she looked at the moment but instead he was filled with anger and frustration. He clenched his fist and jaw as Maya yed him with annoying smirk on her face, shes probably tasted hundreds if not thousands of tasty things why cant she be a bit more considerate. That mammoth steak was the most delicious thing Ive ever tasted so what if I want some more. Shouldnt you as my elder and guardian offer up some of yours. Frost internallyined yet not daring to say this out loud. As Maya reached to eat another piece he almost snapped before taking a deep breath and trying to calm down. Maya co.... I pl...e.... ha.... a.... piece. Through clenched teeth Frost attempted to ask Maya for some steak but all that came out was a barely audible whisper with an aggressive tone. Sorry, what was that young master I didnt hear you? Maya ced another piece of steak in her mouth before cing her hand at her ear so as to hear better-unnecessary of course. Her actions caused another wave of anger to flow through Frost, but he took another breath and tried to ask again. Miss Maya would you please allow me to have some of your steak? This time it wasnt a whisper but still in a forceful tone. Mayas eyes turned into crescents as she enjoyed this little show. Hmmm, she hummed before looking over Frost and then what remained of her steak. Do you mean this steak? She ate another piece without hesitation. Ugh.... Yes, Miss Maya that steak. A vein was starting to protrude on Frosts forehead, he was reaching his limit. Hmmm perhaps if you ask nicely, I might be willing to part with it. At this moment Maya had an incredibly joyful look on her face. teasing the young master is so much fun hahaha. The vein started to pulsate, and Frosts face turned a deep shade of red and then green and finally purple before returning to normal with great difficulty. Beautifuldy Maya the most generous of all, would please be so kind to allow this lowly Frost to partake in that perfectly cooked mammoth steak of yours please. Frost took several deep breaths before spouting out this garbage, his eyes were now twitching, and a horrible taste was in the back of his throat but as long as he could eat some more of that steak itd be worth it. Not expecting such an.... eloquent request Maya was momentarily stunned, seems she underestimated the impact the mammoth steak had on his tastebuds. But it was only for a second, she regained her poise rather quickly. Her face quickly changed from an evil and yful smirk to a genuine friendly smile, one without any other intentions. Seeing this brought sce to Frosts heart, his embarrassing request was worth it. That was a very honest and convincing request young master, I could easily feel your genuine desire for this steak, very well done. Maya nodded and smiled happily before grabbing the wooden tter that held about a quarter of the steak left and cing it in front of her. Frosts eyes lit up and he quickly ambled over to take the tter from her however the moment he was about to grab it. Eh! The tter had disappeared from his view, and he had a horrible sinking feeling. He turned his eyes over to Maya to see that her benevolent smile and gentle eyes were gone, it was a trick. At some point Maya ced the tter back on the table and held the remaining steak in her hand. She was now yfully looking at Frost with an incredible smile that almost stretched to her ears, actually it did. Her mouth was clearlyrger, and her teeth grew sharp and thick like a wolfs. In what was only a second but felt like years to Frost, Maya opened up her now massive mouth and dropped the entire quarter steak in, quickly chewing and swallowing in a single go before returning to her usual appearance. Frost was struck dumb,pletely caught off guard and still perplexed to what happened. Maya however was incredibly happy; she licked her ruby lips clear of thest remnants of the mammoth steak. Damn Im a good cook. She smacked her lips as she internally boasted her cooking prowess. Ug....am.... uuu...you...MAYA!!!! At first Frost couldnt articte any words just frustrated sounds but once he came to terms with what happened, ignoring how she changed the size of her mouth, the fact was that the steak was gone. Fire burned in his eyes as he leapt straight for her. Kyaahhhhh young master you pervert! Maya joyfully avoided his lunges and ran around the room as Frost chased. Chapter 29 Chapter 29: Chapter 29: End of the first day While Frost and Maya were having their fun safely within the dungeons private space, the group of adventurers were getting ready to leave camp. John had exited hisa abruptly when some of the herbal cloths were being applied. He screamed in pain before convulsing but was otherwise alright. At least each of them were well enough to move and fend off any lower ranked monsters, at least for a short time. The emergency treatment however would have to do until they reached themunal camp in the Northrend forest or Furano. Once there they could visit a healer or purchase some potions and rest in their own beds until fully healed. The group certainly didnt look their best, ripped up leather armours and torn clothes covered in dry blood. Luckily, they had a whetstone so at least their weapons were back up to scratch after a few rounds of sharpening. Johns shield however was beyond repair and would only be dead weight so he tossed it into the fire, cant have the goblins using it. The four were currently huddled around the campfire trying to retain as much heat as possible before moving out. Theyd replenished their strength with some dried meat and soup and were just building up the nerve to leave. If they ran into anything like a couple frost wolves or that pack of winter boars, theyd be toast so their courage was to be expected, a littlecking. And thats only within the dungeon they still needed to make it back home safely through the Northrend forest, avoiding the monsters there but more importantly to avoid crossing paths with bandits. Jack do you roughly remember the way out of this monsterir? John asked as he rubbed his hands in front of the fire. To be honest... not really, the constant blizzard made leaving markings almost impossible. I made some scratches on a few rocks and boulders we passed but finding them in itself will be a challenge and considering how we ran here with all we had, Im not sure of our current position. Best guess, we head south until something familiar shows up. Jack shook his head and looked down in dismay, he didnt have any tracking or mapping skills, so he had to do it the old-fashioned way. ..... Unfortunately, he wasnt the most skilled and with the dungeons environment and their recent erratic movements made it that much harder. However, it wasnt really Jacks fault, he was only an E-rank adventurer. If he had a mapping or scouting skill, hed easily be made D-rank regardless of his personal strength. His response caused Thorin and Fen to frown and lower their heads in disappointment, luck wasnt on their side it seemed. Well, its better than nothing. John sighed before replying, at least if they came across one of the marked rocks, theyd be able to recount their steps and exit their. Well do as Jack suggested and head south.... Put out the fire and lets go. The group looked reluctant but eventually listened to Johns order, using snow to put out the fire and picking up their gear before walking out of the cave with grim resolve. It took them around four hours to find the exit, heading south lead them to a dead end, so they had to backtrack. Eventually after walking west, they came across one of the stones marked by Jack and from there it was fairly simple. They didnte across any strong monsters, but a few goblins and artic foxes watched them from afar not daring to get too close. Whether on orders from Frost or the fact that the adventurers were radiating a strong death aura that filled them with fear, the monsters kept their distance. Frost and Maya asionally looked at the map to see how they were faring but chose not to intervene any further. After their little spat Frost simply bought another mammoth steak for 15DP which he cooked himself with Mayas asional input. It certainly wasnt as good as hers, a little over done but still delicious. The rest of the time Frost simply took a nap, while Maya did her own thing. Young master theyve exited. Whispered Maya, Frost was currently asleep on his bed and Maya was whispering in his ear. Mmmhm her breath tickled his ear causing him to release a slight moan. He slowly opened his eyes feeling incredibly refreshed, his body felt light and flexible as he sat up and stretched his arms upward. I feel great, he thought as his shoulders popped. He turned around to face the stunning beauty that was Maya who was gently smiling his way. Good morning Maya. He smiled back, ah getting woken up by a beauty really is the best. Mayas eyes twitched upward. Its the middle of the night young master. She replied stiffly. Hmmmm.... Well good night then. Unable to understand her sarcasm and the subtle meaning in her words he replied frankly. .... Maya stared at him in silence, unsure on how to proceed. Have they exited? He asked Maya to wake him up when the group of adventurers reached the exit/entrance of the dungeon if he wasnt already up. Yes, theyre just about to cross the threshold. Did they run into anymore issues? They lost track of their position for a while and were wary of some of the goblins and foxes that approached them but after locating one of the boulders that their scout marked earlier, they found their way back without much hassle. Hmmm they marked the rocks? Frost tilted his head to the side and cupped his chin as he tried to remember. Yes, the scout.... Jack was it, scratched a few symbols into the rocks they passed. Amon strategy used by adventurers when exploring new areas however if they left it too long the dungeon would have healed itself, so they got lucky. How long is too long? This could be an issue; new adventurers would simply follow previous groups markings making the 5km trek too easy to navigate. 48 hours give or take depends on the deepness of the markings and the object theyre imprinted on. If it was the outer walls of the room, itd be less than 12 hours. Oh! thats ok then, 48 hours is fine. Frost moved from the bed and stood up. Lets go and say goodbye to our guests before tallying up todays gains and expenses. At the word expenses Frost felt a sharp pain in his heart, the extra steak he bought came to mind as did some regret. Frost brought up the dungeon menu once they were seated in the living room. On the screen the adventurers could be seen smiling ear to ear as they passed the entrance and returned to the outside world. I guess their first dungeon experience was rather painful. Seeing the joy on the groups faces as they left, Frost couldnt help but feel a bit of pride. Considering how easy you went on them they really shouldnt be celebrating. Maya spoke harshly and shook her head in disappointment. She didnt have that good opinion of John and hispanions. Regardless they were our first customers and I shall always remember them. Frost wasnt disappointed in the slightest, his n worked out perfectly. The local adventurer guild in Furano should send some inspectors soon and they shouldnt be too strong either making this venture a roaring sess. However, if they enter the dungeon again with the same amount of pitiful strength andck of foresight then I cant be med for revealing my true strength. Frost smiled evilly as if a predator eying prey, he even licked his lips. This elicited a happy response from Maya, she smiled and lightlyughed before looking at the adventurers in the same way. Were out were finally out! Roared Fen as the light of the moon shone into his eyes, even though it was the dead of night Fen could swear that the world had never been brighter. Safe... were safe. Jack chimed in, tears threatening to leak from his eyes. He felt so relieved, never had he felt so close to death than when they faced off against those frost wolves but now... they only needed to pass through an area they know like the back of their hands, easy peasy. Thorin and John were ecstatic as well but didnt let their guards down, they knew that this was just the first hurdle. Only once they reached Furano would they be truly safe. Everyone huddle up! John ordered, bringing their celebration to an abrupt end. Within a few seconds they were all huddled together arms around one anothers shoulders and facing inward. This was most definitely the most dangerous situation that we the [Artic Warband] have ever encountered in our career but also hopefully one of the most important. John spoke sternly, asionally giving Fen nces to make sure he was fully understanding the seriousness of his words. Their adventuring party was called the [Artic Warband], named after a small regiment of the Northrend army that some of their family members had been a part of. This name brought them pride and honour and although it wasnt as ambitious or as morous as say the ice dragon yers or the invincible berserkers which some local parties came up with, it was personal and meant something to them. We all managed to survive this event by sheer dumb luck and luck doesntst. We need to be stronger, better, each and every one of us needs to improve quickly or next time we wont be so fortunate. Johns words sunk in deep, everyone could feel the weight and pressure, his words were true, they could have easily died today. John and even Thorin had made simr speeches to the group in the past but none of them hit home. They were young, reckless,zy, and ignorant. Only with todays events did they finally understand the fragility of their lives. To Johns surprise none of them yed him off, they each stared into his eyes with fierce determination. Eh! This is going much easier than expected.... Did I miss something. Of course, this was good news but still he felt that it was rather unusual given their personalities, especially Fens. When John was still in hisatose state Jack, Fen and Thorin had already made their pledges, they were determined to never see their eldest brother in such a wounded state ever again. Seeing their fierce and determined looks John couldnt help but smile and clench his fists. He moved his right hand into the centre of the group gesturing for everyone to do the same. [Artic Warband] on 3 1 2 3 [ARTIC WARBAND!]!!! The four of them shouted with such strength that snow fell from the nearby trees. After a moment of silence, the group roared inughter before quickly departing into the Northrend Forest with a confident spring in their steps. Many yearster the [Artic Warband] having achieved great sess and bing an A-rank party would always look back and remember this day as the day they truly became adventurers. Meanwhile somewhere high above Nova, within a separate dimension a storm was brewing. It had been roughly 24 hours since the 100 dungeon cores opened their doors to the public and like any doting father, Dark was eagerly watching their first steps however he wasnt alone. Bang! A teacup was smashed onto a hard floor. Say that again Light! Dark theposed and awe-inspiring God and Frosts father was currently in an enraged state. The very air around him was bursting into mes due to his anger, the pressure his body was exuding on the space was shattering the objects in the room. The table and cups suddenly burst into millions of pieces before turning to ash and finally vanishing into nothingness. Only a single chair and cup had survived this onught, sitting across from Dark unperturbed by his outburst was another equally handsome middle-aged man dressed in a white kimono. He too was giving off an otherworldly pressure that allowed his chair and teacup to remain undamaged. This man was known as Light and was the God that created the world of Nova alongside Dark, his only equal and best friend. Chapter 30 Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Godly disagreement Light frowned in displeasure, not appreciating Darks outburst. I dont understand what the big deal is, but Ill say it again erase them. If Frost was here, hed be sweating bullets, the Light God just told Dark to erase the Dungeon cores. They were just born and now one of the Gods wants them dead. Light saying it again only further fuelled Darks rage. If looks could kill the Light God would have died a hundred times over. Dark rarely got angry but this really sent him over the edge. In his anger filled haze, Dark clenched his fist causing what appeared to be some kind of ck hole to form in his hands. Even someone of Mayas capabilities would be obliterated if this hit her. Quickly noticing that Dark was going tounch an attack Light moved in response creating a simr attack but white in colour. Inwardly though Light was incredibly distressed. What the hell is going on, why is he so angry? Light had no idea what was happening, but he knew that if he didnt defend himself even someone of his capabilities wouldnt get off with just a minor injury. Suddenly the two masses, one ck and one white were fired at one another with such extreme speed even light would be overtaken. ..... BOOMMMM! a sound akin to a thunderp but thousands of times greater could be heard. It was as though two gxies were colliding, even this special space designed and created by these two Gods creaked and cracked from the resulting impact. The attacks were equal in strength, cancelling out one another leaving only a few fragments whichbined into a grey coloured mist that harmlessly floated between the two Gods. Well harmless for them, anything else would most likely implode from the level of pressure. Light and Darks clothes were ruffled and even torn in some ces. Their hair ties had exploded resulting in their long hair to y outward. The two Gods no longer looked very elegant. Light was absolutely furious andshed out first. What the hell is your problem Dark? Suddenlyunching a ck hole are you insane! Lights eyes were spitting mes as he yelled. Insane no! Insane would be this. Suddenly multiple ck holes appeared behind Dark, all ready to be tossed at Light. Even a God such as Light was frightened by this, his skin was visibly trembling, and a cold sweat was developing on his back. One ck hole was bad enough but now Dark was going tounch at least a dozen. The dimension wouldnt hold up, space, time and well everything would be annihted. Lights eyes opened wide with a tinge of fear and desperation. Shit! shit! shit! what the fuck is going on? There had been times in the past when theyd had disagreements and even fights but it never escted so quickly plus Light didnt even know why Dark was so mad. Wait! Wait! Calm down, think about what youre doing. Light instead of responding with an attack held his hands up openly trying to persuade with words instead. Seeing that Light didnt respond back with an attack, Dark was momentarily frozen. This short timeframe that felt like eons but was only a couple seconds allowed Dark to calm down and realise what he was doing. Fuck! He was so mad about being told to erase his children that he almost annihted them himself. The st would rend this space to dust and the escaping energy would flood into Nova eviscerating it, destroying everything they worked for. Now that Dark had regained control of his emotions Light released a deep sigh of relief before restoring the space to how it was before, recreating the tables, chairs and even the tea they were drinking. Take a seat Dark. Dark was still in a rather stunned state, so he obeyed subconsciously without thinking, taking a seat, and sipping at the tea. He was still shocked at his actions, never in the millions of years theyd been alive had he lost his emotions so violently, it was almost as though he was.... Dark...Dark! Light shouted loudly and tapped his shoulder bringing him out of his stupor. Eh!... yeah? Dark looked towards Light, but his mind was in chaos, and he couldnt focus, his eyes darting side to side. Light grew deeply concerned; something was wrong, very wrong. Dark tell me whats going on. Light looked at his friend with deep care, although they had their disagreements, they were still best friends and had been together for eons. Dark managed to grasp on to the thought he was chasing, he deeply sighed before smiling widely. He took a sip of tea before looking towards the now seated Light. Those Dungeon cores are my children, so I will not erase them. A rtively good argument and in most cases would probably end the discussion but when ites to Gods its a tad moreplicated. ..... I dont understand, weve created thousands if not millions of different species and at times Ive asked you and youve asked me to erase some before due to their nature or abilities having a harmful effect on Nova. Why are these Dungeon cores any different? Light was baffled, this situation wasnt anything new, several species had to be erased in the past so as to maintain bnce in Nova and these Dungeon cores were a prime example of that. Their power was too great, regardless of their personalities or intentions they were too powerful. Each of them could be considered as Demi-Gods, 100 Demi-Gods suddenly being born is unnatural and dangerous. Theyre my children. Dark just responded back with the same reasoning. Your children? Light appeared more confused than ever. Although technically all their creations could be ssified as their children as they gave birth to them however since they were Gods the rtionship was different.... Wait. Wait! You cant mean? Light suddenly stood up as he realised what Dark meant. Yes... each and every one of them has a part of my DNA, my soul in them. They truly are my children. Dark looked into the distance, smiling. You split up your soul!!! Light was mortified and furious, what Dark did was incredibly dangerous and reckless. For a God to bestow part of himself onto a creation would create a powerful bond between them and allow the creation to utilise some of the Gods abilities. In some cases, the part of the soul used may never recover, or the creation could exploit the link causing irreversible harm or even death to the God. All in all, its a very dangerous and risky endeavour with little to no upside for the God and Dark went and did it for 100 creations, madness. Its no wonder that his emotions were out of control, his soul was currently damaged and weak, hed be prone to bursts of insanity at the very least for a while. Why? Light looked angrily towards Dark, in response Dark lightly chuffed and turned towards him. Weve lived alone for eons Light, no matter how many creations we create theres never been any that we could consider our equal. Nova has grown stagnant and needed some new blood and I had grown bored doing the same thing day in day out. I knew it was risky, but I felt that it was essential for Nova and... myself. The more Dark talked the happier and prouder he became. Watching the first day of his children interacting with the world brought him the most joy hed experienced in past 1000 years. Then they should definitely be erased! Light was furious, he felt betrayed and disappointed. They built Nova together so if he allowed these Dungeon cores to remain it would ruin the delicate bnce that had been created. Light! The look in Darks eyes suddenly grew dark and a killing intent started to radiate from his body. I refuse to erase them and by the pact we entered long ago without my permission you cannot erase them either. long ago when Nova was initially created, they swore to be unbiased and never ever erase anything unless both of them agreed to it and only when the entire species was a danger not an individual. You.... but theyre too powerful and a danger to Nova. Light didnt back down; he wanted these dungeon cores destroyed by any means necessary. Hmph! I doubt they could cause more trouble than that Church of Light that worships you. A...e.a..yo... Light spoke like a cat got his tongue Dark attacked his weak point. He held deep regret for the Church of Light and Holy White empire situation. So much so that he struggled to create anything new for Nova in the past several hundred years and lost many nights of rest. The human race was created by the Light God and generally they werent good or bad but were easily influenced. A group called the Church of Light had caused such devastation to Nova that Light and Dark were tempted to break their oath to not directly interfere with the world. There were many times that Light wanted to suddenly materialise in Novas sky and obliterate all traces of them but managed to hold himself back or had Dark hold him down. This incident yed a major part in changing Lights personality, he became fairly paranoid about any new creations and struggled to be optimistic. There was silence between them. Sorry Light but this necessary, Nova needs something like them I hope youe to understand that. Dark looked at Light with slight pity before standing up and teleporting away. He didnt wish to argue with his friend anymore, he said his piece and wasnt going to change his mind. Light was left alone in the alternate space, his mind in chaos and his heart weary. He couldnt get over the Church of Light incident he knew that but still. Im not wrong.... They are a danger and must be eliminated. Light muttered under his breath and his eyes shone with an evil glint. If I cant do it myself then Ill simply have others do it. His gaze became more determined, and his posture straightened as he continued this line of thought. He looked over to where his friend was just sitting and sighed, he too had made his decision. Meanwhile back in Frosts private space The group of adventurers had just left the scope of the dungeon and had begun their long trek home. Well, I guess all we can do now is wait for the guild to send their inspection force. Frost was currently slouching backzily on his chair staring up towards the ceiling. His work had paid off and now they just needed to wait. ording to Maya itd take at least two days or so for them to arrive and thats if they move quickly. Well first things first lets rece all of the lost monsters. Frost pped his hands and sat up straight before bringing up the dungeon menu. Lets see how much we DP we made or lost, current DP is wait what....807 howd that happen? Frost had a confused expression. This was far more than he was expecting, hed have been happy to breakeven but with the original DP left and the cost to rece the dead goblins thats still more than a 500DP profit. Bring up the DP records. Maya squeezed in over Frosts shoulder. the dungeon menu had a useful feature that showed a detailed record of any DP lost or gained. Frostplied with her suggestion and brought up the piece-by-piece record. 220 from them being in the dungeon for 22 hours, 12 for the lost goblins 50 for injuring the scout, minus 105 for the steaks and....500! for the injuring the group with 250 being solely for the leader John. An unexpected surprise, Frost forgot that he would gain a chunk of DP for injuries inflicted on visitors. Looks like their injuries were quite bad, a nice bonus. With this we could even get another pr bear. Frost felt that perhaps he should have given an even greater reward for his frost wolves. Congrattions young master, for your first day you not only achieved your intended goals but gained arge amount of DP as well, well done. Maya smiled with pride as she spoke, hands on her hips and glinting in her eyes. In response Frost slightly blushed, arge smile adorned his face as he rubbed the back of his head. Although there was still another 2 hours left till the first day was up, it could be considered a great sess. All across the world many of Frosts siblings were also experiencing the end of their first day, some sessful, some not and some where nothing happened at all. Chapter 31 Chapter 31: Chapter 31: New intruders? Guess Ill rece the dead goblins to start with. Recovering from his prideful embarrassment, Frost summoned 4 new goblins for the first room at 30DP a pop. The frost wolves will eventually heal by themselves so theres no need to rece them. That still leaves 687DP. Frost rubbed his chin as he thought. Although he could buy some more monsters there was also traps, items and even food avable, he was spoiled for choice. Why dont you buy another pr bear since you can afford it or perhaps a different D-rank. Maya suggested from his side. No, even though I can afford it theres nowhere to ce it. You saw how the pr bear treats the other monsters, its not really a team yer.... I could always just save forter, it does cost 10,000DP for a new floor so.... or possibly save up for a spawner.... Frost started mumbling while being lost in thought. Seeing that he was distracted and would be for a while Maya left him to it, moving towards the kitchen. 10 minutester Frost was still stuck wavering on what to do, his brow was tensed, and he looked quiteical. ..... Bop! Maya poked Frost on the forehead where the pressure was greatest. Frowning so much will ruin that pretty face of yours young master. Maya had finished preparing some snacks and tea but seeing Frosts face in danger she quickly moved. Frost was momentarily stunned,pletely forgetting what he was just thinking about. His face was frozen and his mouth agape. Smile young master, smile. Maya tilted her head cutely to the side and gestured with her smooth jade like fingers towards her cheeks in the shape of a smile. Frost was speechless and subconsciously started to smile. Perhaps Im just overthinking it. He followed Mayas advice and smiled widely untensing his brow. Much better, Maya nodded her head before handing Frost a cup of tea. Youre overthinking this young master, just go with your gut. Maya fist bumped the air while tensing her abs. Go with my gut.... Yeah, you know instinct, whatever pops into your brain first when you see the leftover DP. Thatll be what you truly want ....or not but its the best way to deal with indecision yup. Towards the end of the speech Maya lost confidence as she remembered a few times when going with her instinctsnded her in a lot of trouble, but she quickly bounced back nodding vigorously and smiling. What I want huh.... Frost peered down into his cup eliminating all external thought focusing only on spending DP. A few momentster his eyes lit up and a smile formed on his face. ..... Goblins yeah and also traps Id like to see more adventurers fall into the spike pitfall or get mped by the bear traps. The goblins performed far better than anticipated and followed orders incredibly well, so I definitely want more. The more he spoke the more determined he sounded. Only one of the spike fall traps were activated by the [Artic Warband] and that was only because Frost arranged for the snow owls and other monsters to guide them to that area. The size of the trapspared the space avable in the room made them very unlikely to be triggered so having more would obviously increase those chances. Even if they didnt fall in and die or receive injuries witnessing Thorin being pulled in by his beard was hrious in itself. He cried and moped for ages about his poor beard causing Frost and Maya tough hysterically. The goblins however were incredibly cheap and outperformed the limits of G-rank, hell if Frost had enough, he was confident he could even ambush and kill high level adventurers. Its a shame that the goblins onlye armed with a blunt rusty dagger and practically no clothes let alone armour, but the frost dwarves should be able to fix that. So far, theyve created several bunkers and simple fortifications in the winter forest as well as attaching the second section goblins daggers to wooden staffs making makeshift spears. Resulting in them being able to counter the size difference when fighting adventurers. There wasnt anything that Frost particrly needed at the moment. His defences were strong enough and a single pr bear was sufficient to guard his core room, at least in the early stages. The [Artic Warband] werent even able to make it into the second section before being forced back. To make it into the final area the party would have to be at least D-rank otherwise theyd struggle against the frost wolves and frost dwarves living there. Sounds good young master do it. Maya gave a thumbs up in approval before stuffing her cheeks with snacks, resembling a squirrel. Frost immediately added 10 goblins all to be summoned in the first section along with 2 ice spike pitfalls and a bear trap for a grand total of 620DP. The moment he clicked confirm the dungeon core whirled into action, lighting up and spinning as it started its task. Frost instantly felt energy passing through his body before vanishing, leaving him slightly numb. Buying over ten things at once allowed him to feel the strain of using the core albeit being much easier than the first time, no signs of him being short of breath let alone passing out. Tsk Frost subconsciously clicked his tongue in disappointment. Looks like nop pillow. His gaze wandered towards Maya and then to her shapely legs that were partially exposed through her dress. The next day was uneventful, not a single adventurer passed by the only thing that did was a random deer beast. It entered the dungeon and was quickly killed by a group of frost goblins releasing a dose of 50DP. The goblins devoured the edible meat whereas Frost used the dungeon core to collect the hide and other useful materials before absorbing its corpse. It wasnt untilte into third day that things changed A few hundred metres from the dungeons entrance a couple of severely injured adventurers were limping forward. Their bodies were covered in dried blood and grewsome gashes and wounds could be seen through their torn clothes. A man and a woman or to be more urate a boy and a girl, they appeared to be just teenagers no more than 16 or 17 years old. The boy had bright blond hair and underneath the blood and dirt was a rather handsome and brave looking face. The girl although not curvy like Maya was quite a catch. She had long ck hair that reached to her lower back and ck eyes that stood out from her pale skin, a cute young beauty in the making. Thump! The young girl tripped crashing into the ground, she tried to use her staff to stand but was too weak. Her knees were shaking unable to take her own weight, she was too exhausted and injured. Luna! The boy turned around to help hispanion almost immediately making him clench his teeth as his sudden movements agitated his wounds. leave me Leo... Ill only slow you down. The girl yelled as loud as she could, but her voice was no more than a whisper. She couldnt carry on; shed already passed her limit long ago. Not a chance in hell! The boy Leo angrily retorted, his face full of determination and fury. Leo took a deep breath and summoned the most strength he could muster. Ah! Luna screamed as Leo forcefully lifted her and ced her on his back, refusing to let her die here. If you cant walk then, Ill just carry you, it shouldnt be too far now, just hang on for a little longer. Leo forcefully spoke through the pain. Blood starting to drip from his back and down his legs, he too was far past his limits. Idiot.... Moron .... stupid head. Luna writhed around trying to push herself from Leos back, but shecked the strength, all she could do was call him names while crying into his shoulders. This shouldnt have happened, why is this happening was all she could think as she was carried against her will towards the dungeon. Young master looks like weve got a new intruder. Frost and Maya were currently in the training room. Mayafortably sitting at the side rxing while Frost practised his ive arts against an ice golem. Unfortunately, he hadnt been able to make any more substantial progress with his ive still being at basic mastery. Finally! In response he struck the ice golem hard, sending it shuffling backwards. He smiled and started to walk in Mayas direction while bringing up the dungeon menu. Maya undid her summoning magic causing the golem to return to mana particles, vanishing into dust almost instantly. Frost took a quick look at the map outside the dungeon. Eh! Just two, his happiness was quickly squashed. The map only showed two red dots slowly heading towards the dungeon. They shouldnt have just sent two people for the monsterir inspection, right? Plus isnt too soon for them to have reached us already. Not likely, theyre probably just some regr adventurers but Ill need a closer look to make sure. At this point they werent considered within the dungeons purview, so their daily DP ie wasnt shown yet. Lets head back into the private space then. Frost quickly scrolled through the menu before teleporting him and Maya. Once they arrived and Maya had gottenfy, he brought up the dungeon video screen. Eh! Frost was shocked, the two adventurers slowly making their way to his dungeon looked to be half dead already. They left a substantial trail of blood with every step they took and the number of wounds on their bodies were beyond counting. Their equipment albeit significantly damaged appeared to be rather high ss, however. The boy was garbed in a mix of high-quality leather and an iron chainmail vest whereas the girl wore a long blue robe that covered most of her body likely made from some sort of monster silk to provide some durable resistance. Weapons wise the boy was simply armed with a regr 3ft sword probably steel and a ck shield of unknown material easily half his size. The girl simply had a wooden staff with a white crystal embedded at the top. Hoh! Shes a healer. Maya chimed in after seeing the white crystal on the girls staff. A healer? So, she can use healing spells? Frost remembered receiving Mayas first healing spell and having most of his injuries instantly vanish, a feeling of respect started to grow as he viewed this girl. Not just healing, she can probably use defensive and light-based offensive magic based on the quality of her staff but.... Mayas brow was frowning, and she appeared confused. Even though theyve got good equipment theyre just rookies, E-rank at best, her spells will be rtively weak even with the staffs addition. Ah! So, they only look strong. The little bit of respect was quickly snuffed out, a bunch of rich kids albeit with some fierce determination. Frost smiled as he watched the focused and pained face the young boy made as he slowly carried hispanion towards the dungeon, he liked his attitude. Could you exin more about defensive and light-based magic? Of course, young master; defensive magic helps to strengthen weapons, armour or even the body for example [bless] is a low-level spell that applies magic attacks to weapons allowing them to strike ethereal targets. Offensive light-based magic was created by the Light God and uses light to attack, for example the [light beam] spell fires a focused beam of light that decimates undead and other darkness-based monsters however its rather weak against everything else. Maya gave another few examples of higher-level spells, but the young girl wouldnt be able use them with her current abilities. Wait if the girl can use healing magic, then how did they end up so injured? Couldnt the young girl easily cast a healing spell at any time as they walked onward. Simple shes out of mana. Maya answered back bluntly, she looked over at Frost as though he asked a dumb question. Frost grew embarrassed under Mayas gaze; he should have noticed something so obvious. With the girls mana capacity, shed not be like Frost who could constantly cast spells for hours without rest. In fact, his mana capacity was almost as much as Mayas, and he was still in his growing phase. Chapter 32 Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The red hawk bandits Anyway... I wonder how they ended up so injured. Covering his embarrassment Frost tried to redirect the conversation. Who knows, could be any number of things, traps, bandits, monsters or even fellow adventurers but the weird thing is that it seems as though theyre purposely heading towards the dungeon even in their injured state. Mayas eyes narrowed as she thought. Thats.... strange, normally when injured youd do your best to avoid danger but theyre walking right towards it.... do they not know that its a monsterir but some cave? Guess well find out soon young master. The two young adventurers were now in full view of the dungeons entrance. .... This is your n? Luna askedpletely shocked, when Leo told her he had a n of survival never in her wildest dreams did she picture a monsterir. Pretty much yeah. Leo kept moving forward towards the entrance despite Lunas protests. ..... Have you gone insane Leo? How in the hells is a dangerous untested monsterir going to help us. Or have you forgotten that with our current strength even a couple of goblins could kill us and even if we were at full strength, wed still die in there. Didnt you hear what the [Artic Warband] said, theres frost wolves in there, frost wolves plural. Luna was smacking the back of Leos head as she spoke hoping to pound the information into his thick skull. At least if they gave up and fought against their aggressors they wouldnt be eaten. The image of being eaten or even worse by goblins sent a mortifying chill down her spine. Thats exactly why, its our only chance to live! Leo stopped walking and shouted, he didnt have time to exin his full reasoning due to time constraints, but he needed Luna to calm down and trust him. If we face them in battle, well die 10 times out of 10 without a doubt at least this way we even the yfield slightly. Its an absolute long shot but weve got no other option. As long as we enter the monsterir and survive until the investigative party arrives, well live. At this point Leo had turned around and stared straight into Lunas eyes conveying his urgency. ... Luna was speechless, she couldnt argue against his logic, it truly was their only option and Leo always had a good instinct for survival. She bit her lip until blood was drawn and stopped crying before nodding in eptance. Good, we need to move fast, they cant be far behind us. Leo smiled and felt warm seeing Luna put her trust in him. They then quickly moved forward crossing the dungeons threshold in a risky leap of faith. Roughly 20 minutester a rough looking group of men barged through the forest following the blood trail left behind by Leo and Luna. There were close to twenty men all brutish in appearance, dressed in rough leathers and simple clothes adorned with a red hawk symbol. All of them were human, ranging fromte twenties to middle aged and equipped with simple weapons such as clubs and axes. The fuck? Did the brats run into the monsterir, do they have a death wish? One of the more buff men shouted as he saw the blood trail lead into the mountain. This group of men had been chasing the two young adventurers for the past hour or so, after they escaped their ambush. Many of the mans allies had been killed and a fair few of the ones here sported minor injuries. In response to the mans shout an incredibly tall and muscr man walked out of the forest. He easily stood at 2 metres in height and his arms were thicker than some of the other mens legs. His armour, clothes and even his weapons were of a much higher quality, even surpassing the equipment of John the leader of the [Artic Warband]. At his entrance all of the rough looking men turned to face him, their eyes filled with a mixture of respect and fear, with fear being the most prominent. This man was their leader, the bandit boss Redhawk. Even therger man who shouted acted submissive in Redhawks presence. Redhawk scanned over the men he lorded over and smiled as he saw the fear in their eyes. He loved that expression. As Redhawk was relishing in the gazes an audible sigh came from his side. So not only did you allow them to escape from the ambush, you allowed them to flee into an uncharted monsterir.... Im starting to think that you arent worth my time Redhawk. The voice was cold and held no trace of fear when confronting Redhawk in fact just the opposite it was full of contempt. Redhawk was initially filled with extreme rage, he quickly turned around to smash the man who offended his prestige but immediately stopped in his tracks the moment he saw the mans face. A terrifyingly, cold shiver ran down his spine and his heart almost stopped, if there was one man, he never wished to offend it was this man before him. Unlike the rest of the Redhawk bandits, this man was rather elegant in appearance and was dressed simr to that of a knight. He had a well-maintained longsword strapped to his side in a sheath and exuded a frosty atmosphere, but the most terrifying thing was his eyes. the moment Redhawk was looked at by his ice blue eyes he could smell the stench of death surrounding him. The knight like man stared into Redhawks eyes unwavering, exuding a powerful killing intent he lowered his hand towards his sword. W...w...wait Redhawk panicked, holding his hands up in fear. Shit! shit! shit! why did I have to provoke this monster. Redhawks back was drenched in cold sweat as hemented his actions. Seeing his fearful and pathetic appearance the cold knight smirked before releasing his sword and receding his killing intent. I hired you on behalf of my master to carry out a simple job, kill a measly two E-rank adventurers yet not only did you fail to kill them in an ambush that I helped prepare you allowed them to flee to this monsterir. Give me one good reason why I shouldnt kill you for your ipetence Redhawk? The cold knight stared directly into Redhawks eyes viewing him as nothing but a bug. The knight had spent arge sum of money to hire this group of bandits which were supposed to be the strongest group within the area. But so far, theyve been nothing but a disappointment. N....no... please give us another chance, I promise that well kill those two brats and present their heads to you. To be honest although Redhawk was afraid of this mans overbearing strength, he was confident that he could sessfully flee with his life however the man the knight worked for was a different story, he couldnt offend him under any circumstances. During this heated discussion, the group of red hawk bandits watched in amazement and confusion. Why was their boss so afraid of this man, even if he was strong there were 20 of them, could he really beat them all? Very well you have one more chance, do not fail me again otherwise you know what will happen. The cold knight walked past Redhawk whispering into his ear before moving on, ignoring the fearful and enraged look on the bandits face. As the cold knight left one of the red hawks deputies edged closer. Boss are you sure you dont want to just kill him and be done with it? The deputy looked over the cold knight as he prepared to draw his weapon Bang! Suddenly he was smacked across the face sending him hurtling to the ground. Idiot, moron do you think if that was an option, I wouldnt have done it already? Redhawk angrily spoke towards his floored deputy making sure he wasnt speaking loud enough for the cold knight to hear. Well simply do the job as requested, get our money and then leave understand. Redhawks eyes were full of rage and if looks could kill his deputy would be dead many times over. Deep down he already regretted taking this assignment, but the money was incredible and the man behind the cold knight wasnt someone he could refuse. The chances of the brats surviving the monsterir is impossible anyway so havent we alreadypleted our job, in fact doesnt this make it even less likely to be linked to us if they die in the monsterir? Redhawks other deputy stepped forward to give his analysis. Redhawks anger instantly deted when he heard this deputy. Out of all his subordinates he appreciated this one the most. Although he wasnt the strongest, he was intelligent. The reason the red hawk bandits were known to be the strongest in the area had a lot to do with the strategies and nning done by this man. Along with Redhawks high strength they made the perfect team. If this was any normal job then yes but that man wants to be 100% sure. If we dont present their heads then theres no deal. This was one of the main reasons why he was so angry. Sessfully finding the two brats within the monsterir was incredibly risky. Not only would they have to work within unknown territory, but theyd also have topete against monsters and other than Redhawk and his two deputies the rest of the bandits were at best equal to F-rank adventurers. Unlike before they would be the ones outnumbered in this situation, who knows how many monsters were currently living within thisir. Their situation was not very prosperous, this yed arge part in why Leo aimed for the monsterir, he knew that they would have no choice but to enter. The smart deputy let out a sigh before shaking his head. Redhawk closed his eyes and took a deep breath before quickly returning to his intimidating and powerful form. Listen up you bastards! You failed to kill those brats earlier so now you can make up for your failure. We know where they are, and they cant escape.... Go hunt! With hisst words Redhawk released a powerful roar filling his subordinates with strength. Woaaahhhh! The twenty or so bandits roared in response before quickly rushing into the monsterir without fear. The smart deputy sighed again when he saw this. What a bunch of fools, looks like well have to recruit a lot of new blood. The groups strength was rather pitiful, but they ran into the monsterir without even the slightest hint of wariness. Well be lucky if even one of them survives. Redhawk and his other deputy was unperturbed by this, finding men such as them was easy. If they died then it meant nothing, as long as they can be useful any number of them can die. Redhawk, his deputies as well as the cold knight remained outside to guard the exit, unless absolutely necessary they wouldnt step in. Meanwhile back in the private space, thanks to the loud ramblings of the bandits Frost and Maya now understood how this whole situation came to be. Of course, the underlying reason was still a mystery but what does that matter. So, two kids obviously from rather well-off families were targeted by this Redhawk at the behest of that knight like person hmmm... Im quite curious as to why however, since they have nothing to do with the adventurers guild and can in fact be considered criminals nobody will miss them if they disappear right? Frost chuckled under his breath as he eyed the prey entering his domain. Even if each of the bandits were weak individually, killing 20 of them would surely produce arge input of DP. What of the two kids? asked Maya. Bait Frost answered without hesitation. He had checked earlier and both of them were about E-rank giving a daily dose of 40DP. Not much in the grand scheme so whether they died or not didnt matter much. They were too weak to cause any harm to the dungeons monsters, so he pretty much ignored them and ordered his monsters to do the same. The real prize was the group of bandits as well as their leader Redhawk. Maya widely smiled at his response, she grew excited, finally they can truly hunt. Chapter 33 Chapter 33: Chapter 33: First kill Frost gave a quick look at where Luna and Leo were before focusing back to the dungeons entrance. Although they were quite severely injured, after entering the dungeon Luna and Leo seemed to reinvigorate and had travelled quite far. Hu hu hu Leo was panting as he struggled to carry Luna on his back. The deepyers of snow only made walking that much more difficult. Boof! Leo tripped and fell into the snow, luckily hisnding was quite soft, so he didnt receive any new injuries. Leo! Luna was filled with panic and worry as she screamed his name. Im fine....hu.... j...just tripped. He attempted to regain his footing while keeping Luna on his back but failed. He couldnt straighten his legs. Thats enough we need to rest Leo. Luna quickly dismounted his back and tried to help him up. ..... But.... No buts, we cant continue. If we dont find somewhere to rest, well not make it another hour let alone until help arrives. Luna put her foot down, menacingly ring at Leo as he tried to argue. Leo couldnt utter another word under her gaze, gently nodding in agreement. Wait here, thanks to you carrying me Ive regained some energy. Ill quickly look around for some shelter. Before Leo even had a chance to argue she left and with his current condition there was no way he could catch up to her, so he was stuck there. So far, they hadnt encountered any monsters or really anything just snow ins. The weather within the monsterir was snowing with a strong blizzard starting up behind them. Guess we got lucky, if we came in 10 minutester, wed be stuck in the middle of that thing. Leo counted his blessings as he witnessed the snowstorm growing in strength and size behind him. Around 5 minutester Luna returned with a smile on her face, shed found a possible shelter. Hopefully after they rested, she would be able to cast a couple healing spells bringing them back to fighting condition. Unfortunately, the bag with all their camping supplies and potions was lost in the earlier ambush and by the time they realised it was toote. Luna ced Leos arm over her shoulder, supporting his weight as they moved towards the cave she found. While Luna and Leo were fleeing through the winter hignds section as fast as they could the group of bandit underlings crossed the dungeons threshold and were met with a fairly strong blizzard, heavily obscuring their view. Shit! itll be like finding a needle in a haystack with this god damned blizzard blocking our way. One of therger bandits bellowed before turning to the others. Split up and search for those two brats, the first to find them gets first crack at the girl hahahaha! Therger banditughed with an evil grin on his face before moving off in a direction alone. Out of the group he was probably the strongest and was eagerly looking to be a deputy to Redhawk, so he moved quickly to earn some achievements. The rest of the bandits gave a quick look at one another before splitting up. Most of them going alone but a few of the smarter or more cowardly ones grouped up in twos or threes. The moment the bandits entered the dungeon and split off into their own directions Frost began giving orders to all the monsters present within the first section. He arranged them into groups set to guard different areas of the dungeon, hiding to the best of their abilities whenever they could. The goblins took to these orders very easily, burying themselves within the snow or in the shadows of rockspletely vanishing from sight. With the addition of a blizzard, itd be nearly impossible for them to be spotted by the bandits. Theyd be the prime fighting force in this battle. The rest of his monsters prepared in their own ways, the winter boars and frost wolves just acted as usual because at their strength it didnt matter if they took precautions or not. Some of the artic foxes teamed up with the slimes and horned rabbits using baiting techniques. All in all, they were fully prepared to hunt these twenty or so bandits, and in fact each of the monsters were rather excited. Even the slimes were jiggling with joy when they received their orders. Perfect, everyones in ce, let the hunting begin. Frost announced the start of the hunt with a wide grin. Frost looked over the average strength of the bandit underlings as they crossed the threshold notifying his monsters of the slightly stronger ones but even then, there wasnt much to worry about. Overall, the average daily DP ie was 15DP per bandit and with twenty thatd be a resounding 3000DP ie once they were all killed. With that much DP Frost could buy a goblin spawner or several new spells, further increasing the dungeons prowess. After the adventurer guilds inspection party arrives Frost nned to visit Furano with Maya once things stabilise and with 3000DP to spend it made him feel much more reassured in leaving for several days. While Frost was nning and giving orders Maya was in the kitchen preparing snacks for the big event. She was also quite excited humming a pleasant tune as she worked. And so, with their orders received the hunting began. First up was therger bandit that broke off from the group first. He was armed rather pathetically like hispanions, wielding a crude iron axe and just simple clothing for armour, offering little to no protection. He was the human equivalent of a goblin in Frosts eyes just uglier and more stupid, but Frost was slightly biased towards his monsters finding even the frost goblins to be rather cute. Strangely this bandit seemed to have a great amount of luck, he simply ran in one direction without any forethought or wariness, yet he managed to catch up to Luna and Leo in less than an hour. The bandit was currently crouching down as he spotted a blood trail leading ahead. He used his fingers to dab the blood before bringing it to his tongue and tasting it. Frost and Mayas faces grew quite sickly at this sight. Hahahaha its human, looks like I get first crack hahahaha. The bandit loudly roared inughter before jumping up and running in the direction of the blood trail. Even with the loud blizzard ongoing outside the bandit was near enough and loud enough to alert Luna and Leo who were currently resting in a nearby cave. Unfortunately, less than an hours rest wasnt enough time, they only managed to catch their breath and do some minor bandages on their wounds before they heardughter in the distance. Damn it theyve found us; we need to move. Leo quickly sat up and gathered his gear together before looking over at Luna with pity. Luna was currently sitting cross legged in meditation trying to refill her depleted mana as fast as possible. She almost had enough to cast one healing spell, but the bandits wouldnt wait. Tch Luna clicked her tongue as she gazed out of the cave in anger. All I needed was five more minutes, just another five minutes. A single healing spell wouldnt ce them out of danger, but it would allow Leo to fight at about 60-70% strength, more than enough to deal with a couple bandit underlings. I know but we have to move. Leo sighed before assisting Luna in preparing. From the sound ofughter, the bandit wasnt more than a couple 100 metres away and would need less than 30 seconds to be on top of them. If it was only one Leo would attempt to face him, but they didnt know how many were there, so they needed to move now before theyre seen. Hahaha theughter suddenly got much louder and was now incredibly close. Shit! were toote. Leo panicked, he moved in front of the cave entrance protecting Luna behind him. In the distance he could make out arge shadow quickly moving towards them. Theyd been found. The moment Leo saw the bandit, the bandit also saw him causing his hideous smile to grow even wider, his speed also increased. He was running at full sprintpletely ignoring everything else around him. Leo drew his sword ready to battle against the bandit, sweat poured down his face. His wounds still caused him severe pain whenever he moved, and the feeling of defeat began to fill his every fibre. Even if there was only one bandit, more would quickly follow. By the time he manages to kill this one, two or more would be attracted by the noise. Leo clenched his jaw so hard his teeth groaned from the pressure, his eyes became bloodshot, and his body burned as he made his resolve. However, once the bandit was 50 metres away, just when he could clearly see Leo standing in front covered in wounds the unthinkable happened. The bandit so filled with blood lust failed to notice the shift in the nearby snow, he walked right into a trap. Suddenly two frost goblins pounced out from the snow catching the banditpletely by surprise. So, shocked he couldnt even react. The two goblins lunged at his legs shing with their rusty daggers. They ripped openrge gory wounds on the back of his knees causing him to scream in pain as he started to fall. Unable to put any strength into his legs his forward momentum carried him forward as he fell. The sight of this caused Luna and Leo to be shocked speechless, they had no idea any frost goblins were so close. Cold sweats started to flow down their backs as they remembered how they walked past that area not so long ago. The attack of the frost goblins wasnt over yet, however as the bandit screamed in pain and as his head quickly lowered itself there was another shift in the snow, this time in front. In what seemed liked hours to those watching but was less than two seconds. A third frost goblin rose up from the snow but unlike the other two he didnt lunge or jump he simply moved slightly to the left before rapidly shing his dagger once across the bandits throat quickly silencing his screams. Silence, other than the sound of the bandits body crashing into the snow there wasnt a sound. Luna and Leo were both speechless with their mouths agape as they witnessed what just happened. In just a matter of seconds three goblins quickly took down arge bandit without the slightest bit of difficulty, three shes was all it took. Gulp Leo subconsciously swallowed and ced his hands on his neck. The bandit was lying in the snow bleeding out dying the snow a dark red. His eyes were still open in disbelief as hey there motionless. The three frost goblins looked at one another before cleaning their daggers and vanishing into the snowstorm as if nothing happened. Leo for the first time in his life suddenly felt that goblins were quite cool as watched them walk away all nonchnt. He slowly turned to Luna who was just as shocked. That was so.... Cool. Luna muttered under her breath, ignoring the fact that it was a monster, the goblins had saved them. Without their intervention theyd have to fight a difficult battle attracting more attention to this area. Luckily, the goblins not only killed the bandit but did it quietly, ending the fight in a matter of seconds, preventing the other bandits from hearing anything. Although Luna and Leo were in awe of the goblins actions they still remained as still and quiet as possible to not draw any attention their way. If the goblins were strong enough to take out a bandit in an instant, he and Luna wouldntst much longer so they remained silent, waiting for the goblins topletely disappear into the blizzard. Phe that was close. Only after the goblins werepletely gone did Leo realise how tense his body was. His body instantly grew weak and shaky once the adrenaline wore off. Yeah... to think wed be saved by goblins of all things. Luna wasnt much better off; her head was pounding, and her body felt as though it was encased in ice. In our adventuring career weve killed dozens of goblins yet now were we saved by some, how ironic. Chapter 34 Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Bandit culling That gave me goose bumps. Frost was sitting down as he watched the events unfold. He pulled back his clothes to reveal his forearm to Maya. The moment the third goblin unveiled himself Frost grew tense, hovering over his chair in suspense and when the dagger sliced through the bandits throat like it was butter, he instinctively raised his hands high in jubtion. Even Maya was impressed with the goblins movements. She really admired the fountain of blood that rushed out of the victims neck. She softlyughed while covering her mouth with her hand in adylike manner. Did you tell them to act like that young master? Maya wasnt referring to the ambush itself but more to the actions the goblins made after the kill. When the third goblin watched the bandit plummet down to his death he refused to look back, only when the body crashed against the snow did the goblin turn his back and release a disappointed hmph before arrogantly smirking at the body. Hispanions followed suit acting rather suave and cool before cleaning their weapons and disappearing. No... but I wish I did. Frost had no part in their victory poses only advising them to quickly clean the blood of their weapons to prevent further rusting. The more Frost thought about the third goblins actions the more he admired it. Say isnt it kind of confusing to keep referring to them as first goblin, second goblin etc... Seeing each of the goblins show a different personality especially the third goblin made Frost feel that they needed to be rewarded. You want to name them? Maya looked towards Frost with a nk expression. Naming monsters was a very big deal,mon monsters never had names mainly due to theircking intelligence but also because the act of giving a creature a name, especially a monster can create a bond between the named and namer binding them into a contract. Many summoning spells or monster tamers use this principle to enhance their connection with their familiars. For Frost to name a bunch of goblins simply due to one acting cool was ludicrous. The number of monsters that hell summon during his lifetime could be innumerable. Establishing that many bonds would be incredibly taxing even for someone of Frosts strength. Mayas cold look quickly poured a bucket of ice water over Frosts enthusiasm. His mouth twitched and he subconsciously backed away. ..... Young master naming a monster is an incredibly special procedure in which you and the monster would be bonded. Some of your essence would be attached to the monster allowing them to grow stronger perhaps even evolve so simply because you find it rather confusing, or you think that a monster is interesting shouldnt qualify. They should have to earn it. Maya entered lecturing mode and educated her young master on the significance of naming a monster. This instantly made Frost blush in embarrassment, he jumped the gun a little. Ok ok I get it. Frost held his hands up in surrender, his suggestion thoroughly quashed. How about this then Ill name the first monster to reach their maximum level. Still not willing to fully back down he came up with apromise. Maya was silent for a moment while she pondered Frosts idea. That...seems reasonable. She couldnt argue, being the first monster to reach the max level and possibly evolve unlocking a new monster type for Frost to summon would be an adequate achievement worthy of reward, even if it was a G-rank monster. Frost was smart with his approach sessfully gaining Mayas approval, all he needed to do now was ensure that the third goblin reached level 10. Frost looked at the monsters current details and noticed that it jumped up to level 2 after killing the bandit leaving just 8 levels to go. ording to Maya the dungeon system had been set up so that when a monster levelled up it would be a little stronger. She didnt exactly know why or by how much but simply that it happened. Once the three goblins were out of sight, Luna and Leo didnt wait up, they immediately gathered their stuff and moved on, ignoring their injuries. If they could be found once they could be found again. Shortly after the first bandit was killed and Frost was relishing in the sudden influx of nearly 200DP the other bandits stalking around the first room were encountering simr situations. Ghaaahaa! Shit! No! ahhhh! I didnt sign up for this Ahhhh! Not all the ambushes and attacks went smoothly. Many times, the monsters would be seen, and a risky battle would ensue resulting in many screams being released throughout. So much so that even the roaring blizzard couldnt fully drown them out. One of the bandits encountered a horned rabbit and with his arrogance chased it, attempting to kill and im its horn since they were an easy sell. Unfortunately, he didnt run far before two artic foxes leaped out, one biting down on his leg whereas the other bit his shoulder. With the horned rabbit joining in he was swiftly taken down. But his screams alerted two nearby bandits resulting in the horned rabbit being killed, the foxes were too fast, so they safely fled. As more and more bandits were taken down the more nervous the remaining ones became. Eventually only six remained and each of them had grouped together for safety. The frequented screams and sometimes images of theirrades dying quickly brought them back to reality. This wasnt some run of the mill hunting of rich kids, this was a monsterir, danger lurked everywhere here. With the six bandits grouping together it made ambushes impossible and using low ranked monsters pointless. It took Frost the lives of two goblins and a slime to realise he needed the big guns. Six bandits together allowed them to create a fairly solid defence enabling them to repel the likes of goblins and even artic foxes but what about a charge of winter boars or even a couple frost wolves. Frosts annoyance quickly evaporated when he thought of this. Send in the wolves. Frost muttered under his breath as he ryed his orders. He couldnt help but smile as he thought of the carnage that the frost wolves would reap upon the bandits. His emotions had already grown rather excited due torge amount of DP that was quickly absorbed into his core. He felt his bloodlust and urge for violence grow the more he killed. The feeling was addictive, like a powerful drug. He almost felt as though he was losing his senses asionally but every time, he did Maya would ce her jade like hand on his shoulder and a cool energy would seep into his veins calming him down. Thanks the red receding from his eyes, Frost thanked Maya. No need young master, its why Im here. Just like with using DP your body needs to get used to receiving it. Dark had warned the guardians before of this issue and taught them all how to counteract the effects. While the two of them were having a rather exciting experience, the same couldnt be said of the remaining bandits. Shit! Shit! Shit! One of the remaining bandits repeatedly shouted as the group slowly moved forward. Each and every one of them were scared out of their minds but they knew they couldnt retreat. Itd only been around 3 hours since they entered the dungeon if they left now due to fear Redhawk would kill them instantly, regardless of their reasons. Though they may fear monsters they feared Red Hawk more. They had witnessed what Redhawk does to cowards and traitors. A few weeks ago, one bandit was force fed molten metal after stealing from him whereas another had his skin yed before being fed to dogs after selling Redhawk out to the local guards-not knowing they too were on the payroll. These thoughts caused them to shake from head to toe, they dared not turn back. Will you shut the fuck up already otherwise Ill kill you here and now! The bandit that looked to be the leader of the group roared before smacking theining bandit hard across the face, drawing blood and knocking him t. For the past ten minutes the bandit kept repeating shit! shit! shit! Over and over until he finally lost his cool. Weve got a fucking job to do to, the next man whoins, panics, shouts or even thinks about retreating Ill end right here right now, at least that way youll die quickly.... Well! The bandit leader was furious, threatening with his fists and spitting as he roared. While waiting on a response he red at each of the remaining bandits, causing them to recall back in fear. U...understood squad leader! After a few seconds being filled with panic and fear the remaining four bandits replied nervously. The floored bandit didnt dare to speak, he simply nodded his head as he sat on the ground. Good, the bandit squad leader had inadvertently chosen the most efficient move. Through his act of violence and powerful threats each of the remaining bandits no longer shook with fear as they walked. Theypletely focused on following his orders forgetting about the danger of the monsters. Unfortunately, when using fear and power to threaten or coerce people into following, theres always downsides. For example, when something more powerful and frightening is involved, theyll crumble instantly, abandoning all loyalty. The moment the bandit squad leader had regainedplete control of the situation, disaster struck. Awooooo! A deep stomach-churning howl came from behind the bandit squad leader sending a powerful wave of fear throughout the group. All the squad leaders threats became mute in front of this howl, their bodies instinctively started to shake violently, even their teeth ttered together. The bandit squad leader nervously turned his head around in response, his motions much more jittery than before. Slowly walking out from the snow was two frost wolves,rge in stature but effectively melding into the blizzard. All but their eyes could be clearly seen from the bandits position. Those piercing red eyes caused the bandits hearts to contract and freeze as they gazed upon them. As the two frost wolves elegantly moved closer there was silence. The bandits too afraid to move or even speak were frozen in ce like deer in headlights. It wasnt until the wolves were within in pouncing distance and they could see their bared teeth that the bandits reacted. Ahhhhhhhh! Three of the bandits screamed with everything they had before turning tail and fleeing as fast as they possible could. One of them even lost control of his dder leaving a distinct yellow trail as he ran. The bandit squad leader instantly panicked, yelling out to stop them. You idiots stop! But his orders fell on deaf ears, how could they possibly listen to him when every fibre of their being was screaming run! The bandit squad leader wasnt shouting for them to stop just to protect himself but for a strategic benefit. If all six of them fought together and stayed in formation, they had a good chance of surviving but now.... There was no chance. In response to the sudden screaming and fleeing prey, the frost wolves smiled happily, they loved ying chase with their victims. Their reactions was almost instant, the bandits had barely reached more than a few metres before the wolves were on them. Gyahhhh! two of the fleeing bandits were caught, the wolves lunged towards their backs shoving them into the snow with their weight. The bandits only had the time and ability to turn their heads up to witness the wolves licking their lips before.... crunch the two frost wolves bit and crushed the bandits skulls in a single bite, devouring their flesh as if it was candy. Frost received another dose of DP. The remaining runner increased his speed to his upmost, refusing turn his head back, the dreaded final screams of his formerrades only fuelled him with more energy to flee with. Whereas the stationary three were trapped, they couldnt run, and fighting would only dy the inevitable, they were doomed. Fuck! The bandit squad leader had tears flowing from his eyes as he came to terms with his fate. He had so much to live for, his ambitions hadnt seeded yet and because of some stupid contract to hunt some noble kids hes going to lose his life. He bit his lip violently, drawing blood as he stared at the frost wolf before him with rage. The wolfpletely ignored him as it feasted on the dead bandit it just killed. Ahhhhhh! The squad leader roared in anger from being looked down upon, drawing his two axes he charged. His eyes filled with fire and his body full of rage allowed him to counteract his fear however even if he could move as usual, even his best was no match for a frost wolf. Chapter 35 Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Bandit culling (2) ng! It sounded as though the bandits iron axes struck metal and not flesh. The bandit squad leaders desperate attack barely drew any blood, at most a few drops nothing more, his axes even had chips. The bandit squad leader was momentarily frozen, shocked in ce, but this was quickly reced by even more fury. Ahhhhh! God damn monster! Ignoring the futility of his attacks the bandit squad leader continued to strike again and again, further damaging his axes with each strike. Seeing their squad leader desperately attack the frost wolf instead of running filled the remaining two bandits with courage. They each drew their axes and joined him in attacking but were met with simr results. Only after their weapons werepletely shattered leaving nothing but wooden clubs did the frost wolf turn around to face them. All of the bandits strikes were nothing but an itch to it. The iron weapons were already of poor quality and werent even sharp so they couldnt cause any real damage. But the wolf felt it would be more entertaining to let them try. Complete despair filled the three bandits as they saw their axes be nothing but wooden clubs and nothing more than scratches appearing on the frosts wolfs hide. The shock was too much, the moment the wolf turned to face them as though humiliating their efforts ..... Dong dong dong Their weapons dropped to the floor. Light faded from their eyes as they looked upwards towards the Gods, they had given up. Seeing this the frost wolves tails wagged side to side in pleasure. They ignored thest fleeing bandit and focused on killing the now broken ones, ending their lives quickly before feasting. Although it seemed like a long time especially for the bandits, less than a minute had passed since the two frost wolves began their massacre. Frost was thus inundated with another dose of DP escting his emotions. Wonderful, Frost licked his lips as he enjoyed the glorious meal. The more he watched the more excited he became, brutally killing those bandits was much more enjoyable than holding back with the [Artic Warband]. You missed one young master. Mayas enchanting voice came from his side, bringing him out of his reverie. Hmm really? Frost quicky scanned the area, only to see a bandit running madly towards the exit with tears streaming from his eyes and a significant wet patch on his trousers. This was the bandit that managed to run from the battlefield and due to there only being two frost wolves he managed to escape. Unknown if it was thanks to pure luck or if he actually knew, the bandit was heading directly for the exit and would leave in 20 minutes if he kept heading in his current direction. Noticing this Frost was rather conflicted, hed sessfully killed 19 out of the 20 bandits so letting one go wouldnt matter much but... Nah lets kill him. If it was an adventurer then perhaps he would be merciful but a bandit, never. Have the frost wolves stop feasting and chase after him, with their speed it shouldnt be that hard... Ahhhh! In the middle of speaking to Maya, a loud scream was heard from the screen. Hahaha looks like fate really isnt on that guys side. Frostughed loudly after seeing what happened. While he and Maya were talking the fleeing, bandit ran right into a bear trap which mped down, immediately locking his leg in ce between its jaws. The wound was severe. Thanks to the momentum he had from running at full speed the moment he was mped in ce; his leg was torn apart causing immense pain even with the amount of adrenaline pumping through his system. The bandit cried out in pain, beads of sweat flowed down his scalp and his vision grew dark. At this rate the monsters wont even be required, hed die of blood loss in a few minutes. He desperately tried to pry his leg from the trap, scratching and pulling at the bear traps jaws with all he had but he was just a bandit and not a very strong one how could he pull open a trap designed to catch bears. At this point the bandit had be quite mad, heughed hysterically changing his target. Drawing his axe, he cleaved down on his torn leg hoping to cleave it from the shin freeing himself. However even if he managed this, how far could he get on one leg while bleeding profusely from the other. It was nothing but a desperate attempt from a madman, none the less it was rather entertaining for Frost and Maya to watch. Well, you gotta respect his determination. Frost smiled evilly with his hand under his chin. A mere cockroach that refuses to die quietly. Maya wasnt impressed at all; in fact, she despised the bandits pathetic attempts. She much preferred the actions of the bandit squad leader, at least he had some courage. Annoyed by the madughinging from the bandit she sent orders to the frost wolves that were on route to kill ASAP. Frost raised his hand. Wait a moment dont have them kill immediately. Huh why? Mayas face distorted slightly, she was visibly disturbed by the bandits madughing, it gave her goosebumps and nausea. The sooner he was silenced the better in her mind. Frost however had other ns. Since he wants to reach the exit so desperately then why not grant his wish. Have one of the frost wolves carry him to the entrance before ending it. Lets give those waiting outside a little taunting. His smile grew more evil as he spoke. Maya was momentarily speechless before she too smiled evilly, evenughing. As you wish young master. Hahahahah the bandit wasughing madly as he repeatedly brought down his axe to cut off his leg, his ability to feel pain already gone. It took several strikes to separate but eventually he seeded, his leg was cut just below the kneecap, gushing out blood and looking like a shredded piece of meat. The trap had cost him some time but now that he was free, he didnt care. Propping himself up with difficulty he started hopping away towards the exit leaving a thick stench of blood and meat. Alone he wouldnt make it a 100 metres but luckily or unluckily he wasnt. Awooo! After a mere 15 metres he heard a wolf howl from behind him. Ahhhhhhh! The bandit changed fromughing to screaming, tears streaming down his face once again, as he increased his hopping speed, but could he ever outrun a frost wolf. The bandit was easy pickings for the frost wolf. Without much effort it quickly ran up behind him and lightly bit down on his shoulder. However, since the bandit already lost his sense of pain, he didnt notice, he simply kept trying to hop forward unaware. Seeing it prey still trying to escape, the frost wolf bit down harder and lifted the bandit off the ground, hanging him from its jaws. It took the frost wolf a great deal of control to not simply bitepletely through the bandits bones. Its orders were to carry the bandit to the entrance, alive. Obeying its orders, the frost wolf started to run, carrying the crazed bandit in its mouth. With the wolfs speed, theyd be at the entrance in less than 5 minutes, the bandit shouldst until then. Meanwhile outside of the dungeon, the higher ranked members of the bandit group were getting impatient. Bunch of useless shits, how hard can it be to find two heavily injured brats? Redhawks anger had reached the extremes. He began berating and striking his stronger deputy to relieve his fury. 3 hours, 3 fucking hours what the hell are they doing in there! Redhawk stared towards the dungeons entrance with fire in his eyes. At the first hour he already wanted to rush in himself and beat his subordinates for their ipetence, now that itd been three hours, he was about topletely lose it. This wasnt a job he could fail. Redhawk asionally turned his gaze over to the seated cold knight to gauge his emotional state. Fear filled his body whenever he did so. The cold knights facial expression grew darker and darker as time passed, as did the killing intent he released. Unfortunately, they couldnt leave their position quite yet in case Luna and Leo bypass the bandit underlings and escape from the monsterirs entrance. They could only wait for news. Redhawk regretted having a reduced number of men. Before this job they already lost a group when they attacked a trade caravan. But he didnt have enough time to recruit more before this knight hired him. Adding on the number of bandits killed by the two brats in the earlier ambush, their groups power level was reduced by a fair amount. He frequently discussed options with his strategic deputy, but hed always say theres nothing they could do but wait. The moment when each of them were at the very limits of their patience, movement was detected as well as mournful screams from the dungeon. The scream was bone curdling and send waves of panic through Redhawk and his deputies, the cold knight however just grew more angry. Tch what a useless bunch of fools, if you want something done right youve got to do it yourself. The cold knight sighed as he stood up. Once all their attention was drawn towards the dungeons entrance. F...Frost wolf! The strong bandit deputy uttered with slight fear. At the entrance of the dungeon stood majestically a frost wolf. Blood covered its once beautiful white coat making it look all the more horrifying. Hanging from its jaw was the weakened one legged bandit who appeared to be on his deathbed, his skin pale from blood loss and his screams weakened and hoarse but still mournful and terrifying. Isnt that Kodan? The smart deputy was more calm than hispatriots, he expected this job to go wrong the moment they came across the untested monsterir. Shit! The moment Redhawk recognised his subordinate he shouted and gnashed his teeth together before leaping towards the frost wolf. Regardless of how useless the bandit was he was still his subordinate, he couldnt allow him to die in front of him, that would be too shameful. But even with Redhawks impressive speed itd take several seconds for him to reach the dungeons entrance and would the frost wolf give him that chance.... No way. Crunch! Almost the same moment Redhawk started to move, the frost wolf snapped its jaw shut crushing most of the bandit Kodans internal organs, and splitting his torso in twain, killing him instantly. Redhawk and his deputies were frozen in ce, Redhawk felt so humiliated his face changed from red to green and then finally to purple before he released a powerful roar. Ahhhhhh! You stupid fucking monster, Ill kill you! Never before had a monster dared to taunt him so tantly. Carrying his subordinates near dead body just so it could end him in front of his allies. Veins protruded from Redhawks skin as his body tensed in rage. He began rushing towards the frost wolf with a huge two handed axe in hand, aiming to cleave the monster in two with a single swing. His two deputies also felt humiliated and were taken over by fury, quickly running after their boss with their weapons drawn. The cold knight was actually struggling to restrain someughter but knew he couldnt let these bandits he hired leave his sight. They too needed to be taken care of once this affair was over. Seeing the four men rushing towards it, the frost wolf finally felt fear. Just Redhawk alone was enough to kill it let alone abined force. Swallowing down its mouthful of bandit, the wolf smashed the head of the dead Kodan for a final insult before turning around and retreating back into the dungeon. Unperturbed by its sudden retreat the three bandits chased after it, their minds clouded by anger. They ignored the dead Kodan and quickly entered the dungeon one after another. It should be easier to take care of them within the monsterir anyway. The cold knight released a sigh before following them into the dungeon. Chapter 36 Chapter 36: Chapter 36: ns for a duel That worked better than expected Frost muttered with a confused look on his face. He expected the group to be angry and wish to enter but thought theyd at least discuss their actions beforehand. Frost thought too highly of the bandits, they werent disciplined orcking in restraint. Only a slight provocation was required for them to lose their calm. The cold knight however gave him pause. Unlike the bandits he was rather calm and unaffected, yet he rushed into the monsterir anyway. This knight could be troublesome. Thats what his instincts were telling him. Not only was the knight stronger than Redhawk but it seemed as though he was a lot more methodical and less driven by instinct, a tricky adversary. True, out of the group that knight will probably be hard to deal with, considering the dungeons current strength. Mayas eyes were focused as she examined the cold knights demeanour. Hmmm? Frost cupped his chin with his hand while pondering before smiling. All the more interesting. Frost wasnt one to back away from a challenge. He brought up the DP analysis for the new intruders to get some perspective. The smarter looking deputy is giving out 65 DP so roughly equal to that dwarf Thorin. The other bandit deputy is a little stronger giving 70DP. Frost wasnt too surprised by these results as they werent that much of threat in the first ce. ..... What of Redhawk and the knight? Maya asked curiously. The bandit leader Redhawk... 100DP, thats a bit higher than expected. he thought Redhawk would be just a tad stronger than John but theres a 20DP difference instead of 5 or 10. But he was still at a level he could handle. Finally, the cold knight is.... Wait is that right 130DP thats almost C-rank. Frost felt a cold chill as he read that number, an almost C-rank adventurer would be more than enough to take on and even possibly kill his pr bear. Maya was right, taking on the knight with the current dungeon line-up would be risky. Maya smiled at Frosts reaction; she wasnt shocked in the slightest. In fact, she patted herself on the back for her uracy. Isnt this the perfect chance for young master to experience a proper battle? Ignoring Frosts slight panic Maya suggested that he fight against the knight. In her mind this was a perfect opportunity. Frosts battle level was roughly around C-rank, a little stronger than the knight so thered be low chance of serious injury. Plus, Frost most likely had more options given his ability to use magic and chakra. All he needed was experience. Eh! Me? Frost was caught unprepared and didnt think Maya would suggest this. Yes you, why else have we been doingbat training if not for this? Maya pointed towards him with her other hand on her hip. ..... Good point Frost lowered his head as he mulled over Mayas words. Me fighting, my first true opponent. Images of his battles against the ice golem and Maya floated into his mind as he pumped himself up. After a few seconds he looked up towards Maya with a smile, he was excited, really excited. What a great idea, yeah lets do that. His eyes sparkled, and his voice was of a higher pitch than normal when he spoke. He already started imagining how the battle would go down, how hed move, defend and even how hed greet his opponent. Thats great, young master, I hope you thoroughly enjoy your first battle. Mayaughed teasingly while covering her mouth, her young master was just too cute. While Frost and Maya brainstormed on how to separate the group of four so Frost could fight one on one with the knight. Luna and Leo had reached the entrance to the winter forest gaining a substantial lead on Redhawk and the rest. Luna had recovered enough mana to cast a single healing spell on Leo as they moved, closing up the majority of his wounds, stopping his bleeding and the obvious blood trail that could be used to follow them. His battle ability was still greatly hindered however, merely 50% his usual, no match for Redhawk or even one of his deputies. They were still very much in danger. Hu hu hu Leo and Luna were panting, walking several kilometres in their wounded states and in this weather wasnt easy, even after some minor healing. Before them was the entrance to the second section, arge stone gateway sat in the middle of a giant wall that extended vertically by several tens of metres. This must be it, where the [Artic Warband] reached before having to turn back. Leo looked up at the gateway with a slight smile, a minor sense of relief washed over him. On their way they saw several groups of monsters in the distance but managed to remain undetected all the way here. Luckily the monsters in this area seemed to have been attracted to the bandits otherwise who knows how what we may have had to face. For a moment, Leo felt grateful to therge number of bandits chasing them. They didnt turn back; they were attacked by frost wolves remember. Luna leaned against one of the nearby rocks to conserve her strength. Unlike Leo she wasnt the least bit rxed, her every nerve was taught with tension. Her ears twitching at every sound and her eyes darting everywhere. She also listened to the details given by the [Artic Warband] and knew full well of the dangers they encountered in this very spot. True but it looks like we got lucky, no wolves in sight. Leo syed out his arms and looked side to side to prove his point. If there were wolves nearby, they would have already attacked so he felt quite safe. Idiot. Luna simply hmphed and refused to look in his direction. You know youre quite cute when youre angry. Leoughed at her antics. Luna however turned her head around slowly to face him, her smile was not gentle in the slightest and her eyes were cold. Leo felt a chill on down his back, immediately regretting what he said. Leo unable to endure her cold stare coughed twice we should probably move on now. His eyes continued to avoid Lunas as he spoke. Yes, we should. Her expression still cold Luna responded robotically. She hated being called cute. The two then walked together through the stone gateway, entering the dungeons second section, the winter forest. Unlike the 1st section it wasnt snowing in this one. Before the two were snow covered trees and bushes but very little wind, a much more hospitable environment. So, this room has trees and shrubs in it, the weathers also a lot more pleasant. Leo moved forward to caress one of the trees. Its a spruce tree like in Northrend forest. Luna identified the trees species almost instantly. She then moved towards a bush covered in white flowers. White bells...interesting. Luna was a magic user and quite the study bug, she could identify lots of nt and wildlife with a single nce. Are they edible? Leos stomach groaned as he asked. Not for humans no, youll end up vomiting your guts out. Luna replied as she plucked one of the white bells, offering it towards Leo. No thanks then. He held his stomach in disappointment while keeping his distance from the delicate looking flower in Lunas hands. Its not all bad news, if this area is simr to the Northrend forest then there should not only be edible berries like acai and winterberries but perhaps even dwindle flowers. Dwindle flowers? Arent they used to make low level health and mana potions. Yes Luna stood up and began searching the area. What use are they when we arent alchemists. Leo felt slightly panicked, they needed to keep moving. Luna however ignored his questions and pleas as she continued to forage around. Around 15 minutester. Found some! Luna was currently squatting down over a group of bushes with red leaves and nearby was one with blue leaves. Her dress was covered in snow and tears from the branches, but she didnt seem to care. Her eyes glistened as she plucked off several leaves and ran over to Leo. Leo had quickly given up on convincing her to move and decided to lean against a tree in wait. When he saw Luna running towards him with a bunch of leaves in hand, he initially felt quite angry, but her happy smile melted that away. Here Luna gave half the red leaves to Leo before throwing the remaining half into her mouth in a very udylike fashion. Leo looked nkly at her as she chewed before staring at the leaves in his hand. Red coloured leaves they certainly didnt look very appetising. Oh! well bottoms up. Leo believed in Luna, so he followed suit, tossing his half into his mouth, and chewing. Bleurgh so bitter. Fighting the urge to spit them out he clenched his nose before swallowing. The moment the leaves reached his stomach his entire body started to heat up and he felt refreshed. He regained some stamina and his wounds even hurt slightly less. Leo was in shock as he felt the effects of the leaves, he stared at Luna as though she was some kind of miracle worker. Not leaving him in suspense Luna answered under his fiery gaze Red dwindle leaves are the main ingredient for health potions which help to regenerate stamina, energy and heal wounds. Of course, preparing them in a potion is much more effective, but eating them raw works as well. After exining Luna dashed off towards the blue dwindle leaves, devouring a bunch like with the red. The blue ones make mana potions and have a reduced effect when eaten raw. I should be able to cast a couple more spells once these leaves run their course. Although she spent around 15 minutes searching, finding, and eating these leaves saved multiple hours of healing time. Leo could already feel his strength returning. Great detour Luna, I wont question you next time. Leo bowed his head admitting his faults. Hahaha the great and proud Leo bowing his head to little old me, how honoured I am. Lunaughed cutely. Now feeling much better thanks to the red and blue dwindle flowers the two set off deeper into the trees, hoping to find a ce they could safely take shelter until help arrives. The previous day, on the outskirts of Furano the [Artic Warband] party had sessfully reached safety after a long gruelling march. We made it, John smiled in relief. Although they had sessfully made it to the interim camp within the Northrend forest he didnt consider them safe until he could see Furano. John gave a cursory nce towards his teammates following behind him. Their wounds had vastly improved leaving only their torn clothes as evidence of their difficult battles within the dungeon. Well head straight to the guild hall to report, hopefully the guild master is in. John subconsciously looked towards Thorin as he spoke. Thats not an issue, that old mans too busy to leave. Thorin lightlyughed. The guild master was his uncle on his mothers side and taught him most of what he knew about being an adventurer. Normally youd think that having a family member in a position of power in your workce would be an advantage however Thorin never believed that to be the case. His uncle was incredibly strict and by the book when it came his job, even more so towards Thorin and his party. Hearing Thorins response, John nodded before leading the [Artic Warband] into Furano. They showed their adventurer cards to the local guards, entering through the northern gate without issue and after some typical small chat along the way they reached the guild hall. The adventurers guild hall was incrediblyrge, made of mostly hard wood and stone and containing three stories not including the basement. The design itself was fairly simple but the entrance was massive and imposing allowingrge parties to enter shoulder to shoulder with ease. Every time John saw this building, he couldnt help but feel proud of his profession. He ced his hands on the door and pushed with a great deal of force alerting the upants inside. Chapter 37 Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Tracking With therge doors opened a cold wind rushed into the building, quickly dropping the ambient temperature by a few degrees. Ah! Dammit close the door already its freezing. One of the older adventurers sitting at a table near the entrance shouted in anger towards John and hispanions. Slightly embarrassed John ushered in the rest of his party before mming the door shut and apologising to the older adventurer. The old adventurer simply scoffed in response before turning back to his friends. The four then walked up towards the reception desk where a young female dwarf waszily lying with her head on the desk. Jaina wake up! Thorin smashed his fist onto the desk giving the female dwarf a harsh wake up call. Shocked by the sudden sound near her ear the receptionist jumped up violently and was prepared to batter the offender ck and blue. Who the fuc.... Ah! Big bro Thorin. The instant she saw who the rude person was all her angry suddenly deted, reced with a bright smile. Sleeping on the job again I see. ..... Its not like theres anything to do at this time anyway so what does it matter. The young receptionist pouted slightly. At this time theres only a few older adventurers who asionallye in for the warmth and booze, so she frequently took a nap at this time. Well, theres something now, is the old man free? Dad? Yeah, he should be upstairs doing paperwork why? Jaina tilted her head to the side, slightly disappointed that Thorin was more interested in finding the old man instead of talking to her. We found a new monsterir. It was John that spoke this time. Although his voice wasnt loud it was enough to be heard by the older adventurers present. The entire guild hall suddenly became silent, even Jaina was quiet before suddenly bing very professional. Ill go and call the guild master. Jaina stood up from her seat before quickly dashing upstairs to the top floor. John, Thorin, Fen and Jack didnt have to stand around for very long before Jaina quickly came back, slightly out of breath. The guild master requests for you toe to his office immediately. Her words caused multiple murmurs to start amongst the present adventurers. A new monsterir meant big money for Furano and them, so they were incredibly interested. Thanks Jaina. John thanked her before walking up the stairs with the rest of his party. Reaching the top floor there was only a singlerge room, the guild masters office. Knock, knock, John knocked on the door twice. Enter. A deep grizzly voice sounded from the other side in response. The group entered the room in an orderly fashion before closing the door behind them. Sitting at the end of the room at arge wooden desk was a middle-aged dwarf simr in appearance to Thorin although with a muchrger beard and more angry appearance. Sit, the dwarf looked at them briefly before telling them to sit down and wait. Jaina mentioned that you found a new monsterir, is this true? The guild masters voice was deep and imposing sending shivers down each of their backs. Thorin being the most used to it answered first. Yes, uncle its true. The guild master sighed before standing up and giving his nephew and his friends a more intensive inspection. When he saw the remnants of their wounds and their badly damaged clothing, he couldnt help but grow angry. He red towards Thorin and John causing them to not dare look his way. So, you thought that itd be smart to investigate it on your own am I right, E-rank adventurer party [Artic Warband]. He said their partys name one syble at a time causing the group to develop a cold sweat. Forcing them to endure his pressure for a short while, the guild master then smiled. Im d that you guys returned safely, but next time be more careful. Youre still young dont recklessly attempt something in the name of profit. He ced a hand on John and Thorins shoulders nearly causing them to break into tears. He then proceeded to do the same for Jack and Fen. Now that thats over with, tell me what youve found. Back to the present time with the kids Luna and Leo entering the second section, the bandits and the cold knight quickly entered the dungeon attempting to find the frost wolf which taunted them. However, the blizzard was still roaring on and with the frost wolfs white coat itd be easier to find a needle in a haystack than find it. Fuck! Redhawk stomped the ground in anger, they lost sight of the frost wolf almost instantly and were now stuck in the middle of a blizzard not knowing their north from their south. Calm down Redhawk its just a monster, remember your job. The knight looked coldly at the rampaging Redhawk. But how could the bandit boss calm down after being so humiliated, the knights words just infuriated him further. Redhawk stomped even harder causing plumes of snow to burst out in all directions before roaring at the sky. The knight watched on in contempt. Redhawk only stopped after his deputies calmed him down and hed thoroughly battered the snow. Now more calm Redhawk faced the cold knight, his eyes filled with malice. So what do you propose we do now then Alex? Suddenly the cold knight released an intense burst of killing intent. His name was known. The bandit deputies nched and stumbled backwards but Redhawk stood his ground against his fury, giving him no quarter. Hed already lost so much for nothing, he no longer cared about the consequences of angering the knight and the one behind him, so he directly called out his name, revealing it out loud to his deputies. Arrogant little shit, I should have killed him and his group long ago. Alex felt regret, he should have just done this job himself regardless of possible suspicions. His hand moved towards his sword, ready to cut down them down. The tense atmosphere continued for several seconds with Redhawk refusing to back down and his deputies frozen in fear. Alex sighed before releasing his swords handle and withdrawing his killing intent. If you still want to get paid the jobs still the same. Find and kill those two brats! Alex decided to allow them to keep their lives...for now. Ptuh! Redhawk spat on the ground, dropping his subservient act. And how do you suggest we do that? Even with 20 of my guys we didnt find them and now that we know theres frost wolves here, we cant exactly split up and search. Redhawk was annoyed, he had no idea howrge this monsterir was, and the weather made searching even more treacherous. Alex smiled before taking something out of his coat. It was a small metal cube covered in unusual markings. Redhawk had never seen anything like it, but his smart deputy had, and his face instantly grew warped. You mean you had a tracking device this entire time.! The smart deputy spoke through clenched teeth. If he knew that Alex had ess to a tracking device, then there was no point in sending their underlings in to haphazardly search their, only to die. Bastard! He instantly knew that Alex wished to weaken them by any means necessary and unfortunately it worked. Only the three of them were left and even together they may not be a match for the knight. Alex noticing that Redhawks deputy realised his intentions simplyughed in contempt. What of it, do you mean to say that I should have told you about it or let you use it.... fuck off this thing is worth more than your entire bandit group twice over! What would be the point in hiring you in the first ce. Even if I have more magic devices, they have nothing to do with the job you were hired to do. Im only using this now because Ive had get personally involved due to your ipetence. You! The smart deputys face turned livid, Alex was just spouting bull shit, he knew exactly what he intended, and it filled his heart with fear. Redhawk feeling some danger put his arm in front of his smart deputy whats done is done. He looked into Alexs eyes coldly now that youre willing to use a magic device itll make this job much easier. But boss! The smart deputy was reluctant to ept but Redhawk gave him a stern look causing him to swallow his next words. How could Redhawk not realise what Alex did but so what, there was nothing he could do to change it, and this wasnt the time to fight amongst themselves. Alex looked over Redhawk with slight shock not expecting him to be so understanding. Perhaps I underestimated him. Alex held out the tracking magic device before closing his eyes and funnelling his mana into it causing the markings to light up. Once enough mana was given, the device vibrated before disying an arrow on its top face, resembling apass only that the arrow was slightly moving. Seeing this Alex smiled and looked in the direction the arrow was pointing. This way. Alex moved forward into the snowstorm. Redhawk and his deputies reluctantly followed behind him. With such a device no matter how well the two kids hide theyll be found. Well, thats rather annoying. Frost grumbled as he saw the bandit group easily heading straight towards the winter forest. I didnt think hed have a magic device for tracking.... The person backing him must be very rich. Maya was quite shocked when Alex brought out the tracking device. As far as she knew, tracking magic devices were incredibly expensive and rare. Plus, the one in Alexs possession appeared to be of high quality, not something the average rich man could get their hands on. What can you tell me about this device? Frosts knowledge wascking in this regard. Magic devices are created by artificers or found within special areas such as monsterirs ande in a range of possibilities. The device in the knights hand is a fairly high-quality tracking item, most likely from a monsterir or secret realm given its quality. It should be able to register an item or person to be tracked over a span of at least 20 to 30 kilometres. Maya told Frost everything she knew about the peculiarities and limitations of such devices. Why would he only bring out something so useful now? Maya shook her head and raised her hands. Who knows, perhaps he felt it was a waste to use something so precious or he was wary of the bandits being blinded by greed. As good an exnation as any and also quite urate. Now that theyve got a tracking device as well as theirbined strength it changes things. Most likely theyll catch up to the kids in under an hour without interference.... Frost tapped away at the arm of his chair as he thought of his next move. He still hadnt fully formed his n in isting the knight Alex in a one-on-one battle nor had he decided on what to do about those to kids. Maya, you said that such a tracking device would be very expensive? Yes, young master theyre very rare and usually bought up by the government for use in the military, so theyre quite difficult to get hold of. So, the owner must be someone very important and or very rich.... Why would someone like that be so determined to kill two young adventurers? He continued to tap away as he drew closer and closer to a n. Why dont I just ask them? Eh! I said why dont I just ask them; theyve got to know why theyre being chased so why not hear it directly. Frost grew more sure of his decision the more he talked. Maya stared at him nkly, Frost was going to talk with them in person and from his tone he wasnt going to kill. The whole point of them being up in the private space was to avoid any link between him and the dungeon being discovered. Itd fine if he nned to kill his targets like the bandits and knight since dead people dont talk. Dont worry I can just say that I entered earlier and finished exploring the next room, theyll just think Im another adventurer. Besides wouldnt it be good to have some people we know when visit the Northrend empire in future. Maya couldnt argue, everything Frost said was logical and reasonable. Am I just worrying too much, Dark God-sama did say to be careful but to also encourage interaction with the rest of Nova. Maya was confused and unable to agree or disagree simply remaining silent which Frost took as an eptance. Chapter 38 Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Meeting face to face Not hearing Maya disagreeing Frost manoeuvred the dungeon screen to show an area of the second section. Leo and Luna could be seen sheltering within a well-hidden and well defended de simr to the one Frost first greeted his frost dwarves. He already ordered for his dwarves and other monsters in the forest to avoid the kids if possible. Looks like theyve found a good ce unfortunately its pointless given that magic device. Frost admired theyre initiative as he sighed. A tracking device is just unfair besides, it shouldnt be with someone so evil, itll be much better in my hands. Frost stood up and straightened out his clothes. Maya, you stay here and monitor through the dungeon screen, keep me updated through telepathy in regards to the bandits movements, itd look suspicious if I kept bring up the dungeon menu while in front of them. So, youre definitely going? Yeah, it seems like fun plus I quite like the character theyve shown so far. Frost smiled towards her trying to relieve her worries. Maya sighed and shook her head before smiling back. Seems as though my young master is a stubborn one. ..... Good luck then young master. Maya bowed whereas Frost nodded before teleporting away leaving her alone in the private space. Hopefully, this wont end up badly. Maya whispered before taking her seat in front of the dungeon screen. Near the entrance to the 3rd and final section Frost suddenly materialised, his white and blue attire matched well with the surroundings, giving him the appearance of a deity. Frost looked around to get his bearings before bringing up the dungeon menu. 600 metres away, perfect. This was more than enough distance for him to not be noticed immediately. Frosts n was for Luna and Leo to think he appeared from deeper within the dungeon, heading back out after his exploration. Knowing exactly where the two were Frost started walking, not covering up the sound of his footsteps in the slightest. A few minutester he was within earshot of Luna and Leo. Hearing movement, Leos body tensed up and his throat tightened. He looked towards Luna bringing his finger to his mouth urging her to be quiet. Luna nodded her head as she tried to even breath more silently. The footsteps drew closer and closer, keeping the same momentum yet no voices could be heard. Gripping his sword tightly against his chest Leo resisted the urge to look up from their shelter, hoping that the person or monster would simply pass them by. But fate had other ns. The footsteps continued heading right for them, the owner was less than 10 metres away. Shit weve been found! Leo gathered his courage moving quietly towards the only opening in the de preparing to strike with his sword at the opportune moment. He sent Luna a few hand signals telling her to remain quiet and prepare to cast a spell just in case. Leo began counting down the seconds until the person would arrive. Sweat trickled down his arm and then to his sword, his jaw was clenched shut and his eyes grew more bloodshot as the seconds passed. 5 4 3 2 1! The moment he reached 1 Leo swung his sword with his entire strength, releasing all the pent-up pressure. This strike would easily cleave a tree in half yet the moment the sword was about to reach its target a beautiful white hand grabbed the tip stopping it dead in its tracts. Leo was awash with fear, all the hair on his body turned upwards and his heart felt cold. He tried with all his strength to push the de forward, but it was as though it was in a vice, it didnt move an inch only causing Leo to turn red in the face from over exertion. Leo quickly saw that his sword wasnt going anywhere so he released his grip, took a step backward before leaping forward with his right hand held at his waist preparing to punch. The entity still partially hidden by branches lightlyughed, allowing Leo to continue. Leo angered by thisugh felt as though the enemy was looking down on him Ahhhhh! He roared as he unleashed a powerful punch towards the persons obscured face, hoping to smash thatughing mouth of his. In the background Luna started to chant a spell hoping to catch him off guard however the enemy saw through this. He lightly tossed the sword held in between his fingers towards Luna. Don! The sword flew through the air with some force and the butt of the handle smashed into Lunas forehead immediately silencing her chanting and knocking her into a daze. Luna could barely see anything, but stars let alone continue to cast a spell, she had failed. At the same time Leos fist was edging closer and closer, the man smiled, dodging to the right making Leos punch narrowly miss its target. Bleurgh! The moment the man dodged he also attacked, sending a punch of his own directly at Leos undefended abdomen knocking the wind out of him. He then grabbed the back of Leos neck and tossed him towards Luna. Luna was still stunned from being struck by the swords handle so how could she evade the tossed Leo. Boof! Leo mmed into Luna knocking them both to the ground. The two let out painful groans as they shifted off one another. To suddenly attack without provocation, who taught you to be so rude? The man seeing that both Luna and Leo were in no shape to continue attacking walked through the des entrance fully revealing himself, this man was of course Frost. Maya had warned him in advance about their current state but even so, he didnt expect to be met with a sword the moment he entered attack range. Luckily, there was arge difference in strength between him and Leo otherwise he mightve met his demise. He looked over at the two kids with a harsh grimace, he was annoyed. Not expecting those words to be said Leo was startled, he didnt recognise the voice and it didnt sound like a bandit. He raised his head to look up at Frost, as did Luna. The moment they did it was as if a bomb exploded in their minds, never in their lives had they see such a beautiful person, even elven royalty would pale inparison to the man standing before them in fact theyd look downright ugly. Leo instantly felt defeated in more ways than one whereas Luna couldnt help but blush. The two silently stared at Frost with their jaws agape. Seeing as how they continued to stare at him and not answer Frost only grew more impatient, his mouth and eyes started to twitch in frustration. I asked you who taught you to be so rude so as to attack someone without provocation! He shouted, releasing a wave of pressure towards the kids. This immediately brought them back to their senses. S...sorry we thought you were someone else. Leo hung his head in shame, he felt guilty and averted his gaze downward. We thought you were one of the people chasing us and attacked without checking please forgive us. Luna bowed; her heart filled with remorse. Frost stood there silently inspecting the wounds on their bodies with sharp gaze before sighing and revealing a smile. Very well Ill forgive you since it looks like youre in bad shape, luckily nothing happened. Thank you, senior, for your benevolence. The moment the two said the word senior Frost could hear some uncontrobleughtering through telepathically, which he chose to ignore. With his current appearance he truly did look to be their senior. And having always been called young master by Maya it was a nice change. Happy with his new title Frost smiled. No need no need, as your senior I should be forgiving. Theughter in his head only intensified. You said that youre being chased, by whom and why? Ah! About that were being chased by.... Before Leo could finish speaking his mouth was covered by Luna, causing Leo a bit of distress. He angrily looked towards her with usation not knowing why she did that, but he was met with an even fiercer re, so he stopped struggling. Luna removed her hand and faced Frost. Sorry senior Id rather not have you involved in our predicament, its for your own safety. Luna bowed once more; her heart filled with grief. She didnt know the strength of this man before her and they already attacked him out of the blue, how could she have the heart to drag him into their mess. This man was innocent and incredibly handsome he didnt deserve to be dragged down with them after treating them so gently. Leo understood Lunas intentions and mostly agreed with her however what chance did they have alone, but he shoved those thoughts down following Lunas lead. Frost stared at the two, their eyes were filled with determination however their fists were clenched and trembling. Hoh! Thats interesting even though they know that with my help they could have a higher chance of survival they wont ask me since Im an innocent. Im liking these kids more and more. Frost couldnt help but show a wild smile. I respect your kindness youngdy, but Ill determine whats safe for me and whats not. Frost spoke firmly, putting his foot down. Eh! Luna and Leo were taken by surprise, they looked up at Frost in confusion. First off, what are two, 15 maybe 16 years old? ..... Im sixteen and Lunas fifteen. Leo answered weakly, feeling as though he was about to get a lecture. Exactly youre still kids and from what Ive seen so far good kids at that. If I dont help you itd go against my principles. Frost didnt fully understand what he was saying or why, all he thought was that Luna and Leo deserved to live and it was within his power to allow it so he would. His stubborn side was being shown. B...but. No buts tell this senior how he can help. Theughing in his head grew unstable and it turned into a coughing fit but again he chose to ignore it. The two kids looked towards one another, seeing frustration within each others eyes. They truly didnt want to bring trouble to such a kind senior but what choice did they have. If they continued to refuse, theyd only insult him. Luna released a deep sigh before nodding towards Leo signalling him to tell the story. Thank you, senior, for your help however Ill remind you that if you choose to get involved, youll be in great danger, are you fine with that? Leo sternly looked towards Frost. Whether Im in danger is my problem, start talking. Frost replied with confidence, unlike Leo and Luna he knew exactly what he was up against and held little fear. Very well first off we should introduce ourselves, my name is Leonardo Vos Furano, first son of viscount Furano, ruler of the nearby territory, but you can call me Leo, and this is Luna Satoru my childhood friend and fianc. His eyes were full of love as he introduced Luna causing her to lightly blush. Frost was surprised; he didnt fully understand the importance of Leos position but hearing that his father was the ruler of Furano the nearbyrgest town to the dungeon he felt that his decision to help had paid off. Getting friendly with the ruling family of Furano should provide endless benefits. However, although he found it a bit unexpected that was all, on the outside his eyes simply opened a little wider. His reaction orck of reaction actually had Leo at a bit of a loss. Even high-ranking adventurers would have more reaction than Frost. He continued on Luna, and I are also E-rank adventurers and came to Northrend forest to hunt winter boars, nothing we hadnt done before but.... Leo showed an expression filled with hatred; he clenched his teeth hard before continuing. Given my position as heir to the viscounty my uncle insisted that we be apanied by a house knight which asionally I have to agree to, not something I like but since Im an only child and on the cusp of adulthood, itd be foolish not to take precautions. However, my usual guard was... indisposed so he assigned me one of his, a man named Alex! Mentioning the name Alex Luna showed a furious expression and spat towards the side in disgust. Frost continued to listen quietly already fairly certain of the oue. At first everything was fine, he just acted like a regr guard keeping his distance and asionally giving us some advice. But once we were deeper into the Northrend forest he suggested following him to an area which he said held many winter boars. Since his previous advice was helpful I regrettable decided to trust him. Leos angered swiftly transformed into regret and self-me. If only he hadnt listened to Alex then they may have avoided this disaster. Once we reached the stated location, Alex vanished and we were immediately ambushed by the red hawk bandits, we were betrayed! Chapter 39 Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Chatting with Leo and Luna Leo then started to exin about how he and Luna survived the ambush and then escaped to the dungeon. The tale was quite impressive, Luna and Leo put up quite a fight. However, it seemed more likely that the red hawk bandits severely overestimated their own strength thus giving the two of them a chance to escape. Luckily we heard about this new monsterir from the [Artic Warband] otherwise I dont know what wouldve happened. Leo then felt rather strange, he looked towards Frost with a questioning gaze. How did senior end up here? It finally dawned on him that someone being here was strange. Me? Oh, I entered this monsterir out of curiosity early this morning. I was just heading back after reaching the next section when I sensed movement within this de. Frost lied his pants off with apletely straight face as though he was a master. With this answer all of Leos suspicion was washed away, he even thought that the reason they didnt encounter many monsters was due to Frost thinning them out, which wasnt exactly wrong. So, from what youve told me youre the son of the local lord and are being targeted by the bandit group called the red hawks and you believe that you were set up by that Alex fellow. Frost summarised the situation into the key points. Pretty much yeah. ..... Why? Frost knew the reason couldnt simply be money, something else must be going on. Leo subconsciously turned towards Luna as if asking for permission to continue. Seeing her nod, he continued, Most likely it was under the orders of my uncle. A mix of disgust and shame appeared on Leos face as he mentioned his uncle. My father is currently bed ridden due to illness and my uncle is an insidious and ambitious person who isnt adverse to using underhanded methods to achieve his goals. Hes always desired the title of Furano viscount and now with my father being weakened only I stand in his way. Leo was the only son of Dous Furano making him the next heir, without him the title would legally be passed to his uncle. Your uncle is eliminating thepetition, quite a mess I volunteered to get involved in. Frost spoke in a sarcastic tone, causing Leo and Luna to feel nervous. Of course, hed feel reluctant to involve himself in such a battle. The kidsmented their fate. So, what exactly are we up against? Eh? Who do I need to fight, whats their strength and numbers? Y...you still want to help? Luna nervously asked but her heart couldnt help but hope. I already said Id help so I will. His answer caused both Luna and Leo to be speechless before they to quicklyughed. Thank you .... Ah! Sorry I just realised that we dont know seniors name. You may call me Frost, its nice to meet you Leo, Luna. Frost stretched out his hand in greeting to which Leo smiled and shook his hand. Nice to meet you Frost. The threeughed and smiledpletely forgetting the impending danger. Tell me about the red hawk bandits first. Ok Leo then described all he knew about the red hawk bandits, such as their crimes and the known details spread within the adventurers guild as well as by the town guard. Redhawk himself was known to be at least equal to the average D-rank adventurer and wielded a giant great axe as his weapon. He controlled arge group of bandits roughly 50 members strong alongside three deputies each equivalent to high E-rank adventurers. They were considered one of the strongest bandit groups in the county. ording to a recent report by the town garrison, they manged to ambush the red hawk bandits culling at least 20 of their numbers as well as one of Redhawks deputies however the rest escaped without injuries. Luna added on an important piece of information. When we were ambushed in the forest, we killed another 5 or so before escaping but we didnt fight against Redhawk himself. Obviously, if Redhawk was involved in the battle there would have been no chance of you escaping. Frost internallyughed however the news about the town garrisons raid was important, Redhawk wouldnt be receiving any reinforcements. What about that Alex fellow? Frost didnt even put the red hawk bandits in his eyes, but Alex was a different story. Since the bandits failed in their initial ambush, hell probably take part. During the initial ambush Leo and Luna never saw Alex again. True, he most likely kept watch at a distance to reduce any chance of his involvement being linked backed to my uncle but now hell definitely take to the field himself, my uncle doesnt appreciate failure. Just Redhawk and his bandits were bad enough now that they needed to wary of Alex, Leo couldnt help but despair. Alex is one of my uncles knights and unfortunately I dont know too much about him only that my uncle uses him often, so his strength will not be weak. Leo sighed; he truly knew nothing about this enemy only that hed be stronger than Redhawk not weaker. What weapons does he use, can he cast magic, what about chakra? Frost fired of question after question, hoping to gleam even the slightest bit of information on his first opponent. When Alex was travelling with us he was garbed in the standard dress code for a knight and carried a one-handed sword but never used it. In regards to magic or chakra Ive got no idea, but its unlikely for him to have skills beyond using lifestyle magic. Luna gave her thoughts. Oh, why not? Someone with physical abilities and magic or chakra is rare, especially in this remote area. If Alex really did have those abilities Leos uncle wouldnt be able to afford him. Luna gave practical theory unaware that Frost was one of those rare people. Ok, so to rify theres about 20 low level bandits, two E-rank deputies, Redhawk who is D-rank and this Alex fellow who is at least upper D-rank, and his weapon and methods are unknown. Is that about, right? Frost spoke as though the numbers didnt affect him in the slightest filling Leo and Luna with confidence. Actually, theres probably less bandits, when we were travelling through the first area, we encountered a bandit, but he was swiftly taken down by a group of frost goblins. It was actually quite cool one of the goblins even smirked before walking off casually. Frost couldnt help but swell up with pride when hearing Luna praise his frost goblins. After that we heard several screams from all directions of dying bandits, the monsters probably culled a good amount. Viva le monsters. Understood Frosts gaze lingered on their bodies causing both Luna and Leo to blush. Frosts appearance was dangerous to both genders. The two of you are already injured. Frost frowned as he spoke, well need to find a safe area for you to hide. Theyll only get in the way and restrict the use of monsters. Frost already thought of a good area where he could stuff the two while he hunted down his prey. We can fight too! The two kids instantly shouted in disagreement. No! Youll only get in the way. Frost sternly argued silencing the two of them. They felt ashamed and frustrated, they truly would be of no help. In their current condition theyd be no match for the deputies let alone Redhawk or Alex. Frost was right theyd only drag him down. Leo stomped the ground in anger as he was unable to refute Frost. Luna felt unreconciled but agreed, We understand Frost well not get in your way and follow your instructions however you dont need to beat them only stall. Hopefully in a few hours a group of strong adventurers will arrive to perform the monsterir inspection. If we can survive until their arrival, well win. Luna faced Frost with a determined look. Stalling was a lot easier than killing, even if Frost was weaker than Alex, he should be able to dy them without endangering himself. Frost eyes opened wide in surprise he didnt expect the adventurers to arrive so quickly, perhaps he underestimated the importance of a new monsterir. But it didnt matter, he nned to kill them all the same, there will be no stalling only death. Got it, lets head into the third section, theyout there is vastly different, and the temperature is much warmer, itll be easier for you to rest there. The artic ruined castle (interior) had dozens of small rooms with doors. Hiding them there would keep them out of sight and earshot of the battle. Frost nned on having the pr bear as well as some frost wolves take part in the fight so with having Luna and Leo hiding in an enclosed room, theyll be clueless on how the battle progresses. Itd be really hard to exin why the monsters were aiding him in battle after all. Wait maybe I could pass as some sort of monster tamer or conjurer... nah tooplicated besides, I doubt my fighting style would match those professions. Frost cemented the idea of having Luna and Leo far away from the battle. Alright well follow your lead Frost. Both Luna and Leo nodded and smiled before following closely behind Frost as he led them out of the de. As they were walking Luna and Leo continued to ask questions, some about the dungeon but most about Frost himself, especially Luna she seemed overly curious much to Leos frustration. Where are from? How old are you? Are you an elf? How did you get so handsome? Frost developed a headache with the number of questions being fired his way. He didnt want to answer but Luna never let up. Eventually he reached his limit and physically covered her mouth to shut her up but that shifted her focus onto how soft his skin was, she even licked his hand. There was nothing he could do, he looked towards Leo for aid, but he simply shook his head and sent a signal with his eyes saying youre on your own as he walked on ahead ignoring his plight. Unable to ignore her enthusiasm he reluctantly answered some questions. My home is in the cial mountains (technically true). My age doesnt match my appearance (also true) and I was born this handsome (a bit cocky but also true, even Maya agrees). In regards to my race...thats a secret. He wouldnt tell her he was a dungeon core and he refused to lie about it. Hopefully, thats enough to keep her quiet. Frost sighed however as his answers only fuelled Lunas urge for chatter, this must be her base personality. Over time Leo began to feel guilty and forced himself into the conversation making it more bearable and rather pleasant to a degree. These two kids were the first people that werent either his father or guardian that he talked with, it was quite refreshing. By the time, the three reached the entrance to the third section they wereughing and acting like old friends. Frost managed to learn a lot about their lives and the nearby town of Furano. Apparently, thend ruled by Leos father Dous Furano is the northern most province of the Northrend empire and isparable to a duchy in size, making Leos father quite powerful. Unfortunately, even though thend is huge its also beset with many dangers, the cial Mountains being one of them. Every few years massive tides of monsters stampede out of the mountains crushing everything in their path. It takes arge amount of manpower and resources tobat this and rebuild the destroyed territory. This results in the viscounty being behind in economic strength, so they are frequently shunned as country bumpkins. Yet ironically, its the province with the least poverty rates, its very rare for a family to die of starvation. This is mainly due to the constant hard work of the Furano family, all except Leos uncle are just, brave and forsake riches for the betterment of their popce making them very well-liked by their citizens. If it wasnt for the massive expenses incurred by the monster tides the viscounty would be more prosperous than the capital. All this information was much more detailed than what Maya could possibly give him. Thanks to Luna and Leo, Frost gained a much clearer image of the local area and the people hed have to interact with in the future. He also felt a great desire to meet this Dous Furano, perhaps he could give him some tips on managing territory. Chapter 40 Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Good hunting, Frost-senpai As the group consisting of Frost, Luna and Leo were happily walking along and chatting, the red hawk bandits and Alex were hot on their trail. Unimpeded by the unknown terrain and roaring blizzard the group urately made a beeline straight for the second section reaching it in less than an hour, quickly closing the gap. Maya arranged for some of the lower rank monsters such as goblins and artic horned rabbits to keep an eye on the group from a safe distance however the knight Alex noticed them. Shwoom Without even looking in their direction Alexunched two daggers at a couple of goblins hiding in the snow. The goblins didnt have the capability to dodge such fast daggers and were stabbed in the heart killing them instantly, their blood seeping into the snow. Further on he did the same thing to a horned rabbit pinning it to the ground, forcing Maya to recall them back, no point in having monsters die just to keep up appearances. However, with the loss of a few G-ranks she was able to ascertain and notify Frost about his dagger skills, a worthwhile trade. Hmmm looks like they got the message. Alex muttered under his breath as he ran. Quickly disposing of some low rank monsters served as a warning thus allowing them to continue unabated. Having to deal with tons of monsters while searching would be counterproductive. The group quickly came across the entrance to the second section. Alex withdrew the tracking device once again to confirm their heading. Theyre definitely this way lets move. Not waiting for Redhawk and his deputies Alex dived through the doorway and into the second section. Hu hu hu. The two bandit deputies were red in the face and panting, constantly running in this weather for nearly an hour was no easy feat for them, even Redhawk was a little tired. Shit! at t...this rate well d...die of exhaustion. The smart deputy shouted between breaths with much difficulty. However, hisints went unanswered, Redhawk simply looked at his subordinates with disdain. ..... Its just a bit of running quitining, move your ass now! Redhawk was nervous, even though Alex had ran through he could feel a stifling killing intent surrounding him. He knew that if they refused to follow, Alex would turn back and kill them without a second thought. He kicked the smart deputys ass before running through the gateway himself. What could the deputies do but look at one another and sigh. Taking a deep breath, they gathered their strength and followed after their boss. The moment they crossed the threshold Maya gave Frost a heads up causing him to look behind him on reflex. Hmm Frost do you hear something? Leo asked noticing Frost to turn his gaze behind them. No, its nothing. He turned back and smiled; the prey has arrived. At this point his group could already see the gateway to the third section. The three then walked through the entrance and were greeted with a much different environment. Huh? Luna and Leo were both visibly shocked, they really didnt expect the third section to look like an old castle interior. Ignoring their shock Frost walked ahead. Theres no snow here and the temperature although not warm is much better than the previous sections. Theres also broken pieces of furniture that can be used to start a fire. Frost pointed towards a broken wooden table but received no response. Luna and Leo were still in shock, Frost got a bad feeling. T...this is weird right Luna? Leo looked over towards her in confusion. Yeah, it is. She squatted down and inspected the floor as well as some of the broken furniture. Whats weird about it? Frost was generally perplexed. Its not umon to see monsterirs with this environment but whats really unusual is that it follows the previous winter hignds and winter forest areas. As far as I know thats never happened, monsterirs tend to have simr traits throughout, yet this almost feels artificial as if someone spliced two monsterirs together. Frosts face turned pale, how the hell did shee up with that. Frost was inwardly panicking; would he be exposed so soon. Sweat started to umte down his spine and his thoughts grew chaotic. Maybe its a new type, the Dark God is known for randomly creating unusual things so maybe it was him. Leo interjected bringing some relief to Frost, he felt as though his very being was exposed. Monsterirs were said to be first established by the Dark God and asionally weird ones that didnt follow the usual trend would show up. The adventurers would just assume that the Dark God got personally involved, sparking great interest. Un, possibly but what interests me is if this changes the monsters present as well. Luna started to give off a schrly aura as questions filled her mind. If there were different environments along with matching monsters with thisir the profit potential could be huge. Frost felt a chill down his spine as he saw Lunas fervent eyes, he needed to change the topic otherwise hed go insane. That can wait Luna, or have you forgotten your current predicament. Redhawk and his group will be here in less than an hour gotta get rid of these two quickly. Ah.... Youre right Frost this can wait till after we survive this ordeal. She nodded regrettably, damn you still want to investigate. Frost quickly moved towards the doorway to the next area. Through this door youll enter a hallway, follow it until it splits up. Take the far-left route then enter the third room on the right. Ive cleared out the monsters down that path so it should be safe. The room has an old-style lock as well as an old firece, you can lock it from the inside. Stay in there until I return, donte out for any reason otherwise I cant guarantee your safety. He pushed open the decaying old door gesturing for Luna and Leo to enter the hallway. Frosts stern tone and the fact that he was leaving suddenly gave them a reality check, they were still in grave danger. Frustration once again filled their eyes as they looked at Frost but deep down, they knew theyd only be a hindrance. Understood. Understood. The two shouted loudly, theyre faces now showing a fierce determination, saying we will survive. Frost smiled and nodded. Good, head on in Ill catch up to youter. Frost walked past them slowly heading back into to the winter forest, doing his best to restrain his urge to smile evilly. Frost! At their yell he turned around once more to see them slightly bowing with their hands cupped. Good hunting, Frost-senpai! After bowing they turned around and entered the hallway. The moment they left Frost could no longer contain his emotions, he widely smiled from ear to ear. Good hunting hahaha looks like they noticed my excitement hahaha. He underestimated those kids. Maya how long until Redhawk and his cronies arrive here? Frost walked off with a bounce in his step bringing up the dungeon menu, his new moniker of senpai only adding to his joy. About 40 minutes. Maya answered no longer telepathically but through the menu screen. Perfect, have the pr bear enter the second section, Ill go and arrange the wolves and frost dwarves. Frost nned topletely overwhelm Redhawk and his deputies leaving them zero chance to interfere in his battle with Alex. And with that Frost and Maya set off to prepare for the enemies arrival. 40 minutester Alex arrived near the entrance to the third section. The constant running didnt even affect him, no sign of sweat orboured breathing even his hair was still in its original style. The same couldnt be said for hispanions. Redhawk wasnt too bad just short of breath and red in the face, not at the level where hed struggle in a battle. His deputies however were barely hanging on, they forced themselves to keep up with their boss ignoring their limitations. Now that the group stopped running, they copsed, gasping for every breath. With their legs trembling in agony, they dropped to their knees unable to move. Itd be a miracle for them to stand let alone fight. Seeing his deputies in this state sent a wave of fear through Red Hawks body, his heart felt cold. He was in a very dangerous position, if Alex decided to eliminate them now, he wouldnt have any decoys to aid in his escape. Boundless regret filled him. Shit! Shit! Shit! He screamed internally at his predicament, he knew that if he was in Alexs shoes, hed probably take care of himself in this moment. They were already so close to their target and with Alexs strength he didnt have any use for Redhawk anymore. The monsterir was already filled with traces of bandits even if this incident was investigated the me could easily be directed towards Redhawk, their value had run its course. If Redhawk noticed this, then of course Alex did as well. He too was analysing whether or not to kill them now when he had the chance. With his deputies in this state I could focus my entire attention on Redhawk, taking care of them afterwards. Alexs gaze subconsciously lingered on the frozen deputies sending chills down their spines. They probably wont even be able to walk let alone run. An evil smile grew on Alexs face at this thought, amplifying the bandits terror. His lord had given him strict instructions, there were to be no loose ends, none. This opportunity was so golden that Alex was torn between two choices, kill them now or focus on Leonardo and Luna first. He couldnt let either party get away. The four of them stayed silent and motionless in a tense standoff for a while. Cold sweat umted on Redhawk, drenching his clothes. His body was tense and afraid, he needed to run and run now but he was frozen in fear. If he showed his back to Alex even for a second, he knew hed be killed. Redhawk didnt underestimate Alex for a moment, the longer this standoff no matter how unbearable it was, every second improved his chances of survival. His deputies were slowly recovering their stamina so they could be used as decoys, a monster could interfere or even the rich brats could appear grabbing Alexs attention. Unfortunately, Alex also knew that fact. Alex released a deep sigh before the look in his eyes swiftly changed, they filled with a murderous intent as he gazed at Redhawk causing his throat to mp up. Fuck! Red hawk tensed his entire body preparing for the most difficult battle of his life. His eyes grew bloodshot and his teeth grinded against one another as his fury grew. Drawing his great axe, he returned Alexs gaze with one just as vicious. He wasnt going to run. The instant Alex was going to make his move however there was an interruption. [Ice bolt] The two men could lightly hear someone speak from one of the trees and sharp warnings of danger filled their bodies as they turned towards the direction of the voice. Woosh Suddenly out of the trees came a bolt of ice hurtling towards them faster than any dagger. The [ice bolt] seemed to be heading in Redhawks direction, his heart lurched dying his response time by a few milliseconds. Redhawk quickly leaped backwards with all he had, off bnce hended on his back and continued to roll away from the danger sessfully dodging the [ice bolt]. At least thats what he thought, Redhawk was never the target. The moment Redhawk jumped backwards the [ice bolt] was already within striking distance, the smart deputy kneeling next to him, still unable to move could onlyment in fear as the [ice bolt] stared him in the face. In just a couple seconds from when Frost uttered the spell, the [ice bolt] had travelled tens of metres and pierced the smart deputy through the chest, shredding his vital organs and leaving him no hope of survival. Chapter 41 Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Fighting Red Hawk and Alex Koji! The stronger looking deputy screamed out hispanions name in grief. Koji was still alive, his eyes filled with fear and confusion as he stared down at therge chunk of ice protruding from his chest. Blood quickly spilled from the point of entry, dying the ice bolt red. The bolt protruded out of his back covered in his internal organs and viscera, a gruesome sight. Eh? Koji stared at the ice bolt and his blood covered hands unable to understand, he turned towards his friend for answers only to see his face distraught and covered in tears. As his vision started to darken, he turned to his boss, Redhawk who was sitting with his back to a tree after rolling away. Redhawk had a puzzled look before quickly changing to anger as he turned towards where the spell was cast, no grief could be seen in his eyes only rage. Bos.... bleugh. Koji tried to ask Redhawk for help, but blood gushed out of his mouth painting his hands and arms. He looked down and finally realised his situation. His eyes became dim, and his body drew cold ah Im dead and like that Koji died and the group of four became three. No longer being supported, Kojis body slumped down to the ground quickly forming a red puddle of blood that gave off a strong pungent scent. His friend the stronger deputy continued to cry and curse aloud, he dragged his body over towards his dead friend and held the corpse in his arms. Alex however during this time was very alert, he kept his eyes locked onto the spells originpletely ignoring the death of Koji and the wailing of the strong deputy. His brow was frowning, and a sense of unease filled his heart, an unknown variable had appeared. Shit! someone else to deal with but who? Thoughts and possibilities filled Alexs mind. Hed taken precautions against the local adventurers, so he was taken aback by this interruption. The speed and strength of the [ice bolt] spell was also troubling. Alex had already burned the bridges with Redhawk, theres no way theyd be able to reliably work together. The moment Koji died Redhawk roared. You damn cowardly bastard skulking in the shadows get out here and fight like a man! Redhawk jumped to his feet and picked up his dropped great axe ready to charge into the trees. Alex was more than happy to let this idiot lead the charge and draw out the caster, but his thoughts were unnecessary. ..... From the top of a nearby tree Frost dropped down, he patted his clothes to remove any leaves and elegantly walked into the opening where Redhawk and Alex were. His ambush had worked, a single attack allowed him kill one of the bandits and now that he was no longer hidden Frost felt it was unnecessary to remain in the trees. He walked out with a smile holding his iron ive over his shoulders. Huh? Alex was stunned, not just by Frosts outstanding beauty but by the fact that he didnt recognise him. Alex had done mountains of research on all the local adventurers and people of note yet there wasnt a single one that looked like Frost. A magic user and ive user who the hell is he? The frown on Alexs face only grew more pronounced. Revelling in their shock Frost started to speak. I cant allow myself to bebelled a coward now can I. His gaze drifted towards Redhawk as he spoke before briefly stopping on Kojis body and snorting so weak. Redhawk felt as though he was about to pass out due to immense anger. His face turned from red to white and then to green, the veins on his forehead were about to pop. The red ape here must be Redhawk and you, his gaze turned towards Alex must be the treasonous knight, Alex. Frost spoke with contempt, he wanted to enrage his opponent as much as possible. Before Redhawk could scream and charge at Frost, Alex stepped forward so youve met with Leonardo. Murderous intent filled his eyes, and he readied some daggers behind his back. He sent a signal with his eyes to Redhawk telling him to hold. I have and hes under my protection. The atmosphere grew tense; Frost tightened his grip on his ive and focused on every movement made by the knight. Alex smiled and lightlyughed before his face drastically turned vicious then you can die! He instantly pulled his arms from behind his back andunched four daggers straight at Frost. The moment the daggers wereunched Redhawk made his move as well, he charged forth with his great axe raised high. Frost was more than prepared; he gripped his ive with both hands and took a defensive stance. The moment the four daggers reached within 3m of him Frost swung. And without any wasted movements he knocked down each and every dagger with the ives de, knocking them to floor. Alex winced at this sight but didnt let up, throwing more daggers his way. By the time Frost knocked the eighth dagger down Redhawk had leaped high into the air aiming to smash down his axe upon Frosts head. Frost twirled his ive around and cleaved upwards with his full strength, meeting the axe with the ives de. Boom! Sparks flew with the sh of metal and a loud boom was heard before Redhawk was sent tumbling through the air like a ragdoll whereas Frost slid back a few feet. It was clear who was stronger. However, Alex had great timing and a dagger reached Frost the moment he was caught off bnce. Frost could only move his arm in time to receive a shallow cut above his elbow, he was now dripping ruby red blood staining his white clothes. Tsk Frost clicked his tongue in annoyance, although the wound wasnt deep, and it wouldnt affect his battle ability it still pissed him off. He looked over towards Alex, irritation in eyes as if he was looking at an annoying bug. Alex however was not pleased with his attack drawing blood. Shit! The timing was perfect, yet he only ended up with a slight cut. Alex was aiming to slice the tendon on Frosts forearm making it so he couldnt wield his ive. Frost was a much more dangerous opponent than he anticipated, god knows how that brat Leonardo convinced him to help. Unfortunately, without Redhawks assistance Alexs sneak attacks wouldnt be as effective. Alexs eyes were drawn towards where the bandit bossnded. Redhawk was covered in scuffs and had a bruised rib but other than that was fine, he could still fight. But unlike Alex, Redhawk wanted to flee. That was his strongest attack yet even with the overhead advantage he was sent flying like a child, his hands were still numb from the vibrations. In fact, this situation was probably quite favourable, with Frost keeping Alex busy there would be no one tying him down. Redhawk wasnt the brightest or the best at concealing his emotions, so his thoughts were clearly disyed on his face bringing a slight panic to Alex. He couldnt allow Redhawk to escape, he knew too much. Filled with anger Alex shouted, Redhawk you bastard get up and help, hes no match against us together! However, his roar was filled with uncertainty, it fell on deaf ears. Redhawk looked nervously between Alex and Frost as well as the still grieving bandit deputy before smirking. Sorry Alex looks like this is the end of our partnership, sayonara mother fucker! He looked at Alex in contempt no longer hiding his disdain. He drew his thumb across his neck in mocking before turning around and leaving with some speed, abandoning his deputy. No one else mattered as long as he lived, he could easily recreate the red hawk bandits, with his strength it wouldnt take too long either. Furano was bing too risky anyway, leaving for new ground could be a positive. Redhawk loudlyughed as he ran, his anger towards Frost vanishing instead turning into gratitude. Alexs face quickly shifted between white and red, his attention no longer on Frost he started running in Redhawks direction. But he was quickly blocked. And where do you think youre going? Frost smiled yfully as he spoke, not even caring about the fleeing bandit boss, he already had ns for him. Y...you! Alex clenched his teeth and pointed at Frost in fury. Fighting Frost would take his entire attention, if Frost continued to block his path, he wouldnt be able to chase down Redhawk. I thought you were helping Leonardo, are you sure you want to let him leave? Seeing that getting angry wasnt the right approach, Alex tried to reason with him. Leave? Oh no he wont be leaving. An evil smile adorned Frosts face once again. Alex was confused but that didntst long Roarrrrrrr! Suddenly a loud roar was heard in the direction Redhawk ran in. Alex felt a pit develop in his stomach, that wasnt a frost wolf. His gaze subconsciously drifted in the roars direction. A pr bear. He frowned, that was D-rank monster, not an easy opponent even for him, he underestimated this monsterirs level. While thoughts of his next moves passed in his mind arge shadow could be seen smashing through the trees before loudly crashing into the ground nearby. The shadow groaned as it hit the floor and spurted blood from its mouth. Redhawk didnt get very far. He was sent flying by the pr bears paw, even defending with his axe he was still greatly injured. His internal organs felt as though theyd been hit with a sledgehammer and his arms felt numb. His axe which was made of steel had several chips in it and there was arge crack in the handle, another strike and it would shatterpletely. Pr bears had great strength and defence butcked speed and agility. Under normal circumstances hed be able to hold his own but was caught unprepared. Full of arrogance Redhawk didnt even watch what was ahead of him only wary of being pursued, he ran right into the snout of a pr bear. What ensued was a loud roar and him being sent flying back to where he started. Shortly after Red hawk managed to get his bearing albeit with much difficulty the pr bear charged through the foliage Roaarrrrr! It ignored the wounded Redhawk instead charging at the uninjured Alex. The pr bear weighed over a ton, its charging power was incredible, one wrong move and even the strongest of humans would be injured. Alex grimaced as the massive bear gained momentum, it would be on him in a couple seconds. Fuck! He didnt have time to think as to why the bear ignored Redhawk or the others and vehemently targeted him who was the furthest away. Jumping sideways he manged to avoid the bears frame as well as the outstretched w all while withdrawing his sword from its sheath and striking. This action was clearly seen by Frost. Its not a long sword but a short sword, the sheath was deceiving. Hes more of a rogue or an assassin than a knight. Frost took in every detail of his opponents movements, know your enemy and you will not be defeated, knowledge is key. Maya gave him this advice as he was lying in wait. Frostcked experience and even if his instincts were great, he needed more. Now that he knew Alexs methods of attack, he was a lot less frightening. The pr bear roared in pain, there was a deep gash on its paw and two of its nails had been severed. Alexs strike was true, the sword dripped with blood, and was still razor sharp. His sword was of much higher quality than Redhawks axe. Frosts gaze drifted towards the sword. Steel and not regr steel either. The way it glimmered and cut the pr bears ws in a single motion; no regr weapon could do that. Seems that hes very important to Leos uncle to be equipped with a weapon of such good quality. Even Leos weapon was of a lower grade, and he was the lords son. Shame I use a ive. Frost looked at the iron ive in his hands he couldnt help but feel awkward. The pr bear realising the danger Alex posed roared at him before turning back to attack Redhawk, choosing to fight the weaker enemy. Chapter 42 Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Duelling Alex This time however Redhawk was prepared, standing firmly in a defensive stance he braced for the bears attack. The strong deputy had also regained his faculties, he put down the corpse of his friend and searched for his weapon, he too would fight. Frost gave a cursory nce towards Redhawk and the bandit deputy, there was no need for him to interfere. With their injuries and damaged equipment, they wouldntst long. Unfortunately, the moment he turned his attention away from Alex another dagger was sent his way forcing him to quickly block. A loud ding could be heard as the ive met the dagger and cold shiver went through Frosts body. The dagger headed straight for his eyes, if he had been any slower, he wouldve lost his sight. Sneaky bastard! Eyes filled with fury he red towards Alex, but he wasnt there. Hes heading to the third section. Maya spoke within his head, Frost turned towards the gateway to the third section and low and behold Alex could be seen running silently in that direction. Is it ready? Frost smiled mischievously, not surprised with Alexs movements. Yes, young master. Good. Everything was falling into ce; the pr bear and other monsters would take care of Redhawk and his deputy so he would get to fight against Alex alone. ..... After receiving Mayas confirmation Frost ran after Alex chasing him into the third section of the dungeon. Redhawk and his deputy were left to confront the pr bear themselves. Shit! Shit! Shit! Redhawk cursed aloud as he dodged or deflected swipe after swipe of the pr bears paws. He was restricted to a passive state, the bear could outrun him, unless he killed it there was no escape. He tried a few times to jump and roll out its attack zone, but hed always be met with the bears jaws. His deputy wasnt much help, his weapon would barely leave a scratch on it, so the bear simply ignored him after kicking him away once, focusing its entire attention on him. As time passed Redhawk gained more and more injuries, his clothes werepletely dyed red, and his face was whiter than a ghosts. He was at his limit, he peered behind the bear hoping for some kind of salvation but was only met with horror. In front of his eyes, he could see the corpse of his strong deputy being torn apart by a group of frost wolves while a couple frost dwarves were carving up the body of his other deputy. His fight with the bear was so intense he didnt even hear his deputys screams as he was killed. The deputys eyes were wide open as he died, full of unwillingness and regret. Seeing those dead eyes filled him with despair, hisst remaining strength left him. He copsed onto his knees, the light in his eyes grew dim he started tough like a maniac. Theughter would send chills down your spine, but it didntst long. Revelling in its preys despair the pr bear opened its jaws wide and ced its mouth over the stillughing Redhawk before crunch. It mmed its jaws shut, separating Redhawks body in two Now only Alex was left. Frost leisurely walked into the third area of the dungeon, not worried about Alex getting away in the slightest. In the first room nothing much had changed apart from a thick, dense ice wall that blocked off the entrance to the hallway. Alex stood in front of the ice wall knocking it in different ces with his sword hilt, hoping to find a weak spot. He knew that Leo and Luna were past this wall, as long as he killed them his mission would beplete, even if Frost knew the true story, who would believe him. Alex was confident that he could escape Frost without much issue but killing him in direct battle would be difficult. But looks like he wont have a choice, with the ice wall blocking his way, hed have to fight. Frost patiently waited at the other side of the room; he was in no hurry. Noticing his presence Alex sighed before turning his way. Looks like Im ying in the palm of your hand. Alexs face appeared calm and friendly, but his eyes were full of hatred. Frost smirked before replying yes, yes you are. his direct answer sent waves anger through Alex, he clenched his fists and ground his teeth. He felt insulted. The pr bear, you drew it out by killing Koji. A strong scent of fresh blood within its territory how could it resist...Redhawk probably wontst long will he? I doubt it. Frost simply shrugged as if he didnt care. Alex couldnt help but feel afraid, Redhawk wasnt much weaker than him, yet this man dealt with him so easily. Who are you? The feeling of fear only grew stronger the more he looked at Frost. Will I die here as well? Theres not much need to tell a dead man my name but what the hell, you can call me Frost. The moment he mentioned his name Frosts demeanour changed, his eyes became cold and focused releasing an intimidating pressure. He raised his ive and assumed his battle stance, blocking the exit. Alex was stunned, he didnt recognise the name, which only increased his fear, an unknown enemy is a dangerous enemy. But he had little choice he too assumed a battle-ready stance. Its been a long time since Ive duelled with anyone. Suddenly memories of him being epted as a knight many years ago shed through his mind. He couldnt help but smile. This will be my first. Frost replied honestly as he increased his grip and put his left foot forward in preparation. There wasplete silence, the two faced off against one another with their eyes, each waiting for the other to move first. It was Frost who broke the stalemate, swiftly charging with his ive he swung first. Ding! His swing was met with Alexs short sword, but it didnt end there Alex went on the offensive, swinging with incredible speed, pushing Frost back. The two repeatedly swung at one another with Frost at a clear disadvantage, not only was his weapon of poorer quality but his weapon mastery was only at the [basic] level whereas Alexs was clearly at [adept]. As time passed Frost sported more and more cuts over his body and his ive was chipped and blunted. If this rally of attacks continued much longer Frost could be heavily injured. At the moment thanks to his high physical abilities his wounds were superficial, but the blood loss was getting to him. Why are you only using your ive arts young master? Youll lose at this rate. Mayas concerned voice echoed in his head. Frost ignored her worries as he knew what he was doing. Almost there almost there. Frost was even more of a martial fanatic than Maya gave him credit for, he was purposely only using his ive arts and no magic or chakra for one simple reason.... training. Yes, he was using Alex, someone more experienced and stronger than him as a training dummy. Alex clearly had a higher level of weapon mastery than him so until he reached the same level hed always be on the back foot. Frost treated him the same as the ice golems, he nned to use Alex to reach the [adept] level in his ive mastery. He could almost feel the boundary in sight, just a little more and hed achieve it but unlike the ice golem, Alex was trying to kill him for real. This fucker! Alex noticed what Frost was doing and felt incensed, never in his entire career had he felt so insulted. He wasnt going to let Frost have his way. [Ghost step] Alex suddenly spoke and then vanished, resulting in Frost swinging at thin air. What! Frost look side to side, up and down but saw no sign of Alex, suddenly he could feel a strong sense of danger from his back. He moved on instinct flipping his ive 180 degrees he stabbed backwards under his arm. [Backstab] Bang! His ive met with a powerful force sending him tumbling forward. But the attack didnt end, he only managed to block the first stab. Frost rolled once and sprung to his feet but by that time Alexs short sword was inches from face, he didnt have enough time to raise his ive. Shit! Gotta use chakra! Ice quickly formed over his face sessfully blocking the sword, but it also shattered on impact. The remaining force felt like getting smashed by an airbag, but he survived. There was no third attack allowing him a chance to recover. Frost jumped backwards to a safer distance and inspected his face for any damage. His nose was sore but there was no blood. Hu hu hu Alex was panting heavily. He used a skill called [ghost step], a movement skill that allowed someone to vanish and move a short distance, its a stamina heavy skill but effective. He then proceeded to use a skill called [backstab], an assassin technique that requires one to be behind the target. It amplifies the users stabbing strength and speed. Usually, thebination of these two techniques were enough for Alex to kill his targets however Frost wasnt a normal target. Since Frost sessfully parried his [backstab] and manoeuvred forward out of danger, he was forced to use [ghost step] a second time, this severely drained his strength. His legs were trembling, and his breathing was haggard, hecked the strength to strike a third time. Hu hu y...you can u...se chakra as well? The two men stood 10 metres apart each wary of the others movements. Alexs face was dark, he greatly underestimated Frost. Frost wasnt much better, he felt fear. Alexsst attack was terrifying, his hands were shivering as the image of his sword being inches from his face reyed in his mind over and over. Frost stared at his previous position, his confidence wavering. That was dangerous if I was just half a second slower.... Frost audibly gulped as such a thought. He tightened his grip on his ive, his eyes growing cold. I was too arrogant...this isnt training. He looked over at Alex whose breathing was gradually returning to normal and made a decision. Time to go all out. He was already found out so there was no longer a need to keep his chakra use under wraps. He could practise his ive controlter, but now... he needed to kill his enemy, simple as that. Frost twirled his ive and focused his breathing before wielding his ive with one hand. The ive pointed downward and to the side, in preparation for a side sh. Frost exuded a powerful pressure with this stance and looked fiercely at Alex. Alexs face grimaced, the real fight was just beginning. He felt regretful that he used his trump card too early, cing him at a severe disadvantage. Seeing as how Frost wasnt attacking right away, he reorganised his stance before staring him down with a steely resolve. I guess I should thank you, thanks to you I now know the true danger of battle...no more holding back. Frosts eyes opened wide as he finished speaking. He swung his left arm, pointing his palm at Alex. [Ice bolt] a magic crest appeared over Frosts hand, quickly generating arge bolt of ice. The [ice bolt] rapidly flew out towards Alex. Shit! Alex quickly tossed out a couple of his rapidly depleting daggers to confront the spell before dashing forward. He needed to close the distance between him and Frost. Frost however was thinking the same thing, the moment heunched the spell he too dashed forward to enter closebat. He knew Alex was low on daggers and believed that he was less skilled than him at distancebat so opted for close range once again. This time however hed be using his entire arsenal of skills. Ding! Ding! The daggers met the [ice bolt] breaking it apart but also losing their momentum, falling to the ground. The moment they touched the floor Frostunched another [ice bolt] at Alex forcing him to dodge to the side. In response he swung his ive sideways in the direction he moved. ng! The iron ive met the high-quality steel short sword. Alex released a grunt as he withstood the strong force behind that swing, Frost was taking full advantage of his longer reach and greater brutal power. Locking down the sword Frost smiled, using his other arm he covered his fist in ice chakra before sending a strong punch towards Alexs shoulder. Alex panicked, if the chakra reinforced punch struck his shoulder it would shatter the bone and socket, he couldnt allow that to happen. If he was one arm down his death woulde that much quicker. He bit his lip and made a harsh decision. [Ghost step] Chapter 43 Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Alexs death [Ghost step] Alex used his movement skill for a third time. The consequences of using the skill again were milder than having his shoulder blown apart. Alex vanished from Frosts vision but this time he wasnt surprised, he expected as much. Frost quickly entered a defensive stance and looked around the area, prepared to use his chakra armour at any time. However, the attack never came, Alex used his skill to retreat instead of advance. Alex appeared on the other side of the room after a short time. His face was pale, and his legs were visibly shaking, and this didnt go unnoticed. Frost smirked, turning his body around he sent another [ice bolt] towards the now visible Alex before dashing in his direction. Mother fucker! His legs were too strained for him to dodge; he was forced to block with his sword. The impact sent powerful vibrations down his body almost pushing his legs over the edge, but he stubbornly resisted, remaining upright. Frost arrived a momentter attacking with his ive and sending punches and even kicks each reinforced with ice chakra. Alex couldnt use [ghost step] again; he was forced to desperately block and dodge whenever he could however that had its limits. Ah! After a few dozen attacks one finally struck true. Alex shouted in pain as he was sent flying by an ice-covered kick. His chest dented on impact, his sternum cracked, and some ribs broke. His internal organs were jostled about, and he started bleeding internally. The power behind Frosts full-strength kick assisted by ice chakra was nothing to sneeze at, even the pr bear from earlier would be sent flying let alone a human like Alex. Thud! Gyaaah! Alexs body thrashed against the hard walls causing him to scream once more. His body fell to the ground, hey prone unable to get up, coughing violently. ..... Cough cough bleurgh! Blood and bits of organs spurted out as he coughed, he was seriously injured. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Alexs body was screaming in pain and his thoughts were erratic, he was clouded by anger and fear. He repeatedly attempted to stand up but was met with failure each time. He was done for. Frost was panting heavily, the constant stream of full-strength attacks along with the precise control of chakra was exhausting. He couldnt let up for a second otherwise Alex would have escaped or counterattacked. Frost shivered, Alex went for his eyes and groin a few times, very vicious. However, seeing Alexs inability to stand allowed him to rx and breath out in relief. Looks like I win this duel of ours. Frost spoke coldly, he walked over towards Alex dragging his ive across the floor in order to put him down permanently. The screeching of the iron scraping against the stone floor sent panic through Alex, he violently struggled to get up and when that failed, he crawled dragging his injured body towards the exit. Youve lost Alex stop this futile struggle its pathetic. Frost frowned in displeasure but continued to walk at a leisurely pace. Shut up! Alex ignored Frost and continued to crawl to the exit without any elegance or pride. He left a significant blood trail as his chest scraped against the floor, but he didnt care he wanted to live. Do you know who I am? who I work for? Youre nothing, you cant kill me! Alex began screeching threats. Frost caught up with Alex and used his ive to pin down his leg preventing him from moving any further. Enough I dont give two shits about who you work for, even if it was an emperor, Id still kill you. Frost lifted his ive off Alexs leg and raised it high above his head. Die! The moment he spoke Frost swung his ive down towards Alexs neck aiming to decapitate him in a single swing. Nooooo! Alex swung round violently; his face looked horrifyingly fierce. He looked straight into Frosts eyes before spitting out three needles at his face. Expecting some sort ofst-ditch effort, Frost prepared himself. He rapidly turned his head away sessfully escaping being pierced however one of them scraped against his cheek causing Alex to madlyugh before the iron ive separated his head from his shoulders. The head flew several feet in the air before falling and rolling on the floor. The expression on his face was still mad, his mouth was locked in a smile and his eyes were open and bloodshot, a very disturbing image. Its over. Frost let out a deep sigh as the head stopped rolling but something still felt wrong. He raised his hand to his cheek, there was a slight cut there where the needle passed, and it was burning slightly. Congrattions young master, that was very entertaining. Mayas charming voice suddenly sounded from behind. She teleported into the room the instant Alex was beheaded. Seeing her young master covered in blood and the dead knight lying before his feet she felt proud but also hurt. Although he didnt have any serious wounds, Frosts entire body was riddled with small gashes even his face wasnt spared. As Frost turned around to face her, she walked up to him and wiped away the blood that painted his face. After wiping it all away she spoke. Phew thank goodness that pretty face of yours is fine. Frost felt a strong urge to smack this woman, was his looks all she cared about. As he frowned in anger and was about to tell her off, the burning on his cheek became more intense and his entire body suddenly felt painful. He looked towards Maya and saw panic in her face. Shit! His legs suddenly grew weak, and he copsed, luckily Maya caught his body and supported it. Poison! And quite a potent one. Maya gnashed her teeth as she realised the problem, Frosts face started to turn ck starting from the cut cheek. Below the neck his veins protruded and turned dark purple appearing as though he had dark web like scars. Frost had some resistance to basic poisons and venom, a gift from his father to increase his survivability however this poison was anything but basic. If it was anyone else, they may be dead already not just in immense pain. Mayas eyes watered as she held Frosts trembling body, she was full of guilt and felt helpless, poison wasnt an area she specialised in. Hold on young master just hold on! Maya screamed as she held back her tears. She infused some of her mana into his body to aid him in neutralising the poison but that was all she could do; Frost would have to rely primarily on his own strength and immune system to survive. ckening of the blood and such quick spreading and this smell... wyvern venom. Maya came to a realisation as the ck wounds began to give off an acidic smell, she breathed a sigh of relief. Wyvern venom would not be fatal for Frost and wouldnt leave any lingering damage. Wyverns were known as lesser dragons and even the weakest were C-rank monsters. At the end of their wings and ws were venom imbued barbs that would pierce their victims during battle. The purpose was to severely weaken their enemy and paralyse them. They could then safely kill and eat their target or escape if the enemy was stronger. Young master the poison isnt strong enough to kill you and wont leave anysting damage however it will be extremely painful as it passes through your body. It should take around 3 hours topletely neutralise. Frost was still conscious and could hear and understand what Maya was saying. His eyes were badly bloodshot as he stared up at her face, he struggled to speak but forced himself through the pain. C...can you n...not u...use healing m...magic? He was momentarily relieved that he wouldnt die from this but having to suffer from this pain for 3 hours wasnt exactly pleasant either. His entire body felt as though it was tossed into a roaring fire and then sliced by hundreds of daggers, the pain was unbearable. Maya bit her lip in frustration and a few tears trickled down her face creating a beautiful image, but Frost wasnt in any shape to enjoy it. I cant, healing spells would only magnify the pain... you need to endure it young master, its the only way. Of course there was anti-venom potions and a subcategory of healing magic that specialised in poison removal, but Maya didnt have ess to either of them. All she could do was keep himpany. Maya teleported Frost and herself back into the private space. She then moved Frost onto her bed and rested his head on herp. A bed was much morefortable than the cold hard floor of their previous location. Over the next 3 hours she cared for Frost as he endured the pain of the poison running through his system. Wiping sweat from his forehead with a damp cloth to holding him down when his body spasmed, it was a long three hours and one neither of them would forget. Ughhhh after 3 hours the poison hadpletely run its course and Frost was no longer in pain, he just felt slightly numb. He looked upwards but his vision was blocked by a pair ofrge orbs, the back of his head was warm and slightly damp due to sweat but it was very soft andfortable. His slight movements caused therge orbs to jiggle and a restrained moan to escape. Young master are you alright? Mayas charming voice spoke from beyond therge orbs. It was full of relief and exhaustion, caring for Frost in his poisoned state was emotionally taxing. Im fine now Maya, thank you. Frost weakly replied as he gradually regained feeling in his body. Sniffle Frost suddenly heard sobbing above him before therge orbs smothered his face and Mayas dainty white hands hugged his neck. Waaaahhhh! Maya began to cry uncontrobly not realising that herrge breasts were currently suffocating her young master. She was so happy that he was alive. Frost however was trapped unable to move or breath, a double-edged sword. On one side this feeling was incredibly blissful, the weight and softness on his face as well as Mayas fragrant scent resulted in a strong reaction from his lower body however the inability to breath caused pain in his lungs. He tried to speak but his voice was simply absorbed by therge amount of flesh resulting in nothing but a mumble. With Mayas loud wailing there was no chance shed hear. As the significant tent at his lower extremities was protruding more and more and the fact, he was quickly running out of oxygen, Frost was forced to move. His quickly raised his hands looking for Mayas face but came up empty. With his lungs about to copse he had no choice, his hands moved and grabbed hold of Mayas breasts not forgetting to fondle them a little. Ah! Frosts rough grabbing and kneading fingers caused Maya to release a moan, her sobbing quicky stopped and a pink blush appeared on her face and neck. Frost moved his hands gently up from her bountiful chest towards her neck and then her tear stained face. He cupped her chin and directed her gaze towards therge protrusion that she inadvertently caused before trying to speak once again. The vibrations of his voice sent a wave of pleasure through her chest causing her to release another moan before her body suddenly tensed up. Gyahhh! Realising her provocative position and Frosts instinctive reaction Maya screamed and jumped backwards covering her face with her hands in embarrassment. Frost now able to breathe took a deep breath of much needed air, he then sat up and stretched. Finally, I can breathe. He looked usatory towards Mayas chest. In response she covered her chest and felt a slight tinge of guilt, seeing this Frost smirked. Thats one thing dealt with but how to you suppose I should deal with the other? Frost nced toward the tent at his groin which finally stopped growing, Maya followed his gaze towards that area causing her to blush even more. There was few moments of silence before teeth grinding could be heard and. Boof! Maya threw one of her pillows at Frosts face in anger. Deal with it yourself! She puffed up her cheeks and refused to look in Frosts direction but out of Frosts view she was smiling. Chapter 44 Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Joining back up with Leo and Luna While Frost and Maya were dealing with the aftermath of the wyvern poison, Leo and Luna were in distress. It had been over 4 hours since they split up with Frost and they were feeling antsy. During the first hour they were rtively calm, doing their best to heal and rest however as time dragged on, they grew more and more panicked. Tap Tap Tap Luna was sitting on a chair near a roaring fire, tapping her feet incessantly on the floor. She had bitten through many of her nails as she fidgeted in her seat. Leo was currently pacing back and forth around the room unable to stay still. Its been over 4 hours already, whats going on? Is Frost, ok? Did he beat Alex and Redhawk? Did the inspection team arrive? Leo mumbled questions over and over as his gaze constantly drifted towards the locked door. They obeyed Frosts instructions, locking the rooms only door, and reinforcing it with arge chest of drawers and didnt leave regardless of what they heard. Unfortunately, they didnt hear a thing, their room was too far away to hear the sounds of battle and the wait was killing them. We should go and check right? Leo looked hopefully towards Luna and just sighed in response. How many times has he asked this. Luna wanted to agree but logic always prevailed. ..... And what good would that do? You and I at our best are not even equal to one of Redhawks deputies let alone Redhawk himself. Alex is even more out of the question, and dont forget that this is a monsterir, what would we do if we came across a frost wolf or something worse? And lets say we safely arrive at where Frost is fighting what then, hed have to protect us in addition to fighting while outnumbered. Luna grew more and more angry as she spoke. B... but its been over 4 hours I cant wait here any longer, doing nothing. Leo clenched his fists so hard that his nails pierced his skin, drawing blood. Im going whether its the right choice or not, are youing? Leo had reached his limit; he was always rather impatient and would rather take action than wait. Hed rather die fighting than continue hiding in this dreary room. He made his choice and wasnt going to be deterred by logic this time. Leo looked towards Luna with determination, waiting for her answer. Receiving this heavy stare Lunas heart grew soft and tears threatened to pour from her eyes, she felt the same as Leo. The struggle could be seen in her eyes, she repeatedly opened and closed her mouth unable to speak. Luna! Leo shouted with vigour as he moved closer towards her. Together! He stretched out his hand hoping Luna would join him. The confusion in Lunas eyessted only a moment before she wiped her eyes with her sleeve and smiled. Together! She grasped Leos hand causing him to smile. She made her choice; she wouldnt allow Leo to fight alone. Even if they died, theyd die together. Leo pulled Luna from her chair and the two started working together to move the heavy chest of drawers blocking the door. Once that was moved, they unlocked the door and pushed it open together with great force. Bang! O! The door failed to open fully as it mmed into something. Leo and Luna were shocked by the sudden yelp. Damn that hurts! On the other side of the door Frost was crouching while covering his nose. He had just teleported from the private space to let Luna and Leo know that they didnt have to worry anymore. Yet when he went to knock on the door he was suddenly mmed in the face. Frost senpai! Frost senpai! Luna and Leo both shouted and leaped towards the crouching Frost unable to contain their excitement. Are you ok? Luna asked with concern. Sorry about that senpai. Leo awkwardly smiled as he apologised. Frost released a mild groan in response. Im fine I dont think its broken at least. He wiggled his nose and shook his head; the pain was quickly subsiding. Seeing he was fine the two kids helped him up. Once he was standing before them Leo couldnt hold back his curiosity anymore. Did you win? His voice was filled with expectation and anxiety, if Frost failed, he didnt know what their next move would be. Luna also looked at him with hope in her eyes. In response Frost smiled without restraint its done. .... The two kids were silent, they looked at one another in shock before suddenly jumping in joy. This was followed with the two hugging Frost with tears in their eyes. They survived. After they calmed down Frost proceeded to exin what happened. I was only able to confront 4 people, Redhawk, Alex and his two deputies. The rest I assume were killed by the monsters in their. Frost proceeded to bring out certain items from his sleeve. T... this is Alexs sword and thats Redhawks bandana; it has the red hawk symbol on it. Leo recognised the items in a single nce. The high-quality steel short sword had the emblem of house Furano engraved on to the hilt so as to identify the houses knights. And Redhawk was known to wear a bandana decorated with a red hawk on his right arm. These were clear proofs of identity. Leoughed out loud there was no better evidence than these items. How did you do it? Leos eyes were filled with fanaticism. His arms trembled with excitement as he grabbed onto Frosts shoulder. Frost recognised the meaning in Leos look and sighed. You overestimate me, I didnt do it alone. He received a confused look from both Luna and Leo. I only fought against Alex, and it wasnt an easy fight by any means. Redhawk and his deputies were taken care of by monsters. I ambushed them at the end of the second area, killing one of the deputies with an ice bolt spell, his blood thus attracted a nearby pack of frost wolves. Frost decided to omit the pr bear part, if they knew a pr bear roamed the dungeon then it may increase the danger level assigned by the adventurer guild. Having groups equal in strength to the [Artic Warband] would be best for now. The wolves fought against Red hawk and his remaining deputy while I chased Alex towards the third area allowing us to fight one on one. They didnt fight together? Luna asked rather confused, if Redhawk and Alex fought together, they could easily deal with multiple frost wolves beforebatting Frost as one. She found this fact rather unusual considering the amount of work Alex put into their assassination itd be weird for him to not take advantage of such an opportunity. No, in fact before I made my move it looked as though they were about to kill each other so when the frost wolves appeared and attacked Redhawk, Alex abandoned him without any hesitation. Frost had already practised on how to respond to certain questions with Maya earlier. The less he said the better, Frost didnt want to mention the tracking device either in case they asked for it as evidence, that would be his spoils of war. I see Luna nodded as though convinced. After killing Alex, I returned to the second area to find Redhawk and his deputies already dead. And then you had your nose mmed into by us. Luna smiled subconsciously. Frost tapped his nose in agreement causing the three tough. What about you, were you hurt? Not really a few minor cuts and bruises but I already tended to them, however Alex did try to stab me with this with hisst attack. Frost pulled out a wyvern venom coated needle from within his sleeve. To make sure he wasnt idently stabbed again he bounded it in a piece of torn cloth. Hmmm? Luna took the needle and sniffed it before her face quicky paled. Wyvern poison! Adam you evil bastard! Luna screamed and attempted to m the needle on the floor in a rage. Woah! Leo quickly moved behind her and restrained her arms. Stop! we can use that. He whispered into her ears calmly however inside he was just as furious. The wyvern poison was mostly likely meant for them, they would have died slowly and in immense pain. Leo and Adam were rted by blood, yet he could easily use such diabolical methods in his grasp for power. Any family bonds Leo had left were now gone, even if his uncle was butchered in front of him, hed happily watch. His gaze then drifted towards Frost. If Frost wasnt as strong as he was and failed to dodge, he would have been the one poisoned. Leos heart grew aze, he wasnt going to take this lying down. He took the venom coated needle from Lunas hand and bowed towards Frost. Im sorry Frost senpai for putting you in such peril, I promise to make it up to you. Leo stared directly into Frosts eyes no longer looking like a child, this event forced him to mature. Hoh, I like the look in his eyes, this uncle Adam of his will certainly pay the price but... Frost was angry as well, the pain he suffered was immense and he desired revenge. This Adam will have to suffer the wrath of a dungeon core as well. Youll use that as evidence against your uncle? The mood between Frost and Leo became serious. Yes Then what, how will he be punished? Frost released some of his killing intent putting pressure on Leo. .... Death! Leo was silent for but a moment before replying without a single ounce of trepidation. Frost felt a shiver down his spine with Leos response before he smiled andughed. Hahaha good, good, yes you should kill those who wish to kill you hahaha. Theughter was eerie but genuine, Leo alsoughed, the two were in agreement. To the side Luna was wiping tears from her eyes, she looked lovingly towards Leo. Finally, hes grown up. Luna knew of Adams deceitful and shady actions and repeatedly argued with Leo about it, but hed always answer with he was still his uncle and would try to look the other way. The lord of Furano was the same always overlooking Adams actions due to his natural kindness. People frequently abused this weakness of theirs and she could only watch as Leo and his father were taken advantage of. But now Leo was no longer na?ve, he would show no mercy to those that harmed him. A ruler cant becking when ites to making hard decisions. Ill hand over the needle and anything else you many need from the corpses, I have no need of them anyway. Of course, Ive already taken what I wanted. Thank you Frost senpai Ill make sure youre reimbursed for the lost loot; I give you my word as heir of the Furano Viscounty. Leo didnt try to deny the items simply promising to pay him back, much to Frosts pleasure. He needed money for when he visits Furano with Maya in future. He already used the dungeons system to collect any coins and useful items before absorbing the corpses. The twenty underlings only had some coppers each, the deputies were a bit better with a couple silver, but Redhawk and Alex were pretty well off. They each had close to 20 slivers each. Altogether Frost managed to gain 45 silvers which ording to Maya was more than enough to pay for several nights at a decent inn or good quality sake. Ill hold you to that when I visit. Youre noting with us? Luna asked with disappointment. No, Ill stay with you until the inspection partyes but after that Ill be heading back home. Leo and Luna couldnt help but feel deted with Frosts decision. But how will we repay you? Hahaha no need to worry Ill be heading to Furano in a few days time. He rubbed the top of their heads as he spoke. You can show me around Furano when I arrive. Frost smiled; itd be good to have a free guide in such arge town. Un well show you the best sights around! The three thenughed creating a harmonious atmosphere, releasing all the pent up stress umted. Lets get you two home then. The group of three then travelled together towards the dungeons exit. They didnt encounter any monsters and made great time thanks to Frost leading them. Chapter 45 Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Ryuu Satoru A few hourster the group of three reached the dungeons exit. And at the sight of the grand stone gateway Leo, and Luna couldnt help but tear up. Frost silently watched over them as they cried with joy, he felt oddly happy seeing the smiles on their face. Strange... why am I happy? Frost struggled to understand, he admitted that he was rather fond of them but in the end werent they still simply prey for him to feast on. He felt invested, their emotions affecting him. He looked towards the two kids in confusion, no longer seeing them the same way. Frost senpai? Lunas voice broke him out of his daze. ...Yes? He looked gently towards Luna. Thank you, truly thank you. She bowed expressing her deep gratitude. She was joined by Leo a momentter. Ah.... youre wee. Frost was momentarily speechless, replying instinctively he blushed out of embarrassment, turning to the side unable to look at the kids faces. The two sniggered at this sight before pulling Frost to the exit with them. ..... The group had to cover their eyes as they left the confines of the dungeon, the morning sun was incredibly bright. A lot different from the evening moon that was in the sky when Luna and Leo first arrived. Two E-rank adventurers spent an entire night in a monsterir known to contain frost wolves and lived, a proud achievement. LUNA!!! The moment their eyes were climatising to the harsh light they could hear a man shouting Lunas name. Hmmm? The voice sounded familiar, Lunas heart started to beat rapidly. D...Dad? Luna said in shock as a well-dressed middle aged man was running straight for them. U...Uncle Ryuu. Leo recognised the man running towards them, it was Lunas father, his fathers best friend and court mage Ryuu Satoru. He looked to be in histe forties and had long ck hair just like Luna. He was wearing a long azure robe and was carrying a long staff with a high quality magic stone on the end. The very definition of what a mage would look like. Before Luna could ask what he was doing here she was swept up in her fathers arms. He picked her up and hugged her tightly refusing to let go, he rubbed his unkempt beard across her cheek as he cried tears of joy. Luna was initially happy, seeing her father made her feel very safe however he was known as a doting parent. Her anger and embarrassment quickly grew as her father wasnt putting her down even though they were withpany. Boof! She used her knee to bash Ryuus stomach forcing him to buckle and let her down. Stupid old man hmph! She turned away refusing to look at her father. L...L...Luna. Ryuu stretched out his trembling hand towards her but only received a harsh re in response. Leo sighed and shook his head. Sorry Frost senpai, their rtionship is like this. Leo apologised like clockwork as though he had done it many times before. Frost however didnt hear a single word he said, his entire body was screaming danger. His body was trembling beneath his clothes since the moment he saw Ryuu. He never felt this way when facing against Alex or Redhawk yet this weird uncle in front of him made him feel as though he wouldnt evenst a second if they fought. What the fuck is he!? Cold sweat started to drip down Frosts back and his mouth felt dry. Luna and Leo didnt notice but every so often Ryuu would look towards and send over a strong violent pressure his way, making him feel as though he was standing in front of a vicious predator. Luckily it seemed as though he was only sending warnings but that alone was incredibly scary. Ryuu didnte alone, a four person group of adventurers followed behind him. The four of them sighed at the sight of Ryuus miserable treatment before bowing towards Leo. Greetings young master Leo. Their loud greeting attracted the attention of Ryuu. He turned his head towards Leo as if he just realised, he was there. Ah little Leo youre here too, good. He only gave a cursory nce towards Leo as if he was forced to do it, before once again gazing lovingly at his daughter. Leo sighed once again, not getting angry in the slightest, this was just how Ryuu was. He faced the four adventurers and returned their greetings before asking what was going on. However, before he could start the atmosphere around Ryuu suddenly changed, seeing that his daughter was continuing to ignore him he turned towards Frost, no longer hiding his aggression. And who are you? He unleashed a strong pressure towards Frost, not holding back in the slightest. Every single nerve in Frosts body became taught and his entire body visibly shook. He felt as though arge hand was pressing down on him, trying to force him to kneel. You want me to kneel...in your dreams! Frost refused to bow his head, he fought against the pressure, clenching his jaw, and staring directly at Ryuu. Tsk insolent little bastard! He could hear Mayas voice in his head, she was getting angry but unless Ryuu actually made a move she was forbidden from interfering. Don! The pressure being released suddenly vanished thanks to Luna violently kicking her fathers shin. Stupid old man what are doing to the man that saved my life, you ungrateful old bastard! She continued to kick at Ryuu in anger, thanks to this Frost could breathe smoothly. Hoh, I like her. Maya spoke with admiration, as though Luna did what she wanted to do. Huh? Saved your life! The way he looked at Frost rapidly changed, bing gentle before quickly turning to heartbreak when he looked back towards his daughter. Ahhhh My poor Luna, Daddy promises to never leave your side ever again. Ryuu moved to hug his daughter again but was met with a full-strength punch to his face sending flying backwards. Creepy old man who wants to be with you! Lunas face and neck were pure crimson, she never felt so embarrassed and angry as she did right now. She couldnt even look at Frost and Leo in the face out of shame. What did I do to end up with such a stupid and embarrassing father? She proceeded to physically beat her father without mercy, punching, kicking and even clubbing him with her staff. Only when her arms grew tired and most of her anger was neutralised did she let up. Ryuu was left ck and blue all over, looking like a bloated pig, his handsome face was nowhere in sight. Frost, Leo and the four adventurers just silently watched this skit without interfering. Im very sorry you had to see such a sight Frost senpai, my fathers an idiot and only understands once hes physically beaten. Luna bowed and apologised to Frost while grabbing her fathers ear harshly. She gave her father a fierce re telling him to apologise too. Swowwy and faank yuuu fforrr safing my daufter. Ryuu barely managed to speak properly due to his swollen face but listened to his daughters orders and apologised while bowing. Frost was frozen in shock unable to link the fearful presence Ryuu gave him earlier to the now beaten pig that stood before him. To his side Leo couldnt help but hold back hisughter, hed experienced this situation many times over the years and each time he saw it, it grew more and more hrious. Leo ced a hand on Frosts shoulder and gave him a look. If you dont respond itll only get worse. Was what his gaze was telling him. ...Youre wee? Frost spoke as though he was asking a question, but it brought a smile to Lunas lips whereas Ryuu lightly hmphed in annoyance which bought him a sharp twisting of his ear causing him yell out in pain. Leo was at his limit in holding back hisughter, so he tried to redirect the conversation. He turned towards the four adventurers awkwardly remaining silent to the side. If my guess is right, you four are the D-rank party [cial scions], correct? Uh? Yes, we are the [cial scions] young master. The leader of the group a man named Chase responded in surprise. He didnt expect for the young master of the Furano family to know of them. The [cial scions] were a group of four D-rank adventurers and were one of the youngest D-rank parties in the Viscounty. The leader Chase was a tall thirty-year-old human with short brown hair and matching eyes, his appearance was average, and he wielded a spear as his weapon and knew a few skills. The vice-leader was his wife, a human woman with bright red hair who used fire magic, she was dressed in rather thin garments given the current temperature. The other two were a pair of elven siblings, a brother and sister. The brother named Gaelin was an archer and had beautiful silver hair and a pretty boy appearance. His sister A looked simr to her brother cking curves) and used summoning magic, a rare profession. The group had been together for the past 5 years and were good friends and could be considered one of the up-anding parties, much stronger than the [Artic Warband]. Are you the group assigned to investigate the new monsterir? Leo had assumed an air of nobility, much different to his usual atmosphere. Guess he really is a noble. Frost looked at Leo in amazement. Yes sir, all of the C-rank groups were unavable, and we were the nearest upper D-rank party, so the guild master requested us. The [cial scions] were more than eager to take up thismission. It was guaranteed pay from the guild and had lots of bonus opportunities, such as providing maps for the monsterir rooms and detailed analysis on the monsters present. Commissions such as these were usually given to higher ranked parties or at least an older group with a lot of experience due to the uncertain nature of the venture. Chase and his group believed that by taking thismission theyd move up in the rankings edging ever closer to C-rank. Once you reached C-rank youre considered a true professional adventurer and receive respect from even the upper ss. Leos gaze drifted over to the now silent Ryuu. So how did uncle Ryuu end up joining you? This greatly puzzled Leo, Ryuu was supposed to be in the capital after receiving a summons but here he was. The [cial scions] awkwardly looked towards one another unsure on how to answer this question. Eventually Chase released a deep sigh, he sent an apologetic look towards the slightly panicking Ryuu before replying to Leos question. Well... Yesterday a couple hours after the [Artic Warband] had left the adventurers guild in Furano. The [cial scions] were sitting in the guild masters office receiving information about the quest. ording to the [Artic Warband] there are at least two areas within this monsterir, they were forced to retreat after encountering a group of four frost wolves as well as arge group of winter boars. I need you to give a more thorough inspection and if possible, reach thest area. The more information you bring back the more pay youll receive. Any questions? Chase raised his hand up before speaking. Did they see anything stronger than frost wolves? No, however they didnt leave the first section. Theres a good chance something stronger lurks deeper within. The guild master spoke with regret, normally hed like to send a stronger and more experienced group to investigate but his hands were tied. All of the higher ranked parties were busy and the longer he put off the investigation the more money would be lost not to mention reckless fools entering regardless of the known danger. The sooner he could ssify the threat level the sooner they could generate a stable flow of requests. He was also required byw to notify the ruling lord of any new monsterirs appearing in or near the territory. Anything more dangerous than a C-rank monsterir would put a strain on the Furano Viscounty. Chase was unperturbed by theck of information; he was well aware of the risks and knew when to retreat. He looked towards hispanions and they each nodded their heads in eptance. Guild master dont worry well ept this request; well move out after stocking up on supplies. Well do the most we can however if the monsterir proves to difficult, I will order a retreat. Chase knew exactly what his team was capable of. If they ran into C-rank monsters further in, theyd retreat without hesitation. Of course, I wouldnt have it any other way. The guild master walked over to Chase and ced his hand on his shoulder. Good luck Chase. Just when the guild master was escorting the group out of the room. Bastion!!! Ryuu suddenly ran into the guild hall and screamed the guild masters name. Chapter 46 Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Father, daughter banter Before Bastion could even process what was going on Ryuu bolted up to the third floor in a panic. He forced his way through the office door and looked at Bastion as if he was his guardian angel. Bastion my Luna, My Luna, shes, shes in danger, I need your help! Ryuu started balling in tears as he grabbed onto Bastions shoulderspletely ignoring the [cial scions] who stood in shock. Back to the present. The guild master had heard from the [Artic Warband] that young master Leo and miss Luna had entered the Northrend forest with a single knight. Once this information was ryed sir Ryuu became furious and demanded aid. Not wanting to spread panic about the young master and his fianc disappearing. The guild master requested that sir Ryuu join us since we were heading into the forest anyway. Chase and the [cial scions] were more than happy to ept Ryuu into their group temporarily given his strength. Ryuu, Bastion, and the current Viscount were each B-rank adventurers before retiring. Frost and Leo looked towards the slightly embarrassed Ryuu now understanding how he came to be with the [cial scions]. Uncle Ryuu werent you summoned to the capital; how did you end up back in Furano? Leo asked after letting out a sigh of relief. With uncle Ryuu here, no matter what uncle Adam tries hell fail. ..... Ryuu spat out in disgust as he remembered. That was a trick done by that disgusting weasel Adam. Ryuu gnashed his teeth together as his eyes filled with fury. He had one of his allies fake a summons to get me away from Furano. The moment I found out I hired a griffin carriage to return as quickly as possible. Ryuu suddenly started releasing a strong pressure again, stifling everyone present. To think that little bastard dared to hurt my precious Luna, hes a dead man! Everyone present nodded along even though they knew that Ryuu was announcing his intentions to kill a noble. Leo tightened his fists in anger, he could have epted it being just him that was targeted but Adam dared to involve the love of his life. Ryuu was right, he was a dead man, he just didnt know it yet. Luna however felt puzzled. Wait how did he know I was in danger? That crucial piece of information was left out. Ryuu ran in panic towards Bastion his old party member but how did he know that his daughter was in danger? Her confusion and suspicion grew. Dad? She asked coldly without the slightest hint of emotion. Yes honey. Ryuu answered theplete opposite, his tone filled with love and affection. How did you know I was in danger? Luna examined her fathers face like he was a criminal. Eh! Ryuu was surprised at her question; he grew nervous under her inquisitive re. He turned his head unable to look her in the eyes as beads of sweat started to drip down his brow and neck. F...fathers intuition... yeah thats it fathers intuition. He turned back with confidence, 100% sure that that answer was satisfactory. But it wasnt. Lunas re be colder and colder causing him to shudder in fear. His gaze subconsciously drifted towards Lunas staff, the look was instant, but it didnt evade Lunas watchful eyes. She looked over the staff in her hand. Something to do with my staff. The magic staff she wielded was gifted to her by Ryuu the moment she became an adventurer. She remembered the day she got it and how happy it made her. Her father had always been against her bing an adventurer so the act of gifting her a magic staff was very moving however now that she thought back, it was kind of suspicious. The more she thought about it the more sure she became, suddenly she raised her staff up into the air before violently mming against her knee, snapping it in two. A rose-coloured spark of mana burst out from the broken staff. The spark split in two, turning into two orbs. One drifted towards Luna and entered her heart whereas the second floated into Ryuus left arm. Ryuus eyes shook, and a cold sweat poured down his back. Shit! Fury filled Lunas eyes, she rushed straight towards Ryuu and grabbed his left arm, forcing his sleeve upwards to reveal a rose-coloured bangle. She snatched hold of it and used her mana to investigate the item. A distress magic item, you! She then proceeded to beat her father for the third time. She hated being babied and spied on by her father more than anything and was adamant that her father not interfere with her life as an adventurer. Distress magic items were not that umon and could even be created by regr artificers, the issue was them being discreet, which this one was. Luna had used this staff for close to a year, yet she didnt feel a single trace of foreign mana the entire time. Distress magic items came in pairs, one piece would need to be in close contact with the intended target (Lunas staff) whereas the other would be with the user (Ryuus bangle). The item would monitor the life signs of the target (Luna) and when said target was severely injured it would alert the user (Ryuu). These items weremonly used by nobles in order to protect their children. As Luna continued to beat her father ck and blue Leo let out a deep sigh and moved to calm her down however, he was beaten to the punch. Maya had given Frost the knowhow of how distress magic items worked telepathically, and he agreed with Ryuus actions. Frost moved first, cing his hands on Lunas shoulders. You should stop now Luna; I think hes had enough. Luna turned around quickly ready to snap at the person interfering but froze when her gaze aligned with Frost. Frost senpai? She expected Leo to be the one interfering and she was more than prepared to argue with him, but Frost was a different story. She meekly let go of her father and lowered her head as though she was being scolded. Your father obviously cares a lot about you, did you really expect him to not pull anything when his daughter wished to be an adventurer, the most perilous upation avable? Frost began to speak on behalf of the still crouching Ryuu. All he could see was the strong love of a father towards his daughter. He didnt find him shameful, embarrassing, or pathetic in any way, in fact he felt respect. Ryuu somehow reminded him of his own father, although he and his siblings were living independent of him they each had strong guardians assigned to protect them on top of being granted many facilities to increase their own strength. So, although his father wasnt with him, he could feel his care and protection. Thus, he felt obligated to resolve this grudge that Luna had. And from what I know distress magic items only alert the user when the victim is in dire straits. It doesnt tell them of your location or provide any emergency assistance other than letting the user know that youre in danger. Your father obviously respected your decision to do this alone, but he is still your father, hell always worry about your safety. Is that really such a bad thing? Ryuu turned to look at Frost who was scolding his daughter and felt warm in his heart. Finally, someone gets me. Luna felt filled with guilt, everything Frost said struck her deep. She couldnt argue, nothing he said was wrong. Was I the one in the wrong? And most importantly consider the situation that you just escaped from. If I wasnt there to lend you aid then you would have had to survive alone, waiting for the investigation team to arrive. Do you believe that if your father didnt know of the danger you were in; they would have arrived so quickly and even if they did if your father wasnt present would they be able to rescue you? Frosts tone became more and more stern as he spoke, subconsciously letting out some personal anger. Luna stood there silently like a mouse, trying to look as small as possible. No one had ever scolded her so harshly before since her mother passed and every word made her feel shame. She couldnt help but tear up and sniffle. I was wrong. These three words resounded in her mind as she started to cry. Ryuu seeing his daughter crying stood up and hugged her tightly. His shirt quickly became wet due to her tears. Sob sob Im sorry dad, Im sorry. She apologised into her fathers chest, she felt so guilty towards her father, seeing some of the scuff marks on his clothes and the bruises on his face she wailed out loud. Ryuu wasnt sure what he should do, he looked towards Frost with a grateful yet awkward look. Frost had gone to bat for him and gave his daughter a reality check which she sorely needed but yet he was also the one who made her cry. Frost replied with a gaze that both said youre wee and sorry. Did I perhaps go too far? Luna was only 15 years old, still a child. No, you said just the right amount. Mayaforted him telepathically. Leo had a joyful smile on his face as he gazed at the father, daughter pair holding onto one another. He looked towards Frost and silently mouthed thank you before walking towards Chase. I hope that youll keep the events of today secret Mr Chase. Leo presented a look and aura that refused to ept anything than eptance. Of course, young master. Chase wasnt new to dealing with nobles, he knew what things should be reported and what shouldnt. Mr Chase I would like to hire you and the rest of the [cial scions] to escort myself and Luna back to Furano safely, do you ept? He had to return to Furano as quickly as possible before his uncle noticed the fact that he was still alive. Once in Furano his actions would be limited, and Leo could go on the offensive. Chase looked rather awkward, he wanted to agree immediately because such a job would help him develop a bond with the Furano household, itd also pay handsomely. However, they had already epted the request to investigate the monsterir and he couldnt ask Leo to wait. Chase frowned unable to speak. Investigation of monsterirs were very serious requests, abandoning one could have major ramifications on his future adventuring career. Seeing as though Chase wasnt immediately responding, Leo smiled. Good a man with integrity. If Chase immediately epted, he would have questioned his honour andmitment. Mr Chase if you are worried about your monster investigation request you dont have to worry its already beenpleted. Leo silently looked over towards Frost and received a nod in return. Earlier when they were walking through the dungeon, this situation came up. Frost senpai are you sure? Information about monsterirs not only grant good rewards you also gain achievements. Leo and Luna needed to head to Furano as quickly as possible, hiring the investigative team would be the most effective solution however, they would need toplete their original mission to avoid penalties. Leo and Luna however needed to move quickly, and since Frost had already explored most of the dungeon, the quest had already beenpleted. The issue was the iming of credit. Frost wasnt an adventurer or even a resident of the Viscounty, being rewarded would be difficult and Frost didnt really care for all that drama. Im sure. He didnt really care about recognition anyway, best toy low to start with. Besides, he believed that Leo and Luna wouldnt let him suffer, without giving him some benefits. You, Leo however interpreted it a different way. Frost senpai is such a good person, even willing to give up rewards and achievements to ensure our safe return. He felt that Frosts actions were purely for his and Lunas benefit. He nodded and looked at Frost with conviction. Frost felt a little weird being looked at like that. Ill make sure topensate you well Frost senpai. Uh...sure. Frost replied with confusion but epted none the less. Well, if hes offeringpensation who am I to deny it. Chapter 47 Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Gains from a hard days work What! Chase eximed not expecting Leo to answer like that What do you mean its done? It was Chases wife Yara that asked. As you may have noticed we just came out of the monsterir. Leo pointed behind him with his thumb. Ah! the cial scions suddenly remembered that Frost, Luna, and Leo exited from the dungeon. Along with Frost senpai we explored three different areas and witnessed many species of monsters, as long as you ept my earlier request, well ry that information to you allowing you toplete your investigation. The group were stunned, with that kind of information their quest would be more thanplete but... Why? Chase asked, his gaze drifting towards Frost. He knew of Leo and Lunas strength, there was no way for them to effectively explore it when even the [Artic Warband] failed. Frost was probably the one who gained this information, but he couldnt understand why he would happily give up his rights for rewards and achievements. Leo sighed before speaking ..... Frost isnt from the Viscounty and isnt a registered adventurer, for him to im rewards would be difficult and the info would be considered unreliable. Thus, the Furano household will reward him in the guilds ce whereas officially it would be you who investigated. Does that answer your question? Leo and Luna were both shocked at first when Frost told them he wasnt an adventurer. He replied with Ive lived in the cial mountains all my life and never had the need to be one since theres no guild in my hometown. Simple and true but they still refused to call him anything other than Frost senpai. He was there senpai in life and strength as they put it. The two then both highly rmended that he register as one when he decides to visit Furano, that way if he does anything else noteworthy, he could im the credit and the rewards without any issue. Chase looked over Frost in understanding. He looks like an elf, hes probably from a reclusive vige so it makes sense. Doesnt look like he wants any unnecessary attention either. He looked towards hispanions who nodded back. Very well young master Leo we ept your terms and... He moved towards Frost. In regards to the monsterirs credit thank you, if you ever need the services of the [cial scions], well be there for you. Chase stretched out his hand to shake, he never was one to take advantage of people, regardless of their origin or situation. Frost smiled at Chases actions, another human that acted well. Frost shook his hand happily, epting his gesture. Im d I can leave these two in such capable hands. Frost then turned to Leo and Luna in order to say goodbye. Both of them looked dispirited but tried their best to remain positive. Thank you for all your aid Frost senpai, I hope to meet you in Furano soon. Leo bowed his head in gratitude. Thank you for all youve done for us Frost senpai. Luna bowed as well; her eyes still puffy from crying. It was my pleasure, I should visit in a few days or so, we can catch up then. Frost waved goodbye, as did Luna and Leo. The two held back their tears as they walked away with the [cial scions]. Frosts work was done, whether they make it back home or not was no longer his problem. However not everyone left, Ryuu sent his daughter and Leo ahead so he could speak to Frost alone. Luna no longer as opposed to her fathers actions acquiesced after confirming that he would only talk and nothing more. Once the group entered the trees and were out of earshot Ryuu once more regained his imposing aura and faced Frost in his official status. My humblest thanks for rescuing my daughter and the young master Leonardo, I Ryuu Satoru court mage of the Furano Viscounty and former B-rank adventurer owe you a life debt. Ryuu bowed elegantly as if he was greeting royalty, present before Frost was not Lunas father nor Leos uncle but a court mage of the empire. His words carried great weight; Frost struggled to contain his smile. Jackpot! Ryuu was a big fish and he owed him, how much benefits could this bring he wondered. After saying his piece Ryuu stood up straight and looked into Frosts eyes as if he was memorising his face. He wasnt shocked by Frosts beauty as he had many dealings with elves and was good at keeping his calm in any situation. In regards to this incident, how much do you know? The atmosphere around Ryuu changed, he was speaking in his official capacity. Ryuu needed to control this incident as best he could, and Frost was an unknown variable. Frost felt a tingle down his spine, he felt that he couldnt lie. Haaaaaaa Frost sighed deeply before speaking. Pretty much everything...Leo and Luna told me exactly what was going on. They didnt wish to involve an innocent person, but I refused to listen. After which they told me who was chasing them and why. Frost chose to be honest, there was no reason to lie, Ryuu didnt give the impression of someone whod return a favour with a dagger. Ryuu sighed as he rubbed his temples and shook his head, he was afraid of hearing that answer. You realise that this puts you in great danger, right? I do and I chose to help anyway. Ryuu sighed once again before loudly pping his hands Then you might as well help all the way. Since Frost knew too much, regardless of how he acts Adam would try to retaliate. The safest ce would be by their side. If hes going to be in the crosshairs anyway might as well rope him to our side, Ryuu felt Frosts strength and found that hed be quite useful. Excuse me? Frost asked in confusion, he wasnt expecting such a response. Wheres my extra reward and you promising to protect my identity etc... Frost felt as though he just got yed. Tsk Maya clicked her tongue in annoyance but refused to speak any further allowing Frost to make his own decision. I dont mean to be rude but although youre strong youre not strong enough tobat Leos uncle alone and hell most certainly try to get revenge on you. Frost felt iffy, but couldnt exactly argue, Ryuu himself could kill him without much issue. It stands to reason that Adam would have some powerful affiliates if hes fighting against the current Viscount. Unfortunately, youve already picked a side. Ryuu sighed for a third time before turning around to join up with his daughter. When you visit Furanoe to the lords mansion, we can discuss it more in depth there. Ryuu said onest thing before vanishing into the Northrend forest. Frost clenched his fists as he watched Ryuu walk away. Tsk he certainly has a way with words. Although Frost was annoyed, he didnt dislike Ryuus actions. Unfortunately, hes not wrong, that Adam will quickly find out your involvement and try to eliminate you. Unless you stay cooped up in the dungeon, youll always have a target on your back. Maya didnt sugar coat the situation,ying the facts bare. Frost smiled in response beforeughing. Let hime then, Ill teach him about a dungeon cores wrath. Frost had already made his decision to get even with Adam due to the wyvern poison. Having the aid of Leos family would just make it easier and more enjoyable. He didnt fear being targeted, he had confidence in his strength that was growing every day. Plus, it would feel rather boring to leave the dungeon without any danger. Hahaha that sounds like fun young master, lets get him back 10 times over hahaha. Mayaughed evilly within his head, its a shame she couldnt act personally but assisting her young master would be equally satisfying. Brrrrr Leo suddenly had a cold shiver rush down his spine causing him to look back. What is it? Luna asked seeing him stop. Nothing just a shiver. Leo couldnt help but feel weird, his instincts were telling him something, but he didnt know what it was. Back in the dungeons private space Frost had returned to the lounge and was being brought a cup of lemon tea by Maya. Should we run through our current situation. They needed to see how much DP the dungeon gained from this mass ughter before deciding on how to spend it. Sounds good young master. Maya walked over to the table and ced a cup of tea in front of Frost before blowing on hers. Frost brought up the dungeon menu and moved towards the DP records section. They needed to strengthen the dungeon before they leave for Furano. Lets see weve got wow over 7000DP almost half of what we started with. Thats a lot of DP, still a fair amount away from getting a second floor which was 10,000DP, but they could easily erge the current sections and even buy several D-rank monsters. Killing intruders certainly has a lot of perks, its a shame that opportunities such as the bandits wonte around often. He couldnt constantly kill his intruders otherwise theyd increase the threat level of the dungeon attracting foes that were too powerful. If someone like that Ryuu was influenced, hed be a dead dungeon core. He only had ess to D-rank monsters for now, cant attract anything higher than C-rank to be safe. Hmmm thats weird. Maya spotted something unusual. The menu was currently disying the fully itemised DP records allowing Frost and Maya to see every single change. What is it? Frost moved closer towards her trying view what she was seeing. There Maya pointed to a time several hours ago, it was while he was suffering from the wyvern poison. Luna and Leos daily ie was only around 40, right? Yeah, that sounds about right. Then why did it jump to 120 here. On the menu it showed that for at least four hours Luna and Leos DP had tripled. Thats? Frost didnt know how to answer that, he had no clue. The dungeon guidebook didnt mention anything like this either. Father did say that there were features that Id have to figure out on my own perhaps this is one of them. He thought back trying to remember what was happening during those four hours. The two sat in silence as they thought of a reason. Ah! Maya eximed in realisation What is it? They were locked in. Maya smiled in triumph, sure that she was right. Thats when you were fighting against Alex and then suffered the poison. During that time Luna and Leo had locked and barricaded themselves within one the third areas rooms. That must be it. Victims being sealed or locked in must generate more DP. The more she spoke the more sure Maya became. Frost wasnt sure, there wasnt enough data to make a solid hypothesis however if what Maya said was true. This could dramatically increase DP ie for people staying long periods of time. Well have to test it to make sure. By locking people in and not killing them they could recoup the same amount in just over 3 days instead of 10. Images of an adventurer prison filled Frosts mind before quickly being erased. Thats a bit too risky, besides where would it go. He scrubbed the idea of a prison at least for now, who knows how the locals would react if it was discovered. I cant wait for another intruder. Maya was eager to test the theory, hoping for an adventurer to appear right now. Frost continued to think of methods of increasing their DP gain through this method. Pit falls that lead to a sealed room, locking rooms when something is taken or moved, hell I could even open up some kind of hotel. The ideas just kept flowing. Eventually Frost manged to return to topic, how to spend the 7000DP they had. First off recing the lost monsters? 5 goblins, a horned rabbit and an artic fox. Thats all? That wont even take 300DP. Frost was more than surprised by Mayas answer. Considering the number of opponents and the strength of Alex and Redhawk he expected to have to spend at least 500DP. Yeah, I pulled back the scouts fairly quickly once Alex made his move, and the bandit underlings were pretty useless only luckily killing a few. Maya shrugged as she answered as if it was expected. Frost smiled feeling a sudden urge to go shopping. Chapter 48 Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Shopping (volume 2) So that means weve got some shopping to do. Frost smiled widely ear to ear as he left the DP records section. At the moment he didnt have enough DP for a second floor plus it shouldnt be necessary yet. However, he could buy another section or erge his existing ones. Currently Frost found that buying another D-rank monster with his currentyout and strength would be difficult. The pr bear alone was a little difficult to controlpared to the goblins or slimes. Im not strong enough yet to have lots of D-ranks under my control. He remembered the problems they had with the pr bear behaving aggressively to his other monsters. Plus, D-rank monsters would be too strong for his intended prey. What about... Frost brought up the monster list, flicking through until he found frost goblins. He looked over towards Maya to see her reaction. The two of them were incredibly satisfied with how the frost goblins performed. I could buy a spawner for 3000DP. Spawners cost 100 times the monsters initial cost and summon monsters overtime indefinitely. In the long term theyre far more effective than single buying. Monsters summoned in this way would have certain limitations however as well as benefits. Different spawners summon at different rates, e.g. one every 12 hours. [monster rank] [Summon rate] [G and F] [12 hours] ..... [E and D] [24 hours] [C] [48 hours] [B] [ 5 days] In regards to a frost goblin spawner it would pay for itself in 50 days, after which itd churn out free monsters forever. However spawned monsters cannot evolve since their max level is reduced by 20% and are summoned at set levels. [monster [normal [spawner rank ] max lvl] level ] [G] [10] [1 to 8] [F] [20] [8 to 16] [E] [30] [16 to 24] [D] [40] [24 to 32] [C] [50] [32 to 40] [B] [60] [40 to 48] Spawned monsters would be summoned at a set level between their ranks max level and the previous ranks max level e.g., D-ranks would be summoned between level 24 and 32. Spawned monsters cannot gain levels and are weaker than their regr summonedpatriots, when at equal levels. This is to counteract their ability to be summoned indefinitely (well as long as the dungeon core isnt killed). Hmmm are you sure? Maya felt uncertain, 3000DP was almost half of their current stock and it wasnt an immediate boost to their current strength. She felt that it would be better to buy around 20 to 30 frost goblins for now. Why not? Frost asked purely in a curious fashion. Weve only just opened the dungeon and have a set amount of DP. Spending such arge amount of DP on a long-term solution feels a little much considering how green we are. Maya couldnt disagree with the logic of it being cost effective but right now they needed to establish a good deal of strength and not in a couple weeks. I see but I disagree. How so young master? First off, the earlier we buy a spawner the greater the benefit, the sooner the monsters be free plus although 3000DP sounds like a lot wed still have nearly 4000DP left so it is an expense we can endure however theres another reason why this time is perfect. Whats that? Maya looked puzzled as she tilted her head. Fathers 1 month protection, this first month we can take risks. If Frost didnt have this insurance, he would be wary of taking such a gamble. Frost goblins were technically G-rank and not much use in theory, but he saw how they worked in groups and responded to orders, reassuring his decision. The slimes and artic horned rabbits didnt feel as worthwhile, so he shelved buying a spawner of them. I see that does make sense, but do you think thats what Dark God-sama intended with his protection. Dont you feel that it sets a bad precedent. Maya felt that Frost was not taking the protection of his core that seriously. Frost looked nkly at her. I think its exactly what he hoped for. Eh! When we spoke, he thoroughly encouraged me to experiment and take risks so why shouldnt I take advantage of a 1 months guarantee of safety. When else would I be able to simply y around. Frost knew that after the first month and when he meets up with his siblings, he would be faced with great danger so best to y around now when it was safe to do so. Maya looked at Frost in shock, he looked so sure of his answer that she couldnt respond. Images of the Dark God filled her mind. Strange young master reminds me of Dark God-sama, but why they also dont seem anything alike. Maya never experienced Dark behaving ungodlike before but if Dark were here, hed probably agree. He and Frost had simr personalities after all. Now that thats sorted, we still have a little more to do. Frost added the recement monsters and goblin spawner to his cart. Lets expand the third section to medium for 1500DP to match the others and perhaps we could try one more D-rank monster, just not a pr bear. He only had two choices yeti or frost troll. And I really need to rece this thing. Frost withdrew his severely chipped and blunted iron ive, it currently looked worse than some of the bandits weapons. It was really outmatchedpared to Alexs short sword. Luckily, it wasnt split in half at least. Perhaps the frost dwarves could repair it. He really didnt want to have 150DP go down the drain. Other than that, lets add another two frost wolves and leave the rest for savings. With a 2-star ive that should leave around a 1000DP. Frost looked at Maya, asking for opinion. Maya shrugged slightly before replying. The choice is yours young master. She wasnt entirely convinced but chose to trust in his judgement. Whats the worst that could happen. She was confident that even if the goblin spawner proved useless, she could protect him in future. Alright Ill go with this then. Lets put the spawner in the third section, now that itll be bigger it needs monsters to fill the empty spaces. Lets have the frost wolves live there as well, they can defend the spawner room. One important note was at the bottom of the spawners details page CAN BE DESTROYED just like the dungeon core, people if they so wished could break the spawner. This was another reason as to why Maya was unsure about purchasing one. As for the D-rank monster, theres either a frost troll or a yeti... frost trolls can speak right? A yeti seemed as though it would be simr to a pr bear, just a strong beast without intelligence. Yes, albeit only a little, their intelligence is roughly equal or slightly higher than that of a goblin. Since its a frost troll however they should be able to speak some of themonnguage, others would only be able to grunt. Frost trolls albeit shorter and weaker than their regr troll counterparts, were more dexterous and agile and could speak. Its not at the level where Frost could have a conversation with them as he does with Maya but should prove refreshing. As long they can understandmands and can give simple orders itll be perfect. He could leave a frost troll in charge when he and Maya left. As long as the goblins and other monsters had someone to give them orders their battle prowess would jump significantly. A frost troll costed the same as the pr bears 500DP so there shouldnt be too much difference in strength. He can camp out in the winter forest along with the frost dwarves. Frost continued to configure his purchases. All that was left was to summon a better weapon. His gaze once again drifted towards his iron ive. Manoeuvring to the weapons section Frostpletely ignored the single star section clicking on the two-star section. The rest were still unfortunately locked. Perhaps if I reach the adept rank the next star level will unlock. Frost felt annoyed, if only the battle with Alex went on a little longer, he was sure he would have achieved the next level of ive mastery. There wasnt much choice avable for the de part, but the shaft could be customised with different materials. A simple steel ive with the same style and design as the iron one cost 350DP but there was another option that drew his attention. Pykrete de with iron wood shaft. Pykrete was a mix of ice, and wood pulp that had great strength and durability. It was slow to thaw even in warm weather but considering Frosts location that didnt matter. Pykrete could even rival steel and higher quality metals depending on the wood pulp and ice used. This current option was slightly weaker than steel but was faster and lighter. The shaft however was of higher quality than the steels and together they cost the same 350DP. Frost felt that a pykrete weapon suited him better considering his connection with ice but was unsure of its practical use, so he turned to his trusty advisor. Pykrete is a good substitute to steel especially given our environment, the iron wood shaft is a good match. Its heavier and denser than regrmon wood shafts so it can take a beating and can flex much more. Maya looked over the damaged iron ive, the wooden shaft was no longer smooth and had several cracks. Itll hold up much better in prolongedbat and the heavier shaft would help add weight to your swing since the de is lighter. Its a good weapon for your current level. Maya gave a nod of approval, even feeling that 350DP was cheap for such a product. Simr weapons could be bought in Furano, but the craftsmanship wouldnt be as good and would cost close to 30 silver coins or more, a fairlyrge chunk of their current savings. Frost smiled, happy to receive her go ahead he confirmed his purchases causing the dungeon core to glow and rotate as usual. Again, he could feel a surge of divine energy flowing through his veins before connecting him to the core. It was over in a few seconds; the monsters and room changes wereplete, and a magic crest appeared next him. The pykrete ive slowly revealed itself from the crest. The de was white, almost translucent and felt cold to the touch. The shaft was dark purple and had blue lines twisting from top to bottom. The butt of the shaft was covered in pykrete as well, blunt without an edge purely for crushing and thrusting. Frost grabbed hold of the ive and swung it around in order to gain a good feel for it. Woah it really is light. It felt at least 20% lighter than the iron ive and the weight was better distributed along the shaft instead of being top heavy. He could slice, stab, and defend much quicker than before. A good weapon. He rubbed the back of the de and could feel the coldness of the ice, to him it feltfortable. Maya then told him of a legendary weapon made purely of primordial ice which is said to be able to freeze its target with a single sh from over twenty metres away. This was nowhere near that quality, but it inspired hope within Frost, he who was the embodiment of ice should wield such a weapon. Talking of weapons, he remembered Maya briefly showing hers. Maya whats your weapon like? He suddenly regretted asking that question. Maya smiled coyly towards him before flicking her sleeve. Dong! Dong! Two massive blue hammers suddenly appeared and crashed onto the floor with a dong! Revealing their incredible weight. Maya smiled widely as she held her hammers, she felt pride. These hammers are a family heirloom that have been passed down for generations, given only to the most talented of offspring. She rubbed them with pride. Theyre made with 100,000-year-old origin ice and ancient orichalcum mined from deep within core regions of the cial mountains. Embedded within each of the hammers is a magic crystal harvested from ancient ice dragons giving a massive boost to any ice magic or chakra used by their wielder. Each one weighs a whole ton and look god damn fabulous if I do say so myself. And if were talking about their level then theyre in the same neighbourhood as that legendary primordial ice weapon I told you about. Mayas eyes were filled with passion as she spoke. She imagined how her ancestors battled and killed ancient ice dragons to make her weapons; her blood was boiling at the thought. Frosts lips awkwardly twitched as Maya continued to regale him of stories about her ancestors battles. Whenever his eyes would drift towards the twin hammers, he would subconsciously look at his own weapon and feel inferior and envious. I shouldnt have asked. He was a long way off from being able to wield such a weapon. Chapter 49 Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Frost troll After an hour of Maya relishing in the stories of her ancestors she finally couldnt talk anymore, granting Frost a much needed reprieve. While Maya nursed her throat with some alcohol Frost teleported into the second section, the winter forest to meet with his newly summoned frost troll. It was lightly snowing in the room and all traces of battle were gone. All the blood and body parts had been cleanly absorbed by the dungeon whereas the useful materials such as coins, leather attire and some weapons were stored within the cores spatial storage vault. The core had a simr feature as Mayas spatial bracelet only farrger and non-portable. Several pieces of the leather apparel could be used and resized to fit some of the goblins whereas the weapons could be repaired or turned into raw materials for the frost dwarves to experiment with. Currently they were looking to outfit most of the goblins with spears to enhance their reach in battle. Otherwise, unless its an ambush theyd be seriously outmatched, like children fighting adults. Frost admired the scenery that had returned to normal before walking deeper into the section. A ce not visited by any visitors as of yet, hidden within the left area of the room was arge de tens of metres in size. The frost dwarves had outfitted this area with their best possible defences, it was their home. Trenches were dug around the outskirts and sharp, thick wooden posts pointed outward above them making ess from any direction other than the entrance incredibly risky. Intruders would have to destroy severalyers of wooden spikes and wild branch overgrowth before gaining ess. Theres only one entrance, narrow and easy to defend, as well as an exit that led you under the de and 100 meters to safety. As Frost admired the work done by the frost dwarves, he couldnt help but imagine a castle, a forest castle. That was the feeling this defended camp emitted. One of the frost dwarves noticed Frost standing there in admiration and couldnt but feel proud before alerting hispanions. Frost was then led into the de by a group of happy and proud frost dwarves. Although they couldnt speak themon tongue, they had some intelligence. They cutely pointed out areas that they were most proud of, showing Frost how each area worked, as well as trying to convey to him their roles in defence. They acted like children showing off their grades to their father. Frost smiled gently and listened to each and every dwarf andplimented them on their efforts. ..... Once his tour of the defences was done Frost brought up the dungeon menu and bought something as a reward for them. Bang! Arge wooden barrel suddenly appeared beside him, attracting the frost dwarves attention. Frost smiled widely before grabbing the barrels lid and twisting it open. A strong smell of alcohol along with the smell of grains escaped the now open barrel. He had bought them a barrel of beer (low quality of course since hes not made of DP). From his inherent knowledge he knew that dwarves tended to be great lovers of alcohol and a single barrel of basic beer only cost him 50DP plus he could keep the barrel. It was much lower in ss than the stuff Maya drank, so much so she would most likely refuse to even smell it, but it seemed perfect for his monster dwarves. The frost dwarves sniffed the air, causing their eyes to widen in shock. Beeeeeeeeeeer! They all internally screamed before rushing to the barrel, using their hands to scoop it up into their mouths. The frost dwarves just like their regr dwarven brethren loved alcohol, beer especially. It didnt matter what quality it was as long as they could get drunk, they would love it. The group looked at one another and nodded and then together lifted up the barrel gently, carrying it towards their main living quarterspletely forgetting about Frosts presence. I guess they like it. Frost didnt feel bad about spending 50DP on them, he needed to reward hard work otherwise hed be a terrible boss. He smiled as he watched the dwarves move the barrel with such delicacy that you wouldnt think was possible given their frames. Dong Dong From another area of the de arge creature was walking towards him, itsrge weight causing the ground to shake with ever step. It was the frost troll. The frost troll was close to 3 metres in height and had dark blue skin. Its body was muscr but not bulky, ideal for quick attacks. Tworge tusks protruded upwards from its lower jaw, and it was equipped with a simple loincloth, as well as two pykrete axes. Its eyes contained a trace of intelligence as it looked at Frost. M...master. It spoke. Frosts jaw lowered in surprise. It really can speak. It also seemed to be much more respectful than the pr bear. Yes, Im your master, my name is Frost. M...master F...Frost. The troll spoke with slight difficulty as though it wasnt used to speaking inmon tongue. But Frost didnt care he was full of joy, it was like his kid saying their first words. His eyes examined every part of the frost troll, feeling his arms, inspecting his axes, and even touching his tusks which the frost troll needed to bend over slightly so he could reach. A strong body with tough skin that regr weapons would struggle to cut deeply. Those axes are pretty good but still weaker than forged iron. Frost also felt the small single-handed axes didnt fit well with the frost trollsrge frame. Can you use weapons other than axes? ....Dont know master. The frost troll responded back with uncertainty. Well, its not a no. Ideas for outfitting the troll with different weapons like he was nning for the goblins filled his mind. Well, the troll did look like a massive goblin after all, he even came with the same armour (loincloth). But thats a thought for another time. Frost proceeded to test the trolls intelligence. If he was going to leave it in charge while he was away, he needed to know what it was capable of. Over the next few hours, Frost asked the troll many questions and had him perform some rudimentary drills. He nned to have the goblins work under the frost troll, they would report any news and the frost troll would give out orders. In the end however the results were subpar at best. The frost troll couldnt understand subtlety or strategy, he could only order the goblins to attack or retreat. The troll himself alsocked much technique when it came to battle, simply shing with brute strength. But hed do for the short term. On the plus side like the goblins, he didnt have much issue following orders only giving them. You shouldnt feel frustrated, hes only a D-rank monster with low intelligence. Just be grateful that he can converse with you. Mayas voice appeared from behind him, giving him a jump. Gyaah...Dont sneak up on me like that. Frost almost leapt out of his skin in response causing Maya to snigger. The frost troll wasnt even fazed by her sudden appearance, its eyes only revealed a trace of fear before it bowed submissively. Sorry my bad. Although she apologised her face didnt look as though she was sorry. Frost sighed and epted her fake apology. I guess youre right, luckily we wont be gone long and with the insurance policy as back up hell do for now. Frost couldnt help but disy his disappointment. The frost troll shivered before bowing and walking away. Oh, you hurt his feelings. Maya elbowed Frost, she felt bad for the troll who was trying his best. Frost just expected too much. Realising his mistake, Frost went to apologise but was quickly stunned in ce. The frost troll immediately began training, swinging his axes over and over to improve his technique like Frost taught him, he wished to be better. Frosts heart filled with pride, and he couldnt help but smile andugh. If he isnt strong enough then all he has to do is train hahaha. He very much agreed with the trolls choice. All that was left was to inspect the goblin spawner. The two of them teleported to the third section. Now that the deste artic castle environment had expanded to 5km each way there were hundreds of rooms and connecting hallways of varying sizes. The pr bear still chose to remain in thest room, defending the core and away from the other monsters but most other rooms were empty. In the far eastern area of the section, along a dead-end path that didnt lead to the exit, was arge room at the end of a long hallway. Two frost wolves stood guard at the entrance, well at the moment they were sleeping. Behind therge and damaged oak doors was the goblin spawner. Frost and Maya greeted the two wolves before entering. This room was much like the others only a littlerger, broken pieces of furniture still littered the floor, and an olden firece was entrenched by the side. However, in the centre of the room was what looked like arge ck gaseous sphere. It floated in the air like the dungeon core and was around 2 metres in diameter. This is a spawner? Frost had no idea what to think, there was no picture or description on how it looked in the menu. He didnt even know how youd go about destroying something with a gas like body. Should be, I believe its a simplified version of a dungeon core. It pulls in mana from the dungeon and when it hits maximum itll summon a frost goblin. Maya moved in closer to inspect it. Inside the gas theres a small nucleus like in a slime, strike that with a weapon and itll break or overloading it with strong magic would work as well. Frost moved in closer to see where Maya was pointing. Within the ck gas a small grey solid sphere could be seen floating in the centre, it was no bigger than apple. Shall we give it a try? Maya looked at Frost with excitement. The spawner was currently deactivated so they could witness the first summoning in person. Sure. Frost ced his hand on the spawner and closed his eyes. Activate. He spoke a singlemand before stepping back next to Maya. In response the spawner started to rotate and pulse, they could feel it rapidly absorbing mana from the surrounding. After a couple seconds the spawner radiated light and a magic crest appeared in front of it. Then a frost goblin was summoned in ce of the crest before the spawner returned to its previous dull state, slowly gathering mana. Itll be able to summon another goblin in 12 hours, but Frost wouldnt be required to be present, itd be done automatically. The summoned frost goblin looked the exact same as the others, it even treated Frost the same albeit with slightly less attachment. Lets take a look at its status. Frost brought up the dungeon menu. Race: frost goblin (spawner) Level: 4/8 Not much detail but it told Frost everything he needed to know. Looks like we didnt get lucky the first-time round, its only level 4. And since they couldnt gain levels at least the normal way, itd be stuck at half its max. Its better than being level one, if it was itd probably be weaker than a slime. At level four it should be equal to maybe around a level 2 regr frost goblin in strength. Most of the frost goblins were either level one or two after the mass bandit culling so it could be considered a decent addition to the dungeons fighting force. True. Frost agreed with Maya before looking towards the patiently waiting frost goblin. Head to the second section, meet up with the frost troll hell tell you where to go. Although the third area was in dire need of residents, Frost preferred if the intruders didnt make it that far, so he ordered the frost troll to bolster the first two sections. The frost troll was in charge of assigning these spawner goblins over the next few days. Depending on how he performs Frost nned to leave the management of the spawner to him indefinitely. Chapter 50 Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Leaving home Over the next four days Frost and Maya weed a fair few adventuring parties into the dungeon alongside several external monsters drawn in by the scent of the dungeon core. Most left intact since they were aware of the danger however a few of the more reckless groups either suffered severe injuries or even lost a party member or two. No one made it past the second section, and neither the frost troll, the pr bear or Frost were required to take part in any battles. The strongest visitors were only E-rank, so the frost wolves were more than enough. Frosts treasure stash also managed to increase slightly bringing his total to 50 silvers and his DP up to 4000. A small group of goblins entered on thest day; Frost tried to engage with them to see if theyd join his monsters, but they were incapable of reason forcing him to kill them. At least they gave a good dose of DP. Monsters would give a daily DP equivalent to an adventurer one rank higher, i.e. goblins gave a daily DP amount of 20 equivalent to an F-rank adventurer. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, he had a nice flow of ie, and his forces were gradually increasing thanks to the goblin spawner, he even got lucky with the third summoning out at level 8. With how things were progressing Frost felt that it was time to visit Furano. Unfortunately, his ive mastery hadnt progressed since his fight with Alex despite the fact he was diligently training in the training space every day. Bang! ..... Frost smashed an ice golem to fragments with his chakra covered fists. He looked at his hands in frustration. Its not enough, Im not improving fast enough. He turned to face Maya who was lounging at the side. Maya, I thinks its time... lets leave. His gaze was filled with determination, it was time to pay Furano a visit. Feeling his determined gaze Maya sat up and smiled, she was also getting rather bored being holed up in the same ce. Sounds great, Ill go pack. She jumped up and teleported back to the private space. Pack? What do you need to pack for woman, its just a short visit. Frost sighed and shook his head before joining her in the private space. In the past few days, they rearranged a few pieces of furniture and Frost got into the habit of asionally summoning food with DP but other than that nothing else had changed. Maya was in her bedroom throwing things into her storage bracelet, stuff like alternate clothes, jewellery etc... before rushing into the kitchen to pack snacks and alcohol. She was treating this like a holiday. Frost wisely chose not to interfere; his instincts were telling him to just let her do her thing. He simply sat on the sofa in wait. Since he didnt have a storage space that he could bring with him there was nothing he could pack in the first ce. All he was taking was the silver and copper coins he pilfered from the dead bandits and adventurers -which he ced in a coin bag stored in his sleeve pocket- plus his 2 star ive. After 20 minutes Maya was still packing and rummaging through her things and Frost couldnt take it anymore. What the hell are nning on doing? Were only visiting Furano for a few days, were not moving house. Shed thrown at least 20 dresses into her storage bracelet. Frost only had the one which regenerated and self-cleaned, so he didnt understand the point. Ah! What do you know this our first outing together, dresses and make-up are a womans essential weapons. Maya replied with a fierce expression. W...weapons? Frost had zero clue about what she was saying. He frowned in confusion unable to respond. And here take this. Maya reached into her sleeve and tossed an oval object at Frost. Frost caught the object; it was a beautiful white mask that covered the top half of someones face. He flipped it over to see the front depicted a wolfs face and the material felt warm to the touch. A premium jade mask. Now he was even more uncertain, he looked at Maya and then the mask then Maya again. Whyd she give me a mask? Noticing his confusion, Maya deigned to exin. That face of yours is mine to look at, cant just have any woman gawking at while we stroll through the streets of Furano. She then ignored Frost and continued to pack. What! Frost didnt know how to feel about that. Angry that he was treated like an owned object, pride for his good looks or embarrassment from Mayas deration. Eventually with him unable articte anything, just opening and closing his mouth repeatedly he gave up. He held his hands up in resignation and sat back down on the sofa entirely ignoring Maya, but he couldnt help but smile slightly as he rubbed the mask. It took an entire 2 hours from when she began for Maya to finish packing and that was only because she ran out of room in her bracelet. Im ready. She beamed a smile at Frost who had at some point drifted off into a nap. Woken up by her, Frost yawned before giving her a once over. She changed into a less revealing dress with tougher material, appearing more like an adventurer, she still looked beautiful though. He internally gave a thumbs up for her current outfit. Good the lets head out. Frost stretched before bringing up the dungeon menu. Lets see theres two groups in the winter forest and anotherrger group in the winter hignds area. The first two were both E-rank adventurers whereas thest were a group of six F-ranks. The entrance is currently clear so we can teleport there. The strength of the current parties were nothing the frost troll couldnt handle so Frost felt safe leaving. He extended his hand to Maya, which she grabbed hold of happily before the two of them teleported to the dungeons entrance. Within therge stone gateway that led into the dungeon, space warped before Frost and Maya appeared. With the coast clear, they stepped beyond the boundary of the dungeon and proceeded to walk into the Northrend forest. Maya knew the way and told Frost of the path they were taking. It should take around a day or so if we simply walk there without any detours. In around 12 hours or so welle across the main camp adventurers use, it contains a few ces to rest and as well as supply stations. Up to you whether we visit or not. Maya was only interested in Furano and not some smelly adventurer camp, so she didnt exactly sing its praises. Well skip it then; we can visit it on the way back or another time. Frost didnt mind missing the camp, there was nothing there for them anyway. The two continued to walk and idly chat, however once they reached around 500 metres away from the dungeon Frost could feel as though something was severed. It caused him to feel nervous and heavy. Weve just past the boundary of the dungeons influence. From now on we wont be sustained by mana. Well be required to sleep and eat to retain our strength. It may feel awkward at first, but youll get used to it. Maya patted Frosts back tofort him, but it helped only slightly. He could no longer use any of the dungeons features except from checking the current DP levels. Everything else was locked, even the dungeon menu was looking downgraded. He felt as though he was missing an integral part of his body, it was unnerving to say the least. For the next 24 hours the two of them walked together through the Northrend forest, Maya was wrapped around Frosts arm for most of the journey, relishing in the romance. At the first sign of people, she forced him to wear the wolf mask and aligned her body next to his as if marking her territory. Frost wasnt one toin since a very soft feeling was enclosing his arm. He simply smiled gently towards the group who clicked their tongues in frustration before walking on. So, this is Furano. Frost spoke with admiration and a glinting in his eyes. After walking for an entire day, he felt quite tired and peckish, he nned to find an inn right away. The two stood before arge gate easily reaching 10 metres in height with the aligning walls not much shorter. Sheets of ice could be seen covering the entire masonry making it even more difficult to attack. Armed guards walked along the top, professionally keeping an eye out for any troublemakers. Frost and Maya were standing in a queue waiting their turn to enter the gates, but they didnt have any form of ID and would be required to pay a toll. They were standing behind a group of merchants who were chatting at length with the gatekeepers. Apparently, there was an issue with their permit, and it was causing a dy. Maya along with the other people waiting were getting irritated. The weather wasnt exactly pleasant enough to be standing idle outside. Too cold for snow but the wind was fierce and piercing. A small child was shivering nearby while grabbing his parents hands, his nose was leaking arge snot ball, hed obviously catch a cold at this rate. Frost let out a sigh before calmly walking towards the child, his height and mask unfortunately made him look rather frightening in the childs eyes as he hid behind his mother. [Warmth] he pointed towards the child and cast a lifestyle magic spell called [warmth]. It surrounds the target in a warm air, heating up their body. The boy was no longer cold and stopped shivering, he was shocked and looked towards Frost with surprise, his eyes wide open as if he couldnt believe what happened. It was his mother that had to speak on his behalf. Thank you mage-dono for your kindness. She bowed slightly and smiled at Frost as did the boys father. No need for thanks. Frost then picked up two small rocks before casting another spell. [Heat] the rocks quickly heated up enough to be warm to the touch, he passed the rocks to the mother and father who were still shivering. They should stay warm for an hour or so, hopefully youll be within Furano by then. Frost then turned around and headed back to Maya who was looking at him with a teasing smile. Thank you mage-dono. The parents thanked him again as he walked off. You big softie. Maya smiled proudly as she wrapped her arm around his and leaned on his shoulder. After ten minutes it was finally their turn to enter. Do you have any ID mage-dono? The guardsman asked with respect, he witnessed Frosts earlier actions and already felt some goodwill towards him. Unfortunately, not, mypanion and I came from a rural vige in the cial mountains and have no proof of identity, is this an issue? Maya warned him that they may have to pay some sort of fee to gain ess. Hopefully, he wont charge too much. No, it isnt but you will have to pay a toll to enter, and you can only stay in the town for a maximum of seven days unless you gain some form of ID before then. Thats good, thank you for the information. Frost reached into his sleeve to pull out his coin purse. No problem thats my job. The guardsman smiled back joyfully; it wasnt often people would be so understanding. The toll is 2 silver per person so thatll be 4 silver sir. Frost pulled out 4 silver coins with ease and ced them within the guards hand. I wee the two of you to Furano, please enjoy your stay. He then gave the signal to hispanion to open the gate and allow them through. By the way if you register with the adventurer guild, youll be exempt from the toll fees. The guardsman added on a little information as a freebie since Frost was a mage and such a nice person. Oh! is that so, where would I find the adventurers guild? Frost asked since that was one of the buildings they nned to visit. In response the guardsman smiled. In fact, Im just about to go on a break, if youd like I could show where it is, plus I could also introduce you to a good inn. The guardsman had the look of a savvy businessmen. I guess it couldnt hurt. Frost turned to Maya to get her opinion, she simply rubbed her head into his shoulder, saying that it was up to him. Very well, if it isnt a bother. None at all. Collin Im taking my break now. The guardsman yelled to his boss on the wall before leading Frost and Maya into Furano. Chapter 51 Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Kathys inn Once the group passed the gate threshold and officially entered Furano, the guardsman gestured for a handshake as he introduced himself. My names Kato nice to meet the two of you. Frost smiled and shook his hand before responding. Im Frost and this is mypanion, Maya. Maya smiled as she was mentioned although she was hoping for a more personal introduction instead of panion but these things take time. Its good to meet you Frost, Maya. What brings you to Furano? The group started to walk, with Kato leading. A little sightseeing along with some business. We n to register as adventurers here as well as enjoy the local specialties. Hoh, its a good thing then that I was going on a break. Kato had guessed when Frost used magic that he was either an adventurer or nning to be one. Most magic users, well most young people in fact wish to be adventurers at some point in their life. This was even more so for the people of the Northrend empire. Most of their diet is meat, monster meat, thus the food markets in the Northrend empire rely heavily on adventurers and hunters. Unlike in other countries where its seen as daredevil or barbaric work, in Northrend and especially Furano its a highly respected profession. Even their current lord and his son are adventurers. I guess then youll be needing a ce to stay? ..... For several nights yes. Thats great, the inn I talked about is a great choice. Its a little pricey but its well worth it, the foods great and the beds have pretty good mattresses, the owners very friendly as well. Kato spoke very highly of the inn, hoping to rope in Frost and Maya. You seem to know a lot about it. Frost would be an idiot if he didnt pick up on Katos hints. Ahahah... not to hide from you but I have a connection with the ce. Its run by my sister-inw, so I am a bit biased but thanks to that I could probably get you a discount. Kato awkwardlyughed. No need to feel guilty its only natural to praise your family, if its even half as good as you say it is then well dly stay there. Frost patted Katos shoulder with a smile, he had no reason not to stay there especially given that thanks to Kato theyd receive a discount. Plus, if its an inn rmended by a gate guard it must be of sufficient quality, he didnt want to stay somewhere shabby. The group of three walked through the streets of Furano with Kato exining certain areas of the town that they passed along with a few rmendations on the best food stalls. Looks like Leo and Luna will be out of a promise. Frost remembered that Leo and Luna promised to show him around and tell him about the towns best features, but Kato beat them to the punch. Eventually they came across a massive three story building with a grand entrance. This is the adventurers guild; you can register here and then ept requests depending on your rank, but Ill let the guild receptionist tell you all about that. Kato then led them for another 300 metres to another building with the sign above saying, Kathys inn. This is the inn run by my sister-inw, its called Kathys inn after her. She started it up with her parents help around 10 years ago. Happy chatter could be heard from behind the heavy doors. Seems popr. Dont mind the noise, most people here now onlye for the food since its lunch time. Kato then pushed open the doors and led them inside. Popr was an understatement, nearly every single seat was taken up, Frost could see 4 waitresses dashing between tables and the kitchen without stopping. The groups varied from old to young but each and every one had smiles on their faces as they chatted and devoured their meals. The smelling from the kitchen was tantalising, even Maya was licking her lips as she saw a whole roast pig being carried out. Sis I brought you some customers! Kato shouted with extreme volume causing Frost to blink in surprise but everyone else only gave a quick look before returning to normal. Well, if he didnt shout that loud, she wouldnt hear. In response to Katos shout a pretty middle aged woman came out from the kitchen. She was tall and strong looking, with short brown hair and a few freckles. Kato you little brat, Im busy enough without having to deal with you yelling across the room. Kathy quickly walked over and rapped her knuckles against Katos head. Owwowwowo that hurts sis. Everyone in the room simplyughed at the sight as if it happened on a regr basis. Once she was done punishing Kato she turned towards Frost and Maya with a perfect business smile. Apologies for the noise, are you the ones Kato was talking about? Her eyebrows couldnt help but shoot up when she saw Mayas beauty, but she maintained her smile. Shed encountered a few incredibly beautiful elves and she was also considered quite a catch, so she was able to maintain the air of a professional. Uhh yes, he rmended your inn for us to stay in while were here in Furano. Visitor I see, here on a honeymoon? N...n...no just visiting. Maya blushed when Kathy said honeymoon whereas Frost stuttered. Hmmmm ok then if thats what you say. She wasnt entirely convinced, Frost and Maya were too close for there to be nothing going on. We do have rooms avable; would you like to book in now? Ah yes, if we could have one room with twin beds, please. Frost struggled to look Kathy in the eye as he spoke to her. Would you like meals with that, we offer breakfast and dinner, lunch youll have to get yourselves or pay for separately, but we do provide bentos for an extra charge. With meals would be great. He couldnt help but feel attracted to the meals constantlying out of the kitchen. Ok thatd be 4 silvers with meals but since youreing with Kato, Ill knock it down to 3 silvers per night. Kathy immediately knocked off 25% since they came with Kato. 3 slivers seemed pretty good, so Frost responded right away. 4 nights would be perfect. Frost pulled out his coin purse and gave 12 slivers. Kathy took the coins with a smile. Great, wee to Kathys inn, I hope you enjoy your stay with us.... Sorry I didnt get your names. Im Frost and this is Maya. Nice to meet you both, I can show you to your rooms now if youd like or would you like to order some lunch. As if on cue Frosts stomach rumbled, causing Kathy to giggle. I guess youd like some lunch first. Yes please. Frost answered slightly embarrassed. If you find an empty seat a waitress wille along shortly with the menu, once youre done just speak to one of the waitresses and shell find me, and Ill show you to your room. Thank you, Kathy. Thank you Kathy. Frost and Maya both thanked her before she headed back into the kitchen, not forgetting to give Kato another rap on the head as she passed. After mumbling a fewints under his breath as his sister inw walked away, Kato turned back to face Frost and Maya. I guess my work here is done, I hope you enjoy your visit. Thanks Kato, youve been a real help. No problem, my pleasure. Katoughed before waving goodbye and heading out. Guess we should find a seat. Frost said to Maya as his gaze covered the room looking for an empty table. Luckily there was one in the corner, just big enough to seat the two of them. Once they sat down a young waitress came over with some menus. Wee to Kathys inn, here are the menus, would you like anything to drink first of all? The waitress asked politely but Frost could see her focusing on certain parts of Maya beforeparing them to her own and lightly sighing. What alcohol do you have? Maya smiled and thrust her chest out in triumph, proud of her assets. Sorry miss we dont sell alcohol until the evening. The waitress averted her eyes from Maya, realising she was caught. Eh!!!!! Maya stood up abruptly causing her chest to bounce, drawing the attention of some of the men in the room. Sorry miss. The waitress apologised but internally scoffed at Maya. Its not even noon and youre already wanting to drink...wait is that how theyre so big? The waitress looked over Maya with curiosity. Seeing as they were drawing attention to themselves, Frost ced his hand on Mayas shoulder and forced her back down into her seat. What do you rmend miss? .... Milk, the waitress slightly out of sorts responded back without thinking. Milk? Ah sorry no, I rmend ordering a fruit juice. Furano is famed for its acai berry and winterberry juice so I rmend one of them. theyre 8 coppers a cup. Slightly blushing the waitress managed to regain her faculties before she said something she regretted. Ill take a cup of winterberry and Maya? Frost looked over in her direction. She was still a little upset about theck of alcohol but... Ill have the same please. She answered back with slight enthusiasm. Ok, Ill bring them to you shortly, please look over the menu while you wait. The waitress quickly escaped back into the kitchen, patting her chest as she walked. She wasnt exactly t, about a B-cup butpared to her colleagues and certainly Maya, there was nothing to brag about. Youre a bit of an alcoholic, arent you? Frost asked as he perused the menu. I prefer the term connoisseur. Maya retorted with a sly look. The menu in front of them was quite substantial for an inn, itd put most restaurants to shame in fact. They had main meals, starters, drinks and even deserts. No wonder this ce is so popr. The prices also reached from cheap to quite expensive, catering to all demographics. A bowl a vegetable soup and hard bread was 15 coppers whereas you could get frost wolf ribs for 1 silver and fifty coppers. Frost looked for that whole roast pig that he sawe out of the kitchen earlier, the two of them could share that. 1 silver, not bad. He turned around to Maya to see if she wanted to share. But before he could she had already spoken. I want the roast pig. To share? Although he knew that Maya was a fenrir, given her current small frame, being able to eat an entire pig to herself would certainly stand out. What do you think? She looked back at him as if he was an idiot. Ill take that as a no then. With Mayas meal set he looked for himself. Artic boar burger with chips that sounds good, 40 coppers too. The moment he decided, the waitress returned with their drinks. They came in zed wooden cups, about a pint in size, most likely made from the trees in the Northrend forest. The liquid looked dark purple in colour and gave off a strong berry scent. Heres your two winterberry juices. She ced them gently on the table. Have you decided what you want to eat yet or do you need a few more minutes? She brought out a paper pad to write on. ..... Weve decided... I want the roast pig! Before Frost could finish speaking Maya rudely announced her order. He could only sigh and shake his head in annoyance. What are you a five-year-old kid. The waitress was momentarily stunned as the roast pig is usually ordered by a group orrge rugged adventurers but a simple once over cleared her of any doubt. And you sir? Ill have a winter boar burger with chips please. Is that everything? Yes, thank you. The waitress then took back the menus and walked into the kitchen to ry the order. I need to eat more. Her thoughts were consumed with how to increase her chest size, she made up her mind. If Maya finished the entire pig herself then shed stop dieting and aim to increase her food intake. Frost and Maya however were oblivious to the waitresss feelings and simply sipped on their juice as they discussed their ns for the day. After their meal they nned to check into their room before heading off towards the adventurers guild. Theyd visit the lords mansion tomorrow or the day after. Chapter 52 Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Kathys inn (2) Around 15 minutester, the waitress brought out the two dishes. The roast pig was surrounded by lettuce and had an apple in its mouth. Its skin was a golden brown covered in oil that glistened in the light. Maya couldnt help but salivate as the dish was ced in front of her. Tens of pounds of perfectly cooked pork sitting in front a tiny woman drew some onlookers. Some even took bets on whether or not she would finish. Frosts dish although not as eye catching or massive still looked delicious. The burger came in a soft white bun, and the meat was sandwiched between leaves of lettuce all smothered in a red sauce. He too couldnt help but lick his lips. The mammoth steak that Maya had cooked before was delicious, but itcked garnish and sauce, it was purely meat. The two of them turned to one another and smiled. They felt good about leaving home, there was a limit on the amount of stuff they could experience while cooped up in the dungeon after all. Without further ado they dived right into their meals, and boy was it tasty. The two of them devoured their meals without pause, cleaning their tes entirely. Unfortunately, Maya didnt finish the entire pig herself thanks to Frost finishing first and still being hungry, so she gave him around a quarter of the pig but that didnt mean she wasnt able. That was delicious. I know right, staying here was definitely a good idea. Maya used a napkin to clean the leftover pig oil from around her mouth, looking very elegant. It created quite an interesting picture with therge te before her holding nothing but bare bones. She did the same for Frost causing him to blush under his mask. Not only did they enjoy a great meal he felt refreshed like he did when in the dungeon. While walking through Northrend forest they only ate a few snacks and didnt sleep so his energy levels were fairly low. After finishing the dregs of his winterberry juice Frost called over the waitress for the bill. ..... Could we get the bill please and could you let miss Kathy know wed like to check into our rooms. It was time to see where theyd be calling home for the next few days. Of course, sir, the billes to 1 silver and 56 coppers. It was the same waitress, so she remembered what was ordered. Frost pulled out the coin purse from his sleeve and paid the bill and gave an extra 20 coppers as a tip. Maya mentioned that it was customary to give a little extra money for good service, usually around 10%. The waitress bowed and thanked Frost for his generosity before leaving to find Kathy. They didnt need to wait long before she came over to escort them. Frost, Maya how was your meal? Kathy asked full of confidence, she held great pride in her food. Even the local lord praised her cooking when he visited before. It was delicious, thank you. Yeah the roast pig was so juicy and tender, I loved it. Maya responded in a bubbly tone. Thats good. Lets get you two settled into your rooms then. Kathy smiled; she was always happy to hear praises about her inns food. She was originally the only chef but after business took off, she was able to train and hire some chefs to take her ce. Allowing her to take a more managerial role. Most of the recipes however were still hers so the taste didnt change much. Kathy then led Frost and Maya to another area connected to the restaurant. It was a small and cosy reception desk with two sets of stairs leading up behind it. Kathys inn had three floors and a basement. The first floor was the restaurant and reception areas. The second was for the regr rooms and third was for the higher priced room as well as Kathys room for when she stays over. She and her husband had a house of their own in the residential district, so it was rarely used for anything other than naps. The basement was the workers quarters, some of the waitresses and chefs received reduced sries since they were provided with living quarters. Kathy went and greeted the receptionist at the desk before receiving a key from her. Your room is number 14, if you take the right-hand staircase behind me, its thest room in the hallway. Kathy passed the iron key with a wooden tag attached showing the number 14 to Frost before giving him directions. We lock the doors at midnight so be back before then or youll be locked out. Breakfast is brought up to you at 7.30am unless youd rather eat in the restaurant. And dinner is served anytime between 5 and 9pm. Wed appreciate it if you kept noise to a minimum and if you can, use clean up magic on your bedding after use. Bathrooms are shared with two for each side. Any questions? Kathy started listing all the inns rules. What if you dont know clean up magic? Thats fine, regr washing fades the colour over time so clean up magic is always preferred, its cleaner too so we always ask. The inn only had one or two employees that could use magic, and even if its just simple lifestyle magic with the amount ofundry to clean itd be a great expense to their mana every day. High end inns and hotels have staff were their sole job is to use cleaning magic. We know clean up magic so thats not a problem. Frost learned quite a number of lifestyle magics from Maya as they passed the days in the private space. Unlike the regr citizens it only took him a few minutes to learn and utilise each one. Regr people would require a few days to weeks plus a book or teacher. Even though lifestyle magic could be used by almost everyone due to their low mana cost, regr people such as those working in Kathys inn never had the time or money to learn. Thank you, anything else? No, I think were good. Frost turned to Maya who nodded in agreement. Alright, Ive got to get back to work but make yourselves at home. Kathy smiled warmly to the two before walking back into the restaurant. Frost and Maya walked up the stairs with eagerness, hopeful to see where theyd be sleeping for the next few days. On the right side of the second floor there were 14 rooms and theirs was thest one. The room had a simple wooden door with the number 14 painted on it in white. Guess this is it. Frost took the key and opened the door, revealing its contents. Hoh, not bad. Mayamented after seeing the room. It was clean and simple but looked to be of decent quality. Carpeted floors, tworge single beds each with their own bedside cab. A thick window that overlooked the nearby street and tworge wardrobes to store clothes. There was even a small coffee table with a vase of flowers on it. The room was a lot nicer than Frost was expecting, of course it paled inparison to the private space in his dungeon but for an adventurers inn it was pretty good. Frost moved over to the bed to feel the mattress. Itll do. The mattress was quite firm but thick, the duvet and nkets on top felt warm to the touch. Probably made with monster fur. Since there wasnt a firece or wood burner in the room the nkets needed to be thick and insting. So far Frost felt that he was undercharged even if he didnt receive the discount. No wonder people like it so much. He looked over at Maya who at some point sat herself on her bed, wiggling herrge butt on the mattress trying to get afortable feel. This beds too hard for me. She pouted slightly; she had long gotten used to the high-ss furniture in the dungeon. Use the nkets to soften it, its not like youll feel the cold anyway, so you dont need to be wrapped in them. Frost already had a solution since he found the mattress to firm as well. He was the embodiment of ice, no amount of cold would affect him, and Maya was a legendary fenrir, a little cold should be nothing to her. Good idea young master. Maya tapped her fist against her palm in realisation of the great idea. She covered the mattress in the nkets and duvet leaving only one for her to sleep under. Ah thats much better. She squirmed around a little, enjoying thefort. Dont getfortable well be leaving shortly. Frost only nned for them to stay here for a short period, enough to let their meals go down. After that they would visit the adventurers guild. Frost wished to register himself-and possibly Maya if she was willing-as adventurers. This would allow him to learn more about the profession as well as generate some ie. The dungeon core allowed him to create money as in copper, silver, and gold coins however the efficiency of it was less than desirable. Dark most likely made it so that money wouldnt be abused, destroying the bnce of their surrounding countries. It costed 100DP for a silver coin, but it only gave 10DP if one was donated to the core (treasures could be donated to the core to be broken down and turned into DP as well). Gold coins cost a whopping 10,000DP and would produce 1,000DP when donated. Coppers could be bought for 2DP but would give nothing back in donation. Just their lodging alone cost 1200DP for four nights, Frost didnt want to waste his DP on purchasing coins and reiming coins from dead adventurers was sporadic and limited. Bing an adventurer andpleting quests for renumeration seemed the most logical response. He was also due to receive a substantial reward from Leo and Luna which was in part performing the duties that a strong adventurer may do plus by being an adventurer itd make it easier to go travelling across Nova since hed have an ID. Okaaaaayy. Maya responded sleepily, shed already gottenfy. Frost sighed at her appearance. Youre meant to be the older one here not me. Sometimes Frost questioned exactly who was the more mature one out of the two. Around thirty minutester the two of them left the inn and headed towards the adventurers guild. The guild building would have been easy to find even without Katos help given its size and imposing architecture. There was quite a lot of trafficing in and out of the guild at this time, yet it wasnt crowded, the grand entrance could easily fit 8 people walking in side by side. Mayas appearance caused more of an issue this time; the majority of the adventurers were young men so they couldnt help but stare at her as she walked into the guild hall alongside Frost. A few of the braver ones even wolf whistled and stared at her backside as she walked. Frost couldnt help but feel irritated, under his mask he was frowning. Maya feeling his irritation giggled adorably before she wrapped her arm around his showing that she was taken. Frost walked up the reception desk where a young dwarven woman was sitting. Hello, wed like to register as adventurers please. Frost spoke bluntly, as he was still rather annoyed. The dwarven receptionist looked up at Frosts mask and then the stunning Maya. Tsk must be some rich noble in disguise. She wasnt impressed and responded curtly. Take these forms and fill it in, the registration is 1 silver per person. If you cant write, we can do it for you for an additional 20 coppers. She handed Frost two registration forms and a pencil. Frost started filling the details right away along with Maya before handing them back. The questions werent hard. It just asked for your name (which could be an alias, the guild didnt judge). Weapon type and or magic abilities. And finally, any known skills. The receptionist looked over the form and squinted slightly. Huh? Frost said he was ive and ice magic user and Maya had written hammer user and magic user. She was shocked, it was rare for people to use magic and weapons, but the most shocking thing was Maya using hammers. The receptionist gave her a look over, wanting to see if she was some sort of dwarf in disguise. Ack never mind its none of my business what they want to write. She just ignored it, people who overestimated themselves end up dead in the end. Chapter 53 Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Adventurers guild The dwarven receptionist took the forms with a grain of salt before demanding the 1 silver coin each for the registration. Once she received the money, she handed the forms to a colleague who brought them to the back room. Well print your cards shortly; in the meantime, Ill give you an introduction about adventurers. It was mandatory for her to say this to any new applicants. Frost felt it was rather strange that theyd hear this after registering and not before, but he didnt ask. Maya had already given him a basic run down of how they operated anyway. First off adventurers are ssified into ranks starting at the lowest G-rank to the highest S-rank. Since the two of you just registered, regardless of your abilities youll start at G-rank. Your rank determines what quests you can ept e.g., G-ranks can ept G-rank quests. You can only ept higher rank quests if someone of that rank is within your party or if you have a full six-member party then you can ept a quest one rank higher. The guild does not endorse any criminal activities, if you chose to engage in such, your guild membership will immediately be revoked, and the authorities will be alerted. Next when epting a quest if you fail toplete it you will be subject to penalty fees and if you do this 3 times in a single month, your membership will be revoked The dwarven receptionist gave the long lecture without an ounce of enthusiasm, she didnt like Frost and Maya the moment they walked in, especially Maya her beauty only irritated her. To be promoted to the next rank you need to achieve a minimum of ten quests of your current rank andplete a gateway quest. Also, when applying to go any higher than E-rank, abat and theory test will also need to be sessfully passed. Any questions? Just one, whats a gateway quest? Frost could feel the receptionists animosity towards him and Maya, but he needed to bear with it. The receptionist clicked her tongue in annoyance. Gateway quests are quests that must bepleted for you to increase in rank, for example the g-rank gateway quest is to hunt goblins or slimes. This proves yourbat prowess is enough to rank up. Just as she finished speaking her colleague arrived with thepleted guild cards. The receptionist took them and handed them to Frost and Maya. Congrattions for registering with the Furano branch, quests are avable on the boards over there. Juste over with the request sheet once youve chosen...oh and if you lose your guild card there a 2 silver coin resubmission fee. The receptionist then waved her hand as if to shoo them away. ..... Tsk Maya clicked her tongue and looked at the dwarf with scorn. How dare this little dwarven bug act this way in my presence. She had the urge to teach her a little lesson but was stopped by Frost giving her a re. Thank you miss Frost remained polite as he thanked the rude receptionist and dragged Maya away towards the quest board. He then looked at his guild card Name: Frost Rank: G Registration: Furano, Northrend empire Weapon: ive Magic: ice magic user The details were rtively simple, but it functioned as a basic ID for the entire world. With this they wouldnt have to pay tolls to enter towns or cities and they could cross territories legally. Not that he really cared about the legal part, but it would save them a lot of hassle in the future. Y...young master? Maya whispered in annoyance, she had to teach that little dwarf a lesson. Were acting low key remember, low key. He responded with his finger over his mouth. he didnt want to cause any scenes. Besides arent you forbidden from fighting unless my life is in danger? Ah.... good point Maya forgot that since she became a guardian, she was restricted to an observer role. She decided to hold her tongue for now and allowed Frost to drag her towards the quest board. Lets grab an easy quest to start with. They split up to search. The quest boards were neatly organised into their ranks, areas just for G, F etc... there was also a special board that contained permanent quests that were always avable. Hunting goblins was considered a permanent quest, you didnt need to take down the quest sheet to ept as there would always be a reward. Once Frost and Maya had found a quest, they liked they reunited. A request for red dwindle nt, minimum of ten stalks required, 5 coppers per stalk, G-rank. Frost picked a simple gathering quest, no risk of danger. Maya however picked the permanent frost goblin hunting quest. This ones better; kill frost goblins, minimum of 3 kills, no maximum, requires right ear for proof of kill, 8 coppers per goblin ear, 10 if including the magic crystal. Frost frowned as he stared at Maya, for some reason he felt off about hunting frost goblins, so he avoided taking that quest. What, you dont like it? Maya tilted her head as she asked looking very cute, she failed to realise his feelings on the matter. Frost let out a sigh and shook his head. No, its fine, well do both. The goblin quest was certainly more lucrative if they hunted more than the minimum, so he didnt have any logical reason to refuse. Yeah! Maya smiled and fist pumped the air full of joy, to her going on a quest with Frost was more of a date than anything. Two quests would take longer which meant more time together. They then brought the red dwindle quest sheet toward the reception, unfortunately it was only the female dwarf on duty, and she didnt hide her frustration. You picked yet? Yes, wed like to ept the red dwindle gathering quest as well as the frost goblin hunting quest. There wasnt any rule saying they couldnt ept 2 quests at a time. Tsk, 2 quests rather arrogant for a newbie aint ya. Youve only got one day to achieve them otherwise theyll count as a failure, you alright with that? The more she looked at Maya and Frost the more annoyed she got. Yes please Frosts mouth twitched as he spoke, even he was struggling to maintain his calm demeanour let alone Maya. Her white tail was started to puff up and her arm was tensing around his. Tch fine hand over your guild cards Frost and Maya did as requested. The dwarven receptionist took their cards and pulled a magic device from under her desk. It looked like a notary stamp butcked ink. She stamped the gathering quest sheet and then their two guild cards, she did the same for the frost goblin killing quest with a prepared quest sheet kept in a nearby drawer. Frost could feel a slight trace of mana connecting his guild card to the quest sheet. How fascinating, the functions of magic devices are truly limitless. Just seeing this one device greatly broadened Frosts knowledge on the subject. Here, you have until 3pm tomorrow to deliver the requested items, good luck I guess. She handed back the guild cards before ignoring them once again. Mayas fur couldnt help but stand up in fury as she took a step forward. Maya! were leaving now. Frost quickly ced his hand on her shoulder with some force before dragging her away. The dwarven receptionist hmphed, disappointed Maya didnt make a move on her. she was confident in her strength and wanted an excuse to fight unaware that Frost just saved her life. As they walked out of the guild hall, lots of the men ogled Maya as she passed but none of them moved from the seats, well apart from one person. Hey, youre newbies, right? a young human man blocked their path. He looked like the typical young adventurer, armed with leather armour and an iron sword. He had short brown hair, matching eyes, and an average face. Frost didnt feel very good right now and questioned the young mans intentions, giving him a cold and unfriendly stare. The young man felt a chill down his back andughed awkwardly. Sorry I dont mean you any offense, just wanted to have a quick chat. The young man gestured for the two of them to join him at the table he was just sitting at. Frost looked deeply at the mans face and into his eyes, trying to see if he had any untoward intentions. This silencested a few seconds before Frost felt a tug at his arm. He looked down and saw Maya nodding towards him. He sighed before speaking Sorry... well take you up on that Frost smiled gently; Mayas nod told him that this person wasnt a threat and that he could rx. The young man let out a deep breath, the pressure being emitted from Frost was quite unbearable. He led them to his table. My names Ron and Im a D-rank adventurer. Ron outstretched his hand in greeting. Frosts eyebrows raised slightly at his information. He looks to be in histe-twenties yet hes already D-rank...not bad. Im Frost and this is mypanion Maya, nice to meet you, Ron. Frost shook his hand with a smile and Maya nodded her head gently. First off Id like to apologise for Jaina, shes a bit prickly but a good person at heart. Ron looked over at Jaina in the distance before sighing. Frost followed his gaze and saw the gentleness in the mans eyes. Prickly is an understatement Maya muttered causing Ron to awkwardlyugh. Yeah, I guess so, shes gotten a lot worse since her mother passed away a few years ago but thats no excuse Ron bowed his head in Jainas ce. He along with most of the adventurers had watched Jaina grow up, so they were all rather lenient with her behaviour. Hearing that her mother passed softened Frost and Mayas anger, they agreed to forget about the treatment they received. As an apology Ill help you out with some adventuring advice. What quest did you ept? We took two, the frost goblin hunting quest and a quest for stalks of red dwindle. Frost answered back without hesitation. Hoh two quests, thats a bit risky for your first adventure, are you confident in your battle strengths? You shouldnt underestimate goblins even though theyre G-rank. Ron spoke with a concerned tone, like a senior speaking to their junior. Frost looked at Maya and couldnt help his lip from twitching. Confident in our battle strength pfft although he thought that he could feel the genuine concerning from Ron and felt happy. Yes, were fairly confident in our strength, goblins wont be a problem. Plus, we dont have anything else nned for today so two G-rank quest should be doable. Ok then as long as youre confident, but if not, try to expand your party. Although the reward money would be further divided, no amount of money is worth losing your lives Ron spoke sternly to make sure they understood the seriousness of his words. Thank you, well do so if needed. The more they spoke the better Frost felt about Ron. He reminded him of Leo with his good nature. Do you know where to go for the quest? Uhh I guess wed enter the Northrend Forest and look. Where in the Forest, what section? Eh section? Haaaaa Ron let out a deep sigh at Frosts response. They dont even know where to look Ron suddenly felt a rush of anger towards Jaina, it was her responsibility to properly aid neers. She should have given some advice about the local area as well as extra details about their quests. Without such information there would be very little chance of thempleting the quests on time. The guild master always stressed the fact that neers should be assisted as much as possible in order to grow into fine adventurers. Shes gone too far this time he sighed once again as he made a decision to speak to the guild master about her behaviour otherwise, shell end up doing something shell regret, and the guild will pay the price. Ron pulled out arge, folded parchment from underneath his leather armour. He unfolded itpletely and ced it on the table. It was a map. Take a look, this is a map covering Furano and the surrounding 100 kilometres Frost and Maya looked at the map in wonder. The Northrend forest as well as parts of the cial mountains including their dungeon were there, divided up into different sections using a number system. Chapter 54 Chapter 54: Chapter 54: First quest The Northrend forest in rtion to Furano is section Beta and is further divided into 12 smaller sections. Ron pointed out the areas as he spoke. The closer you get to the cial Mountains the stronger and more numerous the monsters be. For the two of you even if youre confident in your strength theres no need to go any deeper than the outskirts, mainly sections 1 through 4. He looked up to make sure that Frost and Maya were paying attention before moving on. For gathering red dwindle, section 2 is best as theres much more areas of growth there than other sections however with more red dwindlees more monsters luckily in your case its primarily frost goblins. They use red dwindle to heal their wounds just as we do so they tend guard these areas. So, if you want toplete both your quests in time, youll need to head to section 2 of the beta quadrant. The other three sections only have at least one of your targets or are in reduced supply. Ron lined the borders of section 2 with his finger and then helped exin its position in rtion to Furano. Frost was amazed at the intricate detail of the map, surprised to see it on an adventurer and one so young at that. He looked at Ron with gratitude, this information would be incredibly helpful in their quests. Thank you, Ron, well heed your advice and search in section 2. No need for thanks, as your senior its my duty to show you the ropes. Heughed while folding up the map and storing it back under his leather chest te. Frost was tempted slightly to steal the map, given the value of information it contained but instantly expunged those thoughts. Ron had assisted them; it would go against his principles to return a favour with malice. Ron saw Frosts focused look upon his map and smiled happily. ..... At least he knows how much its worth. By the way you can purchase a simr map from the guild for 1 gold coin, mine is a bit more detailed due my own additions as well as those of myrades. I highly rmend you purchase one as soon as you can afford it, they also sell basic ones for 10 silvers in some shops as well as the adventurer camp in the Northrend forest. Happy that he could help a couple of new adventurers he stood up to leave. If you have any queries about quests or need some advice, feel free to ask me anything whenever we cross paths again. Ron smiled as he bade farewell and left the guild hall. He had his own quest to fulfil. Frost and Maya were left smiling as they watched him walk away, their initial bad first impression of the guildpletely overturned. What a nice person. Frost felt that hede across so many nice people in Furano. Yeah, this town is lovely. Maya nodded her head in agreement, she was enjoying their time here. If he enters the dungeon, Ill go easy on him. Sounds fair. The two of them then stood up and walked out the guild hall together, prepared to leave Furano for a few hours in order toplete their first quests. After a short walk they arrived at the northern gate where they first met Kato, unfortunately he wasnt there so they couldnt say hello. They instead spoke to the gate keeper on duty, showed him their guild cards before he allowed them to exit without any issue. Ron said to head slightly northeast from the northern gate to reach section 2. Even though the forest was divided into 12 sections, these sections were absolutely massive covering tens of square kilometres each and looked very simr. Frost and Maya then walked together side by side until they once again reached the Northrend forest. As long as you were in the right area, finding goblins of any kind was easy, out of the monster races, onnd, goblins were by far the most abundant. They bred rapidly even more than rabbits and became fully grown in just a few short months. They are also one of the most annoying monsters in rtion to regr life. They mess up fields, kill livestock, damage buildings etc, a damn right nuisance. And worse of all none of their body parts are really useful in any way other than fertiliser and even then, theyre not as good as regr animal waste. Annoying and unprofitable, is how theyre frequently described, the only sce is that theyre the perfect monsters for newbie adventurers. Low intelligence, weakbat abilities and their short stature make them prime monsters for new adventurers to take on with little risk. Of course, there are some exceptions, higher ranked goblins are difficult to handle, andrge groups can cause tons of devastation so to help prevent that, theres a permanent kill quest that can be epted by any rank. It didnt take Frost and Maya long toe across their first frost goblin, it was alone and sticking out like a sore thumb amongst the trees. It certainly feels more barbaric than the ones born in the dungeon. Frostmented as he saw it in the distance. It looked a lot like the group that entered the dungeon a couple days ago. Uglier and smellier than his goblins. He didnt feel bad about hunting this kind of goblin. Ill make it quick, [ice bolt] Frost raised his arm in the frost goblins direction. His voice alerted the creature causing it to begin charging in their direction, screaming as it moved. He simply cast the ice bolt spell quickly generating a metre long bolt of ice which flew through the air and punctured the goblin in the chest, killing it instantly. Regardless of frost goblins having minor resistance to ice magic, there was nothing it could do after being pierced through the chest. It copsed with its eyes and mouth open in disbelief, its blood pooled on the ground. Since they werent in the dungeon the body wouldnt be absorbed. Standard protocol for adventurers when they kill a monster; after iming the usable parts they should either burn or bury the body unless there are using it as bait. This was to help prevent disease, attracting stronger monsters and or to prevent it from bing an undead creature. Frost moved over to his first monster kill, doing his best not to gag from the smell. God this thing stinks, the humans were much better in that regard. The smell given off by the frost goblin corpse was revolting as if it hadnt washed in years. With reluctance he cut off its right ear with an ice chakra de before preparing to set fire to the corpse with ignition, another lifestyle magic that produces as small me on the casters finger allowing them to set something alight. Its primarily used to start campfires but setting a small goblin corpse on fire was doable. If it was alive however it wouldnt work. Holding the goblins right ear in his hand he was stymied for a second. Ah I shouldve bought a backpack for storage. He looked towards Maya with a little guilt in his eyes. He knew that she had a storage device, but it was filled with her clothes and personal items, he wasnt sure if shed ept cing it there. Haaaaaaa Maya sighed before looking at Frost begrudgingly, she knew what he wanted without needing to hear him speak. Luckily, she had removed some items beforehand and ced them in their room back at Kathys inn so there was space but.... She looked at the ear that was still dripping blood... she really didnt want to say yes. As soon as we get back to Furano, hes taking me shopping at the very least. Although she was filled with reluctance she gave her permission, allowing Frost to store the quest items within her storage bracelet. I really need one of those. He felt envious every time he saw Maya magically pull things out of her bracelet, even his new ive was currently stored there -it was the only thing he was allowed to pack. Youre either dozens of gold coins short or at least 100,000 DP short to afford one at even half the size of mine and much less stable. Her bracelet was made by the Dark God himself, removing the fact that it was handmade by a God just the size and stability of the dimension was so much greater than the standard storage devices found in monsterirs or created by artificers. Although there was a storage magic spell, it was incredibly rare and expensive. Frost could only sigh in frustration. Guess Ill just have to make do with buying a backpack for now. As soon as he got enough money or DP however he was nning on purchasing one or the scroll to cast the magic directly. Wait a minute, my specialty is ice magic, would I even be able to cast space magic. He remembered Maya exining his magic situation when they first met. Ice magic wille incredibly easy to you, and youll face little bottlenecks however youll have difficulty learning other elements. Some you may never be able to use. It would be much cheaper in the long run if he could use the magic instead of relying on items that could be lost or damaged but if he couldnt use it then hed have to rely on items. Frost released another sigh when he realised this, but whether or not he could use space magic is a problem for the future, with their current stock of DP he was a long way off. As he handed the goblin ear to Maya for storage and prepared to cast the lifestyle magic ignition to set the corpse aze, he felt an energy flow into his body from the goblins corpse. Huh? The energy flowed towards his chest where the dungeon core used to be, it filled him with strength simr to when the dungeon absorbed DP when an intruder was killed albeit at a much lower dosage. Frost instinctively cancelled his spell and brought up the dungeon menu in its simplified form. On the screen next to his current DP amount there was the number 40 in brackets. It wasnt there before. Frost looked towards Maya for answers. Maya, do you know why theres a bracketed 40? He quickly went through the information given in the dungeon guidebook, but this wasnt mentioned. Any DP gained by the dungeon even when he is not within the vicinity should appear as normal. When they were travelling through the Northrend forest he checked on the DP level every few hours and DP gained was disyed as normal. Why was this any different. Frost grew worried that something may have happened to the dungeon, even with his fathers insurance policy he couldnt help but want to return just in case. Luckily however Maya came up with a theory alleviating his worries. Dark God-sama said multiple times that he wouldnt tell us everything about how dungeons work, you need to experiment yourself to find the answers, perhaps this is one of those times. Maya cupped her chin as she spoke, thinking out loud. You received 40DP and it was shortly after killing this frost goblin, and in the dungeon, youd normally get what 200DP, no? She looked at Frost for rification. Yeah Frost started to understand where Maya was going with this. How did Dark God-sama exin how DP worked to you? He said that everything contains some form of life energy and DP is just a renaming of this energy along with a scale. The purpose of the dungeon core is to collect this energy in order to allow us to use the power of creation. Ah Frost understood what Maya was getting at causing her to smile and nod. By killing this monster outside the dungeon, you were able to still absorb its life energy or DP. Since you were the one to kill it yourself and were in such close proximity you acted the same as the dungeon core albeit with a lot lower efficiency 20% efficiency in regards to the frost goblin. I see Frost understood, the dungeon itself acted as some kind of containment which absorbed the full amount however the majority of it escaped since it was in the regr world. The 40DP in brackets is probably highlighting the amount youre storing in your body, when we return to the dungeon it should align with the rest. I wonder though how much you can store? Maya queried the limit of what Frosts body could be without the dungeon core, perhaps 100DP a 1000DP or 10,000DP it could be unlimited theyd have to find out. Frost realised that this was properly another one of Darks ideas to help promote exploring out with the dungeon. If you could earn DP outside that would help solve a major downside of leaving your core unprotected. Chapter 55 Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Meeting the guild master Frost smiled, this trip to Furano had be even more worthwhile, now he had another reason to work as an adventurer. Now that they knew the reason for the bracketed 40DP there was no need to keep the frost goblin corpse intact. [Ignition] Frost cast the ignition spell and a small me floated onto the corpse, setting it alight, turning it to ashes. Once it was fully burned the two of them continued their hunt for frost goblins as well as the red dwindle nts. As the sun started to set turning the sky a brilliant red, Frost and Maya exited the Northrend forest and were heading to Furanos northern gate along with their bounty. Maya looked immacte without a single scratch or bit of dirt on her -mainly because Frost did all the work. Frost however was covered in bits of twigs and mud marks that he got when pulling up the red dwindle stalks. One of the frost goblins even tossed mud at his face as it tried to escape. He was far from the elegant looking young man he normally appeared to be. Maya struggled to hold back herughter every time she looked over. At the start Frost would use [clean up] to remove the dirt and stains however hed get dirty again 10 minutester, so he eventually gave up. [Clean up], [clean up] Frost casted the clean up spell twice to make sure, returning his robes to their pristine white and blue finish, the minor tears had already regenerated themselves. Ignoring the dirt and mess he got covered in, their hunt was incredibly sessful. They sessfully retrieved 20 stalks of red dwindle twice the required minimum. Whenever they saw one nt thered be at least another two nearby making it fairly easy to gather ten. The frost goblins however were heavily culled by Frost, they could have left hours ago but he wanted to keep hunting, and with the mad look in his eyes, Maya wasnt going to argue. His reasons were partially due to the DP hed get from killing but it was majorly due to that one goblin tossing dirt in his face resulting in what could only be considered a mass ughter. Frost hunted down over 20 frost goblins gaining more than 800DP. All their right ears and magic crystals were stored in Mayas storage bracelet ready to be processed at the guild. ..... The two walked in silence to the northern gate, where Kato was currently on shift. Ah Frost and Maya, I didnt know you were outside. Kato greeted them happily with a wave and smile. Which Frost and Maya returned. We registered as adventurers and left for our first quest. Hoh is that so, howd it go? It was a sess? Frost replied with his lips twitching, while Maya giggled at his side. I, see? Thats good then. Kato didnt really get their response, but they seeded so it couldnt be that bad. He took their guild cards and waved them over some sort of pedestal which glowed. Apparently, its to confirm if they had a registered quest or not otherwise, theyd have to pay a small toll to enter. Everything checks out, wee back. Kato passed their guild cards back and patted Frosts shoulder. Ill be heading to Kathys inn once my shift is over, allow me to buy you to a drink as a celebration for your first quest. Drink! As in alcohol?! Mayas eyes lit up at the mention of drink. Ughh yeah, unnerved by Mayas sudden outburst he stumbled his words. Yahooooo alcohol, alcohol. Maya started to brightly smile and hum a happy tune with repeating the word alcohol. Kato waspletely shocked, he looked at Frost in confusion, but he was sighing and shaking his head. Ah so shes that type. Kato knew of a few female friends who were alcohol obsessed but they were all dwarves. He looked towards Frost with sympathy and then worried about his own wallet. She wouldnt drink too much right? He started to regret his offer as he led the two into town. Once they cleared the gate area and started to walk to the adventurers guild Frost spoke sternly. One cup no more. His words caused Maya to shudder, she froze in ce and turned towards Frost with tears forming in her eyes. Frosts words were torture to her, she felt her world crashing down. Are you seriously about to cry? Maya was almost breaking downpletely, her eyes had grown misty and red. Ah! Shit two cups then and not a drop more. Frost was defeated by her and could onlypromise. If she started crying right in the middle of the street, hed be lost on what to do. Although it wasnt much the offer was enough for Maya to stop her crying, but she was still miffed. Luckily, she brought some sake from the dungeon and could drink that to supplement the two cups. Once they arrived at the adventurers guild, they followed the evening rush. The guild was quite busy at this time due to the gates being shut soon; people were returning to submit their sessful quests. Frost and Maya had to wait in line, thankfully there were more receptionists working and the female dwarf Jaina was nowhere to be seen. Instead, when it was their turn, they were greeted by a young female dog beastman. She had long floppy ears and looked rather cute. Hello, are you here to submit items for a quest? She asked politely. Wow big sis youre so pretty. Before Frost could answer however the dog girl was drawn to Maya, instantly praising her. Why thank you, youre pretty cute yourself. Maya replied in a friendly tone, she liked honest people. The young dog girl blushed from being called cute by such a pretty woman. Cough cough, an older female colleague coughed twice in the background to help her junior regain focus. She was quite young and new to the job, yet her outgoing and friendly personality made her quite popr. Ah sorry about that its business hours. The young girl, Kamey awkwardly smiled struggling to look directly and Maya and Frost. No problem she is pretty after all. Frost didnt mind the dog-eared girls actions and instead agreed with her assessment. Maya couldnt help but blush and pinch his side. Frost ignored Mayas pinching and spoke of why they were here. We registered as G-rank adventurers today and epted two quests, were hereplete them. Frost was smiling gently, the dog-eared girl Kamey was much better to talk to than Jaina. Ah! I see, can you hand over your guild cards first please. Kamey turned back into her professional mode. Frost and Maya handed her their guild cards. Frost and Maya both G-rank, just registered and you epted a frost goblin killing quest and red dwindle gathering quest. Do you have the items? Yes Frost now had two bags at his sides, since they didnt wish to reveal Mayas storage bracelet, they quickly bought a couple bags from a store they passed on the way to the guild. One for the goblin ears and one for the red dwindle stalks. He took off the bags and handed them to Kamey. There should be 20 red dwindle stalks and at least 20 frost goblin ears. Ok 20 red dwindle stalks and 20 fro....wait what? As Kamey was about to start counting and checking for quality she shouted in surprise. The 20 red dwindle stalk wasnt that unusual since it was simply gathering but Frost and Maya had killed almost 7 times the minimum amount of frost goblins. Thats way above the abilities of G-ranks. Kamey held her head, rubbing her temples as she tried to focus. These two are way above G-rank. She wondered if she should bring this issue up to the guild master, keeping Frost and Maya at G-rank was a waste. Her older colleague was just as shocked, people had certainly brought in more than the minimum requirements before but not seven times and most definitely not on their first quest. Sorry would you mind waiting here while I go and speak to the guild master. Kamey was flustered and didnt know what to do, she needed to speak with someone higher up. Shit Frost inwardly cursed, regretting his earlier decision to continue hunting frost goblins. He told Maya multiple times that they should remain low key, yet he was the one to draw attention to themselves. Before he could disagree, Kamey was already rushing up the stairs, all they could do was wait. Kameys shout had drawn some onlookers who were surprised but they became incredibly shocked when others who were present for Frost and Mayas registration told them that it was their first quest. All the adventurers present looked towards them with admiration, having such strong and young adventurers was a boon for Furano. Many were full of smiles and nodding as they gazed in their direction. Frost and Maya didnt have to wait long before they could see a middle-aged dwarf with red hair walk down the staircase along with the young, dog-eared girl Kamey. Kamey youre not pulling my leg here are you? The middle-aged dwarf whispered to Kamey as he descended the stairs. He was incredibly busy as is and didnt have time to help out a newbie with their job whenever they didnt know what to do. Ever since little Leo and Luna were attacked my workloads skyrocketed. Bastion the guild master of the Furano adventurers guildined internally but he didnt resent it. Leo and Luna were also like a niece and nephew to him, even after their party disbanded Bastion, Ryuu and Dous remained strong friends and often met up, so they were quite close with one anothers families. Yes, guild master Im not lying, these two adventurers Frost and Maya just registered today, and theyve alreadypleted their first quest far beyond the minimum requirements. They killed 20 frost goblins! Kamey loudly whispered in Bastions ear feeling oddly proud. That is impressive, 20 frost goblins when youre G-rank, perhaps I should allow them to skip to a higher rank. Kamey hade to find him about whether or not they should stay at G-rank. Even though technically they were required toplete 10 quests before moving on the guild master had the power to ignore this rule if he had sufficient reason. Suddenly however his legs stopped. Frost? Where have I heard that name before. Something was in the back of his mind, but he couldnt think what, he shook his head and continued to follow Kamey down the stairs. It wasnt until he was standing directly in front of Frost that his mind started scream telling him he was forgetting something. Since Frost was wearing the wolf mask his face couldnt be seen but anyone could tell that he was handsome. Frost, Maya this is sir Bastion the guild master of the Furano adventurers guild. Whenever Bastion was introduced, people were required to add sir at the start due to his former B-rank adventurer status making him a noble. Its nice to meet you guild master, Im Frost and this is mypanion, Maya. Nice to meet you. Maya did a slight courtesy to show respect. Ah! Now I remember youre that Frost! The guild master shouted in surprise, he finally realised who was in front of him. Frost however was shocked. Have we met before? Hed never seen the guild master before, and they hadnt done anything of great merit before this. The only thing he could think of was Jaina the person supposedly rted to Bastion. Frost frowned worried that Bastion would be same type of person. Quicke with me to my office theres much I need to say to you. Bastion however was full of smiles and looked at Frost with gratitude. Looks like its not about that then but what? Frost remained confused but since Bastion was acting friendly it gave him no recourse to refuse. Bastion led Frost, Maya, and Kamey into his office with a spring in his step before asking Kamey to fetch his guests some tea. With the three of them now sitting down in Bastions office and the door closed to prevent eavesdropping Bastion finally spoke. Youre Frost, the one who rescued Leo and Luna arent you?: Chapter 56 Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Meeting the guild master (2) Frosts brow raised in surprise; he wasnt expecting the guild master to recognise him. If youre talking about Leo the lords son and Luna his fianc then yes, I did help them out recently. He responded honestly. Hearing Frosts confirmation, Bastion stood up and bowed towards him. Thank you for saving them, theyre like family to me, if something had happened, I dont know what I would have done. Bastion clenched his fist tightly as he spoke. When they needed him or Ryuu they were nowhere to be seen, they had to rely on the kindness of a stranger. Bastion felt deep remorse about this failure and even more gratitude towards Frost for saving them. It was my pleasure, theyre good kids. Bastion released a deep sigh before sitting back down. Have you been in Furano long? ..... We just entered this morning. Good, good, have you met up with Leo yet? No, we nned to do that tomorrow or the day after. Frost looked towards Maya. I see, he hasnt stopped talking about you since he returned so the sooner the better if possible. Do you know where the lords mansion is? Bastion looked over Maya as he spoke, Leo and Luna never mentioned anything about her in their report. No, we dont actually, I nned to either ask the guild or the local guard. No need for that, if youe over tomorrow, Ill take you, I need to visit anyway. Being escorted by the guild master himself, how lucky. Frost smiled internally. Being taken by him would save us from any trouble with gaining entry. Leo had mentioned that his father was currently sick so it was most likely that Adam would have some degree of control in the premises. Thank you for the trouble. Frost thanked Bastion with a genuine smile. Itd be my pleasure... now on a different topic I hear that you registered with the guild today andpleted your first quest. Kamey walked through the door with tea the moment the topic changed as if Bastion timed it perfectly. Hes strong as well. Even Frost didnt notice Kamey until she was opening the door. Once Kamey ced the cups of tea down, she stood behind Bastion, acting like a secretary. Maya decided to speak this time. Yes, guild master, we registered shorty after finding an inn to stay at, Kathys inn have you heard of it? Maya felt good about the inn, especially the food and felt like giving it some good promotion. Ah yes I frequently dine there with my daughter or the guild staff. Frost and Maya grimaced at the mention of his daughter but returned to smiling almost instantly but it was caught by Bastion. Damn what mess have you caused now Jaina. He found dealing with his daughter difficult, ever since his wife passed, hed been reluctant to punish her in anyway leading to her spoiled attitude but looks like it was time to stop. Bastion shook his head, putting the Jaina issue tillter. Its a good inn to stay at, cosy and great food. The best, Maya smiled agreeing whole heartedly. Kamey then handed Bastion some documents over his shoulder. You epted a red dwindle stalk gathering quest as well as the frost goblin kill quest right and ording to this you not only submitted perfectly intact stalks but twice the required amount. Frost delicately used an ice chakra dagger to remove the nt from its roots leaving a clean cut not damaging them in the slightest. Any damage could reduce the medicinal value of the stalk and or even kill the remaining roots. Most rookie G-rank and F-rank adventurers would leave some sort of damage with their rough and or incorrect gathering skills. But Frost and Maya supplied twenty perfect stalks. Bastion was more impressed by this than the goblin kills since he knew of Frosts strength already. They must have some knowledge of botany. Bastion knew that someone without any prior knowledge could never procure such materials. Well, he wasnt exactly wrong, Frost knew a decent amount about red dwindle since it grew in his dungeon, in addition to the information Maya rted to him he could be considered fairly knowledgeable. To preserve the stalks medicinal quality, cutting must be done a single fluid motion with a razor-sharp de, the leaves and branches must not be torn or broken in anyway, they must be gently eased away from the stalk before cutting. Then stored carefully for transport, they cant rub or grind against other stalks or tough items otherwise the quality will reduce. Luckily, Maya had the storage bracelet to ease in safe transportation and the bag Frost bought had individual sections for each stalk, helping to preserve their perfect state. Not to mention the fact that as G-rank party you killed over 20 frost goblins, 22 to be exact, more than 7 times the minimum. The guild staff had been examining their bags as they spoke to Bastion, the documents Kamey gave him contained their findings. With this alone I can rank you up to F-rank immediately, I wouldnt even have to pull any strings. Bastion smiled as he waved the documents in his hand. Eh I thought we needed to do at least 10 quests, that was only two. Frost remembered what Jaina said about rank ups. But we only did two quests? Maya asked also a little confused. Technically yes but also no. You epted two quests however you supplied way more than required and every time you meet the minimum it counts as a questpletion. In this case since you brought back 20 red dwindle stalks it counts as two quests whereas the frost goblin kill quest counts as seven for a grand total of nine. That still doesnt add up? Correct but since you two supplied 20 stalks of PERFECT quality the quest number is doubled, making it 4 so in theory youvepleted 11 quests on your first day, a record for this branch and possibly the fastest rank up in history. Bastionughed as he spoke, he nned to use his position to forcefully rank up Frost and Maya at least once given their abilities and Frosts contribution to Furano, but they went and did it with their own power. Why wouldnt he be happy and feel proud. These were people registered in his guild bringing glory to him and the Furano viscounty. However, Bastion still felt that this wasnt enough, he knew that Frost had the strength of at least C-rank whereas he couldnt even begin to guess at Mayas strength. At times hed feel as though she was a weak and innocent young woman but is instincts would asionally send a signal of danger. He couldnt read her at all. To be honest if I could Id rank you up to D-rank considering your abilities however rules are rules, I can forcefully make you E-rank given the fact you scouted out the new monsterir and the saving of Luna and Leo. Any higher would need confirmation by central and some kind of proof which would take a long time. And youd probably be faster justpleting ten E-rank quests. As adventurers reached higher ranks, the politics involved grew. To be B-rank you needed to have some kind of noble (could be a B or A-rank adventurer) advocate on your behalf. Frost was stunned, he only just registered yet the guild master wanted to bump him up to D-rank, thats the same rank as Chase and John. Frost knew that he was stronger than them but still he had no adventuring experience and Bastion barely knew him. Is he really so trusting? Frost felt that Bastion was getting to emotionally involved with his decision. No, no theres no need for that E-rank is more than enough, were still newbies after all even if we have strength, weck the experience of adventurers. He didnt know much about camping, the local area, how to fight and dismantle certain monsters and he knew nothing about traps and tracking, there was still a lot for him to learn. Haha modest and humble, no sign of arrogance, youll go far Frost haha Bastionughed greatly pleased with Frosts response. Kamey their guild cards please and the licensing device. Bastion ordered Kamey to fetch the materials required for the rank up. Yes, guild master Kamey was smiling and was already prepared, she passed their guild cards to Bastion as well as a small intricate box with a slot machine for the cards. Well rank you up to F-rank first since thats simple. Kamey had already gotten the guild cards updated with thepletion of their quests. Bastion stamped the two cards with a seal before slotting them through the licensing machine which gave off a bong sound to show it was finished. The two cards now showed that they were F-rank. Now for the unorthodox method. Bastion smiled, he loved breaking the guilds rules for a good reason. He opened up part of the licensing device revealing a keypad. He then entered a six-digit code along with the desired rank before sending in a stream of his mana. Bong! The device epted the information. Perfect now we just need to do the first part again. Bastion repeated the same process changing the guild cards to E-rank this time. He handed the cards back to Frost and Maya once he was done with them. Name: Frost Rank: E-rank Registration: Furano, Northrend Questspleted: 11 (g-rank) Weapon: ive Magic: Ice Name: Maya Rank: E-rank Registration: Furano, Northrend Questspleted: 11 (g-rank) Weapon: Hammers Magic: Ice Is everything in order? Bastion asked to make sure the device didnt erase or add anything unnecessary. Everythings in order with mine, Maya? Same here Maya nodded and smiled before slotting her guild card into her chest receiving a thumbs up from Kamey. The cardpletely disappeared in between the two mountains of flesh causing Frosts mind to run wild for a second. Cough cough Bastion lightly coughed to erase the suggestive mood between Frost and Maya, it made him ufortable as well. He became nostalgic about his deceased wife; she also had a ratherrge chest. I guess now we just need to pay you for your services. Bastion turned to Kamey who had already brought up the required amount in a coin purse. Receiving the go-ahead Kamey ced the coins on the table generating a clinking sound. With the red dwindle stalks being of perfect condition, the price per stalk jumps up to 7 coppers and since there was twenty that makes 140 coppers or 1 silver and 40 coppers. Kamey ced a silver coin and forty coppers to the side. For the frost goblins its 8 coppers per right ear as well 2 copper for each magic crystal. You supplied 22 goblin right ears and 16 magic crystals making 208 coppers or 2 silvers and 8 coppers. She then added 2 silvers and 8 coppers to the previous pile yet there was still a few coins left over. In addition, anyone sessfully ranking up to F-rank receives a reward of 50 coppers each. She added another silver coin to the pile. And for ranking up to E-rank theres a reward of 1 silver each. Kamey passed the remaining two silvers towards the pile. For a grand total of 6 silvers and 48 coppers. Kamey announced the total and looked towards Bastion to make sure she didnt forget anything. In turn he nodded since she did everything correctly. Kamey then poured the now counted coins back into the coin purse and passed it to Frost. Wow thats way more than I thought. He wasnt expecting to actually make a profit today given that he already spent over 4 silvers on food and lodging. G-rank adventurers normally only have very simple meals and live in very cheap inns or still at home with their parents. It wasnt until E and D-rank that the payments really started in silvers. The rank up reward was a nice touch as well, guess thats there to help promote self-improvement. While Frost was analysing and Maya was thanking Kamey as she ced the coin purse into her sleeve, since it would be ufortable to ce in her chest given its shape. Bastion stood up and walked to his desk. He pulled out a locked chest from one of the drawers and brought that chest over to the table cing it before him. Bastion channelled some of his mana into the lock resulting in it clicking and the lid opening. A golden and silver light escaped the box as it opened, this was Bastions personal safe. Ignoring Kameys awkward and shocked look he proceeded to remove 2 gold coins from the chest and ce them on the table. Chapter 57 Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Alcohol shopping Frost had never seen gold coins before, but he knew the value of them. 100 silvers, he sucked in a sharp breath as he realised the amount ced on the table. Maya however was unfazed; shed seen treasures far more valuable and had seen coins of much higher value before. The investigation of a new monsterir is usually priced at 50 silvers, thats what we paid the cial scions. The work you did defending Luna and Leo from the red hawk bandits as well as the other person. Bastion didnt reveal Alexs name since Kamey was still in the room and he didnt want her to be involved. Would count as at least a D-rank bodyguard quest on the behalf of a noble, going for anywhere between 25 and 50 silvers depending on the opponents and destination. The remaining gold coin is my personal thank you for saving my niece and nephew as well as young members of this guild branch. Bastion then pushed the two gold coins to Frost after exining his reasons. Kamey initially wanted to oppose at least some of the payment since she didnt know the full story, but it was the guild masters own money, so it wasnt her ce. There was silence in the room, Bastion had his head lowered in thanks, Kamey with her mouth agape unsure on how to act, Maya who was staring at Frost waiting for him to react and Frost whose gaze was fixed on the gold coins as multiple thoughts went through his head. Thats gold, 2 gold coins, thats more than 5 times the current amount I have on hand, thats 2000DP if exchanged. His mind raced as he suddenly felt rich and had the urge to go shopping. His daze was broken by Maya nudging him with her elbow. .... Thank you, guild master, for your generosity. Frost didnt quibble about receiving payment in gold coins. Bastion had already told him of his reasons and the guild receptionist Kamey wasnt interrupting so the numbers probably checked out. ..... He picked up the two gold coins and calmly ced then into the coin purse stored in his sleeves, tapping it a few times instinctively. Bastion smiled, he was happy that Frost chose to ept the money, a weight was lifted from his shoulders allowing him to rx somewhat. It was at this time that a knock was heard on the guild masters door along with the sound of a middle-aged man. Guild master its time for your meeting with the merchant guild leader. The man didnt open the door only reporting the information before walking away. Bastion sighed and clicked his tongue, but he had his duties. Sorry about this, looks like we need to cut this discussion short. Bastion stood up and nodded towards Kamey who nodded back. It was lovely to meet the two of you, if you coulde over tomorrow morning, we can go the lords manor together. Bastion patted Frosts and Mayas shoulders before returning to his desk to prepare for his next meeting. Kamey moved to guide Frost and Maya out. See you tomorrow guild master. See you tomorrow guild master. Frost and Maya both bade farewell with a smile before following Kamey out of the office. As they walked down the stairs, they passed a much older gentlemen who wasvishly dressed and had a calcting look. His gaze quickly examined Frost and Maya as they passed, his brows raised ever so slightly as he gave a gentle nod before facing forward again. He must be the merchant guild leader. Frost could feel that he was being analysed not for his strength but based on his appearance, attire, and aura and that the old man was impressed. Kamey confirmed his guess. Thats the current guild leader of the Furano merchant guild, he holds a simr status to our guild master. Kamey whispered in a very respectful manor, she treated him with great importance. Thanks to his skill and charisma themerce capabilities of the Furano viscounty have vastly improved in the past decades.... Her tone grew soft and sympathetic. Such as shame thatll end soon. She felt pained as she watched the merchant guild leader elegantly walk up the steps to the guild masters office. Frost and Maya grew intrigued, their urge for gossip growing however before they could ask for more details Kamey cut them off. But thats not important. They had reached the bottom of the stairs, the main area of the guild hall. Congrattions on your guild promotion, I hope youll continue to bring glory to our branch, bye bye. Kamey politely bowed before returning back to behind the reception desk to continue her regr work leaving Frost and Maya a little out of sorts. Thats a g, right? Frost leaned over and asked Maya. Yes, young master, its highly likely well somehow end up involved with the merchant guild, Im sure of it. Maya was a big fan of novels and had told Frost multiple things, gs were one of those things. Whenever you talk about something unrted to you or something with low chance of actually happening, chances are it will. Maya was filled with excitement of being involved in a possible g situation, she couldnt control the wide smile that formed on her face and theughter slipping past her lips. Frost was also rather interested, not in the g situation but more in the man himself. Someone who vastly improved the regionsmerce hmmmm. Frost felt that that knowledge would be useful to him in the future. As the dungeon grew in size and inhabitants so would the visitors, creating something simr to a town or city or perhaps even a country,merce and trade would eventually be a key part of its development. Frost and Maya still had some time left before the sun fully set, bringing the beginning of the night. With some daylight left they decided that they should spend a little of their newly found wealth. 2 gold coins, 6 silvers and 48 coppers along with the 20 in silvers and the 8 silvers worth of copper we already had makes for about 2.3 gold coins Frost counted the money still in the coin purse kept in his sleeve. How much was a good bottle of sake again? Frost remembered that he owed Maya a decent bottle of sake after having her tell him about the Holy White empire and their Church of Light. To rece that bottle with like for like youd need at least 10 gold coins... but we can get a nice upper-ss bottle for around 40 slivers, I can make do with that. Maya smiled while showing her teeth causing Frost to shiver. 10 gold coins for a single bottle, no wonder she wasnt fazed by receiving gold coins as payment. Frost looked strangely at Maya, thinking of her personal items such as the dresses, alcohol, and snacks and then finally her strength. She must have been quite rich before bing a guardian. The expensive clothes, booze, and those hammers, he felt ashamed and embarrassed over his excitement in seeing gold for the first time. He sighed and shook his head before responding back. Hopefully, itll suit the young misss tastes. He spoke sarcastically while increasing his pace towards the shopping district where they purchased the adventurers bags. Hahaha Maya giggled charmingly as she matched his walking speed and wrapped herself around his arm, ignoring his feelings. So long as its something young master buys me, Ill love it. She spoke with pure unfiltered honesty as she leaned her head against his shoulder causing him to blush. It didnt take them long to find an alcohol shop specialised in pricey wines and spirits, in fact it was on the same street as where they bought the adventurer backpacks for 1 silver each. Ding dong A bell attached to a string rang as Frost opened the shops door. Wee dear customer, how can we be of service. An old man seated behind a counter greeted Frost happily. Frosts attire looked anything other than cheap, so the shops owner believed him to be a worthy patron. The shop itself was rather modest in size, there were several wine cabs covering the walls and a few ced within the centre. By the shop window were some of the morevish looking bottles with their own crystal cases on pedestals. There was also a soft scent of rose wood as well as oak. Smells expensive that was the best way for Frost to describe it,pared the general store where he bought the bags this ce screamed money and specialist. Maya was already getting antsy, holding back her drool. This shop was practically heaven for her. Yes, Im looking to purchase some fine alcohol, preferably some sake. Frost responded calmly as he looked over some of the goods for sale. Each area of the shop was divided by type and by price with the less expensive goods being closer to the door and the pricier ones being either in front of the window or behind the counter. The shopkeeper could see Frost looking as well as the excited expression on Mayas face and smiled. Some true alcohol lovers. Very few people would request sake when they entered his shop, only those from the east or true alcohol lovers would request it. He already felt good about Frost and Maya. Yes of course, we have a fairly good collection of sake if I do say so myself. The shopkeeper lifted up the door to the counter and walked over towards them. Do you have a price in mind? The quality of sake was divided into levels with each of them having their own corresponding price range. The most expensive bottle in his job was a B-rank bottle costing 5 gold coins, he kept it in back for any true connoisseur afraid to drink it himself. Something between 30 and 50 silvers preferably, but we can go a little higher if need be. Frost could see the appreciation in the shop keepers eyes as he looked at them inwardly thinking. Ah hes an alcoholic too. Frost decided that around 65 silvers was his absolute limit for now, they could always return when they had more money. Frosts response caused the shop keeper to feel ted yet slightly disappointed at the same time. The price of 30 to 50 silvers was enough for a decent C-rank sake, still a fairly expensive purchase but he couldnt help but always get his hopes up when someone asked for sake, hoping that theyd ask for his prized B-rank bottle. But he was a professional his slight disappointment never showed on his face as he smiled and nodded in response. Thats the price range for a mid C-rank bottle, we have a few of those in stock. The shop keeper then led Frost and Maya to the counter while he took down 3 different bottles from the shelf behind him. Fire lizard sake, 30 silvers. Moon doe sake, 60 silvers. And finally snow rice sake 50 silvers. The shop keeper ced each bottle on the counter and read out their names and prices. Hoh one is above the budget, as expected of a merchant. Frost smiled but the decision wasnt his to make, he just had to pay. He turned to look at Maya whose eyes were staring at the three bottles as if she was trying to see through them. Sir? The shopkeeper felt awkward not receiving any response from Frost. Shes choosing Frost responded by nodding his chin towards Maya. Ah! The shopkeepers eyes opened wide as he turned to Maya, he assumed that Frost would be the one decidingpletely overlooking the young woman at his side. Maya was in a very difficult position; she was having an internal struggle. She couldnt choose which one to get. Shed at least heard of all three but never actually tasted them. She needed more information. Shopkeeper what can you tell me about each of these bottles, the more details the better, Ive heard of each of them but never personally tasted them, so Ill be relying on your expertise. Maya looked at the shopkeeper with avid concentration like a student to their teacher. Anyone selling alcohol must have a wide and varied palette and have a great extent of knowledge about the products they are selling, well a good shopkeeper should. Chapter 58 Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Dinner .... The shopkeeper was momentarily stunned as he received Mayas intense gaze but quickly smiled as he grew excited. Why of course youngdy first off, the fire lizard sake is best served hot, to get the most vour. Its spicy yet also sweet, a solid C-rank sake from the southern continent. The shopkeeper spoke with such enthusiasm it looked as though he grew ten years younger. The moon doe sake is the most expensive C-rank, and it was brewed on the western continent by the wood elves, it has a very mellow and silky taste that soothes ones every fibre, a very good sake however I strongly rmend the snow rice sake priced at 50 silvers mainly due to our location. This bottle has travelled the least as it was brewed right here in the Northrend empire, it has, like the fire lizard sake a spicy taste that warms up your entire body, but the taste is much, much richer, and it is ideal for drinking in cold climates. It is by far one of my favourite sakes, and out of all three it is the highest quality. The shop keeper spoke with such confidence and assurance. The moon doe sake was more expensive due to the transporting costs from the western continent whereas the snow rice sake could be easily brought over by the local merchants. Resulting in more money being for the sake itself than simply getting it to the store. Usually if youre a merchant youd advertise the most expensive one if possible, so as to generate more profit but this shop keeper obviously didnt ce profit as his primary goal here. He gave his honest opinion as a lover of alcohol not a merchant. Mayas eyes lit up as the shopkeeper spoke, her gaze was drawn toward the bottle on the right. The snow rice sake, she trusted the shopkeepers words and made her decision. Well take the snow rice sake please. Maya lightly mmed her hand on the table, her eyes glued to the bottle. ..... Frost sighed lightly before smiling as long as shes happy. He pulled out his coin purse and withdrew a gold coin. Wed like a bottle of the snow rice sake please. He presented the gold coin to the shopkeeper who was all smiles. Understood thank you for your purchase dear customer. The shopkeeperughed before wrapping up the bottle of sake in protective paper and exchanging it for the gold coin. Thats 50 slivers change. He handed Frost 50 silvers back as he put the gold coin into his cash drawer. Thank you, sir. Thanks shopkeeper, well be back again soon, we can talk more about alcohol then. Maya waved goodbye as they walked out the shop happy with their purchase. What a lovely young couple. The shopkeeper was still smiling as he watched them walk out and pass his window. As they left the store, night was drawing closer, and Frost started to feel peckish. Lets head back to the inn to get something to eat before calling it a day. Theyd most likely be busy tomorrow so Frost felt it was fine to rest early. Yesssss Maya responded happily as she cradled the sake bottle in her arms as if it was the most precious thing the world. They couldnt really go on proper shop anyway as most of the stores were closing. Ah Frost, Maya wee back, are you ready for dinner? Kathy greeted them as they walked through the inns doors, the ce was still incredibly busy with waitresses dashing to and fro. Yeah, well have dinner before heading upstairs to call it a night. Sounds good, find a space and a waitress will be right with you. Kathy couldnt stay long as she was needed back in the kitchen. As they tried to find a seat amongst the chaos, they could hear someone shouting. Fr.....st.....Frost!, Maya! eventually they could hear a young mans voice shouting their names. They turned around to see Kato the gatekeeper smiling and tapping the seats next to him. I saved you a space. Heughed and beckoned for them toe over. Earlier to celebrate their first sessful quest Kato promised them a drink. Frost and Maya made their way over and sat next to Kato. Hey Kato, Maya greeted him first causing him to slightly blush, he was a young man and Maya was incredibly attractive even though Frost was with her he couldnt help but feel attracted. Hey Maya, hey Frost, how was the guild? Frost and Maya looked at one another before sighing. Hectic but profitable. Frost simplified their visit to three words leaving Kato confused but he didnt pry. Guess I still owe you those drinks then? Yes, yes yes Maya spoke quickly and ced her hands on the table as she stood, she wasnt going to let Kato squeal out of his offer. Frostughed out loud in response as did Kato. A waitress then came over with the menu, it wasrger than the lunch menu. There was an extra couple pages dedicated to alcohol. If youve paid for meals with your lodgings you can choose from the set choices on the fourth page or you can order a regr meal and pay the excess. The waitress was different from earlier, much more stoic. Frost turned to page 4 where the set meals were, the choice was certainly limited but it wasnt that bad, each meal came with a drink of your choice including the house beer. Is there any drinks I can get you while you choose your meal? Ill take a mug of the house ale, you two? Kato responded first before looking at Frost, Maya was quickly scanning through the drink selection. Ill have an ale as well please. Frost decided to have the same as Kato, hecked experience with food and drink so anything would be new to him, he wasnt too fussed about the particrs. And for the young miss. The waitress wrote down their orders before turning to Maya. Ill take a ss of ice heart wine. She responded with conviction, mming shut the menu and smiling towards Kato. Ugh! Katos face quickly drained of colour, he knew how expensive that wine was, 1 silver the same price of a high-quality main meal. He looked at Maya as if she was the devil, he was a gatekeeper although his sry wasnt bad, and he could ssh out asionally, 1 silver for a single ss was a bit more than he was expecting to pay. The house ale only cost 8 coppers. Frost noticed pain in his face and red at Maya, he knew she must have picked an expensive drink. He sighed before slipping a silver coin under the table towards Kato. One silver was easily within his budget, so he didnt mind paying. However, Kato was stubborn he refused to take Frosts silver coin, shaking his head he looked at him with determination. I said I would treat you, so Ill treat you, Im a man of my word. Kato felt a weight being lifted of his chest as he spoke. Its only a silver coin its not the end of the world. He wasnt that bothered about spending a silver coin, it was the fact that it was being spent on a single cup of wine. But he was a man of his word, he nodded to the slightly stunned waitress saying it was alright. The waitress gave Kato an internal thumbs up as she walked away with the order. Thanks Kato youre really cool. Maya smiled sweetly at Kato making the expense seem worth it, her smile really was charming. Frost gave him a curt nod for his actions. Kato didnt feel as downhearted after that, he also managed to leave a good impression on the cute waitress, so it wasnt all bad. With the drinks now ordered they could get to choosing their meals. Frost and Maya turned to page four where the set meals included with lodging were listed. 1. Artic boar burger with fries. 2. Chicken (or vegetable) omelette with winter sd. 3. Grilled salmon with rice and veg. 4. House curry with rice. There were four options to choose from and all sounded rather delicious. I had the artic boar burger for lunch, so Ill get the house curry. Since everything was new to him it didnt really matter what he chose. Ill go for the grilled salmon then. Maya decided fairly quickly as well. Salmon huh I wonder if its the same type as the one in the winter hignds room. Frost remembered the few species of fish that came with the dungeon environment. Ill have to ask Maya for a taste. He subconsciously licked his lips. He had no reservations about eating the free creatures that came with the dungeon, only the monsters he summoned directly made him feel a bond. Theyre both good trust me, my sisters recipes are amazing, everything she cooks tastes divine... my brothers a lucky man. Kato grew a little depressed and lonely. He broke up with his girlfriend 3 months ago, well breaking up is putting it lightly, she cheated on him. Hed been feeling rather down since then,ing to his brother and sister inws inn helped ease the pain, as did the alcohol. His gaze wondered over a few of the waitresses but was instantly reminded of the betrayal. His gaze then wondered toward Maya and Frost. Tsk he clicked his tongue in annoyance. Everyones got someone but me. The drinks arrived quickly, the house ale ordered by Frost and Kato were in standard wooden mugs like the fruit juice whereas the frost heart wine was served in a beautiful crystal ss allowing you to see the beautiful ruby red liquid sitting within in. While Frost and Maya were admiring the wine, Kato started to quickly down his ale, trying to drown his sorrows. Maya licked her lips as she steadied herself, there was proper protocol when drinking fine wine. She swirled it in the ss gently and sniffed the sweet aroma before taking a small sip. Her face flushed red as the wine passed over her tongue, it was cold, very cold, and sweet. She broke into a pleased expression as she swallowed her first sip. Frosts heart started to beat widely at her actions, her movements were beautiful and full of elegance, he found her to be incredibly sexy, developing as slight blush to match her. Ah good wine, thanks Kato. Maya smiled and gave her genuine thanks to Kato for buying her such a good wine, but he was too busy downing his ale to notice. She turned then to her young master Frost. Eh young master whys your face red? ....No reason. He turned away from Maya copying Kato in glugging down the ale. The waitress who witnessed the entire thing from the side lines struggled to contain her urge tough. Hav....have you decided what youd like to eat? Her lips twitched as she spoke. Ill have my usual barbeque ribs and another ale please. Kato knocked his empty mug on the table, his face was already slightly pink from the alcohol, he wasnt a very good drinker. Ill try the house curry please. Frost wiped away the foam umted on his lip from the ale. How spicy, mild? medium? hot? Extra hot? Oh, its a spicy dish. Ill go for medium then. Frost wasnt sure how hed be with spicy so he ordered the regr level, if he got mild, he wouldnt understand what spicy tasted like. And Ill have the grilled salmon please miss waitress. Maya asked full of smiles as she took small sips of her wine, afraid to waste even the smallest drop. Ok got it, your meal should be with you shortly. The waitress took away their menus but didnt forget to send Kato a flirtatious wink before heading back to the kitchen. Katos eyes opened wide in surprise and his throat felt dry before blushing. Maya and Frost sniggered in response, further increasing Katos blush. The rest of the evening passed very pleasantly, the three of them talked and talked about everyday things, cementing a newfound friendship. Frost greatly enjoyed his curry but found the spiciness a bit much he praised himself for getting the medium level and not the hot. By the end of their meals Kato was significantly drunk after downing six cups of ale and needed a hand getting home, luckily their waitress offered to help, allowing Kato to lean against her as she took him home. Frost initially wanted to refuse as it seemed as though the woman was taking advantage of Katos drunk state but when he went to make a move, he received a death re from Kato roughly tranting as, you take one more step or say a single word and youre dead. He backed off immediately, Kato was clearly still able to think straight. With Kato being taken care of, Frost and Maya headed up to their room to call it a night. Chapter 59 Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Reuniting with Leo and Luna The next day. Their sleep was suffice to say was not that pleasant. The beds although with the warm nkets were rtivelyfy, they did get scratchy after a while. Frost and Maya had gotten too used to the facilities in the dungeons private space, sleeping on the beds there was like sleeping on air. However, they did manage to sleep for a few hours, restoring their lost energy. They woke up just before dawn, it was 20 minutes until breakfast would be served, and they nned to eat in the diner instead of having it brought to them. Good morning young master. Maya greeted Frost while yawning and stretching her back. Frost was about to respond before he stumbled, Maya was in a pair of white pyjamas which were barely containing her breasts, as she stretched, Frost could almost hear the buttons screaming in pain as they were pushed to their limits. Pop! And what was predicted came to pass, the middle button burst, sending it flying across the room to smack against Frosts forehead, but he didnt even get a chance to react. His vision was eclipsed by the beautiful sight before him. A certain part of him started to strongly react as the remaining buttons started to feel the pressure. Agh! Not another one, I really liked theses pyjamas. Completely ignoring Frosts existence, Maya grabbed hold of her breasts in annoyance as if ming them. She scowled as she tried close therge opening in the centre of her chest but failed, there was far too much too cover. Failing to fix her attire she looked to Frost aiming to ask him to turn around as she changed but was stunned. Her gaze was absorbed by therge tent forming near Frosts groin, easily pushing against the fabric as it extended and straightened upwards. ..... She blushed and visibly shook before screaming. Gyahh! She covered her chest quickly with her arms, but her rapid movements sent another button flying, hitting Frost in the chest. With another button gone her entire chest was practically exposed for Frost to see. Her dainty little arms barely covered her nipples at best. Frost felt his nose start to feel warm, drops of blood started to drip down, he got a nosebleed. The sight was too visibly stimting for a young man like him. His bloody nose caused Maya to start tearing up, she picked up the nearest pillow andunched it straight a Frosts face before turning around and sobbing. Pervert! She shouted loudly, enough to be heard throughout the inn. Many of the recently awoken staff smiled as they worked, they were used to such screams in the morning. Frost was too captivated to dodge the pillow that flew at his face. Boomf! When the pillow struck his face, it made a sound that should have been impossible for a pillow to make. Frosts nose was squashed, and his neck was forced back violently, he felt as though he was struck by a sandbag instead of a pillow. The blow was so strong that it knocked him off his feet. Bang! The back of his head mmed against the wooden floor sending vibrations throughout the inn, once again alerting the staff. And once again they lightly sniggered but didnt worry or take any action. And that pretty much sums up how their first morning waking up in Furano came to pass. As Frost and Maya came down the stairs for breakfast 20 minutester, the on-duty staff couldnt help but snigger. Although Frost had once again donned his mask at Mayas insistence, he had arge swelling on the back of his head from where he struck the floor. Mayas eyes also showed her embarrassment and shame, she avoided looking at people directly, primarily focusing on the floor. She forgot where they were and realised that everyone here would have heard her screams. She wanted to dig a hole and hide away for the rest of the day, but they had things to do, and Frost wasnt one to let her off easy. She still remembered the cold pissed off look he gave her once she changed, it sent shivers down her spine. Frost on the other hand was finding dealing with Mayas risky antics harder and harder to deal with. His body was that of a young man in his prime and Maya was stunningly gorgeous, at this rate he may lose control at some point and make a move on her. The problem was her strength, if at some point she doesnt hold back, he could be a meat pancake from a single p. They ate their breakfast of bacon and eggs in silence before leaving Kathys inn and walking to the adventurers guild however the moment they stepped out the door they were greeted by a familiar face. Hey Frost-senpai, Leo was standing outside the inn, along with a fancy looking carriage, Luna was standing next to him with a smile on her face, as was the guild master Bastion although he was sighing and sending Frost a look saying, this wasnt my idea. Bastion had nned for them to move inconspicuously in a regr carriage to not draw any attention to themselves but when he informed the lords mansion the previous night about Frost and his visit. Leo said hed pick them up first thing and hung up themunication magic device leaving Bastion unable to argue. Ugh Frost was stunned, truly not expecting to be greeted like this first thing in the morning. Hi Frost-senpai, Luna spoke but her gaze was drawn to Maya, her chest in particr. So big, she felt her own budding chest in disappointment before quickly ring over at Leo to make sure he wasnt leching. Leo, Luna its been a while. Frost shook his head and smiled before walking closer. Maya followed at his side. He looked over Luna and Leos condition. They look healthy, and a little stronger. You look good. Thanks Frost-senpai. Thanks Frost-senpai. The two smiled like children getting praised. This is? Leo turned to Maya and was stunned. Damn! His eyes opened wide as he studied the beauty standing before him, she was the entire package. He nodded internally thinking. Of course, his partner needs to be this beautiful. Leo felt that Frost and Maya were a perfect match just like him and Luna. He turned to his fianc full of love and smiled causing her to blush. This is mypanion, Maya. Frost wrapped his hand around Mayas lithe waist causing her to blush as well. A little payback for this morning. Nice to meet you, yo.... Frost told me about you two. Maya extended her hand remembering not to refer to Frost as young master while withpany. Its nice to meet you Maya, are you from the same vige as Frost? Luna grabbed Mayas hand as she spoke, she liked this pretty sister very much and thought she matched Frost well. You could say that. Maya smiled mysteriously as Luna looked at her, she quite liked this young human as well, their personalities were simr. Was the mask your idea? Ignoring the boys, she moved closer to Maya, standing shoulder to shoulder, appearing like sisters. Of course, cant have any random person glimpse at that handsome face plus it would be awful if it got scratched. Maya smiled evilly, revealing her true thoughts. Haha perfect, I couldnt agree more, Frost senpais face is one that needs to be protected like a work of art. The two woman giggled in agreement as Luna led Maya into the carriage. ..... Frost didnt know how to respond. ...Shes got a point. Leo couldnt help but agree with Luna and Maya. Frost was the most handsome man hed ever seen. Frost and Leo could only sigh as they followed the woman into the carriage leaving Bastion outside with a stunned expression. What the hell? Bastion felt left out as if an inside joke was being told and he wasnt a part of it. It felt lonely. He sighed and shook his head before heading up to the drivers seat at the front of the carriage. He didnt want to interfere in their reunion. As the carriage slowly drove off in the direction of the lords mansion a group a thug looking individuals were spying on it from the nearby alley. They were assigned to follow the young heir Leonardo and had to report any movements to their employer. Inform the client that young master Leo, young miss Luna and the adventurers guild master, Bastion picked up two adventurers, one man with a mask and one beast woman. The leader of the thugs spoke to his subordinates, causing them to run off. With this the job is done, well have no further part of this mess. The thug leader sighed and shook his head, he didnt want to be involved in this mess at all, but he couldnt refuse. The man hiring them wasnt a man he could refuse, the most he could do was limit his group to performing scout work and nothing more. This thug leader was actually rooting for his client to fail and be taken care of, but he agreed to do the job and hed do it well. I wish you luck young master, youre gonna need it. The thug leader gazed at the departing carriage with mixed emotions before sighing and vanishing into the alley. His movements however werent able to escape the notice of two people, one the dwarven guild master and second the young beast woman happily chatting with Luna. Little Leo theyve left. Bastion knocked on the carriage before informing Leo. Bastion noticed them the moment he met up with Leo and wanted to deal with them, but Leo refused. Let them follow us, theyre technically victims as well. His response brought confusion to Bastion, but he obeyed none the less. After their ordeal with the red hawk bandits, Leo had changed, bing more reliable and pro-active. Good, thanks uncle Bastion. Leo responded calmly. He had already started to make movements, whether the group of thugs report his dealings to his uncle or not it didnt matter, he wasnt going to allow the treacherous snake escape. Youve got your hands full I see. Frostmented as his eyes looked serious. A little bit but I can handle it. Leo looked tired but determined as he spoke. My parents wish to meet you will that be alright? Leo leaned forward, his left hand over his right fist and a focused look in his eyes. He was no longer that weak child that Frost aided, he was a full blown noble with ambitions, he even gave off a slight regal aura. Frost flinched slightly, amused by the change in Leos demeanour. No problem, Im guessing it isnt just to thank me. Frost leaned back and smiled, he could tell that there was something else going on. Ahh guess I cant fool you Frost-senpai. No, it isnt just a thank you. In fact, my mother and Father dont even know the entire story, I n to exin it to them today with you. Luna smiled proudly as Leo spoke before returning to girl talk with Maya. Hoh you havent told them yet, why? Frost couldnt grasp the reason, surely if he informed his parents, they would have already taken action. He felt even more impressed now knowing that the carriage pick up and bringing Bastion was all his n and not his parents. Firstly, it was to reduce their worry especially my fathers given his condition but to be honest its the fact that my father is too soft to end the problem. By end the problem Leo obviously meant to kill his uncle. For the past few days, Ive been preparing for whats toe, along with uncle Bastion and uncle Ryuu. Were prepared to strike but I still need to inform my father of our actions, with you there as a witness it should help. Inform not ask? Frost smiled evilly. No, whether or not he consents my uncle needs to be eliminated otherwise it will be the end of my family and the end of the Furano viscounty! Leo raised his voice and mmed his fist on the carriage walls. Chapter 60 Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Lords manor What do you need me to do? Frost spoke with conviction. Frosts reply filled Leo with gratitude, he couldnt help but feel relieved. With you, me, and Luna, well tell my parents the whole story. All about Alex and his wyvern poison. It should be enough to convince my father. Leo appeared depressed as he mentioned his father. He didnt want to take control and force his fathers hand; he wasnt ready to lead the Furano household, but he had no choice. Dous Furano was a great noble, loved by his people and well respected by the royal family in the capital. Under his leadership along with Ryuu and Bastion as well as the merchant guild master Sebastian, Furano flourished even with the frequent monster stampedes. The poverty rate sharply decreased and the deaths from starvation more than halved. He was a great lord, was being the key word. A little over 2 years ago, Dous Furano be gravely ill, so ill that he could no longer take part in management of the viscounty or report for summons in the royal capital and as his grip waned darkness grew. His younger brother Adam had always been greedy and ambitious, he didnt care about the means as long as he achieved his goals. With Dous unable to properly manage the viscounty and Leo being too young and inexperienced Adam took control under the guise of aiding his ill brother, until Leo was ready to take the reins. The viscounty started to show signs of decay since then and the bubble was about to burst. The underworld groups were running rampant, and the prices of general goods gradually increasing. The popce were currently unaware of the danger that was about to unfold but only for the moment, anymore and the territorys situation would be as clear as day. Thats why Leo needed to make his move, in the few days he was back in Furano he uncovered so many of his uncles shady deals and learned of the current financial state of the viscounty, they were almost bankrupt. All the money had been silently embezzled by Adam and his underworld connections. At the current rate, the poverty level which Dous tried so hard to fix woulde back worse than ever. Leo sighed and began to regale to Frost many of his uncles actions. ..... He is a blight, a cancer upon Furano and needs to be excised before he causes any more damage. Leo spoke through clenched teeth. Worst of all it appears that my fathers illness was possibly artificial. Fuck! Frost sucked in sharp breath at this revtion. Crack! Wooden beams cracked outside of the carriage where Bastion was sitting. If Frost could see his face, hed see veins bulging on his forehead, his teeth grinding against each other from utter hatred. Bastion did not know of this information and was close to losing himself in rage. He, Ryuu and Dous were best friends since they were Leos age, learning that someone poisoned his friend filled him with fury. Little Leo is what you said true?! Bastion wrenched open the carriage window that faced the drivers side. It is uncle, Im sorry. Leo felt guilty, how could he have allowed his father to be poisoned in his own home, he failed as his son. Motherfucker Im going to tear that bastard Adam to pieces, just wait until I get my hands on that ugly mug of his! Bastion shouted loudly without care, drawing many confused looks for the passing civilians. Calm down uncle hell pay I promise you. Leo reached through the window and grabbed onto Bastions leg to calm him down, he couldnt have the guild master of the adventurers guild screaming about ripping someone apart in the middle of the street, especially a noble. Luna knew beforehand as she assisted Leo in gaining the information, but she couldnt help but quietly sob when it was said out loud. Maya pulled the young girl into her chest and rubbed the back of her head to calm her down. They really did appear to be sisters. Once Leo calmed down Bastion he turned back to Frost, looking him directly in the eyes. My uncle has grown more arrogant over the past few months, not even bothering to efficiently hide his actions. Thats the sole reason we were able to uncover so much. He still sees me as a useless na?ve brat unable to do anything, still in the dark about his misdeeds. And you want to use that to your advantage. Frosts hands started to tremble in excitement, he loved the look Leo had right now. I already have, with uncle Ryuus assistance Ive been able to secretly iste him from some of the more on the fence underworld groups under his control and thanks to uncle Bastion we have sufficient manpower to strike him down. Bastionughed at the mention of his actions. Leo had Bastion draw in a few high ranking adventurers off the books. When Leo gives the word, these adventurers would strike Adamspound alongside them. He couldnt utilise the house guards since he couldnt know which ones were turned. But this wontst forever, Adam will soon catch on to my movements, he may be arrogant, but he isnt stupid. Thats why... I n to move tonight! Hehehehe Frost couldnt resistughing, this situation was bing more and more enjoyable. He could picture Adams befuddled face as his so called na?ve nephew cornered him like a rat. He couldnt possibly be left out of something so fun. Say it what do you want me to do, or rather what did Ryuu suggest? Simply acting as a witness when retelling the events to his parents, theres no way that Ryuu wouldnt use his strength. Even if he doesnt want to involve me or has no need of my strength, theres no way Im staying out of the way, I still need to get my revenge. Frost clenched his left fist hard, releasing a crack while his other hand caressed a cloth pouch hidden within his robes. Leo flinched; Frost was giving off a dangerous vibe sending a chill down his back. Looks like I cant fool him. As you guessed uncle Ryuu suggested asking you to assist in our attack, were sorelycking in numbers and need all the help we can get but the choice is yours, I cant possibly ask you to do anymore. Leo spoke calmly and looked directly into Frosts eyes without wavering from the threatening aura he was giving out. He was making his stance and conviction known. This was his issue and hed deal with it. Hahahaha no chance in hell am I missing out on something so fun, sign me up hahahaha. Frostughed manically, betraying his beautiful appearance. This sudden mania caught Leo, Luna and even Bastion unaware, they were frozen in ce unable to react. Maya chimed in from the side. Yo...Frost is a bit of a battle maniac. This single sentence exined everything, all three of them released an oh! as if they suddenly understood. Battle maniacs were verymon among adventurers but with Frosts appearance it didnt exactly fit. The usual battle crazed people were incredibly bulky, aggressive, loud, and usually muscle brained idiots. Frost didnt have any of those traits actually neither did Maya and she was probably even more battle obsessed than he was. Her hands were trembling in excitement as she held onto Luna. Ugh.... hahaha ok then. Leo sighed thenughed as arge weight was lifted off his shoulders. His uncle Ryuu was right, Frost would jump at the chance to be involved. Of course, the Furano house will greatly reward those who contribute to this endeavour. Id expect nothing less from a noble household. Itd be unbing of a noble to not reward the hard work of those who aided them in times of need. Leo and Frost smirked at one another. The rest of the carriage ride was a lot less serious, Leo asked Frost about their first day in Furano whereas Luna sneakily chatted to Maya about their male partners, giggling every so often as they looked over at the boys. After around 40 minutes the carriage arrived before a huge estate spanning several acres at least. The front gate was guarded by two gatekeepers fully outfitted in metal armour each with stoic expressions on their face, very professional. Behind them stood arge mansion muchrger than even the adventurers guild. From the distance Frost could make out at least 3 upper floors and over a 50 rooms, each with their own windows. If the building wasnt so old and in disarray it would appear incrediblyvish, however many parts were sorely in need of repair. Cracks spanned across the walls and thick ivy grew all over. The lords mansion should be the most iconic and beautiful building in the town as it represented the viscountys financial strength but at the moment it was close to bing a ruin. Once Leo and Frost assisted Luna and Maya off the carriage respectively, and they stood before the majesty of the lords mansion. Leo couldnt help but sigh. Before I never really cared how the house appeared, as long as we were warm and had food in our bellies it was enough but now.... Its a disgrace, the lords mansion should be a symbol of prosperity not one of poverty. Leo clenched his fists and teeth in anger. But that ends tonight, Luna grabbed onto Leos arm providing him withfort. Leo ced his hand on top on Lunas and looked lovingly into her eyes before facing Frost and Maya. I know its not much but wee to our home. Leo informed the two gatekeepers about his guests and led them into the estate without issue well until they reached the door. Creak Therge oak doors slowly opened as Leo and the rest walked up. An old insidious looking man appeared in the doorway, he carried a deep frown and was dressed in a butler suit without a single blemish or hair out of ce. His gaze looked over each member of the group full of contempt and disgust even as he faced Leo the heir to the house. He smiled brightly with his mouth, but his true thoughts were easily seen in his eyes. Ah young master wee back, your parents have been worried sick, you shouldnt leave without informing this butler, I dont know what Id do if something happened to you. Frost almost threw up listening to such fake bullshit. Youd obviously be over the moon if something happened. Leo however was used to this and responded, respectively. My apologies head butler, once I heard that my friend had arrived in town, I set out immediately to introduce him to my parents. Leo then waved his hand to show off Frost and Maya. Your friends? The head butlers lips twitched struggling to maintain his fa?ade. He looked over these so called friends with intrigue. Adam had already informed him about this person with the wolf mask. This must be Frost, the one who got in the masters way. His eyes betrayed his true thoughts, filled with scorn. His gaze then drifted over to Maya. Hoh such a beauty, shame shes a filthy beastmen but Im sure master will find a use for her. His face became perverted as he judged certain areas on Mayas body. In response Frost was filled with anger, he moved in front of Maya blocking the butlers view and sent a powerful burst of killing intent his way. Ahhhh! The head butler was not a fighter and was unable to withstand Frosts rage, his knees buckled, and he fell backwards in fear. His heart started pumping a mile a minute and he could feel a cold dagger hovering over his neck. His body started to tremble, and his dder gave way, leaving a foul smelling puddle below his groin. Luna and Bastion couldnt help butugh at the sight, how many times have they had to endure this arrogant piece of shits scorn without reacting, they felt truly satisfied. Ah head butler are you ok? Suddenly falling down and relieving yourself, are you perhaps ill? Someonee and help the head butler to his quarters; he needs to rest. Frost removed his killing intent allowing Leo to handle the aftermath. The head butler panicked he couldnt have the staff find him in such a situation, hed be aughingstock, the butt of every joke and if the master found out hed be disposed of. Who would like to be associated with such an embarrassing head butler. Ignoring his wet trousers and the puddle of urine, the head butler jumped to his feet and ran off, trying to get as far away as possible from Frost. Hmmm young master did you call for aid? A young butler came to answer Leos summons. Yes, it seems the head butler wasnt feeling well and had a bit of an ident. He gestured towards the puddle of urine. If you could have someone clean it up that would be great. The young butler was shocked, blown away by the information. ident eh the head butler pissed himself ahahhah. The young butler couldnt help but snigger before replying. Of course, young master Ill have someone clean it up right away. The young butler turned to fetch some servants leaving Leo and his guests by themselves. Chapter 61 Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Dous Furano The group couldnt help butugh out loud as the young butler left, the situation was hrious. It served the head butler right, how dare he look perversely at Mayas body. Frost felt that his punishment wasnt enough. Ill kill him next time. He spat in disgust to the side. A heavy and soft feeling suddenly enveloped his back and a pair a smooth and dainty hands hugged his chest. Maya was pressing her voluptuous body up against his back, her massive orbs deforming from the pressure. She felt happy, having her young master defend her so openly filled her with joy and warmth. This hug was a reward. Frost felt embarrassed and aroused at the same time but they were in public so he couldnt act on his instincts. He looked to the side with a blush on his face and whispered. Youre wee, Maya squeezed harder in response before letting go and smiling at him. Luna and Leo giggled mischievously at the side whereas Bastion pretended that he didnt see anything. Avoiding the puddle of urine left by the head butler, Leo led the group up the grand staircase to the second floor. His fathers bedroom was on that floor, he hadnt been able to leave that room in the past 10 months due to the illness filling his body with immense pain whenever he moved. His mother rarely left his side, keeping himpany most days, encouraging him to continue fighting. ..... As they walked towards the lords room, they received differing reactions from the servants on duty. Some were looking at Leo with pity whereas others were like the head butler were unable to hide their scorn. Theyd already thrown their lot in with Adam, no longer respecting Dous or Leo. Leo made sure to remember each and every one of their faces, he wouldnt allow them to stay in Furano after he dealt with his uncle. Knock knock Leo knocked his fist against an intricate set of double doors. Father, Mother its Leo. Frost could see the pain in the young mans eyes as he spoke. Seeing his once powerful and respected father being so weak must be difficult. Frost was reminded of his own father, the Dark God. He couldnt imagine him ever being weak in any way but knew that his shock would be great. L....L..Leo, a weak and strained voice came from the other side of the door. It sounded as though ever word spoken required great effort. Leos eyes visibly shook, and his hand trembled ever so slightly before he pushed open the doors. The room smelled strongly of medicine, enough to irritate the nose. Frost and Maya frowned as the smell assaulted their noses, they brought their hands up to block their nostrils, but it barely made a dent. God damn how much medicine did they pump into this room. Frost felt irritated, quantity when it came to medicine usually had the opposite effect. None of the windows were open to keep the room warm and a firece in the corner looked as though it never went out. It certainly wasnt a good environment for healing. Frost looked towards therge bed in the centre of the room and his frown deepened. There sitting up with the aid of pillows and his wife was Dous Furano the current viscount of the Furano territory. Ugh a confused gasp escaped his mouth as he saw the man before him. Dous Furano looked as though he could keel over any second. There wasnt a single drop of colour in his pale face and he appeared severely malnourished; his limbs didnt have an ounce of fat on them, the bones clearly showing through the skin. His eyes struggled to focus as he looked towards his son and the group who just entered his bedroom. Baaaaaang! Bastion even though hed seen his friends condition before, couldnt help but m his fist against the wall as tears threatened to pour from his eyes. Dous looked over his long-time friend and smiled trying to show that he was alright, but his strained smile only made him look worse. Leo youre back, Leos mother spoke up as she moved to hug her son, her eyes were red and puffy, showing that she was recently crying. It crushed her to watch her husband fade away in agony while being helpless to cure him. She had called so many different doctors, priests, shamans whomever knew even the slightest knowledge in regards to medicine, she summoned. She tried all kinds of different herbs and medicinal nts, but Dous was still fading away. The most they managed to do was prolong his life, well prolong his pain. She had grown tried, so tried recently, her hope, thest spark was dwindling. She hugged her son with extra force, she almost lost her precious boy to bandits Mother Leo hugged his mother back, pulling her in close. Seeing his mothers distressed state only furthered his determination. Receiving her sons strong hug filled her with love, she smiled before looking at her future daughter inw, Luna. Luna broke into tears, her mother died in childbirth, it was Leos mother who helped raise her, treating her as her own. She ran towards her mother and hugged with all her heart, crying into her chest. It wasnt as bountiful as Mayas but was still substantial enough to muffle her sniffling. Leos mother,dy Cassandra rubbed the back of Lunas head gently. She turned to see two people that she didnt recognise. A tall young man covering his face with a wolf mask and a beautiful young beast woman. She smiled their way before facing Leo. Shouldnt you introduce us to your friends. She continued to stroke the back of Lunas head as she spoke. Ah yes, mother, father this is Frost the one who helped Luna and I against the bandits a few days ago and this is hispanion, Maya they arrived in Furano yesterday. He introduced Frost and Maya to his parents. His mother and Father wished to thank Frost for saving their son and daughter inw so when Leo introduced him their eyes lit up. Dous even felt a surge of strength fill his body. Thank you for saving my son and future daughter inw, we owe you a great debt cough cough. Dous spoke and lightly bowed in gratitude before coughing violently, drops of blood covered his hand, it was dark almost ck in colour. Lady Cassandra quickly rushed to his side and rubbed his back as she retrieved a wet cloth to clean up the blood, but Dous waved her away, fighting through the pain and difort he looked towards to his guests. Please forgive my current appearance Im a little under the weather cough cough. He spat out some more blood and his back curled. He didnt wave away his wife this time allowing her to clean him up. Under the weather? Dous looked far worse than Frost did when suffering from the wyvern poison, yet he yed it off as under the weather. Frost subconsciouslyughed a little under his breath before speaking. Thats some pretty nasty weather youre having. His reply caused the room to be silent apart from the sound of coughing. Hahaha yes, it is pretty shit hahaha cough cough. Dousughed in between coughing, he appreciated Frosts candour, he was sick of constantly being treated like a dying patient, a shameughing caused his coughing to be more intense, but he was smiling throughout. His wife Cassandra could see her husbandughing for the first time in months, it filled her with joy. She looked at Frost and silently mouthed thank you. Ryuu and Bastion were no longer able to give her husband this kind of sce, their pain and sadness always prevalent on their faces whenever they spoke to him. Seeing his father with a smile and hints of happiness on his mothers face Leo smiled as he wiped the remains of a few tears from the side of his face. It was a shame that he was about to ruin the happy atmosphere. He just needed his uncle Ryuu to arrive and then they could start. Frost and Maya interacted with the couple chatting peacefully as they waited for Ryuu. Frost sat next to Dous while Maya was next to Cassandra. Leo, Luna, and Bastion were chatting near the door. Frost examined Dous more closely now that he was within arms length. How the hell is this man still alive? There was a strong scent of deathing from Douss body that was covered up by the strong medicine. He appeared to have not eaten anything in days and his breaths sounded as if his lungs were full of water or blood. Frost ced his hand on Douss wrist after receiving an approving nod. What the hell? The mans veins were pretty much torn to shreds no more like they were dissolved, in fact when he sent a gentle stream of mana into his body it kept running into blockages. The ice aspect of his mana however did provide some relief. Dous was constantly presenting a fever, the cold stream of mana managed to reduce his body temperature by a few degrees. Frost frowned unable to understand what kept this man going, he looked straight into Douss eyes seeking an answer. Hehehe Dousughed quietly. That face of yours, youre wondering how Im still alive no? He leaned forward and whispered into Frosts ear to avoid alerting his wife. Frost flinched, even he was taken back by how blunt Dous was. He nodded in response causing Dous to smile. Dous released a depressing sigh as his gaze turned towards his wife, chatting away to Maya a short distance away, then to his son Leo and his soon to be daughter inw Luna, as well as his long-time friend Bastion. They were the reason hested so long, his family, his friends, they were his strength, his guiding beacon. His wife would sit by his bedside begging him to push on, his son Leo who was not ready to take control needed him to continue to run the viscounty and his friends Ryuu and Bastion they both had lost so much already, he couldnt bear to see them in any more pain. Frost followed his gaze as it jumped between the people in the room and he understood, he wasnt alone, he had people to live for. He and Dous faced each other once more with their questions answered. I wish you luck in your fight lord viscount. Frost spoke sincerely, he respected the man before him, probably more than anyone hed met so far excluding his own father. He stood up and walked over to Maya, pulling her away to the side. Itd be a shame to let such a man die. If possible, Frost swore hed do his best to aid him. Perhaps Maya may have a solution. After pulling her away he discreetly asked her about Douss condition. Well? Sorry young master, as I said before my specialty doesnt involve poisons and I know little about medicine otherwise I would have cured you of the wyvern poison the moment you contracted it. Maya shook her head; she was helpless to assist him with this venture but even if she could, she may not do it. Her sole responsibility was to protect Frost whether or not some random human died was not her concern. Frost sighed in disappointment but wasnt too bothered, if it wasnt possible to save Dous then it was his fate, in the end his death wouldnt affect him. Lady Cassandra moved back next to her husband. What did you and his wife talk about? Oh, what you worried that we talked about you hehe. Maya covered her mouth with her hand and giggled, finding her young master rather cute. Not ying into her antics Frost responded calmly Well, if you dont want to tell thats fine. He looked away ignoring Maya. ...... A little annoyed with theck of reaction she was about to pout but remembered the current situation, Frost had just asked her to aid the dying Dous, he was probably in no mood to joke around. Nothing much, mostly girl talk, she spoke like an experienced woman giving advice to her niece or daughter it was.... Nice. Mayas eyes were soft as she looked at Lady Cassandra, she reminded her of her own mother in a way. Im d we left the dungeon. Frost smiled, if he never left the safety of the dungeon, he wouldnt be able to enjoy such drama and experience the people of the world that his father helped create. Chapter 62 Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Im going to kill uncle Adam! Knock knock A short whileter someone could be heard knocking on the rooms doors. Dous, little Leo its Ryuu. Ryuu came to his friends room as soon as he heard that Leo and Luna had returned. Come in, Leo spoke with a deep voice, it was time. He was about to unveil his intentions, most likely emotionally scarring his father. Ryuu walked into the room with heavy steps and closed the doors behind him. He nodded towards Leo and his dying friend, the pain in his eyes easily visible. Now that everyone involved had arrived Leo took a deep breath and hardened his resolve. Giving a signal to those taking part he took a seat across from his mother and father. Bastion took up a position near the door to prevent anyone intruding, Luna sat next to Leo for support whereas Frost and Maya sat together on a nearby sofa. The atmosphere changed with Ryuus arrival. Even in his pain filled state Dous could feel that something was wrong. ..... He looked to his wife for answers, but she was also in the dark, turning towards his son he was about to ask what was going on. Uncle Ryuu Leo gave Ryuu a signal with his eyes, receiving a nod in return. [Silence] Ryuu quickly cast an air element spell called silence, it created a soundproof barrier isting the bedroom from the rest of the manor. No words would escape this room. Ryuus actions caused Dous and Cassandras skin to crawl. Father Leo looked into his fathers eyes and spoke with a heavy tone. Best to rip of the band aid quickly. Itd get them nowhere to prance around the subject without saying it outright. Leo faced his father not as a son to his father but as a noble and heir to the viscount title. Feeling the gravity of his sons tone, Dous forced himself to sit up straight and faced his son as a noble. Is he forcibly taking control of the viscounty? Dous actually looked forward to this moment, he wished for his son to be more assertive and make a move for rulership before he passed. This way he could give him advice and assist him in cementing his position before he passed away. He couldnt help but smile with pride however what Leo said next, he was not prepared for. Im going to kill uncle Adam! Boom! Dous felt as though a bomb went off in his head. Eh....wait what? His tion crashed down unexpectedly, he knew that his younger brother wasnt a good man and would most likelypete to be the new viscount but killing him. Dous felt a freezing cold shiver go down his spine and his face became even more pale; a sense of fear filled his body. His son was a kind and gentle soul, always helping the less fortunate and taking nothing for granted. Dous struggled to align the image he had of his son with the man sitting before him. He turned subconsciously to his long-time friends Ryuu and Bastion, but they were unfazed. In fact, he could he see determination and admiration in their eyes as they looked at Leo. He then turned to his wife who at some point had clenched his hand with a fair amount of force. He was about to sp her hand with his own in order tofort her before he heard something even more unexpected. Its about damn time! His wife spoke with such viciousness that he reeled backwards, not just his son and friends but now his wife also agreed with killing his younger brother. What the hells going on? Douss lips were twitching; hed never been so surprised and shocked in his entire life. L...Leo hes...your uncle... Before he could finish speaking his wife violently turned to face him, her eyes were cold and emotionless, he felt afraid. Dous... shut up! Cassandra stared deep into her husbands eyes, pressuring him to keep quiet. She wasnt as na?ve as Dous and Leo; she knew full well what kind of man Adam was but was powerless to interfere because of Douss stance. How many times had Lunae crying to her in regards to her treatment by the house staff in the past two years. How many times has she heard Ryuu, and Bastionin to her and ask her to speak to her husband on their behalf. How many times had she had been looked at with contempt by her own servants. Enough was enough, her son now sat before them saying he was going to kill the source of all this grief. She even suspected that her husbands illness was not natural but held her tongue since she didnt have any evidence. Dous was strong and healthy how could he suddenly fall into such a state out of the blue. Under the intense re of his wife and the ever increasing grip on his hand, Dous visibly shrunk in stature, unable to even look in his wifes direction he could only meekly respond with. Yes dear, getting the response she desired Cassandra smiled and faced her son full of pride telling him to continue. Leo flinched under his mothers gaze, entirely taken by surprise by her stance. He severely underestimated his mother, he viewed her as a gentle and meek woman. He couldnt have been more wrong. He felt less pressure now with what he was about to tell them. Well, I guess I should exin. Leo looked at Luna who was close to tears already, he grasped her hand in his before regaling of the true events of the red bandit attack from a few days ago as well as his findings since he had returned. The more he spoke the colder his mothers face became and his father who at the start was shocked and afraid was filled with wrath and malice. Bastard! Ignoring the pain from his body Dous shouted and tossed one of his pillows at a nearby vase, knocking it to the floor, causing it to shatter. His breathing was erratic, and his face was red and filled with anger. Piece of shit! after everything Ive done for you...you god damn piece of fucking shit! Dous screamed internally, hed never been so angry, if he had the strength hed go and execute his younger brother right now no, that thing was no longer his younger brother. Dous was not unaware of the trend of there being no love between noble families, but the Furanos were supposed to be different. He treated his young brother well over the years and listened to his mothers final request to take care of him, yet this is how hes repaid. Not only poisoning his elder brother but even attempting to assassinate his nephew and for what, the viscount title, management of the Furano viscounty. Ptew, he spat in disgust at the idea. Hed had control of it for the past two years and what has he got to show for it nothing, no worse than nothing. The territorys on the brink of bankruptcy and the hard work he endured to end poverty was being undone. Underworld gangs taking control, crime rates increasing, the cost of living quickly escting, Leo even showed him some documents involving illegal very of his citizens. While Dous was fuming and wriggling in his bed in pain, Lady Cassandra was frozen stiff, her face was pale, and eyes were dark. She didnt hear anything after Adam trying to assassinate her little Leo and her Luna, the bastard even provided his goon with Wyvern venom to ensure a painful death. She looked at her baby sitting there with his hands shaking. Her motherly instincts kicked in, tears ran down her face, she ran towards Leo and swept him up in a hug as she wailed in pain. Her precious baby boy. Bastion and Ryuu could be seen gnashing their teeth and asionally wiping away a tear whereas Luna wailed along with Cassandra as she was hugged along with Leo. Frost and Maya however felt incredibly awkward, unsure how to act, they looked at one another in silence. Frost only needed to give his ount of what happened in the monsterir, in particr about the wyvern venom coated needles that Alex used. They were outsiders in this group. Eventually Leo calmed his mother down and Ryuu and Bastion restrained Dous to prevent any further damage to his body. Sniffle sob sob, Cassandra was sniffling and lightly crying, her eyes were puffy, and her beautiful blue dress was wet with tears. She looked over at Frost, the man who saved her babies. Standing up she leaped over towards him, taking him by surprise, she hugged him. Ugh Cassandra wasnt very strong, so Frost wasnt knocked off bnce however his robes were bing wet as she cried into his chest and tworge mounds were pressing against his abdomen, he didnt know how to react. Cassandra was a very beautiful woman; youd never guess that she was a mother. Her figure was almost as good as Mayas, and she was now vulnerable and pressing her figure against him. Shit seriously Frost,e on. He couldnt help but blush and feel ashamed, hed be lying if he said he didnt find her attractive but theres a time and ce for everything, plus shes married. Before a certain area reacted on instinct, he pushed her away from his body and wiped away her tears. Instantly realising how inappropriate her actions were Cassandra blushed, unable to face Frost. What did I just do, hugging a young man I dont know and in front of my husband, how shameless.... But her eyes couldnt help but drift towards as certain part on Frosts body, although slight she definitely felt it react. She couldnt help but smile with pride at that notion, she was still attractive at her age. Thank you, Mr Frost, for saving my son and daughter inw. Cassandra bowed and spoke sincerely, she owed this man a great debt. Frost now no longer blushing responded curtly. It was my pleasure Lady Cassandra. He could feel a strong killing intent being directed at his back, yet no one else noticed. If anyone looked in Mayas direction right now, theyd see her eyes wide open and fixed in Frosts direction. Cassandra cried a little more after Frosts response before returning to her husbands bedside. Now that everything had been said they needed to discuss their response. Father Ive made sufficient provisions with uncle Ryuu and uncle Bastion, and with Frost-senpai assisting we have enough manpower to strike at uncle Adam and ensure he cant escape. Adam was not staying in the lords manor but in his own mansion, it was much grander and better decorated than the lords mansion, it also had a much more in depth security. Using some of the underworld groups with grudges against Adam they were able to gain the basic floor ns of thepound as well as details about his security. In the operation they will be severely outmanned. Unfortunately, theres nothing they can do about that since they couldnt openly recruit aid but in terms of fire power, they should be superior. Although they are older and retired Bastion and Ryuu were both B-rank adventurers, very rarely seen strength in the Furano viscounty. What do you need from me son? Dous asked sternly, personally he couldnt be much help given his condition but even though he was ill, hes still the current viscount, some guards and servants would still be loyal to him. Our home...I need you to clean out our home. His father was still the ruler of this house, he had the power to remove people from the property, and the stronger of the house guards should still listen to his orders. While he attacks Adamspound, he needed to make sure his father and mother werent taken hostage, but he couldnt spare any strength. Dous and his wife frowned, they understood Leos intentions, they looked at one another unable to confidently reply to their son. All it took was a single traitor and he and his wife could then be used against their son and his friends. Dous thought of the few guards that would listen to his orders without question, unfortunately they were few. Dous sighed before replying. I can do at least that much. Dous spoke with confidence, unless someone as strong as Ryuu or Bastion made a move hed be able to effectively clean up his house. Hed start with that traitorous head butler. Chapter 63 Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Babysitting Frost frowned as he heard the discussion between Dous and Leo, he could tell that although Dous sounded determined he was truly worried about such a situationing to pass. He looked towards his partner standing next to him. Maya felt his gaze and turned to face him. Young master? Maya what would you say to a bit of babysitting? He whispered in her ear. Maya wouldnt even have to fight, simply unleashing a part of her killing intent would cause even B-rank adventurers to quake in fear and shouldnt break the restrictions ced on her by his Father. Her eyes opened up wide as she questioned what she just heard, immediately knowing what Frost was referring to, her eyes moved between Frost and the babies to be sat. Frowning she denied it fully. Not happening, my job is to protect you young master, where you go, I go. What kind of guardian would she be if she allowed her young master to enter danger alone while she looked after a bunch of humans. Although she was rather fond of them, their lives were nothingpared to her young master, her heart nearly broke after seeing him suffer from the wyvern poison, she wouldnt allow that to happen a second time. ..... Frost sighed expecting this response, but it didnt deter him. Father assigned you to be my guardian, with your duty being to protect me and train me to be self-sufficient, not shield me from everything, although I was born recently, I am not a child! He spoke sternly and from his heart. Although he enjoyed Mayaspany as a friend, he didnt appreciate it as a chaperone. He wanted to experience this world and all its glory including the danger. If he became dependent upon her, hed never mature. I want freedom Maya. Frost looked into Mayas eyes while pleading his case. Mayas eyes shook with confusion, she was torn between the two choices, Frost spoke logically, and she understood the sentiment, but she had her duty, plus she liked being by his side just in case something happened. She was speechless for a while unable to reply. She estimated the danger of attacking this Adam against Frosts current strength and to be honest it didnt fill her with hope. Frosts strength was around entry level C-rank when going all out yet two B-ranks were taking part, who knows the level of opponents hed have to fight. She was worried and it showed on her face. Frost sighed, he saw the difficulty Maya was having with this decision and was about to ask her to forget about his request. This wasnt the right time to ask for space. Maya on second thou.... Ok before he could finish however, Maya interrupted. Yeah, I knew it would be too much to ask....wait did you say ok? Frost frowned in confusion as he looked at Maya, unsure if he heard correctly. Yes, I said ok, you can have your freedom. Maya spoke with confidence but there was still worry in her eyes. ..... Frozen in ce as the information sunk in Frost began to smile and felt the sudden urge to hug her. But there are conditions. Sure, sure unfazed by her response his smile grew bigger. As long as he could move freely, he didnt care what conditions she demanded. Maya ignored the goofy smile on her young masters face and spoke sternly. First off itll only be for one night. She wouldnt be able to remain calm if it was any longer. Second, if you encounter anyone far stronger than you, run immediately, ignoring Leo and the rest. Your safety is most important. Frost nodded along agreeing to this statement, his life was the most important thing, although he was fond of Leo and Luna, it wasnt to the point where he should risk his life for them, he wasnt their uncle like Ryuu or Bastion. And finally, Maya reached over to her storage bracelet and summoned out what appeared to be some kind of paper talisman with intricate markings. A strong aura of mana wasing from the markings on the talisman and simply looking at it for a length of time gave Frost a headache. It felt powerful and beyond his abilities. This is a special summoning talisman given to me by Dark God-sama. Maya looked at the talisman with fondness in her eyes, in truth she didnt want to ever have to use it and keep it as a memento. It wasntmon or even umon to receive items from the Dark God, in fact it was pretty much unheard of. By filling the talisman with your mana and then ripping it apart, Ill be forcibly summoned to your location regardless of where you are. She looked at her young master with a cold expression. This talisman was a single use item, they would not receive another. Maya really didnt want to waste the talisman on their first outing, especially in a local town. She felt it would be much better saved for when Frost went out exploring alone into the cial mountains or another continent far in the future. Using it to instantly travel a few hundred metres seemed a little too wasteful but her young masters safety was most important. Seeing her cold expression and the reluctance in her eyes, Frost nervously took the summoning talisman from her and ced it safely in his chest pocket. This talisman is probably the main reason she agreed. Frost tapped the summoning talisman under his robes twice for good luck. Unless under the most dire of circumstances I wont use it. He too felt itd be a waste to use it on his first outing, his father severely restricted the number of times Maya could assist him in battle, he couldnt afford to waste one of those chances so early on. Frost suddenly thought of the Holy White empire and their Church of Light at that moment. With their little discussion over Maya and Frost re-joined the group. Leo was the first to speak out. Having any second thoughts? Frost and Maya had been discussing quietly away from everyone else but from their faces he could see that it was an argument. Leo felt it may be about this operation and released a small sigh. It really is too much to ask of Frost-senpai, Ill simply ask him to stay with my parents while we act, they wont be safe in a public inn. Huh? What are you talking about? Frost replied in a confused tone and tilted his head to the side. There was no way he was missing out on this action, he even convinced Maya to allow him so why would he be having second thoughts. Eh!... I thought for sure you were arguing about taking part in this operation. Leo asked back just as confused. Did I interpret wrong? Well, youre notpletely wrong. Frost felt a little embarrassed knowing that even though they moved to the edge of the room and whispered it was still seen as an argument. Ill still be taking part in the attack....Maya however. Frosts gaze turned to hispanion. Ah! Ipletely forgot that Frost-senpai wasnt alone. Leo internally criticised himself. He turned to look at Maya standing next to Frost. He had no idea of Mayas strength, all he saw was a young woman of simr age as Frost, she didnt give off any powerful aura or sense of mana, just like any regr female beast woman. Although he learned that she too was an E-rank adventurer he assumed that Frost did most of the fighting-not entirely false but irrelevant. Perhaps Frost-senpais worried about endangering hispanion. His mind instantly went to Luna, and how he would do anything to protect her. Unfortunately, she was stubborn and refused to not take part, but she was at least connected to these events. Maya however was aplete outsider with no reason to aid them other than the fact that herpanion Frost was involved. Leo felt a surge of regret and bit his lip roughly, drawing blood. His mind flipping through possibilities on how to protect the young woman, unfortunately he couldnt spare anyone, the amount of people they could fully trust was few, and they would all be required in the attack. His internal struggle was clearly disyed on his face. What the hell is this kid thinking about now? Frost felt that Leo was misunderstanding something. Maya here doesnt have anything to do with this so she wont be taking part in the attack however you said that there were few people you could trust within this manor, correct? .... Everyone in the room looked at one another, afraid to answer and confirmed that suspicion. Frost ced his hand on Mayas tiny shoulder. Maya said shes willing to stay here and protect the lords mansion. Eh!!!! Everyone in the room, bar Cassandra yelped in surprise, Cassandra simply looked at Maya with confusion in her eyes but a smile on her face. Guarding the lords mansion was actually a pretty cushy job as long as nothing goes wrong. She and Maya would simply be able keep each otherpany as her son and Mayaspanion did the hard work. She looked over at Luna hoping shed join them but quickly gave up that thought, there was no way Luna wouldnt be at Leos side. Oh, by the way Mayas stronger than me, way, way stronger. He gave Maya a slight nudge forward causing her to give him a dirty look. Although she was in fact much, much stronger, she wouldnt use that strength just her aura to invoke fear. It would be more than enough to deal with some ignorant small fry. This response caused another round of confused yelps. I thought as much. Bastion mumbled under his breath as he calmly looked over Maya who was smiling innocently. Hed felt a strong sense of danger when they were riding the carriage here. It wasnt something based on his skills or abilities, more primal like she was the predator, and he was the prey. He couldnt be sure since it was only a slight feeling but with Frosts announcement, he waspletely certain. Shes probably even stronger than me and Ryuu. He turned to face his old friend Ryuu to gauge his reaction. Unlike Bastion, Ryuu wasnt in such close proximity to Maya and never felt that primal fear but his senses as an experienced magician let him know that he needed to be wary of her. Noticing his friend Bastion as well as his lord looking his way he gulped, and his lips twitched. Out of the three he was the considered the strongest. Shit maybe we shouldnt have asked for help from these people. Ryuu felt a strong sense of regret, if Maya was truly stronger than him then Frost and her backing must be substantial. Maya noticed the examining look of Ryuu and smirked in his direction releasing a small amount of aura undetectable by others. Ryuu visibly trembled and he started to sweat down his back. Fuck! He didnt know whether or not to be happy or afraid, with Frost and Mayas assistance the operation was sure to seed but at what cost. Dous saw the fear in his friends eyes, he turned to face Maya in surprise. Hoh, he found it interesting, he turned back to Ryuu and smiled, sending a message with his eyes allowing the court mage to calm down. Well deal with itter, is what his gaze tranted as. He gave Bastion a simr look. While the three middle aged men were worried about Mayas strength and her true reasoning for assisting them, the others were simply happy. Luna was all smiles as she grabbed onto Mayas hands, her eyes full of admiration she even dered that she wished to refer to her as big sis. While Cassandra simply smiled softly in her direction, not treating her any differently. Leo awkwardly looked at Frost before walking over and whispering in his ear. That must be difficult. He felt it must be awkward to have such arge power gap betweenpanions. Frost whispered back you dont know the half of it. He sighed lightly before adding on a little extra. But it certainly is exciting. He smiled honestly, although he found it a bit restricting to have Maya constantly protecting him, it was fun and reassuring to be close to someone so strong. Regardless of her strength he still viewed her as a cute little rabbit Fenrir. Leo seeming to understand Frosts meaning in his own way smiled and patted his back. Chapter 64 Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Touring Furano For the next couple hours, the group went over their battle strategy and ryed all of the known information about Adams security as well the groups working with and against him. It was a lot of information, far more than just a few days worth, Bastion and Ryuu admitted that they had been keeping an eye on some of Adams activities either by themselves or through connections for the past few months. Since one was involved in administration and the other was head of the local adventurers guild, they noticed the changes in the territory earlier on. In fact, the merchant guild head Sebastian helped provide arge chunk of the information as he had noticed the issues on the financial side far earlier but didnt think much of it until Bastion and Ryuu reported problems in other areas. Strength wise we should hold the advantage, in quality but not numbers. At some point arge map of Furano was ced on top of one of the tables and chess pieces were being used to identify personalyouts. Leo was in charge of describing. Uncle Ryuu and uncle Bastion are both former B-ranks and will be in charge of the assault. Leo then pointed to Adams manor on the map. Adam has most likely got an elite team of bodyguards and from our knowledge one of them is equivalent to a B-rank mage. Leo looked towards Ryuu as he spoke. Ill handle the mage little Leo. Ryuu spoke with confidence, unlike with closebat professions being older doesnt really limit your strength as a mage in fact older mages tend to be faster at casting magic given their experience. Good, now for the rest of the group there should be a couple high level C-rank closebat experts supporting the mage, Uncle Bastion Ill leave them to you. ..... Got it, Bastion struck his chest with his fist saying leave it to me. For the rest, the strongest should be D-rank with the majority being at the same level as gang thugs. Ill leave that to the adventurers you managed to rope in uncle. Bastion had managed to request aid from around a dozen or so seasoned adventurers mainly all D-rank but with a couple being C. Luna and I will also help deal with the low level goons; Frost I hope you can assist us with that. Leo and Luna needed some form of protection if they were going to take part and Frost would be perfect for that. Understood, Frost was a little disappointed that hed be dealing with small fry but if he killed enough itd turn into a substantial amount of DP. The two gate guards will relocate to outside of Fathers bedroom where Maya and mother will be staying for the meantime. Leo looked over at Maya still unable to truly believe in her strength. Maya simply smiled his way as she spoke you can count on me Leo; Ill make sure no one can harm your mother and Father. Dous patted his sons shoulder and gave him a reassuring nod. Ok Ill trust you with that then. Leo then circled certain areas of the map. Adam has multiple escape routes built into his manor which lead to out into these three buildings. Hopefully, he wont try to escape when he realises, Im involved in the attack but if he does, weve alreadye to an agreement with some of the more negotiable gangs. They will destroy the exits shortly after the attack begins, boxing him in. Leo frowned as he mentioned the underworld gangs. He aimed to be the lord of the territory and the underworld was something to be removed yet he was requesting their aid. He even had to agree to some promises making it near impossible for him to uproot them in the near future. He felt like a hypocrite, but he didnt have any other choice, his uncle must be excised. The most he could do was choose the less unsavoury of the bunch and drive a hard bargain. Well attack from all directions to limit the number of escapees, and once we make it to the heart of the manor, the most fortified area, where Adam is supposed to be. Well take him down, he wont get a trial or banishment, we will interrogate and execute. Leo mmed his fist onto the table as clenched his teeth. Leo nned to kill his uncle himself, he wouldnt ce this burden or crime upon anyone else. Unfortunately, even with all their information and even knowledge given by Dous they couldnt urately figure out Adams strength. He never became an adventurer and always used others to do his bidding, so his personal abilities were unknown. Most nobles knew a small amount of martial arts and or some basic protective magic, equivalent to E-rank adventurers in strength. Leo hoped this was the case for Adam since any stronger and he wouldnt be able to take him down himself. Frost-senpai, you, Luna and I will deal with Adam, while Ryuu and Bastion deal with the elite bodyguards. In the case Adam was stronger than himself, Frost would fight him. Frost smiled wickedly; his instincts were telling him that hed need to be the one fighting. Would an ambitious noble such as Adam with the bloodline of the Furanos known for guarding one of the most inhospitable territories really be weak... not a chance. He patted the cloth bound item hidden in his sleeve. It doesnt matter if hes strong or not, hell suffer regardless. The operation will begin after the sun sets tonight, until then we will act as per normal. Uncle Ryuu will continue acting as an administrator, uncle Bastion will perform his work as guild master as per usual and Luna and I will guide Frost-senpai and Maya around Furano as promised. Leo smiled as he looked at Frost, he promised back when they separated outside the monsterir that hed give him a tour of Furano. They needed to act normal in order to not arouse suspicion, repaying his saviour with a tour around his territory couldnt be more normal. Only mother and father will be acting slightly differently. Leo looked towards his father. Dont worry son, I may be old and sick but Im still the viscount, cleaning my own house is still within my abilities. Dous thumped his chest lightly causing him to cough. Youll do no such thing you old brute! Youll lie down in your bed and not move a muscle; Ill do the cleaning. Cassandra red at her coughing husband and harshly admonished him. She couldnt have this useless old man up and about less he keels over; she wasnt ready to lose him yet. Dous felt all his bravado and his fatherly impressions being quashed. He looked at his wife meekly unable to argue. Yes dear, his deted appearance caused everyone tough out loud. The great an honourable viscount Dous, nothing but a kitten in front of his wife. Only Leo shivered slightly at his mothers actions, he too knew of her authority within the house. When he was younger and misbehaved it wasnt his father that punished him but his mother. He turned to his future bride to be, Luna who was staring at his mother in admiration. He gulped recognising the simrities between the two. With the ns in ce and everyone aware of their tasks the group split up. Ryuu returning to his office within the manor, Bastion heading back to adventurers guild (taking a different carriage) and Lady Cassandra preparing to clean house. The rest of the group well they needed to go on a tour. Well take the same carriage as the one we arrived in. Leo announced as he called for one of the servants to bring out their carriage and arrange for a certain driver. A momentter the group were once again within the luxurious carriage, the driver arranged was one of the few people Leo trusted, a young servant by the name of Edwin. Meanwhile from the window of the Lords bedroom Lady Cassandra watched her son and his friends leave in the carriage. She smiled happily as they drove off but once the carriage was out of sight her expression became cold and harsh. Dous who was lying in bed nearby couldnt help but shiver. Shes going to turn this house into a shit show. He sighed deeply before shaking his head and pretending not to know anything, there wasnt anything he could do anyway but sit and watch. Besides a shit show was what was needed. His wife Cassandra approved of her husband ying the fool and not getting involved, she sent a smile his way that sent shivers down his spine before calling out to one of the guards at the door. Summon the head butler at once! Shed start with the worst of the bunch, then make her way through the rest. An evil smile adorned her lips as she waited in anticipation. She was going to enjoy this; she hadnt let loose in a while. Maya wasnt the only woman the head butler had perversely ogled; she too had felt his disgusting gaze from time to time. It was time to get some revenge. Within the luxurious carriage, Frost and the rest were truly acting normally as if their earlier secret meeting never happened. Leo asked the driver to bring the carriage to the central section of the town first. Furano is split into Five different sections, north, south, east, west and finally the central zone. Leo began describing theyout of Furano with Luna asionally chiming in. The north zone faces the Northrend forest and contains mainly things rted to adventurers such as inns, bars and a few stores. It also contains several workshops for smithing, tanneries etc... it could also be considered the manufacturing district. On the opposite side is the south zone which holds the lords mansion as well as the residential district of the popce, theres also a few inns and grocery stores. Adams manor was also in this district but closer to the southern gate whereas the lords manor was near the central zone. The western zone is the shopping district holding pretty much every shop you can imagine; the merchant guild is also located there. To the east is another residential district albeit less well made as well as a few of the less skilled workshops. Leo had awkward look on his face as he tried to exin the east zone situation. Luna however didnt. Its the slum district as well as the red light district with a few shops and workshops dotted about. Luna spoke without a hint of embarrassment causing Leo to sigh. The zone was split up fairly well so as the odour and uncleanliness of the slums didnt interfere with the red light district in anyway. Closer to having two zones instead of one, southeast for the red light district and northeast for the slums and workshops. At the mention of the red light district, Frost couldnt help but raise his brow in instinctual curiosity. This was met with a frosty gaze from his partner sitting by his side quickly dousing his interest. Id be a dead dungeon core if I went there. He gave Maya a reassuring smile, trying to appear innocent even though his face was still partially obscured by his mask. Cough cough Leo released a few coughs to get back on topic. Finally, we have the central zone where were heading now. The central zone is known as the government district, as it contains administration buildings, banks, the adventurers guild as well as an embassy for foreign visitors. Its the brain of Furano which manages the other zones. Leo spoke with pride about the central zone, during his fathers reign-excluding the past two years- the government district had grown to a great degree, more and more people were bing educated and taking part in assisting in the towns management from welfare to imports and exports. With strong and stable leadershipes a strong and steady territory. Dous would say that phrase to Leo from time to time before exining how one man or one family could not effectively control such arge area. To be a great lord one must be able to delegate tasks otherwise the territory would never grow. His fathers words repeated themselves in his mind as the carriage passed one of the most important administrative buildings in town. The Furano council building. Chapter 65 Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Touring Furano (2) The Furano town council building was where the heads of each department involved in running Furano -e.g., the guild heads (adventurer, merchant, agriculture, etc...)- came together every week along with the lord- or their representative- to discuss the current state of affairs and decide how the towns budget would be allocated. Leo had great respect for this building and the people working in it, but he also dreaded it. Every time his father dragged him to the meetings as a young boy, hed get a headache from all the information being tossed about. Leo was not how do you put it... the most academic of people. The life of an adventurer certainly suited him more. Luna however was fairly gifted in that department; shed frequently help out her father with administrative tasks and enjoy them. Shed make up for Leos shortings in the future. The carriage came to a stop in arge open square, the driver Edwin opened the covering behind him. Weve arrived in the central square young master. Edwin informed them of their location before facing forward again in silence. Great, Frost, Maya well start the tour here. Leo smiled as he alighted the carriage. Theyd start in the central district where the magic happens before visiting the north and then the west district before returning to the south. Purposely avoiding the east for now. Theyll be walking for most of the journey, with the carriage following behind if they get tired or bored. The central district albeit interesting to Leo and Luna was not much of a tourist attraction, people were simply hard at work, not much to look at. Leo then led them into the townsrgest bank where he received a most glorious wee. Ah the young lord how can we help you today, are you making a withdrawal? A deposit? The bank manager came down from the second floor as soon as he spotted Leo and Luna. He presented arge over the top business smile, making him look ratherical. ..... Maya sniggered under her breath unable to resist. Yes, Ill be making a withdrawal Hoggins but Im mainly here to show my benefactor here the sights of Furano. Leo smiled and acted as they nned. They had to be seen touring the town by many influential individuals to keep Adams guard lowered. The bank manager Hoggins here was one of those individuals, although not as wealthy, talented, or connected as the guild master of the merchants guild, Sebastian. He was still rich and powerful, plus the bank here in Furano was just a branch of the main one in the capital. Hoggins represented a powerful faction in the entire empire, Leo and his family dared not treat him with disrespect. Hoh the young lords benefactor. Hoggins eyes opened up wide with interest, but he wasnt surprised, given his station he was already aware of someone aiding Leo when he was attacked by the red hawk bandits. He looked over Frost with curiosity, his wolf mask in particr. I dont recognise him and hes hiding his face...how curious. Leo gestured to Frost to introduce himself. Frost, nice to meet you Hoggins. Frost spoke politely and extended his hand in greeting but did not demean himself in anyway, his background was much grander than some banker. Hoggins eyes widened slightly in surprise. He expected the young lord Leo to have mentioned his background to Frost, and usually adventurers even those of high rank would act with a little humility, even adding the title sir before his name. Yet Frost spoke to him albeit politely, it came from someone of equal if not higher standing. Hoggins couldnt help but smile as he shook Frosts hand. Interesting, very interesting, instead of taking offence Hoggins was intrigued, Frost acted so naturally that he must be a big fish. An important individual hiding his face that I do not know, and he travels with a beautiful beast woman... seems I need to improve my intelligencework. Hoggins didnt suspect for a second that Frost didnt understand his position and was simply being rude, he must be someone of great standing. He looked at Frost with great respect, even more than he did Leo. Maya smiled and gave Hoggins and internal thumbs up. This man has good instincts. None of the other people they met were able to understand her young masters majesty. The pleasure is all mine young master Frost; I hope you find our branch here satisfactory. Hoggins made sure to memorise Frost and Mayas face (well what was visible at least) before leaving post haste back upstairs. He needed to find out as much information about Frost as soon as possible. Leo and Luna felt a little bewildered with Hoggins actions but chalked it up to him being impressed with Frost, they were a little biased since he was their saviour. Ill withdraw some spending money; it wont take long. Leo rushed to join the queue. He kept most of his money here in the bank, that way no one but him could touch it. With Leo rushing off Luna exined some of the banks features. Anyone can store their money here for a small monthly fee, although its mostly used by merchants and the more affluent. Carrying around tens or even hundreds of coins can be very bulky and heavy, so people simply withdraw what they need when they need it instead of carrying it around all the time. Luna presented her very light coin purse filled with a couple gold coins and nothing else. Frost subconsciously grasped onto his much heavier coin purse that held hundreds of coppers. They also offer investment options where in you can loan your money into some of the local businesses or merchants and receive dividends, although ites with risks, it helps stimte the towns market and promotes up anding merchants. Luna exined that before Sebastian took control of the merchant guild and Dous control of the viscounty, the bank was a shadow of its current self and was only used by nobles and the most affluent of merchants. Now however with everyone being able to ess the bank the town has flourished with dozens of new merchants and businesses opening up over the years. The bank also had much more money within its vaults, greatly pleasing the central headquarters who were thinking of pulling out of Furano entirely. How efficient Frostmented internally about the Banks role in Furano. He was amazed at how everything within the town worked and assisted one another, it gave him a great deal of knowledge in regards to running his dungeon. They werent kept waiting too long, Leo promptly returned with a bag full of coins ready to go shopping with. As the young lord and an active adventurer, hed managed to save up quite a fortune over the years. Here Frost-senpai. Leo passed a second coin purse towards Frost as soon as he returned. Frost took the coin purse instinctively; it was quite heavy. Whats this for? He opened up the purse, it was filled with dozens of silvers as well as 5 gold coins, arge sum, far more than his current wealth. Your reward for saving Luna and myself from the red hawk bandits. My individual wealth was a little limited, so my father and mother told me to withdraw this amount from their ounts. All together its 5 gold coins and 50 silvers, I hope thats enough. Leo wanted to give more but with the town in its current financial straits, he simply couldnt, at least at the moment. .... Frosts eyes were filled with gold, he felt insanely rich. His throat felt parched, and his lips twitched. Enough, of course its enough. The 2 gold coins from the adventurers guild was already arge sum to him but this took the cake. He was elbowed by Maya before he started drooling. Ugh... its more than enough, thank you for such generosity, Leo. He managed to regain hisposure, luckily, he was wearing a mask otherwise Leo and Lunas impressions of him would be destroyed. Their cool senpai was a money fanatic. Thats great Leo felt relieved seeing Frost take the coin purse and ce it in his robes. Oh, and thats just for rescuing the two of us, the participation in tonights activities will have a separate reward. Leo nodded with a smile refusing to take advantage of Frost and Maya. Ugh.... Frost nearly stumbled as his legs turned to jelly, luckily Maya was there to support his weight. Hed get even more money; this information was too much. He was penniless a few days ago yet now he was awash with cash, the contrast was too much for the young dungeon core. After retrieving some spending money and Frost regaining his faculties, the group got back on the carriage and visited the northern zone, the area Frost and Maya were most familiar with. Leo introduced them to a few of the more useful adventurer shops in the area, such as a repair work cksmith, a supply store, and an armourer. Of course, their prices were rtively low, specifically aiming towards the lower level adventurers. They did however pass a food stall selling horned rabbit skewers for 5 coppers each, Frost bought everyone two with his newfound wealth. They ate them with relish as they visited the different workshops. Nothing really caught their eyes equipment wise, but Frost did buy a couple low level health and mana potions with a potion holder for 10 silvers. In the future the ingredients required to make these will be from my dungeon. Frost looked over the potions he just bought with a smile. The health potions were red and the mana potions blue and were stored in what looked like crude ss test tubes. The key ingredients being red, and blue dwindle flowers now grew and refreshed at amazing speeds within his dungeon. With the Northern district done and it being a close to midday, the group once again entered the carriage and headed this time to the western zone, that was filled with restaurants and shops. The moment they arrived they could feel the busy atmosphere, by far this was the busiest zone in Furano. The joy could be seen on Luna and Mayas faces as the carriage passed by the many, many clothing stores. Frost and Leo both sighed as they were forced to the vacate the carriage and follow after their partners. Hopefully, the money that Leo withdrew would be enough. Thankfully, their grumbling stomachs restrained the amount of time the girls spent wandering around the clothing stores, trying on an unknown number of dresses while Frost and Leo were forced to carry their bags. They only managed to spend 50 silvers (each) on clothes and not defensive or practical clothes, but dresses purely based on appearance. Frost and Leo were powerless to argue as they reluctantly handed over the money,menting their pain. We can have lunch at the phoenix fledging restaurant. With them returning to the carriage with their many purchases Leo suggested where to have lunch. Hmm phoenix fledgling, sounds expensive. A phoenix was at the very least a B-rank monster usually higher, yet a restaurant was calling itself phoenix fledgling. Frost couldnt help but lick his lips in anticipation yet at the same time grip onto his coin purse. Great tasting food takes a great amount of money. Hoh someones feeling generous. Lunaughed lightly from the side. The phoenix fledgling restaurant was one of the most expensive and highly regarded restaurants in the entire territory, serving high rank monster meat in all dishes. Too eat there you not only needed money but also status. Hahaha Leo awkwardlyughed and rubbed the back of his neck, even for him the phoenix fledging restaurant could erase his finances but hopefully Luna would go easy on him. Well split it Leo, youve already rewarded me, I cant keep leaching off your generosity. Frost spoke up with confidence, he wouldnt feel right constantly receiving benefits and giving nothing in return. Although hed probably regret his choice in the near future, at the moment however he felt empowered. Leo released a deep breath as a weight was lifted off his shoulders, he gave Frost a grateful look. Him mentioning the phoenix fledgling restaurant was something he said without thinking but with Frost aiding him with the bill, he felt much more reassured. Chapter 66 Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Phoenix fledgling restaurant Edwin take us to the phoenix fledgling restaurant. Leo gave the order to Edwin who replied with a silent nod. Hyahhh Edwin whipped the reins of the horses, and the carriage made its way to the restaurant. Wow, was all Frost could say as he stood before the restaurants entrance. Gold and jade as far as the eye could see, it screamed expensive. The door itself seemed to be built with special wood, a beautiful grain, adorned with gold iys and handles. Two jade phoenixes guarded either side of the door, creating and aura of majesty. Frost subconsciously rubbed the coin purse hidden in his sleeve. Maybe I shouldnt have offered to split the bill. He felt that just sitting down here would cost gold coins. Maya however was only slightly impressed, she was more interested in the dishes being served than the furnishings, a true experienced Ojou-sama. Pretty amazing, isnt it? Lunamented as she also stood in awe, shed only been here a few times in her life, usually with her father or alongside Leo and his parents. Not bad, I guess, Ill reserve judgement until Ive eaten. Maya shrugged her shoulders. It does look impressive, but Mayas right the value is in the food. Frost agreed with Maya in an attempt to not appear like a country bumpkin. ..... Is it called the phoenix fledgling because it serves phoenix? I wonder how a phoenix tastes? Eh! No, no if it served phoenix then it wouldnt be set up in Furano, even the empires royal family would very rarely get to eat phoenix let alone it being served in a restaurant out in the boonies like this. Leo quickly shot down Frosts aspirations. Its just an ambitious name, they also chose to go with fledgling instead of just phoenix to avoid that misconception. Luna chimed in to resolve the confusion. If they wanted to avoid it then they shouldnt have used phoenix in their name at all. Frost and Maya felt disappointed with this information, the jade phoenixes at the side of the door now looked rather tacky. Leo and Luna looked at one another unsure on how to respond to Frost and Mayas attitudes. Thats Frost-senpai for you. Their bias took over resulting in this conclusion. No longer as excited the group walked through the entrance. A pretty waitress greeted them as soon as they entered. Hello, do you have a reservation? The human waitress greeted them with a smile, her uniform had a red phoenix stitched on the chest. No, we dont, is there any table free on the second floor? At the mention of the second floor the waitresses eyes turned upwards with joy. Perfect another big spender. The phoenix fledgling restaurant was split into 3 floors with the first being for the regr customers, a tad more expensive than the average restaurants but no restriction on ess. The second floor however was for those with status, nobles well known merchants and those with court ranks. The dishes served on the second floor were a cut above those served on the first and had an equivalent increase in price as well. The waitress would likely get a sufficient tip serving someone eating on the second floor. If the group asked for the third floor, shed have to hand control over to the restaurant manager but only a very small group of people had ess to that floor. Why of course, right this way sir. The waitress winked flirtatiously and wiggled her ass as she led the group up to the second floor,pletely ignoring the fact that Leo and Frost were not alone. Tsk slut Maya clicked her tongue and spoke under her breath quiet enough that the waitress couldnt hear but Frost and Leo could. Yep Luna agreed without hesitation, ring at the waitresss back as they walked. She didnt find the waitress pleasing in the slightest, lowering herself just to increase her chances of getting a tip. Shed be fine with it if it was towards two single guys but her and Maya were clearly dining with Frost and Leo. So far, the restaurant wasnt off to a good start. Leo could feel Lunas anger from behind, hed be a dead man if he gave the waitress even a single copper as tip. The waitress was oblivious to Maya and Lunas feelings, and even if she did know shed probably act the exact same way, men would always like some eye candy whether they were with woman or not. The waitress showed the group to an unupied table near a window. There wasnt many tables on this floor around a dozen or so and only four of them were upied. The groups entrance to second floor drew the others notice. Only two of them recognised Leo, they nodded and smiled his way as greeting. A couple men ogled Maya and Luna a little before returning to their meals, they were a lot less obvious than the adventurers in the guild and Kathys inn. Heres the menus, Ill let you browse for a few minutes. The waitress smiled and leaned close to Leo and Frost giving them a view of her cleavage as she put down the menus before giggling flirtatiously and walking away while shaking her hips. Craaack! The wooden table cracked from Maya mping down on it, she was seething. That bimbos flirting so obviously right in front of me, that bitch and you call that a cleavage. If looks could kill that waitress would be dead a hundred times over. Luna wasnt faring much better, although she was significantly weaker than Maya physically, she turned her anger towards Leo who just sat there in silence before kicking him in the shins. Oo Leo shouted in pain and looked at Luna as if hed been wronged. Luna simply hmphed and turned her head. Lets just order some food and enjoy the meal at least. Frost opened up his menu. Woah Frosts eyes opened wide when he saw the first page. The cheapest thing on the menu was 5 silvers, a ss of D-rank wine, with most of the meals starting at 15 silvers, much more extravagant than Kathys inn. There were items such as steaks from C-rank monsters like artic war bears and ice drakes. Soups containing rare herbs and parts of D-rank monsters and a wide selection of fish dishes. Everyone of them had a grandiose description of the dish causing Frost to salivate. It all looks so good. Frost licked his lips as he read the menu, some options even had a picture drawn, disying the beauty of the dish. He had some knowledge of some of the monsters being used but the rest he had no idea where to begin, he didnt even know if they were reptiles or birds. Everything however sounded delicious regardless. One dish in particr, Lagombi stew with artic vegetables seemed particrly appetising. It was set at 25 silvers and was considered a D-rank meal, based on the Lagombi being a D-rank monster. The meals were divided into ranks on the menu simr to how alcohol was ranked. The phoenix fledgling offered D and C-rank meals on the second floor and only for very special asions would there be a B-rank meal, but theyre usually reserved for the top floor. Frost was tempted to order the Lagombi stew but didnt know what a Lagombi was. The description just spoke of how its prepared and what rank the monster was not anything about the monster itself. It was under the meat section, so he knew it wasnt fish at least. His knowledge regarding monsters was limited, Lagombi was not included in that knowledge. Intrigued, Frost leaned over toward his partner Maya and whispered in her ear. Maya, do you know what a Lagombi is? Maya was more experienced than him and should know about the monster. Hmmm sorry what? Maya was distracted by the list of wines avable and didnt hear the question. Frost managed to get a glimpse at where her eyes were focused, and he flinched. She was eyeing a C-rank wine going for 25 silvers for a single ss. She didnt know the meaning of the word restraint; he just purchased her a bottle of C-rank sake for 50 silvers yet now she wanted him to pay 25 for a single ss. God damn money subus. He felt hed not get the chance to enjoy his newfound wealth before his partner ate him out of house and home. I asked if you knew what a Lagombi was? He suddenly felt however that his meal would be rathercklustre if Maya was ordering a C-rank meal and drink. Oh, a Lagombi is a D-rank monster found in cold climates such as the cial mountains. Its like a giant wombat withrge fangs and thick pelt, strength wise its simr to a pr bear. Its meat is quite tender and tasty if cooked correctly. Are they selling it here? Maya removed her focus away from the list of alcohol for the first time towards the food. So, its a giant wombat I wonder if the meat is gamy like bear or mild like rabbits. He was tempted to try the ice drake steak which was a full gold coin. Ice drakes were one of the higher level C-rank monsters almost reaching B-rank. Drakes were better known as lesser dragons simr to wyverns however they cannot fly but do have a breath attack. Ice drakes were apparently prevalent in the central regions of the cial mountains and are always highly desired since pretty much the entire corpse could be used. Yeah, lets just stick with a D-rank meal after all, best to not waste all my money in one day. Itd probably cheaper for him to just buy the ice drake steak through DP anyway, all he needed was a high rank chef to prepare it. Maya was a decent cook, but it wasnt to the extent of being a professional, just a good home cook. Hmmm I wonder if theres a monster thats good at cooking. The more Frost thought about the possibility the more excited he became. The frost dwarves were too unskilled to be proper smiths but the higher rank ice dwarves that he hadnt unlocked yet would be able to so why wouldnt there be a race that could cook. He even had a brief notion of kidnapping the chef of this restaurant if the food was up to par. After a few minutes the flirtatious waitress sauntered back over, exaggeratingly swinging her hips. Are you ready to order now? She smiled and faced Leo, she felt he was the wealthiest one here and since Frost was covering his face with a mask, she couldnt be sure on his looks so focused her attention on Leo. She licked her lips provocatively as she waited for a reply. Even though he waspletely innocent, Luna still red at him and pressed on his foot causing him a fair amount of pain. Ugh... yeah weve decided Ill have a ss of frost leaf wine and the braised pr bear paw please. Leo did his best not to look towards the waitress hoping to alleviate Lunas anger, but he wasnt exactly angry at the waitress. He understood her reasoning and to be honest some part of him was enjoying the attention. Frost spoke next. Ill have the Lagombi stew, and Ill also have a ss of frost leaf wine. The frost leaf wine was the second cheapest wine avable at 6 silvers a ss. Frost looked at Maya to have her answer next but suddenly felt a chill down his spine, he then saw a slight smirk on her lips. Shit whats this woman going to order thats causing her to smile like that. Ill have the C-rank ice griffin breast on northern rice and the C-rank wine cial starbalm. Maya looked at the waitress full of aggression as she spoke,pletely ignoring her young masters pained face. T...thats going to cost me a gold coin, a whole gold coin for a single meal and drink sob sob. Frost felt like crying although he expected it, he still wasnt prepared. The ice griffin breast alone cost 75 silvers and the wine was the one she was looking at earlier for 25 silvers. Frost was unable to get angry at Maya, so he redirected his hatred towards the waitress, looking at her maliciously causing her to flinch. Eh why is he looking at me like that? Not letting Maya hog the spotlight, Luna followed. Ill have the same as Maya, miss waitress. She too looked aggressively at the waitress while still pressing down on Leos foot without mercy. There was silence and tension amongst the group, the waitress was still reeling from Frosts aggressive stare and couldnt reply. Did I go too far? She thought she read the men before her correctly, that her actions would annoy the woman they were with but they themselves would enjoy her advances but.... Those eyes, theyre like ice. She gulped, unable to avert her gaze from Frosts piercing blue ice eyes. she was frozen in ce. Chapter 67 Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Phoenix fledgling restaurant (2) Leo broke the silence by coughing lightly, allowing the waitress to regain her faculties, yet her eyes constantly drifted back to Frosts eyes. She repeated their orders nervously before bowing and returning to the kitchen. She didnt even bother to shake her hips as she walked, simply trying to escape as quick as possible. She was severely shaken up from that gaze, her body was cold and trembling but not from fear quite the opposite, instead she was excited by it. Out of view of Frost and his group, while waiting for the drinks and food to be prepared she would asionally steal nces from the kitchen window. With the waitress gone Frost and Leo cated theirpanions with varying degrees of sess. Don don don A set of heavy footsteps could be heard from the staircase. Threerge gentlemen led by a young waitress entered the second floor and sat down at a table on the opposite side of the room from their group. Though reserved Frost could feel the group of threerge men looking in their direction. Tsk he clicked his tongue; this group of men had been covertly following them since they left the central district. They tried to be subtle but with Frosts strength he picked up on them pretty quickly. ..... Someone was monitoring their actions, but he couldnt tell if they were monitoring him or Leo. Leo were being watched. Frost whispered quietly. Leo smiled in response, not shocked in the least. Id be suspicious if we werent hahaha. Heughed the situation off not worried. Although he wasnt strong enough to pick up on their tail, he assumed that there would be. His uncle was a control freak, of course hed have people monitor his actions. Leo believed however that it would end with simple monitoring, even his uncle wouldnt try anything within the town, especially during the day. It seems I was worried for nothing. Frost gave a quick look at the 3 men before no longer paying them any more attention. No, not nothing, its best if were cautious. Leo gave a subtle look towards the group of men. He didnt recognise them which either meant they were not local or were part of the underworld. Leo frowned as he examined theirrge frames, they seemed a little strong for a simple tail. Their strength is equivalent to entry level D-ranks, not a threat. Maya chimed in after giving the men a quick once over. They were far weaker than the bandit Red Hawk, around the same strength as John from the Artic Warband. At that level they certainly wont be a threat. Frost agreed with Mayas assessment. Adam probably didnt have a clear idea of his strength, or he simply didnt care whether or not they noticed the tail. In fact, if they made a move on them first, they could be the ones arrested. Leo and Luna looked at one another and felt relived. Travelling with strong friends certainly is reassuring but... Leo was determined to get stronger. Over at the other table where the group of threerge men were sitting. Why did they have to enter this restaurant, damn rich brats. One of the men grumbled in annoyance. They were assigned to monitor Leo and Frost, following them wherever they go. Any actions they take must be reported. Adam had grown paranoid after Alex failed to take care of his nephew and future niece. Although Alex wasnt the strongest person under his control, he was the most trustworthy and efficient. Until now he had never failed and too little information about his failure was recovered. Adam grew afraid, he was so close to his goal he couldnt allow for a single thing to go wrong. Ryuu, Bastion and Sebastian had already started making their moves to limit his encroaching power. He couldnt have Leo suddenly taking his rightful position, that was his and his alone. Shut it weve got a job to do. Another one of the men red viciously at his colleague as he admonished him. Their orders were clear, and Adam wouldnt ept any excuses. The man felt a chill go down his spine as he thought of Adam. He was cold and merciless; hed have you killed without an ounce of forethought. It didnt matter how useful you were, if you didnt obey, youd be a dead man. I dont know why youreining, we get to enjoy some great food and the cost will be covered by the boss. The third man was actually quite excited, men of their standing would never get the chance to dine on the second floor of the phoenix fledgling restaurant. The only reason they could get in was due to the que that was given to them by Adam, allowing them ess. Following a group of brats as they toured around the town was a cushy job in his opinion it also came with some tasty benefits. The man drooled as he read through the menu. His twopanions looked at one another in surprise, they never thought about it like that and their boss Adam if there was one thing, he had in surplus it was money. The other two followed the third mans lead, perusing the menu with anticipation. Frost and the others food and drinks didnt take long to prepare, the same waitress as before brought their orders over however this time her attention was solely focused on Frost. She wasnt flirting or showing off any of her assets it was more intense looks making him feel awkward. The look in her eyes is strange. Frost felt goosebumps as the waitress handed over his meal. Their meals were in one word extravagant. The portions were huge, and each meal was served with multiple additions of vegetables, chips, or bread. The smell was intoxicating far stronger than the food in Kathys inn. Each meal was served on beautiful white dishes, adorned with phoenix patterns, just in appearance alone they got a 10 out of 10. A steaming bowl of a white milk based stew was ced in front of Frost along with some crusty white bread. The bread sold at Kathys inn was hard and dark in colour whereas this bread was soft and fluffy, a much higher quality. Frost couldnt resist any longer, he scooped up a small cube of meat along with some vegetables and took his first bite. Delicious! As soon as the broth touched his tongue, his mouth was filled with vour. He chewed the meat and felt another intense burst of vour but that wasnt all, his body filled with energy as if the meat contained mana. His face turned red, and his eyes showed surprise. The...theres mana within the dish. The meat of the D-rank Lagombi contained mana, pure mana that was easily absorbed by the body, nourishing it. In his shock Frost turned to Maya for answers, the mammoth steak he had before didnt have any mana in it. Maya smiled she hadnt started eating yet and was smelling the expensive wine she ordered. It seems that this restaurant has a true chef. Maya was quite impressed that a countryside territory had ess to a true chef. To be a true chef, you needed to be able to cook with mana. High rank ingredients such as D-rank monster meat contained mana within its flesh. A regr chef would only be able to cook the meat and it would still taste nice however a true chef would not only produce a tastier end product, the dish would preserve some of fleshs mana. Dishes with mana in them help to nourish the body, healing injuries and increasing the bodys strength allowing one to achieve increased physical ability without the need for harsh training. Maya could use magic, but she couldnt truly manipte her mana through the food thus she couldnt be called a true chef. Although they are of low rank, theyre still a true chef, congrattions Leo. True chefs or spirit chefs as the proper profession is termed were incredibly rare. Very few people have the talent or the resources to be spirit chefs, having one within your territory was something to brag about. Thanks, hes actually the main reason why this branch remained open. He had strong attachments to Furano since he was born here and advocated to keep the restaurant open. Leo had met the spirit chef a few times, Dous woulde here with him whenever it was his birthday. Frost re-examined his meal, truly feeling the weight of the 25 silvers it cost. He then turned to Mayas and Lunas dishes the griffin breast, a C-rank meal. He couldnt help but feel regret at the lost opportunity. Seeing the desire in his eyes Maya covered her food with her arm, iming her ownership. She wasnt going to share this time. The group quickly devoured their meals relishing in the great taste, even Maya was a little impressed with her dish giving Frost a thumbs up she also greatly enjoyed the wine but felt that there wasnt enough. She was tempted to order another ss of the cial starbalm, but Frost was having none of it, so she had to make do with a cup of the cheaper frost leaf wine. With their meal done it was time to face the beast, the bill. Frost and Leo had dark expressions as the waitress brought over the bill. There was no running away from it, it was going to hurt. The billes to 2 gold coins and 70 silver coins sir. The waitress handed the bill to Leo politely. Ugh Ugh Frost and Leo both released a groan, that was 1 gold and 35 silvers each when split. It wasnt that painful for Leo but for Frost it felt like a knife in the gut. Luckily, they already agreed to not pay the waitress a single copper in tip, so they saved some that way. With reluctance and with their partners giggling at the side, Frost and Leo brought out the money from their coin purses, 2 gold and 70 silvers exactly, not a single copper more. They ced it on the tray brought by the waitress. As per custom the waitress counted the money and her face nched. Eh no tip, even though she felt that her actions may have caused her to receive a lower tip but... nothing. It was customary to give at least one silver on the second floor regardless of service. She couldnt help but frown as she looked at Leo and Frost. What you got a problem? Frost returned that frown with an aggressive gaze, he was already in a bad mood from the amount and the waitress wanted more. His eyes were ice cold and piercing sending a chill down the waitresss back. Her anger quickly turned to pleasure. Ah that look its irresistible. Her eyes softened, and she released a slight moan. This was better than receiving a cash tip. She quickly thanked Frost with a bow before running back to the kitchen with a blush. Frost was left puzzled. Eh I thought shed argue about a tip. He waspletely oblivious to the waitresss feelings. Maya shook her head and looked towards the fleeing waitress with pity before dragging Frost out of the restaurant. They still needed to explore the rest of the western zone and she wasnt finished siphoning Frost of his newfound wealth yet. As Frosts group left the restaurant, their tail, the group of threerge men were quickly wolfing down the rest of their food and requested the bill. They couldnt let Frost and the rest out of their sights. Waitress bill please! The second man who was afraid of punishment called over the waitress. They didnt n of paying themselves since they had the que from Adam, but they needed to get the receipt. Of course, ites to 2 gold coins and 50 silvers. The group of men sucked in a sharp breath, hearing it out loud was quite a blow. They would individually make that in a year or so, a heavy expense. The group suddenly felt nervous. Would the boss be willing to pay for it? Although Adam was rich, he was also strict and frugal, were the three of them worth that much? Hoping for the best the second man brought out the que to put it on Adams tab and request the receipt. Eh? The waitress was confused we dont do tabs. Im sorry sirs but the phoenix fledgling restaurant doesnt do tabs. She frowned worried about these three gentlemen, they looked rather boorish and rough, the only reason they could enter was because of the owner of the que. Paying however was up to them. What! The first man mmed the table hard in anger looking viciously at the young waitress. They didnt have 20 silvers on them let alone two and half gold coins. He then looked with usation towards the third man. He was the one who said the boss would pay for it. The young waitress backed away in fear from the mans yell, tears threatening to leak from her eyes. She was afraid and didnt know what to do. luckily someone came to her aid. Chapter 68 Chapter 68: Chapter 68: The mad iron chef, Vos Is there a problem here? From behind the waitress arge man with a chefs hat appeared. He ced his hand on the young womans shoulder and ced her behind his back. This man was evenrger than the three thugs. A vicious burn like scar adorned the right side of his face, he looked intimidating. Head chef! The young waitress spoke with relief in her voice, no longer afraid she poked her head out from behind the head chef and scowled at the three men. Hmph now that the head chef is here, Id like to see you act out. She stuck her tongue out at the three men who were intimidated by the head chefs stature. Bonk! Ow! The waitress cried out in pain; the head chef smacked her on the top of her head. At the moment theyre still customers so act with respect. The head chef had a deep and gravelly voice as he reprimanded the waitress. Knowing she acted a little improper she smiled at the head chef and put on a stoic expression when facing the three men. ..... The secondrge man winced when he heard the head chef say, at the moment. He felt pressured by the head chef, not just from the mans overbearingrge stature but also his background. The phoenix fledgling restaurant wasnt somewhere they could act without impunity. Unfortunately, the first of therge men didnt understand this concept andshed out. Youre damn right theres a problem, dont you know who we are? who we work for? You should feel honoured that were even eating here, let alone willing to open a tab. Yet your damn waitress says thats not allowed, who do you think you are? Fine then if youre not going to ept a tab then we wont even pay. The firstrge man squared up right in front of the head chef. His eyes full of scorn he spat on his shoe daring the head chef to do something. The thirdrge man was originally on the fence but seeing his colleague act so aggressively he joined in. Acting like a thug he knocked their tes to the floor, shattering them to pieces. The secondrge man who understood the consequences of his colleagues actions was shitting himself, he wanted to stop them, but the damage was already done. Were so fucked heined internally as a cold sweat dripped down his back. The other groups eating on the second floor were watching them as if they were fools, someone even whispered. Finally, another group of idiots trying to scam this restaurant, thisll be fun. The man who spoke eagerly watched while munching on some of his chips. The waitress hiding behind the head chef had a shocked expression, she couldnt believe what was happening. These goons werent your simple thugs, they entered the restaurant using the status of Baron Adam, the younger brother of the regions viscount, yet they were acting like this. She felt sorry for the Baron, hiring such idiots. She looked up at the head chef and saw the anger on his face, veins on his forehead were protruding and his jaw was clenched. Ah theyre totally fucked. The head chef didnt care about your status even if you were the emperor, you still needed to pay your bill when in the phoenix fledgling restaurant let alone the hired thugs of a measly Baron. The head chef took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The first and thirdrge man believed he was trying to calm himself down before speaking politely and asking for leniency. They smiled in contempt; they wouldnt let a mere head chef off so easy. The secondrge man however was trembling even harder than before in fact he took a few steps backwards trying to separate himself from his idiot colleagues. He knew a little about the man standing before them. The mad iron chef, Vos. Crack! Suddenly a loud crack was heard and therge man that spat on the head chefs shoe was sent flying. The head chef Vos opened up his blood shot eyes filled with fury and without warning punched the man in the face, breaking his nose with a single strike and knocking him to the floor. Eh! The thug who smashed the tes on the floor barely registered what happened before he was kicked in the chest and sent flying towards the wall, several of his ribs were snapped. Crack! Crack! Vos cracked hisrge hands while walking towards the remaining thug. You little shits! Youre not walking out of here in one piece, and that shit faced Baron Adam you work for is hereby banned from this establishment! Sharon call the local guards to recover what remains! The remaining thug pissed himself in fear before he suddenly received an upper cut to the jaw. But I didnt do anything. The man internallyined as his head smashed into the ceiling. What ensued was carnage, by the time the waitress, Sharon managed to bring the local guards, nearly every single bone of the thugs was broken. Vos was covered in the blood of his victims and along with his natural frightening face itd be a traumatising sight for most, however... Awesome! Yeah, you show them Vos! Vos! Vos! Vos! The crowd as well as the staff werent put off and were in fact cheering Vos on as bits of the thugs sshed on his uniform. Even the local guards simply sighed at the sight as if nothing was out of ce, one of the four guards muttered under his breath. The mad iron chef, Vos former B-rank adventurer, specialising in hand to handbat. The guard that spoke was quite a fan, although there had been a few B-rank adventurers and even A-rank adventurers hailing from Furano, very few of them actually remained in their local town. Plus, Vos was a spirit chef making him even more rare. The most senior of the guards walked up to Vos who was still mad and patted his shoulders. I think thats enough Vos. Miraculously each and every one of the thugs was alive and conscious. They couldnt move only capable groaning in pain as they felt the devastation of their wounds. Feeling the friendly pat on his shoulder, Vos calmed down and returned to having a genial smile on his face, regardless of how evil it looked. He turned to the senior guard and nodded before facing his customers. My apologies for showing you such a gruesome sight, everyone can order a ss of D-rank wine on them for the trouble. He pointed with his thumb behind him to the remains of the thugs, who were crying. His generous offer received rounds of apuse and smiles; they werent put off by the sight in the slightest in fact some of them even felt famished seeing Vos expend so much energy. The guards took control of the situation from then, after receiving statements from Vos, Sharon and the customers they made their judgements. The goons were the ones in the wrong and will be arrested and if their superior Baron Adam doesnt pay back their debt of 6 gold coins (includes the damages to the restaurant and the D-rank wines) they will be sold into very to pay back their debt. The three goons couldnt even argue their case only able to groan a little louder. The guards then with little regard for delicacy carried the thugs to the local garrison to be imprisoned until their sentence is decided. With the guards taking control Vos looked down at his blood covered uniform. Tsk I just washed this uniform, Sharone. Vos walked towards the workers quarters along with Sharon the waitress. Frost and the rest were in the dark about these events since they entered their carriage and drove off. The group were heading towards an area of the western zonemonly referred to as the money pit. It was arge block of shops ranging from grocers to armour vendors. 80% of the sales done in Furano happen in this block ergo the moniker money pit as all the money ends up there. This didnt mean that the shops were all incredibly expensive in fact the majority were reasonably priced, they just had massive amounts of customers. As the carriage entered the so called money pit, they were forced to stop. The amount of people shopping here made it impossible for a carriage to be ridden, in fact Dous Furano had made it a pedestrian only zone to prevent idents. Carriages had to wait in one of the two parking lots depending on what side you entered from. Edwin park the carriage well be a while. Leo tossed Edwin a silver to pay for the parking and for him to get something to eat. Carriages parked within one of the parking lots were protected by security allowing drivers to enjoy some rxation as well. Thank you master. Edwin bowed slightly and thanked Leo with a stoic expression before guiding the horses away. Luna shook her head, she worried about Edwin. He was a kind boy but didnt express himself very well, usually only speaking when spoken too. Hed be a perfect fit for another noble house since he acted like the perfect servant, but the Furanos preferred to have a closer bond with their servants, for them to see themselves as part of the household. At least hes better than a few years ago. She put her worries about Edwin to one side as the group walked into the money pit. The shops inside were separated into different areas depending on their type e.g., clothes area, weapons area, household goods area etc... the question was where to start. Leo took out a coin purse from his satchel, it looked pretty full. He then handed that full coin purse to Luna with a twitch in his lips. This was her spending money, Leo simply had to carry it due to its weight. Thank you Luna took her coin purse with a smile and ced it in her own bag. It was mainly full of silver and coppers; she wasnt as wealthy as Leo was but under his mothers orders, he added 2 gold coins to the purse. Frost-senpai if its alright with you, Ill guide you round while Luna guides Maya. Leo nned to split up since he didnt want to be dragged around to shop for clothes with Luna. Frost looked towards Maya and gave her a nod. We wont be too far apart, so itll be fine. He wasnt worried about anything happening while shopping and he too didnt want to be trapped carrying bags again, so he agreed with Leo suggestion. Sounds good. Perfect,e on Maya lets leave these boys and go have some fun. Luna grabbed Mayas hand and led her towards the clothing shops. Maya wasnt one to argue, happily following along. Frost had already given her a coin purse with a gold coin and dozens of silver to spend as she wished. Well perhaps given wasnt the right word, Maya demanded, and heplied. As the girls were quickly lost in the crowd Leo patted Frost shoulder Lets head to the weapons and armour district. Leo then proceeded to lead Frost through the busy streets. By the way Frost-senpai, what kind of weapon do you use? Leo had never actually seen Frost fight nor was he carrying a weapon on his side or back as an identifier. He and a quick look at Frosts hands and examined his frame. He didnt look like a pugilist and didnt have a staff to help with magic. Oh, didnt I tell you, Im a ive user. Frost felt it would be awkward to constantly carry around his massive ive, especially when shopping so he had Maya store it in her storage bracelet. In emergencies he could still make a pseudo weapon out of ice chakra. A ive user, how rare. Leos brow rose at Frosts response. I dont think I know a single ive user; I know spear users. Leo tried to think of anyone he knew personally. Of course, hed heard of the ive but never actually seen someone use it. We might have to go to a specialist store to find a good one. Leo didnt know the quality of Frosts ive, but he was confident in the weaponsmiths of Furano. Hoh Ive already got a 2 star ive made of pykrete though. Frost replied. He didnt have too much interest in purchasing a weapon in Furano due to the items produced by the Dungeon core being of high quality and probably cheaper. He wouldnt mind browsing though. Chapter 69 Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Major purchase A 2 star ive is that all? I thought for sure youd have at least a 3 star weapon. Leo was surprised, he equated Frosts strength to around C-rank and C-ranks tend to have 3 star weapons or at least 2 star peak weapons otherwise they wouldnt be able to wound the monsters theyd hunt. Ah! Leo suddenly remembered that Frost wasnt from this area and that he came from the cial Mountains. They probably dont have much ess to metal, that must be why he uses pykrete. Leo looked at Frost with a little pity, as if his strength was being wasted. Frost twitched ufortably under Leos pitying gaze, he felt like such a country bumpkin. He could tell what Leo was thinking but didnt know how to correct him. I cant exactly say I buy my weapons through a dungeon core using life energy I gather from killing intruders and I just havent unlocked 3 star weapons yet due to my weapon mastery being low. He certainly couldnt say that, so he went along with Leos idea that he was from a poor vige in the mountains without ess to decent materials. Leo felt even more determined to get to a weapon store. Ding dong ..... A bell rang as Leo pushed open the shops door. Leo brought Frost to a shop he frequented, hoping to either find a ive or gain information on where to go at least. Wee... oh little Leo its been a while how you been? A friendly old dwarf with grey hair and a massive bushy beard that covered his chest greeted them from behind a counter. Hey Borris, had a little hup in myst quest but other than that not bad, you? Leo glossed over the reason for the hup, the information was kept hush hush after all. Shame to hear thatd but cheer up you cant be sessful all the time. For me though business has been good and cantin, you here to shop? Borris then looked over Frost who followed in behind Leo. Wow, Frost was impressed with what he saw, although the shop itself wasnt thatrge, every space was utilised and covered with weapons. He could see staffs, maces, clubs, swords, bows, spears and even throwing axes, a wide range of merchandise. He also had a decent variety of quality as well and the prices seemed reasonable with one star weapons going for a couple silver. Like what you seed? At some point Borris had walked out from behind his counter and stood next to Frost. Yeah, did you make all these yourself? Frost looked at the old dwarf standing next to him, appraising him as he thought about the frost dwarves back in his dungeon. Most of them yeah, my sons and nephews made the rest, we own a small smithy in the northern zone, and sell them here. Borris smiled with pride, he could see from the look in Frosts eyes that he wasnt just spouting ttery, he meant what he said. So, he made most of them, such a wide range of skills. From what he understood, weaponsmiths would stick to just a few weapon types to specialise in like swords or axes, yet this old man could make anything. If only I had ess to someone like him. Just like when he ate the food in the phoenix fledgling restaurant Frost had the desire to kidnap the old dwarf before him and have him work in his dungeon. The old weaponsmith Borris was oblivious to Frosts thoughts and closely examined the tall young man before him. Whether or not his face was covered didnt matter to him, what he was looking at was his body, his hands, arms, shoulders, back, any limb or muscle that determined his weapon. Hmmm youre some sort of pole arm user right...may I? Borris asked if he could feel Frost arm and hands. Frost nodded allowing Borris to examine him. Hmmm not too many blisters or scarring but from the shape... you use a ive, no? Borris looked into Frosts eyes with confidence, he could always tell the weapons people used from their hands. Wow this old dwarfs got skill. Even though hed only used the ive for around a week or so, the old man was able easily work out his weapon. Leo was smiling from ear to ear as he watched. Old man Borris is one of the most knowledgeable weapon smiths in Furano, guessing your weapon is a piece of cake for him. He internally praised the weaponsmith of his territory. Yes, I use a ive as my weapon. Frost answered with respect. Been a while since Ive seen a ive user here in Furano, wait here for a sec. Borris rushed into the backroom. Frost could here nging and banging as Borris searched. Found it Borris returned to the store front a few minutester wielding arge weapon covered by a purple cloth. Drawing Frost and Leos eyes he smirked and pulled of the cloth and revealed the weapon hidden underneath. It was a ive and a big one to, easily over 2 metres long. The de was light blue in colour almost semi-transparent, bouncing the light off the surface, showing off its smooth finish. The shaft was made of a dense red coloured wood that brilliantly contrasted with the pale blue de. There was a picture of a wolf howling at the moon stretching the entire shaft. The pommel of the ive was made out of some kind of metal, likely steel and was well polished allowing you to see your own reflection. Frost was amazed, the ive in the old dwarfs hands was beautiful, he wanted it. This is a ive I made over ten years ago for a C-rank adventurer, unfortunately he died before it was finished. Borris had a pained look in his eyes as he looked at the ive. The de is made out of century old ice and star wood pulp creating this transparent yet incredibly strong pykrete. From your hands I could feel an intense cold, I assumed that you were an ice magic user. Frost nodded. Pykrete weapons work well with ice magic. The shaft is made of fired star wood creating a great contrast for aesthetic purposes but also giving great flexibility and strength. The pommel is made of high quality duram metal, providing a perfect counterweight to bludgeon your enemies, here. Borris tossed the ive towards Frost without warning. Frost caught it without difficulty as his eyes never left the weapon. Its heavy, the weapon was incredibly heavypared to his current weapon but manageable, in fact it probably suited his current strength better than his 2 star pykrete ive. Frost gripped the shaft and moved his hands along it, feeling every inch, he caressed the light blue de, it was cold to the touch and cut the edge of his finger without any effort. Beautiful Frost couldnt help but smile, he wanted this weapon, no he needed it. With fanaticism in his eyes Frost gazed at Borris and asked. How much? Hahahaha that look in your eyes, I knew I didnt misjudge you. Youre just like the person who ordered this ive, a battle fanatic haahahahah. Borrisughed without restraint, hed held onto this ive for ten years never finding someone worthy of it...until now. Its considered a peak 3 star weapon so it aint cheap. How much? Frost wasnt unnerved in the slightest asking for the price once again. Borris held up 3 fingers. Thirty silvers thats not much. Thirty silvers? Pshhha no! 3 gold coins my friend What! What! Both Leo and Frost were shocked that was more than double what they expected. Leo queried the price first. Old man Borris are you sure about that price? a top of the range 3 star sword would only cost a single gold coin? Yet youre charging triple that for a ive Leo was confused, Borris was never one to overcharge a customer, Leo believed that 1 gold and fifty silvers would be an appropriate price even if it was peak rank. Definitely Borris nodded with conviction, his eyes never leaving Frost. He knew the exact worth of this weapon, even charging double would be a discount. This weapon was the best Borris had ever created and it was so close to being a 4 star weapon, only being held back by its base materials. The only reason he was asking for 3 gold coins was because itd been gathering dust for the past ten years. Within Nova just as how theres a massive power gap between C and B rank monsters, there is a considerable difference between 3 star and 4 star weapons. The two cannot bepared on the same level, for Borris to im that his ive is almost a 4 star weapon is quite an achievement. Only within the empires capital Arkheart would you be able to find weapon smiths able to create 4 star weapons. Without a 4 star weapon, hunting B-rank monsters would be nigh impossible. Leo could see the determination in Borris eyes and knew that there was no room for negotiation. If old man Borris is so convinced about the price, it must be worth it. Leo turned to Frost, waiting for his decision. He knew that Frost had the money since he handed him 5 gold coins earlier, but still. Weve only just started shopping. They still had a lot of stores to visit. Frost however was gripping the ive in his hands tightly, although the price of 3 gold coins shocked him, he could still afford it. 3 gold coins, 3 gold coins, he repeated the price over and over within his head, he was struggling to part with such arge amount. Borris and Leo remained silent as Frost mulled over his decision. Ah! Fuck it, its only money. He made his choice; what use is money if you dont use it. Frost felt relieved the moment he made his decision. He faced Borris, looking into his eyes with admiration. Ill take it. Hahahahaha great choiced, you wont regret it. Borrisughed out loud, smiling ear to ear. He felt arge weight being released, the burden of holding onto that weapon was finally resolved, a few tears leaked from his eyes as he remembered the young man who asked him for the weapon in the first ce. Hopefully this weapon will be able to finally protect its wielder. Borris was an avid believer in weapons having souls, he could feel the ives joy as it was swung by Frost. Frost removed his coin purse from his sleeve and happily handed over 3 gold coins without a single ounce of buyers remorse. His saving were now dwindled down to just over 2 gold coins. Borris took the three gold coins and ced them in his vault before returning with a purple cloth bag that could be used to transport the ive on Frosts back. It was given free of charge thankfully. Whenever the de needs maintenance pleasee back here or to our workshop in the northern zone. Borris waved goodbye to Frost and Leo as they walked out of the shop, Frost now carrying arge, covered ive on his back making him look much more like an adventurer. Where to next Leo? No longer feeling restricted in spending his money, Frost looked towards his youngpanion urging him to lead him to the next store. Leo was momentarily stunned, even for him, the lords son, spending 3 gold coins would make him feel drained but these thoughts were quickly erased with the phrase well thats Frost-senpai for you. Lets go and look at the armour shops next. Leo looked at Frosts current attire, although it looked very expensive it didnt look as though it provided much defence. Leo was correct, Frosts robes that he constantly wore provided little to no defence. They could only regenerate if ripped when imbued with a little mana but offered no defence against weapons. There were options in the dungeon menu to upgrade these clothes through DP, the prices however were quite extravagant. To make them equal to standard leather armour (the appearance wouldnt change however) would cost 10,000DP, equivalent to recycling 10 gold coins. With his current savings and daily ie, it was an expense beyond what he could afford. Sounds good, lead the way. Much cheaper to purchase some armour in Furano although they wouldnt regenerate or be asfortable, he could buy dozens and still have money left over. Chapter 70 Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Magic scrolls The rest of their shopping wasnt quite so taxing. Leo took Frost around some of the more well-known armourers and adventurer shops before heading towards the magic district. Frost purchased a leather chest te for 2 silvers as well as a pair of wrist guards for 50 coppers in one of the armoury outfitters and a couple of heavy duty adventures backpacks filled with some standard use tools and items, e.g., flint, bandages, water container etc... he got a discount for buying two of everything, reducing the cost to 10 silvers. The moment he walked out of the store however he really missed Mayas storage bracelet. The armour wasnt so bad since he just wore it under his robes but the two partially filled backpacks were the problem. Luckily Leo wasnt doing anything, so Frost enlisted his help in carrying one while he held the other. Damn being an adventurer is much more tedious than it looks. Frost suddenly had more respect for the groups he saw enter his dungeon with full backpacks. Adventurers that didnt know any lifestyle magic needed to carry around food, shelter equipment, water, weapons, and a method to produce fire otherwise they wouldnt able to survive. This is the magic district, you can buy magic devices, scrolls, alchemy materials, artificing materials basically anything rted to magic will be in this section. Leo pointed at some examples for each type. The magic district was considered one of the more expensive areas in the money pit as anything rted to magic had an inted price. For example, Frost could see in a store window a magic device that projects white light called a torch was 20 silvers and the magic crystals werent included. All it did was send out light, yet it was 20 silvers. For morebat rted devices, the price seemed to be hiked up to several gold coins even more than the ive he just bought. Frost promptly ignored such stores since they were out with his budget. Frost-senpai you said that you use ice magic, what spells do you know? As they walked down the street Leo caught a glimpse of a magic scroll shop and remembered in Borris weapons shop Frost mentioned that he was an ice magic user. I only know one spell, ice bolt Frost couldnt help but feel a little shame, he said he was an ice magic user, but he only knew the one spell. He nned to learn some more but he ran out of DP. I see, then do you want to try and learn another one? Leo wasnt too shocked; it was rare for someone to know weapon arts and magic so the fact that Frost could use only a single spell didnt really matter. ..... Leo directed Frosts attention towards a small store to their right called Abbies magic scrolls. Frost felt his coin purse as he thought. He didnt know how much magic scrolls cost, but it was probably worth a look. He nodded towards Leo who led the way. Ring Ring The bell above the shops entrance rang as they walked in, they didnt receive any greetings this time. The olddy who owned the store simply gave a quick nce from her desk in acknowledgement before returning to reading her book. They also werent the only customers browsing. The shops interior looked a lot like a bookstore with each bookcase having its own genre or in this case element. Frost could see scrolls on the four basic elements: water, fire, earth, and wind as well as ones pertaining to ice, lightning, and wood albeit a much lower number. The collection was quite impressive for a countryside town. The shelves were then further divided by the level of magic with the higher ranked spells being higher up. I see that they only have up to the 3rd circle avable. Magic in Nova was divided up into 8 circles of magic with 8 being the most powerful. Frosts ice bolt spell was considered a 1st circle spell but can evolve to a higher circle depending on the number and density of the ice bolts summoned. Curious Frost moved to inspect some of the 2nd circle ice spells. Ice de Ice entanglement Ice shield Frost recognised a few of them as they were avable in the dungeon menu. He didnt see much point in buying any of the 2nd circle spells so he moved onto the 3rd circle level scrolls. Well, they only had two and both of them were out of his price range at 5 gold coins each. Summon ice golem and blizzard were the two scrolls for sale and they came with a short description on how they worked. Summon ice golem was pretty self-exnatory, it summons an E-rank ice golem that follows the summonersmands. Increasing mastery and havingrge mana pool would allow the user to summon more than one. The blizzard spell described itself as creating arge chunk of ice above the intended target, dropping it on their head and crushing them (think the blizzard spell from final fantasy). Increasing mastery would increase the size, weight, and the form speed of the ice chunk. The 3rd circle spells looked far more appealing to Frost because like 3 star weapons, any spells stronger than the 2nd circle were currently locked in the dungeon menu. Unfortunately, he didnt have enough money, or he would have purchased both of them immediately Frost sighed as hemented hiscking funds. He turned his gaze back to a few of the 2nd circle spells, the ice entanglement spell in particr which was 50 silvers. The spell would summon vines of ice under the target, trapping them in ce. Increasing mastery would increase the size and strength of the vines as well as their summoning speed. This one would probably work well with my ice bolt spell, its a more manageable price as well. The only worry Frost had was if he was spending too much, he couldnt remember the price for these spells in DP, so itd be a gamble. Are you going to buy it? Leo asked at his side, he watched as Frost shifted between all the ice scrolls on sale. Leo couldnt use magic, even lifestyle magic was rather difficult for him to use so there was nothing of interest in this store for him. He was more interested in buying interesting magic devices like the torch they saw earlier. Frost let out another sigh before turning to Leo and replying. I think so, Ive not got enough money for a 3rd circle scroll so this ice entanglement spell will have to do. Frost picked up the scroll delicately. Frost took the scroll over to the old woman behind the counter. Id like this scroll please maam. He spoke politely to the woman and fished out a gold coin from his purse. The old woman looked up from her book with a slight annoyance, she gave Frost a quick once over before taking his gold coin and handing him back 50 silvers. If it fails to work theres no refunds, the issue will be on your end. The woman arrogantly replied before returning to her book, no longer paying any attention to Frost. Eh wont work, why wouldnt it work? Frost was a little surprised and wanted the old woman to rify what she meant but he felt a dangerous vibe from her, pressuring him not to disturb her again. It wasnt necessarily a vibe of strength but more irritation. If you dont like dealing with people then dont open a store. Frosts faced twitched in anger, but he chose not to sink to her level, he turned around and left the store with Leo, with an unhappy expression. Ill just ask Maya or Luna about it. Frost put the magic scroll into one of backpackspartments for safety. He didnt know why itd possibly fail but Maya definitely would. The old woman looked up at Frosts back as he left a little surprised Hoh, I thought for sure hed cause a fuss. She smiled slightly before returning to her book. Once they left the magic scroll store, Leo dragged Frost around the many different shops selling magic devices. Frost didnt buy any since they all seemed useless except for the really expensive ones but Leo bought a bunch. Apparently, it was his hobby, back in the lords manor his bedroom as well as several storage rooms were filled with his collection of magic devices like the torch they saw earlier. Frost couldnt bear to pull Leo away when he saw the sparkle in his eyes, so he just followed along nodding a few times whenever Leo tried to exin how awesome the magic device in his hands was. Theyre all nothing but junk though. Only magic devices found in monsterirs or ones made by top rank artificers were considered good. I can buy better stuff with a small amount of DP. Frost sighed as he watched Leo dash back and forth between devices. He had possibly underestimated the appeal of magic devices or perhaps Leo was just a special case. Frosts gaze then drifted over simr people who were examining the magic devices for sale, they had the same mad look in their eyes as Leo. Maybe hes not that unique. Frost had to reaffirm the idea of using lures in his dungeon. Perhaps setting up a trap room with a magic device in the centre would work wonders hahaha. Frost could picture it now, someone like Leo dashing madly towards the device ignoring the danger. Of course, not everyone was interested, a few adventurers could be seen inspecting the magic devices and clicking their tongues in disappointment. A couple hourster after they had left the sixth magic device shop Frost and Leo ran into Maya and Luna. They were all smiles and only held a single small bag each. Thankfully it looks like she didnt buy too much. Frost let out a sigh of relief. Did you girls have fun? He smiled at Maya, before seeing the small bag he feared that they came looking for him and Leo for more spending money. Yes, Luna showed me around all the best clothing stores and jewellery stores, we also visited a bakery selling the most delicious cakes. Maya spoke with excitement as she withdrew a carboard box filled with slices of cake. look at this its chocte rum cake, rum! Maya pushed the cake box towards Frost while emphasising the word rum. Cake mixed with alcohol could there be anything better. Luna had gotten a vani voured sponge and was showing it off to Leo, of course neither of the girls offered the boys a slice, simply rubbing it in their faces, teasing them with the smell. Pushing away the cake thrusted at his face, Frost spoke. Is that all you bought? The moment the words left his mouth a cold shiver ran down his spine, he just jinxed himself. Pssshh no we were shopping for hours, how could we only buy a couple cakes. Maya shook her head and looked at Frost as if he was an idiot. We had the bags sent to the carriage; itd be impossible to walk around the shops with all those bags after all. Maya gestured with her hands an example of her attempting to carry dozens of bags. What the hell did she buy? Oh, and Im out of money. Maya held out the empty coin purse. She had spent everything Frost had given her, leaving not a single copper. Guardians were forbidden from using their own wealth during their tenure, to save cores taking advantage of their vast wealth reserves. If Maya wasnt a guardian, given her power as an S-rank monster and her background as a Fenrir she would able to buy the entire money pit block so spending less than 2 gold coins was nothing but chump change for her. Frosts lips started to twitch as Maya dangled the empty coin purse in front of him with an innocent look on her face. Shes a damn money subus. Chapter 71 Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Awkward carriage ride Frost took the empty coin purse from her hands and ced it within his robes, not refilling it. Maya pouted a little in response but wasnt that bothered, she already managed to buy everything she wanted anyway. Her eyes then drifted to therge, covered weapon on Frosts back. Hoh! Looks like you spent some money too young master. Not waiting for Frosts permission, she wrapped around him and removed the cover revealing the shiny ive underneath. Maya didnt struggle with the weapons weight in the slightest as she twirled and inspected every inch of the thing. Hmm a peak 3-star weapon almost 4-star, impressive. She flicked the de testing its durability before looking into Frosts eyes. How much? She was curious, she knew the amount of money Frost had on him, such a weapon should have cost at least 6 gold coins or so. ..... And he was feeling hurt over me spending less than 2, stingy. She looked at Frost with usation. Feeling a little guilty under her re Frost avoided her gaze, looking to the side. Wait why am I feeling guilty its my money. Realising he had nothing to be ashamed of he stared back at Maya with annoyance. 3 gold coins. He replied while raising 3 fingers. 3 gold coins? ..... what a bargain. Mayas eyes widened at Frosts response; she was impressed, he managed to get a really good deal. She smiled and handed the ive back to him before giving a thumbs up for a job well done. His previous 2-star pykrete weapon was certainly good but wouldntst long with Frosts rate of improvement. A weapon like this shouldst for the entire training year possibly longer. After a year, her duties as a guardian would be over and Frost would be on his own. With him having a suitable weapon, his survivability would increase. She felt a mixture of pride and loneliness. Frost was quickly no longer needing to rely on her. Frost missed the pain in Mayas expression and continued to regale her of his purchases as well as the many weird (useless) magic devices he saw. I got us a couple of adventurer backpacks filled with basic necessities as well as a couple of armour pieces. Frost pushed back his sleeves to show off his leather wrist guards before revealing his leather chest te. He was quite impressed with their defence quality for the price, they also felt ratherfortable to wear even though the size was pre-set. He didnt expect them topletely protect him just prevent some fatal injuries and or from surprise attacks. Like an excited child Frost then opened the heavy-duty backpack to show Maya all the nick knacks it came with as well as the magic scroll ice entanglement. Well, you certainly had a productive shop. Maya nodded her head in praise, everything her young master had bought was practical. Her items however were purely cosmetic; dresses, a ne, shoes etc... none of which would assist in adventuring. Im guessing the second backpack is for me. She looked over at Leo who was carrying the second backpack on his back. It certainly was adventurery but wascking in fashion sense. She imagined herself wearing therge backpack with her small frame, shed look quiteical. Nope not happening. She rubbed the storage bracelet on her wrist loving it even more, shed just store things in the spatial storage. It wasnt like theres anyone strong enough to take it from her anyway. Frost bought the second backpack for Maya because he felt that they should hide her storage bracelet from people. While wandering through the magic device shops he managed to see a storage item for sale. Well, lets just say it was at a price people would be willing to kill for plus its storage capacity was much smaller than Mayas. But if she wasnt willing, he couldnt force her, he could easily understand the disgruntled look on her face as she looked over at the backpack held by Leo. Oh well doesnt matter, in the end itll just be more DP. Frost no longer worried about being a target for greed, hed just have to kill them and relish in their life force. The group had now toured the entire money pit apart from one area. Leo looked at the watch on his wrist for the time. Another one of the semi useless magic devices that were avable for purchase. Very popr with male noblemen and affluent merchants. 4pm guess we should head off. They still needed to visit the eastern section, but itd be awkward to visit in the evening especially with the girls. Leo looked up towards hispanions If were all done, should we head back to the manor? With them having had a great lunch and their hands and carriage being full of shopping it was time they head back. There was still a lot of things to prepare before the sun sets and the operation begins. Eh? Frost turned to face Leo, the sun was still high in the air and the operation wasnt untilte in the evening. And theres still that section over there that we havent seen yet. Frosts gaze was drawn over to another popr section of the money pit which they hadnt essed yet. Frost didnt know what kind of shops were there but considering the amount of well-dressed peopleing and going it must be good. What about thest section of the money pit? Frost pointed towards the area he was looking, he quite enjoyed shopping around and didnt want to stop quite yet. Leo and Luna had rather awkward looks on their faces as Frost pointed with such curiosity. Leo sighed before exining. Thats the ve markets? Leo spoke with a neutral tone; Leo wasnt adverse to the idea of ves especially in the Furano viscounty but he himself wouldnt use them. In the Northrend empire ,ves were legal but also more restricted than other countries. ves needed to receive a certain standard of care from their masters; they cannot be abused for entertainment and unless a serious criminal ve they must have the opportunity to regain their status of freedom. Different territories had different nuances on what they deemed as a certain standard of care. Furanos was quite high, with ves being treated just below regr citizens and werent ostracised or looked at in contempt. The Furano house have always held an ambiguous view on the use of ves, neither promoting it nor snubbing it. Leo didnt really want to visit the ve markets due to his personal position but if Frost wanted to visit, hed guide him. Ah ves? Frost didnt know much about the ve trade, but he was born with some basic knowledge about ves. The main thing being that they were bound to a master and could not betray or harm them while under a ve contract. He looked back towards the ve markets. He didnt really have any need of ves, or anything rted to it and lost interest. If thats all thats there then never mind, I thought it was some high-ss shops given the attire of the customers. Even though he probablycked the funds to buy anything if that was the case Frost still would have liked to take a look. Leo looked over to see the well-dressed customers understanding why Frost came to such a conclusion. Well, hes not exactly wrong. ves were generally quite expensive to purchase and then there was the upkeep costs, only the wealthy would be interested in such prospects. The group now agreeing to return to the manor left the money pit, heading back to the area where the carriage was parked. Edwin Leo shouted and waved to the carriage driver who was resting on the drivers seat with a hat covering his eyes. Hearing the shout of his master, Edwin quickly woke up and sorted out his attire before nodding to Leo and Luna. Edwin climbed down from the carriage and opened up the door for Leo and the group. Unfortunately, there was very little room left inside. Dozens of shopping bags had overflown from the luggagepartment and were now taking up half the seating space. There wasnt enough space for all four of them to sit. Frost gave a questioning look at Leo, silently asking what do we do? In which he received a look silently saying, I dont know. Before they could work out what to do, whether to call for an additional carriage or for someone to sit next to Edwin the girls had already moved. Maya and Luna entered the carriage and sat down innocently, waiting to leave, not even acknowledging the issue they caused. There was a little space next to Luna probably enough for Leo to squeeze in but on Mayas side. Frost looked at the tiny space avable, Mayas butt was a fair bit bigger than Lunas so Frost would barely be able to fit a single leg there let alone sit down. Seeing Frosts gaze alternate between her and the tiny space she left, Maya smiled coyly. She stood up and patted the seat gesturing for Frost to sit down. ..... Frost silently looked at Maya trying to work out what angle she was ying but she simply continued to pat the seat and smile. Leo had squeezed in next to Luna, so they were just waiting on Frost. Not wanting to hold everyone up Frost sat down, the seat was still slightly warm. The moment he sat down however, hisp was assaulted Oomph! Maya plopped her ass down on Frostsp without reservation, shifting slightly to getfy. Ah thats much better. Maya leaned back into Frosts chest and looked up towards his mask with a big smile on her face. Frost didnt know what to do and was frozen in ce, Luna and Leo were giggling to themselves. Edwin head back to the manor please. Maya tapped the walls of the carriage telling Edwin to start moving. Receiving an order Edwin pulled on the reins and began driving the carriage. Frost however was in quite a severe predicament and a bright red blush adorned his face and neck. Mayas butt was ced right on top of his groin, it was soft and heavy. It didnt help that Maya was giving of a pleasant smell. She must have bought some perfume. Frost was internally struggling while Maya shifted her butt from side to side, teasing him. She was taking full advantage even though they were in front ofpany. Her butt would hide any reaction anyway, so she wasnt bothered if he took a little advantage, in fact she weed it. Maya giggled in joy as the carriage took them back to the southern zone. The trip was quite long, and Frost could only keep a clear mind for so long, after 10 minutes he could no longer contain his bodys natural reaction. Maya blushed as she felt therge protrusion squeezing itself between her cheeks, luckily her butt was big enough otherwise they would alert Luna and Leo. Damn thats big. Maya licked her lips as the protrusion continued to grow and as it did, she felt butterflies in her stomach, slightly worried about taking on something sorge. A significant blush grew on her face, matching Frosts. Frost and Maya continued this awkward seating arrangement all the way back towards the manor. Eventually as the carriage pulled near the lords estate, Maya squirmed gently to the edge of Frosts knees, relieving the tantalising pressure that was enveloping his weapon allowing it to calm down by the time the carriage stopped. There was however a rather noticeable wet patch on Mayas dress. Weve arrived young master. Edwin tapped on the carriage and reported to Leo. Y...yes Leo awkwardly replied in confirmation, no matter how well Maya hid Frosts reaction he and Luna could still see them wiggling and blushing. They may be young, but they werent exactly children anymore, they had a pretty good guess at what was going on. The moment the carriage stopped, and Edwin opened the door, Maya lunged out of the carriage and ran straight into the manor quickly saying. I need to use the restroom. The guards saw that she came with Leo and Luna, so they didnt stop her, giving her directions to the nearest bathroom. Frost, Luna, and Leo were left dazzled, but they all seemed to understand and chose to ignore it. Chapter 72 Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Walking with his own two legs As Leo was giving orders to some of the servants and guards on what to do with the many bags full of shopping Maya returned wearing a different dress, this time a violet one that created a beautiful contrast to her white hair. That was close. Maya smiled as normal as possible as she spoke, pushing the idea that she really needed to visit the restroom. She looked at Frost with a menacing re, full of usation as she passed him. Eh its my fault? Frost frowned and Maya hmphed as she moved next to Luna and dragged her into the manor,pletely ignoring Frost and Leo. Frost was left dazed and confused, his mouth open to speak but no words came out. Pat Leo patted his shoulder from behind. Frost looked behind him at Leo to see him shaking his head before shrugging. Basically, tranting as dont bother. He then returned to giving instructions to the servants. And now that Frost could see there were far fewer servants than when they left. Their average age was also a lot lower, most of the senior staff seemed to have been let go. Cassandra seems to have been remarkably busy the past few hours. Frost remembered the look the woman had on her face while saying shed take care of the house; it was full of joy. Seems she had a lot of fun given the ones left behind. ..... The ones remaining could barely be called a skeleton crew and none of them looked to be that experienced, a bunch of teenagers. I guess Adam must have turned all the higher ranked servants. Frost nodded internally at Cassandras work; it was the right way to go about it. Knock knock Frost knocked on the door to Douss bedroom. Come in A pleasant female voice replied. It was Cassandra. Frost opened the door and walked into the room with Leo following behind him. Ah Frost and Leo, wee back. Cassandra was looking much healthier than earlier; her face had a good amount of colour, and she wore a grand smile. Did she put on make-up? Frost was taken aback for a second, Cassandra was already attractive earlier but now she was a bombshell. Leo was just as shocked, he looked at his mother in confusion wondering if she was still his mother. You look nicedy Cassandra. Frost spoke smoothly, admiring her beauty. Why thank you Frost, now that that disgusting wastrel of a butlers no longer around to act like a lecher I can finally dress how I want. Her smile grewrger as she spoke and she thrusted her chest out with pride, she took a lot of satisfaction in taking care of that former head butler. It allowed her to release a lot of pent-up frustration. She was in such a good mood she put on one of her favourite dresses, a blue cheongsam and applied her dust covered make-up. She had not worn this outfit in over 3 years, not since thest time she joined her husband on a trip to the capital. Yeah, mom you look very pretty. Leo smiled genuinely; he hadnt seen his mother in such a good mood for a long time. Of course, she is, my wife is the most beautiful woman in the world. Dous was in just as good a mood as his wife, it had been too long since he saw her dress up, too long. Behind that smile however was pain, he knew why she never dressed up, it was because of him, his inability to leave this room and control his own servants, he was nothing but a burden on his family at this point. His wife was a beautiful and radiant flower, she shouldnt be caged up alongside him. Seeing his wife with such a radiant smile on her face Dous made a decision in that moment. Its about time I let go. His gaze drifted over to his son who no longer had the face of a child. He saw a strong, brave young man who would be able to support the Furano household. His son was ready to bare that charge. Dous sighed deeply as if heavy weight was removed, he felt light and free, strength filled his battered and broken body. Crack crack Douss knuckles released an audible crack as he clenched his fists. Lets go out with a bang. Dous smiled at ease with his decision. Leo wasnt alone, he had Luna, his mother as well as two new friends Maya and Frost, he was no longer needed. Hed been quiet for far too long and it was not in his nature. Dous forced himself to sit up straight and made moves to stand on his own two feet for the first time in months. His actions shocked his wife and son who moved to aid him but were fiercely rebuffed. Im not dead yet, its about time I reminded my brother of that. I am still the ruler of this territory. Dous scowled as he spoke of his brother, he felt so betrayed and filled with fury. He treated his younger brother so well over the years and for what. If he wasnt so feeble, hed kill him himself. Ignoring the worried expression on his wifes beautiful face he forced himself to his feet in a single motion. His stance wavered slightly but Dous was standing tall without aid, his aura as a Viscount and powerful adventurer was beginning to coalesce but it was merely a bluff, the bodysst surge of strength before the end, enough to fool Cassandra and Leo but not Frost. This old man ns on dying. Frost frowned as he understood Douss situation, he was torn on how to act. Should he call him out and force him to return to bed or follow through with his bluff pretending to not see. His decision was made for him, Dous sharply looked into Frosts eyes urging him to keep silent. Ugh the words Frost was about to say were swallowed back down, how could he object, it was Douss life not his. Frost sighed before putting on a smile pretending to be moved by Douss sudden surge in health. He received a soft look from Dous in thanks. We havent eaten together as a family in such a long time, the dining rooms probably full of cobwebs hahahaha. Lets show our guests the hospitality of the Furano household hahahaah. Dousughed with his entire body as he moved forward in great strides, ignoring the painful signals his body was sending him, he opened up his bedroom doors and started walking towards the dining room. Leo and his mother were speechless, tears started to form in Cassandras eyes as she gazed at the straight andrge back of her husband. My love Cassandra wiped her tears and followed after her husband with quickened steps. On catching up with him she mped down on her husbands arm, wrapping her body around him and resting his arm between her breasts. Walking with him side by side, Cassandra looked up at Dous, her eyes filled with affection, remembering the first time they met. They were young, Dous a young handsome noble, in his prime. His body rugged and muscr from being an active adventurer yet his personality being that a of kind, gentle man loved by the territorys popce. She the beautiful flower of a declining Baron household swarmed by dozens of suitors after her familys wealth and noble title, caring very little about her own aspirations. They met when Cassandra fled from her territory sick of being treated as amodity to be sold off by her family. However, a beautiful young woman alone on a journey was a prime target. She was quickly beset by bandits who were lusting after her beauty. It was then that she met her future husband to be. Dous seeing such an injustice while passing by, confronted the many bandits alone. Severely outnumbered and outmatched Dous chose to stand in front of Cassandra, shielding her from the bandits without hesitation. Dous turned his neck and smiled brightly towards her. She fell in love at that moment, Dous was her white knight in shining armour, that smile made her feel safe. Luckily, Bastion and Ryuu werent far behind, together the three of them defeated the bandits and sessfully rescued the damsel. What followed was Cassandra ardently pursuing Dous in courtship. She ignored her familys wishes, shattering the chains that bound her freedom and married Dous without their blessing and she never regretted it for a single moment. She rested her head on Douss shoulder, walking by his side towards the dining room. Receiving the loved filled gaze of his wife Dous smiled and kissed her lightly on her forehead. Theyre a beautiful couple. Frost couldnt help butment on the sight. Dous and Cassandra even after so many years of marriage and being beset with such problems could still look at one another as if they were newlyweds, Frost envied such a rtionship, his mind filled with an image of Maya before he vigorously shook his head. Im surprised they only have one child. Frost sniggered, considering how in love Dous and Cassandra were they probably had a rather active sex life. Leo couldnt help but blush as he understood Frosts connotations, that wasnt something he as their son wanted to think about, so he didnt. Too embarrassed to look in Frosts direction Leo ran after his parents. Hahahaha Frostughed as Leo scampered out of the room blushing. Teasing him was fun, I see why Maya does it to me so often. Can you have someone tell mypanion and Luna that were going to be eating in the dining room. Frost spoke to the two guards that were standing outside the bedroom door. Throughout the entire situation these two guards remained stoic and silent but wereughing internally. Of course, sir Frost, Ill ask a servant to rely that message. One of the guards saluted before heading off to find a servant. Do you need me to guide you to the dining room sir Frost? The remaining guard asked politely, the Furano family was already out of sight and since Frost didnt know theyout of the mansion, he needed a guide. If you wouldnt mind Frost took the guard up on his offer, this ce wasnt his dungeon, so he didnt have ess to a map. The only room hed been too was Douss bedroom and that was only one of several hundred, he didnt even know what floor it was on. No problem sir Frost. The guard showed a rare smile before leading Frost down the hall. The dining room, well the main dining room was on the ground floor and hadnt been used in nearly 2 years. Before Dous got sick, they would dine here nearly every night together, Dous and Cassandra were big believers in eating as a family, asionally theyd even invite servants to join them. Adam as well used to eat alongside them especially when Leo was younger, they appeared to be such a close-knit family back then, what went wrong? With Adam taking control of the majority of high-ranking servants, most of the rooms had be really run down, filled with dust and stagnant air. The main dining hall was one of those run-down rooms. Without there being a need to entertain any nobles or wealthy businessmen and Dous too ill to move around it was left unattended, well that was the n at least. When the group arrived in the dining hall they were surprised. There wasnt a single cobweb, line of dust or a piece of furniture out of ce as if it was cleaned every day. What the? Dous was fully expecting to have to give the room a deep thorough clean before it would be even half useable, yet the room before them looked the same as it did 2 years prior. Cassandra rubbed her finger over some of the furniture expecting to pick up some dust but there was nothing, her finger was spotless. While the Furanos looked at one another with confusion, a group of servants walked in armed with cleaning utensils. Don don Seeing their masters in the dining room took the young servants by surprise, a few of them dropped their equipment. M...m...master m...mistress what are you doing here? One of the servants asked nervously as if shed done something wrong. Chapter 73 Chapter 73: Chapter 73: The n Seeing the heavily armed group of young servants with panicked expressions Dous and Cassandra instantly understood what happened. Their eyes filled with warmth as they looked at the young servants with appreciation. So, it wasnt only us that enjoyed those times. Cassandra and Dous struggled to retain much love for their servants after discovering the number that were serving Adam. But seeing this group of young servants who obviously disobeyed their superiors orders to maintain this room filled their hearts with joy. There were still some servants that valued loyalty. Cassandra struggling to hold back her tears dashed towards the young maids and embraced them all in a hug, ignoring her status asdy of the house. These young girls helped to heal another wound in her heart. The young maids broke down in tears after being hugged by Cassandra, repeatedly crying out mistress and hugging her back. Dous and Leo watched this heart-warming scene with smiles on their faces. Since the dining room was fully cleaned and ready for use, Dous gave out orders to prepare arge feast before sitting down in the masters chair. Receiving orders from their master for the first time in nearly two years the servants moved with excitement. Luna and Maya were brought to the dining room a few minutester having changed into some of the nice clothes that they purchased earlier. They both moved over tody Cassandra and started to chatting happily as they waited for their meal. Whereas Frost chatted with Dous and Leo, mainly discussing the tour and how Frost found their town. It was a nice and peaceful atmosphere, rather strange considering the events that transpired earlier in the day and the attack that was scheduled to happenter tonight. Although the house was declining due to Adams actions the kitchen was still filled with glorious ingredients -mainly used by the former head butler- more than enough to prepare a spectacr three course meal that would fill them with strength in order to deal with tonights festivities. ..... Ryuu and Bastion didnt join them as they were too busy preparing. So only Frost and Maya joined Dous, Cassandra, Leo, and Luna for dinner. The servants preparing the meal and working in the dining room were all people that could be considered on their side, meaning they were free to discuss the details of the nights operation. Leo did you get a chance to show Frost around the residential district? Dous asked his son as he dug into his starter, a bowl of winter vegetable soup perfect for the cold climate. Leo ced his spoon down before replying. Unfortunately, not, we ran out of time. Leo regretted this fact, but it wasnt imperative that Frost see it before tonight given that he should be travelling with Leo and Luna. I see, Damarcus bring me a detailed map of the residential district. Dous ordered one the guards to fetch a map from his study, it wouldnt be at the same level as seeing it in person, but a detailed map would certainly help. Yes master Damarcus left post haste after bowing. We can look it over together while we eat. Dous smiled towards Frost and his son before digging back into his soup. Mmmm thats good soup. Dous relished in the vour, most of his meals over the past couple years were filled with bitter medicines, not very appetising. Another benefit in portraying a strong vitality, his wife allowed him to eat a regr meal. Of course, there was a little medicine added in but not at the level it could affect the vour. Damarcus returned just as they finished their first course, when the servants were clearing the table. Perfect timing Damarcus,y it out on the table. Damarcus was carrying arge, rolled parchment bound with a ribbon. Wait, give it a quick dusting first. Cassandra quickly called out when seeing the dust that had umted on the parchment. The maids worked so hard to keep this room clean, we cant ruin their hard work. She scowled at Damarcus waiting for him to obey. Like a good guard he obeyed his mistress, giving the map a light clean with a cloth and duster beforeying it across the table. Once the map was t it stretched to over 2 metres each way. Luckily, this was arge nobles dining table otherwise it wouldnt fit. With his job done Damarcus bowed and returned to his post. The atmosphere changed slightly once the map was revealed, it be less light-hearted and more serious. They were now going to discuss issues pertaining to the attack tonight. Cassandra grasped Lunas hand tightly when she noticed her slightly trembling. She regretted herck of strength, Luna was only 15 years old, a little girl, she shouldnt have to take part in such a dangerous operation. It should be her. Cassandra unfortunately had zero talent in regards to magic and weapons. She was purely an academic type, specialising in economics and management. She ran most of the administration work in the territory prior to Dous falling ill, she also dealt with their affairs with other noblespensating for Douss weaknesses. She had tried in the past to increase her strength, but she barely improved in the slightest. Her body grew a little more toned and flexible which certainly had some enjoyable benefits but in regards to her strength shed struggle to win against a couple goblins. With Cassandra holding her hand, Lunas trembling stopped, she calmed down. She didnt realise how anxious she was about tonights attack. She just survived a near death experience and hadnt fully recovered yet now she was walking right into something with potentially more danger. Her gaze drifted over towards Leo and all her fear disappeared, if he was going, so was she. Frost this is a map of the residential district, and we are currently here. Dous at some point received a pointing tool which he used to highlight the lords manor. The map on the table was incredibly detailed even including any and all known underground routes. As Leo mentioned earlier the lords manor was fairly close to the central zone of the town. Dous then manoeuvred the pointing tool to the southwest, near the towns bordering wall. This is Adams manor here. He circled arge area. Adams manor rivalled the lords manor and in some ways wasrger. From what I know theres only one main entrance, here. Whereas the manor itself is surrounded by tall walls of at least 4 metres Dous pointed to a gate at the front of the manor. The manor was built against the towns southern wall making ess from that side impossible, the east and west walls however can be scaled if your strength is high enough but will most likely be well guarded. The n was for the hired adventurers to attack from the east and west, with their strength a 4-metre wall was nothing. Frost, Luna, Leo, Ryuu and Bastion would enter through the main gate, drawing Adams attention while the adventurers quietly take out the guards until caught. After that it would be a simple full-on assault, with Ryuu and Bastion sticking with Leo and Luna until theye across Adams elite guards. Dous then highlighted several underground pathways that led out of Adams manor towards either other buildings in the area or towards other areas of the town. This map shows at least four underground escape routes but theres most likely more. Although the map was incredibly detailed it was several years old and not everything could be discovered. Dous was almost certain that not even half the escape routes were shown given how paranoid his younger brother was. Leo spoke up at this point. Weve managed to uncover an additional three routes through the underworld gangs and have taken steps to destroy them the moment we move to attack. Some of the weaker adventurers as well as a few of the gangs aligning with them were set to guard and destroy the exits for these underground tunnels. What was most unnerving was that there was a tunnel directly leading under the southern wall. Dous used this tunnel for his smuggling operations, No wonder Adam was so rich. Dous and Leo then highlighted all the known underground routes as well as some of thendmarks around the area in case a chase ensued above ground. If everything goes ording to n, well box Adam inside his manor, leaving him no opportunities to flee. Frost you, Luna and I will be left to deal with Adam by ourselves once Ryuu and Bastion take on his elite guards. At some point Leo brought out some chess pieces to simte their movements. As Leo was talking the second course was brought in, a meat dish that smelled sublime, rivalling that of the Lagombi stew Frost had in the phoenix fledgling restaurant albeitcking the inherent mana. Pausing their discussion, the group ate their meals but only Frost and Maya were savouring the vour, the rest were too high strung and nervous. Oh, this is good. Frost praised the dish as he ate mouthful after mouthful. Not as good as the Lagombi stew but still delicious. He nodded in appreciation, quickly clearing his te. From everything Leo and Dous had described, Frost felt even more confident in tonights operation. Knowing the location as well as the predetermined routes to be on guard against showed that Leo had put in a lot of thought. All Frost really had to do was fight, a simple task. He also looked forward to using his recently purchased ive. Frost smiled as his gaze drifted over to a wooden rack behind, the rack was holding his ive in all its glory. The second course was finished rather quickly, and the dishes were cleared by the staff. Do you have any questions? Leo asked Frost, he was nervous. A great deal of their n relied on Frost protecting him and Luna. He could n and strategize as much as possible along with uncle Ryuu and retrieve as much information as humanly possible from the local gangs and his own informationwork but that means diddly squat if they dont have the firepower required to take down thepound. They were sorelycking in the numbers department, although the adventurers gathered by Bastion were a considerable force there were at most a dozen or so, any more would have alerted Adam of their intentions. The whole operation is focused on killing or capturing Adam, with so little people itd be easy for him to slip through their fingers if they werent careful. Thats why he and Luna were going, not only to supplement the number shortage but to provoke Adam. Would he really give up a chance to erase a major threat to his right to rule if it offers itself on a silver tter like a na?ve sheep. No, he wouldnt but that also means theyd be attacked by a substantial force ergo the importance of Frost. Seeing Frost with a stoic expression and remaining silent, the rest of the group grew nervous as well, especially Luna. Frost-senpai? She nervously asked. Im thinking Frost ced his hand on his chin and tilted his head in thought before replying bluntly. He was thinking but more, so Maya was speaking to him telepathically. Young master this n is full of what ifs and relies heavily on your strength are sure you want to go ahead? Maya wasnt impressed, although it appeared that Leo had done a decent amount of investigation that was only on the surface, nothing was confirmed and much of his intel was gathered through underworld gangs, not the most trustworthy of people. Plus, everything was done with one hand tied behind their backs since it had to be done sneakily, Adam also had a significant advantage, being in control of more people, money, information and being the one on defence. Maya could immediately understand that without Frost working over-time this n was doomed to fail and even if he does, the chances of Adam sessfully fleeing were high. Then theyd have to be on guard forever, waiting for his counterattack. Youll not only have to most likely fight Adam but his hordes of weaker goons not to mention if they misjudged his security you could have to face off against C-rank fighters. Leo had only mentioned a single B-rank and two C-ranks under Adam, and that was the most that Ryuu and Bastion could handle at one time. Just one more high-level goon and Frost could be in real danger. Maya sighed, she felt as though she understood her young masters temperament, although he promised that if things grew beyond his abilities, hed run away but when hed run was the problem and would it be alone. Frost had grown fairly fond of Luna and Leo, could he really leave them to fight alone while he flees. The answer, a resounding no way in hell. She admired that quality, its a great quality thats quite rare but it also puts her young master in great danger. To her Frosts safety was paramount. Chapter 74 Chapter 74: Chapter 74: The n (2) Frost looked over at his guardian and could see the worry on her face, he couldnt talk back through telepathy yet, so all he could do was send a reassuring smile her way showing that he understood. He wasnt stupid he also understood the danger he was cing himself in, but he didnt feel anxious, afraid, or timid no he felt a rush of excitement. The opportunity to be involved in a grand battle where he is severely outnumbered and has to protect two young adventurers hahaha it sounded glorious and a perfect way to train a dungeon core. Hell most likely fight alongside his monsters in the future, would he not have to protect the weaker ones then, defend them from invaders and lead his army to victory. This could simply be considered a dry run on a smaller scale; he weed this opportunity with delight. However, he didnt want toe across as some mad battle junkie and tried to think of some questions he could ask or some points in the n to alter. Ok first off how long do you expect the battle tost? Frost had only fought a prolonged battle with an ice golem and received a lengthy beatdown from Maya, yet he didnt understand the limit on his stamina especially considering the battle would take ce outside his dungeon forcing him to rely on food and rest to sustain his energy levels. Eh..Ah...u.... Not expecting to be asked that Leo froze before shaking head his and calming down. Looks like I was worried for nothing. Leo smiled before answering. Well be attackingte in the evening when the sun fully sets and darkness is our ally and n to finish up around dawn, about 10 hours Leo wasnt the one toe up with the time frame it was Ryuu and Bastion, of course if they could finish earlier, itd be best. 10 hours seems reasonable given the number of escape routes and enemies youll be facing. Dous stroked his moustache while agreeing with the 10 hour timescale. The 10 hours included the time required to eliminate or arrest all the goons hired by Adam, the actual taking down Adam could be done in less than two but there was more to this operation than simply Adam. They needed to take down his entire infrastructure. They needed to have taken Adam and hispound down quickly and retrieve the necessary evidence to arrest all of his illegal conspirators such as the more illegal gangs, smuggling operations etc... if they take too long, theyll notice and cover their tracks. Ten hours huh thats no problem. Frost fought full on against the ice golem for half that length of time once so it should be fine. Maya reluctantly gave him a nod agreeing that it should be fine. ..... Ok next question, Adam if hes stronger than E-rank and I have to fight him do you want me to capture or kill? Frost understood that itd be best if Leo was the one doing the killing, considering his position as territory heir. The grudge Frost had wasnt that great in the first ce, as long as he was involved in the killing it was fine. Besides a slow death would be more enjoyable. I could just hack off his limbs and freeze the area to prevent bleeding, he wont die for a while in that situation the pain however hahahah.... Frostughed under his breath as an evil smile started to grow. Frost felt the cloth covered item in his sleeves, he still had an item prepared that would work wonders on limiting Adams movements, it shouldnt kill him too quickly either. Badum badum Leo frowned when he heard Frosts question and his heart started to beat loudly. Right, this is a n to take down my uncle, a n for me to... kill him. Leo understood Frosts question. The responsibility was his. Leo ced his hand over his chest to calm down his heart and took a deep breath, understanding that his reply would sanction the killing of a family member, regardless of how evil and despicable Adam was when the question was thrust upon him, it wasnt an easy decision to make. Pat Dous patted his sons shoulder giving him support. He wouldnt me his son if he chose to have Frost kill him, it was a lot to ask of a 16 year old boy. Leo felt the weight of his fathers hand on his shoulder. Its so light and weak, yet heavy. Leo could feel a massive weight from his father even though he was so weak and ill. Is this the weight that a ruler carries? He looked up into his fathers eyes and could see him smiling, allowing him to take the easy route and have some else do the deed. He then turned to Frost who once again had a stoic expression well he assumed it was stoic since the mask covered the majority of his face. He too looked at Leo as if it didnt matter to him if he was the one to kill Adam. Both looks were different, but both were saying that he didnt need to bear the burden. Leo sighed before smiling, he ced his hand over his fathers and looked Frost in the eye. If you can manage it, please capture him, Ill be the one to end his life, thats my duty as the heir of Furano. Leo spoke in a determined tone, tossing aside any reservations he still had. His father Dous felt a surge of strength through his sons hand Leo he smiled gently, his son truly had matured, no longer a child but a man of the Furano household. Good Frost answered back in a happy tone and a smirk on his face. There was only one question left to ask, and it was the most awkward. Final question, you mentioned a reward for my participation, could I possibly specify the item or at least some of it? Frost asked while struggling to look Leo and his father in the eye. He felt weird bringing up money at such an inopportune time. Leo looked towards his father and his father looked back at him in amazement before they both answered back at the same time. Of course, you can. No problem as long as its within our means well grant it. Leo actually felt weird as he didnt know what to give Frost and Maya. Money would feel to distant, and he didnt really know what they liked so Frost asking took care of something that had been bugging him in the back of his mind. Ugh....thanks not expecting such a reaction Frost struggled with his response and felt even more guilty about what he was about to request. Ummmm you see theres something Ive wanted for a while now and given what transpired today in the western zone of town I kind of really need one. Hmmmm need what? Dous, Leo, and Cassandra were both confused. A storage magic device at least a dozen square metres, Maya bought a lot of stuff you see. Maya had pretty much filled her entire storage device before they left the dungeon and now, she bought more clothes, if he didnt get a storage device, hed probably be forced to carry all those bags back to the dungeon. He alsocked money and connections to purchase a decent sized and stable device and assumed that asking for one as a reward should be sufficient. ...The Furanos, Luna included looked at one another in amazement, Maya however burst outughing, she felt warm inside for some reason. With herughing Luna and the rest quickly joined in leaving Frost without an answer. Was it too much to ask for? He remembered the storage devices avable in the money pit going for several gold coins but none them were of a decent quality. Feeling a little embarrassed Frost tried to speak but was beaten to the punch by Cassandra. Damarcus go and bring one of therger storage rings. Cassandra ordered the guard from earlier to retrieve a storage ring. Yes maam Damarcus bowed and left immediately leaving Frost bewildered. Eh? Dous saw his confused expression. Frost you should have said something earlier, we have multiple storage devices that dont get used, you can have it for free hahahah. Dousughed in joy, even though the value of such a ring was probably several gold coins it didnt matter, they had a bunch. Storage devices weremonly given alongside gifts between nobles, it was much easier than presenting carriages. Over the generations the Furano household gathered so many that theyd lost any value in their eyes. Damarcus quickly returned with a satin ring box in hand, with Cassandras nodding he presented the box to Frost. Eh I got one just like that. Of course, it wouldnt be anywhere near the standard of Mayas but still it shouldnt be bad. Frost opened the box and a simple thick sliver ring revealed itself, it had a few decorative inscriptions which were the runes to turn it into a magic device. It looked much better than the ones being sold in the shops. That storage ring should be able to hold up to 16m3 and be able to maintain itself for at least another 20 years with active use. Like most devices magic devices, storage rings are prone to fail over time. The storage devices in the magic device stores advertised around 10 years of stability, after that the ring would break destroying all its contents. Mayas apparently didnt suffer from that issue, thats an item made by a God for you. Mayas storage bracelet was also incredibly durable able to withstand strong attacks and magic whereas your run of the mill storage device would have to be treated like ss. This one however seemed a bit better and would suit Frost perfectly. Ive finally got my own storage device. Frost with excitement, removed the ring from its box and ced it on his finger, it had built in magic allowing it to conform to the wearers ring size, so it fit perfectly. Frost sent a stream of mana into the device and was met with arge open space, roughly 16m3 as Cassandra stated. More than enough to store his recent purchases as well as some of Mayas. Thank you for your generosity. Frost bowed his head slightly in gratitude. Hahaha no problem as I said we have plenty to spare, this wont impact on the reward youll receive so no need to give thanks hahahah. Dousughed loudly. Leo nodded his head in agreement to his fathers words whereas Luna whispered a few things into Mayas ear. Frost caught a bit of the first sentence, something about how the Furano household actually has a lot of valuable items due to their proximity to the cial Mountains and the monster stampedes so Frost didnt need feel to guilty about receiving the ring, but Lunas next sentence gave him the shivers. Thats great now we can go shopping again. Frost felt that Luna was purposely stamping on his heart. I just got this ring; will I ever be able to use it for myself. As Frost became gloomy at the thought and tried his best to ignore the mischievous smile Maya was giving him the final course arrived, the desert. Oh, this is! Cassandra eximed in surprise when the desert was revealed. Snow velvet cake! Luna was even more shocked. Before them on each of their tes was a beautiful slice of cake. Red sponge covered in a glittering white cream and icing. This was Luna and Cassandras favourite cake; they only had the chance to have it a few times a year given the ingredients required, not to mention the baking skills. Even the royal princess adored snow velvet cake, thats how popr it was. The boys however werent as moved, Dous and Leo knew of the cake as well as its price tag but smiled happily seeing their significant others brightplexions. Too them it was just a tasty desert they were more obsessed with high-ranking monster steaks, brimming with mana. Frost also wasnt in awe, merely appreciating its delicate appearance. It would have taken a lot of effort to sculpt such a shape. There was a white bunny made out of the cream and icing sitting on top of the cake. Frost looked over at hispanion to see her reaction to such a desert. Is this going to be another thing Im going to have to purchase whenever I get a chance? Fully expecting Maya to have a reaction simr to Luna and Cassandra started taking a mental note. But he was pleasantly surprised, Maya was even less interested than Dous and Leo. She looked over at Frost a mouthed. Theres no alcohol in it. Ah I forgot shes an alcoholic. If there was a rum version, she probably steal his slice but for a standard sweet, no point. She ate her cake gracefully one bite at time. Frost copied her a took a small bite. Ah its really sweet, Frost sucked on his teeth; the sudden bout of sugar was a bit much Guess Ive not got much of a sweet tooth. Frost smiled, he just learned something new about himself. Chapter 75 Chapter 75: Chapter 75: The n (3) Their final meal went down quite slowly thanks to Luna and Cassandra struggling to destroy the white bunny with their forks and then attempting to savour everyst bite for as long as possible. By the time they finished eating the sun had set, just a couple hours until the operation begins. Leo left the dinner table early to prepare. He needed to contact Ryuu and Bastion as well as prepare potions, armour, weapons, magic devices etc... The Furano household had a few vaults filled with such items in preparation for possible war and or monster stampedes. Leo felt a little guilty using their reserves for something that could be considered an internal family matter, but he didnt have much choice. His uncle had more men and more money, theyd surely be outfitted well. If Frost hadnt bought the peak 3 star ive from Borris, he would have supplied him with one from their vault. Leo himself retrieved-with his fathers permission of course- the sword of Furano, the weapon to be wielded by the territorys ruler. It too was a peak 3 star weapon that had been used by their family for generations. His father, Dous wielded this de whenever he left the territory, as a symbol of their house. The de was to be used only in the name of the Furano household, using it as an adventurer is forbidden and tonight, he is acting as the heir to the Furano household, not an E-rank adventurer so his father gave his blessing. Dous couldnt exactly use it in his current condition anyway. Leo had servants he trusted explicitly aid him in retrieving items from the vaults before cing them in storage rings. He retrieved the Sword of Furano himself. Before Leo sitting on an elegant stand, protected by a ss case was the sword of Furano. A 3 foot de made of high quality duram steel alloy, forged by the royal de smiths of the capital. The de looked pristine, not a single blemish on the de. The handle was made of cial por, a tree found only in the central regions of the cial Mountains. Leo carefully lifted up the ss covering and removed the sword from its stand. ..... The sword had a pommel at the base also made of duram metal alloy, it was decorated with the sigil of house Furano, an ice griffin. Its heavy Leo muttered under his breath as he gripped the sword handle and gave it a few practise swings Shwing shwiiing The sword cut through the air, releasing a high pitch noise, even the air was sliced apart generating des of air with each swing. Holding the sword of Furano filled Leo with strength and confidence, with his current strength however a peak 3 star sword was far above his capabilities. He only knew a single sword skill sh and his level was merely at basic mastery(2nd level). At this moment he wasnt worthy of such a fine de. One day Ill be worthy of this sword, but for now Ill just borrow you. Leo smiled with determination before cing the sword in its partnering sheath also adorned with an ice griffin. cing the sword at his side, Leo continued to look through the vault for things he could use. Not all of the adventurers would have weapons worthy of their stature, the Furanos had a decent supply of 2 star weapons kept in good shape, outfitting the aiding adventurers or even some of the gangs with such weapons would surely increase their firepower. Split everything up equally into storage rings, the lower ss ones with 5 years or less stability left. Understood young master. His servants filled up multiple low ss storage rings with potions, spare weapons some smoke bombs and few other nick knacks. If Cassandra hadnt been so thorough with her cleansing Leo wouldnt dream of essing the storage vaults. Adam would have been notified immediately and made preparations. Itll take some time to organise with so few people but at least we can. Leo thanked his mother internally for doing such a good job before continuing to work. Meanwhile over at the adventurers guild Bastion was weing the group of adventurers whod be aiding him in their vendetta tonight. Some of them came in disguise, covered head to toe hiding their identity. Adam most likely had eyes on the guild so if arge group of high rank adventurers showed up, hed start to get suspicious. The adventurers were discreetly led towards a secret room in the guild whenever they arrived. Bastion had already gone over the details of the n with each of them when they agreed to help, this was simply a summons. Once thest member arrived, the door to the secret room was bolted shut and a magic device that established a barrier activated, isting the room from the world. The group all removed their disguises the moment the barrier was activated. Phew that was getting ufortable. Arge beastmenined as he revealed his muscr body that was constrained by the heavy ck cloak he was wearing. Yeah, Im a wizard not an assassin, way too many clothes. A beautiful female human agreed with therge beastmen, underneath her cloak she was wearing very little, even her stomach was exposed. Quitining it was only for a couple hours! A rugged dwarf with arge scar down his face rebuked. Hahaha A few light-hearted giggles were released from a pair of elven twins. Thats enough you lot weve got work to do! Bastion was seated at the head of arge table surrounded by the adventurers. 14 people answered his call for aid. There would actually be more, but they were either currently far away or would be too conspicuous. Bastion felt his heart warm however seeing everyone quickly quieten down and smile towards him. The 14 adventurers all took their seats and waited for Bastions instructions. They all knew one another and if fact many of them were good friends, they had no issues working together especially on behalf of Bastion. When do we begin the attack? the Large beastman smiled, showing off his sharp teeth as he asked, he was itching to fight. Bastion turned to face him and smirked. 3 hours, in 3 hours well move for the attack. Each of you will leave the guild hall at different times to avoid suspicion and make your way to Adams manor. Ryuu and I will be walking in through the front door with Leo as a distraction while the lot of you will attack from the sides. Try to be as quiet as possible, the more you can take down before Adam bes alerted the better our chances will be. Adam would most likely scamper away immediately if he saw the 14 adventurers ride up through the front door with them. Ive gone over the details of the mission; this is yourst chance to ask any questions. Bastion sat back in his chair. The 14 adventurers looked at one another before a few of them replied Whos protecting Leo and Luna? an old male human asked, looking far passed his prime. Dont worry about that weve already got that covered. Bastion answered with confidence. He wasnt worried about that in the slightest given Frosts capabilities. He was even less worried about Dous and Cassandra given the fact that that unfathomable woman would be guarding them. Bastion got a shiver down his spine as he remembered the feeling, he got from looking at her. One of the elven twins asked next. You mentioned that the Furano house would be giving out supplies, where will we pick them up? Although not all of them needed it, its best to have extra and not need than to need and not have. Before you leave, youll be handed a storage ring with supplies, do with them what you wish. Bastion wasnt going to ask for the remainders back as it would be in poor taste. Anything else? The adventurers looked at one another again before all of them spoke at once. Nope x14. They all smiled, filled with excitement about the operation, not a single one of them was nervous or afraid of fighting against Adam and his horde of goons. Adventurers live everyday with their lives on the line, something like this is a walk in the parkpared to fighting vicious monsters. The pay was also considered fairly high plus supplies were given, only in war time and monster stampedes would they see such benefits. Leo wasnt going to skimp out on payments, he fully intended on recoveringrge amounts of the embezzled funds when they raided Adamspound plus when hes killed due to a crime of treason against the ruling lord his bank assets can be legally forfeited albeit with the bank receiving a 10% stipend of the total amount. Good...thank you all for your service. Bastion stood up from his chair and bowed deeply in gratitude. This operation was off the books and technically didnt exist, as adventurers they had no obligation to ept such a risky venture yet each of them did and without hesitation. Therge beastman loudly spoke Pshhhh guild master theres no need to thank us, were happy to help you out, youd do the same for us. Therge beastman spoke loudly and motioned to help Bastion up from his bowing posture. The group of 14 adventurers felt weird seeing their guild master and friend bowing towards them like this. Yeah, Baguas right, theres no need for thanks Bastion. The old human male agreed with Baguas statement. The rest all nodded and agreed encouraging Bastion to straighten his back. You lot Bastion could feel a few tears forming in his eyes. God damn what did I do to deserve such loyal friends and subordinates? Bastion smiled happily and rubbed his nose in embarrassment. After a fewughs and general chatting about how everyone was doing and their ns after the operation it was time for them to start leaving. One of Bastions most trusted subordinates handed the adventurer groups a storage ring whenever they left, it was filled with supplies given by the Furano household as well as some from the adventurers guild and even the merchants guild. Sebastian the merchant guild head couldnt really get as involved as Ryuu and Bastion, but he was able to provide money and goods under the table. Back in the Lords manor, Frost and Maya stayed in a guest room while waiting for Leo to finish his preparations. Remember to run away if youe across an opponent you cant handle. Maya started lecturing Frost like a concerned mother or older sister causing Frost to feel both cared for and embarrassed. Although he was only born recently, he wasnt exactly a child, he knew how to act. Yes, yes I promise. he wouldnt argue. Ill stay in the Lords bedroom along with Cassandra, anyone who tries to attempt anything will have to first get past my killing intent. But I wont waste my protection on two humans if someone does get past. Maya clearly stated her position. If she wasnt restricted in her actions, she may very well act on their behalf given her young masters fondness of them but with Darks restrictions she didnt dare waste a single one. Frost frowned slightly at Mayas stubbornness but understood her reasoning and in fact agreed with her, it was just hard to admit it. Got it, I wont ask you to do any more than that. Cassandra had arranged for the two of them to rest in this guest room, it was fairlyrge and well decorated and was one of the few rooms still kept free of dust. Leo said that hed be preparing for the operation and that they could rest until then. Cassandra took Dous back to his bedroom to rest, his sudden surge in strength could onlyst so long. Hell probably pass in a couple days. Frost thought about Dous, his limbs were involuntarily shaking as he left the dining room, a guard had to assistdy Cassandra since she couldnt support her husbands full weight. Frost still felt iffy about not saying anything earlier when Dous forced himself to walk. Dous wontst long. Maya spoke when she saw Frost lost in thought. If Dous couldnt even hide his state from Frost, then there was no way he could hide it from Maya. She noticed the moment she entered the dining room but didnt say anything because it was none of her business. She wasnt attached like Frost was, but she couldnt me him, technically other than herself these were the first people Frost had ever interacted with, of course hed be rather influenced by their lives. Chapter 76 Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Getting ready Maya released a sigh, as she wondered how Frost would react to seeing Dous die. It would be different from seeing prey like the bandits die in the dungeon, she couldnt help but worry. Theres no need to worry, I may be fond of them but thats all, whether he dies or not is his problem not mine. Frost saw the worried expression on his guardians face and dissuade her thoughts. He didnt really know if what he said was how he truly felt but chose to believe it. Besides its not as though I can help him in any way, no one even knows what poison hes suffering from. Knock knock A knocking came from the door. Yes Maya replied Sir Frost miss Maya, its Damarcus. The young master asked me to hand you items to aid in the operation tonight. Damarcus opened up the door, he was holding arge sack filled with items. He passed the sack to Frost before bowing. ..... Young master Leo also asked for you to meet him downstairs in the main reception room in 10 minutes. Damarcus gave onest message before closing the door and heading towards his guard post outside of Douss room. Frost opened up the sack while Maya looked over his shoulder to see what was inside. The contents of the sack were as follows. Low level health potion x 4 Low level mana potion x 4 Lesser antidote x 2 Simplified map of thepound A set of leather armour A whistle A steel dagger Smoke bombs x2 Quite a diverse set of items, the full set of leather armour is a nice touch. Frost pulled out the pieces of leather armour: an upper torso, vambraces (wrist guards), greaves (shin guards), boots, elbow guards, pauldrons (shoulder guards) and a choker. The quality was pretty high as well. While Frost was inspecting the leather armour Maya reached in a started pulling out the potions. These arent half bad, of course the potions produced by the dungeon would be of much higher quality,cking impurities but for a countryside viscounty, not bad. Maya twirled the ss potions in her hands, taking a quick sniff of the liquid inside before cing the cap back on. She then went on to inspect the smoke bombs and whistle. Guess theses are for either requesting help and or generating a signal. The smoke bombs released a dense red smoke when thrown. These smoke bombs were usually used during monster stampedes by groups that were in danger, sending out the smoke would make them stand out among the sea of monsters letting their allies know of their position and that they needed help. Maya struggled to see how much help theyd be, given most the battle should take part within the manor and the sound of battle would block out the sound of the whistle but hey she wasnt one to refuse free stuff. She ced the items back within the sack after she finished inspecting. Itd be easier for Frost to ce the entire sack into his new storage ring rather than one item at a time. Frost already took advantage of the free time to practise retrieving items from the ring at a moments notice, his ives in particr. He was going to take both weapons with him just in case. Maya turn around. Hmmmm why? Because Im going to put on the leather armour. He needed to remove his robes to put on all the pieces and didnt want to be seen by Maya while he undressed. He was going to wear theplete set given by Leo, since it was of higher quality than the pieces, he purchased in the money pit plus aplete, matching set was more aesthetically pleasing. Dont wanna Maya smiled flirtatiously, winking at him. Why would she ignore such a feast for her eyes. Frost sighed and sucked up his embarrassment and began to undress. woah! Woah! Maya wooed and whistled as Frost removed more and more of his clothes, her eyes were glued to Frosts body, eyeing his well-formed abs and backside. She suddenly had the urge to give him some money as she drooled. Frost did his best to ignore the heated gaze on his body as he quickly adorned the leather armour. It fits really well, Frost twisted and turned. His attire didnt look much different, his robes covered all the leather so he still had that elegant look, but he could feel the leather on his skin giving him protection from attacks. Swing swing Frost swung his ive around, trying to strain the armour against his body with unusual attacks and was pleasantly surprised. The armour was light andfortable, it didnt restrict his movements in the slightest. Not bad young master, you cut quite the figure. Maya giggled as she gazed at her young master as he swung his ive. Of course, he looked better with less clothes but handsome is still handsome. A little bit of drool could still be seen hanging from her lip. Frosts lips twitched as he heard Mayasment, he couldnt help but feel like a piece of meat, being eyed by a predator. Conflicted with the joy of being attractive and the frustration in being simply eye candy, he sighed. Remember to use the magic scroll. Just as Frost was getting ready to leave the room and meet up with Leo downstairs, Maya spoke. Frost didnt have the chance yet to learn the learn the 2nd circle spell [ice entanglement] that he purchased earlier. Just like with the ice bolt spell he purchased from the dungeon menu, the magic scroll he bought worked the same way, he just needed to input some mana and the knowledge written on the scroll would stream into his mind, giving him the capability to use the spell. Ah! I almost forgot about that. Being reminded Frost withdrew the adventurers backpack that he stored within his new storage ring. Opening one of the protected pockets Frost withdrew the magic scroll. The parchment was neatly tied up with a ribbon and sealed with wax. Being able to use a new spell even if he wasnt very skilled with it would increase his survival capability. Not wasting anymore time, Frost broke open the wax seal and unfurled the scroll. He then sent a stream of mana into the scroll filling it until it was full, and the scroll shined brightly in response. In just a few seconds knowledge about the 2nd circle ice spell [ice entanglement] filled his mind and the scroll disintegrated, fusing with his mana. Ugh! Frost groaned in pain, using this magic scroll was a lot lessfortable than the book from the dungeon menu. In fact, it was quite painful, the information was twisted and of lower quality, creating a significant burden on the mind. No wonder she said there was a chance of failure. Not only did someone need the magic capability to cast a second level spell theyd have to unravel such a mass of information without passing out. Luckily Frost had the required mana levels, and his mind was strong enough to quickly sieve out the required information and was only left with a slight headache. Frost sessfully learned the spell, shaking his head in difort he made an internal promise. lets just buy magic scrolls and book from the dungeon menu from now on. The pain was very ufortable and that was just with a 2nd circle spell, he didnt even want to imagine what a 3rd or possibly 4th circle spell would feel like. He now knew the basics of casting the ice entanglement spell. It used a fair amount more mana than ice bolt and would have a fairly significant dy in forming until he reached simple mastery. Frost also found out that he was restricted to a range of 5 metres and could only eventually reach 15 metres after full mastery. He couldnt help being slightly disappointed. He could already fire an ice bolt with a fair amount of force over 20 metres and could still improve. Frost frowned as he sieved through all the details. Whats wrong, was it that painful? Maya asked with concern on her face, she moved to ce her hand over his head to soothe his pain. Startled Frost moved back after feeling the coldness of her hand. No, the pains already gone, its the limitations of the spell thats making me frown....wait you knew thered be pain? Frost looked at Maya in annoyance. You didnt even warn me. Of course, it wasnt unbearable, but it was still unexpected, a kind warning from his guardian would have been nice. Mmm about a 50% chance. We are in a countryside territory after all. Even if theres magic scrolls, the quality is determined primarily by the runesmith. Out here the best youd find would maybe be someone who can make 3rd circle spells on a rare asion and his 2nd circle spells would be average at best. Maya spoke with an innocent tone; she wasnt sure thered be any issues given Frosts strength and natural talent with mana, so she didnt bring it up. It was only a 2nd circle spell so it should have been manageable and looks like it was. Maya nodded in assurance seeing that she was right not to worry, Frost merely suffered a temporarily headache. He suffered far more pain to improve his ive mastery when battling the ice golem. Huh? Frost was confused, he never expected there to be such a difference in quality. Think of it like this, if a 2-star weaponsmith made a 2 star weapon and 4-star weaponsmith made the same weapon which would be better? Maya moved into teaching mode. The one made by the 4-star weaponsmith. Exactly, magic scrolls are the same way. The more knowledge and ability the runesmith has the more concise and well written the magic runes be. With lower ranked runesmiths the information is twisted and overwritten causing and much greater burden on the users mind, remember the ice bolt spell summoned by the dungeon menu? Yeah, there wasnt even the slightest amount of pain or confusion, the knowledge was clear as day. Remembering when he first learned the ice bolt spell once again filled him with annoyance. Using that actually felt good. He remembered the rush he felt as if he just had an epiphany. That was a perfect magic scroll (well more like a book given its details), no unnecessary information and the runes were perfectly drawn. Its what all runesmiths aim to create. Like magic devices, magic scrolls found in monsterirs and other areas created by the Gods are far superior to anything that can be made by people. So dont expect items created by people to match those generated by the dungeon menu. Maya slightly admonished Frost at his naivety. If everything created by people was at the same level, then people wouldnt risk their lives delving into monsterirs and special dimensions. For future reference Id be wary of trying magic scrolls higher than the 3rd circle that you dont buy with DP. Even if they work, the burden on your mind would be immense, the risk isnt worth it. With her hands on her hips, Maya continued to give advice, it was her job after all. How do people learn high level spells then? Do they willingly suffer painful bacsh in the hopes that itd work? Ryuu the B-rank magee to the forefront of his mind. Is that what Ryuu did? Ignoring the financial cost of repeatedly buying high level scrolls when they didnt work, the mental strength required alone... Frosts respect for Ryuu suddenly grew. Huh? Unless theyre made of money and have a masochistic side, theyd learn it the old fashioned way.... Study and practise. Ah! Frost blushed, slightly embarrassed that he didnt think about that. People can learn magic spells through trial and error, how else were spells originally created if not through this tried-and-true methods. Although its a much longer process, it costs less and has much less risk of mental damage. Most mages use this method and only asionally buy scrolls of lower ranks to expand their list of spells or have some extra cash. Only those with significantly deep pockets and or nobles use scrolls since it allows one to achieve magic without much time and effort. Frost felt a little embarrassed given that hes only used magic scrolls and not learned any magic the natural way (lifestyle magic doesnt count). Feeling as though hed end up saying something else that was considered mon knowledge he decided to end their conversation there. Thanks for the lesson, Maya-sensei. He smiled and bowed slightly towards her before moving to the door but once he started to pull on the handle. Young master, Maya called out with affection. Yes Maya Frost turned around to face her, his hand still on the door. Be safe and... have fun. Maya smiled joyfully but there was still worry in her eyes. Affected by her gaze Frost choked up, his heart filling with warmth. The word family floated in his mind as he smiled back. I will, thank you. He nodded with a bright expression before leaving through the doorway. It was time to meet up with Leo and start this operation. Chapter 77 Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Operation New dawn Ah Frost-senpai youve arrived. When Frost appeared at top of the grand stairwell he was met with a loud and slightly nervous voice. Leo called out to him; he was fully geared up in metal armour, yet it didnt look to be too much. Frost could even see a glistening vestment under his clothes. He looked like a noble knight heading out to war, it suited him. That shiny vest is probably his trump card. Dous and Cassandra wouldnt allow their son to walk dead straight into the wolves den without something to ensure his protection. its probably mithril or something simr. Frost scoffed, even a full blow from his ive wouldnt be able to cut through it and the vests structure would dissipate most of the impact. Mithril also had the annoying feature of being magic resistant, though not as good as orichalcum its lighter and easily hidden by clothes. The armour was slightly toorge for Leo, probably his fathers armour, he was just borrowing it. Frosts gaze then drifted over to the young woman standing by Leos side, she was fidgeting, clearly anxious. She was armed with a brand new staff, since thest one was broken. The crystal on top was of a higher quality, much more than required for her level of spell casting. Eh? Frost could feel mana being emitted from Lunas robes, just like his, they were imbued with magic. Lunas however clearly had some over the top protection magic ced on them, hell Frosts instincts were telling him that her defence was even higher than Leos. He turned to face the former B-rank mage Ryuu. ..... What a doting father. Ryuu clearly imbued Lunas robes with some of his most powerful magic. Frost could see Ryuu hands trembling a little and a few beads of sweat were trickling down his forehead. He must have expended a fair amount of mana and mental strength to create them. Feeling Frosts stare, Ryuu smiled and nodded his way, indicating that he was fine. And while Lunas attention was drawn away Ryuu quickly downed a mana potion, he couldnt let his daughter witness him being weak. His action drew a snigger from his long-time friend Bastion. The two old men were geared just a tad more than usual, Ryuu carried an extra single-handed staff whereas Bastion had a few pieces of high-quality metal armour and carried arge battle-axe over his shoulders. Simr to the one the bandit boss Red Hawk wielded but of much, much higher quality, surpassing even Frosts recent purchase. B-rank adventurers wouldnt have shoddy equipment, especially ones as aplished as these two. Frost felt his own equipment, other than the high-ranking ive in his storage ring, he was only wearing leather armour, and it was gifted. Once again, he felt the difference in wealth. Frost sighed as he walked down the stairs. Is it time? Yeah, its time. Leo answered with determination, but his eyes shook. He was nervous, very nervous. Leo was born with great survival instincts almost as though he had a unique skill that would guide him to a safe path. The closer the time for the operation drew the more his instinct warned him of danger. That was why he decided to take the mithril vest. He shared his worries with his father who saw fit to bequeath him his old armour and Ryuu saw to enhancing Lunas robes, but the feeling didnt fade. Leo looked up at the people assisting him tonight, 2 former B-rank adventurers and Frost, someone of unknown strength but at the minimum D-rank. Along with the more than a dozen adventurers that were roped in by Bastion already moving into position Leo felt confident, quashing down his instincts, he clenched his fists and his eyes filled with resolve. Operation New Dawn begins now. With Leos strong announcement everyone smiled, Leo and Luna smiling due the atmosphere whereas Ryuu, Bastion and Frost were smiling because they finally got permission to let loose. Ryuu and Bastion had been on edge ever since Leo and Luna went missing, it took all their restraint to not rampage right into Adamspound and take care of him outright. And now they had been given free rein. Leo would lead them to Adamspound where he would announce Adams crimes and his punishment, Death. Of course, he wouldnt willingly present his head, so they had to take it. Hahahaha Hahaahah Ryuu and Bastion started tough evilly, Ryuu especially. It was his daughter and possible son inw- he hadnt quite sanctioned their future marriage yet, if possible, hed never allow his daughter to marry but thats a different topic- that were put in grave danger. Hell be taking out all his anger and stress from that situation tonight, and hed relish it. Leo and Luna didnt detect the subtle nuances behind the threesughs and simplyughed along with them. The five of us will grandly and openly march towards Adamspound and announce his fate. Leo pulled out a piece of parchment filled with words. The current viscount of the Furano territory my father Dous Furano has sanctioned the arrest and execution of Baron Adam Furano on the grounds of treason against the ruling lord. Leo boldly read out the details highlighted on the parchment. At the bottom of the page was three signatures, Dous, Cassandra, and Leos, three members of the ruling family and beneath them was a stamp donning their houses sigil, an ice griffin with the moon as the backdrop. Mana could be felt from the stamp, proof of its legitimacy. Only Dous had the right to use such a stamp, and only on special documents. Sanctioning the execution of a traitor and one that is a noble condoned such an asion. Since Adams barony was granted not by the royal family but by the Furano house, they had the right to deal with in house problems without receiving permission from the emperor. However, they did have to have some kind of evidence and submit a formal report, the ruling lord must also sanction such an action with their house stamp otherwise the ruling family would step in and cast judgement. Thankfully Leo made sure to procure such items before acting against Adam otherwise he and his parents could be the ones on the chopping block. With this signed and stamped document, Adam was done for, even if he somehow escapes, hell have no foothold in Furano, hell be a wanted man. Once showing the precious document, Leo tucked it back into his pocket, behind the mithril vest. Lets move Leo turned around and opened the manors doors, leading the group of five people out. His parents had already wished him luck and fortune and retreated to the bedroom along with Maya just in case, Adam had someone else on his payroll. Creakkkk The grand doors of the manor creaked open as Leo opened them both at once. It was now night-time, a couple hours after sunset, most people were indoors at this time as the temperature was too cold to be out and about. Furano didnt have too many streetlights making their movements very well hidden within the darkness. The group boarded a carriage that was prepared earlier, itcked the Furano crest and looked like a standard merchants carriage. This way they wouldnt raise any red gs as they moved. The driver was Edwin, one of Leos most trusted servants. Hed already been informed of their destination as well as his duties. He was simply their driver, nothing more. He wouldnt involve himself in the battle and would drop them off a few blocks away from thepound. Young master Edwin bowed towards Leo, he knew what was happening tonight well he assumed, Leo didnt tell him everything, but Edwin was smart, he could connect the dots. Edwin, you know your role tonight? Leo questioned Yes, young master, Im a driver for a local merchant and Im transporting goods to his residence. This was their cover story in case anyone questioned Edwin. Good, lets be off then. Leo moved forward and opened up the carriage door before stretching his hand out to aid Luna. Luna smiled and epted Leos hand entering the carriage first. Leo followed in after proceeded by Frost and then Ryuu and Bastion. The carriage was just big enough to carry 5 adults without being too cramped. Itll take them about an hour to reach Adamspound by carriage. Hyahhh once everyone had alighted, Edwin snapped the horses reigns, and the carriage started its journey. The atmosphere within the carriage was incredibly tense, everyone was on edge. Leo repeatedly checked his weapon while Luna gripped her staff. They were the weakest people involved in this operation, regardless of their high defence capabilities it was still a frightening scenario for them. Luna, Leo rx, Bastion and I are with you, nothing will happen. Ryuu patted his daughters and Leos shoulders while smiling. Plus, Frost here will be with you the entire time. Ryuu then gave Frost a serious look. He was leaving their primary protection in the hands of this young man before them. Frost nodded and smiled toward Luna and Leo to reassure them, allowing them to release a sigh of relief. Well as long as you havent severely underestimated Adams strength. Frost remembered Mayas warning; he couldnt ce himself at risk just for two humans regardless of how fond he was of them. Their carriage ride went smoothly, no one stopped Edwin on the way. asionally a few other drivers would wave as they passed by but that was it. They should still be under the radar. Knock knock Bastion was keeping an eye out on their surroundings from behind the curtain covering the window. He knocked on the drivers window to have him stop. Edwin let us off here. Bastion was looking for signals from the 14 adventurers as they were travelling. Everyones in ce was the message he just received through a series of light shes. They were a few blocks away from Adamspound and therge gate with on duty guards could be seen in the distance. Woaahhh Edwin pulled in the reigns bringing the carriage to a swift halt. Were here Leo. Bastion looked at his nephew with pride, it was Leos duty to lead them tonight, they were merely aids. Un Leo nodded in response before opening the carriage door. Lets go its time to bring my uncle to justice and bring in a new dawn for Furano. The idea behind the operation name new dawn was that by removing the scourge known as Baron Adam, it would greatly curb the actions of the underworld and restore control to true ruling family i.e., Dous and Leo. Frost smiled as his heart filled with excitement. Finally, he patted the cloth covered item hidden within his sleeves. The group quickly descended from the carriage, they were quite a sight to behold and would surely attract arge amount of attention if this was during daylight. Edwin, remain here or out of sight nearby; well call you over once were finished here. Leo looked at Edwin with a serious expression. Understood young master...good luck. Edwin bowed again and wished his master luck before moving the carriage to somewhere more out of sight. Halt who goes there! One of the armed guards standing in front of Adamspound yelled out as the group approached. It was dark and he was a low-level grunt, so he didnt recognise Leo or anyone else. He raised his spear and pointed it at the possible intruders. A mere guard dares to raise his weapon in the front of the future lord of this territory, you must have a death wish! Bastion moved in front of Leo protecting his future liege. Doing very little to hide his anger, Bastion unleashed his aura and killing intent, causing the low level guard to squirm and squeak in fear. He almost soiled himself then and there. The aura of a former B-rank adventurer was nothing to sneeze at. Aura was one of the dividing factors in strength, high level monsters and people could turn their power into an aura that would subdue weaker opponents. Dragons in particr were known as the king of monsters due to their innate aura that many referred to as dragon fear. Even A-rank adventurers would feel instinctively pressured when facing a dragon, lowering their battle prowess. The low level guard was merely a glorified thug, simr in strength to the bandit underlings Frost feasted on a few days ago, merely remaining on his feet was considered admirable. Uncle thats enough, were here on official business and we cant expect everyone to recognise my appearance, especially a simple doorman. Leo tapped his uncles shoulder and looked at the gate guard with fake pity as he insulted his worth. Hmph very well Leo. Bastion removed his aura that was surrounding the near incoherent gate guard before scowling at the remaining one. Chapter 78 Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Walking through the front gate The other gate guard was a little more informed than his counterpart, although he didnt recognise Leo, he did recognise Bastion and Ryuu. And only one man (other than Dous) would be able tomand the two of them. Shit whys the young lord here? This guard was filled with panic, not at his partners situation but the fact that Leo and his group were here. He was at a loss on what to do, his eyes were shaking, and his throat grew parched and just when he was about to speak, he received Bastions fierce re. He reeled backwards in fear, he could feel death looming over him from that gaze. If I do something wrong, hell kill me. Although Bastion had restrained his aura, his eyes were still filled with anger and killing intent. The guard could feel this, and his legs started to turn to jelly. Pfft pathetic, Ryuumented sarcastically from the side. This is what passes as a guard for a Baron. Ryuu mocked Adam internally on his cheapness. Only putting up money for his direct security, half-assing hismon guards. The two in front of them were little more than thugs, reeling in fear from the first sign of danger and not knowing how to act. The guards protecting the Furano manor -now guarding Dous and Cassandra outside their bedroom- were of a much higher quality. Although their individual strength wasnt much, they knew who they represented. Even if they were sumbed to a B-rank adventurers killing intent they wouldnt flinch and would uphold their duties as guards of the Furano house. ..... Ryuu felt that Adam really failed as a noble, even if the title was granted out of kindness by Dous, he still failed to uphold a certain standard. Ryuu released a deep sigh and shook his head before moving in front of Bastion. He at least looked less intimidating and could better restrain his emotions. The young lord is here on official business sanctioned by Viscount Dous; proper etiquette dictates you show us in. Ryuu spoke with a sternmanding tone, leaving the guards little room to argue. Filled with fear and panic the two guards looked at one another before silently obeying Ryuu, opening up the gate and allowing them to enter. Leo, Frost and Luna smiled at this result, walking in through the front door with their chests held high, feeling as though this operation was off to a great start already. It wasnt often that Leo could criticize someone else on noble etiquette, given his familys countryside background and his own personality. He couldnt help but feel cocky but did his best to keep a straight face. As the group walked past the two thoroughly defeated guards, the guards looked as though they aged ten years, their faces pale and sunken. Their clothes soaked in cold sweat, and their hairs standing on end. But the reason wasnt primarily Bastions aura and killing intent, it was what was going to happen to them afterwards. They just lost face for their boss Adam,nding them on the chopping block and it wouldnt be a quick death either. The first guard, the one who raised his weapon quickly realised his current situation and was filled with angry. Completely forgetting what just happened he turned and red at Leos back, his gaze full of malice. Ahhhhh! Suddenly the guard screamed in agony as he brought his hands up to his eyes. Blood was pouring down his face along with bits of his eyes, he was blinded. The other guard screamed in fear as he saw his partner bend over in pain and screaming in agony. My eyes! My eyes! Be thankful that it was just your eyes that I took, if we werent in such a rush, I wouldve taken your pitiful life. Ryuu turned to face the now blind guard and admonished him with a cold emotionless tone. The moment he felt the anger filled re of this guard on Leos back he casted a low level wind spell, sending a wind de at his eyes, shredding them to pieces. Even a high rank potion or spell would be powerless to restore them, his eyes had been practically shredded into miniscule pieces in an instant. Luna flinched as she heard the guard scream, she didnt look back only squeezing in close to Leo and grabbing his hand. She agreed with her fathers method but still, it was quite disturbing for her. Shed never seen her father act like this in all her years of being alive. Noticing his daughter flinching and moving close to Leo, filled Ryuu with anger, grinding his teeth together he red at the still screaming guard. Piss off and cry somewhere else. His lips twitching in anger, Ryuu gripped his staff and conjured up a higher level wind spell. [Wind st] a stronger surge of wind was suddenly summoned in front of Ryuu before beingunched at the two guards. Fwooosh Ahhhhhhhhh! The two guards screamed as they were sent flying by the spell, the screams became out of earshot before theynded. Ryuu had sent the two guards hundreds of metres away and unfortunately for them, theirnding was anything but pleasant, not enough to kill them but their injuries were severe. They were paralyzed, unable to move as they slowly bled out, feeling everything as it happened. Ryuu was truly infuriated with the pair. Bunch of bastards, now whats my cute little daughter going to think of me. Ryuu was very particr about how he appeared in front of his daughter, he wouldnt have her think of him as anything but a loving and doting father who never did anything violent. This incident would prove to change that image he worked so hard to develop. In the past before Ryuu became a father and before he lost his wife, out of the group he was the most vicious and battle driven. Even the mad iron chef Vos had nothing on Ryuu when he truly became angry, usually Bastion, Dous and Vos would need to hold him back to stop him wantonly destroying thendscape. That all changed when Luna was born, he vowed to never allow his daughter to be afraid of him and thus ended the terror of the crazy mage Ryuu, well at least in the open. After dealing with the irritants, Ryuu turned back with a gentle smile on his face trying to appear and friendly as possible as he looked at his daughter. Luna, daddy took care of those ruffians, didnt I do a good job? He easily switched back to doting father mode which sent a chill down everyones spine. Even Bastion felt weird, and he was used to knowing both sides of his friend. Ill never get used to this. Bastion simply sighed and shook his head, ignoring what happened. Frost found the change quite fascinating whereas Leo felt a tinge of fear as he grew up hearing stories of Ryuus destructive escapades. Lest you forget, Leo was nning on marrying Luna, Ryuus only daughter and the apple of his eye. It wouldnt be strange for Ryuu to see him as some kind of enemy down the line. Gulp Leo audibly gulped as he imagined what happened to the guards happening to him at some point, he averted his gaze, unable to look Ryuu in the eyes. Stupid dad hmph! Luna hmphed and moved in closer to Leo while sticking out her tongue, like she could ever be afraid of her idiot of a father. Ryuu looked depressed since he wasnt praised but was inwardly relieved, his daughter acted the same way she always did. Looks like you get to keep your lives for now at least. Ryuu had already prepared himself to cast another spell to silence the two guards permanently depending on how his daughter reacted. Since her reaction was positive, he stopped channelling his mana. For the two guards however, being killed would have been a mercy, they were left to slowly die in agony throughout the night, their blood staining the street red. Although there was a few people that saw their miserable situation and pondered ending their misery they would always be warned by their friends. Crazy Ryuu did that, are you sure you want to offend him. It was the 14 adventurers that Bastion had recruited that were debating whether to act or not. Quite quickly though they came to an answer. No way in hell. A few of the older ones, the one who were doing the warning, were still in the business when Ryuu was active in his younger days and knew of his terrible wrath. So, they promptly ignored the painful moans of the two guards as if it wasnt any of their business. Frost and the rest were now within thepound and were walking down the pathway towards the grand manor. The guards loud screams were clearly heard and caused quite a panic, with some of the smarter goons rushing to inform Adam of the events. Others like the guard who drew his weapon on Leo moved to surround the group, viewing them as intruders. Some even licked their lips as if they were staring at prey that willingly entered their den. A few of the more brave/foolish ones even eyed up Luna with a perverse look in their eyes causing her to flinch and hide behind Leo in disgust. Seeing this a switch flipped in Ryuus mind. Hoh a lot of people want to die tonight. Ryuu was ready to ignore the n and start a massacre right here and now as he gripped his staff and started channelling his mana, particrly noting the ones looking at his precious daughter. Ryuu! Bastion quickly grabbed his friends arm and quietly spoke his name, hoping to calm him down. They couldnt start fighting now, they needed to buy time for the adventurers to make their move and more importantly they needed to face Adam and loudly state their intentions so as to be considered doing everything above board. Ryuu turned to his long time friend, wrath quickly building up in his eyes and body, Luna was his reverse scale. Just a little, Ill just kill them a little Bastion. Not listening to his friend in the slightest Ryuu continued to build up his mana, ready to cast his magic at any moment. Ahhh Fuck! Bastion felt distressed, grinding his teeth together he applied more force into his hand, but he knew it was pointless, he knew Ryuus personality. Knowing his actions would be fruitless Bastion looked to Luna for help, only her words would be able to dissuade her father. Unfortunately, Luna was fully gung ho with her father eliminating these perverts, she was even nodding along in agreement. All she needed to do now was give him a thumbs up and hed start a killing spree. Frost saw this all transpire and sighed. Really, youre going to ruin the entire n just because a bunch of men ogled your daughter. Frost shook his head before moving to take action, he couldnt let something foolish like this impede their n, well mainly impede his enjoyment but the end result is the same. Ryuu calm down! Frost moved in front of Ryuu and grabbed his staff wielding arm sending ice chakra forcibly into him aiming to cool Ryuu down. Ryuu immediately noticed the freezing cold chakra invading his body, it wasnt harming him, but he couldnt ignore it. Turning to face Frost and in shock Ryuu eximed. You! How rare was it to be a ive user, an ice magic user and now also a chakra user. Ryuus shock instantly downyed his anger, he looked at Frost, his eyes full of questions. Stick to the n Ryuu. Frost looked coldly into Ryuus eyes giving him an order. He then nced over at the perverse looking goons still ogling Luna unaware of the danger they just brought onto themselves. Theyll die theres no question about that, but not yet. Frost had a vicious look in his eyes, easily announcing a persons death without hesitation, sending a chill down Bastions back. Shit hes as crazy as Ryuu. Bastion internallypared the young version of Ryuu to the man before him. They were very simr, the phrase only crazy can deal with crazy came to mind. Bastion viewed this scene as two nutjobs understanding one another anding to some sort of agreement. With Frosts promise of death and the freezing ice chakra cooling down his raging fury, Ryuu calmed down. He took a deep breath and regained his usual stoic appearance, well after smiling goofily towards his daughter to let her know he was calm. Phe Leo released a sigh of relief after seeing Frost sessfully calm Ryuu down. That was close if it wasnt for Frost-senpai wed have been surrounded. Right now, the adventurers were still not in position, they should still be making their ways over the walls unnoticed. Only when they have seen Adam and their reinforcements are in position could they go on the offensive. If Ryuu and Bastion went all out now due to a surge in emotions, theyd not only be vastly outnumbered, but theyd also be severely drained if not injured by the time they made it inside the manor. There was still Adams elite guards to worry about, Leo couldnt afford to have his strongest trump cards below 100% fighting capacity. Chapter 79 Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Baron Adam Furano Leo gave Frost a thankful nod before continuing to lead the group down therge walkway towards the manor. Hed been to thispound a several times when he was younger and knew the way. Did uncle always have this attitude, if not when did it begin? Leo ignored the vicious looks he was receiving from the dozens of goons that were watching his every move. He didnt even see them as he reminisced about the past. He remembered having meals with his uncle when he was younger, sitting on hisp as Adam regaled him with stories about his deceased grandfather and grandmother. Another memory sprung to mind when they passed a marble statue in the shape of arge lion. The memory was so vivid that he stopped in ce and stared. This is where I hid nearly every time. He remembered ying hide and seek with his uncle and always choosing to hide in the same spot, underneath the lions mouth. He subconsciously smiled, he obviously didnt understand the aim of the game choosing the same spot over and over. Haaaaaaaa He sighed as he recalled the innocent reason, he gave his uncle every time he was found. Where else is better than hiding under the lions nose. The reason being that itd be thest ce theyd look but it wasnt the lion he was supposed to be hiding from. With his eyes full of nostalgia, Luna moved in close and held his hand. She too could remember a time when Adam was loving and gentle but that was then, and this was now. ..... Leo, hes no longer the same. Luna whispered into his ear, understanding his sorrow. Haaaaaa Leo sighed once again as his face changed to a more stoic expression. I know, I wont falter, I was just reminiscing onest time. Locking away those happy childhood memories the goons came back into his purview. They were all still surrounding them as they walked, not initiating any form of attack just lying in wait. By the time they reached the manors front door, dozens upon dozens of goons surrounded them from every angle, each of them armed with simple equipment and a slight madness in their eyes. They just needed the go ahead to start tearing the intruders apart. Leo stood at the forefront with Luna at his side, Frost was directly behind whereas Bastion and Ryuu covered his nks. If they wanted to get to Luna and Leo, theyd need to pass those three first. Dongggggg Atop the balcony directly in front of them, a loud noise was heard as the doors swung open with force. This drew everyones attention; the boss had arrived. A young middle-aged man with sharp features and thin eyes, dressed in avish white coat came onto the balcony, this was Adam, Leos uncle. He had little resemnce to his brother who had a masculine and strong appearance, his was more of a shifty schr look. His eyes especially made him look as if he was always up to no good. Following behind were three men far different from the goons in the courtyard. They gave of an intimidating aura as they moved with Adam, as though they were attached at the hip. They must be the elite guards Leo spoke of. Frost ignored Adam for the moment and focused on the three men surrounding him. They were all human and gave off the scent of blood. Frost frowned as he analysed each of them the best he could. Fuck! Im probably not a match for any of them. He felt a tinge of fear as he looked at them. His strength was roughly early stages of C-rank whereas even the weakest one of the three was probably almost B-rank. He was severely outmatched, his body started to tense up and his excitement began to grow. Perfect, it wouldnt be a challenge if they werent at least this strong. His hands had begun to tremble not from fear but anticipation. Bastion was right, he and Ryuu were simr, he was just a tad crazy, but could you me him, take a look at his teacher a vicious Fenrir who was just as much a battle junkie as he if not more so. An evil smile grew on his face as he started to lick his lips as though eyeing fine prey. Theyll make some fine DP. Not only was this a night to test his battle prowess and fully engage in the joy of battle, it was also a gathering of DP. Effectively killing three birds with one stone. His intense stare seemed to attract the three as they all faced Frost with interest, they could feel his fighting spirit and killing intent. The three of them smiled evilly at one another before the strongest of the three mouthed a response. Weakling, unlike Frost the three of them could more urately tell Frosts capabilities. They could see he was weaker than them and not by a small amount. Just a cocky brat in over his head. One of the three bodyguardsmented to his colleagues. The group didnt spare Frost another nce instead focusing their vison on Ryuu and Bastion, they were the real threat. Annoyed at being looked down upon and ignored, Frosts expression became incredibly vicious, and he took a heavy step forward preparing to leap up and attack. Pat He was stopped by Ryuu and Bastion cing their hands on his shoulders and whispering from his side. Those three are our targets young Frost. Bastion and Ryuu sent provocative gazes at the three bodyguards on the balcony as they pulled Frost back. Frost wasnt brought in to deal with them, they were. I like your spirit but theyre a bit too much for you to handle. Ryuumented at the side appreciating Frost more and more. You need to deal with the goons as well as any hidden opponents, leave those three to the two of us. Ryuu gently reminded Frost that there may be more opponents hidden within the manor for him to go all out on. Frost was momentarily speechless, his mouth hung open, but he couldnt say anything. ......Fair point, he nodded after epting that Ryuu and Bastion were correct. His gaze once more returned to Adam, the main target of tonights activities. While each groups trump cards were scoping out one another, Leo and Adam looked at on in silence. Adam was incredibly surprised to hear that the one causing such amotion at this time of the night was his nephew. Although he had received reports that Cassandra had been clearing out all his men and women nted in the Furano manor, he didnt expect his nephew to walk straight into the lions den. That was why he was speechless; he didnt know what to say. He cant be that na?ve, can he? Leo should have known or had some inkling of the events of several days ago with Alex and the red hawk bandits. Then why is he here? He saw Ryuu and Bastion by his nephews side as well as Luna and a masked man. He struggled to understand their purpose. They cant possibly be here to take me in, Ryuu and Bastion certainly arent clueless enough to think this is enough firepower. Adams gaze then drifted over his dozens of low-level goons and then the three elite bodyguards by his side. He received no suspicious reports about any movements in rtion to the local guards or high-ranking adventurers, and he couldnt see anyone else present bar these five standing in his courtyard. Am I missing something? Adam was confident in his strategic abilities; he could feel that something wasnt quite right but even so. Would I ever get such a unique chance to take care of all my enemies in one single movement? He was aware that the masked man was probably the adventurer named Frost who took care of his loyal subordinate Alex and ruined his perfectlyid ns. His expression became vicious as he looked down, not even trying to hide his intentions. Haaaaaa Leo sighed as he saw the change in his uncles expression. He really was beyond redemption. Hearing his nephew sigh irked him, so Adam responded with pompous. Ah my dear nephew what brings you to my manor sote at night, should you not be with my brother in his time of need? Adam smiled proudly, knowing that he caused his brothers illness. He knew that he had very little time left, in fact if it wasnt because his brother was so stubborn, he would have passed on months ago. Hearing his sarcasm, Bastion was infuriated and took a step forward and shouted Bastard! while spitting on the ground. This filled Adam with joy. So, they suspect or even know that Im the cause...but what does it matter at this point, they cant prove it. Adam grew cocky, he felt as though everything was being handed to him on a silver tter, he struggled to contain hisughter. Bastion and Ryuu wanted to immediately take action, but they were stopped by Leo who had remained calm despite his uncles words however, his eyes were spitting mes. Thats actually one of the reasons why Im here uncle, no Baron Adam Furano. Leo spoke coldly and loudly so everyone could hear. Adam frowned not expecting his nephew to be so calm and address him by his title. Hes changed his nephew was not like this several days ago, he was nothing more than a na?ve boy. Baron Adam Im here on official business on behalf of the ruling viscount Dous Furano. Leo reached into his armour to withdraw the official document written and signed by Dous. Adam twitched at Leos words, official business meant that it was Douss decision and not Leos. He then looked once more at this small group of five people standing in his courtyard. Theyre all heavily armed, especially Leo...wait isnt that. Adam suddenly noticed the armour and sword that Leo was wearing and felt a sudden rush of panic. Although he shouldnt be worried given the amount of men currently surrounding them it was his instincts that were warning him. Something is really wrong. His eyes darted back and forth across thepound, but he couldnt see anything unusual, it was too dark. Ignoring his panic, Leo continued to speak in a formal and official capacity. Baron Adam Furano on behalf of the ruling viscount of this territory and as your master, as a vassal you are hereby charged with the crimes of treason, illegal smuggling, attempted murder, embezzlement and many more crimes. The verdict for your heinous crimes is.... execution, signed by Dous Furano viscount of the Furano territory, Lady Cassandra, Viscountess of the territory and Leonardo Furano heir to the territory and stamped with the viscounts royal seal. How do you plead. Leo read the entire document in a loud voice without a single change in expression. Leo and his group waited silently for Adams response, of course it didnt matter since the verdict was final. The goons surrounding them were at first nervous and even shocked but as the silence continued, they began to smile and some evenughed out loud as if Leo was an idiot. What did they care about the rulings of some dying old man, Adam would be in charge shortly anyway so what did it matter. The goons looked at Leo and the rest time to attack and kill. The three bodyguards beside Adam couldnt help but silently snigger and smile unreserved, they werent fazed in the slightest, it was just the final act of a dying man without any power. Adam however was more than a little shocked, something was eating away at him. He stared down at the official document held in his nephews hands. Why now? He was confused, if anything he expected this action shortly after Leo returned but that was several days ago, his brother was anything but patient. Once again, he scoured thendscape but saw no sign of reinforcements. He a had puzzled expression as he looked down at his nephew. Are you an idiot? He asked without reservation and was fully expecting an answer. Couldnt Leo see the dozens of people surrounding them, did he really believe two old, retired adventurers could deal with everyone here. Leo let out another sigh before replying. So thats your response. No uncle, Im not an idiot, now will youe willingly or am I going to have to drag you down from that balcony! Leo spoke with anger at the end, fully intending to do just that. Chapter 80 80 Chapter 80: Assaulting thepound Leos deration generated an eery silence as Adam and his group were stunned. They couldnt believe what they just heard, looking at one another with gazes saying, did I hear him right? Hahahahahahah, the silence was quickly extinguished by a roaringughter. Adam wasughing so loudly and so honestly that he almost pulled a stitch. He hadnt heard anything so hrious in his entire life. His nephew would forcibly drag him from his balcony hahahaha, he really must be an idiot. With the boss loudlyughing the goons swiftly joined in, mocking Leo and his group. I guess youre noting willingly then Baron Adam. Leo looked up at his uncle with contempt as if he was the fool. Tch annoyed by his nephew gaze, Adam loudly clicked his tongue, and his expression became vicious. Halting hisughter, he looked down at his nephew and his entourage as though they were annoying pests before releasing a sigh. Oh well its not as though Ive got much choice given the circumstances. Even if hes got some kind of trump card does it matter? He gave his nephew onest look before giving an order to his goons. Kill them! Adam really didnt have any alternative, who would willingly offer their head, especially when they are so close to achieving their goals. He already nned on killing off his family, so doing it here and now made no difference. ..... With that simple order uttered with a cold tone, the goons surrounding Frost and the rest roared with joy, theyd be given permission to go wild. Goodbye nephew with his eyes still filled with anger, Adam bade farewell to his nephew and turned around, heading back into his manor. He didnt need to be out in the open to see his death. His three elite bodyguards followed behind him. A pity, I kind of wanted to fight against those two old geezers. One of the three bodyguards mumbled under his breath as he followed behind Adam. Without them interfering many of the low-level goons would be killed if not all of them but Adam didnt care. Low-level grunts such as them could be found anywhere and given that hed soon inherit the viscounty title, he couldnt be seen employing such trash as his guards. Having them all killed would actually be a blessing in disguise. Perhaps I should thank my nephew for dealing with them. Adam released a slight chuckle at the idea. Bang! The heavy wooden doors mmed shut behind Adam and his bodyguards, leaving Frost and the rest surrounded by dozens of goons. Well looks like the first part of the operation has been cleared. Frost muttered with an excited smile on his face. Adam was definitely in thepound and the deration had been made. It was time for the blood bath to begin. I believe you are correct young Frost hahahaha little Leo wouldnt you agree? Ryuuughed evilly as his eyes scanned their surroundings, finally he could let loose and kill wantonly. Leo released a sigh as he understood theck of patience within his elders. I know youre desperate to let loose but have none of you seen our situation. Leo looked around 360 degrees, goons covered his entire vision, madness clear on their faces and moving towards them while licking their lips and drawing their weapons. Leo and Luna were only entry level E-rank adventurers, they struggled to handle a dozen bandits yet now they were faced with over 10 times that number. Regardless of the powerful people standing next to him, he still felt anxious. Lamenting his weakness, he turned towards his uncle Ryuu. I agree uncle... do it. At the same time Leo spoke, the surrounding goons started to make their moves. All of them were closebat types and not a single mage so they couldnt all attack at once. In a short few seconds, they reached a consensus on the attacking order. The weakest were sent in first, each of them wielding an axe, a simply weapon to use, requiring very little technique. Bastion and Frost drew their weapons in anticipation, sheltering Luna and Leo behind them. Understood little Leo. Ryuu smiled before channelling his mana. Swooooosh A bright light somewhat like a firework erupted from Ryuus staff shooting up into the air and releasing an explosion of white light. Aahhhhhhh A few of the goons who followed the magic screamed in pain as their eyes stung and were temporarily blinded. The rest of the attackers were momentarily stunned by the action before filling with anger. Bastards! They felt shame, stopping their movements in defence, thinking it was a magic attack yet all it was, was a bright light without any offensive power. With their eyes filled with anger and a belly full of wrath the weakest bunch of axe-wielders roared and charged at the group with their weapons raised high aiming to cleave their opponents in two. Swoooosh Suddenly as one of the attackers drew close towards them, Frost heard a high-pitched sound caused by the air in front of him being pierced. A blink of an eyeter an arrow shed past his face, burrowing deep into the attacking goons skull, killing him instantly. Frost rapidly turned around in the direction of where the arrow was shot from, but he couldnt see anything but a blurry shadow. It was far too dark for him to see the archer but thanks to Ryuus beacon of light spell the archer could clearly see him, as well as the dozens of goons. The goon with the arrow sticking through his head, plummeted to the ground his axe was still raised above his head and when it followed its master. Squelch The axe headnded on the goons neck severing a good chunk of the way through, creating a fountain of blood that painted some of hisrades red. Eh? The death and subsequent painting of red was so sudden that the goon beside couldnt see what happened, his vision was covered by hisrades blood. Shwiiiing A momentter the blood cleared but his target the masked man dressed in white and blue robes was somehow upside down and looking over him with a smile. What? He couldnt register what happened so Frost helped him understand by rotating his head to face his now prone body Aahhhhhhhh! the goon screamed internally in hisst moments as he could see his body lying next to him without a head. Frost had decapitated him with his ive in a single strike while he was temporarily blinded from hisrades blood. And thats another dose of DP. After seeing the pure horror in his victims eyes during his final moments, he kicked the head away, smashing it into another goons face before channelling his mana [Ice bolt] shortly after kicking the head, a bolt of ice was send flying towards the targeting goon piercing him through the chest as he raised his hands up to protect his face from the flying heading his way. Frost felt another dose of DP enter his body, filling him with pleasure. Simr scenes were happening all around him, Bastion while swinging around his giant battle axe was cleaving goon after goon in two without much effort as though he was simply stretching. Ryuu was casting low-level wind des with such speed and uracy it left the goons without any chance to defend themselves. Even Luna and Leo were asionally able to strike and kill a goon each, although not as easy or as graceful, a kill was still a kill. However, at this rate theyd be exhausted of all strength, there was just too many for five people to effectively deal with by themselves. Luckily though they werent alone. The moment the archer adventurer sent her first arrow into an attacking goon the rest of the 14 adventurers made their appearances from behind the shadows. They chose to strike the backlines were the more powerful and high ranked goons were. What?! A higher ranking goon, roughly equal to a D-rank adventurer eximed in shock as one of his direct subordinates was stabbed from behind by arge spear and lifted off the ground. Ahhhhhh The subordinate screamed in agony and fear as he saw arge metal spearhead puncturing through his chest. His pain amplified as the spear user lifted his body upwards off the ground causing blood to surge up through his mouth, effectively drowning him in it. Up you go The spear user spoke from the shadows before chucking the goon upwards with his spear, releasing his spearhead from his body and sending him several metres into the air. Tears and blood covered the goons face as the spear left his chest with such force that his internal organs were shredded. His body promptly returned to the ground with a loud thud next to his killer. He managed to get a good look at the man who killed him before his vision darkened permanently. Thinking youll be safe if you hide in the back, ptuah. The spear user spat on the dead goons face. From the darkness the mans appearance and body became visibly to the rest of his prey. What was revealed was an incredibly tall and muscr beastman with bright red fur, he smiled as though he was a predator. Whos next on the menu hahahaha Heughed beforeunching himself towards another of the many goons before him, only the goons at D-rank would pose a small challenge, the rest were simplymbs to the ughter. All around the 14 adventurers were making their moves, attacking in ambush taking the many goons all by surprise. Each of them had their own battle style, some used swords whereas another specialised in blunt weapons, a couple where even magic users, casting several spells of different elements. The manors courtyard became a battlefield with blood and guts flying everywhere, a gruesome sight indeed. With the addition of the adventurers Frost and his group instantly felt less constrained, the number of goons attacking them had reduced allowing Frost especially to no longer have his attention divided between attacking and defending. Gyahhhhh a goon screamed as his arm was lopped off and his chest was caved in, he received a strong punch to his sternum. His heart exploded from the impact killing him in a matter of seconds. That makes eight. Frost muttered as blood ran down his face-not his blood obviously. However even with him killing eight goons their numbers seemed to be endless. For every one he killed, another would simply take its ce. Frost could already feel a slight strain on his muscles, cleaving through human bodies and swinging his heavy ive was beginning to have an affect albeit only slightly. Tch this is more strenuous than I thought, if I have to cleave through every one of these goons, Ill have no strength left to y with Adam. Frostmented this feeling of weakness, when he was in the dungeon with a constant stream of mana filling his body, he could fight 3 times this number without a single drop in strength. His body was clearly designed to use up arge amount of energy when out of the dungeon. I should have eaten more food. Swinggg While reminiscing about the feast he enjoyed a few hours prior Frost deflected the axe of an attacking goon, chipping the axe de but doing little to stifle the goons aggression. Tsk annoying bastard Frost clicked his tongue and frowned as the goon seemed to be crazy as he swung down with his axe with little regard for defence. Due to the mass battle, the majority of the goons had entered a frenzy, filled with adrenaline the effects of aura, and killing intent no longer had any bearing. Bastion was finding that fact quite irritating given his older body. Bleurgh The attacking goon belched out remains of hisst meal as Frost thrust the ives duram metal pommel into his stomach. However, he was only momentarily stunned before continuing to swing down his axe, but that short moment was enough. Immediately after smashing the pommel into the goons stomach, Frost rotated his ive 180 degrees, bringing the de edge inches away from the goons groin. Shwiiiing In a single rapid movement Frost swung his ive directly upwards with incredible force. Gyahhhhhhhhh! An ungodly scream arose from the goon, his adrenaline filled body wasnt enough to eliminate the pain of such a brutal attack. The ive starting at the groin, split the goons body in two, slicing apart any armour and organs on its way up before finally escaping from the top of his head covered in flesh and blood. The goons screaming was quickly brought to a close as a full length crack began to appear on his body. The crack slowly widened, and the two parts of the goon fell on opposite sides. That makes nine. Blerughh several sounds of throwing up could be heard nearby. Luna had just been observing Frost when she was suddenly greeted with the insides of a human body. The image was too much, and she threw up almost immediately, her face appearing as white as a ghosts. A couple of the adventurers also throw up, even for them that scene was too gruesome. Damn maniac bleurgh The archer who took the first kill was one of the people to throw up, she bemoaned Frosts actions struggling to not throw up for a second time. Chapter 81 81 Chapter 81: Assaulting thepound (2) With Frosts ninth kill lying split in two at his feet the battle reached a boiling point. The focus had been redirected from Frost and his group to the outlying adventurers wreaking havoc in the back lines. Once the so-called weakest goons were taken care of by Frost and the rest, no one else moved to attack them, granting them a reprieve. The higher-ranking goons panickily ordered everyone to attack the 14 adventurers out of fear of death. Hmmm is that all? Frost raised his head in confusion, fully expecting to once again repel an axe aiming for his neck. What he could see however was groups of goons surrounding their reinforcementspletely ignoring him. Frost frowned; he was a little annoyed at being ignored by people he already considered as DP. Just as he was about to move onto the offensive, he felt arge hand on his shoulder. Its time for us to move young Frost, Bagua has given the signal, they can take care of the rest of these goons. Bastion had grabbed his shoulder, reeling him out of his battle fervour. Frost was having so much fun that he didnt even notice the change in the battle. Bagua as Bastion mentioned was therge red furred beastmen who wielded arge spear. At some point unbeknownst to Frost he used hand gestures to let Bastion know of their current circumstances. Bagua was one of the stronger adventurers hired by Bastion as well as one of the most respected in terms of leadership. He was assigned the role of leader; it was his job to manoeuvre the adventurers into position so as to free up the pressure on Frost and the rest. Shortly after Frost split hisst kill in two, Bastion received the signal that everyone was in ce. The results spoke for themselves when Frost actually had to move towards the goons if he wished to go on the offensive. ..... They were doing all that while fighting. Frost looked shocked, his gaze shifting between the adventurers within his field of vision. He could see that as they were fighting, they were keenly aware of their allies situation, repeatedly sending hand gestures or if possible, their voice to ry their situation. So, this is what an adventurer is. Frost was amazed, there was such teamwork as though each of them had fought with one another their entire life. Seeing Frost no longer absorbed in battle and instead fascinated with the actions of the 14 adventurers filled Bastion with pride. Taking Frosts actual strength out of the question he was still only a rookie adventurer with even less experience than Leo and Luna. He still had a lot to learn when it came to being a true adventurer. Bastion raised his chin in the direction of Leo and Luna. After regaining herposure Luna was preparing herself to move as was Leo. They were also adventurers and understood team tactics, like Bastion they were awaiting Baguas signal. Frosts valuation of Leo and Luna went up several notches. Time to go Frost-senpai. Leo looked back at Frost with determination. With the goons no longer focused on attacking them, they were free to storm the manor. Un Frost nodded back and prepared to move. They couldnt be too obvious, so they moved swiftly but quietly. Ryuu covered their backs with magic spells, killing a few goons with long range magic to keep up the ruse. Of course, he aimed to target the ones that dared to look rudely at his darling daughter which gained him a thumbs up from her. The manors front door wasnt too far from their current location and luckily on a couple goons were stationed there. Whether due to receiving orders or simply hanging back from the battle due to cowardice it served their purposed greatly. What! Shit! Not expecting for Frost and his group to advance towards them, the two guards were caught by surprise. Cold sweat dripped down their backs and their bodies started trembling. Frost and Bastion were pretty much covered in blood, their clothes and weapons dyed red. They had seen how Frost cleaved one of theirrades in two from his groin. As the image resurfaced, they felt a cool breeze in theirher regions and subconsciously covered their family jewels with one of their hands while their other hand held their weapons shakily at their aggressors. Frost smiled, proud of the effect he had on the two goons. But that wouldnt save them. He turned towards Ryuu and smirked. Ryuu responded back in kind before the two of them channelled their mana. [Ice bolt] [Wind de] A bolt of ice materialised from Frosts hand and swiftly flew into one of the goons chests, pinning him against the manors outer walls. Whereas from Ryuus hand came a de of wind that silently carved a deep cross into the other goons chest, shredding most of his organs and killing him quickly. Frosts target wasnt as lucky, he was merely pinned to the wall, the ice bolt still protruding from his chest. O the goon groaned in pain as tears streamed down his face. He didnt want to die but he didnt want to die in pain most of all. He felt envious as he saw the motionless body of hisrade. I guess Ill take care of the door then. Bastion raised his massive battle axe above his before smashing it into the grand door. Bang!!! Bang!!! Bang!!! Adam seemed to have paid a decent amount of money on the door considering it couldst more than a single strike from Bastion. Baaaaaang!!!!! With a fourth swing the door finally gave way, the hinges blew apart and the entire door was sent flying into the manor. Ahhhhhh! Hiding behind the door was another goon who unfortunately was swiftly crushed by what was supposed to protect him. Haaaahhhh Bastion released a deep breath as he rxed his arms. That was a bit more strenuous than I thought. He scowled at the door lying t on the floor, it was no ordinary wooden door. Given the weight he felt on impact as well as the difficulty his axe had in prating, it had to have been made with 3 star materials at the very least. Im getting to old for this shit! Bastions face twitched as he felt a pang of pain in his right shoulder, hemented his age and grumbled under his breath. With ess to the manor now open the group could focus on the next part of their operation, hunting down Adam. Due to Adams arrogance and Leos past knowledge of thepound they had a rough idea where he might be. Even if Adam was confident in his goonsing out victorious, he wouldnt simply return to his bed chambers. No, hed be in the safest ce within his manor, his fortified basement. The problem was finding ess. Frost knew theyd encounter a problem in this regard, so he chose to keep his goon alive, hopefully hed be able to enlighten them and if not...well theres bound to be more inside. Frost smiled evilly towards the goon still pinned against the wall. The ice bolt still embedded in his body was actually keeping him alive, this way he wouldnt bleed out. Hed also find it difficult to fall unconscious, perfect for some interrogation. Taking a step forward he blocked the goons vision making him see only him. Youre going to answer a few questions and if I like the answers, Ill end the pain youre currently feeling and if I dont... well. Frost suddenly looked like a devil especially with his mask covered in blood and his white teeth showing. The goon continued to cry; he was terrified. I promise you the pain youre experiencing now can be amplified ten times over and for ten times as long.... the choice is yours, but I suggest you decide quickly were in a bit of a rush you see. Frost mmed his hand against the wall bringing his mask close to the goon like a terrifying kabedon. Pssshhhhh The goon pissed himself in fear releasing a foul smell. Tsk seems you want the painful option. Frost clicked his tongue in annoyance, the goon leaked urine on his shoes and stained his robes. Crack! The wall next to the goons face suddenly cracked under the pressure of Frosts hand and a strong burst of killing intent was sent his way. At the same time Frost reeled back his other arm intending to strike with his bare fists. Hed could crush dozens of bones without endangering his life, only amplifying the pain he felt. Seeing Frost tense up and reel back his fist the goon squealed. W...w.... wait I.... Ill talk. The goon would do anything to end this pain. Then get talking, wheres Adam? Frost didnt put down his fist, waving it in the goons face as a constant threat. H.... hes in the third basement. Its heavily fortified and has ess to escape routes. Hell definitely be down there. The goon spoke as quickly as possible, momentarily forgetting the pain caused by the ice bolt lodged in his chest. I already know that; how do we get there? Frost scowled and caused the wall to crack even more under the pressure of his hand causing the goon to shiver. Leo and the rest were patiently waiting at the side, taking a short break to regain some strength before moving on. Originally Ryuu was going to be the one to do some investigating given his talent in that area and persuasive nature however since Luna was with them, he didnt wish to engage in such actions. It was unbing of his doting father image; thus, Frost was employed to do it. b...b....bookshelf, theres a bookshelf in the second basement. In thest room theres a switch thatll give you ess. The goon shivering in fear shouldnt actually be privy to such information given he was an external guard, not part of Adams inner circle. However, he was friends with a few goons that defended the basement area. While chatting with them one night he witnessed peopleing out of the third basement via the secret bookshelf. It wasnt Adam but some of his smuggling clients, so they just assumed that the goon was supposed to be there and was privy to this secret route information. Once they exited thest of the smugglers pulled on one of the books to close the bookshelf door all in front of the goon now within Frosts grasp. At the time, the goon feared for his life, he suddenly gained secret knowledge with he shouldnt have ess to. Knowing Adam, it was only a matter of time before he was silenced. Ironically that same information that ced his life in constant danger was now the information that would end his current pain. He silently prayed in thanks for hisrades inviting him the hang out in the second basement. Hoh Ryuumented at the side. That was easy. Frost barely had to do anything, yet they already had the information they required and from the very first goon. Ryuu smiled and turned towards Leo with a knowing look. Leo nodded in response before speaking. Perfect now we know where to look, uncle Bastion are you ready to move? Leo turned towards his uncle who was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. Breaking through the manor door was hard work so Bastion was taking the short respite to rest his muscles as much as possible. Unlike Ryuu and his magic, Bastion relied on his body to fight and given his age every swing he took generated a burden on his muscles far more than when he was in his prime. At his current level hed probably still have the strength of a B-rank adventurer albeit an entry level one and only for a short time. He couldnt maintain his strength for a long drawn out battle. Bastion opened his eyes revealing a look of strength and determination. He knew his own bodys limits and could roughly gauge the abilities of his future opponents; he couldnt afford to be any less than 100% battle ready. As of yet Bastion had yet to use any skills so as to preserve his strength. He released a deep breath and picked up hisrge battle-axe before looking towards Leo. Im fine little Leo, Im back at full capacity, lets move. Chapter 82 82 Chapter 82: Assaulting thepound (3) Receiving Bastions strong and determined gaze, Leo was filled with relief. Bastions strength was integral to their n and one of their lynchpins. Bastion had to hold back two elite guards who were not much weaker than himself and in their prime age. The burden ced on him was unimaginable, but they had no alternative, they were already short on trustworthy manpower. Bastion knew of the risks but volunteered anyway, given Leo and Luna assurances that hed be fine. Bastion couldnt go against the magic user who was easily a B-rank mage since he was at severe disadvantage in that match-up. The hope was that Ryuu would be able to defeat the mage and reinforce Bastion before hes overrun. Or if possible, for them to fight the elite guards together in a 2 vs 3 match up. However, theres no way that would happen. Adam knew that Ryuu and Bastion had been working together for decades, their teamwork was impable. Hed be a fool to allow them to work together, his elite guards were also in agreement. They knew their limits in regards to teamwork, no theyd fight separately as thats their specialty. Good, then if everyones ready lets head on in. With their goal and destination now in sight, it was time to move. Leo grabbed Lunas hand as he led the group inside, he knew the way to the second basement at least and could act as a guide. Bastion followed closely behind them with his eyes darting around in preparation for an attack, Adam wouldnt just have guards outside the manor. Before joining Bastion, Ryuu gave a look towards Frost who still had a cruel smile on his face and his fist inches from the goons face even though he spilled the beans. Frost turned around to face Ryuu making sure he kept the goons vision blocked with his back and head. Ryuu used his thumb to draw a line on his neck before turning around, he gestured for Frost to kill the goon now that they had their information. ..... Frost smiled knowingly, giving a curt nod before turning back to face the goon who looked strangely relieved. Y... youll keep your word right; youll end this pain? The goon looked up at Frost as if he were some kind of angel even though Frost was the one the put him in this position. Of course, Im a man of my word. He replied with a gentle smile on his face before lowering his hand, no longer waving a fist in the goons face, or performing a kabedon. The goon smiled in relief a few tears dripping down his face. Finally, hell remove this bolt and heal me. The goon felt as though this situation was some kind of revtion, hed leave the service of Adam and his thug life, perhaps hed be an adventurer or take up some run of the mill respectable trade. His future life shed before his eyes as he looked at Frost with gratitude. Frost still with a gentle smile on his face spoke a single word. Goodbye and with that he used ice chakra to summon a small sharp ice dagger which he used to swiftly shed the goons neck dissipating the dagger back into mana particles. Eh? The goon couldnt fathom what just happened, his neck suddenly felt cold, and his vision was quickly darkening. With hisst ounce of strength, he looked towards Frost in confusion. You said youd heal me. He couldnt vocalise anymore so he could only speak with his eyes. I said Id end your pain not heal you... your pain has now ended, and youll never feel it again. Frost kept his word, he never nned on healing the goon, it was beyond his abilities anyway. He promised him a quick death nothing more and nothing less. The goon died full of anger and regret, but as Frost promised it was quick and painless, he only felt cold. Frost dissipated the ice bolt that was supporting the goons body causing it to slump down joining the other door guardsmen that Ryuu killed. That makes 10 Frost felt another dose of DP enter him. [clean] Frost activated some simple lifestyle magic as well as the robes inherent cleaning function before stepping over the new corpse and following after Leo and the rest. There were many more kills to be made this night, so Frost was thankful that he had Maya teach him some cleaning magic. Otherwise, his beautiful robes and mask would be dyed red by the time he returned to the Furano manor. Although Frost would admit that he was sort of a battle junkie, being covered in other peoples blood was not something he was fond of. It smelled and didnt really match his personality, he preferred white and blue not red. Other than the unlucky guard who was crushed by the flying door their grouped didnt encounter any other guards, well they did encounter a few but they ran for their lives at the first sight of them. So, thanks to this they made their way to the first basement without interruption and in under ten minutes. The entrance to the first basement was a massive doorway- big enough for transportingrge, smuggled cargo- there was no door barring their path just a set of dark stone stairs and an eerie silence. The situation was screaming trap, Adam wasnt even trying to appear subtle. Down in the first basement he probably summoned the majority of his internal manor guards to this one location forcing Frost and the rest to fight their way through if they did ever reach this point. Of course, this was all guesses, they wouldnt actually know until they walked down those steps. This is the entrance to the first basement, below there are at least five rooms which will most likely be filled with more goons. Well have to fight our way through to the second basement and then finally the third. Leo spoke without fear, exining their situation. He did however wonder what would lie beyond this first group of goons. He fully expected for there to be guards within the manor but whether or not Adam employed a hidden force was anyones guess. I guess its my time to take over then. Frost spoke up in anticipation, it was his job to mainly take care of their uing enemies so as Bastion and Ryuu could save their strength tobat the elite guards. Of course, Leo and Luna would be assisting him, but the majority would be killed by him. I can taste the DP already. Frost licked his lips fully eager to rush down and start a massacre. Yes Frost-senpai its your time to shine. Leo smiled gratefully towards Frost as he patted his shoulder. Frost would lead the charge in the front followed by Luna and Leo. Ryuu and Bastion would cover the rear and only take actions if necessary. Perfect with Leo patting his shoulder and moving behind his back, Frosts smile grew and appeared evil once again, he can let loose. The internal guards should be a little stronger making this even more enjoyable. Frost moved down the stone staircase with purpose, not going slow in the slightest, in fact he was almost running down. Hahahaha Ryuu and Bastion lightlyughed, they held Luna and Leo back for a little while so as to allow Frost some fun. Its really dark down here. Frost could barely see the next step in front of him let alone the entrance to the first room, themps spaced down the stairwell were all out, plunging him into darkness. Twannnng Fwoooosh Suddenly Frost felt danger and heard the string of a bow being released and an arrow piercing through the air. Instinctively he swung his ive at the oing arrow smashing it to splinters. Frost smiled with excitement; his blood started to boil. Now thats more like it. He swung his ive once more to destroy a second arrow that was aimed at his chest. Lets have some fun then hahaha. Frostughed maniacally as he increased his speed down the stairs. He leaped forward in the direction that the arrows were shot from, his ive poised ahead to deflect anymore shots sent his way. Fuck! As a third arrow was deflected by Frosts ive the one responsible for the arrows panicked, Frost would be on him in less than a second and he didnt specialise in closebat. He turned around in full retreat knowing that he failed. Frost could now see the archer thanks to light being shone in from the next room. Still in flight from his jump he licked his lips as the archer turned his back towards him in order to flee. Leaving so soon, we cant have that! Frost shouted as he channelled his mana into his right hand. [ice bolt] Frost sent his own arrow towards the archer in revenge. Just like with the archer having an advantage in uracy due to the narrow walls of the stair wall this also aided Frosts ice bolt. There was no dodging, the archer needed to block. Shit! Bruno! The archer trembled as his body felt a strong sense of danger, he wouldnt make it to the next room. He needed help. Got it A deep rough voice responded to the archer before a stocky dwarf with arge metal shield charged in front and took on the ice bolt. Baaaaang! As the ice bolt struck against the metal shield, it generated an incredible bang as though metal was striking metal. Ugh Bruno grunted at the impact, even with hisrge shield his arm still felt some of the impact, causing it to be numb. Unfortunately for him this battle was far from over. Thud! Frostnded squarely in front of Bruno, there wasnt much space at the bottom of the stairs. The archer had already escaped to the next room thanks to Bruno leaving just the two of them. Frost analysed the dwarf before him, his shield in particr that managed to safely block his ice bolt without even a scratch. Tsk looks like it wasnt strong enough. Frost clicked his tongue in annoyance before raising his ive up high above his shoulders. If magic wasnt going to work, hed just cleave it apart with his ive. Brunos entire body was trembling, and cold sweat was flooding down his back, his entire body was telling him to run. To him Frost dressed in white with a mask andrge ive looked like a grim reaper ready to smite him. The strong blood lust and killing intent being generated by Frost was just icing on the cake. The only reason Bruno didnt join the archer in fleeing was thanks to his experience, he knew that the moment he showed his back to Frost hed die. With no other recourse Bruno widened his stance and reinforced hisrge shield with his other hand entering a full-on bulwark. Defend defend defend Bruno repeated this in his head as he waited for Frost to strike with his ive. He had some confidence in his shield. Interesting Frost smiled with intrigue as he tensed his arm putting some extra force into his swing. The ive cut through the air with such force and speed that it generated a wind de, no way could a goons shield withstand such a blow. However, the instant before the ive struck the metal shield Bruno shouted. [Rampart] With Brunos voice the metal shield suddenly gave off a blue shine rapidly multiplying its defensive properties. Bruno had a shield skill and a fairlypetent one at that. Baaaaaaannnnnnnnnggggggggg!!! The sound made from this sh was nothing like thest, the walls and stairs shook violently in response and loose dust fell from the ceiling. Frosts arms were sent reeling back and he was forced to take several steps backwards to prevent falling down. His arms were trembling, the gaps between his fingers split open under the pressure, leaking blood. This was the first time Frost had ever bled outside of the dungeon. His ive though vibrating with extreme force was undamaged, not even a single blemish or minor crack could be seen through the shaft or de edge, it lived up to its name as a quasi-4 star weapon. This situation caught Frost unaware, never did he think hed be on his backfoot due a pair of simple goons, they werent even one of the three elite bodyguards. Frost took a deep breath and stamped hard upon the ground to stabilise himself, taking on a more cautious approach. He wouldnt run recklessly like that again, who knows what other skills he may be faced with. Frost suddenly remembered the Assassin like character Alex who had a movement skill that allowed him to instantly transverse short distances, cing him behind his targets so as to stab them in the back. Phew that was close. His eyes dimmed, no longer blinded by blood lust entering a much more dangerous state- for his enemies of course. Chapter 83 83 Chapter 83: Assaulting thepound (4) While Frost got off with little more than a few scratches and slightly numb arms, Bruno didnt fare nearly as well. Although he used a fairly strong defensive skill the gap in theirparative strengths was too much. The moment the loud bang happened Bruno was hit with a powerful impact; his body swiftly left the ground bulleting through the doorway and into a wall. Thud! Bruno smashed into the wall with enough force to make a human shaped indent. Ugh he released a painful groan as a burst of blood rushed up his throat. At least two of his ribs were broken as well as a couple fingers but thankfully nothing life threatening, in fact it shouldnt even affect his battle capability in the short term, it really hurt though. God dammit I didnt sign up for this. Bruno yelled internally, he was but a young D-rank adventurer who had a bit of a gambling problem and had no choice but to be employed by Adam to avoid envement. The archer with him had simr circumstances, the two of them werent inherently bad people like the rest of the goons, just unlucky. But if Bruno knew that by working for Adam, hed have to face off against a monster like Frost hed willingly choose the envement option, at least that way hed keep his life. Bruno and his archerpanion, Taka didnt even know what was happening. Since they werent part of Adams regr goons they were left out on need-to-know information and were always forced to head into danger first. Take today for example, all theyd been told was to guard this floor from any intruders, killing all who enter. After which their debt would be paid, and theyd be free men. Hahaha should have known it wouldnt be that easy. Brunoughed at his naivety while prying himself from the wall. Hispanion Taka had a depressed expression, just the two of them alone likely wouldnt be a match for Frost and its not like they could ask for aid. Knowing the people cowering in thest couple rooms of the floor. They were more likely to stab them in the back to ensure their own safety or to just simply buy themselves some extra time than help. ..... Ptuuah Taka spat on the ground in disgust before readying his bow with three arrows taking aim at the doorway in anticipation of Frost. He needed to buy time for Bruno to regain his strength. Only then could they truly fight. Both sides were waiting on the other to make a move, Frost wary of underestimating his foe once again remained silent. Taking in his position and thinking through his next move. Unwittingly granting Bruno the time required to recover and move closer to Taka. This time however he wielded a single-handed Warhammer alongside his shield prepared to take an offensive approach. Frost quickly grew impatient, he could hear the footsteps of Leo and the rest starting to follow behind, he didnt want to share this battle, so he moved. The doorway was a kill box, the moment he stepped into the light, arrows and who knows what else would be sent his way. [Ice armour] Frost muttered quietly, with a strong image in his mind, Frost utilised his chakra, manipting it into shape. Quickly ayer of ice covered his chest and arms. Once the armour wasplete Frost bull rushed through the door, his arms crossed and his head lowered, protecting his torso and head from injury. Shit! Taka now! Bruno shouted as soon as he heard movement. He bashed his hammer against his metal shield as some sort of provocation towards Frost, but it was unnecessary since he was heading his way anyway. I know! [piercing shot] Taka shouted out a name of a skill causing his bow and arrowheads to shine green. An instantter the three arrows were shot his bow in rapid session one directly behind the other, bolstering its prating force. Frost appeared through the doorway covered in ice armour, heading straight for Bruno, he prepared himself to be attacked by arrows, but the force was way beyond his expectation. Dong! The first arrow swiftly struck Frost in the centre of his cross guard, removing a substantial amount of his ice armour and weaking his guard. Dong! The second arrow struck true as well in the exact ce as the first, cleaving opened Frosts cross guard and mming directly into his chest with its left-over momentum. Frost panicked, his chest was exposed, and he doubted his armour could withstand the third arrow. His momentum was too much for him to change direction and dodge and he didnt have enough time to swing his ive. All he could do was supply the ice armour remaining on his chest with as much mana as possible and hope for the best. Dong!!! The third and final arrow struck the hardest blow and sessfully brought Frosts powerful charge to a sudden halt. Ugh! Frost groaned as he felt a metallic taste in his mouth, he survived but barely. The third arrow managed to pierce his chest by half a centimetre but that was plenty frightening. Frost turned to face the archer his gaze was filled with fear and respect. Not only was there a young dwarf that proved a worthy opponent there was also a young archer. Now that he was in a lit room Frost could finally see the faces of his opponents. Theyre young Bruno was a dwarf with thick blue hair and short beard who looked to be in histe twenties but given that he was a dwarf hes probably younger than he looked. Taka was a dog beastmen with blond hair and floppy ears who looked to be in his early or mid-twenties. Frost looked down at his chest, there was now a hole in his robes leaking a small trail of blood. He wiped some his blood with his finger and brought it up to eye level as though questioning if it was his or not. Bruno and Taka were stunned, that was his strongest move and Frost only ended up with a minor injury that wouldnt even affect his battle ability. Bruno gave a solemn look towards hispanion; they hadnt known each other long but had be good friends. They were after all the only good apples in the bunch. Taka returned a simr look before looking off into the distance as though remembering someone or something important. Hahahahahah Their depressing mood was quickly interrupted by Frosts raucousughter. Hahahah thats more like it. Frost smiled madly as his body filled with excitement, the thrill of battle was invigorating. shing your own skill and strength against another what could be more enjoyable and enlightening. Frost looked happily towards Taka and Bruno hoping they were feeling the same rush he was. Eh? Bruno felt weird receiving such a gaze from Frost who he considered the greatest threat to his life, but those feelings were quickly reced. His blood started to boil, and his gaze became enmed. Hahahaa Id almost forgot the thrill of battle, has it really been so long. Bruno had forgotten why hed be an adventurer in the first ce, fame, money, and power! Hed been forcibly employed by Adam for so long that he forgot this feeling of testing your strength against powerful foes such as monsters. And in Frosts case he wasnt exactly far off, he could be considered a type of monster. Taka just looked over at his now smilingpanion as though he was as insane as Frost. Were likely going to die and youreughing your head off, and does this guy get off of killing? Taka struggled to understand the two of them, but his fears and depression were now gone. Oh well if were going to die might as well go out with a bang. Taka raised his bow and once again pointed it a Frost. Well said Bruno smiled in response and banged his hammer against his metal shield preparing to charge at Frost. Frost wasnt one to take his time, seeing that the two of them seemed to understand his excitement caused his smile to widen. He twirled his ive around before resuming his rushing attack, he didnt bother with using chakra to make ice amour this time. He simply rushed towards Bruno with his ive looking to trade blows. [ice bolt] With his left hand Frost deftly cast a spell sending a bolt of ice towards Taka forcing him to roll away, preventing him fromunching another arrow his way. Bring it on! Bruno smiled and rushed towards Frost willing to go blow for blow. Swiiing Bang Frosts ive cleaved from the side and was met with Brunos shield causing an intense vibration, but Bruno held on, he stopped Frosts swing and struck with his hammer aiming for Frosts shoulder. In response Frost pulled back his ive and blocked the hammer with its shaft before he pushed forward with both hands knocking Bruno off bnce giving him an opening to attack. Screech! The moment Frost was about to bring down his ive against Brunos chest he was forced to pull back thanks to Takas timely arrow. Tsk Frost clicked his tongue in annoyance. He couldnt take care of Bruno as long as that archer was there to bail him out. Nor could he easily take out Taka without Bruno rushing to bar his path. Dealing with two strong opponents at a time was difficult. It was the first time he was in such a situation, Maya only summoned one golem for practise leaving himcking in experience. Yahhhhh while he was zoned out in thought Bruno yelled and charged at him with his hammer raised high. Dongg! Frost evaded the strike causing the hammer to smash into the floor, generating cracks. This was followed by another arrow, but Frost simply smashed it with his ive before casting another ice bolt. It was a shame he couldnt cast more ice bolts otherwise hed be able to pin Taka down, but Bruno never gave him a chance to cast more than one spell. Their teamwork was quite impressive. With Taka evading another ice bolt he prepared to fire another arrow towards Frost whenever Bruno required aid. Given that his strongest skill [piercing arrow] failed to cause any significant damage and the fact that he had finite ammunition Taka settled into the role of support. Bruno would have to be the one to take the primary assault role. Frost deflected another blow from Bruno without much difficulty but couldnt move to take advantage due to the looming threat from Taka. This is difficult. Frost wasnt in too much danger of dying or even receiving too much damage however this wasnt the only fight he was to take part in. Who knows how many more goonsy beyond this room and then there was Adam himself. Frost had a strong feeling that the Baron wouldnt be an easy opponent. This battle with Bruno and Taka was purely one of enjoyment and learning but he couldnt waste too much of his energy. The wise decision would be to fight a battle of attrition given the fact that Taka only had a set number of arrows, and his stamina was likely greater than Brunos. Bruno required more energy to ward of his attacks than Frost required to do for his. Leo and the rest would mostly likely arrive shortly as well, given Ryuu and Bastions abilities the battle would quickly end with their aid, but Frost didnt want that. This was his fight, and he was enjoying it, he wouldnt share. Swiiing Whooooosh Frost swung his ive once more at Bruno only to receive another arrow heading for his right hand forcing himself to pull back. He wasnt adept enough with his chakra to create an armour of ice over his arm in anticipation of an arrow, another quality he wascking. The more his struggle with Bruno and Taka went on the more he understood Mayas worry. Although his strength was roughly entry C-rank, he severelycked the experience to utilise it effectively, he alsocked knowledge about the skills his foes may have ess to. Chapter 84 84 Chapter 84: Assaulting thepound (5) Don Don Don As the battle between Frost, Taka and Bruno raged on, the sounds of their battle alerted Leo and his group. They were swiftly rushing down the dark stairwell hoping to aid Frost. Shit hes not alone! Taka shouted in anger. Fighting Frost alone was already near impossible, any additional yers would surely mean their end. A couple times when Taka was a little slow Bruno received several cuts causing blood to drip down his shield. Fuck! Bruno roared when he heard Takas voice, radically throwing himself at Frost with increased fervour. If they wanted to survive, they needed to take Frost down and quick. Frost was also alerted by the sound of rapid footstepsing down the stairwell. Damn so soon Frostined internally as he received a fierce strike from Brunos hammer, the weight behind the strike was a few level higher given his urgency. Leo and the rest would be here in under 10 seconds so if he was going to finish this battle alone, he had to do it now. I need to restrain Bruno in some way so I can take care of the archer. Another two arrows were shot in quick session forcing Frost to once again back off his offensive. Taka was clearly no longer caring about his dwindling ammunition, firing whenever he saw a chance. Wait what about that new spell I learned, ice entanglement. The spell summoned ice from under the target encasing them in ice vines, halting their movements. If Frost could sessfully use that spell, it would be perfect for holding down Bruno. Even if it was a couple seconds that was more than enough for him to reach Taka and cleave him apart with his ive. Once an archer was forced into closebat, he was easy pickings. The issue is whether I can cast it or not. Although Frost knew how thanks to the magic scroll, he hadnt used it as of yet. When he first used the ice bolt spell, he struggled to aim the thing and it was little more than a twig thick, hardly worthy to be used in battle. Ice entanglement was a 2nd circle spell and should be even moreplicated to cast. ..... Banggg Frost blocked another strike from Bruno with his ive and Takas arrow wasnt far behind. Ah screw it, whats the worst that could happen. Frost didnt have much choice if he wanted to finish this fight in the next few seconds. The only hope was that by casting the spell in close proximity to the target it should be more likely to seed. The range on the spell was 5 metres, Frosts thought process was that if used within 1metre or, so hed be able to control it better. Frost took a quick deep breath and focused, he shattered the iing arrows with his ive and send a shabbier ice bolt towards Taka, buying him a second or two. Bruno had been sent a couple steps backwards from Frosts parry giving him a very short window to concentrate. He closed his eyes and focused on the image of the spells magic crest and channelled his mana. Bruno felt a chill down his back as a sense of danger washed over him. Damn hes casting magic. Bruno clenched his jaw and forcibly regained his bnce by overworking his legs muscles. He winced in pain from the act but paid it no further heed. He needed to move now and interrupt Frost before he finished otherwise, theyd lose. With the image of the spell clear and his mana prepared Frost chanted an aria that helped to formte the magic crest. [Ice be like vines and entangle my foe, Ice entanglement] Frost opened his eyes and looked directly towards Bruno and in response to his voice a magic crest quickly formed underneath Brunos feet. The lines were fairly rough, but it was glowing and expanded to around a metre in diameter. Shit! Bruno tried to move out of the crest, but his earlier forceful movement damaged his legs locking them in ce for a second preventing him from escaping. hummmmmm The magic crest gave off a high pitched hum before reaching fruition, summoning ice in the shape of vines from the floor quickly encasing Brunos feet and legs preventing any form of movement in his lower half. Frost didnt have time however to enjoy his sess, the ice generated was weak and full of cracks and would onlyst a couple seconds when restraining Bruno, he needed to move. With Bruno momentarily taken care of Frost turned to face Taka who had sessfully dodged his ice bolt and was about tounch his arrows. Crap crap crap Taka internallyined before quicklyunching arrows at Frost aiming to dy him by any means possible. Without Bruno to take control of closebat Taka was pretty much a sitting duck, he needed to buy time. Quick in his thinking Taka moved as he fired increasing the distance between him and Frost as much as possible. Ding Ding Frost deflected the desperate arrows with his ive while shifting strength to his legs. He thenunched himself at Taka with tremendous speed, like a bullet he fired off an ice bolt to redirect his victim. Bruno panicked trying his best to extricate himself from the ice entanglement, causing more and more cracks in the ice with each shift of his body. He only needed 3 seconds, if Taka could keep Frost at bay for 3 seconds, hed be able to escape and join the battle once more. The problem however was that for Frost 3 seconds was an incredibly long time. The room was only so big, and Frost could move with such speed that without Bruno barring his way it took him only one to appear before Taka. Taka being forced to evade the ice bolt actually shortened the distance between them instead of lengthening. He bit his lip in frustration and his eyes became bloodshot as he swung his bow upward hoping to smash Frosts face in. Frost easily grasped the bow being used as a club. Crack He squeezed the bow causing it to crack and burst under the pressure of his grip before wrenching it from Takas grasp and tossing it aside. Taka never believed his bow could cause Frost any harm, although it hurt him emotionally to see his old partner destroyed and tossed away like a piece of garbage it was necessary. Taka didnt fight hard to keep hold of his bow in fact he practically let Frost wrench it from him so he could prepare his next attack. Without warning Taka swung upwards at Frosts wolf mask, he held an arrowhead in his hand, the sharp end poking through his fingers as he shed at Frosts mask. Slice Frosts mask although rather detailed and well-made was of simple materials. The iron arrowhead easily cut through the material leaving a long gash, revealing some of Frosts nose. Luckily due to the length of the arrowhead and quick reactions his face wasnt injured in anyway. It did however cause his eyes to open wide in shock. Oomph Ughhhh! In response Frost punched Taka in the gut to prevent any further attacks, causing Taka to buckle forward and fall to his knees. He dropped the arrowhead clenched between his fingers onto the ground removing hisst form of attack. Beads of sweat tricked down Takas forehead and his stomach was in serious pain, he could barely breath. Bruno was withstanding this kind of strength the entire time. Taka used some strength to look over his atrade still encased within ice. Bruno saw Taka fall to his knees and it reinvigorated his strength and determination to shatter his prison of ice. Crack crack The ice loudly cracked and fell to his side. Just a little more hold on for just a little longer Taka! Chunks of ice fell to the floor dissipating back into mana. His eyes were bloodshot, and veins protruded across his forehead as he urged hisrade to hold on, desperation and pleading was in his eyes. Taka saw this and felt touched, they hadnt known each other very long but only now did he understand how good a friend Bruno was. It was a shame; he knew his own limitations. He was a rear guard specialised in fighting from a distance, when it came to closebat his strength rivalled that of an F-rank. With such pitiful strength how could he possiblybat Frost. He painfully turned away from his friend, hiding the tears that started to form in his eyes and turned to face his aggressor. He looked deep into Frosts eyes but couldnt truly have any hatred. In this case he and Bruno were likely on the wrong side of justice given who they worked for, but most of all it was the look Frost had when peering down. There was no contempt, hatred or even anger, no he looked at Taka with respect and joy as though he was a friend. It was this look that made Takas impending death less scary. It was a good fight Taka, but youve lost. Frost spoke with honesty, he appreciated Taka and was grateful for granting him more battle experience. He would make his death swift and would remember his name. In response Taka smiled sadly, he had lost. Frost raised his ive up high aiming to end Taka with a single swing. Nooooooo! Bruno screamed loudly as he tore away thest of the ice encasing his feet, but it was pointless he wouldnt be able to reach Frost in time. Taka looked up towards Frost and the weapon that would end his life. Ah so this is it, this is where I die. Takas life shed before his eyes. He remembered his childhood. He was an orphan who lost his parents in the war, along with his younger sister he was sent to live at the Furano orphanage at the mere age of nine. Life was hard but happy, the orphans took care of one another like siblings and the priests and sisters did their best to look after them and provide shelter and food. Thanks to Dous taking control of the territory the orphanage received a good stipend but still he needed to find work early in order to help out his younger siblings. He became an adventurer, working hard,pleting many quests and amassing money for the orphanage. Around 60% of what he earned he gave to the orphanage to help buy food, pay rent etc... When Dous became ill a few years ago and Adam took control, the money set aside for the orphanage suddenly stoppeding in, forcing Taka to work that much harder. With the bills rapidly increasing and him having to take on more and more work each more dangerous than thest he was reaching his limit. The priest and sisters as well as his blood-sister urged him to take a break, saying that theyll find a way to survive without relying on him. The priests and sisters where fairly advanced in age and couldnt do much hardbour and the children could only make pittance worth, not enough to pay the ever-increasing rent. In fact, a despicable gang had recently eyed theirnd and was doing everything within their power to trouble them. The final straw however was when his sister became ill and required rare medicine to supplement her health. With this he was forced to take some drastic measures, he borrowed from the wrong people. When he couldnt pay them back that was when Adam, well one of his representatives approached him offering a deal. As long as he worked for Adam, hed take care of the loan. But he was just changing his keepers from the gang to Adam and at least the gang didnt make him feel suffocated. Ah Meryll your brothers sorry but he wont be able to see you again. As Frost started to bring down his ive Taka thought of his younger sister Meryll, the apple of his eye. She was an absolute angel the kindest and cutest person in the world hed do anything for her even sell his soul. His only regret as he felt the onset of death was never being able to see her smile again. As the ive drew closer towards his neck- Frost was aiming for decapitation- Taka released a sigh and smiled, rxing his entire body, he was ready. Takaaaaa! Bruno screamed once moreunching himself towards Frost and Taka with all he had but it was hopeless there was nothing stopping Frosts ive from severing Takas head from his shoulders... ....or was there? Chapter 85 85 Chapter 85: Assaulting thepound (6) Frost stop!!! Moments before the de of Frosts ive reached Takas undefended neck Leo shouted out. Leo and the rest had finally caught up with Frost and were standing at the rooms entrance. Whoooosh Frost tensed his arms, rapidly bringing his ive to a halt, generating a strong gust of wind. The des edge rested a single millimetre from Takas neck, yet to draw a single drop of blood. Frost was annoyed, although he stopped his swing with much difficulty, he wasnt happy. He turned around to face Leo with fire in his eyes. Leos mouth twitched and a cold sweat umted down his back when his eyes met with Frosts. Theyre not enemies please lower your weapon. Frost stood still entering a stalemate with Leo not taking his eyes off him. Meanwhile Taka still had his eyes closed as he waited for death unaware that hed been spared. Bruno was frozen in ce, his eyes darting between Frosts ive and Leo. He recognised him. Haaaaaaa Frost eventually acquiesced to Leos request when he refused to back down. He sighed and lowered his ive. Whether or not Taka died wasnt too big of an issue, just a small loss in DP but he didnt take kindly to being ordered on who to spare. Thankfully, he appreciated Taka and Bruno so sparing them was fine. ..... Thank you Frost-senpai. Leo smiled awkwardly before walking towards Bruno who was still speechless and frozen in ce. Frost hmphed and shrugged his shoulders before walking to the side of the room. He tapped Takas shoulder as he left to let him know he was still alive. Luna and Ryuu walked over to Frost in attempt to brighten his mood. Youre Bruno Amin, right? Leo asked gently. Ugh...yeah thats my name young master Leonardo. Bruno knew who Leo was, not only did he know him as the next heir apparent of the territory, but hed also met him while working as an adventurer. And this must be Taka Wycrest. Leo looked over at Taka who had just opened his eyes in disbelief struggling to understand what was happening. He ced his hands on his neck making sure his head was still there before answering. Y...Y...Yes thats me. He looked at Leo and Bruno in confusion before his gaze drifted over to Frost leaning against the wall. He didnt kill me? Thats good, thankfully I arrived in time, it wouldve been a great loss for Furano to lose such talented young adventurers. Leo sighed in relief while smiling towards the two of them. While doing some recon and research on Adam and his activities, he received a report about these two young men. Bruno, he had already met before at the adventurers guild and Taka he knew about but hadnt the chance to meet in person. After a little digging it was obvious that many of their issues were actually machinations of Adam. In Brunos case he facilitated the gambling den, ordering them to cheat as well as guiding Bruno to the correct loan shark. With Taka it was much more straight forward and obvious, Adam was the backer of the gang trying to evict the orphanage. Once the two of them were in over their heads in debt Adam simply offered them a deal, hook line and sinker. He now had two up anding adventurers who owed him a life debt. Hoodwinking people like this was much cheaper in the long run plus it guaranteed him a higher level of authority over them. Sometimes fear and wealth isnt enough. Disappointedly however Adam found it difficult to utilise Bruno and Taka, they were toow abiding and refused to perform the dark deeds he bought them for. Even when threatened and coerced they still stuck to their moral ethics. Annoyed Adam simply used them as guards, tossing them into the front lines every chance he got. The idea being that hed suck out all their worth before they inevitably die. In which if not for Leo stopping Frost, he may have very well seeded. Leo sighed as he recalled the events that brought these two young men under his uncles wing. You really are cancer on the territory Baron Adam. Leo clenched his jaw in anger. As you may have already realised, I am Leonardo Furano, son of the Viscount Dous Furano and Im here to bring my uncle, Baron Adam to justice. Leo spoke with an authoritative tone. Bruno looked nkly up at Leo as he registered what he just said. Its about damn time, he smiled rather dejectedly. Being within Adams employ Bruno knew full well of some of his transgressions, more than enough to warrant him the death penalty yet no one came. Adam was free to carry out his back alley deals and illegal activities without impunity, hell even the local guardsman were in his pocket, looking the other way or sometimes directly acting on his behalf. Bruno and Taka watched as they were powerless to do anything, waiting for the Furano house to take action...and now they have, but was it enough. Bruno looked past Leo taking a look at his entourage. He ignored Frost since he knew well of his strength plus he still held a lot of anger towards him. Thats, he recognised Bastion and Ryuu almost immediately, they along with Viscount Dous and the Mad Iron Chef Vos were shining stars of the Furano territory. The only (former) B-rank adventurers to stay in Furano. He and Taka had long held these senior adventurers in high esteem, of course they could recognise their faces. Bruno felt a weight lift from his chest, a heavy burden had been put to rest as he looked up as his heroes. With them here it can be done. If Leo hade with a simple entourage, Bruno would have forced him to retreat as he knew of the strength thaty behind them. Haaaaaaa Bruno released a deep sigh, his shoulders rxed, dropping his shield and hammer he smiled contently towards Leo. Sir, I Bruno Amin havemitted several crimes while under the employment of Baron Adam and willingly hand myself over for punishment. With Leos intention to bring Adam to justice Bruno could rx, he presented his arms out so as to be handcuffed and taken away. Leo was shocked and looked towards his two uncles in confusion but before he could reply Taka spoke. I Taka Wycrest am also guilty of the same, please punish me as you see fit. Taka presented his arms like Bruno with a satisfied smile on his face. They were done, no longer would they be forced to y to Adams tune. And with the Furano family taking back control of the territory, the orphanage would no longer suffer so Taka had no reason to resist. A strange silence was present in the room after Bruno and Taka gave themselves up. Those present didnt know how to react, even Frost opened up one of eyes in surprise. Cough cough Leo coughed audibly to regain his focus. I have no intentions of punishing the two of you and neither does the Furano household, please stand up. Leo gently moved over to Bruno to help him up off his knees. He knew full well that these two hadnt done a single thing that could be considered evil. All they did was guard their liege, they never harmed innocent civilians or looked the other way at an injustice or facilitate bribes of any kind. Most of the time Adam used them in wars against the local gangs when they refused to submit to his rule and the rest, they stood guard in the first basement. The Furano household had no reason to arrest them for simply guarding a noble even if said noble himself was a criminal. In fact, Leo wished to praise and reward such individuals who even at the worst of times maintained their morals. Bruno and Taka shivered at Leos reply before looking at him in confusion and then to one another. To them they hadmitted great crimes by assisting Adam and wished to pay their dues even if it meant prison or envement, they believed they deserved such an oue. Leos reply came as a shock and they didnt know how to react, Bruno even resisted Leos attempts to force him to his feet. Haaaaaaa Frost let out a deep sigh before forcibly marching towards Bruno lifting him to his feet before looking in his eyes. Leo said youre not being arrested so youve not done anything wrong or are you defying the will of your lord? Frost released a little of his bloodlust to pressure Bruno. Frost seemed to be the only one that remembered they were on the clock. A....u....a.....no Im not! Bruno stuttered at the start but under Frosts pressure and also probably due to his lingering fear he answered honestly. Good looks like I didnt judge you wrong in our fight. Frost smiled and patted Brunos shoulder before turning around to Leo. There solved, whatever youre going to do make it quick, remember what were here for. Frost once again moved to the side of the room and rested his eyes. Maya only gave him a single night of freedom, if he takes too long to return, shed most likely forcibly march down and drag him back. Luna giggled cutely as Frost returned and gave him a thumbs up for a good job. Leo however was left to sigh, people usually didnt treat him like this given his backing, it was rather refreshing albeit slightly humiliating. Bruno and Takas eyes darted back and forth between Leo and Frost, amazed by their rtionship, even more so that Ryuu and Bastion seemed to agree with his methods, nodding and smiling towards him. The two old men were ustomed to being blunt and to the point, not much for faffing about with their old bones. Leo turned back towards Bruno and smiled; Frost had inadvertently cleared a lingering doubt he had about Brunos personality but since Frost judged him as a good honest person through their fistful exchange, he was clear on what to do. He gave Bruno and Taka a quick analysed look to determine their current battle potential. If they still feel guilty then they can just work to assist us in bringing down Adam. Unfortunately, their battle with Frost did quite a number on them. Brunos shield arm could no longer be lifted and several of his ribs were broken, and other areas were sporting significant bruises. Taka was in a better situation but had no weapon or ammunition, his hands were also cut up from his rapid firing. Well, there you have it, we have no intention of arresting or even criticizing your actions while under the employ of my uncle in fact theres probably something the two of you should know. Leo proceeded to regale the two about what he uncovered in regards to Adam manipting them into his employment. Frost had already stated to make it quick, so he didnt drone on. Bastard! Bruno ignored the pain in his bones and mmed his fist into the floor drawing blood from his knuckles. I had my suspicions but wasnt sure. Taka frowned in frustration, his body filling with rage. Leo let the information sink in for a few seconds before he continued speaking. Were going now to bring my uncle to justice however, we do not know theyout of the floors ahead would you be willing to guide us? Even if the two of them were injured they should still be able to act as guides after a health potion or healing spell. Bruno looked up angrily, his eyes filled with fury. Not only will I guide you, please allow me to help take care of that bastard! Bruno had lost all sense of decorum, violently cursing a noble in front of another but no one cared. But your injuries? Leo awkwardly looked over at Frost since he was the one to cause said injuries. Feeling Leos gaze, he opened up one eye in surprise. Are you really gonna tell me I went too far? Frosts gaze tranted roughly as such causing Leo to quickly turn back towards Bruno. Frost really couldnt be med, before Leo arrived it was a life-or-death battle. Bruno also looked over at Frost awkwardly but unable to retort given the circumstances. My injuries are manageable, Taka? Bruno thumped his chest lightly, but it still caused him pain. Im fine I just need a bow. Taka was in much better shape, all he needed was a spare weapon. Unfortunately, he didnt have one and none of the goons ahead wielded bows. Leo sighed in appreciation before smiling and nodding towards Bastion. Chapter 86 86 Chapter 86: Assaulting thepound (7) Bastion nodded back in response before walking over to Taka. Out of everyone here Bastion was the only one feeling guilty. He was the head of the Furano territorys adventurers guild, Bruno and Taka were supposed to be under his protection. Yet he was powerless to help them, he didnt even realise what was happening to Taka and Bruno until a few days ago, he failed them. Bastion withdrew a couple healing potions and new weapons from the storage ring he wore. Leo had packed extra supplies in case they came across Taka and Bruno, but the weapons were supplied by Bastion himself, a way of an apology for failing to protect them. Here, hopefully this should be sufficient for recements. Bastion handed over a blue bow to Taka. It was a 3-star weapon, the limbs were made of blue yew and the bow string was frost wolf sinew, along with a quiver of steel headed arrows. A great improvement over his now broken 2 star weapon. Taka gawked as he held the new bow, admiring the feel of it in his hands. Never had he imagined that hed get to own a 3-star weapon at his age, such weapons were far beyond his price range, even his 2-star bow was a painful but necessary expense. For Bruno, Bastion handed over a new metal shield made of a steel alloy, since the other one now had dents and cracks throughout, thanks to Frosts heavy ive blows. He also withdrew a 3-star hammer made with duram metal for the shaft and head, with the face being fitted with kyanite, a tough and durable crystal found in cold climates. Brunos reaction was simr to Takas he was full of amazement, these weapons were incredible. With these weapons their strength would soar to new bounds. Bruno couldnt help but look over at Frost with slight provocation, wishing to go another round with his new gear. Frost saw this look and smiled, excitement in his eyes. Their fight earlier was incredibly enjoyable, he also looked forward to the prospect of facing off against them with their new additions. Theyll be even tougher now. Frost thought as he gripped his ive. Although his weapon was still superior the gap wouldnt be nearly asrge now. His urge for battle was building, his blood heated up and his smile arced upwards but now was not the time. ..... Haaaaaaa he sighed as he calmed himself down, not forgetting to send Bruno a look saying, well fight againter. He thus returned to silently leaning against the side wall, waiting to move forward. Tsk Bruno couldnt help but click his tongue, yet he was still smiling,pletely forgetting that just a few moments ago he and Frost were fighting against one another as enemies. Taka however looked towards Frost with respect, a gentle smile was on his face instead of a provocative one. He knew that he had been spared and held no grudge towards Frost. In fact, he actually had a rather high opinion of him and wouldnt have issue working alongside him. The health potions should alleviate some of the more serious injuries allowing you to move and guide us freely, however fighting will still prove to be an issue. Bastion spoke with gravitas when he noticed the fireing from Bruno as he stared in Frosts direction. Giving him a subtle hint. Bruno shrugged in response, rxing his tense muscles. Of course, he wouldnt really start another fight with Frost right now, but he was a young man full of fire and couldnt help but throw a few taunts. Seeing that Bruno and Taka understood him Bastion smiled gently and walked back towards Leo. Drink the health potions and then well move. Leo spoke to his two new party members. Yes sir Understood young master. Bruno and Taka responded with respect before downing their newly received health potions. Bleurgh Bruno gagged after downing the red potion, like most medicine, low-level health potions -well at least the ones he had ess too- were incredibly bitter, not something youd choose to drink for the vour. Taka didnt have such a pronounced reaction, but his brow did furrow as the liquid ran down his throat. Once the potion sks werepletely empty, they could feel the potion start to take effect. Hoh, I wonder how it works. Frost opened his eyes and stared at Bruno and Taka with interest. He knew that health potions healed wounds and restored stamina simr to a healing spell, but he didnt exactly know how and was intrigued. Bruno could feel the red liquid flow through his body melding with his blood as it circted his body. The areas with the most damage such as his fractured arm and ribs were smothered in the liquid, quickly reconnected the bones. Whereas severely bruised areas started to be lighter as if they happened days ago. Crack! Bruno cracked his fists, testing the strength he recovered. He was no longer in intense pain whenever he moved. The majority of the damage had been healed; his bones now only sported minor cracks but were still tender. He could move around without impunity however, rapid and forceful movements would still result in a burst of pain, but nothing he couldnt handle. Takas injuries were mainly focused on his hands and abdomen, so the potion focused most of its effort on those areas. His sliced up hands quickly stitched themselves back together leaving just a few slits on his skin. He wiggled his fingers, his dexterity was still hampered but, if need be, he could fire a few arrows without difficulty, using his piercing shot skill however would be out of the question. Unless he wanted to burst open his hand again. Taka and Bruno looked at one another and smiled widely, they were finally free. They stood up fiercely, their new weapons in hand and faced Leo. Were ready young master. Bruno spoke and Taka nodded in agreement. Their injuries were healed enough, they were dying to test out their new weapons and who would be a better target than the bandits and underworld scum that mocked them and abused them lying in wait in the next few rooms. those assholes should shitting themselves about now Bruno smiled evilly as he imagined the faces of the men and women lying in behind them. The fierce sounds of battle and his screaming for Frost to stop must have alerted them of the danger that was about toe. Bruno was right, at the moment the goons waiting in the next rooms were incredibly anxious, trying to force anyone bar themselves to check on the situation. But of course, none of them volunteered to risk their own lives, the groups were on the brink of internal strife. Good, having such promising adventurers aiding us will greatly increase our chances of sess, uncle Ryuu. Leo turned to face Ryuu who had remained rather taciturn throughout this event. He was using every chance he got to restore his mana levels. Out of everyone here only he was going to fight against someone of equal or possibly higher capabilities and needed every ounce of strength he could muster. However, this was a team effort, with Leos instruction he casted a defensive spell on the weaker members of the group i.e., Leo, Bruno, Taka and of course his daughter, who probably didnt need it due her heavily enchanted robes, but he wouldnt take any chances in regards to her safety. [Mana be a stable wall, protect thy target from forceful aggression, Protect]. At the end of his aria, a magic crest appeared on the four targets chests, coating their bodies in invisible mana. This spell [Protect] was a third circle defensive spell that would protect its target from physical harm, greatly increasing the targets survivability. It acted much like Brunos skill rampart but with a much more passive and constant effect. Unfortunately, it didnt help against magic, but itd be very rare for a mere goon to be capable of casting spells. Thanks to Ryuus magic capability the spell would protect them for the next hour or until they receive a blow beyond the defensive properties of the spell, in which it would shatter. Theyd be up against multiple lower level opponents in tight quarters, it was easy to miss someone in hiding. Using such as spell was integral for safety. Not everyone was as strong as Ryuu or Bastion after all. With the weaker members protected by a defensive spell it was time to continue their assault. Right about now the underworld gangs on Leos side should be closing off Adam many escape routes. Down in the third basement, within a finely decorated room at the end of the floor, Adam was sitting at his desk with a frown on his face. He just received an unpleasant report. Bastards! Adam flung the items littering his desk onto the floor in a fit of anger. One of his scouts just told him that 5 underworld gangs just turned against him, copsing his escape routes, effectively boxing him within his own mansion. He had nowhere to run. Tsk seems I really underestimated that nephew of mine. Adam clicked his tongue before grunting in displeasure , his eyes filled with anger and hatred. He was so close to his goals, why did his damn nephew have to chose now to take action? His gaze was then drawn to his elite bodyguards, the B-rank mage in particr. Looks like youll get your wish, Ryuu and Bastion will likely be heading here shortly, youll get to have your grand battle. He spat those words in annoyance. Adam didnt like things that didnt y to his tune. If he could avoid a confrontation with Bastion and Ryuu he would, they were both former B-rank adventurers after all, it was an unnecessary risk. The mage and two closebat specialists smiled widely, fire in their eyes as their blood started to boil in excitement. The group of three had found no opponents here in Furano. Guarding Adam for the past several months was incredibly cushy albeit dull. The group had grown frustrated long ago. Finally, it was time for them to earn their pay. Hahahah perfect we can finally stretch our legs. One of the closebat guards loudly proimed as he started stretching. Couldnt agree more brother. The other closebat specialist agreed with arge grin. The two upper C-rank goons were in fact brothers each with a substantial bounty on their heads. They had their hand in assassination, kidnapping, robbery, intimidation and pretty much every other violent crime imaginable. Adam reached out to them when they were run out of a nearby territory and since then theyve acted as his loyal bodyguards, more than willing to aid in his dirty work. The mage however was much moreposed only releasing a cold smile in response that sent shivers down Adams spine. The B-rank mage was different from his other subordinates since he wasnt the one to seek him out, in fact the mage was referred to him by a certain noble in the capital making their rtionship a tadplicated. Do not fail otherwise you know the consequences. Adam looked coldly at the group of three, intimidating them as best he could. The C-rank closebat specialists simply nodded and smiled in response whereas the Mage trembled slightly before nodding. If they were defeated here then all their work would be for nothing, not only would Adam be taken down, all of his past dealings woulde to light and certain parties even more dangerous than Adam would not react kindly. There would be nowhere for them to hide even if they did manage to escape from Leos group. The trash will keep them upied for a short while as well as reducing their strength and stamina, you three wait in the previous rooms while I attend to the some of the goods. When you kill them, we still have business to deal with after all. Adam stood up after giving his instructions and then proceed to one of the walls. kechunk! Adam pressed an area on the wall starting a mechanism that opened up a hole in the wall akin to a sliding door. This was his holding vault sort to speak, he kept the most valuable and attention demanding goods here. Make it quick. He spoke coldly before stepping into the hidden room, closing the wall behind him. Chapter 87 87 [Bonus chapter] Chapter 87: Assaulting thepound (8) Haaaaaaa he really knows how to take the fun out of it. The B-rank mage sighed while shaking his head. Thanks to Adams reminder he could no longer enjoy the uping battle with Ryuu and had to maintain a serious and professional outlook. Rock, Jin, you two man the first area with me, well split Ryuu and Bastion from the group and leave some of the stronger goons to deal with the rest. The mage took control, after Adam he was the next one in charge. Sounds fun, Drogan Rock responded with a smile; he was quite happy leaving the orders to the mage Drogan, not only because he was the strongest but because if he made the calls, they could shirk responsibility to him. What about the Shadow? Jin asked. Like always hell protect the final area, its not like hed listen to my orders anyway haaaaa. Drogan sighed again as he thought of the one refereed to as the Shadow. Unlike him and the brothers Jin and Rock, the Shadow was purely under Adam. Like Alex he was a direct subordinate raised and groomed by him not some hired help. Regardless of the benefits or advantages there was only one person that Shadow listened to and that was Adam. He was permanently stationed around him and even with the ongoings upstairs hed remain in thest room protecting Adam unless given a direct order. And what was the chances of Adam sending away his most loyal guard...absolutely none. Whatever remained of the intruders would not only have to deal with the higher ranked goons ced before them theyd have to confront Shadow someone even, they the 3 elite bodyguards found difficult to deal with. Fair point, Jin shrugged and didnt ask any more questions. Ill deal with Ryuu and will attempt to use magic to force him to deal with me and Bastion to deal with the two of you. Are you sure youll be enough? There was a significant gap between that of C and B ranks, even though Bastion was retired for a number of years his strength shouldnt have fallen much lower. Yeah, well be fine as long as were together a retired B-ranks no trouble hahaha. Rock evillyughed as he rubbed the storage ring on his finger. Images of him slicing Bastion apart with his weapon filled his mind. ..... You know our strength so why even ask. Jin responded with an annoyed tone, he didnt appreciate being looked down on, even by Drogan. Drogan raised his hands up in apology no longer verbally questioning their abilities but in his mind was a different story. Yes, he knew of their capabilities, but he also roughly knew the strength of someone like Bastion. Bunch of idiots, they know nothing of true strength. If they think that hunting Bastion would be easy because hes retired and past his prime, theyve got a harsh awakeninging. Drogan criticised his colleagues but didnt argue anymore, they were big boys that can deal with their own problems. However, he needed to make 100% sure that Bastion and Ryuu were separated otherwise they stood no chance of winning. Although Rock and Jin had good teamwork the three of them together would have nothing on Ryuu and Bastions decades of experience, Drogan wasnt even that confident in besting Ryuu. He gave himself a 50/50 chance at best, but it didnt deter him in anyway in fact, it excited him. What was the best way for someone to grow stronger? Obviously to fight against equal or even stronger opponents only then can you improve and surpass yourself when regr training had reached its limits. From what he knew of Ryuu he was ssed as an upper B-rank mage slightly higher than himself, but unlike Ryuu he didnt have to fight dozens of goons on the way thus reducing his mana levels. Bastion however was a mid-level B-rank before retirement so he should still be a force to be reckoned with. Jin and Rock could at most contend with an entry level B-rank and thats just contend not defeat. Hopefully, Bastions strength has degraded more than expected or he takes part in more battles before he reaches us, otherwise it could end badly. Usually if Jin and Rock encountered a foe they couldnt defeat, Drogan could assist them. But with this fight, his entire attention will be on Ryuu and even if he did win, hed most likely not be in any shape to lend assistance. Back to the basement first floor. Ahead there should be several groups of low-level goons with the squad leaders being upper E-rank in strength. The first floor has the weakest guards, the chaff if you will, excluding me and Taka of course. Bruno exined what awaited the group in the next area. Even with some slight injuries leftover no one there should be our opponents its just that the numbers would be a tad difficult. One of the reasons him and Taka always got the short end of the stick even though they were fairly strong was due to being outnumbered. Even the two of them with their strength being that of upper D-rank couldnt contend against dozens and dozens of goons so all the difficult and tedious jobs were shirked to them. Dont worry about that youre not alone, Luna and I cant assist to much given our low level strength, but Frost-senpai here will fight alongside you. Leo smiled proudly as his eyes filled with admiration towards Frost,pletely forgetting the fact that he nearly killed their two new members. Brunos lips twitched awkwardly as he remembered Frosts strength, but it was only momentary. True with him fighting alongside me and Taka and with our brand new weapons it wont be much of challenge. Bruno nodded and agreed with Leo, he knew full well the capabilities of the young man wielding the ive. Ryuu and Bastion would be sitting out for the majority of the fight, as they had to maintain their energy levels for the grand battle between elites, that was sure to happen once they descended. And even with Leo and Luna only having around E-rank strength, their equipment helped to make up the difference. Theyd be more helpful in theing battles than they realised and should be able to rack up their skills. Luna only knew a couple 2nd circle spells, each with the lowest level of mastery, casting magic against multiple opponents equal to or greater than her in strength was a sure fire way to quickly increase her abilities. Her mana levels however were a fair bit higher than the average for her age given the amount of spoiling she received from her father. He even at one time bought her a B-rank mana heart to directly boost her reserves, this was when she was ten years old. Kind of ironic that he tried so hard to dissuade her from bing an adventurer yet trained her to be a highly talented mage. She even knew healing magic, a rather rare type especially in the countryside. Most of her focus was drawn to that element so that she could heal Leo whenever he was injured but she knew some basic fire spells as well as some wind magic like her father. Leo on the other hand given that he was a noble had ess to a few of their benefits such as a couple of skill books and tutors. Even though he was only 16 his sword and shield mastery had already reached the peak of basic mastery (level 2), just a tad shy from entering the adept level. He could also use other weapons with varying degrees of sess such as axes, spears and even bows but the sword and shield was his forte just like his father. In regards to skills since they were a fair bit rarer and pricier than magic books his parents only purchased two for him, one for the sword [cross sh] and one for the shield [magic shield]. Cross sh being rather simple, generating a cross of energy in the air that was sent towards the target, increasing mastery increasing its speed and pration ability, a step above the standard sh or thrust skill. Magic shield however was a step up from that, it allowed the users shield to repel magic, increased mastery enhanced its strength and allowed extension around the shield. This was a very rare and expensive skill that his father managed to luckily purchase for his 12th birthday, it wasnt until he turned 15 that he really managed to utilise it to an eptable level. High ranking skills and magic require equivalent knowledge and ability to be used. Thanks to his tutor as well as his father he also gained some of the basic skill sets through training such as [sh], [thrust], [dash] and [shield bash] greatly increasing his overall ability. All he really needed was experience, once he and Luna had that theyd reach D-rank and even C-rank in no time. Once we reach the second basement however, things get a little moreplicated. Taka took over in exining. The goons there are a cut above the rest, not only are they stronger but theyre more militaristic in their obeying of orders akin to the local guards and will be difficult to pass. Theyll be very good at holding us down and wasting our energy before we reach the final floor. Taka spoke with a hint of annoyance in his voice, individually they were all weaker than him and Bruno, but they worked well together making it that much harder. Takas serious tone set a dour mood across the group well except for Frost who was only growing more excited. Sweet, sweet DPing my way. Thats....a problem. Leo frowned as he looked over towards Ryuu and Bastion. The way Taka phrased it made it seem as though Ryuu and Bastion would have to take part in the fight otherwise theyd fail. Leo couldnt have his uncles fight so soon, they were the only ones able tobat the elite bodyguards and who knows what else awaited them down there in third basement. Adam could have dozens of D-rank goons or even a hidden trump card no weaker than the B-rank mage. He grew stressed and pressured with this information, there was no good answer, they were already cutting it close as it was but that was the price they paid. They had little time to sufficiently prepare for this assault and even less time to act given Adams recent movements. There was a depressing silence in the room as everyone felt the weight of their mission. Haaaaaaa the silence was broken by Frost audibly sighing. Unlike the rest of them he didnt see the problem in fact he felt it was good news. Why was he here in the first ce....to fight obviously and the more victims there were the better. And as far as Bruno described, the strongest would probably be around entry D-rank level, easily dealt with without having to drag the two old men into the fray. Frost may be confident in his skills but hes also rather humble, knowing how vast the difference was between his strength and Ryuus and Bastions. He couldnt effectively take on the elite guards but dealing with anyone lower than them was right up his alley. Even dealing with Taka and Bruno wasnt that difficult he only really struggled do it due to his naivety and time constraint. However, if the opponents were weaker than the groups two new members, Frost was happy to share the battle. His sigh caused the rest of the group to turn to face him. Do you have a suggestion Frost-senpai? Luna queried from his side. Not really a suggestion but arent you all overthinking this? True we cant let Ryuu, and Bastion fight much or at all until wee across those three bodyguards but even, so I dont see a problem dealing with the second floor. Frost turned towards Bruno and Taka. These two are almost C-rank in strength when together and have just been given brand new weapons, theyll be able to deal with multiple foes at once with their teamwork. He then turned towards Leo and Luna. Next the two of you albeit being the weakest here are outfitted with the best equipment. Your skills and magic as well as your defensive properties will be magnified, allowing you to fight higher level opponents without much worry for injury. Finally Frost pointed to himself. And finally, you have me, effectively I can handle as much if not more than those two which just leaves the possibility of there being a strong adversary equal to the elite guards. The group nodded quietly along as they listened. Im fairly sure that if theyre a notch below Id be able to handle them but if not Im confident I could work alongside Bruno and Taka to take them down and only when that fails would we have to rope in Ryuu or Bastion, am I right? Frost took a deep breath after his rant ended. Frost had urately gauged the strength of their group and himself effectively analysing the strength required to stop them in their tracks all while aiming to preserve their strongestbatants. Chapter 88 88 Chapter 88: Assaulting thepound (9) Leo and the rest stared nky towards Frost, with their abilitiesid out to bare it was hard to refute him. Frosts argument was sound. Hahahaaa Leo let out a self-deprecatingugh, he was too conserved in his judgement, too wary of his uncle, not fully understanding the force that he brought to bear. He clutched his fathers sword that hung at his waist, a peak 3 star weapon or even higher. Then he felt his chest te and the mithril vest hidden underneath one a 3 star armour made of duram metal and the other at least 4 star. Although he couldnt go toe to toe with one of the elite guards or anyone at C-rank for that matter, since he wouldnt be able tond a hit and they could easily find a weak spot that wasnt protected. However, against D-ranks hed be able jump right in to the thick of it ande out unharmed, the same even more so for Luna. With the amount of defensive enchantments on her robes even an upper C-rank would require multiple blows to harm her. The two of them were anything but weak. All his nning didnt really ount for his or Lunas strength. He surmised that at best they wouldnt drag everyone else down. Shiiiiinnng! Leo drew his fathers de well his de now, confidence returning to his eyes. Frost-senpais right were more than enough to handle rabble of that strength. He smiled and looked over towards his fianc. Luna smiled back, nodding before bring her staff forward in preparation to cast some offensive magic. Ryuu and Bastion chuckled quietly as they looked at the two of them with pride, it seemed like they could take it easy and rx until the big fight. Bruno awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to smile; he didnt mean to dampen anyones spirits with what he said but he was d it turned out well in the end. He also appreciated Frosts unbiased deration of his and Takas strength. No longer wary of his former foe he smiled in Frosts direction basically tranting as you can count on me in which Frost smirked back. ..... Lets move out team. Leo loudly announced as he arranged the formation. Ryuu and Bastion would be kept at the back with Luna slightly ahead along with Taka. Covering the middle was Leo and the front was of course taken up by Frost and Bruno. Bruno being a tank type and closebat fighter would of course take up the vanguard and Frost since he was the strongest allowed to fight. Plus itd take less time to enter the battle if he was in front. Like that the group made their way through the 1st floor basement. Their opposition as stated wasnt much on this floor, asionally there was a single person who was around D-rank or close to that, but the rest were pretty much chaff like they were outside the manor. Aghhhhhhh! The final goon of the floor screamed out as Frost stabbed his ive through his chest sshing blood on his clothes for the umpteenth time tonight. Frost relished in the healthy dose of DP that entered his body he was close to 1700DP stored including the 800 he got from the goblin culling. Already tonight was proving to be a worthwhile endeavour, actively searching for your prey instead of waiting for it toe to you. Thest one he killed was probably the strongest goon hed faced so far tonight, he gave 150DP alone. Of course, it would have been far more profitable if he killed them within the Dungeon but what were chances of encountering so many victims there, all while not increasing the danger level of the Dungeon? No, sometimes theres a fine line wherein this method was more efficient. Squealch! The goons body made a gross sound as Frost withdrew his ive, the victim already in the next world. Huuuuuu He released a deep breath, his arm was getting tired, and his breathing was bing a little flustered. They had been fighting non-stop for past 40 minutes or so in order to reach the end of the first basement. It wasnt exactly massive but there were a lot of goons, so it simply took a lot of time and a lot of swinging. He was surprised that with the amount of flesh and leather that his de cleaved open it hadnt blunted in the slightest. It was still razor sharp and bouncing the light of the de edge (when Frost wiped it clean of the blood of course) He hadnt really used much mana throughout the fight just asionally firing of an ice bolt or two to kill those goons that tried to run, so his mana level were still pretty high, no need for a potion. Cleaning and repairing his robes cost very little and he gave up ten minutes into the blood bath, so he now sported a rather dark red colour, much to his displeasure. [Clean] Now that the first floor was effectively cleared, he cleaned his robes returning mostly to his noble appearance. His mask received another gash revealing even more of his handsome face. Actually, why am I still wearing this thing? Frost stopped in ce when he realised that since Maya wasnt here, he didnt need to wear this annoying mask. It provided little to no protection except from possibly the sun and even hampered his vision. He reached up to remove the mask and toss it away, aiming to im that it was destroyed in battle when he returns but his hand stopped in ce. What if she finds out? A chill went down his spine, he turned around rapidly looking for the cause but nothing was there. He didnt exactly fear Maya, but she had proven on more than one asion to enjoy torturing him. He shook his head. Ill just leave it for now. He cowardly decided to listen to his guardians orders. I think thats everyone Leo. He changed the topic, turning to face the young lord, and reporting the situation. Leo was looking a tad pale in the face and his muscles were quivering and Luna looked as though she was going to hurl every time she breathed. They were adventurers yes but also young children, it was the first time theyd witnessed and taken part in such carnage, especially when the victims were people and not monsters. Bruno and Taka were fine with it, just a little exhausted. Takas fingers were bleeding slightly but nothing major. Ryuu and Bastion simply looked at the dead corpses withplete indifference, they didnt try to console Leo and Luna either -with much difficulty on Ryuus part in regards to Luna- no they needed to face this gruesome sight themselves. The world was not necessary a nice ce especially for those involved in nobility. Those who were coddled wouldnt survive long. Ble...Seems so Frost-senpai. Leo tried to smile towards him but almost threw up the moment he spoke. The smell of dead goons was not in any way pleasant and unlike Frost they didnt have self-repairing and cleaning robes-well Luna did thanks to Ryuu. Leo was a little annoyed, he should have taken a page out of the poor adventurers handbook and brought some herb infused cloths, at least that way they could wear them as scent maskers but no, all he brought were potions, fat lot of use in this situation. They couldnt burn the bodies either at least not at the moment, the smoke would make the area inhospitable for battle and may pre-empt Adam to use an unknown escape route. No matter strong his bodyguards were they couldnt effectively fight a fire- well maybe the mage could but thats not the point. They simply had to get used to the smell and the act of robbing people of their lives, if not theyll be the ones dead. Sorry Frost-senpai can you give me a moment. ? Frost tilted his head to the side in confusion but quickly got his answer. Bleueeeeeeugrgh! Leo walked over to the side and threw up, following him was Luna who did the same. Best they let it out now and not be hampered down by it when it really counts. However now the smell of blood and dead flesh was mixed in with puke not much better but manageable for the others, Leo and Luna had nothing left to vacate so they were safe. Everyone should drink a potion if they need it, in fact even if youre only slightly injured or exhausted you should take it, dont try to save these potions I can always get you more, but I cant revive you. Leo spoke as party leader, a role that felt quite natural. Even Frost was happy with letting him take the lead, it was his vendetta after all. Understood young master Leo Will do young lord. Bruno and Taka replied with respect and didnt hold back, they each downed a health potion to recover any lingering damage. Theyd be at pretty much full strength after this one. Health potions have a limit on what they can heal and taking multiple lower level potions at once does not equate to drinking a high level potion. The body cant absorb that much healing properties so only the first potion will really take effect healing wise, the rest will simply be a bitter tasting drink to quench ones thirst. However, if you wait a while lets say 30 minutes with heavy activity the body would then be able to absorb more of the healing qualities. With the second health potion down Brunos bones were back to normal only the muscles in his shield arm were still a little painful but other than that he was right as rain. Taka was much the same only a tiny amount of lingering damage, not enough to cause any issue in battle, they could now use their skills freely. Frost followed Leos advice and withdrew a health potion from his storage ring as well as a mana potion. He didnt really need it but better safe than sorry, plus hed be ying with house money here. This will be the first time hed be drinking and experiencing the effect of a potion, he had to admit he was rather curious . He started with the red health potion first. Bleurgh, that is absolutely disgusting ugh! and the taste sticks to the tongue bleurgh. He found this potion to be much more disturbing than the carnage thaty at his feet, but he clenched his fists and persevered downing it trying to think of happy thoughts while doing so. When hed finally finished it and felt the need to wrench his tongue from his mouth the healing liquid got to work entering his bloodstream attaching itself to injured areas. His arm that was starting to feel weak quickly regained its strength and a few areas were his skin was cut -nothing more than a little scratch- healed in front of his eyes. Although the taste was absolutely dreadful the healing part felt warm and soothing but not enough to make up for the taste. Feeling incredibly irritated he red over at Leo, the one who told him to drink such poison, but his anger was quickly deted. He could see him and Luna both drinking down a potion each as if it was the normal thing to do. Bruno and Taka as well didnt seem that bothered by the taste. Is it just me then? Frost looked down at his chest as he blushed slightly out of embarrassment, hed be a little to used to the high life. Getting healing magic cast on him by an expert magic user whenever he was injured, sleeping on a super soft and cosy bed, eating delicious meals, and having a constant stream of mana flowing through his body keeping him full of energy and well rested. But he wasnt in the Dungeon anymore, he was in the real world not a separate space. Here he was just like everyone else and had to abide by their rules and follows their methods. Maya wasnt here- thanks to him- to cast healing magic every time he got a booboo no, he needed to drink a potion like everyone else. In fact, he had to drink two since he was a magic and chakra user as well. He peered over at the blue potion in his left hand, frowning at it hoping desperately that it was at least a modicum better than the red health potion. Oh well down the hatch I guess. He nervously lifted the mana potion to his mouth and downed the liquid as fast as Dungeon corely possible. Bleeeeeurrgh, this potion was just as bad, just as bitter but a different type of bitter, so he received the vour just as much if not more. But like the health potion the liquid quickly diffused into his body restoring his slightly lowered mana levels. He was back at 100% fighting capacity. Chapter 89 89 Chapter 89: Assaulting thepound (10) I really need to find some way to make a decent tasting potion, that or task a monster to do it, because theres no way Im downing these on the regr when out exploring on my lonesome. Frost didnt know any healing magic so would be bound to using potions and even if he did, hed still need to drink mana potions. He looked over at Luna as she drank her mana potion as well as Ryuu who also drank one but at his level a low level mana potion didnt really do much, maybe he liked the vour. Luna drank it without so much as a twitch, further increasing his embarrassment. He couldnt walk up to Luna and ask her to cast healing magic on him whenever they took a break just because he couldnt stand the taste of the potions, could he? ....no, he couldnt, hed lose every ounce of respect they had for him if he did that and think of the looks, hed get. Frost violently shook his head to regain focus, hed just have to get used to that disgusting bitter vour, at least it works. Luckily, it seemed as though no one noticed his difficulties as they were too preupied with their own situations. Ignoring the horrible smell and the constant killing of other people, Leo and Luna were actually faring pretty well. Having constant fast pacedbat with enemies just a tad weaker than you did wonders for their training. Lunas [air bullet] spell had seen great improvements, she could cast it much quicker now and was far more mana efficient whereas Leo repeatedly used his low-level sword skill [sh] bing far more urate with it. They were getting stronger with every opponent they faced, steadily making their way towards D-rank. Thanks to their overpowered equipment they could take risks and really push themselves in battle. Leo could even feel the boundary for adept sword mastery nearing ever closer. Frost in that regard was still stuck at thest threshold between basic and adept, all he needed was a slight push. When he fought against Bruno and Taka, he moved ever so close but still shy, unfortunately these weaklings that were ced in front of him werent enough to improve. He wasnt like Leo who relied heavily on his weapon mastery to defeat them, no he could simply abuse his greater speed or brute strength to cleave his opponents in two. He needed someone with a little more grit, perhaps the second floor would have someone to enlighten him and if not perhaps the third. Frost could feel that if he achieved adept ive mastery, his repertoire forbat would vastly increase, perhaps hed even unlock a skill, an active one like Leos [sh]. Since hed only been alive for what a week, he hadnt the time to drill practice his ive and unlock low level skills such as sh naturally. ..... As Maya exined to him skills could be learned simr to magic from magic skill books, but they were a fair amount rarer, the dungeon menu also had some on offer, but they were a fair bit expensive with entry level skills such as [sh] costing 1000DP, twice as much as his [ice bolt] spell. To learn high level skills, hed also be required to have a certain level of weapon mastery. Usually, the next level of skills became avable once a person reached the adept level. At that level, the skills be much moreplicated and powerful like 3rd circle spells over 2nd circle spells the difference is quite substantial. Unlike with magic, skills dont use mana to activate in fact they use energy/stamina, for example when Alex used his [shadow step] to rapidly move, it took a massive toll on his leg strength. Frost eagerly awaited learning his first skill hoping hed have as much fun using it as he did magic. The group waited for around five minutes for the potions they drank to fully diffuse within their system before grouping up once again, ready to head down to the second basement and face off against more powerful opponents. Frost struggled to contain his excitement as they walked down the stairs to the next floor, all while keeping his wits about him for another ambush like what Taka did. Luckily, there wasnt such an ambush, seems as though Taka was the only archer or the only one willingly to get so close to the intruders among Adams goons. They simply walked down the dim staircase with their steps being the only sound entering their ears. Down below in the first area of the second basement a group of at least a dozen goons waited in preparation. This group didnt give off the same presence as the earlier rabble, no they gave off an aura of military. They werent shaking in their boots as they waited for the enemy or argued amongst one another on who to take the vanguard position, they were much more disciplined. The targets will be here in a couple minutes is everyone ready and aware of our mission? One of the stronger goons spoke in a booming voice like that of a drill sergeant speaking to his subordinates. Yes, squad leader! The goons responded as one, with passion. Well perhaps goons was the wrong term to describe these men and women. The dozen or so men lying in wait here were part of Adams true private army. They were aware and involved in the majority of his illegal dealings. It was this group of people that encouraged the local gangs to submit one way or another. They were well trained and armed, with each of them being at least E-rank and the squad leader being a D-rankbatant. Their job was to dy and drain the targets of their strength as much as possible. Ideally, they should attempt to force Ryuu and Bastion to enter the fray regardless of the cost. Unlike the goons above they wouldnt run or hide, many of them were even death soldiers either raised by Adam himself or purchased from a certain unsavoury guild. Theyd have no problem offering their lives to achieve their mission. And worst of all these were just one of the squads employed by Adam. The stronger ones being deployed deeper on the second floor or even down in the third basement. This was not going to be a quick and easy fight. Upstairs outside the manor the grand melee between over a hundred goons and the 14 hired adventurers was still zing on. The adventurers in the beginning had a significant advantage given their teamwork and higher quality strength however after around an hour of fighting they began to tire, and the remaining goons were of the stronger bunch and more adept at working together. ng! Bosh! Fwooosh! Multiple different sounds of varied weapons rang out as they shed together and or flew through the air. The archer who drew first blood had ran out of her own arrows and had to recycle some from the nearby dead corpses, reducing her uracy and firing speed. Many of the closebat types were significantly slower than earlier, enough that the goons could evade a substantial number of their swings or deflect them if they worked together. Through pure determination and will, the 14 had whittled down their opponents to a mere fortybatants and no more reinforcements were piling in from the surroundings. At one point when a rush of enemies joined the battle from within the manor it took one of the spell casters by surprise giving him a nasty wound on his back before hisrades reached him in time to assist. Others sported varying degrees of injury but other than the wizards, none of them were considered serious or life threatening. Thankfully one of their group was an aplished healer who helped to keep them all primed and ready, healing most minor wounds as soon as they happened however, her mana had started to run low and she needed to reserve her healing magic for the most dire of circumstances, the wizards injury being one such case. They had to down health potions after that to keep up with their stamina drain and escting injuries, but the end was in sight as well the end of the first phase at least. The remaining forty goons would fall in a matter of time, they were confident in their stamina being greater, it was a simple war of attrition. As long as they didnt act recklessly and conserved their strength, they should be able to eliminate them within another hours time. The problem being if theyd be granted that hour. Two problems faced this group of 14 adventurers. One, Leos group needed to seed for if they fail, the stronger and more disciplined forces of the Baron would quickly funnel out of the manor and take care of their weakened selves without much difficulty. Second and more dependent on them was the amount of notice their battle would bring to the surrounding area. Adams ws stretched not only into the local gangs but arge amount of the towns guards and even if it wasnt a group affiliated with Adam all would be seen would be a group of 14 adventurers storming a noblespound, the younger brother of the current ruler no less. They needed to conserve their strength as much as possible if a conflict arose with the town guards, they couldnt and wouldnt blindly kill them since they didnt know which ones were on the payroll. Thankfully however there didnt seem to be any activity so far, but who knows what another hour would entail. Hopefully, young master Leo and old man Bastion seed. Bagua therge beastman spear user and one of the only C-ranks present muttered under his breath. So far, they hadnt lost a single member of the team albeit the wizard being a close call. He didnt however like their chances against arge battalion of town guards. There was a high chance of several of them dying if or rather when that happened. Squelch ahhhhhh! One of the goons was stabbed by a sword. Dont worry about it, we knew the danger when we signed on for this mission. A two handed sword wielding adventurer spoke words offort toward Bagua as he stabbed the chest of the goon, dishing out a fatal wound. Ah yes, yes we did! Bagua smiled broadly no longer worrying as he stabbed out with his spear knocking back two goons who attempted to cleave him with their axes in his moment of thought. With Baguas reinvigorated attack the group smiled with pride, their tired bodies once more filling with strength. There was still much fight left to be had. Creaaaaaak! Down at the entrance to the second basement, Frost and Bruno pushed open a heavy wooden door, allowing them ess to the first room. Suddenly as soon as their heads became visible, they were met with an attack. Wooosh! Don! Don Don! Two arrows and even a throwing axe were sent hurtling in their direction and with rapid speed Frost shifted the door closed catching the ammunition. The arrows stuck in deep into the wood and the low tone they made revealed the amount of force generated by the archers. Not the same level as Taka but still of significant power. Frostpared the arrows shot at him by Taka and roughly gauged these opponents being probably upper E-rank. The axe however pierced straight through the door and lodged itself deep, the de could be seen on the other side causing Luna to gasp in shock, but the rest werent surprised. They expected their opponents to be of higher level and have more varied attack styles. Frost gave Bruno a nod, the two of them would burst out first and tank any more ranged attacks. Bruno had his brand new shield and with his mastery he could easily deflect ranged attacks of this level with minimal effort all while protecting those behind. Frost however didnt have a shield and even if he did, he wouldnt be very good at using it, but he did have chakra. His ice armour proved more than effective when blocking Takas arrows even sessfully taking the majority of his skill [piercing shot] so hed have no issues tanking. Bruno gave him a curt nod and mouthed a countdown. Hed take the lead in directing since he had more experience. He gave a nce towards Leo and the rest; they were to immediately follow behind him and Frost once they charged out. 3, 2, 1 Once Bruno mouthed the number one, he tensed his muscles along with Frost and they violently bashed the door open and ran froward. Bruno with his shield up and Frost with ayer of Frost armour over his arms and chest to deflect any attacks that his ive misses. Chapter 90 90 Chapter 90: Assaulting thepound (11) Rahhhhhhhhh! Bruno roared as he charged forward as though generating an intimidating shout to attract more aggro. Of course, it didnt really have an effect but apparently there was such a skill, but he was yet to unlock it. Frost however was rather silent in his approach, his mouth wide open in an excited smile as heid eyes on the foes before him. About a dozen men and women were bunkered in a formation several metres ahead, with the archers protected in the back and shield bearers at the front. The axe thrower was in the centre and looked to be the leader. The grouped was garbed all in ck leather with a few core areas reinforced with metal. Their weapons as well were a cut above the previous goons with some of them sporting 2-star weapons. None of them appeared to be magic users- which is normal since wizards are considered quite rare being only 1 in 100 adventurers- however their range of weapons was much more diverse than their previous foes. Two archers; an axe thrower (the leader looking one), 4 shield users at the forefront all armed with axes. Two spears users stationed right behind the shield bearers and finally on both nks were a sword user and spiked club user for a grand total of 13 enemies. The swords used were longswords able to be single or two handed whereas the spiked clubs were solely two handed given their weight. This was a proper group of opponents and Frost could hardly contain himself, his smile quickly became evil looking, and he licked his lips. Such glorious DP and fun. That was how he envisioned the group of soldiers before him. His reverie was cut short though for as soon as the two of them burst through the door a barrage ensued. Not caring too much about uracy or enhanced strength the two archers fired off three arrows at once and quickly drew another three after firing. The axe thrower wasnt one to fall behindunching two axes at a curve, spinning them like a boomerang to attack his targets at an angle. Even the two spear users seemed to want to join in as theyunched a simple wooden spear that was by their feet as though a javelin. The amount of attacksunched was a bit much for Bruno and caught him by surprise. ..... Don! Don! Don! Three arrows which were sent his waynded slightly after one another forcing him to rearrange his shield after each strike, curbing his charging momentum, but it didnt matter too much as he wasnt the main assault, his job was to block. The two wooden javelins were both sent towards him, at roughly the same time resulting in a significant bang on his shield forcing him to stop in his tracks and brace for the impact. Bang! The vibrations reverberated through the shield and up his arm, but no damage was done to either him or the shield causing Bruno to love his new shield more than ever. It was the throwing axe that was the main problem, with him being forced to stop and handle the arrows and javelins the throwing axe which easily had the most destructive power and flying at a tricky angle was not aimed at him but at the person behind Bruno, Leo. Leo could see the axeing for him and with his skills he didnt have enough time to raise his shield in defence, worst of all it wasing for his neck, a fairly unprotected area. A cold sweat trickled down his spine as time seemed to flow in slow motion before his very eyes. Tsk At the back of the group Ryuu clicked his tongue as he prepared to quicklyunch a low-level but high speed air spell to knock down the flying axe. This was well within his capabilities however before he could gather his mana, he was stopped by his long-time friend, Bastion. Surprised Ryuu looked down at his friend in confusion, his eyes basically tranting as are you insane little Leos about to be severely wounded or even killed. Although he seemed to show a little indifference to anyone bar his daughter Ryuu did in fact care for Leo a great deal. Bastion flicked his eyes over towards Bruno indicating that Ryuu do the same, which he did. Bruno was smiling and his eyes were filled with contempt when he saw the proud smile on the goon leaders face. Bruno wasnt just any shield bearing adventurer no, he was a tank and damn good one. He mayck some damage dealing power but when it came to protecting his teammates his skill was above D-rank. Just think of the difficulty Frost had with his superior power in escaping Brunos control. With a calm attitude Bruno moved with such speed and such delicacy it looked almost grotesque, like a gori doing ballet. He moved like a blur backwards directly in front of the oing axe, his shield raised. Baaaaaaaang! An incredible sound was made as the axe made contact with the centre of the shield but even with that attack the shield didnt even have a scratch just a mere blemish at where the axe struck. The axe thus rebounded and fell to the ground, a crack apparent along the edge. Bruno hmphed in triumph before turning his gaze towards the now gobsmacked goon leader. Meanwhile Leo brought his hand to his neck to make sure it was still there before speaking to the young dwarf standing in front of him. T...thanks Bruno. No problem young lord. Ryuu rxed his arm lowering his staff, looks as though he wasnt needed after all. His gaze was filled with respect as he looked at the young dwarven adventurer, he was truly talented in his eyes. Bastion wasnt as shocked; he knew well the capabilities of the majority of the promising young adventurers under his care as it was his job. He knew that Bruno didnt need assistance in this situation and stopped Ryuu from wasting energy. With the defence settled and with no attacks being true, the same couldnt be said for the goons side. With the group pumping more of their ranged attacks towards Bruno, Frost had free reign. The three arrows, he simply ignored, allowing them to strike his chest or arms which were protected by ice. They let out a low thud before falling to the floor, not even leaving so much as a tiny divot in his armour-Luna and Leo werent the only ones who improved their skills. The axe was even less of an issue, Frost had the advantage of a long reach, so he struck the flying axe out of the air with his ive rebounding it into the nearby wall, his momentum wasnt even slightly curbed, in fact he gained speed. He was in front of the shield bearers in a moment, the archers barely had enough time to reload their arrows let alone fire another volley. Frost was now within striking distance, bringing down his ive with incredible force he aimed to cleave his foes in two, regardless of their efforts to prevent him. But the shield bearers were ready. Knowing full well that their opponent was several leagues above them in strength, they worked together. As a unit the group of four shifted as one to block the swing of the ive, each one raising their shields in aid of the other, using theirbined strength to hopefully withstand the assault. If sessful, the archers and spearmen would have a clear opportunity to turn this quick foe into a pin cushion. ....However, Frost was no mere opponent, his strength was within the C-rank range and his weapon far superior to their shields. Baaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnng!!!!! An ungodly sound reverberated as Frosts ive met with thebined four shields before him, in less than a blink of an eye the ive edge split the first shield in two without any effort, the same happened to the second, the two halves flying backwards and imprinting themselves into the back wall. The third shield offered a small amount of resistance but was also eventually split albeit less cleanly. And finally, thest shield, at this point the four shield bearers eyes were wide open in panic as they witnessed their defence crumble. They braced themselves as much as possible sending all their strength into holding thest shield up. Smaaaaaaash! The moment the ive reached the final shield it released another loud sound but of a much lower level. The shield had held on, although sporting arge crack, it sessfully prevented the ive from moving any further, they had seeded. Now their foe would be a sitting duck....or so they thought. Frost was smiling, unperturbed by his swing being stopped by the four shield bearers, in fact he relished in the oue. Now thats more like it. Licking his lips, he enacted the next phase of his attack. He knew more than anyone that his current position was dangerous. He could already see the fresh set of six arrows quickly raised in his direction as well as the oing stabs of the two spearmen, even the goon leader had his arms tense ready tounch another battle axe his way. Unfortunately for them Frost was not out for the count just yet. With impressive reaction time the moment his ive was stopped, Frost jumped up into the air, soaring over the still revelling shield bearers. This move was not unexpected by the goons however, as the spearmen and swordsmen on the nk moved to thrust at their now airborne enemy. Frost wasnt the first to sessfully reach their defensive line up and many before him had chosen to jump over said line up to reach the more pliable foes. In fact, this wasnt even learned through their experience, it was considered standard battle tactics, they arranged themselves in such a formation to prevent such attacks. Swords and spears whizzed through the air with such uracy that even Frost was forced to wince in shock, their reactions were faster than he suspected but no matter. Shortly before a spear pierced his chest Frost used the head of one of the shield bearers to leap once again, this time over the middle line-up while at the same time, he began channelling mana to cast magic. The middle line up quickly adjusted themselves and redirected their second thrusts above their heads, if the first stab didnt work then the second would. Unfortunately, Frosts rapid movements may have been fine for the middle line up, but it was murder on the rear line. The archers struggled to lock aim on such a fast movement target especially when theyre in such close proximity. Their fear and the pressure being exuded by Frost only slowed them down further, they were never supposed to be so close to their targets. This was the situation Frost was hoping for, hed struggle to handle attacks from both line ups. Moving upwards and quickly he eliminated one threat albeit for a moment, but a moment was all he needed. [Ice be like vines and entangle my foes, ice entanglement] Frost quickly casted his new 2nd circle spell pumping in as much mana as he could into the construct without causing it to burst. Casting the spell on four individual targets was beyond his means for the moment but expanding the area a little was just within his means. And thanks to the group being so closely bunched together in their formation he didnt have to expand it too much. Once Frost finished his aria, arge magic crest developed beneath him as well as the entire middle line up, the swordsmen and spearmen. Ice rapidly developed from the crest encroaching upon their feet and legs halting them in ce and interrupting their upward thrusts. It worked but the spell wouldst but a moment, the ice vines were weaker than the one cast on Bruno, but it was enough. Frost quickly moved to his target, the left sided archer. With his leap no longer being obstructed hended directly in front of the poor archer who did his very best byunching his three drawn arrows directly at Frosts face, well mask. But at this distance Frost easily evaded them. Woooooosh! The arrows flew passed his neck as Frost tilted his head to the side, his ear was cut slightly by the de of wind generated but that was all. He smiled wildly at the archer standing in front of him before thrusting his ive into the goons chest. Chapter 91 91 Chapter 91: Assaulting thepound (12) Bleerghhh, the goon spat up a fountain of blood and viscera when the ive rammed through his chest, eviscerating his heart, leaving him no chance for survival. The goon looked up at his killer in anger, he grabbed onto the ive with his remaining strength hoping to pin down Frost for a moment more. As long as he held Frost in ce, hisrades could attack at once and avenge him. Like a loyal soldier he wouldplete his mission. With the goons desperate grabbing of his ive, Frost was filled with respect, but it didnt prevent his next action. Riiiiiiiiip! He forcibly tore his ive from its victim, generating a bone chilling sound as well as scream from the goon but still he held on, his eyes filled with determination. And his actions had paid off. That extra millisecond of time it took Frost to pull out his ive was enough for the second archer and the axe thrower to move. The axe thrower was in mid swing opting to go for a closebat action whereas the archer was primed tounch her arrows, a fiercer look could be seen in her eyes, perhaps the death of the other archer affected her more than others, but it didnt matter. Tsk Frost clicked his tongue; he was surrounded on all sides and would struggle to block both the oing axe as well as the three arrows and then there was the middle line of goons who were now escaping their impromptu ice prisons. Shit! Frost internallyined andmented his recklessness before bringing up his ive to defend himself from the axe swing, hed work out what to do after blocking this attack first. ..... Ptannnnng! [fire bolt]! From out of Frost sight, he could hear a bow string being released and Lunas voice as she casted the 1st circle spell fire bolt. He wasnt alone in this fight. The fire bolt sent by Luna wasnt enough to kill in a single strike, but she sessfullyunched it at the female archer before she had a chance to fire her arrows at Frost. Booooooom Ahhhhhhh! The archer screamed out loud as she was hit by a powerful explosion burning her face and send her reeling to the ground. Wooooshh Ding Ding Takas arrows however wereunched at the goon leader hoping to possibly end him when he was distracted by Frost but unfortunately the goon leader was stronger than expected. He immediately stopped his swing towards Frost and held two axes in front of his chest sessfully blocking the arrows without much issue. This gave Frost ample opportunity to remove himself from danger but not withoutnding a final attack. [ice bolt] While dashing backwards and away from the group of goons Frostunched an ice bolt at the now prone archer who was wing at her burned face. The bolt struck true piercing her through the head, using the already burnt flesh as an ess point, killing her swiftly. The strange thing was Frost caught thest look in her eyes and they seemed to show relief. Weird but his attack had seeded so he vamoosed out of there quickly re-joining Bruno and the rest, not forgetting give a nod of thanks towards Taka and Luna. To be honest he didnt really need their help, he was confident in sessfully retreating perhaps even after killing another one of the goons or maybe two. But it would have been hard, and hed probably receive a wound of some sort resulting in a 50/50 shot of him needing to drink another health potion. Hed do anything to avoid that torture, so his thanks were genuine. Now the group of goons or death soldiers were down to 11 with the long range attacks being pretty much spent, they could only carry so many throwing axes or javelins, they werent like arrows that could be contained in a quiver. Bastard! The goon leader shouted in anger his rage being primarily being directed at Frost the one who killed two of his squad members. Although they were death soldiers it didnt make the loss of his subordinates any easier, especially when they failed to wound the aggressor. With their long range attacks now gone and several of the group being filled with pure anger they wouldnt be very good at defending so the goon leader gave the order. Charge! He roared while pointing his axe forward, causing the shield bearers to toss aside their broken shields and draw their axes before running straight at their foes, aiming to close the distance as fast as possible. They would take at least one of them down even if it kills them. Dealing with a group of charging goons was much easier to deal with than if they stayed all turtled up but this way, they had a higher chance of killing or at least causing injury. The battle thus proceed much more smoothly andsted no more than 10 minutes, with the majority of kills once again going to Frost. He simply pelted them with ice bolts as they charged damaging many of them. Only the swordsmen and goon leader could effectively block his magic. Taka and Luna took down a couple with their arrows and magic working in tandem. Luna damaging and blinding the foe while Taka finished them off with a swift arrow to a vital area. The goon leader however fell to Brunos hammer much to Frosts displeasure since he would have granted the greatest amount of DP, but he couldnt control who the goon charged towards, and it was against his principles to kill steal. In fact, the goon leader was thest to die, Bruno faced him one on one and revelled in testing out the extent of his new weapons. He finished the fight by bludgeoning goon leaders head in once his axes were smashed apart after repeated blows to his shield. All in all, it was a very enjoyable fight and didnt result in any injuries or cost too much stamina or mana, a great start to the second floor. Adam now had 13 less goons to use and they were making great progress, however the subsequent fights werent as simple. Although there were less opponents on this floor, they were significantly stronger, it took they nearly twice as long to reach the end of the second basement and they were far more tired. Ryuu and Bastion even had to get involved a couple of times to save them from death or severe injury making their next fight all that much tougher. [Heal] Luna casted her healing magic on Bruno who had received a nasty gash across his chest from a great sword quickly sealing up the injury but not much more. She then had to quickly move over to Taka who had a severely broken arm which he got from blocking a strike aimed at her. The two of them were done, they couldnt fight anymore,pletely exhausted and sporting fairly significant injuries. They even struggled to hold up their weapons even after drinking theirst health potion. They were forced to drink a couple in between rooms lowering their potency. Huu huuu huuu Leo was panting while lying on his back, he had a few cuts and bruises but nothing serious thanks to Brunos expert defending skills and Frosts ability to direct the enemies ire towards him. He lifted his head up to look around for his senpai, the fighting in thest area was so fierce and dangerous that he couldnt keep track of his whereabouts. There leaning against the wall, slumping slightly was Frost, his robes already repaired and cleaned to their pristine, white, and blue state looking perfect as always. Frosts face was now out in the open for the whole world to see, during thest battle even he felt pressured when three opponents each at D-rank attacked him all at once and no one could assist him. The constant battle since they arrived at thispound had finally began to take its toll. Unlike Bruno or Taka, he didnt have any injuries albeit a few cuts and grazes here and there and perhaps a bruise or two, but he was quite exhausted. His energy level felt incredibly low, his body was seeking the energy of the dungeon, craving it. Hed long used up the sustenance given by the feast he enjoyed at the Lords manor as well as the healing effects of his earlier potion which he was forced to drink. Even without injuries his battle strength had dipped quite a lot luckily, they were prepared to have a short respite but probably not long enough. They still had the final floor to clear, wherein their greatest opponents lie in wait. Frost looked over at their two trump cards, Ryuu and Bastion, they managed to preserve the majority of their stamina throughout this journey but still had to intervene in the end. He could see Bastion twitching whether that was from excitement or anxiety he couldnt tell. What bothered him most however was Ryuu, he waspletely silent even when his daughter spoke to him. This fight seems to be incredibly risky. Frost then looked downward beneath them. He could feel an aura thick with mana pervading into the room and only the three of them could feel it. Strong was the feeling Frost got, the mage was strong incredibly so, an opponent well beyond his league. He held his hand up in front of his face, it was trembling. Is this fear? He watched his hand curiously clenching and unclenching to see if it would stop trembling, but it didnt. He frowned. No, this isnt fear. His mouth slowing curved upwards as he remembered what true fear felt like. When he felt Mayas blood lust that was true fear or when Ryuu let out his aura that was fear, this however was pure excitement. Even though he knew he was no match for the mage he still wanted to try. He didnt feel this way about Ryuu or Maya, but he did about this mage. What does that mean? Hes weaker than Ryuu. Upon realising this he turned once again to Bastion and the silent Ryuu a short distance away. He was smiling and not just slightly it was a wide and mad smile. He wasnt afraid in the slightest no he was full of joy at the prospect of battling someone so strong, it filled his old bones with vigour, and he could feel his blood pumping faster than it had in years. Bastion was much the same, his twitching hands were from him dying to rush down the stairwell and fight but having to reign it in until everyone was ready, but there was a limit and Ryuu broke first. Wooooooosh Suddenly Ryuu started to project his own powerful aura not holding back in the slightest mming down upon the mages aura, forcing it back down. However, his aura couldnt determine friend from foe in his current maddened state. Everyone but Bastion felt an incredible force on their bodies making it difficult to breath and even move, it was suffocating. Even Frost found the pressure quite unbearable, perhaps that was because he could sense it that much clearer than the rest. God damn so this is B-rank. Frost smiled ignoring the pressure, his eyes were filled with desire, he wanted that level of strength and more. Then without warning a second aura burst forth from the nearby Bastion just a tad less heavy and aggressive but instead of doubling the pressure on Frost and the rest it relieved it. Unlike Ryuu he was still rtively in control of his urges and used his powerful aura to protect everyone before given his old friend a harsh p on the back of the head. Ryuu you idiot control your aura! He yelled in his friends ear at a level that could cause damage in itself, but it worked. Ryuu subconsciously reigned in his aura as he covered his ear in pain before ring at his friend well once friend if he loses his hearing. Why are you getting in the way of my fun you stupid old dwarf. Ryuu spat out an insult while rubbing his ear. That friggin hurt! Chapter 92 92 Chapter 92: Assaulting thepound (13) Hearing himself being called a stupid old dwarf, Bastions eyes started spewing mes. Better an old dwarf than a decrepit human bookworm! He red at his friend, threatening to punch his face in before ultimately managing to calm himself down. They werent exactly young anymore they couldnt just fly off the handle at a single insult, think about their reputation. Taking a deep breath, he gestured towards the younger members of the group, Luna in particr. Opposed to Frost who was filled with desire and envy, the rest of the group were not doing so well. Bruno and Taka were groaning, their weak bodies trembling, unable to withstand the pressure. Their wounds reopening from the tense strain. A lot of Lunas healing was undone. Leo and Luna however were filled with a primal fear, their very bones were shaking, and their heartbeats escted to pumping a mile a minute. Lunas eyes were darting side to side and her teeth were chattering as she gazed at her father. Never in her entire life had she felt the magnitude of her fathers strength until now, it filled her with panic and fear as if she didnt know him at all until now. Leo was a little less daunted as this wasnt the first time, he experienced the powerful aura of someone at the level of B-rank. His father when he was still fit and able used to pressure him with it during training so that even when he faced an impossible enemy, hed retain his faculties. But even so he was caught unprepared and struggled to breath normally. When people reached a certain level of power, generally around B-rank they be able to exude an aura. This wasnt a skill or magic but something far more primitive, instinctual even. Their very bodies can disy their power as a deterrent to weaker foes. This wasnt simply Ryuu releasing a batch of blood lust but an actual pressure akin to gravity. Not everyone can exude this aura and many having differing degrees of sess, but it was well known and established fact that unless you could harness and control your aura to a sufficient degree, youd never reach A-rank in your lifetime. Regardless of how skilled you be with a weapon or magic youd strike up against a wall. The reason being that high level monsters have auras just like the sapient races and if you dont have your own, youd be unable to resist the pressure minimising yourbat effectiveness. Dragons in particr were known for their advanced versions of this aura better known as dragon fear. It was one of the main reasons they were considered the king of monsters. Even C-rank lesser dragons would have this dragon fear, making it that much harder to hunt them. ..... Frost himself already had the starting point of an aura, with which he could intimidate his foes and or make himself appear more menacing, but he was far from the level of Ryuu and Bastion wherein he could physically harm his targets. Ryuu instantly turned pale when he saw the look in his daughters eyes and knew that he messed up. He had to keep his natural personality bottled up for so long, that when he finally found a target, that he could vent on he couldnt restrain himself. Feeling the opposing mages aura that seeped up from the floor beneath as a tant challenge he responded in kind utterly quashing his aura without holding back. Unfortunately, although he seeded in beating back his opponent with sheer brutality he also resulted in some friendly fire, his daughter in particr. L...Luna? He stuttered as he spoke afraid of hearing her reaction, he didnt want to appear as anything but a doting dope of a father to her. God damn you, Adam! He chastised Adam in his mind pushing all the me on him. ..... Luna was silent refusing to respond, filling Ryuu with fear and panic, even Leo was slightly worried about his partner, moving closer and cing his hands on her delicate shoulders. Ryuu was too nervous at the moment to jab at Leo for deigning to touch his precious daughter, his gaze was transfixed on her face, her mouth in particr as he awaited her response. Lunas mind was a mess at the moment, the conflicting views of the doting dope of a father that she knew, loved, and hated battled against the mad battle prone fanatic that shed been seeing since they entered thepound. She struggled to ept the stark difference. The silencested for a few more seconds before Thud! Bleaurghh! Luna without warning stepped forward and punched her father in the gut without mercy causing him to reel forward, having the wind knocked out of him. Stupid old man warn me next time youre about to do that hmph! Luna hmphed loudly and looked down at her keeled over father with contempt before turning to the side and walking over to Bruno and Taka to re-heal their injuries much to her irritation. She wasnt made of mana after all and the fight was far from over, she didnt need to waste any more of her mana on re-healing pointlessly. Ughhhhhhh Ryuu groaned in pain but had a smile on his face, she didnt treat him any different after all. Taking a strained breath, he forced himself to stand up with a goofy smile on his face. Yes, yes of course my daughter is the best and shouldnt have to suffer, Daddy will cast a new, no two, no three new protection spells on you just to be safe. Ryuu gathered up his mana prepared to cast several spells on his daughter aiming to nullify any future damage including that done by auras. By the time he was done shed be able to walk right up to an elder dragon without a care in the world. Thankfully he was stopped by not just Bastion but Frost as well, the two of them pping the back of his head at the same time, both uttering the same phrase. No, you wont idiot! No you wont idiot! The major battle was right around the corner, Ryuu couldnt waste his mana casting three of perhaps more unnecessary and overbearing spells right now, hell that much protection was never needed. Ryuu silently grumbled and twirled his fingers as Frost and Bastion looked down at him as though he was an idiot. Although it started off rather serious and dangerous, the result of Ryuu firing off his aura without restraint actually helped lighten their mood relieving any built up tension. To ess the third floor, we need to find the secret entrance. Frost spoke up since he was the one with the information thanks to his little interrogation. One of the many bookshelves here has a trick book that should open up the way. He spoke calmly as he searched one section of bookshelves. Adam couldnt have made it any harder. The entire second floor basement was filled with bookshelves as if it was some kind of library. All he knew was that it should be somewhere in thest room or maybe the secondst since he couldnt fully trust the information. Thankfully after Ryuu and Bastions power disy the invasive aura didnt try to attack them again, probably scared off. It wouldnt be wise for either of them to use their aura for prolonged battle anyway since it was incredibly draining to permeate it past the body, as a simple show of force which in this case Ryuu won by andslide. They should also now be more wary of Bastion since even though his aura didnt fight against the mages they should have been able to feel it. Whether that proves their advantage or not whos to say. Hearing and seeing Frost begin his search the rest of the able group nodded and got to work. Taka and Bruno were not part of that group, and neither was Luna since she had to help heal their injuries. The two of them would be remaining in this room, guarding it from any goon joining in from upstairs and or preventing anyone escaping from the third basement but really, they were just too injured and exhausted to be of any use downstairs, theyd only get in the way, new weapons or not. The two of them verbally sulked about the decision but eventually acquiesced since Leo had logic on his side but they still werent happy. Meanwhile down in the first area of the third floor, a perfect battle arena the three elite guards where in wait. Splurt! The mage Drogan spat out blood and copsed to his knees while holding his head in pain much to the shock of hispanions. Drogan what the hell man? Rock moved quickly over tough at hisrades plight while Jin moved to help him up making sure he wasnt seriously injured. Rock and Jin werent able to tell what happened since each of them hadnt yet unlocked their full aura, only able to cloak themselves within a pseudo one to help alleviate some of the effects of anothers and most likely they never would given their talents. Upper C-rank was their limit. They couldnt perceive the aura filled battle that took ce above their heads. To them Drogan simply released a strong pressure before ultimately spitting up blood. Drogan wasnt going to exin the inner working of the higher ssbatants to these muscle brained idiots. A mental battle with that Ryuu, one which I clearly lost. He yed it off as a mage thing but didnt look too disheartened with his failure nor the subsequent mental pain that followed. Itd be weird if he did win a battle of auras. Given Ryuus advanced age and experience, he was bound to be the more powerful of the two. But it did give him an inkling into his foes level of strength. Hes strong, much stronger than expected. Drogan wiped away the bit of blood leaking from his lips, ignoring the confused and smug looks he was getting from Jin and Rock respectively. Previously he guessed that Ryuu was just a small level above him but one that he could bridge, but now not so much. Thats got to be the aura of someone at upper B-rank for sure and that other aura must be Bastion, its weaker but not by much. He frowned before looking over at his idiotrades. They dont stand a chance. He marked this fight pretty much unwinnable now. He would dly attempt a grand duel with Ryuu since he was confident in escaping if need be but facing off against Ryuu and Bastion no way. Tsk, he clicked his tongue as his mind processed his options, he had strong orders to protect Adam at all costs, but he knew his master, he wasnt nearly as callous as Adam. If there was truly no other option, as long as he managed to escape and return to his masters side without developing any link between Adam and him, hed be able to escape execution. Thered be punishment for sure but that was much more enjoyable than death. He was still considered pretty young for a mage, early forties with room to improve, a veritable powerhouse for any noble to employ, so he banked on that as well as his future worth. His master however wasnt one forcking in powerhouses and Drogan didnt even enter the top 10 so that could only help him slightly. He turned back towards the vault where Adam was handling the goods weighing his options. Even if caught he surmised that Adam wouldnt talk, he was trustworthy in that regard at least. Frowning while deep in thought, Drogan made his decision, hed abandon Adam to his fate. But he couldnt simply run with his tail tucked between his legs, Adam would certainly talk then, no he needed to at least give a show of effort. His master as well would like to know the full extent of Ryuus abilities before he ns his next move. Drogan would fight with Ryuu and when the bnce tips against him hed vanish. He tapped an item hidden with robes, a special magic item with a single use, given to him to use in emergencies only, as well as a few other items he had on hand. His frown now started into a smile filled with joy, he could go all out against his foe without worrying now that hed made his choice. Hed even resort to ingesting a few supplements to allow him to match Ryuu in battle. If he survived this fight, the experience and knowledge gained may be just what he needed to improve. Chapter 93 93 Chapter 93: The elite bodyguards Rock and Jin felt rather unnerved with Drogans expressions unable to read what was going on in his mind. The two brothers looked at one another and shrugged. Theyd just ignore him, what did it matter to them how Drogan felt. Instead, they got more and more pumped up, eager to meet this fabled guild master, Bastion. Killing him would make it the second B-rank theyve managed to kill and would greatly endorse their street cred. Theyd most likely be able to extort more money out of Adam once they seed, demanding wages of B-rank level guards nearly 5 times their current sry is what they believed would be appropriate. Not a single thought of doubt crossed their minds, they viewed Bastion as nothing more than amb on the chopping block just waiting to be killed. Thest time they killed a B-rank was years ago, before they had to flee theirst area and met Adam. The battle was hard fought, and they nearly lost their lives, but the opponent was youngish and an archer not exactly the hardest choice for them, but they just attributed it to their awesomeness. Now several yearster they were even stronger and better equipped so taking down an old retiree should be a piece of cake. The two revealed in glee and anticipation as they waited on edge for their opponents to descend the stairs and meet their maker. Back upstairs Found it, Leo announced after checking his 5th bookcase. In the middle of the middle shelf there was a golden gilded book without a title on the spine, when he went to pull it out, he heard something start to click bringing a smile to his face. Not waiting on his allies, he pulled the book back all the way causing a mechanism to move across the ceiling and along to a bare part of the wall. The uncovered part slowly started to move, a rectangr gap quickly started to thicken in the shape of arge door before part of the wall slid into a crevasse in the side, revealing the stairs down to the third basement. Leo smiled awkwardly as he stared over into the ck doorway, happy that he found the entrance but also worried about what it entailed. The main fight was upon them, after encountering the elite guards theyd be on their own, him Luna and Frost. Those three alone needed to deal with any remaining foes as well as Adam himself all while hoping that Ryuu and Bastion seeded in their battles. He was nervous and rightly so. The rest of the group moved over at his call, each of them standing close to another as they stared into the stairwell all with differing emotions. ..... Shall we go then? Frost asked with excitement in his eyes as he faced Leo, the party leader. Ryuu and Bastion also had simr looks in their eyes as they turned to their nephew. It was finally time for them to do their part. Haaaaaaaa Leo released a deep sighmenting his worries, he wasnt strong and full of excitement like these three battle fanatics. He touched the warrant hidden in his clothes to give him strength, imaging his parents before his spoke. Yes, lets go. Taka, Bruno you two stay up here and guard the entrance. Anyone thats one of Adamsckeys, send them packing. Leo looked over at the two young adventurers withmanding looks causing them to instinctively stand straight and salute like soldiers responding to amanding officer. Understood young lord. It will be done. They spoke with determination and confidence no longer moping about their jobs. Good, lets go down then. He grabbed hold of Lunas hand and pulled her in close, to protect her as well as give himself somefort. Luna was more than happy to move in close and nestle her head next to Leos shoulder with a happy smile that reminded Frost of Maya, it sent a chill down his spine. One of her was more than enough he couldnt cope with another. He turned away and walked down the stairs first with Ryuu and Bastion following close behind. Leo and Luna followed inst since they were the weakest and wouldnt be taking too much part in the subsequent fighting. Once theyd all descended the stairs and were out of sight, Bruno and Taka took their ces as guards, looking stoic and steely eyed, determined to put down anyone whoes up or down that wasnt supposed to. However, if a group of goons, especially those of the higher level type did so happen to enter and wish to descend there wasnt much the two of them could do, it was merely a show of strength. Hopefully, any goons that stayed in the upper levels of the mansion either stayed there out of fear or went outside to assist against the 14 adventurers who were still battling like crazy. Even down in the second basement they could asionally hear the sounds ofrge explosions and screams from above revealing the intensity of the upstairsbat. The group walked down a dark set of stairs once again. This time however Frost didnt have to worry about any waiting ambushes, no the foes werent exactly hiding their locations. He could feel the stench of bloodlust be poured in from the bottom of the stairs beckoning him down to face them. It was strong and barbaric, but Frost loved it, his muscles felt light and filled with power as he allowed the intent to wash over him as though a healing spell. He couldnt restrain his smile which grewrger andrger the further they descended. Now without his mask it was certainly an interesting image. An incredibly handsome face smiling evilly was far more disturbing than an ordinary one. Problem being that no matter how pumped up he got this fight was not his. Frost knew his limits now and knew for a fact that hed stand no chance against those guards. Even if he used every trick, he had hed probablye up short. Of course, it wouldnt be a simple fight if it was the two upper C-ranks, although hed lose, he could probably take a limb or two but still be beaten in the end. No, this fight was for the equally if not more battle crazed old men behind him. They too were releasing their killing intent but downward into the third basement. Frost felt as though two knives were stabbing into his back as another three stabbed his front, it kept him on edge to say the least. It didnt take the long to descend, probably due their excitement Frost and the two old men walked fairly quickly which forced Luna and Leo to quickly follow suit. Opening the door to the first room of the third basement they were met with arge expanse, probably over 500m2 of open space with a bunch seats arranged on the outskirts. It appeared to be a cross between an arena and warehouse. Most likely some of the smuggled goods would be forced to fight here for the enjoyment of a few extravagant customers. A subtle smell of blood entered Frosts nose as he stepped over the threshold. Blood was definitely shed in this room on a regr basis. Even the grey stone ground had patches where it was reddish or brown in colour where no amount of cleaning was enough topletely remove the stains. This was a battlefield and their opponents where already waiting for them. In the middle of the arena stood the three elite guards he witnessed glued to Adam on the first floor balcony several hours ago. Each of them sporting wild smiles and crazy looks in their eyes as though watching prey enter their den. Frost felt his blood boil and his vision start to go red, he clenched his jaw and fists as the urge for battle overwhelmed him, he wanted to fight them so much. The battle would be glorious he couldnt ask for a more fun opponent or better arena. His three opponents however merely scoffed once again at the young Frost; he wasnt their opponent. But with his face now revealed they were slightly in awe. Never before had they seen such a beautiful face, even among the elves. This awe quickly turned into hatred with Rock and Jin suddenly having the urge to smash that face in regardless of whether or not itd be considered bullying the weak. As men they felt it was an obligation to smash that pretty face of his apart. Drogan however reacted differently once the awe faded, he was curious since he didnt recognise the face but more than that it was interest, Frost was right in his strike zone, elven men were his favourite. Their soft skin armed with their beautiful faces were irresistible to him. He couldnt help but drool slightly and develop a slight blush simr to Maya when she first saw him. It was a shame this man was an enemy and quite a serious one given that hes the main reason Leo was here in the first ce and not dead in a ditch somewhere. Such a waste. Drogan released a depressed sigh,menting at the unfortunate future of this beautiful young man before staring hard at Frosts features hoping to memorise his visage before it got destroyed. Frosts battle lust was quickly doused by ice cold water when he received that lust induced gaze that pervaded his body. A horrible chill went down his spine as he took a step back in fear, he didnt know why but for some reason his body was warning him of a great danger one of a different type, but he couldnt put his finger on what it was, but he was unable to resist. After stepping back, he refused to even look in Drogans direction, all his battle lust beingpletely evaporated. Bastion stifled aughter as he saw and understood the events that just happened. When he first saw Frosts face being revealed when he was fighting a few D-rank goons he was absolutely gobsmacked. Frost was the most beautiful man hed ever seen and even he was momentarily charmed, and he was 100% straight. He could only imagine the shock the enemy mage must have received given his predisposition. Even the three goons that were fighting Frost were all stunned in ce the moment his mask finally fell, unfortunately that was what led to their untimely demise, Frosts face was literally a weapon he could use to stun his foes. He now felt that the mask he always wore was quite necessary. Without it thered probably be riots in the streets, woman and men flocking towards him. He thought Maya was attractive enough but if she walked hand in hand with Frost throughout the town it would be chaos utter chaos. He was however reminded of histe wife thanks to this, bringing a grateful tear to his eye so he volunteered to help out his new young friend, walking ahead of him and covering him from the perverted gaze of the enemy mage. Frost now hidden from view was able to breath and rx quietly muttering thank you to Bastion for reasons he still did not fully understand but was grateful none the less. Still unnerved by Drogan he remained hidden behind Bastion trying to make himself look as small as possible, it didnt help that he was significantly taller than the old dwarf, but it was the thought that counts. Drogan however was not pleased, with his eye candy being taken out of view by a scruffy old dwarf, he almost spat in disgust at the contrast between their faces, he didnt like dwarves. He red usingly at Bastion filled with hate, but his eyes were torn away when Ryuu took a step forward, his aura struggling to be contained drew his gaze, this was his real prize, a fight with an experienced and more powerful mage. Lightning seemed to jump between the two mages eyes as they sized one another up, both of them quite impressed with the other. Ryuu was a little older recently turning fifty something whereas Drogan was in his early forties less than decade of difference was not much in the scheme of things but a big difference in regards to magicians. 10 years was a long time to master your magic and face all manner of instances, Drogan didnt think for a second the fact that Ryuu being a father as well as an important court mage requiring him to work heavily in administration had weakened him in anyway over the years. This was a full on high ranking B-rank mage standing before him. Analysing his strength and his soon to be opponent, he couldnt be distracted by notions of lust even if the fruit was incredibly tantalising. Chapter 94 94 Chapter 94: The elite bodyguards (2) Ryuu and Drogan continued their silent stand off as they judged one another, eyeing their auras, mannerisms and even equipment. A high level analysis was going on between these two B-rank mages. With Drogans gaze redirected, Frost felt that eery pressure lift from his body, allowing him to breath and get a good look at Bastions opponents, possibly the most difficult ones to deal with. Although they were a fair bit weaker than Bastion, they could work as a team and given Bastions age theyd likely have greater stamina. Leo and the rest were worried about this fight most of all. Frosts gaze drifted towards the dwarf that valiantly stood before him, yet he didnt see a single trace of nervousness or anxiety. Bastion was smiling, and it wasnt a small smile, but one filled with wild connotations. His eyes spat fire as he looked at the two C-rank thugs that were to be his opponents. Unknown to Frost and the rest (excluding Ryuu) the moment he came face to face with Rock and Jin he actually felt incredibly relieved as well as slightly disappointed. These two wouldnt be his match. Sure, they were younger and more nimble, probably able to move faster and take more of a beating, but theycked far more where it counted. Their auras were severallycking, he doubted theyd even be able to use it offensively and their movements, even while simply standing in ce and eyeing their prey spoke of theirck of experience and naivety. Bastion expected to have to face two almost B-rank rank opponents. who would be able to overwhelm him as they worked in concert forcing him to rely on his hardened experience. But what he got was a pair of thugs at the very limit of their potential, theyd never be able to cross the gap to B-rank and to Bastion that made his battle far, far easier. Ryuu noticed this fact as well in the brief time he wasnt staring down Drogan. His eyes shifted slightly as he returned to looking at the B-rank mage questioning his motives. Surely he knows that those two would really struggle to defeat Bastion. Even if hes past his prime hes still a solid B-rank, these two however.... Ryuu looked in contempt at Rock and Jin, at least the mage seemed to be a worthy adversary who would allow him to have some fun. ..... Haaaaaaa Drogan mentally sighed knowing that they were outmatched, Bastion and Ryuu had already noticed the difference in strength, and he could swear they were smirking internally but what could he do. Theyd underestimated Bastions strength as well as what Rock and Jin could manage. If Shadow took part, theyd be able to even the score but.... No never mind whatever happens doesnt matter. Drogan had already made his decision, whether Bastion wins or not didnt matter anymore. Hell have his fun with Ryuu before ultimately escaping. Once Leo and Luna shuffled in, the silence was broken by Rock who wolf whistled as he saw Luna the only female of the group enter. His perverse thoughts and lecherous look was on full disy, he wasnt hiding his intentions in the slightest. His brother Jin was just as bad, licking his lips as he eyed the new prey. This response was replied with a harsh burst of killing intent mixed with aura from Ryuu, instantly filling the two with fear and pressure. Their expressions froze, trembling, they subconsciously stepped backwards causing Drogan to sigh out loud. If they were truly capable, theyd be able to protect themselves from such an attack. Haaaaaaa Drogan sighed again before releasing his own aura tobat Ryuus. At the moment Rock and Jin were still allies and he needed to y his part. Rock, Jin enough ying around, weve got a job to do. Drogan spoke harshly and red at the two thugs as he forced back Ryuus aura off of their bodies. With the pressure lifted and the realisation that they sumbed to fear and stepped backward filled them with wrath. They didnt even bother to thank Drogan, ring at the intruding group with hatred before drawing their weapons in preparation for battle. Rock was armed with a pair of dark coloured axes that seemed to absorb any light that touched them whereas Jin withdrew arge red great sword, that reeked of blood. Their weapons were at the very least high rank 3 star weapons. Frost couldnt even identify the materials used, in fact he couldnt even tell if it was metal or not. But one thing he did know was that these two weapons amplified the atmosphere surrounding the two, making him feel even more pressure. They may not be Bastions opponents, but they were certainly above his capabilities, their weapons only seemed to amplify that difference. Bastion took a heavy step forward separating himself from Frost. Remember your job young Frost. He spoke quietly behind him. Frost, Leo, and Luna needed to head in deeper and confront Adam. Getting the group of three safely to the other side of the room will not be easy and relied on Frost covering Leo and Luna. Hed likely have to withstand a single strike or perhaps two from one of the elite guards before Ryuu and Bastion could drag them back towards themselves. Frost twitched at Bastions words but nodded silently, moving backwards slowly to join up with Luna and Leo. With the weaker members moving out of the way and aware of what they needed to do, Ryuu and Bastion smiled widely, giving one another a knowing look before moving forward toward their targets. Drogan frowned as he watched Ryuu and Bastione towards them, he wasnt going to allow them the first hit. With incredible speed Drogan drew his staff and started channelling mana far faster and with much greater volume than Frost could ever manage with his current strength. He began chanting an aria to mould his mana into arge spell. Whereas the two closebat experts both raised their weapons up high preparing to activate a powerful skill. Their weapons started to shine and vibrate as the skills came to fruition. Bastion and Ryuu werent ones to take this action lying down. Still armed with a mad smile Bastion broke into a charge while raising his weapon high above his head, preparing to use his own skill. Ryuu however didnt react much, with his experience he could identify the spell being used by Drogan. His eyes showed a joyful glint as he allowed Drogan to cast without interruption. With both sides moving against one another, Frost and the rest needed to move and move quickly. Lets go Frost whispered too his charges before leading Luna and Leo to the far edge of the arena, (the side of the two C-rank thugs since theyd be easier for him to handle). Theyd make a run for the door the moment the skills and spells have been cast. Drogans spell was the first finished. [Great earth be a dividing wall, earthen wall]! Once Drogan finished his aria a massive magic crest farrger than Frost had ever seen suddenly appeared in the centre of the floor before the earth quickly rose. [Sundering strikes]! [Cleaving sh]! a momentter Rock and Jin had finished powering up their skills and violently struck down with their weapons, generating a beam of energy that raced along the ground towards the charging Bastion. With a smirk Bastion responded in a simr way mming down his great axe upon the floor [Heavens sunder]! A much brighter andrger beam of energy was released from his weapon, rushing along the floor beforeing in contact with Rock and Jins beam. Baaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnggggg! A horribly loud bang reverberated when the three beams shed, a sonic boom was created, andrge bursts of light escaped around the arena cutting up the areas they came in contact with. Meanwhile at the same time Drogans spell had taken effect. It wasnt an offensive spell that he used but one that would separate the battlefield. A great wall of earth had risen from floor to ceiling down the middle of the room effectively splitting the arena in two. Ryuu and Drogan on one side and the rest on the other. This way Ryuu and Bastion wouldnt be able to work as one and he could enjoy this experience without interruption. Even the loud bang generated by the shing of skills was severely dampened by thisrge wall, proving how dense it was. It would take Bastion several blows to breach the earthen wall, and that would take time that he didnt have. Ryuu ced his hand on therge wall of earth before looking at his opponent. His face was calm for but a moment before he gave in to his instincts and madlyughed, removing the rust he gained from acting politely in his everyday work. It was time for him to let loose. On the other side of the wall Frost watched in awe as the three skills shed against one another, showing their power, this only increased the envy he held. He dearly wanted to learn some weapon skills, but he had a job to do and right now thanks to therge earthen wall theyd never have a better chance. Frost ushered Leo and Luna across the edges of the battlefield towards the exit. The contest between the two beams of energy quickly resulted in a winner. Bastions beam was far superior, it cleaved through the two weaker beams and headed straight for the two at impressive speed. Shit! Dodge it! Jin roared at his brother as he jumped to the side away from the beam. If their own skills when paired together couldnt stop it then theyd be better dodging. The two of them jumped out the way without much difficulty, the beam of energy released by Bastion continued on before mming into the wall, decimating arge chunk of it. Rock and Jin flinched at the destruction, that was after it smashed through their own skills after all. It still had so much power leftover. The two of them winced before ring at their opponent who was smiling their way, moving slowly towards them as though taunting them. Gritting his teeth in anger Jin looked towards his brother giving him a look only theyd understand. Rock understood and nodded back. The two of them raised their weapons once more to cast the exact same skill. [Sundering strikes]! [Cleaving sh]! Ignoring the stamina cost, the two of them used their skills once again even though it failed already. Hmph Bastion hmphed before once again raising his axe above his head. You two cant possibly think that Ill keel over or be drained after simply using two skills. Bastion felt a little miffed, itd been a while since he been so disrespected and looked down upon. [Heavens sunder], without much difficulty Bastion once again used his higher level skill, once again sending a powerful beam towards his target. And as expected when the three beams greeted one another, Bastions beam smashed through the opposition losing but a fraction of its momentum but Rock and Jin responded differently this time. Knowing their skills would fail was part of the n, they didnt even put as much oomph into their skills this time since itd break anyway. Jin reached into his sleeves to remove a dark brown sphere which he quickly mmed to the ground causing it to explode and release a cloud of thick brown smog, hiding their movements. Jin smiled as he once again easily dodged the beam of energying his way, whereas Rock used the cover granted by the smoke bomb to redirect his attention to a bunch of rats that were still present in the room. Shit! Bastion roared as he charged forward, he knew what they nned the moment he saw the smoke. They were after Frost and the rest. He needed to move quickly but Jin wasnt one to allow that, unperturbed by the skills failure, he rushed ahead of the smoke to battle Bastion one on one. His brother shouldnt need much time to kill the rats. Killing the young lord Leo was one of their major assignments, as long as he died then this operation became mute since Dous wouldntst long and Rock wasnt one to pass such a chance. Chapter 95 95 Chapter 95: Taking a blow from Rock Frost felt a strong sense of danger, the hairs on his arm standing upright. He, Luna, and Leo managed to cover most of the journey by the time they heard the second sonic boom, but they were still several metres from reaching the exit. Suddenly he heard in the distance Bastion roaring. Frost lookout! Bastion couldnt see past the smoke, so he shouted as loud as possible to get Frosts attention, which worked just in time. The moment he heard Bastions roar, Frost could sense Rock nearby. He rapidly turned around, but Rock was almost in striking distance, giving him very little time to prepare. His entire body tensed up as his eyes met Rocks. Shit! Relying on his instincts Frost prepared himself to face the threat. He grasped his ive with both hands and positioned himself in front of Leo and Luna nudging them towards the exit with his elbow as he braced himself for battle. The show will be on the other foot this time, Frost was now the underdog, no longer would he have an advantage in speed or strength. Tsk Rock clicked his tongue in annoyance, Frost positioned himself directly in front, barring his path to Leo. Hed have to take care of him first before moving on. His annoyancested but a moment before he realigned himself to strike against Frost instead. He raised up one of his axes above his head before rapidly bringing it down with great force. Dooooooooon! ..... The axe met Frosts ive with incredible strength, sending powerful vibrations through Frosts arm. Shit that was a heavy strike! Frost struggled to endure the blow while using both hands and that was just a single axe. His arms felt strained as they stubbornly endured, not allowing Rocks axe to move any further. Hmph! Saved by your weapon! Rock snarled in contempt as he brought his other axe to bare, this time swinging from the side all while continuing to force his other axe downward. His movements were incredibly quick, Frost had barely enough time to react, the difference in strength was quite substantial. With what little time he did have he gathered as much of his ice chakra as possible and funnelled it towards his right arm, encasing it within a thick armour of ice. Dangerously he removed his right hand from his ive forcing his left to endure the entire downward force exhibited by Rocks first axe. He moved his right hand covered in ice towards the impeding second strike attempting to use his protected arm as a pseudo shield. Not the best choice, but one that was quick and sure to protect from a serious injury at least. At the same time, he jumped backwards slightly hoping to reduce the amount of force that he was about to bare by any means necessary. Smash! Rocks second axe met with Frosts ice covered hand and shattered its protection without much effort, but Frosts method seeded. The axes momentum was stopped, and the ice shattering prevented his arm from breaking s it did hurt a great deal. Frost ignored the pain signals his right arm was sending his way; he didnt have time to be distracted. By moving backwards and removing one of his arms from his ive, Rocks first axe had a lot less resistance to contend with. Rock smirked with glee as he redirected his axe downward with another dose of strength sending Frost and his ive hurtling backward his axe smashing into the arena floor with his unopposed strike. He won this short exchange and it brought him great joy, seeing Frosts handsome face wince in pain was incredibly satisfying so much so that he needed to do it again. Rock mmed his feet against the ground as he leaped at the still reeling Frost. He crossed his arms and filled his axes with energy preparing to cast a skill towards his unguarded prey. Frost panicked; Rock was quicker than expected. His ploy to be knocked backwards and generate some distance between them backfired. He was now unbnced and would struggle to put up a worthwhile defence. Shit! Frost inwardly cursed as he saw Rock charge up his axes in preparation for a skill. Images of the powerful beams of light he saw smash apart bits of the arena earlier filled his mind. How was he supposed to guard against that. For a second, he felt the stench of death fill his body and subconsciously moved towards the talisman Maya had given him in case of emergencies but quickly erased those thoughts from his mind. He wouldnt improve if he called for help every time he was outmatched, besides, he didnt need to beat Rock just stall. Bastion would arrive in moments well at least he hoped he would. Gritting his teeth Frost kicked off the ground and performed a backflip while at the same time summoning out his 2 star pykrete ive he bought through the dungeon menu. Now that he had a peak 3 star or even possibly half step 4 star weapon there wasnt much use for this weapon, but he held on to it just in case. One of the things he learned from the adventures he saw, they all had spare weapons, so he followed suit and thank goodness he did. Utilising all he learned in ive mastery, the moment hended and milliseconds before Rock unleased his skill he slightly squatted and crossed his two ives before him creating a perfect cross block. [Cross sh]! A momentter Rock was upon him, his axes glowed with energy before a blue light escaped from each one generating a blue cross of light within the air that beamed its way towards Frost. Frost stuck in his heels and braced himself for the impending impact, all distracting thoughts were put to one side, even the shocked gasps by Leo and Luna didnt register. His breathing was calm, and his gaze focused. Subconsciously he summoned his ice chakra once again this time covering his ives, he was ready. Holllllll! The cross of blue light released a grating howl as it barrelled into Frosts ives and was struggling to proceed but every moment the pressure on him grew stronger. The ice chakra on his weapons was disintegrated at first contact and though Frost continually kneaded his mana to generate more, it wasnt enough. His ives were vibrating madly under the pressure and his arms felt as though they were holding up a mountain. His feet started to slide backwards ripping lines into the arena as he was forcibly pushed back but his focus didnt falter, not for a second in fact, he felt good. His blood was pumping, and his entire body felt on fire as he fought against this incredible weight. He was holding on, at least for the moment and something was starting to unravel in his mind, new knowledgeing to fruition. Rock simply watched on in joy as he saw the pretty elf boy struggle against his cross sh skill, but his joy quickly turned to frustration and then to anger. Why is he still standing? Rock didnt have a lot of time, given Bastions strength his brother could only hold him down for so long thats why he used a skill, it should have bulldozed through this ant but here he still stands. His frustration turned to anger the moment he saw Frost smiling, it was also the same moment that Frost stopped being forced back, his skill and Frosts defence hade to a stalemate with neither sideing out on top. He felt insulted and anger filled his mind, he took his wariness away from the iing Bastion and fully concentrated on killing the ant barring his way. If one isnt enough then how about two! Rock crossed his axes once again, filling them with energy to cast another cross sh. Meanwhile with Frost information flooded his mind and body, his ives suddenly felt lighter and easier to move, faster, more urate and all around stronger and Knowledge about a technique involving ives rushed towards the surface of his mind. Frost smirked and his smile grew bigger, he finally achieved adept ive mastery thus allowing him to withstand Rocks skill but that wasnt all. Given the situation and his newfound mastery he was also granted a skill, one in which would be perfect for this situation. Not wishing to wait, Frost used the first skill he had ever gotten. Energy from his body filled his ives, it was difficult to describe, it felt simr to mana but more akin to his stamina itself being drained, a weird feeling. He finished charging before Rock and shouted out the name of his new technique. [Shattering strike]! As he spoke light filled the two ives before they violently smashed downward utterly destroying Rocks cross sh attack, sending the remnant pieces of skill light into the distance where they carved up more of the arena but away from Frost. His new skill could shatter an attack whether that be a weapon or skill. It had very short range but packed a lot of oomph as just witnessed. It was a defensive skill that destroyed the attacking object or skill with pure brute force. The stamina drain wasnt actually too bad. Thought Frost as he relished in the results of his first skill. Since the skill didnt have to travel too far, he could use it again without much issue, but would Rock give him that much time. Frost gazed at his opponent whos face was scrunched up beyond belief as he witnessed his cross sh being destroyed by someone, he deemed unworthy of his attention. But that short interactionsted but a moment before Rock shouted in anger. Bastard! Think youre pretty hot shit being able to survive that attack then think again! Try this one on for size you godman pretty boy! Suddenly Rocks axes filled with light again but this time the light was red, blood red and his axes started to emit a wave of pressure. Frost quickly detected the danger and braced himself once again preparing his new skill but was met with contempt. Thats not going to work this time asshole [Demons sun......] The moment Rock was about to cast his skill and unleash its torment upon Frost he was interrupted. I dont think so [Holmgang]! Suddenly Bastion having forced Jin out of his way had clear line of sight towards Rock and with intense speed he used his own skill. A chain of light whizzed through the air before wrapping around its target, Rock and dragging him against his will towards Bastion. Rock couldnt even resist as he was lifted off his feet and dragged through the air, panic in his eyes as well as frustration. He was so close to killing the ant, all he needed was another sted second, but he didnt get it. Bastion dragged Rock right towards him and swung down his axe on his capture, smashing him against the ground resulting in him spitting up blood but that was it, itll take a lot more than that to kill these two C-ranks it seemed. Even Jin who Bastion who had forcibly pushed back was already on his feet and charging towards him with his great sword. The fight was just beginning. With Rock now where he belonged and Frost momentarily frozen in confusion, he once again heard Bastion shout. Get going Ill handle these two! Brought out of his daze Frost nodded towards his saviour before turning backwards and leading Leo and Luna out of the arena. Their work in this area was done, they had to find Adam now. However, Leo struggled in worry, hed managed to catch sight of how Frost fared against Rock and was anxious about Bastions prospects but was quickly corrected by Frost as he forcibly dragged him through the doorway. That old dwarf will be fine, those two were weaker than he expected so theres little to no chance of him dying. Frost spoke with clenched fists as he struggled to get rid of the feeling that Rocks next skill generated. Demon something? He took note of it, hed ask Mayater. What do you mean weaker than expected, Frost-senpai you barelysted a couple seconds. Leoshed out forgetting his usual attitude when dealing with Frost. Frost winced at his reply, he couldnt deny that, but having it pointed out so clearly still hurt. Ah...sorry Frost-senpai Leo got a pinching from Luna alerting him of what he just did so he apologised, he didnt mean it like that. No need for that I am weaker after all. Frost waved his hand to show that Leo said nothing wrong. Your uncle Bastions no weakling and besides, weve got other fish to fry. Frost looked sternly into Leos eyes reminding him what they needed to do while Ryuu and Bastion held back Adams strongest force. Chapter 96 96 Chapter 96: Three shadows Leo flinched obviously still struggling with his emotions, he knew the n god he came up with most of it but.... Seeing his senpai struggle so much against just one of those C-rank thugs gave him pause. He knew of the stories and had seen himself the capabilities of his uncle Bastion but even then, he still couldnt help but worry. Luna pulled at his sleeve redirecting his attention. Believe in uncle Bastion and my father, he wouldnt have volunteered for this job if he wasnt confident. You know Bastions personality, hes a straight shooter not one for bragging or lying. Luna spoke with confidence but behind her gaze her eyes were shaking. She couldnt help but feel out of her depth, unable to even lend an ounce of assistance but what could she do or even Leo do anyway. Even Frost struggled to defend himself so what good could they do. Taking in the logic given by both his fianc and the young man he looked up to Leo clenched his fist and punched the wall, drawing a sliver of blood before regaining his focus. He looked forward with determination leaving the previous rooms situation to those he trusted. Lets go, weve got a traitorous noble to hunt! Fury returned to Leos eyes at the mention of his uncle, he walked forward with Luna in hand ready to face whates next. Frost smiled and sighed with relief before promptly rushing in front, he still needed to act as the vanguard just in case anything else appears before them. The group of three made their way swiftly down the hallway to the next area. The third basement was a lot smaller than the previous two, starting with arena there were only another two or three areas before reaching Adams office. Of course, these areas diverged into multiple escape paths, but they were blocked off thanks to the actions of some of the local gangs, meaning Frost could focus on heading straight, ignoring the small branching paths. They didnt however need to travel very far beforeing across their next obstacle. ..... Ton ton ton The group of three made themselves known with their audible steps as they ran, alerting the foes awaiting them in the next area. The hallway opened up into anotherrge space (though smaller than the arena) that housed two men and a woman dressed all in ck. They gave off a simr feeling to the death soldiers encountered on the second basement but much darker and ethereal. They looked like assassins, fully garbed in dark coloured armour, their faces covered with ck cloth and daggers sheathed at their sides. All around them were patches of darkness due to the rooms structure perfect for ambush attacks and slipping out of sight yet these three stood together smack dap in the middle of the room where the light is strongest. It was peculiar to say the least. Frost held out his arm to prevent Leo and Luna from walking past him as he eyed these three new people. Strange, why are they in the open? His gaze was redirected to the shadows trying to find anyone waiting to attack the moment they make a move but.... He sensed nothing. As far as he could tell there were just these three people. Very strange, he scowled as he faced them, their strength was solid D-rank, but their abilities clearly specialised in attacking from shadow, not an in your face closebat type, quick and dexterous, full of finesse. They were slim and appeared light on their feet and their weapons appeared to be at the very least high quality steel perhaps even duram metal. Frosts eyes darted around the room as his instincts told him that something was wrong. Three people of their strength and specialisation wouldnt be enough to stop them or even dy their progress for a meaningful length of time. Is Adam really out of soldiers? It probably wouldve been better to stash these three alongside the other death soldier groups on the second basement, so why are they here alone? Frost internally tried to analyse the situation resulting in several seconds of silence where the two groups faced off against one another. The three assassins were still, soundless as they gazed at the intruders not willing to make the first move, they kept their hands on their sheaths ready to draw their daggers at a moments notice. This silence loomed for a while before Leo spoke out. Frost-senpai regardless of whether its a trap or not we need to move. Leo whispered into Frosts ear as he looked at the three assassins. He didnt recognise them at all (well he couldnt see much given that a ck cloth hid their facial features) in fact he didnt recognise a single one of the death soldiers they encountered earlier. Adam had sessfully kept such a strong and numerous forcepletely hidden, his own underground private army. Yet from all the ones they faced they hadnt met one they could call themander of such a force. Of course, it could just be that Adam was controlling them directly or one of the elite guards could be in charge, but they didnt seem to fit the bill. Leo fully prepared himself to have to fight through thest of these death soldiers along with theirmander before confronting his uncle. Hoping that it would be a small number of elites in which Frost could handle while Luna and he protect themselves by taking advantage of their superior armour. Ryuus protection spell had long ran out and they didnt get a chance for him to cast another without possibly weakening him before his grand battle. But even so their heavily enchanted armour/robes along with their high quality meant they could easily endure for a significant length of time as long as they protected their vital areas. A prime example being the [cross sh] skill used by Rock against Frost. If Leo or Luna were subjected to such an attack, they wouldnt be able to respond in time, but their armour/robes would quite easily deflect or absorb such a blow without injury at least for the first few attacks. Whether itd work for the demon something attack was up for debate. Leo ced a hand on Frosts shoulder before readying his de and shield, while Luna did much the same. Tapping his other shoulder while raising her staff and preparing to cast some magic. Unfortunately, shed be side-lined to a support role given that her level of spells wouldnt cause much damage to this level of opponents, but they may serve as good distractions. She could also cast some healing magic if Frost or Leo get hurt. Luna frowned as she realised her limitations, she didnt know enough non-offensive spells. Other than heal and minor poison removal she didnt know any others. Shed kill to be able to cast protection magic like her father or enhancement magic such as haste, but she didnt. Her focus was on fire and air offensive spells in which for an E-rank adventurer was pretty substantial. Shame it wasnt much use for their current situation, just another reason for her and Leo to improve. Haaaaaa Frost sighed in frustration, the idea of willingly walking into some sort of trap without knowing what they were up against didnt sit right with him, but Leo was right they needed to move on. Unfazed by the three assassins before him Frost decided to make the first move. [ice bolt] without so much as a warning Frostunched an attack from long range and as soon as he did, he began dashing forward, before casting another spell. [ice bolt] now two bolts of ice were sent flying at the speed of an arrow towards the three assassins. This was followed up by Luna casting her own magic. Since they had the advantage of long range attack why wouldnt they make use of it. [fireball]! Luna conjured a basketball sized orb of fire that sheunched over Frosts head in a parab. Fireball was a 2nd circle fire spell that summoned quite literally a ball of fire. It was more destructive than the 1st circle spell fire bolt but slower. On contact with the target or anything physical itll explode giving inrge area of effect. Leo wasnt one to be outdone, since they were down to just three each and every one of them needed to fight so he rushed with his sword drawn and shield up right behind Frost, following in his wake. The three assassins frowned as a bunch of spells were fired their way and their targets rushed at them behind those spells. Tsk one of them clicked his tongue before the group fanned outward so as to avoid the magic, the fireball in particr needed to be avoided. Dong dong The ice bolt spells missed their targets and sunk into the floor, stabbing in deep, revealing their piercing power, this caused the assassin eyes to open wide. Baaaaaaang! The fireball followed soon after the ice boltsnding in roughly the same ce and erupting in arge explosion of fire covering a diameter 5 timesrger than the fireball itself, but it too had missed. However, the group of three were now separated and were moving on Frosts terms. [Ice bolt] Frost quickly casted a third ice bolt to redirect one of the assassins from heading in Lunas direction all while he picked up speed and rushed to another. Leo did much the same, splitting off from behind Frost he charged towards another assassin. With the two of herrades being forced to battle one on one the female assassin moved to assist. Already being forced to stop her charge towards Luna by Frosts magic she redirected her aggression towards Leo. Forcing him tobat two D-rank assants each more powerful than him. Damn! Frost clicked his tongue and shouted in worry but was quickly met with a dagger to the face for losing concentration. He bent his head back avoiding the strike beforeshing out with his ive but hit nothing but air, this assassin was quite elusive. Using his brief moment of respite, he turned towards Leo who was being attacked by two sides and wanted to assist. He was quickly met with another dagger sent towards a vital area forcing him back into his current fight. He couldnt allow Leo to die otherwise this whole thing would be pointless, it seemed like these assassins knew that, so they focused on taking out Leo first. They willingly ignored Luna because she couldnt really help, she couldnt cast any offensive magic in fear of hitting an ally, her aim and control wasnt enough to prevent that possibility. She could however still cast healing magic at her current distance; thus, Leo would be able to hold on for longer. Leo forced himself into a highly defensible position never going on the offensive, utilising his sword as a second shield, and taking full advantage of his powerful armour redirecting blows with his pauldrons, minimising the lethality of the strikes. Even though he was incredibly overwhelmed and enduring attacks from every angle he still managed to shout out an order. Frost-senpai ignore me Ill be fine for a while, take out your foe first! Luna make sure you keep up the healing magic Ah! Shit! Leo lifted up his shield to block a dagger aimed for his mouth. Clearly the assassins believed he talked too much. Frost was worried but able to see that Leo truly was capable of enduring his current onught. As long as he focused solely on defence even Frost would probably find it difficult to scratch him let alone two D-rank assassins. Reinvigorated Frost returned his focus to catching this elusive pest of an opponent that has been frequently dodging his blows instead of blocking or parrying, its frustrating to say the least. [Ice be like vines, ice entanglement] Frost spoke the aria for his only 2nd circle spell hoping to anchor his foe in ce, but the target seemingly managed to dodge it by rapidly turning his legs into blurs before magically appearing at his right side forcing him to parry with his ive. If I could cast without the aria and or had more practise it could catch him. Without a decent level of mastery of any spell above the 1st circle the caster would need to speak the aria otherwise their magic crest would struggle to form. This dy allowed the assassin to move like shadow, whether it was a skill or just something from intense training Frost couldnt tell. The ck cloth covering the assassins face obscured his mouth from sight and muffled noise so he couldnt tell if a skill was used. Chapter 97 97 Chapter 97: The Shadow Hmm Frost frowned however when he noticed the blurring leg movement, it was familiar yet not quite the same, hed definitely seen something simr but couldnt say when. But that wasnt important right now, killing this assassin and reaching Leo was the priority. Luckily, he was in no danger of really dying or even getting seriously injured. As long as he kept his wits about him, his superior strength would prevail plus his opponent wasnt engaging in their specialty. Catching the bastard however was very annoying. Every time he felt his ive connect and aim to cleave his opponent apart, hed suddenly feel as though the assassin became weightless, his ive merely pushing him aside instead of cutting. Other times the assassins dagger would grind up against the ive de before encroaching like a vine up the shaft aiming slice off his fingers, it was very annoying and difficult to deal with. This assassin was certainly more skilled in their movements than the previous death soldiers, but it was only a matter of time before Frost caught him. The longer they battled the more used to the assassins movements he became. He started to catch him more often resulting in sparks caused by their weapons shing and the assassin being unable to evade the impact. Don! One such swing from Frosts ive was so well timed and aimed that the assassin had no choice but to brace himself for impact and endure the blow instead of redirecting it to the side or using it as a springboard. The assassins legs creaked and groaned from the weight being redirected towards them, his legs screamed in pain, teetering on the threshold ofpletely buckling from a single swing, he wasnt build to endure this kind of weight. But endure he did as he was instructed even though it was against everything, theyd ever been taught the three assassins engaged in directbat regardless of the implications, all because they were ordered. Frost smiled with joy at finally feeling a blownd sessfully, he could feel the assassin strain against the weight of his ive as he continued to push downwards escting the pressure, aiming topletely crush the assassins legs. Yet in the back of his mind, he was still wary of the danger that he could not sense, this fight was going too easy, especially for a fight so close to their target but still he couldnt sense anything. Even now with one of the assassins about to crumble under his ive there was no movement. Once he took care of the assassins legs, hed be no further match, which would allow Frost to aid Leo and bring a swift conclusion to this affair. ..... Suddenly after he increased the pressure on the enduring assassin Frost felt something, it was slight but there was definitely movement in the shadows and the speed was chilling. In almost the same instant that Frost noticed the shadow it moved into the open and appeared directly behind Luna. The shadow was but a ck blur in the shape of a human, it magically appeared behind Luna with two daggers raised high ready to cleave her neck from her head. Luna had no idea that her doom stood behind her, her senses not enough to notice this person even when they were right behind her. Frosts eyes opened wide in shock and anger, he was too far away, powerless to do anything. Even if he called out to Luna nothing would change, by the time she reacted and moved to turn around, the daggers would have decapitated her, but he tried anyway. Luna behind you! Frost shouted as loud as he possibly could while at the same time kicking the assassin before him and turning his body around to rush this new target. He conjured up an ice bolt spell but before the bolt even formed it was toote. Hearing Frost shouting in panic and witnessing the distress in his eyes Luna was filled with fear, her body trembled, and she felt a cold sensation down her back. In response she did her best to jump forward knowing time was of the essence, but she wasnt fast enough. The shadow brought down its daggers down upon her soft neck without an ounce of hesitation with enough force to instantly snap her spine. Doooooonnnnggggg! However, what the shadow envisioned never came to pass. Its daggers were stopped by a powerful barrier guarding Lunas neck. Sparks fired off as the daggers tried to force their way through. Suddenly the barrier turned purple in colour from its starting blue which caused the shadow to clicked its tongue. Tsk should have known that old badger would set up defences for his precious daughter. The barrier protecting Lunas neck suddenly went on the offensive, reflecting the force inflicted upon it along with some of its own strength in the form of a powerful burst of energy. The shadow was sent reeling backwards but appeared unperturbed as it dissipated the force by performing a backflip and dusted off its robes. [Ice bolt], feeling that this enemy was dangerous Frost didnt give them anytime,unching an ice bolt towards the shadow while mid flip aiming for itsnding spot. The bolt whizzed past with incredible speed and uracy, arriving before the shadow the moment he started dusting himself. The timing was perfect, however. Don! The shadow simply cut down the ice bolt with one of his daggers without even looking in Frosts direction. An attack like that wasnt enough to even faze it but it bought Frost enough time to reach Luna and shove her behind him. She was in shock, her eyes trembling, and her entire body felt ice cold. She was so close to death and didnt believe she was truly alive, bringing her hands up to her neck to make sure it was still attached. Frost frowned but couldnt really me her reaction, his attention quickly returned to the dangerous foe that was now before him, no longer hiding within the shadows. He was here the entire time, yet I couldnt even sense a sliver of him until he moved. Frosts hand clenched hard around the ives shaft and his eyes and other senses became incredibly focused. The shadow was a man simrly dressed as the three assassins but with higher quality equipment. His daggers were dark like shadow, clearly made from darkness aspected material, and his robes floated around him giving off a strong sense of mana, they were enchanted. This man looked in contempt at the shards of ice rapidly turning back into mana, as though they were pathetic. His gaze then found Frost who now blocked Luna behind him. With the appearance of this shadow like man the two battling Leo backed off, waiting for their next orders. Their master hade into the light yet failed in his sneak attack; the n had gone awry. The other assassin who suffered under Frosts fervent assault was quickly regaining his strength, massaging his legs to get movement back but this was not lost on Frost. Keeping his eyes dead centre on the shadow like man who was now staring his way, eyes filled with hatred and wrath for some reason. He channelled his mana for a fourth casting of his magic. Ideally, itd be great if Luna joined him, but she was in no condition to do so. [Ice bolt]! Frost shouted and an ice bolt formed beyond his right hand and zoomed its way towards its intended target. The shadow like man didnt even flinch or look at the bolt of ice that speeded off to kill the still less mobile assassin. His gaze looked directly at Frost, his face in particr, as though ingraining the image within his mind. Causing a chill to run down Frosts spine. Hes not like that mage, right? Frost now feared the shadow like man for a different reason. The less mobile assassin saw the ice bolting straight for his chest but didnt panic, knowing he couldnt dodge in time he readied his daggers and cleaved downward on the oing ice bolt, shattering it to pieces however the resounding impact sent the assassin backwards and filled his hands with pain. He was designed to use finesse yet using straight brute force for his defence caused minor damage to his deft hands. Tsk Frost clicked his tongue, it was worth a shot, bringing down their opponents to three instead of four would certainly help but it was a long shot after all. Frost returned to his stare down with the shadow like man while continuing to protect Luna behind him. Leo meanwhile was using the time he had to regain some stamina and kept his eyes closely on his two assants, awaiting a chance to strike. Although he was greatly worried for Luna when he heard Frosts frantic shout he was preupied, and Frost had already sessfully ced her behind his back. The best thing he could do was to take care of these two assassins and if possible, the third one that Frost sessfully injured. Luna started to calm herself down while being shaded by Frostsrge back, along with the silence andck of movement by either party she stabilised her breathing and regained focus. Taking a deep breath, she tapped Frosts shoulder in gratitude revealing to him her restored state albeit refusing to look in the direction of the shadow like man. Shed stand no chance against someone like that, so she turned her attention to the other three as well as Leo. Feeling Lunas tap, Frost released a small sigh in relief, he wasnt confident in handling this new foe if he had to constantly be wary of Luna. He gripped his ive with both hands entering a battle ready state, the moment this shadow like man moved hed be prepared. The shadow like man continued to look towards Frost, studying him in detail, his face, muscles, limbs, movements, and equipment all with increasing fury. His eyes were almost spitting mes at this point and his fists were trembling with nigh uncontroble rage. You are Frost I presume? The mans voice was deep, and smooth filled with gravitas, the voice of a leader and full of hatred as he spoke. Frosts eyes opened wide and frowned in surprise. He knows me? He hadnt been in Furano very long and no one bar Leo, Luna, Ryuu and those cial Scions had seen his face before this yet this shadow like man seemed to hold a great amount of rage towards him personally. Yes, and you are? He asked tentatively while shifting his feet to lower his sense of gravity preparing to rush his target as soon as he sees a chance. Haaaaaaa the shadow like man sighed deeply and scratched his head before suddenly pulling off the cloth covering his face, revealing a somewhat familiar visage albeit with a couple differences, it was expressing pure rage. Eh? The shadow like mans face was incredibly familiar and sent goosebumps along Frosts arms. You...didnt I kill you already? Frost stuttered as he remembered the face of the man before him. They had met before or at least someone who looked almost identical. Alex, the cold knight and my first real opponent. The mans face was incredible simr to Alexs the knight assigned to hunt down Leo and Luna along with the red hawk bandits. The very first non-golem (or Maya) opponent that Frost fought against. Hmph so you were the one who killed my younger brother Alex. Perfect then not only will Iplete my assigned mission, but Ill be able to avenge my little brother. Beta, Gamma take care of Leonardo Ill take care of this damned elf, Alpha you kill that little bitch, Luna. The shadow like man gave his orders to his subordinates before reaching for his removed cloth. You can call me Shadow, and you will die by my hand Frost! Shadow re-covered his face and prepared to enter battle but was suddenly interrupted by one of the assassins. But master is that wise, we work in the shadows? Alpha the oldest of the three assassins and the one who battled against Frost spoke up against Shadows orders which was not the correct move. Regardless of his intentions and whether or not they were correct, Shadow was not one to tolerate disobedience or even the slightest questioning of his orders especially in his maddened state, due to being in the presence of his brothers killer. Chapter 98 98 Chapter 98: Fighting Shadow Shadow coldly looked at his subordinate before suddenly vanishing from his spot and reappearing behind Alpha. With his daggers raised and before Alpha could even register what happened, Shadow brought his des down, silencing his subordinate forever. Blood dripped from his two daggers as he held them aloft, peering down on the lifeless body that nowy upon his feet. He used his daggers to slice apart Alphas windpipe resulting in a quick and quiet death from blood loss, Alpha didnt even have time say a single word in his defence before his life was snuffed out. Years of loyal service, abiding by Shadows teachings the entire time yet a single voice of disagreement and that loyalty was ended. Shadow kicked away the lifeless husk before coldly ring at his remaining two subordinates, Beta and Gamma. His gaze tranting as roughly anyone else got something to day? Beta and Gammas bodies shivered in fear before they rapidly shook their heads to the side. Their oldest colleague was just permanently silenced for stating a valid point, like hell they were going to disagree in any way, they still valued their lives. Shadows actions caused a great shift in their feelings towards this master of theirs. Before this they were afraid of him and respected his powers and abilities in equal measures, he did teach them most of what they know after all. But now their respect waspletely eclipsed by the fear aspect, thanks to his recent action. They could no longer face him as a student to their teacher. Seeing his two subordinates having their eyes and bodies filled with fear as they looked at him brought a smile to his face. His subordinates had grown toocent recently, no longer fearing him as much as they should have. Alphas outburst presented a perfect opportunity to correct this behaviour. He didnt need intelligent self-thinking subordinates just mannequins that did as he ordered no questions asked. Good thats more like it. Shadow smiled before once again vanishing and appearing before Frost once again. Frost was unnerved by Shadows actions, but they actually aided him. Now there was one less enemy to deal with. ..... Apologies for that interruption now where were we? Shadow released a strong burst of killing intent, it was heavy and bloody. He obviously had experience taking the lives of many men and woman, but it wasnt suffocating or all that imposing. Frost albeit taken aback by Shadows abilities felt that Shadow was weaker than perhaps Rock so he should manage. What Frost didnt know however was that although Shadow could be considered weaker than Rock, Jin and Drogan, he was an assassin, a master of the shadow. He attacks from and when you least expect, unless you were on your guard at all times, even if he was weaker than his opponent a well-timed strike could end it. That was why Drogan found him difficult to deal with, an assassin was a devastating force when hes your enemy. Shadow however ignored his subordinates quite logical advice and was facing down Frost in the open thus greatly reducing his effectiveness. But even so, this was going to be anything but an easy fight. With their masters blessing Beta and Gamma restarted their assault on the young Leo, pressuring him from all angles while Luna removed herself from Frosts back, allowing him space to fight all out. Shed focus on helping Leo in any way she could, if they worked in concert, she should be able to cast a couple offensive spells when Leo managed to push back one of his opponents. While Frost would be free to focus on Shadow, and with Alphas recent departing, it didnt seem as though Beta and Gamma would interfere in their masters fight. Feeling the onset of a great duel, Frost was reminded of his battle against Alex, the exhration, the excitement, the joy, the madness, and he grinned. His eyes aze and his blood boiling he charged ahead first with his fastest speed. Closing the distance between him and Shadow in less time than it took to blink. His ive wielded with both handed was viciously swung from the side, aiming at Shadows ribs. If Shadow was anything like Alpha, hed be physically weak, so he ced his full strength in this swing. Shadow merrily watched this unfold, allowing Frost to reach him while showing nothing but a smile full of contempt as images of his brother filled his mind. Out the two he was by far the stronger one, far more talented in assassination techniques as well as straight upbat, a real powerhouse for Adam to utilise. Alex however although fairly strong was around the same level as his recently departed subordinate Alpha but his strengthy in his adaptability. Alex shined in various elements, he was skilled at handling nobles, merchants and the local gangs that were under Adams rule as well as tracking and dealing with certain problems that needed finesse other than simply annihting the target or targets. He served well and filled an important role for Adam, so he was significantly pained by his loss. He pretty much served as the Barons right hand man, a position that Shadow was unable to fill. As Frosts ive inched ever closer it was as though Shadow was watching in slow motion, the one thing he specialised in was speed and Frost was far below him in this aspect. Shadow withdrew his daggers at extreme speed shing at Frosts impending ive. Don don don don Shadow managed to sh at the ives de four times before forcing it to a standstill, although Frost had greater strength Shadow could triumph with speed and quantity and now it was his time to attack. This is what you killed my brother with? So slow. Shadow moved forward after deflecting Frosts side swing bringing his face incredible close to Frosts. Tsk Frost clicked his tongue and head butted forward smashing his forehead against Shadows. Bang! Not expecting such an attack Shadow received the full force, disorienting him. Frost was only in a small amount of pain being the aggressor and sessfully covering his head a small sheet of ice chakra. Not waiting for Shadow to retaliate Frost kneed Shadow in the ribs knocking him backwards before readying his ive once more. Not slow enough it seems. He thus swung down a second time on the still reeling Shadow. Bastard! Shadow shook his head and covered his ribs where Frost kneed him before yelling and disappearing into the shadows resulting in Frosts ive hitting nothing but air. Shadow reappeared almost instantly at Frosts left side stabbing forth with his daggers aiming to slit his throat. Although Frost couldnt effectively follow Shadows movements, he had good instincts. The moment he lost sight of him, his eyes darted round side to side and he prepared a rudimentary armour of ice chakra over his forearms in defence. With shadows superior movements his daggers reached almost within inches of his neck before Frost noticed and deftly raised his arm in defence. Ding His ice covered forearm deflected the daggers away from his neck since they were full of speed and not power. The sharpness however was incredible, his arm was only in contact for a fraction of a second, yet the daggers edge sliced the ice and fairly deep into his arm resulting in a deep gash causing the first drop of blood in this confrontation. Hahhhhhhhhh! Roaring aloud Frost spun his body around along with his ive and stabbed towards Shadow ignoring the pain on his left forearm, such a wound meant nothing. Shadow smirked once again before utilising a skill this time and one that Frost was familiar with. [Shadow step] Frosts eyes opened wide as Shadow literally turned into a shadow and vanished from his eyes, it was far more magically and mysterious than his earlier movements and he was close enough to hear the skillsmand words. Stopping his thrust and nting his right foot firmly into the floor Frost rapidly curbed his momentum, redirecting it 180 degrees. Twisting his right foot, he pushed and leaped backwards funnelling all his energy into his left arm. In a split second he was now thrusting his elbow behind him while covering it with as much ice chakra as he could in the short amount of time. The still dripping gash painted the ice red somehow making it form faster. Shadow appeared in solid form not a momentter and was suddenly faced with this perfectly time elbow bash strengthened by chakra. He tensed his entire body and manipted his daggers into a cross guard to withstand this attack. Smash! Shards of ice chakra exploded outward as Frosts elbow met with the resistance of Shadows daggers, but it onlysted a second before Shadow was sent reeling through the air, his strength was no match for Frosts full power blow especially with such a half assed desperate defence. Shadows feet slid across the floor carving out lines as he was forcible sent backwards due to the immense strength in the blow, he never allowed himself to lose his bnce, keeping his body straight and legs firm. He stopped after sliding 3 metres or so away, his hands shaking as he held his daggers. His eyes narrowed as he felt the pain as well as shock as he stared at Frost. Youre a chakra user as well, how rare. He spoke with disgust however, envious of Frosts talents. Someone being a triple threat of martial, chakra and magic user was incredibly rare even among the noble ss. He shook his hands to stop the shaking. So thats how you beat my brother, your weapon mastery is below what my brothers was and your magic is simple. Shadow looked at Frost with a greater sense of worth now, albeit still full of hate in fact it was worse now. Huuu huuu Frost breathed heavily, rapidly redirecting his full momentum 180 degrees was quite demanding on his body and his elbow. His gazed moved towards his left elbow, it was bleeding quite profusely. His rapid generating of ice armour was obviously not enough to contend with the quality level of Shadows daggers, the pain was quite substantial. Though it seemed that Frost gained the upper hand in thest exchange he was the one that turned out the most injured, but this didnt dampen his spirits no quite the opposite Frosts smile grewrger. His fighting spirit had been ignited and every moment that passed the pain grew fainter and fainter. Hmph so what, yes I used chakra to beat your brother big deal, at least unlike him I wont die like a coward. Frost snarled at Shadow, pissed off about his injury and failing tond a decisive blow. He used this chance to cover the wounded elbow in thicker ice chakra to protect it and numb the area some more before gripping his ive with both hands once again. You dare! Shadow roared in anger, he was very protective of his brother and wouldnt allow some random elf to insult his memory. Shadow red open his cloak and withdrew several throwing daggers simr to the ones Alex used and startedunching them at Frost. Which he responded to in much the same way he did to Alex, with his ive. Ding Ding ding Frost spun and swung his ive around knocking down each and every dagger that was sent his way as if he was performing some kind of dance, it was almost mesmerising. His ive mastery was a level higher than it was when he faced Alex so manipting his ive to strike down daggers was far easier than before, every movement was smooth and required less wasted movement to achieve the desired oue. Although he gained a rank back in the arena room when confronting Rock this was the first time, hed been able to really see the difference. 30 no perhaps even 40% better than before. The more he swung the more in the zone he became, his movements became more responsive more urate and far more deadly. He smiled wildly, if Shadow was going to keepunching daggers at him, he was more than happy to y the target. Chapter 99 99 Chapter 99: Fighting Shadow (2) Shadow could see that his throwing daggers were doing nothing but allowing his target to show off his skills. Ahhhhhhhh! With wrath heunched the next two daggers slightly differently. [Shadow daggers] With the announcement of a skill the daggers in Shadows hands were enveloped in darkness and flew with much greater force and speed than his earlier attacks. This was a skill unique to those that worked in the darkness, being enable to taint your daggers in shadow mana greatly increasing their strength and stealth capabilities. Many a men had died from Shadow using this technique while he remained hidden in darkness. The victims would be snuffed of life before they even knew what hit them. Frost waspletely in the zone and didnt even shudder at the new weapons being sent his way. Like the other daggers he trusted in his weapon. His eyes visualised the paths the shadow daggers would take and with expert precision he shed against them with the ive edge well one of them at least the other changed trajectory mid flight as though it was attached to a string, but he didnt panic merely manoeuvred the shaft of his ive to intercept it. His ive was a high quality weapon through and through not just at the de edge. Bang! Bang! The daggers struck almost simultaneously, and boy did they pack a punch. Ugh! Frost groaned against his will, he felt intense vibrations through his hands but that wasnt the main issue. The ck coloured mana seeped through the tip of the daggers and rampaged through his ive and up his arms causing intense pain particrly in his left one. He sessfully stopped the daggers without even taking a single step backwards but was it worth it? ..... Fuck that hurts! Frost looked down his arms, asionally shots of ck foreign mana could been seen shooting through his veins sending jolts of intense pain every time they did. With this damage things dont look good. Frost frowned, the pain was intense and came in bursts, it could attack him mid swing or while hes attempting to defend a fatal attack, clearly Shadows intention and he wasnt one to wait for Frost to limate to the situation especially after insulting his brother. The moment Shadow released his dagger skill he smirked and moved. [Shadow dash] activating a movement skill simr to hisst but slightly different, this time when he vanished into shadow he charged straight ahead towards his target. Frost barely had time to register the intense pain throughout his arms before Shadow was upon him armed once again with his regr high quality daggers instead of the lower ranked throwing daggers he wasunching. Shit! Frost gritted his teeth and did his best to endure the shots of pain as he swung his ive at the sudden foe in front of him but even with his full speed unimpeded by injury, he was no match for Shadows movements. Shadows daggers easily found their way past Frosts ive sessfully finding their mark. Ahhhhhh! Frost roared in pain. One dagger pierced deep into Frosts abdomen whereas the other stabbed into his right shoulder. His leather armour and enchanted robes barely reduced their pration in the slightest. Shadows attack was true, but he was also in close quarters with Frost, with his weapons firmly embedded within his body. Does it hurt Frost? Good its going to hurt a lot more! With a mad smile Shadow started twisting his daggers tearing up Frosts body and magnifying his pain. For a second Frost was sorely tempted to activate the talisman hidden within his robes if he got the chance but decided against it, he wasnt out of the fight just yet. Through the pain he smiled at Shadow before yelling. Eat ice motherfucker! While Shadow was distracted with his rapture of torture, Frost started channelling his mana, the most mana hed ever channelled. [ice bolt] With themand word spoken two ice bolts were summoned at once, one magic crest on his right hand and one on his left. Each were aimed directly at Shadow, in ces simr to where he was stabbed and at this distance even if Shadow was 5 times faster, he wouldnt be able to dodge. The one in peril suddenly reversed and Shadows eyes shook as he felt the impending doom heading his way, he was tricked. yed into ending a possible wounded prey with a showboating technique but it was toote for regrets, he snarled at Frost and did his best to limit his injuries. He released his grip on his daggers and brought his arms in close to defend his fatal areas, but he wasnt quite fast enough. Squealch! Ahhhhhhhhhh! Frosts ice bolts struck almost perfectly, one pierced deep and through Shadows shoulder whereas the second found its mark in his abdomen but failed to pierce all the way through thanks to Shadows quick actions. His left arm managed to take some of the brunt but was rewarded with a nasty gash, ironically, he sported pretty much the same injuries he caused Frost albeit slightly worse. Frost wasnt done there, with Shadow no longer twisting his daggers he mustered his remaining strength to violently kick outward right into Shadows sternum. Bleurgh! Shadow spat up some blood as his body was sent flying through the air. He crashed against the floor several metres away and continued to roll backwards, this resulted in movement from the two ice bolts still held within his body, exasperating his wounds. He was seriously hurt now. The other group fighting nearby were alerted by the loud noise and stopped their battle momentarily. Unlike Frost and Shadows brief but violent match up Leo, Beta and Gammas was much less dangerous with neither of them gaining an edge over the other. Luna hadnt even gained a chance to effectively join in as of yet. M...m...master Beta quivered as she spoke, shed never seen her master injured so badly before and it filled her with dread. Gamma wasnt much better his gaze frozen in ce as he looked at his masters bleeding body. Luna and Leo however turned their eyes to Frost who got thest hit in but looked anything like a winner. He was bleeding profusely, and his robes were dyed red and ripped in multiple ces also Shadows two daggers were still lodged within him. Frost-senpai! Frost-senpai! The two young kids screeched in distress, Luna on the brink of tears and Leo grinding his teeth in anger. Leo moved to aid but received a fierce look from Frost stopping him in ce. Take care of your problem first, this isnt over. Was what his gaze roughly tranted as. Frost couldnt have Leo run over and get in the way, he needed to take care of Gamma and Beta. Shadow was far from done; he knew it in his bones. Ughhhh! Frost groaned as he yanked out the two daggers lodged in his flesh before giving a signal to Luna who was on the brink of tears. Luckily, she understood quite quickly. [Heal] she put her everything into this spell, but Frosts injuries were extensive, and they were short on time. Frost sucked in sharply as he felt the spell get to work. Luna was a lot less skilled than Maya so instead of being filled with a warm fuzzy feeling that numbed his body he felt itchy as his wounds tried to close themselves but one spell from Luna wasnt enough for that. She merely helped staunch the bleeding, rece a small amount of lost blood, and narrow the two holes left by the daggers. [Heal] [Heal] she rapidly casted an additional two healing spells but each additional one had a much more reduced effect and by the third Luna was starting to bleed from her nose. The sudden and rapid channelling of arge reserve of mana was quite taxing. Luckily Frost gave her another signal telling her to stop otherwise she may have continued casting until she passed out due to mana exertion. Frost sat up with difficulty as he endured the healing magic sent his way. He needed to keep his eyes on Shadow in preparation for his next move, he was unlikely to be able score such a clean hit again or sessfully take him by surprise given that hed revealed nearly all his trump cards. Ive still got the 2nd circle spell ice entanglement but... nah with his speed Id never catch him. Frost focused on recuperating from his injuries while keeping close eye on any movement. Shadow however was in bad shape; he didnt have a healer on standby that could heal his injuries, but he did have something just as good. Carefully and with subtle movements he retrieved a ss vial filled with a deep red liquid from his robes. It was a high quality medium level health potion, far more pure and potent than a low level one and far more expensive. He sourced this potion with his own money, a life saving trump card that he kept just in case. Using as little movement as possible when Frost was preupied with his own pain he downed the vial, the taste was still pretty bad, but the effects were marvellous, he could feel his wounds rapidly start to close. A single medium level health potion surpassed the capabilities of three healing spells cast by little old Luna. It also worked at roughly simr speed as well, so he was more than happy to y the waiting game for a short while at least, shame that Frosts instincts were on point. Frost felt something was wrong and ignored his body, forcibly channelling mana once again, [Ice bolt] a fragile looking magic crest appeared before his right hand and an equally fragile looking ice bolt was summoned andunched at Shadow while he stumbled to his feet, picking up his ive from the ground and readying himself for battle. The healing magic still doing its work throughout his body gradually restoring his strength. His aim wasnt perfect, and the bolt wasntunched at the fastest speed, but it was on target, Shadow would have to make a move to either block or avoid this spell. Tsk Shadow clicked his tongue, pissed off about being disturbed during his healing process. He was forced to roll away resulting in his recently starting to heal wounds to rip wider. He grimaced from the pain but didnt cry out, instead staring at Frost with mes in his eyes. This was a race, who could heal fastest would win, yet now that they both knew each others state they wouldnt allow the other to sit on theirurels no they were forced to fight through the pain and injuries. Frost had already gotten to his feet and started to move towards Shadow growing in speed as he ran, the healing magic clearly taking effect. Bastard! Shadow cursed loudly through gritted as he reached into his robes for any flying daggers he had left, the pain of movements causing his movements to spasm on asion. Beta! Gamma! Kill those brats now! Shadow roared at his still stunned subordinates, if they had not been so preupied with the shock of his current condition, they could have intervened preventing Luna from casting her magic. If, no when he survives this battle, hell have to fully clean house. He had never been more disappointed in his subordinates than he did today. After yelling he withdrew a few daggers andunched them at the approaching Frost, he didnt have too many left but enough to dy his opponent even slightly. His subordinates Beta and Gamma were quickly brought out of their stupor with his yell but not quick enough. Leo was already making his moves, he understood the gravity of the situation and had already moved to attack, catching Gamma by surprise. Squelch! Ahhhh! Gamma screamed in pain as his arm was severed by Leos de, the cut was quick and clean, and the sword treated his flesh like it was butter. Now thats a sword. Leo apuded his familys sword internally as he smiled and prepared to strike again but he wasnt given that chance, Beta responded with her daggers. With increased fervour she forced him back into a defensive stance, but the damage was done. Without aid Gamma would quickly fall. Chapter 100 100 Chapter 100: Fighting Shadow (3) Frost frowned at the approaching set of daggers; they were fired with less force than before, but the desperate tossing made judging the trajectory rather difficult. He was forced to reduce his momentum so as to urately defend himself, using his ive to knock down what he could and relying on some hastily drawn up ice chakra to block or at least reduce the piercing ability of the rest. Ugh! The fierce movements involved in using his ive sent ripples of pain throughout Frosts body, hampering his movements, and allowing a few daggers to fly past his ive and crash into his body. He was forced to take a few steps backwards halting his advance, his ice chakra sessfully managed to take the majority of the damage, but the daggers still pierced his skin. But every second he was dyed was a second Shadow could recover. By the time Shadow ran out of daggers Frost had closed the distance but a precious 20 seconds or so had psed, more than enough time for the two of them to recover to an eptable level. What happened next was a brutal closebat fight between two high level fighters with neither gaining an advantage over the other. Shadow was forced to rely on his spare set of non-throwing daggers, slightly lower in quality than his abyssal metal ones but still at the 3 star level, made from a duram alloy. His injuries were too extensive to safely use any movement skills or sh with full strength, but he was still a foe to be reckoned with. Frost was in a simr situation, unable to utilise his full strength swings and finding his ive to be incredible heavy. Their movements and attacks were anything but graceful and resulted in severe injuries on either side. Unable to effectively block or dodge, most attacks met their marks, leaving severe gashes and gaping wounds. Shadow was filled with regrets, hemented his arrogance, his stupidity. He was a man of the darkness like Alpha said. He specialised in quick hidden attacks from awkward angles and from the shadows, he wasnt an in your facebat specialist. The only reason hested so long against Frost was his superior attributes. Where Frost was effectively an entry level C-rank, he was in the higher end of the middle level with a greater amount of experience and skills under his belt. Yet thanks to his arrogance hed been unable to take advantage of his core skills. [shadow dash], [shadow step] and [shadow daggers] were just some of his basicbat skills, he had many others that were more assassin oriented, but they couldnt be used in the open. The two of them had been enduring this slugfest for at least ten minutes, each of them covered in blood and their healing magic or health potion all used up. Their bodies were only getting more injured without any prospect of healing anytime soon. Blood covered the floor around them, their clothes and armour in tatters, a gruesome sight, even Frosts immacte face had received injuries. ..... Frost better hope that it didnt leave a scar otherwise hed be on the wrong side of Mayas wrath. Gamma had already passed on due to his injury as well as an unexpected couple of air bullets to the chest and face, resulting in Beta having to fight against Leo alone. All while worrying about Luna casting offensive magic her way whenever her guard was down or worse start casting healing magic on Frost once again. She did her best to interrupt her anytime she tried such an endeavour as did Shadow, he couldnt allow Frost to have even the slightest edge especially since he discovered that Frosts stamina and threshold for pain tolerance was higher than his. As the battle went on and they endured more wounds Frost was gradually gaining the upper hand and he was ....smiling. The smile was at first infuriating to Shadow but after a while it was quite terrifying, he felt as though he was fighting a mad beast that grew stronger as the battle continued, some sort of berserker. The worst kind of opponent for an assassin such as him. Bleurgh ahhhh! Shadow distracted by his thoughts failed to evade a thrust from Frosts ive and was pierced deep in the abdomen causing him to cough up blood and scream in pain. This could be it for him. He looked at his mad opponent, eyes filled with hatred. Bastard! Rahhhhhhh! Filled with anger, his face warping, Shadow summoned all his strength to push Frost away with his shoulder doing his best to ignore the agonising pain sent through his abdomen from the ive lodged there. Frost may be smiling but he was also at the end of his rope, he didnt have the strength to withstand Shadows desperate shove and was forced back but did his best to keep his hand on his ive tearing it from Shadows abdomen as he faltered backwards. Ahhhggghhlllbbh! The scream from Shadow this time was an iprehensible howl, the pain was easily understood. Shadow slumped backwards, his face pale, unable to move his body below his chest, he was done. Even a high level heal wouldnt be able save him. His anger and wrath towards Frost was paramount, his eyes were bleeding as he stared at his hated opponent. Y..y..you m..motherf...ucking aa....ant how d...dare you! Shadow roared in between pained breaths and the blood rushing up and out his throat. His pain was maddening and his fury beyond breaking point hed gone mad. His lower body was paralysed, all he could do was stare, roar and convulse. This was supposed to be a simple fight wherein he enjoyed and tortured his opponent as revenge for his younger brother but now what, hed met his end to this ant after a painful inelegant slugfest. No! this cant be! Shadows fury continued to increase as he saw Frost gradually make his way to his feet, unsteady and shaking but still able to stand. Huuuu huuuuu Frost gasped for every breath, his body wracked with pain, but hed won, Shadow was finished, hed never stand again. He struggled to relish in this victory given the cost hed paid but when Shadow cursed him simr to how his younger brother did, he was ticked off. If Im ant what does that make you, a bug that lost to mere ant hahaha ugh! Frostughed in derision but was quickly forced to stop due the pain. He turned his eyes away from Shadow towards the battlefield nearby. Gamma was dead, lying in pile of his own blood while Beta was close to death herself. After fighting for a while Leo picked up on her fighting style and managednd several wounds and was gradually oveing his foe. He sported no more than shallow cuts; his armour certainly was in a ss of its own. Meanwhile Luna was keeping one of her eyes on him for the entire fight looking for a chance to cast another spell to help even slightly but as of yet couldnt find another opportunity. She let out a sigh of relief when she realised Frosts fight was over and redirected her attention to helping Leo finish off Beta. It wouldnt take long. Veins in Shadows forehead throbbed due to excessive anger, but his mind was still somewhat clear, when Frost looked away, he quickly got to work on another trump card. Next, he just needed Frost toe over and gloat, in which he was most inclined to do. Seeing that Leos fight was progressing well Frost turned back to Shadow and slowly made his way over, his eyes full of scorn and contempt but also relief. This was the hardest fight hed ever been in and the most wounds hed ever received. If he had made a single slip, he could have been the one paralysed and waiting for death. The world of Nova was truly a dangerous ce for someone of his meagre strength. If this idiot chose to stick to the shadows like earlier there would have been no way I could have won. Luckily Frost killed his younger brother Alex otherwise he would have had no reason to act as such. Im so pathetically weak. Frost frowned and felt how weak he truly was. Maya was right to worry. Now he understood Mayas anxiety in giving him free reign, this opponent wasnt even the strongest hede across, there was still Drogan, Rock and Jin all far superior in directbat and then there was also Adam. At the moment they still didnt know how strong this Baron was. If he was even remotely close to C-rank, Frost wouldnt be able to fight in his current state and they couldnt exactly wait for him to heal naturally or using Lunas magic. His injuries were far beyond her means. He moved in close to Shadow who stilly in a slump, staring his way with fire spitting out of his eyes. He was reminded of when he stood over Alex in the same wayst week. He had the exact same look right before.... Frosts eyebrows raised up in recognition before smirking and moving in closer to Shadow, fully prepared for what wasing. Hmph just like your brother, dying pathetically under my de. A face full of contempt for multiple reasons, Frost raised up his ive with great difficulty over his head, hed kill Shadow the same way. Hmph! You wont get the chance ptuahh! Shadow spoke through clenched teeth before shooting out a bunch of poison coated needles from his mouth. He directed them straight at Frosts annoyingly handsome face. Haaaaaa Frost sighed as he dodged to the side easily, not letting the needles scratch his skin likest time. The three needles flew passed and lodged themselves into the closest wall quickly painting the area ck. Just like his brother. Frost looked at the ck spots spreading along the walls. Another potent poison but probably slightly different from the wyvern poison he endured. It appeared much more deadly and lethal. Shadows eyes opened wide in shock, he didnt ount for the possibility of Frost dodging and doing it so easily as though he knew it wasing. His heart broke, hisst ditch effort a pathetic attempt, he broke into a madugh as the stench of death reached him. Shut up! Frost found the maniacalugh incredibly eery and disturbing, he brought down his ive upon Shadows head crushing his skull and ending this once greet foe before falling backwards onto his back and lying prone on the ground. With the danger of the situation over, all the built up pressure and damage was released at once, causing him to copse and begin convulsing on the ground. Quickly however his body was filled with something else entirely, it was warm and felt good, his wounds no longer hurt so much, and he could feel a slight amount of strength return to his limbs. It was the DP given by ying Shadow. It was of a much higher quality than the usual riff raff he killed, and it felt amazing. This stuff could really be addicting. Although he received far more from the killing in his dungeon, that was filtered through the dungeon core and was abined amount from low level opponents. The DP given by Shadow was deeper, richer like a high quality steak opposed to lots of meatballs. He even licked his lips as he relished the feeling filling his body, he was still however unable to get up, stuck to being yed out on his back for the interim. Hyaaaaahh Leo however invigorated by Frosts victory took advantage of Betas shock and dyed reactions shing her diagonally from the left shoulder down to her hip ending his more powerful opponent as well albeit with a lot less injuries. Ugh eh ugg m...mas. Betas eyes were wide open in disbelief as she fell backwards from Leos sh, tears spilling from her eyes as she gazed at the lifeless body of her master before ultimately her eyes too, closed forever, the battle was finally over. They had hopefully taken care of thest of Adams forces, Shadow being the most likely leader for the death soldiers, now it should be a straight shot towards the Baron. Unfortunately, with Frost in the shape he is and Luna being pretty much fresh out of mana they werent going anywhere soon. Chapter 101 101 Chapter 101: High level health potion Huuuu huuuuu Leo panted heavily while slumping down onto his backside, he was exhausted. His abilities were quite a bit lower than his assants, forcing him to rely heavily on his armour and weapon. His stamina was depleted, he needed rest and more importantly food. Rumble! His stomach grumbled as it craved sustenance. With a shaking hand he withdrew an item covered in cloth from his side pocket and opened it up. It was jerky, dried meat, perfect for quickly replenishing lost energy in dire circumstances. The taste wasnt that bad as well, a staple item required for any adventurer. Unfortunately, their spatial rings couldnt preserve perishable items, so he needed to carry it the old fashion way. Without regard for noble etiquette Leo tore into a few strips of jerky as he inspected his injuries. Whereas Luna immediately rushed over to Frost, she knew the extent of Leos damage and didnt have anything to worry about. Frost however was a different issue entirely. Frost-senpai are eh! Luna wanted to ask how he was but gasped in shock once she arrived next to him. His injuries were very serious, blood was currently pouring out of his many wounds, and some gashes were so deep the bone was visible. Hardly the image of someone who won. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she came to terms with the extent of Frosts situation. I cant heal this. She screamed internally. This was far beyond her abilities, she only knew the 1st circle level of heal which could replenish some blood, close minor wounds, and aid natural regeneration. But closing these wounds was impossible, shed need to at least be able to cast 3rd circle spells like her father and even then, it might not be enough. They werent finished fighting yet but Frost would need months if not years to heal from these wounds naturally. But most of all she could imagine the pain, the agony he must feel. Shed never seen someone so injured and battered. She tried to channel her mana in preparation to cast another healing spell to give even the slightest aid, but her magic crest copsed mid-way and she was struck by an intense headache, she was out of mana. ..... Frost smiled gently, well as gently as he could, his face was twitching and convulsing from the pain. He appreciated Luna intentions but knew the extent of his own body as well as the limitation of her healing magic. He was unsure in how to proceed; he still had a health potion left which would help to staunch the bleeding at least and he could use some cloth to make some emergency bandages. Proceeding in this operation however looked to be impossible, theres no way he could fight in his current condition, moving alone would be a miracle. Fuck! Frost internally cursed, he wanted to get revenge on Adam for what Alex made him go through, he even prepared a special gift. Frost with shaky movements tapped the cloth covered item hidden within his sleeves. He had kept some of the wyvern poison needles Alex fired at himst week with the intention to make Adam suffer under their effect. Hed allow Leo to do what he wished with him after that. Can we even proceed? Frost looked up at Luna and then to the prone Leo stuffing himself with jerky. Their injuries seem to be minimal justcking stamina and mana. Leo and Luna would be ready to battle once again after a short respite and refuelling. The problem being whether they were strong enough alone. Baron Adam could very well be stronger than Leo and Lunabined and given his level of wealth, theyd likely no longer have an advantage equipment wise. But carry on them must, regardless of risk, Adam must be excised. If they allowed him to survive either by escaping or by them having to retreat, Adam would simply round up more goons with his money and charisma before attacking Leo and his group in earnest. Since after tonight, hed have no reason to hide his machinations. Should I use the talisman to call Maya? His guardian should have means to heal his injuries given her magic level. But how would she react to his current state. Actually, scratch that for now. He wasnt currently in danger of dying and using the talisman would be a waste. Plus, when she arrived, shed probably go into a rage filled rampage and forcible abscond him back to the dungeon, refusing to let him leave until he reached S-rank level strength. He could really imagine her doing that. Maya also had her own mission toplete. Until Adam was dealt with, she couldnt leave Douss and Cassandras side. Luna dont worry Im fine; myst health potion and bandages will stop the bleeding, Ill survive. Frost spoke calmly and as gently as he could to calm the young girls nerves. As long as they dealt with Adam, Leo could easily call upon the local guards to deal with the rest and see to everyones safety. Since without Adam theyd have no reason to refuse his orders. In fact, theyd most likely be incredibly eager to help so as to appear loyal to house Furano. But! Luna focus on what you can do and not what you cant. Shed be more helpful if she drank a mana potion and helped heal Leos injuries and ignored him. Luna frowned, clearly torn between logic and emotion but eventually acquiesced under Frosts gaze and retrieved a mana potion from her spatial ring and began drinking. Meanwhile once Leo had devoured a few strips of jerky and calmed his stomach he manoeuvred himself to his feet and walked over to Frost, his face clearly showing guilt and sympathy. He was the reason Frost was even here. His eyes were full of pain, and he struggled to take in Frosts visage. He knew that he was injured but not to this extent. No way Frost could continue this operation. Can you eat? Leo held out a few strips of jerky for Frost to take. I can move my mouth, but grabbing will be difficult. Frost could barely lift his arms a few inches off the ground, with his left being almostpletely immobile. Ah! Sorry Leo then proceeded to tear off pieces of the jerky and bring them to Frosts mouth to chew. Food would help rece lost blood and boost natural regeneration. Frost struggled to contain hisughter as he was hand fed a few pieces of jerky. Its tough but not bad. He chewed and swallowed the jerky with joy, salty food after a round of hard work was extra tasty. Leo meanwhile downed a low level health potion to seal up the minor wounds he sported thanks to his battle. No point in wasting Lunas mana when he still had potions. After a few minutes Frost finished his portion of Jerky as did Luna who pulled out her own stash. Luna and Leo were now pretty much battle ready, they just needed to help out Frost with his bandages and make sure hes stable. In fact, Frost dreaded having to drink another low level health potion even more so than his current injuries, it was nasty stuff. Frost-senpai is there any residual healing magic left in your body? Leo asked somewhat seriously. Frost taken aback by his sudden change in attitude checked without question. He closed his eyes and sensed the internal structure of his body, checking for any sign of foreign mana or unnatural regeneration. No, its all used up. His body was no longer healing itself at an observable level or even at a micro level, trying just to not degrade anymore. Hed need to drink a health potion soon otherwise hed likely die of blood loss. Haaaa good that means we can use this. Leo sighed before tentatively withdrawing a liquid filled vial from his spatial ring. This vial was of a much higher quality, the ss was instead beautiful crystal, and was adorned with golden decorations. On the centre of the crystal was a beautiful carving of an ice phoenix, this was by far a morevish potion by the vial alone. The liquid inside was glistening and appeared incredibly thick and viscous, like a syrup. It was a mix or red and silver throughout with the red being a far deeper shade than seen in the low level health potions. The vial was sealed with wax and cork just like that of a high quality wine bottle. Frosts eyes glinted with interest as he saw this vial held in Leos hand. It was beautiful. What is that? Curious he couldnt help but ask A high-level health potion of excellent quality. Leo spoke with nervousness as he held the crystal vial. Eh! Luna gasped in shock at Leos reply, not expecting him to be carrying something so valuable. You have a high level health potion of excellent quality! Luna repeated what Leo said and rapidly moved up close to him and wrenched the vial from his hand, delicately in a way. Leo couldnt do anything but let her have it, not willingly to risk the potion. Luna then while inspecting the vial from all sides regaled to Frost the meaning of such a potion. High level potions are incredibly rare within the empire and usually strictly controlled by the royal family, having one alone requires not just money -due to their rarity and thats just regr high level potions- yet this one is of excellent quality almost impossibly rare. Frost didnt know much about different quality of potions amongst those of the same level and tilted his head to the side in confusion well the most he could while lying on his back. Luna happily expanded on the knowledge d to put her studies to use. Potions can be categorised into different levels of quality, sort of sub levels between low level, medium level and high level. Standard quality potions grant the bare minimum of their effect and are usually created by low skilled alchemists or those in training. Within low level potions there isnt much difference in the effects of a standard potion and excellent quality potion but in high level potions the difference is magnitude. By the way all the ones we supplied and used so far were of standard quality. Luna took a breath as she cradled the potion in her hands. As you probably noticed the body can only withstand so much healing energy at once before using more bes pointless. Frost nodded. Tobat this issue, we need to increased the quality of that healing energy, enter high level potions. The higher the quality of a health potion the higher the quality of healing energy it grants. With this excellent quality high level health potion, itd be able to fully heal all your injuries in a matter of minutes all without any side effects. Its a truly rare and exceptional item. Luna frowned as she spoke, such items were incredibly restricted by the royal family, and Leo really shouldnt have one. Also clearly engraved on the vial was an ice phoenix holding a sword in its beak, the symbol of the Northrend royal family. She turned around to interrogate Leo. Leo simply shrugged his shoulders and raised his hands up in the air. It was a gift to my family generations ago from the royal family, its been gathering dust within the vault. Father stressed that I should take it with me just in case and good thing I did. He then smiled gently towards Frost, with this potion hed be able to end Frosts pain and repay him for saving his life-if you dont count the fact that he was injured helping Leo and Luna in the first ce. Luna held the health potion carefully before sitting down close to Frost, shed help him with drinking the potion. Normally shed bepletely against using such a precious resource especially given that its been within Leos family for generations, and theyd likely never be able to get their hands on another, but she too owed Frost her life. Plus, what good is a health potion if you dont use it when required. Chapter 102 102 Chapter 102: The effects of a high level potion Unfortunately, or fortunately in Frosts case this health potion regardless of its high level didnt help with poison, disease, or illness otherwise it would have been used on Dous the moment he became bed ridden. Frost however, although impressed with the value and power of the high level health potion and filled with gratitude towards Leo for willing to use such a preciousmodity was afraid. Low level health potions are bitter enough how bitter is a high level potion going to be? Frost dreaded that possibility, but he didnt have a choice Luna had already pulled the cork out and moved next to him gesturing for him to start drinking. Since he couldnt exactly move or grab anything he needed Luna to hold the vial and tip it upwards as he drank, meaning shed also have control of the pace. If the vour was diabolical, he wouldnt be allowed to stop drinking. His body visibly trembled at the idea, but this was masked by the constant twitching caused by his wounds. This was noticed by Luna given her proximity. Hahaha she quietly giggled understanding his fear. She leaned in close to his ear and whispered. Dont worry Frost-senpai high level potions dont have a horrible bitter taste. She pulled back and winked while smiling, promising to keep his secret fear. Frosts face paled, not enough blood to blush in embarrassment. What he tried to keep hidden was revealed and Lunas attitude made him feel all the worse. What Frost didnt realise was that most people struggled to drink low level potions but were used to such strong vours due to their eating habits unlike Frost who for his first meal had a juvenile mammoth steak. Eventually hed just get used to it or be rich enough to drink medium level potions and higher only. Learning that the potion wasnt very bitter did bring some sce to him, so he moved his neck toward the vial and opened his lips over the spout before Luna gently started to tip it upwards. ..... Umm the liquid was thicker than he thought, like honey and just as sweet in fact it tasted delicious so much that he glugged it down with abandon, urging Luna with his eyes to pour faster. Which she of course obliged, a happy smile on her face but also traces of envy in her eyes. The taste of such a high level and high quality potion was sometimes referred to as royal jelly, given how sweet and delicious it was. Very few were granted the chance to grace their tastebuds with such a reward. As Frost continued to drink, he could feel the thick health potion start to meld into his body. It filled him with warmth andfort, numbing his entire body as it joined with his bloodstream and went to work repairing the extensive damage. Therge holes and gaping wounds across his torso could be seen closing at rapid pace, then scabbing over. Once he finished the entire potion the scabs started to fall off to reveal new and healthy skinpletely erasing any record of damage, the feeling was miraculous. This feels even better than Mayas greater heal spell. Just a minute ago Frosts entire body was racked with pain and every movement sent ripples of agony throughout his nervous system. However now he felt as though he was floating in the air, like a cloud. All his pain had vanished, and his skin pinked up once his blood was replenished giving him healthy glow. The wounds under his clothes and armour had sealed themselves up and new fresh skin covered them, smooth without blemish. And thankfully his face was restored to its pristine state, in fact he looked even better as though he came out of a high price spa. After another couple minutes the warmth faded and he could feel once again, his body was perfectly restored along with his stamina. Crack Crack Frost clenched his fists hard causing his tendons to crack yet no pain, he smiled in response before rapidly jumping to his feet and doing some jumping jacks. Amazing he was in awe, his initial hatred towards potions was now overturned. Leo and Luna smiled as they watched Frost test his full range of movement as well as swinging his ive around. He was back to fighting strength so they could now move own. Should I be slightly annoyed that the reason you used such an expensive and rare potion was so that I could be forced into battle once again or should I be grateful for the same reason? Frost asked with a smirk while facing Leo, causing thetter to awkwardlyugh and rub the back of his neck. He stored the empty ss vial back into his spatial ring once Frost was finished, alone and empty it was still a work of art and a gift from the royal family, he couldnt just throw it away or even recycle it. No, hed need to return it to the vault after they finished here. Shall we head further in now? Luna asked towards the two young men, her mana levels had been topped off and she was ready to cast some more magic. Ah give me a second. Frost replied before moving over to Shadows corpse before looking back at Leo for a second. Do you mind? He probably didnt need to ask but Leo was the de facto leader of this expedition. Its your kill senpai, do what you will. Leo nodded and waved his hand, Frost killed Shadow pretty much alone, so any items on his person were his for the taking, Frost deserved that much at the bare minimum. Frost didnt bother taking anything from the earlier goons due to them fighting as a group and the fact that they didnt carry anything of much value, besides Leo already promised to pay him for his services. Any money carried by these goons would eventually be tallied up and hed receive a share. Receiving Leos blessing Frost dug in, patting Shadows corpse for anything valuable, he already pocketed his abyssal metal daggers as well as his spare pair of duram metal daggers. What he was looking for now was magic devices including storage rings, money, and anything else useful. Shadows robes looked to be fairly nice, but they were torn to shreds in too many ces to be worth anything now. They didnt have a self-repair feature like his which he activated after his jumping jacks. Frost simply slid the two storage rings he found onto his fingers; hed search through themter. He recovered a few smoke bombs, a small coin purse, and an unusual nk sliver que which he couldnt make heads or tails of. He deposited them all within his storage ring along with the only piece of clothing undamaged in their battle, Shadows leather boots clearly made out of some monster skin, too small for Frost to use but certainly seble. The coin purse held around 2 gold coins worth, a great score and that was only one he held on his person, whether there was another within the storage rings hed find outter. He didnt bother searching for any more poison needles and left the ones stuck into the wall alone. He wasnt a fan of poison after his initial experience, only holding onto the wyvern poison needle for the sake of revenge. With his search done Frost dusted his hands and walked back towards Luna and Leo. Thanks for waiting. Frost was a little annoyed that the throwing daggers were all quite badly damaged otherwise hed have stored them to use as a ranged weapon shame but not the end of the world. No problem, find anything useful? Leo enquired, hopefully something on Shadows corpse would help in their next battle. Not really, other than his daggers which I cant use, there was a few smoke bombs as well as his storage ring but theres not enough time to check that. Frost shrugged while replying, not finding Leos query to invasive. Shame, but youd be able to get a few coins for those daggers at least. Luna said soothingly, Frost fought an incredibly dire battle against Shadow and really deserved a fruitful reward. True, Ill most likely do that then. Frost nodded agreeing with Luna, Maya had no need of low quality weapons such as these so best to sell them. Shall we go find your uncle now Leo? Frost smiled ready tounch himself back into the thrill of battle. Yes, that bastards time hase. Leo frowned while replying through gritted teeth. The three were ready to move on and the faster they did the better. Ryuu and Bastion were still fighting their high level opponents and asionally they could feel the entire floor vibrate, likely from arge spell cast by Ryuu or Bastion smashing his axe upon the floor with extreme force. Meanwhile on the surface the 14 adventurers were still battling while severely outnumbered. The sooner they took care of Adam the quicker they could bring this grand battle to an end. Would the goons, bandits and paid off guards continue to fight when their backer had already perished, not likely. Once again Frost took the vanguard position and led Leo and Luna through the final couple areas. The next few rooms where smaller in size and appeared to be either holding areas for items and or quarters for smugglers to rest and wait. There were also several essways that would lead to safe areas but they werent interested in them no, Adam would be at the very heart, his vault. Frost continued on until they came across arge, well decorated door. It was closed shut and looked to be made of sufficiently strong material, getting through such a monstrosity wouldnt be easy. Just the front door to the manor itself was strongly fortified and required Bastion to expend a fair bit of strength to break through. How well enchanted would this one be, the door that likely guarded Adams most important area. The three frowned and looked at each other, confused in how to proceed. Well might as well try. Getting nothing back from Luna or Leo, Frost decided to give it a bash, literally. Bannnnnggggg! He smashed down his ive with incredible strength but all he got in return was arge dose of vibration running up his arms and his fingers going numb. Looking at the door there wasnt even a scratch, they werent going to be able to get in through force. Theyd need a battering ram made of at minimum 3 star material and several hours of powerful ramming if they wanted to make their way through. Obviously, they didnt have ess to that, so they needed to figure out another way. To be honest I expected some defences given his personality, but this takes the cake. I thought hed be all gung-ho for killing me since I walked right into hisir but no, hes still hiding in his shell. Leo spat in disgust, annoyed by his uncles cowardice. Funny thing is that thanks to his cowardice Frost and the others were stopped in their tracks unable to proceed. The three of them looked at one another and fanned out looking for something, anything to get them inside but would Adam be that careless to leave a key hidden under a barrel, rock, or something simr, surely not. Luna since she was the most knowledgeable studied the door trying to find a chink in the enchantments whereas Frost and Leo looked around for that theoretical spare key. After 5 minutes of frantic searching and quick studying, they regrouped to report on their findings. I got nothing. Same I also got nothing. The three of them sighed in disappointment. The enchantments were far beyond Lunas level, she couldnt even tell which ones or how many were in ce and the boys obviously didnt find anything helpful. It needs a specially enchanted key to open which needs to be ced in the recess in the doors centre otherwise wed need a whole lot more manpower to force it open. Luna shook her head, she was powerless. Knowing my uncle, hes probably got a super-secret escape route that no one but him knows in there. At this rate hell get away. Leo clenched his fist in anger and punched the nearby wall causing dust to trickle from the ceiling. Chapter 103 103 Chapter 103: Adam Furano Let me have a look. Frost announced before moving toward therge door, he too was a magic user and probably had better senses than Luna even if his knowledge base was severelycking. He ced his hands on the door opening to feel any inkling but got nothing back, unless struck the door just felt like any normal door, the enchantments were protected and hidden. Seeing that that was pointless he moved onto the recess in the centre, set for the special key. Hmmm, the shape looked a little strange for a key, it was a rectangr recess that strangely looked familiar. The sliver gue that Shadow had. Remembering the item he looted from Shadows corpse, Frost smiled as he gave himself an internal high five for his forward thinking, before withdrawing the sliver gue from his storage ring. The moment he did that, the silver gue was no longer a nk te. Being in close proximity to the door, enchantments and magic crests dotted the entire surface and if in response the grand door reacted in kind, revealing a simr pattern of magic crests. Leo and Luna were shocked and scrambled over towards Frost in curiosity, anxious to know what he did. Holding up the silver gue he replied. Looks like Ive got the key. ..... ... ... ...It was on Shadow, wasnt it? After an awkward silence, Luna queried. Yes, he really didnt think that wed defeat him haaaaaaa Frost sighed at Shadows arrogance, why would you literally carry around a key to the most secure room when confronting the enemy. If you lose, you effectively grant them free ess to what you were trying so hard to protect, really stupid. Well, that was rather anticlimactic but Im not one toin, open the door Frost-senpai and lets finish this. A major obstacle in their path was so easily solved. Frost nodded before gently cing the silver gue into the recess causing both it and the door the light up. Click ck In response they could hear gears turning and unlocking within the door before it slowly started to open up revealing inside, Adams office. Whaty behind the door was rathercklustre. Just a simple office albeit decorated with very expensive items but that was it, Adam wasnt even there. But the three of them wouldnt be fooled, they fanned out once again searching every nook and cranny of the office, there had to be a secret door to another area. This time it was found almost instantly, not the switch but the secret door, and unlike the super enchanted door they just unlocked, this one was of simple construction. Bangggg! Not willing to waste time searching for a switch Frost simple smashed his way through with his ive, creating arge hole in the wall and revealing the way into Adams vault. Guess he cheaped out with this door. Frostughed lightly as he kicked the wall to erge the hole. With the way now clear Frost made his way through first but Leo didnt follow right away, his gaze was focused on several cabs that held an array of documents. This is details of all his transactions over the years. Leo was staring at a literal gold mine, with these documents he had all the proof required to excise everyst drop of bad blood that pervaded his territory, physical evidence. Leo lets go. Luna tapped his shoulder letting him know that Frost had already went on ahead, she knew the value of the documents here, but they needed to deal with the immediate problem. Haaaaa Leo sighed before cing back some of the documents he was perusing. Turning towards Luna he nodded before following after Frost. Meanwhile down at the end of vault Adam was enraged. Bang! He tossed a vase against a wall smashing it to pieces, the vase was an expensive treasure worth several gold coins but at the moment he didnt care. None of his subordinates had given a report on their sess after all this time. Hed try to contact them through a magic device but never got a response which either meant they couldnt or that they were dead. He waited here in his vault stewing in anger that escted as time went on, hed already destroyed lots of his prized goods from his fury. Damn bastard why couldnt you just keel over and let me win. Veins throbbing on his forehead Adam punched a nearby wall causing it to shake, he hated his brother and nephew so much right now, he was so close to sess, and they decided to act at the veryst moment, he was tempted to pull out all his hair from the stress. Behind him a few corpses could be seen, illegal ves. Adam had taken out most of his aggression of some of the illegal ves that he purchased, with the majority of the corpses being female, their faces and bodies covered in punch marks and bruises. What little clothes remained were torn apart as he ravaged them to death, the males were killed when they tried to interfere with his fun. Ptuuah Adam spat on the dead corpse of hisst conquest, his anger still unabated and in fact growing rapidly, he just received a notification through a bonding magic device that Shadow had been killed, that was hisst and truly loyal subordinate. If Leo and his group made it passed Shadow, there was nothing stopping from reaching the vault other than the door. Panicking slightly Adam put his clothes back on and left the containment area for his ves, which was actually fairly well maintained and decorated as he normally treats them fairly decent, since poorly maintained woman are no fun in the bedroom. But his anger clouded his regr judgement causing the bloodbath that now covered the room. The ones that survived were terrified and trembling in the corners of the room, they were ves, illegal ones, with their cor on they couldnt refuse a single order from their assigned master under the punishment of instant death. He moved towards his personal quarters in the vault and started to retrieve all his high quality equipment, it was likely that hed have to fight himself at this rate. He ced on heavily enchanted robes that rivalled and, in some areas, surpassed Lunas as well as a mithril vest like Leos underneath. In terms of weapons, he equipped himself with two short swords one at either hip as well as avishly looking staff that had beautiful gold and silver iys. The magic crystal on top was bright orange and appeared hot to the touch this was his best set of equipment that he could utilise given his current strength. Of course, he also loaded several magic devices into a storage ring on his left hand, not leaving anything to chance. Dongggggg! Once he was fully garbed up, he heard arge bang from behind, it was Frost smashing his way through the secret doorway. Shit how did they get here so fast; Ive havent been able to secure those two items yet! Adam gnashed his teeth together and stormed out of his quarters. Fuck if anything happens to those two my head will be on a tter. Adam internallyined, and a bout of fear filled his heart before he ultimately shook his head side to side and focused on his current problem. His damn nephew, future niece, and that annoying adventurer. Don don don Frost ran forward, deeper into the vault passing by storage rooms filled with glorious and expensive items, but he wasnt distracted, he was close, and his body knew it, Adam was nearby. He smiled as he increased his speed even more, causing Luna and Leo to fall even further behind. Eventually the narrow hallway opened up into arge open area, shaped like a hexagon that led off into the different sections and standing there waiting with a furious expression garbed in high quality equipment was none other than Adam, his target. Frost skidded across the ground to curb his momentum and analysed the man before him. Hes not weak, and his equipment rivals that of Leos. Frosts gaze was then drawn to Adams sword and staff. A magic user interesting. Itd be the first time he fought against someone using magic that wasnt Maya, the idea was intriguing, he couldnt help but smile. Adam was doing the same, analysing the young man that barged into his most protectedir. An elf and an incredibly attractive one, young too, hed fetch a good price. Adam instantly thought of reimbursing his loses today by forcing Frost into very. Perhaps such a gift could soothe that mans anger. Whenever his mind wondered over to thinking about Drogans actual master he felt a chill down his spine, him of all people. Theres always bigger fish in the sea and Drogans master was one of those, Adam was just a medium fish in a very small pond. With the two silently gauging the abilities of one another Leo and Luna finally caught up with Frost and their gazes instantly became cold when they saw the insidious looking man waiting for them. Uncle Leo spoke through gritted teeth. His fists were clenched, and it took all he had to not lunge at Adam with all he had. Haaaaa still not good at masking your emotions nephew. Adam looked in contempt at his nephew as he wondered how such a predictable and na?ve brat caused such problems for him. Speak for yourself old man, youre barely containing your anger in those shifty eyes of yours. Leo retorted sharply causing Adams already narrow eyes to wince in irritation. No longer wanting to go tit for tat with his nephew Adams gaze then wondered over to Luna causing her to shiver in fear, his eyes were filled with malice. Leo promptly moved in front and guarded her from Adams view while staring daggers at his uncle, slightly drawing his sword from its sheath. He was reaching his limit of patience. Hmph! Adam hmphed before once again looking towards Frost. You must be Frost then, the one who foiled mine and Alexs n. He found Frost quite irritating to the eyes, the other two werent much of a threat to him but this adventurer called Frost was different, he needed to be wary. You presume correctly, the man who foiled your n and killed Alex are one in the same oh and Im also the one that killed his brother, Shadow was it? Frost smiled coyly enjoying this battle of words and wills. Adam frowned at Frosts statement; he knew exactly how powerful Shadow was. Hes more of a problem that I thought. His current predicament was quite perilous, dealing with someone who could defeat Shadow was risky even with his superior equipment. Why? Adam decided to attempt a soft approach. Hmmm whatever do you mean? Taken aback Frost tilted his head to the side in confusion. Why did you ally with my nephew and his group? Why did you save him and Luna knowing that youd be opposed to me? Why did youe here tonight at his behest, was it money? if so, I can provide far, far more, rewards I have more items than I can possible count, fame, my connections in the noble world and within the empire are far more diverse than that of the Furano household I can even expedite you to a B-rank adventurer if youd like so why do you stand against me! Adam spoke louder and with more rage as he went on, generating a noble aura filled that demanded he be listened to. Well Frost wasnt one to be affected by such things and simply replied honestly. First off, I really dont give a shit what you can give me, that means nothing to me. Second, I helped Leo and Luna out because they didnt ask even when driven into a corner, I respected that and lended aid because I could, simple as that. Leo and Luna shivered at Frosts announcement before smiling broadly at one another happy with his reasoning. You however, I dont like and am more than happy to take care of. Frost smiled at Adam as though he was prey readying his ive for battle. ......Ahahahahahah Adam was silent for a while before breaking into an unrestrainedughter, he found Frosts answer to beical, stupidlyical. An idiot, then you can die like the other two! Adam snapped out of his madughter and spoke harshly before pointing his staff at Frost. No more need for words, the battle is set to begin. Chapter 104 104 Chapter 104: Fighting Adam Suddenly when Adam pointed his staff at Frost, he could feel a powerful amount of mana being channelled through the orange crystal causing the hairs on the back of his head to stand up. Shit Leo, Luna move! Frost shouted out towards his charges before covering his arms and chest with ice chakra as well as the outer edges of his ive, something big wasing. Die! [Fire ball] Adam casted the 2nd circle fire spell [fire ball] and unlike Lunas this spell was incredibly powerful, reaching almost the same strength as a 3rd circle spell. A massive ball of fire over a metre in diameter, giving off immense heat was created from a magic crest. Adam didnt even need to chant the aria to summon such a powerful spell. This ball of fire was sent flying right at Frost with great speed, elerating as it moved and with the distance between him and Adam, he didnt have enough time to dodge, hed have to brace for the impact. At least this way hed be able to understand what he was up against. Raising his ive above his head he activated his own technique. [Shattering strike], the de of the ive filled with energy and gave off a blue glow. Frost brought down his powered ive with intense might onto the oing ball of fire resulting in a cataclysmic explosion. Booooooooommmmmm! The fireball exploded on contact with the ive sending a powerful shockwave that melted and destroyed all of Frosts ice chakra and forced him back several steps, his body released steam from the rapidly melted ice but otherwise he was fine. He received no damage just a bit of breath knocked out him, Luna and Leo dodged out of the way the moment Frost shouted evading the st. Leo drew his sword fully and raised his shield covering Luna as she casted her own magic. ..... Looks like uncle isnt your typical noble. Leo clicked his tongue, the initial n being that hed fight his uncle alone or with slight aid hoping that hisbat strength was in line with your typical noble. Being that of around E-rank possibly D-rank, manageable by Leos standards but they were wrong, very wrong. From that spell alone it was clear that not only was Adam well kitted out with high spec equipment his strength was at the very least C-rank meaning that Leo taking the vanguard was out of the question. Thankfully there was only one opponent this time and given his appearance Adam was not the assassin type meaning they likely didnt need to look out for hidden strikes at the vitals. The three of them together would fight. From behind Leo protected by his shield and stature Luna started channelling her own magic. [Air bullet] a green coloured magic crest formed at the end of her staff before generating small ball ofpressed air thatunched towards Adam. Meanwhile Frost shook his body and casted his own spell, albeit without a staff. Maybe I should invest in my own staff if Im going to be using magic more. His ive was fine for channelling chakra but for magic he really needed a staff with a magic crystal to help enhance the resulting spells. [Ice bolt] heunched his ice bolt spell at the same time as Lunas air bullet. Hmph! Pathetic [earth shield]. Adam mocked their attempts to attack him with magic, casting another 2nd circle spell without an aria this time of the earth element. A brown coloured magic crest appeared in response to his words before generating a shield of earth floating in front of him. Bang! Don! The ice bolt and air bullet mmed into the earth shield failing to puncture through, easily blocked by the superior spell. But neither side was done with their attack. Frost moved the instant he shot out his ice bolt closing the distance between them, he was better suited to closebat anyway. Leo and Luna moved as well, changing their position in the brief moment that Adams view was blocked by his own spell. Adam however wasnt fazed and started channelling his mana once again, this type using an air spell. [Shockwave] moments before Frost was upon him Adam casted his next spell, arge green magic crest rapidly formed at his feet and a powerful wave of destructive air radiated outwards in all directions mming harshly into Frosts ive forcing it back. Leo dug in his feet and readied his shield. Boooom The shockwave struck against his shield with great force, but Leo sessfully endured only falling back a few feet before the mana dissipated. Luna was channelling,pletely ignoring the attack fully trusting in Leo capabilities. [Fire envelop this sword in all your glory, fire enchantment] Luna enchanted Leos sword with fire giving it enhanced strength and a magical property. Leo would need every boost he could get hold of if he wished to break through Adams defences. Fire quickly enveloped Leos sword causing it to glow red before being absorbed into the weapon fusing them as one. Thanks Luna Leo thanked his partner before charging ahead to use his newly enhanced sword. Frost also rebounded and continued his attack, the air spell doing little to no damage just knocking him backwards. Annoying pests Adam frowned as he prepared to use his natural battle style, one he hadnt had to use for a long, long time. Unlike his brother Dous, Adam wasnt born with a naturally strong body and high level of talent for closebat, yet he was no slouch either. After lots of effort he became fairly proficient in his use of short swords and staffs, but his true talent lied in magic. He was a rarebination of someone skilled in both closebat and magic, a battle mage if you will. With one hand holding his staff he withdrew one of the short swords sheathed on his hip with the other, now dual wielding he started to channel his mana once again this time doing the same as Luna. [Fire enchantment] [earth enchantment]. HHHe casted two spells at once, fire enchantment on his sword that was prepared to counter Frost and earth enchantment on his staff which was pointed at Leo. Adam wasnt afraid of engaging in closebat even when outnumbered. Frost brought back his ive before swinging diagonally at Adam but was met with Adams short swordpletely stopping his advance, their physical strength was roughly the same. In regards to Leos side, Adam merely thrust with his staff stabbing Leos shield and knocking him backwards before focusing on Frost, the real threat. With his fire enchanted de, Frost was forced to endure intense heat being funnelled through his ive, it was ufortable to say the least for someone so aspected towards the ice element. He frowned in difort but held his ground, grabbing his ive with two hands now and pushing down, hoping to overwhelm Adam but that was naive and simple. Instead of reinforcing his sword with his staff Adam channelled more mana and casted a spell right at Frosts face. [Fire bolt] he used a 1st circle spell but summoned 5 at once all honed in on Frosts face. Shit Frost cursed before pulling back his ive and desperately jumping backwards but the fire bolts followed him making him dodge back and forth with great difficulty. Not one to hold back, Adam started casting again with rapid pace, far faster than Frost even thought possible. This was a true magic user he was battling, his respect for Ryuu instantly escted. [Floor shake] [earth bullet] he casted a 2nd circle spell first causing the ground around Frost to shake and rumble affecting his bnce before firing several earth bullets at his chest. This time he couldnt dodge. Bleurgh! Frost got the wind knocked out of him as 3 of the bullets struck true, mming into his chest. That one hurt. He couldnt summon his ice chakra fast enough and even if he did it wouldnt have been strong enough to help. Those earth bullets packed a serious punch, even more than Shadows throwing daggers, thankfully they were blunt spheres otherwise he might have gotten punctured. [Air bullet] Luna casted her magic at Adams unprotected back. Don don Two air bullets mmed into Adams back, but he didnt even feel it, his enchanted robes nullified the damage entirely. 1st circle spells would have zero effect on him, even more so ones cast by an amateur mage such as Luna, even if she did have a powerful staff. Weapons are only extensions of ones own skill if the user is weak then their abilities will still be weak, they can only enhance them by so much. It still ticked him off though, so he decided to repay the favour by showing her how a real air bullet was supposed to be cast. [Air bullet] two air bullets much morepressed and with greater velocity were shot towards Luna, evading Leos shield protection they mmed into her chest. Ugh she let out a slight groan, her robes deflected most of the damage but unlike Adam she was purely a mage type, resulting in a weaker body but she wasnt damaged just winded. Their skills in magic were poles apart, she felt as though she was fighting her father as whenever he disyed his magic to her, she felt the same way. It made her feel small and weak. Happy with his result he turned back to Frost, but hed already moved. [Ice bolt] Frost still couldnt easily summon two ice bolts, so he focused on strengthening the one he had andunching it at Adams sword wielding arm all while moving in from the opposite side, aiming to take on the staff instead. Leo followed Frosts movements and charged towards Adams back, they needed to keep the pressure on otherwise theyd be destroyed by his magic. Adam had yet to cast any 3rd circle spells and they were not inclined to give him the chance. What ensued next was repeated high paced battle between the four with Frost and his group aiming to keep the pressure on Adam preventing him from casting high level magic and being able to focus on just one of them. They fought for 15 minutes straight before Luna and Leo started to falter. The high pace wreaking havoc on their bodies and in Lunas case her mana levels. Yet Adam had been constantly casting both 1st and 2nd circle spells without stop yet it felt to Frost as though his mana levels hadnt taken a dent like he had a limitless supply. It reminded him of his state when within the purview of the dungeon core, hed be constantly supplied with mana and energy greatly increasing his stamina and mana supplies. He frowned unable to exin it. Even if he is stronger than me, I should be able to feel a decrease in his mana reserves, but hes still got at least 70% left. This was a major problem, if Adam had an inexhaustible supply of mana their current tactics were pointless, they would be the first to copse and then theyd have to suffer his higher level magics. Hes got to be getting mana somehow woah. Frost had to duck mid thought to evade getting a fireball to the face. In regards to attempting to engage in closebat, their exchanges would be very brief and usually end in a draw. The issue was that once Frost closed in and was bogged down by Adams staff or sword hed be met with magic to his face or chest forcing him to back off. It felt like punching cotton, constantly repelled without causing any worthwhile damage. In this battle Frost wasnt smiling, it wasnt enjoyable in the slightest. Enlightening and a great teaching situation in regards to utilising magic but not fun in anyway like the fight with Shadow. He simply wanted to end this fight and be done with him. A few times he tried to use the poison needles in his sleeves, but hed always be rebuffed before he got the chance. I need to deal with his mana supply first. Chapter 105 105 Chapter 105: Fighting Adam (2) Frost frowned as he tried to focus his senses, trying to find any indication of unusual mana disturbance. Adam needed to be receiving mana from somewhere, as long as he found the source, he could stop it. However, focusing ones attention while in a dangerous high paced battle was easier said than done. Dong Dong Frost was suddenly hit by two earth bullets the moment he closed his eyes to sense, quickly knocking him out of his focused state and sending him reeling backward. Bleurgh Frost started coughing and spitting up saliva as he gasped for breath, he was struck on the lungs, very painful. With his eyes bloodshot he stared with anger towards Adam who simply smirked at him before casting more magic. [Earth bullet] he summoned several more earth bullets and started firing them at Frost. He knew exactly what Frost was trying to aplish and hed be foolish to allow him to continue. Along with his highly enchanted robes made from C-rank monster skin, and his almost 4 star staff and short swords, Adam was outfitted with a few handy magic devices. One of which being a mana absorption ring. This ring looked just like any other jewellery, yet it was a well-designed and subtle magic device that discreetly absorbed the mana from the surroundings and funnelled it into the user, refilling their mana levels at a sufficient rate. Alone this wouldnt be enough, but all around his vault Adam had strategically ced multiple mana generators that produce a mana rich environment. This wasnt mainly to aid in battle no that was just a happy coincidence. The main reason for the generator was for the diverse range of items that he had stored here. Some high quality products required this sort of environment too not dpose and or lower in quality. Even without a mana absorption device people would find the area easy to replenish their mana levels, as long as they were meditating and focusing on absorption. During battle however they would be restricted to their natural regeneration capabilities thus resulting in their current predicament. Adam had a significant advantage it terms of attrition basedbat and he knew it. If Frost sessfully located the mana generators or could pinpoint which of his many rings were the mana absorber hed be in danger. Although he was sessfully staving off the group of threes advances if they started to split up and no longer focus on him, hed struggle to stop them. ..... [Earth bullet] [fire bolt] Adam continued to fire earth bullets at Frost to prevent him from narrowing down the source of his mana and he fired a bunch of fire bolts at Leo who was attempting to shield charge into his back, sessfully thwarting his attempts. They had however now realised the problem and would use every chance they got to find the source of Adams unlimited strength. Tsk this isnt going to be easy. Frost was forced to run in all directions as he dodged the speeding earth bulletsunched at him without end. Adam was no longer hiding his obvious unlimited mana and started to cast even he faster. Frost barely managed to evade the bullets let alone move in close for an attack or try to sense the flow of mana. This did however create an opportunity. Adam was so wary of Frost that he neglected someone else who could utilise mana, Luna. Whether this was due to sheer arrogance or something that he didnt have choice in was unknown. Luna was intelligent and knew she was the best hope the group had at levelling the ying field. Luna sent Frost a look with her eyes basically tranting as leave it to me allowing Frost to fully engage in evading and attacking, pulling Adams entire attention. Meanwhile she whispered into Leos ear who had been sent reeling back to her position by Adams fire bolts. Keep the pressure on him and protect me whenever you can. Luna gave Leo his instructions before closing her eyes and sensing the trails of mana within the room. Shed be vulnerable during this time and needed to be free of distractions. The multiple mana generators made the mana thick and difficult to follow flowing streams especially with her meagre abilities. Frost winked in her direction showing that he understood before going on the offensive once again. Woosh A couple earth bullets flew over his head as he ducked, and this time instead of dodging to the side he ran forward straight for Adam, his ive in front, hed weather a few blows willingly if it meant he could get up close and personal. Leos eyes opened wide as he witnessed Frosts actions before he nodded and smiled in understanding, making his own moves. Moving in concert with Frost but from opposing sides they closed the distance, forcing Adam to focus intently on their movements andpletely ignore Lunas actions. The thick mana also served to work against him in this regard, if he couldnt see Lunas actions with his own eyes, hed struggle to sense it through mana sense. Smash smash shwing don Frost used his ive to shatter two earth bullets sent his way, cleaving another in half, evading one by tilting to the side yet failing to dodge thest, it striking against his chest, but it was predicted. Frost generated a thickyer of ice chakra armour over a small part of his left chest and moved his body so that the earth bullet struck there. It still hurt but at a significantly reduced level, his momentum wasnt curbed in the slightest and within a second, he was once again before Adam with his ive raised. He couldnt care about stamina or risk at the moment. Tsk Adam clicked his tongue and moved to parry the strike with his fire enchanted sword along with an added bonus. [Shattering strike] Frost activated his skill filling his ive with energy as he cleaved downward. [Parry] with a smirk Adam used his own weapon skill, a defensive skill that enhanced his weapons parrying force, simr to a weak version of rampart but on the weapon. Just before the two skill enhanced weapons were about to strike however, Leo intervened. [Shield bash] Leo activated his own skill, covering his shield in a protective energy and ramming forward right into Adams back. It caused little to no damage but did sessfully knock him off bnce, redirecting Adams sword swing ever so slightly. Shinnnng With the short swords swing direction off target, Frosts ive mmed down without much resistance, the short sword merely grinding against the side before being knocked away. Slice! Raahhhhhh Frost roared as his ive with still arge amount of momentum cleaved downward, shing across Adams torso. Ahhhhh! Bastard! Adam shouted in pain, a long yet fairly shallow cut opened down his torso. His robes protected his body well, but Frosts strength and high quality weapon managed to cut through the material and his own body, causing sharp pain. The wound was superficial at best but was still the first wound Adam had received in years and the notion filled him with wrath. Eyes growing red Adam swung out in a spin with both his sword and staff. [Spinning strike] using a skill he spun with force pushing Frost and Leo backwards which they were more than happy to do given their recent sess however that may not have been the best move. Not happy with the distance he forced his two assants back too, Adam channelled his mana to cast a 2nd circle air spell. [Shockwave] Frost and Leo was thus forced back even further; their backs almost reaching the wall. Luna was already at the very back but even so she felt the air pressure but what really shocked her was what wasing next. With her eyes closed and entirely focused on the flow of the ambient mana she could clearly see now therge amount of mana that Adam was sucking in as well as its direction. She found it. A mana absorbing ring. She couldnt however express her joy since from the amount of mana Adam was channelling meant he was about to cast an incredibly powerfully spell. Luna snapped open her eyes and shouted towards herpanions. Hes about to cast a 3rd circle spell! She yelled as fast as she could while hastily creating a quick mana shield, the basic shield spell learned by mages to defend against other magic. Leo winced and moved as close to Luna as possible, bulwarking himself beside her and activating a special effect of his armour, covering his body in a pseudo mana shield. Leo didnt have any magic defence skills, so he had to rely on his armour. Frost however was a little taken back by Leo and Lunas actions he hadnt the chance to experience any 3rd circle magic and failed to realise the implications. 3rd circle spells were a cut above those of the 2nd and 1st, far more destructive and impactful. Wherein 1st and 2nd circle spells are considered low level spells 3rd and 4th and consider medium and a dividing threshold between amateur and truly skilled mages. When a mage could use 3rd circle spells, they truly became a powerhouse of any adventuring party. Unsure on what to expect Frost simply fortified himself the best he could, heavily cingyer uponyer of ice chakra armour over his body ignoring the cost in mana and energy. Dong He stabbed his ive into the floor hoping to assist in blocking whatever wasing his way, his blood boiled in excitement as he felt the mana being summoned by Adam. With their preparationsplete Adam had finished gathering his mana, hed need to chant an aria for this one. [Wind be like twisting des, slicing those who bar your path, gale force]. With Adams words a massive green,plicated magic crest was created beneath his feet before it summoned what appeared to be a mini tornado full of des of destructive air. Don With the tapping of his staff upon the crest the gale force spell spread outward like the shockwave spell but all the more devastating. Before the wind even reached Frost, he could feel the sharp des and intense pressure bearing down on him. His body was already being pushed backwards and kes of ice armour starting to be blown off. Shit! Frost frowned and his entire body tensed as he braced himself for the oing onught. Hoooooool! The gale force tornado howled and screamed as it expanded and smashed into Frost, Leo, and Luna. Leo and Luna although the weakest people in the room were the best prepared, with the two of thembining their defence into one solid bulwark along with their heavily enchanted armours braced themselves and bravely fought against the sharp and powerful des of wind. Griiiiinnnnddd It sounded like metal being grinded upon metal as Leos shield met the des of wind, hiding the majority of his and Lunas bodies behind it, protecting them from most damage however even with their defences, the des of wind carved gashes into Leos shield as well as slicing up his arms and shoulders, drawing blood. Lunas mana shield was obliterated pretty quickly but she continued to pump in mana to restore it, with little sess. She too started to sport bloody gashes all over her body but that was it, the two of them managed to avoid any fatal or serious wounds. But their robes and armour were quite damaged in the aftermath. Frost however was not nearly as prepared and had to rely on his superior strength to endure the sharp and intense buffeting. Stabbing his ive into the floor was the correct choice, otherwise he would have likely been mmed into the back wall. He buckled down and his body was carved up by the dozens of wind des, slicing offyers andyers of his ice armour as though it was merely cloth. As the seconds went on, his body was thoroughly carved up by the wind, his entire torso dripping red from his blood. Parts of his hands were cut so deep that bones where showing, and his immacte face now sported red whiskers from where the residual wind des passed. The gale force tornado spellsted only around 15 seconds, but the damage was evident, Frost was exhausted and in great pain all over his body, the room they were in had deep carvings on the floor and walls, some of Adams prized possessions were even destroyed but at this point he didnt care. Chapter 106 106 Chapter 106: Fighting Adam (3) With the spellplete and the pressure removed, Frost slumped forward onto his knees panting and gasping for air. Hu hu hu ptuah, he also spat out some blood that found its way into his lungs, he was hurt, not life threatening thankfully but hurt none the less, his physical abilities would certainly be reduced. His body wracked with pain, he turned his gaze over to Leo and Luna hoping that they survived. Eh? He was gobsmacked the two of them were practically fine, a few gashes but nothing else. His lips subconsciously twitched as he caught the sight of a pseudo mana shield re-entering Leos armour and the many enchantments starting to fade on Lunas robes. He was seriously outssed equipment wise, and he felt the repercussions of such a state just now. Regardless of his superior strength -of which it was quite substantial over Leo and Luna- he came out looking far worse in this exchange. His gifted leather armour was now in tatters and offered zero protection anymore and his robes although expensive in appearance only repaired their damage giving no defence value- of course he could always pay DP to change that but at the moment hecked the money and ability since he was out of the dungeon. His physical body though fairly well toned and muscr was nothing like that of a monsters. Wherein a pr bears hide would deflect most low level weapons his skin couldnt, like that of any other humans or elfs, flexible but not super tough. To not get irritated at his would be friends for their advantage in wealth he looked towards the cause of his injuries, Adam. And the moment he did he wished he didnt. Other than looking a little tired, Adam was perfectly fine. Hisrge mana expenditure from using one of the more powerful 3rd circle spells was slowly being restored by his mana absorbing ring yet he didnt immediately move to finish of his foes which was strange. [Heal] as Frost struggled to his feet to resume the battle, Luna casted a healing spell that quickly got to work, closing some of his more shallow cuts, staunching his bleeding. It was a temporary fix but enough to get him back into fighting action but still Adam didnt move only ring directly at him with mes in his eyes, not happy with the results of his grand spell. He cant cast another spell so soon, nows our chance, destroy the ring on his left index finger. Luna shouted out and started to channel her mana to irritate Adam while Frost and Leo moved in. To destroy a magic ring such as that theyd need something physical i.e., Frosts ive or Leos sword. ..... Bitch! Adam turned to re at Luna in anger, his fury evident. She was right, although he still had a decent amount of mana leftover and was gradually regaining the mana, he used to cast hisst spell, the veins in which his mana flowed were overheated. Basically, the mana was too much and too dense for him to support repeated casting. Thus, he was temporarily unable to cast magic under the threat of burning his mana veins and causing serious and possibly permanent damage. It didnt help that he casted the most powerful 3rd circle spell he knew all while enhancing it with a high quality magic crystal and pumping the spell with as much mana as his construct would allow. And what did he get for his effort, diddly squat thats what. Leo and Luna barely received a scratch thanks to their super armour and robes as well as quick thinking to work together. And the one he wanted to take care or most, Frost, well he although injured was still clearly in the fight and with Lunas quick healing spell the damage hed just done would eventually be erased, it was incredibly infuriating. At the very least he pictured cleaving a couple limbs off his targets but was met with such poor results. Luna the failure of a mage that she was, pointed out the location of his mana absorbing ring at the worst possible timing, a blood vessel burst in his eye as he did his best to restrain his wrath. Hearing Lunas announcement both Frost and Leo sprang into action, Frost ignoring his pain and Leo tossing his badly carved up shield at Adam, itd only be a heavy weight drag in its current condition might as well use it as an offensive weapon. [Shield lob] luckily, he knew a ranged shield skill, thus increasing its offensive might. His shield spun rapidly as it flew through the air and towards Adam, while Frost started to run from his side. Tsk Adam clicked his tongue as he swung out his short sword at impending shield. [sh] he activated a skill and smashed into the shield with his sword sessfully deflecting it away, however the impact shook his arm sending a jolt of pain. Leo threw it with a fair amount of strength and given the material it was made of it was heavier than expected. Frost quickly arrived with his ive in hand with refuelled vigour knowing that hed never get a chance as good as this to attack. Not having to worry about getting a firebolt or earth bullet to the face he swung quickly with his ive, not using his skill instead going for speed and quantity, taking advantage of his recently achieved adept ive mastery. Dong dong dong Frosts ive was repeatedly swung and repeatedly met by Adams short sword, with Frost slowly gaining ground and speed with each swing. Swhiiiing Eventually Frost sliced with enough force and speed that he forced Adams sword up and out of his grip, sending it flying into the nearest wall, and with grace rapidly brought his ive down to remove Adams entire hand along with his mana absorbing ring, shame however that that was wishful thinking. Adam still had his staff which he promptly brought to bear against Frosts ive just in the nick of time catching the ives edge, lodging it within the wood of the staff, trapping it. Frost tried to pull back his ive to continue his onught, but it was lodged in pretty deep, and he only seeded in pulling Adam closer. Adam smirked as his eyes opened wide with glee, he rapidly withdrew his other short sword and moved to cleave Frosts face. Since he couldnt use magic as of yet a sword to the face would do just as well, perhaps even better. Frost winced trying once again to remove his ive from Adams staff but failed, clicking his tongue he moved to fire an ice bolt at him but with Adams enchanted robes itd be brushed off at best. He didnt want to abandon his weapon; without it hed be severely weakened. As his mind raced at frantic speed analysing the best option to take, he caught something in the corner of his eye, Leo. He internally smiled not wanting to give away Adams impending doom by showing a physical expression. He maintained his worried and frantic look as though he was stumped, stuck between a rock and a hard ce. Adam was more than happy to relish in Frosts expressions but knew he only had a short moment. Rahhhhhhhhh! Adam roared and with all his strength swinging his sword upwards aiming to slice Frosts immacte face(though now with red whiskers) in two but that didnte to pass. Shing! Don don don With incredible precision Leo appeared at Adams side and swung his fire enchanted de down upon his uncles wrist, severing it in single motion. Adams wrist, hand and sword fell to the ground gushing out blood, yet Adam didnt scream. There was silence as Adam was in shock, he couldnt believe what happened. Why is his face not carved up? Adam looked up at Frost in confusion,pletely bewildered by theck of sliced up elf flesh staring down on him with contempt. He then noticed his annoying nephew to his side with blood on his sword and anger in his eyes. Whys Leo there? Still in shock he followed Leos sword to the tip and there he found a severed hand that strangely looked familiar. Wait tha.. Ahhhhhhhhhhh! My arm! At the sudden realisation of his arm lying on the ground covered in blood and detached from his elbow the pain came almost instantly and he screamed. Frost and Leo had to quickly cover their ears, the scream was so loud and bloodcurdling. Fuck that hurts! With his ears ringing from the scream Frost red at Adam, lifting up his leg he covered his foot in ice chakra and kicked Adam in the abdomen while still clinging to his ive. The resulting opposing forces allowed him to dislodge his ive from Adams staff all while sending the still screaming Baron who now sported a broken rib from the kick. That kick however took out thest of Frosts stamina and he wasnt able to follow up and end the fight then and there. He stumbled when he moved, falling to one knee, and gasping for breath. Lunas healing spell only repaired the simplest of cuts and along with the urgency of the situation his revigorated stamina and strength was only temporary. He turned to Leo to let him know that he needed to finish it. Leo nodded in understanding and swiftly moved, charging after his uncle with the intent to end him once and for all. Luna also wasnt one to hold back, casting magic towards the rolling Adam. [Fire bolt] she sent two fire bolts flying at Adam, one hitting his stub for a left arm resulting in another scream from the Baron. Leo arrived in a moment; his sword raised. [sh] he called out themand word for his skill and shed down with great force. If this strike met true, Adam would be in great danger, but would it happen so easily. The moment Leos sword struck down and was about to sever Adams neck something suddenly shone out, generating an invisible barrier sessfully blocking the strike. The invisible barrier was the concoction of a life saving magic device that Adam kept attached to his neck. Itd only act when the wearer was about to be struck by a fatal blow and in reaction it would create a powerful mana barrier that would save the users life. The barrier reflected the majority of the swords force causing Leos hand to rip open ande loose flinging the sword out of his grasp. Crack! The invisible barrier cracked and returned to harmless mana, the magic device had been used up, the light faded, its power used up, it was now an empty vessel. To use it again an artificer would need to recharge the magic crest, but it did what it was made for, saving its users life. Leo winced from the shooting pain from his sword hand but didnt give up, winding back his arm to punch his uncle to death but again he was rebuffed. This time however it wasnt a magic device or spell, no Adam had regained some of his focus thanks to the lifesaving magic device going off and responded to Leo in kind, using his fist. Adam although missing half an arm and in immense pain was still a C-rank opponent, he was much stronger than his nephew, faster too. Boom! Leo was punched directly in the face by a stronger maddened opponent, the force was enough to break his nose and send him reeling back, spurting blood from his nostrils. Leo fell backwards and his momentum caused him to roll back to where Frost was still kneeling as he gathered some strength. Frost caught his young friend stopping his roll and inspecting his injuries. His nose is a mess, and his eyes are unfocused. Frost frowned, Leo was probably out the fight after that strike, it was a miracle he wasnt knocked unconscious by the blow. Leo! Luna screamed in despair as she ran towards him, her heart in pain. So distraught was she that she failed to notice Adam ring in her direction. [Fire ball] ignoring the searing pain sent throughout his body from using mana so soon, Adam in his anger fired off a fire ball from his hands. He dropped his staff on the ground as he rolled back due to Frosts kick, but it still packed a punch. Booooom! Luna was struck from the side and sent flying into the nearby wall, her head hitting hard against the concrete nearly knocking her unconscious. Her robes protected her from most of the magical damage but the physical bash to the head was another matter. She slumped down prone, her mind and vision hazy all she could think about was Leo and how she needed to save him. Chapter 107 107 Chapter 107: Fighting Adam (4) With Leo and Luna both down and disorientated only Frost was left to do battle with Adam. Before, he wasnt a match alone but now with Adams injuries and hidden life saving majors being depleted Frost may triumph. However, Adam at the moment was quite mad, and a cornered foe is much more dangerous to deal with. Frost was still kneeling there building up the strength to charge while shifting Leo behind him just in case. Adam wasnt doing very well either, his forceful use of mana filled his body with immense pain as though he was burning from the inside out. He was in no condition to cast magic, any further spells may damage his organs or even make his veins explode, killing him almost instantly, no hed need to rely on a mix of luck and well brute strength. Afraid to cast another spell and well just afraid to make a dangerous decision Adam stared at Frost warily, not casting any more magic. He held his charred stump of an arm close and nced side to side to find his weapons. Fuck fuck fuck! He was internally screaming and panicking and wanted to do nothing but flee this fight but would Frost let him? Not a chance. Plus, unfortunately Frost was ced right in front of the path to his secret escape route. Hed have to push his way passed, open the hatch, and drop down all while having to deal with Frost. Fleeing wasnt an option; hed have to fight. Adam was afraid, terrified even, he hadnt been in a truly dangerous situation personally in....well never actually. He always had either guards when he was young and or life saving measures such as that ne that saved him from his nephews sh but now, they were all gone. His weapons were syed around the room out of reach, the staff being closest, but it had a deep cut groove along the centre from Frosts ive being forcibly yanked out of it. If he used that for a spell it could backfire making his already magic situation that much more treacherous. And the physical strength of the structure waspromised, it could split in two from a single well ced strike from Frost, not a safe option. He could go for hand to handbat, he really didnt excel at that and well hed be outmatched hand wise but what other choice did he have. His severed hand not only contained his mana absorption ring but also his storage rings (probably not the wisest idea in hindsight) so he didnt have much magic devices on hand that he could use in this situation. His short swords were in pretty good condition still, one of them however was lying still gripped by his severed hand and that was lying at Frosts feet so thats out of the question. He looked around searching for his other short sword. Meanwhile Frost was also eyeing his target, he couldnt let Adam recharge or find an avenue to survive but he needed time himself, his strength wascking at the moment. ..... Suddenly his body was filled with warmth and his body was topped off only a slight amount given the fact that he received a healing spell not so long ago, but it was enough. He looked over at the woman who casted the spell. Luna muttered quietly and send thest of her strength into a healing spell before passing outpletely, she did what she could, the rest was up to him. Feeling the weight of being relied upon filled him with another dose of strength one in which he used to rise to his feet, it was time to end this. Adam had finally found a possible option but was startled by Frosts movements. Dammit in a panic he looked over towards his saving grace in full view of Frost, the closest weapon was not his but Leos. Leos sword that was sent bounding away thanks to his life ne was less than ten metres away, lodged shallowly in the nearby wall at a reachable height, he needed that sword if wanted to survive. In an instant the two men made their moves Adam mbered along to the sword whereas Frost charged, it was a race. If Adam reached and pulled out the weapon, theyd return to exchanging techniques which would benefit Adam, his skill was higher, his repertoire of moves greater and the longer he dyed the sooner he could use mana again. Frost couldnt allow that. They both moved with fervent determination with Frost being slightly quicker than Adam, but Adam had the shorter distance to travel. Eventually however Adam reached the sword and began pulling with his one good arm as though his life depended on it, which it did. Frost was still a few metres away but that was too far, his ive couldnt reach, and he couldnt risk throwing it, but he wasnt out of options yet. Taking a deep breath, he pulled out something from his storage ring, something he looted from Shadows corpse, smoke bombs. Rahhhhhhhh! Adam roared as he sessfully pulled out Leos sword and turned to face down his aggressor but the moment he did. Boommmm! There was two shes of light momentarily blinding him and then thick plumes of dark blue smoke obscured his vision and all around him. His eyes nced around in desperation searching for Frost with bloodshot eyes and then he felt a horrible sensation on the back of his neck and without hesitation he swung behind cleaving apart the smoke, but he was met with nothing but air. The cold horrible sensation immediately grew worse, and his heart sunk. Fuck! Too slow with Frosts whisper he appeared from the air, the moment the bombs went off he leaped upwards with all his strength and was nownding behind Adam and as he descended, he had a needle hidden within his fingers. The moment his feet touched the ground he stabbed Adam in the neck before taking a step back to enjoy theing sight and boy did it act quickly. With Adams injuries and his heart pumping a mile a minute the wyvern poison acted almost instantaneously. Ahhhhhh! Adam screamed as his body started to convulse and he felt both hot and cold at the same time, his veins started to protrude and be dyed ck, and he slumped to the floor, paralysed from the poison. Frost smiled with joy before swinging his ive in a wide side arc clearing the majority of the smoke. He peered down at Adam whose very skin was writhing and wriggling yet he was still conscious and able to feel every ounce of pain. Given Adams natural health as well as body strength it would probably take a while for the poison to finish him, unlike Frost he wasnt sturdy enough or in any shape to survive but it would be a slow, painful, and very much enjoyable death at least in Frosts eyes. When Adams voice had finally grown hoarse from his perpetual screaming Frost started to speak. Hahhahha the great and mighty Baron Adam missing an arm, covered in blood, full of poison and writhing in agony oh how far you have fallen. Adam could only re with hatred at Frost unable to do much else. It took all his strength to talk. ...W...w..why? He asked this question once again, even on his death bed he truly failed to understand Frosts reasoning, from their battle he got the sense that he wasnt what you would call a good person, someone who cant watch and injustice when they can stop it no, he appeared very practical so why. Again, with that question... I believe I already gave you an answer Baron. Frost looked down in contempt, already growing a little bored by the conversation. T...t...that...w..wasnt...t..th...the whol...rea..son Adam forced himself with great difficulty to mouth his response, he needed to know before he died otherwise it would haunt him in the next life. ..... Frost looked down at Adam nkly, unsure whether to speak or not, he owed him nothing and whether or not he would be haunted in the next life was not his problem. However, his eyes, Adams eyes were clear now, hed already epted his death. Frost appreciated those eyes and decided to reveal a little. He looked back to make sure Luna and Leo were still out ofmission before lowering himself down to Adams level. Youre right that wasnt the whole reason, I wont spill all my secrets, but Ill tell you this. Your group of hired thugs and that knight Alex entered my territory so that was strike one and enough reason for me to kill them. Two, Luna and Leo were no threat and were quite likeable kids, so I opted to help them out since I was going to be killing those thugs anyway, killing two birds with one stone. Adam smiled awkwardly able to finally understand some of Frosts motives. Thirdly when I confronted Alex alone with his dying act, he struck me with one of those needles. Adam suddenly had a knowing look dawn on his face in which Frost smiled back to in response. Yes, Leo surmised that he would have gotten the concoction from you and that it was probably meant to be used on him if Alex got the chance, from that he also gleamed that it was you that poisoned his father, Dous. Adam this time showed a slightly pained look at the mention of his brother. Hoh is that guilt I see in your eyes, must be a strange sensation for you hahaha. Adam gritted his teeth in anger but was powerless to retort both physically and logically. He was the one that poisoned his own brother out of greed and ambition even when hed been nothing but good to him over the years, even someone as callous and insidious as Adam had a few things he regretted, his brothers condition being one of them. Ideally his brother was supposed to pass on quite quickly with not too much suffering however given the strength of his body and the multiple herbs that Cassandra forcibly funnelled into his system his death was dyed and even now after more than 2 years he still lived. Adam forced himself to turn away from Frost, out of guilt or shame who knows. Hmph, fourthly it would be when I arrived in Furano, meeting with Dous, Cassandra, Ryuu and Bastion I grew fairly attached to them, not exactly proud of that but I couldnt help it theyre real genuinely nice people of which you are not. So, when they asked for my assistance in dealing with the man who caused these nice people so much pain as well as the originating cause of my quite painful episode of being poisoned who was I to turn them down. Hahaha the promise of reward was only icing on the cake. Frost smiled widely moving his face to the side so Adam could see his grin. Does that answer your question now Baron Adam? ..... Adam was silent for a moment as he took in Frosts monologue. Y..y.oure...q...uit..e..pe..tty....ha..cou Adam tried to chuckle but started coughing instead. The smile vanished from Frosts face, he couldnt deny that he was rather petty and vindictive but in the same way you could call him reasonable. Adam was a threat who had caused him harm and would mostly like would do so again in the future so wasnt he right to eliminate this threat. Frost didnt care either way, he simply lived by his own principles, what did the notions of regr society mean to a dungeon core in the end....fuck all thats what. Frost was done with exining and hed already gotten his revenge, Adam was in pain, and hed thoroughly defeated him, perhaps he should just end it here and now. His eyes gleamed as he thought over what to do. He wouldnt allow Leo or Luna to end him since he wanted the sweet, sweet DP, plus they already agreed that if he was above a certain level of strength, he would have to take care of him. Whether that meant dealing the final blow when he was pretty much incapacitated was debatable, but it wasnt as though there was anyone to stop him. As he grabbed hold of his ive ready to bring it down upon Adams head, Adam spoke hisst words if you will. epting his death Adam wished to do onest thing with his final moments. He summoned the veryst shred of his strength and resistance to speak clearly. My....Brother...his ...poison....cure....in...the room....behind....silver...vial....Furano...seal... Adam reached his limit and promptly passed out. Frost opened his eyes wide in surprise. Thest thing he did was to save his brother, even though he was the one who endangered him in the first ce....strange. It didnt change what Adam had done but perhaps itd bring him some sce in the next life. Frost was fond of Dous so much so that he requested Maya to help heal him and seeing that wasnt an option he had her protect him from danger during their operation, so he was sure to retrieve it, itd make Leo happy as well. Chapter 108 108 Chapter 108: Killing Adam With Adam slipping into unconscious, he wouldntst much longer and not one to waste his food Frost raised his ive up high and shed downward, separating Adams head from his shoulders with a single swing, a quick and efficient killing. Really gotta appreciate the workmanship of that old dwarf, even after all the punishment this ives endured its still razor sharp. Frost marvelled at the quality of his ive. He then took a deep breath and rxed is overtaxed body. The mass of DP generated by Adams death then flowed into his body, it was of an even higher quality than that of Shadows, the feeling was intoxicating, his body became numb. Letting gravity take over he fell onto his back andy there for the next 20 minutes recuperating from his many wounds as well as basking in the high of the of high quality DP influx. He only roused himself awake after 20 minutes due to Leo and Luna bothing around and by then he had recovered a great deal. His body no longer sending out sharp painful sensations with every muscle contraction. Leo was the first to awaken. Ugh he groaned, and his eyes slowly opened with difficulty, his nose had stopped bleeding a while ago, but the bone was still broken, and he had a splitting headache. Unlike Frost he didnt have an unnatural regeneration quality or the benefit of receiving a healing spell or the ability to absorb life energy from his defeated victims. His 20 minute nap did little in the aid of recovering. Groaning some more he forced himself to sit upright before looking around. His vision was still rather unfocused be he could make out Frosts figure watching him from a distance. Frost had made himself sit upright the moment he sensed movement, need to keep up this respected senpai routine. Frost was quite taken with being looked up to by the 2 young kids and wouldnt jeopardise it. Luna discovering his anti-potion hatred was embarrassing enough. Morning sleepyhead. Frost joked with a cheerful tone. ..... Ugh...morning taken aback by the unusualment Leos responded in kind before memories of what happened before he passed out flooded back to the forefront of his mind. Ah! Adam wheres my uncle and...LUNA! Ah! As he roared in panic his loud voice aggravated his headache and wounds, but it didnt stop him frantically searching for his fianc. Thest thing he remembered before cking out was Luna being mmed against the wall by a spell. He was already out of it so he couldnt make out or remember the exact details but knew it was bad. Eventually he found Luna lying down on the ground still unconscious and tears threatened to pour from his eyes as he attempted to drag his body towards her. Haaaaaa Frost sighed as his respect for Leo rose, he really cares for her. He admired the rtionship between the two always putting the wellbeing of the other before their own. But he couldnt let Leo be even more injured and quickly moved to restrain him and calm him down. Hed already performed a quick check on Luna, and he witnessed the whole event, she may have a mild concussion but other than that shed be fine. Calm down Leo shes fine, just a minor blow to the head, shes just resting, a mild concussion perhaps but nothing else. Frost stood up and walked over to Leo and ced his hands on his shoulders as he spoke, forcing him to look his way. R...really? Not entirely convinced Leo asked warily all while trying to peer behind Frosts head. Haaaaaa Frost sighed again. Yes, really, shell be fine, most likely shell wake up in arou...oh speak of the devil. As Frost was speaking, he sensed movement from Luna. Ugh Like Leo, Luna awoke somewhat out of it with a splitting headache but other than that everything was fine. Unlike Frost or Leo, she didnt have much physical injuries and would make a speedy recovery even without magic or potions. Luna sat up while holding her head trying to rub away the pain, when she opened her eyes, she was met the gazes of Leo and Frost both filled with relief and joy. Leo, Frost-senpai? She questioned; her mind still not fully restored. Haaaaaa Frost sighed for a third time, however this one was much happier. He turned back to Leo. See shes fine, youre both fine. He tapped Leos shoulder while smiling, it was over, theyd won. After a few seconds Luna regained her thoughts and the memories of where they were and what they were doing came flooding back. Wheres Adam! Shed already noticed that Leo and Frost were fine which brought a relived tear to her eye and removed a weight from her chest. Looks like myst healing spell found its mark. Luna thanked her luck, she could barely see where she was aiming and quite frankly it was a miracle, she could even construct the required magic crest sessfully. With Luna now asking as well, both her and Leo both turned to Frost whose smile had grown even bigger. Heheheheh hes over there. Frost pointed backwards towards the decapitated corpse that was Adam with his thumb, proud of his handiwork. Leo and Luna sat there frozen when theyid eyes on Adams corpse, unable to believe that their battle was over and more importantly that they were knocked out when it happened. A mixture of joy and guilt filled them both as they both felt like nothing more than dead weight. Their emotions were clearly disyed by their expressions. Whats with the sour looks? we did it, Adam was defeated the operation a sess. Frost stated while tilting his head to the side in confusion. Thats not exactly the reaction I was hoping for. He had to admit he was a little disappointed. Their guilty expression only got worse with his response. ....Sorry Frost-senpai seems that we werent able to help once again. Luna spoke while averting her eyes downward. She was reminded of when they were sequestered to that barricaded room within the third section of the monsterir. ....Huh are you joking? Frost frowned truly baffled by what he was hearing. Leo, you saved me from getting shed across the face when you severed your uncles arm and Luna if you didnt cast thatst minute healing spell there would have been no way I could have beaten him. The three of us fought and won together, you two were more help than you realise. Frost spoke honestly, without Leo and Luna he wouldnt havested 5 minutes let alone be the victor. These two reallyck confidence in their strength. He shook his head before ring at the two until they changed their expressions. Leo and Luna grew embarrassed before looking at one another and smiling. They did work hard, nothing to be ashamed of. With that the tension was finallypletely released and the three of themughed without restraint, they could finally rx but their reverie was quickly brought to a close by a thunderous roar. LUNA!!!!!! PAPAS A COMING! Ryuus powerful booming voice could be heard as he dashed his way towards them like a tornado smashing its way through any obstacles. He used his powerful mana sense to find them, leaving Bastion in the dust when he discovered the dead bodies of Shadow and his cohorts. Tsk Luna clicked her tongue but was clearly smiling, for once she looked forward to her Fathers overprotective doting, shed been through a lot after all. Ryuu followed momentster before instantly charging at his daughter and sweeping her up in a bear hug as he cried out loud. My sweet, sweet daughter, Daddy wont ever leave you again ahhhhh! Luna enjoyed it for about half a second before viciously mming her elbow down on his head forcing him down to his knees and rubbing the afflicted area. Too much stupid dad hmph! Hahahahaah Frost and Leoughed out loud, Ryuu was behaving like his normal self. Bastion arrived not too long after, he simply shook his head when he saw his old friends antics. Hard to associate the current Ryuu with the man he just fought beside. Unlike Frost and Leo, the two old men were in much better shape, sporting little injuries. Bastion had a few bruises hidden by his clothes and a few gashes where Rock and Jins weapons sessfully breached his defence but most of all he was exhausted. He practically copsed the moment he arrived and saw that everyone was alive and well (to an extent). Hu hu hu hu His sudden rushing drained thest of his energy causing him to gasp for air. Uncle are you alright? Leo asked with worry in his eyes, moving close to help if needed not realising his face and upper chest was still covered in his own blood and his nose bend at an awkward angle. ......You should take care of yourself first little Leo. Bastion gave his nephew a mocking look before retrieving some special jerky from his pockets. This was his special stash, filled with massive amounts of protein, fat, and sugar all while being pickled in his special vat of alcohol and to him it wasnt just an emergency ration but a delectable treat. Oh, thats good stuff. He chowed down with relish. Whereas Leo was puzzled. Myself what does he mean? Leo could feel that he still had injuries but how did that prevent him from helping his uncle. Leoe here. Frost beckoned him over. yes Fr....crunch! Ah! Fuck what was that for! Once he was within arms reach Frost grabbed his broken nose and vigorously manipted it back into its correct position. Your nose was broken, I simply straightened it, [clean up]. After replying Frost casted the lifestyle magic clean up, removing the majority of the blood staining Leos clothes, now he at least looked presentable. ...Thanks Somewhat begrudgingly, Leo thanked him though he chose to keep a wide berth from Frost as he did. What happens now Leo, arent the adventurers still fighting on the surface? Frost asked as he started to peer at the expensive items kept within the vault. Oh, right I almost forgot. Not waiting for Leos reply, he moved into the room highlighted by Adam with hisst words. A silver vial with the seal of house Furano. He searched around for the vial much to the confusion of the rest. Even Ryuu stopped his crying and doting, watching his actions with curiosity. Found it, eventually tucked away in case made out of some mana rich material Frost found the silver vial encased in a thick velvet cloth. He brought the vial and case over to Leo. Adam gave me a message with his final words. .... Leo frowned but nodded to have Frost continue. The cure for his brothers poison would be in this silver vial. His words set off a bomb in everyones head, the health of Dous was a very serious matter for them, but could Adam be trusted. Leo frowned even harder unsure whether or not to take the vial. I may not have known much about your uncle, but when he mentioned your father his eyes held traces of regret, I dont believe he lied to me. Frost spoke with confidence, for Adam to talk at all when under the effects of the wyvern poison was painful and exhausting, would he have really endured that just to lie. And what would be the point, Dous wasnt going tost more than a week even if he did chose to continue fighting so technically theres no downsides. Leo continued to frown he wanted to believe Frost but anything with links to Adam he had to take with a veryrge grain of salt. Seeing that he still wasnt convinced Frost decided to put one more nail in the coffin. Leo your father wont live past today so giving him this vial has no downsides. Frost told Leo what he knew of Douss condition as well as his fathers own decision to likely give up once this operationes to a close. Chapter 109 109 Chapter 109: Searching the vault The information was at the very least difficult to hear for all present parties, more so because they could believe that Dous would act as such. There was silence in the room, Frosts hand with the vial remained outstretched. Haaaaaa eventually while sighing Leo took the vial and case from Frost his eyes still werent very trusting, but Frost was right, there was no downsides, at least this gave him a chance to keep his father around. Were not done here quite yet, uncle Bastion you and I will return to the surface to let our adventurer friends know that the battle is over as well as deal with any traitors in the local guard. Uncle Ryuu, Luna and Frost-senpai please scout the vault and document anything of note, my uncle was known to deal in ves I would make sure that they are cared for. cing the silver vial into his storage ring Leo once again gave off the air of an authoritative noble as he handed down his orders. Ryuu, Luna and Frost were all capable of using magic so should be able to deal with any enchantments and or protective spells ced around the area. Knowing his uncle some merchandise was sure to have special seals on them. This was just a quick check however, once they return to the manor and make everything official, hed arrange arge team to swath through all the items and document their history as well as value. The ledger documents of all Adams trades will also be important evidence. Ill grab that on the way out just in case. With everyone gotten their tasks, Leo walked over to his uncles corpse and stored his severed head within a special storage ring he prepared for this asion. Adams face would serve as perfect proof for his death plus it was customary to spear the heads of traitorous nobles on a pike in view of the public and Leo for one was more than happy to follow this tradition. He and Bastion then drank a health potion before making their way topside, theyd pick up Taka and Bruno along the way. Frost reluctantly did the same since the chances of him getting another high level health potion was slim to none. ..... Yuck I dont think Ill ever get used to this. Once Leo and Bastion left. Alright then lets split up, Frost you go that way and Luna, and I will go this way. Ryuu announced with seriousness as he started ushering his daughter alongside him in one direction, clearing not going to stand for any other result. Fair enough Frost wasnt one toin, itd probably be for the best given Lunas strength. That didnt stop Lunaining however and sending him looks basically saying do something. He simply waved them off with a smile, this vault was quite vast so splitting up was the fastest method. Oh well lets see how the rich people live then. Frost smiled as his eyes filled with curiosity. I could probably swipe a few items without them knowing about it, in fact I should get a piece of it given my contributions. With his reasoning given Frost moved to loot/search the vault. Vases, jewellery, cutlery, crockery and paintings nothing useful. Frost moaned around 15 minutester, his side seemed to becking in anything remotely useful, just expensive, and even then, some of it was of questionable taste. It didnt stop him pilfering a couple pieces of jewellery withrge gems. Blue and white gems are nice looking they match my element and style so yoink. He stored a few sapphires and aquamarines into his storage ring, not too much to be noticed given the amount stored here but also not a small amount, running a dungeon was going to cost money in the long run after all. Frost continued to asionally misce a few interesting items along the way but nothing really useable like a magic device, weapons, armour, skill books etc... Ryuu must have gotten the good side, lucky bastard. Knowing him however any skill books or magic items he found would be funnelled to Luna so may it should be lucky B****. Frost didnt however forget to do his job he kept a note of the items within the rooms he searched and was yet toe across anything magically sealed away or protected but it wasnt as if anything here was worth it. Jewels and decorations may appear nice and be symbols for avish lifestyle but when theres items with magical properties it really hits a ss ceiling price wise. ....Ugmmmm suddenly after idently knocking over an item to the floor Frost heard a quiet whimper. Huh? Whered thate from? He strained his ears to hear it more clearly. He was in thest room on his side, there were no others so he couldnt have missed someone. Ugmmmmmm! Again the sound was made a second time, this time however he could narrow down the location slightly. Over here Frost arrived in front of what appeared to be a simple stack of furniture, but something wasnt quite right. Ugmmmmm! He heard the whimper again and it clearly came from this stack. Frost frowned before taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he channelled his mana and tried to sense any disturbance in the area that could point to an enchantment. There, using mana he was able to tell that this stack of furniture in front of him was the result of a magic enchantment an array of sorts. Frost knew a little bit about arrays as it was included in Mayas magic lessons. Arrays were simr to magic devices without a portable vessel. The magic crest would be drawn with special materials onto the location allowing for a magic spell to be in effect as long as it was fed mana. A prime example of an array would those used for long-range teleportation. Since space magic was so difficult to use and transporting over vast distances was far too costly mana wise for a regr magician, teleportation arrays were created. The spell is created between two fixed points through aplicated magic crest and can function with magic crystals, thus allowing even those who are non-magic users to travel. The one in front of Frost however was a simple illusion array distorting the area, it wasnt even that powerful just very discrete. If Frost didnt hear the whimpering, then he could have easily walked by, the residual mana leakage and use of the array was so minimal that it didnt register unless someone was actively looking for it. He smiled, since it was weak there was a very satisfactory way to dissolve it....brute force. Frost tensed up his arm and punched the stack of furniture in front of him. Booom! The image distorted under the impact revealing what appeared to be a door before quickly restoring the illusion. Hoh that wasnt strong enough. Pleased with the challenge Frost pulled back his arm even further and this time covered his fist in ice chakra before. Booooooooom! With his second punch the illusion burst, the residual mana particles dissipating in the air, it was broken. Frost could see the magic crest on the ground that powered the illusion it was filled with cracks, and he felt satisfied. Now disyed in full view was an ornate door that led to a secret room, the whimpering after his punches became even loudly as though calling to him. Creak The door creaked as Frost pulled it open curious to find out who or what was calling him. The room was a jail, and two young children, a boy and a girl were imprisoned here, they were garbed in tattered slops, and had thick metal chockers locked around their necks, revealing their station as ves but even so. Even by ve standards this is a bit much. Multiple chains bound the two children and they looked as though they hadnt eaten in days, yet their eyes were full of fighting spirit. Interesting Frost liked the look in their eyes. He kneeled down bringing his face in front of the girl. The two children were humanoid in appearance and stature, yet they had a few differences. Around their eyes their skin was ice blue in colour akin to heavy eye shadow. Their eyshes were long, also ice blue in colour. The girl had ck hair whereas the boy had blonde yet they each had blue highlights steaking throughout. In amongst their long unkempt hair small, curved horns could be seen growing, soft, and slightly glowing. The hair around their ears was different from the rest, looking more like feather plumes. Hmmm I wonder what race these two are? Frost struggled to identify them from the features they sported. Were you the one calling out? The girl was clearly the more confident of the two, sheltering the boy behind her as best she could all while staring Frost in the eyes. Ummmm she responded with another moan, but the message was clear. You cant talk? They looked old enough to be able to speak and the ve chokers werent tight enough to stop them. Ummmmm she pointed to the choker but more importantly to a magic crest underneath that was tattooed to her skin. What is that? Frost didnt know much about ves and well magic crests, but something felt off by that tattoo, it felt malevolent. So, because of that magic crest you cant speak at all? Umm umm The girl nodded with a pained look. Hearing her confirm, Frost moved in close to examine the cor and magic crest but the moment he did it glowed, and the girl started convulsing in pain, wing at her neck. Her veins throbbed and she felt as though her body was tearing apart. Tears pulled at the side of her eyes and the boy behind her panicked, all colour draining from his face. Ummmmm! The boy grunted as loud as he could while attempting to push Frost away thinking that he was hurting her. Shocked with the result Frost pulled back his hand rapidly, afraid of what would happen if he continued his fiddling. I only touched it for half a second. I didnt even send any mana into the device or tattoo yet. This things way to sensitive. Frost frowned, incredibly curious about the device yet not to the extent of causing suffering to a young girl. The young boy was suddenly filled with pain much like the girl was the moment he tried to forcibly push Frost away. A powerful surge of mana fired through his system originating from the tattoo on his neck before the chocker joined in, making the children suffer twice as much. Frost froze in ce afraid to do anything more, he simply had to stand there unable to help while waiting for their pain to subside. Thankfully he didnt have to wait long, 2 minutester the children stopped their convulsing, able to breathe freely and no longer consumed by pain. The boy looked at Frost with anger and hatred but softened when the girl grabbed his hand and shook her head, basically saying that it wasnt Frosts fault. Why did you call out to me? Keeping his distance so as to not cause any more problems Frost asked. If they couldnt talk and he couldnt investigate or touch their chokers or magic tattoos, how could he help. ... The girl heard movement that wasnt Adam and instinctively called out for help. She didnt think any more about it but knew that if her brother and her didnt receive aid their lives would be nothing but pain and misery. Already while until the control of Adam they suffered from poor shelter conditions, bare minimum feeding, jailed within this small, dank room away from natural air and sunlight. Unable to talk without permission or even control their own bodies. Every day they lost bits of freedom and were racked with pain whenever they tried to disobey, soon theyd be nothing but empty shells without minds of their own. Even if the person rummaging around in the vault was worse than Adam, she felt itd still be better, at least thered be a chance at death which was a much more enjoyable prospect. She hugged her younger brother in her arms and looked up at Frost, her eyes revealing her desires. This girl is asking me to kill her and her brother? Frosts eyes opened up wide in shock. He looked around the room and around their bodies. They must have suffered greatly; death would likely be a step up in their minds. Frost was reminded of the malevolent feeling he got from the tattoo on their necks. He tightened his grip on his ive, hed be able to end it quickly with a single swing, he could do that much at least. He raised his ive up high above his head and peered into the eyes of the two children. The boy started tearing up and buried his head into his sisters chest afraid to look, whereas the girl stared up directly into Frosts eyes, full of gratitude. She revealed a depressed yet thankful smile before closing her eyes and pulling her brother in close, she was ready. finally, their pain would be over. Haaaaaa Frost sighed before shaking his head, he tensed his arm and without an ounce of hesitation swiftly swung downward with incredible force. Chapter 110 110 Chapter 110: ves Smash! The sound of ive on flesh didnt not happen instead it was akin to metal on metal. Smash! Several more metallic shing sounds happened a moment after the first. The young boy and girl opened their eyes, they were confused, they were still alive. They looked at one another blinking rapidly before looking up at Frost asking why this was so. Haaaaaa Frost sighed deeply before once again kneeling to bring his face level to the girls. Im not about to kill some defenceless little kids especially when theyre still full of fighting spirit. Frost gently rubbed their heads while smiling warmly. He cleaved apart the chains that bound the two kids to the room. Severing them from their jail. Even if he couldnt aid with the ve chokers or that malevolent tattoo, he wasnt alone. Ryuu was a very experienced and adept mage so surely, hed be able to help and even if he couldnt Maya might. ..... These kids are giving up too easily. Frost was learning that he was quite a softy when it came to these things. He always seemed to be helping kids out recently, Leo and Luna, that child waiting in the cold outside the Northern gate and now these two kids. Haaaaa I really am too soft, Im supposed to be a dungeon core, why do I care so much about what happens to all these kids Ie across. He shook his headmenting his own kindness, forgetting the fact that he just killed and devoured the life essence of dozens of people to get here. Wait here The girl and boy nodded their heads still slightly stunned as Frost stood back up and left the room, leaving them alone to take in their current situation. The young boy and girl looked at one another before lifting up their now much lighter and no longer constrained arms. There was nothing physically tying them to this room anymore, all what was left was the remains of the shackles on their wrists and the grotesque choker that still gripped their necks. However even without a physical chain, they still couldnt leave this room. No matter how much they wished they couldnt leave, at least by their own volition. The magic crest tattoo on their neck was the result of a banned and greatly forbidden practise that was created by the Church of Light centuries ago for when they wished to enve non-humans. The magic and research involved is considered one of the most abhorred and hated things developed by the Church of Light especially by those of the beastmen countries whom it was originally created to be used on. This magic crest takes the ve status to an ungodly level. The victims would be bound to being ves for their entire lives with no way to remove it. And not only that, their liberties and freewill will all be but snuffed out after being contracted after the first couple months. The ves would not be able to survive without frequent input from their masters. Slowly their unconscious body functions would no longer happen, without orders their bodies would not even breath by themselves. It was a horrible practise chastised by all nations across Nova, with those linked to it even slightly, being condemned to the worse possible punishment. This ve tattoo was branded upon these two children less than a week ago, so they still had some disobedience and personality but in theing weeks theyd be mindless robots without a conscience, following whatever their masters ordered them to do even harm and kill themselves. Back when the Church of Light was at the peak of their power it was said that they forced their beastmen ves to kill each other for enjoyment. Frost walked out of the room with purpose, he needed to find Ryuu before anything else. Ryuu! I need a hand! Frost cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted loudly, this would be faster than searching. Frosts shout got Ryuus attention almost immediately, less than a minuteter he could see Ryuu speeding across the air while carrying Luna in his arms who had an embarrassed look on her face. She turned away burying her face into her fathers chest refusing to face Frost. Thats pretty cool. Frost however didnt even notice her actions since he was focused on how Ryuu arrived. He was riding the air; streams of wind were being funnelled from his feet allowing him to glide and float 2 feet off the ground. Ryuu was using the 3rd circle air spell [air walk] like it was nothing, rubbing it in everyones face about how good a mage he was. Frosts lips twitched in irritation. He struggled to cast even a 2nd circle spell, yet Ryuu was able to constantly use a 3rd circle movement spell to carry his daughter around, talk aboutvish. What do you want Frost it better be good to interrupt daddy-daughter time buh! Ryuu received an elbow to the gut before she shuffled out of her fathers grasp and towards Frost. She kept her head down and walked right by kicking the ground in anger as she did. Unfortunately, Frost didnt have time to enjoy the antics of Ryuu and Luna. Its serious Ryuu, I need your knowledge. Frost had a serious expression as he spoke. ....Show me Ryuu felt Frosts intentions and transformed back into the able bodied court mage. I found two young ves, but their situation seems a bit peculiar. Frost then led Ryuu inside to examine the young boy and girl, they made Luna stay outside since it may be distressing for her. Ryuu and Lunas side of the vault like Frost guessed was filled with magic devices, skill books, weapons, armour etc... but it also contained Adams exploits if you will. Ryuu was forced to harshly cover his daughters eyes and nose when they stumbled across the room filled with dead and naked ves. After ushering his daughter away to the side, he inspected the room and found 2 women who were still alive quivering in fear. But after a quick coaxing he was to calm them down slightly, they told him that all of Adams ves were in this one room meaning that the two of them were the only survivors, so when he heard Frosts problems he was confused. Those two women didnt seem as though they were lying. When Frost led him to a hidden room that was clearly protected by an illusion array his questions grew as did his frown. Here Frost pushed open the door and revealed the young boy and girl to Ryuu. They instinctively backed away when the saw someone other than Frost enter. They are... Ryuus eyes opened wide the moment he saw the two young children; he recognised their race, and he was amazed. Phoenix kin, theyre phoenix kin, this is the first time Ive ever seen them outside of books. Ryuu moved in close to the children his eyes filled with excitement. But the two kids moved backwards in fear, theyd seen simr looks in the people who captured them plus if he touched the wrong ce theyd be shocked with mana from their choker and ve tattoo. Hahaha seeing his mistake Ryuuughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to cool down his excitement. Eh? His expression suddenly became deadly serious, killing intent and his aura started to seep from him, pressuring Frost and the kids. Ryuu caught sight of their chokers and more importantly the glowing tattoo on their necks. Adam you bastard! Ryuu was furious and inwardly panicking, using, or even being remotely involved with ve tattoos was a serious crime, it would involve not just the attention of their empire but those of their neighbours, that was how much the Church of Light was feared and dreaded. Plus, the Northrend empire was a non-race biased empire wherein all species had equal rights, their vews and attitude to anything in regards to the Church of Light and the Holy White empire was very strict. The fact that Adam a mere Baron in the Furano viscounty was involved with ve tattoos was a great threat. It meant that a dangerous group of people was involved in this situation, and it could no longer be regarded as an in house problem. Ryuu frowned as hundreds of problems shed through his mind, hed need to report this to Dous and then to government and royal family, Northrend may even be put on alert. Ryuus aura and killing intent continued to leak causing the two young kids to copse from the pressure, falling prone. Frost stepped in at this point. Ryuu! He sped onto Ryuus shoulder with force to bring him out of his delusions. Ugh! ....Sorry Ryuu smiled gently toward the two children trying to appear as friendly as possible, but it didnt work, the kids shivered and backed away causing Ryuu to sigh. Can Ie in yet? Luna popped her head through the door, she felt something was wrong when she felt her fathers aura and killing intent. With the third new person entering, the two kids instantly locked onto her, wary of her intentions. ..... Luna saw them and was silent, before her eyes and lips turned upwards. So cute! She gasped before rushing into the room, shoving passed Ryuu, knocking him to the floor. Not caring about the kids fears Luna barrelled into them and wrapped the two of them up in her arms for a bear hug while rubbing her cheek against theirs. She was a sucker for cuteness and these two children were the epitome of cute. This was probably for the best, afraid of her at first the kids tried to pull away but eventually they grew to like it, sinking their heads into Lunas chest, even letting out a few tears. They hadnt been treated so nicely in so long they had forgotten how love felt. Luna gave them the first bout of happiness they had in a long time. Ryuu watched this scene and smiled before dragging Frost out of the room, he didnt want his daughter or the two kids to hear what he was going to say. How much do you know about ves? Once out the room Ryuu asked in a depressed tone, this wasnt a cheery subject but one they needed to talk about. Honestly not much, I know that ves are usually criminals paying off sentences, P.O.Ws or people who couldnt pay off their debts, but these kids dont fit into any of those categories. Frost gave off what little information he gleamed from Leo and what small part of ingrained knowledge Dark had granted him. Haaaaaaa Ryuu sighed deeply, talking about this without alcohol wont be easy. Usually thats the case well legally, thats how one bes a ve and within Northrend and most empires and countries in the Yangmir continent it is forbidden for children to be ves. However, through illegal means the underworld and less savoury characters dont follow these rules. Ryuu found a chair nearby and pulled it out to sit on, this was going to be a long exnation. ves be ves when a ve choker is ced upon them. This is a magic device that requires someone with ve magic to activate. Through the government there are official ve merchants that are regted by thesews and are generally seen as another type of business. ves in Northrend are treated pretty well after all and once theyve served their sentence and or paid back their debt they can return to regr society. Frost nodded along as Ryuu spoke, Leo had informed him of some of this. ve chokers force a binding contract between the ve and their assigned master, preventing them from harming them and having them obey the masters orders. Masters are thus required to care for and provide for the ves while they are under this contract. Of course, under Northrendw these contracts are quite lenient, preventing the master from harming the ves, ordering them tomit crimes, depriving them basic living requirements food, water, shelter etc.... but when unregted ve merchants are in y, these protective covenants no longer apply. Ryuu gritted his teeth in anger. Dous, him, Bastion and Sebastian worked hard to reduce the crime rate within Furano, unregted ve merchants were high on their list to eliminate. Ryuu went on tell Frost about ve merchants and how their magic and the chokers worked in more detail. Chapter 111 111 Chapter 111: Church of Lights ve tattoos Those two kids were clearly turned into ves illegally, most likely due to their race potential. Frosts ears perked up at thisment. Whats a phoenix kin and why would that be reason to illegally enve such young kids. Haaaaa Ryuu sighed deeply. As I mentioned before Ive never seen phoenix kin outside of books, they are an incredibly rare species of beastman and that usually trantes as being powerful. Powerful? Frost didnt sense much from the kids when he first saw them, but they are just kids after all. Yes, some beastkin when they reach maturity and or achieve a certain level of strength can use something called beastification wherein they be more animalistic in appearance and stature in ordance with their bloodline. It increases their strength and power but can asionally have side effects such as uncontroble rage, and or degradation in intelligence. Frost listened with curiosity eager to learn more. Beastkin with the blood of higher levelled monsters such as dragons, behemoths, Fenrirs and of course phoenixes are on a different level. Beastkin with their bloodline are very powerful even if they dont train. Their beastification is also incredibly impressive, once entering that state they pretty much be like their progenitors, full blown monsters with all the trimmings. By the time theye of age their bodies will awaken and theyll be formidable fighters, instantly jumping to C-rank at the very minimum even without beastification. Do you see the value in enving such potential? Frost silently pondered that thought. They would be impressive once theye of age, but still seems a little risky. He frowned. ..... You dont think itd be worth the risk? Ryuu replied with a glint in his eyes. No, regardless of their ve status they would hate their masters and use every chance they could to escape and or get revenge. Contracts even ve contracts have loopholes, what happens when the master dies, or when the victims get strong enough to resist the magic. Frost didnt think that many illegal ve merchants would be strong enough to cage something like a phoenix let alone two. Ptuh! Thats what infuriates me most. Ryuu spat in anger as his killing intent leaked out again. You saw the glowing tattoo under their choker, right? Yeah, it gave off a creepy feeling and when I tried to investigate it the girl suffered from immense pain. Frost frowned as he remembered the young girls painful expression. Yeah, dont do that, theyre incredible reactive to outside influence. Ryuu spoke sternly, slightly admonishing Frosts actions. You know what it is? Unfortunately, yes I do. Ryuu sighed deeply rubbing his temples with his hands. Its a ve tattoo and one of considerable power, a forbidden technique that thoroughly enves the subject regardless of their future strength permanently. Within a month or two those kids will be nothing but soulless robots unable to resist a single order or even be able to survive without a masters input. Frosts faced warped and his face turned pale, he was hoping for something less daunting. For a moment he felt the two kids were probably right to ask him to grant them the eternal slumber. Thats no way to live if you can even call that living. Crack! Frost fists cracked loudly as he clenched them, he was furious. I should have made Adam suffer for a lot longer. Is there no way to help? Frost was practically pleading at this point. Yes and no, the ve tattoo can never be removed, those two will be ves bound to a master forever, however we can prevent any further degradation to their will, meaning theyll likely be able to function like any other ve albeit for their entire lives. Ryuu spoke with a pained look, but Frost smiled, he was relieved. So, we can help, as long as they are bound to a good master, they can live decent lives. Frost released a constrained breath as a weight was lifted from his shoulders. Hold your horses Frost it isnt that simple, the Church of Lights techniques cant be undone so easily, plus thews of the Northrend empire make this case much more difficult to deal with. ng Frost dropped his ive in shock. The Church of Light. His body visibly trembled so much was the fear ingrained into his body. He didnt even hear anything after Ryuu mentioned Church of light. His vision shook and his ears buzzed, and his breathing became erratic. Hu hu hu Frost gasped for air with each breath, his mind was awash with terrifying thoughts of death and being hunted. He was quite frankly having a panic attack. He wasnt ready to face down the Church of Light. His current strength was pitiful and right now he was alone, his guardian was not by his side. His reaction shocked himself, but he couldnt control his physical reaction. All the tales mentioned by Maya came flooding back and his back was drenched in cold sweat. Fr....Fr Ryuu noticed the unusual situation quite quickly and called out, but Frost couldnt hear him. Frost! Ryuu mmed his hands down grasping Frosts shoulder with great force hoping to knock some sense into the young man...it worked. Frosts trembling came to an end and his breathing evened out; the physical contact of an ally managed to bring him sce. After 20 seconds or so Frost was back to normal albeit quite embarrassed and with lingering fear. Frost was quite a confident person by nature, but he was also intelligent and knew when he was truly outmatched. The Church of Light and their so called Holy White empire were a group that even his father and the Light God couldnt intervene against thus it was left the denizens of Nova and he knew how that turned out. Only when every country and nation residing in the four directional continents worked together did they manage to restrain them, not defeat just restrain. Even Maya with her minimum S-rank strength was filled with hatred and anger towards them but didnt go on the offensive even after centuries, no one did. The ingrained fear was too great. Sorry about that and... thank you Frost gazed gently towards Ryuu with gratitude and offered a small bow. No need for that, all I did was call out and gave you some physical stimulus... was it because I mentioned the Church of Light? Ryuu smiled gently before changing to a serious look. Frost trembled again at the mention of them but regained his faculties this time. ....Yes he averted his gaze embarrassed to show his fear. Ryuu simply smiled warmly and tapped Frost on the shoulder. Your reaction is not only understandable but the correct one. Youre still young and from what little youve told me just recently left your vige or town within the cial mountains no? Frost nodded in agreement. Then your elders taught you well, the Church of Light especially for those that arent human should always be portrayed as an object of fear, because they are and by being afraid you will always be wary of them.... Dont be embarrassed by your bodys instinctual reaction....embrace it, it may one day be the thing that saves your life. Ryuu looked at Frost as though he was an experienced elder trying to calm down a frightened child. It filled Frost with warmth. ....Thank you Ryuu Frost no longer embarrassed looked directly into Ryuus eyes as he gave thanks, he was truly very grateful for this lesson. Hes right, itd be sheer arrogance and stupidity if I wasnt afraid and wary of anything rted to such a powerful and evil entity. Frost took Ryuus words to heart and felt himself mature ever so slightly because of them. My pleasure young Frost hahaha. With that out of the way should I continue? Yes please, Frost still wished to know more about the ve tattoos regardless of them being linked to the Church of Light. Ok... the ve tattoos were created by the Church of Light to permanently enve non-human races and even to this day we cant remove them. The magic involved is tooplicated and sensitive that any attempt to reverse engineer it causes it to destroy itself along with any victim its attached too. A form of preventing their technology from being researched and debunked and a very effective one. In the present times its very, very rare to encounter anything rted to the Church of Light on the Yangmir continent and at any point such an item does crop up its dealt with by the ruling countries, usually being disposed of immediately. Frost frowned, he understood their reasoning, but these two children were innocent victims and going by what Ryuu said it was likely theyd be disposed of. Which was actually what the girl and boy wished for, but not him. Now you see why I said this issue was moreplicated than you thought. Frost nodded, asking Ryuu to continue. ve tattoos restrain not just the physical body but also the soul. The victim cannot disobey their master in the slightest, performing any and all orders even if it means their death. A horrible practise but it has one loophole....it takes time for this to happen, around a month or two. Those two kids were likely ced under the ve tattoos effects less than a week ago which means we can still help...the problemes after that. By Northrendw, Church of Light items must be eradicated whenever found, but of course they dont simply see in ck and white and would likely understand this situation and grant the two children life however as I stated earlier, they require a master to survive otherwise theyd slowly lose their freewill and be unable to even initiate acts such as eating, sleeping, drinking etc... Frosts eyes opened wide in understanding in which Ryuu responded with a slight nod. No one can legally have a permanent ve meaning its illegal to form a master bond with the children ergo theyd die eventually. This matter was trulyplicated and difficult to find a positive solution. Thats Frost frowned and clenched his fists in frustration. Do I really need to kill them just like they requested. Hed already made an internal promise to find another way but ording to Ryuu there was none, at least legally and even then, it was a life of permanent servitude. I know...its a grey area in thew and unfortunately one in which we cannot disobey since that would set a nasty precedent for those who unlike us arent kind in nature. Ryuu sighed, there wasnt anything he could do, this problem was not just practised in Northrend but pretty much all the nations on the Yangmir continent and those in which it was sort of allowed was not one hed rmend sending them, theyd be better off dead than there. Frost and Ryuu stood in silence, they went over all the details in their minds and tried toe up with a solution. Out of everyone Frost knew Ryuu was probably the most knowledgeable, not only was he an experienced high ranking mage he was also involved with administration of not just Furano but also asionally had to work in the capital, he knew thews like the back of his hand. Even though Dous and Leo werended nobles even they wouldnt be exempt from thew, not even the royal family could take in these ves, so abhorred was the Church of Light. Frost was at an impasse, no one in Northrend could help or would due to the heavy penalty of thew, the ruling family were incredibly strict in this regard, usually jumping straight to execution. The Northrend empire was an empire wherein all races were epted and treated equally, although the royal family was human many nobles and those in important positions were not. The Northrend empire was very proud of this state of affairs and treated anything rted to the Church of Light with utmost aggression since their philosophies were pr opposites. Ryuu and Frost continued to stand in silence as they thought. Ryuu particrly having difficulties given his thorough knowledge of thew, the fact that the young boy and girl were phoenix kin and so young made the situation even worse. Their species was so rare it would be a crime to allow them to fade away when they could help. Luna meanwhile was getting on very good terms with the two children even though they couldnt talk back, she even had them smiling, something they hadnt been able to do in a long time. Eventually she walked out the dank jail like room with the two children on either side, she wanted to know what her father and Frost where going to do in regards to these two children. She was unaware of the ve tattoos origin and simply believed they were your standard illegal ves. The sooner they got to a ve merchant the sooner these kids could be free. Chapter 112 112 Chapter 112: Getting around thew The first thing Luna saw when she exited was her father and Frost with well-defined frowns stered on their foreheads as well as each of them having clenched fists and jaws. Eh what happened? The two looked deep in thought and unable toe up with an answer. Is there something Im missing? Luna subconsciously grabbed the girl and boys hands tighter as she became nervous. Frost and her father left the room before they began talking which usually meant that it wasnt anything good and they wished to protect her and the kids from overhearing. Ryuu noticed his daughtere out from the corner of his eye and as quick as humanly possible removed his frown and started smiling but Luna had already seen his pained expression and didnt which to be kept in the dark. Dont sugar coat it dad, give it to me straight. She had a serious expression as she looked at her father, not giving him any wiggle room. Haaaaaa Ryuu sighed deeply. Shes growing up so fast. Shaking his head, he decided to honour his daughters wishes. He looked at the two phoenix kin children with pity but was helpless. Theres a problem, one in which I dont know how to fix. Is it about the children? The young boy and girl looked up a Ryuu with sadness before finally bing numb, simr to when Frost first came upon them, ready for death. ..... Ryuu witnessed this rapid change and his heart bled, no child should wish for death no matter the reason. He moved to punch something but lost all strength before his fist met the wall, there was no point. Haaaaaa he sighed once again. We cant take them thew prevents it. Are you fucking kidding me! Luna roared in anger. Law, since when has that been able to stop you, Leos the future lord of the territory, thew can be changed! She was fuming, her hands clenched tightly causing a small amount of pain to the young children by her side. Its not that simple Luna, its aw that even the royal family cant and wont disobey. He struggled to look his daughter in the eyes as he spoke. He wouldnt say any more about the subject especially not here in front of the concerned party. Theyd already suffered enough. Y...y..oo.... Luna was tongue tied, she tried to retort while filled with fury but couldnt, she knew her father and his expression told her everything she needed to know, he truly was powerless to lend his aid. Tears started to pool at the side of her eyes. She turned around and wrapped the two young phoenix kin in a big hug, she refused. They were so young and helpless how could she not help these cute little kids, damn thew. However even though she thought that she too was powerless, aw that even the royal family was subject too was not one she could cross. The least she could do was make these two children feel a modicum of love. Ryuu sighed once again before moving in close to his daughter and the young phoenix kin. He wrapped his arms around all three hugging them, this was all he could really do. Frost however was gnashing his teeth, he refused to ept this result. Like fuck Ill let this happen. Law, the fuckingw why should I give a rats ass about thew of some empire Im a god damn dungeon core! Frost internally roared but even so he was just one man and one of meagre strength, he couldnt fight against an entire empire at least not yet. ....Wait a minute maybe I can. He had a lightbulb moment, his strength inparison to the Northrend empire was pitiful at best even with Maya by his side they had massive armies. But as Ryuu said this situation couldnt be seen as ck and white. If thew is the problem, then I need to use thew to deal with it ahahahah. Frostughed loudly as he came up with an answer. He still needed to have a rtionship with the Northrend empire and Furano in particr and couldnt afford to bebelled as some super criminal sentenced for execution. Hisugh disturbed the hugging group of four, stopping Lunas tears. She turned around to see Frostughing with a gleeful expression and triumph in his eyes. Frost-senpai? She was confused but somehow here heart filled with joy. Ryuu faced the young man with intrigue, his expression didnt suit the situation unless. Have you worked something out? He questioned with restraint. Hed be over the moon if it truly was a way out but given his knowledge, he wasnt confident. Hahaha I sure have. Frost maintained his gleeful expression as he looked at the two young phoenix kin. He nodded in their direction bringing a modicum of life back into their eyes. Youre not nning on breaking thew and hiding away, are you? Ryuu questioned, this was of course a method but not one that would seed, Ryuu himself would be duty bound to strike Frost down here and now regardless of his backing. Now why would that break thew? Frost smirked with a knowing smile, Ryuu wasnt far off but he wouldnt be a criminal. Eh? Did this kid actually listen to me when I was talking. He was about to educate Frost when Luna interrupted. Ah! Frost-senpai isnt a citizen of the empire there for hes not bound by ourws. Luna spoke with enthusiasm while a smile grow on her face. Ryuu however was not pleased, not in the slightest. It doesnt really work like that. He admonished his daughter and moved to correct their thinking but was once again interrupted. It should be a grey area, no? Frost was still smirking. Of course, he knew what Ryuu was getting at, even though he wasnt a citizen he was still bound by somews regardless of his species or origin. If he broke one of thesews such as smuggling, murder, stealing etc... the police force would act to imprison or execute him regardless but owning a permanent ve shouldnt be so specific given that different countries will have different views on the subject. Frost was banking on the grey area of thew tobat the grey area surrounding the ve tattoo and the two phoenix kin. All he needed was ambiguity and he couldnt technically be dered as breaking thew. This way hed be able to maintain his friendly rtionship with Furano, continue as an adventurer and even travel within the empire without impunity. It was a long shot but should work out, logically speaking. Thats.... Ryuu initially wanted to shoot down Frosts argument but was left stumped. Fighting unclearws with unclearws, it wont be pretty, but it may work. The precedent in regards to circumstances involving Northrend citizens would also be avoided meaning that technically the royal family shouldnt have any reason to not allow it hahaha you might have juste up with a solution young Frost hahahah. Ryuu became more and more spirited as he spoke, Frosts idea and reasoning became more and more sound as he thought about it. Frost could be seen somewhat like a foreign envoy from a neighbouring country thus bypassing a lot of ourws hahaha its genius.... One issue however would be that you cant be a citizen of Northrend ever. This was the only problem and in Ryuus eyes quite a big one. Itd be great if they could rope in someone of Frosts potential as a citizen of Furano and thus the Northrend empire. Can I still be a registered adventurer and travel throughout the empire? Frost didnt really care about citizenship; he was a dungeon core and half of his body was anchored in the cial mountains anyway. Yes, but you wont be able to be a noble or own any permanent residence, youd also need to pay tolls when crossing states/territories. This would be an immediate no for some adventures since their aim was to be high level and be granted noble status. Whether or not Frost would still be able to achieve B-rank or higher was a question for another time. If thats all I see no problem, my home is in the cial mountains, and I see no need to change that. Not that I could anyway. Perfect, then I suggest we begin ASAP; Ill report the situation to the royal family after the deed is finalised making it even more difficult for them the rescind the status. Ryuu smiled evilly as he imagined the contorted face of the workers in the department ofw oh itd be beautiful. Frost smiled before moving close to the two young kids, kneeling down to bring his face to their level. This would mean nothing if they didnt agree in the end after all, he wouldnt force them into serving him, theyd had enough of their choices being made for them. What do you two think, would you like to live? Youd still be ves, but I wont restrict your movement or free will, you will however need to obey me and remain by my side for the rest of you lives or until I find a way to undo that tattoo of yours. The choice is yours. Frost spoke calmly and clearly before waiting in silence for their answer, if they still wished to die, refusing to be subservient once again, hed grant their wish and give them a swift death. But if they did ept his offer, he would look after them and to the best of his ability grant them a happy life, albeit not the regr type given his origins as a dungeon core. Particrly theyd be forbidden to reveal his secrets but other than that it should be much better than their current life and much better than the one that they were gradually heading towards. The two young kids looked at Frost and felt his sincerity before looking at one another, their eyes quickly filled with determination and hope. They turned around to stare back at Frost and nodded with conviction. They trusted the man before them, if he was willing to offer them life, theyd take it. Although they prepared themselves for death and on some level wished for it, that was only due to their present... well past circumstances. If they could live and live even somewhat decently, theyd take it. Frost smiled and nodded back. He ruffled their hair before standing back up and facing Ryuu. What do we need to do? The quicker they acted the more of their souls would be spared. First, we need to contact a ve merchant and not just anyone, one that is highly skilled and willing....luckily I know of the perfect person. Ryuu smiled as the image of a man quickly came to the forefront of his mind. Their master was most likely set to Adam, so theyll start to suffer from the withdrawal symptoms within the next 24 hours or so unless we assign a new master. All his previousmands however will still be in effect regardless of his death thats probably why they cant speak. Kudos for the young girl however in finding a loophole, grunting, and moaning dont count as speech allowing you to discover them before anything bad happened. He ruffled the young girls hair with praise. If Frost hadnt heard the young girls moans, they could have remained undiscovered for days or even weeks. Even Frost with his adept senses only found something out of ce after hearing sounds. Ryuu went in the other direction and most likely wouldnt have checked this side given his trust in Frosts capabilities. The girl blushed slightly in embarrassment but puffed up her chest with pride at the same time, her actions had saved her and her brother. First things first we need to get out of here, Ive already given a quick once over the area and found no dangerous traps or magic seals other than this one so it should be safe to let less skilled workers sort through the many, many items stored here. Ryuus eyes filled with envy as he witnessed the plethora of expensive items that Adam had stored away down here. They wouldnt notice if a few went missing though. Frost smirked as he looked over Luna, a few areas around her clothes were padded, clearly hiding some skill books and or magic devices. But he wasnt one to talk he pilfered a few gems and jewellery himself. Cough cough of course not these can be considered spoils of war. Ryuu coughed awkwardly while not looking in Frosts direction, Luna did much the same, but she whistled trying to appear though very badly as though she was innocent. Haaaaa Frost sighed, his findings were obviously not a lucrative as these two, but they probably didnt even scratch the surface. Well at least Ive gained a couple of future power houses. Frost smiled as he looked over his reward. Chapter 113 113 Chapter 113: Returning to the surface With their goals set and Frost receiving the two kids confirmation the group, now tworger started to head out of the vault. What the hell happened here? Frost asked in amazement as he took in the incredible sceneid out before him. Luna and the kids had simr reactions. The group had arrived in what was the once the arena room where they came across Drogan, Rock and Jin. What was once arge circr open space with smooth solid ground was now the epitome of a disaster area. Massive craters and scars reced what was once the floor. Thick holes were in the ceiling showing the interior of the second basement and an arrangement of what appeared to be blue flower patterns were burned/melted into the walls. Not to mention what looked like a pool of magma in the middle of the room. The group of four then craned their heads over to the older gentleman who was sporting a proud smile on his face as he enjoyed the sights. Ok I must remember to never piss off Ryuu or Bastion....ever. Frost wouldnt even be able to endure a single blow if it had the ability to cause this kind of devastation. Luna shook her head, her eyes filled with pride as well as envy before quickly changing to irritation. She let go of the two childrens hands and raised her palm up high before. p! She brought down her palm like a righteous thunderbolt knocking her father to the ground. Stupid old geezer how much do you think its going to cost to repair this kind of damage and what if your crazy ass spells brought down the upper floors huh! Wed be buried alive you idiot! She kicked his backside for good measure eliciting a chuckle from the watching parties. Her father and uncle really didnt know how to hold back no scratch that just her father, Bastion at least kept his damage to the floor. ..... It was easy to identify which craters and scars were caused by weapons and those with magic and most if not all the problem areas were caused by magic. Ryuu felt wronged, deeply wronged and was about to argue but caught sight of Lunas cold fierce gaze and held his tongue, hed be beaten regardless so he just had to suck it up and endure. Perhaps try to enjoy it, his daughter was trying to guide and educate him after all. Ah yes this is just another form of love. Ryuu changed his attitude and looked up lovingly at his daughter as she scolded and kicked him, causing a shiver to run down her spine resulting in more and harsher beatings. To be honest Ryuu wasnt nearly that stupid and if his daughter allowed him to exin shed understand but no, she wasnt one to listen. Ryuu and Drogans battle was monolithicpared to what they were doing. The jump between C-rank and B-rank was vast, even more so for mages and these two werent just simple entry level either no, they were both at least in the middle stages with Ryuu possibly being in the upper. And with higher poweres much, much more destructive magic. Unlike Adam they could cast 3rd circle spells repeatedly only encountering a simr issue if they used 4th circle spells, but ones of that level would have surely brought down the entire mansion, so they were never used. Most of the exterior damage was actually caused not by Ryuu but by Drogan. As the match began the two mages tested one another, firing low level spells with incredible speed and control which resulted in either partys magic being cancelled out. This was how most mages would duel, since their magic was so destructive to the surrounding area, they required precise control and uracy. The problems beganter in the fight when they started to use their more powerful spells and unique abilities. It was then that Drogan realised that he truly wasnt a much for Ryuu. With spells at the minimum of 2nd circle and frequently 3rd beingunched Drogan began to feel the strain. His casting speed wasnt as fast, his spell repertoire not as vast and most of all he was far more predictable in his casting. None of his spells made it past Ryuus defences, cancelled out or simply overpowered before they could reach him. But he knew this already, this fight was just for show and a chance for him to end his stagnation at his current level. Drogan began firing all types of spells at a random rate, many of which had poor uracy causing them tond on the walls, floor, and ceiling of the arena resulting in the majority of the damage, but Ryuu remained unfazed. He siphoned out the power of the overly destructive ones and cast wind or mana barriers to reduce the overall damage but even he had his limits. He grew bored of being on the defensive and switched gears suddenly firing high powered and highly urate spells straight at Drogan which filled him with panic. The spells were perfectly timed and orchestrated, his bnce would be affected and or his vision blinded, and hed be struck from any direction, he was effectively a punching bag. Drogan was forced to rely on his slightly younger body to endure the blows that prated past his mana shield and high quality robe. He and Ryuu were pretty much equally matched when it came to equipment but skill wise, he was clearly below. Their battle finally stopped when Bastion had cut down Rock and Jin before then smashing through the earthen wall Drogan had summoned, making this a two on one scenario with him already being the underdog. Although the group had a purpose and were keen to leave this area Frost couldnt help but be enamoured with the destruction wrought by multiple B-ranks fighting in an enclosed space, and this was with them most likely constraining their destruction, Ryuu especially. He moved over to the blue flower patterns burned into the wall, they were still generating vast amounts of heat which was very ufortable for someone like Frost. He reached out to touch the blue flower and quickly had to pull back his hand, his fingertips were burnt. Thats one of mine, abination of wind and fire, the blue fire lotus. Ryuu had at some point escaped Lunas tough love and meandered over to behind Frost. Seeing his interest, he decided to exin a few of the spells since Frost likely hadnt the chance to see them before. The upgraded version of fireball is basically the same structure but with blue mes which are much hotter and explosive. By adding in some wind magic you can create multiple different shapes as well as increasing the velocity of the spell. Its one of my favourites considering my specialties. Ryuumented with pride, he specialised in fire and wind magic so a spell thatbined both of these elements was his dream spell. The blue fire lotus spell could be considered middle level 3rd circle. Frost nodded his head as he listened, he was always very eager to learn about magic and this was the first time he encountered duel elemental spells. Maya only disyed ice magic as well as healing magic, both individually. Frost gave a onest look at the blue flower pattern on the wall and silently sighed. Given his talents,bination magic was beyond him. Is the magma pool over there yours as well? No that was Drogans, I unfortunately cant use earth magic. It was a good spell, shame the caster used it simply as a distraction. Hmmm? What do you mean Frost looked over at the pool of magma and felt that it gave off even more heat than the blue lotus, why would such a deadly spell be used for distraction. Tsk Ryuu clicked his tongue in annoyance as he remembered thest moments of his battle with Drogan. Hed finally gotten fully revved up for a magic duel, but Drogan had other ns. That asshole escaped just when things were getting interesting, heunched two magma ball spells at me and one at Bastion who had hammered his way through the earthen wall. We were forced to block or dodge in Bastions case. Ryuu nodded to the pool of magma in the centre of the room. That was the spell Bastion dodged. I destroyed his spell with my own but in doing so obscured my vision. The bastard used that chance to use a teleportation talisman. By the time I realised what he was doing it was toote, the talisman had been activated and his body was already glowing as it prepared to cross space. Bang! Ryuu stomped his foot on the floor with great power unbefitting of his mage like disposition, Drogans actions really ticked him off. The asshole even waved goodbye with an annoying smirk on his face,pletely happy with what he achieved ahahaha but the jokes on him hahahhaah. Ryuuughed madly with a grand smile. Drogans arrogance and mocking actions jinxed himself. Bastion that old dwarf reacted well, heunched his axe through the air and severed that assholes arm the moment before his body vanished so it wasnt all that bad, shame I couldnt do it myself. Ryuu pointed behind him with his thumb. Frost followed the direction and saw a severed arm lying on the ground in a pool of blood, it was still covered by Drogans robes. Fair enough, satisfied with Ryuus answer Frost didnt continue on this topic. Lets head on up, unless you want to get any more beatings from your daughter? Frost changed the topic as he witnessed Luna walking over ready to continue her re-education of her fathers personality. Ryuu shivered but inwardly he was torn between his choices, after getting beaten so much he hade to enjoy it but now was not the time. Yes, yes lets go find that old man Sebastian, before he croaks of old age hahaaha Ryuu stood up straight and walked back towards his daughter and the two phoenix kin along with Frost. Sebastian? Is that the merchant guild leader? Frost asked as they moved towards the stairwell, they could chat and walk at the same time. Yeah, hes the most skilled and highest ranking ve merchant within hundreds of kilometres hell even in the capital hes highly regarded. That old mans a ve merchant? Frost remembered the well dressed man he and Maya passed as they left the adventurers guild yesterday. He didnt seem like the sort to deal in that kind of profession. Former ve merchant, he normally sticks to running the guild and dealing in massive cross country sales, but his skills havent rusted. Theres no one with more knowledge or technique when ites to dealing with ve contracts. Hes also fairly knowledgeable about ve tattoos, plus we can trust him. Ryuu smiled gently. That old man though he wasnt here tonight in person, yed as big a part in this operation as you and I. He gathered all the necessary intel, obscured the 14 adventurers from Adams view and put Leo in touch with the more savoury of the underworld gangs a great man....but old. Ryuu frowned and released a deep sigh. Hes from the generation or even two generations before Dous, Bastion and I, the three of us have relied heavily on the old man in all forms in the defending and ruling of the territory but we wont be to much longer. This will probably be thest major thing that the old man gets to do before he kicks the bucket. Ryuu looked behind him towards the two young phoenix kin. Hell probably appreciate some gooding from this operation at least. He smiled before picking up the pace. Sebastian was a sucker for sob stories especially those involving kids. Their journey towards the surface was uninterrupted, the many corpses which youd expect to frighten two young children didnt even faze them, in fact they red with hatred as they passed. They didnte across Bruno or Taka along the way so they must have joined up with Leo and Bastion when they passed by earlier. Chapter 114 114 Chapter 114: Returning to the manor Phew finally were back outside. Luna took in a deep breath and shielded her eyes from the rising dawns sun. Unfortunately, the air wasnt exactly fresh. Bleurgh Luna quickly gagged and had to run off to the side so she could throw up. The two kids even with their harsh treatment also frowned and covered their noses due to the smell. Whaty before them was carnage. There was so many bodies that the ground no longer had a single patch that wasnt dyed blood red. The strong smell of blood and organs filled the air, it was repugnant. Frost however frowned for a different reason. Such a waste of DP. He sighed and shook his head before moving toward the young man ahead who was talking with a bunch of hardened adventurers sporting varying degrees of injuries. Thanks for all your aid and sorry for your loss Bagua, Ill make sure his family is rewarded for his valiant services here tonight. Leo spoke with a depressed tone. The group were standing around the corpse of an older gentlemen, a mage of some sort. He had a smile stered on his face as hey there cold and unmoving. Two much younger adventurers one male the other female were crying over his corpse while the rest appeared hurt and upset. Thank you for your kind words young master....Nn knew the risks of this job and dly took on the burden despite his age. Therge smile stered on his face shows he had no regrets and in hisst act he saved the lives of those he cared about....an honourable death. Bagua spoke with confidence, yet his fist was clenched and trembling. Nn was the oldest active adventurer in Furano and had helped out so many of them when they were first starting out. He was due to retire years ago but couldnt. His two grandchildren started out as adventurers, and he wasnt going to allow them to fight alone not after what happened to his son. The two young adventurers crying over his body were those grandchildren, Nn died protecting the two of them. Bagua moved towards the two and ced his hands upon their shoulders. ..... Arda, Zofia, Nn will not be forgotten. Bagua stood up before bowing low towards the corpse of the man he greatly respected. To be honest Nn was probably the best choice to be the leader of this group of 14 adventurers given his experience and strength, but he refused. Hahaha Im an old man, the young ones should take on a job such as this, Bagua youll do fine much better than an old bag of bones like me hahaha. Nnughed off Baguas urging for him to be leader just like that. The memory of Nnsughter brought a smile to his face. The other adventurers copied Baguas actions and bowed towards their deceased friend. The rest of them had a wide arrangement of injuries, some serious but only one of them died tonight a miracle given their situation. They fought against well over a hundred goons, it was exhausting and dangerous, but the real threat came when the local guards stormed thepound to investigate the signs of battle. These guards were far better equipped and much more skilled plus unlike them they were at peak energy. Nn died shortly before Leo and Bastion surfaced. A sergeant in the guards ran him through with his sword while he was focused on protecting Arda and Zofia from being overwhelmed. This sudden attack came as aplete shock, and the 13 remaining adventurers were filled with wrath. They came down upon the guards with incredible ferocity no longer caring to hold back. They burned through what remained of their stamina and sessfully brought down many of the corrupt guards, including the one who killed one of their own, but it could onlyst so long. Once they reached their limits the 13 of them were surrounded and exhausted and would soon be forced to join Nn in death. It was at this point that Leo and Bastion promptly arrived, barrelling through the corrupt guards, and revealing the head of Baron Adam, thus saving them from certain doom. Leo and Bastion joined the rest in bowing towards the deceased Nn. Bastion had a real difficult time epting the situation, he was the one that brought the adventures on board and had quite a strong friendship with Nn, he couldnt help but feel guilty. If only I was faster. Clenching his fists hard and biting his lip, a tear dropped from Bastions eye. Goodbye old friend. He muttered quietly under his breath. Noticing the awkward atmosphere Frost held back his words, standing silently in the back while the group gave their farewells. Nn Ryuu followed behind Frost and quickly noticed the dead adventurer. He moved passed Frost and the bowing adventurers to see his dead friend. Oh, Nn you will be missed old friend. Ryuu frowned as held back his tears. Nn was a mage like him, and they had a lot inmon. Nn taught him a lot when he was first starting out as a mage, he owed him a great deal. He closed his eyes and bowed in silence. Leo sighed before moving over towards Frost. How did the vault search go? Hoping to lighten the mood Leo asked Frost about his findings. Haaaaa Ryuu and Luna had better findings than me, my area turned up jewellery, gems, art, and furniture but there was somethingplicated... Frost directed Leos attention towards the two phoenix kin behind him who were rubbing Lunas back as she was hurling. Frost then proceeded to exin the best he could about the situation and their intentions in fixing it. Bastard! Leo shouted in anger as he looked for something to break. He knew that his uncle was an asshole and stooped low, but this was something different entirely, permanently enving children through a barbaric practise created by the Church of Light. Leo got a headache just thinking about it. This issue was far moreplicated than he expected. Well need to contact the royal family as soon as possible; this cant be handled simply in house anymore. Leo rubbed his temples as his headache got worse. We need to visit the merchant guild master. Uncle Sebastian? Yeah, Ryuu said he could help deal with the ve tattoos. Hmmmm I knew that he had some history with being a ve merchant but I didnt know he was that skilled....hes probably still asleep at this time. We can head back to the lords mansion and call him through themunication magic device. Handling something like this would be best done in the manor, we can send a carriage to pick him up or have hime over. Leo was actually quite inclined to leave, the smell of death here was getting to him. It took his entire strength to maintain his noble leader persona and not throw up like Luna did. But he needed to act as his position deemed, he was the one in charge of this operation and needed to see it through to the end. Leo frowned while ncing in a certain direction. Frost followed his gaze and saw a bunch of guards kneeling on the ground with their heads lowered, they were trembling. This group were some of the corrupt guards hired by Adam who panicked when Leo revealed his uncles severed head. Some ran in fear, some fought desperately refusing to give up, Bastion made short work of these fools. The remaining ones kneeling gave up quite quickly afraid to act. Their backer was killed, and no one could protect them from the crimes theymitted, they submitted to Leo and Bastion, afraid of death. Leo found this group really difficult to deal with, killing them all would have been far simpler, but they surrendered forcing him to arrest them and spare their lives for the moment. It was difficult to restrain the anger of the adventurers who wanted to annihte each and every one of them especially Arda and Zofia, but he managed. Whats your n for them and dealing with the aftermath? Now that Adams dead we can use the local guards without fear of being betrayed so Ill have some of the more trusty ones escort this group to jail and have others help watch thepound, cant trust the underworld gangs to leave such a valuable looting location alone. In regards to collecting the valuables Ill leave it to the Sebastian, he can assign some trusty merchants to catalogue everything, the bank manager Hoggins will probably help as well. Leo smiled the more he spoke, there was actually quite a few skilled people in Furano that he could trust to deal with such issues, especially now that Adam was no longer manipting the shadows. Itll be a lot of work and itll take time to restore order, but well get it done. Leo was filled with confidence again, regaining his strength to ignore the encroaching stench of blood and organs. Well lets get to it youve still got to save your father after all. Frost was keen to move on, he missed Maya and was pretty exhausted, he needed a long rest. Ah! I almost forgot. Leo proceeded to run over to Bastion and Ryuu to tell them that he was leaving, theyd take care of the adventurers before heading back to the manor. With that settled Leo, Luna, the two kids and Frost quickly left after saying their farewells. Edwin was still waiting with their carriage a few blocks away; he never left his post waiting for his young masters return. Young master wee back. Edwin bowed and greeted Leo when he arrived. No time for pleasantries Edwin we need to head back to the lords manor on the double. Leo waved off Edwin and hustled Luna and the kids into the carriage before alighting himself after Frost. Edwin was a bit surprised but obeyed the order jumping up to the drivers seat and pulling on the reigns Hyaahh, he whipped the reigns downward forcing the horses to pick up the pace, thankfully there werent many people on the streets at the moment so they could speed down the road at max speed. They also no longer needed to hide their actions and barrelled through the check points fully revealing the carriages owner. They made record pace and reached the manors gates well under an hour, there was no guards at the gate just like when they left. All the trustworthy ones were assigned to guard the important areas and people such as Dous, Cassandra, and the servants. They were still in the dark in regards to the operations sess. But they werent worried about any danger falling upon them thanks to the reliable guardian that dwelled alongside the Lord and Lady. Frost sighed when he alighted the carriage, his mask was gone, his body was still full of injuries including his face. He used the cleaning and repair function of his robes to make him look at least a little more presentable, but he was still nervous. Ill be lucky if she ever lets me out of her sight again haaaaa. He looked forward to meeting up with her again but not the lecture hed receive. Leo and Luna werent aware of his reluctance and ran ahead into the manor desperate to bring relief to Dous and Cassandra as well as end Douss suffering. Leo held the case containing the vial of antidote close to his chest, desperately hoping that it would be an antidote and not something else. Hopefully Adam spoke the truth in his final moments....Father I cant lose you, not now. Leo ran with increased speed ignoring the friendly greetings from the passing servants. Bang! He mmed open the door to his parents bedroom and rushed in not caring for decorum. The two guards stationed outside didnt stop him in the slightest, the two of them revealing a slight smile on their faces. Leo being here meant that he seeded, Adam was dealt with. Mom! Dad! Leo shouted out while panting. Dous and Cassandra were fine, in the exact same state they were before he left. His father was in bed rxing against his many pillows while Cassandra and Maya were sitting chatting away with smiles on their faces before turning around towards Leo. Chapter 115 115 Chapter 115: Returning to the manor (2) Ah! My poor little boy you look terrible. Cassandra rapidly stood up and ran over to Leo, sweeping him up in a bear hug. Leo truly did look worse for wear; his clothes were torn up and he was covered in blood. Cassandra almost died of fright seeing her baby boy in such a condition. Oww oww o mom it hurts let go. Leoined in pain, low level health potions had their limits, so Leos bones were still bruised and or cracked in ces. Cassandra quickly released her son from her crushing hug, afraid to cause him more pain. Leo youre safe thank goodness...did you seed... is my brother dealt with? Dous spoke up with difficulty, pain in his eyes. Leo moved away from his mother, handing Luna over to her as apromise. Yes, father... its over. Haaaaaa good, good. Dous smiled in relief after sighing, the burden that was his young brother was dealt with, he could finally rx and stop fighting. His son had proven to be a capable young man. He looked over his son and then to his wife. Hed be lying if he said he wasnt afraid of death, or that he didnt wish to spend more time with his family, see his son be a father but hed never make it till then and the pain was too much. Even now every word he spoke was agony on his lungs. He reached his goal, his son had proven himself, had reliable allies and the thorn that stood in his way, the blight on the territory was now gone. He could pass on happily knowing that. Leo now aware of his fathers thoughts picked up on his expression and bit his lip before moving close. Determination filling his eyes he grabbed his fathers thin and weakened hand forcing him to look his way. Father I know what youre thinking but the answer is no. Leo then retrieved the protective case holding the silver vial that Adam held onto. It was a long shot, but Leo was determined to give it a try. ..... Bar...Uncle Adam had onest thing to say as his final words. Leo spoke aloud so his mother could hear as well. Before he died, he showed regret for his actions in poisoning you father...this vial here supposedly contains the antidote for it...with this youll be cured. Leo fought to restrain his tears, as he remembered the image of his strong, brave, and powerful father who taught him how to use the sword years ago, he missed him. Eh! Cassandra gasped and looked towards Luna for confirmation, in which she received a nod. She broke down and started sobbing, she had lost hope for so long and what kind of wife would she be if she didnt understand her husbands mind. She knew deep down that he wouldntst much longer and that hed probably stop fighting now that was his brother had been dealt with. She yed the fool for her sons sake as well as her own, it was somehow easier to deal with if she pretended to believe. Leo held out the silver vial towards his father waiting for him to take it. Dous frowned; he was surprised. He looked towards the vial but was unsure, his hands remained stationary as his frown became more and more pronounced. Adam did you really have regrets? He stared at the liquid in the vial, trying to work out his brothers intentions but he quickly gave up, his choice had already been made and what was the point anyway, he was already in great pain and would die soon regardless. Oh well might as well. Hope sparked within Douss eyes, hoping his brother still had some part of him that was considered good. He grabbed the vial from Leos hands and downed all the vials contents with relish. Frost walked in at that moment and smiled, Dous would be saved, it filled him with joy but that was suddenly cut short when a cold suffocating pressure was unleashed upon his body. No one else was targeted, just him. He started trembling and craned his neck around towards the source of the pressure and there she was eyeing him with a deadly re, Maya. She was quite interested in seeing Dous recover but that paled inparison to her young master. She turned around to see him the moment he walked passed the door and the first thing she saw was the wounds on his perfect face, everything else was secondary but his face must never be touched. Young master, she didnt keep up the act of calling him Frost even though they were withpany and the way she spoke was incredibly cold and sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the room. They all turned around towards Frost and Mayapletely forgetting about Dous. Oh! Wow Cassandra was taken aback, Frost was the most handsome man shed ever seen, and she couldnt help but slightly fantasize, it wasnt until Dous started coughing that she was dragged out of her thoughts albeit with slight reluctance. Dous! She lunged towards her husband with increased enthusiasm to make up for her wandering imagination, supporting his back and holding his hand as the antidote well at least she hoped it was an antidote worked its way through his body. Cough cough Dous violently coughed forcing out some kind of ck substance from his body, it gave off a foul smell and stained his bed sheets. His body was clearly evacuating the substance that was harming him as well as any infected tissue. It was a good sign, Adam was true to his word, it was an antidote. Dous continued to cough violently, spurting out more and more of the ck substance and every time he did his face would gain a little bit more colour. It was working. Itd be a long road to a full recovery but at least his body wouldnt be in any further danger. The situation brought smiles and tears of joy to his family even Maya couldnt help but twitch a little as she struggled to maintain her cold and pressurising re upon her young master. While Frost was off gallivanting with Leo and Luna she was stuck in the manor with Cassandra and Dous. It was impossible for her to not get a little attached given their personalities, Cassandra especially since their personalities matched up quite well. Frost used this to abate her anger slightly, he moved in close to speak with her privately while Leo and the rest were crowding around Dous. Did anyone attempt to attack while I was away having fun? He emphasized the fact that his trip was enjoyable, hoping to curb her anger a little. Its harder to get mad at someone for something they did if they had fun doing it. ..... Maya silently red at her young master for a few moments before deeply sighing and withdrawing her aura. The phrase boys will be boys came to the forefront of her mind. She looked over her young master, inspecting his entire injuries. At least its not that bad, his face doesnt have any permanent damage, so I suppose Ill let him off. She really ced a high level of importance on Frosts face but of course she would, it brought her warmth and made her feel happy, like a highly valued piece of art. Phew Frost rxed once Maya removed her aura, he could breath safely again. Although he also felt a little ticked off subconsciously knowing the reason she caved was due to his face only having minor injuries. Having such a handsome appearance has its advantages but also disadvantages especially with someone like Maya by your side. He sighed internally but didntin since in a way she still cared and that was enough. There was one attack, but I dealt with it easily. Maya shrugged as she remembered what happened. With her strength even if Drogan, Rock, Jin and Adam attacked all at once she still probably handle with a single flick of her wrist. Hoh can you borate? Frost was quite interested in the means that Adam was able to employ when he was trapped down in his bunker. A maid, one of Cassandras personal maids in fact, attempted to poison us but I noticed, when questioned she lunged with a hidden dagger, so I released a little of my presence and well shes now catatonic mumbling in tongues. Maya smiled with pleasure as she remembered the sight of the young womanpletely breaking down due to immense fear. It was her own fault trying to not only poison a Fenrir but even attack one with a dagger. Frosts brow raised in understanding before he looked over towards Cassandra and Dous, the two of them were perfectly fine and held no fear towards Maya. She must have isted her pressure to only effect the assassin. Frost was impressed and envious, not only could Maya disy an aura that would prevent opponents from even being able to draw their weapons on her, but she could easily manipte it to target only certain foes. He couldnt help but look forward to the time when he could do the same but considering his current level that would be a long, long ways off. Adam must have had somemunication device allowing him to send a message to the maid. Other than that, the maid would have had no way of knowing that Frost and his group were assaulting Adamspound. Good thing I arranged for Maya to stay by their side. If the maid had gotten hold of Douss and Cassandras lives then the battle against Adam would have gone down a much darker path. Frost may have even been forced to fight Leo and Luna so as they could protect them. Frost frowned as he realised how dangerous Adam truly was as an opponent, he didnt envy Leos responsibilities. While Frost and Maya were having their exchange, the two phoenix kin walked in behind Frost each of them grabbing the sides of his robes. Eh! Who are these two little cuties? Maya quickly noticed and lowered herself to their level, admiring them much like Luna did. She smiled and attempted to pinch their cheeks, but they hid behind Frost. Ah yeah about that... Frost suddenly felt quite awkward. How am I supposed to exin this. Oh, hey Maya after beating Adam I found these two and decided to adopt them, theyll being home to live with us from now on. If he said that hed probably get more than just a re. He himself was just born yet he wished to take care of two young children, plus his identity was a major secret and kids werent know for being good at keeping such things to themselves. It was practically a disaster waiting to happen, but hed already made his decision and wasnt one to break his own word. Frost sighed before ushering Maya and the two kids into a different room, best to not have Leo and the rest hear their discussion, whether that be because of the private details or to maintain his cool senpai image they had. It wouldnt do for them to see him being lectured and bashed on the head by Maya. Once they closed the door and he asked Maya to check for any surveince devices or people within earshot he exined the situation as well as his decision and reasoning. Several minutester the group of four were standing in silence, Frost had a nervous sweat building. He had told Maya everything as well as his reasons and was just waiting for her response. ..... Maya held her tongue the entire time he spoke; her facial expressions were quite vivid, but she stayed quiet until the end and quite frankly she didnt know what to say. Frost actions although based upon emotion were also quite logical and beneficial to them. Having more people with intelligence and the ability to think, speak and even grow stronger with them in the dungeon would not only brighten up the atmosphere but would give them a lot more freedom when it came to management. Also, due to the ve tattoo, these two kids would be unable to ever betray Frost meaning that his secret about being a dungeon core would never be leaked, at least by them. This fact cancelled out one of the primary disadvantages of bringing them to the dungeon, so Maya found it really hard to argue. Of course, having two young kids in the house would limit their flirty banter, which was another downside in Mayas opinion, but they were so cute that it didnt matter. Them being phoenix kin was also interesting, Maya noticed their race almost immediately and was fairly impressed, even with her strength she rarely encountered people with phoenix bloodlines. Chapter 116 116 Chapter 116: The merchant guild master, Sebastian Frost continued to wait in silence, his nervousness growing with every passing second. He was afraid of Maya rejecting his suggestion, he looked towards the two kids who were silently waiting at this side. Haaaaaaa Finally Maya spoke, well sighed but it was enough. Frost turned back towards her and awaited her answer. Her gaze wasplicated and hard to read but eventually when she looked over the two kids, she smiled showing her eptance. I agree with your decision young master, although it may not be the wisest it was a decision you made and the upsides outweigh the downsides, so you have my blessing. Maya spoke happily while smiling his way, she even gave him a thumbs up for a job well done. Frost smiled widely in response and let out a deep breath, a weight was lifted from his shoulders. Good, good he nodded. Having two kids with intelligence would give him someone to talk to other than Maya back home, hed grown fond ofpany during his time in Furano. The fact that the two of them would be guaranteed future power houses was a bonus. Right now, the strongest monsters he could summon were only D-rank yet if what Ryuu said was correct the moment these enter adulthood theyd likely at minimum jump to C-rank, his current strength. Sure, itd probably take several years but he had time especially when it cost him 0DP. The two phoenix kin still couldnt talk but they could listen. Hearing Mayas agreement and seeing Frosts happy expression they couldnt help but smile and hug one another, they had a home, they wouldnt be tortured and suffer any longer. They had a very good impression of Frost and now also Maya. The two children nodded to one another before bowing in thanks. Dont get too excited just yet, although I promised that youd never be mistreated and beingcking in food. Life with me will not be easy, you need to train and be strong and work for your meals. Frost nned on training them so they could be even stronger once they mature. Ummmmm, the two kids grunted in eptance, they werent afraid of hard work. ..... Good answer, now lets get you talking again. Adam was still set as their master and his no talking order was still in effect until Frost reced his position. The group of four left the room looking like a perfect family, heading back to Douss bedroom to speak with Leo. They needed to contact Sebastian so he could stop the ve tattoo from damaging their souls further. When they returned Dous was asleep but had a rose coloured tint to his cheeked and a smile on his face, the healing process was underway. Cassandra was happily gazing at her husband as he slept with a gentle smile on her face whereas Luna and Leo were waiting for Frost, each in high spirits. Frost-senpai thank you. Leo immediately bowed towards Frost. It was him who found and retrieved the silver vial as well as the one who allowed Adam to live long enough to say his final words, his actions saved his father and hed be eternally grateful. Frost moved forward and lifted Leo from his bow. No need for that Leo what are friends for. Frost could feel his insides be warm when he said the word friends. Leo and Luna were his first. Leo rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment but quickly smiled, he was so happy and owed Frost so much he didnt really know how to express himself properly but friends, the word also made him feel warm. Miss Maya my mother told me what happened with her maid, thank you for saving them. Learning from his earlier mistake he didnt bow just nodded his head towards her which elicited a cuteugh from Maya. Youre wee little Leo. She spoke from a position of an elder causing Leo to blush slightly, since Maya didnt look too much older. The operation was a great sess and Ill be sure to reward you two for your efforts. Well hold you to it. The group thenughed together creating a harmonious atmosphere. Itd take a couple days at least to catalogue the worth of all the items held in Adams vault so Frost and Maya would have to wait that long to get their rewards which were sure to be more than generous, but more importantly they needed to contact Sebastian. How do we get in contact with the merchant guild leader Sebastian? Frost asked eager to be fully responsible for the two children by his side and finally hear their actual voices instead of grunts and moans. We can call him with the manorsmunication device, his number is one of the ones paired along with Bastions, Ryuus and the other important officials. Follow me. Leo led the group upstairs to the third and highest floor in the manor, the room was once Douss office and used to be the busiest and most used room in the entire manor. Now however it was empty and filled with dust. With the master of house indisposed, this room was no longer needed so it was abandoned. Please forgive the mess. Leo apologised before making his way towards a crystal ball that was the only thing in the room that was clean. It was on a special looking jade pedestal with a single chair for the user. Communication magic devices came in all sorts of sizes and materials, but the best were all simr to the one in Douss office, made of special crystal allowing for not only audio but also video. Such devices werent exactly rare due to the high demand, but they were expensive. Leo sat down in front of the crystal ball and touched it with his fingers causing a screen to be disyed above the ball which reminded Frost of his dungeon cores menu. Right lets see Sebastian, Sebastian ah here it is. Leo scrolled down the menu, which was basically a list of contacts, other than calling the device also allowed the user to leave messages but such a delicate issue needed to be discussed in real time. Ring ring The crystal gave of ringing sound as it tried to contact Sebastiansmunication device. They just needed to wait until he picked up. Luckily, they didnt have to wait long, after a few rings the opposing side answered. Little Leo Ive been expecting your call. A deep elegant voice spoke, and the image of an old well kept man appeared within the crystal. He was smiling and fully dressed even at such an early time. Sebastian knew of the operation taking ce and was too nervous to sleep, even with his aged body he forced himself to remain awake and ready to perform any duties that Leo required of him. The moment he received Leos call he was filled with joy and a heavy weight was relieved from his chest. If Leo failed, Adam would be the one inplete control within the territory, which wouldnt have boded well for him. His gamble paid off. Greetings uncle Sebastian, thank you for all your help, Adam is no more. Leo bowed his head in thanks before going on to exin the reason for his call, he wouldnt be calling at this time just to give thanks after all. I have a delicate issue that requires your personal assistance, are you free at all, time is of the essence. Leo spoke seriously, rying their need. The sooner they acted the sooner the kids would be able to rx, no longer having to suffer their wills and souls being gradually snuffed out. Ill be over immediately. Sebastian hung up the call and got ready to leave immediately. Leo was surprised, not expecting such a prompt response. I didnt even tell him what it was about. Leo smiled and once again felt the warmth of being able to rely upon his seniors. Well, that went well, given his response Sebastian should be here within the hour how about we eat something while we wait, I for one am starving. With perfect timing, Leos stomach rumbled as proof and in response the two childrens stomachs rumbled as well causing a few giggles from Luna and Maya. Sounds good Frost ruffled the childrens hair with affection. Frost then along with the children were led to the dining room where they had that very tasty feast the night before. Although given the time the food wouldnt quite sovish Leo didnt spare any expense, the chefs and servants quickly brought out many meals perfect for breakfast. Bowls of fresh fruit, pancakes with multiple toppings, toast, cheeses, cereal made from wheat with sugar dustings and many others. The two kids had never seen such delights and couldnt help themselves from salivating as the dining table was filled. They leaned over desperate to dig in, but they couldnt thanks to the effects of the ve tattoos. They required permission but they couldnt even request it. Seeing the problem Frost spoke out, he was their soon to be master therefore it was his responsibility. Dont hold back, dig in. He waved his hand over the dishes; he too was eager to dig in but needed to maintain a sense of decorum in front of the children. With Frosts permission the two kids eyes literally shined before they started digging in with relish, shovelling handfuls of food into the mouths bringing smiles to those present, even the servants waiting on them couldnt help but smile at the sight. Frost followed after them fairly quickly but with better manners. Oh, this is really nice. He started with some of the fresh fruits and found them to be really sweet and juicy. Another thing hed have to look into for his dungeon. Around 45 minutester once they were all finishing up, a servant came up to Leo and gave him a message. Sir Sebastian has arrived young master and is waiting in the second reception room. Perfect, tell him well be right there. Understood sir, the servant then bowed before leaving the room. Frost-senpai, Sebastians arrived. Leo spoke to Frost who at this moment was wiping the faces of the two kids with a napkin a servant handed him. They managed to get covered in fruit juice and other bits of food due to using their hands, so he was cleaning them up like any good father. His actions caused all the females in the room to gaze at him dreamily, nothing more attractive than a handsome and young caring father, Luna was no exception, but she asionally ovepped Frosts likeness with Leos causing her to blush. Great, ok you two lets go deal with this issue of ours. He finished wiping their cheeks and they responded with happy grunts and nodding. Leo then led them all towards the 2nd reception room where Sebastian was waiting. Maya had to cede her usual position of being glued to Frosts arm, but she was more than willing. She held the hand of the young girl whereas Frost held the hand of the young boy. Frost and she were walking on the outside like a pair of young parents, it was a blissful moment and satisfied another urge that Maya had, her motherly instincts. Of course, they werent exactly a family, and the two children would most likely not be treated like their kids when they reached the dungeon but for now it was eptable and quite enjoyable. Chapter 117 117 Chapter 117: The merchant guild master, Sebastian (2) Sebastian was waiting on a veryfortable couch and drinking a pleasant cup of tea that one of the servants kindly prepared for him. He greatly appreciated the couch and the kindness shown by the servants, frequently asking if there was anything he needed. Sebastian was quite annoyed at himself right now well more his body than anything. Haaaaa age is a horrible thing. In his rush to reach the lords manor he pretty much threw out his hip, and now his every movement sent jolts of pain throughout his body. Yet he kept his smile, he was a respected senior after all Ee ttitt titit, he used sipping his tea to cover his pained exmation. Frost and the group arrived very quickly. Uncle Sebastian thank you for arriving so promptly, I wouldnt request your presence at such a time unless it was of grave importance. Leo moved over to shake Sebastians hand but when Sebastian moved to greet the young lord. Crack! His back audibly cracked so loud that everyone in the room heard it and Sebastians expression froze and his face nched. Oowwowowowowowwowowow, the pain was horrible, and he couldnt move, stuck in a half raised position. He honestly thought for a moment that this would be how he died. Luckily there was a very capable person present who acted swiftly after receiving an instruction from her young master. ..... [Greater heal] Maya casted her healing magic on the old man, choosing to use a higher level spell, given his age. Mmmmmm Sebastian released a happy moan as his body filled with warmth and the pain quickly subsided, turning into almost pleasure. His body hadnt felt so light andfortable in decades. Straightening his back, he turned to face Maya, his saviour if you will. Thank you, youngdy for your generosity. As if to prove his newfound health he gave a bow to Maya in thanks, full blown 90 degrees and everything. Maya instantly jumped up to his most revered of acquaintances, she granted him a second life, truly. Maya smiled and curtsied back, she was happy to help this old man, not just because she was taught to respect the old but the fact, he was the one whod be helping these two cuties standing beside her. Sebastian then finished his original greeting towards Leo. Not a problem little Leo happy to help, now what do you need me for? Sebastian sat back down wriggling his back with glee already pleased with the trips results. Haaaaaaaa Leo sighed before asking the rest of the group to join him on the couch including the young phoenix kin. Sebastian only noticed the children slightly but when they sat down, and he got a good look he sucked in a sharp breath. Phoenix kin and ves to boot. Sebastians expression became very serious and instantly understood which of his mercantile skills Leo required. Illegal ves and a very rare pair of phoenix kin. He moved close to the children inspecting them from every angle. Thats! The moment he noticed the green ve tattoo underneath their ve cors he eximed and pulled back his hands afraid to cause a reaction. His thoughts were awash and his mind panicked, this situation was very serious but most of all anger filled him. He more than most knew what these ve tattoos entailed, and he was filled with hatred towards Adam. I knew he was a piece of shit but this! Grinding his teeth in anger Sebastian crushed his teacup to smithereens, he too was once a respected fighter, more than enough to break some brittle teacup. He now also knew why the situation was urgent and why he was specifically summoned. There was no one within hundreds of kilometres that could even attempt to deal with this problem. Unskilled ve merchants would kill the host when trying to interfere and even those who could, would probably refuse due to the legal implications. He was in a unique position of first being able to stop the further corroding of the hosts soul and revert them to being simple ves albeit permanently. And second his status, it not only allowed him to have some pull with the government but more so that he was nearing the end of his life. Even if his actions would be considered illegal what could the government do to threaten such an old man but.... He looked back at Leo. Are you sure? This could end very, very badly for you even if I do seed. Sebastian was confident in his skills but even he had a 15% chance of killing the ves with his actions, far better than most but still a possibility. Leo smiled, he felt happy that Sebastian didnt even think of saying that he wont do it but worrying about the fallout for him. Dont worry weve figured out a loophole in thew making it a somewhat grey area, that should keep us from being implicated. Leo then went on to exin the entire situation as well as their intentions. Ryuu agreed that itd be ssed as a grey area and should work. Thats all the royal family really needs to condone this action, given that in the end its filled with good intentions. Leo knew the Emperor as well as some of the princes and princesses, most of them were kind and generous people that would do everything in their power to help those in need. If Ryuu said that then who am I to question it, no one in the territory is more aware of the empires rules and regtions than him. Sebastian smiled and leaned back; he was satisfied now that Leo wouldnt be ced in harms way. So, you are Frost, Ive heard whispers about you, and it seems weve met before, although you were hiding your face then. Sebastian questioned with a mischievous smile. Frosts appearance had zero effect on him. Given his station hed had many encounters with elves and other races with appealing faces. He was far more interested in Maya, he even offered to train her as his sessor as long as she asionally casted her healing magic on him. Which she sternly turned down and grabbed on to Frosts arm in response. Yes, it was just in passing but we did meet each other in the adventurers guild. Frost spoke gently and nodded. He then remembered him saying something foolish like theyd likely meet again, inadvertently raising a g as Maya put it. Looks like that stuff actually works. He chuckled internally at the notion. So, youll be the one taking care of these lovely kids. His expression suddenly turned serious, and an imposing pressure bared down on Frost. It wasnt aura but something akin to killing intent but less threatening. Sebastian loved kids, he donated arge chunk of his profits to orphanages and always carried candies with him, which hed already handed a few to the two. Frost was effectively going to be their eternal master, he needed to be sure he was a good man and wouldnt bond them to him if he deemed him anything else. Frost knew this was a test and smiled, he was happy with Sebastians actions, a man of honour and integrity. The kind he appreciated and respected, much like Dous, Ryuu and Bastion. Yes, Ill be in charge of looking after and raising them. He spoke truthfully. Do you promise to treat them right and not abuse your rtionship as a master? The pressure Sebastian emitted became denser, this was standard routine when inducting ve contracts however in this case it was much, much more impactful. These ves would have no rights or safety thanks to the contract being entirely on Frosts side. Sebastian needed confirm that he wasnt just attaching them to someone like Adam or worse. The ve tattoo destroys any semnce of a contract and forcibly binds the victim to the master, Sebastian was powerless to prevent this, all he could do is interrogate the would be master. I do Frost spoke clearly and looked Sebastian directly in the eyes, not wavering for a second. He wasnt in to causing pain especially to young children. He saved them and would look after them, he gave his word. Sebastian gazed into Frosts eyes and saw no hesitation or any semnce of falsehoods and was satisfied. He then looked at the two children, he needed to hear their take as well. And you two, are you willing to be bound to this man forever more? He restrained his pressure for the kids but didnt remove it entirely, this was one of his skills at y as a ve merchant. This pressure would help to gleam the truth, very important in his business. The two children looked at one another and then to Frost and Maya before they each grabbed hold of their hands. Ummmmm they both nodded and grunted towards Sebastian showing their resolve. Hahhahahaha perfect then lets get this show on the road, itll take some time but Im confident in getting it done. Sebastianughed with joy, Frost and the kids passed with flying colours, so he saw no reason to dy this matter. Frost and the rest smiled and felt relieved, he moved to thank Sebastian but before he could. Itll cost 5 gold coins per kid. Boom! A bomb went off in Frosts mind when he heard that number. 5 gold coins each, I dont have that kind of money. All his confidence crumbled, his shoulders slumped, and his lips twitched. What, you think thats too much young man? Sebastian had asserted his role as an able merchant, his eyes appeared to be constantly calcting. Frost subconsciously nodded. Haaaaaa kid Im the only one who can do this lets say operation safely within 100s of kilometres and even then, Im probably one of the best within the empire, so youd be paying for a highly skilled specialist. Second this is dangerous work not just for the kids but also for me, If I mess up not only will the kids be killed so will I. But Im not that bothered about that given my age, death could happen at any time. Thirdly the materials Ill need to do this are quite expensive so thats added into the cost, but the most important aspect is the fact that this action is strictly considered against thew. Even if youve mentioned that its a grey area, thats only for you not the ve merchant. If this wasnt me acting on a personal level, Id be charging you triple that amount. These are rare species kids with the phoenix bloodline and ve tattoos created by the Church of Light are notoriously more difficult to remove from a still growing subject so in fact I may have charged you 20 gold coins a kid. Sebastian took a deep breath at the end of his monologue. So, still think 5 gold coins is a lot kid? Im practically just charging you for materials. Sebastian wasnt annoyed by Frosts attitude in the slightest, just giving him a reality check. Ugh Frost couldnt speak, Sebastian spoke with such purpose that he couldnt find fault and it was true that this was a very delicate situation. The price was most likely urate, and he was already receiving a massive discount probably due to Leo but still. I really cant afford it. He barely had a single gold coin in his coin purse let alone 10. Thatll be fine, well transfer the money to your ountter today Sebastian thank you. Leo butted in with smile. L...Leo? Frost instantly felt relief but also felt rather ashamed. The kids were going to be his responsibility, he couldnt have Leo be the one paying but did he have any other choice. There was the jewellery he pilfered from Adams vault but even if he sold that hed likely only get 2 gold coins or so, still far from the 9 more he needed. Luckily Luna noticed the issue, she moved in close and whispered into his ear. Youre still due your reward for the operation, just consider this a part of that, we can deduct from the final amount if that makes you happier. Luna first offered it as a gift for services rendered but then allowed it to be taken from his total reward thus giving him the option to not be receiving their help. Frost smiled, he was grateful for Lunas kindness and thoughtful actions. He whispered back. Deduct it from my reward, theyre my responsibility and I should pay for this alone. Frost didnt regret his actions even though itd mean less money for him. His pride mattered more than some coins. Hahaha, I thought youd say that. Luna giggled before walking over to Leo and rying Frosts decision. So, have we a deal young Frost? Sebastian asked once again. Yes, we do, please disable their ve tattoos. Frost bowed towards Sebastian with gratitude. Chapter 118 118 Chapter 118: Removing the ve tattoos 10 gold coins was more than worth it for two future phoenix powerhouses. Frost and Sebastian shook hands to cement the deal, after which Sebastian gave the nearby servant a few requests, he needed a bunch of materials to be brought over if he was going to deal with ve tattoos. Itd take him several hours toplete, during which hed need to be incredibly focused and while he worked his magic, the kids would also need to remain stationary unless they wanted their heads to explode. With the arrangements set, the servants left to fetch the items from Sebastians warehouse while Leo asked the other servants to clean up a room wherein Sebastian could operate. Sebastian then took the kids away since he needed to discuss the details of the operation and how serious it was that they remain very still and quiet. The two were a little afraid to leave Frosts side but acquiesced after seeing him nod and understanding that this was for their benefit. Maya, can you go with them just in case? Plus try and gleam as much information about their tattoos from Sebastian as you can. Frost whispered to Maya. He was keen on any knowledge regarding the Church of Light and their creations. Perhaps in the future he may be able to undo the ve tattoospletely granting the kids freedom. Understood, I too would like to know more about these ve tattoos as well as ve contracts in general. Ill keep the kidspany but what will you do young master? Maya turned around to face Frost. Having another look over his injuries. He didnt have anything too serious left after health potions and Lunas healing magic and would be able to heal naturally after a good rest but just in case. [Greater heal] Maya casted a higher level healing spell that removed any remnants of his wounds and restored a fair amount of stamina but even still. Thanks, yaaaaaaaaawn, Frost yawned as his body filled with warmth from the healing magic, he was tired, exhausted even. Hed been fighting all night against superior numbers and superior opponents. Even with health potions, magic, jerky, and that lovely breakfast he just had, his energy levels were drastically low. He needed to sleep. Ill be heading to bed for a few hours in order to recharge. Sebastian said that he wouldnt need my input until theter stages of the operation so I should be fine for a while. Frost stretched his back and arms until they cracked, and his eyelids started to droop. I really miss having a constant flow of mana filling my body haaaaaa. Frost bemoaned the difference of being out in the real world instead of his dungeon. I also need to examine how much DP I made tonight. ..... Hoh did you manage to kill a lot? Yeah, but most of them were pretty weak and only gave out twice their daily DP values when killed, but it should be a fairly decent number. He still had the almost 900DP gathered from the frost goblins killed the other day, plus whatever the Dungeons been able to collect during their absence. I might even be able to generate a second floor. Frost had learned a little more about monsterirs from his conversations with Leo and Bastion. Single floor monsterirs regardless of the monsters contained were verymon andcking in value. Even if they didnt hunt the monsters very much, theirs crystal would quickly run out due to its low quality. The area would then turn into empty areas generally used by merchants or bandits. The Furano territory was littered with used up monsterirs. Unfortunately, they didnt have a single monsterir that wasrger than a single floor and hadnt in decades. This yed a major part in why adventurers above C-rank didnt remain within Furano. But just creating a new floor would cost 10,000DP, not including the environments, monsters, and traps to outfit it. Arge expense but having a second floor would attract far more victims. Alright, Im off Maya see you in a few hours. Frost waved goodbye as he made his way upstairs to his assigned room. Once there Frost moved to the bed and copsed onto his back enjoying thefort of the mattress. Still not as good as mine but not bad. He leaned back infort and brought up the dungeon menu albeit with a lot less features. lets see how much DP I earned tonight. He brought up the DP records for the past 24 hours. Ok not bad, not bad at all 4000DP, its even more than the amount I gained from that bandit ughter albeit I did kill far more this time haaaaa. Frost sighed as he noticed that if these kills were within the dungeon, hed have raked in 20,000DP. Best not to dwell on what ifs. He shook his head trying to remove those thoughts but with the 900 he already had, 4900DP was disyed in brackets on the dungeon menu. Still a fair ways off from 10,000DP but Im getting there. There was also the fact that he would soon be filled with money, a single gold coin could be converted into 1000DP. It felt a little awkward that killing all those people equated to just 4 gold coins worth, life was cheap. Happy with his gains Frost copsed the menu and quicky drifted into unconsciousness. Four hourster he was awoken by a knock on his door. Sir Frost, sir Sebastian requests your presence in the workshop. A servant ryed Sebastians request and waited outside the room, hed guide Frost down once he was ready. Ugh....Ill be right there, Frost groaned before replying, he was still groggy from his nap. Being woken up by Maya is much more pleasant. Once Frost stood up, he realised he was still wearing what was left of his leather armour and other equipment. They were beyond salvageable, good thing it was free. Frost removed the remains and tossed it in the nearby garbage can, luckily his robes had a self-repair function. He opened the door and greeted the servant before following him downstairs to the workshop. Leo had the servants clean out arge warehouse type room with good lighting and wide open space. Wheres Leo and Luna? He asked the servant a few questions so as to not walk in silence. Young master Leo and young miss Luna woke up an hour ago and left the manor to deal with the fallout of Baron Adams execution. They should be currently meeting with the towns council members in the government district. The servant spoke with pride as he spoke about his future lord anddy. Frost raised his eyebrows in surprise not expecting Leo and Luna to be back to work so quickly, he suddenly felt guilty about sleeping in. The servant led Frost down into the basement wherein Sebastian was working on the two childrens ve tattoos. Sir Sebastian requested that you enter as quietly as possible so as not to jeopardise the operation. Frost nodded silently before pushing open the door What greeted him was a clean open space, all items that were originally stored here were pushed up against the wall, giving Sebastian enough room to work in. In the centre of the room the two phoenix kin children were lying on separate tables with Sebastian standing between them. The kids had their eyes closed but were frowning and appeared to be in no small amount of pain, sweat could be seen dripping down their faces and their fists were clenched yet they didnt make a peep. Fully obeying Sebastians instructions, staying as motionless and silent as possible. Maya was sitting a short distance away on a wooden chair, her eyes were wide open and strained as she took in every movement that Sebastian made, noting it down internally. However, that wasnt all, her lips were bitten hard, and several parts of the chair had cracked due to excessive gripping. She had to restrain herself from acting out whenever she saw the children trembling in pain, it was hard for her to watch. Her motherly instincts were on full whack. Sebastian himself was incredibly exhausted, his old body was really limiting him, not to mention the asional bursts of killing intent that Maya sent his way instinctively. The ve tattoos on the kids was also far moreplicated than he suspected. Damn you Adam what kind of man did you find to make these malicious tattoos? He fully expected it to be a challenge given their phoenix bloodline, but this was something else. His arms were trembling, and his eyes werepletely bloodshot. His breathing was erratic, gasping for every breath and he could only keep his bnce by leaning on the operating tables. The person who applied these ve tattoos was of equal skill to him perhaps in some regards even better. Sebastian was out of the ve game for a few years after all. He was bound to be a little rusty, but still up to the task. Itd just be a little more difficult. Hu hu hu Sebastian breathed heavily as he tried to regain some stamina. Swiftly he pulled out a vial filled with red and green liquid, downing the thing in a single gulp before he noticed Frost entering the workshop, shock evident in his eyes. Frost perfect timing, get over here while I still have the strength toplete this operation. Sebastians eyes were filled with urgency, the operation was at a very dangerous and fragile point, he couldnt lose focus even for a second. One wrong move and theyd all be blown up. Frost quickly nced towards Maya the moment he received Sebastians order. He wanted to know how he was faring. Maya gave him a curt nod and a distressed look, telling him to move quickly. Frost obeyed, moving with purpose towards Sebastian. The moment he arrived he could see the desperation of the situation. Sebastian was truly barely hanging on; the old mans entire body was trembling, and his face was as white as a ghosts. The kids were sweating profusely, and the pain was evident on their faces. Frost suddenly remembered that this operation had a chance of failing and the results would be catastrophic. Frost frowned, his expression bing serious before looking at Sebastian. What do you need me to do? He moved to support the old man before he fell but was quickly stopped. No dont touch me, youll break the connection! Sebastian shouted out desperately, the situation was dire. Move behind the kids and gently ce your hands over their heads. Sebastian gave out instructions in which Frost obeyed without hesitation. Now what? Frost held his hands on the kids heads, it was hot nearly burning his fingers. What the hell? It felt as though mana was burning through their bodies and was on the verge of exploding. Frost wasnt exactly far off the mark. The ve tattoos were reacting to Sebastians actions in an incredibly aggressive manner. The tattoos started flooding their hosts body with all their reserved mana, aiming to burn them from the inside, a painful death. Young master their bodies are overflowing with rampant foreign mana, burning their blood and organs. Sebastians been doing his best to slow the progress as best he could, but the pain is still there. Maya spoke telepathically to Frost exining the situation. No wonder the kids look so pained. Frost sighed and looked gently upon their faces, rubbing their hair with affection hoping to alleviate their pain even slightly. Now heres the tricky bit Frost, you need to channel your mana into their bodies, slowly and carefully. We need to establish a connection between you and them, and if it seeds the rampant mana will recede back into the tattoo and be disabled. Sebastian spoke as smoothly as he could. Frost frowned and started to channel his mana into the two children, he took it slow and careful, as instructed. His natural ice element helped to bring the kids some sce, cooling their foreheads but it made the reaction for Frost much more vtile. Oww! Frost eximed in pain as a surge of the rampant ve mana pushed against his own and rushed up his arm, causing significant pain. Frost you need to remain strong and constant, the moment you pull back your mana this is all over, endure the pain otherwise... theyll die. Sebastian spoke in a serious tone; his face was twitching as he tried to keep the entire thing stable. If he wasnt there, then the kids would have already exploded, and Frost would have no way of forcing back the ve mana. This was something designed by the Church of Light after all. Chapter 119 119 Chapter 119: Removing the ve tattoos (2) Frosts frown deepened as he endured the searing pain in his arms, he forced the ve mana out with his freezing cold ice mana. Taking a deep breath, he channelled his mana into the children with all he had, his eyes full of focus he started the battle. He couldnt be too forceful or too weak, needing to maintain a stable but overbearing onught of mana. His progress was slow but sure, starting from their heads he slowly pushed back the rampant ve mana back towards the tattoo. You need to speed up a little Frost, Im nearing my limit cough cough. Sebastian violently coughed, blood started to drip from his lips which he wiped away all while still maintaining the stability of the operation. You need to overpower every speck of the ve mana otherwise itlle back with a vengeance cough cough. Sebastian coughed up more blood, he could only hold on for another ten seconds or so. Shit! Shit! Shit! Frost panicked as he felt Sebastian wavering and the ve mana bing even more aggressive. He still had 20% left to clear and not enough time. Dammit hold on this might hurt a bit. Frost warned the kids before he suddenly increased the amount of mana, he was channelling. Hecked the time to be delicate, this needed to happen now. Ahhhhhhhhhhh! The kids screamed out as the mana battled within their bodies, as though mini explosions were happening within their veins, yet still they did their best to stay motionless. Maya cracked her chair, turning it into smithereens due to anxiety. Frost didnt make them endure for too long quickly forcing back the mana back into the tattoo. ..... Almost there almost there. The moment he was attacking thest couple percent, Sebastian lost control. His eyes rolled back into his head, knees buckling, he fell to the ground, cking out. The moment he did, thest bit of ve mana suddenly turned into aplete monster, increasing in strength by magnitudes but Frost was having none of it. Get the fuck in that tattoo. Expecting ast ditch effort Frost channelled everything he had, quickly snuffing out thest resistance of the rampant ve mana before it managed to gain any traction, he did however overexert himself. Dong! Frost was knocked back by the recoil of his own mana, he wasnt hurt but he did fall. In the end two phoenix kin children were still once more, their breathing quickly bing stable and colour returning to their faces, they had seeded. Maya rushed over to Frosts side to inspect his situation. She sent a mild stream of her own mana into his body but found nothing wrong. She sighed in relief and casted a healing spell just in case. [Heal] she then moved over to the children, inspecting them with just as much care and was once again relieved. No rampant ve mana was left storming throughout their bodies and their internal injuries were minor at best. Frost had good control over his mana throughout the process, granting such a result. Maya smiled as she caressed the cheeks of the young children before casting a healing spell on them both. [Heal] they still needed to wake up naturally but now when they do, they wont have any pain. Ugh! A hoarse groan came from Sebastian as he came to. He was knocked out due to mana exertion, so his body was in a great deal of pain, and he had a splitting headache. Amon urrence for mages when in training. Passing out from overusing your mana was said to increase your maximum capacity as long as you were willing to suffer the after affects. Since Maya was preupied with the kids, Frost stepped up to aid Sebastian. He grabbed onto his shoulder and supported the old mans weight before gently moving him over to afy chair that was shoved near the wall. The old man was weak in the knees and his breathing rapid and shallow and every time he tried to focus; his head would feel as though he was hit by a sledgehammer. Owowowowwowow youd think after years of practise Id be used to this kind of pain oowwowowowo. The more heined the worse the pain got. It wasnt a physical pain but one that affected the mind and soul, you cant just tense your muscles as you grin and bear it. Regardless of your mana capabilities or age it hits you all the same sometimes even worse if youre particrly skilled. All he could do was wait out the worst of it and then drink a mana potion. Frost gently ced Sebastian on the chair and inspected his vitals as Maya had done for him. What he saw was damaged mana veins, burned out and fragile, Sebastian didnt even have enough mana left to instinctivelybat against Frosts intrusion. Damn the old man really went all out. Frost was filled with respect for the man, genuinely shocked that he was capable of such exertion given his advanced age. He was also filled with guilt; this could have killed the old merchant regardless of its sess. Seniors should be cared for and looked after, not forced to engage in strenuous work. Not knowing how to help the old man he simply rubbed his back as though coaxing out a cough as he turned towards Maya for assistance. Hes in a nasty bout of mana exhaustion, just keep doing what youre doing, itll pass. Once the initial phase of pain is over, he can drink a mana potion or meditate to absorb the mana in the air. Maya responded back with disinterest far more worried about the two kids. Although she was grateful to the old man, she knew exactly what was wrong with him and it wasnt anything serious. She turned back to monitor the kids; she wasnt just making sure that they were safe, she was also taking advantage of the ve tattoos now dormant state to gleam knowledge. She was fulfilling her young masters orders. Frost released a sigh of relief, d that the situation wasnt anything serious. He continued to rub the old mans back until the pain subsided. Several minutester Sebastian caught his breath, the pain was mostly over. Without hesitation he pulled out an ornate vial filled with a shiny blue liquid. Frosts eyes opened wide in surprise as he watched the old man glug down the potion. Thats a fairly high level mana potion. Frost could tell from the colour, although it was lower than the health potion that Leo gave him, it could still be ssified at the high level. The old man generated more and more respect within Frost with his every action. He wasnt just a simple old man, or a simple merchant, no he was far more important than that to be able to carry around potions at that level. Even more so to use it just to deal with mana exhaustion, he wasnt in any danger. Sebastian caught the look of envy and curiosity in Frosts eyes and smirked. Lad when you get to my age you have less and less reason to not use rare items since any moment could be yourst ahahaah. Sebastian chuckled, this was one part of being old and wealthy that he appreciated. He didnt have any buyers remorse or regret from using such a high level potion just because he wanted his awful feeling to pass a little quicker or because he no longer desired to torture his taste buds with low level crap. Thanks to the potion, his pain was a thing of the past in a matter of seconds. Sebastian stood up and gave his body a little shake which was followed by a wide smile. Sebastian felt exhrated, the operation seeded, and he knew it, awash with pride he performed a round of fist pumps which subsequently threw his back out. He copsed back onto the chair saying owwowowwo while rubbing his back. Pffffftt ahhahah, this elicited augh from Frost as he was reminded of his father. Seeing that the old man was fine he left him alone after he nearly pulled a stitch fromughing. He moved over to Maya and the two kids who should be waking up soon. How are they looking? Frost asked Maya calmly, this whole thing was for the kids in the first ce, so their state was important. Theyre fine, nothing abnormal that I can detect and should be waking up at any moment. As if on cue the kids started frowning before slowly opening their eyes. The kids struggled to keep their eyes fully open as they looked around, as though they were waking up from a long sleep. Eventually they saw Frost and Maya looking over them with smiles and they responded in kind before fully waking up and rising to a seated position. ....Master? The girl spoke quietly as though she was asking a question. This was the first time Frost and Maya were hearing her voice and it was magical, her voice was soft and charming. Frost subconsciously smiled ear to ear, he was incredibly happy, and he didnt exactly understand why. Yes, Im your master now. He spoke gently, but with gravitas. He was now in charge of this young girl in all respects, she would be entirely dependent on him. The girl looked over towards her brother, they nodded towards each other before mbering off their tables and standing before Frost. And with experience albeit with happier connotations they bowed towards their new master. Frost didnt reject this action as he knew it was important, since their roles were that of master and ve regardless of how well he nned to treat them, this was a necessary ceremony which without the kids would feel stressed and unsure. Now that you two have regained the ability to talk and are no longer bound to Baron Adam what should I call you? Frost was dying to hear their names, calling them you or kids was getting old. However, he didnt receive the reaction he was expecting, the two phoenix kin children tilted their heads to the side before looking towards one another in confusion. Um master its standard protocol to give ves new names. The young boy spoke up this time, clearing the confusion. Eh? Is that so? Frost looked towards Maya and then Sebastian for rification, they nodded in reply. So, I have to name them as well. Frost sighed internally, this was a big thing, he hadnt even named one of his monsters yet. Who knows how bad or good his naming sense was going to be. He looked over the two childrens appearance hoping for something to stand out that he could use. His name wasnt exactly that inspired given that his element was that of Ice. Do you not remember your true names? The ones given by your parents? Well, done Frost, perfect excuse. Frostsment caused the childrens eyes to narrow and grow red as they fought back against their tears, Frost just opened up a very touchy subject. Maya elbowed him painfully in the side for his stupidity. The girl spoke up this time Sorry master we were separated from our parents at a very young age, we cant remember what they called us? The young boy started to sob when he remembered their parents, his sister pulled him in close tofort him but she herself was close to tears. Ugh! This got him another elbow to the side, one with a bit more force, making him groan. Well looks like the two of you are getting new names then.... Wary of being elbowed again, Frost started thinking about what to call these two. Chapter 120 120 Chapter 120: New names There was a few more things that Sebastian had to arrange in orderplete this master-ve rtionship but that couldnt bepleted until Frost picked out their new names. Frost was silent as he thought long and hard, luckily the young girl and boy were very patient. asionally Frost would look over at Maya and Sebastian, but theyd always reply with their eyes saying this is on you refusing to help him. Mayas gaze however was a little different, it also continued a warning that the names also had to be good. Frost felt pressured and, on the spot, but eventually he decided. Hopefully they like them, he looked over to the young boy first. He was weaker, young, and less bold than his sister yet when it truly counted, he would rush in to protect her. ....Loki....your name from now on will be Loki. Frost smiled, happy with his choice before turning the face the girl. The one who called out to him without knowing if he was good or evil. The one who also ced herself in front of her younger brother, boldly facing against any threat. Yours shall be Nanna, Frost ced his hand upon their heads and tussled their hair, he felt proud. He turned around to Maya and Sebastian who were nodding their heads and smiling, they too were happy with the names. ....Loki ....Nanna Loki and Nanna looked at one another, saying each others names. They were happy and proud, these names felt different than the ones they had before, they felt special. Loki greets you master. Nanna greets you master. Loki and Nanna both greeted Frost once again while bowing, using their newly acquired names,pleting the ceremony. ..... Perfect, great names young Frost. Sebastian nodded at the side before removing a parchment from his spatial ring. Technically in regards to binding the three of you, the ceremony is alreadypeted due to the ve tattoos overriding the need for any written contract but its best we follow protocol. A ve contract would normally be written on special parchment by a ve merchant. It would contain the rights and responsibilities of the concerned parties as well as details about the extent of the contract i.e., if the ve needed to pay off a certain amount of debt to regain citizen status or be a ve for a certain period of time. It would also serve as a form of legal ID for the ve and clearly state who was the master. ves have of course been known to flee from their masters, this would help authorities return them to their owners as well as increase their debt as punishment. In regards to the ve contract between Frost, Loki, and Nanna this would only identify Frost as their assigned master as well as a few personal details. Sebastian ced the parchment on one of the nearby tables before summoning a special pen. Ive already finished writing the basics, all you need to do is sign it. After a few flourishes the parchment gave of a slight golden glow. Sebastian then passed the pen over to Frost. Frost took the pen and looked over the contract. It really was bare bones, there was an area at the bottom right where he had to sign. One section for the master and another for the ves. Without hesitation Frost signed his name as well as Lokis and Nannas. Once finished the ve contract glowed even brighter before turning into mana particles and flowing into Lokis and Nannas cors, bringing this matter to a close. The ve contract was finished, Nanna and Loki now officially belonged to Frost for all intents and purposes. The deed was done and hopefully the royal family of Northrend would agree to not purse this issue. Nanna and Loki smiled at one another before jumping up in joy, this brought a smile to Frost and Mayas faces. With the dangerous and legally risky task now over, it was finally time to enjoy the spoils. Itd be a couple days or so before they could receive their major reward from Leo, so they needed to spend that time somehow. May I suggest a little shopping? Sebastian spoke up from the side, as a merchant that was always his go to. Frost still had some money leftover plus there was the many jewels and other nick knacks he pilfered from Adams vault. They also had a couple more days paid up for Kathys inn, itd be a shame to waste those delectable meals. Are you treating? Frost smirked; Sebastian was probably the richest man in the viscounty given how easily he downed a high level mana potion. Hahaha Ive already treated you pretty well with my services here, if anything you should be treating me ahahahaa Sebastianughed without restraint causing Frost to wince slightly, someone with Sebastians tastes would be anything but cheap. Hahaha rx kid I was only joking, I can rmend a nice clothing store that I own, Nanna and Loki could probably do with some new attire. Sebastian looked over Nanna and Loki who still had the torn rags that they were found in. Before Frost could reply, his choice was already made for him. That would be lovely Sebastian, well take you up on that offer. Maya chimed in while taking hold of Lokis and Nannas hands, her eyes sparkled with the idea of clothes shopping. And Frost felt another headacheing on. Doesnt she have enough dresses? Frost then looked over Loki and Nanna and his gaze softened. I agree....lets go shopping. He smiled towards the kids. Leo and Luna were out working in the central district and Dous was currently resting with Cassandra by his side having her first good rest in months. The servants although young and inexperienced were full of enthusiasm, working hard, cleaning up the entire manor to the best of their abilities. It was time for the Furano mansion to once more be a beacon of the territories prosperity. It would take time and hard work, but the servants were determined to restore the mansion to the glory it once had. Frost, Maya, and the kids were then left to their own devices and heading out for some shopping was a great suggestion. Frost let some of the servants know that they were heading out, so Leo wouldnt panic when he returned. We can take my carriage, its pretty fast. Sebastian offered to guide them and take them to his store. He wouldnt join them in shopping since he was incredibly tired and needed to return home and sleep. Luckily his store was right below his penthouse suite, killing two birds with one stone. The group entered the carriage and set off towards the eastern shopping district where Sebastians store was. Sebastian actually had multiple stores all selling different things, he was a very aplished merchant after all but the one he rmended could be considered his gship store. It was pretty much an entire mall in itself. It sold not only clothes but produce, armour, weapons, magic devices, pretty much everything. Nothing specialised but with great variety, perfect for the regr hustle and bustle. The carriage pulled up in front of the main entrance to this massive store that stood at four floors high plus a basement. It was busy even at this time of the morning, Sebastian said that they were mainly here for grocery shopping and or visiting the caf he had built on the second floor that does a spectacr breakfast. My grandsons in charge of this store as well as many others, Im grooming him to be my sessor. Sebastian nodded with pride as he mentioned his grandson. His sons and daughters as well as nephews and nieces were either incapable or greedy money grubbers without care for the customers. He refused to hand his empire over to such ingrates, so he had to remain in power until the next generation reached maturity. Finally, his 4th grandson showed great promise as did a few others, so he nned on splitting up his empire between them with his 4th grandson taking care of the majority. So far, hed been performing above expectations as had his siblings and cousins, it brought Sebastian joy every time he saw them thrive, but it wasnt enough. They needed to stabilise their positions before he could officially retire or die whichever came first. Ill have hime and say hi as well as ask him to give you a little discount on behalf of the little cuties here. Sebastian had already emptied his pockets of all his candy reserves, addicted to the bright and happy expressions the kids would show as they munched on them. Itd do good for Calder to be in contact with Frost. Sebastian had a very high opinion of Frost and Maya and felt theyd be incredibly important. Best to have his sessor form a bond while they were still rather unknown. Once they alighted from the carriage Sebastian waved goodbye, reluctance in his eyes as his gaze wandered over Loki and Nanna but eventually, he had to go, his eyes were starting to droop. The four of them were thus standing outside this busy shop looking a little out of ce, asionally receiving a few untoward looks due to the cors of Loki and Nanna as well as their poor attire. First off lets get you guys some clothes. Frost ushered them into the store, the judging looks from passing people was quite ufortable. Luckily, they were seen to be travelling with Sebastian otherwise they would have been reported to the local guards. There was a few areas that sold clothes but thanks to the signs hanging above they were able to quickly find the childrens section. Due to their poor treatments and malnourishment Loki and Nanna were a lot smaller than they should be. Maya quickly walked up to shop clerk asking for some assistance in gathering a plethora of clothes for the two to try on. The clerk was more than happy to help, the poor attire and cute faces of Loki and Nanna inspired a strong desire to dress them up and take care of them. Frost was pretty useless here, only his hard earned money was any good and under Mayas urging he handed over all he had left in his coin purse, a little over 1 gold coin. That should be more than enough. Frost sighed internally but wasnt to adverse to the entire gold coin possibly being spent on clothes, since he was due a fairly substantial reward in a couple days plus the items stored in his storage ring or rings now. Young master you go off and get us some more money and take care of things non-clothing rted. Ill take care of little Loki and Nanna here. Well be a while soe and check every so often so we can show off their new looks. Maya shooed him away before ushering Loki and Nanna towards the changing rooms along with the excited store clerk who at some point roped in another female colleague. Thankfully Loki and Nanna were both overjoyed with all the fussing over them and looked forward to new clothes. With that Frost was left behind with a few mothers also shopping, giggling in the distance. Haaaaaa oh well might as well look around. Frost left the childrens clothing area and looked for an area to sit down, undisturbed. It was time for him to calcte exactly what he gained from his pilfering, including the storage rings held by Shadow that he yet to fully examine. He quickly found what looked to be some kind of artistic fountain that had a multiple seats around it for people to take a break from their shopping and admire the scenery. He sat down and fiddled with Shadows storage ring. Now lets see what kind of things you stored away; money would nice. Frost didnt have to much hope in that regard since his brother Alex only held around 20 silver in his coin purse. Then again that was probably to reduce the chances of being linked solidly to Adam, plus he most likely kept his fortune in the bank like most well off people. However, when he searched the space, he was more than pleasantly surprised. Chapter 121 121 Chapter 121: Shopping Wow thats a hell of a lot more than I was expecting, does this guy have a thing against the bank or something? Within the storage ring there were multiple coin purses all full to the brim, not a copper in sight it, all gold and silver. There was enough here to pay for Nanna and Lokis operation and then some, easily a dozen gold. This was a pleasant surprise and one that hed like to keep secret from a certain money subus. What Frost didnt realise was that Shadow was wanted throughout Northrend so he couldnt easily ess the same facilities that a regr citizen could, i.e., the bank. He didnt like anyone else storing his money not even his boss Adam nor did he believe in hiding it in a secure location, where else would it be safer if not on his very person. Therefore, all of Shadows wealth was held in his storage ring thus granting Frost a very generous boon. I could afford a second floor in the dungeon by converting this. Frost couldnt help but smile, he was finally getting rich. Other dungeon cores would have to kill dozens if not hundreds of intruders to gain this kind of wealth yet Frost just had to kill one person and he was due to get even more. Muahhhahaha Frostughed evilly in his mind as relished his newfound wealth. Lets see what else hes got. Frost moved the coin purses to the side before searching the rest of the storage ring. This is what was held. Smoke bombs x 3 5 low level health potions 5 low level mana potions Spare set of 2 star level armour ( made of some mind of monster skin) ..... Book on dagger techniques Vials of low levelmon neurotoxin Several explosive mine traps Magic device that can turn target temporarily invisible Magic crystals D-grade Assassin killing tools e.g., wire, needles And a bunch of usual everyday items worth a couple silver at most The results were quite impressive especially the magic device, now Frost had two in his mitts. The tracker he retrieved from Alexst week although he didnt have a use for it, it still counted. He brought it with him in fact -well Maya did- he nned to sell it for money since they were severelycking in the beginning but now itd probably be best to hold on to it. Frost removed the book on dagger techniques from the ring, examining it. Shame I dont use daggers but perhaps Loki or Nanna may find it useful, if so, I can hold onto Shadows daggers for them. The other items can be stored in the Dungeon, Ill find some use for them. Other than the coins the rest wasnt very seble, where on earth would he sell assassin tools in the first ce. Putting that to the back of his mind, Frost retrieved one of the coin purses before having a long look around. He needed to find a few interesting shops to visit as well as a few vendors thatd purchase instead of just sell. There was still the jewels and other items to offload. Luckily there was a rudimentary guide next to the fountain that showed you where each of the different shopping areas were. jewellery stores were found in the basement along with vendors that purchased raw materials. With his destination set Frost made his way to the basement level to off load some of the jewels and other trinkets he pilfered from Adams vault. Hello sir, can I help you? Frost was greeted by a charming young dwarf woman. Dwarves werent just found in amongst armorers or cksmiths but pretty much any profession that required dexterous hands, goldsmiths and jewel smiths included. I have a few jewels that that Id like to sell. Frost replied in a friendly tone but knew that the next conversation was going to be a battle of wills with him at a severe disadvantage. He didnt know how much his bounty was worth, but she did. The look in the young dwarfs eyes changed and a slight smile appeared, she shifted into calcted merchant mode. When it came to jewels all that mattered was profit. The next hour felt horrible for Frost, he was severely outmatched, and the young dwarf knew it. She spared no punches in her negotiations. At the end of it Frosts face was twitching, his body felt bruised and although he sold all his jewels and received a hefty payment it didnt feel like a victory. The young dwarfs massive and giddy smile certainly didnt help, she obviously made a significant profit today likely leading her to receive a nice bonus from her superiors. Thank you for shopping with us, do think of us again whenever you have any more jewels to sell. The young dwarf waved with enthusiasm causing Frost to grind his teeth and clench his fists in frustration. He patted the coin purse held in his robes to improve his mood. He manged to gain around 2.5 gold coins from selling the jewels while keeping a couple choice ones for himself but from the young dwarfs attitude he estimated he probably couldve gotten double that, but you learn from your mistakes. Haaaaaaa I wonder how Maya and the kids are doing? Frost sighed as he left the shop and made his way back to the childrens clothing area. When he arrived, Frost couldnt help but frown. It was as though a special event was going on with crowds of women surrounding the changing rooms. Eventually he managed to push his way through to see Maya with a bright smile on her face along with a tall pile of clothes beside her. Nanna and Loki were performing something of a fashion show with each of the people present swooning and giving out rmendations. Some of the mothers present chucked their own kids into the ring but they all paled inparison to the cuteness that was Loki and Nanna. Frost was left gobsmacked and twitching struggling to articte a response to what was before him. At least Loki and Nanna seemed to be enjoying themselves as they walked and twirled with a swagger, showing of their new outfits. Sir Frost I presume? A man suddenly spoke from Frosts side. Hmm Frost turned to face the man. He was young maybe early to mid-twenties. Tall, dark hair, a bit above average looks, slim and well dressed with a calcting look in his eyes. His appearance however did have a certain resemnce to Sebastian albeit a much younger version. My name is Calder, my grandfather rmended that Ie down and meet you. The young man or Calder introduced himself while holding out his hand. Ah Sebastians grandson. Recognising who was before him Frost shook his hand in greeting. Sorry about well whatever this is. Frost awkwardly smiled while ncing over at the changing rooms. This event had prevented any work getting done. People to busy enjoying the show, not purchasing anything. What this? no no I should be thanking you, this is a great situation, great publicity for the store plus take a look at all their faces. Calder gestured toward all the smiling and happy customers. He could foresee the future impact of such an event in fact he even had ideas to make this a recurring feature of the store. People would be drawn to his store just to see such an event and theyd be sure to buy things once they were in the door. Calder had actually been struggling to improve the store in anyway given his grandfathers capabilities, he viewed Sebastian as a perfect merchant with nothing to improve upon. Yet today thanks to a little showing off from Maya and the two darling Phoenix kin children new avenues opened up in his mind. The ideas were flowing, he felt excited, motivated, and filled with passion. Frost could see the passion and fire in Calders eyes, and it caused him to shiver, it reminded him of the look in the jewellery dwarfs eyes ...Then youre wee I guess? Frost scratched the back of his head, a little confused. The mind of a merchant was beyond his understanding. With Frosts response the two men chuckled a little before walking a little out of the way, hard to have a conversation when a mother would asionally scream in excitement nearby. Grandfather told me about Loki and Nanna as well as what youre doing for them....youre a good man. Calder looked over towards the two phoenix kin with warmth, his personality was simr to his grandfathers. Thank you but I just made a promise and was thankfully in a position to help, whether I turn out to be a good thing for them is yet to be determined. Frost joined Calder in looking over Loki and Nanna. Although he would take care of them and provide for them, he had great ns in utilising them. They would have to work and work hard to earn their keep. Hmm youre rather modest, another admirable trait....seems my grandfather is as sharp as ever with his eye for people. Calder agreed with his grandfathers assessment so far. Ill be sure to remind the clerks here to give you a little discount on such arge purchase hahaha. Calder lightlyughed as he saw the pile of chosen clothes growing taller and taller by Mayas side. ....Thank you Frost shook his head in dismay before thanking Calder for his offer. It appears that theyll still be awhile, would you like to take a walk with me? Theres a shop here that may prove useful to you. Calder asked with a glint in his eye. Frost suddenly felt as though he was being eyed up as a fresh piece of meat wherein the meat was his money. But he had no reason to refuse, he currently had over a dozen gold coins and if its something that Calder said would be useful, hes probably telling the truth. Haaaaaa fine but only if I get a friends discount. Frost felt it was worth a shot to save as much of his money as possible. Hed likely not be returning to Furano until after the family gathering. Hahahaha Calderughed while leading the way, neither agreeing nor disagreeing to the request. Calder led Frost to the second floor to a shop that was filled with shelves and shelves filled with books. However, they werent magic books just your generic paper type thatd you need to read and understand the old fashioned way. This here is one of our prized resources putting us several cuts ahead of the other merchant associations....our fountain of knowledge. Calder exined with pride. Here you can find mountains of information on all manner of subjects fromnguages to cooking to even bing a cksmith. We write and sell this knowledge to anyone, allowing people to learn and improve their lives however they wish. This is my grandfathers greatest achievement, opening up the world of the regr citizens, no longer having knowledge hoarded by the higher ss. As Calder spoke the more animated, he became, his fists were clenched, and his smile was wide. Every time he saw this section of the store hed be filled with such respect and admiration for his grandfather. Frost couldnt help but be influenced by Calders emotions, bing excited as well. Knowledge was something he sorelycked, especially in a broad general sense, these books would help to remove that inadequacy. But with something as great as this there was sure to be a catch. Knowledge was not cheap; Frost knew that from the price of anything rted to magic. Scrolls and skill books practically costing an arm and a leg. Although you say that regr citizens can ess this knowledge but for how much? Of course, regr books would cost less than magic books, but it still shouldnt be cheap, far greater than what a regr citizen would be able to or willingly pay. In response Calder smirked, happy to answer such a question. Its free Calder replied with two words ....Excuse me? Frost questioned him, wondering if he heard correctly. Did he just say its free? Its free ahahahah, Calder replied again with the same two words beforeughing out loud, he loved the look people would have when they found out the price. ..... Frost was speechless, he looked around the room at the stacks and stacks of books lined up everywhere, unable to even imagine the cost to create such products, yet Calder said they were free, he is a merchant, right? Chapter 122 122 Chapter 122: Sebastians genius Frost frowned, truly unable to understand the situation, this was like burning through money without any reward, very unlike a merchant, especially a good one such a Sebastian. Noticing Frosts frown and questioning look, Calder went on to further exin the situation. Of course, theres a little more to it than the books simply being free. Frost gave Calder a look basic tranting as I guessed that much but kept silent allowing him to continue. To purchase the books, it costs money, but they are free to read within the store, effectively a library which also has few strings. First to read for free you need to be a citizen of Furano, second you need to be under 24 years of age otherwise you require either a library card which has a small fee every month/annually or a referral from a partnered business i.e., if youre a jewel smith and you work for or are one of our business partners you can read here for free if you have a referral. This allows employees to gleam knew skills and improve their work thus generating more business for their referrer and in turn us. We also get support in the form of grants fromrge business as well as the Furano house since we improve the lives of the citizens and or help to give them desired skills as employees. My grandfather has run this system for the past couple decades or so and due to it so many parts of Furano have improved. Of course, not anyone could supply such a resource. Starting up and maintain such a service costs a lot a money as well as connections, luckily my grandfather has both. And now due to the indirectly gotten gains we are no longer haemorrhaging money because of it. Calder took a deep breath after his long exnation and because of it Frost now understood. This whole knowledge thing wasnt profitable in the beginning and required a lot to start up effectively but now although not obvious with its gains it has increased the entire merchantpanies profits all while vastly improving the life of the local citizens. ....Is your grandfather some kind of genius? Frost couldnt help but be blown away by the knowledge he just learned, this system was revolutionary. Yes, yes he is, Calder replied back with a prideful tone, yet a slight amount of envy and anxiety flowed through his eyes. He was jealous of his grandfathers talent but more than that he was worried that hed not be able to live up to such a legacy. Im guessing you brought me here to purchase some of these books? Frost was eager to start browsing, since he wasnt a citizen, hed have to purchase the books, but he didnt have an issue with that given the amount of money he was currently carrying. Luckily the books were arranged in neat sections isting their subjects. Yes, grandfather thought itd be useful to you. Ill leave you to it then, Ive still got a lot of work to do. Calder waved goodbye as he returned to his office, he needed to draw up some ns for a childrens fashion show. Frost waved back before diving right in, he was going to need a lot of books to filled out the gaps in his knowledge. ..... The first thing that popped into his head however was Loki and Nanna, they were both young kids who could speak but not necessarily read. He moved over to a sections for young children and found a couple books that helped teach reading, arithmetic etc.... stuff youd usually be taught in a school. Then there was some minor history books about Furano and the Northrend empire as well as some on the cial mountains. Frost spent over 2 hoursbing through all the shelvespletely losing track of time, and he still wasnt even close to finishing. Sebastians knowledge fountain was incredibly abundant, he found books on magic basics and theory, books on many professions such as cksmithing, artificing even cooking and farming all of which he added to his purchase pile. Then there was the books on weapons and skills which he took a range of since he didnt know what Nanna and Loki would be proficient in. Plus, he could use these books for any future monsters he summons with intelligence or use to simply know the weaknesses of said weapons. He also found a few books about world history and interesting areas on the other continents but nothing on the Church of Light or the Holy White empire, information on that must be restricted. Frost had organised each of his books into different piles, but the most iconic pile was the one containing books about adventuring. One book in particr was farrger than the rest and much more decorative, clearly it was special and would cost a fair chunk more. Monster encyclopaedia Frost read out the name of the massive book with a smile on his face. This book was worth its weight in gold, he only perused a few pages yet was already impressed. It contained information about most monsters encountered in the Northrend empire as well as some other countries plus a few remarks about monsters found on the other four continents. It ssed them, showed where they could be found, their weaknesses and strengths as well as detailing the useful and profitable body parts. It was just what Frost needed to be a proper adventurer. All together he had picked out about 50 books, and he still wanted more but he wasnt shopping alone. His search was interrupted by a loud stomping. Frost looked up towards the causer of the interruption with a frown on his face about to give them a tongueshing but when he saw who it was, he nched and held his tongue. Maya along with a much more visually stunning Nanna and Loki were standing before him. Nanna and Loki with smiles on their faces, admiring their new attire and Maya with a seriously disgruntled look as well as several clerks behind her eclipsed by dozens and dozens of shopping bags. Frost was supposed toe and help with the clothes shopping as he was the one with the storage ring well the one with space left. Plus, she would have really appreciated his input in choosing a few outfits. Luckily thanks to the discount given to them by the very kind store owner she had just enough money to afford their purchases, now they just needed a trusty pack mule aka Frost. Her anger however didntst long, her young master was clearly enjoying himself, so she toned down her expression to a simple re awaiting his response. Frost realised his error fairly quickly, he jumped to his feet and dashed towards the clerks, shifting the many bags into his storage ring before bashfully smiling Mayas way. Haaaaaa well then whats got you so invested that you forgot to help us out? Maya sighed before asking for his reasons. She smiled and waved off the clerks in thanks which caused a bunch of them to blush. Technically I did show up once, but you were still busy with that fashion show.... Mayas re suddenly intensified. Ok ok, Calder, Sebastians grandson found me and led me here, his grandfathers pride and joy, their fountain of knowledge. Frost performed many hand gestures to entuate his words. Nanna and Loki looked around innocently but didnt get it, but Maya did, and her anger reduced once again. Her young master was actually doing something very practical. She nodded telling him go own, which he did. They have knowledge from all areas like professions, weapon techniques, history and even a monster encyclopaedia. Frost quickly picked up a few books to show off, joy and pride returning to his tone. So what ones are you purchasing? All of them.... is what Id like to say but Ive managed to narrow it down to these 50 or so. Frost rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. Although these books would be cheaper than magic skill books this store had hundreds of books, theres no way he could afford it. Even purchasing 50 might be a stretch but thankfully Shadow was pretty loaded. Do you know how much its going to cost? Maya asked gently, shed already managed to spend everything Frost gave her on Nanna and Lokis clothes, she didnt even have enough left to do some shopping of her own. No idea but I should have enough. Frost responded innocently unaware of the trap Maya had ced before him. Oh, did you manage to sell those jewels and other items for a handsome profit? Maya let loose a slight smirk as she continued to bait her young master. Haaaaaa please dont mention the jewels, I got absolutely sucker punched by the clerk. I managed to get 2 and half gold coins but from the irritating smile she had stered on her face when I left, Im sure I could have gotten double that. Frost sighed before letting loose hisints, 2 hours and it still felt very raw. Maya absorbed this information and had a quick look over the 50 books, some of them would probably cost at least 10 silvers a pop with the monster encyclopaedia costing much more. Frost clearly didnt have enough. I see, Im sorry to inform you young master, but 2.5 gold coins probably wouldnt be enough to buy all 50. She replied with herst dish of bait. Yeah I know that but thanks Shadow theres no need to wo.... Frost started speaking smoothly as though nothing was wrong but towards the end of his sentence a chill went down his spine and his words were caught in his throat. Dammit this damn money subus. He turned and red at Maya who was now no longer hiding her smirk. Hed been baited, hook, line, and sinker. Maya now knew about his extra cash, and shed surely take a substantial chunk. Frost felt pained, he wanted to cry but couldnt. Oh god that is priceless. Maya really enjoyed bullying her young master, a satisfied chuckle left her lips as she relished in her victory. Nanna and Loki were at the sidepletely in the dark but seeing Mayaughing it couldnt be that bad. This situationsted a few seconds before Maya asked the big question. How much? Her smirk grew as Frost shrunk under her interrogation, looking away from her eyes. ....Not much? How much? Maya released a bit of her aura to pressure Frost. ....12 gold coins give or take. Frost could only withstand her overbearing pressure for a short while before cracking. His ns for converting the gold into a new dungeon floor went out the window, with the cost of the books as well as therge chunk Maya would rob him of. Hed be lucky to be left with half the required amount. Maya blinked in surprise, not expecting such arge amount, images of the amount of clothes she could purchase with that as well as alcohol, thats enough for a couple high rank B-grade bottles. She subconsciously licked her lips at the thought but calmed herself down. Shed already purchased a fair amount of new clothes and she still had a sufficient stock of alcohol back at the Dungeon plus her young master looked to be on the brink of tears. Guess Ill be a little lenient this time haaaaaa. She sighed internally, apuding her generosity before holding out her fair hand. Give me one gold coin. Eh? Just one? Not expecting such a lenient request Frost was bewildered and looked at Maya with question. What you want to give me more, how generous young master. Maya smirked, a little annoyed with Frosts expression. Im not that much of a money stealer, am I? Memories of all the times she took/requested money from Frost came to the forefront of her mind. The answer wasnt what she wanted so she shook her head erasing those thoughts. No, no one gold coin is enough! Frost replied with panic quickly retrieving a single cold coin from his storage ring, cing it in Mayas hand before backing away and organising his books. Chapter 123 123 Chapter 123: Eating at Kathys inn While smiling, Maya slotted the gold coin into her cleavage for safe keeping and watched Frost scramble around, moving his chosen books to the clerks counter. She turned to look and Nanna and Loki. After young master has finished shopping here, he can treat us to some lunch. She spoke softly to the two kids, taking their hands in hers, acting like a young mother. Rumble! With the mention of food Lokis and Nannas stomachs rumbled in response. They were quite famished but also tired. Maya knew of their current states since she was with them for thest 3 hours. She nned to take them to Kathys inn for some rest, she and Frost could then n their next move. All together thates to 7 gold coins and 80 silvers, thank you for shopping with us today. The bookstore clerk spoke with a happy tone, it was very rare for anyone to make such arge purchase in this section. Hed already been instructed to give Frost a discount from Calder but even so that was arge amount of money. Selling these books was actually quite profitable, all the knowledge was already gathered so to create a recement book they just needed to print a copy from the original form. Sebastian put up arge investment to purchase a printing magic device making it a simple process, they just needed materials. Frost handed over the money as if it was a hot potato before stuffing the books carefully into his storage rings. Happy with his purchase he wore arge smile, not even fazed by the massive cost. He knew that knowledge was sometimes worth any price. Young master shall we head to Kathys inn, we could do with something to eat, and I believe Loki and Nanna could do with a little rest. As Maya spoke Loki couldnt help but yawn. Sounds good, thankfully were not too far. Sebastians store although in the eastern district was easily within walking distance of Kathys inn. ..... Finished with their shopping the group made their way out of Sebastians mall and headed towards Kathys inn. Along the way Loki and Nanna grew very tired so Frost carried them on his back, causing many passers-bys to smile their way. Kathys inn was as busy as ever during the lunch time rush, perhaps even more so now that news about Adams takedown was flowing throughout the town. Ah Frost, Maya Ive been wondering what happened to the two of you. They were greeted by a very busy looking Kathy who was helping in the restaurant as well as the inn reception, running wherever she was needed. She was smiling though, a bit of a workaholic. Kathy suddenly stopped in her tracks when she noticed the two little cuties on Frosts back, she almost even dropped the stuff she was carrying. If they could, Kathys eyes would have morphed into hearts, Loki and Nanna were adorable. Her and her husband had been trying for a child during the past few months, unfortunately not seeding so her motherly instincts were pumping at any sign of kids. Oh, who are these little cuties! She almost shrieked as she moved like a leopard towards Frost threatening to barrel right through him. The noise woke the two kids up. Rubbing their eyes for sleeping sand the first thing they saw was a pretty middle-aged woman up close with a massive smile on her face. Nanna spoke up first, they were no longer as afraid of people after the fashion show. Hello, miss Nanna nodded politely in greeting before removing herself from Frosts back. Having to be carried due to exhaustion at her age was quite embarrassing. Hello cutie whats your name? Kathy lowered herself to Nannas level asking in a friendly manner. To everyone nearby, Nanna and Loki would look like regr kids now, thanks to Mayas clothes shopping. Since child ves were illegal in this country it wouldnt do to have Loki and Nanna presented as such. However, Kathy was fairly observant but chose not to say anything, at least at the moment. ...N....Nanna Nanna looked up towards Frost nervously, wondering if she was behaving correctly. Her built in ve instincts taking over. By this time Loki had mbered down as well and was staring at the friendlydy talking to his sister. He was reminded of the friendly women that surrounded him and his sister during the fashion show. So, without waiting for any permission or hesitation he introduced himself in a joyful tone. And Im Loki Loki smiled while gesturing to himself with his thumb, proud of his name. It was much better than being called a number or something derogatory that he used to be referred to as. Its lovely to meet the two of you, Im Kathy and I run this inn. Do the two of you perhaps like sweets? Kathys smile became even bigger if that was possible as did Mayas and Frosts. This interaction was very pleasant and normal, something that Frost wished for Nanna and Loki to be able to experience. With the mention of sweets, the two children fervently nodded their heads, all semnce of exhaustion vanishing. Good, good, I have special treats designed for cute kids like yourselves. Kathy rubbed Nannas and Lokis heads with affection before returning to her normal height to speak with Frost and Maya. Are the four of you here for lunch? Yes, we n to have something to eat before having these two take a short nap. Maya replied gently. Perfect, Ill bring out the special treat once theyve finished their lunch. Maya why dont you find a seat while I speak to Frost here. Kathy gave her suggestion, but it felt forceful, Frost had an idea what it may be about, so he nodded to Maya. Receiving Frosts nod, Maya ushered Loki and Nanna towards an open table while the kids waved goodbye to Kathy. Their impression of her being incredibly high thanks to the promise of sweets. Once they were gone and out of earshot Kathy turned around to Frost with a serious expression, time for some interrogation. You and Maya didnt return herest night and at the same time a certain incident happened to a local noble. She stepped closer to Frost with an intimidating air. The young lord Leo as well as the guild master of the adventurers guild picked you up in a carriage first thing in the morning and now, youre here with two child ves no less. She took another step closer, her face inches away from Frosts. Frost felt his throat go dry; she was really on point. Kathy kept the pressure up for a few more seconds before releasing a sigh and backing off. Well not as though its any of my business...just dont bring trouble to my inn you hear. She pointed sternly toward Frosts face epting no arguments. Shed lived in Furano long enough to know what to stick her nose into and what not. The taking down of a corrupt noble at the behest of the young lord was one such thing. Although she feared and sensed the looming threat that was Adam upon not only her business but her friends and family, it wasnt something that she could handle nor should she. She was but a meagre inn owner with a bit of street smarts, it was way above her pay grade. Child ves was another topic that she should really avoid and to be honest would normally choose to stay clear of. However, Loki and Nanna were just so cute, plus Frost and Maya were trustworthy at least thats what her instincts were telling her. She sighed and shook her head, pretending to not know anything about either subject before walking into the kitchen. She needed to prepare a couple special kids treats after all. Meanwhile Frost let out a restrained breath and rxed, he really wasnt expecting to be interrogated by Kathy, she was a lot more frightening than she appeared. A modicum of pity for Kato creeped into his mind. But he couldnt me her, she was right to protect herself and this inn. She was just after all a regr citizen not a foreign dungeon core like him who didnt need to give a shit about the Northrend empire. Frost made his way into the diner searching for Maya and the kids. Frost were over here! Maya waved her hands in the air to attract his attention whereas Nanna and Loki joined in. They had to quickly however cover their mouths when their instincts took over making them shut master. Them being ves was supposed to be a secret. Frost smiled in response, his heart filling with warmth from their greeting. Im here, Im here, he rubbed Loki and Nannas heads once he reached them. A waitress quickly came over with some menus, ready to take drink orders. 4 winterberry juices please. Frost spoke up, there wasnt any alcohol at this time, so Maya didnt care what she drank, and fruit juice seemed the perfect choice for young kids. Ill bring them over shortly. The waitress left quickly as though in a rush, the restaurant was very, very busy at the moment. Nanna, Loki can you two read? Frost noticed that the two of them were acting a little awkward as they looked at the menus. ah! Umm.... Nanna stuttered feeling guilty. I cant read at all, but Nanna can read a little bit. Loki answered back innocently, proud of his older sister. Usually kids their age would be able to read without too much issue, at least in Furano. But theyd never been taught, what was the need to teach a tool to read. Maya seeing Nanna looking a little downcast sent a re towards her young master. Thats fine no need to worry Nanna well teach you how. For now, though Ill just read out some options and describe them to you. You just pick whatever sounds the tastiest. Unn Nanna nodded towards Frost feeling a little better. The prospect of learning to read properly with her younger brother included raised her mood. Ok then what sort of dish would you like to eat? Theres fish, meat, vegetable dishes and even soup or if you fancy take a look around at what other people are ordering, thats what Maya did when we first arrived. Frost spoke gently while gesturing towards a few sections of the menu with pictures before pointing to several dishes being brought out to other tables. Frosts reminder about the whole roast pig had Maya starting to drool, it was very satisfying and filling. She was tempted to order that again. Nanna and Loki turned to look at Maya curious as to what she chosest time. Not one to keep them in the dark, Maya told them about the awesomeness that was the roast pig. Her exnation caused the two kids eyes to sparkle and their mouths to salivate, the prospect of a roast pig sounded tantalising. Their glorious breakfast was impressive enough given theirck of any decent meals in who knows how long but this was something different entirely...... meat. Haaaaaa Frost sighed at the side, no longer trying to influence them with the menus diverse choices, their minds were already made up. The question now was whether to get them one each or split one. Money was no longer an issue, but Frost didnt like the idea of wasting food. He turned to his knowledgeable partner to see if she would have a better idea. She too having the bloodline of monsters. Do you think they could eat a whole one themselves? Frost asked while looking over the childrens skinny frames and short heights. Eating more would certainly be best to help get over their malnutrition but could their bodies handle it. Frosts question tempted Nannas and Lokis desire, they wanted this roast pig so bad, their eyes sparkled as though begging. Remnants of natural childlike behaviour still rang true. Maya looked over Nanna and Loki with a scrutinising gaze for several seconds, teasing their little hearts but eventually she smiled and faced her young master. Guess well just have to find out. She presented a thumbs up towards the kids. They yelped with excitement as they imagined the glistening juices and tender meat of the roast pig. Chapter 124 124 Chapter 124: Eating at Kathys inn (2) Frost smiled ear to ear in response to the kids excitement, 2 silvers was nothing to him now. With their choices decided it was time for him to choose. Ive already tried the artic boar burger and the house curry, lets try something different. Frost had a look over the fish section eager to give it a try. The waitress returned with their juices a few minutester, the kids drinks came with goofy shaped straws, a nice touch. Have you decided on what to order? She brought out a notepad to take down their orders. Yes, we have, Ill have the grilled trout please. Maya? Frost hadnt heard what Maya had decided but the most expensive dish wasnt even 5 silvers, so he wasnt worried. Ill have the frost wolf ribs, barbeque style please. Maya responded with a smile. And for the little cuties? The waitress smiled while looking at Nanna and Loki. Haaaaaa theyll have a roast pig....each. Frost sighed before answering. Roast pigs good ch....wait what? The waitress started to write down the request before stuttering mid-sentence. She looked towards Frost with confusion as if she heard wrong. That was thergest dish they served, even grizzled adventurers would struggle to finish such a meal yet they these two children wanted one and not to share but each. ..... Haaaaaa yes theyll have a roast pig each. Frost sighed again before repeating the order, fully expecting such a reaction. Some of the nearby patrons that overheard couldnt help but nce over towards their table. The waitress stood stunned, flipping between looking at Frost and the kids but eventually she nodded her head and left towards the kitchen. Whatever the customers ordered wasnt her concern, she just needed to ry their orders to the kitchen and bring them to the tables. Kathy already arranged for any leftovers from the restaurant to be supplied to the needy, so nothing would technically go to waste. Frost looked toward the kids who started to feel a little guilty about their orders thanks to the strange looks they were receiving from the nearby patrons. Just ignore them, you ordered what you wanted, nothing wrong with that. Just try to eat as much as you can and enjoy it. Frost rubbed their heads to alleviate their worries. Thankfully their concerns were unfounded. When the two roast pigs came out and were ced before Nanna and Loki, they dug in with relish, devouring the pig at an incredible rate. The show was so inspiring that everyone in the restaurant watched them from start to finish with their mouths agape. By the end there was nothing, but bones left on the tes and two young kids with severely bloated bellies. Burrrrpppp Nanna and Loki instinctively released arge burp as they rubbed their full stomachs with massive smiles stered on their faces. Hahahahhahahaha Well done little ones! Good show! In response the crowd roared in excitement, dishing outpliments to Nanna and Loki, bringing a friendly and enjoyable atmosphere to the restaurant. Frosts fish and Mayas ribs were both very enjoyable but were overshadowed by the acts of Nanna and Loki. Hoh, I hope you two arent too full to eat dessert? Once Frost and Maya finished their meals and Nanna and Loki were bing a little embarrassed from all the praises from the nearby strangers. Kathy came out of the kitchen carrying covered tes. This was her special treat that she only made for children. Hearing Kathys voice Nanna and Loki perked up and remembered the promise of a special treat, there was always room for sweets. They looked over at the hidden dishes with desire,pletely forgetting their swollen bellies. Kathy moved with mystery, using sleight of hand to move the dishes in and out of Nannas and Lokis sight as she moved closer, increasing the allure. By the time Kathy actually arrived at the table Nanna and Lokis eyes were sparkling and they were on the edges of their seats. Baboom two super special kids treats, Kathys special sundaes! Kathy plopped down the two dishes and revealed the prize underneath. Two highly decorated sundaes, covered in sprinkles and colourful sauces. The kids swooned and their eyes became saucers. Getting her desired reactions Kathy withdrew tworge spoons and armed the kids. Now dont eat to fast otherwise youll get...brain freeze. Kathy didnt warn them in time. The moment she armed them with spoons, Nanna and Loki dived right in, scooping uprge chunks. The brain freeze hit them like a freight train causing them to hold their heads in pain. This elicited a friendly chuckle from Maya, Frost, and the nearby patrons, so cute. After making sure to listen to Kathys instructions Nanna and Loki ate the rest of their desert slowly, savouring everyst bite. Can I get you two anything? Coffee? Dessert? Kathy asked Frost and Maya if they wanted anything. Ill take a hot chocte please. Frost replied, it was supposedly a mixture of a desert and drink costing 30 coppers. Coffee for me please, straight. Coffee was a cheap hot drinkmonly drunk whenever alcohol wasnt avable. Strong and bitter, perfect for the cold weather, with the added benefit of caffeine. A single cup cost 10 coppers, 15 if wanting sugar. Perfect, Ill be back shortly. Kathy smiled before heading back into the kitchen, itd take a while for Nanna and Loki to make their way through the sundaes. After 15 minutes Nanna and Loki finished their sundaes leaving not a single bit of ice cream or sprinkle, even going to the extent of licking their tes clean. Frost and Maya enjoyed their hot drinks as well as the adorable scene before them. Nanna and Loki started to be very drowsy after their meal, struggling to keep their eyes open. Maya why dont you take Nanna and Loki upstairs to bed, Ill take care of the bill. Seeing Nanna and Loki starting to drift and yawn he spoke up. Sure, thing young master. Maya replied gently before standing up and helping Nanna and Loki out of the restaurant and upstairs. Theyd let them nap for a few hours before meeting back up with Leo and the rest. Frost promptly requested the bill and paid for their meals, it didnt even cost ten silvers, much cheaper than phoenix fledgling. He then made his way up to room 14 finding that Nanna and Loki were already tucked away in bed. This brought a smile to his face. Theyre all tuckered out young master. The whole events of today were quite taxing on their young bodies. Maya was sitting on one of the chairs provided in the room. Frost joined her in the other, making sure to keep his voice to a whisper. The two of them had a few things to talk about. How are they? Frost asked with a serious expression. Maya frowned a little before responding. The damage is quite extensive, if they were just regr beastmen or human, their bodies would likely have been permanently crippled by their treatment. Thanks to their inherent strong phoenix bloodline their regenerative powers saved them from that disastrous fate. Ironically however it was also likely the reason for them being abused so harshly, low risk of permanent damage. Maya exined with a painful tone, throughout their time together Maya had been inspecting Nannas and Lokis bodies with her powerful and dexterous mana. With it she was able to discover remnants of their past injuries and the findings greatly disturbed her. Nanna especially had much more injuries hidden throughout her body than her younger brother, likely due to her personality refusing to submit. Frost frowned, his fists clenching before he nodded, having Maya continue. As long as theyre fed well and get plenty of rest, theyll be able to recover fully in a less than two weeks. After which theyll likely be stronger than average for kids their age, theyre full of potential young master. With training theyll be a powerful force even before maturity. Maya praised the twos abilities. Normally those with powerful bloodlines like Nanna and Loki would naturally be powerful once they mature, usually 16 years old or so but Nanna and Lokis bodys were so chock full of potential that theyd be able to reach even B-rank or so without relying on their phoenix beastification. An incredible find. Frosts brow raised in surprise not expecting them to be so talented, of course theyd still need sufficient training but at least this way Frost wouldnt need to wait several years before they could be of sufficient use. By the way how old are they exactly? Frost hadnt the chance to ask yet. Nanna is 11 while Loki is 9 and theyve been enved for the past 6 years, being transferred from captor to captor. They were held by Adam for the past 6 months and were due to be sent off to someone important once the ve cors took full effect. Maya replied with a frown, if Frost didnte across them, they would have been doomed. Younger than I thought....did they perhaps know anything about their next destination? Frost asked with serious expression. He fought Adam and viewed his entire vault and knew of his background. No matter how well known or rich he was, Adam was still a measly nonnded Baron from the countryside how could he have ess to such prized possessions or be entangled with something involving the Church of Light. Frost felt that the person receiving Nanna and Loki was of far more danger. He frowned as he tried to think but came up short, hecked information. No, they didnt, just that Adam was forcing them to undertake the ve tattoo ritual before they were to be sent off. Maya frowned; she was intrigued. Anything rted to the Church of Light she wished to be apprised of, even for her the Church of Light was a dangerous opponent. She couldnt have her young master engage such threats, not yet anyway. Well deal with it when it bes an issue, for now however well take Nanna and Loki back home, get them situated before starting their training. Can they also enter the training room or is it just me? Frost put the notion about Nanna and Lokis previous future owner to the back of his mind, it wasnt important for now. Leo and likely the royal family would be scouring the scene for any traces of the Church of Light making them too preupied to worry about Frost and recovering their stolen merchandise. There shouldnt be any issue with them using it. The room only restricts using its features, simply training in the space should be fine. Maya shrugged while she spoke, the training room was just another space without any restrictions. As long as either Frost or Maya brought them in, they could ess it without issue, well at least for the time he had ess to the room. Maya would still be required to summon targets and other training materials. Good, out of the mountains of clothes you bought them, are any suitable for training? Frost asked fully expecting the answer to be a no. Hahaha Im not that much of a money wastrel, I got them each a couple sets of training clothes, hard wearing and durable plus they looked quite nice. Maya spoke with a little sarcasm knowing that her young master fully expected her to not buy anything practical for them. ...... Frost was silent before eventually breaking into a wide smile. ....Do you think I made the correct decision? Frost asked with a pained look in his eyes while gazing at the two sleeping children. You mean whether or not you should have A. ignored the kids suffering and walked away, B. did as they asked and ended their pain then and there or C. left them in the hands of the Northrend empire to be studied before being eliminated. ....Yes, you and father both stressed that my identity as a dungeon core should be kept hidden, yet here I am willingly bringing two children that I know nothing about in on my most guarded secret. Its exactly the opposite of being safe. Frost was feeling torn between logic and what his instincts were telling him. Logically he had no need to help out Nanna and Loki nor did he need to even assist Leo in anyway, but he did. He was a dungeon core and not a member of their family or even a citizen of the Northrend empire yet why did he feel the need to intervene. Chapter 125 125 Chapter 125: Chilling for a couple days Haaaaaaa Maya let out a long sigh before moving close to her young master, cing her hands on his shoulders, and looking him straight in the eyes. Young master, you may be my master, the son of the Dark God and a dungeon core but you are also a person. An entity with their own personality, their own thoughts, and feelings. True, logically you had no need to intervene, you could have simply ignored their plight or erased them, that way youd protect your identity, but you didnt... why? Maya countered back with her own question, this situation was an important development for Frost in maturing, finding his own path and not one set for him by another. I....I felt I had to, no, I wanted to, regardless of the risks, I felt that since I could, I should, so I did Frost stuttered at first but became more confident as he spoke. The cloud covering his heart was beginning to part. Maya smiled gently; her gaze filled with pride. And thats good enough young master, whether or not your decision was the correct one doesnt matter. This was the decision you made and wanted Maya then directed his gaze towards the slumbering phoenix kin. And look because of it youve saved two young children from a lifetime of abuse as well as gained two future powerhouses. Sometimes by not obeying logic and or by taking risks you cane out with something far better. And in my opinion, you made the right one young master, Im proud of you. Maya rubbed his head with a little difficulty giving their difference in height, but it was necessary, she was his guardian, his teacher, his elder, she needed to praise him for a job well done. Frost started to blush a little from embarrassment and his nose grew hot, yet he was smiling and a weight that was in his heart was lifted, he felt more confident and determined. Thank you, Maya, He nodded his head towards his guardian in gratitude. It was my pleasure young master. For the next two days Frost, Maya, Nanna, and Loki continued to rx and enjoy the town of Furano. Leo was fairly busy as was Ryuu and Bastion, but Luna and Cassandra were quite free and able to join them on their outings. Cassandra was looking far more radiant than before, always wearing a smile and dressing up like she used to. Dous was still recovering in bed but every hour he looked better. Shed summoned several doctors to check on him and they all said that hed be able to make a full recovery and that he should be able to get up and around in the next few days. Right now, however he needed rest and food to help the antidote excise the infected tissue and blood clinging to his body. There wasnt much Cassandra could do or need to do, it was just a waiting game. For the short times that Dous was awake he stressed that she should go out and be his eyes and ears about Furano. With his recovery he needed to know the extent of the situation in town, god knows his son wasnt adept enough to give a proper report, not yet anyway. ..... Thus, under her husbands instance Cassandra and Luna showed Frost and his group around while they had fun in town. They went shopping, visited the local museum, had lunch at the phoenix fledgling restaurant, Cassandra paid, everything was magical. It had been too long since Cassandra walked through her town and was happily greeted by the citizens. She also visited Kathys inn, where the group had some desert. She even wiped off the leftover cake from Lokis cheeks like an experienced mother, it reminded her of when Leo and Luna were young. She even had the sudden urge of wanting another child and with Dous on the road to recovery there was no reason why she couldnt. That took up most of the first day, for the second Frost decided to have Nanna and Loki register as adventurers under his care. Children under 14 could register as adventurers but they needed to be in a party with an adult adventurer i.e., Frost and Maya. They received a few unusual looks from other adventurers given that Loki and Nanna were so young but that was all, it wasnt any of their business. All their doubts however were quickly erased when Bastion himself handled the registration, if the guild master was helping out it couldnt be anything untoward. This however did crop up another issue, Frost and Maya along with Nanna and Loki were now an official adventurer party and needed a name. Although only two of you are technically full adventurers, youre still a party, got any ideas on a name? Bastion asked while stirring his coffee. Bastion summoned the four of them up to his office so they could chat in privacy plus it was a good excuse for him to avoid work. Bastion had Kamey bring up some snacks and drinks for the kids to enjoy while he talked business with Frost and Maya. Another name I need to think about haaaaa. Frost frowned as heined internally. Hed only heard of two examples; The Artic Warband and The cial Scions and didnt know if they were any good. Do you have any suggestions guild master? Frost decided to toss the ball to Bastion, hed have more knowledge on the matter. Me, normally this is a personal choice but ok. In my opinion shy and ambitious is best what about The Fenrir Annihtors or the Dragon bane Phoenix.... Bastion was about to say another gaudy suggestion but thankfully Frost covered his mouth. The Fenrir annihtors are you an idiot? Frost insulted Bastion many times of in his head, a damn Fenrir was sitting right across from him. Frost clearly didnt agree with Bastions suggestions, shy was not the way to go. Maya giggled at the side, actually quite taken with the name Fenrir annihtors, enjoying the irony. Frost rubbed his temples while thinking hard, Bastion and the rest simply waited in silence. After what felt like hours yet was just a couple minutes Frost opened his eyes and looked ahead before mumbling something. Ni....hm a spark shone in his eyes as he spoke. Sorry Frost what did you say? Bastion even with his adept hearing didnt catch the name. Niflheim, the [White ws of Niflheim]. Frost smiled as he spoke, a good name, memorable but not gaudy or ambitious. Niflheim hmmmm the mystical realm of ice and the white ws, indicative of the Northrend empire....I like it ahahahah. Bastionughed out loud, loving the name. Niflheim was rumoured to be a magical realm of primordial ice, where the element was said to first originate. Frost didnt know much about Niflheim, but it suddenly came to him when he was thinking about his background as well as Mayas. The white ws was actually a homage to Maya given her identity as a Fenrir but there was no need to correct Bastions thinking. Nanna and Loki repeated the name to one another with smiles of their faces, clearly, they liked the name as well. Maya gave a hidden thumbs up that only Frost could see revealing her support of the name. And thus the [White ws of Niflheim] was formed starting off as a standard E-rank party theyd go on to be one of the most feared and respected groups in all of Nova. With the party name settled and Nanna and Loki receiving their adventurer licenses Frost took them out the city for their first quest, hunting for 10 red dwindle stalks. Frost and Maya would observe and protect them, but Nanna and Loki would need to find and retrieve the nts themselves. Frost took on the permanent quest hunting of frost goblins quest as well since theyd be searching in a goblin dense area. It took them roughly 3 hours to retrieve enough stalks topete the quest. Nanna and Loki damaged a fair few nts resulting in them having to search for more. Meanwhile Frost managed to kill 7 frost goblins,pleting the quest twice over. Unfortunately for Frost and Maya to rank up theyd need toplete 10 E-rank quests which would require travelling a greater distance. Frost casted some clean up magic on the two kids before leading them back to Furano to collect their bounty. Frost received the money from the receptionist with a smile before handing Nanna and Loki each a small coin purse with their earnings bringing a confused look to their faces. Haaaaaa this is the money you earned from working. Frost sighed while holding out the coin purses. Nanna looked towards her young brother before looking back at Frost. Theyd never been given any money no matter what they were forced to do. They were ves after all, property, all their earnings went to their masters. Receiving nice food and clothing was one thing but being granted the right to money and being able to use it how they choose was something theyd never encountered. Not wanting to cause a scene Frost and Maya brought them out of the guild and into a nearby alley so they could exin. Nanna, Loki, the two of you arent ves while under my protection, although you are bound to me thanks to that tattoo, I wont treat you as such. If you work, youll receive payment just like anyone else. Frost spoke sternly making sure his point came across. He didnt expect them to turn into regr kids right away, but he needed to correct any misguided notions. Although he would have, them keep his secret Nanna and Loki would be free to live how they chose. Nanna and Loki heard what Frost was saying but struggled to ept it, they had been ves for a very long time after all, itd take time to adjust. Here take these coin purses, theyre yours now. If you see something you want to buy you can use the money in those purses. Frost forced them to take hold of the coin purses and only stopped staring them in the face when they ced them within their pockets. Good, now I guess its time for me to get paid for the work Ive done. Frost smiled as he turned his head towards the direction of the Lords mansion. It had been roughly two days so Leo should have tabted a rough estimation of Adams estate and be prepared to divvy up the rewards. After that itd be time for them to head back to the dungeon, he had DP to use and a family gathering to prepare for. The family meeting was scheduled to happen in less than 3 weeks and given his fathers personality something interesting was bound to happen. He needed to advance his dungeon in preparation. The group made their way towards the Lords mansion, as there was nothing left for them to do. Nanna and Loki were now also adventurers, granting them ID cards so they could easily leave Furano and travel. Frost had seen pretty much all the major sights around town, and theyd managed to spend multiple gold coins in the few days theyd been here. Most of which was useless clothes, but some were important, therge stockpile of books in particr as well as Frosts ive. When they arrived this time before the mansion, the atmosphere was far friendly, even the once stoic guards at the gates couldnt hide their joy and pride, greeting Frost and the rest as they passed with smiles on their faces. Even the run down mansion was beginning to look like its old self. The young servants hard at work to restore its former glory, repairing the windows, repointing the cracks in the walls, trimming the overgrown weeds and ivy crawling along the walls. It was hard work, but the servants all had joyous expressions as they toiled away, only briefly stopping to greet Frost, Maya, and the kids. Chapter 126 126 Chapter 126: Rewards for operation New Dawn Is Leo back yet? Frost asked one of the higher ranked butlers once they entered the manor. Yes, sir Frost the young master returned just under an hour ago. He should be within the masters room. The butler answered back in a hurry before dashing back to work, there was no time to dawdle with all this work needing done. Thanks Frost thanked the butler as he vanished out of sight. Lets head up to Douss room then, I wonder if hes awake? Frost hadnt had much chance to speak with Dous in the past two days. Maya nodded as did Nanna and Loki, before following Frost upstairs. Knock knock Come in Douss voice came from the other side of the door, it was a lot less strained than a couple days ago, deeper too. Frost opened the door and walked through with Maya and the kids. Ah Frost-senpai perfect timing. Leo was present in the room, sitting by his fathers side with pages and pages of documents syed out on the bed. Cassandra was sitting on the other side with a gentle and proud smile on her face. Her little boy had grown up and was taking responsibility for the territory. The three of them turned around when the Frost and the gang entered the room. ..... Frost looked over at Leo, his expression looked quite haggard. Clearly, he was having difficulties with his newfound responsibilities. Dous however was in a great mood, finally there was someone else to take care of such annoying issues. Leo looked at Frost as his saviour, he leaped to his feet knocking several pages of documents to the floor without care. He dashed towards Frost, taking his hand, and dragging him over to the bed with an eager smile on his face. Maya took Nanna and Loki over towards the sofa and Cassandra moved over to join them, leaving the boys to discuss the boring technical details. Cassandra requested one of her maids to fetch fresh tea and snacks, bringing smiles to Nanna and Loki. Youre looking much better Lord Viscount. Frost spoke honestly, Dous was still in bed resting but he looked and sounded much healthier and no longer required several pillows or his wife to sit straight. He was currently wearing a pair of reading sses while going over a few documents that Leo supplied. Hahahah thanks to you young Frost, and please just call me Dous. Dous smiled andughed without having to cough his guts out. Very well then, Dous, Im d the antidotes working. Frost plonked himself down on a chair nearby. So am I, so am I ....the weathers no longer quite so shit. Dous smirked as he cursed before he and Frostughed. Looks like youve got your hands full here Leo, am I interrupting, I can alwayse backter. Frost spoke while pretending to get up out of the chair. No! no! youre not interrupting at all not at all, please sit, sit. Leo panicked, moving to prevent Frost from leaving. For the past two days hed be trapped dealing with bureaucrats and signing off on so many documents. He was tired and dangerously bored, he needed to do something different otherwise hed explode. Leo really wasnt suited to such a role, but Ryuu was already helping out the most he could and many of the usual people in the government were corrupt, thrown their lot in with Adam. Leo had to not only restore the bnce in the territory, but needed siphon out all the bad eggs in all the industries, solidify the local guards in preparation for the underworlds actions as well as calcte and deal with Adams estate. A lot of work for a young man not skilled in dealing with such problems. Luna helped out a little but made herself scarce when Leo tried to off load the majority onto her, they werent married yet, so this was his problem. Leo was forced to run to his parents for help even though he promised that he wouldnt, given that his father needed to recover. Frost and Dous released another chuckle, finding Leo quite humorous. Leo, I know youve been busy, but have you managed to decide on the rewards for the operation? Frost decided to jump straight to the point. Hed already been in Furano long enough, it was time to return home. Ah! Leo eximed not expecting Frost to be so blunt, he looked towards his father who nodded in response. They were actually just deciding on what to reward Frost and Maya with. Simply money wouldnt be enough, no it had to be something special. The way youre asking Im guessing that youre nning to leave soon? Leo asked with a frown, he knew that Frost would be leaving at some point, but it still felt rather soon. Yes, we n to leave tomorrow morning. I need to return home with Nanna and Loki. Frost smiled gently; his eyes full of nostalgia for the Dungeon. He missed it greatly, wondering how the frost troll was getting on without his input. I see.... Leo grew a bit depressed, his head hanging low and eyes starting to redden. Leo Dous nudged his depressed son, this wasnt the time, Leo can cry and mope when theyre saying goodbye besides it wasnt like theyd never see each other again. Frosts home was in the cial Mountains, he was practically their neighbour. Ah, yes your reward. Leo gave a signal to one of the servants in the room and they left to fetch the items. Ive discussed the rewards with my father and mother, other than gold coins weve picked out a few choice items from Adams vault that no longer have an owner as well as a few things from our own vault. Some of the items in Adams vault were illegally sourced, and still had owners that Leo nned to return the items too, stuff like artwork and jewellery whereas others didnt belong to anyone thus Frost could take them. Leo also awarded the 14 well 13 adventurers with a couple of these items as a bonus. A couple minutester the servant returned with a storage ring seated on a velvet pillow, it contained the rewards with the ring as an extra bonus. It only had another year or so of stability left anyway, best to use it than let it go to waste. Leo had also received the document describing the list of items in the ring. The servant brought the ring over to Leo and ced it on the table beside him before backing away. Once the ring was ced, Leo assumed his station as a young noble, emitting that rudimentary regal aura. His actions caused Dous and Cassandra to feel proud, Leo was showing the real makings of a fine noble. Frost, Maya as thanks for risking your lives in the service of not only the Furano household but for the entire Viscounty, I Leonardo Vos Furano grant you these rewards as well as state that you shall forever have a friend in the Furano house. Leo then passed the ring over to Frost as though this was an honourable ceremony. Enjoying the mood Frost acted in concert, epting the ring, and nodding his head in thanks. Within the ring you shall find: 15 gold coins 5 D-rank mana crystals 1 C-rank mana crystal A duram chainmail vest Ice python skin bracers 2 medium health potions 2 medium mana potions 3 low level ice resistance potions A detailed map of the area, including the external regions of the cial mountains Amunication magic device (in form of a locket) Magic skill scroll for 2nd circle spell; ice spike (good quality) Weapon skill scroll for crescent sh (good quality) And finally, something my mother chose, a bottle of B-rank wine, cial starbalm. With thest item mentioned Cassandra winked towards Maya whos ears perked up at the mention of wine. Maya smiled towards Cassandra in appreciation. Frost however was taken aback by the long list of items; it was far more than he expected. Just the 15 gold coins alone was an incredible reward let alone the rest. Frost took hold of the storage ring with slightly trembling hands. The magic scroll and weapon skill scroll were particrly appealing given that the dungeon core would charge a minimum of 1500DP for each. The detailed map was another great bonus, he nned on buying the single gold coin one from the adventurers guild before they left but this one was evenrger and more detailed. Having friends in high ces is certainly advantageous. Frost apuded his forward thinking when he decided to attach himself to this money train that was Leo. Hed find it difficult to gain ess to half of these rewards even if he had the money. He ced the ring on his left index finger, he now had three storage rings, two of them beingpletely full albeit not with his stuff. They still needed to retrieve their stuff from their room in Kathys inn, so an extra storage ring was sorely needed even if itd onlyst less than a year. Thank you, Leo, Frost thanked Leo sincerely with a gentle smile, feeling that taking part in the operation against Adam was very worthwhile. Youre more than wee Frost-senpai, Ive already set up themunication device. Linking it to ours in the manor as well as uncle Bastions in the guild hall. Its not capable of video chat but can voice call from over 500 kilometres away. This way we can stay in touch with one another. Leo smiled as he exined, this way he could talk to Frost whenever he wished, well as long as Frost picked up the call. Sounds good, Ill give you a call once I make it back home. Frost was quite pleased with this addition. Now I dont need to visit Furano just to be appraised of current events. After the first month was up, Frost wouldnt find it so easy to leave the safety of his Dungeon. At the moment the strongest monster he could summon was D-rank, not strong enough or smart enough to guarantee his cores survival when he wasnt present. By calling Leo every so often hed be able to learn what was going on in the nearby territory, as well as the movements of the royal family in regards to his little ve issue. Leo also promised to let him know about any findings they uncover about the Church of Light. If such a dangerous group was in such close proximity, he should be within the confines of his Dungeon where he could unleash his entire strength. Frost rubbed his new spatial ring and Leo smiled brightly eagerly awaiting Frosts first call. Hows everything else going? You look kind of worn out. Gotten what he wanted Frost now acted like a good friend, concerned about Leos wellbeing. Haaaaaaaa miserable absolutely miserable! Theres soooooo much work and its all sooooooo boring and no ones there to help me! Most of the capable administrators were corrupted pieces of shit that were bought off by Adam. One thing my uncle did right was keep very good documents regarding his illegal dealings, possibly as ckmail haaaaaaaa we discovered so many turncoats and now Im left with nothing but a skeleton crew. Uncle Ryuus doing all he can but hes just one man plus theres some things that I need to do myself given the fact that I caused this situation and am to be the next lord of the territory. Leo looked towards his bedridden father with respect in which Dous replied with a gentle smile and nod. Luna too also took off after a few hours work, true I did try to pawn off the entire workload on her given her abilities bute on she didnt have topletely abandon me to these mountains of documents alone, right? Leo grasped onto Frosts robes with a desperate look as though begging him to agree. Frosts face was twitching, he was speechless and instinctively wanted to kick him away. Chapter 127 127 Chapter 127: Learning about the monster stampedes Haaaaaaa Leonardo Vos Furano, stoppingining to others while trying to avoid your own duties, youre the next heir of the Furano Viscounty start acting like it. Cassandra spoke with a stern expression, anger in her voice. Leo instinctively shivered in fear and looked beyond Frost to see his angry mother ring at him. Hahahah you fucked up Leo ahahahah. Dousughed at his sons predicament. Watch yournguage you old brute! Kids are present! Cassandra suddenly turned her aggression towards her husband, ring furiously and waving her finger in usation while taking a few forceful steps towards him. Dous shivered and shrunk his body in response knowing that he truly fucked up. The moment the guests left the room she would discipline him in her own special way. He was probably healthy enough to withstand her corporal punishment now. ....Yes dear he meekly replied while everyone bar Leo giggled. Leo straightened himself out, returning to his chair and releasing a couple coughs to regain his calm. His mothers anger was nothing to scoff at. Sorry about that Frost-senpai Im just not really used to dealing with such problems and I let myself get overwhelmed. Leo rubbed his temples as he tried to maintain his sanity. Luckily his father was feeling much better and could assist him with some of the work. So, the short of the story is that yourcking in personnel you can trust. ..... Pretty much yeah. Have you tried using adventurers to cover certain areas like for security, cataloguing and things that maybe dont require certain clearance or high education. As long as you put up a request in the guild with a decent reward, Im sure theyd be mbering to help out the young lord of the territory. Chance of a connection to a noble, easy money with low chance of danger well unless it involves fighting the underworld gangs. Frost spoke without any delicacy, practically pping Leo in the face like he was an idiot. Eh? Leos lips twitched and his mouth hung open truly unable to believe what he was hearing. This would easily solve his current shortage in manpower and thanks to Adams vast wealth he now had more than enough money to supply such a project. This would also inspire bonds between him and the adventurers thus cementing his position as future lord. Dous looked towards Frost with curiosity as did Cassandra, even they found his suggestion be very effective. Hoh young Frost has talents in governance. They both praised Frost in their minds, giving each other knowing looks. They both agreed that Leo needed to maintain his friendship with Frost at any cost, he would certainly grow to be a big fish in Northrend. Leos confusion eventually turned into mad joy; a smile started to grow on his face until it practically reached from ear to ear. He then jumped from his seat and fist pumped the air. Thats perfect! Sorry Father, Mother, I need to get back to work and put this idea in motion. Thank you so much Frost-senpai Ill see youter. Leo roared aloud before dashing out of the room and down the stairs. He needed to get to the adventurers guild as soon as possible, he also needed to speak to the Furano council to help facilitate the use of the recovered funds. He still had a lot of work to do but now he could see a light at the end of the tunnel. He was practically skipping as he alighted his fastest carriage. Haaaaaa apologies for my son young Frost and thank you for assisting him once again. Dous bowed his head to Frost. No need to apologise Dous, happy to help. In fact, I would quite like to learn more about how you manage to run such arge territory? Frost asked Dous politely, but he really wasnt expecting a refusal. Dous here was once a prime leader, vastly improving his territory in such a short span of time. He also had experience inrge scale defence thanks to the monster stampedes making him a rich resource of battle knowledge for Frost and one he wasnt going to not take advantage of. Douss eyes opened wide in surprise before they started to sparkle with excitement. Id be happy to Frost,e,e, sit closer and let me tell you all about it. Dous was smiling as he beckoned Frost closer, eager to lecture on the topic. Dous was very proud of his achievements as a noble and saw much of himself in Frost. If teaching Frost his knowledge of governing a territory would aid him in the future, he was happy to help. Frost smiled gently and moved in closer, eager to learn. Cassandra convinced Maya and the kids to leave the room, listening to discussions about governance was not something kids would find enjoyable. She coaxed them with promise of treats and games, while for Maya she made a symbol with her hands to indicate alcohol which easily got her to follow. Dous was filled with energy today and continued to talk for hours, regaling Frost every tid bit of information about governance he could. Frost was entranced for the entire lecture soaking up all the knowledge like a sponge. Many skills that Dous spoke of could easily be transferred to running the Dungeon when it eventually grows in size. Frost was particrly interested in the so called monster stampedes that would start from the cial Mountains and wreak havoc on Furano every few years. The monster stampedes have always been a serious problem for the Northrend empire, the Furano viscounty in particr. We are the first bastion of defence against the monsters residing in the cial Mountains. For as long as the Furanos established themselves here in this territory they have constantly protected those that stand behind us haaaaaa. Dous grew nostalgic as he spoke of his familys history. The Furanos are a very old family, dating back to the beginnings of the Northrend empire, Douss very distant ancestor imed thesends in the name of Northrend and since then it has been their territory. Every few years for some inexplicable reason major battles erupt within the central regions of the cial mountains. Weaker monsters, the losers are forced into the outer regions driving themselves and the weaker species into a frenzy. They fight and gorge upon one another while they amass into a starving horde. When their frenzy and madness reaches a certain level, they break out of the mountains aiming to devour everything in their path. Furano as well as the nearby towns of the viscounty are charged with stopping the stampede so as to prevent the devastation of Northrend. Dous frowned as he spoke, this was a very serious subject for Northrend citizens. As far as he knew the other major countries and empires on the Yangmir continent didnt suffer from such problems. Yet in a way this problem was likely the reason that the Northrend empire became so powerful in terms of their military. A constant supply of high ranking monster materials. In the beginning when we first settled this region whenever the stampede would happen, we were forced to rebuild from scratch, everything would be devasted, buildings and towns reduced to rubble, beyond any semnce of repairable. Our citizens ughtered and forced to flee in panic, while waiting on the military to restore order, it was dark times young Frost very dark. Frost could feel the despair from Dous and could envision such a time, he felt both envious and relief. Envious that he couldnt take part in such a hopeless battlefield and relieved that he probably wouldnt have to, it wasplicated. Now however were much more adapt in dealing with it, thanks to our scouts and vast experience we can know in advance and prepare. We summon high level adventurers, prepare war supplies, get the regr citizens to protected shelters and the Royal family sends out a full battalion to aid us, usually the Frost wolf battalion. I dont know if you noticed that our town walls are significantly higher than usual and have significant battlements ced throughout? I did Frost nodded as he replied. The walls around Furano at the lowest point were already ten metres not to mention the highest, certainly more than high enough for a town or even a city. The walls were also dotted with war machines such as ballistae and other contraptions. He also remembered that the top few metres were made of pure ice, difficult to scale. Those walls need to be at minimum ten metres otherwise they wont be able to endure the multiple charges of monsters or impede therger D and even C-rank monsters that attack. During the stampede the war machines will be doubled or even tripled, with most being on the northern wall where were hit hardest. The other towns that face the Northrend forest and cial Mountains are built the same way with simr specs but its Furano that takes the brunt of the attacks. Were pretty much a straight shot from thergest exit in the cial Mountains. The walls and war machines merely give us a defensive advantage; we still need the manpower and strength of the adventurers and soldiers. Haaaaaa although weve be very adept in dealing with the monster stampedes many are still lost to the horde, never to see another day. With my rule Ive strengthened the walls and war machines, making them taller and reinforced them with ice to prevent traction. Ive also made sure to store away many war supplies in preparation for each wave, freely giving them out to adventurers and volunteer fighters thus reducing the threat and making it incredibly advantageous to the territory. With all the monster materials recovered and our towns and citizens remaining intact I was finally able to improve other aspects of the town. Along with Ryuu, Bastion, Sebastian and even Vos we started to improve all aspects, using the money from the stampede to improve and not just repair. Dous then went on to exin all the aspects of the stampedes such as the waves of monsters that attack, the duration, measures taken to prevent it as well as some of his more hidden defences such as exploding and poison mines. How do you know that a stampede is about to begin? Frost believed this was the most important point, given the fact that his dungeon was directly in front of the cial mountains entrance and was constantly emitting an alluring mana scent. The monster stampede would surely affect him. Frost needed to know when it would arrive so he could prepare. Theres a few markers but the main one is finding high ranking monsters such as strong C-ranks within the external boundaries of the cial Mountains. After that monsters would be much denser in the area and fights would break out more and more often eventually filling the area with the scent of blood. Dous spoke sternly. High ranking monsters hmmmm. Usually in the external regions of the cial Mountains, D-ranks would be the most powerful entities living there. Frost had only met two D-rank monsters in his life, and he summoned both of them, he wondered how powerful a C-rank would be. Thank you Dous Ill remember that. Good, good......now weve be chatting for quite a while now Frost, look the suns even going down and I for one am famished. Will you be joining us for dinner tonight? Douss stomach started to rumble in agreement to his words. Id be honoured, what are we having? Frost too was bing rather peckish. He nned to stay in the Lords manor tonight and leave for the Dungeon in the morning. That way itd be easy to say goodbye to Leo, Dous, and everyone else. After that theyd pop over to Kathys inn, pick up their stuff and say farewell. And finally, theyd notify the adventurers guild that theyd be leaving Furano for an extended period of time. Sometimes adventurer guilds would have a mandatory quest allotment for their members, meaning that if they didntplete a quest every so often, they could have their license revoked and or fined. Luckily this requirement was up to the guild masters discretion, so Frost and the rest werent in any danger of being penalised. Chapter 128 128 Chapter 128: Farewell feast No idea but Im sure itll be good. Dous smiled before nodding to one of his servants who bowed in response before leaving the room to inform the kitchen staff to begin preparations. Do you need a hand? Frost offered his hand towards Dous; the man wasnt fully recovered yet. Sitting up in his bed and chatting for the past few hours must have taken a lot of stamina. That would help thanks. Dous didnt feel ashamed in the slightest, not willing to risk his health anymore, he grabbed Frosts extended hand and was pulled up and out of bed, straight to his feet. Huuuuuu Dous released a deep breath as his bnce was a bit shaky. Frost quickly moved in and supported him with his shoulder. Finding afortable position, Frost helped to support Douss weight as they walked towards the dining room. As they passed many of the guards offered to assist Dous but were waved off by Dous saying that Frost was doing fine. When the two men finally arrived in the dining room everyone else was already there and waiting. Master Nanna and Loki both shouted and ran over when they caught sight of Frost whereas Cassandra and Maya just smiled and waved. Luna had returned to the manor at some point and was sitting next to Cassandra so the only one missing was Leo, but it wasnt likely that hed make in time for dinner. Cassandra stood up and walked over, she ced a hand on Frosts shoulder before speaking. Thank you Frost, Ill take him from here. Assisting Dous was her obligation and pride, in sickness and in health as they say. Frost acquiesced to her request, slowly removing himself from Dous and allowing Cassandra to take his ce. She only had to walk towards Douss chair, not much difficulty in that, but its the thought that counts. Dous wasnt one to argue, hed grown quite attached to being assisted by his wife in such situations, it also had a few unique benefits. His wife always smelled like fresh flowers and feeling her body against his own always filled his heart with warmth. ..... Frost now no longer holding up Dous was free to attend to Nanna and Loki, which he was more than happy to do. Whether it was due to the magic connection they shared thanks to the ve tattoo or something else, he felt quite taken with them. Treating them as though they were family, he cared greatly about their well being and when they smiled, he felt happy. It was a strange feeling given that theyd only known each other for a few days but he didnt feel it was awkward or imposing. It reminded him of his bonds with his summoned monsters back in the dungeon albeit much stronger. He stroked their heads before grasping their hands and walking over to their assigned seats, hed keep them entertained until the food arrived. Frost simply asked about how their time with Cassandra went and the two of them couldnt stop talking, full of praises and wonder. Their actions caused Cassandras heart to throb, she leaned in closer to her now healthier husband, resting her head on his shoulder, her eyes turning slightly moist. She wasnt exactly a young woman anymore, but she was determined, hopefully Dous would agree and now that Leo would be taking over their duties, theyd have much more time to spend with a young child if need be. Dous was clueless about his wifes aspirations, for the moment he simply enjoyed her being close. Nanna and Loki did elicit happy feelings within him as well, but it mainly brought up memories of Leo and Luna when they were young as well as Jaina, Bastions little girl also...... Dous frowned and felt a pang in his heart, he remembered his younger brother Adam, the young boy who looked up to him with worship, innocent and kind. There was a fairlyrge age gap between Adam and Dous perhaps that was how it started; did I perhaps not make enough time for him? Or did I neglect my duty in raising him after our parents passed? These thoughts filled Douss mind before they were quickly erased. No, I did not make him into what he was. Adams actions regardless of whether or not he didnt pay enough attention to him when they were younger would not condone such transgressions. Douss frown deepened before he eventually rxed. Hes dead, so thats the end. He chose to forget, his brother would be a faded memory, nothing more. Hed leave Leo to clean up his mess, Dous didnt have the emotional strength or currently the physical to do it himself. He grabbed his wifes hand in his and gazed down at her with love before passionately kissing her, bringing a blush to Cassandras face. A few servants entered the room shortly after. One of them walked over to Douss ear and told him of the current situation in the kitchen, informing him of what they could provide for dinner. In the past couple days Cassandra ordered for the staff to restock the kitchen supplies and anything else they required to bring the manor back to life. With her rainy day funds as well as some of the recovered money from Adams vault, the kitchen waspletely stocked full, their reserves rivalling that of the Phoenix fledgling restaurant. With Dous regaining his health and Leo preparing to take over the household theyd need to be entertaining far more guests than before. The servant was asking Dous on what to prepare when. Everything! Prepare a little of everything Mandar. Fish, meat, veg, rice, soup I want the whole shebang. Well be sending off our honoured guests tomorrow so make this a feast to remember! Dous announced with vigour, his voice was deep and noble. Mandar was shocked by his masters outburst, one that he hadnt heard in many years. He smiled before bowing. As you wish master. He promptly made his exit along with the other servants, the kitchen was going to need extra hands to fulfil such an order. Cassandra looked up at her husband lovingly, he was acting like his old self, it brought a gentle smile to her lips as well as making her feel famished, a feast sounded great. Nanna and Loki didnt really understand what was going on but hearing the word feast caused their eyes to glisten and their mouths to start salivating. Although they were treated to a great many snacks and treats while Frost was talking with Dous, their stomachs seemed bottomless as though they hadnt eaten in weeks, which wasnt exactly far off. Dous feeling strength in his body and a little of his former self turned towards one of his loyal guards. Damascus send word to my son, see if he can return for the feast oh also ask Ryuu, Bastion and Jaina if theyd like to join. We should spend this night with friends and family hahahaha! Dous gave his deration; this was to be a celebration. He didnt demand them toe even though he technically could given his title, just requested. He knew the amount of work to be done so he wouldnt me them if they didnt attend. Yes master Damascus smiled as he bowed before leaving with speed to ry his masters orders. Hed been smiling a lot more since Frost and Leo returned from the operation. Itd be very hard to link the stoic and cold guard that was on duty several days ago with the man he was now. In fact, those who knew him for a while knew that this was his true personality, full of warmth. The nket of depression that covered the Lords mansion was being removed one person at a time. Frost and the rest waited in the dining room patiently, willing to wait for their friends at the expense of their rumbling bellies. Thankfully they heard some good news, Leo was already rushing back to join them for dinner. Ryuu would be unable to return but Bastion and Jaina were able. Although Frost and Maya didnt exactly have a good opinion of Jaina they werent going to let that ruin the feast, the more the merrier. Im back, father, mother, Frost-senpai. Leo reported his arrival with a happy expression. The bags under his eyes and overall downcast look was now gone. Thanks to Frosts suggestion, work was flowing much smoother, he even had time to rx and join his family in a feast. It was a shame that Ryuu couldnt return with him but unfortunately there was no one to rece him skills wise, so he drew the short straw. Dous beckoned his son over and gave him a big hug, before allowing him to take his usual seat to his right. In a few months however itd be Leo in the master seat with Luna on his left. Bastion and his daughter Jaina arrived a few minutester. Bastion was full of smiles and ran over to his long-time friend and swept him up in a bear hug, something he hadnt been able to do in a long time. Hehehehe since this a celebration I brought a little something special. Bastion removed an intricate bottle of alcohol from his spatial ring. This was a dwarven specialty wine, super strong and very rare, Bastion brewed this baby himself and usually hed never be willing to share such amodity but tonight was special. His actions caused a significant reaction in Maya, she sniffed the air with fervour, her eyes opened wide, and she slithered from her seat to Bastions side, her eyes glued to the bottle of alcohol. Woah! Her slick movements spooked Bastion who attempted to jump back in reflex but was unable to move. Maya had her hands wrapped around the bottle anchoring him in ce. Unless he let go, he wouldnt be able to move. Frost merely sighed at the sight and shook his head wondering what he was going to do with such a woman. Jaina unlike when Frost and Maya first encountered her was looking nervous and far less arrogant. She moved over to Frost with skittish steps before bowing deeply towards him. Please forgive me sir Frost for my actions the other day, I was wrong and should have never acted so unprofessional. She spoke out while keeping her head down. A couple days ago her Father found out about her behaviour towards Frost and Maya as well as some other adventurers, he was in one word furious. She was summoned to his office wherein her gave her such a tongueshing that she broke down into tears but at the same time she felt happy. Her father hadnt admonished her since her mother passed. That night both father and daughter seemed to recover from their pain. Bastion no longer coddled his daughter and Jainas attitude took a 180 which brought joy to all the older adventurers who watched her grow up. Now however she needed to apologise to Frost and Maya in person. Not only were they both far stronger than her, Frost saved her cousins and fought alongside her father to bring down Baron Adam. She was sincere with her apology and wouldnt rise until Frost allowed her to. Frosts eyes opened wide in surprise, not expecting such an action given the impression Jaina had made. He looked over to her father, this was clearly due to him. Maya too managed to wrench her gaze from the bottle of alcohol too look at the young bowing dwarf. To be honest both Frost and Maya had put the incident behind them and didnt really require any form of apology but.... Bastion was looking at Frost in a way that made it hard for him to refuse. Haaaaaaa very well Jaina I forgive you, thank you for being so upfront, please, stand up. Frost epted her apology, forgiving her. He then moved to help her up, this situation was spoiling the festive mood. Jaina stood up with Frosts help and thanked him for his kindness before moving towards Maya and repeating the exact same thing but with a more fearful attitude, shed learned that Maya was likely even more powerful than her father, yet she provoked her, trying to taunt her into a fight. The very thought sent a cold shudder down her spine. Maya also epted her apology bringing a close to the dour atmosphere and once again bringing back the festivities. Bastion giving her the first ss of wine certainly helped tide things over. Chapter 129 129 Chapter 129: Saying goodbye With the festive mood restored the servants brought in the first round of food which everyone dug into with relish. The feast was glorious, it rivalled the food served at the Phoenix fledgling restaurant in taste albeit without the residual mana. By the end everyone in the room waspletely stuffed and rubbing their bulging stomachs as they groaned from the pressure. Even the woman were acting the same way,dy Cassandra included. It was rare for them to have such a feast and be in thepany of friends and family therefore she didnt hold back. Sending all mannerisms of a nobledy to the back of her mind, she even fought tooth and nail with Luna for an extra slice of snow velvet cake. Zzzzzzz Zzzzzzz both Nanna and Loki had passed out shortly after finishing their deserts, falling into a fooda, and lightly snoring. The servants not wishing to disturb them, lightly ced nkets over them as they rested against the table. It was gettingte, and they werent the only ones tired. Jaina and Luna were leaning against one another, their eyes drooping. Bastion had allowed them to have a small amount of his prized alcohol, and unlike him Jaina was not a strong drinker. Just a single ss and the two became tipsy. Hahahaha Bastion and Dousughed in joy with their arms rapped round one another, almost empty sses in their hands. Theyd already fallen into a strong stupor; they even sang a few tunes along with Leo. They tried to rope Frost in, but he was having none of it, he wasnt drunk enough to embarrass himself so, plus he didnt know any songs. Maya however was more than up for it, but Frost adamantly refused on her behalf. Eventuallydy Cassandra whispered into her husbands ear, convincing him to stop. If he was any louder, hed wake up the kids. I guess we should call it a night then hup. Dous surveyed the exhausted looks of his friends and family as well as finally listening to the reports his body was sending his brain. He really shouldnt have been drinking given his recovery, but he couldnt resist. His wife realised that and didnt stop him but enough was enough. Everyone bar Bastion was tired and ready to rest so he listened to his darling wife and brought the feast to a close. Mandar if you could see to cleaning up and having some of the servants assist in escorting our guests to their rooms. Noticing that Dous was starting to slur some of his words, Cassandra gave out her orders to which Mandar bowed and instantly gave word to some of his subordinates. Cassandra had already given a few orders throughout the feast, many of the unused rooms had been cleaned out and prepped while they ate. Bastion you and Jaina can share your regr room. Cassandra turned to face her husbands friend with a little bit of aggression. Although she allowed her husband to indulge himself in some alcohol, Bastion should have really reigned it in. They werent young anymore and Dous wasnt 100%, yet theyd gone through several bottles of Bastions secret stash as well as the bottles that Dous had the servants bring in. Luckily Bastion wasnt drunken enough to not be aware of his actions, feeling Cassandras re he awkwardlyughed feeling a little ashamed. He knew what he did was wrong, but it was so much fun. He sauntered over with a bit of a wobble to his nearly passed out daughter. ..... Up we go, with grace he helped her up and rested her against his shoulder, Jaina still red in the face simply giggled and wrapped her arms around her father calling him daddy. A servant lead Bastion towards their room. Next Leo who was only a little drunk since he needed to get up early and work the next day assisted Luna to her usual room. While Damascus moved to help outdy Cassandra in carrying Dous, Mandar moved over to Frost, hed lead them to their room personally. Its fine Mandar I remember where our room is. Frost waved him off, hed already picked up Nanna and Loki. They remained asleep, leaning against his chest, they were still pretty light even after stuffing themselves silly with food. Maya who had a slight rose tint on her cheeks was attached nearby, slightly unsteady she used Frosts body as an anchor. Bastions special stash was very, very strong stuff, even by dwarven standards, she liked it a lot. And much to Bastions displeasure she had almost an entire bottle to herself. Ah sir Frost the madam has arranged for a different room to be used. Its muchrger and is on the western side of the second floor. Mandar replied. Their previous room was nice but contained only two beds, one for Frost and one for Maya. Now however there was 2 new party members in their group and all four were likely tired. Lady Cassandra had some servants clean out and prep one of the nicer andrger guest rooms that was usually used to house visiting noble families. Frost wasnt expecting a new room, but it made sense, he smiled towards Mandar before replying. If thats the case then please show me the way This manor was massive and he hadnt spent enough time here to memorise theyout plus many of the doors looked the same, youd never know which room youre in until you enter it. Receiving permission Mandar thus led Frost and his group to their assigned room acting very professional. He asked Frost questions about how he found the dinner and the changes in the servants with a whisper, too avoid waking Nanna and Loki. When the finally reached their new room, Mandar opened up the doors and led them inside before speaking with a heavy tone. Sir Frost Yes? ......Thank you Mandar bowed deeply as he spoke. Because of Frosts aid his employers as well as his town were saved. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude before leaving the room. Frost smiled gently as Mandar left the room. Intoxicating, isnt it? Maya spoke up from his side, Frost turned to face her unsure what she meant by that. What do you mean? The gratitude for saving someone, the act of being a hero. The feelings of admiration and heartfelt thanks can be quite addictive. Maya spoke with slight warning in her voice. Sometimes people could do just about anything to relish in such feelings again. Yes, it is quite pleasant I have to admit, Ive grown to quite like it but.... But? It still doesntpare to the feeling of absorbing dungeon points. Frost smiled knowingly towards his guardian aware of the warning she was giving him. Maya smiled gently in response, happy with his reply. Her young master wasnt as na?ve or innocent as she thought, hed grown up. Frost looked around the new room, it was muchrger and nicer than their previous room, it was close to a hotel suite. This bedroom was separated into four rooms, two bedrooms, each with tworge beds, the living room where they were currently and a bathroom. It was nice, very nice. Frost moved over to one of the bedrooms and tucked in Nanna and Loki into their beds, being careful not to wake them before walking back into the living room where Maya was sitting on the sofa waiting. So, then I guess thisll be ourst night here for a while. Maya lounged back on the sofa, her bountiful chest stretching against her dress, along with her pinked up face she looked incredibly alluring. Yeah, I dont n on returning until sometime after the family meeting and then only if something major happens. Hed had his fun exploring the nearby town, made some friends, killed some enemies, and shopped around. There wasnt much left in Furano that could interest him. Given the amount of money he now had, performing tasks as adventurer seemed pointless, well at least until he became higher ranked but thatd take a while. Itd take at least ten E-rank quests including a gateway quest to gain the qualifications to rise to D-rank. Then of course hed need to pass a written exam and have hisbat skills tested. A long and tedious journey that he had no interest in embarking on, at least not yet anyway. Sounds good, do you have an idea on where well go next? Maya fiddled around with her nails as sheid back against the cushions. She only had a year of time with Frost and needed to make sure he was prepared for the dangers that hed encounter in the future. Frost had alreadye across foes that hed have no chance against plus there was this issue with the Church of Light. Maya was quite keen to return to the dungeon and begin Frosts next level of training. To be honest I do, but you might not like it? Frost sat down on a nearby chair. Hed thought long and hard about how he was going to spend this current year wherein he sort of had a protective bubble around his heart. After the family meeting, the barrier blocking off his core would dissipate making him vulnerable, but hed still have Maya as a backup, albeit only once. Hoh? Why would that be? Maya frowned, she sat up and faced her young master. After the family meeting, the next ce I want to visit is the cial Mountains. Frost spoke with conviction. The moment he witnessed the entrance to the massive ice capped mountains he was curious, and now after his discussion with Dous he was desperate to explore them. That doesnt sound too bad, in fact that sounds great. Maya tilted her head to the side, unsure why she would have issue with that suggestion. At least in the mountains Frost wouldnt need to interact with people and could focus on exploration and fighting. Itd be a great trip for the two of them or rather the four of them. Nanna and Loki would be healthy by then and could easily manage a trip into the cial mountains alongside them. Given their bloodline, Maya surmised that they were ice aspected phoenixes, very resistant to the cold like her and Frost. Even if Im going alone? Frost knew exactly what Maya was pondering but he had other ns. He wanted to charge into the external regions of the cial mountains alone. While Maya looked after the kids, teaching, and training them. That way he wouldnt need to worry about his core or having to protect Nanna and Loki. Also, with Maya not be with him itd feel much more dangerous and real, something he felt he needed if he wished to improve. Although the events a couple nights ago when storming Adamspound were dangerous and risky, they were also incredibly exciting and beneficial. Frost managed to greatly increase his abilities even breaking through the ceiling that was adept ive mastery (level 3) and learned his first weapon skill. Maya was not too happy with this response and her face showed it, her expression was dark, she was frowning, and her eyes were cold. You want to explore the cial Mountains alone with your current strength? Her voice was cold and sort of mocking in tone. Ugh Frost felt an invisible fist punch to his heart, yes, he was weak so what. Ill only go into the external regions, and itll be after the family meeting, so youll have 3 weeks or so to train me, plus Ive still got that teleportation talisman you gave me. Frost removed the talisman from his spatial ring and waved it around. Maya continued to frown and re at him, he nned to go off and have fun while leaving her stuck at home with the kids, constantly worrying about him. This standoff continued on for another minute before Maya moved like the wind and snatched back the teleportation talisman, shoving it deep into her cleavage and returning to the couch. Haaaaaaa fine but were going to have to train extra hard in the next few weeks, dont want you getting eaten by a C-rank monster that wanders across your path. Maya reluctantly gave her blessing with some requirements which Frost was more than happy toply with. With his current strength he was still considered entry C-rank meaning confronting a C-rank monster would be beyond him. The young Dungeon core and young Fenrir then retired to their bedrooms, falling asleep quite quickly, the beds in this room were a fair bit nicer than those of Kathys inn but still below the ones back home. Chapter 130 130 Chapter 130: Saying goodbye (2) Meanwhile a fair bit removed from Furano in a room hidden deep underground. A man with an evil look red downwards from a would be throne, fury, and disappointment clearly in his eyes. Following his gaze, a middle aged man covered in blood and a tattered robe could be seen shaking in fear with his head prostrated upon the ground and cold sweat covering his back. He was also missing an arm, this was Drogan. After using the teleporting magic device, Drogan gave his arm some emergency treatment before making his way back to his master. It took him nearly 3 days but eventually he made it back with his life, his former arm had begun to scab over and heal thanks to the use of health potions but to regenerate the limb hed need something much more powerful. He hated Bastion to his core, he was so proud of his aplishments against Ryuu, he even felt the barrier to upper B-rank weakening, he was enlightened but all that was turned to dust. Bastions quick reactions and his hubris cost him his dominant right arm; his strength was set to weaken now. Beside the man on the throne were a man and a woman both with their faces hidden but they too didnt hide their contempt while they pressured Drogan with their far more powerful auras. Even Ryuu would be no much for these two, this man and woman were the strongest forces under his mastersmand. Beings that Drogan could only look up to and dream of surpassing, A-rank fighters. Useless piece of shit! The man on the throne tossed a bottle of wine at Drogans head. Smash! It shattered against Drogans head, the shards cutting deep into his scalp, drawing blood yet Drogan didnt move or even utter a voice ofint. If he did, hed end up with far more than a cut up scalp. He just trembled and held his tongue while this man vented his frustrations. Not getting a rise from Drogan the man clicked his tongue before sighing. Anger and me would get him nowhere, he wasnt a dunce like Adam, he could still find a great many uses for someone of Drogans capabilities. So not only is Baron Adam dead, killed by his own nephew none the less. All his wealth and underworld dealings have been uncovered making all that effort and work I put into grooming him into a useful pawn null and void! The man roared in fury feeling the urge to toss something else at Drogan. ..... Y...yes master Drogan shivered before answering with a strained voice. This was an interrogation, Drogan needed to ry as much information as possible if he dreamed of leaving here in one piece. If hed sessfully arrived with all his limbs intact and anything remotely useful in regards to preventing Leos discoveries hed likely been rewarded but no nothing went his way. With his injuries to the extent, they were and Ryuu and Bastion being on the lookout he was unable to infiltrate plus how was he supposed to know that Adam kept physical evidence of all his shady business. My sources also tell me that Viscount Dous is on track to make a full recovery but most of all some unknown vagabond from god knows where has my precious beasts, my god damn Phoenixes! The man clenched down hard on his chair causing it split apart. He was truly incensed. This man not only paid a hell of a lot of money for Nanna and Loki but risked everything to ce a ve tattoo upon them. By doing the deed in the Furano Viscounty, far away from prying eyes of the royal family and other nobles he hoped to cast a shadow on the act, preventing him from ever being linked but they were now taken. The very notion infuriated him to no end and now the Furano family knows about the Church of Light and would surely report it to the Royal family. The mans safety was in great danger, even his lofty position wouldnt be able to confront such an usation. He needed to retrieve the Phoenix children, but he also needed toy low, the authorities would be investigating thoroughly into this situation. Eventually the mans anger overtook him, and he forcefully stood up, shattering his throne to pieces. His nose was practically huffing out steam and his eyes red. He red down at Drogan truly dissatisfied with his performance. What do you have to say for yourself Drogan! The man took forceful steps towards the cowering one armed man, before eventually kicking him in the chin, knocking him flying. Ugh! Drogan groaned out in pain but didnt brace himself or retaliate in anyway, quickly returning to a prostrating position. Get out of here you useless welp, I cant bear to look at you, get out of my sight! The man roared while releasing his own aura, filled with intense bloodlust. Drogan was knocked back once again before he scurried out of the room with his tail between his legs, yet he had a thankful smile on his face. He was relieved that he wasnt killed. He rubbed his stump where his arm used to be before sighing and picking up speed. Hed have to prove his worth to regain any chance of regaining his lost limb. His master would have to either provide a very high level health potion or hire a high level healer, and right now he wasnt worth that expense. Back in the room the man and woman who stood by the masters side sauntered over and tried to calm him down, with varying degrees of sess. This situation was truly unfortunate and Drogan couldnt really be held at fault, he just made for an easy target. The master waved his hand and a servant appeared from the shadows and reced his throne before vanishing again. The master sat down; his mood still sour but able to think clearly once again. We need to retrieve the merchandise, but we cant move now, too risky. He rubbed his temples in frustration. If he moved even covertly, the Northrend royal family would notice and be on him like a hawk, no he had to wait and at some point, try to blow the smoke away from him. He couldnt allow his efforts to be undone. The A-rank man and woman returned to his side, awaiting his orders. Drogan can still be useful, he does after all have a small chance of achieving A-rank status but let him suffer for now, perhaps this lesson maybe just what he needs as motivation. Well keep our distance from Furano for now, but I want all the information about the vagabond that took my Phoenixes. Ill teach him to dare steal from me! The man once again released his aura as his anger surged once again. The man and woman at his side as well as the many people hidden in the shadows all bowed before setting off to work. They needed to cover their tracks and only had a short time to do it. Back in Furano dawn had approached and Frost and his group wereing to, unaware of danger that was eyeing them from far away. This time when they awoke Maya was more reserved with her attire and actions, not wanting to experience such an embarrassing situation again, especially with Nanna and Loki in the next room. She wore a set of pyjamas without buttons but still they looked incredibly strained whenever she stretched, threating to tear at the seams. Being so short with such an explosive body made it really difficult to find clothes that could keep up with the pressure. Many woman were jealous of her figure never understanding the determents that came with it. Frost had woken up slightly earlier and was waiting in the living room, he had the dungeon menu open checking for any alerts but thankfully everything seemed fine. Looks like the Frost troll managed to keep everything in one piece in his absence. The data hed retrieve while out with the dungeons purview was limited but he could still see if arge amount of his monsters were killed. Morning Young master. Maya appeared in her white pyjamas while yawning, even with bed hair she was drop dead gorgeous. Frosts mood elevated just seeing such beauty. Good sleep? Yeah, much better than at Kathys inn, you? Same, it was different from my bed in the Dungeon but still pleasant. Frost stretched his body, feeling refreshed. Yawwnnn Ill go wake up Nanna and Loki. Maya then moved passed Frost giving him a nice view of her ample backside as she went into the other room. Frost did a quick count of his stored money and items while Maya gently coaxed the kids up and dressed them up for the day. Unlike Frost they needed to pick out outfits every day, but Maya wasntining. When the three of them returned they were all dressed, ready for a trek through the woods. Frost smiled and nodded, proud with Mayas fashion sense. Nanna and Loki were still in the dark about where they were going but it didnt bother them. Frost however thought now would be a good time to enlighten them a little. Nanna, Loki today were leaving Furano, so you need to say your goodbyes to everyone since we wont be back for quite a while. Nanna and Loki both nodded but they couldnt help but feel a little sad. To be honest Furano had mostly horrible memories for them since it was where they were imprisoned and tortured but it was also where they met Frost, Maya, Luna, and Lady Cassandra. Theyd miss the friends they made. Well be going to mine and Mayas home near the cial Mountains, its a fair hike away and the temperature will be a fair bit colder but thatll be your home from now on....are you ready? Nanna and Loki looked at one another, a slight smile adorning their faces. They turned around to face Frost, Nanna replying first. Were fine with cold, our new clothes will keep us warm. Nanna gripped onto her jacket emphasizing its warmth. Loki spoke next. Unnn I agree with Nanna plus weve been stuck in one ce for so long, travelling sounds nice. Loki and Nanna were very excited to see their new home and werent adverse to having to walk, in fact they relished in the fact. Being treated as prisoners they didnt have much opportunity to stretch their legs. Good Frost nodded and rubbed their heads with affection. A servant knocked on the door a few momentster. Sir Frost, miss Maya, breakfast will be served in a few minutes in the main dining room. Well be right there, Frost responded eager to eat some more before they set out, since the Dungeon didnt have a chef other than Maya itd be a while before they could enjoy such delicacies again. Frost and Maya would be fine back at the Dungeon since there they didnt require food or water to live but Frost was unsure how it would be for Nanna and Loki, so he made sure to get a book of recipes. He could simply buy the raw materials from the dungeon menu. With them all set and packed, Frost and his entourage made their way to the dining room where everyone was waiting. Dous, Cassandra, Leo, Luna, Bastion and even Ryuu. Theyd all returned to say farewell. What proceeded was a very light and friendly breakfast with a few tears being shed by Cassandra and Luna. Before the entire group walked to the manors entrance to say their goodbyes. Remember Frost-senpai to call me the moment you reach your home. Leo heavily reminded Frost, keen to keep in touch as was Dous and Cassandra. Young Frost, you and Maya will always be wee here at any time, dont be strangers. Dous spoke with a slight headache; he was hungover but made himself get up. Its a shame youre leaving so soon, I would have liked to spar with you a little once things here calmed down. Ryuu spoke with a sad tone, he had grown quite fond of Frost, he reminded him of himself when he was younger. Yeah, you cant be strangers since youre all still members of the guild ahahhhaha. Bastionughed while patting Frost on the shoulder. Out of everyone he was likely to see them most. I promise and thank you. Frost shook their hands before taking a step away. Maya received many hugs one of which was attempted by Bastion trying to take advantage of her explosive figure. This was stopped by his daughter, Jaina who yanked him back by the ear before apologising for her father saying that he was still a little drunk. Cassandra struggled to let go of Nanna and Loki as she held them in her arms refusing to let go. It was a sad farewell but also very meaningful. Leo arranged for a carriage, he and Luna would travel with them before splitting up at the central district. Chapter 131 131 Chapter 131: Saying goodbye (3) Edwin arrived promptly at the head of the carriage, he bowed towards the group before opening up the carriage door. There was more than enough room for the six of them to fit together. Frost and his group quickly alighted the carriage, with Nanna and Loki assigned to the window seats so as to wave goodbye to the tearful Cassandra. Hyaahhh Edwin whipped the horses reigns causing the carriage to make its way out of the manor. They were finally leaving. Haaaaaa our son and daughter inw really made an impressive friend. Dous sighed with a gentle smile on his face. Ever since Leo came in contact with Frost theres been nothing but blessings. Furano was now free of the cancer that was Adam, Leo was now no longer immature and na?ve, now on the precipice of being ready to take over as Viscount. Dous himself was also on the road to recovery, something hed never been able to imagine, especially in the past few months, wherein he struggled to even continue fighting. His dream of improving Furano topete with the major, flourishing territories in Northrend could continue, with both him and Leo at the helm, theyd be able to heal the damage caused by Adam in around a year or perhaps even sooner. The people of his territory were resilient after all. As long as nothing major happens in theing months, Dous was sure hed be able to get the territory on the right track. I couldnt agree more darling. Cassandra agreed with her husband, leaning in close and resting her head upon his shoulder as she watched the cute phoenix kin wave at the window. It filled her heart with warmth, she still needed to bring up the prospect of another child with her husband. Ryuu, Bastion how goes the investigation of the territorys corruption and how are the other towns and viges doing? Dous wrapped his arm around his wifes lithe waist with love before his aura changed. It became regal and dominate, not from power but from his station as a noble. Its proceeding quite well, Adam kept quite detailed records of his dealings, making this process much easier than expected. Ryuu reported with a stoic expression. In regards to the other towns and viges, Ive sent adventurers to report their statuses but from the records it looks as though Adam focused primarily on Furano. Bastion spoke up next, Adam kept most of his business here in the main town of the territory thus the outlying towns and viges shouldnt have been affected as much. But they still needed to investigate and burn out the corruption. Good, we need to act fast otherwise the many rats that lived under my younger brothers protection will get away. Dous was frowning as he spoke. With that order he turned away along with his wife into the manor, the carriage was already out of sight. ..... Ryuu and Bastion however sighed deeply, Dous just gave the orders it would fall on the two of them to see it through. They werent exactly young anymore and were severally short staffed at the moment. The two middle aged men looked at one another, reluctance in their eyes. There was one man who could greatly assist in this endeavour, but they really didnt want to ask for his aid, he was technically retired after all. We dont have a choice, hes the one with the best informationwork and most personnel avable. Ryuu shrugged as he spoke, feeling annoyed with their inadequacy. Yeah, youre right and knowing him hed be more than willing to help. Bastion sighed again and shook his head. The man they were talking about was Sebastian the current guild master of the merchant guild. He was very, very old, could keel over at any moment. The two of them didnt want to be the ones to cause such an event, Sebastian should die in his own way and on his own time, he deserved that much at least. Jaina, you return to the guild and have Thrall manage it, I need to stay here with Ryuu for now. Thrall was one of his most senior staff members, hed be able to manage in his absence. Yes father Jaina responded with a serious expression before making her way to the guild. Once she left Ryuu and Bastion returned to the manor and headed to their offices to work out a n. Woahhhh Edwin yelled to have the horses halt, theyd reached the Furano council building, Leo, and Lunas stop. Leo and Luna looked towards their friends with reluctance in their eyes. I guess this is goodbye then Frost-senpai. Luna spoke with a slight sniffle, preventing herself from crying bytching onto the cute creatures that were Loki and Nanna. Thank you for everything senpai, hopefully well meet again soon. Leo spoke with his hand outstretched hoping to shake Frosts hand, his eyes however were red. Haaaaaaa likewise Leo, Luna, its truly been a pleasure meeting the two of you. Frost sighed and shook his head before shaking Leos hand, even he with his frosty exterior was getting a little choked up. Luna gave Maya a big bear hug before jumping out the carriage and running into the council building, she was afraid that if she did it slowly, shed change her mind and be unable extricate herself from Mayas embrace. Goodbye Frost, Maya, Nanna, Loki. Leo looked gently towards each of them as he bade farewell. Goodbye Leo Frost smiled as he watched Leo leave the carriage quickly following after Luna. Sir Frost, young master has asked me to escort you to the Northern gate if youd like. Edwin spoke a few seconds after Leo left. Thank you, Edwin, but well be fine, if you could take us to Kathys inn, well make our own way from there. Frost responded while wiping his eyes, a few tears had umted there as he watched Leo disappear into the council building. Maya as well was welling up; shed grown really fond of Luna and Cassandra. Nanna and Loki were in the best state, their emotions were still rather numb, and they hadnt developed such an attachment. They still felt a little sad but nothing worthy of tears. As you wish sir, hyaaah. Edwin whipped the reigns causing the carriage to move once again. They still needed to say goodbye to Kathy and retrieve their stored clothes. Plus, their four days of lodging was over, so they needed to check out. After that theyd pop into the adventurers guild to let them know theyd be leaving town. Of course, Bastion already knew but its best to follow proper procedure. Were here sir Edwins voice arose with when the carriage came to a halt once more. Thank you, Edwin, Frost opened up the carriage door and led his group out. No, thank you Sir Frost, Lady Maya. Edwin bowed towards the two of them in thanks but didnt say anything more, still a man of few words. He then left with the carriage, heading back to the Lords manor. Kathys inn was still not that busy given how early it was, but a small group of people could still be seen eating breakfast, as well as a few members of staff. Perfect I was wondering when youd arrive. Kathy spoke the moment Frost and his group walked in, she was eagerly waiting for them. Good morning, Kathy, how are you? Im very good, even better now that I get to see these two cuties. Kathy then proceeded to pinch Nanna and Lokis cheeks. Its good that youre here, wed like to say goodbye and thank you for your hospitality. Nanna and Loki ran to hide behind his back, to avoid getting pinched to death. Hmmm youre leaving? Kathy tilted her head to the side. Given the fact that Frost now had two minors to look after and was so close to the ruling lord she thought for sure thatd hed either extend his stay at her inn or straight up purchase a house. Yeah, Maya and I are returning home and were taking Nanna and Loki with us, we probably wont be back for quite a while. Just here to say farewell and retrieve our stuff I see, thats a shame, it was wonderful having you here. Actually, if youre not in a rush let me whip up something nice for you to take on your travels, free of charge of course. Kathy smiled while making goo goo eyes at Loki and Nanna before rushing into the kitchen to start cooking. Looks like were getting a free lunch then. Frost smiled before leading everyone up to room 14 to retrieve their stored items. There was only Mayas clothes and a few nick knacks, so it didnt take long. luckily, they had enough space thanks to the space rings retrieved from Shadows corpse and the remaining space in the ring with less than a years stability left. Once they came back downstairs Kathy was pretty much finished and before them on a table was an arrangement of tasty looking bentos. Here you go, a bunch of bentos for your travels. No need to return the dishes just keep us in mind next time you visit Furano. Kathy put a lot of heart into making these dishes, each of them looked incredibly tasty, a veryvish lunch and a great farewell present. Thank you, Kathy, it looks delicious and dont worry well be sure to stay here again whenever we visit. Maya responded with a gentle smile while Frost removed one of the backpacks he purchased. Unfortunately, their storage devices werent able to maintain the state of perishables, so theyd have to carry them the old fashioned way. Safe travels Kathy waved goodbye as Frost and the rest left the restaurant, another farewell done and dusted, just the adventurers guild left. The visit to the guild was a lot less emotional, it was a ce of business and housed no one at the moment that they were close with well perhaps one. A young dog eared beastmen was on shift at the reception desk and joyfully waved towards Frost and Maya as they entered. The guild wasnt too busy at this time, so Frost and Maya didnt have to wait very long. Hi Maya, Frost how have you been? Kamey asked with a bright smile, her eyes still wandering over Maya with praise, seeing her as some sort of goal. She didnt even notice the young children by their sides until Frost spoke up. Weve been good, got a few additions to our party, Nanna, Loki say hello. Frost gestured for Nanna and Loki to introduce themselves. Although they were registered as adventurers here, Kamey wasnt present at the time, so she hadnt met them yet. Nanna and Loki nervously walked to the forefront and introduced themselves. Im Nanna, nice to meet you. And Im Loki. How cute, Im Kamey a receptionist here, nice to meet the two of you. She beamed a gentle smile their way causing the two to be a little embarrassed and return to Frosts side. Were here to let the guild know that well be leaving Furano and wont be back for quite a while. The guild master already knows but were here to give you proper notification. Frost rubbed Lokis and Nannas heads with affection while he spoke. Huh? Youre leaving but youve only been here for a few days, what about racing up the guild ranks? Kamey asked with a surprised expression. Shed even ced money on how fast they would reach D-rank. Yeah, we need to return home, along with the little ones. Whether we rank up quickly doesnt really matter to us. Frost shrugged his shoulders, with the amount of gold he gotten from helping Leo, standard quests held no value. Perhaps when he runs low of cash hed return and rank up then. Tsk my silver Kamey clicked her tongue knowing that shed lose her betting money, but she didnt lose hope just yet as she racked her brain for possibilities. Hmmmm where is it that youll be going? The southern exterior of the cial Mountains why? That so, then how about a long term quest? Chapter 132 132 Chapter 132: Long term quests Long term quest? Whats that? Frost checked pretty much all the quests avable to him on the board and never spotted any that could be considered long term at least not long enough for him. A few of the E-rank quests granted 2 weeks or so but he didnt n on returning to Furano for months not weeks. We keep certain quests off the boards, they have to be either specially requested or offered. Since you n on leaving for an extended time and given the amount of trust the guild master has in you, you qualify. Kamey exined before heading to a small room in the office, she went to retrieve the appropriate quests and returned a couple minutester with a thin stack of paper. The cial mountains was a thriving ce for quests, whether that be hunting, escorting, mining, botany or even scout work. Normally E-ranks wouldnt even be given a forethought in regards to quests involved in this area, but Frost was a special case, his strength was more than sufficient. Other than ranked quests that require an adventurer to be a certain rank in order to ept themission there are quests that are ssed as special which dont have such requirements. The [White ws of Niflheim] would be able to ept such a request regardless of their E-rank level. Special quests usually gain such a status when theyre either, emergency summon quests wherein the guild summons all possible members to defend the affiliated town or area regardless of rank, its all hands on deck. Or when a private sponsor requests their submission to be special rank in order to either facilitate weaker parties to utilise numbers to get the job done or grant the quest to a certain party that arent a high enough rank to ept it the normal way. Theres also situations wherein the danger is unknown such as scouting missions. Monsterir investigation are usually ssed as special rank. Im guessing that you wouldnt be interested in any escort or guarding missions to the area so that leaves a scouting mission as well as a couple hunting missions. Kamey looked over Nanna and Loki as she put the escort and guarding missions to the side. The party in question wouldnt appreciate being guarded by children. She withdrew 3 papers from the stack andid them across her desk. All these missions have a minimum 3 months allotment time, would that be enough? She really wanted Frost to ept a mission, desperately wing onto the chance of winning that bet she made. Special quests always count as a minimum 2 quests of the adventurers rank, the amount is usually determined by the top brass of the local guild. Frost frowned as he pondered, he could feel Kameys strong intent to have him ept a quest and the time was eptable. Lets take a look first then well decide. His initial n to quickly notify the guild of his leaving and get on the road home was put on the back burner. Great! Kamey smiled brightly and fist pumped internally before moving the 3 choices towards Frost. ..... First off are the two hunting quests. Kamey highlighted the far left sheet. This one is to hunt a pr bear for its paws, you can keep the rest of the bounty. The requestee is the Phoenix fledgling restaurant, only high quality specimens will be epted with the payment being 6 silvers per paw with an upper limit of 12 paws. The second one is to capture a frost mare and deliver it to the guild, unharmed. The price ranging between 25 to 60 silvers depending on the quality of the specimen. Kamey spoke in a serious tone. The first hunting quest of pr bears was usually an upper D-rank quest, over their partys on paper abilities but it was designated special rank by request of the Phoenix fledgling restaurant so they could ept it. The pay wasnt bad even more so if they could preserve other parts of the bear i.e., the pelt and bones. The second quest was a little special but was still considered E-rank level. Frost mares were ice aspected horses that had rather mild temperaments for monsters. Rich people liked to tame them for all manner of things like racing, carriage pulling, battle steeds etc... they were pretty easy to kill by E-rank monster standards but capturing one without damage was difficult, they were fast and elusive. The first one has a time limit of 3 months and requests that you return the paws once acquired within two weeks, preserving them with ice. Any longer and itd affect the meat quality. The second has a limit of 6 months, the client requires some new horses for the races as well as breeding with his stallion. Kamey exined the particrs, long term quests usually had a few extra stiptions. Frost picked up the quest sheets and looked them over himself. Both of these monsters should be present in the external regions of the cial Mountains otherwise, Kamey wouldnt have brought them up. Frost knew what pr bears were and how strong they were, he owned one after all. The frost mare however he didnt have ess to within the dungeon menu, not yet anyway. He put the idea of hunting the pr bear paws out of consideration, it had the shortest time limit and poised the most risk. He didnt wish to stand out anymore than he already did. The frost mare hunting sounds interesting though, perhaps if I capture one or kill one, theyll be avable in the menu. Frost was keen to expand his repertoire of monsters, especially one such a frost mares. If they were present within his dungeon, it would provide another type of lure, like magic devices. He ced both sheets back down. Whats the scouting mission about? This quest also intrigued him, seeing the 14 adventurers from the other night work together andmunicate seamlessly made him realise he needed to learn many diverse skills to be a fully-fledged adventurer, scouting should be one of those skills. Kamey frowned and showed a despondent expression, this scouting mission always cropped up around this time and its oue was very important. This mission is fairly simple, you need to go to the assigned sector and record the monsters present, in particr upper D-ranks and any C-ranks and report your findings to the guild. Simple but very important and possibly dangerous considering the timing. The time limit is 4 months after that itll either be irrelevant or too dangerous for even someone of your capabilities. Hmmm why? Whats specific about this timing? Haaaaaaa were overdue for a monster stampede, it could kick off at any time, therefore the area youd be scouting could be very hostile. Because of that however the price is very lucrative, a starting payment of 1 gold coin with bonuses if you uncover signs of the stampede and record any C-ranks. Kamey sighed before exining. Frost frowned slightly and ced his hand under his chin. Another mention of the uing stampede, I need to shore up the dungeons defences and fast. He did however notice a slight problem with this quest. There was nothing to bring back as proof ofpletion. I see, whats to stop me from reporting false information for an easy pay out? Kamey released a mocking chortle before responding, she didnt believe that Frost would lie for a second but not everyone was as trustworthy as him. Mr Frost, we take this scouting mission very seriously, when you or another adventurer returns with their report, we hook them up to a lie detector and if we find that they provide false information well, lets just say the punishment is, very serious. Kamey stroked her thumb across her neck, capital punishment. Frosts mouth twitched in response Thats quite harsh. He took hold of the scouting quest sheet, looking over the details, and the boldly written section about being tested by the guild lie detecting magic device. He felt his neck as he imagined receiving the outlined punishment. Any notion of rying false information was promptly extinguished. Frost put the pr bear hunting quest to the side, eliminating that as an option, and took the remaining two quests in each hand trying to pick one. With Kameys strong urging as well as enjoying the idea of killing two birds with one stone Frost was keen to ept at least one long term quest. Hed already decided to journey into the external regions of the cial Mountains after the family gathering so hed be there anyway, might as well get paid for it. He thought for a good few seconds before eventually making a decision. Ill ept the scouting quest. He added the frost mare hunting to the bear hunting sheet and ced the scouting one before Kamey. He chose this quest over the frost mare quest for a few reasons. One the pay is better and easier to aplish. All he needed to do was scout the area and note the amount of monsters prevalent. Two the area to go would be given so he didnt need to fervently search for a certain target and three he was already worrying about the monster stampede, by performing the scouting himself hed get a jump on the stampede. Plus, with the frost mare hunting or rather capturing quest hed not only need knowledge in regards to where they lived- which thanks to his new repertoire of books shouldnt be that hard- but would likely also need some special tools in order toplete, which he did not have and didnt really wish to go back and shop for them i.e.,s, bait, possibly sleeping tonics etc... Of course, he could always capture with force but that came with risks of injury- to the target- plus trying to catch a horse on foot without using traps would be an ordeal in itself, Frost was fast but even he didnt think he could outrun a frost mare. Great choice, Ill get the details sorted for your targeted area, itll just take a minute. Kamey took the quest sheet with a smile before skipping into the back office. She needed to see what areas were still avable for someone of Frosts strength. It would be fruitless to have too many people assigned to the same section, so the guild kept a very detailed track and in the back office was a highly detailed map of the cial Mountains, well of what was known. This was a prized asset of the guild, and it was created over decades of research by adventurers and the Northrend army. Simr to the map Ron showed Frost back when he first signed up with the guild, each area was split up into sections with aplicated number and letter system. The cial Mountains were far, far more expansive than the Northrend forest therefore the system was muchrger topensate. The map showed pretty much 90% of the external regions and almost 50% of the inner regions with a very, very small amount of the core regions wherein the truly horrific monsters live. Ones that could squash the entire empire if they so willed it. This tiny amount of data was retrieved by an S-rank party many years ago. Even they with all their abilities were forced back when they came across an ancient ice dragon. No one since then has ever made it to the core regions or rather no one has tried. Dragons were the king of monsters and ancient ones were practically unkible gods, it was a miracle that the party made it back alive. Kamey asked the keeper of the map a few questions while he asked for details regarding the strength of the party. It was the keepers job during this timeframe to allocate those who ept the quest to the most suited area and from Kameys answers he was not pleased. So, were forced to ask help from unproven groups far below the expected skill level haaaaaaaa this stampede may be the end of us. The keeper was an elderly man, a long retired adventurer who had avid knowledge of the cial mountains. All he knew about Frost was that he was E-rank, been an adventurer for less than a week and had just formed a party that technically contained one other member, the rest were useless, G-rank kids. The keeper knew the horrors of the monster stampedes and knew how important scouting was, to leave such an important job to a bunch of untested newbies, what was the worlding to. Chapter 133 133 Chapter 133: The Keeper The keepers tone, words and expression did little to hide his feelings on the matter. Normally Kamey would balk from this challenge, afraid to argue with a superior, especially one so experienced like the keeper, but this time she had sufficient reason. Sir keeper you dont have to worry about Frost and his party the [White ws of Niflheim], theyve already proven their strength, so much so that even the guild master respects them. Kamey replied with a cocky smile, happy with the fact that she knew something the keeper didnt. Her reply angered the keeper, the smile on her face only made it worse. This arrogant little pup! He red towards Kamey, not expecting anything but a yes youre right sir keeper, shall I rmend they dont ept the quest. Kamey had only been working at the guild for less than a year, yet she was telling him not to worry. Bahhhh what does a little girl like you know, so what if theyve done one thing that got them noticed thats not proof of abil......wait did you say the guild master respects him? The keeper went full into lecture mode, preparing to bad mouth Frost and his group for theirck of merits, which in a way was true. How was the Keeper supposed to trust in the abilities of someone who hadnt earned his respect like the other adventurers. All they had was less than a dozenpleted quests under their belt, all G-rank and in fact it was technically only three. However, before he went all in, he was struck speechless. Kamey mentioned the guild master Bastion, that changed things. Kameys smile only grew more arrogant, she thrust out her developing chest with pride, her ego inting. Yes, the guild master called them to his office wherein he thanked them for their service in person, he even allowed them to call him by name and they seemed very friendly. Kamey exaggerated a couple more details due to her ego but none of which werent true well at least after operation New Dawn but she wasnt privy to that. The keeper was forced to hold his tongue, momentarily angered by Kameys expression but he quickly got over it and thought about Frost. The keeper when he was still in active service was a solid C-rank adventurer with a plethora of quests under his belt. He was also fairly well educated and trusted in his profession and garnered a lot of respect. He was one of Bastions most trusted colleagues along with Thrall and the vice guild masters yet only he and Thrall were within this branch. The Keeper had a good eye for people, but it wasnt as good as Bastions. If he respected Frost, then he must be something special. Kamey tell me more about this Frost and his party as well as his meeting with Bastion. The Keeper had a strange light in his eyes, he was curious about a young man, an unknown newbie adventurer that was respected by his guild master. ..... Eh? Kamey a little taken aback by the Keepers new attitude and was a bit tongue tied at first but quickly told him everything she knew, including rumours, Frost was still waiting so she couldnt be too long. I see, a young adventurer who flew up two ranks with his first quest. Strong enough and trustworthy enough that the guild master respects him and treats him as a friend and you say that Bastion helped sign up those two young kids he has with him, in person? Yes Kamey answered with a bit of sweat on her brow, worrying about the time, Frost had been waiting for over twenty minutes now. The keeper ced his hand under his chin as he pondered. Very well assign him to section 23 of the Gamma sector. The keeper turned towards his filing cab and removed a sheet that held what Kamey needed to finish issuing the quest. The gamma sector was in the middle levels of the external regions, D-ranks reigned in that area and only very rarely were there any C-ranks. A moderately dangerous area for upper D-rank parties, way beyond the on paper capabilities of the [White ws of Niflheim]. The keeper chose to trust in the guild masters judgement, if Frostpleted this quest well, hed also earn his respect. Kamey quickly took the quest paper and ran out the door. A promising young adventurer with great strength hmmmmm interesting, Ill have to bring this up with Bastion. How dare he try to hide such talent from me. The keeper smiled with an evil glint in his eye as many thoughts ran though his mind. Back at the reception desk, Frost was starting to get annoyed and bored. Maya had taken the kids over to a nearby table and ordered something to drink, leaving Frost alone in wait. He was starting to regret listening to Kamey, he should have just said No thank you when she offered a long term quest and left. For some reason he had an irritated feeling about his dungeon, something wasnt right, and he had the sudden urge to return ASAP. When he was just about to call it quits and leave, Kamey came bounding back with an apologetic look on her face, armed with a new quest sheet Sorry for the wait Frost, the Keeper wasnt keen on giving such a job to a new member and needed a little convincing but now hes more than happy, here you go. Kamey exined with a professional air, beingpletely honest in her reason before handing Frost the new quest sheet. It contained details about the area i.e., where in the cial Mountains his assigned scouting area was as well as known monsters usually present there. Frost now knew what hed be up against, so he just had to ept or reject the quest. Luckily, he had a highly detailed map of the area courteous of the Furanos from taking down Adam, so hed be able to find the area quite easily. Frost gave the sheet a quick once over, not finding anything that would prevent him frompleting the quest. The area section 23 of the Gamma sector was roughly at the level he wanted to explore in,monly popted with D-ranks with on a very rare asion a C-rank, right in line with his abilities. Not too dangerous and not too easy. Do you know your way around the external regions if not I suggest you purchase a map. Kamey spoke while preparing to check their supply of maps. The quest sheet she handed Frost only had a very generic description of the area, a map was needed to make sense of it. In that regard Im already set. Finding the location will be of no issue. Frost handed back the quest sheet, epting the quest. Hed do this alone, but itd still count as apleted quest for Nanna, Loki, and Maya. Thats great, can I see your guild guard please? Kamey took back the quest sheet and retrieved her official stamp. Frost guild card now also showed that he was the party leader of the [White ws of Niflheim] meaning he could ept andplete quests on the partys behalf. Frost handed over his card and like usual Kamey stamped both his card and the quest sheet, generating a mana signature. Frost now had 4 months toplete the quest otherwise he and the rest of his party would be penalised. Thank you Frost and the [White ws of Niflheim] for epting this long-term, special rank quest, I wish you luck and hope to see you again soon. Kamey spoke a professional line while handing Frost his guild card with a smile. She waved a little to Nanna and Loki who had finished their drinks and walked up next to Frost when they saw her return. Thank you Kamey Frost nodded his head before leading Nanna and Loki back towards Maya, their work here was finished, now to leave town and head on home. Are you finished? Did you ept a quest? Maya asked with interest as she finished her fruit juice, it was still too early for even the adventurers guild to serve liquor, so she made do with winterberry juice-which she had grown rather fond of. Yes, I epted a long term scouting mission in the external regions of the cial Mountains, I need to record the monster activity in the area and report my findings. Its in line with where I n to explore after the family gathering plus it has the added benefit of allowing me to gain some first-hand information in regards to the uing monster stampede. Frost answered back with a little worry. He had an eerie feeling in regards to the monster stampede and with his already tense feeling about the dungeons safety it was causing him a fair bit of stress. Hoh thats seems very beneficial hmmmm the monster stampede, so it really is around that time. Maya appeared as though she was remembering something but shook her head, it wasnt that important. What do you know about this so called monster stampede? Frost asked his guardian, curious about her reaction. A little but its not really anything important, we can discuss it more back home, but you will need to prepare for it given our current location and defences. To Maya the so called monster stampede wasnt much given that at the most, B-ranks may be involved but she was an S-rank Fenrir, B-ranks were nothing to her. For Frost however this would be a major challenge. The stampede would surely be drawn to the mana emitted by the dungeon core, she gave her young master a little warning but wouldnt give away too much. This was a good test for him after all. Alright, that should be us done, now we just need to head to the Northern gate, Nanna, Loki do you still have your guild cards? Making note of Mayas warning he turned towards the two young phoenix kin, they needed to present their guild cards if they wished to leave Furano without a toll. Nanna and Loki eagerly reached into their pockets and removed their own guild cards and presented them to Frost with proud smiles. They enjoyed having something that was theirs and that they were in charge of protecting. Good, time for us to head home then. Frost gently smiled before leading everyone towards the Northern gate. They had all their luggage, said their goodbyes, had full bellies, and epted a quest at the guild, time to head back to the dungeon, the sooner the better. Frost and Maya still hadnt told Nanna and Loki anything about where they were going other than it being near the cial Mountains. They were still in the dark about what to expect but they trusted Frost, so they didnt ask any questions less they offend him. Frost appreciated their tight lipped behaviour; he didnt want to exin anything until they were out of Furanos purview, just in case. They quickly made their way to the Northern gate, the line to leave wasnt too busy, only getting in took a while. On duty was a young guardsmen that Frost and Maya knew, Kato, Kathys younger brother inw. Oh Frost, Maya hey and who are these two cuties? Kato waved in greeting before noticing the two young phoenix kin by their sides. His reaction was very simr to that of his sisters. His eyes sparkled and he resisted the urge to pinch their cheeks. Frost pushed Nanna and Lokis backs as support so they could introduce themselves. Im Nanna nice to meet you And Im Loki Nanna was still finding it a bit awkward, but Loki had a smile on his face whenever he announced his own name. Nice to meet the two of you, Im Kato. Kato nodded with a smile before redirecting his gaze to Frost. Im their guardian now and I n to bring them home, thats why were here. Were going to be leaving Furano for some time. Frost exined to Kato, happy that he got a chance to say goodbye. He hadnt gotten another chance to see him since the night he went home with that pretty young waitress. Oh, youre leaving? Kato couldnt help but feel a pain in his chest, he saw Frost as a good friend, plus technically thanks to him and Maya he was no longer single. Yeah, but we should be back in a few months or so. I see, well, be careful on your travels and be wary of the cial Mountains, were due for a monster stampede soon and thats not something you want to be caught in. Kato spoke with seriousness as he gave his warning. Thanks, we will Kato, bye. Bye Kato, say goodbye to your new girlfriend for me. Maya spoke with a teasing tone, causing Kato to blush. Kato sported a hickey on his neck which she easily noticed. Bye bye Mr Kato Nanna and Loki were next to say farewell, their cute voices brought a smile to Katos face. And with that they walked through the gate officially leaving the town of Furano. Chapter 134 134 Chapter 134: Returning to the Dungeon (volume 3) Frost led his group silently forward into the Northrend forest. Itd take them at least a full day to reach the Dungeon, likely more given that Nanna and Loki were with them. They may be resilient and strong of will, but they were still children, they could only walk so fast and so far in a single go without rest or food. Frost was unsure what the best method would be, for him and Maya they could easily carry on throughout the night without even stopping to snack or catch their breath. They could either camp out when it got dark and eat the lovely bentos prepared by Kathy before resting for the night. Part of the supplies contained within Frosts backpacks was camping gear, fire kindling, tents, water canteens etc... he was inclined to try out these new items that he purchased for such a situation, but something was eating away at him in regards to the Dungeon. The other option and the one Frost was more inclined to go with was for he and Maya to carry one of the kids each once night fell and power through, reaching the Dungeon that much quicker. It wasnt the most ideal situation but certainly the fastest and given his current feelings it was bing more and more imperative that they reach the Dungeon quickly. Once the group entered the forest and were truly alone, Frost stopped in ce, he turned around to face Nanna and Loki. Hed ask for their input as theyd know their own bodies best. Nanna, Loki itll take us some time to reach our destination if we dont walk throughout the night. Ive prepared camping gear so we can sleep in the forest once night falls and continue tomorrow or Maya and I can carry you once your reach your limits. It wont be thatfy and youll likely struggle to sleep but well be home sooner, and I promise a very nice bed will be waiting. What do the two of you wish to do? Frost asked gently, not encouraging either option. He wanted to reach the Dungeon quicker but not at the expense of Nanna and Lokis wellbeing, they were still recovering after all. Besides although he had a gnawing feeling about the Dungeon there was still the barrier ced by his father, the worst couldnt happen. Nanna and Loki looked up at Frost, their hearts feeling warm, no one had ever asked for their opinion, just giving orders. It was nice. The two siblings then looked at one another and nodded, somehow speaking telepathically, agreeing on their response. The two of them were very observant, a skill they needed to develop in order to survive the world they were tossed into. Although Frost never stated his preferred option, they could notice the tell-tale signs, he was in a hurry therefore the fastest option would be best. Besides travelling all day and night wasnt too much of an ask given their history. The fastest one. They both answered at the same time, determination in their eyes. They were very keen to see their new home and the promisedfy beds. Maya smiled gently at the side, absorbing the waves of cuteness that the two emitted, curbing her motherly instincts. Frost smiled as well, happy with their choice. ..... Good, then lets move out, theres lots I need to tell you about your new home as well as about me. Frost turned around and once again led his group deeper into the forest. They travelled for many hours, until the sun set in the sky. The forest was incredibly dark, the tall canopy of the trees blocked most of the moon and starlight making finding your way very difficult. However, for Frost and Maya this wasnt a big task, they could see rtively well plus the Dungeon was pretty much a straight shot north from Furano. Nanna and Loki however were tired and struggled to see in front of them, frequently bashing into branches or getting caught on vines stretching the forest floor. They didnt talk much throughout the journey, just a few encouraging phrases here and there but they were deep enough into the forest, and it waste enough that hardly anyone would be travelling around. Frost could now reveal some of his secrets without worry. During the day they dide across a few monsters that found Nanna and Loki to be quite appetising,unching themselves in hunger, unaware of the strength of their protectors. Frost made short work of them, gaining a healthy dose of DP whenever they foolishly attacked. At one point even a frost wolf made a move, thinking that it was well hidden, it pounced from behind a tree. Its jaws open and its ws ready to swipe down upon Lokis back. The young boy froze in fear the moment he heard the howl, he tried to run to his sister but didnt have time. The moment however when the wolf was about to meet its target, a beautiful red and blue ive appeared, spearing the beasts head to a nearby tree, instantly killing it. Haaaaaaa foolish beast, Frost sighed, this frost wolf was a hell of a lot dumber than his prized monsters, it didnt even ount for the strength of its opponents, lunging in without any forethought. Like it was possible for any creature to get within a hundred metres without Frost or Maya noticing it. Frost made short work of the beast, setting the corpse alight with ignition while Mayaforted Loki, reassuring him that with them there, there was nothing to worry about. All together during the day Frost managed to umte an additional 800DP. It was rather strange considering on the way to Furano not a single monster barred their path. When Loki finally tripped on some vines, crashing against the forest floor, Frost called it. It was time for him and Maya to carry them the rest of the journey, hed also tell them about his origins and ns for the two of them. Maya moved first to assist Loki, picking him up and dusting off his clothes. She also rubbed some of the muck that dotted his face thanks to his fall, appearing very much like a concerned young mother. Nanna actually looked at her brother with a slight jealously but quickly struggled to even keep her eyes open. The two of them were exhausted, non-stop walking throughout tough terrain and fairly cold weather, much worse now considering the sun was long down. The only break they had was a quick snack from the bentos, but even then, it was at most ten minutes. When she started to slump down Frost appeared and supported her back. He gave Maya a look which she nodded back in reply. The two then ced the kids on their backs, Frost carrying Nanna and Maya carrying Loki. Theyd make the rest of the journey like this. It wasnt the mostfortable of positions, but it beat walking. Nanna and Loki quickly made themselvesfy, nestling against Frost and Mayas backs while yawning. Once they were settled, Frost and Maya continued on ahead with rapid pace, aiming to reach the Dungeon even quicker, hopefully theyll be there by dawn or so. As they travelled, Frosts nervous feeling only grew, something was happening at the Dungeon, but he couldnt tell what. With the kids on their backs Frost started to speak. Nanna, Loki its about time I tell you where were going and who I am. He spoke smoothly enough for the two of them to hear clearly even while he moved through the forest. Nanna and Loki were very tired and on the verge of falling asleep but upon hearing Frosts voice they forced themselves to stay awake. They were nervous but also excited, eager to hear. Were heading to a new monsterir that appeared at the entrance to the cial mountains. Mentioning the word monsterir sent a shiver throughout Nanna and Lokis bodies. They knew what monsterirs were and it filled them with fear. Why are we going to a monsterir? They asked themselves as horrible images filled their minds. Luckily before their imagination could run to wild Frost continued speaking. That monsterir is a little different....its actually something called a Dungeon, a monsterir with sentience, a living and growing entity. Frost took a deep breath before continuing. Im that entity, the personification of a monsterir, or Dungeon, something called a Dungeon core. He went all out and gave it to them straight and to be honest it filled him with panic. How will they react; will they fear me? He felt Nanna on his back, clench her tiny fists and shiver. My father is the Dark God, and Maya here is my guardian, someone assigned to help limate me to the world of Nova. Frost subconsciously slowed down his pace as did Maya. Nanna and Loki were truly disturbed by this revtion, Nanna most of all. She was a bit more knowledgeable than her brother, so she was quite shocked. Frost was something that she had never heard of, Dungeons, the son of the Dark God, it was all quite a lot to take in. Her first instinct was fear, monsters were seen as enemies of the sentient races, and Frost just said that hes a living breathing monsterir, something that gives birth to monsters. Her tired mind tried to process all this information, her face showed confusion, pain, distress and worry but behind that there was also warmth. Regardless of the stigmatisms around monsters Frost was still the one that saved them, cared for them, fed them and now he was revealing his true self. She couldnt help but feel honoured. Chapter 135 135 Chapter 135: Returning to the Dungeon (2) Nannas panic and fear onlysted a short few seconds, once she got passed the stigmatisms of monsters she calmed down and curiosity got the better of her. Loki was actually not that bothered, other than Frost mentioning something about monsterirs that gave him a little panic, he didnt really understand what Frost was talking about. He did however like Mayas title of guardian, it made him picture Maya as some valiant knight, his eyes sparkled as he looked at her neck. After a few seconds of silence Nanna spoke nervously. ....So, are you a monster? This was her first question. No, I dont think I ssify as a monster. Frost answered her questions while internally he felt relief, she wasnt as tense and shivering on his back anymore, a good sign. Its probably best to think of him as some kind of demi-god if that helps. Maya chimed in from the side, she picked up on Nannas fear and panic and hoped to ease those feelings. They were after all going to be living together. Eh? Demi-god? Nanna tilted her head to the side as she absorbed this term before her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she remembered that Frost said he was the son of the Dark god. Dark god as in THE DARK GOD, her face twisted round to Frosts head analysing his features with intensity. Doesnt feel very godlike. Cough cough although Im the Dark Gods son and could theoretically be called a Demi-god Ick most of his abilities, best to think of me some new sentient race, like elves or dwarves. Frost coughed out of embarrassment as he felt Nannas intense stare and her internal evaluation on what a God should be like. He himself didnt think of himself as a God or even anything special, he found Maya to be more interesting than him. ..... I see, you do look like some sort of elf. Nanna nodded agreeing with Frosts suggestion. Shed been one of the rare few that got to see Frosts face when it wasnt covered up by a mask and his features did resemble that of an elf. With that rification she wasnt nearly as shocked and continued to ask question after question no longer feeling tired in the slightest. Frost was more than happy to talk to her; he felt their bond would grow if they spoke, so he answered every one of her questions sating her curiosity. Of course, he kept a few things secret such as his methods to umte DP, he finally convinced her that he wasnt some kind of abhorrent monster what would she think if he said that he feasted on people and drained their life force. That knowledge can be put off for now. Nanna as well as Loki continued to ask questions for a whole two hours before eventually their exhaustion took hold and they fell asleep. That went better than expected young master, do you feel better now? Maya moved in close to Frost, being careful not to wake up Loki or Nanna she whispered. She knew that revealing who and what he was, was quite a daunting task for her young master and that he was quite stressed about it. It would be the first time he revealed himself to someone else, of course he was wary of being epted. Thankfully however it seemed to go off without a hitch, Nanna didnt fear him in the slightest and was incredibly curious about him and his capabilities. All the more eager to reach their new home, the Dungeon. Yeah, much better, thank you Maya. Frost smiled gently towards hispanion, thankful that he had her by his side. Suddenly Frost was filled with a sense of danger and panic, it came from his chest, or rather where something once was. On instinct he brough out the Dungeon menu. Hed shown Nanna and Loki this already and checked it then but nothing unusual was noticed, perhaps a few extra monster deaths but nothing serious. This time however something was different, he could feel fear, panic, and sadness somehow from the Dungeon core, its hard to properly exin, something akin to a sixth sense. When Frost brought up the menu screen, he got his answer. Although the features were limited, he still had ess to some basic records, monster deaths in particr. His eyes opened wide in shock, a ring notification was present on the screen, the pr bear was killed. His strongest defender andst protector before the intruders would reach his most hallowed area, the dungeon core room, was now dead. A cold shiver ran down his spine, he felt incredibly vulnerable. Maya saw the look of panic on her young masters face and quickly moved in close to see what the problem was. Her face nched as well when she saw the notification. If Frost didnt have the one month barrier this situation would spell the end of his life, no wonder he was so frantic. Itd be akin to having a dagger ced across his neck, that he couldnt reach, not a pleasant feeling. She didnt really know what to say, she simply remained silent, cing a hand on his shoulder. Thankfully thanks to the barrier he wasnt in any true danger, and to be honest the only reason Frost left the Dungeon in the first ce was because he had such a failsafe. It was expected that the pr bear wouldnt be enough, but the fact still hurt Frosts pride and ego. Lets pick up the pace. Frost spoke with amanding tone before following his own order, speeding up. Though still not to the point of disturbing Nanna on his back. He needed to still get there quickly, regardless of whether his life wasnt in any danger his monsters were. Anything that could kill his pr bear could kill any of his other monsters without much effort. He just hoped that the frost troll wouldnt act recklessly and risk its life as well. That would not only be a loss of 1000DP but time and effort. The pr bear aside, the frost troll was in control of quite a lot of features and was practically his right hand at this point in time. He was more than impressed with its diligent weapon training and its handling of the frost dwarves and goblins. Those kind of traits couldnt be quantified with DP. So, he ran. The vines of the forest floor shattered under their forceful steps, leaving remnants throughout the forest of their charge. The monsters of the night seemed to be a fair bit smarter than their diurnal counterparts. Even with two young and weak children on their backs, the monsters didnt dare impede their path. Well perhaps it was due to the instinctual blood lust that Frost was emitting that kept them at bay. Maya witnessed a couple frost wolves who thought they were strong, balk when Frost drew close, running into a distant de. With their expedited speed they made great time, reaching the Dungeon at the crack of dawn. As the sun rose and shone through the less dense canopy, the light awoke Nanna and Loki from a rather pleasant rest. Ummmmm Nanna groaned, bothered by the strong sunlight piercing through her eyelids. Rubbing her sand encrusted eyes, she opened them with difficulty. She saw though still blurry, the back of her new master as well as a wet patch on his robes where she drooled. Her eyes opened wide in panic, and she quickly used her own clothes to discretely dry the patch of drool while blushing. Were here, Nanna Frost could feel the actions of the young girl on his back, and it filled him with joy, he struggled to notugh at how cute she was. It helped to alleviate his current sour mood. On the journey through the night Frost frequently brought up the dungeon menu to monitor the situation, he managed to lose some frost dwarves as well as a wolf but thankfully the frost troll didnt show up as one of the deceased. The spawner also seemed to be still operational. He didnt even think of the possibility of losing that until a couple hours ago, once he did however, he picked up the pace even more. That thing cost him 3000DP and wasnt even close to paying back his investment yet. Frost brought everyone to the edge of the forest, before them was an open in lightly covered in snow before meeting the base of one of the cial Mountains. In the centre of the base was arge stone gateway leading deep into the mountain. The area was silent with no adventurers currently nearby, lucky. Frost just had to take a few more steps and hed be in the full vicinity of the Dungeon. Hed be able to take back control and use DP once again, his menu restoring to its full capabilities. Hed also be able to see the amount of DP the dungeon managed to rue in his absence, hopefully its a lot. Chapter 136 136 Chapter 136: The frost trolls injuries The group of four remained in ce for a short while, allowing Nanna and Loki to fully rise from their rest and vacate from Frost and Mayas backs. Frost had managed to ry quite a few details about himself as well as what to expectst night. Now they just had to go in. Making triple sure that there wasnt any adventurers anywhere near, Frost led everyone towards the gate. Once we enter the dungeon, were going to use special magic to enter the private space. You may feel a little out of sorts at first since the experience is rather unnerving but once we arrive, youll get to see the heart of the dungeon, your new home. Frost exined as he ushered them along. The moment he reached the vicinity of the Dungeons territory his body filled with power, feeling like he suddenly dipped into a hot spring, his entire being revitalising and bing filled with energy. He missed this feeling, this bond with mana. At the same time the DP he collected over the past several days fused with the Dungeon,bining into a significant sum, the bond between him and his heart was strong once more. While smiling and feeling a little intoxicated Frost brought up the dungeon menu once again. This time it had returned to its usualyout, allowing him ess to all its features. Teleport: private space, he spoke themand words while grabbing hold of Nanna and Loki. This would be the first time hed be bringing anyone other than Maya with him. While holding onto their hands, space started to warp for the four of them. They spun and shrunk as they were dragged into a tear in space. A momentter they were within the private space, exactly how they left it. Bleurgh! Loki couldnt stand the sudden spatial shift and voided his guts out onto the floor, his vision was spinning, and he couldnt tell which way was up. Nanna wasnt much better but managed to keep her stomach contents down. Thankfully this entire space was outfitted with automated cleaning services. Lokis vomit was promptly absorbed into the floor, vanishing, and leaving no trace. Frost and Maya quickly but gently brought the two over to the couch to sit down and gather their bearings. Theyd need a few minutes to recover. Frost however couldnt wait on them, he needed to analyse the damage that had been wrought in his absence. Dont worry Ill take care of them, go find out the extent of the damage. Maya spoke softly while monitoring Nanna and Loki. ..... Thanks Frost nodded his head in gratitude, before removing the backpack filled with bentos from his front -theyd likely be hungry soon- and ced it on the dining table before teleporting from the private space. Frosts body materialised right in the heart of the heavily fortified de. This was the strongest and best defended area in the entire dungeon, where the Frost troll and many of the frost dwarves lived. The moment he arrived an axe was sent his way which he promptly knocked to the side. The offending dwarf was at first angry, aiming to strike again but was quickly pulled back by another dwarf before being rattled across the head and being grunted at. To Frost it seemed that the dwarf was being called a blind idiot before being forced to look at Frosts face. The moment it did however it nched, its entire body filling with fear and panic. Frost already used to this predicament quickly soothed the offender before it started balling his eyes out. The atmosphere in the area was tense, very tense nothing like the easy going happy feeling he got when he gifted them a barrel of beer. The dwarves nearby and even some of the goblins were patrolling with fierce expressions, sping their weapons tightly as their eyes darted all around. Take me to the frost troll. Frost gave an order with a firm tone, he needed to speak to the one he left in charge. The Frost troll could speakmon tongue and should be able to exin the situation. Feeling their creators urgency the two dwarves frowned, their hearts felt heavy. With a pained look they promptly lead Frost into a well-hidden area of the de, a closed off room. Sharp, dangerous wooden spikes heavily obscured this area, and two goblins were standing vigil with spears looking very solemn. Frost got a bad feeling and quickly moved ahead dashing passed the on guard goblins and into the small room. Blood, the room stank of it and lying there on a makeshift bed was his frost troll, in terrible shape. Its left arm was missing from around half way up the elbow, several deep gashes were carved along the chest and puncture wounds dotted its legs. Its axes were nowhere to be found and its two proud tusks were broken. And Its face appeared to have suffered from a fire element spell, given the burns present. The frost troll was in a very dangerous state, even the dungeon with all its capabilities would struggle to deal with this. Its life was hanging on by a thread and could give out at any moment, yet the frost troll remained conscious and aware of its surroundings. The moment Frost entered it craned its neck up and looked his way. M....Mas...ter the frost troll spoke with great difficulty, his body wracked with pain with every attempt to speak yet he did. Seeing his master after such painful ordeal the frost troll couldnt help but smile and feel reinvigorated, despite his injuries he attempted to get up and greet his creator. Frost quickly put a stop to that nonsense. Stay lying down, youll keel over if you move. Frost felt pained at the sight of the troll. Its battered and broken body brought him close to tears. This was his monster, and someone dared to harm it, his eyes looked as though they were about spit mes. Even if the dungeon managed to recover the frost troll, itd be still be missing an arm. His two strongest summons, the pr bear dead and now his frost troll hanging on for dear life, someone had to pay. Frost crushed the trunk of a tree he was holding. The frost troll understanding that his master was angry on his behalf smiled gently, before coughing, it felt truly loved. Unable to continue looking at the frost troll in his current state and given its injuries it was in no ce to talk. Frost removed a low level health potion and moved in close. He assisted his monster in drinking the potion, like Luna did for him when he was too weak to hold the vial. Around a minuteter the frost troll felt a bit better and could talk clearer now. T...Thank you m...aster, the potion worked in concert with the dungeons assisted healing, it was out of deaths door for now but still had a significant road to recovery. What happened? Frost jumped straight to the point; anger still clearly present in his voice. He opened up the dungeon menu at the same time quickly perusing his current guests. Strong adventurers, very strong, the frost troll then began speaking about the events that transpired with its brokenmon tongue and damaged throat. Everything was going as it should be, a couple monsters dying here and there, a few injuries to the adventurers even an asional death, just like a usual day in the Dungeon. The Frost troll was keeping a good tab on things and the Dungeon was sessfully raking in a fair amount of DP. The problem started when a group of five adventurers entered yesterday, far better equipped, and stronger than the regr groups that came hunting or investigating. This group were a D-rank party, far stronger than the Artic Warband perhaps equal to the cial scions. A few of the other adventurers recognised them and kept their distance, afraid to aggravate them for some reason. Once it was known that this group entered many other adventurers left with their tails between their legs. This was the first offence they made against the Dungeon, chasing away their valuable prey but the Frost troll chose to ignore them, hoping theyd be on their way. But that was naive. Not only were this group incredibly strong by its standards they were mean and aggressive, cruel, even more than bandits. They robbed a couple adventurers that scuttled their way, granting them that or death which didnt bother the Frost troll in the slightest but then seeing that all their targets ran away and left. They started attacking the dungeon monsters. Not ones at their level, or because they themselves acted in defence or toplete some sort of quest, no they attacked and tortured for the fun of it. It started with an artic horned rabbit that wasnt able to run away in time, the archer shot a couple arrows pinning it to the floor, leaving it very much alive. Next a swordsman started to slowly y it while it still breathed before eventually a mage casted lifestyle magic to burn it slowly as the entire groupughed. This was strike two and a major one. The frost troll was filled with fury when one of his goblins reported their actions. Frost left him in charge, behind to protect his creations. He epted that monsters would die, it was part of the job but this this was barbaric and uncalled for, so it made preparations to deal with this group. Chapter 137 137 Chapter 137: The Sanguine Snakes Though filled with anger the frost troll still understood his job, he recalled most of the weaker monsters from wherever the group were stationed. Sacrificing weaker monsters would be a pointless waste of DP and unneeded pain. But he would have revenge, the other monsters wouldnt ept his orders any longer if he didnt satisfy them with bloodshed. At this point since the frost troll didnt have ess to the dungeon menu and was only a D-rank monster he couldnt urately understand his opponents power, just that they were beyond his means to deal with, alone at least. Hemanded a veritable army of creatures that could be summoned to deal with a measly 5 men and now thanks to this group evicting the rest of the adventurers he could use them without restraint. Frost had restricted the frost trolls actions with controlling mass amounts of monsters to avoid the Dungeoning across as something unusual or more dangerous than intended. But if there was no one to witness such changes then those restrictions were lifted, this group of barbarians sealed their own fate. The frost troll started to make his moves along with the frost dwarves, this wasnt going to be an easy fight. Its intelligence was limited and its knowledge of tactics wanting, all it knew was that this group of intruders were powerful and barbaric, weak monsters would do nothing to slow them down. Only E-ranks and above would be involved in this battle. Although cruel, the frost troll utilised the goblins from the spawner to lead the group further into the Dungeon, along with an asional showing of a frost wolf. Only they were fast enough to escape their aggression and keep their movements controlled. Eventually with the sacrifice of 7 goblins and an injured frost wolf the group of adventurers were led into thest area of the dungeon, where the most powerful monster lived. Even the frost troll had to admit that he was a tad weaker than the pr bear, his skills worked better with others whereas the bear was a single powerhouse. Rooooooarrrr! The moment the group of five adventurers made their way into thest room which was muchrger since the rooms expansion. The pr bear roared in protest, baring its massive and sharp teeth as its body tensed in preparation for a charge. The pr bearcked the intelligence of the frost troll, it simply saw enemies before it, each all individually weaker than itself, so it charged right in, regardless of the danger. Its powerful roar sent a momentary chill through the adventurers before they revealed sadistic smiles and started to move into formation. Not an ounce of fear was on their faces, only joy. The leader, a tall and brutish looking swordsman licked his lips before giving out orders to his team. A pr bear was worth a lot of money, the paws could be sold to restaurants along with sections of meat. The pelt would be highly desired by textile merchants and the bones by armourers and cksmiths not to mention the nice addition of a D-rank magic crystal. A very profitable monster to hunt if you can find one. Normally youd have to scour many sections of the external regions of the cial mountains to find them and even then, they didnt travel in packs making hunting numbers a tad difficult. When they initially entered this new monsterir, they never hoped to find such a bounty, and one so foolish to charge right into their ws. 4 out of the 5 adventurers were D-rank with thest, the wizard being still being E, but wizards and magic users were always able to punch above their weight destruction wise. Their group was known as the Sanguine snakes, as they loved the colour of blood and were slippery like snakes. Their party was officially a D-rank party under the Furano guild but were on thin ice. Many times, theyd brushed up against thew and had a terrible reputation, saved time and time again by their notorious backer Baron Adam. They were still in the dark about Adams fate, still carrying out hisst orders. ..... Adam assigned them to investigate the new monsterir, to try and find any remnants of Alex and information on Frost if there was any. The group didnt hold out much hope and only just now made their way towards their, half assing the job. Now however a worthy prey had finally presented itself before them, something to get their blood pumping on such a boring and dull excursion. They expected far more resistance as they made their way through their yet were only confronted with some idiotic suicidal goblins and cowardly frost wolves nothing but a bunch of annoying gnats in their eyes. The pr bear however was another story, alone it wasnt a match for their practised teamwork, but one wrong move could end up nasty, it was a D-rank monster after all, full of muscle and ws. The leader and an axe wielder moved to the forefront of the bears charge while the archer and wizard moved to the sides and began pelting the beast with attacks. Nothing serious but enough to draw a little blood. Remaining was an assassin type, armed with two steel daggers and cloaked in dark ck robes. Out of everyone he was the most ill matched against something like a pr bear. Its fur and fat was thick, a dagger even all in would struggle to reach anything to important unless well aimed. Roaaaaaaar! The pr bear roared again infuriated by the archers and wizards annoying attacks. Picking up the pace, it was on them in a couple of seconds. Bringing to bare its massive 3 metre frame and several tons body, it attempted to smash right on through the two gnats that dared to block its path. It didnt even swing its ws or try to bite, simply mming its shoulders and frame against them. Hmph cocky! Barren! The swordsmen leader hmphed with a frown while calling out hisrades name. Barren the axe user smiled evilly and nodded towards his leader. The two of them tensed up their bodies, gripping their weapons with intense force in preparation. Now! The leader shouted and on hismand he and Barren swung their weapons with great strength, smashing them against the oing pr bear, bringing its angered charge to a halt. Certainly, they could have much more easily dodged the charge, but this way was more fun. Although their arms were a bit numb, they sessfully stopped the momentum of such arge creature, greatly infuriating it. As if they expected such an oue the archer and wizard started to pelt the beasts sides drawing even more blood, dying the bears white fur red and charring it ck. What proceeded next was pretty much a game of matador. The pr bear would charge and either miss its targets or be stopped in ce and be forced to endure stabs and spells. The Sanguine Snakes slowly but surely weakened their foe, with small non-lethal attacks, enjoying the pointless resistance it showed. With small attacks the pelt would be damaged but not beyond use and the group much preferred its new colour. The pr bears roars grew weaker, and fear finally crept into its eyes, but its anger was still prevalent. It couldnt understand how it was losing to these flies without being able to injure a single one. The disgusting smiles on its foes faces only infuriated it more. It raised its blood dripping w up high to swat the swordsmen but was easily deflected, smashing into the floor. Hahahaha looks like the beast is about done. The leaderughed out loud as he kicked the pr bear in the ribs, causing a loud crack to reverberate throughout the room. His colleagues joined in hisughter even the assassin which had very little chance to perform. The pr bear could hear their mockingughter, but was too weak to continue in resistance, its body refusing to listen to its orders. Pain filling its entire body, it could feel the jaws of death drawing in close. Its vision darkening and the sounds of its killers bing muffled, the image of Frost started to coalesce in its mind. Finally seeing the beasts body going limp and copsing to the floor, the assassin finally decided to move in. The danger level was rtively low now, so he could finally take part. He twirled his daggers around his hands as he moved in close. He was quite fond of removing the teeth of monsters while they still breathed. He chillingly licked his daggers before stabbing the bears jaw with one and began wedging out a fang with the other. The bear flinched in agony as tears dripped from its eyes, it red with hatred towards the assassin wishing him a gruesome death. The other adventurers looked on with horrifying smiles, enjoying the assassins antics, each of them were quite disturbing individuals. This will make a good trophy, shame the original owner was so pathetic. The assassin mocked as he pulled out the bears fang and admired his new trophy as it dripped with blood and bits of gum. The pr bear felt thest vestiges of its strength slip away, it closed its eyes as it waited for death, thinking of Frost as the darkness took hold. Chapter 138 138 Chapter 138: The Sanguine Snakes (2) Nothing gave the Sanguine Snakes more joy than seeing the pr bear finally lose all hope, theirughter became menacing as they revelled in the creatures demise. So much so that they didnt even notice the movements behind them. The frost troll and his entourage of wolves and dwarves had finally arrived. Shame that they were toote to save the pr bear, but it sessfully distracted the enemies. Now they had the advantage, and without the pr bear they sorely needed it. There was one tactic that Frost sessfully taught the troll, ambushing. Even with a weaker force, one could triumph over a strong enemy if they had the advantage of surprise. Frosts goblins taking down those bandits was the best evidence. The frost troll led his group quietly towards the room and had them hold position until the best moment. Right up until the assassin was about to bring down his daggers to sever the bears carotid artery, not willing to damage the precious materials any further. Rahhhhhhhhhhh! The frost troll charged with his entourage at that very moment. The fast wolves rapidly charging towards the wizard and archer, hoping to use their speed to tie them down. The dwarves and troll charged directly at the swordsman and axe wielder. They moved with such speed that by the time the adventurers realised, they were almost within striking distance. A sessful ambush, the adventurers were caught off guard and out of formation and now they were the ones outnumbered. Shit! Fuck! Regroup dammit! The leader desperately shouted out orders as a couple frost wolves flew past his peripheral vision towards two of his partys weaker members. He and Barren quickly re-enteredbat mode, holding up their weapons in preparation for the trolls and dwarves assault. The wizard and archer would have to look after themselves in the short term. What the hell! The assassin turned around mid-swing to be greeted with a swarm of monsters running his way. Thankfully he was situated behind the leader and Barren, the monsters would have to make their way past the strongest members of their team before getting to him. He wasnt however a slouch or na?ve, he too readied his daggers up to attack, turning his back to the pr bear, it was set to die anyway, posing no danger. That however was a foolish move. The moment the assassin turned away, leaving his rear defenceless. the bears eyes opened wide. It smelled the other monsters earlier, the frost troll in particr and decided to save its strength for onest attack. No way it was going to die in such a pathetic way without even injuring a single one of its aggressors. The assassin especially wasnt going to be let off, daring to rip out one of its prized fangs and mock it when he didnt even take part in their battle. The pr bear summoned thest remains of its strength, using its lingering anger as fuel. It rapidly moved up and swivelled its head around, leaning over the ignorant assassin. ..... Drip drip Blood from the newly formed cavity in the bears mouth dripped down onto the assassins neck sending a jolt down his back. The assassin looked up and the moment he did. Fuck! Crunch! The pr bear snapped down on the assassins head, crushing it with its remaining teeth before slumping down to the floor never to move again. It got its revenge; the bear could now go in peace. The movements of the bear and the short scream of the assassin didnt go unnoticed. By the time the leader and Barren turned around to look, what was left was a headless body spurting blood like a fountain. Their long time colleague was dead, and by a stupid and defeated pr bear no less. They didnt have to time to grieve the loss; well, they wouldnt grieve anyway, their rtionship was strictly beneficial. In fact, they actually felt more anger toward their deceased colleague for leaving them in this situation making them even more outnumbered. What ensued after that was a mad brawl that painted the entire room in blood. Back to the present time. The frost troll was finishing up his ount of what happened, and how he became so injured. They targeted me, because strongest but we won in end. The frost troll tried to show a proud smile to his master, but it just appeared strained and painful causing Frost to frown but remain silent. Frost couldnt admonish him after what happened, he did a good job after all. Sessfully eliminating such a powerful adversary and returning alive, his losses werent even that bad considering the strength of the foes. Frost was aware that powerful D-rank parties could enter the Dungeon but just didnt think it would happen when he was absent. Its a shame that they were killed, Id really like to get my hands on those intruders. Dark thoughts filled his mind, methods of prolonged torture and forced captivity. His monsters had performed too well, sessfully taking care of the problem without need of him. He had nowhere to direct his built up aggression. The frost troll spoke up interrupting Frost dark ambitions. M....Master, one still live. Eh? Theres still one of them alive! Frost eximed in surprise, before an evil smile grew on his face and a disturbingughter broke out in the room causing the goblin guards to shiver. Where? Frost had a mad look in his eyes. In 3rd section, room near end. The frost troll couldnt urately describe the location given his poormon tongue, but Frost didnt need him to anyway, the dungeon menu would be able to iste the adventurers location. And he probably needed to act fast, intruders didnt benefit from the dungeons healing properties. If he didnt move quickly, he may very well die of his wounds, far too lenient a death. Hahahahahahah perfect Ill let that bastard know the consequences of crossing a dungeon core hahahahahah. Good work frost troll, very good work. Take this after an hour or so, itll help heal your wounds. Frost tossed over another low level health potion before leaving the frost troll to recover from his wounds, he had some pain to dish out. Ignoring the fear filled looks of the goblins and frost dwarves he passed, Frost brought up the menu to find the location. Got him, with a manic smile Frost teleported to the 3rd section. Outside a room close to where the grand battle took ce, two frost dwarves and a frost wolf stood on guard each sporting some minor injuries but with determined looks in their eyes. The moment Frost appeared they first raised their guards pointing their weapons his way. Sharp intuition Frost smiled with pride, happy with his monsters reactions. His identity was revealed pretty quickly and the bravado they mustered copsed. They acted like children who had been beaten up by the local bully and just saw their father. Is he in there? Frost spoke with a threatening tone revealing his anger and hatred. The defending dwarves instantly nodded, opening up the door for their father. They returned to their duties once he walked through, feeling a great sense of relief now that Frost was back home. Whaty before Frost as he entered the room, was a bloody mess. The remnants of arge man was chained up against a wall, pinned by old metal spikes, imnted in his hands. The blood had long turned ck, no longer dripping. His clothes tattered beyond belief, dyed dark red from the blood loss, and started to fuse with his carved up chest. The man was barely hanging on, weak heartbeat and shallow breaths was the only signs that he wasnt a corpse. Barren had long lost feeling in his extremities, too much pain and blood loss had turned him numb. His vision clouded by blood, his head constantly ringing, and every breath proved a struggle, yet he did not die. Barren hated the tenacity of his own life force, if he wasnt pinned to the wall and still had strength, he would have ended his own life long ago. The irony of the situation didnt even dawn of him, only anger, pain and hatred was left. All his colleagues were dead leaving only him left alive, well if you can call this living. He felt so insulted, how dare mere monsters treat him as such, the great Barren. He could only gnash his teeth against one another in rage thanks to his powerless body. When Frost entered Barren didnt even notice, the ringing in his head too loud to even register vibrations. At first when Frost walked in, he was filled with anger and wanted to dish out punishment, but he was forced to halt, frozen in ce. He looks just as bad or even worse than the frost troll. Any punishment that hed levy would outright kill the man, his life was hanging by a thread. The man seemed to already have paid his dues, leaving him truly nothing to vent. Frost was about to turn and leave the room, letting the man die of his wounds. A painful way to go in its own way but the man started to speak. God damn fucking monster filth! Piece of shit frost troll! Barren decided to use the remainder of what strength he had to curse those that wounded him. If he screamed loud enough, he was likely to aggravate his wounds and end this pain all the sooner. Unfortunately, he picked the worst time to speak up. Chapter 139 139 Chapter 139: Teaching Nanna and Loki how the Dungeon works Frosts ears twitched in response to the mans yell and an evil smile returned to his once disappointed face. His eyes glinting, he brought up the dungeon menu and navigated to the DP ie he was receiving in this area. 300DP not bad at all. The adventurer Barren was currently giving off 300DP per day. Looks like Mayas locked in theory was correct. If the man was giving off 300DP normally there would have been no way the frost troll could have beaten him regardless of the numbers he summoned. Ergo he was likely around 100DP worth, the locked room feature tripling that figure. This was quite a substantial number and something Frost wasnt inclined to pass on. Plus, there were a few experiments hed like to run, and Barren was the perfect guinea pig. Having made his decision Frost moved to act upon it. Without hiding his movements Frost moved up to Barren and without a hint of gentleness, wrenched back his head and force fed him a low level health potion. It would heal him just enough to live, nothing more. The dungeon wouldnt heal an intruder after all. After Barren was forced to drink the horrible tasting potion, he didnt even get time to thank his would be saviour before being struck on the back of his head, knocking him out cold. Frost looked down at the man was a nefarious gaze, trundles of dark thoughts flowing through his mind, a few bringing an even greater smile to his face. Rest now, youll need your strength for whats about to happen hahahaha. Frost turned to leave the room, leaving Barren still chained up and bloody. Monitor him every so often, make sure he doesnt croak until I get back. Frost gave an order to the defending dwarves and frost wolf. In response they saluted like soldiers, even the wolf held up its paw. And with that Frost left, teleporting back to the private space. The issue had been dealt with, now he could get back to managing the Dungeon and settling in Nanna and Loki. ..... Hed only been away for 20 minutes or so and by the time he returned Nanna and Loki had gotten over their momentary spatial nausea and were digging into the tasty bentos that Kathy prepared. Maya was joining them, eating a small dish. She waved to Frost before patting the seat next to her. Frosts bad mood and evil thoughts vanished, a gentle smile adorning his face as he joined them in eating. Has it been dealt with? Maya asked after finishing her mouthful. Yes, the problem had already been eliminated by the frost troll and the dwarves but there were severe injuries and a few casualties. Frost sighed as the image of the badly hurt frost troll came into the forefront of his mind. Hmmm whats wrong master? Nanna asked, curious about what Frost and Maya was talking about. You know how I said Im like a sentient monsterir right. Yeah Well, some of the monsters I summoned were hurt badly, some even died, and I was checking up on them. Seeing what caused it. Frost had already told Nanna and Loki the truth and seeing as how they were now bound to him, and he had lofty aspirations for them, he decided to rope her into to whats going on. Ah! Nanna felt a mixture of pain, anger, and awkwardness as she saw the slightly depressed look on her masters face. Her master effectively lost his family or pets or whatever but at the same time they were monsters, itll take a while for her to get used to that fact. I know how the world tends to view monsters especially those born in monsterirs but to me they are my valued creations, beings that Im willing to protect. Frost spoke gently, trying to exin his feelings on the matter hoping that in time Nanna and Loki would feel the same. To not look at his creations as merely monsters but as people like them. Even if they cant speakmon tongue or arent that smart, each and every one of his monsters have their own personality, re, and traits. Theyre more than just aggressive monsters, mana filled beasts. The world of Nova didnt exactly look favourably upon monsters, due to their usualck of intelligence and tendency to violence. Of course, higher ranked monsters were different but even then, it was more because of their strength rather than their intelligence that they were epted. A stereotypical view that sapient born races are somewhat superior, some countries are better than others but its still there. For monsters born in monsterirs however there was amonly epted notion that they were incapable of being reasoned with, even those of high rank such as dragons or giants were feral and constantly prone to destruction. Treated as a separate species from their natural urring brethren. Frosts monster however seemed to not follow that trait; they were akin to natural monsters possibly even higher in quality though they were bound to the dungeon. Frost ran a few tests before, ordering a goblin to try and leave vicinity of the Dungeon. The goblin only made it to the entrance before a strong pressure filled its heart urging it to turn back. Of course, he didnt know how it would affect more powerful monsters. Nanna looked into her masters eyes and saw the care and affection within them, when he spoke her heart felt pained. Was she really one to talk about mistreatment and looking at entities with scorn. She and her brother had monster blood within them, taken and captured by a so called sapient race. Tortured, abused, and forced into very, then to suffer their souls being eroded, how could those people not be the monsters. Was there really any difference between them and monsters....she couldnt answer that question. Can I see them? With determination in her eyes and her belly now filled she requested to meet with some of Frosts monsters. Shed face them and interact with them and make her own decision on whether they were mindless beasts or not. She and her brother were still young and although they suffered a horrible past, they were not tainted by the worlds views yet, they were open minded and willing to learn. Frost eyes opened wide at her request before bing soft and gentle. He nodded while smiling. I was nning on just that. With a big grin he rubbed Nannas head with affection before doing the same with Loki who was behaving meekly once again, letting his sister take the lead. First things first however I need to do a little work before we head out, plus I need to create some new rooms for the two of you to live in. Frost looked around, the private space was big enough at the moment for him and Maya but not four people. A little re-arrangement was needed. Can we help? Nanna asked full of curiosity about the Dungeon and Frost himself, eager to please her new master. Sure, hopefully one day the two of you will be able to help manage the ce. Frost stood up and moved over to the sofa that was conveniently ced in front of the Dungeon core. Nanna and Loki joined him, while Maya silently started to clear the table and dishes. This here is a replica of my core, or my heart if you will. Through it I can ess a menu that helps me spend Dungeon points or DP for short. Frost brought of therge screen and took a look at his current wealth. With his over 4000DP gained by him outside of the Dungeon his grand total was now a little over 15000DP, after Frost and Maya left there were quite a few adventuring parties that entered the dungeon, some even stayed for a day or so, with many sporting injuries and a couple dying. The biggest dose however was from the killing and maiming of those Sanguine Snakes, with each kill giving an average of 1000DP, very lucrative. Frost now had enough money to purchase a second floor including an environment but first off, he needed to rece the lost monsters. The Dungeon was starting to look rather bare. You see the number at the top right of the screen, thats how much dungeon points we have to spend. They can be used to summon monsters, create traps, new rooms, environments, food, drink pretty much anything you can think of I can summon with DP and 15,000 is quite a lot. Frost exined thoroughly while Nanna and Loki watched with rapt attention. Theyd never seen or heard of any of this before, it was quite a thrilling experience. First off Ill rece my lost monsters before extending the private space, pre-warning you however well have to leave the private space during that time. Itll be through the same method as before, thats how we get around the dungeon. Frost warned them ahead of time about the spatial teleportation causing Nanna and Lokis faces to whiten, the memory alone made them nauseous. Chapter 140 140 Chapter 140: Introducing Nanna and Loki to the monsters Frost manoeuvred around the menu to bring up the records of the past several days, in particr the loss of monsters. Not including the spawner goblins. Ok since we left the Dungeon what 6 days ago, and Ive lost A Pr bear Frost wolf x2 Frost dwarf x3 A Snow owl An Artic fox Frost Goblins x4 Frost slime x 3 ..... Artic horned rabbit x 4 Winter boar x 3 Thats quite a lot actually. Frost frowned as he read the list, it clearly showed that without him here to supplement the re-summoning of monsters and increased traffic through his dungeon, he was reallycking quantity. Hed need to spend around 2000DP to rece them all. Alright lets get this done first. Frost then brought up the monster creation section and was surprised to find a few more additions but that wasnt important at the moment. Nanna could you try and add a snow owl to the cart? Loki couldnt read so he had Nanna try out this experiment first. He knew Maya could manipte the menu but whether or not anyone else could was unknown. He may have to go through some kind of settings to enable it or discuss it with his father when they meet at the family gathering. Nanna nervously nodded her head and tried to click the menu to add a snow owl to the creation list, at the start nothing happened, like it wasnt registering Nannas actions but a secondter the dungeon core started to light up before a message appeared on the screen. Registering new user, is what it said before going dull once again. Frost immediately asked Nanna to try again. Performing the exact same motion as before Nanna clicked to create one snow owl and there was a response. Just like when Frost or Maya used the menu a monster was added to the cart. Great! Frost smiled and fist pumped the air, Nanna and Loki really could utilise the dungeon menu, meaning that they could take on a true managerial role in the future. Happy with the result he had Loki register as well, telling him where to click. The stronger the monster the more DP it costs, for example the pr bear costs 500DP whereas a frost goblin only cost 30DP. Frost exined the costing of the monsters he was recing. Some of the information was going right over the two kids heads but some of it stuck. Can you get stronger monsters? Not yet unfortunately, its dependent on my strength, as well as my known knowledge. D-rank is the most powerful entity I can safely control at the moment so thats my strongest monster. Frost answered Nannas questions with a gentle smile on his face, happy she was paying attention. Frost then added the subsequent monsters he was due to rece, all expect one. The pr bear. Frost ced his hand under his chin in thought, at a crossroads. He wanted another D-rank monster but possibly not a pr bear, it didnt y well with others and wasnt the smartest option. Whats wrong young master? Maya joined them at this time, seeing Frosts current pose she couldnt help but ask. Im wondering whether or not I should rece the pr bear with another or with something different? His frown deepened while Nanna and Loki remained silent at his sides. There was no input they could give their master. Each monster has their weaknesses, think about what you need your monster to do then decide. Maya spoke with wisdom in a schrly tone so much so that Frost balked and looked at her as if she was an alien. Who are you and what have you done with Maya? Is what his gaze tranted as. This earned him a frosty re in response. He looked away and whistled as though innocent. He was bing more and more arrogant in her presence, Maya believed she needed to correct that thinking at some point. The monsters purpose huh. Frost thought on Mayas words. He nned to add another floor, and already had an idea of the environments hed be using. Would a pr bear fit in with theyout, it already didnt really match the ruined castle interior and was a bit too dumb for his liking. The frost troll however showed great potential and would fit right in. Frost smiled, set on his decision. He added a frost troll to the cart bringing the total 1850DP and clicked confirm. The core as usual, in response started to glow bright and rotate, entrancing Nanna and Loki with its movements. Ahhh Frost released a slight moan as he felt the power of creation flow through his body and core. First part done, now the rest. His DP was now set at about 13,500. Nanna and Loki had at one point risen from the sofa and inspected the core trying to figure out what happened. It was kind ofcklustrepared to what they expected, no magic crest or monster popped out. Maya giggled at their antics, finding it downright adorable before she exined that the changes happened outside. The ce would be a mess if Frost summoned dozens of monsters here in the private space. Now then, lets expand our home a little, shall we? Nanna, Loki do you want a room each or a big room to share? Frost felt he needed to ask this, they grew up relying on one another, separating them could cause issues. Big one to share please. Loki answered without hesitation while grasping onto his sisters arm. Nanna smiled in response before nodding her head in agreement. One to share please but it doesnt need to be big. Unlike Loki she didnt forget that they were still ves, they couldnt ask for anything major. Frost understood the undertones of her words but simply shook his head. She wouldnt let down her guard in just a few days, these things take time. Extra big room to share it is then. He replied with a smirk before bringing up the section that altered the private space. This would be the first time he had a true look at this section. There was quite a lot to choose from; rooms of varying sizes and styles, special beds, bathrooms, kitchens, and lounge stuff. He went straight to bedrooms and found a simple set piece that looked simr to his and Mayas only bigger and with two beds. The price however, for something that would only be used in the private space was quite expensive 1500DP, the same price as an environment. But when you think about it the materials would be of very high quality so in the end its probably justified. Without hesitation he added therge room with furniture to the cart but didnt click confirm as they had to remove themselves from the private space or theyd be forcibly removed, which would make the spatial transfer that much more ufortable. Are you two ready? He asked with a glint in his eye, taking a little pleasure in their misfortune. ...Yes master, they both replied back with nervous expressions. Great, well go and visit the monsters and by the time we get back your rooms will be ready and waiting. Frost brought up the map to make sure there werent any intruders nearby, in fact other than the severely injured Barren no other adventurers had entered as of yet. Scared off by the Sanguine Snakes. Nanna and Loki although had been told about the wonders and speed of the dungeon core when in action, still struggled to imagine a new bedroom appearing out of nowhere in minutes but chose to trust in their master. They nodded and took hold of his hands and tried to rx as the spatial vortex sucked then in. Space warped once again in the heavily fortified de; the atmosphere was a tad bit more lively this time now that they knew that Frost had returned to the Dungeon. They didnt have to be so on edge. When Frost and the rest magically appeared within the de, no weapons were pointed their way this time, just arge amount of monster smiles or at least attempts at smiles. When their vision was clear, and Nanna and Loki could see their surroundings that were filled with monsters, they sped onto Frosts leg for dear life. Their bodies filling with fear and panic, a natural reaction. Frost felt them grasp his leg pretty hard, revealing their level of fear. Now that the kids no longer had the desire to die, their desire to live came back with a vengeance. Frost released a little sigh but didnt push them away, simply speaking to the curious monsters who saw two children attached to his legs. It was strange however that none of the gazes seemed hostile in anyway. Frost thought hed have to exin to each of his monsters that Nanna and Loki were allies and instruct them to be friendly but that didnt seem necessary. This is Nanna and Loki, theyll be living with us from now on, treat them well. Frost gestured to the young girl and boy gripping his legs. In response arge amount of grunting could be heard from the surrounding monsters. Frost could understand that each of them were saying hello but to Nanna and Loki it just sounded like ring war cries, causing them to shrink behind Frosts frame even more. Chapter 141 141 Chapter 141: Introducing Nanna and Loki to the monsters (2) Theres no need to be scared, theyre just saying hello. Theyre all happy to meet you but cant speakmon tongue, therefore they grunt. Frost exined to the trembling phoenix kin clinging to his legs. They really were doing their ancestry a disservice. Phoenixes were one of the higher rank races after all, equal to behemoths, giants, and some dragons. Even with Frosts words they still trembled but did their best to look up towards the array of grunting monsters. At this point Maya spoke to him telepathically. Young master, did you notice the strange looks in the monsters eyes? Frost still couldnt reply back with his mind, so he simply nodded. I think when they registered with the core, they instantly became allies. They probably see these two as simr to you and me, albeit at a lower level of importance. The monsters shouldnt show any aggression to them even without me or you here. Maya exined her hypothesis, the looks in the monsters was too unusual. They were monsters after all, and usually behaved as such. That makes sense, Frost nodded his head in acknowledgement, but his words garnered a strange look from Nanna and Loki, they couldnt hear Maya after all. Nanna do you think you could try something very brave for me? Frost kneeled down to Nannas height and looked into her eyes as he spoke. Nanna instantly got a horrible feeling, and regardless of how gentle and friendly Frosts appearance appeared to be, at the moment she felt she was looking at the devil. Instinctively she took a few steps back, rejecting him subconsciously. Frost frowned but didnt push the issue but before he could stand back up. Ill do it, Loki the one who normally hid behind his sister when afraid, spoke up loudly. He stepped forward protecting his elder sister behind him, yet his legs were shivering and his teeth gnashing together. Even though they were with their master and the gentle and strong Maya, both Nanna and he were incredibly afraid of the monsters surrounding them. It was instinctualbined with the natural stigma that monsters (rightly so in most cases) were vicious and aggressive, even though arge group currently watched them with smiles on their faces. ..... Loki had no idea what Frost wanted his sister to do but seeing his awesome big sister afraid he felt it was his duty to step up, he couldnt cower behind her forever. Frosts eyes opened in surprise. Good, brave boy hahahaha. Frostughed as he patted Lokis shoulder. Loki welled up with pride, stepping closer and arching his chest out. Come over here and introduce yourself, I promise nothing will go wrong and theres nothing to fear. Frost ushered Loki in front, towards one of the nearby frost dwarves. The goblins may be a bit much to start with, but the frost dwarves at least looked more like their civilised counterparts. Lokis bravado crumbled quite quickly but he had to keep a brave face, regardless of the trembling of his limbs. Frost kept a hand on his back while waving for one of the more friendly looking dwarves over. This one was a bit chubbier than hispatriots, fluffier beard, and a jolly smile, almost Santa like. The Santa like dwarf waddled over full of smiles at being picked by Frost. Loki introduce yourself and then you do the same, Ill help trante. Frost gave instructions to the frost dwarf, who nodded in response and moved in close to Loki. There wasnt too much height difference between the two of them so they were both looking at one anothers face. H....Hi...I...m...Loki Loki bravely locked eyes with the dwarf. Being encouraged by therge hand on his back he raised out his hand for a handshake, though his arm was shaking. The frost dwarf tilted his head in confusion wondering why Loki was so afraid, am I really that scary. Trying to be even friendlier, the dwarf smiled wider before grasping onto Lokis hand with a firm grip and shaking. grunt gruu gruntttt He says its nice to meet you Loki. Frost whispered gently into Lokis ear. Lokis body stopped trembling with Frosts whisper, he felt less afraid and returned the dwarfs handshake. With every rise and fall of his hand, his fear dissolved somewhat, and his body began to rx, allowing him to enjoy the moment. Gruuunt grruunnnntt? Eh? No, he cant hes still a kid. Gruuunt the dwarfs voice sounded despondent this time as did its expression. Whatd he say? Whatd he say? Any semnce of fear seemed to vanish in Loki as he curiously asked for a trantion. Haaaaa he asked if youd like some beer. Frost answered while rubbing his temples. Im surrounded by alcoholics. Eh? He likes beer? Yeah, they all do. ....They really are like regr dwarves. Loki gently smiled towards his new friend, no longer feeling afraid, he beganughing, as relief washed over him. Seeing her younger brother acting perfectly normal with a frost dwarf, a monster, Nanna couldnt help but feel the same way. Her trembling stopped and she moved forward with grace, her head raised high and eyes focused, she appeared before the Santa like frost dwarf. Im Nanna, nice to meet you. She presented her hand out towards the dwarf with a happy smile. The dwarf smiled back and shook her hand. Gruuunt grrrruunntt the dwarf spoke with expectation while gazing towards Frost. Ahhhhh no she cant drink either you idiot! Shes a child too! Frost roared in frustration, knocking the poor frost dwarf on the head in admonishment. This action caused everyone around tough, well except the poor frost dwarf who was rubbing his head in pain, not knowing what he did wrong. Once theughter died down, Frost left Nanna and Loki to get better acquainted with their new group of friends, who were eager to show off their handiwork during the past few days, defences wise. Frost took Maya to see the frost troll to gain her opinion on its situation and hoped she could cast some of her higher level healing magic. When Maya entered the blood soaked room, she had to cover her nose in reflex. One of the downsides of being a legendary Fenrir, super sense of smell. The frost troll was still in a terrible state, his wounds on the cusp of festering. Some of the goblins fetched red dwindle flowers and created infused cloths to cover the worst of the injuries in order to reduce infection. The low health potion barely helped, just staved off death for a while longer. Maya frowned as she took in the extent of the trolls injuries. Im surprised its still alive. She then looked towards her young master, following the gaze that the troll sent his way. Ah now I see, strength of will. The troll was hanging on to make his creator proud, she knew the feeling. It was unfortunate however that she could not help. Im sorry young master I cant help heal any of your monsters, only you. It goes against my restrictions and unfortunately, without a high level potion, or healing spell hell remain crippled, if he even survives the next few days. The trolls outlook didnt look good, and Maya wasnt one to sugar-coat the situation. She respected the frost trolls attitude and actions but couldnt help it. With the expense being losing the ability to protect her young master the frost troll likely wouldnt even agree to be healed if that was the cost. Frost frowned; his heart became heavy. He felt powerless, and guilt ridden. He failed to protect his monsters when they needed him most. All he had on him was medium health potions, they would save the trolls life but not recover his battle capability. Haaaaaaaaa he released a deep sigh struggling to ept the situation. He needed something powerful to heal the troll, itd be a pity to lose such a useful right hand. Hmmmm wait a minute. Coming up with an idea, Frost dragged Maya over to the side of the room out of earshot. He basically needs a strong burst of mana or energy in order to heal right? Putting it bluntly yes, thats how the dungeon heals them overtime with its abundant mana, but to heal such extensive injuries it would have to be a pretty major dosage. Maya responded back unsure at what her master was thinking. Good...then what if I grant him a name? You said before that by naming a monster, Id create a bond with it, increasing its abilities. Could that also work to heal a monsters injuries? Frost asked with fervent eyes. Eh?.... Maya eximed in surprise before thinking deeply about her young masters suggestion. ....I guess it could work, in theory anyway, but theres no guarantee. It may heal his injuries enough to prevent death but battle ready, its a long shot. Maya wasnt confident in the oue. Although the frost troll certainly earned a hefty reward for its bravery and handling of such a risky situation. Granting his first naming to a severely handicapped monster seemed like a waste, regardless of its contributions to the Dungeon. Frost however didnt care. If theres a chance, Im taking it. If he cant fight thats fine, as long as he can still use his mind, he can be amander like before. Chapter 142 142 Chapter 142: First monster naming Willingly ignoring Mayas concerns, Frost was dead set on granting the frost troll a name. Creating a bond between them far more intricate than it was currently. The frost troll would take into itself a fraction of Frosts power, strengthening its body perhaps even forcing it to immediately evolve into a higher rank. There was downsides of course, mainly for Frost. He would be weakened for a short time (longer if the monster was stronger) and the frost troll gaining a modicum of his power would be less constrained. The restrictions ced upon it by the Dungeon would loosen, the frost troll could very much develop its own self-interests, choosing to rebel against Frost if it saw him as an obstacle. Of course, the chances of that were low, Frost was stronger and still growing. There was also the wild card that was Maya, a legendary S-rank Fenrir. The frost troll would struggle to rebel against such power even if it evolved an entire rank plus the troll had strong feelings towards its creator. The loosening of restrictions wouldnt affect its base personality, hopefully making that scenario mute. If Frost named the pr bear however it could have ended as such, given that it didnt hold much respect for him. Now all Frost had to do wase up with a name worthy of such a loyal subordinate. Thankfully it seemed as though his naming sense was pretty spot on, given the reactions of those around him. He didnt find this task too daunting and to be honest he had always been thinking of names for his monsters. However, those names were more inclined to suit goblins since originally the n was to name the first monster to reach max level, which would likely have been a goblin. Frost already took a quick look in that department. One of the goblins had reached level nine just one level away, it was the really cool one that drew first blood for him. Seems I cant talk you out of it young master haaaaaaa have you decided on a name? The sooner you act the better the trolls chances will be. Maya gave up on convincing Frost to not waste his naming opportunities. Each tamer/summoner tended to have a set number of entities they could name with the benefits of a power up. After such number it would just be a regr naming without any further bond being established. I have some idea, just give me a minute. Frost waved her off as though she was distracting his thought process. The frost troll couldnt clearly hear them while itid on its recovery bed but felt happy. Having its creator so close brought it warmth and strength, its wounds even hurt less. Frost pondered for a good few minutes, his hand cupping his chin and his brow tensed as he narrowed down his choices. He tried to narrow down the names to ones that were synonymise with ice given their location and the monsters species. Got it, eventually he made a decision, isting the perfect name for the troll. He walked over to the trolls bedside, taking its hand in his. Frost troll, for your exceptional service in defence of the dungeon while I was absent and your fine management skills Ive decided to reward you with a name. Frost spoke with a noble tone one that he copied from Leo and Dous. It suited him quite well. ..... The frost troll understood its master, its eyes grew red as its body filled with fervent pride. A name, master will grant me name. Frost smiled, happy with the trolls reaction. He turned to face Maya. Is there anything special that I need to do? He was all gung-ho and ready to grant the troll a name, but such a special ceremony should have a proper process, right? Not really, but supposedly it helps if you ce your palm on top of the monsters head. The rest should work itself out. Maya had never contracted or summoned anything herself, so she wasnt too clear on how tamers and others went about doing this sort of thing. The dungeon however should help cover those shortings given that it created/summoned the monsters in the first ce. Alright then here I go. Frost moved his hand and ced it on the trolls cold forehead and closed his eyes, the troll did the same, shutting its eyes, nervous with anticipation. I Frost grant you the name....Finy. Frost spoke once again in a regal tone adding great effect to the ceremony. The moment Frost said the name he felt a surge of power gather within his chest before it flew rapidly up his arm. The power smashed into the frost trolls head knocking it and Frost backwards. Frost skidded across the floor, unhurt but a little surprised and worried. That was arge amount of mana as well as divine energy that flowed through his body. Could the frost troll endure such vtile power in its current state? Anxious, Frost opened his eyes open to see what happened to his monster. Maya quickly moved behind him to protect from any danger, she could feel his strength seeping away, the ceremony took out a lot more than expected. Before the two of them floating above the recovery bed, the frost troll or Finy was twitching and convulsing as the power of divine energy and mana barrelled throughout its body, painfully augmenting it. Urrrrghhhhh! Finy groaned in pain, his entire body tensed and on fire. He could feel his injuries being forcible closed and healed, his very bones being shattered and remoulded into a new form. His skin stretching, tearing, and thickening rapidly bing stronger, more flexible, and supple. His muscles and organs werent spared either nor was his brain. All this change was happening over the course of several seconds yet due to the intense pain it felt like hours. Finy started to regret being granted such a reward, the pain was nigh unbearable. Ahhhhhhh! Finy roared out once more, his arms ying open, and his eyes no longer shut. His body started to glow, the intensity rapidly rising until eventually his entire body was eclipsed by the light then suddenly. Boom! With what sounded and felt like a sonic boom, the light sphere exploded, rippling out a wave of energy that frightened the monsters in the de, Nanna and Loki included. They were knocked off their feet by the st but were luckily caught by a couple frost dwarves, saving them from injuries. All the monsters looked on in fear and curiosity towards the recovery room, that release of power was far stronger than D-rank. Back in the recovery room, after being forced to cover their eyes in defence, Frost and Maya could now see what happened. Wow Maya responded with a single word; shock evident in her expression. This wentpletely against her expectations. Standing before the two of them, on top of a now broken recovery bed was Finy in all his glory. He was fair bit taller than previously, at least by a metre or so. His skin was no longer as dark, appearing more like a pale blue. Far more resilient, as though steel would struggle to pierce it. His frame remained much the same just a tad bigger muscle wise but far more toned. His facial features were more humanoid with his tusks (newly formed) actually shrinking somewhat but bing far denser. His eyes showed far more intelligence as they looked around the room. Hard to believe that the same monster was bedridden at deaths door just a minute ago. All his injuries were fully healed (including his missing arm) and his strength, miles beyond what it was previously. Frost had against all odds drawn thergest jackpot. Frost was in awe with the transformation quicklyughing out loud, he seeded, his right hand was back and better than ever. Finy was stilling too; the sound of his masters voice allowed his thoughts to coalesce. He looked down at his new body in even more shock than his observers. Is this really me? He held up his now much stronger arms, clenching and unclenching his fists. Next, he stretched other muscles to get a good feel for his new body but the thing that shocked him most was his mind. He now knew so much more; he could easily speakmon tongue and the lessons Frost taught him before he left the Dungeon made sense now. He was far more intelligent. Frostughed some more before walking up to the much taller Finy. Congrattions on your recovery Finy. He patted Finys shoulder while nodding appreciatively. Finy was momentarily speechless, not use to the name yet. Finy, Finy, my name is Finy hahahhaa. Finy repeated his name in his mind as he was ovee with joy. A secondter he stood backwards and kneeled down like a knight before his master. Finy greets you master, thank you for such a divine gift. He spoke with his arm across his chest, with a reverent tone. His eyes glistened with pure admiration as he gazed up as his master, his loyalty unquestionable. And with that the naming ceremony wasplete, Frost now had a far more powerful monster under his control. 1) For anyone interested, Finy is a Scottish name meaning white warrior. Ites originally from the Gaelic name Fiogh. Chapter 143 143 Chapter 143: Finys abilities Hahahaha rise Finy, youve more than earned this reward. Frostughed without restraint, feeling as though he just won a major jackpot. The feeling he was getting from Finy was equivalent to those goons Rock and Jin that he came across in Adams basement. Upper C-rank, and in some ways, Finy was even more powerful given the resilience of his body and the fact he could level up. Frost at his current strength wouldnt be a match for Finy which under normal circumstances would be very dangerous. Yet Finy kneeled as though a knight without the slightest sign of disloyalty. How could Frost not be happy. Maya at the side had readied herself to act in case anything went wrong but was relieved once Finy kneeled and showed such admiration in his eyes. He wouldnt betray her young master regardless of his strength. She released a light sigh before smiling. Listening to his master, Finy rose up to his massive height and towered over Frost. Lets take a look at your new status shall we. Frost brought up the dungeon menu to view Finys new stats. He was very curious as to what monster he became. Unfortunately, however since he was easily C-rank Frost wouldnt be able to summon another until he reached the required power level. Finy was a notable exception. Name: Finy Race: Ice trollmander Rank: C+ level: 8/50 Skills: [axe sh], [invigorating shout], [enrage], [mad charge] ..... Passive: [war buff], [medium ice resistance], [mild aura], [adept axe mastery] Magic and chakra: [Ice bolt], [ice stomp], [frost breath] Remark: Ice trollmanders, veritable leaders of ice trolls, with great potential. Not only are they aplished fighters in their own right, they have ess to many skills that buff allies as well as devasting magic. A very well bnced monster. Finy a named monster bonded with Dungeon core Frost, surpasses his regrmander counterparts. Frosts face was frozen in ce, the dungeon menu was showing far more than it used to. Finy was more than just a powerhouse he was a super powerhouse. Frost didnt even know what half these abilities did. He looked back between the status page and Finy, unable toprehend what he was seeing. Do I have divine luck or something? Regardless, Finys overpowered status was a good thing. Breaking out of his shock he called Maya over to take a look, she would have a better idea of all these skills and just how much of a talent Finy really was. Wow thats pretty impressive. Mayas eyes opened wide, just a shocked as Frost. Finy meanwhile gently smiled as Frost checked him out, unable to prevent a bit of cocky pride welling up within his chest. Maya knew about ice trollmanders and their rough strength level and surmised that Finy was equivalent to roughly half a rank stronger than his regr counterparts. He also had the skill [war buff] that was normally only found among B-rank trolls and other leader monsters. His potential was incredible. Can you exin some of his abilities? I can but why dont you ask Finy, he shouldnt have any problem speakingmon tongue now. Icemanders were considered fairly intelligent monsters that controlledrge tribes of trolls and other monsters. Speakingmon tongue was within their abilities but Finy seemed far more intelligent than just that, his mind likely rivalled that of a human. Finy couldnt help but smile with pride, he rubbed the underside of his nose with his finger. He was happy to exin his abilities or rather brag to his creator. Allow me to show you master. Finy mmed his arm against his chest acting like a soldier requesting permission from a superior officer. With his evolution he was also granted a brand new axe, this one was made of 3-star pykrete and was a two handed behemoth,rger than Frosts entire body. It was lying beside the broken bed, Frost and Maya were yet to notice it given their eyes being glued to his new and awesome body. Unfortunately, he wasnt granted any new armour, still outfitted with a loincloth albeit it beingrger to fit his new frame, cleaner looking too but still offered no defensive properties. Finy was eager to swing his new axe with all his strength, greatly anticipating the devastation he could wrought. Theyd need a wide open space to fully test his capabilities and this room wasnt up for the task. Frost smiled and nodded his head, his eyes full of anticipation. Finy picked up his axe and the group of three left the recovery room and were greeted by the nervous stares of all the monsters in the de. Theyd all been staring at the recovery room ever since that powerful st of energy made its way through the trees. Everyone from the goblins to Nanna and Loki were looking their way. When Finy left the doorway all of them felt an overbearing presence pressure their bodies. Finys [mild aura] was at work emitting a silent pressure on everyone. Itd take him some practise to control his aura, to not affect his allies. Everyone Id like you to meet Finy formerly a frost troll he has thus evolved after being granted a name and hes going to show off his new capabilities so everyone could you give us some space. Frost stepped forward speaking with his new regal tone he ordered his monsters. They all subconsciously moved backwards creating an open space in the middle of the de, not taking their eyes of Finy as they did. A wild array of emotions was going through Frosts other monsters, curiosity, fear, pride, jealousy, and joy. Each and every one of them felt different but they all followed his orders without question. Even Nanna and Loki moved to the side. The floor is yours Finy, show me what youve got. Frost tapped Finys shoulder, granting him the floor before moving over towards Nanna and Loki to exin the situation, Maya joined him. Finy felt a little nervous being stared at by so many of hisrades but eventually made his way to the centre of the de with his massive axe in hand. There were dozens of wooden posts dotted around the de, either for defensive purposes or training, Finy wasnt the only one who liked to practice and train. Ill go through my active abilities first then. Finy faced up against a nearby wooden post, easily half a metre in diameter. He raised up his massive axe overhead in preparation. [Axe sh]! He tensed his arms and energy flowed into his axe, causing it to shine pale blue before viciously shing downward. A pale blue beam of energy howled from his axe cleaving the wooden post in two along with many trees dotted behind it. Even the ground was carved up sending dirt everywhere. The range wasnt too far given that it was an axe, roughly ten metres or so but damn was it powerful. Frost couldnt help but get riled up, the desire to spar against Finy growing. Finy released a restrained breath as he lifted his axe, very happy with the result. Next, I guess would be [invigorating shout], its a support skill that increases the strength of nearby allies for a short period. Rahhhhhhhhhhhh Finy roared activating the skill and some of the nearby monsters felt their bodies swell with power and vigour. It was as though they were suddenly pumped up with a burst of adrenaline, increasing not only their physical strength but their capabilities to endure damage as well. Even Frost was affected by it. Finy had quite a few benefits for those that fought beside him, verymander like. Next [enrage], another buff type skill. Finy took a wide stance before activating this skill. [Enrage] suddenly Finys muscles tensed up, his veins protruding, and his eyes turned red as he was filled with aggression. [Enrage] was self-exnatory, it filled the user with anger, increasing their strength and numbing their pain at the expense of reasoning. Hu hu hu hu Finy breathed rapidly as he tried to contain his anger and aggression. Hisst skill required him to be within the enraged state to utilise its full power. [Mad charge] energy flowed over his body, covering it in a thin veil of red light. Rahhhhhhhh! roaring with madness Finy charged towards a nearby tree over a metre in diameter. Boom! The resounding sh created a powerful booming sound, bits of wood flew everywhere, and the once powerful tree was turned to dust. Finy was unscathed, just out of breath as the enrage skill withdrew its effects. Thebination of [enrage] and [mad charge] was a very powerful finisher but came with risks. The user would be significantly exhausted after using it. p, p, p Frost started pping, generating a round of apuse throughout his monsters. He was greatly impressed with Finys active skills; they were very powerful indeed. If Finy had to fight against the Sanguine Snakes once again, hed likelye out unscathed. Finy felt his strength slowly return, now he just had to exin his passive skills and magic. For the passive skill [war buff], it activates when fighting an enemy. It grants me and allies within a 100 metre radius a small boost to strength and speed. The rest are self-exnatory and nothing special. Although this passive buff didnt seem like much, when in a grand melee with dozens or even hundreds of monsters taking part, a mass increase in strength could easily turn the tide of battle. Leader like skills have always been craved and sought after by people, having one almost guarantees a leadership role in any war, regardless of your other abilities. Agreed I can work out what the others do, what about your magic? Frost knew what adept axe mastery granted as well as the limits of a mild aura. He could feel it right now after all, just, unlike the rest of his monsters he wasnt pressured by it. Well....[ice stomp] Finy skipped over ice bolt since he knew Frost already knew that magic. In response to his words, he stomped down with his right foot, generating a blue magic crest on impact. A road of spiked ice then grew from his foot towards a nearby wooden post, piercing it and encasing the lower half in ice. It was a more physical type spell, usually not used by the regr wizards given their bodys strength. It could be considered a mixture of magic and chakra since it was used by a monster and was equivalent to a 2nd circle spell. Finally, was his unique monster ability, usuallymon to those of the lizard type i.e., drakes and dragons. It utilised his mana but didnt require a magic crest. He didnt even need to use amand word for this one. Finy simply took a deep breath, nurturing a special nd within his body, mana filled this nd, causing it to glow blue and expand, forcing his chest outward. Haaaaahhh then suddenly, Finy released the built up energy generating a freezing cold breath attack that froze the area in front of him, turning a wooden post into an icicle. This was a powerful AOE attack thatsted 3 seconds or so before Finy ran out of energy. Hed have to wait a while to use his breath nd again given that he wasnt a dragon. Chapter 144 144 Chapter 144: Spending his hard-earned DP Bravo Finy very well done. With your strength even C-rank adventurers would struggle to make it past you. Frost smiled, pping as he moved towards his powerful new monster. Thank you master, I promise I wont let such a disgrace happen on my watch ever again. Finy clenched his fists, his mind drifting back to his battle against the Sanguine Snakes and the man that still remain in the 3rd section of the Dungeon. Barren was it hahaha, Ill make sure to make you regret ever entering my masters domain. Nanna, Loki this is Finy, the strongest monster under mymand and my right hand in managing the dungeon. He called over Nanna and Loki who were nervously watching next to the Santa like frost dwarf. Nice to meet you Finy. The kids both greeted therge ice troll as best they could. Finys aura was still in effect after all, pressuring them. Its nice to meet you Nanna, Loki. I hope we can serve the master to the best of our abilities. Finy tried to retain his aura as best he could, while kneeling down to roughly their height and smiling. He understood that the two phoenix kin before him were very important to his master, they even had a little more authority than him, so he greeted them with respect. With their introductions done, Finy moved back as did Nanna and Loki, they retreated next to Maya, by her side Finys aura was neutralised. Finy Ill leave you to manage things here, teach the new monsters the ropes. Ill likely be expanding the Dungeon by another floor, so there could be a few tremors. Got it master, Ill get them in line. Finy saluted before getting back to work. ..... And Finy Yes master Leave that dying adventurer alone, I want to ring out the maximum amount of DP possible, cant have you ending him by ident. Frost wasnt na?ve enough to not notice Finys desire for revenge. Finys eyes twitched slightly in disappointment before he sighed and nodded in response, agreeing not to mess with Barren. Lets head back to the private space and check out your new rooms Frost turned around and spoke to Nanna and Loki, his work here was done, Finy would take care of the rest. Frosts words brought a spark to their eyes, their curiosity enkindled. Lets go, with those words, Frost, Loki, Nanna, and Maya vanished from the de, returning to the private space. This time the change in locations didnt affect the two kids as bad, just making them a little dizzy. The Private space had changed from ten minutes ago, anotherrge bedroom was present, opposite Frosts and Mayas. Tworge twin beds, along with a couple empty bookshelves and wardrobes filled the room. Simple but high quality far more than Loki and Nanna ever had ess to. The moment they saw the room, they shivered, unable to believe what they were seeing. Theyd only been gone for a matter of minutes, yet a new room was there, and it was theirs. Their lips started to quiver as they looked on unsure how to react. Well go on, take a look around, jump on the bed, have a pillow fight this room is yours, do with what you wish. Frost spoke with a fatherly tone giving them the permission they needed. Nervously Nanna and Loki entered the room, checking around all the furniture, feeling the soft mattress andfy bedding. Their hands still quivering as they looked at one another in shock. Eventually however they smiled, and tears started to flow down their cheeks, theyd never felt so blessed. And with that they let loose, taking up Frosts suggestion they started jumping on their beds having fun, something they hadnt been able to do in a long time. Maya wiped a few tears from the side of her eyes as she watched on. Help them settle in, ce their new clothes in their wardrobes, pick out whos bed is whos etc.... Ill get to work on expanding the Dungeon. Frost handed Maya the storage rings that held hers and the kids stuff before sitting down on the couch. Theres was a lot he could do with 13,500DP plus he had over ten gold coins in storage that he nned to use, effectively giving another 10,000DP if converted. Maya epted the rings and moved into the kids room, joining in on the fun. Lets get started then shall we. Frost activated the dungeon core and started building. First things first lets build a second floor. A second floor cost 10,000DP and woulde with three empty small rooms the same as what he started with. He decided to split his purchases up into sections to prevent a loss of consciousness. Immediately confirming his purchase of a second floor. In the private space they didnt feel any change but in the Dungeon all the monsters felt the ground shake for 30 seconds or so before everything returned to normal. The Dungeon core room that was still protected by that barrier was thus relocated to thest room on the second floor. Its original location was reced by a staircase that led deeper into the mountain. Lets convert some gold next to undue that major cost. Frost removed ten gold coins and dropped them into the core converting items for the very first time. The floating orb absorbed the gold coins and his DP soared back up to 13,500. The process was smooth, but he didnt get a rush like he normally did from absorbing DP, it felt as though it had no vour, merely providing sustenance. He needed at least another 10000DP to fully outfit the second floor as he desired. Frost nned to outfit all three rooms with environments and expand them to the same size as the first floor rooms. Nothing too fancy same bracket of environments going no higher than 2500DP. The remaining DP, depending on how much, would be spent on possibly another spawner, monsters, traps as well as a few treasures to serve as lures for adventurers. There was a treasure chest that he could purchase that acted like a spawner. It would reappear with new random treasure a day after being opened. The lowest one cost 500DP and it very rarely spawned steel weapons or armour, sort of a luck based lottery. Unfortunately, Dark had put a restriction on it, making it that only adventurers/intruders could open the thing, to prevent abuse. First room will be a continuation of the artic castle ruins with randomyout, 2000DP for that. The second and third rooms will be ice cavernbyrinths with simple difficulty 2000DP per room bringing the total to 6000DP. For thest two rooms he really wanted to keep his future guest within the Dungeon for an extended period of time. Thebyrinths werent thatplicated, but it did have annoying dead ends, therger the room the more annoying theyd be. Higher costingbyrinths would have shifting walls, built in traps, riddles etc.... this one was fairly basic and could eventually be mapped out with frequent visits. He did n to add a catch to make it more interesting however, hed need to design a new trap for that. Adding a randomyout with a few special areas with personal design changes Frost added them to his cart bringing the total to 6000DP. That leaves 7500DP, 4500DP to expand each room to middle size hmmmm lets leave that for now and just expand the second room to middle size for 1500DP, leaving 6000DP for adding monsters, traps etc... Frost didnt think itd be wise to spent all his current DP especially considering that only one party had ever made it to the final room. Lets purchase all that. He clicked confirm and felt once again the divine power flowing through his body, getting more and morefortable with it after each use. The second floors second room was arranged directly underneath the second room of the first floor. Magic helped to link the different rooms in space otherwise thered be 4km long hallways to the next area, not very practical. It being directly underneath the winter forest was a key part of one of his ideas. Monsters next, Frost couldnt help but smile brightly at this point. Earlier he discovered that he had a few more additions to his roster of monsters. Probably due to his increase in strength and knowledge gained from exploring the nearby territory. He also now had ess to 3 star materials and items like weapons and armour. Lets take a look at these new additions. There were a total of 4 new monsters to choose from. Lagombi, D-rank monster, 500DP:rge, fanged wombat creature with powerful leg strength, thick skin and pelt that helps defend it from weaker weapons. Large frost spider, E-rank, 130DP: great ambusher and hunter, can scale any surface and fire skin freezing webs at its opponents. Its bites and stinger contain a cold poison that slows the victims organs and blood, freezing them internally if weak enough. Very afraid of fire. Artic stag, F-rank, 90DP: a deer monster with strong and sharp antlers. Quick on its feet with a devastating charge attack. Larger and far more aggressive than their beast counterparts. Frost spirit (form-wisp), F-rank, 65DP: lowest rank of ice spirit, little to no physical strength, fully a magical entity. Can cast the ice bolt spell and moves through floating. Very kind and friendly entity that prefers to run than fight. The Lagombis clearly been unlocked because I ate part of one for lunch. Frost smiled as he remembered the glorious meal, he ate at the phoenix fledgling restaurant. Out of all the monsters only the frost spirit seemed useless but would most likely would evolve into something impressive. Chapter 145 145 Chapter 145: Spending his hard-earned DP (2) Guess Ill try a few out to see how they perform. Frost was currently flush with a fair amount of DP; he could y around a little. Lets take another goblin spawner and ce it in the final room, thatll help popte the ce. And add five of the newrge frost spiders, 4 artic stags and a Lagombi for the second room. Leaving about 1500DP hmmmm this is getting expensive. Maybe he should have put off designing and popting a new floor after another few days of ie. Frosts hand hovered above the confirm button, not moving to click it. He still had a bunch of gold coins he could convert but hed prefer not to. Gold was hard toe by, especially if hes remaining in the Dungeon for the next month or so. The efficiency wasnt in favour when converting DP to gold, costing ten times as much to convert in reverse. 1500DP might be a littlecking toplete his ns. Haaaaaaa lets just see how much I can get. Frost bit his lower lip and stomached the decision, clicking confirm. Once again sending an addictive stream of divine energy throughout his body. Traps and treasures next, Frost didnt feel like adding any more of the 3 basic traps that Dark supplied him with. So, he moved to the trap design section. He had a rough n ahead of what he wanted to experiment with. Working out the details, however, may take some time. For the next hour or so Frost agonised on designing a viable group of traps that would suit his current rooms and price range. Nanna, Loki, and Maya came over a couple times, finished with outfitting their new room. But seeing Frost deep in thought Maya guided them over to the kitchen. They prepared some tea and snacks for when Frost came out of his thoughts. While in Furano he came up with a great many ideas, such as trap rooms which use bait to lure in suspects, locking them in until either they perish or find away out. Unfortunately, he couldnt create a trap room that had no possibility of escape, hed be met with an error message. He could have it summon an incredible strong door that even a dragon would struggle to break through but that would cause the price to skyrocket. No, he needed topromise, the door out would have to be strong yes, to deter the destruction route but he also couldnt make the exit method to easy. Riddles were a suggested option but that required quite a deal of knowledge and once theyd been solved then adventurers could just report back the answer, making it null and void. There was an option to make an automated riddle function but again the price would rise greatly. He wasnt rich enough for that. Eventually he decided on three trap types for now and managed to reign in their prices to suit his needs. He could always make more powerful ones once theyre required. The first two were a sort ofbined trap that he thought of specially for the second and third rooms on the second floor. The first trap would be a modified pit fall that wouldnt have a bottom. The drop would continue until the 2nd floors second section, transporting the target into a sealed room containing the second trap. This trap would give the droppees a choice between two doors. One door would lead to a room that would be sealed for up to 24 hours, depending on a random draw- this helped keep the price down- of course the group could still smash their way out with force if they had the necessary strength but there would be a timer on the wall hopefully discouraging such action. Theyd only have to wait after all. ..... The second door could offer a great treasure (depends on his mood and finances) but the droppees would have to fight against a powerful foe, Likely Finy or one of the D-rank monsters he owned. After defeating the monster theyd be able to leave with the treasure and would be near the third section of the floor, possibly reducing travel time. Theyd have to fall from a great height however and find the right pitfall as well. The bottomless pitfall trap didnt cost much, just 150DP, just a little more than the ice spike pitfall. The second trap however was more expensive given the size andplexity, costing 500DP, equivalent to a standard D-rank monster. It would have however cost a lot more if Frost didnt go through every nook and cranny to bring down the cost. For the final trap he decided to go with a lure room type that he fascinated about back in Furano. A treasure would innocently dangle in the centre of the room, drawing in the poor victims filled with greed. Once they removed the treasure or touched it in anyway a reinforced door would fall in ce, locking them in. Other than destroying the door. The victims would have to find and press the special release button that was hidden behind a roaring fire. It was simple and non-lethal, therefore not too expensiveing to 300DP. Frost could always have a strong monster wait outside the door to deal with sessful escapees. He could happily imagine the grief of a group of adventurers finally making it out of a trap room after great difficulty to suddenly be assaulted by someone like Finy. The treasure of course wouldnt be included in the cost, same with the second trap. The frameworks of these three traps were cheap, dead cheap and exactly what he needed right now. The framework could easily be upgraded in the future, the lure room trap could have some lethal effects added such as contracting walls, floor spikes or even a bomb. Frost decided to just have one of each given his constrained wallet, even without the treasures itd cost 950DP. He arranged for the lure room trap to be set up in thest section of the first floor, along one of the dead end routes whereas as originally nned the bottomless pit fall would lead to an already set up room in the ice cavernbyrinth, along with a multi room choice trap Frost yfully called [whats behind door number 2]. He now had 650DP to spend on treasures. Haaaaaaaa I need more dungeon points. Frost was in a way proud by his money saving abilities but also severely disappointed that he had to use them on his home. Well, I know one way you can get some more. Maya chimed in from the table, while she and the kids enjoyed a couple snacks. Im not killing that dying adventurer, not yet anyway. No point ruining a long term investment. Frost replied back with a little irritation. He brought up the Dungeon map to see any other avenues of ie, but no other adventurers entered as of yet. Hed need to wait a while to get anything decent. Frost did think about buying that cheap ranked regenerating treasure chest for 500DP but decided against it. He did have something interesting that he could use as a lure and didnt have a use for it, for now anyway. Plus, hed just have his monsters kill anyone that retrieves it. The menu disyed his current daily DP ie as 350, 40 from the mana vein, 300 from Barren and 10 from Nanna and Lokibined. Since they werent under the Dungeons influence or summoned by it, they still contributed DP. Another benefit of improving their strength, if he could get them to B-rank hed be swimming in cash every day. For now, however that 10DP would be used up to provide their meals. So, the actual ie was actually 340DP per day. Leaving the treasure section alone for now he turned towards Maya and the kids. Im guessing you finished outfitting the bedrooms....is there any snacks left for me? He confirmed the trap locations then stood up and walked over, noticing the near empty tes on table. Sorry no, you took too long young master. Maya stuck out her tongue yfully. While Nanna and Loki offered the paltry remains on their tes while feeling guilty. Frost simply waved them off that was their food, he wouldnt take it. To be honest he was just asking because he got used to eating, it wasnt actually necessary. If there wasnt any snacks left that was fine. He sat down and held out his hand towards Maya. Huh? I said theres nothing left young master. Not that, the spatial rings. Oh! Maya chuckled mischievously before reaching into her cleavage, removing the spatial rings that Frost passed her earlier. She dropped then onto Frosts outstretched palm innocently, the rings were still warm to the touch, but Frost merely clicked his tongue. He knew Mayas personality by now, if he didnt ask for them back, she would have held onto them indefinitely. He ced them back on his fingers, the supposed treasure to be used as a lure was present in one of theses rings. The tracking device he looted/recovered from Alex. Such a device should work as an excellent lure for the meantime, such a high quality device couldnt even be found in the market, itd be bound to be worth some money. What adventurers could resist such temptation. Chapter 146 146 Chapter 146: Checking out the new floor and monsters Have you finished retrofitting the dungeon? Maya askedpletely ignoring Frosts tongue clicking. Pretty much, Ive added a new floor, three new rooms with environments, monsters and designed three new traps but Im down to just over 600DP. Its notplete but itll do for now. Frost begrudgingly replied, struggling to feel proud of his purchases. Let me take a look. Maya stood up and moved towards the dungeon core to inspect the recent changes. Nanna and Loki looked up at Frost innocently, curiosity in their eyes. After seeing the changes in the private space as well as the array of friendly monsters, theyd grown more and more interested in this new home of theirs. Their initial fears and worry pretty much bing non-existent. Master can we see? Nanna asked nervously still finding it awkward to request things but was bing more rxed. Of course, Im nning on walking through the area in person shortly. Once youre done with your snacks well go and look together. There should be some new monsters that you can say hello to. Frost smiled gently as he spoke. This was the first day that Nanna and Loki were present in the Dungeon, he nned for it to be rather easy going and fun. Touring the ce was high up on that list. Given that all the adventurers were chased out by the Sanguine Snakes the timing was perfect. After the tour depending on howte it was, hed perhaps do a little training with them, good to get a little exercise before bed. There was still enough of the bentos left for Nanna and Loki to have a substantial lunch and dinner from tomorrow on, however hed need to use DP to supplement their requirements for food. Luckily basic food was fairly cheap, with a simple lunch or dinner meal costing around 5DP. There was also the option of foraging, fishing, and hunting the free environment fauna present in the different areas. Tomorrow however things would really start, waking up early in the morning all three of them would be subject to training in the simtion room, followed by studying, more training, then studying well you get the idea. None of them will have it easy for the next couple weeks at least. Maya would really put him through the ringer to prepare for his uing exploration into the cial Mountains. But it is something he brought on himself. Nanna and Loki however needed to quickly be brought up to an efficient level so as to not be burdens. The family meeting wasing ever closer, just over two weeks now. Frost and Maya had no idea what to expect, whether theyd be pitted against other dungeon cores in some sort of test or if it truly was just a happy go lucky gathering, but theyd prepare none the less. Only Frost would be attending therefore the Dungeon management would be left to Maya- and the kids if they were up to speed-, with Finy managing his monster forces. As Frost envisioned theing couple weeks Maya spoke from the sofa. Not bad young master but definitely needs more stuff, we need to kill more intruders if we want to be ready for the gathering. Maya found the new floor to have a good foundation and the traps were a nice touch but certainly unfinished. If they managed to have 2 finished floors, each fully popted shed feel confident in her young masters standing amongst his siblings. He was after all number 7, lots of younger siblings, very few older, he needed to be an example plus it would also make her standing higher. The guardians would of course be in some form of under the tablepetition. ..... We should be able to harvest enough DP in theing weeks to finish. The new goblin spawner will have also produced close to thirty goblins by then. If we keep them on the second floor, thered be a very small chance of them dying before then. Frost wanted to build his forces. The dying Barren would certainly help in the interim to cover any of his monster losses on the first floor. Hed go and have a lengthy discussion with Barren once the kids were asleep. It wouldnt do to involve them in such activities, not yet anyway. Alright, what do you want to do now? Maya nodded her head agreeing with her young masters suggestion before walking back over to the table. Nanna and Loki had quickly finished their snacks and tea so were ready to move. Id like to show the kids around the Dungeon and inspect the new changes in person, you in? Certainly, just let me get changed, Nanna youe too. Maya replied with a smile before dragging Nanna over before she could argue. Frost and Loki looked at one another, thinking the same thing, woman and their attire. They both sniggered lightly but didnt say anything, besides they did just buy a lot of clothes, might as well use them. Once the girls returned, wearing much prettier outfits than previous. Maya showing off her white skin andplementing her ample curves with a skin tight red dress, looking very attractive. Nanna dressed in a cute, frilly white dress with a fluffy white coat appearing like a little yuki-onna. She was blushing, clearly embarrassed with her outfit but it suited her greatly. The group then made their way out of the private space, taking advantage of theck of intruders Frost began showing them around the entire Dungeon. The group interacted with many of the floors monsters allowing Nanna and Loki to make many more friends, once again reducing their inherent fear of monsters. When they passed the frozen river and could see the many cold water fish swimming in the water, Nanna and Loki couldnt help but lick their lips. They liked fish. The childlike desire stirred something in Frost and ideas of regr ice fishing trips came to mind. In the second room they once again visited the fortified de wherein Frost had a short discussion with Finy in regards to the new floor and monsters present before he joined their group on tour. Finy was in charge of his monster army given his new found strength and intelligence. He needed to see the new areas in person to understand what hed be working with. Thankfully even after a couple hours, no adventurers entered meaning he could safely leave his post. It took most of the day to view the entire Dungeon, Frost introduced Nanna and Loki to the D-rank Lagombi on the second floor. Its personality was simr to the pr bear but not as obvious. Seems as though more beast like monsters without much intelligence would rely mostly on the difference in strength instead of notions like parent/creator. The second frost troll was much more friendly, simr to Finy and was epted as his lieutenant. He was reassigned to the second floor to manage the second frost goblin spawner. Frost added the tracking magic device to the lure trap room and gave it a quick test. The release button was quite difficult to find even if the fire was put out and the door itself took several blows from Frost to break. His physical strength was equal to C-rank making this door a fair bit sturdier than he expected. A pleasant surprise. Once they reached the second floor however adventurers entered the Dungeon thus Finy returned to his post in the winter forest. They stopped for a quick lunch in the private space before finishing the tour. The frost spiders were hard to love even for Frost. Even though they tried their best to appear friendly it made no difference. Nanna and Loki hid behind Frosts back afraid to go anywhere near a giant spider. Maya even with her S-rank strength was also ufortable, her face stiff and pupils constricted. She didnt like bugs, spiders in particr. This fear seemed to be fairlymon throughout the world, spiders getting a very bad rep even from other monsters. Frost was the most rxed but even he struggled. His lips twitching as he tried to speak with them wanting nothing more to look somewhere else. It was their constantly tense looking bodies and vicious appearance armed with their methods of attack that made him feel a chill down his spine during the entire interaction. Thankfully the artic stags were much more cuddly, Nanna and Loki even rode on the back of a couple like horses. Feeling the wind rushing past their faces as they charged eclipsing the gloomy atmosphere caused by the spiders. By the end of the Dungeon, it was time for dinner and the usual traffic in the Dungeon had returned, thus increasing his daily DP dosage. Frost decided to purchase a nice desert for the kids with DP, vani ice cream for 5DP each. Cheap but tasty, it brought a smile to their faces. Guess its time to work off dinner, you up for it? Yes master both Nanna and Loki looked at Frost with determined expressions. Theyd been treated so well and needed to pay back their dues. By training and learning theyd be helpful to Frost and that was enough motivation for them to walk through hellfire. Chapter 147 147 Chapter 147: Testing the childrens talents Good answer Frost responded back with a bright smile, enjoying the look in their eyes. He discussed a few details with Maya already about their training program. They couldnt be too harsh given that their bodies were still recovering from malnutrition, but they could start the fundamentals. Go and change into your training gear and meet back in the living room then well take you to a special training room. The kids both nodded before rushing to their room. Frost then turned to his guardian. Will the morphing metal work on people so young? It was very easy for them to discover Frosts talents; all it took was a severe dose of killing intent. But he didnt really like the idea of using that method on children even if they werent in any real danger. Yes, age isnt a factor but dont worry Ill restrain the killing intent to a minimum. Maya replied understanding and agreeing with Frosts concerns. So, while youre testing out their weapon talents and having them engage in physical drills what will I have to endure? Frost spoke with a hint of fear in his voice that didnt go unnoticed by Maya. She smirked and batted her long eyshes yfully. Thats a surprise Ugh! Frost groaned as fear filled his body, she wasnt going to be lenient in the slightest. His body visibly trembled as he remembered the pain, he endured from her and the golems beatings. But under that he was also excited, no pain no gain as they say. Fighting alongside Ryuu and Bastion, enduring a blow from Rock and going toe to toe with Shadow and Adam he knew full well that he was weak, pathetically weak. The cial Mountains were a harsh gruelling environment, swarming with monsters, some that could chew him up and spit him out. Although Mayas methods would hurt and would stroke her sadistic side, they certainly worked. Nanna and Loki returned momentster dressed in durable training gear. Maya had bought them a few of such outfits, each with differing colours since they looked good in pretty much anything they wore. Looks good, hopefully they wont get too damaged today. Frost nodded and praised their outfits, simple but practical. ..... Frost then grabbed hold of their hands and transported them all to the training room. Nanna and Loki were in awe once again, multiple hidden dimensions connected via space magic. The two of them may be ves and have very little education and worldly knowledge but even they knew how magnificent something like this was. Their respect for Frost was now bordering upon worship. The n for today is for you two to find out what weapons talents you have and to get some light exercise before calling it a night. Maya will be in charge of training so if its super hard and painful remember who to m....ow! Maya jabbed her elbow into Frosts unprotected side before he could finish, causing the children to snigger. They knew he wasnt hurt, that it was just a bit of fun. Dont listen to that idiot, hes got his own training to endure and wont have time to worry about yours. Maya smiled gently yet her words carried a significant chill. Frost shivered and felt a tinge of fear, whereas Nanna and Loki quickly stoppedughing and regained their determined looks. The real work was finally beginning and too be honest regardless of how much Maya nned to push them, they eagerly looked forward to it. Who didnt want to garner strength and who would be a better teacher than someone like Maya. On the way to the Dungeon, they had been let in on her secret, the fact that she was a super powerful Fenrir that would put even their original monster ancestors to shame. Practically at the very top of the food chain in Nova and unlike Frost they didnt make the stupidment about her not appearing very wolflike. This upped their love points with Maya greatly. Thats a good look the two of you have, hopefully youll be able to maintain it over the next few days. Maya nodded, satisfied with their attitudes. With Frost silently standing at the side, no longer willing to tease his guardian any further, she removed the morphing metal from her spatial ring. This special substance is called morphing metal and will help us to identify what kind of weapon or weapons suit you best. Maya demonstrated as she did for Frost on how it worked. She created solid images in her mind of different weapons and the grey blob of metal responded by changing its shape. The morphing metal wasnt omnipotent and would only grant a solid answer if the subject had strong talent for a specific weapon and they could generate a solid image. Thus, it wouldnt work for races thatcked a high level of intelligence or those who were either unskilled in using weapons or equal in multiple. In those cases, the blob would remain unchanged if the personcked no defining skill in weapons. And with being skilled in multiple weapons it would turn into a congealed mass that had characteristics of all those weapons. Frost was a case of perfect solution, he had significantly high skill in the ive with no deformation. Seeing that Loki and Nanna understood she literally tore the blob of metal in half tossing a piece to each of them. Nanna and Loki scrambled to catch the blobs of grey metal with a bit of difficulty, they werent that strong so when they caught it, they almost lost their bnce. Now I want the two of you to close your eyes for me, try to empty your minds of all excess thoughts. Maya spoke with a soothing melodious tone that seemed to cause the children to enter a calm state. They obeyed without question, closing their eyes, and erasing all excess thoughts, feeling therge blob of metal in their hands as they rxed. Maya then gave Frost a look in which she received a nod, the next part would be pretty scary for ones so young but the best recourse. Suddenly the room was flooded with a fierce and violent burst of killing intent, primarily aimed towards the kids but Frost suffered a strong blow as well. His skin broke out in goosebumps, his heart tightened, and his teeth started to chatter against one another. Primal fear of a superior predator, his body was letting him know that he was prey unable to resist. The difference between their strengths was magnitudes more than between his and Ryuus. He pitied the maid that had to suffer from such an attack, no wonder she became incoherent. Though his body was deadly afraid he could still retain his thoughts but what about Nanna and Loki. Against the wishes of his body, he tried to move to protect them subconsciously, this intent felt far too powerful to be endured by ones so young and small. Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Nanna and Loki both screamed in dreaded fear as the killing intent washed over them. The two of them couldnt control their bodies as they evacuated their dders, staining their training outfits. The fell to the ground as their knees turned to jelly yet their eyes remained open, this wasnt enough to break them, greatly startling Frost who wanted to admonish Maya for going too far. Maya quickly withdrew her oppressive killing intent, returning back to her friendly and gentle visage as though it never happened. She only released her killing intent for a few seconds yet for the victims it felt like minutes if not tens of minutes. Nanna and Loki were on the floor beside one another shaking yet in their hands were metallic weapons, it worked. Maya was also genuinely surprised by their capabilities; she purposely used a stronger dose of killing intent than required because she wanted to test something. Nanna and Loki given their past were sure to be able to endure far more fear and pressure than regr children but more than that was their bloodline. From her earlier investigation Maya could tell that their phoenix bloodline was very pure and originated from a very powerful phoenix and believed that she could induce a reaction from their dormant blood with enough pressure. She was right. Although Frost and the kids couldnt perceive it Maya could, their phoenix bloodline came to life slightly tobat against her killing intent and what little they disyed was impressive in her eyes. They really are special Maya internally remarked with a proud smile. That blood even gave her chills, and she was a Fenrir. Her young master really discovered something special, his luck was definitely through the roof, almost rivalling his looks. Another interesting feature was the weapons that appeared for the two of them. Luckily, they each hadtent skills with a particr weapon and one of them just so happened to match Mayas. Within Nannas small hands was arge hammer equal to her in size, whereas for Loki. The morphing metal had turned into two daggers that were crossed before him in defence. One could easily learn from Maya given her talents in regards to using hammers where as the other could make full use of the high grade daggers Frost retrieved from Shadow. Chapter 148 148 Chapter 148: Testing the childrens talents (2) The two kids were still absolutely terrified, so Maya quickly moved in with Frost to abate their fears, wrapping their arms around their quivering bodies. Thankfully it was a just an instinctual, primal fear therefore there shouldnt be any psychological damage. Eventually after soothing words and frequent head pats Nanna and Loki regained control of their bodies. Though they looked towards Maya with a great deal more fear, subconsciously reeling towards Frost whenever she made sudden moves. This hurt Mayas heart a little, but she understood, simply smiling as gently as possible. Though she enjoyed putting some fear into her young master, scaring such young children was not up her alley. She casted some clean up magic on their bodies and clothes, removing the urine smell before speaking. Sorry about that, it was necessary to identify where your skills lie, and you passed with flying colours. Speaking once again in that soothing melodious tone she gestured towards the weapons still held in their hands. Mayas voice seemed to have some magical effects, allowing them to calm down significantly, Frost even wondered if she had some siren blood in her ancestry. Nanna and Loki looked towards their hands and finally noticed the weapons that were there. Their eyes opened wide in surprise. Loki waved his daggers around with interest whereas Nanna hefted up the massive hammer that was far lighter than it looked. Like with Frost, the moment they strengthened their grip and started ying around with the weapons they could feel as though it was part of them, an extension of their limbs. They both clearly had quite high talent in hammers and daggers. Wielding their own weapons and feeling the surge of strength they granted, their earlier fear stricken states faded out of their minds. Children truly were resilient and live in the moment. Congrattions Nanna, Loki, youve sessfully identified the weapons that best suit you, well done. Frost spoke out, his voice full of praises. The scary part was over, now hell could begin. Maya promptly retrieved the pieces of morphing metal from the two, returning it back to aplete blob before tossing it back into her spatial bracelet. Maintaining a constant image and flow of mana would be too taxing for such young children. She nned to focus on one thing at a time with those two. Nanna and Loki were sad to see their weapons transform back into a blob and then vanish but that onlysted a short moment. Maya utilised her position as a guardian to summon some training weapons made of wood, a hammer, and twin daggers. The material was somon and weak that they didnt even reach 1 star level but would be prefect for practise. Unlike with Frost she couldnt just summon an ice golem to beat the crap out of them until they reached beginner mastery. No, this needed a more gentle approach. Here take these wooden weapons, theyll allow you to get used to the form and weight distribution of such weapons. Maya then gracefully handed them their weapons before returning to her original position. Nanna and Loki were now set, it was time to start her young masters training. Unlike Nanna and Loki, Frost didnt need a hands on personal approach. ..... Young master, youll train over at the north side of the room, and Ill teach the kids over here on the south side. She then literally shooed him away as though he was an annoying pest. ..... And do what exactly? There was nothing there, was he supposed to shadow box or something. That wasnt what he needed at the moment. Mayas face was partially hidden from him, so he didnt see the evil smirk she had on. A momentter she rapidly turned around, her long white leg raised, she kicked him in the abdomen sending him flying across the room. Of course, she utilised more of a pushing motion, but it still hurt. Frost coughed violently as his body was sent barrelling to the north side of the training room. Bang! Cough cough Frost continued to cough as he tried to catch his breath and return to his feet. He had a nasty grimace on his face, anger clearly in his eyes. That was a bit much dont you think? ring at Mayas face he clenched his fist, all he did was tease her a little, violence wasnt an appropriate response. He didnt even get enough time to yell at her before she stamped down with her foot, causing a dozen magic crests to appear around him. Ice golems with Mayas likeness appeared from the crest, each armed with differing weapons, he was suddenly surrounded. Fuck! They all attacked in tandem, showing create teamwork. From their speed he judged them to all be upper D-rank. MAAAAAAYAAAAAAA! Frost roared as he fended of as much strikes as he could, withdrawing his ive immediately. Maya in response smiled innocently, releasing a slight giggle, feeling very much refreshed. Do your best with your training young master. She spoke in a mocking tone before turning to Nanna and Loki who at some point were twitching from shock. The moment Mayas gaze washed over them; they felt a shiver go down their backs. Whats she gonna make us do? Nanna and Loki looked at one another expressing this question with their eyes. Several hourster Frost was syed out on the floor covered in bruises, tattered robes and stains of blood dotted all around him. He finally managed to take out thest golem a couple minutes ago and was now resting, his body ached but he felt good. He needed experience fightingrge groups of enemies alone, it irked him however that Maya was so on point once again with her training style. He really didnt want to admit that she was right in anyway. The kicking me halfway across the room was definitely not necessary. He chose to focus on her unneeded acts of violence even though he probably deserved a little bit of hard education given his recent cockiness around her. Nanna and Loki didnt have nearly as dangerous a time, but they too were slumped on the ground, back to back as they gasped for air. Maya had them practise movements with their weapons, thousands of times against wooden posts. Their hands had been ripped open in ces and their arms werepletely numb, but they too were smiling. This pain wasnt the same as being beaten or pummelled on, no this had reason, it was improving their bodies not breaking them for others enjoyment. Good well call it quits tonight, you two did very well. Maya walked over and rubbed their heads with affection. Though they didnt achieve beginner mastery their forms definitely improved as would their bodies, creating a solid foundation. W....w...what abo.....ut m....ee? Frost groaned out as he tried to get up off the floor. Where was his praise for doing a good job. Hmmmmm so-so I guess. Maya spoke tly before turning back to Nanna and Loki, disinterested in her young master. So, mean Frost felt hurt before starting tough, she didnt even pay attention to him once, nor did she use a healing spell. He felt as though his position as favourite student was stolen by Nanna and Loki. Maya let him mope around for a few minutes before sending a healing spell his way, all while appearing as though innocent. Nanna and Loki made an internal promise to never get on Mayas bad side. Once training was over, Frost and Maya carried Loki and Nanna to bed. They passed out once Maya healed their hands, looking very cute. With the two of them asleep Frost could finally attend the Barren matter, he nned to take out the rage he had towards Maya out on him. There was also the calling of Leo now that they returned to the Dungeon but that could wait until tomorrow. Maya giggled at Frosts childish antics of the silent treatment, finding him more and more adorable. Shed let him have his space, remaining in the private space while he tended to dungeon matters. She needed to work out some training and teaching lessons anyway for both the kids and her young master. Thankfully now they were back in the dungeon neither of them required sleep, so she got right to work. There was a lot she needed to cram into her young master in the next two weeks. Frost silently teleported into the fortified de in the second room, he nned to bring Finy along with him. At the moment there was only a couple adventurer parties present, most avoided staying within during the night, so Finy wasnt needed at his post. Frost found Finy hard at work instructing a new spawner goblin on its role. Finy lets go pay that adventurer a visit. He had an irritated look on his face, eager to cause some damage. Pummelling ice didnt have the same feeling as flesh. Finy looked up from the frost goblin with a smile. dly master the two of them then teleported to where the adventurer Barren was being held. The dwarven guards were still present, as vignt as ever. They obeyed their masters orders watching over the prisoner and making sure he didnt croak. Chapter 149 149 Chapter 149: Interrogating Barren Upon Frost and Finys arrival the two dwarven guards saluted by mming their fists against their chests. One was a bit too gung-ho and hit himself too hard, knocking the wind out if his chest, he coughed a little. The usually funny antics did little to alter the cold expression Frost had on his face. Finy by his side just shook his head but kept his tongue. He could feel the anger building in his master. Frost was in a foul mood; the painful training was part of it but the more he thought about dealing with this adventurer the more annoyed he got. This person and his party killed his pr bear, heavily injured Finy, and tortured his cute artic horned rabbits plus they also scared away all of his potential victims for an entire 24 hours. The really annoying thing however was that hed have to restrain his anger. If he killed the man now sure hed get a fair amount of DP but that wasnt worth the long term gains. The man being locked up in this room was dishing out 300DP a day, a substantial ie that Frost didnt want to lose. Frost reached to open the sealed door but stopped part way. Im too angry right now huuu huuuu deep breaths deeeeep breaths. Frost tried to calm himself down slightly. The man though injured was still a fairly aplished D-rank fighter, as long as his body didnt deteriorate further, he could survive for a couple weeks, even without food, water however hed need to find some way to force it down his throat. When faced with a slow agonising death, ideas of suicide woulde to the forefront of a persons mind. Frost needed to prevent that, either by chaining him up tightly and gagging his mouth or provide some sort of promise thatd he allow the man to live after a certain period of time. Shame is Frost wasnt a fan of lies and wouldnt demean himself for an enemy. That leaves forcibly sustaining the man. Frostcked the methods to make him eat but drinking was possible, itd be rough and painful, however, an added bonus. Frost couldnt help but snigger in an evil way as those images came to mind. Psychological torture can be far worse than just physical. Calming down his emotions and returning to a cold stoic expression, Frost opened the door and entered, Finy followed close behind. Locking the door behind them, itd be a waste to remove that tasty triple DP intake. Barren had been sitting incredibly still ever since Frost forced him to drink that low level health potion, his mind however was going crazy. Everything about his current situation was wrong, why was he alive. Their group entered a monsterir and battled against a horde of fairly high ranked monsters but yet here he was chained up and breathing. Monsters didnt behave like this not even frost trolls with their little intelligence, he should have been eaten- not that he wasining about that part. He remembered being dragged roughly to this room once the fight was over, he was barely conscious and in serious pain, and was prepared to die with fury in his heart but the reaper never came. As the hours continued and he remained awake for longer periods of time he became frightened, terrified even. Then came an unknown person, he never saw their face, but their footsteps sounded human and without warning he was forced to drink some kind of potion. At that point he believed it was some kind of agonising poison that would inflict ungodly pain through his body or turn him into some sort of animal. There were monsters with high intelligence after all that liked to use poisons and experiment of people, liches in particr. But this monsterir didnt house a single undead, eventually however he felt the potion heal some of his wounds, preventing his death and was relieved then he was knocked out. When he came to next some herb infused cloths were over his more prominent wounds and he could finally feel a modicum of strength return to his limbs. ..... Have I been saved? This thought ate away at him as he slowly healed, his fear bing hope and then gratitude but that changed when he saw who was watching over him and treating his wounds. A frost dwarf, a monster. This horror of being an experiment came back and this time it wouldnt leave. His entire body now trembled at the slightest sound and his hair started to turn white from extreme stress, he leaked urine where he sat. When Frost and Finy entered the room and closed the door, he yelped in fear. His eyes staring in their direction, bloodshot and unfocused. Eh? What the hell happened to him? Frost looked over at Barren with confusion, hed given him a health potion 14 hours ago or so and hadnt sent anyone to torture him. However, it appeared as though the man was gued with terrifying nightmares for weeks, Frost even felt his anger dissipate. His job seemed to have already been done, how boring. Tsk Frost audibly clicked his tongue before marching over towards Barren with forceful steps. He kicked the man in the legs when he arrived, not too hard but just enough for Barren to focus his eyes. Whatever happened to the man that was screaming revenge and insulting my monsters huh? Frost asked mockingly, growing more annoyed the longer he looked at the shrivelling husk of a man that sat before him. Hiiiiiiiiiiii Barren simply screamed in fear, he still hadnt gotten a look at Frost so assumed he was a monster with intelligence, likely the one here to torture him. He backed up against the wall as much as he could, doing his best to lengthen the distance between him and Frost. Look at me! Frost spoke with amanding tone, releasing his pseudo aura upon Barren. In fear Barren listened to Frost, focusing his gaze, and looking up at his face. Eh? He was stunned, this person wasnt a monster he was a young male elf. Barrens body suddenly rxed a great deal, his fear receding almost instantly. As long as it wasnt a monster his circumstances wouldnt be too bad, and he could even negotiate his release. Hoh suddenly got backbone again I wonder why? Frost pped Barren across the face. Just because he looked like an elf didnt mean that Barrens situation was going to be any better. In fact, the sapient races are far more terrifying than monsters. The things they do to one another could be considered ungodly. Blood dripped from Barrens lip from where he was struck, he felt anger once again but kept his tongue. Finy was still out of sight but seeing his master p Barren across the face brought a smile to his face. You killed my pr bear, my dwarves and even injured my frost troll. Frost spoke with a severe chill in his voice, his eyes spitting fury as he spoke, he appeared truly enraged but internally he was actually having fun. God damn ying the bad guy is really exhrating. Eh? Youre pr bear what do you mean this is a... p! Frost pped Barren with his other hand, shutting his mouth. Did I say you could speak! His voice was louder and filled with anger, almost a roar. Barren quivered and kept his mouth shut, his recently rxed body bing tense once again. Who are you and why are you here? Barren looked up at Frost nervous about opening his mouth again, but eventually seeing Frost getting ready to p him once again he started talking. B....Barren my name is Barren. He spoke every syble with caution. Barren....well Barren why are you here? Frost didnt really care; the answer probably wasnt anything important, but he felt on a roll ying the whole interrogation route. The Sanguine Snakes, my adventurer party were ordered to investigate this monsterir. Hmmmm orders to investigate thisir, who and why? Frosts interest was piqued. The standard adventurer investigation should have beenpleted already so why another one? Barren seemed to gain a little confidence before speaking his next words. We work for Baron Adam Furano, he ordered us to investigate what happened to his subordinate Alex. Barrens words caused Frosts expression to freeze, his lips twitching in disbelief. Eh? Youve got to be kidding me? Frost couldnt believe the coincidence, no this must be some kind of fate, that intertwined him, and anyone rted to that Baron. Heughed internally but his face appeared shocked. Barren saw this and believed he had some leverage, granting him incredible confidence. Thats right who in this area doesnt know of Baron Adam hahahaha, this fool, Ill exaggerate my importance and have him willingly let me go Yes, that Baron Adam, the one who rules Furano, hes my boss and not someone you want to mess with. Barren smiled, bringing his body closer to Frost, no longer seeing him as an object of fear. This riled up Finy, he decided to step up and knock some sense into this prisoner. He was quickly stopped by Frost, holding his hand in the air. Baron Adam Furanos subordinate....now that is interesting. Frost tilted his head slightly, showing a gentle expression towards Barren. I really should be worthy of some kind of acting award for this performance. Chapter 150 150 Chapter 150: Interrogating Barren (2) Frost kneeled down, bringing his face near Barren, appearing much friendlier than before. Barren took this as being submissive after hearing about Baron Adam. He smirked unable to truly hide his arrogance, internally mocking the elf before him. Baron Adam is not someone you should mess with; I suggest you let me go now... otherwise I dont know what hell do to you. Barren gained more confidence the more he spoke, his injuries and burning cheeks didnt even faze him. His attitudepletely did a 180, returning to the man who cursed and insulted Frosts monsters. That was how much confidence he had in the influence of his boss. Frost smiled gently, slowing raising his hands towards Barren, hinting that he was about to remove the restraints. Thats right asshole, let me go and Ill make sure you pay the price for treating me like this. Barren was a very petty and vindictive man. Like the rest of the Sanguine Snakes, he was aplete asshole, probably the worst of the bunch. The foolish man was a terrible actor, his aggression towards Frost was clear in his eyes, and it ticked Frost off. Suddenly when Frosts hand moved near Barrens head, it quickly changed its target, grabbing onto Barrens face with an iron grip, crushing down upon his cheek bones. Ahhhhhh you! Barren roared in pain as his face was slowly being crushed. His eyes ame with anger, he stared at Frost as though he was an idiot. Didnt this idiot hear me? Funny thing is, I dont care too much about your boss Baron Adam. Frost spoke coldly, his expression no longer smiling. He moved in to Barrens ear and whispered. Thats why I killed him, he reigned his neck back and stared at Barren in silence, allowing this bombshell to sink in. ..... Eh? Barren nked out, before his body visibly shivered. Youre lying! Frost reduced the pressure, allowing Barren to speak albeit only slightly before crushing down once again. No Barren Im not and I have no reason to. Baron Adam was killed a few days ago when I assisted the young heir Leonardo in assaulting hispound. His head is currently on a spike in Furanos central district, shame youll never get to see it. Frost spoke with a mocking tone, relishing in the disbelief of his victim. NO! NO! NO! Barren screamed out, his eyes bulging and red, his wounds bing more agitated as he used his entire strength to resist. Baron Adam was his only hope, without him he was as good as dead or worse. Hmph let me guess you and your group half assed your mission, putting it off for days before finally reaching here. Youve probably not been back to Furano in almost a week hahahaha. There is one sce though, you did at leastpete your mission. Frost smiled evilly into Barrens eyes. You! Frost was the one responsible for Alexs failure, the killing of his boss and now him. Frost mmed the back of Barrens head against the wall and released his grip on his face, standing up, dusting himself of. He finished his interrogation. Barrens vision was darkened from the blow to the head, but he didnt fall unconscious, he refused to. His fear and anger were violently fighting within him, with neithering out on top. The unknown was always more frightening even if it wasnt. Finy here will be in charge of your situation. Frost beckoned Finy over to his side. Thankfully youve met before albeit not on pleasant terms. Ill allow Finy to reintroduce himself. Frost then started to walk out of the room, he was done here. Oh, and dont worry, I n to have you live as long as possible because Im such a nice guy bye. Frost waved goodbye to Barren and left the room, leaving the torture and management of Barren to Finy. Hed already handed his ice trollmander a couple low level health potions in case he went a bit too far. Within the room Finy started his introductions. Hello Barren, my name is Finy, we met the other day, when you sliced open my chest and killed my colleague the pr bear, its nice to meet you. Finy kneeled down low yet thanks to his massive frame he still towered over Barren. He had a friendly smile on his face, yet his aura was on full whack, pressuring Barren against the floor. Lets have a little chat, shall we? Barren looked up at the ice troll with terror. Frost teleported back into the private space, feeling much more refreshed than earlier, a smile adorned his face. Young master Maya spoke to him from the sofa, she was spying on his interaction with Barren. Yes, no longer cheesed off with her he replied in a bubbly tone. Maya simply replied with a dramatic thumbs up from over the sofa. She was most impressed with Frosts disy, feeling oddly proud as she saw remnants of herself in him. For the rest of the night, Frost, now no longer needing to sleep decided to get a head start on his reading. He had over 50 books to go through after all, itd take a while. 2 weekster, almost time for the family gathering. Over this period Frost, Nanna and Loki underwent strict high frequency training under Mayas tutge and all 3 of them grew stronger. Nanna and Loki had gotten over their malnutrition, now the peak of health and growing muscle definition. They sessfully reached beginner mastery with their respective weapons and even learned a little bit of lifestyle magic. Now they gave 7DP per day instead of the earlier 5DP. Frost meanwhile cemented his adept level ive mastery; he learned a couple ive skills including the crescent sh skill he got from Leo. Bringing them all to a battle ready level. His magic also improved; he could now safely summon three ice bolts with a fourth asionally being possible. His mastery over ice entanglement and his new spell ice spike both reached simple mastery ready to be used inbat. The ice spike spell summoned quite literally a spike of ice from the magic crest. It was roughly 1.5 metres long and 20cm thick, enough to spear an opponent in ce. It could be cast on the floor, walls or ceiling, a fairly useful and adaptable offensive spell. In regards to the Dungeon, the ie over the past 2 weeks was quite substantial averaging around 1000 points per day, including the 300DP from Barren. Unfortunately, Barren died after 14 days. He refused to eat so eventually with his injuries his body gave way. It was enough though, Finy and Frost managed to get in a fair few rounds of torture abating their residual anger. Including the 14 days of being locked up and his eventual death Frost managed to rake in a substantial 5200DP, from just him. With such a high ie, Frost was able to finish his designs on the second floor, expanding the first and third rooms, adding a few more of his three new traps and outfitting them with respawning treasure chests, costing 1000DP a piece. He also added 3000DP worth of F and E-rank monsters, to popte the ce a little more. His dungeon was finally looking a tad more dangerous and higher levelled. About 8 days after the second floor was added, a decent strength D-rank party made it to the new floor. Frost watched them closely throughout their journey, he allowed them to witness the new floor so as to gauge their reaction. Their response was quite interesting, full of shock and amazement. A multi-floored monsterir was far more lucrative than a single floor one. The party instantly retreated and left the Dungeon in order to report the situation to the guild. Much to Frosts shock but in the end, it worked out for the better. A few dayster his rate of intruders increased by over 50% with many more D-ranks being included. The allure of a second floor was quite strong, plus a group of adventurers sessfully won a treasure from the lure trap in the third room, reinvigorating the guests passion. He was however forced to rece his monsters more often and felt it necessary to add a couple D-rank frost trolls to the second floor just to keep up. But with that came more DP per day plus stronger adventurers held more cash and better equipment he could reuse. In the two weeks he managed to scrounge up nearly 2 gold coins worth. Certainly, far less efficient than his few days in Furano but that was still another 2000DP if converted, every little helps. Only one group fell into the bottomless pitfall trap and subsequently into the whats behind door number 2 trap. Long story short, they died. After being bewildered by the rooms features they chalked it up to another oddity that would be found in monsterirs or special dimensions. Nothing that untoward. They were an E-rank party with 3 members, all full of fire and ambition. Of course, they chose the challenge room. The Lagombi there made short work of them, generating a healthy dose of DP. Frost decided to temporarily keep the Lagombi in the challenge room, its personality was simr to the pr bear, it liked solitude. Frost also discovered through sufficient trial and error how to add Finy to the Dungeon core management. Meaning he now had ess to the Dungeon menu, albeit with limited features. Finy could ess the map and contact the other monsters but couldnt as of yet use DP. However just essing the map andmunicationswork made his job so much easier. He could control and instruct the monsters like Frost from anywhere in the Dungeon and wouldnt have to regale everything in person. It made him a far greatermander, something Frost was happy to see. When he goes off exploring there needed to be a monster of his that could manage the ce without him. Maya was set to leave after a year and would usually be with him. Nanna and Loki were still young and not under the Dungeons influence, so Finy was the perfect fit. Chapter 151 151 Chapter 151: The Emperors deration Overall, everything seemed to be running smoothly, his dungeon was slowly but surely getting stronger each passing day. Even after all his spending he still managed to retain around 5000DP closing in on another big purchase. He was torn between buying a high level spawner, something like frost dwarves or buying a specialty room such as an iron mine or regenerating cier for pykrete. Both cost over 10,000DP. Several of his monsters managed reach their max level, unlocking evolution. The cool goblin that drew first blood was the very first monster to reach its max but since he already granted Finy a name, he didnt think it wise to grant another so soon. The goblin had a few options avable to choose from; Frost Goblin Fighter, F-rank, 55DP: an improved version of the frost goblin, slightlyrger in stature with improved strength. Comes armed with an iron short sword and wooden shield. Frost goblin rogue, F-rank, 55DP: an improved version of the frost goblin, increased speed, and dexterity. Comes armed with two iron daggers Frost goblin archer, F-rank, 50DP: Improved version of the frost goblin, greater arm strength and dexterity. Comes armed with a wooden bow. All three looked decent but none were overly impressive, each one seemed to push the goblin down different paths. One focusing on strength, another on fast sneak attacks and the other on ranged attacks. There wasnt an option for a goblin mage or hobgoblin, Maya mentioned that it was probably due to his innate ice affinity, limiting the options avable to him. Frost felt a little annoyed about that, he was quite fond of his goblins and would love to expand the types he could employ but the bog standard was all he got. Eventually given the goblins own tendencies in battles he went with the goblin rogue option creating a new monster in his catalogue to choose from. Another two goblins also reached max rank a few days after, he evolved them into the remaining choices to maximise his monster roster. None of the other G-ranks managed to kill enough or cause enough damage to rank up, or they died before reaching it. Hismon use frost dwarves and frost wolves although reached past level ten they needed to reach 30 to rank up. still a bit off before they could evolve. The highest was level 21, it took stronger opponents to level up the higher one got. ..... Only one other monster reached max level, one of the artic boars, it reached level twenty this very day and Frost was busy trying to figure what to choose. There was two choices this time, each both had clear positives and negatives. Frost tusked boar, E-rank, 170DP: Large boar creature armed withrge tusks covered in dense ice. Deadly charger and tough hide. Spiked artic boar, E-rank, 180DP: evolved form of the artic boar,rger and covered in sharp hard spines to deter attackers. Very high defence for its rank. One focused on defence and the other on offense. Frost was inclined to choose the frost tusked boar given that it felt more special. A different evolutionary path to the standard spiked artic boar. However, he chose the spiked artic boar instead due to having several monsters that specialised in attack, and not many in defence. Together with the group of artic boars the spiked artic boar cut quite a figure and greatly increased their overall power. Even the frost wolves kept their distance, afraid to tangle with the beast. A few groups of wild monsters entered the Dungeon on asion, none of them however willing to submit to Frosts rule. None of these monsters had much intelligence, relying upon instinct and their violent tendencies. Frost couldnt even talk with them before theyd either run or attack so they were eventually killed. Frost wasnt adverse to the increase in DP but was really looking forward to cing a non-summoned monster under his control. Thanks to therge stash of books Frost bought back in Furano, his knowledge base expanded greatly. He learned far more about the different empires, countries and even races of Nova as well as information on a whole range of monsters and nts. He became well educated, with a diverse set of skills. The many books -once understood- unlocked many new items, materials, environments and even a few monsters in the dungeon menu. Nanna and Loki also sessfully learned how to read thanks to Mayas tutge. Their writing skills still needed some work, but it was a step in the right direction. The second day that they returned, Frost called Leo with themunication locket that he gave him. Leo was over the moon to receive his call and they happily chatted about many unimportant things. Frost then received calls from him every so often, Leo kept him up to date with the happenings of the territory, signs of the uping monster stampede and most of all the movements of the royal family. Frosts actions of taking in Nanna and Loki was not strictly legal, a grey area if you will. Even with Ryuus and Sebastians backing this was a hot debate due to it involving the Church of Light. The Northrend empire and in particr the royal family were entirely against everything the Church of Light stood for. Centuries ago, the royal family of the Northrend empire led their nation in the grand war against the Church of Light and their Holy White empire along with the other nations of Nova. The emperor of that time was the direct ancestor of the current emperor, they were of the same bloodline and held the same beliefs, well most of them anyway. Not all of the royal family supported Frosts actions, the second prince in particr was against it, saying that it was an insult to their prestige, and he should be brought justice. Fortunately, the second prince was not much liked. His argument held very little ground giving that technically now was broken. It was the crown prince that stated this aloud, forcing his younger brother to hold his tongue. The two of them had recently been at odds, with the crown prince in a much superior position among the government officials, the popce as well as the current emperor but the second prince had the backing of very old and powerful nobles. Eventually the emperor stepped in a made his deration. Frost and those involved in granting him ownership of the phoenix kin, Nanna and Loki would not be penalised and would instead have the gratitude of the Northrend empire. Of course, this gratitude didnt have any physical quality and Frost still couldnt be a citizen given the fact that he had child ves, but he wouldnt be ostracised or have it be used against him in any forms while in the Northrend empire. Once the emperor had spoken all the voices either in favour or denial were silenced. The emperor was the sole ruler, his words were thew. The second prince was clearly not happy with the oue but had to acquiesce to his fathers ruling. He left the hall of governance with forceful steps, fury on his face with an entourage of powerful nobles families behind him. His father frowned as he watched his son leave but kept silent. The crown prince however was all smiles, happy that he got to knock his ambitious younger brother down a peg before bowing to his father and leaving with his own entourage. The emperor smiled to his eldest son, proud of the man he had be. Far better than his second son, who consorted with the less savoury members of the empire however although he knew some of his sons dealings, hecked sufficient evidence. Plus, he hoped that his eldest would deal with his brother, that way hed prove to have what it takes to rule. Frost, an unknown elf from the cial mountains? The emperor muttered under his breath once all his subjects left. His curiosity in regards to this young man was peaked. Thanks to him the Furano family was saved, the emperor had a lot of respect for the Furanos and appreciated Dous greatly. When he heard his old friend was bed ridden from illness, he almost stormed down from his throne to go and help. Luckily his prime minister set him straight, stating that the emperor couldnt show such favouritism to a Viscount...at least not on the surface. The emperor and prime minister thus sneakily provided several powerful medicinal nts to his old friend. Unfortunately, none of them worked so he was quite on edge for the past year or so. The rtionship between the Furanos and the Northrend royal family was long and intricate. The Furanos over many generations had contributed so much to the empire, far more than even the standard Duke yet their title remained that of Viscount. This was actually agreed upon by previous generations of both houses, for the prosperity of the empire. All the previous and current royal family tended to have a very close rtionship to the Furanos because of this. Leo and the crown prince were good friends, continuing this tradition. Frost sessfully saved not just his loyal subject but his friend and his family. Of course, he wouldnt punish such a great young man, regardless of what those hypocritical self-serving nobles desired. After the meeting he summoned his prime minister to his private chambers toe up with some legitimate excuse to allow him to go and visit the Furano viscounty. Chapter 152 152 Chapter 152: Talking with Leo Frost was in the middle of taking a call from Leo and Luna. The emperor had just given his deration and he was being informed of the result. Maya and the kids were next to him in the private space, listening in. The second prince was pushing to have you arrested and have Nanna and Loki ced under the royal familys jurisdiction iming that thew had been broken but luckily Randolph the crown prince shut him down almost immediately along with the majority of those in governmental positions. They saw your actions as justified and were willing to utilise the so called grey area of thew. Ryuu, Sebastian and my fathers statements helped convince them of your trustworthiness. Leos voice became full of pride when he mentioned the actions of his father and uncles. It seemed as though his family was still well respected in the noble circles. When the arguments continued to heat up, with the second prince refusing to back down the emperor spoke out, dering that what you did was just and that you and all those involved in the act would not be held ountable for their actions and that wed have the empires gratitude. The discussions were instantly brought to a close thanks to the emperor officially recognising your actions, we no longer have to worry about the consequences of our little stunt. Leo released a deep sigh as a heavy weight was lifted from his shoulders. Hed worried about this issue for the past two weeks. Frost on the other hand wasnt too worried, since the Northrend empire couldnt really do anything to him, he certainly wasnt going to offer himself up on a silver tter like that second prince wanted. From Leos exnation however he learned a little more about the political situation of the Northrend empire and knew roughly who his enemies and possible allies were. The second prince has it out for me it seems but why? Frost pondered what he could have done to anger such a highly influential member of the empire but put it to the back of his mind. The man was all the way in the capital while he was currently in his dungeon and had no ns to visit Arkheart (the capital of Northrend) anytime soon. Thats good to know, thanks for telling me, Leo. Anything else interesting going on? Has any signs of the monster stampede shown up yet? Haaaaaaa unfortunately in regards to the monster stampede there has been nothing noteworthy as of yet. Were definitely overdue and history teaches us that the longer the dy between waves the worst the stampede will be. Ive already been working closer with uncle Bastion to dish out extra scouting quests for the cial Mountains whereas uncle Ryuu has been working with the government in Arkheart to assemble the frost wolf battalion in preparation. Father and Mother meanwhile have been increasing the local guards and setting up the war time defences in Furano and the outlying towns. Weve even increased the height of northern walls by an extra metre just in case. Tension among the popce has been growing, every stampede even after my father tookmand is a symbol of fear for them. Given the issues caused by Adam and the underworld gangs its been really difficult to keep things from descending into chaos but were getting there. Many valiant citizens such as Kathy and Calder have been working overtime to help keep daily life normal. Leo felt empowered thanks to these brave civilians, although this time would be difficult it wouldnt bury their great county. Hows Dous doing? Frost felt the pressure Leo was under from his voice, but he wasnt in a position to help. He had his own territory to run after all. The old man huh? Never better, peak of health living life like a man half his age. Leos tone was rather awkward as he spoke. His father bing healthy once again was a great cause for joy but his actions especially in the past week were a bit hard for Leo to endure. ..... Eh? Is something wrong with him? Frost asked curious and a little worried, he viewed Dous as a friend. Haaaaaaaaa no nothings wrong just just. Just what? Ahhhhhh! I wont say it I wont. lets just put it this way, he and my mother have been making up for lost time. If Frost could see Leos face, hed see it cringing and pale as though he was disgusted yet happy at the same time. Frost didnt quite get what he meant for a few seconds before Maya enlightened him with a rather rude gesture (out of sight of the kids of course). I see, perhaps you wont be an only child for much longer then hahahaha. Frost couldnt help butugh out loud. Poor Leo, he probably ended uping back to the manor after working hard in the government district and be greeted with the moaning sounds of his parents fornicating. Very disturbing given his age. Bleeughhhh please not another word. Leo almost wretched his guts out at the thought, begging Frost not to mention the act. His parents werent exactly young and were fooling around like it was their honeymoon. It was something he really didnt need to know about with all that was on his te. Hahahaha ok I wont bring it up. is there anything else? Leo took a second topose himself before replying. There is onest thing, its probably not that important but its sort of rted to you. Hoh, go on? That monsterir where we met, the one at the southern entrance to the cial Mountains, theres been some changes to it. As Leo brought up Frosts dungeon, he couldnt help but feel a little nervous. A couple days ago I got a report that it grew in size and now theres a second floor. Not only does this mean a greater degree of profit for the territory but something very rare. Usually, monsterirs wouldnt expand during their terms of existence, only very powerful ones and ones in rare regions would expand and certainly not so soon after being created. This monsterir doesnt follow the usual trend. Leo voice became a little serious, the unknown was always frightening. Normally it would be noted as a unique existence that wed keep an eye on, but this monsterir isnt the only one showing such unusual traits. Frosts eyes couldnt help but widen with Leos words. My siblings Through contact with other adventurer guilds across the Yangmir continent we know of at least 2 other monsterirs that are exhibiting simr traits with another 3 or 4 under suspicion. This is something new and its got the higher ups in the adventurer guild filled with curiosity. Uncle Bastion has been ordered to send them reports on any further changes but other than that theyve not ordered anything drastic. Drastic? What do you mean? Sending in a shock squad to investigate their core and determine whether to destroy it or not. Leos reply send a cold shiver down Frosts spine. That was something he really didnt want to happen. That only happens in extreme cases however, I was just letting you know since you were the first to investigate the ce and in case you choose to visit it anytime soon. Leo spoke with a friendly tone, unable to see that Frosts face was taught and started to drip sweat. I think thats everything Frost-senpai, enjoy the rest of your day, I have to get back to work, bye. Leo bade farewell before hanging up the call and returning back to work. Frost was left with his mind hooked on the phrase drastic measures causing him to feel threatened. Maya to the side moved in close and rested her dainty hands on his shoulders before giving him a massage to release his tension. Her young master was not in a position to stop a team of shock troopers so no wonder he was feeling threatened. His recent sess with the dungeon expansion and hearing about his possible siblings should have put him in a good mood but now he felt that they were ticking time bombs. Haaaaaaa thanks Maya Frost leaned back and let Maya massage a little rougher. Nanna and Loki joined her and massaged his legs hoping to alleviate his stress a little. This worked quite well, he smiled and relished in their care. The two other monsterirs that caught the attention of the Yangmir adventurers guild probably built a second floor like I did so at least two of my siblings have a significant DP ie. The others are probably dungeons that appeared at the same time and currently either dont have enough DP for a second floor, are saving it or spent it on something else. Of course, they could be just simple monsterirs but thats doubtful. Frost cupped his chin as he analysed the information Leo gave him. The family gathering was in less than 24 hours and this information could prove very important. Dark created 100 dungeon cores and Nova contains 5 continents and massive oceans along with innumerable inds. It stands to reason that he wouldnt be the only one here on the Yangmir (northern) continent. And with two of them likely having a second floor or even more it, showed that he wasnt the only one to generate a decent level of ie. He still didnt know exactly what the family gathering would entail but felt thatparing their dungeons would be asmon as saying hello. Hispetitive spirit was ignited. Chapter 153 153 Chapter 153: Reviewing the current state of the dungeon Looks like thepetition between us siblings could be pretty fierce. Frost surmised with a smile on his face, this knowledge sparked his interest instead of making him feel threatened. He felt as one of the older dungeon cores -no matter how many seconds- he should be an example. At least two on the northern continent also had second floors, which brought to reason that the other continents likely had a few as well. Very interesting. In regards to the possibility of shock troopersing to end his existence if he was deemed dangerous, that was something for the future. He wouldnt let it restrain his rate of improvement, besides Maya was still at his side, to deal with such an eventuality. The family gathering will happen tomorrow, and Ill finally get to meet my many siblings and once again speak with father. Is there anything youd like for me to say to him on your behalf? Frost leaned back and looked up at Mayas beautiful face, resting his head against the natural pillows on her chest. Only Dungeon cores would be summoned to the family meeting, the guardians would remain in the dungeon to manage the ce while they were gone. Since Frost understood Mayas feelings towards his father he offered to speak on her behalf. It was the least he could do. Over the two weeks with Nanna and Loki, their rtionship had only grown closer. There was less teasing and risky situations but more physical contact. He even received a fewp pillows now and then. Even with him resting his head gently on her chest she wasnt blushing or calling him a pervert, as though it was natural, much to Frosts enjoyment. Maya looked down softly at her young master, continuing to massage his tense shoulders as she contemted his offer. There was lots shed like to say and talk about with the Dark God but those were things she wished to do in person. She thought over her current circumstances, she was assigned to be a guardian to a young man with even better looks than her. Her and her young masters personalities meshed very well resulting in them bing quick friends. Her life was joyful and full of excitement. That only grew when they brought back Nanna and Loki. She felt happy nearly every day, teaching and caring for them all while watching them and her young master grow. Bliss was how she would describe her current situation. Maya smiled gently, her eyes growing a little red before responding. Thank you....tell him thank you. She was incredibly grateful for the gifts she had been granted even if it was only temporary. After a year shed have to leave and return to her previous life as an unrestricted S-rank Fenrir. Though she missed her family and what she did before. Living with Frost, Nanna and Loki fulfilled her far more, she felt more mature and rxed. It would be really hard for her to say goodbye. As those thoughts coalesced in her mind, her eyes grew more red, and tears threatened to flow down her cheeks. She promptly bit her lip and turned to the side, but Frost saw her pain in that brief second and he felt pain in his heart. He subconsciously clenched his fists before eventually sighing. Haaaaaaa ok Ill tell my father that you said thank you. Anything else? Frost spoke gently. Oh, if you could ask for a bottle of his specially brewed alcohol thatd be great too. Maya quickly faced Frost, her face no longer looking depressed, instead mischievous and smirking. She covered over the sad moment with a joke. Alcohol made by a God would have an exorbitant price tag and rarity, likely not even 10,000 gold coins would be enough for a single ss. Frost however didnt even flinch. ..... Ill see if I can con him out of it. He smiled mischievously as well knowing Maya meant it as a joke but at the same time would definitely love something like that. As would he, over the past two weeks thanks to a certain book he bought and Mayas personal interest he had been educated in the fineries of alcohol and had developed quite an appreciation for the stuff. Even going to the extent of asionally using DP to buy a bottle for the two of them to share when the kids went to bed. Oh, you know me so well young master hehehe. Maya giggled hugging Frosts head as a reward, enveloping it with her chest. Nanna and Loki giggled at the side, fully used to their antics. After a few seconds of bliss, Frost removed himself from thefort of Mayas embrace and asked Nanna and Loki the same question. Though they didnt have a rtionship with the Dark God, it wasnt everyday youd get to speak with a God, surely, theyd be curious at least. However, Frost was pleasantly surprised. Not really, were already learning things from Maya-sensei and our lives are perfect. Yeah, yeah what Nanna said. The two of them had absolutely no desire to ask anything of a God. Are you sure? I could ask about removing those ve tattoos or about your family? Nanna and Loki looked at one another like they did on asion before turning back to Frost, this time their eyes were full of determination. No thank you, because of these, Nanna pointed to her tattoo we got to meet you master and Maya-sensei, so we dont want to be rid of them. We like being your ves. As far as were concerned, we lost our family already and gained a new one. They both tantly refused, already happy with their current lives. They only knew their mother and she was dead, killed by bandits like the rest of their vige, they were thus captured and turned into ves. They had no desire to seek out their father then or now. Frost and Maya were their family now and that was all that mattered to them. And this time theyd make sure they were strong enough to protect it. Haaaaaaaa one that likely asks too much and two others that want for nothing haaaaaaa. Frost sighed while shaking his head, feeling that Nanna and Loki should be more assertive and wanting in life but for now it was fine. He nned to ask his father about the tattoos regardless. Ill just ask him for sweets then, surely theyd appreciate that. With the family gathering in sight Frost decided to overlook the current state of the dungeon. First floor 1st room: Winter hignds 20 frost goblins Frost goblin archer Frost goblin fighter 10 frost slimes 6 artic horned rabbits 4 artic foxes 4 snow owls 6 winter boars 2 frost wolves 2nd room: Winter forest 20 frost goblins Frost goblin rogue 6 frost slimes 5 artic horned rabbits 5 snow owls 6 winter boars Spiked artic boar 5 frost wolves 8 frost dwarves Finy 3rd room: ruined castle (interior) 15 frost goblins Frost goblin spawner 2 frost trolls 6 frost dwarves 5 frost wolves 2 ice n Second floor First room: ruined castle (interior) 10 frost goblins 3 frost dwarves 3 frost wolves 3rge frost spiders Frost goblin spawner Second room: ice caverns 6 frost goblins 2 frost dwarves 2 frost wolves 3rge frost spiders 6 artic stags Lagombi 2 ice n Third room: ice caverns 3 frost goblins Frost dwarf The second floor clearly needed to be popted a bit more, given that all three rooms were expanded to medium size (5km each way). The first floor however seemed pretty muchplete. Frost shifted around some of the monsters around the Dungeon and found that for the environments and current size of the sections the first floor was pretty saturated. Any more monsters and itd be too crowded, fights with adventurers would always attract other groups of monsters making fighting in the dungeon more risky than outside. He was still finding the right bnce but was almost there. The frost goblin spawners were working wonders, now he got 4 frost goblins every day, and the frost dwarves would outfit each of them with a spear, increasing their survival capabilities. With Finy organising most of the monsters in battle his losses reduced quite significantly and most that were eventually lost were spawner goblins, keeping costs down. Of course, whenever an overly powerful D-rank party decided to enter there was a fair amount of losses, just killing one of their party however seemed to make up for it. Frost was less against killing intruders as much now given that his overall personal and dungeon strength had increased significantly over the past few weeks. The knowledge of his Dungeon being an evolving monsterir and having an additional floor meant that adventurers would continue to enter regardless if people died or not. The adventuring game was filled with peril after all and since the great war a few centuries ago, theres only been smaller skirmishes and wars throughout Nova meaning an abundance of people. Furano alone had a poption in the tens of thousands and that was just one town in the viscounty. His ie therefore sharply increased thanks to this change in mindset, although he still did try to go down the long term staying option. His traps managed to hold a couple groups for a couple days granting nearly the same as killing thanks to the triple DP from being in a sealed room. His regenerating treasure chest traps have been working wonderfully as lures, with a couple groups sessfully drawing iron armour or weapons, one even got a health potion, making a nice profit for the day. However, Frost even with his increased DP ie and expenditure was seeing an uing bottleneck. His daily ie would struggle to increase too much more with only two floors and six rooms. He could only hold and attract so many adventurers at once, and theyd only be the weaker groups. After getting more and more of a taste for DP and using divine energy, Frost had grown addicted, constantly pushing to earn more. He thought long and hard about how to really make his mark in Nova. Hed never be a match for the endless monster filled cial mountains behind him -at least for several decades- so he shouldntpete that way. No, he needed long term DP donators, and not imprisoned or captured adventurers but permanent residents. A town or even a country seemed the best way to develop in the future, but that would take a long time and a hell of a lot of DP to build in the first ce. Chapter 154 154 Chapter 154: No holds barred After looking over the current monster arrangement of his dungeon, Frost felt satisfied, deciding to not spent the remaining 5000DP on more monsters. Rather saving it for something more substantial. Maya, I want to train, no holds barred. Frost had a determined look in his eyes. Maya had steadily increased his training over the past two weeks, many times so much than he couldnt move a single muscle in his body once it was over. However, afterwards he could always feel a measurable increase in his abilities. He particrly enjoyed fighting multiple ice golems at once, each with differing weapons, finding the experience enlightening. Maya looked at her young master with a coy mischievous look, pummelling her young master was one of her favourite pastimes. No holds barred meant that shed be the one doing the beating personally, Frost would literally always be on the back foot, never able to match. A tough and spirit crushing method, but effective. Nanna and Loki also took part in such practises, pushing their limits for hours on end, until copsing into convulsing bodies of flesh. Yet like their master, they were smiling at the end of it, possessors of a powerful mental tenacity. Physically however, when Frost mentioned no holds barred, they shivered on instinct but didnt balk at the challenge, staring at Maya with pleading eyes. Fine, lets head to the training room for some drills. Ill handle young master whereas the two of you can fight against a golem. Maya shook her head, feeling a little jealous of their intensity and passion. The two of them were too weak to in anyway be a match for one of her ice golems, but if it was unarmed it could serve as an effective training dummy. With Maya in agreement the group teleported to the training room for somest minute gruelling training before the family gathering. [ice golem] Maya spoke themand word and an unarmed ice golem with a standard appearance was summoned from the magic crest. Only the higher ended golems that she used against Frost had more humanoid features. Ice golems like other monsters also had ranks to determine their strength. Appearance isnt always a determining factor but those that are more humanoid tend to be on the stronger side. This one however was incredibly basic, slow, no weapon or known skills but durable. Nanna and Loki would have to work together and use a sufficient amount of power to even damage the thing. Basically, this thing was a practise dummy that would asionally strike slowly with its fists, little danger. Without even waiting for permission, Nanna and Loki readied their weapons and entered battle mode, standing on opposing sides of the golem. Their weapons were still the training room generated weapons, made of wood. They were however denser and heavier than their first set, though still not 1 star equivalent. With those two taken care of, Maya led Frost to the other side of the room, while flicking through the training menu. Since her young master requested no holds barred, she wasnt one to disappoint. ..... With a swift couple clicks the north side of the training room changed in appearance. Solid barriers arose to create aplicated terrain, narrow spaces, sharp turns, and varying degrees of height. This was a multipurpose terrain for training under all situations. Theyd moved passed simply duelling against one another, Frost needed to learn how to take advantage of his present environment given where he was nning on heading. The cial mountains are a perilous ce, with varying terrain and obstacles along with a near permanent blizzard that obscured the senses. The deeper one went the more violent this blizzard became; you could be a half foot before a deep gorge and not even know it. Maya wasnt done yet however, with another couple flicks the area changed once again. Automated crossbows dotted the tops of the barriers and a shifting floored arena opened up in the centre of the terrain. Frosts lips started twitching at the sight of this monstrosity before him and a shiver ran down his spine. Hed seen the crossbow traps before when Maya wanted to train his reactions (mainly due to him returning to the Furano mansion without a mask) but everything else was new and daunting. He suddenly felt anger towards his big stupid mouth that didnt know when to keep shut. But it was toote toin now, the look in Mayas eyes clearly meant that he couldnt back out now. She was excited and wanted to let loose and Frost was her victim. Haaaaaaaa Frost sighed internally before putting on a brave face, following Maya into the arena section. Theyd likely battle on the move, all while Frost would be shot at from all angles, if this wasnt overkill, he didnt know what was. Are you ready young master? Maya asked with an innocent expression, taking great pleasure in her young masters forced smile. Haaaaaaaa let me have it then. Frost released a deep sigh, a look of resignation in his eyes as he prepared himself for the oing onught. Good! Maya spoke a single word with a joyful tone and the next second she was gone. Frost tensed his body, his eyes darting in all directions. Left no, right no, above no, shit! Below. Frost managed to only catch a short glimpse of her movements, quickly crossing his arms into a guard, protecting his chest from the dainty white hand that suddenly appeared. Although it looked small and weak Frost knew from ample experience that that fist could crush mountains. Boooooooom! A powerful shockwave erupted the moment Mayas fist encountered his guard and Frost was sent barrelling upward into the air, his forearms numb and itchy, but a sessful block. He let loose a confident smile, her speed was manageable albeit barely. The more they fought the more abilities Maya revealed to him. Before shed limit herself to C-rank but now her movements were clearly those of B-rank, proving that he had vastly improved. Unfortunately, he didnt have time to enjoy his minor victory. The dozens of crossbows suddenly turned upwards and fired their ammunition his way. Fuck! Frost roared; he was still steadily rising meaning hed struggle to dodge. He didnt have wings so manoeuvring his body mid-flight was almost impossible, hed have to tank the damage, destroying as many bolts as he could in the short time frame he had. Luckily Maya wasnt too sadistic, the bolts were roughly equivalent to iron in strength, something he could handle, well a few at least. In the short couple of seconds, he had, Frost used chakra to cover his major areas in ice while at the same time calcting the rough trajectories of the bolts. He moved to summon his ive but was interrupted. No using your weapon! Maya shouted from somewhere bringing his actions to a halt. What are you serious? Ah fuck! By the time he shouted inint the bolts were upon him. Don don don don don Over a dozen crossbow bolts struck against his body sending waves of pain throughout his system, a few of them even broke through his hastily generated ice armour. Leaving impact dents or even drawing a little blood. This wasnt the end, however. Dont let your guard down! Maya mysteriously appeared behind his back. Hovering above him, she mmed her two fists down on his unguarded back, sending him hurtling back down to the ground. His body smashed into a barrier causing him to cough up some blood, hended in a narrow stretch of the terrain. High barriers on either side, only able go forward or backward. He took a second to catch his breath but the moment he was on his feet, Maya returned. Too slow young master! Not holding back in the slightest she kicked him in the chest, releasing a crack from the targeted rib. He was once again sent flying unable to counterattack. Maya was using low B-rank strength, focusing on physical attributes. Given the type of monsters Frost would end up encountering, she deemed it beneficial to work on his physical strength. No weapons or offensive magic, just a good old fashioned hand to hand beat down. Baaaaanggggg! Frost barrelled once again into another barrier, his chest and back in a great deal of pain, yet his eyes remained focused and full of spirit, this was exactly what he needed. Recovering a split second faster this time, he earned the right to witness the next attack, yet still powerless to stop it, but a step in the right direction. This diabolical training regiment was truly no holds barred and Frost got to enjoy such preferential treatment for an entire 4 hours without a break. Maya would simply cast healing magic once his wounds reached a certain level, but shed continue to hit him while he healed. Nanna and Loki struggled to maintain their concentration with the frequent yells and booming sounds that came from the northern part of the room. asionally they were on the receiving end of the ice golems fist due to taking a peek at their master being sent hurtling through the air. Whenever this happened, theyd be in a fair amount of pain and Maya would yell a couple orders their way all while pummelling Frost. Nanna and Loki would always remember this day in the future, and because of it theyd always hold a modicum of fear towards Maya no matter how strong they became. They even gave her the nickname demon general. Chapter 155 155 Chapter 155 The family gathering After the four hours gruelling physical punishment, Frost was then assigned magic practise and finished with weapon training, far less painful experience but just as exhausting. Once training was over the group ate a healthy meal before entering their usual studying session. Maya teaching Nanna and Loki how to read and write and him absorbing the contents of the 50 books he bought in Furano. Now they just needed to pass the time until the family gathering. Once Nanna and Loki drifted off into sleep Frost and Maya toured the dungeon and discussed possible avenues in which to expand it. They met up with Finy and got his opinion as well given that he was Frosts monstermander. Eventually morning of the next day came, all four of them woke up early and were a little nervous, Dark should be contacting them any minute now. Bing Bong A bell like tone suddenly came from the dungeon core at precisely 8am before a deep sonorous voice started to speak. Hello, my children and hardworking guardians how have you all been? Hopefully youve been having a lot of fun this past month and taken full advantage of the 1 month protection period. Its finally time for the great big family get together so all of you buckle up and prepare yourself for long distance travel. Your guardians will watch over your dungeon in the meantime, see you soon. The voice spoke rather quickly and a couple seconds after bing silent, a magic crest opened up underneath Frost without warning and began encapsting him in a ck bubble. Simr to the one that sent him the cial Mountains. Fully expecting his Father to be terrible with his timings, he already informed Nanna and Loki about what would happen. He quickly turned round to face to two children. Listen to Maya and be good, Il.... He didnt get enough time to finish his sentence before the spherepleted covered him. It was then absorbed into the magic crest and Frost vanished leaving Nanna and Loki a little bewildered. They looked to Maya for guidance, but she just shook her head and shrugged. ..... Looks like looking after the dungeon is up to us while the master is away. You up for it? Maya asked gently to which Nanna and Loki both nodded in response. This time the trip in the ck egg was not nearly as long as his first. Only 5 minutes passed before he arrived at his destination, and it didnt drop him from several metres up. The ck egg arrived in a massive banquet hall along with another 99 simr looking eggs all of varying sizes. The ck eggs all disintegrated away at the same time revealing their upants. All 100 of them walked out of the eggs and looked around the room. Some were joyful, some nervous, some suspicious and others appeared aggressive in their demeanour. Throughout the banquet hall wererge tables filled with tons of tasty looking food and drinks. A mesmerising fountain was in the middle of the room with crystal statues that sparkled within the water. Frost looked around, curiosity in his eyes. The banquet hall was nice, and the food looked tasty, but he was more interested in the people here. These are my siblings? Frost looked around each and every one of them, none of them looked alike, with many appearing as though they were different species. One in particr looked like a ck dragon whereas another looked like a humanoid shark. It was perplexing to say the least and a little unnerving. From his knowledge, siblings usually carried simr traits but from what he could see very few actually even looked remotely simr to himself. While Frost was checking out the 99 other people, they were doing the same. Many reaching simr conclusions, their wariness increased. The ck dragon and what looked like some kind of fiery barbarian easily over 3 metres tall seemed to hold contempt for the others. Feeling superior due to their bodies and appearance. This instantly irritated Frost and a few others, Frost found the fiery barbarian to be especially unpleasant to the eyes. As though they were pr opposites. Ignoring those two Frost looked for ones that looked somewhat simr to him, with appearances like that of elves. He could only find half a dozen or so. Two were particrly eye catching and seemed to have some natural aura about them that made even Frost feel that he was beneath them. One was a man dressedpletely in ck robes. He had pitch ck hair and eyes, yet his skin was pure white, a powerful contrast yet it reminded Frost of Dark in many ways albeit less divine. The man was just as handsome as Frost, long dark eyshes, blemish free skin and had a small obsidian diamond growing on his forehead, entuating his appearance. The other was a female, that would rival even Maya in terms of appearance and body proportions. She was tall, at least 180 centimetres, had long flowing sea blue hair and matching eyes. Her dress was deep blue and clung tight to her body showing off her impressive figure. A blue muslin sash seemed to float around her body as though in water, it was quite mesmerising. Frost found himself momentarily captivated by her which she noticed and sent a wink his way as though she was used to such looks. When she winked Frost could see what looked like shimmering scales near her eyes that danced in the light. These two were definitely superior to the rest of the group in some way, that was what his instincts were telling him. Plus, unlike the rest they were rtively calm as though theyd experienced this before. For the remaining ones that looked like him, they didnt gave off any overpowering aura but neither did they feel much weaker than him. One sibling in particr who was close by gave off a feeling that made Frost want to fight and test his strength, a natural rival. Frost, it seems wasnt the only one to feel this, the man in question was also looking at him in the same way and made his way towards him with a smile on his face. My names Indra whats yourss brother? The man or rather Indra looked very simr to Frost in terms of body frame, yet whereas Frost had a schrly, noble appearance Indra had a more brave, cool appearance. It reminded Frost a little of Leo. Indra had long cobalt hair tied in a ponytail, with simr coloured eyes that showed shes of lightning within them. He also had a scar across his nose, yet it took nothing from his appearance only enhanced it. Indra had a confident and friendly look on his face as he extended his hand out in greeting. Im Frost, nice to meet you Indra. Frost grasped onto Indras hand a shook not forgetting to squeeze tightly. Indraughed and did the same, they tested their physical strength against one another and found themselves pretty equal. Hahahaha not bad not bad at all Frost, what number are you? Are you my little or older brother? Number 007 you? Hahahaha number 006 looks like Im just a little older. Indra smiled proudly feeling a little superior before bringing Frost in for a bear hug. Nice to meet you little brother Likewise, Indra Frost refused to call him older brother out of principle, after all there was only a couple seconds between each of them hardly making a difference. Indra wasnt bothered in the slightest,ughing joyfully, hed probably act the same if Frost was say number 005. Their conversation did however attract an unwanted visitor. Whereas many of the other dungeon cores were introducing themselves to one another like Frost and Indra, the fiery barbarian felt it beneath him to introduce himself first. He happened to overhear Frost refusing to call Indra older brother and looking at Frost annoyed him for some reason, so he sauntered over with a lot of swag. Appearing very aggressive and threatening. His bright red hair seemed like mes and looked like a lions mane. His voice was much the same, loud, and demanding. Hoh whats this then, a little piss ant that doesnt respect hierarchy. Therge barbarian shoved his way through as he spoke with a booming voice, drawing the attention of the other dungeon cores. Frost looked up at the man and frowned, anger in his eyes. I was having a pleasant chat here with Indra, what pissed you off? He didnt say that out loud, however. He felt pressured by this big ape with a fiery lions mane, but it wasnt necessarily due to a strength difference. This man was poles apart from the man and woman from earlier no, it felt more to do with his innate element. Indra however wasnt flustered and was quite annoyed with the big guys attitude and squared up to him without fear. And whats your number if youre so bothered by it? Indra looked up menacingly, fully prepared to throw down with this walking case of steroid infused anger management. The man was incredibly jacked even for his tall 3 metre frame, clearly a physical specialist. Lightning dashed between Indras eyes as he waited for a response. He was the master of lightning, like Frost was the master of ice. His natural disposition was speed and explosive power. The red barbarian looked down at Indra with contempt before bellowing his origin. I am Pyro, dungeon core 003, the master of fire. You can call me elder brother Pyro from now on. Pyro then looked towards Frost, who looked more and more irritating to his eyes. You however must call me elder brother Pyro-sama! With his promation Pyro tensed up his entire body and released his pseudo aura and covered his body in mes while staring down at Frost. Chapter 156 156 Chapter 156: Stand off between ice and fire Pyros promation caused a strained silence to takeover the room, with everyone staring at him and Frost eagerly awaiting Frosts reaction. Many were nervous and looked on with pity towards Frost but didnt step in to help whereas others were smiling, anticipating an exciting fight. Indra however was frowning; he really didnt appreciate being ignored after being so rudely interrupted. Lightning started to cover his body as he tensed up, ready to square off against the towering bulk that was Pyro. But before he coulde to blows, Frost beat him to the punch. Ah! Youre the muscle brained idiot father mentioned. Frost spoke with an incredibly mocking tone as ice gathered around him. Frost was truly incensed, this man was nothing but a brute, thick as a block of wood without any ss. And most of all he was the embodiment of fire, his natural nemesis. He could already feel the strain on his body, his ice chakra was harder to form and much weaker under Pyros aura. But that didnt stop him from taking an aggressive stance. Frosts response caused a great number of dungeon cores in the audience to sharply gasp, not expecting him to say that. A few of the more bold dungeon cores, sniggered openly remembering the warning that Dark gave them about Pyro. The powerful woman in blue giggled loudly while looking at Frost with appreciation. Pyro however waspletely furious; his face became blood red from anger and shame. His teeth clenched and the mes around his body grew more aggressive, heating up the room several degrees. He hated being called an idiot more than anything, it was his reverse scale. Y....yo...you.... youre dead! Pyro stuttered; his anger palpable before eventually roaring. He clenched his right fist and took a forceful step forward swinging right for Frosts face aiming to smash it into to smithereens. He cared little about their so called sibling rtionship. Pyros action elicited another round of gasps from the onlookers, with a few looking around desperately for Dark, hoping that hed step in. This was supposed to be a happy gathering yet not 10 minutes in, a fight was starting. Frost wasnt one to take a blow lying down. Seeing Pyro move to strike he too clenched his fist and sent out a powerful punch. Boooommmm! ..... Their fists violently collided generating a sonic boom. Both strikes held nothing back and were empowered by chakra, devasting attacks. The red fire and blue ice chakra collided viciously in a disy of dominance. Unfortunately, even with Frosts gruelling training with Maya he was still outmatched. Both in physical strength and natural element. The fire chakra easily overpowered his ice chakra, melting it away without too much effort. It burned his snow white skin, damaging his nerve endings and releasing a foul smell of burning flesh. He frowned as the pain ran up his arm, but he still held his ground conjuring his ice chakra constantly to keep the fire at bay. Next came the brutal physical pressure exerted by Pyro. His jacked frame was certainly not just for show. Frost felt as though he was punching a mountain made of super-heated heavy steel, even Mayas punches didnt contain as much force. The conflictsted but a second before Frost was sent reeling backwards several metres, his feet scraping across the floor. He lost this exchange. Pyro merely had his arm blown back yet his feet remained in ce. A cocky smile adorned his face as he looked down at Frost in contempt. Yet internally he was quite amazed with Frosts resistance. His fist actually felt cold, some of Frosts chakra managed to sessfully puncture his fire and strike his bones. This was the first time Pyro ever felt the sensation of cold and he hated it. With increased fervour, Pyro escted the fire chakra surrounding his body looking like the embodiment of me. His bones cracked as he tensed his upper body preparing to continue his assault. Hed make Frost regret ever insulting him, the elder brother and one with such a superior element. Frosts face was dark, his expression cold as he resummoned his ice chakra over his body, preparing for another exchange. Not caring about his clear disadvantage. He could summon his ive but felt that would be admitting defeat. Rahhhhhhhh! Pyro roared. I think thats enough you oversized brute! Suddenly a womans voice sounded from behind Pyro and a massive dense sphere of water smashed against the back of his head. Instantly dousing his fire chakra, soaking his clothes, and cooling down his aggression. Pyro instinctively shivered as he felt an overbearing pressure cover his body. His fire chakra waspletely doused, and he looked like a wet rat, but he didnt fly off the handle. Where he was clearly superior to Frost in regards to their elements this woman was superior to him in the same way. She was the embodiment of water and not only that she was far more powerful him, her aura was a true aura not a pseudo one. Pyro turned around to face this new aggressor with fury in his eyes, yet he kept his tongue, his body was warning him that he was no match for this woman. The beautiful blue haired woman sauntered over with a confident look, the man in ck was by her side, with a stoic, uninterested expression. Pyro, was it? If you demand that Frost here adds sama to your name because youre older then what should you call me? The woman released her aura even more, causing Frost and the nearby Indra to both take a step backwards. This woman reminds of me Ryuu. Her power is clearly in the B-rank range. Frost looked at this beautiful woman sceptically, he thought hed be quite strong among his siblings, given Mayas praises of his talent butpared to this woman and the dark man beside her he was no match. Though he did feel grateful to her stepping in and ending the fight. Pyro may not have killed him, but he would have been quite injured, he didnt want to disgrace himself in front of Dark. Pyro shivered under her intense re, but his eyes still showed aggression. Not wanting to back down he spoke up with his usual arrogance. And who are you then? He turned to face the woman, standing over her with a dark expression. Hmph! Truly an idiot indeed. Listen well Pyro Im your eldest sister Aqua, dungeon core number 002, dont you forget it! Aqua spoke with anger, truly disappointed with the younger brother before her. You! Pyro was called an idiot twice now. He tensed up his arm and moved to p Aqua, ignoring the fear his body was sending his brain. Aqua didnt even flinch under Pyros threatening actions, she moved to summon water to protect herself, but it was unnecessary. The darkly dressed man beside her clicked his tongue and rapidly appeared in front of her, grabbing onto Pyros forearm as though it was weightless. Thats enough little brother! With cold voice, the dark man clenched down on Pyros arm causing him to wince in pain. Darkness then exuded from the man and covered Pyro making him feel tens of times heavier. Crack! Pyro fell to his knees under the weight unable to resist in the slightest against this man. He was terrified. Aqua was more powerful than him and his element was naturally countered by hers, but this man felt like something different entirely, crushing him with overbearing power. He reminded him of Dark. I am Yami, dungeon core 001, the eldest. If anyone is too receive the title sama it would be me. Yami increased the weight on Pyro, causing him to sink deeper into the floor. Father already said that theres only a few seconds between us so theres no hierarchy of age, and you Pyro have already been warned about your attitude. Yami then leaned down to whisper into Pyros ear. Do I need to give youre a physical reminder? Pyro shivered under the dark pressure, his massive body and rippling muscles working against him instead of for him. Pyro was born filled with aggression and rage just like his innate element. The moment Dark told him he was the third sibling he felt inferior in some way, and his anger grew. He wished to assert his dominance as an elder to the rest of the cores and trained incredibly hard to be able to not be below anyone. Yet here he was, being yed with as though he was but a child. His anger was boiling yet he could not release it, Yami was too strong. Yami frowned and increased the pressure even more seeing that Pyro was refusing to reign in his aggression. The floor began to crack under the immense weight, yet Pyro still refused to give up, constantly trying to break free of this dark prison. I think thats enough Yami. Pyros personality though brash and uncultured makes him who he is. He wont change just because you over power him. A deep sonorous voice filled the room originating from the top of the grand staircase, Dark had arrived. Chapter 157 157 Chapter 157: Introductions With Darks announcement, everyone in the room turned towards him, their eyes filled with reverence, some clearly more than others, practically fawning. Even Pyro looked towards Dark with admiration, his angerpletely deting. Yami kept his stoic expression while removing the overbearing darkness that epassed Pyro. He listened to his father withoutint, taking a step back, no longer involving himself in this argument between his younger siblings. With the weight removed from Pyros body he rose up off his knees, back to his over 3 metre hulking frame. His eyes fixed upon Dark, feeling ashamed inside for showing such an embarrassing situation. Frost too was looking up at his father with pride, subconsciously dusting off his robes and tidying up his hair. Wanting to appear in perfect form. Dark smiled gently towards Yami, before gazing over his other children. Each of them looking different from thest, but his children they were. Wee to the family gathering my children, I hope youll meet and mingle with one another, and develop friendships. Dark then looked over towards Pyro, slightly disappointed but doing his best to hide it. Or rivalries, he wasnt against his children having some or many disagreements. Even developing hatred or rivalries amongst one another was fine in his eyes, it was a part of life as an intelligent species after all. As long as they lived their lives the way they wished and did their best to enjoy it he would be happy, no matter how short it ends up being. Of course, he wished that such feelings wouldnt crop up at the very first meeting, so he was more than a little annoyed with Pyro but then again, if anyone was going to cause trouble itd be him or... Dark then looked over another few Dungeon cores that he felt would be possible problem children, therge ck dragon was one of them. Another was a sort of spider woman with the upper half of an elf and the lower half of a giant spider, she appeared innocent and smiled gently but Dark knew her true personality. Insidious and maniptive. But not everyone could be a goody two shoes, that would be incredibly boring and cringey after all. Darks gaze then drifted over toward a massive giant, that towered over even Pyro. The man was easily over 5 metres tall and 2 metres across, a walking powerhouse, yet he had an incredibly gentle smile and passive aura. His skin was brown akin to the colour of earth and looked to be made of some sort of stone in areas. This Dungeon core was number 005, Terra, master of earth and by far the most gentle of all his offspring. Dark looked over many of his childrens experience of the past month and found that Terra never killed a single intruder, rarely even harming them, yet his DP levels were on the higher end. His son was so friendly and charismatic that many monsters willingly came under his rule, generating a constant passive ie. Many of his children found their own methods to grow and increase their DP ie, some even astonished him, a God. He couldnt feel more proud. He created them due to the stagnation in Nova and his own dull uneventful life, and so far, they proved to be bringing great change to the world. Bringing him joy and excitement to his otherwise mundane activities. ..... Haaaaaaa if only Light could understand? Dark sighed internally as he thought about his counterpart, the Light God. The two of them hadnt talked since their rather heated argument a month ago. Dark felt depressed about that fact but was incredibly stubborn, he wouldnt change his mind, and neither would Light. However, he had a bad feeling, Light wasnt one to ept a loss and would act in a manner he thought best. He needed to prepare his children for his possible intervention. Dark had roughly nned what he originally wanted to do at the gathering but considering Lights stance and the weird feeling he was getting he changed the schedule slightly. Now however, I hope that you can introduce yourself to one another and enjoy the many snacks and drinks avable. During which Ill speak with each of you individually before we move onto the main event of this gathering. Dark summoned a ss of wine which he toasted towards the 100 dungeon cores before taking arge sip, bringing a start to the gathering. With Darks announcement, no one dared to cause any more trouble. Following his suggestion, they each moved to introduce one another. Frost and Indra decided to continue their earlier conversation, already finding one another quite likeable. You got guts Frost, very manly. Indra smiled at Frost while giving him a thumbs up. He was more than impressed with Frosts physical capabilities even if he was severely outmatched element wise. I could say the same to you, if I didnt respond youd have probably struck out right? Frost responded back with a knowing look, he felt Indra and he were quite simr. Hahaha of course, Im not one to back out of a fight. Lightning started to subconsciously dance around Indras body. We should definitely spar sometime, ice vs lighting, itd be an interesting matchup. Ice slowly covered Frosts hands as his blood started pumping. The two siblings grinned at one another and shook hands beforeughing out loud. They then discussed more personal details such as their monsters, experiences, and stuff theyve found out during the past month. Hoh so youre in the cial mountains, that practically makes us neighbours. Im in the Storm mountains, the western side of Yangmir. Really, then we should definitely meet up at some point. Although they could be considered neighbours, the distance between them was thousands of kilometres, not an easy journey. But it was nice to know that he had such a friendly sibling on the same continent. He must be one of the other 2 Dungeons with multiple floors. Frost learned a fair bit about Indra. Their experiences were quite simr, both utilised the one month insurance protection given by Dark to explore the nearby inhabited territory. Indra like him had enrolled as an adventurer but his rank was already D, clearly taking on far more quests, usually hunting. That would be great, I could introduce you to my guardian, Izuna. Shes a bit of an acquired taste but a great woman, and a great friend. Indras eyes lit up as he spoke of his guardian. Like Frost he got along well with his assigned protector, quickly bing friends. I could say the same about mine, Mayas a bit forceful in ways, but very easy on the eyes if you know what I mean. Frost then gestured Mayas explosive body shape, as though bragging. Which Indra replied in kind, generating a tit for tat of them trying to one up another. Their bond growing greatly. Unfortunately, they couldnt spend their entire time talking to solely one another, there were far more siblings to meet after all. After splitting up with Indra, Aqua squeezed herself towards Frost making herself known. She had a bright smile on her face as though waiting for Frost to say something specific to her. Uhhh hello Aqua, was it? Frost didnt really know how to greet her. She was incredibly charming, more powerful than him and saved him from Pyro. Nee-chan Eh? Aqua nee-chan, Aqua enunciated each letter, while wiggling her finger in front of Frost. She was quite adamant about being called such, staring deeply into Frosts eyes, generating an invisible pressure. ....Aqua nee-chan Frost sumbed to her silent pressure, responding as ordered. Good boy, Aqua then proceeded to go on her tip toes and petted Frosts head simr to what he did to Nanna and Loki. He couldnt help but blush slightly before stepping backwards away from her hand. Though he was thankful to Aqua and respected her, the petting of the head was a no go. Aww youre no fun. Aqua pouted cutely, cing her hands on her hips. She appreciated Frost a lot, she didnt treat anyone else here like this, only him. It was a mixture of his looks, demeanour and his natural element that attracted her. Stroking her urges as a big sister, this was the primary reason she stepped in so quickly against Pyro. Their conversation after that was quite pleasant, Aqua continued her elder sister routine, asking a long series of questions about how Frost was doing, looking genuinely concerned. iming that he coulde to her whenever he needed help and shed look after him like a good big sister. Her attitude was a bit much for him, but Frost appreciated the sentiment and had to admit that having a reliable older sister wasforting. From what Aqua told him, her and Yami had been in contact with Dark several times over the past month. The two of them were to be the beacons of the Dungeon cores so they were a fair bit stronger and ced in the most dangerous areas of Nova. Yami who went back to being stoic and silent, not introducing himself to anyone after dealing with Pyro was ced in the central continent where the Holy White empire reigned. Dark didnt wish to forsake the entire central continent due to the Church of Light and their Holy White empire, so he sent his most powerful and trustworthy child, Yami. His powers were that of darkness, a very adaptable and powerful ability and synonymous with the Dark God. Unlike the other dungeon cores, Yami had already encountered members of the Church of Light. Whereas Aquas Dungeon was underwater where the massive, powerful underwater empires and dynasties reigned. Thend countries and water countries usually kept their distance from one another, with their respective wars not affecting the other. While the Holy White empire was by far the most dangerous and powerful empire on the five continents. Their actions had little bearing on the ocean dwellers. The monsters and sapient races present in the oceans were powerful and extensive. So Dark sent Aqua his eldest daughter, she would lead and manage the other water based cores. Chapter 158 158 Chapter 158: Introductions (2) Remember to contact me if you need anything. Aqua waved goodbye before dashing over to another one of her younger siblings. The Dungeon cores seemed to congregate into their own groups mainly based of either their dungeon numbers or racial appearance. Frosts group for example was the single digit group and elven like appearance group. After Aqua, Frost then met with two dungeon cores at once, number 004 and 005, Sylph and Terra. Sylph was short, even shorter than Maya, with bright blonde hair and pretty translucent wings. Her personality was bubbly and a little mischievous, arge counterpart to her hulking younger brother Terra. He was rather cowardly and quiet, Sylph enjoyed teasing him greatly, their rtionship seemed quite good. The two of them were both on the western continent known as Muterra. Respectively she was the master of air and he the master of earth. The single digit cores tended to have their own individual element that they specialised in. Apart from Pyro who was obviously from the southern continent: Vulcan, the furthest ce from Frost, thankfully. Number 008 Damascus was also there. He was quite friendly and spoke of his fondness of alcohol and cksmithing. He apparently took up learning under a dwarf he met in the territory adjacent to his Dungeon. Damascuss element was metal, a perfect fit for the profession. Frost couldnt help but be interested in the idea of learning a trade like Damascus. Taking note of it forter. He was dark skinned and quite shiny looking, his build was rather stocky, and he had arge bushy beard. Reminding him slightly of a dwarf. Next was number 009 Gaia, the master of wood. His skin was greenish, and he appeared simr to that of wood elves in appearance. He wasnt very sociable, speaking very few words, preferring to embrace solitude, simr to Yami yet different at the same time. Frost didnt manage to find out where he was based but assumed given the previous trend that it was on the eastern continent. Finally, there was two more cores in their group, number 010 and 011. Twins would be the best way to describe them, they each had near identical features albeit 010 having silver hair and robes and 011 having golden hair and robes. Im Void and this Chronos Void was the silver twin and Chronos the golden. As you can see the two of us a pretty much twins, my element is space whereas Chronoss is time. Void and Chronos had a very schrly atmosphere about them, speaking eloquently and politely. Their appearances were slightly different from the rest of the group as they appeared middle aged for some reason and gave off a strong sense of magic. Unlike the others the two of us spawned our dungeons right next door to one another, on the eastern continent: Sekaran. Although we dont have much in regards of specialty monsters at our current levels, weve been deeply studying magic together and to be honest made quite some strides. Chronos spoke with a tinge of pride. He and his twin Void didnt do much in terms of popting their dungeon or dealing with intruders, preferring to focus on magic studies where their talents clearly lied. Dark had arranged for each of his children to be unique in different ways. Some like Pyro focused on physical strength and or chakra usage whereas some like Void and Chronos were all magic based with very little physical strength and no discernible weapon mastery. They even came with several known spells as a bonus. Hoh what sort of strides? Frost was curious, his own magic talent wasnt bad, but he only knew three spells. His interest in magic was quite pronounced regardless of that. Another magic enthusiast perfect. Void responded with sparkling eyes before entering into a deep andplicated lecture on magic, with Chronos swiftly joining in. Frost felt his face cramp as he tried to maintain a friendly smile. The two in front of him were clearly super magic nerds, way beyond him. Thankfully he was saved before they really got started with their lecture. ..... Frost would you like to chat? Dark appeared in the nick of time, cing a hand on Frosts shoulder. Appearing like an angel, descending from heaven. Y...yes please father, sorry Void, Chronos, another time perhaps. Frost quickly bade farewell to his younger brothers and ushered Dark to the side. Dark let out a slight chuckle at his actions but made no move to stop him. He started meeting with the younger cores first, before making his way to Frost. The younger cores were all a little or a lot less confident when in his presence, simr to his previous creations. Only the upper cores seemed to treat him almost as though an equal but still with respect. It was very refreshing. So, Frost, hows life been for the past month? Eventful? Fun? And how do you find Maya, a bit of handful isnt she hehehe? Dark acted like a concerned father, looking at his child with pride. Frost, lips twitched in response, as he was reminded of Aqua. Haaaaaaa, eventful is an understatement father. He sighed before regaling Dark about his adventurers over the past month. ....I see, Im happy you and Maya are getting along, and that you made some friends in the nearby territory. d, you decided to take advantage of the 1 month insurance barrier and explored the local area. Many of your younger siblings locked themselves in their dungeons afraid to leave. Your experience however was truly more than I expected for your first month. Dark shook his head as he found it difficult toe to terms with what happened. Frost wasnt Yami or Aqua, his area shouldnt have been so eventful. Not only have you registered as an adventurer-kudos by the way- you became a strong ally of a Viscount house after sessfully preventing a coup and...... Darks vision darkened and his anger rose to the surface, his expression bing serious. Im sorry you had to witness such a thing, but you dealt with it perfectly, Im proud of you, my son. Dark patted Frosts shoulder making him feel warm, his eyes turning red. Dark was referring to Nanna and Loki being enved and bound by the Church of Lights forbidden magic. ....So? Frost felt a tinge of hope, if his father felt this badly about it, surely, hed have a way to remove the tattoo. Im sorry Frost, I cant intervene. It goes against the covenant that binds Light and I. Dark didnt sugar coat his answer, directly refusing, Frost couldnt help but feel annoyed, frowning towards his father, the so called Dark God before eventually sighing. It was worth a try. Frost didnt hold onto too much hope, he knew from Maya that Dark was severely restricted in interfering with the world on a personal level. And he could understand it to an extent. If a God kept interfering and changing things, the people of Nova wouldnt have free will, theyd be nothing but the Gods ythings. Something Dark nor Light wanted to see. It also helped to prevent bias and strong disagreement between the two creation Gods as well as the other powerful beings in existence. Although I cant remove it, that doesnt mean there isnt another way. Light returned to Frosts eyes, he listened to Darks next words with focus. The Church of Light, though very advanced in terms of magic and artificing, theyre still within the realm of mortals. if you put enough effort into it or.... Dark then looked over towards Void and Chronos. If you enlist some help from your more magically inclined siblings, Im sure youll be able to find a method to remove it. Dark knew about Frosts magic talent and though it was quite high it wasnt nearly at the level of Void and Chronos. Those two were really impressive even by his standards. The two of them never left their dungeons either but spend most of their time discussing magic and thews of the world. Making impressive strides in developing new magic, exactly what he hoped for. Frost followed Darks gaze towards his younger siblings. He did his best to end their chat, feeling it was a bit much but perhaps he needed to have a long discussion with those two. He clenched his fist and made a mental note, hed endure their ranting if it was for Loki and Nanna. Seems like youve got a goal, hopefully it works out for you and those two, say hello to Maya for me, Im sure shell appreciate it. Dark then went to talk with Indra, the next target on his list. Ah Father wait I have a small request? Huh? Ok ask away Frost looked side to side before whispering in his ear, he was feeling a little guilty about his request. Mmm mmm wait what! Dark nodded his head to the first request more than happy to supply some special candies for the two phoenix kin however he eximed in shock when he heard thest request. So much so he drew the attention of everyone nearby. Exactly what Frost wanted to avoid. Instinctively he covered Darks mouth to stop him shouting while trying to cate the awkward looks he was getting from his siblings. Chapter 159 159 Chapter 159: Introductions (3) Was that really necessary? Frost whispered to his father while still covering his mouth. Youre damn right it was! Thats my prized stash you just asked for. Where do you get the stones to ask for that, plus youre only a month old you shouldnt be drinking in the first ce. Dark shoved away Frosts hand, quite annoyed with his sons request almost to the point he was red in the face. Frost asked in ce of Maya for some of his specially brewed alcohol, he only made that stuff for him and him alone. He rarely even shared the stuff with Light let alone anyone else, and even then, it would be part of a trade deal. Dark was very protective of his special brews. How did Frost even know about that stuff? He looked sceptically at his son, as though he was some kind of irvoyant or psychic, he was sure he never brought it up during their first meeting, all he treated him to was a cup of green tea. Now if he asked for some tea leaves, I could probably agree, since he went through a lot and made me quite proud but my alcohol! No way! His expression started to be aggressive and vicious, as though Frost was a super dangerous enemy. Thankfully he didnt lose control of his emotions and emit his overbearing power otherwise everyone here would be turned to mush. Though he was no less incensed, ring at his son. Frost meanwhile started twitching from his fathers sudden aggression, internally cursing Maya, using him in such a way. If he wasnt Darks son, he may have been instantly eliminated, at least thats what his instincts were telling him. Is it you who asked for my special brew or M.A.Y.A? Dark enunciated every letter of her name, sure that she was the cause of his sons boldness. Her being a guardian or rather a powerful S-rank monster she would know about his prized collection. That sneaky little Fenrir, using Frost to get her grubbing little alcoholic paws on my stash. He was sure now that she was the cause. Perhaps I need to teach her a little lesson, see if shes really capable of being my sons guardian. Evil thoughts filled his mind as he thought about her punishment. Frost feeling the anger had been redirected away from him released a short sigh of relief before trying to calm Dark down. He couldnt have Maya suffer from his wrath due to a little mistake, thats what hes for. Originally, he felt that hed be rejected, and Maya probably did as well but never would he have guessed his father was so protective of his personal alcohol. ..... Father calm down, it was just a joke, you dont need to ept the request. Youre damn right I dont hmph! Dark turned a way in a huff. Frost shook his head before continuing to cate his father. Eventually he managed to calm him down, saving Maya from a grim fate. Plus, Dark promised to still give him some candy for the children. The alcohol was still however out of the question, and Frost didnt dare bring it up again. Well, the first half of our talk was certainly enjoyable, cant say much about thetter half. Dark still a little miffed,mented with a sarcastic tone. ... Frost kept his tongue, simply nodding in agreement while internally criticizing the man. Its only alcohol plus youre a God, how hard can it be to make some more. Given Darks reaction, Frost couldnt help but desire a taste himself. The seeds of a daring n started to formte in his mind. A secondter he violently shook his head, erasing such foolish thoughts. I still enjoy my life; a bottle of alcohol cant be worth that. Dark thus left to find Indra after promising to send the candy after the gathering is over. Frost meanwhile made his way to greet a few of his other siblings, ones not of the older group. He only managed to shortly greet another four, number 032 a humanoid snake man that was an expert in poison. Frost brought up his experience with wyvern venom, and the situation with Dous, establishing a quick friendship. His name was Wilsander, and he not only used poison and venom but enjoyed eating it. The more he ate the more powerful his own poison became. He asked Frost if he had any more of the wyvern poison left but was unfortunately disappointed. Next was number 045 Agar, a lich specialising in using undead monsters and life absorbing magic. Frost found speaking to a robed skeleton a little strange, but Agar was like any other sapient race. He was based on the eastern continent and had a fondness for baths. Said it warms up his bones. After that was number 067, Gobuske a goblin like dungeon core. He was green skinned and looked a littlerger than a regr goblin, yet his eyes showed impressive intelligence. Unfortunately, his demeanour was rather cowardly andcking in confidence, struggling to even look Frost in the eyes. Unlike many of the other dungeon cores in the room- Pyro and the ck dragon in particr- he didnt look down on goblins so found it a bit disappointing that Gobuske was so nervous and weak willed. Finally, after Gobuske scampered off to the corner, he met number 086, a weird looking core, pretty much just a floating eyeball with wings. Her name was na, and she was based on something called an Ahriman and could speak telepathically without issue and was proficient in mind based magic. However, while in the middle of conversing with na, Dark spoke up from the top of the staircase, bringing the introductions to an end. Hed met and spoken with all his children one on one and now wished to enter the next phase of the gathering. Can I have all your attention please? Dark spoke with a loud booming voice attracting everyones gaze. Once everyone stopped talking and looked up towards him, he continued. I hope each of you managed to meet a few of your siblings and hopefully became friends. However now its time for the next phase of this gathering that I set up. The look in Darks eyes became serious. Ive watched many of you over the past month and where some of you have greatly impressed me with your ambition and bravery others however have holed up in their homes, afraid to leave. Dark looked over a few cores in particr-this didnt include Void and Chronos since they were quite productive while at home. Unfortunately, my meeting with Light, my friend and partner in creation didnt go well. He didnt appreciate your existence and requested that I terminate each of you. The audience sucked in sharp breaths as fear washed over them, even Yami and Aqua werent exempt. That was someone on the same level as Dark, could they protect themselves from such an adversary. Would Dark spare them at the expense of angering his long-time friend and equal? Many of the more intelligent cores couldnt help but tremble, not liking their odds. Was this why we were gathered together? Easier to eliminate. Sessfully generating fear within his children, though it pained him to do so, Dark felt it was necessary. Without fear they wouldnt improve fast enough. Dark didnt know what methods Light would employ but as long as his children were strong enough, they should be able to survive. He let the fear sink in for a few seconds before speaking up. Rx, Im not going to terminate you, Im your father and will act as such. Dark spoke with conviction, his fists clenching as he spoke. I disagreed with Light strongly, he believed that you all were too powerful to exist. Your very being was tantamount to the birth of 100 demi-gods, something that he thinks would bring nothing but chaos to Nova......I however believe that you are necessary to end the stagnation within this world, bringing life to it in ways that he and I could not imagine and so far, you have proved me right. Dark looked below at his audience; his eyes filled with pride. Already the cores were developing in many different ways,ing up with strategies, traps and even past times that were new and interesting. The dungeon cores present felt their hearts fill with warmth as they felt the love that Dark had for them, though they still felt a little unnerved, a God still disagreed with their existence after all. By the covenant that Light and I entered all those years ago, neither he nor I can erase a species without the others consent therefore you are safe, at least from his direct interference. Dark returned to a serious expression before continuing. However, like me Light is stubborn, though he cant personally act he will for sure devise methods to have you removed from Nova. I n to make sure you can survive such methods, hoping for you to live and die in your own way, not because of the misguided machinations of a God. If his children died while exploring the world or had their cores destroyed by adventurers or soldiers of a nation, though hed still feel pain, he could ept it. In such a case they would have lived and died as part of Nova, like any other resident in the world. Therefore, to help you improve Im going to introduce somepetition between each of you, thus creating a sense of motivation to grow faster, to be stronger. Dark started to smile wildly, pleased with his idea. Of course, there will be prizes for the victors. Chapter 160 160 Chapter 160: DP rankings At the mention ofpetition and prizes many of the dungeon cores had their eyes or equivalent light up whereas some others such as Gobuske panicked and felt incredibly nervous. They didnt seem to like the idea ofpetition and felt there was no chance of theming out on top. As several of the dungeon cores started to chat amongst themselves about the prospect of prizes, Dark raised his hand, requesting for everyone to quiet down. First off lets have a look at how each of you have done in regards to cumtive DP gain over the past month. Dark waved his hand and a massive holographic screen appeared before Frost and his siblings. It showed their names and core numbers in order of DP gained. This would be the first measurement scale that Dark would use. A higher ie of DP showed that a dungeon core could buy more from the menu and expand at a faster rate. Those with higher rankings could gain incentives encouraging the lower ranks to increase their own ie, granting separate rewards in case one jumps several levels on the board Frost looked for his name on the board, filled with confidence and a little arrogance he looked at the top 20 first going in ascending order. No, no, no, ah there I am. Eventually he found his name, and it was quite high on the list, number 004. Obviously Yami and Aqua were first and second respectively, their cumtive DP was a fair few orders higher than 3rd ce, which happened to be his natural nemesis Pyro. The fiery barbarian was not too pleased with this oue. In his eyes he showed nothing remarkable, he was the third oldest and should be at the very least 3rd ce. He was however quite surprised that just below him was Frost, and there wasnt much DP difference. He looked toward this younger brother of his with renewed aggression. In 5th ce right behind him was Indra, followed by Sylph, Damascus Gaia and then the ck dragon, number 017 who was called Bahamut. The higher ranked cores tended to be the older ones, number wise, well expect for Void and Chronos since they didnt care too much about anything other than magic. Even Terra given his gentle nature who never killed was still in the top 30. His daily ie was actually quite high due to the many monsters that willingly stayed in the dungeon under his control. A much longer investment that would easily see him shoot up the rankings by the next meeting. However, one of the most surprising results was that of Gobuske, though timid and cowardly and his own personal strength being rather low, he was 19th on the list, surprising many. A few of the more arrogant and aggressive cores looked at him with hatred, wondering how a goblin based core could rank so high. Gobuske shivered from their res, trying to hide in a fictional hole. Frost however looked towards his younger brother with a gentle and reassuring smile, helping him regain a little backbone. Gobuske was fond of Frost, he was one of the rare ones that didnt look at him with inherent disdain plus the fact that he was one of the single digit cores garnered him a lot of respect. Once everyone found their ce, some happy with it, others sad and then those like Void and Chronos who didnt care, Dark went on to bring up the possible prizes, all while nodding his head, impressed with the figures being shown. Very impressive, especially you Yami and Aqua, your DP levels far outstrip that of your younger siblings, good job. Dark nodded and sent a thumbs up gesture to his eldest son and daughter. ..... My pleasure father. Aqua spoke with confidence, performing a slight courtesy to Dark before sending a triumphant wink towards Frost tranting roughly as take a look little Frost, isnt your big sister awesome. Frosts lips simply twitched in response before looking away. Yami however still with a cool silent expression simply nodded his head in response, as though such an oue was expected. Dark felt as though a frog was in his throat seeing his eldest sons uninterested expression before muttering under his breath how his daughters were so much cuter. He then looked over towards Pyro. Though he worried about this childs brain and his attitude towards other cores he was in fact quite impressive when it came to running his dungeon, given his ranking as third. All the dungeon cores present had the same amount of time in running their dungeons therefore Pyro achieved his third ce through his own skill and effort. Pyros method was quite tribal, he appreciated strength and wasnt one to shirk from hard work to gain that strength. He hunted bandits as an adventurer to supplement his DP ie and his monsters fought with great vigour against intruders, killing many. Pyro wasnt afraid of beingbelled as a dangerous monsterir, in fact he weed it. Greater foes meant greater pressure; hed improve faster under such adversaries. His strength as a fighter was a fair chunk higher than Frosts even without the elemental disadvantage because of such an attitude. Like him he constantly fought with his guardian until his body was broken and battered and usually took on many of the intruders himself. His monster loss was fairly high but so was his ie, he found a good bnce. Plus, while his fire monsters fought alongside their creator their strength was magnified, truly a powerful opponent. Pyro Im quite impressed with your effort, just a tad more and youll be able topete with Yami and Aqua, congrattions. Pyro performed a full on military salute towards his father, pride gushing out of his eyes as he did so, he was praised by his father, making his struggles worthwhile. Dark then congratted the other top ten including Frost, but clearly the top three ces, were the major topic. Those who ced 4th to 10th please step forward. Frost and his siblings in the top ten walked ahead to receive their rewards, expectation in their eyes. Frost couldnt help feel nervous, Indra elbowed him in the side, as though mocking. Dark waved his hand and 7 treasure chests appeared in each of their hands, appearing like the ones that could be purchased from the dungeon menu. In there is a random low level reward for each of you, what you get will rely upon your own luck. The group of seven looked at the chest in their hands, hesitating whether to open now orter. Indra however didnt hesitate in slightest, opening up before Dark even hand a chance to finish speaking. Sweet a bottle of whiskey! Indra loudly proimed his reward as he pulled it out of the chest, a big smile on his face. He loved hard spirits, whiskey in particr. The empire near him produced quite of a lot of spirits so he had ess to such items. The bottle he won however was a B-rank whiskey, easily worth a few gold coins, a very nice prize indeed. The others no longer held back after seeing Indras actions, opening up their chests and revealing the contents to all those watching. A few werent quite so lucky, gaining a small handful of silver or a useless magic device. Indra was the only one to get a really high end prize, the lucky bastard. Frost won a 1st circle ice spell called freezing touch, usually 650DP in the dungeon menu. It allowed the caster to send a wave of freezing ice mana from their hands over a short distance. He hadnt learned it yet, so it was a decent reward; he was happy with it. Those seven then stepped back into the audience, the real prizes were nowing, those for Yami, Aqua and Pyro. Yami, Aqua, Pyro can you pleasee to the front to receive your prizes. Dark spoke with majesty, clearly putting emphasis on the difference between the top 3 and top ten. The other 90 cores, were left biting their lips out of jealousy wishing it was them up there, getting personally called on by Dark. The three grand winners then made their way to the front, one modest and polite, another cold and indifferent and thest arrogant as he shoved his way through with a wide grin. You three have surpassed all your siblings in this regard and will be heavily rewarded. Dark then with a gentle smile looked to Pyro. Pyro foring third I grant you this weapon, hopefully it suits your tastes. With a wave of his hand, a magic crest appeared in front of Pyro and a massive two handed axe rose from the floor, scarlet in colour from tip to end. It looked glorious and of very high quality. This is a 4 star axe crafted using the highest of standards. The shaft is made from the bones of a volcanic drake, highly resistant to heat and impact while the des are forged entirely out of Vulcan steel, a fine weapon, capable of enduring intense power and fire attributed chakra. Dark exined the materials used to make the weapon, causing everyone in the room to be gobsmacked, even Yami, couldnt help but eye this weapon with a tinge of greed. That was a 4 star weapon, far stronger than what any of them currently had ess too, whether that be in the dungeon menu or in Nova. Handing Pyro, a weapon like that was like adding wings to a tiger, his battle prowess would sky rocket. T...Thank you father, I shall treasure this weapon as though my life depended on it. Pyro spoke with reverence and bowed at a ny degree angle before walking back into the audience, clutching onto his weapon. Using his body to hide it from the gazes of his curious and jealous siblings. If he was any happier Pyro would have been skipping. Chapter 161 161 Chapter 161: Next stage of the gathering Next second ce, Aqua, my eldest daughter for you I grant a spell book, the 4th circle spell [summon water elemental] hopefully you find great use of it given your magically tendencies. Dark summoned a highly decorative book this time, that floated before Aqua. Though she was skilled in weapons and physicalbat, she preferred tomand water in battle and Dark knew this. Therefore, he granted her magic, much to the jealously of Void and Chronos who were biting their lips, their eyes glistening with desire. Even them with their magical tendencies hadnt unlocked or even touched upon the boundaries of 4th circle magic. Aqua took hold of the book, gently holding it against herrge chest as she performed a courtesy towards Dark. Thank you for your generous gift father. She then stepped back into the crowd, walking tall and magnanimous, far different from Pyro. Next was the final prize for the oldest and highest ranked dungeon core, Yami. Yami my son, you have proven your capabilities and then some, not only have you garnered the most DP in the past month, but you have surpassed all of your younger siblings in strength. And along with Aqua are the only two dungeon cores who have unlocked ess to C-rank monsters, very impressive. Dark nodded his head repeatedly, filled with joy and pride as he looked down at his son. Yami was perfect in every sense of the word and reminded him greatly of himself when he was younger. A tad bit stand offish and anti-social with a rather poor sense of humour but still. Yami gave a curt nod in response yet even he with his cool and calm exterior couldnt help but develop a smirk on his lips, much too small to been seen by others, however. For you I have two rewards, first off the magic spell [summon lesser undead] a 3rd circle spell that should help popte your dungeon. A little weaker than Aquas [summon water elemental] but of the same category. Dark waved his hand once again, summoning another book, this time dark in colour that floated in front of Yami. And now the second reward, and the most special and unique. This time Dark didnt simply wave his hand to generate a magic crest no, he teleported down from his elevated position, appearing directly in front of Yami with a more serious expression on his face. Dark thought long and hard on what to reward his children with today. The items couldnt be too overpowering otherwise itd wreck the bnce between them plus he couldnt and didnt want to interfere in their growth too much. Therefore, he needed to find the right bnce. 4th to 10th would receive something no more than several gold coins worth, and it would be random to make it more exciting. Then for 2nd and 3rd theyd receive something that would suit their fighting styles either a 4 star weapon or 4th circle magic. When it came to Yamis prize he wanted something extra special, not just giving a weapon and a spell no, something unique was needed. However, what he came up with, though very rare and quite powerful, had a hitch. When Dark arrived before his son, he channelled a great deal of divine power throughout his body. Activating his powers of creation, darkness flew from his hands, taking the shape of arge egg, just shy of a metre tall. When the formation finished and the darkness receded back into Darks body what was left was a smooth ck coloured egg, that seemed to pulse with life. Everyone here Yami included looked on in amazement at what Dark held in his hands, a few cores holding their breath in suspense. Dark smiled gently as he handed over therge ck egg to Yami, a little bit of sweat umted on his forehead from the strain of what he just did. He wiped his forehead before going on to exin Yamis reward ..... This is a spiritual egg of the darkness element, eventually as long as its nurtured with care and ced in an area with thick mana it will hatch into a high ranking darkness spirit that will be bonded to you like a child to its parent. Dark looked at Yami and the egg fondly, hoping in some way that such a gift would cause his stoic son to smile more often. The egg would hatch and release a darkness elemental, with very high potential. Elemental spirits were avid spellcasters and quite powerful entities in the higher ranks. Though the potential of the spirit was far higher in quality than Aquas and Pyros rewards, the downside was that it would take time. However as long as Yami took good care of the egg, frequently feeding it with his own mana it may even have the potential to be a spirit lord, a S-rank monster. Yami held onto the egg with confusion on his face, it was heavy and not what he was expecting. His reward seemed to be that of a longsting chore, but he didnt question his father, once again giving a curt nod, and a short word of thanks before walking carefully back into the crowd. Regardless of whether he found it boring or tedious hed follow his fathers wishes and care for the egg. Darks mouth twitched a little, still finding it awkward to deal with his eldest sons attitude. He shook his head and took a breath before restoring his warm expression, teleporting back to the top of the staircase to continue the next part. Now that the rewards have all been dealt with, I hope that I fuelled some fire in each of you to covet as much DP as possible. Dark gazed across the room, seeing fire and desire in many of his childrens eye, his methods working. Thats some great looks youre giving me, every time we have a family gathering, wellpare each of your progress and dish out rewards for those in the top positions and those that have greatly surpassed their previous ce. Ill alsoe up with somepromises for some cores since I know that this format doesnt necessarily work for each of you given your personalities and or locations. Dark couldnt help but look toward Void and Chronos who though among the oldest dungeon cores were pretty much in the bottom rung DP wise. He needed toe up with something fairer in the future, to take into ount such cores. His words and gentle looks eased a few worried cores in the audience, those in the bottom rung in particr. Ok time for the next part of the gathering. Dark couldnt help but smile wildly, as though hatching some sort of scheme. Its all well and good to see how everyone did with DP ie butcks a more practical reflection of ones abilities in regards to dungeon management. I dont know what forces Light or even the denizens of this world will send against you, so I need to see how well you do in a battle! Dark spoke with a booming voice, as though an Emperor at the coliseum. With mention of battle, many of the more aggressive cores felt their bodies heat up, and their eyes became aze with excitement. Pyro and Bahamut in particr. Frost and Indra couldnt help but smile as well, they weed a physical challenge. Today we shall have the very first dungeon war, two of you will face off with the dungeons you have established, aiming to either decimate your opponents monsters or reach their dungeon core. The winners will receive a special reward and loser will earn a regr reward, for being a participant in the very first dungeon war. Dark wouldnt be too mean to the loser, they would be revealing their home and abilities to everyone here after all. I n to make this a regr thing even out with the gatherings, itll help fosterpetition and establish a proper hierarchy among each of you as well as help prepare you for what maye. Now a few ground rules for this demonstration. First you the dungeon core will not take ce on the field of battle; youll be restricted to purely amanding role. This well help show me your leadership and strategic capabilities, in future wars there wont be restrictions so stop with that sour face Pyro. Dark admonished Pyro who visibly deted when he hard he wouldnt be able to take part in battle personally. That was his whole wheelhouse, his strategic ability was pretty non-existent. Hed run into battle with his monsters by his side, and simply cleave the enemy in two with brute force. Second you cannot, break the dungeon core/kill your sibling, this is just a friendly battle to showcase your strengths. You reach the opponents core, game over, it ends got it! Dark stressed this point with a stern gaze. In the future his children may very well end up killing one another in dungeon wars but he wouldnt promote such behaviour especially in the very first demonstration. Today is a happy celebration not a potential death anniversary. Thirdly those chosen will be granted an hour to prepare their dungeons and spend any DP they have saved up if they wish to. No more DP can be used during this war, to make it fair and test your future nning capabilities. And finally, your guardians cannot take part whether that means fighting in person ormanding, they will take a strictly observing role. Any questions? Chapter 162 162 Chapter 162: Dungeon war Darks exnation was a lot to take in, resulting in a few of the less intelligent cores to have nk looks. Void however was not one of those cores. Father, how are we going to do this war? As far as I know only Chronos, and I have our dungeons near enough for this demonstration to be feasible? Plus, what about any intruders that are currently within the dungeon? Voidid out the main queries he had without any hesitation, innocently ripping into his fathers all-knowing atmosphere. Good questions little Void, for this war and subsequent wars, the two dungeons will be connected via a spatial door. Each of the dungeons would open up into a special space that will allow the opposing teams monsters to enter their dungeon. For the intruders well...I guess Ill have them temporarily removed in this demonstration, whether youd want to take advantage of them in future dungeon wars will be up to you. Void eyes lit up at the mention of a spatial door. Something solid and stable enough that could facilitate transferring of multiple persons across unknown distance was something far beyond the capabilities of the sapient races in Nova. And something that Void was very interested in; his element was space after all. Those chosen will be teleported back to their Dungeons to prepare for an hour and once the timer isplete, Ill connect the spaces and disy the battle here for everyone to view in real time. Anything else? Dark asked again, this time no longer as confident. This time Frost spoke up. I know you said that there would be rewards for those that take part in the demonstration but how would the DP be allocated? Would it be like normal wherein we gain ten times the daily amount when an opposing monster is killed and does that happen when in the opposing dungeon or only in our own? Frost asked with a sharp look, he knew that Dark tended to half ass many things when it came to the small details. If they didnt receive DP for this war, there would be no benefits even if they did win. Could a single reward make up for the mass loss of monsters.? Dark visibly twitched, feeling an invisible blow to his ego. Damn why are my kids so inquisitive. He released a short sigh beforeying out a few more rules. Killing opposing dungeon monsters will release three times their daily DP value, regardless of whether that be within their own dungeon or the opposing dungeon. For this demonstration, spawners will be deactivated, and they cannot be destroyed. ..... Lost monsters will still release 10% of their cost price even if killed in opposing dungeon. Boss rooms can be designated making it so opposing monsters (or intruders) cant pass through until boss monster is killed. Maps of the opposing dungeon core will appear after monsters have scouted the area. Combat will only happen within the dungeons, not the connecting space. Monsters will be divided into offensive team and defensive team; monsters cannot transfer between for example when the offensive team has suffered heavy casualties the defence team cannot enter the opposing dungeon to aid them. This will help once again, to test forward nning and strategic ability. Future wars may not be so restrictive. After that pretty much all the queries were answered, with some things being put off until after the demonstration. Dark would view and judge the current format and alter it if needed for subsequent dungeon wars. Right, hopefully thats cleared up any underlying confusion. Dark spoke with an annoyed tone, eyeing up Frost and Void in particr. Alright lets find out who the lucky people will be. Dark waved his hand and arge ck hat appeared filled with pieces of paper. Hed draw two names from this hat to decide the opponents. The audience waited on bated breath as Dark smirked and slowly rummaged his hand amongst the names, enjoying the mystery. After a few seconds he pulled out the first name and his eyes lit up and his smile grew as he looked towards the chosen individual. Congrattions Frost, youll be one of the first Dungeon cores taking part in this demonstration,e on up here hehehehe. Dark giggled mischievously as though Frost was going to endure some kind of plight he created. Karma he thought for requesting some of his secret alcohol stash. He even had the thought to no longer make this random draw random. If I pick Aqua or Yami or even Pyro, Frost will surely have his ass handed to him heheheh. Evil thoughts of petty revenge filled his mind as Frost nervously walked up the stairs. Dark wasnt exactly hiding his emotions very well and Frost knew him quite well. His steps were slow and forceful, internally hoping that he was just imagining the evil grin on his fathers face. Eventually Dark chose not to give in to his pettiness, his emotions over the past month have been really out of whack thanks to splitting his soul. He regained a little rity and kept this choice random. Reaching back down into the hat he pulled out the second name and this one caused his eyes to widen in surprise, his gaze instinctively drifting to the one chosen. Now this will be interesting. It wasnt Yami, Aqua or Pyro or even one of the older dungeon cores yet this person despite his personality was within the top 25 of DP umtion. The audience followed Darks gaze towards the rear of the crowd, a few dungeon cores moving to the side to allow everyone a better view. Gobuske, you are the second choice. Dark spoke loudly but with a gentle tone, yet Gobuske still shivered and took a few step back while shaking his head. M...Me? He pointed towards himself feeling pressured by everyone looking at him. Haaaaaa yes you my son, up youe. Dark beckoned him over, his expression a mixture of pity and gentleness. Hed looked in on Gobuske and his dungeon a few times over the past month. He was worried, Gobuske was born rather timid but certainly not to this degree and unfortunately, he knew the reason. Perhaps this battle will help resolve this problem or one of his elder siblings might. Dark knew the cause of Gobuskes cowardice but didnt move to fix it himself since technically the cause hadnt done anything over board just belittling and harming his childs self-confidence. Hiiiiiiiii Gobuske yelped in a high pitch, his skin crawling from being the centre of attention, but he didnt have the will to refuse his father. Under the fierce stares of his siblings, he walked up the staircase to join Dark and Frost. He could over hear however many of his siblings jeering and mocking him as he went. Why did I get picked, Ive not done anything wrong, I even stayed out of sight at the far end of the room. Gobuskemented his poor luck as he took his ce next to Dark, his body still cowering, looking rather small and weak. Frost meanwhile looked at his younger brother with interest, fully expecting an impressive fight but Gobuske was shivering, he frowned before moving towards his younger brother and pping his back. Hiiiiiiii Gobuske yelped in surprise, not expecting to be physically struck. Stand up straight Gobuske youve got no reason to be so nervous. Frost spoke with a confident tone. Gobuske turned to look at his assaulter, confusion in his eyes. But after seeing the look in Frosts eyes he stopped shivering, he felt less nervous, calm even. He nodded his head and did as instructed, straightening his back, and looking down at his many siblings. Dark smiled slightly in response to Frosts actions, finding this pairing to be very good. Number 007 Frost and number 067 Gobuske you two will be sent back to your dungeons and will be given one hour to prepare for battle, good luck. And with Darks usual practise, the two dungeon cores were swallowed by his trademark ck egg without any warning and sent back home. Everyone else, Ill prepare some seating for you to getfortable, please help yourself to the many snacks as we watch the show. Frost arrived a couple minutester back in his dungeons private space, Maya and the kids were there and waiting. That was rather quick young master, is the gathering over already? Maya asked from the sofa, not expecting Frost to be back for the entire day yet itd been less than a couple hours. Not exactly, Frost then went on to exin the dungeon war that he was forced to participate in as well as his opponent. I see, a war between cores, interesting and our opponent is a goblin looking core? Maya asked with an unusual tone. Yes Gobuske, rather timid andcking in confidence though I dont see why. Im sure hell have dozens of different goblin type monsters. Frost was truly eager to see the many types of goblin monsters. Given his element and core type he didnt have much ess to many archetypes even though he was really fond of goblins. Maya had an unusual look in her eyes and something on the tip of her tongue, but she didnt say it, it wasnt her ce after all. So, we have an hour to prepare, after which the dungeons will be connected, and well no longer be able to use dungeon points. Yes, but more urately I wont, Father forbade guardians from interfering in any way, he wants to test out own capability Oh....sweet so I can just lie back and take a nap, perfect. Maya then rxed, arching her back in a stretch, testing the limits of her tight fitting dress before falling backwards and lying on the sofa with a satisfied smile. Chapter 163 163 Chapter 163: Dungeon war (2) Frost looked down upon hisid back guardian, his lips twitching and fists clenching as he resisted the urge to smack her. He didnt forget that because of her he nearly got on his fathers bad side, but he took a deep breath and rxed. Dying her punishment untilter, for now though he needed to prepare for this war. Ignoring Maya, he turned around to face Nanna and Loki who were sitting at the kitchen table. They were in the middle of a reading lesson, but promptly closed their books when Frost arrived, ready to assist their master in any fashion. Unlike Maya the two of them could take part in this war and Frost intended for them to y arge role. Over the past couple weeks not only had the two of them been learning to read, write and train, theyd be quite adept with using the dungeon menu. Although they still didnt have ess to DP, they could like Finy view the map andmunicate with the monsters in the dungeon. They were no longer afraid of the monsters under Frostsmand and even made a few close friends, the Santa like frost dwarf in particr. Though they still couldnt really understand its grunting the two of them frequently hung out with it during their downtime and used the dungeon menu tomunicate while in the private space. Nanna, Loki well be facing off against my younger brother Gobuske in an hour. Itll be a battle wherein our monsters need to reach the opposing teams dungeon core; you know the special room at the end of the dungeon. I want the two of you to take part. Frost spoke up, exining what was going to happen. Hed have them takemand of a small group of monsters to defend a room or area within a room. A perfect chance to gauge how much theyve improved. Maya opened her eyes and frowned when Frost mentioned wanting to involve the kids but when she heard that theyd be safely contained in the private space, she closed her eyes once again, drifting off into fake slumber. At their current strength theyd just about manage to kill a goblin when working together, hardly a worthy addition to the war effort. But if using their intellect and ability to harness the dungeon menu itd be different. Nanna and Loki were a fair bit nervous at the mention of a war but hearing that theyd only be required tomand from within the private space, their moods were lifted, and they epted with eager smiles. Before being unable to hold back their curiosity any longer, dying to ask Frost about the gathering and all his siblings as well as Dark. Frost smiled gently before giving a quick description of what happened to the two of them. Mentioning his conflict with Pyro and his new friendship with Indra who was his neighbour as well as his eldest sister Aqua and her rubbing of his head. He even said a little about their future opponent Gobuske before finally mentioning Darks promise of candy, which had them almost bursting in excitement, candy from a God should be quite impressive. Maya opened her eyes and few times in curiosity, once when Frost brought up Indras guardian Izuna, another when he mentioned Aquas behaviour towards him and finally a third time when he mentioned Darks promise. With the third look her eyes met Frosts and they contained a significant amount of irritation. Knowing the reason, she promptly shut them again and faked snoring eliciting a giggle from the kids. He still had around 45 minutes or so until Dark connects his dungeon with Gobuskes, so he had the kids tidy up the ce to make it moremand room ready while he teleported to Finy. Hed be the other major yer in this war, he wanted to get his advice as an ice trollmander. Mainly to work out who to send on the offensive and who on the defensive. Finy was a powerful C-rank monster with high intelligence but there was only one of him. Luckily there wasnt many intruders in the dungeon at the moment so if needed he could rearrange a great many things. If even a single intruder was in a section, he couldnt make any changes. ..... He quickly teleported to the heavily fortified de, this would serve as amand outpost and bastion during the war, wherein monsters could retreat to and receive orders. Currently as usual there was a light contingent of frost dwarves and goblins, with Finy at the heart, dealing with reports and or training. Finy too had been hard at work over the past two weeks, even sessfully learning the skill [axe throw], making him even more of a force to be reckoned with. Though he could also use a little magic he was clearly built for physicalbat as was his personality. He liked to use his body fight, not so much his mana. When Frost arrived, he was in the middle of practising his new ranged attack [axe throw] against a couple training posts. The massive axe was tossed with great uracy, shining lightly as it flew through the air before splitting the training posts apart. Thankfully these training post would regenerate over time, the frost dwarves just cut arge tree into shape, damaging them was in fact a necessity to prevent them bing full blown trees again. Finy Frost spoke up to get his prized monsters attention. He was always filled with pride when he saw Finy hard at work. Master! Finy turned around, a joyful expression on his face. We need to talk. Frost gestured towards a quiet area in the de, wherein they could discuss the situation in private. Frost would of course tell his monsters shortly, but after he devised a n. Finy nodded like a loyal solider before grabbing his axe and following his master. They entered what was once Finys recovery room, now his own personal bedroom or office. They both took a seat. Let me give you the quick rundown. Frost then quickly exined the events of the gathering, about the uing dungeon war and its purpose. Finy listened with rapt attention the entire time, cupping his chin in thought, simr to that of his master. I see, so you want to discuss our n of attack against your brothers dungeon? Finy spoke like a military man, blunt and concise. Yes, I know little about our opponent other than hes likely adept with goblins given his appearance plus Im not sure about our n of attack. Frost could see that Gobuske was rather timid and cowardly, but he wouldnt let that influence the threat his monsters posed. He knew full well that goblins as long as they had an intelligent and capable leader, theyd be a force to be reckoned with. Plus, he couldnt rule out the possibility of Gobuske having a C-rank monster like Finy under his control. He wasnt arrogant enough to think he was the only one to name one of his monsters. Surely other cores have taken advantage of this enhancement to give them a power boost. But he was most worried about Gobuskes adaptability. If he had ess to a wide range of goblin archetypes such as archers, mages or even healers itd be like fighting a well formed army with very little weaknesses. Finy frowned as he pondered his masters question, hundreds of possibilities running through his mind. His trollmander race showing its full capabilities. Do you mean whether to have me on the offensive or defensive? Finy got straight to the point. This was the major question; he was far stronger than any of Frosts other monsters and a major y piece. Pretty much yeah, should I focus your efforts on defending the dungeon, whether that be protecting the core room or fighting here in the de. Or have you on the frontline, cleaving through our enemies in order to reach the Gobuskes core room? The details of the rest of the attacking force and defending force was too much hassle, pretty much nning to go half and half. Will Nanna and Loki be taking part? Yes, they will be using the dungeon menu to monitor the situation and rymands alongside me in the private space since Mayas forbidden to interfere and unfortunately, I cant join in the battle. This is purely a test of our management capabilities. Finy thought for a while before crossing his arms and leaning back I see....if thats the case then I think you should be the one to decide master. Ill help out in nning the forces, but you should be the one to position me. Eh? Frost looked at his monstermander in confusion, this was why he was here, to get his opinion on where to ce him yet Finy simply tossed it back his way. He looked at Finy with a pronounced frown clearly not too pleased with his answer, but Finy was quite stubborn with his decision, this was a test for his master, a good servant would not impede the masters growth, so he kept silent. Chapter 164 164 Chapter 164: Dungeon war (3) Frost stared frustratingly at Finy, but he kept his word. After a few minutes of Frost going back and forth internally he sighed. Haaaaaa, fine then you should be on the offensive. Frost nodded and crossed his arms, sure of his decision. Your reasoning master? Other than the best offence is a good defence, the defensive side will have enoughmanders, me, Nanna and Loki whereas the offensive wont have anyone. This was the clearest reason he could think of. Finy frowned taking in his young masters answer, making Frost feel rather nervous as he awaited judgement. After a few seconds however Finy smiled and nodded his head. Good answer master, I agree, Ill take charge of the attack leaving the defence to you so lets discuss strategy. With Finys position settled, the two of them entered into a strategy meeting. Discussing monster cement, trap rearrangement and spending of the current DP. With the dungeon war uing, there was no need for him to save his current stock of 5800DP and nned to spend at least 80% of it. At the thirty minute mark, the dungeon started to shake, alerting Frost and the many monsters dwelling within. The intruders were also quite rmed before suddenly being wrapped in a ck light and deposited outside of the Dungeon, a ck barrier then blocked the entrance, puzzling the adventurers. Dark sent a friendly message telepathically after the event, now they could set up the dungeon without interruption. With the shaking exined, Frost and Finy went back to their discussion. After purchasing new monsters and traps his fighting force contained. Frost goblins G-rank: 8..... Frost goblin fighter F-rank: 2 Frost goblin archer F-rank: 5 Frost goblin rogue F-rank: 1 Frost slimes G-rank: 15 Artic horned rabbit G-rank: 15 Artic fox F-rank: 8 Snow owls F-rank: 10 Winter boars F-rank: 18 Spiked winter boar E-rank: 2 Frost wolf E-rank: 24 Frost dwarf E-rank: 25 Frost trolls D-rank: 3 Finy (ice trollmander) C-rank: 1 Ice n E-rank: 5 Large frost spider E-rank: 10 Artic stag F-rank: 8 Lagombi D-rank: 1 Frost also bought 8 artic gyrfalcons, G-rank monsters that cost 40DP a pop. Fast and agile, perfect for scouting unknown terrain, but low fighting capabilities. Theycked the wing strength and talons topete against humanoid adventurers like the snow owls, so Frost hadnt purchased any as of yet. Frost spent a fair amount of DP on adding on a dozen traps for the first two sections, a mixture of the three basic traps he started with. The spiked pitfall, the frost mine and the bear traps. He also quickly conjured up a simple trap for the castle ruins and ice cavern sections. He called it bolt shooter, basing the design on the automatic ballistaes that Maya shot him with in their training session. It wasnt as effective,cking the repeating action, needing to be refreshed after a single shot. However, it didntck lethality, especially within narrow corridors with little manoeuvrability. Therge iron bolt would fire and fly through the air faster than an arrow, easily piercing armour. The trap cost 250DP so he bought 6, cing 3 in each castle ruins section. Unfortunately, he ran low on DP, and couldnt purchase anymore. Hows the state of recing the goblins weapons with spears and shields as well as the bunker establishments? Frost asked Finy, who was still sitting across from him, in thought. Ever since he first summoned frost dwarves and saw the smithing capability they had, he asked them to make better weapons for his goblins and create defensible outposts throughout the dungeon. Other than this heavily fortified de that they used as their base of operations many other areas in the winter forest had received a defensive makeover. Its going very well master, most of the goblins summoned have been able to arm themselves with spears and or rece their daggers with better ones. Allowing them tobat more differing opponents, Ive even taught them a few of the techniques you exined. Finy responded with a confident tone, the goblins were great soldiers, taking to orders very well. Frost purchased many books from Sebastians store, some of which were about weapons and how to use them as well as some military books. Finy and Frost had arranged for the goblins and asionally other monsters to roam around the Dungeon and act in groups, usually around 5 members. It made them far more difficult to deal with and with the additions of spears the goblins were able to take on a rudimentary formation, further increasing their survivability and lethality. Adventurers when they came across such a group would be full of arrogance, looking down on the goblins ying soldier. However usually theyd pay a high price for their arrogance. Five goblins working in concert were much harder to deal with and the adventurers wouldmonly be forced into retreat when their battle drew the ire of other monsters. Sometimes the goblin squad would be able to deal some lethal damage or even kill one of their opponents. No longer were they simply G-rank trash, especially when under the directmand of either Frost or Finy, in which their prowess increased even more. This was why even though Gobuske had the form a low rank goblin, he would never underestimate him. He understood the lethality of goblins while under hismand. Though they still couldntpare to the power of his E-rank frost dwarves or frost wolves, they held much greater numbers. That was just under his control, Gobuskes goblins should be far more diverse and numerous, to be honest if he didnt have Finy on his side, he wouldnt look highly on the oue given the current level of his dungeon. Through Maya as well as a few of the monster books he purchased he discovered an interesting fact. Though A-rank and S-rank monsters were considered cmities that could crush empires with their overbearing strength, they very rarely interfered with the sapient races, choosing to remain in their own domains. Goblins however did not and overall, ording to the book were a far more deadly threat. There was a reason why theres a constant killing quest for them in all adventurer guilds. When goblins are low in numbers and all still G-rank or perhaps a few F-ranks theyre nothing to worry about however regr goblins- those not born in a dungeon or monsterir- breed at an incredible rate and reach adulthood in a matter months. If not kept in check, they can be a relentless starving horde that can decimate territories. Once a tribe bes greater than 1000 members high rank goblins start to be born, ones adept in leadership making them a dangerous threat to other nearby monster tribes or sapient towns. After 10,000 the goblins be akin to a simple army, a territory level threat and after 100,000 they be a country level threat. Once they reach over 100,000 theres a chance of a goblin lord or even a goblin king being born, the highest ranking goblin in existence, once that happens its designated as a cmity grade threat wherein if they havent already acted, the nearby countries, empires, and even other monster tribes attack with a vengeance before the goblin king can truly take control. The goblin king himself is only a B-rank level monster but will always be surrounded by thousands upon thousands of goblins each receiving high level buffs from the king. In one of the history books there was a case where a goblin king came into existence very early on, without the nearby kingdoms realising. After a couple years of him bing fully grown, his horde surpassed one million and it descended upon the continent, destroying, and piging countless territories, and capturing tens of thousands of women to be breeders for the next generation. This happened centuries ago on the eastern continent and thankfully thanks to thebined efforts of the more powerful empires and a certain monster the goblin king and his horde were eradicated but the damage had already been done. That period was known as the green tide and changed how the world, the east in particr looked at goblins. Thus, the permanent kill quest came about, to always keep their numbers low. Of course, Frost didnt believe that Gobuske was at that level- not yet anyway- but he understood the threat he could pose in the future even if he was a goblin. In regards to the bunkers the dwarves were primarily focused on supplying the new weapons, so theyve only managed to fully outfit the second section. Over twenty fortified des now exist throughout the winter forest, though not to the size and extent of this ce, they will serve as prime defence outposts, allowing the monsters to retreat to safety and or fight a prolonged battle. Finy then showed Frost on the dungeon map where each of the outposts were positioned. Unfortunately, we dont have much in the terms of ranged attacks otherwise theyd be far more than just defensive outposts. Finy frowned; he had many ideas in regards to using ranged firepower. If the outposts had a group of ranged attackers whether that be archers or magic users the outposts would be akin to watchtowers that could prevent groups from reaching the next section, very useful for a war such as this, whereinrge numbers would be attacking. At the moment they only had 10 monsters that could use ranged attacks (not including Finy) the ice ns with their magic and the frost goblin archers, not enough to outfit all the outposts. Chapter 165 165 Chapter 165: Dungeon war (4) Point taken, in future depending on how they perform in this battle Ill move to try and expand our ranged capabilities. Frost nodded agreeing to Finys suggestion. What about the first section, the winter hignds? This was the first area in his dungeon and the greeting room wherein hed first meet the forces of Gobuske. The wide open snow covered areas and roaring blizzard would be great for ambushes. He added a fair amount of the bear traps and spike pitfalls to this room in preparation, hidden underneath the snow. He also decided to temporarily deactivate the bottomless pitfall trap, cant have his opponent finding a shortcut. Weve set up a few defences in a few of the rock formations where the goblins like to hang out, but other than that not much has changed. But to be honest theres not much point in retrofitting the first section, if its too daunting, wed put off the adventurers. Best to build up areas deeper in the dungeon. Agreed, anything else we can do, weve got very little time left? The battle would begin in less than 20 minutes. I can have some of the monsters stationed in the castle ruins sections create some simple barricades in the hallways, should buy us some time if the opponents get that far. Alright do that but have them be careful not block the new bolt traps. Ill return to the private space and let everyone know whats happening. Also choose one of your frost troll lieutenants to act as an on the fieldmander for the defence force. As you wish master Finy receiving his orders bowed and left the room whereas Frost activated the dungeons teleportation feature and returned to the private space, where Nanna and Loki were waiting. Maya was still lying on the sofa, beingzy, while Nanna and Loki had moved their chairs next to the dungeon core, along with one for Frost. The first thing Frost did was kick the sofa, rudely alerting Maya before taking his seat in front of the core. What was that for? Maya asked with a disgruntled tone. Your appearance irked me thats all. Frost responded curtly but paid no attention to her annoyed expression, bringing up themunication features of the core. ..... Hello, can everyone hear me, ok? He spoke into the core, yet throughout the entire dungeon his voice was reverberating in every area. The monsters looked up instinctively, trying to find the source of their masters voice. In about 20 minutes well be taking part in something called a dungeon war, with my younger sibling Gobuske. My father the Dark God, decided that this would be a good way to test our battle prowess as Dungeon cores. In 2o minutes, arge horde of monsters under Gobuskesmand will invade our home, in attempt to reach my core.... We shall do the same, Finy will be inmand of the assault force, leading you into the opposing dungeon to cleave apart my brothers monsters. The first one to either eliminate the others forces or reach their dungeon core wins, and my Father has promised a grand prize for the winner...I want that prize. Frost spoke with strong desire towards the end and all his listening monsters, Finy included could understand. Pride and fire filled their hearts. Their creator, their father will be leading them into war and desires victory, what kind of son or daughter would reject that desire. All the monsters listening could feel their blood pumping, adrenaline beginning to flood their system. Frost smiled and paused for dramatic effect, as he continued to rally his monsters into a fervour. Those assigned to the offensive team, I want you to rip your way through my brothers defences and reach his core while those in the defensive team give the intruders no quarter. Prevent them from gaining any traction, they do not reach my core room am I clear.... He paused once again. ....Am I CLEAR!!!!!! He roared the phrase again, his voice filled with passion. A momentter raucous yelling and grunting could be heard throughout the dungeon in reply. Many were thrusting their weapons in the air as they yelled at the top their lungs. Wishing that the opponents were here right now. Even in the private space, they could feel the Dungeon lightly shaking from the noise. Nanna and Loki were just as affected if not more so than the monsters. They were sitting right next to Frost as he dered his intentions. Good, bring me victory and Ill ensure that each of you are heavily rewarded! Thisst sentence caused another round of yells and apuse throughout, much to Frosts pleasure. Happy with their response, Frost then ryed his orders, dividing up the offensive teams and defensive teams and arranging the defenders locations to guard. Hed leave the attackers to Finy to manage. They already discussed possible attack patterns and monsters theyd encounter but it was only spection at best. They wont know whatll hit them until it hits them, so having Finy there would make sure the attacking force had high morale regardless of what they face. With 5 minutes to go, Frost gave out his final orders and the majority of the monsters were in ce, just a few teams left helping to build barricades in the castle ruins section. Most of the forces were arranged on the top floor, with many escape routes to allow them to fall back to the next defence zone. Ideally Gobuskes forces wouldnt be able to reach the second floor, but if they do, he kept a few back up forces there with orders to not take part in the battle unless absolutely necessary. His body was lightly trembling, and goosebumps covered his arms, a mad smile adoring his face and he struggled not to startughing. He was truly excited, eager to begin this war, inspired by his own encouraging rally. Not bad young master, pretty rousing. Maya spoke honestly from thefort of the couch, still refusing to move off it. That was the n, now to see how effective itll be. Nanna, Loki, are you ready? Frost turned to the two young kids by his side, they each brought up the dungeon map and were watching all the monsters get in ce. After calibrating the dungeon menu to allow them ess, they like Finy could use some of the menus basic functions. Frost assigned them to be in charge of the first contact -with his oversight of course. They would give the defending ambushers the order to strike or retreat. Yes master More than ready master. They both answered with confident and eager expressions. Frost tussled their hair with a smile before simply responding with. Good answer The three of them and the many monsters on their side were ready and waiting, watching the clock count down until the hour passed. You know, Father said you cant take part in the war, but he never said anything about you preparing drinks and snacks. Frost turned around to speak to thezy bum that was on the sofa, finding her more and more irritating the longer he looked at her. He still hadnt decided on an effective punishment for the tricking him into asking for Darks personal stash, but this would be a good start. Maya opened her eyes wide, blinking a few times as though she could not recognise the young man before her. What happened to the meek littlemb that was my young master? She remembered the first few days they were together when he was always very respectful and at times even fearful towards her. She couldnt help but smile at his growth. But this and that were different things, she slowly rose up off the sofa and made her way to the kitchen, not forgetting to give Frost, an irritated look as she did so. She was quitefortable lying down while her young master did all the work and really didnt appreciate being interrupted. However, Frost was right, she could be doing something like this to help, so she acquiesced, however she wasnt against using any underhanded means to get a little revenge. An evil smirk adorned her face once she turned around, hidden from Frosts view but after being together for a month how could Frost not understand her personality. Maya if theres anything wrong with my food or drink, such as you making them incredibly spicy, Im confiscating your alcohol. Frost spoke with a harsh tone filled with authority. Maya over the past month had attempted many pranks such as this, much to his displeasure. He unfortunately didnt have much in the form of ammunition for pranks of his own, but he did have the alcohol card. His response caused Maya to stumble, almost tripping over her own feet, she was seen through. Biting her lower lip and clicking her tongue she entered the kitchen, no longer willing to prank her young master. A few minutester Darks voice could be heard from the Dungeon core. Hello contestants are the two of you ready to begin this dungeon war? Cause all of us are ready. A holographic image appeared from the dungeon core showing all of Frosts siblings sitting in chairs with snacks as though they were about to watch a y. Chatting amongst one another, he could even see what looked like a board behind them detailing bets. This old man started a betting ring. Frosts face twitched as he felt the need to punch his father in the face. Ignoring Frosts annoyed expression, Dark continued. Frost, Gobuske in less than a minute Ill connect your two dungeons and we can start the first dungeon war. Have your offensive teams ready to enter the connecting space. After that we can begin. Chapter 166 166 Chapter 166: Dungeon war (5) Suddenly both Frosts and Gobuskes dungeon violently shook as Dark conjured up his magic. A new dimension was created with a flick of his wrist, connecting their two dungeons. The ck barrier that covered the entrance, dissipated, once more allowing passage through. Finy, thats your cue. Frost spoke through the menu to his offensivemander. Yes master, Finy responded before leading his team out of the dungeon, several of his group were nervous but most were excited, eager to meet their opponents. On the opposite side, Gobuske was doing the same, having his offensive line up, leave the dungeon towards this new area. Unfortunately, he didnt have an overwhelming powerhouse such as Finy to lead andmand his forces, but it seems as though he didnt need it. Hob goblinmander one and two lead your squads forward. Gobuske voice sounded off within his dungeon. It wasnt as timid or nervous as before. His hob goblinmanders roared in response, saluting by thumping their chests as they marched with arge contingent of goblins behind them. Gobuske felt more confident when in his own dungeon and speaking with his many goblin monsters. They didnt look at him with scorn or contempt only reverence and joy. He was not just their creator in their eyes but their king and ruler. The effects of a king among the goblin caste was quite prominent, there would be no infighting while under such an entity. This is what made a goblin king so feared amongst the civilised species. A goblin king would alter the natural instinctual/animalistic behaviour of the goblins turning them into an efficient killing army. The problem with Gobuske however was the man lying down on the sofa behind him. A tall man with silver like scales on his body and spiralled horns growing from his head. Tsk I wonder how long itll take for them all to be decimated. The mans tone was full of mocking, sending a shiver down Gobuskes back and causing him to involuntary shrink in fear. This man was B, Gobuskes guardian and the main source of his timidness. Although he was never one that was naturally confident, B really didnt help. He was an iron dragon, a quasi S-rank monster that was incredibly arrogant and looked down on the lesser races like goblins, kobolds and gnolls. He viewed them as nothing but insects inparison to a Dragon so when he first met Gobuske and saw that he looked like your average goblin-albeit taller, more intelligent and a fair bit stronger- he frowned and spat on the ground feeling as though Dark was punishing him. Although he never abused Gobuske and taught him what he was supposed to, he never missed an opportunity to insult him and his goblin monsters. He didnt even acknowledge any of his triumphs over adventurers, chalking it up to luck or the opponent being stupid and arrogant. It was far from the harmonious rtionship between Frost and Maya, though they prank and punish one another theres no hatred between the two. Gobuske tried his best to ignore his guardian most of the time as that would reduce the amount of insults hed be subjected to. This time however when he shivered and shrunk in form he was suddenly reminded of Frost, and the way he looked at him as well as his position in the leader boards of DP ie. Though the betting pool showed that Frost was the most likely to win in his siblings opinions there were still a fair few that bet on him. Confidence started to fill his body, his back straightened and he gnashed his teeth. And for the first time in his life, he decided to retaliate against B. ..... Turning round sharply, anger on his face he shouted, Oh shut up you overgrown lizard! Gobuske let out all his bottled up feelings over the past month, the jeering, the insults, the mocking of his precious subordinates, enough was enough. He was about topete with his elder brother and was being watched by his other siblings and most of all his father. In response the rxing B frowned before his body was filled with fury. Being called a lizard was a serious insult to those of dragon kind, especially one as arrogant as B. Bs body suddenly exuded a powerful aura filled with blood lust and killing intent, he was truly incensed. Gobuskes private space darkened and Gobuske reeled under the pressure instantly deting, he closed his eyes and shook in fear. Fuck why did I say that? He regretted speaking out and felt as though his life would be ended right here and now. Suddenly however the pressure vanished, and Gobuske heard someone coughing up blood and copsing to the floor. He opened up his eyes and saw B with a terrified look on his face and his body trembling as though it was enduring some horrifying pain. Dark finally intervened, he acted the moment he felt Bs killing intent, quickly reminding him of his ce. He threatened B telepathically and filled his body with pain as a punishment, while Gobuske was left confused. Gobuske focus back on the dungeon war my son, B wont bother you anymore. Dark spoke gently to his child, feeling guilty about his choice in guardian. He hoped that pairing Gobuske and B would help curb Bs arrogance, let him understand that all creatures have potential. And for Gobuske he hoped that some of Bs arrogance and confidence would rub off on him, unfortunately it looks as though it was a failure. He may have a hard decision to make. Gobuske looked over towards the still squirming B and then towards the image on his dungeon core regaining his focus. Listening to his father, he ignored B and focused on the uing battle. As the two offensive teams moved into the new area, Frost and Gobuske could see what each others team wasposed of. Gobuskes was clearly filled with goblins and more goblins, all green in colour but with distinct varieties. He had regr goblins that were armed with daggers, ones with spears, bows, swords, axes making for a diverse set. He then had goblins that looked slightly different from the regr bunch, darker skinned, wearing ck garments and what appeared to be poison dipped weapons. Next were goblin mages armed with staffs and beside them were a bunch of goblin wolf riders armed with spears these were clearly the E-rank monsters. Another E-rank monster were hob goblins, muchrger than the regr goblin cast, stronger as well, equivalent to Frosts frost dwarves. They each came armed withrge brutish looking curved swords as well as some leather armour. And finally, the strongest monsters present on Gobuskes side were hob goblinmanders, D-rank monsters focusing onmanding lower ranked goblins. Where theyck in individual fighting strength, they make up for in buffs for their subordinates, which there were a lot of. Gobuskes offensive team was at least 30%rger than Frosts, but they didnt have Finy. Gobuske looked at Frosts monsters and was greatly surprised, of course Finy was a major part of that, he could tell his rough strength from appearance alone. But the most shocking was the amount of goblins Frost employed, they made up almost half his number. He couldnt help but smile at this sight. No wonder he didnt look down on me. It was clear that Frost was an avid user of goblins and knew their worth, however. If you want topete against me with Goblins elder brother then youre in for a nasty surprise. Gobuskes goblins were different from the regr rabble youd find out in the wilds, add in the effects of his hob goblinmanders and they be far more dangerous. Having gotten to roar out his pain from the past month and seeing B shiver in pain, kindled something inside him. He had the desire to win. If he won B wouldnt be able to insult him anymore, it would be living proof that goblins are strong. The best revenge in dealing with his arrogance. On Frosts side, he mainly chose the faster monsters to take part in the offensive team i.e., the gyrfalcons were all on this team along with six of the snow owls. The offence also didnt contain any of the ns, goblin archers or the winter boars. There were far more species in his line up, yet Gobuske seemed to contain more attacking methods giving their range of weaponry and even spell casters. And that was just the offensive team, Frost had no idea what Gobuske had waiting for him in the dungeon. He was excited to say the least, as was Finy. He looked over towards the hob goblinmanders in particr, feeling as sort of kinship with them given their simrities in roles. Each of the offensive teams eyed up one another, fangs, ws and whatever else bared as they were itching to fight. However, they couldnt, not yet anyway. Fighting in this space was banned, not to mention the invisible barrier that prevented some of the less controble monsters fromunching themselves at their opponents. No, they only had one way they could go, forward into the opponents dungeon. The defence team would deal with the opponents offensive. Finy harshly rebuked any monsters that lost focus, he wouldnt be outdone as amander. Chapter 167 167 Chapter 167: Dungeon war (6) Once all the monsters were in ce Dark spoke up once again. Perfect, looks like everyone is in ce, time to get this show on the road. Frost, Gobuske do you have anything to say to your opponents before we begin? Dark waved his hand allowing Frost and Gobuske tomunicate with everyone here. Frost spoke up first. Gobuske, I hope you bring youre A-game otherwise thisll be a short fight. Frost spoke with apetitive tone. ...I...Ill show you the power of goblins elder brother! Gobuske still a little nervous stuttered his words at the start but became confident towards the end. He had strong faith in his goblins, regardless of what B said, they were strong. A bunch of the other cores gave supportive cheers, Aqua in particr was quite supportive whereas others were jeering such as Pyro and those that felt cheated out their ce by Gobuske. Good fighting spirit kids, well then lets begin in 3,2,1, go! Dark announced with a booming voice. The dungeon war had begun. Charge! Finy roared as he led his entourage of monsters into Gobuskes Dungeon. The hob goblinmanders did the same, like regr frost trolls they could speak a little bit ofmon tongue. Finally, it begins, are you two ready? Frost said with a wide smile. Yes master Nanna and Loki both replied enthusiastically, nodding with gusto. With their reply the invasion began, Gobuskes monsters entered his dungeon. ..... Nanna is group one ready? Yes master, the goblins are hiding under the snow ready to attack. Nanna and Loki were in charge of the first contact battle. The moment the goblin army entered the winter hignds section, the hob goblinmanders gave out a string of orders in goblinlike grunts, splitting the army up to map out the area. As usual there was a fierce blizzard roaring in the room, making visibility difficult. The temperature which was not a problem for Frost, or his monsters was quite a problem for the regr goblins. several of them shivered from the cold biting wind. Luckily the goblin mages were there, using lifestyle magic they conjured up some fire to light torches. Gobuske learned that Frost was a user of ice and prepared for such an eventuality. Armed with torches, the different squads fanned out with the hob goblinmanders moving forward with the main force. The entrance to the next room could be anywhere and time was a major factor given that this was a race. Splitting up wasnt the safest method but the quickest. Unfortunately, with such arge force it wouldnt take long for them to cover the entire section. So, they needed to be dyed. A group of five frost goblins armed with spears were currently hidden beneath the snow, lying in wait for their oing victims. They followed orders well and were used to such methods, having used simr tactics to deal with adventurers. Their natural ice resistance allowed them to be covered in the snow for hours without issue and their blue skin helped to camouge them from their targets. The goblin group passing through never even noticed them. Now! Nanna gave her orders and the frost goblins known as group one made their moves. While in the purview of the Dungeon, Frost, Nanna, and Loki could use the dungeon menu to view the entire dungeon in real time, making them able to see the entire movements of the enemy. A clear advantage, shame it didnt work in the opponents dungeon. Group one got their orders and lunged at their awaiting foes, a group of 5 regr goblins at G-rank and one goblin fighter that was F-rank. Just a regr scouting group, not too weak not to strong. The five of them lunged out of snow without warning sessfully ambushing their opponents. Rahhhhhhh! The opposing goblins grunted in shock as they braced themselves against the frost goblins spears. The targets were 3 of the regr goblins. In a split second, one of the goblins was run through by two spears, offering very little resistance, it died quickly. Spurting blood and painting the snow red, its body slumped to the ground, the first victim of the war fell. The second goblin wasnt quite as lucky, one of the spears narrowly missed, simply creating a deep gash, across its side. The other spear punctured through its abdomen, incredibly painful and certainly took out the goblins battle ability but itd be an agonising death. The final goblin only had to face a single opponent and sessfully blocked the strike without too much effort. Using its dagger to deflect the oing spear. Now it was 5 vs 4, lower than what Nanna hoped. The frost goblins were experienced in ambushes and should have had a great advantage, but they only managed to effectively take down 2 of their 3 targets. Although they now held the number advantage, one of the goblins present was F-rank, their odds didnt look good. The situation with the third goblin was quite surprising, it shouldnt have had the capabilities to block the frost goblins lunge. All the frost goblins involved in this ambush were at least level 7 and should have had the advantage, especially in an ambush. Something wasnt right. Nanna reported the situation to Frost, who frowned. Meeting with his siblings he realised that they each had their own specialties, his and many of the elder cores were rted to a certain element. Increasing their own battle abilities and immunity to damage from that element. The lower dungeon cores however were more diverse in their gifts. Agar (the lich) for example, was able to turn corpses into undead monsters, thus getting monsters for free. Gobuskes however he didnt get a chance to find out. While he was pondering, group one was quickly dealt with. They sessfully killed another of the regr goblins before meeting their end, not the best result but it wasnt Nannas fault. Loki, hold group 2 back for now, no use wasting lives, Im sure my brother has the number advantage in terms of monsters. Frost quickly asked Loki to hold his assault, like Nanna he was in control of another group of 5 frost goblins lying in ambush. With the first conflict over and Gobuskeing out on top, Frost received amunication request from Gobuske. Gobuske, what is it? Gobuske had a somewhat cocky grin on his face, rather unusual considering his regr attitude. Hehehe looks like I won the first exchange big brother. What do you think, my goblins are pretty awesome right? Way better than yours. Gobuske was incredibly proud of his goblins and knew they wouldnt lose against those of the same race. They were his speciality after all. Let me guess, your special talent makes your goblins stronger than normal right? Frost spoke not with irritation but envy, his abilities only focused on his personal strength, not those of his monsters. Gobuske was clearly the opposite Hehehe pretty much, my goblins are not only strongerpared to regr goblins at the same level, theyre smarter and all start at half their max level heheheh. If you want to beat me with goblins your going to need a lot more than that. Gobuske couldnt help butugh with pride, as he won the first battle. Even B who was still restricted by Dark couldnt help but open his eyes wide in surprise. He had never seen Gobuske acting like this, nor did he believe hed win the first fight. Frost smirked before replying That was just a small battle, the victor of the war hasnt been decided yet. Frost looked at the image of his almost gloating younger brother and smiled wildly before giving amand. Finy, show my younger brother what were made of. Yes master, Finy responded with a determined tone before he roared out loud, activating his skill, [invigorating shout]. With him and hisrades empowered he dashed towards the nearest group of enemy goblins aiming to even out the scales in response. Gobuskes first section was a regr forest, simr to Frosts second section though without the cold temperature. The moment Finy and his team entered Gobuskes dungeon, he ordered the gyrfalcons to scout out the area, flying above the tree tops. It was a great way to develop the dungeon map for Frost back in the private space, but they didck offensive power. A group of goblin archers quickly opened fire on a couple that flew over them, the gyrfalcons managed to sessfully dodge the first volley but would struggle with the second. However, their arrows announced their location, perfect for Finy to draw first blood. Receiving his masters order, he dashed into the trees and made short work of the 3 goblin archers, cleaving them apart with his axe. Gobuske winced as he saw the power of Finy, he had nothing that couldpete with Finy, he was too powerful. He responded quickly, pulling back the other goblins he had in the nearby area that were there to protect the archers. Sending low rank goblins against Finy would get him nowhere, he needed to focus on thinning out Frosts other monsters. The line was still open between the brothers and Frost watched how Gobuskes cocky smile deted, bing a frown. Chapter 168 168 Chapter 168 Dungeon war (7) Seeing his younger brother with frustration on his face filled Frost with glee, and pride towards Finy. Eventually Gobuske responded with irritation in his voice. Is that even fair, that monsters clearly upper C-rank. Gobuske had nothing that couldpete with such a monster, even grouping all his D-ranks together might prove ineffective. Fathers not mentioned anything so I guess its fine, besides if I didnt have Finy this battle would clearly be advantageous to you given your specialties. Frost responded with a shrug. True he did have an over powered monster known as Finy but he himself couldnt take part in the battles which was where his skills trulyy. Gobuskes abilities however focused on his monsters not him, clearly advantageous in the current contest. Gobuskes lips twitched unable to refute Frosts logic. He sighed before ending themunication, hed just have to either stop Finy with numbers or focus on reaching Frosts core first. With first blood drawn on either side, the battle started to pick up the pace with each groups offensive teams quickly traversing each others dungeons. Frost utilised his ambushes strategies several times, this time however increasing the numbers of ambushers. This bore good results, but the offensive team seemed never ending and his own losses werent anything to sneeze at. His prized frost goblins even with their new weapons were no match one on one against Gobuskes. It was really frustrating to say the least, he held great pride in his frost goblins yet before Gobuske he was but an amateur. Gobuskes goblins worked like a well trained army, even without the oversight of the hob goblinmanders. They were always on guard, kept formation and reacted very quickly, plus after the first couple ambushes they became more alert to such strikes. This did however force the invading force to slow down, taking more time to inspect the snow beneath their feet. Thus overall, it could be considered a sess. Another benefit that was seen was the effect of the near freezing temperature. Although it had no bearing on Frosts monsters it certainly did on Gobuskes. Regr goblin archetypes didnt have resistance to the cold as they usually live in warm or tepid climates. Even with the goblin mages utilising lifestyle magic, they couldnt cover the entire offensive team plus as time went on the more the cold effected them. The low level G-rank goblins were especially prone to the effects of the weather. Their reactions and body strength weakened as time went on, benefitting Frosts defensive army. This situation would likely only get worse as time went on, Frosts entire dungeon was focused on the cold and although the castle ruins environment was a little warmer it still carried a significant chill. This situation caused many of the onlooking dungeon cores to ponder. When they have wars amongst one another in future theyd have to take environments into consideration. Some extreme examples would be the water based dungeon cores such as Aqua. The majority of her dungeon was actually underwater given its location, monsters, and usual clientele (the oceanic kingdom races). Fighting a war against her would be impossible for most other cores even if she wasnt the eldest sister and 2nd on the leader boards. ..... There was magic and devices that could allow underwater breathing but supplying that to monsters would like be like a drop in ake, endless as well as really expensive. She would also likely have some trouble in attacking, given that her monsters would require water to breath. It was something Dark would probably have to look into for the future. However, for now there were a few other dungeon based underwater that she could war with. Pyros dungeon was simr to Frosts though his was high on the temperature scale. He was even based within a giant volcano, far too hot for the regr groups of monsters. Yamis on the other hand though pretty much any monster could enter and fight, unless they were aligned with darkness would feel their bodies being sucked of their strength as they traversed the dungeon. Though adventurers in the area usually had techniques to allow safe(ish) exploration of such deadly climates the same couldnt be said of monsters. Luckily since Gobuskes environments were rather tepid in climate, Frosts monsters didnt suffer from any negative effects. A bonus that helped tobat his number disadvantage and overall weakness amongst the lower ranked monsters. In Gobuskes first section, Finy continued to lead his forces deeper into the forest, asionally hunting down enemy goblins that attacked from behind the trees or even sometimes from above them. Defence wise Gobuskes forces were weaker than Frosts, taking a lot less effort to deal with and with a lot less casualties. Finy although he brought arge amount of frost goblins with him, he also brought the frost wolves and frost dwarves. His scouting/clearing parties always contained at least one E-rank monster making their losses quite low. The gyrfalcons were quickly scouting the room, being more careful given the ambush from earlier yet still they mapped out the forest far quicker than the ground forces. So well in fact that Gobuskemented the fact that he didnt have ess to any flying monsters, a severe limitation. Frost, Nanna, and Loki were still seated in the private space with snack and drinks by their sides, courtesy of Maya. They were keeping an eye on the progress of both Gobuskes invading force and their own invading force. Gobuskes forces are quite well maintained and are slowly pushing us back to the second section but its all within manageable levels. Nanna pull back some of the ambushers, start retreating to the winter forest, Loki you do the same. Frost gave his orders to the two phoenix kin who replied with enthusiasm. Yes master, they nodded before ordering their teams to slowly pull back. The real battle would take ce in the second section where the defences were incredibly built up and most of the monsters currently resided. And unlike Frost, Gobuskes forces would have to slowly march through the room without any overhead support. Many times, the gyrfalcons or snow owls spotted ambushes in advance, alerting Finy and his team. Master the gyrfalcons have discovered the entrance to the next room. Lokis reported the situation once he noticed the change in the map. Around 70% of the first section had been mapped out and towards the upper right the gyrfalcons had discovered the entrance to the next room. Perfect, looks like we were faster, Finy the gyrfalcons have found the next room. Its at the top right, have the gyrfalcons lead you. Frost smiled with triumph, he rubbed Lokis head in praise before alerting Finy. Understood master, Finy replied and obeyed, leading his forces in the direction stated, he could roughly see some gyrfalcons on their way back. Though there was still some of the room to investigate, the gyrfalcons would be joining them in the next room to perform aerial scouting. Move out! Finy ordered his forces with a booming voice, he summoned back all the scouting forces and they regrouped just outside the entrance to the next room with still 90% of their numbers intact. Though Gobuskes invading force wasnt too far behind, their superior numbers gave them an edge, but Frost, Nanna and Loki had sessfully cut their numbers down to perhaps 85%, likely 80 when they finally reach the next room. Overall, it looked like Frost was in the lead, his invading force was a little stronger due to Finy and the aerial corps, their defences were about equal, in the first room anyway. Finy along with hisrge entourage entered the second room with him at the forefront, ready to take on whatevery next. His strength was so high that there was very little that could harm as of yet. The first room contained mainly G and F-rank goblins along with an asional hobgoblin dotted around. Their weapons could barely even pierce his skin it was so tough, and he couldnt help but feel cocky but kept his wits about him, his creator was watching after all. In terms of traps, though a fair few were present in Gobuskes forest room, they were either poorly hidden or non-lethal and only managed to hurt a couple goblins who got careless. Others were pulled up by their feet in some sort of snare trap but given that they werent alone, they were quickly cut down. On Frosts side however, the traps were quite a bit more effective. Being hidden under the snow, quite a few goblins were lost to the spiked pitfalls or had their legs mped by the bear traps. A few ambushers even set up around the frost mines, choosing to attack the moment it was activated. Overall, they sessfully dyed and even thinned out a few of Gobuskes forces. It took around 40 minutes for Finy to reach the second room, and the moment he saw what was in front he frowned, as did Frost once he was informed. It was a cave environment, dark, humid, and full of twists and turns. Not a problem for most of his forces but it was for his aerial assault team and Finy who was a bit toorge to be able to fight well. Even the tallest goblins, the hob goblinmanders were under 2 metres after all. No need for the caves to be 5 metres high. Of course, thered likely be open caverns deeper in that would allow him to stand up straight but for the majority it looked as though Finy would have to crouch. He was more than a little annoyed but this. Chapter 169 169 Chapter 169: Dungeon war (8) Finy looked on at the narrow opening in front of him and couldnt help but sigh. Frosts ice cavern rooms took into ountrge monsters like him with the ceilings being a minimum of 10 metres high. Enough for him to even jump up with his full strength without fear of hitting his head. I guess theres no need for tall ceilings when you just have goblins. Finy understood that such an environment would y to the goblins advantage while at the same time limiting the fighting strength ofrge monsters such as him that would usually prey on goblins. Finy didnt know if this was Gobuskes intention or simply a happy ident, but he respected his masters younger brother none the less. He spoke with Frost to decide the next move, mainly what to do with his aerial corps. Go on ahead with the majority of the forces, leave the gyrfalcons and snow owls in the first room to map out the rest of the area. Leave a small scouting group with them to help deal with any stragglers left there. Frost gave hismand before internally sighing. Guess it was too much to ask for the aerial assault team to not meet a hup. This room effectively neutralised his flyers, it was too risky to have them fly in the narrow and dark caves. And them walking or waddling on the ground would take too much time. Best to have them finish mapping the first room and allow Finy and the rest to clear the way. Once the defence forces are either eliminated or pushed back, they can make their way through the caves. Finy responded like a good soldier before leading his team into the caves, crouching down as he did. Likely going to end up with a sore back by the end. Frost and Finy just hoped that the next room or rooms werent caves like this. The aerial corps along with a small sized scouting group returned to first room and started canvasing the remaining 30% of the room. Itll take them a fair bit longer given their smaller group size. The flyers would also need to stay rtively close to the scout squad for protection. Meanwhile Gobuskes invading team was closing in on thetter half of the winter hignds, slowly but surely, they were making ground. The map on Gobuskes screen was steadily bing more and more detailed yet he hadnt found the next room yet. Unfortunately, he didnt have a highly intelligent monster like Finy or two young children by his side aspany. All he had was an arrogant guardian who despised him at the molecr level. He couldnt bounce ideas of anyone and needed to formte the majority of ns by himself. His hob goblinmanders were not bad at leading and keeping morale up among his forces, but they still needed strong direction, they were only D-rank after all. Hob goblinmander one and two stay focused and dont rush, thatll lead to more deaths by ambush. This elder brother of mine is quite lethal in that department. Gobuske gave his orders to the two hob goblinmanders. Unlike Finy they didnt have ess to the dungeons features such as the map, but Gobuske could stillmunicate with them directly. ..... This did however slow his response time down since he had to watch both the offensive and defensive teams at the same time. This caused a fair number of his goblins to fall victim to insidious traps and ambushes. The roaring blizzard and freezing temperatures were weakening his forces the longer the remained in ce. Therefore, he had the scouting groups increase their members and stick closer to the main army. That way the mages could keep everyone at a reasonable temperature, and they could aid one another if they suffered an ambush. This tactic greatly reduced his losses but also reduced his mapping speed. Though they were in thetter half of the room their map coverage was only around 45 to 50%. They may even get the very end of the room and find that the next entrance was in the other direction. It was by no means a fast approach but one he was very much forced to take. His elder brother was very adept at utilising ambushes and the cover of snow. When his monsters crossed the frozen river for example, frost slimes attacked from within the water causing the ice to crack, dropping an entire scouting squad into the freezing cold water. Three goblins were drowned thanks to the awaiting frost slimes, while the rest sessfully dragged themselves to shore, though their bodies were in a dangerous state. If his goblin mages didnt arrive in time, they would have suffered severe frostbite and perhaps organ failure from the frigid temperatures. This event was especially nerve wracking for Gobuske and even the audience were in awe. Slimes were known to be even weaker than goblins, yet Frost managed to find a way to make them useful through using the nearby environment. It gave the viewers a newfound sense of respect for how to use lower level monsters. Yami although still stoic in expression and rather aloof, was nodding his head full of praise. He too utilised arge number of weak monsters in a number of ways, finding that when used correctly they could cause a great upset against superior foes. Others however like the muscle brained idiot Pyro and the arrogant Bahamut merely scoffed at the idea of utilising slimes. Gobuske was learning so much in his battle against Frost, noting down ideas which hed tryter on after the war. His excitement and investment in this battle grew as time passed, his meek personality and low self-confidence being thrown to the back of his mind. He focused intensely on every movement his brother made and altered his formations and strategies in response, further reducing his losses. Suddenly he heard one of the hob goblinmanders of the defence team contact him. It used brokenmon tongue as Gobuske always advised to use it whenever possible. Master, enemy in second room. The report was short and concise, but the impact was strong. Gobuske started sweating and brought up the dungeon view of the second room. Already, its only been 35 minutes. He then brought up the partial map of Frosts first room, his team was at least 10 minutes away from finding the next room. He was losing in terms of speed. It must because of those flying monsters, they can cover ground far faster than ground troops. Gobuskemented once again hisck of aerial monsters. His gloom however was fleeting, theyd be no use in the next room. Good work, perform as nned. Gobuske smiled, not only did his low ceiling caves prevent Frosts aerial troops they also seemed to diminish Finysbat prowess, two birds with one stone. Although he was a little shocked by Frosts team being quicker, that was to be expected given their advantage in power but that should change in the second room. Like Frost, Gobuske heavily invested his defences in his second room. The caves were littered with traps, goblin ambushers and tons of dead ends. Theyd be there for quite a while. There was also the bonus of many hidden narrow tunnels that his goblins could utilise to sneak around the enemy. The idea for this actually came from an adventurer that he overheard, he said to his teammates to watch out for such tricks and tunnels. Thinking it was a great idea Gobuske edited the room and his ability to kill intruders and his goblins abilities to retreat when outmatched took arge leap forward. He even almost felt bad about killing such a nice intruder, but DP was higher on his list, so he killed him and muttered a silent thank you as he reaped his life energy. With the hob goblinmander receiving his orders all he needed to do was wait for the enemy to enter his vicinity before attacking. Gobuske had already warned them about Finy, prioritising non-engagement tactics with the ice trollmander. Only those with ranged attacks should target Finy and though the hob goblin was a monster with powerful beast like instincts when it came to the orders of his king he obeyed without question as did all his subordinates. They werepletely unified. Around 10 minutester as predicted, Gobuskes forces finally found the entrance to the second room, the winter forest. His forces were still high in number but looked quite a bit more haggard than Frosts. the frequent ambushes and freezing temperatures were difficult to ovee. But now that their goal was in sight all the goblins roared aloud, their blood pumping as they received a dopamine boost. On that high and under Gobuskes orders they moved into the winter forest, heading ever closer to Frosts dungeon core, and iming victory for their king. Master theyve reached the winter forest. Nanna who was sitting to his right informed him. Is that so? Perfect, lets show my younger brother the hard work of my frost dwarves. Frost smiled wildly as his eyes glinted with the thrill of battle, his excitement was growing even though he wasnt personally on the field. Finys group met with some resistance master. Right after Gobuskes hob goblinmanders made their way into the winter forest, Loki reported Finys status. Nanna and Loki were very much involved with this whole dungeon war, functioning as Frosts eyes and ears, greatly reducing the burden on him. Maya however after making them (and herself) some snacks and drinks returned tozily lying on the sofa, silent as amb. She was forbidden from taking part under Darks restrictions, but she could still give praise or even show the slightest bit of interest but no she hadnt opened the menu even once. Just lying there trying to catch up on her beauty sleep. Chapter 170 170 Chapter 170: Dungeon war (9) Whats happening Finy? With Lokis alert, Frost asked his right hand man for a situation report. Master, weve run into some trouble. Sounds ofbat and frantic grunts could be heard all around Finy as he spoke. The offensive team under Finy was ambushed by arge group of goblins and the situation was rather dire. A couple minutes earlier As they travelled throughout the caves, the offensive team split up whenever they met a fork in the road so as to save time in mapping the room. The main group with Finy eventually came upon arge cavern wherein he could finally stretch his back and stand tall. Unfortunately, the ceiling was high for a reason. Huuuuuuuu Finy took in a deep breath as he stretched to his full height, his shoulders cracking as he did. Grateful for the opportunity to feel unrestricted in his movements. Being forced to constantly crouch and frequently bash your head on uneven, rocky outcrops was not pleasant. Therefore, when Finy reached therge cavern like space, he instantly took advantage of the free space. His troops though slightly less after splitting up at a few forks in the road were still quite a force to be reckoned with, so he felt no need to be that cautious, believing that whatever attacked them could be endured with their current numbers or even be beaten back. This wasnt just blind optimism or arrogance, Finys own strength along with the number of E-rank monsters by his side made this almost assured. Shame that Gobuske wasnt one for attacking through regr methods, especially not in this room. Theyd been attacked in ambushes a fair few times and although Finys team suffered little damage the attackers suffered less. The small annoying and intricate tunnels that spread throughout the room allowed the goblins to attack and retreat at any time. As time went on it seemed as though Gobuske was learning and bing more adept in his attacks, not good news for Finy, but for the moment manageable. In such arge cavern Finy could see none of these small tunnels and couldnt help but breath deeply in relief but he didnt let his guard down. Everyone move out and keep your eyes and ears open! Finy loudly ordered as he led the vanguard, ready to dish out some mayhem. The frost dwarves with their heavy duty shields had half their numbers at the front and half at the back, protecting the squishier monsters in the middle. Therge group moved in a march, not too quickly and not too slowly. They kept their guards up, weapons held close and bodies tense. Their eyes watching for any sign of movement, particrly low to the ground where most ambushes happened to them. This however was a mistake. Suddenly once the majority of the offensive team were in the cavern, Finy heard something in the distance, the twang of bows, and a lot of them. ..... Shit! ambush! He roared and tried to give orders to his squad but was toote, the arrows arrived, piercing into a bunch of his soldiers. A couple goblins even lost their lives instantly. Shields up! Finy quickly gave the order and all the frost dwarves, and the goblins (those that had them) raised their shields in the air, forming something akin to a turtle formation, protecting the other monsters and themselves from the deluge of arrows. However, the damage was already done, 2 monsters dead for sure and another 5 or 6 injured, a rather heavy loss for a single volley. The ambushers didnt stop and continued tounch their arrows towards them, but the shields held true, blocking several arrows each. Finy given his strength didnt need to block or even avoid the arrows, as long as they didnt hit his eyes or other vulnerable ces, they wouldnt cause any damage. He stood up tall and watched from where they were attacked. On either side of the cavern was a tall ridge with no ess from their current location. He could see close to twenty goblin archers, ten either side, firing from up high, increasing their arrows prative strength. Crack! He grabbed an iing arrow and crushed it in his hand while looking towards the ridge line with anger. The distance was substantial both in height and length, getting to these archers would prove difficult, hed likely lose a great many men only for the archers to retreat into their tunnels. Dammit, hold the line, Ill be back! Finy gave orders to the frost dwarf that acted as his second inmand beforeunching himself towards a set of archers. [Ice bolt], he summoned his magic for the first time in this war, tworge ice bolts were summoned before him and flew through the air at his targets. The goblin archers, though shocked by Finy using magic to attack them from a distance were prepared. Before the bolts reached two of the goblin archers they dodged to side, narrowly escaping death all while a hob goblin -likely the leader- spoke to a couple strange looking goblins by his side. The same happened on the other ridge. 4 strange looking goblins came up to the ridge line, each cloaked in dark robes that gave off a strong medicinal smell. Their mouths were covered in some sort of mask, and they had mad looks in their eyes. Held by the four wererge, rounded sks with some sort of green liquid inside. Finy couldnt tell what it was but felt that it was dangerous, he picked up speed and casted another ice bolt, aiming now for these two goblins in front of him. [Ice bolt] at the same time he casted his magic the four goblins tossed their malicious looking sks into the air. The two in front clearly aiming for Finy while the two at the other ridge aimed for a group of frost dwarves. These two goblins werent quite so lucky as the archers, Finy ice bolt skewered the two of them,unching their bodies into the back wall and the two sksunched at him were shattered by his axe before touching his body. The green liquid spilled out to the ground, smoking, and sizzling on contact, it released a strong gas. Finy breathed in some of the gas and his face instantly nched. Poison. with rapid movement he retreated away from the green puddle. His troops were in danger. Though his body could mitigate the effects given his strength his soldiers wouldnt be so lucky. Smash smash The two sks of the other strange looking goblinsnded on the shields of some frost dwarves, the liquid quickly pooling down andnding on their bodies, releasing a foul smell. Ahhhhhhhh! The frost dwarves whose bodies were in contact with the stuff started to scream in pain. The green liquid felt like acid on their skin, burning them. Those nearby breathed in the fumes and started coughing violently as the gas burned their lungs and oesophagus. They were forced to lower they shields and a weak point in their formation opened up, exactly what the hob goblin leaders were hoping for. They both gave the order, and the goblin archers continued their barrage, focusing on where the two sksnded. While the remaining weird goblins moved back into cover, their job was done. The next volley of arrows allnded in the general vicinity of the sksnding point. The two dwarves screaming in pain were quickly silenced as were another two frost dwarves who were holding their throats in pain. Four E-rank monsters dead just like that. Finy grinded his teeth together as he quickly jumped in front of the arrows and activated his skill. [sh] a beam of energy escaped from his axe and shed apart the oing arrows like they were fragile twigs. Retreat, full retreat! He quickly ordered his forces to fall back from the cavern back to the tunnels, that way theyd be out of view of the archers. Back to real time I see, so youre hunkered down at the moment unable to proceed? Frost listened to Finys report and frowned as he heard what happened. He really wasnt a fan of poison and had little to no counters for such things. For now, yes, the archers are too high up for anyone but me to get to so until I can take them out, were stuck here. Finy replied with a clenched fist. He just lost a good chunk of his forces while only being able to kill two opponents before having to sound the retreat. How are those that were infected with the poison? Will they live? The worst of the bunch were killed by arrow fire, the remaining afflicted were far enough that they only lightly inhaled the fumes. Theyre coughing and, in some pain, but thatll ware off. Good, you did well to order a swift retreat. Having them exposed to that poison for any longer would have resulted in a much more serious situation. Frost nodded and praised Finy for his quick thinking. What about you? are you alright? Finy took in a strong whiff of the stuff, yet he seemed fine. Im alright master, thank you. My body is strong enough to fight the stuff, only got a light tickling in my throat, nothing else. Finy tried to appear confident and determined but his anxiety and shame could be seen in his eyes. He felt he let Frost down, that he was too arrogant and caused the deaths of his soldiers. Chapter 171 171 Chapter 171: Dungeon war (10) Thats good to hear, stay low for a few minutes, get your bearings and regroup with the other scouts. If they cant find a safer route through, then youll have to either handle them yourself ore up with some counter measures......Can you make emergency masks? Unfortunately, from what Finy reported, only he can get ess to the archers and the weird poison lobbing goblins. No one else is powerful enough to endure the arrow or poison onught or more importantly even reach up to the ridges. Frost didnt have a single ranged attacker in the offensive team other than Finy. There is of course the option of copying Gobuskes goblins, sending his frost goblins into the tunnels and attack them that way but that was a foolish notion. Finy already tried sending a few frost goblins in after a group that ambushed them, they didnt get far before losing their way and getting stabbed in the back by opposing goblins. That was there home turf, foolish to send his men into a battlefield with such disadvantages. They needed to either get past this cavern or find another way through, however its unlikely the former would be avable. This was a clear chokepoint in Gobuskes defences, having alternate routes would make it pointless but they had to try. Understood master and yes I think we have some spare cloth that we can use, hopefully thatll prevent or at least lessen the fumes of the poison if need be. Ill do as instructed master and will bring you victory, good luck on your end. Finy cut themunication and got to work. While his team made some masks and waited on their teammates, he popped his head out into the cavern several times. This was always met with a few arrows forcing him back behind cover. At least theyre not running away this time. The enemy was staying the course, itd foolish to leave such a defensible position after all. And just by them being there even if they dont kill any of Finys team, they seed in dying them, giving Gobuskes offensive team the chance to catch up. In Gobuskes private space, Gobuske was just receiving a report on the ambush. B was still silent behind him, though the pain caused by Dark was gone his warning still rung true. He kept his tongue and observed Gobuske, but itll take a lot more than a warning from Dark to change his innate attitude. Regardless of him hearing or glimpsing Gobuskes sess over his elder brother, his eyes were still full of mockery and disdain, unable to see passed the fact that he was a goblin. My King, ambush sessful, enemy trapped, over ten dead. His hobgoblinmander reported the best he could with his brokenmon tongue but was getting better at it the more he spoke. Good work, what about the goblin alchemists, how are they faring? Gobuske asked with a prideful smile. Goblins, especially under his rule were incredibly diverse and when they reached max level to evolve their options expanded once again. The goblins alchemist were one of his gains from max levelling a goblin mage. They were upper E-rank monsters that could work with herbs and nts to create toxins and healing ointments. The sks of green liquid that forced Finy to retreat were one of their battle concoctions. Made from rtivelymon herbs that he could grow in the dungeon. It was a highly acidic toxin that would burn ones skin on contact and its fumes would be just as deadly on the internal organs. He only had a half dozen of these goblin alchemists and each one needed time to create their concoctions, luckily, he had them prepare a few batches during the hours prep time. The other two that werent present were constantly making more potions for the troops deeper in the dungeon. That included more poisons as well as health potions. Yes, these goblins alchemist could actually make health potions, though they were of the lowest quality and wouldnt always seed it was a possible source of ie for his dungeon if he ever engaged in trade. Now however it was good enough to rapidly heal his injured monsters while in battle. With this question, the hob goblinmander frowned, Two died from big troll, used magic. Other two fine. The alchemists were in some ways even more valuable than the D-rank hob goblinmanders like himself so losing two was quite a blow. ..... Gobuske couldnt help but twitch his lips, magic not only is that Finy as Frost called him amander with ally buffs and incredible physical attributes, he can also use magic for a ranged attack, this has got to be cheating somehow. Hemented internally hisck of overpowering monsters but quickly erased those thoughts. His goblins were awesome, and no one will ever change his mind on that, not his siblings nor his guardian. Have them retreat the next room but have them leave their concoctions for you and your squad to use. Continue to defend the choke point. Gobuske decided it wasnt worth it to risk his alchemists any more. As far as defence attributes they were kind of squishy and not built for the front lines. Best to have them return to safety and have the other monsters toss their creations. He just couldnt resist using them in front of Frost just once. Yes, my King. Gobuske cut of themunication and redirected his focus back to his offensive group, to see how they were faring now that Frosts were pinned down. The hob goblinmander on the ridge with the remaining goblin alchemists gave his orders. The alchemists though reluctant to hand over their precious creations to the archers and the hob goblinmander acquiesced to his orders and scurried into the back tunnels. They left 6 poison sks for the squad but unfortunately only the hob goblin would have the strength required to lob it a fair distance. The archers would have to wait until the enemy drew close limiting their options. Meanwhile back in Frosts second area, the winter forest. Things werent going much better for Gobuskes offensive team. With the fortified des and bunkers dotted around the entire room, each with copsible escape routes, his soldiers were witling down Gobuskes forces. Don don don From one of the protected des, ice bolts generate by the ice ns flew into the lines of goblins, skewering a couple with the rest destroying their shields. Next a volley of arrows wasunched from another bunker in the opposite direction, wounding another 3. Then came the closebat assault. In the back lines arge herd of over a dozen winter boars led by an E-rank spiked winter boar, charged into the opposing goblins, crushing several under their hoofs before continue to run to the other side. This set of attacks with a few variations assaulted Gobuskes forces whenever they came across the next defensive line. Once they got close enough to attack the instigators, they would flee into their prepared tunnels, copsing them once they passed through. It reminded the hob goblinmanders of their own defence forces tactics; they couldnt help but groan in displeasure. They barely managed to get a kilometre into the room, yet theyd already sufferedrge losses. Unfortunately, even though they knew the methods Frosts forces would use to attack, there was very little they could do tobat them. The fortified des prevented them from using ranged attacks against the ns and frost goblin archers. Their magic and arrows would get caught up in the branches. A couple goblins mages tried to set the de a light but failed, the wood was too damp and cold due to the weather. The only way was to charge in with a frontal assault which was no pic either. A small squad of armoured frost dwarves guarded the entrance along with arge frost spider. Whenever the dwarves were getting overwhelmed, the spider would shoot its freezing web giving them some leeway. Next to finish their defence before retreating into the tunnel the winter boars would charge into the back lines of the goblins, appearing from in between the trees. The loud sounds of battle eclipsing their stomps. After several such attacks the hob goblinmanders arranged for squads of hob goblins to brace for the charge but as of, yet they only managed to kill a single boar, their charge with the spiked winter boar in the front was devasting. It got so bad that they had to recall their scouting teams to help endure as they advanced. Making their progress not only perilous but incredibly slow as well. Plus, whenever amander sent off a scout team not all of them would return. The winter forest was full of artic foxes and artic horned rabbits that would strike inrge teams,nding a single attack before fleeing, using their superior speed as an advantage. One of the frost trolls was stationed in the heavily fortified de, along with a contingent of goblins who gave him reports of what was going on. This frost troll was not nearly as intelligent as Finy but was performing admirably with the aid of his master and the two phoenix kin. Chapter 172 172 Chapter 172: Dungeon war (11) Frost troll how goes the defence? Frosts voice appeared within the frost trolls head. Master, defence well, many enemies dead, little over half left. The frost troll reported back his findings with his brokenmon tongue. Excellent, well done frost troll, keep working hard and well win this yet. Frost praised his monster andughed with joy, the report was truly good,pletely overshadowing the hup with offensive force. The frost troll felt giddy, it vigorously nodded in agreement, happy that it was praised. Although the frost troll couldnt take part in the battles so far due to it being toorge to fit in the escape tunnels or too slow to escape battle like the boars and foxes his role was just as if not more important. The goblins, dwarves and other monsters would look to it for guidance, and he acted as a strong morale booster. Frost would onlymunicate with it, a great honour that only the frost trolls were privileged enough to receive. And by him staying in the fortified de base -the heart of their operations- as amander it gave the feeling that everything would work out as long as the base still stood, and themander could still draw breath. The moment it is forced into to battle would be when the situation is truly dire. So far however that hasnte to pass, nor would it ever if things keep going their way. Once the invaders made their way to the fortified base they would retreat to the deeper bunkers until eventually settling in the third area. There was already a room set up as the second base of operations. However, that was where their preparations end, on the second floor there was currently no more than 10 monsters there as backup, all at least F-rank but that was it. Gobuskes forces would find the areas after the first floor far less deadly to pass. So, the n was to end their invasion by the third room. Either by Finy sessfully reaching Gobuskes core or by them eliminating all of Gobuskes offensive team, both would end the war. The same could be said for Finys team, if they were utterly annihted, Gobuske would be the victor, regardless of whether or not he reaches the dungeon core. Though Finy was strong he couldnt win this war by himself, he needed to protect his forces the best he could. In the viewing area, rapt discussion was going on amongst the dungeon cores. Many were discussing strategy and methods tobat the current situations for either side, taking into ount either their own forces or the ones present. Not many of the other dungeon cores knew much about monsters other than their own so seeing such a disy was enlightening to say the least. Many of the lower ranked cores were staring with fervent focus, trying to imprint the entire battle into their minds so as to improve their own situations. Quite a few were rather impressed with Gobuske, and some that looked down on him either due to his appearance or timid nature were having their views turned upside down. Of course, others still didnt look favourably upon Gobuske due to his low core number or the fact he was a goblin. Bahamut was one such individual, like B he was incredibly arrogant. His form was that of a dragon, the king of monsters and all his monsters had dragon blood within them. His forces were based upon quality not quantity. He could see many ways in which his forces could crush the opposition with pure force, either side. His opinion of Frost thus lowered as well, he was a single digit core, yet he was struggling against goblins, shameful. ..... Pyro however no longer had that poor of an impression towards Gobuske. Though he still found his nature rather irritating he had proven to be a capable foe in this battle, pushing back Frosts forces on asion. He was particrly happy to see Finy forced to retreat in therge open cavern, so much that heughed out loud, drawing the looks of his siblings. Pyro was arrogant and felt superior to everyone else due to his high core number and personal strength, but he also respected those that were strong. Though theyd still be beneath him of course he wouldnt look at them in disdain. Frost was the only real exception given that their elements had abative rtionship, plus his attitude and appearance really irked him for some reason. Indra kept quiet the entire time, but his eyes were filled with lightning, wishing that he was the one getting to fight. Aqua was all full of smiles and constantly chattering away to Yami, praising Frost and asionally Gobuske. While Yami kept silent and listened to her endless yammering. His eyes focused as he analysed the entire fight in detail, gauging the capabilities of his younger siblings. He and Aqua were a fair bit different from the rest, Dark had granted them a slight head start in terms of strength, therefore the two of them could already summon C-rank monsters such a Finy, meaning they werent in awe of his strength. Frosts and Gobuskes forces were a few levels lower than theirs but showed promise, especially Gobuskes. Although it was clear that Gobuske was on the losing side in this war, his forces were far more disciplined and could deal with multiple scenarios. His capacity for diverse battle styles was far superior to him or Frost who would be restricted to their element for monsters, at least in the beginning. In Yamis eyes Gobuske had a rather solid foundation, only requiring experience in battle before he would be a powerful adversary. Shame that the battle was happening only after the first month, neither cores forces had much time to develop. In regards to Frost, though he found hismander to be capable his forces overall had nothing special. What did impress him however was the defences created in the winter forest as well as the tactics used by Frost. Clearly his younger brother was intelligent and had great skill in strategy, knowing the limitations of his own monsters. He was impressed with both his siblings but knew that one was going to be the clear winner, shame he abstained from betting. Yami looked towards to the woman by his side, Aqua. Looks like shell be making a nice profit. Out of everyone here, only Aqua was at his level and deserved his respect. Thats why he didnt stop her yammering, just tuning her out. Dark meanwhile was all smiles as he watched his children discuss the battle. He was happy with the oue so far, feeling as though he achieved his goal. Frost and Gobuske were putting on a great show and revealing their talents like diamonds in the rough. The only problem was.... Dark then looked into Gobuskes private space, more urately B. Even now B still had the same arrogant look in his eyes only holding his tongue because of his warning. What would be the best solution? Dark queried internally. He didnt really want to rece Gobuskes guardian since that could set a precedent. Gobuske wasnt the only one that didnt necessarily get on with their guardian, but he was the one suffering most. If he removed B, would he have to remove the rest that didnt get along with their charges? Guardians werent unlimited and Dark wouldnt restrict them too much given that theyd usually be powerful S-rank monsters, the peak of power in Nova save for the Gods. He shook his head and withdrew his prating gaze, deciding to deal with this issueter, hopefully thered be an alternative method. Dark didnt dislike B too much, his personality wasnt umon among the high ranked species such as dragons and usually it wouldnt be a problem. He just chose to partner up the wrong pair, but if he said that hed lose respect, a God cant just take back their decisions willy nilly after all. The dungeon war continued with both sides slowly making ground, Finy had regrouped with the other scouting squads who reported that there was no other way forward, so he had to take care of the problem himself. It cost them some time and Finy got hit with a dose of poison as well as a gash across his left arm, but he eliminated the goblins on one of the ridges. The other retreated the moment theirrades were engaged with Finy. There wasnt anything more they could do, staying would only mean death without meaning. Their fighting wouldnt dy Finy much and they could be better used deeper in the dungeon. Ahhhhhhhhh! The hob goblinmander roared in pain as his body was sliced across the chest, splitting him in half. He put up a valiant fight, but he was only D-rank after all, not Finys match. He did however seeded in drawing blood, something that hadnt happened to Finy yet. The hob goblinmander was thest to die and none of the goblins on this ridge were able to escape, Finy sealed of their tunnels by shooting ice bolts into the wall, causing a cave in but he wasnt happy. He looked down upon the lifeless corpse of the hobgoblinmander and nodded his head in respect, a worthy adversary. With the cavern clear, he summoned his forces and moved on, searching for the entrance to the third section. Chapter 173 173 Chapter 173: Dungeon war (12) Time continued to pass, and both Gobuskes forces and Frosts forces steadily made their way deeper into one anothers dungeons. With Frosts team faring a good deal better. The speed wasnt too different given that Gobuskes second area was far moreplicated to navigate, but the loss in forces was far more substantial for Gobuske. The defences prepared in the winter forest were just too well defended and he struggled toe up with a decent method to deal with the charging boars. His forces werent well matched against such a foe, with the boars causing the majority of losses. But his hob goblinmanders pushed on and eventually reached the operations centre, the heavily fortified de wherein the frost trolly. Unfortunately, Gobuske ordered his forces to stay clear of this area, not willing to even attempt breaching its defences. And unlike his second room, there were other avenues to explore. Gobuske just hoped that the entrance to the next room wasnt within the de and had to be wary of attacks in his backline by leaving it untouched. His forces were now a paltry sum, less than 40% were left, and morale was at an all time low. They barely seeded in killing the defenders, with only the goblin wolf riders showing decent results, but all their kills were F-rank monsters at best. Gobuske sat in his private space with a deep frown, his hands were mmy, and his back was drenched in sweat, things werent looking good. B behind was smirking evilly, he could see through the dungeon menu what was happening and was getting ready to gloat. Gobuske had very little chance of winning now, the goblin loses as expected. To be honest if Gobuske won B didnt know what hed do. ept that he was wrong haaaaah impossible, his pride would never allow that. Apologise to a goblin fat chance in hell. What should I do? Gobuske asked himself, he didnt have anyone to discuss the situation with. Hecked helpers such as Nanna and Loki plus his highest ranked monsters were only D-rank. Their intelligence limited; they still needed his directions to function properly. He was stymied, unsure on how to proceed, he couldnt think of the best way tobat Frosts defences with his remaining forces plus the problem that was Finy. Finy at this moment had led his team to the end of Gobuskes second room but there was an issue. By this point Finy still had around 60% of his team left, more than enough to proceed through a third room. They suffered through a couple more of those ambush caverns along their path but since they were wary of the situation and had preventive measures in regards to the poison, it didnt dy them for long though a few monsters were inevitably lost. However, the ambushes using the hidden tunnels never stopped, it was a tried a proven method that not only had low risk of death for the ambushers and even if a kill was not made itd keep them on their toes, slowing down their momentum. One ambush a little earlier was rather different than the rest and resulted in a mutual destruction of both sides. As Finy moved closer and closer to the next room, Gobuske and his forces grew more desperate. Knowing the situation with their invading force, they had to work harder to take down Finy, so as to level the ying field. One of Gobuskes hob goblinmanders came up with a n on his own and Gobuske struggling to think straight agreed. The hob goblinmander ordered for arger ambush force and armed them with poison sks before sending them into the tunnels. The original n was to attack in mass before tossing out the sks while retreating and or pick a couple goblins to suicide bomb certain groups. This however didnt exactly work out. At the first sign of attack, Finys forces were ready, quickly assuming a defensive position and preparing for the ambush. Aiming not to kill their opponents but simply weather the storm. After tried and tested means this was the best situation. Focusing on eliminating the ambushing goblins would usually end badly. Theyd likely be unable to even wound their targeted aggressors, all while leaving a gap in the squads defences. Finy assigned certain monsters including himself to be the ones on possible counterattacks, ones that werent integral to the defence of the group i.e., the frost wolves. Finy was fully expecting arger ambush force eventually, given how far theyve travelled in this section they were likely reaching the end. Hold positions, frost wolves aim for any stragglers. Finy gave his orders while preparing the cast some ice bolts at the suddenly appearing tunnels. Deeper in, some of the tunnels were visible as though taunting, while others were covered by ps, blending them into the wall. ..... Dozens of goblins swarmed in from the different tunnels at Finys shout, attacking with fervent aggression, far more than usual but Frosts offensive team was prepared. The frost dwarves utilised their shields to endure the sudden attacks before pushing them back, while the frost wolves moved to strike the stragglers. However, a couple of the goblins tossed poison sks overhead,nding amongst the dwarves and exploding. The poison liquid doused some of the dwarves and frost goblins causing their skin to burn. Finys eyes opened wide, surprised by the goblins actions, this was clearly devasting to both sides. The fumes would infect both the goblins and his forces in such a small area. Thankfully they already knew how to deal with the fumes, each of the monsters in the area withdrew herb infused cloths and wrapped them around their noses, preventing the fumes from entering their lungs. Gobuskes forces unfortunatelycked such masks and suffered the effects quite drastically. Their faces turning blue as they struggled to breath through the agonising pain. Therge noses of the goblins served to exasperate the problem. But the hob goblinmander didnt care, a few loses were necessary, he continued to order the goblins under hismand to attack andunch their poison sks whenever able. The goblins carried out their orders without hesitation, dly sacrificing themselves in the name of their king, much to Gobuskes pain. With their diehard advances and aggressive use of poison, Finys troops couldnt escape suffering casualties, but the ambushers were much worse. With Finy inmand and the fast frost wolves acting, many of the goblins were dealt with before they managed tounch their sks resulting in only friendly fire. And eventually the ambushers ran out of troops, even the hob goblinmander wasnt spared. Choosing to die with his men and risk his own life he charged into the swarms of dwarves and goblins, sessfully taking out a few with his machete before Finy arrived and decapitated him. Therge amount of blood help counteract the pools of green poison dotted around the floor, but the battlefield was a mess with both sides losing men. Bang! Gobuske smashed his fist against the wall when he heard the report from another hob goblinmander, he didnt have the stomach to watch the event go down, too painful. So many of his monsters died today and it filled his body with pain and grief. He felt guilty and anger towards himself, as though it was his fault. Because of his weakness and inexperience his monsters had to pay the price, his heart was no longer in this war, too much death without many prospects for victory. He slumped down into his chair, his lip bleeding from him biting down in frustration, he was out of options and didnt want to sacrifice anymore of his men. He looked up towards therge screen that showed his father, pain in his heart, looking for clemency. Dark saw the look in his sons eyes and couldnt help but be momentarily moved, clenching his fists as he tried to calm down his emotions. No, he wont end this battle, the sapient races or god forbid the Church of Light wouldnt show mercy. Now that the one month safety barrier was removed there was a very good chance that his children could be killed. He needed them to be ready for whatever challenges they came across. He would not reinstate the barrier no matter the cost and would limit their guardians to a single save. Hed treat his children like the rest of the races in Nova, their life was theirs to live, and he would not intervene. Determined in his decision he shook his head towards Gobuske knowing that it wasnt what he wanted to hear and would hurt him emotionally. But if his kids didnt understand the severity of their existence in Nova thered be even more likely to be killed, the world was not a safe and fair ce especially with the God of Light disagreeing with their existence. Gobuske received his fathers rejection and felt thest vestiges of strength in his body escape, his body curled up and his eyes grew red. He was silent for a fair few minutes, even ignoring the calls for orders by his monsters, his fathers rejection hit him hard. His timid personalitying back to the forefront. While B behind continued to grin evilly, thinking that such a posture was fitting for a lowly goblin. Although arge part of Bs aggression towards Gobuske was due to him being in the form and specialist of goblins, another feature was the under the table battle between the guardians. Each guardian was a powerful monster in their own right, and many knew of each other. Combat between their charges was another method to identify who was better. B felt that he got a dud when he was assigned Gobuske. How was a goblin topete against all the other dungeon cores. He was so fixated on this possibility that he didnt even register the fact that Gobuske actually entered the top 25 in terms of ie and had so far put up a fairly decent fight against Frost. No, hed already given up, only performing the very minimal of duties required of him, counting the days until he could leave as his guardian and return to his regr life. But in the meantime, given his petty personality hed take out his grievances on the innocent Gobuske. Chapter 174 174 Chapter 174: Dungeon war (13) After thest ditch effort of a poisoned ambush, Finy and his remaining forces reached the end of the room but were unsure in how to proceed. Before them was two gateways, one leading the left and the other straight ahead. Which room would lead to the dungeon core; they didnt know. Finy also received a report that the stragglers he left in the first room with the aerial corps had been annihted, there was still some of the first room undiscovered. Finy called for his forces to rest for a few minutes while he contacted Frost to determine their chosen route. Splitting up while in the same room was one thing but half their current forces with little chance of joining back up in the short term was way too risky. However, Finy was able to surmise that there must be another path to take from the first room. The aerial corps and left over scouting party should have been more than enough to survive alone in the first room while hunting any stragglers. The fact that they didnt means that other monsters entered and took care of them. As long as an intruder of any kind was within a section of dungeon the dungeon core could not alter that section, that included teleporting monsters there from elsewhere in the dungeon. Finy whats the problem? Frost asked while responding to Finysmunication. There was anxiety in his tone, afraid that hismander had run into another situation so soon after the poison ambush. Though the defence on his side was holding strong he couldnt tell how well Gobuskes was doing. The path splits into two rooms, one to the left and one straight ahead. Not sure what path to take since splitting up would be too risky. Any suggestions master? Finy reported the situation and asked for his masters input. .... Frost was silent on the other side, cupping his chin in thought as he tried to ess his younger brothers mindset as well as how much DP he raked in over the past month. He himself was ranked fourth and could only barely finish outfitting 6 rooms, over two floors. Gobuske seems to have not added a second floor yet, going for multiple rooms on the first floor instead. It saves a bit of DP that way and would probably not attract too much attention given thatd it be just a single floor monsterir. The issue being whether or not Gobuske moved his core room. The dungeon cores had the ability to move their core room to anywhere in their dungeon. Frost had thought about moving his core room to right outside the whats behind door number 2 trap as it was hard to ess that ce without falling through the bottomless pitfall, but he decided against it, at least for now. The dungeon core was still housed in the deepest area of his dungeon. Gobuske however had proven to be a worthy adversary, full of intelligence. He may very well have pulled some tricks, hiding the core room somewhere else. Just the fact that Finy came across this problem already started gears turning in Frosts head as to whether he should walk down such a route in future. ..... Frost continued to think over and over which path to send Finy down. If he chose the wrong one it could waste a fair amount of time and possibly even devastate his remaining forces. Though around half or so were still alive and battle capable they were quite exhausted. Should I just flip a coin or something? Getting nowhere he thought of leaving it up to chance, relying upon his natural luck but before that... Frost tried to requestmunication with Gobuske, but he wasnt picking up, frowning he tried to call again but still there was nothing. A moment before he was about to give up and try his luck with a coin toss, the call connected but something was wrong, he was muted or something. He could hear the other side, but they couldnt hear him, and it seemed as though Gobuske wasnt the one to pick up. ..... Dark worked his magic a little, forcibly connecting Frost to Gobuskes private space, allowing him to not only hear what was happening but even see, though he made it one way. Something was happening in Gobuskes private space, and he wanted Frost to be aware of it. Hahahah pathetic, did you think that you could win with goblins? A loud arrogant voice could be heard, and Frost could see Gobuske with a despondent look on his face as he tried to make himself look small. This sight instantly filled Frost with rage, that was his younger brother that was being insulted. Bastard! He shouted into themunication, but the arrogant voice clearly didnt hear him as it continued to insult and mock Gobuske. Frosts sudden burst of anger and swearing spooked Nanna and Loki who were beside him, they reeled back on instinct, afraid. Maya opened her eyes at this time from her rxing position, craning her neck upwards towards Frost she said one word as a warning to her young master. Language, she didnt speak loudly but her tone was overbearing and sent a jolt down Frosts spine, alerting him of his wrongdoings. Oops he covered his mouth in attempt to unsay his words, before lightly apologising to the kids. He really shouldnt have been using such foulnguage in front of them, but he was really pissed off at the moment. He did his best to clench his teeth to avoid further outbursts as he listened in on Gobuske. Are you really sad for goblins are you kidding me, the bottom of the rung cannon fodder. So, what if they died, the worlds better off without such wastrels. B hmphed as he mocked Gobuske. His charge was depressed about losing his monsters, goblins no less. Gobuske shivered as anger coursed through his veins, once again finding the strength to argue back against B. Shut up! just shut up! I dont give a rats ass what you think! Theyre my monsters, my creations not losers! Gobuske swivelled round and red at B, fury in his eyes. He was already incredibly depressed at therge loss of his monsters, his subjects and then he was rejected by his father to stop the war so as to not lose any more of them. Now B just had speak up and rub salt in his wounds, mocking his monsters, no way he was going to stand for that. His goblins worked hard and followed his orders to the letter, performing way beyond their inherent rank and he was damn proud of them. Twice now Gobuske had spoken to him in such a manner, B grew incensed and clenched his fists as his aura and killing intent silently spread out. Seeing a goblin act so high and mighty towards him an iron dragon felt wrong on so many levels. He was about to quash Gobuske but instinctively trembled, his head turned around towards the image of Dark as he felt a sudden pressure envelop him. He receded his killing intent almost instantly afraid of being punished once again. That pain was quite substantial. Gobuske didnt let up however, holding his fury filled gaze the entire time, ignoring the pressure B released in response. He had enough of hiding and cowering. Asshole! Gobuske cursed B before spitting out in disgust and turning back towards the dungeon menu. He was still in the middle of a war, his monsters needed direction. Hob goblinmander one and two, be aggressive in your tactics, move like a rampaging horde, cleave apart any that stands in your way. Ignore the bunkers wherever possible, use shields to protect against ranged attacks. As long as you escape their range of fire, theyll be forced to either retreat or leave the bunker. Focus primarily on dealing with the boars. Hob goblinmanders you deal with them personally, you have the strength to endure their charge and once theyre momentum is gone, theyll be far easier to deal with. Dont try to map every part of the second room, just move on forward. If the entrance to the next room in ahead then well be able to pressure Frost that much more....if not well at least hell know the strength of goblins! Gobuske, shed his depression, he wasnt out of this fight just yet. His dungeon core was still unfound, and he had ample forces in defence. If Frost was going to win this battle, he wasnt going to make it easy. Rahhhhhhhhhhhh! with their kings rousing speech, the morale of his invading force was renewed, and their strength returned and not a moment too soon. A herd of winter boars suddenly appeared from their nks aiming to once again trample their forces. Whereas before they looked towards these boars with dread and panic, now they weed the charge. The perfect opportunity to show their king how powerful goblins were. With tactic agreement both hob goblinmanders suddenly rushed towards the charging boars, wielding theirrge axes they braced themselves in the snow, working in tandem. They were themanders and so far, hadnt taken much part in the actual battles in case something went wrong. But now there was no point in holding back. Gobuskes strongest monsters roared as they tensed up their bodies, erging somewhat as they withstood the boars charge. Bannnggggggg! A massive explosion of sound could be heard as the leading three boars smashed into the two hob goblinmander. Where their charges would usually sent their targets reeling backwards at the very least asionally even killing them outright if a low ranked goblin. This time however the winter boars were stopped dead and their opponents the hob goblinmanders didnt even take a single step back. Smiles adorned their faces as they red at the winter boars in their arms before they suddenly exuded immense strength, flipping the boars upward onto their backs. killllllll! the two of them roared in unison before bringing down theirrge axes onto the defenceless belly of the nearest winter boar. Chapter 175 175 Chapter 175: Dungeon war (14) Squealch! The axes of the hob goblinmanders met with very little resistance, piercing deep into the boars belly, bringing a swift end to the foe. While the remaining two boars were quickly swarmed by the goblin tide. Unable to regain momentum they received dozens upon dozens of stabs and shes causing blood to pool at their hooves. Those three were done for, the remaining winter boars panicked and did their best to retreat from whence they came, however they couldnt escape from injury, a severe blow to Frosts defences. Filled with mad joy the two hob goblinmanders roared in goblin tongue as they were covered in the blood of their victims. The swath of remaining goblins joined theirmanders in roaring, their bodies filling with fire and their once broken morale flipping to an excited state. Gobuske smiled in his chambers, a mad glint present in his eyes. Time to show them what I can do, he promptly gave orders to his defence teams as well, quickly getting back on track. He epted that he would still likely lose and many of his monsters would inevitably be killed but theyd die in glory. His father was correct, others would not show mercy, B was a perfect example of someone not agreeing with his existence. If he wasnt bound by Darks covenant and fearful of him, he would have already squashed him. Gobuske matured at this moment, no longer as na?ve or as timid in his nature. He nned to fight with all he had, learn from every battle, improve after every encounter and no longer be so afraid. Thanks to B and his inherent cowardly nature he was one of the many dungeon cores that didnt leave his dungeon. Holing himself up afraid to interact with the outside world. Dark however had taken into ount the appearance of his children and their future locations. Whereas with Frost, Indra, Pyro, and the other elven appearing dungeon cores who could interact with pretty much any civilisation without much scrutiny. Gobuske and several of his siblings would not be wee. He did have the appearance of a goblin after all, a monster to be hunted. But if Gobuske had left his dungeon he would have met with many monster tribes that formed pseudo viges and towns where even a goblin would not be seen as simply a kill target, especially one with such intelligence. Though monster based races such as goblins, orcs, gnolls etc... werent counted among the sapient races andcked the massive empires or countries such as humans or beastmen they werent anything to sneeze at. They too have their own territories and civil rules, although not as diverse or stringent, choosing to follow the strong has more say, it was still for all intents and purposes amunity that Gobuske could interact with and make friends like Frost had done. Perhaps with his newfound drive and confidence hed leave his home and finally interact with Nova as Dark intended. Dark couldnt help but fill with pride as he saw the expression on his sons face, he nodded and waved his hand, ending the secretmunication channel he gave Frost. Master, three winter boars have been killed and several have received injuries. The moment Dark copsed themunication was the moment that Gobuskes hob goblinmanders got involved in the battle personally. Nanna quickly reported the situation with a panicked tone. So far, theyd only lost one winter boar with others sporting superficial injuries at best. So, to lose three at once was quite an impact. .... Frost was silent, a smile adorned his immacte face. He heard and saw his younger brothers rousing speech and couldnt help but be moved himself. His fists were clenched and the urge to battle was strong. This fight was far from over. Master? Nanna asked after not hearing a response. ..... ......Have the defence forces fallback, engage in only low risk attacks from now on. Move all our forces bar the backups to the third section, well face the remainder of Gobuskes forces there. Tell the frost troll and Lagombi that they might need to take action personally to deal with the hob goblinmanders. Frost gave his orders before speaking to Finy. Finy, choose straight ahead, take all your forces. If its right its right if not... well well just have to clear it out and head in the other direction... make it quick, Gobuskes invading team has regained their morale and will be much harder to deal with. Frost spoke with the air of amander. Understood master, your will be done! Finy responded with a loud booming voice, as he struck his chest in salute before leading his men dead ahead. His team never suffered from poor morale and were still more than ready to enter battle, responding with positive grunts. After giving his orders and rxing a little Frost thought about Gobuskes guardian and subconsciously looked towards Maya. Looks like I was really lucky with my partner. He frowned as he pitied his younger brother for not being able to experience such a rtionship. Perhaps theres something I can do, Frost was filled with disgust and anger towards B and wanted to help his younger brother deal with him but was unsure how or if it was even his ce. Dark chose the guardians, and he was Gobuskes did he really have the right to interfere and even if he did what could he do. B was a guardian, someone with peak strength whereas his was low level C-rank at best. He shook his head and put such thoughts towards the back of his mind, he was still currently in a dungeon war, such things can be dealt withter. Meanwhile in the audience (who were not aware of what transpired in the private spaces) Pyro stood up abruptly and yelled. Come on! Thats more like it! He knocked his fists together while having a wild looking smile on his face. He just saw Gobuskes goblins who had just been getting their arses handed to them, finally fight back and in the most brutal of fashion. Anytime Frost encountered resistance he showed some form of support for Gobuske, anything to indirectly harm Frost. Sit down you oversized brute, youre blocking the view. Aqua spoke out with a cold tone, ready tounch some magic at her loud and obnoxious younger brother. Pyro wasnt the only present; it was very rude to suddenly shout out when everyones trying to watch the show. Especially when its just because Frost was pushed back. Pyro turned behind him to face Aqua, giving her a deadly stare but eventually he hmphed and sat back down, feeling a mix of nervous when under her gaze as well as the many on lookers staring his way. He wasnt the only one excited by the war, just the most obviously vocal. Indra also fist pumped the air when the hob goblinmanders took to the field. Not because he was rooting for Gobuske but more that it was exciting. Overall things werent looking that bright for Gobuske, so he was d to see that he didnt just give up, garnering him a few points of respect with Indra and many other cores. With Gobuske back in focus, his invasion team aggressively moved forward, covering far more ground than before, riding the wave of the sudden high morale. B remained silent, watching in the background, waiting. Gobuske and or his goblins would mess up again, and hed get another chance to mock and gloat, still refusing to learn his lesson. Its a shame, given Gobuskes talent and intelligence hes made it this far all by himself, reached the top 25 in terms of DP, gave his elder brother Frost and decent fight the one in the number 4 position who not only has arger dungeon but a C-rank monster. Makes you think what he could have been capable of if his guardian worked with him instead of against. But B is too stubborn, will he ever change and if he does, does he have the right to remain as a guardian? If he took a good look, ignoring the fact that Gobuske looked like and summoned pretty much only goblins, hed be able realise the gem that he had been granted. His position among the other powerful guardians would only rise with such a talented charge. Yami was right, Gobuskes monsters, environments and even tactics were a solid foundation, far more than Frosts who mainly utilised his advantage of having a C-rank monster, making Gobuskes hard work in defence pretty meaningless. If Finy wasnt present, reced with a regr frost troll would his team had made it past the ridged caverns so easily....not a chance. But this wasnt time for what ifs, Frosts forces were what they were and his were what his were, theres no changing that. He just needs to do the best he could with what hes got. With both sides progressing, Gobuskes team would reach the third section soon, but Finy and his group were already there on Gobuskes side, the third section and hopefully where the dungeon core was held. Finys forces marched through the gateway at a steady pace and what greeted them thankfully was not another set of low ceiling caves but what appeared to be an underground city of some sort. There was no sky to see like in the caves just rock. The entrance overlooked a precipice, they could see an arrangement of buildings and hallways down below, with dozens of pathways intersecting and leading off into different sections of the room. It was reminiscent of Frosts frost castle ruins, yet they could see it from the outside since there was no ceilings per say, just an earthen sky. It was quite majestic in appearance and gave off a very old feeling. Gobuske didnt cheap out on this environment. though itcked anything worthwhile in terms of materials, vegetation, and free creatures it was incredibly grand and would take a long time to traverse. Given the size, getting lost would be very easy, shame all of Frosts aerial troops were killed otherwise mapping out the correct path would be simple. Chapter 176 176 Chapter 176: Dungeon war (15) Finy reported what he saw to Frost, a great deal of respect and perhaps slight envy was in his voice when he did. All of Frosts environments were quite cheap and none gave off such a grand feeling like this room. Though Frosts third and fourth rooms were castle ruins they were very much ruins, very unliveable. This ce however seemed to just be old and unused, the walls and even doors looked to be albeit dated and worn but still quite functional. Seems like the kind of ce thatd house a very special item like a dungeon core, hopefully this is the right room. Move ahead but be careful of traps, the narrow straight hallways may be the perfect ces for such defences plus Ive got a feeling youll encounter somethingrger in there. Be careful Finy. Frost spoke with dead seriousness, since Gobuske likely didnt have a second floor he probably spent more on traps and monsters. With the use of poison, he didnt want to leave anything to chance, Finy may meet something that could match him or at the least wound him a great deal. Where he focused his strongest monster on offence, Gobuske may have a trump card for defence. Understood master, I will. Finy ended themunication and arranged his remaining troops into their groups before setting off. There was only one path leading into the underground city. Gobuske received a report the moment Finy entered the third room. My King, troll entered final room, chose right A hob goblinmander reported. Oh well it was a 50/50 shot....you know what to do. Gobuske had a total of 5 rooms all on the same floor. If Finy had found the other gateway in the first room, he would have been lead into a simrly designed cave room which then connected to a marsnds like room. The left gateway in the second room would also lead to the marsnds, allowing Gobuske to manoeuvre his monsters around the first four rooms even if they were full of intruders. The underground city was his final room as well as the most expensive. Though the cave rooms were well designed to suit his goblins purposes and made for easy ambushes, this room was multi-purpose serving not only as an easily defensible room but also one that worked well with traps. Gobuske had another D-rank goblin monster that Frost was yet to encounter, a goblin engineer. These goblins had lowbat abilities but were highly intelligent and inventive. They could fashion goblin made contraptions that could be used in battle as well as traps. Unfortunately, he hadnt got the chance to use any of them yet given that no one made it that deep into the underground city before being killed. Whether that be from his monsters or the basic traps that Dark granted him in the beginning, no one had seen the inventions of his engineers. Frost would be the first to be granted such an honour. Yes, my King. The hob goblinmander responded back with a mad smile, fully eager to wee these intruders. Though Gobuskes assault team was significantly reduced and would likely not make it to the dungeon core room there was no way he was going to let Frost get to his. Well big brother, lets see how you deal with this. Gobuske gave orders to a few more of his capable D-rank monsters present in the final room as well another surprise that he had prepared just in case anything did reach this hallowed ground. Taking out Finy would be extremely difficult and costly especially when he was amongst his soldiers. Gobuske nned to split them up somehow allowing him to really deal some damage to Frosts regr forces which werent nearly as threatening. He had the surprise move towards the early stages of the underground city along with some of his more physical strong hob goblins, utilising secrets routes to get there. Although this room didnt have the small hidden tunnels throughout like the caves there were quite a few hidden pathways within the thick walls, essed through secret doorways. Ambushing was a very effective strategy and he nned on continuing such methods in the final room. Finy led his troops through the hallways and rooms of the underground city keeping his guard up the entire time, his vision darting side to side and his ears perked for any unusual vibrations. Theyd been walking through this area for 15 minutes yet hadnt seen a single enemy as of yet, the feeling was unnerving. Given their past experience with Gobuskes troops they should have suffered a couple ambushes by now. The atmosphere was incredibly tense, and the soldiers were waiting on edge for a sign of action. ..... Don don What was that? The sound of a small rock falling down onto the hard floor quickly alerted Finy as well as some of the frost dwarves. They turned around immediately; their weapons drawn in the direction of the sound. Sweat could be seen dripping down their foreheads showing how high strung they were. Damn its just another falling rock, everyone rx, it was my bad. Finy quickly noticed that he had mistaken a fallen rock for the enemy again. This underground city was old and derelict, it frequently crumbled, dropping bits of wall and ceiling on the ground causing no shortage of freak outs among the soldiers. With hismand the many frost dwarves, goblins and even frost wolves rxed once again, well as best they could. Being so deep in enemy territory with Gobuskes previous ambush tactics it was hard to not be on edge. What the group didnt realise was that this was not just shifting of old walls, but purposeful distractions generated by goblins hidden within some of the walls, permanently keeping their targets on edge and tensed until they eventually became less alert, at that point theyd strike. The group continued to march on, reacting much the same way to minor sounds until eventually they entered a long open hallway. They could see the brown earthen sky above and were trapped between two thick and tall walls. Finy couldnt help but get a bad feeling. Don, Click Suddenly another minor sound was heard behind them and ahead. They only reacted the sound behind, the majority of the group turned around to instinctually investigate -Finy included- but not as gung-ho as earlier. Unfortunately, they should have been looking the other way. That clicking sound was the activation of a trap, one of the goblins stood on the activation switch but didnt notice. Ahead of the group a small recess of the wall opened up to reveal a sharp metal bolt before suddenly. Twang! The bolt was fired towards the unsuspecting group, now facing in the opposite direction. Finy was the first to respond but he was too slow. He turned around just in time to see the iron bolt fly pass him straight into the skull of a frost dwarf, causing its head to explode, covering everyone nearby in blood and bits of brain matter. Thankfully it was only a single bolt without any repeating action, but it still managed to kill a frost dwarf instantly, the force behind that thing was nothing to sneeze at. Finy quickly moved forward to prepare for any further bolts sent their way but of course there wouldnt be. The moment the frost dwarfs head exploded, and all the other monsters were in the process of turning around, in shock at the scene before them. Gobuskes troops made their move. Dun Dun Dun Suddenly parts of the wall opened up like a door, goblins and hob goblins swarmed out with their weapons held high. The perfect ambush, Finys force was caughtpletely unaware. Failing to react, many of them received blows and shes to their limbs, with a couple frost goblins outright dying. The hidden pathways in the underground city were very good at masking sound and smell so thisrge group thaty in wait at this point werepletely missed. They only moved at the sound of the trap going off, diving into their unsuspecting victims with fervent aggression. Shit! [ice bolt] Finy cursed aloud before casting some magic towards the openings skewering a goblin and giving his monsters there a moment of reprieve. It was a well-timed attack and would likely end up in many losses for both sides. With very little room to move Finy would struggle to reach closebat distance and quickly end this ambush. Damn! His forces clearly outnumbered the ambushers, but they had the advantage, this was going to be a gruelling fight. He was partially restrained and unable to effectively use his forte, his axe but Finy was never a one trick pony. [ice bolt] he continued to conjure up his magic, sniping opposing goblins from afar, asionally killing the lower ranks or at least forcing the hob goblins to take a step back. He wouldnt kill much this way. [Invigorating shout] Finy activated his active buff skill, sending out a wave of energy to the soldiers nearby, filling them with strength and stamina. Rahhhhhhhh! The receivers of the buff roared with power, gripping their weapons with increased strength, they violently overpowered their opponents, knocking them either against the wall or to the floor. Finy meanwhile could feel his strength wane, his stamina visibly decrease. This was a fairly taxing skill that would drain more energy the more targets it affected, but now his soldiers would have an advantage. Meanwhile in the private space, Gobuske was watching this all in real time and was inmunication with a hob goblinmander. The moment Finy released [invigorating shout] and was momentarily drained of strength he gave a singlemand. Now! Chapter 177 177 Chapter 177: Dungeon war (16) Suddenly in response to Gobuskes order arge nking sound could be heard in the distance. One of his goblins manually activated one of the prized contraptions made by his goblin engineers. The goblin pulled arge lever that released a massive spherical boulder, a heavy wooden bolt then smashed into the back of the boulder causing it to fire out and down the hallway. The thing was easily 3 metres in diameter, filling out practically the entire path. The device was set up out of sight of Finy and his soldiers. The hallway curved to the left and right near the end, like Y and was built with an imperceptible incline, designed just for this trap. Quickly therge boulder barrelled around the corner and started picking up great speed as rolled down the hallway, heading straight for Finy. Even with the loud sounds of battle, the vibrations given off by a massive boulder sting down the hallway was hard to miss. Finy turned around, his eyes opening up wide, his lip twitching in surprise. Youve got to be shitting me! This couldnt havee at a worst time; he was temporarily drained of his physical strength but even if he wasnt the amount of force this boulder contained was a major threat. Though he wouldnt be killed, he may break a limb or perhaps even two. He had no other option either, he had to stop this boulder with his own body. There was nowhere to run, his path blocked off by his own soldiers and not enough room to let it pass by. Fuck! Finy loudly cursed, hating Gobuske for his timing. With the short couple seconds he had, he tensed up his limbs the best he could and took a bracing stance. His knees bent and arms raised, the only motion he could do with his axe was a downward swing. His soldiers would have to make do without his magic aid for the next part. The moment the boulder reached Finy he stomped down hard, causing the very floor to shake before. Booooooommmm! The sound was like a cannon being fired as the boulder smashed into Finys axe. The power behind the boulder was incredible, dozens of tons at least but Finy was no slouch. With his entire body tense and his feet dug in deep he withstood the charge. He was pushed back a couple metres, his feet leaving deep gruelling lines in the earthen floor as they moved. A couple frost dwarves tried to help Finy withstand the blow but were sent barrelling through the air as he was shoved backwards. Crack! A horribly loud crack reverberated in the hallway, Finys left arm fractured in many ces, almost shattering, bits of bone could be seen sticking out of areas they really shouldnt be. His calves had split open from the intense pressure, blood was pooling down his leg, but he stood his ground and sessfully stopped the massive boulder. Bringing it to a harmless halt before him. ..... Deep cracks could be seen throughout the boulder, it too was severely damaged from striking against Finys axe and was almost at the point ofpletely fracturing. Thankfully his axe was in one piece, albeit with arge chip. Finy endured most of the pressure with his body so as to protect his weapon. Finy winced in pain but put on a brave face so as to keep up morale. He turned around to roar in victory...but he was interrupted. Dun! Another opening opened up in the wall, this time right beside Finy and the boulder. Behind it were hob goblins withrge muscles and a strange looking goblin that was smaller than even the G-rank goblins, yet it gave off an eery pressure. Finy only had the time to register their presence in his peripheral vision before they roared and lunged at him. The hob goblins dove in first, four of them each with burly arms and no weapons. They each went for a limb to tie Finy down. Ahhhhhhhh! Finy roared in agony as one of the hob goblins wrapped itself on his broken left arm, forcing him to drop his axe. He tried to shake them off but was too weak and they were too stubborn. Dun! Suddenly another door opened up on the opposite side of him, this one however lead downwards to god knows where. Finy instantly understood what was happening, even though he was injured, these four hob goblins wouldnt be enough to kill him but separating him from his men that was entirely possible. Get off me! Finy yelled as he tried to summon his remaining strength to toss these hob goblins away, but they refused to budge, grasping onto him as though their lives depended on it. But with just the four of them it took all they had just to hold him down, getting Finy into the trap, well that was what the tiny goblin was for. This strange looking goblin was far more than meets the eye, itunched itself towards Finys chest with incredibly speed and when it made contact. Boom! An incredible amount of force was exerted upon Finy, far, far more than expected. This little goblin weighed over a ton and all the momentum was sent right into his chest. Bleurgh! Finys chest caved in slightly and he spat out blood as he and his attacker were sent reeling into the dark recess of the trap, vanishing from the battlefield. The door swiftly closed behind them leaving Finys entire team in shock. Theirmander was just kidnapped right in front of them. Everyone their felt a horrible chill down their spines, they knew Finys strength and relied heavily upon him as a rock for morale. Gobuskes troops however were invigorated by the sessful removal of Finy. The most dangerous monster was no longer here, although they had to send their most powerful assets to do it, it was a victory none the less. Rahhhhhhhhhh! Many goblins and hob goblins roared as their blood started pumping, utilising their high toe down upon their enemies with fiercer vengeance. Frosts offensive team was now without their leader and quickly suffered, gaining more wounds, and losing men at a far faster rate than before. Seeing Finy disappear was an incredible blow, they needed guidance but only Finy was in charge ofmunicating with Frost, none of the rest even knew how. Because of this Frost waspletely in the dark, not knowing of the tragedy that befell his monsters. Gobuske however was in the light and the moment his monsters seeded in their mission. Yaaaaaaasssss! Thats how you do it! Come on! Gobuske was over the moon, his joy and excitement paramount, he even jumped in joy. fist pumping the air. This was a major win for him and something he sorely needed. Full of cockiness he turned towards his guardian B. See that, a group of goblins managed to take down an Ice troll, what do you have to say to that? If he was tall right now, hed be looking down on B but with his short goblin body it didnt look menacing at all. B ground his teeth in frustration, irritation clearly in his eyes but he didnt say a word. Not because he was afraid of Dark but because he truly couldnt say a thing. Gobuske was right, logic was on his side, and it bugged B to no end. He was even silently watching the entire process (of course he didnt know about the n or even the traps that Gobuske prepared since he never bothered to care) and couldnt help but be shocked hell he was even a little impressed....a very, very small amount. But he was stubborn and arrogant and would never back down. Tsk he clicked his tongue and turned away from Gobuske refusing to look at his smug green face that was begging to be punched in. Not hearing a response from B and seeing him even refuse to look in his direction sent a wave of glee and empowerment through Gobuske. He finally made B eat his words and it was amazing. His eyes were practically slits at the moment because he was smiling so wide. He made an internal promise to greatly reward the four hob goblins and the trump card monster once this war was over......if they survived of course. The small, weird looking goblin was Gobuskes greatest monster. Though still D-rank its starting price was 1000DP, double that of Frosts frost trolls. He only had one of these monsters given their price, but it was well worth the cost, plus it benefitted from his goblin bonus, starting at half its maximum level making it even tougher. It was a spriggan. Spriggan, a goblin with the blood of giants, born with incredible physical strength they can swap between two forms. One a very small goblin that packs way more punch than its body would insinuate and two the form of a goblin giant, easily 5 metres tall. It is said that spriggans love to trick unsuspecting predators with their small body, luring them close with their guards lowered before eventually revealing their giant form and devouring the shocked creature. In its giant form it towers above regr trolls and far outstrips them in not only physical strength but also intelligence. And they enjoy beating on trolls most of all, looking down on them as failed giants, since spriggans themselves are looked down upon as such by their giant kin. Though technically trolls have no rtions to giants, spriggans have unterally decided that they do so they arent at the bottom of the giant kin pecking order. Chapter 178 178 Chapter 178: Dungeon war (17) Gobuske kept his spriggan on the defensive team for a multiple of reasons. First, though it is one of his most intelligent monsters and can even speak fairly decentmon tongue its not that great a leader. His hob goblinmanders were far better in this regard. Second, its fairly slow, not the best trait for an offensive team. Third it had quite powerful beastlike instincts, prone to bouts of aggression wherein it would forget its orders and surroundings. Frost would surely have figured that out after a few attacks and easily dragged it from the defence of the main assault. Much better to have it wait and get the enemy toe to it. And with this sessful attack, he felt that he made the right call. The trap that Finy was dragged into was something like a pitfall but instead of dropping straight down it was more like a chute that would slide its victims to another area of the underground city and with the amount of force the spriggan hit Finy with the group was travelling at a quite a pace. Ahhhhhh! Finy roared in pain as he was forced to slide down the chute, the hob goblins stilltched onto his limbs, pinning him down. The one on his left arm was especially malicious, twisting and digging its fingers into his open wounds. The pain was preventing him from thinking straight. Don! The spriggan on his chest punched his ribs with a malicious grin, wounding Finy even more while they still had the chance. Once they reached the end of the chute arge open room was waiting for them. Best to deal out as much damage as possible while they still had control. The spriggan was more than happy to beat into a defenceless troll. Don! Don! The spriggan continued to batter Finys ribs and chest causing him to repeatedly spit up blood and convulse in pain. His mind so clouded by rage and agony he didnt even think about his retaliation, choosing to only react physically which proved pointless. He could no longer sense his soldiers that were empowered by his buff, he and his attackers had drifted too far. Thankfully he didnt have to remain nearby to maintain the buff so regardless of his situation his soldiers would still benefit from the added strength and stamina. Crack! Suddenly or rather inevitably one of his ribs cracked from the spriggans blows eliciting another roar of pain from him and an even bigger smile from the spriggan. ..... Hahahhaha more, more little troll, scream for me some more hahahahah. The spriggan madlyughed and enjoyed the pained expression of his victim. The spriggan stopped randomly punching and focused now on the broken rib. cing its small hands on the area it started squeezing. Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Finy screamed once again, desperately trying to shake off the hob goblins to smash the spriggan sitting on his chest. Did that hurt little troll heheheh, then how about this? The spriggan then pressed hard with his ten fingers near the broken rib, shattering it even further. The spriggan had given into its natural tendencies, picking on trolls. Of course, Finy wasnt a regr troll but a high rank ice trollmander, stronger than the spriggan by quite a fair amount. Thats what made this situation so delectable for the spriggan, torturing a troll that itd normally stand no chance against, it was practically in a euphoric state at the moment. The four hob goblins however were not enjoying the situation, they were only E-rank. Holding down Finy even in his wounded state was unbelievably taxing on their bodies and every time the spriggan attacked or spoke to Finy he wouldsh out making their job that much harder. Internally they wereining, begging the spriggan to shut up but of course they wouldnt say that out loud. The mad look in the spriggans eyes sent chills down their spines, they refused to talk out of turn, afraid of the consequences, just hoping that their strength would hold out until the end. The pain Finy was feeling right now was incredible, far more than the time he was attacked by Barren and the Sanguine Snakes. At least then he could fight back with his body filling with adrenaline, this however was just torture without an outlet to vent. The hob goblins prevented him from resisting with his powerful physical strength, every time he tried to escape their grasp hed be met with more pain and the gloating face of the damn spriggan before hed be hit in the chest once again. His mind was starting to go dark and his body losing feeling, too much pain and blood loss. This chute was incredibly dark but if a light was shining, youd be able to see a trail of blood that leaked from Finy, painting it red. The loss of feeling and the spriggan mocking him more than hitting allowed him to regain a small amount of rity. He opened his eyes wide and focused upon the spriggan, he was in no state to create magic crests in order to summon ice bolts, but he did have a unique skill that just required mana. Grasping onto the small amount of focus he had, Finy rxed his body as best he could, no longer fighting against the hob goblins, he activated the special nd in his lungs and chose his target well. The sudden shift in temperament didnt elude the spriggan but it simply believed that Finy had given up, bringing its ugly green mug closer to his face, it smiled in triumph. Spriggans though mischievous and have the ability to transform, are very weak in terms of magic. Whether that be using it or sensing mana, well regr spriggan such as this one were. It didnt even sense its impending doom. The hob goblins werent much different, these ones were brawlers, full of physical strength but not much else, simply grateful for the end of Finys attempts to escape, they breathed out in relief. A momentter however that relief turned to terror. Finy opened his eyes and the ice breath nd in his lungs started firing on all cylinders. Opening his mouth wide, a frigid cold beam of super chilled gas fired from his mouth, directly onto the spriggans face. Gyahhhhhhhh! The spriggan roared in pain as its face and upper body were sted by the breath, the sudden coldness burned its flesh before sending it flying off Finys chest and into the wall. Finy didnt stop there, utilising his bodys natural resistance to ice he turned his face and frost breath towards the hob goblins, starting with the one on his left arm. The hob goblin didnt even get time to scream before the breath was upon him and unlike the spriggan he didnt just get off with freezing burns no his entire body was rapidly frozen turning him into a popsicle. This was due to the vast difference in rank, the hob goblins magic resistance was nowhere near enough to avoid this fate. Shame was that Finy now had a frozen hob goblin bonded to his wounded left arm but thats a problem forter. Happy with the result and not wanting to waste the precious few seconds he could maintain his breath attack he switched over to another one of the hob goblin assants but before he could, he suddenly felt the chute against his back end. He and the hob goblins were now flying in the air while the spriggan wasgging behind, bouncing down the chute as it held its face in pain. The hob goblins acted quickly, releasing themselves from Finy the moment they became weightless. They pushed against him, separating themselves in the four...well three directions before. Boom! Finy smashed into a hard wall, his head almost splitting apart from the impact, his vision grew dark, and he cked out. Meanwhile back in Frosts private space, he noticed that his monsters in the offensive team were being cut down fairly quickly and quickly reached out to contact Finy but got no response. Panic quickly ensued as he tried to contact him several times without any luck. Finy didnt show up as dead, but something must have happened. He couldnt lose Finy, even if he won the war losing someone like Finy wouldnt make it worth it. He was a peak C-rank monster that he couldnt summon again anytime soon, plus he was his right hand man. Taking a deep breath to calm down Frost contacted the second highest monster in the offensive team, one of the frost trolls. Two were on defence, one being themander and the other acting as back up on the second floor. The final one went along with Finy as part of his offensive team, the only D-rank present. The frost troll didntmand nearly as much respect as Finy and was relegated to the same level as the many frost dwarves but without Finy it was the only one who he couldmunicate with, albeit with brokenmon tongue. Without Finy there was also no one else capable enough to lead this many monsters and act as a symbol of strength. Compared to the hob goblinmanders, a frost troll was rathercklustre in attributes and talents but when it came to simply physical exchanges the D-rank hob goblinmanders werent a match. Whereas Finy was at the head of the force, this frost troll brought up the rear and usually worked as leader of therger scouting forces, thankfully Finy didnt split up his men in this room. The Frost troll was currently fighting and trying to bring back order to its waywardrades, doing its best to push back the hob goblins and goblins attacking them in mass. Chapter 179 179 Chapter 179: Dungeon war (18) Frost troll! Frost troll! Whats happening? Frost opened upmunication with the frost troll on the scene, hoping to find out what went wrong and hopefully save his monsters from a disaster. The frost troll didnt respond right away, having to knock back a couple hob goblins that were attacking it. Master, not good, under attack,mander Finy, taken raghhhhhh! The frost troll had to beat back another group of attackers mid-sentence, roaring as he swung his axe across the chest of a goblin fighter, covering his body in its fresh blood, not that it made any difference at this point. The frost troll was in the heat of the battle and had long been covered in red, almostpletely eclipsing its glorious blue skin. Frost clenched his fists hard in frustration, Finy was truly in a perilous situation and his monsters were in danger. Kidnapped, what could have kidnapped someone like Finy? Frost was anxious, wary of what else his younger brother had hidden in this room. But that could wait, for now he needed to restore order amongst his forces. Exin the situation as best you can! Frost gave his order filled with amanders tone. He needed to understand the situation before making any moves. Yes master, The frost troll responded after punching a goblin in the face. Utilising the short amount of breathing room, he gained he gave Frost a short report on what was happening as well as how the forces were currently faring. Itd been close to ten minutes since Finy had been taken to god knows where and Frosts soldiers were suffering from it. Without anyone to lead them or act as a rock for morale, the ambushers gained a significant advantage. Their numbers seemed endless and attacked multiple areas at once, quickly turning the battlefield into a mess. The Frost troll was only one monster and given the density of the monsters in the area and his limited fighting styles it was stuck in ce. Having to fight only the ambushing goblins and hob goblins directly in its vicinity. It couldnt aid the other areas that were suffering the most. It did the best it could, fighting without restraint to take down the forces it could reach as quickly as possible and sessfully took control of the wayward forces in its general vicinity. In the rear section where it was present the loss of men was the least but where it triumphed others did not. Gobuske had set up arge force for this assignment, pooling in the majority of his left over forces, taking advantage of the environment tobat against superior numbers and fighting strength. He had to utilise the spriggan and some of his high ranked hob goblin brawlers to abscond with Finy. Making them unavable for this battle and likely sacrificial, a cost he was willing to bear. Command of the ambush on site was left to one of the only two hob goblinmanders he had left within the dungeon with the others being in Frosts or deceased. The goblin alchemists and engineers were not taking part, their abilities didnt suit a frontal assault. In the beginning he discussed the idea of using poison once again but quickly trounced the notion. Though the narrow and highly dense area would be perfect for such an attack, his forces would suffer far too much, he chose to rely on his goblins fighting capabilities instead. This filled his goblins with a strong desire to prove their worth, amplifying their strength. The hob goblinmander also utilised its buff skills the moment Finy was removed, greatly increasing the momentum they had. Frosts forces suffered a devastating blow. ..... In the other areas where the frost troll couldnt reach, they were hit the hardest, the central areas especially. This sectioncked powerful fighters, made up mostly of the frost goblins. Though there was frost wolves, artic stags and a couple frost dwarves present this section was a lot weaker overall resulting in it being targeted. The front area where the severally damaged boulder stilly wasnt doing too badly given that it not only a had a couple frost dwarves that acted as Finys submanders, the group also received Finys [invigorating shout] thus amplifying their capabilities, allowing them to push back most of their opponents. Even without a major yer like the frost troll they fought fairly well against the onught of goblins and hob goblins. With the frost dwarves taking advantage of their strong defensive capabilities, protecting their weaker forces, and allowing a rotation in lines when soldiers grew tired. Finys buff skill had a limit of 15 minutes, so they were trying to take down their opponents while it was still active, taking more risks but also having great sess. Their momentum in clearing away enemies was even greater the frost troll. Frost received the frost trolls report and sighed in relief; the situation wasnt nearly as bad as he thought -still really bad but not worst case scenario. Unfortunately, the middle section of his forces were taking severe casualties, with very little monsters remaining. The hob goblinmander attacked the weakest area in person, cleaving apart the defences of the frost dwarves and allowing the lower ranked goblins to bypass them and attack the squishier targets and those that were limited in attacks thanks to the close quarters. His artic stags in particr really didnt fare well, unable to charge or manoeuvre well, they could only swing their antlers up and down and very rarely back kick, not enough to take down the swarm of goblins. Within ten minutes Frosts offensive team that still had around 60% of its forces in tact was quickly reduced to just 40% perhaps even lower. An entire third of their left over strength gone in a single attack, this was by far the most effective ambush hed endured in this war, even if you exclude the missing Finy who he still couldnt get in contact with. Frost troll, I need you to takemand of the left over forces. Use my name to help strengthen their morale. Continue fighting as you have been, take down your opponents one at a time...try to get to the middle line up but dont take too many risks. Finy is not dead, Im sure he will return... so survive until then, understood! Frost gave his order with a serious tone. As long as the rear and frontal line ups were working as they have been, he wouldnt lose his entire force. The middle line-up however was likely done for and having the frost troll take risks to reach them may prove to be counterintuitive, he may lose even more monsters. Best to clear out their areas first before moving on. Though it pained him to sacrifice so many monsters, it was necessary to save the majority. By having the frost troll yell that it was hismand, the morale of his monsters should surge, allowing them to gain strength andst that much longer. Plus giving them a goal to survive until Finy returned would also help in this regard. Allowing them to squeeze out all their potential to fulfil such and order, Finy was very respected by them after all, theyd willingly walk through fire for theirmander. Currently theyd be able to fight against the ambushers in a war of attrition butpletely resolving this conflict would need Finy or some sort of lucky chance.... until then theyd be stuck in that hallway, unable to proceed or retreat. It was truly a vicious move on Gobuskes part and one that came with great costs. In Gobuskes private space he was currently frowning, his fists clenched hard, and his bottom lip was cracked from nervous biting. His exhration from sessfully removing Finy was quickly overtaken by anxiety. This ambush of his used the majority of his remaining forces and even now he was summoning the rest to the area, hoping to carry out some final battle. Hed never get a better chance to eradicate Frosts forces and even if they do somehow survive and his entire defence force is eradicated, itd take some time for them to find his dungeon core. This was hisst ditch effort, but it came with significant losses on his side. He watched with a pained expression as his goblins and hob goblinsunched themselves into the frenzy of battle, fighting against Frosts forces without hesitation, many of which dying and painting the hallway with their blood. At best this would be a pyrrhic victory for both sides, with neither reallye out victorious....but it was necessary. His offensive team was but a shell of its former self and didnt have nearly enough men to clear out another room let alone how many more were left to travel. Gobuske already surmised that Frost likely had a second floor, yet he struggled to even reach the end of the first. Of course, he didnt know that Frost had practically no forces on the second floor and even the traps were rather bare. He guessed that he was severally outmatched in numbers and decided to go with thisst ditch effort, hoping to either clinch a miraculous victory or make Frost pay dearly for his own losses. His offensive team had reached the third room a couple minutes ago and already reported the environment as well as being attacked almost the instant they entered, thus reducing their already low numbers even further. He had barely 20% of his monster left, thankfully his two hob goblinmanders were still alive and kicking but with their aggressive march they didnte off scott-free. Chapter 180 180 Chapter 180: Dungeon war (19) Frost and his monsters no longer yed defensively in the third section, instantlyunching attacks the moment Gobuskes forces entered, forcing them to sequester themselves in the first couple rooms to catch their breaths. One of the hob goblinmanders even got sted by abined attack of a freezing web and an ice bolt, knocking it hard against a wall and wounding its chest. They wished to finish this battle here and now, and with the low numbers on Gobuskes side and their exhaustion due to the cold weather they decided to take risks. The frost troll as well as the Lagombi were prepared to take part as well. Frost wished for Gobuske to never reach his second floor, so his monsters were going to make sure his wish came to pass. With both sides suffering substantial damages to their offensive teams, it was merely a question of who would survive the longest. This battle no longer had much hope of being a race to the dungeon core but a war of extermination, much to the joy of the audience. The massive gruelling battles were far more exciting to watch than a race. Many of the dungeon cores became much more animated and involved, unable to restrain their excitement, shouting out their feelings be they negative or positive. If you ignore the mass amounts of dead monsters, this dungeon war was reminiscent of arge sporting event with the fans of the opposing teams unable to contain themselves. The majority of the involved dungeon cores were the ones that decided to take part in the betting pool, Aqua in particr was quite animated. Raising her arms in jubtion or sulking when Frost suffered a surprise attack. All of which Yami was forced to endure by her side, though he didnt say it, he was reaching his limit with this younger sister of his. Thankfully he didnt have to endure it quite alone. Sylph the second eldest sister bet on Gobuske- mainly since it was opposed to Aqua who for some reason, she didnt get along with- the two of them argued amongst one another, giving him some breathing room. Dark couldnt help but chuckle at the sight of his eldest son suffering, thinking it was some sort of karma, he silently gave Aqua and Sylph a thumbs up, once again feeling that his daughters were much cuter. His gaze was then drawn back to the dungeon war, and he couldnt help but smile with pride, his two sons were really going at it now, no more holding back and showing restraint, exactly what he hoped to see. Their future opponents would not show leniency, they needed to get used to losing their monsters in battle. It was fine to form some attachment but not so much that it would jeopardise the defence of their cores. Gobuske gave him a fair amount of worry when he looked towards him with pleading eyes earlier, Dark was thankful that he got over the depression. His gaze then drifted over to B, once again trying to think of the best solution to deal with this problem. Indirectly it was thanks to Bs mocking that Gobuske regained his focus, getting back into the war.... meaning his personality wasntpletely disadvantageous to Gobuske, he could use him as a prop, someone that he desired to prove wrong....but would the rtionship remain like that? He was truly stumped. Meanwhile down in arge dark room in the lower levels of the underground city, Finy was swiftlying too. He cked out for a couple minutes or so, thankfully his opponents werent in a position to make his rest permanent. The three remaining hob goblins though releasing themselves from Finy still retained their speed, mming against opposing walls, just not bashing their heads. They werent knocked out, but their bones still hurt, plus this room was pitch ck, they couldnt even see their allies let alone their opponent. In the short time Finy was unconscious they scrambled around trying to find one another as well as the spriggan who entered shortly after them. Their job was simply to buy time, keeping Finy here for as long as possible. They knew the risks of this operation yet didnt even hesitate when volunteering, knowing that theyd likely die here. The moment Finy awoke, his entire body was wracked with pain, and he had a splitting headache, it didnt help that there was some loud painful screaming reverberating in the room making it worse. His left arm was pretty much unresponsive, simply hanging limply by his side. Thankfully the bleeding seemed to be reduced, likely from him running out rather than the wounds clotting. Finy knew his situation was dire and moved to take a health potion that was stored in a section of his loincloth. Frost gave him a couple low level health potions to either use on himself or the higher ranked monsters, their use was up to his discretion. However, his movements didnt go unnoticed, nor did his restrained moans from the pain. The spriggan that was screaming in pain suddenly turned to face Finy, clearly able to make out his form in this darkness. Full of rage it moved towards him, its body suddenly morphing into its giant form, reaching over 4 metres tall, evenrger than Finy. Its face and upper body however were severely wounded as though theyd been burned. The transformation only increased the wounds size as well as amplified the spriggans pain, but it was lost in its rage, no longer caring. It battered away the hob goblins that were crowded beside it, no longer able to tell friend from foe. The hob goblins were unable to see in this darkness and unfortunately were taken by surprise by the spriggans sudden aggression. The three of them were sent flying towards the nearby walls and knocked out cold. ..... Finy suddenly felt a sense of danger and his fuzzy vision, obscured by blood and his still groggy mind could barely make out arge fisting his way. Shit! This vision quickly woke him up out of his stupor, but it wasnt fast enough. Boom! The spriggans massive fist smashed into his face, Finy could feel the bones in his nose crack as his head was pushed backwards against the wall. The health potion he had begun to retrieve from his loincloth fell from his hand and smashed upon the floor, bing useless. Finys mind that had just started to move grew slower once again, his vision growing darker and his body wishing to sleep. No! I cant fall asleep Finy knew the danger of him being knocked out once again and couldnt allow it to happen. He used pain to fight against the urge to ck out, quickly squeezing his shattered left arm. Ahhhhhhhh! The pain was intense and instantly caused him to roar in agony the moment the spriggan pulled back its fist, raring for another strike. This time however Finy had enough to time to defend himself. The moment the spriggan punched out again he raised his one good arm and blocked. Thud! This time though there was still arge sound due to the force contained behind the strike, it was of a much lower tone. No bones were cracked, or heads smashed against a stone wall, no Finy caught therge fist with his hand and forearm, dampening the blow. Finy even in his injured state had incredible physical strength, not lower than the spriggan. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! The spriggan still filled with fury put more strength into his punch aiming to crush Finy. It roared aloud as its arm visibly increased in size and became covered in pulsing veins, detailing the strain it was under. Finy simply sat still, unperturbed by the spriggans sudden strength increase. Though his right arm was pushed back, bringing it imperceptibly close to his now bent and broken nose, it never reached. Finys arm also increased in size as it endured the onught. The standoff continued for a few seconds before a clear winner was made. Crack! The longer the exchange went on the more time Finy had to regain his bearings and fully awaken. He was an upper C-rank monster that held great physical strength. He may have been injured and taken by surprise a few times but in a straight up contest, the spriggan was no match. Perhaps if it was an elder spriggan or an elite hed be defeated but an ordinary one....no way. Finy squeezed the spriggans oversized fist with his right hand, causing a loud cracking sound to fill the room, he broke a couple of the spriggans fingers before. Doof! He knocked the spriggans arm upwards leaving its ice burned face and torso exposed. [ice bolt] channelling his mana Finy casted his magic, sending a bolt of ice into the spriggans chest, knocking it away. This was nowhere near enough to truly hurt the spriggan, but it would create some distance between the two. With the spriggan knocked backwards, Finy retrieved the second and final health potion from his loincloth and quickly downed the vial. Bleurgh, master was right, that stuff really is vile. He threw away the empty potion as though it was some cursed item. Hed drank one as a frost troll but now that his intelligence and emotions had elevated to the same as a sapient race, he could appreciate the differences in tastes and senses, but in this case, it proved to be a negative influence. Chapter 181 181 Chapter 181: Dungeon war (20) The low level health potion quickly got to work, finally staunching Finys bleeding, and reducing the agonising pain slightly. It was far from enough to cure his wounds, but it would help enough to restore his battle strength. While clenching his right fist and feeling his strength return, he looked around. The room was incredibly dark, making it difficult to see anything at all. Ice trolls didnt have night vision so he couldnt make out the area very well, relying on his C-rank strength to make out rough shapes. The spriggan held the advantage in this regard but it was too angry to take advantage of this fact, merelyunching itself directly towards Finy after being knocked backwards. The ice bolt failed to cause any damage, just aggravating the spriggans burned chest, further enraging it. Rahhhhhhhhh! The spriggan lunged for Finy with both its arms raised. Tsk Finy clicked his tongue as he subconsciously reached for his prided axe, unfortunately it was dropped when he stopped the rampaging boulder. Hed have to deal with the spriggan the old fashioned way, hand to hand. In some cases, dealing with an enraged opponent would by far easier to manage given Finys intelligence and battle knowledge however, this was an enclosed room with poor visibility, and hecked not only a weapon but an arm as well. Hed likely be on the back foot for the entire fight, relying on the spriggan toe to him before counterattacking. The poor visibility would make smoothly dissipating the immense force behind the spriggans blows near impossible, forcing him to endure. This will likely be a pure slugfest. The spriggan was on him in moments, its arms raised high, attempting to smash Finy to the floor. Its arms and fists were farrger than they should be, making its form ratherical, and top heavy but its strength was true. Finy frowned as he bent his knees and readied himself to withstand the blow, raising his right arm up. Boom! Crack! Both the spriggans arms came down with immense might causing the floor that Finy stood on to crack like a spider web. The wounds on Finys calves split open once again, leaking blood. ..... Urgh Finy groaned as he spat out some blood. He endured the blow, sessfully holding back the spriggans arms but it was very painful. Taking a deep breath Finy once again tensed his right arm and swung upwards, knocking the spriggan back and leaving its chest defenceless. This time however he wasnt going to use magic- his head was in too much pain to use it effectively- no after knocking up the spriggans arms he twisted his body and kicked out with his left leg directly onto the spriggans chest. Don! The blow was fierce, sending not only the spriggan backwards but Finy as well, he failed to hear or feel any cracks, but he knew the kick would have hurt. Bleurgh! The spriggan coughed and spat out blood and saliva as it was forced backwards. Its feet sliding across the floor and its burned chest sporting the imprint of a foot. With its eyes twitching the spriggan dropped to its left knee, holding its chest in pain before looking up at Finy with hatred. Its fury building continuously, dampened the pain, making it numb. Fucking troll! It roared aloud before dashing forward, this time not striking with its fists but charging with its entire body. Shit! Finy frowned and internally panicked; this move was hard to defend against. He wasnt exactly the most mobile in his current state, the potion hadnt gotten to work on his legs yet either. All he could do was brace himself for the charge, hoping to reduce the damage as much as possible before letting loose upon the spriggan. A secondter the spriggan lunged at his waist, smashing into his body with its shoulders, mming him against the wall, resulting inrge cracks spreading from the point of impact. Thankfully the walls were very thick and would naturally repair themselves otherwise this entire room could copse with them inside. Urgh! Finy had the wind knocked out of him and couldnt help groaning but the spriggan was now within striking distance. He brought up his right elbow and smashed it onto the spriggans back. Boom! The sound was vivid, but the move failed to knock the spriggan down, merely causing it to flinch a little. One time not enough, then how about another! Finy brought down his elbow once again. And what about another! With clenched teeth Finy repeatedly brought down his right elbow onto therge back of the spriggan, aiming to knock it to the floor or even better, shatter its spine. The spriggan though numbed thanks to its rage filled state could still feel every blow and wasnt one to be passive. In responsive it started to squeeze down on Finys waist, crushing his ribs, especially the fractured one from earlier. This resulted in a sharp howl of pain from Finy and helped to mitigate the strength of his elbow drops but this wasnt enough. With great strength the spriggan picked Finy up and repeatedly mmed him against the wall, resulting in more and more cracks. The exchange was brutal, blood from both parties was constantly spilled and the entire room shook with each attack, causing bits of rock and dirt to fall. The spriggan though lower in rank was far less injured and its maddened state allowed it to ignore a certain amount of damage. No matter how many times Finy brought his elbow down onto the spriggans back it didnt seem to work. Hed still be squeezed tightly and lifted off the ground before being mmed against the wall. A couple more ribs were broken and even his elbow was beginning to hurt, the spriggans back was quite hard, especially the spine. Growing desperate he started kicking and using his knees, smashing the spriggans chest, he managed to break a few of its ribs in retaliation but the spriggan seemed to never tire. Its blood covered rage seemed to give it unlimited stamina, whenever the health potion seemed to start repairing his body, the spriggan would just injure it again, he was effectively being tortured and healed creating a never ending cycle of pain. Seeing as this wasnt working and that he was on the losing end. With his mind growing ever slower and his vision darkening, his body reaching its limit. Finy decided to use hisst set of skills. You want to fight using rage and anger well two can y at that game. [Enrage]! Finy used his enrage skill, an active buff that would fill the user with endless rage. Granting him increased strength and ability to withstand pain. The cost was of course a decrease in battle awareness, intelligence and once the buff was over, a great consumption of energy. With Finys roar his entire body filled with fire, his skin and muscles trembled as they entered an excited state and his blood started to pump a mile a minute. His frame visibly increased in size making him almost rival the spriggan wrapped round his waist. His eyes became blood shot and red as though on fire. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Finy roared in anger as his body filled with power. He brought down his elbow upon the spriggan once again, this time however the results were much more responsive. Crack! With the enhanced strength, Finys elbow not only forced the spriggan to release its death grip slightly, its body was forced down and one of its ribs cracked at the thickest part. The spriggan was just lucky that Finy didnt aim for its spine. Though he was hardly stopping there. With mad aggression Finy smashed down with his arm several times,pletely removing the spriggan from its death lock before smashing its chest with his knee, sending the massive creature flying through the air. Its chest caved in where Finys knee struck. Don Don The spriggans body crashed onto floor and bounced backwards, its body visibly trembling. Its face warped in a mix of pain and fury, it tried to get up but couldnt put out any strength. Rahhhhhhhhhh! It roared as it tried to use anger to once again fuel its body. This damn troll, Im a friggin spriggan! I wont be beat by a failed giant kin! Its attempts seemed to work as its body slowly started to rise back to its feet...but would Finy give it such a chance. Still fuelled by the enrage buff and his emotions on fire, Finy red at the struggling shadow of the spriggan and activated his special enraged skill. [Mad charge] thankfully this skill didnt require a weapon, as his whole body became the weapon. A red glow surrounded Finys body, enhancing its toughness, and charging power. A momentter Finy starting elerating, heading directly for the spriggan like a mad bull. The floor caved with every step and the spriggan felt the onset of death. The moment it finally rose back to its feet was the same moment Finy reached it. Booooooooom! Bleurghhhhh! A shockwave of sound exploded as Finys charge met contact with the spriggan. Just like when he demonstrated the mad charge skill against that tree, the force contained was immense. The spriggan ced its arms before itself in defence but the guard was quickly shattered, and Finy literally mowed the spriggan down. Chapter 182 182 [Bonus chapter]Chapter 182: Dungeon war (21) Finys charge shattered multiple bones in the spriggans body and forced it to violently spit up a fountain of blood as it and Finy continued to fly towards the opposite side of the room, smashing into the wall. Their positions were thus reversed albeit the spriggan being far more injured. Its entire lower half was paralysed, the bones in its hip and legs pretty much turned to dust. They were already at their limits, held together only by the spriggans anger filled state. Finys mad charge pushed them over the limit and then some, any stronger and the spriggan would have literally exploded into a blood mist. Finy was in a good deal of pain as well, his calves were trembling from the exertion, covered in blood- some of its his but most of it the spriggans- but nothing crippling. He rose up to a standing position, observing the state of his victim with fire filled gaze. He could feel it inside him, the anger, the wrath. It was taunting him, pushing him to eviscerate the monster before him, to tear it limb from limb and bathe in its ruby red blood. The feeling was incredibly convincing and intoxicating. Finy barely managed to keep his focus by clenching his teeth down hard, he refused to lose himself to madness. The spriggan was panting and sweat could be seen dripping down its forehead, even with the amount of adrenaline pumping in its body it could still feel the pain of its bones turning to dust. It didnt give in though, craning its neck to re at Finy in hatred. It allowed a spurt of blood to fill its mouth before spitting it at Finys face. Ptuah the blood wasunched and uratelynded on Finys face, temporarily blinding him. Finy promptly moved to wipe away the blood, giving the spriggan a chance to attack albeit with limited options. It couldnt use its lower half and its arms were unresponsive leaving its head as the only weapon avable. With its remaining strength the spriggan head butted Finy in the only ce it could reach......his groin. m! Bleurgh! Regardless of being in a mad filled state any force applied to that area would be felt. Finy spat out in pain as the spriggans head smashed against his jewels, hidden behind his loincloth. He felt as though a bolt of lighting erupted from his groin, surging through his body and into his head. The pain was incredible, forcing him to bend forward instinctively, and forcibly dragging him out of his enraged state, the blow was that devastating. Hitting him for a double whammy, immense pain that you couldnt just grin and bear against and a sudden depletion of energy, sapping the strength out of his body. Finys mind became nk, and his breath eluded him, it was this first time hed been struck in such a vulnerable ce. His eyes bugged outwards looking down at the spriggan as though inplete shock. How could such a weakness exist on his strong and powerful ice troll body and how dare this spriggan attack such a forbidden area. The spriggan was male too shouldnt it know that such attacks were off limits even when ones life was in jeopardy. The amount of insults and curses going on in Finys mind were endless and not fit for anyones ears, but they paled inparison to the ones that proceeded. With him buckled over and momentarily unable to move, Finys eyes opened ever wider as he saw that the spriggan wasnt finished. His face was the very aspect of horror when he realised the spriggans intention. ..... In the spriggans eyes all bets were off, its body was broken, and death was near. It failed to beat a mere troll no matter its rank, it was injured, and he failed. Itd never felt so humiliated in its life- even though that life was rtively short- plus why would it care about decorum in a fight against a troll. With a mad look in its eyes, the spriggan reared its head back for another strike but with a little something extra. Taking advantage of itsrge head andrge mouth, it opened up its jaw to reveal sharp fangs, it nned to bite Finy. And not just any bite, one filled with its remaining strength, a death bite on Finys most sensitive area. Now you could understand the horror on Finys face as he saw therge set of teeth begin to draw closer to his precious jewels. You fucking spriggan! With a face as white as a ghosts Finy ignored the pain in his body and forcibly moved, using anger as well as fear as fuel. Both sides moved as quick as they were able and unfortunately for the spriggan, it was a tad slower. Umph thankfully Finys right hand reached the spriggans mouth in time to protect his jewels and personal dragon. But the spriggan was going to bite regardless. Chomp! Ahhhhh Mother fucker! Finy cursed aloud as the spriggans jaws mped shut on his right hand, instantly tearing into his skin, and crushing a finger. The pain was great but a far better trade off than the alternative. Finy couldnt help but sigh in relief as his right hand started to drip blood, a cold breeze brushed against hisher regions as though teasing him with the future that could have been. His relief then quickly turned to anger and then to fury. The spriggan only had enough strength to attack once and now that it got grip of something it was not going to let go, continuing to bite down on Finys hand, increasing the pressure and pain but this only aggravated the ice trollmander. Finy found the spriggans mouth incredibly irritating and decided to remove it. Crack! With impressive strength Finy grabbed onto the spriggans jaws from within its mouth and squeezed like a vice. Gyahhhhhh! the spriggan let out a muffled scream as Finy continued to squeeze its jaw, crushing the bone one millimetre at a time. He was going to do this slowly, after all such an attack deserved such treatment. Crack! Crack! Crack! The spriggans jaw continued to crack loudly as Finys fingers drew ever closer to one another. The spriggans screams never ended, constantly wailing throughout the room, giving Finy a headache but it was worth it. He gazed down into the eyes of the spriggan, relishing in its agony, his rage only increasing as he increased the strength in his hand. He couldnt get over the possibility of being wounded down there, who knows if something as delicate as that could be repaired by the dungeon or low level health potions that his master had ess to. Though Finy was a dungeon monster and served Frost he was also a male and instinctively had the desire to pass on his lineage at some point, yet this spriggan nearly ended that possibility. Crack! With this final crack, the spriggans jaw caved in and bits of the bones dropped to the floor along with a bucket of blood. Tears filled the spriggans eyes, it could feel the agony and for the first time in this fight, it felt regret and fear. Finy however wasnt done quite yet. Thats the bottom half gone, now for the top and that insidious tongue of yours. Finy nned to rend the spriggan to pieces one area at time. Hiiiiiiiiiii! The spriggan let loose an ungodly squeal as Finy got to work, breaking him apart, slow enough for it to feel like an eternity. The nearby hob goblins had woken up a few seconds ago and originally nned to get back into the fight and aid their sprigganrade- even though it was the one who knocked them out. But when they heard the horrible screaming, they kept their heads down, afraid to even move in case it drew the ire of Finy. They trembled and shivered in terror as they heard the anguish their formerrade went through, a couple of them unfortunately getting spurts of spriggan blood on them. Eventually however the spriggan croaked, what was left were just pieces of the creature. Itsrge size seemed far less intimidating while sprayed around the floor in parts. Hmph! Finy shook his hands of the leftover blood as well as wiped his body the best he could, but the blood had already stained his skin and loincloth, much to his displeasure. He appeared more like a red skinned fire troll than an ice troll. He crushed the remains of the spriggans oversized head under his heel before finding his way to the chutes entrance. He spotted no other exit other than up the chute, well he could always break his way through the walls but that would be incredibly time and energy consuming plus he could bring the entire roof down upon himself. He didnt even take notice of the quivering hob goblins at the edges of the room, focusing entirely on returning to his soldiers. Getting ups going to take a lot more time than getting down, especially with this arm. Finy frowned as he stood at the entrance to the chute. The thing was narrow enough and low enough in incline that he could scale up it without too much difficulty itd just be slow and tedious. The health potion waspletely used up at this point and his current wounds werent much better than before he arrived, in fact in many areas they were far worse. Owowowowo! His ribs and chest screamed out in pain as he pulled himself up into the chute and began the long arduous climb, cursing the spriggan with his every movement. The 3 remaining hob goblins remained where they were,pletely terrified and traumatised by the events that just transpired. Who knows whether or not theyd ever be the same again. They even envied their fourthrade who was frozen solid and then shattered into many pieces before the nightmare began. Chapter 183 183 Chapter 183: Dungeon war (22) Meanwhile in Gobuskes private space he was chanting a silent prayer for his deceased spriggan but to be honest he felt that it kind of deserved a painful end but that was on another level. The room being dark didnt mean much in front of the dungeon core themselves so he could see nearly every detail. I say nearly every detail because Gobuske turned the image off rtively quickly, unable watch or hear the proceedings. He almost hurled. B who was silently watching the situation should have used this opportunity to gloat or mock but even he was disturbed by the torture Finy inflicted up the spriggan. His face was even slightly pale, plus both he and Gobuske subconsciously grabbed theirher regions when the spriggan moved in for the kill. Even he as an iron dragon couldnt help feel some phantom pain. Therefore, he kept his tongue, not wanting to mock the spriggan or speak on behalf of the malicious ice troll. Gobuske was thankful however, Finy was sessfully removed from the battle field for a fairlyrge amount of time, plus his injuries were quite extensive. Three of his hob goblin brawlers survived, far more than he expected and Finy would need even more time to drag his body up through the chute and back to the prime battlefield. The purpose of this trap was not built with Finy in mind specifically but was centred around isting stronger adversaries. Entombing them in a pitch dark room with only a single and difficult way out, all while having to deal with the spriggan. And for all intents and purposes it greatly seeded in its job. Frosts forces in the hallway had taken a horrible beating, being barely 25% of their original total, with many sporting wounds and or being significantly weakened. Like Frost suspected the middle line-up where the forces were weakest yet faced off against thergest and most powerful enemies was decimated. The frost troll and leader like frost dwarves obeyed their instructions and chose to abandon the middle line-up so as to preserve their own soldiers. A decision that though could be construed as heartless was the right call. The rear and front line-up sessfully dealt with their aggressors until not a single goblin was left and now surrounded the remaining ambushers on both sides. Their forces roughly simr in number with perhaps Gobuskes being a little smaller. They were now in a passive state with all sides holding their ground and only engaging in rudimentary exchanges with few wounds let alone deaths. The hob goblinmander had a gash across his chest and face that he received from the frost troll but otherwise was fine and able to maintain this stand off for however long his king required. Every second that this stalemate continued was a victory for Gobuske, Frosts forces couldnt head any deeper into his dungeon, removing the possibility of locating his core room. Gobuske knew his chances were slim to none toe out on top in this war, but he made a valiant stand, he would not allow his elder brother to reach his core room. Hed only lose by force elimination, a future that was drawing ever nearer. Back in Frosts dungeon. Rahhhhhhhh! Hob goblins charged forward with their damaged shields and wounded bodies towards an impromptu barricade made up of old furniture. A battalion of frost dwarves stood their ground behind this defence as the goblin archers and ice ns fired away at the oing enemies. Frosts goblin archers were down to just two and his ns down to three making their firepower significantly reduced but so were their targets. The hob goblins moved as fast as they could, taking a lot of fire but eventually met with casualties. Their well-used shields didntst long so their bodies endured the attacks. As 2 hob goblins fell, arger group of G-rank and F-rank goblins rapidly moved in from behind. Jumping up and forward to fight against the waiting frost dwarves, madness in their eyes. ..... ng! ng! In another area nearby the sounds of weapons smashing against each other could be heard. The frost troll in charge was fighting one on one against a hob goblinmander, they were fairly evenly matched. The hob goblin though inherently weaker in directbat was quite a high level, making up for this shoring. And In a third area the Lagombi was hard at work, fighting against the other hob goblinmander along with a few goblin rogues. This was thest ditch effort. Gobuske had fewer than 25 monsters left, and all were within the same vicinity. Each battle could be seen from the other. This area was a long hallway with branch rooms, the end was blocked with the barricade and the majority of the forces while the branch rooms held the D-rank monsters and a few others. It was a chaotic battlefield with litres of blood painting the floors and walls. And Gobuskes side was losing. They were outnumbered and out matched. To get here they suffered a fair number of fast sneak attacks by the remaining frost wolves and ice spiders. They ignored the risks and threw everything they had at their aggressors, sessfully killing a bunch of them but at high cost. When they first reached this area, they bull rushed the barricade with the weaker goblins as the vanguard, realising that speed was the key to keeping their deaths to a minimum, however the moment they reached within 15 metres all the frost dwarves moved to the side and suddenly two iron bolts flew through the air, piercing multiple goblins, severally wounding their forces. The frost troll and Lagombi with their bodyguards -of course they wouldnt be foolish enough to risk their highestbatants at the very end of the race- then charged out of the nearby rooms, splitting off the hob goblinmanders and a small group from the main battalion. After that it was a fierce battle. Frosts forces with their superior numbers, established defences, knowledge of the area and better physical state -Gobuskes forces were still suffering from the frigid temperatures- were winning yet Gobuskes men were not ones to go down willingly. Fighting with mad energy as though they were burning their potential, they dragged this fight out, simr to the situation in Gobuskes dungeon. When their forces finally reached their very limits and then some, only then will the battle conclude. The frost troll couldnt help but respect its opponents from the bottom of its heart as it shed against the aggressive attacks of the hob goblinmanders machete with its axes. It sported a great many wounds from when it was actually overpowered by the hob goblin in terms of strength. Him a frost troll easily a metre taller was outmatched in strength, impossible but will is a powerful thing. The desire to serve their king and bring him victory, flooded throughout their bodies granting them untold power, yet they kept a clear head. Unlike the spriggan or Finys enrage skill that would cloud their judgement. Frost sat in his private space on the very edge of his seat,pletely invested in the battle ying before his eyes. Nanna and Loki were by his side, tightly grasping onto his robes and clenching their teeth, moved by the goblins tenacity and honour that was involved in this battle. They only wished that they were strong enough to take part themselves, they were jealous. Frosts nerves werepletely on edge, nearly every second it looked as though the war would be over and hed be the winner, but every time Gobuskes forces would refuse to back down, summoning untold strength and pushing back his own men, prolonging the fight. Nervous sweat had already drenched his robes and his lip had been significantly bitten through, this tension was unbearable. What was worse was that he didnt know the full situation of his offensive force. The frost troll there was constantly fighting and couldnt report when he wanted or in much detail. Finy was still nowhere to be seen so it felt like anyones game. The camels hump could break any second, but which second was the question. Those in the audience as well as Dark were just as absorbed if not more so since they could see both dungeons at the same time. A great amount of respect was generated for goblins thanks to this fight, they were so admirable in their battles that even the hardiest of dungeon cores couldnt help but be moved, well except Bahamut. Aqua and Sylph had stopped arguing a few minutes ago,pletely entrapped by the battle disyed before them. No one was shouting or even whispering as they waited on the edge of their seats for the victory that maye any second. Even Yami couldnt help but open his eyes a little wider and scooch towards the end of his seat. Dark repeatedly had to wipe the sweat from his brow that umted due to the intensity of the situation. He was truly excited and that was something for a God, especially one as old and powerful as him. Of course, it could be a side effect of cutting off parts of his soul, but he chose to ignore that possibility, simply enjoying the festivities that he put into motion. Frost and Gobuske had performed far better than he ever hoped. They showed the capabilities that dungeon cores and their monster were capable of and moved their siblings and him. With the results of this war he was greatly satisfied, his goal more than achieved. Chapter 184 184 Chapter 184: Dungeon war (23) The seconds stretched out for minutes and the minutes felt as though hours passed as the battle continued on both sides, with neither refusing to budge. The wounds and casualties slowly built up but still no one buckled under the pressure even though they should have long ago. In fact, it appeared as though Frost was losing far more monsters than Gobuske despite being in a superior position. His monsters started to suffer from psychological attacks, their opponents aggressive nature was unrelenting, and they struggled to keep up with their tenacity, leading to a great many mistakes in their movements which the goblins and hob goblins eagerly took advantage of. But of course, Gobuskes loss was inevitable, his offensive force dwindled down smaller and smaller until just the hob goblinmanders were left. Their bodies werepletely covered in blood and gaping wounds, yet still they stood in opposition to their opponents, refusing to back down. The bodies of their soldiers littered around them, all dying with the same mad looks on their faces. The Frost troll and Lagombi were fairly injured as well, but instead of taking advantage of their superior numbers at this point, they enacted duelling, to show their respect for their opponents. It was not the wisest move, but Frost allowed it as he too felt that these hob goblinmanders deserved some respect. Meanwhile in Gobuskes dungeon the frost troll and leader like frost dwarvesmanded their forces with steady precision, closing the gap between them every minute. Steadily cutting down Gobuskes forces. Everyone knew deep in their hearts that this was truly the endgame, not even a miracle could save Gobuske from losing but even so, it was a valiant defeat with nothing to be ashamed of. With everyone on edge a change suddenly urred in Gobuskes dungeon. From within therge stone wall a huge shaking appeared, alerting all the forces present. Don! Don! Don! Themanders turned around towards the sound that was akin to someone punching their way out of the wall. The Hob goblins and goblins frowned as they felt theirst shred of strength dissipate, whereas the frost troll and frost dwarves smiled. They knew what this meant.... theirmander was back. Doooooonnnnnn! With a finalrge punch Finy made his way through the wall that sealed him in. His fist punctured through the stone and dirt, copsing the trap door, and revealing his dishevelled body and extensive injuries as well as his seriously pissed off face. He had to slowly drag his body up a damn chute in pitch darkness with only one good arm, he was practically livid. Boom! With force he kicked the remaining wall and stepped out into the hallway, ring at the now quivering hob goblins and goblins. The hob goblinmander appeared especially irksome to Finy and received the majority of his bloodlust, instinctively causing its body to quiver in fear. With Finy now here they had no chance of surviving this, even with his injured state nothing here was a match for him. Just the sight of thisrge monster upset the bnce, quickly resulting in many deaths on Gobuskes side but Finy wanted to carve out a piece of flesh himself. He red at the hob goblinmander and chose it as his target. ..... Finy quickly scanned the floor as his soldiers roared with joy at his return and proceeded to decimate their spirit broken opponents, he was looking for his prized axe that he dropped earlier. There you are, he quickly found it, still in ce next to the shattered boulder. His soldiers didnt allow the goblins to get their grubby little hands on his weapon, they did well. With fire in his eyes Finy picked up his massive great axe with his right hand and rested its weight upon his shoulders, enjoying its weight as though it was a part of him. He then turned to face his enemy. He spoke just a single word to his soldiers as he briskly moved in their direction. Move! His soldiers smiled evilly, understanding that theirmander wished to join the frontline and make these goblins pay for messing with them. They all obediently shifted to the side, allowing Finy free passage toward the goblins as well as granting him a runway to pick up speed. The hob goblinmander felt the stench of death pervade his entire body as though hed been locked onto by an unstoppable predator, but he didnt let that break him. Knowing that he was the target and that sending goblins at Finy would be meaningless he valiantly moved ahead, separating himself from his men. He would face Finy alone, avoiding meaningless deaths, at least for the short term. His men while he was being massacred could hopefully kill a few more of Frosts monsters, that would be a victory in his eyes. Though to say he wasnt afraid would be a lie, the hob goblinmanders every muscle was shaking, and his instincts were yelling at him to run. But he ignored them and walked forward, gradually picking up the pace until he was running. One ice troll easily 4 metres tall charging at you was a frightening prospect even without the massive axe that he held above his head. Finy noticed the hob goblinmanders actions and couldnt help but smile. These hob goblinsmanders are all really selfless and honourable, a worthy foe. His anger filled state was somewhat dissipated due to this, but his speed didnt falter, in fact he picked up speed. The two of them would sh any second now. Rahhhhhhhhhhh! With a mad roar full of martyrdom, the Hob goblinmander let loose his feelings and broke into a full on charge. His machete raised and poised to sh across Finys chest, he wasnt going down without a fight. He saw Finys wounds and moved strategically, aiming to attack from his left side where his arm was broken and ribs severally damaged. He may just gain enough time to get in one good slice with his machete. If he could wound a high ranking C-rank monster, he could die happy. Full of determination the hob goblinmander activated his buff skill on himself and utilised all of his potential to move with incredible speed. So much so that even the frost troll felt nervous seeing it. If it was on the end of that attack, would it be able to survive? Unlikely. Finy appreciated this hob goblinmander more and more, but he still needed to die. Not one to take it easy on opponents he respected, Finy activated his enrage skill pumping his body with strength and expanding his frame before suddenly stomping down hard upon the stone floor, generating spider web like cracks. With the stomp he leaped upwards reaching several metres, his great axe was raised above his head, and he nned to smash it down, cleaving the hob goblinmander in twain with a single strike. All while imprinting the horror of his mighty strength in the minds of the remaining goblins as well as any dungeon cores that may be watching. He hadnt a chance to really show off his true strength as of yet and now was a perfect opportunity. Not expecting such a move, the hob goblinmander frowned before quickly stopping his charging momentum, bracing for the oing strike. Finy was moving to quickly for him to dodge, plus the width of the room made evading really difficult so he had to take this blow and hope he didnt die straight away. With dexterous skill the hob goblin tilted his machete in preparation for an upward sh. Die! The hob goblinmander roared as he swung his machete at the oing Finy, still aiming toward the left side where his wounds were the most grievous, but Finy was prepared. [Axe sh]! He filled his axe with energy causing it to release a blue shining beam as it came crashing down with Finys entire body weight. The impact force would be even greater than the boulder trap. The hob goblinmanders machete met with this blue beam and in the milliseconds of contact his weapon was snapped in half with the tip end being sent flying through the air and into the nearby wall. The hob goblinmanders only hope was now broken, and he knew it. The fractions of a second felt like an eternity as the hob goblinmander watched with bated breath and tense body as Finys axe ushered ever closer, soon to reach the top of his head and cleave him in twain. His death was soon upon him. His loyal soldiers and even his king, Gobuske watched with tear filled eyes. Boundless respect for this hob goblin could be felt in each in everyone of them. Shame that his opponent was so much stronger, he never stood a chance. As the axe moved closer inch by inch, the hob goblinmander closed his eyes and chose to embrace his death....but that never came to pass Chapter 185 185 Chapter 185: Dungeon war (24) Just before Finys great axe reached the hob goblinmander, space warped and every single one of Frosts monsters were suddenly teleported against their will back into their home dungeon,pletely out of the blue. Booooooommmm! Finys axe sh was still ongoing, but it nownded on an open part of the winter hignds room, creating a massive crack in the floor that expanded several metres. Finy frowned, knowing that something was wrong. The shifting of location was so quick and smooth that he didnt even notice that he changed locations but the response from his axe wasnt one he was expecting. There was no feeling of bone and flesh or the experience of being sttered by his victims blood and.... is this snow? Finy looked around and finally realised where he was, his soldiers could be seen dotted around him also with confused looks on their faces,pletely in the dark about what happened. Suddenly without warning he roared in frustration while looking upwards ahhhhhhhhhhh! I was so close! Did it have to happen at that exact moment! He was letting out his grievances towards Dark who he couldnt see, knowing that only the dark God could pull off something like this. All he needed was another second and he would have been able to cleave his opponent in twain in a very graphic way. Allowing the watching dungeon cores to be influenced by his strength, advertising the greatness of his master but no he was suddenly teleported right at the worst possible time, only able to explode some snow. He felt as though he punched a cotton wall, feeling absolutely no rebounding effect from his strike, it was infuriating to say the least. but with his intelligence he wasnt as confused as his soldiers, understanding what must have happened. As though to confirm his thoughts he suddenly received amunication from Frost. Finy youre alright, thats good, I was worried for a while....why didnt you respond to my calls? Frost let out a sigh of relief once Finy returned to his dungeon, but quickly started to interrogate hismander. You had me worried for the past half hour, without any contact exin yourself. He sounded like an annoyed father whos child had broken curfew and not returned home until veryte in the night. Finys anger and frustration instantly evaporated, and he suddenly felt rather guilty. Of course, he couldnt reallymunicate with Frost at first due to his head being clouded with pain and anger. Reporting to Frost didnt even ur to him at that point but he spend close to 15 minutes climbing up the dark chute all without any interruptions, plenty of time to give a report and alleviate his masters worries. But no, he was too focused on returning to the battlefield, not thinking about Frosts concerns. Sorry master, I got a little side tracked and self-absorbed in the battle, Ive failed as yourmander. He bowed his head toward the dungeon menu screen, fully recognising his faults. Only now did he realise that his men were severely diminished from the time he was tossed down that chute. Because of his absence a great many of hisrades died, he couldnt help but feel pained and responsible. He didnt even get to have his revenge by killing the hob goblinmander. ..... Frost saw the guilt in his monsters eyes as well as the frustration at not being able to unleash his pent up anger. He sighed before smiling gently. Thats alright, you did a good job. You came back in one...well mostly one piece and a decent number of the troops survived. Frost examined the numbers and felt pleased. The frost troll you brought with you did quite a good job maintaining morale and leading in your absence, it may be a good idea to have it train under you directly in case such situations happen in the future. Frost nodded his head, greatly endorsing this suggestion. Finy turned to face the frost troll who was currently acting very much like a leader. Checking up on the soldiers, counting who survived and calming down those that were still confused. As you wish Master, it seems Ive truly overlooked the talents of my own men. Finy agreed, also noting down the actions of the couple frost dwarves that tookmand of the other side. Hed put more time into training his men into capable independent leaders that dont need his supervision. They needed to learn from such mistakes, not repeat them. ...Did we win then master? Of course, Finy knew the answer, but he wanted to hear from his masters mouth. Frost smiled widely in response, his faced suffused with pride and joy. Yes Finy, we won, this dungeon war is over, and we are the victors. A minute ago in Frosts dungeon, roughly around the same time Finy returned to the battlefield in Gobuskes underground city, the duel between his frost troll and Lagombi and the two hob goblinmanders wasing to a close. The blood and injuries on the two hob goblins had finally be too much. Squealch ahhhhhhhhh! One of the hob goblinmanders had his body stop responding to his signals. His machete wielding arm refused to raise itself in defence, allowing for the frost trolls axes to sink right into its undefended chest. This was the final blow, it screamed in pain but powerlessly fell back, his legs and knees buckled, his entire body copsing. It had long reached its limit and two axes in its chest finally broke the camels back bringing an end to this glorious and honourable duel. The frost troll smiled in victory, looking at the fading hob goblinmander in the eyes as a sign of respect, waiting for the moment it finally passes to remove its weapons. In the other side room- though with a lot less respect and art form- the Lagombi had also pushed its opponent to the very edge. Unable to withstand the creatures great strength and powerful mass, the hob goblinmander was lifted by the things jaws into the air before. Crunch! The Lagombi mmed its jaws shut, snapping the hob goblinmanders spine, and taking a severe chunk out of it. The two hob goblinmanders died a few secondster bringing the war to a close. All of Gobuskes offence forces were annihted meaning this was Frosts victory. Before he and his monsters could even celebrate, Dark made his move. His goals had been met and then some, no need to waste anymore lives. Thats the end, Stop! With a single flick of his hand Dark teleported all of Frosts remaining monsters back to his dungeon, thus saving the life of Gobuskesst hob goblinmander, who at this point still had his eyes closed as he waited for death, unaware that hed been saved. Dark wiped off a bit of sweat, even for him that was cutting it close, Finys axe was nanometres away from the hob goblinmanders head but as usual his timing was impable. He secretly gave himself a thumbs up for such a good job before prepping himself for the next stage. Now that the dungeon war was over, he needed to congratte the victor and hand out the various rewards but first his kids probably needed a few minutes to get their affairs in order. Hed teleport them and their guardians back to the gathering afterwards. Meanwhile he also needed to handle the betting pool that he generated. His gaze drifted over to his eldest daughter, Aqua who at this point had a goofy smile on her face as she thumped her fist against Yamis shoulders. She made quite the killing with her bet on Frost, likely putting him the red as the booky. Gobuske however was although disappointed about his loss was also relieved, his hob goblinmander and remaining defence force was spared the wrath of Finy, and he gave his elder brother a good run for his money. He was satisfied with his performance and proud of his monsters, epting this loss with dignity. B however was raring to go with his mocking and insults, just trying to work out which to start with. With Gobuskes loss he could use it as an excuse to either separate himself from Gobuske or punish him in the name of education. There were many ways he could harm Gobuske without directly abusing him, he couldnt give Dark any substantial reason to eliminate him. He wasnt arrogant enough to go directly against one of the creation Gods after all. Gobuske quickly contacted his hob goblinmander who was still frozen in ce, quickly giving him the good news, that he was still alive. His soldiers as well as the now eyes open hob goblinmander were not in a good mood. They had failed their king, likely causing him to be mocked by his siblings as a loser. They all hung their heads low and remained silent and depressed causing Gobuske to sigh but he couldnt me them. No matter what he said they would still be sad as was he, how could he not feel frustrated about the loss, so he kept quiet. Not praising or admonishing them...at least for now. Chapter 186 186 Chapter 186: Aftermath of the dungeon war p! After Frost and Gobuske settled their dungeon affairs for a few minutes, Dark loudly pped, grabbing their attention. He appeared on each of their dungeon menu screens with a great big smile. His arms were outstretched in a friendly greeting as he spoke. The dungeon war has now ended, so the two of you and your guardians will now be teleported back to the gathering hall. With his usual subtlety, the moment he finished talking a magic crest developed beneath Frost, Maya, Gobuske and B before encapsting them within a ck egg and vanishing. If Nanna and Loki didnt receive Frosts warnings in advance, they would have been mighty shocked by such an event. Instead, they simply waved goodbye in the short moment they had before letting out a deep restrained breath and copsed onto their chairs. The war was finally over, and they could rx. Although they didnt take part physically in the battles,manding and monitoring the situation was just as if not more taxing. Especially on their young minds, the tenseness of the battles certainly amplified the stress on their bodies. The moment Dark announced the end and took their master and Maya away, their bodies finally rxed, turning akin to jelly. A few momentster Frost, Gobuske and their respective guardians arrived within the grand gathering hall that had been rearranged to support therge audience. Frost and Gobuskes siblings were all by their seats, with many of them standing with varying expressions on their faces. Some were excited, some were nervous, others depressed, and another group werepletely indifferent, Bahamut led this group. Pyro was in the excited group, he loved battle and greatly enjoyed Gobuskes efforts against Frost, looking towards the short goblin with a wild smile full of praise. Yet from the perspective of other it simply looked as though he was eyeing up prey, very intimidating. Gobuske couldnt help but shiver and reel back somewhat, afraid of the Pyros gaze as well as many others. Though he found some backbone to argue against B. That was mainly to defend his prided monsters, he was still at heart rather timid and cowardly. Hmph! B snorted in contempt at his actions, his eyes full of disdain. His snorting attracted Frosts gaze, who was seeing this guardian of Gobuskes for the first time in person. His gaze was anything but friendly, he had the sudden urge to bash the iron dragons face in but before he could act Dark appeared at the top of the staircase and spoke up. Congrattions Frost, Gobuske, you both performed admirably in this dungeon war. I couldnt be more proud of your achievements, you both surpassed my expectations and then some, well done. Dark starting nodding his head in appreciation as he spoke. Silently and without effort he started to float ande close to Frost and Gobuske. When he was standing in front of his two children, he ced a hand on their shoulders and continued. But unfortunately, there can only be one winner. He then looked towards Frost, his face filled with pride, yet he didnt neglect Gobuske, strengthening his grip on his shoulder to show support. Frost through immense trials you overcame your younger brothers defences reaching his final room all while sessfully protecting your own through the hard work of your monsters, traps, chosen environment andst but not least your own strategic ability. You sessfully eliminated Gobuskes invasion force, bringing you a well earned victory, well done my son. Dark looked into Frosts eyes as he sang his praises, causing Frost to feel rather embarrassed. His nose felt itchy, yet he liked the feeling. Being praised by his father in front of all his siblings was invigorating, he smiled bashfully trying to maintain his calm demeanour, but the redness of his cheeks gave away his true feelings. Maya couldnt help but giggle at the side as did Aqua and a few of his other siblings. Dark then looked down towards his other son. Gobuske, unfortunately you did not win here today but your defeat was hard fought, you pushed your elder brother to the very edge and made great use of your ingenuity and the adaptability of your goblins to make this a very close fight. Im sure I speak for everyone here when I say that you have greatly changed our understanding of goblins. You proved that even the lowest rank of monster can be devastating when utilised well, very well done Gobuske, Im proud of you. Dark gripped Gobuskes shoulder firmly and forced him to look into his eyes to see his genuine feelings on the matter. Though Frost won he was most impressed with Gobuske. Not only standing up for himself against his own instinctual personality but even he a God was greatly surprised by the abilities of an only goblin army. The possibilities were impressive, and he felt that Gobuske would be a very powerful adversary over time, his potential was incredible. ..... Gobuskes personality was a lot less stoic than Frost, instantly tearing up, both from joy and sadness. Happy that his father was proud and that his goblins were praised but also sad because even with those goblins, he lost. And despite was Dark said about this being a close fight he felt that was just him being nice. Frost still had an entire floor left for him to fight through. T....than....nk....you...father. through sniffles Gobuske thanked Dark for his kind words. The happy situation however was ruined by B snorting once again, clearly disagreeing with Darks words. Dark lifted up his head to re at B but before he could speak someone already beat him to it. Do you have a problem? Frost spoke coldly, taking a forceful step towards B, full of intimidating air. But B was a powerful iron dragon, the aura of Frost had no effect on him plus since he felt that he did nothing wrong he kept his arrogant attitude, staring down Frost before replying. Too be honest he would have much preferred to have someone like Frost as his charge but that was that and this was this, he wouldnt tter for their potential. As a matter of fact, I do, young Frost. B decided to speak from his heart, it wasnt in his nature hide or act subtle in the first ce, might as well speak now and deal with the consequencester. He really didnt agree with Dark in regards to goblins but he knew better than to directly contradict a God, Frost however was not on such a pedestal. Although Dark God-sama spoke of changing our understanding of goblins I disagree. B warily looked towards Dark for any reactions, but the old man simply looked in his direction, not interfering. So, he took that as a sign that he could continue to speak freely. Goblins are of the lowest rung of monsters and should be treated as such, they are nothing more than cannon fodder as this war has clearly proven. Regardless of how good a demonstration it was Gobuske here still lost and not by a small amount! B spoke loudly, speaking towards not only Frost but every dungeon core present, letting his thoughts be heard. Frost clenched his fists hard causing them to audibly crack, Maya wasnt much better, she looked towards B as though she wanted to cut him up into pieces. Though indirect, B was insulting her young master, since he not only struggled against goblins but also utilised a great many. Gobuske visibly trembled at Bs words, biting his lip drawing blood but was unable to retort. B was right, he waspletely overpowered in this dungeon war, his goblins did struggle tobat high ranking monsters such as the frost wolves and frost dwarves but.... He was a goblin, his whole wheel house was goblins, they received discounted purchasing rates as well as bonuses to their ability and starting levels. B was effectively stating that he was a born loser and would remain a loser for his entire life, he felt incredibly hurt but yet again struggled to argue. His frame visibly started to shrink, much to Bs enjoyment who smiled as it did. Frost was near boiling point as were a few of his siblings in the audience. Aqua, Indra as well as Void and Chronos were but a few that were incensed. Did this B watch the same fight? Is he truly that thick headed? And what gave him the right to speak to their younger brother in such away? The most pissed off however- even if it didnt show- was Yami. His fist was already coated in darkness chakra, and he was primed tounch himself at B. How dare he insult my younger brother with this bullshit! Yami like Dark saw the incredible potential in Gobuske and his monsters,pletely opposing Bs thoughts. He couldnt and wouldnt allow a guardian of all people to crush his younger brothers potential due to some idiotic mindset like some monsters are inferior and always will be. He himself was quite drawn to using skeletons also regarded at the lowest rung of monsters in their respective ranks. B was not just insulting Gobuske but an entire race as well as all other monsters considered on the lowest rung but more clearly, he was insulting Dark and his choice in design for this new creation/child of his. Dark at this point had a rather easy-going expression on his face as though he was letting Bs words wash over him but under this fa?ade he was fuming and had already decided to take drastic actions against B if need be. It was clear to him that this kind of person was not suitable to be a guardian and should immediately be removed from his position at the very least. Indirectly this would actually fulfil Bs wishes to be removed from having to guard Gobuske. But whether it would at a simple dismissal well that would depend on Darks mood and how this whole situation ends, but at the moment things really didnt look good for B, his life was in serious jeopardy. Chapter 187 187 Chapter 187: Conflict with B Happy that he finally unloaded his feelings, B smiled and looked down on Frost, awaiting his response. Though he could feel the killing intent from Maya by his side, B was fairly strong as well and didnt fear her. Besides he was talking to Frost right now not her. Frost cracked his knuckles as he tried to restrain his building anger, he took a deep breath before staring back at B. So then....whatever your name is...what do you as his guardian suggest? Frost taunted B with a mocking tone, discreetly lowering his importance in this gathering. Annoyed, B frowned before replying in an overbearing voice. Its B, Im an elder iron dragon....boy. B knew what Frost was trying to achieve with his jab, but he wasnt na?ve, instantly stating his name and race so as to intimidate Frost while at the same time demeaning Frost as a junior. With this statement Maya looked like she had her tail stepped on and was about tosh out but was stopped by Frost who held out his arm. Ok then old lizard, Ill ask again, what do you suggest? Not even remotely intimated by the aura of B, Frost directly called him a lizard and stepped forward. Crack! The floor beneath B suddenly cracked as the iron dragon tensed his toes. His body started to radiate a strong amount of blood lust, his veins started to protrude, and his humanoid features started to dragonify. Being called a lizard was a serious insult to such a pure bred dragon, if he wasnt in the presence of the Dark God, he would have smashed Frost in an instant for such a remark. It took a great amount of self-control to limit the damage to just the rooms floor. A few of the observing Dungeon cores couldnt help but smile and give internal thumbs ups towards Frost for such a counterattack. Bahamut however was not happy, not in the slightest. His archetype was that of a Dragon, so he too did not appreciate the association with lizards. Unbeknownst to anyone else he marked down Frosts name internally, promising to avenge this remark in the future unless B ends up killing him here and now. Even with the increased show of aggression Dark still did not intervene. He watched his son, as he showed no fear, even stepping that much closer after Bs outburst. The two men, one dungeon core and the other an iron dragon stared each other down, both full of aggression and provocation. Frost was still waiting on an answer, what did a great and powerful elder iron dragon suggest to fix such a problem. Depending on his answer this situation could immediately escte. Seeing that his intimidation wasnt working, B released a breath of fire as he cooled down, choosing to ignore Frosts clear provocation...for now. ..... He should be abandoned, left to fend for himself. I taught him what was required as well as advising against using goblins, but he didnt listen, therefore hes not worth guarding. B spoke without a hint of friendliness,pletely breaking off his ties with Gobuske and ming him for the loss here today. Crack! Crack! Crack! Over by the audience area, many chairs were shattered as several dungeon cores abruptly stood up with force. They couldnt believe what they just heard. Because he lost the war and didnt listen to your opinion, hes not worth it. The dungeon cores were livid and wanted to rip out Bs tongue before he could utter another word of insults. Others thanks to this situation garnered even more respect for Gobuske. He achieved some much while under this simple minded brute. Crack! The floor under Frost cracked as he took another forceful step forward bringing him inches away from B. He was right up in his face now, his handsome appearance twisted in anger. Not worth it! You mean not worth it for you right! Frost yelled in Bs face,pletely ignoring the warning signs his body was sending his way. He didnt care if this person could squash him like a bug, he wasnt going to stand such insults towards his precious little brother. Gobuske seeing his elder brother and many of his other siblings bing angry on his behalf filled him with warmth but then came guilt. Frost was angering B on his behalf and putting himself in harms way, B was not known as the restrained type, a push too far could see himsh out, would his father be able to save his brother in time. Gobuske didnt want to risk the chance, so he gathered up his courage to stand up tall and move to have Frost stand down. But he was stopped, Darks hand was still on his shoulder and restrained him in ce, not allowing him to move or talk. He could only look up towards his father with his eyes filled with confusion. With Frost yelling in his face Bs frown became more pronounced before he replied without any hesitation. Yes, why should I an elder iron dragon have to waste my time babysitting a goblin. He spoke with such assurance as though his words weremon sense but to everyone here bar a few it was diabolical and was thest straw. With B not even denying it Frost couldnt contain himself anymore. With his eyes full of fire, Frost pulled back his arm and swiftly covered his fist in a denseyer of ice chakra before utilising his entire body to punch B right in the face. That was his younger brother he was talking about, what gave him the right. Though Frosts fist contained a great deal of force and speed, that wasnt anything to someone of Bs capabilities. Even Yami the most powerful of the dungeon cores wouldnt be able to even scratch someone at Bs level let alone Frost who was entry level C-rank. B saw this punching from a mile away, and simply looked down at the oing fist with disdain, finding Frosts antics childish and pointless. This is your pride and joy, the thing you spent thest couple centuries working on? B nced over at Dark in puzzlement, all the more powerful monsters knew that Dark was hard at work to create a new race, but this was it. Though some showed great potential they were hardly worth the honour of calling him father. Another chunk of Bs hatred towards Gobuske was the fact that he was the son of Dark even with his pitiful strength and appearance. In that brief nce he showed a pained expression as well as one full of disappointment, thinking that the old man had finally gone senile. He turned back towards Frost and his oing fist, to him it was practically going in slow motion. This should be him picking a fight with me, right? Not me bullying the young? B analysed the situation and weighed his options, he could kill Frost here and now, the question was would his life then be forfeit. He could simply block or restrain Frost but felt that he needed to be punished somewhat. He was a proud elder iron dragon after all, he shouldnt have to be snubbed by some kid whos still wet behind the ears all because of a goblin even if that goblin was his brother. Even now B could not see Gobuske as anything but a goblin, not a dungeon core or even a new race just a measly goblin. As Frosts fist drew ever closer B smiled, knowing what he was going to do. Ill be taking that arm aspensation the moment he decided and was about to make his move, he suddenly froze-of course to everyone that is not Maya or Dark this whole thing happened in less than a blink of an eye, so his starting movements werent even registered. With his body frozen he wouldnt be able to dodge this fist, of course it still wouldnt cause much damage but still its the principle, he couldnt allow himself to be punched in the face by someone so weak. At first, he surmised that it was Mayas work, but she too was S-rank, their abilities shouldnt be that much different, and he should have been able to detect something. That only leaves Dark. Fear washed over his body as he becamepletely paralysed, he could feel the scythe of the grim reaper resting against his neck and then an overwhelming sense of pressure that caused immense pain throughout his body, pain that he was powerless to resist against. He barely had time to gaze back towards Dark, his eyes full of terror and anguish. What he saw before him was not an affable old man but an unfathomable demon. When entities reached a certain level of power, they would be able to glimpse into the realm of the Gods. B was just at that realm and could see the true form of the Dark God if he chose to disy it. It was in one word horrifying, only Maya who was also in the room was subjected to this image. Everyone else was too weak and only saw his old man form, with a cold visage. Maya had already made preparations to assist her young master since she knew that he would attack regardless of the consequences, but her actions were stopped short the moment Dark revealed himself. Since she wasnt the target of his power she wasnt overwhelmed by horror and terror, but it certainly was an eye opener. She was still young and had never gotten the chance to witness the true strength of the Dark God, now she had. She and B who were at the peak of strength in Nova -excluding the Gods- now felt like ants before a human...no even less than an ant. Chapter 188 188 Chapter 188: Conflict with B (2) Dark was filled with pure hatred towards B, this iron dragon had gone too far. He just snubbed hisst few centuries of work, directly insulting his children, even suggesting that Gobuske wasnt even worth living. Even for an elder dragon thats far too arrogant. Dark believed that the S-rank monsters and sapient races must have forgotten their ce in this world. They may be strong and powerfulpared the rest of the worlds denizens, but they were a far cry from the realm of the Gods, especially one such as him. B was sentenced to death in his mind, but first hed allow Frost to deal some punishment on his behalf as well as his siblings, they really needed to vent their anger. Dark clearly noticed Yamis and Aquas intentions to get involved the moment Frost moved. They too summoned their chakra and started to tense their legs in preparation to quickly assist and they werent the only ones. B had truly insulted his children and they were having none of it. Their pride was even greater than that of a dragon, they would not be insulted. Before they could move however, he took action. His affable appearance instantly changed, too all his children it would simply seem as though he became much colder and threatening, simr to Yami in style but far more dangerous. But towards B and Maya he became something different entirely. He revealed his true form as an omnipotent God, emitting powerful waves of divine energy that pressurised both B and Maya. Maya started to instinctively tremble in his presence, as though she was a rabbit in front of starving wolf, she felt like prey, powerless to resist. The air around her and her body felt heavy as though she was entombed in quicksand, everything seemed to slow down, even her thought process. Her movements to restrain B were stopped and it took all of her strength not to copse to the floor. She hadnt felt such a primal fear in so long....not since she was but a pup. It was in some way refreshing, letting her know that there was always someone higher than you, no matter how strong you be. She felt grateful and honoured for being able to enjoy such an experience. The people who have felt Darks true power could be counted on a single hand. Knowing that her young master was no longer in danger since Dark intervened, she closed her eyes and epted Darks aura, no longer resisting, bathing in it so as to gleam some insight. If Dark wasnt so furious towards B he would have had to stop and give Maya a praising look, her potential was quite high to be able to willingly sumb to the pressure and try learn from it. Even the most powerful of ancient dragons may not be able to do this yet Maya could....her future looked bright. B however wasnt just feeling divine pressure but immense pain, Darks effort were focused on him and him alone. Even with his mighty S-rank strength and natural physical capabilities as an iron dragon he was nothing in front of Dark. His body felt as though it was being shredded apart at the molecr level, the pain was indescribable. Divine energy was flooding his body and being controlled so easily by Dark, leaving no part of his internal structure undamaged. He would be screaming out in pain if he could, and blood would be pouring out of his body from this trillions of wounds but even his blood was eviscerated before it could leave his body. Although this seemed like a long time it was in fact just a couple seconds or even less, but at their level of strength a couple seconds can be the same as minutes, dragging out the moment. Dark went even further, extending the time around B so his agonysted hours in just these couple seconds. And to top it off while in extreme agony his aggressor had no idea of his situation. He had to stare at Frosts ice covered fist get closer and closer to his face, unable to stop it. Eventually, however. Boooooom! Frosts fist collided with Bs face releasing an amazing sound. Frost didnt hold back in the slightest, giving this punch everything, he had and then some. The ice chakra collided with Bs face and should have shattered into a million pieces before the same thing happened to his fist. B was an iron dragon after all, he was sure to have a really hard body. Frost expected to have his hand be significantly injured from the blow, but he didnt care and wanted to punch B regardless. What happened however was not in his expectations. Frost felt as though he was punching a regr persons face, in fact it was incredibly soft, as though all the bones had been turned into mush. He felt very little resistance at all, if any, so his ice chakra didnt fragment but stayed together as Bs face visibly dented. His fist sunk in deep, and he could hear minor cracks as Bs nose, orbital and cheek bones shattered under his fist as it moved deeper and deeper. B was still unable to move under Darks pressure and could feel that his body had lost all durability and resistance. He felt as though his body was weak and squishy and his bones covered in billions of minute cracks, just waiting to be pulverised. Hed never felt so weak in his entire life. ..... Frosts fist continued to cave in his face, and he could feel his facial structure rearrange itself to amodate the shape of Frosts fist, before the ensuing force started to push back his neck and body. Frost knew something wasnt right but at this point that was a good thing. Not feeling resistance from B and feeling that his punch was now in the pushing phase he gave his arm another burst of strength, causing it to violently bulge a little. Under his robes youd be able to see his veins protruding along his muscles as he did this. Don! With increased force, Bs neck was forced violently backwards, his spine fracturing under the pressure. He was lifted from his feet as his back was forcibly bent and Bang! Bs body crashed onto the floor, smashed down by Frosts fist leaving arge crater, with B in the centre. Blood started to pool out from the iron dragons body as his body started to convulse. He could finally move once again, well tremble. His bone and muscles were shattered making any regr movement impossible, the pain however wasnt dulled in the slightest. Ugyhayyhajiiaiaa! An iprehensible howl escaped from B, astonishing all those present. Everyone who was ready to support Frost and fight against B were stunned still. This oue was far from what they expected. Yami and Aqua, moved first, regardless of what happened they still chose toe and support Frost in his actions, rushing to his side. Frost at this point was staring at his own fist that was still covered in ice, his eyes showed confusion and shock. He more than anyone else knew exactly what he was capable of strength wise, so he was the most astonished by the oue. His eyes then drifted over toward the convulsing and howling B, frowning as he thought back to the feeling of his body against his fist, something wasnt right. Haaaaaaaaaaa at this moment while everyone was still in a confused state and having to suffer from Bs howls Dark released a deep sigh. He removed his hand from Gobuskes shoulder allowing his son to move and talk once again before moving closer towards Frost, Yami and Aqua. This action caused them all to look his way with curious gazes, they knew that this old man had to have done something. With a flick of his wrist, a magic crest appeared beneath B and encapsted him in a ck egg before vanishing him from the room, the howls left with him, bringing a more pleasant atmosphere -the floor was still cracked in ces, however. Apologies Frost, I saw that you wanted to act but I interfered a little. Dark spoke a single line without a shred of guilt, he too was angry as a father, him not acting was impossible, plus if he didnt Frost may have died or at the very least been heavily injured. He didnt exactly state what he did and wouldnt, just saying that he was responsible for the unusual situation. Yami and Aqua frowned in response, getting the subtle feeling that they shouldnt ask any questions and just ept the situation as is. Frost was fine and B was punished so there wasnt anything they could reallyin about. Frost however was having mixed feelings, grateful that Dark acted thus saving his fist from shattering and whatever else B decided to do to him in retaliation but also annoyance from the old man interfering. If he was going to solve it himself why not do it sooner or in a more upfront way. Even though he was the one that punched B he still had no idea what was going on with his body, it was so weird. It felt like punching a dried out brittle log that was encased in some kind of jelly, not that pleasant a punching material. He looked Dark in the eyes and asked, whats going to happen to him? His gaze was cold as though he wouldnt care if the answer was torturing in the deepest levels of hell, he just wanted to know. Chapter 189 189 Chapter 189: Conflict with B (3) Frosts question caused all the other Dungeon cores, Gobuske included to look towards Dark, curious about his answer as well. Dark had already absconded B away somewhere, so he probably had a n in mind. Haaaaaaaaa Dark sighed, before turning to face Gobuske who was by his side. Though he truly wished to just eliminate B and be done with it, it wasnt his call to make. He was Gobuskes guardian, and he was the one that suffered under his yoke. He already made the error in teaming the two of them up in the first ce and felt that he shouldnt be the one to decide. Gobuske, I leave his fate up to you, my error in judgement has caused you to suffer and for that I am sorry.... I will not force a decision on you again, allowing you to choose. Whether you wish for him to be spared, killed, or punished will be up to you, as will your choice for another guardian. If you so wish, Ill ce a barrier around your core for the rest of the year if you chose to not have another. Dark looked towards his son with guilt, his heart full of remorse for his negligent actions. He really didnt believe that the situation was so bad between his son and B, but todays events proved that their rtionship was irreparable, and B had forgotten his ce. Though he himself was an elder iron dragon, one of the most powerful and higher life forms existing in Nova, he was nothingpared to a Dungeon core. Gobuske even though he appeared like a goblin and had goblin like specialties his strength did not have such a limit plus he had to ability to harness divine energy just like his 99 siblings. For all intents and purposes, he was a demi-god, a being of much higher quality than a simple dragon, he just needed time toe into his own strength. Gobuske looked up towards his father and the many silent Dungeon cores in the distance and then to Frost, Yami and Aqua, Frost in particr. These siblings of his were willingly to stand up for him against his guardian, Frost himself even punched the man. He felt nervous having the decision tossed to him, his stomach quivered, and his neck felt itchy having all these people staring at him in wait. He had the sudden urge to dig a hole and bury himself in it, he was still timid by nature and disliked being the centre of attention. However, he knew that this was no time to cower. Taking a deep breath and thinking long and heard he spoke. Though B acted as such and I truly hate him....he never did anything too over the line, therefore father I request that you spare him. Allow him to return to his life before he was a guardian as though this situation never happened. Gobuske spoke with a determined tone, this was what his heart was telling him. He could feel Bs hatred and disgust towards him, yet it only resulted in mocking and insults, B never raised his hands or legs to physically abuse him so he could forgive him. Gobuske was a kind person at heart and believed that B had already suffered some severe punishment that made up for his ill treatment towards himself. Though it may not satisfy everyone here this was what he wished to happen. A few disgruntledints came from the audience and frowns adorned Yami and Frosts faces but that was all, they didnt contradict their siblings decision. It wasnt their ce after all. Dark looked down towards Gobuske with gentle eyes, understanding his sons kindness. Are you sure Gobuske? Yes father, please banish him back to his regr life so I wont have anything to do with him anymore. Gobuske nodded his head with conviction, sure of his choice. He then gave a gentle smile towards Frost. Thank you, big brother, for stepping up on my behalf, Im truly grateful and will remember your kindness today. Hopefully you can agree with my decision. He bowed his head in gratitude towards Frost. Out of everyone here he really only cared about Frosts opinion on the matter since he was the most involved. ..... ....Haaaaaaaa its your choice Gobuske. He was your guardian, and you were the one to suffer so whatever happens is up to you, I just hope you dont regret it. Frost silently gazed at his younger brother with a frown before eventually releasing a sigh and smiling gently his way. Although he didntpletely agree with Gobuske choice it wasnt his ce to intervene, simply hoping that B appreciated the kindness shown by Gobuske here today and not chalk it up to some kind of goblin weakness. I wont Gobuske raised his bowed head and spoke with confidence, his back straightened, and he looked directly at Frost, the butterflies in his stomach even dissipated somewhat. Very well then Gobuske Ill follow your decision and banish B back to where he came from, youll never have to interact with him again, I promise. Dark waved his hand casting some divine magic towards the ce B was being held, swiftly releasing him, and sending him back to his original home -he didnt repair his body and left a severe warning for him to never interact or even go near Gobuske in the future. Well then what about another guardian? Or would you rather wait? Dark was keen to set up Gobuske with another guardian so as to have him experience a happy friendship and not feel quite so lonely, but he understood that the trauma caused by B was still fresh. The problem being that without a guardian, Gobuskes dungeon core and himself would be in danger. Leaving his home and interacting with the local towns, viges and or tribes would be that much more difficult without someone by his side. Gobuske frowned as he was asked this question, memories of the looks of disgust he got from B flooded to the forefront of his mind, causing him to visibly tremble. Was he willing to go through something like that again, to once again be subjected to being viewed as a bug in his own home....he really wasnt. He was quite intelligent and knew that by not getting another guardian hed be liable to fall behind his siblings in terms of DP and natural exploration. He was a bit too timid to embark on such a journey out with the confines of his own dungeon alone, so he was stymied. The moment he was going to request some more time to think about it, Maya spoke up. She had recovered from her stunned state and Dark no longer portrayed his true form before her, allowing her to calm down. If I may be so bold Dark God-sama, I may have a suggestion for a guardian but theres a catch. Maya spoke nervously, she was in the presence of Dark after all, her object of worship. Gobuske, Dark, Frost and the rest of the dungeon cores turned around to face Maya, keen to hear her thoughts. A few of the male dungeon cores couldnt help but finally notice this stunning woman that was beside their brothers side. Many felt incredibly jealous of his luck. Indra nodded his head in approval, seeing that Frosts praises didnt do her figure justice, she truly was explosive. He couldnt help butpare her to Izuna his guardian, who was still a home. She was a celestial fox a monster known for their charm and beauty. But Izuna was a rather rare case as well, her beauty was unrivalled but her body well, she had the lower hourss figure down to a tee and then some, but for the chest area....the term washboard came to mind. Indra couldnt help butpare their assets, Izuna was severelycking in that department but luckily Indra was a leg man and really didnt care about the size of ones chest. Dark frowned a little, still unnerved by Bs outburst his feelings towards guardians at the moment was a little rough but he nodded and allowed Maya to speak. Thank you, Dark God-sama......I would like to rmend my friend Charlotte, shes a nature spirit with a very friendly personality and I think would partner well with Gobuske here. She turned to looked towards Gobuske with approval. Though she tried to avoid peeking at the wars progress she ultimately failed, plus with Frost and the phoenix kin children being so animated with the problems they encountered she couldnt help but overhear his capabilities. Gobuske blushed slightly from her gentle smile, hed never seen someone so beautiful. Dark however frowned at her word. Charlotte doesnt qualify, she failed the initial checks. He shot down her proposal almost immediately. Dark screened a great many candidates for the position of guardian and had some quite stringent qualifications, the first being strength. The lowest guardian was at the very least quasi-S rank in strength, yet this Charlotte, though suitable in other areas was very young and only had early to mid-level A-rank strength. Below his minimum requirements. Guardians needed to be powerful for multiple reasons, first to defend the dungeon core from an entity that could spell death. Whether thats something like arge group of D or C-rank opponents or even A-rank parties. An A-rank monster especially one not at the peak would struggle to defend the dungeon core and deal with an A-rank opponent. The strength requirement was even more important now that Light was against their existence. Who knows what kind of methods hed choose to eliminate them. Another important aspect is being able to train his children, sufficient strength is needed to be able to train someone with such high potential. Take a look a Yami or Aqua for example theyve already breached into the B-rank realm. An A-rank teacher would still be stronger yes, but theyd not have as strong a foundation as an S-rank or as wide a plethora of skills. Chapter 190 190 Chapter 190: Rewards Dark really didnt want to put Gobuske in any more risk, so choosing someone of only A -rank strength and not even at the peak was a no go. Maya expecting some resistance didnt let that stop her. Thats the catch Dark God-sama. Charlotte isnt up to snuff in terms of battle strength yes but in other areas she is more than capable plus I know for a fact that she is quite fond of all creatures of the forest, goblins included. A situation such as that with B would not ur with her....but if thats not enough how about assigning two guardians, Charlotte has a twin sister Lily who also applied to be a guardian. Her strength is roughly the same but unlike Charlotte who specialises in magic, Lily is a physicalbatant. With the two of them not only would they be strong enough to protect Gobuske at a sign of danger, together theyd be able to cover all types of training. Maya spoke like a saleswoman trying to convince Dark to buy her products. Maya had a fair few friends in Nova, Charlotte and Lily were two of those friends. They were both nature spirits with high potential and very friendly and outgoing personalities. Though they were a little younger than her the three of them clicked and became fast friends. She was sad to hear that they didnt qualify as guardians as she wished to be colleagues in this new operation the Dark God had established. Therefore, when she saw the reluctance in Gobuskes eyes she instantly thought of her two friends. They would surely be able to heal his trauma, allowing Gobuske to experience true friendship and joy. Mayas counter argument caused Dark to frown and think deeply. He remembered Charlotte and Lily quite vividly and had a very high impression of them. Not only because they were so easy to get along with and their high potential but because of their aunt. To be honest if they were just a tad stronger like a the top end of A-rank he would have probably allowed them to be guardians just because of who their aunt was. Their aunt was one of the very few spirit queens of the world, beings that were akin to Gods, albeit much weaker than him and Light. They had surpassed S-rank and were able to create their own dimensions in which they were omnipotent. Even if he and light entered such a domain theyd be restricted. So, Mayas second suggestion caused him to think. Would this give him some sort of unfair advantage or disadvantage? This was the main problem Dark could think of. Two A-ranks would struggle to beat a quasi S-rank so their power would be the weakest amongst all the guardians even with both together but by having two he could leave one in the dungeon and explore with the other, an advantage his other children would not have ess too. He was torn but not ruling the option out, Gobuske deserved some sort ofpensation after all. The room was silent for a few minutes while Dark pondered. Maya though sounding confident was incredibly nervous, hoping her suggestion would be approved, this way shed be able to interact with Charlotte and Lily as fellow guardians. Eventually Dark spoke up and his response was positive. Very well I approve of your suggestion, the two of them together can qualify as guardians for Gobuske. Maya instantly smiled and went to fist pump the air but was interrupted. However, the decision is still up to Gobuske, if he says no then its a no, got it? Dark scrutinised the excited Maya, cooling her jets. Yes, yes of course, she tilted her head and stuck out her tongue yfully but was still jumping for joy on the inside. Frost who was by her side simply shook his head. She didnt even talk to him first before speaking out, so he felt a little left out, not even knowing about these so called friends of hers. Gobuske after the gathering is over, Ill summon Charlotte and Lily so you can talk to them a little, get to know them and then decided if you want them as your guardians, does that sound alright? ..... Uhhh yeah that sounds good. Gobuske was still in a slight daze from being on the receiving end of Mayas smile and answered haphazardly, agreeing to meet themter. Good, good, now that thats been sorted, I guess its time to dish out the rewards for this dungeon war, hopefully that will bring back the festivities! Dark suddenly spoke with a booming voice, trying to redirect the flow of the gathering. With his words many of the dungeon cores couldnt help but perk up their ears in anticipation, it was finally here, the fabled rewards. Many turned to look at Frost with jealously. Not only did he get a reward for being in fourth ce in the DP rankings he was also getting the major prize from this dungeon war. Everyone knew that Dark wouldnt be stingy with such a prize given the importance he ced on this event. It may even rival or surpass Yamis prize. Dark had everyone return to their seats so he could treat this as some sort of glorious ceremony, only Gobuske and Frost were standing before Dark side by side in anticipation. Maya had retreated to the audience seating area wherein Aqua started chatting with her. The whole ordeal with B seemed to be swept under the rug with the prize reveal. Dark even waved his hands a couple times returning the room to a pristine state as though erasing the situation from existence. Dark protruded a dignified aura as he stood before his two sons, but he couldnt prevent a smile from growing on his lips, he was too proud and happy plus he put a lot of thought into these prizes, so he was eager to gleam their reactions. Unlike Yami, Gobuske and Frost should be more animated with their rewards, well at least Gobuske should. He turned his head to his left, looking over at Gobuske who was rather nervous but at the same time was smiling. Hed start with the loser of the war. Though Gobuske lost he wasnt going to becklustre with his reward. He stepped forward and ced his hand on Gobuskes shoulder, while his eyes radiated fatherly pride. Though you did not seed in beating your elder brother, you showed great tenacity and spirit Gobuske. You drove a hard fight and for that you deserve a great reward. Dark then channelled his divine energy to summon a group of items. A bunch of magic crests appeared around him bringing with them Gobuskes rewards. First off to help off set the loss of monsters as well as simply cash reward Ill be giving you 5,000DP to spent however you wish. A dark ball of floating energy then flew into Gobuskes chest from one of the magic crests. If he looked at his dungeon menu, hed now see an increase of 5,000DP. Next, although this demonstration war did not have you or Frost fighting personally, I know that you have some skill with tonfas, rather unusual but interesting none the less, so here take this pair of tonfas, created from the bones and hide of an iron smander. They should be more than enough to match you into B-rank. Dark couldnt help but let out a mocking chortle as he mentioned the materials used to create the tonfas, it was an indirect insult towards B, which many of the dungeon cores understood, lightly sniggering in response. Of course, it would have been best if he used Bs bones and hide but that would have ended up being at minimum a 6 star weapon, plus it would go against Gobuskes wishes to only banish him. The tonfas he gave Gobuske would be symbolic in nature with only those in the know understanding the meaning, without that however they were solid 4 star weapons, focusing on durability. Iron smanders were usually around C or B rank in strength depending on their type and age, rather powerful monster in the world and very highly regarded. Its body was aplete treasure trove for high ranking materials, coveted greatly by cksmiths throughout the world. High ranking monsters would of course make even better raw materials, but theyd also be much harder to manipte. There was a reason that 5 star weaponsmiths were the limit in most empires, with 6 stars being even rarer than quilins. Weapons ranked higher than 5 star were generally either found in special realms/ areas such as monsterirs or were put together from high level monster parts without much forging, relying on their natural shape. Gobuske took the beautiful red and silver tonfas in his hands and admired them greatly, they were beautiful and feltfortable in his hands. Thank you, father, with a big smile he thanked Dark, feeling a little flustered that Dark knew where his specialtiesy. Youre wee Gobuske but Im not finished yet. Dark replied with a coy smile before summoning thest of Gobuskes reward. This time it was a small locket, silver with intricate carvings like runes on the cover. It floated down onto Gobuskes outstretched hand, it felt slightly warm to the touch like an exquisite piece of jade. Gobuske was quite taken with it the moment he felt it in his hand. Dark didnt let his son wait in suspense and quickly exined the item. This my son is something especially designed for someone like you, its a courage locket. A small yet delicate magic device that fills the wearer with courage whenever they are in dire need of it. If you keep it close to your heart it will fill you with fire and the strength to face down what frightens you. Chapter 191 191 Chapter 191: Rewards (2) Dark spoke with gravitas as he exined Gobuske final reward. To others this may seem worthless, nothing more than a pretty piece of jewellery however to someone like Gobuske this item could reveal its true potential. What keeps most people from achieving anything worthwhile in their lives....the answer is fear. Fear of standing out, being different, making a mistake, being ostracised, failing or generally just being afraid. Gobuske with his natural timid personality would likely avoid things that were out with hisfort zone and done day it may be exactly wait causes his death. Too afraid to confront something or someone until its toote. With the courage locket whenever he feels afraid to act, itll act as a firm hand ced upon his shoulder. Hopefully allowing him to enjoy the great world that is Nova, instead of cowering at home in safety. Such items are always attached with a stigma but for those that know their true worth, they are precious gems, especially one gifted by the Dark God. How powerful would such an item be. Fear is present in all things and ys apart in nearly every action of the living. Some spells and aura even act upon the aspect of fear, would one in possession of such a locket not be immune to such impairments. Could even dragon fear be ovee simply by holding this locket by ones heart, making even the king of monsters a far easier target. No one in the room picked up on this possibility or they simply kept it to themselves. A few dungeon cores even mocked Gobuske in their minds. Certainly, such an item suited him. Gobuske however held the locket delicately in his palm, already feeling a connection with the item, greatly appreciating it, even more so than his new tonfas. For the one who lost the Dungeon war he was more than happy with his rewards. Adding onto the DP he managed to rake in from the war itself, even with the incredible amount of lives lost, this was a very fortuitous result. Thank you, father, Ill wear it and treasure it at all times Gobuske wrapped the locket around his neck, allowing it to hang by the chain over his chest. He grabbed it with his hand and gave his father a slight bow before taking a step back. Dark internally apuded his son before turning around to Frost, the winner and soon to be receiver of the grand prize. He had to put a lot of thought into Frosts rewards. They had to be substantial but not too much, rivalling at the very least the ones he gave to Yami but likely more given the grandness of the event. Weapon wise though he couldnt grant Frost a new one it would only be a 4 star weapon, only a half grade higher than the one he currently had so that was taken off the table. In regards to monsters he didnt want to copy what he did for Yami with the monster egg, and he already had a C-rank monster in his roster, so he cleared that option as well. After a lot of thought and some quick thinking while watching the war y out, he narrowed down the list. The first off being a straight influx of DP, just like what he did for Gobuske, but of course a fair chunkrger. Frost my son, not only have you ced within the top 5 for DP ie this past month, you have managed to get your hands on a C-rank monster of considerable grade. And then you showed your strategic ability and adeptmand of your monsters to prevail over your younger brother in this dungeon war. Bringing a great spectacle to all our eyes. Dark once again flicked his hand, summoning various magic crests in the air around him and Frost. First off Ill be granting you bunch of DP, 10000. Dark summoned a dark orb of light that swiftly entered Frosts body, increasing his DP levels by 10000 points. Frost watched the blob of divine energy enter his chest and could feel his body filling with energy, it brought a pleasant smile to his face, as though his body had been submerged in a hot spring. Next is abined reward. A talisman drifted out from one of the magic crests, it was oddly familiar to Frost. Ill grant you a second teleporting talisman which will allow your guardian, Maya to instantly arrive at your location. Plus, Maya will now be able to rescue you or your core from certain doom one extra time. A dark glow of light then drifted over from Darks hands into Maya, rewriting the covenant that he created when she became a guardian. Everyone in the room sucked in a cold sharp breath before many of their eyes filled with pure envy. This was effectively a second life being granted. Guardians were already the most powerful entities in the world of Nova apart from the Gods. They could eradicate a threat to their charges without any effort, the catch was that they could only do it once. But now Frost thanks to winning the demonstration war had seeded in gaining another chance. For the next year his life would all but be assured. Even Yami and Aqua couldnt help but feel jealous. Who wouldnt want an extra safety just in case, especially when the God of Light may start interfering in their lives. ..... No matter what Frost was granted next, this one was definitely the one with the highest value in the eyes of all the dungeon cores. Frost however didnt necessarily think so, although it meant he could be saved in the most dire of circumstances once again. Itd reduce the feeling of danger hed have when exploring, thus possibly limiting his progression in terms of strength. But he knew its worth, he nodded gratefully towards his father and tucked the talisman away safely into his robes, patting it twice for luck. Maya was absolutely beaming with joy behind him, her handsome young master was now even more likely to live for a long, long time, just what she wanted. For your third prize Ill grant you a 3rd circle magic spell, one that would hopefully increase your monster repertoire and tactics. A light blue coloured book then appeared and floated towards Frost. Its [summon ice golem], a very useful spell. Frosts eyebrows raised up at the mention of the spell. He was very in the know about this magic, it was the same one that Maya used to fervently train him with, as well as his first opponent. Of course, Mayas spell was of a much higher ss, likely 5th or even 6th circle given the humanoid appearance, knowledge of weaponry and adjustable strength and speed but it was in the same family tree and would certainly expand his magic abilities. Suddenly the air around Dark became heavier, as did the mood, the next rewards seemed to be rather important. For your final two rewards, they are both incredibly special and unique for different reasons, but both pertain to you personally. When Dark spoke, he had a somewhat conflicted expression. The fourth reward was something he actually didnt procure himself and requested it from another powerful entity. It also came with quite severe restrictions as well as inherent danger. The final reward was something that to be honest pained him the most to grant. Every time he thought of this item, he would feel that it would be perfect but at the same time he hated the idea of giving it away, especially to Frost. But in the end, he decided to grant it given the spectacr show he and Gobuske put on, though it still pained him. For the fourth reward Dark closed his eyes as he conjured up his divine magic. A secondter from a far more intricate magic crest came the item and when it did, the entire atmosphere changed. The room dropped rapidly in temperature. Gobuskes and Frosts breath was suddenly visible as steam. What dark withdrew was a silver me, incredibly beautiful and magical, yet also impossible. This was a cold me, the pr opposite of regr fire. It cooled instead of heated and from the sudden drop in temperature that was continuing to decrease at an rming rate, it was no ordinary cold me either. Eh? Maya gasped in shock as she witnessed this me, confusion was in her eyes as she watched Dark handle it like it was nothing. She knew what this was and the rough grade of the me, but what she didnt understand was why he brought it out. mes like many magical items and oddities had ranks to them simr to that of weapons, magic skills etc.... she herself was no stranger to cold mes even interacting with several throughout her life and to be honest this wasnt the most powerful shed seen but it was still a fairly high rank. mes such as this one were divided into three levels (actually four but only the Gods deal with the fourth level), mortal, earth, and heaven with three sub levels, low, mid, high. Regr mes such as those generated by burning regr wood are ssed at the lowest level, low mortal me. mes conjured by magic that are below 4th circle are usually all mortal mes with a rare chance of it being low earth me. Heaven mes are incredibly rare and powerful, they are akin to natural disasters and can only be utilised by the highest of magic and powerful beings. In Mayas hometown, in the Fenrir tribe there exists a natural heaven me that they use to forge weaponry. The one in Darks hands at the moment was a high level earth me, far beyond Frosts capabilities and could even harm him instead. Chapter 192 192 Chapter 192: Rewards (3) Though Frost had immunity to ice damage that was all rtive to his natural strength. If an S-rank monster such as Maya cast high level ice magic at him, he could still be hurt, frozen and even killed. This earth rank me was something that was capable of freezing even Frost, it was of a higher quality than him at the moment. She couldnt help but frown and instinctively move in close to protect her young master, but she was shot down by a look from Dark. Basically, tranting as calm downss, Im not that stupid. Dark then conjured up his divine magic and encased the me in a seal, as though freezing it in a diamond of solid mana. The temperature in the room swiftly returned to normal. I asked the primordial Ice king for a favour; he created this high rank earth me for me and Im handing it over to you as your fourth reward. However, as you can probably tell and from your guardians reaction this thing is quite impressive and far beyond your current abilities. So as to protect you as well as keep the bnce between the Dungeon cores Im only lending this thing to you for research purposes. It will remain encased in my divine mana, effectively sealing it off from the world. Dark then carefully handed the entombed me to Frost with a stern look in his eyes. He hoped Frost would be able to learn from the me, possibly learn to create his own cold mes and or harness one. It should also help him in terms of magic creation. Frost was the embodiment of ice after all, he had high hopes that his son would surpass even the primordial ice king in that department, but itd take time. Frost nervously took hold of the entombed me, the frigid temperature he felt earlier waspletely gone as though it never existed in the first ce. He wondered how on earth he was supposed to research this thing if it was encased in divine mana. But from his fathers stern expression as well as Mayas anxious look, plus his own instincts he knew that he needed to be careful when handling this item. He learned a little about such objects from the vast collection of books he purchased when in Furano. mes such as this one were magical in nature and the higher the rank of the me the closer it was to the primordial element in structure i.e., in this case the cold me at the highest level would be akin to the purest form of the ice element something that made up the fabric of the Nova and itsws. Deep within the cial mountains, mes such as this one -albeit weaker- could be found naturally. Whenever an element is dense and withoutpetition, oddities in rtion to that element cane into physical existence, such as this cold me. These oddities are another reason why adventuring is such a highly sought after profession. You can examine the me with your mana sense, given that divine energy is present in your body itll be able to pass through the seal without issue. Be careful however, though Ive sealed off its physical presence it can still affect your mana. If youre not careful it will freeze it causing a nasty bacsh....dont say I didnt warn you. Dark smiled mischievously. Frost was just about to scan the seal with his mana sense and would have likely sumbed to such a situation. Dark for once was on time with his warnings....barely. If he suffered a bacsh in front of his siblings here and now while being rewarded, it really wouldnt do good for his image. He internally thanked his father for his prompt warning. He moved to ce the sealed me in his storage ring, but Maya stopped him. Ill hold onto it young master, best to keep such an item out of man-made spatial dimensions, just in case. Without waiting for him to agree or disagree, Maya took the me from his hands without any delicacy and promptly moved away to examine it herself. She wasnt checking for any danger; no she was studying the thing for her own personal reasons. This was after all a fairly high ranking me, personally created by the primordial ice king, another God. Of course, shed be curious, besides regardless of what she did it wouldnt be able to harm her given her level of power. Thus, Frosts fourth reward that was designed especially for him was taken by his guardian. Frosts brow couldnt help but twitch as he watched Maya obviously y around with the thing. He couldnt help but feel that one of his birthday presents was stolen and yed with in front of him before he even got a chance to realise what it was. But this wasnt the time of ce to call her out, plus its not as though she would break it or ruin it in anyway so after releasing a calming breath, he regained his stoic expression and awaited his fifth and final reward. This reward was also something special so he couldnt help but get excited. ..... Dark saw Mayas actions as well as Frosts silent eptance and couldnt help but grin slightly as he understood the subtle meaning. But then his face warped, it was time for the final reward and even now he was struggling to ept the situation. For your final reward again its something really, really special! Dark emphasised the word special and red at Frost and Maya with usation before continuing. So, you better appreciate it! With an annoyed flick of his wrist the final magic crest summoned thest reward. A bottle slowly appeared from the magic crest. It was undecorated but was made of exquisite material and had a simplebel that read wine of the abyss. Size wise it was the same as a regr bottle of alcohol perhaps a little smaller, but the moment Mayas eyes saw thebel she almost dropped the entombed me. Her body instantly filled with desire, her mouth started to salivate, and her cheeks became red as her breathing becameboured. This was a bottle of Darks self-brewed wine, the very peak of the wine world with no set price. Dark brewed several alcohols as one of his hobbies and this wine that he summoned was one of his higher quality bottles. It was the highest he was willingly to go for Frost but even so this bottle could cause nations to fall as they warred amongst one another for just a single taste. His most glorious wine was called dark matter wine and even Light only had the pleasure of enjoying such a delicacy a few times, no one else knew of its existence. So, to Maya this was the most legendary, no mythical wine that all alcohol lovers craved. If she wasnt in Darks presence or wasnt a highly respected S-rank Fenrir she may have copsed into a puddle of joy at being able to even witness the wine. It took everything she had not to rush towards the bottle. Hmph! Dark hmphed in irritation as he saw Mayas expression, his hand almost instinctively tried to take the bottle back, but Frost moved quickly, snatching the bottle from mid-air, not allowing his father to back out. Thank you, father, for such a glorious and personal gift, Ill be sure to treasure everyst drop. Frost spoke smoothly as though he was a con man. At first, he didnt recognise what it was, just a bottle of wine but then he saw Mayas reaction and with Darks reluctance he instantly understood. This was one of his fathers prized personal stash that Maya had him ask for. Knowing his fathers personality, he quickly moved, grasping the bottle in hand before Dark changed his mind. Although he wasnt nearly as alcohol mad as Maya, over the past month he tried a fair few and became quite a junior connoisseur. Like hell hed pass up the chance to taste the fabled wine brewed by the Dark God. Dark looked over at his son who unceremoniously snatched the bottle mid-flight with no small amount of pain, instantly regretting his actions. He had an awful premonition that thanks to this bottle his son would crave more and that for the next several decades hed need to keep his wits about him, so as not to get cheated out of his stash. But even with that nasty premonition he had his pride as a God and a father, he didnt recall the reward, simply clicking his tongue and pretended that the wine wasnt important. Frost picked up on his fathers mood and promptly pocketed the bottle into his spatial ring bringing the matter to a swift conclusion. His siblings however were staring at Dark and him in utter confusion, all they saw was a bottle of wine, simr to what Indra received from the random reward earlier and couldnt fathom how this bottle was special. But from their fathers reaction as well as Mayas it certainly wasnt normal. Indra who himself was quite an alcohol fan, didnt notice what it was, but he remembered the name and swore to ask his guardian Izuna about it when he got back. Chapter 193 193 Chapter 193: Third segment of the gathering Although thest reward seemed to be a bit of a let-down to the surrounding audience, the Dungeon war rewards were now over. Thus, the next segment of the gathering would begin and none of them knew what that would entail. Cough cough Dark coughed loudly to get everyones attention, the first two segments were now done so he was prepared to move onto the next. Once everyone was quiet and looking his way he started to speak. First off a big congrattions to Frost and Gobuske forpeting in the first ever dungeon war, very well done. Dark then started a round of apuse which most cores joined in. From this war I hope youve all learned a few things that would help in your future survival. As I said earlier the Light God does not agree with your existence and will try to eliminate you if he can. Darks stark reminder doused the excitement among everyone once again, even Maya was brought out of her stupor. After today each of you will gain semi independence, your protective barriers wille down and your guardians will give you a single save or two if youre Frost. Dark didnt forget to throw his son under the bus causing a few jealous looks to head his way. Frost simply scoffed internally and called his father petty. But please dont let this be a shackle, explore and experience the world of Nova, the world that I built. I hope that each of you will interact with the residents of this world and find your own ce within it. Of course, with explorationes danger, but life is dangerous, without it, life would not be any fun. To promote all of your battle skills Id like to make dungeon wars amon thing, especially in the first few years of your lives. I want everyone here to participate in at least one dungeon war within the next two years, Gobuske and Frost have already fulfilled that quota but theres nothing stopping you frompeting in more than one. Dark looked around the room, eyeing everyone of his children, making sure his orders were understood. Gobuske let out a sigh of relief when he heard that he wouldnt have topete again if he didnt want to. Frost however couldnt help but feel riled up, eager to throw himself into another dungeon war. Only this demonstration had limitations, in the proceeding wars he could personally take part. For the next and final segment of this gathering well be having a long group discussion. You can interact with one another more but mainly Id like to hear some feedback and suggestions so as to improve the dungeon menu system....this will be for dungeon cores only so Maya, if you could head back. Dark flicked his wrist causing a magic crest to appear under Mayas feet. She barely had time to look at her young master with a strong desire as well as warning before being encased in a ck egg, along with the cold me. Her warning was clear as day to Frost dont you dare touch that wine without me was the clear trantion. This discussion would likelyst a long time, and Frost was with his many siblings and was going to be once again surrounded by nice food. Bringing out a delicacy wine would certainly help to smooth things over when forming friendships. Especially that Indra, Maya got one look at this brother of his and knew that he was an alcoholic like her. So, she saw fit to protect her interests. If Frost so much as even let his siblings smell the wine, hed be a dead man when he returned home. The final part of the gatheringsted for the rest of the day, Frost got to meet pretty much all of his siblings and learned bits about each of them, but he was clearly closer to a few. Mainly Indra, as well as the other elder dungeon cores, bar Pyro of course. Yami was always silent and stoic, but Frost felt very warm when in his presence and felt that even though they didnt talk much they were quite close. Aqua though overbearing was veryforting, he really liked the idea of having a protective elder sister even if he didnt need it. Sylph was a little annoying but otherwise alright, Terra was very kind and gentle and he learned a lot of things from him in regards to bringing outside monsters under the dungeons control. Whereas he tried with a show of power, Terra relied on his brilliant charisma. Therge group of siblings discussed a great many things with their father in regards to not only the dungeon menu and its features but life and the world of Nova in general. Some cores that found they were rtively close together aimed toe to some sort of alliance or protective agreement, others opted to possibly travel together for safety. Whereas other hid their intentions like a cloaked dagger. In regards to pricing of items Dark decided to not fiddle around with things too much, but he did make a few key changes to the Dungeon menu system, such as: ..... After every fifth floor, the cost to create subsequent floors would increase by 5000DP i.e., floor 1 to 5 would cost 10000DP to make whereas floor 6 would cost 15000DP. Due popr demand Dark introduced a random/gacha system with varying prices starting at 1000DP. From it the dungeon core would get a random item or monster. This would allow dungeons to get monsters that werent avable for them to purchase the usual way. Any monster gotten through gatcha will not then be avable to purchase the regr way in the monster section unless that monster is of the same archetype or element of the dungeon core i.e. if Frost randomly drew a fire monster, it would be a one off summon but if he drew an ice monster that he hadnt unlocked yet, it would be added to the regr monster purchase section. The ability to restrain and control dungeon monsters will now not be mainly be reliant on personal strength but the size of the dungeon itself -with an extra floor being worth more than arger floor. This was to help those dungeon cores like Gobuske that may not focus on upgrading themselves. Theyd now be able to summon C-rank and higher monsters even if their own strength was below them. This also worked for materials, weapons, and spells, therger the dungeon the higher the stuff avable would be. The ability to design their own monsters was now fully unlocked yet Dark stressed that it would take a lot more effort than designing traps- of which he added a bunch more to the initial roster. Subduing a foreign monster within the dungeon will now unlock said monster in the monster summoning section -does not work on magic summoned monsters. Because of a request from Void and Chronos any new spells created can be sold to Dark for DP who will then possibly rework them and allow them to be purchased through the menu, granting the creators dividends for each purchase. Void and Chronos asked for this since they were currently working on creating spatial magic infused with time that would allow the preserving of perishables thus allowing for more advanced forms of spatial rings to be developed. Dark was amazed by this and promptly rewarded them. And finally, to promote friendship, Dark decided to incorporate amunication feature in the menu between the different dungeon cores, allowing them to trade numbers andmunicate with one another. Aqua and Indra quickly demanded Frosts number in response to this change, in which he was forced toply. What they discussed next was issues in regards to Nova and its inhabitants. Dark nervously brought up the Church of Light so as to reaffirm his childrens fear and wariness. He had Yami discuss his interactions as well as a few others who came across mention of them. Frost was included in this bunch; he told his siblings of the ve tattoos and Nanna and Loki. A fair number of his siblings subconsciously grasped their necks in response, imagining being subjected to such a fate. Thankfully however other than Yami no one had any direct interaction with the Church of Light and its members. When everyone returns, Ill be contacting some people to let the world know about Dungeons, that theyre a new type of monsterir. However, Ill keep all of you a secret, they wont know that your dungeons are sentient, just that they can grow and evolve. That way there should be a reduced chance of shock troops being deployed from the nearby empires to eliminate a possible threat. Plus, by me being the one to reveal half your existence, Light wont be able to corrupt the information. So, expect a rise in intruders eithering due to a sense of adventure and greed as well as peopleing to study your homes. Dark spoke with a soft tone, but the content was anything but gentle. He was effectively announcing their existence to the world, promoting people toe and take a look at his new creation. It certainly had some upsides such as a possible increase in DP and intruder traffic, but it could also leave them vulnerable, who would like someone poking around their body trying to find out all their secrets. For Frost however and a few of the older dungeon cores this was actually a relief. Frost was wary of these shock troopers that could be sent to uproot a dangerous monsterir, having that change to research teams was a much easier alternative to deal with. Chapter 194 194 Chapter 194: End of the family gathering Dark had thought long and hard about how much he should reveal to the inhabitants of Nova. What would grant his children the best chance at survival while at the same time allowing them to interact with the world. He wouldnt shield them from all danger in fact he nned to shield them from very little. Thats why he assigned them guardians and gave them high battle potential. Dark didnt have any massive cults that followed him or misinterpreted his intentions like Light, but he could still reveal information to the current inhabitants without much issue and to be honest it wouldnt be anything new. Dark was always known as the more creative of the creation Gods, alwaysing up with new and interesting things to try. Whether that be items, oddities, monsterirs or even separate realms, the popce was used to the Dark God tinkering with things on a regr basis. If Dark said he created a new type of monsterir, then pretty much everyone would respond with Oh really whats this do then? Before going to investigate the new thing without too much fear. Many of Darks creations had brought an untold number of profits and technological advances to the many empires and kingdoms in Nova. Monsterirs for example were incredibly profitable so much so that countries coulde into existence due to one with high level and size. A group would establish residency near it and that would eventually snowball into a vige then a town then a city and then finally a country. All thanks to the profit presented by a high level monsterir. So, a new type of monsterir was sure to go down well with the majority of people. The only thing he was really worried about was the Church of Light as well as Light himself. The Church of Light was a shell of its former power but still greater than most empires and kingdoms and they abhorred things created by Dark, they may see this new creation as a sign to make another move, excising his taint as soon as possible. And Light he hoped that his measures would not be too drastic, he still wished that they could reconcile their differences. Many times, over the past month he tried to contact his old friend, but he never replied, and he couldnt gain ess to Lights domain without his permission and using force was a definite no go. Dark couldnt help but sigh as he was reminded of their argument. Light, please dont do anything rash, please understand how much I care about these kids. He looked over every one of his children and welled up with pride. Each of them looked different from thest and had their own individual personalities and specialties but they were still a family, one which he would protect. He raised his hand up to stop everyone talking amongst each other, it was time to bring this gathering to a close. Weve first had the DP rankingpetition which Yami, Aqua, and Pyro won 1st, 2nd and 3rd ce respectively. Then we moved onto the dungeon war demonstration between Frost and Gobuske and now weve concluded the final part of this gathering. Its time now my children to say goodbye. Ive thoroughly enjoyed our time here today and loved getting to know each and every one of you, but I cant keep you. You must return home and manage your dungeons, continue to expand, and improve, aiming to move up on the DP leader board. Ill see you all again (hopefully) in eleven months, on your first birthday, ciao. Dark spoke with slightly reddened eyes, but it didnt stop him swiftly flicking his wrist to summon 100 magic crests beneath each of them. His trademark rapid goodbye was still in effect. His children all used to this by now didnt even feel disappointed, quickly waving goodbye before being encapsted in the usual ck egg. A momentter everyone disappeared, well almost everyone, what appeared to be 100 magic crests was actually 99. Gobuske was left alone, stunned by what was going on around him. Why was he the only one left behind? Gobuskee,e, we still need to introduce you to your new guardians. Dark beckoned his anxious looking son over. He still needed to have a good talk with this son of his. Thanks to his error he had to suffer unneeded torment. He thought some quality one on one time before summoning Charlotte and Lily would be good for their rtionship. Gobuske nervously pointed to himself in confusion before shaking his head a waddling over to his father. If his siblings were to know of his special one on one time with Dark, would they not kill him out of jealousy. ..... A couple minutes after Frost was encased in the ck egg, he was returned to his dungeons private space wherein an excited fenrir was waiting. For hours and hours, she was left panicking, even the cuteness that was Nanna and Loki could not calm her down. That was the wine of the abyss after all and her young master had it on him for nearly a day without her protection. Although she clearly gave him a warning signal, Frost had been getting quite arroganttely, could he have ignored her warning....it was possible. Mad thoughts filled her mind as she prayed, threatened, bargained, promised whoever or whatever to make sure that the bottle of wine was still unmarred, Frosts personal safety depended on it. Though she was immensely attracted to Frost and his handsome face and dynamite body that was that and this was alcohol and not just any alcohol but the holy grail, of course Frost came second. The moment Frost arrived, and his vision was restored from the eggs ck nothing he saw Maya right up in his face with bloodshot eyes and severely bitten lips as though shed been without sleep for days. He recoiled at the sight of her appearance but failed to move at all. The moment he was in her sights she fiercely gripped onto his arm, holding him in ce refusing to let him go. THE WINE!? She stared into Frosts eyes with fervent desire, emphasising every letter. She was mad, no insane at this moment. Frost violently shivered as he was looked at by those insane eyes, it was disturbing. God damn alcoholic! His face visibly warped in contempt as he struggled to imagine Maya and whatever this thing in front of him were the same person. If this was a few weeks ago he would have immediately reeled in fear and obeyed her every whim but now, their positions had more or less stabilised as equals and now he had something she wanted......time for some payback. His lips imperceptibly curved upwards, and a glint appeared in his eyes. During this time Nanna and Loki wisely chose not to interfere with Mayas current state, leaving it up to Frost to deal with. They silently watched by the side as though watching a y, all they needed were some snacks. Let go Maya Frost spoke with an authoritative tone, letting out his distinct aura as he did. But she was too focused on the wine to care, her grip on his wrist only increased in strength as did the desire in her eyes. ......THE WINE YOUNG MASTER NOW! She roared in protest; demanding Frost reveal the treasure now otherwise she wouldnt be held responsible for what happens next. This was the closest shed ever been to wine of the Gods and wasnt going to allow Frost to stand in between her and her prize. Frost was unfazed, moving his face in close. Let go or no wine for you....ever! He brought out the big guns, instantly threatening Maya with his one trump card. .... The room suddenly became silent, and the room dropped several degrees in temperature bing eery. Nanna and Loki instinctively shivered and gulped as they felt a chill down their spines. Mayas grip didnt relinquish, and her eyes became even more frightening, staring deep into Frosts eyes, standing her ground. You wouldnt dare she replied with a threatening tone but behind that fa?ade she was terrified, Frost really wouldnt do that would he? She didnt want to risk it, but she also wasnt in the right mind at the moment plus if she really backed down right now it would surely change the dynamic in their rtionship, and she wasnt one for being in the passive/submissive role. ....Try me Frost replied with an open provocation, looking down on his guardian without the slightest hint of fear, he knew the worth of the card he held and knew that she would be the one to crumble. Maya was the alcoholic not him; he didnt have this weakness...at least not yet. ...... Lightning seemed to zap between their res for a few seconds before Maya ultimately relented, releasing a depressed sigh she let go of Frosts arm and stepped backwards. The tension in the room instantly evaporated. Good girl Frost rubbed his previously gripped wrist, Maya gripped pretty hard. Dont push it Maya instantly red back up, spitting out a warning. Hahhhaha sure, Frost startedughing loudly, caring not for her feelings, he knew he won this little exchange of theirs, giving the flow and momentum to him. The good girlment was a gloating jab that he couldnt resistunching. He became cocky. Chapter 195 195 Chapter 195: Discussing the events of the family gathering The mad look in Mayas eyes and her haggard expression eased in the next few seconds. With the tension gone and the wine back within the safe confines of their dungeon her body naturally began restoring itself. Benefits of being a high ranking monster such as a Fenrir included incredible natural regeneration. Her harshly bitten lips quickly returned to their usual luscious full red appearance and her eyes once again became, mischievous and beautiful. She was still frowning however; Frost still held the cards and was currently in a superior position plus she was just openly taunted. She had to resist the urge to smack his pretty face but managed to restrain herself in light of the big picture. Deep breath Maya, deep breath. You cant risk losing the wine so let him have his little victory. Its all for the wine! She took some deep calming breaths causing herrge chest to strain against her clothes in protest, pushing the very limits of the buttons on her dress. But this was necessary, she needed to be calm for the big picture. Frost watched with rapt attention at every rise and fall of her chest, momentarily entranced but quickly shook his head, his instincts were on full whack, alerting him of the dangerous situation he was in. If he pushed her too far things could end very, very badly for him. The danger was even greater than when he moved to punch B though not as obvious, he could feel the looming threat of Maya. Like a wolf waiting to strike at the right time. He listened to his instincts and didnt agitate her further, but he also didnt remove the wine bottle from his spatial ring... too risky. Hows everything been while I was away? He turned to ask Nanna and Loki who were enjoying the show. Momentarily startled Nanna stuttered before replying Ah...everythings been fine, no adventurers have entered since they were forcefully removed. Theres a bunch of braver ones camped out near the entrance, but they cant get in due to the ck barrier still being present. Overall, however, they arent too afraid, many eager to gain ess again. Nanna reported her findings. Frost left her in charge of monitoring the adventurers and their reactions to their removal while Loki worked with Finy to manage the monster situation, his forces were in quite a disarray with their diminished numbers, none of them were sure on where to go as their usual squad mates were dead. With the size of the current dungeon there was no way for them to effectively guard the entire ce. Thats good news, Frost nodded his head, d with the report. He was quite worried about having a severely reduced intruder traffic due to the abrupt removal done by Dark but thankfully his worries were unfounded. Thankfully father kept the barrier up otherwise I may have lost even more monsters. Frost silently gave Dark a thumbs up but then suddenly remembered something. Ah! That old man forgot to give me the sweets he promised. Frost frowned as he remembered what he was owed and his initial thanks towards Dark turned to irritation, feeling as though hed been shafted by his fathers stingy personality. The moment however when he was about to possibly bad mouth the old man a magic crest appeared silently above his head and bang! Arge basket dropped onto his head knocking him to the floor. Ouch Frost groaned in pain as he dragged himself from the floor, Nanna and Loki quickly moved to help him up and as they did a note written on a piece of paper gently drifted in front of Frosts face, he picked it up. ..... I didnt forget you ungrateful son, it was just dyed in transit hmph! By the way the barrier will being down in an hour. He read the note aloud before it quickly burst into mes and summoned what looked like a hand made of mana. This hand then proceeded to flick him on the forehead with a fair amount of force before evaporating back into mana particles. Bwhahhhhahhahahaha Maya at the side couldnt control herself and started shamelesslyughing her guts out to the point she was rolling on the floor. Her built up aggression towards Frost was satisfied perfectly, her young master now had a big red welt on his forehead and looked down right hrious. Frost rapidly turned her head around and red viciously at her, demanding her to be quiet but that only helped slightly, she still sniggered every other moment, unable to hold it in. At least Nanna and Loki put some effort in, covering their mouths in an attempt to stifle theirughter so much so that their faces were turning red and then even blue. They were forbidden from mocking and making fun of their master as part of the ve tattoos forceful contract. Their acts of covering their mouths were a mixture of their own actions as well as the ve magic. As their faces quickly started to turn blue Frost gave them an out. Justugh, Im giving you permission, he painfully gave them permission and the moment he did, theughter of two young children sounded throughout the private space. Mayas was grating on his ears, but Nannas and Lokis was charming and innocent, he couldnt help but join them,ughing at his own expense. He did kind of deserve it...or did he. For a few moments Frost genuinely believed that the whole dyed in transit thing was a lie. His father may very well have chosen to keep the sweets if Frost didnt bring it up. This way he could get back at him somewhat for conning him out of his prized wine. But he chose not to pull on that thread any deeper, it would only end in his loss. Once theughter died down and everyone managed to regain their regr temperaments Frost started to regale to Maya, Nanna and Loki what happened during thetter part of the gathering as well as when the next one would be. So, the Dark god wants to promote these dungeon wars as a form ofpetition as well as to train each of your battle capabilities for when the Church of Light, the Light God or even kingdoms decide to move against you. And since you and Gobuske have alreadypeted youre exempt from the mandatory wars thatll happen in the next two years? Maya focused on the dungeon war in particr, she quite enjoyed the battle between Frost and Gobuske, seeing it as good training material. Yes, but Id like topete in another despite that, the rewards after all were incredibly rewarding, plus itll allow me to experience the battle styles of other monsters and engage with my siblings more. Even without the special rewards granted to him by Dark the amount of DP and levels gained by his monsters was more than substantial. The five rewards he got from Dark were a one time thing and wouldnt be given to anyone else whopetes in a dungeon war, but from killing Gobuskes monsters and the loss of his own he gained a massive amount of 20,000DP more than hed gained in this entire past month, add in the 10,000DP he got as a prize and thats 30,000DP, twice his starting amount. This amount of DP/money would allow him to do a great many things and truly outfit his dungeon with the many ideas he had cooking. But first of all, he needed to rece all the lost monsters. That reminds me. He moved over to the dungeon menu and could see the DP total in the top right hand corner of the screen showing a little of 30,0000, it brought a smile to his face as well as the image of him swimming in cash. The dungeon was set to open again shortly so he couldnt have the dungeon function properly with its current numbers, so going by the losses reported to him by Loki and the menu he reced all of the lost monsters, like for like. This cost him around 7000DP, a fairlyrge chunk of his reserves but thankfully more than covered by the 10000DP reward. Gobuske would likely meet arge loss in that regard, he lost far more and only got 5000DP from Dark and killed a lot less of his monsters. He surmised that all included Gobuske probably made around 12,000 to 14,000DP before re-summoning his monsters. The winner in these wars clearly has a substantial advantage if their forces are greatly superior. Frost suddenly felt sorry for whoever was pitted against Yami or Aqua or even Pyro for their mandatory battle. No one would likely willingly chose to fight against the big 3 therefore itd be picked at random by Dark. Personally, he wouldnt mind trying his own against Yami or Aqua, although hed likely have no chance of winning, he felt hed learn a lot and given their rtionship theyd likely not be too harsh on him. Pyro however hed only ever fight against if he was sure to win, losing to that annoying barbarian would give him ammunition that he did not need. Chapter 196 196 Chapter 196: High rank earth me There, all the monsters have been reced. Frost then contacted Finy about the sudden surge of new residents and ordered him to handle their cement. He still nned to purchase a great many more things, monsters included but first he nned to discuss the rest of the gatherings events. Finy will take care of the monster management, now where was I? Oh yes the rewards. Gobuske was a tough opponent but thankfully we prevailed in the end and were rewarded for it. Frost then brought out the rewards-minus the wine of the abyss just in case a certain someone abuses their super speed to snatch it. The 10000DP obviously couldnt be brought out and revealed but he could show off his current DP reserves through the menu which got a round of appreciating nods. Each of them knew roughly how much things cost DP wise so seeing such arge number they couldnt help but feel rich. Other than DP and the special reward, Father also gave me an extra life so to speak, allowing Maya to protect me an additional time while shes by my side. Plus, he added in another teleportation talisman to help with that. Frost brought out the talisman and showed it off to the kids who found it absolutely magical once they learned of its purpose. Maya gave him a look basically tranting as dont damage it or lose it in anyway got it? Hed be bringing this talisman along with him when he explored the cial mountains. Next was the 3rd circle summoning spell [summon ice golem]. The book was fairly thick and made of exquisite materials, a type of monster skin instead of paper or parchment. It was pale blue in colour and screamed high quality, there was no way this thing would give him a splitting headache like the [ice entanglement] spell book he purchased in Furano. He didnt stand on ceremony -or sit in their current case since they were all on the couch- and inserted his mana into the book causing it to glow before turning into mana particles and entering his body. Frost felt a cold foreign mana seep into his brain that was filled with information. It easily found its ce and unravelled itself and the knowledge required to summon ice golems suddenly filled his mind without the slightest bit of pain or stress. Only his vision became momentarily fuzzy before returning to normal. Mmmmmmmm Frost let out a satisfied moan as the sudden influx of knowledge left him feeling full and content. It was far better than the magic book from Furano, further cementing his internal promise to never purchase anything rted to magic at some countryside shop. His brain didnt deserve such punishment. He still had the other 1st circle spell book [freezing touch] to absorb but hed save that forter. Finally, it was time to analyse the real prize, the cold me that Dark sealed up for him. Maya, the me if you will. He gestured to Maya who had ced the me safely in her own spatial ring -despite using spatial rings as an excuse to take it from him in the first ce. She wasnt even the slightest bit remorseful, tantly taking it out and cing it on the table, even sticking her tongue out mischievously. Shed already had a good look at the me and analysed itpletely. There was no danger to anyone while the seal was intact, even if ones mana sense was frozen through a bacsh the most, theyd end up with was a splitting headache, no permanent damage. She also confirmed that it was definitely a high grade earth me and its origins surprised her. Not only did Dark get it from the primordial ice king, the primordial ice king personally made this thing. Even she with her status as an S-rank Fenrir and her family having close rtions with the primordial ice king rarely ever got the chance to have him personally fashion something like a cold me. She couldnt help but look at Frost with jealously, this young master of hers was really spoiled and he didnt even know it. The primordial ice king was another God, that was born at the same time as Nova. The primordials were Gods like Light and Dark but of a lesser quality. They werent as powerful or as omnipotent but there was still a vast difference between them and S-rank monsters, ancient dragons included. The primordial ice king was the essence of the ice element and ruled in his own dimension,monly known as Niflheim. There was no one greater than he when it came to ice magic, he is from what all ice mana from originates from after all. Frost was no pushover when it came to the ice aspect but he was a far cry away from someone like the primordial ice king yet there were simrities. The primordial ice king was quite interested in Darks new creation, Frost in particr given his elemental affinity. He was more than willingly created an earth rank cold me at Darks request, happy to see that it would go to another being so predominant in the ice element. Of course, it wasnt exactly free, he and Dark were on good terms but not to the point that hed willingly hand over an earth rank me, let alone one personally made by him. No, a price that would likely seem strange to those that were not Gods was brokered and it was something that annoyed Dark to no end. Further inciting his petty aggression towards Frost. Not only was he convinced to hand over a bottle of his precious wine he needed to give the primordial ice king something just as special. ..... Originally the price was a bottle -albeit a small one- of Darks dark matter wine but that was out of the question. Even if the primordial ice king offered a heaven grade cold me it wouldnt be worth a single ss of that sacred liquid thus after a few vicious negotiations, the came to an agreement. Frost would be given the me for research purposes only and would have to give back the me in the future and the price....well lets just say itll involve Frost personally, whether he will be willing toply is another story, but the primordial ice king was quite confident and even if he didntply the coteral was just as sweet. When the me hit the table with a light thud Frost couldnt help but slightly tremble before giving Maya a warning re. Father already warned us of how dangerous this thing is could you be more a little more careful. He patted the encased me for any damages and let out a sigh of relief after finding that it was fine. Out of everything he received he was most intrigued by the cold me and didnt want anything untoward to happen to it. Calm down young master, its encased in Dark God-samas divine energy theres no way a little bump would harm it, I doubt that even if you hit it with all your strength you wouldnt make a single dent in the thing so chill out. Maya mocked Frost as being paranoid and worrying too much. His mind when it came to protecting his rewards should be focused on the precious wine not something near indestructible like this thing. Tsk Frost clicked his tongue in reply, before directing his entire focus onto the cold me that although encased in divine mana was still burning and wafting around like it wasnt sealed in the slightest. Its appearance was beautiful, almost mesmerising. The light silver me danced back and forth creating a calming and majestic sight. Nanna and Loki couldnt help but feel attracted to it. Not only because of its appearance but also because of their instincts. Their blood was attracted to this me before them as though it was a delicacy. The two of them almost started to drool as though eyeing a giant steak. Eh? Why are they looking at it like that? Frost noticed the strange reaction and quickly asked the knowledgeable guardian that was Maya. Ah....thats right these two have phoenix blood in them and quite a strong bloodline too, no wonder theyre looking at it like food. Maya tilted her head to the side as though remembering before gently knocking her fist down onto her hand. To phoenixes, mes such as this are delicacies. Since they are made in mes or in this case cold mes as their bloodline is that of the ice phoenixes they are instinctively attracted to such things. For those born purely of a single element, oddities in rtion to that element can be great strength boosters allowing them to instantly evolve to a higher rank....if they seed in devouring it of course. Like you at the moment the difference in quality is toorge, though they instinctively wish to eat it, doing so would kill them, basically theyd be biting off more than they can chew. ....I see Frost looked over them and saw that they werepletely entranced, licking their lips and resisting the urge to nibble on the seal. Thankfully it was strong, so he didnt have to worry about them getting ess but.... this could prove annoying. He thought this as he waved his hand in front of their faces but got no reaction. Leave them to it, eventually the urge will calm down, no harm in letting them enjoy the possibility. Maya shrugged her shoulders, understanding their desire. Frost could only sigh in response and allow Nanna and Loki to have their fill of the sealed cold me, leaving examining it himself tillter. Chapter 197 197 Chapter 197: High rank earth me (2) Well then what can you tell me about it, given the time it was in your possession you surely gleamed some things? Frost asked Maya for her input, leaving Nanna and Loki to continue licking their lips in desire. Well like Dark God-sama said its a high rank earth me but it was personally created by the primordial ice king making it quite valuable. Studying it will certainly bring a boost to your mana and ice control, you may even be able to eventually summon your own cold me given your elemental disposition. Maya shrugged her shoulders as she gave her exnation. For Frost to truly understand the me hed have to test it himself, seeing is believing after all. I see, it certainly is the most valuable reward and should be treated as such. He nodded his head in appreciation Wait can you not make cold mes such as this one given your strength and elemental talents? He knew the basics of oddities such as this me thanks to the vast collection of books he purchased in Furano and knew how rare they were, especially ones of this rank. Something like a cold me would more than help with his strength progression so he wondered why Maya never brought it up. Haaaaaaaaa, you really underestimate the world and or severally overestimate my capabilities plus its the second most valuable reward, dont you forget that. Maya looked back at him with an unveiled threat, making sure he didnt forget about the wine. Shed get her hands on that precious alcohol one way or another. ? Frosts lips twitched in response, knowing her meaning but was confused about her insinuation. Maya was S-rank and a Fenrir, a monster very closely aligned to the ice element, yet such a task was beyond her. Haaaaaaaa creation of magical oddities such as mes and others that represent an element, require Godhood or a special body such as elemental spirits. Other than that, they can be created by nature but even someone of my capabilities cant infringe upon that domain otherwise I would have shown it to you already. Since thanks to your demi-God like status and your pure ice disposition you should be able to create your own magical oddities once you reach a sufficient level. Then why were you so curious about it that you literally stole it from me? He spoke with usation, remembering her iming that she should handle it and that it shouldnt be ced in his spatial ring. Cough cough she coughed out of guilt before exining. Just because I cant create magical oddities doesnt mean I cant use them. Things such as this cold me can be absorbed into the body of someone with sufficient strength and elemental affinity, greatly improving their physical strength as well as granting resistance to the given element. In fact, in most cases oddities such as magic mes are either desired by creatures that like to eat them in order to absorb their strengths and or by those involved in the cksmithing trade or artificing. By using a magical oddity me instead of regr mes, you can manipte materials far easier and at the same time infuse them with some of the magical properties. High ranking weapons such as those at 6 star and above usually require something like this to be created, thats why the sapient races struggle to make weapons any higher than that. Maya spoke with envy, though she was one of the most talented Fenrirs of the tribe she didnt get the chance to fuse with a magical oddity such as a cold me. Her tribe couldnt create such items, so they needed to trade for it, but the price was always very high, and they had very little need for any other mes given the heaven ranked one ced in the main city. Their bodies were already strong enough and they already naturally had strong resistance to ice. If they wished to gain a magical oddity, theyd have to find one or buy one themselves and given Mayas fondness for alcohol she never had enough money for such an item. But seeing Frost granted one in front of her eyes she couldnt help but be curious. Though it wasnt as though she didnt get anything from her tribe, she was in possession of a set of ancestral hammers that were 8 star weapons. ..... I see, interesting, Frosts fondness for the me grew more and more. Shame he was unable to fuse with the thing given the seal, so itd never truly be his. A temptation ced in front of him, yet he couldnt truly have it, his father truly was quite petty. Frost felt the more he analysed the thing the greater the temptation would be, eventually it could consume him, ying right into his fathers hands. Tsk mean old man he clicked his tongue andined aloud. Maya couldnt help but nod her head in agreement. Dark was quite stern with the fact Frost would only be able to hold onto the me temporarily. Haaaaaa lets allow the kids to have their fill of it before putting it away, Ill deal with the meter, first however lets spend some more DP, you interested? Can it be over some wine? Sure, but not that wine, well have that during a special asion or would rather drink something so precious without any preparation or ss? Geh....fair point, that would be an unforgivable crime, we should save it for something very special, yes. Maya cringed at Frostsment suddenly realising the error in her ways. If she had acted on instinct and stole the wine and drank it the first chance, she got it would certainly be an incorrigible crime. Shed never be able to call herself a wine lover ever again. Such a wine should definitely be saved for a very special asion such as...... she looked up towards Frosts handsome face, blushing slightly as he mind raced. Frost didnt realise her current state, he moved to the floating dungeon core and brought up the menu, preparing to do a little shopping. At the top right hand corner his current DP was disyed 23470DP, a lot to y with, but what should I get first? Are you still nning on getting a frost dwarf spawner? Thatd be 12000DP. Maya chimed in from the side, Frost frequently discussed his ns for the dungeon with her, so she knew what he wanted. Probably, they are my most efficient monsters (equal to the frost goblins), great fighters appealing to the higher ranked adventurers, rudimentary smiths that can make defences and simple weapons plus theyre really hardy, taking a lot to kill. Having an E-rank spawner would certainly help deal with the new influx of adventurers that we encountered in the past few days, plus the ones thatlle once father tells the world about us. And the sooner we buy the spawner the faster wed start making a profit from them. The first frost goblin spawner is already close to breaking even. Itd take a little longer with an E-rank spawner, given that the summon rate was halved, one every 24 hours instead of every 12 hours. True, do you have an idea where to ce it? the spawners could be destroyed and once ced he wouldnt be able to relocate them. The first goblin spawner was already in a rather precarious position, given how often adventurers reached the third room. Hmmm, good point, Ill have to think about trying to future proof that for when the dungeon expands in size. He did have one thought, but it could backfire. The other thing he wished to purchase butcked the funds was a mine of some sort. One that continually produced a small amount of metal or other mineral that could be mined by his monsters and stored in his personal dungeon vault. Prices for such rooms or features to be ced in rooms started at the minimum of 5000DP, given that the mine couldnt be destroyed like the spawners it was a true fixed asset. The earlier he got such an asset the more profit hed rake in. 23,000DP would be enough to not only create another room entirely based on a mine but also enough to get a spawner, though hed be left with very little DP. Hed go from a rich prince to a pauper in an instant, so of course he was hesitant. Oh well got to spend money to make money, Ill get both. Ill make a new room on the first floor with entrance being hidden behind the fortified de. The chances of intruders making it past the de and all his stalwart defenders was low, they tended to avoid this area. Within Ill make the entire environment a mine, a little pricier but well worth it in the long run. Mines could be features within a room or an environment, thetter obviously costing more given that it could naturally be far more expansive plus unlike the feature it could be upgraded more. Ill then ce the frost dwarf spawner in the new room, itll be hard for intruders to find it plus the spawned dwarves can immediately get to work mining. Since they couldnt gain levels, itd be best to utilise the spawned ones for such unrewarding tasks. What do you think? He turned towards his guardian, asking for her opinion, they were a team after all. Sounds good young master, youve really got a knack for running a territory, maybe we should try to make your dungeon into a country. Maya dished out some praises, all genuine, her young master wasnt just a pretty face. In due time Maya, in due time, he didnt deny her suggestion. After speaking with Dous about governance and seeing his monsters and dungeon flourishing, he couldnt help but view this ce as a growing territory and to be honest he had some quite grand ambitions. His dungeon was very close to the Northrend empire and as the saying goes, two tigers couldnt live on the same mountain. Though he had nothing against Northrend, eventually there may be conflicts of interest and he wasnt one to back down. But as stated thats all in the future, for now hell just focus on growing. Chapter 198 198 Chapter 198: New room Alright an additional small room will cost 1500DP and for a regr basic iron mine environment itll cost 8500DP, 10,000 in total. Even if he had a medium sized room or even arge sized room the output of the iron would remain the same, just the space it covered increased. The mine environment followed the same rule of thumb as the other environments, room size did not affect the price, something Dark decided to keep the same. Of course, there were limits to having it in a small room, it could only be upgraded so much before requiring more space to function. Not only to house the iron ore but also for his monsters to gain ess to the mine, more iron being generated every day would require more miners. But thankfully Dark thought of this plus it was refined at the gathering when the issue was brought up by Damascus who already had his own iron mine and ran into a few problems. At its current level hed be able to mine 50 kg of iron a day, enough to make around 20 three foot iron swords. Not necessarily a lot but not a small amount either. Dark didnt set a limit on the amount of iron he could store therefore if not used itd be around 1500kg a month. Pretty substantial considering his current amount was zero. To upgrade the output to 60kg a day itd cost another 1000DP but once it reached 100kg itd start costing 1500DP per 10kg increase. There were many other upgrade option avable such as changing its quality, or even changing the material directly to something else within the iron metal chain i.e., steel, frigid iron (cold aspected) or even dark iron (darkness aspected). Of course, again all these upgrades had a fairly substantial cost with some being more than others, way out of his current price range. He did think of getting a regenerating cier of 1 star level ice to be used in making pykrete, but he felt more drawn to iron and his frost dwarven smiths were learning quite quickly thanks to a book he bought on cksmithing. Though theyd struggle to manage fire at their current level, they had enough brute strength to mould the ore into shape, plus he expected when one of them reached max level hed be able to choose a smith rted evolution making iron the most beneficial. Also, he could sell iron weapons or use them as treasures. Pykrete not only required wood pulp it also didnt suit everyones tastes. Iron was a more vani option that no one really liked but not one really hated either. Plus, with the right equipment he could potentially produce steel. Once he finally unlocked ice dwarves or another intelligent species that were good with their hands, hed be able to make full use of his iron stockpile that would surely had built up by then. For now, however itd give his frost dwarves a ce to call their own as well as a new line of work, the higher ranked monsters didnt get quite as much action given the level of intruders at the moment. Plus, he wasnt afraid of wastage, if they dont practise, theyll never get better. Levelling up wasnt the only way to improve as Finy demonstrated when he was still a frost troll. By practising his axe skills, he ultimately became a more proficient fighter, the same would work for magic and hopefully trade skills. Damascus also asked a quite important question that not only affected him but also Gobuske and some other cores. He himself liked to work the forge but so did his monsters, a few archetypes in particr were not that strong offensively but were great crafters simr to Gobuskes goblin engineers. He asked Dark if there could be more ways to level up his monsters i.e., his crafter monsters gaining experience from creating things or mining. Dark was genuinely surprised by this request and never thought about it before. The sapient races tended to have skills that could be unlocked through practise, and this not only included offensive techniques but trades like farming, forging, artificing etc.... he didnt think to incorporate such a system into the dungeon but when Damascus brought it up a whole world of possibilities exploded in his mind. Dark couldnt help but show a prideful smile towards Damascus as heughed out loud and promised to work on that as soon as he was able. For now, however monsters still only got experience the old fashioned way, by killing and fighting. Frost added the new room and its iron mine environment to the cart before clicking confirm. The dungeon started to shake throughout, alerting Finy and his other monsters beforee to a stop 30 secondster. A new room was established with the entrance appearing behind the fortified de, some of the frost dwarves were alerted by this change and quickly reported to Finy who then called Frost for rification. ..... Umm Master did you add another room by any chance? Finy asked awkwardly, the shaking caused quite a panic among the new monsters, extra work that he did not need. Ah yes Finy sorry for not informing you in advance, the new room will be an iron mine specifically for the frost dwarves. This will allow us to produce our own raw materials and hopefully they can get to work crafting some more advanced weapons. Frost replied with a slight bit of embarrassment realising that he probably made Finys job harder. I see thats a could idea master, a lot of the frost dwarfs usually have very little to do at the moment. Finy nodded his head agreeing with his masters intentions. But why ce it directly behind the fortified de. Finy was rather stumped in this regard since a mine shouldnt need to be protected. Sure, most of the dwarves live around the fortified de but they could always relocate. I n to add a frost dwarf spawner to the room and have the summoned dwarfs take care of the mining, so in order to protect my investment, best to ce it in a heavily defended area. Frost could now live with the loss of a goblin spawner since he not only had a second one, but they were only 3000DP, a frost dwarf spawner however was 12,000DP four times as much. Ok, anything else I need to be aware of? N...No, that should be it, no more shaking for now. Frost couldnt help but guiltily look to the side. Maya sniggered quietly. Great, Ill get back to work now master, bye. Finy happy with Frosts response ended themunication and got back to work, arranging all the new monsters, outfitting the goblins with spears etc... a couple frost trolls stood at his side, learning from his actions. Theyd take up some of the burden, with each managing a room to themselves while Finy overlooked the entire dungeon. Both he and Frost were keen to take advantage of the frost trolls intelligence. Making for a much more cohesive and responsive system. The gloves were about toe off, Frost nned to up his killing ratio so as to attract more customers and ones of higher value. With the new mine and a frost dwarf spawner he now had enough -or will over time- forces plus materials to arm them somewhat. The next step would be to expand and expand a lot, from his conversation with Yami and Aqua he knew that they each had four floors and three floors respectively which generated far greater pull for intruders. Their DP ie was several degrees higher than his and Pyros who were in third and fourth ce. His fifth brother Terra also had 3 floors, but his situation was rather unique. Not only could he expand his own dungeon through manipting the earth (his specialty) he had very little costs in terms of monsters and traps since his approach was far friendlier. Many outside monsters willingly came under his control and the nearby sapient races such as the wood elves were quite epting. They didnt constantly choose to hunt beasts or monsters but instead lived among them, with their whole race being vegetarian and close with nature. Terra even had an impromptu camp/vige that was being established in his dungeon which he was more than happy to have. Frost couldnt help but be slightly jealous. All his intruders came to kill and hunt, not a single one wished to live amongst the natural fauna as he would put it. Even the few groups of foreign monsters didnt even stop to talk beforeshing out or running for their lives. Terra said it was probably due to his aura being too aggressive or his cold looking face that scared them off. But it wasnt as though he could copy Terras big friendly giant persona, that really wasnt him plus he doubted he could pull it off. Haaaaaaaa I really wonder if I got the short straw when it came to locations. He sighed and let out hisint. Terra wasnt the only one with simr benefits, Gaia also had quite a close rtionship with foreign tree based monsters but the worst of all was that Pyro did as well. His barbaric and brutish personality seemed to coincide with most monsters of the fire element allowing him to have brought foreign monsters under his rule, though few it was still more than him. Hmmmm dont think so, it must just be your personality. Maya giggled as gave a blunt reply. Plus, none of them were woman, if a female frost goblin entered, Im sure shed more than willinglye under your banner hehehhee. She didnt let up, poking his back as she made fun. Chapter 199 199 Chapter 199: Victory feast In instant Frost spent 22,000DP and that was only on two things, a room, and a spawner. By far thergest purchase hed ever made since his birth, and it felt amazing. The moment the divine energy flowed through his body and into the core he moaned in pleasure, his body trembled, and his legs turned to jelly so much that Maya almost had to catch him. Unfortunately, the high of divine energysted but a couple seconds, leaving him craving for more. Damn that stuff is addicting, he couldnt help butin while licking his lips. Yes, it is, thats why nearly everyone wishes to be strong enough to wield it. Its the power of a truly higher life form, far beyond mere mortals. Itd be weird if it wasnt that addictive. Maya spoke with envy, S-ranks knew more than most the desire for divine energy, being so close to the door yet so far at the same time. Whhoaaahhh really wish I had more DP but its probably for the best. Frost shook himself lightly and returned to his usual calm persona and by chance Nanna and Loki had recollected themselves as well, finally managing to peel themselves away from the sealed cold me, though their eyes still asionally nced in its direction. Wee back you two, are you hungry? Frost asked with a big smile and in response the two kids stomachs rumbled, and their faces turned crimson in embarrassment. Mayaughed at the side, enjoying their cuteness. First off then, we need to have a glorious feast, you worked hard after all and brought me victory in the Dungeon war and need to be rewarded. They still had the bag of sweets given by Dark that was now sitting in a cupboard. He decided to limit them to have one piece of candy per day.... After tonight, theres no limit tonight. But first they need to have a proper meal and he had the DP to afford it. Finy can handle to intruders that enter; Frost nned to grant him his rewardter but now....they were going to have some family time. At the mention of a feast the kids jumped for joy, full of smiles. The impromptu family then enjoyed a veryvish feast prepared by Maya mainly with everyone else helping out in small doses creating a joyful atmosphere. Frost decided to go all out, ignoring the DP cost. For starters he bought some winter vegetables and Lagombi meat (when he did his own Lagombi could swear that a chill went down its back) which Maya turned into a light soup. It didnt match up to the meals at the phoenix fledgling restaurant, but it was delicious none the less. The four of them cleared their bowls not leaving a single drop. Next Frost purchased a type of fish that Aqua rmended when they were at the gathering. He had quite an array of ingredients to choose from even if he couldnt summon the creature. Stuff like that depended on either Darks initial arrangements or his base knowledge which thanks to his trip into town was bing quite developed. Maya assuming the role of head chef once again, grilled the entire fish, something called a spinal swordfish, a rare delicacy due to it living in the deep areas of the oceans. Sapient races of thend would usually need to trade with the oceanic races toe across such a specimen. The fish itself set him back 60DP even though it wasnt alive, but when it is its ssed as a D-rank monster that moves within the water at near subsonic speed. Piercing its targets with its sword like nose, before tearing through them. It then feasts on the floating shards of its victim, usuallyrge less agile sea creatures. Maya really got into cooking such a specimen, she was a fan of fish. ..... For desert Frost bought some snow velvet cake, handing the two kids half a cake each, that they quickly devoured. For Maya he purchased a rum cake to suit her alcoholic tastes, she showed her appreciation with a hug, not forgetting to allow her master to feel herrge assets on his arm. Frost didnt even blush anymore when she did this, fully experiencing the situation, refusing to miss a second. He loved when she acted like this, much nicer than when she acted mischievous. For himself he decided to abstain, he didnt have much of a sweet tooth. For beverages he got the kids some juice- they were quite fond of berry vours- and for the adults it was the B-rank wine he got from Leo as a reward, well from Cassandra. It wasnt wine of the abyss but was quite an impressive bottle, worthy of Mayas tastebuds. After the meal, Nanna and Loki started to drift off into a slumber so Frost and Maya carried them to bed and tucked them in. They returned to the sofa and continued to finish their wine, relishing in the peaceful bliss that was their lives because soon they may not be able to. Intruders swiftly returned to the dungeon while they started cooking, many were cautious, but others were incredibly gung-ho, finding the change to be a sign treasure. They took off with incredible speed not wishing to share the spoils. Finy quickly tookmand with his loyal frost troll lieutenants. Not wishing to disturb his masters revelry he swiftly dealt with the more adventurous of intruders, sending them to meet the grim reaper, his master gave the order, no more Mr nice Dungeon. The events caused by Dark also gave him sufficient reason to change his stance. The mass teleportation and barrier sealing should justify at least a little change. He learned that when monsterirs expand, they tend to rumble causing great seismic tremors throughout the area. Afterwards new floors would be present along with possibly new monsters or at least ones of a higher ss. The idiots that rushed head first back into the dungeon seemed to forget such situations given that Furano didnt have any monsterirs that grew. Frosts remaining 5000DP was quickly replenished. As soon as he reached 10000, hed purchase a new floor, he can always outfit it with environmentster. The active rumbling during such an expansion should let the adventurers at that time know that another floor would be present even if they couldnt ess it. Along with the information release to the public about Dungeons this should further increase his intruder traffic. Frost felt from Darks attitude that he really needed to expand and grow in strength, and quickly. He was not only one of the oldest cores but also 4th in terms of DP ie, he needed to be an example for his younger siblings. Plus, he had a gut feeling that some sort of danger was ever looming nearby. Whether that was the uing monsters stampede, actions from the person that was set to receive Nanna and Loki, movements from the Church of Light that he helped uncover or perhaps even the interference of the Light God himself. The possibilities were not small and his strength at the moment was fleeting. In terms of territory, he barely covered a vige, and his forces were about equal to ones local guard in quantity-though better in quality- for these problems it wasnt enough. He nned to stay in the dungeon for the next several days, limate to the new stream of intruders and spend the DP hed gain from them to build a solid enough defence so that he wouldnt worry while he explored the external regions of the cial Mountains. Maya would be here yes, but she could only act twice, plus he really shouldnt aim to be dependent on her. But at the moment he needed to review the benefits that the dungeon war had upon his monsters, the survivors of the offensive team in particr. More than a few monsters reached their maximum level and could now evolve into a higher species, this included his high ranking E-rank monsters. The survivors who fought tooth and nail will be greatly rewarded, surpassing the strength of their newly created colleagues. He no longer had to be in front of his monsters to see their status, he could view all from thefort of his private space, alongside his guardian and a ss of wine, veryvish. He also set aside some DP to purchase special rewards for the monsters that sessfully evolved. Lets see what new monsters Ill gain ess to. A smile adorned his face as he brought up the dungeon menu, the details in regards to his current monsters was quickly shown. Dungeon wars certainly have more than just DP benefits it seems. Maya took a sip of her wine at the side, her face already a little pink as she allowed the alcohol to affect her body, she snuggled up close to Frost and rested her head on his shoulder as she watched him work. Admiring the image of working man, but she too was quite interested. Finy when he evolved to his current ice trollmander archetype greatly changed the dynamic of the dungeon -even though that was a special case, it still counted. The goblins as well brought great change; the archers especially though not that much different from regr frost goblins they allowed for a ranged physical attack that worked very well during the war... for both sides. Frost looked towards his most anticipated monsters first, the frost dwarves. Chapter 200 200 Chapter 200: Evolution paths Three lucky fellows have reached max level, with another couple in thete twenties for their levels, pretty impressive....lets see how lucky I am this time. When his frost goblins reached max level, he got three options with none of them being that spectacr. He was limited by his archetype, focusing on the ice element rather than individual species. However, he truly wished that his frost dwarves would be included under one of his specialties. He could envision great things from this monster type, especially once he unlocked the ice dwarves, which differed very little from regr dwarven sapient races. Able to speakmon tongue and possessed high intelligence and dexterous hands, perfect for forgers as well as powerful fighters. He could outfit them in different sses just like the adventurers that frequently visited hisir. After putting down his wine and removing Maya from his shoulder-much to her reluctance- he contacted the three lucky frost dwarves as well as the all the other monsters that achieved their max level and had them move to arge foyer in the 4th section. Far enough from any possible intruders. You gonnae or you going to stay here and drink on the sofa until I get back? He spoke gently to the pouting Maya, finding her quite cute. She downed the rest of her wine and looked into his eyes. Id rather stay here infort but works a calling I guess....lets go young master and see how lucky you really are. she smiled coyly with a glint in her eye, subtly hinting a double meaning. Frosts brow rose in surprise before he smiled like a predator, his blood heating up as he was nearly ovee with lust. This temptress will be the death of me. He internallyined as his throat ran dry, he was finding it harder and harder to resist this beautiful woman whenever she acted so....inviting. Perhaps it was the wine acting but when this situation would usually end with Mayaughing him off, treating her words as a joke or him eventually turning pure red from embarrassment instead they stared into one anothers eyes for a couple minutes, with neither pulling away. ...Y...Young master the monsters. Maya stuttered her words slightly as a pink blush grew on her cheeks-not from the alcohol. Ughghhhh Frost uttered some kind of groan, not hearing her words as he continued to stare into her deep blue eyes. The monsters young master, theyre waiting. She backed away slightly, struggling to endure under her young masters heated stare. ..... Ahhhh....ugh....cough cough....yeah the monsters got it. This time Mayas voice got through to him and he was torn from his fiery emotions. He coughed to regain focus and to cover up his awkward expression before taking advantage of Mayas words, he teleported out the private space and into the 4th room of the dungeon. While Maya was left alone on the sofa, her face still beet red. The moment Frost left her emotions went haywire, her skin felt as though it was on fire, she started sweating and her chest started heaving up and down as her breath became heated, resulting in her dresses buttons having to work overtime from the strain. The mood between the two of them was rather dangerous, for the first time in their rtionship she really didnt know how the next few seconds would have yed out if they remained in the same room. She knew she was incredibly attracted to her young master and him to her but tonight the situation nearly evolved to an incredible level. She was still at the teasing stage....this development though desired at some point seemed toe all too soon. Her face grew even more red, and steam practically came out of her ears, this was too much. She looked like a lovesick teenager and in some ways she was. Though she yed a strong game and appeared to be rather experienced, her actual experience was not onlycking but....non-existent. Shed certainly been close to those of the opposite sex and even dated for a while, but the most shed done was kissing, intimate hugging, perhaps a little heavy petting but the actual deed no.... she was an innocent rabbit wolf, like her nickname implied. Oh god weve not even kissed yet and her I am practically offering myself to him haaaaaaa. She grabbed a nearby cushion and screamed into it, letting out her emotions. Her teasing was all in good fun but now that this happened, she wouldnt have the stomach to act the same way as she used to. Itd be too embarrassing and no longer a joke. Come on Maya girl, deep breaths deeeepp breaths. She chanted a mantra in her mind to help calm herself down before closing her eyes and emptying her mind of all distracting thoughts. Meanwhile in the 4th room of the dungeon, a spatial tear opened up and Frost appeared with a rather interesting expression. He had a giddy smile on his face and rosy, red cheeks and no matter what he did his lips wouldnt droop. But could you me him, after a month he finally breached Mayas defences and not by ident thanks to her clumsiness i.e., her waking up in front of him in very revealing pyjamas or the incident of her sitting on his personal weapon. No, this time was different, something had changed, and he was over the moon. It was a shame that duty calls but in hindsight it was probably for the best, moving too quickly may ruin a good thing. Ten minutes or soter the summoned monsters all arrived with smiles on their faces, theyd been called specially by their father after all. Once they arrived, they noticed that their father was smiling as well and it was really big, making the atmosphere even more joyous. Maya arrived shortly after everyone was present, shed managed to calm down her restless heart and returned to her usual powerful image though she kept her distance from Frost and didnt look his way. Whether she was too embarrassed or afraid of what would happen who could say but she was here and ready to work. Frost was much more direct and honest with his feelings, smiling her way and very rarely taking his eyes over her curvaceous figure. His heated stare caused her skin to involuntary heat up wherever Frosts eyes loomed. Her perky backside seemed to receive the majority of the gaze, probably because she subconsciously covered her chest and was a little out of view. His monsters present were not smart enough to pick up on the vibe, thinking the happy smile on Frosts face was solely for them. Along with the three frost dwarves there were another 9 monsters that sessfully reached their max level. This dungeon war was very, very beneficial. The other nine were two frost wolves, another 2 winter boars, an artic fox, and thest four were frost goblins. Unfortunately, the frost goblins didnt unlock anything new, the same three options, rogue, fighter, and archer, it was the same with the artic boars, so only the dwarves, fox and wolves would grant him anything different. After he had his fun ogling Maya he turned to his monsters, still in a good mood and asked them all to line up. He first brought up the status page of the three frost dwarves, hed start with them. Each of you have sessfully reached your maximum level thanks to the dungeon war. Congrattions, where many of your colleagues have died you have prevailed and will now be rewarded for your efforts. Each of the 12 monsters couldnt help but arch their chests out with pride as they looked at one another. Ive pulled you all from your regr duties so as to sanction your path to the next level, youll all be evolving today, you excited? Frost asked with a toothy grin, all his monsters smiled and nodded their heads. Good, you three step forward, he gestured towards the frost dwarves who stepped forward nervously, they felt butterflies in their stomachs. The three of them knew the strength of their evolved colleagues, Finy being the most obvious. His power was greater than all of theirsbined. Then there was the spiked artic boar, with that in existence, the artic boars became a real force to be reckoned with, trampling a great many goblins in the war. To be honest far more of them would be here today, getting a chance at evolution if everything had remained in their favour. Unfortunately, the enemy hob goblinmanders got involved personally, causing great losses among their numbers so only two managed to make it here today. The three frost dwarves took a deep breath, trying to calm their nerves. Good attitude, you three will be the first. Frost nodded his head in appreciation before bringing up the dungeon menu from his wrist. Their evolution paths were thus brought up, he picked out a single dwarf first, the one of the right. Frost dwarf warrior, E-rank 200DP: stronger version than the regr frost dwarf, much more capable in using weapons and shields. Comes armed with a reinforced iron weapon and studded leather armour. Greatbatant for its rank. Frost dwarf quarreller, E-rank 150DP: not much different inparison to a regr frost dwarf, just has slightly better eyesight andes armed with a crossbow for a weapon. Sturdy ranged unit that can hold its own in closebat fight. Frost dwarf smith, E-rank 180DP: intelligent frost dwarf that is skilled in smithing, lessbat strength than even a regr frost dwarf but makes up for it with dexterous hands. In the wild tribes and monstermunities, frost dwarf smiths are left in charge of arming their allies with weapons and armour. They are usually more docile than regr monsters, their minds focused solely on smithing. Frost dwarf rune mage, E-rank 220DP: a frost dwarven mage that uses special magic style called rune magic. Focusing on a unique set of magic crests that can buff allies as well as cause devastating damage through in their case, ice. Theye outfitted withrge hammers adorned with rune crests, their version of staffs making them great in closebat as well, making up for magician usual weak bodies. Frost dwarf priest, E-rank 220DP: a frost dwarf that specialises in healing through magic as well as special prayers. Can buff allies natural immunities and regenerative qualities. Not bad fighters like most frost dwarves. Armed with a thick stave and robes made from monster skin, usually artic boar, or equivalent F-rank monster. Chapter 201 201 Chapter 201: Evolution paths (2) Frost was presented with five options each with their own strengths and far more varied than with the frost goblins. Unfortunately, there wasnt an option for an ice dwarf, looks like hed need to evolve these three once again in order to unlock it, or he could wait until his strength and knowledge grew to the point that hed get them naturally, but he wasnt one to be passive. These three frost dwarves would be ced on the front lines, actively trying to have them reach max level once again. Theyd still be E-rank so reaching max level again wouldnt be too hard. Frost couldnt help himself from smiling as he overlooked the five options, the rune mage and priest especially grabbed his interest. Both powerful magic users which he currentlycked, all without the usual weakness of casters. Plus, a priest, someone that could heal his forces was something he really wanted. Arm them with the dungeons natural recovery methods and his forces would see a significant drop in deaths. Only three had reached max level at the moment so he had to be careful with his choices. The first two were ideally going to the rune mage and priest, thest one however he was unsure on. Maya what do you think? He turned towards his guardian looking for answers. Ah...um....sorry what? Maya was still unnerved by their close encounter and was startled by him suddenly looking her way and missed what he asked. Frost smiled gently finding Maya incredibly cute, he had to resist the urge to pat her head. The evolution choices, what do you think? He asked again while showing her the five options. Still rather disturbed by Frosts presence she awkwardly looked at the dungeon menu, her eyes inadvertently ncing his way before swiftly returning to the menu. Frost looked on with patience, not willing to tease her any further less he sent her running. But he did secretly take a few discreet photos, for posterity. ....Five options, all pretty good and would help strengthen your overall battle power, leaving very few weaknesses. Eventually Maya regained her focus and gave her true thoughts as his senior. Like Gobuske and his goblins it seems youll have quite a varied amount of options in regards to frost dwarves and eventually their ice dwarf evolution paths. The rune mage and priest would be my first choices given that they would allow for a different set of skills to your current forces. The warrior and quarreller would just be an advanced version of your current fighting style....the frost dwarf smith however is interesting and now that youve summoned an iron mine its almost fate....the problem being however that frost dwarf smiths are not that skilled. Sure, theyd be better than your current regr frost dwarves, but theyd be limited, not expanding the forging capabilities of your forces by much. Itd be best if you got an ice dwarf smith, but that option isnt avable and.... Maya frowned as she ran through her knowledge of the frost dwarves and their ice dwarf superiors. This was a very aplished race of monsters that had carved its ce in Nova, establishing their own towns, cities, and even small countries, all within areas with high levels of ice element, the cial mountains being one of them. The danger zone that was the cial mountain was massive and covered far more than the Northrend empire, more than enough for several of such empires to exist. Frost dwarves were the lowest level of this archetype with the main powerhouse being ice dwarves which were ranked between D and C rank depending on their type. Above them would be the ice dwarven King and ancients which were both B-rank monsters but at this level the term monster wasnt very urate for at the ice dwarf stage and higher there was very little difference between ice dwarves and their regr sapient dwarf counterparts. Only their red eyes and imbedded magic crystal made the difference. Intelligence and over all temperament were pretty much the same -using the term overall because they can still be very aggressive and vicious if they give in to their instincts. Maya knew of a few ice dwarvenmunities, her Fenrir tribe was quite close to one of the major ice dwarven countries that were led by an ice dwarven king. Their elder ice dwarf smiths were quite capable, rivalling that of the smiths present in the sapient empires and kingdoms. Frost dwarves however were barely apprentices but in order for one to be an ice dwarf smith they must practise and train as one before evolving- of course this doesnt involve those born as one but can include for example an ice dwarven warrior that had had a passion for smith work, once he reached his limit and could evolve, he may in fact be a smith. As in the wild their evolutions depend on how they lived as well as little bit of randomness. Maya wasnt sure that Frost would get the ice dwarf smith option in the future if he didnt first level up a frost dwarf smith......so she was torn. ..... You dont know if Ill be able to unlock the ice dwarf smith ss without first using a frost dwarf smith? Frost had the same worry; he really didnt want to waste an evolution chance but whether it would actually be a waste in the long term was the gamble. Ummm yeah, Maya nodded her head in agreement. The two of them then stared at the five options again in silence for the next couple minutes. Leaving the three frost dwarves to feel rather awkward. Ggggrunt ggrunt grnttt one of the braver or rather more impatient ones spoke up with its usual gruntnguage that only Frost, and other frost dwarves seemed to understand. Ah no nothings wrong, just trying to work out what evolution path would be best. Frost replied quickly, knowing the frost dwarves tendency to get quite emotional, he didnt want to have to deal with that. Grunttt grnnnt grunttt the frost dwarf then asked another question. Hmmm you want to see what the choices are......ok. Frost rubbed his chin before disying the options on a big screen so the frost dwarves could see. He then read out what was disyed since they couldnt read. His three frost dwarves listened to him intently with smiles on their faces, their expressions changing in response to each option. At first, he thought the idea was quite novel but the more he realised what was happening the more shocked he became. His frost dwarves asked to see their own possibilities and wished to be involved in the decision and for the first time he felt incredibly foolish. He never even thought to ask for his monsters opinions, in the wild they would evolve based on their own tendencies yet here he was not even taking that into ount, making a decision that suited only him. He smiled gently towards the three frost dwarves, his eyes narrowing as he felt pride fill his chest. He then spoke from his heart, not caring which option would be best but what would make them happy. What path do you wish to take, Ill leave the choice to the three of you. Maya for the first time in a while turned to look at his face, as though asking if he was an idiot. He lightly shook his head while smiling. He took his position as their creator quite seriously, not wishing to be a dictator that constantly gave orders and restricted freewill. Dark didnt do that for him so why should he do that to his monsters. Of course, he wouldnt bepletely lenient, their job was to protect him after all. The three frost dwarves looked up towards their creator with a moment of shock before quickly disying excitement. Their father asked for their opinion, and they couldnt be happier. The group then discussed in their own way amongst one another what to choose, knowing the importance of the decision they took their time. Frost, Maya, and the other monsters waited in silence as their curiosity continued to build. Around 5 minutester the three made their choices and turned to face Frost with determination in their eyes. Grunt grrrunnt grrrrunnnt the one of the right spoke up, he was the impromptu representative. Hoh! Are you sure thats what you want....once you choose you cant go back. Frost replied gently, but his eyes sparkled with joy. Grunt The frost dwarf replied by saluting with his hand over his chest, the other two did the same, showing their determination. Frost smiled widely in response and gave a curt nod beforeughing. His monsters didnt let him down and chose good options. Thankfully the three didnt decide to choose the exact same path otherwise he would have had to revoke their choices. Having three frost dwarven warriors would still be strong but he really wouldnt have gained much, not a worthwhile trade for the first frost dwarves to evolve. Though three rune mages would be quite interesting. Whatd they choose? Maya quickly asked from the side, eager to know. Frost looked at her beautiful face, his eyes subconsciously narrowing as he enjoyed the sight. He chose the rune mage path since he admires my magic. Frost pointed to the dwarves individually and ryed their choices to her and the other monsters. The middle one chose to be a smith since he enjoyed building the defensive bunkers around the winter forest. Each of the frost dwarves had their own interests, hobbies and aspirations and made their choices based on not only what they enjoyed but what their were good at. For example, the one who chose to be a smith not only volunteered to work on the defensive bunkers he was faster in building them than his colleagues. And finally, this one chose to be a quarreller because of how well the goblin archers performed in the dungeon war. Finy was correct in his assumption that ranged firepower would greatly improve his dungeons battle power. This dwarf would be able to be themander of his ranged forces and he was more than pleased with his choice. Though he would have liked a priest it wasnt necessary at the moment and could be chosen with the next round of evolutions. Chapter 202 202 Chapter 202: Evolution paths (3) As Frost ryed their choices to his guardian, she nodded at each of their decisions and their reasons. Great, all great choices, well done, she apuded each of the dwarves causing them to slightly blush as they thrust out their chests with pride. Alright then if thats what you want lets get to it. Frost pped his hands with a smile and brought up the dungeon menu to start the evolution. He brought everyone to arge open room so they could all enjoy the scene of transformation without interruption. The three frost dwarves would undergo the change at the same time, so Frost had them split up to generate some breathing room. Once everyone was ready, he clicked on the dungeon menu and confirmed their evolutionary paths. The moment he did he could feel a modicum of divine energy flow through his body before escaping. It was pale blue in colour and shiny, this narrow stream of divine energy flew out of his chest and split into three, entering the foreheads of the three frost dwarves. Ugh! The three frost dwarves groaned as the stream entered their heads and barrelled through their bodies, altering it as it passed. after a few seconds the dwarves started to convulse, and their groans became more painful and loud. Their bodies then started to glow simr to when Finy evolved though not as blinding. Cracks could be heard from their bodies as they changed in shape and density. Eventually the three of them were encapsted in a sphere of light, obscuring the rest of their changes. Around a minuteter the spheres dissolved back into harmless particles and revealed the new monsters from within. Starting from the left, the former frost dwarf was now a frost dwarven rune mage. His frame wasnt much different, in fact his muscles look even slightly smaller but not much could be seen under the new elegant robes that adorned him. They gave off the feel of magic yet at the same time they gave of the fierceness of a closebat fighter. The major changes however were within his body, his mana channels were now fully established allowing the for the use of magic. His newrge Warhammer certainly amplified that aspect, making this rune mage far different from the regr spell caster. Rune magic in itself was not much different from normal magic, just that the crests tended to be more square in structure and could be applied to weapons and even people. The best way to describe was a fusion of magic and artificing, something that was rather unique to the dwarven caste, whether they be sapient or monster. The Warhammer though only made of pykrete had an obvious rune crest adorned on the face. Its purpose was to allow the physical damage to be ice elemental damage, increasing its lethality. Next was the frost dwarven smith in the middle. Like the rune mage its frame wasnt much different, well except for his arms, they were at least one sizerger, revealing their inherent power. He came dressed in cksmithing attire; arge leather apron made from monster hide to protect him from fire. In his hands was a small iron hammer for pounding metal and a set of pliers to manoeuvre the material in and out of the mes. He didnte with an anvil, but Frost nned to purchase a few items such as that to make a workshop anyway. The smith came with a few smithing skills that helped him manage fire and shape materials into shape but nobat skills. Finally, it was the quarreller, the dwarf was now adorned in leather armour and his eyes looked slightly more developed, again the external from didnt show much change but internally his limbs were more flexible and steady so as to aid his uracy with his new weapon. Speaking of, held in his two hand was a heavy looking crossbow, made of wood and iron, far more lethal than the bows that came with the frost goblin archers. On his back was arge quiver of bolts, at least 20. Once he ran out however, hed either need Frost to purchase more or have his smith colleague make some. The construction wasnt that hard and as long as the shape was the same pretty much any hard material could be used to rece them. It was the same for the frost goblin archers who had already run out of their inherent arrows and required new ones. Frost couldnt help but nod his head in appreciation as he looked over his new monsters. They all looked good, and their status showed a great more additions to their former skill less states. The smith in particr had one called [basic voice of materials] that allowed him to understand and manipte materials better. ..... Unfortunately, even though none of them evolved to the next monster rank their levels were reset back to zero and had to once again reach level 30 before they could evolve again. How do you feel? Frost asked with a gentle smile towards the three dwarves who were examining their new bodies and weapons with interest. Really good master, The rune mage spoke up, usingmon tongue for the first time in its life. Although neither of them could speak fullmon tongue, the rune mage given its intelligence could speak best. Fantastic, you can even speak somemon tongue, perfect...wee to the higher level of strength, I hope each of you will be leaders in your new professions and do me proud. Frost spoke with a regal tone, liking the style more and more. The three frost dwarves saluted once again and replied as one. Yes master! one would be put in charge of the ranged squad that he nned to create; another would be in charge of the new iron mine and the use of its product whereas thest hed ce asmander of his magic corps which only contained the ice ns at the moment. He even nned to take the rune mage under his own wing for a time, exchanging magic knowledge, Finy could also be drawn in if he wasnt busy. But that would be forter, he still needed to get through the rest of his monsters evolutions, time waits for no man as they say. For the next round of evolutions, it wasnt quite so dramatic an event nor as detailed with the choices. The 2 winter boars each turned into frost tusked boars that focused on charging power whereas the four frost goblins turned into 3 archers and one fighter, supplying the frost dwarf quarreller with 3 more subordinates. For the artic fox it had two options to choose from and since it didnt have a preference it left the choice up to Frost, his choice was thus since the other seemed less powerful. Pr fox, E-rank 110DP: the next evolution path of the artic fox,rger and faster than its previous incarnation. its fangs and ws deal cold damage, making being wounded by it quite dangerous. it can also generate a minor snow fog from its tail to aid in escape from predators. The pelts from pr foxes were even more craved than those of artic foxes, yet like artic foxes they were incredibly cowardly and difficult to hunt. Frost didnt have much hope towards the fox monster caste given that all his other monsters were far more powerful and didnt have the cowardly trait. He was quite astonished that one of his foxes reached their max level so soon. When it finished its transformation Mayas eyes turned into semi circles, and she had to resist the urge to pick the fox up and squeeze it to death against her massive chest. This was another reason that he chose to asionally summon a fox, they were cute, and Maya liked cute things. He still couldnt get the image of the lucky frost slime that got to fully experience the entire weight of her chest back on the first day he arrived. As he remembered that he wondered why not a single one of his artic horned rabbit or frost slimes reached max level. They only had to reach level 10 after all and took part in more than a few battles. The shame was that although these G-ranks took part in a great amount of action, theyd rarely deal much damage and would easily die if they werent careful. He had a couple that were level 9 after much hardship, but it was hard to send them into a battle and have them return alive. He was really excited to get higher level slimes, since Maya mentioned that high ranking slimes can be the bane of adventurers who dont know magic which was quitemon in most cases. In the entire month hed been alive hed onlye across a few mages in the dungeon. The final two were frost wolves, another monster that had been performing incredibly well and one he had a lot of hope for. He knew that frost wolves had a deep and long evolution tree and at the very end he may even be able to summon Fenrirs such as Maya....but thats a long way off. Chapter 203 203 Chapter 203: Doing rounds Frost was presented with a few options for the wolves. Alpha Frost wolf, E-rank 250DP: an upgrade of the frost wolf caste,rger and faster with great leadership traits. More cunning and strategic, the more wolves theymand the stronger the pack bes. Dire Frost wolf, D-rank 550DP: rank up from the regr frost wolf, farrger and faster almost rivalling that of a pr bear. Still a pack animal that travels in groups, making them far deadlier if amongst their own kind. Its ws and fangs naturally exude ice chakra that burn their targets like a venom. Their pelts are tough and can block most weak weapons and theye with a roar skill that can send fear into their enemies. Overall, they are fast, agile, deadly, and cunning, very dangerous enemies even for the most adept of adventurers. Ice Wolf, D-rank 550DP: slightly smaller than a Dire Frost wolf but more magically and chakra inclined. Great closebat fighters, agile and devastating ws and fangs that can be extended with ice. They also exude a frigid aura around them that slows enemies. And if thats not enough theye with a spell/chakra called ice wave. They summon their mana and m the ground generating a cold wave of ice that freezes the feet of enemies allowing the ice wolf to either flee or catch up to its foes and devour them. He and the frost wolves agreed to choose the D-rank options, one bing an ice wolf and the other bing a dire frost wolf. After escaping their sphere of light, the two of them were farrger than before and gave off an oppressive aura. He now had two more D-rank monsters and unlike the Lagombi and pr bear they worked best with other monsters, wolves in particr, which he had an abundance of. With everyone now evolved and their positions decided, the 12 of them left full of excitement, a couple even wanted to spar against each other in order to test the limits of their newfound power. Frost and Maya were then left alone in therge open room and at first, they were still in the joyous state of watching the monsters evolve but after a minute or so the solitude of the room became apparent, and Maya couldnt help but have her mind drift to her encounter with Frost earlier. Her face quickly developed a blush and the next moment before Frost could notice her expression she vanished back into the private space. Frost was left confused I thought we were having a good time talking....guess not. He frowned a little before shaking his head. He knew Maya had returned to the private space and from her attitude it was probably not good for him to return immediately so he left the room and headed towards the iron mine. He chose not to teleport, deciding to go on a long walk alone, something that he could really do with considering the situation with Maya. He walked up the stairs and through the castle ruins greeting the monsters that he passed with a smile. He even encountered an adventuring party in the third section, they werent polite, looking at him with wariness as they passed one another. He could even hear one of the adventurers suggest that they take care of him. Luckily the groups leader was of sound mind and admonished his teammate with a sharp cuff to the back of the skull. The dungeon had just gone through a dramatic change and these aggressive adventurers were desperate for riches, powering through the monsters to reach here and im anything that was present. The idiotic adventurer that advised taking care of Frost was worried that he had already looted some valuable treasure and wanted to take it himself but thankfully his leader was aware that they werent bandits. This of course wouldnt save the idiotic adventurer, Frost already added him to the kill list, the rest he may allow to survive, depending on their actions. ..... After that once he reached the winter forest, he came across more groups, but they were more friendly, a few even politely smiling his way and a few asked if he was ok being alone here, offering to help him leave safely if need be. Of course, he turned them down but appreciated the sentiment and added those groups to the dont kill unless necessary list. Eventually he made his way to the heavily guarded de where Finy was stationed, no adventurer groups headed this way, already aware of the danger this ce posed. Greetings master, can I help with anything? Finy poked his head out from his impromptu office after hearing the grunting of the dwarves of goblins stationed here. He was busy working out assignments for the new monsters, the evolved ones included. Frost had already contacted Finy about their choices, and he was currently making ns for the new ranged corps and magic corps. Of course, hed need more members for thetter. No, Finy Im fine for the moment you can get back to work. I just want to go visit the iron mine. Frost waved him off as he walked on through, the only way to enter the iron mine room was through the de. Ok Master, enjoy....oh wait when youre done can we talk about the ns for expansion? Finy smiled and poked his head back into his room before abruptly poking his head back out and requesting his presenceter. Frost still had at least 5000DP left in the reserves from the dungeon war, not including the amount he was currently gaining from the adventurers in the dungeon. The money needed to be spent and Finy had a few ideas, especially considering the new high ranking monsters Frost just gained. Sure, Ill swing byter to discuss it, are we good for monsters at the moment? The dungeon had been reopened for several hours now with the fervent adventurers piling in. Were doing fine, a couple deaths and injuries but nothing to worry about in the short term, Ill give you a reportter. And with that Finy got back to work, being the dungeon cores right hand, he had quite the workload. Frost, happy with how things were going walked into the iron mine room. The room waspletely open n and 1km in length and width. Without a raging blizzard or epassing treeline Frost could see the entire mine as well as the surrounding walls. The room was simple, a sort of quarry was present in the centre rather than a mine shaft. He could see bits of iron ore in the rocks that would need to be mined out, far less than what the size should indicate but it could be upgraded. Down in the centre of the quarry was a spawner, a fair bitrger and denser than that of the frost goblin one. He didnt leave this one inactivated, so a spawned frost dwarf had already been summoned and was hard at work mining the ores with a pre-summoned pickaxe that was freely provided by the environment. The moment the frost dwarf was summoned it already had in built orders to start mining, so it wasted no time and got to work. It had already sessfully mined a few kilograms of iron ore in the past couple hours but being all alone in thisrge room seemed a bit lonely. Though Frost didnt feel quite a bond with those birthed by spawners, but he still made an effort to greet the frost dwarf and spent a bit of time getting to know it. After getting a tour and examining the iron ore that the dwarf had already excavated, he bade farewell after promising to assign some helpers to aid the solitary dwarf. He also ordered it to report to Finy whenever the daily iron was harvested. Finy would then assign it extra work until the next dose of iron ore is generated, Frost would also teleport to the room and store a portion of the iron ore in his dungeon vault to be usedter whereas another portion would be left for the dwarf smith and any of his assistants to y around with. He promptly teleported back to the private space for some food, Maya had already calmed down her rampant heartbeat, returning to her cool temperament. She was in the middle of giving Nanna and Loki a lesson in writing. She sent a gentle smile towards Frost when he arrived, no longer afraid to meet his gaze. She regained her usual confidence and mature deposition. Wee back young master, did you manage to finish what you were doing? She batted her eyshes subconsciously as though to over sell the fact that she was back to normal. Yes, I took a long walk through the dungeon, met a couple adventurer groups, some that wont be leaving. He smiled evilly as he mentioned that. Then I visited the iron mine, it looks more like a quarry to be honest, rather simple and basic but it works. He waved his hand and summoned a piece of iron ore from his built in dungeon vault before tossing it towards Maya for inspection. Finy asked me to visit himter to discuss spending the remaining DP, but I was feeling rather peckish and bored, so I came back here. Maya caught the iron ore and gave it a quick nce before crushing it in the palm of her hand, turning it to dust. Very basic iron of average quality, nothing that impressive. She tutted slightly and dusted her hands of the remains, not even feeling slightly guilty about wasting the ore. Frost was due to receive 50kg a day, the chunk she was handed wasnt even a kilo. Do you want me to make you something, Ive just finished a lesson with Nanna and Loki and was about to rustle up some food anyway? That would be great, do you need me to summon some ingredients? No, Ill surprise you, take a seat and Ill get right on it. Chapter 204 204 Chapter 204: Future ns Time continued to pass; the Dungeon ran smoothly even with the increase in visitors. Finy wasnt quite overwhelmed just yet and his frost troll lieutenants as well as the new D-rank monsters achieved through evolutions wereing into their own. Each managing an area or division of monsters while Finy overlooked the entire project. Frosts DP levels gradually rose as conflicts broke out not just between his monsters and the adventurers but between one another with a fair amount of deaths being generated. Greed was a terrible thing, people even the most incorruptible may do drastic things when riches are ced before them. Therefore, Frosts 5000DP quickly turned into 8000 and was continuing to rise. He met up with Finyter in the evening after a spot reading, Maya took Loki and Nanna into the training room, and hed join themter. The Dungeon core and their monstersmander discussed the future development of the Dungeon as well as how to deal with the adventurers. This sharp increase wouldntst forever, they needed a more reliable method to increase their DP gain. Master first off I think you should buy a few more high rank monsters to help fill out the new magic corps and ranger corps as well as purchase more foxes. The adventurers here tend to be really attracted to such monsters despite their lowbat ability. Finy started to give his thoughts on the current situation. The second floor still had much more room for monsters so they wouldnt be cramped with some more additions. Plus, Frost now had the DP to summon a fair amount. Finy was solidly in favour of fully outfitting their current rooms before rashly expanding more floors. Best to steady their current situation before taking much risk, there wasnt the one month barrier after all. At the moment the adventurers could reach the second floor if they were strong enough and determined enough, and right now a fair number of groups met that quota. Finy wished for more powerful monsters to help keep them locked into the first two sections of the second floor even without him having to take part. Once weve set up a solid barrier of monsters between the core room and any possible intruders, I rmend creating a third floor. The more powerful monsters can then move downwards whenever a new floor is established thus creating tiered levels. The weaker groups can stay in the upper floors while stronger ones hunt in the lower floors, itll help divide our forces better, making it so theyre battling the right opponents. It was really pointless for goblins or slimes to fight against an upper E-rank or even D-rank party, theyd just be walking into the jaws of death for no reason. If it was known that the more valuable monsters were lower down, the higher tiered parties would travel quickly to that area, ignoring the weaker levels. Of course, this system wouldnt be very effective until they had at least another 2 or 3 floors. In terms of traps, so far, theyve been not bad but not great either however since they are single purchases that reset daily, I rmend adding more whenever theres leftover DP. Sometimes a well-ced trap can swiftly take out an unsuspecting enemy. Finy frowned as he spoke, remembering the giant boulder trap that nearly ran him over during the dungeon war. Treasures wise I think you need to purchase a few more regenerating chests over theing days and if possible, have their locations alternate, that way itll seem more random and harder to track them down. At the moment things were fine but after a few days the adventurers woulde down from their high and realise that theres not much here in terms of treasure, just more monsters. plus, if the chests always respawn in the same ce people would camp out or beeline for only that area. Finy continued to give his report and analysis, bringing up many areas which could be improved and changed to suit the current circumstances. Frost listened attentively but was already aware of most of the issues and nned to fix them. The problem was mainly getting enough DP and future proofing his choices. It was very costly to undo a roomsyout and environment. Frost cupped his chin in thought as he listened to Finys detailed report, nodding every so often. ..... Thats about all I can think of at the moment Master, is there anything I missed? Finy asked after taking a deep breath. No, you covered pretty much everything, and I agree with you on pretty much all your suggestions. Its just finding the right timing given the DP costs and our current reserves plus theres finding the best way to enact that n. Frost smiled before replying, Finys report was urate and concise, now the issue is what to tackle first. 8000DP was enough to fix a few things but not all. You mean the n to attract long time tenants? Finy couldnt help but frown as he spoke. This suggestion clearly had lots of positive benefits but also a lot of cons. Yes, that seems to be the best way to go in the future, long term passive gains will always beat out short, big wins in the long run. My brother Terra will surely be in the higher rankings at the next gathering and unless we enact a simr n we could be left behind. This n was not something out of the blue that Frost concocted after the gathering no, this had been in the works for a while. He spoke and learned from Dous for this very purpose and Maya had already mentioned that he should treat his dungeon like a territory and perhaps eventually a country. Thanks to DP hed be able to expand the area of his territory without much limit and hed also be able to be self-sufficient. Mines could be bought to supply materials, nt seeds to grow crops, monsters to hunt for materials and food as well as many other benefits. As long as there was DP, he could create a paradise. Unfortunately, so far not a single wild monster has taken him up on his offer toe under his wing and the sapient races see this ce as nothing but a hunting ground....for now. Thanks to Dous as well as the array of books he purchased he knew a great deal about governance and how to make a location desirable. The ce needs ess to fresh water Animals or monsters to hunt Trees and other materials to forage tnd in which to build upon Hospitable enough environment to live Farming capability or other economic advantage And the main thing is safety Now Frost could meet most of these criterias, but he also missed out a fair number which are the most important. Possible safety would deter all those that were not adventurers. Civilians live in Furano because it has high walls all around and armed guards to protect it from monsters. They have ess to fresh water,nd to grow crops and theyre right next to Northrend forest that can supply not only wood but animals to hunt as well as herbs for alchemy. Not to mention the nearby cial mountains that contain innumerable monsters to hunt. Plus because of its strategic importance it had trade contacts with the rest of the empire making it quite desirable especially after Douss hard work over the years. For now, safety would be an impossibility therefore he needed to cross off regr people and focus on adventurers and wild monsters and the sooner he started the better. Frost brought up the dungeon menu and had the screen show the outside area of the Dungeon. Where the snow ins meet the Northrend forest with the cial mountains as a backdrop. A fair number of adventurers could be seen outside chatting amongst one another. Frost wanted to start the long term tenant n as soon as possible and the best way he thought of was to buy another room. He couldnt just expand up and down this mountain no, he could also buy the area outside, hell if he had enough DP and the entire town was deserted, he could even envelop Furano. Terra had mentioned that one of the first things he did was create a new room outside his dungeon since the wood elves wanted to establish a nearby base camp to monitor the new monsterir. At the moment there wasnt too much advantage to doing this for Frosts dungeon, but Dark was about to reveal them to the world. Surely investigative teams would be sent and possibly station themselves nearby for several days. Frost already new that when very sessful monsterirs attract more and more people the adventurer guilds and localmunities quickly establish camps nearby which attract merchants and other vendors hoping to sell their goods to adventurers. Eventually these camps turn into viges then towns, cities, territories and then possibly a brand new country, all centred around a monsterir that provides a constant supply of materials. No doubt after learning the qualities of dungeons people may move to strike first and set up a nearby camp or two, Frost was aiming for these groups. Itd be much too difficult to dere the area as part of the dungeon once they arrived, he needed to act now. Chapter 205 205 Chapter 205: Future ns (2) In Frosts case however this may or not happen immediately, thanks to a certain event that was due to arrive at any moment. The monster stampede was to see thousands of monsters charging out of the cial mountains with fervent hunger, feasting upon whatever theyid their eyes on. A newly establish camp would be quickly annihted by such a horde, therefore the camps would likely be temporary but even temporary the DP would be worth it. Once the area around the front of the dungeon is clear Ill turn it into a new room in preparation. A new small room only cost 1500DP and since it was already outside, he didnt need to pay for an environment. The n in the future would be to have thriving cities actually within the dungeon but that would be far in the future. Ok master what about the rest of the 8000DP? Ill do as you suggested and purchase more monsters, specifically for the magic and ranger corps as well as regenerating treasure chests...oh and Ill check out pricing for a small cksmithing workshop so the dwarven smith can utilise his skills. Frost nodded as he spoke, roughly splitting up the remaining DP into each area, all while bringing up a page that contained features for the dungeon such as cksmithing workshops. The dwarven smith couldnt really do much without a proper anvil and furnace after all. Purchasing all things at once Frost quickly spent slightly under 7000DP. He bought 3 more frost dwarven rune mages, 3 frost dwarven quarrellers, 5 ice ns and 10 frost goblin archers as well as 5 artic foxes. For the treasures chests he bought 3 at 500DP and had them as well as his current ones rotate locations. Unlike spawners these things were quite simple to relocate. There was however a limit on the amount of locations that could be specified, for the 500DP chests he could choose 3 locations, for 1000DP it was 4. That brought him up to around 6000DP the workshop cost 900DP and was pretty simple, nothing more than a 3 wall wooden shack with a basic furnace and iron anvil. He ced it in the in the iron mine room towards the southern edge. The frost dwarven smith had already made the iron mine his home and even helped out in mining some of the ore and was quite content. After that he teleported to the training room and was greeted with a cute set of grunts. Nanna and Loki were having a hard time fighting against an unarmed ice golem while Maya observed them andmented on their forms. She looked up towards her young master once he appeared but that was all, she quickly refocused her attention to the children after giving him a suggestion. Young master experiment with your new magic over there. Frost had gotten two new spells from his time at the gathering and was yet to try them out. One of which he already learned [summon ice golem] and the other [freezing touch] he nned to hold onto. It was only a 1st circle spell and wouldnt improve his strength much, so he decided it may be best to grant it to someone else instead. ..... He followed Mayas suggestion and started practising the new spell [summon ice golem]. This was a 3rd circle spell, the highest he learned and was far, far moreplicated. It took him an hour to summon a somewhat sessful golem. Somewhat as the thing though outfitted with two arms and two legs, they were rather wonky and it only reached a metre tall, hardly worthy of battle. His gaze couldnt help but drift over to the harsh sounds ofbat on the other side of the room. Mayas golem was simple but perfectly formed, still going strong after repeated rounds ofbat. He turned back to look at his failure of a golem and sighed depressingly as he shook his head in dismay. He cancelled the summon and started again. Thankfully his mana reserves were constantly refilled due to be being present within the dungeon so he could keep trying without requiring much of a break. Every so often Maya would turn her head to check on his progress and each time shed have a smile on her face. Who knows if that was a cocky smile from seeing him constantly fail or something else, no one else saw it. A few days passed and things were beginning to settle down in the dungeon. The adventurers were no longer quite as mad as they were earlier, making more rational decisions thus reducing the amount of deaths in the dungeon. They were all still eager however to venture deep into the second floor, with a bunch of groups sessfully retrieving worthwhile treasures and defeating powerful monsters such as the new castes of frost dwarves. By killing a rune mage for example, the party retrieved its rune hammer staff as well as its robes, quite a decent haul. Monsters such as frost dwarves couldnt really be eaten or skinned, a bit too awkward given their resemnce to sapient dwarves plus just as poor tasting as some braver people announced. Frost managed to sessfully purchase the area outside of the dungeon during the middle of the night. Now the first step for long term tenants was underway and not a moment too soon. While he was having a training session with Maya themunication locket that he always wore round his neck started to glow and ring, indicating that he was receiving a call. cing his hands up to stop Maya from her devasting blow to his handsome face he stepped back and picked up. Frost is that you Lad? A deep voice spoke from the locket. Bastion yes its me, good to hear your voice. Bastion was on the end of the call. So far only Leo and Luna had contacted him, so this was a pleasant surprise. He didnt hold it against the guild master for not calling sooner since he knew that hed be really busy considering the aftermath of Adam and the looming threat of the monster stampede. You tood, you too....well before I get into the nitty gritty how have you been? You, the kids and that fine young woman of yours make it back home safely? Bastion smiled on the other end of the line and decided to make some small talk before going right into why he called. Weve been great guild master, all of us made it home safely...Maya too she says hello by the way. What about you? Haaaaaaaa busy would be an understatementd but were getting there. The problems caused by Adam are swiftly being taken care of and Ryuu and Dous have been arranging for the frost wolf battalion toe and aid us in the monster stampede whenever thates to pass haaaaaaa. Bastion couldnt help but sigh again, the monster stampede was more than overdue, and history showed that that was never a good sign. But he tried to lighten the mood with his next topic Did you hear about the good news from Leo yet? Youll have to be more specific. Frost and Leo ended up chatting every couple days and lots of news was shared between them. About Dous and Cassandra trying for another child hahahhaah, I cant believe the old man could still get it up hahahahhhaha. Bastion startedughing like crazy. He was happy for his long-time friend and every time Leo woulde into the office with a warped expression, he couldnt help but rip into thed about the good old days of when he and the boys were young and able -though in this case Dous seems to be still capable given the frequency of their activities. Leo would always blush from his cheeks to his shoulders and beg him to not say another word. However once Leo left, Bastion would always feel mncholy and jealous. He missed his wife and hadnt dated anyone since her passing, perhaps with Dous and Cassandra showing that they still had it in them he should try dipping his feet into the dating pool. Maybe Ryuu and him could be each others wingmen. Frost had to stifle aughter as he remembered Leos grimace when he brought it up a few days ago. Maya however behind him couldnt help but blush when she heard Bastion raucous voice, slinking out of sight as she held her burning cheeks and let her imagination run wild. Shed been much less resistant too notions of romance and intimacy since hers and Frosts moment. Cough cough yes Leo mentioned their....activities. His face twitched as he spoke, struggling to not join Bastion inughing but he couldnt reallyugh given that deep down he was jealous. ....Hopefully theyre sessful, eventually after a moment of quiet, Bastion gave his honest feelings. Yeah, thatd be good news. Frost agreed wholeheartedly. Well then what did the super busy guild master of Furano call for, it must be important? The atmosphere suddenly changed, even though it was a chat through a magic device the air turned serious. Bastion was no longer joking and had quite a stern expression in his office. Its about the monsterir you explored Chapter 206 206 Chapter 206: The Dark Gods revtion Frost couldnt help but smile, he was awaiting this call. A couple days ago the Dark God released a revtion to all the higher ups in Nova, the Yangmir adventurer guild included. These new monsterirs are actually something he calls Dungeons. A new kind of monsterir that can grow and evolve. Bastion couldnt help but tremble as he spoke. He felt a mix of fear and trepidation towards the unknown as well as curiosity and excitement. He felt that it was a shame that such an urrence didnt happen twenty years earlier when he was in his prime. Hed have to leave such exploration to the younger generation. However, as a member of the Furano viscounty he also viewed this revtion from a different perspective. Furano has been unable to retain its native high ranking adventurers due to theck of nearby multi-floored monsterirs. Onlying back for the monster stampede or for longsting ventures into the cial mountains. With such an interesting monsterir or rather dungeon right on their doorstep they may be able to pull these wayward adventurers back home. Then the Furano viscounty would be much more powerful inparison to the other noble houses. The situation with Adam was a wakeup call, the sharks were swimming and right now they were a tender defenceless piece of meat. The moment the monster stampede was dealt with, and the frost wolf battalion returned to the borders, the eyes of the royal family will no longer be on Furano and the sharks would definitely strike. This news has shocked the entire continent and people are eager to investigate these new Dungeons and see what makes them tick....how much do you know about monsterirs? Bastion felt it was necessary to understand Frosts knowledge base before continuing because without the base knowledge itd be difficult for Frost to trulyprehend what these Dungeons were. Images and memories shed to the forefront of Frosts mind. a collection of his inherent knowledge as well as that gleamed from the books he purchased and read. He collected his thoughts before replying as though he was a student being called on by the teacher. From what I understand monsterirs are another creation of the Dark God. In regr cases in areas pretty much any area with dense enough mana, the mana can coagte into a unique crystal forming the core of the monsterir. From it, it draws in the natural mana to alter thendscape and generate monsters. The size of said monsterirs and their inherent monsters are entirely random unless in an area with predominantly one element i.e., a monsterir formed near a volcano would summon fire based monsters. Other monsterirs and usually thergest and most diverse as those created by the Dark God personally though they are very rare and have not been seen in several centuries. Frost gave a textbook answer and Bastion was blown away. Not even Leo or Luna would give such a thorough answer, he had Frost pegged as someone from a minor vige in the cial mountains who was rathercking in worldly knowledge. His bafflement onlysted a brief second before replying. Good, good that makes this next part easier then since you have such in depth knowledge. Frost couldnt help but stick his chest out with pride at Bastionsment. These new monsterirs or rather Dungeons can be considered having the Dark Gods personal involvement so right off the bat thats a plus in terms of profit. Second it was revealed that these Dungeons can grow and evolve, showing simr traits to that of a monsterir but less random and far faster. The Dark God even hinted that there was some form of sentience at y. Frost felt a chill at the word sentience that was him. This possibility changes the entire ball game and makes these Dungeons not only incredibly lucrative and desirable but also dangerous. The unknown and the changing will always bring about death therefore the guild will be posting multiple investigation quests hoping to learn as much as they can....thats where youe in. Finally, Bastion got to the real reason for calling, this wasnt just a notification/heads up about an announcement that would be public in theing days. Im listening, Frost replied with a smirk. I know that your home is in the exterior regions of the cial mountains so this Dungeon shouldnt be too far from your current location. ..... Well, thats understatement Frost thought. Id like for you to take part in the investigation quest given your experience with the Dungeon, youd be paid handsomely of course. .... Frost was silent as he took in Bastions request. True I would be the best fit given my status but.... should I really help people map out my home at this stage? If this was during the one month protection period, he would have probably agreed but now, there wasnt much point in helping the adventurers. Their agenda would of course be to reach the dungeon core to examine it and study it, he for sure wasnt going to lead them right to it, that was his heart after all. One wrong move and bang no more Frost. Money wise he was still fairly rich, so the reward didnt interest him plus, he already agreed to do another quest which he nned on leaving for in the next few days. After much internal deliberation he decided to refuse Bastions offer. Sorry Bastion Im rather busy at the moment and cant help Haaaaaaa no problem then, just thought I might give you an inside track to a lucrative quest but never mind. Bastion was using his power to personally hand the quest over to Frost before posting it up in the guild hall, a significant advantage but if Frost was busy then that was that. If you ever do decide to enter the Dungeon, again be careful, and dont mess with anyone that has a ck book symbol on their chest. Just answer their questions politely and dont lie. Hmmm why? Frost didnt have any recollection of this group of people, but hed definitely note it down for future reference if even Bastion was wary of them. They represent the federation of knowledge, investigators of special realms, oddities and monsterirs. Given that the Dark God has gotten personally involved theyd be sure to sent a team to investigate and theyre not known for being....gentle to those that impede their work. The federation of knowledge, the name rang a bell, mentioned briefly in one of the books he bought from Furano. Will do, thanks for the heads up, Bastion. No problem, Lad, by the way did you take a scouting quest for the gamma sector of the external regions of the cial Mountains? Bastion was about to sign off when he remembered something. The Keeper came badgering him about Frost shortly after he left Furano, wanting know everything about him and ming him for keeping such a prized asset under wraps. Yeah, and I n to head out in the next few days or so toplete it. Alright just to let you know that we received a report recently near your assigned sector, multiple D-rank monster carcasses were spotted, and many E-ranks had fled the area. There may be a C-rank monster or two nearby so keep both eyes open. Bastion gauged Frost strength to be around early C-rank not enough to deal with a C-rank monster so he thought it wise to warn him. Will do thanks Bastion, Frost thanked him with earnest. No problem happy to help, got to get back to work but Ill try to keep in touch and stop by Furano some time I know Luna and Leo are missing you, bye. Bastion thus ended the call; he leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples. Haaaaaaa my workloads gonna triple at least, hed just started to get a hold of things and work out a rough n with Ryuu and Dous yet now this whole Dungeon thing along with the uing stampede and all the other things going wrong in the territory it was enough to age a man by ten years. Well at least the prospect of this new what was it Dungeon or whatever will draw in more adventurers and other high strength personnel. Though hed be swamped with work having such arge force on hand would certainly aid them in dealing with the uing monster stampede, a blessing in disguise.... Doesnt make the paperwork any easier, however. Kamey get me a couple coffees its going to be a long night and call up Thrall and the Keeper. He shouted out to Kamey who was functioning as his secretary. Right away guild master, like a proper office worker Kamey responded quickly and politely before dashing off fetch him some coffee and summon the vice guild master and the Keeper. Bastion couldnt help but have his eyes drift towards Kameys perk backside as she quickly scuttled away, another reason he had her work as his secretary, a beautiful view always helped deal with a hard days work. Do you want to get back to training? Maya asked once the call between Frost and Bastion ended. Yeah, guessing you overheard the conversation. Frost couldnt help but nce at Mayas wolf ears, jealous of how good they were. Dark God-sama kept his word and told the world about Dungeons, yeah I heard. She walked off as she spoke to an open part of the training room. Were going to be busy over the next week or so, Frost shrugged his shoulders before getting into a battle ready stance. They were still doing physical training to improve his endurance and defence. Well, you are, Im just going to have fun dishing out some punishment. Maya smirked with evil intent before swiftly vanishing. Ugh! Frost managed to release a sharp groan before inevitably being shot up into the sky by a vicious uppercut. Chapter 207 207 Chapter 207: Preparing to leave Over the next several days Frost had to endure the relentless pummelling of his guardian so that hed be prepared for his excursion into the cial mountains. When he wasnt being used as a punching bag -whether through physical or magical means- he was making his way through thest dozen or so books that he purchased in Furano, expanding his knowledge once more. asionally hed have to do some actual Dungeon work so that he didnt get rusty. With the influx of die hard adventurers and his new high killing policy he managed to gain another 10000DP which he promptly spent to create his third floor. Which moved his core room to thest section and increased the passive ie of the mana vein to 50DP per day. The new groups of adventurers were drawing ever closer to his core room so putting another three rooms between them and it was a realfort, even if they were currently empty. A couple groups of wild monsters also entered the dungeon over this period, drawn in by the ambient mana as they exited the cial mountains and once again, they refused toe under Frosts rule. He even tried to produce his friendliest smile, but it didnt work. Maya had a right giggle at his failure, finding his smile to be anything but friendly. Nanna and Loki tried tofort him after his failure, but their innocentments were like bullets through his heart. He moped around for a few hours after that and decided never to try and force a smile again. Finally, after another couple days Frost felt that it was a good time to head out for exploration. His monsters were in a good position and could easily hold back the current number of adventurers with reasonable losses but just to make sure he decided to buy around another 20 monsters just to shore up defences in his absence. Since Nanna and Loki were still unable to use DP and Maya was not supposed to (she could still purchase food and stuff for Nanna and Loki but anything dungeon management rted, was to be left to the Dungeon core and their monsters). In regards to his training in terms of physical abilities he had managed to reach almost mid-level C-rank with his knowledge of battle significantly increasing, able to now fend off not only attacks from weapons but also deal with monsters. Maya could summon her ice golems in pretty much any form she wished thanks to her high level of mastery. Using that she had his training partners take the forms of monsters he may encounter in the mountains, i.e., pr bears, frost wolves etc.... though they werent exactly the same it did allow him to experience the awkwardness in fighting something muchrger than himself. It is known in some cases especially among high ranking noble knights that only fight against other humanoids can find themselves severely outmatched when pitted against monsters despite their rank advantage. His magic had also improved by several levels, now he could conjure up to 4 solid ice bolts at once and summon two ice spikes from his newer 2nd circle spell. His magic prowess was slowly advancing,ing close to the capabilities that Adam showed if he was without a magic staff. Though he did ponder the idea of purchasing a nice staff to supplement him in battle, he already had his ive. Having another weapon would be a detriment in his opinion and thanks the quality of the ive his spells werent hindered but they werent enhanced in any way. But he epted that, he was not a pure mage type in the first ce, much preferring closebat through ive arts and chakra usage. In regards to his new 3rd circle spell [summon ice golem] it was still rather unpolished but was at the level of being a decent distraction or something to tie down his opponent, still a long way from being a true help in battle and or something he could allow to run a mock in his dungeon. For weaponry his ive mastery was still at adept mastery and was unlikely to rise anytime soon. Going from adept (3rd level) to advanced (4th level) was a long and arduous process that many never achieve. Though Frost was very talented, his experience was too shallow, he needed practise against real opponents to make any headway. Word had already spread about the new so called Dungeons and many adventurers had begun to flock to this ce, some even setting up impromptu camps nearby, making perfect use of the newly purchased room at the entrance. Shame there was no inn or hotel in which they could rest and lock their doors for an extra 200% ie but that can be dealt withter. His average daily DP-thanks to frequent deaths and major injuries- was now around 3000DP and going up almost every day as more and more adventurers continued to arrive, unafraid of death. ..... Frost knew that this was a teau period given the new information being spread and would eventually fall back down to normal levels. He needed to prepare for the long term tenants n in order to supplement the decrease that would eventuallye. But to do that hed need to have arge amount of DP, a few more floors as well as extra dwarven smiths plus itd most likely not take effect until after the monster stampede. As soon as the guild received conclusive reports on the status of the external regions around the exits, they could formte a timeline which would have all these new adventurers instantly pull back days in advance for their own safety. Once the stampede began, hed only have monsters as visitors for quite a while, possibly even weeks. Dous told him that the longest stampede they had ever enduredsted over a month. Though it wasnt the most dangerous as it was formed by mostly low ranking monsters it was quite a problem having the army stationed there for so long and having their civilians under martialw for the entire time. Frost was growing rather anxious about this uing disaster, wondering if his dungeon would be ready for the onught or rather siege if Douss exnation was too be true. But it was also a good chance to indoctrinate some wild monsters, with the amount that would be present surely one or two would willingly go under his rule once they understood his power and what he was offering. What monster wouldnt want to live in a Dungeon, no need to constantly fill your belly with food, lots of friends to hang out with and greater chance at evolution. At the moment Frost was within his bedroom area in the private space, double checking everything he was set to bring with him. His ive of course was a must, as well as the back-up. He also currently wore the chainmail vest that Leo gave him as a reward as well as the pieces of leather armour he purchased under his robes. Unfortunately, with all the DP spending he forgot about upgrading his magic robes, so they still offered little to no defence. Maya had already prepared some food for him to go in his adventurers backpack along with some other gear. The rest he ced in his spatial rings. The most important item however was the teleportation talisman which would instantly summon Maya to his location for protection. He kept that close to his chest so he could ess it and rip it apart in a fast fluid motion. Are you sure you want to go now? Maya asked, worry clearly in her voice. She knew her young masters personality, stubborn and decisive but she wanted to try anyway. Though the current situation was fine, that could change in the week or two he was away and wanted to encourage dying his trip. She still wasnt satisfied with his strength but more than that she really didnt want him to leave without her. Weve been over this Maya; this is the best time to go. If I dy it any longer the monster stampede may ur which will forcibly dy it once again plus after that there will be too much stuff to do in terms of expansion. Frost gently exined his reasoning for the umpteenth time to her while going over a checklist of his inventory. He decided to bring a few of the monster books to help with tracking and understanding monster behaviours better. Being a high level adventurer required a vast array of skills not just brute force, so he was going to take full advantage of this excursion. Hed track, hunt, hide, study and monitor monster behaviour as well as the nts that grew in the external regions. Haaaaaaaa fine but just so you know Im not happy. Maya pouted cutely, with slightly puffed up cheeks while Nanna and Loki sat at the nearby table invested in their reading practise. But underneath they too were nervous, worried about Frosts safety. Yes, yes youve made your opinion very clear, but I need to leave, you know more than anyone that my strength has hit a bottleneck, requiring more drastic measures to proceed. Frost didnt get annoyed as he knew that Mayas worries all came from a good ce, in fact it warmed his heart and made the decision to leave alone even harder, but his future progress was a stake, he needed to go. Chapter 208 208 Chapter 208: Entering the cial mountains (end of volume 3) Maya continued to pout as Frost packed his things away but eventually, he was ready to go. The four of them stood together, Maya with the kids on one side and Frost on the other. Nanna, Loki be good while Im gone, listen to everything Maya says and work hard on your studies. Frost started with the kids, he moved towards the two of them and wrapped them in a big bear hug, pulling them in close. Nanna and Loki struggled to keep their tears at bay. They felt so safe with Frost and never wanted to leave his warm embrace. After the hug he smiled and rubbed their heads with affection finding his decision to save the two of them more and more right. They brought him a great deal of happiness. Next, he looked towards Maya and his gaze instinctively softened. Bravely he ced his hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes. Ill be fine Maya, I give you my word, Maya looked at her young master, no longer pouting, her eyes grew red before she nodded gently with a slight umm. With the farewells finished he set to teleport and leave the dungeon but Maya called out. Young master. Yes Maya. Revealing her sharp canines Maya looked towards her young master with pride. Good hunting she said before turning around. Frost smiled joyfully at her statement; she said the same thing when he went off with Leo to attack Adamspound. Maya had finally given her blessings and he couldnt be happier. He waved goodbye to Nanna and Loki before vanishing from their eyes. The moment he left there was silence in the private space and the mood felt heavy, they didnt really know what to do. Usually around this time theyd either be trainingbat skills or working on their reading and writing but none of them seemed up to it. Eventually after the silence became unbearable Maya spoke up. Alright thats quite enough moping for one day, let me rustle up some nice food to brighten our moods before getting back on track. Though she too felt down she was the adult and Frost had left Nanna and Loki in her care. With the promise of good food, the kids quickly found their dour moods vanishing, children do really live in the present. Frost arrived near the dungeons entrance out of view of anyone for at least 300 metres which was more than enough given the constant snowstorm but better safe than sorry. Hed already let Finy know about his leaving; they had a good farewell earlier but there wasnt nearly as much emotion involved as they were both fully grown men. Finy simply patted him on the shoulder and wished him luck in his exploration before getting back to work while he said thank you in response, very simple. ..... He started his march to the dungeons exit ready for his journey. Guess Ill have to trust in the capabilities of my monsters while Im gone, hopefully it doesnt turn intoplete chaos while Im out having fun hehehheheh Frost chuckled to himself as he walked but there was always a slight nagging that what he said coulde to pass. But he made his choice and was dead set on leaving. He walked with purpose at a brisk pace. A couple adventurers passed him as he left the entrance, they smiled and nodded his way which he politely returned before he finally exited the dungeon -well the internal part, since this first kilometre outside was also part of it. The outside had changed slightly since thest time he ventured out. The snowy ins were not as barren as before. Groups of adventurers could be seen around some impromptu camps with burning firepits. Some resting after a disappointing run whereas others divided up their spoils and or ran a cost analysis on the damage to their equipment. A few entrepreneurial vigers from the small viges based in the Northrend forest came to offer their services in terms of skinning, repair work and even cooking. Taking advantage of the vast customer base to make no small amount of profit. It wasnt just adventurers that profited from monsterirs after all, nearly every profession had some stake and the faster ones had already started moving in. This ce was far from being a true camp like the one in Northrend forest, but it showed promise and as long as these people rested within 1km of the dungeon hed be able to rake in DP. A few groups looked his way as they saw him leave the dungeon but quickly turned back down after seeing that Frost was wearing a mask -yes of course he needed to wear a mask if he was going to be in the presence of others. A couple unsavoury characters -not everyone here were adventurers, some bandits would also hunt in monsterirs for profit. Theyd just have to sell their stuff on the ck market- gave him a few nces since he was alone but seeing no injuries or damage to his equipment, they quickly lost interest, too risky. For Frost however he simply saw all these people, the good and the bad as future DP, no one stood out to him like Leo and Luna. After a quick count in his head, he promptly ignored them and headed towards the cial mountains. He had the extensive map and nned to go straight to the gamma sector since that was where his scouting mission was. The camping groups paid him no more attention as he walked off out of sight, heading into the hallowed gateway to the northern most danger zone. Before the Dungeon came into existence many would flock to the external regions of the cial mountains and many still do as not all monsters that had quests could be found in the Dungeon. In fact, it was really only the weaker groups that explored the Dungeon as it wasparatively safer even with therge amount of deaths present over the past few days. The cial mountains were a harsh and gruelling environment and one of the 4 major death zones on the Yangmir continent, along with the Storm mountains to the west, the grassy ins of the south and the poison swamp of the east but out of the four, the cial mountains were thergest and the most dangerous to sapient races. The cold affects every one of the sapient races, very few of them have innate resistance to such elements. But where theres danger there is always great riches. Though Northrend is known as the northern most kingdom/empire in Yangmir thats not exactly true. Its thest solely sapient country. Within the cial mountains there exists tens of thousands of monster tribes as well as sapient racemunities, evenrge empires exist such as the great hold of the ice dwarves or the jotuun/ ice giants eachparable to Northrend. The only difference is that monster races tend to rule, and the climate is far too harsh for regr sapient civilians to survive therefore theyre not counted as political powers of Yangmir continent. That however doesnt stop trade from happening. Many high level quests into the cial mountains involve protecting merchants and their caravans as they conduct business deals with themunities in the mountains. Great riches can be found in the cial mountains, not just from the monster materials but even the herbs and nt life can have wonderous effects not to mention mines of cold aspected metals and gems. All this exists in the danger zone and the powerful kingdoms of Yangmir covet it dearly. Northrend even have a battalion constantly stationed within the cial mountains, they guard a series of powerful outposts in the name of the empire as a show of force to the native kingdoms. Thus, thanks to this show of force theyve been able to generate substantial trade with empires like that of ice dwarves and jotuun. Many belief that its this trade line that helped cement Northrend as a super power on the continent. They have ess to materials that others do not. Frost however wouldnt be heading that far into the mountains, no hed only be exploring in the external regions, around the gamma sector whereas these native empires and Northrends military outposts are all based in the inner regions. Whoosh whoosh The cold biting wind started to pick up as Frost finally made his way out the mountain that is his dungeons shadow and with it came the loss of connection. Urgghhh Im never going to get used to this. Frost felt as though he was cut off from a blood supply, his chest and entire body felt heavy and significantly weaker. Guess thats me officially in the cial mountains now. He looked up ahead, before him was white and a constant blizzard surrounded him and his path ahead. He subconsciously grabbed his chest and felt the talisman held there before taking a deep breath and stepping into the unknown. He nned on spending at least a week in this danger zone, training his skills as an adventurer. First stop was to get his bearings, the gamma sector wasnt a straight shoot from the entrance, there was a path he needed to follow due to a set of deep impassable ravines as well as mini danger zones. Not just monsters were out to get you in this harsh environment. Chapter 209 209 Chapter 209: Frost wolves (start of volume 4) Frost travelled through the white expanse and the cold biting wind, alone. Holding his left arm up to shield his eyes he made his way to a clearing. A rocky outcrop that would shield him from the snow. Phew even with my cold resistance I can tell that its much, much colder than at the entrance of this ce. Frost shivered as he shook the snow off his body. Thankfully there were multiple outcrops such as this one that would allow one to gain a short moment of respite. Haaaaaaa lets see where I am for now, Frost removed the map from his spatial ring and opened it up fully. Hed been travelling through the cial mountains for the past few hours and had only just recently found the right path. Ok so I need to travel north for another half day or so and Ille across a more sustainable rest site, then its several hours west to avoid the crevasse of Ymir that expands for hundreds of kilometres. Thatll get me to the edges of the Beta sector, with the Gamma sector being right next door. Frost plotted his future journey with his finger, it was anything but a straight path and had no small amount of danger. The crevasse of Ymir for example was incredibly deep and was significantly colder than the surroundings, equal to the frigid temperatures of the core regions. Legends say that an ancient ice giant named Ymir cleaved the crevasse with his axe once he ascended to godhood. The area still contains remnants of the Gods mana, resulting in the drop in temperature. The area is also imed as a holynd by the ice giants with amunity taking up residence deep within. Anyone not of their kind that trespasses is killed on sight. Frost wasnt arrogant enough to think he could deal with arge group of mad ice giants all at the minimum of B-rank. Like everyone else he was going to avoid it. Another danger area on the way was actually a wild abandoned garden, also supposedly left by a powerful figure of the past, their name and race unknown. The garden was protected not only by magical arrays but was filled with incredibly poisonous herbs that could kill a powerful D-rank monster with a single whiff. Thankfully in the external regions there were very few of such areas. The deeper one goes however the more of such areas one would find. All these detours were necessary since his strength was too pitiful, but it had its advantages. This path would take him through a plethora of different monster territories allowing him to let loose and train. So far, he already came across a few artic boars but that wasnt enough to even get his blood pumping. In a few hours however hed be entering frost wolf territory as well as other E-ranks plus if he was lucky, hed run into some yetis or frost trolls. But what he truly hoped for once he reached the scouting location was a C-rank monster, something that could truly put him on the knifes edge. He subconsciously smirked with evil intent as he thought about fighting a C-rank monster. Well, the sooner I get there the sooner I can fight. Rolling the map back up he left the outcrop and once again entered the endless white expanse. His aura being not that of loneliness but that of a warrior seeking a challenge, the environment seemed to sense that. Not long after he left the outcrop, something answered his aura. Awoooooo a range of howls went off in the distance, a total of three frost wolves came across the solitary Frost. ..... Perfect Ive been dying to work out an ache in my shoulders. Frost grinned while summoning his ive. The blizzard obscured his vision so he still couldnt see the wolves, but he could hear their howls and feel their killing intent. Bracing himself with his ive in hand he stopped moving forward, awaiting the inevitable strike of the wolves. The storm was not that loud but heavily obscuring, even with his abilities seeing more than several metres ahead was difficult. Yet he did not feel panic from the situation only enjoyment as the threat felt more real and substantial. The frost wolves unlike him relied on smell and could easily point him out in the blizzard. The three of them were hungry and ravenous, madness in their eyes as they slowly began to surround Frost awaiting the perfect moment to strike. Frost awaited with his ive raised for what felt like tens of minutes in this blizzard with no signs of movement from his would be prey. Ahhhhhhh areing or not, Im not waiting here all day you damn wolves! Swinging his ive to be rid of the nearby snow and let loose his impatience, Frost roared out loud to the surroundings hoping to taunt the wolves into action. It worked. Not a momentter before he could drawback his swing one of wolves lunged out from behind, jaws open, and ws extended. The time was now, and it wasnt alone. These three wolves were siblings and had very good coordination, in the same moment the other two magically appeared from the snow. One aiming high while the other aiming low, appearing very experienced in hunting humanoids. Hmph! Thats more like it! With a joyful smile he moved his upper body to the side, narrowly dodging the fangs of the first wolf and at the same time he brought up his elbow upon its undefended ribs. Crack! Awooooo with a single solid blow the first wolf felt a couple of its ribs crack causing it to howl in pain as its body was forciblyunched backwards. Next was the attacks of the second and third frost wolves. One aimed for his neck while the other for his legs and thanks to his movements to deal with the first wolf, Frostcked much time to react. Good timing, he internally apuded their movements, finding that these three were incredibly coordinated and most likely near evolution. But it wasnt enough to faze him and his C-rank strength, his mad smile only grew as he dealt with them both at same time. Bang! Boof! For the one aiming for his neck he headbutted the beast without mercy, knocking the beast to the floor. For the second he whipped its snout with his leg, sending it iling backwards. Oomph thats one solid head, Frost was forced to shake his head from the pain that continued to rattle his skull, a few drops of blood could be seen dripping down his forehead. With another solid kick he booted the second wolf that was mmed into the ground by his headbutt back into the blizzard as he once again readied himself with his ive, a mad look on his face. Great,e again! He wasnt going to finish this fight quickly, thered be no fun in that. Refusing to use magic or even chakra hed rely solely on his physical skills and techniques. The three frost wolves each being sent reeling backwards and a couple with rather painful injuries instantly became wary. They proceeded to hide in the storm watching Frost with trepidation, this humanoid prey was far more dangerous than they bargained for. Rumble! Unfortunately, they didnt have much choice, their stomachs desired filling. Hmph! Bunch of cowards! If youre noting at me then Ille to you! Frost was not a passive person and really didnt want to y the waiting game for who knows how long so he burst forward, using his mana sense to locate his prey. His movements were so sudden that the wolves had barely enough time to react. Frost appeared before the third wolf in an instant and with his ive ready he swung down upon the monster with incredible ferocity. Shwing! With great speed the ive cleaved through the snow and produced an ear piercing howl as it cut. The ive was aimed downward hoping to cut at the wolfs spine. If this was another E-rank monster then this could very well spell the end of its life, but frost wolves were agile, very agile. Bang! The ive came down upon the frost wolf, but it reacted quickly, retreating backwards with upmost speed. However, it wasnt quite quick enough, the ives de cut deep into the wolfs side, drawing a great deal of blood, and carving out a deep gash. Awoooo the wolf whimpered as it rolled on the ground struggling to rise back to its feet, a pool of blood quickly dying the ground red. It scowled at Frost with a mixture of hate and fear. Frost meanwhile was nodding his head in appreciation finding the monsters reactions impressive. Rivalling that of his own high level frost wolves and like them it was not alone. Seeing the dire state of their sibling the other two went on the attack, ignoring the threat Frost posed they lunged at his back with fervent aggression. Lets dance, fully in battle mode and enjoying the experience Frost turned around rapidly. With his ive in hand, he battled with the wolves, savouring everyst moment. After ten minutes of fighting Frost finally brought the matter to a close. [Crescent sh!] He activated his ive skill, summoning a blue crescent beam of energy that quickly tore through the air and cleaved thest wolf in twain. This skill was an upgrade from the usual sh skill,rger beam, and much sharper. The frost wolfs sturdy body was cut in two like it was butter, providing little resistance. Chapter 210 210 Chapter 210: Jared Bando Hahahaha that was fun! Frost stretched out his limbs with a satisfied smile,pletely ignoring the fact that his face and robes were covered in the blood of the wolves and the corpses of his prey still lying at his feet. He found the battle very spirit lifting, allowing him to work out a great amount of hidden stress and knots in his shoulders. He could even feel his adept ive mastery somewhat improve. Truly, real battles with real danger work far better than sheltered training. Frost already felt that his trip was proving fruitful. Finishing his stretch, he moved to cast some clean up magic but stopped at the final moment, deciding to leave the blood on his robes. If I leave the blood, it may attract even greater foes. With a cunning smile Frost left his robes as is, sshed with red and looking rather wild. The corpses however he would follow the regr rule of adventurers and burn their remains. He wasnt going to carry them with him as he travelled and drawing monsters to this location would only harm others. After he skinned their pelts with his ice chakra knife and removed their intactrger bones and their magic crystals, he set the corpses alight with the ignition spell. Creating a ratherrge and attractive bonfire in the expansive whitendscape. Frost wolf pelts are always highly desired by textile merchants and their bones can either be used to create weapons or even ground up into powder to create potions or artificing materials. It was a very useful monster material wise, even the meat could be used to produce many dishes, but Frost was no cook and didnt want to lug around strong smelling meat in his backpack. As the fires gradually extinguished leaving nothing but ashes of the frost wolves, Frost was set to continue his journey but suddenly, he sensed something nearby. On alert he re-summoned his ive and turned around to face the danger. A modicum of sweat dripped down his face as he felt the entity draw ever closer. Most impressive youngd, your skills are quite advanced, youve got potential. A deep maic voice came through the blizzard and a momentter a man appeared. He was tall, easily 2 metres in height and incredibly muscr, yet his body also screamed speed. He was dressed in majestic monster leather clearly from a high ranking species and held a pair a blue axes by his side. The man was a beastman, part of the bear tribe. Fur could be seen on some parts of his body and ears, and arge scar could be seen across his left eye making him look all the more intimidating. Frost could feel a great sense of danger from this man, so much so that his body trembled and screamed for him to run. The man let out a little of his aura but just that small snippet was enough. ..... This man is even stronger than Ryuu. Ryuu was a mid-level possibly high-level B-rank mage, yet this man was clearly stronger. Not quite A-rank but certainly top of the line B level. Frost surmised the mans capabilities it still felt within the same realm as Ryuu just higher in quantity instead of quality but even so he could still kill him without much effort. Hahahahah rx kid Im not an enemy just a curious observer. The manughed out loud and produced a friendly smile as he reigned in his aura. Frost rxed somewhat but didnt drop his guard. Well, itd be weird if you let your guard down right away but if I wanted to harm you, could you do anything about it? The man had an infuriating smirk on his face as he teased someone of the younger generation. Frost simply shook his head in reply while rxing his tense body, the man was right, even if he waspletely ready this man could kill him with a single attack if he wanted. With a wave of his hand, he ced his ive back in the spatial ring and shrugged. Perfect now we can talk. Are you from Northrend or the cial mountains? Technically my home is near the cial mountains but Im a registered adventurer in Furano, a viscounty in Northrend. Frost answered honestly. Hoh! a junior great,e,e lets get out of the snow and continue chatting. The mans atmosphere suddenly became really friendly, clearly happy with Frosts answer. Frost frowned, he already had ns and didnt really want to go with the bear beastman but what choice did he have. After releasing a deep sigh, he followed the bear man to a nearby alcove. The man must have been staying here while he was fighting the frost wolves as he could see camping gear ced around a firepit. Take a seat by the fire junior, can I get you something, hot cocoa? Coffee? Water? Perhaps something to eat? Acting like a friendly old man really didnt mesh well with his intimidating face but Frost wasnt one to judge. A hot cocoa would be nice, thanks. He took the man up on his offer and took a seat by the fire to wait on his hot cocoa. A minuteter the bear man returned from his tent with cups of hot cocoa and handed one to Frost. Thank you. No problem, no problem. The man smiled gently as he took a sip of his own mug. Ah cant go wrong with hot cocoa during a snowstorm. The man licked his lips as he enjoyed the sweet yet bitter vour of cocoa. I guess I should probably introduce myself. The man ced his hand over his chest in a formal military salute and emitted the aura of a soldier My names Jared Bando, a major in the War Ursa battalion of the Northrend empire, plus I was born in Furano. Frost stared at therge bear man or rather Jared with a nk expression not expecting to meet a high ranking officer of the military here in the external regions let alone someone from Furano. No wonder his attitude became really friendly after I said I was registered in Furano. Frost nodded his head in understanding. My names Frost, a young adventurer. Frost then removed his guild card to show. Hmmm E-rank that doesnt seem right? Jared looked over the guild card with a confused look. No one of E-rank could have dealt with those frost wolves as easily as he did. Ive just registered recently, its not indicative of my true strength. Frost smiled with a little embarrassment. I see, but what are you doing out here? I dont know of any E-rank quests avable in the cial mountains. True but Im here on a special quest, I need to scout an area in the Gamma sector for any signs of the monster stampede. The moment Frost said, monster stampede, Jareds aura fluctuated, and he could feel a strong burst of killing intent, Frosts skin shivered in response. So, it really is that time of the year. Jared frowned while turning to look out into the white expanse as memories drifted to the forefront of his mind. Frost kindly let him wallow in his memories in silence while he drank his hot cocoa. Haaaaaaa seems that Ive been away from home for so long....Would you mind keeping an old manpany and telling him the recent happenings of his home? Jared spoke with a slight pleading tone, full of sorrow. Frost looked over his new acquaintance and felt his pain. Feeling a good vibe from the man he decided to tell him everything, to satisfy his craving and in return Jared told Frost about himself. Jared Bando was slightly younger than Dous and Ryuu but could be considered in the same generation. Whereas they went down the adventurer route before entering the governing sector, Jared joined the military. Decades ago, the frost wolf battalion came as per normal to the Furano viscounty tobat the monster stampede. Unfortunately, even with them there he lost his family in the long battle, bing an orphan. Desiring to be like the soldiers who saved his town he told an officer of his desire and was formally epted into their ranks as a young trainee. He was taken back to Arkheart and ced in an orphanage for the military, wherein he was given shelter, food, and education and when he became of age he entered into the military. Through his hard work and talent, he reached his current level, just a step away from A-rank battle strength, a great aplishment. Now he was part of the War Ursa battalion, the contingent of the Northrend army that is permanently stationed within the inner regions of the cial mountains, guarding their strategic outposts. They are by far the hardest of the empires soldiers and very rarely do they get the chance to return home. Jared was performing some scout work in the area due to some dangerous reports of monster activity. A major part of the soldiers job was to make sure that the trade routes from the native cial mountain kingdoms and Northrend were rtively safe. The fact that he happened upon Frost waspletely by chance and one he was happy for. Frost regaled him of the situation in Furano, the people he met, the current guild masters and how the people were doing and the regr life of the citizens. He even mentioned the issues around Baron Adam as well as the recovery of Dous and the uing preparation for the monster stampede since Jared showed particr concern for that. Chapter 211 211 Chapter 211: Jared Bando (2) I see, so much has happened in the time Ive been stationed here, Ive missed so much. Jared spoke with mncholy, itd been over ten years since he wasst in Furano and even then, it was for less than a week. He met Dous and his family as per military tradition before heading into the cial mountains with the rest of his brigade, he was only a sergeant then, so much has changed. Thanks for keeping an old soldierpany Frost, it means a lot to me knowing that my hometown is not only in good straights but has many prosperous individuals such as yourself working for it. Jared smiled gently but it contained a great deal of repressed emotions, Frost felt a pain in his heart as he looked at Jareds expression. He pitied the soldier and was happy he could help him in some form. Frost also benefited from this long chat that went on for over an hour. Jared spoke of the military and the current situation within the external and inner regions of the cial mountains. He gained a great amount of insight into the native kingdoms of the area as well as the more dangerous tribes in the external regions where hed be likely active in. As a weight seemed to be lifted from his heart, the giant bear beastman stood up with a straight back and smiled. He could feel the boundary to A-rank loosen for the first time in years. He turned towards Frost and performed a military bow full of gratitude. Thank you, young Frost, youve helped me resolve a deep regret and have allowed me to glimpse the door to the next level of power, I owe you a great debt. Jared spoke withplete honesty, not caring about his position as a major in the military or as a senior. He was not one to care about such formalities. Frost was taken aback by the powerful gratitude and instantly replied with a shaky expression. No, no Jared all I did was talk, theres no need for a debt. Although a great debt from someone so powerful and well connected could prove very useful, Frost thought of himself as an upright individual, he wouldnt feel right receiving something so grand just for chatting about local events that anyone could find out. Plus, hed already been paid, with the amount of knowledge he received from Jared. No Frost I am a man of my word, I owe you a debt, please dont decline as Id feel insulted. Jared spoke with fierce determination, he wouldnt take a refusal. Frosts face twitched as Jareds aura pressured him. Really youd use your strength to force me to ept your gift. He felt the urge to smack Jared for his shamelessness but held back. Disgruntled Frost nodded his head in eptance bringing a smile to Jareds intimidating face. ..... Good, good, now Ive rested here long enough and taken up enough of your time. Jared started to shovel all his gear back into his spatial ring, preparing to leave, he had a mission toplete after all. Time we get back on the road. Agreed I need to head to the Gamma sector toplete my quest. Frost felt both happy that he could get back to his training excursion and sad that hed be saying farewell to Jared. Jared stored all his belongings within 40 seconds, very military like, super speedy. After a quick double check he turned to face his new acquaintance. Here take this, perhaps itll save your life one day. Jared handed Frost what looked like some sort of metal medallion with the image of a great bear carved into it. Frost took hold of the medallion and asked, thank you Jared but what is it? Its a token of the War Ursa battalion, whoever bears that token will be seen as a friend to the battalion and if need be can seek sanctuary within our territories. If you ever make it to the inner regions of the mountains this token will allow you to meet me once again. Jared spoke with a serious tone, hinting towards the importance of such an item. Frost grasped the medallion tightly against his chest, feeling the weight of such a gift. It was almost certain that hed be reaching the inner regions eventually given his talents. This token would allow him easy ess through such an area. Farewelld, thanks for the lovely chat....may we meet again. Jared waved goodbye before quickly vanishing into the white expanse. Frost lost sense of the man almost instantly proving either that he hid his presence and or moved with super speed. Thetter being more likely, Jared did say that he was on a mission, spending over an hour chatting was clearing not on his schedule. Frost brought up the War Ursa medallion I wonder how useful this thing will end up being? He looked at the medallion with curiosity and fondness, even if it proved useless to him, he would keep it as a memento of Jared. Perhaps the next time Im in Furano I should mention of my encounter to Dous. Hed surely be happy to know that someone from Furano had achieved such a high rank in the military as well as personal strength. Frost knew that Furanocked any A-ranks, itd be hopeful news for the younger generation. Well, best that I get going too. Frost needed to reach the more established campsite before deep darkness strikes. When the moon doth shine, danger be abound. A famous saying of the adventurers and well as everyone in Nova. During the night most monsters are stronger and more aggressive as many are naturally nocturnal whereas the sapient races are generally diurnal. Though Frost wasnt to adverse tobating at night as it would be even greater training but what he did not look forward to was camping out in a constant blizzard.... Alone. But he would never say that out loud, less a certain guardian poke fun at his bravery. With a warm heart and revitalised vigour Frost stepped back out into the white expanse to continue his journey. His destination was north through known yeti and wolf territory, beyond would be his resting ce for the night before heading westward to avoid the crevasse of Ymir. Then hed be on the edges of the beta sector with the gamma sector in sight. Hed have to go through a few more loops to reach sector 23 which where he was assigned but if theres little interruptions, hed make it by tomorrow evening. The quest didnt say that he couldnt hunt the monsters that show up in the area just to note down what appears. There were also a few well known monster grounds in the gamma sector that could prove worthy of training. Hed just do the scouting on the way. Frost gave himself around a week to train in these mountains, with a few days extra as contingency. His target was mainlyrge groups of E-ranks or even D-rank monsters, hopefully spurred on by the frenzy of the uing monster stampede, that way they wouldnt flee. His robes no longer reeked of fresh blood given that he would not condone chatting with a new acquaintance in such dirty attire, but he wasnt too worried, by walking straight through monster territory it would but an insult to them, a taunt. With the thought of battle Frost could feel an aching in his bones begging for relief just like when he faced against the frost wolves. He smiled wildly as he embarked through the snow, his hands ever so twitching, ready to summon his ive at a moments notice. The medallion from Jared was safely tucked away near his chest, right next to the teleportation talisman. Even after holding it in his hands and feeling it so close to his chest, he could not ascertain what metal the thing was made of but given that it was from the War Ursa battalion it was sure to be strong. Keeping it safely near his chest not only protected it from being lost but would also guard some of his vital organs if a strike came to pass. Frost continued walking for several hours, northward and as expected the local fauna could not resist attacking a lone adventurer. First was another set of frost wolves wish he made short work of, once again relying solely on his physical abilities. Next was some sort of ice snake, quick and agile it pounced out from underneath the snow, fangs open and ready to bite down hard. Frost reacted well, severing the things head mid strike. A sliver of cold sweat dripped down his spine as he looked towards the split in half snake. It was easily 2 metres long and at least 15cm in diameter. Its speed was so quick and silent that he couldnt hold back, utilising his entire strength. Frost, thanks to personal experience was not a fan of poison and he knew from his monster encyclopaedia that snake monstersmonly had some form of venom, he for one was not keen to suffer such pain again, least of all in the middle of the cial mountains without any back up. Ssssss, near the mouth of the in snake, a blue liquid seeped from its fangs and caused the snow to sizzle, giving off a nasty smell as it did. Frost sucked in sharp breath at the sight, praising his own reaction speed. He was right to avoid such a bite. Chapter 212 212 Chapter 212: Fighting Yetis Lying before Frost was the corpse of an ice snake, split in two halves by his ive. Ice snakes came in all type of varieties, size variation, colour variation and most of all venom potency. The one Frost just killed was thankfully a rathermon viper ss, roughly equal to E-rank in strength, its venom however would make it close to D-rank given the potency. If the snake sessfully sunk its fangs into him, hed immediately suffer immense pain and freezing nerve damage. Fairly debilitating for a single bite. Adventurers from Northrend as well as those that reside in the cial mountains always, always carry anti-venom potions when exploring the region, otherwise theyd quickly end up dead or at the very least crippled. Frost himself brought the anti-venom potions he got from Leo with him, just in case but hed rather not be forced to suffer the effects for a single second thus resulting in the swift extermination of the creature. It was said that in the core regions of the cial mountains there lived ice snakes that spanned over 1000 metres in length and with power to constrict mountains, rivalling the strength of the mighty dragons, though the dragons are loathe to admit it. However just as well-known are the ice snakes that perhaps only reach a metre in length, yet their venom can wound even Gods. A truly diverse race that can threaten all manner of life. Frost backed up a few steps as the foul smell pervaded his nose, causing it to itch. He frowned towards the split corpse really adverse to searching it for useful materials, his case with the wyvern venom leaving some form of trauma. But he was a big boy and after a few seconds of prancing around he took a deep breath and summoned an ice chakra dagger to skin it and carefully remove its venom sack. Both things being quite seble. The skin could be fashioned into clothing or armour whereas the venom sac could be used in all manner of potions and weapon coating. Given his clean cut both were in almost perfect condition. Of course, like any monster it too had a magic crystal which he pried out and stored in his spatial ring. As he carefully removed the venom sac with upmost delicacy, he couldnt help but be reminded of his younger sibling Wilsander, the snakeman who was fond of poison. Perhaps I should keep the venom sac as a gift. With such a thought he was less adverse to handling the dead snake. After the family gathering Dark started updating the dungeon menu system, allowingmunications between the many siblings so as to improve family rtions and make his children feel less lonely. As of yet hed exchanged contact details with a fair number of his siblings but was yet to call or be called, he thought that perhaps it was time to change that. But thatll have to wait till he got back to the Dungeon. [Ignition]....time to get going. Frost burned the ice snake remains and continued his journey north. He no longer kept his ive in the spatial ring, resting it on his shoulders as he walked, appearing very menacing. The next area was a known territory of yetis, D-rank monsters that are known for fierce aggression. Yetis were one of the starter monsters Frost had ess to but as of, yet he hadnt summoned one, fearing that theyd be simr to the pr bear. More muscle than brain. ording to his monster encyclopaedia, yetis wererge ape like monsters that dwelled in cold climates, fast, agile, and like to live in groups. Armed with impressive arm strength and sharp teeth they pummel their victims to death before tearing them to pieces with theirrge fangs. Adventurersmonly try to avoid yetis given their temperament, tendency to live in groups and most of all theirck of useful materials. Yeti pelts are not as soft or a pretty as that of frost wolves, their meat is gamy and tough making for poor food, hardly worth the danger to hunt. But Frost wasnt here for materials, no he was here for training. ..... Around an hourter kakakakkakakak, primitive cackling could be heard from all around Frost. It was difficult to see thendscape given the blizzard, but he walked right into a valley made of high frozen cliffs that extended for tens of kilometres. Known as a yeti home ground, it was always avoided unless one was of sufficient strength and or in a hurry to the resting camp. Thanks to that the poption was quite high, making the area even more dangerous. A family of 4 yetis lived in the outer rims of the valley and spotted Frost in the distance. The four of them cackled loudly, itd been a while since they had eaten sapient flesh. Frosts lips curled upwards, revealing a mad smile. Finally, a real challenge. He muttered under his breath as he readied his ive. Multiple D-ranks would not be an easy fight even with his abilities. No longer holding back he summoned ice chakra for armour. Hed gotten quite proficient with his chakra control so much so that he could produce quite an impressive set of armour, he looked like a powerful ice king beckoning traitorous rebels to attack, creating an attractive profile, shame there were only yetis to see. Gyahhhhhhh, finding Frosts provocation uneptable thergest of the four yetis roared as it thumped its chest before leaping from the elevated ridge it called home. The other three cackled with smiles ready to enjoy the show of their eldest siblings crushing this cocky meal, not even entertaining the possibility of him losing. Frost imperceptibly frowned as he saw therge ape flying down towards him with its arms raised above its head. The thing was easily 3 metres tall and chock full of muscle, but Frost wasnt fazed in the slightest. He looked at the rapidly approaching yeti with contempt, sighing lightly. Rahhhhhhhhh! The monster yeti roared even louder as it reached striking distance, just another second and this arrogant prey would be crushed under its powerful body. Both opponents looked at one another with scorn but only Frosts was justified. With grace Frost twirled his quasi-4star ive and took a strong step forward, he thrust out with the butt of his ive smashing the yeti in the chest. In what looked like slow motion, the yetis massive frame grinded to a halt, its momentum resulting in the ives butt puncturing ever deeper into its sternum. The yeti coughed and spurted out blood as its chest audibly cracked, a dent clearly visible around the ive before time speeded back up and its direction swiftly flipped. Frost was physically stronger and armed with a great weapon, the yeti that came with such aggressive momentum was sent flying backwards, spurting even more blood as it flew. While Frost merely retrieved his ive and twirled it as if it was weightless, acting though his attack was effortless. Boom! The yetinded hard on the ground and the cackling of its siblings suddenly stopped. Frost smiled in contempt, cing his ive back on his shoulders before cing his hand out and taunting the remaining three yetis with a wave. You monkeys gotta do better than that if you want to beat me! He released some of his pseudo aura, letting the yetis know of his power. Silence, utter silence, even the blizzard seems to quieten down at his loud promation. The three yetis stared at the young Frost, fury in their eyes. They couldnt understandmon tongue, but they knew this elf was taunting and insulting them. But his aura was... dangerous, they froze unsure how to proceed but, their decision was made for them. Rahhhhhhhhh! The eldest sibling that was sent flying by Frosts ive jumped to his feet and roared in protest. His chest was noticeably caved in and discoloured and drops of red blood could be seen dripping from its fangs. Its fury was paramount and wouldnt take this insult lying down. It roared to the sky summoning its younger siblings, eyes clouded by anger it wantonly ignored the dangerous vibe that Frost was emitting and the fact that it was so easily batted away by him like a child. With its roar the three yetis waiting on the ridge had no choice but to attack, their eldest brother was the pack leader, and his orders must be followed. With a quick look towards one another their expression became fierce, they puffed out their chests and beat them like drums before following their brothers lead, jumping from their ridge to engage inbat. The three of them appeared like missiles, flying through the air before crashing onto ground with an explosion of snow. Frost narrowed his eyes in focus as the four yetis moved to surround him each with a furious expression and baring their fangs. Now thats more like it, he swung his ive around and entered a battle stance in his magnificent ice armour, once again taunting the beasts. He had a mad smile on his face as his blood started pumping a mile a minute, he was excited, exhrated even. Fighting the frost wolves was nothingpared to this. Chapter 213 213 Chapter 213: Fighting yetis (2) The four yetis surrounded Frost in four different directions, thumping their chests as they waited for the eldest to give the signal. Meanwhile Frost stood in the centre with his ive pointed forward, awaiting their charge. The yetis werent quite as cunning as the frost wolves, Frost only had to wait a couple seconds before they ran out of patience. Rahhhhhhhhh! With the eldest roaring out the four yetis lunged at him with incredible speed. Frost smiled and weed the charge, truly enjoying the stress of the situation, feeling a true threat to his life. No longer able to hold back he used magic. [ice grow from the ground and pierce my enemy, ice spike] Frost channelled his mana and chanted the aria of his 2nd circle level spell [ice spike] and arge 1.5m long spike of ice quickly grew from the ground before one of the charging yetis. It wasnt enough to kill the thing, but it still stabbed through its foot and stalled its charge, reducing his immediate opponents to just three. Even Frost wasnt arrogant enough to fight against four yetis from all cardinal directions at once with only his adept level ive mastery. In the same moment he charged towards the already wounded yeti (the one he sent flying), hoping to deal with this one first before engaging the others. His movements were swift and unflinching, dipping his ive low and facing the de upward, he swung to the sky, aiming to carve up a nasty gash on the yetis chest. [Crescent sh] he shouted out themand word of his skill, generating a beam of energy to escape his ive, improving its swing speed, and cutting power. Shwing! The ive cut through the air at supersonic speed and quickly met the flesh of the yeti. The monster wasnt prepared for such a deadly and fast blow. Unable to reduce its momentum in time it went for an offensive approach, speeding up. The ive quickly started carving up the yetis chest, threating to split the thing in half. The pain was incredible, but the yeti was unfazed. It tensed up its chest muscles to forestall the ive travelling through its torso beforeshing out with its fist, aiming at Frosts face. Boom! The punch was true, Frost reeled backwards, his vision shaking. Pieces of ice armour ked off from the blow and his hair syed outward, but his ive still cut deeply. The eldest yeti now spotted arge gash that spread across its entire torso. Its powerful muscles helped to protect its vital organs, but it still looked devastating and the blood loss significant. However, Frost couldnt celebrateing out better in their exchange. The other two yetis were upon him in a sh. ..... Boom! One of them struck first with its oversized fist, mming right onto his shoulder de, knocking the wind out of Frosts lungs, and firing him a few steps forward. Another section of his ice chakra armour shattered, but it sessful prevented any real damage. Urgh! Frost grunted as he took advantage of the blow, distancing his body enough to turn and use his ive to block the punch the second yeti that followed close behind. With great dexterity Frost used the shaft of his ive to redirect the punch to the side while at the same time he stomped down with his right foot and round housed the yeti in the chest with his left. He enhanced his foot and leg with extra chakra resulting in a powerful physical blow that even a yeti would struggle to endure. The eldest yeti had copsed to its knee, holding its carved up chest as every movement resulted in excruciating pangs of pain. The second attacker prepared tounch another punch seeing as the first one was sessful but was unfortunately interrupted by therge frame of its brother, hurtling his way from a chakra enhanced roundhouse kick. This whole battle was ying to Frosts tune, he easily manipted the positions of his foes and knew exactly what blows he could and could not endure. Yet even so a single misstep could prove fatal, this was by no means an easy fight. Frosts entire focus was being consumed. For example, he underestimated the anger of these monsters, the final yeti in particr. It had its foot punctured by a thick spike of ice, having its charge slowed but not stopped. With its foot pierced the yeti was off bnce but its charge continued forward, smashing the ice spike with its knee, it continued towards Frost who was now, after dealing with its three siblings facing away from it. Blood gushed from its foot, but it still stomped down and reeled back its massive arm. Boom! An unexpected punch came from Frosts blind spot and smashed into his head, cleaving through his ice armour, and striking his skull, rattling his vision. Ugh! With another grunt he refused to fall unconscious or even fall down, biting his tongue and clenching his teeth he reached out his hand and flipped forward while.... [ice bolt] he channelled his mana and summoned two ice bolts from his other hand mid flip, firing them directly at the final yetis smug face. It quickly changed expression after being faced with close proximity bolts of ice barrelling towards its eyes . Don don The bolts smashed into the yetis face, narrowly missing its eyes but still dealt some serious damage, one bolt exploded and carved up the left side of its face while the other struck one of its protruding fangs, cracking the thing in half. Gyahahhaydbahdbash! An iprehensible howl came from this yeti, as it immediately held its face in pain and backed away from Frost. However, this was not a good thing, the remaining three yetis suddenly exploded with intense anger. The final yeti was the youngest and weakest, their precious baby brother. Even the eldest yeti whos chest was carved uppletely ignored his pain, standing up and charging back at Frost. Whereas the other two quickly regained their bnce and attacked in tandem. Well...shit, Frost winced, slightly regretting his counterattack, they were already angry enough, now it seemed that they blew their tops and no longer felt pain. Don! Don! Don! Therge fists of the yetis struck against Frosts ive all within a moment of each other. Each blow forced him to take a step back and retighten his grip on the ives shaft. It was far harder to deflect an oversized fist from a D-rank monster than it was to deflect throwing daggers or iron bolts. Thankfully his ive was of a high quality, such blows left no damage and reduced a great amount of the vibration. With arge aggressive swing Frost forced the three yetis back with brute force and technique. In the moments reprieve he readjusted his battle stance, pointing the ive low and to the side, while having his hand outstretched for bnce, looking very much like a hardened warrior. His ice chakra armour slowly repaired itself. With his mana levels Frost could maintain hisplete ice armour for tens of minutes, before sumbing to the strain. Of course, if he increased theyer count and density of the armour it wouldntst nearly as long. The two least injured yetis frowned as they outstretched their arms, blocking their eldest brothers next charge. His blood was still pouring and had painted their white fur. Fearful for their older brother they took a step forward and took up the vanguard, indicating for their elder brother to see to the youngest. Still mad with rage the elder yeti tried to force his way through, but his younger siblings didnt budge. Given theirck of injuries they were the most clear minded as well as the most worried. Huuuuuuuuu.....bring it on. Frost took a deep breath and beckoned the yetis in close, ready to face them with his ive. He could feel the stagnation on his adept mastery lifting. The stress from the fast and powerful punches from the yetis were more than enough to test his limits. Rahhhhhhhhhhh! The eldest yeti roared before dashing towards his youngest brother, checking on his situation while the other two moved in tandem against Frost. They were twins and had the best teamwork. Frost didnt rx, two D-rank were still pretty difficult to handle. With fluid motion Frost lunged forward and sliced at one of the fistsing his way, slicing in a few centimetres, and knocking it to the side while at the same time reinforcing the ice armour on his left elbow. He twirled and smashed the other yetis chest with his enhanced elbow, digging in deep but not enough topletely stop its momentum. With his smaller mass, Frost was sent back towards his original position yet looked unharmed. He skidded across the snow and realigned his ive in defence for the next strike. Don! The first yeti stuck with his unharmed fist against the ive shaft while its twin leaped into the air in preparation for a m. Boom! Frost endured the crashing blow with his powerful leg muscles, bending slightly at the knees as the snowpacted under his feet. Swoosh! Frost slid to the right, tipping his ive at an angle, causing the yeti to fall. He then tensed his arms and threw the yeti right into its charging twin before regaining his battle stance. Not a single hair was out of ce on his head, showing just how smooth and precise his movements were. Huuuuuuuu Frost released another deep breath while showing a wide smile, his battle lust had been activated....time to truly enjoy this fight. Chapter 214 214 Chapter 214: Fighting yetis (3) Rahhhhhhhh! The twin yetis roared as they stabilised themselves and re-entered the fight with gusto. They couldnt and wouldnt let up, growing angrier and angrier as the battle went on like any other beast. Only when they were truly at deaths door would they waver. While the twins fought against Frost with wild abandon, the eldest yeti reached the side of its youngest brother and quickly examined his wounds. It looked a lot worse than it actually was, the wounds on the face though gruesome were not life threatening, just very painful. The eldest yetis face visibly softened as he gripped the body of his youngest brother, thankful that his life wasnt in jeopardy. The next second, he gave his youngest brother a rap across the skull to stop its quivering before grunting in yeti. Basically, tranting as suck it up little bro and get back in the fight. He then aided his brother to his feet and pointed him in the direction of Frost and the twins. Grrahhhhhh, the youngest brother gritted his teeth and roared towards Frost in anger, he was the source of his current pain. Liking the look in his younger brothers eyes the eldest yeti, thumped his brothers chest since his was injured before the two of them quickly re-joined the fight from Frosts blind spot. Frost now had to once againpete with four yetis at once and he weed it, with a sashay of his ive he cut and bashed their fists away engaging in a relenting back and forth assault. It took him twenty minutes to defeat the four yetis with the youngest being thest to sumb thanks to its three elder brothers valiant efforts. Don! The youngest yeti had fallen to its knees, its white fur almost entirely painted red from blood. Its three siblingsy across the snow, silent and motionless, they died under Frosts mighty ive. Their bodies werent even in one piece, sttered all over, dying the snow blood red. Its strength failed it, the youngest yeti stared at the dead bodies of its siblings, its eyes losing their glow. It didnt even have the energy run anymore but even if it did it wouldnt leave its family. Its eyes then looked up towards the elf that they originally deemed as a snack, a helpless prey, oh how wrong they were. Its eyes didnt even show any hatred, just defeat, wishing for a swift death in order to join its brothers. Frost looked down at this yeti covered in blood, his own robes were dyed red too, with a little being from him. His ice chakra armour was barely holding together and had been reformed countless times. His ive that smited three yetis already was raised above his head in preparation for a swift decapitation but he stalled after seeing the look on the yetis face and felt gobsmacked. ..... Why do I feel like such a viin right now? He didnt expect such a range of emotions from a wild yeti, but the awkwardnesssted only a few moments before. Shwing! Frosts ive howled downward and cleaved through the yetis neck with great speed and uracy. The yetis eyes swiftly closed as its head slid from its shoulders and fell to the ground, releasing arge dose of DP. This was survival of the fittest, kill or be killed that was the way in the wild. He was an adventurer on a training excursion and these yetis were merely his training dummies, but their deaths were not in vain. Haaaaaaaaaa Frost let out a delightful moan as the yetis DP filled his body, from the four dead yetis he gained around 1200DP, and it felt glorious. The wounds he gained from the battle and his expended stamina and mana was swiftly treated. Even if the monsters produced little to no useful physical materials the DP alone made them worth it in Frosts eyes. Plus, his gains in terms of ive mastery was another bonus, his stagnation at the early to mid-stages of adept mastery was over. Towards the end of the battle, he seeded in jumping a small realm, allowing him to bring an end to the bnce. It was after this point that he yed the first yeti, the other three fell shortly after. Day one and Ive already made over 2000DP and made great stride in my ive arts, plus my ice chakra armour worked far better than expected. Frost deactivated his armour, thankful for how robust it was against the punches of the yetis. Crack Crack [Clean up] he cracked his neck and shoulders before casting clean up magic and activated the repair features on his robes. There were a few tears where the yetis ws or fangs reached. A momentter nearly all signs of the battle vanished from his body, only the four corpses at his feet remained. Well time for some looting I guess. He summoned an ice chakra de and started digging into the four corpses without a care in the world, he was already used to such practises and felt nothing untoward to the process. With precision he removed four D-rank magic crystals and stored them within his spatial ring. With their rank they could sell for a tidy sum or be used to power magic devices or arrays. Monsters could also consume them to grow in strength, however Frost didnt know how that would work on monsters summoned by the dungeon. Perhaps something to try out once he returned as hed likely have a plethora of spare magic crystals to test with. The rest of the body had little value, so he casted ignition on the corpses setting them alight as per protocol before venturing deeper into the valley and the den of the yetis. This was only the outskirts, more yetis surely awaited his de further in. He once again rested his ive on his shoulders as he marched through the steep cliffs, awaiting more challengers. If he was lucky he may even jump another small realm with his ive. Reaching advanced mastery would take some time, likely not to happen on this trip or at the very end at least. Adept and advanced was a dividing line like C and B-rank. Most peoplecked the ability to reach such a level regardless of the amount of effort and time they put in. 6 hourster, the sky had long grown dark, the stars appeared incredibly magical from the frozen expanse. The blizzard had died down, yet the temperature dropped by nearly ten degrees. The adventurer camp of the Beta sector was raucous with theughter and revelry of many adventurers and merchants as they sat amongst the many fire pits. The camp had constant patrols around the area and was built within arge, sheltered rock formation that proved to be very defendable. The fires and lights could be seen from over kilometre away, as well as some sort of red fog that floated around the perimeter. Fires and bright lights tended to both attract monsters as well as deter them, with the ones being attracted being the more dangerous. So why would the camp proudly portray their fires and lights for the world to see? Given the amount of adventurers present they would in fact wee arge group of monsters to attack the camp, resulting in easy money but that wouldnt be great for the purpose of such a camp. Safety was a main concern. Large groups of adventurers would give off a natural aura that would help stave off some monsters but for those that chose to ignore that either due to their personal strength,rge amounts ofrades or simply because they were starving. The red fog would deter them. It was an alchemic concoction that used the blood of high level monsters and crushed up magic crystals as well as a few other tid bits. Monsters when they smell the fog would be intimidated thinking that it was their of a powerful group of monsters, choosing to steer clear. Tonight, two young guards were on duty for the night and werezing on the job. Nothing really happened thanks to the fog and thebined aura created by therge amount of adventurers staying here. Even if some monsters did attack, theyd be useless given their strength. Their sole job was to alert the true guards resting in the nearby barracks or any one of the many adventurers. Since this was a reasonably easy job it was given to the younger generation with good eyesight. Tonight, it was Carlo and Taroks turn. Two wolf beastmen that grew up in a small enve within the external regions of the cial mountains. It wasmon for young men and women from such enves to either work in such camps or migrate to Northrend. Once they reached a certain level of strength and or money they usually returned to the mountains, unable to endure the peaceful life of the civilised countries. Yaaaaaaawnnnnnn how much longer till the end of our shift? Tarok asked hispanion Carlo as he stretched and yawned. Dude were not even half way, get it together. Carlo admonished hispanion, he was far more dutiful that Tarok, not taking his job for granted. Really, god! Im so bored and tired...thats it no more drinking for the rest of the week. Tarok continued toin about his situation. hed been drinking before his shift, and it made him even more drowsy. Youre only saying that because youve got no money left for alcohol. Carlo retorted bluntly, seeing right through his friend causing him to stutter and give a slightly infuriated look before the two of themughed. A minuteter a tall figure walked towards the camp, arge pole weapon could be seen resting on its shoulders. Chapter 215 215 Chapter 215: Beta camp Frost walked out of the valley of yetis, drenched in blood and severely damaged attire. The leather armour he wore underneath waspletely shot and even the chainmail vest covering his chest had several rings missing. Only his ive was in prime condition, the left over blood making it far more intimidating. Frost gave up on cleaning up after every battle, waste of mana. For 6 hours he marched through the valley and encountered no small amount of yetis as well as other monsters that dwelled in the valley. His kill count had racketed up to the dozens thanks to the untouched hunting grounds. Itd take a long time for this area to flourish with full grown yetis once again. In total he killed 22 yetis, all equivalent to D-rank, another 15 E-rank monsters and around another dozen or so F and G-ranks for a grand total of 8300DP, along with the frost wolves, ice snake and the few artic boars he had close to 12000DP stored in his body, a vast sum, especially for a single days work. Not to mention the amount of magic crystals he recovered and materials from the non-yeti monsters he made quite a killing. But it was anything but easy. The yetis tended to live in families instead of acting solo. Not massive groups but still anywhere from 2 to 5 full grown members. Once in the valleybat be far more deadly, narrow strips of space and rocky outcrops made fighting against overgrown monkeys adept in jumping from ce to ce even harder to deal with. The first four were icing on the cakepared to some of the families he encountered. And it wasnt even therge family of five members that gave him most bother but a groups of just two members. A female and a male both different from the other families and upied thergest territory, right in the centre of the valley. These two wererger and had what appeared like horns starting to grow on their limbs. They were almost ready to evolve to the next tier of yeti, C-rank monsters. Thankfully Frost came through and culled them as well as many of the other full grown members when he did otherwise itd be a major problem. Whenever a monster or group of monsters reach the next tier of their archetype, it brings about the desire for territory. Those two yetis in centre of the valley would have brought the others under theirplete control once they evolved and moved to expand theirir, killing anything that opposed them. In the external regions especially in the Alpha and Beta sectors, C-rank monsters were very rare and those that were C-rank were not usually social monsters making them far easier to deal with. Frost just prevented a possible cmity for the nearby weaker monsters as well as enves and Betas resting camp, yet he didnt even realise. Fighting against the two of them he sumbed to a few injuries and was forced to down a low level health potion so as to not slow down his pace, much to his irritation. He still couldnt get over the unique vour of the potions and always gagged. The next family of yetis had to suffer his wrath, making the battle rather short lived. Every battle he fought he could feel his ive mastery improving, making each and every subsequent fight easier, by the end of the valley hed barely find the yetis challenging at all, able to defeat them solely with the use of his ive. To grow hed need to find stronger opponents and or ones with more diverse attack patterns. Yetis like pr bears and regr frost trolls were not the strongest of D-rank monsters as shown by their respective costs in the dungeon menu. Upper rank ones present in the external regions would be the ice demons and Baltic tigers which would likely cost around 800 to 1000DP. Unfortunately, there werent any untapped hunting grounds for such monsters like the yeti valley. But there was another area that he wished to visit in the fringes of the Gamma sector but first he needed some shut eye and a good meal. After casting clean up a couple times and activating his robe repair function, he thought about donning his mask again but chose against it. Theres no way he could be linked to the dungeon out here and since Dark gave him this handsome face, he should show it off. ..... He walked towards the glowing lights that symbolised the camp with a bright smile on his face, he was in a real good mood right now. That must be the anti-monster fog I read about. As he grew closer to the camp, he could make out the red fog that loomed over the area, releasing a faint scent and pressure. He was amazed that such a thing allowed this camp to proudly yell their presence in a monster infestedndscape. He read that deep within the inner regions using such fog was actually forbidden given that it usually had the opposite effect, attracting instead of deterring. Deep within the cial mountains the sapient races needed to rely on strength, numbers, weaponry, and massive walls to live even somewhat safely. Monsters were far more aggressive than their sapient counterparts and could breed far quicker or even be created from out of mana such as with monsterirs and now dungeons. Halt! Carlo spoke out loud to Frost, yet his body was shivering. Frost bloodlust was still present from his earlier bloodbath, affecting the young guard. Frost did as instructed, still smiling brightly, enjoying the residual heat from the camp reaching his body. He released a deep breath and rxed, he made it. Identify yourself, Carlo followed up with his interrogation while Tarok continued toze at the side, showing very little interest. This was another one of their tedious jobs. Wee and identify those entering and leaving the camp. Frost, Im an adventurer from Furano, heading to the gamma sector for a scouting quest. Frost then removed his guild card from his robes. It wasnt illegal to not have ID, but it would make the whole thing smoother. Carlo took the guild card and did a quick check before handing it back to Frost. This was simple protocol and Carlo appreciated Frost being so on board. Wee to Beta camp, is this your first time here Frost? With Frost being identified he walked up closer revealing his face. Both Carlo and Tarok were momentarily shocked at his appearance but quickly got over it. If it wasnt a woman, it didnt matter how pretty he was. But they didnt recognise him. Yes Frost nodded his head in reply, reminded of his first time entering Furano. Alright then a few ground rules, no fighting while in the camp and no causing trouble otherwise youll be tossed out. You can stay in Beta camp for a maximum of four days, any longer will need permission from the camp leader. All food and drinks must either be provided by yourself or traded for, theres no free treatment here am I clear? This was a working camp with limited space, they wouldnt ept loafers. Frost nodded along as he listened, while Tarok yawned, leaving the whole thing up to Carlo. In the camp theres a few vendors and repair workshops as well as a camp notice board for those looking for some extra work. People will put up posts for certain materials as well as people looking for help with their quests. In regards to shelter theres yurts as well asrge log cabins, both work well in keeping out the cold. Speak to the dorm managers to get prices and vacancies. Food can be bought at therge canteen or butchers and can be cooked on one of the many firepits, firste first served. Any questions? Carlo listed the usual speech along with a few extra info since it was Frosts first time, and he was rather easy going. Can I sell some of my monster materials? You can but whether they buy it is up to the vendors or other adventurers, youll also have to negotiate a fair price. Carlo replied immediately but his words caused Frost to frown as the memory of his encounter with the female dwarf jeweller in Furano came to mind, she scammed him out of quite a bit of coin. Thanks...sorry whats your name? Carlo and this cker. Carlo kicked Taroks shin, is Tarok, nice to meet you Frost. I hope you enjoy your stay at Beta camp. Carlo then nodded his head and took a step to the side, allowing passage. Tarok did the same while ring at hisrade. Their weing was over and now it was time to get back to regr guard work. Frost nodded his head in thanks before walking into the camp. The entrance here was around 4 metres in width, boxed in by therge frozen cliffs. Ahead was an area roughly 100,000m2 (about 320m length and width) split up into different areas. Lodging to the north, fire pits and cooking in the centre, guards barracks and camp staff to the south. East was vendors and west was repair workshops. The entire ce looked very packed but at the same time efficient, a lot of thought was put in to utilising the maximum amount of space. Chapter 216 216 Chapter 216: Beta camp (2) Even at this time of the night, the camp was full of noise and activity. Dozens of adventurers were happily sitting by the firepits cooking up food while partaking in alcohol. Vendors were open as well, barely anyone here was asleep. Adventuring was not your standard 9 to 5 job. Commonly the monsters they sought or herbs they hunted only revealed themselves at night. Frost entered from the south side, one of only two entrances. This was the area where the guards in charge of the camp resided as well as the camp managers. Frost had a few questions in regards to prices for the shelter as well as some local tips. He also fancied taking a look at the notice board in the centre of the camp, perhaps he already had some materials that people were looking for. On shift at this time was camp manager Stuart, he was currently at his desk going over some daily reports. His head was already aching from the endless documents syed across his desk. Haaaaaaa god damn monster stampede always making my life here a living hell. He let loose aint before a knock was heard at his door. Yes what is it? He spoke with an irritated tone. Sir a young adventurer is new to the area and wishes to speak to you about the camp and the local area. A deep voice replied, a guard in charge of protecting and aiding Stuart reported to him while Frost waited outside. Usually, the camp managers had quite an open door policy without the need to wait outside no matter the time of the day but at the moment Stuart waspletely swamped. Haaaaaa have hime backter or better yet in the morning when Julias on call. Im too busy to deal with this. Stuart replied with a deep sigh, refusing to see Frost. The guard on the other side sighed as well knowing the amount of work his superior was under as well as hiszy personality in regards to these things. Always preferring to pawn it off to his colleagues. Taking a few steps from the door the guard returned to Frost. Sorry Mr Frost but camp manager Stuart is currently unavable, youll have to wait until morning. The guard spoke with sympathy before nodding his head and returning to his post. ..... Well, if hes busy then hes busy. Frost didnt feel slighted, thinking that getting in touch with the man in charge without an appointment and at this time of the night would be difficult. With a shrug of his shoulder, he left the camp managers office and headed towards the far north side where the dorms were. He brought a decent amount of coins with him, so cost wasnt an issue, just vacancy. To be honest he didnt really like the idea of sharing a room with a bunch of strangers but that came with the profession. As he passed the central area many adventurers briefly looked his way out of habit before looking back, with only the women fixing their gazes upon him as well as a couple men. Not disturbed by this he continued on towards the dorm managers office. Knock knock Frost knocked on the door to the dorm managers office, there werent any guards here. Come ine in, a friendly voice of a middle aged woman could be heard from within. The dorm manager was far less busy paper work wise, her duties being more social. Her job was just to manage the dorms and yurts making her quite sociable. Frost walked in with a smile, the womans office was quite tidy and cosy reminding him a little of the reception in Kathys inn. Hoh well arent you a looker,e,e let an olddy get a closer look at you. The dorm manager was incredibly friendly showing a bright smile towards him. She looked to be in herte 40s perhaps early 50s, yet her body appeared to be very fit and healthy, stronger than a woman in her early 30s. Of course, to be working amongst adventurers and in vicious monster territory one could not be weak. Frost didnt feel irritated by this woman as her interest in his looks werent driven by lust but more like an older woman appreciating a son or grandson. Hello mam, Im Frost an adventurer from Furano. I was told to speak to you about finding a room for the night. Frost smiled gently as he walked into the office, finding the woman to be very warm. Ah! Mam no, no, no Ill have none of that, call me mother Callie thats how I like to be addressed. Callie frowned at being called mam, waving her hands vigorously in protest. She hated being called mam, far too formal and made her feel old without the warmth. Callie was a beast woman of the sheep tribe, she had fuzzy wool like hair covering areas of her body and head, making her appear even more amicable. She was well known in this camp as well as others, been working in the camps for nearly three decades, making sure each and every visitor had a pleasant experience while in the camps. Even the camp manager was but a junior to her and relied on her advice a great many times...she was well loved, with everyone willing to call her mother Callie...she earned that title. Frost felt weird calling someone mother but if thats what she was called by everyone then he wasnt one to disagree. Well then mother Callie, its nice to meet you. Frost outstretched his hand in greeting but it was quickly shoved to the side. Pshhhh too informale here handsomed. Mother Callie without hesitation moved in close and wrapped Frost up in a bear hug. She always greeted neers this way. Frost was suddenly being hugged by a woman he didnt know and couldnt help but blush. Callie though old was still rather pretty but more than that he could feel two heavy orbs pressed up and deform against his stomach, they were evenrger than Mayas and Cassandras. After having her fun teasing the handsome neer, Callie backed off and patted his shoulder. Hahahah youre such a cutie, if I was a few decades younger hahahha. Frost blushed even more from her words. Mother Callie then returned to her desk, her smile even brighter after the teasing. Frost felt as though he was always powerless against confident woman. First there was Maya then Cassandra, his sister Aqua and now this olddy. So young Frost, since Ive never seen that impressive face of yours before Im assuming that youre new here. Yes mother Callie. Frost nodded his head while taking a seat opposite her. Did the guards at the gate give the usual quick rundown of the rules here? Yes they did, I tried to speak with the camp manager to get a better understanding of the camp and the surroundings, but he was too busy to see me. Oh yeah around this time Stuart would be swamped with work plus with his personality if he could hed shift it to the day manager. Callie straight up insulted Stuart while shaking her head in dismay. I can probably fill you in on whatever you wanted to ask him, but first since you came to see me youre likely looking for shelter. Callie opened a drawer under her desk and removed arge book. How are you with money? She asked a simple question while opening up the book to a page halfway through. This was the register for the dorms. She kept track of all tenants and payments with this massive ledger, keeping a very tight ship. Pretty well off, Frost replied honestly, if he could spend a little extra for a better sleep he was more than willing. Alright then youre in luck. If you wish to splurge your money theres a private yurt avable for 30 silvers a night. Callie tested the waters. Ugh....perhaps something a little less expensive Holy crap I didnt even spend close to that for four days at Kathys inn, this must be daylight robbery. Hahahaha good answer, we only have one private yurt and its only used by nobles or high ranking military men when theyre passing through. The price is grossly inted for that reason. Frost could easily afford such a price but whats the point, itd just be a waste of money, but he did wonder why it costed so much in the first ce. For reals though we have yurts or dorms each with their own sizes and prices. The yurts are more expensive and thergest can fit 6 people and the smaller fitting 3, excluding the private one of course. The dorms however can go all the way to 24 cots, and cost from just 10 coppers a night. Very cheap and cramped but shelter is shelter, far better than out in the wilderness. Since you said moneys not an issue, I rmend a yurt. Theyre more spacious, far warmer, seated further away from the hustle and bustle as well as being closer to the guard patrols and much nicer bedding. Plus, they have bathtubs for a nice, good soak. Pricing starts at 1.5 silvers for the 6 people yurts and 2.5 silvers for the 3 person yurts. The prices for yurts were far greater than the dorms yet still cheaper than Kathys inn, though he still needed to share. Chapter 217 217 Chapter 217: Beta camp (3) So, whatll be young Frost, if you want I could probably arrange for you to share a yurt with group of young woman. Im sure theyd be more than happy to apany you for the night hehehe....or if youd prefer thepany of a more experienced woman I may be up to the task. Callie batted her eyeshes, appearing like a coy teenager sending a shiver down Frosts spine. No need for that no need, Ill just take an avable yurt, no need for special treatment. Frost was almost sweating buckets; this woman was dangerous and very mischievous. Aw and here I was getting my hopes up, oh well suit yourself youngling. Callie smiled brightly before fetching a token from behind her with the number 7 on it. Yurt number 7 holds four people, currently empty, costs 2 silvers a night. She tilted her head to the side innocently as though she never teased Frost in the first ce. Frost quickly took out two silvers and ced them in Callies outstretched hand and took the token before quickly stepping back. If he didnt need more answers about the area he would have ran out at full speed toward the yurt and called it a night. Thank you, mother Callie, he thanked her with a slight twitch in his lips. Hehehehe no problem young Frost.....now that thats been settled what would you like to know about the area and the camps? With ruddy red cheeks Callie asked with her usual smile. She loved teasing young men or rather boys in her eyes, handsome ones most of all. Cough cough, Frost coughed to regain his focus, putting the teasing out his mind. Can you tell then more about these camps in general like how many there are, who runs them, locations as well as work? You want to start there...well ok. The external regions of the cial mountains are split into 24 sections from Alpha to Omega with every one ideally having a camp like this one but so far theres only 13 such camps in the external regions with Beta camp being the first and closest to the sapientnds. Youd have to travel to epsilon or zeta to find the next one. All these camps tend to be simr in size and structure, anyrger would attract too many monsters so they are kept small, efficient and without walls. Using only the anti-monster fog to deter the hordes along with the natural environment such as the rock formation surrounding this camp. Callie started her long exnation by receding into herfy office chair. For who runs the camps thats a littleplicated, many groups are involved such as the Northrend empire, the native kingdoms, more powerful enves as well as the adventurer and merchant guilds. All give money, supplies or even personnel to run and establish these camps for those seeking shelter. They all saw a need to create such areas and willingly worked together and now the system is in full effect. A group known as the order of the ice shield was established to manage all these supplies and personnel. I, the dorm managers, and guards are all under their employment. These camps allow the adventuring and merchant trade to flourish even in the deeper parts of the cial mountains, fully making up for their running and set up costs. Callie took a deep breath before continuing but a brightness could be seen glowing in her eyes, she was proud of her words, of her work and that of the order of the ice shield. If youre looking for work I suggest taking a glimpse at the notice board, we frequently post requirements for materials there as well as hunting quests plus other adventurers and merchants tend post stuff up as well but if youre seeking employment/ work for the order of the ice shield itself then I could give you a rmendation after seeing your skills. Were usually in need of guards,bourers, adventurers well pretty much anything really. Given the dangers of the environment our staff turnover is generally rather high. Callie frowned as she remembered the many, many dead colleagues shed outlived, quite a few were young and ambitious, having but a short life. ..... Haaaaaaaa.....well did that answer your questions? Callie asked after sighing. Yes, thank you mother Callie. He now knew far more about these camps as well as the ones behind them, learning more about the powerful organizations that were his neighbours was always a good idea. He wasnt looking to be employed by the order of the ice shield as a guard orbourer, but it was good to know that it was an option, another source of work to embark on whenever he journeyed into the cial mountains. I dont n on being employed by the order of the ice shield anytime soon, but Ive got a fair amount of monster materials stored so Ill take a look at the notice board, thank you. Frost nodded in thanks. Oh, if thats the case you might want to visit Ryan the manager of merchant vendors, he always has requests for materials, so much that not all of it can be posted on the board. If you mention me, he may even give you a good discount heheheh. Ill do that, he wasnt one to pass up a discount. Anything else? Id like to know a little about the surrounding sectors, the gamma sector in particr. Hmmm the gamma sector, do you have a quest there? Callies eyes opened up with interest. Yes, under the Furano adventurer guild Ive been assigned to scout section 23 of the gamma sector for monster activity. Ah that makes sense, the monster stampede is due after all. Callie nodded in understanding, but her reaction was rather different from what Frost expected. Given the location of this camp and the low amount of guards itd be quickly consumed by the horde, an anti-monster fog would do little to stay such a ravenous number of monsters. He had to admit he was rather perplexed, though the camp manager seemed busy no one was worried about this uing disaster. His confusion was evident on his face. You want to know why we are still here and why no one is panicking? Callie noticed his confusion immediately, Frost nodded in response. Haaaaaaa to be honest we dont exactly know why this is but the monster stampede that happens every few years only really affects those in the sapientnds, beyond the cial mountains. Callie scratched her temple as she exined. Though there is an increased amount of monsters in the area and a fair bunch do attack the camps and nearby enves and viges its nothingpared to what Furano has to endure. Its as though something attracts them south and they willing to ignore all else. Even to this day its a mystery to be solved, therell be more paperwork as well as adventurer traffic and a slight increase in the guards but not else. The camp will easily survive the stampede. Her answer only caused Frosts frown to deepen, he had no idea why such a thing would happen. From what he knew the stampede was caused by fighting in the inner regions forcing the weaker B-ranks and C-ranks into the external regions creating a fighting frenzy that would eventually be a starving horde seeking the lives of those in Furano and beyond. But this exnation proved that it wasnt so simple almost as if it was orchestrated. A starving horde shouldnt be able to ignore these camps and enves full of people with much weaker defences. Something else was a y here, he was sure of it...but of course he wouldnt be the only one with such thoughts. Hasnt anyone tried to find the cause? Of course, they have but found nothing, the area in question is far toorge tob through everything plus not everywhere is hospitable enough for exploration. After several decades of fruitless endeavour, the Northrend army gave up, too costly to continue. Best to just prepare for it whenever it arrives. Since the native kingdoms werent effected, they didnt bother to lend any aid, in fact weakening Northrend would be nothing but a boon to them. Now Northrend just reinforces Furano with their armies whenever the stampede is due.....but it does seem a little overdue. Callie frowned slightly, she had a few friends in Furano and couldnt help but worry a little. Anyway, enough about that, if you want to get to section 23 youll need to travel west from here, avoiding the crevasse of Ymir, thatll get you into the gamma sector. Sector 23 is in the northwest but taking a straight shot there will be difficult, best to head south first and meander around the centre before heading up. Theres no camp in the gamma sector but further northwest theres the epsilon sector and theres a camp there where you can seek refuge. Why should I avoid the centre? Frost already roughly knew the best route thanks to his extensive map, but itcked certain specific details. Arge frozenke covers the centre of the gamma sector and is home to a fair few water dwelling monsters. Even if youre stronger than them once they crack the ice dropping you into their realm, youre as good as dead. Its even more dangerous if youre alone given that no one could fish you out before they get hold of you. Callie spoke with dead seriousness. Sometimes it wasnt the strength of the monsters that was most dangerous but the environment you fought them in. Chapter 218 218 Chapter 218: Beta camp (4) Frost nodded his head in understanding, remembering how powerless Gobuskes goblins became while under water so much so that even his slimes got a few kills in. He would listen to Callie and avoid such an area....for now at least. Further north youll find a monsterir that crosses the fringes of the gamma sector and the epsilon sector. If you are confident in your strength or wish to hunt for monster materials, its a good ce plus theres a small enve hidden underground nearby. Theyre more weing than the others and may allow you to stay if you make a good impression. Callie continued to speak about the cial mountains as well as the known enves, viges, and other camps as well as the history of the order of the ice shield. They talked for an hour before she finished, a couple people came into the office to book a room. Callie quickly dealt with these known faces and assigned them a room before returning to her talk with Frost. She enjoyed chatting with newbie adventurers hoping that her experience and knowledge would one day save their lives. Hopefully thats answered all your questions young Frost. Yes youve answered them all and more mother Callie, thank you for entertaining me for the past hour. Frost thanked her while steadily rising from his chair, his legs had grown rather stiff after sitting for so long. No problem I love to chat, especially with handsome young boys such as yourself hehhehehe. Sheughed lightly causing Frost to shake his head in dismay. As he got up to leave the office Callie couldnt help but tease him onest time. Oh, and young Frost, my chambers are always open in case you change your mind about experiencing the wonders of a mature woman such as I and I promise you it wont be a night youd forget, chuu. Callie winked flirtatiously, emphasizing her abundant chest with her arms, and blew him a kiss. Frost visibly trembled, fumbling his steps he almost fell out the door, much to Callies enjoyment. I really am constantly teased by women haaaaaaa. He couldnt help butin as he blushed from his head to neck. Rushing out of Callies office he ventured towards the centre of the camp to take a look at the notice board. Focusing on work should help clear his mind of the provocative images that were currently running around in his head. The night was still young and there was much to do before dawn, thankfully the merchants all remained open throughout the night so he could take his time. ..... Rumble However, the moment he drew close the centre of the camp the tantalising smell of food filled his nose causing his stomach to rumble in protest. Though he could dy rest it seemed as though eating could not be. Well, I can always check the notice boardter. Frost shrugged as his stomach urged. He didnt store any meat in his backpack to avoid it reeking as he walked so he swiftly changed his direction to the canteen where ingredients could be purchased. There was a residing chef on hand that prepared all the guards meals and could prepare yours for a price, but Frost quite enjoyed trying his hand at cooking even if it was subpar at best. There was a small queue in the canteen, so he had to wait his turn, there was a board above the vendor that showed what they offer. It was presented by monster type like thus, vegetables were also avable for purchase. Frost wolf: Ribs, 50 coppers per half rack Sausages, 40 coppers per set of three Rump steak, 65 coppers Liver, 30 coppers The prices werent exactly cheap, but the ingredients would be incredibly fresh. There was even a hotpot special which included a bunch of ingredients for one silver. Frost quite fancied that, so when it was finally his turn, he requested it. The butcher if you will, frequently got such a request so it didnt take him long to prepare. One hotpot special thatll be one silverd. The butcher handed Frost a container filled with pieces of meat and veg (separated of course), as well as another filled with broth, the helping was quite generous. Frost fished out a silver coin and took the containers dly. Now he just needed to find a free firepit to cook on. Thankfully he packed arge pot for cooking and could use the ignition lifestyle magic meaning he didnt need to rent a pot and light the fire the old fashioned way. With his stomach continuing to rumble Frost quickly found a free firepit on the outskirts. A few of the more forward female adventurers tried to wave him over to their fire pit but he smiled and shook his head. He had enough teasing by woman for one day. [Ignition] with themand word the fire pit was set aze, generating aforting heat. Well for others at least, Frost wasnt adverse to warmth but fire such as this still irked him slightly. Removing his cooking pot from his spatial ring he set it up over the fire pit and once it warmed up he tossed in the meat, causing it sizzle. Once it was browned he added the broth and brought the mixture to the boil, finally he added the vegetables and stirred, he raised the pot slightly to reduce the cooking temperature. Now all he had to do was wait and asionally stir. Hot pot was not aplicated dish to make especially when onecked spices such as pepper, salt etc... thats why it was so popr among the adventurers in the camp. It was very rare for one to have good cooking skills amongst such a profession. After ten minutes or so a pleasant smell escaped from the pot, Frosts stomach rumbled once again, the dish was done. Alright, alright quiet down, the foods ready. He admonished his roaring belly, still finding it awkward to have such cravings. And thus, Frost appeared like every other adventurer in the camp, eating at the firepits as they enjoyed the safety of the camp. Huuuuu much better, not the best dish but certainly ptable. Frost rubbed his filled belly after finishing every drop of the hotpot, not willing to waste his hard earned work. [Clean up] he casted magic to clean the pot and containers before putting out the fire, since no one else was waiting to use it. The containers had to be put in the camps recycling bin, to be cleaned and re-used by the canteen. With his belly now filled he moved toward the notice board in the centre of the camp, even now it was still a popr area, many adventurers and even merchants were gathered around therge board looking for work. As Frost arrived, the group moved to open up a space before continuing their own investigation, acting quite friendly. Frost smiled and nodded in thanks before taking up the space and looking over therge board before him. Hunting arge group of frost wolves that have been causing disruptions to the trade route in sector 15 of the Beta sector, need members for party, please at least E-rank. Needing D-rank crystals from spirit monsters, paying 3 silvers per crystal. Wanting guards of E-rank to D-rank to defend merchant caravan travelling to the Theta sector, 20 silvers, meals provided. Requesting Frost vine leaves, 1 silver per vine. Delivery request to thembda camp, 2 silvers. A great range of quests were posted on the board, all for the external regions of the cial mountains. Frost even had some materials in his spatial ring that a couple merchants were looking for. Not only would one gain money frompleting such quests theyd gain reputation amongst the order of the ice shield as a substitute for not being a quest of the adventurers guild. Frost noted the names of the merchants that sought the materials he had on hand before leaving the area, heading to the east where the merchants were. Mother Callie mentioned that he should speak to Ryan, the merchant leader of the camp. So, he nned to do just that, perhaps thered be a few items hed like to purchase himself. Something stronger than simple leather armour was quite high up on that list as well as alcohol. Hed actually discussed brewing their own alcohol with Maya once the dungeon was expanded a fair bit more. He could purchase the nts after all through the dungeon menu, leaving only the process. He thought it would make for an enjoyable hobby the two of them could share. But for now, hed have to purchase at least one bottle while he was out exploring as a gift otherwise, shed definitely hold a grudge. The merchant area was less busy than the fire pits but still a fair amount of people were talking with merchants, trying to haggle for a better price or learn more about a job request. He quickly found the merchant leader whos office was upon a hill and looked a fair bit morevish that the other managers, which was to be expected give that he handled the money. Ryan was a rather obese human that wore a lot of jewellery but had an affable expression, appearing warm and easy going, simr to that of Callie. The moment Frost walked in the door Ryan analysed him from head to toe and smelled the scent of money. He quickly got up off hisrge backside and greeted Frost with great enthusiasm. When it came to money, Ryan was always full of energy despite his weight. Chapter 219 219 Chapter 219: Beta camp (5) Hello, hello young man, how can I Ryan, merchant manager of this camp help you this fine evening. Ryan wore a friendly smile, presenting himself as beneath Frost to garner his favour. Ryan knew the best way to make money was to tter the customer and make them feel as though they were the king. Frost instinctively frowned, finding Ryans personality a bit much. With his lips twitching slightly he took in the massive frame of this merchant and his overbearing smile, being subtly reminded of the jewellery dwarf in Furano. He thought that Ryan would have a simr personality to Sebastian or Calder given his position, but it seems he was wrong. Nice to meet you Ryan, mother Callie sent me your way since I have a decent amount of monster materials stored in my spatial ring. Frost cut straight to the chase. The look in Ryans eyes was unnerving as though he was being eyed as a piece of meat and not for the usual reasons. For someone who only recently became flush with cash this was not a look he received often. If he wasnt alert, he could end up being tricked, walking out of this office with several expensive items that served no real purpose. He could tell that Ryan likely had a silver tongue and didnt wish to test his restraint. At the mention of Callie, Ryans left eye twitched almost unnoticeable. He knew that that old woman likely said hed give a discount and by being sent by her it meant that she was looking out for him. If he abused his silver tongue to take advantage of the young Frost, she would likely reprimand him. Ryan was afraid of very little, but Callie was not included in that list, that woman was like a terrifying mother bear that wouldsh out if someone messed with her cubs. Ryan was not one to ruin his rtionship with someone so well connected just to get a little more cash from Frost. I see I see, she pointed you in my direction to see if I or anyone under me is in need of such materials and would be willing to engage with you in trade. This meant that he and his subordinates would be the ones giving money with very little chance of Frost making purchases, it was obvious why hed be unhappy. But Ryan was an experienced merchant and wouldnt let his true feelings show, he retained his friendly smile and nodded along as he spoke and listened. Yes pretty much, Ive already noticed a few requests on the camps notice board and would like to turn them in but if youve got any other requests Id be willing to trade. Frost gained quite a few items along his journey. Though the yetis proved to have very little in terms of useable materials they did give D-rank magic crystals, which was one of the requests he came toplete. The other was for the poison sac of an ice snake of at least E-rank, both of which would get him some silver. Other materials included the bones and pelts of the frost wolves, two artic fox pelts, the wingtips of an ice hawk x3, the horn of a giant horned artic rabbit and several other materials that he could trade for. At the moment he only had a single dwarven smith and theycked much in terms of skills in rtion to using materials that werent metallic or pykrete. He also retrieved a few herbal nts that grew in the valley, but none that could be used in creating alcohol like the frost vines. ..... Ryan tilted his to the side slightly and cupped his chin in thought before replying. Since mother Callie rmended you Im sure youre trust worthy and have some decent materials. Let me see the wares for the posted quests and if they are of sufficient quality we can discuss the rest. Callie was right to send Frost straight to Ryan, he was the major lynchpin of the merchants, if he didnt like you or didnt find you worthy to deal with, the other merchants would likely follow suit. He could also act as a middleman for all the other merchants material requests, saving time. And given the current state of the external regions, there was a high demand for materials as well as stock. With the monster stampede looming the monsters in the area grew more abundant and frenzied. This created more stock but also increased the danger, for strong adventurers such as Frost this was actually a very profitable time, thats why the Beta camp was quite popted and raucous. The merchants not only receivedrge amounts of raw materials for decent prices they also soldrge amounts of equipment. Thank you Ryan, Frost thanked Ryan for his trust and removed the specimens from his spatial ring, instantly lighting up Ryans eyes. Spatial rings werent exactly umon but still it wouldnt be on poor people. But since he had a spatial ring Ryan didnt know what items Frost mayck, making it hard to push certain products, leaving the power in Frosts hands but that wasnt important right now, he need to examine the materials offered. Hmmm Ryan gave a quick look at the materials not expecting too much but the moment he saw them he gawked. His eyes opened wide, and he licked his lips out of habit. A secondter he put his face right up close to the materials. Frost withdrew two magic crystals he got from a couple of yetis and the poison sac from the ice snake. Both items were in perfect condition without a single nick or scratch. Ryan immediately went into serious profession mode; he withdrew a special set of gloves from his own spatial ring along with something akin to a jewellers monocle. May I? He looked up at Frost with a serious expression and asked permission to perform a more in depth analysis. Go ahead, Frost nodded his head, giving the go ahead, his opinion on Ryan instantly being elevated. So, this is his true expression. Ryans current appearance was very professional and felt much more aligned with his standing as merchant manager. Carefully Ryan picked up the poison sac of the ice snake, he gently rubbed and squeezed different areas, checking for damage and quality. He then lightly smelled the sac before activating a merchant skill called [analyse]. This skill allowed him to gleam a small amount of information on the target object. This way he could figure out the strength of the poison without using chemicals or hiring a poison master. The sac is in pristine quality, ispletely full and it was removed and stored with delicate precision. Ryan lifted his head and looked at Frost with a great deal more respect. The ice snake must have been killed the moment before it prepared to bite him, thus resulting in it being so full. Ryan had seen many poison sacs in his years as a merchant but very few had been filled to the brim, Frosts timing for his kill was uncanny. Regardless of whether it was luck or skill he needed to treat this young adventurer with more respect. Even the way the sac was removed from the snakes corpse must have been done by an extremely sharp de and with such delicacy as though Frost was an expert. These were all great signs for a merchant and adventurer, such high quality specimens could be sold for far more than their regr counterparts sometimes more than triple. Perfect grade and the poison is of D-rank, one rank higher than the requested level. Ryan then gently ced the poison sac back down onto the table as he gave his results. The one who requested a poison sac of an ice snake is Asahi. Being D-rank would suit his needs even better and well give an improved price based on the grade and rank... Ryan quickly calcted with his fingers, taking into ount the purpose of the poison sac as well as profit margins. we can offer you 25 silvers for this item; do you perhaps have the snakes skin? Frosts eyes widened in surprise, not expecting such a price for a single item that took him very little effort to gain. What Frost didnt realise was that poison monsters were always ssed quite high in terms of materials given the danger level they usually had. But the surprisested but a moment, he was currently in a discussion. Yes I retrieved the skin as well as the magic crystal. Frost then removed the snake skin parts as well as the magic crystal from his spatial ring. To be honest he was still a little unsure on whether or not to trade the poison sac or keep as a gift for Wilsander but.... The price is too tempting to resist, sorry little brother, next time perhaps. Ryan quickly looked over the magic crystal and the snake skin finding once again that they were of very high quality. Of course, the skin was cut so as to kill the ice snake, but it was only one, which was clean and near the head, preserving the majority of the skin. He nodded his head; Asahi could do with all the parts and Ryan had the power to make such a sale on his behalf. With the skin, the crystal and of course the poison sac I can offer you 35 silvers. The skin was not as pricey and neither was the crystal given that simr skin could be retrieved from non-poisonous snakes without much variation, the crystal was treated the same as a regr E-rank monster crystal, no more than a silver. Chapter 220 220 Chapter 220: Beta camp (6) 35 silvers seems rather high to be honest. Frost couldnt help but say out loud, possessing very little business sense. Ryan faced him and almost gawked. Wow, first time in a while Ive seen someone so.....honest. Ryan thought to himself while trying not to giggle. He had other words to describe Frost but honest seemed kinder. However, he didnt dislike people like Frost, in fact he was rather fond of them. Although he was an aplished merchant and did what he could to gain a profit he never abused the rtionship between merchant and customer. Even when he made money the customer would always leave with something, he had his own moral code. Seeing Frost acting so honest in front of him he couldnt help but feel warm and decided to educate the young man. If he wasnt such a kind merchant, he would significantly lower the prices he offered for Frosts other materials Young Frost what youve brought out today would normally get you perhaps 8 to 12 silvers depending on the merchant and market but thats for normal materials. You not only provided perfect quality materials without damage, the poison sac ispletely full, containing far more poison than normal. With that youd easily make anything from 25 to 30 silvers when trading with the skin and crystal but since you have showed such expertise in dealing with these materials and are a clearly a young man of great talent, I added another 5 silvers to establish a good rtionship. Ryan looked deep into Frosts eyes. Five silvers was nothing in the grand scheme of things as long as he could have Frost regrly trade materials here in the Beta camp itd be more than worth it. Generating a good rtionship between the supplier and merchant was sometimes far more important than profit, continued, long term sales was much more desired than short term deals. Frost cupped his chin as he pondered Ryans response, understanding the meaning, he then smiled and nodded his head. Thank you for the lesson Ryan. No problem no problem, just make sure you dont get taken advantage of by more unscrupulous merchants, trading here in the future would be best. Ryan didnt even hide his desires this time, tantly revealing his hand to Frost. Frost chuckled slightly before nodding his head, he had no problem trading here in the Beta camp often, it was fairly close to his home after all. This could be the beginning of a great friendship. With a friendship being established Ryan then moved to the other two items requested, two D-rank monster magic crystals. Magic crystals could be split into two types, natural and monster. Monster magic crystals were the crystals that were contained in the bodies of monsters, allowing them to grow in strength and cast magic even without an advanced knowledge base. The stronger the monster the more pure and dense the crystal. ..... Natural magic crystals were ones that could be found in nature, where mana was dense. Magic crystal mines were highly prizedmodities amongst the many kingdoms of Nova yet usually only produced low ranking crystals. Natural magic crystals were less violent in their magic providing a more stable yet weaker source of energy. Best used in simply magic devices such as lights, cooking equipment, arrays etc.... for weapons and more offence magic devices monster magic crystals were much more desired. It is rumoured that high ranking magic crystal mines were present deep within the most harshest environments where the mana is incredibly dense such as the core regions of the cial mountains, but it was unproven. Northrend had a few magic crystal mines in its domain but only rarely were D-rank magic crystals produced therefore hunting monsters for their crystals never lost favour. Certain magic crystals would have some alignment to elements depending on the monster. Most of the monsters present in the external regions cial mountains had some leaning towards the ice element with their crystals but not enough to limit their use. The ice aspect wasnt dense enough to cause a problem, meaning they could be used as an energy source for any magic device type. Ryan once again picked up the item and closely examined it, checking for damage, its rough weight as well as grain structure before using his [analyse] skill. Many merchants with the [analyse] skill simply skipped the old fashioned checks, but Ryan felt that one would get rusty andcent as a merchant if they did. Two D-rank monster crystals, no obvious damage.....yetis? Yes Hmm interesting choice, Ryans eyes quickly nced at Frost before returning to the crystals. Yetis have very little usage materials wise when at D-rank but their crystals are pretty solid, average level for D-rank but without any damage so the majority of the energy is still sessfully stored....I can give you 8 silvers for the crystals as stated in the original price. Magic crystals were not rare and at D-rank there was little variation between monster crystals energy output, yetis being rather average dropped some points in the price but since they were of perfect quality Ryan offered him the original price. Frost couldnt help but let out a small sigh and shook his head. The yetis were D-rank and by far a greater danger than the other monsters he hunted yetpared to a single ice snake they couldnt even amount to a quarter of the price. It was slightly depressing. Sounds good Ryan, Id like toplete the quests with these items then. Frost agreed to the price given by Ryan. All together with the added crystal and skin hed get 43 silvers, not bad for an hour or sos work. Far more than what he would have gotten frompleting regr E-rank quests back in Furano. Alright give me a second. Ryan rang a bell on his desk summoning a secretary. Yes sir? A pretty young woman, likely in herte teens or early twenties entered the room. she was human and had long ck hair and was quite cute. She was dressed in a formal pant suit and held a clipboard against her chest. She wasnt that curvy in any area but was slim and athletic in appearance. The young secretary nced quickly to Frost before facing back towards Ryan, unfazed by his pretty appearance. Please deliver these items to Asahi and Geram respectively along with the invoice for the pricing, they cane to me if they have any disagreements. Right away sir, the woman ced the items in a spatial ring and promptly left the office to carry out Ryans orders. Haaaaaaa shes the perfect secretary, attractive and cute, shame shes so cold. Ryan shrugged and shook his head in dismay. He wasnt one to sleep with his subordinates, but he did like being surrounded by beautiful figures. Frost wasnt one to pry so he just ignored Ryansment yet internally he did find her quite attractive. Here 43 slivers as agreed upon.. Ryan removed 43 silvers from a chest in his office while at the same time jotting down the sale in his register. Frost dly took the coins and added them to his spatial ring, increasing the fortune he was carrying around. You mentioned that you still had materials, if youd like I can give you a fair offer on what we require? Ryan was more than happy to purchase more of Frosts materials given the quality hed already disyed but he was still a businessman, if he and the merchants under his charge had no need for the product they wouldnt purchase it, this wasnt the adventurers guild after all. Feeling closer to Ryan, Frost then began to list all the materials he currently had on hand that he was willingly to sell. He still wished to keep a bunch of items to experiment with. The two of them negotiated for the next hour or so throwing prices back and forth along with chatting about one another. Eventually Ryan agreed to buy a fair amount of monster materials from Frost as well as all the herbs he gathered. The price came to a whopping 2.5 gold coins along with 43 silvers he gained close to 3 gold coins for what was effectively a single days work. His expenses for the day added up to just a few silver for his shelter and food. His weapon was undamaged and the main piece of armour his chainmail vest was still nearly intact, and his robes had a self-repair function. Other adventurers would likely have to split this money amongst the party on top of being for repair fees and restocking their equipment such as potions plus itd be unlikely for a single group to being able to hunt such arge number of monsters in a single day. Frost was already C-rank with a great weapon, skilled in martial arts, chakra, and magic plus had an incredible reserve of stamina. He was considered a powerful force. C-rank was truly when one is seen as a capablebatant, and he was only growing. The secretary returned while they were negotiating, reporting that Asahi and Geram had no problems with the price, she then silently returned to her own office to get back to doing paperwork without a change in expression. Chapter 221 221 Chapter 221: Beta camp (7) Hoh so you travelled through the yeti infested valley to get here, no wonder you got so many crystals and materials. Ryan looked Frost up and down finding that there wasnt a single hair out of ce on his handsome face, neither were there tears in his clothes. His initial reaction would be to im bullshit. Frost was so young and alone plus he didnt give off a super threatening aura like those at B-rank or higher. Ryan was based in the cial mountains and worked in more than just this Beta camp, asionally he was also stationed in the inner regions and his own strength was equivalent to D-rank, even with his current frame. To be an able merchant in such a vicious climate one needed strength, especially when starting out. Ryan hade across more than a dozen people at B-rank and even those higher, Frost did not give him such a feeling, but he also didnt seem like the type to lie plus he had the items in his spatial ring and all of them were rather fresh. Frost was far more than meets the eye, someone with great potential, his merchant spirit was screaming totch onto this young mans leg. Telling him that if he did, hed be swimming in cash and rare materials. Itd been a fair number of years since he felt this way, thankfully he wasnt too old to take some risks. After the exchange of materials and money, Ryan rmended a few good vendors for Frost to visit after hearing his future ns. He then walked Frost out the office door with arge smile on his face, feeling incredibly happy. The moment Frost was out of earshot and sight however, Ryans face became very serious, and a rather malicious grin appeared on his face. Amber, he called his young secretary with amanding tone. Sir? Amber appeared a momentter, her eyes slightly frowning due to rarely being called with such a tone but given her cold visage to the untrained eye there was barely any change. I need you to send a message to the higher ups but keep it under wraps. Ryan spoke with all seriousness. Amber nodded her head in understanding. Tell them that a newbie with incredible potential has shown up, worthy of pulling into the organisation. After speaking with Frost for the past hour and analysing him with his experience, he had great expectations, so did Callie it seemed since she sent him here. He and Callie were far more important than the local camp manager Stuart. They were quite high up in the order of the ice shield whereas Stuart was permanently assigned to Beta camp. Not only was Ryan a high level merchant he also functioned as the eyes and ears of the order, apprising them of changes in the local areas and of possible recruits. Merchants dealt with a great number of adventurers after all. Callie also functioned in a simr way, but she wasnt an official member of the intelligence team, just did what she could wherever she was assigned. Her purpose was more monitoring the management of the camps as well as the quests on the notice board. As long as people performed quests for the order of the ice shield, such as those posted on the notice board or given out directly by the managers, they would earn not only money but recognition from the order. Higher recognition or reputation would allow them ess to more important quests and perhaps even permanent employment in the organisation. Further beyond that they could be then be offered the opportunity to join the order of the ice shield, bing true members with a say in their direction and management like Ryan and Callie. ..... Ryans rmendation to the higher ups would allow Frost to skip a lot of extra work, from the moment the higher ups received this report, Frost would be on their radar. Theyd monitor his progress and if they found him worthy theyd straight up offer him a ce in their organisation. Young adventurers such as Frost were high up on the orders list of people to employ, its much harder to pull in people who were already powerful and or established. Plus, they wouldnt be the only ones trying to recruit them. The native kingdoms of the cial mountains, the Northrend empire and others would all want to count powerful people among their own. Striking first would always be beneficial. Frost was unaware that hed garnered such an appreciation from Ryan and that a powerful group would be monitoring him for evaluation but even if he did, it wouldnt be a bad thing. Being desired by these groups would allow him easier ess to their resources. There was also the war ursa battalion token he got from Jared; two powerful groups now recognised his potential. With his spatial ring now emptier and his coffers much deeper and a full belly, Frost made his way to the yurts and dorms ready to call it a night. Hed continue his journey to the gamma sector at dawn. Frost opened the animal skin door or Yurt number 7; it was incredibly warm and cosy. Animal skins covered the floor, walls, and ceiling, keeping in the warmth emitted by the magic furnace in the centre of the room. A regr fire would need to be ventted thus reducing the heat instion of the yurt. Magic devices such as this special furnace worked wonders, and only required a low rank magic crystals to function for the entire night. A small holder was beside it containing half a dozen crystals that the tenants were free to use. four animal fur, covered beds were arranged in the room in a square giving each tenant ample space. They could store their valuables under the beds and attached to the side of the yurt was a smaller yurt, one that contained the promised bathtub. The water of course had to be fetched by oneself from the well or summoned through magic but overall, in was a nice touch, worth the premium. Frost was the only one in the yurt for now, so he had his pick of beds, not that it made much difference, each of them were the same distance from the furnace. Should I take a bath? Frost asked himself while tilting his head. Since he was alone in the yurt -at least for now- he feltfortable stripping down and soaking in some warm water. It was a feeling that using magic just couldnt replicate and after talking to Agar his lich younger brother he garnered as new respect for bathing. With a nod of his head, he decided to go on ahead. Opening up the door to the bathroom arge copper tub was in the centre of the room with a primitive toilet hidden behind a screen to the left (basically a hole in the ground). It wasnt much but itd do the job. Knowing that time may not be on his side Frost got ready. He summoned water with lifestyle magic and heated it with another type lifestyle magic. There was a magic hotte device attached to the tub, requiring low rank magic crystals to function to but he felt itd be a waste when he could simply use magic himself. Quite quickly steam started to fill the bathroom, the water was ready. Without waiting, Frost stripped down to his birthday suit and hopped in, discing some of the water. Huuuuuuuuu following Agars example he sunk down so even his neck and shoulders were submerged before releasing a long deep breath. He let the warm water open his pores and leaned back against the tubs frame, truly rxing. The loud noise from the raucous adventurers and guards in the camp was all but silent in the yurt thanks to the thick walls of animal pelts. It allowed one to truly remove themselves from the danger of the cial mountains. Sometimes the mental and emotional strain can be far more debilitating than the physical. Frost enjoyed the bath for close to an hour before removing himself from its warm embrace, thankfully no one entered the yurt during his bath time or throughout the rest of the night. He slept very peacefully without interruption and woke up at the crack of dawn, well rested. Though he did have a slight trepidation that Callie may pull a prank on him during the night, but it never came to pass. At the crack of dawn, the room was alight by the bright sun peering in through the pelts, Frost redressed himself and stretched his back producing a loud crack. His stamina had been recharged and he was ready to continue his long journey to the gamma sector, of course hed have breakfast first. The moment he opened up the animal skin door to the yurt, the loud voices of adventurers and merchants could be heard once again. Seems this camp never sleeps, no matter the time, theres always people up and doing business. In fact, the crack of dawn was one of the most busiest times here in the Beta camp. Adventurers liked to leave early, when monsters were either still groggy from a nights sleep or exhausted from a long night of activity. Chapter 222 222 Chapter 222: Beta camp (8) Frost took in the cool air, enjoying the vast change in temperature from the heavily insted yurt. Whereas others felt at great ease in warm temperature, he felt it in the cold as well. He wasnt the only one getting up at the crack of dawn, many others could be seen exiting from their yurts or the nearby dorms, whereas others entered where they once slept. A change in shift between the nocturnal and diurnal. Several nodded their heads towards Frost before moving to the canteen. After a hearty meal these adventurers would get to work as was their routine. Frost also nned to do the same before having a quick browsing of the merchant sector. He was too tired before, and the night sky made viewing products difficult. Though he technically had all he needed, it was nice to browse, who knows something might spark his interest. With a smile andrge stretch of his body Frost followed the group towards the canteen, queuing up for his turn. The food was pretty much the same at all times given the adventurers varied schedules but at the crack of dawn the guards chef offered to make breakfast for a small fee. He was up and cooking anyway so it wasnt too much extra work and got him some extra cash. The timing however onlysted an hour from when the sun rose. After that the adventurers and non-camp staff where on their own cooking wise. Most adventurers in the camp looked forward to this meal, some even dying their rest just to enjoy it. Food cooked by someone with actual skills made for a massive difference and with such a dangerous profession, eating good meals when possible was a necessity. Alright, alright no need for a fuss, theres plenty for everyone, just line up and wait your turn! some of the on-shift guards shouted from the canteen after seeing a fight about to break out. Though the chef did this breakfast service for an hour, that was dependent on the ingredientssting. The adventurers were afraid that theyd run out of meat before it was their turn. The breakfast offered was 70 coppers and contained sausages, fried potatoes, ck pudding, an egg and finally mushrooms. The ingredients werent that high in quality but the fact that they were present here in the cial mountains was impressive. Like the guards said, there was enough for everyone Frost included. After handing over 70 coppers he received a decent helping on arge te that was to be returned after eating, damage of said te would induce an extra charge. Another rule was that the breakfast on the tes must be eaten within the canteen. Rows of simple benches stretched alongside arge wooden table. Many people had already sat down and were wolfing down their breakfast with relish, such glorious bounty would give them strength for the rest of the day or days. Frost took his own seat, alone and took a deep whiff of the still sizzling breakfast. Sausages made from hignd cows-regr beast species that were reared by many of the enves and viges in the cial mountains as well as throughout Northrend, a hardy species that could thrive in harsh climates. They were tender and juicy, perfectly cooked. The camp chef really had some impressive skills, the dish was even tastier than those at Kathys inn. The rest of the items were just a well-cooked and tasty even though they were nothing butmon ingredients. A smile adorned Frosts face before he copied everyone else and shovelled down his meal before the cold wind froze it. ..... As he ate others swiftly entered looking for the breakfast as well, therge canteen quickly became crowded so much so that Frost wasnt able to remain alone. A group of three adventurers sat by his side, two male and one female, all elves. Frost wasnt wearing his mask right now so the three assumed that he was an elf like them, the female even let out a slight wow as she sat next to him, enamoured by his pretty face. It wasmon for people to sit with their own kind when they had a choice of stranger, Frosts good looks just made the choice easier. Hello friend do mind I we join you here? The oldest of the three and the leader of the group asked Frost in a friendly as he and his colleagues sat down. Sure, Frost replied with a friendly smile and nod, he wasnt against sharing his table with these three. The aura that they gave off wasnt threatening in the least. Thanks...my names Pagon, and these two are Liana and Horbest. Pagon ced down his breakfast and introduced himself and his friends. Frost, pleasure Frost shook Pagons outstretched hand in greeting. A momentter the female elf Liana interrupted by shoving Pagon to the side and taking up his seat next to Frost before showing an innocent yet mischievous look. Pagon and Horbest looked at one another and shook their heads, choosing to ignore Lianas childish antics. The three of them were an adventuring party known as the frost lilies, elves born and bred in one of therger native kingdoms of the cial mountains where sapient and intelligent monster races lived together peacefully. The cial mountains have their own adventurers guild though it is not the same as the massive organisation present in Northrend and the rest of the Yangmir continent it is very simr. They dish out quests just like the guild in the sapient kingdoms and use guild cards and have the same ranking system, but they ept monsters into their ranks therefore there are two separate entities, though they worked in a symbiotic rtionship. Elves such as Pagon, Liana and Horbest would be allowed to ept and turn in quests from the adventurers guild in the sapient kingdoms. The three of them were each D-rank in strength, young and with decent potential. They were out gaining experience and fortune from their homes in their native kingdom. The three of them were good friends knowing one another for years, a bond akin to siblings. Nice to meet you Frost, in advance I apologise for Liana here, she can be a bit pushy ugh! Pagon suddenly groaned in pain as Liana elbowed him in the gut, not allowing him to spoil her good name in front of such a handsome man. Dont listen to that old brute, Im just a gentle and friendly soul, eager to meet new people Liana shifted slightly closer to Frost while she spoke, finding him more and more pleasing to the eye. She was always on the lookout for handsome elves as possible dating candidates and thanks to her stupid friends she had to be a little upfront otherwise theyd always assume that she was just with one of them. Frost stared at Liana in silence, blinking his eyes. He wasnt put off by her actions simply finding her to be friendly. She wasnt like Maya or mother Callie who openly flirted, Liana was quite reserved inparison. Nice to meet you Liana, He showed a gentle smile before continuing with his meal. Liana nodded in approval before digging into her own food but with much better manners so as to give off a good impression. Pagon and Horbest let out a small sigh before they too dug into their meals. Are you an adventurer? Liana started to ask questions between bites. Yes from Furano. Oh, the thats the territory right passed the southern exit of the mountains no? Thats the one, what about you guys? Frosts belly was now filled, and he was in the mood for a little chat. Having friends was never a bad thing. Were from the cial mountains, born and bred. Here in beta camp for a spot of rest before we head back home. Liana spoke with longing for her home, itd been weeks if not months since theyst set foot in their houses, seen their family. Seeing the expression on her face, Frost couldnt help but feel a little homesick despite him only being gone for a single day. What about you Frost, you here on a quest or heading back home? Pagon asked this question since Liana was in a daze. Just left home actually, heading to the gamma sector for a quest as well as personal training. I see, the gamma sector huh... Pagon frowned as he remembered something. If thats so you might want to be careful, the monster stampede has kicked up a frenzy in some of the external regions, the gamma sector being one of them. Rumour has it that a C-rank monster as recently made it its home. Pagon warned as he remembered the rumours floating amongst the adventurers. Most people in the cial mountains would struggle against C-rank monsters and would wisely avoid them if possible. Pagon felt good about Frost plus the fact that he was an elf- or so they assumed- he felt it was right to give him some warning. Frost looked over at Pagon with gratitude, Bastion had already warned him of such a possibility, but it was a nice gesture to receive from a stranger. Thank you Pagon, Ill keep your reminder at heart. Frost smiled in thanks but was not dissuade from the information in fact he was emboldened, his target was to fight against a C-rank monster after all. Chapter 223 223 Chapter 223: Leaving beta camp Pagon and Horbest both looked at Frost in surprise, he showed not a modicum of fear, rather desire. Looks like we either came across someone truly powerful or a reckless fool. Pagon didnt know which but felt that the former was more likely. The four of them chatted for a little longer while they finished their meals, Frost learned a little more about the adventurer guild in the cial mountains as well as their home, the native kingdom of sson. A decent sized kingdom in the inner regions,prised mainly of elves and spirits. It was a rather peaceful and neutral kingdom that had no conflicts with other nations, engaging inrge amounts of trade to maintain friendly rtions. Liana invited Frost to visit when he had the chance and promised to show him around. He and the frost lilies bade farewell in a friendly manner, happy to have made another friend. You never know when having a good rtionship with someone may save your life one day. Frosts interaction with Leo and Luna was a prime example. The frost lilies left through the southern exit while Frost made his way to the merchants section for a quick peruse of their goods before heading off into the white expanse. Ryan was in bed resting but may other merchants were actively promoting their goods. Some specialised in pelts and textiles while others had ores and metals and then there was those with finished goods such as armours, weapons, potions etc... quite a selection for just a small camp. Frost had no need of weapons or potions but armours as well as other trinkets interested him. He came across a young beastmen merchant who was offering steel armour that wasbined with animal fur to defend against the cold plus it looked rather stylish. He purchased a full set of gear including a chest te, it was lower in quality than his current one but would serve as a good spare. thank you for your patronage young sir, thatll be 80 silvers. The young merchant spoke with a bright eyes, it was rare for him to sell a full set, this was arge purchase, granting him a good deal of profit. Frost handed over a gold coin before cing the set of armour in his spatial ring. Hed find a good ce to change into itter, he still had ess to the yurt. In the mood for some more shopping, he left the young armour merchant and moved towards some of the more unique ones. Magic devices and camping gear was on sale so he bought a few pieces of dried meat and powdered cocoa that only required hot water to be made. One merchant was selling poisons such as those from ice snakes and venomous nts. Instinctually he wanted to avoid this area but then he was reminded of Wilsander, and his trepidation vanished, he still didnt make a purchase, however. This merchant also sold potions for healing including antidotes, but he already had stock of such things. ..... Next was the merchants that sold the most desirable of items.....alcohol the life blood of most adventurers. Frost wouldnt be able to ignore such a merchant given his promise to bring back gifts for Maya and his own penchant for the stuff. Unlike the well decorated establishment in Furano with a range of nearly a dozen B- grade bottles the highest avable here was merely C-grade and the bottles were a lot less varied. But their usual cliental would not care about high quality, as long as it got them drunk and warmed their bodies it would be sufficient. This merchant was quite busy, with many adventurers picking up stock of liquor for either todays festivities or for their next long journey. Frost had to wait his turn. A couple minutester he was at the forefront of therge stall and in front of an older gentleman with a reddened face. Young elf sir, how can I help you today, a high ss wine perhaps or maybe some hard hitting whiskey? The man picked up some of his more expensive wares, trying to draw Frosts attention to them. His handsome appearance, elven traits and fine robes screamed wealth to this old man so he might as well try to pass his most rare delicacies. Frost understood the mans intention and willingly epted it, Maya had expensive taste and wouldnt ept anything less than C-rank, nor would he. Ill take a bottle of your best wine and hot sake please? The wine would be for Maya and the sake for him while he journeyed through the mountains. Right away, right away, the old merchant smiled so much his eyes were nothing but slits. Though alcohol would rarely spoil it was nice to finally empty his higher end stock, otherwise hed be tempted to drink it himself. The man quickly moved to remove two bottles from his spatial storage, each were upper C-grade and part of his finest wares. He was just a small merchant, and this was the best he could get his hands on. Thatll be 70 silvers young sir, Frost handed over the 70 silvers and ced the bottles in his spatial ring. Thank you, he thanked the old merchant and made his way back to the yurt to change. The man thanked him for his patronage before dealing with the next customer. Frost returned to yurt number 7, but he was no longer alone. Two people had arrived and were just getting ready to call it a night after a hard nights work. They greeted each with a silent nod before the two ignored Frost and slipped into slumber. Frost found it rather strange that they were so easily at ease amongst a stranger but thought nothing more on it before stripping out of his robe to adorn his new armour. Since it wasnt custom made the set wasnt the best fitting but thanks to adjustable straps it wasnt too bad. The set contained a chest te, a pair of greaves, wrist guards, and faulds (protects the hips and upper legs) animal fur was attached to the underside to make itfortable against the skin and warm even in such frigid temperatures. Excluding the chest te, he adorned them all before once again putting on his robes, regaining his noble schr like appearance, hiding the armour underneath. Quietly he left the yurt and headed towards the dorm managers office to return the yurt token. Fortunately, or unfortunately mother Callie was not on duty but one of her subordinates. The young man took back his token and crossed out Frosts name on yurt number 7s upants, thuspleting Frosts stay in Beta camp. He then walked back to the southern side of the camp, where he entered, the two same guards were still on duty for another hour or so. He bade farewell before returning to the grand white expanse, heading westward towards the gamma sector. The Beta camp continued to function as it always did yet underneath a few changes were taking ce. Both Ryan and Callie had prepared themselves to send a missive to their superiors in regards to Frost, in theing days the upper levels of the order of the ice shield would have their eyes set upon this new adventurer. But for now, they were still in the dark. Haaaaaaaaa though Im not affected by the cold it sure does make one miss the cosiness of the camp. Frost shook his head a let out aint as he walked. The blizzard was constant and walking through thick piles of snow and or ice was not easy. People without his natural resistances must find it really unbearable. Oh well, I didnt make this journey for it to be pleasant. There shouldnt be any major monster territories in the next couple hours like the yeti valley well as long as I head in the right direction. Frost then removed a smallpass that he purchased from the merchants for 5 silvers. It would help one maintain their direction even within this blizzard. Though it would not help within the inner regions given the denser mana affecting readings. It was imperative for his journey in the gamma sector given the warnings he received. To get there he needed to avoid the crevasse of Ymir as well as a few other tricky areas. Then there was the massive frozenke in the centre of the sector. Given the high levels of snow hed likely be unable to tell he was upon it until it was toote. His ns involved not only scouting section 23 for the Furano guild but also to visit the monsterir that spanned across the gamma and epsilon sector. As far as he knew it contained 6 floors and was considered around D-rank in strength, mainly producing magic based monsters such as ice ns, slimes and even spirits. Frost had little experience against magic monster types so felt it would be could practise plus he could get a more thorough understanding of monsterirs and in turn his own Dungeons expansion. With determined focus, Frost continued his journey alone with his ive rested upon his shoulders, eager to explore the cial mountains and battle against those that would bar his path. Chapter 224 224 Chapter 224: [Beginners ice magic] Two dayster Frost arrived at his most anticipated destination, the monsterir branching across the Gamma sector and the Epsilon sector,monly known as [beginners ice magic]. The name yfully based upon the fact that the monsters contained use low level ice magic. Primarily 1st circle and a few 2nd circle spells. Not all monsterirs receive names, only those that have existed for a while, reach a certain size and or guests, have special monsters and or materials gain such a privilege. This [beginners ice magic] is a long standing dungeon of smallish size that became quite popr over the years given its defenders. Its seen as the perfect monsterir for those of low level and with little experience in dealing with magic users. Frost of course would be considered rather high level and given his ice affinity in very low danger but still it should prove entertaining. On the way to this monsterir, he bypassed therge expansive frozenke as well as a few other wayward cliff edges. His natural path didnt cross any viges or hidden enves but thanks to mother Callie he knew that there was one such enve near the monsterir, if there was time, he nned to visit it, who knows they may have some delicacy that he could partake. He passed through section 23 halfway through the second day and made a brief note of the monsters he came across, saw tracks of as well as left behind corpses that clearly werent killed by man. Yet he saw no signs of a C-rank monster nor in fact a D-rank, at least not any that were alive. Afterpiling his notes, he continued north towards the monsterir, hed make another report once he was done in the monsterir to be more thorough. Throughout the two days journey he didnt have much opportunity to practise his ive arts, well not as much as he did during his travels in the yeti valley but still, he raked in another two thousand or so DP from those that inevitably crossed his path. When the walking became boring Frost practised the other skillsmon among adventurers such as tracking, using leftover blood trails and footprints left in the snow. His targets werent solely focused on monsters, asionally he tracked, followed, and came across other groups of adventurers which he then did his best to act stealthy, training another skill. Unfortunately, since he wasnt that skilled his presence was quickly noticed, one such time it nearly led to a conflict. The adventurers used Frost of insidious ns and instantly brought up their guard. It took Frost a lot of friendly smiles and gestures and exining to bring down their animosity before the two groups left in opposing directions. Frost was left feeling a little embarrassed about the situation and stopped his stealth training against adventurers. When he finally arrived before the monsterir it was not exactly deserted, far more busy than even his Dungeon that was the hot new topic. This ce even had its own basic encampment that he was still aspiring to achieve. Like the official camps this encampment was utilising the anti-monster fog repellent though of a lower quality. Most established monsterirs would have at least some kind of camp such as this near the entrance to support therge amount of trafficing and going. It was a clear opportunity for profit, so people willingly braced the danger to create such camps. The uing monster stampede affected not just the monsters in the external regions but also the monsterirs. The frenzy would increase the monster generation within theirs attracting greater numbers of adventurers. It was funny, the only people to really suffer from the monster stampede-not including the ones who unfortunately fall victim to increased monster activity in the wild of the external regions- was those in Northrend, Furano in particr. It was almost as though they were specifically targeted. Everyone else seemed to profit and was more than happy to do so. Whoa now thats interesting. Frost smiled and ced his hand above his eyes to get a better view of the encampment as well as the grand entrance to the [beginners ice magic] monsterir. Whereas his dungeon was incorporated into a super-sized mountain this one was built into arge cier. The entrance led underground and was made from ice instead of stone. The thing was even muchrger than his, spanning 8 metres across and 6 metres up, allowingrge monsters to easily enter and exit. Frost didnt know what waited at the depths of the monsterir but given the size of the entrance he couldnt help but grow excited. With a grand smile Frost walked toward the encampment, his ive resting upon his shoulders. Along with his robes he struck a rather confusing yet intimidating presence. The area was highly active given the monster stampede. Groups of adventurers camped around fire pits with joyous faces preparing to head back into the hunt. Some were calling out to passing solo adventurers looking for extra teammates. The more powerful monsters gathered at the bottom two levels of their, having more people would help tackle these beasts more safely. ..... Frost with his imposing atmosphere and high quality ive was exactly what these groups were looking for, but Frost ignored them, walking straight on through, staying solo. If he was with others, hed feel hindered in battle and not in the good way. The groups reaching out frowned towards Frost, clicking their tongues, and calling him arrogant. Even though this was just a D-rank monsterir, tackling it solo was incredibly reckless and foolhardy. But Frost wouldnt have it any other way. With rapid steps he marched through the grand entrance and officially entered his monsterir. The moment he did, he was amazed. How pretty his mouth was agape as he took in the sight. The first room appeared to be the inside of a cier. Ice spanned as far as the eyes could see, covering the floor, walls and even ceiling. Large ice cliffs could be seen in the distance as well as what appeared to some sort of forest made of ice, quite magical in appearance. And that was just what he could see, the entrance to the next room couldnt be seen showing howrge this first room was. Without a roaring blizzard, Frost could see quite far in the distance allowing him to see a groups of adventurers fighting against monsters that he hadnte across yet. Seems to be an advanced type of ice slime. The monster was at least three timesrger than his slimes and appeared to be far denser. It was attacking with ice bolts while jumping up and down. The group of three adventurers were slowly drawing in close without much difficulty taking this slime as nothing but practise. It reminded Frost of the time he swatted down Shadows daggers back in Furano. To explore the entire monsterir if one was not that strong or picked a fight with every monster that came across their path could take days if not over a week. Most people would rush to the floor that suited their skills and or where their targeted monsters dwelled. Frosts goal was to quickly reach the mid andter floors where E and D rank monsters prowled the grounds inrge numbers despite therge amount of intruders. Monsterirs created monsters simr to that of spawners but with their rate of production depending on the amount of monsters within their as well as the ambient mana in the surrounding area. Thus, even with high levels of hunting, as long as the core remained intact and the cial mountains filled with mana, the monsters would keep oning. Their methods of producing monsters seemed to be far more efficient than that of the dungeons but inparison they were far more limited. No defined levels, highly aggressive, lower intelligence and in most cases weaker. In due time the world would see that monster summoned by Dungeons would be a great deal superior than their monsterir counterparts, attracting the high ranking adventurers to test their mettle. It was no wonder the first group of adventurers to walk through his door, the Artic Warband struggled so much. With a mad smile Frostunched himself into a jog, admiring the beautiful sights of this room as he dashed forward in search of the entrance to the next area. Thanks to his time talking with mother Callie, he knew the basicyout of the first couple floors so he wouldnt get lost. Making his way there however would take some time. Not wanting to draw the ire of the local fauna Frost emitted his pseudo aura as well as blood lust. The weaker monsters in the first couple floors avoided his path as he passed through, unable to rely on anything bar their instincts. The same worked on several groups of adventurers who willingly moved out of his way, afraid to anger such a powerful person. Of course, not all monsters chose to avoid him, at the end of the first floor-plus all the others- was a sort of boss monster that would prevent ess to the next floor until it was defeated. If one had great timing, they could bypass it before it respawned, but Frost wasnt quite so lucky. Chapter 225 225 Chapter 225: First floors boss An ice golem huh, dont know if this would qualify as ironic but certainlyedic. Frost sniggered to himself when he entered the room and saw the ice golem guarding the way to the next floor. A barrier covered the stairs preventing ess, its power was connected to the ice golem making those who wish to pass have to defeat the golem first. The boss room system that the dungeon cores had ess to was near identical in the method though it was more stable. The barrier before Frost could be destroyed by him through force or by magic nullification but simply killing the ice golem would be faster and easier. It is said that the more powerful the monster, the sturdier the barrier making the alternative method that much more difficult. Most simply put up with the fact that they need to defeat the boss monster to proceed. Seeing this situation, the gears started to flow in Frosts head as he imagined how he would utilise such rooms in the future. Unlike a monsterir for him to repeatedly rece the boss would prove quite costly, especially if there was one on every floor. The ice golem in question was not that powerful, probably equal to E-rank in power but with clear disadvantages. It had no weapon and had the same usual clunky form that most golems had. Slow but with high defence and power. For someone like Frost however it was easy pickings even if he didnt spend nearly 90% of his training time against ice golems. The boss room was roughly 400m2 with no decorations just an ice arena with the golem stationed in front of the staircase. If it was any other monster Frost would have simply powered through without hesitation, heading toward the more challenging 3rd and 4th floors. But he saw the ice golem as a good opportunity. Well, I guess Ive got some time to kill. With an excited smile Frost stepped forward drawing the ire of the ice golem. It silently rose up to its full 2 metre frame, it had no mouth so it couldnt roar but it could be imagined. Though golemscked emotions and instincts like regr monsters it was still created by the monsterir and would attack any intruders. [Icee together, form a core and establish a body to fight, summon ice golem] channelling his mana, Frost casted his only 3rd circle spell, [summon ice golem]. An ice golem against another ice golem, it was almost poetic. Out of all his magic it was the one he was least proficient in and used the most mana. Being in a monsterir the ambient mana was thicker than outside making replenishing mana much faster. He wouldnt need to break out those horrible tasting mana potions. Arge blue magic crest, far more intricate than those of his 1st and 2nd circle spells grew on the floor before him. An ice golem then formed from the crest ready to fight against the now charging opponent. Unfortunately, it was far smaller than the opposing golem, half the size at least. it looked like a child picking a fight with an adult, Frost couldnt help be feel slight ashamed. He was hoping given the situation he would summon a perfect golem but no it was the same as when he was training back in his dungeon. Haaaaaaaa oh well practise makes perfect. He shook his head choosing to ignore the pitiful result of his magic and focus on the battle. Though his golem was smaller, it should be faster and unlike its opponent it had Frost as a coach. There was a subtle connection between Frost and his golem allowing him to instruct its movements as if it was an extension of himself. Dodge to the left and strike, Frost flicked his hand as he spoke, and the golem listened to his orders without hesitation. The opposing ice golem changed the target of its aggression once Frosts golem was summoned, charging with great speed. Frosts golem did as instructed, it moved to the left with decent speed, narrowly avoiding the big golems fist before striking out with its own. ..... Bang! The sound was akin to metal striking against metal, bits of ice fell from both golems, with therger one suffering a little more loss but given itsrger frame itd take a lot more punches to take it down. The golems core was stored within its chest and with the smaller golems metre height it couldnt reach. To defeat it, itd need to punch, punch and punch some more until the damage exceeded its limit. Though Frosts golem was smaller it seemed as though its density was equal if not slightly higher making its punch quite strong. With great strength the bigger golem turned around not even slowing down in the slightest from the smaller golems punch. It raised its oversized arms above its head aiming to smash the small irritation to pieces. Raise your arms to block. Frost gave out his next orders wanting to see how much damage his golem to endure. Like an obedient student the small golem raised its arms above its head in a cross guard. Boooooooooom! The sound from this strike was far more than the earlier one, so much so that Frost felt his ears ring. Cracks spread out under the small golem as the strikes force shattered the ice floor. But that wasnt the only thing. The smaller golem was forced down to its knees while cracks developed across its ankles and forearms. The damage was just skin deep but showed the difference in fire power between the golems. Frost frowned a little not expecting such a difference, his golem was weaker by far in terms of power, this fight would not be easy but given his mana levels he could simply summon another golem if this one was destroyed. Unlike Adam, Frosts mana veins were far more durable even though he was still only C-rank. He had his natural gifts and the frequent channelling of divine energy to thank for that. If Adam was alive to see this, hed probably spurt out blood in anger hell even Ryuu would probably be filled with envy. Frost was the perfect example of a naturally gifted prodigy. Crack! Crack! The ice floor beneath the smaller golem as well as its body continued to release cracking sounds as therge golem continued to push down with its arms. Rx your guard and roll backwards. Frosts golem did as ordered allowing the bigger golems arms to crash down as it rolled backwards and out of danger. Dodge its blows and focus on counterattacks, aim for its left leg. The bigger golem reengaged its advance striking without regard for defence. Frosts golem dodged to the side repeatedly, striking back on its left leg whenever it got a chance. Frost continued to give his orders whenever his golem was in a dangerous situation but other than that thebat was fairly simple. One small golem dodging repeatedly and counterattacking whereas the other punched and chased. The damage on the bigger golem continued to add after every punch and finally its left leg shattered, forcing the golems chest to lower within striking distance. Frosts smaller golem was not the same one he started with, after a few missed dodges its damage became too much to function, so he had to summon a second one. This golem was slightlyrger about 1.1 metres showing improvement and now it had the perfect chance to end this fight. The bigger golem couldnt heal or be resummoned immediately. Now with a single leg it was lopsided and struggled to even move making it a sitting duck. Strike its chest over and over until you break the core. Frost gave his final order with a proud smile. This battle took close to twenty minutes, but he didnt feel as though the time was wasted. His mastery of golem magic improved, and he understood the system better. It was also a nice change from fighting in person. Thankfully there wasnt any interruptions with the battle from other intruders. A group of two dide up but after seeing Frost already in battle they politely bowed out and chose to wait, choosing to fight with some of the other monsters in this section. Frost was quite lucky in that regard; many others would not willingly step aside. Once the small golem started punching the big golems chest the fight quickly drew to a close. After a dozen strong punches or so hitting the same ce, the big golems chest caved in and revealed its core. Boom! A final punch shattered the big golems core causing its body to copse and the barrier that blocked the staircase vanished, the battle was over. Frost nodded his head in approval before sauntering over to his ice golem and patting its head like it was one of his summoned monsters. With the big golems core shattered it couldnt be recovered as a useful monster material and the ice that made up the body was too weak for Frosts standards. If it was an iron golem, hed probably store the entire thing in his spatial ring for his frost dwarven smith or even himself. He still needed to find a trade that he could get interested in after all like Damascus did. Chapter 226 226 Chapter 226: Frost n Frost cancelled his [summon ice golem] spell before heading down the stairs to the 2nd floor. No treasure or chest was given for beating the first floors boss but after the 3rd floors boss there was a decent chance of one appearing, but the danger also increased. After the 3rd floor there is either a D-rank monster as the boss or multiple E-ranks, far more difficult to defeat than the ice golem of the first floor. Once he descended the stairs Frost appeared on the second floor, the dcor and environment was the exact same throughout the monsterir, covered in ice. The temperature grew several degrees colder after every floor and after the 3rd floor it was possible to discover some ice aspected herbs, many adventurers entered for these herbs as their goal. Once again Frost released his pseudo aura and blood lust to deter the monsters of this floor, none of them were worthy of his time. He charged through the second floor in the same way as the first. Every floor of this monsterir was split into three sections with the first and second floor being equivalent to the medium rooms in the dungeon, in some areas evenrger. The bottom two floors however were far more expansive, each section being twice or even thrice as big. The second floors boss was an ice n, another E-rank monster that Frost was familiar with. It attacked with ice bolts, firing at range. Its summoning speed and bolt size was higher than that of the ice slime variant he saw earlier, but still it wasnt a threat to him. He was tempted to summon another ice golem to take care of it but quickly realised that would be a poor choice. Ice ns are incredibly resistant to blunt attacks given their jelly like bodies. Given that his ice golems came unarmed that was their only means of attack. He could be here for hours without making any progress if he relied on the golem. Magic as well had its limitations, at least in regards to Frost given that he only knew ice magic. Like him ice ns had resistance to ice magic, his ice bolts would not prate too far into its gtine body even with their size. He could always quickly end this battle with his ive but that would defeat the purpose of training. He went with magic even though it would be an uphill battle. [Ice bolt] with adept skill Frost once again channelled his mana, summoning three ice bolts from their respective magic crests. They were all around 1 metre in length, solid and very sharp. They hovered above his shoulders in wait, aimed towards the nucleus that could be seen floating within the ns body. Nuclei such as those from ns and high ranking slimes were quite desired in the artificing world but keeping them in good condition was rather difficult. The ns internal mucous was another material desired from these monsters, it worked wonders on repairing damaged weapons, turned into ink for spell books and even in some cases was edible if the right chef was involved. Retrieving these items however was difficult, you couldnt exactly store freezing cold slime in your backpack without any containers. Adventurers without spatial rings would have to really focus on one type of monster to hunt on the trips, too much specialty equipment to focus on a broad range. If they were looking for pelts, theyd need skinning equipment, preserving liquids, blood cleaners not to mention weapons that reduced damage to the pelts i.e., blunt weapons. In case of meat, theyd need containers to store the useful meat and iste the smell as well as ice to preserve it during transport. For ns and slimes, theyd need specialty containers to collect the majority of liquid. Capturing monsters such as frost mares or even wolves would require bait, traps, and tons of other supplies. For those without spatial rings or very small ones really had to pick their targets otherwise theyd end up with nothing. Frost obviously didnt have that issue; he wasnt on the hunt for anything specific material wise and he had not just onerge spaced spatial ring but two with him on this excursion. ..... With a gargled sound the ice n summoned three ice bolts above its head before firing them at Frost. The movement of its jelly like body revealed its aggression even though it couldnt talk. This would be a battle between ice magic. Frosts ice boltsunched themselves a momentter, don! Don! The six ice bolts collided in the air against each other sending fragments of ice shooting across the room. The bolts were quite evenly matched much to Frosts displeasure, the crushed bolts falling to the ground and dissipating back into mana particles. Frost frowned with irritation not expecting his bolts to be so easily destroyed, it hurt his pride a little. He didnt have a magic crystal within him or a magic staff to enhance his magic but still he thought that theyd be stronger than those summoned by an E-rank monster, even if ice bolts were its specialty. The n didnt seem to care about the dungeon cores pride summoning another three bolts above its jiggling mass. The n was roughly 150cms tall and over a metre wide making it quite imposing despite its slow agility. Frost could sessfully summon four ice bolts with equal strength and asionally a fragment of a fifth but since his pride was a hurt, he stuck to using three. Don! Don! Once again, the six ice bolts smashed into one another and once again all were shattered to pieces, though Frosts were slightly more intact this time. He funnelled extra mana into the crests to produce a denser ice bolt, but it wasnt that simple. Magic crests were quite fragile things, simply supplying more power into them could destroy them instead of improving their output. To improve mastery of the spellrge reserves of mana was not as important as constructing a solid and urate crest. Frosts crests were sufficient but certainly could be improved, this was the perfect opportunity. For thest few weeks, hed been ardently trying to improve the number of ice bolts he could summon instead of solidifying the ones he already could. For the ice n the ice bolt spell was its bread and butter, it knew no other magic. Frost and the ice n continued to fire bolt after bolt against one another with neither moving from their original position, truly a battle of magic. Don! Don! Don! Don! Bolts after bolts struck against one another with no end in sight. Frost re-summoned his bolts three at a time, refining them each time, creating a more solid ice bolt. After every round his bolts would gain ground, whether that be retaining some force after striking against the ice ns, or striking faster and smoother, exploding closer to the ice n than Frost, he was improving and quickly. He could easily finish this fight quickly by moving as he fired, aiming at the n rather than its ice bolts but why waste the experience. The ice n however was not too happy being treated as target practise, its gtine body rippling and shaking violently as it summoned its ice bolts again and again. Eventually it started to summon a fourth ice bolt to shoot at Frost which he responded in kind, but its fourth ice bolt was not nearly as solid as Frosts. Don! Don! Don! Where the first three bolts smashed into one another as usual and crashed to the floor the fourth bolt smashed right on through, piercing through the air with a sharp howl before prating the ice ns jiggling body but it failed to cause any damage. The nucleus was norger than a fist, hard to strike with an ice bolt that struggled to prate more than 10cm thanks to the things ice resistance. If he wanted to kill it with an ice bolt, it needed more power, speed, sharpness, and it needed to aimed well. Though the n wasnt moving across the ground every jiggle and ripple slightly disced the nucleus around making for an even harder target. Frost knew this but still he chose to continue with his fervent use of [ice bolt], nning to practice with this boss monster until he was interrupted by another party of adventurers. Frost and the ice n continued to use four ice bolts against one another, but Frost improved where ice n stagnated. Its reserves for mana and talent was far below Frosts. Frosts bolts continued to improve, with the fourth one repeatedly smashing through the ns and urately prating its body, delving a centimetre deeper after every round. 10 minutester all of Frosts bolts easily smashed through the ns and pierced its body making the thing look like a jelly hedgehog. Time to end this, now that his bolts were denser and stronger than the ice ns there was nothing left it could teach him. He moved for the first time in this fight, summoning the ice bolts as he charged, closing the distance and their flight time. The n didnt even have the time to summon another volley before Frosts bolts reached its body in a line, each one empowering thest like hammers on a nail. Tink! The first bolt supported by the other three pierced the ns nucleus, shattering it and killing the n almost instantly. A momentter it devolved into a puddle of gloop leaving a broken core in the middle. Frost nodded in respect for his fallen foe before stepping around the puddle and descending the stairs to the 3rd floor where the more powerful opponentsy. Chapter 227 227 Chapter 227: 3rd floor of [beginners ice magic] The first two floors of [beginners ice magic] were now conquered. Frost reached the middle levels of the monsterir and the monsters and dangers reflected that. Whereas the first two floors contained primarily G and F-rank monsters with only the boss being E-rank. The middle floors contained mainly F and E-rank leaving thest two floors containing mainly E and D-ranks, but this was under normal circumstances. While the monster stampede was looming, things tended to change. D-ranks could enter the middle levels and could be more abundant. There was even a case of a C-rank monster being born during one monster stampede. When the adventurers returned to the [beginners ice magic] monsterir they encountered a nasty surprise. Many people died during that time, and it set a precedent, reaffirming the fact that no matter how profitable a monsterir is its still a monsterir, a ce of danger, looking to kill whoever enters. Since this floor contained stronger opponents Frost no longer openly emitted his pseudo aura and blood lust, hed fight his way through the floors from now on. Learning to fight against multiple magic users such as ns, spirits, frost goblin mages and several others. The moment he stepped onto the third floor and once again saw the usual ice covered room but not only that. There was far more adventurers on this floor as well as monsters. From his current position he could see at least four different battles going on, all the adventurers involved had serious looks on their faces, showing their struggle. One group of three were fighting against an ice n like the one stationed in the second floors boss room. Two people dealt with the ice bolts being fired with great precision and power, utilising their shield to endure or agile skills to roll out of the way. Thest member utilised arrows to strike its jelly body, attempting to strike its core but finding it difficult to pierce that deep. Without a mage or physical user with enough strength to reach the nucleus, an ice n was a tough adversary. Another group was fighting against a mephit, an ugly flying imp that had the appearance of a frost goblin with wings. It was agile, had sharp ws and could use magic simr to [freezing touch]. An assassin and swordsman were its opponents. The third and fourth group each had a mage in their roster making their fights far easier with the added benefit of preserving most of the monster materials. Frost instantly felt that this floor was much more his style, the previous ones didnt even manage to crack open his shoulders. With a big smile he moved forward, seeking out his own foe. He didnt need to wait long however, after 10 minutes or so a group of monsters blocked his path, each disying aggressive snarls, two frost goblin mages and a mephit appeared from a cave. Frost entered their territory, and they didnt take too kindly to trespassers. He was rather fortuitousing across three monsters at once, two F-rank and one E-rank. He didnt wait for them to get into position, summoning his ive he charged straight towards the flying mephit. Multiple bolts of ice were fired his way but with his ive out and ready there was no danger. Just like he did with flying daggers he knocked them all down with his ive arts, not reducing his momentum in the slightest. Ice bolts contained more force than daggers, but their flight paths were easier to predict given theirrger size and summoning position. ..... Shwing! Gyahhhhhh, Frost arrived before the hovering mephit in an instant and shed upwards. The mephit screeched in pain for a moment before being split in two, leaving only the frost goblin mages scrambling away in fear. [Ice be like vines and entrap my foe, ice entanglement] Frost wasnt about to let free DP escape. Using his 2nd circle spell [ice entanglement] he pinned the two goblins in ce. Shwing! Shwing! With another two swings of his ive, he killed these two frost goblin mages without much effort. Once in closebat these monsters really were in dire straits, making them easy pickings. Getting so close however was generally not that easy. Frost was incredibly agile, able to cross tens of metres in a single second but even then he was confronted with several ice bolts. Most would really struggle to endure this much magic, forcing them too at the very least brace themselves and endure until it was over. By then the mephit and frost goblins would be able to move back before repeating the same tactic. The mephit would be even more difficult to deal with, given its ability to fly it was usually far quicker than its opponents, shame it met Frost. Tsk dirty again, Blood now adorned Frosts white robes emphasising his intimidating appearance, he didnt bother casting clean up magic given that hed just get dirty again. He frowned in irritation as he looked at the red blotches on his robe and weapon. Ideally hed like to be able to deal with opponents of this level without ever getting a single drop of their blood on his robes but that would take at least advanced level ive mastery (level 4). Right now, he could easily kill this level of opponent but managing his swing angle and strike depth was a bit too much of an ask, at least for now. A momentter the life force from the three dead monsters entered his body, filling him with energy and a tingly feeling. Having a quick look around for anyone nearby and finding no one he brought up the dungeon menu in its limited form Seems like fathers dungeon war rules apply here. Usually when out with the dungeon, any kills he made would facilitate him with double their daily DP amount. However, from these three as well as the ice golem and ice n from earlier he received three times their daily DP. He surmised that out with the dungeon his body only held a certain amount of attraction for loose life energy or DP, allowing him to only take in 20% with the other 80% returning to the world. Here in a monsterir however he was battling with the crystal that was the monsterirs core and not Nova, allowing him to gain some ground. An extra 10% didnt sound like much but when his kill count grew in number the difference would really show. Its also the reason he decided to fight from the 3rd floor instead of the 4th or bottom floors. F and E-rank foes were worth killing despite the extra time required. Frost and his siblings were now in a race and one that promised great rewards as well as status, each of them were ardently seeking out methods to quickly gather DP. Although training was important, collecting DP could not be put off otherwise, he may lose his 4th position on the leader boards. Frost quickly removed the magic crystals from the corpses as well as anything that could be sold for money and or experimentation. Like regr frost goblins, magescked anything worthwhile in terms of their body, only their ears being epted for fertiliser. Their crystals of course were worth more being F-rank, but their staffs were nothing but sticks inparison to the true thing. Mages wouldnt be caught dead using such primitive and pathetic equipment, that would sooner work against a magic crest than enhance it. Frost decided to store them for a little experiment, nning to give them to a few of his goblins to try an unlock the mage archetype when they evolve. For the mephit though it looked very much like a flying goblin, but its body was much more useful. Its wings and nails were both useful materials, so he stored them all in his spatial ring before once again jogging towards the next room. He didnt bother casting [ignition] on the bodies knowing that the monsterir would absorb them fairly quickly. In the beginning when monsterirs were considered new, everyone would always burn the bodies as per usual protocol. This is to prevent attracting other monsters to the area and or to prevent the corpseing back to live as an undead monster. Undead were very, very difficult to deal with if onecked the means to do so. It was a very troubling problem in the early days of adventuring. Undead monsters tend to carry diseases that infect local monsters, flora and even those that hunt them. Add on the fact that they cant feel pain making killing them much harder. The best way is to destroy the brain and or use fire of light magic that works wonders on purifying such monsters. But eventually they realised that this protocol in monsterirs was pointless as well as damaging. While in monsterirs corpses would not be undead (unless their was undead type monsterir) and would be quickly absorbed by the monsterir turning back into life energy before being reconstituted into new monsters. When the corpses were set alight some of the life energy would be lost, especially in the smaller less established monsterirs reducing their monster generation and life span. It was the federation of knowledge that discovered this situation through their extensive testing and monitoring. Along with the adventurers guild they quickly brought out a new rule or rather an amendment to the burning of monster corpses, stating that it became void while in monsterirs. Thanks to this manyirs have been able tost for decades instead of years or even months. This discovery greatly increased the status of the federation of knowledge giving them arge amount of leeway when it came to their investigations. Chapter 228 228 Chapter 228: Frost elemental With blood on his robes Frost appeared quite wild but without his pseudo aura the indigenous monsters attacked with wanton abandon. He fought against frost goblin mages, mephits, ice ns, ice slimes, frost sprites (lowest ranking spirits in the form of tiny fairies), an asional artic or pr fox and finally a frost elemental. The frost sprites were particrly difficult to deal with. Not only were they fast and adept with magic they were tiny and naturally mischievous. Instead of trying to kill Frost they seemed to want to irritate him to death. Launching a single spell before dashing away, repeating such actions over and over while giggling. They stopped and ran away permanently once Frost lost his patience and sessfully killed one of them. The frost elemental was the boss of this floor an upper E-rank monster that Frost didnt have ess to yet. This boss monster was a major turning point for adventurers, though many could take on the ice n and hunt on the 3rd floor, taking on the frost elemental was too much, restricting them to the 3rd floor. It took Frost several hours to reach the end of the floor, nearly three times as long as the first two floors. Fighting monsters certainly slowed him down but well worth it, another few thousand DP entered his body, yet he still didnt feel full. Maya wondered when they first left the Dungeon and hunted frost goblins whether he had a limit to the amount of DP he could store within his body. Right now, he had over 18,000DP stored, highlighted in brackets at the top right of the dungeon menu and felt that it wasnt even half his limit. He could continue to hunt without wasting such precious DP. Now thats interesting, Frost entered the boss room of the 3rd floor and got his first look at a frost elemental. The thing was easily 2 and half metres tall and though it was made of ice its body was liquid in form and its core or nucleus was always in motion, making targeting it difficult. Plus, unlike ice ns its body wasnt as transparent, making it that much harder to target. The best way to kill elementals of course would be to shatter their core but most rely upon simply piling up the damage on their body, magic working best. In this case fire would make a world of difference. In this monsterir, fire mages were always in high demand, and it drew quite a few who wished to make some good money with a low level of risk. Unfortunately, Frost only knew ice magic, the worst possible choice in such a match up. Whereas ice ns and ice golems had innate resistance to ice magic, frost and ice elementals were a step up. They could absorb ice magic and grow stronger. It was like using fire magic on phoenixes, theyd simply eat the magic as a snack. Hed need to rely on his ive to kill this opponent, but with its liquid ice body it was not a good match up. Frost finally understood the difficulties of regr adventurers and why they tended to team up in parties. One persons skills would not be effective against all foes, this frost elemental being a prime example. Unless he hadpletely overbearing power, hed struggle tobat against things that nullified his skills. The moment he entered the boss room, the elemental started attacking, even with its liquid form it was quite fast, different from the ns and slimes. The elemental reached him in moments and once it was within in 5 metres its arms expanded, siphoning some of its torso into them. They grew to be almostical in size, Shit! Not expecting it to change its form, Frost was caught unaware and forced to dash to the left. Boom! The oversized fists crashed on the ice floor, cracking it -thankfully this was a monsterir where the rooms regenerated otherwise these sections would be disaster areas- but it didnt let up, quickly chasing after Frost, and striking with fervent aggression. ..... Frosts brow raised in shock, the things arms constantly changed form, one minute it was a fist another it was a spear and the next it was like a hammer. Though its speed was far below his limit, the constant fluctuation in attack method was quite difficult to handle. He was forced to dodge repeatedly, unable to pick up the tempo. His ive was used to block rather than attack, for just the 3rd floors boss, this thing was quite impressive. One two three, one two three. Frost after catching his breath and his own tempo, started counting the elementals attacks finding a slight dy before the third and fourth attack, a dy to exploit. Shwing! Dodging the elementals spear like arm by a hairs breadth, Frost gripped his ive hard and with one swift motion he shed upwards cleaving the spear in two before jumping backwards to avoid its other arm. Frost skidded across the floor; his eyes focused on the elemental, gauging its reaction to losing an arm. Unfortunately, his well-timed sh was a lot less effective than expected. Thats gotta be cheating, Frosts face cringed in envy, his swing didnt even slow the thing down. Its arm simply reformed a few secondster as though the wound never happened. Whats worse the sliced off arm turned into a puddle and was instantly absorbed back into its body the moment it moved over it. He was now faced with an opponent that wasnt effected by his magic -including his chakra since it was ice based- and his weapon only dealt temporary cuts before they regenerated. If its opponent wasnt Frost, theyd have to cut their losses and flee, setting the difference between the capable and the amateurs. The frost elemental didnt give Frost much time toin before once again charging at him with its newly generated arm. Haaaaaaaa Frost sighed and shook his head before a glint shone in his eyes. If one cut isnt enough lets just keep cutting and cutting. Not disheartened by the fact he was fighting a regenerating monster that nullified most of his techniques, he looked at it as a challenge. Nothing was unkible especially something that was only upper E-rank. Given his C-rank strength he was more than capable of overpowering the thing if he really put his heart into it. Frost entered a defensive stance and the moment the elemental struck he blocked it with the ives shaft before spinning around and shing its chest. A gash opened up across its torso but closed up a momentter, but Frost wasnt done. Shwing! Shwing! Shwing! Frost with his adept ive mastery attacked with great finesse, shing, and shing the elementals body over and over, creating more and more gashes which healed momentster. Lets just see how fast you can heal, with an evil smirk Frosts eyes focused, and he entered an enlightened state. Blocking and rebuffing the elementals strikes no matter what form they took, his shing speed increased and became more urate, sharper even. The gashes became deeper and deeper as time passed and the elemental was forced backwards from the repelling force of his strikes. Puddles of its body started littering the ground and its two and half metre frame shrunk down to under two metres, roughly the same height as Frost. His attacks were working, albeit slowly. Every strike would cause a small amount of damage to the elementals nucleus weakening the things ability to heal itself, to hold its body together. To be honest Frost could have finished the battle several minutes ago, his shes were frequent enough and deep enough to already reveal the nucleus in its chest. He simply deigned to choose another method of killing, slower but much more satisfying. Plus, it was more beneficial to his training. This opponent posed little threat to him just like he posed a reduced effect to it. He could take advantage of defending against changing weapons with strangeposition all while dishing out fast and sharp blows. His ive mastery improved once again, etching closer and closer to the advanced level. A few minutester the frost elemental copsed into a puddle, its nucleus pierced on the end of Frosts ive. Even without the ive piercing through the centre the thing was covered in numerous cracks from Frosts fervent beatings. Like all things its regenerative powers had a limit and with Frosts attack speed that limit was quickly reached. With a flick he flung the elementals nucleus from his ive, smashing it into the wall. It was far too damaged to be of any use. Elementals huh, Frost frowned as he stared down at the puddle that was once his foe. Certainly powerful, theyd make a great addition to the dungeons line up but..... Frost couldnt help but feel slightly afraid. His one trick pony status meant that he could only use ice magic. Though he had little fear against fire, hoping to eventually be able to freeze it like all else. Ice was something that truly nullified his skills, what was he supposed to do freeze it twice or thrice. Only when his magic reached that of a different realm would he be able to supersede thisw, like with the high earth rank cold me that if unsealed could freeze even him. Chapter 229 229 Chapter 229: limitations of being a one trick pony Frosts fists were clenched, and his brow tensed as he thought about his foe If the elemental wasnt E-rank but D, I may not have been able to deal with it given my limitations. This battle was a wakeup call,pletely different from his battles with the yetis. Frost felt that he could only use a fraction of his power, making the battle that much more difficult. He needed to find some method to deal with such opponents in the future if he wished to continue being a solo adventurer. Maya would only be with him for another 10 months or so and couldnt fight herself, Loki and Nanna were still children. He didnt n on taking them anywhere dangerous, so it was left up to him. He had no ns to join another adventuring party, well not at the moment. Perhaps some of his siblings would like to group up, but for now he needed to find a way to deal with such opponents by himself. Frosts gaze then drifted towards his ive. It was of great quality, sharp, strong, durable, and supported his ice magic but other than that it was in. It contained no runes, speciality gems, magic crystals, or unique materials. A solid quasi 4 star weapon with the strength and durability to take on even B-rank monsters but that was all. Perhaps I should visit Borris next time Im in Furano or an artificer, if I cant supply the magic needed then my weapon can. His frost dwarven smith was nowhere near capable enough to work on his prized ive, he needed a professional and who better than the ives original forger. Weapons such as Frosts ive could be enhanced in a great many ways, currently it was in a vani state, neither enhancing or detracting from his current skill set. It facilitated his ice magic as well as his chakra without issue. If Frost came across wraiths or other ethereal monsters, he could use his ice chakra on the ive to slice into them like any other opponent. But if they had ice resistance on top of that hed need a different element to deal damage. Ideally and the most sought after in Northrend and the cial mountains was fire enchantments and crystals. Such enchantments would be engraved upon the weapon and with the supply of mana they could encase them like chakra or the fire enchantment spell that was used by Adam and Luna. Such enchantments granted people a distinctive edge against monsters born in cold climates but given theck of fire element materials they were anything but cheap. Plus, people would rarely enchant weapons lower than 3 star since theyd struggle to endure the enchantment, quickly wasting away the weapon and enchantment both. In Furano it was already rare enough for one to own a 3 star weapon or higher let alone paying for an enchantment on top of that. But given Frosts current coffers money was not an issue, the element was. He was the embodiment of ice; would a fire attributed weapon really match him well. True in practical terms there could be nothing better, hed be able to fight against those with weakness to ice and fire, leaving very little opponents that could cause issue. But then again it might also interfere with his chakra supply and casting of ice magic. He didnt know enough about enchantments, but he already knew he didnt want a fire based one. The very idea made his stomach churn, and the idiotic face of his barbaric brother came to the forefront of his mind. Bang! Ovee with sudden anger he stomped down with his left leg, cracking the floor even more before taking a deep breath and shaking his head, to erase the image. ..... Tsk, Ill deal with itter, thankfully this monsterir shouldnt have anything at C-rank. After letting out a stomp Frost felt a lot better, he stepped over the many puddles in the room and descended the stairs to the 4th floor. If possible, he nned to reach the end of the monsterir, the room beyond the 6th floors boss and view the core but he knew his limitations now. Even if he didnte across a C-rank he may not be able to reach it. An upper D-rank elemental or something simr may be enough for him to call it quits. The fourth floor like the first three had the exact same environment but there was slightly more E-ranks than the 3rd floor and areas where special herbs and nts grew. Frost passed a few areas on the 3rd floor that had blue dwindle and frigid daisies, but most had already been plucked, leaving just new buds or the damaged ones. Down on the 4th floor the adventurers here were a clear cut above the rest, not a single person below E-rank hunted here, with the majority being D-rank. It was also quite busypared to thest floor, and there was a specific reason for that....frost lizards. From the 4th floor and below frost lizards dwelled inrge numbers, ranging from E to D-rank. These creatures were incredibly lucrative with nearly every part of the creature being desired. Its skin made great armour, clothes, and other textiles. Its meat was tender and juicy, great in stews and curries. Its bones were tough yet supple, great for making bows and or ballista ribs. Its galldder and blood were useful in creating ice resistance potions, truly a very profitable monster. However, it wasnt exactly easy to hunt them. In the wild they are really hard to find in abundance, liking to avoid people and then theres their tenacity in battle. Theyre agile on their four feet and their tails can pack quite a wallop, easily breaking bones. Their teeth are long and sharp, their jaws able to crush rocks plus if that wasnt enough, they can cast magic. Monsterirs such as [beginners ice magic] solved the issue of finding them but defeating them wasnt any easier. The trick learned through extensive hunting was to use numbers and loud sounds to defeat them. Though they were agile, frost lizards tended to struggle with rotating and the loud noises disorientated them further. All around the fourth floor groups of adventurers could be seen hunting them in such ways but not all ended in sess. People could be seen and heard screaming in pain, their loud banging attracting other lizards and monsters to surround them. And others who were too cocky and or too impatient getting whacked back by the lizards tail or even having a chunk taken out of them by its powerful jaw. To Frost such opponents wouldnt threaten him in the slightest, his ive would make short work of them and even his magic would work but the promise of profit couldnt be denied. With an eager smile Frost lunged forward, ready to fight some lizards. Unlike the ice snakes these lizards contained no venom so there was nothing to fear. Their skins would be great for his frost dwarf smith to experiment with or perhaps he could try his hand at tailoring. Perhaps Nanna or Maya would appreciate a lizard skin purse. There was also another majormerce that against his will Frost was made aware of....the makeup and beauty industry. Maya herself wore very little makeup, she was just naturally beautiful, and her high realm helped supplement that beauty, especially her skin however even she wasnt against asionally applying lipstick or eyeshadow. But when he was dragged around by her, Luna, and Cassandra he was forced to listen to all their girl talk, makeup was repeatedly brought up, they even dragged him to a few stores solely for such products and the price shocked him as did the number of customers. Woman everywhere and even many men loved to appear beautiful, whether that was too attract a certain someone or just to boost their own confidence it was a massive market. The Northrend empire made massive amounts of money from the makeup industry, shipping products across Nova, the reason. The Yangmir continent, especially further north where the temperature is cold contains a plethora of herbs and nts that were ideal for making makeup, perfume, and other beauty products. For example, the frigid rose, a fairlymon flower that grows in the cial mountains has no medicinal properties and only looks pretty with its white petals. But when ground up it makes a beautiful pigment for foundation, giving the applicator snow white skin without a blemish. It even makes for good powder to rejuvenate the skin andes with a mild yet pleasant aroma, desired by woman around the world. And thats just from amon flower, higher ranked nts have been used to make royal versions and many say that it takes years off their ages, eliminating wrinkles and tightening the cheeks. Other flowers in the cial mountains that seemed to serve no purpose eventually did and each one brought with it a substantial boon. Dous and Cassandra recently ordered a special concoction made from such herbs, dubbed the hearts embrace. Though it sounded romantic and came in a pink vial, the thing would be better suited in red or perhaps ck. Given that it provided a more physical boost rather than emotional. Dous needed a little help to keep up with his beautiful wifes desire that had been put on hold for the past couple years, let alone her fervent desire for another child. Frost felt like banging his head against a wall whenever the girls started talking about all their makeup, but he had to admit it was a very lucrative business and one he had to take into consideration. Dous mentioned that to truly govern a sessful territory one needed ie, and it usually needed toe from something special within the territory i.e., Furanos vast supplies of monster materials thanks to the frequent monster stampedes and their close location to the cial mountains. Chapter 230 230 Chapter 230: Attacked by adventurers Frost made his way through the 4th floor of [beginners ice magic] fighting his way passed monster simr to that of the 3rd floor but with a generous dollop of frost lizards but unlike everyone else hunting on this floor Frost made very short work of them. A single well aimed use of [crescent sh] was all it took to decapitate them; they didnt even get a chance to attack most of the time. The frost lizards he encountered were E-rank, spanning anything between 2 and 3 metres in length yet only being half a metre tall. Their usual attack methods was physical, aiming to bite down on their victims with their powerful jaws before thrashing side to side to tear apart the wound. When someone attacked from the side or behind it would swat them with itsrge tail, buffeting them away, asionally breaking shields or even limbs. Smarter ones and or those that were finding physical means not working would tense up their tails as they channelled mana. Summoning ice bolts to stab at their aggressors, they could even asionally cover their tails tip in ice to make it more lethal in stabbing. Of course, for Frost, none of that mattered. Since he could use his magic, ive arts and even chakra without restriction they were not his opponents. Physical monsters such as them had only the most minor of resistance to ice, protecting them from the cold, not much else. Frost would quickly skin their corpses and store the other useful materials like a speedy professional before carrying on. Many groups gawked in awe when they saw him in action, before wisely choosing to keep their distance. Well, most did, a brave or rather foolish group of four men surrounded Frost once he reached their section of the floor, they desired his clearly abundant loot and thought that with the four of them they could take him. This sort of situation was nothing new, adventurers werent always nice people like the many Frost had met so far. Many would take advantage of the remoteness of the wild or monsterirs for some easy pickings. Fighting against other adventurers was sometimes safer and far more lucrative than hunting monsters yourself. The wise ones would perform both thus making twice as much and for most of the time actually act like adventurers, reducing the ire from the guild and other parties. The world was not fair and as long as they didnt go too far i.e., killing other adventurers the guilds tended to turn a blind eye. Of course, as long as there were no witnesses people still died, dead tongues tell no tales and wouldnt be able toe back for revenge. This group of four were all for that philosophy, shame that they picked the wrong opponent and since Frost was the one being targeted he couldnt be med for killing in self-defence. Basically, these four men were begging to be turned into DP and it would be all above board. Frost couldnt help but smile with evil intent when he was called out by the leader of the four men, while the other three slowly surrounded him each showing greedy expressions. Well, well what do we have here boys, a little elf that thinks hes king of adventurers, prancing about here all on his lonesome. The leader was an ugly man with discoloured blemishes on his face and an oversized nose. Frost couldnt help but be reminded of a goblin -those wild ones of course not his cute and endearing frost goblins. The man was human though and part of his criminal activities were brought on because of his less than savoury appearance. It gave him a real short fuse. The other three werent exactly lookers either but none were as profound as the leader. Two were beastmen from the rat tribe and the other was a human and all of them were dressed in typical adventuring gear for this environment. Studded leather armour with fur internals though it had seen better days. The defence quality was still there but the original colour had faded, permanently dyed by the blood of their many victims, sapient and monster. The fact that they were here on the 4th floor showed that this group had a decent amount of skill so Frost though excited didnt grow arrogant. Men had intelligence and weapons, making for much harder opponents than monsters who merely relied upon their instincts to fight. The three cronies cackled in response to their leadersment while silently moving closer and closer to Frost, blocking any avenue of escape. They werent new to this routine having performed it a great many times, but it was rare for them to be so lucky. Not only had they hunted a bunch of monsters themselves, but they ran into a solo adventurer, the perfect target. No matter how powerful one was they were still one person. With such a numerical advantage they could not only attack from all four directions theyd be able to oust their victim in battle. Dealing with four attackers was much more arduous than fighting one after all. Plus given the difficulty of this monsterir there shouldnt be anyone of peak strength bothering to enter. ..... Oh, how wrong they were, though Frost wasnt peak strength his ability thanks to his battles with the yeti families and now the frost elemental his ive mastery was quite high as was his other skills. He could now be considered mid C-rank and on the upper end of that scale. His power was still below the likes of Rock and Jin, but he certainly wouldnt be on the back foot after a single attack, he would now be able to give them a better run for their money. The four men surrounding him were nowhere near that level, likely D-rank at best yet Frost didnt let down his guard. This was a group who were experienced in hunting other adventurers, with their teamwork and he didnt know what abilities they held. Frosts eyes nced over the three goons edging closer before taking in the full image of the leaders appearance, he couldnt help but let out a muffled giggle. The man was so ugly it was hrious, being in Frosts presence must be infuriating. The leaders face quickly changed colours to red, then blue and then finally purple before he roared Bastard! Whats so fucking funny? He was already severely irritated by Frosts appearance and wanted to carve up his pretty face to make an example. The man hated anyone who was more handsome than himself which was probably the vast majority of men in Nova. Elves were always at the very top of his list. His cronies understood their leaders feelings and though it tended to get them into a great many fights they didnt hold it against him....they werent exactly handsome either. Hahahahah sorry, sorry I know you want to invoke fear in me by ganging up and cutting of my escape routes bute on with a face like that and one like mine how can I notugh ahahahhahaha. Frost no longer restrained himself,ughing out loud while tears even threatened to leak from his eyes. The contrast between him and his attacker was so monolithic that it was almost sad. Crack! The ugly leader bit down so hard that his teeth cracked, hed never been so tantly mocked especially not in such a situation. For a moment he felt that Frost must have something wrong in his head. He was currently surrounded by fourrge men each with their weapons drawn and no one was around to even hear him scream yet instead of being afraid, wary, bargaining for safe passage or even begging for his life he angered his attackers so directly. This idiot must have a death wish, the three cronies stifled their ownughter, but they also felt that Frost was not right in the head. The ugly human leaders anger grew and grew, his face pure red with rage and his veins bulged and throbbed before he snapped. With mes pouring from his eyes, he red at Frost and raised his de and roared. Kill this fucking elf! Carve up his pretty face and then lets see whosughing! With his order given all four of them moved to attack. The leader was a swordsman, wielding a 3ft steel sword and a 2 star wood shield reinforced with frost lizard skin. Pretty decent equipment for the run of the mill D-rank adventurer, banditry seemed to be rather lucrative. The other human was an archer, he was armed with a 2 star bow and multiple arrow types, wooden, ice, iron and even a few steel ones plus an extra something special. Hed y the role of support in this battle, simr to what Taka did for Bruno when they fought Frost. For the rat beastmen one wielded a giant two handed hammer made from steel and the other was a pugilist outfitted with gauntlets made from monster bones. Each of Frosts opponents were quite well equipped for their levels, making this fight much more.....fun. He didnt know what skills they knew or what level of mastery they had for their weapons but the equipment although lower than his could certainly withstand his barrage, at least for a few rounds. Steel in particr was quite hardy, hed find it hard to slice through itpletely even with his quasi 4 star ive. Chapter 231 231 Chapter 231: Attacked by adventurers (2) Frost stood with his ive in hand surrounded by four men, each with angry expressions. After the leader let loose his order the human archer acted firstunching one of his iron headed arrows at Frosts chest. They already decided to kill Frost, less hassle that way. Even if Frost didnt mock their leader his end would have been the same well it may have been less painful. Swoosh! The arrow flew through the air with great speed and uracy. The archers three colleagues smiled with pride at the sight. A beautiful shot. But their smiles quickly evaporated. Ding! The arrow reached Frosts chest but not before his ice chakra had a chance to encase the area. The arrow simply broke off a few shards nothing more. Frost turned around towards the archer and eyed him with disdain. Taka was far better than this whelp. His arrows could at least force him to groan in pain even with his chakra armour, but this guy didnt even reach the bottomyer of his armour. Hmph! Pathetic! With a slight shrug Frost encased himself in his ice chakra armour as he did with the yetis looking once again like an ice king. All but his pretty face was covered in full te ice armour as though mocking his aggressors. The other three grimaced at Frosts presence, feeling a great pressure on their bodies as fear filled their hearts but that was only fleeting. This group had faced many a dire circumstances and knew that the moment you give in to fear is the moment you die, besides they already made their intentions known. No way this situation was going to end in a civil manner, either Frost died, or they did. Surprisingly it was the hammer wielder that arrived first despite the weight of his weapon. He swung downward with great force, unaltered by Frosts new imposing armour. It was just ice; he could simply smash it with his great hammer. So, what if an arrow only pierced part way through, could its force bepared to his hammer, no way. But Frost wouldnt simply allow his opponent to strike his armour, it was nowhere near the level needed for him to simply stand there and take no damage. He gripped his ive with his right hand and swung up to meet the hammer. Donnggggg! A loud sound reverberated in the area when the ives de struck against the face of the hammer but that was all. No cracks appeared and no one got off better than the other. The rat beastmans arms swelled as he pushed down with more pressure, but Frost didnt budge. He held back the rat beastmans hammer with one hand leaving the other to deal with the pugilist that appeared at his side a momentter. This would be Frosts first time engaging a pugilist as an adventurer but out of all the professions it was probably the only one he had ample experience with. Maya repeatedly beat him to a pulp with just her fists and often made him use his own body to fight instead of relying upon his ive. Could the rat beastmans moves bepared to his guardian.....not a chance. Frost saw the rat beastmaning from a mile away. His target was his shoulder, primarily the socket that connected his arm to his shoulder. Pugilist was a very difficulty ss to master, especially against monsters. High level pugilist were sometimes even rarer than mages. To take on monsters with their high strength bodies, pugilists needed to train their own bodies. Whether that be in speed, endurance, strength or even mentally. Their own bodies needed to be the weapon. less skilled ones used gauntlets such as the pugilist before him now, but the really skilled ones used their bare fists and legs to pummel their opponents. The best chakra users were usually pugilists given the fact that without it theyd be hard pressed to damage monsters at C-rank and higher. The rat beastman to Frosts side was still a newbie inparison, he could utilise a little chakra to give his fists a little more oomph but mainly relied on his gauntlets, but his technique was still rather fierce. Whether attacking monsters or humanoids the target areas were always rather the same...the weak points. Primarily the joints where bones connect. Since they couldnt carve up flesh or deal as much blunt damage as a hammer they aimed to break apart the joints, proving just as devastating. Knowing how to deal with such a move thanks to Maya, Frost didnt dodge. Instead, he used his shoulder to strike pre-emptively against the pugilists fist, cutting arge amount of its momentum. The blow now only broke a coupleyers of his ice armour instead of blowing apart his shoulder socket. The rat beastmans eyes opened wide in surprise before quickly dealing another blow. Pugilists were all about fast attacks andbos, so what if the first attack didntnd the second or third or fourth would. The rat beastmans other fist swiftly moved to strike an uppercut on Frosts chin. ..... Frost moved his neck a couple inches to the side avoiding the blow by a hairs breadth before attacking with his own fist. His right hand was still preupied with therge hammer, but his left was free to strike. Covering it with an extrayer of chakra he punched out at the rat beastmans abdomen hoping to blow the man back so he could deal with the leader that was about to strike him with his de. The rat beastman reacted well, bringing down his elbow and his left knee upward. Both were covered in his own partial chakra as well as elbow and knee guards. His chakra was of the wind element, causing the areas to slightly glow green. Boom! Frosts punch met with the elbow and knee guards, kes of ice broke from the blow but was still mostly intact, the same was said for the elbow and knee guards. Frosts fast punch was up against a knee and an elbow both applying perpendicr force, the ending was a draw much to Frosts shock. Dealing with intelligent opponents and their techniques is far more difficult. The yetis he fought before, though had more strength, tenacity and sometimes burst speed could not utilise techniques such as this rat beastman just did. Frost didnt have time to ponder the differences between yetis and his current opponents, however. On one side a hammer continued to press down on his ive, locking it down. On the other the pugilist had caught left fist between his knee and elbow, the archer had manoeuvred to the rear aiming to fire arrows at his back from a blind spot. And in front on him the ugly human leader started thrusting his sword towards his abdomen while covering his side with his shield. Their teamwork was marvellous and each of them were rather skilled in their own profession. This is not the first time theyve moved in such a way. Frost could almost envision the amount of people and monsters that died this way, but he wasnt too fazed. Even if that de reached his abdomen and pierced him it shouldnt go too deep, but he wouldnt allow that. The whole processsted about a few seconds but for Frost it was as though it was ying in slow motion. He kept his ears perked waiting for the archer to make his move. The de of the human leader grew imperceptibly closer and the ugly smile on his face became more and more obvious. He was sure of his victory. Even if it didnt kill the elf hed be hurt, and they would be in the perfect position to keep attacking. A fraction of a secondter Frost heard the twang of the archers bow and his lips curled upwards. Rapidly he bent his knees before pushing against the ground with some force, all while tilting backwards. He performed a back flip. With his legs outstretched he kicked the oing de with his chakra covered foot- safe to do so since the de was thrust forward not down- sending it upwards, much to the leaders displeasure but he was powerless to stop it. Frost moved too fast, and his kick was too strong, it took him a great deal of effort to even hold onto his weapon. His momentum however continued forward. At the same time because of his flip, Frosts left fist was pulled from the pugilists vice grip while the pressure on the hammer side was lifted, and it mmed down onto the ground without resistance nearly hitting the leaders arm, but the move wasnt done yet. The archers arrow that was originally aimed at Frosts back was still howling through the air but now its target had flipped backwards and into the air leaving the flight path. Now what was there was the human leader, an arrow knew no allies once fired. The arrow screamed through the space that was once Frost zooming at the ugly leaders face. Fuck! The ugly leader screamed profanities in his head, their perfect timing had such a loophole. Thankfully he had his shield, with a deft movement he moved it in front of the arrows path and moved his body behind it. Don! The arrow stabbed into his shield, right on the rim, a half second slower and it would have pierced his shoulder or even his neck. A cold sweat trickled down the mans forehead and back before he quickly came to his senses. Kargul! He roared the name of the archer, warning him as well as slightly admonishing him for nearly killing his boss. Chapter 232 232 Chapter 232: Hidden moves Kargul! The ugly human leader roared out the name of the archer in warning. Frost had left their strike zones leaving him out in the open. Archers and mages were always the first to be targeted in battle due to their weak defences and rather annoying support. The human leader didnt think this situation would be any different. Fighting three people was very different from fighting four, it would leave a direction free to manoeuvre. The group didnt know Frosts capabilities, but they did know he wielded a ive and was adept with his chakra. The most the three closebat fighters could do was warn the archer while doing their best to scramble after Frost. For Frost however having a couple seconds of freedom was more than enough to cause some substantial damage. he smiled evilly as his body flipped in the air, leaving the three closebat fighters off bnce. As he started to descend he could see the face of the archer, he was prepared tounch another arrow his way, but Frost was faster. [Ice bolt] with deft skill his uttered themand word and created two magic crests before him almost instantly summoning torge bolts of ice, each far thicker than an arrow. Twang The archer let loose an arrow the same moment Frostunched his ice bolts, he ground his teeth in frustration before quickly dodging to the side. Kargul wasnt foolish enough to take on an ice bolt with his armour when he could dodge. The first arrow struck against the first ice bolt shattering both but the second one whizzed towards him, thankfully he rolled away in the nick of time. Frosts magic was getting faster and faster after each use, surpassing that of regr arrows. Frostnded on the ground the same moment that Kargul rolled to the side and immediately dashed towards his target, hed be foolish to pass up such a chance. With his speed hed reach Kargul in an instant far quicker than the other three assants could catch up to him. Even the pugilist would struggle, that was the difference in rank. Fuck! A momentter Frost stood before Kargul with his ive raised, aiming to cleave him in twain. Kargul acted swiftly, dropping his bow, and raising his arms in a cross block. Kargul was an experienced adventurer and knew the weaknesses of his profession well. Adorning his forearms were special gauntlets built to endure blows such as the oneing. ng! The loud sound of metal striking against metal sounded out, below the monster hide covering Karguls gauntlets was reinforced steel, no more than half an ingots worth but it was right where Frosts ive struck. ..... Where Frost imagined and the very least cutting deep into Karguls arms what he got was maybe a bruise. The reinforced steel sessfully stopped Frosts ive with very minor damage, perhaps a slight dent but that was all. Kargul however took advantage of the blow to roll backwards and out of harms way. His arms still trembled from the fierce blow and his wrists ached, but he survived, though he was now unarmed. His bow needing to be dropped in order to block in time. But that wasnt important for now. Without the slightest hesitation he tossed a couple throwing daggers Frosts way, each aiming for different vitals as he continued to run backwards to the safety of his teammates. If there was one thing he learned from being an adventurer -and asional bandit- for so long was that one should be adaptable, one trick ponies do notst long, especially among themon ranks. Ding ding Frost knocked away the daggers without too much effort, but he had to admit that he was quite impressed with Karguls resourcefulness. Not only did he have a good way to defend himself when the battle entered closebat, he still had other ways to attack and positioned himself well. In those two seconds or so hed already managed to return to hisrades side, ready to start the fight again. The man also withdrew a second bow from his back, its quality wasnt much different from his first one. They were back at square one but now they knew that Frost not only knew martials arts and chakra maniption, but he could also use magic. The three closebat users stood in a line, facing off against Frost while Kargul stood behind with his new bow drawn. He changed his ammunition to something a little more devasting, steel arrows. Frost was no longer an opponent that they could hold back against. The human leader was already regretting picking a fight with Frost but theres no point in crying over spilled milk, they needed to fight. Fuck Fuck Fuck! On your toes everyone this man aint easy. The ugly leader cursed before giving his orders. The rest of his team nodded with serious expressions. They wouldnt take as many risks now and would no longer expect their formations to be sure fire kills. Frost looked towards the group of four before him, waiting for his next move and his lips curled upwards as his heart started beating rapidly, the music of battle started to ring in his ears. Surprised that such a group could put up a decent fight, but he wasnt one tooin. With a mad look on his face, he twirled his ive around as though taunting before ending in afortable battle stance. His hand outstretched he beckoned his opponents forward. Lets see what youve got then hahahahahah. Frost chuckled with glee before dashing forward, starting the next round of battle. As though affected by Frosts battle lust the group of four roared in concert before dashing forward, well the front three. Kargulunched arrows two at a time towards the dashing Frost. The steel arrows were heavier and far sharper than the iron ones or pykrete ones and would carry much greater force. Frost didnt falter, twirling his ive to swat down these fast approaching arrows but the moment this de was about to meet the first something unexpected happened, the arrow changed course, avoiding his ive. Frost was caught unprepared as the arrow altered its course and headed straight towards his chest. Don! It struck with arge amount of force, breaking offyers of his ice armour and knocking the wind out of his lungs. Frosts eyes narrowed and he coughed in pain but kept on charging, the second arrow arrived a split secondter and just like the first attempted to avoid his ives de. Oh no you dont! With anger Frost forcibly changed the course of his ive and batted the arrow to the ground, he would not be made a fool of a second time. Tsk Kargul clicked his tongue before loading up another two arrows though this time he didnt prepare them in a special way. Just those two were enough to make Frost wary and threatened. There was a special skill that could be learned by those with mastery over the bow called [homing arrow] that would follow the target when it moved and or tried to defend itself, behaving much like his little trick with the steel arrows but it wasnt [homing arrow], a mere imitation. Such a skill needed high mastery of the bow, one that Kargul had not reached yet as well as a great amount of money if one didnt unlock it through gruelling practise. Since he didnt have much money and his mastery wasnt nearly high enough he used a simple trick that a senior adventurer taught him long ago. Attached to his two steel arrow was a piece of string that he manipted so as to redirect his arrows to produce a simr effect of [homing arrow], though far more limited. However, with his repeated practise the technique became quite impressive and would usually catch his targets off guard like it did Frost. Shame that only one seeded and dished out only minor damage but at least now Frost will always be on the lookout, splitting up his focus. Once the second arrow was knocked away the three closebat fighters arrived while Kargul manoeuvred around the battlefield for a better line of sight, all while keeping ample distance. He had a few more tricks up his sleeve like the imitation of [homing arrow] now he just needed an opportunity. The other three were also more resourceful than their initial appearance. The pugilist moved to strike fist, punching dead ahead at Frosts face while the ugly human leader moved in to support him, preparing to block the ive with his shield or de. The pugilists fist rushed at Frosts face, but Frost wasnt that concerned, once again he prepared to move to the side with a smooth movement. The pugilist was far below his own level when it came to unarmedbat. But the moment he moved to avoid the strike; the gauntlet suddenly changed. A metal spike suddenly protruded from it; Frosts eyes opened wide in shock before he increased his turning speed, but it wasnt fast enough. His face was the only ce he didnt cover in ice chakra armour since it affected his vision, a decision that he quickly regretted. The spike carved into his cheek, slicing out a nasty cut before taking off a piece of his ear. The stinging pain filled Frost with anger, his eyes ame with fury, he clenched his teeth and Smash! He mmed his head down onto the pugilist knocking him backwards. Next he swung his ive to push back the swordsman and hammer user who at some point silently appeared at his side, aiming for his shoulder. Frost backed off from his aggressors in retreat, the first time he felt the need to do that. Chapter 233 233 Chapter 233: w of the ice wolf Frost quickly used his leg strength to evade his aggressors, swiftly dashing across the frozen ground as though weightless. Blood dripped down his cheek, further painting his robes. He raised his left hand in shock, still in disbelief about the events that just urred. The stinging pain however was a stark reminder. He was hoodwinked, such sneaky methods. He grit his teeth while quickly dashing to the side. Two arrows flew passed his previous location, piercing into the hard ground. The moment Frost retreated away from the battle Kargul fired his bow, not giving him a chance to rx or check his current situation. The damage to his cheek though painful was not that serious, hell it wouldnt even be the slightest bit debilitating to Frost but he was worried it wasnt so simple. With a shaking hand and somewhat panicked expression, Frost wiped his cheek and brought his hand to his nose. He was checking for poison. Yes the damage from such a move was nothing in his eyes, in fact he even respected the pugilist for hiding such a move so well but if his spike was coated this could be a real problem. Ever since his encounter with Alex he had an ingrained trauma towards poison, finding the stuff incredibly off putting. No matter how strong he was with his magic or ive as long as he received a small nick, even less than what he currently endured his battle strength could be worthless. rm bells were ringing in his head at the moment as the worst situation shed before his eyes. His heartbeat started pumping a mile a minute, he was afraid. Sniff sniff...smells fine haaaaaaaaaa. As Frost smelled his own blood, checking for anything untoward he was relived to find that it was uncontaminated. His body wasnt showing any signs of poison, no weakness or funky smell from the wound. It was just a surprise attack, no venom coating. With such a realisation Frost released a deep sigh of relief before swiftly refocusing his attention. Ding ding Another two arrows were sent his way, which he knocked down with his ive before the three closebat users were back on his heels. This time he was far more wary of their attacks, taking on a more defensive role, his eyes paying specific attention to the pugilist. The pugilist in question was not faring to well mentally, not only was his surprise attack perfectly on point in his mind, his head was still ringing from Frosts vicious headbutt. He initially hoped to either carve up Frosts neck or at the very least pierce one of his eyes but no all he got was a gash across the check and now his target knew about his hidden spike. ..... His gauntlets were speciallymissioned by his request to have this hidden spike attached. It worked wonders for surprise attacks, whether that be on humanoids or monsters. The spike had saved his ass a great many times over the past couple years, so when it failed to leave even a single meaningful injury his confidence was shot. He also regretted not applying poison to the thing but after a few annoying incidents he no longer did such a thing. Poison, especially the fast acting stuff tended to damage the preys quality if it was a monster. Greatly reducing the materials garnered from the victim. The meat would be unusable, the blood would be contaminated as well as the organs and sometimes even the skin and fur could be permanently discoloured making it a pretty unprofitable move. Next when dealing with humanoids, using poison was always seen as quite cowardly and harshly condemned by all. If they didnt kill the target they could be hunted down, using poison was over the line in the eyes of the adventurers guilds. And finally, the other main reason he didnt use poison anymore was because one time he idently poisoned himself. The mechanism failed and he ended up cutting his own finger. Thankfully it wasnt a deadly poison, and he had the antidote, but the situation was incredibly dangerous given that it happened during battle, not making his colleagues lives any easier. He was mocked relentlessly after that incident, a ck mark in his past. Shame however that he came across Frost, without poison his surprise attack was not that threatening which Frost quickly became aware of after raising his guard. While enduring the three closebat attackers with the strength of his ive, Kargul struggled to get a clean shot, afraid to hit one of his allies. Frosts movements had him always hidden behind one of his assants. The pugilist had already revealed his tricks so he attacked with wanton abandon, trying to overwhelm Frost as much as he possibly could but given his lower skill level, he wasnt much of an opponent. Quickly even with the aid of the swordsman and hammer user, Frost gained traction. With a deft upward swing he sent the pugilist flying even though he had a cross guard up. Ptuh the pugilist coughed up blood from the force, his arms and chest felt numb. And without a moments rest Frost moved to strike against the human leader and the hammer user. [Crescent sh] Frosts ive filled up with energy and emitted a pale blue light as he swung against the leaders shield. Bang! Like metal striking metal the shield revealed a deep gash but remained together. This wasnt just because of the materials used to make to the shield no the ugly human leader was more skilled with it than Frost initially thought. The moment Frosts ive skill struck the ugly human leader moved backwards, dissipating a good chunk of the attack, saving his shield. The man also attacked at the same time with his de, making Frost unable to strike towards him a second time as his body skidded backwards. Next was the hammer user, taking advantage of his colleagues situations the rat beastman revved up arge swing given that he had some more time. Hammer uses were generally slow in their attacks but give them enough time and the chance to hit you, you wontst long. Frost had inadvertently given the hammer user enough time to wind up arge swing while in close proximity, the chances of him missing were negligible plus Frosts ive alreadyunched a skill towards his leader. The most hed have to fend against was a half assed desperate block. Rahhhhhhhhhhh! The rat beastman roared as he brought down his hammer [elephant stamp] he activated his own skill, a hammer technique that enhanced its crushing power. Simr to the standard sh skill in among ded weapons. This [elephant stamp] would coat the blunt weapon in energy, increasing its stopping power as well as its weight. Out of the four assants he was the first to use a true skill in this fight and he only did so because he felt the timing was best. Frost frowned in the split second he had to acknowledge the strikeing for him. Maya had never used any hammer skills on him since his body wouldnt be able to withstand it but she did strike him several times with a chakra formed hammer, so he knew the attack patterns fairly well. The [elephant stamp] skill was also fairly basic, no more than an enhancement. Could this rat beastmans strength reallypare to Maya and her training.....not a chance. But he had to admit the mans timing was pretty good. Frosts ive had just finished a downward swing, he wouldnt be able to bring out his full strength with such timing. There was always enduring the blow with his chakra armour but that was out of the question. The yetis with their untrained punches could already break through his armour let alone a steel hammer of a D-rank adventurer. Even without the skill his armour would be blown off and his arm bruised. With the skill it might even crack, such was the devastation of a hammer. It was the blunt weapon with the greatest force after all. As the milliseconds passed, the hammer grew closer towards Frost and the grey energy started to coat the face of the hammer, making it look that much more daunting. The rat beastman smiled, his timing was perfect, his colleagues agreed but wary of theirst failure they chose not to let up. The pugilist and ugly leader both regained their footing and prepared to move back into attack mode. While Kargul drew his bow, ready tounch another arrow regardless of the oue. He had an uneasy feeling that Frost would somehow get away scot-free, so he readied himself to use his own skill [piercing shot]. Frost though frowning at the same time had a mad smile on his face, along with the bloodied cheek it looked quite frightening. The rush was incredible, he loved this feeling. Once the fear of poison was removed only the thrill of battle remained. As the hammer continued to draw closer and his ive turned in the air, aiming to counter the blow his smile grew wider and wider as a sh of inspiration hit him. His eyes sparkled as knowledge began to unfurl in his mind, his training against the yetis, the frost elemental as well as the frost lizards and now finally facing against this hammer skill, [elephant stamp]. His experience with the ive shed in his mind and all the data coalesced into a brand new skill. [w of the ice wolf]! Chapter 234 234 Chapter 234: Dog pile [w of the ice wolf]! Frost roared the name of his new skill and suddenly his energy was drained and transferred to his ive. This technique was the culmination of his training over the past few days and with the sudden burst of inspiration it finally came to fruition. Pale blue energy covered the ive as it headed upward increasing its speed and cutting power but that wasnt all, it was infused with the ice element, this was a higher level of technique, one that not only possessed increased power but also had elements of mana. Wounds left by such a strike would send a freezing energy into the body of its victims, much like chakra did. This skill was unique to those who had proficient skill with a ive as well as mastery over ice mana. But even then it wasnt finished, the freezing cold energy suddenly floated ahead of the de before splitting into three, looking like massive blue ws, paying homage to the name [w of the ice wolf]. The moment was only a brief second so the audience couldntprehend the change. The hammer user was so focused on his strike he didnt register Frosts words, continuing to strike down without worry. He saw the pale blue light and just assumed that Frost was trying to quickly use the skill from earlier but to him it didnt matter. Even if you do conjure up that skill youll still be at a disadvantage against my hammer. With cocky thoughts the rat beastman put even greater strength into his swing. The ugly leader and pugilist were just regaining their bnce when contact happened. Bang! Bang! Squealch! Three distinct sounds roared out once the two skill met. The grey energy from the hammers [elephant stamp] skill was turned to shreds from just one of Frosts ws. The remaining force mmed into the hammers face causing the first bang. The second struck a momentter and actually cracked the thing, sending fragments in all directions while the third unimpeded by the hammers face was free to carve up some flesh. Along with the ive de itself the blue w sliced upwards passed the hammer. The rat beastmans shoulder was nearly sliced off in its entirety, the bone could easily be seen, with the majority being sheared. The rat beastmans confident/cocky expression quickly flipped, his face turned pale and insane levels of pain were shot to his brain. His arm was not only dangling at his side, but his nerves were experiencing freezing damage. it almost felt as though he was being burned. Ahhhhhhhhhhh! He roared out in pain, dropping the remains of his hammer, he held his carved up shoulder with his good arm and wailed, not even taking into ount the time and ce. Frost meanwhile was momentarily stunned, not expecting his new skill to be so effective, he was caught in a daze, failing to take advantage of the situation. The hammer user was easy pickings for him as long as he acted now but chances are fleeting. Fuck I knew it! Kargul had a dark expression on his face, he grimaced at the sight but didnt forget his job. [Piercing shot] not standing on ceremony heunched his steel arrow along with the standard archer skill, amplifying its prative power. Hed need at least this much to pierce Frosts chakra armour. ..... While his two colleagues and his target were still in shock he moved. His steel arrow left his bow with a sharp twang, howling through the air while covered in a coating of green energy. The sharp howl alerted the ugly human leader and pugilist who regained their focus immediately. Fuck! The ugly human leader cursed aloud as he saw the state of hisrade. He and the pugilist both dashed forward, they couldnt allow Frost to finish the job. The battle was already against their favour with 4 on 1, if they lost a member now, they were as good as dead. Karguls arrow would likely do no damage but should buy them enough time to move for assistance. Their desperate attempts were quite impressive, with their speed Frost didnt have time to end the hammer user. The moment the arrow wasunched his instinct warned him of danger and he reacted as they deemed. His ive was not going to arrive in time, so he used the back of his hand to smash the arrow that headed towards his face. Boom! With his chakra enhanced arm and impressive strength the arrow was blown to pieces, regardless of the [piercing shot] enhancement. The innate strength of an arrow could only be so much, though its piercing capabilities can be enhanced it still is in the end an arrow. Kargul didnt have much hope with his attack, but he didnt falter. Before the first arrow even arrived he had already drew once again,unching two more steel headed arrows. Smash! Smash! Once again using his skilled unharmed technique Frost shattered the arrows that headed his way, he was forced to redirect his attention from the hammerer in order to deal with them. Normally this would have been the perfect opportunity for his wounded foe to counter attack but he was stuck in ce due to pain. If it was just a deep cut of his shoulder he could have probably endured it, clenching his teeth as he charged at Frost, but the freezing energy doubled if not tripled his pain making him unable to take advantage of the situation, much to the annoyance of Kargul and the others. Once the third arrow was shattered Frost moved to end the hammerer with a swift stab of his ive before he lost his opportunity but unfortunately he was too slow. Rahhhhhhhhhh! The ugly human leader charged forward with force, his shield raised before him, he nned to m directly into Frost. There was no technique or finesse, just desperation to stop his ive. Frost didnt expect such a move and was caught by surprise, the human leader smashed into his chest with the shield, breaking a coupleyers of his armour and forcing him to take a step back. Are fucking kidding me! The human leader bellowed in anguish, that was a charge with his full strength, yet the man just took a small step back. How fucking strong are you? If he had time to cry he probably would right now, this was so unfair. With the human leader in such proximity to Frost, Kargul couldntunch anymore arrows, but the pugilist could still help. Without even thinking about his leader, the pugilist dashed forward and jumped, his legs stretched forward into dropkick position. A momentter the pugilist dropkicked the back of the human leader giving him a sudden strength boost, though probably not the type of boost he wanted. Frost grimaced, he couldnt barely see what was happening thanks to the human leader being right up in his face and the moment he regained his footing from the mans charge an even stronger force hit against his chest. Frost even with his superior physical strength couldnt endure, his feet lifted from the ground and he along with the ugly leader, pugilist and even the hammerer were sent flying backwards. Four men flew in the air each with differing expressions. The hammerers was filled with pain, the injury on his shoulder be exasperated. The ugly human leader looked like he was about to cry, getting kicked by your own subordinate haaaaaaaaa. The pugilist was gleeful that his attack worked and Frost with was filled with indignity, Wasnt this a battle, why are you dog piling on me? Finally, there was Kargul the only one not sent flying, his expression was one of pure confusion, his bow imperceptibly lowering as he took in this situation. A momentter however he too had an Ingenious idea, he once again drew his bow ready tounch an arrow, though this time he aimed at the sky, while his eyes analysed Frostsnding position. A secondter the four mennded on the ground, the hammer crossed the least distance, he was prone on the ground as blood pooled around his body. Next was the pugilist who once again kicked his boss beforending near the hammer, he was in the best condition out of all of them and the only one who chose hisnding position. Next was Frost and the ugly leader, the ugly leader drifted slightly downwards, his shield was now leaning against Frosts legs instead of his chest. He sported little injury other than that of his ego, since it was a pushing motion kick his back didnt hurt too much but it still felt shameful. Frost meanwhile scraped along the floor, taking on the full brunt of the fall but his ice chakra armour blocked the damage, it did however fall apart in ces, he now looked more like a dishevelled warrior than an ice king. Unfortunately, even with this bizarre situation he didnt get a moments rest. Kargul made his move, heunched several arrows up into the air while shouting [sky shot]. Another one of the basic archer skills that allowed one to have their arrows swarm downwards onto their target with great precision and timing. The green energy covered these three arrows and increased their speed as they fell from the sky and all of them were aimed where Frost fell. Shit! Staring up at the ceiling he could see the three arrows starting their descent, in irritation he kicked the swordsmen from his legs and rolled desperately to the side. Ton ton ton A momentter the arrowsnded in his previous position with one even nicking his arm, drawing blood. Chapter 235 235 Chapter 235: End of a hard battle Damn I really cant let my guard down with these guys. Frost inwardlyined as he turned his gaze towards Kargul. I didnt have so many issues while dealing with the yetis with the same numbers so why is it so hard to fight these four? Frost really couldnt put his finger on the exact reason, given that technically one on one a D-rank adventurer would lose to a D-rank monster. But teamwork as well as attack methods seemed to y a big part. Frost himself was not a monster per say, his body was very much like that of your standard elf, so he didnt have the advantage of a tough hide or ethereal body. He waspeting with the same skills as his foes making the number advantage more difficult to manage. The yetis all attacked with the same weapons i.e., their bodies and their teamwork was nowhere near as fluent as these four however that didnt mean they could fight against four yetis and win like Frost. This question was veryplicated and depended on a great many factors that not even the most battle hardened could answer, all that mattered was that these four were strong and that meant they had won Frosts respect. With the hammerer pretty much out ofmission, the battle was effectively 3 to 1, numbers that Frost could deal with a lot easier. Picking himself up to his feet, he raised his ive and dashed towards the pugilist and hammerer, hoping to nip this one in the bud. Of course, the group wouldnt make it so easy for him, the pugilist stood guard before the hammer after passing him a health potion, willing to fend off Frost alone while their leader catches up and Kargul reorients himself. A low level health potion would not bring the hammerer back to full fighting quality, but it should be enough to staunch the bleeding and let him get back in the fight focus wise. Him wailing on the ground would only get it the way and unfortunately unlike actual bandits these four werent willing to abandon one another. They were far better in that regard than the sanguine snakes. 30 minutester the battle finally came to a close, and it was far from easy. When a rat is cornered it may even have the courage and sometimes strength to fight a cat. The more Frost pushed the group of four the more they pushed back. The pugilist and ugly leader put in their all to help out the hammerer, giving time for the potion to work its magic. He stopped wailing and retreated to Karguls side, to act as a shield for him. Hed be useless in the fast paced back and forthbat so removing himself from the battle was actually a boon. The pugilist was the first to fall, after receiving several deep gashes from Frosts ive and bruising from his punches, the rat beastman couldnt avoid a thrust in time and was stabbed through the lungs. But he still didnt give up, he gripped onto Frosts weapon for dear life while the ugly human leader swung his sword, knowing he was done for he did the best he could for his remaining allies. Unfortunately given his blood loss and injuries his grip wasnt strong enough. Frost easily withdrew his ive from the mans chest in a swift and fluid motion, with bits of his organs and blood still on the end he swung to deflect the oing sword. While the pugilist spurted blood out his mouth and copsed to his knees. His face losing all colour and his eyes growing darker, he passed away silently. Next was the human leader, though it actually took quite awhile after the death of the pugilist, the cornered rat thing actually referred to the human. It was as though he found untold potential in his body, with the death of his friend his every attack was faster, sharper, and far more powerful, so much that Frost was hard pressed to block several strikes. But even so, potential has a limit. Frost used his new skill [w of the ice wolf] to carve up the rest of the leaders shield as well as his torso. His subsequent strikes were no longer that deadly, but he gets an A for trying. Frost cleaved off his two legs, yet the man still vehemently crawled towards him in attempt to punch and bite. It wasnt until he crushed his skull with the butt of his ive that the man stopped his attacks. ..... Thest two, Kargul and the hammerer didntst long. The hammerer was practically missing an arm and his morale after seeing his friends die was at an all time low, he practically gave up in the end, putting up no real fight. Kargul passedst, he refused to back down in the slightest just like the leader, using his gauntlets to endure blow after blow until they turned to scrap along with his hands. Frost ended it with a swift decapitation before copsing to the ground himself,pletely exhausted and his entire body wracked with pain. His robes were coloured red not just by his victims blood but also his own. Several desperate strikes easily made it through his chakra armour, striking his flesh. There was nothing to serious but there was quite a lot, his blood loss was substantial, and he couldnt get away with not taking a health potion, though he really didnt want to. Lying there, he reluctantly withdrew a low level health potion from his spatial ring. Bottoms up, he held his nose to somewhat weaken the vour, but it barely helped, he gagged as the liquid went down his throat before it proliferated through his body, healing his wounds, and regenerating his blood loss. Uwaghhggh! Im never going to get use to that, never! Shaking his head in disgust he tossed the empty vial into the distance out of anger. The ss shattered on the floor, but it didnt matter, a monsterir could pretty much eat anything, it was like the perfect garbage dump. Though it is frowned upon to treat it as such, given that they are creations of the Dark god and or nature. Thankfully no monsters dared to infringe upon this glorious battle, the loud sounds and bloodlust seemed to separate this area from the rest of the monsterir. This prevented adventurersing near as well, plus several knew that the now deceased group were operating in this area and chose to keep their distance. The health potion got to work quickly, sealing up the small gashes and staunching therger ones, his energy seemed to be refilled a little and his mind was clear. Jumping to his feet as though to prove such a state Frost casted clean up magic on himself before activating the repair feature of his robes. My new leather armour is still in decent nick, easily repairable. He examined the leather armour pieces he bought back in beta camp. Most of his wounds were in areas that werent covered by the armour, another trait of the intelligent humanoid races, they knew where to strike. If he wanted to be fully protected he needed full te armour with a sealed helmet, but Frost wouldnt be caught dead in that, so not his style, fashion wise and practicability. He discussed attire a lot with Indra and Aqua. Aqua obviously had very high fashion sense, her eyes sparkled with interest when the topic for fashion or armour came up, well when it came to dressing up Frost. She didnt care too much for Indra, his temperament, appearance, and taste in fashion was too free and wild for her, much better to imagine Frost in noble and glorious schrly attire. Frost however was quite interested in Indras suggestions and style, though slightly less wild looking, half way between Indras and Aquas style. Indra himself went to the gathering with half his torso exposed, revealing his well-defined lightning physique and that was a lot better than Pyros style ofpletely bare top half. His ice chakra armour was one of his own design, it certainly could be more practical in some areas but that was left for him to find out on him lonesome. Maya only praised how valiant it made him look but nothing on the defence quality....well she didnt in words, but she did repeatedly smash it apart to let him know it wasnt good enough. Fighting against Maya with his chakra armour on was actually a negative thing. It gave her an excuse to hit him harder all while having an evil provocative smile on her face. He much preferred dealing with the yetis in the valley than her, at least they couldnt shatter the thing with a single blow and mock him with a sexual innuendo such as oh young master I thought given your age and vitality itd be harder than that. God sometimes he really wanted to spank her ass red as punishment, see how shedze around on the sofa after that hehehehee. Frost shook his head to get back on track. Well then lets see what non-DP rewards I gained here. He was more than willing for groups such as this foolish bunch toe at him with greed in their eyes, easy DP, and money at the same time. Chapter 236 236 Chapter 236: An ambitious party name The group of four werent carrying heavy backpacks like you might expect when foraging for materials, no they had thin ones along with many smaller satchels around their bodies so as to reduce the restrictions on movement as much as possible. They could also have an impromptu camp nearby where theyd stash therger loot once the bags were filled. Itd be really inconvenient to lug around a dozen pelts, bones and who knows what else while hunting. Frost expected he might have to search the surrounding area for a base camp, but he ended up quite lucky. Hmmm while looting the corpses, he removed their satchels and small bags with finesse. The contents werent too impressive, some herbs, regr supplies as well as several daggers and frost lizard parts, quite fresh as well but only from the one corpse. What was interesting however was that on Karguls finger there was a spatial ring, same with the ugly human leader. Having one spatial ring was quite impressive enough but considering their capabilities it wasnt too farfetched. This meant he probably didnt need to search around for a base camp, all their major gear would be held within the rings. After sifting through the regr loot and tossing them into his own spatial ring he sent his mana sense into the newly recovered ones. They were of the most basic rank in terms of size, quality, stability as well as locking mechanisms. High ranking spatial rings tend to have imprinting locks on them so that only the owner can ess it. Not bad, not bad at all, not only have you guys given me a nice dose of DP youve gifted me such a haul let alone your coins.....so generous. Frost smiled with glee as he perused the spatial rings. Of course, these guys werent nearly as skilled as him when it came to handling their materials but none the less, each item was in decent nick and in arge amount too. In the ugly human leaders spatial ring was all of their loot gained over the past several days from hunting down here on the 4th and 3rd floor. The target primarily being frost lizards given their worth. Frost could see nearly 20 skins, dozens of bones, magic crystals, jars of blood as well as their fangs and nails. A bounty easily amounting to 3 gold coins or higher. Adding to his own haul of frost lizards and other monsters, just on materials alone he probably made over 5 gold coins in this little foray into [beginners ice magic]. In Karguls ring there was their camping gear, spare weaponry, maps etc... as well as the coin purses which contained a total of 80 silvers give or take a few dozen copper. They were quite an aplished and wealthy set of adventurers, were being the operative term. With a rich mans gloating smile Frost slid the new spatial rings onto his fingers before unceremoniously removing the intact armour and weapons off the corpses. They werent going to be using it anymore and feeding them to a monsterir was such a waste. Karguls two bows, remaining arrows as well as the leaders de were still in useable condition, just needed a little repair work. The hammer and gauntlets however were destroyed beyond recognition as was most of their leather armour, but a few pieces was better than nothing. Frost didnt like to waste things; he was very environmentally friendly that way. Once recovery was done it was time to move the corpses a little out of the way. Now that the noises of battle had died down, monsters were sure to be attracted by the smell of blood. He didnt wish to cause any problems for innocent passer-bys so he dragged them all over to a nearby bunch of trees since he didnt know how long it would take for the monsterir to absorb things that werent created by it. In his dungeon he could manipte when, but a monsterir was purely an instinctive organism. Actually, this could be good research, another reason to thank this group of adventurers....whats their group called again? Frost had removed their guild cards but had already forgotten their names. Feeling slightly guilty he found the ugly human leaders card to jog his memory, they deserved that at least if he was going to treat them as guinea pigs. ..... Cassius D-rank adventurer and leader of the...are you serious? Frosts lips twitched and his eyes opened wide in surprise, struggling toe to terms with such a unusual name. [The gang of uprightnces], they really didnt leave anything to imagination did they. Frost shook his head while struggling to hold back hisughter. Cleary the uprightnce was referring to their personal weapons since not a single one of them wielded spears ornces plus this group was far from being morally upright. Frost resisted the urge to burn the guild card, simply choosing to toss it back into the spatial ring. There was a reward for returning guild cards to the adventurers guild, small but greatly appreciated. Even though Frost was the one to kill them, they attacked first so he wouldnt be caught off guard when hooked up to a lie detector, but he had other ns. This group was the first adventuring party that he killed himself, their guild cards would be a trophy so to speak, though the name made it really embarrassing. Haaaaaaa never mind Ill just keep it my little secret, who knows how Maya would mock me about my first personal adventurer kill being an uprightnce. He could picture her face right now, struggling to contain herughter..... Frost the masternce yer. With that dealt with and out of mind Frost kept an eye on the four corpsesid out in front of him all while keeping an eye on the time. Around 15 minutester the corpses started to disintegrate, their bodies turning into life energy to be feast upon by the monsterir. The process from start to finish took around 5 minutes, so 20 in total. Frost didnt know if it was different depending on size or personal strength since all four were roughly simr in stature and were all D-rank. But data was data, hemitted this to memory before continuing on his journey. It was getting veryte now outside of the monsterir, but down here the environment was always the same. Without a sun it was very hard to tell the time of day, the current environment would darken a little but other than that not much changed. One sure fire way to tell however was by stomach and body. Frost continued through the fourth floor, killing another bunch of monsters as he entered the final section. But the drain of battle was starting to get to him. Rumble rumble, his stomach groaned in protest as he walked, begging for sustenance and not the quick fire jerky that he used to satiate his hunger over the past several hours no it desired a proper meal and then a good rest. His eyes had be bloodshot, and he was yawning as he walked. The battle with the uprightnces sapped the majority of his remaining strength; the sudden influx of DP was all that kept him going but that had its limits. He needed to make camp. Oh, shut up already I already told you Im going to the check out this floors boss first! Frost roared at his own stomach, hating this dependence on food and rest, he missed his dungeon and the constant stream of mana. This was one part of adventuring he was not fond of, at least for now. Once he gets a better hang of his timing and personal cooking it wouldnt be so bad. Plus, the idea of camping with Maya and the kids around a firepit as they cooked up their hunts sounded magical. But at the moment he was alone, annoyed, and hungry. Thankfully no one passed by when he admonished his own belly otherwise theyd think hed gone mad. He was already near the end of the fourth floor and desperately wanted to glimpse at the boss before calling it a night, his curiosity trumped his hunger. Camping wise however in a monsterir was not for the faint hearted nor the unprepared. The fact that Frost was alone made it all the more deadly. Usually a group would enter, theyd find a sheltered spot for the night with good defensive properties. Theyd set up rms as well as have a rotating watch schedule. One or two people would always be set to keep an eye on the surroundings while the others slept. There were no natural safe zones within monsterirs unless it was built. Monsters could reach every part of their and unless a fortification was built youd always have to be on guard. Therger and deeper monsterirs all tended to have some form of man-made shelter in the lower floors so as to guarantee safety and a good rest, with some people living there for weeks or even months on end. It wouldnt be practical to camp in monster infested areas for weeks on end just to descend then to do the exact same thing to leave. The [beginners ice magic] monsterir only had 6 floors so one such fortification did not exist. Frost would have to make do alone. Chapter 237 237 Chapter 237: Fried frost lizard After chiding his rumbling stomach, Frost came across the boss room for this floor. He didnt n on fighting the thing, just a glimpse to satisfy his curiosity before calling it a night. He scavenged the meat from hisst frost lizard kill, aiming to turn that into his meal for the night. His backpack finally had something stored in it now, and the smell was quite strong. He only had a basic backpack, though it had a fair number ofpartments and was of decent quality itcked some advanced features. More specialised backpacks would have specialpartments lined with smell absorbing material or perhaps even runes dedicated to preservation of meat. This was just another thing that adventurers had to pay for in order to do their jobs. Before Frost was the familiar entrance to a boss room, that lead to the next floor. However, unlike the previous three times, the room was empty, no boss. Huh? Frost frowned as he walked into the room, examining the entire area for signs of a monster but there was nothing but the remains of bloodstains upon the ground. Someone must have beaten me to it, guess Ill just have to wait until tomorrow. Frost shook his head and shrugged, he wasnt the only one in this monsterir and sometimes that meant giving up the hunt. From the blood stains he surmised that he just missed the group by a few minutes. Any group that could make it through to the fifth floor was no amateur. The bottom most floors were reserved for those at the peak of D-rank and perhaps even C-rank, especially with the monster stampede looming. If one of these groups were as foolish as the uprightnces, Frost may have a really hard fight on his hands, he may even need to retreat. Unfortunately, there wasnt any sign of what monster this boss room usually contained so Frost couldnt satisfy his curiosity. But it surely wouldnt be an easy opponent or opponents given the remnants of battle. Frost didnt know how long it would take for the boss to respawn but surely after a nights rest it would return and if not hed just have an easy path to the fifth floor. Fighting the boss was not a necessity but each one so far had allowed him to improve his skills. The first floor boss improved his mastery in the [summon ice golem] spell whereas the second improved his [ice bolt] whereas thest one improved his ive mastery by a small realm. Missing out on an opportunity would be unfortunate but not the end of the world, there were plenty of other monsters waiting for him deeper in their, plus he could always fight them on the way back up. Other groups that werent quite so proficient in their skills would joyfully take advantage of there being no boss on the floor, easily skipping to the lower floors which contained the more profitable monsters. Down on the fifth and sixth floors, rare and very lucrative monsters existed but their strength was also greater. Frost lizards were hard enough for the regr groups at E-rank, them being D-rank was pretty much overkill for most. But they werent the real problem, the bottom most floors were the main reason for this monsterirs name [beginners ice magic]. Down there monster can use not only 1st circle spells but also 2nd circle, not to mention chakra and other magical means. Spirits were prevalent there and not in their simple wisp or fairy form but something much more tangible and deadly, each with their own techniques and spells. It was a higher level ofbat down there, one of which that really required someone with magic capabilities or special equipment. But that would be for tomorrow, for now he needed to find a ce to call shelter tonight. The environment was like a massive ice in withrge cliffs and rocks dotted around, along with patches of winter trees but throughout thest section he struggled to find somewhere worthwhile, and not from theck of trying. ..... Haaaaaaaa Frost sighed as journeyed back through the section with a frustrated frown on his face. Nowhere looked decent especially when venturing alone. He needed somewhere with extra protection since he couldnt keep watch and sleep at the same time, well not effectively. After passing the third failure area his stomach returned to rumbling with fury, making his already irritating situation that much worse. Thankfully it seemed as though the heavens were merciful. While looking upwards to curse at his father for giving him such a weakness he caught sight of arge ice cliff with an outreached shelf and minor depression in the side that would function as a good cave, with a little extra carving. The thing was even several metres up, perfect for deterring the local fauna and other adventurers. Not everyone could scale a cliff so high, for Frost however there was no issue. With impressive agility he leaped up halfway before kicking against the cliff to reach the shelf and depression. It wasrger than it looked from the floor and would suit him just fine for the night. There was always the option of trying to join with another group adventurers for the night, but he felt that hed always need to be on guard, especially after the actions of the uprightnces. If he didnt find this ce however he may have had no recourse. The shelf on the ice cliff was several metres long and almost two metres wide whereas the depression was around a metre deep, not quite enough to shelter him from the weather and noise of the local fauna and intruders but that was easily fixed. With a wide smile and glinting eyes Frost gripped his ive hard and twirled it in the air before shing across the depression to deepen it to the level of a minor cave. As long as he stayed within the new cave the monsterir wouldnt be able to regenerate it. He kicked the pieces of sliced up ice cliff to the floor, giving him ample space to set up his tent and cooking pit. Much better, with a nod Frost started to remove his camping supplies and got to work. The tent he purchased was big enough for one person and would fit into the cave nicely, whereas cooking equipment was minimal and would be sufficient to prepare the meat from a frost lizard. Hecked an array of spices as well as the know-how and patience to make a stew or hotpot. His stomachcked the patience for such a prep heavy dish, no he was going to go down the simple path, frying. After setting up his tent within the cave he removed dried firewood from his spatial ring and aligned them like the fire pits present in Beta camp. [Ignition] with lifestyle magicsmand word a small me appeared at the end of Frosts finger which was promptly sent towards the firewood, lighting it up in almost an instant. Theres a 1st circle spell of the wind element that would suck out all the moisture from the wood allowing one to turn even the most damp and cold of twigs into perfect tinder. But Frostcked the capability to use wind magic and the lifestyle magic dry barely made a dent, so he purchased firewood for this journey and kept it in his spatial ring. The firewood quickly cackled and released a strong aura of warmth that would make most feelfortable yet for Frost who was the embodiment of ice the cold was much moreforting. He only needed the me for cooking when it came to sleeping hed put it out. The exact opposite of the rest of adventurers who would rely on the mes warmth to make it through the night. One trait that he was grateful towards his father for. He removed his cookware, arge wok perfect for frying frost lizard meat. He didnt have any vegetables or sauce making this a purely meat dish, but itd be far more satisfying than the dried jerky hed been munching on. Many adventurers faced simr issues while adventuring, theck of vegetables can really take a toll on ones body. It was much easier scavenge meat than it was to find vegetables in a monsterir, most of the stuff growing were herbs with medicinal properties not good for cooking. Tobat a meat filled diet, most carried with them special biscuits made of dried fruit or vegetables. They could be stored for long periods and would give the body some much needed nutrients. Frost didnt pack such things, but he would in the future, another thing he learned from this excursion. I wonder how frost lizard meat will taste? Once the wok heated up he removed the slices of frost lizard meat from his backpack and tossed them into the wok releasing a loud sizzling sound as the meat met the metal. Frying was quick and easy, perfect for some fast cooking. All he needed was something fresh and hot too fill his loud rumbling belly, which grew even louder when the meat started to give off a tantalising smell. At this rate itll be ready in a couple minutes so calm the hell down. With a shake he flipped the meat to cook the other side while at same time tapping his belly as though coaxing. Chapter 238 238 Chapter 238: Night in a monsterir A few minutester the frost lizard meat was thoroughly cooked and released a tantalising aroma, Frost couldnt help but salivate. Even with his limited experience in cooking he knew that this dish would be tasty regardless. Shame that he didnt have anything to apany it but that was the price of exploring as an inexperienced adventurer. His stomach roared in glee, desperate to eat its fill and finally be satisfied and Frost wasnt one to keep it waiting. He summoned a thin spike of ice chakra and pierced arge piece of meat before bringing it to his mouth. Munch, munch, sounds of him eating was all that could be heard at this moment, no sounds of battle or raging blizzard could be heard as though even the monsterir was resting for the night. The atmosphere was almost calming and soothing if you forgot where you were. Thats good stuff, a bit tougher than beef but with a sharp bite of meaty vour, its even a little spicy but not too much. Frost relished every bite of the meal, shovelling it down with gusto. It could certainly be improved but given the situation and the extent of his hunger it didnt matter. After swallowing thest bite of frost lizard meat, he summoned water (another lifestyle magic) to put out the fire and rinse the wok before casting [clean up] on it. With magic cleaning was a really easy process, not sixty seconds went by before the wok was packed away and all semnce of cooking removed. Only the residual smell lingered in the air as evidence. Frost patted his now full belly and licked his lips and teeth, savouring the lingering taste with a smile on his face. Now it was time for some shut eye, to satisfy his other need. Yaaaaaaaaaaawwn Frost let out a long yawn as sleep started to take over, therge amount of meat was threating to knock him into a fooda. Thankfully he set up his tent before eating. Up here on the ice cliff he didnt need to worry about danger, he was out of sight from the majority of monsters and there were no flyers but best to not take risks. Frost decided to do onest thing before sumbing to nights embrace. [Icee together, form a core and establish a body to fight, summon ice golem]. Frost channelled his mana and said the aria for his only 3rd circle spell. Arge intricate magic crest appeared at the very edge of the cave and shelf before arge ice golem grow from it. roughly 1.2 metres in height, still not at the level of a standard E-rank golem. Stand guard for me tonight, right there, dont move unless provoked. Frost gave amand to his newly summoned golem before zipping up his tent and drifting off to sleep shortly after reaching his pillow. The golem couldnt speak but obeyed its master without hesitation, manoeuvring its sturdy body to the edge of the cave, blocking Frost from anything that may attack him, the weather included. Though it wasnt a great warrior it did well to obscure him from the rest of monsterir and given the connection between the two of them, hed know the moment it engaged in battle. Since he had given it a simplemand and unless it was in battle the continual mana drain was minimal, well by Frosts standard anyway. He wasnt worried about running out while he slept, another benefit given by his all-powerful father. ..... The night passed without incident, although a few times the loud noises of the rest of their roused him from sleep a couple times, the rest was smooth sailing. His stalwart defender hadnt moved a single inch, guarding its master throughout the night withoutint. Frost yawned and stretched his back causing his shoulders, neck, and spine to crack. It was not that pleasant a sleep given the luxurious bed hed grown used to, but it was sleep none the less. He felt refreshed and ready to face another day. Given that there was no sun in the monsterir he didnt know how long he was out for, but he guessed around 8 hours or so, a little more than he wanted but clearly what he needed. His stomach didnt forget to growl in protest shortly after he rose out of the tent. He just stuffed itst night and the thing was already hungry. Breakfast would not be as glorious as dinner, water and biscuits was the menu and to be honest he wasntining that much. It was all part of his training, being independent of his dungeon and guardian. Braving against the world on his own with his own skills and preparation. There was much he needed to learn if he was to make adventuring a pleasant experience out of battle. One thing in particr that he wished he bought back in Beta camp was dried soup stock. Arguably one of the best food sources to have on hand, simply add water and boil and there you go youve got a nice soup with a wide variety. But no that didnt even cross his mind, you live and learn as they say. What greeted him when he exited his tent was the sounds of the local fauna, particrly the frost lizards hissing away at one another or aggressors. The sound brought a smile to his face, as did his stalwart defender. Good workst night, you can rest now. He patted the head of the golem in praise before disconnecting the connection, causing it to crumble and evaporate back into mana particles. After packing away his camping gear and munching on his dried biscuits, Frost performed some rudimentary stretches to get thest of the kinks out of his body before jumping down from the ice shelf, using his ive as an anchor to slow down his descent. Alright lets see if that boss monster has respawned or if its been taken again. Given that itd been close to 10 hours he fully expected the thing to have respawned otherwise gaining entry to the lower floors would be to easy. Parties could just arrange to follow after one beats the boss easily avoiding a hard fight. Frost just hoped that he wasntte to the party, another group could have beat him to it again. Thankfully this wasnt the case. He arrived once again before the boss room, without getting a warm up unfortunately. What was present in the room was not a single boss but two, both D-rank. An incredibly lucky or unlucky draw. asionally during high periods of mana such as the monster stampedes the bosses can sometimes change, resulting in stronger versions being summoned. This was one such case. Guarding the entrance to the fifth floor were two huge frost lizards each looking particrly ravenous. Like their E-rank counterparts their frames were much the same only bigger and deadlier. The tails had sharp spikes on the end, appearing like a mace. Their legs were a fair chunk longer as well, enhancing their agility and jumping power. With their skin being tougher too, lower rank weapons would struggle to pierce them, a pair of deadly foes, slightly stronger than the regr D-rank frost lizards encountered on the fifth floor. Whereas the 3rd floor boss required either elemental attacks or aggressive and urate strikes to reach the core. These two only really needed pure destructive force, no specialty needed. Frost couldnt help but frown in disappointment, though these two would likely offer a great amount of money from their corpses Frost was looking forward to another thrilling fight. To him these two were incredibly dull and simple, he equated them to roughly equal to his former pr bear, and with his current strength not much of a threat. Haaaaaaaaa all that hope gone to waste. Frost shook his head as he entered the room, full of disappointment. His emotions it seemed were noticed by the two frost lizards who instantly got mad, feeling slighted by this intruder, they hissed and revealed their sharp fangs, but Frost wasnt impressed. He wasnt even going to limit himself in this battle, just kill them quickly, nice, and simple. Twirling his ive in one hand as though it was an extension of himself he walked towards the soon be prey without fear. Not one to take such an insult lying down the two lizards moved to strike. One raised itrge tail in the air and channelled mana to cast its magic. Four ice bolts formed around its tail and swiftlyunched at Frost with great speed. [Ice bolt], with a quick reaction time, Frost flicked his hand and cast his own version, also summoning four ice bolts tobat the opponents. With that one attack taken care of he now needed to deal with the other lizard that opted to go for a closebat assault. Taking advantage of its powerful legs andrge frame the other lizard dashed towards Frost with its jaw ready to bite down and take a chunk out of this arrogant prey. A wrong move on its part. Since it didnt have a liquid or ethereal body, Frosts ive would work without issue. The thing was based on speed and magic, its defence though greater than a lot of E-ranks was nothingpared the sharpness of Frosts ive. [w of the ice wolf], with elegant mastery Frost shed his ive towards the neck of the rapidly oing frost lizard. He activated his skill to enhance its killing power. Squealch! Before the lizards teeth could reach Frost, its neck was severed in one clean motion, killing it almost instantly. Chapter 239 239 Chapter 239: The path to aura One of the D-rank frost lizardsy at Frosts feet, decapitated in a single swift motion. Frosts new skill [w of the ice wolf] shed through its neck like a knife through butter. Frost lizards had very little defence around the neck area, making it a perfect target for sharp weapons. However normally being able to catch the thing would be an ordeal, most struggled to keep their calm in the face of a massive lunging monster let alone have the strength to slice through it in single well aimed strike. This was the difference in realms. Frost being of C-rank and being so well matched against the frost lizard made them very weak in his eyes. The yetis were more dangerous given their bodys robust thickness and incredible arm strength. The moment of contact between the two was very brief. Frost held his ground to thest possible moment before side stepping, easily avoiding the things lunge. Then came the ive, empowered with his new skill, the beams of energy split into three blue ws that severed the beast in twain, resulting in minimal damage to the skin and rest of the body. Frost found that decapitation worked best for these kind of monsters not only as a weaker point to cut through but the most efficient method in persevering the corpse. Though he wasnt actively exploring for the sake of money, he wouldnt pass up the opportunity and if he was going to do it, hed do it the best way possible. Hed feel ashamed to hand in subpar goods, Frost found out that he was a little bit of a perfectionist. The poor lizard didnt even get a chance to let out a squeal before its life faded. The death was swift and painless, quite humane. If he wasnt using them as training materials and if he could end them swiftly he would. He wasnt a sadist like those sanguine snakes who took pleasure in torture. His gaze lingered on the body of the dead frost lizard for but a moment before he turned to face the remaining one, still standing near the staircase. With a sharp swing he removed the lingering blood from his ive, leaving a line stter on the floor before slowing walking towards his next prey. His aura naturally exuded from his body, throughout his journey it had grown more and more stable. Able to not only coat his body but emit a pressure to those around them, though it wasnt physical like that of Ryuus or Bastions it was like fear or intimidation. Those weaker would struggle to use their full strength against him whenever it was in effect. The remaining frost lizard was paralysed for a second, fear gripped its heart in that moment. Its initial reaction to seeing itsrade die and its magic so easily blocked was anger, but the moment Frost exuded his aura it changed. Monsters born within monsterirs were more instinctual and aggressive than their regr counterparts and this had advantages as well as disadvantages especially in the higher ranks. The yetis Frost fought the other day didnt sumb to his pressure in the slightest, finding it more of a challenge than an overbearing threat. For this frost lizard however, it could feel the danger more and that was why it froze. Its natural warning signals conflicted with its natural duty and came out even. If this was mid battle such a situation would have easily resulted in its death, but Frost continued to simply walk slowly towards his target. As though unaware of the situation he caused within the frost lizard. He still didnt have full control of his aura given that he was only C-rank and not even in the upper levels. It was hard to actively manipte but would show itself during battle, sometimes more than others. This time however was probably the strongest form it had ever taken, and it was purely because in his heart Frost felt no danger from these frost lizards. A natural suppression of a higher level being towards one of a lower rank, his aura reflected that. Frost stepped closer and closer at a slow pace, his body melding with that of his aura, growing stronger and stronger each time his foot met the floor. He felt calm and powerful as though he was on the cusp ofprehending a worldly truth. His eyes showed a sharp glow and his body appeared as though one with nature, his every movement disying the air of majesty. The pressure on the poor frost lizard continued to grow and its momentarily paralysis out of conflicting confusion turned into fear suppression. Its body trembled and it instinctively felt the need to bow its head in reverence as though it met an ancestor. Only its connection to the monsterir and its built in duties prevented it frompletely submitting itself before Frost. ..... Without much thought as though it was a natural action, ice chakra started to flow from Frosts body, quickly covering him in his glorious armour as he walked. The mana in the air seemed to be drawn in as well adding to the majesty of the armour, making it stronger, more sliver in colour and far more intimidating. Frost was in the zone,prehending his own aura and natural disposition, like in a trance. He no longer saw the frost lizard ahead of him just a path, his path to the next level of power. Suddenly an obstacle appeared on the path, an invisible wall that stopped his progress. His steps stopped at the same time and a frown appeared on his face. The cadence built up from his movement started to fall apart, his imposing aura began to crumple, and the ice chakra armour cracked, and the ice crown that was starting to form stopped, it began to dissipate back into mana. Frost closed his eyes as he desperately tried to get back on the path, but the invisible wall was unflinching vehemently blocking his way to the next level of power. He was so close he could taste it, but it was not to be. Though not without trying the subtle cadence fell apart, as though a great symphony had been cut short, Frost was torn from his delicate state, the path along with the invisible wall impeding him vanished and his vision returned to normal. His aura receded back into his body and the ambient mana was no longer attracted to him. The majestic ice armour covering his body slowly started to peel away and crack, crashing to the floor in pieces before turning back into mana particles. Frost had failed, but the event was not fruitless, his mastery over his own natural power had increased and he felt much more connected to the element that was ice. This bottleneck shouldnt have been encountered so soon given that Frost was still in the early stages of C-rank, perhaps mid rank at best. It was the main boundary between C and B rank, the ability to utilise ones aura outside their body as a physical manifestation. Though breaking through it would not make one B-rank, one could not achieve B-rank without first attaining this ability. Yami and Aqua both passed this hurdle already, making them a fair bit stronger than Frost and his other siblings. He also suspected that Pyro may have broke through the barrier but was still cementing his foundation to truly reach B-rank. Instead of feeling disheartened by his failure Frost showed a joyous smile and his heart started pumping a mile a minute as excitement flew through his veins. Im so close, I can already see the boundary hahahaha. Heughed internally while sensing the current state of his body. Everything seemed to flow smoother from his chakra to his actual bodily movements, he was stronger by at least a small realm. Just a little more training and Im sure Ill be able to cross that wall and achieve mastery of my aura. Reaching B-rank after that will just be a matter of time. If anyone was here to listen to Frosts words theyd likely puke up blood. Frost didnt struggle in the slightest to make improvements, all he needed was time. The vast majority of people would never reach B-rank even after enduring an entire lifetime of harsh training, yet all Frost needed was a little time pshuah this was what a genius was, the heavens are so cruel to the average person. Of course, since Frost was a veritable demi-god his talents couldnt be low. Most people would have built in limitations from birth meaning they could not reach B-rank no matter how hard they struggled. Theyd need high quality medicine to break that limitation. Frost didnt have that issue, his father gave his children no limit, they could all reach S-rank if they put in the time and effort but higher well thatd depend on their own abilities, work ethic and of course luck. The dungeon cores like the powerful monster lineages such dragons, fenrirs, behemoths and phoenixes had powerful innate traits that allowed vast stores of mana, strong bodies and high intelligence making reaching A and possibly S-rank not that much of a difficulty, they just needed to grow and train. Comparatively though since these beings had such advantages since birth there were downsides as well. Mainly their numbers. The amount of dragons and other S-rank capable monsters in the world werent even a fraction of the amount of sapient races dwelling in Nova. Limiting the amount of effect, they could have on the world. Even supreme power was nothing before numbers. Chapter 240 240 Chapter 240: A dangerous moment to be distracted Frost shook his head as he could no longer feel that enlightening state, he would have to wait for another chance. Hisssssss just ahead of him Frost suddenly heard an aggressive hiss, hedpletely forgotten about the frost lizard, diving straight into that dazed state. The frost lizard had been trembling in terror for the past few minutes, enduring the entirety of Frosts overbearing aura, unable to move from its position as sweat poured down its back. It couldnt even muster the strength to run, and the monsterir core wouldnt allow that, it was a boss monster, it couldnt flee this room no matter how terrified it was. Now however the overbearing pressure had vanished, and Frost returned to his regr self, no longer appearing threatening. Its duty as a boss monster instantly took over, it hissed as though letting out its repressed rage before lunging at Frost. The distance between the two of them was barely 2 metres, Frost didnt have enough time to swing his ive and wasntpletely clear mind wise to make an effective defence. The frost lizard with its powerful legs lunched straight at Frosts chest, hitting him hard with its greater mass. Bang! Frost fell backwards, mming against the floor and was subsequently pinned to the floor by the frost lizard. Its drool dropped onto his face as its predatory instincts kicked in. Fuck, get off! Frost quickly let go of his ive and brought both his arms up in a cross block to stop the lizard from biting his face. The lizard however was heavy and quite strong, Frost quickly felt himself get overpowered, his arms drew ever closer to his chest and the lizards teeth closer to his immacte face. He got the full experience of the things breath, and it made his stomach churn. Thankfully this frost lizard could only bite, it didnt have any breath attack or acid spit otherwise hed be a goner already. The frost lizard continued to gnash its teeth down while pushing its neck and body closer to Frost. In a contest of straight up strength Frost would probably be an even match for the thing but he was currently pinned on his back and could only utilise his arms to hold back the creatures weight advantage. His eyes darted side to side as he thought of what to do but anypse in concentration almost got his nose bitten off. He couldnt grab his ive because the moment he did the weight on his remaining arm would be too much and his face would be bit into. There was magic but he was finding it rather hard to concentrate in forming a crest with this things breath overbearing his sense of smell. Shit shit shit! Frost cursed internally as he tried to beat back the frost lizard but was constantly on the losing end. The things legs also blocked any chance of him rolling out of the way. He was truly fucked at this moment unless he thought of something. ..... He had around 10 seconds or so before his nose would likely end up being lizard chow and for an instant he felt a pang of irony considering he ate frost lizard for dinnerst night. But with the seriousness of the situation the pressure didnt cause him to panic no it made him very calm, and able to think clearly. There was one method that he could think of and one that was perfectly designed for such situations. Too distracted to create a delicate andplicated magic crest and unable to use a weapon only one option left...chakra. Though Frost primarily used it in creating his cool looking armour he did asionally use it to make ice daggers for skinning and harvesting and with the recent events of his epiphany, his chakra control had be far smoother and easier to manage. The moment the idea came to him was the moment he started. Kneading his internal mana, imaging the shape he wished for and where it should grow was far easier in this situation than creating a magic crest and was far quicker. Frost looked at the frost lizard on top of him with a sharp re before letting out an evil smirk. Bye bye, when he spoke ice developed on his forearms before suddenly forming multiple sharp spikes that pierced into the neck and face of the frost lizard. kriiiiiiiiii the frost lizard screamed in pain, it received multiple puncture wounds all over its face and a few in its neck, thankfully none of them hit its carotid artery but there was still a fair amount of blood. Frosts ice chakra spikes were nearly as tough as 2 star pykrete and just as sharp. They pierced into the frost lizards weak points without much issue but killing the thing would take far more than that. However, it did do the job, Frost was now no longer pinned under the beast, unable to utilise even a third of his total strength, now it was time to show it who it dared to knock onto the floor. Without even a second to admire his work Frost grabbed the ive he dropped and jumped to his feet before quickly dashing after the frost lizard. Hed end this quickly and enter the fifth floor. Hed already gotten far more than he expected from this fight, no need to prolong it for long or make the creature suffer. Though it did try to eat his face it also allowed him the opportunity to glimpse the next realm of power, so he considered them even. [w of the ice wolf] very proud of his new skill, Frost decided to use it whenever he could, even when a regr [sh] skill would work. The energy from his body coated the ive de before forming into threerge blue ws of ice, dashing towards the frost lizard still screeching in pain. Squealch! Once again this frost lizard was decapitated from the skill, with it so preupied by the pain it didnt even notice the three wsing its way. If Frost wasnt limited or in a disadvantageous situation, a D-rank frost lizard is no match for him as clearly shown. Blood now decorated the room as it spilled from both corpses of frost lizards, once again Frost waved out his ive to remove a chunk of blood from the de. He did this to help maintain the things sharpness and de durability, of course hed also cast clean up magic for it every so often, but hed gotten into the habit flicking the blood off as well. It looked quite cool and help him establish a connection to his weapon, lifestyle magic cleaning didnt have that. [Clean up] he cast cleaning magic on himself and his robes, the monsters drool was not something he wished to keep on his clothes, the smell was quite powerful. He then summoned an ice chakra dagger and began collecting the worthwhile parts of the two monsters while humming a slight tune to pass the time. He was in a good mood, since every floors boss had now allowed him to grow in strength. Entering here was definitely a good decision. Within 10 minutes or so Frost had managed to carve up the corpses for all the useful materials he could store. The blood and meat would be left since he didnt have any jars and didnt want to stink of meat as he journeyed through the lower floors. Shame that it would go to waste, but he couldnt take everything. Creak! As he was just finishing up the doors opened up behind him, another group of adventurers entered looking to get to the fifth floor or just hunt the boss monster. It was a group of three, one male, two female, roughly in their thirties. Frost recognised them, he passed this group on his way herest night, their strength wasnt bad, but it wouldnt have been enough to take on the two D-rank frost lizards. Ahhhhhh! One of the females gasped loudly as she recognised the remains of the corpses as D-rank frost lizards. Her face quickly paled before whispering to herrades who equally turned white in the face. This floors usual boss was meant to be two E-ranks or in some cases a D-rank monster. It was hardly ever dual D-ranks, this was not a good sign for the weaker groups, this group of three included. Normally theyd try their hands on the fifth floor, hoping to get lucky and really test their skills but if the boss of the 4th floor was much stronger than usual, the same could be said of the floor it guarded. If they had came a littleter thinking that someone had just killed the regr boss then it could have ended very badly for them once they reached the 5th floor. Thats part of the reason they now looked as white as a sheep the other was because of Frost. He was alone, caving up the two corpses, someone who could kill two D-rank bosses ande out unscathed meant power. Theyd passed Frost the previous day and didnt think much of him, but now that they knew his real strength they couldnt help but feel wary. It wasnt unknown for conflicts over spoils to start. Frost turned to look at the three adventurers who had gone silent and looked his way with a mixture of fear and admiration. He let out a slight sigh before giving them a friendly smile, better to make friends that to create potential enemies. Chapter 241 241 Chapter 241: A giant centipede Do any of you want the meat? Frost asked the three with a gentle smile. Better to give away the meat than have it simply be recycled by the monsterir. Eh? The man who seemed to be the leader of the group was caught by surprise not expecting such a response. I said do any of you want the meat? He repeated his question while rising to his full height and dusting off his clothes with clean up magic. He also withdrew his chakra dagger, appearing far less menacing. Y...youre offering us the meat? The leader asked nervously, afraid to draw the ire of Frost. The meat of a D-rank frost lizard was a highly desiredmodity and could be sold for a fair amount of coin or if one was confident in their cooking skills it could be made into a glorious dish. The group with their skills would be hard pressed to gain such a material by their own merit, Frosts offer was tempting but they were still wary. The male leader looked towards his two femalepanions for their input. They didnt have many materials that they could trade with, and their coin purses were rather low yet refusing Frosts offer may be seen as an insult. They couldnt afford to offend someone so strong. Frost released another sigh before speaking out once more, understanding their trepidation. No need to be so wary, Im not wanting to trade it for anything. Ive got no need for the meat and would rather see it go to fellow adventurers than be wasted. Frost crossed his arms and stood silent awaiting their answer. The group of three looked towards one another once again, the two woman nodded in agreement. Wed be honoured senior, thank you for such kindness. The three of them gave a polite bow in thanks before bright expressions adorned their faces. Frost smiled as well, Ill leave the rest to you then, Im off to the lower floors, good luck. He turned around and started marching towards the staircase, no longer caring about the corpses. Thank you senior, one of the women called out as Frost walked away before brightly smiling to her colleagues, they made such a windfall thanks to Frost and couldnt help but express their joy. Frost waved his hand in response as he heard their joyousughter. Although doing such a kind gesture didnt make him any DP it warmed his heart. ..... Next was the bottom floors, number five and six. The monsterir jumped in difficulty every two floors. On the bottom floors, D-ranks were abundant in number as well as strength. As the rankings rose the diversity in power between those in the same rank became quite substantial. For example, a frost troll that usually cost 500DP in the dungeon menu was no match for a Baltic tiger which would be close to 800DP. D-ranks encountered in the middle floors were the lowest of D-ranks, now Frost will be faced with much more dangerous foes. If he was lucky or unlucky depending on how he viewed it, it was possible to even encounter a C-rank monster. Though that was super, super rare, only happening a few times since theirs creation and only happened during periods of high mana activity i.e., during the monster stampedes. If C-ranks could be birthed during regr times, thisir would no longer be called [beginners ice magic] and would surely be raised to C-rank danger level perhaps even B-rank if they were plentiful. Currently the monsterir was D-rank and quite a high levelled one as well, on the cusp of C-rank, especially at the moment with the monster stampede looming. The bottom two floors were perfect for Frosts current strength, his battles from now on would not be easy and if he wasnt careful he may even lose his life. And monsters wouldnt be the only things down there that could prove a risk. He already encountered the so called uprightnces the adventurer parties hunting there would only be stronger not weaker. As thoughts of battle passed through his mind, Frosts lips curved upwards revealing his desire. His walking speed even increased to reach the battle that much quicker. The fifth floor. Like the first four floors the environment was pretty much the same, ice everywhere in different shapes and sizes, cliffs, valleys, and trees dotted around the ce, but the main difference was that the 5th and 6th floor were far bigger than the others. Previously each floor had three sections just like how his dungeon started out but here, there were six and each individual section wasrger than the ones on the earlier floors. One could spend days traversing just these two floors and not cover the entire thing. Even though there were a fair amount of adventurer parties down on the 5th and 6th floor, it looked far less busy inparison to the middle floors, not including the monsters of course, those were a plenty. The moment Frost entered the floor he could see several D-rank frost lizards dotted around as well as several species he hadnt seen yet. By the trees there appeared to be walking ice trees, ice treant another D-rank monster. In another direction he could see a giant blue centipede devouring a weaker monster, crunching its bones into pieces with its powerful jaws. This monster was different from the rest, far more powerful. Even Frost felt his hands tremble at the sight of it. It was clearly not a basic level D-rank like the rest. Though it was at a far distance and Frost didnt see the thing in battle he made a guess of its worth. Probably around 700 to 750DP, mid-level or so. This was the strongest monster hed personallye across that wasnt Finy, and it got his heart pumping. Well guess theres one way to find out. With an evil smile Frost made his way in the centipedes direction. Once he fought it hed know exactly how powerful the thing was and if it was worthy of being a part of his roster. The trip into the monsterir was not only for training and materials but it also gave him good ideas for his own dungeon. What monsters work well in these environments, how strong they are and what adventurers desire to hunt. So far hed noted down a bunch that he wanted. Hopefully now that hed killed them himself theyd be unlocked in the menu. His most desired ones currently were the frost lizards as they were highly desired by adventurers and their strength was nothing to sneeze at. Only Frost found them easy adversaries, others would have to group up and even then theyd struggle. Next was the frost elemental, though it didnt drop much in the name of materials for adventurers, it was strong, really strong. Something Frost desired in a protector; it would also help limit those thatcked magical means of attack even if its opponents were a rank higher. They were the main forerunners; a couple others were in the maybe pile. Lets see where you end up. Frost arrived in front of the centipedesir 20 minutester, it had carried its kill back to its den, so Frost had to follow. The thing he came to hunt was a great frost centipede, a highly aggressive and powerful D-rank monster. Not only was it rather fast given its multiple legs, it had razor sharp jaws with powerful crushing strength. Next was its carapace, as hard as refined iron but far more flexible and light, covering the majority of its body. If one could hunt the beast, the carapace was the main material desired. Great armour could be made from it, as could some weapons as well as arrow heads. A strong physical fighter but also an adept user of magic. Having ess to not only 1st circle spells but also 2nd circle. A deadly opponent. That was how the thing was described in the monster encyclopaedia Frost purchased, along with a few pieces of advice on how to fight the thing and locate its nesting ground. Apparently its main weakness was its legs and under carriage. The armour was not nearly as thick there. However, exposing its belly would be an ordeal in itself. Usually if one was hunting such a monster specifically theyd prepare items to aid in such a hunt so as to reduce the risk of injury and or death as well as to preserve the state of the corpse as much as possible. For example, pitfalls worked well, the beast would be punctured from the belly once it fell, trapping and wounding the beast, making the fight far easier. They also had an in built fear and weakness to fire like most ice based monsters .Frost however was not one of these well prepared hunters nor did he have ess to fire magic or something that could supply fire attacks. All he wanted to do was have a straight up fight, caring not at all for profit. Step step As Frost drew close to the things nest- arge ice cliff with several holes dug into it, clearly by the centipede- his presence became known. Suddenly in response darting out of one of the holes was the giant blue centipede and it was not happy. After sessfully hunting its favourite meal it was interrupted by a rude adventurer, if it had a human face its expression would be livid. On its many legs the thing skittled around Frost eerily. It sent a shiver down Frosts spine as he was reminded of the frost spiders he summoned. Eventually it finished its little intimidation dance and rose straight up, looking down at Frost in anger. This thing was huge, easily 5 no 6 metres long and chock full of muscle and nasty chompers, ready to bite down on Frosts pretty little face. Frost looked up at his new found target with a cocky smile well what you waiting for? He titled his head to the side as though mocking, while twirling around his ive. Frosts taunt only served to make the creature more incensed, it roared or rather screeched before moving. The battle had now begun. Chapter 242 242 Chapter 242: Battling a great frost centipede Srceeeeeeeeeee a bone chilling screech left the mouth of the centipede,- its version of a roar- before it bent backwards like a bow, priming its massive body for an attack. Frosts brow rose as his hair stood on end warning him of impending danger. listening to his instincts he rapidly darted to the side and a momentter, the wind before him was pierced. The centipedeunched its upper body like a spring, generating a sonic boom from the rapid eleration before. Boooooomm! Where Frost was previously standing there was now a significant crater and plumes of ice dust. The centipede smashed its own body against the ground, destroying the ice floor before receding back to an upright position,pletely unharmed. Its powerful carapace allowed it to endure great impact damage without the slightest injury. Many of its opponents are stunned by this attack making the rest of its battles easy. Frost audibly gulped as he witnessed the carnage of such a strike. If I had been a secondter in reacting. A cold chill floated down his spine as he imagined enduring such a blow. If itnded on his head hed likely be dead in a single shot. That move was devasting, the only good thing was that it had quite an obvious wind up and couldnt beunched immediately after one another. The centipede slowly rose back to its massive height, turning to face the still shocked Frost with a mocking expression well at least for a centipede it was. It was proud of its powerful body and almost pitied those that were born so....so flimsy like this adventurer. Its ego was stroked by Frosts reaction, but it would have been nicer if he was turned into a pancake instead. The centipedes muscles groaned and creaked as it once again primed itself for another strike, aiming for Frost once again. If the first time didnt hit the mark then the second will. The centipede had no qualms about smashing against the ice floor. Tsk you really think Ill be foolish enough to stand here and wait. Frost clicked his tongue as a look of contempt shed passed his eyes. Just a beast after all, relying on instinct. Once again the moment before the centipedeunched itself Frost moved silently to the side. Boooom! ..... The attack missed again, creating another crater and plumes of ice dust. Not one to take a hit lying down Frost twirled his ive to gain traction before shing down on its receding neck. ng! With a sound akin to metal banging against metal, Frosts ive was swiftly rebuffed, with intense vibration reaching his hands. The thing was hard, really hard. Thats more like steel than refined iron. His ive being a quasi-4th star weapon was unharmed, but the centipedes carapace was built for endurance. He barely left a dent on thing with his swing, a minor gash but nothing in the face of its overwhelming size. Preparing to strike once again in the same spot this time with even more force he raised his ive up high. The centipede was far slower at retracting than it was at extending, he had more than enough time to strike twice. However, though Frosts sh did minor damage at best, it was enough to startle the centipede. Never in its entire life had there been someone or something who could damage its invincible carapace in a single attack. Afraid of being hit again it tightened up its muscles to rapidly swing sideways, narrowly avoiding Frosts swing, before shrinking back, like a frightened animal. Though the centipede wasrge and had very little opponents on this floor, its natural personality was quite cowardly. It preferred ambushing its prey even those weaker. It only fought head on with Frost before because he barged into its home and interrupted its meal. Frost withdrew his extended ive quite surprised that he missed, for the centipede to changed directions so quickly like that couldnt have been easy. But more to the question was why. Frost had a confused look on his face as he eyed the great frost centipede that had retreated backwards without any intention to attack. He looked into the beasts eyes and saw shock and slight amount of fear. Seriously youre afraid after just one attack hahahahhaha. Frost broke intoughter, his opinion of the centipede instantly plummeting. He waved his ive around and watched the centipedes eyes follow the de, wary of its direction. Pathetic! And here I thought you were proud of that carapace of yours, how disappointing. The look of scorn and contempt in Frosts eyes were as clear as day even for the centipede with its beastly intelligence. It felt frustrated and wrathful, it started the fight by proudly disying the strength of its carapace but retreated after receiving a single sh from Frosts weapon, it was shameful to say the least. Screeeeeeeeeee the great frost centipede screeched once again, not willing to be insulted. Its eyes filled with rage, bing a deeper shade of red, it was truly incensed. Its previous wariness vanished as anger prevailed, it would not be insulted by a mere fleshy creature. However, it wasntpletely lost in the madness, it would continue the fight butunching its upper body at Frost was clearly detrimental, time to try something else. Frost saw the red in its eyes grow, an evil smile adorned his lips, happy with the result he got. Im really getting this taunting thing down to a tee, perhaps Ill unlock a skill soon. Frosts use of a ive and magic termed him more of a damage dealer instead of a tank type but when adventuring alone he yed all roles. Leo had mentioned certain skills held by those that were referred to as tanks. Theyd be able to taunt monsters and even people into targeting themselves over the more squishy of their party members. Apparently its a very highly desired skill tree simr to healing, those with such abilities are always in high demand, especially in the higher levels wherein monsters could one shot light armoured adventurers if they werent careful. Leo as well as Bruno trained methodically to get the chance to unlock a taunting skill. Given that they both utilised shields there was a good chance, especially in Brunos case. His fight with Frost and the against the many goons showed that his ability to protect teammates was at a very high level. For now, however Frost practised taunting the old fashioned way using words. It wouldnt have any binding effect, but it certainly helped stop cowardly monsters such as this centipede from running away the moment it felt at a disadvantage. The moment the centipede readied itself for continued battle, ice began to form across Frosts robes and skin. In a second or two his magnificent ice chakra armour adorned his body, giving him a majestic warrior king appearance. He wouldnt take any chances against this foe, though he spread fear into it from his first attack the same could be said for him. Seeing the destructive power behind the centipedes smash had sent shivers down his spine and if he was caught by it, it could spell the end of his short life. As long as he wore the ice armour it should deflect the majority of the damage if he somehow mistimed his dodge. But the centipede wasnt attacking the same way, its body was still standing straight and looking down on Frost with wrath, but it didnt prime its muscles for a physical attack. No, it channelled mana through its magic crystal, it was going for magic instead. Frost soon felt the changes in mana around the centipede but that didnt stop him from finishing his armour, it also helped deal with magic plus he was curious to see what level of magic this D-rank monster had avable. So far all the monsters hede across only used 1st circle spells all at varied levels of mastery. But this was the fifth floor, surely thered be users of 2nd circle magic. He didnt need to wait long; the centipede finished its casting rtively quickly. Since it couldnt speakmon tongue Frost couldnt predict what spell it would be, an advantage for the more beast like monsters. Arge magic crest was suddenly created above Frosts head, farrger and more detailed than that of a 1st circle spell. Wanting to test his armours durability Frost arrogantly stood in ce waiting, ice magic would have very little effect on him so he could take this risk. Frost had perused the magic avable in the menu several times and talked about it with Maya a lot but as of, yet he only had a single 2nd circle spell [ice spike]. His personal hands on experience was rather limited so seeing magic crests up close and exploring the might of a spell with his body was a thrilling concept. A secondter arge boulder of ice was summoned from the crest before dropping down onto Frost with great speed. The ice boulder was around metre or so in diameter and was heavier than it appeared. This was the 2nd circle spell [blizzard]. Chapter 243 243 Chapter 243: A rookie mistake The great frost centipede used the 2nd circle spell [blizzard]. It summoned arge ice boulder above the target, crushing them underneath with blunt force. Like its physical smashing attack, the [blizzard] spell was rather slow in the wind up but pretty destructive when it hits. As with the [ice bolt] spell there were upgraded versions of it, higher up in the circles. [Blizarra] for instance was the 3rd circle variant. It dropped a farrger, denser, and faster ice boulder onto a target. Frost stood below the oing ice boulder with a smile on his face, not wary in the slightest. His innate speed was quite substantial, with deft skill he waved his ive in an upward sh, aiming to cleave the boulder in twain. [Crescent sh!]Not looking down on the spell Frost shouted themand word for his skill, empowering his ives de with energy. The de glowed pale blue, enhancing its cutting power. Swhing! The ive swiftly cut through the air and met the ice boulder, not even slowing its momentum in the slightest, the ive carved its way through the boulder like a knife through butter. His ive became apletely different weapon when enhanced with a skill. In that moment he wondered how effective his strike would have been on the centipedes carapace if he used one of his skills. Surely it would have ended up worse than a scratch. Luckily hed have a chance soon enough. The centipede didnt pause in the slightest after casting [blizzard], it primed itsrge body for a smashing strike, hoping Frost would be distracted long enough by the spell to not evade in time. The centipede had quite genius level timing, it shot out the moment Frosts ive was at its highest point, meaning Frost wouldnt have time to block with his weapon. Frost however was smirking; his awareness had never left the centipede even as he stared up at the ice boulder. He saw its every move. The moment the two halves of the ice boulder fell to his side the centipedeunched itself with a vengeance, it moved even faster than its previous two strikes, akin to a massive bullet it reached Frost in the fraction of a second. Aware of its intention Frost masterfully twirled his body around, narrowly evading the centipedes head. As he spun he brought along his ive, ready to test out his earlier theory. Gripping the shaft with both hands, he tensed up his arms to bring the weapon down with impressive force. The centipede however was panicking knowing that it messed up, it tried to quickly swing to the side, but it wasnt fast enough. Frost brought his ive down like a reaper cleaving a soul, swift and urate. He aimed for the exact spot he dented before, aiming to break through. ..... [Shattering strike!] Frost used the very first skill he learned back when he entered the realm of adept ive mastery. Unlike [crescent sh] and [w of the ice wolf] which could be used at range and enhanced cutting power, this skill enhanced destructive force, he aimed to shatter the carapace not cleave through it. Boooooooooooom! An incredible sound reverberated around the area when Frosts ive met the centipedes carapace which was quickly drowned out by an ear piercing screech. Bits of carapace exploded from the point of impact, and blood burst from the wound. The back of the centipedes neck appeared as though a bomb had gone off, none of the cuts were clean and the exposed flesh was mangled. The pain caused the centipedes body to stiffen for a split second before rapidly twisting, the direction was Frost. Instead of continuing to evade, itshed out horizontally, hoping to whip Frost away. Frost was revelling in the power of his [shattering strike] and reacted too slow. Bang! The centipedes massive body mmed into his side, though not containing nearly the same level of force as its primed smashing attack it still contained a great deal. Pieces of Frosts ice armour shattered from the impact, and he was sent flying several metres across the room. Cough cough, Frost coughed as the wind was knocked out his lungs. The centipede struck his lower left ribs, it stung but nothing was broken, the armour absorbed over 70% of the blow. He didnt let his guard down, quickly stabilising his stance when hended and keeping his eyes on the centipede. There was a good chance itd go mad from the pain and shock, no longer fighting intelligently. He experienced this a few times when fighting the yetis back in the valley. Once the wounds became too much theyd really revert to their wild nature, attacking with wanton abandon making for in some cases quite a difficult fight. He was prepared to deflect another attack from the centipede, whether that be physical or magical but clearly he gave the coward too much credit. The thing ran or rather skuttled away into its home, vanishing in a couple seconds, leaving a few bloodstains and pieces of shattered carapace. Eh? Its over just like that. Frosts lips twitched in shock,pletely not expecting such a response. What kind of monster are you? His ive lowered, and his body rxed as a scowl adorned his face but that was not a wise move. Rumble rumble Suddenly Frost could feel vibrationing from beneath his feet, his scowl quickly turned to dread. Shit! Almost immediately he leaped backwards but he was a fraction too slow. Boom! The centipede burst out from the ice; its jaw opened wide in preparation to devour its foe. It didnt run, it was a strategic withdrawal so as to fight to its strengths.....ambushing. Centipedes especially monster centipedes are skilled burrowers, able to move through the dirt, ice, or whatever other solid material, like how a fish swims in water. The great frost centipede burst forth catching Frosts left arm in its massive chompers. mping down hard it broke through the majority of the ice chakra armour, reaching Frosts fleshy arm. Frost was assailed with pain, but the torment wouldnt end there. The centipede was still rising and nned to drag Frost with it. Frost reacted quickly, wrapping his legs around the centipedes body to anchor himself so as to use more strength. At the same time, he stored his ive in his spatial ring before reaching over with his right arm to wrench open the centipedes jaw. He couldnt allow it to take him up to its full height. Once that happened it would obviously thrash around with him caught by the arm. Even with his strength his arm wouldntst long with that range of movement, itd quickly be torn apart. Hahhhhhhhhhhh Frost roared as he tensed his arm muscles to their upmost, attempting to pry open the centipedes jaw all while enduring the pain in his left arm that continued to increase. The centipede continued to rise, and its jaw continued to close, even with all his strength he couldnt outmatch the power of this monsters jaw. Its razor sharp forcipules broke away more of Frosts armour, digging deeper into his flesh. Panic was now sewn across Frosts face; he was too cocky and should have never let his guard down. This was a battle to the death, not a ce where he could take it easy like he had been so far. He was so caught up in the division of rank that he forgot that even the most powerful of fighter could be felled when their guard is let down. He felt like an idiot but no matter how much strength he put into prying apart the centipedes jaw it only slowed the inevitable. Eventually however the centipede reached its full height, and its eyes showed a victorious expression, it would have revenge for breaking its carapace, an arm should suffice. And like Frost predicted the moment it reached its full height with its powerful abdominal muscles it began thrashing side to side hoping to tear Frost from his arm as rpense. Frost was in dire straits, he hanged onto the centipede with his legs for dear life, limiting the force exerted on his body and his arm in particr but it wouldnt be able to change the oue. It took him a lot more energy to hold on than it did for the centipede to thrash around. This thrashing went on for 60 seconds before the centipede stopped, it red at Frost through its eyes. Its prey refused to give in, holding onto its body with an iron grip. It barely made any headway into Frosts arm and grew frustrated. It had an idea however, if Frost wasnt mped in its jaws itd be showing an evil smile right about now. A shiver ran down Frosts spine warning him of impending danger. The wild thrashing made it so he could barely tell which way was up anymore, his vision was shaky, and he wanted to throw up. But his instincts were good, with a quick shake of his head he focused, trying work out what wasing. Suddenly the centipede tensed its entire body, priming it like it did for its smashing attack. Fuck! Frost screamed internally as he knew what the centipede nned to do. It was going to smash him apart against the ice floor, it didnt need to worry about being damaged but the same couldnt be said about him. Instinctively Frost reached for the talisman hidden in his robes, preparing to tear it apart, this was a perilous situation, but he hesitated for a second, not willing to waste such a precious chance. That second however removed his ability to save himself, the centipede was about to smash down, he no longer had enough time to activate it, he may lose his arm at the current rate, and that would be the least of his losses. He really underestimated the prowess of his foe. Chapter 244 244 Chapter 244: Adventuring couple Frost closed his eyes in despair while bracing his entire body for the devastating impact it was about to endure, he even solidified part of his ice armour but either way this was going to hurt. The centipedes eyes shone with glee as it finished priming its body, a fraction of a secondter when it was about to let loose. Boom! Suddenly a fireball flew through the air and smashed into the centipedes torso stopping its attack. The fireball hit with a fair amount of force but that wasnt where the real damagey, the heat seared the centipedes flesh and caused it immense pain. Like most ice creatures it had a weakness to fire. Its jaws relinquished their vice grip on Frosts arm for the first time giving him the opportunity to free himself. No longer willing to hold back and being fearful of being bitten once again Frost changed positions slightly, cing his right arm directly in the centipedes jaw he summoned his ive from the spatial ring. It appeared in a moment and forced open the centipedes jaw before piercing through. His arm strength wasnt enough but with all the thrashing he didnt have an opportunity to resummon his ive, thankfully the fireball gave him that chance. Just when another spell was going to beunched at the centipede and another person was rushing up with a massive great sword ready to lend aid. Frosts ive wrenched open the monsters jaw, tearing it apart in the process. The centipede screeched in agony, its body started to twist and convulse from the pain, but Frost wasnt done. A determined light shone in his eyes; he would not treat this fight as practise anymore. Kicking off of the centipede he performed a flip in the air, getting some distance. When he was once again facing the centipede he brought across his ive diagonally aiming to cleave it in two. He no longer aimed for its carapace, but its softer underbelly and he didnt hold back either. [w of the ice wolf] he used his most powerful skill. Energy seeped from his body and into his ive before splitting into three to generaterge blue ws to rend apart his foe. Squealch! ..... This time it was not the sound of metal on metal but metal on flesh. The ive easily cut into centipede and continued on until it burst out through the other side. Frost had cut through the torso where the fireball had struck making for an even easier slice. The mage and great sword user stood stunned in ce, their mouths agape. Suddenly feeling as though their actions were unnecessary. Even the great sword user wasnt confident in slicing through a great frost centipede in one sh but thats what happened. Frost gracefullynded on the ground, his face revealing a fierce expression as the top half of the centipedended at his feet. He raised his ive once more. Killing intent and his improved pseudo aura was expressed around him. The great sword user and mage trembled slightly from this. Such dense killing intent and his aura its almost fully formed. Thought the great sword user as he sheathed his weapon since his aid was clearly no longer required. Frost held his ive up high before activating another ive skill [shattering strike]. Energy filled his weapon once again as he smashed downward onto the centipedes head. The monster was still alive, its body convulsing in death rows but this strike ended that. Boooooommmm! The ive struck down like arge hammer and exploded half of the centipedes head, silencing the monster permanently but Frost didnt let down his guard until its juicy DP entered his body. Once it did he shed the air with his ive to remove the blood before turning to face his helpers. His killing intent and aura were still in full effect, so the great sword user and mage were on guard. A momentter however Frosts managed to recede his aura and killing intent and greeted them with a gentle smile before immediately bowing his head. Thank you for saving my life, I Frost owe you two a life debt. Frost spoke with a solemn tone, his mannerisms full of respect. Without the aid of these two, the mage in particr he would have likely lost his arm before hed be forced to use one of his talismans, effectively a life saver. Frost was the type to treat those who showed him kindness with ten times as much in return. His words were a bond, if he had the chance he would save these two if they required it. The great sword users eyes twitched in confusion whereas hispanions did much the same. This wouldnt be anything weird if Frost was weaker than them, it could be treated as seniorsing to the aid of a junior but given Frosts aura they surmised his strength to be roughly equal to theirs if not higher. But that wouldnt change their actions, even if they knew Frost was strong at the start theyd still lend their aid. The mage walked forward revealing herself for the first time. She was a fairly attractive rabbit beast woman in her thirties or so. She was dressed in close fitting robes that showed a fairly decent figure with a veryrge ass, cutely outfitted with a fuzzy white rabbit tail. Her ears were also floppy and framed her face. The great sword user was a human male, muscr, and tall, roughly equal to Frosts height. His appearance wasnt handsome like Frost more brave, like the face of an experienced soldier. He had an almost barrel like chest and thick legs, clearly someone with substantial physical power. His armour was all metal and clearly of high rank, possibly duram or at least an alloy. His great sword too was likely made of duram metal, easily a 3 star weapon. For safety the woman stood next the great sword user, wrapping her arm around his. Clearly these two were more than just an adventuring party, they were a couple. As Frosts killing intent receded and they received his heartfelt words, the man was taken aback slightly before immediately moving forward to help Frost up from his bow. Though Frost was likely their equal in strength his face showed that he was most likely younger, they could still treat him as a junior. Please theres no need for all that, its our responsibility as seniors to help out our juniors. The man forcibly raised Frost from his bow while patting his shoulder in an amicable way. From Frosts appearance he surmised that he was around 20 or early twenties, far younger than he and his wife. The man waved his wife over to help gleam over the situation, a life debt was a heavy thing not just for the proposer but also the receiver to bear, especially such good hearted people like his wife and him. Frost rose up with the help of the man and was greeted with friendly smiles from both the man and his wife, his heart warmed as he was reminded of those in Furano who also gave off gentle and friendly atmospheres. Very well Ill take back the life debt but please at least allow me to give you the spoils of the battle. Frost took back his earlier statement after seeing the determined expressions on his two helpers faces. The materials of a high D-rank monster such as a great frost centipede was clearly worth a pretty penny but obviously not enough to make up for his own life being saved. The man and woman were silent in response and Frost believing that it wasnt enough was about to up his offer but was beaten to the punch. Hahahahahah no need for that young Frost, just treat us to a meal and well call it even, I for one am absolutely famished, what about you dear? The female mage spoke up, her voice was sonorous and full of charm, she turned to her husband for his opinion. Hahahah perfect idea my love, and as a matter of fact I know a good recipe for preparing centipede. The husband caught on to his wifes agenda and immediately agreed, even proposing that they use the centipede in the meal, satisfying Frosts second offer. However, the first part aligned with the womans interests but the second part. Her face visibly paled and trembled at the thought of eating a huge centipede. She suddenly red at her husband before elbowing his side without remorse. Urgh! The man winced in pain as he buckled over, confusion and betrayal was on his face. What the hell, isnt that what you wanted me to say? Frost struggled to contain hisughter at their antics, it reminded him of Dous and Cassandra as well as a little of himself and Maya, he became quite taken with the two. No need to listen to my husbands foolish suggestion, we have much nicer ingredients for use, as long as you help in the cooking we can call it even young Frost, what do you think? The woman instantly returned to her previous gentle expression while looking at Frost, he was very easy on the eyes and she didnt care that her husband was right next to her, she feasted on the beautiful disy to her hearts content. Just cause she was married didnt mean she couldnt appreciate beauty. Chapter 245 245 Chapter 245: Education from veteran adventurers Frost was silent for a couple seconds before breaking into a joyfulugh. Hahahaha sure, sure sounds good....sorry I didnt catch your names. Ah so impolite of us, this here is my foolish husband Sam Tarnell, and my lovely self is called L, L Tarnell. Nice to make your acquaintance Frost. L pointed unceremoniously to her still in pain husband before shing a flirtatious wink and introducing herself. Frosts lips twitched slightly from her gesture. Great another strong willed woman. He bemoaned his luck somewhat, strong woman always seemed to get the better of him. However, each and every one were quite attractive in their own way, he was yet to meet a strong woman that didnt have looks and or assets to match her intensity. Liking Frost more and more, L shuffled up next to him, wrapping her arm around his, before giving out an order to her husband. Honey be a dear and set up a campfire while I have a close chat with our new friend here. She then waved her hand as though shooing him away like he was some sort of fly. Frost was thus dragged by L towards the corpse of the centipede. Herrge ass sashayed side to side, asionally knocking against Frost as they walked, causing a red blush to form on his neck. Her husband Sam however enjoyed the sight even more, he loved watching his wife walk from behind. It allowed him to fully appreciate that big bubble butt of hers. L could feel her husbands intense stare and was used to it, but it always brought a smile to her face. Be so clearly desired by the man she loved was a great source of pride for her. Frosts cute attempts to not blush was just icing on the cake. While Sam got to work setting up an impromptu camp in the area Frost started dismantling the corpse of the centipede under Ls watch. She didnt help as touching insects was a big no no for her, but she gave advice on parts that were useful and the best way to dismantle certain bits of carapace. Several times Frost tried to offer bits of the centipede to her and her husband but each time hed be met with a frosty re. Shed already refused, and she was not a woman to go back on her word. Now that the centipede was killed, promptly dismantled, and stored away, this was the perfect ce to camp. No other monsters lingered within several 100 metres of the centipedesir and the cliff edge provided a half decent shelter. Sam being a very experienced adventurer had the ce set up in a matter of minutes, the ce was now indistinguishable from a battlefield. Sam probably had some talents in home design. Once everything was set up L finally separated herself from Frosts side, shed had good dosage of his pretty face and missed her husbands manly presence. As Sam was finishing up thest details she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek as a reward for his hard work before taking a seat beside him. Frost sat on the other side of the firepit, that had been lit by Sam. Even though his wife was a mage he purposely learned many lifestyle magics so that she didnt have lift single pretty finger in setting up camp. It was a quality that L really loved about her husband, behind his muscr frame was the tender heart of a chivalrous man. Her kiss caused the brave looking man to grin with pride, with his confidence boosted, out of Frosts sight he wrapped his arm behind his wifes waist and rested hisrge hand on her ample butt. His hands subconsciously started to knead the plump flesh causing L to blush slightly. Thankfully the now roaring fire covered up their actions, but L felt her husband had taken a mile when granted an inch. Her right hand shot out like a viper, grabbing her husbands naughty wrist in a vice grip. She squeezed hard in warning before raising it up to her lower back, demanding that it stay there. Sam smiled happily, more than d to hold her there. The two of them had been married for more than a decade yet the fires of passion still roared strongly between the two of them. ..... With Sam having been put in his correct position they could finally start talking, L started. So young Frost do you have any ingredients on hand that we could use for cooking? Though she asked that she didnt expect much. With her being so close to Frost she noticed that his backpack was pretty empty, with the majority of his supplies kept in his spatial rings. Meat and other perishable items couldnt be stored in spatial rings otherwise theyd spoil. She was only asking out of formality; she and her husband always carried several chunks of meat and vegetables on their excursions. Frost looked a tad awkward before shaking his head, L was right he didnt have anything that would be worthy of cooking. He finished all his frost lizard meat fromst night and willingly forfeited the meat of the D-rank frost lizard bosses to that party of three earlier. The only thing that he did have was the meat from the centipede, but L had already made her stance clear about eating insects. L didnt admonish him for hisck of ingredients and took this as an opportunity to ry some knowledge that she and her husband had learned over the many years of adventuring. When youre out and about you should always store food in your backpack, youll never know when youll be in dire need of a meal. she put on the air of a teacher as though it was natural. Do you have any spices to help improve your meals or at least give some variety if youre eating the same type of meat each time, what about cooking utensils, broth and soup stock cubes, dried vegetables? Frosts face twisted a little before he once again shook his head, he didnt have any of them even though he had a chance to purchase them back in the Beta camp. Huh? Youve got none of that.....then what do you have for when you get hungry? L tilted her head,pletely gobsmacked that someone went his deep into a monsterir located in the cial mountains without any food reserves. Frost had a light bulb moment and quickly removed the dried jerky from his backpack as though to assert that he wasntpletely useless, he even had a decent supply of the stuff. Ive got dozens of strips of jerky and would cook the meat of myst hunt in my wok. He thus removed therge wok from his spatial ring. Sam and L looked at him in silence before turning to face one another, sighing as they shook their heads. Frost was aplete noob. How is someone so strong and so talented this na?ve? The husband and wife both had the same thoughts run through their mind. Thankfully Frost ran into them, not only did they save him from the great frost centipede they could now teach this young adventurer what he needed to know. Frost hoping to receive even some modicum of praise or recognition was sorely mistaken, in Sam and Ls eyes he waspletely inept, like a child that needed taking care of. Their expressions were full of pity and Frost felt as though a knife stabbed his heart, those kind of looks really hurt. Haaaaaaaaa with another deep sigh the husband and wife began their lecture, the meal can wait till after this first issue is resolved. Ok first off this dried jerky is the very basics of the basics and by itself doesnt warrant a substantial meal. Even the military provide soup stock cubes to go with this. These are to be honest just snacks by themselves and wont provide you enough energy for a day of fighting even if you down a dozen strips of the stuff. Second you say that you cook the meat of thest thing you hunted, what if the monsters you encountered throughout the day werent edible or that you didnte across any at all, what then? L started the rant with a severe wagging of her finger, listing all the shorings of Frosts gear. Frost just had to sit there silently and absorb the lesson; he was too embarrassed to retort. But he couldnt bepletely med, eating was a rather new experience for him and usually he had a certain fenrir to prepare his meals. He even rather liked the dried jerky but put no thought into its nutritional value. Then lets see this wok you have. L demanded the wok for inspection. Not bad this gets you a passing mark, but you should always have a spare in case this one breaks mid adventure, what do you use for utensils? Seeing that Frost only brought out a wok she wondered what he used to prepare and east his food. Oh, I do this. Frost summoned his ice chakra, willing it into desired shapes such as a knife, a fork or just a long spike. It worked fine for frying the frost lizardst night, though the ice did melt a few times. Thats unique Ill give you that, but you should carry around utensils to help better prepare your meals. Remember an adventurer is only as strong as hisst meal, if it was that dried jerky you feasted onst night and not fried frost lizard then we may not have been in time to help you. L sent a strict re Frosts way, making sure that her lesson sunk in. Frost simply nodded his head as she and her husband continued to lecture him. Chapter 246 246 Chapter 246: The skills of a chef L and Sam continued their lesson on food for 30 minutes before their stomachs started to grumble in protest, Frosts included. Initially Frost was supposed to be the one cooking, supplying the food, or at least helping but given his inept abilities L had him sit still and watch the master at work. Her husband of course not her. When at home she would asionally cook but out in the field 90% of the time it was Sams job and one he was more than happy to fulfil. His cooking was admittedly better because of it but he would never say that to his wife. Frost watch and learn, adventurers need a great many skills, not just battle prowess. L spoke softly to their new young friend. Frost opened his eyes wide and took in every action that Sam was doing. He greatly appreciated the two of them taking the time to teach him how to be a true adventurer, he was in dire need of a proper teacher in that regard. Sam spoke as he cooked exining what he was doing and what ingredients he was using and why. Im going to prepare a simple soup that not only tastes good but will meet all your nutritional needs for someone at our level. As you grow in strength youll find that the amount of energy required to sustain your strength increases resulting in the need to consume mana rich ingredients such as monster meat to fill your belly. As Sam spoke he removed several containers full of different ingredients. They were all vacuum sealed and built to endure rough movements, perfect for an adventurers lifestyle. Given our location we came across a fair amount of frost lizards but since you had thatst night well use something different as the main meatponent. Sam opened up one of the containers and a mild smell of meat escaped, it was soft and not overpowering a stark contrast to the lizard flesh Frost cooked previously. Well use this giant horned rabbit meat, F-rank in strength and great in soups. Ill add in a few pieces of dark meat from a frost lizard to enhance the vour, the contrast between the strong spicy taste of the lizard and the mild yet tender rabbit meat makes a greatbination. Theyll cover the protein. Sam continued to open containers and ry what was held in each. Pepper sweet potato to cover sugar, green carrots and dagger beans to provide carbohydrates as well as a nice veggie vour to offset the meat and finally dragon onions to helpbat the constant cold. These ingredients can always be swapped out for other types, but the key thing is that you have a variety, you cant get all your nutrients from just meat or one or two vegetables it needs to be a healthy bnce, plus it tastes far better, if I had any mushrooms on hand Id throw them in. Sam spoke with wide smile on his face, he loved cooking as well as talking about his process. Hed gone through a great many variations of ingredients to find what ones matched with others. He had no teacher for this, everything was done through trial and error and the results were stupendous. L sat at his side with a gentle and proud smile on her face, finding her man so attractive while he cooked. You should listen to his recipes thoroughly Frost my darling here can put professional chefs to shame. She lightly giggled after praising her husband, but her words were not wrong. Even Kathy who ran the inn in Furano would probably at beste out even. Hahahaha thanks for the praise dear but Im not that good, just a bit better than average. Another trait that she was fond of, his modesty. Frost was convinced by the look in Sams eyes, the man had a strong passion for food and what he said made sense. Whenever he had a meal in Furano or even that hotpot container in Beta camp there was always a wide variety of things in the dish. He subconsciously scooched in closer to Sam in order to hear his lesson better. The meals he had at the Phoenix fledgling restaurant had sparked a fire in him, so much so he was tempted to abscond with the chef back to his dungeon. He was also really fond of Mayas cooking and now he had an opportunity to learn. He wondered if this could be his calling in terms of trade skills. Damascus was a cksmith while Indra liked the idea of artificing, and he learned that Aqua was fond of tailoring. Some of the outfits she suggested for him were her own ideas and ones she wished to prepare herself. Cooking would be the first trade profession hed dip his toes into thanks to Sam and L. ..... Sam then instructed Frost about managing the fire, how to best control the temperature so as not to burn the ingredients as well as the best time to add each one and why. To prepare the soup he summoned water and brought it to a gentle boil before adding a congealed stock cube the thing L highlighted as very important for adventurers especially for those in the northern parts of Yangmir. Given the plethora of snow avable even without magic one was not want for water. The soup stock alone, once melded with water provided a nice light soup with a gentle veggie vour but given the strength of the three of them it wouldnt be enough to meet their needs, much like the dried jerky. Once the stock was fully dissolved he added the meat pieces to the broth, hed already cleaned them and drained away the blood, another point he exined to Frost, without doing such tasks the vour would be adversely affected. The concoction boiled for 5 minutes or so before he added the vegetables, the whole process didnt take long given the temperature of the water as well as the fact that the chosen vegetables didnt need to be boiled long, a good steam was enough to bring out the vour. Everyone of Sams movements were precise and methodical, he gave Frost the rough timings to add things but mostly it was based upon his instinct, his experience as a chef. For Frost who was watching and learning it was as though watching an artist paint, it was moving and brought a warmth to his heart. This was part of Nova just as much as everything else, these were the good everyday things Dark wanted his children to experience not just battles. Frost understood that now....the world of Nova was big and expansive, his adventurous spirit was lit, and his fists slightly clenched as a path opened before him. After ten minutes the soup was finished and the three peoples stomachs rumbled with desire as the smell seeped through their nostrils, causing saliva to pool in their mouths. Damn honey you really out did yourself this time, the smell is absolutely divine. L licked her lips as she stared at the brewing pot. Every time her husband prepared the meals it was always glorious but today seemed extra special. He must have wanted to show off a little to our young guest. Her eyes showed a glint of understanding, her husband was quite cute. Sam let out a slightly embarrassed chuckle from being seen through by his wife. I added some kalun ginger to spice up the vour, hopefully it tastes as good as it smells. Ginger was a spicemonly used on the eastern continent, kalun ginger was the breed that grew in Yangmir, its essence was even stronger and worked perfectly to battle the cold weather here in the cial mountains. Sam didnt have much stock left but felt that it was worth it to enlighten a young man about the aspect of good cooking. Since Frost didnt carry much in the way of utensils Sam and L had to lend him a bowl and spoon, much to his shame. The fried frost lizard he hadst night he ate right out of the wok. He didnt see much need to such things given that he nned to eat solo. Though perhaps being alone didnt mean he needed to be simple, it sort of spoiled his rather noble appearance. He took a mental note of all the things suggested by Sam and L and promised that at the next opportunity hed stock up, the shame was too much to bear now that it was known. Sam took out adle and filled up everyones bowl, first he filled the guests, Frosts then his wifes and finally his own. Even though he was the one doing the cooking he didnt forget his manners and etiquette, much to his wifes pleasure. Well eat up Frost and tell me what you think? Sam asked while filling up his bowl, keen to hear the young mans opinion. From Frosts appearance he clearly had ess to good food when not out and about in a monsterir, so he pegged him as a good judge of food. Frost smiled in thanks before bringing the bowl toward his mouth, he took a single spoonful, scooping up a small piece of meat and soup. He took in a deep inhale allowing the delightful smell to coat his nostrils before lightly blowing on it to cool it down. Then finally he ced the spoon in his mouth, dropping the contents onto his tongue. Suddenly bursts of vour filled his mouth, not losing out to the smell in the slightest. The meat he picked up was rabbit, the soft mild voured meat coalesced beautifully with the vegetable vour seeped into the soup. It was delicious, rivalling that of his meals at the phoenix fledgling restaurant and Douss mansion. To say that Sam was skilled would be an understatement, he created such a tasty dish within a monsterir with minimal equipment, just imagine what he could do in a fully outfitted kitchen. Chapter 247 247 Chapter 247: Offer of tutge Frost savoured the first spoonful as much he possibly could, even going to the extent of sucking on his teeth, not willing to waste a single drop. Before Sam could even get an answer from him about the quality of the dish, Frost started shovelling mouthful after mouthful down his throat. Frosts actions brought a smile to his face, there was no greaterpliment than someone devouring the meal he cooked, Frosts actions were clear enough for an answer. Not one to stand on ceremony Sam joined his wife, to partake in their own bowls. They actions were far less course than Frosts which was ironic given the appearance of both sides. Behind the rugged exterior of Sam and the experienced and wise eyes of L were two people of refinement and elegance. Of course, Frost finished his meal first and clearly wished for more but given that he was a guest and done nothing to contribute to the meal he felt rather embarrassed about asking for seconds. Sam however simply chuckled before gesturing for the young man to help himself. His smile stretched from ear to ear as he watched Frost rx and dig in to his second bowl, he loved the look on peoples faces when they enjoyed his food. Unbeknownst to Frost however his look carried far more significance than joy, his actions brought Sam closer to a certain choice that was always at the back of his mind. L caught on to her husbands growing emotions, her eyes narrowed as she smiled in concert. She understood what her husband was thinking and was all for it. She and Sam were not exactly young anymore, but they werent old either, but they had reached the limits of their capabilities. Perhaps if they trained without restraint and tossed themselves into dangerous environments theyd have a chance of reaching B-rank but what was the point. They were happy with their current level of strength and were feeling as though it was time to retire and take up a more environmentally friendly trade. This trip into the beginners ice magic monsterir was for a few reasons. One of which being a sort ofst major adventure, at least for a while. They had three children that were waiting at home for them after all, they no longer had the serious drive to explore as they did when they were younger and being away from the kids for days or possibly weeks on end was too much to bear. Sams thoughts were focused on his job after their retirement. The two of them had a decent level of savings so technically they couldpletely retire for at least a decade without worry but the two of them were quite active and hated not having something to do. Frosts innocent expression and delight at his cooking allowed Sam to resolve himself into attempting what has been his dream for a fair number of years...to open his own restaurant. He loved cooking and all aspects that came with it. It didnt have to arge restaurant just cosy and friendly one in which he had a strong rtionship with his customers. His wife and kids could help out when needed and when the timees for his passing it would be a good family legacy to leave behind. L on the other hand was set to take over after her father, the current mayor of their enve. She was intelligent, charismatic and a natural born leader, a perfect fit and one that she dreaded when younger but had grown more and more fond of the prospect. After this delve in the monsterir theyll likely put up their boots and immediately start on their new paths. Meeting Frost must have been some sort of sign, a young naive adventurer with high amounts of potential, who better than to teach about all their experiences, it would be a respectful send off to their time as adventurers. ..... L looked towards her husband, and he looked back at her, both understanding the others thoughts, with a curt nod they turned back to examine Frost. After the meal theyd have a more through and in depth talk with the young man so as to teach him all that theyve learned. Frost was unknown to these thoughts, to engrossed in his soup. He almost wept as hepared the food he preparedst night to this glorious dish; they werent even in the same ball park. Burppp....excuse me, after polishing off his second bowl, Frost burped loudly before apologising with a slight blush. In many cultures its seen as apliment to the chef so thank you. Sam replied with a proud grin. Then burppppp Frost burped once again eliciting light chuckles from the three of them. So young Frost have we managed to enlighten you on how unprepared you really are for this delve of yours? Sam questioned. Yes sir, I took even the basic things such as food for granted, thank you for the wonderful meal and more so the valuable education. Frost gave a curt bow when seated, greatly appreciated Sam and Ls lesson. Good, good, young, talented and humble, you know when to ept advice and have great respect for those that try to help, youre a good man Frost. Sam praised his young guest while nodding his head, Frost revealed an embarrassed smile, but pride filled his heart. Sam looked to his wife who nodded his way before she took over. Frost as my husband said you are a good man but from what we can tell a little, well really naive when ites to being an adventurer. Frost felt an invisible punch to his heart but couldnt retort, what she said was very urate. L took a deep breath before continuing so if you are willing, Sam and I would like to enlighten you, teach all of our skills and tricks to be an aplished adventurer while we are here in this monsterir, what do you think? Frost was taken aback; he wasnt expecting such an offer and immediately he wanted to ept. The lesson on food was enlightening enough let alone the other aspects that he was currently ignorant of but.... Why? Youve just met me, and you dont owe me anything, in fact Im the one that owes you. He would greatly appreciating their teachings but didnt feel right constantly being the receiver of their fortune without anything to give in return. Haaaaaaaaa you can call it fate or luck, Sam and I n to retire after this foray into thisir,ing across you and seeing that you were of good character and in dire need of education we feel that it would be a good homage to our careers if we could educate someone such as you before calling it quits. L smiled gently but behind her smile was a heavy sadness, the same was for Sam. Though they loved their family and had great ambitions in their next professions their love for adventuring would never fade. The two of them originally became adventurers for the thrills of battle, the desire for strength and the wish to see the world. Well, theyd done a lot of that but now, they would struggle to improve and had other priorities but that didnt make the decision any easier. Theyd have to give up what they loved, somehow interacting with Frost made that decision easier, he could achieve what they could not and if he became strong and powerful they could believe that they yed a part in it. Frost looked at Sam and L in disbelief,pletely shocked by what they just said. From their talk he learned that the two of them were in fact C-rank adventurers and by their own volition told him that their strength was probably just below his. Their ages were mid tote thirties not exactly old so the idea of them retiring felt wrong. Frost felt a pain in his heart for some reason. But... His lips quivered slightly as he tried to question the reason, but he stopped when he saw the looks in their eyes. They were filled with unrelenting determination, sure in their decision. Frost didnt know the full extent of their reasons but knew that no matter what he said he wouldnt be able to convince them otherwise. Are you sure, the two of you are still quite young? Though he knew the answer he had to at least ask. The husband and wife pair looked at one another and smiled as though a weight fell from their shoulders before turning back to Frost. Yes we are 100% certain, after this delve we will retire. I n to open up a restaurant back in our enve, somewhere I can cook every day and see the happy expressions of customers as they eat my food. Sam spoke of his dream, probably the first time out loud to anyone bar his wife. And Ill be learning to take over my fathers position back home, though being out on long adventurers with my husband is certainly exciting and even romantic I miss our kids. L grabbed her husbands hand and looked into his eyes with love, Sam grasped her hand back and returned a simr look. Frost question was answered and after a few seconds of ruminating her showed a peaceful smile. Id be honoured if I could receive the teachings of such aplished adventurers. Chapter 248 248 Chapter 248: Offer of tutge (2) Feeling their determination and desires, how could Frost refuse such an opportunity. Hed learn everything Sam and L would be willing to throw at him and use every part of it to grow stronger. His gaze was filled with respect towards these two experienced adventurers that would be his teachers. Im surprised you have kids L; you look far too young to be a mother. Frost ttered L without reserve, generating a wide smile on her face. What woman didnt like to be called young. ttery will get you everywhere Frost so dont stop on my ount hahahahah but yes Sam and I have three children, two girls and one boy. The oldest being 10 and the youngest 4. Right now, theyre back home under the care of their grandmother until we return. L stuck out her chest with pride at the mention of children and a fawning look took over her eyes yet at the same time a sadness. Her children were her world, her little angels, and she hated to leave them but this time they had no choice, their quest could not be dyed. Sam smiled lovingly at his wife as he too remembered their children, his gaze however lustfully drifted down to his wifes pert backside. L always did have arge rear but after having kids it grew to its now almostical size, very much it his enjoyment. Ls too, she loved having a big ass, not only did it drive her man wild it made sitting veryfortable. Sam was in fact desperate to have more kids hoping to erge it even more and they were definitely not want for trying. As his throat started to dry and his blood raised in temperature from the provocative thoughts running through his mind, Sam suddenly remembered Frosts presence and coughed to clear his mind. God my wife is the most beautiful woman in the world. He apuded internally ming his desire upon his wifes sinful appearance. Yes three little angels, our eldest daughter as L said is ten, we called her Tulip after the beautiful flower, though it has nothing on her cuteness. Sam flipped his lovestruck husband appearance to that of a doting father almost immediately, describing his children to Frost. Now that theyd told Frost of their desires and he epted their offer to learn from them their rtionship became that much closer. And one thing parents loved doing was bragging about their kids to friends. Our second daughter is 7 and a real firework, also getting into mischief and pranking her elders, ironically shes called jasmine, her personality being theplete opposite of her namesake. Sam shook his head as he was reminded of some of his youngest daughters antics. While L had a rather dark expression on her face. Usually, she was the one forced to punish and reprimand Jasmine and was the victim of most her antics. Jasmine was aplete daddys girl and Sam was useless in reprimanding her as he alwaysughed at her pranks. Its a hell of a lot harder to convince someone what they did was wrong if your husband isughing his ass off. And finally, our youngest, Ren. He recently turned 4 shortly before we left, hes a real shy boy constantly attached to the hip of his eldest sister. The fawning look returned to Ls eyes when Sam brought up Ren. Though she would never tell Tulip and Jasmine, Ren was her favourite, he was so cute, kind and had the most pinchable cheeks. She missed them greatly, this talk seemed to foster that longing. Frost sat with a gentle smile as he listened to the two parents talk about their children, family and about their enve. He could feel their warmth and love, it reminded him of his family. Hisical father, his overprotective sister, his rival like brother Indra, his many other siblings but most of all it made him think of his dungeon and the people waiting there for his return. Maya and the two phoenix kin children, Nanna, and Loki. For the first time since he left the dungeon he felt homesick, like a tug on his heart that wouldnt go away. ..... Sam and L continued to chat with Frost for almost an hour as they polished off the remaining soup and let their food settle. Frost learned a lot about their enve as well as their family. The enve they hailed from was considered a decent size, not quite big enough to from a native kingdom but bigger that a county in the Northrend empire, poption wise. It was dangerous to cover too much open ground here in the cial mountains without sufficient military or defensive power. The enve like many others was situated within a depleted monsterir, with the core crystal already been consumed. What was left was the perfect ce to establish amunity. Multiple levels underground allowed room for generous expansion without the cost of hardbour digging and provided a great escape from the biting cold on the surface -though its usually still chilly theres no constant blizzard. And with the residual mana within the floors, it made it possible to grow crops even without the light of the sun. Monsterirs were god sends for these people even after the monsters had long vanished. Their they were currently in the [beginners ice magic] would too one day be extinguished and hopefully turned into anothermunity. Of course, it wasnt just enves that used extinguished monsterirs, many were outposts for the military, bases for the order of the ice shield orrge counties under the control of the native kingdoms. Sam and Ls however was an independent enve that answered to no one and tended to keep to themselves in terms of diplomatic rtions. Ls family were the ones in charge of the entire enve with the position of mayor, but it was more like a small king or noble given the amount of people they were in charge of. The job was usually also passed down through her family but asionally someone else took over, L however was quite well loved and respected, so the citizens had no problem with her taking over. Her and Sams high levels of strength certainly helped in that regard. The two of them were pretty much the highest ranked adventurers present in the enve bar a few older elders that were passed their prime, it was also the reason that they were here in this monsterir. They needed to retrieve something and only people with their strength were capable enough. Unfortunately, the reason was not a happy one, Ls father and Sams father inw was suffering from a serious ailment that left him almost bed ridden, and his symptoms were only getting worse. Wary of outsiders the enve could only entrust such a delicate task to its most powerful members and L and Sam wouldnt have it any other way. Thankfully they knew what the ailment was and how to treat it, the only thing they needed however was..... the core of a C-rank monster proficient in magic. They had everything else required for the medicine in their reserves and a fairly aplished doctor and alchemist in their enve just this one thing was left. At first they tried to purchase such a core, but the price was extortionate because of the types rarity as well as the quality they required. The core needed to be of almost perfect quality and had to be fresh otherwise the medicinal strength would not be strong enough tobat the illness. The recipe actually worked best with the core of a B-rank monster but no one in the enve was strong enough to hunt such a beast and the price for a B-rank core was far far higher. Sam and L volunteered almost immediately for the job; they wouldnt let their father die when they could do something about it. They left the kids in the care of their grandmother as well as ailing grandfather, just in case they werent sessfully they wished for him to be surrounded by his darling grandkids as much as possible. At least then he may pass on without regrets. Frost listened to this and felt pain in his heart as L held back her tears and Samforted her but then confusion was clear on his face. Why then are you here in this monsterir? As far as I know theres no C-ranks here. What Frost said was true, the highest monsters present even on the sixth floor were peak D-ranks not Cs, but if even he knew that then obviously Sam and L did too. Sam took a deep breath before exining. What you say is true, within the [beginners ice magic] monsterir theres no C-rank monsters however thats only during regr times. Now that the famous monster stampede is looming the mana has grown more ambient affecting the monsters summoned by the monsterir, primarily the bottom two floors. For example, the great frost centipede usually only shows up on the sixth floor and the boss of the 4th floor is usually not two D-ranks but one. Sam exined their reasoning. Of course, this doesnt necessarily mean that theres going to be a C-rank monster present, but weve already received intelligence from other adventurers that there is one. Sam slightly frowned and a difficult expression showed on his face. The final floors boss is said to currently be an ice revenant. Chapter 249 249 Chapter 249: Ice revenant The final floors boss is currently said to be an ice revenant. The moment Sam said that knowledge came to the forefront of Frosts mind, a mixture of information he learned from his books as well as Maya. Ice revenants were powerful C-rank monsters, akin to half spirits. Their bodies were part physical and part ethereal, their cores were situated within their chests and their base body was made of chilling ice mana in the form of a humanoid, all protected by thick powerful armour. The monster was simr to living armours, yet its origin was not darkness aligned and contained intelligence, nor were they ghostly or soul based. The best representation were spirits, yet they were different thus the term half spirit. This however didnt make them any less of an opponent. Ice revenants were powerful closebat monsters and boasted high defence, with very little weaknesses plus they were very adept magic users, not a simple opponent even by C-rank standards. Apart from the core or nucleus that was present in monsters such a revenants, elementals, slimes, and other spirit like monsters the things armour was incredibly valuable. Even on a normal ice revenant the armour was equivalent to 3 star metal a great haul given that revenants were usually a minimum of 4 metres tall. Their weapons were usually made of equally powerful material and came in a range of types, it could be a mace, an axe, a great sword or even a spear, it was all up to chance. Among C-rank monsters normal ice revenants were considered upper tier of the beginning stages possibly mid ranks. Frost was eager to test his metal against a C-rank opponent, but this monster was a bit risky. He struggled with just a great frost centipede due to his inexperience and no longer thought of himself as invincible. That thought caused another issue to crop up, were Sam and L really a match for such an opponent? He couldnt help but bring it up. From what I know of ice revenants, theyre usually ssed around upper beginner or middle grade of C-rank, powerful monsters that have very few weaknesses with a great range of attack styles. I dont presume to understand your full strength but earlier you said that your abilities were simr to mine, are you strong enough to take down such a foe? As Frost asked his question tentatively, frowns appeared on the faces of Sam and L. The answer was a resounding no. If they were lucky and had a field advantage then maybe they could take down such an opponent but even then the risks of one them dying in battle would be high.....unfortunately they didnt have much choice, it was a risk theyd have to take.....but now that they met Frost the oue could change. Sam took a deep breath before replying, youre correct with just the two of us it would incredibly risky to take down such an opponent but unfortunately we dont have much choice, were running out of time. Ls eyes grew red from Sams words and tears started to umte at the sides of her eyes. Frost instantly understood, Ls father must not have much longer left to live. Unless they get thisst ingredient for his medication soon the man would pass away. Being the mans daughter and son inw they needed to take a chance, they were very filial. Frost understood but it didnt change the fact that it was incredibly dangerous and in many ways foolhardy and reckless. Sams frown grew even more pronounced as he continued. Thats why Frost wed like to ask for your assistance. We saw your capabilities against the great frost centipede and felt the strength of your aura. When ites to battle your abilities may even be higher than the two of us, with you by our side we should be victorious...in exchange for teaching you all we know about adventuring we hope youd aid us in this fight. Sam spoke with difficulty, he felt that they were scamming this poor young man. ...But that wouldnt be right, whether or not you aid us well still teach all we know, asking someone as young and inexperienced as you to aid us in such a dangerous quest is not right and we will not force you. Unable to withstand the possible guilt Sam quickly took back their demand, offering Frost education without charge. ..... L and Sam both looked at Frost with determination, even at their lowest point they would not drag down an innocent bystander, especially one as young and kind as Frost. Pain was clearly evident in their eyes as they fought against what was logical for their needs and what they themselves stood for and in the end their principles won. Frost saw all the minute changes in their expressions, the biting of lips, the reddened eyes, clenching fists, difficulty in looking his way and then he heard their determined response and bathed in their righteous gaze, he couldnt help but be moved. Warmth filled his heart, and his eyes grew red. Such kind hearted people, he thought, this is a family, a true family. Frost was reminded of his own and wondered if they could ever be so close that theyd be willing to risk their lives for one another without hesitation and even when faced with great adversity continue to hold to their beliefs, never making the end justify the means. Frosts respect for L and Sam was boundless, and regardless of what they said he would help them. His lips curled upward into a smile as he looked downwards. Didnt Ie here to train, to learn and for the possibility to fight against a C-rank monster.....when would I next get such a great opportunity? As he thought this his smile continued to grow and his heart started to pump faster, more vigorously as excitement filled him. Frost was not a man to take and not give anything in return, he would receive Sam and Ls education and in return he would help them take down the ice revenant. After which itd be nearly time for him to head back to the dungeon, his talk with Sam and L had made him homesick. Frost raised his head and showed a happy and excited expression, much to the confusion of Sam and L. I Frost am not an ungrateful man who only takes and does not give. Not only did you save my life earlier, you exined to me the art of cooking and are willing to educate me fully in the adventurers profession and you wish for nothing in return, or rather youre not willing to ask it...then you do not need to, I Frost will aid you in this endeavour of my own volition, I came here for training and with you I will get that training and to finish I wished to fight against a C-rank monster, this too you are granting me so why would I refuse? Hahahahaha. Frost spoke with earnest, dering his intentions and hopefully lifting the weight from Sam and Ls shoulders. Whether they believed that this was his true intentions or not the husband and wife pair were moved beyond words, tears just silently dripped down their faces. No one could understand their burden, the hopes, and dreams of not only the rest of their families but the entire poption of the enve and most of all their own. When they finally had some light at the end of a dark tunnel it wasced with such danger that it may not even be a solution....now however an even greater light shone before them, and it was in the shape of the young man sitting across from them. With Frosts aid there would be three C-ranks, much better odds when facing down an ice revenant, though risks were still present they were drastically reduced and the prospects of actually seeding became highly possible. They could save their father. Sob sob thank you Frost, truly thank you. Sam spoke through his tears. The pressure on him was most of all, he was the man, the husband and always took great pride in protecting his family, seeing his father inw so weak and his wife crying when she slept was agony. Finally, that anguish would be over, the heavens truly were shining down upon them when they crossed paths with Frost and decided to aid this struggling adventurer. Frosts excitement died down and his face bore a gentle expression. No need for thanks Sam, were friends and soon to be teacher and student, such a small thing needs no gratitude, just promise that when you do open up that restaurant of yours I cane and partake in your delicious cooking. Frost outstretched his hand as though to cement this with a handshake, a little formality which Sam greatly appreciated. Wiping away his tears the brave looking man let out a smile and grabbed Frosts hand with a strong grip, though Frost could feel his hands trembling as he did. No problem you can eat free for the rest of your life hahahaha. Samughed out loud, finally feeling at ease for the first time in weeks. Once L finished crying the three of them felt much, much closer and were all full of smiles. It was now time to begin their lessons on adventuring, all while steadily making their way to the 6th floors boss room. Chapter 250 250 Chapter 250: Handing down magic tomes Currently the group were in the very early stages of the 5th floor and had arge amount of ground to cover before reaching the final boss. Although Sam and L were in a hurry there was still time for them to teach and explore the 5th and 6th floor as per normal. The time restraint took in their ability to find a suitable C-rank monster to hunt but now that they knew where one was, the issue was less time sensitive, Frost would be able to benefit from a full education. They also werent worried about the ice revenant being killed before they got there given its power. Within the [beginners ice magic] monsterir Sam, L and Frost were likely the strongest group around and even with their abilities taking on an ice revenant was dangerous. The only reason they were was because of a dire need, therefore it was unlikely for anyone else to take it on or at least win. While Sam got to work tidying up all of their gear, Frost ryed the range of his skills to L as well as his initial purpose in entering the monsterir plus what hed encountered on his way here. L listened and nodded her head and did her best to keep a straight face whenever Frost said something ludicrous, keeping her opinions to herself until the end. After defeating the two D-rank frost lizard bosses I entered the 5th floor and spotted the great frost centipede absconding with a recent kill. Interested in its capabilities I followed it here to itsir in an attempt to fight and kill it. Frost expression was initially positive but when he got to the part in which L and Sam had to intervene his face couldnt help but heat up with shame. At first the battle was going fine; I knew its weak points and strong points. Given that I was faster I wanted to see how my ive would match against it carapace. So, you attacked its hardest part? L couldnt help but blurt this out with a pitying gaze. Who in their right mind would make a fight harder than it has to be when they already knew about their foes weakness? If Frost didnt have knowledge from his monster encyclopaedia she wouldnt be so puzzled, but Frost clearly did. There was a limit to ones foolishness and arrogance. But before she could admonish him for his actions he continued. Yeah and I made it extra mad when my ive made a dent almost to the point that it wanted to flee. Frost answered back with a slight twitch knowing that what he did was foolish. Well of course that would happen, the carapace of the great frost centipede is equivalent to high grade iron, even high ranking weapons would struggle to leave a mark so....wait did you say you say you dented the thing? With a single strike? Did you use a skill? L was suddenly in amazement. Even her husband with his great sword would find it difficult to leave much more than a mark on the hardest part of the great frost centipede yet with a casual testing sh Frost dented it. No wonder the centipede grew afraid and wanted to flee. Not the first time, but I did the second time since only a dent was left. With the use of my skill, I pierced its carapace and reached its flesh. After that it rapidly reeled backwards and dived back into its hole. Thinking that it had fled in fear I let down my guard.....the next second I heard the ground underneath me quake, I tried to retreat backwards but I wasnt fast enough. A momentter the centipede burst from the ground and chomped down on my arm....the rest well you know what happened. Frost rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment, but L was too amazed to register the young mans feelings as was Sam who at some point stopped his tidying. The husband and wife looked at one another in shock, only now did they truly understand Frosts capabilities. He had talent in magic, chakra as well as ive arts but his personal physical strength was enough for him to take on a great frost centipede at its hardest point ande out on top. Of course, Frosts weapon being quasi 4th star certainly helped but that mainly prevented it from shattering, the strength of the sh all came from Frost. He was more than an unpolished gem, practically a diamond in the rough. The situation with the frost centipede was purely bad luck, his inexperience allowing him to let his guard down and being a half step too slow resulting in him being pinned in a death lock. Likely if the centipede wasnt so angry and fearful of Frosts weapon its determination to take his arm wouldnt have been so fervent. ..... Damn where on earth do we start with this guy, so chock full of potential. L licked her lips, eyeing Frost as some prized specimen, far different from her earlier interest in his pretty face, far more eery. Frost felt a shiver down his spine as he endured the looks from both Sam and L. Sam although a user of a great sword and not pole weapons could still teach Frost a lot in terms of battle giving that both were rather long and heavy two handed weapons. But L knew ice magic and far more than Frost, her knowledge could easily be transferred to Frost as is. L had never had a student before so she couldnt help but be excited, full of enthusiasm she demanded that Frost show her his known spells at once so she could get a good reading. Throughout their journey through the 5th floor and 6th floor theyd need to test Frost in battle so as to develop a high level of teamwork when faced against the ice revenant, knowing his skills first hand was a necessity. Frost acquiesced to his new teachers instructions and performed all his spells from weakest to strongest. His 3rd circle spell [summon ice golem] wasst but still the thing was only 1.3 metres tall or so, hardly battle worthy. L stood at the side with a contemtive look on her face as she analysed Frosts abilities and spell repertoire. To be honest I hoped for a broader selection given your strength. L couldnt help but shake her head a little in disappointment. Even if we count your [summon ice golem] spell youve only got four spells under your belt, technically 3 and half given that [summon ice golem] is barely at a usable level. For a mage and one at C-rank this list of spells was really pitiful and was all of one element. Such magic was pretty much useless down here in the [beginners ice magic] monsterir. Frosts eyes twitched slightly at her response, Ive only be alive for a little over a month, I think the fact that I know four spells is pretty good, all things considered. Unfortunately, he couldnt say this out loud, just had to silently ept Ls disappointment. L cupped her chin in thought before she continued. I dont have any magic spell books on me for you to learn immediately and I cant help you much with the [summon ice golem] spell since I dont know it, but I can help with your other magic and handover some used tomes of other ice spells. L sent her mana into her spatial ring to remove a few well used books. These were regr books on spells, ones that required the user to read and understand the old fashioned way. Shed already learned the spells described but kept them on hand as asional reading material. L brought out five thick books all clearly well-read but well taken care of. Here you can have these books, consider it a gift from teacher to student, Ill have you study and practise whats in these books whenever we stop for a break. Frost took these five heavy books from Ls arms and his heart felt warm. The books were all on ice magic, not much use for him within this monsterir but would certainly be important for him in general. Each book exined and described a single spell, and all were at the minimum of 2nd circle with one even being 3rd circle, a veryvish gift for someone youve just met. L clearly viewed him as her student. The spells in the books were thus: Blizzard 2nd circle spell: summons arge ice boulder over the target area and drops it with great force. Ice fog 2nd circle spell: generates a thick ice fog around the caster that helps to conceal oneself from view and even partially from mana sense. Ice weapon enchantment 2nd circle spell: imbues a weapon with the power of ice, increasing its sharpness and allowing one to cause ice damage. Ice shield, 2nd circle spell: creates a wall of ice before the caster in defence. Ice prison 3rd circle spell: from the magic crest arge ice cage is summoned, imprisoning, and capturing the target within. All of the spells were ones in which he didnt know yet, effectively expanding his spell list by more than double. With such magic, Frost would be a whole different person. He could find a strong use for each and every spell, especially the [ice prison] spell. Itd be really good for separatingrge groups of enemies and or capturing foes instead of killing them, aiming for a different strategy from the full on brute force approach he was used to. Chapter 251 251 Chapter 251: Analysing Frosts level Frost took hold of the used tomes with respect, his eyes full of gratitude, he offered a bow and word of thanks to his new magic teacher. L didnt wave him off and epted his bow and thanks as it was customary when establishing a student teacher rtionship, one in which she quite enjoyed experiencing, it stroked her ego as an established adventurer. As we travel well work together to take down same opponents while others Ill have you practise your magic on so as to improve your skills. Your idea of solely using your ice golem magic and your ice bolt spell against the 1st and 2nd floor both respectively was a good idea. Their battle levels were enough for you to take such risks and clearly it helped, particrly with your [ice bolt] spell. The [summon ice golem] spell not so much, youre still a long way off before sessfully generating a full sized golem, equivalent to E-rank. L nodded her head while praising and pointing out Frosts shortings but overall, she was quite impressed. Frost had a good head on his shoulders and knew his own weaknesses and strengths quite well, shame his arrogance and hubris got the better of him with the great frost centipede. However, L looked at this as a good thing, she and her husband arrived in time to prevent any serious damage and from it Frost learned humility, a trait always best learned the earlier the better. In terms of ivebat we cant teach you much, but Sam will do his best, he can also utilise a little chakra, but his element is metal so that too will be limited. But thats not the prime aim of our education, your fighting prowess is already high, just needs a little more refining to deal with the plethora of monsters youlle across. Our focus will be on regr skills needed to be a truly skilled adventurer such as cooking which Sam ryed to you earlier. The famous saying an adventurer is only as strong as theirst meal is a very real statement and in many cases the defining factor in close knit battles. Other than that, theres the items you should always have on hand when out on a quest and or travelling, how to deal with specific quest types such as capturing, scouting, or tracking. Weapon and equipment maintenance, budgeting, and cost analysis, will the quest youre about to undertake pay enough to cover the damages incurred or time taken for the excursion? Is it worth the risk? After that we have habits that need to be second nature orpletely removed from practise as well as monsters too avoid either for theirck of materials or the fact that their natural resistances counter one with your capabilities. L spoke at length of the things they needed to go over in the short amount of time they had, she used her fingers to cross off all categories but quickly realised she didnt have enough. The amount of knowledge she and her husband had gathered over the years was not a small amount. They could spend weeks drilling their reserves into him and still it may not cover everything. But they didnt have weeks only days, some things would have to be either cut from the program or summarised. At the same time, well practise our teamwork in battle, have you ever worked with anyone before? To finish L asked this question, Frost was here in a monsterir all by himself, so it was unlikely he had many friends. Ive worked with a group once on a special quest, our enemies werent monsters but underworld goons and bandits. Frost replied after a few seconds of thought. He hadnt really worked as an adventuring party as of yet since Maya didnt do any work and the kids were too weak for tactics to be involved. The only case was operation new dawn wherein he worked together with Leo, Luna, Bruno, and Taka to fight the goons protecting Adam before confronting Adam himself. His experience in teamwork was certainlycking. Alright its not the best but its something, how were the power levels spaced out, how many were at your level, and did you fight mainly together or separately? L continued her questioning; all her queries were specific and on point. Unless Frost was far, far superior to them inbat strength then having someone unskilled at working with others was a determinant not a boon. Frost frowned and thought back to a few weeks ago before answering to the best of his ability. In our small group no one was at my level, two were B-rank who only got involved against specific opponents. Two were upper D-rank whereas thest two were E. For some battles we worked together but now that you mention it, most of my battles were solo. Id take down as many foes as possible without their aid. Frost spoke from memory, though he asionally received an arrow or spell his way to lend assistance most of his fights were solo. Only his battle with Adam could really be considered as working as a team against a superior foe but then again it was Leo and Luna that showed better teamwork and worked to his tempo. Ok well probably need to work on that a fair amount before the main fight. L took a mental note. Fighting a C-rank monster especially one that wasnt simple like an Ice revenant was no walk in the park. Individually the thing was stronger than all of them, Frost or them could not simply rely on individual skill, they needed to work together to multiply their battle prowess instead of simply adding or subtracting. L and her husband had no problems working as a team, in fact their teamwork was almost seamless. Adding in an unstable force could jeopardise that fluid system and even cause their battle strength to degrade. Sam and L wouldnt have the spare focus to mind Frosts positioning and attack patterns, one wrong move and it could spell the end for this couple, thats how dangerous this foe was. ..... Thankfully Frost appeared to be a quick learner and now that he understood humility and respected the two of them they should be able to form a rudimentary bond in battle. It wont be as perfect as Sam and Ls but shouldnt bring them down in strength. Thankfully due to the monster stampede it wasnt just the boss that had been changed, the many monsters present on the bottom floors were more plentiful and stronger than usual. Theyd have plenty of targets to practise on. One in particr that was housed on the 6th floor even during regr times was the frost revenant, a smaller weaker version of the ice revenant, usually around mid D-rank and showed simr traits. Making it the perfect practise monster to warm up with before the main fight. Frost revenants were around half the size of ice revenants, about 2 metres like a regr humanoid. Their shape was the same as well as weaknesses and strengths just weaker overall. Its armour and weapon being equivalent to perhaps to 2 stars and it didnt know any 3rd circle spells. They are considered quite a tough opponent among D-ranks. When L brought up frost revenants Frost couldnt help but perk up his ears. Even if he killed a C-rank monster it was unlikely for him to unlock it in the dungeon menu given his aggregate power and size of his dungeon but there was always a chance. However, what he really needed at the moment was strong D-rank monsters. Considering the dungeons current size and clientele, a frost revenant would be a perfect solution if its known power was to be believed. So far the main monsters Frost had added to his definitely want pile was the frost lizards and the ice elementals, but they were lower D-rank and E-rank respectively. The frost revenant however was likely more powerful than anything he currently had ess too and given that it was truly synonymous with ice hed probably gain ess to a decent amount of evolutionary paths like with the frost dwarves. Frosts lips couldnt help but curl up in anticipation. Alright I think that covers everything but if something else pops into my brain Ill let you know, anything to add dear? L felt as though shed regurgitated most of her knowledge base and asked her husband for his opinions. Nope I think youve covered everything, but Ill go over a few things in regards to monsterirs, mapping as well as herb gathering that could prove useful. Sam tilted his head to the side in thought before replying. L had covered the majority of what needed to be drilled into Frosts head if he was to be a truly aplished adventurer, Sam just wanted to add a few specifics. Herb collection was actually quite arge part of being an adventurer, it wasnt just the low rankers that harvested herbs no, high ranking herbs only grow in mana rich areas which are usually infested with monsters. Handling such herbs and knowing how to properly store such things was key to preserving the quality and in return the profit gained from hunting them down. Frost already had a delicate hand and utilised a chakra de to removed herbs but that would only get him so far. The higher ranked the herb the moreplicated it became to harvest; some even had the ability to protect themselves against such actions. Sam along with being a great cook was a big fan of botany so his knowledge in that department was quite expansive, far more than a regr C-rank. Frost was truly receiving a great boon from the two of them. Chapter 252 252 Chapter 252: Sparring against Sam In regards to mapping, this was another keyponent of being a good adventurer. One must always know where one is going and where one had been. Although the world is teeming with kingdoms, empires, and billions of people, the majority of this world is uninhabited. The cial mountain range alone spans tens of thousands of kilometres and is home to a near constant snow storm, finding ones way is a dire necessity. Frost only managed to get to his intended destination for a few reasons, his highly detailed map that was given to him by Leo. The rather easy location of his destination C only going to the Gamma sector- and from asking Callie about the route there. The deeper one enters into the cial mountains the more expansive it bes, and the maps be less and less detailed. For someone who is not a native or a skilled explorer they could wander for weeks without finding proper shelter. Mapping didnt just involve reading and creating a personal map it also involved being able to establishndmarks and notice they of thend and in regards to monsterirs, ruins, and special realms it was integral to be able to find your way around. Many monsterirs had veryplexyouts and some even hadbyrinths and mazes that spanned entire floors, thankfully [beginners ice magic] was quite simple in its design, pretty much being a straight shot to the next sections. Generating a map was key to not only making it to the next floor but leaving as well. Frost was aplete noob when it came to such things and in dire need of some education, what if he wandered the wrong way and was not able to find his way back to his dungeon, the shame would be unbearable as would the anxiety. And finally, monsterirs. This topic would be incredibly dense and would highlight a lot of skills L already mentioned but it had to be thoroughly exined. How the things function, what to look out for, signs of danger, dealing with traps, boss monsters etc..... the list was endless with so little time. Oh yeah thatll need to bepiled as well... L rubbed her temples as she felt a headacheing on, so much to teach in so little time. Well just cram in as much as possible in regards to enhancing our strength against the ice revenant first, the rest cane after weve defeated our foe, on the way out of the monsterir. L nodded her head as she finalised the schedule. Frost do you have anything to do after this if not we could continue teaching you back at our home, its not far from here? Sam asked his new student, if they could continue back home it would take a lot of pressure off. L wrapped her face around with an almost manic/desperate look in her eyes, such a situation would make things so much easier. Unfortunately, Frost couldnt agree to a long term education, he let out a small sigh and shook his head. Sorry Ive got to get back home and have another quest toplete. I can however if your home isnt too far, go with you, I just wont be able to stay long, not this time at least. Frost needed to report on the scouting quest and couldnt be away from the dungeon for too long, a nightsyover however wasnt out of the question. Itd also serve him well to know where his new teachers lived in case he wished to visit in the future. I see, thats a shame but of course if youve got things to do thats fine. Our enve is within this sector so it really isnt far, we can at least treat you to a good meal and warm ce to stay for a night. Sam didnt dwell on the fact and remained upbeat. Sure, that sounds perfect. Frost responded with a smile of his own and nodded his head. Sleeping in an enve sure beat out in the wild or in the monsterir. ..... With that it seems that their goals had been set, Sam and L would teach Frost as much as they possibly could in the few days they were staying in the monsterir. The night he would staying in the enve would be full of celebration, so no teaching, it would be bad manners. The camp that Sam had set up had all been packed up and put back in spatial rings. Their bellies were full, and it was time to burn off some calories. This time Frost wouldnt be so reckless or rather hed have someone to help pull him out of the fire if was. First on the agenda was getting a decent read on Frosts capabilities, L already had him demonstrate his magic but that was not in the heat of battle. Frost would spar with Sam to begin with, to test his ive arts as well as chakra management which they knew was already quite impressive given the glorious ice armour they first saw him wearing. Alright this ce seems as good as any, Frost lets have a little spar here, me and you, no magic just weaponry and chakra. Sam stood up straight before performing some loosening up stretches causing his wife to wolf whistle as his thick muscles strained against his clothes. You stretch too, cant having pulling a stitch. Sam kindly reminded while purposely tensing his muscles in front of his wife in response to her encouragement. Frosts lips twitched awkwardly but he acquiesced to Sams instruction, he followed the mans movements and felt himself get more limber, a few cracks were produced down his spine, bringing a rxed smile to his face. L continued to enjoy the feast before her eyes but clearly more enamoured with her husbandsrge taught frame over Frosts pretty face and athletic body. Frost couldnt help but feel a little annoyed as though his pride was challenged. Not even thinking of why he began to stretch further, posing in more enticing poses, his robes idently loosened showing some of his bare skin. Ls eyes that were transfixed on her husband couldnt help but be torn away by Frosts enticement, she licked her lips and smiled seductively. Sam as though feeling the challenge upped his game, he smiled wildly before jumping into the air, he somersaulted backwards while at the same time releasing his outer garments, revealing his bare arms and torso. Ls eyes were once again draw towards him, but this wasnt enough, Sams pecks then started to dance while he stared down Frost with a menacing re basically tranting as you got a long way to go kid if you want to look this fine. This move of his was clearly a showstopper, L could barely contain herself, she had to wipe away her drool as her husbands impressive physique was on disy for all to see. Frosts lips twitched and his entire face warped what the hell is this? He only wanted to challenge him a little because of his pride as a handsome man but this, this was active seduction. Far removed from stretching, Frost even with his handsome face and athletic physique had lost this battle Cough cough, Frost audibly coughed to regain the focus of their little exercise just as Sam and L started staring at one another with heated gazes. The loud coughing brought the two madly in love husband and wife out of their pink atmosphere. The two of them giggled cutely, not even slightest bit ashamed. They loved each other and found one another incredibly attractive, and they were always happy to show off. Thanks to his wifes choice Sam felt pumped up and ready to go, even though this would be a spar theres no way he was going to lose while his girl watched. He quickly donned his outer garments once again. With his body nice and limber he drew his massive great sword from its sheath, holding it forward with both hands. His previous lovey dovey atmosphere vanished the moment he did so, he was the sword, and the sword was him. His aura was sharp and heavy, much like his weapon. Sam and L were simr to Frost in regards to their auras, they could emit them but couldnt physically pressure someone or something, but it was there and could be felt. In some ways it was even more established than Frosts, Sam knew his path whereas Frost had only just glimpsed it. Frost allowed the mans aura to wash over him, a frown appeared on his face the moment he did. It was strong and pervasive, more solid than his own. With his aura Sam appeared farrger than he actually was. L at this time had wiped the lovestruck look off her face and stared at the battlefield with dire focus, the ability to quickly alter ones mindset was shared between the two of them. She would be the judge and would analyse Frosts style from the outside while Sam endured it from the inside. Frost in response readied his ive, pointed it to the side while outstretching his hand towards Sam. Normally hed have an advantage in reach given that he used a pole weapon, but his ive and Sams great sword were roughly equal in length. My speed should be greater though, a focused look grew in Frosts eyes as he too emitted his own aura, the air around him seemed to cool as he became closer to the ice element. This was his path, his future domain. Chapter 253 253 Chapter 253: Sparring against Sam (2) Sam and Frost stood opposed to one another, just 10 metres or so apart, each with their weapons drawn. Frost was emitting his aura giving him a cold presence. Sams eyes opened wide, and a smile grew on his lips, interesting he thought. His aura was going down the path of following his weapon, the great sword as it was heavy and sharp. Frosts however was going down an elemental route, simr to that of a mage yet at the same time Sam could feel a connection to the ive, it was quite impressive especially for one so young. Are you not going to don that ice armour of yours? Sam asked with a tone of warning, he would not hold back in this fight, it was the only way to truly test Frosts capabilities. Frost smiled in response, only if you use yours, he dered with a strong aura of pride in his eyes. He already knew that Sam could use metal chakra but he wasnt using it at the moment so he wouldnt either. He too wished to see how far he could go against someone of the same rank but with so much more experience. This battle wouldnt be like the one he had with Adam or Shadow, his opponent was a simr closebat user, like that Rock who he managed to barely endure a few blows from. Alright if thats what you want. Sam replied with no less pride, he was quite rxed, opposed to his opponent who was rather tense. L looked at the two of them before calling out, when this coin reaches the floor the battle willmence, are you ready? Ready Ready both Frost and Sam yelled at the same time causing a smirk to grow on Ls lips. Without a shred of hesitation, she dropped the coin. Frosts gaze eyed the falling coin like a hawk, waiting for the exact moment itnded. When it did hed charge out like a rocket, he was the younger fighter and should be aggressive plus if Sam gained momentum his great sword could truly be devasting. ..... A half secondter the coin touched the ground and Frost rung his head around and dashed forward, dragging his ive along with him, he moved like a bullet, far faster than one would think he was capable of. Sam however had a rxed expression; his body was loose and instead of charging ahead like an overeager child he calmly waited for Frost toe to him. Frosts fast dash was impressive but nothing Sam hadnt seen before; he kept his stance. His great sword outstretched before him was a standard stance allowing for movement into attack or defence. He watched as Frost reached his position in less than a second. Frosts ive was swung sideways, he utilised his charging speed to enhance the swing. The ive cleaved through the air cutting at near supersonic speed, generating a howl, this would be a deadly blow if it met its target. Sam however was unfazed, he held a small smirk on his face before like a phantom took single step back, he was so swift and smooth in his movement that it looked as though he left an afterimage. Frosts ive missed him by a hairs breadth and left him unguarded. Frosts eyes opened wide in bewilderment, not expecting a man of Sams frame to move so seamlessly, he was caught unprepared. The next moment a heavy sinking feeling filled Frosts body, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up in warning. His gaze quickly drifted upwards. Sams thick great sword was raised and poised to cleave down, right on top of his head. A cold sweat trickled down his neck as Frost felt the stench of death. Sam wasnt lying when he said he wasnt going to hold back, Frost could feel killing intent. Frost however was not out of the game just yet, his physical abilities were only greater than Sams not lesser, he still had time. In the fraction of a second that Sams great sword started its downward trajectory Frost utilised his still side swinging ive to rotate his body out of harms way. The great sword came down with immense speed and force, Frost narrowly avoiding being decapitated but the resulting wind pressure left a cut on his cheek, it was too close forfort. The exchange didnt end there, Frost was still rotating, his back was currently facing Sam. With deft skill he flipped his ive, gripping with both hands he pierced behind him. ng! Frosts ive edge met with Sams great sword somehow and he was send tumbling forward by the residual force. Sams downward cleave wasnt so simple, the moment his sword smashed against the floor he used the impact to rapidly swing back up, knocking against Frosts ive with impable timing. This move was in fact quite popr with pole weapon users, the fact that he used against Frost was a mixture of a teaching moment and slight insult. Frost rolled across the ground, leaning into the residual force instead of against, he needed distance and time to reorient himself, wary of being on the defensive. It was the correct move, Sam didnt let up, resting his great sword upon his shoulder he dashed after the rolling Frost. He wasnt a quick as Frost was, but his movements were direct, and none were wasted. From this short exchange Frost could tell that Sams great sword mastery was also at the adept level (level 3) around the same as his but the mans experience made it feel far superior. Sam could easily predict Frosts movements both in attack and defence thanks to his vast amount of battle experience. He only needed half the effort that Frost did to perform the same movements. L watched on with rapt attention, her eyes narrowed as she analysed the battle from every angle. She knew her husbands strength and could easily tell that he wasnt holding back in the slightest, in fact he didnt have the chance to hold back. Though Frost appeared to be worse off in the exchange he was unharmed even with Sams superior movements. It showed the difference in speed and reaction time. If one of them makes a single mistake it could spell the immediate end and given Sams experience he was less likely to make a mistake first. The odds were not in Frosts favour, but he still had a chance. As long as the battle dragged on Frost would adapt and learn, his talent was greater than Sams as was his physical state, the question would be if he couldst long enough for it too matter. This point was not lost on Sam; thus, he went all out from the get-go, hed use everyst trick he had to pummel his foe and learn what his limits were. You may think that such a deadly spar was pointless given their location andck of a healer but the rewards of such a no holds barredpetition were too good to pass up. Bang! Sam brought down his great sword against the ice floor, sending plumes of ice dust everywhere, he just missed Frost as he got his bearings. Frost had to jump backwards to avoid the sh the instant he scrambled to his feet. The hairs on the back of his head were still upright and the cold sweat started to umte down his spine yet on his face was a mad smile. His eyes were glittering with excitement as he watched Sam move, his heart started pounding in his chest, the music of battle began to sound in his ears. Taking advantage of Sams momentaryg, Frost mmed his feet against the ground and fired himself towards his foe, his ive outstretched in a powerful thrust. Shinnnnggg! Sam raised his great sword up with a smooth motion, diverting Frosts thrust without difficulty. The two weapons grinded against one another in passing, releasing not only a high pitched sound but actual sparks. Sam stomped down with his left foot before shoulder barging his own great sword. The perpendicr force send Frosts ive flying off to the side. If it was a regr weapon it may have been shattered from such a blow. The strong impact was unexpected, twisting Frost and his weapon knocking him off bnce. Shit! Frost cursed internally as he felt himself rebuffed; his guard wide open for Sams next swing. With the force from the shoulder barge Sams great sword was now above his head, ready to sh diagonally and there was little Frost could do to stop him. His body was airborne, feet too far from the ground to dodge, he was a sitting duck. Sam wasnt taking any chances, his face remained focussed and cold. Tensing his massive arms he swung down, the air howling as his sword cleaved its way to Frost. [Executioners sh]! with a roar Sam activated his skill, red light covered his great sword, amplifying its power. This skill was equivalent to Frosts [crescent sh] a slight upgrade to the regr sh skill. Death was staring Frost dead in the face, the great sword appeared to be moving in slow motion, yet it felt that no matter how slow it moved he couldnt evade. Yet even now his face showed a wild expression, he was loving this, being on the knifes edge literally, was there a better time for one to bring out their potential. Frosts brain was in full gear as he analysed his options, each one ending up with him dead. The great sword grew imperceptibly closer with every failed attempt until finally he had a breakthrough. Without much thought as though it was purely instinctual, Frosts eyes never left the path of great sword, yet his ive was knocked up from the butt, almost instantly bringing the ive de against the ground. He now had an anchor to manoeuvre with. Chapter 254 254 Chapter 254: Sparring against Sam (3) Sams [executioners sh] was drawing ever closer to rending Frost apart, the massive great sword was deadly enough, now with the red energy surrounding it, itd likely cleave through him without resistance. Frosts brain was firing on all cylinders and finally came up with a solution, using his ive as an anchor point. He couldnt move the way he wished in mid-air and his feet couldnt reach the ground, but his ive could. Knocking the butt upwards the ive de met the icy floor. The moment it did Frost ced his entire weight on his weapon and used it as a vault. He wasnt worried about snapping the shaft given that it was made of sturdy 3 star materials. With nimble movement Frost moved his body backwards out of the great swords path before raising himself up high. ng! Sams great sword struck the shaft of Frosts ive with great ferocity but failed to leave a dent let alone shatter the thing. He did however knock it backwards, but Frost was already prepared, his body was already resting above the ives butt, building up potential energy. Sam watched this all unfold with an unchanging expression, his gaze never leaving Frosts body as he already moved to recall his weapon. Though his expression was neutral, internally he was amazed. He knew that he for one wouldnt be able to move like Frost just did. Haaaaaaa the advantages of youth, perhaps when he was in his twenties he could have been that limber but now...not a chance. And he didnt need to, Frosts movements though shy were very inefficient, how much energy did it take for Frost to perform that manoeuvre inparison to his methodical and simple attacks. He had to admit though, Frost was a lot more tenacious than he gave him credit for and that mad smile on his face that continued to grow. Sam couldnt help but slightly mimic his foes expression, Frost was clearly having fun so why shouldnt he, he now understood how Frost was so strong at his age, he was a natural battle junkie, born to fight. His passion and almost innocence towards the exchange filled Sam with fire, one that had been dwindling over the recent years. L watched on, she too was surprised with Frosts abilities and was slightly jealous with how flexible the young man was, but she wasnt worried that her man wouldnt be stumped by a shy move such as that. As Frost started to spin with the aid of his ive being smashed, Sam had already begun to draw back his sword without wasting excess energy or strength. His weapon moved in a simple path that didnt look that impressive, but power came from simplicity. There was a reason that the highest level of mastery was called the origin. ..... Frost garnered arge amount of momentum, harnessing the force from Sams skill he spun forward, bring his ive along and mmed down. Boooooommmmmm! An incredibly booming sound reverberated throughout the area as Frosts ive smashed against Sams great sword, the blow was perfectly blocked with the ive edge meeting the thickest part of the great sword. Tsk! Frost loudly clicked his tongue, annoyed that even with his dramatic moves, his spinning force and advantage of higher ground he still couldnt get any traction. Sam however was sweating buckets, the strength contained in Frosts swing was bestial and took everything he had to endure. Now he understood how the young man could smash his way through a great frost centipedes carapace without much effort. He wasnt even using a skill and already Sam could feel his hands going numb and his legs near buckling as he remained upright. L and Frost had no idea of Sams struggle, and he would like to keep it that way. He especially didnt want to lose to Frost in a match of physical strength with his wife watching. Clenching his jaw and tensing his grip on his great sword, Sam knocked Frost away. The move wasnt harmful, Frost merely leaned into it, preforming a backflip beforending safely on his feet. They were back to being around 10 metres between them, back at square one. The two powerful fighters eyed one another in silence for a few seconds before Sam finally spoke up. Hed learned a lot from this exchange, and they could technically stop there but from Frosts expression and feelings portrayed through his ive he knew that wasnt what he wanted, nor was it his desire. This exchange was enjoyable for both of them. Not bad kid not bad at all, your weapon mastery is just a shy below mine, but you clearlyck the experience necessary to utilise it efficiently. Your speed, flexibility and innate strength allow you to keep up but that wont help much against a monster faster or stronger than you. Sam spoke in a calm tone, both praising and admonishing Frost on his performance. Frost took a deep breath and rxed his body as he listened. Youve got sharp instincts meaning youll improve fast..... A sharp smile grew on Sams brave face. Lets see how fast exactly, with his taunt Sam summoned his metal element chakra, creating armour over his vital areas only. He was efficient and had limited mana, there was no need for aplete armour when he could control where hed be hit. This meant he could apply denser chakra given that it didnt have to cover his entire body. Come use your chakra armour, des know no allies, this way we can go even harder without fear of fatal injuries. Sam exuded his sharp aura full of threat, hinting that the real fight was about to begin. Frost felt his entire body tremble in excitement, his mad smile returned as did someughter before he too summoned his glorious ice armour. A momentter his suit of ice covered his body making him appear like a legendary ice king, like his face it was a beautiful sight....but beauty doesnt win battles. Sam frowned as he witnessed Frost don his ice charka armour. This kid really is an amateur he thought. Frost didnt require his entire body to be covered and doing so weakened the overall strength and was far more difficult to maintain. But Sam had to admit he was slightly jealous of Frosts reserves. Too showy! He insulted Frosts armour before rapidly dashing forward, his great sword in hand. Hed teach Frost the same way his master taught him how to use chakra armour. Frost reacted fast, swinging out his ive to meet Sams great sword but at the moment of contact Sam sidestepped along with his sword. Smash! He mmed the t of his sword against an area of Frosts waist, smashing apart the ice chakra armour without mercy. You need shore up the armour over your vitals! Sam ordered before continuing to attack another area near his shoulders. Frost had created what was effectively full te armour with his ice chakra,pletely opposing to his battle style which required light armour. Having thick overbearingyers of ice over his body would actually inhibit some of his moves. For example, his shoulder armour was way too thick inparison to his chest area. Sam continued like Maya did to smash apart his chakra armour over and over while yelling out orders and slowly as they fought Frosts amour became more and more refined, stronger yet thinner and not nearly as shy. He began to understand Sams movements and the areas hed likely be attacked. Their sparsted 30 minutes and by the end both men werepletely drained of energy, panting heavily, and sweating profusely. They didnt let up for even a second, using everything they had to kill one another, there was no shortage of wounds on the two men and blood littered the ground in puddles, but each had wide smiles on their faces. Frost copsed first, his bodypletely out of gas, he had to reform and refine his chakra armour god knows how many times and even he with his massive mana reserves waspletely spent. His every muscle was convulsing, his legs couldnt hold up his weight anymore and he fell backwards mming against the floor. Hahahhahah looks like I win urgh! Sam managed to dere his victory before he too sumbed to his exhaustion, copsing to the ground with a crash. L was sat at the side, she let out a deep sigh and shook her head, not understanding the romance of a battle between men. Of course, for her it was quite enjoyable, seeing the sh between two well trained male bodies mming against one another got her quite hot and bothered but she wondered why Frost and her husband had such satisfied looks on their faces. The two of them werepletely covered in wounds, didnt it hurt? Sam wins, that means he gets the lovely prize. She rose to her feet and walked over to her husband, her wide hips sashaying side to side as she did so. She peered over her husband and gave him a romantic kiss on the lips. A kiss from the beautiful princess. Sam enjoyed his reward with relish, his lips were clearly full of energy as L struggled to pull herself away. Frost was too enthralled with the battle he went through to be bothered by the public disys of affection between the couple. His body was exhausted but his mind was active. His ive mastery had improved greatly, though he didnt increase in realm he felt that his foundation had solidified. Like Sam said he had a lot of excess and useless movements meaning he couldnt bring out the full strength of his adept mastery. Though he was still not a Sams level he could clearly feel a change and it filled him with joy. Chapter 255 255 Chapter 255: The dreaded health potion Frost and Samy on their backs, their bodiespletely exhausted from the battle. Sam was enjoying his reward, sucking on his wifes lips, and refusing to let her leave. He worked damn hard for this victory and was going to savour every millisecond of his reward. Frost meanwhile was going over what he learned from the spar, his ive mastery now had a more solid foundation, allowing him to be more efficient in his movements like Sam but of course not quite at his level. He still needed a lot more experience to be his match in efficiency. His chakra on the other hand improved by leaps and bounds. By the end of Sams hands on lecture, he hadpletely retrofitted his armour. Now it wasnt nearly as ostentatious when formed but still quite majestic none the less. There were no more spikes or unnecessary adornments, and it was strong and thick where it needed to be and thin and flexible near his joints. Frost never really felt that it impeded his movements but after crossing des with Sam he was thoroughly proved wrong. Dozens of times when he went to parry or attack hed find his ive a fraction of a second slower because of unnecessary thickness or poor fitting. He learned a lot in regards to chakra from Sam not just in terms of forming an armour but how to attack. Several times when Frosts ive managed to find its mark, the moment before the de dug into Sams flesh his metal chakra would distort, forming spikes that blocked the ives path. It dyed the ive long enough for Sam to move out the way or deflect it with his great sword. His control over his chakra was incredibly skilled despite his rather low mana levels. He knew best how to utilise every scrap of his chakra, not wasting a single morsel. He knew what he was innately born with andcked the backing and financial capability to seek those priceless herbs that could change ones innate mana levels. Personal training could only raise it so far, this was another reason why he didnt hold much hope in regards to B-rank. Fighting Sam allowed him to realise the finer points where battle with Maya overlooked. It was hard to find out which part was wrong/needed improvements when she annihted the entire thing with a single strike. His thoughts and revelry were unfortunately interrupted by blood flowing up his throat. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he forgot his injuries. If he didnt act soon he may even bleed out. Fuck do I really need to drink another one of those god damn health potions. The pain he was enduring was nothingpared to that disgusting concoction. At this moment L had finally pulled herself away from her husbands lips, much to her displeasure but like Frost, Sam was injured, and blood interrupted their little moment. She wasnt a fan of the thick metallic taste even if it was part of her husband. She reached down to a small pack by her waist and removed a vial filled with red liquid. Popping the cork with her teeth she forced her husband to glug down the potion without so much as a warning bringing a ghastly look to his face. For someone with a delicate tongue -a requirement for any good chef- the rather unique vour of low level health potions was quite overpowering. He hated the taste just as much as Frost, if not more so. ..... He gagged as his mouth attempted to reject the vile liquid, his mixed in blood somehow exasperating the situation but his wife was having none of it. A little payback for the current metallic taste dancing on her fair tongue. She mped her husbands mouth shut and massaged his throat, forcing him to swallow the entire potion without wasting a drop. She acted like a skilled professional, being a mother of three or rather four in this case gave her lots of experience in making people take their unwanted medicine. She smiled while performing this barbaric act making her look all the more intimidating. Therge brave looking man that was Sam was nothing in front of his wife, he had to simply grin and bear it while his tastebuds were assaulted all while appearing grateful to his lovely wife. L nodded her head once she knew the entire potion had entered her husbands bloodstream and had gotten to work. She fed him a high quality low level health potion brewed and bottled within their enve, more than enough to deal with his extensive injuries. Thanks to their chakra armour and Sams high skill none of the wounds were fatal well as long as they were treated. Cuts and gashes werent that much of a danger when not over ones vitals but if such injuries counted in the dozens then that became another story. A health potion was a requirement to survive, that or a healing spell but none of them knew such magic nor did they have any magic imbued scrolls. Magic could be written onto scrolls allowing one who isnt even a mage to use magic but the price for such things were incredible and the resulting spell would be weaker than if used by a mage. They could only be created with high rank materials as well as the skills of a high ranking mage with a rtively low sess rate. They were the kind of things only the really rich would use, not something Sam and L had ess to. After nodding her head and patting her husbands shoulder in praise she sauntered over to the unfortunate loser of this spar to perform the same treatment.....the potion not the kiss. Though she admitted that Frost was very attractive she was a one man woman, she could look but anything beyond that was a no go, she took her vows very seriously. Frost are you doing alright? She asked him in an almost teasing tone. Crouching down over Frost she inspected his current state and noticed his shaking eyes filled with no small modicum of fear. Her brash actions against her husband were seen by him and it filled him with dread. Unfortunately, he was too injured and exhausted to make a break for it, his mouth was also filled with blood making talking difficult. The most he could do was turn his head to the side, avoiding her gaze. Hmmmm a talented and handsome young man such as yourself surely understands your bodys current predicament. Why then I wonder have you not taken a health potion? L held her finger on her lips as her eyes turned upwards. Could it be that little Frost doesnt have any on hand, thats fine then teacher can let you have one. Her teasing tone only grew more insidious as she removed a second health potion from her little pack. Frosts body shivered and retreated as she brought the vial close making him look very pitiful. L couldnt help but lick her lips, enjoying his squirming. Hoh it cant possibly be that little Frost is afraid of health potions, no that cant be it can it? She brought the health potion right next to Frosts eyes, fully enjoying his reaction. Shed gone through the same faze with her three children and every time with her darling husband yet with Frost for some reason it was a fresh experience and far more enjoyable. A demon shes a demon, all of them are, women are sadistic demons! Frost screamed internally as he condemned the entire gender but that was all he could do or rather dared to do. L felt a jolt of electricity through her body as Frosts expression was too pitiful, anymore and she would fall off the deep end. With a swift shake of her head, she regained focus, changing her persona to that of an experienced mother. Frost this has to happen since none of us know healing magic so be a big boy and open up please, otherwise Ill have to be forceful. Though L appeared to be smiling in a gentle manner, behind that fa?ade was an unrelenting demon whod get her way. Tears threatened to pour from Frosts eyes, but he knew what he needed to do. Lacking the ability to drink the potion himself he reluctantly opened up his mouth so she could pour the liquid in. Ls smile widened Thats a good boy, after a short word of praise like she did for her children she removed the vials cork and proceeded to pour the liquid down Frosts throat, careful to not spill a drop. She did it rather slowly, much less forceful than with her husband, Frost was grateful for her caring methods, but it didnt make dealing with the horrendous taste any easier in fact going slow may have been worse. Once the entire vial was gone L removed it from Frosts mouth and the moment she did he started coughing and retching, unable to endure any longer. Thankfully once the potion reached the users stomach there was little they could do to remove it; the liquid would immediately set off to enter the bloodstream. Frosts coughs were violent but only air was released. Chapter 256 256 Chapter 256: Crash course education L sighed and shook her head side to side Im surrounded by babies. Although she also wasnt a fan of the unique taste of health and mana potions she was nowhere near as dramatic as the two coughing their guts out before her. With the potions having been administered L stood up before sauntering off back to her seat to wait. A few minutester Sam and Frost were pretty much recovered, their blood had been replenished and all that really remained of their wounds was a few scabs and bruises. The two men looked at one another and saw a strange camaraderie between each other that wasnt present earlier. They shared a conversation with their eyes. Youre wife is an absolute sadistic demon; I feel for you bro. Frosts gaze tranted as such. Yeah she can be quite domineering at times.....but thats not necessarily a bad thing. Sam responded back with a slight blush on his cheeks as he remembered the good aspect of having such a strong willed woman. Their little eye chat ended there. So how was it you two? L tilted her head to the side and spoke with an unclear tone, not specifying what she was talking about. This little phrase sent a shiver down the two mens spines, they both turned around to the look at the rabbit woman with usation in their eyes, but it was fleeting, the two men held no small amount of fear towards her after what she did to them. Sam broke the silence with a cough cough cough it was pretty good I think, Frost has vast reserves of mana and a very good head on his shoulders. His ive mastery is at adept level, but his experience iscking, same with his chakra control. His armour should now provide better protection and be far more easy to manage. Sam nodded his head as he spoke, his heart full of praise for his new student. Fighting him one on one Ive got a good sense of his capabilities and fighting style; we should have no issue working together as a group. Sam showed a great smile as he spoke thest part. Frost with his ive arts and ice chakra usage would make a great addition to their twosome. Where Sam was a real in your face tank type that managed the frontline, Frost suited a role that would have him attack from the opposite side of the tank, a mix between close and mid-range while L was of course the rear guard, casting her magic from a distance. Sam was physical power, Frost was speed and L was magic, theyd make quite an aplished party after several excursions, Sam was sure of it. L nodded her head in agreement. She was of the same opinion as her husband after watching their exchange. Finding that Frost was very quick on his feet and able to attack from many angles. With his asional use of magic, hed be able to y a very diverse role. The husband and wife team now knew the rough capabilities of their new student and could prepare an appropriate lesson n before they confront the ice revenant. ..... What about you Frost, did you learn anything from your match with my husband? L asked with a no longer teasing tone. Yes I did, theres lots I need to learn in regards to battle which I cant get by purely on instinct and as Sam said my main drawback is experience. Frost agreed with their criticism as it was entirely true, he was less than two months old so how much battle experience could he truly have, thats why he was here in the first ce. The thing he picked up most was the amount of wasted energy he was expelling from his aggressive and shy ive movements as well as maintaining his chakra armour. The thing before was a real hassle for prolongedbat and though it would absorb a lot of impact from strong blows saving him from injury, it would shatter and need to be reformed after each blow. Its good that you can so easily acknowledge that, with such a mindset youll go far in this world Frost. Samughed in celebration while patting Frosts back, he and his wife had gotten a great student. Thank you teacher, Frost responded with respect, fully acknowledging their new rtionship. Gyahh! No need for that, just stick to calling us Sam and L, its more friendly that way. Sam dered and L agreed with a nod of her head, being called teacher had a nice ring to it but they were not in a ssroom. Ok, Sam, L shall we get going? Frost was amped, ready to begin his adventuring lessons. His eyes sparked as he spoke bringing joy to the two veterans. Of course, weve had our fill, learned about your abilities, and worked off some excess energy, its more than time for us to head off. Sam agreed readily but looked towards his wife, she was the de-facto leader of the group. Sounds good, theres several areas that we should pass through on our way to the sixth floor, enemies that would make could practise as well as educational points. This [beginners ice magic] monsterir doesnt have much in the way ofplex paths or traps, but it does have areas where herbs grow as well as other useful things. L cupped her chin as she nned out an itinerary. If they just rushed their way through without fighting monsters they could probably reach the ice revenant within 24 hours but that wasnt the sole aim of their excursion anymore. On the bottom most floors of [beginners ice magic] theres quite a vast array of magic wielding monsters that would make for great practise. Sam and L had entered this monsterir more than a few times and knew their way around the ce, getting lost was not a possibility. Well spend at minimum of 24 hours on this floor, and 36 hours on the final floor and will face off against the ice revenant after 3 days or so. That should give us enough time to garner some experience for Frost. With their ns set the group of three thus made their way towards the 6th floor. They werent in too much of a rush, as the ice revenant likely wasnt going anywhere. Sam and L drilled into Frost an insane amount of information over the next 3 days, so much that Frost felt his head would explode. There was so much he didnt know in regards to.....well everything. His books covered but a fraction but until one was actually doing the physical activity it was all in theory. They trained him up from a greenhorn to an almost eptable adventurer by their standards. Frost now had a crash course education in pretty much everything. From Sam he learned about cooking, the different ways to prepare meals, spices, vours, and most of all the unending amount of ingredients. Sam handed him a book that contained a few of his favourite recipes and whenever they made camp Sam would have Frost prepare the meals with his supervision. While after hed be forced to read Ls books on magic as well as listen to their lectures. They only allowed him 4 hours of sleep before the group would be off again to explore, examine, learn, and of course fight. In addition to the plethora of lessons in regards to all aspects adventurer and or life, Frost was forced to not only fight alongside Sam and L to develop teamwork they even made him fight solo while they watched. Limiting what he could use and or giving him specific targets. Being an adventurer wasnt just about killing your monster opponent, it needed to be done in the most efficient way possible to not only preserve ones strength but to preserve the materials as much as possible. For example, Frosts method of dealing with the great frost centipede was a no go, he wrecked arge part of the carapace, greatly reducing the overall profit he would have achieved. Many monsters had traits and habits that only those that hunted them frequently knew about, and adventurers tended to keep their methods close to their chests so as to profit as much as possible. Books would only provide rudimentary knowledge, which Sam and L made abundantly clear. The 5th floors boss was the one it usually was, a lesser yuki-onna. An upper D-rank spirit monster that utilises magic to attack and defend itself. When the group were faced with the boss, Frost assumed that they would fight as a group but both Sam and L shared a knowing look before speaking at the same time. You handle this one Frost. They both patted him on the back with smiles. Frost could only nod his head with reluctance before starting the battle. He was effectively their gofer when it came to monster battles, leaving the majority up to him and always saying it was because he needed experience. Usually, Sam and L would observe from the side, asionally giving him a few pointers but after a while they simply ignored him and entered their own little world. More than a few times he came back covered in his victims blood and his hair in disarray to find his teachers, brazenly disying their affection for one another without a care in the world. This infuriated him to no end but there was nothing he could do; his teachers had no shame and he never won in terms ofnguage. The worst was when L stated that he was simply jealous which hit the nail right on the head. He too constantly had a beautiful woman by his side but couldnt act on it for fear of death, he had to simply take his frustrations out on the poor line of monsters that chose to impede their path. Which in the end made for a substantial amount of DP. Chapter 257 257 Chapter 257: Lesser yuki-onna The lesser yuki-onna that they dumped on Frost to handle was a spirit monster focused on magic. Its appearance was that of an ugly young humanlike girl with a malevolent expression. Snow white skin and adorned in tattered robes. Regr yuki-onnas were quite beautiful and rather mild in nature but lesser ones were more bestial and far weaker. The lesser yuki-onna was around upper D-rank in strength whereas a regr yuki-onna would be C-rank at minimum and possess intelligence, far too strong to be birthed by a low level monsterir such as [beginners ice magic]. In the native kingdom of sson where the frost lilies said they hailed from; arge part of the citizens were spirits such as yuki-onnas. They were considered at the level of being able to mingle with sapient races, a far cry from the abilities of their lesser kin. L wanted Frost topete against the lesser yuki-onna with his magic, to learn from it and if possible take a few hits from its spells. Given that it was only D-rank it was limited to 1st and 2nd circle spells, but its variety waspletely different from what hed faced so far. This would give Frost some much needed experience in dealing with true spell casters such as herself. The lesser yuki-onna used a fair amount of spells from the spells books L had given him to study, enduring them would help hasten his learning. Her smile was incredibly gentle and kind when she gave out her orders, so much that it was terrifying. Just imagine a pretty rabbit woman in her thirties kindly saying, alright now let her beat on you with her magic a little, itll help your training. She was an absolute demon; Frost could swear he saw the shadow of Maya floating behind her. The fightsted for over 45 minutes before Frost was finally allowed to finish it, yes allowed. It wasnt as though he couldnt end the battle quickly given that ice magic had very little effect on him but L refused to let the fight end until he got to experience the full arsenal of the lesser yuki-onna. Though he was pretty much undamaged much to Sam and Ls shock his beautiful robes were torn to shreds revealing his smooth white skin. L didnt even pretend to hide her bemused expression making it hard for Frost to tell whether the fight was dragged on for him to learn or so that this woman could enjoy a strip tease. The longer he stayed with L the more familiar and demonising she became, even to the point that Sam started feeling sorry for him. But in the end the battle though with possible dubious intentions for thest 20 minutes was very educational. Frosts ability to deal with magic attacks improved as did his own knowledge of his current spells and the new ones that he was studying. His mana sense grew more sensitive allowing him to better predict when a mage was about to cast magic, an important skill for mage on magebat. In the higher levels, mages conceal their mana usage, making it that much harder know when a spell is going to be cast. There was one spell the yuki-onna used that especially caught Frosts eye, one which unfortunately L didnt know and had no books on. It was a rare 2nd circle spell called [chilling grasp], a magic crest would appear on the targets body and slow them by chilling their body. It was a type of debuff spell that unfortunately had zero effect on Frost given his immunity to the ice trait. In fact, it caused his body to feel lighter and soothed which greatly irritated the lesser yuki-onna who screeched beforeunching more and more aggressive attacks. Once Frost had activated the self-healing mechanism of his robes L managed to regain focus as did Sam who wasnt looking any less, clearly a little jealous of Frosts smooth skin. asionally hed look at his rough hands covered in callouses and sigh. Thinking that if his hands were smooth he could offer his wife better massages, a truly devoted husband. ..... Why didnt the ice magic work on you? Of course L had to ask this question, only Frosts clothes and armour were affected whereas his body was unmarred, more so that the [chilling grasp] spell held no effect. The ice revenant that they were about to face off against used a simr spell but of a higher rank plus its body gave off a naturally chilling aura, slowing attackers. Sam and L moved quickly when they heard the news about the ice revenant meaning their supplies werent as expansive as theyd like. Ice resistance potions in particr would be required for aid when facing the ice revenant but they only brought two, both medium level. Frost didnt hide his natural ice resistance, stating that it was something he was born with, which was true. His answer brought an intense look of jealousy from L, this was practically a god sent ability to have for one living on the Northern continent. She gave him a thorough look over, checking to see that Frost wasnt a spirit monster in disguise. This ability practically made ice magic and cold based effects useless on him, the perfect opponent for something like an ice revenant. It was almost as if the heavens were smiling down on them, the more time they spent with Frost the more they learned and the higher their chances grew at beating the Ice revenant. After the lesser yuki-onna died and Frost relished in the DP he earned from the kill, as per normal the barrier blocking the staircase to the next floor dissolved but something else happened. A chest appeared next to the staircase; this was the first treasure chest Frost had gotten since entering the monsterir. His luck wasnt that high as neither the 3rd floor boss nor the 4th floor boss dropped one and he didnte across one naturally. With the sudden appearance of a chest, Sam broke into education mode. Within special areas such as monsterirs asionally treasures can be created just like monsters. Normally they appear in the form of chests but not always, they can be bare, its just a matter of luck. But be careful, at times a treasure chest is not always a treasure chest. Sam spoke with serious tone towards the end and a grim look adorned his face as though he was remembering something unpleasant. Frosts ears perked up and he asked Sam to borate, his outstretched hands stalled in ce, hovering over the chest. Treasure chests can actually be traps, for example whats contained may not be treasure but poison or even a small monster hell even the chest itself could be a monster, something called a mimic. Nasty things that like to trick their prey, tough and with a voracious appetite. Sams grim expression got worse while L giggled at the side. They both remembered the same thing but had opposing views. For L it was quite hrious to see her husband get inked in the face, whereas for him it was a great shaming, the stuff didnte off his face for days even with clean up magic. Frosts hovering hand trembled slightly, he gulped audibly while looking over the recently summoned treasure chest with wariness, afraid to open the thing. He looked back at Sam hoping for some kind of technique to tell whether it was a real treasure chest or not but was met with a ck expression. It was L who spoke up after giggling, theres no way to know for sure unless you can cast the 4th circle spell [identify] but even then if the mimic is of a high rank you still wont be able to tell, you just gotta be careful and test you luck. But dont worry there hasnt been a single case of a mimic in this monsterir since its creation and given the location and the timing its unlikely for it to be a trap. L nodded her head and urged Frost to open his prize. Feeling better thanks to Ls assurances he moved to open up the chest, the moment he started lifting the lid however L couldnt resist onest jap unlikely but not impossible the short statement sent a shiver down Frosts spine, he violently rotated his neck to re at her, but she simply whistled innocently while looking the other way. He really was the butt of the jokes when it came to confident women in his life. Bravely ignoring L, Frost opened up the chest to reveal its contents, crossing his fingers as he did so. Itd really effect his ego if his very first treasure chest was a trap. As the lid opened a bright light exuded from it, temporarily obscuring the contents before dying down. What was revealed was not a trap of any kind, Frost not unlucky in his draw. There were two items, a health potion of high quality, low level, not something he needed or really wanted but a decent drop. Hed just hand it to L as payment for the one she gave him. The second item was a thumb sized blue gemstone that was cold to the touch. Frost knew what this thing was and given the size and quality, he earned himself quite the treasure. A cocky smile couldnt help but grow on his lips asughter threatened to escape his lungs. Chapter 258 258 Chapter 258: Frigid tourmaline The second item within the treasure chest was a frigid tourmaline, a gemstone with high levels of ice aspected mana and worth a pretty penny. A very valuable drop likely caused by the high levels of mana brought on from the looming monster stampede. Elemental gemstones such as the frigid tourmaline before Frost are considered magical oddities simr to Frosts high rank earth grade cold me but of the mortal rank. Theyre filled with ice aspected mana and in the hands of a skilled craftsmen can be fused to equipment to enhance ones resistance to the gems element. Frost had pilfered a lot of gems from Adams vault, but he never came across any with elemental aspects otherwise he would have made a hell of a lot more money. The truly rich nobles would have their jewellery made out of elemental gems, far more pricey and offered enhancements to the wearer. It wasmon to turn such gems into nes, rings or bracelets allowing one to benefit from the effects of an ice resistance potion as long as they wore it on their person. The one before Frost was of decent quality and could easily be turned into a beautiful piece of jewellery if he took it to a skilled jeweller. With a wide grin Frost took the two items and turned to face his teachers, dying to show off his luck. Well from the annoying smirk on your face I can see that it wasnt a dud. L slightly pouted, wanting to see something fun happen, while Sam let out a breath of relief before curiosity overcame the husband and wife. Frost stood before them all silent, building the suspense. Well then dont keep us in suspense show us the goods. L demanded with a smile, she and her husband had no intention of robbing Frost, they just wanted to see. Frost removed his hand from behind his back and first revealed the health potion. I got two items, the first is this high quality low level health potion, it should be of simr quality to the one you gave me so here. He passed the potion over to L erasing that debt. L wanted to refuse since the spar was their idea and the fact that a teacher should take care of their students health, but Frosts gaze showed that he wouldnt ept no for an answer. Sam patted her shoulder and gave her a look. Thank you Frost, he simply thanked Frost and took the potion in his wifes stead. He understood Frosts intentions, he too was a grown man who didnt enjoy being in ones debt. ..... Next Frost pulled out the frigid tourmaline, the cold aura suffused before them and anyone else would probably find it hard to hold the thing with their bare fingers, but Frost had no problems. I got a frigid tourmaline as the second reward, with this size and quality itd make quite a fine piece hahaha. Frosts smile continued to grow as a chuckle escaped his lips, he could have someone make it into a nice ne in Furano, a perfect present for either Maya or Nanna back home. ....L looked at the frigid tourmaline with envy, her eyes filled with desire as well as nostalgia. Within the cial mountains instead of diamonds being a girls best friend it was these cold aspected gems. Her darling husband Sam worked really hard to provide her with a frigid tourmaline ne when he proposed, it was one of the happiest memories of her life. Unfortunately, she lost it years ago while they were out exploring, she cried for days and looked desperately for it, but it was gone, never to be seen again. Sam had tried to rece his wifes ne a few times, but shed always reject it, with their C-rank ability it wasnt out of their price range to afford another, but Ls guilt never went away. He eventually stopped but seeing the desire in his wifes eyes once again his determination was rekindled. He wouldnt ask for Frosts gem but once they got back and he put his ns for his restaurant into action hed search for a new frigid tourmaline ne. Our anniversary ising up, perhaps then would be a good time, we could even redo our vows. A beautiful n started toe together in Sams mind. After thisst quest he was going to be very busy. L, are you ok? Frost didnt receive the shock and awe he was expecting and now his new teacher was growing red in the eyes. Sam ced his hand around his wifes lithe waist and pulled her to his side, allowing her head to rest of his broad chest,forting her. Shes fine, just a bit of nostalgia, a frigid tourmaline is a very rare find in this monsterir, thats some luck youve got Frost. Hehehe Frost rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, though he wanted jealous looks and a bit of praise actually hearing them out loud was rather awkward. Gotten what he wanted Frost stored the gemstone in his spatial ring for safe keeping before manoeuvring over to the lesser yuki-onnas corpse while Sam attended to his emotional wife. After Frost retrieved the lesser yuki-onnas core, its long ice cold nails that were used in potions as well as the remnants of its robes and Sam had soothed his wife, the group made their way to the 6th floor. Like nned the group stayed on the sixth floor for roughly 36 hours, practising against the final floors enemies and drilling as much information into Frosts head as humanly possible. On the lowest floor the monsters were in abundance and the majority were high level D-ranks, even more dangerous than the great frost centipede Frost struggled against. In thest 2 sections they came across frost revenants, the lesser versions of what they were about to face. Arge amount of their time was spent practising their skills against such foes. After fighting them Frost was more and more inclined to add them to his dungeon roster, they would make fine additions to his team. And surely after killing a bunch and learning about them so intimately they should have been unlocked. Other than the frost revenants, Frost added another couple monsters to his wanted list, namely an ice bomb, a type of elemental that would suck in mana and let out a freezing explosion, which he found really cool and exciting. In addition, there was a really cute monster that was a must have, since unlike the artic foxes he could summon, this thing packed a wallop and it was only a cub; ice coeurl cub, D-rank. The thing was fast, and adept with magic like the majority of the monsters dwelling in [beginners ice magic]. Sam mentioned that coeurls are quite rare and are quite highly desired. Not only for their beautiful pelts and other materials the creatures are highly prized pets or mounts, if raised properly they can be rather docile, just like pet cats. Sam said that hed onlye across an asional cub in a monsterir but unfortunately those born in monsterirs cant be tamed, and those found in the wild will always be guarded vehemently by their parents. Minimum upper C-rank monsters, not something Sam and L could contend against. Frost however may not have that problem, he killed one so there was a chance he could have them in his dungeon. Of course, that would only unlock the cubs, but it was a start and would certainly be arge draw for adventurers. The grouped rested after the 36 hours were up and aimed to face the ice revenant on the 4th day. Theyd ran into a few other groups of adventurers down on the final floor and each of them confirmed the intel about the boss monster being an ice revenant. These groups werent affected by the situation as there was nothing beyond the final floors boss room bar the monsterirs core. No other group currently on the floor were seeking to test their metal and those that already tried were dead. The group of three rested well and filled their bellies with a scrumptious feast so as to utilise their full strength in the battle toe. Even with Frosts extensive training and their practised teamwork, facing off against a C-rank monster was quite daunting. Are you ready Frost? Sam questioned his young student with slight trepidation in his voice, his fists were trembling from a mixture of excitement and fear. He and his wife had fought against C-ranks before, even against one that would be considered more powerful than an ice revenant, but they werent alone at that time but part of a six person party. Now they wished to fight against a mid C-rank monster with just the three of them. By his side his wife L wrapped her hand around his, gripping it forfort, her face was rather pale, she was nervous. Their objective was not just to defeat this monster but to retrieve its spirit core and with minimal damage, making their challenge that much harder. She bit her lips as she tried to steel her resolve. Frost stood by Sams other side unlike his teachers there wasnt a shred of fear in his eyes. More than ready Sam, Im dying to cross des with a C-rank monster. Chapter 259 259 Chapter 259: Battling an ice revenant With an eager expression and excitement in his eyes Frost stood at the entrance to the 6th floors boss room. Sam and L were next to him though their expressions showed anxiety. They knew full well the difference in strength between D and C-rank monsters plus they were old enough to not be made out of raging reckless mes like theirpanion. There was also the possibility of death that loomed at the back of their minds, they had responsibilities and couldnt run head first into danger like they used to all those years ago. But having someone like Frost by their side did help ease the tension. The husband and wife duo looked loving into one anothers eyes before nodding their heads with vigour, taking a step forward. Theyd already done their many checks and Sam and L had downed an ice resistance potion that would help thembat the ice revenants chilling aura and ice magic. They also swapped out some of their equipment to aid in the battle toe. L added a cloak to her attire that had a fire enchantment, which would not only enhance her fire magic but would provide a good defence for any attacksing from behind. Sam meanwhile changed out a few of his heavier metal armaments for monster hide that fared well against ice attacks while he ced a magic crystal in a recess of his great swords handle. When the crystal was slotted on, his sword lit up and began to give off heat. Unlike Frost these two were well prepared for taking on ice monsters. None of the D-rank monster forced them to take out their big guns but the ice revenant was a different story, they couldnt afford to hold back. Most adventurers were like this, theyd always have a trump card to use on really dangerous opponents and the reason they wouldnt use it all the time would be costs. Ls fire enhanced robe alone cost them several gold coins, if it was damaged the repair costs would be equally inted inparison to normal equipment. Frost was the only one not changing, he already wielded his best equipment. His ive didnt have an enchantment or a slot for a magic crystal but on its own it was a quasi-4th star weapon, more than enough to cross des with a C-rank monster. His armour on the other hand was a few levels lower than should be, with only his chest te being 3 star, and the rest 2 star but hopefully his chakra armour would make up for the difference. Sam had continued to educate Frost on his armour causing it to be more and more refined and overall, much stronger. He didnt focus on teaching Frost much in regard to attacking with chakra since Frost was of the ice element, it would likely have the opposite effect on the revenant. Defence wise however it should be fine. Just before Sam moved to open up the doors to the boss room- since he was the tank hed enter first so as to drew the ire of the boss- L casted some support magic. [Weapon enchantment; fire] with a shortmand aria L summoned a magic crest upon Frosts ive, encasing it in mes before being absorbed by his ive, resulting in a red hot de edge. His ive would now be extra effective against the ice revenant but even, so Frost really wasnt fond of wielding a fire based weapon, but he had little choice in the matter. Next she cast a simr support spell but on her husband [Vestments of fire] a magic crest appeared on Sams torso and suddenly a pseudo aura of mes surrounded the man in a metre radius around him. This [vestments of fire] spell was quite simr to Ryuus protect spell but with a more specific type of attacks. The spell would off set the chilling aura of the ice revenant somewhat and would weaken any ice based attacks that passed through the sphere. Frost who was standing right at Sams shoulder couldnt help but feel a wave of heat flow over him, it was a little unsettling given his ice like body, but it would be far worse for the ice revenant and should help to keep the focus of his ire on Sam. ..... Out of the three of them the one with the most dangerous job was without a doubt Sam. His job was to get right up in the revenants face and endure its onught while Frost and L deal out damage. Its a stamina draining job but one he was happy to take on, he may not be as young as Frost, but he was no slouch when it came to endurance, his wife can attest to that. The moment I open these doors Im going to rush straight at the revenant, reducing the amount of time it has to cast magic, L, Frost Ill need you to cover me until I can get in close and personal. The faster we are the better our chances will be. Sam gave his instruction with a stern tone. He was confident that the moment he had the revenant in his grasp he could control its actions, reducing the pressure on his wife. The issue was the boss room for this final floor was a little bigger than the previous ones, around 100 metres each way. With his speed he was confident in reaching the opposite side in under 100 seconds but for a C-rank monster that was more than enough time to react and start casting 3rd circle spells. Frost and L nodded their heads in understanding and replied with a thumbs up and kiss on the cheek respectively. Luck would y a good deal in this battle. Alright lets get this show on the road then! With a deration full of confidence Sam smashed his way through the door entering a full on sprint from the get-go. Frost and L were close on his heels. Within the boss room near the gateway to the core room dwelled the ice revenant. Over 4 metres tall, it stood like a statue, resting its massive frame against a huge broadsword covered in ice. Sams brutish barging into its domain drew its attention. The still statue came to life, the mana that formed its body red with activity causing its runic armour to shine. Within its helmet, piercing blue eyes opened wide to examine the intruders. Haaaaaaaaa finally someone to warm up my de, your blood shall make for fine paint. The ice revenant spoke with fluentmon tongue, its voice filled with an eery chill and its breath freezing the very air. The ice revenants attitude was full of arrogance and contempt, thinking nothing of his would be intruders other thanmbs to the ughter. Sam, Frost and L were not the first to enter his domain, but it had been a fair few days and he had grown bored. Confined to a solitary room with nothing of interest to pass the time. Intelligent monsters birthed by monsterirs, especially bosses, found that their lives were incredibly restricted, providing for a rather aggressive personality. The ice revenant could not smile given that it had no facial features bar its cold unfeeling eyes, but its actions disyed its mood. [ice obey my will, form into mighty des and smite my target wherever they might run, homing ice swords] right off the bat, the ice revenant casted a 3rd circle spell. Five intricate magic crests appeared behind the revenant before summoningrge swords made of ice, each one being at least 4 foot long. Shit hes starting out with that! Frost, L you know what to do. Sam cursed his luck but kept his momentum, charging straight towards the ice revenant with his great sword resting on his shoulders. Frost and L nodded in understanding, Sam and L had gone over everything that they knew about Ice revenants including their spell repertoire. [Homing ice swords] was a 3rd circle spell that conjured uprge des of ice equal to 2 star weapons. Far tougher than ice bolts,rger and faster too with the added bonus of homing onto their targets. You couldnt dodge this spell; the only way was to block and or destroy. While Sam dashed forward hoping to engage in closebat, Frost and L would deal with the five ice swords suddenly heading their way. [Fireball] in response L channelled her mana, creating 3 red coloured magic crests behind that summoned balls of fire. She used the 2nd circle spell [fireball] a level lower than [homing ice swords] but the elemental advantage should shore up the difference. To conserve mana for the long battle, L would handle 3 ice swords while Frost dealt with the remaining two. Frost moved in concert with L, the moment sheunched her fireballs towards the oing ice swords he dashed forward. The ice swords target was Sam, the first to enter the room. The ice swords would take the shortest path towards their target even if that meant going through someone else, the ice revenant was not one to refuse killing two people with a single spell. He allowed the swords to continue down their predicted path. Chapter 260 260 Chapter 260: Battling an ice revenant (2) With deft precision the ice des flew through the air, aiming to turn Sam into a hedgehog. The ice revenant watched on with disinterest, while preparing to cast a few more spells their way. His job was to protect the monsterirs core and he would not slouch on his duty. Hed use his full strength even if the opponent was a mere horned rabbit. With the distance between the two parties, the ice revenant had more than enough to time tounch a couple more spells before being forced into closebat. An earlier adventurer party couldnt even close the distance due to the onught of his magic. They died without even reaching a ten metre radius, he surmised Frost and his group would be much the same. The five ice swords crossed through the air with rapid pace as did the fireballs. Boom! Boom! Boom! The explosions erupted when the fireballs shed against their respective ice swords, fragmenting them into scattered shards across the room. While abination of ice dust and steam was left in the air at the point of contact. Thest two swords were unperturbed, hounding their way towards Sam. However, to get to him theyd to need pass Frost and his fire enhanced ive. Frost dashed ahead of Sam with his greater speed, blocking the ice swords path. His eyes revealing a sharp focus, Frost gripped onto his ive with both hands. Letting out a small breath he gauged his timing so as to take out the two ice swords with a single sh. [Crescent sh] At the precise moment both ice swords entered his field of control Frost activated his weapon skill, generating a beam of energy suffused with fire that left his ive as he swung out. Shwwing! The ive beam sliced through the two remaining ice swords, cleaving them in twain. The four halves quickly lost their power and harmlessly fell by Frosts side. The first attack had been dealt with and Sam quickly passed by Frost, closing the distance between him and the ice revenant. Hoh, not bad. A slight tinge of excitement shed in the ice revenants eyes, not expecting his prey to deal with his 3rd circle spell so easily. [Ice be a wave and freeze thine enemy, Frost nova] without even taking so much as a breath the ice revenant cast another 3rd circle spell, once again aimed towards Sam. Its mana veins were clearly far superior to Adams given that it didnt need a break after using 3rd circle magic. This wasnt unusual, monsters tended to have more powerful bodies, not just physically but internally as well, this included their mana channels. ..... The spell [frost nova] summoned arge magic crest before the ice revenant, it glowed with power, even greater than the [homing ice des] he cast previously. It was of a higher ranking among 3rd circle spells, one that affected the very terrain. A moment after the magic crest appeared, ice sprang forth in thick sharp spikes, paving a path towards the charging Sam. The spell was slower than [homing ice des] but far more difficult to diffuse. They wouldnt be able to stop this spell with a weapon and Ls fire balls wouldnt be enough to staunch its progress. If the ice revenant had a face hed be showing a cocky smile right now. If Frost and his teammates couldnt bring anything more powerful to the table theyd be like the previous group, unable to reach him for closebat. Frost frowned as he watched the dangerous and expanding cier of ice proceeding towards them, there was nothing he could do to help here. His magic was also of the ice element and of a lower level, hed only make the cier worse. And his ive, couldnt split something like that in twain. With annoyed click of his tongue Frost turned his head to the only woman in their group, only she could make a move. Sam however despite being faced with an ever encroaching cier, that would crush, freeze and or spear him to death continued forward without the slightest misstep, fully confident in his wifes capabilities. Though this spell of the ice revenants was not unknown to the group, and they had generated a suitable n to counter it, running into it in the beginning of the fight was a bit surprising. L who was running behind Frost and Sam frowned with annoyance and internally sighed before getting to work. She used the [fire ball] spell earlier so as to conserve mana but unfortunately that wouldnt work here. [Fire obey mymand, light up thy path with your glorious power and burn those that impede you, Fiery road]. A modicum of sweat dripped down Ls forehead as she concentrated on casting her magic. This spell [fiery road] was pretty much the fire equivalent of [frost nova] and though she was a skilled magician, her ability to channelrge reserves of mana was lower than that of the ice revenant. A soon as the aria was finished L opened up her eyes with vigour, she swung her staff and summoned an equallingrge magic crest ahead of them. The crest shone with a bright red light before mes erupted forth and dashed forward to meet with the cier. One path was covered in ice whereas the other was filled with fire. Booommmm! At the point of contact arge steam explosion erupted, obscuring the sight of both groups. Water covered the floor, the result of the ice and fire cancelling one another out. The ice revenant gawked in surprise not expecting L to be able to use 3rd circle magic. Feeling a sense of danger, the revenant gripped onto its massive broadsword preparing to engage in closebat. With the steam obscuring his view the revenant lost sight of his targets, he felt on edge. L stopped running when she cast [fiery road] so as to concentrate better, and was thus left behind by the still charging Frost and Sam. However, she was right where she needed to be, her job was long range attacks. using the steam vision block she tended to her slightly strained mana veins, taking in deep breaths, and calming her internal mana. Frost and Sam however dashed ahead; they shared a knowing look before rearranging their positions. Sam moved directly ahead of Frost while Frost readied his ive, their n was tounch Sam through the steam. With a curt nod Frost reeled back his ive while Sam jumped upwards. A fraction of a secondter, Frosts ive swung round with immense force, the t of the ives de met with Sams foot and whoosh! Sam was rocketed forward like a bullet. Theirbined strengthunched Sam through the steam, straight at the ice revenant. Their distance was small enough to make this a possibility and their timing was perfect. The ice revenants n to stop their advance backfired. The wall of steam split as Sam was powered through, his great sword resting on his shoulders as he tensed up his powerful arm muscles, ready to smite the revenant once he closed the distance. A single sh would not kill the monster or even wound it much, but it would force a change in their battle, bringing it to the next phase. Its much harder for one even a monster to cast magic while also fighting in closebat. Once they got in close the danger in terms of magic would be greatly lowered, an aspect that was sorely needed. In terms of physical battle capabilities Frost and Sam were confident that they were on the same level as the ice revenant plus there was two of them. Only in magic were they outssed, L wouldnt be able to keep up with multiple 3rd or even 2nd circle spells, as stated monsters were inherently stronger than sapients of the same rank. The ice revenant was caught by surprise by therge man barrelling through the air toward him but it only fleeting. While quickly readying his sword to cut down this aggressor he cast a final spell, this time without an aria, making it far faster. [Chilling grasp] the ice revenant used the same spell as the lesser yuki-onna, the one Frost really wished to learn. A magic crest formed on Sams body, filling his body with a magical chill, aiming to freeze his blood and muscles. If Sam was unable to move as he flew through the air hed be a much easier target but unfortunately for the ice revenant, the group had already taken precautions against such magic. As the magic crest started to shine with a blueish silver light, the [veil of mes] that L cast earlier activated, burning the magic crest of the revenants chilling grasp spell. Sam waspletely unaffected by the revenants magic and now he was within striking distance. Sam increased his grip strength on his great swords handle and his already muscr arms expended in size. [Sky cleave] Sam called out themand word for his sharpest skill. Energy filled his great sword causing it to glow with a pale silver light, expanding its size to almost double before the mighty sword cleaved downwards against the ice revenant. Chapter 261 261 Chapter 261: Battling an ice revenant (3) Shwing! The massive great sword met with the ice covered broadsword of the ice revenant generating a loud ng as metal shed against metal. The over 4 metre tall ice revenant was forced back several metres from the resounding bacsh. Sams attack not only contained his sharpest skill and own impressive arm strength but also the leftover force from Frosts jump assist. It was an incredibly powerful blow, one that the ice revenant was not ready for. But this was a powerful C-rank monster, one powerful attack was not enough to knock it out of the game. Hell, the thing wasnt even damaged just blown back. Its runic armour shone with blue light as it absorbed the residual force, as did its broadsword that appeared to be undamaged but that was the thing with spirit or elemental type monsters. Their physical body shown was not their true body and could quite easily be repaired, to quickly defeat such foes, one needs to target their core. Unfortunately, not only did ice revenants have incredibly sturdy armour protecting their cores, Ls father needed one that was intact, with minimal damage, striking it with ones weapon was a no go. They needed to slowly whittle the ice revenant down, until the core can no longer support its body. Tsk even though I knew it wouldnt do much, being presented with it in person still stings. Sam clicked his tongue in frustration, that was likely one of his strongest attacks ever, yet his opponent didnt even have much of a scratch, pretty demoralising. Frost wasnt far behind, the moment Sam hadunched from his ive, Frost charged after him. Not off put by Sams failure, he dashed passed the man like an arrow, his ive poised for a sharp thrust. [Vipers thrust] Frosts ive de shone bright as its prative power and sharpness was increased. Over the 3 days of education and training Sam had him practise thrusting techniques in preparation for the boss battle. On thest day heprehended the low level thrust skill for spears and other pole weapons, [vipers thrust]. Frosts movements were almost seamless and his timing perfect but so was the ice revenants. The monster was filled with fury at being knocked back by Sam, its core was drained of power as it held its body together. DAMN INSECTS!!! The ice revenant roared in hatred as it forcefully brought its retreat to a halt, Frost arrived at that exact moment, his ive already thrusting out, aiming at the revenants chest. His movements didnt go unnoticed escting the revenants fury to its upmost. Its pale blue eyes burned with wisps of mana as it tensed its grip upon its broadsword andshed out in a wide arc. Chilling winds escaped the revenants body creating a repelling force, along with the aggressive swing of his broadsword, Frost was sent reeling back. ..... Frost flew through the air before skidding across the ground, he remained on his feet, but his bnce was unsteady. Cough cough, he violently coughed as the force knocked the wind out of his lungs, no blood but his chest hurt a little as did his hands but other than that he was fine,nding back roughly behind Sam. Frost you alright? Sam quickly asked his youngpanion, his eyes showing concern. Im fine just a little bit winded, no biggie. Frost waved him off, grateful for his concern. Youre too eager, remember the n, slow and steady, being reckless only leads to mistakes. Sam patted Frosts shoulder; he couldnt me Frost for being so aggressive, he was young after all. Hmph I was just unlucky. Frost scoffed as he looked at the ice revenant seething in a chilling wind before them. If he was just a fraction of a second faster, hed have knocked the revenant down. Frost rose to his feet, to stand by Sams side, they were now in closebat proximity and needed to stay there. Sam since he was covered in the [veil of mes] and his skill set would take the tank position, right up in the revenants face while Frost attacked from the rear and sides, taking advantage of his ives long range and his superior speed. Meanwhile L would support them with magic, like. Booom! A couple fire balls wereunched at the revenant as Frost was standing up, this wasnt a solo battle, they were part of a team. Sam attacked, then Frost and then finally L, the revenant wouldnt get any rest time. The fire ball did little damage but neutralised the chilling wind, getting close would be easier now. Rahhhhhhhhhhhhh! The ice revenant roared with fury as it wiped the remnants of fire from its body. Thats my cue, Sam smiled broadly before dashing ahead with his great sword, appearing right beneath the ice revenant. He swung upwards meeting the downward cleave of the ice revenant, it wouldnt be taken by surprise again. Donnnnnnn! Great sword met oversized broadsword, one swinging up and the other swinging down, at the onset the two were evenly matched. Sam gritted his teeth as he endured the crushing pressure being funnelled through his weapon. He was barely half the size of his opponent, from the outside it looked as though a child was facing an adult. Sams muscles werent just for show, he packed a hell of a punch but topete against an ice revenant with pure strength was rather wishful. However, he wasnt alone, the [veil of mes] helped to eradicate the chilling aura constantly emitted by the ice revenant as did the ice resistance potion he took earlier. His weapon was also enchanted with fire reducing the strength of the revenants broadsword, all these things together was what allowed him toe out even but where Sam was stuck in ce the revenant could still move and move it did. Covering its fist in a denseyer of ice chakra the monster moved to swat Sam like a fly as he was trapped under its broadsword. Sam simply smiled as the fist encroached him, he wasnt worried in the slightest. A momentter Frost appeared with his ive ready, and with a sharp swing he deflected the revenants fist, shattering the ice chakra with the aid of the fire enchantment. Frost and Sams teamwork had developed quite a lot of the past three days, given that the two of them would be operating in the same area. Each of them knew the limits of each others strengths, what moves they could and could not endure or avoid. With its fist knocked back the revenant was off bnce, affecting the strength it could put in its broadsword. Sam took advantage of this moment to smack it away, leaving the revenant unguarded. Anytime dear! Sam yelled out to his wife who responded with her magic. [Bondage of fire] with the spells name invoked a magic crest appeared on the ice revenants torso. As it glowed ropes of fire spread out from the crest, wrapping around the revenant, constricting its movements. You got a couple seconds! Make it count! L yelled back once her spell wasplete. [Bondage of fire] was a 2nd circle restraining spell that bound the target in ropes of fire. With weaker monsters itd not only hold but would burn their flesh however against the ice revenant itd merely constrict it for a few moments. But a few moments were all Sam and Frost needed to deal out some damage. With a curt nod the two men moved in tandem, one with a great sword and one with a ive, both enhanced by fire. [Sky cleave] [Shattering strike] both of them swung at the same time, striking the revenants torso with fervent aggression. This time they could visibly see the damage. The chest armour of the revenant revealed blue light as a crack appeared at the point of contact. Not toorge but certainly noticeable. This should put the ice revenant on the back foot, wary of their strength. With it being fearful of its core being destroyed it should protect it better, exactly what Sam and the rest wished for. They could then focus on other areas of the ice revenant while keeping the core undamaged. From the two blows the revenant was blown backwards, distress clear in its eyes as it protected its chest from further damage. It mmed it broadsword into the floor to stop its retreat. Sam and Frost were close on its trail, they couldnt allow the revenant a single break otherwise itd end badly for them. The [bondage of fire] was destroyed from the two weapon skills meaning the revenant was no longer constrained but it took a more passive approach, blocking instead of crushing. Sam moved in first, swinging his great sword against the ice revenants broadsword. The two weapons shed against one another, both holding their grounds. The revenant was wary of Frost who had circled around to the side, fearful of his ive, the revenant summoned an ice chakra de in its other hand, to fend him off. L would asionallyunch some fire magic to assist, her main job at the current stage to make sure there was nog between attacks and to help her teammatesnd a decisive blow. Sam endured the vicious onught of the revenants broad sword while Frost attacked from awkward angles and fought his way passed the ice chakra sword which was much weaker than the runic broadsword. Several times however Frost was forced to rescue Sam when the attack was too heavy. Like a shadow hed appear beside Sam, knocking his ive up against the broadsword then the two of them together would force the revenant back. This stalemate went on for 15 minutes before the next phase of the battle came about. Chapter 262 262 Chapter 262: Battling an ice revenant (4) shes of metal against metal rang throughout the room along with the asional explosion caused by L. The three of them working in concert managed to keep the ice revenant on the back foot, slowly but surely causing damage. Their methods were not the most logical and in some cases very risky, but it preserved the monsters core best. By attacking the armour as well as the semi-ethereal limbs connecting the pieces of runic armour they ate away at revenants energy. Just like how Frost cut down the frost elemental, repeated attacks dwindled its ability to reform its body causing it shrink and heal slower. Their aim for the revenant was much the same. However, unlike the frost elemental it didnt shrink in size but the glow of its semi-ethereal body and the runic markings on its armour dimmed with every blow. Eventually the revenant would be too exhausted to hold together its own body, retreating into its monster core to recuperate. Of course, doing that would spell its doom, once it retreated to its core it would have no means of attack or defence, the battle would be over. This method however did have its downsides, the ice revenants beautiful runic armour took the majority of the attacks, leaving dozens of gashes across the metal. Itd take a lot of work to repair it, a significant loss in terms of profit as normally the runic armour and weapon would be the most profitable pieces gained from killing an ice revenant. Frost couldnt help but feel his heart bleed a little every time he increased the damage upon the armour. Most of the gashes and cracks were caused by him after all given his avenue of attack and his superior weapon. The fire balls and other spells cast by L helped to weaken the armour and directly burn up the mana holding the revenants body together. After 15 minutes of intense fighting the poor boss monster was looking rather dishevelled. If this was a beautiful female monster this action could be seen as downright criminal, three people ganging up on it. The ice revenant however was not a female and only dwarves and artisans would find it beautiful.....great metal to work with. Ahhhhhhhhh DAMN INSECTS! PISS OFF! Finally, the ice revenant had truly reached the limits of its patience. If things continued down their current track hed end up slowly tortured to death. It was not a pleasant feeling to be so restricted in ones counterattacks. The moment it tried to focus on Sam, redirecting the majority of its power into its broadsword, Frost would swoop in and either give Sam a helping hand or take advantage to deal him a powerful blow. Simr results would happen when he tried to deal with Frost first, this young elf was incredibly nimble and had far more physical strength than he expected, causing the ice revenant to always eat a loss. The worst however was the damn rabbit woman mage, her timing was always on point, and it was because of her enhancement magic and restricting magic that he suffered the most damage. She was the furthest away and the moment the ice revenant tried to attack her; the two males would increase their attacking ferocity. It was infuriating and quite frankly quite terrifying, but everyone had their limits and the ice revenant had reached his. It no longer held back, ignoring the danger prospects to its core it attacked with renewed ferocity. If it was going to die it was sure as hell going to take these attackers down with it. Booooooom! The ice revenants broadsword came down upon the floor with unyielding force, shattering the floor. The resulting force repelled Sam away who knew better than to take such a blow head on. Sam shared a look with Frost who nodded in response. The next phase of the battle was about to begin, and it was the most dangerous. The ice revenant would no longer care about defence, going all in in attack, one slip up could spell the end of them. Unlike the ice revenant their bodies really wouldnt be able to endure repeated blows, even with Sam and Frost utilising chakra armour, this was the difference between monster and sapients. ..... Receiving Sams gesture, Frost frowned as he examined the state of his body. Down about 30% stamina, not much but still a lot for just 15 minutes work. The next part of the battle would be even more gruelling if that was even possible. It was imperative to monitor each of their physical states so as to reach the end. The moment they ran out of gas would be the moment a massive broadsword cleaved them in two or an ice spell froze them solid. With the fervent attacks of Frost, Sam, and the long distance assistance of L the ice revenant had very little opportunity to cast magic while under closebat assault. A few 1st or 2nd circle spells nothing that really affected Frost or Sam thanks to their innate ice resistance and [veil of mes] spell respectively. Sam quickly turned his head a momentter to give his wife a gesture, signalling the next state of battle. Theyd already gone over this situation; Ls mana levels were most important. Though it seemed as though Sam and Frost were the ones dealing with the most difficult task and energy demanding that was only physically. And both Sam and Frost had no problems with their physical capabilities. Ls job however was key to them keeping the revenant on the back foot allowing the two closebat fighters to keep up the pressure if she stopped using magic the two of them would be quickly drowned in the revenants 3rd circle spells. L understood her husbands gesture and checked her own situation before frowning, she wasnt doing too well, less than half of her mana remained. With a serious expression she replied to Sam with her own gesture, reporting her situation. They couldnt use words since the monster knewmon tongue and using gestures was far quicker. Even as they all replied their situations the group didnt stop moving, thinking, or watching the ice revenant. After mming down its broadsword and scattering plumes of ice everywhere the ice revenant didnt stop, quickly turning around to find Frost, thest attack was only done to force back Sam, Frost was his true target. The slippery little worm that besmirched its glorious armour with god knows how many cuts and gashes. Quickly finding his target momentarily distracted as he responded to Sam, the ice revenant rotated its body, dragging the broadsword across the floor, scraping up plumes of ice as it did, obscuring the area around his de ever so slightly. Shit Frost lookout! Sam roared in warning, the ice revenant had already moved, Sam wouldnt reach in time, the most he could do was alert his friend. Just when Sam was about to give L a signal to assist with magic, he caught sight of Frosts own gesture, the ok sign made with his right hand. Sam stopped in ce, a wry smile growing on his lips. Leaving it up to Frost, Sam nodded to his wife, she needed to take a mana potion and rx her mana veins for a minute or two. If Frost said he was fine he was inclined to believe him. After training with the young man for the past 3 days both he and his wife knew that although like most young and talented people Frost was prideful, he wasnt foolish. He knew his limits especially after the situation with the great frost centipede. While Sam and L attended to their physical states, Frost had a front row ticket to the ice revenants dogged pursuit. With the ice dust conjured up by scraping his broadsword across the ice floor the ice revenant shot at Frost, obscuring his forward vision. Frost stood his ground with his ive in hand, ready to respond to whatever came. He could tell from the look in the revenants eyes that it wanted to squash him like a bug, preferably with its broadsword. The revenant had already realised that weaker magic had no effect on either of its closebat aggressors. Sams was obvious the [veil of mes] protected him but for Frost it was as though his magic simply had no effect, infuriating the revenant to no end. Wasnt he an elf howe he has such high innate ice resistance? With Frosts view partially blocked the revenantunched his broadsword at Frost through the ice dust, thats right heunched it, but he didnt let go. The ice revenant only had a semi-ethereal body allowing it to do some quite interesting things. Extension of his limbs was one of them. Like the frost elemental Frost faced against on the 3rd floor, the ice revenants sword arm elongated as the sword was thrust through the ice dust, aiming to catch Frost unawares. A secondter the ice revenants massive broadsword was hurtling through the air with the revenants hand still attached. It split apart the ice dust and zoomed straight for Frosts head, as fast as any arrow. Frost fully expecting to be attacked through the ice dust held his ground. His ive gripped tightly with both hands he rotated the shaft, aiming to deftly deflect the broadsword with perpendicr force and m it into the ground by his side. He had the skills and physical strength to do it. Chapter 263 263 Chapter 263: Battling an ice revenant (5) Frost stood boldly before the massive broadsword that had beenunched his way like an unending thrust. His eyes were calm and focused, his breathing steady and rxed, yet arge smile adorned his face. Though it was only for a single or perhaps a few moves he was, facing down a C-rank monster by himself. Sam and L were attending to their own needs, by his own volition Frost requested to handle the 4 metre giant alone. Hed buy time for his teachers to rest and recuperate while at the same time test his limits. His pseudo aura hade a long way over the course of his excursion into the cial mountains, as did his ive mastery. Now it was time to really put the strain on his body and attempt to further his strength. Alone especially in the revenants mad filled state, he was not its opponent. Only when one reached the very peak of C-rank or even B-rank would one be able to take on a mid C-rank monster such as the ice revenant alone. Frost was not at that level.....yet. The massive broadsword zoomed closer at an incredible speed, the very air was pierced and pushed aside as it loomed nearer to Frosts face. Yet for Frost this process seemed to happen in slow motion, it was not at the limits of his speed capabilities thanks to the repeated beatings of Maya. Even if the opponent was B-rank hed be able to follow and track its movements....enduring and or avoiding them however would be a different story. The moment the broadsword reached Frosts circle of influence, his brow furrowed, and his body sprung into action, with a deft rotation of his ive, the de met with the broadsword. Pushing against it with horizontal force, the massive broadsword was sent hurtling to Frosts side, smashing into the ground. The de narrowly avoiding piercing him, part of his chakra armour and robes were severed near his hip as there was more force contained within the broadsword than expected but Frost eliminated the threat smoothly. Ice dust sprang up from the point of impact, once again obscuring the area. The broadsword with the aid of the ive pierced deep into the floor, almost an entire foot below. Itd be hard to remove quickly. However, that situation worked perfect for the ice revenant. The moment it thrust out with its broadsword the ice revenant began running after it. He was already quite close to Frost, the ice dust however helped to obscure his position. The revenants hand was still grasped around the broadswords handle and was the reason for the unexpected force contained within the de. The hand fought against the ives force and even tried to redirect the broadsword but ultimately it failed, time for part 2. With the broadsword deeply encased within the floor the ice revenant yanked with his entire strength, using his ethereal like body and the sword as an anchor point he catapulted himself towards Frost. His remaining arm was encased in thickening ice chakra, aiming to pummel Frost into the ground like a hammer. The movements and timing of the ice revenant was almost seamless, giving Frost very little time to react. The revenant was on him within a fraction of a second. Sam and L who looked on couldnt help but have contorted expressions as they worried about their young student. For such arge monster it certainly was fast. Frost was as ever still within that calm state, his motions smooth like water and unfettered. His eyes reflected the image of the revenant swooping in for the kill, his smile ever growing as the thrill of battle continued pump within his heart. Goosebumps formed on his body and the hairs on the back of his head and neck stood up in alert, the pressure building, this was what he was looking for. With a smooth movement, the ive de resting on the revenants broadsword was reced with his left foot while the ive itself started an upward trajectory, aiming to carve up the heavily chakra encased fisting his way. ..... Boooooooooommmm! Frosts ive met with the chakra encased fist with great force, neither of the two were holding back in the slightest, using their full physical strength to crush one another. At the point of impact,yers of ice chakra were shattered one after the other as the ives de cut deep into the revenants fist. But at the same time the fire enchantment ced on the ive was all but annihted, the blow too much for it to endure. Ugh! Frost groaned as he felt the full weight behind the revenants punch. It was even heavier than the blows Sam had to endure with his great sword. Frosts hands that gripped his ive, split between his fingers from the pressure, blood dripped down his hands and his knees threatened to buckle as the floor beneath him cracked like a spider web. This was the heaviest blow hed ever endured and not just physically, the ice revenants killing intent was suffused within the blow, carrying with it an extreme pressure. Even Mayas attacks that shattered his entire chakra armour and sent him flying across the training room felt lighter. Frost couldnt put his finger on the exact reason but surmised it had to do with the ice revenants killing intent as well as the pseudo aura it emitted. Maya never battled against him with her aura as he was not ready to endure such pressure, her killing intent even less so. The only time he experienced her bloodlust was when he mention the church of light. Just speaking three measly words almost suffocated him. Crack! A loud crack reverberated throughout the room as the ice revenant and Frost continued their struggle. The revenants fist pushed down against Frosts ive, slowly gaining ground. Frosts knees grew imperceptibly closer to the floor as he refused to kneel, the floor taking the most damage as it cracked and fractured more and more. Frosts eyes revealed a strong fighting spirit, ring into the revenants eyes with animosity. Arge wild smile adorned his lips even as blood slipped out and his body groaned in protest. His arms tensed harder than they ever had before, his leather shoes burst apart at the seams, unable to endure the pressure. His schr like robes were stretched against his expanding muscles, even his height seemed to grow a few inches as Frost gave his all to push back the revenants fist with his ive. Frost wished to do the impossible, beat a C-rank monster in terms of physical strength. A foolish notion, especially considering the monster was a 4 metre tall giant filled with anger and aggression. But Frost was no normal person, he was a dungeon core and one with great potential. His fighting spirit was ignited, and his body responded in kind. The ice revenants oversized fist was slowly pushed back. The revenants killing intent covered the entirety of Frosts body yet instead of hampering his foe it now seemed to empower him. Frosts legs and back straightened, as his strength increased, his body bing used to the pressure and his own pseudo aura started to be strongly emitted. Melding with the revenants killing intent, it grew and evolved, slowly overpowering it, before moving to cover Frosts body. Once again Frost could see and feel the path to the next level of power before him, just as he did 3 days ago against the frost lizard bosses. However instead of chasing after the path he ignored it entirely, focusing solely on the opponent before him. The revenants fist continued to be pushed back as Frosts aura grew. It now covered his ive and started reaching for the ice revenant. This invisible force seemed to erge Frost in the revenants eyes, causing them to open wide in shock. Frost who was around 2 metres tall, less than half the size of the ice revenant now looked huge before him, making the revenant feel weaker and smaller than his elf looking opponent. Madness he thought, this insect couldnt possibly be stronger than him, yet his instinctual reaction was fear. This was the first stages of a cemented aura, the ability to instil fear and pressure into ones foes. Frost was merely on the border of achieving his aura, the invisible wall that blocked his path 3 days ago, cracked and started to fragment into pieces and as it did the pressure on the revenant continued to grow as did Frosts image. Sam and L who were anxiously restoring their strengths on the side couldnt help but shiver as they witnessed the change in Frost. His presence and demeanour underwent a great shift, goosebumps appeared on their forearms as they felt the change in Frosts aura. Even being several metres away from him they could still feel the pressure, it was heavy and cold. The husband and wife duo looked at one another, their mouths agape and shock in their eyes. Impossible was the thought running through both of their minds. After being by Frosts side for 3 days they understood his strength as well as potential, but this was something else entirely. Frosts capabilities were still a fair bit off from B-rank, yet hed already developed his own aura, for the two veterans this was unheard of. And not only that, a newly formed aura shouldnt be this imposing nore with such a biting chill. The two of them had met a fair few B-rank fighters and experienced their auras as well as understood the transition of a pseudo aura to a developed aura. Sam and L both had developed some means of a pseudo aura, simr to what Frost had before this battle. Allowing them to slightly control it and protect themselves from pressure yet not affect external targets physically. It was just one step away from achieving that level, yet thatst step was what stopped so many. Chapter 264 264 Chapter 264: Battling an ice revenant (6) Sam and L looked at Frost with envy. After so many years of adventuring they could not achieve what Frost was in the process of doing. Though their weapon mastery and magic were both superior to their young protg, what truly made one able to reach B-rank and beyond was the ability to harness ones aura. Without it one would struggle to fight against monsters higher than C-rank. Theyd be unable to summon even half their usual strength without their auras, remaining as prey instead of predators. Sam clenched his fist so hard that blood seeped through his fingers and his joints audibly cracked as his face warped, a mixture of jealousy as well as joy in his expression. How old was Frost? How much experience did he have when it came to battle? And more importantly how much had he killed? It was well known that ones aura had to be tempered through harsh training involving battle, created through the blood of ones enemies. This was how most sapients developed their own aura, simply training in a safe environment was not enough to turn one who would normally be prey into a predator no one needed to fight with their life on the line, to crush their opponents, to be superior than them. Soldiers who have experienced great amounts of war tend to achieve this state far easier than most, why because of killing. Therge battlefields filled with corpses of dead soldiers tempers these soldiers with powerful killing intent, opening the door for them develop aura. Yet Frost was not a solider, he did not have such a vast experience in killing. Sams brow frowned and he clenched his teeth in frustration, is this the heavens favouring a genius? Sam was tempted to release a depressingugh, all his hard work from the time he was a boy, meant nothing in terms of true talent. He felt as though the heavens wereughing at his effort. His wife L was experiencing much of the same emotions, yet she wasnt as bothered as Sam. Shed alreadye to terms with herck of skill and had renounced her vocation as an adventurer. She and Sam already nned to give up after this path and return home. She felt more pride as she saw Frost push back the ice revenant. This was her student, her, and Sams, though they could never bebelled as the reason for his meteoric rise they did y a part and that was enough for her. If Frost reached the very heights of power she could tell her descendants that at one point she was able to teach such a talent, and it would be her pride and joy. Frosts personality certainly made it that much easier, he was no slouch when it came to hard work and he was humble, showing no arrogance or disdain for their teachings, taking everything in with a smile. L quickly came to her senses, continuing to recuperate her body for the rest of the battle. Shed already downed a mana potion and was quickly returning to her peak form. Even if Frost fully develops his aura there was still a battle to be won. Frosts aura had caught the revenant by surprise but even, so it wasnt able to deal any damage, Frost still struggled to push back the things fist let alone attack it. This was just a momentary set back, one in which L would take full advantage of. Sam recovered a few secondster after receiving a gesture from his wife, reluctantly he too down a health potion and steadied his breathing. At the moment the ice revenant was filled with fear and trepidation its powerful killing intent was so easily crushed under Frosts aura, causing its focus to waver, allowing Frost to gain the upper hand. However, this was fleeting, the ice revenant was still a powerful C-rank monster even before being a boss monster within a monsterir. Its instincts filled it with fear, but it had intelligence and more importantly the monsterirs core was behind it, its duty prevailed over any fear it held. Rahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! With a mighty roar filled with indignity, the revenant was once again filled with strength bringing its slowly receding fist to a halt, he refused to lose to this insect. ..... Frost was unperturbed by the revenants outburst, entirely focused on the changes within his body, his aura ever growing even now, filling his body with power enough to oppose the mighty ice revenant. The ice revenant continued to push against Frosts ive but now he attempted to wrench out his broadsword from the ice floor. The sufficient cracks from their exchange had loosened it from containment. Frost instantly felt his bnce give way as the revenant yanked away its broadsword, bringing along with it fragments of the floor. Frost used this opportunity to deflect the revenants fist away, while taking a couple sliding steps backwards. He then twirled his ive around entering a defensive stance, fully weing the ice revenants next attack. The revenant wasnt one to keep Frost waiting, gripping the handle of its massive broadsword with both hands, it channelled mana into the de causing it glow and form more ice crystals along the de. Like the runic armour its broadsword was considered part of the revenants body. The revenant was putting a lot into this one strike, clearly aiming to end Frost once and for all. The air or rather the mana within the area around the revenant was drawn towards his broadsword, sucking it in like a ckhole. As it did the brighter it glowed and the more ice encrusted it became, even its weight increased. This 3 star weapon was swiftly growing in rank with the aid of the revenants mana, putting Sams great sword to shame. Even Frosts quasi 4th star ive may not be its match with the amount of mana being channelled into it. Once again Frost was reminded of his ives normality, he couldnt channel that much mana into it without it breaking or the mana leaking out. To do so hed need it engraved by an artificer, but this was no time to cry over spilt milk. His ive though in a vani form could still allow him to use chakra at normal levels so he did. Huuuuuuuuuu releasing a cold, chilling breath Frost kneaded his mana into shape. Ice began to form over his body, taking the shape of his refined chakra armour before moving over his ive. The ice grew from his hands, firmly attaching them to the ives shaft before applyingyer afteryer on top to the ives de. Eachyer being millimetre thick and as sharp as a razor de. After training with Sam his chakra control grew to very impressive levels, high countyers was far more protective and sharper than a single thick one. Sam exined it in terms of weapons, refined steel des were folded over and over again inyers to not only bring out a beautiful pattern along the de edge but to greatly increase its strength. Sams chakra was of the metal element, so the method fit quite well, ice however was a little more difficult to manipte but Frost was an attentive and hardworking student. His hours of practise came to fruition at this moment. With his aura still growing, Frosts presence along with his ice covered ive presented a daunting figure, no less than the massive ice revenant. Both weapons hummed as they filled with mana, both ready to sh against one another to prove their superiority. An eery calm filled the ice revenant, its eyes no longer showed a manic and wrathful expression. He spoke with powerful and crushing tone, as though a king to a peasant. Time to die little elf! With a slow movement the revenant raised up his broadsword causing the air to howl as mana continued to be sucked up into the de. The revenants eyes closed for a second before rapidly reopening and bursting with a bright blue glow. His presence changed, bing imposing and sharp just like his broadsword. A fraction of a secondter he brought down his weapon. [Rending of the ice king]! The name of his attack was incredibly imposing; a mere revenant was no match for the king of ice and too use such a term before Frost wasughable. Frosts eyes were closed as he concentrated his aura and focused on building the chakrayers on his ive de but the moment the revenant started his swing his eyes shed open. His aura burst forth with its full power, filling the room with his mighty presence, carrying the bearing of a true king of ice. He swung his ive upwards to meet the revenants broadsword. [w of the ice wolf] along with his chakra, Frost used his most powerful skill, holding nothing back in this exchange. Along with his chakra, weapon skill and fully formed aura the air in front of the ives path appeared to warp under the pressure. The two weapons looked like they moved in slow motion, Sam and L watched the scene with nervous anticipation, not knowing who woulde out on top. And regardless of the oue theyd need to be ready to move. Frost after this exchange would likely bepletely drained of his energy, making him a possible sitting duck if he lost but if he won it would be the best time for the two of them to finish the revenant once and for all. Chapter 265 265 Chapter 265: Battling an ice revenant (7) The highly enriched broadsword and ive drew closer and closer with each fraction of a second, both men were giving it their absolute all with this attack. Shortly before the moment of impact, behind the revenant a phantom image of a mighty ice king appeared, establishing a powerful aura throughout the room, one strong enough to fight against Frosts toe to toe. This skill allowed the ice revenant to release the power of a being higher than himself for just a fraction of a second. His broadsword started to swing down with even greater fury and force after its appearance. Frost didnt have such a skill, but his own aura fought against the phantom image, refusing to lose to a fake. There will only be one master of ice and thats him. Energy filled his ive, summoning threerge ws of ice before the de, further enhancing the mighty weapon. Booooooooooommmmmmmm!!!! A fraction of a secondter an ungodly boom spanned the entire room at the moment of impact. The air generated a powerful sonic boom that blew out Sam and Ls hair even though they stood at quite a distance. Frosts three ws of ice energy struck against the mighty broadsword with great sharpness but none the less fractured almost instantly the moment they made contact, sending fragments of ice spewing across the room, a few sharp ones even cut Frosts handsome face. Next his ive crashed against the de sending even more fragments of ice flying everywhere. Layers uponyers of his ice chakra was decimated but so too was the chakra and mana enveloping the broadsword. Finally, the actual forms of the weapons smashed into one another releasing sparks from the fierce sh of metal on metal. The broadsword and ive seemed to stopped in their tracks after meeting one another head to head but that stalematested but a second, a winner was clear...well not exactly. The quasi 4th star ive cut through the revenants broadsword proving to be the superior weapon, but Frost lost in terms of force. The same moment his ive exited the back of the broadsword, Frost was lifted from his feet and shot through the air like a cannonball. ..... Ugh! With a violent cough, blood spurted from Frosts throat as he flew through the air. His chakra armour burst apart along with his smooth jade like skin, covering him in dozens of nasty, blood soaked wounds. His hands that held onto his ive were near unrecognisable as they burst apart, revealing fractured finger bones. Yet even so he refused to let go of his ive, carrying it with him as his body barrelled through the air. His eyes lost their light, darkness encroached his vision, his head dizzy and muddled. The force behind the revenants killing blow was so powerful that his body couldnt endure, almost falling into unconsciousness. Held up by sheer will and stubbornness. His newly established aura was decimated by the calling of the phantom ice king, he barely had enough time to protect his body let alone cleave apart the phantom. His mighty ive, a quasi-4th star weapon was finally after all this time, damaged. Splintering cracks spread across the shaft and a significant chip was present on the de edge, the first point of contact between the ive and broadsword. This damage wasnt fatal to the weapon and could be repaired without too much issue but the fact that the weapon was damaged at all disyed the power behind the revenants all or nothing blow. As Frost careened through the air, the ice revenant visibly deted, though he had won it came at great cost. His energy and mana was all but spent. The top half of his broadsword flew to the other side of the room, cementing itself into the wall whereas the remaining half fell bing a crutch to stop the revenant from copsing to the floor. He was seriously wounded, the ethereal mana like body that connect his armour dimmed greatly, bing thinner, barely able to hold itsrge frame together. Cracks spread across the runic armour, withrge fragments falling off and turning into to dust. If the ice revenant held blood his appearance would simr to Frosts right now. The great revenant swayed side to side before falling to its knees, resting upon the remains of its weapon, gasping for air as it felt the ramification of using such a powerful skill and enduring Frosts blow. On the side Sam and L had been watching with intense focus. The moment Frost was sent through the air Sam moved to catch him while L got to work finishing off the revenant. [Fire grew into a mighty pir and eviscerate my foe, pir of fire] waiting for this very moment L chanted an aria for a 3rd circle spell. She coalesced her mana into aplicated magic crest that formed beneath the weakened ice revenant. Under normal circumstances the revenant would have ample time to move out of the way but in its current state it could barely keep steady, let alone move. As the crest formed and glowed with a red hot light arge pir of fire 2 metres in diameter stretched from the floor to ceiling, consuming the kneeling ice revenant. Gyahhhhhhhh! The revenant roared in pain as its very body was burned by the mes, exasperating its current injuries, causing more and more cracks along its runic armour and its ethereal body to dimmer even faster. Sam lunged forward, catching Frost in his arms shortly before he smashed into the wall, saving him from a possibly fatal impact. As he looked down at his young student he couldnt help but bite his lips. His eyes opened wide with concern, Frosts injuries were not light, a low level potion would struggle to heal them. Frost could barely make out Sam who held him with shaking hands. His body was in immense pain, far more than hed endured so far but even so, the remnants of smile could be seen on his bloody face. He tried to widen his lips to show that he was ok, but it ended up looking incredibly ugly, something that should have been impossible with his looks. Ugh haaaaaaaaaaaaa Sam quickly registered what Frost was attempting to portray. He shook his head and sighed but a smile grew on his face. Frost would be alright. You had me worried for a moment there.....you really got stones Frost, never seen anything like what you just did. Sam showed a much more rxed expression, but his hands were still shaky as he softly supported Frosts mangled body. The sounds of the ice revenants wails could be heard in the background, but Sam focused his entire attention on Frost, he trusted that his wife could handle it while he attended to their student. Ive only got a low level health potion on me; it wont heal you fully but should allow you to regain movement. Sam pulled out a low level health potion out of his spatial ring. It was his highest quality potion but still within low grade. Frosts entire body was riddled with wounds, but the real damage was his internals. A low level health potion would stave him from death and give him some range of motion but without a trained healer or higher level potion Frost would require long term treatment and may even be handicapped. Sam clenched his teeth in frustration when he realised this, he should have known better than to allow Frost to take on the revenant alone, especially thatst move of his. Though he and L had enough money to hire an established healer or get their hands on a mid-level healing potion Frost would have to suffer from his wounds until they made it back to their enve. Frost could feel Sams frustration and worry, it warmed his heart, his ugly smile became uglier. Sam pushed his upper back to raise his body as he moved to bite off the cork sealing the health potion. Frosts face visually twisted at the sight; he was already injured enough now he was being made to drink that poison. He looked at Sam with a pleading look hey I thought we were brothers on this? Yeah, yeah I know this aint easy for me either, but you got to take it otherwise how will you ever get to eat my cooking again. Though he sounded apologetic Frost could see even with his obscured vision the hints of an evil smirk on his teachers face. Gah hes just like his god damn wife, evil. Tears threatened to pour down his face as he vehemently attempted to struggle free, but his body barely responded. Even when being beaten by Maya or when he was sent flying by the ice revenant Frost did not cry, yet with the possibility of being forced to drink another low level potion, a veritable waterfall threatened to pour down his cheeks. Theres got to be another way. Frosts mind went into overdrive trying to find an alternative solution, anything but a low level health potion. Chapter 266 266 Chapter 266: Battling an ice revenant (8) As Sam brought the vial of red liquid closer to Frosts mouth, his evil smirk imperceptibly grew. Seeing someone else not only have to suffer from the disgusting taste but at his hand brought a wave of restrained pleasure to the man. His wife wasnt nearly as bothered by the vour, so she didnt count, only Frost squirmed and had a warped expression as he brought the vial closer. The wailing of the ice revenant in the background and the sound of raging mes was nothing but a backdrop for Sam and Frost, far less important. L who was continuing to channel mana into her spell [pir of fire] was too focused to notice the situation between Frost and her husband otherwise shed loudly berate the two of them to get their god damn act together and help her finish off this revenant. The 3rd circle spell [Pir of fire] could be maintained for a longer duration as long as one continued to channel mana into the crest but doing so was very draining. Though the ice revenant was trapped within the pir and was constantly wailing in pain, the damage being done was not fatal. L could only maintain her spell for a limited time, Sam would be required to finish the revenant with his physical attacks. Sweat dripped down Frosts forehead as he wracked his mind in a panic, fearful of the vial slowly being brought closer to his lips. He was powerless to resist Sam in his current state and knew that even if he could it would be pointless, his injuries required healing. A low level health potion wouldnt be enough to fully heal his wounds, merely prevent death and allow him some modicum of movement. This meant hed have to endure multiple low level health potions before leaving thisir before having to either drink a medium level potion or receive healing magic. He knew the rarity of high level health potions and held no hope of being able to taste such a delicacy anytime soon. High level health potions were actually avable in the dungeon menu, but the price was through the roof, charging 100,000DP for a single vial. Way beyond Frosts price range, equivalent to 100 converted gold coins, an extortion of the highest level. Frost kissed his dreams goodbye after seeing such a price, but in a way he thought it was fair. A high level health potion, especially one made by the dungeon menu would be a veritable life saver, able to cure even the most serious of injuries, restoring lost limbs or even organs to say nothing of the glorious taste. Wait a minute, I may not have a high level potion, but I do have a mid-level one. As the memory of his experience with the high level health potion floated in his mind, Frost remembered that he was rewarded with medium level potions after operation new dawn and that hed brought along two of such potions with him. It was just that he had no opportunity to use such potions as of yet, nning to use them in the most dire of circumstances that he forgot about them. With desperate movements Frost send a string of mana into his spatial ring to remove on of said potions. A fraction of a secondter the vial appeared from the ring and gently knocked against the floor. His eyes filled with extreme focus pointed towards the fallen vial, encouraging Sam to take notice. Sam was so close, the vial of health potion was already at Frosts lips, all he needed to do was lift it an angle and Frost would be forced to experience the torture, but he couldnt ignore the sound of ss clinking against the floor along with Frosts desperate look. His eyes drifted towards the sound, finding the mid-level health potion. A vial filled with a ruby red liquid containing hints of silver sparkles, far higher in quality than the potion currently pressed against Frosts lips. Thats a mid-level health potion and one of decent quality too. His eyes opened wide in surprise for a moment before he looked back at Frost. He understood Frost hints, the slowly tilting vial of low level health potion stopped in ce...but it wasnt removed either. ..... A conflict was brewing in Sams mind. He knew that the mid-level health potion would be far more effective and that it could even bring Frost back to near 100% fighting shape after several minutes but if he did that, Frost wouldnt suffer the rotten taste. Sams eyes changed from Frost the mid-level potion by his side, going back and forth as he tried to solve the conundrum. Do I heal him with the mid-level potion, bringing him to nearly full health like I should, or should I purposely make Frost suffer a little? Pretending like I never saw the vial? He can always take the mid-level potion after without any detriments and either way theres no way he can take part in final acts of the fight. Sam had swift changes in his eyes, sometimes there was a gentle innocent look and other times there was a mischievous one. Frost caught sight of every change, his mouth opened wide in shock and confusion. You damn evil bastard you wouldnt dare! His eyes sent such a message towards Sam, with no small amount of threat. He couldnt believe the situation in front of his eyes, the man who was supposed to be hisrade in arms against foul tasting potions was so readily about to betray him at his weakest moment. His heart felt so wounded. A momentter Sam seemed toe to a decision, an evil smile adoring his face as his eyes revealed a light of innocence. The mid-level health potion remained by Frosts side, as though Sam never saw it in the first ce. The low level health potion that had stopped tilting began rising once more, the red liquid edging ever closer to his tongue. Frost froze, his eyes opened wide in fear, trembling from the pain of such a betrayal. The man before him was the incarnation of a demon, pretending to be a friend and ally. As the liquid inched ever closer and Frosts fear grew, the evil smile on Sams face became more and more menacing. This exchange seemed tost for ages but little more than several seconds had passed. Ls magic was still going strong. Suddenly just before the liquid felt upon Frosts receded tongue, and his eyes had closed, to painful to watch the torture that wasing he heard a chuckle and the ss vial that rested upon his lips was removed. Hahahaha sorry Frost I couldnt resist a little teasing hahahaha. Sam let loose a hearty chuckle as ced the removed cork back into the top of the vial before storing it back in his pack. He then moved to pick up the mid-level potion that had fallen from Frosts spatial ring, a gentle expression could be seen on his face as though his previous actions never happened. That he was always a caring and gentle senior only thinking in Frosts best interests. Frost opened his eyes nervously, his body still tense and untrusting. When he gazed upon Sams face he looked at him with heavy usation and no small amount of hatred. Sam merely rubbed the back of his head with a little embarrassment while opening up the mid-level health potion. Come on you didnt think Id really do something like that do you? Ignoring a perfectly good mid-level health potion just to finally enjoy someone else with just as delicate a palette being on the receiving end of such torture Sam put on a hurt expression, but Frost wasnt buying it, he saw Sams every change and knew that he was fully prepared to do the deed. Likely the only reason he didnt being a mix of guilt and the fact that Frost would likely get some sort of revenge after. A faint blush grew on Sams neck as he endured Frosts hateful look, he knew that he was caught and already regretted his actions. Yanking out the cork he brought the new vial to Frosts lips and tipped the liquid into his mouth. Mid-level health potions were not nearly as disgusting as low level ones given the higher ranking ingredients involved in their creation. Even low quality ones were multiple times better than the highest quality low level potion both in vour and healing strength. Whereas high level health potions boasted a magnificent taste mid-level potions were simply not bad, still not at the level of tasty but far more ptable, even by Frost and Sams standards. As the liquid flowed down Frosts throat he could feel the dense energy contained within the liquid quickly seeping into his bloodstream once it reached his stomach. Sam poured the potion with haste since he didnt need to worry about the horrible taste but clearly he wasnt fast enough, his earlier pandering wasting time. The roar of his pissed off wife reverberated around the room. What the hell are you ying at Sam! Give him a god damn potion and get your ass over here and help me finish this monster! Her voice was full of anger, shed been trapping and cooking this damn revenant for the past 60 seconds or so, yet her husband was still by Frosts side when all he had to do was check his injuries, provide a potion, and ce him away from the battle. Chapter 267 267 Chapter 267: Earth rending sh Sam shivered as his wifes furious voice filled his ears, fear evident in his eyes. She was truly pissed off and getting on her bad side was not a good idea. Coming dear, he responded almost instantly, pouring the rest of the mid-level potion down Frosts throat before cradling his wounded body and moving him a little out of the way. Once Frost was moved to the edge of the room Sam quickly dashed away, his great sword at the ready. Even with the ice revenants level of wounds as well its current trapped state, the battle couldnt be considered over. Beasts had far more vitality than that of the sapients races, taking far more damage to bring them down. Monster were even more difficult to take out, especially monsters that were part spirit/ethereal. As long as their cores were in tact itd be truly hard to end them. Sam moved with speed, reaching the ice revenants side in a couple seconds. He raised his great sword up high before swinging across the things shoulder. Leaving a gash across its runic armour. With the pir of fire burning away and its mana levels significantly reduced the runic armour was far more fragile. Sam didnt let up, releasing sh after sh upon the revenants armour and exposed ethereal limbs. Each sh held great cutting force, weakening the revenant further and further. Each blow was aimed well to make sure the ice revenant could not escape therge pir of fire and that its core would be left in the highest state. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh you damn insects! The ice revenant had gone mad with pain; fire was its nemesis and caused no small amount of damage to its body. It was on the brink of copse, soon itd be forced to retreat back into its core. To hibernate and convalesce until it had enough strength to recreate its physical body. It tried to leave the effect of the fire pir but each time itd be meet with a sh of Sams great sword, injuring it further and knocking it back into the mes. Its blue ming eyes turned a mixture of purple and red as it burned thest vestiges of its power. Its chilling aura began to coalesce, even while under the mes of Ls spell, the revenant summoned everything it had, pooling its power inwards before boom! All of its power was violently sent outwards like an explosion. The frigid wave of air shattered the 3rd circle magic crest underneath sending a wave of pain through Ls head. A trickle of blood dripped from her nose and her eyes became unfocused. Holding on with her 3rd circle spell for so long had drained her quite considerably. Now with her magic crest being forcibly dispelled she fell to her knees, gasping for air and with a serious headache. Sam meanwhile had braced for the impact. His great swordy horizontally in front, with the red hot de facing the oing wave. His knees were bent, lowering his centre of gravity. The wave of frigid air burst out in all directions, aiming to rebuff all foes and magic. The fire pir was released almost instantly, revealing the extent of the damage done to the revenants body. Deep gashes covered its runic armour, turning it into mere scrap. Its ethereal body was fading and barely holding itself together, as though it could be extinguished any second. ..... The frigid air that burst out, violently collided with the nearby Sam, forcing him backwards and away from the revenant though not nearly as much as desired. With his great sword blocking ahead and his legs braced, Sam held his bodys position while creating deep trails in the ice floor as he was forced back close to ten metres. Sams brow was frowning, his hands and legs shaking as they just endured a great amount of force. Thankfully he took precautions otherwise he would have been sent barrelling through the air right into one of the walls. The ice revenant would then have a small amount of time to heal up, with his wife in no shape to cast more magic and Frost still recuperating. A cornered prey was not something to take lightly especially one as strong and tenacious as this ice revenant. The ice revenant frowned as it saw Sam only pushed back a mere ten metres but what was done was done, he needed to make the best of it. Sam quickly straightened his legs and moved to re-enter closebat range, not willing to give the revenant a chance to recover. [Ice form into a mighty tomb and seal my enemy, icy tomb] In ast ditch effort to stop Sam, the ice revenant channelled its mana for a 3rd circle spell [icy tomb]. Though it was much weaker than usual the revenant still sessfully summoned the magic crest. As Sam dashed forward arge blue crest, flickered beneath him, sending a wave of danger into his heart. A momentter on Sams left and right tworge blocks of ice grew from the floor, each one heavy and imposing. The two blocks quickly snapped together like a giant frozen maw, aiming to seal Sam and or crush him to pieces. Sam was quick with his reactions,unching his body froward into a sharp conical spin aiming to clear their sphere of influence but that wasnt enough. Gripping his great sword hard he swung out while spinning, carving massive gashes into the blocks as escaped their grasp. The revenantsst spell failed, and he knew it. Sam dropped to the ground and continued his dash forward, his great sword at his side. The ice revenants eyes filled with resignation and despair, he sighed as he felt his life force dwindling. He raised the remaining half of broadsword to meet the swing of Sam, it was all he could do, his mana was spent and even if it wasnt he had no time to cast another spell. Sam moved with deft precision and such speed that he was in front of revenant in under a second, his great sword poised to his side at the ready. He saw the movements of the ice revenant but thought little of it, a desperate act of a dying monster, there was not much power contained in the strike, merely for show, no bite behind it. But Sam wasnt one to take any chances, he decided use his most powerful strike. With his great sword in hand Sams eyes revealed a powerful determination. [Earth rending sh] the great sword glowed with immense energy as a thick metallic beam, covered the de edge, giving it a weighty presence, as though the sword was ten times heavier. This was Sams strongest attack, it sucked up a great deal of energy and its power rivalled that of a B-rank adventurer. The mighty great sword met with the half cut broadsword, but there was no loud nging of metal, just a sharp howl as Sams weapon skill, obliterated the broadsword on contact, before rapidly doing the same to the revenants left arm and shoulder. The broadsword and runic armour that was struck had a clean sharp cut across it where the de passed through, the released part fragmented into practically dust from the residual energy. The ice revenants eyes returned to their regr blue colour before finally growing dark and vanishing. Its body copsed and returned to its core. The remaining pieces of runic armour and the handle of the broadsword fell to the ground without support, it was over. Sam reached out to grab ice revenants core before it struck the floor, being very delicate with his touch. Sweat poured down his neck and back, and his arm and leg muscles were shaky as the cost of using such a powerful skill came into effect. He fell to his knees and gasped for air, his body wasnt trained enough to channel such high amounts of energy, putting him in a very exhaustive and vulnerable state. Thankfully no other monsters could enter the boss room and it was unlikely for another party to enter given the danger. Sam knew the risks of using such an overpowered strike but still chose to do it, on the off chance that the ice revenant had onest thing nned. Theyde so far, to have one of them die or seriously maimed at this point would make it a hollow victory. He removed a special sealing case from his spatial ring. It was made of special anti-mana materials and was covered in runes. He opened it up and ced the grapefruit sized core inside, on top of a velvet like cloth before closing the seal. As he did it the runes glowed with mana sealing the core within and preventing the ice revenant from absorbing mana in order to reform as well as preventing the leakage of mana that would affect its quality. Sam and L had prepared this case for the transport of the ice revenants core as it would ensure its stability on the journey home. Once the core was safely ced in the chest and the lock sealed Sam finally let out a sigh of relief. The tension in his body was released and he fell back against the floor with a victorious smile on his face, theyd won. Chapter 268 268 Chapter 268: Treasure chest rewards With the ice revenant dead, silence filled the room for several seconds before loud unrestrainedughter echoed throughout. Hahahahaha we did it, L, Frost we did it! We god damn fucking did it hahaahahaha! Sam roared at the top of his lungs as hey on his back, staring up at the ceiling. A tear dripped down his cheek as his emotions overwhelmed him. This fight was unbelievably risky, yet they seeded and seeded perfectly. The ice revenants core was safely kept and undamaged. With it theyll be able to save Ls father. This was without a doubt the most personal and important quest the couple had ever undertaken and now it was over. The tears continued to stream down Sams face as all the bottled up pressure finally found release, a fitting end too a long and arduous career. L was no different, as Sams words of victory rang in her ears her eyes grew red and misty before a veritable waterfall of tears fell from her face. Her headache and exhaustion was ignored as a joyful smile adorned her face. Images of her father shed before her eyes; her hope rekindled. They could save him, and no one died because of it. Frost was recuperating well; the mid-level health potion had gotten to work almost immediately. Whereas Sam and Ls bodies were in great pain his was more itchy and ufortable as the potion stitched together his body and provided new skin and bone. He too grew emotional from Sams words, though he didnt cry like his two teachers he did smile and clench his fists hard as the feeling of victory filled his heart. Wife did you see what I did, I cleaved the revenant in twain with my mighty great sword ahaahahhahaah! Sam continued to roar out loud, singing his praises. His darling wife not one to reign on his parade didnt chide or admonish him but stroked his ego. Yes dear I saw it, you were very handsome. She spoke the truth. The image of her husband facing off against the ice revenant, dashing through itsst ditch spell and using his mighty weapon skill was very attractive. That was her man, hers and she was damn proud. hahahahahaahah Sam chuckled full of pride as he received his wifes praises, feeling giddy and warm. L let her husband have his little moment, giving him around 20 seconds before reigning on his parade. Remember to drink a health potion otherwise Ill be forced to make you. A gentle threat was hidden in her tone and her joyful smile showed signs of evil intent. Sam shivered in response, his face warping in disgust. His victory high instantly being shattered. ..... Hahahahahahaha Frost couldnt help butugh at his teachers expense without restraint, nearly pulling a stitch. This was karma. L chuckled in concert causing Sam to blush in embarrassment. After 10 minutes or so the group were back in tip top shape or near enough. Sam didnt need his wifes assistance in taking a potion. He grumbled a little but sucked it up and downed the thing in a single gulp, he refused to let a disgusting potion get him down after such a triumphant battle. His wifes coaxing certainly helped, both were full of emotion, their love boundless. Frost with his sharp hearing unfortunately overheard a lot of their sweet nothings as well some more graphic promises. A bright red blush covered his face and neck as the heat filled his body and a certain area reacted as his imagination ran wild. He shook his head and covered his ears to prevent himself falling victim to the married couples antics. Sam and Lughed at his actions, finding the young man really cute. But they were adults and knew about time, ce, and asion. Acting on their desires here and now would not be wise, especially withpany. The two lovebirds needed to calm themselves down and wait for a more secluded opportunity to engage in such activities, thankfully their home was nearby. They could hold off in the meantime. However, though they wouldnt engage in more intimate activities, kissing was all above board. While the husband and wife were deep in their professing of love, Frost moved away from them, towards the end of the boss room. Right in front of the gateway to the monsterirs core room was a treasures chest. Simr to one summoned after he defeated the lesser yuki-onna but more intricate, clearly it was of a high quality. Frost moved close and decided to inspect the contents, a worthwhile distraction from the lovebirds. As he did he couldnt help but be filled with excitement and curiosity. For defeating the lesser yuki-onna I got a potion as well as frigid tourmaline, I wonder what a C-rank ice revenant will be worth? A greedy looked filtered past Frosts eyes as he lifted the chests lid. Of course, the contents would need to be split between the three of them but even so it should be impressive. A slight glow erupted from the chest as Frost opened it before fading out and revealing the contents. Three itemsy within the chest, a pair of leather boots, a single flower and finally a runic box. Frost removed each item carefully examining each one with a frown on his face. The leather boots were probably equivalent to 3 stars, a quality reward and given their blue colour they likely had some natural resistance to the cold. And appearance wise they were quite beautiful, shame however that they were quite small, clearly designed for a woman. Frost couldnt identify the flower but could feel that it contained a fair amount of energy, indicative of a high ranking herb. For the runic box, there were enchantments covering the entire thing as well as a small recess for magic crystals. This was clearly a magic device, but its purpose, Frost had no idea, hed have to test it or have it examined by a professional. He tilted his head to the side, trying to work out whether or not these three rewards were good or not inparison to what they had to kill. Frost was kind of hoping for something a bit more practical like weapons or better yet another magic skill book but after being taught by L and Sam for the past 3 days he knew that that was incredibly rare. As he was deliberating whether or not to test out the magic device here a sweet smelling fragrance drifted from behind his shoulder. Whatd we get? L had appeared suddenly behind him giving him a start, he was so engrossed that he didnt even notice hering towards him. A pair a womans leather boots, probably equivalent to 3 star quality, they look quite nice and would likely match your robes. Frost turned his neck to face L, he looked her up and down as though judging how shed look with the blue boots before nodding. He was quite confident in regards to fashion or rather what he liked to see on woman. He passed the boots over to her to try on which she dly epted with a bright smile. Her face right now was a little blushed and her lips quite luscious given the intimate kissing she just performed with her husband, she looked quite sexy. A slight blush reappeared on Frosts face, as he was slightly captivated by her appearance. He averted his eyes, which made L giggle and stroked her ego. Of course, she only had eyes for her husband but knowing that a young man like Frost found her attractive gave a great confidence boost. She decide to tease the young man a little, her lust evoked by her husbands tender care. Sam was currently trying to calm his body down after their little romance. With a provocative smile she looked at Frost Frost would you be a dear and hold my current boots, I want to try them on. Then without waiting for his answer, L turned around and bent over, entuating her veryrge butt, she even purposely made it bounce as she removed her boots. Frosts eyes were instinctively drawn to therge peach in front of him, mesmerised by its size and shape. Unable to turn away whenever it bounced, his throat grew parched. He didnt even notice when L had turned back around with her old boots, outstretched for him to take. Her smile grew more and more teasing, God I just want to eat him up. Frost my boots waving them in front of his face, Frost finally regained focus. He nervously took them from her, his eyes however were clearly struggling to not stare at her ample backside. This time however the blush grow on Ls face, as she wondered if shed gone to far. Frost was amazing to tease but he was still a young man after all, she was ying with fire. Thankfully someone else came and put a stop to this little charade. Ok it think thats enough L. Sam ran over and ced himself between Frost and his wife. His back faced Frost, blocking his wife from view. He gave him a strong look with clear meaning, Frost awkwardly looked to the side, knowing that he had taken a few liberties. L however was blushing even more, finallying to terms with her actions but more so the affect her movements had not on Frost but her husband. A certain part of him was standing tall and at attention and was currently poking sharply into her abdomen. She looked up nervously at her husband who had a very rare, irritated look on his face, hed just calmed the thing down when his wife was bending over and shaking her ass in front of young Frost. He was quite annoyed by her actions and nned to discipline her. Taking her old boots from Frost he guided her over to the other side of the room leaving Frost with a rather awkward look on his face. He scratched the back of his neck before turning around and examining the magic device, pretending that the situation never happened. Chapter 269 269 Chapter 269: Treasure chest rewards (2) Sam gave his wife a lecture on her teasing all with a rather irritated tone. He also had her deal with his issue that was threatening to poke a hole in his trousers. Frost wisely covered his ears and did his best to ignore their discussion. He ced the flower to one side; he was not a botanist by any degree like Sam but could tell that it was likely some sort of rose. The petals wererge, beautiful, and white with highlights of pale blue and was cold to the touch. There was a slight fragrance being emitted from the rosehip, mild and soothing. Hed have Sam identify it once he was done discipling his wife. The third item, the runic box or rather the magic device what quite interesting. The entire thing was silver in colour with blue runes, a small recess could be seen in the centre, where a magic crystal could be ced to provide power. He didnt recognise the runic enchantments and had no knowledge in the workings of magic devices, best to just give it a whirl and see what happens. With a curious glow in his eyes Frost removed a D-rank magic crystal that he obtained from one of his many kills and ced it within the recess. Once in ce the entire box glowed and hummed with power. The blue runes shined bright as it absorbed the energy from within the crystal. Within a moment the entire thing was drained, fragmenting into dust, an entire D-rank magic crystal siphoned instantly. That was some appetite. A momentter the box buzzed before the runes left the box and rapidly expended outwards, establishing arge sphere around the device, roughly 3 metres in diameter. Frost and the device were encapsted within this sphere or rather barrier. The thing was mainly transparent except for the erged runes that could asionally be seen rotating around. Within the barrier it was silent, Frost could no longer hear Sam and L in the distance. He was in an isted space. walking up to the edge of the barrier Frost ced his hands against it, it was solid. He let loose a light jab but couldnt puncture the barrier in the slightest, his fist was stopped dead, the runes glowed slightly in response but that was all. This is a barrier magic device, and one of high quality, no wonder it devoured the D-rank magic crystal so quickly. Barrier magic devices were defensive devices that required great amounts of energy to create shields or barriers, very useful and expensive. The town of Furano had several of these dotted along the walls to be used during the monster stampedes. The soldiers would funnels dozens of magic crystals into the things to establish massive barriers preventing ess to the town. They were some of the most energy sucking magic devices in existence and highly desired by any town or city that could put up with the cost. Frost really wanted this magic device; it would help to provide him with another method to protect his dungeon and unlike most adventurers he wouldnt have to worry about the energy costs. He didnt know the limits of this device but even with the current 3metre diameter sphere it was already something he could use. Frost stayed within the sphere for a few minutes, enjoying the silence as he examined the magic device, trying to learn all he could. When he deactivated the barrier Sam and L were waiting. Sam had a happy smile on his face and looked quite refreshed as did L, though she had a rather guilty look in her eyes as she looked a Frost. Clearly feeling that she went a bit too far with her teasing. ..... Are the two of you finished? Frost asked tentatively as he did his best to keep a straight face. Yes, and sorry about earlier. Sam was referring both to his and Ls public disy of affection as well as the cruel teasing he did in regards to the health potion. Frost had almost forgot about that incident but now that Sam was apologising his mood quickly turned, his eyes full of usation. Hmph! Frost hmphed clearly not so keen to forgive. What youre still mad, hell I didnt even do it in the end yet just a few minutes ago you were staring at my wife with those perverted eyes of yours. Sam let loose a deep breath from his nose and arched out his chest as though ready for a fight. His wife was certainly taking her teasing a bit too far, but Frost didnt have to stare with such tant desire. Eh! a....bu.....a....fair point. Frost was dumbstruck and speechless, he had no argument, he could only imagine what kind of expression he had on his face as he ogled L. But could he really be med, nearly every encounter hes had with woman theyve teased him, he was a young man in the prime of his life whod as of yet not been able to partake in such pleasures. He had his limits, he was no saint, Sam should just be happy that he didnt lose his mind. Who asked his wife to have such a well-rounded butt. Frost sighed before he shrugged, Even? He asked if this made them square. Sam continued to put on his angry fa?ade for a moment before smiling, even. The two men then shook hands while smiling at one another, a hidden conversation was being ryed between their eyes, one which L wasnt privy too. She simply followed her husbands lead, after giving a quick apology to Frost the three of them put it behind them. The barrier that you erected, was it from a magic device? L asked with an inquisitive tone. She was currently wearing the new blue leather boots, Sam helped her put them on and ced her old ones in their spatial ring. Frost was right they really did suit her and were almost a perfect fit. Yeah, I ced a D-rank magic crystal within the recess and a barrier sphere of 3metres was created, its pretty sturdy too. Frost happily exined his finding in regards to the magic device. He looked like a kid in a candy store and Sam and L being parents they could understand his feelings. It was obvious to them that Frost really wanted the magic device, his eyes sparkled as he showed it off to them. The husband and wife shared a look and nod, they didnt care too much about the treasures. They only needed the ice revenants core all else theyd be willing to hand over to Frost. The remnants of the ice revenants runic armour for example was currently in Frosts spatial ring under their insistence. Even though it was quite damaged the raw material was good stuff. What else is there? Sam asked as he saw Frost fiddling with what appeared to be a flower earlier and he being a green thumbed botanist was quite interested. d you asked, the third item was this flower. I cant identify what it is but Im guessing its some kind of rose. Given your fondness for nts maybe you know what it is. Frost picked up the blue and white rose and delicately presented it to Sam, curious to know its origin. .......Sam was silent as he stared hard at the rose, his eyes opened wide and his lips started twitching, he was in shock. T..tt..tthats a wintermorn rose! He almost screeched the name. Frost and L looked at him in shock, they didnt expect such a reaction from him. The two looked at one another, neither of them recognised the name. L suddenly felt a bit guilty, given that she spent the majority of her time with her husband she really should know more about his hobbies. Seeing as the impact of such a name was lost on the two Neanderthals, Sam enlightened them. The wintermorn rose is a high ranking herb found normally within the deeper inner regions of the cial mountains. It is said that it takes half a century for it bloom and is always guarded by powerful monsters. Its a very rare flower that when ingested by monsters can help them evolve while for sapients it can be used as the main ingredient in the mana development potion. Improving the quality of ones mana veins, the scent alone is enough to bring one into a calming state. Sam gave an ample exnation full of excitement, his expression was very simr to Frosts when he was exining the magic device. Frost and L were blown away, they looked down at this unassuming rose with fresh eyes. Each and every item from the chest was incredibly valuable, far more than what one would regrly receive after defeating the final boss. An increased reward for increased difficulty. Frost now knowing the value of the flower found it very appealing, but he had little need for such a thing. His mana veins were already the best you could get and in regards to evolving monsters the dungeon system made it just a matter of experience umtion. Besides he wouldnt really know what to do with such a precious flower, there was someone far more deserving of it. Sam why dont you take the flower, L the boots and me the magic device. One each so its fair. The magic device was still Frosts most highly desired item. Chapter 270 270 Chapter 270: The heart of a monsterir Frost suggested splitting the treasure chest rewards three ways, the magic device for him, the pretty blue 3 star leather boots for L and the Wintermorn rose for Sam. Eh? Sam was blown away by Frosts suggestion, his brow furrowed. The Wintermorn rose was clearly the most valuable of the three items by far. He and L had already stated that Frost would get the majority of the rewards from beating the ice revenant since they required his aid, so Sam didnt feel right. He looked to his wife for aid, but she simply nodded her head, agreeing with Frosts suggestion. Not out of greed but because she saw the sparkle in her husbands eyes as he held the flower. Sam Ive got no need for it; besides it suits you better. Frost continued to push his suggestion as did L. Yeah out of the three of us who better to take care of a flower plus you didnd thest blow on the ice revenant. Sam looked towards his wife and then to the wintermorn rose, I did do that didnt I. A smug smile grew on his face as he remembered his own awesomeness in taking down the revenant with his [earth rending sh]. L gave Frost a slight nudge with her elbow hinting tond onest blow. Yeah yeah, since you killed it you should get the most valuable item, its only fair. Frost and L both nodded their heads in agreement. .....I guess what youre saying makes sense, Ill take good care of this wintermorn rose. Sam then promptly removed a special container from his spatial ring and ced the rose gently within, being very careful as he did, even more so than he was with the ice revenants core. A giddy smile adorned the brave mans lips, making him look like an innocent child. He gently stroked the container before cing it safely within his spatial ring. Sam had great ns for this wintermorn rose. The wintermorn rose was one of his bucket list flowers that he wished to personally bloom during his lifetime. Itd take a lot of work, but he was sure he could make it happen. He already had a fairly substantial garden back home filled with rare and beautiful flowers, the wintermorn rose would make for an excellent addition. His personal collection even impressed the resident alchemist who frequently had to trade materials with him. A great many potions had been made and lives saved due to Sams hobby. Even a couple of herbs required for the treatment of his father inw came from his garden. L watched her husband smile giddily like an innocent child, her heart filling with warmth. Her husband despite his appearance was a real gentle soul. ..... Frost was smiling too, he got what he wanted. This barrier device would make a fine addition to his dungeon. Now that the rewards for their grand battle had been fully distributed it was time head back up. The quicker they got back to Ls father the better it would be for his condition. Although he could still hold on for another week or so before it really became touch and go, he was still suffering. Ls and Sams wounds and exhaustion were pretty much recovered, after potions and a few strips of dried meat. Frost after taking the mid-level health potion was pretty much back to full health, a few aching joints, and tender areas but other than that he was A ok. Frost stored the barrier magic device within his spatial ring whereas L was already wearing her brand new boots. The leftover runic armour had also be stored away by Frost leaving the boss room rather bare. The once smooth and clean boss room was now a minefield ofrge craters and gashes after their battle but already there were signs of healing, though it was slow and gradual. Frost didnt know if it was because of the extent of the damage or because an intruder was still present within the room, another thing he noted forparison. Well now that our battles finished and weve got what we came for, shall we head back up? Well still need to fight our way back to the surface but if we rush we might make it to the exit in 48 hours or so. After that to reach Kranor, our enve itll take around 3 or 4 hours without any interruptions. Sam after cing the wintermorn rose away spoke up, he was keen to get back home as was L. The husband and wife looked towards Frost, waiting on his answer. I know you want to get back soon but do you mind if I check out the monsterirs core. Ive never seen one before and am quite curious, Ill just be a few minutes or so tops. Frost understood his teachers desire to leave post haste, but he really wished to examine a monsterirs core. It was pretty much what his own core was based upon and would likely be very enlightening. Sam and L looked at one another with slight surprise before frowning. Ok but remember dont do anything to harm the core otherwise youll bebelled as serious criminal. This monsterir is a real hotspot for growing adventurers, they and the surrounding kingdoms would not take kindly to it being pre-emptily destroyed. L spoke with a serious tone. Messing with monsterir cores especiallyirs that had high levels of traffic was a condemned act by the majority of people. Destroying such things would damage peoples livelihood as well as source of ie for merchants and kingdoms. Only those fanatics like the Church of Light seek to annihte monsterirs as part of their doctrine. Of course, some monsterirs are purposely destroyed due to the threat that they embody on the current residing poption. In such cases it needs the approval of the federation of knowledge as well as the adventurers guild and the kingdom or equivalent that is being affected by said monsterir. Sam and L understood the desire to examine and see a monster liars core in person as it was something that embodied creation a hall mark of the Dark God but were worried that Frost may do something foolish. Monsterir cores were living embodiment of great fountains of mana and held a great temptation for those with strong mana senses. Understood I wont do anything untoward. Frost nodded his head in understanding before quickly dashing towards the gateway to the core room. Like with the previous floors, the boss was connected to the barrier that blocked ess to the next area. After beating the ice revenant, the barrier had receded. Frost had full ess to the very heart of the monsterir. The gateway to the core was roughly 3 metres tall and 2 metres wide, a fairlyrge entrance and was made of pykrete. As Frost walked through the threshold his body felt a pressure akin to aura, he frowned as he felt it. This was the weight of mana, different from the pressure emitted by his own core. There was arge difference in quality, yet the foundation was simr. Frost felt his heart thump away, the monsterirs core was around simr in size to his own core but appeared far less smooth, more like a crystal like construction with jagged edges and protrusions. Through his mana sense Frost could feel and see the tendrils of mana siphoning into therge crystal before being refined within the centre. A poor attempt at divine energy was the result and what allowed the monsters core to create monsters. For Frost this was quite a magical scene, he stood in a trance as he watched the core work, like arge heart pumping out fresh blood around the body. Boom! Suddenly without warning Frost had stepped closer the core and his hear thumped so loud it caused his body to quiver. Boom boom His heart continued to thump, and a strong desire filled Frost, his mouth grew dry, and his eyes turned bloodshot. He subconsciously reached out his hand to caress the monsterirs core, licking his lips as he did so. The crystal like core that was before him now looked like a perfectly cooked dragon steak, a delectable piece of food. Frost wanted nothing more than to devour the core before him, to fuse with it and absorb its powers. The moment his hand was about to touch the core however Ls stern warning rang within his mind bringing Frost back to his senses. With a quick shake of his head, he regained focus and jumped backwards, keeping his distance from the core. His breathing wasboured, and his face flushed as though he went through a great ordeal. Thats not mana addiction but something else? Frost spoke through deep breaths, ring at the core with trepidation. Many people especially those that were more mana sensitive would feel a great temptation when in the presence of such a natural collection of mana, they could even enter a high or euphoric state but what Frost felt was different, it was a primal hunger. Like he was poisoned with a powerful aphrodisiac and the monsterirs core was a beautiful woman, the allure was far more than just a mana addiction. Frosts heart was still pumping vigorously, and the core continued to give off a delightful scent. His current state reminded him of when Nanna and Loki first saw the earth rank cold me, they were filled with the urge to eat. What does this mean, can I grow more powerful by eating monsterir cores? Chapter 271 271 Chapter 271: Leaving [Beginners ice magic] Frosts eyes were glued to therge crystal that was the monsterirs core as his mind raced with possibilities. His expression right now was reminiscent of a starving wolf in front of a defenceless rabbit. His instincts were telling him to eat, that if he did his hunger would satiated, that hed grow in power. Why did adventurers and everyone else brave into harshnds such as the cial mountains and monsterirs. Of course, money was a contributing factor but more so people desired power, the ability crush whatever stood in your way. Money was desirable but only power garnered you respect. Thats why the majority of kings and emperors were strong fighters in their own right, without such power one would not follow. No one is more respected that those that have reached the epitome of power, no one is so idealised by the masses. With enough power one can do anything they wished, money,nd, woman, men everything can easily be achieved with power. The monsterir core floating in front of Frost was promising him power, strength, the ability to crush those that stood against him like his barbaric third brother or those from the church of light. The temptation was strong but so was Frosts will. He resisted the urges and calmed his thumping heart as he pondered what this meant. The fact that he would feel such an urge when seeing a monsterir core was puzzling, as far as knew others wouldnt feel such a primal urge when in front of a monsterir core. Is it unique to dungeon cores? Frost asked this question aloud as he cupped his chin in thought. He knew that powerful monsters would be attracted to the high concentrations of mana, but would their urges be the same as his....he didnt know the answer but if so a dark thought scratched at the back of his mind. If I can get more powerful from eating a monsterir which is basically a primitive version of a dungeon what about a dungeon core? The moment this thought shed in his mind Frost felt an eery chill down his back. Would his siblings seek to devour each other? The faces of his family shed before his eyes, Gobuske, Indra, Aqua, Terra and even Yami. No no no I wont go down such a road. Frost shook with repulsion, refusing to even think about such a possibility. Even with Pyro though they were diametrically opposed in personality and element wise he would never wish to...eat him. This was a frightening revtion and one that Frost wished hed never realised. His eyes darted back towards the core of the monsterir onest time before turning around and leaving. I wont go down such a road.... but monsterirs, theyre fair game. Frost had no issue eating monsterirs as there was no sentience. However, he wasnt here alone and was also an adventurer, eating the core would cause more trouble than its worth. Besides he didnt know what sort of effects it would have on his body. I need to talk to Maya about this and if possible father. With a serious expression Frost left the core room never looking back, he got what he needed, it was time to go. ..... All done? Sam asked curiously. Yeah, got a good look at the thing, quite spectacr if I must say. Frost put on a bright expression, trying to not let on about his dour mood. It was fashioned by the dark god after all, theplexities of a gods creations is far beyond what we could possibly hope to understand. Sams eyes revealed a deep curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Even now after centuries of monsterirs they had barely scratched the surface of how they truly worked. They knew that the core would suck in vast amounts of mana from the natural world but how it transformed such mana into monsters, items and even the veryndscape was beyond their capabilities to understand. Which was to be expected, even the most powerful S-rank monsters couldnt understand theplexities of divine energy, that was solely the realm of the Gods.....and now the dungeon cores. Did you feel any attraction to the core? L asked in a concerned manner. Being attracted to the core was something that usually affected spell casters like herself and Frost. The more keen the senses the more pull itll have. L knew that Frosts potential was far above hers and this included his sensitivity to mana. It was one of the main reasons she was rather unnerved with him wishing to get close to the core. Frost trembled at her question Attraction? Thats an understatement. He subconsciously licked his lips as he remembered the so called attraction. Yeah but nothing I couldnt handle; I kept my faculties and didnt touch the core. Frost responded honestly, much to Ls relief. Good, restraint in the face of high concentrations of mana is the markings of a strong andposed mage, well done. She smiled brightly and patted Frosts shoulder in praise. Frost smiled and nodded in response, happy to be praised. Shall we start heading back now? Sam asked. Sounds good, you said that we could make it in under 48 hours? Frost remembered that they spent 3 days on the bottom two floors alone. As long as we move fast and sleep for around 4 to 5 hours then yeah it should be doable. Sam counted somehow with his fingers before nodding his head. Oh, but just because were going to rush doesnt mean that your lessons will end. In fact, theyll be all the more crammed and gruelling. L added from the side with a mischievous grin on her face, causing Frost to tremble slightly. That look in her eyes meant that he was going to wish he was dead. Theyll make him their pack mule and forcibly cram more knowledge into his poor mind. Over the past three days Sam and L learned that Frost had great endurance causing them to add more and more to his training schedule. With twitching lips Frost felt nostalgic for his training with Maya, at least that was only physically exhausting. But he was in no ce toin and was in fact grateful for Sam and Ls time. Plus, whenever he didin L would punish him quite severally all with a sadistic smile on her face. Women are all demons, demons I tell you! The group as scheduled reached the exit of [beginners ice magic] in just under 48 hours. Sam and L exited with smiles on their faces, ruddy cheeks and looking far younger than their actual ages. They took in a deep breath of the chilling cial mountain air beforeughing in victory. Frost meanwhile followed behind with the exact opposite appearance. His face was pale and haggard like he hadnt slept in days. His walk was unsteady and every breath he took was difficult, he looked at the backs of his teachers with pure hatred. They were both damn demons. The four hours sleep that was agreed to so as to make it on time was for L and Sam. Frost was not allowed to sleep, they said it was part of his training plus he was the one that needed to do all the camp prep, monster battling as well as reading the books L gave him. He didnt get a single break over the passed 48 hours which to him felt more like weeks. He didnt even get to enjoy Sams glorious cooking, no he had to make his own food which was fine and good training. The problem was that Sam would also cook but only for him and his wife, Frost had eat his own cooking while being taunted by the fabulous smells of Sams. It was absolute torture for the poor young foodie. On top of that he needed to be faced with Sam and Ls lovey dovey disys of affection. Now that they were so close to Frost they didnt feel ashamed in the slightest, he was now their student not a colleague or some stranger, so they acted as they normally did back in their enve Kranor. Several times Frost felt like burying his head in the snow, these two lovebirds were embarrassing but more than that Frost was insanely jealous. Alright Frost you can rx now, weve made it out. You can rest in the encampment for a couple hours while we take care of some business then well head for Kranor. Sam turned around and spoke to his student, his eyes showed a slightly guilty expression as he saw the state of his young protg. He wasnt sadistic like his wife; he was the soft gentle one out of the two. Being so hard on Frost was difficult for him but he had to suck it up since he knew it was what he needed. Frosts eyes lit up as the mention of rest, finally he thought. Sam you take him to a rest area, Ill go and speak with Ellen. L gave out instructions before heading off to meet this Ellen character. Alright dear Ill see you see soon. Sam waved his wife off not forgetting to ogle herrge butt as she walked away. This was not just because he loved to look at it but a promise he made with his darling wife; he was contracted to have his eyes glued with passion whenever she walked away. Once she was out of sight, Sam reluctantly turned to Frost. Well lets get you some rest, our treat. Sam then put hisrge muscr arm around Frost and helped guide him to the rest area. Chapter 272 272 Chapter 272: The long term tenants n The minor encampment set up around the [beginners ice magic] monsterir was a far cry from the set up of Beta camp or any other established vige. The buildings were quite flimsy, designed to be able to easily moved and or repaired. A lot of tents and buildings made of ice, amon scene here in the cial mountains. With such cold temperatures creating igloos was incredibly easy therefore manyrge buildings were constructed with simr methods. The materials were always on hand, easily extended, provided great protection from the cold as well as provide strong physical defence. They didnt even take that long to build, faster than stone and brick, a practise unique to the northern area of the Yangmir continent. Sam guided Frost towards the resting area, arge building made of ice and pykrete. Simple in design yet efficient, inside was warm and quiet. There was a reception area as soon as they walked in and cots to the left and right. The building was only a single story and provide no private rooms or anything bar the basics, not even food. Just a cot to sleep on while sheltered from the cold and noise. Frost had passed through the encampment as he entered the monsterir but didnt take the time to observe the area, focusing fully on the monsterir. Now that he was being led by Sam he had the time to take in the sights. Very basic indeed but provides everything one could hope for in a quick rest stop. Frost found that quite a few people were resting within this rather simply building. Whereas he saw another ce that was also fairly popr, Sam said that it was a pub. Where theres adventurers frequenting there needs to be 3 things, shelter, food, and alcohol, with alcohol being quite high up on the list. Booze provided a source of rxation that resting just didnt satisfy and helped give people courage when in need as well as providing warmth against the frigid cold. Other than these main establishments, simple shops made out of tents and ice were dotted around haphazardly providing arge range of stuff and or repair work. Lower quality than you may find in the official camps but there was also people having to restock after adventures, also better to have and not need than to need and not have. A refined iron dagger may be a poor choice of weapon barely reaching 2 star quality but having one was always better than being unarmed in battle -unless one was a pugilist. There was also a medical bay, that helped provide medical care. Herbs were for sale as well as balms and ointments and on a very rare asion someone who could cast low level healing magic, though price was quite high in that case. It too seemed to always have several people within. A sexy cat beastwoman being in charge certainly helped draw in the male adventurers even if they werent sick or injured. Frosts eyes sparkled at this sight, not just because he too found the catdy quite appealing no the fact that eye candy could be used to draw in vast amounts of customers. Over the next few weeks or even months Frost nned to grow his long term tenants n and to do that he needed to establish and control a camp outside his Dungeon. Creating towns or cities within the Dungeon was something to keep in mind far in the future but for now a camp in the external room was necessary. Building it wouldnt be much of an issue given his workforce and the abundance of materials i.e. ice and snow. Running it and making sure that it was as efficient as possible was the key. The rooms within the resting areas must have locks so he could benefit from the triple DP rate, and he needed methods to promote long term stay as well as high potential for expansion. The more likely the camp could be a vige or town or even greater, the more people would flock to it. Seeing the sexy catdy able to draw so many people to her store just on looks alone set off a lightbulb in Frosts mind. I need some eye candy to draw people in. Of course, he himself could be considered eye candy for the female adventurers but he would never abuse himself in such a way. But like most rough and dangerous professions men made up the majority therefore they needed to be particrly targeted. ..... A cute or sexy receptionist, workers, merchants etc... would certainly attract them to his camp. The issue was getting these so called eye candy employees. The monsters avable to him at the moment were a far cry from being able to run such a camp. None of them were woman and would only be seen as monsters, he didnt have ess to ice dwarves or intelligent ice spirits yet therefore that was currently a no go. Given that his location was technically within the cial mountains intelligent monster races could be epted but it may still be rather awkward. Northrend was a sapient empire after all. As Frosts mind filled with ideas for his future, Sam had already brought him into the resting area. A rough looking grandma was seated behind the desk, a cold, neutral look was on her face. She barely lifted her head in recognition when Frost and Sam walked in. One cot for 3 hours please Da. Sam spoke with a smile towards the cold grandma or rather Da. 15 coppers, take any thats free. Da replied with disinterest, merely tapping the desk for the money, not even pulling away her eyes from her book. Sam let out a slight sigh, he was used to this olddys attitude. He removed fifteen coppers before uttering his thanks and dragged Frost over to one of the free beds. Rest up Frost, L and I wille pick you up in 3 hours or so. After that well head home to Kranor where you can get a proper rest. Sam patted his young protgs shoulders with a smile. Got it, see youter Sam....by the way whats with the old grandma, shes so cold? Sams eyes twitched as they showed an expression of deep sadness and pain, before shaking his head and sighing, all while keeping his voice down. Da, shes....shes lost a lot and its affected her personality, resulting in the cold unfriendly exterior which you saw. Years ago, she used to be a very warm and bubbly person but after going through what she did its understandable. People like me who know about her past struggle with her change, but I dont hold it against her and will always greet her with a gentle smile as I always have. Sams expression showed a deeply pained look. Frost felt that he asked something he shouldnt have. His gaze drifted passed Sam to the cold grandma sitting quietly behind her desk as he wondered what could have happened to her. Sorry I didnt mean anything by it. Frost felt guilty for some reason and immediately apologised. No need to apologise, nothing wrong with being curious...just that you may not like the answers. Sam turned to look at the old grandma, biting his lips slightly in frustration. He and several others had tried to lighten her mood over the years but there was nothing they could do; how do you help someone whos lost everything they ever held dear. Sam patted Frosts shoulder before turning around and heading out, he needed to help L with a few things before they headed off, plus he really wanted to have a drink or two. Frost was left within therge resting dorm by his open cot, still emotionally affected by what Sam said, his gaze asionally drifting over to the old grandma. He shook his head to get rid of such unpleasant thoughts, turning to look at his bedding for the next few hours. Well, its better than nothing I suppose. His face grimaced as he looked at the simple cot, outfitted with a couple animal pelts as quilts. It certainly wouldnt be the most pleasant surface hed slept on but not the worst either. He removed his more ufortable armour as well as his leather boots (his spare pair since his other burst in the fight with the ice revenant), cing them within his spatial ring, beforeying down to rest. Thest 48 hours were really taxing on his mind and body, he fell right asleep within a couple minutes of his head touching the pillow. As he slept soundly, the old grandma silently turned her head to glimpse at him on the cot. Her dull and lifeless eyes seemed to glint with something as though she was remembering but it passed in a sh and once again she regained her lifeless and apathetic look, returning to her book. As Frost rested L went to meet the person called Ellen, the manager of this camp, and also a member of the order of the ice shield. The order of the ice shield had their hands in lots of areas, including camps situated near monsterirs. It was a great ce for materials, money, as well as finding and monitoring potential new members. It also helped to expand their influence among adventurers. Young managers may be put in charge of such unofficial camps as tests before being offered positions in the official camps. Ellen was one of these managers in training and had been taking care of the ce for the past two years, set to be an official manager after one more year. Chapter 273 273 Chapter 273: Ellen and the order of the ice shield L was allowed instant ess to Ellens office after showing her identity. Not only was she a powerful C-rank adventurer with many des she was also next in line for governing Kranor, a nearby enve with over 20,000 residents, a veritable big shot for a manager in training such as Ellen. As L walked into the room with a noble andmanding air, fit for her station as soon to be mayor of Kranor. Ellen was sitting behind her oversized and over piled up desk. She was in her early twenties, average looking with a thin figure. And was currently surrounded by paperwork, that almost eclipsed her entire frame. Ellen was a satyr and had two adorable antlers sticking out of her head, she had long green hair that reached all the way down to her knees if not tied up like it was currently. Her legs from her upper thighs down were like that of a goats and her feet were hooves. The poor girl didnt even notice Le up she was so swept up in her work. Cough cough L coughed audibly to get the young girls attention, feeling a little sympathetic to her plight. She knew what it was like to be bogged down in paperwork especially when it was supposed to be the prime time of her life. But she had to give Ellen kudos to her work ethic, the poor girls eyes were bloodshot, yet she still carried on. Eh?..... Oh, L sorry I didnt notice youe in, please, please take a seat. Ellen popped up her head in surprise not expecting someone to be in front of her let alone L. She frantically got up from her chair, knocking a few papers to the ground before trying to clean up an area for L to sit down. L chuckled at her actions finding it rather cute but worked hard to keep her serious demeanour, she was her on official business after all. About 30 secondster, Ellen had tided up an area for L and sat back behind her desk, her hair rather frazzled from bed hair and her frantic movements, making her look quite adorable. Ellen you really work too hard. L could help but let out her motherly instincts, looking at the overworked Ellen with pity. Im fine L really....thanks for the concern. Ellen smiled gently so as to prove her point. Anyway, the fact that your back means that.... Yes the C-rank ice revenant has been dealt with. L spoke with confidence causing Ellen to sigh with relief. Thank goodness, at least one issue has been dealt with haaaaaaaaaa. Ellen thanked her stars that at least one of her work problems had been cleared, thus reducing her workload slightly. Having a C-rank monster running about in a D-rank dungeon was dangerous business and meant a lot of paperwork for her. Sam and L had met with her before entering the monsterir and said that theyd deal with it. L being before her now and with a bright expression and in what looked to be in tip top health meant that Sam was likely fine as well. Knowing that Sam and L were after the ice revenant was another worry for her, she was quite close with the two of them and even knew why they took up the mission. ..... Is Sam ok? Though Ellen knew that if he wasnt L would likely be distraught right now instead of calm and collected. Yes hes fine, hes just taking our new friend to the rest area and will join us shortly. L smiled brightly, appreciating Ellen concern. Thats good, as long as youre safe thats all that matters. Ellen actually hoped that the two of them wouldnt face the ice revenant or at least would flee if their chances were too dire. She spend a lot of her time trying to request other C-rank parties that wererger toe and take care of the ice revenant problem. Taking on an ice revenant with just the two of them would be suicide. I didnt know that we had someone else at C-rank within their currently. Ellen suspected that the reason Sam and L could take out the ice revenant was because of the help from their new friend. Not surprised, hes very young and his potential is off the charts, though hes a littlecking when ites to adventurer knowledge. Sam and I decided to take him in as a student in exchange for helping us deal with the ice revenant and by god Im d we did. Frost yed a massive part in the battle, and made for greatpany, hell go far in this world Im sure of it. L spoke with a tone full of praise for Frost, she admired him greatly. Hmmm Frost, where have I heard that name before.......Ah wait a minute there was something that came in a couple days ago. Ellen felt that the name was familiar before suddenly remembering something. She pilfered through dozens of pieces of paperwork looking for a certain missive. Found it, yes I got a missive from headquarters to keep an eye on a young male elf named Frost, apparently he caught the eye of a couple higher ups when he passed through Beta camp. Lets see identifying characteristics, young, very handsome, tall wears schr like robes and uses a ive for his weapon. Is this the same guy? Ellen asked with an excited expression however L frowned in response. So, the order of the ice shield have already started making their moves, tch they certainly are quick. She had no questions in regards to her Frost and the one described being the same person but it irked her that the order was already aware of his potential. Her being the next in line to rule over Kranor meant she was in the know about some things in regards to the politics in the cial mountains. The order of the ice shield had been seeking more and more potential people even going to the extent of fighting for them against the native kingdoms and the Northrend empire. This revealed a strong desire for the order of the ice shield to be a separate entity entirely. Frost being eyed by such an ambitious group may not be a good thing right now. Hes probably the same person. L responded with an annoyed tone which Ellen caught onto. She was a smart person and instantly understood Ls meaning. Shed already stated that she and Sam had taken Frost as a student, meaning he was under their protection. This was a warning, Ellen gulped as a shiver ran down her back, but she held her ground. Thats good, seems that the higher ups have good eyes. Ellen spoke in neither a gentle or aggressive tone. She was weaker than L, but her backing wasnt. Though she may capitte to L in some regards when it came to the will of her superiors she was powerless and couldnt show weakness. L red at the young satyr for a few seconds before releasing a sigh, there was nothing she could do but make her stance known, she was in fact powerless before the entity that was the order of the ice shield. Ill have to give Frost a little warning but in the end itll be his decision. L could smell the scent of war brewing amongst the order of the ice shield and didnt wish for Frost to be dragged in but s he was grown man and could make his own choices. Shed just make sure he was aware of all the facts. After this little standoff where Ellen came out the winner the atmosphere returned to being business professional. The monsterir showed no sign of surging or expansion, just the usual traits of air affected by heightened mana activity. The C-rank boss being a rare anomaly, I dont believe another one will be generated any time soon but theres always a chance. L gave a full report of her findings within the monsterir. A surge was a situation when the monsters summoned overflowed and began to spill out from within the monsterir, wreaking havoc upon the camps set up nearby as well as natural fauna. Situations like surges werent actually too rare during periods of high mana activity, many of the monster within the monster stampedes were actually from monsterirs that surged over, its why the hordes are sorge. To prevent a surge, it was best to cull the poption before it reached surging levels. The [beginners ice magic] monsterir showed higher levels of monster activity but not nearly enough for a surge and even if it was, the amount of adventurers stationed here and within would be enough to keep the levels in check. Expansion was something else that asionally followed a surge but could also bepletely independent. Expansion as the word suggests was an expansion, the monsterir would grow, creating more floors and rooms. This however was a very rare event that was dependent on a great many factors which the federation of knowledge was still set to uncover. However, a few points had been discovered, a key one being the state of the monsterirs core. Therger and denser the energy the more likely it could expand. The quality of the [beginners ice magic] core was in the possible expansion pile so there was asional checks. With Ls statement a great weight was lifted off Ellens chest, her workload would greatly decrease now. No need for massive reports or arranging checks and contacting the federation of knowledge. Ls case as a C-rank adventurer was an epted testimony. Dealing with the normal activities caused by the monster stampede was a lot simpler than the abnormal. Ellen couldnt help but smile as tears dripped down her cheek. Im free Ellen could finally get some much needed rest and say goodbye to a great bunch of the paper forms littering her desk. Chapter 274 274 Chapter 274: Kranors problems L and Ellen continued to chat about the monsterir as well as other business rted topics and a few personal things before Sam entered 15 minutester. He came straight to Ellens office after dropping off Frost. The first thing he did was smile lovingly at his wife before nting a peck on her cheek. Is Frost resting? L asked with a loving smile, appreciating her husbands greeting. Yes yes I took him to Das ce and got him cot, said well pick him up in 3 hours or so. Good, that boy needs a rest before we embrace the journey home, he can get a much better nights sleep once were back. L nodded her head while wrapping hands around her husbands, looking very much like a young girl in love. Do the two of you have to act so lovey dovey everywhere you go, its painful for those who are currently single. Ellen almost spat in disgust, as her nose soured at the scene of the married couple. She was almost tempted to tell them to get a room but knew they would probably respond with great idea before Sam would pick his wife up and carry her to nearest bedroom. Yes we do L replied with a straight face, not ashamed in the slightest before nting a kiss on her husbands cheek. When you meet your soulmate little Ellen youll understand hahahahaah. Sam pulled his wife in close, causing Ellens expression to warp even further. Im not little anymore Im 23 years old dammit! She roared in protest but only got a patronisingugh from the couple. Frost slept for the full 3 hours and only rose due to Sams shaking. ..... Frost time to get upd, its been 3 hours. Sam and L were standing next to his cot, all ready and waiting to leave. Sam and L had talked with Ellen about a fair amount of things before enjoying some couple time. They had a drink at the pub, talked with a few other adventurers that they recognised, and Sam even cooked up a beautiful meal that they shared within the confines of a small igloo. Shortly after enjoying each otherspany in the igloo, it was time to wake up their sleepy student. Huh? Frost woke up groggy, pain in his shoulders and back but far better than he felt before his rest. He sat up slowly and cracked his back and neck while yawning, his sand encrusted eyes eventually made out the figures of Sam and L. Come on sleepy head time to get up. L shook her head, likening Frost to one of her young kids who refused to wake up on time. She snapped her fingers in front of his face to show her impatience. Im up Im up geez. Annoyed by her actions Frost lightly swatted away her hand before getting out of bed. Thankfully he was already dressed so it wouldnt take long. After putting on his boots and more obtrusive armour he was ready.....well mostly ready. Rumble his stomach rumbled in response to his awakening, bringing a slight blush to his face. Sam and L giggled before Sam brought out a bowl of ramen from behind his back. He was prepared for such an asion. Eat this then well go. The journey to Kranor isnt that difficult a trek but its never wise to travel on an empty stomach. Especially given the looming monster stampede. Sam handed over the ramen while he and L walked over to Da, trying to strike up a conversation. Their efforts werent going well but it didnt stop them from trying. Frost eyed the steaming bowl of soup, noodles, vegetables and what looked like some kind of beef with interest. The smell was inviting and since it was given by Sam it was sure to be something good. With the pair of chopsticks Sam handed him with the bowl, Frost dug in with relish. A few minutester, Frost let out a satisfied sigh, the ramen was very much to his liking, a perfect meal to wake up to. Sam and L arrived a momentter with rather downcast expressions, their efforts clearly not proving fruitful. L even had reddened eyes, showing that she released a few tears. Sam took the empty bowl of ramen and stored it back into his spatial ring. They could now go. The group of three made their way quickly to the edge of the camp. Kranor lied towards the west, of their current location. On the border of the epsilon sector just like the monsterir though further along the x-axis. No major environmental obstructionsy along their path, but monsters were abundant. They may have to fight their way through but considering the strength of their party it wouldnt prove to be an issue. As the group walked through the mighty white expanse that was the cial mountains L began to regale to Frost about her home, their target destination. Kranor is a long standing enve that goes back over 150 years and is considered one of the more established enves within the external regions. Though we cantpare in size to the enves and native kingdoms within the inner regions were quite well known and have proven to be quite stable in terms of our economic growth. Like other enves we tend to keep things internal as you can tell from our current mission but were far more weing than others, thus weve been able to sustain ourselves for so long, even grow. Our residents number in the tens of thousands and continue to increase every year. L started speaking with great pride, a wide smile adorning her face as she did. Who didnt love praising their own home. Frost listened with rapt attention. The books he bought in Furano had a decent amount of historical knowledge but in regards to the enves within the cial mountains it was rather bare. Kranor was only mentioned briefly since it had a fairly long history, but it spoke nothing about the ce itself, so Frost was keen to learn. Turns out he was a bit of a nerd, constantly seeking out knowledge, though not at the level of his younger brothers Chronos and Void, those magic fanatics. As his mind wandered to his younger brothers he remembered that his father suggested for him to discuss with them about Nanna and Lokis ve tattoos. Enves dont do much in terms of external trade, limiting their growth potential but even though we are aware of such a limitation most keep to such a tradition. It helps them remain free from political strain, and disagreements between other nations. Kranor follows suit but as I said is far more weing. We dont turn away outside visitors and even invite them to trade and stay within our territory. This has allowed us to gain much in terms of materials, rtionships, popce, reputation as well as skills but thats where we draw the line, we dont wish to develop into a full blown native kingdom. Our burgeoning popce has thus put a bit of a strain on our food reserves. Ls voice grew stern as she spoke of Kranors current situation. Her father had been dealing with a very stressful situation thus allowing him to fall ill, her as his daughter had some big shoes to fill and a lot to clean up. Thanks to the dormant monsterirs remnant mana levels we can grow arge amount of vegetables and raise animals for food but getting enough seeds to feed such arge growing popce is very difficult. Its harder to convince young people to focus on agriculture than it is on bing adventurers. Even though we have arge amount of money saved up, our own limited external trade makes it difficult to get the raw materials, regr merchants only hold so much. Hopefully once Sam opens up his restaurant itll inspire more and more people to get involved in the enves agriculture. L remembered her own experience as a young girl and her rebellious attitude towards her father about taking over the territory in the future and her fervent desire to be an adventurer. Only now that she was older and wiser did she truly understand the problems within her territory. Thankfully she had an awesome husband who was greatly skilled in terms of not only cooking and looking oh so handsome he had a vast knowledge in regards to nts, many of which were edible. If we manage to solve the food issues well actually be able to expand even further. The monsterir in which we established ourselves in all those years ago still has another two floors that are currently unused. More than enough for thousands more or even tens of thousands more residents. In terms of our other areas were actually pretty set and if we wished to develop along the path of a native kingdom it wouldnt be too hard. With Sam being a skilled cook as well as him and me being C-rank adventurers, we have many other skilled residents. Weve got pretty good alchemists and tailors, plus our other tradesmen are pretty decent. Mine and Sams equipment was actually created within Kranor, apart from a few choice pieces found in monsterirs. Really our major issue is around food production haaaaaaaaa. L let out a depressed sigh truly worried about this issue that was now clearly upon her shoulders. Chapter 275 275 Chapter 275: Frosts future ambitions Kranor had grown in regards to poption a little too quickly and showed no signs of stopping anytime soon. If you take out the looming food issue the ce was practically a haven, full of joy and excitement. With the promise of a happy and safe life people are more likely to bring children into the world. Thus, Kranors strong economic growth has ironically also lead it down a dangerous path. They quickly needed to find ways to increase their own food production while their reserves were still sufficient. Adventurers could always be given tasks to hunt edible monsters but that was but a drop in a bucket, they needed mass amounts of food not low amounts of high quality. Ls father had estimated that theyd be able to continue down their current path for another year before things be really dire. For the first time in decades Kranors residents may die from starvation. L continued to talk about her home telling Frost all about their struggles as well as their triumphs, treating him as one of their own. Technically what she was talking about were state secrets, but she didnt care. Frost was her and Sams student as well as her fathers saviour, so she treated him as kin. Frost felt very touched by Ls openness, bringing a smile to his face as he continued to listen with rapt attention. Sam also took over talking after his wifes throat grew hoarse. He spoke more about the tradesman living within Kranor, singing their praises, and how honoured he was to be counted among them even though his botany was just a hobby. His hidden intentions were to glorify his home in counter to Ls honesty. If Frost found the ce was to his liking he may decide to live there which would bring a great boon to the territory. Frost was someone who had the potential to reach far higher than C-rank, with him at their side they could be ranked far higher in terms of aggregate power. Unfortunately Frost quickly nipped this suggestion in the bud, not willing to lead his teacher on. Sorry Sam, Im grateful for the offer and Im sure Kranor is lovely, but Ive already started to establish my own home and dont n to leave it. Frost spoke with such an assured tone that Sam was left momentarily speechless, not expecting such a definite answer. But he wasnt put down, just finding it a shame, a loss for Kranor. It didnt mean they couldnt still be friends and visit one another asionally. In fact, Frosts answer sparked his own curiosity, he and L really didnt know much about their young protg. It just dawned on me that weve been talking endlessly about Kranor for the past hour or so, but weve never asked about you. Would you care to enlighten us Frost, weve still got quite a ways to go, and our throats could do with a rest. Sam cupped his chin as he spoke, a glint of apology in his eyes for he and L dominating the conversation. Frost smiled warmly in response; he was wondering when theyd get around to asking some more in depth personal questions. During their time in the monsterir, their talks were all lessons given their cramped schedule. Sam and L werent ones to pry into anothers secrets. Only when they decided to regale Frost about their own life did they grow more interested in the personal details of their student. Frost had thought long and hard about what he would tell his teachers and until now had kept a lot of things close to his chest but now that Sam asked he was ready. Its a bit of aplicated story but if youre willing to listen I guess I can talk about it. Frost spoke with a far off look in his eyes, adding dramatic effect. Sam and L looked at one another, excitement and curiosity building within their eyes. With their attention sufficiently grabbed Frost started regaling an altered storyline of his life. Back in my childhood home the ruler who is my father sent all the younger generation including me and my siblings out into the world to find our own ce within it. We were to grow and experience the grand world that was Nova. Meeting with people, bing friends or even enemies with the purpose of growth. I began to establish myself near the Furano viscounty of the Northrend empire. Meeting a great many people that I now call my friends. I even got to meet with the current viscount and his family after helping them deal with a personal issue. Frost spoke with fond nostalgia in his eyes as he remembered the days he spent in Furano. The fun he had with his friends, the people he encountered, the meals and most of all the glorious battle he got to experience that rewarded him so. ..... My partner Maya and I even took charge of a couple young kids, Nanna and Loki after rescuing them from an illegal envement. I wont go into the details but theyre now safely under mine and Mayas care and couldnt been happier. We brought them back home where theyre currently staying, its a small ce in the cial mountains. Once Frost brought up the name of a woman both L and Sam smiled wryly with a teasing look in their eyes but as Frost spoke of Nanna and Loki that look became filled with anger, hatred, and pity. The two of them were parents and could never imagine a child being forced into envement. Thankfully Frost didnt go into too many details otherwise the two may have started balling their eyes out. This woman Maya, is she your girlfriend, wife? L asked Not yet but she is definitely my partner, without her I really wouldnt be where I am today. A sort of lovelorn look filled Frosts eyes which L immediately understood, choosing to not inquire anymore though she was desperate to hear about young love. I met up with many of siblings a few weeks ago as well as my father who was interested in our experiences. Many of us had differing ideas in regards to what he meant by finding our ce in Nova, but I know that my elder brother Terra, created a camp simr to the one outside the [beginners ice magic] monsterir. Attracting no small number of people with filled coffers to his territory. Such an idea greatly inspired me, convincing me to follow down a simr path. After speaking with the Furano family and learning all about their territory I grew quite interested in such a prospect but didnt really know how to start but after seeing the camps in the cial mountains as well as my elder brothers actions Ive decided to throw my hat in the ring. Sam and L looked at one another in confusion not fully understanding what Frost was saying. Does he want to create his own vige or enve? Is what the husband and wife thought. Such a task was incredibly daunting and needed not only power, money, and time but it required people. The reason that I cant move to Kranor is because Im nning to build my own ce, along with a bunch people from where Im currently residing. Together well establish a camp outside a newly established monsterir before anyone else gets there first. Ill make it into a strong and prosperous territory that Maya, I and the kids can call home. Frost spoke with steely determination, his hand crossed over his chest as his eyes looked into the future. What he said was very close to the truth and what he wished to do. Hed seen the camps in the cial mountains, the town of Furano and heard about Terras camp establishment and truly believed that this was the path forward to carving his ce within Nova. He would be a ruler of a mighty nation built with the backing of his dungeon. Far greater than even the Northrend empire and strong enough to protect him from the church of light and anyone else that wished to cause him or his family harm. It would be a long and arduous process but the only true way forward. Killing intruders for DP wasnt sustainable in the higher levels, he needed long term ie and a camp like the one they just left was the first step. And thankfully due to the nearing monster stampede hed have a long time to build and n without the interference of people. Frost turned to his awestruck teachers, feeling a little embarrassed about his grand ambitious as slight blush grew on his cheeks. Sam and L snapped out of their daze a few secondster but their mouths were still wide open. Thats...ambitious Ill give you that hahahahahaha. Perfect absolutely perfect hahahahahahah. Sam let out a loud roar ofughter while patting Frosts shoulders with great force,pletely blown away by Frosts grand ambitions. His dreams were far higher than he or L could imagine. While they originally wished to be strong adventurers at his age, Frost wished to start building his own territory. L wasnt loud and zealous like her husband but was just as impressed, nodding her head in agreement. This was a glorious dream and a very profitable one if realised correctly. The amount of money one man could hold could never bepared to the ie of an entire town or country and establishing territory would certainly allow ones name to be revered for centuries toe. Chapter 276 276 Chapter 276: Reaching Kranor Thanks for the support, Frost rubbed the back of his head while showing a bashful smile. It was the first time hed spoken out loud about his ambitions to those that werent part of his family. It was uplifting to say the least, as though his vision became a little bit clearer after he spoke. With a camp then a vige, town, and beyond hed be able to rake in such vast amounts of DP which could then be used to expand and grow his dungeon as well as his forces. This was a race between his siblings to establish the greatest DP raking system as well as to prepare them for dungeon wars and invasions from others such as the church of light. Yami the most powerful of the dungeon cores had already ran into a couple low ranking members of the church. He said that they were mad, insane and gave off a disgusting aura. It took his guardian everything he had not to tear them limb from limb, relying upon the restriction ced by Dark to curb his raging emotions. Each of the dungeon cores had an inherent fear of the church of light and wished to shore up their defences for when they made their moves. Frost as well was fearful of such a day, mainly because he too had some dealing with the church of light though indirectly. Someone linked with them must have facilitated the ve tattoos on Nanna and Lokis bodies. Given that he rescued them and absconded away with them he may have drawn their ire. He felt a strong need to not only grow his dungeons defence but also his own capabilities, thats why he was out here training. Taking risks in a dangerous environment instead of going slow and steady, training in the safety of his home. He surmised that this was likely the reason Yami and Aqua were leagues beyond the rest of them in terms of strength. Yami was ced in thergest and most hostile central continent and had already had to face down the church of light while Aqua was faced with the unrivalled power of the oceanic kingdoms. Both their opponents were leagues beyond what Frost had to face on a daily basis. Frost didnt know too much about the oceanic kingdoms and empires other than a few tid bits in his purchased books as well as information he got from Aqua. But one things for sure they were very, very powerful. Where thend kingdoms have degraded somewhat thanks to the massive wars centuries ago. The oceanic kingdoms have continued to grow and expand. The only reasons thend kingdoms even still exist is because the oceanic kingdoms have no interest innd, staying with the water, only engaging in asional trade with coastal empires. But if Frost wished to experience the vast amount of things in Nova hed need to enter the oceanic kingdoms one day, and hed need to be strong to ensure his safety. Hahahahha youre going to need far more than just our empty words for support. What youre embarking on is filled with pitfalls and will be a long and arduous journey. Sam held Frosts shoulder and spoke with a serious tone. He wasnt wrong, Frost would bedled with massive costs and pressure if he wished to establish his own territory. Though Kranor is having its own difficulties and would struggle to lend any aid in your endeavour I can at least council you a little in governance, as could my father once he regains his strength. L nodded her head as she offered to further educate Frost in terms of governance as well as adventuring. In fact, she was really supportive of Frosts idea. By establishing his own territory, he shouldnt be drawn into the uing conflict between the order of the ice shield and their backers. If he even manages to create something akin to an enve, Kranor would likely have an ally within the cial mountains, something quite rare for an enve to have. Thank you L, Ill definitely take you up on that. Frost was eager to learn more and more about governance as it would certainly help him in establishing his own territory. The three continued their journey, talking more about one another as they did. asionally monsters barred their path, but it was nothing to three C-rank fighters. Those that didnt back off were quickly silenced. The journey was thankfully uneventful and as estimated they made it to the entrance of Kranor in 4 hours. The former monsterir was embedded within arge mountain, simr to that of the one Frosts dungeon resided though far smaller. Before them was not an open gateway that was normally found no since this was now an enve arge wall over ten metres in height barricaded the surroundings several hundred metres around. Therge walls were made of a mixture of ice and pykrete, incredibly sturdy, hard to scale and most of all easy to repair. There was but one entrance to this massive ice wall, arge reinforced wooden door, protected by an ice portcullis was fitted within the centre of the three sided wall. At least a dozen men could be seen patrolling on top the wall, armed with long spears and thick leather armour, they watched the white expanse for any sign of activity. Fire pits could be seen every 15 metres of the wall, allowing wayward souls to see the bastion from a distance. The same red fog that Frost spied in the Beta camp could also be seen lightly in the air, encouraging monsters to stay away. This was the defensive set up of Kranor, the long standing enve. ..... Behind the walls were garrisons of soldiers and adventurers, vehemently protecting the realm thaty within the mountain. Hidden beyond the walls were a regiments of 300 souls, they were the first defence in case of an attack of which there were quite a lot of. Unlike the official camps, most of their people resided within the mountains and their soldiers werent strong enough or plentiful enough to generate a deterring aura. Monsters tended to be attracted to manmade walls for some reason, but since Kranor held civilians it couldnt not have a defensive wall to protect them. The monster repelling fog also couldnt be used constantly as it wasnt free thus the need for a strong and thick wall. This mighty barricade had stood its ground for over a century, protecting the vulnerable and young within without fail. Frost was in awe of its presence, though it wasnt as heavily outfitted with war machines as Furano was, it felt very imposing given that it was all to protect as small entrance no bigger then several metres in height and breadth. But then again it needed to be, monsters were powerful and abundant within the area. Without such a barricade the former monsterir would have likely been overrun. The men and woman patrolling along the walls were wrapped up tight in leather and fur to protect them from the cold during their patrols. Frost couldnt see their faces due it to being covered but their movements were steady and powerful, and signs of joy could be gleamed in their eyes. None of them seemed to bemoan the fact that they had to patrol out in such harsh weather for hours on end. Sam saw the interest in his eyes and leaned over to exin a little. Most of the soldiers you see on the wall are all young men and woman who have dreamed of bing able bodied adventurers. To get some training in before theye of age most sign up for external guard duty. It allows them to get used to the harsh environment as well as learn how to fight. As group walked up close to the gate, the on duty gate guard noticed them and spoke up loudly. Halt! This is the enve Kranor, can I ask what your business here is? His tone was neither aggressive nor servile. Kranor wouldnt turn people away, but they must let their intentions known and submit to their rules while in the enve. God are you blind little Timothy, who else could have such a fine figure than L! Sam roared in protest to the failing eyes of this young guardsmen who failed to recognised his wifes beauty. Frost looked towards Sam with a questioning gaze. The weather made it hard to make out anyone at this distance and L was covered head to toe in fur, heavily obscuring even thatrge ass of hers. How was someone able to recognise her from that. His gaze then drifted toward L, who instead of admonishing her husband or blushing from embarrassment looked ahead while nodding in total agreement. This damn couple really have no shame. The gatekeeper, Timothy immediately recognised Samsugh and raucous voice and knew who was before him. Lady L, my eyes must truly be frosted over, forgive for not recognising you immediately. Timothy offered a short bow before giving out orders. Open the gate, Lady L and Sir Sam have returned. A momentter gears started to turn, and therge wooden gate slowly opened revealing whaty behind the massive ice walls. Come Frost, let me show you the wonder that is Kranor L led the way, her arm interlocked with her husbands. They were finally home Chapter 277 277 Chapter 277: Wee to Kranor The mighty wooden gate and ice portcullis opened up slowly, allowing Frost, L, and Sam entry into Kranor. With Timothys loud yell everyone knew that Sam and L had returned. The vast majority of the soldiers here ran up to greet the two of them. Not only were Sam and L well known for being part of the mayors family and future leaders of the enve, the two of them were C-rank adventurers, powerful fighters that demanded respect. For most of the soldiers here the two of them were their idols, their goals in terms of strength. Getting to meet them in person was a great honour which none of them wanted to miss out on. Lady L wee back. Sir Sam how did the hunting go? Many bright eyed young soldiers pestered the husband and wife as they entered, eager to catch their eyes. The fact that Ls father had fallen ill, and that L and Sam had left to retrieve a C-rank magic core wasnt known to everyone. The young soldiers simply thought that they were returning from a regr quest. Only themander and vicemanders of the vanguard defence force were in the know. Hearing the mouring and fervent voices of their subordinates the three officers exited their barracks and when their eyesid upon Sam and L a hope was kindled. Seeing their hopeful expressions L simply nodded their way, causing a wave of relief to wash over their bodies. One vicemander went weak in the legs and muttered thank the gods over and over while themander performed a determined military salute. The final vicemander moved to disperse the doe eyed young soldiers so that L and Sam could get through and see to the mayors health. Only once he arrived and yelled for his soldiers to get back to work did he see Frost. Hmmm a young elf, never seen him before. The vicemander had met a lot of people thanks to his work, but he didnt recognise Frost in the slightest. He came in with L and Sam, so he assumed that it was one of their usual adventurer friends. This is? He asked inquisitively, even though Frost came in with Sam and L he needed perform the usual checks. If they just let anyone in without examination it could cause unrest within the enve. Sam wrapped his muscr arm round Frost and dragged him before the vicemander. This is Frost, mine and Ls new student and also the one that helped with the hunt. Sam introduced Frost with a bright smile, his close intimate actions revealing the level of trust he had in him. Ah! the vicemander looked at Frost in surprise, not expecting someone so young to be able to help in hunting a C-rank monster. Guess you cant judge a book by its cover, the vicemander dropped his misconceptions as he showed Frost a grateful smile. Is that so, thank you Sir Frost and wee to Kranor, I hope you enjoy our little enve. The vicemander gave a respectful bow to the three before taking it on himself to lead them into the former monsterir. Themander and other vicemander went to work reorganising the soldiers with more oomph and gusto than usual which the young soldiers found odd but obeyed none the less. ..... As the vicemander guided them into Kranor, Sam began telling Frost a little more about the ce now that they were here in person. Kranor is built within a monsterir that used to be 9 floors deep with rather hospitable environments that still exist today, though they are less impactful without the constant flow of mana and their doesnt repair itself. As Sam spoke the group entered into the first section and Frost was stunned by what he saw. The fact that this was once a monsterir was hard to believe. It looked very simr to the open ins surrounding Furano and was dotted with hundreds of man-made buildings with hundreds of people going about their regr lives. It was veritable town built within. The floors within Kranor all tend to have this fairly open in like environment, with a few alterations. Throughout Kranor the weather is mild, far more pleasant than the cial mountains plus the flow of night and day is the same as outside. Here in the first floor in each section, we have a town that spans the majority of the area. And They mainly hold our military infrastructure given the proximity to the entrance as well as tradesmen and their workshops. A very business-like floor, very popr with outside merchants and visiting adventurers. The shop that made my great sword can be found in the second town; Ill take you thereter if you want. The second floor contains the government buildings, offices, inns and a few restaurants whereas the third and fourth floor are residential based, having houses, ts, vis as well as restaurants, markets, simply shops, bathhouses and also schools. We grow a lot of safe but not edible nts and trees on those floors as well to give a much cleaner living environment. Theres also some caves and rock formations as well as natural pools of water that make for great y areas on the fourth floor. Sam continued to describe theyout of Kranor as the vicemander led them to the government district. They didnt enter any of the towns, passing right by them. As they travelled the warm weather started to be more clear, L could finally remove her oversized fur coat and finally reveal her oversized ass that her husband loved to ogle which he did without the slightest shame. It took him a few seconds to regain hisposure and continue exining Kranor to Frost. The fifth floor is mainly geared towards adults containing brothels, bars, inns and other adult oriented shops, plus theres breweries and a couple quarries where we dig into the mountain for stone and metal. Though a great many buildings were made of ice in Kranor many were also stone and or wood based. Finally, the sixth and seventh floor are fully dedicated to agriculture and farming since there are the most expansive and have many natural water springs to support farm life. We grow a lot of crops on these two floors with room for more fields but just not the seeds nor the workers to support it. In terms of regr meat, we raise chickens and pigs plus a small variety of fish. But water is rather scarce in that regard making it a small project. To subsidise thecking amount of meat the military sends out frequent hunting parties and we put up quests for our own adventurers. Thest two floors are still bare, going unused for the time being. Frost was blown away by the degree of infrastructure here in Kranor, it was evenrger and heavy duty than Furano (the town not the entire county). He couldnt help but be impressed, if he got the chance hed like to tour each and every floor and learn from them, especially the farming floors that contained their crops, nts, trees, and wildlife. Whether or not his dungeon could support non-dungeon spawned life heavily relied upon his ability to produce food. Though in his case it would be a lot easier since he could alter the floors and rooms anyway imaginable. For instance, Kranorckedrge bodies of water that could supportrge amount of fish, Frost didnt have such a problem. With a ssh of DP, he could even make an underwater room if need be. He did however get a much better understanding of regr life within as he observed the goings on in Kranor as well as Sams and asionally Ls detailed exnations. Frost even started to think of ways in which he would improve the ce or how he would go about dealing with such problems if he was faced with them. As long as he could get a solid future proofyout he could escape a great many pitfalls. Once the area was already established it would be much harder to change it. Thats why a great many towns and cities be cramped and inefficient in theiryouts, even Furano had areas like that. Kranor however was quite well designed in his opinion, with each floor being assigned its own purpose with little ovepping. The more prosperous and traffic heavy areas were also nearer to the top, making the travel to such areas quite easy. Bar of course the 5th floor that was mainly for adult entertainment. That may have been better on higher floors given the obvious pull it would have but then kids would have to pass through it whenever they wished to go up. Lots of little details like this went into future nning and it was stuff like this that really interested Frost as well as gave him a headache. The desire to make something perfect without fault was strong and caused him a great deal of worry since he considered himself a bit of a perfectionist. Now however he understood that there was likely no perfect system oryout just bad ones. Every choice will have some drawback its finding out which ones can be allowed, and which cant. In terms of establishing a simple camp this didnt matter too much but if Frost wished to embark down the route of town, city, county and then even a country it certainly would. He needed vast amounts of knowledge and experience, far more than what he currently had or what one person could really provide. Skilled assistants would be needed. Chapter 278 278 Chapter 278: Wee to Kranor (2) L and Sams dedicated exnation continued until the end of their journey, the mayors quarters within thest section of the 2nd floor. Ls family also had homes within the fourth floor but the mansion here was solely for the mayor and his family. He preferred staying here since it was close to work and looked good to the popce, showed that he was dedicated to his position. Even after contracting his illness and being confined to his bed for most of the day he still chose to remain within the mayoral mansion. His wife respected her husbands decision, supporting him in his time of need. While L was not here she along with her husbands able staff took over running the enve. Shed always report in summary the days activities to her husband as hed worry if he could not be kept abreast of the situation. She also took it upon herself to prepare most of his medicine and meals, a very dedicated and hardworking woman. Having their grandchildren over for the past several days was a blessing for her. She saw her weary husbands face truly smile as the little darlings surrounded their grandpa and listened to his stories. It allowed her to focus more on keeping the enve afloat. This is where I unfortunately leave you Sir Sam, Lady L, and Sir Frost, duty calls. The vicemander spoke out once he finished guiding the group to the gate of the mayors mansion. An almost pleading tone could be heard within his voice. Thismander hoped with all his heart that the curing of their mayor would be sessful, he was well loved and respected after all. With a full military salute and bow, the vicemander left them and headed back to his station. Sam and L thanked him and replied with a military salute, determination shing in their eyes. Wee backdy L, Lord Sam. The two gatekeepers said while pushing open the gate, allowing ess. Sam and L nodded slightly before walking into the mansion with Frost close behind. Unlike Leos mansion this building was in far better condition, nary a blemish or crack in sight. However, it was a fair bit smaller than the viscounts manor and held far less grandeur but none the less was an impressive building. Frost couldnt help but feel slightly jealous as he observed it. Though his private space was miraculous and could be designed however he wished -as long as he provided DP- it was an internal area,cking this external presence that screams look at me. These building all scream that someone important dwells within, a symbol of status that Frost now wanted. The head housekeeper was polite and graceful unlike the one that greeted Frost at the viscounts manor, though it looked as though the man had aged quite rapidly, random patches of white hair was mixed within his beard and hair, likely caused by stress. Wee back mdy, did your quest prove fruitful? The head butler had hope within his eyes as he asked. Truly the current mayor was greatly loved by his subjects, especially those close to him. Yes Saras it was, thanks to our young friend here. L gestured towards Frost Is Mira within the mansion? Good, good, thank the gods for their blessings. Sarass eyes grew red as he struggled to keep hisposure. His gaze turned to Frost, filled with gratitude. Unfortunately, not, she returned to the herb garden a couple hours ago after giving your father his morning medication, but Ill have someone send word immediately. That would be best, the sooner we act the higher our chances will be L nodded, her eyes growing red. ..... Mira was the most skilled alchemist and doctor within the enve and would be the one creating the medicine that would cure her father. So far shed been preparing medicine that would help dy the progression of his illness but was powerless to stop it with her current herbs. They needed the core of at least a magically gifted C-rank monster in perfect condition to create the required medicine. Now that they had thest ingredient it was time to make the medicine. The head butler Saras immediately ordered one of his subordinates to send a message to Mira, summoning her to the manor with the fastest pace. He would remain here and help prepare the area. Lady L, your mother is currently handling the enves affairs within the mayoral office, but Tulip, Jasmine and Ren should be with the master in his chambers. He tends to read to them at his time before they have breakfast together. Saras reported the current positions of their family. This was glorious news and each and everyone of them need to be notified. Thank you Saras, if you could let my mother know the good news, Sam and I will go and see my father.....how is he? Though she had gotten thest ingredient required to cure him, L was still worried about her fathers current state that surely must have progressed since she wasst here. Its manageable, hes still able to get out of bed and do some less strenuous activities but his body is gradually being corroded. Nearly 40% of his body is now blue and cold to the touch. Saras spoke with red eyes. ....The pain must be great, yet he never lets the younglings see it. L and Sam replied with downcast and hurt looks. Ls father was a strong and stubborn man. Even if the pain was ten times as much hed make sure to smile in front of his grandkids and daughter. Sam understood this stubbornness more than most, he was exactly the same personality wise...perhaps thats why his wife married him, reminded her of her father. Haaaaaaaaa Sam sighed internally as he remembered the talk he had with his father inw before they left in search of a C-rank core. Sam youre going to need to be the rock which the family relies upon, you must be unrelenting and steady. Dealing with the issues thatlle and the grief my passing will cause, you cannot show weakness or pain, you must be the one that carries the enve through the dire times. L will be too emotional, I know my daughter well, she wont be able to think clearly for a long time so I must rely on you my son. The man she chose and the one I allowed to marry my precious daughter, be the beacon in the darkness and help Kranor ovee this turbulent time. Ls father spoke to Sam alone and with hard, piercing eyes. He knew the chances of him surviving were low and that Kranor was currently in a soon to be desperate situation. Knowing that his son inw was a strong and brave man like him he ced his hopes on him. This was the main reason why Sam felt so much pressure, a burden that only he could carry as he agreed with his father inw. L though the better leader would be broken by her fathers passing for a great deal of time. Time in which Kranor may not have before things get messy. That day he promised his father inw that he would not fail him if such a situation came to pass, he steeled his resolve, but it didnt make the pain any less. He too would greatly miss his father inw, yet he would not be allowed to truly grieve. For someone as gentle and kind as him it would be a great torment. Thankfully such a situation will no longere to pass, at least not immediately. He wasnt an idiot, his father inw wasnt exactly a spring chicken anymore, even if hes cured hed still be an old man. The issue was the timing of his death, L wasnt ready to take over the reigns of Kranor and the looming issue of food was present. Now however hed have time to pass on the reigns and happily retire along with the love of his life. And when he does eventually pass, hopefully itll be due to old age and by then his family and territory will be better prepared to deal with his loss. As this memory floated through Sams mind he unconsciously clenched his fist until it grew white, and a solitary tear dripped down his cheek. If his father inw did pass from his illness he knew that him having to be the rock of the family would permanently scar him. Thank you Saras, well go see him now. L nodded in thanks before leading Frost and Sam to her fathers bed chambers. The mayors manor had two floors and over a dozen rooms on each. Her fathers chambers were actually on the ground floor, right next to arge office, much to Ls displeasure after he contracted his illness. Knock knock With a nervous knocking on the door L let herself into the room with Sam and Frost following close behind. Inside was a massive king sized bed with a canopy, there an old man with white hair and sses sat up against his pillows. A smile was on his face as he read arge book. Three childreny at his side, enamoured by his voice, it was a beautifully warm and peaceful sight. At the sound of the door opening the four people on the bed looked up and when they did. Mommy! all 3 kids roared in excitement beforeunching themselves of therge bed and running towards her. Chapter 279 279 Chapter 279: A deadly word Mommy the three young kids, two girls and one boy catapulted off from their grandfathers side, nearly knocking his book to the floor but they didnt care, their mother had returned. Even Jasmine the daddys girl ran into her mothers arms, seeking her affection. L broke down, tears of happiness dripping down her cheeks as she held each and every one of her little angels, nting numerous kisses on their cheeks. Her heart was recharged, she needed this. Sam walked in behind her a momentter, his face showed a gentle smile before he joined in, hugging his kids and wife from behind, feeling rejuvenated in his heart. How could we ever leave this, was the thought that screamed within their hearts. This hug sealed the deal, no more adventuring. The three kids giggled with red faces and their excitement overflowed. Frost entered a momentter to see this beautiful sight, his heart warmed, and a smile adorned his face. The mayor who was about to criticize his grandkids for theirck of care towards his book and frail body was tongue tied, unable to show anything but a loving smile. He ced the story book by his bedside and slowly got off his bed. A pained looked asionally shed through his eyes and his brow imperceptibly frowned as jolts of pain shot through his body but he kept that loving expression, never letting those he cared about see his pain. The illness that gued the mayor of Kranor was called [icicle veins] amon illness found in ces of extreme cold like the cial mountains. When ones immune system is weakened for whatever reason, overwork, old age, stress, or another disease it bes harder for people to resist the constant cold and ice aspected mana. Eventually it seeps into the body, permanently chilling it. The ice aspected mana grows within the body like a foreign chakra slowly encasing the victim in ice until eventually all bodily functions stop and their body turns into an ice statue. This is a real issue for those living within the cold aspected climates such as the cial mountains, especially so within the inner regions where the temperature and mana are even more abundant. There however they have more means in preventing it, but its still one of the greatest killers among the older poption. There is two types of medicine that can cure such a disease, one of course is fire based. The medicine would burn out the ice chakra pervading the patients body. With the extent of the illness within the mayors body only D-rank ingredients would be required for such a medication but they live within the cial mountains on the Yangmir continent. Getting hold of such fire aspected materials was a thousand times harder thus the second method is what is normally used. A strong medicine of the ice element that can absorb and diffuse the ice chakra within the body while at the same time improving the patients ice resistance. It requires higher level ingredients making it more dangerous to procure but with much higher avability. Those within the inner regions can much more easily hunt high level monsters that are present all around them. Kranor howevercking the trade connections, the willingness to hire outside help and their strongest adventurers being only C-rank made this a much more difficult issue to resolve, thankfully however they got lucky. While Sam and L engaged in their loving reunion with their little angels, the mayor or rather Yarrow noticed Frost standing behind his daughter and son inw with a gentle smile. He didnt recognise the young elf but since he came in with his daughter he must be trustworthy. L my darling wee home. Yarrow grabbed his walking cane and sauntered over. His gentle smile radiating a peaceful and warm atmosphere yet Frost with his affinity to ice could tell that Yarrow was incredibly cold. Partially hidden by his robesrge patches of his skin was ice blue instead of a healthy pink. L raised her tear strained face up from her childrens cheeks and looked at her strong and stubborn father. Her tears only fell harder as she abruptly stood up and ran into his arms like she used to do as a child. Wrapping her father up in big hug to warm up his cold body, she would no longer need to say goodbye to him thanks to this illness. Yarrow was initially shocked and caught unawares, his daughter wasnt a child anymore, a full grown adult packs a serious amount of force. The poor old man winced in pain as his legs endured, refusing to be knocked down. Haaaaaaaaa how old are you L? youre not a child anymore and Im not a young father, withstanding such physical treatment is a bit much for my old bones. Did all your brains nutrients get syphoned to that fat butt of yours? Yarrow admonished his daughter with a chiding tone, yet he still stroked her hair and held her close to his chest, enjoying her presence. He also understood from her action that she and Sam were sessful. Looks like Ill get to watch my grandkids grow up after all. A relieved and hopeful look filled his eyes but that was soon to change. ..... The warm and soft woman that was in his arms, crying her eyes out into his chest suddenly trembled and emitted a cold piercing aura. The room suddenly got a few degrees colder. Shit! Yarrow cursed internally as his hands trembled slightly in fear. Sam looked at his father inw with pity as though he was an idiot. Tulip and Jasmine looked at him with a little scorn, also rather incensed by his words. Whereas Ren tilted his head while looking at his mothers butt, thinking that what his grandfather said was urate but even he knew that using the f-word was asking for death. With a frigid re L looked up at her father, her words like a freezing cold dagger stabbing into his body. What did you say father? Even though her father was ill and suffering there was some things that one cant say, calling a woman as beautiful as her fat was a big no no. It was her trigger word as well as her mothers. Fat is when one let themselves go, its bby, loose and all over the ce. I father am THICC, my body is smooth, firm, toned and tight very different from FAT! L gestured towards her thin arms and delicate shoulders before pping her hips to show how toned she was. She was not fat and hated being called it since there was a major difference between fat and th. Yarrow was visibly sweating as he backed off slightly from his daughters vicious re. She reminded him so much of his wife, they had the same body shape and temperament as well as reverse scale. He must have be muddled headed from illness to use such a hateful word. Jasmine and Tulip nodded their heads at their mothers words. The two of them were clearly following in their mothers and grandmothers footsteps. Already showing signs of a rather pear like shape. It seems that in future they too would have the word fat as their reverse scale. Sam shook his head while gesturing for his youngest child Ren to watch and learn from his grandfathers mistakes. Poor Yarrow was left all alone to suffer his daughters forceful exnation. No no you misheard I didnt say fat, never in a million years would I use such a horrible word no. What is said was fabulous yes fabulous. Yarrow grasped at straws as the pressure grew, iming that his daughter misheard him. This of course was a weak excuse that no one would believe but it proved that L got her point across. Hmmmm fabulous thats what you said, is that right? She questioned with a deadly re, bringing her face closer to her father, her hand tightening around his robes in threat. The poor old man rapidly nodded his head in agreement, his lips twitching in fear. He Yarrow was once a powerful C-rank adventurer on the cusp of B-rank back in his prime and feared very little, the women in his family however were not included in that list. Hed rather face off against a dragon that suffer the wrath of his wife, daughter or even his granddaughters at this rate. He and Sam had strong outward personalities but when it came to internal matters it was their wives that ruled, sometimes with an iron fist. Sam wished for Ren to learn this lesson as soon as he could since he had two older sisters that both took after their mother and grandmother. He couldnt be shy and cute forever so hed have to learn how to deal with such strong women in his life otherwise his future would be nothing but tragic. L continued her re for a few more seconds, watching her father squirm before immediately doing a 180. Her expression was now bright and smiling, she even tidied up her fathers robes and patted his shoulder as though embarrassed. Yes yes, fabulous is a good word, I must have misheard you hahaha. Sheughed joyfully, Tulip and Jasmine joined in with their mother but for the men in the room including Frost a dangerous chill went down their spines. Frost was reminded of the time he struggled to ept Maya as a fenrir, stating that she didnt looks like one, evenughing as he pictured it. That was thest time he ever did that. The situation before him was very simr even though L wasnt nearly as strong as Maya she gave off a simr sense of danger, hell even Jasmine and Tulip did. Damn woman are scary creatures, he audibly gulped as goosebumps grew on his arms. Chapter 280 280 Chapter 280: Lady Chia Shortly after that chilling exchange, the atmosphere brightened up once again, showing that L didnt hold a grudge and had epted his excuse. Father, Sam and Is quest was sessful, weve retrieved a perfect quality C-rank ice monster core from an ice revenant, and you have this young man here to thank for that. L then gestured towards Frost who at this point had blended into the background. Her actions caused everyone to finally look his way. Wow hes so handsome! Tulip the oldest blushed a little as she took in Frosts pretty face. Shed seen a few elves before, but nonepared to the looks of the young man standing before her. Ren hid by his father, nervous about the young man he didnt recognise. Whereas Jasmine the troublemaker tilted her head to the side and bluntly asked. Is he a boy or a girl? She really struggled to tell. Shed never seen such a pretty man before. Her image of men were brave and strong like her father. Ren was only cute and adorable because he was still a toddler, but Frost was fully grown. Frost felt as though a dagger went through his heart at Jasmines words. His lips twitched and he even stumbled slightly as he walked forward. It was the first time anyone had mistaken him for a woman, he couldnt help but take a silent blow. Tulip feeling embarrassed by her younger sister pinched her cheeks as punishment while showing an apologetic look on her face towards Frost, but this made him feel even worse. Pfft Sam couldnt help but struggle to contain hisughter, pursing his lips and looking away, his entire body spasmed in his struggle. Frost couldnt get in an argument with children, but he certainly could act against Sam. As he walked to the centre of the group he firmly elbowed his teacher in the gut causing him to cough violently, his mood was uplifted after this. Yarrow listened to his daughters words; a deep frown adorned his face as she spoke of retrieving the core from an ice revenant. Such a monster was beyond the means of his daughter and son inw. Worry and anxiety flitted across his eyes at the thought but quickly vanished since both of them were here, safe and sound. His gaze towards Frost thus changed, not only was it filled with gratitude but with respect since he knew the capabilities of Sam and L. He viewed Frost as a true expert likely stronger than the two of them, yet he was so young. Yarrow adopted his mayoral persona, leaning on his cane with both hands he walked before Frost before giving him a deep bow, full of gratitude. I am Yarrow, Ls father, and mayor of Kranor. I thank you for your assistance young man. Frost immediately moved to help the old man up, knowing that to perform such a deep bow at his age and with his bodys current condition must be painful. After which he introduced himself. My name is Frost and theres no need for such thanks Yarrow, your daughter and son inw have already more thanpensated me for any help that I provided. Frost spoke honestly, if anything it was still him that owed them. He should be thanking Yarrow for raising such a good daughter. Yarrow looked towards his daughter and son inw in wonder, curious in what they offered him in payment for his assistance. If it wasnt up to snuff he would supplement the rewards. This was after all not just saving an old mans life but the life of the leader of Kranor. Such aid needed to be rewarded well. ..... Seeing the look in her fathers eyes that showed his desire to know what happened L decided to exin everything from the beginning. She ushered everyone to sit down and had a maid bring in some breakfast for everyone since their visit interrupted their usual schedule. Well, where to begin..... L and Sam reiterated their entire experience, from their few failed attempts to purchase a perfect quality c-rank magic core and their learning of the C-rank revenant situated within [beginners ice magic] to their meeting of Frost. Their agreement and then their grand battle which husband and wife highly embellished since it excited the children. Everyone in the room looked at Frost very differently throughout the story. From seeing him as a pretty, young adventurer who came with L and Sam to aplete noob who was likely some 2nd generation rich boy who never had to deal with things himself to an absolute monster of a prodigy. Even Jasmine who struggled to see anything good about being a pretty boy looked towards Frost with sparkling eyes. Wasnt he exactly what she aspired to be, a strong and powerful person who could protect her home. Out of the three children she was ironically now the most infatuated with Frost. She still thought that his appearance needed fixing, but his strength won her respect. Yarrow however was blown away; he understood the difficulty in crossing that step into B-rank far more than even Sam and L, so he knew exactly how much of a monster Frost really was. His gaze towards the young dungeon core was veryplicated. His daughter and son inws exchange with Frost was probably the best thing for the young man given that it was exactly what hecked but he felt the need to grant him something else in thanks, as Sam and L would probably benefit from this student teacher rtionship just as much as him perhaps even more. No matter how high Frost reaches in the future, his daughter and son inw would have yed some part in it and have established a rtionship with a future powerhouse, the benefits were unimaginable. Yarrow felt it would be best to reward Frost for his aid in fighting the ice revenant separately so as to not sour such a rtionship down the line. Kranor may not be the richest ce in the cial mountains, but they were no slouch either. Hed have to think hard about a worthwhile reward for someone with such great potential. His eyes imperceptibly drifted over to Tulip before he frowned and shook his head. No, their ages are two far apart. The idea of arranging a marriage between Tulip and Frost crossed his mind but was swiftly quashed. Their ages were too different -yes but not in the direction he thinks- and using his granddaughter to further rope in such a young prodigy didnt sit well with him. Plus, it would be a bit too obvious no hell have to peruse the vaults or perhapse up with something unique that he could give him. As L was finishing up her story, the bedroom door opened and an older woman in herte 50s walked in, dressed in afortable office dress perfect for working in while revealing a sense nobility. The woman was Ls mother and Yarrows wife, Chia. Like her daughter she was very th with a butt only slightly smaller than her daughters, but she was taller with very long legs. She too was part of the rabbit beastman tribe and looked very much like L appearance wise though with a couple wrinkles on her face and white hair though it was obvious that in her youth she would have been quite a catch. Grandma The three kids squealed with happiness as this tall rabbit woman walked in the room. Yarrow also had his spirits lifted as his eyes filled with love and affection, he was very simr to Sam,pletely devoted to his darling wife. And like Sam he was also human. It wasnt strange for mixed species couples to exist within Nova given the amount of differing sapient species. The Dark and Light Gods even made it easy for them to breed amongst each other with a few exceptions. Between a beastman and human for example the children would be either human or beastman not abination. Tulip and Ren for example were rabbit beastmen whereas as Jasmine was human like her father and grandfather. Though she didnt inherit her mothers ears or rabbit tail she did get her figure, so traits are still passed down. The Gods just made it so to eliminate the idea of half breeds among the sapients. Of course, there are asional exceptions such as breeding between different beastman tribes, asionally a child can be born with partial traits of both parents thus creating a possible new beastman type. In regards to monsters a lot of new species have arisen over the tens of thousands of years since Novas creation thanks to cross species breeding. Theres less restriction upon monsters on whether their young will be the same as the mother or father. Dragons being a major cause of such cross bred existences. Dragons have always been lusty creatures that were adept with magic, able change their forms to be more humanoid if need be. Thus, many monsters have dragon blood within them due the mass spreading of dragon seed across the world. Even horses can sometimes have modicums of dragon blood within them. They even created the highly popted dragonkin race, a sapient race with dragon ancestry. The phoenix kin Nanna and Loki are very simr to dragonkin but with a phoenix ancestry, however their kind are nowhere near as numerous. Dark and Light actually admonished the dragons for being too proliferate since over 10% of the known species had some level of dragon DNA in them after several thousand years but it did however create a vast variety of monsters that they may never have thought of, so they didnt punish them, only bringing the issue to their attention. After which they dialled it back a little but to this day thousands upon thousands of creatures still have bits of dragon DNA within them. Chapter 281 281 Chapter 281: Lady Chia (2) The grandma rabbit woman known as Chia entered the room with a graceful gait, a bright smile adorned her face as her three grandchildren ran towards her. Without the slightest amount of delicacy, the three kids bull rushed into her arms just like their mother. Chia didnt even tremble as she endured the impact, gently rubbing their heads with a fond expression. Though she was long past her prime, Chia was an even greater fighter than her husband, specialising in physical strength. A bunch of young kids jumping at her was nothing to her even at her current age. She lifted up Ren and ced the young boy on her shoulder, receiving many pecks on her cheek as a reward. Tulip and Jasmine looked up in jealously but gave way for their younger brother. When they were his age that was their spot. Chia would carry them around on her shoulders while walking around the enve. Chia was filled with bliss almost to the point that she didnt even notice anyone else in the room. Her daughter L looked at her mother with red eyes resisting the urge to throw herself into her mothers arms just like her kids. Ok, ok I think thats enough children, down you go. After a few kisses and hugs Chia regained her noble atmosphere, cing Ren back down on the ground. Kay! The three children responded as such before dashing off to their father, keeping out the way. When their grandmother used such a tone they couldnt continue to act spoiled otherwise theyd be punished. Jasmine the little troublemaker knew more than most about their grandmothers punishments as she was usually on the receiving end. One time her little bottom expanded so much it rivalled her mothers in size, she couldnt sit right for nearly a week. Chia then turned to look at her daughter and son inw, a gentle expression and one filled with hope was in her eyes. She rushed over here the moment Saras informed her, desperate to confirm the good news. The pressure of ruling the enve had fallen upon her shoulders while L and Sam were off trying to get ingredients for her husbands medicine. She wasnt cut out for being a leader but did her best to support her husband, neverining in the slightest, bravely taking on the charge. But now hopefully it was over, and she could rx, much longer and the strong woman may have reached a breaking point. In fact, the moment before she received the good news from Saras she was neck deep in paperwork while also listening to the reports of the agricultural department. She was almost at the point of flipping over her desk and setting fire to all the documents before her. Thankfully L and Sam arrived in time otherwise, her aides would have had to restrain the old woman. Not something they wanted to do nor would find easy, even now she was still considered the strongest or at least one of the physically strongest people within the enve. Even a mad bull wouldnt have as much strength. In response to her mothers hopeful looks, L simply nodded her head, while a small tear dripped down her cheek. Chia moved forward silently withrge steps before pulling her daughter into her chest, patting her head as she did in praise. L broke down at this moment, a veritable waterfall of tears fell from her eyes, soaking her mothers dress. Before her parents she was not the strong wife and mother to Sam and her kids, nor was she the talented mage that mastered both ice and fire magic no she was but a young girl that craved her parents affection. Chia then looked towards Sam who nodded his head in greeting before she rested her eyes on her ailing husband who was standing there out of bed with a loving look on his face. She frowned at this, irritation building in her heart. What the hell are you doing out of bed! Get back in there this instant! She suddenly roared at her man, truly angered by his actions. Yarrow shivered in response; his loving look suddenly reced by a slightly fearful one before letting out a small sigh. He knew that his wife was only berating him out of love but still they were in front ofpany as well as their grandchildren, couldnt she leave him a little bit of face. However, if Chia didnt act like this and pinch any sign of activity in the bud the man would be drawn towards work, further exasperating his condition. Shed caught him a few times sneaking into his office to look over her work instead of recuperating in bed. At one point she even threatened to tie him up in restraints until L and Sam returned. ..... .....But Ls back now, I dont need to be so restricted. Yarrow mumbled in protest under his wifes re. Now that L had returned with thest piece for the medicine what did it matter if he was up and about. Even without waiting for the [icy veins] illness to kill him hed likely die of boredom if his wife had her way. The grandkids were not only there to keep himpany and joyous but as supervisors to make sure he didnt do anything too strenuous, same with all the staff in the building. They answer to Chia not him. Chias gaze only grew more infuriated by her husbands response. How dare he try to argue about his health with me. Just because shes returned doesnt mean you can get up and about, you decrepit old man. Youre still ill and until youve taken your medicine and have a clean bill of health you are not to be out of bed am I clear! Her voice went up a few decibels and a strong aura emanated from the old woman and Frost finally felt this old womans true strength. Damn shes stronger than Sam and L put together. Ughhhhh Yarrow could only grumble in protest but dared not meet his wifes eyes. His freedom would have to wait until after hes had his medicine. If his wife wasnt annoyed enough L suddenly added oil to the fire. Mom, Dad called me fat. She looked up at her mother as though shed been bullied before swiftly turning to her grumbling father with her tongue stuck out. Seeing a perfect opportunity for revenge how could she resist plus who gave her father the courage to argue with her mom and even grumble in protest. Chia looked down at her daughter, her mind going nk as she heard her most hated word before turning back towards her husband. Her eyes were no longer enmed with anger and irritation but were stone cold and filled with killing intent. The room dropped several degrees in an instant, the men in room felt a shiver down their spines as fear washed over them. Yarrow was of course the worst off, he looked towards his daughter in shock before nervously gazing at his wife. His lips quivered and he subconsciously took a step backwards, cold sweat dripped down his neck and spine. His wifes fury was nothingpared to his daughters. Chia continued to re at her reeling husband, her anger only growing, she absolutely loathed that word. She and her daughter were th not fat. Thest person that called her fat she broke his nose and two arms, so what would she do to her husband. L, Sam take the kids and leave the room for a few minutes, I need to have a word with your father. Chia spoke gently to her daughter and son inw, but the tone was ice cold and full of barbs. L nodded her head, an evil smile on her face. She went over to Sam who at this point was sweating buckets. Come lets go, she grabbed Frosts and the kids hands dragging them out of the room, while Sam looked towards his father inw with pity.....no it was a farewell. The mayor of Kranor will not die of illness but from the beating of his wife, yet not a single person would stick up for him given what he said. Yarrows whole body trembled as the image of his loving and gentle wife was reced with that of a demon out for his blood, fear filled his eyes as he ran towards his bed. Im a sick person, confined to his bed, you cant hurt me! Click As soon as the door to his bedroom closed, leaving only the husband and wife within, Chia vanished in an instant, before arriving at her husbands side. So now youre willing to be confined in bed.....well how about I make that a little more permanent! Gyahhhhh! For close to ten minutes the mother, father, three kids, Frost as well as the nearby servants quietly waited outside of the room, listening to the screams from the old man who was known as the mayor of Kranor and supposed head of the household. The soundsing from the room were akin to those at a ughterhouse, yet everyone bar Frost had calm looks on their faces, as if such things were standard. Frost thought to himself as he listened arent they worried that the old man would die from his wounds? Though Yarrow could walk and do some less strenuous activities, 40% of his body was ice cold, making his current state far from ideal. Chapter 282 282 Chapter 282: Lady Chia (3) 20 minutester (10 minutes of beating and 10 minutes of lecture and recuperation) Chia left the room alone, Yarrow was left in bed, his current status unknown. Haaaaaaa the old man really never learns. Chia sighed and shook her head as though justice was on her side for her every action. This was mirrored by her daughter and granddaughters. While Sam held his youngest son with slightly trembling hands. The servants as though used to such situations ushered passed Chia to check on the old mayor. Chia had a refreshed expression on her face after sighing as though she was in dire need of a physical outlet and unfortunately her husband paid the price. She was now calm enough to notice the young elf like man standing next to her son inw. Oh, whos this fine looking gentleman? Chia instantly sported an adoring look simr to one L showed when she firstid eyes upon him. Frost a little unnerved by the sudden change in disposition was speechless for a few seconds before eventually introducing himself. Frost maam, Frost held his hand over his chest and elegantly replied, throwing the previous exchange out of his mind. Before him was not only a senior and his teachers mother but also a powerful person. Frost respected her strength. No no no cant have that, call me Chia handsome young man, maam is so old and informal. Chia shook her head with gusto before walking right up to Frost for closer examination. Mmm mmm youre even cuter up close haaaaaaa if I was only a little younger, Id bag you in a second. Chiamented her choices in spouse for a second, imagining the idea of choosing someone like Frost instead of her rough and idiotic looking husband. Yarrow who was convulsing in pain on the bed while his servants examined him couldnt help but shiver as he overhead his wife. A little younger haaaaaaa in your dreams you old crow. As if she could hear her husbands thoughts Chia while still in awe of Frosts impressive appearance tossed what appeared to be a small book behind her. Her aim was true, not a momentter the groans of pain could be heard from the room as a result of the old man being struck in the forehead. Arge red welt started to grow, adding to his injuries. Frost saw all this and couldnt help his lips from twitching. L too was a little in shock from her mothers response. ..... Geez mom its alright for me to tease him given Im only half a generation older but youre a bit much no? Her gaze was filled with a mixture of pity, scorn as well as arrogance. At least when she fawned over Frost and brought herself within such proximity to his body there was a physical reaction. Chia turned to her daughter, her eyes filled with an eery coldness, that sent shivers down her spine and stopping her insulting thoughts. Instinctively she fled like a rabbit, hiding behind her husband, afraid to suffer her mothers wrath. Frosts lip twitched awkwardly as he looked towards the older woman examining his features so closely and without the slightest amount of shame, even openly saying that she would pursue him if she was a little younger. Already used to being on the receiving end of such blunt women Frost didnt blush as he used to instead he showed a beautiful smile as he spoke. And it would be my honour to be pursued by such a beautiful woman, miss Chia. Such a shame that youre already spoken for. Though he looked like some kind of elegant schr at the moment, saying such pleasing words, internally however he was fist pumping the air at finally being able to counterattack such flirtatious remarks, he didnt even blush out of embarrassment. In response to his attractive smile the room was silent, even the servants stopped what they were doing,pletely blown away by the words of the young elf. Chia looked at the young man with a dazed look on her face,pletely taken by surprise by his words. L too was seriously taken aback not expecting Frost to deal out such an offensive. While Sam silently gave his student as thumbs up for his skills. Tulip blushed like a ripe tomato, hiding her face with her hands while Jasmine and Ren tilted their heads to the sides struggling to find anything wrong with Frosts statement. While Yarrow for a second truly believed that he may lose his wife to this young man. Not only is he young, handsome, and full of potential hes a real smooth talker...a dangerous opponent. After a few seconds of silence and allowing Frosts words and earth shattering smile to sink in, Chia finally regained herposure. She looked at Frost with deadly seriousness as though facing a powerful adversary. ....Frost you really need to be more careful with your words and expressions...such an attack is really devasting so much that even I such a devoted and loving wife was almost swept up. Ive heard of a femme fatale, but you sir are an even more devasting male equivalent. Haaaaaaaa Im sure that in the future youll break a great many hearts with such an appearance. Chia spoke with deadly seriousness and stern expression all to hide her fluttering heart palpitations, she who only wanted to do a little teasing and admire beauty was moved by a single counterattack. Only thanks to her experience and strong love for Yarrow was she able to endure, others however may not have been so lucky. Her gaze drifted round the room quickly inspecting everyone present. Like her L resisted Frosts charm thanks to her love for Sam as well as already being used to Frosts appearance however Tulip and likely a couple female servants were done for. Frost likely cemented his ce as the perfect man in their hearts unlikely to be shifted anytime soon. Thankfully Jasmine was too young to understand and feel the power of his charm as was Ren. Chia was sure that even men would likely be captivated by Frost if he spoke such pleasurable lines. Frost really wasnt expecting such a situation from his counterattack, a little speechlessness and maybe a blush or two but not a serious warning from the older rabbit woman. All he could do was bow his head and apologise though he still didnt understand why. To remove the awkwardness of the situation L and Sam regaled their meeting with Frost as well as their taking him under wing as a student to Chia. She nodded her head from time to time and asionally gave Frost a look over while she listened. I see so hes your student as well as your fathers saviour. Chia cupped her chin as she understood now who Frost was and why he was here. She once again moved in front of Frost. Grabbing his hand, she bowed her head and upper body. Thank you Frost for your aid. Without your assistance Id likely have be a widow within theing month. Chia spoke with reddened eyes; she loved her husband dearly and really couldnt bear to lose him. The two of them were still young enough to enjoy life and retirement. To lose her loved one would be devasting. Though she joked and teased, she like L was a verymitted one man gal. Of course, if Yarrow did pass and she became a widow shed be free to pursue another charming man such as the handsome young elf before her, but shed never actually do it. She loved Yarrow with all her heart and would never ept another, no matter how tempting and delicious they appeared to be. Youve saved my husbands life and for that you must be rewarded. She was in the same mindset as her husband, their benefactor must be rewarded with something substantial otherwise it may poison the rtionship down the line. What that reward would be however she had no idea; shed leave that to her husband to decide. The group had moved to a reception room wherein the servants provided a tasty breakfast as well as tea and coffee while they waited for the alchemist/doctor Mira to arrive. Only she could prepare the medicine required by Yarrow who at this point was still confined to his bed. Even his breakfast was brought up, he had to depressingly eat alone while his wife, daughter and granddaughters were inpany of the great threat that was Frost. He swore internally that when his illness was removed hed shower his lovely wife with so much love there wouldnt be a single chance of her being stolen in future. Itd been a long time since the mayor of Kranor had felt so threatened. Frost in a way was more dangerous than a dragon. Mira arrived shortly after they finished eating breakfast. She was an old woman clearly over 75, with long grey hair and a hunched back. She walked in with white oak cane for support, yet her steps werent shaky, and her eyes were filled with youthful light despite her advanced age. This was Mira the enves foremost alchemist and doctor. Behind her a young man followed dressed in a robe that smelled strongly of medicine. He carried several bags around his body that gave off different smells. Though their ages were far apart their appearances showed a slight resemnce, they were rted. Chapter 283 283 Chapter 283: Doctor Mira Doctor Mira thank you foring so soon. Chia was the first to stand up and greet the old woman who was even a fair bit older than her. She and Yarrow were nothing but juniors toward this olddy, Mira even assisted in Chias birth as well as her daughters and granddaughters, a very highly respected person within the enve. L followed in greeting along with her children quickly after her mother. While Sam broke out in conversation with the young man following behind, smiling, and patting his shoulder as he spoke. Damn Lute can you smell anything at all while covered in that thing? Sam covered his nose as the strong medicinal smell filled his nostrils and even burned his delicate senses slightly. The young man called Lute was Miras disciple/apprentice as well as her grandson and the only one in her family that she deemed worthy of inheriting her skills. Grandma says that its to train my nose to better differentiate medicinal herbs but so far it all smells the same haaaaaaaaaa. Luteined loudly of his misfortunes, while giving his grandmother an usatory look. Mira had him wear this medicinal covered robe for the past week, only being allowed to remove it when bathing, he even had to sleep in it and now even when it wasnt on he could still smell the stench of medicinal herbs. He genuinely believed his nose was now broken but still he continued to do as his grandmother said, following her every instruction as though it wasw. This was just one of many entric practises his grandmother subjected him too over his apprenticeship. He couldntin to his family since they were all jealous of him being the only one epted by her and he was even less prone toining to patients, they had enough to worry about. That left Sam the hobbyist botanist that he and his grandma interacted with and traded with on a frequent basis. Sam became one of Lute few outlets, which Sam was happy to oblige. Mira gave a quick look to her grandson and Sam before politely returning the greeting to Chia and her daughter and grandchildren, smiling gently as she did. No problem, its a doctor duty to help their patients. Mira rubbed Tulip and Jasmines heads with affection. She moved to remove some candies from her robe as a reward since she was fond of kids but then remembered that it was breakfast time, not good to give candies so early. Do you really have the monster core? Can I see it first? The servant of the manor had reported that L and Sam had returned with the monster core but not much in terms of where it came from or its quality. Mira knew that toplete the concoction she required no less than a perfect monster core with high mana affinity. Any less and the medicine wouldnt be strong enough to eliminate the [icy veins] illness afflicting Yarrow. She wasnt one to doubt Ls capabilities and certainly not Sams given his talents in botany and medicine but even so she couldnt be certain. Only when she held the core in her hands and examined it herself would she be sure itd do the job. If she was younger and more able with her body shed be able to make do with a few blemishes on the core but at her age that was wishful thinking. Though her knowledge and experience had greatly increased, her body wasnt able to keep up and Lute wasnt nearly ready to try his hand at making such a delicate medicine. L nodded her head before walking to her husbands side and whispering into his ear. Sam responded with a nod and retrieved the special container holding the core from his spatial ring before handing it carefully to his wife. Frost sat quietly at the side, examining the old woman and her grandson. From their bodies he could tell that they werent strong probably not even E-rank, but their professions didnt need it. Their abilities relied upon knowledge instead of strength or mana control. This was the first time Frost was face to face with a doctor/alchemist, his curiosity was piqued. L carefully opened up the sealed container revealing the pristine monster core that came from the ice revenant. A chill escaped the box and lowered the surrounding temperature by a few degrees. Miras gaze became stern as she donned a pair of special gloves and removed the core for inspection. Lute had separated himself from Sam and moved behind her back to also examine the core. His grandmother would like ask for his input to gauge his abilities. ..... Mira rotated and examined every inch of the spherical core with a bright light in her eyes, she didnt use a skill like [analyse] or [identify] relying solely on her vast knowledge base to recognise what was within her hand. As she did she couldnt help but be shocked, looking at L and Sam with incredulity, shocked that they managed to get hold of something like this. She easily identified the monster core as one from an ice revenant likely mid c-rank and from what she could see it was in perfect condition, not a single scratch on its crystal like surface. Taking down such a monster was beyond the capabilities of the two of them. She smiled knowingly, happy with her findings. The core met the requirements for the medicine, and she could begin right away but first. She handed the core over to her grandson to hear what he has to say. Though she rarely showed it or said it she was very proud of her grandson Lute. Not only did he have potential that rivalled her own he was hardworking and modest. With her stockpile of knowledge and experience she was sure she could mould him into a first rate alchemist and doctor, greater than even her. To do that however she needed to be strict and harsh, otherwise this unpolished gem would remain as a rock, never to be a diamond. Lute took hold of the monster core, a simr light to his grandmothers shed in his eyes. They both had the same passion when it came to alchemy. He copied his grandmothers delicate examination though he spent at least three times as long and frowned several times as he struggled to identify certain things. Like Mira he too didnt use a skill like [analyse] or [identify], such skills may be quicker but require real life knowledge in order to work well. Taking the fast route was not always the best. After a minute or so Lute was ready to give his analysis, It seems to be a mid C-rank monster core, likely from a spirit monster of some kind. No damage can be seen on the surface nor internally, a perfect specimen. Mira nodded her head in response, praising her grandsons analysis in her own way. Good answer but its from a half spirit, an ice revenant if Im not mistaken. Mira filled in the nks showing that Lute still had a lot to learn. Correct, my husband, Frost and I took it down a couple days ago. L gestured towards the young man sitting silently on the sofa It was born within the monsterir [beginners ice magic] and guarded thest floor...does it meet the requirements? Though L was pretty sure given the look in Miras eyes she needed oral confirmation to settle her restless heart. Mira looked towards the young elf sitting in the background in understanding. Now knowing how the married couple took down such a powerful adversary all while keeping the core intact. Seems this youngd is more than just a pretty face. Mira had a very good eye in regards to examining things, this included people. But she couldnt see through the young man before her, as though he was covered in a fog. At first she didnt really notice him as her focus was on Chia and the rest, simply giving him a passing nce but after L pointed him out her impression changed. Not many could hide from her eyes unless they were very powerful and or specialised in masking ones ability, but this young man didnt seem to meet either of those criteria. Of course, he looked as though he had potential, strong, young, and handsome but never would she have guessed he could fight toe to toe with an ice revenant. Strange, very strange. She even had a sudden urge to use the [identify] skill but the moment that she started, she was assaulted with a feeling of dread, an instinctual warning. She immediately cancelled her ns and looked away from Frost, not wishing to delve deeper into his secrets right now, it was none of her business anyway. Frost was unaware of Miras insight and wasnt actively masking his strength. The strong feeling of dread that Mira encountered was because of his demi-god like status. The small amount of divine energy within his body made it difficult for one to analyse him on a deeper level. If Mira continued, her brain may have short circuited due to being unable to understand the divine power that was presented. Chapter 284 284 Chapter 284: Doctor Mira (2) Theres no problem with this core in the slightest, a perfect specimen for creating the anti-ice veins potion. Mira quelled Ls worries, showing a gentle smile on her face as she spoke, bringing relief to the young mothers heart. As long as I have the other secondary and tertiary ingredients and a prepared room we should be able to create the medicine within an hour. Mira spoke while counting the many other side ingredients required with her fingers. All of these they had in spares thanks to Mira as well as Sams diverse gardens and the prudent buying from passing merchants. Doctor Mira Ive already had my subordinates retrieve the medicinal herbs and other ingredients from our reserves in preparation, everything including your workstation should be ready within the next ten minutes. Saras the head servant spoke up at this time. The moment L spoke of her sess he arranged everything in advance so as to cure his master all the sooner. When Yarrow first contracted the illness [icy veins] they immediately got to work finding and retrieving all the necessary ingredients, keeping them safely stored within the vaults to be ready at a moments use. All they required now was a monster core that had high mana affinity and was at the very least C-rank which L, Sam and Frost sessfully brought back. With Miras confirmation on it meeting the required quality it was time to cure the mayor and put this whole dreadful situation behind them. The people in the room all turned to face the old servant who had clearly aged rapidly over the passed few months with a mixture of grey and white hair dotted on his head and beard. The man was actually only 60 years old the same age as Yarrow, and before his master contracted his illness he too was as fit as a man half his age with barely a grey hair in sight. Emotional pain had clearly taken its toll. Ls eyes reddened slightly as she took in the old servants frame only now realising that it wasnt just her, Sam and Chia that suffered from her fathers current state. Thank you uncle Saras, its honour for our family to have such a wise and dedicated head servant. L called him uncle like she used to do as a child which brought a happy tear to Sarass eye. He had served their family since he was but a boy and grew up alongside Yarrow. If one ignored their stations and bloodline the two of them were akin to childhood friends or even brothers. With a servile bow Saras left the room to personally assist in setting up the medical room as well as help collect the remaining ingredients. Ten minutester he returned with a bright smile on his face. Doctor Mira the room and ingredients are ready and waiting. Good work, Lutee weve got work to do. Mira who was sitting on the sofa and enjoying a nice cup of green tea to help rx her mind before performing alchemy stood up with the aid of her white oak cane. The bright light of passion once again shone in her eyes as she followed after Saras towards the medical room. She loved alchemy even if it had be a strain on her body and having such hopes ced on her shoulders only excited her more. She was confident that with Lute assisting her shed have more than a 90% of creating the medicine, far higher than any other alchemist or doctor. ..... Yes grandmother, Lute who was chatting with Sam instantly responded, jumping to his feet he followed after the old woman with a determined look. The concoction they nned to create was the hardest medicine Lute had ever attempted, he couldnt help but feel a little nervous, but like his grandmother he too was excited by the prospect. The grandmother and grandchild were cut from the same cloth. L, Chia, and the kids watched the two doctors leave the room with heavy hearts, their fingers crossed with hope. Do you need a hand at all? Sam asked before they left. Though he was no alchemist or doctor he was pretty good at handling materials and had a somewhat decent knowledge base in regards to medicinal herbs. No need, Lute will be enough for assistance. With this concoction more cooks would simply spoil the broth especially ones with so little experience. Mira bluntly replied. She wasnt intending to be mean but just stated the facts. Sam was a good botanist and had a decent head on his shoulders but to take part in alchemy and one of such high level was beyond him. Hed be more likely to cause problems than help. Sam felt an invisible punch to his heart but understood Miras intentions. He was only offering out of kindness not expecting to be epted. Frost on the other hand was feeling a little disappointed. He hoped to watch as Mira and Lute perform their alchemy but was immediately refused. Alchemy required intense concentration and alchemists tended to keep their techniques close at hand, refusing to reveal their abilities to people who werent their apprentices. Unlike battle skills and magic spells that could be immediately learned through magical tomes as long as one met the requirements. Trade skills such as those in alchemy, artificing and cksmithing all had to be learned the old fashioned way. Resulting in people being more guarded in regards to personal skills and techniques. Its unfortunate that he couldnt view alchemy first hand but theres always basic knowledge to be found in books. Surely with such an aplished alchemist within Kranor theyd surely have profession books for him to look at. Frost was still keen to try out trade skills to see what profession suited him best. The mood within the reception room was rather sombre and tense, even the three children were a bit on edge though they didnt quite fully understand what was going on. L, Sam, and Chia never fully exined the situation with their grandfather, avoiding the issue. Exining the concept of death to a child was a gruelling experience that none of them wished to do at the moment. Theyd rather hold out hope till thest possible moment. After 10 minutes of silent waiting eventually Jasmine couldnt take it anymore and started causing mischief in an attempt to lighten the mood and get some attention. Haaaaaaaa, how about we all go and keep the old manpany, Im sure hes dying of loneliness right now. Before L lost her temper with her unruly daughter Chia sighed and offered up a suggestion. This mood was a bit unbearable for her too and to be honest shed rather keep her husbandpany as they waited for the medicine to be brewed. Good idea mother. L quickly picked up her unruly daughter, preventing her from causing any more trouble. Tulip and Ren followed after their mother and restrained sister, giggling as they walked. There was never a dull moment whenever Jasmine was around. Sam and Frost smiled wryly at one another before following L towards the mayors bedroom, Chia followed close behind. At this moment Yarrow was begrudgingly sitting in bed, an empty tray that once held his breakfasty at top the bedside cab. He was incredibly bored and worried. Frosts maism caused him no small amount of worry, even more so when the group decided to go the reception room to eat breakfast together while he was remanded to his bed, unable to leave under the threat of more punishment. Atiitititititi as he moved to punch out his aggression into one of his pillows his body was struck by a stinging pain, not from his wifes beating but from the [icy veins] illness. It was a sign that another part of his body was sumbing to the freezing ice mana. In response he could see the blue coloured skin slowly encroach further along his body. Thankfully no one was within the room, so he didnt need to put up a front. Stupid illness its almost as if you know that youre about to be cured. The stinging pain was followed by a freezing cold as the areas of pink turned blue. Just as he was about to curse and shout profanities at the newly blue skin his door was opened up, immediately forcing him to hold his tongue. He doesnt curse in front of his family or even servants, preferring to keep up a noble image. Even when his wife beats him senseless he only curses internally never out loud. Hey Dad, weve decided to keep youpany until.... L walked in with Jasmine in her arms but was frozen solid after she saw the state of her father. Pffffttt haaahahhahahah! She couldnt hold back and startedughing her guts out. Her unrestrainedughter was quickly heard by those following, who walked faster to see what was so funny. Only Chia slowed down as a slightly guilty expression adorned her face, but it was fleeting. She had nothing to be guilty about, the old man deserved it. Chapter 285 285 Chapter 285: Secret hobby As the rest of the group entered the mayors bedroom they couldnt help but freeze in shock, before stifling their ownughter. Even Sam couldnt help but cover his mouth and giggle as he looked to the side. Yarrow sat on his bed with an aggrieved expression. His entire face was swollen like a pigs head making him look veryical. A generous gift from his wifes loving touch earlier. No permanent or evensting damage but certainly graphic in appearance. Like a well smacked bottom that expanded and shone red. L continuedugh out loud, tears pouring from her eyes as she pointed in a ridiculing manner, not leaving her father any face. His already red and swollen face grew a deeper shade as his anger boiled. mes of fury filled his eyes as he looked over at the elegant rabbit woman that walked inst. She even had the nerve to giggle quietly when she was the one that caused his current state in the first ce. This wasnt the first time his wife had been physical with her punishments, but it was the first time in a long while that she was so excessive. He obviously didnt me her too much given that he understood the pressure she was under as the interim mayor of Kranor. She really wasnt suited to such a stressful job that didnt let her blow off any steam, so if by taking a few beatings here and there she could rx a little, he was willing to make that sacrifice, but this was different. She went too far and had now embarrassed him in front of the whole family as well as their honoured guest. He was torn between flipping out in anger or hiding underneath his bedsheets, pretending that everyone else was just air. However, he wasnt that shameless or cowardly. C.H.I.A!!! He called out her name in a loud booming voice hoping to overshadow the raucousughter of his daughter. His swollen face was from more than Chia simply letting out her stress, no she was getting out onest good beating before he was cured. Using his use of the word fat as an excuse. Theyd been married for too long for Yarrow to not understand his wifes thoughts. If his daughter didntugh without restraint and his pigs head wasnt on disy for the world to see, he may have been able to forgive her or at least mark it down as a point for him whenever Chia did something punishment deserving in the future. Of course, his means of punishment was far different from his wifes, and he had very little opportunity to enact it upon her. Chia turned her head to stare at her husband, doing her best to re his way and not giggle. Normally given their positions shed never condone such behaviour towards her, but she felt a little guilty for her earlier actions, she was a bit too excessive. The elderly husband and wife continued this stare down with neither backing down, Yarrow was determined to win back some of his dignity as mayor and more importantly as head of the household. Haaaaaaaaaa Frost internally sighed as he watched the bickering between the old couple. Then a shiver ran down his spine and a looming vision of the future flittered through his mind. Imagining himself in Yarrows position and Maya in Chias. The fact that theparison was so easy to make chilled him to the bone. Was he destined to be under her fist in their rtionship....no no that cant happen. He wasnt adverse to having a spouse with a strong will and personality like the many women he became acquainted with, but he refused to be in a subservient position. He turned to see his teacher Sam shaking his head, as if saying to Yarrow why bother even fighting her. Like it was pointless to not let his wife have her way. Mayas smirking and sadistic face filled his mind at that moment. Noooooooooooo!!!!! Instantly he roared out his refusal at such a future. ..... Eh? Everyone in the room turned to Frost in confusion, wondering why he suddenly roared out the word no with such gusto. ......Cough cough, sorry just ignore me. Frost quickly realised that he wasnt alone and what he thought he said in his mind, he said out loud. After a quick blush of embarrassment grew on his cheeks he coughed audibly and apologised, trying to sweep his roaring under the rug. His surprise yelling had changed the atmosphere in the room, L no longerughed out loud, and Yarrow and Chia werent staring daggers at one another. Instead after a few seconds theyughed, making Frost feel even more awkward. Tulip, Jasmine, Rene sit with grandpa, how about we finish the book we were reading earlier. Yarrow no longer filled with anger, smiled lovingly at his three grandchildren while patting the bed. His loving smile however was very ugly with how swollen his face was currently, but the kids didnt care, instantly running over towards the bed to getfy. Theyd just gotten to the good part when their mother and father walked in and disturbed them. Chia and L ended up looking at one another, smiling gently before shrugging their shoulders. Scooch over, make some room for me and grandma. L and Chia decided to join them on the bed,pletely forgetting the earlier situation. Yarrow to be honest was tempted to make another joke involving the space their butts would take up but wisely restrained himself, he was already quite injured and couldnt endure a second beating. L sat to the left of her father while holding Tulip on herp, while Chia was to Yarrows right, holding Jasmine on herp with Ren resting on Yarrows, helping to hold therge book that Yarrow retrieved from his cab. It was a very cosy and wholesome image, beautiful and warm, unfortunately it left out two people. Frost and Sam still stood at the edge of the room. Sam wasnt in such an awkward position, though there wasnt much room left on the bed he could probably fit but Frost on the other hand was an outsider. He couldnt very well sit on the mayors bed like a member of the family plus he got the vibe that Yarrow was wary of him for some reason. Lets go Frost, welle backter when Miras done with the medicine. Sam sauntered over and patted Frosts shoulder before walking out of the bedroom. Though he would likely enjoy some close knit family time, it wasnt right to leave their honoured guest hanging, besides he still had lots to talk about with his young protg. L watched her husband lead Frost out the room, showing a gentle smile full of love before turning her head back towards therge book in front of her. Sorry, As Sam and Frost walked down the hallway towards another room, Frost apologised. If Sam didnt need to take care of him he could be amongst his family during that blissful moment. Frost couldnt help but feel a little jealous, the atmosphere around them was so warm and fuzzy. What that pshhhhaaa no need to apologise for that, I can spend time with them anytime I want, no biggie. Sam turned his head around to show Frost a big smile. Besides I should probably be thanking you for your earlier outburst. Though Im pretty sure it was idental it allowed a change in atmosphere, otherwise Im sure Yarrow and Chia would still be ring at one another full of rage hahahahahah. Frost couldnt help but feel embarrassed as Sam brought up his earlier actions. Whileughing Sam led Frost into a nearby office that was lined with books and documents, it had a strong smell of leather and paper. There was an ornate desk and chair in front of arge window that filled the room with light. As well as two small leather sofas with a coffee table in the centre, a grand firece added to the grandeur of the room. Take a seat Sam gestured to one of the sofas while he manoeuvred towards therge desk. Now I know he hides the stuff somewhere. He felt around therge desk in search of something before moving towards one of the nearby bookshelves. Ah here it is, he pulled out arge book that was oddly less dusty that the books around it. The title on the cover and spine was import and export tariffs a ratherplicated implying title that would put off many people from reading it, and that was the point. The room they were in was Yarrows secondary office, where he liked to work alone in the peace and quiet. Very rarely did anyone go in this room bar him but just in case anyone did -mainly his wife- he felt the need to hide certain things. This unimpressive book import and export tariffs was used to hide one of those things. Sam smiled widely as he opened up therge book. Inside was not pages and pages ofplicated tax and ounting information but arge recess that held cigars. One of Yarrows favourite hobbies was smoking a cigar and drinking whiskey; however, his wife hated the smell as well as the impact it had on his health, so he needed to smoke in secret. Chapter 286 286 Chapter 286: Secret hobby (2) Jackpot! Sam eximed with a triumphant smile when he saw the high quality cigars hidden within the book. On a very rare asion Sam would join Yarrow in his little hobby, a little father and son inw time but after he became ill the two never had the chance. Sam removed two of the cigars with nervous anticipation, hed grown quite fond of the vour after Yarrow introduced the hobby to him. He desperately wanted to smoke another cigar over the past couple months but felt that not having someone to share it with ruined the vour. His wife was most definitely not a possibility as she shared the same distaste for the things as her mother. Lute was always busy and couldnt partake in such strong smelling hobbies so as to preserve his delicate senses. And several of his other friends werent fond of the vour plus he could only really get his hands on the prime cigars through Yarrow. Now however he found someone he could try and introduce to the hobby, like how Yarrow did for him. Sam handed one of the cigars to Frost while reaching underneath therge work desk. He removed an open bottle of whiskey as well as two crystal sses and ced them on the coffee table. Do you smoke? Drink? He asked politely while first filling up his own ss. Two fingers worth, the perfect amount for whiskey. Im quite fond of wine and sake but Ive never smoked before. Frost answered honestly and his curiosity was piqued as he felt the cigar within his hand. Its either a love it or hate it passion, more popr with men. Yarrow introduced me to the stuff, and Ive loved it ever since and goes great with the whiskey here, care for a ss? Sam asked while sniffing the cigar and jostling his ss, sinking into the atmosphere. isnt it a little early plus wouldnt Yarrow take offence to us drinking his stash? Frost showed a mischievous smirk while nodding his head. Whiskey is not dependant on the time, you dont drink it to get drunk. Sam enlightened Frost while pouring another ss and handing it over. He then removed a pair of wooden matches so as to light the cigar. Magic doesnt have the same touch as an old fashioned me. Sam summoned a small chakra de and clipped off the end of his cigar before striking the match, going slow to show Frost how its done. Frost copied his movements, using ice to shave of the end before taking a match and lighting his own. Suck on the cigar to help it light well and dont inhale the smoke, keep it in your mouth and enjoy the taste. After ten seconds or so release it and take a drink of whiskey. Sam moved like an experienced master, keeping the me from directly touching the cigar before take in his first breath of smoke. Joy shed in his eyes as the thick earthy taste swirled around his tongue. ..... Ah Ive missed this. He then as stated let it out and took arge swig of whiskey, causing a fierce battle of vour in his mouth and a shiver down his spine. His father inw certainly had good stuff, just the whiskey alone was high grade C-rank. Frost followed Sams action and took his first puff of cigar smoke being careful not to inhale it. He allowed the smoke to settle within his mouth, flow along his tongue and gums before releasing it and taking a swig of whiskey just like Sam. The two men sat in silence for several seconds as they absorbed the feeling. Well, whatd you think? Not bad right? Sam kept the cigar in his mouth as he spoke making him look quite dapper. Frost silently looked down at the ss of whiskey and the lit cigar in his hand with a conflicted look. To be honest Im not really a fan. I certainly dont hate it, but the earthy taste of the cigar is a bit much and the whiskey gives a rather dry feeling without the sweetness of wine. Frost didnt sugar coat it, giving his honest opinion. It wasnt for him at least not now. He wasnt too fond of alcohol at the start, but it quickly grew on him, perhaps smoking will too. Haaaaaaaaaa oh well, worth a try at least, thanks for your honesty. Sam took anotherrge breath of smoke as though to eliminate his disappointment. He enjoyed the taste the very first time he tried it. Though he coughed due to inhaling he was never adverse to the vour. Looks like Ive only got Yarrow to keep mepany in this hobby. He sighed internally at his misfortune, but another swig of whiskey helped change his mood. It didnt matter if Frost enjoyed it or not, he was here with him and that was enough. The two men sat in the room resting against the leather sofas, one enjoyed the cigar and whiskey while the other did his best, not willing waste it. They talked only briefly about rather generic stuff, waiting for the hour to pass. It was a nice experience for the two of them, their bond as student and teacher grew closer. After close to an hour the two of them returned to the bedroom to wait on Mira and Lute, she should be finished soon. When they came back they were met with happy smiles. The group were no longer tightly packed on the bed, only Chia and Yarrow who had clearly made up after the close knit family time. The elderly rabbit womany her head on her husbands shoulder as she massaged his right leg, where the [icy veins] first started. It didnt stop progression, but it helped with the pain. L was overseeing the actions of Tulip, Jasmine and Ren who were ying a board game together as they waited for Mira and Lute to finish. Once Frost and Sam drew close, the lingering odour of the cigars alerted those in the room causing L and Chia to wrinkle their noses in slight disgust. They really didnt appreciate the smell. Yarrow however craned his neck around slowly, his lips twitched, and his anger started to boil. You little .... -he prevented himself from cursing due to the presence of children- you two went into my stash didnt you! A vein started to throb on top of his still swollen head. Hed been stuck in recovery and forced to drink bitter medicines for the past several months, not being able to enjoy his favourite pastime. And now his stash had been looted while he wasnt looking and by his own son inw of all people. I should have never introduced you into the art hmph! No one wanted a smoke more than Yarrow, but he was forbidden. Sam and Frost looked at one another with a wry smile but didnt feel too guilty, they didnt clean him out and since Yarrow couldnt use them they might as well have. Not seeing a shred of remorse on the two mens faces Yarrow felt like fainting. His wife Chia learning of what happened sent a thumbs up towards Sam and Frost out of sight from her husband. Though she didnt like the act of smoking nor the drinking of whiskey at such an hour if it meant Yarrow couldnt then it was a good thing. After contracting [icy veins] shed be far more on top his physical health in future. She nned to make sure her old goat of a husband lived a long life by her side. Just before Yarrow was about to blow a fuse, Mira and Lute walked in. Mira looked the same as ever apart from her bloodshot eyes, but Lute looked as though he ran a marathon in record time. His hands and legs were shaking from exhaustion, but his eyes revealed a highly passionate light. They had seeded and the proof was held within Miras hands. Arge bottom sk filled with a thick blue liquid and streams of silver light; this was the antidote medicine for the [icy veins] illness. Made from the core of a C-rank monster along with over a dozen other medicinal ingredients. Once Yarrow drinks it, his illness should quickly dissipate, returning the man to his previous fit self. Mira walked in slowly, protecting the sk from any rapid movement and chance of dropping. Itd be a real waste to havee this far and have her drop the medicine on the floor. Her steps momentarily froze when she caught sight of Yarrows still rather swollen face. Even when youre ill youre still misbehaving I see.....you havent changed, still the same little brat. Mira chuckled lightly as she remembered the naughty rascal that was Yarrow all those years ago. Yarrows lips twitched and his face warped as he held back the urge to argue. Mira was roughly in the same generation as his mother and father, he couldnt show her any disrespect, especially considering she held his life in the palm of her hands. Chia however smiled proudly, arching her chest forward as though shed just been praised. Mira simply shook her head before walking up to Yarrows bed, thankfully his swollen injuries wouldnt impede the medicinal strength of the potion. Chapter 287 287 Chapter 287: A secret revealed Mira took a seat next to Yarrows bed, entering full doctor mode. Chia gave her husband a peck on the cheek and gripped his hand firmly before moving out of the way. Once you drink this your illness will be cured and as long as youre within the external regions of the cial mountains youll never contract [icy veins] again. Mira spoke with a stern tone. However, the process will be anything but pleasant. The moment the potion enters your body youll suffer from intense coldness far more potent than what [icy veins] has been causing.....the pain will be quite high, and you must remain conscious throughout the entire process. Mira warned Yarrow before removing the seal on the potion. Yarrows eyes shook slightly from Miras warning, but it wasnt anything he didnt know already. He was prepared, determination shining in his eyes. Thats a good look....hopefully you keep it. As Yarrow nodded his head to show he was ready, Mira brought the sk to his lips, cradling his head as she poured. Not a single drop can be wasted. His family and Frost watched silently at the side. Some had clenched fists and teeth while others grasped tightly onto another family member. As thest drop of liquid entered Yarrows body and Mira withdrew the sk the reaction started. Urgh! Yarrow groaned instinctively as intense levels of cold flushed throughout his veins. His entire body rapidly changed colour, bing ice blue. Frost even started developing on his extremities from the rapid decrease in temperature, his residual sweat froze making him appear like an ice man. Chia gripped her daughters arm hard as she watched, her strong and confident persona near crumbling as she watched her husband fight for his life. Yarrow needed to ovee this sh freeze and embrace the effects of the potion and not sumb to the cold. No one could assist in this endeavour otherwise L would have already casted some support fire spells. The potion worked to enhance ones own innate ice resistance, outside aid would prove counterintuitive. Though Yarrows body was pretty much encased in ice, his eyes still showed that determined resolve, refusing to give up. About 5 minutester, the ice began to recede, his internal body temperature began to limate to the freezing temperature bing less and less affected, a good sign. ..... After 10 minutes all the frost and ice had melted and after 15 minutes, his ice blue body started to return to its natural pink hue, slowly but surely he was returning to normal. The 60% of his body that hadnt been affected by [icy veins] yet returned to normal first while the remaining 40% was slower, especially his feet which were the first areas to sumb to the illness. It took another 10 minutes for them to return to normal, Yarrow had seeded. The potion had increased his natural resistance to ice allowing him to ovee the [icy veins] illness. Once thest of the blue had receded, Yarrow let out an ice cold breath before panting as though he hadnt breathed the entire time the potion was in effect. He was thoroughly exhausted and starving. At the moment he started panting Chia rushed to her husbands side, hugging him emotionally as hot tears flowed down her cheeks. L wished to do the same, but her mother was faster, instead she reached out towards her own husband, burying her head in his wide chest. Tulip, Jasmine, and Ren hugged one another full of happiness, their grandfather was better, and their elders were no longer carrying around a grieving atmosphere. Though the adults didnt tell them the full details of what was going on, kids were quite perceptive when it came to emotions, they knew something was wrong just not what. Mira let out a small sigh before getting off her seat and moving to examine Yarrow, being careful not to get in Chias way. The mayor brat will be fine, the potion worked perfectly rebuilding his innate ice resistance. All he needs is some rest, food, and a warm bath to eliminate any remaining ice particles. Mira examined Yarrows pulse, listened to his breathing, and checked the temperature in different areas of his body. After being happy with the results she gave her instructions. Chia wiped her eyes and stopped crying before turning to face Mira. Thank you doctor Mira, she gave a light bow full of gratitude before moving to pick up her exhausted husband like he was weightless. She cradled him like a princess, gently and lovingly as she walked out the room towards theirrge washroom. She couldnt help earlier but making sure his entire body was thoroughly heated up and clean was something she could. As she walked with her husband in her arms she ordered servants to prepare therge bath, leaving everyone else in the room speechless. .....Thank you doctor Mira; well be sure to follow your instructions. Please join us for a drink while my father recovers. L blinked rapidly as she watched her mother carry her father towards the washroom like he was a child before turning to face Mira, taking over the role as master of the household. That would be lovely little L, Lute and I could certainly use something to recover our strengths. Mira happily agreed to the offer, the drinks served by the mayor household were sure to be of high quality. You should prepare lots of meat for Yarrow when he gets back, I for one prefer something more sweet. Without waiting for a response, Mira walked out of the bedroom towards the main reception room, a bright smile adorning her lips as she walked. She also cared about the little brat that used cause mischief when he was a boy. Given her age she wouldnt get much more saves like this one. Of course, Ill make sure we prepare a most glorious selection of cakes. L joyfully replied before ordering servants to prepare avish meal. Lute followed after his grandmother as did Frost, leaving the family alone to celebrate. Frost was it? Mira asked as she walked into the reception room. Yes maam Frost nodded his head as he replied, he had a lot of respect for this old woman. She was the first alchemist and doctor that he had the pleasure of being acquainted with. Hmmmm... well then Frost, who? Or rather what are you? Mira turned her head around, looking at Frost with intense curiosity. She could no longer hold back her desire for knowledge once Yarrow had been saved and they were separated from Sam and L. Frost visibly trembled as he endured her inquisitive look, he felt as though a major secret about his body had been revealed. A burst of killing intent sprung forth within him, the desire to eliminate the olddy that somehow noticed something she shouldnt. Maya and his father had made it very clear that his identity as a dungeon core must be kept secret. In response to Frosts killing intent Lute was filled with fear but even so he moved to protect his grandmother. If Frost wished to kill Mira hed need to go through him first. Hahahahah no need for that kid if you dont want to speak about it thats fine. Just pretend that I never said anything. Miraughed lightly while cing her hand on her grandsons shoulder. She knew Frosts killing intent was just an instinctive reaction to someone realising a deep secret. She and her grandson werent in any true danger at least when the secret still hadnt been revealed. She was actually a mixture of angry and touched however by her grandsons actions. Happy that he was so caring towards her, willing to put his life on the line but angry for the exact same reason. What good would it do for you to die instead of old me. She flicked Lutes ear sharply as punishment causing him to turn back and look at her in confusion. Miras words and actions diffused Frost sudden killing intent; he drew in his killing intent returning back to his natural schr like atmosphere. Sorry I was a little surprised. Frost apologised sincerely. From your reply Im assuming youre not willing to talk? If I did I really would have to kill you. Frost smiled mischievously but spoke with a serious tone. Fair enough, everyone has their secrets but just answer me one thing. Mira suddenly emitted a powerful aura full of threat. It wasnt formed due to her personal strength but from her experience and age, simr to the aura that a noble could emit. Do you intend to bring harm to this enve or the mayors family? She spoke with a serious tone demanding an honest answer. Frost felt simr to the time he was questioned by Sebastian about his intentions in regards to Nanna and Loki. As though if he lied something bad would happen. ...No, I have no intention in bringing harm to Kranor or its people, however if they try to harm me I will respond in kind. Good enough, thank you for ying along with my questions. No problem.....by the way can you tell how you noticed my peculiarity? Frost used vaguenguage not willing to give any information. Mira blinked before answering, weighing her options. Frost may still decide that she needed to be eliminated. Her dying was fine but her grandson. I tried to use a skill called [identify] which allows me to gleam information about a target however when I went to use it on you there was a fog obscuring you which in itself isnt umon. Anyone of sufficient strength, with camouge skills or special items would be obscured by a fog, hiding them from such skills but you. Miras eyes showed a little bit of fear when she remembered the intense pressure that loomed over her body when she tried to investigate the young man before her. Chapter 288 288 Chapter 288: Monster mount Frost was frowning as he listened to Miras exnation. Your fog didnt just obscure you from my skill it was ready to attack, to smite the one that tried to pierce through it, crushing them out of existence...Ive seen a great many people and trained my [identify] skill to quite a high level but Ive never encountered something like that. Therefore, I assumed that there must be something very important about you since your power isnt even at B-rank. ...I see, thank you for telling me. Frost sighed lightly as he tried to think what could be the cause. If its not from my own power then its either something father ced on my body as a form of protection or.... Frosts eyes opened up wide as he thought of the answer, divine energy. Divine energy or divine mana was the realm of the Gods. Only Gods could feel and manipte such power. Mortals and even S-rank monsters couldnt even begin to understand the majesty of such power. Dungeon cores were effectively demi gods because they indirectly utilise divine energy through the use of their cores. And though not under Frosts control it was present within his body. When Mira used her [identify] skill to examine his body she could have been shown a glimpse of divine energy, something she wouldnt be able to understand and something that shouldnt be experienced by a mortal. If she had continued with her skill she may have really been smited. This however was good news in a way, Frost didnt have to fear being investigated by random curious onlookers. Only those with true ability would be able to gleam information from his body and thankfully he hadnt encountered anyone with such capabilities yet and he didnt n to. Youre wee, Mira smiled happily before walking over to a nearby sofa to take a seat, her curiosity had been mildly satiated, so she was happy. Lute was still a little wary of Frost but under his grandmothers urging he sat down next to her as they waited for L and the rest to join them. Around 15 minutester while Mira, Frost and Lute were enjoying a nice cup of tea prepared by some servants L and her family arrived, each showing beaming expressions. Yarrow was dressed in a formal noble suit; his face was a healthy pink and his steps were no longer a struggle. Chia had her arms wrapped round his, she too was dressed in much nicer dress instead of her office attire. An indirect symbol of her job as interim mayor being over. Yarrow was about to thank Mira for her treatment, but his mayoral dignity was ruined by his stomach loudly groaning in protest. Everyone chuckled in response, including Yarrow. Thankfully the servants brought out lots of meat filled dishes to curb his appetite. But they didnt forget about everyone else, cakes, pastries and other delights were ced on therge table and high quality tea and juice was brought in. No alcohol considering the time and reason for celebration despite Yarrows protests. ..... Yarrow, though in recovery had quite the appetite, devouring nearly 3 mens worth of dishes and still feeling hungry. It was to be expected, forcefully altering ones innate chemistry was an exhaustive treatment. Chia helped cut up the steaks into bitesize pieces while L encouraged her father to eat slowly, the food wasnt going anywhere. Burp....sorry, brilliant as always Ramsey, your food always hits the spot. Yarrow burped and licked his lips in appreciation before thanking Ramsey the head chef who was currently bringing in another set of lighter dishes. Yarrows voracious eating made the rest rather hungry even though they just had breakfast not long ago, the lighter dishes were for them. Its my pleasure lord Yarrow. Ramsey was a tall man with short blonde hair, an aroma of spices could be subtly smelled from his body proving that he was a man that spent most of his life in the kitchen. After giving his thanks to Yarrow he gave an imperceptible smile towards Sam before returning to the kitchen. Sam smiled in response, Ramsey the head chef of the manor was previously a famous chef within Kranor, having several restaurants under his name before retiring and taking his current job. Sam had spent a fair amount of time learning knifework and other cooking skills from the man, he even interned under him when he was younger. Ramsey was his respected teacher and one of the main reasons he wished to open up his own restaurant. He wanted to make him proud, to show that he was capable of being a true chef. Ramsey was a rather stoic and silent individual, rarely speaking. A simple friendly smile between the two contained a vast array of emotion. We really got lucky when he hired him. If a man cant have love in his life then he should at least have good food. Yarrow then turned to his loving wife. luckily Im blessed with both ahahahaha. He gave her a deep kiss full of love and passion bringing a red blush to her beautiful face, but she didnt fight against it, truly loving Yarrows tender affection. Ew Jasmine and Ren both covered their eyes and stuck out their little tongues finding their grandma and grandpas kissing gross. L wasnt quite as dramatic, but she too found her mother and fathers tant expressions of love rather distasteful. The irony was lost on her considering she was just as bad if not more so. Only Tulip looked at her grandparents with a slight longing, her gaze subtly shifted towards the handsome elf sitting nearby before quickly turning back with a blush on her cheeks. Bah when youre older and have met your soulmate youll understand. Yarrow wasnt even the slightest bit ashamed, nting another kiss on his wifes delicate lips. Going so far as to even make an exaggerated kissing noise. Urgh! This however was too much for the older rabbit woman, she wasnt quite as shameless as her husband. Giving him a quick bash in the side with her fist, knocking the wind out of him. Haaaaaaaaa never a moments peace whenever Ie here. Mira shook her head while sighing, used to the antics of the mayors family. Lute giggled at the side; a look of envy hidden deep within his eyes. Given his hard ass of a teacher he never had time for romance and despite her age Chia was still a very attractive woman. When she was younger she even won the contest for the most beautiful woman in Kranor three years in a row. L only reached the semi-finals, once, a little triumph that she asionally lords over her daughter. A great amount of animosity was directed towards Yarrow from the majority of males and even a great deal of woman in Kranor when he finally bagged this fine woman. He certainly hit above his weight ss in terms of romance. With Miras statement everyone in the room started to giggle, finally the happy atmosphere that wasmon within their household was back. The mayor Yarrow Anock was back and ready to once again lead the enve of Kranor. With his wife and capable daughter by his side ready to take on the task of being an heir what problems could possibly stand in his way. Yarrows dignified, stubborn, and determined air that so attracted Chia returned to him once more. This was the man that she fell for all those years ago. He felt filled with power allowing him to tackle the problems of the enve head on and no longer worry and stress about it alone in his office. When theres a will theres a way. Sam Ive thought of a good reward for Frost in regards to his role in saving my life. Yarrow turned towards his son inw. Take him to see Druakai, perhaps his pride and joy would ept a contract with our young friend here. Yarrow then turned to Frost and showed him a bright and friendly smile. He felt very grateful towards the young man before him and thought long and hard about what to give him as a reward. But instinctively he still felt a little wary remembering his beautiful wifes words when the two flirted with another innocently. His arm subconsciously wrapped tighter around her lithe waist as if to show possession, a move which Chia found rather cute. This male bravado was just a minor thing and certainly wouldnt affect Frosts reward in any way. Sams eyes opened up wide in understanding and a mischievous smile adorned his lips. Druakai was the enves star monster breeder, in charge of monster steeds that were not only supplied to the army but also sold to powerful adventures and visitors. One may be able to purchase powerful weapons, armour or magic devices with money or gain them through raiding monsterirs or secret realms. But getting ess to a good steed however was far more difficult. Very few merchants could sell high quality monster steeds given the difficulty in taming and caring for them and those that do generally have sufficient backing. For example, Sebastian the merchant guild leader in Furano had a business of raising frost wolves and even dire wolves as steeds solely for the Northrend military, the frost wolf battalion in particr. Not everyone would be granted the right to purchase a monster steed, simr to high level potions they were usually restricted by the ruling government. Chapter 289 289 Chapter 289: Wait for me Frosts ears perked up the moment a reward was mentioned and hearing that it was a monster steed his heart couldnt help but grow excited. Monster steeds/mounts were the dream of many strong adventurers but were quite difficult to get a hold of if one didnt have the required connections and or money. Plus, those that they could get would likely be of low rank for example frost mares were considered the lowest level of mount within the northern reaches of Yangmir. Slightly surpassing regr bred horses in both speed and stamina but otherwisecked battle capability. Next up you would have things such as frost wolves or dire wolves, fast and capable of aiding their rider in battle but a hell of a lot harder to raise and tame than a mere frost mare. Above that would be things such as pr bears that the war ursa battalion are famed for riding into battle. Further beyond that would be the ice ursas, coeurls and in some very rare cases monsters with dragon blood. There was a legend of a mighty warrior long ago who had a wind dragon as his mount, allowing him to fight against mighty s-rank monsters solo however most believe that it was a fake story made up just to inspire people. None the less people still hold onto hope that one day they could be catapulted into greatness like the man from the legend. If one sessfully contracts with a powerful beast even if their initial talent and strength were mediocre they could rely on their beast to reach the peak. Tamers were a very powerful profession if one had a great talent for it. The tamer may only have D-rank strength but his or her contracted monster could be B-rank or even higher. Not all monsters simply rely upon strength as a determining factor in rank. If someone raises a monster from the time of its birth and treats it well then even when it reaches a level far beyond that of its owner why would it feel the need to betray them. Finy would be a good example of this though with him there are other circumstances in y. To make a monster ones mount, a contract simr to that of the one between tamers and their monsters must be established- though usually not as stringent. The onus in epting such a contract is entirely on the monster to be made into a mount and it has varying degrees of sess. The higher the sess rate the morepatible the monster and rider will be. Those who barely meet the cut would struggle to control the monster in the way they wish and in some cases the monster may even betray the rider. Frost hadnt thought of the idea of having a mount, at least not yet but the idea did interest him. As a possible reward it was far more unique and meaningful than money or a regr treasure. However, Yarrow wasnt simply giving him a monster mount but the chance to contract with their best one. Such an opportunity was likely reserved for the higher ups within the enve. Frost was but a stranger and the man already offered him one of his enves prized possessions. Frost couldnt help but be a little moved by his treatment. Thank you for such generosity lord Yarrow. Frost thanked him genuinely, eagerly anticipating the moment he contracted with a fine monster steed. Pshaaaa no need for thanks young man, you helped save my life and are the student of my daughter and son inw. Youre practically family, itd be rude to not offer such a chance to a member of my own kin but remember its just a chance. Whether that arrogant cub will submit is out of my hands, youll need to subdue it with your own ability.....if you fail well Ill think of something else hahahaha. Yarrow shot down Frosts thanks saying it was unneeded. Though he felt an instinctive danger as a man with a beautiful wife he was truly grateful towards Frost and had already epted him as part of the family given his status as Sam and Ls student. Hell, even he may take him on as a student if he showed promise in terms of governance. If he could rope in such a young man with great potential it would be a great boon for Kranor...but he cant have my Chia. Yarrow would have likely proposed engagement between Frost and Tulip if their ages were closer together- of course only if Tulip agreed- but he would never let him have Chia she was his. Hearing Yarrows reply Frost felt a warmth in his heart and a gentle smile adorned his lips, he felt happy. Hede across arge amount of less than savoury people, but hed alsoe across just as many good and great people, willing to show him kindness even though they barely knew him. He felt grateful for being born into this world and gaining the chance to experience such rtionships. It did however also make him feel a longing, for those he considered his kin....Maya and the kids. Their faces floated passed his mind as he wondered how they were doing without him. If Nanna and Loki were eating right, if they managed to finish all their lessons on time or if Maya was bored without him there to tease all day. Frost appearance towards everyone in the room appeared gentle and nostalgic. Tulip blushed as she gazed at Frosts handsome face while Sam and L had a look of understanding. Frost had told them an altered version of his history. When Yarrow called him family and kin they believed Frost was feeling a little homesick, picturing the faces of his family. The group continued to enjoy their meals and chat like one big family. Once they were done, Mira and Lute said their goodbyes after leaving Yarrow a few instructions in regards to his health over the next week or so. This caused him to yell in protest and once again get bashed in the side by his darling wife. He was forbidden from drinking and smoking for an entire week, pouring a bucket of ice water on his celebration ns. He even believed that this was just a lie that Mira cooked up with his wife to put a stop to his hobbies, but he didnt have the guts to call them on it. Mira and Lute would receive a generous payment for their services and Sam even offered to hand over some of his prized herbster in the week to which Mira couldnt help but have a glow in her eyes. There was very little she was envious of at her age, but Sams garden was one of them. His garden was very impressive, overshadowing her own in many regards, a professional alchemist and doctor wasnt even as good as an adventurer who raised herbs as a hobby. When she first saw it she wanted to smash her head on a block of tofu out of shame but when she spoke with Sam and understood his passion all she felt was respect. It was shame he had little interest in bing an alchemist or doctor otherwise shed have two capable students under her wing. ..... Once Mira and Lute had left Sam if you could take Frost on small tour of the enve on your way to Druakais that would kill two birds with one stone. L Ill need to speak with in regards to running Kranor now that youre ready to take up the mantle. Chia if you wouldnt mind helping me with that, you know far more about the goings on over the past few months than I do. Yarrow gave his instructions, he was healed now and wanted to waste no time getting back to work. Initially Chia and L would be against him doing any work so soon after being cured but since he said it was to groom L for his position they let it slide. If anything, doing such a thing would be stress relieving, he finally had someone sacrificing themselves to take over his position and it was done willingly. Ummmm what should we do? Tulip asked nervously, only the kids werent mentioned and usually that resulted in something boring like ying in the manor which they grew tired of years ago. They knew every nook and cranny of this ce from their many games of hide and seek. You... Yarrow cupped his chin in thought knowing that usually hed be keeping thempany at this time or before he became really sick theyd be in school or ying with their friends back on the fourth floor. How about you join your father and Frost on the tour, you can help point out all the good things about Kranor to our new friend and Im sure Druakai would let you y with baby cubs if you ask nicely. Yarrow spoke in a joyful grandfatherly tone as he coaxed the three of them. Yayyyyyyy! All three of them jumped in excitement, thankful that they wouldnt be remanded to the manor for the next several hours with bog all to do. Without even giving Sam or L a chance to disagree the three children each grabbed onto Frost and started leading him out of the manor. Tulip grabbed his left hand, Jasmine his right and little Ren did his best to push from the back, eager to leave and explore. Sam could only chuckle before following after them, wait for me. Chapter 290 290 Chapter 290: The B.F.G L and her mother simply smiled gently as the kids eagerly led Frost out of the manor, finding it rather adorable. Come then L, theres lots we need to discuss heheheh. Yarrow ced his muscr arm around his daughters shoulders as if preventing her escape. Chia did much the same, leaning over and mping her arm against her chest. At a simple look it appeared as though a loving couple were leading their daughter gracefully into another room but if one looked closer, passed the smiles and happy faces it was more reminiscent of a convict being walked to the gallows. L felt a strong sense of regret in regards to her earlier gusto and promises in taking over her fathers burden. She weakly looked behind hoping for her husband toe to her rescue, but he was already gone, chasing after the kids and Frost. She felt like crying, powerless to resist as she was escorted into an office. Meanwhile Sam had caught up with Frost and the rest. He picked up Ren and ced him on his shoulders since he was quite small. Jasmine seeing this instantly grew jealous but instead of demanding to be carried by her father she picked Frost. Frost being a sucker towards kids easily acquiesced, lifting her up like Sam did for Ren and ced her on his shoulders. She stuck her tongue out towards Ren and Tulip in triumph. Ren wasnt bothered but Tulip felt incredibly jealous of her sister, beating herself up for not being as fast as her or a little too old to be carried. Instead with a slight blush she grasped Frosts hand and took on the job of leading. It wasnt as good, but it was the most her shy self could do. Though Kranor was quiterge, even more so than Furano itsyered floors made manoeuvring around quite easy. Carriages were avable but few actually needed to use them as to get to a lower floor didnt necessarily require walking towards the preformed staircase at the end of each floor, no the people of Kranor solved that issue long ago. Within each of the sections or rather most of them there was a man-made lift that allowed people easy ess to the different floors, saving a great deal of time as well as space in terms of travel, especially those with cargo. Large caravans of crops from the lower floors would routinely be brought up to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floor to be delivered to the restaurants, shops, and markets. Same with the ore and stone from the quarry, itd be lifted up several times a day for use in the workshops on the top floor. If one wasnt a resident however they had to pay a small fee, a toll to use the lift and for those businesses that required materials from the lower floors theyd need to have a merchants permit in order to use it free of charge. The rulers of Kranor had quite a thought out tax system that helped pay for such public services. However, since Frost was apanying Sam and his three children his fee was kindly waved by the man in charge of the lift. Druakais business was on the lowest floor in use, floor 7 where livestock was raised, and crops were grown. In fact, Druakai was one of the leaders of the agricultural department as well as being their top breeder for monster mounts. A very respected man within Kranor. Tulip and Jasmine joyfully pointed out different areas as they walked and descended on the lifts such as their school, their favourite restaurant, shops and even the biggest yground in Kranor. Unfortunately, the lift area was too far away from their main home on the fourth floor otherwise they would have dragged Frost for a visit. They had to walk a little on the sixth floor before taking arger lift down to thest floor. If Sam and Frost were alone they would have obviously visited the breweries on this floor and perhaps if Sam was brave enough, the fifth floor that contained many adult entertainment establishments but unfortunately they were not. The two men could only roughly see the brewery at a distance, only the slightest whiff of alcohol could be sensed, as if mocking them. The two men looked at one another silently, promising to visit at ater time without the kids or women. In fact, they could bring Yarrow and make him act as chaperone forcing him to teeter on a knifes edge. Join his son inw and young saviour in drinking some of Kranors own alcohol and get harshly punished by his wife, daughter and also likely his doctor or willingly ignore the temptation that would be ced before him. No matter how well Sam managed to sneak him into the brewery or the fifth floor all his actions would be reported back to his darling wife, she had eyes and ears everywhere. They both smiled mischievously and held back a giggle as they imagined Yarrow being subjected to such an ordeal. Atchooo! Geez someone must be talking about me. Back in the manor Yarrow suddenly sneezed. The seventh floor was much less popted than the upper floors, pretty much only farmers, breeders and their animals lived on this floor. The environment was very simr to the others but a tad warmer, more humid and the air felt far fresher thanks to the massive amounts of nts, trees, and herbs. Other than food crops there was also a small section reserved for medicinal herbs that Doctor Mira was in charge of, they were what really improved the natural air quality on this floor. Druakais ce of business was within the first section and fairly close to the lifts exit, just a short 20 minute walk or rather jog across a plethora of open farnd. ..... The three kids took in a deep breath the moment they exited the lift as did Sam and the three people who joined them on their descent. This floor really made it hard for one to believe that they were situated within the cial mountains. By taking a deep breath of the fresh crisp, nt rich air it served as a reminder of the wonder of the Gods as well as the hard work of the people of Kranor who made it their home. It was tradition to do so whenever one found themselves on this floor. Go on take a deep breath like this huuuuuuuuuu then let it out, its good for the body and soul hahahahha. Jasmine who had at some point mbered down from Frosts tall shoulders spoke with a joyful tone. Since their mother and they were part of the ruling family they often had to visit the many floors of Kranor to meet and greet with the local residents C the fifth floor excluded for the kids of course- but the 7th floor was their favourite, here they could run around and y to their hearts content without bothering anyone. Plus, the crisp air helped to rejuvenate their young bodies but most of all it was because they usually got to visit their uncle Druakai and his many animals when here. To be honest the main reason they tagged along on this trip was because of the promise of meeting up with Druakai. Frost took in a deep breath as instructed, filling his lungs with the crisp air of the nt filled floor. Huuuuuuuuuuu, he breathed out and low and behold he did feel better just like Jasmine said, as though his body was mildly cleansed of toxins. It was a marvellous feeling, reminding him slightly of when he was back home and linked with the dungeon core. If regr people lived on this floor for prolonged periods of time theyd likely be far healthier and more resilient that the average person. Frost struggled to understand then why so few people wished to work as farmers given the glorious working conditions. Where young people really so focused on bing strong adventurers or soldiers and leaving to explore their paradise that was Kranor..... the irony seemed to be lost on Frost as he thought that. Wasnt he the exact same, seeking to improve his strength and explore the world of Nova instead of remaining at home where his core and family were? His cheeks grew rosy from the deep breath, a goodplexion. Jasmine put on a see I told you so expression with her hands on her hips before rushing off into the distance. Tulip quickly gave a polite nod to Frost before rushing off after her sister. Ren who was on Sams shoulder quickly begged to be let down before he too ran after his sisters. They couldnt wait anymore, theyd been cooped up in the manor for so long that their muscles ached, now they could run free and let loose all that pent up childish energy. The direction they ran was towards Druakais farm eager to y with the more docile monster cubs and other animals. Haaaaaaa these kids never change,e on lets go Frost otherwise well be left behind. Sam guffawed while pping down on Frosts shoulders. Time to go meet to the B.F.G. Chapter 291 291 Chapter 291: The B.F.G (2) The B.F.G? Frost looked towards his teacher in confusion. Hahahaha its a nickname of his that stands for big friendly giant youll understand when you see him. Sam and Frost continued to chase after the three kids who were running a mile a minute as though chock full of sugar. As they made their way towards Druakais farm many other farmers and breeders waved in greeting towards the kids while smiling gently. All of them however bar a few were older, mostly showing grey in their hair. Barely anyone below the age of forty was at work on the farms, a bad sign in terms of future viability. Children of the farmers would of course help out when needed but at the moment the majority were at school. Tulip, Jasmine, and Ren were a notable exception given that their grandfather previously didnt have much longer to live. Thankfully due to the strictness of their mother and grandmother the three of them didnt fall behind in their studies. A tutor woulde to the manor every day to teach them. But after ast day of leisure, theyd likely be attending school from tomorrow onwards, they needed to make the most of it. After a 20 minute jog the group finally made it to Druakais farm. Ren had gotten tired quite quickly, so Sam carried him on his shoulders, lest he have no energy to y with the animals. Druakais farm was a fair bitrger than the others they passed and had much higher fences as well as warning signs. Children werent allowed on his farm without supervision, preferably not at all given that he was raising monsters but unfortunately monster cubs were just to adorable for young kids to resist and Druakai was too big of a softie to deny their wishes. Therefore, parents and even the schools would asionally arrange visits like a field trip to a zoo, thus satisfying the childrens desires. It also helped to educate them properly about the monster breeder profession as well as the danger of monsters. Uncle Druakai! Ruby! The three kids quickly found Druakais massive frame within one of the fields as well as his personal monster mount, Ruby who was lying nearby as Druakai fed what appeared to be arge horned bison. Hearing the childish voices that he recognised, Druakai the B.F.G turned around with a smile on his face and waved in greeting before sending therge horned bison off to join its friends. Tulip and her siblings patiently waited at the fence as it was dangerous to enter recklessly. As Druakai walked towards them Frost clearly understood why this guy got the moniker B.F.G. Druakai was easily over 3 metres tall almost 4. His entire body was made out of thick powerful muscles that put Sams to shame, his forearms where thicker than Frosts entire waist. And every step he took sent out a wave of vibrations throughout the floor. He was an orc and a pretty massive one at that, his skin was bright green, and tusks sprung up from his lower jaw and several scars could be seen across hisrge, uncovered chest. Yet he didnt look intimidating in the least given the constant gentle and goofy smile that adorned his face, making for an unusualparison. From what Frost knew about orcs they were a monster race that were usually anything between 2 and 3 metres tall. Theyd have muscr frames and revel in the thrill of battle, solving most of their problems with their fists and or axes. Not the most intelligent species but at heart quite honest and simple, making for quite stout allies. Druakai was quite clearly an abnormal case, farrger than the average orc and seemed to be incapable of even hurting a fly, ergo the nickname, B.F.G. ..... His personal mount Ruby who followed after him was no less impressive than the giant orc. She was a red tailed snow leopard, a very rare species. Hard toe across within the external or even inner regions of the cial mountains. She was roughly 2.5 metres tall and over 5 metres in length,rger and stronger than a D-rank pr bear, faster and far more intelligent as well. If Frost was to give an estimate hed likely ce it on the cusp of C-rank, surpassing even the mighty Baltic tigers and from what he could see it still had room to grow. Shockingly however the thing was far from what one would expect a monster to be like, more akin to arge cat or rather a pet dog. The instant it saw the three kids itunched itself over the 2 metre high fence and started licking their faces in greeting, purring as it did. Monsters that were not were not raised in the wild and or were contracted even if they had low intelligence tended to be far more docile than their natural counterparts. However, in the end they were still monsters, thus it wasnt wise to treat them as you would a regr animal. Ruby however was quite a notable exception, she was very much like her master, a big old softie that wouldnt hurt a fly. Shed known the young Tarnells (Sams surname) since they were babies and had be close friends with them resulting in this level of skin ship. Frost a stranger and even Sam didnt receive such a friendly greeting, in fact the powerful red tailed snow leopard kept a watchful eye on Frost, this stranger that apanied the Tarnells, not sure of his intentions. She felt a pressure emanating from Frost that affected her very soul, he didnt seem threatening or dangerous but there was something about him that made her feel a little nervous. He movements of greeting the young Tarnells was not just a friendly gesture but allowed her to be in position to protect the younglings in case Frost tries anything. Frost saw all this, including the watchful eye Ruby had on him and was blown away by her intelligence and wisdom. Though the leopard had a beastlike body and couldnt speak he equated her intelligence with that of the ice revenant he, Sam and L defeated just a few days prior. Of course, this wasnt necessarily umon, Finy his ice trollmander had wisdom and intelligence far above the norm for his rank.....however he had a very humanoid appearance whereas Ruby was in the form of a beast, making this situation quite rare. The more humanoid a creature appeared usually meant the higher its intelligence. There was a reason why high powered monsters such as Maya had humanoid forms after all. My Rubys a rare red tailed snow leopard that has been raised meticulously by myself since she was a cub. Her wisdom and intelligence is far beyond her wild peers. The B.F.G, Druakai spoke up with a deep bass like voice as he noticed the glint in Frosts eyes that showed not just desire but respect for hispanion. Druakai appreciated this look, that showed Frost didnt view monsters with prejudice, a rare trait even within the cial mountains. Sapient races tended to have an instinctual air of superiority when face to face with monsters, those that appear like beasts most of all. Druakai himself being an orc had met with no small amount of wary looks, unintentional or not. Shes amazing. Frost gave his honest opinion while nodding his head towards therge snow leopard. If he could have such a mount hed be one lucky man, hell even just to have her around in general would be a blessing. Let alone her hidden strength and high potential her friendlessness would certainly be appreciated by Nanna and Loki. That she is young man, that she is. Druakai moved over the fence and petted hispanion with affection before turning to face Frost and Sam. The names Druakai, head monster mount breeder and vice head of agriculture here in Kranor, nice to meet you. Druakai pushed out his oversized green hand to shake. Frost without hesitation reached out, his tiny white hand was quite a stark contrast to the massive green one. Actually, now that I get good look at him, this Druakai reminds a lot of Terra hahahhaha. Frost couldnt help but giggle as he shook Druakais hand. Something funny? Druakai didnt feel that theugh was insulting in any way and was rather curious. Not really you just remind me of my older brother Terra, another B.F.G if you will hahahhahaha. In fact, the simrities were incredibly simr, even the voice and natural air about them, if it wasnt for their stark difference in appearance Frost would have sworn that they were somehow twins. ...... Druakai was speechless, he tilted his head to the side as he absorbed Frosts statement. Im like an elf...how bizarre. Druakai or probably any orc had never beenpared to the likes of an elf, their two species were so different that it was almost impossible to be simr. Frost however was not an elf but a dungeon core. Druakai would probably be even more surprised if he knew that his siblings came in all shapes and sizes, even dragons and undead was counted among them. Chapter 292 292 Chapter 292: The B.F.G (3) Druakai still held onto Frosts hand as he struggled toe to terms with his genuineparison. It was certainly a first in his life to bepared to an elf, yet Frost didnt sound as though he was lying. The names Frost, Im an adventurer as well as Sam and Ls student. Nice to meet you Druakai. Druakai looked towards Sam in query. Hes yours and Ls student? He never heard of the couple taking in any students and if they were nearly half the young folk in the enve would be mouring to be epted. Its a long story, why dont we find somewhere to sit and chat. Were not here as a simple visit but on official business I see.....Ruby can you take the kids to the cub den while I talk with Sam and our new friend here? Druakai quickly shifted to his business persona as he gave orders to Ruby. The red tailed snow leopard looked up at her partner and nodded before leading Tulip and the rest towards the cub dens where they keep the very young animals. She even picked up Ren in her mouth and tossed him onto her back as though shed done it many times. Ruby was so intelligent and gentle that she was pretty much another employee on the farm instead of a monster mount. Druakai had absolute trust in her as did the children. Yayyyyyyyy!Tulip and her siblings screamed in excitement, finally they get to see and pet the baby monsters, the highlight of this little trip. That should keep them upied for a while,e lets head inside and discuss this official business. Druakai then led Sam and Frost into his farmhouse, where he and Ruby lived. It was quite spacious and well decorated. A lot cleaner than one might expect from a single man and a farmer to boot. Frost couldnt find a speck of dust or muck around, just some dropped fur from Ruby, yet Druakai still said, please forgive the mess as he gestured for the two of them to sit down. It was clear that this giant orc wasnt just a B.F.G but also very homely. Out of the corner of his eye Frost even spotted several aprons hanging up, further contrasting his orcish background. Tea, or coffee whats your preference? ..... Coffee straight up please. Sam replied as he took a seat. Ill take a tea please. Ive got milk tea, green or lemon? Druakai retrieved a jade box that was filled three different types of tea, all arranged very neatly andbelled. Lemon please. Alright, give me a few minutes. Druakai then got to work preparing the beverages. He used lifestyle magic to heat up the kettle while he delicately ground the coffee beans with a special apparatus. A few minutester three mugs were on the table, ready to be enjoyed. Im assuming that since youre here and with a happy expression the old mans gonna make it? Druakai sat down causing the floor to shake from his substantial weight. Yeah, Mira just gave him the medicine. Hes right as rain now. Sam replied while taking a sip of coffee. Good, good..... Druakais eyes grew slightly red, and he discreetly wipe away a lone tear. Yarrow was well loved by his people, most especially by those close to him. Druakai was not only an important member within Kranor thanks to his position in the agricultural department he was childhood friends with Sam and therefore was quite close to L and the mayoral family. Hearing that his mayor and friends father inw was healthy he couldnt help but grow a little emotional. Frost and Sam simply sipped on their tea and coffee while they waited for Druakai topose himself. So then how did you and L gain a student? Well.... Sam then told Druakai of the story, leaving very little unsaid. It took Sam close to 40 minutes to bring Druakai up to speed. I see, no wonder Ruby gave me a subtle warning about you. If your capabilities are really as high as Sam said it makes sense that Ruby would be wary. Druakais eyes were filled with deep respect when he looked at Frost. Though he had arge frame and fairly substantial muscle strength, when it came to a fight he waspletely useless. Having little to no fighting instincts, unable to wield any form of weapon and only capable of using lifestyle magic given his poor mana pool. In many ways he was a disgrace to orc kind and received a vast amount of teasing for it when he was younger. Even now many of the younger generation orcs in Kranor see him as a failure as an orc, refusing to be associated with him. But thanks to those that were his friends as well as his elder sister and many elders who saw passed his physical appearance to see underneath, he discovered his passion and true talents. Druakai was not gifted in terms of battle, magic or even smithing no his skillsy in hismunication with nature and monsters. His thumb was not just green due to his skin colour no he was a highly skilled farmer that understood crops, allowing them to yield far more produce than normal. Monsters would naturally have high affinity with Druakai, willing to listen to his instructions even without a contract. Acting far more docile than normal in his presence. A very rare gift, hed be an excellent tamer if his mana reserves wererger but even if that were true Druakai was not fond of violence. He was more than happy breeding monsters and crops down here on the lower floors. So as a reward for saving Lord Yarrow hes being given the opportunity to try and contract with him Druakai emphasized the word him as he looked at Sam as though asking for confirmation. Yes thats correct, father thought it would make for a suitable reward. Druakai then looked over Frost once again, judging him. Haaaaaaaa very well but I cant promise anything. A fair few that were leagues beyond him in strength have tried and failed. Hes a stubborn little rascal but his time is running out, hopefully youll fare better. Druakai let out a deep sigh as he shrugged and waved his hands as though he held no confidence in Frost. The him that Druakai was referring to, was his most prized monster mount. Far rarer and stronger than even his Ruby and because of that it was really arrogant, refusing to contract with anyone it didnt deem worthy. Which so far was everyone, only Druakai could safely approach him given that hed raised him since the moment he was born. The rest would be violently attacked the moment they crossed into his domain. Unfortunately, time was running out for the young monster. It had gotten to the point that Druakai could no longer support its potential. If a powerful person didnt contract with him soon and bring him out into the world, Druakai would likely have to force a sell or set him free into the wild. He could no longer support a monster of such capability here in Kranor. Frost still didnt know much about this prized monster mount but given Druakais reactions as well as the asional mischievous look that Sam showed he couldnt help but be curious. With all this fuss I wouldnt be surprised if it was a dragon. Of course, that would be impossible, a dragon would be way, way beyond what Kranor could safely contain even if it was rather docile. Frost estimated that it was likely a monster that would achieve upper C-rank once it reached adulthood otherwise people stronger than him i.e. B-rank fighters wouldnt havee to contract with it. Alright since its Lord Yarrows orders Ill allow him the opportunity but be careful, he has quite the temper and is quite mischievous. The moment you enter his territory he may very well attack you, are you ready for that? Druakai turned to Frost, the one who would be ced in harms way and asked. I think Ill be fine, Ivee across some pretty powerful monsters in my life, no matter what species this guy is Im pretty confident I can hold my ground. Its not like hes a fenrir or anything, how hard could it be. Dont say I didnt warn you. Druakai simply shook his head, no longer giving out warnings. Hede across a great many people who said the exact same thing and each and every one of them not only failed in their contract, they returned with injuries. The group didnt have to worry about time given that even if the kids were given three days to frolic within the cub dens it wouldnt be enough. Druakai led them to a veryrge barn made from high quality wood as well as stone, very sturdy, hard to break even for a monster. This was where the prized monster mount was kept as it no longer liked to mingle with others nor did the other monsters feelfortable when within its presence. Of course, Druakai never neglected his monsters regardless of their strength. The monster would receive lots of care and attention from Druakai personally several times a day plus hed arrange for it to leave the barn when most of the other monsters were resting in their shelters. But it wasnt enough now, it needed more space, more freedom and adventure, something Druakai couldnt give it. Chapter 293 293 Chapter 293: Sit! The little rascals in here, given the time he should be somewhat more agreeable, take these, it might help get the ball rolling. Druakai removed dried jerky from one of his pockets. These are his favourite treats, pr bear jerky. He stuffed a few strips in Frosts hands before patting his shoulder for luck. Sam you stay outside since youve already failed he may attack you on sight. Druakai warned Sam with a serious tone. The monster only treated Druakai and Ruby well, everyone else was either an enemy or food once it reached puberty. Before its rebellious, teenage years it was actually quite cute and yful. So much so that it lived in the house with Druakai and Ruby. Though it still wouldnt allow others to pet it ore too close it was far better than what it was now. Frost couldnt help but audibly gulp as he saw Sams expression show a memory of fear. What the hell is this thing? He looked down at the strips of pr bear jerky in his hand. This is meat from a D-rank monster, yet the thing simply eats it as treats. He really wondered what type of creature delighted in eating bear meat. Sam backed away from the doors entrance to avoid any chance of meeting, hisst encounter with the creature didnt go so well. A cold sweat dripped down his back as he remembered the incident. Druakai opened up therge doors before leading Frost into the barn, he left the doors open in case Frost needed to make a quick getaway. He wasnt worried about the monster leaving since it had no interest in doing so. Once a person was chased or kicked out hed return to whatever he was doing before which was usually napping. The inside of the barn was far brighter than Frost expected, the open windows along the top of the barn allowedrge amounts of light to enter. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr, the moment Frost entered along with Druakai a deep and threatening growl could be heard from the opposite end of the barn, along with a pressuring aura that made Frosts skin crawl. What the hell! Frosts body was warning him of danger, even more so than when he faced off against the ice revenant. He wrapped his head around to find the source of the threatening growl. Kiba be nice, Druakai spoke in the tone of an admonishing father but was incapable of changing Kibas behaviour. The monster or rather Kiba ignored Druakai just like a rebelling teenager. His growl grew louder before the creature walked forward revealing itsrge and powerful frame. Holy shit! thats a... Frost couldnt help but curse out loud in shock. ..... Frost meet Kiba, a cial winged tiger. Druakai introduced him once Kibas full frame was in view, standing proud and domineering as he red at Frost. cial winged tigers are incredibly rare monsters that not only dominate thend but also the sky. Usually only found within the core regions of the cial mountains, ruling over arge expanse of territory like kings. The winged tiger archetype is right up there with dragons and behemoths, with the cial winged tigers being solid B-rank monsters once theyre fully grown perhaps some even reaching A-rank if they sessfully evolve. At the moment Kiba was still considered a child despite his size rivalling that of Ruby and his current strength which was around the beginning stages of C-rank, a fair bit weaker than the ice revenant. Its pressure came mainly from its lineage and what it could eventually be. His body was thicker and far more muscr that of the red tailed snow leopard that was Ruby, and his tail wasnt quite as puffy. His fur was smooth and adorned with blue stripes against white skin and his eyes were red and full of arrogance. But the most impressive thing was the majestic white feather wings that adorned his back, giving him the power to fly in the air. Tigers were already a dominant force on the ground, adding wings to such creatures was pretty much overkill. Frost now understood why so many people failed to contract with Kiba. Its potential and lineage were incredibly strong and everyone it usually came across in Kranor was far below it in terms of ability even before it was fully grown. Even the mighty Ruby that it looked up to when it was a cub was no match for him anymore -Of course it would never attack or harm her, she was like his adoptive mother. Being surrounded with monsters and people so much weaker than him, it was natural for him to grow arrogant. The B-rank fighters that came before were probably barely qualified in their ranking and at the end of their potential. The moment Kiba became an adult hed surpass them, not a worthwhilepanion. Frost however was not like those who came before. If Kiba wanted topare potential and lineage then the little winged tiger was in for a shock. Frost had no limits to his strength, his teacher was a mighty S-rank Fenrir, and his father was one of the two creation Gods, hepletely eclipsed Kiba. Druakai looked towards the young man who he assumed was an elf with intrigue. Even the mighty B-rank fighters he showed Kiba to before trembled before him, subconsciously taking a step back, some even going weak in the knees. He of course struggled to understand the fear given that all he saw in front of him was the cute little cub that used to fall asleep in his arms. He wasnt ever subjected to the killing intent or pressure. Frost however other than momentarily reacting when Kiba growled showed no signs of fear, only excitement in his eyes. Even his bodynguage showed that he held no trepidation towards the mighty beast that revealed itself. A vein started to throb on Kibas forehead, the young, winged tiger felt incensed. It was always the superior one, looking down upon the uninvited guests that his father dragged in. Frost was no different yet unlike the others he didnt show any sign of fear, his eyes even showed a strong sense arrogance. This was the first time one of these outsiders ever looked down on him, he was practically livid. Rooooooooaaaaaaaarrrrrrrr! Without warning, Kiba roared in protest, shaking the entire barn. The air was swept up like a small tornado blowing fiercely against Frost and inadvertently Druakai. Kiba! Druakai was quite angry as well, Kiba never even gave Frost a chance and seemed to no longer hold any respect for him. Before hed at least give the guests a chance to show their worth and it wasnt as if Kiba couldnt understand the reasons why he needed to be paired up with someone. Kranor could no longer afford to take care of this powerful monster resident. Druakai couldnt fight but his strength was incredible even for an orc, a small tornado wasnt enough to blow him away even if he wasnt the intended target. He stomped his feet into the ground, refusing to budge an inch. This isnt what Kiba wanted to see, his roar was supposed to get Druakai to escort Frost out or at least have him out of the way when he lunged for this so called guest. Frost understood all this and couldnt help but smile wildly, interesting he pped his hands loudly before walking to the side, distancing himself from Druakai. Now you dont need to worry about harming your dad. He then raised his hand and beckoned for the winged tiger toe at him. Kiba was only interested in strength, so Frost needed to put him in his ce, only then would he be willingly to contract with him. Going against a C-rank monster alone would be a bit much but from what he could tell, Kiba didnt really show much desire to kill. His intimidation tactic being more of a front to more easily have people leave and stop bugging him with contracts. Frost dont! Druakai tried to warn Frost as he walked off. If he was by his side Kiba would be more restrained but it was toote, the moment Frost beckoned with his hand Kiba was off. Shit! Druakai panicked, he saw the anger in Kibas eyes and truly felt that Frost was done for or at the very least woulde out with a serious injury, how would he exin this to Sam or the mayor. Frost however was more than ready, he knew that Kiba had no intention to kill, this was a test. If he stayed by Druakais side hed never be able to win him over as he would be considered a weakling. If he backed away from his intimidation hed be seen as a coward, the only way was to face him down with his own ability, without fear. After his fight with the ice revenant and his sudden epiphany in terms of his aura Frosts strength had continued to grow as did his control. Hepletely ignored the massive tiger that was lunging towards him. He closed his eyes and reached deep into his soul, trying to summon the divine energy that slept within his body. You think youre gifted and have unmatched origins, let me show you how much of a frog in a well you really are. Frost entered a special state, far more impressive than when he confronted the ice revenant. It was akin to the time he forced Maya to kneel, he summoned his authority as a dungeon core along with his aura to create a powerful pressure. Sit! Chapter 294 294 Chapter 294: Divine presence Sit! Frost spoke but a single word but contained within his voice was a matchless pressure that reverberated throughout the barn. The powerful and imposing cial winged tiger that was Kiba, who was lunging through the air in an attempt to smash Frost with hisrge and sharp ws, froze mid-air. Themand sit reverberated within his head and body over and over and the more he resisted the more dominating it became. Frost became an unassable giant while he shrunk back to the size of a cub. The massive giant patted his head, forcibly lowering him to the floor. Boom! The massive, winged tiger fell to the ground, prostrating itself before Frost while trembling all over. Cold sweat covered his beautiful fur giving it a glossy shine. His strong and proud tail was curled up and protected by his body while his ears descended to reflect his fear. The mighty and powerful Kiba was nothing but a small cat full of terror before the gentle looking Frost. Frost waspletely swept up in his aura, he leaned over and petted the shivering tiger, revealing a gentle smile. Good boy. Druakai waspletely frozen in a mixture of fear and shock. Though he was not the prime target of Frosts aura he could still sense the unassable presence that he emitted, he even had to resist the urge to prostrate himself in reverence. This was not from power but from ones lineage. Just how wolves would feel subservient to the mighty fenrirs, the king of wolves, Druakai and Kiba felt that towards Frost. As if he was a superior being to themselves that they couldnt dare to profane, even if their strength was higher. If it was a simple fight Druakai would have ced his money on Kiba given that he knew his capabilities yet under that aura Kiba didnt even get a chance to resist before sumbing. Frost was in the zone at the moment, though the overbearing pressure was fleeting, the residual feeling still flowed through his body causing his eyes to reveal a majestic glow. He rubbed Kibas face with affection, scratching under the tigers chin like you would with a cat, causing the beast to purr in content,pletely capitting to Frost. Finally, he had someone worthy of his strength, not an old man with burned out potential or ones that relied on numbers to be strong, no Frost was the true deal, the one hed been waiting for. Kiba was a very smart monster just like Ruby, he understoodmon tongue and had quite developed emotions. He knew that given his lineage, size, and appetite he couldnt stay within Kranor much longer and it saddened him. He deeply loved Druakai and Ruby who raised him from when he was just a cub. Druakai didnt know anything about his real parents, the giant orc found him injured and starving within the snow when out on an excursion with Ruby. If Druakai and Ruby hadnt found him when they did he would have died. That feeling of being alone while weak and terrified never truly went away, growing up he always liked to be attached at Rubys or Druakais hip and would struggle to sleep if they werent nearby. So, knowing that he had to leave his loving home was heart-breaking thus he rebelled a little. Refusing the actions of all the guests who sought to tear him from his family despite him knowing that it was pointless. He couldnt be like Ruby and stay by Druakais side as his mount, he was too powerful,rge and battle seeking for that. Though he was considered kind for a monster he failed to inherit Druakais, and Rubys wouldnt hurt a fly personality As time passed more and more guests came that he did not recognise, each stronger or with more backing than thest, and as he continued to grow he knew his time was running out. In fact, Frost would probably be thest guest before Druakai would have to make some tough decisions. Either sell him to an organisation that could look after him and not waste away his potential i.e. The Northrend military battalion, War Ursa or one of the major kingdoms within the inner regions. If he was refusing to be a contracted mount then only big powers such as them had enough clout to manage a potential upper B-rank monster or higher. ..... The other option would be natural release, Druakai would banish him to the wilds to let him live free. The problem with that however was Kibas personality, he neededpanionship as he was prone to loneliness. Plus, the moment he became wild, adventurers and unsavoury groups would actively seek him out to carve up his body for materials. Kranor already had a few run ins with arge bandit group that wanted him for materials. And the stronger he became the more of these types of people woulde seeking him out. Kranor was just an enve in the external regions with a small military it could only fend off so much, the moment an established country set their sights upon Kiba thered be nothing they could do. Thus, Kiba had to go, for his own protection. Frost continued to scratch Kibas chin before an intense feeling of exhaustion overcame his body. His legs turned to jelly, and he lost most feeling in his limbs, causing him to fall on top of Kiba. The remnants of divine energy retreated back into the depth of his body, and he was left thoroughly drained as though he just ran back to back marathons. His head started thumping and his whole body ached as he gasped for air yet hints of smile could be seen on his face and his eyes glowed with a triumphant light. Druakai saw this and panicked. Oh no! He was worried that Kiba would attack in a moment of weakness, ending Frosts little life. He smashed his massive green fists against his legs to get them moving as he was still under the influence of Frosts divine aura. He got back control rtively quickly, but it was more than enough time for Kiba to open his jaws and bite down on Frost who had powerlessly fell onto his back. He desperately looked towards Kiba ready to shout, hoping that he would listen to him even though it was a long shot. Kiba don.....eh? From Druakais perspective Kiba had opened up his jaws and appeared ready to mp down on Frosts head but what really happened astounded him. The powerful and arrogant winged tiger that was Kiba, who never treated anyone bar him and Ruby with good intentions was licking Frosts face while showing a concerned and worried expression. Druakai was speechless, his jaw remained agape as he took in this impossible sight. Kiba allowed Frost to rest on his soft white fur, while he licked his face and supported his exhausted body actingpletely opposite from his initial behaviour. A lot happened within the couple seconds Frost emitted his overbearing divine aura. Kiba understood Frost as someone far above him in terms of talent, lineage and bearing. Even as a cial winged tiger with lots of promise he was barely qualified to carry Frosts shoes. Frosts aura contained divine majesty simr to the Gods, though it was still weak and equivalent in strength to perhaps someone in the early B-ranks, the quality was there and Kibas instincts swiftly let him know the difference in their standing. But it wasnt solely a dominating force that caused Kiba to capitte, no he could feel Frosts heart just like how Frost could understand that Kiba was testing him and had no intention of killing. He felt gentleness and kindness within that pressure, it reminded him of Druakai and Ruby as well as himself. The moment he felt Frosts unlimited potential as well as his heart he immediately epted the man before him. If I go with him Im sure life will be good. This was the conclusion Kiba came to. When in front of all the other guests that came to look at him he never felt safe or free while in their presence. Not a single one had both strength and kindness, only Frost was worthy. Alright, alright thats enough, Im fine just a little tired. Frostined as Kibas slobber dripped down his face. He appreciated the thought but getting smelly cat slobber on your face wasnt as pleasant as it looked. Kiba stopped, immediately reigning in hisrge and quite rough tongue, before it damaged Frosts good looks. Can you help me up? Kiba nodded before using his head and body to ease Frost to his feet and not letting him fall. His movements being very gentle and delicate despite his massive, muscr frame. Thanks Frost caressed Kibas head with difficulty as he leaned on therge tiger waiting for his strength to return. Using such power certainly came with risks. If this was a life or death situation and not simply a test of mettle, his life would have been forfeit. By reaching deep into his soul he managed to scrounge up a modicum of the divine energy held within his body and apply it to his aura, thus creating the impressive feat that shocked Kiba and Druakai so. The price however wasplete exhaustion and aches all over his body. Though he was effectively a demi-god, his strength at the moment wasnt even B-rank. Channelling such power with just his physical body was a big ask, one which could have easily caused severe damage if not properly managed. He took a big risk using it but ended up with a great reward. The cial winged tiger Kiba had thoroughly epted him, and he had an even greater understanding of his aura as well as divine energy. Chapter 295 295 Chapter 295: Misunderstood actions Druakai dragged his still quite shaken body over towards the partially limp Frost and his little rascal of a tiger, Kiba. What in Nova was that? He couldnt help but ask. That aura was not something a regr person could emit, not even upper B-rank or even A-rank could create something as majestic and imposing as what Frost made. Druakai was usually quite a calm and collected person but at the moment he waspletely frazzled. Oh that, a little trick that allows me to disy my full potential for just a second. Kiba here was quite arrogant and full of pride since no one that came through previously had enough power or potential to make him submit. Not really his fault given that were only in the exterior regions of the cial mountains, but it did make earning his respect a little harder. Though hes quite smart hes still young and needed something a little more obvious to show the difference between us. The resulting presence that you felt was me drawing upon my potential to summon a strength thats beyond my current means and as you can see it left me quite drained. On the other hand, it did exin to Kiba that whenparing ones bloodline, lineage, and potential I have him beat. Frost scratched behind Kibas ears as spoke causing the big cat to purr in content,pletely at ease with Frosts touch. ....Ok I dont really get all that but you somehow managed to show that youre superior to Kiba however that doesnt exin why hes so taken with you. Druakai to be honest was quite jealous of Frost at the moment. Seeing a family member that only trusted you and one other person (Ruby) so at peace while cuddling up to another was quite difficult to witness. Of course, deep down he was also happy since he always hoped that Kiba would find someone worthy, so he wouldnt be alone in the future, something that his duties and pitiful strength didnt allow him to do. Frost turned to look at Kiba and then back at Druakai before tilting his head to the side in confusion as though saying it doesnt? Kiba turned his head to look away imitating the human action of whistling as if to prove some form of innocence. Frost instantly understood, this whole thing was a misunderstanding between a father and his teenage rebellious son, no wonder Druakai was worried for his safety, Sams mischievous smile also made a lot of sense now. Haaaaaaaaa Kibas a lot smarter than you think Druakai, he understands his current predicament very well.....but hes also effectively a teenager. He doesnt want to leave his family but knows he has to, so he dragged the process out as long as possible hoping to find the right match and remain by your side for the longest time. His growls, roars and shows of power were all tests to see into the characters of the people you brought in as well as their strength. I fit both criteria and likely remind him of you since I held no aggressive intentions while disying my aura. Eh? Druakai turned towards the still fake whistling Kiba as though hed been yed as a fool, anger filled his gut as he clenched hisrge green fists. If hed known all this in advance he would have been spared so many arguments with the little rascal and their rtionship wouldnt have deteriorated so much. But at the same time, he felt touched that Kiba was looking for someone who reminded him of himself. He was still in the little rascals heart You mean a lot to him, and I think it breaks his heart that he has to leave your side. But all thingse to an end, he knows that, so after finding someone that matched his criteria he dropped all pretences and returned to his natural personality. Just like you, it seems hes a big softie. Frost smiled as he continued to pet Kiba, finding him adorable. Kiba Druakais eyes grew red as he stared at the big tiger who was doing its best to avoid his gaze out of embarrassment. Kiba even cutely nudged Frost in protest after he so clearly spilled the beans. ..... Feeling started toe back to Frosts legs, allowing him to stand on his own but the pain was still present. With a little difficulty he raised his body off of Kiba and walked away. I think the two of you should have a proper talk, Ill wait outside with Sam. Frost was in no rush to contract with Kiba, hed already been epted, time made no difference. Besides its always best to use such magic when one is in the optimum state. He received no wounds from his earlier reckless actions thus a disgusting potion wasnt needed, just some rest and food. Hell let Kiba stay with Druakai and Ruby tonight so as to properly say goodbye, its only right. Druakai nodded his head in thanks as Frost walked towards the exit before turning back to Kiba, there was lots he wanted to say but at the moment he didnt know where to begin. Drip Drip Hot tears started flowing down his cheeks without warning as the situation dawned on him. The little cub that used to sleep in his bed and feel scared whenever he couldnt see him shed through his mind. That same cub had grown up and now would be leaving perhaps forever. Druakai always knew that the chances of him ever seeing Kiba again after he was released or sold was practically nil. But now that it was just around the corner all his emotions came forth, resulting in an endless stream of tears. Kiba rapidly turned around to see his foster father bawling his eyes out and his heart threatened to break, his naturally arrogant red eyes became soft, as water umted and dripped down his face. A momentter the father and son moved towards each other and wrapped one another in a strong hug. Only Druakai was capable of doing such a thing, if it was Frost, Sam, or anyone else theyd simply be crushed under Kibas weight and mass. Druakais overgrown frame came in useful for once, allowing him to embrace his rebellious tiger firmly and even lock his hands together. The past several months of animosity between the two came crashing down as the two of them held one another and cried out their repressed emotions. If Frost stayed or anyone else was present the two men wouldnt be able to drop all reservations like this less they be mocked for being soft. Frost walked out of therge barn the moment the weeping started, a gentle and knowing smile present on his face. Sam was sitting on a bench about 20 metres away from the barn, a bored expression on his face. Frosts divine aura didnt have much range, so Sam waspletely unaware of what happened. Seeing that Frost came out with an unsteady gait he couldnt help but smirk, but it quickly changed to a concerned look as though to uplift Frosts spirits after failing. No one had evene close to contracting with Kiba and some even returned with quite serious injuries though those people likely deserved it. Sams opportunity was of course a failure but since hed known Kiba since he was young it wasnt too exaggerated only having his trousers and underwear ripped up as he ran. Quiteical and unfortunately he came with others, so his pride took a blow, now he watched others hoping for someone to have a more embarrassing failure than him. Frost clearly didnt have any obvious wounds but given his unsteady walk he assumed he failed, a small and petty victory in his mind, though it could have been better. It was human nature to take some pleasure in the failure of others especially if you yourself failed the same task. That person then became yourrade, something the two of you had inmon. Haaaaaaa dont worry, Kiba doesnt ept anyone whoes no matter their strength so dont feel too bad. Sam sighed before patting Frosts shoulder trying to pin the me solely on the rebellious tiger. Frost looked nkly at Sam before smirking, appreciating his efforts but at the same time remembering his earlier smirk and mischievous smile when Yarrow brought up such a reward. Hmph at least youre sincere in your consoling. If Sam wasnt sincere then Frost wouldnt be able to resist teasing him. Worry? Why would I worry? Yes, yes you shouldnt worry about such small things, Ill talk to Yarrow and see if we can get you a different reward. Sam nodded his head and struck his chest like he was performing a meritorious deed and hoped that Frost wouldnt feel down. Eh? thatll be kind of hard given that Kiba already epted me but oh well I guess you know whats best teacher. Yeah, yeah, I know it seems hard to ept but that tiger wouldnt ept anyone that isnt Druakai. Best to cut your losses and focus of what you can do. Im sure Druakai has another less temperamental monster that could serve as.... Sam then suddenly froze and stopped talking. He blinked his eyes rapidly and scooped out some wax from his ears as if he heard something impossible. After a second of silence, he nodded and stiffly faced Frost, his eyes wide opened and face tense. Kiba epted you? His voice slightly cracked as he spoke, and his face remained very stiff and tense. Un Frost nodded his head and hummed in agreement. Sams upper lip twitched, and his teeth clenched tight. So, my consoling you and telling you not to worry about it was entirely unneeded? Pretty much. Sam looked hard at Frost for another second before bringing his hand up to pinch his nose as though easing a sudden headache. He then took a step towards the bench he was sitting on previously and. Smash! He kicked it, turning the solid wood bench into splinters. He then silently returned in front of Frost and ced a hand on his shoulder. Thats great news, congrattions Frost. Chapter 296 296 Chapter 296: Cuteness is irresistible Thats great news, congrattions Frost. Sam spoke through clenched teeth and the hand that rested on Frosts shoulder mped down hard. A stark opposition to Sams friendly looking albeit stiff smile. His upper lip asionally twitched as he struggled topliment Frost, his true feelings dying to be let out. Frost looked nonchnt while enduring the pressure on his shoulder that continued to increase. He even appeared unaffected by Sams sudden burst of violence against the wooden bench. You alright Sam? Never better why? His hand silently mped down even harder on Frosts shoulder in response. Because it seems as though you wish to crush my shoulder. Frost tilted his head the side as he showed a knowing smile, not letting the pain get to him. He understood Sams feelings and allowed him to vent a little. It was hard to watch someone easily seed where you have failed, especially if that someone was younger, more talented, and as handsome as Frost. It was impossible for feelings of jealousy and envy not to sprout and effect ones emotions. .......Sam silently stared back at Frost, refusing to answer. His clenched hand however continued to tighten, creating audible cracking sounds. Frost winced a little as the pressure became stronger and started to really hurt but he kept a calm expression. ....Will this end anytime soon? Ten more seconds and I think Ill be good. Sam replied with an evil smile, his grip strengthening by several degrees causing Frost to groan in pain. His recently recovered legs imperceptibly bending as Sam pushed downward. This was just the cost of being handsome Frost surmised. He knew that Sam wasnt truly angry with him just that he needed to vent a little physically. His shoulder was the price, at least he didnt ask to punch him a few times, the face must not be damaged. ..... After ten seconds precisely, Sam relinquished his grip on Frosts shoulder and acted as though nothing happened. While the victim had no small amount of sweat dripping down his face due to the immense pain. Forst few seconds it felt as though Sam crushed the bone, almost forcing Frost to drop his smiling expression. The two backed away from one another at the same time, each giving the other a hard look beforeughing out loud. Whether it was a genuine and happyugh or a sinister one only the two of them understood. Around 15 minutester Druakai and Kiba exited from therge barn and despite their attempts to hide it, their eyes were swollen and puffy thanks to their veritable waterfall of tears. Thank you Frost for clearing up the past several months. Druakai bowed his head in thanks but even, so he towered above Frost with his near 4 metre height. No problem, d I could help. Frost showed a gentle smile towards the orc and tiger, truly d that they could settle their issues before saying goodbye. Druakai rubbed Kibasrge head as he sent a loving look his way. Ill get the contract materials ready, after which Kiba will be your responsibility, please take good care of the little rascal. A mixture of pain and joy filled Druakais eyes as he looked at the tiger he painstakingly raised for the past several years. It was finally time to say goodbye. Kiba whimpered slightly in response also realising that this was goodbye. No need for that, Ill be staying in Kranor tonight and will be leaving tomorrow. We can do the contract ceremony then, that way Kiba can remain at your side for the longest time. Im sure a mere 15 minutes wasnt long enough for a good farewell. Frost didnt need to perform the contract right this second and felt it would be bad for Kiba to split him and Druakai up so suddenly. Hell have all the time in the world to bond with Kiba, only Druakais and Rubys time was finite. .....Thank you, well be waiting. Druakai had to wipe away the tears that threatened to fall as he thanked Frost once again. Sam patted Druakais shoulders -with much difficulty given their stark size difference- consoling his friend who was effectively giving away his son, so he could have a better life. Druakai was single and had been for the majority of his life, his monsters were his family, his children in many ways. Kiba most of all given the close rtionship they had since he was a cub. Despite it being the best and only decision, it didnt make the separation any easier. At least thanks to Frost theyd have a grand farewell. A few minutester the group of men and a tiger returned to Druakais abode, Kiba would be staying in his old home tonight. Druakai got some drinks for celebration (alcohol) as well as a massive frozen ham that he kept for this asion. Such arrangements brought out a spark among Sam and Kiba who nearly jumped on the ham to moment it was brought out. Druakai hadnt given him ham ever since he started misbehaving, a severe drawback to Kibas ns. Get down Kiba its still frozen solid, let me heat it up first. Druakai practically had to kick Kiba away while covering the ham with his massive body. Reluctantly Kiba obeyed and took a seat at therge dining table, where he used to sit when he still lived in the house. Sam meanwhile helped by getting some sses, long thin ones as the alcohol was champagne, ideal for celebration. You guys want it straight or with orange juice, given the time? Druakai wasnt that keen on serving alcohol when it was barely lunchtime, but a celebration was a celebration. If it was grown by you then Ill take it with OJ. Sam surprisingly didnt ask for it straight. Me too if thats the case Three bucks fizzing up. Of course, Druakai grew his own fruit as well as a great number of other crops. Once the three sses were poured and Druakai ced therge ham into an oven to defrost, the three of them raised their sses and said cheers! Before clinking them gently together. Kiba grumbled at the side since he wasnt given a ss nor any champagne despite the one leaving soon. You cant hold a ss and are too young to drink so no. Druakai instantly poured cold water on Kibas hopes, garnering augh from Sam and Frost. The group then started chatting, creating a harmonious atmosphere as they slowly drank. Druakai spoke of Kiba growing up, hoping to help Frost understand him better, as well his life as a monster breeder and farmer. It was hard work, but it was clear that Druakai enjoyed it immensely. Sam talked a little about his time with Druakai when they were younger as well as few stories about his adventures and hopes for his future restaurant. While Frost spoke about his time in Furano as well as his meeting with Sam and L. Frost evenined a great deal about their incessant need to perform public disys of affection to which Druakai shared in his pain as a long time sufferer of their antics. The two quickly became fast friends. Time flew by as they had fun, nearly two hours had passed since they arrived at Druakais farm, it was about time they left. The kids should have gotten out their cute animal cravings by now right? The four of them left the farmhouse to check on the situation. Within the cub dens, Druakai kept a plethora of cute monster cubs from foxes to rabbits all kept within their own areas for safety. One thing they all had inmon was their fluffiness which made them all oh so cuddly. Here Druakai had at minimum two staff members on duty at all times in order to help take care of the cubs and monitor their health conditions as well as to help supervise any visitors. There in the fox den Tulip, Jasmine and Ren were swarmed by over a dozen artic fox pups being licked all over due to spilled treats. Not an umon sight here, many visitors purposely spill the food on themselves to gorge on such blissful feelings. Each of their eyes were full of happiness and their smiles were so wide it looked as though their little jaws would break. Ruby was there as well, keeping an eye on the three kids but she too was covered in baby foxes, many nipping at her fluffy tail and climbing over herrge body. Shed delicately catch any that slipped while climbing, proving to be a very caring mother. Sam looked towards his kids and sighed Im guessing youre not ready to leave quite yet? The moment he spoke his three kids strongly held a few cubs in response and shook their heads, refusing to leave this ce of wonders. Sam could only shake his head in dismay, even his oldest and most behaved daughter, Tulip was acting the same. Clutching onto the fox cub for dear life, afraid that her father would drag it away from her or worse drag her away from it. Hahahahaha Druakai chuckled, he was used to such sights. Usually on fieldtrips he and his staff as well as the teachers would have to physically tear the children from the cubs which resulted in a great many tears. Looks like they dont want to leave. Tell you what Sam Ill keep an eye on them for you while you continue to show Frost around Kranor. They can have lunch here and you can either pick them upter or Ill drop them off before dinner, sound good. Druakai offered while smiling, he was pretty much their uncle, so it was fine for him to take care of them, besides from their expressions it looked as though they really needed this. Though they werent privy to the entire situation with Yarrow the dour atmosphere certainly must have effected them. Chapter 297 297 Chapter 297: Daki Haaaaaaaaa thanks Druakai, I owe you one. Sam sighed and patted Druakais back before looking at his kids once again. You hear that you little rascals, you get to stay here with the cubs, uncle Druakai will watch over you and feed you, but youll need to be back by dinner otherwise your mother will likelye and drag you back and you dont want that. He spoke sternly at the end, making sure his warning suck in. Tulip, Jasmine, and Ren all gulped and showed a little fear at his warning but quickly screamed out yay once they knew they could stay, returning back to their blissful and innocent states. Meanwhile Ruby noticed therge, winged tiger that was silently standing behind Druakai, attempting to dodge her view as much as possible. A soft expression overcame Rubys face, and her eyes grew red. Gently picking off the fox cubs that were using her towering frame as a jungle gym she leapt over the fencending in front of Kiba. The two of them looked at one another, though Kiba turned away out of embarrassment. He was slightly bigger that his foster mother and was a fair deal stronger with room still to grow but that didnt matter. He would always be that little cub that slept on her back and swiped at her tail it, didnt matter how big or strong he became he would be nothing but a child before Ruby, his foster mother. Vrrmmm Ruby chuffed before walking towards the big tiger, she then ced a paw on his head and patted, causing Kibas eyes to redden. She had forgiven him. Kiba then nestled up against Ruby, rubbing his head against her in affection. A touching moment, which no one interfered with. By the way Sam, my sister said shes got something for you so you should probably swing by her ce when you get a chance. Not wanting to interrupt Kiba and Ruby, Druakai spoke softly to Sam. Hmmm something for me? Ive notmissioned anything recently and probably wouldnt need it anymore given my intention to retire. What is it? Dont know all she said was that it was a surprise and asked me to tell you next time I saw you. Druakai shrugged his shoulders and shook his head as he knew nothing about the item. Sam tilted his head to the side and cupped his chin as his curiosity was piqued. Druakais sister ran a weapons and armoury workshop on the first floor, and it was where he got his current great sword as well as several pieces of armour, a high quality ce. Anything that Druakais sister made would be fine stuff, shame he wouldnt need it anymore thanks to his retirement. Sam then turned to Frost as he thought. He was supposed to show him the sights, so the first floor was certainly on the list given that it was a major business sector. ..... Alright, Ill swing by now and introduce Frost, perhaps hell see something hed like to buy. Sam knew of Frosts current equipment but was confident in the works made by Druakais sister. Druakai turned to look at Frost, his face in particr before examining his entire frame. Be careful that she doesnt eat him up. He spoke with all seriousness. Thatll be his problem to deal with, hes a grown man after all hehehe. Sams eyes turned upwards as though remembering a few things before shivering slightly. Alright then just felt it was my duty to give some warning. Druakai shrugged and dusted his hands of the issue, iming no part of what may transpire. You do realise that if she found out you said that shed beat your ass half to death right? The massive muscle bound orc shivered and disyed a great a mount of fear in his eyes before ring at Sam. Shed only find out if some backstabber told her! The Druakai who wouldnt harm a fly clenched his massive green fist and waved it in front of Sam as a threat, but Sam waspletely unaffected. Im far more scared of her than I am of you. He answered honestly causing Druakai no small amount of panic. Dude! Hahahaha just kidding my lips are sealed brother. Samughed and ended his teasing. Jerk! With a destination now set Frost and Sam prepared to leave the three kids in Druakais capable hands. Ill have the contract materials ready for tomorrow. Since its for Kiba and the mayors orders Ill use the highest quality materials so as to gain the best connection. Well go over some particrs then and there so until then have fun and rx, enjoy Kranor and all it has to offer. Druakai being a member of management also subconsciously tried to promote Kranor as a good ce to live. Not only would Frosts strength be desirable for the enve, if he had a home here he could visit Kiba. The more Frost saw of Kranor and the more people he met here the more tempted he became to stay. It was far more to his liking than Furano and Northrend, but his home was back at the dungeon, and he needed to return. Hed spend the night in Kranor and leave with Kiba tomorrow, regardless of how tempting it may be to stay. Sam and Frost walked back to the nearest lift and started to ascend to the top floor. Though they were tempted slightly to visit the fifth floor, the best action is really only present at night and the risk was too great for Sam given the spies nted by his wife and mother inw. They made their way straight to the first floors second town without any detours. Druakais sister has a workshop in the second town on the first floor, its where I got my great sword made as well as some of my armour. She provides high quality stuff and perhaps something might catch your eye. Druakai says shed got a surprise for me so I thought Id might introduce the two of you. We can visit some other shops nearby after so as to get a better outlook of how the floor is designed. Sam remembered that Frost was keen to see how the enve functions and itsyout. Hed seen the farms as well as some of the government district so seeing how the major business sector operates should be helpful. The first floor was far more popted than the others hed seen and with a vast range of species. Kranor was not solely a sapient enve, they had orcs, wolfmen and other intelligent monster species within its domain. Something that wasnt seen in Northrend yet given the friendly atmosphere Frost could see here he couldnt understand why. Of course, he understood that monsters were different from sapients, and the vast majoritycked much intelligence but then there were those like orcs, the wolfmen or even ice dwarves that could speak and understandmon tongue. He wondered why there was such a division within the territories such as Northrend. After walking for 20 minutes through crowded streets packed full of peddlers, tourists and merchants, Sam and Frost came cross arge store made of wood and stone called Dakis hammer and anvil which currently had a closed sign on the door, much to the disappointment of many people passing by. Come on shes probably just having lunch. Sam ignored the closed sign, giving a quick knock on the door before letting himself in. He wasnt a regr customer, so it was ok. Sam, Druakai, his sister and L had all known each other for years, they were the best of friends. As Sam opened the door and let himself in an annoyed voice thundered throughout the store. DIDNT YOU SEE THE SIGN WERE CLOSED! It was womans voice that contained no small amount of charm, but it was deep and reverberated within their bodies. Sam rubbed his ear that was nearly blown apart by her roar. Is that anyway to treat an old friend Daki? Sam shouted towards the backroom of the store where Daki likely was at this time of the day. Bonk! In response Frost could hear ttering of metal items as someone quickly rushed out of the backroom to greet them. Sam! Perfect Ive been waiting for you to get here! From out of the back room appeared a female orc with a very tantalising figure. She had veryrge breasts even for her alreadyrge frame and her ass would make getting through regr doorways all but impossible. She had the most hourss figure Frost had ever seen, even more than Mayas. This frame however was not soft no it was muscr and toned. Daki though not as abnormal as her little brother was still quite the specimen in terms in size. Her arms were as wide as Frosts legs, and she sported a very toned 8 pack on her abdomen. This seemed to add to her allure, all that muscle made her skin radiantly glow and appear smooth and supple as though she had oiled up. Her face though still that of an orc was very feminine,rge luscious lips, dimples in the cheeks andrge round eyes. Her tusks were on the small side and had clearly been shaven down to improve her look. Daki was an absolute bombshell even when wearing very little makeup. It was almost impossible to associate this charming woman with the word monster yet a monster she was in more ways than one. Chapter 298 298 Chapter 298: Daki (2) The beautiful female orc that was Daki showed a lovely smile as she saw Sam, her annoyance from being interrupted during her break vanishing immediately. Shed been waiting for Sam to get back for the past several days, hoping to give something to this old friend of hers. Her cksmithing attire did very little to hide her exquisite figure, in fact many areas had tears caused from being unable to contain her ample assets. Buttons would end up being a devastating weapon if she wore them. Full of excitement at seeing Sam, Daki ran forward and wrapped him up in a hug, squishing the man against her abundant chest nearly suffocating him. Sam actually lost in terms of physical strength and had to tap out before he ran out of breath, causing her to giggle charmingly. Its good to see you to Daki Sam said while trying to catch his breath. Daki always greeted people she was close with the same way ever since she started developing those weapons of mass destruction, male or female it didnt matter they were all suffocated. Happy with the result of her hug Daki then turned towards her other guest whos eyes were fixed on her devasting figure. Well, well who do we have here? She licked her lips flirtatiously as she looked over Frost like he was a piece of fine meat. Her intense gaze woke Frost from his stupor. Great another fierce woman, this one however was very much to his tastes and as far as he knew she wasnt taken. There was no ring on her finger and Sam would have probably mentioned her having a husband. The names Frost, its nice to make your beautiful acquaintancedy Daki. Frost responded with a charming smile of his own, simr to the one he showed Chia when she flirted with him. Sam smiled mischievously at the side as though he expected Frost to act the way he did. Hardly any man or woman could help themselves from flirting with Daki, her beauty and natural charm being too intense to resist. Daki however was not as weak as Chia and the rest to his handsome looks. She took Frosts full brunt smile with ease though her eyes showed an intense interest. ..... A momentter she scooped Frost up in a hug, pressing his handsome face deep within her cleavage. Oh, I do love handsome boys like you, its rare for someone to counterattack my charm, perhaps this is fate. Being so close to the woman a strong attractive scent filled with pheromones filled Frosts nasal passages causing his body to heat up with desire. Arge smile adorned his face that was hidden within Dakis chest. If this was several weeks ago or even a couple days hed likely be blushing and full of embarrassment but now he knew how to go on the offence. While enjoying her deep embrace, his hands slipped around her and caressed her delicate back before slowly drifting downward towards her prominent ass. Hmmm Daki was caught by surprise, usually men and woman caught within her embrace and subjected to her powerful pheromones practically melt into a pleasurable daze, hardly anyone has the mental strength to remain focused let alone go on the offence like Frost did. She loosed her grip on the young man and stared deep into his eyes and found that he was fully in control, not lost to his urges in the slightest. All while subjected to her natural charm he was able take advantage of her byying his hands on her ass. Even now his naughty hands were strongly cupping and caressing her cheeks not willing to be the defender in this exchange. A prominent red blush filled Dakis face as Frosts hands continued to fondle her ass, his motions sending jolts of electricity through her body. A moan escaped her luscious lips before she forcefully pushed Frost away, shock evident in her eyes. Sam was in just as much shock, truly not expecting Frost to be so strong. What the hell? Daki nearly screamed in protest while subconsciously covering her ass with her hands. Whats wrong cant take your own medicine? Frost mockingly said while showing a provocative smile. Finding nothing wrong with his actions, in fact he quite enjoyed it. The soft yet firm and supple feeling on his hands was quite addictive, itd make a fine pillow to rest on. Frost though still not having any real experience had been subjected to an untold number of teasing and had grown used to such approaches. Whats wrong with him going on the offensive once in a while? Especially when the woman is so aggressive. There was also something about Daki that seemed to lower his inhibitions, tempting him to let loose, so he did. Dakis blush escted as she saw Frosts fingers caress the air in a forceful yet delicate manner, it caused her ass to heat up as it remembered the touch of his hands. She then red at Sam; her eyes filled with usation, but her childhood friend didnt seem to care as he startedughing out loud. Hahahahahahaha never did I think that Id get to see the day that the extroverted Daki would be blushing from embarrassment hahahahaha. Tears threatened to pour from Sams eyes due his unrestrainedughter however he seemed to forget who he wasughing at. Boom! Without any warning a massive green fist was sent Sams way, smashing into hisughing face, promptly putting a stop to it. Oww a secondter Sam got back up while rubbing his slightly swollen face, he wasntughing anymore but a smile still adorned his lips. Daki used this sh of violence to regain her regr demeanour however her eyes looked as though they were full of questions when they rested on Frost. Frost as well hade out of his lowered inhibition stupor along with a fair amount of shock. A pink blush grew on his cheeks and a nervous sweat ran down his neck. What the hell did I just do? He was all for counterattacking but physical caressing and even taunting, that was beyond what he envisioned. He stared at Daki like he was looking for some kind of answer, confident it was because of something she did. Sam cracked his jaw that had been knocked a little out of alignment before reintroducing Daki and Frost who were looking at one another warily. Cough cough guess I should exin the situation a little. Sam looked at Frost first while gesturing to Daki. This is Daki, Druakais elder sister and my friend from childhood. Shes an orc but with a little something extra as youve likely surmised Frost nodded his head, there was definitely something off about her given the powerful pheromones she emitted and her devasting figure. One of her ancestors was a subus and Daki has inherited those genes with quite a high purity resulting in... Resulting in my good looks, dynamite figure as well as powerful natural pheromones that normally make any man or woman melt into a daze when subjected...you however clearly arent normal. Daki interrupted Sams speech, her eyes glued to Frost as her wariness progressed to interest and curiosity. It wasnt as though there hadnt been people that could resist her natural charm or even bepletely unaffected by it, but none were like Frost who went on the offensive and tried to overpower her. She could understand if Frost was an incubus, but he wasnt, and she got no sense of a familiar power within him. So why was he able to resist her so easily and even go on the attack? His strength was high but not overly so, and this was their first meeting so he couldnt have built a resistance and from his actions he certainly wasnt a eunuch or gay, clearly he was attracted to her, so she was stymied. A subus a look of understanding came over Frost as knowledge unfurled. Subus: a demon that feeds of the life force of other intelligent creatures though acts of lust. They have great control over the mental and soul realm, allowing them to enter their targets dreams and suck out their life force. This monster always has the traits of a stunningly beautiful woman with enhanced pheromones to easily excite their targets (or male if an incubus) but their targets dont need to be male (or woman if an incubus) all are fair game. They are intelligent and usually quite peaceful, a wee species within anymunity. Many subae establish brothels within theirmunities, perfectly taking care of the areas physical desires, forming a win-win situation. As theyre eating habits are not only blissful for the victim it usually has no negative effects bar exhaustion. Of course, if one offends a subus they may not end with just causing exhaustion. There was once a powerful human king that forced a subus to be his concubine. After the act the human king found that he could no longer put up a fight in the bedroom, effectively bing a eunuch, unable to continue his bloodline. Her pheromones must have been what dulled my mind, no wonder I made such an aggressive move. Though Frost likely wouldnt have been so proactive if not subjected to Dakis natural charm, he didnt regret it as that feeling was mighty satisfying. Chapter 299 299 Chapter 299: Daki (3) I see, that makes sense then, no wonder my body felt rather excited and less restrained. Frost nodded in understanding. Eh? thats it, just a minor excitement boost. I went all out with my charm and thats all you felt. Dakiined as an aggrieved feeling welled up in her chest, her pride was hurt. So, when you said you loved handsome boys that could fight your charm you really meant you love knocking them down a peg. Frost smiled mischievously as he hit the nail on the head. Daki was confident in her appeal and loved teaching handsome Casanovas what real charm was. Ugh Daki groaned as she struggled to retort his words. Dont worry its not because you arent attractive or that your scent wasnt intoxicating, in fact you are by far one of the sexiest women Ive ever seen.....(and felt). Its just that Ive grown used to such tactics because of a certain woman in my life. Frost gave a blunt answer while his eyes scanned over Dakis explosive body. A blush returned to Dakis cheeks as she listened to Frosts attempt at consoling. She really wanted to know who this woman was that could match her in terms of charm, a rivalry grew in her heart. Frost thrust out his hand in gesture Frost, its nice to meet you Daki. This time a handshake should suffice instead of suffocation by breasts. A sparkle glowed in Dakis eyes as she looked at this young elf before she smiled wildly, grabbing his hand, and shaking with gusto. Daki very nice to meet you Frost. Great, now that youve been introduced, Druakai said that you were looking for me, something about a surprise? Sam spoke up now that the confusion had been cleared up. Oh yeah, wait just a sec its in the back. As though the earlier situation never happened Daki enthusiastically ran into the back room to look for the item. ..... Meanwhile Frost moved over to Sam and whispered in his ear. Was that the result you were expecting or? He knew Sam likely wanted him to sumb to Dakis charms and make a fool out of himself so as to give him a few giggles, but clearly he was the winner in terms of charm. ...Honestly no, but it was way better heheheheh. He looked at Frost with a serious expression before smiling and presenting a thumbs up. I heard that! Daki roared from the back room causing Sam to involuntarily shiver and curse under his breath. Frostughed in response, karmas a bitch. After knocking over more than dozen objects in the back room, unknown whether it was due to mess, Dakis clumsiness, or her oversized rear, she returned with a small violet box wrapped in a white ribbon. Here, this is for you. She handed the box to Sam who looked at the box in wonder, having no idea what was inside. Its not my birthday and I didnt request anything so what is it? Open it up and youll see. Not willing to reveal any hints, Daki smiled mysteriously, increasing both Sams and Frosts curiosity. No longer holding back Sam removed the ribbon and opened up the box. This is..... Sam became speechless and his heart was moved. Inside the box was a beautifully crafted chefs knife, made of duram alloy in a Damascus style and sharpened to perfection. I know that you and L have been having thoughts of retirement due to your strength limitations and that youve been finding it harder and harder to leave my darling nieces and nephew whenever a questes up. And I know that ever since you were a kid youve loved cooking, so much so that you even apprenticed under Chef Ramsey for a while. My hope is that when you do decide to retire having this knife by your side will allow you to follow your other passion. Daki spoke with a tone filled with nostalgia, her eyes appearing ssy as she remembered the looks Sam showed whenever he was cooking. Drip Drip Tears fell from Sams eyes, dropping onto the chefs knife. He felt so moved, he hadnt told Daki about his retirement yet or his dream to open up a restaurant, but she already knew his heart without be told, what a great childhood friend he had. Wiping his tears, he went on his tip toes and gave her a peck on the cheek. Thank you Daki, this gift of yours mean more than you could imagine. He held the box close to his chest, treating it as a supreme treasure. No problem Sam, d you enjoy it but youre a married man you really shouldnt be kissing other women especially an ex. Daki smiled contently as Sam caressed the box and pecked her on the cheek. She didnt expect such an emotional response, thus she had to tease him a little to lighten the mood. You two used to date? Frost questioned when Daki let it slip, his eyes examining Sam and picturing them as a couple. What you jealous? Daki coyly replied. Perhaps, Frost returned her coy smile, enjoying the tit for tat. Hahaha Im really starting to like you. Dakiughed charmingly. It was back when we were teenagers, before he got with L. You see Sam here has a particr type when ites to women. Daki pped herrge butt as a hint. Ahhh I see, Frost nodded in understanding, remembering Ls figure; Sam certainly did have a thing forrge butts. The man in question coughed in response as a pink hue grew on his cheeks. What can I say, I like what I like. He then smiled confidently and without shame. Hahahahahahah the three of themughed out loud creating a very warm atmosphere. Once Sam withdrew the chefs knife from the box and caressed its every millimetre with a happy smile on his face he told Daki about the events that transpired over the past few days, including his and Ls decision to retire. It must be fate; I expect to eat free of charge for life, got it. Daki felt that making the high quality chefs knife -which was some of her very best work- was well worth it. Of course, making such a knife wouldnt have been cheap, but go easy on me otherwise youll eat me out of business hahhahaha. Hey, I dont eat that much Im not Druakai! Daki yfully punched Sam in the shoulder but even her gentle taps were equivalent to the punch of a regr human male. But Sam was used to it, having been on the receiving end of her punches for the majority of his life. So, youre now effectively this guy and his wifes student, learning how to be a full-fledged adventurer. Daki turned to Frost after punching Sam. Her interest in this young man only increased as Sam spoke. Hes so young and already nearing B-rank strength plus he can resist and even ovee my charms. A rising desire filled her as she continued to learn about Frost, a worthy man in her eyes, one worth pursing and hopefully with better endurance. Yes, Sam and L made it quite clear that Ick a great deal ofmon sense when it came to adventuring and graciously offered to teach me all they knew. An offer I couldnt refuse. Frost nodded his head in agreement, finding his decision to ept Sam and Ls tutge that day all the more wise. Hed gained so much from their tutge not just in knowledge. It was thanks to them that he now had a friendship with the enve of Kranor, something that would really help in the development of his own territory. Plus, tomorrow hed have a cial winged tiger as a monster mount, all things that only happened because of his rtionship Sam and L. So, youll likely be staying in Kranor for a while right? If Frost was here in the enve she could make some moves. Frost picked up on her subtle hint and smiled. That would be lovely but unfortunately I have to get back. Theres a lot of work I need to do which requires me to not be here. However, Ill likely visit from time to time. A sh of disappointment shed through Dakis eyes but quickly vanished. Oh well thats a shame, I could have shown you some interesting sights while you were here. She licked her lips flirtatiously continuing to tempt him. Cough cough you really are quite aggressive arent you? Frost couldnt help but imagine what sights she was talking about. Being passive doesnt get me what I want so whats the point? Daki shrugged her shoulderspletely at ease with her personality. Fair point. Frost found what she said was true, being passive doesnt get you anywhere. If youre aggressive and proactive you may fail but at least you tried, perhaps he needs to be a little more aggressive in his desires, like when he was subjected to Dakis charm. Frost ns on establishing his own territory so hell be very busy. Hoh you want to create your own ce to rule. Dakis eyes once again sparkled, finding Frosts ambition very novel and exciting. Thats the idea yes. Ive got the ce, materials, andbour, all I need is time, knowledge, and some skilled helpers. Additional residents shoulde after that. Frost could create monsters to perform the manualbour, but he was still stymied on how to run the camp. He could only do so much alone, he needed skilled helpers that knew what they were doing as well as new type of monster who could fill in the management gap. A group that would be epted by residents and not attacked on sight. Perhaps I should take a look at designing my own monster species? Chapter 300 300 Chapter 300: Daki (4) Perhaps I should take a look at designing my own monster species? The ability to create ones own monster species was brought up during the family meeting. Dark highly encouraged his children to embark on such an endeavour, hoping that theyde up with something he and Light never could. The difficulty in designing a species however required a great deal of knowledge and time, with a lot of trial and error. But perhaps for his uing situation it may be the best method. If he could create an intelligent set of monsters like orcs or the wolfmen that lived here in Kranor hed be more than set for the interim. Sounds interesting, Ill have to visit when I get a chance and have you give me the grand tour. Daki spoke with keen interest, quite taken with Frosts notion of establishing a new territory. Who knows perhaps she was looking at a future would be lord or king or perhaps even emperor, bagging such a man early would be far easier than waiting until he established himself. Id provide you a grand wee at such a time and perhaps you could teach me a few skills in regards to smithing? Frost didnt forget that not only was Daki a beautiful woman but from the exquisite craftsmanship of the chefs knife it was clear she was a very talented smith, far greater than his frost dwarves. Itd be foolish to not try and rope in such a talent to his own territory. Kranor had more than enough weapon stores here on their first floor would they really miss a single smith. Hoh youre interested in my talents as a smith are you, can I take this as a proposition for employment? Cough cough Frost you do realise that Im right here right. Sam spoke in an annoyed tone. His wife was the soon to be mayor of Kranor he couldnt very well allow someone to openly snatch one of their most prominent smiths right in front of his nose. Dont know what youre talking about Sam. Frost shrugged all I said was that I was interested in her smithing skills, an innocent remark whatever Daki understands from it is her business. He showed a yful smile, enjoying teasing his teacher. Oiiiiii dont make me call my wife over! Sam clenched his fist and waved in the air as a fake threat. ..... Hahahahahaa Frost and Daki bothughed, they were just teasing. Frosts territory hadnt even be a camp yet. There was no ce for a highly talented smith like Daki in her official capacity, at least not yet. Frost was as he said making an innocent remark out of curiosity for her skills, much in the same way he enjoyed Sam showing him how to cook. Dakis interpretation was mainly her idea, he just decided to y along. However, if she really did have a desire to leave Kranor he would swipe her up without hesitation. An aplished smith such as Daki would be nothing but a boon for his territory plus she certainly was easy on the eyes, another lure for residents. Frost didnt forget how the injured adventurers flocked to that sexy cat beast womans medical tent. If youre interested in my work theres plenty around here that you can purchase and since youre such a handsome man Ill give you a discount but if you want to learn my skills then thats a big fat no. Daki bluntly rejected teaching him. May I ask why? Sure, my smithing techniques were taught to me by my father and his by his father, its a family technique handed down through the generations, teaching outsiders is strictly forbidden. If you simply want to learn basic smithing arts then thats fine but Ive got no interest in teaching, I suggest you speak to one of therger smithing workshops and ask to be an apprentice. Fair enough. Frost epted her reasoning and no longer requested to see her in action. But her mention of a discount was tempting, his gaze wandered around the room capturing the many high quality weapons stored on the shelves, many of which were 3 star in quality. Daki seeing his wandering gaze swiftly changed to business woman mode. Youll be hard tasked to find a much better smith in Kranor than me and if you do I promise you their prices will be nowhere as affordable as mine. In a way this was actually true, the prices she set for her weapons, armour and other metal work was quite reasonable however if she managed to influence a man or woman with her attractive body she could usually get away with charging whatever she wanted. Thus, she was quite wealthy despite being considered a fairly young smith. Is there anything in particr that you may be looking for, I do custom orders as well for an added fee, Ill just need to take some.....measurements. Daki licked her lips flirtatiously. To be honest Im not really sure what I need, youre probably best asking my teacher there. Frost tilted his head over in Sams direction who raised his brow at being put on the spot before a prideful smile adorned his lips. How much money you got on you? Another reason Sam decided to bring Frost with him to Dakis shop was so that he could outfit him with all the necessary stuff an adventurer needs. Several gold coins in addition to the materials gained from the monsterir. Frost responded honestly, knowing that this issue was important. Hearing the words several gold coins Dakis smile nearly spanned from ear to ear, a big spender how lucky. She sent a thankful wink to her childhood friend for bringing her such good business. Well then lets get started shall we. Sam rubbed his hands together ready to ssh the cash, Frosts cash. Given that Daki was a cksmith that dealt in a plethora of materials, epting monster remains in leu of coins was an epted exchange, one in which Frost greatly appreciated. It was a lot harder for him to gain coins than it was to earn monster parts after all. However even with using monster materials as barter, Frost still felt the sting, Sam really didnt hold back. Ignoring the fact that Frost didnt require any personal weapons since he had the quasi 4 star ive as well as a semi decent backup, his only eptable armour piece was the 3 star chainmail vest that he was given by Leo. The rest of his armour set was 2 star and after his many battles within the monsterir it was falling apart in many ces. This was the first thing Sam decided he needed to rece as given Frosts strength his future battles would likely be against C-rank monsters and up, not something brittle 2 star armour could contend with. Daki of course was over the moon with this order, not only would the price be in the region of a few gold coins for aplete set shed be able to take a few liberties as she got Frosts measurements, thus she sent Sam a discreet thumbs up. But the orders didnt stop there, Frost had a fair amount of monster materials, some of which could be used to fashion appropriate gear, hed only need to pay forbour. Thinking that the price was already going to be sky high he decided to simply let loose, go big or go home. Along with aplete armour set that was of 3 star quality and custom made to fit his body -very precisely thanks to Dakis unrestrained liberties- Sam ordered arge range of cooking utensils including pots and pans, carving knives and cutlery as well as a sturdy backpack made from frost lizard skin and reinforced with frost centipede carapace. It was tougher and more efficient in terms of storage inparison to his current one, with strong dividers between the different sections. Now he could more easily carry perishables without worrying about them being damaged in battle and or cross contaminating. There was even a smell reducing agent applied to the skin making transporting meat a pleasant experience. Frost also requested a set of daggers and war hammers that would be ideal for younger people start practising with. He couldnt very well get all this stuff for himself and not think of the two kids waiting at home, he wasnt that selfish. Thinking that that wasnt enough he requested Daki to make a pair of childrens wrist guards that matched the colours of the ones she made for him. Youve got kids? Daki asked abruptly as he requested children sized items. Its a long story but yes. Theres no blood rtion but theyre under my care and protection and I consider them family. Frost showed a gentle smile as the image of Nanna and Lokis smiling faces appeared in his mind. Sam who knew about the situation from Frost whispered into Dakis ear, exining a few key details to his childhood friend I see..... For a moment there Daki felt that that was a deal breaker. Frost having kids clearly meant that he had quite a serious rtionship with that other woman, something she wouldnt take part in destroying, no matter how desirable she found Frost. But thanks to Sams exnation it became the opposite, further increasing her interest in the handsome young man. A longing feeling however was in the back of her mind as she wrote down the requests for child sized items. Her maternal desires thumped within her heart, as images of her holding a child of her own shed before her eyes. Unfortunately, she had not been lucky in that regard, she let out a quiet sigh before shaking her head and refocusing on the task at hand. Chapter 301 301 Chapter 301: Daki (5) That should do it in terms of the items you can provide as a smith, we still need to visit a general store, food supplier and mostly likely a book store given Frosts desire for knowledge. We could also visit a specialty adventurer supply store but by then hed likely be out of funds. Sam used his fingers to cross of a list of things that Frost needed to purchase before looking seriously at Frost whose eyes were twitching. This was only the first store, and he already felt the pain of the cost, thankfully Daki seemed to have a thing for him, allowing him to get a substantial discount but even then it still cost him a great deal. Around 40% of his total acquired monster materials as well as 3 gold coins, covered the tab. Hey, dont look so down this is how much it costs to be a full fledged adventurer at your level. Most people slowly increase in strength after dozen or even hundreds of quests, thus establishing a decent war chest and higher rank equipment over time. You however are already nearing B-rank, yet you only have two pieces of decent equipment. That ive of yours and your chainmail vest, just those wont be enough for you to fight against C-rank monsters on the regr. If you dont want to die an early death then you gotta spend the money, what good is silver and gold when youre not alive to enjoy it? Sam admonished Frosts warped expression as Daki gave him the bill, she was even kind enough to take a look at the crack in his ive and give him some maintenance free of charge. Saying that by working on such a high quality ive would be payment enough. ....Frost looked at Sam with an aggrieved look, understanding his words but struggling to ept them, that was so much money gone in a blink of an eye. Under Sams scrutinizing gaze however he eventually relented, handing over the gold coins to Daki as well as nearly half his umted monster materials, a solitary tear dripping from his eye as he did. Pleasure doing business with you Frost, please do think of me whenever youre in need of equipment. Daki gratefully pocketed the money and transferred the monster materials into one of her storage containers. She gave her perfunctory business woman thank you while batting her big doe eyes. However, Frost at this moment didnt see her as the beautiful woman that she was but a money sucking demon. Alright now that our financial transaction isplete I need the two of you to vamoose so I can get to work. Daki waved her hands as if shooing the two of them out the door. Drop by before you leave tomorrow, I should be done if I work throughout the night. The beautiful orc woman showed a bright and passionate smile as she turned to head into her workshop, prepared to spent a long night outfitting some of her best work. Sam smiled when he saw that look on her face before leading Frost out of the shop, allowing Daki to do her thing. Not only was she a very skilled smith she was very passionate about her work, perhaps even more so than flirting with people. Frost felt rather reluctant to leave Dakis store but under Sams guidance and Dakis actions he didnt have much of a choice. What you fallen for her already? Heheheh Sam chuckled as he saw the look of reluctance on Frosts face, hed seen it many times before, he himself used to look at her the same way before he got with the love of his life L. I wouldnt say that, but she certainly made an impression on me. Frost spoke honestly, out of all the women hed met so far, bar Maya, Daki was the only one that truly caught his interest. ..... She certainly does have that effect on people. Sam looked back towards the closed door of Dakis store. But unfortunately, her lineage isnt always a good thing. His eyes showed a look of pity. You mean her subus bloodline? Yeah, since she isnt a subus but an orc it results in her having less control over some of her innate abilities. The look of pity in Sams eyes grew. Though she was blessed with unparalleled looks and a body to match, her love life is always quite fleeting with none of her rtionshipssting more than a couple weeks. Frosts ears perked up as his curiosity was peaked. Just like a subus, she can devour life force through acts of lust however since shes only part subus she cant control it. No man or woman canst longer than a couple weeks with her before beingpletely drained, their potency in danger of being permanently disabled. A faint pink hue grew on Sams face as he himself was included in the fleeting rtionships. Frosts eyes opened wide as a look of understanding washed over him, no wonder he didnt see a ring on her finger or heard any mention of a significant other. His gaze was then drawn to Sam as he wondered how long this shameless teacher of hissted before he too was drained of his essence. A mysterious smile grew on Frosts face as he learned of Dakis issue and instead of feeling put off or fearful he was instead fired up, desiring to test out how long he couldst in such a battle. However, thinking about it and acting upon it were two different things. He still had a beautiful fenrir back home that he was yet to make any solid moves on, he shouldnt be splitting his focus lest he end up with nothing. Come on lets go to the general store first, they should have a good range of storage containers to carry meat, monster blood as well as some types of medicinal herbs, plus we can get you some spare camping equipment given that youve got decent sized storage rings. Most low level adventurers didnt have storage rings and even if they did they were of low quality and size resulting in them having to pick and choose what supplies to bring. Theyd also find it hard to embark on long distance and time consuming quests since they would need to restock and offload their supplies fairly often. Frosts two storage rings meant he didnt suffer from this issue, allowing him to store vast quantities of items. Therefore, he should do the prudent thing and pack back ups of most of his adventuring gear. Whether that be body equipment, pots, pans or even camping gear, it was always wise to be amply prepared whenever there was an opportunity, even if that meant reducing the amount of cargo space for seble items i.e. monster parts. Danger zones such as the cial mountains were especially hazardous, with the environment and local fauna looking for every chance to kill those unprepared, money was useless if one wasnt alive to spend it. This prudent nature was not as dire hard within the sapientnds but here within the cial mountains there was very few who didnt obey this precept and those few tended to not live long. Frost had already been through Sam and Ls strict teachings, so he understood this precept and wholly agreed with it, so he didnt bat an eye when Sam sounded off a list of items he needed to the clerk. Thankfully items such as these were pretty inexpensive since monster materials werent necessarily needed in their construction. The only exception being the tent, which was made of cold resistant monster hide, making it a couple grades more expensive but once again Frost was able to trade with his monster materials as well as money, greatly offsetting the final cost. Since there wasnt an official adventurers guild organisation here in Kranor, people would trade their materials directly with the merchants. After another couple hours of touring the first floor, visiting the many shops and Sam greeting and introducing him to several of his friends that they ran into on the street, Frosts stash of monster materials were nearly all but spent. Leaving only a small amount of the highest quality stuff, and his gold fortune had been vastly reduced to 60 silvers, a significant shopping trip. But by the end of it Frost was all smiles, the pain of having his coin purse and storage ring gouged out passed after visiting the third store, he became numb. Sam did eventually take him to that speciality supply store after they visited the book shop which wasnt nearly as expansive or diverse as the one in Furano but none the less Frost purchased a few books that he found appealing. The speciality supply store had a range of items that were helpful in hunting specific monster types such as sleeping agents, easy to assemble traps, smell masking powders and other nick knacks. They even had a grand item on disy, a magic device that tracked a certain species of monster within a radius of 10 kilometres, all it required was the blood of the sought monster. Of course, such a device had a very inted price tag but even so Frost found that there would be people willing to buy it. Not him of course given that he was now strapped for cash. He made do with some mild sleeping bombs and scent maskers before he and Sam called it quits. Now though thanks to their ample purchases and with Sams approval, Frost could officially call himself a well prepared adventurer, ready to make his name known to the people in Northrend and the cial mountains. Chapter 302 302 Chapter 302: A peeved wife Sam looked up to the sky that had started to grow dark, time was moving on, and his darling wife was most likely in dire need of rescue. Come on Frost lets head back to the manor. Sam looked back at Frost who was carrying a few of his recently purchased items, while the rest were ced in his storage rings. Sounds good, what about Tulip, Jasmine, and Ren? Druakai should have brought them back to the manor by now and if not well.... either Chia or L would drag their little butts back. Sam didnt seem worried about his children who were left with Druakai. Frost however wasnt as optimistic, nothing against Druakai of course more..... You sure you wont catch some k; they were left in your care after all? .....No, I dont think so.....I mean theyre fine so.....Sam showed a confused expression that grew more confused the more he thought. ...Shit! Suddenly it dawned on him that he technically off loaded the kids on someone else while he galivanted off and had fun with Frost. Normally this wouldnt be an issue, Druakai was his childhood friend and Tulip, Jasmine, and Rens uncle, more than capable of taking care of them for a few hours, something hed done many times over the years. The issue however was his wifes mood after being locked within the manor as her mother and father filled her with knowledge about her new position. Knowing his wife, it would not be a pleasant one. If she learned that he dumped her little angels with someone else and went shopping with Frost while she suffered alone and then had the gall to make her or her mother y the bad guy in dragging their little butts back well Yarrow wouldnt be the only one beaten today. Frost watched with interest as Sams confusion rapidly turned into regret and then fear, all with vivid changes in facial colour. ....Sam remained silent for a few seconds as he thought before eventually sighing with a shrug Oh well if I get in trouble I get in trouble, no crying over spilt milk. He decided not to worry about what was already done, besides L was really cute when she was mad. The two men then made their way back to the mayors manor on the second floor with their shopping. Sam made a quickst minute purchase however for his wife to soothe any residual anger, a wise decision developed from experience. ..... In the mayoral manors main reception room L was sitting on the sofa with Tulip, Jasmine and Ren by her sides telling her all about their fun times at their uncle Druakais. Mommy I got to pet a baby razor seal it was so fluffy! Ren stood up with rosy cheeks as he tried to animate the cuteness of the seal. Tulip and I were allowed to groom the frost foals and feed them carrots; one even licked my hands. Jasmine was no less amped than her little brother, childishly speaking louder to divert her mothers attention her way. Tulip being the older was more reserved, but her eyes were sparkling as Jasmine spoke of the frost foals. What little girl didnt have some form of fascination with horses at some point. L sipped her tea as she listened to their stories with a bright smile, yet bags could be seen around her eyes. She was healing at the moment, being surrounded by her excited babies as they talked of their day helped soothe the pain of being lectured and shown an endless amount of documents. This was bliss. Unfortunately, this bliss was ruined by her damn husband. The moment Sam and Frost walked in the three kids mbered down from her side and rushed to his to regale their adventurers to him. L gave him a jealous look as they surrounded and badgered Sam in a bid for attention and the fact that he ditched them with Druakai floated to the forefront of her mind, making her anger grow. Did you have fun on your little tour? She asked innocently but her eyes showed fire, Sam was smart enough to not foolishly answer her question without any forethought. Frost however didnt really care, and he still needed to get back at Sam for his earlier pranks and nearly crushing his shoulder. Yes we did, after visiting Druakai and leaving the kids in his care, Sam took me to meet the beautiful Daki since she had a surprise waiting for him. Time seemed to slow as Sam imperceptibly turned to look at Frost in horror, inplete disbelief that he would dob him in and so painfully at that. Are you insane? Did you have to say it like that? Even if his wife was the most trusting and easy going wife in the world shed still be pissed off after hearing that. Hoh is that right? Ls voice turned chilly, and her eyes looked as though they wished to rip Sam to pieces. Im a dead man. Sam felt his heart lurch in fear and even his boisterous children that surrounded him backed away as though he was contagious. Don Don! Sam immediately broke into a full kowtow in front of his wife, presenting the box of choctes he bought earlier as a peace offering, knowing that it would merely be a drop in the water that was her fury, but perhaps it would allow him to keep his life. L kept her cold stare trained on her husbands trembling figure, she stretched out her foot and ced it on his head before taking one of the choctes from the box as though this routine was a regr thing. Slowly and almost seductively she ced the chocte in her mouth and let it slowly melt before swallowing, a few secondster she nodded, and her cold visage warmed slightly, yet her foot remained on Sams head. She then turned to Frost showing an approving smile. So, what actually happened Frost? She knew from the start that Frost was just pouring oil on the fire and god knows she knew her husband likely deserved it, but the fact remains that Sam took him to see Daki and that she had a surprise for him that she didnt know about. Frost smiled back knowingly before telling her the whole story in detail while Sam remained prostrated on the floor until L determined his fate. Once Frost regaled the whole story however it was clear that nothing untoward happened and in fact it was a very moving story. Ls anger vanished like a puff of smoke, her worries were really unfounded given the strength of love between her and Sam, but Daki was one of if not the most attractive woman in Kranor, winning the miss Kranor contest by andslide 3 years in a row- it would have been more if there wasnt a limit on how many times one could enter. She could never be 100% certain even though she was really fond of Daki and had been friends with her for years. I understand, thank you for telling me Frost. She removed her foot from Sams head, giving him permission to stand before giving him a dominating deep kiss on the lips as though marking her territory, this garnered a few es from the kids but she didnt care, and Sam certainly wasnt one to avoid being kissed by his lovely wife. He even had a thought that he should visit Daki more often if it would end up making L jealous, of course that thought was quickly quashed because he as stated before was not an idiot. After marking her territory, she turned to Frost So Frost what did you think of Kranors Daki? She was quite keen to hear the opinion of her handsome student that was more than a match for the famed orcs devasting charm. Frost cupped his chin as he thought back to his meeting with the orc subus, a smile appearing on his lips. Honestly I found her quite appealing. He spoke the truth, not only did he find her very attractive, her skill in smithing appealed to him as a ruler of a territory. Another victim of her charms I see. L assumed that Frost was another hopeless guy caught in her web, but she didnt dissuade him from such thoughts even if she knew the final oue. However, if you do decide to pursue my friend you best not hurt her otherwise youll have me to deal with. L finished with a threat, though Daki was Sams ex she was also his childhood friend and by extension a good friend of hers. She knew of her difficult love life and had seen many people treat her like some sort of challenge, she would not condone such behaviour from her student, nor would she allow her dear friend to be treated as such. Frost felt Ls strong care for Daki and couldnt help but feel moved by their friendship. I promise L that I would never aim to hurt her, you have my word. He ced his hand over his chest as he gave a solemn vow to ease Ls worries. His interest in her was minor at the moment, considering he still had Maya back home who upied arge part of his heart. But if the day ever came, he would never hurt someone he had a romantic interest in, especially not for something she had no control over, he was a better man than that. Good thats what I like to hear. L nodded her head, happy with Frosts vow. Well then lets see what sort of things the two of you bought then shall we. Chapter 303 303 Chapter 303: Kranors problem Show us, show us, show us The three kids, Tulip, Jasmine, and Ren were also keen to see the fruits of Frost and their fathers shopping spree. Loudly demanding with pleading eyes as they held onto Frosts robes Alright, alright give me a second, there quite a lot after all. Frost rubbed their heads before moving over to a more open area of the room. Connecting his mind his storage rings, Frost pulled out the fruits of hisbour one by one, presenting them for L and the kids to see. Chia and Yarrow appeared a few momentster after hearing from the servants that Sam and Frost were back. The two of them were looking the exact opposite of L, as though years have been taken off theirplexions. They walked in the room hand in hand before taking a seat. Yarrow and Chia were both former adventurers so they could lend their knowledge and expertise. They nodded and praised on asion as did L, Sams nose seemed to grow longer, and his chest arched forward in pride. It was him that chose all the stuff, Frost simply handed over the cash. Tulip and the kids however grew bored very quickly, the items Frost off loaded were not interesting at all to them thus they lost interest and dragged their father to another room to finish regaling to him their time with the monster cubs. Once Frost had revealed everything, including the equipment order he left with Daki, L nodded her head and smiled. With this collection you should be more than ready to take on quests that match youre level of strength, far better than what you had previously. Frosts lips twitched as she brought up his ineptitude. Hoh so you met young Daki, did she use her famous charm on you? Chia asked with a curious look. She wondered how the handsome and almost devastatingly charming Frost fared against the mighty Daki. Even she as a former 3 time winner of the miss Kranor contest knew the power of that girls charm. Yes she did, it was quite a tantalising experience. Frost showed a slightly perverted smile as he remembered being neck deep in Dakis breasts and the feeling against his hands as he cupped her massive and supple backside. Yes she does have that effect on people but no doubt it was an enjoyable meeting for her as well. Chia smiled knowingly, sure that Frost wasnt the only one to have an enjoyable experience. By her side Yarrow kept his tongue because if he said any words of praise about Daki or mentioned her devasting charm in any way hed easily offend his wife and daughter, a foolish move which he would have no part in. ..... While Frost was away with Sam, he and Chia were drilling important details into L as well as asking more about Frosts situation. He was too good to pass up, the elderly couple were desperate to hook such arge fish to their little enve, knowing that it would be a great boon. Tulip was too young to be engaged to Frost but there were other woman in Kranor, such as Daki. If they could hitch the two of them together it would be perfect. Unfortunately, L quickly shot that idea down, Frost had no n to stay and already had a special someone in his life, as well as two kids to looks after. They had nothing Frost wanted, and it was far too ambitious for a small enve such as Kranor to hold onto someone as talented as Frost. Yarrow and Chia had to admit they were a little disappointed but didnt linger on the subject. There was still the rtionship of master and student between Frost and their daughter so his rtionship with the enve was already positive. When she told them of his ns to create his own territory, Yarrow and Chia were blown away, baffled by the prospect but if anyone was going to do it, it would be someone with Frosts potential. This further ignited Yarrows desire to establish a stronger rtionship with Frost. If they assisted in his territory creation they could being creating a powerful ally that was not just an individual. A strong man or woman even if their abilities were S-rank could only do so much. The help they could provide paled inparison to that of a nation even a small one. Yarrows governing mind worked overtime to try and think of ways to help Frosts ambitione true. Doing so would not only help a friend but also Kranor. Chia gave her husband a knowing look if there really was some kind of spark between Frost and Daki theyd do their best to nurture it. Yarrow nodded his in agreement, understanding his wifes thoughts as though they were of one mind. How did your meeting with Kiba go? Yarrow asked with a serious tone. Kibas situation had grown to the point that it was causing problems for the entire enve. If Frost failed to contract with him hed have to send word to some of countries in the inner regions that Kranor was on friendly terms with in order to sell the winged tiger, something he rather not have to do. Selling to them would be a mere business transactionting Kranor no rtionship gain. In fact, knowing about Kranors recent developments with arge bandit group they may even forcibly drive the price down and act as they were doing them a favour. A pitiful oue inparison to having Frost contract with Kiba. Yarrow was quite anxious in regards to the oue and to be honest like Sam he didnt hold too much hope. Knowing from reports that Kibas behaviour was growing worse after every failed contract attempt, it was clear that the tiger only had eyes for Druakai. Frost saw the anxious, almost desperate look in Yarrows eyes and felt the need to quickly settle the old mans worries. It went very well actually; he was aggressive at first but after showing him my strength and character he epted me. Hes a big misunderstood softie, I told Druakai to keep him tonight so that they could have a proper farewell and patch up any misunderstandings. Ill be contracting with him tomorrow before I leave. Yarrow, Chia, and L all turned to face Frost in shock, really not expecting such an answer. Each of them had been prepared to somehow console Frost on his failure and Yarrow had been figuring out what else he could reward Frost with for saving his life. Y....You seeded....big softie? Kiba? Yarrow nervously asked while his lips twitched, blown away by this information. He had met Kiba more than a few times after he reached his rebellious years and really couldnt imagine the words big softie having anything to do with him. Yep, I reminded him of his Dad, Druakai so we really hit it off. His rebellious behaviour before was just so he could drag out his time with Druakai and Ruby as much as possible ergo, big softie Frost spoke with a smile, really touched by how cute Kiba was. ...Hahahahahahahah Yarrow was silent for a few seconds beforeughing out loud, his hand covering his eyes as water started to umte Good no thats great news, finally Kiba has been matched with someone hahahaha. So far ever since Frost came to Kranor everything has been on the up. He recovered from his illness, his daughter is willing to takeover the enve and now the problem child that was Kiba had been taken care of. Many of the burdens that stressed him so over the past several months were solved just like that. He had the sudden urge to kiss Frost as if he was some sort of good luck charm. Thankfully however he did not do so. Chia ced her hand on her husbands back, she understood his feelings given that she too had to deal with the burdens as interim mayor. It was a good sign for Kranor. Feeling like it was time to strike when the iron was hot, Yarrow uncovered his eyes and showed a passionate and determined look, fully believing that Frost was some good luck omen. L tells me that you wish to create your own territory is that true? Frost nced at L before replying, yes thats true. I currently have the ce, materials, andbour but I mainlyck knowledge. Sam took me around Kranor not only to give a tour but to let me see how the enve wasid out and functioned as territory. Frost felt that Yarrow was leading somewhere so he answered honestly. Im aware, tell me then what did you think of Kranor when you saw it? Yarrow leaned forward and supported his chin with both hands as though keen to hear what Frost had to say. Frost once again looked towards L before replying, shed already told him of the major boons and problems in Kranor, but Yarrow was likely asking for his personally opinion after seeing the ce with his own eyes. Chapter 304 304 Chapter 304: Kranors problem (2) Frost took a deep breath before answering Yarrows loaded question. From the outside I could see that Kranor is fairly well defended, more than capable of fending off regr monster attacks and bandits. However, if a rival territory invaded or arger swarm of monsters attack, youd struggle to stop them from breaking through that guarding wall. Your garrison is a pretty good size, if you include the soldiers stationed on the top floor and each of them seemed quite keen to prove their worth with very few cking off. Frost found this fact quite interesting, when in Furano there was an untold number ofzy and even corrupt guards yet here Kranor all the young people seemed to view their duty as an opportunity, an honour. In terms ofyout I cant find any fault; youve isted the different sectors of the territory very well making it very efficient. Theres even room to expand not only downwards to the 8th and 9th floors but also on the already outfitted floors, allowing the previously established towns to simply grow in circumference. The roads and streets are wide enough to amodate even heavy foot traffic and carriages without feeling too cramped and the lift service makes transferring between floors a breeze. Chia and L nodded along, agreeing with Frosts points, this was something they and their predecessors worked hard to develop. The amount of shops and items on sale on the first floor was incredibly surprising given that youre a semi istedmunity. And the quality is even greater, Daki for one is not only young but can produce many types of 3 star equipment, her potential as a smith is incredible. Then you have doctor Mira who created the potion that cured your illness let alone all the other professions Ive seen and been told about. Kranor has quite a substantial pool of talent throughout the generations. Frosts words brought a smile to Yarrows face as he nodded for him to continue. The climate and living conditions are also far better than I expected for an enve in the external regions of the cial mountains. But there is one clear problem that I can see and its the same one L told me about, your food production. Of course, the food issue wasnt the only problem, but it was the most prevalent. Yarrow closed his eyes and let loose a sigh Correct, I agree and am quite ttered by your objective opinion but as you said Kranor has a major problem in regards to its food production. Something that has been bing increasingly worse over the past decade and one that I have unfortunately been unable to solve and in some ways amplified. Yarrow opened his eyes, before looking to the side as nostalgia filled him. A few decades ago, we never had an issue with food nor water, of course our poption was much lower then so there was less mouths to feed but our strength in terms of trade professions, outside visitors and treasury were also nowhere near what they are today. When I took office after my father I tried to change that. I encouraged promoting trade professions, even going so far to have outsiders relocate here so as to take on apprentices. I even loosened the restrictions on external trade thus allowing the enve to quickly prosper. Plus, I used mine and Chias strengths as adventurers to help influence the young to seek power and enter the military which worked wonders to improve our nations aggregate power. Over the years Kranor continued to grow its treasury, its influence in the surrounding area as well as its poption. With the trade skills developing, our quality of life improved, better housing, heating, waste management etc. Thus, more and more people started having families and thats when the issues started to show. Yarrow frowned and clenched his fist before continuing. My promotion to seek strength and trade professions worked a little too well. Seeing as these jobs provided the most money and opportunities no one thought to take up agriculture, thus no young blood was there to rece farmers that died of old age and now we have around a year before our reserves run desperately low which will force us to enact rationing. A sombre mood lingered in the air between the four people. ..... Did you try to encourage people to work on the farms? Frost asked trying to better understand what had been done so far. Yes but barely anyone was interested, I even offered financial incentives but in the long run, trade professions would make more money thus it didnt grab many people. None were interested in such passive and boring work. Topensate as best we can Ive enlisted the military to go on regr monster hunts to procure meat as well as requested our own adventurers to sell their meat here in Kranor. Ive also managed to purchase small amounts of grain and produce from passing merchants but its nowhere near enough to cover ourck of home grown crops. Weve dug more wells to increase our water supply and irrigation capabilities for our fields, but we severelyck people to man them. less than 10% of our current farmers are under 40 with most having one foot in the grave already. To be honest it was trying to fix this problem that caused me to sumb to the [icy veins] illness. I could not for the life of me find a way to resolve this issue and avoid causing a mass panic. Yarrow let out a deep depressed sigh and shrugged his shoulders in defeat. Chias and Ls eyes grew red as they patted Yarrows back asfort. He wasnt alone in this problem anymore; theyd think of a solution together. Frost was frowning as he listened, his mind working overdrive trying to think of a solution. After a minute he already felt a headache, yet Yarrow had been battling this problem for years, a strong willed man. The popce dont know? Not the regr civilians, but anyone in management is aware that there is a growing issue. And only those in government seats and the agriculture department are aware of how serious the issue currently is. Yarrow opted not to tell the majority as it would only spread panic, but it wasnt a super kept secret. It was known that the miliary went out on more hunting trips and that the government was purchasing vast amounts of meat and grains. People just assumed that it wasnt that bad, or that it was being dealt with. Frosts frown grew, telling the popce or not telling them was a hard decision to make, at least when they still had time to fix the problem. Letting them know ahead of time could cause panic and would force people down a route they dont wish to be on. Itd be best if the younger generation chose to work in agriculture of their own volition. But unfortunately, all of Yarrows previous attempts have failed. The four of them were silent for a good few minutes or so before Yarrow tentatively asked the question he wanted to ask. Frost since you wish to establish your own territory youll be in a simr position as me soon, how would you solve this problem? Yarrow was grasping at straws, but he held hope. So far Frost was a good omen and had a good head on his shoulders, perhaps having his outside and fresh perspective they may be able toe up with a solution. ......Frost remained silent, his brow creasing even further as he tried to think of a method that wasnt the nuclear option of forced agricultural enlistment. Just when Yarrow was about to apologise and take back his question Frost spoke. The problem is that no one wants to be farmers right? They dont find it appealing enough inparison to the military or a trade profession? Frost felt as though he grasped at something, but it was just out of reach. Yes thats the main issue. Yarrow agreed, a spark of hope lighting up in his chest. So, to make it more appealing you went down the financial incentives route, but people quickly figured out that trade professions made more in the long run. Correct Im guessing you cant increase the incentives more as that would cause a problem with the interests of the military and trade professions right? Frost cupped his chin as he imagined the problems Yarrow would have encountered. If the incentive wasnt enough just increase it but that wouldnt be fair to the current farmers, the tradesman and military theyd be up in arms about the preferential treatment. Ugh yeah when I wanted to increase their wages and give new farmers cash grants both the trade sector and the military sector disagreed with my decision. Thus, I couldnt solve this issue with money. Yarrow felt even more excited as Frost knew of the roadblocks he encountered without him going into details. Then if you cant give the new farmers massive wages or other cash incentives that would disinterest them from bing tradesmen you need to appeal to their other interests. An idea slowly came together in Frosts mind, it not only wouldnt conflict with the wishes of the younger people, but it also shouldnt conflict with the interests of the trade sector, the military however may have a slight issue but nothings perfect. Chapter 305 305 Chapter 305: Kranors problem (3) Appeal to their other interests? Yarrow repeated what Frost said, his face showing confusion. Yes, since the trade professions hold more financial incentive to the younger generation even with the grants and tax cuts you already offered, you need toe at the issue from another angle. What do the younger generation want for their future, what drives them other than financial gain. Yarrow, L, and Chia faced one another before answering at the same time Power. The younger generation seek power, as not only can it provide financial gain, but it can earn a person respect and glory. Thats why so many young people eagerly join the military and or be adventurers. Chia and Yarrow both went down this route as did Sam and L. When youre young youre full of ambition and reckless abandon, perfectly suited to these sort of jobs. Only when they be older do they tend to mellow out and choose less risky paths. Exactly Frost nodded his head in agreement. By appealing to their desire for power you can attract the younger generation to agriculture. But how? L understood the logic, but the method alluded her. Theres a number of ways to resolve your issues. First of course is a nuclear option wherein you force people to be farmers thus fixing the manpower issue, but youve most likely already thought of this and avoided it since doing so would generate a lot of hate. Second or rather the first eptable method would be to promote the appeal of working within the 6th and 7th floors environments. When I visited with Sam and the kids I could feel that the air was far purer than the other floors and that living there for prolonged periods would improve ones natural constitution. If you look into your poption documents youd likely notice that the people living on those floors were less prone to illness and probably had a longer lifespan on average. Chia and L both turned to Yarrow, asking if this was true. The old man showed an expression of deep thought before nodding his head in agreement. What Frost said was true, although the majority of farmers were grey in the hair, they were still hard at work and fairly healthy, far better than those of the same age living on the other floors. In conjunction with this effect, you should take advantage of people like Sam and L. I know first hand that they have a lot to teach in regards to bing adventurers, you should use that. Have retired adventurers like them conductbat and adventuring lessons for those that join the farming sector. Thus, allowing them to increase their power while working on the farms. Along with those methods you could make the farming jobs temporary,sting 3 to 5 years before allowing them to follow their adventuring dreams. After being educated by the retired adventurers theyd have a better chance of surviving and being sessful in their quests, a win-win. Plus, once they do decide to retire theyd likely return to farming given that they already have the required skills. With this condition young people wont feel as apprehensive in bing farmers since it wouldnt obstruct them from chasing their original dreams down the line. Yarrow, Chia, and L all looked at Frost as if he was some kind of genius. These methods were amazing and would surely solve their problem and then some. However, the key point to ensure that you have more than temporary farmers and a constant amount of people truly interested in such work is to target the very young, those still in school. Their mindsets arent set in stone, far easier to mould. I heard that Druakai arranges many field trips wherein he educates the kids in his profession while they get to enjoy ying with the monster cubs. I suggest setting up simr practises on the other farms, teaching them how it all works and how important such work is for Kranor, stoking their patriotic emotions. Thatst suggestion caused Yarrow, Chia, and Ls jaws to drop and refuse to close for some time. ..... Yarrow felt as though a bomb went off in head, revealing a bright path that led to Kranors salvation. .....Thats genius hahahaha the problem that gued me so for the past several years gone, just like that hahahahahaa. Yarrowughed depressingly as tears poured down his cheeks, yet inside he felt free and joyful. His eyes sparkled as they looked at Frost. You really are Kranors good omen, far more talented than my daughter let on hahaha. Yarrow moved towards Frost and patted his shoulders with force as the tears continued to flow. His back imperceptibly straightening as though a heavy burden had been removed. Come with me, we need to put this n of yours into action right away. Yarrow wrapped his arms around Frost ushering him into his office. Saras call the heads of the agriculture department, the deputy mayor, and the other department heads, weve got work to do! Yarrow roared with joy, giving out his orders. The first in a long while that hed been able to make as mayor. At once Lord Yarrow, Saras appeared a momentter with a smile on his face before quickly moving to enact his lieges orders. Chia and L were still in a state of shock, but after Yarrow forcibly led Frost out of the room they ran after the two of them so as to lend their aid. Yarrow was still in recovery after all. Over the next couple hours, the many department heads arrived at the manor to take part in the emergency meeting called by Yarrow. They initially assumed that it was a formality meeting where Yarrow was set to show off his newfound health and capability to lead Kranor once again. Or that he was going to promote L to interim/assistant mayor so as to take over his position. However not a single one of them guessed that the reason they were called was because hed figured out a way to resolve the looming food crisis. The moment all the government officials heard the methods that Frost suggested they all erupted with apuse, praising, and thanking Frost profusely before immediately engaging in chatter about how to best implement such ns. Usually this would be when Frost would be asked to leave given that he wasnt part of their government but none of the officials cared about that. In fact, they aggressively roped him into their discussions, eager to hear his ideas on other matters. Such a situation was a great boon to Frost who was nning on creating his own territory in future. It also allowed him to better acquaint himself with the higher ups of Kranor. By the end of the meeting everyone in the room was exhausted as they talked passionately and loudly the entire time. Yet each and everyone of them showed steely resolve and excitement in their eyes. A very detailed bill was created from their hard work, one which would perfectly implement Frosts suggestions. After gaining everyones approval it was epted, Yarrow ced his mayoral stamp on the document, officially recognising it. All of you return to your homes and get a good rest, starting tomorrow were going to be very busy. Yarrow stood up and announced the end the meeting. Allowing the weary officials to head back home. Just as everyone was beginning the shuffle to the door Yarrow spoke up once again. Oh, and onest thing, once Ive passed on the necessary knowledge, L will be taking over as mayor. Shell make a fine recement, so I hope youll all treat her well and assist her in office. Yarrow gestured towards his daughter who sat by his side throughout the meeting. She too yed no small part in creating the bill. The officials who were all about to leave looked towards L with smiles. Of course, Mayor Yarrow, Lady L we wish you luck in your lessons. Many of them said words of praise and not a single one was against the idea of her bing mayor. L had already shown promise even before this meeting and had long been epted as the next mayor, she had the talent. Thank you for your support. L stood up from her chair and bowed to the officials before they left, they would be her teammates in the future, people she would need to lead down the right path. Once the officials had all left Yarrow let out a deep breath before his stomach started rumbling. Guess weve put dinner off long enough. As if in agreement Frosts stomach started rumbling as well causing the two tough. Chia and L shook their heads in dismay, so uncouth they thought but the next moment. Ggggrrrgrgrgrgrr at almost twice the volume, Chias stomach rumbled causing her face to turn a bright pink before she tooughed out loud. After giving the servants an order to prepare a fine feast for them all, the group left therge office room to find Sam and the kids who had kindly chose not to disturb them during the meeting. Chapter 306 306 Chapter 306: Fancy home dining Sam had been keeping the kids upied along with some of the manors servants, ying games, talking about his adventurers as well as his future restaurant. Tulip, Jasmine, and Ren were all eager for this idea to be made a reality. Their father would be by their side as they grew up instead of leaving for long periods of time on quests. They could even work together and give him aid, a prospect they very much looked forward. Plus, with Sam opening a restaurant and living in Kranor full time theyd get to experience his glorious cooking on a regr basis. Whos hungry? Yarrow asked loudly as he walked into the room, Chia, L, and Frost close on his heels. Me! all three of them raised their hands in reply. Good because were going to have a feast. A bountiful meal to wee and thank our new friend and saviour Frost here, so get washed up and put on some nice clothes, were going all out hahahahah. Yarrow roared with joy as he kept his arm wrapped around Frosts shoulder, afraid to let go of this golden fountain. Frost felt it was a bit much to call him a saviour but seeing the look in Yarrows eyes he kept his tongue choosing to not rain on his parade. Chia and L meanwhile simply stared at their animated husband and father with warmth, fully embracing his return. With Yarrows order everyone left in groups. Chia and L took Tulip and Jasmine to wash up and pick out nice dresses whereas Frost joined Yarrow, Sam, and Ren. But I want to go in with Daddy and Frost? Jasmineined about the grouping, her being very much a daddys girl but L was having none of it. Picking her up and carrying her to the womans bath house. Youre no longer a toddler, youre a young girl and girls dont bathe with boys! Itd be fine for Ren to join them given that he was only 4 but Jasmine was 8, too old for such treatment. But grandma went in with grandpa and Ive seen you and daddy bathing together. Jasmine still didnt ept it, struggling against her mothers grip, this earned her a light smack on the bottom. However, L still exined Thats because were married. Jasmine was thus forcibly absconded towards the womans bathing area which was on the west side but not before throwing out onest statement. Then Ill marry Frost! This loud statement was heard by the men causing them to chuckle. Chia and L however shook their heads as they felt a headacheing on but before they could admonish her further Tulip screamed out No! You cant! Resulting in all three women turning to face her with surprised expressions. This caused her little face to turn red like a ripe tomato. Chia and L looked at her as if she was a lost cause before increasing their speed towards the bath house lest they drew further embarrassment. The men heading to the eastern bath house had varying expressions. Yarrow had a knowing smile, understanding his eldest granddaughters feelings, finding nothing wrong with it. Sam however coldly turned to face Frost and stared at him as though he was his arch enemy, his teeth and fists clenched so hard cracks could be heard. Tulip was his darling daughter, the apple of his eye, no one not even Frost is allowed to take her away. Jasmine was just spouting nonsense so as to hang out with the men, but Tulips reaction screamed danger in his fatherly heart. She was too young to think about boys, he wasnt ready yet. Frost leaned away from Sam as he struggled to endure his intense re and feelings of hatred and jealously. It wasnt his fault he was born with such a handsome face. Ren meanwhile still had his innocent expression, not realising the change in his fathers demeanour. Over the next half hour everyone bathed and washed themselves clean and put on their best outfits. Jasmine much to her reluctance was forced to were a blue frilly dress that despite her disagreement suited her very well. Tulip wore a yellow dress that promoted the feeling of youth, making her look very cute. Chia and L wore non-frilly dresses that not only looked very fashionable but entuated their curves nicely, Chias was even backless, showing off arge amount of skin. L could only look on in envy, as her mother despite her age was far above her in terms of looks and figure, the only thing she won in was her ass but even then it was only marginal. This was a fight that she never won, but it didnt stop her from trying. Her dress was a very sexy lc colour whereas her mother sported white, making for a beautifulparison. The four of them looked like angels as they entered the dining room, their beauty almost too much to look directly at. ..... The men where ready and waiting as they didnt require nearly as much time to prepare themselves. Yarrow and Sam initially had rather sour moods before their wives walked in. Hoping to gain some kind of victory over Frost when in the bath they discreetlypared their personal weapons. Unfortunately, it turned out they werent even in the same league and what made it worse was Ren who innocently said out loud Wow, Frost your peepee is so much bigger than daddys and grandpas. The two men nearly copsed when they heard that, their faces showing depressed expressions whereas Frosts showed pride and triumph. They bathed in silence after that. However, when Yarrow and Sam saw their beautiful spouses walk into the room in their sexy outfits they couldnt help but feel energised, their pride returning. They both faced Frost at the same time and showed cocky grins. So, what if you have a devasting weapon, weve got them. Theyd already bagged their women whereas Frost was here alone, in this regard they won. If only Maya had came with him they wouldnt even be able to have this small victory. In terms of attire, Sam and Yarrow were adorned in ck suits with white shirts and red ties, very formal and made them both look very dashing. Their ripped physiques could be seen through the shirt, causing L and Chia to both smile in appreciation. Ren meanwhile wore a blue childrens suit along with a bowtie, he oozed cuteness. Whereas Frost wore his usual elegant schr like robes that fit perfectly for formal asions. His white and pale colours were a stark contrast to those worn by Sam and Yarrow. Forming a different kind of handsome and elegance that instead of overshadowing the suits magnified the two making Sam and Yarrow look even more handsome, much to Ls and Chias favour. They nodded their heads in appreciation and examined their men from all angles enjoying their current looks. Sam and Yarrow of course returned the favour. It wasnt often that theyd dress in these types of clothes especially over the past several months, a wee change. Tulip bravely went before Frost and performed a courtesy in her yellow dress, looking like the personification of spring. Frost smiled before performing a slight bow You look very lovely in that dress Tulip, it suits you. He reigned back the charm as much as he could, but his words and actions still caused the young girl to turn red in the face. Unable to endure she ran and hid behind her mother. Frost said a simr thing to Jasmine but her responsive was negative, saying that she hated dresses and was much more suited to wearing less constricting clothes, a real tomboy. She did however thank Frost for hispliment in the end. Once everyone was done appreciating everyones attire the food started being brought in. Yarrow requested chef Ramsey prepare his famous 5 course meal that one him so many des back when he ran his own restaurants. Normally given the food situation, Yarrow didnt feel right eating with such extravagance but since the doctor ordered for him to eat inrge amounts and thanks to Frost finding a solution to their food production problem there was no need to hold back. Ramsey was more than happy to cook his famous course, entering the kitchen with a bright expression and mes of passion in his eyes. Hed show his worth as a chef tonight. The meal went down very smoothly and suited everyones tastes. Some of the dishes even contained mana, showing that Ramsey had the capabilities of a spirit chef simr to Vos back in Furano. The family chatted amicably throughout the five course meal thatsted for over an hour. They discussed a whole manner of things from regr small chat to Kranors history, it was an enlightening experience not just for Frost but also the kids you finally knew more about this handsome young man who was their parents student. When they heard about the two kids under Frosts care they became greatly interested and wished to meet them so as to be friends. This offer struck a chord in Frost, though he and Maya could provide a warm and safe home and even shower them with love, Nanna and Lokicked friends their own age that they could y with (monsters didnt count, at least ones thatcked intelligence). Making friends and hanging out with other kids was an integral part in developing social skills, something Nanna and Loki would need in order to grow up healthy. He didnt make any promises but if there was a chance hed definitely try and allow them to meet. This was enough to satiate Jasmine and Ren who were always eager to meet new friends. Chapter 307 307 Chapter 307: Fancy home dining (2) After the feast Tulip, Jasmine and Ren went to bed. Their day was quite exhausting, and they needed to be up early tomorrow in order to return to school or kindergarten in Rens case. This left the adults alone to talk as well as partake in a few drinks -not including Yarrow. Chia had Saras retrieve a B-rank wine for them to enjoy, mellow in taste, perfect apaniment to ate evening chat. To coax Yarrow into a better mood after every ss but his was filled she scooched in close, pressing her body against his while intertwining their arms together. This seemed to lighten up his mood a great deal, especially when his hand started misbehaving with his wifes permission. L seeing her mother and father with blissful expressions decided to follow suit, scooching up next to her own man, who for one was all for it. He even showed a triumphant smile as he looked over at Frost would was the only one alone. Frost however didnt seem to notice, his whole attention focused on the wine, enjoying its smell, texture and finally its taste, not wasting a single drop. Maya had drilled into him to fine art of alcohol appreciation, and hed had very little opportunity to enjoy alcohol at the B-grade. His mind drifted off as the wine flowed down his throat, he thought of Maya, her smile, herugh, her annoyed expression, her attractive figure before finally her eyes when they were full of excitement. A strong longing filled him at that moment, he wanted to return home, to be by her side once again. Hed been away long enough. Many people would have noticed the third floor by now even with his extra monster purchases. His visitor were only getting stronger and more numerous instead of weaker. His forces were likely struggling to hold back the momentum, killing would only amplify the other adventurers at this point. The monster stampede was looming and once it began they would no longer be able to enter this new and interesting thing that was called a Dungeon, not at least until the mayhem calmed down. Thus, they were desperate to gain its riches before being forced to vacate the area. The people in the cial mountains would be able to live as normal albeit with some increased monster activity. Those near the main southern entrance that spanned several kilometres across as well as the minor exits dotted along the border of the mountains would be the first hit. Massive swarms of monsters all riled up into a mad, starving frenzy would charge wantonly through these areas seeking to devour all that stood in their path. After that was the Northrend forest, all the viges there need to be evacuated to the Bastions that were the three border towns in Furano or beyond otherwise theyd be massacred. As long as they evacuated the damage to their small wood viges and camps wouldnt be too bad as the monsters sought to eat rather than destroy. These people were used to these events and had already begun to prepare, the moment Furano sends word that the stampede was nigh theyd make their way south. Furano viscounty would have to prepare for this increase in poption every time the stampede would strike. Just preparing defences wasnt enough, they needed to make sure there was ample food and water as well as shelter. A lot went into dealing with these monster stampedes, but the risk was more than worth the reward. Once the Northrend forest had been scoured and filled to the brim with monsters the real show would begin. Wave after wave of monsters would assault the walls of the three towns, sometimes for weeks on end. And once it was over, Furano viscounty would be awash in monster materials and meat, more than enough to fill the territories coffers as well as the pouches of those that took part in their defence. Frost would likely have a month or more of solely monster invaders, all of which could be killed, granting ten times their daily DP ie. To be honest other than being a tad nervous about enduring such a longsting and numerous onught Frost was quite excited giving the amount of potential DP. He was confident that even if something was directing the monsters to the soutnds, to the sapientnds hed be able to pull a fair chunk into his dungeon. The allure of mana from the core should be more than enough plus indirectly this would be helping Furano, reducing the amount of monsters theyd need to contend with. He also fully expected that once the heat died down near the Dungeon hed be able to rush to help out Furano as an adventurer. Gaining not only even more DP but also coins as payment. Being able to witness how a territory of sapients fought against a monster horde would be a bonus, he was quite eager to see those mighty ballista in action. That however was still in the future. Tomorrow hed say goodbye to Kranor along with his new monster mount Kiba and after performing a second scouting of sector 23 theyd head back home to the dungeon. With Kibas size and strength Frost was confident he could make it back in less than a day, without having to camp outside or visit beta camp. As Frost thought of his home and Maya he showed a sort of lovelorn expression that greatly attracted Chia and L. They felt the desire tofort the poor young man who was here alone. Their bodies imperceptibly drew away from their spouses, much to their displeasure. Feeling slightly betrayed Yarrow and Sam both wrapped their arms around their wives lithe waists, drawing them back close. This was the only area they had Frost beat and they werent willing to lose it just cause it made him feel lonely. The actions of the two of them caused their wives to look at them in disbelief before they both giggled finding their husbands so cute. Yarrow and Sam were both quite passionate men and would frequently disy their affection towards them which they enjoyed very much. But it was very rare for them to be jealous and insecure, the two women wondered what Frost could have done to deserve such a response. Sure, he was handsome, had great strength and even more potential but even that shouldnt be enough for such behaviour. It was a mystery but in the end Chia and L didnt care, being cherished and possessively desired was a great feeling when you truly loved your partner. They allowed their behaviour even encouraged it some extent, allowing their manly hands to cup and grope areas on their curvy bodies. The nnedte night chat was unfortunately cut short because of such behaviour. No one was in the mood to talk about boring stuff or give Frost lessons on either adventuring or governance. Yarrows and Sams groping had gotten their wives quite hot and bothered, they reached their limit, especially Chia who hadnt been able to enjoy her husbands touch since he contracted the [icy veins] illness. With red faces the four apologised to Frost and excused themselves, quickly rushing to their respective bedrooms. Frost may have been out of it due to his tiredness and homesick emotions, but he wasnt blind. He saw the looks of desire in the womans faces as well as the eager looks in Sam and Yarrows eyes. He suffered an invisible blow as he watched them leave the dining room with quickened steps, his jealously almost tangible. This in turn made him miss his home more, Maya in particr. However, images of Daki also seemed to crop up now and again. ..... Haaaaaaaaa being alone really sucks. He sighed out loud before shaking his head. Saras appeared when he stood up prepared to guide Frost to his room tonight. The old butler was tempted to suggest that he guide him to the 5th floor so as to help with his loneliness. The girls there would certainly be more than happy to take care of such a handsome young man, but he quashed that idea when he looked at Frosts expression. He was missing someone in particr not just eager to have someone by his side. Saras showed a simr longing once he saw Frosts expression. His wife had unfortunately passed away a number of years ago, Frosts longing look brought back memories of her. A few tears dripped down his cheek before he professionally wiped them away and guided Frost to his prepared room. Sir Frost this here is your room for the night hopefully it is to your liking. Sara led Frost to one of the nicer guest bedrooms on the upper floor. It was nicely decorated and of good size, with a king size bed as well as half a living room. A firece was present but within the former monsterir and given the time of year it wasnt lit. A very nice room, cosy and friendly and unlike the guest rooms in the Furanos manor that hadnt received guests in years, this room felt as though it was used often, which added to its charm. I wish you a good nights rest sir Frost. Saras bowed and went to leave but said onest thing before leaving Oh and dont worry about any noise leaking through the manor, given the families personalities the rooms are heavily sound proofed. Ugh....thanks I guess. Frost could easily understood what kind of noise Saras was hinting at and to be honest he was very grateful. If he had to be subjected to not only Sam and Ls battle but also Yarrows and Chias hed really struggle to get a wink of sleep. Thankfully they had prepared for such problems- probably due to frequentints. Perhaps I should introduce their builder to Leo, given the bags around his eyes and exhaustion in his voice thest time we spoke he could certainly use some sound proofing hehehehe. To distract him from the images of the two couples in battle Frost decided to enjoy the suffering of his friend Leo. Chapter 308 308 Chapter 308: Interrupted rxation Thanks to the dedicated sound proofing Frost had a very pleasant night sleep even with his sense of hearing. He woke up with a great big stretch but in contrast to his stretching over the past several days this one was pleasant, no painful cracking or dull aches on his spine. Just light andfy. Sleeping on afy bed is soooooooo much better. Frost rubbed thefy mattress with no small amount of affection. Those nights in a tent or on a simple cot were not pleasant, especially for one as spoiled as him in terms of sleepingfort. By the time he got out of the bed there as a knock at the door. It was one of the servants. Sir Frost, if youd prefer the bath house is set up and is currently free. Commonly especially ones skilled with magic would simply use [clean up] to freshen themselves up, ready for the day. But within the noble and rich circles people tended to have bath houses as it provided people with more than just a cleaning experience. One which Frost to be honest quite enjoyed. The feeling of being encapsted in hot water, allowing it to seep into your pores. It felt as though any built up stress was being melted away, he really ought to thank his younger brother Agar for thoroughly exining the joy of baths. That sounds great, same ce? Frost replied back with a smile and stopped putting on his robes. Currently he was in nightwear, softer and looser, perfect for sleeping in. Yes the western bath house, allow me to guide you. The servant behind the door was female and she was quite insistent in being able to guide him. Frost didnt think much of it, he collected his clothes and opened the door where a cute maid in her twenties was waiting with towels. She looked up and down Frost with a glint before gesturing the way. Thank you, Frost thanked her before walking ahead. Normally if one was guiding theyd be in front but since the maid was just a servant she remained behind as etiquette dictated or rather that was the excuse she used. No thank you, the maid whispered under her breath as she eyed Frosts back and rear as he walked. She did well to keep a straight face so anyone passing by would see a very dedicated and professional maid but the heat in her gaze was impossible to hide. Frost however was either none the wiser or simply ignored her. The maid gave a grateful courtesy after giving Frost his towels and sauntering away, sashaying her hips as she did. Her belief being that since she eyed him up it was only fair that he got to do the same. Unfortunately, she wasnt even on Frosts radar, he turned and headed into the bath house without hesitation. The leaving maid couldnt help but suffer a blow to her pride, finding that she mustnt be cute enough orcked enough assets to draw the attention of such a handsome young man. She sighed a little before getting to work, not dwelling on her failure. ..... Frost however, not aware of the maidsmentations walked into the bath house with an eager smile. He couldnt truly rx in the cest night given that he was joined by Sam, Yarrow, and Ren. Ren most all kept swimming and sshing and was constantly asking questions. Cute and fun but not a very rxing environment. This morning however he was going to take full advantage of the solitude and truly rx his body and remove the ingrained kinks that developed over the past couple weeks from his exploring the cial mountains. There was a wash station with body cleanser and shampoo at the side, which was to be used before entering the bath. Frost wasnt one to go against tradition, so he followed suit. The body cleanser smelled of mint, refreshing and a good smell to wake you up. The shampoo was berry scented and given Frosts long hair it was quite a hassle to deal with but afterwards it looked even more glorious than normal. I should definitely see to creating arge bath house in the private space, itd be a worthwhile purchase. Frost nodded his head as he thought about having his own grand bath house where he could rx and enjoy the pleasant smells of soap and shampoo. After washing up Frost lowered himself into the hot water, letting out an appreciative sigh, sinking deeper and deeper, enjoying the feel of the hot water on his skin as well as the peace and quiet. However, this peace and quiet was interrupted a couple minutester by a chorus of groans and grunts from two men. Oowowowowow my back and legs. Samined aloud as he removed his garments. Pssshhhaa lucky its just your back and legs I think I threw my hip out as well and at my age thats a possible death sentence. Yarrow argued back as he too undressed, his body spasming in pain with each movement. The two men had exhaustion written across their faces and their bodies ached with each movement, yet they showed blissful smiles, the pain they were suffering was more than worth it. They continued to creak and groan into the bathing area before eventually seeing Frost who sported an irritated look. Yarrow and Sam turned to look at one another before their smiles became evil and cocky, their exhausted and painful bodies no longer hurting in the slightest, they entered the bath with grace, joining Frost. Sleep well Frost? Yarrow asked in a tone full of innocence. Yes I did Frosts irritation grew he knew exactly where this conversation was leading. Looks like I wont be able to enjoy that rxing bath I envisioned. He could just leave and avoid this annoying chat but that would be admitting defeat. Sam and Yarrow both smirked before Sam spoke first. Haaaaaaa to be single it must be wonderful being able to get a full nights sleep. Yeah those were the days Sam, no interruptions just sleeping. I probably could have used such a restst night, but you know married life, got to keep the Mrs happy and rejuvenated. That I do, that I do father, its hard work and Im notining but just imagine having the bed to yourself, alone with your thoughts, able to get aplete 8 hours rest, man that sounds great. Sam and Yarrow used the most irritating tone imaginable as theyined about having to engage in battle with their wives. Frost turned to face the two men with a freezing cold expression, his killing intent subconsciously leaking out along with his aura caused the bath water to plummet in temperature. Not another word or Ill be forced to personally aid those sore backs of yours. He spoke slowly, full of threat, cracking his knuckles as an example, their backs would be making simr sounds once he was done venting. Yarrow and Sam felt a chill down their spines and not from the cold temperature. They looked at one another silently as though gauging whether continuing would be worth it... after several seconds they came to their answer, a big fat no. Frost was really quite scary when he was mad and if he did aid them theyd have only themselves to me, no one would stand on their side. Sorry they both apologised to Frost genuinely before the three of leaned back and enjoyed the bath as it began to heat back up, rxing their bones and muscles. A few cracks could be heard from Yarrows hip as he sunk lower, a sharp pain followed as did theughter of Sam and Frost. The old man clearly gave it his allst night if his hip was thrown out. The three of them left the bath house at the same time, heading to the dining room once they got dressed. There waiting with almost blindingly radiant expressions were L and Chia who unlike their husbands didnt seem to have any pain, only satisfaction. Frost who had just got over his annoyed jealously had his lips twitch and the sour feeling returned once more. Sam and Yarrow gave hollowughs before quickly separating themselves from the young man, yet it was hard to hide the prideful smiles adorned on their lips. They caused that, why wouldnt they be proud. Quickly they took up the seats next to their wives who wrapped their arms around their husbands and rested their heads on their shoulders. Thankfully the servants entered the room shortly after Frost sat down preventing him from stewing in his own irritation. Tea, coffee as well as fruit juice were served along with a choice of items for breakfast. Tulip, Jasmine, and Ren came in a momentter, still dressed in their pyjamas and with bed hair. Jasmine and Ren werent bothered but when Tulip saw Frost and realised her current appearance and attire she yelped in surprise before rushing out to change. This brought a round of chuckles from everyone in the room bar Sam who eyed Frost once more with that dangerous look. She returned a few minutester with her hair done up and wearing a nice dress but it was clear that she rushed. Another rounds ofughter was the result causing her to turn red in the face. Chapter 309 309 Chapter 309: The fifth floor The breakfast served was a fry up, filled with a selection of eggs, sausages, bacon, fruit, and scones made of potato as well as tomatoes. With a great many of the ingredients being of monster meat. Yarrow of course as he was on the mend was given a very generous helping of meat as dictated by Doctor Mira. But even without that he needed meat to recover afterst nights grand battle, Sam was the same, his choices practically mirroring his father inws. Seeing their voracious appetites Chia and L felt a strong pang of hunger as well though not for food. Their hands slipping onto their husbands legs causing them to jolt up and look at their respective wives almost in disbelief. Didnt they satisfy them enoughst night? This question however was quickly forgotten because it didnt matter, they had no reason to refuse such an advance. They both kissed their wives on the cheek and whispered sweet nothings into their ears. The meal minus the loving looks being shared by the two married couples was delightful, good food and goodpany. My, my look at the time, you kids need to get ready for school. L looked up at the nearby clock and eximed when she noticed the time. Her statement received an almost instinctual moan of displeasure but then the three of them remembered that school wasnt their recent being sequestered to a room with a tutor but actual school. They could hang out with their friends again. Jasmine and Ren both quickly leapt from their seats and ran out the room to get ready. L sighed and ran after them, itd been a while since she had the chance to help get them ready, an opportunity she didnt want to miss. Tulip wanting to maintain a mature and respectful image in front of Frost, so she excused herself with a courtesy before following after her mother. After she was out of sight however she ran, just as eager as her younger siblings. Sam, Yarrow, Chia, and Frost were thus left in the dining room to nurse their drinks. What time do you n to leave today? Yarrow decided to get straight to the point. Probably around noon or so, it depends on when Daki finishes my equipment and how long the contract ceremony takes with Kiba. Ive never contracted with a monster before so Im not really sure what happens. Frost replied while draining thest of his coffee. It was around 7 in the morning at the moment so 5 hours to cross off the things on his list. Other than meeting up with Daki and contracting Kiba, Frost still wished to visit the brewery as well as the quarry. He also wanted more information about the current political state of the cial mountains. The different countries, empires as well as the order of the ice shield and Northrends war ursa battalion. Books and or documents about them were high up on his list. Frost knew that at the moment he was nothing but a small fish but as his territory grows he may butt heads with his neighbours. Having more information about them would help in the long run. ..... I dont know how long Daki will take but you dont need to worry about the contract with Kiba, Ive arranged for the best materials to be used so as to ensure the highestpatibility. It shouldnt take more than a few minutes for the contract itself. So, what shall we do to fill in the time? Several hours wasnt enough time for Yarrow to give a full blown lecture and lesson on governing a territory but he could provide some rudimentary advice. Plus, he needed to talk to Frost about sending aid once his territory got up and running. From there they could go about cementing trade rtions between their territories. Yarrow was even more excited than Sam and L about Frost establishing his own territory. Not only would Kranor have an ally there was someone he could help from scratch. Kranor was already established, and his daughter was already half qualified to run the ce. Yarrow was a doer, he always had to be active in some form. For retirement he nned to take up a great number of hobbies to fill the time. But aiding an up anding lord to establish his territory sounded much more fun plus his wife always wanted to go on a trip, just the two of them. The gears started turning in his head, removing him from the current conversation so Chia took over. Sam took you to see the top floor that holds our major business district as well as the agricultural district on the bottom two floors so that leaves the residential district, government district and the 5th floor. Chia gave a judgemental look as she brought up the 5th floor. She had nothing against the adult industry personally and even understood the necessity of such a ce but still it brought a bad taste to her mouth when mentioned. A married woman such as her really shouldnt have anything to do with that ce and more importantly neither should her husband and son inw but in the end boys will be boys, always wanting what they cant have. It was even more annoying that the brewery and quarries were on the same floor giving them a legitimate excuse to inspect the floor as their roles dictated. L why dont you and Sam take him to the fifth floor to see the brewery and quarry before working your way back up. Ill work with the old man here to scrounge up some useful books, tomes, and documents that we can give Frost and after a short respite you can set out toplete that monster contract with little Kiba. Then to finish you can visit Daki and invite her to lunch at Ramseys star restaurant to say farewell. Chia quickly outlined an itinerary which satisfied all present before she dragged the still in deep thought Yarrow towards the manors library and his many offices. Sam was more than happy with his mother inws suggestion, thankful that she brought up the brewery. He no longer had much or any interest in visiting the adult district given that L drained him of the majority of his strengthst night and likely will tonight if he continues to y his cards right. Alcohol however was always interesting plus at the end of their tours they always gave out free samples. Sounds good mother, shall we dear? Sam stretched out his hand for L to grasp onto, his excitement bubbling. L shook her head but still ced her hand in his. She wasnt a massive fan of spirits or beer, much preferring wine like the one they partook ofst night but making wine was not within Kranors skill set, at least not good wine. That had to be bought in from visiting merchants or from other enves that specialised in such trades. Frost thus went with the happy couple down to the 5th floor, using the super-efficient lift system -of course it wasnt as awesome as his teleporting throughout the dungeon but not just anyone can do that. Shame however that he couldnt really take advantage of such a system given that he didnt want people to be able to skip passed his monsters. Ah but maybe it could be useful in the future. Itd be a real pain if the high ranking adventurers had to cleave their way through the weaker floors. Perhaps once Ive got more floors established I could create a lift that descends 5 floors or so. Allowing the more experienced groups to bypass the weak monsters thus saving them time and my monsters from a quick death. Frost tried to think of ways to incorporate many of the things he saw in Kranor such as the lift mechanism. Here we are the 5th floor, home of the fabled adult district which you can see over there. Sam pointed to west where the outskirts of a heavily developed town could be seen. The lift didnt drop you right within the town like the others but nearby. This way people didnt need to enter the adult district whenever they needed to head to work in the quarries or brewery. Due to the time the adult district was far quieter than normal as most visitors were either still in bed or heading off to work. But given how developed the ce appeared it was clear that it regrly hosted arge amount of patrons. In terms of governance such a district was a god send. Not only did the ce rake on a veritable gold mine in coin every year, it greatly reduced the local crime rate in Kranor and even increased the citizens mood levels. If people got over their preconceptions about the services offered there, it was nothing but a boon to the enve and anymunity really. As long as the rulers of the territory managed such ces properly and made sure to tax it effectively not only would the money flow in there would be no health issues which would normally be associated with such areas. Furano could learn a lot from Kranor in this regard. Though they too had an adult district it wasnt nearly as well developed or maintained given that right next to it was the slums and messy workshops. Frost made sure to note down thisparison in his mind, not ignoring the benefits of such districts. It was a shame that he didnt get to visit the ce during its working hours otherwise hed surely learn more. Perhaps another time. Frost gave onest look at therge town that was the adult district before following after Sam and L. Chapter 310 310 Chapter 310: The fifth floor (2) Other than the adult district the first section of the fifth floor also contained the brewery whereas the final two sections were the quarries. Given that the adult district was the main purchaser of the locally crafted alcohol it made sense to have them nearby, makes transport more efficient. The Kranors brewery mainly focused on beer since it was the fastest, easiest, and cheapest to make. They werent looking to be an alcohol speciality territory, just aiming to supply the majority of their own demand. The moment one of the workers spotted Sam and L he reported immediately to his boss, there wasnt an inspection on the books nor was there any tours but since the future mayor and her husband were here they needed to treat them well. This also meant they needed to be on their A-game while working, no faffing about or taking sneaky swigs of the good stuff otherwise they could kiss this dream job goodbye. After waiting a minute or so the brewerys head brew master arrived and of course adhering to stereotypes it was a dwarf. Lady L and Sir Sam how can I help you this fine morning? The head brew master was a rough looking female dwarf easily in her 50s with bronzed skin and a stocky build. She looked tough. Mrs Belliana theres no need for any formality were just here for a regr tour of the premises, showing our friend here the sights of Kranor. L spoke with a smile, answering the old dwarfs query. Its not a surprise inspection? Belliana asked with a scrutinising gaze. No Phew thats good, I really hate having to act all formal and by the book. Belliana let out a relieved sigh as she rxed her body, taking a much more chill posture and a rough tone returning to her voice. You hear that you old louts its just a regr visit so get your asses back to work! Belliana roared towards her many employees that had be distracted by L and Sams visit. On hearing Bellianas roar they all shivered before quickly getting back to work. Belliana was not a boss you want to get on the bad side of. ..... With a strong nod once she saw her workers return to work Belliana turned back towards her guests. Since its not an inspection and just a regr visit Ill have Kastro here lead you through the factory. Im far too busy that right now. Belliana pointed behind with her thumb towards Kastro one of her assistants. He wasrge wolfman with a scar across his eye making him look quite menacing but in front of Belliana he was nothing but a puppy. Understood boss, The man then gestured for the group of three to follow him while Belliana returned to her office. Being the head brew master was hard work, their brewery was constantly at work to help supply the ever growing needs of the popce, she rarely got a moments rest and hated inspections and official visits. Shed be forced to keep her coarse tongue in check, maintain a friendly smile, not hit her employees when they make mistakes and most of all they always slowed down production. As did the tours but not to the same extent plus theyd attract future employees, so she could live with that. If it wasnt official and or her presence wasnt mandatory shed leave such annoying work to one of her capable assistants like Kastro. Once Belliana was out of earshot Kastro spoke up please forgive the boss, shes been under a lot of pressure recently and really hates the customer service part of the job. Kastro also wasnt too big a fan given that his appearance normally scared people, but he was at least far better than Belliana. No problem its not the first time weve met, Lead on Kastro, our friend here is quite keen to learn about how a brewery works and what is needed to run it at such high efficiency. Of course, Kastro replied with a short nod before leading the three people throughout the massive factory. Sam and L had seen the ce more than a few times but for Frost it was entirely new, and he was quite blown away. The work was gruelling, he saw dozens upon dozens of burly men and women rollingrge casks from one ce to another while others stirred the alcohol in fermentation baths with long poles all while enduring high levels of heat. Frost never imagined that preparing beer and other spirits was so physically taxing andbour intensive. There wasnt a single employee present that didnt sportrge, ripped muscles. Kastro gave them the quick tour thatsted 30 minutes, exining a few details such as the amount of beer produced by them daily or weekly, the amount of staff required to produce a single cask etc... the usual amount of data hed use to impress the visitors. Frost heard these numbers and was shocked once again; such a factory was way behind his current means. He immediately scrubbed his idea of creating his own brewery to serve as trade materials. Besides after running a few numbers of his own, he found that for cheap alcohol such as beer it was far more efficient to simply purchase it with DP. The product wouldnt be unique but to trade in mass it didnt matter. To end the tour and much to Sams pleasure they were invited to try some free samples which included a new vour that they were trying. Beer with a tinge of winterberry and spiced shroom, L and Frost didnt find it too appealing, but it went down well with Sam who selfishly asked for another free sample which was immediately rejected by Kastro. They were running a business after all. After that was the quarries which didnt really need a guide to exin, it was clear from the materials being carried out what type of quarry each was. Most were different types of stone whereas a few were metal, mainly ore of copper and iron, pretty basic stuff. Theyout was simr to the iron mine Frost bought but on a much grander scale. Apparently they also had a cier mine that provided quasi 2 star ice outside, which thanks to the near constant blizzards was renewable. Next on the list was the residential floors that contained all the housing for the residents as well as their schools, markets as well as greenery. Though not as internally benefitting as the 6th and 7th floor the view on the 3rd and 4th floor was much better than the top two. Houses were divided by size and quality creating different areas or suburbs. Houses of all types and quality were required to be built since not everyone could afford or was willing to pay for arge house. Kranors slum district was called plum blossom avenue and to be honest it really couldnt be called a slum. Though the houses werentrge and were made of low level pykrete they were more than liveable. And unlike many other slum districts within other territories this ce was very well maintained. Yarrow and his predecessors worked hard to make sure that even the poorest people within the territory had a safe and clean ce to sleep. Frost could see more than a few teams working to build more houses to cater for the ever growing poption. The method didnt seem to difficult nor asbour intensive as the brewery and unlike alcohol this was something hed need to provide in order to attract people to his territory. Tents and basic igloos wouldnt work in the long run, no he needed buildings made of pykrete, stone and or wood as well as a guarding wall otherwise safety would be a big concern for those in his territory. Once that was over it was time to head back to the manor, Yarrow and Chia should have had enough time to put together a few choice books and documents to satiate Frosts desire for knowledge. After which it would time to visit Druakai to perform the monster contract with Kiba. Oh, good youre back, what did you think of the brewery and quarries? Chia asked once they walked in the door andrge pile of books and other documents stood behind her with Yarrow going through them and cing them in different piles ording to genre. Yarrow had a vast surplus of books with many being duplicates or outdated versions. For those that werent needed he was more than happy to give to someone whod appreciate them, better than gathering dust on a shelf somewhere. The knowledge in books was designed to be spread among people, not sequestered away in storage. Frost saw the massive piles of books and his eyes lit up, wondering if all of them were for him. Hed been charging his way through the stockpile he bought in Furano and was in dire need of some new material. It was very interesting, I had no idea how muchbour was involved in providing alcohol for Kranor, the numbers blew me away. Along with the idea of him establishing his own brewery at least in the short to medium term. Perhaps when he has tens of thousands of residents it may crop up again as not only would it provide alcohol it would create jobs. Not all his monsters would be needed to fight all the time, working in such professions could help to pass the time. Yeah I too was quite surprised when I first saw it in action, its even more impressive on paper. Chia had a nostalgic look as she remembered the first time she witnessed the factory in action. The strong smell, the heat and of course the dozens and dozens of half-naked, muscle bound workers. It was quite a feast for her eyes back then. Chapter 311 311 Chapter 311: Contracting with Kiba Anyway, youre just in time, Yarrow and I have managed to scrounge up quite a collection of old books, tomes and documents that should be helpful for someone like you. Frost felt an invisible punch to his gut as he saw the glint on Chias face. She was clearly referring to him as being na?ve, given that L and Sam had to teach him the basics of the basics. Thank you for your generosity. Unable to call her out on her subtle insult Frost thanked the older rabbit woman. Theres no problem with one being ignorant as long as one realises they are, which Frost clearly understood. He was determined to change. Thats why he epted Ls and Sams tutge and why he had a strong desire for books, all to improve his own knowledge. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Youre more than wee Frost, hopefully these books help you on your path, oh and Yarrow and I have had a little chat. Once L takes over as mayor and were free, welle visit your territory before heading south on a long awaited holiday, you fine with that? Chia spoke in a way that didnt exactly allow him to refuse but Frost held no intention to do so in the first ce. Sure but give me a year or so otherwise itd be too bare and rough for me to show off. Of course, given that he had the dungeon menu and a nigh unlimited supply ofbour he could probably establish a decent ce in less than a year but the further away their visit the more impressed theyd be by his progress. Sounds like a n. Dear are you done yet? Chia nodded her head while smiling brightly, truly looking forward to going on a holiday with Yarrow. Itd been so long since theyst got out of Kranor, and they hadnt visiting the soutnds/ sapientnds in nearly two decades. She then turned to her husband and asked if he had finished sorting the dozens of books they retrieved from the library and his many offices. Yarrow ced thest two books in their proper piles before turning around to answer his wife, yes Im done. He then turned to face Frost before gesturing to each pile. That ones full of books on trade professions, thats agriculture, construction, governance aids as well as diaries written by former mayors and the final pile is history and books detailing the forces within the cial mountains. Each and every pile was practical and structured around territory management, exactly what Frost required. With this lot of knowledge, hed struggle to fail. The mayoral diaries in particr would likely be very useful and not something hed ever be able to find in a bookstore. Thank you very much Lord Yarrow, Lady Chia. I promise to take good care of these books and use their contained to knowledge to seed in my endeavour. I hope when youe visit youll be more than happy with my progress. Frost gave a polite bow to show his heartfelt thanks. No need for all that, its just some dusty, unused books but we do genuinely hope you can seed. Yarrow brushed off Frosts thanks as it was unnecessary in his eyes, he already viewed Frost like kin, giving a few books away was nothing. The servants brought in some tea while Frost perused some of the books before cing them within his storage rings. Yarrow also handed a few items that would be needed for the monster contract to Sam. ..... Frost do you have amunication crystal by any chance? Yarrow asked while finishing off his tea. Yes I do Frost confirmed while reaching for the ne around his neck where the thing was attached. Good, then we can register our device with yours, allowing easymunication between us when youre back in your own territory. Yarrow gave a nod towards one of the servants who promptly left and returned with the mayoralmunication device. The two were registered to one another with a quick touching of the crystals and an infusion of mana thus Frost had another person he could call on his crystal. Yarrow then looked up at the clock, You should probably head down to Druakais ce, Chia and I will see if we can break the little rug rats out of school for a little while. Once youve contracted with Kiba, invite Druakai and Ruby up as well, Ive already booked reservations in Ramsey star restaurant on the top floor. Its not too far from Dakis shop so be sure to invite her too. Yarrow gave his suggestion which everyone in the room agreed with. Once again the group split up, Sam went with Frost while L left with Yarrow and her mother. Lunch at Ramseys star restaurant and Yarrows paying yahoo! Sam hollered once he and Frost left the manor. Ramseys star restaurant was simr to the phoenix fledgling restaurant in Furano as it was regarded as high ss and had prices to match. Currently since Ramsey retired from the high paced life of a restaurant head chef his son took over, the ce was now under his capable reign. Some even said the food had be even better with him at the helm, Sam was more than eager to try it but really struggled to justify such an expense when they could easily eat his or Ramseys cooking for free. But if someone else was paying that no longer became an issue. Come on lets go quickly, the faster we do this the faster we can eat. Sam wrapped his arm around Frosts shoulder and jogged towards the lift practically dragging Frost with him. Down on the 7th floor at Druakais farm, Druakai was sitting on a bench with his trademark friendly smile that was evenrger than normal. In front of him Ruby and Kiba were ying, something they hadnt done in a long time. It soothed his heart and made what was about to happen much easier to handle. He knew that Kiba would be well looked after and not have his potential squandered. As he heard the sound of footstepsing from behind Druakai turned around to see Frost and Sam, here as promised. A slight pain shed in his eyes before he turned to Kiba who had also noticed their presence. Its time Kiba, three words but chock full of emotion. Kibas ears drooped low as he brushed up against his foster father before stopping in front of Frost, his soon to be master andpanion. Did you manage to clear up any lingering issues? Frost directed his question to Kiba who nodded hisrge tiger head. Good boy Frost then rubbed Kibas head causing him to purr in content before redirecting his gaze to Druakai. How does this work exactly? The process is pretty simple especially given that Kiba epts you whole heartedly. Druakai stood up from the bench, his massive 4 metres tall frame casting a long shadow across the ground. He removed a few items from a nearby bag, clearly materials necessary to establish the bond. The magic used is a derivative of taming magic, it will create a soul bond between you and Kiba, allowing you tomunicate without words and understand one anothers thoughts and feelings. He will be your most trusted partner just like how Ruby is mine. He patted the red tailed snow leopard who brushed up against his side. You will need to care for him and provide for him and in return he shall follow you loyally whether that be simply travelling or into the heat of battle, he will be by your side. Druakais eyes looked at therge, winged tiger with a modicum of shame. Hecked the strength to apany Kiba in battle thus letting a great deal of his potential go to waste. Once the bond is created you will both need to nurture it in order for your cooperation to grow and strengthen. Are you ready? Druakai stood before Frost and Kiba with a serious expression. The dungeon core and winged tiger looked at one another before both nodding their heads, they were ready. Good, then lets get started Druakai nodded his head while smiling, happy with their determination. Hed cleared out this field in advance for the ceremony and asked that none of his employees interrupt the process, he wasnt going to take any chances with Kiba. Druakai, Yarrow prepared some high end materials for the ceremony and asked that you use them instead. As Druakai pulled out the materials required for the contract ceremony Sam spoke up before removing the bag Yarrow handed him before they left the manor. Druakai took hold of the bag and looked inside, his eyes opening wide in surprise. Seems Lord Yarrows investing quite heavily in Frost. The materials were at least a single grade higher than what Druakai had prepared some even two. With this even if the trust between Frost and Kiba was low there would be very little chance of failure. This contract would not only be a sess the bond established would be strong and stable as though theyd been partners for years. Alright lets begin. Chapter 312 312 Chapter 312: Contracting with Kiba (2) Alright lets begin. Druakai announced before removing a metal funnel (picture a chak-pur thats used in making salt mands) and a bag of mana infused sand. He then delicately started to draw arge circr magic crest on the ground, an array. Though the image wasrge and intricate Druakai moved fast and seamlessly, hed prepared dozens of such crests over the years and could easily do it with his eyes closed. Once the crest wasplete the blue sand sparkled as thoughing to life. Frost, Kiba please step into the crest facing one another. Druakai instructed while removing other items from the bag Sam handed him and cing them around therge crest. These were supplementary materials to increase the sess rate and quality of the bond, usually only used when contracting high quality monsters such as Kiba. Frost and Kiba did as instructed, stepping into the circle. The crest shone brighter as they did. Druakai joined them inside once he finished cing the additional materials. Empty your minds and rx, ept the ritual, do not fight it. Druakai gave onest piece of advice before dousing his fingers in what appeared to be high grade monster blood. He then proceeded to use his blood soaked fingers to draw a mysterious rune on Kibas forehead that oncepleted seeped into his skull. A master rune was then drawn on Frosts hand that reacted in the same way. These runes would form the base of the bond, connecting points. Finally, Druakai stepped out of the magic crest and shattered a monster crystal, scattering the remains upon the crest, causing it to brightly illuminate. Since Druakai wasnt a magician or tamer this was the only way he could activate the array. With the monster crystal as fuel, the intricate magic crest hummed to life, encapsting Frost and Kiba within a ring of blue. The mana within the crest seemed to amplify to high levels as the additional materials were burned up as catalysts. The blood runes drawn on their bodies came alive, sucking in the ambient mana to create a chain. Frost stared in wonder as he watched this happen, feeling his body reacting to the array. He could sense that the blood rune devoured the nearby mana as it tried to find its corresponding pair on Kiba. A simr thing was happening with Kiba, a blood red chain grew from the rune on his forehead, desperately seeking out its partner. After 20 seconds the chains had grown enough links to reach one another and the moment they did a bright light erupted from the point of contact. This was the moment wherein the willingness of Kiba came into y. If he refused the connection, the chains would shatter and the master i.e. Frost would be struck with a painful bacsh. Thankfully however Kiba held no resistance, dly willing to be bonded with Frost. The light at the point of contact continued to grow as the chain ends appeared to be magically welding themselves into one solid chain. Frost could feel Kiba, his thoughts and feelings and Kiba could do the same, a connection that continued to ring louder sparked between them as the chains came together. It was a strange feeling for Frost but somewhat familiar. It reminded him of the time he named Finy, the connection that was born between them that day was quite simr. Though it was of a much higher degree the resemnce piqued Frosts curiosity. ..... After another 15 seconds the two chains hadpletely bonded into one, revealing a strong and sturdy connection between Frost and Kiba. The ceremony was a sess, they were now bonded. The magic crest then gradually dimmed as it funnelled thest of its power into the still visible chain, strengthening it. Once all the gathered mana had been absorbed and the magic crest had grown dull once more, the blood red chain be ethereal before vanishingpletely. The blood rune on Frosts hand vanished back beneath his skin as though it never existed. Kibas however left a red diamond on his forehead, symbolising that he was bonded with a master. Druakai smiled with joy and wiped a solitary tear from his cheek as the ceremony came to a close. Ruby rubbed against his side with affection, a simr red diamond present on her forehead. Now she and Kiba were one of the same. p p p, Sam began a round of apuse, congratting Frost on his sess, to which Druakai joined in. Frost and Kiba both showed bashful expressions, before looking at one another andughing. Druakai were all going to have lunch together to send Frost off. You and Ruby are both invited toe if youd like, its at Ramseys star restaurant. Sam walked over and patted his friends shoulder in a consoling manner, knowing that he was feeling down as well as happy. Ruby practically answered in his stead, her mouth opening wide as saliva dripped onto the ground and her eyes showing a begging expression as she looked up at her master. Druakai looked down at hispanion with wide eyes, shocked by her actions, she wasnt a kitten anymore. But his shock quickly turned into a smile, and thenughter. Sure, sounds good, wed love toe hahahahah. He patted Rubys head with affection, receiving happy purring in response. Meanwhile Frost felt the urge to test the mount aspect of a monster mount. His feelings were transferred through the soul bond to Kiba who smiled in response before lowering his back. He too wanted to show off his skills in front of his new master. Seeing Kibas actions Frost smiled wildly before leaping onto the massive tigers back, sitting ahead of his still developing wings. Kibas beautiful fur was soft to the touch and veryfy as a seat, he likely wouldnt even need a saddle. Frost leaned over and whispered into Kibas ear Show me how fast you can run. Which got him an arrogant chuff in response basically tranting as hold on tight then. Kiba tensed his four legs and crouched down beforeunching himself across the field with immense speed. Druakai had chosen to do the ceremony in hisrgest and most open field just for such an asion. Yahoooooooo! Frost roared out loud as the strong wind pressure buffeted against his body, enjoying the feeling of moving at such speeds willingly -hed reached such speeds before but that was from getting knocked across the room by a certain Fenrir. Kiba was energised by Frosts loud roar and picked up speed, moving across the ground at over 100 miles an hour, leaping and changing direction all in attempt to both bring enjoyment to Frost and trying to test his limits. Frost however despite never riding a monster or animal before seemed to have a natural talent for it. He dug his feet in tight against Kibas upper ribs and wrapped his hands around his shoulders or neck, keeping his upper body t whenever they changed directions. A natural rider, of course it helped that he had a soul bond with Kiba, allowing him to know when he was about to turn but even, so it was mighty impressive. Druakai and Sam stood at the side with smiles on their faces, nodding as they watched the two have fun. Ruby even felt a bit jealous, her gaze drifting towards her partner. Druakai was easily 4 metres tall and chock full of muscle, far heavier than the athletically build Frost. Worst of all Druakai had very poor coordination and motor skills making their rides anything but a breeze. Her tail swiped Druakais bum in protest, causing Sam tough out loud. After 15 minutes of fast paced riding Frost and Kiba called it quits, there was the allure of food waiting after all. Kiba sauntered over to Sam, Druakai and Ruby with Frost on his back looking very much refreshed. Hed not been able to engage in such strenuous activity in a long time, it felt good to stretch his muscles. Can Kiba and Ruby really join us in the restaurant? Frost knew that Yarrow invited both Kiba and Ruby but struggled to picture the two of them being able to walk around the top floor without causing panic let alone entering a restaurant. No, they cant join us at the table but given that Kranor raises many monster mounts, many of our restaurants have areas at the side where they can eat. The red diamond symbol on Kibas forehead reveals that hes a contracted monster thus you can pretty much take him anywhere without causing a panic. Ive taken Ruby up to wander the top floor many times. Druakai cleared away Frosts confusion. Being a contracted monster took away the majority of the danger as it meant a monster wouldnt sumb to its baser instincts and that it would not attack unless their master gives permission. The treatment was the same for tamers and their monsters, but they had an added benefit which would allow them to store their monsters within their bodies through unique magic. Something that artificers have tried to reflect in their storage devices but have ultimately failed. Chapter 313 313 Chapter 313: Alone with Daki Is that so. Frost rubbed Kibas head, happy that hed get to partake in the meal in his own way. Shall we head up then, we still need to visit Daki and invite her after all? Sam asked. Sis ising? Druakai turned to face Sam, his lips twitching. He always found his sister hard to deal with, their personalities were pretty much pr opposites. Yeah, Frost ordered a bunch of equipment from her yesterday, and toplete it on time she had to work throughout the night. So given that she worked so hard and that she and Frost seemed to hit it off, Yarrow and Chia suggested inviting her along for the meal. At the moment L and them are breaking Tulip, Jasmine, and Ren out of school so its going to be a real grand feast. Hoh she did? Druakais gaze drifted towards the young man seated on Kiba, a subtle hint of pity in his eyes. He knew his sister well including her reputation. Frost would likely be the next man she drains before moving on. While he seemed to remain single forever, diametrically opposed to his sister. Yeah but its not what you think. Sam showed a mischievous smile and looked around making sure no one would hear his voice before whispering the events of Frosts meeting with Daki. The B.F.G looked at his childhood friend in disbelief unable to believe what he said before his gaze moved back towards Frost, a heavy dose of respect now in his eyes as well as a tinge of hope. His darling elder sister had never been able to find someone capable of going toe to toe with her charm perhaps Frost would be the one she had been waiting for, only time would tell. Since I dont have to worry about causing a panic, how about I head on up with Kiba to see Daki and Ill meet you guys at the restaurant. Frost really enjoyed riding on Kibas back and if they went alone Kiba could run free. Hmmmm you want to meet with her alone.....ok I get it just dont take too long hehehehe. Samughed with a teasing intent, clearly suggesting some untoward intentions behind Frosts request. The young dungeon core blushed slightly as his mind began to wander before shaking his head to regain focus. He didnt deny the usation nor confirm it, simply telling Kiba to go, leaving the two old men in the dust. Sam continued tough as though he hit the nail on the head while Druakai smiled as he watched Frost and Kiba ride away. He, Sam, and Ruby would walk, only young people were always in a rush to get to ces. Frost riding on Kiba quickly made his way to the lift and low and behold people didnt panic at the sight of the massive, winged tiger. The moment they saw a rider and the blood red diamond on his forehead, they all simply looked at Frost in awe, assuming that he must be some grand adventurer or noble. It was a nice change for Kiba too, after he really started growing people no longer looked at him like a cute cub, always wary of him. He missed that feeling and it was felt by Frost who smiled and patted his head. ..... At the top floor the roads and streets were far more crowded meaning that Kiba couldnt run but given his agility and flexibility Frost didnt have to get down either. Kiba simply walked forward like any other person present. This however got Frost a hell of a lot of stares, even more than he was used to receiving. A handsome face was enough to draw a lot of attention but a handsome face that held power was enough to attract all gazes. Adventurers and military men looked up at him with respect and jealously, wanting to be him whereas hundreds of woman wanted to be next to him. Young kids that didnt attend kindergarten wanted to ride the big fluffy tiger and pet his fur. Frost and Kiba caused quite a scene making their journey to Dakis shop take a fair bit longer than expected. Eventually made their way towards the entrance of Dakis store, the closed sign was present again as was the disappointed looks of passer-bys. Not as bold as Sam and due feeling a little nervous about meeting Daki face to face again, Frost knocked but did not enter. Kiba stood at the side, he was toorge to fit into the store so would be left outside to guard. Were closed. Dakis charming voice came from the other side of the door. Its Frost, Daki. The moment he said his name he heard a few crashes from behind the door as if Daki quickly stood up, knocking over objects in the immediate vicinity. Frost wasnt far off, Daki was annoyed at being interrupted for 100th time today but when she heard Frosts voice her body filled with excitement, causing her to leap to her feet in a panic. She quickly searched for a mirror so as to adjust her hair and possibly apply make-up; her face showed a happy blush as though her crush had just arrived to pick her up for a date. Butterflies were in her stomach as she thought of Frost. Her mirror showed that her hair was fine, but she was covered in soot from working the forge, plus she had a strong smell of sweat from working all night. Dammit! Ill be right with you just give me a minute. She panickily shouted while scrambling out of the backroom to her rest area, where she could wash the soot off. Frost smiled as he heard her, finding her actions quite cute. He waited for her by the door like a gentlemen until she was ready to unveil herself. A few minutester Daki opened the front door looking far better than she did previously, presentable in her mind. Daki Frost leaned in and grabbed her hand before nting a kiss on it in greeting. Dakis face turned bright red, and steam nearly came out of her ears. She quickly pulled Frost into the store and shut the door in case anyone saw her blushing. Damn whats with me, Im never this defenceless. That was twice Frost managed to make her blush. Frost found her to be irresistible cute, teasing her felt so good now he understood why Maya did it to him so often. You look nice, Frost eyed Daki up and down, nodding as he did, even with a rushed clean-up she looked absolutely stunning, only Maya was truly her match -wells theres Aqua but shes his sister so it didnt count. Thank you, Dakiposed herself after giving thanks, returning to her normal, confident self. Im guessing youre here to pick up the equipment you ordered. She had been working all night to make sure everything was finished in time. Shed just managed toplete the childrens wrist guards 20 minutes ago and was about to take a break before Frost showed up. Yes thats partly why Im here. Frost replied back with a coy smile. All Sam and Yarrows mocking and the tant disys of affection between them and their wives had really left him feeling frustrated and now seeing Daki as she was he was finding it really hard to resist flirting with her. To be honest he struggled to get the beautiful woman out of his head ever since they met yesterday. Whenever his mind wandered to Maya hed also think of her. Oh, whats the other reason? Dakis heart started beating faster as it filled with expectation. Her fondness for this man had only grown throughout the night, it was truly a first for her to feel this strongly about someone. Seeing you will of course be a joy in of itself but Im actually here to invite you to lunch if youre willing? Daki looked at Frosts handsome face and showed a coy smile, she moved in close, bringing her face close to his. My, my Sir Frost are you asking me out on a date? She leaned over and whispered into his ear, full of charm before bringing her lips oh so close to his before pulling back. This was one of her signature moves, that made no manner of men and woman sumb to her, desperate to feel her lips. Frost was certainly tempted, her warm breath on his ear sent a shiver down his spine and his lips desperately wished to chase after hers and lock them down but he remained calm. Enjoying the feeling but not sumbing to it. You could say that but unfortunately we wont be alone, the mayors whole family will be there as will your brother. Frost looked into Dakis eyes as he spoke, they were full of desire but also revealed that he would resist partaking in the delight that was her. Daki felt her excitement plummet when she heard his reply. It wasnt a date especially if her younger brother wasing. She pulled away from him, clearly a little disappointed but expected as much. Frost already had a woman; shed have to do a lot more than simple tricks to direct his focus onto her, otherwise flirting would be as far as they got. Chapter 314 314 Chapter 314: Alone with Daki (2) What restaurant? Daki asked with a pouting expression, but her eyes showed interest. Though it wouldnt be a date itd still be a free meal with friends. Ramseys star restaurant. His words caused Daki to freeze, her mouth hanging open in shock. That was the best restaurant in Kranor, hell it was even famous outside the enve, attracting no small number of distant patrons. Of course, it had a price to match such high quality and even if you could afford it, getting a table was an ordeal in of itself, requiring prebooking. Even Daki with her fairly decent wealth very rarely partook in such extravagance. The mayor however was a different story. Not only did he have sufficient coffers to pay for such meals, given his rtionship with Ramsey and his title, it was far easier to get a table and hed even be offered a discount. It was all about who you know, money wasnt always enough, in many cases connections and background yed the bigger part. Were going to Ramseys star restaurant. The one on the other side of town? Daki asked with sparkling eyes, her mouth starting salivate as she imagined the dishes shed be able to eat. Her stomach at this point also rumbled with joy, not only had Daki not sleptst night shed yet to eat anything. Yep, I guess youre in then? Frost smiled warmly finding Daki to be more and more cute the longer he was with her. Of course, Im in, free food and the best restaurant in town plus pleasantpany, itd be a fool to pass it up hehehehe. She giggled before nting a peck on Frosts cheek. But if were going there Ill have to get ready for real, give me 15 no 20 minutes. Your stuffs waiting in the backroom so free to check it out while you wait. Daki pounded off into her rest area to take a quick bath and change into something more befitting the extravagance of Ramseys star restaurant. She couldnt very well apany Frost in his noble schr robes while dressed in cksmithing attire. Frost brought his hand up to his cheek, feeling the residual heat from her lips brought a bright smile to his face and he let out a prideful chuff. He then went to inspect the equipment that he ordered in the back room but just before he did, Daki appeared again at the doorway. Feel free to join me if you wish, theres more than enough space for the two of us. She said in seductive tone before vanishing back into her room, purposely leaving the door open as an invite. Frost felt his throat go dry and his entire body heat up, his steps subconsciously heading towards her room, eager to take up her offer. His mind felt muddled, and an insatiable hunger filled his body as images of Daki obscured his thoughts. Hed fallen victim to her pheromones once again though this time he was a fair bit more susceptible. He managed to regain control of his body and mind just a few steps shy from her room. He was covered in sweat and felt drained as though he just engaged in a gruelling battle. Damn vixen, thats ying dirty. Frost roared in an annoyed tone but received nothing but a charming giggle in return before he heard the sound of running water. He promptly closed her bedroom door to reduce the temptation receiving a loud tsk as he did. ..... Daki was far more dangerous than Maya in her teasing, a great deal more aggressive. It was a real challenge for the young Frost who had yet to engage in such activities. Thankfully Maya had raised his resistance to such temptations otherwise Daki would have had him hook line and sinker. Frost moved into the backroom where his equipment was being stored, closing the door behind him so as to reduce any noises the damn subus makes to enthral him. He sounded a lot more annoyed than he actually was, a smile still adorned his face the entire time. He enjoyed Dakis attempts at enticement, probably because he had a real interest in her. His armour set was ced on a mannequin making it cut a fairly impressive figure whereas the weapons he ordered for Nanna and Loki were hanging up on a rack, along with their matching wrist guards. The culinary items and other wares were stored in arge crate. Daki made use of both monster materials and high quality metals to make the items. The 3 star quality armour set that was built to fit Frosts body perfectly was a mixture of azure blue and silver, very stylish. The baseyers were made of monster hide such as frost lizard skin, creating a veryfortable feeling against his skin. Whereas the outeryer was fashioned from an alloy made from duram metal and parts of the runic armour he obtained from the ice revenant. She had also fashioned an extrayer of tiger bone over the most vulnerable areas such as the joints. A supreme piece of equipment that not only provided great defence but was also very streamlined as per Frosts wishes, meaning it could easily fit under his robes. Plus, thanks to the materials used it provided strong resistance to the cold and helped to supplement ice chakra. Daki really went above and beyond with this piece, by far some of her best work. Frost spared no time, he quickly removed his robes and adorned the new armour set, cing the 3 star chainmail and other surviving 2 star pieces in his spatial ring. The fit was perfect even down in the groin region which brought a blush to Frosts face, Daki had taken a few extra liberties while measuring his frame. She even cheekily left a written note within the breeches asking if she left enough room as Frost prevented her from measuring properly. He ripped up the note and tossed it into her unlit forge, before adorning the equipment that was also just right. To test it out he threw several punches and kicks, feeling no resistance in his movements. Next he tried to cover the armour in ayer of ice chakra, following the shape of the armour set. It formed slightly faster than normal, which may not sound like much but when you can attack several times a second even being a fraction faster can mean the difference between life and death. Frost was more than pleased with the armour and truly felt that he had taken advantage of Daki. Such a set would have likely cost him over 10 gold coins in Furano whereas Daki only charged 3 along with monster materials for his entire order. He wondered if she even made much profit from this order. The weapons for Nanna and Loki were of 2 star quality, focusing on durability rather than attack strength, perfect for training and using defensively. Their colour scheme also matched Frosts armour as did their new wrist guards which Daki had made adjustable in size. She could feel up Frost and get his measurements, but Nanna and Loki were far away in the dungeon, Frost could only give her a rough estimate as well as their ages. By the time Frost went through and inspected all the equipment he ordered and finding nothing out of ce and all of superior quality, Daki exited her bedroom wearing a very charming dress. Something she called the big guns. It was made of purple ice worm silk that worked very nicely with her green skin. The material was very thin and skin tight allowing one to see the delicate shape of her body yet it wasnt translucent, she preferred to leave a little to the imagination. The dress was sleeveless, showing off her toned shoulders and arms, while also struggling to contained her oversized chest, creating a very deep cleavage. The dress spanned down to her upper thighs, revealing her long green legs that were entuated by a pair of high heel shoes. This was her most destructive dress, no man or woman could resist her while she adorned this battle gear, Frost should be no different. Im ready you cane out now. She spoke with a teasing tone, Frost didnt even peek at her while she was bathing or changing. Alright, Ive checked all the equipment you made and everythings of superb quality and I love the colours you picked. They match well with my tastes and to answer your note yes theres....Frost spoke as he left the backroom but when he saw Daki standing there in her dress he was blown away,pletely speechless. Daki smiled in triumph, the exact reaction she was going for. Well, what do you think? Does it fit me? She did a little twirl and posed sexily, pressing her abundant chest together, going all out in her seduction. Frost simply stared inplete awe, his eyes bing ssy and his heart pumping a mile a minute. That ravenous desire filled his body once again, screaming for him to jump right into Dakis chest. His hands fondled the air subconsciously as he took heavy steps towards the beautiful woman. Standing in front of therge woman who was half a head taller he stared into her eyes, bring his body close to hers. Dakis smile turned from triumph to excitement, turned on by the situation. Her heart pumping in concert with Frosts, her face became flush as she felt Frosts body against hers. Their eyes locked in an electrifying gaze. Frosts right hand delicately held her back before slowly reaching down to her bubble butt. Their breathing becameboured as the desire in each others eyes magnified. Frost brought his left hand around Dakis neck, gently pulling her face down towards his, while his right hand caressed and groped her tenderly. Daki released a moan as Frosts hands sent a shiver up her spine. His lips grew close to hers as he moved to kiss her luscious lips. Her eyes sparkled with yearning before she closed them in anticipation for his kiss. Chapter 315 315 Chapter 315: Alone with Daki (3) Frosts lips were millimetres from Dakis, she could feel his warm breath brush across her lips. Sending jolts of pleasuring electricity throughout her body, her desire was ptable. Frost kept this tiny distance for what seemed like minutes, teasing her endlessly, never crossing thest few millimetres to connect them both. Daki opened her eyes inint, annoyed that Frost hadnt kissed her yet. It wasnt though Frost couldnt see her desire. Was she going to have to initiate the kiss. When her eyes opened Frosts ice blue eyes were staring right back at her, full of charm and confidence. A smile appeared on his lips in response before he slowly moved his mouth away from hers towards her left ear. That was impressive Daki, but youll have to do a lot better than that if you want to ensnare me, your dress is beautiful however, entuates your figure well. He whispered lightly into her ear while continuing to fondle her ample butt, really enjoying the feeling against his hand. Daki froze, stunned in ce as a bright red blush grew on her face and neck. Shed been caught in a trap. Where she believed she was the one in control it was actually Frost the entire time. He even teased her so tantly, groping her ass and drawing her lips so close to his, causing her to moan in pleasure yet never actually giving her what she desired. She was dancing on the palm of his hand, a position she normally held in rtionships. The change was...refreshing and if she was honest, incredibly exciting.....but right now she was mainly embarrassed. Her strong green hand swiftly moved behind her back andtched onto Frosts naughty hand that refused to stop its caressing before she looked into Frosts eyes with anger, tightening her grip as she did. If youre not going to give something in return then hands off the merchandise hmph. She forced his hand off her body and pushed his chest, separating herself from his body. Frostughed lightly as she did, not fighting back in the least, finding her so cute when she was mad. Suddenly however Daki rushed forward forcibly nting her lips on his. Frost was caught by surprise not expecting her to go on the offensive so soon, but he didnt fight it. Listening to his instincts he kissed her back, his previously removed hands finding their way back onto Dakis curvaceous body, holding her firmly as his tongue wrapped around hers. Daki felt her body melt inside but did her best to not sumb to the moment. Her right hand silently slipped downwards grabbing onto Frosts manhood and squeezing, causing Frost to sharply grunt. His eyes opening wide with a tinge of fear as he looked at the beautiful woman in his arms. Hmmm looks like I underestimated you, those breeches I made will need to be resized. Her hand tightly remainedtched onto Frosts still engorging manhood while she pulled from his lips and whispered seductively. Frosts face showed a tense expression, he was very much turned on at the moment, but Daki quite literally held his future in the palm of her hand. No matter how strong a man bes that area will always be a weakness and Daki had grasped that weakness. He didnt dare tease her further lest she do something that theyd both regret. ..... The two of them continued this staring stalemate waiting for the other to break away first, all while both their bodies grew hotter, their positions being very suggestive plus Frosts manhood continued to grow and push open Dakis hand despite her increasing her grip. Her previously confident eyes wavered as she felt his true size, her lips quivering in both fear and desire. Frost would put most orcs to shame and was far more handsome. This man before her became more and more delectable. Eventually Frost caved first, his embarrassment and confidence in restraining his natural urges weakened. Daki could you please let go? He spoke throughboured breaths, each second this continued was a desperate battle. Hmmmmm Daki was in a daze, herrge hand had instinctively started to grope up and down, simr to how Frost reacted once his hand reached her ass. Frosts face waspletely red at the moment as intense waves of pleasure flowed through his body with every movement of her hand. Daki! Frost roared to get her attention, any longer and thered be a real messy situation. Ah! Daki woke from her daze and quickly realised what she was doing. Her hand quickly pulled off of Frosts manhood and she took several steps back, her eyes showing surprise. She only intended to steal a kiss and lightly threaten him not passionately grope his thing. The two stood in silence for a minute or two as they recollected their thought and emotions, the steamy atmosphere slowly returning to normal. Daki appeared quite meek after she calmed down whereas Frost was still in a fair amount of shock. Ignoring the groping she did which in fairness he started by feeling up her ass, that was his first kiss, something he hadnt even done with Maya yet. He brought his fingers up to his lips, they were still warm and slightly swollen but he remembered the feeling. Kissing Daki felt electrifying as though his whole body melted in pleasure, he wondered if kissing Maya would have a simr feeling or even better. That was my first kiss by the way. Frost said with a smile, holding no me toward the beautiful orc. What? Really? Youve not even kissed her? Daki was shocked, not expecting such a statement from him. He was supposed to be in a serious rtionship with this super attractive woman that made him invulnerable to her charms, yet they hadnt even kissed, that was unbelievable as well as a good sign for Daki. She managed to steal one of his firsts, perhaps she can im his others, then regardless of how charming the other woman was shed always be in his heart. Wait that return kiss of his was just based on instinct, damn. She eximed in her mind as she remembered the smooth action of his tongue against hers that sent shivers throughout her body, making her legs feel weak. If she wasnt so preupied with getting a little revenge and sumbed to Frosts kiss shed likely would have turned to jelly, failing into his chest,pletely at his mercy. My rtionship with Maya is still starting out, we havent reached such a point yet. Frosts mind was suddenly filled with images of Maya, of their encounters and flirtatious situations which mostly involved him being teased. Then he remembered the time they were alone in the private space drinking wine in celebration of his win against Gobuske. The mood then was suggestive, a missed opportunity. Daki saw the lovelorn look in Frosts eyes and felt strong pangs of jealousy in her heart, they hadnt even kissed yet she upied so much of his heart. You really love her dont you? She said with slight pain. Frost pondered the question, searching his heart for the answer before he smiled joyfully, looking Daki straight in the eyes. Yes I do, I love Maya, I think of her nearly every day and I feel lonely without her by my side. His heart felt freed as he boldly proimed his feelings out loud. Daki however felt crushed, a strong sense of sadness filled her, her eyes grew red and misty as she understood the magnitude of Frosts feelings. She turned her head away, not willing to show Frost her tears but Frost wasnt done talking. He looked at the beautiful orc woman who was almost in tears before stepping forward and embracing her in his arms. But I also have feelings for you Daki. Since the moment we met youve filled my mind and just from seeing your face today I couldnt help but smile. We flirted and I enjoyed every second of it and then you stole my first kiss, leaving your mark in my heart forever more. I dont know if its love, but I do know that I want to be near you, see youugh, hold you in my arms and gaze into those beautiful big eyes of yours. He cupped her chin and forced her to look into his eyes, that were filled with affection. Her tears that had she tried to hold back now flowed down her cheeks like waterfalls. At this moment shepletely fell for the man before her, he was the one shed always been searching for. She didnt care that she wouldnt be the only woman in his heart as long as she was there. Polygamy wasmon within Nova especially among those with power and status. Frost decided that he had to have her, Daki would be his and no one elses. He pulled her chin close and nted his lips on hers returning the kiss, he moved much more gently, disying his feelings though actions. Dakis tears continued to flow but from happiness instead of sadness. The two of them continued to kiss and hold one another for over a minute, their lips sufficiently swollen once they broke off, making them look quiteical. Hahahahhaha Frost and Daki bothughed as their happiness couldnt be contained, they remained entwined in one anothers arms, reluctant to let go. But go they must, they had arge group of people waiting for them at the restaurant. Chapter 316 316 Chapter 316: Alone with Daki (4) Frost stared into Dakis eyes, his heart full of warmth and affection but also nervousness. Daki before this goes any further you need to know that Im a man with a great many secrets as well as ambition. I wont be able to stay here in Kranor. He spoke with a serious tone, there was no wiggle room on this. He was a dungeon core; his permanent ce was within the dungeon and will be forever more. If he and Daki were to be in a true rtionship she would need to leave her home and join him in the dungeon, learning his deepest secrets. Daki looked at the man shed fallen for, her gaze full of desire but when Frost mentioned that he wouldnt be able to stay in Kranor she couldnt help but feel a twang of pain. This was her home and always had been. She worked as an adventurer for a few years to explore the external regions of the cial mountains and even visited other enves and kingdoms during her travels as well as on business as a smith. But her home had always been Kranor, shed never lived anywhere else for more than a few weeks. The idea of leaving permanently filled her with no small amount of fear. It was shown in her eyes and expressions, her hands held onto Frost tightly as though afraid to let him go. Frosts expression be soft as he too tightened his embrace to ay her fears. His strong embrace seemed to wash away her trepidation, as long as she was by his side what was there to fear. So, Ill be moving into your ce instead of you into mine....Im alright with that. She remained in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder, enjoying thefort that his body gave her. This was a chance of a lifetime; shed never felt this way about anyone before and knew that the chances of it happening again were slim to none. She couldnt let fear of leaving home stop her from being by his side. Frosts heart sped up from happiness which given their close proximity Daki was able to hear, bringing a lovely smile to her face. Thank you Daki, Ill make sure you never regret giving me a chance. With her eptance Frost felt emboldened. I know that you have a good life here as well as a booming career and I promise that Ill do my best to make sure that doesnt change but Ill need time. My territory is just starting out, I dont even have a single external resident yet and then theres Maya and the kids. He lifted up Dakis face from his shoulder, looking directly into her eyes to show his determination. Ill be leaving Kranor today and I wont be able to return for a while. The monster stampede as well as development of my territory will keep me away for at least a month or more. Dakis hands tightened once again. I know youll have some things to discuss with your friends and family, as well as getting your affairs in order business wise which will take time. My ce is currently not worthy of you so what Im asking is are you willing to wait for me? Frosts eyes glimmered with hope, dying for a positive response. He knew what he asked was a lot. Theyd only just met, their feelings aided by passion. Would such a long separation kill this sprout of a rtionship? Frost did not know but he also didnt have a choice. His dungeon needed his presence, he could remain here no longer. Daki looked into Frosts eyes, her heart in pain at the thought of not being able to see this man for over a month. She instinctively wanted to announce that what he had right now didnt matter to her, that shed follow him anywhere. But she was old enough to know that that was impossible. She hadmitments here in Kranor, loyal customers that relied on her equipment, long term material suppliers, friends that she hanged out with every week and then there was her younger brother Druakai. She couldnt up and leave just like that, she had responsibilities. But that didnt make the choice any easier to ept. ..... After an agonising few seconds silence Daki nodded her head in agreement, she would wait for this man, no matter how long he needed. She once again ced her head on his shoulders and embraced him tightly as though wanting to meld their bodies together, a few tears dripping down her cheek and onto Frosts shoulder as she did. After a minute or so in one anothers embrace they separated with smiles, it was time for lunch. Frost would leave Kranor today and head back to his budding territory and once he felt it was at an adequate level hed return to Kranor to retrieve her. It was quite romantic when put like that. During that time Daki would inform her friends, family, suppliers, and customers that shed be closing shop and moving out. Do you have amunication crystal? Frost asked. If they could talk to one another while separated it wouldnt be quite as lonely. I do actually, Daki was quite surprised that Frost had one. Such magic devices were not only expensive but were quite rare, adventurers rarely held such things. She had one so she could take business requests from other enves and countries. I keep it under the service counter. Daki quickly moved to grab it. She leaned over the counter innocently giving Frost a spectacr view of her bubble butt as she reached around for the crystal. Frosts eyes were of course drawn to his now girlfriends dynamite backside which her current dress made even more explosive. He initially showed a perverted smile, enjoying the view but then realised a major problem. He already decided to make Daki his and she epted yet that dress would unt herself to the world, not just him. Jealously and a possessive nature bloomed in his heart, his feelings simr to Mayas in regards to showing off his handsome face. When Daki got hold of themunication crystal and returned to his side she saw that he was frowning and looking at her body. Whats wrong? She asked innocently. I know that that dress was likely to entice me and it more than did the job but now that weve confirmed our feelings for one another are you still going to wear it? Frost asked. He wouldnt restrict her decisions in any way, if Daki liked wearing such outfits then so be it, he had no right to deny her, but the heart wasnt so easy to control. The idea of other men ogling her in that dress filled him with jealously. Daki blinked her eyes rapidly as she absorbed what Frost was getting at before sheughed at how cute he was. She put on a seductive smile and slowly walked before him, shaking her hips as she did. Frost dear theres no need to be jealous, others may look but only you... She grabbed his hands and confidently ced them on her ass. Can touch. Frost was caught by surprise before a yful smile adorned his lips, his hands grasping firmly, sending a shock of pleasure through Dakis body. Frosts feelings of jealousy evaporated instantly. What did it matter if others could look thats as far theyd get. In fact, he should be like how Sam and Yarrow are with their spouses, using her disyed beauty as bragging rights in front of those oglers. Frost kissed Daki once more before reluctantly removing his hands from her ample butt, he was really started to get addicted to the feeling. Did you get your equipment? She asked while licking her lips in satisfaction. Yeah, other than the armour which I put on; the rest is within my spatial ring. He gestured toward the silver ring that was on finger. What about that ive of yours, did you remember that? Despite Frost no longer being jealous Daki moved back to her bedroom to choose a nice jacket that would help cover up some skin. This was what she was nning to do in the first ce. She could hardly dress as she did when going to a fancy restaurant in the middle of the day. Frost showed a warm smile as Daki put on a white jacket. It changed her incredibly seductive appearance from earlier to one of great beauty. Yes and thank you for fixing the crack. The ive had developed a minor crack during the fight with the ice revenant. Not a major issue but could be one if he continued to wield it with his full force. No, thank you. Its rare that I get to work on such a masterpiece. The person who forged that weapon must have been incredibly skilled. To reach quasi 4 star quality with the materials used is nothing short of a masterpiece, hell I even used it as inspiration when outfitting your armour, allowing it reach the upper grade of 3 star. Dakis eyes sparkled as she remembered examining that fine weapon, the craftsmanship was exquisite, far beyond what she could currently hope to achieve. Maybe I should introduce the two of you in the future, Im sure hed love to talk shop with another passionate smith. Frost remembered the old dwarf Borris who made his ive. The passion in his eyes and his knowledge of weapons and their wielders was more than a regr smith. Daki could probably learn a lot from the man. The sudden urge to kidnap the old smith appeared again, though this time it wasnt just for improving his territory but that itd probably make Daki happy. He needed to visit the man anyway in regards to possibly outfitting his ive with an enchantment, perhaps his possible relocation could be discussed then. Chapter 317 317 Chapter 317: Alone with Daki (5) That would be wonderful, Ive not had anyone to really learn from since my father passed. Daki eximed with happiness before a pain looked filled her eyes. Her father was her master in the smith trade, taught her everything she knew. He passed away several years ago, something she took really hard given how close they were. Frost saw the pained looked in Dakis eyes and felt hurt. Sorry, I didnt mean to bring up painful memories. No, its fine he passed away several years ago and you didnt know, Im not sad just filled with nostalgia.....Im sure he would have liked you. She wiped away a couple tears as an image of her fathers proud smile shed in her mind. He was a good dad and a great teacher; it was a shame hed never get to meet Frost. Anyway, weve got a lunch to get to and some good news to break. Lets connect these twomunication crystals and be on our way as Im sure by now theyre getting impatient. Daki stuck out her tongue in a yful manner before bringing her crystal close to Frosts connecting them to one another. Now she and him could stay in touch regardless of their physical locations. Frost smiled before tucking themunication crystal back under his robes. He then grasped Dakis hand and lead her out of the store where Kiba had been waiting the entire time. Thankfully Kiba wasnt too bored since people were once again not afraid of him due to the blood red contract mark on his forehead. Not only did it tell people he was a contracted monster it helped dilute his natural frightening presence. Kiba sorry for making you wait so long. Frost spoke with a tinge of guilt; hed been in with Daki for over half an hour. Kiba however wasnt bothered, he smiled brightly before rubbing up against Frost affectionately. Daki by his side had her lips twitching, she never saw Kiba earlier when Frost was at the door, and he never mentioned it during their alone time. You sessfully contracted with Kiba? Yeah we entered into a contract just before I came to visit you. Frost rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. ..... Daki had seen her brothers prized monster more than few times, she even yed with him a little when he was but a cub and knew how stubborn and unwilling to contract the little brat was. This man of hers just kept getting more and more attractive. Kiba, Dakising with us so let her on your back as well. Frost wasnt sure if Kiba would allow another person on his back given his personality but after the big cial winged tiger looked at his master then to the hand that was connected to Daki he disyed a knowing look in his eyes before lowering his body to let Daki on. His master and Daki were clearly together plus Daki was Druakais sister, pretty much his aunt so he wasnt against carrying her. Do you want to sit up front or back? Frost asked Daki with a chivalrous tone as he prepared to help her on, like a gentlemen. This however was met with a coy smile from her who leaned in and whispered into his ear. I think thats up to you. Do you want to feel my breasts on your back or my butt on your front? Now that their feelings were known she returned back to her usual flirtatious personality. Frost audibly gulped as he thought which option would be best, a slight blush growing on his face before he shook his head to remove distracting thoughts. He then turned to face Daki, showing a charming smile I think Ill have you sit behind me; the front may be too stimting. He answered honestly, both options were inviting but second one would be too intense. He remembered when Maya sat on hisp during a carriage ride and how tormenting that was. Hahahahah very well, as you wish. Daki found his honesty adorable, giggling as she jumped onto Kibas back without effort. Her current abilities werent too far below Sam and Ls despite being out of the adventuring trade for a number of years. Shended gracefully, as though weightless and Kiba wisely didnt flinch when shended. Frost gave him a thumbs up which he received a cocky chuff in response before Frost too leapt up,nding ahead of Daki. Once he was on Kiba, Daki did as promised and pressed her ample chest against Frosts back and wrapped her arms around his waist for bnce, she showed a joyful smile and even hummed with glee. Frost leaned back against Dakis chest, very much enjoying the feeling before signalling Kiba to go. Daki gave directions but never left Frosts back, drawing a fantastic amount of ire from the passing onlookers. Frost even saw a woman clench her teeth in anger and call him a bastard before walking off in a huff. She was clearly one of Dakis strong admirers. Thankfully Ramseys star restaurant was in the same town making the journey only take 20 minutes to get there otherwise Frost would have likely been stared to death 100s of times over, Daki was incredibly popr after all. The restaurant was very highly decorated and like the Phoenix fledgling restaurant in Furano had multiple floors, though it was 5 instead of 3, showing just how popr the ce was. The bottom two floors were for regr customers, whereas floor 3 and 4 were reserved for those of status and or a certain level of wealth. One needed to book far in advance to dine on these floors and even put down a deposit. The final and top floor was reserved for the very top customers, those with very high status, money and or friends of the owner. asionally since the top floor was frequently empty theyd hold raffles for those in the 3rd and 4th floor every month or so allowing them to dine on the top floor and enjoy the crme de crme of their dishes. This idea was thought up by the current leader of the restaurant, Ramseys son, Ramsey junior and ever since business on the 3rd and 4th floors has boomed, all because of their desire to eat on the top floor which would give them insane bragging rights. Yarrow being the mayor of Kranor, and a good friend and current employer of Ramsey senior was always granted service on the top floor along with any number of guests he chose to bring along. Hed still have to fork out a significant sum when he did but given Kranors recent yearly ie, money was one thing he had in spades. However, covering ten people and tworge monsters was going to be costly regardless of the discount Ramsey junior would grant him. As the old mayor sat in his chair at the head of therge restaurant table, the looming cost of such a lunch became all the more real. As the minutes passed in their wait for Frost, Daki and now Kiba to arrive, an anxious frown grew on his forehead. He began to regret his impetuous offer in dining here. His darling wife, Chia understood his feelings and did her best to distract him from such thoughts. Sam and L kept the kids upied while they waited, showing grateful smiles whenever Yarrows frown grew more pronounced. Druakai however sat with a nervous expression and did his best to avoid meeting Yarrows re. He was a big man with a big appetite meaning hed likely y a significant part in the uing bill that Yarrow dreaded. Frost and my sister are certainly taking their time getting here. Heined in an attempt to redirect Yarrows ire, not knowing that he justnded himself in hot water. Im so sorry for making you wait little brother; however, can I make it up to you? Frost and Daki appeared a momentter hand in hand. Druakai felt a cold shiver go down his spine as he turned to see his sisters pissed off expression. Crap! He uttered as his face warped in regret. As if to confirm his fears Daki swiftly appeared behind him, cing her two fists on either side of his head before enacting a painful pushing, and twisting motion. Girls, Druakai require time to get ready before going out for a meal, especially if that meal is with their boyfriends, so excuse me if you had to wait an extra ten or fifteen minutes. Aititititiititit! Druakai yelped in pain as Daki drilled into his skull without remorse. Sorry sis Im sorry owowowowowo. Druakai pleaded for forgiveness not picking up on what she said but everyone else in the room did. They all ignored Druakai and looked at Frost with intense curiosity. Frost nodded, he and Daki had decided to pursue a rtionship thus making them boyfriend and girlfriend so to speak. All the adults in the room smiled and nodded their heads, happy with such an oue. Ren and Jasmine didnt really get what it meant since they were still too young, but Tulip was not happy, in fact she looked pretty much crushed. Her eyes looked venomous as she swiftly red at Daki, eyeing her as some dire enemy. She looked at her bewitching face, her massive chest and well rounded butt before looking at herself and seeing that she had none of that, a strong sense of defeat filled her, making her want to cry. L understood her daughter and quickly pulled her into her embrace, whispering into her ear. Dont worry honey youre still growing, look at me and your grandma youll definitely be more than a match for her once youre an adult. The little girl clenched her fists and looked up at her mother before nodding strongly, determined to grow into a kingdom toppling beauty that outssed Daki. Chapter 318 318 Chapter 318: Ramseys star restaurant Eventually Daki relented her abuse once she felt Druakai paid his dues before returning to Frosts side and wrapping her arm around his, revealing a blissful expression. The two then sat down together at the table, side by side, looking very much like a couple. This meant the only single adult here was Druakai something that he quickly realised after seeing his sister wrapped around Frost. He let out a depressing sigh at the sight,menting his unpoprity with thedies. Frost however didnt really get why Druakai wasnt popr, despite being an orc he was quite handsome and his caring and kind personality would certainly be attractive to many women. Of course, he wasnt popr with female orcs because of said personality but there were multiple races here in Kranor, surely a few found him appealing. He felt sorry for the giant orc now that he was the only single one present, he leaned over to Daki and whispered in her ear. Why is it that Druakais still single, cant you guys help set him up with someone? Surely with Dakis poprity shed be able to set her brother up with ease. Daki showed aplicated expression as she looked at her younger brothers sad expression. She sighed before whispering back a reply. His situation is a bitplicated. Its not as though he isnt popr, I can think of close to a dozen woman who would really like to date him, but the problem is physical, none of them are over 2 metres and well-built making a rtionship impossible. Look at my brother hes heavy and friggin massive and that applies to every part of him if you get my meaning. She gave Frost a subtle look which he understood, his gaze showing understanding as he looked at the depressed Druakai. Regr women wouldnt be able to handle him, only orcish women can and unfortunately they have zero interest in him given his gentle personality. Thus, hes remained single for years despite my help in improving his image. Daki shook her head and shrugged, she had already done all she could, there just wasnt anyone within Kranor that waspatible with him. It was a sadness that not only Druakai felt but she as well, she loved her younger brother to bits and wanted him to find happiness but so far it wasnt to be. Frost wisely chose to not bring the topic up again since it was a sore subject. He turned towards Yarrow and Chia. Thank you for treating us to lunch Yarrow and Chia, is there anything youd rmend? Daki burst with happiness when Frost said, us instead of me. The elder couple couldnt help but smile as they witnessed the exchange between Frost and Daki, finding them to be an excellent match. I rmend that you get the chefs lunch special, a three course meal that can only be eaten on this floor. Thats what Chia, Sam, L, and I are getting while the kids are getting a childs version of it. His gaze then drifted over to the giant that was Druakai While Druakai is getting the erged 5 course version. He spoke through slightly clenched teeth, Druakais meal cost over twice as much as the regr chefs special. The massive orc who felt depressed about being the only single adult suddenly shivered as he felt Yarrows piercing re. He turned towards the man and disyed a slightly embarrassed expression. Yarrow hmphed before looking back at Frost and Daki. The new young couple turned to look at one another in thought before answering at the same time well have that then. Frost was more than keen to try new meals, especially one that was a speciality of a highly regarded chef. Great Ill have them start preparations then, Arnold can you please tell Ramsey junior that well add another two chefs specials to our order. Yarrow called to the on staff waiter for this floor, Arnold who bowed before leaving to pass the order to Ramsey junior, the current owner, and head chef. What about Ruby and Kiba? Frost asked afraid theyd be missing out. ..... Dont worry about them, Druakais already discussed their meals with the chef there. They should be partaking in some of their favourite meals while we enjoy ours. Yarrow waved his hand; hed already taken care of everything while they waited for him and Daki causing Frost to feel a little guilty. Such arge amount of high quality food mustnt be cheap. He thought, his gratitude towards Yarrow climbing A few minutester the first course of the chefs special arrived, a lobster bisque served with crusty bread. Simple in appearance but the ingredients used were all high quality plus mana could be felt within the dish proving Ramsey junior was a spirit chef. The smell was mild, yet the taste of lobster was strong, matching well with the creamy liquid. The remnant mana within the dish only highlighted the vours, opening up ones tastebuds and making the body feel rejuvenated. A fabulous light starter, everyone cleared their bowls, leaving not a single drop leftover. They all engaged in light chat as their food settled and awaited for the next course. Many personal stories were passed around the table causing a few embarrassing expressions to appear while othersughed proudly. The bond between everyone grew as they spoke and learned more about one another. The main dish served was longhorn beef sirloin that came with a pickled salsa and onion cups, a very artistic looking dish which once again teemed with residual mana, far more than the lobster bisque. It was clear that the beef sirloin came from a high ranking monster. This dish in Frosts opinion was the tastiest thing he had ever eaten. The medium rare beef practically melted in his mouth, releasing strong bursts of vour with every chew. He didnt even realise when he finished it. His fork came down looking for more yet all it found was an empty te. Daki giggled by his side, finding him adorable. She picked up herst piece of beef and fed it to him in a loving manner, which Frost thoroughly enjoyed. Maya always made sharing her food an ordeal, Daki was much better in this regard he thought. Yarrow and Sam both turned to their spouses desperate for the same treatment unfortunately Chia and L both loved the dish as well, they refused to share, leaving their husbands hanging. By the time the main dish was over, and the desert was set to arrive Frost and Daki couldnt help but flirt with one another. ying footsie under the table and their hands wrapped round each others waist while whispering in one anothers ears causing them both to giggle. No one in the room called them out on their behaviour because they knew that the new couple wouldnt be able to see one another for quite some time plus Chia and L were both flirting with their own partners so to not be shown up. Druakai did his best not to watch the three couples and their flirting as it would only make him feel lonely. He dug into his extra course, eating away his feelings. Jasmine and Ren repeatedly shouted eww whenever they saw their parents or grandparents kiss or rubbed noses. Tulip on the other hand ground her teeth in jealousy as she saw Frost whisper into Dakis ear making her giggle. During their chat Frost and Daki brought up their future ns. Daki would move to gradually close down her shop before selling it and getting her other affairs in order all while Frost was off establishing his territory. Then after the monster stampede Frost would return and bring her over so as to start their rtionship for real. The adults all thought that this was a wise decision, Daki had a lot of responsibilities here in Kranor as well as arge amount of friends. Druakai felt sad that his sister would no longer live in the same territory as him but knowing shed be with Frost who made her happy, he was more than epting. Frost was a good man and he believed hed treat his elder sister right. They all congratted Frost and Daki even L who knew that because of this rtionship Kranor would lose a highly skilled and popr smith. But that didnt matter, her friend was happy, thats all she cared about. However, over the next month or so theyd be having an awful lot of girl days to make up for the time shed be away, something Daki was more than happy to take part in. The final course, the dessert was mulled winter fruits with cinnamon ice cream. The fruits were all rich in mana and had been mulled in ahigh grade wine, making them give off a rich scent and spicy vour. This would have been a dish that Maya would have adored so Frost did his best to enjoy it twice as much. That was a fantastic set of dishes Yarrow, thank you again for treating. Frost rubbed his stomach in appreciation, very happy with the chefs special he just ate, he was stuffed. Daki was much the same, her stomach felt full and thanks to the mana contained within the food her weary body from a long night of work felt rejuvenated. She leaned her head on Frosts shoulder, letting the meal settle. Youre more than wee Frost, its the least I could do for you saving my life. Yarrow nodded with a happy smile, he too felt stuffed and with his lovely wife on his arm it was hard for him to remain worried about the expense. Whats done is done, no use crying over spilled milk. His expression rapidly changed however when Arnold brought over the cheque which was nearly in the triple digits, all gold coins as well. His eyes expanded to the size of saucers and his heartbeat became irregr, his face flushing and the signs of a panic attack started to show. Chapter 319 319 Chapter 319: Ramseys star restaurant (2) As Yarrow was about to have a panic attack due to the sky high price of the lunchs bill, Chia leaned over to see the number. Her lips twitched as a conflict flickered in her eyes before she let out a sigh. She then leaned over and whispered something into her husbands ear which immediately stopped his panic. He rapidly turned around, his eyes full of seriousness really, youre not pulling my leg? He asked nervously, requiring confirmation. Chia too embarrassed to say it again simply nodded her head while blushing. Yarrows eyes suddenly filled with intense desire and his throat became parched, he then wrapped his wife up in his arms and faced everyone with a smile, no longer bothered by the high price of lunch in fact he found it to be a joyous thing. All the guys in the room looked at one another wondering what Chia must have said or offered to make his mood suddenly change from a near panic attack to over the moon happiness. Whatever it was Yarrow was one lucky bastard in their minds. Yarrow who was over the moon at the moment and Chia who was blushing intensely as Yarrow held her tight, afraid to let her leave his side stood up and spoke out loud. Arnold Ill return to the manor with Chia and have Saras deliver the payment as usual, please thank Ramsey junior for a lovely meal, it was exquisite as always. Understood lord Yarrow. Arnold bowed respectively before leaving to report to Ramsey Junior. It was rare for people to carry such vast amounts of gold around with them and since Yarrow was a valued customer using such a payment method wasmon. I thank you all for joining me and my wife for this glorious lunch, I hope you all enjoyed yourselves. Everyone nodded their heads in agreement. Frost thank you once again for your aid in saving my life and I wish you all the best in your future endeavours please do drop by Kranor whenever you next get a chance, as Im sure my daughter and son inw would very much appreciate seeing their student regrly. Ill do my best. Frost didnt oppose Yarrows suggestion. Now my wife and I have some urgent business to attend to so this will be our farewell. Sam and L make sure the kids get back to school, Druakai it was a pleasure seeing you and Ruby again, we should do it more often. And Daki Ill leave sending off Frost to you, farewell. Then with his words said he picked up his beautiful wife in a princess carry and left the restaurant with her in his arms. Chia covered her face in embarrassment but didnt stop his actions. All the adults were stunned in ce before all of them uttered lucky bastard under their breaths. Yarrow didnt even hide the desire in his eyes as he ran out the restaurant, caring little about who saw him. Daki couldnt help but nod her head in praise, finding it delightful that even after reaching such an age their rtionship was as strong and active as ever, a great couple to learn from. Once they were gone everyone else started to say their goodbyes to Frost. ..... Stay in touch Frost, weve still got a lot we can teach you in terms of adventuring and life. Sam patted his shoulders while disying a warm smile, truly proud of his student. You can keep those used magic tomes I gave you and Ill scrounge up some new ones for the next time you visit. L gave him a tight hug as she bade farewell, shed miss having Frost around, teaching him was a lot of fun. Perhaps Ill also enrol in teaching some of those adventuring sses. L found that she quite liked being called teacher, so she made a mental note to help out whenever she had some free time from being a mayor in training. It could work well as a stress reliever. Next it was the kids, Ren cried not wanting Frost to leave, he quite liked this kind and handsome big brother whereas Jasmine proimed that she would be stronger by the next time they meet, and that Frost should watch out lest she surpass him. To which heughed and rubbed her head, liking her passion. Next was Tulip who was by far the one who least wanted to see him go perhaps even more than Daki. She struggled to hold back her tears as she looked at the smiling man before her but eventually she failed, her tears fell, and she ran up and hugged him tightly. Frost wasnt expecting such a strong reaction from Ls oldest daughter, but he reacted gently, stroking the back of her head, and promising that hed be back soon. He could however feel that Sam was staring daggers at him as he soothed his daughter. Suddenly as Frost leaned down to soothe her, Tulip brought up her head and nted a kiss on his undefended cheek before looking threateningly at Daki as though staking her im. The beautiful orc woman found Tulip to be cute at first but after she stole a kiss and looked at her with such aggression she was forced to view her as future opponent instead of her little niece. She smiled with confidence as though saying bring it on little girl. Sparks of electricity could be seen between their two res before Tulip let go of Frosts robes and ran out the room. Feeling a mixture of pride and embarrassment. Frost however was left with a very confused expression, not expecting to be molested by Tulip. Her mother L nodded her head in praise while Sam eyes portrayed an eery chill, a fair amount of killing intent exuded from the man. Druakai couldnt help butugh out loud, finding the situation hrious. He then walked up to Frost, towering over him with his 4 metre frame. He stared down at him trying to appear as intimidating as possible, but his naturally friendly aura made that impossible. Frost I love my sister a great deal, dont do anything to hurt her otherwise youll have me to answer to. Druakai then punched his palm generating a loud sound. Though Frost struggled to feel intimated by Druakai he could see the strong determination in therge orcs eyes, he meant what he said. Dakis got a good brother. He smiled before replying with I wont Druakai, you have my word. L made him take a simr oath, showing how loved Daki really was by those around her. Daki the woman in question smiled warmly, her eyes growing red as she yfully punching Druakai in the arm, grateful for having such a caring little brother. With that everyone bar Frost and Daki left the restaurant. The moment they were alone Daki pulled Frost into her embrace and nted a deep sensual kiss on his lips, refusing to let him go. Thats because you allowed Tulip to steal a kiss and this She kissed him again this time even deeper and longer. Is so that you know what youre missing while were apart. A trail of saliva connected their lips making Daki look incredibly sexy. Her face was flushed as was Frosts, both turned on by the intimate exchange, struggling to pull away from one another. Dont worry Daki I dont believe Ill ever be able to forget you. Frost smiled with affection while his hands descended onto Dakisrge bubble butt. And I definitely wont be able to forget this. He groped her cheeks without shame before nting a kiss of his own on his lovers lips. They would be separated for at least a month and needed to make this moment memorable. If he didnt have Maya in his heart they would likely have gone much further, making this moment far more memorable but he did. Maya upied the majority of his heart, his first love and he needed to let her know that before he and Daki went any further. Daki understood this but couldnt help but feel jealous, right now however she was in Frosts arms, receiving a sensual kiss from him, so right now he was hers and she was his, thats all that mattered. Their kisssted for a good few minutes causing their lips be swollen and red once they separated. Daki then leaned against Frosts shoulder as they embraced one another. Call me on the crystal often ok and dont keep me waiting too long. She drew circles around Frosts heart with her fingers as she listened to his heartbeat. I will Daki. Good. Daki then reluctantly pulled away from Frosts chest showing a joyful smile. Farewell my handsome stud, she then left the room sashaying her hips side to side in order to give Frost a nice view, but it was mainly to hide her tears. Frosts hands subconsciously reached out as she left, not wanting her to go but they needed to separate. His dungeon was waiting, along with Maya and the kids. His heart suddenly felt lonely and desiredpany. Haaaaaaaa well then time to head home and get this territory n under way, the faster it happens the faster I can see her again. Frost clenched his fists as his heart surged with determination, he would make the ce worthy of his girlfriend, a ce shed be happy to call home. Chapter 320 320 Chapter 320: Leaving Kranor As Frost left the restaurant he spotted Kiba who was eagerly waiting outside, ready to carry his master out into the cial mountains. Excitement was clear in his eyes at the prospect of leaving Kranor on an adventure. Frost smiled when he saw the tigers excited expression, Hey Kiba, did you have a good meal? He petted the massive tigers head like he was amon house cat. Rawr Kiba nodded while licking his lips. He and Ruby were treated like a king and queen, allowed to eat till their stomachs threatened to burst, thus Kiba was in a very good mood. Good, d you enjoyed it. Frost scratched Kibas ears eliciting a happy purr from him. But now weve got work to do. I have a quest to finish, and I need your help. Rarrr Kiba chuffed loudly disying his eagerness to help. Good answer, Frost showed a wild expression before leaping onto Kibas back. Time to leave Kranor Kiba, arge open world awaits you and I. Rawr! Kiba roared once again before setting off with Frost on his back. The Dungeon core and cial winged tiger made their way out of Kranor without issue. Receiving many respectful looks as they passed through the defending gate before dashing into the endless white expanse that was the cial mountains. Here Kiba could run at full speed without worry and he took to this fact with great enthusiasm, showing Frost his greatest speed. His wings even beat on asion granting significant bursts of eleration or rapid changes in direction. The winged tiger felt free and unrestrained, bringing a wild smile to his face. Frost allowed his new partner to act as he wished doing his best to hold on as they barrelled through the falling snow. Thankfully Kibas wings werent fully developed otherwise this mad dash would have taken ce within the air, a much more dangerous prospect if Frost was to slip. ..... The skies within the cial mountains were a whole other ball game in terms of danger. Regardless of whether you were in the core, inner or external regions of the mountains. Above a certain height the temperature plummeted sharply, and powerful flying monsters dominated, resting on the peaks of the unsurmountable mountains. Even if Kiba was able to fly properly, Frost would not allow it, B-rank monsters were a plenty in the high altitudes, way beyond his and Kiba current capabilities. Though Kiba was dashing around haphazardly, the duo still made it to section 23 of the Gamma sector in rapid time, Kiba wasnt even out of breath. Travelling with a monster mount was a stark contrast to regr walking. When they arrived in the area however it was eerily quiet and a strong stench of blood could be smelled in the air, alerting both Frost and Kiba. Something wasnt right. Kiba stop Frost ordered Kiba toe to a halt before he swiftly descended. The small hairs on the back of his neck stood upright warning him of danger but he couldnt tell what. Kiba growled lowly as he too felt something amiss but instead of fear he felt thrilled. A good opportunity to fight, something he hadnt had the chance to do back in Kranor. Frost scanned the horizon with his eyes and found a corpse in the distance, a fairlyrge one too. Last week when he scouted the area there were asional D-rank monsters that passed through as well as half eaten E-rank corpses, nothing that unusual for the section given the looming monster stampede. This however felt different, the corpse in the distance was toorge for an E-rank monster. His mind suddenly remembered the warning given by Bastion as well as the [frost lilies] (the adventurer group he met in Beta camp). C-rank monster, his heart ultimately came to such a conclusion and a frown adorned his face. The ice revenant he fought with Sam and L was already an eye opening into the powerful capabilities of such monsters and now he only had Kiba by his side. Though Kiba could be considered entry level C-rank he was still young andcked battle experience, such an opponent could prove very risky for their first challenge as a team. Frost could tell however that Kiba was raring to go, his fur stood up straight and his muscles were tense let alone that desire for battle that flooded through their soul connection. He ced his hand on Kibas head, petting him. Calm down, we need to y this safe. Remain low and out of sight while I investigate the corpse. Grrrrrrr Kiba though reluctant acquiesced to Frosts instruction, rxing his body and sinking low to the ground. His natural white skin giving him the benefit of camouge in such terrain. Seeing that Kiba listened to his instructions Frost nodded and revealed a praising smile before walking towards the distant corpse, keeping his eyes and ears peeled as he did. His feelings of danger only increased the closer he got to therge corpse, as did the stench of blood. He summoned his ive in hand, ready to defend himself at a moments notice. He slowed his steps so as to aggravate any waiting predator, encouraging them to attack early but his attempts met with failure, deepening his frown. If there was a strong monster in the area, watching him, then it had a good deal of patience, not a great sign. The snow under Frosts feet crumbled as he stood before the corpse he spied from afar, his face showing a very serious expression. A baltic tiger Frost uttered as he recognised the corpse as a baltic tiger, one of the strongest D-rank monsters within the external regions and not normally seen within the Gamma sector. The fact that it was here alone spoke of the monster stampedes looming progress but it being a corpse was a far worse sign. Hardly anything within this sector could kill a baltic tiger which meant something stronger was also driven to the Gamma sector. Frost took a deep breath heightening his senses to the upmost before examining the corpse. Large, deep gashes and not from another tiger, the shapes all wrong. The corpse was littered with wounds showing that it likely stood no chance against its aggressor. Frost then ced a hand on the body before rapidly pulling back. Its still warm, Shit! For the corpse to be still warm in this weather meant that it died less than a few minutes ago, the attacker was close, very close. Frost was sure now that the attacker either fled out of sight when it heard Frost and Kibaing, wary to enter another fight or that it used the baltic tiger as bait to easily kill more victims. He got his answer a secondter. Suddenly Frosts entire body screamed out in warning, and he could hear Kiba roaring in an attempt to alert him of the iing danger that suddenly made its presence known. Listening to his instincts Frost rapidly dashed to the side, clearing the corpse while at the same time attacking the air behind him with his ive. ng! A loud sound akin to metal on metal could be heard as his ive struck against something hard and sharp, that barrelled down from the sky with immense force. Frost was blown away by the impact, his hand shaking slightly from the blow. Frosts eyes opened wide as he saw the entity that attacked him from his blind spot. Fuck! He loudly cursed while entering a defensive posture. Before him standing with its talons deep within the corpse of the Baltic tiger was something that really shouldnt be in this sector, an ice griffon, the symbol of the Furano house. The great beast stood close to 4 metres tall and nearly 7 metres long, dwarfing even Kiba. The ice griffin turned its eagle like head to face Frost, the prey that not only dodged its well timed strike but struck back against its mighty talons. A deep shade of red could be seen in its eyes as its hunger grew. Screeeeeee! It bend back its head and screeched to the sky, unfurling its mighty feathered wings, growing to a frightening size, in an attempt to intimidate Frost. Ice griffins: thebination of an eagle and lion. They are deadly hunters both in the air and onnd. Prone to living in cold climates, these monsters are fast and very skilled at ambushes. Their mighty talons can rend apart steel and a single beat of their wings contains enough force to shatter a mans ribcage. Though not avid spellcasters they can summon blizzards around them that can lift and chill unsuspecting prey, a dangerous adversary. Frost had read up about such creatures in the monster encyclopaedia and Dous had spoken of them given that they were the symbol of the Furano viscounty. ording to the book they were C-rank monsters and primarily in the middle to upper grades of that rank. Meaning that the monster screeching at Frost could very well be stronger than the ice revenant he defeated with the aid of Sam and L. He had sufficient reason to curse. Chapter 321 321 Chapter 321: Ice griffin As the mighty ice griffin unfurled its wings and screeched at Frost as a form of intimidation, Kiba leapt from his positionnding squarely in front his master, protecting him. Kiba then opened hisrge jaws, showing off his razor sharp teeth, his muscles tightened, and his fur stood on end in defiance of the griffin screech. Raaaaaaaawrrrrrr!!!! Not to be cowed by the ice griffins intimidation tactic Kiba roared out majestically, showing no fear as he stood before therger and more powerful enemy. Frost couldnt help but feel moved by Kibas actions, patting his lower back in praise. The ice griffins focus was thus redirected to Kiba as was its aggression. The red in its eyes continued to expand and deepen in colour before eventually the entire eyeball was blood red. The monster had been affected by the frenzy brought on by the monster stampede, enhancing its bloodthirsty nature. Kibas roar seemed to push it over the edge, making itpletely lose all sense of reason. Screeeeeeeeee! It let loose a far more blood curdling screech beforeunching itself at Kiba, aiming to w his face apart with its mighty talons. Kiba dodge! Frost roared as he moved to the left. He reinforced his words with a calling through their soul bond, forcing Kiba to listen to his orders despite his eagerness to fight straight up. Kibas eyes frowned in irritation, but he listened to Frosts orders, dodging to the right before the griffins talons reached him. Plumes of snow and ice shot into the air as the griffins talons came down, hitting the ground instead of their intended target. Kiba proved to be the faster one in this exchange. But the griffin didnt stop there,pletely in a maddened state it swiftly turned and chased after Kiba. Who under Frosts orders continued to dodge, keeping just out of reach from its talons, aggravating it further. Frost meanwhile analysed what he knew about ice griffins and tried toe up with a n of action. He was very confident in Kibas speed after experiencing it first hand, so he wasnt worried about the griffin catching him in a short time besides.... Its wounded. A smile quickly grew on Frosts lips as he got a clear view of the damage. The ice griffins two wings hadrge partially opened scars across the back of them, leaking blood the moment they unfurled. Plus, there was a chunk missing from its left hind leg, clearly from a powerful bite. Frost surmised that the ice griffin lost a deadly battle a few days ago which forced it to flee to the Gamma sector. It was likely hunting weaker monsters such as the Baltic tiger to recover from its wounds. Frost had no idea what kind of monster raked the griffins wings and took a bite out of it but whatever it was it had his thanks. They now had a very good chance of winning this fight. ..... The leg wound would lower the griffins speed and lunging power whereas the wings in their damaged state would prevent this fight from bing an aerial battle or at the very least a prolonged one. Patches of blood could be seen on the snow wherever the griffin stood, its erratic swiping at Kiba only aggravated its current wounds. At such a sight Frost tightened the grip around his ive, his lips forming a wild smile before he began chasing after the griffin who hadpletely forgotten about his presence. Silently a strongyer of ice chakra formed over his robes, following the form of his underlying armour set, readying him for closebat. Through the soul bond he instructed Kiba to hold the griffins attention while he attacked its wounded leg, causing the tiger to show a wild look as it dodged another swipe. Frost moved incredibly swiftly and quietly, appearing right behind the griffin like a spectre. His ive raised high ready to cleave downwards at the unsuspecting prey. [w of the ice wolf] Frost filled his ive with energy, activating his strongest ive art, not taking any chances. Three blue ws of ice appeared ahead of the ives de as it cleaved towards the griffins left hind leg. His skill activation obviously alerted the mad ice griffin who wrapped its head around to re at Frost. Panic however ensued when it noticed where Frost was attacking, its injured hind leg. Abruptly it did its best to move out of the way, but the sudden movements sent jolts of pain throughout its body, slowing its reactions and exactly what Frost nned on. Squelch! Srcyyyyyyyyy! The three ice ws and his razor sharp ive sliced deeply into the griffins leg causing it to cry out in pain. Blood gushed out and the heavy duty scar became a mangled mess. The ive reached all the way to the bone before losing momentum. Cleaving through the already damaged flesh didnt prove too hard but its bones rivalled high quality steel, enduring the strike with only a slight crack. But even so the damage was extensive, the beast would be even more lumbered in its movements now. Enraged by the pain, the griffin red wrathfully at Frost who had begun yanking out his ive to attack for second time. Not willing to endure another such blow it swung its tail, bashing Frost in the chest and knocking him backwards. It didnt have the same strength of its limbs or wings, but it was more than enough to knock the wind out of an elf. Frost however barely felt it, his ice chakra armour and the amour set crafted by Daki absorbed the blow easily. He was merely pushed back from the force but that too was within his ns. An evil smile could be seen on his face as he glided through the air. While the griffin changed its focus to Frost it left Kiba open to make his own attack. Using his powerful hind legs the mighty winged tiger pounced onto the griffins right wing, biting down hard while his ws scratched at the leftover scars, reopening the wounds and spilling blood everywhere. Screeeeeeeee! The griffin screamed in agony once again after being struck in another previously wounded area. It tried to shake Kiba off, but its wingcked the power necessary to deal with a tiger that weighed over a ton. Plus shaking only made the situation worse, its wing was quite literally being torn apart, its beautiful feathersing off in clumps. Kiba thats enough let go! Frost roared quickly as he moved to attack for a second time, but Kiba was too enthralled in its own attack to hear him, continuing to bite down and rake apart the massive wing. Since his warning fell on deaf ears Kiba was subjected to the griffins retaliation. It no longer attempted to shake Kiba off and instead opened up its sharp beak that was a match for any tiger jaw in terms of force and bit down on Kibas leg. Kiba whimpered in pain from the bite but refused to stop his attack, continuing to rake with his free limbs and shake his head side to side, tearing ever deeper into griffins wing, which was quickly bing a mangled mess. The griffin desperate to remove its aggressor, pulled against Kibas leg with all its strength, Forcefully tearing him from its wing, ignoring the chunks of flesh that woulde off with him. Kiba was unable to prevent his removal but did his darndest to remove as much flesh as possible in the process. The horrible sound of flesh be rendered apart filled the area as Kiba was rent from the griffins wing. His mouth stuffed with bits of mangled wing flesh and bone as the griffin smashed hisrge body against the ground with impressive force. Kiba groaned in pain as the sudden crashing stunned him temporarily, leaving him prone before the mad ice griffin. The griffins right wing flopped powerlessly against its side; the main supporting bone shattered by Kibas powerful bite. Agonising tears flowed down the griffins face as it raised its forelimbs and talons in an attempt to crush the temporary stunned Kiba, its target being his ribs. The griffin knew that once Kibas ribs were heavily damaged he would be a sitting duck just like the Baltic tiger from earlier. This was the situation Frost wanted to avoid, a maddened beast holds abnormal strength, safer to slowly chip away at it instead of facing it down directly. Seeing Kiba about to have his ribs likely smashed and shredded Frost dashed along the side of the griffin, cutting into the mangled hind leg lightly with his ive, opening up the wound even further. Then stepping down hard with his right foot he began to rotate his body while swinging his ive upwards following the path of one of the scars on the griffins still functional left wing. Taking advantage of the already weakened flesh and his ives extreme sharpness after Dakis meticulous maintenance he cut through the wing making it part like a bloody curtain. Frost dashed through the gap back first, blood dripping onto his chakra armour as he did. His attacks not only caused the griffin immense pain but left it weak on the left side. With its hind leg already copsing no longer able to support its immense weight. Frosts manoeuvre however wasnt done yet. Utilising his spinning force he brought his ive across the griffins undamaged foreleg, aiming to wound the entire left side and thus prevent the griffin from smashing down upon Kiba. However, cutting through its undamaged flesh proved quite difficult, there was no mangled wound or violent burst of blood just a narrow gash a few inches deep where the ive passed through. Not much in terms of damage to a monster of this size but it did sessfully make the griffin tilt. Chapter 322 322 Chapter 322: Ice griffin (2) The ice griffin had its entire left side cut open causing its partially raised body to tilt to the left as its hind leg buckled, unable to maintain its current stance. Frosts manoeuvre took care of one talon strike and severely diminished the amount of strength the griffin could bring down upon Kiba, but the remaining right forelimb was still poised to descend. Even with his actions if the griffin got hold of Kiba with just one talon the damage could prove devasting. Though Kibas ribcage wasnt a major weak point like with wolves it certainly wasnt a match for the hardest part of the ice griffin. The mangled corpse of the Baltic tiger was proof of that. Shit! Frost didnt have enough time to ce himself in front of Kiba to block the strike and the big tiger was too heavy for him to kick away. Ice form a shield and defend me from thy enemy, [ice shield]. Frost rapidly summoned his mana and chanted the aria for the 2nd circle spell [ice shield]. As his ive exited the griffins left forelimb and continued to pick up speed, Frost continued his rotational movement. The ice shield would only buy him a second or so before it shattered but it would be enough for him to transnt himself before Kiba or give the mighty winged tiger enough time to get up and move hiszy ass. Ice mana coagted before Kibas ribs forming a thick but ugly shield of ice. Frost wasnt too proficient with this spell yet, so his shapes were very irregr but as long as he pumped it with enough mana itd do the job. Kiba finally got his bearings back when the shield started to form. Blood was dripping from his left hindleg where the griffin bit down with its sharp beak. The pain caused him to whimper but not lose his head, knowing that he couldnt put pressure on that leg he shot off using his remaining three. Smash! The moment he started moving the hastily and ugly formed ice shield shattered almost the instant it came in contact with the griffins talon, proving to be no match for the force being brought down. But it did its job, Kiba narrowly evaded the talon by a hairs breadth, clearing the danger zone as plumes of ice and snow exploded outwards from the impact. Screeeeeeeeee! The griffin screeched in hatred as it saw Kiba avoid its blow, the immense pain from Frosts actions prevented it from chasing after the tiger, hell it could barely keep itself upright. Frost appeared at this moment, dashing through the plumes of ice and snow to appear directly before the griffin who was temporarily unable to move. He continued to spin, building up momentum as he leaped upwards with his ive, aiming to slice open the griffins throat. Though Kiba was in a very dangerous position just a second ago it also opened the griffin up to a very nasty reprisal, one which Frost refused to miss. ..... The ice griffin could only stare down in wrath as Frost leaped up towards its throat with his sharp and devasting ive. [w of the ice wolf]! Frost once again used his most powerful ive art summoning three sharp ws of ice to supplement his ives de. Squelch! With his rotating force, arm strength and the aid of his most devasting weapon skill, Frost cut deep and viciously into the griffins undefended throat. Blood sttered over Frosts ive and face as the de cleaved open the monsters carotid artery, a gruesome picture. The ive continued its path across the griffins windpipe and then other artery before exiting from the throat. Frost didnt aim too deep so as to avoid the strong neckbone which didnt need to be harmed to deal a fatal blow. The mighty griffin would likely die of blood loss in a couple minutes, all he and Kiba needed to do now was wait for the inevitable, keeping their distance until then. Right now, however he was still within range of the griffins attack and this fact was not lost on the beast. It knew the moment it saw its blood spewing out from its neck that its life was over, but it wasnt one to go down without a fight. With a crazy look in its blood red eyes the griffin tensed its half cut open neck, bringing down its razor sharp beak upon Frosts head. Itd split the damn elfs skull in twain as revenge. The griffins beak was more than hard enough and sharp enough to do such damage, but Frost was prepared. He knew the chances of him having to withstand an all-out blow from the griffin was very high if he chose to attack its throat, but the gains outweighed the risk, and he was confident in his armaments. Tsk! However, seeing that his head was the target Frost clicked his tongue and cursed his luck, he didnt have a helmet as part of his apparel making it one of the least protected areas. Thankfully his ice chakra armour covered his head but even, so this was going to hurt. He sent an order to Kiba through their soul connection telling him to pick him up after he was smashed to the ground lest the griffin continue its die hard attack. Boom! A secondter the griffins mighty beak smashed against Frosts skull, his ice chakra armour shattered apart after absorbing much of the blow. The remaining force sent Frosts mind spinning and blood dripped from the top of his skull. His eyes lost focus, his vision going dark and body going limp as he thundered downwards against the snow covered ground, barely conscious. A secondter Kiba appeared scooping Frost up in his mouth and a carrying him to safety and not a moment too soon. The instant he left a razor sharp talon was right where Frost hadnded, his skull would have been smashed like a watermelon if not for Kibas timely aid. This however was thest bit of strength the ice griffin could muster, its might body copsed under its own weight. Its neck ying out on the snow, quickly painting it red. The blood red colour in its eyes receding as death took hold allowing it to see the world calmly onest time before darkness took over. The mighty C-rank ice griffin died a couple minutester in a pool of its own blood. Kiba watched the corpse warily as he guarded Frost who was leaning against his fur, waiting for the ringing in his ears and dizziness to stop. That was probably the strongest blow he ever received to the head and damn it hurt, he had the strong urge to fall asleep but knew that doing so could prove fatal. Sam and L taught him that the injuries to the head must always be taken seriously regardless of how hard you were hit. Blood was dripping down his cheeks and he had a major headache, there was no option he needed to drink a health potion. Frost turned around to take a look at Kibas wounded leg, it was pretty bad, showing some bone. He likely needed a potion as well if they wanted to get back to the dungeon anytime soon. Not wanting to suffer this kind of pain any longer Frost removed two potions from his spatial ring, one low level and one mid-level. He was heading back to the dungeon soon so there was no point in saving his mid-level potion, might as well use it now. Of course, he would get the mid-level potion that tasted only meh while Kiba would be forced to drink the disgusting abomination that was the low level potion. Frost pulled the cork from his first and down the entire vial in a couple gulps, frowning a little from the slightly bitter taste but thanking his stars it wasnt like the low level crap. The effects got to work quickly, improving his vision, and reducing his headache. Kiba youre wounded and need to take a potion; weve still got a long trek ahead of us. Frost showed a gentle and caring expression but smirked internally, looking forward to seeing Kiba gagging from the intense bitterness. Kiba turned to look at his wounded leg that continued to bleed and cause him no small amount of pain, he was reckless and should have listened to Frosts battle orders earlier. Feeling guilty about wasting Frosts precious potions he rubbed his face against Frost before opening his jaw wide so Frost could pour it in. He was a really well behaved boy almost making Frost feel bad about what he was going to do....almost. Bottoms up. He uncorked the low level health potion and before Kiba could get a good whiff of the concoction he emptied the entire thing into his awaiting mouth. Then he mmed his jaw shut, making sure the tiger wouldnt spit the stuff out in disgust. His worries however were unfounded, Kiba merely found the taste a little unpleasant but that was all, no dramatic wailing or tears in his eyes as the taste unfurled on his tongue, much to Frosts annoyance. He knew that monsters with intelligence could taste the bitterness well, Finy was a perfect example, perhaps Kiba just didnt have a discerning palette. The low level health potion got to work quickly as well, Kiba felt his hind leg tingling around the wound as it started closing, bringing a happy smile to his face. He licked Frost in thanks which Frost then swiftly stopped since Kibas tongue was really rough and reeked of the low level health potion. Chapter 323 323 Chapter 323: Back home Alright thats enough of that Frost pushed Kibas face away not appreciating the smell of low level health potion on his rough tongue. While we wait for the potions to work their magic lets deal with the griffins corpse. A C-rank monster should provide a great deal of materials. Frost couldnt help but smile as his gaze moved towards the massive corpse that he and Kiba felled. An ice griffin corpse would produce a fair amount of coin once dissected even considering its currently damaged state. Its feathers could be used in textile stuffing or to make highly ornate quills for writing. The talons given their high durability and sharpness as well as its sturdy bones could be easily fashioned into weapons and armour whereas its beak, several organs and blood weremonly used in alchemic concoctions and then there was the meat and skin. The meat clearly being a delicacy in many high ranking restaurants such as the phoenix fledgling restaurant in Furano. For the skin it could be fashioned into durable and supple leather, perfect for adventuring gear, armour and other textiles, a very efficient monster. And then there was also the corpse of the Baltic tiger thaty several dozen metres away, the kill was still fresh and despite the multiple deep gashes could still be put to good use. Plus considering the amount of supplies Sam made him purchase he could preserve everyst morsel, thus making this little scouting mission highly lucrative even before he was paid his reward money. Frost couldnt help butugh as he imagined his coffers being filled with gold once again. At the moment with around 60 silvers on his person he felt quite like a pauper. Kiba looked at his madlyughing master while tilting his head wondering what was so funny. Frostsughter stopped after around ten seconds, reced with a self-condemning look. Ah Im such an idiot,e on Kiba weve got to move fast before the damn bird loses all its blood! Frost scrambled to his feet, ignoring his still rather woozy headache. While he was imagining the profit hed make from this battle his money was seeping into the snow. He cut the griffins carotid arteries if he waited any longer itd be as dry as a bone. Thus, Frost and Kiba worked together to disseminate the two corpses, making sure to store everyst useable piece. All the non-perishables were safely chucked into Frosts spatial rings but the meat from the ice griffin and baltic tiger was cut up into manageable chunks and stored within his brand new backpack. Thankfully he had Kiba by his side otherwise lugging around an overstuffed bag of meat would be a real pain in the ass. Not only did higher ranked monsters provide higher ranked materials they tended to be farrger than the lower ranks. This ice griffin for example was 4 metres high and 7 metres across, thats a hell of a lot of meat to carve up. Kiba who had to drag pieces of the griffin and baltic tiger apart couldnt help but like his lips slightly eager to eat some of the highly meat despite stuffing himself silly before they left Furano, he was a growing boy after all. Im not cooking it; you need to eat it raw. Frost saw the puppy eyed look in his partners face and couldnt help but shake his head, wondering how he was still hungry. Rawr Kiba wasnt bothered about the meat being raw, he was a giant monster tiger after all. ..... Fine, munch on this then. Frost tossed Kiba part of the griffins hind leg while he finished packing everything away. Kiba caught the meat in his teeth and starting tearing into the sulent flesh with relish, getting bits of blood on his beautiful white fur. After Kiba was done with his meal, Frost cast [ignition] to erase the leftover pieces of both the ice griffin and baltic tiger as per adventurer protocol. He then lugged the massive backpack onto Kibas back before following suit. Come, Kiba lets head on home, I want to be there before sunrise tomorrow, think you can do it? Frost leaned over and rubbed Kibas head with affection. Rawr! Kiba loudly chuffed no problem before dashing off under Frosts guidance. Frost and Kiba made excellent time and as Frost requested they made it to the dungeons purview before sunup. Kiba didnt even feel that strained running all night at high speed, his stamina was astounding even for an entry C-rank monster. Were home Kiba, this is where you, me and the rest of our family live, hopefully it meets your expectations. Frost had a homesick look in his eyes as they crossed from the cial mountains and into Northrendnds. Kibas expression was one of intense excitement, his new home and from what Frost told him throughout their journey what a home it will be. Not only did Frost have ns to expand his dungeon without end Kiba would be given free rein to run around and y on an entire floor at least. This news brought a few tears to therge tigers eyes as back in Kranor he was merely restricted to Druakais farm, not nearly enough for him to run free and truly engage his muscles. Rawr Kiba lightly roared in excitement before dashing forward towards the dungeons entrance, eager to see his new home. Frost chuckled in response, feeling the same way. He missed the kids greatly and wondered how they were doing while he was away. Were they good? Did they improve their dagger and hammer skills? Did they grow at all? He wanted to enjoy hearing about their lives over the past couple weeks, just like how L loved listening to her childrens daily activities. But most of all he missed Maya, his beautiful guardian. He missed her enchanting figure, her charming voice, herugh, even the way she smelled. His time with Sam and L as well as in Kranor matured him to a great extent. Making him desire something far more substantial with her. He wanted to kiss her, to feel her in his arms, for her to be by his side, he loved her and now he no longer feared saying so. As Kiba and Frost entered the vicinity of the dungeons purview, Frost was suddenly assaulted by a strong dizziness. A flood of information filled his body when he reconnected with the dungeons core. Only a few seconds passed in this state, but Frost felt out of breath, his head was ringing, and his eyes shook wildly. What the hell! He cursed while holding his head in pain. While Frost was away adventuring in the cial mountains Dark set about enacting a great many changes that came in the form of an update, rewriting how the dungeon menu system worked. Now many of the issues that cropped up during the first month of their lives and highlighted during the family gathering had been resolved. Making for a much more fluid and diverse system which should provide his children with a much greater range in terms of creation. For Frost when receiving this massive alteration to his cores chemical makeup, it was quite simr to the time he absorbed the magic skill book in Furano, lots of messy data that his mind had to wrap its head around. After the initial painful reaction, the pleasant feeling of being connected to the core returned, filling Frost with strength andfort, hed missed this bond. Rawr? Kiba noticed the changes in Frost and couldnt help but feel worried, he looked at his back in concern. Hahahaha dont worry I just got inundated with arge amount of information making me dizzy, nothings wrong. Frostughed warmly while rubbing Kibas head, moved by his concern. He wondered how well the dungeon did in his absence inparison to the windfall he earned while exploring. Which was a grand total of 43,000DP, a hefty sum. Now however all he cared about was seeing Nanna, Loki, and Mayas faces. He could check out the fine details of the updateter. With his body being reconnected to the dungeon he had Kiba stop in his tracks before bringing up the dungeon menu. Maya, Nanna, Loki Im home and Ive brought someone with me so make room in the private space, a lot of room. Maya who was sitting in the private space bored out of her mind bolted upright when she heard Frost speaking through the menu. Her eyes started to redden as she held back tears of joy, finally hes back. Nanna and Loki had very simr reactions when they heard Frosts voice. Putting down their books they swiftly made room in the private space as per his instructions. Were ready young master. Mayas charming voice spoke within Frosts mind causing his heart to skip a beat. Get ready Kiba, this may feel weird at first, but youll get used to it. Frost patted Kibas head before looking around for anyone in the vicinity. Upon finding no one he smiled and activated the dungeons teleportation feature, sucking he and Kiba into a warp in space before depositing them within the private space. They were home. Chapter 324 324 Chapter 324: Back home (2) Arge spatial distortion developed within the private space, farrger than normal. The chairs, sofa and dining table had been pushed to the edge of the living room, leaving a wide open space beneath the distortion. Nanna and Loki held each others hands, excitement clear in their eyes as they awaited Frosts return. The kids had missed their master or rather pseudo father a great deal and had worked extra hard on their studies and weapons training so as to receive his praise. Their previous skinny frames caused by severe malnutrition and mistreatment was pretty much gone. The two kids now had a good deal of meat on their bones like any other children their age, Loki even had some adorable chubby cheeks that were oh so squeezable. But most of all their emotions had all returned, no longer were they depressed and hollow. Now able to imagine their future and have their own desires. They owed all this to Frost, the one who showed them the light in their darkest hour. Maya stood beside them, smiling warmly as she saw the looks in their little faces, finding them adorable. But she felt no less excited, in fact perhaps even more so. Shed missed her young master a great deal, finding that without him by her side she was easily prone to boredom, she missed teasing that handsome face of his. She had a little curiosity towards the guest that Frost was bringing back especially after seeing the size of the distortion, but it paled inparison to her desire to see him. Her heartbeat quickened in anticipation, and she felt butterflies in her stomach. Discreetly she removed her handheld mirror and made sure her hair wasnt out of ce and that her makeup was intact, eager to look her best at his return. As the spatial warp expanded Frost and Kiba were transferred into the private space, Frost was now officially home. His eyes scanned the room from on Kibas back in search of Maya and the kids. He was no longer bothered by spatial teleportation, long gotten used to it but the same couldnt be said about Kiba. The massive, winged tiger felt unsteady, his vision shaking and his stomach churning in protest. Frost quickly caught sight of his family, Nanna and Loki were looking very healthy and incredibly excited. Ignoring the fact that a massive tiger appeared in the private space the two of them ran forward wanting to hug him. Frosts felt his heart warm at the sight, he jumped down from Kiba moments before the big guy copsed, lying on the floor as he fought the urge to vomit. Master! Both Nanna and Loki screamed before leaping into Frosts awaiting arms. Nanna, Loki its good to see you two. Frost hugged them both, squishing their soft bodies against his causing the two children tough in glee as they hugged him back. Frost could feel that the two of them had put on weight and that they were a lot more squishy than when he left, bringing a bright smile to his face. ..... Seems like theyve been living well while Ive been away. At that thought he hugged them even harder before putting them down and turning to face Maya. Who had to strongly resist the urge to run into his arms like the children. She was smiling warmly but her eyes had already grown red as tears of joy threatened to fall down her cheeks The moment their eyes met the world seemed toe to a standstill, Frost gazed at her immacte face, her big doe eyes, her cute button nose and then her luscious lips. His heartbeat quickened as desire filled his body. He rubbed Nanna and Lokis heads The big tiger behind me is called Kiba, why dont you introduce yourselves and make sure hes ok while I speak with Maya? Nanna and Loki looked up at Frost with a bit of reluctance, not wanting to leave his embrace but Frost didnt give them an option. As if they werent there he walked forward, his eyes fixated on Maya. Maya blushed a little on receiving Frosts intense gaze and her heart couldnt help but skip a beat. Wee home young master. She curtsied politely to cover being nervous before immediately teasing him as per usual. Ive certainly missed being able to ogle that handsome face of yours. She smiled seductivelypletely oblivious to Frosts current state, he was no longer as naive as he was before he left home. No longer embarrassed by Mayas teasing he went on the offensive for the first time with her, quickening his steps to arrive right in front of her. His eyes filled with affection and desire as he looked down at her. Mayapletely blown away by Frost being so close, looked up in surprise, her voice stuttering. Y...Young mast..... however before she could finish speaking, Frost skilfully wrapped his arms around her and nted a deep kiss on her undefended lips. Maya felt like a bomb went off in her head, her eyes opened wide inplete disbelief before her blushing cheeks spread across her entire face and neck. Frost continued to kiss her deeply, refusing to separate. Hed imagined this moment for a long time, especially over the past 24 hours. Hisrge hands supported Mayas lithe back as her body became numb from his lips, her eyes closing as she gave into the pleasure. After 10 seconds her left leg couldnt help but rise into the air behind her. Nanna and Loki looked on, as did Kiba with rapt attention, finding Frost to look very cool. Finally Frost let go of Mayas lips and stared deep into her slowly opening eyes. Maya I love you and wish for you to remain by my side not as my guardian or as a friend but as something more. Ive felt a connection between us from the day we met and only now have I gathered enough courage to let you know of my heart. I want you Maya. Frost spoke with great conviction, pouring his heart out to the charming woman in his arms, his gaze filled with love as he awaited her reply. Maya was still stunned by his romantic kiss, her lips craving more but as she heard his confession, her mind went nk and her entire face became red hot, with steam threatening to pour out of her ears. Her heart felt as though it was about to burst, shed never been confessed to by someone in such a moving manner. Seems as though Mayas all offence and no defence when ites to teasing hehehehe. Frost seeing that Maya was stunned silly couldnt help butugh lightly, finding her incredibly adorable. Finding that being in the presence ofpany would only increase her embarrassment Frost picked her up in a princess carry while she was still frazzled and took her to her bedroom, closing the door behind him. This caused Loki and Nanna to giggle as they shared a knowing look. They already found it weird that Frost and Mayas rtionship hadnt progressed anywhere given that they so clearly liked one another. Frosts bold confession was a good thing in their minds since they could see how Maya pined for him while he was off adventuring in the cial mountains. The two children who were very mature for their ages turned around to interact with Kiba, pretending that they didnt see anything. Within Mayas room, Frost sat on the bed with her still in his arms, patiently waiting for her to regain her faculties. It took her a good minute or so before Maya could finally contemte what Frost said without rpsing. With her eyes refocusing she looked around and found that she was in her bedroom before looking up and seeing Frosts smiling face. The blush that finally receded came rushing back, she was in Frosts arms and sitting on hisp but chose not to move, enjoying being held by him. Im not dreaming right? She asked nervously as she looked up at Frosts loving gaze. She too had fantasised about being in a rtionship with him but didnt have the guts to make any real moves, only teasing and flirting. Frost merely smiled in response before leaning down and nting another kiss on her lips. Did that feel real enough? He said while pulling back. But after separating a few inches he felt Mayas hand on the back of his neck forcibly pulling him down back to her lips. She for the first time kissed him, filling Frosts heart with joy. Once she finally relinquished his lips, Frost spoke with a charming smile I guess I can count that as you epting my confession. Heheheha damn straight youre mine now. Maya giggled as she nestled into Frosts chest, her heartpletely full. She and Frost finally admitted their feelings for one another, entering a romantic rtionship. Frosts heart exploded with joy as he embraced Maya in his arms before cupping her chin and nting another deep kiss on her lips, cementing their newfound rtionship. Chapter 325 325 Chapter 325: Back home (3) As Frost nted a kiss on Mayas lips, her arms moved upwards, hugging his neck as she went on the offensive, nning to overwhelm Frost with her kissing skills. However, she quickly realised that she was battling a master. When she started to use her tongue, Frost responded in kind making her melt in bliss. She quickly backed away, her face showing shock. Where the hell did you learn to kiss like that!? Not only was Frost a handsome face it seemed he was a natural Casanova. Though Maya didnt have much romantic experience she should be better than a noob right? Hmph I experienced a lot while I was away, why did you enjoy it? Frost asked with a teasing expression as his hands skilfully caressed her back and waist. Maya needed to resist moaning from his delicate touch,pletely not expecting such moves from him. Her emotions suddenly shifted as she heard his words, her hands quickly finding Frosts and locking them down before she looked up at his face with a peculiar glint in her eyes. What kind of experience? She spoke slowly and emphasised the word experience as her grip began to tighten. Ugh...a....ugh Frosts lips started twitching as he endured Mayas questioning re. Cold sweat dripped down his back and forehead warning him of impending danger. Fuck! He cursed internally, realising that he just dug his own grave at the worst possibly moment. Why did he have to brag about experience right after confirming their rtionship. Mayas stare became more and more threatening at his silence and her grip around his hands started to be very, very painful, eliciting audible cracks. Ill ask you again young master, exactly what kind of experience did you have? An image of a ferocious wolf appeared behind her charming face oozing killing intent. Frost felt as though he was being eyed by a vicious predator, his head lodged in a pair of powerful jaws, threatening to decapitate him if he said the wrong thing. A womans ire was a deadly thing to experience, especially when that woman could eviscerate you in a second. Haaaaaaa Frost knew he had to bite the bullet so after sighing he bravely faced Mayas stone cold gaze and told her all about his time in the cial mountains. ..... His visit to beta camp, his first time camping out in the wild, his time in the monsterir as well as his tutge under Sam and L. These experiences seemed to calm Maya down making her loosen her grip on his hands and even asionally chuckle, happy with him being educated by such an experienced set of adventurers. Then he spoke of the battle against the ice revenant and how he finally achieved control over his aura, the first step in entering B-rank, which caused Maya to nod her head in praise and remove the frightening image of her wolf form that loomed behind her. Giving Frost some much needed breathing room. As he spoke about his visit and touring of Kranor and his meeting with Sam and Ls family, Maya evenpletely rxed, showing a joyful smile. However, that quickly changed when Frost brought up Daki, even though he hadnt gotten to their second meeting, yet Maya could instantly tell from the way he spoke that this woman was dangerous. When he spoke of her intimate greeting, her special background and more importantly his response she revealed her fangs in a threatening manner. The Frost she knew was still too innocent to make such a bold move as provocative teasing and shameless groping. But she forcibly calmed herself down equating the situation to Dakis powerful natural pheromones as well as Frost being exposed to Sam and Ls public disys of affection which in all fairness was probably a good thing considering that he grew bold enough to confess to her. After seeing and talking with Daki, I knew that I needed to be more aggressive in my desires. That night after being subjected to Sam, Yarrow, L, and Chias open flirting I couldnt help but feel lonely and my mind wandered to you, your radiant smile, your enchanting figure, and charmingugh, I missed being by your side. Frost spoke eloquently, his gaze filling with adoration as he looked down at the annoyed fenrir still in his arms. His words tugged at Mayas heartstrings, her cold gaze instantly warming as she nestled her head against his chest, feeling a little embarrassed. But that was short lived. However, it wasnt only you in my mind, Daki was there as well. I couldnt get her out of my head. We only met once but my interest in her was strong and genuine. Maya shivered as he spoke, a strong sense of jealously arose within her heart. When I met her the next day when we met again I couldnt help smiling and teasing her, finding her reactions adorable. I figured you must have felt simr when teasing me. Frost cupped Mayas chin forcing her to look at him when he said the next part. When she appeared in her beautiful dress I couldnt help but be moved, strongly desiring her. I embraced and aggressively flirted and in return she kissed me, and I kissed her back. Mayas eyes grew red, as she listened, she could feel that despite Frost confessing to her this Daki was also in his heart and that she had stolen his first kiss something that should have been hers. Frost continued to exin the entire event wanting Maya to know everything, holding no secrets in front of her. She made another aggressive move as revenge which ended up causing us both to be really embarrassed. He couldnt help but slightly chuckle as he remembered Dakis reddened face. I told her that that was my first kiss which she struggled to believe thinking that you would have stolen it long ago. Maya suddenly felt a strong punch to the gut, why didnt I bravely steal his first kiss, now that woman will forever be etched in his memory. She asked if I loved you. Frost gently caressed Mayas cheek, his heart warm and filled with affection. And I said yes that I love you and feel lonely without you by my side. For the first time ever, I loudly proimed how I felt about you. Hearing his love filled words Maya couldnt help but feel happy,pletely ignoring the fact that her new lover had to kiss another woman to realise that. This of course hurt Daki, knowing that I already had you deep in my heart buting to terms with my feelings about you also allowed me to understand how I felt about her. Though she didnt take up as much of my heart as you she was definitely there, and I wanted her by my side. Maya gripped onto Frosts robes tightly, her happy mood quickly souring. We kissed again both wanting to pursue a romantic rtionship. I promised that once the monster stampede is over and that when the dungeons territory has been established, Id bring her here, to be by my side. Frost knew that his words would hurt Maya, but he didnt want to lie to her. Daki was in his heart as was she, he told Daki about Maya before they entered a rtionship, it was only fair that Maya knew about her. The two sat in silence for a good couple minutes, Frost nervous and anxious to hear Mayas reply whereas she was conflicted. Jealously, anger, happiness and frustration all filled her heart. Frost had unloaded a major bomb right after they confessed to one another. It was hard for her to take in, especially when he spoke so honestly and from the heart. She didnt expect that shed be able to hold Frost all to herself given his potential and good looks, but she really did hope that shed have at least some time. Yet now not only has this other woman stolen his first kiss shes going to be living here with them in a month or so. Her jealously burned bright at the thought of this charming woman named Daki that she handed even met yet. But she was also frustrated that Frosts meeting with her also lead to him confessing to herself. Was she supposed to be thankful to Daki for kissing Frost and letting him know desire. Or was she supposed to be mad at him for entering a rtionship with this woman when she was already in his heart, she really didnt know what to do. Underlying all that however she was genuinely happy, though shed have to share Frost she was still number one in his heart, and she had an entire month at least to make sure that she cemented her position. Ah screw Ill just be all of them at once! Maya yelled internally,ing to a decision. She red up at Frost who was anxiously awaiting her voice. First off Im d you were honest, the fact that you would openly tell me something like this and in such detail is very moving and a great foundation on which to build our rtionship, so Ill also be honest. She then removed herself from Frostsp, standing while Frost remained seated on the bed. First, Im really annoyed that you not only kissed another woman before me but that you also confirmed a rtionship with her first, making her youre first kisser and first girlfriend. Second its really frustrating that I technically need to be thankful to this Daki because due to her actions you decided to confess to me, making me unable to truly hate her, which would be so much easier. Third, what was supposed to be a really romantic confession has now been overshadowed by the fact that your dating someone else so despite me still being happy about your feelings Im also pissed off ergo you are going to be in the doghouse for a while until my anger dissipates hmph! Maya crossed her arms underneath her chest and showed a really irritated expression. Chapter 326 326 Chapter 326: Back home (4) Maya stood before Frost with an irritated expression, her arms crossed underneath her chest proudly emphasizing herrge assets, while her nose crinkled up making her look absolutely adorable. Without the killing intent and the vicious wolf spectre Frost really struggled to feel intimidated. Instead, he smiled charmingly, fully taking in his girlfriends figure and appearance. You know youre really sexy when youre mad. Yes he wisely avoided the word cute since he now knew better besides sexy was also an apt description. Though Maya wasnt asrge as Daki in certain areas her figure was no less curvy given her very lithe waist. You!.... Im being serious here. Mayas lips twitched, and her nose crinkled further as her anger grew but she couldnt hide her blushing from Frosts keen eyes. As am I, whats wrong with me finding my girlfriend sexy? His smile moved from charming to seductive. Now that he knew Maya was all offence and no defence and that she wasnt really mad at him he felt like teasing her. He rose from the bed, bing a head taller than Maya and wrapped her in his arms. He couldnt believe that he ever found his little rabbit wolf intimidating, shes so cute and gentle. Muaghhh Maya let out an annoyed grunt, stomping her foot down on the ground and yfully punching Frost in the chest as he pulled her into his embrace. Frost found it ticklish, so heughed out loud. I know that youre mad and jealous about Daki but look at this way, because of her were now together and weve got at least a month of you and me. So how about instead of me being in the doghouse I just spoil you endlessly? He gently moved back her fringe and nting a kiss on her forehead causing his little fenrir to go red in the face,pletely embarrassed by Frosts drastic change in demeanour. What happened to the innocent new born that was always blushing from her antics, allowing her to be in the dominant position. She looked about with a still annoyed expression. You know this all because you refused to wear your damn mask. If he never exposed his handsome face would the women on his trip have been so intense in their teasing thus teaching him how to be this aggressive? Haaaaaaa you really want me to cover up this face that my father worked so hard on creating? If it stops you picking up random girls of the street then yes. She pouted while giving Frost a nipple twist. ..... Oowowow that hurts, and I didnt pick up a random woman Dakis special, youll understand when you meet her, shes a lot like you, you know. Frost grimaced in pain from the nipple twist before defending his other girlfriend. Oh, how is that? Maya finding pleasure in teasing him again, smiled seductively. Well, you both have.... Frost responded with his own seductive smile before lowering his hands onto Mayasrge butt Veryrge and sexy butts. He then started to grope and caress as he did with Daki wanting topare the difference however, Maya was not Daki and she responded very differently. And eery chill filled the room and Mayas dormant killing intent came back with a vengeance. Remove your hands or lose them! She gave a threatening ultimatum, her eyes deadly serious. Frost was very reluctant to remove his hands but hearing her threatening tone he very quickly let go, he could feel the grim reapers scythe at his neck, ready to reap his soul at a moments notice. He finally remembered that Maya wasnt just his cute and sexy guardian and now girlfriend but an actual S-rank fenrir, far more powerful than him. The moment his hands let go, Frost was struck hard in the chest by Maya. His body sent flying through air, smashing into the bedroom door before harshlynding in the living room with thud. Ughhhh Frost groaned as he struggled to sit up, his ribs likely bruised perhaps even cracked from Mayas blow. Youve got a lot to learn about women young master hmph! Mayas derisive voice and hmph could be heard from the bedroom, truly infuriated this time. He could havepared anything else, but he had topare the size of their asses, his hands even started fondling and groping. He was really in the doghouse now. Nanna, Loki and Kiba both looked at Frost in surprise wondering what he could have done to cause such a violent reaction. He turned around to face the three of them, slightly embarrassed. Why dont you two show Kiba around the dungeon, introduce him to everyone oh and have Finy prepare me a report of what happened while I was away. Frost quickly ordered the three of them to vamoose while he tries to remedy the situation with Maya. He truly couldnt understand where he went wrong, Maya and Daki truly did both have veryrge butts, which Frost found very much to his taste and Daki loved his groping and caressing so why wouldnt Maya. Heheheheh ok master, good luck. Nanna giggled before leading her little brother and Kiba out of the private space, giving Frost and Maya some privacy. By the time they returned an hourter Frost, and Maya were back on good terms. Frost was clearly out of the doghouse, given that Maya was wrapped around his arm with a blissful expression. The how they did not know but it didnt matter, today was a day of celebration. Frost had returned and he and Maya were now an item, good news all round. To get on Mayas good side again Frost agreed to do a great deal of spoiling, which unfortunately all benefited her. Maya was not like Daki who was very experienced and loved physical intimacy, she preferred being cherished and doted upon i.e. shoulder and foot rubs, romantic wine drinking sessions, being held in his embrace etc.... Frost would not be able to partake in his lustful desires at least for a fairly long time, the most he could do was kiss his new girlfriend, forbidden to ce his hands on anywhere bar her back. And if he muttered under his breath about Daki being more open to his advances he received a harsh punch to the gut. Overall, however he was very happy, Maya had epted his confession, agreeing to date him. And though he couldnt do anything more than kissing that in itself was amazing. She wasnt as skilled as Daki but the feeling he got when he partook of her lips and held her in his embrace was no less intense. Thus, he was happy to take things slow. So Kiba what do you think of your new home? Frost asked the new member of their little family. Rarrr Kibas roar was filled with joy, his feelings portrayed through the soul bond between him and Frost. Nanna and Loki had taken him to see Finy on the first floor before allowing him to get a feel for the area. And so far he loved the ce. The air in the dungeon was suffused with mana making it even more pleasant than Kranor and everyone was so friendly. The moment Nanna and Loki exined that he was Frosts contracted monster everyone greeted him with smiles, something that Kiba wasnt used to. Good, good, Im d you like the ce because its now your home. He walked over and petted the big tigers head with affection, loving the feeling of his soft fur. Ill set up a room for you in the private space, but your main residence can be on one of the new floors Ill be establishing in theing days. Ill even allow you to pick out the environment, what do you say? Rawr Kiba nodded his head while smiling. Hed get to design his own floor how awesome is that. You really got lucky in that enve, contracting with a young cial winged tiger, very impressive. Maya finally gave her opinion on Kiba who was a bit on edge in her presence. She was a fenrir after all, a monster far higher on the food chain than Kiba even if he was fully grown. Yeah I guess I did. Frost couldnt help but let out a cheeky smile as he got lucky more than once. This of course earned him a harsh look from Maya, clearly picking up on his subtle meaning. Oh, I almost forgot, before I summon Finy so we can go over the dungeons situation over the past two weeks how about I doll out the souvenirs I got for you on my little trip. With the promise of gifts, Nanna, Loki and even Maya had their eyes open wide as excitement filled them. Yeah presents! Nanna and Loki jumped for joy before running up and hugging Frost. Alright, alright calm down Ill get them, Ill get them. Frost patted their heads before sending his conscious into the spatial ring with the presents. Hed start with Nanna and Lokis presents. Chapter 327 327 Chapter 327: Teasing his new girlfriend Nanna and Loki were over the moon right now, their little hearts beating a mile a minute. Frost was about to unveil the gifts that he got them while on his trip. Since youve been so enthusiastic in your training and would soon grow out of those wooden weapons I had my friend fashion up some new weapons for you. Frost then removed the specially ordered childs Warhammer and dagger sets. Nanna and Lokis eyes were glued to the weapons, unable to look away from how beautiful they were. Their current training weapons were simply made of heavy dull wood without a single adornment. These weapons however were not nd in the slightest. Having an elegant blue and silver colour scheme as well as intricate details in the craftmanship. The smith clearly put a lot of effort into forging them. Theyre both superior 2 star grade weapons with the primary focus being on defence and training applications but even so theyre a hell of a lot sharper that what you have currently, so youll need to promise me that youll be careful when using them. Frost held onto the weapons until he saw Nanna and Loki both nod their heads in understanding. Once they promised to be careful and not treat them as toys Frost handed the weapons to their new owners, much to their delight. Maya however gave him a judging look, questioning his idea of an appropriate childs gift being a weapon plus there was the knowing that it was Daki who made them, it irked her slightly. Along with the weapons I got you each some special armour. Not finished wowing them, Frost removed the adjustable wrist guards Daki made in the same style as his armour. These wrist guards will not only protect your hands and forearms but theyre a matching set, see. Frost pulled back his sleeve to show that his wrist guards followed the same colour scheme and design pattern. It was hard to spot much difference between the three wrist guards but of course Nanna and Lokis were a grade lower. As the kids took hold of their new wrist guards and could see they were a match for Frosts their little hearts nearly exploded. This meant so much to them, matching equipment made them feel like a proper family. Nanna and Lokis eyes grew red before they both rushed at Frost, wrapping him in a hug, a veritable waterfall of happy tears dripped onto his robes, bringing a warm smile to his face. It took them a good minute or so to calm down, they wiped their tears on their clothes and held their new weapons and wrist guards close to their chests, treating them as supreme treasures. Thank you master. They didnt forget their manners, thanking Frost with a bow before rushing to their rooms to help one another put on their presents. ..... Frost watched them scuttle off, full of energy before turning to Maya. Now I guess its time for me to give you your presents. He showed a flirtatious smile before skilfully taking Maya in his arms and kissing her deeply. I think you already gave me that present. Maya showed a teasing smile once Frost pulled away, very much enjoying his gift. True but Ive got you an unlimited supply. ... Both of them looked at one another in silence for a few seconds beforeughing. That was pretty cheesy young master heheheh. Mayasugh was full of charm, delicate and reserved as opposed to Dakis that was loud and unrestrained. Well, I heard cheese goes will with wine. Completing the punchline he removed the high C-grade wine he bought in Beta camp causing Mayas eyes to light up. C-grade wine, not bad, we can split this tonight in celebration. Maya quickly retrieved the bottle from Frosts clutches, examining it from every angle like a well-established master. If you want to drink that one then thats fine, I did have another in mind but oh well. Frost shrugged his shoulders and showed a yful expression. His words made Maya freeze in ce before turning his way. What other one in mind? Upper C-grade wine was already a pretty good wine and pretty much the limit of what she expected Frost to be able to purchase in the external regions of the cial mountains. However, it suddenly dawned on her that Frost had a super, duper, awesomely rare bottle sealed away in the dungeons spatial vault. Her mind couldnt help but fantasise about drinking that fabled wine. The family gathering was weeks ago yet they still hadnt opened up Darks self-brewed masterpiece [wine of the abyss]. By far in Mayas eyes this was the greatest reward Frost received. Even rarer than the high grade earth rank cold me that was stored safely in the private space. Frost had yet to fully examine the me since he and Maya in particr felt that his individual strength was not high enough to trulyprehend the mes properties and avoid bacsh. Frost could see the light of hope in Mayas eyes, his urge to tease was stoked. Well considering Ive returned after a long journey and that weve now entered a romantic rtionship I thought itd be worthy of celebrating. Something requiring a far better bottle than that C-grade one. ....How much better? Maya had wipe the drool that umted on her lips from picturing the [wine of the abyss]. I think you know? Frost showed an evil smile, tempting Maya with his words. The alcoholic practically broke down at that point, the temptation being too much to resist. She appeared instantly by Frosts side, wrapping herself around his arm and cushioning it between herrge breasts before looking up at him with eyes filled with desire -mostly for the wine. Were really going to open the wine of th... Before she could answer with [wine of the abyss] however Frost removed another bottle of wine from his spatial ring. One that was as he said superior to the one still in Mayas hands but not the [wine of the abyss] given by his father. It was B-grade, the same wine he had at the mayors manor on the night of the family feast. Chia had given him a bottle of the stuff as a farewell present, to which he thanked her generously. After ordering the weapons and armour for Nanna and Loki he felt that his original gift for Maya wascking but thanks to Chia that problem was solved. This wine was given to me by Chia, Ls mother as a farewell present. I had a small ss of the stuff back in Kranor and found it to be quite delightful, it should make for a perfect celebratory wine dont you think? He then looked down at his partner who sported a very confused expression. Mayas mechanically looked towards the bottle of B-rank wine which under normal circumstances would have put a brilliant smile on her face before looking up at Frost. Then suddenly her eyes grew red and misty as tears threatened to pour down her cheeks. You big meanie! She pouted feeling very aggrieved inside, was their rtionship only worthy of a B-rank wine, what did she have to do to partake in his [wine of the abyss]. Frost felt a little guilty when her heard her tone but had to finish Whats wrong dont you want to drink a B-grade wine? Jerk you led me on, on purpose you knew what wine you hinted at! Mayas teary expression suddenly turned into anger, she revealed her sharp fangs and bit Frosts shoulder in an aggrieved manner. Ooww What do I have to do for you to let me drink that wine, was us bing a couple not enough of a special asion. Do I have to drag you into that bedroom and allow you to graduate into a real man? Maya spoke with an incensed tone before ring at her partner. Frost looked at her and was stunned by what he heard, his mind drifting to the image of bing a true man with Maya. A perverted smile grew on his lips and a certain area hardened. Maya who was already pissed off flew off the handle when she saw her young masters perverted smile. You asshole youre really thinking about trading that wine for sex!! She bit his shoulder for a second time, though with a much greater intensity. The problem in Mayas heart was that she couldnt trust herself to reject such an offer if Frost really made it, her love of wine knew no bounds. Oowowowowoo! Maya Im kidding, Im kidding please stop biting me! The intense pain in his shoulder swiftly eliminated the provocative images that filled his head. He would never make such a suggestion; he wasnt that much of an asshole. Maya removed her teeth that had been deeply embedded into her young masters flesh, her re still quite pronounced. You were kidding? Her expression showed that she didnt believe him in the slightest. Frost felt an invisible punch to the gut at seeing her unbelieving expression. Im sorry, I just wanted to tease you a little. I fully intended in opening fathers wine in celebration, the other two bottles are just gifts. Realising that he had gone a little overboard- even though it was Maya that brought up such a suggestion in the first ce- he spoke honestly. He was saving that wine for a very special asion and what was a better asion than today, He and Maya had officially be a couple, opening a super rare bottle of wine was the least he could do. Chapter 328 328 Chapter 328: Finys report Maya continued to eye Frost with a questioning re until he brought out the fabled [wine of the abyss], then her face became a ray of sunshine as though the previous argument never happened. Her swift change was a bit too seamless. ..... I just got yed didnt I? Dont know what youre talking about hehehe. Maya giggled as she caressed the [wine of the abyss] bottle,pletely ignoring him. Haaaaaaaa oh well it doesnt matter, as I said, I nned on opening it anyway. Frost sighed choosing to ignore what happened, though his shoulder still stung from where Maya bit him. Ive got some great meat to go with it, so I hope youre up for some cooking. He was referring to the griffin meat that was stored within his new backpack. Thanks to ambient cold temperature as well as the natural preserving features in the bag the meat was in perfect condition and would make a fine pairing with the wine. Sure, whatever you want as long as I get to drink this godly elixir. Maya had to work overtime to resist opening the bottle then and there. Maybe I really should have bartered the wine after all. Frost muttered under his breath as he saw Mayas fascination with the wine. What was that? She wasnt too absorbed to not catch Frosts mutterings, turning to re at her partner. Nothing, nothing. He panickily waved his hands in the air and showed an innocent expression. Damn her super hearing. Kiba who was sitting quietly at the side struggled to contain hisughter, finding the tit for tat between his master and Maya absolutely hrious. ..... Nanna and Loki exited their rooms shortly after this exchange, sporting their new weapons and wrist guards, dying to try them out in training. Ive got some stuff to deal with in regards to the dungeon so why dont you have Maya take you into the training room. You can test out your new equipment there. Frost rubbed their heads before looking over at Maya who was still cradling the [wine of the abyss] the other two wine bottles had mysteriously vanished into her spatial ring as well, preventing him from taking them back. Actually, take Kiba as well, hes been looking to test his mettle against some powerful opponents, Maya did you hear me? He called out to Maya but got no response. Yoink! Seeing as the wine drew her entire focus Frost grabbed onto the neck before sending it into the dungeons storage vault. His actions of course caused quite a violent reaction. Maya instantaneously spun around and grabbed him by the cor in a threatening manner. We can have itter; dont worry I wont break my promise. He tapped her hands, that were beginning to lift him off the ground. First however Id like you to take Nanna, Loki and Kiba into the training room as they would like to test out their new equipment. While Kibas been looking for a good opponent to fight after being sequestered in Kranor for so long, could you help him out? Frost needed time to go over all the changes brought into effect by Darks update as well as discuss the current situation of the dungeon with Finy who he left primarily in charge during his absence. Maya reluctantly let go of Frosts cor and agreed to his request, By the way you should know that Aqua, Indra and Gobuske called while you were off galivanting and skirt chasing. Oh, what did they want to talk about? Frost couldnt help but feel excited, wanting grow his bond with his siblings. Aqua was pretty standard, wanting to contact you first out of everyone and see how you were doing, very big sister like. Whereas Indra wanted to brag that he was going solo exploring in the Storm mountains. I of course told him that you had already left for the cial mountains a few days prior which caused him to immediately hang up and leave his dungeon, seems that he sees you as something of a rival. Maya giggled as she remembered her exchange with the other dungeon cores. What about Gobuske? Frost couldnt help but smile and feel proud at beating his elder brother Indra to the punch. He could imagine his brothers annoyed expression at the time and him running out of his dungeon at full speed, trying to catch up. Gobuske wanted to thank you again for your help with B, but he was mainly looking to speak to me. Apparently hes been living a much nicer life with Charlotte and Lily as his guardians and wanted to thank me for rmending them to Dark. Frosts heart warmed at such news, very happy that his younger brother was no longer feeling abused and depressed. Ill give them all a call back soon, thanks Maya. Dont mention it, d to help. Maya showed a warm smile, she too was d that Gobuske was no longer suffering and that he got along with her friends. She then took hold of Nanna, Loki and Kiba before teleporting them into the training room, leaving Frost all alone in the private space. Well lets take a look at the damage, Finy can you pleasee to the private space. Frost brought up the dungeon menu to contact Finy as well as finally take a look at his total DP reserves. On my way. Finy responded through the menu with the stern voice of amander, but undertones of exhaustion and stress could be subtly heard. Finy had a very heavy workload over the past two weeks and when he arrived in the private space Frost saw him sporting bags under his eyes and a rather pale expression. Eh? Finy what happened to you? His strong and noble ice trollmander looked as though he aged several years, his body appearing worn out. Haaaaaaaaa its a long story master but allow me to exin. Finy sighed deeply, releasing his heavy burden. Take a seat Finy, Im sure theres a lot we need to discuss especially given that the dungeon has out ranked me in terms of DP gain. Before he left, the dungeon was raking in around 2500 to 3000DP per day. Times that by the 12 days he was away on his trip, the Dungeon should have raked in between 30,000 and 36000DP, a fair bit shy of his impressive 43,000DP. Of course, there was always wiggle room in the estimates given that the closer they drew to the monster stampede the more intruders would be present but even then he would never have guessed the present value.....61,000DP, practically double expectations. Now that he got a better look at Finy his mighty ice trollmander not only looked weary but had a fair number of marks on his body, remnants of wounds in the process of healing. Finy was his most powerful monster, within the range of upper C-rank, for him to not only have to be in battle himself but to have sported wounds was quite a shock. One that sent a chill down his spine as well as confusion. Nanna, Loki and Maya didnt give any indication of there being significant danger. They would have been privy to the goings on of the dungeon so if there was a major issue even if they didnt bring up he would have been able to see it in their expressions. Finy took a seat on the sofa, his spine cracking as he did. Frost seeing his prized monster being so overworked brought out the bottle of hot sake he purchased in Beta camp, along with some serving cups. Since the sake was best drunk when hot he casted the lifestyle magic [ignition] summoning a small me below the bottle. We can go over your report while drinking, I got this stuff in the cial mountains. It should help with easing stress and fatigue. Once the sake was sufficiently warmed Frost poured Finy and himself a cup. Thank you master. Finy lightly bowed his head before downing his cup, bringing a rosy tint to his pale blue cheeks. Thats pretty good stuff master, much better than the keg of beer you summoned before. Finy licked his lips in satisfaction before stretching out his hand for a refill, which Frost obliged. d you like it; now where should we begin? Frost drank his cup as well before refilling it, finding it to be very different from wine yet just as delicious. Well to start Ill say that theres no major issues to report at least not anymore. Finy couldnt help but show a prideful grin at his words. He personally took care of the big issues, thus all the healing wounds. The first week that you were away nothing eventful happened, intruder levels were manageable as were our losses. We increased the killing rate and debilitating wounds as you ordered which resulted in our daily DP intake being roughly 3000 plus, things were going good. Some of our soldiers even reached max level before I ordered them to evolve, thus improving our forces further. Frost nodded his head, telling Finy to go on. He had no issues with Finy ordering the monsters to evolve in his absence, he had limited manpower that would only decrease not increase as the days went on, (not counting spawner monsters). Evolving then and there not only improved the dungeons defences but would make sure the monsters didnt waste any experience they gained in future battles. Chapter 329 329 Chapter 329: Finys report (2) Finy finished another cup of sake before continuing to speak. The situation changed after that first week. Something must have happened because the intruders became more abundant and fervent in their exploration, and though our DP levels swiftly increased so did our losses. A deep frown appeared on Finys face as he remembered the dead. To offset this, I was forced to enter battle a fair number of times, yet the intruders continued to increase as did their average strengths. Once it was made clear that I was defending a third floor, parties of upper D-rank and even C-rank funnelled in, greed clear in their eyes. Finy subconsciously shivered as he remembered the expressions many of them showed, willing to die for a chance at treasure, pure madness in his opinion. Along with our stronger D-rank monsters I managed to eradicate thest high level party 8 hours ago, and since then things have thankfully been rather peaceful. With the amount of intruders present this morning being less than half our usual levels. Upon realising that not a single one of their higher ranking colleagues returned from their delve, fear must have finally sunk in, making them wary. A good thing too given that our forces are significantly reduced from extended battle. But now that youre here master, such an issue has be irrelevant. If Frost hadnte back for say another 2 or 3 days then things may have gotten dicey. But Finy skilfully took care of the danger and even managed to preserve a lot of the upper echelon thus recing the lost monsters would likely only cost 8000DP, a tiny sum inparison to his current whopping 100,000. Good work Finy, Ill take care of the recements right now before we go any further. Frost now understood why the DP levels were so high. Killing not only released 10 times the daily amount but given that it was from many high level adventurers the numbers made sense. Frost decided to rece the lost monsters immediately given that although the intruder level was low it still wasnt zero. Couldnt have them thinking that the ce was in a period of weakness, that would be bad for business. He brought up the dungeon menu that now sported a whopping 104,580DP in the top corner- the most its ever held by far- before using the dungeons records feature to rece any monster killed within thest 12 days. The sum came in at 7,580DP, thus reducing his total bnce to 97,000. As he clicked confirm the core in the private space hummed to life, glowing brightly, and spinning as it used divine energy. Frost could feel the godly substance flow between him and the core. He could sense the wonder that was divinity far clearer than previously, sufficient proof that he was growing stronger. The entire processsted a few seconds yet magically over 60 monsters had been created and ced within the dungeon, bringing it back to full strength. There thats that problem taken care of; you dont need to worry about ack of manpower anymore. Frost patted Finys shoulder in praise before pouring him another cup of sake. His ice trollmander performed very well in his opinion and deserved a good reward. After bringing the dungeon to full strength, Finy finally rxed a little more before regaling to his master all of the other important details such as the dwarven smiths progress, the amount of iron avable, dropped loot, efficiency of the traps as well as current monsters types in battle. It was a lot of information, but Frost was very keen to hear it all, not finding it dull or boring in the slightest. Though it would have helped if he had documents to read instead of relying on oral reports, something hed need to look into once the camp was established. ..... Over the past 12 days the iron mine had produced its entire 50Kg allotment each day making for 600kg. 75kg were subpar quality not fit for use, 300kg has being used by the frost dwarven smith and his associates leaving 225Kg in the dungeon vault. Arge assortment of leather equipment, adventuring gear as well as weapons below 3 star were collected and stored for either future use or to sell. Plus, a grand total of 6.8 gold coins were pilfered from the dead, all of which being made of silver and copper. Over a dozen low level foreign monsters entered the dungeon, none of which could be negotiated with thus they were killed, and their meat distributed as rewards. The C-rank partys equipment was stored separately awaiting either Frost or Mayas appraisal. No magic devices or books were recovered but many groups did carry maps which could be resble. All of this stuff was important to Frosts long term tenants n. Once the adventurers clear out in preparation for the monster stampede hed set about turning the external room into a fully functioning camp i.e. defending walls, inns, weapon shops etc... Everything stored within the dungeon vault would be used as stock for these ces. Establishing a pure profit cycle, kill the intruders, take their gear, sell it to another group of adventurers, rinse, and repeat. Of course, Frost wouldnt just simply rely upon the gear of dead adventurers for business, that alone wouldnt be practical. The frost dwarven smith was already hard a work practising his craft for such an eventuality. The problem however was volume, after seeing Furano and Kranor especially in action Frost realised that even a monsterir or in this case dungeon camp required a hell of a lot of materials to run efficiently, he needed more men and resources. His gargantuan stock of almost 100,000DP would notst long, creating territory was veritable money pit or rather DP pit. Ill need to head to Furano shortly in order to report my findings from section 23 in the Gamma sector. Bastion should then be able to give me a more urate time for the monster stampede. Once the adventurers have left the area Ill expand the external room to 5 kilometres, perhaps 10 since wed struggle to get a chance when the camp is already chock full of tenants. We wont start building until the monsters have thinned out so as not to scare them off. I want to use these few weeks to build up a significant war chest, 100K isnt nearly enough to finish the foundation. The uing stampede should also serve as great experience, allowing our forces to reach max level and evolve thus expanding our monster repertoire further. Of our current monsters Id like for you to focus on training up the frost dwarves, the wolves and of course the trolls as I feel they have the greatest potential. Frost cupped his chin in thought, gauging the potential of his monsters. The goblins were cheap and followed orders well, but Frost was not Gobuske, their evolution paths with him would be limited. I encountered no small number of new monsters while out in the cial mountains, some of which should make great additions to our line-up. Frost brought up the monster catalogue from the dungeon menu and smiled. All of the monsters that hed personally killed were there, avable for purchase. Ice snake E-rank: 110DP Ice golem E-rank: 140DP Frost elemental E-rank: 210DP Frost lizard E-rank: 120DP Frost lizard D-rank: 500DP Coeurl pup D-rank: 650DP Great frost centipede D-rank: 750DP Lesser yuki-onna D-rank: 720DP Frost revenant D-rank: 880DP The monster list also had a fair few other additions thanks to Darks update as well as Frosts strength bing half-step into B-rank. However, C-rank monsters still eluded him, only when he truly reaches B-rank will they be unlocked. Hed have to wait until then to see if the ice revenant and ice griffin were avable. The frost lizards are incredibly lucrative for adventurers in regards to usable materials while at the same time being rather easy to defeat as a team whereas the elementals are a nightmare for non-magic parties, even I had some difficulty ending the things relying solely on my ive mastery. While the frost revenants are justplete beasts when ites to battle potential plus they sport some heavy duty weapons and armour making them highly valued by those that can sessfully take them down, making them the best of both worlds. Frost gave Finy a quick rundown of all the monsters capabilities, focusing particrly on the frost lizards, elementals, and revenants. I agree master, from what youve told me these three would be the best choices to focus on, but Id also like to summon a few lesser yuki-onnas for the front lines. Not only would they improve our magic corps deficiency, but they likely have high evolution potential given that theyre ice spirits. Good point, they could provide longsting gains instead of short term power. Frost nodded his head in agreement. He was the dungeon core of ice therefore ice spirit monsters should be his forte. Hed avoided them so far due to how weak they were in the lower ranks but the lesser yuki-onna did show promise. If he could evolve it into a yuki-onna its magic devastation would be greater than that of the C-rank ice revenant. In addition to expanding our forces and enacting the long term tenants n I want to grow the dungeon. Specifically expanding it to five fully outfitted floors. Currently the dungeon was three floors in size with only the top two beingpleted outfitted. The final floor was just a series of 3 empty 1km blocks. Chapter 330 330 Chapter 330: Big spending The earlier we expand the dungeon the sooner we can create space for our future monsters as well as rake in the benefits brought by being a five floor dungeon. Not only would the daily DP brought in by the mana vein increase, ording to Darks changes, by expanding the dungeon the core would grow in strength. This in turn would provide the dungeon core i.e. Frost with a greater influence while connected to the core thus allowing him to control high rank monsters even if his individual strength wasnt up to snuff. During the family gathering only Yami and Aqua were capable of summoning C-rank monsters given their individual strengths with many of the older dungeon cores following close behind. However not all the dungeon cores were born equal, Gobuske for example had rtively low individual power as the majority of his potential was focused on empowering his goblins. Everyone had their own focus and the current system of relying on individual power to control monsters was unfair. Thus, this was Darks solution to the problem. As long as the dungeon cores expanded their dungeons they would be empowered while within them. A great solution that not only made the situation fair for all but promoted the expansion that Dark wanted to see. Five floors was also a grade ceiling, not just by Dark but by everyone in Nova. Monsterirs that exceeded 5 floors were of a higher ssification regardless of the monsters they spawned. This was due to their longevity, bigger monsterirs tended tost longer than smaller ones therefore making them more popr. Steady Long term business is much more promising thanrge, short term gains. We can leave thest floor bare for now, but the third and fourth floor needs to bepleted, environments and room expansions. Frost tapped the nearby table as though internally calcting the costs. After that Id like to purchase more fixed assets such as the iron mine since the sooner we do the faster well profit. The same holds true for monster spawners, Id rather buy one of them than mass individual monsters. Frost currently had three spawners in y, two that summoned frost goblins while the other summoned frost dwarves. After the 100th monster the spawners would effectively summon for free, indefinitely unless destroyed, far more cost effective that purchasing individually. Though they were unable to evolve, grow in level and were naturally weaker than their individually summoned counterparts they served much better in terms of volume. The frost lizards would make for a perfect spawner monster given their main use being lucrative lures. The leftover DP can be used for generic improvements, summoning of individual monsters to be levelled, traps as well as misceneous items. I want to spend the entire 97,000 before the monster stampede, do you have any problems with that? Frost asked his trusted militarymander after speaking of his ns. He wasnt even nning on putting aside time to appreciate the mass levels of DP before spending it. His outlook since visiting the camps and Kranor had changed, he was thinking much bigger now. Finy was initially blown away by the amount of DP about to be spent but quickly analysed Frosts n. No master, Ive got no problems with your suggestions. You are correct the sooner we do this the sooner well benefit, youve got to spend money to make money. Finy nodded his head in agreement, more than willing to enact such a n post haste. ..... Good, Ill get started then. If you could head back and deal with all the new arrivals, Ill summon you againter for your reward. Frost downed another cup of hot sake before sending off Finy, there was a lot of work to do. Understood master, and wee home. Its good to be home Finy. Finy bowed his head to Frost before teleporting back to first floor. Once he was gone Frost decided to first take a look over the many minute changes Dark had made to the dungeon system. Environments are now separated into different star grades like weapons and armour. Higher starred environments are more expansive, contain better features, moreplicatedyouts and rarer flora and fauna than lower starred ones. Frosts current environments can all be considered 1 star. * Weapons, magic, spells etc.... can now also be unlocked through dungeon expansion, instead of just individual power and knowledge. Of which Frost now had ess to 3 star equipment and spells. Non-battle oriented monsters such as goblin engineers can gain experience through their creations though at a slow rate. The gacha system was now in ce, allowing dungeons to try their luck at random draws for monsters and items. Pricing ranges from 1000DP per draw. As requested by Void and Chronos newly developed spells can now be sold to Dark for DP. He also allowed for any item created by the dungeon core themselves to be sold for DP, promoting many trade skill enthusiasts such a Damascus. The monster design feature had already been unlocked after the gathering but Dark made the feature more streamlined and even offered some basic temtes to help encourage his children. Yami and Aqua had apparently already got to work with their own ideas and reported some issues they found to Dark. Due to that there was now a sort of customer service system that would allow the dungeon cores to sent messages directly to Dark asking for his advice or to let him know of any issues. Previously only Yami and Aqua could contact Dark but now everyone could, though it was a lot less personal. The dungeon cores can now set their monsters as proxies, allowing them to use the dungeon menu including DP to a set amount. A feature that makes it easier for dungeon cores to leave their dungeons for prolonged periods of time. If Frost could have registered, Nanna, Loki, or Finy as a proxy they could have spent DP on new monsters and not have fallen to such a weakened state. Though it had its benefits, Frost had examined Finys status and found that his ice trollmander was now level 30 out of 50, past the half way point to evolution. Other than that, there were a few minor price changes and design alterations to how the dungeon menu appeared. It took Frost around 40 minutes to check out the newly restructured menu and features. He definitely wanted to try the gacha a couple times just to test how lucky he was but that couldeter. Now however he needed to start his expansion n. OK, two new floors will cost 20,000DP. Expanding all rooms to medium size on the 3rd and 4th floors will cost 9000DP. Frost quickly added these to his shopping cart, keeping track of the prices. For the environment Ill just make it the same for all three sections. The 3rd floor will be another winter forest since thats been working out so well, 1500DP per section. While the 4th floor will be cial steppe for 3000DP a section (pretty close to the environment found in the [beginners ice magic] monsterir), 13,500 making the total 42,500DP. It was moremon in monsterirs for the entire floor to be of the same environment, only changing between floors or sometimes not at all. Frosts current set up was an oddity brought on by the desire to try different approaches while having minimal amounts of DP. Now however he had vast reserves and a solid future building scheme. His first goal was to generate 5 fully outfitted floors that would make for the ideal hunting grounds for adventuring parties below C-rank since they make up for the vast majority of his food source. It wasnt practical to outfit his dungeon for anything stronger at the moment. When the dungeon and territory bes more popted and can attract a worthy amount of higher ranked adventurers hed move to outfit more perilous floors. Arming them not only with C-rank monsters but also 2 star or even 3 star environments. Alright that leaves me with 54,500DP, time for some fixed assets. Another iron mine room for the 4th floor will do nicely, can never have too much iron. Lets also make a cial mine 2 star level, should provide some diversity in our future smithing. Of course, with such materials itd be near impossible to make anything higher that 2 star quality but thats exactly what the majority of adventurers under C-rank use. Making it the ideal choice in terms of profit gains. Besides even if he splurged to purchase a duram or frigid iron mine hed have no way to forge the stuff with his current monsters. 3000 for two small rooms, 8500 for a 50kg iron mine and 12,500 for a 50kg 2 star cial mine, another 24,000 into the pot. Frosts lips couldnt help but twitch as he added the mines to his cart, leaving him with less than a third of his original 100k. Thinking logically about doing something wasnt quite the same as actually doing the thing, his heart bled a little with each addition and it wasnt over yet. Chapter 331 331 Chapter 331: Luck of the draw Haaaaaaaa, Frost its necessary all these costs are necessary just push through. Frost sighed as he looked at the rapidly increasing cost of his shopping cart. Wavering slightly with every addition. Alright lets put aside 2500DP for emergencies and tonights festivities, that leaves 28,000 for monsters. With the 2 new floors and finished 3rd floor he had a lot of space to fill. Individual purchases can wait; Ill get spawners first. One E-rank frost lizard spawner on the 4th floors second section, 12,000DP. Another frost dwarf spawner for the 4th floors mines, 12,000DP and finally since I like them so much lets get another frost goblin spawner for the 3rd floor, 3000DP. Though they were the weakest caste of monsters and provided little in terms of materials they followed orders well and were very cost efficient. Frost couldnt resist buying another one, making for 3 frost goblins spawners in total. ...... Frost tapped the arm of sofa in contemtion, he still had 1000DP left to spend and didnt know how. His eyes inadvertently drifted over to the gacha section on the menu, the 1000DP cost screaming out to him. He licked his lips before clicking on a 1000DP gacha roll. Might as well considering I have exactly 1000DP left. A total coincidence obviously not by design. Thus, Frost within the span of a few minutes cut his whopping original 104,580DP down to a paltry 2500. All he needed to do now was click confirm and it would be gone. His finger hovered over the icon moving towards it at a snails pace, each millimetre causing his throat to constrict. Suddenly without him noticing an enchanting smell drifted over from behind him and an even more enchanting feeling pressed against his back causing him to inadvertently flinch and click the confirm button. Maya who had teasingly snuck up behind her young master, wrapping her arms around his neck and shoving her bountiful chest against his back blew lightly in her partners ear. There we go not so hard is it? She smiled charmingly. Frost stiffly craned his neck around to look at his beautiful girlfriend, his heart swiftly lurching at the thought of all that DP vanishing because of her interruption. But that worry was erased the moment he saw her smile. Well, if you continue to press thoserge twins of yours against my back Im sure itll get hard. He flirted suggestively causing her to quickly blush and back away, regretfully removing that heavenly feeling from his back. ..... I think I preferred it when I was the one doing all the teasing hmph! Maya pouted cutely but a smile was evident on her face, very much enjoying Frosts newfound confidence. Her teasing was cute and in many cases funny, Frosts however was just full blown devastating, way too seductive. Im sure you did, but now that Ive got a taste for it I dont think Im ever going to stop, youre just so cute when youre embarrassed. Frost gazed at Maya, his eyes full of affection causing her blush to deepen and her smile to widen. She yfully punched his arm as if admitting defeat. Which caused Frost to momentarilyugh before he was suddenly affected by his veryrge purchase. Swaths of divine energy flooded through his body, pressuring it as though he was suffering from enhanced gravity. His body heated up several degrees internally as it struggled to contain the sudden release of the super heavy and dense power that was divine energy. Thankfully the feeling passed after several seconds but those several seconds where enough to make Frost feel a mixture of fear and respect. Such power was dormant within his body yet just a small amount could easily crush him, divine energy truly was unfathomable. The energy entered the core bringing it to life and as it got to work, outside of the private space the dungeon shook with incredible force. Many monsters and adventurers fell to the ground unable to keep their bnce through the quaking. The adventurers held a mixture of fear and greed in their eyes, wondering if this was another period of growth. Such an oue meant money but also danger. Was it caused by therge amount of high ranking adventurers dying within? Or perhaps a sign that the monster stampedes influence had reached here? Many once the quaking finally stopped made their way to the exit, not willing to risk the danger until they knew more whereas others continued to delve not caring that it would be their doom. Frost didnt faint but his body did feel a bit sore after all that divine energy. He used it to his advantage, tricking Maya into giving him ap pillow so he could recover. Nanna, Loki and Kiba who had arrived with her were lying against one another,pletely exhausted from their workout yet each of them disyed big smiles. Nanna and Loki hugged their weapons against their chests dearly while Kiba could feel his potential that had started to dwindle in Kranore back to life, and with a vengeance at that. Maya particrly focused her attention on training her young masters new mount, summoning powerful ice golem monsters for him to pit his strength against. So big spender what did you buy? Maya asked while stroking Frosts long hair. New floors, room expansions, mines, spawners and also a gacha draw, practically cleaning out my entire DP reserves. Frost spoke with pride, enjoying the soft feeling on the back of his neck and Mayas soothing touch. Though he spent a massive amount of DP it was all on good purchases thus thered be no buyers remorse. To give a more detailed exnation Frost brought up the dungeon map, expanding it for everyone to see. We now have five floors in the dungeon with the first four being fully outfitted with 1 star environments and medium sized sections, effectively doubling our previous size. On the fourth floor which has cial steppe for its environment Ive added two mine rooms like on the first floor. One is another iron mine while the second is a 2 star cial mine so as to provide a variety in materials. Ive thus added a second frost dwarf spawner in the cial mine room, serving to provide the workforce. Frost highlighted the fourth floor, pointing out where he ced everything. Ive also arranged for an E-rank frost lizard spawner to be ced in the second section of the floor. While exploring the cial mountains I came across them in the [beginners ice magic] monsterir and found out that theyre very lucrative in terms of materials, making for perfect incentives. Frost then brought up the third floor, that was previously bare and unexpanded The third floor is made up of winter forests since that environment has proved to be very useful in all our battles plus it provides not only lumber but also patches of red and blue dwindle, very multipurpose. And since Im a sucker for frost goblins Ive added another spawner, making for three in total. The dwarves should be able to establish a fortified de around it for protection as well as outfit the entire floor with their bunkers. Frost was very proud of the work his frost dwarves had done in the first floors winter forest and was looking forward to it being duplicated across the 3rd floor. After that I only had 1000DP left to spend so I bought a gacha draw. Frost then showed a mischievous smile as he looked up at his partners face. Maya how about a kiss for good luck? Maya hands stopped stroking through his long hair before she leaned over and nted a peck on his forehead, a bit too embarrassed to do much more in front of Nanna and Loki. It wasnt what he was expecting but it still brought a smile to his face, besides he got a heavenly image as she leaned over, his lucks stats should have been raised through the roof. Oh yes Im feeling very lucky now hehehehe. Heughed lightly causing Maya to blush. Frost then brought up the gacha system in the dungeon menu, it showed an image of a question mark hanging over treasure chests. The barest looking chest signified the 1000DP gacha whereas a luxurious gold and jewel encrusted chest signified the 100,000DP gacha. A number one could be seen under the 1000DP chest, signifying that he had one drawing attempt. Here goes nothing. He pulled down a lever icon causing the 1000DP chest to blur and spin, the question mark morphing rapidly into different possibilities. The majority of the items avable within this chest were set to be worth less than 1000DP but if one was lucky they could get someone worthy 10,000DP or more. Frost remained lying on Mayasp, looking like the epitome of avish lifestyle, that would have an untold number of men wish death upon him. However, his heart was nervous, and his fists were clenched in anticipation, hoping for a good draw. Maya was in a simr position, her eyes were glued to the menu, taking in the rapid changes between items. Whereas Nanna, Loki and Kiba watched on with bated breath, their fingers crossed, each hoping for different things. The gacha system could throw out anything; Food, monsters, weapons, armour, equipment, free environments, magic books anything you could think of it could be held within. Your luck being the only thing that determines what that thing was. Chapter 332 332 Chapter 332: Luck of the draw (2) As everyone in the room watched on with nervousness the image of the spinning chest and rapidly altering question mark started to slow down before suddenly glowing brightly,pletely obscuring the image. A magic crest then appeared on the floor of the private space releasing a simr glow as it summoned the item from the gacha, which was still a mystery at this point. Everyones eyes were redirected to the magic crest that began to dim, revealing the item that was summoned. Frost arose from hisfortable position, his eyes revealing a strong curiosity as thest of the obscuring light vanished. The crest wasnt thatrge, so a monster was unlikely as was armour or weapons, but small didnt mean it was a dud. A magic spell book would be the appropriate size and could be worth more than 1000DP, same with a rare elemental jewel. Frosts mind went through dozens of hopeful possibilities but once he got a clear view of the summoned item, his expression quickly showed disappointment. As though to mock him for his methods in gaining luck what appeared from the gacha was a set of three coloured lipsticks, red, purple, and green. Not what he was hoping for in the slightest. Frost dropped his head down low, his lips twitching as he struggled to curse. He could picture the image of his father right nowughing his guts out, his so called random system perhaps being a lie, that he chose the oue. Maya however had her eyes light up as she saw the three lipsticks. She moved passed Frost with desire, picking up the set and smiling joyfully. This was good stuff no great stuff in fact, high quality lipstick made from high quality materials, worth at least 2 gold coins on the open market. She didnt wear lipstick much but now that shed be having to kiss a certain someone on the regr it was perfect timing. Though it likely wasnt something Frost wanted or needed it wasnt a dud, likely worth a fair bit more than 1000DP. Of course, convincing her young master of that would be pointless. Guess Ill take this gacha prize young master, you should be proud it seems my good luck kiss worked wonders, this stuff is easily worth 2 gold coins on the open market. She quickly stored the lipstick in her spatial bracelet iming ownership. Mayas words seemed to worsen Frosts mood, not only was his first gacha something he found useless it technically wasnt a dud making the next time he spun the gacha all the less likely to be something worthwhile. Haaaaaaaaaa oh well I can just write it off as a present for my girlfriend, perhaps itll win me some other kind of reward if shes happy. Frost decided to not linger on his disappointment and try to look at it as something beneficial as the saying goes happy wife happy life. Now that all the DP -bar the 2500DP for emergencies and festivities- was spent it was time to rx and unwind, spend some family time together and celebrate their reunion as well as union before heading off to Furano. ..... The group of five thus spent several hours hanging in the private space, talking about what happened over the past two weeks. Frost told Nanna and Loki all about Kranor, the kids who wanted to meet them as well as Daki who would be joining them here after the monster stampede. His stories brought joy and excitement to their eyes, especially the promise of meeting kids to y with. So far theyd only been able to hang out with some frost dwarves when they werent training or learning. They needed someone their own age to hang with on asion, something Frost was keen to provide. When he told them about Daki, Loki was very much interested in someone else joining their little group, but Nanna was a bit more mature. Her eyes drifted over to Maya, inspected her reactions to Frost bringing another woman home. However, though Maya twitched a little her expression showed that she wasnt too against it thus Nanna let out a sigh of relief. She didnt want her new parents to be fighting, a very considerate young girl. Of course, Nanna and Loki both fervently told Frost all that happened to them over the past two weeks. How their studies were going, their martial arts training and even magic practise. Maya had taught them a little bit of lifestyle magic so as to help train up their mana veins. Loki in particr proved to be quite magically adept whereas Nanna was more physically adept, her hammer mastery increasing quite rapidly. They would make quite a devasting duo once they grew up, B-rank would be but their minimum. Tonight, well have a grand feast in celebration, Kiba and I took down a C-rank ice griffin, so weve got a lot of meat to eat. Frost rubbed Nanna and Lokis heads with affection, as he promised them a fine meal. Bringing yelps of excited joys from them and Kiba, who at this point was practically starving. Their rigorous workout fashioned up quite an appetite. Tomorrow however Ill be heading to Furano for a quick visit and youre free to join if you want, we can make a nice day of it. Im sure Cassandra and Dous would be happy to see you guys. Nanna and Loki looked at one another before staring back at Frost, nodding their heads in agreement, eager to go on a trip with him. Perfect, then Ill expect the two of you to be in bed shortly after dinner as well be leaving first thing. Yeah! The kids jumped for joy before running to their rooms to choose their clothes for such a visit. Their innocent expressions making them appear adorable. God theyre cute. Frost couldnt help but smile as he watched the two of them bound across the living room and into their bedroom. Yeah they are, and very hard working. Maya had a simr expression as she eyed them disappear. Shed been seeing first-hand how stubborn and determined these two little kids were when it came to their training. Doing their very best to make Frost and her proud. Well then well need to make sure we reward such behaviour, how confident are you with cooking C-rank meat? Ive got no problem cooking even B-rank meat, I just cant preserve the mana like a spirit chef or ensure perfect vour. My cooking can be considered not bad but Im no chef. Maya answered with a shrug she knew her skills well, a hobby cook that usually only catered to herself. Perfect, do you mind if I help, Sam was an avid cook and did his best to impart onto me the respect for the art of cooking, Ive grown to quite enjoy the process. C-rank meat was a bit much for Frosts paltry skills, but he could act as an assistant at least. Mayas eyes opened up wide and a satisfied smile grew on her lips. Id love that young master, hehehehe cooking together. She quite liked the idea of her man being a good cook, and more than eager to work side by side in the kitchen. She then grabbed hold of Frosts arm and dragged him towards the kitchen as recipes flittered through her mind. Ill have Finy join us for the feast as a reward for his stand up service in defending the dungeon, we can have the [wine of the abyss] once hes gone and Nanna and Loki have gone to bed. What about Kiba? Maya jerked her head towards the big cat who was still lounging behind them, exhausted from his work out. Hmmmmm Frost craned his neck around to look at his new monster mount. Kiba do you want to sleep with Nanna and Loki tonight or somewhere in the dungeon? He was going to create a room specially for Kiba in the private space but lost track of time and DP. Rawr? Kiba chuffed quietly in reply, his intentions being projected through the soul bond. Well, I guess you could sleep in my room, but I might not be using it tonight, so youd be sleeping alone. Frost reply earned him an elbow to his side from Maya who sported a blush. His statement was rather vague in its meaning. Rawrrr Kiba chuffed and nodded his head as though understanding his masters hidden meaning, winking as he did. Which earned Frost another sharp elbow bash. Ugh! Frost groaned in pain before pinching Mayas butt in protest, eliciting a yelp from her before they both turned and stared daggers at one another. He really didnt mean anything suggestive by his statement and felt that Mayas attack was unprovoked. Thus, he retaliated bravely, no longer treating Maya as his guardian or a fearful S-rank monster but simply his girlfriend. Kiba giggled as he watched, taking the tension out of the situation. His master and his significant otherughed before returning to cooking, Maya even showed a very happy smile, humming as she prepared the food. Greatly appreciating Frost no longer fearing her but seeing her as his girlfriend. Though she did feel that he seemed to focus particrly on her butt. Chapter 333 333 Chapter 333: Wine of the abyss Frost and Maya continued to tease one another as they cooked, creating a romantic atmosphere which Nanna and Loki wisely chose not to interrupt. Giggling quietly as they petted Kiba, finding his fur super cuddly. That night Maya went all out in her cooking, preparing a multitude of dishes that really hit the spot. It wasnt as good as the meals provided by the Phoenix fledgling restaurant or Ramseys star restaurant but had a tasty home cooking feel. By the end Nanna and Loki were rubbing their inted bellies with satisfied expressions, very much appreciating Maya, and Frosts cooking. Thank you for the lovely meal master, it was delicious. Finy finished his te clean, licking his lips in satisfaction. Not only did he get to partake in a glorious meal that was prepared by his master and mistress, but he was allowed to dine at the same table, filling his heart with gratitude. He could think of no greater reward for his efforts in defence of the dungeon. Youre very wee Finy, d you enjoyed it. Frost replied with a bright smile before summoning a couple barrels of low grade beer. Please take these back with you to share with the others. We dont have many intruders at the moment so they can let loose a little, they have my permission. Finys eyes grew red at his masters words before he responded with a strong military bow, moved by his masters magnanimity. Such rewards would greatly increase the loyalty of his other monsters, making them work even hard in achieving his goals. For Frost however it was a simple thing, two barrels of low grade beer only cost him 100DP, a low expense but with high returns. As Finy left with the tworge barrels on his shoulders, Nanna and Loki had started to fall asleep. Their eyes struggling to stay open as theyid against one another for support. Thebination of their excited states from Frosts return to stuffing themselves silly with food made them very drowsy. Frost and Mayas eyes showed warmth at such an image, they both gently picked up one of them each and carried them to their beds. Tucking them in tight before nting a kiss on their foreheads, acting very much like caring parents. Kiba decided to join the two kids in their room tonight so as to give his master and mistress some privacy, plus he too was quite tired after such avish feast, ready to call it a night. He parked hisrge fluffy behind at the end of their beds, more than happy to share the space. Nanna and Loki were hard to not get attached to, Kiba like Maya and Frost had fallen victim to their cuteness. ..... Frost rubbed Kibas big tiger head with affection before walking out with Maya at his side, they could now appreciate some alone time together. The moment Frost closed the door to Nanna and Lokis room Mayas eyes showed intense desire as well as demand. It was finally time for her to get what she was promised....the fabled [wine of the abyss]. She grabbed hold of Frosts arm tenderly and looked up at him with puppy dog eyes, begging him to take it out. Haaaaaaaaaa Frost deeply sighed as he clearly understood that he was of far less interest to her inparison to the [wine of the abyss]. Get the sses and join me on the sofa. Hehehhehehe Maya couldnt hold back her excitement, giggling as she swiftly let go of Frost and retrieved the big, high quality wine sses from the kitchen. While Frost sat himself on the sofa and retrieved the bottle of [wine of the abyss] that his father had rewarded him with. There was very little decoration on the bottle, just a simplebel with the name [wine of the abyss]. The cork however did have a ck moon etched on the top, amon sigil in reference to Dark. He would not be the one to open such a high grade bottle however, that would be left to the professional alcoholic that was his guardian/girlfriend. Maya arrived with the sses in record time, a fervent expression on her face as she ced herrge butt next to Frost, eyeing the bottle in his hands. Her throat felt parched, and her heart was beating a mile a minute. This was one of her dreamse true, getting to drink the wine brewed by the Dark God himself. Her desire was palpable. Ill leave the honours to you since you have far more experience with this kind of thing. Frost could see the desire in her eyes and couldnt help but admire her unmasked passion, finding her quite adorable. He gently passed the bottle of wine to her while leaning back and appreciating the lovely sight before him. Maya audibly gulped as nervousness racked her body, she delicately examined the bottle, feeling every inch of it before focusing on the cork. No smell was escaping meaning it was perfectly sealed. After taking deep breath to calm her nerves she applied the corkscrew and twisted slowly, afraid to damage it in anyway. Pop! Eventually the cork was released from it confines and brought with it a heavenly scent, that quickly assailed their noses. Uummmmmm. Both Maya and Frost couldnt help but moan in pleasure as the smell filled their noses and reached their lungs, making them feel weightless and surrounded in bliss. It was astounding that just the scent of the wine had such a strong effect, what would the taste do. No wonder its a godly wine, Dark God-sama infused it with divine energy like a spirit chef. Maya spoke through licking her lips and deep inhales, her desire to taste the godly liquid unrivalled. Well, what are you waiting for pour the sses! Frost was just as much moved as his partner, eager to taste the divine wine. Mana rich food prepared by low level spirit chefs was already amazing what could something with divine energy possibly taste like, he had to know. Patience! We need to do this properly. First we must enjoy the smell and allow it to air for a couple minutes. Maya was no less rushed to taste it but knew from experience that if they rushed it the taste would not be at its optimum and such a wine deserved the optimum. She had no idea when or even if shed get a chance to partake in such glorious wine again so it must be done right. Fine well do as you say, youre the alcoholic. Frost struggled to hold back his desires for the wine, so he redirected his attention to his lovely girlfriend, eyeing her beauty and explosive figure. His hands silently wrapping around her lithe waist, bringing her body close to his. I prefer connoisseur young master.....what do you think youre doing with that hand of yours? Maya giggled in response before she felt Frosts hand pull her close to his body and start caressing her back. Im redirecting my desires why? Do you want me to stop? He replied with a charming smile as his hand gently caressed Mayas lower back in a loving manner. It was hard to tell given that both of them sported flushed faces from the wines smell, but Maya blushed at his reply before shaking her head. She liked the feeling and it served well as a distraction. The strong divine injected smell of the wine had made them both a little tipsy. As the minutes passed the couple grew closer to one another, rearranging their positions to a lying down pose. Frost on the bottom while Maya rested against his chest. Aeratings done, time to pour! Maya sat up from her young masters chest, finally the waiting was over, the suspense was killing her, and Frosts naughty hands kept drifting. Picking up the bottle delicately she poured three fingers worth of the thick purple liquid into the two sses, releasing another wave of intense aroma. The smell alone could get someone drunk, good thing they waited until the kids went to bed otherwise it may have harmed their growing bodies. Maya handed Frost his ss while holding hers and trying to think of a good toast, as per tradition when drinking wine. To the dungeons health and longevity. After a few seconds of thought and not wishing to dying drinking any longer she came up with something simple and clich. To our future. Frost however was no less clich toasting to his and Mayas future together which brought a smile to his girlfriends lips. Clink! They tapped their sses together before taking the first sip of the fabled godly wine. Emptying their minds so as to appreciate the vour to the fullest. Boom! Frost and Maya were hit by an explosion of intense vour. Tones of sweetness, cherry and full bodied grape ran across their tastebuds causing them to dance in joy. The taste alone was far greater than anything Frost had ever drank but then came the waves of divine energy. They not only amplified the vour but filled their bodies with revitalising energy, making them tingle all over. Once swallowed the wine seemed to warm the stomach, aiding in digestion and soothing excess acid before the divine energy spread throughout their body strengthening it through baptism. Even Mayas mighty S-rank fenrir body showed signs of improvement. This wasnt a wine it was a god damn miracle elixir. Chapter 334 334 Chapter 334: Off to Furano Unable to resist the amazing feeling the wine provided, Frost fell back against the sofa with a blissful expression on his face as the waves of divine energy hummed throughout his body, improving every cell they touched. Maya no less affected copsed onto his wide chest, an intense desire in her eyes as she relished in the divine energy and bold vour of the wine. After a minute or so the waves of pleasure finally died down and they regained their faculties, looking at one another in surprise before back at their still pretty full sses. That was amazing, I knew it would taste good but that was beyond anything I could have imagined. Frost spoke with great enthusiasm, licking his lips for any residue. Such a wine was truly fit for the Gods. Yeah Dark God-sama is a real artisan, but the mainponent is definitely the divine energy that he instilled into to it. I could feel it remould my body and increase mytent potential, rivalling that of the highest grade elixirs...no wonder Dark God-sama guards it with such passion. Maya looked at her remaining ss in wonder as well as regret. Such potent wine couldnt be drunk in high volumes, three fingers full was a bit greedy. Not willing to waste a single bit more of essence the beautiful fenrir swiftly recorked the bottle and ordered Frost to ce it back in the vault, out of sight. Their current sses would be more than enough to nurse throughout the night. Anymore would waste the divine energy present. Frost though reluctant acquiesced to her instruction, returning the bottle to the dungeon vault so as to be drunk another night. Thanks to the bottles quality as well as the corks they could likely store it for weeks without much degradation. With the bottle out of sight and out of mind, the couple returned to their cosy positions of being in one anothers embrace, nursing sips from the wine sses every ten minutes or so. Allowing the divine energy to remould their bodies, improving their potential and strength. Frost didnt feel too much of a change given that he frequently had divine energy pumped through his body, but his internal organs did feel more robust, something that regr training wouldnt improve. Maya however experienced a great deal, she was a mighty S-ranked Fenrir, practically top of the food chain. But shed had very little interaction with divine energy thus causing her to be at a bottleneck -another reason why she applied to be a guardian. Now however thanks to her ss of the [wine of the abyss] shed gotten the chance to feel divine energy thoroughly as it coursed through her body, opening up new doors for her in terms of power. ..... The jump between S-rank and Godhood was a very, very vast chasm that surpassed the difference between G and S rank. Bing a God and harnessing divine energy was aplete change in quality, the two ranks couldnt bepared in the same breath. Maya never had much hope of reaching such a stage but now after experiencing the divine energy present in Darks self-brewed wine she at least felt she could get her foot in the door. Though she was considered a prodigy in her tribe after achieving such high levels of power at a young age, the door to Godhood was out of reach. Over the eons how many S-rank monsters have there been and how many of them became Gods. Reaching the peak of S-rank was a possibility but beyond, unlikely. Only time could tell if shed ever be able to breach the chasm, she was still young and had a lot of potential left to burn. By the time morning came, Maya and Frost were asleep on the sofa. Their wine sses bone dry and ced on the table. They looked so peaceful within one anothers arms, the wine helping to provide pleasant dreams. Nanna and Loki bounded out of their bedroom full of excitement, eager to go on a journey, Kiba trailed behind them yawning. Their loud movements awoke the blissful couple on the sofa. Mmnnnnm Frost moaned a little as he opened up his weary eyes, reluctant to awaken from his dream. He felt a heavy weight on his chest and abdomen that prevented him from getting up. Maya was syed across his body, her head resting on his chest and her hands wrapped around his back, treating him like a hug pillow. A trail of drool could be seen dripping from her lips as she smiled, clearly having a good dream as well. Nanna, Loki and Kiba quickly noticed the current positions of their master and mistress and smiled. Frost brought his finger to his lips, gesturing for them to be quiet. All three of them covered their mouths in response. Why dont you get dressed while I wake up Maya. Then once weve had breakfast well set off. Frost whispered quietly. The group of three quickly returned to the bedroom to put on their clothes. While he was left to wake up the sleeping beauty. Maya its time to get up. He gently poked her cheeks as he whispered in her ears but got no response, she was firmly in dreand. Not dismayed by his failure he showed a teasing smile as his gaze drifted over to her inviting lips. Guess the only way to wake up the princess is with a kiss. He then leaned over and nted a deep kiss on her lips to which because of her dreams she kissed back with great passion. She remained half asleep until the point that the tongue battle started which felt too real, she opened up her sand encrusted eyes to see Frosts handsome face right in front of her and his lips on hers, dominating her tongue in a deep kiss. Frost feeling movement opened his eyes before relinquishing his hold on her lips. Morning sleeping beauty. Morning handsome. Maya licked her lips as a pink blush adorned her cheeks, she very much liked his method in waking her up, feeling very much loved however something felt a little wrong. Now that she was awake she could feel something big and hard poking her in the abdomen. The pink blush intensified as she looked at her partner with usation. The kiss was a nice way to wake up, but it was ruined by an eager dragon hmph! She pouted cutely as the so called dragon continued to poke her. Frost drew a nk at first but then quickly realised what she was referring to beforeughing out loud. Hahahahaaha I dont think you can me me for that. Its morning and my sexy new girlfriend is lying on top of me. I think thered be a real problem if it didnt rise in this situation hahahaha. Frost had learned a lot from Sam and L in regards to being shameless, plus what he said made a lot of sense. Maya currently had her entire soft body pressed against him and they just shared a passionate kiss, there truly would be an issue if he didnt have a reaction. His unbridledugh caused Mayas blush to deepen, unable to retort against his logic she quickly shuffled her body from his and ran to her bedroom. Frost found her so cute when she was embarrassed, hisugh grew louder as her pink hued face filled his mind. Eventually all five members of the family had eaten some breakfast and gotten dressed for their little trip to Furano and were ready to leave. Frost packed a few choice pieces of monster materials that could be used in trade as well as 5 gold coins worth of money, just in case. Other than reporting to the adventurers guild he wished to visit Borris the dwarven weapon smith as well as catch up with the Furanos. And with Maya the money subus by his side shopping would certainly be on the table. Alright does everyone have everything thing? Frost asked his travellingpanions. Yes master weve got our guild cards and weapons. Nanna replied while thumping her chest with pride And also, our money pouches. Loki added as he showed off his money pouch with a couple silver inside, his pocket money for working hard over the past few weeks. Yes Ive got all I need in the spatial bracelet, lets go already. Maya said with a slightly annoyed tone. Alright then everyone on board, Kiba this is your time to shine. Rawr! Kiba roared with pride, carrying 2 adults and 2 children was nothing to him. Kiba would be their transport from now on and thanks to his impressive speed they wouldnt even need 2 hours to reach Furano, and thats with him slowing down for Nanna and Loki. The moment he could properly fly they could likely make the trip in under an hour. Frost sat at the front with Loki on hisp while Maya sat behind with Nanna on hers with a lot of room leftover, Kiba was quiterge after all. Finy youre in charge until I get back, feel free to eliminate any of those over ambitious adventurers. Understood master, safe travels. Finys brave military general like voice replied before Frost had the dungeon teleport Kiba and them to the external room, out of sight of prying eyes. Ever since the dramatic shaking all of the adventurers remaining had their eyes glued towards the dungeons entrance wary for any signs of change. No one was looking at the outskirts. Thus, Kiba appeared without alerting anyone, including when he stumbled from dizziness, still not used to spatial teleportation. Shake it off Kiba, itll pass. Nanna and Loki both rubbed the tigers fur in a concerned manner. They went through the same process several weeks ago, so they understood how he felt at the moment. Off to Furano! Chapter 335 335 Chapter 335: Furanos changes Off to Furano! Frost boldly dered while pointing in the viscountys direction. Kiba had never been so Frost needed to guide him. Raaawrrr! Kiba roared, pushing down his queasiness like Nanna and Loki said before dashing off in the direction Frost was pointing. His powerful roars caused a few adventurers to turn their way, their eyes opening wide as they spied Kibas massive figure. Fear shot through their bodies on instinct but once they caught sight of humanoid riders that fear swiftly turned to respect and greed. Having such a powerful monster as ones mount spoke of the riders strength and financial capability. But by the time some of them thought to risk robbing such an individual Kiba was long out of sight, a good thing in hindsight, they got to keep their lives. As Frost predicated it didnt even take them 2 hours to arrive a Furanos northern gate but the scene before them was very different to how it was when they werest here. Hundreds of people could be seen waiting in line, each packed to the brim and with solemn expressions on their faces. These people were the refugees from the many viges and settlements within the Northrend forest. The monster stampede was looming, and their homes built up defences would pose little threat to the horde that was about to arrive. Their only option was to seek shelter in the Furano viscounty and further south. Something that had to happen every stampede. Soldiers and guards could be seen hard at work keeping everything in order, traffic flowing at a steady and manageable pace. They couldnt just simply allow the refugees ess to Furano there were protocols set up so as to best manage their assigned resources. The refugees would need to provide their names, home territory information, upation and of course their reason foring to Furano. If it was due to the looming monster stampede then theyd be treated as temporary refugees and directed to their assigned shelter where theyd be living for the next few weeks or even months. Each of the three bastion towns along the northern border were in charge of certain viges and settlements so as to divide up the strain on their resources however despite this protocol many chose to travel further so as to gain ess to Furano, thergest and slightly more defended town. Thus, the guards and soldiers were hard at work, identifying those that shouldnt be here, redirecting them to the other two towns if possible. Furano despite itsrger size and being home to the ruling nobles only had so much resources and space. Sometimes being cold and cutthroat saved more lives than being kind, especially when the stampede that was set toe could be the most dangerous theyd ever faced. The ironic thing however was that despite Furano beingrger and a little more defended it actually suffered the most severe attacks thus actually making it more dangerous than the other towns. A fact that was always lost upon the refugees whenever the stampede was nigh. ..... When Frosts eyes met with the massive town that was gearing up for war he was blown away, the hundreds of refugees queuing up outside wasnt the only thing that was different. Dous had increased the wall height from its initial ten metres or so to 12 and from the movements of the soldiers on the walls he aimed to grow it further. Whereas before the soldiers were sporadically ced on the walls, centred near the gates, and watch towers now there wasnt a single undefended patch. The guard had increased by at least five times as did the mighty war machines. Every 5 metres of wall sported a heavy duty ballistae all pointed northward; such a sight was incredibly intimidating to say the least. Frost could feel his heartbeat quicken, his nostrils filling with the smell of iron and fire, war wasing. Whereas Kiba trembled as he saw more than a few ballistae lock onto his position, prepared to fire at a moments notice. The look in the eyes of machines handlers were stone cold, veterans of war. This was the frost wolf battalion, the battalion sent by the royal family to protect its northern territories whenever the stampede was nigh. Even though Kiba was entry level C-rank and sported fantastic speed he could tell that if these soldiers wanted him dead it wouldnt be much of a challenge. Hed be pierced several times before he even managed to reach the walls, a daunting realisation for the once proud cial winged tiger. Frost was right he was just a frog in a well, never knowing true power. Impressive, no wonder this ce is still standing monster stampede after monster stampede. Dous and his family really know what theyre doing when ites to defensive war. Maya gave her honest opinion, fairly impressed by what she saw. She had never seen the monster stampede in person, nor had she had to take part in arge scale war, but she had seen the set ups of mighty empires and countries dwelling in the inner and core regions of the cial mountains thus she had point of reference. Furanos defences would allow them to hold back an entire legion and then some, far more than arge town should be capable of. It spoke of how great the threat was and how serious Northrend took it. Lets join the queue, Im sure considering how busy the ce is we may struggle to meet with Leo and the rest. Frost said before stroking Kibas ears to calm him down. As the mighty winged tiger came into full view he caused no small amount ofmotion, soldiers manned their stations, cing the refugees behind them, weapons drawn. Wait wait its contracted and has riders, lower your weapons! A loud roar came from on top on the gate, eliminating the tension and sending the soldiers back to their previous duties. A few however couldnt resist looking at Kiba and Frost with respect, power was admired by all. Frost and the rest let out a small sigh of relief once they were no longer being treated as targets before moving to join the back of the queue like everyone else, but they were quickly stopped. The man that was on top of the gate and roared out his orders had swiftly dropped down and ran over to greet them. Are you an adventurer from Furano? The man was easily 2 metres tall, a buff bald human with several scars on his face. He currently wore a set of thick leather armour that was dyed white and blue and sported the image of a frost wolf on the chest. This was the attire for the frost wolf battalion, many other soldiers that were dotted around could be seen wearing a simr get up. Yes Im here to report on a scouting mission I epted. Frost answered honestly while shing his guild card. At mention of a scouting mission the rough looking mans face showed a bright smile. Good then you can enter immediately, scouting reports are being treated as top priority, please head to the front of the queue and then straight to the adventurers guild. Understood, you heard him Kiba head to the front Rawr Kiba chuffed quietly before walking ahead, feeling unnerved in the current environment. The rough looking man watched them depart with curious eyes. He didnt recognise Frost, but he recognised that Kiba was cial winged tiger. Interesting. He stroked his chin while smiling. Were you able to gauge his strength? Maya whispered into Frosts ear, keen to understand Frosts current level of insight. Likely B-rank, stronger than me by more than just a margin. He must be an officer in the frost wolf battalion, now in charge of the northern gate. Given how quickly and easily the soldiers and guards followed the mans orders it was likely he was the highest authority currently there, a real big shot. Plus, his instincts roared danger when the man stood in front of Kiba and himself. Correct, his power is just shy of Bastions, more than you can currently handle. Youll have to be careful, theres likely a fair few people here that you wont be a match for. Maya gave her young master a warning, he wouldnt be at the top of the food chain during this visit. Frost frowned as he heard that, previously the only ones that would be beyond his capabilities were the two B-ranks, Bastion and Ryuu who were both his trusted friends, very unlikely to attack him. Now however just the man in charge of the northern gate could crush him let alone higher ranked officers, it was a little unnerving to say the least. Got it, Nanna, Loki make sure to stay with either me or Maya at all times ok. He gave a stern order to his in name ves, slightly regretting bringing them here. He hadnt forgotten about the person that was set to receive them originally. Someone with significant clout in Northrend and one that had ties to the Church of Light. Re-entering Furano with them, especially during such a tumultuous time could draw their ire, tempting them to make a move. Frost and Maya of course wouldnt let that happen, but theyd need to stay within arms length to ensure it. Nanna and Loki both nodded their heads strongly as they shuffled in close to their adult protectors, more than willing to remain close. Though they had been training hard their strength was barely above a goblins, pathetically weakpared to the average adventurer- though for children it was pretty impressive. Chapter 336 336 Chapter 336: Furanos changes (2) Frost smiled and nodded as Nanna and Loki took his warning seriously, bunching up closer to him and Maya in response. Kiba walked along the side of the queue heading to the forefront so as to gain immediate ess. This action of course drew mixed feelings from the long standing refugees, with many of the young and prideful cursing under their breaths as they passed. Theyd been waiting outside in the cold for hours, yet this man and his family just showed up and gained immediate ess just because he was an adventurer, it irked them greatly. Frost and his group paid them no mind, ignoring their mutterings as they understood their reasoning. At the front of the northern gate over a dozen soldiers and guards could be seen manning the entrance and that was just on the ground, many more where looking down from the 12 metre wall with eagle eyed gazes. Riots happened every monster stampede, such a force was necessary to end them quickly and with minimal harm. The atmosphere was anything but cheery, cold, and militaristic but for such times it was the most apt. Thankfully however a known and friendly face was awaiting them at the gate. Kato the gate guard Frost and Maya met when they first visited Furano was hard at work, doing his part to ensure safe passage for the refugees. He had significant bags under his eyes and looked a bit pale, clearly tired. He didnt recognise Frost and Maya at first given that they rode on Kiba but the moment he did arge weing smile bloomed on his face. Frost, Maya wee back, its good to see you oh and you brought the kids ummmm...sorry Ive forgotten their names. Kato waved towards them, energy filling his worn out body at the sign of known and friendly faces. Frost and Maya were sufficiently imprinted in his memory given that they not only joined him for a drink at his sister inws inn but yed an integral part in ending his single life. Plus, it was really hard to forget such an attractive pair. Their names are Nanna and Loki Frost didnt hold it against Kato, he only met Nanna and Loki briefly as they were leaving. its good to see you to Kato, unfortunately given how busy it is I doubt you could join us for a catch up drink. Haaaaaaaa you got that right; were all being worked to the bone without an end in sight. You have no idea how many riots theres been over the past few days, people are really on edge with this stampede. If the soldiers from the frost wolf battalion werent here aiding us all hell would have broken loose long ago. Kato let out an exhausted sigh as hepared his usual work schedule to what he had now. Guarding the northern gate wasnt exactly smooth sailing butpared to what it was now that was a breeze. Anyway, cant keep this line held up for some small chat, sorry. Kato received a re from a couple of the nearby soldiers that basically tranted as hurry it up. There was no time for catch up or friendly chatter anymore, just process and move onto the next one, dull and painfully impersonal. ..... Understood, the man in charge ushered us to the front as Ive got a scouting mission to report, heres our guild cards. Frost understanding the situation didnt take up his friends time, clearly stating his reason for entering and disying his guild card. Kato nodded his head and waved them in, he got what he needed time to move onto the next entree. If youre set to leave again I advise you to use another gate, as only the northern one handles refugees. He gave onest bit of advice before turning to face the next group in line. Thanks Kato and good luck. Frost received a backhanded wave before he had Kiba cross the threshold, entering Furano. Inside the capital town the atmosphere was a sharp contrast to outside, the streets were busy, and people were cheery. Even the refugees sported happy expressions as they knew once they entered Furano their safety was all but guaranteed. Many had made this trip before and knew where to go. The shelter provided to the refugees wasnt the best, but it was more than the bare minimum and all of it was provided free of charge. Of course, people could work and use their own money to gain better amodation and food which many did thus inns, restaurants and the like were flourishing with business. Ever since Dous took over the territory the monster stampedes became less and less daunting after each one. The regr residents no longer saw it as a period of hell but a great business opportunity. With the high well defended walls, the aid of the frost wolf battalion, adventurers, and the Furano familys resource preparation there was no point in wallowing in depression, passively waiting out the disaster. Better to live life as per usual and focus on the benefits. Though it was still a very dangerous time, and the residents couldnt leave the town they would not behave as though they were under siege. Which greatly changed the negative feelings surrounding the monster stampedes. Even the soldiers and guards felt much more alive and tenacious when facing the hordes of monsters if the townspeople were in a good mood and cheering them on. Plus, if the atmosphere wasnt dark and dreary people had less reason to riot and ormit crimes. Dous had chosen a wise path to embark upon when it came to dealing with the monster stampedes. A path that was greatly praised by the royal family and other nobles though it was also a path that stoked negative emotions in those same nobles. Jealousy and hatred towards Dous for oveing a disaster so well and even to the point of making a substantial profit. It made many of the nobles look bad in the eyes of their popce and the royal family. Why do we get taxed so heavily and live in poverty when those in the Furano viscounty, the outskirts of the empire live so much better despite being inundated with disasters every few years. Many citizens in the other territories thought like this, causing great headaches for their ruling nobles. Thus, their redirected their ire towards the Furano family. Frost directed Kiba towards the adventurers guild so as toplete his scouting report that had been deemed as urgent. The sight of the massive, winged tiger had many people look at Frost and his family in awe. Their nerves rxing as they pictured Frost and Kiba fighting to defend Furano, a few even bowed in respect, grateful for the return of such a strong adventurer in their time of need. Unfortunately, their thoughts were misguided Frost, and his entourage wouldnt be here when the fighting began. Though their efforts would in fact help indirectly they wouldnt be here in the thick of it, fighting alongside the many soldiers and other adventurers. The adventurers guild was quite crowded at the moment, many adventurers had rushed back to Furano to enlist their services for the monster stampede defence. As this job not only brought much glory but had fantastic financial incentive. Payments usually started at 10 silvers per day and bonuses would be rewarded for high ranking kills as well as extra pay depending on the level of profit Furano makes. Easy money in adventurers eyes, theyd already long gotten used to risking their lives in their line of work. Having highly trained soldiers by your side, war machines at the ready and high defending walls made the task far less dangerous to them. And to seal the deal if you died in the service of defending Furano or one of the other bastion towns your name would be etched in the book of fallen heroes, you would be an immortal memory, never forgotten even after death. For many this was something more than worthy to die for, to be a legend, respected by all for your deeds, a good death. Frost had Kiba wait outside while he, Maya, Loki, and Nanna dismounted and made their way inside the guild hall. As they entered multiple queues could be seen, all for the different counters and clerks. Signs were above exining what each queue was for. [epting standard quests], [reporting standard quests], [monster stampede registration], [scouting report submissions], [other]. The monster stampede registration queue was clearly thergest, spanning all the way out of the guild hall. The scouting report queue was rtively small but everyone in that queue was of significant strength. Each group appearing to be at the very minimum upper D-rank. Frost and his group the [white ws of Niflheim] would be the only E-rank party. Frost joined the queue while Maya took the kids to find a ce to sit down and rx and get they of thend. Only Frost took part in the scouting mission so only he could report the findings. Plus, as party leader it was his responsibility. Frost stood in the scouting report queue for ten minutes but had only moved 3 ces and was getting quite irritated. No small number of men were ogling Maya as she sat there chatting with the kids plus arge number of adventurers looked at him with frowns questioning why he brought his family to the guild hall; this was a ce of hard business not some restaurant. Thankfully however a saving grace arrived in the form of a middle aged dwarf. Chapter 337 337 Chapter 337: A worn out Bastion As Frosts irritation and impatience was reaching the limit a saving grace appeared in the form of a middle aged dwarf. Bastion exited is office on the top floor and descended the stairs with an exhausted expression. Kamey was at his side, giving him reports causing him to have a severe headache, his hands were rubbing his temples. The monster stampedes were always are real headache for the upper echelons of the guild, so much damn paperwork. He already had his hands full dealing with the mess caused by Baron Adam and now the monster stampede was nigh, and he wascking in personnel. Thankfully many young and able employees were willing to work overtime to help the guild and town through this tough time. Despite her giving Bastion reports with a professional style, Kamey had deep bags under her eyes and a rather pale expression. Like Bastion shed been hard at work without sleep for thest 36 hours, serving as his secretary. A very respectable position to be in, especially given her young age. After Frost and Maya left Furano he had her fill in as he needed to send off higher ranking staff to deal with the guilds in the other two bastion towns. So far shed been showing great promise, taking care of her duties with haste and skill, a potentially permanent recement once this mess was over. She was also far more attractive than his previous secretary. He caught sight of Frost in the queue by chance and blinked rapidly in response, wondering if he was seeing things. But after rubbing his eyes Frost was still there and was waving to him in greeting. A thankful smile quickly adorned the old dwarfs lips finally an excuse to skip some work. Seeing Frost as his free pass Bastion rapidly descended the staircase and ran up to his young friend, leaving Kamey bbergasted and annoyed. She quickly ran after the guild master determined to drag his ass back to work but when she caught sight of Frost she couldnt help but show as simr expression. Well, I guess we can take a little break. She thought while scanning the room for Maya, her personal goal to be as a woman. When did you get back to Furanod, if you had called ahead I would have got the staff to send you straight up to my office. Bastion instantly gave Frost a manly hug ignoring the onlooking adventurers who sported confused expressions. Hes friends with the guild master. Do you recognise that elf? ..... Who is he? Mutterings swiftly broke out among the many adventurers, especially the ones reporting scouting quests, wondering who Frost was. Someone who was friendly with the guild master was someone to keep tabs on. We just arrived in town about 20 minutes ago. Im here to report my scout findings and given how busy the ce was I didnt want to bug you. Frost replied honestly as he returned the man hug, his heart feeling warm at seeing a friend he fought with side by side again. Psshhaaa I may be busy, but I can spare some time for youd, dont worry Ill take care in registering your findings,e,e join me in my office. Bastion relinquished his hug and mmed his hand down on Frosts shoulders before looking around for Kamey. Kamey were heading back to the office, prepare some tea and snacks for our guests. Eventually he spotted his young secretary mingling with Maya and the kids, a cheery smile adorning her face that filled Bastion with warmth. He knew how hard Kamey had been working, she deserved some respite even more than he did. Kamey turned her head towards Bastion and nodded with a smile before swiftly heading upstairs to prepare drinks and snacks as well as give his office a quick tidy. Documents and reports were currently stacked all over the ce making it quite messy. And you brought Maya and the kids perfect, Dous and Cassandra have been missing them greatly. Bastions smile grew as he spotted Nanna and Loki who looked oh so adorable in their nice clothes and far more healthy than thest time he saw them. It was clear that Frost was taking good care of them. Yeah we n on staying in Furano for a day or so before heading back home. Other than reporting the scout quest Ive got a little shopping to do and thought itd be nice to catch up with Leo and the rest in person before the monster stampedees. Frost could tell even before Bastion officially told him that the stampede was close. Bastion frowned at Frosts words. Youre not going to be here for the stampede? Certainly, it would be a great loss for Furano to not have such a powerful young adventurer here to help endure against the horde, but Bastion was more worried about the safety of where he would be. He had Nanna and Loki to worry about after all. Unfortunately, not duty requires that I be elsewhere during the stampede, at least in the early and mid-stages. I may be able toe towards the end, when the numbers have dwindled and its mainly the upper ranked monsters that remain. Frost wouldnt leave his dungeon alone during the most hectic of times, far too risky. However once things had cooled down at the dungeon and he had finished establishing the foundations of the camp he would be more than free to assist Furano. By then most of the horde would be attacking the town and or be hold up in the Northrend forest. Frost was quite eager to fight alongside Furanos forces given that itd not only grant copious amounts of DP, but hed also get sufficient pay for his efforts. Plus, it would help in increasing his reputation amongst the local adventurers and the Northrend soldiers which would y an important role in his long term tenants n. I see, Bastion let out a sigh in response. Frost already had ns and given his tone there was likely no changing his mind. Come then lets head up to my office, we can catch up there. I can tell instinctively that youve gotten stronger, and Id love to hear about the how. Bastion sped Frosts shoulder tightly before leading him up to his office, Maya and the kids stood up and followed behind them, more than happy to no longer be the butt of curious and or unfriendly res. Bastion led the group into his office that was filled with document stacks that rivalled him in height. Kamey had swiftly manoeuvred some piles so as to open up space at the sofa and coffee table. It wasnt ideal but at least theyd have somewhere to sit and chat. Please make yourselves at home Kamey should be back in a few minutes with some refreshments. Bastion smiled like a friendly uncle as he saw the kids walk in nervously. Were fine for refreshments but it looks like you could really use a break. Frost couldnt help but notice the exhausted look in Bastions eyes, just as bad if not worse than Katos. Everyone was so overworked, yet the stampede hasnt even begun yet. Haaaaaaaaa why do you think I practically dragged you in here, this is my break. Bastion slumped down onto the sofa, his bones creaking as he did. Ive been neck deep in paper work for the past week or so, signing off on requests, reports, orders and discussing battle ns withmander of the frost wolf battalion all while being short, staffed Adam even in death youre causing nothing but chaos. Bastion shook his fist in the air, ming Adam for all this disorder. If it wasnt for his treacherous actions he wouldnt have to sift through all the staff members in the Furanos guilds and send his most trusted and skilled employees to handle the other two bastion towns. Thankfully however the stampede wasing soon and with it a sharp reduction in paperwork. Once the horde arrives hed be able to fight on the frontlines, letting out all his built up stress on the mindless monsters. Anyway, ignoring my problems lets talk about youd, its been what two weeks or so since west spoke, how have you been? Not wanting to talk about his time Bastion redirected the conversation to Frost and his activities. Last time they spoke Bastion was telling him about Darks revtion to the world and what that meant for the new monsterir or rather dungeon that appeared (his home). Well, where to begin? Frost then proceeded to give Bastion a summary of what happened to him over the past two weeks. His excursion into the cial mountains, the [beginners ice magic] monsterir as well as his meeting with Sam and L and his visit to Kranor. Hoh you had quite the adventured and from the sounds of it you met a great pair of teachers, no wonder your strength has risen by so much. Bastion nodded his head in praise as he listened to Frosts story. He was blown away by how much Frost had improved sincest they met; hed be surpassing himself shortly. Kamey came in shortly after Frost began talking with tea and biscuits before sitting next to Maya and engaging in some girl talk. Yeah I got lucky, and now thanks to them I can truly be considered an adventurer though Ive still got lots to learn. Frost felt proud of his education but not arrogant. Despite him being half a step into B-rank he knew that he still wasnt a match for someone like Bastion. Chapter 338 338 Chapter 338: Shocking report Still as modest as ever I see. Bastion smiled with joy as he listened to Frost say that he still had much to learn. Such a good attitude from someone so young and talented heralded great prospects, Frost would go far. Frost gently smiled in response; he wasnt as modest as Bastion imed. His origin was that of a Demi-god and his partner was a mighty S-rank fenrir, he certainly had nothing to be arrogant about at his current level. Frost ced his cup of tea down on the coffee table and assumed a serious atmosphere. I think its time we talk about the results of my scout work. He and Bastion had chatted amicably for the past 15 minutes or so, allowing the old man and his secretary to enjoy a short break but he was here on business and had many more people to visit. Bastion sighed before nodding in agreement, gesturing for Frost to give his report. I first examined section 23 of the Gamma sector over a week ago and spotted a number D-rank monsters as well as signs of battle and half eaten E-rank corpses, nothing to unusual given the timing but when I checked it out the second time.... Frost frowned as he remembered the situation that could have easily spelled his end if he wasnt careful. It was quiet, and a strong stench of blood filled the area something was very wrong. Eventually in the distance I spotted a veryrge corpse that was still mostly intact....there was no sign however of the aggressor. Bastion cupped his chin and frowned as he leaned over invested in Frosts words. Feeling that the situation was dangerous I had Kiba the cial winged tiger I contracted with stay out of sight while I investigated the corpse. Care to guess what species it was? Considering the area perhaps a yeti or pr bear. Frost shook his head while showing a teasing smile, really drawing Bastion into his story. Not even close, it was a baltic tiger. At the mention of baltic tiger, Bastions eyes opened wide and cold feeling surrounded his heart. ..... He knew exactly how strong baltic tigers were, the only thing that could take them down were C-rank monsters and up, this did not bode well. His gaze as he looked at Frost showed worry but given that Frost was here and well he must have handled it. Baltic tigers are very, very rarely found within the Gamma sector even when the monster stampede is looming. It must have been forced out of its natural habitat by a stronger aggressor. Such things weremon during the lead up to the monster stampede and once it happened enough times a frenzy takes hold and the stampede begins, a vast horde of maddened monsters rushing south. That was my guess but since it had been killed something even stronger must have been forced to the Gamma sector. From its wounds I could tell that it wasnt another baltic tiger and that in terms of battle capability it was sorely outmatched. I found out what killed it a momentter. Frost visibly shivered on purpose for dramatic effect since Nanna, Loki and Kamey were listening in with excited expressions. After noticing that its blood was still warm I felt a sudden sense of danger and Kiba roared out to warn me. The killer attacked me from behind at that moment, swooping down from the air with its talons outstretched. Frost could hear Kamey and the kids gasp out loud at his words, causing him to chuckle lightly before focusing on Bastion who currently sported a dark expression. A flyer with talons, the image of a certain monster sprung to the forefront of Bastions mind. An ice griffin. Bastion spoke with a heavy tone, panic clear in his eyes. Yes it was an ice griffin, the symbol of the Furano house. Frost confirmed Bastions guess but felt that something wasnt right, Bastion was a little too shocked. Bastion sharply rotated his neck towards Kamey and gave her an order Kamey get me the lie detecting equipment and the highest priority report forms. Kamey was momentarily dazed by the sudden order but quickly pulled herself together and left the office to fetch it. Sorry Frost its not as though I dont believe you, but such a situation is a major sign for the monster stampede, and it needs to be 100% confirmed, please dont feel offended. Bastion stood up from the sofa with a grievous look. Though he wanted the monster stampede toe soon so he wouldnt be inundated with paperwork now that it was officiallying he felt differently. Not at all Bastion do you what you need to do. Frost was a little bewildered by the mans reactions but didnt feel offended in the slightest. He nced over at Maya hoping she may have some answers, but she simply shook her head, not knowing why Bastion reacted the way he did. True there was a C-rank monster within the Gamma sector a strong sign that the stampede was looming, but Bastion almost seemed desperate. Kamey arrived with magic apparatus and proper forms a minuteter, she was breathing heavily since she literally ran at full speed. Without further ado Bastion hooked Frost up to the magic device which attached to the wrist and would beep whenever the wearer said a lie. Frost Im going to ask you for specifics about your encounter, please answer truthfully and in as much detail as you can. Ok. When you investigated sector 23 of the Gamma sector 2 days ago did youe across a C-rank ice griffin? Yes I did. No reaction from the device, proving that Frost wasnt lying. Bastions brow winced at his reply before continuing his line of questioning. How could you tell that it was an ice griffin? It matched the description found in the monster encyclopaedia that I purchased as well as what Dous told me about them. The monster stood at 4 metres in height, 7 in length, had the body of a lion and the head of an eagle. And from my senses as well as the ones of Kiba my contracted cial winged tiger its power was at the very minimum early C-rank. Frost answered to the best of his knowledge, the magic device didnt beep causing Bastion brow to crease even further. Last question if this truly was an ice griffin how did you manage to defeat it. Im not insulting your ability, but ice griffins are at the minimum middle C-rank and by your earlier statements you along with Sam and L two veteran C-rank adventurers struggled against a weaker ice revenant a couple days prior? This question was a little on the nose given that one may not wish to reveal their secrets in battle, but Bastion really had to be sure that what Frost fought truly was an ice griffin. Frost let out a sigh before answering this loaded question knowing that it woulde up. He knew his strength as well as Kibas, under normal circumstances thered be no way for them to win against an ice griffin at least not without serious injuries. Yet here he sat without a single hair out of ce. It was quite badly injured before the fight began. A hefty chunk was missing from its left hind leg andrge open scars could be seen across both its wings. Thus, it was significantly lumbered and forced to engage in a ground battle only. Kiba and I worked together to attack its already injured areas and it seemed to have entered a frenzy as its eyes turnedpletely red making predicting its movements easier. Frost reiterated his battle with the ice griffin in explicit detail never causing a reaction from the lie detecting magic device strapped to his wrist. I suspect that it fled from the inner regions of the cial mountains after losing a death battle, fleeing to the Gamma sector where it hunted weaker monsters to regain its strength. The baltic tiger was one such victim. This was his conclusion and likely the most urate, something stronger must have given the griffin those grievous wounds that allowed Kiba and him to cut it down. Haaaaaaaaaa fuck! Bastion cursed after letting out a deep sigh, but he had forgotten whosepany he was in. Maya and even Frost let out their aura, angered by thenguage he used in front of Nanna and Loki. Ugh sorry, slip of the tongue. Bastion felt a cold shiver down his spine as he endured the angry gazes of the young parents. Kamey youll be acting as a witness for this report, adventurer Frost fought and killed an ice griffin during his scouting quest in section 23 of the Gamma sector. He has been tested by the guilds lie detector and gave no falsehoods therefore the report is epted and to be treated as highest priority. Please give one copy to the Keeper while Ill take charge in informing the army and the lord viscount. The monster stampede will be here in less than a week. Kamey filled in the report as Bastion spoke, her nervousness building with each word. When Bastion said the monster stampede would arrive in under a week her entire body trembled, and her pencil fell to the floor. She looked weakly at her boss, receiving a strong nod in response before she saluted and left to inform the Keeper. Leaving Frost and his group quite puzzled by the situation. Chapter 339 339 Chapter 339: The sigil of house Furano I guess I should exin the situation in a little more detail. Said Bastion once Kamey had rushed out the door. Frost nodded in response keen to know how him fighting an ice griffin led to such a serious reaction. As the monster stampede grows closer, more and more fights over territory take ce with many of the losers heading south in defeat. Those defeated monsters then start fighting with the original habitants repeating the cycle. However, whenever a C-rank monster has been spotted within the first 6 sectors of the external regions its a clear sign that things are progressing quickly. Bastion spoke while frowning. Youre not the first one to have crossed paths with a C-rank monster during your scouting mission. In fact, youre the tenth which in itself is a major sign and would have called for a high priority report. Bastion and the Keeper had been keeping tabs on all activity reportsing in over the past couple weeks or so, making mental notes of encounters with irregr C-rank monsters. However, you encountered an ice griffin which changes things entirely. There was a mixture of emotions held within Bastions eyes as he gazed at Frost, respect, worry, fear, and confusion, all were present. Do you know why the symbol of house Furano is the ice griffin? No, why? Frost shook his head, Dous or Leo never did tell him the reason only that the Furanos had been guarding the cial mountains for centuries and had been around since the creation of the Northrend empire. The Furanos are the family charged with protecting the northern most part of the empire. Standing bastion against the cial mountains and the terrors it holds. They have remained the custodians for thisnd ever since it was first imed in Northrends name. And since then, they have adopted the ice griffin as their household symbol so that they never forget their primary duty. Bastion spoke with a tone full of reverence and respect, and an almost fervent glint present in his eyes. That duty being protection, defending Northrend from the recurring monster stampedes, crushing the horde before it can reach the fertilends behind. Frost felt his heart grow heavy, his respect for the Furanos deepening. Theyd endured such a charge for so long, never giving up, a house built on honour and duty...but that didnt exin why the ice griffin was their house sigil, a wall or a shield would be more apt no? Frosts confusion was evident on his face to which Bastion sought to rectify. The guild master took a deep breath before continuing. The ice griffin when in a maddened state and present within the southern external regions is tantamount to being a herald for the monster stampede. Since the very first recorded monster stampede and every one thereafter, ice griffins have been the sign before the storm. Its presence means that the stampede ising and soon. Bastion clenched his fists causing them to loudly crack. ..... The Furanos adopted the ice griffin sigil because of this, their household and the monster stampede are two sides of the same coin. As long as the stampedes exist the house of Furano will stand guard, the ice griffin stands as a symbol for their eternal duty, guardians of the north. ..... Frost and Maya were silent as this backstory sunk in, their hearts quickened, and fire flowed through their veins as they felt inspired by Bastion words. So cool! Loki couldnt help but speak out, his eyes sparkling showing his admiration for the Furanos. Nanna was very much the same, nodding her head as she found Douss family very honourable. Bastions mood seemed to ease up at seeing their expressions and was moved by his own telling of his friends family. Now you understand why I had Kamey rush to report to the Keeper with a highest priority level clearance. We have a week at most before it begins....are you sure that you dont want to stay here in Furano? Bastion couldnt help but ask again now that he knew the stampede would be here any day now. It was sure to be a major war and he could really use the assistance of someone like Frost or rather. His gaze inadvertently drifted towards Maya the woman that neither he nor Ryuu could see through, yet their instincts screamed danger asionally when in her presence. Frost smiled gently before shaking his head. Sorry no can do; duty calls me elsewhere but if itsts a while I should be able toe at thete stages. Id be best used during that time anyway. Frost really couldnt be away from his dungeon during the early and mid-stages of the stampede, way too risky. But near the end when most of the chaff have been dealt with and his impromptu external camp was underway theyd need someone with his capabilities. By that time Furano would have likely used up the majority if not all of its ammunition thus theyd need strong fighters to take down the high rank monsters in closebat, Frosts speciality. Just you? Bastion asked nervously, eyeing Maya. Frost visibly frowned, feeling slighted by Bastions question Yes itll just be me, cant have the kids somewhere that dangerous and Maya will have to take care of them. Although he could understand Bastions reasoning he couldnt help but feel a bit annoyed, he was right there and had already reached half step B-rank in terms of strength, yet Bastion clearly hoped that Maya woulde to their aid instead of him. If you knew she was a fenrir and S-ranked at that youd likely crap your pants. Maya seeing her young masters annoyed look couldnt help but lightly chuckle. Bastion however ignored the dirty look he was receiving from Frost and in turn Nanna and Loki since he indirectly insulted their master and let out a disappointed sigh. He didnt know what kind of foe would be contained in a monster stampede that had been dyed so long. Along with himself, Ryuu and even Dous, there were currently 8 B-rank fighters. The other 5 were all from the frost wolf battalion, 4 were majors with strength roughly equivalent to Bastion and Dous whereas thest one was a colonel, a mage that was even more prominent than Ryuu. An incredible amount of firepower but Bastion had a strong feeling that it wasnt enough. Hed already put in a special request to the adventurers guild in Arkheart, asking them to send B-rank adventurers and if possible an A-rank one but was yet to hear anything positive. It was unlikely for such helpers toe during the early and mid-stages anyway, even the majors and colonel were only here in the beginning so as to maintain order andmand their troops. They wouldnt take part personally until thete stages when the C-rank monsters attack. Bastion, Dous, and Ryuu however knowing far more about the stampedes felt a great threat looming, fearful that even with the 8 B-ranks and a battalion of fully armed soldiers and die hard adventurers the walls may be overrun before thete stages. Bastion didnt have the pleasure of being able to care for Frosts ego, showing hisplete disappointment in Maya not returning to aid them. Frost couldnt really stay mad as he saw the look in Bastions eyes, sympathising with the old guild master and his heavy burden. Haaaaaaaa I know how you feel Bastion, but Ill have to do plus I wont exactly be alone, Kiba will be there as well. Thus, youll have one more B-rank fighter and an entry C-rank cial winged tiger, it should count for something. Frost patted Bastions shoulder hoping to alleviate some of his burden. Right now, he was only half step B-rank but after a few weeks training with Maya and dealing with the stampede he was sure he could get his ive mastery to advanced level and fully step passed the threshold like his elder siblings Yami and Aqua. Bastions mood did seem to lighten up at Frosts words, an extra B-rank adventurer and a C-rank monster should certainly improve their aggregate power. Especially given that Frost was multiskilled in closebat, magic, and chakra plus Kiba being a possible aerialbatant made his entry C-rank power much more substantial, flyers were always harder to deal with. Bastion showed a weighty smile as thanks before leaning back in his chair, his exhaustion sinking in after receiving such a shock. A few minutester Kamey returned with a red face, the Keeper was sporting a simr expression as he followed behind her. He held within his hands his version of the report but wanted to confirm the intel, as well as meet this Frost that Bastion and Kamey had been buzzing about. Guild master is this true? The Keeper loudly asked, his hands clutching the report tightly and his eyes appearing bloodshot. No one within the entire guild hall was likely as exhausted as the Keeper. His job as Keeper had him in charge of the all the scouting reports and in leu of the monster stampede that was a lot of information to sieve through and report up the chain ofmand every few hours. A very demanding job for someone at his age but one he held great pride in. Chapter 340 340 Chapter 340: Receiving payment Bastion looked towards the Keeper with a serious expression. It is. Frost reported to me personally and has already been tested by the lie detector. Everything he said checks out, we are now on red alert. Make sure the information is passed along to the other towns and personnel, Ill inform the Lord Viscount and Colonel Hamon. The Keepers eyes shook at Bastions confirmation before he let out a deep sigh, scouting would be immediately postponed, and messages would be sent out to all local adventurers to return to the bastion towns in preparation for war. Another stampede was upon them and likely one of the Keepersst, given his advanced age. The old man turned to face Frost who sat across from Bastion, he ignored Nanna and Loki as well as Maya, hecked enough strength to see through her. So, this is the young man that Ive been hearing so much about. He took stock of the young Frost,paring him to the stories Bastion revealed to him as well as from Kameys endless praising. You are Frost, the new adventurer thats highly praised by the guild master as well as the ruling lord. Frost looked briefly towards Bastion and Kamey before responding I guess I am. He smiled gently towards the Keeper, showing neither arrogance nor ack of confidence, The Keeper was silent for a couple seconds before arge smile adorned his face Hahaha good, good, Furano could do with young blood such as you, keep up the good workd, I have high hopes. The Keeper chuckled before giving Bastion a solid salute. Understood guild master, Ill get to work right away, red alert. Energy seemed to return to the old mans body, he was full of vigour as he rushed out the door to enact Bastions orders. Red alert was the state Furano and the other bastion towns would enter whenever the monster stampede was on route to arrive within a week. The town would prepare for lockdown procedures, hunkering down for the long siege that was set toe. Civilians who wanted to leave before the stampede arrived would have 48 hours to get out otherwise theyd be locked in until the stampede was over so as to guarantee their safety. Only the refugees fleeing towards the bastion towns, the military and adventurersing to their as well food caravans arriving from the south were permitted to enter the bastion towns during the stampede, none however may be permitted to leave once the 48 hours were up, no exceptions. ..... Once Bastion spoke with Dous and Colonel Hamon and they confirmed the red alert status they would start informing the local popce. This was done by an expansive tannoy system that spanned throughout the town, a siren would go off announcing the red alert before Dous Furano would give a speech, dering the situation. The Furanos had been defending against the monster stampedes for centuries and hade to learn that the more involved the ruling nobles were and the sooner and calmer they announced the situation to the popce, the easier it was on them. By the time the monster stampede arrived at Furanos doorstep they would be more than prepared. The soldiers and local guards would be ready, armed to the teeth with weapons, armour and of course war machines. A disaster was a lot less devasting if you prepared for such an eventuality, a philosophy which Furano understands well. As the Keeper left the room Bastion spoke to Kamey Kamey please retrieve 3 gold coins from the vault as payment for Frost and the [White ws of Niflheim]. He gave out an order before looking at Frost. Considering the fact that you encountered not only a C-rank monster on your quest but the all-important Ice griffin youve earned this much at least. By the way if you have the remains well be more than happy to purchase them, Ill just need our materials master to examine them and give you a fair price. The 3 gold coins were just for his scouting report, half for the general scouting payment and the other for his high priority information and hazard pay. A nice addition that Frost weed given the happy smile on his face, receiving gold coins was always a pleasant experience. Kamey nodded her head before once again leaving the guild masters office. The 3 gold coins were official payment, so it had to be brought out of the guilds official coffers. I didnt bring the meat, but Ive got everything else from the feathers to the bones though there is a lot of damage considering the scars it had before we engaged in battle. Kiba also did quite a number on one of its wings so Frost didnt expect to get a super high price, but it was better than holding onto stuff that could degrade. It should be easier as well to sell to the guild since theyd likely buy up everything instead of just choice pieces like individual merchants. Thats fine well give you an appropriate price regardless. The guild can find uses for pretty much all high ranked materials especially during such tumultuous times. The smiths and tailors are currently working nonstop to provide weaponry, armour, ammunition and all manner or equipment for the stampede. Even if the materials are a little damaged sometimes quantity means more than quality. Bastion didnt care too much about damage, right now they needed materials regardless of quality. The red alert status would have them devour through their reserve of materials at rapid pace. Alright sounds like a deal. Frost shook Bastions hand, agreeing to sell the griffin parts to the guild. Mayas eyes currently radiated gold as she pictured what she could purchase with their sudden influx of cash. Now that she and Frost were an official couple she needed to purchase some impressive dresses, make up and all manner of things especially given that after the stampede shed have a rival topete against. The kids could also do with new stuff, clothes, training materials, books, toys, and the like. Frost had already promised a shopping trip and now with his influx of gold itd be so much less restricting. Kamey returned with Frosts gold a minuteter. Bastion used his guild master stamp on Frosts guild card, officially bringing his quest to a close and marking the first questpleted by the party [White ws of Niflheim] -even though it was solely Frost who did the work. With 3 gold coins richer Frost and his group followed Kamey down the stairs and towards the back section of the guild hall, where the material examiner worked. While Bastion brought out the guildsmunication crystal and contacted Dous and Colonel Hamon, to report the situation. Ring ring ring kacha Bastion what is it were really swamped here? The one who answered was not Dous but Ryuu, his court mage and the third person in their little trio of best friends. Haaaaaaa you dont think I know that Ryuu, Im swamped here as well, wheres Dous and Cassandra I need to speak with them its urgent. Ryuu was in no mood to deal with extra work which seemed to alwayse whenever Bastion called. Bastion would normally engage in an argument with his long time friend for speaking in such an annoyed tone with him but now was not the time. I need to request a red alert. He spoke with a solemn tone, his eyes staring right at Ryuus face. .....Ill go get him right now. Ryuu was silent for a couple seconds as he took in what Bastion said before immediately putting on a serious expression and running to fetch Dous. A momentter Dous appeared with Ryuu standing behind him both sporting stern expressions. Speak, Dous gave a simple order to which Bastion reported exactly what Frost told him and the results of the lie detector test. Haaaaaaaa Dous let out a long sigh as he massaged his forehead. He should have been ted that Frost was back in Furano but the information he brought with him was disconcerting. Another stampede was here, meaning another disaster to endure. Permission granted Bastion, Ill begin preparation for the red alert, contact Colonel Hamon and tell him the news, were going to be very busy for the next few days. With that Dous ended the call, the red alert would be enacted, and hed have to inform the popce. Kamey led Frost and the rest down to the storage area of the guild that actually took up more than half of the entire building. Here theyd examine monster materials and temporary store them before sending them to where they needed to go. They also had dismantlers that would take apart entire corpses at a professional level so as to ensure minimal damage to the useful parts. Over a dozen people could be seen hard at work but next to arge pr bear corpse a veryrge and musclebound bear beastmen could be seen carving it up like it was made of butter. This was the man in charge of materials sent to the guild, Grisham. Chapter 341 341 Chapter 341: The refurbished manor Grisham was part of the bear beastmen tribe like Jared Bando(The Major in the War Ursa battalion that Frost met shortly after entering the cial mountains), strong and powerful. He was currently carving up the corpse of a pr bear monster with incredible finesse as though its muscles and flesh were made of butter. Kamey didnt call him over the moment they arrived but chose to wait until Grisham was done carving so as to not interrupt his concentration. Frost was thus able to watch Grishams deft movements with appreciation, finding the man to be very skilled with his de. A few movementster Grisham was finished, and he noticed Kamey waiting quietly with a group he didnt recognise. He smiled lightly, appreciating her forethought in not interrupting him, she had learned from her mistakes. Kamey how can I help you today? He asked with a smile but looked quite intimidating given the amount of blood sttered on his apron. Nanna and Loki subconsciously trembled and hid behind Frost and Maya but Grisham wasnt bothered, he was used to identally frightening people when he was in work mode. The guild master needs you to evaluate the choice materials Frost here has on hand and give an appropriate price. Once she said that Kamey whispered into Grishams ear that it was an ice griffin causing therge mans eyes to open wide in shock. He never suspected that the young elf before him was capable of taking down an ice griffin, but he also realised what this meant. Come with me. Grisham led Frost, Kamey, and the rest into his personal workspace, reserved for dealing with choice materials as Kamey put it. He closed the door once everyone was inside. Has the guild master enacted a red alert? Grisham asked with a tinge of nervousness in his voice. Yes, the Keeper should get around to informing the staff shortly. Haaaaaaaaa, Grisham let out a deep sigh before turning his eyes to Frost. Please unload the materials onto the counter. Now that the red alert was going to be enacted he needed to work at an even faster pace. ..... Frost nodded before removing all the parts of the ice griffin he collected and ced them on the massive countertop. Grisham gave a cursory nce, nodding slightly. Theres a lot of damage to some areas but it seems as though you took it apart with eptable losses. Im quite swamped at the moment so give me a couple hours to check it thoroughly and I promise to give you a worthy estimate. Kamey here can take care of your receipt, just drop by the guild once Im done to receive payment. Grisham quickly got to work, analysing the materials, not wishing to waste any time. Kamey thus filled out a receipt form and stamped both it and Frosts guild card, connecting them magically before leading Frost, Maya, and the kids back out into the guilds reception hall. Since she was also in a rush to get back to work she waved goodbye before dashing up to the guild masters office, promptly returning to her position as his secretary. Well, that was a little more exciting than I expected. Frost stood outside the guild hall, his coin purse feeling much heavier and a smile adorned his lips. The news that the monster stampede would arrive within a week was good news for the dungeon. He wouldnt have to wait long before raking in massive amounts of DP. Another couple days of desperate adventurer activity should gain him more than enough DP to purchase additional individual monsters such as the frost revenants, elementals or even the lesser yuki-onnas Finy advised him to put some focus on. If his knowledge was to be believed then this stampede wouldst for a few weeks at least, meaning a lot of DP and a lot of experience to be gained by his monsters. Frost was keen to expand his monster repertoire even further through evolutions. Finy had taken it upon himself to evolve those that had reached max level during his absence thus unlocking the priest and warrior castes for the frost dwarves as well as a new tier for the frost spiders and artic stags. Frost spitting spiders, E-rank 190DP: Frost spiders that can not only fire freezing webs but also frost poison darts, still very afraid of fire. Great horned stag, E- rank, 130DP: the next stage of artic stag, slightlyrger and more muscr with ice sharpened antlers that can pierce through foes with ease. The spiders had a few other choices to choose from but only a single one managed to reach max level without dying. The remaining were a few levels shy, something that could easily be achieved during the monster stampede. The early stages would be filled with massive amounts of low rank monsters perfect for his upper ranked monsters to ughter without much danger. Frost was really looking forward to this long term stampede that would pass by his dungeons territory. Seems that we really cant stay here long young master. Maya replied with a hint of warning. If the monster stampede was due to arrive in under a week they had even less time to prepare given their proximity to the cial mountains. Frost turned around to his partner with a smile, picking up on her subtle hint. I know, well stay for a maximum of one night so lets go and visit Dous and Cassandra first then we can go shopping. His suggestion earned him a round of happy smiles. The group mounted Kiba and headed towards the Viscounts manor. Frost was eager to learn more about Douss family lineage as well as his personal experience in regards to the stampedes. Thanks to Kibas quick speed they made it the manor faster than any carriage. The two same guards were standing at the gate, looking imposing and stalwart, yet pride could now be seen in their eyes as they protected the Viscounts manor. The manor that was in desperate demand for some skilled TLCst time Frost was here was indistinguishable to what it was now. The entire ce had received a luxurious paint job and all the cracks had been carefully filled in. No more wayward vines or unkempt nt life, it had had a thorough makeover, bringing it back to the dignity it once had. This was a manor worthy of a Viscount and his family; Frost and the rest were very keen to see what had transpired internally given how good the outside now looked. Hopefully now the ce would radiate warmth and cleanliness instead of being covered in dust and feeling neglected. Many new servants could be seen hard at work all over the property bringing it up to code whereas the guards walked with confident gaits and proud expressions, this was an entirely different ce to when Adam was still alive, far more refreshing, and noble like. The two gate guards quickly recognised Frost and Maya; they couldnt help but smile despite their stoic attitudes. These were the people responsible for their current glory, the saviours of their lord anddy. Sir Frost wee back to Furano, please allow me to guide you inside and announce your presence. The guard on the left happily offered to lead Frost and his group in. Thank you. Frost nodded his head before having Kiba follow the man into the courtyard and up to the grand entrance. We can take care of your monster mount while youre inside, the lord anddy will be very happy to see you. The guard ced his arm across his chest, vowing to treat Kiba well while Frost and his group were inside. Though Kiba was contracted it was very against protocol to allow a monster inside the manor as it wasnt designed for massive 3 metre tall tigers. Thankfully however due to the high powered maintenance done on the manor the mount stables were back up to code, granting Kiba a sufficient rest area. Many nobles had monster mounts serving as transport thus they needed somewhere to keep them therefore many nobles kept areas for such creatures within their courtyards. Currently however the Furanos mount stables served as a station for some of the higher ranking military mounts owned by the Frost Wolf battalion. So Kiba would not be alone, an interesting prospect for the young cial winged tiger. Very well, Kiba behave while were inside. We shouldnt be too long. Frost and the rest dismounted and petted Kibas soft fur as a servant came and guided Kiba to the monster mount stables. Head butler please inform the lord anddy that Sir Frost and Lady Maya have arrived. The guard called out to the new head butler, handing over the reigns of guide to him before heading back to his station. The head butler was someone Frost didnt recognise but the man certainly recognised him. He had a rather frantic expression on his face before resting his eyes on Frost and Maya. Perfect thats wonderful, Im sure the lord anddy would be delighted, pleasee this way, Ill take you right to them. The head butler was all smiles as he lead Frost and his group upstairs. Many servants passed by in a desperate rush, hard at work but many couldnt help but bow in respect towards Frost and Maya as they passed, clearly recognising them. Chapter 342 342 Chapter 342: Meeting Dous again The Lord Viscount has been hard at work over the past few days and just received some distressing news, hopefully by seeing you his mood would be uplifted. The head butler spoke with a concerned tone as he led Frost and his group towards an office room where Dous was currently residing. Internally the manor was just as renovated as the outside, new wallpaper, carpets, cleaned out rooms, the servants had done a real through job over the past several weeks. Quickly brining the entire manor back up to snuff, as though the past couple years never happened. Knock knock What is it? An annoyed voice sounded from behind the office door, clearly not happy at being interrupted from his work. Master, Sir Frost and Lady Maya are here to visit. The head butler replied with a confident smile. After a couple seconds of silence rustling could be heard from the room as well as the sound of powerful steps. The door was opened revealing Dous standing tall and full of vigour, a sharp contrast to the weakened and near death state he was in when Frostst saw him. Though he had bags under his eyes the man had regained a great deal of his lost weight and his skin had pinked up. The shadow of the man that was once a B-rank adventurer could be seen; Dous was clearly far on the mend. Frost, Maya and little Nanna and Loki its wonderful to see you all, Bastion just reported to me what happened with your scouting quest. We owe you a lot for that integral information. Dous showed a wide grin and his eyes glittered as they passed over Nanna and Loki. He and Ryuu were currently in the middle of discussing the protocols for the red alert after receiving Bastions report, very serious stuff. Nanna and Lokis adorable appearances were just what he needed to recharge. After his wife demanded another child he too had warmed up to the idea. Dous expected Frost and Maya toe at some point given their arrival in Furano but not right away, he couldnt help but feel a little moved by their actions. It showed that he and his family were high up in their list of friends. No problem Dous, I epted the quest and just reported what happened, simple as that. Plus, the guilds already given me ample payment for the quest and agreed to purchase the damaged remains of the ice griffin as well. Frost smiled back towards his friend while patting his heavy coin purse. ..... Have we caught you at a bad time? Bastion said something about a red alert state so we cane backter if youd prefer. Frost offered as he saw several staff members behind Dous hard at work sifting through documents. Ryuu was one of them, but he was too focused to even notice their arrival. Unfortunately, yes, Ryuu and I need to go over a lot of stuff before we properly enact the red alert status, and it cant be put off. Dous let out a sigh before responding. Though hed love to take a break and catch up with Frost and his family he really couldnt afford to, Ryuu wouldnt let him hear the end of it if he ditched him with all the work. The image of his son Leo popped into his mind along with a few choice words. The so called heir to the territory was noticeably absent. I cant catch up with you right now, too much work but how about we do dinner tonight here in the manor. Ill try to move the schedule around so everyone can be there. Dous came up with apromise. By dinner time the red alert protocol would have already been enacted and he, at least would have some free time. Though the red alert signified war and danger once it was in ce he as the ruling lord would actually have a lighter workload. Everything would follow pre-set rules and arrangements in regards to running the territory and the military would take control of the most of the defences. He would just have to coordinate with Colonel Hamon and Bastion. Once youve dealt with disaster enough, survival bes rtively simple. Frost couldnt help but feel a little disappointed, he wanted to hear more about the uing stampede from the point of the ruling lord but guess thatd have to wait. Ok that sounds good, well join you for dinner tonight. We n to stay in Furano anyway before heading back tomorrow, this is just a short visit. So soon, youre not staying within Furano for the stampede? Dous asked nervously, eyeing Nanna and Loki as he worried about their safety. Sorry duty requires that we be somewhere else during the stampede, but Ill try ande back near theter stages and offer up my de. Frost responded in much the same way as he did with Bastion, he couldnt be here, he was a dungeon core and not a resident of Furano, his priorities differed. Haaaaaaaa oh well to each their own I guess, therell always be a shelter for you here if you change your mind however. Dous let out another sigh, shaking his head in disappointment. If Frost and Maya stayed with them not only would he be able to guarantee the kids safety, but theyd have a very powerful addition to their defence. Douss instincts as a noble made him realise relying on Maya the woman neither he nor Ryuu could see through would be pointless. People with that level of strength had different levels of what they deem worth their time. Frost however seemed to be more than willing to rush into battle, a powerful young man that could face off against an ice griffin ande out victorious. Even if he wasnt B-rank he likely wasnt far from it, hed make a powerful addition to the towns defences. Thank you for the offer, we definitely appreciate it. Frost showed a gentle smile and nodded his head in thanks as did Maya. Bastion then looked up to the clock that hanging in his office, 11am Ryuu and I are quite busy, but Cassandra should be free. Why dont you go out to lunch with her, my treat of course. Dous thought of his darling wife whod also been overworked and stressed recently. A nice meal out with Maya and the kids could do wonders for her mental state. Maya answered instead this time. That sounds perfect well do that then, Frost already promised to take me and the kids out shopping so having here along would make the journey that much more pleasant. Plus, Ive missed the tasty dishes at the phoenix fledgling restaurant. She disyed a charming smile beautifully hiding her desire to eat at the most expensive restaurant in town. Frosts lips couldnt help but twitch in response as did Douss. He looked at this charming and beautiful wolf woman with intrigue, her personality was so like his wifes. Dous didnt balk at the cost of eating at the phoenix fledgling restaurant, he was a noble and after retrieving a fair amount of goods from Adamspound he had surplus cash. Perfect its a deal then, you can find her in one of the reception rooms round about now, have the head butler here lead you. Dous smiled boldly towards Maya, ovepping his wifes younger face with hers as he replied. To which Maya showed an even wider smile, she wasnt going to go easy with her order, more than willing to take advantage of Douss money. Nanna and Loki however couldnt understand the subtle meaning of their discussion, just excited that they could eat at the phoenix fledgling restaurant again. Ryuu quicke and say goodbye to Frost and his family, we wont fall behind because a ten second break. With ns set Dous shouted towards Ryuu still in the office who had yet to even raise his head in acknowledgement. In response the severely sleep deprived court mage looked up towards the door and finally noticed Frost and his family. Ah! Frost its good to see you and Miss Maya pleasure as always. Nanna, Loki I hope Frosts been good to you these past few weeks. Ryuu quickly got up out his chair knocking several paper documents to the floor, but he didnt care at the moment. Frost and his family were here, theyre far more important that a little mess. He bowed respectively to Maya to which she curtsied in reply while Nanna and Loki both nodded their heads with vigour. Ryuu was another person embedded in their hearts, he was there with Frost and Luna at their darkest moments. Sorry Id really like to catch up with you but theres mountains of work to be done. Ryuus greeting was polite and brief, he promptly returned to his desk, diving back into his pile of documents, not even taking the full ten second. Haaaaaaaa hes unfortunately right. Ill see you all at dinner tonight oh and feel free to sleep here if you want, Ill have the servants prepare you a suite. Dous sighed again before waving and closing the door, an exhausted expression returning to his face. The madams right this way. The head butler who had moved out the way while his master and Frost were speaking walked up and gestured for everyone to follow him. He knew his master was hard at work, but a short visit from friends certainly improved his mood. He was a good butler, very aware of his superiors health and mental states. Frost, Maya, and the kids thus followed the head butler to where Cassandra was, though Frost had a nagging thought in his mind. Wheres Leo and Luna? Chapter 343 343 Chapter 343: Rift between parents and child Wheres Leo and Luna? Frost asked himself. Dous, Ryuu, Bastion, and likely Cassandra were hard at work preparing for the monster stampede, yet he saw no sign of Leo or Luna, the supposed heirs to the territory. Wasnt Dous supposed to be grooming him to take over? When they chatted over themunication crystal it was clear that Leo was being worked to bone, Dous and his wife dumping a lot of responsibility on his shoulders while they rekindled their passion so to speak. Frost fully expected to see an exhausted Leo hard at work like everyone else or at least for Dous to bring up his son in conversation but he noticeably avoided the topic. He had to admit he was rather curious about what became of his young friend and his fianc. He couldnt have eloped with Luna after being unable to endure the heavy workload or his parents marital activities, could he? Frost didnt peg Leo for the running away type, Luna even less so. The head butler led them towards arge reception room wherein Cassandra could be seen talking with what looked to be merchants. Calder, Sebastians favoured grandson was present in the room. Cassandra unlike Chia was very apt when it came to running the territory, in particr the business side. Being from a rather well off though low ranking noble family she was always surrounded by business during her childhood. She was in charge of the resources being supplied to and generated in Furano for the duration of the monster stampede. The top merchants stationed within the territory as well as her most able servants were here discussing the rations to be provided, calcting costs, timescales as well as the volume of food and drink needed through the disaster and the due dates for resupply caravans from the south. It was number crunching work but everyone here was suited to such duties. Calder was sent in Sebastians ce given the mans highly advanced age and for his grandson to gain some experience. Such duties would fall on his shoulders once the old man does eventually pass. ..... Though young it was clear that Calder was highly skilled in his profession as the other top merchants epted his presence and even deferred many decisions to this up anding talent. The door was left open so as to let the servants routinely enter with more documents, food, drink etc.. without interrupting their discussion. Calder whats our projections for refugeesing within the next week? Cassandras voice could be heard by Frost and the rest. We expect at least 15,000 given the census performed during thest stampede but given that the Lord Viscount is going to enact the red alert they could all appear within a couple days, frantic and distressed. Calder replied back with a frown, the numbers werent a problem, something they had prepared for but to grant them all ess in such a short time would be difficult. Thered be riots for sure, something they really didnt need. Haaaaaaaa, its pretty much the same every stampede, well manage, we always do. A rather rotund beastman from the rat tribe, showed an optimistic expression though his smile seemed rather forced. Alben is right Lady Cassandra, weve prepared a lot for this stampede and though we had some problems in the beginning were more than ready to weather this storm. The refugees will arrive and be taken care of sessfully of this Im sure. Another man who was a fox beastman -slim with sharp features- spoke out in support of the rat beastman merchant. Theyd been here for several hours and ran the numbers, it was doable even if the refugee numbers were 50% greater. Food, drink, shelter, and hell even work was ounted for, for at least a period of 2 months. As long as the refugees reached Furano or one of the other two bastion towns their safety and prosperity would be guaranteed. Haaaaaaa very well, weve likely done all we can. Cassandra let out a powerless sigh. Head back to your businesses and prepare for the red alert, well meet back up here at the same time tomorrow to rify everyones reserves. Thank you for your service. Cassandra stood up from her chair and present a bow to the merchants present here. She caught sight of the head butler heading into the room as she did along with a group of guests she hadnt seen in quite some time. What perfect timing. Cassandra showed a very bright smile as her back straightened. She saw Frosts handsome face as well as that of Mayas and the two kids trailing behind them. Her meeting had just finished so she had plenty time to entertain. The merchants present replied with a deeper bow as a sign of respect before calmly ushering themselves out of the reception room. Alben and the fox tribe merchant didnt recognise Frost or Maya, so they walked passed with only a short nod, but Calder did. Sir Frost youre back in Furano, a pleasure to make your acquaintance once again. Calder showed a very warm smile as he sped Frosts hand and shook it in greeting. Calder, youre looking busy. Yes, yes I am. Calder nodded his head in reply before letting go of Frosts hand, he couldnt stay and chat. Please doe and visit our gship store when you get a chance. My grandfather hasmissioned a fair few new books and Id love for the kids toe take part in the little fashion show that they inspired. Itd be great for business, and I can offer you a good deal on outfits. He showed a mercantile expression towards Maya in particr to which her eyes glittered with promise. Does that deal include adult clothes or just childrens? Maya smiled with interest. She nned on updating her wardrobe now that she and Frost were officially dating, some revealing and provocative dresses would be required. Calder being the avid businessman caught onto the scent of money, he showed a knowing look with Maya, his eyes shing on asion to Frost. Im sure we can work something out hehehe. Heughed lightly full of subtle connotations, Maya did the same,ughing while showing an innocent expression but to Frost all he saw was a money subus and an evil enabling merchant that wanted to drain him dry of all his hard earned coin. His initial reaction was a punch to the gut as he imagined his money vanishing, never to return but then he thought about it in a positive light. The kids would get clothes and hed be happy regardless how much that cost given that they were so cute and relied upon him for everything. Maya was the issue, her desire for clothes was bottomless and such a waste. Hed never seen her wear the same dress more than once despite her being so adept at using cleaning magic, frivolous was an understatement. However, now that they were a couple and that that would be the likely excuse shed use for spending so much money he could use that to his advantage. Calder swiftly left after his short exchange, he rubbed Nanna and Lokis heads before walking away with the other merchants. Lady Cassandra, Sir Frost, Lady Maya and young Nanna and Loki are here to visit you. The head butler introduced them, but it was unnecessary, Casandra saw and recognised them. The moment Nanna and Loki walked through the door the middle-aged mother appeared before them in a sh, wrapping them up in a big hug, rubbing her cheeks against theirs as though in a trance. The head butler silently left them alone in their reunion, a proud and gentle smile on his face as he left. Frost and Maya looked at one another rather shocked by Cassandras actions, theyd just overheard her in her professional capacity yet now she was acting like a young woman with baby fever. She didnt even greet the two of them, her attention entirely focused on Nanna and Loki who were also taken aback. Oh, Ive missed the two of you so much! God youre even cuter than I remember and youve both put on weight making you oh so squishy! Cassandra was almost squealing as she attempted to envelop the two children in her arms. Nanna and Loki were squished against Cassandras soft body and struggled to breath but their attempts to escape were rathercklustre. In fact, their eyes grew puffy and red as they fought to hold back tears of joy, their hearts felt so warm and full while being hugged by Cassandra. They really didnt want to leave her warm embrace, an embrace of a mother. Eventually however Cassandra relented. Once she got her child cuteness recharge she stood up and straightened out her clothes, returning to her usual expression as though thest minute didnt happen. Frost, Maya its good to see the two of you. Youre looking well and from my earlier check youve been taking good care of Nanna and Loki. Cassandra showed a warm and caring expression as she looked at Frost and Maya. Her tone and eyes made it seem as though she was speaking to her niece and nephew. To her Frost, Maya and the kids were already family, just like Leo and Luna. Chapter 344 344 Chapter 344: Rift between parents and child (2) Maya and Frost returned the warm smile as they greeted Cassandra who they hadnt seen in several weeks. Its good to see as well Cassandra, youre looking as radiant as ever. Frost wasnt just ttering Cassandra, despite her eyes looking a little tired the woman looked positively glowing after hugging Nanna and Loki. Her recent activities with her husband clearly doing wonders for her mood and skin. Hehehehehe still such a charmer young Frost, thank you. Cassandra smiled joyfully; it was always nice to be praised. She moved in a gave both of them a quick hug before asking for everyone to sit down on the sofa so they could catch up. Dous told me that it was thanks to your scout work that the red alert is being enacted, thank you. Cassandra first gave thanks in her capacity asdy Viscount of the territory. No problem Cassandra just doing what I was requested to do, no need for thanks. Ok then what brings you here to the manor? Were rather busy at the moment with the red alert about to go out so I doubt the old men could spare anytime for you. By old men she was referring to Bastion, Dous, and Ryuu. We noticed that. Everyone seems incredibly busy including you given what we just witnessed.....by the way wheres Leo and Luna shouldnt they be here helping out? Frost finally asked the question that was bugging him. In response Cassandras lips twitched and a guilty expression could be seen on her face before she let out a sigh. Leo and Luna decided to move out of the manor, apparently staying here with me and Dous was a bit.... distracting would be an appropriate word. Cassandra couldnt help but blush a little from embarrassment, knowing full well what drove her near adult son and his fianc to leave the house. Maya couldnt help but smile towards Cassandra as she gave her a thumbs up, praising her actions. Anyway alongside that problem Leo was a bit overwhelmed with the whole endless stream of paperwork and meetings that he had to manage while Dous was in recovery. By the time he was healthy again and able to take over the majority of the duties required by the head of the household, the frost wolf battalion had arrived, so Leo and Luna ditched their governing jobs to help out with the army and the towns defences. The dull paperwork and mind numbingly boring stuff was thus reverted back to Dous who well lets just say it pissed him off a great deal so try not to bring it up in his presence. Cassandra lightly giggled as she remembered her husbands face when he learned he would have to deal with the entire monster stampede protocols himself while his son was off doing exciting physical work. He was supposed to be doing this alongside Leo or rather Leo doing most of it while he advised from the side, enjoying the feeling of passing the torch on just like his father had done for him all those years ago. But given that the little bastard moved out he couldnt shout and yell at him when he came back home after work. Leo even avoided contacting him through hismunication crystal, focusing entirely on the fun parts of the monster stampede i.e. the non-paperwork stuff. The things Dous really, really wanted to personally do this year given his newfound health. ..... More than a few times Cassandra, Ryuu, Bastion, and even the servants could hear him mutter traitor under his breath whenever Leo was brought up. In hindsight however it was probably better that Leo wasnt in charge of this monster stampede, best to leave it to the more experienced individual when things were looking bleak. Adams actions casted a pall upon the territory, making everything twice as hard to aplish and with much greater cost if they should fail. Given the fragility -as some other nobles put it- of the Furano households control over their own territory and family, if they failed to properly defend against this stampede some houses may request that they be removed from their duties as defenders of the north. After so many stampedes and Douss apt leadership the monster stampedes which used to be disasters and plights changed into great deals of profit which some insidious nobles wanted control of, by any means necessary. Dous was sure that his younger brothers betrayal and actions were assisted by these same said nobles, and hed do anything to make sure they didnt get their way. Dous knew this so his anger towards Leo was only skin deep, caused by frustration from the severeck of sleep and problems that kept cropping up. Plus to be honest Leo and Luna were being very helpful in their own way just not in regards to paperwork and the dull parts of the job. Ill try and call himter; itd be a shame toe all this way and not meet up. Frost offered to reach out to Leo who was likely avoiding taking his parents calls. Are you not staying long? Cassandra asked rather surprised, the red alert was about to be enacted so she thought for sure Frost would be sheltering in Furano with Maya and the kids. It was the most defended ce after all. No well be staying for one night before heading back home. This visit was mainly to report our quests findings as well as to do some shopping in town. Maya wants to get some new outfits for herself and the kids while I need to visit the weapon shop Leo took me to, to get some work done on my ive. Actually given that your meeting has just finished would you like to join us for lunch, Dous said itd be on him so we can go wherever you want. Frost told Cassandra about Douss offer making her feel loved. Even though his workload was so hectic he still made time to make sure his wife was doing well, a very devoted husband. That sounds magical, Its been almost a week since Ive left the manor for anything rxing. Cassandras eyes sparkled as she epted the offer, very keen to get out and rx with friends. Do you mind if I join you in your shopping trip as well, I know some amazing outfits that would fit these two angels perfectly. Cassandra leaned down and lightly pinched Nanna and Lokis cheeks. That would be perfect, Nanna, Loki would you like to go shopping with Lady Cassandra? ... Nanna and Loki were quiet, still not used to being on the receiving end of such strong affection but eventually they both nodded with smiles, eager to spend time with Cassandra. The woman in question felt an arrow pierce her heart at how cute and adorable these two munchkins were. Im so gonna buy them the best clothes avable. Cassandra looked at Nanna and Loki with determination, shed spare no expense to doll these two up. With their ns set the group headed off to the [money pit] district where in the best restaurants and shops were established. The head butler had already arranged for Cassandras carriage to be ready and waiting in the courtyard for their arrival. Frost visited the monster stables to check in on Kiba. They wouldnt be taking him with them given how impractical it would be. The [money pit] would be incredibly crowded so arge, winged tiger would likely be refused entry just like how carriages were. Better for him to stay in the monster stables instead of the carriage park. When Frost arrived at the monster stables Kiba was sitting across from two ice wolves -the mounts of the high ranking officers in the frost wolf battalion. They appeared to be getting along really well and seemed to be having a discussion, given the back and forth howls and chuffs. Kiba were heading off for some shopping and will be backter, are you good here? Rawr! Kiba turned around and patted his chest with his paw before returning to his conversation with the ice wolves. Frost understood that as a yes, so he turned away and headed for the luxurious carriage with a smile on his face. Kiba was making friends, that was good news. The carriage managed to fit all five of them without any issue and came with ample storage space for their inevitable shopping bags. Cassandra even brought with her some storage rings just in case it wasnt enough. How much are you nning on buying? Frost shook his head in confusion still underestimating the desire for clothes that many women had, especially those with a lot of coin to spend. As Cassandra saw it her spending copious amounts of coin within her own territory not only got her nice things but was great for the local economy, a win-win. In the carriage they engaged in friendly chatter, using the time to catch up on what happened to one another since thest time they met. Maya boldly asked about Cassandras and Douss attempts at producing another child which caused Cassandra to blush and Frost to cough out of shock. Not expecting Maya to be so upfront. Unfortunately nothing yet but Im not one to give up. Cassandra replied while showing a resolved expression before whispering a few other details into Mayas ear, things that she didnt feelfortable with Frost overhearing or the kids who were looking rather confused. They were too young to understand her embarrassment and didnt know the process in how a baby came about. Frost however did and now the image was stuck in his head, he looked out the window to distract himself, causing the two women to giggle before re-engaging in their girl talk. Chapter 345 345 Chapter 345: New outfits Frost, Cassandra, Maya, and the kids were dropped off in front of the Phoenix fledgling restaurant where they partook in a delicious lunch courtesy of Dous before the carriage then took them to the [money pit] for some shopping, Sebastians or rather Calders gship store to be precise. Ill take Nanna and Loki to the childrens clothes section to try on those outfits I spoke of why dont the two of you enjoy some alone time before joining us. Cassandra offered while holding onto Nanna and Lokis hands. During the carriage ride Maya revealed that Frost and her had begun officially dating and that she was looking for some new clothes to win him over. Cassandra rmended a few areas in Calders mall which caught Mayas interest. Thank you well take you up on that, lets go Frost. Maya wrapped her arm around Frosts, dragging him towards the female clothing section while waving goodbye to Cassandra and the kids with a smile on her face. Frost didnt resist, eagerly looking forward to assisting in her choosing her outfits. Regardless of what Maya wore shed be beautiful, but Frost had quickly learned that he had his own taste in fashion, particrly in what hed like to see either Maya or Daki wearing. Frost would also be purchasing some outfits based upon his girlfriends tastes. Though his noble robes were very fitting for near all asions Maya wanted to see him in different styles and colours. While Cassandra had fun with many other mothers, grandmothers and shop clerks dressing up the adorable Nanna and Loki in all manner of outfits, sparking off another fashion show, Frost was enjoying his own private show. Maya would try on any and all manner of beautiful and sexy dresses finding out which ones garnered the best reaction. This was followed by him doing the same for her. While he showed a fondness for skin tight dresses that generously promoted her curves such as the red and white qipao she wore the day they met she enjoyed seeing her new boyfriend in a tailored suit, ck or midnight blue with a red shirt. When Frost walked out in that get up she had to wipe away her drool, his appearance was absolutely devastating. In his white and blue robes Frost gave off a noble and schrly maism, but with the dark suit and red shirt he became seductive, a much more wild feel that suited him well. Seeing Mayas obvious reaction as well as the not so subtle looks from the other shoppers plus his own opinion on how he looked in the mirror Frost called out to the nearest clerk. Ill take two sets of this outfit please. He didnt even bother to look at the price that was sure to be sky high for such well stitched fabric. Maya clearly liked it so thats all that mattered. He did the exact same thing for a few outfits that she showed off, immediately adding them to the order the second she left the changing room. Yes sir, will that be all? A handsome clerk asked while another moved to retrieve two fresh sets of the outfit in Frosts size. ..... My, my you certainly have great taste in clothes Sir Frost and Lady Maya. Before Frost could respond to the clerk, Calder appeared with a smile on his face, his eyes showing a glint as he examined Frost in the suit. The young dungeon core put all of his fashion models to shame, he smelled a financial opportunity. Grant Frost here a 20% discount on all of his purchases today, on me. Calder gave an order to the handsome clerk who was in charge of this area. Understood sir. The handsome clerk bowed slightly before assisting the other clerks in arranging Frost and Mayas purchases. Even with the 20% discount theyd make a substantial profit in selling the chosen clothes. Each of them had quite high price tags and were usually only purchased by the very wealthy and nobles. However it was very rare for the purchaser to look so good in them, the clothes were going to an appropriate home. Something the designer could appreciate. Youre very generous today Calder.....whats the catch? Frost asked with a gentle smile, he noticed the glint in the merchants eyes. Calder was a thorough business man, someone who wouldnt give out benefits to others unless he could profit in some way. They were already established acquaintances perhaps even friends, so the discount wasnt to generate a rtionship. Hahahaha am I that obvious? Calderughed lightly before continuing. Its not really a catch, just a little request, youre free to decline however and Ill still give you the discount. Frosts eyes narrowed as he prepared himself to hear this so called request. Nanna and Loki have once again gathered quite a crowd downstairs providing a substantial business opportunity, along with Lady Cassandra participating were likely rake in a record amount of daily sales in our childrens clothing department. Calders eyes sparkled as he spoke, so much money being made with no set up costs, a merchants dream. I was thinking that Id like to try something simr for our adult clothing department. Utilising some very attractive models to highlight the clothes, making them more appealing to the customers. Calder already had this idea in mind butcked some truly eye grabbing talent in terms of models. Children were far easier since they just needed to be cute, the demands not nearly as rigid. Frost and Maya however more than met the criteria, young, super attractive not only in looks but also shape. They could really bring out the best in the clothes they had to offer. Not only would sales sky rocket, local designers could make a name for themselves. As a talented merchant he couldnt help but ask for Frost and Mayas assistance in this matter. You want Maya and I to model for you like in that childrens fashion show you set up? Frost eyed Calder with a frown, he wasnt keen on the idea of parading himself off to everyone. Maya also showed a disinterested look, her dresses were bought to appeal to Frost and her own tastes, she didnt want others ogling her or her man. Yes Calder responded without an ounce of shame, several of the nearby clerks nodded their heads thinking that such an event would work wonders for the store. Unfortunately their hopes wouldnt be realised. Sorry but no, Ive got no interest in bing your fashion model, Maya? Frost rejected the proposal and looked to Maya for her opinion. I agree no interest. She shook her head in refusal, even if Calder offered her a substantial discount shed still refuse. Are you sure? I can give you a better discount and I can even pay you? Calder wasnt one to let up after an initial setback. He knew exactly how much money he could rake in by utilising Frost and Mayas beauty. It was too much to give up without trying. Frost and Maya both frowned showing irritation before strongly shaking their heads, there was no room for discussion, the answer was a definite no. You can continue your little show with Nanna and Loki since they seem to enjoy being dolled up in all manner of outfits and being doted on by Cassandra and the other women, but Maya and I will not take part. Youll have to find someone else. Calders lips twitched in response to Frosts stark refusal, he could see the money slipping from his fingers before he let out a defeated sigh. Haaaaaaaaa well if thats how you feel I cant force you.....shame it could have been a lot of fun and a lot of money could have been made. Calder truly felt disappointed, so much potential wasted, hed never find a more ideal pair of models for their clothes. Frost and Maya were by far the most attractive people hed ever seen, even the noble elves seemedcklustre in their presence. Calder was a man of his word, he allowed them to retain the 20% discount despite their refusal to take part in a fashion show. With their clothes shopping now done Frost and Maya split up. Frost went with Calder to check out the bookstore while Maya joined up with Cassandra and the kids. Calder extended the 20% discount towards Frosts book purchases as well as the childrens clothes saving them quite a fair amount of coin. Before Frost left to head to Borriss weapon shop the total had already climbed to 3 gold coins and was still rising. This didnt include the purchases made by Cassandra on behalf of Nanna and Loki. Hell she even wanted to buy stuff for him and Maya, not caring in the slightest about the costs. I guess when youre a noble in charge of such arge territory youre used to spending suchvish amounts without care. Frost concluded that he and Cassandra were from different worlds, different standards when ites to money, at least at the moment. Once the dungeon camp was up and running hed surely be able to experience the wealth of a territory lord and perhaps then tossing out several gold coins here and there wouldnt even be felt. Frost looked forward to that day. Chapter 346 346 Chapter 346: Enticing an old smith Frost left alone, leaving Maya with Cassandra and the kids to enjoy the childrens fashion show they started while he headed off to the weapons and armour section of the [money pit]. Heading to Borris weapon shop to inquire about his ive and the mans possible relocation. He hadnt forgotten about introducing him and Daki given that she showed great respect for the ive he produced plus his territory could do with more tradespeople. The weapons and armour district was by far the most busy, countless adventurers and even soldiers and guards could be seen shuffling between the stores looking for new weapons and armour and or to repair their current set up, all in preparation for the monster stampede. Borriss shop was also quite busy and looking far barer in terms of stock than thest time he was here. I guess for smiths such times are great business opportunities. Frost said to himself as he noticed the empty shelves and the amount of coins being handed over to the old dwarf who was smiling ear to ear. Another couple dwarves that looked simr to Borris could be seen darting in and out of the backroom with additional stock, both showingrge smiles as they worked. Eventually it was Frosts turn and despite only meeting him once Borris instantly recognised him. Well if it isnt the ive user who has a penchant for ice. Borris grinned widely as he took in Frosts form, feeling that the young man was stronger that he was previously. Last time they met Frost had his face covered but Borris never looked at faces for recognition no he focused on the hands and muscles. He instantly remembered the young man introduced to him by Leo several weeks ago. Frost wasnt it, hows that ive been treating you or rather how have you been treating that ive? Borris looked warmly towards Frost. This was the man that finally took away that ive that burdened him for the past decade. Frost smiled in response before removing the ive from his spatial ring. The ives been amazing Borris, incredibly sharp able to go toe to toe against C-rank monsters, a truly impressive piece of work. Frost spoke honestly, this ive despite its normalness was fantastic, perfect for his current level of strength and even suitable for him to wield at B-rank. Borris, the two dwarves carrying stock as well as many of the other customers all turned towards Frost in shock. He just said C-rank monsters, only the strongest people in Furano could handle such adversaries. Borris looked Frost over with a scrutinising gaze before examining the weapon. Theres signs of damage as well as repair work, the ive was chipped at some point no? Borris instantly noticed the re-sharpening and repair job that Daki had done. Something that could chip this ive had to have been incredibly hard and tough. ..... Yes it got chipped when I was fighting an ice revenant. When the ive met its runic broadsword in a final sh it cut through, splitting it in twain but at the expense of a crack on the de edge. I had a cksmith friend of mine repair it a few days ago. She found your craftsmanship to be quite inspiring. Gasps could be heard from the nearby customers when they heard Frosts words. They imagined him fighting against an ice revenant with his ive in hand,ing out victorious. Their desires for Borris weapons and armour thus increased. Several who were fence sitting on whether to buy something instantly surrounded the two dwarven workers eager to check out the new stock. Borris noticed this and couldnt help but show a mercantile smile to Frost, thankful for his advertising. Randall you take over the counter Im going to talk with Frost here in the office. Yes grandfather. One of the two dwarves quickly ced the box of new stock on the floor before recing Borris at the counter, taking care of the next customer in line. Follow me. Borris gestured for Frost to follow him into the back office. The back office was very practical. Besides a desk and chair there was arge counter with some smithing apparatus that could be used to examine a weapon or armour. Borris gently ced the ive upon the counter before switching on a few focused lights and adorning a special monocle that allowed for magnification. The repair work done by your friend is pretty good, itd struggle to do much better myself, shes quite talented. Borris gave his honest opinion, often especially with higher ranked equipment the repair work can actually damage the weapons or armours integrity, but he saw none of that here. He was quite impressed in fact. Im sure shell be happy to hear that, she was quite inspired by the ive you crafted so much so that she incorporated some likeness into the armour she made me. Frost smiled proudly as Borris praised his girlfriends skills before rolling up his sleeve to disy the wrist guards Daki made. Borriss eyes glistened as he saw the craftmanship of wrist guard May I? He asked if he could get a closer look. Frost nodded and removed his left wrist guard before passing it to the old smith who examined it with intense focus. Changing the magnification on his lenses and feeling every millimetre of the armour. This is some mighty fine work, easily upper grade 3 star. Shes melded the monster materials with the metals well, very little in terms of weak points and the design is both functional and stylish, plus given theposition it likely aids in fighting off the cold and ice aspected mana. He also noticed that runic armour from an ice revenant was used thus giving evidence to Frosts tale. His eyes showed a great deal of respect towards this young elf that Leo introduced as well as his cksmithing friend. Her skills are even greater than my 3rd sons, who is she and where is she based? Borris grew very interested in Daki, he held great passion towards the art of smithing, finding someone with talent always excited him. Even at his age he was always seeking to improve his craft and find worthy people topete against. Her names Daki and shes currently in Kranor an enve within the cial mountains. Frost showed a warm smile as he talked about her, his heart filled with longing, and he subconsciously grasped themunication crystal hanging from his neck. He was due to give her call. Borris being no stranger to rtionships noticed the look in the young mans eyes, his brow raised, and a smirk adorned his face as he asked. Are the two of you a thing hehehehe? Yes were dating and thats why shes only currently living in Kranor. Once the monster stampede passes shell beinging to live in my territory. Frost boldly dered. Hoh you have your own ce? Borris asked with scepticism, having your own territory was big im. Yes, its in the process of being properly established but in a few months time Im sure itll be a thriving ce. Frost spoke with a determined tone, sure of his sess. I see. Borris showed aplicated look in his eyes. Ive always focused on the sapientnds, the Northrend empire and its neighbouring countries never thinking about the talents contained within the cial mountains. Perhaps Ive been too narrow minded in my thinking. He knew that there wererge empires and countries within the cial mountains but assumed that they were all rather backward and primitive. The work of this Daki however overturned that thinking, she was from a simple enve, yet her skills rivalled and perhaps even eclipsed his. Perhaps thats why I could never produce a 4 star piece of equipment? Borris looked down at his hands and his body that had grown old and weakened, he could still forge with his hammer, but he was long past his prime in terms of battle capability. Journeying into the cial mountains at his age was surely a death sentence, he let out a depressed sigh. Frost however showed a calcting smile, an opportunity to nt a seed had arrived. Im sure Daki would love to meet you and talk shop with you,paring your skills as smiths so if youd like once the monster stampede has passed I sincerely invite you visit my territory. Once he visits and sees how much potential it has Im sure the old man will want to stay. Ill even promise him ess to high ranking materials, coaxing the possibility of him being able to finally make a 4 star weapon, he wont even be that far from Furano. Frost highly desired to have Borris work for his territory not only was he a good smith he was very experienced, hed make a fine teacher. Borris turned to face Frost, his eyes sparkling at the possibility of meeting this Daki. Thats an interesting proposal, one in which Im keen to take you up on. Ive not went on a journey for quite some time, cooped up in my shop for the past several years. Perhaps its time I finally pass on the reins and reignite the passion I had in my youth. Borris clenched his fists making a personal vow. It was time for him to retire and focus solely on improving his own craft instead of keeping the store running. His best weapon was made ten years ago, and hed been unable to improve since, he deserved a change of pace. Chapter 347 347 Chapter 347: Announcing the red alert Got him Frost couldnt help but smirk as he heard Borris positive reply. Once the old man visits his territory and sees Daki, Frost was sure hed be able to make good use out of him. An old and experienced smith was a valuablemodity especially for a budding territory. Daki should be pleased. Anyway lets get down to the reason youre here, Im sure it wasnt just to tell me about your girlfriend or to brag about fighting C-rank monsters? Borris looked at Frost with a knowing expression. Daki had already repaired the ive to its peak condition there was no need for his services in that regard. Yes Im here to enlist some other services from you or at least get some advice on where to go for it. You want a magic engraving right? Borris didnt need Frost to say anything, he already knew. The fact that Frost fought against an ice revenant made the issue quite clear to the old smith. He must havee across some difficult elemental disadvantages. Sharp just like Leo said. Frost tapped his nose; Borris was right on the money. Since he was a one trick pony his ice affinity proved to be a very bad match up against other highly ice based opponents, the elementals, and spirits in particr. Borris crossed his arms and cupped his chin as stared at the ive in deep thought. It wasnt as though he hadnt thought about adding an engraving to it before but since there wasnt anyone to use it there was no point. He then looked at Frost with examining look, adding the wielder into his equations. Do you use your ice chakra a lot in a battle? Pretty much always, whether thats for adoring my body in armour or covering the ive to enhance its lethality. ..... That rules out the best element for you then as well as many others, youll either need something non elemental or one thatplements your ice affinity. Logically given that Frost was a pure ice user a weapon with a fire enchantment would be ideal in turning his weaknesses into strengths but since he used ice chakra the elements could counteract one another. Non-elemental? Frost had heard the term before when Maya mentioned life magic and defensive spells but in terms of weapon enchantments he was clueless. It refers to enchantments that have no discernible element, pure chaotic mana if you will. This can mean covering the weapon in the stuff as a protective coating thus increasing its durability and allowing a weapon to magically harm something like an elemental or applying an effectmonly referred to as a mechanical trait to the weapon i.e. simply increasing its sharpness or making it vibrate when mana is injected. The range of possibilities with chaotic/non attributed mana are endless andplicated but a few choice engravings can produce amazing effects. Borris gave a quick exnation about non elemental engravings but didnt go into it too much as it wasnt his specialty, he himself wasnt even a magic engraver itd be his 2nd son whod handle that delicate work. My advice however would be to get an elemental engraving thatpliments your ice affinity, wind would be appropriate and would fit well with the ive materials wise. I could have my son apply a 3 star wind engraving if youd like, hes quite adept with creating wind engravings and Im sure we have the materials in stock. Borris nodded his head confident that wind was the best bet given the wielder. Wind? At the mention of the word wind Frost couldnt help but conjure up the image of his elder sister Sylph who was the embodiment of the element. In terms of personality they were definitely not thatpatible but magic wise he really didnt know. Well if thats what you rmend Id be foolish to argue with your expertise however Im on a tight schedule, I need to leave tomorrow. He wasnt too worried about the price; he brought a little over 2 gold coins with him as well as some monster materials to barter with if necessary. Borris frowned a little as he thought about his 2nd sons current workload. A lot of people were waiting for engravings for when the stampede arrives. After a few seconds of thought he nodded his head. We can do that, but Ill have to charge you for an expedited process, you ok with that? If Frost was willing to pay extra he could have his ive bumped up to the front of the queue thus allowing it to be done in time. That shouldnt be a problem, Im not ascking in coin as I was thest time we met. Frosts reply was met with a wide grin. 2 gold coins will get you his best work as well as being done by 10am tomorrow. Even though Frost said he wasnt worried about the cost that was still a real gut punch. His lips twitched before he let out a sigh and removed 2 gold coins worth from his purse. Pleasure doing business with youd. Borris dly took Frosts money and added this transaction to their shops books. Oh by the way if you encounter anymore C-rank monsters could you save me some of the materials, Ill pay you a fair price. Sure but youll have toe and get them yourself, I n on spending a lot of time in my territory, rarely visiting Furano. Frost gave a backhanded wave as he exited the back office, leaving one more reason for Borris to seek him out in future. He didnt let the old man know where his territory was at the moment lest any problems ur. He needed to establish his camp before anyone else had an opportunity to step in. When he visits Furano next during thest leg of the stampede thats when hed finally tell people about his territory. By then it would be toote for anyone to interfere. Frost quickly made his way back to Calders mall to reunite with Maya, Cassandra, and the kids. He wasnt gone too long so it was likely they were still taking part in the fashion show. He also needed to get the final tally in regards to the bill. However the moment he arrived Cassandra had just put a stop to the fashion show and was giving off her authority as Lady Viscount. All the other mothers, grandmothers and shop clerks were gathered around in confusion wondering why Cassandra had them all be silent and stop the show. Calder could be seen working alongside Cassandra, asking that everyone do as she says. Maya turned to face him as he walked in, she silently mouthed the words red alert which instantly exined the situation. Dous must have called her to let her know that he was about to make his announcement. Nanna and Loki could be seen standing nervously by Mayas side, they were dressed up in matching azure outfits that were in one word breath-taking. Somehow they had be even cuter, the colours matched well with their phoenix feathers, boldly promoted their origins. Something that they should be proud of. Once he arrived by their sides and rubbed their heads there was a loud rm that went off throughout Furano. (Think the ww2 air raid siren) As it rang Frost could see nearly everyone in sight be white in the face and their entire bodies tense up out of instinct. There was only one reason why that rm went off, the red alert was being enacted. After ringing for a few seconds and grasping everyones attention a voice could be heard in its ce, it was Dous. Hello, for those who dont recognise my voice I am Dous Furano the current Viscount of the Furano family, please pay attention to what Im about to say. Dous was silent for a few seconds allowing people to fully stop what they were doing and focus on his voice. That fabled time hase once again my citizens, the monster stampede that gues our territory will arrive in less than a week. Therefore as our protocols dictate this town as well as the other two bastions towns Adima and Tunir will be entering red alert status from this moment on. Regr activities will henceforth be restricted and after 48 hours the town will enter full lockdown. For your own safety and the security of our defences no one after that point will be allowed to leave our gates. But fear not my citizens we have weathered this storm dozens of times before and we will survive through it again of this I am sure. Along with a record breaking number of local adventurers to aid us in our endeavour his majesty the Emperor has ordered the frost wolf battalion, a regiment of his mighty army to fight alongside us once more. Furano has never been so well defended in all my years as Viscount.....we will prevail! Dous spoke with an authoritative tone revealing no sense of trepidation or fear. His speech kindled a great many people within town, their hearts beating rapidly as fire surged through their bodies and determined looks adorned their faces. They were prepared to meet this disaster head on like they had done before and always had. More information about the red alert status can be found posted throughout the town and operation staff will be ready and waiting to answer any questions you may have within the government district and adventurers guild. Please make use of them as they are there to help and assist you during this time. They will also take care of anyone who wishes to leave Furano within the next 48 hours..... Throughout the red alert I will continue to speak to you all through the tannoy system keeping you updated on the situation and to ay any fears you may have. That will be all for today, please begin your preparations, thank you. Dous ended his announcement there and once he did arge red beam of light extended from the centre of the town, reaching hundreds of metres into the sky. This was the sign of the red alert, a thick beam of red light would be rise from the three towns and could be seen from hundreds of kilometres away. Letting those living within the Northrend forest, the fringes of the cial mountains and even those territories behind Furano know that the stampede wasing. Refugees would now flock towards the bastion towns with desperation. There was no longer anytime left to hold off, they had to move now, or risk being devoured by the ravenous horde. Chapter 348 348 Chapter 348: Calling Leo After Dous gave his rousing speech and activated the bright beam of red light that could be seen from hundreds of kilometres away Cassandra loudly pped her hands, giving off her aura as a noblewoman. You heard my husband everyone, the red alert is now enacted, time to change gears. Though she wanted to continue enjoying the childrens fashion show there were more important things to deal with right now. All the customers turned to look at Cassandra before nodding their heads in understanding. They paid for the clothes and took their children back home to begin their own preparations. Cassandra showed a praising expression as she saw her citizens calmly go about their business without any sense of fear, it showed the trust they had in their ruler as well as the defences of the town, gratifying would be the best word to describe how she felt right now. We should probably head back now; Dous and the others will finally have the chance at a break. Colonel Hamon and his majors will be taking over the final defence preparation and refugee admittance. Did you manage to get your shopping done Frost? Cassandra turned to look at Frost as she spoke. Yes, Borris said he should be able to finish outfitting my ive with an engraving by 10am tomorrow, I just need to pick it up before we leave. Good then lets pay for these outfits and head back to the manor, all this cuteness has made me quite famished and Im quite looking forward to a big family dinner. Cassandra showed a warm expression as she spoke, it was rare for them to be able to eat as a group ever since Dous became ill and all this work made it even more impossible as no ones schedules ever lined up. But Dous had given his word and he wasnt a man to break a promise. Cassandra paid for all of the childrens clothes despite Frosts protests, he could only ept her stubbornness as he had Nanna and Loki give thanks. They had a lot of fun hanging out with Cassandra she was so warm and gentle to them it was hard not to get emotionally attached. Maya if you could head to the carriage with Cassandra and the kids Ill catch up after making a quick call. Frost remembered that he promised to contact Leo in ce of Cassandra and Dous given that he was ducking their calls. Alright say hi to Leo and Luna for me and dont take too long. She squeezed his hand and was tempted to peck him on the cheek but was too embarrassed. Frost smiled gently in response finding Maya so cute. ..... The moment they walked away Frost brought out hismunication crystal and called Leo. Ring ring ring, it rang 3 times before there was an answer. Frost senpai its been a while how have you been? Leo sounded much more energetic than thest time they spoke. Clearly moving out of the manor and working with military was much more his speed. Ive been good thanks for asking you also sound a lot better thanst time we spoke Im guessing moving out and ditching your government work done you wonders. ...You spoke to my parents? Leo asked with a tinge of guilt as well as embarrassment in his voice. The moving out was fine it had to be done for his fragile psyche, but the ditching of his government work wasnt something he was proud of. Yeah Im here in Furano with Maya and the kids and your mother mentioned a few things when we were having lunch. Haaaaaaaa well can you really me me, you know me Im not suited to paperwork, and I did wait till the old man was healthy enough to work again, and my work with the military side is also needed. Leo tried to find excuses for his actions. I get it, you didnt avoid doing work you just changed the work you were doing to something more your speed. Frost nodded his head in agreementpletely understanding his young friends mindset. Itd bepletely different if Leo wentpletely AWOL ditching Furano in its time of need to avoid work entirely but the military side of the monster stampede was a very important area that needed to be handled. Yeah yeah you get it. Leo smiled spoke with excitement, d someone understood his decision. I do but that doesnt exin why youre ditching your mother and fathers calls. Ugh! Leo groaned and Frost could hear a young woman giggling in the background, likely Luna. Plus arent you the heir to the territory, some day you are going to have to deal with the government side of things. Given your age Dous probably wanted to work alongside you in this endeavour not dump it entirely on your shoulders. Actually Dous probably did want to do that a little, he and Leo had simr personalities after all as well as simr interests. Ugh! Leo groaned again, guilt filling his body and Lunaughed harder and in the background loudly proimed, See I told you so, even Frost senpais telling you to get back to work hahaha. Hello Luna, Im guessing the ditching of the government work was Leos idea? Yep! The moment his father was fit and healthy he dragged me off to the military along with Taka and Bruno to engage in more fun work was how I believe he put it hehehehe. I see but Im also guessing you didnt fight very hard to convince him otherwise right? Ugh! This time Luna groaned, and Leoughed. You dragged Taka and Bruno with you, when did you guys hit it off so well? Frost hadnt seen Taka and Bruno since the night they attacked Adamspound and to be honest he was curious as to what became of them. Oh that? Shortly after the whole thing with uncle Adam, Luna and I wanted to go on a quick quest as a change of pace, we ran into them at the guild doing the same thing. After chatting we embarked on a quest together as a temporary party and found that we meshed really well. Thus after a few more encounters we decided to team up officially under the party name [New Dawn]. Leo was very animated when he spoke of their new party, proud of their achievements. They were still rtively new as a group and had very few quests under their belt but each of them had high individual potential and their roles covered all bases. A tank to endure the onught of attacks head on, Bruno. A closebat sword user, Leo. Ranged physical attacker and crowd control, archer Taka and finally Luna their magicalbatant. They were a truly well bnced party with very high potential. The oing monster stampede should see them gain a hell of a lot of experience. Im guessing after they became an official party they do pretty much all work together. Perhaps they are Leos, Bastion and Ryuu. Frost smiled as he pictured the four of them working together. Wait a second if youre in Furano that means you heard the red alert! Yeah I did, in fact Im the main reason for it. Eh? Leo gasped in shock, since he and his father werent currently talking he had no idea about the red alert until he heard the warning siren and his fathers announcement. Your fathers inviting everyone to dinner tonight, I can tell you all about it youe. ......Did my father say to invite me? Leos guilt was heavy right now, he knew what the red alert signified and that he really should get in contact with his father, but he really didnt want to get in an argument with him. Especially when he was so clearly in the wrong. No but your mother did. ....... Leo was quietly biting his lips as he struggled to respond. Dont you worry, even if I have to physically drag his ass well be there, see soon Frost senpai. Luna answered in Leos ce before ending the call and proceeding to put Leo in his ce. Thankfully she had the forethought to end the call so as to prevent Leo losing face in front of Frost. Luna had had just about enough of Leos running away from his duties, the red alert was enacted it was time for him to man up and bite the bullet. Well I guess I can give Cassandra some good news. Frost showed a wide smile, hed get to meet up with his first couple of friends after a long time apart, he couldnt help but feel excited. Just when he was about to put themunication crystal away and head to the carriage he stopped, speaking to Leo and Luna had brought the image of a certain person to mind, his beautiful orc girlfriend Daki. Itd been just over 2 days and he already missed her and was waiting for a good time to contact her on his crystal. He looked side to side making sure no one was nearby to eavesdrop, Maya in particr before making the call. Ring, Ri, it didnt even ring twice before Daki picked up. Why hello my handsome boyfriend I was wondering when you were going to call me. Chapter 349 349 Chapter 349: Teasing promise Why hello my handsome boyfriend I was wondering when you were going to call me. Have you arrived back at your ce? Dakis charming voice came from themunication crystal bringing a warm smile to Frosts face. Its great to hear your voice Daki. Frost replied with his honest feelings causing his girlfriend to giggle cutely, she felt the same way. Frost had been on her mind nearly every waking moment since he left so she eagerly awaited his call. Kiba and I got back yesterday morning. The kids loved the weapons and wrist guards you made for them and are quite eager to meet you. ...What about Maya? Daki spoke with nervousness; she practically came and stole her man how could she not be wary of this new woman. Haaaaaaaaa. Frost let out a deep sigh as he remembered the exchanges he and Maya had. After I confessed to her, and she epted I told her all about you and how I felt and to be honest she has very mixed feelings towards the subject but in her own way I think shes looking forward to meeting you as well. Frost spoke through twitching lips, struggling on how to best describe Mayas feelings on the matter. Well thats better than I expected, hopefully when we do finallye face to face things will be amicable. Daki responded with a sigh of her own, not used to such situations either but she wanted Frost regardless. Her and Maya would have to learn to ept one another if they wished to continue in a rtionship with Frost. So far however Daki only knew that Maya was a ravishing beauty that may even supersede her in terms of looks and charm as well as being a capable fighter. Frost didnt go into too much detail but hinted that she was even stronger than him who was already half step into B-rank. Frost didnt want to frighten Daki by telling her, her love rival was an S-ranked fenrir who could crush her with just a simple reveal of her aura. She was daunting enough with her charm and beauty. I wish for that too, Im sure since Im attracted to both of you that youll have things inmon. The memory of his hand groping their butts came to the forefront of his mind. ....You justpared the size of our butts in your mind didnt you? ..... Eh how did you know! Frost panicked, generally shocked by his girlfriends insight. She was hundreds of kilometres away in Kranor and couldnt see his face how the hell could she tell what he was thinking. Oh a woman knows how her man thinks, female intuition is real and urate thing Frost heheheheh.....so whos is better? Daki instead of feeling objectified or insulted feltpetitive, desiring to know how she and Mayapared in that area. She was very confident in the size of her rear and the supple and toned feel of it even more than her veryrge chest. Cough cough Frost violently coughed in shock before rapidly looking around, making sure Maya wasnt in earshot. She didnt react very positively when his hands wandered to that area, but he certainly got a good feel for it when she sat on hisp in the carriage. A perverted look adorned his face as his mind drifted back to that bold action. .....Do you want the honest answer or the one that is clear ttery? ...Honest please. Dakis brow raised in surprise; Frost words made it seem that she was actually going to be beat in terms of their butts, something that she found quite incredible. Both are amazing, while you win in terms of size and toned definition hers is soft and enveloping, but Id need far more time with both to make an urate decision. Frost once again took a page from the book of shamelessness, boldly dering that he needed more hands on experience. ....... ..... Both Frost and Daki were silent for a while, letting Frosts statement sink in. Frost wouldnt speak like this to Maya, but Daki was different, she was bold, flirtatious and aggressive and loved this style of banter. Pfft hahahahahahaha oh god youre perfect hahahahahaha. Daki suddenlyughed out loud without restraint, tears forming in her eyes as she struggled to remain standing. Frosts response was perfect, it highlighted the advantages of both his girlfriends without picking a winner while at the same time revealing his desire for them both. Bold, greedy, shameless, and brutally honest. .....Well Im all for it, when next we meet you can grope it for as long as you want darling and Ill do the same. Daki responded with her own flirting, her eyes showing a hunger as she looked at hermunication crystal, a shame that neither of them had one that could show their faces, their voices would have to do for now. Oh Ill certainly hold you to that Daki. Frosts smile stretched from ear to ear, he loved herugh and her bold personality, it filled his body with fire. He wanted to have her in his arms right this second...the next time they were set to meet was so far away, could he really wait that long to hold her once again? Frost then remembered the other reason he called. At the moment Im currently in Furano the northern most territory of the Northrend empire and theyve just enacted something called a red alert. The monster stampede should be arriving in less than a week. Theyre saying that its likely going to be a long one, but I promise the moment Im able Ille and carry you to our home. Frost spoke with longing, hoping that the stampede woulde and end faster all so he could have this ravishing orc beauty by his side like Maya was. Daki smiled warmly able to hear the deep felt longing Frost had for her that wasnt just physical but true emotion, her heart skipped a beat as she too wished for the stampede to be over shortly. At least now she knew when it would be begin. .....Will you be fending off the stampede at your territory? She felt worried about Frost for the first time, he was strong, but the stampede was a devastating disaster for those south of the mountains. A new budding territory shouldnt have much in the way of defences should it? Yes but dont worry I wont be alone, there will be practically zero chance of me being injured. This will just give my territory some much needed resources and supplies. Frost thumped his chest with confidence, he didnt fear the stampede in the slightest. With four fully outfitted floors, and tons of monsters that were set to increase throughout the stampede who followed his orders without question, his dungeon was more than prepared for the early stages and by the time the mid andte stages arrive hed be swimming in DP, allowing him to make some powerful purchases. This monster stampede was simply a free supply of DP, materials, monster experience as well as good long term battle experience for future dungeon wars. Frost wondered if it was only him getting the chance to experience something like this or if his siblings met with simr disasters. Daki led out a relieved sigh in response, patting her chest gently to ease her heart. Of course there wouldnt be danger hes got two kids to take care of. If thats the case then I wish you good hunting darling oh and so you dont forget. p! Daki pped her ample butt hard so Frost could hear the sound of her toned flesh. Well be waiting. She then hung up, her face quickly turning crimson as the build up of embarrassment from their flirting came rushing all at once, she still showed a warm smile, however. Gulp Frost audibly gulped as his mind filled with provocative images of his beautiful girlfriend, his cheeks grew warm. God this is going to be a long month. He covered his mouth to hide a ravenous smile that looked very simr to the one Maya asionally disyed towards him when she was in her sadistic drill sergeant mode. Frost shook his head side to side to get rid of his distracting thoughts lest his inability to act sour his mood. By the time he arrived back at the carriage all the of the shopping had been packed away in the carriages storage or the spatial rings and everyone was just waiting on Frost to get back. His face was still a little pink when he sat down which Maya noticed, causing her to subconsciously frown. He must have called Daki. Her womans intuition hit the nail on the head, and she felt irritated, so she turned her head to look out the window, revealing a slightly pouting expression. Well did you talk to Leo, is heing over for dinner? Cassandra asked not noticing Mayas sudden change in mood. Frost sat down next to Maya before replying. He was a bit hesitant in facing Dous but Luna was present when I called and promised to drag him there if need be, so he wont have a choice. Hahahaha thats our Luna. Cassandraughed in response before wiping a tear that ran down her cheek, she missed having her son and future daughter inw living with them, able to talk to them whenever she wanted. The massive manor felt quite cold and empty without them, especially when Dous was so busy in his office. Chapter 350 350 Chapter 350: Monster stampede stages On hearing the positive response Cassandra disyed a wide smile and pulled Nanna and Loki into a big hug, rubbing her cheeks against theirs, relishing in their cute squishiness. The carriage then started moving, it was time to head back to the manor. Frost could feel a slight chill on his left side, given off by his irritated girlfriend who was still looking out the window and pouting, doing her best to ignore him when he sat beside her. Frost smiled mischievously finding his girlfriend so adorable. He no longer saw her as a mighty S-rank fenrir, a monster at the very peak of power in Nova but simply as Maya, the woman he deeply cared for, his girlfriend. He leaned over and lightly blew in her ear causing her to twitch before turning around to re at him. Her ears were very sensitive. However the moment she turned around Frost nting a kiss on her lips. She froze in shock before turning crimson, her eyes quickly catching sight of Cassandra showing praising smile and then Frosts gentle and caring expression. Idiot hmph! She quietly muttered under breath before once again staring out the window, refusing to look in Frosts direction. Now however a smile adorned her lips, and her mood was far better. She even grabbed hold of Frosts hand, the most she could bring herself to do while in Cassandras presence. Frost had sessfully defused her irritation with master like skill, a natural Casanova. By the time they made it back to the manor it waste afternoon, almost time for dinner. The servants were still hard at work dashing to and fro, but the main and secondary offices were empty. Dous had sent them all back home, granting them and him some much needed rest. The red alert had been enacted meaning the next phase of preparation would begin, best to start with a fresh mind. Ive had the servants prepare the suite for your stay tonight. Dous spoke looking far more refreshed than earlier. A good rxing bath and change of clothes did the man wonders, the same went for Ryuu. They were currently in the main dining room awaiting everyones arrival as well as the feast that was promised. Currently in attendance was Dous, Cassandra, Ryuu, Bastion, and Frosts group, only Leo and Luna were still absent, much too Douss irritation and Cassandras worry. Cassandra had already told her husband that Luna was going bring Leo along for dinner. The Viscount was very much looking forward to seeing his son again, although his outward appearance may suggest otherwise or that it was purely to argue with him. Like his wife he too missed having his son and daughter inw in such close proximity, it made the manor feel more alive especially when there was a lot of work to be done. Frost had mentioned to Dous in private about his visit to Kranor and exined how Chia and Yarrow dealt with the repercussions of an active love life. Dous was blown away, not just by the idea of soundproofing the rooms but more that a couple even older than him and his wife were still so active. He had the sudden urge to call Yarrow teacher and learn from the man. He took Frosts advice to heart, taking a mental note. Once the stampede was over and the territory was once again swimming in coin they could afford some major renovations for the manor. ..... Cassandra blushed slightly when Dous told her but was very much all for it. There was no way she was going to stop making up for lost time with her husband nor was she going to give up having another child therefore soundproofing was the perfect solution to lessen the impact upon the servants and guests. Leo and Luna may even decide to move back in if thats the case. Ryuu and Bastion however saw the lovey dovey atmosphere between Dous and Cassandra as well as budding rtionship between Frost and Maya, they couldnt help but let out a depressed sigh. Ryuu had been single for a fairly long time, never wishing to rece his dead wife, focusing all his love upon his daughter but she was nearly an adult, a grown up with her own life to live. She needed her father less and lesstely; he felt the solitude when she left with Leo even more than Dous and Cassandra and the for the first time in a long while he entertained the idea of finding someone to fill the void. Bastion however was more than eager to find someone to spend his time with, his rtionship with his daughter had returned to normal and he was incredibly jealous of Dous. Finding someone however at his age was quite difficult, his eyes however were frequently drawn to his new young, cute secretary Kamey. Thanks, Frost raised his ss of wine to Dous in thanks. By the way while we wait for Leo and Luna to arrive do you mind telling me more the uing monster stampede and your red alert system? Frost was quite keen to learn more about the situation that hed clearly have to deal with. Everyone in the room looked at one another before Ryuu, Bastion and Dous let out a sigh. It wasnt exactly dinner time talk but since Frost asked they would enlighten him. As you already know the monster stampede happens every few years and is divided into three main stages, early, mid, andte. The early stages consists of weaker monsters, primarily below D-rank, all of which are in a state of frenzy, unable to think logically. We dont the exact reason why, but they are attracted to areas with people the bastion towns especially even to the extent ofpletely ignoring the unguarded path between the towns. Dous began to exin the process in more detail, filling Frost in on the particrs and what their research had uncovered. Frost found the fact that the monster willingly ignored the easy path to the soutnds and fully focus on the bastion towns despite being in a state of frenzy very peculiar. That almost sounds like theyre being controlled or manipted. This allows us to focus all our manpower within the three bastion towns of Adima, Tunir and of course Furano. Over 95% of the horde will be drawn to the towns, the other 5% can easily be dealt with by the regr guards further south. When the stampede begins the earth will shake and ambient mana levels in the area will spike. The first wave will then arrive within 48 hours, though sporadic attacks will happen before then thats why we enact the red alert ideally a week before it begins. Once the earth shakes and mana levels spike the Northrend forest will no longer be safe, refugees would be attacked by the local fauna before they can make it to Furano or one of the other towns. The Furano family as well as the frost wolf battalion had done avid research in regards to ensuring the safety of their citizens as well as best budgeting the amount of food and water to be prepared for the stampedes. The refugees dont want to be sequestered within Furano any longer than they have to, finding the right bnce is key. After the first wave of monsters arrives we will be attacked several times in a 24 hour period, with very little breaks thus strict shifts need to be enacted. Just because its night time doesnt mean the monsters will stop in fact usually they be even more aggressive at night. The monsters contained in the waves will gradually grow more powerful as the days pass until it enters the mid stages, wherein the monsters present wont simply be taken care of by arrows or our ballista, theyll make it to the northern wall repeatedly. The soldiers and adventurers will have to take part in closebat during this stage, leading to a fair amount of injuries and possibly deaths. Its a very gruesome and physically exhausting stage but also the one that yields most profit. D-rank monsters attacking inrge numbers provides a great amount of materials and they are at the level where adventurers can sessfully take them down thus earning rewards. Dous took a breath, and his demeanour became more serious before he continued. Finally we have thete or end stages of the monster stampede, the most dangerous and risky stage. Frowns adorned the faces of Ryuu and Bastion. By now the soldiers and adventurers are quite exhausted despite the strict shift schedule and hearty meals provided, people can only endure intense physical exertion for so long before even a will of iron cant make them move. The majority if not all of our ammunition has also been used at this point making for a strictly closebat situation. Thete stage is very different from the first two, the monsters arent anywhere near as numerous nor are they in such a mad frenzy. Their movements and attack patterns be much harder to deal with let alone the presence of the high ranking monsters. B ranks will enter the battlefield. Chapter 351 351 Chapter 351: Aura disy B-ranks will enter the battlefield. Douss words rang loud in Frosts ears and a cold shiver ran down his spine. That wasnt what he was expecting, especially for it to be plural. Frost quickly turned to Maya wondering if she knew about this but all he got was a slight shrug. B-rank monsters were beyond his current capabilities by a fair degree, even Finy wouldnt be a match....unless he managed to evolve. Young master dont worry too much, the B-rank monsters thate will be rtively low in their ranking and will be fiercely drawn to the three bastion towns. They shouldnte our way. Maya spoke telepathically into Frosts mind, easing his worries. The monster stampedes focus was fervently targeted towards the south, the three bastion towns in particr. The why was still unknown but it was an experienced fact, otherwise the Northrend military would have to guard the entire northern border while the monster stampede was in y. A far more daunting task which would make controlling such territory impossible. Frost mentally let out a sigh of relief upon hearing Mayas words before refocusing back on Dous, eager to hear more. Normally in thete stages theres at least two B-rank monsters along with a dozen plus C-ranks and multiple Ds. A lot less number wise inparison to the previous waves but certainly much higher in quality. This is when the high ranking military officers, the powerful adventurers as well as asionally myself take to the field. Anyone below C-rank would only get in the way during suchbat, a detriment instead of a boon. Right now in Furano there was a total of 8 B-rank fighters prepared to engage in battle, 5 from the frost wolf battalion, Ryuu, Bastion and finally Dous. This didnt include the fighters that would likelye to their aid in the name of profits during thete stages. But even with this line-up that was stronger than usual Dous, Ryuu and Bastion felt it might not be enough. Bastion had already put in a request based on their experienced instincts to the adventurers guild in the capital for additional aid as well as requesting an A-rank adventurer or party. The monster stampede was a fair bit overdue meaning that every single stage would be more hazardous, thete stage even more so. The number of B-ranks would be far more than the regr duo and perhaps if they were really, really unlucky it wouldnt just be low grade B-ranks either. Dous and his friends had a constant unsettling feeling over the past few days that only grew worse as the monster stampede loomed closer. Thats why he ordered for the walls to be heightened and evenmission far more war machines and ammunition than normal. It was better to have and not need than it was to need and not have, money was no obstacle if it meant ensuring their sess. Many of the officers in the army imed that he, Ryuu, and Dous were being paranoid but still followed orders without question. Colonel Hamon however shared their anxiety, forcing his men to train whenever they got a chance. This was not his first time facing down the monster stampede either, nor was it first time leading the charge. Hed fought alongside Ryuu, Dous, and Bastion on several asions over the past couple decades and knew better than to let his military pride get in the way of him listening to the family that has defended this region since it was first imed. Every now and then however the Colonel could be seen with a wild smile on his face, his aura and bloodlust leaking out into the surrounding area. Like Bastion and the rest he also looked forward to going all out. When Dous brought up himself taking to the field his wife Cassandra tensed and tightened her grip around his arm. She was not a fighter and couldnt aid her husband in battle. Several times she had to watch on as her husband personally defended the town against a B-rank monster. His body underneath his noble attire was littered in scars from such battles, badges of honour in his mind but for her a constant memory of the times she almost lost him. ..... Dous felt his wife grabbing hold of his arm and his heart felt warm, he knew she would worry but even, so hed dly ce himself in danger to protect those he loved. He may be old now and still on the mend but when you practise swinging your sword hundreds of times a day, those skills dont ever leave you. A warrior till the end. Dous then turned back to Frost with a gentle smile, they werent going to bepletely alone at least, Frost promised to return with Kiba by his side. A wee addition to the battle, hopefully however one that will be unnecessary. In thete stages well be throwing our highest levelbatants at the horde and if you are able to return Id like for you to join us in that battle. Perhaps then well finally get the chance to fight side by side hehehe. Dous let out a joyfulugh. He really wanted the chance to spread his legs in a good old fashion monster fight and see up close the skills of his young friend that made Ryuu and Bastion praise him so. Frost couldnt help but show a wild smile in response. He could feel Douss aura subtly pressuring him, tantly disying the mans desire for battle. It was thick and bloody. Hes even stronger than Bastion, perhaps at the same level as Ryuu. Dous was strong, very strong he could feel it. His eyes filled with fire and his muscles tensed as he wished to test just how strong. The man was bedridden for two years, yet his aura was still this thick and imposing, admirable. I wouldnt miss it for the world. Ive nevere face to face with a B-rank monster, the prospect is rather exhrating. Frost spoke honestly, his own aura spreading out, in defiance to Douss. Both men showed wild smiles to one another and chuckled lightly, the dour atmosphere brought on by the monster stampede blown away with the promise of a thrilling battle, however. Bonk! Maya swiftly knocked her hand upon Frosts head, shredding apart his aura like it was paper. Frost rapidly turned around with an annoyed re, wondering why she ruined his fun. Unlike Dous you dont haveplete control of your aura, it was affecting everyone around you not just him. Maya held a scornful look as she lectured her young master. Nanna and Loki were fine because she sheltered them, and Cassandra was ok because she was next to Dous, but all the servants present were sweating buckets and finding it difficult to keep a straight face. Frost turned to look at the servants standing around that to bepletely honest he had long gotten used to not noticing their presence. Several were shivering as his aura filled them with fear and untold pressure. Cassandra swiftly followed suit and knocked her husband on the head as he was the initial instigator. To which he swiftly apologised to his servants as did Frost, control was something he still needed to work on. A minuteter the final guests of tonights dinner arrived. Luna walked into the dining room with a bright smile, dragging behind her Leo who had a very nervous expression. He had felt his fathers aura when he entered the manor and although since it was controlled he didnt feel any physical pressure it did bring back some frightening memories. Shit! he really is back to normal. Leo had received most of his punishments from his mother given that she was the one in charge in the home, but hell never forget the gruelling training his father put him through or whenever he got really mad. Leo was but an ant before his fathers aura, miles away from ever reaching such a level. Hi everyone, sorry werete, Colonel Hamon had us finish up a few things thus we were a little dyed. Luna was all bubbly and happy, because of Leo -and a little bit her- she hadnt spoke with Cassandra, Dous or even her father for quite a while, something she sorely missed. Hahaha no youre notte at alle,e sit next to me Luna we really should catch up. Cassandra quickly patted the seat next to her, a redness appearing around her eyes. Luna was practically her daughter, in some ways she liked her far more than Leo. Ryuu was about to go all doting father when he saw her but a quick and fierce re from Luna froze him in ce, a strong sense of fear wrapped around his heart forcing him to keep his mouth shut. He pouted and yed with his cutlery as though heartbroken, Bastionughed at his friends usual predicament, he never learned. Dous however had his eyes glued to his wayward son, who was left standing in his crosshairs when Luna bounded over to Cassandra,pletely alone. Douss aura that he had recently receded came to the forefront once again, locking solely upon his son and heir. Frost, Maya, and the kids watched on with interest, eager to see a show before their meal. Leo Dous spoke with an intimidating tone. His wife Cassandra gave him a slightly besmirching look before focusing back on Luna, not willing to interfere in this reunion. Leo had to face the music for his actions himself, as he frequently stated he was now an adult. Chapter 352 352 Chapter 352: The preparations required for war Leo Dous uttered his sons name with a dominant tone, his aura wrapping around his sons body with great finesse, pressuring only him. Leo shivered and felt a powerful a heavy weight upon his body, filling it with fear and pushing for him to submit. The young noble clenched his teeth hard and held his ground. He knew he acted a little wrong, but he would not kneel. Showing a fierce and determined expression he red at his father, his entire body tense as he resisted his fathers pressure. Hoh. Ryuu, Bastion and Frost all raised their brows, finding Leos defiance impressive. Dous really wasnt holding back with his aura, fully intending to put his wayward son in his ce. Leo was but an E-rank fighter, far from even contemting the notion of aura yet here he was refusing to submit, bravely facing down the giant powerhouse that was his old man. It was quite impressive considering his level of strength and young age. Cassandra looked at her son briefly, pride was in her eyes before she sent another knowing look to her husband. Dous kept the pressure up for another few seconds before showing a wild smile andughing. Hahahahaha thats a good look Leo, I think this is the first time youve ever been able topletely endure my aura without backing off. Your training seems to be going well, Colonel Hamon must see a lot of potential in you hahaha. The intimidating aura that wasing from Dous vanished like a puff of smoke, instantly releasing Leo from its pressure. Hisughter swiftly altered the atmosphere into one with friendly connotations. Dous was no longer mad towards Leo, his work with the military not only resulted in greater efficiency in that sector, swiftly shoring up the towns defences but his sons aggregate power seems to have increased. He couldnt help but feel proud as well as nostalgic, he remembered himself doing a very simr action at Leos age. Avoiding the dull paperwork and governing work at all costs, ditching it on his old man and mother, hell he even roped Adam into his shenanigans on asion. The red alert had been enacted, the stampede would be here shortly and likely far more powerful than normal, it wasnt time to hold grudges between family members. They needed to be of one mind if they were to survive this. Leo was left bbergasted by his fathers joyful mood, he rubbed his eyes and scrapped out imaginary wax from his ears as if he couldnt believe what he was seeing and hearing. He then turned to his mother who replied with a gentle smile as if she knew that Dous would act in such a way before re-engaging with Luna who was just as surprised. Leo Dous spoke his sons name once again, there was no threating dominance in his tone but there was weight behind it. He was speaking as a noble right now. Leo sharply straightened his back at attention and faced his father. ..... Leo the red alert has been enacted, that means all hands must be on deck...do you understand? ....Yes father Leo felt a pang of guilt in his heart before he replied. Good, you will be taking over the territory in the future and need to learn all aspects involved in being a ruler. Dous then looked over at Luna, his sons fianc, and futuredy of the house. As do you Luna, Furano will someday be left in your care, you need to be ready. Luna shivered in response before nodding her head strongly. The two of you if you want dont need to return and live in the manor, youre both adults and I can understand your frustrations but from this moment forward there will be no ducking our calls do you understand? Dous spoke with powerful authority, not epting refusal. He and Cassandra needed to be in constant contact with them so as direct them in preparing the territory. Theyd had their rest period and fun times with the military now it was time to do the legwork behind the scenes. The two young adults looked at one another before replying. We understand. Good well start once dinner is over. Douss then suddenly showed an evil smirk that stretched from ear to ear. Ive got a mountain of paperwork on my desk that needs to bepleted before morning, youll start with that. Ugh! Leos lips twitched and his face turned pale. His father really was quite petty. Though he sounded like he forgave them and was going to move on it was clear that he was going to throwing unsuspecting jabs whenever he got the chance. Cassandra, Ryuu, Bastion, Frost and of course Dous allughed out loud as though mocking the young couple. The next few days were not going to be easy for them, even Ryuu seemed as though he was going to be rather strict towards his young daughter, something that seemed impossible for the super doting father. Cassandra had given her consent for such a punishment. Ditching her calls, if they werent in a red alert status nor preparing for the monster stampede it wouldnt have ended there. She likely would have marched to wherever Leo was hiding out and dragged him back by the ears. Dinner was served a few minutester, bringing everyones moods back up and filling those who were exhausted with energy. Alcohol was served but only Frost and Maya partook. While the red alert was enacted Dous and the rest refused to drink, it dulled the mind, something that needed to be focused in such times. Dous spoke a little more about how they dealt with the constant waves of monsters as well as about the red alert system, inspiring Frost greatly. It wasnt just the soldiers and adventurers that would be hard at work during the stampede no it was all manner of people and professions. Cooks would be required to prepare hearty meals to keep up the strength of those in battle. Tailors, armourers, and weapon smiths were required to make on site repairs and provide equipment and weaponry through the entire stampede. Healers and doctors would also need to be on call to deal with any injuries as would artificers who would be required to repair any magic devices such as the barrier devices that would be used in emergencies to save a portion of the battlefield. And perhaps most of all would be Grishams dismantling crew. Them along with adventures and soldiers would have to routinely remove the dead monsters that were strewn across the battlefield. This prevented pile ups that the horde could use to reach over the northern wall as well as prevented disease and infection from spreading plus the smell of decay was anything but pleasant. Having to fight with such an odour encapsting the town would bring down anyones mood. This gruesome and heavilybour intensive job was not only necessary for these reasons, but it was also key to Furanos survival in regards to profit as well as food. With the monster stampede in ce, outside farming as well as regr tradinges to a halt. Meaning they have to rely upon the towns reserves for grain and vegetables, but the people of the North require meat to survive due to their diet. The thousands upon thousands of monster corpses brought on by the stampede thus provide for the towns much needed food supply. Grisham and his team work at full pace throughout the stampede, dismantling and carving up the corpses in their workshops to provide sustenance for the citizens as well as store the skins, fur, bones, and other materials that the town would then sell once the disaster was over. If they waited until the stampede was over not only would Furano be seriously food deprived the materials would have rotten bing pretty much scrap with no selling value. The dismantling team was heavily expanded and geared up when Dous began taking control of the territory as he realised that it was this sector that determined whether or not this disaster was a boon or a detriment to the territory. Frost was greatly impressed as well as blown away, war was such a massive andplicated thing that not only involved soldiers but also the civilians in fact they may even y arger role in the grand scheme of things. Thankfully however Frost didnt have quite so many drawbacks in long sieges. The corpses could easily be absorbed by the dungeon core, swiftly returning the battlefield to its freshest state. Hell he could even have the dungeon separate the useless parts from the seble stuff, basically performing Grisham and his teams job. The dungeon however wasnt perfect, though this system was super quick a fair amount of the materials would be lost. At least 20% less material would be produced inparison to someone doing it by hand, a sort of tax for using the super speed method. During regr times it would be more efficient for either Frost or his deft monsters to handle dismantling but when the quantity surpassed thebour i.e. during the monster stampede such a system would be a god send. Frost would really get the chance to test the limits of such a system as well as see how much his dungeon vault dimension could actually store. Chapter 353 353 Chapter 353: Bath etiquette Frost couldnt help but show a glint in his eye as he imagined the vast quantity of materials hed have on hand by the end of the stampede and in such diverse quantities at that. The monster stampede contains all manner of monsters from the cial mountains and the Northrend forest, many of which Frost had yet to encounter. In regards to red alert system, Dous went into a few protocols that helped ensure a fluid dynamic throughout the monster stampede despite the harsh battle that went on through the day and night. Many which again inspired Frost, Dous had far, far more experience in regards to managing his poption, even more so during times of strife and war. The bright beam of red light that was still glowing from the government district was a magic device fashioned by artificers for this disaster. A serious upgrade in the emergency beacon soldiers tend to have to call for aid when vibration was less effective. The bright red beam rose hundreds of metres into the sky and was joined by simr red beams in the other bastion towns Adima and Tunir. This was the warning for the monster stampede, and it could be seen for hundreds of kilometres, warning every one of the disaster. The three beams would stay lit until the third major wave in the early stages before itd be put to rest. By then the nearby territories should have had ample warning and if the refuges hadnt made it to one of the town they were as good as dead. Regr civilians and even adventurers could survive through such dead zone. Keeping it alight after that would only be a waste of magic crystals, pointless. They would however turn it briefly back on during the mid-stages andte stages so as to alert those watching as well as those sheltered in the towns of the stampedes progress. Dous and Leo threw barbs at one another on asion throughout the meal once they wefortable again. Leo bravely using his father of being a hypocrite since the only reason he was really mad in the first ce was because he took the work the old man wanted to do, he was simply jealous. Dous of course wasnt one to back down in duel of words, insulting his son back but eventually it was clear that since he was the father and current Viscount there was a double standard, Leo was thus assigned even more paperwork while he left with Cassandra, showing a mocking grin as he did. Cassandra blushed as she left, clearly understanding her husbands intentions. Ryuu and Bastion looked at one another and sighed, they patted both Luna and Leos shoulders, wishing them luck before they left to retire to their own rooms. Theyd been overworked for the past several days and really needed a proper rest. Luna and Leo however though doing no less work it wasnt as tedious andcking in excitement therefore they had much more energy plus they were young, young people are full of endless stamina. The new head servant and a couple guards escorted Leo and Luna to the offices so they could begin their work. Dous and Ryuu woulde and check on them in the morning and make sure everything was done and done correctly. From then theyd be working alongside their children, educating them in how to do the work that would soon rest on their shoulders. Dous had already contacted Colonel Hamon who was of a simr mindset. Though Leo and Luna were a great boon to aiding the military and preparing the defences of the town their lineage meant they were hallmarked for another sector. They did however leave with him a capable duo that he didnt have to relinquish control of. Bruno and Taka. ..... The shield bearing dwarf Bruno and the human archer Taka were very talented and had good heads on their shoulders. Along with Leo and Luna, Hamon had been educating them personally causing their strengths to rapidly climb. The two who were at the very peak of D-rank could now be considered entry level C-ranks and with their new 3 star weapons they were quite a force to be reckoned with. Hamon had high prospects for the young adventurers and had on more than one asion offered to ept them into the frost wolf battalion. While everyone was heading off in their own direction and each with vastly differing expressions a servant came to lead Frost, Maya, and the kids to their suite for the night. It wasnt thatte but since everyone else was quite tired Frost decided to follow suit. Despite the seriousness of the situation everyone had a very peaceful nights sleep. Even Kiba who slept in the monster stables slept well beside his two new friends the ice wolves from the frost wolf battalion. Unlike other monsters hede across in Kranor they didnt balk in his presence or instinctively feel fear, treating him as just another mount, very refreshing. They werent as intelligent as he was, but he could tell that despite the difference in rank these two wolves were not to be messed with, they had a wealth of battle experience that Kiba couldnt hope to match. After a really engaging discussion and some yful rough housing they fell asleep while leaning on one another, quite adorable if you look passed their massive sizes and massive teeth. Frost and Maya woke up early at the crack of dawn. Morning beautiful Frost greeted his girlfriend with a warm smile, finding her face to be the best thing to wake up to. Though of course it wasnt while lying on the same bed, their suite had separate rooms. Maya replied with her own warm smile and a tinge of pink on her cheeks. Morning handsome. Dark God-sama why did you have to make your son so damn pretty. She nearly had to cover her eyes as Frosts radiance was too much for her to bear this early in the morning.....that man however was now hers so at the same time she couldnt help but smirk proudly. After admiring one anothers appearance for a minute or so they woke up Nanna and Loki before heading to their respective bathing areas. Frost had grown quite fond of baths thus if he could hed use them instead of clean up magic. He took Loki while Maya took Nanna, they were old enough to be separated by gender, especially Nanna who was almost in her teenage years. They werent the only ones up however, it seemed as though everyone nned on getting an early start to the day and a bath was on their agendas. Ah morning Frost senpai and hello Loki. Leo was sitting in the hot bath alongside his father, Ryuu, and Bastion. All of them were sunken till their shoulders and resting their necks against the back wall enjoying the hot waters effect on their bodies. There was even a mild scent ofvender in the air that helped create a calming atmosphere. The bath house in the Furano manor was a littlerger and of a higher ss design wise than the one in Kranor, more fit for someone of noble standing. Only Leo noticed Frost and Loki walk in wrapped in their towels, the three older men had small wet towels over their eyes to enhance the rxation. They didnt even turn to face Frost and Loki at Leos announcement, simply waving their hands in their rough direction. Unwilling to do anything strenuous unless absolutely necessary. Once the bath was over, work would begin, and it wouldnt stop for the next couple months. After a long night of paperwork with only a few hours rest Leo entered the bath house to find his father and his uncles already there soaking in silence. Theyd hadnt said more than a single word each since, appearingpletely motionless. Frost noticed the situation and showed a gentle smile before whispering, Morning Leo, well join you in a sec. His quiet voice garnered slight appreciative nods from the three older men, silence was bliss. Frost ushered Loki over to the washing station telling him to be as quiet as possible before the two of them lowered themselves into the hot bath, copying Dous and the rest. There 5 men and a young child sat in silence, letting the hot water seep into their bones, erasing any tension and stress left within their bodies. Loki began counting to 100 in his head, Frost and Maya said that he needed to stay in the hot water until then before he could leave. His quiet number counting garnered a slight chuckle from Leo and then the three old men who found him adorable. After he reached 100 Loki popped his body up and swiftly left the hot water, heading towards the drying towels. Ah Loki dont run on a wet floor! Frost yelled while shaking his head. Loki thus swiftly slowed down his pace but still moved quickly. He wasnt old enough to appreciate the rxation provided by a piping hot bath. To take care of Loki, Frost exited the bath and followed after him. He would have preferred a long, deep soak but when youre a childs guardian sometimes other things take priority. His actions caused the three old men to smile warmly before they too rose from the water, it was about time they left and got to work. Of course this indirectly forced Leo to leave as well. He wasnt brave enough to continue rxing while his father and seniors left for work. Over in the womans bath house a simr encounter was going on though with a fair bit more talking. Wow Maya Ive got to say Im more than a little jealous. Chapter 354 354 Chapter 354: Still a long way from being truly powerful Wow Maya Ive got to say Im more than a little jealous. Cassandra said while covering her mouth as she gasped in awe. Her eyes crazily focused on Mayas ravishing figure, her ample floatation devices to be specific. Oh Im ttered Cassandra but to my eyes youve really not got anything to be jealous about. Maya replied with a friendly expression as her eyes took in Cassandras form. Though Maya was certainly more explosive in her hourss figure and her skin was pristine and smooth Cassandra wasnt anything to sneeze at. For a woman at her age and a mother no less she was an absolute bombshell, her chest more than a match for Mayas. Nanna sat next to them in the water, her eyes automatically looking between Mayas and Cassandras well developed chests before looking at herself, not even a slight bump as of yet. Frustration filled the young girl, she lowered herself under the water and let out a mild scream in anguish. Maya and Cassandra both giggled at Nannas antics before sweeping her up in a hug, squishing her head between their protruding peaks as though mocking even though that wasnt their intention. She was still very young with ample room to grow, hell she wasnt even a teenager yet. Luna on the other hand was feeling far more crestfallen, unlike Nanna she was pretty much full grown. She patted her slightly budding chest before eyeing Maya and her future mother inw with an intense re full of jealousy. If anyone should be jealous it should be me! She internally cried before letting out a depressed sigh. Shed have to be content with an average sized chest, just like her birth mother. Though Cassandra practically raised her that didnt change her gic makeup, some things were just impossible to alter. Thankfully however it seemed that Leo didnt mind that she didnt take after his mother in that regard. A blush quickly formed on her cheeks as she thought of Leo. This was caught by Maya and Cassandra who promptly attacked her from both sides, enveloping her in their assets. This move of theirs was different from consoling Nanna, it was purely bragging which Luna quickly caught on to. Ahhhhhhh! Theyre just lumps of fat, who cares if theyre big! She burst out from the water in anger before running away, she could hear Maya and Cassandra giggling without restraint as she did, further increasing her fury. Nanna who had finally gotten the chance to breathe again looked at the situation in confusion before once again staring at her own chest. As long as Im bigger than Luna Ill be happy. If Luna could hear Nannas thoughts right now she might bang her head against the wall in despair, a child was pitying her. ..... After bathing everyone joined up for breakfast before they had to each head off in differing directions. Bastion would have to head back to the adventurers guild, Cassandra had a long list of meetings with the merchant heads as well as preparing the refugee shelters. Whereas Luna and Leo would be attached at the hip to Dous and Ryuu, following their lead in governing the territory during such tumultuous times. Learning what they needed to so as to handle it themselves during the next monster stampede and those that follow. A hectic workload for all those involved. Frost and his entourage seemed to be the only ones who could enjoy their time leisurely. All they needed to do today was pick up Frosts newly engraved ive from Borris before heading back home. Bastion had brought a coin purse with himst night containing 4.8 gold coins. It was the payment for the delivered ice griffin parts, a very wee payment given the over 5 gold coins that was spent yesterday at the [money pit] and thus removed their need to visit the adventurers guild that was sure to be even more frantic and crowded than yesterday. Frost, Maya, Nanna, and Loki I guess this is farewell once again, hopefully we can reunite when the stampede has concluded. Wed be honoured to entertain you as guests as we celebrate our triumph. Dous stood at the manors entrance as he bade Frost and his group farewell. Cassandra was once again struggling to let go of Nanna and Loki, trying several times to convince Frost and Maya to simply stay here during the stampede along with the little angels. She hadnt seen them wear the new outfits she bought them enough or squeezed their now chubby cheeks enough. Her desire for another child increased every time sheid eyes on them. Dous couldnt help but look at them and his wife and cringe in fear ever so slightly. She was already hounding him incessantly, demanding another child yet from that look she showed he could tell it was only going to get worse. Haaaaaaaa Dous let out a heavy sigh in his head. He was all for engaging in romantic battles with his beautiful wife, but he had his limits. I suggest you leave through either the west or eastern gate as the northern one will bepletely overrun with refugees as well soldiers working on its defences. While the south will have queues of people leaving for the more southern territories, fleeing Furano before the 48 hours are up. Not everyone dared to sequester themselves within Furano and the other bastion towns during the monster stampede. Whether this be due to fear, work, money or just rejecting the idea of being under military lockdown a fair number of people would leave during the 48 hour period. A contingent of soldiers, adventurer guild staff and government workers were enlisted to help manage this evacuation calmly and smoothly. Everyone would have to report their details and reasons for leaving so as to provide Dous and Cassandra an urate census for the poption theyd need to provide for and keep track of during the stampede. This information actually helps in many other faculties out with the stampede, So Cassandra makes extra sure that the information is urately recorded, no exceptions even among visiting nobles. Most civilian residents remain its generally merchants that rely on movement for their ie, lower nobles, affluent men and woman as well as temporary residing travellers that choose to leave. Dous and Cassandra hold nothing against these people for their decision, choosing to instead focus on those that remain, aiming to ensure their lives remain safe and secure during the stampede. Once a person leaves the bastion town they no longer became their problem. Will do Dous, thanks for the advice. Frost thanked Dous before assisting Nanna and Loki onto Kibas back-much to Cassandras reluctance. Frost and them would head towards the eastern district where Borris shop was, pick up the newly engraved ive before heading out of the eastern gate and wrapping around and heading northward back home to the dungeon. The red alert that was enacted yesterday should have gotten the attention of the adventurers camping outside the dungeon. Whether or not they rushed for onest delve -which would mean their doom- or immediately packed up and headed towards Furano he didnt know. Frost did however hope itd be the former situation as that would bring him the most DP. Finy was given permission to kill any and all intruders in his absence, in fact it was encouraged. Frost had the spawners he wanted, and the first four floors fully kitted out. Over the next couple days hed be purchasing individual high ranking monsters that would serve as his officers during this long siege with Finy acting as hismander in chief. Frost was quite keen on having his ice trollmander reach the next level in his evolution during this drawn out siege. Frost ascended on Kibas backst and waved farewell to Dous and Cassandra who were there to see them off-Ryuu had already taken Luna and Leo into the office, putting them straight to work. Oh and Frost. Dous called out just before the set off Yeah? If you are nning oning back for the stampede, make sure its in thete stages and not the mid stages. I know youre strong but even if you ascend to B-rank wading through hundreds of monsters is a clear death sentence. Only in thete stages will the horde be thinned enough for you to make it through, take a wide berth in terms of direction as well. Dous spoke with a serious tone. The space between the cial mountains and the Furano Viscounty would be chock full of monsters during the early and mid-stages, impossible to fight through even if one was A-rank, the quantity being far too much for one man. Dous didnt want his young friend to brave through a death field just to arrive to their aid a little sooner, it wasnt worth the risk. Understood, I know my limits....youll see me at thete stages and not a day sooner. Frost nodded his head and showed an understanding look towards Dous. He was inplete agreement with what Dous said. The moment he learned of the enormity of the forces that would dwell in the Northrend forest as well as the presence of the entities at B-rank he immediately rejecteding early. Like hell Id risk my life doing something so foolish and pointless. Frost treasured his life and knew his limits, even if the territory encampment was finished and his dungeon was out of danger. Rushing headlong into a horde by his lonesome was just asking for a quick death. Dous and Hamon would have to deal with the monster stampede until thete stages without him. At that thought the image of Colonel Hamon that Dous and Leo described sprung to the forefront of his mind. He hadnt had the chance to meet this mage who was supposedly even stronger than Ryuu. A battle hardenedmander who has faced the monster stampede multiple times and taken part in a great many wars. He was sure to be a good resource to learn from in terms of battle tactics. Frost was told that the man he met at the Northern gate was one of Hamons four Majors, Major Conran an entry level B-rank fighter who uses the spear. One of the ice wolves staying at the Furano manor was his mount. These were the people he could look forward to fighting alongside in the next few weeks. He had a lot of training to do if he wished to stand shoulder to shoulder with them. His aura was formed making him half step B-rank, all he needed now was to improve his ive mastery and or his magical ability to fully enter that realm. He was still a long way from bing a truly powerful being. Chapter 355 355 Chapter 355: Wind engraving Safe travels everyone. Cassandra warmly shouted while waving goodbye, redness clear in her eyes as she did. Good luck, well see each other again when this is over, goodbye. Frost said his farewell as did Maya and the kids, time to head off. First to pick up his ive at Borris shop before exiting the east gate and heading home to prepare for the stampede in their own way. Frost wasnt the only one keen to face off against the stampede, Nanna and Loki were eager to test their knowledge in leading the dungeons forces against the invading horde. They werent strong enough take part in direct battle, but they could help their master asmanding aides. The two phoenix kin had practised a lot since the dungeon war with Gobuske and were excited to show Frost their improvements. Frost directed Kiba towards the [money pit] district where they all descended on arrival. Kiba was considered the same as a carriage and wasnt permitted to enter so hed have to wait for them within the carriage parking lot. Stay here Kiba we wont be long. Frost rubbed the big tigers head with affection causing Kiba to purr in satisfaction. Maya if theres anyst minute shopping you want to do with the kids I suggest you do it now, it shouldnt take me long to pick up my ive. Well meet up back here in 30 minutes tops ok. Master can I go to the weapons shop with you? Loki boldly asked wanting to be by Frosts side, he was keen to do some shopping that didnt involve clothing. Frost looked down at Loki before looking at Maya who simply shrugged, she was alright with it, Loki wasnt necessary for her to go shopping. Actually this might be a good thing. ..... Ok young master you take Loki with you, and Ill take Nanna. Maya hugged Nanna from behind, her little head feeling an intense feeling of softness, she blushed in embarrassment. She and Maya were going to go purchase some bras for her to grow into after their little encounter in the bath house. It wouldnt be right to bring Loki on such a shopping trip. Alright then Loki youre with me, Ill introduce you to Borris, a capable and experienced smith. And perhaps if youre lucky well find something there thatll suit you. So far Loki and Nanna only had one piece of armour, the wrist guards that were fashioned by Daki. If Loki behaved Frost was more than happy to purchase another piece of equipment for him. Un! At Frosts words Loki excitedly nodded his head before grabbing hold of his masters outstretched hand. The two then made their way through the crowds towards Borriss shop, leaving Nanna and Maya alone, one smiling proudly and the other showing a mixture of expressions. Blushing from what she and Maya were going to purchase as well as jealousy towards her younger brother for getting to go to a weapons shop. She also wanted more armour to increase her battle capability. Maya looked down warmly at the young girl in her arms Dont worry Nanna well be shopping for armour as well, just a different type, the type unique to woman hehehe. She giggled lightly before leading Nanna off towards a clothing store that she and Luna had visited back when they first visited the [money pit]. Theres was quite a selection of womans garments there, it was their specialty. Frost had left her with a gold coins worth of money, more than enough to fully garb Nanna in starter bras as well as get herself something nice. The streets in the weapons and armour section were even more busy than yesterday, Frost and Loki struggled to make their way to Borriss shop. Eventually Frost was forced to ce Loki on his shoulders to stop the poor boy getting buffeted by every muscr adventurer passing by. Borriss shop was packed to the brim with people, leaving very little movement space within the shop. The same two young dwarves could be seen shuttling boxes of stock in and out of the shop floor, sporting much more strained looks than yesterday. Another two had also been brought in, one managing the queue while another assisted Borris at the counter, quickly dealing with customers as fast as possible. The red alert had been enacted resulting in their decent sized floor space to bepletely packed ever since. Borris even extended the shops opening times by 2 hours each way to amodate the massive increase in customer traffic. His sons, nephews, apprentices and other family members were all hands on deck during this time. Pumping out weapons in bulk. Even Borris himself had to help out, though he primarily focused on forging the higher end products suited for the C-rank adventurers as well as the officers in the frost wolf battalion. Thankfully due to the monster stampede being dyed they had a decent sized stockpile prepared in advance but even still, the volume of people was taxing. This monster stampede showed hints of being one of the worst thus people were throwing restraint out the window, buying up weapons and armour like they were disposable. Very much in the mindset of better to have and not need than to need and not have. Purchasing such items during the actual stampede would not only be harder -due to stock issues- and more expensive but would take up valuable battle time. Once the horde advances on the walls, people were divided into strict shifts and couldnt leave unless injured. All your preparations needed to be dealt with beforehand, defending the town was much harder if themander couldnt trust that his soldiers wouldnt be in ce when he needed them. Adventurers signing up for the towns defence would be under military control, theyd suffer severe penalties and punishments if they disobeyed orders. Thus all the weapons stores and stores that stocked battle items werepletely full of customers right now. Frost brought Loki down from his shoulders lest he bash his head on the doorframe before they joined the queue. Well Frost did, Lokis eyes were sparkling as he saw the dozens of strong adventurers all sporting impressive gear as well as the shelves of weapons and armours constantly being chosen and then reced by the restocking dwarves. Go and look but be careful not to get in anyones way. Frost wanted to encourage his childlike behaviour, seeing it as a good sign that the ve tattoo was no longer dominating Lokis soul. So he gave permission for him to explore. Thank you master. Loki energetically shouted before dashing off towards and empty area of weapons, picking them up and inspecting them with excitement in his eyes. The stuff before him wasnt as pretty or as good quality as his new daggers but it was exciting none the less. A few customers however grunted and showed annoyed looks towards Frost for bringing a child to a weapon shop during the red alert. Only those who were going to be in the heat of battle should be here right now, this was no time to get a kid some training gear. But the grunts and looks were as far as it went as Frost gave a sharp re of his own whenever they looked at him or Loki with malice. His aura even seeped out a little causing them to shiver in fear before promptly returning to their own business. Eventually it was Frosts turn, Hey Borris Im here to pick up the ive, is it done? The old dwarf had a fair few bags under his eyes, clearly the man didnt get much restst night. Borris fully expecting Frosts arrival looked up at the clock that currently showed a little after 9am. Youre a little earlierd but youre in luck, my son finished it first thing this morning,e Ill take you to it. Borris gave a look to his young assistant, handing the reigns over to him while he took Frost to his ive. His gaze then drifted over towards Loki who was still enamoured with the surrounding equipment, armour now in particr. Unfortunately nothing was in his size causing him to look a little crestfallen. Is that your kid? Borris asked In a way yes, Im his guardian why? Frost looked toward Loki with warm affection. He didnt see Loki and Nanna as his ves in the slightest, more as family, children he was responsible for. Borris showed an interested smile as he took in Lokis frame. Hes pretty good, have hime too, I might have something for the youngd. Borriss store of course forged items for young kids as well, mainly as training equipment but none of that was out on the shop floor at the moment given that it wouldnt suit their current clientele. Im sure hed be over the moon with that, Lokie over here. Frost called out to the slightly disappointed Loki who instantly changed gears, bounding over to Frost and Borris with a smile. This is Borris the skilled smith who forged my ive, say hello. Frost ced his hand on Lokis back encouraging him to introduce himself. Hello Mr Borris, Im Loki its nice to meet you. Chapter 356 356 Chapter 356: Wind engraving (2) Hello Mr Borris, Im Loki its nice to meet you. Loki proudly introduced himself with a confident voice. He and his sister had be much more brave when it came to interacting with people, no longer nervous and cowering. Borris couldnt help but show a friendly smile towards the young phoenix kin, nodding his head in appreciation. Its very nice to meet you too Loki, would you like to take a look at some of the childrens equipment in the back? Lokis eye sparkled with desire at Borriss question before rapidly turning to Frost with a pleading look. Hed love to lead the way Borris. Yay! Loki shouted out in glee as he and Frost followed Borris into the back section of the shop. Borris led them to a more open area where several training dummies stood in a row, each sporting different material makeup. We test our weapons here to make sure theyre up to snuff before selling them to the customers. Our weapons and armours can mean the difference between life and death, so a shoddy product does not enter the shop floor. Borris spoke with conviction, proud of his testing methods. Regardless of how experienced the smith was or how many times theyve made the same weapon hed have it tested all the same, this even included his own work. The failure of a weapon is a cksmiths greatest shame. Your ives over there, I thought youd might like to try it out before you leave. Borris pointed to a counter nearby, Frosts ive was set on a stand and covered in a purple cloth, protecting it from the elements. Ill go and get Loki here some choice items to look at from our holding area. Feel free to use the training dummies. The old dwarf then grabbed Lokis hands and inspected them like he did for Frost. ..... Daggers, interesting. He nodded his head before heading off to one of their holding areas. Loki was already set weapon wise thanks to Daki, but it was always nice to look and prudent to have a spare. Loki waited in anticipation of Borriss return while Frost moved to uncover his ive and see the changes Borriss son had made to it. An elemental engraving shouldnt affect the durability of the weapon nor its bnce when being applied and the absorption of mana should be even and controlled so as to best provide the chosen elemental coating without unnecessarily damaging the weapon. Frost paid for the highest possible wind engraving that Borriss son could apply, so he was expecting a lot from this addition. It should radically improve his closebat capabilities, especially when dealing with creatures holding high ice element affinity. As the purple cloth was removed, the ive was revealed before Frosts eyes in all its grandeur. Hoh thats pretty cool. Now present along the shaft and de were intricate markings akin to a magic crest engraved on the weapon. It gave the ive a much more magical and ancient look. There was no difference in how the ive felt however, the engravings were somehow beneath the topyer, keeping the ives smooth finish. Frost showed a wild smile, dying to try the thing out. His eyes drifted towards one of the training dummies. Loki wanna see my new and improved ive in action? Frost spoke in a teasing tone toward the young male phoenix kin whos eyes expanded to saucers the moment he caught sight of the beautiful engravings. Loki rapidly nodded his head up and down, dying to see what his masters weapon could do. Frosts smile grew and his eyes showed a fierce glint as he moved towards the wooden training dummy donned in leather apparel. Lets start simple. He chose the weakest dummy first as it was his first time using an engraved weapon and he was a little nervous about damaging it. He remembered what Borris told him as well as what Maya revealed when he talked to her about getting his ive engraved. Dont fill the engraving with chakra otherwise youll cause a conflict, imbue the engraving with unkneaded mana for the best results or use a magic crystal of at least E-rank quality and no higher than C-rank. Any higher and itd damage the engravings intricate detail. Think of it like a persons mana veins if the power is too dense and powerful the veins will explode. And if the crystal is of too poor quality it wont have enough juice to provide the intended effect. Using your personal mana however that can be controlled will result in the least amount of damage to the ive and the engraving when in use. Go slow at the beginning, find the sweet spot before trying it out inbat. Frost followed their advice, he took a battle ready stance in front of the wooden dummy, his ive held vertical before him. He stared at the ives de edge before closing his eyes and starting. Frost summoned his internal mana not willing it into any shape like when he uses chakra, simply funnelling it slowly through his hands and into engraving until he felt that sweet spot. With the addition of Frosts mana that was tinted with the ice element the engraving lit up, the mana flowed through the many channels like water before letting out a hum. Hummmmmm With the humming sound the air around the ive twisted before coating the ives de edge in a light green wind de. Frost opened his eyes; he could feel the sharpness of the wind de against his eyes and cheeks. His ive was now coated with the wind element. This one trick pony of a dungeon core could now deal out air based damage. Hahahaha Frost loudlyughed after he touched the sharp wind de, cutting in finger in the process. Schwing! Full of vigour Frost raised his wind coated ive and shed downwards sharply, easily chopping into the wooden dummy as though it was made of butter. The wind element was known for being sharp, very sharp, far more than the other elements, even his ice element wasnt a match in this regard. The dummys wooden arm that was covered in leather dropped to the ground with a light thud. The sliced off area where the ive passed through was incredibly smooth. Frost was very satisfied with the results and was feeling eager to test its limits. He eyed the other training dummies. One made of stone another some kind of metal whereas the final one was a kind of crystal that so far had barely a nick on it, clearly the strongest of the group reserved for the highest level of weapons in the shop. The wind de surrounding the ives edge remained as long as Frost pumped the engraving with mana. The actual de edge didnt even touch the wooden dummy as it shed down, the wind de was enough on its own. Frost moved in front of the stone training dummy and repeated the exact same motion, aiming once again for the arm. Swhing! ng! thud This time the ives physical edge touched the hard stone but none the less the dummys arm fell to the ground. The cut area still looking fairly smooth. Next was the metal dummy. Loki looked on in fascination at his masters elegant striking form, blown away by the difference between the two of them in terms of strength. He and his sister still faced off against the same unarmed and slow ice golem that Maya would conjure for them. They could barely make a scratch on its ice body let alone chop off an arm. Frost once again ced himself before the dummy, his ive raised up high with the wind de still sharply coating the de edge. Schwing! Don! Frost felt a strong resistance from this blow, his ive failed to separate the dummy from its arm, leaving a deep gash several inches deep. Seems as though this metal dummy was too much for a single sh dismemberment. Thankfully his ive was undamaged, its de edge proving to be of superior durability and still razor sharp. The wind de however waspletely destroyed requiring to remade with mana, a quick fix. Thats far sharper than I thought itd be. Frost gazed in wonder at his ive as well as the deep cut inflicted upon the metal dummy. Hed probably only need another strike or two topletely sever its arm, all without using any empowering skills, it was devastating to say the least. Frost wasnt sure what type of metal the dummy was made from but at the very least it was equivalent to refined steel, a 3 star material. Realising the strength of the third dummy his gaze of course then drifted towards the fourth and final one, the dummy made out of a light blue crystal. His mana pumped into the engraving reforming the wind de before he once again took an aggressive battle stance, wanting to test the durability of this beautiful crystal. A nagging feeling however was in the back of his mind, warning him that this was a stupid idea. Hed already proved the capability of the wind engraving this was just foolishly showing off. That voice however was very minorpared to the other one that kept saying Do it, do it, do it over and over again. Even Loki was leaning forward in anticipation, eager to see how the crystal dummy fared against his masters ive. Frost raised his ive up high, but that nagging feeling was still present so just in case he decided to give this blow everything he had. [Shattering strike] The wind covered de hummed with energy enhancing its destructive power to the utmost before. Chapter 357 357 Chapter 357: Pr chasm crystal [Shattering strike] Frost called out the name of his ive skill. The wind covered de hummed with energy enhancing its destructive power to the utmost before. Schwing! The ive shed down with immense fury towards the crystal dummys arm aiming to sever itpletely, Frost put his entire strength into this blow, confident that the crystal dummy was not something to take lightly. The wind de made contact with the crystal first and practically exploded apart when it did, leaving not even a slight blemish. Then came the energy coating from the [shattering strike] skill that enhanced his ives destructive power rather than the cutting edge. Boom! The resulting contact generated a powerful sonic boom yet still the crystal didnt sport even a single blemish. Finally it was the actual physical edge of the ive, a sharp weapon that was close to 4 star quality. DON! A horrible sound was released when the two physical materials made contact. The surrounding air was blow away by the devasting impact, even the earth that supported the dummy and Frost shook, vibrating a good portion of the store. Borris who was heading back with some choice items for Loki couldnt help but let out a wide smile. ..... I knew he couldnt resist trying it. Frost stood still; his ive outstretched with the de leaning on the crystal dummys arm. His swing was brought to aplete halt by the target, the de edge didnt even leave a tiny cut on the crystal, nothing more than a slight change in the crystals tint at the point of impact. O Frost groaned in pain, his arm suffered a fair amount of blowback from striking something so incredibly hard and was visibly trembling. The flesh between his fingers even split, leaking a few drops of blood onto the floor. Loki shocked by the situation remained in ce for a few seconds before rushing to Frosts side to make sure he was alright. Master are you ok? The young boy asked full of concern, his eyes focusing on the drops of blood leaking from Frosts hand. But asionally his gaze would drift towards the crystal dummy in amazement. His masters strike was so powerful that the shop quaked, yet this crystal dummy didnt even have a scratch. He really wanted to know what it was made of, as did Frost. Currently Frost didnt care about the pain in his arm and hands, his attention was focused on two things. His ives de edge and the crystal dummy. Striking against such a hard target he was sufficiently worried about chipping his recently repaired and upgraded ive. Thankfully however it seemed there was no damage, the sharp edge continued to perfectly reflect the nearby light, still in pristine condition. Haaaaaaa that was close. Frost let out a sigh of relief upon seeing that his weapon was undamaged, his respect towards its forger Borris sharply increasing. He pulled back the ive, moaning slightly as he did so as to better inspect the crystal that he recklessly attacked. Dammit not even a slight crack after all that! Frost felt his pride take a harsh blow. His strength was supposedly half step B-rank, yet he couldnt even cut into an immovable object when armed with his mighty ive, a real gut punch. Hahahahahaha Borris appeared at that moment with a box of equipment. Id be more surprised if you could leave a cut on that dummy. Its made from pr chasm crystal an upper 5 star material with incredible durability hahahaha. Borris spoke out, exining the dummysposition. Pr chasm crystal? Frost had never heard of such a material, but if it truly was an upper grade 5 star material then it was understandable. His ive wasnt even 4 star, nowhere near being a match, however.... How did Borris get his hands on such high quality materials and why use something of such quality as a training dummy? Frost looked at Borris in confusion to which he got a yful smile in reply. Borris ced down the box of childrens equipment and walked towards the crystal dummy, pping it hard while his eyes showed a fervent expression. This piece of pr chasm crystal has been passed down through the generations, my teacher handed it to me when he could no longer wield a hammer as did his teacher to him. It is the highest grade material Ive and my cksmithing predecessors have ever seen and handled yet not a single one of us has managed to utilise the stuff. Our skills being far toocking. Borris showed a look of regret as he caressed the crystal. He was the 7th generation cksmith granted control of this material, yet he was already way past his prime. His chance at fulfilling the goal of his predecessors was beyond his capabilities. To properly forge with such a high grade material one would need to be at the very least a high ranking 5 star cksmith, ideally 6 star and theyd have to have ess to an upper earth rank me. Two things that were way beyond Borris, hell the entire Northrend empire only has a two 5 star cksmiths and neither of them are upper grade. The upper earth rank me was even harder to get a hold off. Borris couldnt think of a single empire or country on the entire Yangmir continent that had such a me, at least none that openly broadcasted it. The wish for Borriss predecessors was for one of their decedents to be the one to finally forge with the pr chasm crystal. Selling it to an outsider was strictly forbidden unless that person themselves was a 6 star cksmith. In such a case the material should be given freely so as to honour such a high grade material. As of yet Borris had had many offers, but no one ever met those standards. His great, great teacher was a 4 star smith but even she was unworthy and passed the crystal down when she hung up the hammer. Borris knew he had no chance of seeding nor did any of his children, so instead of letting it go toplete waste, gathering dust he decided to take advantage of its near indestructible durability as a testing dummy. And so far its worked wonders, providing a super difficult test for the upper rank weapons. As long as they dont chip from a full strength blow against the crystal and kept their sharpness Borris felt they were sufficient to enter the shop floor. Since my children and I are highly unlikely going to be able to fulfil our progenitors dream in forging such a high rank material I decided to use it as a training dummy, so as to better test the weapons we can forge. Having it out in open also helps to keep the dream alive, a constant reminder of our goals whenever we walk by it or test a weapon against it. Borriss eyes no longer showed regret but intense passion. His muscles tensed and a fire ran through his veins, he wasnt dead yet, he still had the strength to wield the hammer and chase his passions. Well ignoring the pr chasm crystal dummy it seems you really did a number on the other three. Borris looked at the other 3 dummies, two were missing an arm and the third had a severe gash several inches deep. He looked at Frost with usation making the young dungeon core avoid his gaze out of embarrassment. So then would do you think about the engraving? Borris swiftly changed to a smiling expression, not holding the damage to his dummies against Frost, they were there to be attacked in the first ce. He wasnt surprised with the wood and stone dummies but the deep cut on the metal one was impressive. That was a refined steel and duram alloy, a mid-grade 3 star material yet a single sh caused that much damage. He didnt know whether to attribute such promise to Frosts strength, his sons engraving or his own forging capabilities. Frost showed a wild smile before rapidly reforming the wind de around the ives de so as to show it off. Its perfect Borris, your son certainly has talent. Im sure hell be happy to hear that hahaha. The two men then chuckled, happy with such a positive oue. Loki meanwhile struggled to remain in ce, his eyes darting between Frost and the box of equipment Borris brought with him. Frost smiled warmly before giving Loki permission to dive right in and choose something for himself. Borris brought a range of different equipment, ranging from 1 star to 2 star weapons and armour as well as training equipment that served to solely increase the weight of the user. Loki was quite drawn to these items as they could be shared with his sister. Frost and Borris spoke at little about maintaining the engraving to ensure a longer life expectancy and Frost once again subtly promoted his growing territory as well as Dakis skills as a smith. He even withdrew Lokis daggers to show off her talents, causing the old dwarf to be even more keen to meet her. When Loki had made his choice, a pair of weighted leg attachments, Frost told Borris that he had a sister so he likely picked something they could share. Loki blushed slightly from being caught red handed. Borris simplyughed and said he could take two pairs, one for him and one for Nanna and hed only charge Frost for one of them. This brought a smile to both Loki and Frosts faces. Saving money was always a good feeling. I should bring one of the kids along every time I shop, their cuteness seems to bring about bargains. Chapter 358 358 Chapter 358: Returning to the dungeon After leaving Borriss shop Frost and Loki swiftly made their way back the carriage parking lot where Kiba was waiting, as were Maya and Nanna. Their shopping trip obviously taking less time toplete, probably due to the items they were shopping for. No one needed to buy new lingerie during the red alert, so they experienced pretty much zero queues plus they didnt suffer from choice, Maya simply bought pretty much everything that looked good. Nanna still sported a significant blush on her face, unable to get over her embarrassment. Maya as well as the shop clerks measured her body intimately and constantly praised her skin and appearance, cooing when they learned she was here to purchase her first set of training bras. Nanna was being treated as budding young woman instead of a cute little girl ying dress up, the feelings conveyed were very different. Wee back young master, howd your end go? Maya waved towards Frost with a bright smile, she had a lot of fun outfitting Nanna and experiencing some solely girl time. Their shopping had already been ced neatly away in her storage bracelet thus the two of them were leaning against Kiba in wait, petting him every so often in order to hear his content purring. On Frosts side however Frost was absent of any shopping, his ive ced within his storage ring, only Loki seemed to be carrying two sets of heavy shopping bags. Loki was adamant in carrying the weighted leg guards himself given that it was a gift for him and his sister. Frost found his actions quite cute thus he allowed him to do so. By the end of their walk however Loki was huffing and puffing, carrying the two sets of weighted leg guards was quite an ordeal for someone so young but he stubbornly persisted, eager to personally hand over his sisters present. Maya looked at Loki with concern as he made his way before his sister with difficulty, her gaze towards Frost however was filled with usation to which Frost simply shrugged his shoulders, showing he was helpless in this situation. Loki was quite stubborn when he wanted to be. Big sis Master bought me a pair of weighted leg guards, but Mr Borris gave me two sets. One for you and one for me. Loki handed over the bag in his right hand showing a bright smile as he did despite his trembling arms. His sister was the most important person in his life, he depended greatly on her during their dark times and even now she was always there to support him when he needed her. Nanna nervously took the leg guards before pulling Loki into a hug and crying. She was so proud to have such a caring brother. Loki hugged her back, his smile widening. Maya felt as though an arrow went through her heart as she watched, she even let out a slight kyuuun like moan. These two kids were just so adorable. ..... Now that their shopping had finally finished, Frost with his newly upgraded ive, Loki and Nanna gaining new training equipment and Maya purchasing some new lingerie for her and Nanna it was time to head back home and begin their own preparations for the monster stampede. Riding Kiba they took the bypass route around the [money pit] to the eastern gate which Dous rmended they take given the crowds that would be at northern and southern gates. Exiting was quite smooth, the queue was fairly short and all they had to do was give their basic information, scan their guild cards and reason for leaving, standard protocol regardless of which gate was used. Kiba take us home. Once they cleared the eastern gate Frost ordered Kiba to start running northward back to the dungeon, their home. Rawr! Kiba let out an excited roar before picking up speed, he too was eager to get back to their home. He was very fond of the mana rich atmosphere as well as the endless space in which he could run free. As they wrapped around to the northern side of Furano, Frost and the group could see the swarms of refugees all with desperate looks in their faces. There was at least 5 times as manypared to yesterday, the number of guards and soldiers were also increased to control such high numbers. Exiting through the northern gate would have taken hours at the very least, a good shout by Dous. 2 hourster Frost, Maya, Nanna and Loki had returned to the dungeon and once again Frost felt that delightful connection that filled his body with power andfort. However there was quite a drastic change in the outside area, not a single adventurer could be seen. Something that the dungeon hadnt really experienced since it became known to the local adventurers. The destion felt rather eery considering the amount of visitors present when they left here yesterday morning. They must have quickly left after seeing the beam of red light. Frost surmised as he looked behind, the red beam of light generated by Furano as well as the other two bastion towns could be seen in the far distance. Remnants of campfires and other items could be seen lying around likely from groups hurrying to vacate. Frost quickly brought up the dungeon menu and teleported them all into the private space. Frost, Maya, Nanna and Loki were all used to the spatial transference, but Kiba was still a bit uneasy, swiftly copsing onto his belly and feeling queasy the moment they arrived. Nanna and Loki consoled the big tiger, rubbing his head and belly to ease his symptoms while Maya moved to the kitchen to prepare lunch for everyone. Whereas Frost sat before the dungeon core and called Finy. Finy can youe to the private space, theres a few things I need to discuss with you. Understood master, Ill be there right away. A momentter Finy appeared in the private space. He showed a gentle smile toward Nanna and Loki, bowed his head slightly to Maya before walking towards Frost and taking a seat across from him, already used to being summoned. First off lets hear your report, what happened during our absence. Nothing much master, people entered as per usual with many still trying to reach the third floor and as you ordered I no longer yed nice. Pretty much killing anyone who went beyond the first floor thus producing a decent amount of DP for the dungeon. Frost looked at the current DP values that now showed 11,000, there was a little over 2500 when he left so they managed to rake in 8,500DP over a single day, pretty impressive. Finy must have left very few survivors as most of the stronger groups had already been decimated. When the sun began to set yesterday however things changed, the adventurers all noticed a red beam of lighting from the south and quickly left the area with a mixture of panic and excitement. I thus killed all those that were currently in the dungeon even those on the first floor since it didnt seem as though they would being back anytime soon. Finy spoke with a proud smile as he mentioned mass ughtering people but then again if you looked at from his point of view it was something to be proud of. These adventurers entered their home to hunt and kill the residents all in the name of profit and fortune seeking, they were enemies. Well done Finy that was the correct call, we wont be seeing adventurers any time soon. Frost nodded his head and praised Finys actions. He had no reason to give a rats ass about his dungeon beingbelled dangerous anymore. For at least a month the monster stampede will be in y resulting in mass amounts of DP and significant changes to the Dungeon by the time the adventurers returned. Any data they had now would no longer be relevant. Thank you master Finy bowed and ced his arm across chest in salute while giving thanks. Being praised and relied upon by Frost was a great source of encouragement for the ice trollmander. No other monster under Frostsmand was given such honour. When we were visiting Furano we learned that the monster stampede will arrive in less than a week, thus the bastion towns of Furano, Adima and Tunir enacted something they call a red alert. That red beam of light you can see in the distance is their way of announcing the soon arrival of the monster stampede. Adventurers, refugees and others are quickly swarming to these towns for safety. Thus its unlikely well have any adventurer intruders in theing month, monsters however will be very frequent. Frost exined what he learned to his monstermander, bringing him up to speed in regards to the current and future situation. Even before the monster stampede fully begins and the earth quakes, monsters would be far more abundant. The local fauna in the Northrend forest as well as the fringes of the cial mountains southern exit would likely be drawn towards the ambient mana poured out by the dungeon. Still dictated by their logical instincts before the frenzy takes full hold and drives them towards Furano. This means they only had a few days to prepare for the stampede. The stuff needed to be done through the dungeon menu would be easy as its practically instantaneous, but thebour work and training of his monsters would take time, the sooner they begin the better. Now that the external section in free of intruders Ill expand the area making it a medium sized section (5km by 5km) as well as get to summoning monsters that will serve as officers during the long battle. Ill need you to thoroughly takemand of the defence preparations and squad allotment. The monsters that well be fighting against will be mad and in a state of frenzy. Theres only one entrance to the dungeon, creating a funnel situation, I want a kill box in that area as well as defending walls and trenches plus back up defences throughout the first section. Well also need to arrange a shift pattern as this will be a long, long siege. Exhaustion will prove to be as dire an enemy as the invading monsters. Frost gave out his orders with amanding tone sending a chill down Finys back before a wild smile adorned his lips. Your will be done Master. Chapter 359 359 Chapter 359: The dungeons preparation for the monster stampede Frost and Finy continued to brainstorm defences that could be sessfully generated in time and put to good use for the monster stampede. Currently Finy and Kiba were the only C-rank monsters within the dungeon, a risky situation considering that even the mid-stages could contain simr levelled enemies let alone the B-ranks present in thete stages. Our forces at the moment though decent in number are primarily made up of E-rank monsters and below, sporting less than a dozen D-ranks. This will not be enough for even the early stages let alone the mid orte stages of the stampede. Frost highlighted the situation in regards to their current manpower, stressing the fact that they were sorelycking in high levelledbour. The early stages will contain low rank monsters generally beneath D-rank but in far greater numbers than what we currently have. Luckily the strength of the waves increase gradually so for the first few days well likely being facing goblins, rabbits, slimes and other G-rank and possible F-rank invaders. Well use this time to harvestrge amounts of DP and possibly level up our own monsters so they can evolve to a higher rank. Frost wasnt confident in achieving B-rank before having to leave for Furano, thus his personal strength would likely remain at the half step B-rank during the mid-stages and perhaps even the start of thete stages. He was unsure howrge his dungeon would need to be to ess C-rank monsters thus the only recourse was to evolve his D-ranks just like how Finy evolved into his current ice trollmander archetype from the standard frost troll archetype. This method would also save vast amounts of DP as the average starting price for a C-rank monster ording to Maya would be around 2000DP, 4 times as much as a standard frost troll. Currently a few D-rank monsters were high levelled, fairly close to achieving their evolution. Frost would focus on cing these monsters on the front line in the early stages. Though weaker monsters wouldnt generate as much experience the quantity would more than make up for it. Frost then looked straight at Finy. Id also like for you to achieve your next evolution rank during the stampede. If you can reach B-rank Id feel much more secure in handling thete stages. Though Maya said itd be unlikely for us to attract a B-rank invader theres always a chance, better safe than sorry. Finy was currently level 32/50, 18 levels away from his max, as long as he personally took part in the battle during the mid-stages, evolving was possible. His rank was far too high for G and F-rank opponents to give much experience so having him take part in the early stages would be too inefficient. Finy frowned, a heavy responsibility suddenly ced on his shoulders, but he did not waver. cing his arm across his chest Finy bowed in salute. I shall do my best to meet your expectations master. Ever the loyal solider, Finy would do anything that Frost asked of him without hesitation. Good, I look forward to seeing how grand you look as a B-rank monster. Frost showed a prideful smile, eager to see such an event. At the moment however lets focus on preparing for the early stages. 1500DP to expand the outside section, best to get that out of the way while we still have the chance. So that leaves 9,500DP for monsters, actually lets make it 8,500 best to have some DP in reserve. After adding the section expansion to the cart Frost immediately moved to the monster category, D-ranks in particr. ..... Lets get 3 frost revenants, 3 lesser yuki-onnas, 3 couerl pups, another 2 frost trolls and giant frost centipede for exactly 8500DP, that should certainly upscale our aggregate power. It certainly will master. Finy nodded in agreement, 12 new grade D-rank monsters, would make a world of difference. Frost hearing no objections swiftly purchased the monsters and section expansion causing the dungeon core to glow and divine energy to flow through his body. This feeling really is addictive. Frost wondered how good itd feel to make purchases in the millions. A future goal. Finy go and show the new monsters the ropes before organising everyone to begin war preparations. Have a fairly strong contingent prepared to deal with any interim monster intruders quickly so as to not interfere with the preparations. As you wish master. Finy promptly stood up from his chair, bowing slightly to Maya and the children before vanishing back to the first floor to interact with the new monsters just summoned. These D-rank monsters would serve as officers just like the frost trolls, leading the lower ranked ones in battle. Frosts gaze then moved over to Kiba who was quietly resting at the side, finally gotten over his queasiness. Kiba Ill leave the coeurl pups under your care, you should be able to get along given that youre both cat type monsters. Coeurls wererge leopard like monsters with very long and thick whiskers that help them gatherrge amounts of mana. Though these monsters were just pups their sizes were equivalent to the frost wolves perhaps even slightly bigger. Frost thought it would be nice to give Kiba some responsibility around the dungeon and having him in charge of the couerl pups seemed to be the perfect fit. Their family trees were simr so he could act like an elder brother. Kiba raised his head towards Frost, excitement clear on his face. Hed never been in charge of anything before, always the younger one. He jumped up to his feet in joy before bounding over to Frost and rubbing his head against him in affection. Frost smiled and petted the big tiger, Ive ced them on the 4th floor, that will be your area during the stampede. Open ins and no other monsters to really get in your way. Ill teleport you over so you can meet them. The moment Frost said the word teleport Kibas body shivered, and he looked up at Frost with anguish. Dont give me that face, you need to get used to the spatial transference eventually, might as well start now. Kiba pouted a little but eventually bowed his head, allowing Frost to teleport him to the 4th floor. Though he asked to be sent a little aways from the coeurl pups, cant have his first impression ruined by the effects of spatial transference. A momentter Maya came over to the table with the food. So I guess youre going to be pretty busy over the next few days? Maya spoke with a slight pout, theyd only just started their rtionship, yet Frost would be busy with work, leaving very little time for the two of them. Unfortunately yes, this monster stampede is going to be far more risky than I first thought so I cant leave anything to chance. Frost replied after finishing the food in his mouth. Ill have to coordinate with the monsters so as to prepare the defences, instruct them on the protocols Ive devised as well as how to dismantle the vast amount of monsters that will intrude into our domain. The dungeon can do it quickly, but a lot of material will be lost that way. Im nning on growing a territory, cant afford such high levels of waste. Frost and Finy would be very, very busy over the next few days, making sure everyone was prepared for the long war that was about toe. And though hed much rather spend time with his beautiful girlfriend some things just couldnt be avoided, this involved his livelihood and ambitions, nothing could go wrong. Haaaaaaaa fine then, Ill y the role of a good housewife, taking care of the private space and the kids while patiently waiting for you to return home. Maya fiddled with her fork, her boredom climbing just thinking about it. You know you could always work alongside me instead sequestering yourself in the private space. I know youre restricted in what you can do in terms of dungeon management but theres nothing saying you cant be by my side when I do it. Frost knew that Maya was quite prone to boredom, she was a natural troublemaker, he usually being the target of her antics. Sounds boring and not romantic in the slightest so a hard pass, Ill just focus my energy on our lovely little angels. Maya frowned before redirecting her attention to Nanna and Loki, sweeping them up in a hug to uplift her mood. Cuteness cures everything. Haaaaaaaa Frost let out a deep sigh, it wasnt as though he didnt want to spend time delving into this new rtionship with her. How about this Ill set aside at least an hour a day where you and me will spend some alone time together, no interruptions from the kids, monsters or dungeon matters, what do you say? This was hispromise, thankfully since he nor Maya actually required sleep while in the dungeon he could manage to take out some time to be with her (battle training didnt count as that wasnt romantic). A slight blush adorned Mayas cheeks as she turned to face her young master, ideas flowing through her head before she nodded meekly. Such apromise was eptable, a grin thus adorned her face. Chapter 360 360 Chapter 360: The monster stampede begins (volume 6) 4 dayster Frost could be seen near the dungeons entrance, within the 1st section of the dungeon, the winter hignds. Dozens of monsters were hard at work all around him, dwarves and goblins in particr given their more deft forms. Everyone present was following Frosts instructions to establish arge killing zone in front of therge gateway entrance in preparation for the monster stampede. Two 6 metre highpacted snow and ice walls now led off from the dungeons entrance, extending the funnel shape that would limit the amount of intruders entering at once and force them down a single path. Thick tforms were behind these walls allowing Frosts monsters to peer over and attack with ranged weaponry. Frost based the design off of the northern walls defending Furano, of course they werent as tall nor as thick, but it would grant his forces a useful height and defensive advantage. Archer caste monsters as well as monsters with ranged attacks would line the left and right walls, shooting into the rampaging horde while a third, bottom wall connecting the two ends would hold the lesser yuki-onnas and frost revenants. The lesser yuki-onnas would be ced on top of the bottom wall which was a metre higher and more reinforced than the left and right walls. The n being that theyd fire their devasting ice magic straight ahead into the oing horde, while the frost revenants served as hallowed protectors on the ground, utilising their thick armour and brute strength to prevent any monster from passing through the gate thaty behind them. For 4 days work Frost was more than impressed, such defences should be capable of holding back the early waves. During the mid-stages however something of this calibre was a littlecking. D and even C-rank monsters would be able to charge through or over such low walls and wouldnt be decimated by the endless spells and ranged weaponry. Frost had the frost dwarven smith and many of the other dwarven castes focus of making iron arrows and recement bows instead of closebat weapons and armour. A month long siege would require a great amount of ammunition thus he ordered stockpiling to begin immediately. Beside where the lesser yuki-onnas were to be stationed there was two ballistae very simr to the ones found in Furano but of a much simpler design. Frost spent a fair amount of time going through the long list of items avable for purchase within the dungeon menu, war machines were part of that list. An iron wood ballista, a basic level war machine that cost 450DP and 5DP per bolt of ammunition. An urate firing from such a war machine could take down or at least severely wound a D-rank monster. ..... Given how many Furano had on their northern wall Frost believed itd be foolish to not have something simr. Though hed likely only have to deal with a tangent force inparison to the full blown horde that the Furano territory would have to endure, Frost had much less forces and defensive structures so this war would be anything but simple. Frost thus purchased two of these machines as well as 100 bolts of ammunition for 1400DP. He assigned two frost dwarf quarrellers to be the shooters given that they were the monsters with the best ranged capabilities within his forces. Though he strictly ordered that the ballistae should only be used againstrge enemies and or when the frost revenants on the ground were bing overwhelmed so as to conserve the limited ammo. As expected shortly after the red alert was enacted and people fled to the bastion towns the monsters present in the Northrend forest became more active. Over thirty foreign monsters entered the dungeon over the past 4 days -far more than the usual amount-, spurred on by the looming stampede. Though not quite in a frenzy they were beyond the state of negotiation thus were swiftly killed. Along with the 100DP a day from the local mana vein Frost was able to constantly add new things to the dungeon such as the two war machines. Another such purchase was a secondary great frost centipede -a monster Frost initially didnt have good feelings about- because he discovered that with their current kill zone set up these creatures made for very useful corpse retrievers as well as wild cards. The centipedes could use their natural gifts to tunnel beneath the snow, appearing within the kill zone without damaging the walls in the slightest. Once there they could toss the killed monsters corpses over the walls towards the awaiting dismantler teams or simply appear and cause havoc among a swarm of low rank monsters before vanishing back under the snow. Like the frost revenants their tough carapace meant low ranking monsters would struggle to deal any definitive damage. This kill box however was far from the only defensive structure Frost had built during their preparation time. Maya was right in the fact that he was going to be busy. The young dungeon core took full advantage of the fact he didnt require sleep while within the confines of the dungeon. Personally overseeing construction, training and in some cases even taking part physically alongside his monsters. He wasnt going to take any chances in dealing with this monster stampede, always assuming the worst. Frost had no experience in dealing with long drawn out wars nor did Maya. This would be their first. Behind the walled kill box there were multiple defensive bunkers made of ice and snow serving as outposts and rest stations for the monsters not on shift. Arge portion of Frosts monsters were assigned to this section and area, so as to quickly respond to attacks. These defensive bunkers proliferated throughout the entire dungeon improving the battlefield in Frosts favour. An operation centre like the fortified de in the winter forest section could now be found on every floor along with other killing zones where the horde would have to pass through to reach the dungeon core room. Creating secondary and tertiary defence zones. Frost wasnt na?ve, itd be foolish to think he could 100% keep the battle locked on the first floor. Even during the war with Gobuske the invading force made it to the third section and that was within a few hours. Let alone the month that the stampede would endure. When he wasnt hard at work establishing new defences or having regr meetings with Finy and the other high ranking monsters he was training and training hard. Maya was not going easy on him in the slightest at his request. Theyd brutally spar for hours and by the end of it Frost was always panting in agony as heid prone on the floor, his body dripping in blood and covered in bruises. Though Maya had feelings for Frost when it came to his training she was cold hearted knowing that going soft was not what Frost wanted nor would it be good for his advancement.....or perhaps it was because she was naturally sadistic and used training as a way to get out the stress she had towards her new boyfriend. Right now however she was training Nanna and Loki as they wore their new weighted leg guards, decreasing their mobility. They too were spurred on by oing monster stampede as well the images of their master giving his all in training despite being covered in wounds. His smile as he fought against impossible odds was incredibly charming and motivating for the two young phoenix kin who desired nothing more than to fight by his side. Suddenly while Frost was discussing the heights of the tforms that kept having to be adjusted to amodate the range of monsters that would be standing on them, the earth shook. Rumble! Rumble! Rumble! The entire dungeon vibrated violently even more than when Frost created another floor. Dozens of monsters copsed to the floor, unable to hold their bnce during such violent tremors. A couple snow bunkers even developed cracks in response, theyd need to be repaired. Thankfully the walls were sturdy enough to withstand the vibrations without damage. What the hell! Frost loudly cursed out loud, his face warped in shock as he fell to a kneeling position. He knew that the earth would shake as a sign of the monster stampede reaching fruition, but this was a bit much. This ce with his territory, magically separated from the outside. A tremor so violent should never appear but that wasnt the only worry. Frost grabbed his chest, he felt a sharp pain in his heart, the tremor affected the dungeon core he could feel it. Filled with anxiety Frost quickly teleported to the core room so as to inspect his other half. The violent tremors also alerted Maya and the kids who promptly returned the private space. Nanna and Loki showing expressions of fear whereas Maya frowned, unsure on what to make of the situation. Odd the monster stampede shouldnt affect the dungeon space. The guardian used her senses to inspect the private space which also shook, trying to find any abnormalities. Finding nothing she ordered the kids to wait in the living room while she teleported to the core room to inspect. Maya did you feel the shaking even within the training space? Frost asked nervously the moment she appeared. He had arrived a second earlier and was just about to begin his inspection. Yes the tremor shook within the Dungeon core, alerting the kids and I. I sensed the area within the private space and found no abnormalities, the space is still stable. Mayas frown deepened as she and Frost entered the core room, something felt off. Chapter 361 361 Chapter 361: A question long left unanswered As Frost and Maya entered the core room both of them could sense that something was different. Though the core looked perfectly fine, without any signs of damage nor had it been moved out of ce, the air within was thicker, more pressurising. Maya frowned as she once again let out her senses trying to find out what the problem was while Frost ced his hand over his chest using his innate connection to the core to sense for any abnormalities. The two stood in silence for several seconds before Frost spoke first, confusion was still on his face but also signs of relief. Nothing, I cant sense anything wrong with the core, the pains gone as well. Though the air in this room still felt dense he could no longer feel that sharp pain or that sense of danger. Whatever it was it seemed to have passed, a brief urrence. Maya however continued to keep her eyes closed, her frown deepening. Odd the density of mana is far thicker and somewhat violent, what the hell is going on? Immediately Maya moved in front of the core and ced her hands gently upon it and refocused her senses. Frost watched on, his heart lurching at Mayas reactions. .....That...shouldnt be possible? Maya rapidly opened her eyes and pulled back her hand, an expression ofplete disbelief adorning her face. What is it Maya? Frost asked full of anxiety, Mayas expression didnt look positive. Is there really something wrong with my core? That sense of danger and fear returned once more, wrapping around his heart like a silent shadow. Maya turned to face her young master, a million thoughts going through her head at once as she tried to make sense of the situation. ..... Bring up the dungeon menu, How much DP is the mana vein providing you right now? She asked with a serious tone. Frost affected by her tone immediately did as she asked. Eh? The daily DP provided by the vein is now set at 300, 200DP more than before. Originally with his five floors, the mana vein provided 100DP a day but now it suddenly jumped up to 300. A sudden and dramatic increase. Frost frowned at the results before looking towards his guardian for answers. Haaaaaa, no wonder the investigations into the monster stampede never resulted in any real sess. Maya sighed and shook her head, a long hidden question finally answered or at least partially. Its the mana vein, the monster stampede that threatens the sapientnds every few years is the result of mana vein corruption. A build up of the corruption causes a change in the nearby monsters, aggravating their blood lust until they enter a frenzy. When the corruption bes too much the mana vein explodes with high intensity, shaking the earth and drastically increasing the mana richness in the area. Thats why we felt it here, the dungeon core is connected to the local mana vein. When it erupted it sent a jolt through the core causing the violent tremors. Maya exined slowly, still piecing together her hypothesis. The mana vein is currently in a state of high intensity thus increasing the amount of DP you are currently receiving from it. This was in theory a good thing for Frost, hed have more DP to spend as he wished without having to purchase additional floors, however. The question however is why this is happening, sudden outbursts within the mana veins is not umon but the monster stampede happens every few years making this an unnatural urrence. What is corrupting the mana vein constantly in this area to cause such a violent reaction? Mana vein corruption exins a good portion of the why, so many monsters enter a frenzy and form a stampede but the origin of the corruption and the fixation upon the sapientnds was still up for debate. However an answer did finally reveal itself, so as long as they continue to investigate more information would follow. For Maya however this revtion filled her with intense unease. The mana veins spread across all of Nova, transporting the worlds mana throughout allowing environments and their natural fauna and flora to thrive. Messing with them is a serious crime against the natural order, Maya felt that she needed contact a certain person about this issue, one that surpassed her. Frost could see Mayas face scrunching up as her thoughts ran wild, her beautiful face would get wrinkled if she kept frowning so intensely. Therefore he copied her previous actions against him. Bop! He poked her forehead, right between her brows, instantly drawing her out of her intense focus. Youll get wrinkles if you keep frowning like that. He showed a gentle smile but in response he got a re, a really sharp re. Haaaaaa Frost let out a sigh and shook his head. Does the mana vein being in a state of high intensity have any repercussions to me given that the core is connected to it? Frost could tell that Maya was thinking far beyond his current scope but at the moment what mattered was their situation. The monster stampede was on its way, anything else if it wasnt dolling out any negative effects could be put on hold. Solve one problem at a time. ....No it shouldnt. Maya held her re for a while, the word wrinkles having a serious effect on her psyche. She could say it to Frost since he was a man but the same could not be said to a beautiful woman, there was a double standard to these things. Then whatever the whole mana corruption thing means can wait, weve got a stampede to prepare for. Anything else can be dealt with after this issue is resolved. Frost gentle ced his hand over Mayas forehead, actively massaged it, ironing out any remnants of wrinkles. This caused the female fenrir to madly blush before whacking his hand away. Seeing that Maya wasnt refuting his statement he smiled, happy that he preserved that gorgeous face of hers .Lets get back to work then, Ill speak to Finy and Kiba alerting them of the situation while you head back to the kids. Im sure theyre quite worried given the intensity of the tremors. Maya gave him a sly look before letting out a sigh. Very well, Ill take care of the house as usual.....so boring. She muttered thest two words under her breath as she turned around and stomped away. Maya was bored out of her mind recently and frustrated to hell. She barely got any alone time with Frost recently and Nanna and Loki always wanted to train, no one wanted to rx and drink or y games together. God even the meals they had were strictly a courtesy, all three of them polishing off their tes as fast as possible so as to get back to work. Shed had enough. Frost was caught off guard by her intensity but swiftly showed a charming smile. He silently appeared behind her, encapsting her in a hug, resting his chin on her shoulders, his, mouth millimetres away from her ear. I know this isnt how you wanted to spend the past few days, but this is something we need to prepare for. You are a mighty Fenrir at the very peak of power in Nova but Nanna, Loki and I are nothing in the grand scheme of things. If we dont train with a fervent passion then well never be able to stand by your side as equals. Frost whispered gently into Mayas ear causing it too lightly twitch, her frustrated mood being uplifted. She understood Frost and the childrens desires very clearly, but it didnt make the situation any easier. She was supposed to be romantically entwined with her new boyfriend at this time, the honeymoon phase if you will. She felt that if she didnt have it now then there wouldnt be another chance. The image of an attractive orc subus floated through her mind. All she had to go on was Frosts description and that was enough to make her feel anxious. This sexy and bold woman wasing to live with them after the monster stampede, she and Frost would struggle to be alone once she came. The kids were already fond of this new family member given that she made them those weapons and wrist guards, Maya wondered what she could bring to the table other than her perverse strength. Then theres the looming situation that was her departure. Guardians were supposed to stay with their assigned charges for the period of one year, meaning she had less than 10 months left with him. They never talked about this topic probably because it was too difficult, but it filled her heart with worry. Would she be able to stay by his side, would she have to leave and be forbidden from seeing him again. She didnt want to waste the time they had left thus she was more frustrated than usual. Enjoying being in Frosts arms she leaned back against his chest, an hour a day with him acting like this wasnt enough. Thest two days she barely even got half an hour due to how busy he was, thus she nned to drag this embrace out for as long as possible. Frost feeling her weight against him couldnt help but show a pained smile. You think he didnt want to be attached at the hip to his sexy new girlfriend 24/7, of course he did, it frustrated him as well, but he didnt have much choice. His monsters werent at the level where he could leave such delicate preparation work to them without supervision, his presence was needed. Also in regards to Mayas term as his guardian he was well aware of it but unlike Maya he wasnt that worried. Frost had no problems openly saying to his father Please let Maya stay by my side father, I love her. Unlike everyone else he didnt see Dark as some overpowering and formal God; he was just a big softie of an old man who liked to be mischievous. As long as he was honest Frost was sure Dark would grant his request, the cost didnt matter as long as Maya could remain by his side. Perhaps thats why he wasnt as anxious, he never for a second believed that their time together would end in the next ten months. But even so he realised that even if they had decades or centuries together it didnt matter. This was the present and he needed to be with her now. Chapter 362 362 Chapter 362: First shift begins now Frost increased the strength of his hug, squeezing the beautiful woman that was Maya against his body, physically showing his desire to keep her by his side. His actions made Maya feel warm and protected, a redness appeared at the edge of her eyes. The two remained entwined like this for a few minutes before Maya struggled to endure. Frost being the young man that he was couldnt help his natural reaction from having a beauty such as Maya within his grasp. Her soft and supple skin that pressed against his body, her heavenly scent that assailed his nostrils and of course his natural desire to be with the woman that he loved all caused a certain area to react with fierce aggression. Maya could literally feel her boyfriends desire as his dragon reared its head, growing and hardening with no signs of stopping. Her soft cheeks that rested against Frosts groin were forcibly parted as it extended forward, pushing through her thighs and out of the other side. Both Frost and Maya sported red cheeks, as the situation continued, both knowing what was happening but neither wishing to leave the embrace of the other. Their bodies heated up and their breaths beboured as lust clouded their minds. Frost instinctively cupped Mayas chin, turning her his way before kissing her lips possessively. He needed to let her know that he wasnt going to let her leave, she was his and he was hers, her term as guardian didnt change that. Maya kissed him back, lost in her desire,pletely forgetting about her anxiety, her loneliness. The two lovers continued to kiss, letting their feelings be known to one another before Maya really had to put a stop to it. Huu....huu.... alright stop, stop anymore of this and we really wont be able to hold back. Maya said while panting, a slight usatory re being sent towards her partner. Frost was a really, really good kisser but that added with his naughty dragon that was currently between her thighs and threatening to lift her off the ground was too much. Anymore and she really wouldnt be able to resist turning her young master into a true man then and there. Something like their first time together should be special, not brought on by a sudden moment of unbridled lust. Frost reluctantly let go of her lips as her hands pushed back his chest, his eyes showed a pained and hurt expression, almost like a rejected puppy. Such a look on his face was really destructive but Maya though tempted for a second stuck to her guns. Not now, youve got work to do and Ive got the kids to take care of. Maya ced a hand over his face, pushing him back and obscuring his pained look. When the time is right well know so...stop trying to lift me up with that weapon of yours. Despite her rejection of them going further, a certain area continued to aggressively push upwards, forcibly lifting her body up, so she was on her tip toes. Frost shyly turned to the side, before cing his hands on Mayas hips and gently pulling her off and cing our back on the ground, a weirdly proud smile adorning his face as he did. Maya couldnt help but look down at the now near vertical pole that previously supported her weight. She audibly gulped, catching sight of Frosts monstrous size. Damn that thing really doesnt match his gentle handsomeness. Though she struggled to match such a weapon with Frosts rather athletic build and schrly looks she wasntining, though she did feel a little fear, she was of course still innocent. ..... Cough cough, She audibly coughed to end the pink atmosphere and redirect her attention away from her boyfriends lower regions. Ill be heading back to the private space; you should head to the dungeons entrance and make sure everythings ready. Now that the tremors have urred the monster stampede is officially in session, the first wave could arrive at any moment young master, war ising. She called him young master instead of Frost as she was speaking as his guardian not his girlfriend. She vanished a momentter teleporting back to the private space, leaving Frost in the core room alone, still hard as a rock. Haaaaaaa shes such a tease. Frost showed a pained but joyful smile, his feelings at least were urately portrayed, Maya shouldnt feel as anxious now. Frost stayed within the core room for around 10 minutes to return to normal before reappearing like Mayas suggested back at the dungeons entrance. The time was finally here, whether their defences can hold out against the early waves would be a defining factor on how this whole monster stampede invasion would go down. Frost had no idea how many monsters would be unable to resist the allure that was the dungeon when they passed, especially with its connection the mana vein. Too much would obviously make their lives much harder but too little would make all this prep work meaningless and would severally limit the amount of DP they could harvest during this time. A nice bnce would be ideal. Master whats going on? The moment Frost arrived back at the first section Finy urgently asked with a clear sign of distress. Such tremors shook the entire dungeon, spreading panic throughout. The local mana vein burst out, sending tremors through the earth as well as the dungeon core, thus the violent shaking. However the situation has resolved itself, theres no damage to the core and the DP given off by the vein has tripled. Frost exined the situation calmly to his ice trollmander, easing his worries. He then moved towards Finy and ced a hand on his shoulder. However that was the sign for the monster stampede, war is upon us Finy, prepare our forces, the first waves could hit us at any time. Frost looked straight into Finys eyes, his gaze containing excitement and a lust for battle. Frost couldnt wait for the war to begin, so much DP to rake in and so much battle to enjoy. He fully nned on fighting alongside his monsters in the mid stages andte stages, he really wasnt the stay out of way and observe type of leader. Finally hed have an opportunity to truly fight alongside his monsters, an opportunity he craved ever since the war against Gobuske. Finy blinked a couple times before showing a wild smile, his masters battle lust infecting him as well. He too deeply wished to fight side by side with Frost, defending their home as a team. The ice trollmander had been working hard on improving his axe mastery as well as his magic but given that he was a monster it was much harder for him to improve. His achievements would be limited by his archetype, to advance hed have to evolve to the next species. This was a major difference between monsters and sapients, the former was much more restricted in what they could learn and do as it was dependent on their species archetype. For example Finy though skilled with axes and ice magic would find it almost impossible to learn trade skills such as cksmithing or utilise magic other than ice given his species being ice trollmander, a battle oriented species. Sapient races however didnt have this issue, as long as they had talent and even if they didnt as long as they worked hard they could learn pretty much any manner of skills, making them far more diverse and free in terms of their growth. Of course there were exceptions, monster species that were very humanoid or could assume humanoid form didnt suffer nearly as much from these restrictions. Especially if said monster was the product of a parent rather than a construct of mana. Daki for example being an orc and a product of her mother and father was far less restricted in how she could branch out in terms of skills, she even had much higher intelligence than a wild orc created by mana. In many cases she was indistinguishable from a sapient race. Hahahahaha sounds like fun master, Ill let everyone know. Finyughed out loud, his body filling with excitement, dying to paint his axe blood red. The mid stages andte stages would have opponents that even he would struggle against, a prospect he greatly looked forward to. Good, lets finalise our preparations, get everyone in ce, the first shift begins now! Frost gave his orders with a bright smile, before turning towards the dungeonsrge gateway entrance. Let us see how strong this stampede really is. Frost then shuttled through the dungeon, checking in on all the officer ss monsters -those D-rank and above- as well as the progression of the secondary and tertiary defence zones. These zones werent asplete as the major kill zone at the dungeons entrance, but headway had been made, theyd likely be finished before the mid stages, more than ready in time. Kiba are you and your group ready for war? Frost had arrived at the fourth floor, where Kiba and the coeurl pups reigned free. Given that they had very bestial forms they couldnt help with construction, nor could theymunicate with the dwarves, goblins or trolls so Frost had them train here, where they could run and move with reckless abandon not getting in anyones way. Chapter 363 363 Chapter 363: It begins Rawr! Kiba responded back to Frosts question with a proud and happy roar. The young winged cial tiger was very pleased with being put in charge of his own team, taking his role very seriously. The three coeurl pups as well as some of the ice wolves that evolved from their frost counterparts or that Frost purchased in the past few days were ced under hismand, the bestial corps. Kiba was not only the strongest but also the smartest of his beast caste monsters thus making him the ideal leader. His discussion with the ice wolf mounts back in Furano helped to expand the young tigers knowledge in regards to how monster mounts fought with their partners as well as their roles during the monster stampede. In Furano the monster mounts under the frost wolf battalion would take part in the early and mid-stages acting as cavalry, swiftly charging and decimating scores of monsters before quickly retreating back behind the walls. Speed and prative force were key to such manoeuvres. Thus Kiba had his team dash rapidly throughout the floor, moving as a unit. Kiba and his forces wouldnt be involved in the early stages however, only when the kill box walls were overrun and the other monsters were forced to retreat to the secondary and tertiary defence zones, descending deeper into the dungeon would they enter the battlefield. Utilising their speed and high power to cleave apart the spread out invaders. Frost smiled proudly as he heard Kibas eager response and looked towards the monsters under hismand. Each and every one of them showed excitement in their eyes, dying to put their recent training to use. Not a single one of Frosts monsters seemed to have and single modicum of fear in regards to the stampede, all looking forward to the grand battle. Good, keep training, Ill be relying on you and your squad in theing weeks, youll have your fill of battle. Rawr! Kiba chuffed while showing a wild grin, he was at his core a monster, a tiger, the promise of battle filled hisrge body with exhration. He never had much opportunity to fight back in Kranor, his first real taste was fighting against that ice griffin, and he longed to feel that thrill once again. With everyone informed, cated and back to work it was now just a waiting game. The first shift of monsters were in ce on the walls. Goblins, dwarves, frost spiders and even the slimes were arranged on the left and right walls ready perform ranged attacks against whatever bursts through the entrance. ..... The three frost revenants were guarding in front of the bottom wall while the yuki-onnas and dwarven quarrellers manning the ballista were on top. Whereas all the monsters not on shift were either training or working hard to finish the defences in the secondary and tertiary defence zones. Frost even bought an additional couple frost dwarven smiths so as to increase the dungeons production rate. The dungeon was fully prepared for the stampede. 5 hours after the violent tremors that first wave of monsters finally arrived. And not a moment too soon, many of Frosts monsters were clearly agitated from being on guard in the one spot for so long without anything happening, asionally snapping at therade next to them whenever their bodies brushed against one another. Frost and Finy were both there standing on the bottom wall, beside the yuki-onnas and dwarven quarrellers. They wished to be present for the first wave, to see the invaders first hand and in person. Their presence also served to keep the majority of monsters in check, limiting their agitation to a few choice grunts. Frost had the dungeon menu up on disy, the external room was being disyed, now expanded to 5 kilometres in the length Frost was able to see a massive contingent of monsters exiting from the cial mountains. A small margin being drawn towards the dungeon instead of straight south or towards the viges contained in the Northrend forest. The young dungeon core felt goosebumps appear up and down his arms as he saw the near endless stream of low ranking monsters heading down south. Their eyespletely blood red, their bodies swollen with rage with some even frothing at the mouth. It was quite a frightening image, though for Frost all he saw was a field of tasty DP and experience, his excitement was paramount. Thoughrge in number only a fraction were actually pulled toward the dungeons entrance and all they had was numbers. About 90% of the wave was made up of G-rank monsters with the remaining 10% being F-rank. The early stages would solely be made up of monsters below D-rank, the first ones drivenpletely mad by the explosion of corruption brought on by the mana vein. As the mana and corruption builds, the maddening effects looming, the stronger monsters would eventually sumb and make the march south, resulting in the so called waves. At the moment Frost was watching as a group of roughly 25 G-rank monsters and a single F-rank, picked up speed, dashing towards the dungeons entrance as though starving. This group would be the first to die and be glorious DP for the dungeon. 25 G-ranks, ten times their daily allotment when killed within the confines of the dungeon. A mad smile adorned Frosts lips, followed by a build-up of saliva as he calcted their worth. The frenzied monsters werent the only ones looking at a delightful meal. On average a G-rank monsters daily DP was 20, times that by ten and then by 25 and you have a substantial 5000DP, 5400 if you add the solitary F-rank. The first wave alone promised such massive profits, you couldnt me Frost from salivating at such a prospect. Finy who was standing at his masters side, the epitome of a valiant general discreetly looked at his masters face, his stoic expression nearly crumbling. Master youre drooling. Finy quietly whispered towards his master, alerting him of his current expression. Such a look was unbefitting of a lord, especially while in the presence of his soldiers during the brink of war. Ah! ..... thank you. Frost blinked rapidly before wiping away his drool, quickly regaining his dignified and schrly look. Im guessing the first wave is here then master. Finy spoke with a smile. The only reason his master would have such a look was when in front of something incredibly appetising. And what could be more appetising than a windfall of DP. Frost responded back with a wild smile, appreciative of hismanders intelligence. Yes Finy the first wave is here, a group broke off from the horde and are making their way towards us. They look quite frantic and starved so we should give these guests a very warm wee hehehehe. Frost let out an evil chuckle, his eyes glinting with excitement as he turned to face his monsters who were ready and waiting and had been diligently for the past five hours. Finy had to suppress his own chuckle as he took as step to stand behind his master and look very imposing, adding to Frosts glorious image. Everyone listen up! Frost roared aloud grabbing everyones attention, the few that were grunting at one another instantly trembled before turning to face Frost. Youve waited here diligently for the past five hours with barely a peep ofint, well done. Frost cast his gaze over each and every one of his monsters, locking eyes with them as he spoke. He felt very proud at this moment, his forces acted like reliable soldiers while under his directmand, a promising start to this long siege. Now however its time for you to receive your reward. Arge grin grew on Frosts face before he continued to speak. The first wave of the monster stampede is here, recklessly charging towards our home, hoping to feast on the dungeons mana and heart....I expect you to show them a grand wee worthy of the dungeon...not a single one leaves here alive is that understood?! Frost demanded with a loud roar, his aura subconsciously expanding outward, greatly magnifying his presence as a ruler. This was his territory, any invaders should be guided to the chopping block, there will be no mercy. Though he held nothing against the horde personally if they are attacking his home and his people even if they are manipted it matters not. This ce would be their grave and Frost would put their valuable life energy to good use. Ugahhhhhhhhhhh! Rahhhhhhhhh! Screeeeeee! In response to his authoritative demand every one of his monsters roared out with passion, their eyes full of loyalty as their bodies filled with vigour, eager to serve their lord and master. Their fervour wouldnt lose out to the maddened invaders. Frost could feel the snow and ice walls shake from his monsters loud roars and stamping of their feet as they looked at him with reverence. But their attention needed to be elsewhere. Hmph! Good response.....Lets see how passionate you really are. Get to work, our guests have arrived. The moment Frost finished speaking he pointed towards the dungeons entrance, towards the first set of invaders. Chapter 364 364 Chapter 364: The first wave Every one of Frosts monster swiftly turned round to face the dungeons entrance. Loud ipressible grunts and screeching could now be heard from the gateway. A momentter the origin of such noise revealed themselves. 25 G-rank monsters made up of frost goblins and artic horned rabbits with the goblins being the majority. Each of them had blood red eyes, protruding veins and saliva lingering around their lips as though starved crazy. Their expressions didnt change in the slightest at the sight of the tall ice and snow walls forcing them into a chokepoint. Nor did they quiver at the sight of dozens of much stronger and well prepared monsters lining those walls, staring down at them as though they were but mere prey. Their madness caused by the mana veins corruption hadpletely clouded their judgements, overwriting their base instincts. With barbaric roars the group barrelled into the dungeon, climbing over one another so as to reach the tantalising food first, chaos was an apt word for what was going on in front of Frost and his monster cohorts. Theyre no better than starving beasts in this state. Frost judged the strength of these intruders as the bare minimum at best. Their madness takes away the most dangerous aspect about enemies, intelligence. A smart or at least calm opponent would see the situation for what it was and swiftly retreat from the kill box or at the very least think of another way to attack. However thisrge group charged dead ahead, mbering over one another directly towards the bottom wall defended by the frost revenants. They were drawn towards the core; the scent of the powerful mana thus made a beeline straight for it regardless of the obstacles put in ce. Frost shook his head, his excitement dwindling slightly. Fire at will! Frost gave his order with a flick of his hand, no longer interested in examining his guests. He hoped for something a little more substantial for him and his monsters to fight against, but this was a long siege, the difficulty would only rise as time passed. At least this way hed get some easy DP and experience for his low ranking monsters. The frost slimes in particr would be benefitting greatly from such an arrangement. Too delicate to be ced on the front lines and too weak to face off against opponents individually or even as a group of slimes. Having them on the walls attacking at range meant that even though their attacks were weak and pitiful theyd stillnd and grant them experience all while avoiding danger, a win-win. Frost was quite keen to rank up his slimes so as to explore their evolutionary path. ..... The moment Frost gave his order was the moment these intruders lives were forfeit. All the monsters on the left and right walls immediately took aim and fired at will, creating a veritable deluge of arrows, ice webs, slime spit and even chunks of ice that were gathered as ammunition. The suspense of the first wave was very short lived, the 25 G-rank monsters quickly fell to the ground, their bodies littered in wounds, killing the majority of them rather swiftly. The rest moved as though they had lost all sense of pain, madly charging forward even when their backs protruded with arrow shafts, or their very limbs became destroyed. As long as they could still breath they moved forward, fearless. But in the end they were still just a bunch of weak monsters, their tenacity only saved to let them reach an extra metre or so before they joined theirrades in death. The smell of blood was thick in the air and silence loomed after every one of the intruders had fallen. Even the F-rank winter stag was nothing in the face of such well prepared troops. Itsrger size proved to be its undoing, resulting in it receiving far more attacks, being one of the first to die. Stop! Finy loudlymanded causing the monsters to immediately stop their attacks and lower their weapons. 2 minutes in fact less than 2 minutes thats all it took for 26 monsters to be annihted with not a scratch on their own forces. An undisputed victory, Finy however was not showing a pleased expression in fact a very pronounced frown adored his face. Such a waste of ammunition. The ice trollmander sighed internally before looking towards his lord. There was no need for a fire at willmand. This was going to be a long drawn out siege, they couldnt waste their precious ammunition on such low level grunts. Frost however at this moment was feeling waves of bliss throughout his body as the life energy of the in flowed into him, topping up his DP reserves, truly a very addictive feeling. Hed gotten a bit better at controlling his expressions while experiencing such pleasure thus only a satisfied smile adored his lips. Frost turned to look up at his mighty ice trollmander, feeling his questioning gaze. Frost wasnt an idiot he knew well that this was going be a prolonged battle and that their precious ammunition should be reserved as much as possible. They werent like Furano an experienced war factory that made ample preparations months in advance, their supplies were limited. Of course this didnt include Frosts ability to create arrows, armour and weapons with DP since they wanted to avoid doing that as much as possible. Why spend money on something you can make for free with the materials you already have, very inefficient. Rx Finy, firing all cylinders on the initial wave wont break the bank besides take a look at what it achieved. Frost pointed with his chin towards the monsters decked along the ice walls. Ah.....now I see. Finy portrayed an expression of understanding when he saw the result, this resounding victory had on the monsters under theirmand. The fire at willmand may not have been the most apt order for their supplies, but it did however allow the monsters to understand their current level of power, their moral skyrocketed. Each and every one of them were visibly trembling from excitement, their eyes showing fervour as they clenched their weapons. Struggling to believe theirbined devastating power. They felt invincible, ready to take on any foe. This was what Frost wanted, a few extra arrows were a sufficient price for motivation, as Finy mentioned this was going to be a long drawn out war. The mental strain was going to be as much an enemy as the physical. Frost smiled wildly as he stood up straight, his aura once again releasing pressure around him. Well done, you have sessfully destroyed the first set of invaders but theres far more toe, be ready and destroy them as easily as this lot. Frost paused, letting his words sink in before gesturing towards his mighty ice trollmander. Finy will be takingmand from now own, obey his orders as if they were my own.....when I return I expect to see these walls undamaged and for my DP reserves to be sufficiently stocked. Frost thus handed the reigns over to Finy before vanishing into a spatial warp, returning to the private space. He wasnt needed for the early stages, Finy, Kiba and even the officer ss monsters could handle the first few days. His time would be better spent increasing his own strength as well as managing the influx of DP that would be frequently flowing into his body. The moment Frost vanished, and authority was officially handed over to Finy, the tall troll revealed a cold and intimidating expression as he looked over the monsters left under his charge. Frost centipedes get to work and retrieve those corpses, dismantling teams get your gear ready, I want those corpse taken apart within the hour, no exceptions. Those on the walls check your ammo count and refill if you need to oh and there will be no more of this fire at will nonsense. Look what you guys did, theres more wounds on the corpses that regr flesh,plete over kill. For the next wave there will be no arrows used! Am I clear! Finy roared out his orders, nearly deafening the lesser yuki-onnas and dwarven quarrellers by his side. The former giving begrudging looks towards their crassmander. While others showed slightly embarrassed expressions as they look on at the amount of arrows sticking out of the G-rank corpses, over kill was an understatement. Another rousing speech young master, you certainly have a knack for this leader business. When Frost arrived back in the private space he was warmly greeted by Maya who along with the kids had been watching the dungeons entrance through the dungeon core present in the living room. They sat on the sofa with snacks as though watching a y, though only Maya was treating it as entertainment. Nanna and Loki were watching with rapt attention, moved by Frosts words and the actions of their monsterrades, desperately wishing to be on the front lines with them, aiding their master. Thanks, my practise in that regard seems to have paid off. Frost smiled gently as he joined his family on the sofa, taking a couple snacks from Mayas te as though it was natural. Frost knew that there was a lot of qualities one needed to be a good ruler, many of which hed seen in Dous. His aura, his charisma and of course his ability to move his subjects with words. His monsters would never know but Frost practised for many hours on giving rousing speeches. Maya found his hard work quite cute, so she rewarded him with some well earned praise. Chapter 365 365 Chapter 365: The earth rank cold me So what now? Maya inquisitively asked while swatting away Frosts hand from her snack te. Training, Training and perhaps some more training. Frost responded bluntly while shaking his slightly trembling hand. Ugh! So boring. Maya sulked clearly unimpressed with her young masters response. Yeah, yeah I know but Im almost over the threshold, just a little more and I can be considered B-rank, a somewhat entry level powerhouse. Frost sympathised with Mayas plight but his own enthusiasm for reaching higher levels of power won out, resulting in a wild smile forming on his lips. Maya pouted her cheeks but couldnt stop her eyes from resting on Frosts face, he looked really attractive with that wild smile of his. Well I guess youre right, at B-rank youll be considered beyond the level of the masses, the first step towards bing an expert.....Ill also be able to up the difficulty in your training at that point. Maya muttered thest part as a sadistic expression briefly shed across her face. B-rank would open up a whole new world of hurt she could unleash upon him. Nanna and Loki looked at the two of them with bewildered expressions, feeling as though their expressions didnt quite match their words. However they were used to this by now. The two phoenix kin turned to one another and giggled. The atmosphere present in the private space was rxing and peaceful a far cry from the one at the dungeons entrance that was filled with the scent of blood and thrill of impending battle. Frosts monsters followed Finys orders to a tee. The frost centipedes quickly burrowed through the snow as if it was water and they were fish. Tossing the corpses of the dead frost goblins and artic horned rabbits over the tall walls for the awaiting dismantling crops. Some that were far too damaged were swiftly devoured, spoils of war allowed by Finy. Frost didnt expect to get much value from the first several waves given the monsters that would be present but even a little adds up if it happens enough times. Plus it made for good practise. ..... Frost rested in the private space for a few hours instead of training right away. Now that the building suspense had passed his body was suddenly bereft of energy. Thus he acquiesced to Mayas wishes, staying with her and the kids, doing nothing more thanying back on the sofa while Nanna and Loki worked on their reading, writing and numerical skills with Maya supervising and grading. A very family style situation, one that brought a very satisfied smile to his face. Sometimes it was good to rx like this and not force oneself, his mind felt much clearer. Alright I think thats enough. Frost sat up from hisid back position, cracking his neck and shoulders as he did, his body was back in its prime. To be honest Im surprised yousted this long given your personality, you didnt even interfere when the second wave arrived. Maya looked over in Frosts direction when he spoke, a gentle expression clear in her eyes, happy that Frost listened to her advice. Well what you said made sense plus my body was all tensed up from the past few days, training like that would get me nowhere. Frost cracked his knuckles and let out a yawn before rising to his feet. Besides Finy had itpletely under control, my input wasnt needed. Its good to delegate these simple tasks. The threat level from the stampede at the moment was minimal at best, none of the invaders would be a threat to his forces at this stage even if something went wrong. However Finy was a greatmander, the second wave was roughly at the same level as the first, a couple more monsters but that was all, just G-ranks and a single F-rank. Even without the use of arrows the invaders were quickly dealt with, not even making it halfway to the bottom wall. The frost revenants and lesser yuki-onnas were thus unbelievably bored. The frost revenants were ok, their personalities being simr to loyal soldiers but the lesser yuki-onnas were inherently mischievous and energetic, they really struggled with the boredom, only managing to restrain themselves from acting out due to Finys looming presence. The second wave resulted in close to 6000DP giving Frost now a whopping 11,000 to spend as he wished, something he nned to do now that he was up. Frost brought up the dungeon menu and immediately set off adding things to the cart, fully intending on spending the entire 11,000 before engaging in training, one less thing to worry about. 20 frost elementals, 20 frost spiders, 20 frost dwarf quarrellers and two more lesser yuki-onnas so they can switch out more often, cant have them causing mischief due to boredom. Though Frost didnt interfere, the situation was still brought up on the dungeon screen plus he did receive a brief report from Finy, thus he sought to nip this problem in the bud. The dungeon core hummed and glowed as it processed the DP and created life, sending a wave of pleasure throughout Frosts body as it did, a great way to wake up. He was no longer overwhelmed or shaken by using suchrge amounts of DP. Maya are you almost done with your lesson? Frost asked once the dungeon core became dormant once again, the summoned monsters already within the dungeon, heading towards where they needed to be. Pretty much yeah, you want to receive some corporal punishment as training. Maya responded back with a glint in her eyes, her sadistic side glowing. No but Ill need you to supervise in case anything goes wrong. Frost ignored the glint in his girlfriends eye, knowing of her dark nature. Hmmm. Maya tilted her head to the side in confusion, wondering what could be more dangerous than her tender touch. I n on training my magic and for that I want to study the earth rank cold me father rewarded me with. The high earth rank cold me, the main reward (excluding the wine of the abyss) that he received from winning the first dungeon war against his younger brother Gobuske. Until now itd been kept safely tucked away in the dungeon vault, Frosts level wasnt high enough before to investigate it without repercussions plus Nanna and Loki were instinctively drawn to it whenever it appeared before them. To reach B-rank his weapon mastery or magic had to reach the next level. However Frost being a multi user wished to focus on all paths not just one. His ive mastery had been making great strides over the past few days thanks to Mayas loving touch as she put it and hed long gotten used to wielding the new wind engraving ced upon the weapon, masterfully enhancing his attacks against the onught of ice golem she summoned. His magic however had hit a wall. Frost only knew a single 3rd circle spell [summon ice golem] the rest were only 1st or 2nd circle, a far cry from the repertoiremonly held by B-rank mages. The fastest way for him to breach the gap would be to purchase some 4th circle spells and study them, but he currently only had ess to 3rd circle spells in the dungeon menu, eliminating that option. However Frost wouldnt use that method anyway, that method created a shoddy foundation. Relying upon a created spell rather than developing your mana veins and flow naturally was akin to taking a shortcut and could limit ones future potential. Thus the best choice was to study something primal, natural that had no impurities, the high rank earth cold me more than fit the bill. Hell even an A-rank mage wanting to reach a higher level could learn a lot from it let alone Frost. Normally at his level handling something so high level would be a death sentence however Frost was the embodiment of ice granting him some substantial resistance to ice mana plus the seals ced on it by Dark would make sure the worst wouldnte to pass....injuries however were still a good possibility. Therefore it was left alone until Frost felt he was ready to handle it.....now seemed like the right time. He needed inspiration and knowledge, not just for his mana but also for his monsters. For the past few days or even weeks hed had a few ideas in regards to what species of monsters he wanted to design, the cold me may helpplete that picture. Mayas eyes opened wide at Frosts statement before a look of deep thought appeared on her face, she was analysing whether or not he was ready. After a few seconds of silence she nodded. Alright you should be able to glimpse into the topyer of the me at your current level and youre quite right something like that should be more than helpful in getting you across the gap in terms of magic...is there anything you need to take care of in the meantime because knowing you once you start delving into it youre likely to note out for hours at the very least. Maya knew Frosts personality thus she had to ask. No everythings fine, Ive already handed control to Finy for the first few days, I only need to check in at the end of the day as a formality, nothing dangerous shouldnt happen during that time and even if it did I just added a boatload of new monsters, the dungeon will be fine without my guidance. Frost nodded his head,pletely confident in Finys abilities given his knowledge and what the first and second monster wave contained. The lesser yuki-onnas and the frost revenants havent even got into the action yet let alone the ballistae or Finy himself. Frost worked extra hard over the past few days all so he could focus on his own training during the early stages, now it was time to make could on that promise. Chapter 366 366 Chapter 366: So this is how regr people feel when faced with the cold. Lets head to the training space. Maya nodded her head before turning to face Nanna and Loki. You two stay here and finish your work while I go and help Frost with his training. Whoever does the best gets to help me make tonights dessert. Maya smiled gently towards the two phoenix kin, cating their desires to train with them. Young children should be focusing on other things at their age, not just getting stronger. The two children initially felt despondent but then revitalised after hearing the reward, the one who helped make dessert always got to lick the utensils plus it was a much desired bonding experience between them and Maya. The two instantly refocused back on their books, studying diligently in order toplete their work without any errors. So cute. Maya and Frost both thought this before the two teleported into the training space. Nanna and Loki couldnt be here during such training given their species; their instincts would overwhelm them the moment the cold me was summoned. Frost and Maya appeared within the training space a momentter. The walls and floors were once again their immacte white colour without any signs of damage despite the amount of blood that had been shed within. They moved towards the centre of the room before Maya had Frost retrieve the sealed me from his dungeon vault. The seals that Dark God-sama ced upon the me can only be removed through your creation energy so the onus will entirely be on you. Once a seal is removed however theres no way for you to create a new one, your abilities arent at that level yet so only scratch the surface unless you want to be turned into a popsicle. Maya let out a slight giggle at the end as she imagined the irony. Frost the so called embodiment of ice being frozen into an ice statue. However she quickly stymied herughter and put on a serious expression, the threat of that happening was very real. Thus she had to be ready, to move at a moments notice and separate Frost from the me. Got it. Frost nodded his head nervously, the hand holding the me trembling ever so slightly, worried about such an eventuality. ..... Cold mes especially ones as high ranked as this one are pure manifestations that can greatly enlighten those who study them in regards to the primal force of the ice element without leading them down a wayward path. With great reward howeveres great risk. The only reason you can even think about analysing this me is due to your inherent ice nature as well as the protective seals ced on it by Dark God-sama.....take this very seriously Frost. Maya reiterated the danger making doubly sure Frost understood what he was dealing with. Frosts trembling hands shook even more after hearing that warning, but his eyes showed steely determination, still prepared to take on such risk. Just for reference whats the difference between a cold me such as this and natural regr ice type oddity? Frost found it a little weird that a natural oddity of the ice element was actually a me instead a something like an ice crystal. This same fact also greatly sparked his interest, revealing that ice wasnt simply restricted to its hard, solid form. Maya frowned in response as though the question asked was one heavily loaded andplicated and thatd shed struggle to exin but after a small sigh she decided to give it her best shot. A cold me is still very much of the ice element and its primal makeup isnt much different from an ice crystal oddity of the same rank only the form is different. Thus when ites to analysing their mana consistency so as to improve ones elemental knowledge like youre doing it makes no difference. A frown began to grow on Mayas forehead as she continued. However technically speaking cold mes are a subset or derivative of the natural ice path and have more stringent requirements thus not everyone can utilise them. Myself for example despite my magic and chakra proficiency I cant create cold mes or have my chakra take on a non-solid form, Im just notpatible. Some therefore view cold mes as a higher level of ice because of this as well as the fact that the primordial ice king is particrly skilled in creating such mes but..... Maya then summoned her ice chakra, at a much higher level than Frost had ever seen her do before. A solid light blue ball of ice formed above her hand and drastically sucked in the surrounding heat making even Frost feel horribly cold with kes of ice forming upon his skin. This was the first time he was truly experiencing what it meant to be cold, and it was frightening. Maya removed her ice ball a secondter knowing that such an item was beyond Frosts current capabilities. Ice when you get down to it is the absence of heat, regardless of the form it takes whether that be a solid, gas or even a liquid, any magic or chakra of the ice element eliminates heat, cooling and even freezing its surroundings. The result is the same regardless of the form, just because you may not be able to use cold mes doesnt make your ice magic any less devastating. This was something taught to her by her grandmother who like her was unable to utilise the cold me path but that didnt stop her from bing a veritable ice magic powerhouse. Even the primordial ice king praised her grandmother as an ice prodigy. I wont be able to teach much about the ice me path if it turns out that youre particrly skilled in that regards but I can teach you the essence of ice that applies to all of the ice element. Maya clenched her fist, confident that even without being able to use cold mes she could properly teach her young master in terms of his ice magic. Frost listened to Mayas words; his mind working overtime as countless doors seemed to open up in his mind. Ice was not something simple, this cold me was proof of that, the element was flexible, not rigid. His one trick pony status suddenly didnt feel like one at all. He looked down at the sealed me within his hands, his heart thumping away and he envisioned so many possibilities. If it can be a me the very form of its elemental nemesis then what cant it do. Frost was reminded of one of his first desires when he was taught about the ice element by Maya. What are you thinking about so hard young master? Wondering if I can freeze fire. He answered like that, determined to overpower his elements natural enemy. The image of his 3rd brother Pyro floated passed his mind at this point as did the thought ofpeting against him with mes. A wild smile adorned his lips as he thought this, his trembling hands were now due to excitement. Maya saw his change in expression and smiled, thinking that such a look suited him, very attractive. Whenever youre ready young master, Ill watch over and separate you from the me if necessary. Alright Ill start now. Frost nodded his head before sitting down on the floor cross legged, cing the sealed me in front of him. Maya positioned herself to his side, ready to move at a moments notice as well as observe his actions. Huuuu Frost let out a deep breath before closing his eyes and focusing his attention deep within where his divine energy resided. Only that was able to unseal something created by a God. Frost nned on following Mayas advice and only unlock the first seal which should be just about the level he could handle. Slowly his divine energy flowed out from the contained space, slowly siphoning into his body, it was dense and filled with power, one wrong move and it could be very vtile, bursting apart his still developing mana veins. Using it with the dungeon menu was a natural process that he had very little control over, this however relied entirely on him, the process was very mentally exhausting. He only recently gained the strength to tap into this powerful pool of energy when he developed his aura, so he was still very inexperienced in controlling it. The energy was slow and uncooperative but eventually Frost had it reach his hands that were resting on the cold mes seal. The moment his divine energy made contact with the seal it started to radiate a golden shine and the sound of something melting could be heard before. Whoooosh! As the seal came down the inherent freezing property of the cold me was released, instantly dropping the temperature of the surroundings simr to the ice ball that Maya summoned though much less controlled. Frost shivered as the cold assailed him, his bodys inherent resistance to ice was nothing much in the face of a high rank earth me. His deep breathing creating visible clouds as he exhaled. Ice crystals formed across his hands and arms, his fingers felt numb, his reactions slowing and an intense desire for warmth filled his mind. So this is how regr people feel when faced with the cold. Chapter 367 367 Chapter 367: Experiencing the biting cold of the high earth rank cold me So this is how regr people feel when faced with the cold. Thought Frost internally as the freezing temperature invaded his body, slowing his movements and making him shiver. As the embodiment of ice, Frost had never felt the cold before, what others found to be freezing he found to be lukewarm and ratherfortable. This however was notfortable; the cold was almost painful. How does it feel? Maya asked gently with a smile on her face. Though she could from Frosts expression that it wasnt exactlyfortable it didnt seem as though he was in any danger either. His ice resistance was quite something. .....Cold, very cold. Frost took some deep breaths and attempted to limate his body to the sudden cold temperature. He scraped off the ice shards that developed over his arms and hands then allowed his body to shiver, raising his body temperature ever so slightly. 5 minutester though it still wasntfortable ice fragments where no longer forming upon him and his body no longer needed to shiver. At first he attempted to summon his ice chakra armour as protection, but Maya swiftly shot that option down. You need to feel it naturally otherwise youll never be able to improve, blocking it with your chakra would defeat the purpose. Thus he was forced to slowly adjust, letting his natural affinity with ice catch up to the sudden change. I only released the first seal, yet the chill is so powerful. Frost uttered with a mixture of fear and excitement. The world of Nova was truly massive, and he was but a small speck, a weakling. Frost clenched his fists, his eyes glinting with passion as he stared deep into the unsealed me sitting before him in all its glory. Without the first seal he could clearly feel it. The biting cold, the dancing motion of a me that sent bursts of chilling air as it moved. Its form was mystical and magical, drawing him in, stroking an instinctual part of him, as though they were in many ways akin. ..... Frost was lost in the illusion for a second, his hand stretching forward to touch the chilling me, like a child not knowing the danger of fire. Maya trembled at this sight and was about to move in to stop him but stopped at thest minute, this was something he had to experience so as to truly learn. The silver me danced alluringly drawing Frost in, his hand etched closer before cradling the me. Ahhhhh! Frost screamed out in pain the moment his hand touched the me, sliver ice swiftly covered his hand wherever the me touched, and violent freezing mana invaded his veins, freezing him from the inside, resulting in intense waves of pain. The pain brought Frost out of his daze, he immediately pulled back his hand that was now dyed silver, he could no longer feel his fingers or even his forearm. Once again Maya started to move to aid him but once again stopped herself, Frosts expression made her remain in ce. Though shocked by the intense pain and aggressive freezing mana Frost was still calm. A sudden burst of rivalry formed within him, he summoned his own ice aspected mana, sending the flow towards his silver dyed arm to dobat. He wanted to see who would win. Huuu huuuu huuuuu Frost panted heavily as a veritable battlefield was taking ce within his left arm. His own mana was fighting against the mana of the cold me that invaded his body when he foolishly touched it. Intense waves of pain jostled through his body as the two conflicting energies battled, each vying for dominance. Frost refused to be a popsicle, he was the embodiment of ice he would not be cowed by a mere me, especially one that was still majorly sealed. Slowly but surely the silver colour that dyed his arm receded, eliminated step by step by his own mana, erasing its traces and bringing back feeling to his left arm. The moment thest drop of silver was extinguished Frost fell backwards, exhausted by the ordeal. His own mana was of a lower ss, he only managed to triumph because the remnant that invaded his arm couldnt be reinforced unless he was in contact with the me. He won through quantity not quality, a harsh reality to the young dungeon core but also one that filled his heart with determination and excitement. He bore the same look he had when Maya had broke nearly every bone in his body and heid prone on the ground awaiting her healing spell. He could see improvement making the entire experience worth it. Maya who witnessed the entire exchange couldnt help her lip from twitching. Frost truly was an M type. She shook her head, Frost was supposed to have learned the danger of such a me yet from his expression it was clear that he wanted to touch it again, to battle it again with his body on the line. Maya let out a sigh, unable to understand the feelings of her boyfriend. Just like Maya predicted Frost chose to learn from the high rank earth cold me by absorbing parts of it into his body, feeling its essence as it rampaged and tried to freeze him. A dangerous and rather brutal method but then again also a very natural one, akin to taking the chakra approach instead of magic spells. Maya kept watch over her young master as he repeatedly absorbed more and more of the me, gradually limating to its power and asserting dominance over it. Frost was a long way from overpowering the me even in its sealed state, but he was certainly making progress, his wild smile growingrger after each and every attempt. After a few hours he reached the limits of his body and literally passed out from exhaustion despite the constant flow of mana provided by the dungeon. Maya had to carry him back to the private space and ce him on his bed. She of course took a few liberties with his defenceless body and was quite tempted to mark him, but the judging looks from the two phoenix kin made her too embarrassed. After marking their work both Nanna and Loki had performed equally well therefore they both got to help in making desserts all while Frost slept like a log. His dreams filled with the high rank earth cold me and the possibilities it could bring him. He could feel his mana slowly evolving, reaching a higher level of quality, more dense and far colder. He knew that once the evolution wasplete hed be equal to a B-rank mage, capable of using 4th circle spells and firing 3rd circle ones without pause. There was arge gap between C-rank and B-rank, one that couldnt be crossed by relying on equipment. The battle Frost had with Baron Adam was a prime example. Despite all his mana enhancing equipment, the Baron still couldnt fire a high ranking 3rd circle spell without repercussions, his mana veins werent strong enough nor his mana dense enough to handle such a load more than once in a short time. Ryuu and that Drogan didnt have such an issue and thus were able to literally blow apart their battlefield with powerful spells without taking a break. Frost also inched ever closer towards his n for a new monster species. Something that would be unique to him and suit his current and future ns well. His elder brother Yami and elder sister Aqua were already well on their way to developing their own unique race, Frost didnt want to fall too far behind, but he also didnt want his creation to becklustre, they needed to be perfect, multi-skilled with arge evolution path. As Maya catered to the children and Frostid passed out on his bed Finy was left in charge of the monster waves that continued to flow into the dungeon and the well prepared kill box. Night was drawing near, a time when monsters are generally more active and more powerful that they diurnal counterparts, the monster stampede shouldnt be any different. The dungeon had repelled three waves now with neither wave making it passed the half way point of the kill box, all invaders swiftly falling to the ranged onught that awaited them. The frost revenants that werent seeing any action leaned on theirrge great swords and closed their eyes, resting while standing but otherwise still ready to move into action at a moments notice. The lesser yuki-onnas however had no decorum, the two on shift which were the same from the starty down on their backs, loudly grumbling andining whenever they felt like it, asionally summoning some yful ice spells andunching them at their monster colleagues. Finy was nearly blowing a fuse, arge protruding vein across his forehead throbbed as he held back his anger. His personality and those of the lesser yuki-onnas were so different that they couldnt get along. They were only suffering one another due to Frostsmand and the threat of the monster stampede. Hopefully once they actually see some action Ill be relieved of this burden. Finy couldnt wait for the day when the lesser yuki-onnas actually had to work instead of y around and annoy him. Chapter 368 368 Chapter 368: A prank gone wrong Boof! As Finy was struggling to maintain his stoic appearance arge snowball smacked him in the back of head. An eery silence followed as all the monsters present turned to face Finy, shock evident in their eyes. A strong pressure started to emanate from the ice trollmander as he slowly turned around to face his aggressor. Gulp! The two lesser yuki-onnas audibly gulped, their eyes shaking with no small amount of fear as instant regret filled their bodies. Where did they get the stones to mess with Finy a mighty C-rank ice trollmander and one with a particrly rigid attitude. Who! Finy spoke with a chilling tone, sending shivers down everyones backs, he was truly pissed off now. The two lesser yuki-onnas instantly pointed at one another as though to shift me, not willing to take the hit for their actions. Finy moved towards the two of them slowly with imposing steps, his fury almost palpable. The lesser yuki-onnas visibly shrunk their necks afraid to look Finy in the eyes, jabbing at one another as they continued to dob the other one in. Suddenly Finysrge blue hands were on each of their shoulders, pressing down and squeezing causing them to wince in pain. Seems the two of you have far too much free time, how about we change that. Finys smile was chilling, terrifying even, tears threatened to pour from the lesser yuki-onnas eyes as they endured the pain and fear that rampaged throughout their bodies. The dwarven quarrellers and other nearby monsters all showed evil smirks, the two of them deserved some punishment. Even the mighty frost revenants were nodding their heads, agreeing with Finys words. ..... Luckily timing was on Finys side, the next wave was almost at the door. Finysrge hands immediately increased their gripping strength before the mighty ice trollmander hefted the two lesser yuki-onnas up into the air resulting in some pretty pale expressions to appear on their faces. It wasnt a nice feeling to be so easily man handled, especially when the person doing it was pissed off with you. Time to pay your dues! Finys smile reached from ear to ear as satisfaction filled his body, finally he could let out some of his pent up aggression. Then without warning Finyunched the two lesser yuki-onnas through the air, simr to the yful snowballs theyunched at him and his subordinates. Ahhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhh! The two lesser yuki-onnas screamed as they flew through the air at breakneck speed before ultimately crashing into the cold snow floor, sending plumes of the stuff flying off in all directions. This garnered a lot of unrestrained chuckles from the observing monsters, Finy wasnt the only one annoyed by their antics. The two lesser yuki-onnas quickly pulled themselves up from the snow and dusted themselves off before ring at theughing monsters who were much weaker than them. Their pride took a hit thus they redirected their anger towards Finy who was still smiling ear to ear as he enjoyed their embarrassment. Hoooohh do you really have time to be ring at me right now? Finy tilted his head to the side, feeling a little bit mischievous. His words caught the lesser yuki-onnas by surprise as well as the rest of the monsters on shift, but that confusion was swiftly cleared. Rahhhhhhhhh! Loud animalistic roars and grunts could be hearding from the dungeons entrance, the next wave was here and the first nocturnal one. The lesser yuki-onnas trembled and nched as they turned around to face the oing horde. They were magic users, best suited to long rangebat like up on the ice wall. But down here they were out in the open, easy pickings. Of course given their upper D-rank strength there wouldnt be any monster that could kill them, but it certainly wouldnt be a pleasant experience, a down right slug fest, much better suited to someone with more brawn than brains. The loud roars alerted the other monsters on shift who swiftly readied themselves for battle, drawing their ranged weapons and aiming towards the dungeons entrance, prepared to once again swiftly bring down the invading horde and protect their home. However their movements were quickly brought to a halt by Finy. Theirmander raised his hand and ordered everyone to stand down....well almost everyone. Rx our mighty magically inclined lesser yuki-onnas have bravely volunteered to take care of this wave by themselves, desperate to show us the power of their ice magic. It would be insulting to interfere in leu of their bravery. Instead everyone should watch and learn, take a break and let our friends here strut their stuff. Finy spoke with glee, a slight chuckle on his lips however his eyes showed that he was deadly serious, this wave would be entirely left to the lesser yuki-onnas and everyone else was forbidden from interfering. At first everyone looked down at the two lesser yuki-onnas who were both trembling with rage as they heard Finys words. A brief look of plight shed across their eyes before each of them followed the words of their might ice trollmander who represented Frosts will. They lowered their weapons and looked towards the entrance and the lesser yuki-onnas with a rxed atmosphere, fully prepared to watch and learn. Meanwhile the lesser yuki-onnas in questions lips were twitching. Volunteered who the fuck volunteered! You tossed us towards the entrance, right in front of the horde! Volunteered my ass! Was what the two were internally screaming. Finys piercing re however siphoned away their courage to openly say such words, they really had no one else to me bar themselves, not a single rade spoke up in their defence either. They really would have to deal with this entire wave by themselves without even the slightest aid. Crack! Whoosh! Their anger that couldnt be directed towards Finy was thus focused upon the encroaching horde. The lesser yuki-onnas cracked their knuckles as the nearby snow floated beside them, wrapping around them like a personal blizzard. You wanna see a disy of magic huh! Well lets show you some ice magic then. The lesser yuki-onnas werepletely fired up, the prospect of actually doing some work actually excited the two of them. yful spells were one thing but using actual devasting ice magic was something else entirely, the enjoyment was like the difference between heaven and earth. Magic crests appeared around the two of them beforerge, sharp ice bolts began to protrude, eight in total. Next an ice fog formed around the two of them, partially obscuring them but more importantly it would act as a restraint for the charging masses. A thick freezing fog that would wrap around their bodies, slowing the targets down, even binding them in ce if they were weak enough. This was the lesser yuki-onnas response to mass closebat; they really werent suited to a slug fest. Their physical abilities were a far shy from their magical talents, a very lop sided species. Finy who saw their prep work couldnt help but raise his brow, these two when they actually did some work were quite the foes to be reckoned with. Finy himself knew ice magic but despite him being a high level C-rank hed probably be outshone in that department by these two lesser yuki-onnas. If they werent so mischievous and downrightzy theyd be ideal leaders for the magic corps. His gaze then drifted towards the few frost dwarven runic mages who were on shift, they would be the ones learn the most from such a battle. Just when the lesser yuki-onnas prep work was finished the wave arrived and looking a fair bit more dangerous than the first three. Night was certainly a different ball game. 7 F-ranks, 30 G-ranks and they look even more crazed than thest ones. Finy frowned as he took in the invaders. This wave was certainly a notch more powerful than the diurnal wave but still well within their means. Realizing that there was nothing to be worried about given the involvement of two upper D-rank monsters Finy leaned back so as to enjoy the show, hoping that at least one of the invaders would get off a good blow against the two lesser yuki-onnas. Not anything too damaging but just ammunition for everyone to use whenever they cause a ruckus again. As expected even without the aid of the other monsters the lesser yuki-onnas were more than capable of taking out the entire horde. Though they were tossed fairly close towards the dungeons entrance they still had enough time to get off a fair amount of shots with their powerful magic before the masses entered their restraining ice fog. Ice bolts fired off at will, prating deep into the G-rank monsters, killing them outright whereas the F-ranks which this time consisted of winter boars suffered serious wounds. Not enough however to stop all their charges. One of the lesser yuki-onnas was barrelled into by one of the said winter boars andunched backwards a couple metres, a trickle of blood dripped from its lips due to it biting its tongue mid cast. This event actually caused the horde to die faster, an angry lesser yuki-onna was really not something to be messed with. The offending winter boar was smashed into paste by a [blizzard] spell, along with many others. Very little materials could be salvaged from this wave thanks to the lesser yuki-onnas over enthusiastic disy. Chapter 369 369 Chapter 369: The early stages As Finy watched the carnage that the lesser yuki-onnas brought down upon the invading horde he suddenly regretted his actions, the dungeon would be making very little profit out with the standard DP with this wave. Once the first day was over Frost appeared at the dungeons entrance to receive an in person report as well as inspire his loyal monsters. He was met with a grand military salute by all present, the lesser yuki-onnas included who were a lot more agreeable after letting out some much needed aggression against the fourth wave. Finy apologised for his actions to Frost in regards to the incident given that it was a purely emotional reaction and resulted in far less materials being earned. The dungeon since the very first wave had endured a total of five waves, each slightly more powerful and orrger than thest. Frost wasnt bothered about a small loss in materials given that Finy really didnt have much choice, the lesser yuki-onnas mischievousness had gone on unchecked for too long. Finy did however make sure to preserve as much materials during the fifth and final wave so he more than made up for his emotional outburst. Frost didnt hold it against him in the slightest and struggled to get mad at the lesser yuki-onnas given that theyd already received their punishment from Finy and were now behaving much better. But the main reason he wasnt mad was due to therge influx of DP, in total over the course of the five waves he had gained approximately 35,000DP a fairly substantial number that could be used for a great many things but right now what was important was ensuring the dungeons defences. After a quick discussion with Finy he spent around another 10,000 (on top of the already spent 11,000) on monsters, particrly frost dwarf quarrellers, mages and other high ranked ranged archetypes. As the days progress the line-up arranged upon the walls would need to be updated with stronger monsters, recing all the G and F-ranks currently stationed there. The slimes were already struggling to deal significant damage with their pitiful strengths. Though some had managed to finally reach their max level and evolve into their next archetype. A couple frost goblin archers evolved into frost hob goblin archers, E-rank monsters costing 140DP each, a little weaker than the frost dwarven quarrellers but taller, less stocky in build. The ice slimes simply evolved into F-rank ice slimes with no change in name or even shape, still appearing as silver blobs. However those at F-rank could use the [ice bolt] spell thus making them a fair bit more powerful especially when ced on a defensive structure. ording to the monster encyclopaedia as well as Maya slimes dont change much in terms of form until they hit much higher ranks. They will remain in blob form until roughly C-rank wherein they could develop into slimeoids that could alter their shape into other monsters and gain some of their traits all while conserving their own advantages as pseudo liquids. ..... At the moment however they were still pretty weak, their liquid forms proving to make very poor armour, still very fragile creatures but ones with lots of promise in theter levels. Frost just had to slowly step by step get them there, tossing them into advantageous battle situations like the monster stampede waves. Frost spent another 10,000 on traps, littering the first floor with them so as to better deal with the hordes that inevitably break through the kill box. More ballistae were included in this 10,000. Two of which were added to a new tform alongside the bottom wall along with another two dwarven quarrellers as controllers while several others were bought and added to the other still developing defence zones deeper within the dungeon. The operations centre in the second section, was also outfitted with some powerful defences, this was the main base for the dungeons monsters and had been ever since Finy was summoned. Even now it served as headquarters, dealing with the influx of new monsters and sending them to their assigned sections. Thest 5000 or so DP was kept as an emergency fund/ put it towards the nextrge purchase. Right now there was enough monsters within the dungeon, hopefully enough to fend off the early stages and probably some of the mid-stages. There was no point in buying lots of high rank monsters at the moment given that theyd not be taking part in the battles just yet. The current number was enough to ensure enough firepower in case something went wrong. Over the first ten days or so which would likely cover the early stages Frost nned to use the weaker monsters i.e. those below D-rank to deal with the waves, allowing them to gain experience and hopefully evolve into their next archetype. This was purely for efficiency, G and F-rank monsters would pose very little threat towards high quantities of enraged E and D-rank monsters plus his high ranking monsters gained very little experience from clearing weak masses. The lesser yuki-onnas for example despite killing over 35 monster between the two of them only gained a single level or two inparison to the tens of G and F-rank monsters that would normally individually gain one for each wave. Another reason why Finy regretted his emotional outburst, the lesser yuki-onnas absorbed precious experience that would have been for more effective if provided to the lower caste. Frost praised his monsters for their efforts, rewarding them with some delicious meat and drink while having the second shift take over for the new day. Even Finy was relegated to handling the operations centre and the influx of new monsters. His most capable frost troll lieutenants took his ce along with a few extra E-rank dwarven quarrellers and rune mages just to be safe. Frost checked on the dismantling corps who out of everyone were by far the most busy, cutting up and dismantling corpses over the entire 24 hours period instead of working intensely for 5 or 10 minutes every few hours. Skins, fur and all the usable materials were divided up into piles waiting to being stored within the dungeon vault whereas the remaining useless stuff was tossed outside their workspace and naturally absorbed by the dungeon over time. After generously rewarding this very hard working group he stored all the collected materials within the dungeon vault that seemed to be endless. This stuff would be preserved and kept until the external camp was in full swing. After the stampede his monsters would have some much needed time to sort through all the materials and try to fashion some items that could be sold in the camps stores or be sold as raw materials, attracting those with trade professions to his territory. Frost himself was still keen to attempt a trade profession or even several but that would have to wait. Right now what was most important was his own battle strength, he needed to reach B-rank otherwise hed not get the chance to help out in Furano, a perfect opportunity to do some advertising and rake in some actual gold and silver coins instead of DP or materials. For the ten days or so things went pretty smoothly. Frost avidly studied the high earth rank cold me, improving his magic capabilities and edging ever closer to his unique monster creation. He had a pretty solid idea now; he just needed some time to put it into practise. When not studying and or absorbing the cold me Frost would train with Maya and get beaten ck and blue, hang out with the kids and her for family time -much to their enjoyment- and regrly check in on situation at the dungeons entrance. Hed also asionally call Daki, hearing her voice would always fill him with motivation and desire. The long distance serving to fill them both with longing. Daki had already handled the selling of her shop, residence as well as dealing with the long term customers, everything would be finalised within a couple weeks. Shed thus stay with either her brother or L at that point, waiting for her prince charming toe and whisk her away to his castle, something they both eagerly awaited. Kranor like many other territories didnt suffer much from the monster stampede, no sieges or mass attacks but they had to be wary while adventuring out with their territory otherwise life was the same as usual. Only Northrend as well as Frost seemed to be in a strenuous situation, hard to imagine given that the distance between them all wasnt that much in the grand scheme of things. Speaking of strenuous situations. The waves assaulting the dungeon had been growing ever more dangerous. E-ranks started showing up after day 4 and after day 7 they were in mass. Now at day 10 the waves contained on average 50 monsters plus, a D-rank at the helm and multiple E-ranks, far more dangerous than the waves present on day one. The lesser yuki-onnas wouldnt havested long against such a horde by themselves. Such a situation thankfully never came to pass again as now everyone was all hands on deck, a far more gruelling experience. There wasnt anyone lying down andining about boredom. Chapter 370 370 Chapter 370: Perhaps Ill even surpass Yami and Aqua With the increased strength of the monster stampede waves Frost had long swapped out the weaker G and F-rank monsters for Es and even D-ranks. The left and right walls still stood strong though with several w marks and divots, it continued to provide the necessary defence boost and height advantage required by his monsters. Which were now majorly dwarves. Over the ten days several monsters reached their max level and evolved some even twice, greatly expanding the repertoire of monsters Frost could generate. He now had several hob goblin variants of his frost goblin caste, ice slimes that were E-rank, frost venom spitting spiders as well as their beefier frost tarant cousins. But most of all was his frost dwarves. Out of all his monsters the frost dwarves yed thergest role in terms of defence, numerically he had more of them than goblins now and each of them packed enough wallop to be stationed on the wall even now. There wasnt a goblin or hob goblin in sight, the left and right walls were currently lined with frost dwarven quarrellers, runic mages andst but certainly not least, ice dwarves. Their D-rank archetype, far more intelligent, diverse in their skills, sturdier and could speakmon tongue with ease. It was very hard to separate these monsters from their regr dwarven sapient species, thats probably the reason why they could build such a powerful empire within the inner and core regions of the cial mountains. Frost assigned all those that evolved as well as the several that he purchased the moment they were unlocked to act as squad captains, covering a section of the walls, reinforcing the aggregate power held there. Down at the bottom wall however the defences were looking a fair bit damaged,rge cracks and marks could be seen throughout and the gate and portcullis were broken in areas after suffering repeated blows. Frost revenants still stood before it guarding the area with their great swords, a fair few sporting nasty gashes across their armour. The pressure on these guys was insane during the past couple days with two of them even dying thus resulting in the gate being damaged. Finy was forced to jump down and clear the area, decimating the E ranks that were ganging up on the revenants. The kill box system was starting to reach its limit. The area was only sorge, now that the monsters were more numerous but more importantly more powerful it took them a lot less time for them to reach the gate. The squadrons of archers couldnt kill them before they reached the revenants anymore. At the moment each of the monsters wore grim expressions, Finy included. The next wave was due shortly and given the time frame its likely that the mid-stages had begun, the onught would be even more formidable. Finy clenched his fist hard around the shaft of his mighty axe, the promise of battle, one wherein hed actually be allowed to participate filled him with excitement. When the two frost revenants were unfortunately killed Frost made an appearance, frowning as he saw the state of the kill box. ..... Looks like were about to enter the mid stages, get ready to enter the battle personally Finy, as well as the rest of the officer sses, the true challenge will be upon us soon. Frost spoke in a serious tone, but he too couldnt help but reveal an excited glint in his eyes. It was after that that thest of the weaker monsters were swapped out and several more D-rank were purchased. Every monster present was individually purchased meaning they could rack up experience and evolve, the spawner grunts were left to handle non battle rted stuff as they were mainly for the other kind of guests that came for materials not to ransack and consume his core. Finy and Frost stood side by side on the bottom wall as monsters did their best to repair some areas while others checked their weapons, ammunition and mana levels. The air was different, something big wasing. In your opinion Finy what has been the most annoying monster type to take down over the past ten days? Frost asked with a frown, his heart or rather core felt uneasy, a slight dread filled him. ... Finy frowned in response, he thought deeply before responding. Other than the D-rank pr bear that required the ballistae bolts to bring it down in time Id have to say the snakes. Two waves ago there was arge pr bear, stronger than the one Frost had summoned given its enraged state. No matter how many arrows the frost dwarven quarrellers shot into its hide and no matter how much runic magic was fired off at its face and limbs the beast didnt stop charging as though it was possessed and numb to pain. It smashed right into a frost revenant smashing him against the gates and leaving a major depression thanks to the resulting force. The opponent itself wasnt too dangerous for the revenant given its hardy exterior but such bashing did a number on the wall and gate. The snakes? Frost turned around, confusion on his face, he hadnt seen much snakes in the waves and even if there were theyd be E-rank at best, not veryrge. Could it be their venom, but Ive not heard of anyone being bitten. Frost remembered the ice snake that he killed back in the cial mountains one that he now had ess to summon but avoided due to his inherent trauma with poison. Yes master theyre really slippery bastards that are a real pain to take down. Small and narrow making for difficult targets, fast and skilled at scaling any surfaces making the walls pretty pointless against them and finally the danger they pose when in closebat. Even if youre stronger you need to be careful to not get bitten. Finy showed a dark expression as he remembered the annoyance of trying to take down several snakes that kept avoiding their arrows even after all the other monsters had been taken care of. A tedious foe which theycked appropriate means to take down easily. I see. Frost cupped his chin in thought, hed mainly prepared for the monsters bingrger and more forceful as the stages progressed and didnt think much about facing a strong but small opponent, it was quite an eye opener. How did you deal with them then? High amounts of magic spells by the frost dwarven runic mages and the lesser yuki-onnas bombarded their vague position with wide spread focus, cutting off all avenues to flee. This however could only be done after all the other monsters had been dealt with. Too much going on to redirect so much attention to a single or couple small foes. The fact that ice magic only works at half capacity given our opponents certainly doesnt help. Finyined in ce of all the other magic users present. Against G and F-ranks it didnt matter but at E and above the monsters dwelling within the cial mountains have quite impressive ice resistance practically halving the effectiveness of such spells from the 1st and 2nd circle against them. A real pain considering Frosts forces could only use ice magic. Again it was brought to Frosts attention that he was a one trick pony and it seemed that that extended to his monsters who were just as if not more limited than he was. Frost clenched his fists at this moment, stubbornness flowing through his heart. Hed been studying and absorbing the cold me every day now and hade to realise that as long as the quality was of a higher origin, resistance made very little difference. Take him for example he was supposedly [one with ice] the embodiment of the element but a single touch of the me and his left arm waspletely taken over by the freezing mana. He would never be able to create a monster species that specialised in fire the natural nemesis of ice, it was beyond his means. But it didnt mean he couldnt create a race that specialised in cold mes, a higher level than regr ice magic and something that E and D-ranks would struggle to endure regardless of their inherent resistance. He was sure that even the elementals which were literally embodiments of mana would suffer when attacked by a higher order of the ice element. When Frost wasnt training or managing the dungeon he was putting his all into creating this unique race that would define him, represent his abilities in terms of creation amongst his siblings and help to greatly increase the dungeons strength, he was close and now thanks to the repeated monster waves he had enough DP to buy them in mass even if their base cost turned out to be huge. Even with the additions of monsters, traps, outfitting and expanding the fifth floor to match the other floors as well as making mass purchases of stock for the budding territory, Frost still had over 100,000DP in his reserves sitting there unused. The mid stages hadnt even officially begun yet and he was swimming in DP, this stampede was certainly a god send. Perhaps Ill even surpass Yami and Aqua in DP ie at the next family meeting. Chapter 371 371 Chapter 371: The mid stages As a cocky smile drifted upon Frosts lips as he imagined his position in terms of DP ie at the next family meeting a sudden jolt wracked his insides, the entire dungeon trembled slightly as though suffering from a fierce wave. The tremors werent as bad as the ones felt at the start of the stampede, but they were certainly noticeable. Frost, Finy and many of the other monsters present felt the ground shake beneath them, affecting their bnce. A few even fell from the wall,nding on the thankfully soft snow beneath thus avoiding injury. Cracks that were still present along the walls erged in ordance with the shaking, further damaging the walls. Shock and noticeable fear was present on everyones faces as they turned to look at Frost for reassurance. I guess that counts as the mid stages starting then. Frost shook his head, trying to y the situation off as something expected despite him having no idea. Frost brought up the dungeon menu so as to inspect the mana veins ie. Yep its increased to 400DP a day, the corruption must have intensified. Now that he and Maya knew the origins of the monster stampede they werent as in the dark about the situation. Corruption of the mana vein, an asional natural urrence but the current situation was anything but natural. Every few years the vein explodes in fury, the corruption bing so dense that it needs to expunge it in a violent and destructive way. The areas connected to the mana vein thus be saturated in dense mana, turning the local monsters mad, driving them into a frenzy. The cause of such artificial corruption was still unknown as was the reason the monsters were so fixated upon the soutnds, but it was a start. This second tremor signalled another burst in the mana vein, resulting in Frost not only receiving more DP per day but an increase in the mana density in the surrounding areas. The more powerful monsters would now be more easily affected, guided south by this artificial machination. The second tremor was far milder than the first and likely wouldnt have been felt outside in the natural world. The dungeon only feeling the effects due its close connection to the vein. An unexpected urrence but nothing to worry about, there wasnt even any sharp pain in Frosts chest, just a beneficial increase in the daily DP. One that hed put to good use. ..... Listen up everyone, that second tremor was a signal for the mid stages, theres nothing to worry about just keep your guard up and prepare for the next wave. Frost stood up straight looking over his forces like a mighty general, confidence and reliability heavily present in his voice, calming them as they heard his words. The mid stages are a whole different ball game; the kill box zone will most likely not survive. Our enemies will be faster, stronger, more numerous and far more destructive. From this point on Ill be keeping a close eye on the situation and if needed Ill take to the field personally as will all the officer ss monsters. Theres no longer a need to hold back our most powerfulbatants. The resulting prey will be more than strong enough for them and you to efficiently rack up experience and evolve to the next level. Frost disyed a wild smile as he clenched his fist in the air. I hope too see a lot more D-rank and even C-rank monsters by the end of this.....show those maddened invaders the true power of the dungeons elite. Frost sharply waved his hand to the side after proiming his demand. Everyone present on the battlefield was at the very minimum E-rank. Individually a fairly substantial force but when theres over a hundred of them and some that are even higher ranked well that gives Frost the power of an army, a powerful battalion that would put some enves to shame. Quantity along with quality makes for a devasting force. In response all those E and D-rank monsters raised their weapons up high and roared as excitement filled their bodies. The D-ranks in particr were quite agitated, finally theyd be able to truly sink their teeth into this battle. Even Finy who was standing by Frosts side like a loyal servant couldnt help but show a wild smile as he subconsciously rubbed his axe. He made an oath with his master to reach B-rank during the monster stampede and now at longst there was a real chance for him to gain experience. Chopping up F and E-ranks did very, very little for the high grade C-rank ice trollmander but Ds and perhaps other C-ranks well thats a different story plus. Finy looked over to his master. Ill finally get to fight by masters side. This was a prospect he was very much looking forward to. Finy Ill leave you in charge for now. I need to go and arrange for the other troops to be ready and make sure our secondary and tertiary defence zones are prepared...this short wall wontst long against multiple D-ranks. Frost looked down at the already cracked and damaged ice walls that he and his monsters fashioned together several days before the stampede began. A quick job that served well in the beginning but now may even prove to be a hindrance. It wasnt even half the height, half the thickness and nowhere near as fortified as the ones surrounding Furano, the true bastion in this onught. Many times over the past ten days Frosts mind drifted towards that town, wondering how it was fairing against this endless horde. Though they were far more prepared and held much, much stronger forces they also had to face off against the entire horde, not just the small margin that he did, something he was very, very thankful for. If the dungeon attracted the entire horde the first and likely the second floors would have already been overrun with the situation rapidly escting. He wasnt ready for such a heavy attack. He tried to contact Bastion, Leo and Dous a few times on the magic crystal, but no one ever picked up. Whether they couldnt due to a problem with the magic crystal or that they were just far too busy he didnt know, all he could do was hold hope that theydst long enough until he and their reinforcements arrive during thete stages. Understood master, the next wave will likely be here within the hour, will you be present then? Finy crossed his arm across his chest and bowed slightly in salute before inquiring about his masters intentions, he was really eager to fight alongside him. Frost saw the hope in his loyal generals eyes and couldnt help but reveal a proud smile before patting him on the shoulder. Yes Ill be here, I just need to makes sure everyone else is ready and have Kiba and his bestial corpse up to the first floor, theyve also been itching to fight hehehehe. Frost chuckled, Kiba had been training ardently with his team over the ten days, but their motivation had dwindled recently due to theck of action. Now however it was time to call them up. Once the kill box zone fails it would be down to them to decimate the wide spread waves, giving everyone else the chance to retreat to the secondary and tertiary defence zones. Plus a 6 metre wall was nothing to Kiba, the couerl pups and even the ice wolves, a simple light jump would see them on the other side, right in the thick of battle. Frost tapped Finys shoulder again before teleporting to his next destination, an hour was neither a long time nor a short time and there was much to do. Kiba! Frost shouted out when he arrived at the fifth floor which now sported three medium sized sections all with tundra hignds environments, perfect for a growing tiger and simrly structured monsters. This was now Kibas and his bestial corps floor, decked out and designed for their benefit, well the first three sections at least. Frost aimed to add additional side sections to expand his floors like with the mine rooms plus after the third section and before the dungeon core room there was a very small room roughly 100 metres by 100 metres. This would serve as a boss room, barring anyone from moving further unless the resident monster was defeated, an idea he incorporated from the [beginners ice magic] monsterir. Though the designated boss was still undecided it gave him some piece of mind given that beyond that room was his core. I think Ill have to extend to more than five floors soon if the DPs going to keep increasing like this. Frost cupped his chin in thought while waiting on his cial winged tiger to arrive. He didnt have to wait long, however. Roar! Kiba let out an expectant roar at the sight of Frost. His wings were open, and the young tiger was flying, though he was a little unsteady it made him a much more dangerous existence. As the saying goes theres not much more you can do when you give a tiger wings. Theyd dominate both the sky and thend at that point. Chapter 372 372 Chapter 372: The mid stages (2) Kiba rapidly approached from the air without any signs of stopping causing Frost to momentarily nch. Kiba was still at heart and maturity a cub, he wouldnt think of the consequences his massive body would bring at the point of contact. Ahhhhhhh! Kiba stoppppppp! Frost quickly roared out, but it was toote. Kiba had already begun his approach and wasnt skilled enough to stop his momentum or alter his trajectory in time, not that he wanted to anyway. His leaping into Frosts arms was a sign of affection, bonding skin ship that he did with Druakai and Ruby. Booomm! A loud boom resounded throughout the area when the two made contact and vast plumes of ice, snow and dirt exploded outwards, temporarily obscuring the two. A few secondster when the dust settled Kiba could be seen with a happy smile on his face, his eyes upturned into crescent moons as he affectionately rubbed his massive head against Frosts chest. Frost however portrayed a mixed expression, anger, affection, frustration and even some pain. The young dungeon core realising his partners feelings braced himself for the impact, refusing to cower. His feet dug deep into ground so as to withstand the force that wasing. As a result the ground fiercely shook and even cracked outwards from the soles of his feet. His nearly 2 metre frame sinking down 30cm as he redirected the majority of Kibas flying force into the ground. The remainder however was taken by his legs and boy did they hurt right now, he could have sworn he heard something crack at his kneecaps, the pain was quite ufortable. But on seeing Kibas happy expression he really couldnt get mad at him, the big kitten that he was. Haaaaaaaaa Frost let out a deep sigh before rubbing Kibas fur. ..... You do realise that you weigh over a ton right? He asked with a slightly disgruntled tone causing the big tigers face to twitch a little, the consequences of his actions finally donning on him. Kiba looked at Frosts face then at his own body before tilting his head to the side using the soul bond between the two of them tomunicate. No I didnt just call you fat! Frosts expression darkened. This damn tigers messing with me isnt he. Frost proceeded to ce his knuckles on the side of Kibas head and twist, the same action he had seen Daki do to punish her brother. Youre not a little cub, you cant justunch yourself at people, if it wasnt me or Maya youd crush them to death. Frost exerted a little more strength causing Kiba to whine and beg for forgiveness, yet a yful smile still adorned his lips, his inner thoughts unable to be hidden from his master. Youre stronger than I am and youre fine so whats the big deal, are you really not going to praise my flying ability? Kiba wanted to be praised, he worked hard and deserved a reward. You...tch! Seeing as Kiba wasnt reflecting and even med him for overreacting Frost couldnt help but sigh and click his tongue. The pressure from his knuckles dramatically increasing for a second before letting him go. Fine I can see youve worked hard on your flying abilities and have improved greatly over the past week, well done. Frost petted Kibas head softly, praising him as Kiba wished. Chufff Kiba chuffed which basically tranted as I know right, praise me more. This got him a forehead flick. Dont get cocky, youve still got a long way to go before you can be considered an aerialbatant besides your training ends here, theres actual work to be done. Frost showed a wild smile. It was time for Kiba and his bestial corps to finally get some action. The coeurl pups and ice wolves arrived on the scene at this time and happened to overhear Frost words. Wild expressions adorned each of their faces, they bared their fangs and tensed their limbs at the prospect of battle. Kiba was no different, his aura swiftly changed. Roar? Kiba asked for confirmation. Yes the mid stages have now arrived, you and your bestial corps are free to go wild to your hearts content, decimate the intruders without mercy. A cold and vicious look appeared in Kibas eyes, his monster instinctsing to the forefront before he let out a loud roar, too which his subordinates roared back. Like Frost, Kiba was giving his men and women a rousing speech before leading his team to the first floor where the battle would be held. Each of them moved with great speed, clearly disying their eagerness to fight. Looks like I dont need to worry about the first few days. Frost felt at ease watching Kiba and his team rush off. Theirbined strength would at the very least double the aggregate power held at the dungeons entrance. Even if a C-rank monster shows up Kiba and Finy would be able to take care of it even without his aid. Guess Ill go and see Maya and the kids next; the tremors may have gotten them worried. Frost shook his head before teleporting to the private space. The kids were quite rmed by the first set of tremors as it brought back some traumatic memories. He needed to make sure they were alright first of all before informing them of the situation. Nanna and Loki would be taking on the roles ofmanders, utilising the Dungeon menu to direct and control the battlefield that was a bit too demanding for a single person especially when said person was dying to fight on the front lines and test out his new and improved magic abilities. Frosts study of the high earth rank cold me had resulted in a dynamic change in not just his mana veins and spells but also his chakra. Thankfully he wasnt like Maya who was ipatible with cold mes, he could quite easily alter his chakras form into something non-physical, he just needed some live practise. I was wondering when youde back, I take it the mid stages are starting. Maya spoke up from the sofa the moment he arrived. Nanna and Loki were sitting on the floor at the coffee table focusing on their work, but it was clear they were a little shaken. Frost gave Maya a look too which she nodded, indicating that they were fine, just a little shocked, nothing to worry about. Frost let out a thankful sigh, relieved that was the case before walking towards the two of them. Nanna, Loki what Maya said is true, the mid stages have started, and you know what that means. He showed another wild smile too which the two phoenix kin looked at one another before showing simr expressions. Finally they would also be able to take part in the battle, fighting and helping their master. Of course they wouldnt be on the front lines like Kiba and Finy. God no Frost and Maya would never allow that, but they would be in charge of directing just as they did during the war with Gobuske. Frost even assigned each of them special squads which were solely under their charge, something they were very much grateful for. Battle maniacs the lot of you. Mayained and shook her head, not knowing where she went wrong in teaching these three. Frost, Nanna and Loki all turned to face the mighty fenrir woman, confusion clear in their eyes. Whats thisdy talking about shes the most battle crazed one here. The three then looked at one another and giggled, irritating Maya as she felt made fun of for some reason. As predicted around an hourter the first wave of the mid stages arrived and the moment it did Frost teleported to the entrance and stood on the bottom wall, Finy loyally standing by his side. Roar! Kiba roared out loud drawing Frosts gaze, he was there too hovering in the air so he could see over the wall, his bestial corps dotted around the area, fangs baring, and ws outstretched in anticipation. Looks like everyone is ounted for then. Frosts eyes glittered with fire as he refocused his gaze towards the entrance, the faint sounds of maddened howls could almost be heard. Frost brought up the dungeon menu to see what was about to arrive, Finy peered over his shoulder also eager to see, his axe already primed and sharpened. Hoh the mid stages certainly are at another level. Frosts lips turned upwards as he witnessed the horde through the menu. Well everyone it seems as though this wave will be much more numerous and contain far worthier foes. Frost spoke in a booming voice drawing everyones attention. By my count theres close to a hundred enemies, almost double the usual amount and stock full of F, E and even several D-ranks. They should make for an appetising starting course dont you think? The monsters present on the ice walls chuckled, amused by their masters interpretation of these intruders. So what if there was a hundred enemies without a single G-rank in sight. Their prepared forces were nothing like it was for the early stages. Not a single monster present was beneath E-rank, this wave would find only death here today. Chapter 373 373 Chapter 373: The mid stages (3) Theyre here Frost uttered while pointing to the dungeons entrance. The first wave of the mid stages, a wave containing approximately 100 enemies and each a fair bit stronger than what theyd encountered previously. Squeeeaaaaalll!! As everyones focus was drawn to the dungeons entrance a loud pig like squeal could be heard, or rather a boar like squeal. The ground trembled as a horde of muscr boars charged through the narrow entrance, straight into the prepared kill box. Like before their eyes were blood red, veins violently throbbing across their bodies,pletely in a maddened state. F-rank winter boars were at the forefront, their tough hides struggling to squeeze into the narrow gap, pushing against the ice walls. E-rank frost tusked boars followed behind them, their erged ice encrusted tusks looking incredibly menacing and if given the opportunity would quite easily sink into the prepared ice walls. Finally at the back were the D-rank monsters, twogombis, giant wombat like creatures with powerful leg strength, a 6 metre high wall would be nothing to them, a simple light jump would see them careening over without difficulty. But that wasnt all. That must be the D-rank version of the frost tusked boars. Frost assumed as he analysed the massive creature struggling to enter the dungeons entrance. An ice back boar,rger than even pr bears, stronger too and with much higher defence. Thick almost imprable skin, powerful muscles that grant them impressive charging momentum. Great long tusks that rivalled steel in durability, a man would quite easily be pierced through by such an appendage if he wasnt careful. This thing that appeared was aplete beast, all brawn and no brain, a very dangerous opponent when in a numbed, maddened state. Quarrellers and mages, take them down! Frost swung his hand downward giving the order to fire. A secondter an endless chorus of twangs could be heard as over a hundred arrows and spells wereunched at the enraged horde, blindly charging forward. ..... Don! Don! Don! The arrows from the frost dwarven quarrellers held a fair bit more momentum that the onesunched by the goblins and hob goblins and were of a higher quality, the heads being made from iron at the very least. The arrows rapidly flew through the air before sinking deep into the bodies of their targets, only half of the shafts remained visibly, however. Squeeeeeeeeell! Such attacks seemed to only anger the boars with very few actually falling from their wounds. Their skin andyers of fat were incredibly thick, it would take a lot more than a few arrows to bring down such beasts. Frost now understood why Furano armed their walls with such high amounts of ballistae. Regr arrows and bolts though damaging struggled to truly bring down suchrge, enraged beasts. And that was just the F-rank boars, for the E-rank and D-rank monsters the situation was even worse. A foe that could not feel pain with adrenaline pumping through bodies were archers worst nightmare. Keep firing, bring them down! Frost roared, the mid stages were no time to worry about their ammunition reserves, making sure this kill box zonested as long as possible was key to their survival. Besides with the level of DP ie the dungeon had been receiving Frost didnt really care about such a paltry expense. The frost dwarven quarrellers thus began to fire at will, rapidly reloading their weapons whereas the runic magesunched bolts of ice continuously, stabbing into the boars tough hides, asionally bringing down a few who ended up looking more like porcupines than boars. Squueeeeeeeeeelllll! Suddenly the ice back boar, the strongest of the invaders squealed out like a roar before immediately picking up speed, charging madly forward without care for the weaker boars in front. Some were even crushed under its hooves or smashed against the ice walls, furthering the cracks. The ice back boar was heading straight towards the frost revenants, looking beyond them, towards Frost. It could sense instinctively that the source of the delectable scent wasing from deep within the dungeon, but this person gave of a simr feeling. Saliva dripped from its mouth as it gazed fervently at Frost, desiring to devour him. Frost frowned as he felt the boars gaze, an intense anger filled his body. You want to eat me huh? Frosts aura began to expand around him, pressing down everyone in the vicinity. His anger continued to rise as did the blood lust being emitted from his body. A mere D-rank boar wished to eat him, to taste his flesh and devour his body hahahaha the very idea wasughable. Frost suddenly looked towards the ballistae stationed by his side which now numbered four. Menacing concoctions of wood and iron thatunched metal bolts over a metre in length and over triple the thickness of the standard bolt used by a crossbow. Even with a thick hide and multipleyers of fat such a bolt would easily reach the internal organs of these boars, the ice back boar included. Bring it down Frost uttered with a chilling tone, sending shivers down the backs of those who heard it. But the frost dwarven quarrellers were loyal and skilled soldiers, after a brief moment of hesitation the four of them nodded before aiming the ballistas cross hairs at the still vehemently charging ice back boar. The frost revenants on duty had already prepared their stances in preparation for the beasts charge. Their great swords raised high, ready to brought down with vengeance at a moments notice however it seemed as though they wouldnt get a chance to act just yet. The lesser yuki-onnas also decided to hold back their magic, ignoring the massive charging ice back boar, focusing instead on the encroaching F and E-ranks that would swiftly follow the boars path. This foe would have to face off against the mighty ballistae something not even they were confident in withstanding. Squeeeeeeelllll!!! The ice back boar squealed with such intensity that many nearby felt their eardrums pop. Blood leaked from their ears as they were suddenly assaulted with pain and temporary deafness. Well at least it isntpletely stupid, but it makes no difference, fire! Frost hmphed as he removed his fingers from his ears, a loud high pitched screech used to disorient attackers. However that wouldnt be enough to stop what was about to happen. Twang! Four loud twangs were heard in session, the four quarrellers ignored the pain in their ears as the followed Frosts instructions. Launching their massive bolts towards the ice back boar without mercy. Squealch! Squeaallllll!!! The four bolts easily found their target, it was near impossible to miss such a massive boar in a such a confined space even without their inherent abilities as quarrellers. Therge over 1 metre long bolts pierced deep into the boar, one in each shoulder, another through the chest whereas the final one brushed against one of its tusks before piercing into its cheek. The final one was by far the most gruesome wound, the boars face had a massive bolt sticking out of it, marring arge chuck of its face, revealing internal tissue as heavy droplets of bloodnded on the ground. The bolts in its shoulders were targeted so as to interfere with its movements. It couldnt really feel pain but if the joints were destroyed and or the range of movement impeded it wouldnt be able to charge. The real killer however would be the bolt in its chest, its internal organ were seriously damaged, the beast didnt have much longer to live, however. Squcueanijeninllll! The boar let out an iprehensible squeal due arge chunk of its face being non-existent. The shade of blood red was still glowing brightly in its eyes and its veins continued to throb disgustingly, it was still in a state of frenzy. The creature ignored therge bolts entrenched in its body forcibly moving its body forward though at a much slower pace. Frost had to give the creature some credit, its will to live or rather eat was quite impressive. ...no not impressive....a pity. Pain shed in the dungeon cores eyes. This boar didnt choose this path willingly, it was driven by its instincts, a result of an artificial machination. Haaaaaaaaa Frost let out a deep sigh before swiftly jumping down from the tall ice wall, alerting Finy. Master The loyal ice trollmander was about to jump down and join his master on the battlefield. The ice back boar was still very much alive, and tens of other monstersy behind it, encroaching through the rain of magic and arrows, the danger was far from over. Frost raised his hand up to stop Finy, he wasnt some weak child, Finys strength was unnecessary at the moment, as was his technically. He just had something he wanted to try and felt that since the boar showed such tenacity it would be a somewhat more beneficial way to die than being transformed into a porcupine. The dwarves in charge of the ballistae had already loaded a second bolt, prepared to keep firing until their target waspletely immobile and or dead. If such a prey reached the walls the damage would be immense thus if they were told to bring something down they were going to do it and do it thoroughly. They only stopped because they saw Frostnding before the boar though they kept their cross hairs focused on it, just in case. Chapter 374 374 Chapter 374: The mid stages (4) The moment Frostnded before the boar its body visibly trembled as though its natural instincts were fighting against one another. The incessant pounding that urged it to eat and destroy everything in its path fought against its fear, the primordial feeling that it was in the presence of a superior predator, a far superior one. Its entire body trembled but still it moved forward, neither of the instinctsing out on top. It moved automatically yet was filled with fear, powerless to stop its investable forward motion into the jaws of death. Frosts aura was fully activated, pressing down upon the boar making it feel small and fragile. Frost smirked slightly but a strong look of pity filled his eyes. He could see and sense the struggle within this creature. Its eyes filled with fear as well as madness, its body trembling and begging to submit yet still it carried on, moving every closer towards him and the dungeons core. He remembered the time when he encountered the core of the [beginners ice magic] monsterir. That irresistible desire that urged him to eat, to devour the defenceless core. Even him an intelligent lifeform with strong willpower was nearly overwhelmed with desire. Instincts, powerful behavioural reactions that can overrule almost anything. The ice back boar before him was prime example. Its fear was so strong, subjected to his fully blown aura as well as his blood lust yet still its body edged towards him, the binding from the mana corruption prompting its behaviours beyond the level of fear, fascinating in a way but also pitiful. It may be less damaging towards something like an ice back boar which didnt have much intelligence to begin with but what about those of higher rank, those that have fully developed emotions, feelings and that could even converse in themon tongue. What did it feel like for something with high intelligence to be subjected to this level of mana corruption, to be driven into an uncontroble frenzy, is their mind locked away, forced to watch as their body expands upon its primal nature. Frost who was adamant about eradicating the invaders regardless of whether they were being controlled so as to protect his home was filled with pity as well as a strong sense of vengeance. Something that messed with the natural order of the world and so frequently at that, corrupting these monsters and forcing them from their natural habitat and life. Anger filled the young dungeon core; the mes of hatred could be felt in his bloodlust towards the one or the thing responsible for such pointless carnage. What did this stampede serve other than death, at least when they died within the dungeon their life force would put to good use. With a pronounced frown and despondent expression Frost raised his hand and ced it upon the boars quivering snout. These invaders needed to die so that he and his monsters may live that fact would not change but. You can rest now. Frost uttered in a gentle tone before sliver mes slowly formed from his hand, spreading across the ice back boars body, dyeing it a simr silver colour, ignoring the creatures inherent resistance to ice mana. Such resistance held no power over the silver mes, the difference in quality being magnitudes apart. ..... The massive frame that was easily 3 metres high and full of muscle and fat was quickly frozen, snuffing out thest vestiges of life from the mighty boar. The blood red colour in its eyes receded at thest moment, its consciousness momentarily returning in its final moments. Peaceful would be the best way to describe the emotion disyed in its gaze before the eternal darkness overtook it. Frost still showed a depressed expression as he witnessed the boarsst moments, anger still very much present in his chest but more so pity. He kept his hand on the silver boars snout, and looked behind it, towards the masses of smaller boars and twogombis charging this way, finally making their way through the deluge of arrows and magic. Your sacrifice will be put to good use; the circle of life will continue. Frost then clenched his hand that was on the silver boars snout. The cold silver mes funnelled deep into its body before violently exploding outwards, shattering the silver ice statue. Frost the returned to the bottom wall, back to Finys side. Kill them all and make it quick, no need to drag this kind of ughter out. Frost was in a bad mood, his excitement for battlepletely ruined by his wayward thoughts ofpassion. He ced his hand over his chest, sensing the life energy of the in ice back boar flowing into him and bing DP. Fighting against controlled enemies with no sense of reason was not an enjoyable experience, especially when they could feel the difference in power yet unable to stop themselves. His mood was ruined, his expression clearly disying such disappointment. Finy let out a sigh, understanding his masters feelings but even if it wasnt enjoyable from a battle standpoint they still needed to take care of these enemies, at least Frost understood that. Understood master! Finy performed a bowing salute before standing in front of Frost, taking charge of the battle. ughter at will! Three words but these three words brought smiles to the soldiers faces. They werent like Frost who was looking for an enjoyable sh of skills with each others life on the line. No their only purpose was to eradicate these invaders and do so in the most efficient way. Seeding in that duty brought them joy. The deluge of arrows and spells seemed to increase at Finys order, clearly the monster were holding back slightly. The two lesser yuki-onnas both took a step forward, standing side by side with Finy before casting their own magic spells. The horde was finally in range, time to unleash some true ice devastation. The ballistae quarrellers werent ones for standing around either, they aimed their cross hairs at some of therger monsters such as the Lagombis who were fast approaching the bottom wall. The frost revenants azure eyes glistened with joy at their approach, their great swords vibrating slightly as they held back the urge to swing down until the opportune moment. Frost though feeling disappointed did his best to fix his expression, appearing rather cold and stoic as he watched his monsters loyally defend against the wave. With the improved soldiers lining the left, right and even bottom walls the first wave of the mid stages was passed without too much difficulty. No deaths on Frosts side though a few got injured when falling from the wall. It was impossible to stop the charging actions of every boar thus the walls developed a fair few more cracks but all in all it was a good result. A lot of experience was gained resulting in quite few monsters reaching the next level, hopefully after another few days some of his D-rank monsters would ascend, bing C-rank monsters. Frost stayed throughout the entire wave which took around 25 minutes to eliminate, his presence serving as great motivation for his monsters. His mood had also been remedied by the end of wave, seeing his monsters working so hard together, it was impossible not to feel proud. Centipedes quickly get to work, get those corpses to the dismantling corps, boar leather is a quality material as is the meat, do your best to preserve both. Frost gave his order but felt a little heat on his cheeks, realising he was a bit of a hypocrite. The strongest boar that would have surely provided the best materials was shattered into blocks of silver ice, no longer useful in any way, his doing at that. Thankfully his monsters didnt notice this fact or willingly yed dumb to spare his feelings. Dismantling captains how are you for manpower, the next waves will surely only see an increase in invaders as well as the overall size of the monsters, do you need more men? Frost asked as he witnessed the great frost centipedesunching one boar corpse after another over the walls, finding such work far harder now that it wasnt small goblins or rabbits. He realised that he needed some more corpse retrievers and was thus led to thinking about the dismantling corps. Frost wanted as much material preserved as possible, relying more on such teams than the dungeons automatic retrieval process that came with a 20% tax as well as outputting average quality work. I wonder if I can pay or upgrade the process in some way? Frost still had a lot he had to experiment with in regards to the dungeons features and its incredibly long list of items for sale. There was also the improvement options for his regenerating clothes to look into, perhaps some of the ie generated from the stampede could be used for that. The choices were pretty much endless and his DP though fairly substantial at the moment could be eviscerated in a single unrestrained purchase with no refund option. Grunt Gruuunnt The two on shift captains for dismantling corps, two frost dwarven smiths answered back with exhausted expression, grateful that their master was thinking about their wellbeing and quite frankly that he finally asked that question. Chapter 375 375 Chapter 375: The Gods The captains of the on shift dismemberment teams disyed exhaustive expressions towards Frost, clearly portraying their feelings on the matter. Ugh.....looks like Ive been neglecting the non-battle rted areas. Frost felt quite guilty and decided to rectify the problem then and there. He brought up the dungeon menu and immediately purchased three more great frost centipedes, 3 dwarven smiths to serve as captains along with 15 regr frost dwarfs to be assigned under theirmand. An additional 3 teams should help the situation. Frost nodded his head while cupping his chin. Be sure to let me know if you need anything else. He looked gently towards the captains, encouraging them to be forting in the future. In response the captains saluted with bright expressions before swiftly returning to their work. Their workload would only continue to increase in theing days. The monsters wouldnt only berger and greater in number their inherent strength would be higher as well. Thus their corpses would be much harder to take apart. I may have to get them better equipment. Frost surmised as he caught a glimpse of dismantling corps current equipment. Iron weapons either forged for them by the frost dwarven smiths in charge of production or repurposed weapons that appeared upon their creation. Fine for dealing with G and F-rank monsters but any higher and itd prove to be a real struggle. The longer this stampede went on the more Frost learned of the toll it ced upon those involved, so many areas were effected, not just the warriors. Frost looked towards the number of dungeon points he had now that the first wave of the mid stages was over. Over 150,000, the highest Ive ever had at one time...shame that Im about to spend it haaaaaaaaa. Frost sighed internally; he wouldnt have the chance to enjoy his current wealth. ..... Finy Ill leave the clean up proceedings to you, seems as though I need to make some more substantial changes. If you need me contact me through the menu, Ill likely either be in the private space or the training area. Frost tapped Finys shoulder as he handed overmand, the enemies werent quite strong enough for him to enter the battlefield just yet. Therge ice back boar that seemed to a match for his frost trolls fell swiftly thanks to the precise targeting of the ballista bolts as well as his newly acquired cold mes. Frost brought his hand up in front on his face, silver like mes gently flowed out of his palm and danced around his skin. Frost was quite proud of the result these mes had against therge boar but there was certainly room for improvement. The chilling factor is nowhere near the level of the high earth rank cold me, a poor imitation. He clenched his hand into a fist snuffing out the silver mes, his eyes filling with determination. His body could now endure the coldness emitted by the high earth rank cold me without being dyed silver, no longer submitting before a higher level of ice. Though he had only unlocked the first of severalyers his progress was substantial, Maya couldnt help but praise his abilities saying that he was an absolute natural when it came to handling cold mes. Apparently his image when his body was covered in the silver mes reminded her of the primordial ice king, the Ice God, one of the highest existences within the world of Nova, below only the two creation Gods Light and Dark. ording to Maya the two creation Gods Dark and Light were at the very top of the pyramid of power, all else even other Gods were below them and that the gap between them was insurmountable. As the story goes the world, the sun, the moons, the stars everything in existence started from the two of them. Before them was nothing, they were origins of existence, the start of everything. Next came the primordial Gods like the ice king, born at the point of the worlds conception, each governing over a distinct element that made up the chaos and order of creation. Below them are the Gods that achieved their ascendency by growing in power. Examples of such as the Dragon Gods, Tiamat and Midgardsormr, the Wolf God Skoll, the Fairy queen Titania as well as the Giant God Ymir. Each of these Gods started out as mortal creatures and ascended to Godhood through their own hard work and merits, the goals of many denizens within Nova. Though there are differences in power there isnt too much of a hierarchy between the Gods well not an official one anyway. The only official level gap is between the two creation Gods and everyone else as they are fundamentally different in origin. One side was birthed by the world whereas the other gave birth to it. No matter how powerful the New Gods be or how developed their abilities are they can never hold a candle to Light and Dark. A fact that has driven no small amount of arrogant new Gods to madness, unable to ept the vast chasm. Frost was initially ttered by beingpared to the primordial ice king one of the oldest and most powerful of the Gods after his father and Light but then he felt a heavy weight ced upon his shoulders. Godhood, at his current level of strength and even with his shining potential such a level was so far away and the chances of him reaching it were slim to none. The amount of Gods inparison to the number of S-rank monsters and sapients was abysmal, even the most talented can find that gap impossible to cross. Maya for example was considered a prodigy in the Fenrir tribe but would likely never reach that level. Even her grandmother who was considered even more of a prodigy couldnt cross that gap. Frost increased his training intensity shortly after thatparison making Maya regret her words, her young master was just too stubborn and far too greedy. Hed only been alive for a few months, yet he already had Godhood in his eyes, a normallyughable situation but Maya whenever she saw the determined look in his eyes and the refusal to give even when his bodyy broken on the cold hard floor of training room couldnt help but hold no small degree of hope. Frost was the official son of the Dark God yes, but lineage wasnt enough to cross that gap, nor was talent. One needed unbreakable will and incessant greed if they wished to escape the shackles of mortality. Maya couldnt help but clench her own fists as her own passion was ignited, shed given up on reaching such a level but after experiencing the taste of divine energy and seeing her handsome boyfriend training so desperately she couldnt help but want to try again. Whenever Frost was passed out resting after an intense training session she could now on asion be found within the training room, practising on her own, trying to understand divine energy and hopefully edge ever closer to that mystical realm. Finy performed a perfunctory salute towards Frost, d that he got to see his master in action. His eyes however lingered on Frosts hands, the image of the silver mes dancing around Frosts fingers filled Finy with excitement. His master was so incredible, just a simple touch and he was able to almost instantly freeze a massive D-rank boar. Finy desired strength, he needed to improve lest his master leaves him behind. He could only truly stand by Frosts side if his own strength wasparable. Finy gripped his hands around the shaft of his massive axe, his desire for battle causing his heart to thumb loudly and his body to tremble in excitement. The mighty ice trollmander couldnt wait for the next wave to appear. Regardless of what shows up hed have tounch himself into the battlefield before he nerves drive him crazy. Your will be done master. Frost nodded his head and gave onest look around the area, searching for any other ces that he may have overlooked before teleporting to the private space, his war room and main hub for managing the dungeon. Master! Master! The moment he arrived his body was assaulted by two small figures. Nanna and Loki wrapped their arms around Frost and looked up at him with sparkling eyes, a sliver of drool could be seen at the side of their lips. Haaaaaa they must have seen me use the cold mes to take care of the ice back boar. Phoenixes, mighty monsters that were highly attuned with mana and their inherent element. Magically gifted and known for loving the taste of magic mes. Nanna and Loki being Phoenix kin, descendants of such creatures couldnt help their primal instincts from taking over whenever they saw cold aspected magical mes. The high earth rank cold me was like an irresistible steak for their young bodies, but it was one that would lead to their deaths given their pitiful strength thus Frost was forced to train with the cold me separately lest an ident happen. His chakra born cold mes however were more than eptable, not at level of harming them especially given that they were under hisplete control. The two of them had be rather fond of eating his cold mes ever since he first showed it to them. they even preferred the taste over their favourite candies thus turning Frost into a walking snack. Haaaaaaa this really wasnt what I had in mind when I chose to alter my chakra in me form. Chapter 376 376 Chapter 376: Big purchases Frost unable to ignore the childrens innocent expressions summoned his newly establish cold mes for them to feast on. The process was quite intriguing, at the sight of the silver mes both Nanna and Lokis eyes shone with azure light as did the feathers around their ears, a sign that their phoenix blood was reacting. Such a glow only added to their adorable appearances. The two phoenix kin with their ancestral blood humming pursed their lips and breathed in the silver mes generated by their master. The mes wrapped around their tongues before slowly drifting down their throats and into their stomachs. Frost made sure to minimise the strength of the mes to a level that they could endure but.... Owowowowowowwo! Loki suddenly grabbed his head and stamped the ground with his feet as he endured an intense headache. Haaaaaa you never learn do you Loki. Frost shook his head and snuffed out the mes, preventing the children from eating anymore. If you eat cold things too fast youll end up with brain freeze. Frost rubbed Lokis head as though trying to soothe the young boy, but he struggled to hold back hisughter as did Maya and his sister, making him blush. After the brain freeze was dealt with Frost took a seat on the sofa and brought up the dungeon menu, ready to make some more purchases before the next wave arrives. 150,000 a significant sum. Frost cupped his chin in thought wondering what to buy first. At the moment he had five fully outfitted floors and had no need to expand quite yet. He had purchased another two spawners over the past several days, one that dolled out frost dwarves while the other created frost wolves. Three mines, two iron and one 2 star ice all worked by frost dwarven smiths and spawner frost dwarves, slowly but surely increasing his stock of materials. Monster wise he was pretty set as well, there was still room in the dungeon for more, but his current count was north of 400, increasing everyday thanks to the spawners and the zero deaths suffered so far from the monster stampede. ..... Nothing stood out as immediately needed so Frost initially nned to save his DP until such a time but after seeing the state of the dismantling corps he decided otherwise. Might as well buy these things now before theres an issue, its not like Im gaining interest from the DP just sitting there doing nothing. Frost nodded his head, confident in making somerge purchases. With a flick of his hands he added a bucket load of weapons to the purchase cart. 30 steel carving knives for the dismemberment squads should work far better than their current iron equipment, allowing them to easily slice apart even D-rank corpses. 1000 steel headed arrows, 500 bolts for the ballistae and 50 low level mana potions for the runic mages and lesser yuki-onnas. Frost added all these items inrge quantities for around 18,000DP. Next lets check out what I can do with these magical robes of mine. Frost with a smile on his face manoeuvred through the dungeon menu, finding the area that allowed him to alter his robes. 5000DP to make them equivalent to reinforced cloth, 10,000 to make equal to leather, 20,000 studded leather, 35,000 iron, 80,000 steel, 120,000 refined steel damn these prices are outrageous. Frost visibly sweated when he saw the numbers, a set of steel armour would cost him around 1500DP plus yet just to change the properties of his robes to something equivalent cost 80,000, a massive difference. Well I guess given the regenerative qualities it makes sense. Frostpared the purchase to buying spawners, after the 100th summon or the 100th regeneration of the robes itd be practically free, making it worthwhile in the long run. He looked down at his robes and then towards his beautiful girlfriend as well as hard ass drill instructor. A 100 regenerations could happen in a single day if she was going all out. Other than the inherent property change there was also enchantments avable so as to improve magical resistance and or supply special effects. There was also a style change that cost a default 1000DP but would allow Frost and any one of his siblings to alter their robes colours and patterns, something that sparked a keen interest in Maya who wanted to dress him up in different colours and styles. Ill just start with something basic, my chakra and purchased armour provides most of my defences anyway. Frost didnt see too much point in empowering his robes to devastating levels especially when his other girlfriend was such an aplished smith. Her armour would suit him just fine. Frost thus chose to make the soft cloth equivalent to leather apparel for 10,000DP. Alright that should take care of the now but what about the future? There wasnt much more that he could buy at the moment that would be used immediately but there was a lot of stuff he needed to purchase for the uing territory development. Monster meat and materials alone arent enough to sustain a well-functioning camp. There was more than just one or two kinds of shops avable, magic in particr was of high necessity as was medicine, alcohol and numerous others. Frost didnt want to solely attract adventurers; civilians were high up on his list of targets given that they were far more numerous. Quantity when at a certain level far surpassed quality. His goal was to be just like Furano and Kranor, ruling over tens of thousands of subjects, absorbing their DP every day even if they werent fighting or dying, a long term investment that would surely trump even the DP gained from this monster stampede. At the moment and in the initial stages Frost would have to rely on the dungeon menu to provide all these necessities, buying some of them now when he had time to deal with such issues may prove beneficial. Frost opened up the list of magic spells, focusing primarily on 1st and 2nd circle spells. He nned to purchase multiple tomes of such spells to put up for sale in the camp, thus attracting the magically inclined to visit and perhaps stay for the long term. He could even say that such high quality tomes could be found within the Dungeon, sparking their interest further. Frost added a random mix of 1st and 2nd circle ice spells to the purchase cart as well as two 3rd circle spells, [summon ice golem] and [icy road] that would serve as some more significant draws given the rarity of 3rd circle and up spell books. The cost of which came to roughly 50,000DP, a veryrge expense but Frost thought nothing of it, already numb to such numbers. He then went on to purchase potions of varying effects and qualities, casks of low grade beer and wine to be used both in the camp as well as rewards for his monsters whom many of which sported simr personalities as Maya. Frost also increased the production levels of all his mines as well as added a fourth which he created on the fifth floor as well as many more nick knacks that he thought would be useful for the camp before rounding up his grand total. 123,540DP sssssss Frost released a sharp hiss as he read out therge number, his eyes shaking slightly before refocusing. There was still a significant amount remaining, enough for him to create a six floor and perhaps even outfit a section or two. What do you think should I go all in? Frost turned to his girlfriend and guardian Maya who was resting on his shoulders, watching him work with a proud smile on her face. Her proud smile quickly shifted into a mischievous smirk before replying. Might as well go all the way now youre in so deep. She batted her eyshes, causing Frost to blush slightly as he understood the innuendo. He smirked as well before his hand slithered down her back to squeeze her impressive butt. You really are a tease you know that. He looked lovingly into her eyes before nting a kiss on her ruby red lips. But youre also right, its just DP, I can easily regain more. After pulling away from Mayas lips Frost spoke with determination and added the addition of a sixth floor to the purchase cart, which now that they were passed the five mark was 15,000 instead of 10,000. With Frost hitting the confirm icon vast swaths of divine energy flooded his body, sending waves of intense pleasure throughout his body before quickly vanishing, leaving Frost red faced and slightly panting, desperately wanting to feel such intense pleasure again. The dungeon core in the private space hummed to life, giving off a bright glow as it spun around moulding the life energy or rather DP to create. Outside the private space the dungeon shook as it normally did when Frost added sections or floors thus no one was surprised anymore, the tremors released were far less violent than the ones caused by the mana vein corruption. Master must have added a new floor, I wonder if surpassing five floors results in anything special. Chapter 377 377 Chapter 377: Celestial fox Frost trembled slightly as the after effects of using suchrge amounts of divine left his body, he craved to feel that energy, that pleasure again. His brow rose as an experiment entered his mind, he turned around to face Maya before cing his lips against hers and kissing her deeply, his wayward hand caressing her soft and supple body, caring very little that the children were still present. Maya caught unawares didnt fight back against him, enjoying his delicate yet powerful caressing as well as the tingling sensation generated by his skilled tongue. Frost broke off his kiss, licking his lips as he did, tasting Maya. A very different kind of pleasure but no less intense. Frost showed a possessive smile pulling Maya in close causing the mighty fenrir to madly blush and quietly call him an idiot under her breath. Frost had been bing more and more bold over the past week or so, his hands bing more naughty. She didnt even bother to swat them away anymore, instead enjoying his touch as it represented his intense desire. She even swore that her ample butt had gotten evenrger given the amount of massaging it received.....not that she wasining, she quite liked the idea of her backside bing evenrger if it suited Frosts tastes. Unlocking a sixth floor didnt have any bonuses for Frost, probably because his personal strength was already high enough tomand upper D-rank monsters. For others however they would find that their dominating presence while inside the dungeon would have increased, allowing them to summon upper D-rank monsters even if their personal strength was lower or just a fraction higher. A much needed effect for some of Frosts siblings who focused more on their dungeons development than their own personal strength. Leaving the fighting solely to their summoned monsters or in some cases even avoiding fighting in the first ce. All it gave Frost was a little more DP per day as well as a slight feeling of growth in his chest as though the dungeon had matured slightly, growing from a baby to perhaps a toddler. It was an intangible sensation but one that encouraged him to keep expanding, to keep growing his dungeon. The three small sections were left bare and unexpanded for now, Frost nned on making this sixth floor a resting floor of some kind, dividing the upper five floors and those below with a clear distinction. Frost had learned that many of therge monsterirs with 5 floors or more tended to have different zones i.e. the first five floors may be suitable for adventurers under D-rank whereas the next five were suitable for under C-rank etc.... there was no distinctive markings or features signalling for such a change just that floor six in this case and floor eleven would have much tougher monsters and or higher ssed environments than the floors that preceded it. Frost wanted to do something simr but put his own spin on it. The sixth floor will serve as safe area, a way station that could serve as a camp within the dungeon. He exined his n to Maya who had stopped blushing and regained her attitude as his guardian. ..... Is that because of young master Terra? She asked inquisitively not disagreeing with Frost just wanting to understand his reasoning. Her young master had already shown such skill in terms of management that there was very little she could still teach him other than worldly knowledge andbat training, he had the makings of a fine king or emperor. Pretty much. Frost had called his siblings asionally using the newmunication feature. Indra who he called first wasnt present due to exploring the storm mountains, not willing to be left behind by Frost so it was his guardian who answered, someone Maya was actually well acquainted with. The memory of that interaction shed in his mind. Greetings young master Frost, young master Indra has been looking forward to speaking with you however as of right now hes out exploring the Storm mountains. The image of a beautiful fox woman appeared in ce of Indra, this was his guardian Izuna, a celestial fox whos strength and beauty rivalled that of Maya, their ages were quite simr as well. Both viewed as prodigy princesses of their races; thus it was inevitable for some rivalry to exist, thankfully it was rather yful. Well if it isnt washboard Izuna. Maya responded back before Frost could with a yful smirk on her face, her arms purposely pressing against herrge chest to emphasise her assets. Frost turned to look at his girlfriend in shock. Why the hell are you picking a fight? His gaze tranted as such, but he was promptly ignored. Izuna the one called washboard had her lips twitching as lightning dashed around her, electrocuting areas within Indras private space. Her eyes shone with golden light, and her fox tails puffed up as though preparing for battle. If they werentmunicating through the dungeon menu system but were face to face Frost would likely be trembling uncontrobly, forced to his knees from the overbearing pressure and aggressive killing intent. Tsk! I was wondering who was assigned to be young master Frosts guardian turns out it was Mad Dog Maya, oh how I pity you young master Frost having to deal with such a brutish woman as your guardian ohoho. Izunaughed like a noble woman, covering her mouth as her eyes disyed a mixture of scorn and pity. IM A WOLF NOT A DAMN DOG YOU FLAT CHESTED FOX!!!!! Maya screamed into the screen, her fangs showing and elongating as she began to transform into her mighty fenrir form. The two woman continued to throw insults at one anotherpletely ignoring Frosts presence which to be honest he was quite thankful for, interrupting would only end badly, instead he sat back on the sofa and waited for their discussion to end. After a few minutes when the two women had ran up of insults and were panting as though exhausted they smiled at one another. Being a guardians pretty fun isnt it? Maya asked with a genuine expression, her gaze subconsciously drifted towards Frost. Izuna did the same but thought of her young master, her Indra. Yes its pretty fun and enjoyable.....well at least when young master Indras here. Her gaze that was picturing Indra suddenly turned to anger and usation as it refocused on Frost. You just had to go on a solo exploration didnt you haaaaaaa. She sighed. The whole reason she was alone here was because Frost went off on a solo journey thus Indra just had to do the same, he was the reason for her current boredom. Ugh! .....sorry I guess. Frost surprised at being forcibly roped into the conversation apologised with a confused expression. Maya nodded in agreement, both woman ming him. .....Ill call at another time, hopefully Indra will be back by then, bye Izuna. Frost not enjoying being looked at in such a way moved to end the call. Goodbye young master Frost and ciao Maya, try to keep your anger in check. Izuna ended the call before Maya could retaliate, leaving her fuming. Im guessing theres some history between the two of you? Shes one of my closest friends as well as rivals, weve beenunching barbs at one another for as long as I can remember. Maya disyed a loaded smile as she was swept up in nostalgia. You seemed to focus primarily on t chested insults. Frost looked down towards his girlfriends bountiful chest, nodding as he did. Well thats because shes a celestial fox a race primarily known for their seductive full figure appearances. Its her greatest regret so I always make fun since I clearly dont have such a problem. In response Maya proudly arched out herrge chest as though begging him to look, which Frost did without hesitation, loving the view, grateful even. After Indra, Frost called his eldest sister Aqua who regaled him of how exciting and inviting her dungeon was and how she desperately wanted him toe visit, heavily ying to role of concerned and doting elder sister. Frost was forced to end the call abruptly since he could no longer endure his sisters gaze and Maya snickering at the side. Finally he decided to call Terra and they had a rather normal discussion. Terra was truly a B.F.G even more so than Druakai. Fighting didnt really take ce much in his dungeon, he was going down the path of coexistence with the nearby local fauna and flora as well as the sapient races. He was surrounded by elvenmunities and other races that were akin with nature. Many of which had already begun to relocate to inside his dungeon granting him passive ie. Taking advantage of the fact that Dungeons werent monsterirs Terra thought to incorporate a new feature within his dungeon one that would encourage more denizens to move in and live under his protection. Whereas Frost was initially establishing an external camp Terra had created areas within his dungeon for people to rest and even live, designating those areas as safety zones, areas where his monsters could not enter. After a few tant experiments the feature was revealed to the local races who decided to create pseudo camps in such areas. Frost wished to do something simr but given that his dungeon wasnt as intruder friendly as Terras the process would be a hell of a lot moreplicated. He doubted that his local races would ever believe that there was safety zones within his dungeon thus he came up with the idea to make an entire floor or at least an entire section a safe zone, a ce where a town or even a city could be built just like Kranor....though while the monsterir or rather dungeon was still active. Chapter 378 378 Chapter 378: Damn demon Its an interesting idea and would certainly take advantage of the unending space provided by the dungeon. You could even utilise those living within the floors during wars between your siblings. Getting them to willingly risk living there however will be a challenge, not something that will happen in the short term. Maya nodded her head in agreement, she was present when Frost talked with Terra and could see the benefits of such a system plus if more than one dungeon used such methods thered be more evidence in regards to its reliable safety. Such an idea however didnt simply end at creating safe spaces where in adventurers and whomever else could stay without fear of reprisal from the local inhabitants. Leisure activities and ess to other types of resources were another angle that could be used to drawn in residents. Mines in particr could provide a town or encampment dwelling within endless amounts of iron, ice, stone or any other material and as long as the dungeon was still active these resources would be limitless unlike the one in Kranor that would eventually run out and need to be constantly expanded. Right now Frost had 3 mines, all of which he was currently using however he was more than happy to add an additional mine or two to the resting floor solely for the use of these future external residents. A small price to pay for long term passive ie. Terra agreed with him finding his idea incredibly novel and in fact purchased a mine for that very purpose as they were talking. With the amount of residents Terra already had within his dungeon his passive ie was more than high enough to amodate such a purchase without breaking a sweat. Terra was sure to be much higher in the DP rankings during the next family meeting, no longer far behind his simrly aged siblings. I know. This was never a short term goal however the sooner wey the foundations the sooner well reap the rewards. Frost agreed with Mayas assessment, fully expecting the sixth floor to be unused for its intended purpose for quite a long time. However this would also give him the time required to fully outfit the floor, design it in detail so as to best support such residents as well ase up with some leisure activity draws. At the moment other than materials and safety Frost also had a budding n to incorporate ice fishing within his dungeon, both for future residents as well as his own monsters. An activity that could relieve the stress of regr dungeon life. The excited expressions of the many cat beastkin adventurers who entered his dungeon and then came across the frozen river filled with fish sparked this idea as did his chat with Aqua. She being based within the ocean had ess to many fish monsters, some of which despite their weak strength were considered delicacies thus drawing vast crowds of seafolk adventurers. Frost didnt have ess to too many fish based monsters but the list of regr fish in the beast category was quite extensive, some of which may be unavable in the current climate and location thus possibly sparking great interest for fishers as well as chefs. The idea of tasting the multitude of different fish dishes caused Frosts mouth salivate, his eagerness to put this n into action growing exponentially. However such things can wait, theres still the monster stampede to deal with. The new steel weapons, ammunition and low level mana potions need to be distributed. Frost closed the dungeon menu and stood up from the sofa. ..... Ill make sure these supplies are handed over to the monsters, could you set up the training room, I want to work on using my cold mes inbat. Frost requested of Maya, clenching his fist as he did. Remembering the feeling of bringing down his first opponent with his mes. It still takes too much focus. Heined internally. The ice back boar -that he was now very keen in having one of his own, viva monster stampede for unlocking so many new monster types- was pretty much already a goner by the time he moved. Therge ballista bolts that prated the things body made it pretty much a sitting duck. All Frost had to do ce his hand on its snout and focus, not a situation hed likely encounter again. Sure thing, I quite enjoy that kind of training hehehehe. Maya giggled while covering her mouth, hiding the sadistic smile she was showing. Frosts face twitched and his feet stumbled slightly as he looked at her with a little fear. Such training would usually involve Frost being hounded non-stop by attacks, forcibly increasing his reaction speed. Maya enjoyed such activities as she could see Frost beaten ck and blue as he ran like frightened mouse from her endless golems, magic attacks, physical attacks and even the very environment that she summoned....it was quite amusing. Nanna, Loki Ill leave you two in charge of monitoring the dungeon,municate with Finy and work with him while Im training and alert me when theres another wave. Frost ignored Mayas sadistic aura and lowered himself down to Nanna and Lokis height. The two of them were feeling quite satisfied after their cold me snack despite Lokis brain freeze experience. Yes master. Understood master. They both responded with animated expressions, taking their responsibilities very seriously, looking darn right adorable as they did. Frost smiled gently and rubbed their heads with affection before whispering in their ears that if they did a good job hed feed them another dose of cold mes as well as allow them to have another candy from the big bag Dark provided. After making his arrangements Frost teleported to different areas of the dungeon, checking in on the progress of the secondary and tertiary defence zones before handing over the newly minted steel weapons to the dismantling corps as well as the ammunition and mana potions to the frost troll or rather frost troll lieutenant that was stationed at the main operations centre within the second section of the first floor. After dealing with multiple waves one of the frost trolls reached its max level thus allowing for it to evolve to the next rank. The choices were quite diverse, simr to when the frost dwarves evolved. Unfortunately there was no ice troll variant or C-rank level quite yet. Theyd need to evolve once again to unlock such an archetype. The choices were as follows: Frost troll lieutenant, D-rank, 840DP: A powerful leader that is skilled inmanding subordinates. Frost troll berserker, D-rank, 760DP: Typical upgrade, bigger, stronger and faster than base ss, uses dual axes,es with enrage skill. Frost troll head hunter, D-rank, 720DP: ranged variant of the frost troll, uses throwing javelins to take down prey. Very deadly if struck however can only carry so much ammunition and is slightly weaker in closebatpared to its base ss. Frost troll witchdoctor, D-rank, 800DP: A loosely termed healer. They can use some basic life magic to heal theirrades and are skilled in handlings poisonous materials. Frost troll shaman, D -rank, 820DP: the mage ss of the frost troll, uses ice magic as well as chakra. A beefy mage type that doesnt shirk away from closebat. Instead of a trade skill archetype like the frost dwarven smith there was a leader ss simr to Finys though less impressive. Frost decided to evolve the frost troll into a frost troll lieutenant given its role as well as its own preferences. It wished to follow in Finys footsteps, bing a frost troll lieutenant was the choice closest to ice trollmander thus the decision was easily made. When it evolved it could speakmon tongue without much issue, still a little brash in his speech but more than capable of holding a conversation as well as understanding and giving out orders. Exactly what was needed of him at the moment. Ill leave the ammunition and potions with you, hand them over to resting shifts once its their time to man the walls.....The opposition is a lot stronger now, when Finy is resting youll serve asmander, good luck, I expect great things from you. Frost patted the frost troll lieutenants shoulder, while showing a proud smile. Your will be done master. The frost troll lieutenant had a simr personality as Finy, a loyal solider. He dropped to his knees and bowed to Frost as though receiving a kings order. Frost had gotten used to this treatment by now and no longer caused a fuss, such a rtionship was actually more proper given his position. Once that was sorted Frost teleported to the training space, where his beautiful girlfriend/ sadistic drill sergeant was ready and waiting with an angelic expression. It sent chills down his spine whenever he saw it, but it wasnt something he could avoid. Haaaaaaaaa lets get this over with. Frost let out a heavy sigh before walking to the centre of the training environment Maya had set up, taking a battle ready posture once he reached the centre. Oh young master you really arent any fun, you should show a happy and excited expression when ites to training with your beautiful girlfriend, like this see. He smile grew evenrger, her expression appearing even more angelic, but Frost knew better. Damn demon. Chapter 379 379 Chapter 379: A tough wave Over the next several days Frost was constantly running between Mayas rigorous training and fighting on the front lines, wherein he repeatedly tested out the fruits of hisbour. With him, Kiba and Finy all keeping a close eye on the invading waves and taking part whenever the situation required it the ice walls continued to hold albeit barely. Massive cracks, indentations and even the asionalplete copse marred the once tall and powerful walls. They had reached their limit. The repair work could no longer keep up with the incessant damage caused by the wild attacks from the frenzied monsters. Plus the increasing numbers and individual sizes of the invading monsters meant that even if they werent attacking the walls their powerful bodies were forced up against them, damaging them regardless. The funnel shaped kill zone was no longerrge enough to support the invading forces, a problem Frost was very much aware of when he designed the structure. Frost, Finy and Kiba were present on the bottom wall, blood was strewn over Kibas paws and Finys axe revealing that both had been in battle recently. This will likely be the wave that breaks the defences, Kiba are your forces ready to aid in the retreat? Frost stood stalwart, inspiring his nearby troops with vigour, not phased in the slightest in regards to the surrounding damage. Rawr! Kiba roared out while cing his paw over his chest, confidently telling Frost that he had nothing to worry about. The bestial corps which contained the coeurl pups, ice wolves and frost wolves were ready and waiting. Their speed and teamwork would y a major role in getting Frosts slower forces to safety. At the moment the frost and ice dwarves were still stationed upon the left and right walls though their numbers had dwindled slightly and a fair few sported some major gashes on their bodies. The walls were on the brink of copse but while they still stood these monsters would stand tall and kill as many invading monsters as possible, retreating only at the veryst moment. When the walls finally crash down, revealing multiple avenues for the invading horde to pass through Frost would give the signal for retreat before he, Finy and Kiba would jump into action, decimating the opponents they could reach, buying time for the others to fall back to next defence zone. The bestial corps would take care of the stragglers and even carry those that were injured. ..... Good, Finy prepare yourself as well, the three of us will be the ones to hold back the horde so watch your aim. Frost showed a wild smile as he spoke. This would be the first opportunity he and Finy would fight side by side, the prospect excited both of them thus Frost couldnt help but joke, poking fun at Finys muchrger size. Hehehehe dont worry master my axe knows who to strike down and who to protect. Finy chuckled, revealing an evil smile as he stroked hisrge battle axe that had been dyed red from the blood of his victims. Finy had gotten more than a few opportunities to satisfy his battle instincts, his level now being 44 out of 50, very close to his next evolution. The three powerful C-rank fighters sported simr expressions as they waited in anticipation for the next wave. Nanna, Loki make sure you keep an eye on the situation and help direct those retreating, we wont be able to divert any focus to such endeavours once we begin. Frost spoke through the dungeon menu, ordering Nanna and Loki who were sitting in the private space. They had rearranged the living room into war time mode thus the two phoenix kin were nted directly in front of the dungeon core, viewing the situation in real time and in constantmunication with Frost and the other monsters. Maya was sitting back on the sofa watching the two of them with interest and pride, knowing just how much effort they put into being ready for this situation. She felt it was a bit of a shame that she couldnt join in on the fun since her station forbade it. She the guardian couldnt take an active role in managing the dungeon nor directing battle, a purely observatory role. Understood master! We wont let you down! Nanna and Loki both thumped their hands against their chests and revealed bright expressions, looking very forward to taking on such an important job. Their cuteness was irresistible, motivating not only Frost but also Kiba and Finy. The two phoenix kin were very much loved among dungeons monsters and were treated like royalty whenever they wandered around the dungeon. They stroked everyones innate desires to protect. The secondary defences where the force would fall back to were already prepared. An arrangement of sturdy bunkers ced throughout the central area of the second section on the first floor, the winter forest. Using therge trees they would limit the speed that the horde could advance as well as their ability to stay as a group, the very opposite of the kill box zone at the entrance. Once Frost gave the signal the forces here would fall back to the second section and divide up ording to their teams, popting these fortified bunkers as well as the main operations centre which had been greatly fortified. The area was now defended by very high walls as well as four ballistae making for quite an imposing image. Great, lets get started then shall we. Frost cracked his knuckles and summoned his wind enhanced ive as well as coated his entire body in a thin but strong armour of ice, readying himself for battle. Finy simrly prepared himself for battle, jumping down from the wall to the head of the frost revenants, he would take the role of rear guard. Woosh! Kiba instead took to the skies, pping his massive wings to lift off the ground, his flying ability being more dexterous than before though his attack methods were quite simr. Therge cial winged tiger had grown quite fond of smashing down on his prey from great height. The moment the three of them were prepared the ground trembled slightly and a cacophony of grunts and roars could be heard beyond the dungeons entrance. The wave had arrived and by the sounds of it, it wasrger than thest one. Theirbined weight causing the very floor to tremble as they charged but neither Frost nor his monsters were phased, all holding onto their weapons tightly, prepared to meet their foes in battle. Each and every one of them were now veterans of war, survivors of the long siege, trepidation was no longer in their hearts instead there was only passion and excitement as well as determination. If they fought and killed enough invaders they could perhaps evolve into their next archetype and hopefully be given more responsibility, to hopefully stand at their masters side like Finy, Kiba and in some respects the officer ss monsters such as the frost troll lieutenant, a desire that helped fuel their determination. Rooooooaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrr! As the stampede grew closer a loud distinct roar was heard that sent shivers down the awaiting monsters spines. Wow looks like were in luck. Frosts arm showed goosebumps as that powerful roar washed over him, he instinctively knew that the origin of that roar was a powerful foe, a C-rank monster. A momentter the horde was in sight. Bears. Frost frowned slightly as he saw the frontlines of the horde, dozens of E-rank ck furred bears stormed in with bloodshot eyes and frothing at the mouth. This wasnt the first time theyde across these ck bears that were simr to the D-rank pr bears just smaller in stature, it was however the first time hed seen so many. So its a waves of bear monsters...damn. Bears wererge, aggressive and tough, incredibly destructive and tenacious, hard to bring down with arrows, even the E-rank ck bears required over a dozens arrows to be brought down. Behind the ck bears were masses of white fur, a mixture of pr bears, lower D-rank monsters and their evolution archetypes both upper D-rank, twin headed pr bears and werebears (pr). The first archetype was pretty self-exnatory, slightlyrger than the regr pr bear and with a tougher hide. The twin headed pr bear had two heads, making for twice the jaw strength. The werebear (pr) was the archetype path that improved intelligence and made the pr bears more humanoid. Their frames were smaller but since they stood on their back legs they were no less imposing. Armed with ice hammers these monsters could speakmon tongue to some degree however like all the previous invaders they were ovee with frenzy, devolving into nothing but mindless beasts, hell set on destruction, negotiation was impossible. Archers and mages fire at will! Frost gave his orders with a swing of his arm as though sentencing these bears to death. Ballistae users dont hold back, fire without hesitation! Frost looked sternly towards the four ballistae users who vigorously nodded before joining their archer and magerades in the festivities. Arrows and ice magic wouldnt be enough to deal with this wave and they were long passed the point of being able to worry about the cost of ballistae ammunition. This was going to be a difficult wave to endure with minimal casualties. For the first time since the stampeded began Frost felt worry, worry for the lives of his monsters. He gripped the shaft of his ive hard as he looked passed the masses of ck and white towards the entity that let loose that mighty roar. Chapter 380 380 Chapter 380: Ursa As a deluge of arrow fire and ice spells rained down upon the multitude of bear monsters Frosts focus was fixated on one in particr. At the back of the horde, a creature farrger and far more imposing than even the twin headed pr bears forced its way through the dungeons entrance, its natural aura pressing down upon the frost dwarves that gazed in its direction. The small amount of arrows that reached the mighty beast struggled to sink more than an inch into the creatures resilient hide, resulting in nothing more than a slight itch. An ursa. Frost muttered under his breath as he recognised the creature making its presence known. The monster encyclopaedia described this monster in great detail as did Jared Bando when they had crossed paths. The mighty War Ursa battalion, an army of the Northrend empire that dwelled within the inner regions of the cial mountains. They were named after such monsters and their upper ranked officers even rode such beasts into battle. A devasting monster that only the strongest of their order could ever hope to control. The war ursa was the evolved form of the ursa now standing within the dungeons entrance, an upper C-ranked monster that would rival Finy, thankfully this one was just a standard caste, lower C-rank at best however.... Roooooooaaaaaaarrrrrrr! The massive ursa that stood nearly 5 metres tall while on all fours roared out in fury, smashing down its front paws as it did,pacting the snow and causing the nearby sections of the ice walls to tremble and shake. Well.....shit! Frost cursed and clicked his tongue. Ursas were purely physical monsters, their abilitiesbined brute force with a tough exterior, very destructive and the worst possible match up for their now flimsy defences. With a frown Frost leaped from the bottom wall and ran desperately towards the ursa. Kiba, Finy change of ns, enter the battlefield right now, we need to take down this beast before it destroys everything! Frost loudly ordered while increasing his speed, ignoring the multitude of ck bears and pr bears in his way, utilising his deft footwork and incredible speed to leapfrog over them. ..... The ursa was such a powerhouse that a mere swat from one of its paws could cause the walls toe crumbling down, Frost couldnt have the defensive walls fall so easily. No more than a few bears had been killed so far, they needed more time to reduced their numbers. His frost and ice dwarves required the height advantage to effectively do this, quarrellers were not that great in closebat, whereas the bear caste were masters of such battles. Roar! Understood master, Im right behind you. Revenants hold the gate no matter the cost! Kiba roared from the air before redirecting its focus towards the massive white bear at the dungeons entrance, licking his lips as he did, keen to experience the taste of ursa meat. Whereas as Finy nodded strongly and followed after his master on foot once he gave the revenants their orders. They would have to deal with the defence of the bottom wall, the gateway without him. A tall order given that these bears heldrge amounts of brute force, the E-rank ck bears included. Five frost revenants were left to guard the wall, all of which were on average 7 levels or so away from their max level so if they yed their cards right they may evolve into ice revenants after this. Finy received confident salutes as he left, the revenants determined to defend the wall till theirst breath, it was just a bunch of frenzied bears, they could handle such foes regardless of their numbers. Their mighty runic armour and powerful great swords would see the bears blocked in their ravenous stampede. Frost moved as quick as he was able but even, so he wasnt fast enough. Booooommm! Therge ursa though having blood red eyes still had some modicum of reason left within its mind, it could think and wouldnt plunge dead ahead regardless of the consequences. The creature witnessed the deluge of arrows and ice spells falling upon its lesser kin without end and traced their origins. The 6 metres high ice walls were really nothing to the ursa, it easily spotted the rows of frost dwarven quarrellers and runic mages. With a fury filled gaze it charged towards a section of wall and instantly smashed it to pieces, generating thick plumes of ice dust and snow. The defending right ice wall now had arge gap within. Screams from a couple frost dwarves spanned through the room though overshadowed by the growls and roars of the bears and the twangs of bows Frost heard it clearly. Bastard! He loudly cursed while picking up speed, two frost dwarves were insta-killed when the ursa shattered the wall, two more were injured and soon to be permanently silent. The ursa looked at the frost dwarves struggling to their feet, their bodies visibly trembling as they endured the gaze of a superior predator. Its mouth started to salivate, food! The need to eat screamed in its head and it could not resist. By the time Frost finally arrived after knocking away a couple of pr bears he was toote. The white furred ursa had had its feast, ripping apart his loyal soldiers and devouring their flesh, yet it didnt seem satisfied. Its gaze quickly focused on the other soldiers upon the wall who had fought against their fear and aimed their bows and staff its way, doing their best to stop it from eating theirrades. Unfortunately their arrows and spells were nothing more than bug bites to this monstrosity, its thick hide easily protecting it from such shallow and weak attacks. Regardless of their numbers theyd be unable to wound it, a major difference in ss. The situation was simr to how low ranking monsters struggled to do damage to the frost revenants runic armour, the ursa was of an even higher ssification. They were nothing but pitiable prey in its eyes. A few of the nearest frost dwarves couldnt fight against their fear anymore, the ursas natural intimating blood lust, pseudo aura and of course the image of its mouth and face covered in theirrades blood and viscera was too much. Their primal fear caused their limbs to tremble, their legs turned to jelly, and their teeth ttered against one another, their weapons that hadunched two arrows and an ice spell respectively subconsciously lowered, their bodies became powerless, no longer listening theirmands. Too be honest it was quite a feat that could still remain standing and even grip their weapons at all, primal fear was a powerful thing especially when it came to monsters. Without intelligence and wisdom an entity would rely solely upon their instincts making them that much more sensitive. The sole reason they hadntpletely copsed was because of Frost and the dungeon, they had a duty and a strong loyalty to their creator, they would not sumb without a fight. At least when the ursa is eating them it would give theirrades a chance to flee or attack. They steeled their resolve, ready to make such a sacrifice. Though they couldnt bring themselves to raise their weapons once again they never looked away from the ursas eyes, drawing its full attention. Rooooaaaaarrrrr! Angered by the insolence shown by such bug like monsters that were equivalent to nothing but a small snack the ursa was filled with wrath. It slowly rose up on it back legs,pletely towering over the three frost dwarves as well as the nearby wall, it was absolutely massive. With its teeth bared, bits of frost dwarf fell from its jaw,nding in front of the three paralysed frost dwarves but still their eyes did not cower, though their bodies failed them they continued to stare at the ursa with hatred and defiance. Fire at the big the one! An order from one of the nearby ice dwarves responded. Seeing the massive bear rise up to over 8 metres made for an easy target. It redirected its squad to fire at will, focusing on the ursa and hopefully aid itsrades caught in its sight. However as stated earlier such attacks proved fruitless, the ursa pretty much ignored the spells and arrows, swatting them away with a simple flick of its paw before moving to smash the impertinent ones into meat paste, see if they looked at it in such defiance after that. Dodge! The same ice dwarf screamed out but knew it was pointless if the frost dwarves could move in such a situation they would have done so already. Even he an ice dwarf a D-rank monster had the shivers let alone an E-rank rear guard archetype standing so close. The ice dwarf frowned struggling to ept the oue, he was too far to assist in time, their lives would be inevitably forfeit. Just as the ursas front paws were about toe down and turn the frost dwarves into meat paste. [Ice obey my will and form a shield to repel my foe, Ice shield]! Chapter 381 381 Chapter 381: Ursa (2) [Ice obey my will and form a shield to repel my foe, Ice shield]! Frosts voice could be heard in the distance chanting an aria for the spell [ice shield]. In response a magic crest swiftly appeared before the three frost dwarves and coagting into a sturdy 3 inch thick shield of solid ice separating them from the ursas fierce ws. No longer was Frosts [ice shield] spell half assed in appearance, misshapen in areas and flimsy in terms of its defensive properties no it was now a fully bona fide shield worthy of its namesake. However this was no mere enemy, the power behind a C-rank monster especially one so physically inclined would not be stopped from a mere shield spell, especially one that was only of the 2nd circle. Thankfully the point wasnt to prevent the ursa from smashing down merely to dy it so the frost dwarves could escape. Kiba Frost spoke under his breath sending amand to his mighty cial winged tiger through their soul connection all while moving swiftly to face off against this intruder. Time was a delicate thing especially in the higher levels, so many attacks could be thrown in just a matter of seconds. Kiba as though perfectly attuned with his master swooped down from the sky, grasping the three paralysed frost dwarves in his ws and mouth and carrying them to safety. And just as well, Frosts ice shield though quite impressive to look at and sporting a decent thickness was but paper to the mighty ursa, dying it for but a moment, but a moment was all Kiba needed. The young tiger was already away with the cargo by the time the ursas w came down, smashing apart another section of the ice wall, creating another gap area for the horde to escape through, a situation that they had now noticed. Tsk Frost loudly clicked his tongue as he leaped high into the air, his ive in hand and surrounded by the wind element offered by the engraving, he was putting his all into this attack. [w of the ice wolf] Frost summoned his energy to activate his trademark and currently most powerful skill. Three beams or rather ws of ice aspected energy formed before the ives de enhancing its already devasting power. Eat this you oversized bear! With a forceful yell Frost swung his ive at the unsuspecting ursas neck. He wasnt foolish enough to think that a single attack would be enough to deal with this beast or even grant a fatal wound, but his attack needed to be strong enough and shy enough to grab its attention. He couldnt have this beast continue its rampage, making short work of his defences. The two gaps it already created had caught notice of some of the horde who were redirecting their charge to these areas. ..... The ursa unfortunately wasnt some weak monster its instincts were strong, Frosts actions didnt catch it by surprise, in fact it appeared as though the ursa had drawn him in on purpose. The right paw that had smashed down hard where the frost dwarves once were, moved with such speed that it appeared almost abnormal. Despite the creatures massive size and weight it was quite agile, far more than it looked. Baaaaannnnggggg! An incredibly loud bang resounded throughout the area the moment Frosts ive made contact with the ursas outstretched foreleg. The three sharp des of ice shattered into millions of pieces almost immediately posing little threat to the ursas paw, curbing its vast momentum only slightly. The wind enhanced ive de met with tough hide next, faring far better given its near 4 star quality. The de sunk deep into the ursas tough hide, drawing blood however the momentum behind the foreleg continued unabated swiftly smashing into the airborne Frost. Boom! Ugh! Frost was sent flying into the nearby ice wall and groaned as the wind was knocked out of him. His chakra armour as well as the chest te fashioned by Daki proved to absorb the majority of the blow thus he was uninjured. Frost didnt have time to wait sit on hisurels however, the ursa like the ice griffin was wise enough to realise that Frost was a tough adversary. It moved instantly to attack the embedded Frost. Raaaaaaaaahhhhhh! The ursa roared as itshed out with fervent ferocity, choosing speed and quantity over singr power. The ice wall was quickly annihted, and Frost was pushed deeper and deeper into the ground unable to extricate himself from the ursas field of control. His adept ive mastery now showing its true worth as it allowed him to deflect the fast, sharp yet still heavy blows. He was clearly outmatched in terms of physical prowess but that was never Frosts only source of strength nor was he alone in this fight. Piss off! Finy who had just now caught upshed out with his axe aiming to m the ursa off of his master. [sh] Finy empowered his swing with his own skill, covering the de in energy. Therge battle axe hummed with energy as it shed threw the air and into the ursa unprotected side. Guuuuugghhhhh! The monster screeched in pain. Frosts attack drew blood and was a little sore, but Finys was something different entirely, the force behind it wasnt something it could easily endure. The creatures massive frame was forcibly pushed aside, freeing Frost from its onught. Frost took the chance to extricate himself from the rubble, dusting himself off and cracking his neck. You activated your enrage technique. Frost noticed the power behind Finys swing as well as the protruding veins and vicious look in his eyes. Finy gazed at his master thankful that he reached the battlefield in time. It was attacking you master; I couldnt hold myself back besides.... Finys gaze drifted to the ursa who was getting back up like nothing happened. My base physical strength wont be enough to deal with that things mass. Finy made an urate judgement of their foes abilities. Though Finy was considered an upper C-rank monster, higher than the ursa his physical capabilities as well as his defensive strength paled inparison. This ursa was truly a one trick pony, a warrior ss with only brute strength whereas he was multi-skilled with focus on leadership. The ursa rose to its feet as Finy and Frost chatted, blood dripping from its paws and quite significantly from its side but its size made these wounds non-fatal hell they wouldnt even limit its battle capabilities, a foe with a lot of endurance. Roooooaaaaaaaarrrr!!!! The ursa roared in defiance, its body and mind filled with such fury, what little control it once had was now long gone as it gave itself willingly to the frenzy. Well looks like we got its attention. Frost twirled his ive and entered a battle stance. Lets take it down Finy, Kiba. Finy also tightened his grip on his battle axe, a wild and excited expression appearing on his usually stoic face. With pleasure master. The ice trollmander licked his lips before activating his trademark skill, the one that made him such an avidmander. [Invigorating shout]! With his roar, energy radiated out from within him and empowered Frost and Kiba, enhancing their already deadlybat abilities. The nearby frost dwarves and ice dwarves though nearby were not included, Finy had grown more talented with using his skill, allowing him to pick and choose the targets, multiplying the effect when used on lower numbers. Frost felt his physical strength increase by at least 25% a lot considering his C-rank fighter status. Kiba felt a simr boon and wasted no time at all testing it out. Silently the cial winged tiger had taken to skies once again and was waiting for the perfect chance to attack the massive bear. As the ursa roared out in fury, its eyes blinded by rage and focused entirely on Frost and Finy it was blind to that which was above him. Boom! Kiba swooped down like an eagle, crashing down upon the ursas wide back with his fangs and ws outstretched. Hended down with immense force generating a sonic boom and forcing the massive ursas back legs to give way. Its roar quickly changed into one of pain and anguish. Kiba dug his sharp ws in deep and bite down on its neck, refusing to let go, this was payback for harming Frost. Though Kiba had quite a fearsome expression on his face as the ursas blood filled his mouth and covered his beautiful white fur all Frost heard through their soul bond was. Did I do good master? How dare this stupid bear swat you like a fly? Im gonna bite him even harder. It was a cute voice that was looking for praise, though his innocence felt quite insulting,paring Frost to a fly. Haaaaaaaaa lets get going Finy time is of the essence. Frost sighed and shook his head and ordered Finy before quickly rushing forward to aid his reliable tiger in battle. Going in solo like that was a bit reckless of Kiba but Frost couldnt very well condemn his actions when he did them out of his love for him. At least it wasnt due to be lost in the thrill of battle like with the ice griffin, he should know when to back off and not end up injured like he did back then. Hu hu right behind you master. Finy was momentarily drained from using his skill on Frost and Kiba but quickly caught his breath and followed after his master, they needed to end this fight quickly after all. Chapter 382 382 Chapter 382: Ursa (3) Thus the upper C-ranked ice trollmander Finy, the entry level C-ranked cial winged tiger Kiba and Frost someone who was half step into B-rank set off deal with the lower C-ranked ursa, a monster known for its physical prowess and tough hide. Power wise it was a clear oue; Frost and his two generals would certainly win against their opponent. The question however was how quickly this victory woulde about as the ursa was not the only enemy. Dozens of E-ranked ck bears, D-ranked pr bears and their evolved archetypes the twin headed pr bears and the pr werebears were also present. A devasting force even without the ursa and Frosts soldiers would need to manage this horde by themselves, a tall order. Revenants stand your ground, dont let a single monster get passed your guard. Lesser yuki-onnas keep casting your magic, bring down as many as you can and those that you cant slow their charge. Nannas inspiring voice could be heard throughout the dungeon, helping to direct the battle in ce of Frost and Finy, using the birds eye view granted by the dungeon menu to her advantage. Quarrellers and runic mages keep up the arrows and magic, focus your attacks and take down the bears one by one. You dont need to kill them all just target the ones you can, the bestial corps will handle the stragglers. Lokis adorable voice could be heard following his sisters, inspiring the weaker but more numerous frost dwarves who were floundering a little due to the severe damage to the ice walls. They had even forgot about their reliable allies waiting behind them. One such runic mage panicked as a couple ck bears charged through the deluge of arrows and magic and made it through a gap in the ice wall. The dwarf rapidly turned around doing his best to take them down before they moved out of range, this however was unnecessary. Awwooooooo Groowlll The moment the two ck bears made it passed the ice wall an ice wolf and coeurl pup swiftly appeared by their sides, like silent apparitions they ambushed the unsuspecting prey and brought them down with fierce aggression. Squelch! ..... The runic mage could see and hear as the ice wolf and coeurl pups powerful jaws bit down onto the ck bears necks, piercing deep and silencing their roars almost immediately. Kiba didnt just train his bestial corps to work in groups and rely on their speed but exined how best to take down their opponents, knowledge he gained from Frost as well as his own innate predatory skills. The neck was always a good target, something the ice wolf and coeurl pup were putting to good use. Their fangs pierced in deep, filling their mouths with the red hot blood of the bears before crack! They increased the pressure and snapped their necks, killing them outright. Swift and urate, the two then tossed the limp bodies to the side and got back in position, ready to take care of the next bear that crosses their path. The dismantling corps were long gone at this time as having them in the vicinity during this wave was just asking for unnecessary deaths, something Frost would not condone. Gulp! The frost dwarf runic mage who watched the situation unfold audibly gulped while subconsciously cing a hand around his neck, imagining himself in ce of the bears. His panic however seemed to drift away, instead fire burned in his heart, confidence filling his gaze once again. The mage gripped his staff hard before refocusing on the battlefield in front of him, ready to y his part. Frost soldiers were strong and well trained, even without his guidance they would bravely hold the line thus allowing their master to fully enjoy his battle. Roooooaaaaaaarrrrrr! The massive ursa roared as it iled around desperately, trying to dislodge Kiba who had sunk his ws and fangs deep into its hide and continued to rake and carve up its flesh, resulting in it blood dying the surrounding snow scarlet. Kiba however was not letting go, taking advantage of his unique position he brutally tore open the ursas skin and hide, attempting to reach the monsters spine. Unlike the ice griffin the ursa had no wings and its body shape made reaching its upper back almost impossible. Frost couldnt help but show a prideful smile as he witnessed Kiba carve into the ursa with it being unable to resist, however such an expression was fleeting. [w of the ice wolf] Frost called out his hallmark skill summoning three ws of ice before his ive as he shed across the ursas foreleg, cutting deep into the tendon and forcing the creature to buckle slightly. He jumped back a secondter to avoid the ursas right w. Frost utilising his speed and more manoeuvrable form dashed around the ursa, cutting up its flesh with his ive and evading its counterattacks, slowly but surely weakening the creature. The surrounding area was quickly dyed red from the massive beasts blood, but even so such a method would take a long time. Finy followed up with Frost taking control of the ursas other side, carving up its flesh with his powerful axe, while Kiba continued to bite and rake into its back and neck. Their teamwork saw that the massive ursa was restricted in its movements, bound to their area of control, away from their soldiers and the other bears but most importantly no longer able to wreak havoc on the ice walls. Minutes passed by and more and more bears ultimately fell to the deluge of arrows and magic, but many more made it through. Either ultimately confronting the stalwart defenders of the bottom wall, the revenants or making their out way out of the kill box through the gaps opened up by the ursa or ones unfortunately opened up by the upper D-rank twin headed pr bears and pr werebears. They werent as devasting as the ursa but a good couple charges inevitably resulted in the already damaged walls crumbling. The revenants were doing their best to hold back the tide, but it was clear that they were struggling, soon to be literally overrun. The frost dwarves and ice dwarves that had fallen with the ice wall struggled to scramble to their feet in time before being swarmed by the bears, arge amount of losses shed on the dungeon menu, panicking Nanna and Loki who could see the situation as a whole. In a few minutes their forces wouldpletely copse. The numbers, size and strength of their enemy being simply too much to efficiently contain. Though theyd likely win this exchange if it continued their losses especially within the frost dwarven caste would be devasting, a retreat needed to be sounded before it was toote. Boom! Frost dodged another aggressive counterattack from the ursa by a hairs breadth, his white and blue robes donning several cuts from the air pressure generated. Does this thing ever tire? Frost loudlyined as he ducked, dodging another swing. Theyd been fighting this giant bear for over 15 minutes, whittling it down with their attacks, never taking any risky manoeuvres, taking the safe approach but even still. Frost looked up at the ursa with a deepened frown. The once beautiful white fur of the creature was pretty muchpletely red, dyed by its own blood that continued to pour out of its innumerable wounds spanning across its back, neck, legs and sides yet still it stood, its attacks feeling just as powerful and as fast as when they started. Whenever the creature would be forced to buckle itd simply stand up again as though such attacks were ineffective. This frenzied state is so interesting, its almost like Im fighting something immortal or at the very least undead. Frost was amazed by the situation. Anything living and breathing should be susceptible to wounds, their muscles no longer able to function after reaching exhaustion and significant blood loss should drain the body of its strength, heat and even consciousness yet the creature before them seemed unaffected by these hard facts. Many of the wounds covering the ursas body were so deep that the bones were showing, some of which with great effort were even broken by either Frosts ive or Finys axe yet still it stood. It was impossible for Frost with his curious nature to not be interested in such a situation. Master look out! Suddenly when Frost was lost in his thoughts Finy loudly shouted before instantly appearing by his side, his battle axe raised, and his legs tensed. Boom! The ursas right foreleg swung out smashing into Finys axe, pushing him back several metres despite his bracing but that was the extent of the damage. Finy twirled his axe and shook his hand that had gone slightly numb before letting out an annoyed sigh. Master could you please keep focused on the battle this is fourth time Ive had to intervene. Finy showed an aggrieved expression. Like he didnt have his hands full ensuring his own safety and now he had to keep an eye on his master. Ugh! Frost groaned, not realising that it had been four times that hed been lost in thought. Master can you hear me? Just when Frost was about retort Finysint Nanna spoke to him through the dungeon menu. Frost gave Finy a hand signal which basically tranted as go take care of the ursa while I talk to Nanna which got him another aggrieved sigh before Finy followed his order, dashing forward with his axe and drawing the ursas attention. Speak Frost spoke with an authoritative tone, no longer acting casual, Nanna would only interrupt if the situation was urgent after all. Chapter 383 383 Chapter 383: Ursa (4) Speak! Frost swiftly changed his attitude, replying with an authoritative tone as Nanna would only interrupt his battle if the situation was urgent. Master the casualties on our side are escting quickly. The ice walls are no longer effective, sporting dozens of gaps created by the twin headed pr bears and pr werebears..... I think its time to sound the retreat. Nanna spoke with frustration as she and Loki were left inmand of the overall forces. Frost, Kiba and Finy had only been in battle for roughly 15 minutes, yet the defences were already crumbling, she felt guilty and ashamed. A few tears were even forming at the sides of her eyes. Haaaaaaaaa dont feel upset Nanna you did very well, this battle was always going to end in a full retreat so dont look down on your efforts. You informed me of the situation at the correct time so Im very proud of you. Frostforted Nanna who was on the verge of tears with a gentle tone and expression, his heart nearly breaking as he heard her sobs. .....mmmm Nanna wiped her eyes and groaned cutely in understanding. Loki at her side grabbed his sisters hand and smiled trying to ease her worry while Maya held onto her chest unable to endure the cuteness being emitted by the two children. Nanna please sound the retreat, Finy, Kiba and I will take care of the ursa immediately and follow the arranged n. Have the bestial corps focus on carrying the dwarves to safety, they should be faster than the bears..... well take care of the rear. Frost once again returned to his authoritative tone when giving Nanna her orders. Understood master, Ill start the retreat immediately. Nanna nodded her head with determination and gripped her brothers hand hard before releasing a siren like sound throughout the first section, the agreed upon signal for a full scale retreat. Following the siren was her voice acting in her capacity asmander. All forces retreat to the secondary defence zones, bestial corps focus on carrying the dwarves to safety, Master, Finy and Kiba will take care of the rear, move out! Nanna mimicked her masters tone whenever hemanded the dungeons forces, the role suited her quite well, shed make a finemander when she grows up. The soldiers still in the thick of battle, firing their arrows and magic into the rampaging horde and or fending off their attacks when their ice wall supports crumbled tensed upon hearing the siren. Frustration and disappointment clear in their eyes, but nheless they followed Nannas following order, ignoring the bears before them and promptly retreating. Most mbered down from the ice walls and ran deeper into the dungeon, whereas the remainder had to be rescued by the bestial corps. The frost wolves, ice wolves and coeurl pups dashed into the thick of the battle, squaring off against the dozens of remaining bear monsters, allowing those pinned down to evacuate to safety. Dwarves with injuries were forcibly picked up by the bestial corps with their jaws and tossed onto their backs. They would save as many of their forces as possible, utilising their superior speed to out manoeuvre the bears. ..... The ice spitting spiders as well as the dismantling teams great frost centipedes also appeared to aid in the retreat. Frost had them fall back away from this battle for this exact moment, fully refreshed and ready to hold back the tide. The frost revenants who guarded the bottom wall and therge gate within it looked at one another and nodded. As one they all swung down their great swords with intense ferocity grievously injuring the bears that were before them, pushing them back. Next the lesser yuki-onnas bombarded these bears with their magic, not holding back in slightest, killing a couple. Next the frost dwarven quarrellers fired their ballista bolts killing another three before painfully abandoning their ballistae. These war machines would inevitably be destroyed by the rampaging bears as they were too heavy to carry to safety. With the front cleared the revenants swiftly shuttled through the gate following after the lesser yuki-onnas and the frost dwarven quarrellers. They would act as the rear guard, assisting the bestial corps in the retreat. Despite the madness of the battle this retreat happened almost seamlessly, within 30 seconds more than 75% of Frosts forces were en route to the secondary defence zone, leaving a mad contingent of bear monsters fruitlessly chasing after them, spreading out as they did. The others that were left turned towards Frost, Finy and Kiba as they were now the nearest enemies. Kiba let go of the ursa and takemand of your bestial corps! Finy you handle these interlopers while I finish off the ursa! Frost roared out hismands, no more taking the safe approach he was going to end this and end it now. Yes master! Garoow! Finy responded with a wild smile after knocking away one of the ursas swipes whereas Kiba rendered apart the ursas back and neck onest time before promptly taking to the skies, readying himself to swoop down to whatever area needed him most. Thus Frost was the only one left standing before the ursa, his ive in hand and ice chakra covering his entire body like te armour, a very dignified and inspiring appearance. Huuuuuuuuu Frost released a deep breath and closed his eyes. He focused inward and ignored the roars of the nearby monsters, the scent of blood and iron, the vast amount of killing intent being sent his way and even the impending swipe from the ursa. Frost cut himself off from the world as he delved into the vat of divine energy that slumbered within his body. Time seemed to slow as Frosts aura subtly filled his body and made its way out, covering his flesh, clothes and then the area around him. His aura instead of expanding further to affect those around him instead rapidly thickened, bing denser and more intimidating, as though it was a tangible existence. The massive ursa was in too much of a frenzied state to notice the change in Frosts demeanour, the only thoughts within its mind being Kill!, Destroy!, Devour! Just like many other times before the ursa swung out with its right foreleg, its ws opened up in an attempt to carve up the elf like foe standing before it. However if the creature was in control of its faculties the moment it felt the change within Frost its instinct would immediately scream for it to run, that this wasnt a foe it could beat, instead it would be the one killed and then devoured. Just before the Ursas w was about to reach Frost, Frost opened up his eyes, their silver colour now sparkling from the infusion of divine energy. His half step 4 star ive shed out silently aiming to block the ursas paw. Schwing! Squelch! With his divine aura in full effect, coating his body and weapon Frost was able to exhibit much greater strength. Without even having to use his skill [w of the ice wolf] or even use the wind engraving the ives de sliced through the ursas paw like it was simple raw meat, severing three of its fingers without effort and rebounding the remaining parts. Frost for the first time in this battle was going all out, he would no longer lose in a contest of physical strength. Time to end this. Frost swung his ive in the air, removing the blood stains that it just acquired. This new state he was in was incredibly draining and difficult to control but when in use his physical abilities were magnified. It wasnt just training with his ive and researching the high earth rank cold me that he did over the past couple of weeks no, his aura was also sufficiently trained. Maya taught him the true methods in how to fight with aura, methods that were vastly improved whenever he also essed the divine energy slumbering within him. Covering ones body and weapon with aura was in fact a high level technique normally only capable by high level B-rank fighters, Frosts innate talents continued to shock Maya, her young master was truly gifted. Rooooaaaaaarrrrrrr! The ursa that currently looked like some kind of undead monstrosity given the amount of wounds covering its body roared out in fury, unaffected by the severed fingers and ws it shed out once again with the same paw. Frost however wasnt going to simply wait there and do nothing; he was on the clock for multiple reasons. With impressive speed Frost vanished from his spot and out of the ursa vision causing its shing paw to cut up nothing but the air and snow dust. It looked around desperately for its prey but couldnt find Frost. Schwing! Suddenly the ursa felt itself falling, it tried to stop itself like the many other times it felt itself buckling but this time something was different. You may be able to ignore your wounds and blood loss, forcibly standing back up regardless of the pain that should be felt however that only works if you still have a limb to stand on. Frost silently appeared upon the ursas back as it gradually started to tip leftwards. The moment Frost vanished from the ursa sight he appeared beneath its lumbering frame -another blind spot- and targeted the beasts left hindleg. He and Finy had already left some pretty gruesome wounds there, so much so that the bones were showing but so far they were unable to fully sever it. That however was no longer a problem. Chapter 384 384 Chapter 384: Ursa (5) Frost utilising his enhanced form and the severe wounds already covering the area, shed cleanly through the ursas left hindleg, severing it in twain, thus causing it to tip uncontrobly. Fighting against you was quite fun and to be honest quite enlightening in regards to the limits of the stampedes frenzied state. However, our short time together must nowe to an end.....ytime is over. Frost spoke while exuding intense pressure. The ursa that was tipping leftwards felt as though an entity of several tons was standing on its back, pushing it down and restricting its movements. Goodbye, Schwing! Frost uttered a final farewell before he once again shed out with his ive, aiming for the creatures undefended neck. Simr to the left hindleg the neck sported countless wounds left by Kibas ws and fangs, all heavily damaging and possibly fatal if left alone but nothing that would silence the beast in the short term. Frosts sh however was not so gentle. With sharp force -far faster and sharper than Frost had ever been capable of doing before- his ive met with the tough yet exposed skin and muscle and like it was almost effortless the ives de cut its way through. Frost could feel something within him shatter as he swung, the limitations brought on by his adept ive mastery crumbled to dust as a new path rapidly formed before him, increasing his connection with his ive. The de edge as it cut through the ursas flesh elerated instead of slowing down, unperturbed by the density of its muscles ardently doing their best to resist the foreign intruder. Frost felt his ive be lighter yet heavier at the same time, sharper and far more devasting as it be more attune with his thoughts. He was in the process of reaching advanced ive mastery, a level reserved for the true upper ss and one that would officially propel him into B-rank, granting him far more devasting power. The ursa was thest stepping stone and his aura infused form allowed him to push past the wall, allowing his painstaking training and experience toe together. In the split second that Frost felt himself reaching advanced mastery the ive rapidly increased its speed, swiftly reaching the ursas powerful neck bone that Kiba had so much difficulty damaging and Schwing! A momentter the ive could be seen back by Frosts side, the de still shimmering in the light, proving to have not a speck of damage. The roars of the ursa and its desperate iling stopped at that moment, the blood red colour that had pervaded its eyes receded, reced with a look of relief before ultimately growing dark. The massive beasts head and upper neck then slid down falling to the ground. A smooth almost mirror like finish cut was left at the point of severance, beautiful and mesmerising in a way but that was quickly ruined by the intense blood pressure that now had nothing containing it. A veritable geyser of ruby red blood flowed out from the ursas exposed neck, painting several metres ahead blood red before the beasts bodypletely copsed, lying prone on the ground without the slightest sign of twitching. ..... Frost elegantly jumped from the creatures back, avoiding therge pool of blood tond on the soft snow. His eyes were still glowing brightly, and a passionate smile adorned his face. Advanced ive mastery. Fighting powerful opponents wherein death was a very real possibility always seemed to elerate his training by leaps and bounds, a very worthwhile risk. Ugh! Frosts happy expression was quickly warped. He let out a groan as his aura enhanced state came to an end. An intense bout of exhaustion filled his body, causing him to pant and his muscles to tremble. The aura form allows one to inject their body with the enhancement of their aura, allowing their body to surpass it usual limitations. Such effects differ depending on the user, a physical aura such as Frosts, Bastions and other closebat fighters would see their bodies be faster, stronger and far more resilient to damage. This can be broken down even further depending on your fighting style, some would focus more on speed whereas others more on their bodys defences. Mages such as Ryuu and Drogan would have their mana channels expanded and their sensitivity to mana increased thus allowing them to cast stronger spells and at increased frequency. Ranged fighters such archers would tend to more often attach their aura form to their weapons like Frost did, allowing their arrows to surpass their material limitations. Anything else would likely go to improving their reactions and perhaps their senses. Aura was a very adaptable energy that was born from ones own strength thus each and every one was unique in its own way. This uniqueness would truly start to show itself once a person reached A-rank wherein theyd be able to use the next level, something that would truly make them stand apart from their peers. Aura was truly the path to strength in Nova, without it and without being able to channel it skilfully one would forever be one of the masses. A man or a woman could achieve advanced mastery with their weapon or perhaps even expert mastery the 5th level of mastery all without ever contemting their aura. Many over the millennia since Novas creation have done this, focusing solely on the path of the sword for example but each and every one of those said individuals could never go beyond the 5th level of mastery and unless they formed their own aura were unable to utilise the true abilities of such mastery, an impassable wall. Aura was what differentiated life order, the quality of ones existence. Those that could use, and harness aura were superior than those that could not, granting them greater health, more resilient bodies and in the cases of the sapient races often an increase in lifespan. Another reason why people ardently chase after power, growing in strength granted a longer life something that all living creatures tend to strongly desire. Frost didnt know what his or his siblings lifespans were and to be honest hed never thought about it, itd be a little weird in fact if something that was just born a few months ago was worried about old age. However he could tell from the changes in his body that utilising aura and being able to use aura form didnt have any influence on his life force thus no life span extension. This wasnt exactly unexpected; Maya also didnt receive any change in her life force when she first harnessed aura. This was because she was of a high ranking race, a fenrir, a race that inherently had strong and resilient bodies that already granted substantial life span. Of course going along this line of thinking Frost couldnt help but wonder about his girlfriends age, she may look as though she was in her early twenties but who knows. Such thoughts however were sensed by her and quickly shot down with a terrifying re and audible knuckle cracking, that question would likely go unanswered indefinitely. Frost thus assumed that his lifespan would probably be quite long given that aura had no effect, good news as hed get to stay with Maya that much longer. Nanna and Loki would likely have simr situations given the strength of their ancestral phoenix blood. Frost fell to one knee as he felt his enhanced strength swiftly leave him, the sudden change being quite difficult to bear. This was the first time Frost used the aura form in battle and for longer than a few seconds, a skill he was still getting used to but so far he was more than happy with the results. Hu hu hu Frost did his best to control his breathing and stop the trembling in his limbs, rxing as best he could before his body was suddenly filled with pleasure. Annnnnn Frost subconsciously moaned as the DP from his most recent kill flowed through his body, refreshing his muscles and rejuvenating his stamina. The pleasure was iparable to what hed experienced so far thus he couldnt keep a straight face nor hold back his voice, it felt that good. There was always a difference when DP of a higher quality was first experienced regardless of the numerical value. .....Did you just moan? Mayas teasing voice could be heard within his mind. She had been watching his fight against the ursa with great interest feeling proud of her students and boyfriends developments thus she also saw and heard him the moment the ursas high quality DP entered his body. Frosts face turned red like a tomato as he clenched his teeth and cursed his father for making DP intake so intense. You heard nothing! He roared in his mind and portrayed a stern expression, ordering Maya to forget it. Hahahahahaha so cute hahahaha. Maya ignored his anger,ughing out loud until tears threatened to pour out her eyes. Frost with his handsome and elegant face moaning in pleasure was so cute and hot that there wasnt a chance in hell she was going to forget such a reaction in fact she desperately wanted to see more of that expression. She licked her lips as many ns and thoughts flowed through her mind, she was going to have to up her teasing. Chapter 385 385 Chapter 385: New skills Frost grumbled and cursed under his breath as Maya made no attempt to hide herughter, his face beet red out of shame. Frost shook his head and chose to redirect his feelings into aggression, particrly towards the remaining enemies that were beginning to swarm in his direction. Kiba and Finy were powerful fighters able to take on a fair amount of foes but in the end they were individuals, there as a limit to how many they could keep in ce. A pr werebear and two standard pr bears thus appeared at Frosts side, boxing him in from two directions. Their eyes blood red and their veins throbbing as the frenzy affected them greatly, nothing but mindless beasts hell set on destruction and devouring. Frosts scent attracted them greatly like a fine delicacy that they couldnt resist in their starved state. Well, well looks like youre quite popr young master, Ill leave you to attend to your fervent admirers hehehe. Maya giggled mischievously before cutting her connection with Frost, leaving him to take care of business. Frosts lips twitched; he was sufficiently annoyed by his guardians antics hed need to teach her a little lesson once this wave was over. He was no longer naive and innocent, if Maya wanted to y this game then he was all for it, he would not lose. Haaaaaaaa Frost let out a sigh before locking gazes with the closest monster, the pr werebear. Looks like you guys drew the short straw as Im in need of warm bodies to test the limits of my ive mastery. With a wild smile Frost raised up his ive and entered a battle stance, allowing his progression into the advanced level wash over him. Reaching the advanced stage not only increased his connection with his ive making him more attune with controlling its movements. Able to move far faster and smoother in his attacks and defences but like when he reached adept mastery he inherited some new skills, one of which he was attempting to try now. Huuuuuuu Frost let out a deep breath as he followed the knowledge granted to him. His internal energy wrapped around the ive, imbuing it with power and taking on a brand new form. ..... [Wyverns maw] Frost uttered the name of the new skill as he smoothly raised the ive upwards above his head. The energy attached to the weapon gradually took form as he moved. Arge wyverns head appeared floating above the ive with its maw wide open, quite a terrifying image. Roarrrrrr! The wyvern head formed of energy roared out, baring its fangs towards the pr werebear. Frost aggressively swung his ive downwards at that moment,unching the wyverns head at the pr werebear. This was a long ranged attack that incorporated living forms instead of simple shapes, something only possible once one reached advanced mastery, a much higher skill than [w of the ice wolf], far more draining as well. Frost could feel the drain of his strength as he summoned andunched the wyvern head, but he ignored the slight trembling in his hands, his eyes focused on the sh between the pr werebear and the wyvern. The energy form wyvern moved with great speed,parable to an arrow, it was on the pr werebear in a couple seconds, jaw wide open in attempt to bite off arge chunk of the beast. Roarrrrr! The pr werebear was unfazed by the wyvern head treating it as just another enemy. It swung out with its ice hammer, aiming for the wyverns forehead. Frost smiled evilly at that moment and mouthed the word idiot. The [wyverns maw] was an advanced skill that was partially alive, it wasnt like [sh] or [w of the ice wolf] that were static, unable to alter their direction onceunched. As Frost expected the wyvern head moved with grace, avoiding the pr werebears hammer easily and wrapped around its extended arm before. Crunch! The massive jaw mped down on the pr werebears extended arm, severing it in twain. The bright blue energy that formed the wyverns head dimmed slightly at the point of contact, but its form was still solid, the attack wasnt over. The pr werebear looked on in shock and panic as its arm was devoured by the floating wyvern head. It tried to back away and strike with its other hammer, but it was toote. The wyvern never stopped moving, it was before its face in an instant, mouth opened wide once again. Crunch! With a second bite the wyvern separated the pr werebears head from its shoulders, killing it almost instantly. Its form once again dimmed before falling apart, returning to formless energy, leaving a bloodied corpse in its wake. ..... Frost looked on in silencepletely blown away by his new skill, an upper D-rank monster gone just like that, impressive was an understatement. Grollll! Grollll! Frost didnt have time to admire his handiwork however, the other two standard archetype pr bears arrived from the other side. Not bothered by the death of the pr werebear due to their state of frenzy the two of them charged forward and swiped at Frost with their ws. Frost though a little drained thanks to his use of aura form and unleashing his new skill for the first was more than strong enough to avoid the attacks of two pr bears. He jumped into the air, easily avoiding their ws, twirling in the air as he did. How about another? Frosts wild smile continued to grow, his excitement building, reaching advanced mastery didnt just grant him one new skill no he was granted three. The first being of course the [wyverns maw] that he just prominently disyed. The second was abined skill that required one to be riding a mount of some sort. The ive being a pole weapon was very much designed for cavalrybat, the long reach allowing it supersede a sword in such asions. Frost would have to summoned Kiba at some point to try it out. The third skill however was an airborne skill, called [skyfall] and Frost was right now in the perfect position to try it out. In mid-air Frost twirled his ive and fixed his position, he and the ives de were pointed downwards at the two pr bears. Once again energy from Frosts body wrapped around the ive filling it with power before gradually beginning to take form. [Skyfall]! Frost roared out, his body trembled as his internal energy was quickly drained and transformed into four ives simr in appearance to the one he was wielding around him in the four cardinal directions. All of them pointing downwards at the two pr bears. Boom! Frost kicked off against the air and plummeted downwards with his ive in hand and the four energy formed ives following right behind him. Don! Don! Don! Don! Don! The five ives swiftly prated downwards, piercing through the two pr bears and into the ground, sinking deep and exploding the nearby snow outward. [Skyfall] was a highly destructive airborne skill with great prative power. The two pr bears were no match for the ives as their hides were easily pierced through, destroying their internal organs and bringing them to a swift end. Frost stood on top of one of the pr bear corpses, his hands trembling from the devouring of internal energy as well as the force generated by the impact of his ive hitting the ground. None the less however he still sported that wild smile, enjoying every second of the battle. His techniques were now so much more expansive and far more powerful, if he was faced with the ursa once again he wouldnt even need to use his aura form to chop through its bones, these skills were more than enough to do just that. With a swift tug he removed the embedded ive head from the ground, sharply swinging it outward to remove the residual blood and bits of ice and snow. His gaze then moved towards the next group of monsters that ignorantly made their way towards him as well as the current state of his most trusted general Finy. With the two of them making a grandiose disy they were able to attract a majority of the remaining monsters. Kiba would swoop down and eviscerate scores of the lower ranked bears as he focused on aiding his bestial corps. Even though the kill box has been destroyed and over 100 frost dwarves were no longer raining down arrows and magic the casualties on the enemies side were high, very high. The remaining monsters were low enough for the bestial corps and the three leaders to effectively fight in a melee without being overrun, utilising the space now granted to them as an advantage. While the remaining dwarven troops escaped to the secondary defences zones so as to be ready for the next wave. Of course there was still asionally a bear that got through the blockade, but they were in the minority. The full scale retreat was being handled smoothly and was performed at the right time; the results really couldnt be any better. Minimal casualties plus Frost had officially entered B-rank, granting him far greater mastery of his ive as well as more powerful skills. The issue was how they would deal with the following waves now that the kill box was done for. But right now all that mattered was ending this wave. Frost gripped his ive before swiftly moving into action, cutting down scores of bears that impeded his path, making his way to Finy and then the bestial corps. Chapter 386 386 Chapter 386: The end of a tough wave A cacophony of roars, sounds of torn up flesh and the swinging and slicing of weapons enveloped the former kill box and beyond. The massive wave of over 100 bear type monsters was rapidly meeting its end. Frost and Finy fought back to back, covering for one another as they killed the scores of enemies that obscured their vision, only knowing their progress in their onught from the asional report from Nanna and Loki. Kiba meanwhilemanded his bestial corps, hunting down the monsters that escaped the perimeter to chase after the dwarves and to head deeper into the dungeon. A far less battle intense job inparison to what Finy and Frost had to deal with but no less exhausting. Kiba had to use his wings to rapidly fly from ce to ce, dive bombing areas that needed his aid before quickly shuttling off to the next ce. Beneficial in the long run as he grew more adept at flying. Roughly half an hourter thest of the bears finally met its end, killed by two of the rear guarding frost revenants, a twin headed pr bear that charged passed the blockade of wolves and coeurl pups. These two revenants volunteered without hesitation to face off against the maddened aggressor allowing theirpanions to take charge of still retreating dwarves. It was a gruelling battle wherein the frost revenants barely came out victorious despite having the numerical advantage. The maddened enemy was numb to pain and had limitless energy, willing to endure a blow or two just so it couldnd one itself. Their regal looking runic armour was shattered and gouged out in many ces and the blue mana like me that was true actual body and what held their armour together was dim. Appearing as though all it would take would be a simple breeze and theyd dissipate. Unfortunately they werent the only monsters under Frostsmand that sported injuries with some not even making it through the wave. By far this wave caused more damage and losses than all the previous onesbined, and this was only half way through the mid stages. The waves would only grow stronger, the threat of this disaster was beginning to dawn on these formerly fearless monsters. Many had lost friends who had been by their side since their birth, the emotional and intelligent creatures such as the dwarves suffered from this revtion with a few breaking down in tears and punching the nearest solid surface so as to release their fury. Frost could feel and even witnessed the state of his monsters as he and Finy quickly made their way after the invading horde once they took care of the entrance. His heart lurched at the sight of one of the ice dwarves having tofort one of his crying soldiers, convincing him to live on in ce of his friend and that his friend died a glorious death, protecting their home and the territory of their lord and master. Frost suddenly understood why Terra was against violence and killing, death worked both ways in war, loss was inevitable. Maya warned him not to get to attached to his monsters as they were there to protect him, meaning they were to die in his ce. Just like how a soldiers duty was fighting in the interests of their country and die in ce the civilians. Pain, loss, anger and despair he could feel these emotions not only in his own heart but from the dungeon core that was connected to the lives of each of his monsters. However not a single one of them med him nor one another more that they med themselves for being too weak or hated the invaders that held but a single emotion, anger. Beneath the despair his soldiers wished to be stronger so that next time invaders dared to enter their home theyd be ready, stronger than them and able to eviscerate them with a single attack just like their master and generals. ..... The tears stopped and fists were clenched as each of Frosts monsters turned to gaze at him as he passed, determination and fire clear in their eyes. Frosts lips rose in response before he nodded strongly to each and every one of them, cing a hand on the shoulders of those who were injured and personallyplimenting the ice dwarf who spoke earlier. He would do his best to protect his monsters, cing himself on the frontlines whenever possible and grant their wishes of bing stronger, something that this wave and all the others previously have managed to grant. His lips continued to turn upwards as he brought up the dungeon menu, there were so many notifications in regards to monsters reaching max level and of course the substantial level of DP in the top right corner was a mouth-watering bonus. Hehehehe Frost couldnt help but giggle as he saw the number, he now had over 300,000 a third of which was gotten from this wave alone. The loss of close to thirty of his own monsters as well as the destruction of the ice walls were more than a decent trade off if you looked at the numbers. Over the past few days Frost had been rather frugal, umting the majority of the waves ie, spending a minor few tens of thousands on upper ranked monsters and a frost elemental spawner, thus he was able to umte such a massive number. His reasoning in doing so was not just because he didnt have much need to buy anything during that time but the fact that he wished to feel the intense sensations brought on byrge purchases. 150,000 felt amazing and allowed him greater understanding towards the existence that was divine energy, inadvertently helping him better understand the high earth rank cold me. Maya warned him not to get too addicted to the sensation, that he shouldnt build his dungeon and monsters around the goal of harvesting DP just for the sensation thus avoiding senseless purchases and painting a target on his back. Frost agreed with her sentiment. Right now the dungeon still had five fully outfitted floors as well as a sixth floor that was untouched, still the basic three nk sections. He could spend at least some money on outfitting that floor for it future intended purpose, a fixed asset wouldnt be a wasted purchase. His monsters could even use the area in the meantime for some R&R and or construct buildings and areas that would function as shelter. Frost wished for his monsters to construct the majority of buildings with their own hands and the materials provided by the dungeons mines and environments due to the extortionate prices of buying buildings through the dungeon menu. Dark for some reason other than items purchased for the private space would charge and arm and a leg. A stone house fit to hold a family of 5 for example without furniture, appliances etc... cost 80,000DP...80,000DP for something so simple, the numbers just didnt make sense. Frost had no idea what was going through his fathers mind when he designated such prices, but he was stuck with it. Thats why the ice walls for the kill box had to be painstakingly built by him and his monsters, no way he was going to fork over such vast amounts of DP just for a wall- he also didnt have the DP at the time to do such a thing. The only benefit that he could see of purchasing buildings through the dungeon menu was the repair function. These purchased buildings wouldnt degrade over time and would very gradually heal from damage over time plus extra DP could be used to rush such repair work. If one could afford having a tall, high quality wall purchased through the dungeon menu it would grant quite the substantial defence....the cost however would be in the millions, a number Frost was still very, very far from achieving After checking on his monsters and seeing that everyone was ready in ce at the secondary defence zone, Frost teleported to the private space to check on, Nanna, Loki and Maya as well as deal with all these notifications. His monster roster was sure to expand now that he had so many monsters reaching max levels as well as his official entry into B-rank, a cause for celebration and one in which he highly desired a reward for from a certain someone. Master Loki shouted out with a bright smile on his face, arching his chest forward as though proud of his achievements. Nanna however was still feeling rather down, her head was low, and she struggled to look up at Frost, curling her toes and biting her lip out of frustration. Haaaaaaaa youre not still moping are you? I already said you and Loki did a good job, youve done nothing wrong. Frost sighed and shook his head before moving towards the beautiful young phoenix kin who did her best to hold back her tears. Loki who was feeling the exact opposite muttered see I told you so and looked at his normally strong, brave and confident sister as if she was an idiot. Nanna knew that she shouldnt feel upset since both her brother and Frost said so, even Maya said she was overthinking things but after watching so many of the frost dwarves die in battle, some of which shed talked with often she couldnt help feel that she let them down somehow feeling that her unskilled leadership caused their deaths. She was caught in a loop, her heart feeling nothing but pain. Haaaaaaaae here. Frost sighed again before pulling Nanna into a tight embrace, petting the back of her head in a soothing manner as he squeezed her against him. There was no me, no anger only love. If words didnt get through then only action would. Maya smiled at this sight before quickly joining in, wrapping Nanna up from behind, encapsting her between her and Frost. Loki soon got jealous and squeezed himself into the cuddle sandwich, garnering giggles from the three of them. Nanna cried quietly as her heart healed. Although she didnt say it she was terrified of being punished, the pain she had gotten used over the years so she could endure that, but she didnt think she could get over disappointing Frost and receive the cold demeaning looks she and her brother had suffered during their captivity from him, she dreaded that most of all. However with this tight embrace from her master, and mistress as well as her brother she let go of thatst tendril of fear, no longer did she view herself as a ve, they were instead a family. Her tears were tears of joy and relief. Chapter 387 387 Chapter 387: Multiple evolutions Frost and Maya continued to hold Nanna (plus Loki) between them until her tears dried up and a bright smile adorned her face once again, an expression that suited her much better. For doing such a good job Frost rewarded the two of them with ess to the sweats bag that Dark provided as well as summoning several tendrils of cold mes for them to feast on. This time Loki had learned from his mistakes, avoiding the mind numbing pain that was brain freeze. Once they had been cated Frost redirected his attention to Maya, his beautiful girlfriend as well as assigned guardian. I reached B-rank. He looked at her with his eyes full of expectation, desiring some form of reward and praise. Mayas lips turned upwards as she found her young master to be absolutely adorable. She reached out and patted his head softly, as though praising a child for doing well on his tests. This of course wasnt quite what Frost wanted and his expression reflected as such resulting in Maya giggling mischievously behind her other hand. She removed her hand from Frosts head and gentle grasped his hand before leaning in close to whisper in his ear with a tempting tone. Later Frost, Ill reward youter on when the children are asleep, you can look forward to it until then. She then lightly blew on his ear before gently biting his earlobe, in full teasing mode. Frost had been gaining the upper hand in their flirting recently, mainly because her defences were still quite weak especially when her opponent was such a dreamboat but even, so she refused to admit defeat. Gulp Frost audibly gulped as his throat suddenly felt parched. His cheeks turned pink, and his hand reached up to caress his ear where Maya ced her fair lips and pearl white teeth. ..... A wild smile slowly grew on his lips as he watched Maya sashaying her hips side to side as she walked away. His blood burned as his expectations grew, this monster stampede just kept on giving. Maya could feel her boyfriends intense stare and couldnt help but feel proud, happy that Frost desired her so strongly. Of course she was also happy with the fact that her student/charge had improved his skills so quickly. Hed only been alive for a few months and started between upper D-rank and entry level C-rank yet now he was officially a B-rank fighter, an impressive achievement and surely one of the first to reach such a level among his siblings. Yami and Aqua of course made this leap far earlier but they were a bit special, so Maya didnt include them in her calctions thus leaving Pyro, Sylph, Indra, Terra, Gaia and Damascus as his mainpetition with Pyro likely being the only won beating him. Frost still had a ways to go if he wanted to be truly powerful and be at the same level as her, but he was making good progress. Maya took to the kitchen after her suggestive promise, prepping up some much needed lunch for Frost and the kids, humming happily as she did. Frost smiled and sent a loving look towards her back before taking a seat in front of the dungeon core. It was time to use that vast amount of DP the dungeon had amassed and regte the many evolutions that were now avable as well as check out the changes brought on by his recent advancement. Nanna and Loki left to help Maya with the cooking as they enjoyed such activities leaving him alone to do his work. Alright lets take a look. Frost brought up the notifications that alerted him to monsters reaching their max level and awaiting evolution. A dozen frost dwarves, two of the frost revenants, a lesser yuki-onna as well as a couple frost wolves with many others being quite high in their levels. Another wave like this one should be enough to bring them to that point.....well as long as they survive it. Frost cupped his chin in thought while scrolling through the monsters details. Although there was quite a lot to evolve the choices werent anything tooplicated. For the frost dwarves they would simply be their ice dwarven advancements, i.e. a frost dwarven quarreller became an ice dwarven quarreller which was armed with a higher quality crossbow and ammunition. Half of the dozen frost dwarves were quarrellers thus Frost immediately chose to evolve them into their ice dwarven counterparts. Ice dwarf quarreller D-rank, 600DP: The evolved form of the frost dwarven quarreller. Comes armed with an upper 2 star crossbow, ice encrusted arrows/bolts and frost lizard leather for armour. Resistant to ice mana and is a semi decent closebat fighter. Can speakmon tongue. For the other six, 4 were runic mages while thest two were warriors. The warriors simply evolved into regr ice dwarves without any specialty. Ice dwarf 550DP, D-rank : basic caste of the ice dwarf, can speakmon tongue and can use a range of closebat weapons ranging from swords to blunt weapons such as hammers and maces. The runic mages however didnt quite evolve into their ice dwarven mage caste no that was another evolution away. If not choosing another frost dwarven archetype or the standard ice dwarf route they could be ice dwarf mage apprentices. Ice dwarf mage apprentice 640DP, D-rank: The basic mage caste of the ice dwarves, adept in using ice magic of the 1st and 2nd circle. Semi decent closebat fighter andes armed with D-rank monster hide robes and a 2 star staff. Can speakmon tongue and is more intelligent that other 1st stage ice dwarf archetypes. Frost easily clicked the dungeon menu screen a few times allowing these 12 frost dwarves to be ice dwarves, greatly improving his forces. The secondary defence zone was made up of several bunkers throughout the central belt of the section as well as key areas. Itd be good to have at least one ice dwarf manning each bunker. He did the same exact thing for the frost wolves, turning them into ice wolves with a couple clicks though the results were anything but simple. Within the second section of the first floor all of his on duty monsters looked on in awe as their battle hardenedrades began to glow and suck in the ambient mana, before their physical forms changed and they became monsters of a superior rank. Such a sight filled the rest of the monsters with fierce determination and desire, hoping to be just like them. Finy and the officer ss monsters all praised these newly evolved monsters and weed them to the officer ss and assigned them new roles befitting their new stations. The simple ones were now out of the way, leaving the moment of truth. Would Frost finally get his second C-rank monster (Kiba doesnt count since he isnt restricted to the dungeon nor was he summoned by it). Frost sincerely hoped that the frost revenants especially would be ice revenants just like the one he, L and Sam fought desperately against. Such a monster would greatly improve their line-up, Frost wouldnt even be required to step in when the next invading C-rank monster enters the fray -of course hed likely not pass up such an exciting opportunity but still it was reassuring. The lesser yuki-onna was a promising candidate as well. At C-rank it should be an even more magically inclined entity that his current level and was a monster archetype that Finy held high hopes for given that it was an ice spirit, an archetype Frost should have great affinity with. His fingers trembled lightly with excitement as he brought up the list of options avable for the frost revenants first. Ice revenant 2300DP, C-rank: evolved form of the frost revenant. powerfulbatant skilled in closebat as well as magic yet its key strength lies in its defence. The monster is made up of powerful runic armour equivalent to 3 star material. Only its core that dwells within the chest te can be considered a weakness though getting ess would be no easy task. Frost revenant knight 1100DP, D-rank: A frost revenant thates with a steed, a battle horse ted in simr runic armour. A devasting adversary at the very peak of D-rank, armed with ance instead of a great sword and different set of skills to match its cavalry ss. Two options wasnt a lot inparison to the dwarves or trolls, but it didnt make the decision any easier. Of course ideally considering his situation itd probably be best to get two C-ranks but.... A knight huh Frost struggled to take his eyes away from the word as though it was teasing something deep inside him. This would be the first cavalry based unit that hed had ess to and to be honest the idea of putting the frost revenant on a battle steed sounded so cool and powerful that he started to forget about the lower rank. His finger switched between the two choices as he internally debated what would be best. After a minute or so of deep thought Frost realised he couldnt restrain his desire thus one of the frost revenants became a knight and the other be an ice revenant, his 2nd C-rank monster -which to be honest should have received far more interest but somehow lost to the allure of a D-rank knight. Chapter 388 388 Chapter 388: Multiple evolutions (2) Suddenly it donned on Frost that he should have left such a choice to the end that way hed be able to see the transformation in person but there was no use crying of spilled milk, itd still be there at least when he visitedter. Next was the lesser yuki-onna, the final monster avable to evolve and one with a great deal of promise. A C-rank mage ss would do wonders against their current enemies given that for the majority their resistance towards ice magic only ounted for 1st and 2nd circle spells. Yuki-onna 2400DP, C-rank: A mid-level spirit of ice and snow adept in magic of the same element. Intelligent and quite beautiful in appearance with skin white as snow. They tend to live deep within regions with high levels of ice mana and prefer to live amongst their own tribe isted from others so as to avoid confrontation. Though theyre still rather mischievous and yful their personalities are far more polite than their lesser kin. Able to easilymunicate inmon tongue as well as the spirtnguage. Only a single choice but it makes sense. Yuki-onnas were a type of spirt race with a very specialised set of abilities itd be a little strange for it to either alter its race ore out with a closebat ss. Frost clicked the screen allowing the lesser yuki-onna to be a full yuki-onna once again sending the monsters surrounding them into an awe, far more than with the frost dwarves and frost wolves evolutions. The yuki-onna as well as the ice revenant were C-rank monsters a much higher ss and on the same level as Finy and Kiba, theyd surely take on a much more respectable role in the war. p! After confirming the lesser yuki-onnas evolution Frost pped his hands together and eyed up the over 300,000DP decorating the corner of his screen. A strong look of desire was shown on Frosts face, and he subconsciously licked his lips, looking forward to the intense sensation brought on by spending anotherrge amount. Though there was a slight nagging feeling, should he continue to wait, hold off until the DP levels were over 500,000 or perhaps even a million. The thought sent a shiver down his spine and his senses swept inward finding therge vat of divine energy stored within his body. While using aura he could only utilise a tiny fraction of it and although that fraction was under his control it wasnt quite the same as the powerful stream that came about from his over 100,000DP spending. ..... Frost managed to regain his senses with a swift shake of his head, stopping the oing build-up of drool. The question however is what to buy? Of course Frost had no problem spending a few tens of thousands on additional C-rank monsters, traps and perhaps even another spawner or mine but to spend the entire 300,000 and feel that rush was to be honest quite a tall ask. Wait a minute maybe its not. Frost had a lightbulb moment as more than a few ideas came to mind. His official entry into B-rank would have unlocked more than just C-rank monsters. Higher quality items, materials, weapons, armour as well as spells should now be avable plus he could begin outfitting the sixth floor and perhaps lower floors with 2 star environments, each of which cost several times more than their 1 star equivalents. There was also the n to create his unique monster race and proliferate them throughout the dungeon. With rekindled delight Frost began browsing through the menu discovering all that had now been unlocked. The first thing Frost examined was of course his repertoire of monsters which thanks to the monster stampede had already expanded quite substantially. C-rank monsters were now avable for direct purchase starting at a minimum of 2000DP a piece, averaging four times more than their D-rank counterparts. Though his options were limited Frost now ess to the ice revenants and yuki-onnas achieved through the recent evolution but also ursas, the same monster that he recently felled as well as one that he hadnte across yet. cial manta, C-rank, 2000DP: arge manta ray like creature that dwells in frigid climates. Uses unique sensory organs to manipte the nearby ice aspected mana to float and fly through the air. A rather non-aggressive monster that lives inrge pods to protect themselves from carnivorous flying monsters that enjoy feasting on their flesh. Itsbat strength for a C-rank monster is quite frantically abysmal, only gaining such a ranking for its size, flyer status and fairly tough skin. Frost didnt have ess to many flying monsters and those he did have ess to were at best F-rank, so a C-rank flyer was a wee addition even if its power wascking for its ss. Not every monster needed to be strong, he needed ones that attracted adventurers for their resources/materials. This rather weak and non-aggressive monster was said to have a tough hide and rather sulent flesh, a positivebination and one Frost needed to exploit if he was too have a high functioning territory. Frost had grown past the naivety that strength was all that mattered among his monsters. Unfortunately he didnt unlock the monster he really wanted to fulfil the role of a high ranking material draw, the mammoth or rather even a juvenile mammoth. A massive elephant creature covered in thick hair and armed with powerful thick tusks. Like the cial manta they were known for being rather non-aggressive with manyrge countries and empires in the inner and core regions farming them like cattle and like cattle they provided a vast amount of materials. Their hide, fur, tusks and of course their meat were all highly regarded, truly a very profitable monster and unlike the cial manta had fairly devasting power when enraged. Thats most likely the reason they werent unlocked. The four monsters, the ice revenant, yuki-onna, ursa and cial manta were all considered low level C-rank monsters. The ice griffin however despite Frost felling one a few weeks ago was not unlocked as it was at the very least mid-grade. The mammoths should fall under a simr level thus remaining unavable. Looks I still have a lot of work ahead of me. Frost unphased by the missing monsters revealed an expression full of determination. Strength was a major part in unlocking these new monster castes, but it wasnt the only method. Expanding the dungeon, growing his knowledge and even personally defeating such creatures and or killing them within the confines of the dungeon would work just as well. Frost was confident that the moment his strength reaches a sufficient level, or the dungeon grows to a certain level the ice griffin would automatically unlock. Apart from C-rank monsters pretty much everything that was 3 star level and below had been fully unlocked, granting Frost ess to truly top tier weapons, armour, skills and more importantly higher level mines. Darks recent update had given star rankings to almost everything including mines and environments and they were locked just like everything else until Frost and his siblings reached a certain level -it wasnt as though they could afford the super high ranking environments and mines anyway, but this system helped to promote improvement among his children, something that was needed if they wished to survive and carve out their ce in Nova. 4 star weapons and armours were still off the table, but some half step options were added, none however surpassed his current weapon, so he only looked at the list briefly. Several high ranking skills such as [wyverns maw] were avable for purchase but 4th circle spells were still locked likely due to his magic abilities still being equivalent to C-rank. Skills such as the [wyverns maw] cost a whopping 20,000DP per book, a grand expense that could quite easily burn a hole in ones coffers and exactly what he needed right now. After noting down a few choices, Frost moved to where the big money was.....the environments and mines. Right now he currently had 5 mines. 3 iron and 2 cial, simple features that provided rtivelymon materials, the limit in what his monsters could currently work with. However that was set to change. Once the frost dwarven smiths evolved theyd likely be ice dwarven smiths a much higher archetype that wouldnt be so limited in their production capabilities. Higher materials could thus be used and fashioned into higher quality weapons, 2 star in particr and perhaps after some intense training 3 star but Frost wasnt thinking about ice dwarven smiths right now but two others. The first being his sexy orc subus girlfriend Daki who was set to join them in the dungeon once the stampede was dealt with. She being a very skilled smith with lots of potential, could quite easily handle 3 star and perhaps even 4 star materials, surpassing the ice dwarves. Frost had also promised her that her smithing talent wouldnt go unused and that her shop and supplies wouldnt be inferior to what she had in Kranor, only superior. A frigid iron or perhaps ice borne titanium mine would make for a very nice wee gift, one that would likely result in him being rewarded. Chapter 389 389 Chapter 389: Quarter million purchase Other than Daki, Frost also believed that another group would benefit from the dungeon having higher quality mines, his still in progress unique race. Over the past several weeks whenever Frost wasnt training or directly managing the dungeon he would delve into the monster creation system, testing out all the possibilities that entered his mind however nothing really felt right. He heard from Aqua that Yami had already developed his unique race and received high praise from Dark for his aplishment. His eldest brother created a race called Vampires, masters of shadow magic as well as blood magic. An intelligent race that was humanoid in form but could transform into night based creatures, stronger in darkness just like their creator. Yami had put a lot of thought into his creation already establishing a solid and expansive evolutionary path for the vampires. They would be a wee addition to Nova. This aplishment spurred him on as well as Aqua who finished her unique race shortly after, and of course she just had to tell her favourite younger brother all about it. Aqua being the embodiment of water and dwelling in the ocean made a sea dwelling race that she called whalekin. She took inspiration from the several fish kin races that were equivalent to the beastmen present onnd. Shed seen many varieties of such creatures and asked her guardian Levi about the many species living in the ocean yet there was no whalekin or whale beastmen. There were humanoid sharks and humanoid fish but no humanoid whales only the beast type. Thus she thought to change that, of course she added her own spin onto the race to make it truly unique and not a copy and paste situation. Her whalekin or Whale tribe appeared simr to sea elves in their regr form and shared in their diverse capabilities though they held tremendous physical strength hidden within their rather lithe frames. However what really set them apart was their ability to transform into massive whale monsters which she called going berserk. In that form they would have the capabilities of their whale ancestry, a species with two natural forms. Frosts eldest brother and sister were really acting as shining beacons for the rest of their siblings, lighting the path forward, inspiring each of them. Frost couldnt allow himself to fall behind, he promised himself that hed be next, he wouldnt allow Pyro to surpass him. Thankfully after studying the high earth rank cold me Frost gained substantial inspiration. He nned to create a unique monster race that would be born with such mes, able to naturally harness them like they were their own limbs. Their mes grade would naturally grow as they did, evolving with them thus allowing for a dedicated evolution tree. ..... Such mes would allow these creature to not only be resistant to ice mana and be powerful fighters but should also allow them to perform cold smithing, a process that required cold mes. Maya had told Frost all about cold smithing as it was what created her ancestral hammers, 8 star quality weapons -of course a heaven rank me was used for that, but the fundamentals were still the same. Cold aspected metals and monster materials reacted much better when forged with a cold me, establishing a stronger and more durable material. Not many creatures within Nova could easily harness such mes and those that could were generally very high ranked and or spirit races. Frost didnt want a spirit race, but something made of flesh and blood, physically strong, able to fight in closebat and function like a regr sapient race. All that was left was to decide on their form, their appearance which thanks to the pr werebears he had finally decided on, it was soon time for Frost to join Yami and Aqua as shining beacons. The sixth floor that is to serve as a rest area can also serve as their living quarters, a high quality mine and beneficial environment will be needed. Frost showed a glint in his eyes as all the pieces were rapidlying together. He would use the sixth floor as their habitat perhaps keeping it as such since this race would serve primarily as his management staff, handling the adventurers in the external camp as well as future territories within the dungeon. Theyd need to be rtable in appearance, intelligent and able to easily speakmon tongue meaning at the very least theyd be starting at D-rank, a sort of average cut off for intelligence. Frost brought up the sixth floor that was still currently bare and undeveloped before checking out the 2 star environments that were avable. Frozen tundra 11,000DP Winter hignds 10,500DP Winter forest 12,000DP Ice maze 12,000DP Ruined artic castle (interior) 12,000DP The options avable were pretty much the exact same as with the 1 star category, even the names were simr though their prices were about 5 or 6 times more. The reason for this was because theyout and environments features didnt differ too much only the quality improved as well as a decrease in temperature. For example in the 1 star winter forest environment the majority of the trees are ofmon quality with a few being considered 1 star level. In the 2 star winter forest however its primarily made up of 1 star trees with a few 2 star ones, a significant leap yet the appearance of the woods itself would differ only slightly. The free flora and fauna would also see an improvement, more areas of red and blue dwindle, a higher ss of medicinal herbs and an improvement in terms of the beasts summoned. Such a change would be very obvious in the winter hignds room that sports a partially frozenke. The fish swimming within would be rarer and more delicious. Only when the environments reach much higher stars would the unique namese about like the primordial ice forest that Frost briefly glimpsed at back at the very start of his journey. No none of these will do, I need a more hospitable environment given that its a rest area. Frost shook his head all these environments were colder than what he already had and with harsherndscape. He needed something with a nicer temperature and with a solid surface to build on, something like Furano or Kranor. Frost scrolled down the list looking for something that would suit this floors role. Winter prairie, 9500DP thatll do nicely. Frost found what he was looking for. An environment that provided abination of tnd, hills, cliffs, wooded areas and even a couple small rivers. A picturesque paradise that was drizzled in light snow and held a temperature roughly equivalent to Furano, more than liveable for his monsters and future adventurer clientele. The winter prairie was the cheapest environment avable at 2 star quality given its fairly pleasantndscape, though like the other 2 star environments it came with a range of free flora and fauna. Frost immediately added three of such environments as well as expansions for the three sections, making it match the other floors. Next he moved towards the higher quality mines, the 3 star ones that had just been unlocked. Hissss Frost breathed in sharply, the prices of such mines were not minor. Frigid iron, 50,000DP 50kg cial, 42000DP, 50Kg Ice borne titanium, 64,000DP, 50Kg F-rank ice magic crystal 58,000DP, 20Kg Frozen tourmaline, 54,000DP, 30Kg Kyanite, 50,000DP, 30Kg 3 star mines not only included ones that were metal based but also gem mines and crystal mines once again expanding the possibilities. A fully functioning territory needed more than just materials for weapons and armour. Frost was right when he thought this section would be where the big money was. The only thing hed seen that was higher in price were the extortionate costs of premade buildings and perhaps high level spawners. 300,000DP suddenly feels like a paltry sum. Frosts lips twitched as the realisation donned on him. The dungeon was nothing but a ckhole for his money/DP. After sighing internally Frost got to work choosing what to spend his not so magnificent reserves on. In the end he spent around 250,000DP, saving thest 50,000 or so for his unique race. The sixth floor was fully developed with the winter prairie environments and each section expanded to medium size. Two 3 star mines were added as separate sections attached to the floors second sections left and right side. One being a frigid iron mine and the other being a kyanite mine, 50kg and 30kg daily output respectively, both far superior to the iron and cial mines currently in use. Frost also purchased 2 new ive skills, [ice piercer] and [earths upheaval] both at the same level as [wyverns maw]. The first was a thrusting skill while the second one was aunching skill, a skill that aimed tounch the intended target upwards, amon staple in high level battles. An ursa was purchased to serve as the fifth floors boss for when the adventurers return, now however along with a contingent of 5 frost revenant knights it would serve alongside Kiba and Finy. Without being in a frenzied state an ursa was far more manageable and though it couldnt be regarded as intelligent like Kiba it could follow orders and serve as decent powerhouse, the ideal opponent to guard the fifth floor in the future. Kiba remained inmand of the bestial corps which were also expanded with the 250,000DP. The yuki-onna as well as a few more which were purchased tookmand of the magic corps whereas Finy heldmand of the entire forces. His frost troll lieutenant would serve as his recement for the 2nd shift and the ursa would serve as the back up forces in case anything went awry. Though there were significant losses from the recent wave and the ice walls were torn down, Frosts forces had only increased their strength not lost. They would be ready for the iing waves, but Frost wanted them to be more than ready. Chapter 390 390 Chapter 390: Unique monster creation An intense wave of pleasure flowed through Frosts body as he confirmed the whopping 250,000DP spend. A veritable river of divine energy spewed out from the vat hidden deep within his core, saturating his mana veins, organs, bones and insides before escaping his body and flowing into the dungeon core. The divine energy made Frost feel as though he was weightless, numb to all sense of pain, stress and fatigue, feeling onlyfort and pleasure. The power of a God while still a mortal was an undeniably addictive experience, Frost had unfortunately like all others sumbed to this desire, craving the power that it promised. His hands uncontrobly stretched out in an attempt to sp onto the stream and force it back inside his body, but his actions proved fruitless. Such divine energy was not under his control, he was merely a vessel, a transit station between the vat and the dungeon core. Huuuuuuu Frost released a deep breath as his body visibly trembled, his eyes revealing a mad fascination for a brief moment before swiftly regaining focus. His control was not lost, his restraint improving with every use of DP. Maya no longer needed to forcibly use her mana to separate him from the divine energy even with such arge amount, he was growing. Though unbeknownst to Frost, Maya temporarily stopped her actions in the kitchen so as to observe his state, ready to act if need be. She smiled however when she saw her young master swiftly regain focus and not be drunk on power. Frost stared at his still slightly trembling hands before clenching them into tight fists. So much power. He muttered under his breath while showing a wild smile. Ignoring or rather looking past the pleasure granted by the divine energy one would be able to glimpse into its beauty andplicated makeup thus allowing one to improve their understanding of such energy. The more divine energy used the clearer the image would be. Frost had achieved B-rank through his ive mastery and establishment of his aura. His mana control however was still that of C-rank, now however thanks to experiencing such arge dose of divine energy he could feel the wall to B-rank breaking down. With just a little more practise hed be able to utilise 4th circle spells and even use higher levels of chakra bing a B-rank triple threat. If he was to reinforce Furano during the stampedeste stages he needed to be as strong as possible so as to ensure his own safety. Maya finished preparing a fine meal shortly after Frost was finished with the dungeon management. The four of them ate together like a joyful family,pleting separating themselves from the dangerous situation present within their home, something Maya was insistent on. Only when they truly forget about the stresses of the dungeon, work and training could they rx and enjoy the time they had with one another. ..... While Frost and Maya lightly flirted during their meal and asionally had to wipe Lokis cheeks due his messy eating Finy, Kiba and the other C-ranks were hard at work preparing themselves for the next wave. Assigning all the new monsters to their positions, swapping out certain groups who were injured and or exhausted with the next, plus going over the methods of attack while in the secondary defences zones. While the kill box zone at the dungeons entrance focused on grouping the invaders together in a narrow line, boxing them in and forcing them on a set route, the secondary defence zone focused on doing the exact opposite. There were no blockades preventing the waves from heading deeper into the dungeon instead the created bunkers aimed to separate therge wave into smaller tendrils, dealing damage and killing a few whenever the horde passed by. The bunkers stretched nearly the entire length of the forest and most of them were connected by underground tunnels serving as escape routes, but Frost and Finy didnt n on using them anytime soon. The bulk of the ravenous horde should be more focused on heading deeper into the dungeon than destroying the dozens of small but heavily fortified bunkers. The bestial corps will also act as shepherds, herding the horde through the dungeon and picking off stragglers whenever possible. A far moreplicated method of attack and with its own set of dangers but the most appropriate given the terrain and their forces. Finy and the other C-rank fighters would deal with C-rank invaders and quickly take care of the smaller tendrils that were forced to break off because of the bunkers arrangement. If all goes to n only the hardiest of monsters would actually be in the thick of battle, the rest would remain safely tucked away within the bunkers dishing out ranged attacks. The alternative shifts that were previously resting within the winter forest and the operations centre were relocated to the third section where the next defence zone was prepared. They would function as backup in the interim, ying any invaders that made their way through the bunkers, utilising the narrow hallways and extensive traps that Frost had purchased. They had but a few hours to rest and make sure everyone was ready and knew what to do, not a long nor a short time thus everyone was on edge, a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Many frost dwarves and low members of the bestial corps looked at their evolvedrades with intense desire, hoping that theyd gain the chance to evolve just like them and y arger role in the war. After sending off his new lieutenants and generals Finy looked down at hisrge battle-axe, the de edge and most of the face were covered in dried blood. This war was far from over, his axe would see itself covered in far more. I need to be stronger. Finy muttered under his breath while clenching the shaft of his weapon hard. His master had demanded that he reach B-rank during the stampede, ideally before thete stages. Finy could feel it when he faced off against the ursa, his individual strength though strong was nowhere near overwhelming. Now with multiple C-ranks present among the forces his mid to upper C-rank status wasnt enough to effectivelymand. Amander must surpass his soldiers, be the best of the best thats why theyre amander. Frost had now reached B-rank meaning his master had now surpassed him, if he fell behind anymore his position asmander would be forfeit, his usefulness to Frost lessen. Crack! Grind! NO! That will not happen. Finys knuckles cracked and his sharp teeth ground together as he made a solemn promise, his eyes radiated a fierce light refusing to ept such an oue. His level was currently 47/50 just three levels away from evolution but thesest three levels seemed to be far harder to cross than the previous ones. Requiring Finy to fight and kill greater enemies, D-ranks, even upper ranked ones barely put a dent in it, he needed C-ranks just like that ursa. Finy gave a strict order to all of the C-rank monsters under hismand, Kiba included. Leave the C-rank monsters to me, Ill be the one the end them. He spoke with such force and pressure that despite their instinctual reluctance none of them could disobey. Finy wasnt just the grandmander with the backing of their lord, but he was also the strongest of them all. He forced them to submit with power, the natural way among monsters. Of course Finy wasnt foolish enough to want to take on all the invading C-rank monsters no, just that if he was on shift and there was only one present he would be the one to fight it....alone. Back in the private space Frost, Maya, Nanna and Loki were just finishing up their meal and were all far more rxed because of it. Nanna, Loki Ill be leaving you to monitor the situation and ry with Finy and Kiba while I attempt to make my own unique monster race. Ill needplete focus when Im doing this so youll need to handle any and all situations, only contacting me if its absolutely necessary, can you do that? Frost asked with a gentle tone fully confident in Nannas and Lokis abilities to handle such a task. He wasnt asking much anyway, just for 6 hours or so of peace and quiet wherein he could redirect all his attention to design. Loki immediately showed a bright smile and was about to respond with great enthusiasm but held himself back and instead turned to his older sister. Last time they were in charge for less than an hour, but his sister got so depressed by the result, he was worried whether or not shed be fine. He didnt want to force her into anything she wasnt sure of. Maya ced her two hands upon her chest and squeezed, making sure her heart didnt explode from seeing Lokis adorable actions, he was an absolute angel. Frost also smiled at his actions and looked towards Nanna with a loving gaze. Nanna? Nanna trembled slightly as her name was called, to say she was not afraid would be a lie, but her master was willing to entrust her with such an important task despite what happened earlier she couldnt help but be moved. Nanna raised her head up rapidly and stared into Frosts eyes with steely determination. Please leave it to me Master Ill ensure everything stays on track while youre busy. She then saluted just like Finy, disying her resolve. Chapter 391 391 Chapter 391: Unique monster creation (2) A proud smile swiftly grew on Frosts face as he received Nannas fierce resolve. Looks like I have nothing to worry about then. Frost then rubbed her head in an affectionate manner before looking towards Maya. Keep an eye on them. They can have free ess to the sweets bag while Im away and... Frost opened up the dungeon menu and swiftly purchased a low C-rank bottle of red wine for 3000DP. Feel free to indulge yourself with that, should help to pass the boredom until I return. Frost had learned quite quickly how to keep his girlfriend satisfied while he and the kids were preupied. If he failed to do so she became quite cranky and rather mischievous. Oh you know me so well young master. Maya smiled seductively and instantly appeared before him. She nted a kiss on his cheek before removing the bottle of wine, her expression revealing her excitement, a true blooded alcoholic. Frost showed a happy expression as his left hand felt his kissed cheek. He should go now before he ends up entwined with her on the coach, relishing in the wine and each other. Such things could wait tillter, now however it was time to finalise the creation of his unique monster race. Something that would truly define him as a creator and fulfil the role intended of him and his siblings by their father the Dark God. Dark believed that Nova had be stagnant, with very little improvement and or change appearing over the past several centuries. The scars of the grand war refusing to heal and in many cases even causing the age of civilization and technology to degrade, something he and Light hated seeing. Thus his answer were demi-gods, beings with the ability to create just like him and Light though in a much more limited capacity. Their existence should serve to reignited the passion lost amongst the residents of Nova, push them further towards greatness and discovery. While at the same time altering the world order, establishing new countries, empires and even races that he and Light hadnt thought of. Dark was already incredibly proud of his children and that pride continued to grow as they developed and intermingled with the world. Light however was of apletely different opinion, finding that the dungeon cores were a ticking time bomb. Holding far too much power with such high quantities, believing that the delicate bnce that was already fragile due to the actions of the church of light would crumble. It was only a matter of time. ..... While Dark was observing the growth and actions of his children and interacting with Gods he was on good terms with such as the primordial ice king, Light was stewing in his own realm, plotting, nning and hoping for their eradication. Soon the dungeon cores would have to endure his attempts to uproot them from Nova and hopefully when that timees theyd be strong enough to survive. The wrath and focused intent of a God especially one of the two Creation Gods wasnt something you could take lightly. Frost teleported himself to the training space, the solid white walls and the empty and silent space would serve him well as he delved into the monster creation system. A system that was incrediblyplicated and tediously detailed, but it kind of had to be. Creating life especially new life had many factors to consider, the domain of the Gods was not a simple affair. Huuuuuuu lets get started then. Frost let out a deep breath and cracked his neck as sat down crossed legged on the floor. The dungeon menu or rather the monster creation system spanned out before him in a 3d format. He needed to go through each and every detail surrounding the new race as well as its potential evolutionary paths before finally submitting the creation for approval. Dark wouldnt allow his kids to half ass such a job, randomly generating details just to create something unique no, their creations needed to be of a sufficient level and work within the confines of the worldsws before it would be approved and added to the dungeons and Novas database. Yami and Aqua werent the first to submit creations but they were the first to seed, being quick and careless did not guarantee sess. Thats why Frost was thinking about each and every step and detail over the past several weeks, adding bits here and there and altering previous decisions. Now however the image he had was clear, it was time for him to create new life the slow and methodical way that a God does instead of relying solely upon the automatic feature provided by the dungeon menu. Frost remained in the training space for quite some time, fully focused on his task willingly ignoring the dungeon and everything else as he worked, leavingmand to his C-rank monsters and the super talented Nanna and Loki. A few hours after Frost began his sealed off work the next wave was upon the dungeon and the first wave in which the kill box zone was no longer in y. Having the dungeons forces rely on the secondary defence zone instead. Nanna and Loki kept Finy and the others abreast of the hordes movements and progress through the winter hignds section. Several of the bestial corps were also stationed in the winter hignds section, camouging themselves within the snow and or lying on the outskirts, out of the hordes view and intended path. Just like the previous waves this one was drawn instinctively towards the dungeons core making a beeline straight for it, following the shortest path, dead ahead. These bestial corps were not here to keep an eye on the horde no they were here for two purposes. First they were to take care of stragglers that were too slow to keep up with the rest of the horde or that wandered off for some reason. And in such situation they needed to act fast, kill their target or targets and retreat back into the distance so as to not draw the ire of arger group. Though these monsters were intently focused on devouring the dungeon core they would struggle to resist attacking non-horde monsters that appeared right beside them and attacked them. Second they were to attack the horde from behind once they made their way into the winter forest section, cutting off the backlines while the main forces dealt with the bulk of the horde. Loki had to repeatedly whisper into their ears through the dungeon menu to keep quiet and out of sight, restricting their natural instincts. If there was no one to keep these bestial monsters in check this group would attack the horde regardless of the danger, dying off in a few minutes. Finy the horde will enter the winter forest in a couple minutes, be ready. Nannasmander like tone which she copied from Frost could be heard beside Finy and the other C-rank monsters. Finy showed a wild smile in response as did the other C-ranks, their eyes revealing their excitement. The secondary defence zone allowed for them and the closebat fighters to be in the thick of battle, a pleasing scenario for each and every one of them. What are the forces like? Are they roughly the same as thest wave? What species? Finy asked several questions off at once while caressing his battle axe, dying to fight against another C-rank monster and increase his level. This time the wave seems to be abination of bears and bull like monsters, more numerous than thest wave however as of yet theres no sign of a C-rank monster just upper D-ranks. Nanna responded back without hesitation, clearly expecting such questions. Well thats disappointing. Finy grumbled, his mood lowering. What was that? Nanna in fullmander mode asked with a chill in her voice, sending shivers down the spines of those who heard it. It was Finys and the other monsters honour to fight in defence of the dungeon, not a matter of it being exciting or not. Slip of the tongue, my mistake. Finys lips twitched slightly as he too felt that cold chill. Little Nannas reallying into her own, her presence mimics that of masters. Shell be a real terrifying woman once she grows up. Finy nodded his head feeling a mixture of pride and a little fear. The bears should be fine, weve gotten plenty of experience dealing with their ilk, without an ursa by their side it shouldnt be too hard. The bulls however are new, what can you tell me about them? The forces present had fought against the bears during thest wave and had learned a lot of their weaknesses and habits through their mutual discussion after the battle. Bulls however were new, there hadnt been a single bull monster invading so far. All Finy knew was what to roughly expect due to the monster encyclopaedia. Bulls are cow monsters. Simr to boars they have quite devasting charging power but struggle to change direction, quadrupeds with sharp horns, do you best to preserve them as these horns can fetch quite a price, their meat is also supposed to be quite tantalising. Nanna exined the monsters in some more detail as she not only looked at them through the dungeons viewing system but had been receiving lessons from Maya, knowledge of monsters was included in said lessons. The wave contains F-rank charging bulls, E-rank long horned bulls, D-rank scaled bulls as well upper D-ranked lesser minotaurs, bi-pedal forms simr to the pr werebears, simr in strength too. In terms of battle strategy there shouldnt be too much difference in their characteristics from the bears present, its probably why their together, another physical powerhouse. Chapter 392 392 Chapter 392: Unique monster creation (3) Understood Lady Nanna, thank you for the report. Finy took in the information and adjusted his battle ns slightly as did the other C-rank monsters. Purely physical attributed monsters received quite a substantial boost in their battle capabilities when they were under the stampedes influence. Increased energy reserves, numb to pain, increased strength and brutality however they were easier to manipte and predict their movements. Master is currently busy designing a new monster race so he will not be avable to aid you in battle. Youll need to handle this wave by yourselves, dont disappoint him. Nanna spoke with a strict warning, sending shivers down the backs of those who listened. We wouldnt dream of it Lady Nanna; the secondary defence zone may be different than the kill box but with our current line up there shouldnt be any issues. Master will not be required anytime soon. Finy struck his chest in salute while giving a confident reply. If half a dozen C-ranks and dozens of D-rank monsters couldnt handle a single maddened wave then they didnt deserve to be counted among the dungeons forces. They would not fail. Very well, your targets have arrived, good luck. Nanna cut themunication then and there, her face showing a cold and calcting look but internally her heart was beating a mile a minute, her brave fa?ade close to crumbling. .....Big sis Loki stuttered as he looked towards his usually gentle and caring sister, his hands trembling as he remembered the chill in her voice. Nanna quickly turned towards her little brother, worried about his reaction. ....Youre so cool, you sounded just like master. Loki wasnt trembling out of fear but out of excitement and respect, his big sister was so awesome. His childlike and innocent response calmed down Nannas heart and brought a smile to her lips, she felt proud. p p p ..... Maya pped her hands together in apuse. Very well done Nanna, you sounded just like him, good job. Maya smiled and nodded while presenting the young phoenix kin with a thumbs up. She was very much impressed by the young girls grandiose atmosphere, very superior like despite her strength being rather pitiful. Seeing her act so well made Maya want to train this little girl into a proper queen bee, strong enough tomand anything just like her. While Nanna was getting praise and encouragement from her family the monster wave had made its way into the winter forest, brutally charging through the vast arrangement of trees, crushing many under their paws and hooves as they progressed straight ahead. The secondary defence zone was an arrangement of dozens of bunkers spread out throughout the middle of the winter forest, the shortest path towards the third section. The vast horde quickly came across these bunkers that were abination of wood, ice, pykrete and even iron. Heavily fortified and obscured, protecting and hiding those that dwelled within. These bunkers would initially serve as mighty boulders standing their ground against the rampaging wave, splitting it up into smaller tendrils before ultimately letting loose. Boom Boom Boom The heavy sounds of the stampedes charge could be heard all around a few of these frontline bunkers, causing the very ground to shake. asionally one of the monsters would crash into the side of them before moving on, causing the monsters present within to tense up. Not yet, keep your heads down and remain quiet. Well wait until arge amount have passed by before beginning our attack. A yuki-onna that governed these vanguard bunkers quietly whispered towards her subordinates, keeping them calm and collected. The n was for the bunkers to deal damage over time, gradually chipping away at the horde but if they acted to early the entire wrath of the wave would be concentrated on these few bunkers. The deeper the wave prates into the forest the wider their once tight formation became. Hold, Hold The yuki-onna continued to order her subordinates to hold their fire and remain silent though she herself was struggling to contain her desire to bathe the swarm in her ice magic. She couldnt act until they received the single from the grandmander. Once the horde reached the third set of bunkers where Finy was stationed the attack would begin. Section one leader you can begin your attack now, we have the horde in our sights, good hunting. Finys voice appeared through his use of the dungeon menu bringing a wild smile to the yuki-onnas face as she listened. All units open fire!! She suddenly hollered at the top of her voice, immediately alerting some of the horde but it didnt matter. Don! Don! Boom! Boom! Crash! A momentter the bunkers went on full attack mode, frost and ice dwarves appeared from within the bunkers and rained down arrow fire and spells upon the horde, taking them by surprise. [Blizzara] The yuki-onna wasnt one to let her subordinates have all the fun. The moment the order was given she chanted the aria for her third circle spell [blizzara] starting off the festivities on a grand scale. In response to the yuki-onna arge ice blue magic crest appeared before one of the pr werebears,rge enough to encapste its entire frame before. Schwooom! A dense, freezing crystal of ice rapidly formed and expanded from the centre of the pr werebear quickly locking the majority of its body within, halting its movements before. Shatter! The crystal entrapping the pr werebear shattered, the crystal pieces enveloping the werebear broke off, the flesh inside already frozen and fused with the crystal. Rapid freezing along with an explosion that was [blizzara] the 3rd circle magic spell and the evolved form of the [blizzard] spell. Far more destructive and far more deadly. The pr werebear was bleeding profusely, its body in pieces, the remaining intact flesh nowhere near enough to sustain its life. Its blood red eyes quickly receded as the eternal darkness swiftly took hold. An upper D-rank monster was killed in an instant by the C-rank yuki-onna, its resistance to ice magic too low to prevent the effects of a 3rd circle spell. The difference between D and C-rank monsters was made quite clearly with that one attack. The caster of such magic didnt even feel much strain, the natural mana filled environment and her connection to the dungeon making her more powerful that a regr yuki-onna. The yuki-onna smiled in pure bliss, loving the feel of using her magic in such an environment, she quickly set her sights on her next targets. Of course such a grand deration didnt go unnoticed, many of the monsters turned their attention towards these bunkers that had suddenly came to life and began attacking them however the points of attack were few, practically one in fact, the entrance. Thats where the closebat fighterse into to y, each narrow entrance to the bunkers now had a stalwart defender ced there. Frost revenants and ice dwarves bravely took on this role. The moment some of the bears and bulls tried to attack the narrow bunker entrances these defenders made their presence known, shing out aggressively at the attackers and pushing them backwards. With so many bunkers in action the attacking forces were divided, the vast majority continued forward driven by their instincts to devour the dungeon core. It also helped that most of this majority didnt notice the attacks from the bunkers thanks to the careful targeting of the soldiers. The ones that did notice and attacked were further broken up by which bunker to attack creating a fairly manageable environment in which a few closebat defenders were all that was needed to endure. Deeper in the winter forest at the second line of defence a very simr situation was happening. Another yuki-onna in charge of this area casted [icy road], brazenly cutting off another section of the horde, so far everything was going as nned. The deeper the horde entered the more fractured they would be, dividing up the forces equally among the defence zones....well almost equally. Time for us to take out arge chunk dont you think. Finy spoke with a wild smile towards his two partners ced here in the third defence zone, the area with highest aggregate power as well as bunkers. Ballistae could even be seen crowning some of the bunkers in this area. Here they would take care of thergest chunk of the enemy, allowing only a small majority through to the fourth defence zone. My great sword will finally taste blood heheheheh The C-rank ice revenant by Finys side replied in an excited voice, his blue me body dancing at the prospect. Roar! Kiba not one to remain quiet roared out just as excited as his two teammates. These three given that Frost was indisposed wanted to take full advantage of the battlefield, diving right into the thick of it. All units attack! Finy roared out his order before both he, Kiba and the ice revenant leaped from their positions to stand smack dab in front on the encroaching horde. Theyd take advantage of their superior strength to decimate scores of the bears and bulls without relying on effective tactics. Once you reach a certain level of power all tactics and strategies be meaningless. A single swat from an overpowered entity could see entire frontlines decimated despite being in a tight formation. Without an ursa backing these guys up and with them so separated Finy, Kiba and the ice revenant working together would see little to no danger. Plus with their active participation the wave should end rather swiftly, proving to Nanna and ultimately Frost that they were strong and capable of protecting the dungeon. Chapter 393 393 Chapter 393: Unique monster creation (4) The three powerful C-rank fighters made their presence known almost immediately. Theirrge size and overwhelming strength allowed them to cut down scores of the rampaging monsters, acting liking personal bunkers. Those that werent cut down were forced to split apart, branching out to the sides leading them towards the bunkers. Such tactics were only possible due to the strength of Frosts forces and the strategically ced and well built positions of the bunkers. The secondary defence zone worked exactly as nned, easily dividing up therge wave into smaller more manageable chunks. Though it took a little longer to deal with them the damage to the bunkers and their forces were minimal. A few broken branches and posts for the bunkers and a couple broken ribs and wrists among the forces as well as two casualties. Two frost wolves from the bestial corps who became a bit full of themselves decided to challenge some of the D-rank bulls. They ended up gored by their mighty horns before the coeurl pups and ice wolves could lend their aid. A stark reminder for those who remained, this was a battle of attrition, short term heroics would only lead to death, slow and steady wins the race. The dismantling corps swiftly appeared from the artic castle ruins section after getting the all clear from Nanna and Finy. Frost had increased their numbers once again so as to amodate therger and more powerful waves. Hoping to be as efficient as possible in terms of the materials procured during battle. Loki emphasized to the dismantling team the importance of preserving the meat of the bull monsters, saying that such a delicacy really shouldnt be wasted. His mouth subconsciously salivated as he spoke, and he had to wipe away the umtion of drool. The young phoenix kin had grown quite fond of steak, with beef being one of his favourites. Maya and Nanna both giggled but didnt stop his request as preserving vast amounts of such meat would certainly be beneficial in the long run. Itd also serve as a good reward for the hard working monsters, something that Frost never skimped on. The dismantling corps as well as some of the monsters due to go on rest quickly began clearing the forest, dividing up the materials into vast piles for Nanna and Loki to sequester away into the dungeon vault. Unlike the storage devices such as Frosts rings or Mayas bracelet the dungeon vault was able to store perishable materials such as meat however it couldnt stop decay, merely postponing it slightly. This problem however had a very easy fix especially given Frosts element. As long as he froze the meat with his ice mana it could be preserved for months on end without the slightest degradation. In fact just by cing the meat in an assigned area within one of the colder sections served to act as a pseudo refrigerator/ freezer. The cold environment though less hospitable to crops was very beneficial to meat. It took over 2 hours for the dismantling corps to carve up all the corpses and retrieve the valuable materials. The new steel weaponry being very much needed when cutting into tough bull and bear flesh. Though such painstaking work granted zero experience points the workers were allowed to feast on some of the meat -either raw as preferred by the great frost centipedes or to be cookedter. The workers also received a fair amount of respectful looks from the soldiers as they understood that such work made what they were doing profitable, a keyponent in their lords future ns. ..... The next wave appeared roughly 2 hours after the dismantling corps finished, enough time for a decent rest. Nanna and Loki received permission to evolve any monsters that reached their maximum level while Frost was away thus the forces present were even stronger than earlier. Much to Finys joy this wave contained a C-rank monster, another ursa and once again the makeup of the wave was bears and bulls, species that seemed to be poorly matched against the secondary defence zone. The wave yed out very simr to the previous one, very little damage and only a few casualties. And just like he stated Finy faced off against the C-rank ursa by himself, refusing any aid. Their battle was quite grand with dozens of trees being pulverised in their wake. The mighty ice trollmander eventually came out victorious, his battle axe crushed the beasts skull after hundreds of blows. A hard fought battle that saw Finy dyed red at the end, a mixture of his blood and that of the ursas.rge gashes stretched along his arms, back and torso where the creatures razor sharp ws made contact. He was in pain, but the exhration was unmatched. When the ursa finally fell to the ground, no longer moving he roared out in victory, raising his axe high into the air. He prevailed in a very grandiose fashion; his roar served to inspire the rest of the forces who all roared in unison before intensifying their attacks. Kiba flew to Finys side and allowed the troll to lean on him for support as he guided him back towards themanders station. Fascination and jealously were clear in the young tigers eyes, he wished for the same glory. Cough cough Finy coughed up some blood before rubbing the tigersrge head. Youre a bit too green at the moment Kiba, such an opponent would be too much for you to handle solo. Finy ruffled Kibas fur as the tiger growled in protest, adamant that he could handle such a task. Though Kiba would eventually reach B-rank at full maturity right now he was barely C-rank, the weakest of the generals in Frosts forces. He wasnt ready to go toe to toe with a proper C-rank solo especially one that was in a maddened state. Finy himself was considered mid to upper C-rank yet even he struggled to fell the ursa, ending up with a partially mutted body as a result however.... Looks like it worked. Finy though in a serious amount of pain, requiring Kiba support to reach themand bunker disyed a wide smile. His level that had remained stagnant at 47 had finally increased reaching 48 and even almost reaching 49. Another battle such as that one or perhaps two and hed likely reach max level, thus allowing him to once again be equal to his lord and master. With the positive effect of Finys victory the rest of the wave was cut down rtively quickly. This time the losses were numbered at four, 2 frost dwarves, an ice dwarf and an ice wolf but once again several others reached their max level and evolved thus bncing out the losses. Once again the dismantling teams got to work, and more soldiers swapped out with others that were well rested, ready to face off against the next wave at full strength. Finy was forced to take a low-level health potion to elerate his healing and despite his protests was ordered to relinquish hismand to his lieutenant and rest as he had been on shift without a break for the past 72 hours. Time continued to pass, and night fell, promising for even more violent waves. Yet after over 10 hours there was still no word from Frost. Nanna and Loki couldnt help but feel worried. Night was a far more dangerous period in regards to monsters, the ones attacking would likely be stronger and in most cases much harder to deal with than their diurnal counterparts. Some really weird types alsoe out at night, types that werent as easy to defend against. With Finy being ordered to rest as per the protocols established by Frost the two of them would have to take strongermand and deal with this threat. Did master look alright? Nanna couldnt help but ask Maya, her anxiety clearly shown. Maya in response shrugged her shoulders. He was in full focus mode thats all I can say, I doubt he even noticed my visit. She went and checked on Frost at the behest of the children but didnt disturb him. When she arrived Frost was surrounded by dozens of screens each showing great amounts of data, she immediately felt a headache oing after just briefly ncing at them. Frost was in the centre of that deluge of data, his eyes clearly blood shot and his face appearing weary but arge smile full of excitement adorned his face and his weary, bloodshot eyes revealed a maddened glint. He wasnt in any danger, and she felt it would be really bad to disturb him in that state, so she teleported back. Looks like the two of you will have to do your best and handle the night-time waves. Maya sighed lightly before appearing before Nanna and Loki, wrapping them both up in a hug. Dont worry I believe in the both of you. Youve worked very hard for such an asion, so I know youll do well. She squeezed the two children tight against her chest. ....But what if? Nanna struggled out from the embrace, avoiding suffocation. What if you fail? You fail no biggie; children are supposed to make mistakes and learn from them. Frost is ultimately in charge so if something happens because of his absence its on him so dont be afraid, do your best and no one will fault you for it. Maya caressed Nannas cheek in a loving manner, easing her worries. A ve that failed in their task was ultimately punished especially if they were an illegal ve. Nanna and Loki knew this and had suffered from such treatment many times before, it was ingrained deep within them and would take time for such fears to truly heal. Chapter 394 394 Chapter 394: Unique monster creation (5) Shortly after Nanna and Loki received Mayas encouragement the first wave of the night had arrived. And as expected the monsters contained within were quite different to what appeared during the day. The two phoenix kin winced at the sight of these creatures, chills running down their spines. Bats and g.....ghosts. Nanna stuttered at the mention of ghosts and Loki audibly gulped. Bats, ugly nocturnal flying creatures and ghosts frightening apparitions of the dead with no solid form. Both creatures being the stuff of nightmares, especially for children. Outside the dungeon ear piercing screeches could be heard from the multitude of bat monsters as they aggressively pped their wings. While haunting wailing could be heard from the ghosts, each one sporting a horrifying visage. Nanna and Loki swiftly turned off the dungeon view as the hair on the back of their necks stood up. Instinctively their both turned to look at Maya the only adult present, but her current expression wasnt veryforting. The mighty S-rank fenrir was pale in the face, her lips trembling ever so slightly despite her trying her best to remain calm. There were a few things that despite her being one of the strongest entities in the mortal world still gave her the chills. The first which had already been established was spiders, their appearance and constantly tense state always struck something instinctual, filling her with fear. She wasnt the only one however a vast majority of people within Nova had this phobia that ignored ones inherent strength. The second which was anothermon fear was ghosts. The formless apparitions that sported horrifying appearances and wailed at high frequency caused her fluffy white tail to puff up and her legs to shiver. She wasnt afraid of the undead like skeletons, zombies, liches etc... but ghosts, there was something far more sinister there. Spirits of the dead that held no corporal form, driven by their residual negative feelings from when they were alive, seeking out the living, tormenting them and devouring their precious life energy. Perhaps it was because theycked physical form meaning regr attacks had no effect on them or perhaps it was simply the wailing Maya did not know, all she knew was that she really didnt like ghosts and would actively avoid any areas that they were set to inhabit. ..... The problem now however was that these two young phoenix kin who were also quite frightened were looking towards her forfort, a tall ask. Cough cough Maya coughed in an attempt to hide her fear, her tail however was still tensed and puffy. If Frost was present hed probably be unable to stop himself from wrapping her in a hug to ay her fears as well as mock her a little. So the monster you need to fight are bats and.....ghosts so whats the traits of such monsters? The two phoenix kin looked at one another before summoning their courage to answer. Bats are skilled flyers that function well at night, have great hearing and can find their way around in pure darkness. Their useful materials are generally their wings and skin and asionally their fangs depending on the species. Loki answered first, taking care of the less frightening of the two monsters earning him a fierce re from his sister. One in which hed never received so far with such intensity. Nanna seemed to be just like Maya, well and truly afraid of ghost monsters but perhaps her reasoning was a bit different. For those that suffered trauma such as the violent massacre of their friends, family and vige tended to fear the spirits of the dead. Afraid that those who died would be jealous and full of hatred towards those that survived such devastation and me them for their deaths. With Loki reporting on the bats and staying silent Nanna was left to describe ghosts. G...Ghosts are formless spirits of the dead that hold intense negative feelings towards the living and incredibly aggressive to those that still live. They aremonly found in ces with strong death mana such asrge graves or past battlefields as well as certain monsterirs. Regr attacks are useless against such foes, magic or chakra is required to bring them down and given that they have no corporal form the materials gained from such monsters is minimal at best. Low ranking ghosts may leave small amounts of ectosm which can be used in alchemy and artificing whereas the higher ranked ghosts can drop curse crystals. Nanna spoke nervously at the start but gained confidence near the end, it helped to think of the ghosts as just another target to dealt with, her hands were no longer trembling. Good answer you both remember your studies well. Maya rubbed their heads in praise, her puffed up tail also calming down slightly. Now you need to tell your subordinates. Maya pointed to the dungeon core that thankfully no longer showed the frightening image of the ghosts due to Nanna quick actions. Unnn Both Nanna and Loki nodded strongly before turning back to inform the frost troll lieutenant as well as the other C-rank monsters in charge of the battlefield of the situation. What they had to say however didnt exactly go over well for the vast majority of their forces. The ghosts were immune to regr attacks thus the quarrellers were useless against them plus ghosts tended to have quite high resistance to ice magic thus halving the effectiveness of the mage castes. Then there was the bats, flying monsters something they had very little experience dealing with. The bestial corps would suffer a severe disadvantage against such foes and would likely be even less effective against the ghosts given their more physical attack methods. Pretty much only the yuki-onnas would see no drop in theirbat effectiveness, 3rd circle spells able to ignore most of the basic ice resistance however that didnt apply to C-rank opponents. Is there any C-rank opponents Lady Nanna? The frost troll lieutenant who was in charge during Finys absence asked immediately once he was made aware of the situation. The more information he had the better the battle n he could devise. ...Give me a second. Nanna was silent for a few seconds before letting out a sigh. She brought up the dungeon viewer system to get a good look at the horde, looking for any that stood out above the rest, holding her breath as she did. ...There is...in fact theres two. The frost troll lieutenant winced at the information, his fists clenching hard, this wasnt going to be an easy battle especially considering that Finy was resting, and Frost was still busy. The lieutenant looked to his sides for strength, beside him were the ice revenant, Kiba and a yuki-onna. Three C-rank monsters inparison to the two that the enemy had, numbers were on their side. The issue however waspatibility. If the two C-ranks were bat monsters there would be little issue but if they were ghosts. Are they bat monsters? He asked with clear nervousness. No....theyre both ghosts monsters. Wraiths. Wraiths were low C-ranked monsters that were several metres tall andcked corporal form protecting them from regr physical attacks. Their own attacks however had an ethereal quality to them allowing them to easily slice through non enchanted armour and damage the targets internals and very soul. Only magic and chakra could harm these creatures and allow one to defend against their attacks. A difficult adversary to beat when youcked the correct method. The correct method being the usage of fire or light magic. Such elements were super effective allowing even 1st circle spells of such elements to harm C-rank monsters. Ice magic however was pretty much the worst match up, especially against ghosts born in frigid climates, their resistances were even higher than normal. Well....shit! The frost lieutenant cursed aloud, and no one could really me him. Such a match up was the worst possible for their current forces. Not a single monster in their army could use anything but ice magic, only Frosts ive which was enchanted with a wind engraving would be effective yet the man in question was otherwise indisposed. A heavy task thus fell upon the frost troll lieutenants shoulders, one heavier than he was prepared for but in the end he was a loyal soldier, he would obey his lordsmand and do his upmost to protect the territory. After a few seconds of frustration the lieutenant quickly gave out his orders. Quarrellers and all physical attack users focus on the bats andpletely ignore the ghosts; your attacks will be useless against them, and youd even struggle to endure their counterattacks. Well work on eliminating the easier targets first, Kiba focus on tearing off their wings so the bestial corps can reach them, quarrellers do the same, bring them down to ground level. Mages of all castes focus on restricting the ghosts and protecting our forces with your magic, any protection spells you have would be ideal. Yuki-onnas Id like for you to slowly take out the ghosts one by one but again having the priority being the defence of our main forces. Given that the ghosts have no corporal form I doubt the bunkers will provide much protection thus your crowd control abilities are imperative to our victory.....For the C-rank wraiths. The frost lieutenant looked towards the ice revenant as well as the frost revenants and their knight upgrades. Ill leave handling the wraiths to the revenants, youll likely struggle to deal significant damage, but your half spirit nature and magic capabilities should allow you mitigate their attacks. This wave will be unlike any other, a slip up with the ghosts could see our physical corps suffer significant casualties so mages be on youre A-game. The lieutenant hollered hismands sounding and looking like a smaller version of Finy. There were noints in regards to his orders and everyone quickly moved into ce. Chapter 395 395 Chapter 395: Unique monster creation (6) Do you want me to call back Finy? Nanna asked the frost troll lieutenant. She wasnt insulting the trolls skills but felt itd be best to utilise their strongestbatant against such foes, to be safe. Despite him being injured and being active for the past 72 hours Finy was still by far their strongest monster. Nanna believed one more wave shouldnt hurt. No Lady Nanna, I understand your intentions, but master designated the resting protocols for a reason and Im confident we can manage. Please just informmander Finy of the situation but please dont request his aid, we will handle it. The lieutenant answered back with a confident voice, saluting as he spoke. Though they were faced against unusual opponents theirbined power should be enough, their side had a total of 5 C-ranks after all. Very well, I wish you luck. Loki and I will do our best to keep you abreast of the situation throughout the battlefield. Though Nanna was loathe to do so as that would mean shed need to watch the ghost monsters closely it was her job, something that trumped her fear. Maya wisely understood this difficulty thus she brought over therge bag of sweets gifted by Dark and ced them by their side while she swiftly popped open a bottle of wine to calm her own nerves. If the kids were willing to face their fears then she as an adult and their guardian couldnt very well hide away. The three of them thus huddled around the dungeon core and bravely watched the situation unfold, their skin forming bumps whenever one of the ghost monsters released a mournful wail. The frost troll lieutenant rearranged his forces, cing a lot of the solely physical attack users out of harms way or beside those who could use magic. Frost wolves were one such caste that was regted away from the battlefield, given how susceptible they were to the ghosts attacks. The ice wolves and couerl pups stayed since they could cover their limbs in ice and shoot mana sts from their long whiskers respectively. Several frost dwarf warriors were also removed from y so as to reduce the number of entities requiring magic protection. The quarrellers however were kept given that arrow fire would work well against the flying bats. To make up for this loss in strength the frost troll lieutenant summoned forth arge contingent of frost elementals from the lower floors, 20 to be precise. These monsters would be a good match for the ghosts, able to restrict their actions quite well, with neither side dealing much damage to one another. The lieutenants n was to deal with the wave slowly, grinding them down one at a time mainly through 3rd circle magic. The yuki-onnas will be the main attacking force during this wave. A few minutes after everyone was in ce. Screeeeechhh! ..... Hoooowllll Waaaaiiilllll The horrible sounds emitted by the wave could be heard as the bats and ghosts charged into the winter forest. Therge bats swarmed together as they glided through the tall trees and above the canopy. Each of them looked quite ugly in appearance and grew progressivelyrger the higher their rank became. There were 6 types of bats present: Long eared bat, F-rank Aggressive fruit bat, F-rank Powder snow blue bat, E-rank Pr fang bat, E-rank Northern great bat, D-rank And finally a mid D-rank species called Freezing vampire bat The smallest of these creatures had an almost 2 metre wingspan and despite their sizes flew elegantly through the dense brush of trees, far more adept at flying that the artic owls Frost had summoned previously. Loki warned the troops about the pr fang bats and the freezing vampire bats as both of them had poisoned fangs, another problem to contend with. The frost dwarven priests and their ice dwarven apprentice priest evolutions could help heal wounds but struggled with poison. The frost troll witch doctors were more prevalent in such areas but there were so few that it was best to just avoid getting bitten in the first ce. The ghosts followed in shortly after the bat swarm, their ethereal forms allowing them to simply pass through the trees. The originally intended purpose for the secondary defence zone couldnt be used against this wave, ghosts could only be blocked by magical means, physical walls meant nothing to them. Thus the forces were grouped up towards the centre, filling up the central bunkers with the bestial corps on the outside and bringing up the rear. The moment the bats were in sight the frost troll lieutenant looked towards Kiba and nodded. The young tiger replied with a wild smile before taking to the skies. He would start this battle with a grand wee. The lieutenant then looked at the other bunkers where the C-rank yuki-onnas were ced before raising his axe up above his head. Attack! He swiftly brought down his weapon and roared out his order instantly bringing life to the bunkers. Kiba also flew across the sky at tremendous speeds, brutally smashing into the swarm of bats with his ws outstretched. Crashing sounds and screeching could be heard as the massive tiger prated through the lines of bats, carving up their bodies as he passed, their wings in particr. Several bats that were still alive thus plummeted the forest floor wherein their next aggressors were waiting. The ice wolves and coeurl pups quickly dashed across the floor, wrapping the necks of the still iling bats in their jaws before snapping them with intense force, killing them outright. The quarrellers werent ones to gape at the sky while others were working, they loaded their bows and shot their arrows at the dozens of bats obscuring the tree tops -avoiding hitting Kiba of course. Thankfully the bats had pretty poor defence, the arrows dug in deep, killing several and dragging many more down to ground level where the bestial corps and remaining physicalbat users went to town. They moved with fierce intensity knowing that this was the best time to deal damage. The ghost would arrive in a few moments and the bats wouldnt fall for the same surprise twice. The death count of the bats quickly rose, ten, twenty, thirty but unfortunately all good things eventuallye to an end. The wails of the approaching ghosts grew louder, and many could now been seen drifting between and through the trees. One appeared silently behind an ice dwarf who was in the open after felling a couple bats. It didnt wail or even make the slightest kind of vibration. The ghost appeared to be made of translucent blue fog and wore a cloak covering most of its body and face. Arge ck scythe was held in its hands raised up high above its head. Without a single sound the scythe shed down through the air and cut through the ice dwarfs back. No blood could be seen but the dwarfs skin where the de passed greyed and the light in his eyes dwindled, his soul had been snuffed out and devoured by the ghost. Physical monsters fall back now! The frost troll lieutenant saw what happened and couldnt stop his skin from crawling. The ice dwarf died just like that without a sound, it was so eery and bone chilling. What killed the dwarf was an upper D-ranked ghost called a reaper; skilled users of scythes and like all ghosts translucent in form but unlike its lower ranked kin it made no sound, no wailing, a silent killer. The ice dwarf didnt even know what happened before he died. The lieutenants orders were carried out immediately as he wasnt the only one who saw the death of the ice dwarf. Floods of ice magic swiftly bombarded the area where the physical monsters once were, barring the progression of the ghosts even killing a few of the lower ranked ones. Bats that didnt make it out in time also died under this deluge, a significant chunk of them being killed at the onset of confrontation. A very weak monster in terms of defence now however they would be attacking in earnest. Roar!!! Kiba roared out as his immacte fur was covered in blood, some of which was actually his. The bats had very fierce ws and fangs and though he easily ploughed through them, killing many he didnte out unscathed. The freezing vampire bats in particr left some nasty gashes across his torso. Kiba fall back and lead them to the quarrellers and ballistae! Elementals move forward and mage castes rain ice upon those ghosts, limit their movements for the yuki-onnas! The lieutenant hollered out order after order to which his soldiers followed without question. Kiba swooped backwards after taunting the remaining swarm of bats causing them to follow close behind. The ballistae and quarrellers thus opened fire cutting down scores and scores of flyers while the mage castes did their best to restrict the movements of the ghosts but unfortunately that proved to be far more difficult. The magic only really restricted the lower ranked ghosts, the D-ranks simply walked or rather floated on through with several even casting their own magic, the magic of the dead. Chapter 396 396 Chapter 396: Unique monster creation (7) The real danger had arrived, the ghosts. The bats though flying monsters with fairly fierce ws and fangs paled inparison to the threat generated by the horde of ghost monsters. Frosts forces were unfortunately poorly equipment against such enemies. The physical attackers fled desperately on the frost troll lieutenants order but not all were quick enough, just like the unfortune ice dwarf a fair few were caught by the ghosts ethereal weapons or even by their very hands. Eerily their fog like bodies would slip through their armour and skin, attacking their very souls, snuffing out their life force yet barely leaving a mark. If the heart and or major organs were avoided the victim may very well survive but the damage would be extensive and regr healing spells and low level potion struggled to heal such injuries given their cursed nature. An ice wolf that wasnt quite quick enough with its retreat saw one of its hindlegs caught by the hands of one of the D-rank ghosts, a mourning phantom. Equipped with a descended jaw, dpidated lower body, expanded torso and long,rge hands perfect for grabbing prey, a very frightening monster. The ice wolfs leg was held in ce by the ethereal ghost preventing its retreat and within moments the once strong leg covered in beautiful white fur rapidly withered as though it aged decades in that short moment. Awoooooo! The caught ice wolf let out a painful wail, the agony brought on by a rapidly decaying limb was quite intense. Its body iled desperately trying to escape the mourning phantoms clutches but to no avail. Its grip was strong and tightening the longer it held the leg in ce. The mourning phantom sported a famished expression as well as delight that its hunger was about to be sated. The withering gradually moved up the ice wolfs leg, corrupting it further and phantoms other hand moved to grab the other hindleg so as to elerate the devouring. ..... The ice wolf panicked and cried out for aid, fear clearly present in its eyes, it didnt want to die and certainly not at the hands of this ghastly creature who wouldnt even spare its soul. Sever it! A loud pained voice floated through the trees and a momentter arge,plicated magic crest appeared in between the ice wolf and mourning phantom. [Wall of ice] A yuki-onna who received the lieutenants orders summoned arge wall of ice in between the two monsters, severing the ice wolfs leg as it rose from the ground thus saving its life. With the hold being severed the ice wolfs pulling force catapulted it forward where a coeurl pup was ready and waiting to aid its injuredrade. A lost leg could be mended and meant nothing inparison to ones life. The ice wolf was smart enough to realise this. It looked towards the mainmand bunker where the frost troll lieutenant and yuki-onna were stationed, gratitude in its gaze before relying on itsrade to get it away from the battlefield. A deluge of ice spells followed once the physical attackers had cleared the area, preventing the ghosts forward march. Ice rained down and sprung from the ground with intense ferocity, yet such aggressive magic attacks barely made a dent. The weaker F and E-rank ghost suffered the most, their ghastly forms twisting and bing dimmer under the onught but very few actually died. The upper E-ranks and D-rank monsters however werepletely unphased, the ice spells having little to no effect on their ethereal bodies with some even being strengthened by them instead. This was not a good sign. Mage castes dont let up, keep firing without end. We need to keep them at bay and deal with the bats first! The frost troll lieutenant roared out knowing that seeing such a result would be bad for morale. He couldnt have his soldiers feel disheartened at such an early stage. Though the lieutenant put on a brave face and sounded confident his hands were trembling with primal fear. He himself was only an upper D-rank monster and one that had very little in terms of defence against such monsters. Just like the unfortunate ice dwarf if he was struck by a reapers scythe thered be very little he could do. His eyes shook in fear at that moment as he remembered that the reapers werent even the strongest of the ghosts attacking them, there was still the wraiths. Lady Nanna where are the wraiths? He needed to know this information immediately as a single attack from one of these creatures could spell the end of any defence he mounted. Even the yuki-onnas would struggle to contain such a beast. The two of them are still at the rear of the horde. They seem slower than the rest of the ghosts and the dense arrangement of the trees seems to be causing them a little difficulty. I guess passing through objects isnt as simple as it looks. Nanna replied after a few seconds, still struggling to pay close attention to the dungeon viewer while the ghosts ran amok. Well at least theres some good news. The lieutenant let out a sigh of relief, they could manage the current situation while also killing the bats. The longer it took the wraiths to arrive the better. The lieutenant then turned to face the yuki-onnas stationed within the same bunker. Dont let up on your 3rd circle magic, keep firing without end. But what about the wraiths and the rest of the ghosts? If we keep firing at this intensity well run out of mana in a matter of minutes. The first yuki-onna, the one that evolved from the lesser yuki-onna spoke up with a confused tone. She was effectively the leader of the yuki-onnas given her seniority and thought that given her station she should be the one to speak up. I know but we dont have a choice. Only 3rd circle spells really work against these enemies, you guys are the only ones that can effectively kill them, the others can only stall for time. Haaaaaa I know its not practical but its all we can do, follow my order yuki-onna. The frost troll lieutenant radiated an air of authority as he spoke, he wouldnt condone insubordination. Tsk! The yuki-onna, leader of the magic corps couldnt help but re up, her pseudo aura as a C-rank monster and her powerful mana radiated out on instinct. The frost troll lieutenant was only a D-rank monster, a stand in for Finy. Being talked down to by someone so much weaker was a blow to her pride but.... Haaaaaaa fine, his majesty put you in charge during his and Finys absence, so I wont go against your orders, but it doesnt mean I agree with them. The yuki-onna powered down, easing the tension. You wouldnt be an officer if you couldnt think for yourself. The frost troll lieutenant showed a smile, appreciating the yuki-onnas outburst and subsequent eptance. Thankfully it didnt end up in brawl because he would have lost for sure. You and your magic corps have free reign in regards to using low-level mana potions, Lady Nanna and Master Loki have also agreed to open up the reserves of mid-level potions. Use them at your own discretion. Surviving this wave is imperative, the cost is irrelevant were the words spoken by Lady Nanna. At his words an ice dwarf came up with arge bag filled with mana potions and handed them to the yuki-onnas and some of their subordinates. The leader yuki-onna grabbed hold of a mid-level mana potion and showed off a grand smile. Hehehehe that changes things. She tossed the mana potion up into the air before catching it with a flourish. She then proceeded to chant the aria for the 3rd circle spell [blizzara]. The resulting explosion of ice killed an E-rank ghost and injured a D-rank mournful phantom. You heard themander boys and girls, rain ice upon those ghosts. In response the yuki-onnas, the lesser yuki-onnas, dwarven mages and even the frost troll mage castes in their few numbers all showed maddened expressions. They had been subconsciously holding back a little, fearful about their mana levels and the condition of their mana veins but with an endless supply of mana potions that was no longer a problem. They could go all out with their magic and enjoy the exhration it brought. The frost troll lieutenant smiled and clenched his fist, with the magic corps going all out the ghosts would be held in ce. His gaze then drifted upwards towards the swarm of bats that lingered in the tree canopy and above. The vast majority were being led by the nose by Kiba, but many others moved to attack the bunkers and even chased after the escaping physical attackers. Ill definitely have to report this situation to Master once its all over. We really need a flying corps, Kiba alone is not enough. Right now Frost only had ess to some low rank owls and the C-rank flyer the cial manta. That however was not geared for battle merely a material hub. After this wave however he should have ess to at least some of these bat monsters. Their speed, swarm capabilities and aggressive attacks could be put to good use. Chapter 397 397 Chapter 397: Unique monster creation (8) Kiba flew through the air rapidly, dragging behind him a vast swarm of tens of bat monsters, each one desperate to rip him to shreds and devour his sulent flesh. The freezing vampire bats in particr seemed even more energetic after getting a small taste. Kiba never thought of himself as prey before but assumed that given his awesomeness he must be super tasty. He wasnt exactly wrong either, the higher the rank of a monster the more mana they have saturated within their bodies providing not only great nourishment for those who prey on such monsters but fantastic vour. Ancient dragon steak for example though impossible to be found in any kingdom or empire is said to be so delicious that one can ascend to the heavens after a small bite. Kiba was not an ancient dragon so his meat wouldnt have such an effect, but he was a cial winged tiger and one with quite high potential at that. The taste of his flesh is therefore quite sulent, more than enough to drive the already frenzied bats into an even deeper frenzy. Quarrellers shot arrow after arrow and ballista bolt after ballista bolt into the chasing horde, felling bat after bat but the swarm seemed almost endless and Kiba was getting more and more tired not to mention the effects of the poison. His high pace movements pumped the freezing vampire bats poison throughout his blood stream and into his organs. Grrrrrrrr! The moment the poison invaded his lungs Kiba lurched in the air, assaulted by a freezing pain in his chest, his wings then stiffened, slowing his speed right down. An almost mocking look appeared on the faces of the freezing vampire bats, they knew that their poison had taken effect. It wouldnt be enough to kill a tiger or even seriously wound it, but it would be enough to slow down its movements. Thus the bat swarm under the lead of the freezing vampire bats increased their speed and readied their fangs and ws. ..... Kiba lurched for but a second but that was enough for the frontliners to reach his rear and sink their fangs in deep. Roaaaarrrrr! Kiba roared out in fury, ignoring the pain in his chest and the stiffness in his wings and limbs he quickly rotated his body and viscously bit onto the attacking bats, crushing their skulls with his powerful jaws. Roooooooaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrr! Seeing more about to attack Kiba unleashed one of his skills, [Tigers roar]. Visible sound waves burst out from Kiba, radiating outwards like ripples on ake. Those caught in the waves cked out, their bodies instinctively freezing in the air. The [tigers roar] skill amplified the natural frequency of Kibas roar, osciting in such a way that those who hear it lose control of their bodies as though overrun with fear. Other than dragons, tigers were the only other known species to have such natural skills, a testament to their predatory kingship. The bats with their advanced hearing capabilities suffered even more than most. The ones closest to Kiba had their eardrums burst and blood drain from their orifices as they plummeted to their doom. Those further away merely suffered the loss of control for a few seconds but for some that was enough time to crash onto the forest floor, hard. Several damaged their wings, their flying days over, thus easy pickings for the quarrellers who were protected not only by the distance but also the branches and structures of the bunkers. They helped nullify the waves, thus allowing them to escape the damage, something that they and Kiba were very grateful for. Kiba in his anger didnt think of his allies down below when he invoked his skill, thankfully they were in the bunkers otherwise hed be wracked with guilt. Grrrrrrrr! Kiba groaned out as he forced himself to slowly descend near themand bunker. His wounds were quite extensive, opened wider by his aggressive movements and his use of a unique skill. The poison had also tunnelled deeper, his face now looking rather pale and in pain. Kiba shuffled into the bunker before copsing on the ground. He looked towards the frost troll lieutenant in an apologetic manner before passing out. He was done with this battle. Kiba! Kiba! Both Nanna and Loki cried out through the dungeon menu, their hearts lurching in pain. Over the past couple weeks the two of them had gotten really close to Kiba and treated him like family, they even slept together frequently. Seeing him covered in wounds and falling unconscious was difficult to watch. A dwarven priest and frost troll witch doctor both quickly moved to inspect Kiba under the orders of the lieutenant. The two utilised their mana and inherent knowledge to inspect his wounds and internals before they both let out a sigh of relief. Hell be fine, the wounds look worse than they are. He passed out due to the poison but given Kibas natural resistance his life isnt in any danger. The frost troll witch doctor gave his diagnosis and the priest concurred. Did you hear that Lady Nanna, Master Loki, Kiba will be fine. He just needs to rest and wait for the poison to pass through his system. The lieutenant soothed the childrens worries with his report as well as his own. Kiba was a powerful fighter andmander of the bestial corps but more than that he was their lords mount, his battle partner. If anything happened to him the consequences would be dire, Frosts wrath was not something he wanted to see/endure. Angered by the downing of Kiba the quarrellers shot with increased ferocity, ending many of the stunned bats before they could get back up however they couldnt get all of them. Without Kiba its going to be a lot harder to take out these damn bats. The ice revenant by the lieutenants side clenched his fists as he cursed. Kiba was the perfect draw and their only flyingbatant without him there to draw their ire the bats would spread out, attacking from all angles and cause havoc. The mage castes couldnt be distracted during their bombardment. The elementals need to guard the frontline, stopping any ghosts that get through the bombardment, same with the revenants while you need to be at full strength to handle the wraiths. The frost troll lieutenant loudly tapped the log he was leaning against as ns flowed through his mind. His forces were already preupied, the quarrellers though good would struggle to take down the bats once they split up and focused their attacks on them or the bunkers instead of Kiba. The physical fighters could take them down but only when theyre at ground level. The frost toll lieutenants gaze drifted towards the bombarded area, he could see the appearances of the reapers and other high tier ghosts, bing more dense, they were amassing and slowly advancing. Sending a team of physical attackers even if the bats were at ground level would result in no small amount of deaths. The frost troll was at a point where he had to willingly sacrifice a bunch of his forces in order to take down the enemy, the pressure of such a decision weighed heavily on his mind. Haaaaaaa call up the spiders and the boars. After a few seconds of deep thought the lieutenant gave his orders. The spiders using their webs attacks would be able to bring the bats down to ground level, allowing the physical attackers to reach them. However the lieutenant didnt want to risk the bestial corps or the dwarven fighters thus the boars were the best alternative. Holding enough power to kill the downed foes but at the same time being cheap enough in terms of DP and usefulness in future waves that the loss of such monsters would be eptable, numbers wise. But in the end the lieutenant was ordering for a group of his forces to willingly enter a vtile battlefield wherein their chances for death were almost guaranteed. The bats were strong even if they were grounded, a fair match up against the boars but more importantly it was the proximity to the ghosts that was the real threat. The bombardment of ice magic only served to dy their advancement and gradually take out the weaker ghosts leaving the frost revenants and elementals to take on the ones that made it through. Behind them would be where the boars would take on the bats. Itd be foolish to believe that revenants and elementals to block every one of the ghosts, some were sure to slip by. At that time the boars would be met with ughter, unable to damage or even defend against their ethereal attacks theyd be akin to defencelessmbs. Their only hope was that they would be able to take out the bats before too many were lost. Understood Ill call them up immediately, they should be there within ten minutes, hold on until then. Nanna now moreposed after hearing of Kibas condition replied before moving to inform the reserve forces. Thankfully Frost thought that problems may arise during the stampede thus he made ample preparations for such scenarios. The vast majority of his monsters were all stationed nearby even if they were no longer part of the shift rotation. Chapter 398 398 Chapter 398: Unique monster creation (9) Thank you Lady Nanna, well endure till then. The frost troll lieutenant replied while thumping his chest. Ten minutes was neither a long nor a short time when it came to the battlefield, but it was the time they were given so he had to make it work. An endless cacophony of ice spells and wails erupted from the frontline. Ghosts were repeatedly pushed back into the deluge by the elementals and revenants, the frontline continued to hold in a fragile state. The wraiths were still nowhere to be seen but Loki was keeping his eyes peeled and reporting on their movements every 60 seconds. The reapers and simrly ranked ghosts continued to amass, the horde conjugating in the middle of the winter forest. Whatever they managed to kill seemed to be reced a momentter. The bats without Kiba leading them by the nose were free to attack any and all targets. Gliding deftly throughout the air like fish in water, repeatedly dodging the arrowsunched at them by the quarrellers. They spread out, no longer huddled together in a swarm,ying waste to the tops of the bunkers as well as any exposed monsters. The rate in which the bats fell was abysmal inparison to the start of this battle. Their reinforcements though fewer than the ghosts resulted in the quarrellers barely holding on. After 5 minutes the lieutenant was forced to redirect some of the mage castes to aid them in dealing with these foes, something the ghosts took advantage of. At nine minutes when things were bing really dire the boars and spiders arrived. The charge of the boars could be heard before they could be seen. The group responded to Nannas call without hesitation, charging towards the battlefield at full speed. The lieutenant felt relieved as he heard the whinnies and grunts of the boars. With them here along with the spiders they could finally deal with the annoyance that was the bats. With the arrival of reinforcements Frosts monsters were re-energised, increasing their attacks, pushing the frontlines back into the deluge of ice magic. The revenants and elementals would hold the ground, protecting the more vulnerable boars for as long as they could. ..... Spiders shoots your webs, bring down those damn bats! Boars crush and charge straight through, break them apart once they touch the floor! Quarrellers dont let up, keep those arrowsing! Mage squad 4 continue to assist, squad 5 do the same. We need to take out these flyers now! The frost troll lieutenant hollered his orders from within themand bunker, his hand gripping hard on the shaft of his axe. Elementals and revenants hold the line back no matter the cost for as long as you can! The frost toll lieutenant then looked towards some of the frost trolls and ice dwarves present within themand bunker. Regardless of the risk it was more important for them to take out the bats. Himself and the stronger physical fighters would enter the fray, hoping to eliminate the enemies flying forces as soon as possible. The wraiths, the two C-rank monsters that filled the lieutenant with dread were nearing, theyd be present on the frontline in a few minutes. Once that happened the defence line made up of revenants and elementals would shatter. Theyd be blown away by the monsters overwhelming power. The lieutenant and his assigned squad bravely charged out from the bunkers with their weapons raised high. They were supported by dozens of tough sticky webs firing from behind, covering arge area of the upper canopy. Scrriiiiiii! crrriiii! The bats screeched at high pitch as their wings were caught up in the webs, neutralising their mobility. Over a dozen bats thus fell to the forest floor, partially tied up in the webs before being met with either the charge of a boar or the sharp edge of a weapon. Blood covered the forest floor as did dozens of grotesque bat corpses. Whenever one area of the trees and sky was covered in webs and arrow fire theyd simply move to the next one, rinse and repeat. The ground force would quickly charge over and swiftly put an end to the bats before they could release themselves from the webs. The ground forces acted without defence, recklessly charging in, relying on speed and aggression to smite their prey and quickly move on to the next one. Such reckless action of course resulted in injuries and no few casualties. Over a dozen boars also littered the blood covered ground but they did not stop. The bats needed to be dealt with regardless of the cost. The bats seeing the deaths of theirrades and the pools of blood increased their frenzy, their eyes bing a deeper shade of red and almost bulging outwards as they flocked down onto the boars. Grasping them in their talons and biting down with their jaws, feasting on their sulent flesh. Minutes passed and the bats rapidly dwindled, the skies were no longer clouded by their vast wings or filled with their high pitch screeching but unfortunately time was up. The frost troll lieutenant visibly trembled as a strong warning filled his body. He rapidly turned around, looking in the direction of the ice spell bombardment and the valiantly fighting frost revenants and frost elementals. The reapers and other D-rank ghosts had begun to make their presence truly known, battling against the revenants and elementals with intense ferocity, letting a few E-rank ghost slip in between the lines and wreak havoc on the boars but that wasnt what filled his body with fear. Large ghostly apparitions easily 4 and half metres in height appeared behind the enemy lines. Adorned in ghostly robes that gave of some sort of elegance, nobility even. The two wraiths drifted through the trees and arrived at the battlefield at longst. Even the upper D-ranked reapers with their massive scythes were nothingpared to these monsters. Just by standing there they gave off an eery, terrifying presence that chilled the lieutenant to the bone. The ice revenant on the other hand felt his wisp like body re in excitement, his time to shine had finallye. Everyone bar the boars fall back into the bunkers now! The frost troll lieutenant though filled with fear at the sight of these two ghastly apparitions quickly powered through, swiftly giving the order to retreat, well for most anyway. There were still bats present that needed to be taken care of so they could survive the next phase. The boars unfortunately would need to stay in the line of fire until that wasplete. Like clockwork every one moved at his order. The ice dwarves, frost trolls and the lieutenant himself rushed to the bunkers to hunker down, they would be nothing but cannon fodder if left in the open. The quarrellers that still had ammunition continued to target the bats as did the spiders. The 4th and 5th magic squads redirected their focus to the ghosts, their jobs would was to now assist the revenants and elementals in their closebat battles while the rest of the corps continues to rain ice over the battle area. As the frost troll lieutenant made his way back into the safe confines of themand bunker he looked towards the ice revenant and the leader of the magic corps. Ill leave the rest to the two of you. He spoke in a solemn tone, his confidence wavering slightly as he held onto his left arm. While taking out the bats he had received more than a few gashes from their talons but the injury that caused him the most bother was the one inflicted by an E-rank phantom. It was just a shallow cut from its ethereal dagger, but the pain was immense, rattling him to the core. His left arm had gone limp and dulled in the area the dagger passed. He felt fear, true fear. Suddenly as his eyes began to shake and his body trembled a wisp like hand and delicate snow like handnded on his shoulders. Leave it to usmander hehehe. The ice revenant let out augh, his runic armour glowing in response to his excitement. Yes when ites to dealing with C-ranks it should be left to C-ranks. The yuki-onna, the leader of the magic corps, revealed a bright smile after downing a mid-level mana potion. The frost troll lieutenant stopped trembling at that moment, and he watched as the ice revenant and yuki-onna left the confines of the bunker and made their way to frontlines. His confidence returned and he clenched his fist before muttering under his breath. Good hunting. The lieutenants back straightened and he gave the two C-ranks a military salute before returning to his station. As the ice revenant revealed himself, the five frost revenant knights also moved from their own bunkers, ready to atst take part in the battle. The line of frost revenants and frost elementals was no longer enough to hold back the tide. Even now several E-rank ghosts could be seen slipping through the cracks to decimate the boar poption and even attempting to infiltrate the bunkers. Do you want the left one or the right one? Chapter 399 399 Chapter 399: Unique monster creation (10) Do you want the left one or the right one? The yuki-onna asked the ice revenant once the two of them stood side by side, facing down the terrifying wraiths from behind their respective frontlines. I think Ill take the one on the left hehehehe. The ice revenant made his choice and let loose a deepughter, his runic armour glowing brightly in response to his excitement. The n was for him the only ice revenant to handle one of the wraiths solo. He was the only one who could do such a thing given his species however he wasnt necessarily expected to win such a battle only to take his chosen wraith out of the main battlefield. A very tall ask given that Frost, Finy and Kiba had to work together to divert a single ursa, but they had a n. Do you have the device and the magic crystals? Right here under my chest te, dont worry I know the n. The ice revenants smile grew and grew along with his excitement. His task was incredibly difficult and dangerous, but he felt no fear only pride. He would fight ande out victorious, surprising everyone and bing their envy once Frost praised and rewarded his efforts. Alright, I guess Ill wish you luck then, youre gonna need it. The yuki-onna patted the ice revenants shoulder before sending a frosty re towards the wraith on the right. This would be the one she and her team would need to handle while also dealing with the many D-rank ghosts apanying it. She retreated several steps backwards allowing a frost revenant knight to take her ce, she was after all a spell caster, a rear guard. As if they were waiting for all of Frosts main fighters toe up to the te the wraiths patiently waited, gathering the reapers and other D-rank ghosts around them before making their move. Suddenly the two wraiths seemed to inte as they drew in mana from the surroundings alerting both the ice revenant and yuki-onna. Shit was about to go down. ..... [-] a momentter the wraiths let out cries full of anguish, they sang [whispers of the dead]], an eery luby unique to the dead. The notes were iprehensible, but they tug at the souls of the living, trying to rip them out from their corporal restraints. The revenants were fine as were the elementals, the song having little effect on them whose true body inhabited cores. The yuki-onnas and lesser yuki-onnas however struggled slightly, their spirit origins giving them some defence, but they could feel their souls resonating with the luby, not a nice feeling. The boars however had it the worst, they had no defence against such an attack, out in the open they were subjected to its full force. Their spirits/souls could be visibly seen as they were torn from their bodies and drawn into the descended mouths of the wraiths. A body without a soul was nothing but a hollow shell, a cursed shell at that. Those affected copsed onto ground, lifeless as their bodies quickly turned grey and ashen. The living monsters hidden away in the bunkers as well as the three watching from the private space shivered uncontrobly as fear sunk in. Tsk! The yuki-onna loudly clicked her tongue before starting to cast a 3rd circle spell. [Blizzara] She aimed for right between the heads of the wraiths. Arge crystal of ice was thus summoned in that location encapsting the heads of the wraiths before shattering with a loud boom. The luby of the dead ended thanks to her quick action however she was not pleased. Damn ice resistance. She bit her nails inint as the ice dust faded away, revealing the two wraiths unhurt in the slightest. She really wasnt a good match up for these foes but what choice did she have. What? Are you just going to stand there like idiots, get to work! She roared out, frustrated by theck of damage produced by her spell. Hehehehehe you heard thedy, move out! The ice revenantughed loudly before charging forward, his great sword at the side ready to cleave apart the ghost ahead of him. He imbued his sword with the [ice enchantment] so as to give it magical property. The knights did the same thing before rampaging forward, enacting an offensive strategy instead of a defensive one. The mass bombardment of ice magic in the area stopped as well, instead defence ice imbuements were added to the revenants and elementals before narrowing down their targets. Wide area attacks would no longer be effective, the only way they could kill these ghost monsters was by stacking spells on top of one another. The two wraiths let out angry wails before readying theirrge scythes and moving forward. The reapers and other D-ranks moved in concert, charging straight at the line of revenants and elementals, screeching as they did. As the two lines mmed into one another the expected boom that normally happens was absent. It was quiet and chilling, their weapons though imbued with the ice enchantments could harm the ghosts, but they still didnt give off vibration when in contact. The same held true for the ethereal weapons, they were simply rebuffed by the ice, unable to prate, soundless. No blood was spilled either, very different from the usual waves. The ice revenant knowing his role in the n barrelled through the cascade of defending ghosts, shing horizontally with his great sword to move them out the way. He didnt care whether they died from that sh or not he just needed to get face to face with one of the wraiths. However getting through the front was fine but the rear was not easy. The reapers with theirparable size and massive scythes werent so easily blown away by his swings. The ice revenant quickly found his momentum lost and was surrounded by reapers. He underestimated his foes and overestimated his own abilities. Well shit! The ice revenant had to quickly raise his great sword to block a reapers scythe. Though it was formless he could feel intense weight behind the de given that it couldnt pass through his ice encrusted weapon. After that scythe there was another and another and another, the ice revenant was slowly but surely being pushed back to the frontline, his progress proving fruitless, only serving to drain his stamina. [Jaws of ice] arge magic crest appeared on the floor underneath his reaper attackers before sharp spikes of ice in the form of a massive jaw mped down on the reapers. Youve got about 2 seconds! The yuki-onna shouted out. Her 3rd circle trapping skill was pretty useless against ethereal creatures such as ghosts, but it would hold them in ce for a brief moment while their adjust their bodies. And a couple seconds was all the ice revenant needed. As though they held perfect teamwork the ice revenant dashed forward even before the yuki-onna shouted. He passed by the 3 reapers, dodged another and force back two more with a sword skill before finallying face to face with the left wraith who was far more imposing and terrifying once he got up close. Sorry big boy, looks like youre only going to get to y with me hehehehehe. The ice revenantughed out loud as he ducked at thest minute, narrowly avoiding the wraiths scythe before putting all his strength into his legs. With his great sword held horizontally before him the ice revenant charged forward right into the wraiths torso pushing it backwards. Once he and the wraith were several metres clear of the other ghosts the ice revenant removed a magic device from under his chest te, it was the barrier device Frost found in the [beginners ice magic] monsterir. An upper D-rank magic crystal was slotted into the cavity before the ice revenant tossed it to the floor. Arge, dense sphere then encapsted him and the wraith, separating them from the rest of the battle. Now no one will bother us. The ice revenant ced his great sword across his shoulders and beckoned the wraith with his outstretched hand, taunting it. Waaaaaaaiiiiiiilllllllll! Clearly aggravated by the ice revenants taunt the wraith picked itself up and charged forward with its scythe. It didnt care about the barrier around them or the other ghosts, its entire focus was on the ice revenant. Crack! The forest floor underneath the ice revenant generated loud cracking sounds as he withstood the wraiths blow, he needed to know what he was dealing with. Fuck! Boom! The ice revenant not expecting such weight was forced to his knee, his runic armour groaning from the pressure. Tsk looks like that damn woman was right, Im gonna need luck in this battle. While the ice revenant started his duel with the left wraith the other one screeched out in anger, before joining the frontline. With a single swing from itsrge scythe an unfortunate frost revenant was sent reeling backwards, the wisp like energy powering its runic armour dimmed from the blow. A nearby frost elemental that tried to help was cut in twain, its core shed by the wraiths ethereal scythe and instantly snuffed of life force. Crap! The yuki-onna cursed and snapped one nails with her teeth, the wraith was stronger than she hoped, they were in for a real uphill battle now. Chapter 400 400 Chapter 400: Unique monster creation (11) Don Don Don Bodies continued to fall lifelessly to the ground as the battle waged on. Those killed by the ghosts would see their skin turn grey and ashen, their corpses bing cursed entities, ruining their material value. The ghosts that perished left nothing but a small amount of ectosm, the concentrated essence of their being, a key ingredient in many potions and artificing blueprints. However in the grand melee that was the current battlefield this ectosm became corrupted, impure as the blood of the many deceased boars seeped in, dyeing it red. Its value also plummeting. This was a battle filled with loss both in life and money. But such a situation was the least of their worries right now, the ghosts were formidable enemies, too formidable in many cases. Ahhhhh! Whinnieeeee! Plop, Plop! Screams from the lesser yuki-onnas and dwarves rang out frequently as they took attacks from ethereal weapons, the front line-upposing of the revenants and elementals was inplete tatters. Less than 3 boars remained on the battlefield, the rest were either ripped apart by the bats or had their souls snuffed out by a ghost. ..... The elementals that were once 20 strong now had less than a quarter still standing, continuing to wage battle with the ghosts despite being overwhelmed. In death their liquid like bodies would lose all internal integrity, copsing onto the forest floor in syrupy puddles. Their cores crashing to the ground, hollow and powerless. The revenants given their superior strength and resistances were holding up much better but even then they were outnumbered, their losses quickly escting. The leader of the magic corps the first yuki-onna had a fierce expression on her face. She held a dying lesser yuki-onna in her arms, powerless to watch as the girls limbs became grey, and she screamed out in pain. The yuki-onna and other spells casters tried on multiple asions to excise the cursed energy left by the ghosts cursed bodies and ethereal weapons, but their efforts all ended in vain. Even the dwarven priests and frost troll witch doctor were powerless in this regard, stating that their abilities to deal with curses especially those of the dead were too primitive to help and that doing so would in fact only hasten the curse. The yuki-onna had had to watch as many of her subordinates andrades fell to the ghosts, her magic and that of her corps not enough to stop the onught, least of all that monster. Her gaze betrayed a mixture of fear and hatred as she looked at the main cause for such upheaval. The wraith, the one that wasnt locked in a solo duel was pretty much impervious to all their attempts to bring it down. Even the casting of three 3rd circle spells at once only managed to jolt the thing backwards a few metres, dealing minimal damage at best. Theirpatibility was just that bad and unfortunately the frost revenants and their stronger knight variants werent a match for it physically either. With its massive scythe the wraith was simr to the ice revenant onlyrger and even harder to deal with. Each swing would force back the attackers, frequently scarring their runic armours each time and that was without the use of skills. Like other C-rank monsters the wraith came with an arrangement of unique abilities such as the [luby of the dead], weapon skills for its scythe as well as magic. Death magic an unorthodox branch of magic but under the right circumstances it can be nearly unrivalled. A dense battlefield such as the one taking ce right now was one such circumstance. The blood, the bodies, the bones all of them could be used through death magic, controlled and manipted at will. A very, very powerful branch of magic yet very weak against opposing elements such a light and fire. Fortunately it was just a wraith that the dungeon was faced with and not a lich, so its death magic was more offensive based i.e. turning the loose blood into spikes, summoning bones and attacking the souls of their targets thus they didnt need to deal with an endless undead army created from the corpses of their deceased allies. Otherwise their situation would be even more perilous. However even though it was not a lich, among the dungeons forces not a single one was capable of using its antithesis elements thus even a wraith was near impossible to take down. Hell even killing of a D-rank reaper took a mountain of targeted effort let alone a C-rank wraith, the situation right now was not looking good. Their forces were now but a fraction of what they started with thus more and more ghosts were making it passed the line and attacking the bunkers. Drifting through to reach the vulnerable dwarves inside. The frost troll lieutenant donned a serious expression, his face was pale, and his limbs were trembling. [Invigorating shout] he roared out his group enhancing skill once again before copsing to his knees, his breathboured and vision shaking. Those hiding within he bunkers were all useless in a straight up confrontation with the ghosts. Their flesh bodies and inherent elements meant that they sported little to no defence in regards to their attacks. Thus whenever his strength returned and the boost wore off the frost troll lieutenant would recast his skill, helping out the revenants, yuki-onnas and elementals as much as he could. But even with his actions the group were being pushed back and pushed back hard. There was now little distance between themand bunker and the frontline. The aggressive attacks of the ghosts had pushed the revenants and elementals back one metre at a time, gradually grinding down their strength and eliminating them one by one. Thest of the bats had finally been killed 30 seconds ago but the damage had already been done. They now no longer had enough forces to stall their approach. The bnce was tipping, all it needed was a slight push and then everything would copse. The revenants and elementals would be pushed aside and stabbed by multiple enemies while others would swarm into the bunkers unabated,ying waste to the rest. Crack! The frost trolls knuckles cracked as he clenched his fist with all his strength. He looked over to the yuki-onna, a message hidden in his gaze. The yuki-onna feeling his stare turned around and stared back, her heart lurching slightly, she knew what was about to happen. In a brief second their thoughts were expressed, the yuki-onna bit her lower lip, drawing blood and shook her head, stating that this battle was unwinnable. Haaaaaaaa The frost troll lieutenant let out a deep sigh before speaking. Lady Nanna, Master Loki it seems that we cant win this battle. Well likely be overrun in under ten minutes.....Im sorry I have failed in my duty. The lieutenant then punched a nearby log, his nearby subordinates looking downcast. ....No youve done well frost troll lieutenant; you have nothing to be ashamed of. The voice of either a young girl or boy that the lieutenant expected to hear was instead one belonging to a man and one in which he knew well. M...M...Master? The frost troll lieutenant stuttered as his heart was overwhelmed. Dont worry reinforcements will be there shortly. Leave the rest of the battle to them. Frost spoke full of confidence and with a wild smile. Ugh ugh yes understood master. The lieutenant responded in confusion before themunication was cut. He nkly turned around, looking at his subordinates and the forest behind them. What did master say? One of the ice dwarves present asked, worry clear on his face. The battles current situation wasnt hidden from them in the slightest. ....Master is sending reinforcements. Reinforcements? What kind of reinforcements? ....He didnt say. Meanwhile within the spherical barrier holding the second wraith and the ice revenant. Bang! For the umpteenth time the ice revenant was mmed against the barriers walls that had by now given their violent exchanges dimmed in colour. Fuck that hurts woah! Just as the ice revenant wasining he was forced to dodge the wraiths next swing. His once majestic runic armour was now covered in cracks and his wisp like internal body was flickering as though a match in a breeze. Yet the wraith seemed to be almost perfect in form, a littlecking in its lower extremities but still strong enough tounch heavy swing after heavy swing. In terms of mastery over their weapons the ice revenant was slightly weaker than the wraith thus he tended to lose out when directly confronting it. His magic was also pretty useless, the only thing he had going for him was his half spirit like body that truly resided within a core thus allowing him to escape the majority of damage. However the wraith was in a simr position, its body took blow after blow from his great sword yet sported little to no injury and unlike him it didnt need to cast magic on its weapon in order to deal damage. The ice revenant was truly outmatched. ZZZZzzzzzzZZZ! The wraiths scythe pierced through the barrier, its defences finally giving way after this gruelling battle. Waaaaiiiiiillllllll! The wraith wailed out in anger before swiftly rotating, getting the ice revenant in its sights once again. [C] Suddenly a magic crest appeared on the ice revenants chest and tendrils of ghost like tentacles emerged. Shit not this again! The ice revenant thrashed around trying to break the tendrils but to no avail, he was too weakened. In but a moment his entire torso was wrapped up tight in these tendrils. His body restricted by the tendrils was forced upwards, floating him a few centimetres from the ground before the spells machinations drew him towards the wraith and its outstretched hand. Once in the wraiths clutches the monster screamed in his face before smashing him hard against the punctured barrier, generating spiderweb cracks. Seeing as this wasnt enough the wraith raised its scythe up high and smashed it against the ice revenants torso, sending hisrge body careening through the barrier and back into the true battlefield. Chapter 401 401 Chapter 401: Unique monster creation (12) The ice revenant skidded across the forest floor thanks to wraiths mighty blow. The light shing across his runic armour dimmed further, threating to go out entirely, he was truly hurt this time. Horrible grinding and cracking sounds could be heard as the ice revenant struggled to pull himself together and stand once more. He had to use his great sword as a crutch, his legs no longer able to support his weight. The ice revenants me wisp eyes flickered like an exposed me in a breeze. He turned his head around, taking in the sights of the current battlefield. Piles of boar and bat corpses could be seen strewn across the ground, partially submerged in puddles of red blood. Lifeless orbs and silent heaps of runic armour could also be seen, the corpses of his revenant brothers and the frost elementals who made up the front lines. Ghosts still a plenty swarmed those that still lived, ganging up on what was left with their superior numbers. The yuki-onna who had wished him luck in his battle had pronounced veins across her fair face as she forced herself to cast spell after spell in attempt to push back the ghosts, to no avail of course. Screams rang throughout the area as dwarves, trolls and spiders were ughtered by the enemy. The ghosts no longer obstructed made there way into the bunkers, killing those who dwelled there without mercy,mbs to the ughter. Even themand bunker which held superior forces like the frost troll lieutenant and the still unconscious Kiba wasnt spared from their attacks. Thankfully however it still stood strong but for how long. ..... The ice revenant felt a wave of emotions as he took in this reality, pain, hatred, anger and finally despair. He was charged with keeping one of the wraiths upied, sealing himself and it in an enclosed barrier, protecting the rest of hisrades from its attacks. The rest would thus work together to handle the other one. His gaze thus drifted towards that second wraith which was supposed to be managed by the yuki-onna and the frost troll lieutenant. The monster appeared to by just as spry as his opponent, sporting little to no damage. Boom! The ice revenant ovee with despair punched the ground, neither he nor hisrades seeded in their tasks, the enemy still stood and with overwhelming strength..... they had failed. A depressed chuckle escaped from the ice revenant as he forced himself to stand, his great sword rising with great difficulty. Come on then, if I am to die Ill die fighting. The ice revenant faced off against the approaching wraith with fierce determination. He was a soldier, one who had failed in his mission. The only way to erase such a disgrace was to die bravely in battle, refusing to give way to the enemy. The ice revenant calmed his breathing and raised his great sword high into the air. The sword madly sucked in the ambient mana from the nearby area causing the air to howl. The ice revenants eyes that looked as though they could flicker out at any minute suddenly zed with incredibly strength. The aura surrounding the revenant became sharp, dominating and frigid, he was using his strongest move, one that would sap thest of his strength. [Rending of the ice king]! The ice revenants great sword howled with power, glowing as it hurtled downwards in an attempt to cleave the wraith in twain. The blurry image of a mighty ice king appeared behind the revenant enhancing his aura and the power of his attack. This was a devasting blow like no other, he was putting his all into this strike, hoping to finally deal a major blow in this one sided duel. The wraith feeling the pressure emitted by the ice revenant and the danger of such a devasting strike didnt take it lightly. [C] The wraith used one of its own weapon skills, preparing to meet the ice revenants blow head on. ck tendrils grew and attached themselves to wraiths scythe, dyeing its former ghostly blue colour, ck and turning the weapon almost corporal. An eery aura and deathly essence was now held in the scythe, a simple cut from such a weapon could curse a living entity, rapidly corrupting them like a vicious poison. Rahhhhhhhhhhhh! Waaaaaaiiiiiilllllll! Both the revenant and the wraith roared out as they swung their enhanced weapons. Boooooooommm! The air exploded at the point of contact, sending plumes of snow, blood and pieces of nearby corpses into the air. The ice revenants great sword and the wraiths scythe were held in ce against one another with neither giving way, a draw....or so it seemed at first. Gyah! The revenant groaned in pain as he felt the countershock of the blow. Therge opening across his chest and the dozens of cracks spanning his runic amour erged considerably, it was a miracle he was still in one piece. His eyes however still held that same fierce me, he wasnt done yet. Ahhhhhhhhh! With thest of his strength the ice revenant roared out once more. He took a powerful step forward and pushed back the wraiths scythe, he refused to lose. His greatest technique would not end in a draw, hed at least take something from the wraith. Harsh grinding erupted from the two weapons, the ck tendrils had given the scythe a solid form akin to metal, thus the de was no longer ethereal. The ice revenant as though in a state of madness summoned strength beyond his means, the wraith was being pushed back, its weapons crying out from the pressure. Waaaaaiiiiiiiilllllllll! Furious by the ice revenants actions the wraith screamed and tried to push back with all its strength but for the first time since they started fighting it was unable to win against him. Its body was gradually pushed backwards, its scythe pushed closer and closer to its chest. It felt as though it was fighting against cier, an insurmountable weight. [C] Seeing as physical means wasnt working the wraith casted magic. Two magic crests appeared on the floor beside it summoning bones spikes. They swiftly grew and pierced into the ice revenants shoulders, sliding in through already present cracks and out the other side. Pleased with the result the wraith showed a hideous smile but that quickly faltered. The ice revenant was still pushing, and its scythe was still moving closer and closer to its chest and groaning from the pressure. Idiot. The ice revenant muttered under his breath before taking another forceful step forward. The hastily summoned bone spikes shattered, and his great sword pressed down with intense ferocity. Cr....crack! Wooosh! Suddenly the pressure became too much, the wraiths scythe cracked before ultimately shattering into fragments. The ice revenants great sword continued unbated shing down across the wraiths exposed torso. Dooooonnnnn! Arge gash appeared across the wraiths torso where the great sword passed. The wraith was sent flying back several metres and the great sword with its target lost crashed against the forest floor and the ice revenant sapped of all his strength copsed a momentter. The great swordy on the ground next to an immobile and highly damaged set of runic armour. Slight flickers could still be seen inside the armour, the ice revenant was still conscious but barely. He didnt even have enough energy to celebrate all he could do was take in the view of his damaged enemy. The opposing wraith wailed and screamed in fury as its ghostly body repeatedly tried to patch up the wound. Its ethereal form now sported arge open gash across its chest that refused to fully close. Though like the ice revenant the wraith didnt have a flesh body that would sumb to such a wound it did require energy to maintain its form. Something this gash was rapidly depleting. Its scythe which was shattered was thus unable to be repaired. The ice revenant may not have been able to kill his enemy, but he made sure to take out a lot of its offense capability, he was proud of that at least. The ice revenant smiled internally as thest vestiges of his consciousness started to drift off. The wraith sporting a face full of wrath floated over to his body. It reached down with its ethereal hand and entered his torso before pulling out his core where his soul resided. As long as there was no battle or danger the ice revenant could slip into his core and recuperate, returning to battle ready duty after a few days or so. But if his core was taken or destroyed it would be a true death, the wraith obviously knew that. The ghostly apparition ripped out the ice revenants core and slowly increased its grip strength, causing the core to groan under the pressure and even develop cracks. The wraith was killing him slowly out of spite, a sadistic expression present on its face as it did so. It was taunting the ice revenant for his failure, his weakness and loss. Before the core shatteredpletely the wraith raised it over its mouth and opened wide, it nned to devour the ice revenants core. Though it wasnt a living being the energy stored within should help alleviate its hunger. As the wraith was about to drop the ice revenants core into itsrge mouth the sound of trees rustling, and the ground shaking could be heard as well as a voice. [ice me bullet] Chapter 402 402 Chapter 402: Frosts unique monster race As the wraith was about devour the ice revenants core, ending his life permanently, the forest rustled. Heavy and rapid footsteps quickly drew closer to the battlefield, shaking the ground and even the nearby trees, something wasing, something big and numerous. A calm yet strong voice could then be heard. [Ice me bullet] In response to this voice a small yetplicated magic crest formed and summoned a silver me in the shape of a bullet. The ming bullet wasposed of mortal level cold mes, the nearby trees formed ice crystals as it passed them at high speed. The bullet arrived before the wraith in a matter of moments just before the monster was about to drop the ice revenants core. The sudden attack caught the monster by surprise. In shock it rapidly let go of the ice revenants core and moved to defend itself with its arm, something about the spell felt different from the previous ice spells it had endured. The appearance of mes also sent a wave of fear down the wraiths back overpowering the frenzied state imposed by the stampede. Ghosts feared the light and mes at the most primal level. Sssssssssssss! Waaaaaaaaiiiiiiiilllllllllll!!!!! The moment the [ice me bullet] made contact with the wraith its ghostly form started to burn and sizzle, making the wraith feel extreme pain. In its panic it retreated backwards waving its burning arm to alleviate the pain and put out the fire, but its attempts seemed to only aggravate the situation, spreading the me. The silver me looked as though it was feasting on the wraiths body, growing stronger the longer it was in contact. All of the ghost monster monsters in the vicinity stopped what they were doing, their eyes showing intense levels of fear as they watched the wraith slowly burn in agony. The second wraith was also stunned in ce, its primal instincts taking over. The yuki-onna and frost troll lieutenant however looked on in confusion, the yuki-onna especially. Though the ice me was fire it was still of the ice element how could it generate such an intense reaction. ..... Her along with the rest of the remaining forces turned around to look behind themand bunker where the silver bullet originated. The moment all eyes were drawn in their direction the reinforcements promised by Frost appeared. There were at least a dozen entities, each of which being at the very least 3 metres tall perhaps even over 4. Some were on the ground whereas others were leaping across the trees like they were on t ground. Muscr, bipedal creatures with resilient blue skin and beautiful white hair adorned in different styles to show off individuality. Sharp ws attached at the ends of their hands and feet, and a long tail ending in a puff of white hair, a bncing aid as well as another form of attack. These new monsters had the face of a tiger and a sharp, thick horn growing from their foreheads that aided them in their mana maniption. A brand new monster species, simr to that of the tiger beastkin yet also different. This was Frosts creation, the culmination of his hard work over the past few weeks. His unique monster race, the Ronso. The leader of these dozen or so Ronsos was the one to cast the [ice me bullet] spell, saving the ice revenant from permanent death and seriously damaging the wraith. He was a little taller than the others, his muscles appearing even more defined and his horn glowing ever so slightly. He was armed with a halberd even taller than him, a stark contrast to his kin who appeared unarmed. He walked forward with firm steps drawing the gazes of the entire battlefield, his kin followed close behind with wild smiles on their faces. The wraith that was attacked by the silver me continued to wail in pain not noticing the Ronsos arrival. It did however eventually manage to escape from the agonising me by separating itself from the afflicted area....it had to give up its left arm. The silver me quickly burned out afterpletely consuming the arm. Unfortunately its torment had only just begun. The leader Ronso smirked; his horn glowed bright as he summoned his mana as well as the mana in the surrounding area. [mes of ice heed my call, entrap my foe in a mighty pir of your freezing torment, ice me pir] The Ronso leader spoke theplete aria for the 3rd circle spell [Ice me pir]. Arger magic crest thus appeared beneath the wraith before it could regain it faculties. The moment it noticed it was toote, a pir of silver mes that were cold instead of hot erupted upwards consuming and restraining the wraith inside, burning its ghostly form and eliciting screams of agony from the creature. The most powerful monster the dungeon had ever faced was pretty much taken care of by a single spell from this new monster. The magic corps on the scene were particrly blown away by this fact. They had been pumping god knows how much ice spells into their attacks but not even whenbined could they deal this level of damage to the ghosts. It didnt even look as the Ronso put much effort in his spell. The yuki-onna, the leader of the magic corps couldnt help but bite her lower lip as she was filled with frustration. She looked towards this humanoid tiger in confusion, dying to know the reason why her spells were rebuffed while the Ronsos seemed super effective. They were both of the ice element were they not. How? She muttered under her breath; her mind unable to understand the difference. The leader Ronso felt her stare and smiled towards her. Ghosts fear the light and fire. These two elements are their bane because they purify that which is impure. He then summoned his chakra in the form of cold mes. Though cold mes are inherently cold and of the ice element they are also mes. The silver like mes danced in the wind, behaving just like a regr me. When a cksmith uses fire to forge iron into steel he is removing the impurities within the metal to generate something stronger. Cold mes work the same way that is why we have cold forging. The leader Ronso swung his hand eliminating the silver mes. Cold mes are of the ice element but have the properties of fire, the ability to purify that which is impure thus they are very effective in dealing with ghosts. He smiled gently as though a teacher educating his student. The yuki-onna felt as though lightning struck her head, she was filled with understanding. Her gaze towards the Ronso leader was no longer one of confusion but one of gratitude and reverence. This person was far stronger than her and far more skilled in terms of magic. Thank you. She quietly thanked him for his exnation and bowed her head, happy that her confusion had been cleared. No problem we all serve our lord so we should help each other whenever possible. The Ronso leader lightlyughed, portraying a gentle expression, lifting the moods of Frosts forces however that gentleness was brief. The ghosts had finally gotten over their surprise and fear, they had started to move again thus the Ronso leaders expression became dark and angry. Hisrades had been fighting long and hard against these ghosts all while being outmatched in terms of their elements, a gruelling battle that would have surely ended in their defeat if they hadnt arrived in time. The Ronso leader clenched the shaft of his halberd hard, generating loud cracking sounds from his knuckles. Wisps of silver mes grew from his body, dancing around him as though spurred on by his fury. A wild smile adorned the mans face before he spoke. Ronsos.... kill! He roared out his order while mming his halberd against the ground. In response the dozen or so Ronsos standing behind him and hanging on the trees all let out mighty tiger roars before swiftly moving into action. The frost troll lieutenant who watched this from themand bunker couldnt help but be blown away by the sheer physical prowess of these new monsters or rather the Ronsos. However that moment was brief as he realised a major problem. These Ronsos were attacking physically and were made of flesh and blood. Wait you cant, regr attacks wont work on their e... He called out in warning. Itd be fine if the Ronsos attacked with the ice me magic that the leader used but they were charging and leaping at the ghosts with just their bare bodies. However he couldnt finish his sentence. The Ronsos though attacking physically with their powerful ws werent finished. Shortly before they reached their intended targets their hands, feet or whatever part of their body they were attacking with became wreathed in silver mes just like what the leader Ronso summoned. Their attacks thus cleanly met with the ghosts ethereal bodies and burned them on contact, killing many of the lower ranks in a single blow. The frost troll lieutenant was thus forced to swallow his words as he watched these dozen or so Ronsos leap from ghost to ghost killing them as though they were harmless chickens. We had so much trouble just defending against them, yet these Ronso can kill them at will. The frost troll lieutenant couldnt help but feel conflicted. Chapter 403 403 Chapter 403: Ronsos The scales between both sides flipped the moment the Ronsos arrived. These dozen or so monsters dashed and leaped from ghost to ghost, rending them apart and burning their ghostly forms with cold me chakra. Even the D-rank reapers werent spared. Once subjected to the mes their bodies would sizzle and burn away rapidly depleting their energy reserves. They couldnt even harm the Ronsos either. Though they were made out of flesh and blood and susceptible to their ethereal weapons, death magic and curses the Ronsos would cover their bodies in cold mes blocking their scythes and eliminating their death magic. Hell even when an ethereal managed to pierce their bodies the cold mes would work internally, swiftly eliminating the curse energy that wreaked so much havoc on the other dungeon monsters. These Ronsos were truly the antithesis of the ghosts. They were now the ones at an elemental disadvantage . The second wraith that had killed so many and led the ghosts in battle against the yuki-onnas and the frost troll lieutenant stared straight at the Ronso leader, fury in its eyes. The other Ronsos wisely avoided the wraith instead targeting the rest of the ghosts. Such an opponent had already been hallmarked by their leader. Each of these dozen or so Ronsos were entry level C-rank monsters, veritable powerhouses in their own right and more than enough to go toe to toe with the wraith given their elemental advantages but....leaders really should fight other leaders. So without even being ordered these powerful C-ranks acquiesced to the whims of their leader without a single oneining. Their trust and reverence towards him being unshakeable. Though each of them were unique monsters personally designed and created by their lord, their leader was the first and the only one who received a name. With a name being granted the Ronso leader was far stronger than his regr kin, a peak C-rank monster even more powerful than Finy. The Ronso leader stared back at the wraith before raising his halberd and walking slowly forward, each step filled with power. His aura was far more developed than that of Finys almostplete. Simply walking forward he exuded a heavy and frigid pressure, cold me wisps danced around his body entuating his powerful frame. ..... My lord gave me the name Khuno and ordered me to end this battle. Your partner was the first to fall to my power and you shall be the second. Khuno twirled his halberd at speed, generating a powerful breeze. The wraith that fought against the ice revenant had grown silent as the ice me pir finished purifying its ghostly form, leaving behind ectosm as well as a special crystal. Where that one died from my magic you shall instead fall by my halberd. The weapon granted to me upon my naming ceremony....you should feel honoured wraith. Khuno stopped twirling his halberd and pointing the tip at the wraiths face before lighting the de edges in cold mes. He needed to disy all his strength in this first battle, his lord was watching after all. The wraiths ghost body flickered as though trembling in fear. The cold mes covering Khunos halberd were devasting to a creature such as it. A single touch could end up costing it a limb or worse. Right now its fear instincts were battling against the frenzied state induced by the stampede that urged it to run wild and devour everything in sight. Tsk! Pathetic. Khuno clicked his tongue, his expression filled with scorn. This wraith had killed so many of hisrades, destroying their souls without a single ounce of hesitation yet from a single disy of his cold me it was now balking in fear. The sight irritated him to no end. I was hoping for some kind of grand battle to take ce in celebration of my lords achievement haaaaaaa. Khuno sighed and looked around. The ghosts that had caused hisrades so much trouble were being swiftly dealt with by his kin. The dozen of them dashed through the trees burning up ghost after ghost like they were on a simple stroll. Even the reapers held very little threat to them. Their initial excitement like his thus quickly evaporated. Wild smiles no longer adorned their faces and the glint in their eyes had darkened. This was just a simple clean up job instead of a battle, there was no need to drag out something so dull. Khuno redirected his gaze to the still flickering wraith, he was disappointed. His disappointed expression vanished as fast as it appeared, he still had a job to do, and his lord was watching. Ill make this quick. After that statement Khuno dashed forward with his ive at incredible speed. Those with poor strength and or eyesight could only see the afterimages of his path. The wraith wailed out as though to fill its ethereal body with courage. [C] it activated one of its scythe skills summoning ck tendrils that quickly dyed its scythe ck and corporal. The same move used against the ice revenant. Khuno however didnt respond with a skill of his own, he had no need to. He appeared before the wraith in a sh, his halberd already cutting through the air, the silver cold mes sharpening and coagted into a cover for the halberd. Khuno had much better control over his mespared to the other Ronsos. He could manipte its shape. Though it would still inherently be mes he could condense it, sharpen it and evenpound it, allowing for a much greater effect. The once wavy and wispy mes were now formed into a dense, narrow strip along the halberds edge. Thanks to this a beautiful blue beam of light was left in the halberds wake as it sliced through the air, a magical sight that caused Frost to smile with pride. Schwing! Khunos cold me enhanced halberd cut through the ck scythe like it was butter. The scythe was split in two with a mirror like finish before the two smooth edges erupted in sliver mes. Khunos cold mes acted simr to the curse energy inhabiting the scythe, spreading on contact. The wraith was thus forced to let go of its scythe lest the mes attack to its body. Waaaaaaaiiiiiiiilllllllll!!!!!! Pushed back and now unarmed the wraith wailed even louder before attacking with magic. [C] With a non-understandablenguage (for the living) the wraith chanted an aria for a 3rd circle spell, [blood cocoon]. Unlike regr magic, death magic required certain tangible materials to be used at full strength. A blood red magic crest appeared beneath Khuno. It attracted the blood littering the forest floor and held within the nearby corpses. Khuno simply stopped in ce, allowing the spell to take effect, a cocky yet pitiful look present on his face as he did. He and the wraith were terribly matched. There was nothing that the wraith could throw at him that he couldnt handle. Allowing his opponent a false sense of victory/triumph would allow him to show off the difference between them and hopefully please his lord. Blood quickly pooled beneath Khuno before suddenly leaping upwards entrapping his massive frame in a cylindrical cocoon of blood. The cocoon wriggled and swayed creating for a rather disgusting image. The wraith seemed to be invigorated at its own sess, a terrifying smile adorned its face, and a frightening cackle escaped its lips before it put its hands together to chant another aria, this time for an attack spell. [C] this time the magic crests were ck in colour. Five of them appeared around the blood cocoon, north, east, south, west and above. ck swords pushed their way through the magic crests and pointed directly at the blood cocoon holding Khuno. The wraith used a fairly powerful death magic spell called [death de]. A single cut from just one of these swords is enough to kill a D-rank monster, the curse energy contained within these des vastly surpasses the amount held in the wraiths dyed scythe. This was in fact the monsters strongest attack, equivalent to the ice revenants [rending of the ice king]. The air around the ck swords twisted and gave off a stifling aura that caused those in the vicinity to tremble and feel a cold shiver down their spines. It was the scent of death. Nanna and Loki who were watching the situation unfold couldnt help but audibly gulp and look towards Frost, worried about the result of such an attack. Frost who had dark circles under his eyes and waspletely exhausted after hours of mind taxing work replied with a toothy grin. His head was nestled on Mayasp, and she was massaging his temples as they watched the dungeon screen. Khuno wont be troubled by something at that level, I can promise you that hehehehe. Frost though pretty much incapable of moving his bodyughed out loud, his eyes radiating intense pride and confidence. Khuno and the Ronsos were the culmination of his hard work, they wouldnt be stumped by some ghost or any other monsters the mid stages could throw at them. They were strong. Maya smiled as she listened to Frost praise his creation, her gaze fixating on the Ronsos disyed on the screen. She was judging them, evaluating their worth as a new monster species. Chapter 404 404 Chapter 404: Ronsos (2) Nanna and Loki looked at one another and smiled before redirecting their attention to the dungeon screen. If Frost said that there was nothing to worry about then there was nothing to worry about. Back on the battlefield Khuno remained trapped within the blood cocoon, locked in tight as the ck death des formed and threatened to pierce through the cocoon. The wraith appeared to be faltering slightly, its ghostly form flickering and growing more transparent. This spell was a tall ask for it to cast. The frost toll lieutenant noticing its struggle stood up straight before yelling at the top of his lungs. One of you attack the wraith while its focused on casting! He looked towards the nearest set of Ronsos who turned their heads in his direction. No need Khuno can handle it. The two of them ignored the frost troll lieutenants words and instead carried on taking down the remaining ghost monsters. Perfectly at peace in letting Khuno take on such a powerful spell. The frost troll lieutenant was at a loss for words and just when he was about to yell another order, using his position asmander he heard a deep sigh. Khuno who was in the blood cocoon sighed, he had run out of patience. A mere D-rank frost troll lieutenant was worrying about his safety, he couldnt have that. ..... Gurgle gurgle gurgle The blood cocoon suddenly started to bubble as though it was being boiled before..... Schwing! Khunos halberd sliced through the cocoon without much effort. Silver cold mes sparked across the cocoon, rapidly freezing the blood thus preventing the magic crest from reforming it. Don! With a heavy knock from the butt of the halberd Khuno shattered the blood cocoon magic crest and looked around. Five ck des radiating intense death energy surrounded him. Not bad but..... Khuno stretched his halberd out to the side, coating it a dense amount of silver mes. Not good enough wraith. He looked down upon the wraith who had just finished chanting. The ck death des thus shot forward intending to pierce Khuno, but he was ready. [Freezing me whirlwind] Khuno spoke the name of his skill. Energy and chakra filled his halberd before Khuno rapidly spun in a circle. A sphere of silver mes thus appeared around him, protecting him from attacks. Sizzle sizzle sizzle The death des sizzled as they made contact with the silver me sphere. Their tips gradually evaporated as they continued to pierce deeper and deeper, the intensity of the mes being strongest near the centre. The wraith was forced to watch helplessly as its strongest spell was slowly turned to dust by Khuno. The des though sessfully making their way towards Khuno were being refined faster than they could pierce. Waaaaaaiiiiiiiilllllllllll! The C-rank wraith was thus ovee with fear, without any elegance it turned around and fled, ignoring the incessant hounding brought on by the stampede. Booooooom! The silver me sphere exploded, destroying the death des and revealing Khuno. Youre not going anywhere! Khuno dashed forward with his halberd still coated in mes this time however they were refined into that narrow strip. The ronso appeared at the wraiths back in almost an instant. A tiger was truly the king of the forests. Even though the wraith could travel through the trees it was no match for Khunos speed. Khuno raised his halberd and shed down across the wraiths undefended back. Waaaaaaiiiilllllll! The wraith wailed out as its back was split open and set alight. Schwing Schwing Schwing Khuno didnt stop at a single swing he repeatedly dealt out blows, cutting up the ghost and setting it aze in a silver me. He watched in silence as the wraith burned out of existence leaving some ectosm and a cursed crystal that thanks to his cold mes had been refined. Khuno swung his halberd eliminating the silver mes attached to it before picking up the shiny crystal. He would hand this bounty over to Frost personally. Once the wraiths had been dealt with cleaning up the remaining ghosts took barely any effort and thanks to the ronsos impressive speed and agility in the forest terrain not a single one managed to get away thus generating a very healthy DP ie. The losses however were quite heavy, arge chunk of the DP earned during this wave would need to be used in recing the lost members as well as further strengthening the entire forces. The waves would only get more perilous at time progressed, a simple bad matchup such at the ghosts nearly overran their entire defence force, something Frost was not keen to see again. These Ronsos you created theyre quite something young master. Maya couldnt help butment after seeing the ronsos moving to and fro as they took down the ghosts with ease. She was especially surprised by the might shown by Khuno. If she had to guess his strength was at the very peak of C-rank. Thanks for the praise, Im very pleased with how they all turned out hehehehe. Frost chuckled. He needed a race that could work within the external camp, so they first needed to be rtable in appearance, check. The Ronsos would look just like a different type of tiger beastkin, though a rarity not unheard of. Of course theyre still monsters but since the camp will be his territory and closer to the cial mountains than Northrend itd be eptable. Second they needed to be intelligent as they would be involved in the management of the camp and other safe zones within the dungeon i.e. The need to speak perfectmon tongue and handle regr interactions with the non-native residents. Third they needed to be strong and diverse in their evolution paths since they would be the first representation of Frosts creation abilities. Frost didnt iron out the full details for the upper ranks and some branch paths, but the main progression was there. The earliest ronso monster that could be summoned through the dungeon was a [ronso youngling] a D-rank monster that was pretty much a teenager, simr to Kiba and the coeurl pups. The main start however was the [regr ronso] an entry level C-rank monster that had very little limits in what they could embark upon just like the sapients races. Each of them would be unique in their own way and have different talents which would then allow them to develop in a certain direction. First off however each ronso can naturally summon cold mes and are born with strong, flexible bodies. They have innate talents for smithing, closebat/bestial battle, chakra maniption and pole weapons but can develop many others depending on their unique personality. Simr to how dwarves are generally deft with their hands making for great smiths but not all go down that avenue. Frost wanted to make his species as open and unshackled as possible but of course to achieve this he needed to forgo some other areas. The ronsos cant use regr ice magic and chakra, the opposite of Maya who cant use cold mes. Their bodies arentpatible, but Frost didnt really see this as too much of a disadvantage as the cold me branch had less restrictions when it came to battling other elements. Their smithing talent is also restricted to using cold mes when forging thus limiting their choices but then again considering their location not really a demerit. As they grow stronger their mes will increase in strength thus allowing for the handling of much higher quality materials. Right now other than Frost, Khuno had the highest ranked cold mes, high grade mortal rank. More than enough to handle 3 star materials. Speaking of Khuno he was the very first Ronso that Frost created thus he decided to grant him a name in celebration. This naming ceremony like with Finy caused him to evolve twice to be the peak C-ranked archetype [Ronso captain]. A caste that keeps him multiskilled not focusing solely on just magic, weaponbat or smithing. He was also granted a half step 4 star halberd with a beautiful blue and silver colour scheme. In which the materials used are verypatible with his use of cold mes, providing smooth maniption. A tiger beastkin race that has such strong affinity with cold mes....they match you to a tee young master. Maya continued to massage her boyfriends temples hoping to ease his exhaustion. She only glimpsed at the monster creation screens for a moment and felt a headacheing on yet her young master had been engrossed in it for the past 12 hours or so, she was surprised he was still conscious. I know right. Ibined pretty much all the major the things Ivee across during my time here. The strong physical skills required for weaponbat. He looked up at Mayas gentle face with a smile. One of the first things he did was face an onught of punches and kicks, a strong body was needed to endure such torment. The array of Magic skills Ive seen as well as the fascination with cold mes. His gaze then drifted to his hand which lit up with a small wisp of silver mes (the most he could conjure up in his current state) as well as towards Nanna and Loki the two phoenix kin. Then theres the attachment to smithing as well as my loyal an awesome battle mount. Frosts mind then thought of Daki, his sexy orc girlfriend whos also a very gifted cksmith as well as Kiba, the cial winged tiger. Adding all these together I created the Ronsos, tiger beastkin monsters with vast intelligence, strong bodies, smithing talent and their own inherent cold mes. The perfect match as you put it for the one who is the embodiment of ice hehehehehe. Chapter 405 405 Chapter 405: Azure spark quail Frostughed with pride, incredibly pleased by his creation. The Ronsos; a unique type of tiger beastkin with massive potential, an appropriate hallmark in regards to Frosts talents as a creator and pseudo God. Khunoe to the private space. Afterughing Frost opened up a channel to Khuno and ordered him to teleport to the private space. Frost had given him the same rights as Finy. After today he would have two capablemanders by his side, managing the dungeons forces and the dungeon as a whole. The dungeon would only growrger and moreplex from now on, it wasnt appropriate for him to handle everything himself. Yes my lord. Khuno replied back with a joyful tone before entering a space warp to arrive before his lord and master. Frost continued to lie on the enchanting pillow that was Mayasp and receive her attentive massaging to aid his exhausted eyes and excruciating headache. He really needed to get some rest but wanted to make sure the difficult wave was fully dealt with first. Frost smiled and nodded at Khunos arrival. You did well Khuno, you and your ronso kin have made me very proud. Ill be leaving you in control of the dungeons forces while I rest. Finy can fill you in on anything youre unsure of. You and he will be my left and right hands. Frosts face tensed as he spoke, his consciousness flickering. Understood milord, Ill convene with Finy and handle the dungeon in your absence. Please rest without worry. Khuno ced his arm across his chest and bowed in salute to Frost before walking over to Nanna. Lady Nanna Ill leave the bounty left by the wraiths in your hands, please pass them to master once he wakes from his rest. He spoke with a gentle tone and smile, clearly he was quite fond of children. ..... Nanna took hold of the purified curse crystals and high quality ectosm handed to her. Frost wasnt in the best state to examine the materials dropped from the battle at the moment and Khuno needed to return to the battlefield thus the best recourse was to hand the items to one of Frosts most trusted subordinates, his family members. Nanna smiled with pride before cing the items to the side and responding to Khuno with a military salute that looked immensely cute. Maya almost swooned at the sight, her heartbeat stopping for a second. Khuno responded back with his own salute before vanishing from the private space. He teleported to the 3rd section of the first floor so as to convene with Finy. It was time for him to introduce himself to his equivalent counterpart. Ugh! Frost groaned in pain as his headache intensified, he was barely staying awake however there was onest thing he needed to do. With difficulty Frost brought up the dungeon menu and reced all the monsters that were lost within the past 24 hours, amounting to several tens of thousands of DP, this wave truly dealt a major blow to his forces. Now however with the addition of the dozen C-rank ronsos and Khuno at the helm thered be nothing to worry about, such a situation would not happen again while they were still in the mid-stages. Rest Frost, youve earned that much. Maya gently caressed his temples and whispered into his ear, allowing him to finally let go and slip into unconsciousness. She waited a few moments to make sure he waspletely out of it before letting out a deep sigh. Hes just like a child, putting all his focus on an exciting task and forgetting about everything else even the state of his own body. Though she wasining about him her gaze was filled with affection. Looks like Ill have to wait a little to give you your reward. She leaned down and kissed Frost on his forehead before gently manoeuvring from underneath him. She wasnt about to let herself be ced in such a precarious situation again. Gently Maya removed herself from the sofa before picking Frost up in her arms, an impressive feat if one just looked at her outward appearance. Frost was a whole head taller and chock full of trained muscle. His body wasnt light by any means yet this dainty looking woman who was around 165cm was lifting him up as though it was effortless. Nanna couldnt help but blush a little as she watched on. The beautiful princess was giving the handsome prince a princess carry, a picturesque scene for the young girl. Maya held Frost close to her chest being careful not to disturb him as she carried him to his bedroom. He would rest better on a proper soft bed instead of the sofa. After setting him down she closed the door to prevent the hustle and bustle of the private space bothering him. Maya gracefully moved to the kitchen to prepare a meal for her and the kids. Thest wave was quite strenuous on their minds after all. Nanna, Loki remember to have the dismantling corps set out to work and have those on shift work on repairing the damage inflicted upon the bunkers. She gave out instructions while donning her apron and retrieving a kitchen knife. She was going to make something special for the three of them or rather four. Also teleport Kiba to the private space, he can rest here while he recovers and join us for a tasty meal. She hadnt forgot that Kiba was still passed out while the bats poison flowed through his body. Itd be safer to have him nearby, for moral support. Though the wave just ended the tension hadnt quite left Nanna and Lokis system. When it did itd be nice to have a big fluffy cat to hug. Un The two phoenix kin nodded in reply before setting off to work, their stomachs grumbling in anticipation. Maya opened up the dungeon menu and set off to purchase some tasty ingredients. She was restricted to only buying food and drink supplies as per the covenant struck with Dark, but it was up to Frost to allow ess in the first ce as well as assign budget restrictions. But since Frost was either a big softy, na?ve or simply wished to favour her because of their rtionship she had no limits in what she could spend. Hell if she wanted to she could purchase B-rank alcohols or higher for tens of thousands of DP and shed get away with it. Well until Frost found out of course. Knowing that she had a lot of trust ced in her, Maya kept her budget to a minimum, only asionally splurging on a C-rank bottle of alcohol. This behaviour seemed to work in her favour as Frost would frequently splurge on her behalf, a win-win. Right now however she wasnt going to cheap out. She had to face off against ghosts, she and the kids deserved something special. With a predatory smile Maya honed in on what she wanted to cook. Thankfully ingredients werent as restricted as monsters and materials. So far theyd feasted on creatures that were avable in the local area, ones attuned with the ice element. This time however she wanted to cook something special. Azure spark quail Maya couldnt help but lick her lips as she spotted the ingredient. The Azure spark quail: a B-rank monster of the lightning element, found on the peaks of the storm mountains. Its one of the fastest bird monsters in Nova, moving at such speeds that its flight paths are akin to lightning. Its behaviour are usually minorly aggressive but when provoked and threatened it utilises its intense speed to pierce through its foes like a bullet. Even heavily armoured monsters can see themselves riddled with small holes when getting on this things bad side. A single azure spark quail isnt much bigger than a regr quail so multiple would be required to feed their group. Without a single ounce of hesitation Maya purchased 4 of these quails that cost 2500DP a pop. 10,000DP was gone just like that and all she got in return was the meat of 4 small birds. She spent another 3500DP on spices, apanying vegetables as well as additional ingredients to make a light sauce. This azure spark quail was one of her favourite dishes ever since she was a child. Her grandmother would always cook it for her whenever she returned from visiting the storm mountains. She wanted to share this recipe and her joyful memories with Nanna and Loki. Frost too but he was resting, and she didnt feel like waiting. Besides if he was awake he may not sanction such arge purchase. Sometime its easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Kiba was teleported to the private space a few momentster. He was still suffering from the effects of the bats poison, but hisplexion was looking much better, hed wake up in another 5 minutes or so. Nanna and Loki both crowded around the big tiger, resting their bodies against his to hear his breathing and heartbeat. The moment they did however they suddenly felt weak, their limbs turned to jelly, and they copsed onto Kibas fluffy fur. Maya turned around and smiled expecting such an oue, theyd been through a lot over the past 12 hours. Thankfully Khuno and the other ronsos were now here thus the dungeon would be fine even without their input. Maya turned back to her ingredients, a bright smile adorning her face as she began to hum. Chapter 406 406 Chapter 406: The meeting of the twomanders Maya looked like an enchanting young mother as she handled the high quality ingredients and hummed a gentle tune. She was lost in her childhood memories. Where Maya was usually in the ce of Nanna and Loki she was now taking the role her grandmother and mother yed. A heart-warming feeling that brought endless joy to the young fenrir. While Maya set off to cook the most expensive dish the dungeon had ever experienced, Khuno met up with Finy, Frosts right hand and the only other non-entry level C-rank monster in the dungeon, one which was close to evolving. Khuno arrived with a friendly atmosphere, yet dominance and strength naturally radiated out from him, he couldnt show weakness in front of his new colleagues. You must be Finy. Khuno entered one of the grander rooms in the ruined artic castle section under the lead of a frost troll. One who was set to be the third inmand and was shadowing Finy for education. There was utter silence in the room after Khuno spoke and the tension sharply rose. Finy was sitting on what appeared to be a makeshift bed, his massive battle axe resting against the frame as he stared directly at Khuno. His wounds from taking on the ursa had pretty much healed by this point so he was ready to once again enter the fray of battle. The ice trollmander had already received word about Khuno and the ronsos. He knew that his master was working on creating a new race and this was what he came up with. Creak! ..... The bed creaked as Finy rose off it, he grabbed his massive battle axe, gripping the shaft tight. He rose to his massive 4 metre height that rivalled that of Khunos and stared straight into the ronso captains eyes. His body tensing and his pseudo aura and blood lust naturally filling the room. And you must be Khuno. The pressure in the room sharply rose, fiercely intimidating the regr frost troll that stood at the side. The poor trolls skin developed goosebumps and his teeth chattered as his limbs lost strength. Khuno in response to Finys provocation smiled wildly and unleashed his own aura and blood lust. The two mighty monsters faced off like this in silence with neither backing down. The weak stone floor cracked underneath their might and their weapons screamed out to sh against one another. While the poor frost troll struggled to breath, one wrong step and hed see himself dead. Khuno was naturally stronger given his half a rank higher archetype, but Finy had more experience and was close to evolving. Their standoff seemed to remain as a stalemate, a surprising result for the ronso captain. Hes good. Hes strong. Both of themplimented each other internally before taking powerful steps towards one another, the pressure present in the room escting even further. Im so dead. The regr frost troll regretted bringing Khuno to see Finy personally, his gung-ho attitude would end up being the death of him. Just as the frost troll thought that the two strongestmanders under his lord were about to duke it out in this room something unexpected happened. Finy and Khuno both suddenly raised their right hands and reached for one another before. Boom! The two of them grasped one anothers hands with incredible force and disyed joyful expressions. Its nice to meet you Khuno, I think well work well together. Finy spoke gently. The feeling is mutual Finy; I hope that as my senior in service to our lord youll be able to show me how things work around here. Khuno responded back in a friendly tone yet the two of them continued to squeeze one anothers hands with their entire physical strength. The two men seemed to see reflections of themselves in one another, greatly pleasing them. Thankfully Frosts right and left hand men seemed to hit it off well. dy junior lets get started right away. My injuries have healed, and Ive rested enough. Its time for me to get back into the fight. Finyughed out loud before leading Khuno out, he would personally show the only other named monster under their lords service around the dungeon and teach him their inner workings. Seeing both the powerful Finy and the neer that was Khuno walking around the dungeon side by side in a friendly manner brought a great morale boost the dungeons forces. Excitement was once again present in the air, the dour mood brought on by the ghosts was swiftly expunged. Though there was great losses, they had been reced and a powerful squad of cold me users had joined the fray. Ghosts would no longer pose any issue. Frost slept like a log for 24 hours. During that time the dungeon faced off against another 5 waves, one of which contained ghosts but thanks to the ronsos such foes were dealt with almost instantly. With the dozen C-rank additions and Finy back in the fight the losses experienced were once again at eptable levels and the DP that was lost from therge casualties as well as Mayas extravagant spending were regained and then some. Frosts DP levels once again rose to over 100,000. Yaaaann Frost yawned as he finally rose from his long slumber. His splitting headaches and bloodshot eyes were pretty much healed, a robust constitution, high amounts of mana in the area and of course the high quality bed yed a major part in his swift recovery. He groggily looked around finding that he was on his bed, but he remembered falling asleep on Mayasp. She must have carried me here after I drifted off. He smiled but also felt a little lonely waking up alone. Frost could hear mutterings from beyond his door, Nanna and Loki were still hard at work looking after the dungeon in his absence. I wonder how long Ive been out this time? Frost stretched his limbs and rose off his bed, feeling very refreshed after his long nap. It was time to return the favour, Nanna and Loki must be exhausted at this point. Master! Master! Both Nanna and Loki turned to face Frost as he walked through his door, bright smiles donned their faces despite being up and at work for the past 36 hours. Frost felt a twang of guilt in his heart as he received such innocent expressions. He smiled back before looking towards Maya. How long? He asked guiltily. 24 hours give or take. Maya shrugged her shoulders while giving him a reproachful look. Twang! Another hit of guilt washed over him as he heard the time. His gaze appearing apologetic as he looked at Nanna and Loki. You two must be exhausted, get some sleep, Ill take care of everything from here. Frost rubbed the two childrens heads with affection. Are you sure master were not actually that tired? We rested a little in between the waves. Nanna felt that she still had more to give. Yeah and Maya cooked us a special meal filling us with tons of energy. Loki chimed in while jumping up and down in excitement as though on a sugar rush. Maya stumbled in her steps at Lokis honest nature, not realising he threw her under the cart. Hoh a special meal, interesting. Frosts gaze once again drifted over to Maya however it was now an inspecting gaze full of usation. Mayas eyes struggled to look directly at him which he picked up on. Thats sounds wonderful, but you should still get some rest. Frost let out a sigh and shook his head before encouraging the kids to still head for bed. It was night time right now so it wouldnt mess with their natural sleeping cycle. Ok master. Nanna and Loki both acquiesced to Frosts suggestion, a slight yawn escaping their lips now that the thought of sleep was brought up. Oh Master, Khuno left the spoils of his battles against the wraiths with me, theyre on the coffee table if you want to take a look. Nanna remembered what Khuno requested of her before he met up with Finy. I will, thank you Nanna. Frost rubbed her head again before the young girl grabbed her little brothers hand and dragged him to their bedroom. Once the door was closed Frost turned to face Maya. So what special meal did I miss out on then? Frost showed a mischievous smile as he spoke, not willing to let the issue go. Hed be quite a foodie over the past couple months so hearing about a meal that was ssified as special by Loki couldnt help but catch his attention. Haaaaaaa I didnt expect to hide it from you in the first ce but getting dobbed in so innocently like that haaaaaa. Maya sighed twice before telling Frost all about the meal she prepared earlier that allowed Nanna and Loki to work throughout the 24 hour period he was asleep without much issue. ....So let me get this straight you purchased B-rank ingredients to make an amazing dish that helps to revitalise those who partake in it and not only is this dish so delicious that its one of your favourites an S-rank fenrirs but its a nostalgic dish that reminds you of your childhood. Frost spoke with a chilling tone; he was not happy. That is correct. Maya was sitting on the sofa while Frost stood above her in lecture mode. Chapter 407 407 Chapter 407: Crossing a milestone Frost stared down at the guilt ridden Maya who struggled to raise her head. She knew shed get in trouble for her actions and was prepared for it. Biting her lips slightly Maya forced herself to look up at Frost fully expecting to see him fuming but instead what she saw was pain, loneliness and sadness. Seeing Frost, her young master as well as boyfriend looking so downcast and hurt sent a ripple across her heart. She suddenly realised where she had gone wrong. Maya leaped off the sofa and hugged Frost in a tight embrace. Im sorry. She whispered gently in Frosts ear, feeling great remorse. Frost wasnt bothered by the DP used or really the deliciousness of the meal but more the fact that he was left out of such an important event. A childhood dish of his girlfriend, his partner, he wanted to experience such a connection. Frosts anger deted as he felt Mayas lithe body wrapping around him, his heart warming thanks to her touch. We can have it again right now if you want. The DP reserves can support another round of azure spark quail and I wouldnt mind eating it again. Maya could feel Frost rx and return her embrace, she really enjoyed being held in his arms like this. That would be nice. Frost cupped Mayas face and smiled at her gently before leaning in and nting a kiss on her ruby lips. ..... A smirk then grew upon his lips as he pulled out from the kiss. A dish that fills the partaker with enhanced stamina and energy, I wonder what we could do to burn through such excess? His gentle embrace suddenly became rather strong, wrapping Maya up tight and pulling her against his chest. Caught slightly unawares Maya yelped as she was pressed up against him and his naughty hands shifted downwards onto her ample butt, caressing her cheeks in a teasing manner. She blushed pink from ear to ear and looked up at Frost with a fierce re. The nuance of his words leaving very little to the imagination. Unfortunately she was the one who erred therefore she didnt have a good reason to swiftly shoot down his advances and to be honest she didnt really want to. Their rtionship had grown quite close over the past several weeks and there was no denying the powerful physical attraction they had for one another. Each close encounter became harder and harder to prevent from going all the way. Her body no longer jumped or became surprised by Frosts perverted actions no matter how aggressive and or unexpected they may be. Instead she would heat up and lean towards him, desiring him and his touch. Her eyes became ssy as she looked up at Frosts handsome face, her body heating up and her heart thumping so loud she could hear it. Like a heavy drum beat urging her to attack, inciting her instincts. Frost felt the same way perhaps even stronger, intense pheromones were being emitted by the two of them subconsciously as they gazed into one anothers eyes....the mood was right. Frost sumbed first, his lips quickly locked with Mayas kissing her deeply and wrapping his tongue around hers in a dominant fashion. Maya felt her body go numb as an explosion went off in her mind, Frost was a really good kisser. She leaned into his embrace her left leg rising upward behind her as she fiercely kissed him back, marking him as hers. Frosts hands didnt stay in ce as they caressed Mayas toned yet soft cheeks, his fingers sinking into her flesh easily. Once he got a sufficient grip Frost lifted his girlfriend into the air, supporting her entire weight with his naughty hands that continued to knead and rub every which way, desiring to hold her entire butt though of course an impossibility given its size. Mmmmm Maya moaned as she was lifted and so thoroughly caressed. Now airborne she wrapped her legs around Frosts waist, pulling him in. The two remained entwined like this for a good few minutes never once separating. The private space living room had grown hot from their actions. Both Frost and Maya glowed with a slight shine, their clothes sticking close to their bodies thanks to their sweat and were starting to be ufortable. Frost made the first move, entering uncharted territory. His hands that were caressing her backside shifted slightly, finding the entrance to her dress. Though Frost had felt and touched Maya on many asions it was always through her clothes, he was never allowed to go beyond that point, now however seemed to be different. Hisrge white hands eagerly found the seem of her dress and slipped through to touch her bountiful cheeks directly. Mmmmm Maya let out another moan as she felt her skin in contact with Frosts. He also let out a moan in response and a certain appendage swiftly hardened. The feeling of her direct flesh was iparable to what it was through the dress. Her skin was even softer, smoother and so deep. Frost felt his fingers vanishing as he grasped onto her. Frost moved slowly and gently, testing the waters, hoping that Maya would continue to give her consent, he didnt want to blow this prime opportunity. Frost relinquished her lips and a thick string ofbined saliva followed before he kissed her cheeks, her forehead, her delicate neck and even nibbled on her earlobes. Each peck generated a moan from his lover, proof that what he was doing was pleasing to her. Not one to be passive Maya also wanted to feel her man directly, Frost wasnt the only interested in certain parts. As Frost covered her in marks from his lips her dainty hands that appeared as soft as water slipped into his robes and pulled them apart revealing Frosts well defined torso and abdominal muscles. Mayas ssy eyes focused at that moment, and she subconsciously gulped and even drooled slightly. Her man was so macho under those robes but not bulky either, just the perfect amount of tone and definition. She licked her lips like a predator before beginning her own round of caressing. Frost was clearly quite fond of her ass and thanks to his eager touch she had be quite sensitive in that area, every fierce grab sending a wave of pleasure through her system, it was time for her to be on the offensive. Mmmm a moan escaped Frosts lips as Mayas hands touched his chest, her fingers dancing along his pectoral muscles before heading downwards to trace the outline of his abs. Mayas fingers quivered with joy as she felt the strong resistance from her mans muscles, he was perfect in every way, her intense hunger and desire magnified at that moment. Without warning she ced her lips on his chest and lightly bit into him, drawing a few drops of blood thanks to her razor sharp teeth. Frost moaned again but more so out of surprise; he wasnt too keen on pain but what followed he was certainly a fan of. Maya used her tongue to lick his bleeding wound and kiss the affected area. She marked him and not with some simple hickey but with her teeth. Youre definitely mine now. Maya giggled, Frosts ruby red blood painted her lips making her even more enchanting, he couldnt wait anymore. A predatory expression donned Frosts face as he stopping kissing Mayas neck and looked at her blood painted lips and then at the mark left on his chest. A perfect imprint of her teeth was now over where his heart was, a dominating show of ownership by his lover. One which he absolutely adored. He knew it now there was no need to dilly dally, with Maya acting this brazen he needed to respond in kind. With a fierce smile Frost lowered Maya slightly so she could feel the results of her aggressive actions and divine body. The pink blush swiftly returned to her cheeks as Frosts hands were removed and her entire weight was ced on his rock hard weapon. She didnt even sink in the slightest, his arousal more than enough to hold up her entire frame. Fear sunk in once again, this wouldnt just be Frost first time but hers as well and unfortunately her lover just had to be packing something lethal. She could feel the impressive heat being given off and its desire to engage her, splitting apart her soft cheeks as it continued to rise. Frost saw the flicker of fear in her eyes and his heart lurched, control returned to his senses in that moment. Are you sure youre ready, we can stop here if you want. Frost spoke softly his voice filled with affection; he didnt want to force anything if Maya wasnt ready. A couple tears dropped from Mayas eyes as she heard that. Her heart filled with warmth, and she felt truly loved. Her lover and her were incredibly intoxicated and she could literally feel his intense desire to continue yet even so he was mindful of her feelings. How blessed was she. With her head facing downwards she smiled before she reached around with her right hand and grabbed the end of Frosts member, gently rubbing it. This of course caused Frost to moaned and even buckle slightly, Maya giggled in response. Oh Im more than ready for you big boy, I just hope you can keep up. She whispered teasingly into her lovers ear. Her fear was inconsequential to her desire, it was happening tonight, and nothing was going to get in the way. In response to her seductive voice Maya was raised even higher causing her to slide forward against Frosts wide chest. She looked up with a seductive smile hoping to see an interesting expression on her lovers face but what she got was a look of intense predatory lust, far more than shed ever seen or portrayed herself. The next moment she found herself lifted upwards and put into a princess carry before Frost bolted yes bolted to his bedroom with her in his arms. The door was mmed shut once they entered. Frost dropped Maya onto the bed before quickly purchasing an upgrade to make his bedroompletely soundproof. What happened next needs no exnation. Chapter 408 408 Chapter 408: The dungeon vault Frost exited his bedroom alone when morning came; a bright smile adorned his face revealing his ecstatic mood. Last night and the majority of the early morning was simply amazing. Hed never felt such intense pleasure nor such closeness with someone. It was a shame that he needed to handle a few things and give his partner a break otherwise he would have likely not left the bedroom for days. He looked back into the room; Maya was there syed out on her stomach with her ample butt hovering and trembling in the air. The thin bed sheets failing to cover her sexy figure. She was awake and ring at her lover with incandescent rage out of the corner of her eyes. Her entire body was in agony, every slight movement sending ripples of pain and tingles of pleasure. Seeing her fury as well as her inability to move brought a mischievous grin to Frosts face. Instead of leaving the bedroom he returned to Mayas side and ced his hands on her trembling backside eliciting a yelp from her and an even more aggressive re, a few tears even dripped from her eyes. .....Bastard! Maya uttered under her breath as Frost started caressing her. Didnt this asshole touch my ass enoughst night? Frosts mischievous smile grew as did the strength in his fingers. Ahhhnnnnnn! An erotic moan escaped Mayas lips in response. ..... Sorry Maya I didnt quite catch that hehehehe. ....BASTARD! BASTARD! BASTARD! Maya ignored the pain and pleasure for a second to roar out her anguish. This was followed by another moan and the copse of the arch she formed. Frost relinquished his pervasive grip and leaned over to whisper in Mayas ear. Now now you shouldnt yell out so aggressively. You need to rest up and recover. Frost then gently bit Mayas earlobe. Ive got a few things to handle but once Im done we can continue where we left off p! After finishing his sentence Frost pped Mayas ass causing her to tremble violently and re at him in wrath. He then sauntered out the bedroom with a prideful smile, his heart filled with satisfaction. Maya however felt a wave of fear. Damn insatiable bastard! She internally screamed but smiled at the same time before closing her eyes and taking Frosts advice. She was unable to use magic in her current state thus the only recourse was to rx and recover naturally. The private spaces living room was silent, Nanna and Loki were still sound asleep in their own room and Kiba was back on the frontlines, it was just him. Frost sat on the sofa and brought up the dungeon menu so as to ascertain the dungeons current state. Hoh my DPs now north of 200k, guess itll be time to expand once again. He briefly glimpsed over the data provided. Thanks to the ronsos and their leader Khuno losses had been kept to a minimum, less than twenty deaths since he and Maya engaged in their intimate activities. As Frost was perusing the menu something refracted the light grabbing his attention. If Im not mistaken those are... Frost closed the dungeon menu and reached towards the nearby coffee table. Sitting there was the two purified curse crystals as well as the high quality ectosm. A strange semi liquid/solid substance that held high quantities of mana. A brilliant conductor for magic devices and arrays. Such material is always highly sought after as it provides a much greater effect than monster blood and the regr magic ink used. Frost knew of this already, so he was more than pleased, the purified crystals however puzzled him. Frost picked up the two crystals that were pretty much translucent revealing their purity. Cursed crystals were generally grey or sometimes even ck given their rtionship with the death element, these two however were void of that energy,pletely empty and inert. Strange they feel like regr crystals without any special properties but theres something there at the same time. Frost sported a curious look as he fiddled around with the crystals trying to find out something about them. His inherent knowledge and that which he learned from the many books he purchased never mentioned anything about the cursed crystals being purified like this. I wonder what you can do? Frost ced the two crystals back down on the table and was about to begin a round of experiments before. Master are you free? Finys voice could be heard. Yes what is it? Weve ran into a bit of an issue master; we could use you down here. Finy reported with a rather awkward tone. Hed actually tried to contact Frost earlier but for some reason was immediately blocked, the same thing happened with Maya thus his mind had wandered a bit. Ill be right there. Frost ended themunication and instantly teleported to where Finy was currently stationed. The second section of the first floor, the winter forest. Dozens of monsters could be seen carting off the materials retrieved from the corpses littering the ground whereas another group were doing their best to repair the significantly damaged bunkers. Recing the wooden posts, upper defending branches as well as the ice and stone walls that were reinforcing key areas. Thest wave ended less than and hour ago and caused a fair amount of chaos. Armoured monsters with hefty defences and powerful charging abilities smashed through or ripped apart chunks of the bunkers exposing those inside. Thankfully their destructive power was more adept at destroying stationary objects making the losses in terms of life rather low. Frost frowned the moment the devastation came into view, the secondary defence zone likely wouldntst much longer. Theyd be forced to fall back to the tertiary defence zones which unfortunately werent as developed as the first and secondary ones. Frost couldnt help but feel a little daunted, he had no idea how much of thete stages hed have to endure with the dungeon. Maya mentioned that itd be unlikely for a B-rank to make its way towards them and that the remaining monsters would be under strict control thanks to their presence but there was always that chance. Master. Master. Both Finy and Khuno were on the scene and performed a military salute the moment Frost arrived. Is this the issue, the damage to the secondary defence zone has be too much and you wish to fall back to the artic castle? Finy and Khuno looked at one another before Finy sighed. No master thats not the issue. Finy shook his head before gesturing towards the dismantling corps -who were now only targeting the higher ranked corpses, the dungeon was set to cut up the rest. The dungeon vault is full master; its no longer epting the materials retrieved by the dismantling team. What? Frost blinked a few times in confusion. The vault is full. The dungeon like the private space and the training area had a designated vault that allowed Frost to store any and all things within such as the ice and metal spawned by the mines, the equipment dropped by adventurers and of course the useful materials retrieved from the corpses of the invading monster stampede. Frost had been siphoning off tons and tons of stuff into the vault since the stampede started and the fact that it may have a limitpletely eluded his thinking once the stampede was in full procession, too many other issues to manage. Frost felt a headacheing on, he held his forehead as he processed this information. When did this start happening? While asking this question Frost brought up the dungeon menu to ascertain the situation better. Around 5 minutes after we started storing this waves materials. Khuno and I ordered the dungeon to move the assigned materials into the dungeon vault as per usual, but this time it didnt work. After several tries an error message appeared on the dungeon menu saying that there was no space left. Finy reported their findings while Khuno showed an example. Frost tried the same and saw the error message mentioned by Finy. [No more space in the dungeon vault, please remove something and or expand the vault]. Expand the vault, I can do that? Frost smiled before realising that such a possibility was obvious. He could pretty much do anything in the dungeon as long as he paid some DP. Such an option was an advanced feature so Finy and Khuno didnt have ess thus they required Frost, the true owner of the dungeon to take action. After 10 minutes of going back and forth throughout the expansive menu Frost finally found what he was looking for. The menu could really do with some kind of search bar and or quick ess to more specific sections. Hed been alive and interacting with the dungeon menu for the past 3 months, but he still didnt know the true gravity of what it could do. The dungeons vault could be expanded through the use of DP, but it wasnt in terms of size but in terms of the weight it could amodate. An extra 5 tons cost 15,000DP quite the price tag however there was another way. Guess fate really is telling me to expand. Every additional floor would grant an extra 10 tons of storage. Right now there was six floors in the dungeon thus the limit was 60 tons, a fair amount but considering the number of materials passing through the dungeons doors the past few weeks it was inevitable that theyd reach the limit. 15,000DP would get him 5 extra tons or he could spend 15,000DP on a new floor to get an additional 10 tons. The choice was clear. Dont worry about the storage limit, have the dismantlers continue their work. Ill create some new floors in a bit thus expanding the vault. Chapter 409 409 Chapter 409: Coaxing a tiger Understood master. Finy and Khuno both performed a military bow. Is there anything else that needs my attention? Frost asked quite anxious to get everything in regards to the dungeon out of the way as fast as possible. Finy and Khuno looked at one another before replying. At the moment master other than the issue with the dungeon vault there isnt anything that needs your personal attention. As you said the secondary defence zone is no longer at optimum efficiency but were not yet at the point where we need to abandon it. The forest bunkers should serve for another few waves before well enact the retreat protocol to the tertiary defence zones. And all our forces have already been made aware of the protocol so the retreat should go off without a hitch. Khuno reported first. In regards to our forces were still capable of defending against the current waves. The dozen ronsos as well as the evolutions of the veteran forces have made a world of difference. Even the C-ranks that popte every wave now struggle to make a dent when were working together. Finy spoke thest part with a slightly guilty conscience. Because of his desire to fight solo against a frenzied ursa he ended up injured and exhausted thus taking him out of the fight for a while. Good, very good. Frost cupped his chin and nodded with pride, his ronsos were doing well. What about you Finy how have you been faring in regards to evolution,st time I checked you were just shy of your max level. ....Haaaaaaa well about that it seems Ive encountered an issue. Finy froze for a second before letting out a deep sigh. Master I seem to have hit some sort of bottleneck. My level has already reached the very limit of 49 but for some reason it wont change to 50. Ive killed D-ranks and even C-ranks with the ronsos aid but theres been no change on my side. Finy frowned and clenched his fists; he was greatly frustrated by this issue. His master ordered him to achieve B-rank before this stampede was over yet for some reason the system wasnt allowing him to take thatst step and he didnt know why. ..... ....Your level is fixed in ce? Frost frowned and tilted his head to the side. Why is that happening? Yes master, I can no longer grow in strength. Finy wanted to hide his failings for as long as possible hoping that if he just kept fighting and killing the problem would resolve itself but since his master asked specifically about the issue he could not lie. Khuno ced his hand on Finys shoulder tofort his general counterpart. This situation could very well affect him in the future, so he too was worried. Frost thought deeply about this problem for a couple minutes but came up with nothing. Ice trollmander was not the limit of the ice troll species and in terms of potential Finy was positively filled with it therefore C-rank should not be his limitation. Haaaaaaaa oh well no matter well take this one step at a time and try to understand the issue. Dont worry about it too much Finy just keep doing the good job that youve been doing. Frost let out a sigh before smiling in a gentle manner. He copied Khuno and patted Finy on the shoulder, telling him not to worry. ....Master Finy looked at his master in confusion, this problem was a big deal, yet Frost was brushing it off like it was an everyday urrence. Is there anything else? ....Eh...um...no I think thats everything master. Finy and Khuno looked at one another in confusion. Frosts attitude was quite surprising to them, he was too happy and shiny. Well if thats everything Ill be on my way, much to do in such a short time frame bye. Frost smiled wildly before teleporting to another part of the dungeon leaving Finy and Khuno in their confusion. .....That was weird right? Khuno asked with a puzzled expression. Yeah normally master would like to get to the bottom of such an issue immediately, putting all else aside while we brainstorm and experiment to find the answer. That was Frosts usual behaviour. Hmmmm, perhaps theres something else that interested him more than your issue and was it just me or was master kind of glowing? Glowing? Finy thought back and couldnt help but agree. The moment Frost arrived before the two of them he was in a bright mood and smiling. Even the current state of the secondary defence zone couldnt shake his mood, a slight frownsting but a second was all he saw. .....You said you couldnt get in touch with Master or Mistress Maya earlier right? Yeah the connection was immediately blocked. .... There was a few seconds of silence before a wide smile grew on Khunos face. Ignoringmunication from his general, not leaving the private space for several hours and now he shows up in a joyful mood despite seeing the state of the secondary defence zone and hearing about your inability to evolve... Khuno gave Finy a knowing look, wanting hisrade toe to the same conclusion he did. ....You mean he and Lady Maya. Finys eyes opened wide in realisation. One of his hands moved up to cover his mouth but the knowing smile was already present. Yep Master and her must have slept together, how else do you exin such a bright expression and radiant aura hehehehe. Khunoughed out loud and elbowed Finy in the side repeatedly. Finy responded with a prominent thumbs up in regards to his master finally crossing that threshold with Lady Maya. Hed been present for their flirtatious banter and was merely waiting for the day when the two of them progressed into a more serious rtionship. The two generalsughed out loud, praising their master after he left. Atchoo! Owowowo Maya sneezed causing her upper body to move and cause her pain. Someone must be talking about me. She moaned and groaned as her body sent signals of both pain and pleasure to her brain. Her beautiful, smooth white skin was covered in red hickeys. Frost left no area untouched marking her entire body with his lips. Her already massive peach butt had grown almost an entire size because of his rough yet sensual caressing. Several red imprints of her lovers hands could be seen on both cheeks. And of course no small amount of blood had dyed the bed sheets. She was no longer innocent, both she and Frost were now full adults yet for some reason only she was the one in pain. Her damn lover was ecstatic, feeling only bliss yet here she was syed out on the bed trembling and unable to even control her own body thanks to her pain and pleasure receptors being overloaded. Bastard! Bastard! Bastard! Maya screamed into the pillow with clenched teeth as she bared with the agony having to wait until she could use healing magic to help mitigate the pain at least. With the stampede under control Frost teleported to his next destination, the 5th floor where Kiba currently was. A fair amount of wolves were lost during the ghost wave thus the newly summoned monsters needed training. After Kiba overcame the freezing vampire bats poison and partook in the delicious azure spark quail he returned to the 5th floor so as to train the newbies. The wolves and coeurls still hadrge roles to y after all. Kiba! Frost shouted out the name of his battle mount as soon as he arrived. Roooooooaaaaaaarrrrrrrrr! An excited roar soon filled the area in response and the image of Kiba flying through the air quickly entered Frosts sights. Oomph! Once again Kiba flew at break neck speed and mmed into Frost, generating plumes of snow in all directions. Its good to see you doing alright after getting poisoned. Frost though in a fair amount of pain after catching a 2 ton tiger with his chest petting the big cat with affection. Chuff Kiba chuffed with pride, the soul bond between the tranting his thoughts. Yes, yes the poison of a mere bat could never hurt a cial winged tiger such as you I know. Frost scratched Kibas ears eliciting a loud purr. Have you met up with Khuno and the ronsos yet? Roar! [Yep theyre pretty strong and cool since their tigers] Hahahaha I see, can you talk to them like you do with the wolves and coeurls? Roaaaarrrrr! [Yeah they can understand me since were all tigers, though Im cooler since Im a full tiger and can fly] Kiba puffed out his chest arrogantly, confident that he was the best monster under Frostsmand. Hahahahahaha I see yes the fact that you can fly is quite impressive, but they can conjure cold mes, pretty cool right. Chuff! [I guess hmph] Kiba struggled to admit that he was quite jealous of that ability. He found the silver coloured mes conjured by the ronsos incredibly cool and he desperately wanted to be like the ronsos in that regard. Hahahaha dont worry Kiba Im sure once you reach your next evolution point youll be able to do something even more impressive. Frostughed and coaxed Kiba who had be grumpy. Roar! [You mean it, youre not lying right!] Kiba mmed one of his paws down on the ground and looked straight into Frosts eyes, making sure he was telling the truth. Hahahahaha why would I lie Kiba, I promise you that when you grow up youll be more than a match for the ronsos. Frost petted Kibas fluffy head with affection. There was no falsehood in what he said. Winged cial tigers were quite the monster, their abilities greatly expanding once their mature and reach B-rank therefore Kiba had a lot to look forward to. Chapter 410 410 Chapter 410: Toast and eggs Frost spent some time with Kiba for a little while before teleporting back to the private space. He quietly opened the door to his bedroom to see Maya but unfortunately. Fuck off! He was met with a loud roar and a sudden hit of physical aura sending him flying back out the room. ....Guess shes feeling a little better heheheheh. Frost chuckled while dusting himself off. The dungeon was fine in regards to dealing with the monster stampede and materials were still being collected just not stored. It was fine for the iron collected at the mines as well as the bones and fangs of deceased monsters, but the meat and blood was sure to spoil unless they properly stored it soon. A loss Frost really didnt want to suffer. Such products would be a stable in attracting residents to his external camp after all. Frost sat on the sofa and opened up the dungeon menu, it was time to do some expanding. He immediately manoeuvred to the dungeon design section. At the moment he currently had six floors all fully outfitted with their own environments, expansions and added features, enough to handle the current level of monsters as well as the increased activity to be expected once the camp was up and running. The sixth floor was still hallmarked to be some sort of safe zone, an internal vige where outsiders and intelligent monsters summoned by him could live together. Frost nned to integrate the ronsos to this floor after expanding their numbers, theyll also be in charge of managing some of the key areas within the external camp and would serve as the face of the dungeon thanks to their almost sapient characteristics. Another four floors would give me an even ten, a nice round number and an additional 40 tons of storage for the dungeon vault. Frost added four floors the cart without hesitation, no longer taken aback at spending 60,000DP in a single go. ..... Theres no need to outfit them with environments yet, just existing should be enough for now. Frost hovered over the environment choices feeling as though he should at least outfit one of the floors given the amount of DP he currently had. Tap tap tap Frost tapped the edge of the sofa with his fingers while deep in thought. These floors would effectively serve as the next section of the dungeon, so he wanted to make a noticeable change not just in difficulty. The sixth floor already had a 2 star level environment- though it was the cheapest avable- so he wanted to continue that level of quality for this new section. Tap tap tap This dungeon system thing really is a ck hole in terms of money haaaaaaaa. Frost sighed internally as he imagined the price of outfitted something like his 40th or 50th floor. Tap tap tap Maybe I should try something simr to the [beginners ice magic], have the next five floors or so contain the same type of environment. That way itd be more familiar to the adventurers, and itd have some kind of pattern instead of me picking environments randomly in an effort to try them all. Frost stopped tapping his fingers and sat up straight, he had his answer well at least some of it. Now I just need to choose which one to proliferate. Frozen tundra 11,000DP Winter hignds 10,500DP Winter forest 12,000DP Ice maze 12,000DP Ruined artic castle (interior) 12,000DP Ice caverns 11,000DP Frozen mountain trail 13,000DP Pr seas 13,000DP . cial steppe 16,000DP The choices avable in the two star section were quite simr to those he had already apart from a few additions. Frozen mountain trail was an environment based on thendscape seen a kilometre or so up one of the cial mountains. A harsh terrain with low levels of oxygen, frequent freezing winds and near invisible cliff edges that would spell an adventurers doom if they fell. The pr seas was a water based environment wherein the surface would be made up of differing chunks of ice drifting on top of the water, simr to the giantke in the Gamma sector which Frost avoided, glimpsing only the edges. This environment is not only deadly in terms of simply navigating across it safely its ideal for aquatic monsters that flourish in frigid temperatures. Unfortunately Frostcked much ess to such monsters at this time thus the pr seas environment was struck from the list. As Frost jostled between 2 or 3 prime choices the sound of a door could be heard opening, Nanna and Loki had woken up. Yaaaawnnnn! Nanna let out a big yawn and rubbed her eyes to removing the build up sand. Loki was following behind her still quite groggy and holding her hand. Hmmm Master, Good morning. Loki noticed Frost sitting on the sofa and instantly woke up, greeting him with an animated voice before letting go of his sisters hand and dashing forward. Nanna blushed from showing Frost her yawning face. G...Good morning master. She quickly put on a more eptable expression before following Lokis lead. Good morning Nanna, Loki. Did you sleep well? Frost moved the dungeon menu to side and tapped the sofa, beckoning the children to join him with a bright smile on his face. Yeah I had an awesome dream. Loki with his innocent personality responded in a bubbly tone before climbing onto the sofa and sitting to Frosts left, leaving the right side for Nanna. Hoh what was it about? Frost asked, genuinely curious about it. He cared deeply about every part of their lives, treating them as if they were truly his son and daughter. A feeling that didnt go unnoticed by the children, it was no wonder they warmed up to him and Maya so quickly. I was finally an adult so I could fight in defence of the dungeon. Finy and you were both in it as well. A dragon came to eat us and the two of you tried to fight it but were unfortunately beaten. Loki started animating a fight scene making Frost gasp and p along as he did and Nanna to giggle at her brothers antics. When the dragon was about to deal the finishing blow I appeared in my adult form and beat it out of the dungeon and as a reward I was given a bucketload of candy. Hahahahahaha thats fantastic you certainly earned it. Frostughed with joy and rubbed Lokis head with affection, loving his natural childlike behaviour. He then turned towards Nanna hoping to see the same kind of behaviour. What about you Nanna did you have a good dream as well? He smiled gently an expression that would make any number of women swoon. Nanna blushed pink from ear to ear out of embarrassment, she did have a dream, but it wasnt one she wanted to talk about especially in presentpany. She did however get an affectionate head pat like her brother making her smile. Maya mentioned that the azure spark quail helped to promote pleasant dreams and a good nights rest once its energy boosting properties ran out. Im d to see that was true.....I cant wait to try it myself. Frost pulled Nanna and Loki close, hugging them. Did Maya not make you a serving once we went to bed? Loki asked with a tilted head,pletely oblivious to the fact that he dobbed her inst night. Nanna looked around but didnt see Maya anywhere, she was also usually up before them, ready to prepare their breakfast. Nanna tucked on Frosts robes and asked, Where is Maya, Master? A mischievous and somewhat proud grin subconsciously grew on Frosts face. Mayas currently resting, she and I did some special trainingst night and shes a little worn out because of it. So shell likely be in bed for a while. The grin on his face widened as he spoke making Nanna feel that something was off, but she chose not to dwell on it. Maya and her master cared for one another, and Maya was so strong that nothing bad could ever happen. Ok....Will I start making breakfast then, Maya already taught me some basics. Nanna stood up from the sofa, suddenly feeling the urge to make up for Mayas absence. Hoh what did you have in mind? Frost wouldnt mind simply purchasing breakfast directly from the menu but the idea of eating something handmade by Nanna was too adorable to pass up. Toast and eggs. It was the only hot food she learned to make so far. Before meeting Frost and Maya, during the dark times when she and her brother were still abused ves all their food was nothing, but scraps and gruel and it was never warm. Nanna had never been allowed to handle fire or magical devices during such times and though Maya was adverse to letting her -due to it being dangerous- she did eventually teach her how to make fried eggs and toast without her help. This would be the first time however Maya wasnt by her side keeping an eye on her, but she felt confident that she could pull it off. Frost smiled from ear to ear as his heart thumped loudly, Nanna was just so cute. That sounds perfect, you have my permission to purchase what you need through the menu chef Nanna. Please make us four servings and do be careful. Un. Nanna nodded in confirmation, a joyful smile adorned her face as she skipped over to the kitchen and put on her apron. A pink one with a picture of a unicorn, one of the many apparel purchases made by Maya while they were out shopping. While Nannas preparing breakfast how about you help me make some decisions in regards to the dungeon Loki? Yes yes yes. Loki nodded back rapidly, incredibly excited by such a prospect. Chapter 411 411 Chapter 411: Toast and eggs (2) While Nanna dressed herself in her unicorn apron and prepared the necessary ingredients and cooking utensils Loki moved himself onto Frostsp so they could peruse the dungeon menu together. I just spoke with Finy and Khuno and they told me that the dungeon vault is full meaning we need to make it bigger. How do we do that? Well every new floor grants an extra ten tons worth of storage, so Ive decided to purchase four new floors bringing us to an even ten. What I need your help with is deciding which environment to use for these floors. I want this new section of the dungeon to have the same environment on each floor thus mimicking the trends of a monsterir. Choosing which environment however has me stumped. So you want me to help you choose? Yes Loki Id like to hear your opinion. Frost asked with a gentle smile as he brought around the dungeon menu. Im only going to outfit the first of the new floors, but this choice will eventually epass the others. Ive narrowed the choices down the these three, tell me which one you think would be best and why. Winter forest 12,000DP Winter hignds 10,500DP ..... cial steppe 16,000DP Loki looked at the three options with intense focus. He cupped his chin and tilted his head to the side as he thought deeply. The dungeon already had one star versions of each of these environments, so Loki knew roughly what theyd look like and contain. Each of them had their advantages and disadvantages but if he really had to choose. The cial steppe environment. Loki gave his answer with a firm nod. Your reasoning? Frost smiled with pride, he too felt that the cial steppe would be the best choice. He just wanted to test Loki and get a confirming second opinion. Although its the most expensive environment I believe its also the most suitable since like the winter hignds it contains trees, cliffs, water and a diverse range of flora as well as looking quite beautiful. The monsterir that you visited before had this environment so its well-known and proven suitable for the monsters we currently have ess to. Valid points but why not the winter hignds then. As you stated it too has diverse features and is far cheaper. Would it not be better to choose that one instead? Frost smirked while picking apart Lokis answer. The winter hignds is too basic; the flora will likely be a grade lower and less popted. Plus the frequent blizzards though good at obscuring the area may be seen as annoying. While watching the adventurers enter and exit the dungeon Ive overheard many of themin about how irritating the blizzard is. So much so that they hate passing through the first section. Having multiple floors with such an environment may in fact put off intruders. Loki answered back with the knowledge hed gained from his time watching over the dungeon. Hmmm I never thought of it like that, looks like youve spent a lot of time watching the adventurers havent you. Frost ruffled Lokis hair. Hehe d I could be of help master. With Lokis input Frost was now ready to expand the dungeon. 60,000 for the four floors, 4500 for expansions and 48,000 for three cial steppe environments. A grand total of 112,500DP, about half of his current reserve. Is there anything youd like to see ced in the dungeon; weve got a fair amount of DP left to y around with? Hmmmm Loki frowned, thinking deeply once again. This was the first time hed been asked what he wanted to add to the dungeon, it was a novel experience. Umm what about something that shoots cold mes, a new type of trap? After a couple minutes of hard thinking Loki replied nervously. He didnt know how effective such a trap would be but ever since he and his sister had seen the high earth rank cold me theyd been fascinated with cold fire, their instincts overwhelming them whenever it was ced in front of them. Now Frost and the ronsos could harness such mes at will, the young phoenix kin wanted to see more of such mes. His stomach rumbled slightly as the images filled his mind, his eyes drifted towards Frosts hands. ... Frost blinked and looked at Loki as if he was some kind of natural genius well until he heard the young boys stomach rumbling and felt his intense stare. His reasoning wasnt practical it was just something he wanted to see, a very childlike response and one that Frost wanted to see. However a cold me trap may indeed be very effective, an inspired expression appeared on Frosts face as he imagined the possibilities. Hahahaha youre a genius Loki thats a perfect idea, well design a new trap together, one which uses cold mes hahahaha. Frost hugged Loki against his chest with glee before quietly summoning a small tendril of cold mes out of sight from Nanna. Loki in response smiled ear to ear and slurped up the me without hesitation, such mes had be a delicacy among the two siblings. Frost confirmed the purchase of the new floors and environments causing the dungeon to tremble for several seconds. There was now ten floors to Frosts dungeon. It was quickly bing quite a developed piece if real estate. Finy and Khuno both opened up the dungeon menu a few seconds after the trembling stopped to restart the storing process. An extra 40 tons should do them until the end of the stampede....hopefully. Frost and Loki thus began bouncing ideas off one another as they worked to design some cold me traps. Nanna joined in once she ced breakfast on the table, she wasnt about to be left out of something so interesting. Frost smiled with pride as he watched the two children discuss over the table and eat their breakfast, which wasnt half bad. Nanna overcooked the eggs a little and the toast was bit uneven but all in all it was pretty tasty. He left open the trap design feature so Nanna and Loki could interact with it while he left to deliver Mayas portion. Knock knock. This time he knocked on the bedroom door before entering, hoping that performing such a social gesture would ease Mayas irritation. What the fu..... Don! Frost quickly closed the bedroom door behind him activating the soundproofing and shielding Nanna and Loki from hearing Mayas cursing. ..ck is it now? Maya was still very irritated; shed managed to use a half baked healing spell but for some reason it failed to alleviate the majority of the pain and did nothing for her sensitivity. She remembered her mother telling her about something like this when she was younger but had forgotten it until now. When Frost the one who caused her to feel like this walked in all her anger and frustration bubbled to surface. But the moment he closed the door activating the rooms sound proofing a chill ran down her spine and she felt afraid. No! No! No! you bastard! Back off! Were not doing that again! My body will break if you stick that damn thing in me again! She trembled and tried her best to move away from Frost as he stepped closer. Pfft! Frost couldnt help but stifle hisughter, Maya was just so adorable and different from her usual confident and domineering self. Seeing her like this of course made him want to tease her like he did this morning but felt that doing so would be counterproductive in the long run. His thing how Maya put it however wasnt very cooperative, hardening at the sight of his lovers sexy figure and scaring her out right. Rx Im not here for that (yet). I know you must still be in pain so I wont force anything, you can rest however long you need. Frost waltzed over with the te of toast and eggs and sat on the bed beside Maya smiling as gently as possible. ... Maya red at him silently, wary of his intentions. In her current state shed struggle to control her strength if she had to physically repel him. Haaaaaa am I really that scary? Frost sighed and shook his head, pretending to be hurt by her re. ... Mayas gaze however only intensified, not moved by his fake pain. Her eyes drifted downwards staring right at therge tent pitched in Frostsp. Who was he fooling, he could sound all gentle and look harmless, but that thing couldnt lie. Frost noticed the problem and let loose an embarrassing chuckle before doing his best to hide his instinctual reaction. Im being serious I mean you no harm. Look I even brought you breakfast, Nanna made it herself and its pretty good. Frost highlighted the te holding the fried eggs and toast. Mayas chilling re softened at his words. Nanna made breakfast gimme gimme gimme owowoowwo. She instantly moved towards Frost and the te in an attempt to snatch the food, but her sudden movements sent jolts of pain throughout her body. Geez are you a child? Here? Frost shook his head at Mayas actions before snuggling up close. He was going to feed her while she remained in bed. Chapter 412 412 Chapter 412: Frost drakes Well thanks to you thats no longer the case hehehe. Maya giggled mischievously and reoriented herself on the bed. Frost froze for a second before smiling. True afterst night they werent children anymore. He moved closer to his girlfriend and tenderly fed her so she wouldnt have to move so much. Mmmm I can taste the love. Maya squirmed with glee as she ate the products of Nannas first solo cooking. Her rampant pain seeming drift away as she ate, herplexion bing ruddy. Frost gazed at her in a trance, his fondest for her growing and once the te was cleared he couldnt help but lean in and nt a kiss on her fair lips, gently and without lust. Does it still hurt? He asked with concern, truly worried about her. Maya brought her hand to her lips and smiled before leaning on Frost, her head resting against his shoulder. Yes, yes it does, very much so.....but its a good pain, one with meaning. Maya blushed. Her other hand hovered over her abdomen knowing that this pain would pass and that the next time they were intimate she wouldnt have to suffer. Next time there shouldnt be any problems, you wont have to stop halfway. She looked up at her lovers face with adoration, her anger towards himpletely dissipated. ..... .....Half ways a bit of an understatement. I dont Ill be finished even if we spend an entire week in this room and thats without the azure spark quail. Frost smirked evilly, his naughty hands finding their way under the sheets and onto Mayas naked thighs and rear. Mayas blush intensified; she yfully knocked her fist against Frosts chest. But she was smiling and didnt tell him to stop his caressing. Frost knew she was in pain, so his movements were gentle thus she felt only pleasure. Maya was breathing quite heavily after a couple minutes, her body copsing against Frosts chest. Bad boy. Maya called him yfully before falling into a peaceful sleep, devoid of energy. Frost moved some of Mayas hair off her face so he could gaze at her peaceful expression before gently lying her down and tugging her in. He then ced a kiss on her forehead and whispered. To be honest a week might not be enough. Frost sat against the headboard and stared harshly at the prominent tent pushing against his robes, he wasnt going anywhere for a while. Why does she have to be so sexy. Frost tried to calm himself down but was repeatedly distracted by Mayas bountiful orbs moving up and down under the sheets as she breathed. Frost eventually told Nanna and Loki to continue their reading and writing practise through the dungeon menu while he directly teleported from his bedroom to the training space. Though he couldnt summon any training apparatus he could still swing his ive around and cast his magic, a suitable distraction. Over the next few days the monster stampede waves became more and more powerful with multiple C-ranks appearing at a time and not just entry level ones either. Fall back! Fall back! This areas done for! Retreat to the next defence zone, utilise the narrow pathways to slow their speed. Khuno get your ronsos to break off and take care of the D-rank chaff! Revenants, yuki-onnas and frost trolls cover the rear lines! Finy take care of the smaller drake, Khuno you handle the other small one, leave the two big ones to me! Frost roared out severalmands, barely cutting through the fierce din of battle. They were currently held up in the ruined artic castle of the 2nd floor after being pushed back by thest two waves and were now already being forced to retreat again. Frost wanted to preserve his forces so as to not waste the experience they had gained. Hed rather fall back pre-emptively than risk losing them. This wave was by far the most difficult the dungeon had faced, losses appeared despite Frosts quick actions. They were up against lizards and most importantly drakes. Massive frost drakes, armoured reptiles that were descended from dragons. Powerful, fast, tough and all around powerhouses. The D-rank lesser kin were in the dozens and even the C-rank ronsos struggled to manage them, their attacks struggling to inflict fatal wounds. Their forces were repeatedly pushed back and overrun by their brutal bulk that refused to fall. Leading these lizards and drakes were four C- rank frost drakes, two that were at the peak of entry grade, and two more that were middle grade,rger with even tougher scales. Shit breath attack! Get down! Khuno yelled at the top of his lungs, warning nearby friendly forces before covering his halberd in cold mes, twirling it rapidly in defence. Everyone else nearby quickly hit the deck to avoid the freezing beam that was about to be unleased. Fuck! Finy cursed while preparing himself to block. These drakes were not only difficult to harm they had absolutely devastating attacks and were fiercely intelligent. The four of them would use the breath attack all at once, nketing the area in freezing mana. The dungeon had lost a fair number of monsters to such a strategy, only Finy, Khuno, Frost and at least 3 of the ronsos in a group could block their breath attacks. Damn cunning lizards! Frost was in a bad predicament; his enemy was double in number and stronger on an individual level. Behind him were the retreating forces as well as those fighting against the lesser drake kin who had far higher resistance to breath attacks than his own monsters. When this battle is over Im definitely adding drakes to the dungeons line up. But first Im going to kill the two of you and roast you in my kitchen! Frost summoned his chakra armour, a thin yet incredibly dense and versatile suit of ice armour covered his body before silver coloured mes spawned across his ive and he began spinning it like Khuno. This wasnt the first time hed blocked a breath attack. The four C-rank drakes sucked in vast amounts of mana in the longer area causing their chests to glow a bright blue and expand. They each lifted their front legs off the ground, raising their bodies up before swiftly mming down and roaring. A powerful beam of blue ice energy followed their roar shooting towards their three targets. [Ice breath] Finy responded with his own breath attack but that only slowed down the opposing beam. Finy wasnt a drake or rted to dragons in anyway thus his breath attack was a far cry from the original plus he was limited in how often he could use it. [Mountain cleave]! Finy followed his breath attack with an axe skill Frost purchased for him through the dungeon menu, an upgrade from his standard [axe sh]. His battle axe hummed to life, its de edge glowing a bright azure as Finy violently swung upwards redirecting the remaining breath attack into the ceiling, away from himself and those behind him. Such abination however left him quite drained, this battle was not only a long one but forced him and the rest of the dungeons forces to use their strongest abilities repeatedly. Finy punched the nearby wall in frustration, hed been fighting on the frontlines without end alongside Khuno but still his level stayed at 49. No matter what he did it didnt rise, he was barred from evolving and thus continued to fail to meet Frosts expectations. After Frost let Maya rest and was in a less distracted mood he, Khuno, Finy and even the kids discussed this problem, but they couldnt be certain of the reason. Theycked enough data to ascertain if it was a problem with Finy, the system or that Frost wasnt strong enough to facilitate his evolution to B-rank. Thisck of an answer meant Finy continued to ce the me on himself. The waves kept getting stronger and stronger, eventually therell be upper C-ranks and if the worstes to pass a B-rank. Frost could only summon entry level C-ranks with his current strength, the pressure was on, and everyone knew it. On Khunos side his silver mes along with the spinning of his halberd saw him take on the ice drakes breath, enduring it and eliminating it gradually with his cold mes. He took longer to handle it than Finy and was pushed back several metres as a result but the energy he expended was a lot lower. Khuno was quite clearly the stronger fighter out of the two of them and that gap continued to widen as Khuno levelled up. [Ice obey my will, form into a mighty shield to defend me from my enemies, ice shield] Frost along with his cold mes and chakra armour summoned a 2nd circle ice shield before him. The destructive power he faced off against was far greater. The two breathsbined into a singr devasting beam multiple times more powerful than simply adding them together. It was an attack that pushed the limits of C-rank, so he had to go all out. Baaaaaannnnnggggggg! Shatter! Thebined breath met with the ice shield and shattered it in less than a second but close to 20% of the energy was expended. Rahhhhhhhhhhh! Frost roared out, tensing every muscle in his body as his ive and mes met with thebined ice breath. His feet dug into the hard stone floor, creating deep grooves as he was gradually forced backwards. His chakra armour developed cracks and pieces start to ke off and his hands started to show signs of mana burn. After being pushed back nearly five metres Frost clenched his jaw and shouted enough! And suddenly smashed apart thest of the breath beam, his breathingboured and his chakra armour receding. Chapter 413 413 Chapter 413: Frost drakes (2) Don! After destroying thest remnants of the frost drakesbined breath attack Frost fell to a half kneeling position, relying on his ive to keep him upright. He was exhausted, frustrated, pissed off and excited all at the same time. Frost was stronger than the two mid C-rank frost drakes but with their teamwork and the fact that he needed to control the battle so as to protect his weaker forces they were at a stalemate. Don! Don! While Frost was breathing heavily, his body trembling from exhaustion the two mid C-rank Frost drakes mirrored his actions, copsing to their knees and panting, they too were exhausted perhaps even more so than Frost. Across their armoured bodies massive deep cuts could be seen bleeding profusely. Their once imprable armour cracking and barely holding together as the softer flesh was exposed. Frost with his half step 4 star ive had carved up these two drakes during their battles, dyeing their skin blood red. It was only due to the frenzied state imposed by the corruption of the mana vein that these two drakes still stood, charging forward without end. Their pride at being rted to dragons fused with the frenzied state making them even harder to bring down, it was a miracle these two could still breathe let alone dish out such a devastating attack. However it seemed as though they had finally reached their limits. Don! Don! ..... The two smaller drakes being handled by Finy and Khuno fell as well. The moment they moved to attack their legs gave out, they had lost all feeling and could no longer control them. After a brutal campaign these four drakes had finally ran out of juice. Finy, Khuno and Frost all opened their eyes wide before ncing at one another and letting out a relieved breath. The drakes are finished! Everyone full on attack, eliminate what remains! Frost forced himself to stand. He raised his ive up high in victory before shouting at the top of his lungs. News about the fall of the C-rank drakes would inspire his forces, granting them some much needed strength. Rahhhhhhhhhhhh! Nearly every friendly monster in the area roared out in response to Frosts order, their bodies surging with vitality. They stopped the retreat, instead focusing on eliminating the enemy. It was time for them to push back. The initial dozen ronsos had now been expanded to 20, 10 of which were here while the rest were recuperating. These ten let out tiger roars far surpassing the revelry of the other monsters. Their targets the D-rank lesser drakes froze, paralysed by the effects of the skill. The ronsos then swiftly dove in with increased fervour, ripping open their scales with their sharp ws and freeze burning their flesh with their silver cold mes. Frost then nodded to Finy and Khuno before each of them summoned their remaining strength. The three then dashed forward, their weapons raised, ready to end these C-rank drakes who were no longer capable of moving their legs. [Mountain sunder] [Crescent execution] Finy and Khuno both activated a weapon skill that enhanced their cutting force. They were aiming for a beheading an undisputed killing method. Even if the drakes were in a frenzied state they wouldnt survive without a head. Finys battle axe and Khunos halberd both glowed azure and green respectively. They howled through the air, descending upon the necks of the weakened drakes. Their opponents did their best to move but to no avail, the weapons came crashing down on already open wounds. Schwing! Schwing! The battle axe and halberd both cut through the drakes necks but even without them being able to resist and an already made entry point it was anything but clean. Crunch! Crunch! The drakes powerful neck bones proved to be incredibly tough, their weapons losing all momentum after chipping three quarters of the way through. Khuno and Finy both frowned before roaring out. Finys arms bulged and veins protruded on his forehead as he forcefully activated his [enrage] skill despite his exhaustion. With a second boost of strength Finy continued to cleave down and eventually severed through his drakes robust neck before smashing into the floor with the leftover force. The drake was powerless to fight back, its body squirmed and iled with the loss of its head before eventually growing still. Khuno didnt have the [enrage] skill so instead he covered his halberd in sliver cold mes before taking his right foot and cing it on the halberds spine. With the increased force from his right leg and the silver cold mes weaking the bone and nearby flesh his halberd cut through thest quarter of the neck bone, separating the drakes head from its body. It too was decapitated, dying after a few seconds of iling. After killing his mighty foe Finys vision grew dark and his entire body trembled and spasmed as the rebound effect of his [enrage] skill too effect. The mighty ice trollmander fell backwards, his head on a hard collision course with the cold stone floor. A couple enemy monsters nearby also broke off from their progression, turning around to feast on the exhausted ice troll. The allure of eating a higher ranked monster being too much to resist. Schwing! Thankfully a fraction of a second before Finys head smashed against the stone floor Khuno arrived, cing his hand underneath his counterparts neck. He alsounched a wide area attack forcing back the opportunist lizards that sought to take advantage of the situation. Hissssssssss! The two lower D-ranked frost lizards hissed in protest as Khunos attack knocked them backwards and cut open their flesh. However that protest was short lived, a momentter a ronso appeared behind them and silently grabbed onto their necks. The ronso then activated his cold mes, setting the now squealing lizards alight, burning them to death. Apologiesmander Khuno,mander Finy. The ronso gave a quick bow before dashing off to handle to rest of the battle. These two lizards slipped out of his controlled area, a mistake on his part that nearly had disastrous consequences. Khuno was too tired and the ronso was too busy for him to lecture and discipline him, that would have to wait tillter. The ronso captain sat on the cold stone floor and guarded hisrades body, making sure nothing else attacked while he was vulnerable. Finy had overdone it and was barely conscious, all he could do was looked up at Khuno and thank him with his eyes before he leaned back and rxed leaving the rest to Khuno. Haaaaaaa Khuno sighed before redirecting his gaze to Frost. While Khuno and Finy managed to deal the final blow to their opponents without too much resistance, suffering only from the strain of attacking Frost wasnt quite so blessed. His opponents though exhausted and unable to move their legs could still swing their necks and even their tails slightly but the annoying thing was that there was two of them. Whenever he swung down to end one of them the other would attack or help block his blows resulting in too shallow a cut. Theyd been working as a team ever since they experienced the danger of Frosts ive, never allowing him tond any clean, 100% solid strikes from that point. God damn fucking lizards just die already! [w of the ice wolf] Frost roared out and activated his most used skill, summoning three ice ws before his ive. He aimed for the left drakes neck after repelling an attempted biting, a good opportunity. Schwing! The three ice ws ripped open a seam in its neck before being expended, following after that was the ives de covered in a sharp coating of wind mana. The ive cut through the drakes neck without too much difficulty before reaching the powerful neck bone. His momentum was still good so the chances of this being a fatal blow was good but. Bang! Frost was struck in the side by the other drakes tail, shattering what remained of his chakra amour. Splurt! Frost was knocked a couple metres back and coughed up blood from the blow but thanks to his armour only a couple ribs had cracks, no major breaks or shattering which would be expected after suffering such a heavy attack. The drakes tail was several metres long, over 30cm in diameter and chock full of heavy dense muscle after all. His attack on the other drake was obviously interrupted, the de sinking only slightly into monsters neck bone before he was forced away. It managed to survive once again by relying on its adept teamwork. ... Frost held his side in silence, his lips twitching from anger and frustration. The two drakes growled at him and prepared to defend themselves from his next attack all while doing their best to regain control of their legs. Hehehehehe you bastards! Perhaps I wasnt clear! Frost raised his head, his eyes spewing fire as he gripped his ive. I said Im going to roast you in my kitchen! Dont make me ruin all that meat! Frost snapped; hed had enough. With regenerated vigour Frost appeared by the right drakes side choosing to take out his anger on that one first. Chapter 414 414 Chapter 414: Frost drakes (3) [Earths upheaval] No longer restraining himself Frost activated one of his advanced mastery level skills [earths upheaval]. Aunching skill that he purchased from the dungeon menu, equivalent in rank to [wyverns maw] and [sky fall]. Frosts ive shone with a deep green lustre and the image of arge, heavy rock appeared behind it, granting his ive incredible weight. A momentter Frost swung upwards, striking the undercarriage of the frost drake. Usually such a move would just jolt the several ton creature and perhaps damage its scales but with the enhancement of the skill [earths upheaval] the result waspletely different. The frost drake suddenly felt as though it was being smashed by a giants club, its ribs broke apart as it was easily lifted off the ground and sent crashing into the ceiling. This however wasnt the end, Frostunched himself after the drake. He grabbed its tail and tore it out of the dented ceiling before flinging the creature at its teammate. [Skyfall] Frost then activated another one of his advanced mastery skills, summoning four ives around him simr in appearance to his own ive. A mad look was on his face as he did this. The four ives pointed downwards with Frost and his original ive in the centre before Frost kicked off the ceiling diving towards the still falling drake and the one lying below still unable to move. Don! Don! Don! Don! Don! The falling drake viciously smashed onto to the left drake, forcing it prone as more and more cracks appeared on its back. Next before the right drake slipped of the left drakes back the five ives appeared and pierced through both their bodies, sticking them together. ..... Frost then leaped from the right drake, leaving his ive embedded so as to pin the two monsters together. Now lets see how you stop me this time. With an evil smirk Frost summoned out his back up ive an upper 3 star weapon he purchased through the dungeon. It wasnt as decorative as his primary ive andcked an engraving, but it was heavier. Fully metallic, made from duram as well as frigid iron, a solid weapon. [Wyverns maw] Frost activated the first advanced mastery skill he learned. Energy flowed through his body and into his ive before coagting into the head of a wyvern. Another species that was derived from dragons and in many ways the eternal rival of the drakes. Drakes were dragons without wings, four legged creatures that were bound to the earth whereas Wyverns were dragons with the inability to use breath attacks but had wings. They were weaker physically than drakes but far faster and were usually venomous. Lesser dragons that both thought themselves more pure than the other. To be killed by a wyvern could be seen as somewhat insulting or honourable depending on the drake. These two were clearly the type the feel insulted, they roared with wrath, wishing nothing more than to rip the wyvern head to pieces but that was impossible. Frosts ive pierced through the two of them pinning them in ce, they were sitting ducks now. Not one to drag things on Frost swung down with his ive unleashing the massive wyvern head. Roooooaaaaaaarrrrrr! The wyvern roared out before dashing forward. Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Then with three bites that consumed all the energy that created it the wyvern devoured the heads of the drakes, leaving them headless and silent. Once their iling stopped Frost felt thest vestiges of his energy dissipate. His legs no longer able to support him copsed, his ass hit the floor before he leaned back, and his arms spread out like a star fish. Hu hu hu hu fuck! His breathing wasboured, and his entire body was trembling, and he was in no small amount of pain. Guess using three advanced weapon skills in a row was a bit too much. Frost strained himself to look at the corpses of the two frost drakes. Dammit those skills likely mixed bits of shattered bones into the meat and their skin and scales arepletely ruined now haaaaaa. Frostined internallymenting hisck of patience and sudden burst of anger. The dungeon didnt have too much in terms of viable C-rank materials thanks to the fights always being quite brutal and evenly matched, a shame really. Frost frowned. I need stronger monsters, the burden is too much for me, Finy and Khuno to be in charge of taking the wave leaders on while also being worried about the other monsters and preserving as much of the corpse as possible. He then strained his neck to look over at Finy and Khuno, his worries increasing upon seeing Finy practically out cold. One or maybe two fights were ok but Finy and Khuno have been present in nearly every wave over the past few days. It was no wonder they were forced so hard against the drakes. Frost realised he had a couple options. One being to purchase tens of more ronsos, thus eliminating the need to protect weaker monsters and increase their upper tier forces. This however was quite costly and wouldnt help too much against the higher ranked invaders. However there would be no downside to this, so hed likely do this anyway. Option two was for him to see another leap in strength thus unlocking mid-grade C-rank monsters which would be effective against wave leaders and perhaps even assist Frost in holding back a B-rank monster if one does unfortunately show up. However given that Frost had just achieved arge leap in strength itd be impractical to rely on him doing it again within such a short space of time. Option three was the option he was originally relying on for this situation, Finys evolution. With Finy reaching B-rank not only would he have a monster that could take on C-rank intruders without too much issue he was a leader based archetype that increased the strength of his allies. Frost expected that when Finy evolved to B-rank his [invigorating shout] and other buffs would see a dramatic improvement thus improving his forces as a whole as well as him gaining an even more powerful general. This option however has hit a major bump in the road, Finy even after fighting madly for the past few days hasnt seen his level change and Frost didnt know why. Master are you ok there? Lokis innocent voice could be hearding through the dungeon menu. He was worried since Frost had copsed onto the floor and seemed to be barely moving. Im fine Loki just a little exhausted. Frost replied with a forced smile. He was a little out of the way when he battled with the two frost drakes thus no other enemy monster came over to attack him during his moment of weakness or rather none of his forces allowed them to do so. Letting a couple slip through towards Finy or Khuno was an unfortunate mistake, but they would never allow such a thing to happen to their master. Ok then....oh Maya says that shell start preparing the azure spark quail. ..... Frost was speechless for a second before a lusty smile appeared on his face. Thats perfect tell her Im more than happy to test the limits of its stamina invigorating properties. Loki was silent for a few seconds while he told Maya what Frost said. Maya stumbled and blushed before telling me to tell you to shut up.....did you do something wrong master? Loki replied innocently, wondering why Maya responded like she did. His words of course caused Maya to stumble again. Hahahahahahahaha. Frost howeverughed out loud despite his body hurting as he did. Damn his girlfriend and kids were so damn adorable. 20 minutester the wave had finally been dealt with, thest lizard had been silenced and the dismantling corps got to work harvesting the more lucrative and higher ranked species while the dungeon automatically dealt with the low ranking monsters. The repair team C a team Frost created and filled a couple days ago to handle all the repair work thus letting the battle teams rest a little more- appeared and got to work while the battle teams were handed low level health and mana potions. Ones with serious injuries were immediately taken to the treatment centre on the sixth floor. Frost dwarf priests and frost troll witch doctors -which had also been expanded in number- where on call there at all times to heal the injured, getting them back to fighting shape as soon as possible. Finy and Khuno both drank mid-level health potions, greatly restoring their physical damage and fatigue but doing little for their mental exhaustion. Finy, Khuno get some rest while you can. Ill be heading to the private space to recuperate. Ill purchase more ronsos and upper D-rank monsters as well as cover this ce in traps. Fall back to the next defence zone, the damage here is too far gone. Yes master. Yes my lord. Finy and Khuno replied with a military bow, but frustration was clear on Finys face. Frost saw this and frowned. Finy Ill also try and find out why you cant evolve, hopefully the old man will be in an enlightening mood. Frost then sighed he really didnt want to ask his father for help as he felt it made him weak in some way, but he needed an answer otherwise the dungeon may be in serious danger. Chapter 415 415 Chapter 415: Spending DP like running water Frost returned to the private space once everything else was underway. A mixed expression could be seen on his face denoting his reluctance to ask his father for help as well as his excitement in finally being able to taste Mayas childhood dish and hopefully put its stamina enhancing properties to the test. Maya had already recovered from their first night together and like him was quite keen to experience such bliss again, hopefully without the agonising pain this time. Frost exited the space warp and appeared in the living room. Maya was hard at work in the kitchen alongside Nanna who was wearing her unicorn apron as she yed the role of assistant. The young girl was quite encouraged after her sess a few days ago. Volunteering more and more often to prepare the family meals, turns out she had a real passion for cooking. Whenever she was in the kitchen preparing and cooking the different ingredients, arge smile could be seen on her face. Frost and Maya had discussed this change in her demeanour at length as theyid beside one another at night. They loved seeing her animated expressions and childlike innocence, cooking seemed to bring that out of her, so they agreed to promote such opportunities. Frost even thought about taking Nanna to visit Sam in Kranor. If she really wanted to go down the path of being a chef he was more than happy to help facilitate it. Children should always follow their passions, that was their right. While Nanna helped out Maya in the kitchen Loki was left in charge of monitoring the dungeon. Multiple holographic disys could be seen around therge floating orb present in the room. Each one disying different areas of the dungeon. One showed Finy and Khuno organising the battle teams for the next wave while another disyed the situation at the medical centre. From the living room Loki was able to witness the dungeon in its entirety. The young phoenix kin sat on the sofa with a notebook and writing utensils syed out on the coffee table. He was taking notes in regards to the many situations taking ce, hoping to increase his management capabilities and thus increase his value in the eyes of his master. A soft smile adorned Frosts face as he saw this before he walked up behind Loki and ruffled his hair. ..... Thanks for your hard work Loki. You can take a break now; the officers will take care of the recovery work. Frost sat down beside Loki on the sofa, ncing at the notes he took. Its no problem master, I quite like monitoring the dungeon. Loki looked up at Frost and smiled from ear to ear. He enjoyed being helpful. Alright then. Frost leaned back against the sofa; he was still quite exhausted after all, so he simply let Loki continue his work. Frost then opened up the dungeon menu above his wrist, he had promised to shore up the dungeons forces. 10 ronsos, 5 ice revenants, 5 yuki-onnas, 20 frost revenant knights, 10 ice dwarves, 3 frost troll lieutenants and..... Frost quickly entered the monster section and added a diverse range of upper ranked monsters to shore up the dungeons forces. DP cost was not an issue as he currently had north of 150K. Over the past few days the ie had been anything but low so not only did he frequently add more monsters thus creating more battle teams for the shift rotation he also outfitted the entire 8th floor with the cial steppe environment, added an additional frigid iron mine as well as a duram mine which cost no small amount given its high quality. 64,000DP for 50kg a day, the same price as the ice borne titanium which was his alternative choice. In the end he chose the duram mine since durambines into alloys with other metals far easier and is less elemental in nature. These two mines were added to the sixth floor, the safe floor designed for monster and external inhabitants alike. Now however it was mainly reserved for the ronsos while they rested as well as the frost and ice dwarves working in the mines. Kiba also seemed to quite like this floor but was mainly positioned on the fifth floor along with the other beast type monsters. They hadnt seen too much action given that the recent waves took ce within the ruined artic castle sections -not very beneficial for their tactics. The cold me traps had also been finished during the past 3 days, each of which cost a minimum of 1500DP, a much higher grade than the basic ones Frost started with, far more devasting as well. If an E-rank or even D-rank adventurer was unlucky enough to be struck by one of these cold me traps their lives would be forfeit. Currently they had developed 3 types. One which shoots bolts of cold fire, simr to the regr bolt shooting trap just with different ammunition. The second was a derivation of the frost mine. Frost altered the structure to release cold mes that were at the mid mortal rank, more than enough to rapidly freeze and burn unsuspecting prey. The third trap was quite borate in appearance, a phoenix head C decided by Frost and Maya- would breath out cold mes across the surrounding area whenever an intruder stepped on the floor trigger. These traps could appear just like statues or simple masonry works of art, catching adventurers by surprise. A suitable form for the ruined artic castle environment. Frost added several of such traps to the former tertiary defence zone. Such contraptions would serve to thin the herd slightly as it made its way through the dungeon. Frost was just about to confirm his massive purchase when he realised that he had forgotten something. With a wild smile he returned to the monster section hoping to find a certain species. Bingo now present among the list of monsters were the drakes theyd just fought against. A species of monster that Frost found quite incredible. Powerful attacks, incredible defence, long and wide ranged breath attacks, resistant to magic and of course a tenacious life force. Drakes had very little weaknesses given their dragon ancestry. The only faults Frost could see were theircking agility and inability to fly but in the grand scheme of things that was negligible. Hardly any of his current monsters could fly and low agility wasnt a death sentence especially when theyre covered in scales. At the thought of the drakes scales Frosts smile grew, such materials were always highly sought after and would grant him a substantial profit as well as serve as great lures. A monsterir or in his case a dungeon that held anything with ties to dragons would see its attraction to adventurers, merchants and even local towns and viges be irresistible. Dragon materials were by far one of the most sought after regardless of their rank. Armour, weapons, magic devices, clothes, building materials, alchemy ingredients you name it dragons and their lesser kin were walking gold mines. Of course their danger levels were also unbelievably high but when money was involved that aspect always seemed to be forgotten. The C-rank option wasnt avable probably due to Frosts strength restriction but the lesser drakes which were at the peak of D-rank could now be purchased for a substantial 1100DP a piece. Equal to the frost revenant knights which he had be enamoured with at first sight. Lets add 5 of the lesser drakes for a trial run. Frost silently added 5 lesser drakes to the already massive shopping cart. And with a simple click of a button Frost saw his over 150K dwindle to a paltry sum of less than 20,000. Frost decided several days ago that he wouldnt let his DP ever fall below 10,000 anymore -unless absolutely necessary. This level would serve as his safety buffer. The longer this stampede went on the more he saw his massive ie being spent like running water, it was never enough to satisfy the ck hole that was his dungeon and its future ns. Once this is over and the chaos has died down things will change. Frost shook his head and let out a slight sigh as he wished those days would arrive soon. Adventurers flocking to his dungeon in search of treasure and materials. Battling against his monster forces in the name of profit and strength, not a massive, frenzied war like they were currently faced with. His external camp would also be up and running at that time, granting passive DP from those who choose to reside within the confines of the camp. The many materials retrieved during this war would serve as stock for the many shops attracting more and more residents and adventuring customers. Daki could set up her shop and train his ronsos and ice dwarven smiths in regards to weapon and armour forging, materials would never be in question. The future looked bright in Frosts mind, they just needed to survive through this stampede to make it there. The mid stages were nearing their end, thete/final stages would follow. There the numbers would be lower but the average quality and the control in which the monsters conducted themselves would be a stark contrast to the earlier waves. Frost both feared and looked forward to thete stages. His Dungeon, in theory shouldnt be as much of an attractive target to the hordes at that point, allowing his monsters some rest as well as the chance to develop the external room. Chapter 416 416 Chapter 416: Speaking with father Frost trembled as the intensity of divine energy flowed through him and entered the dungeon core, a feeling he never got tired of. Dozens of monsters thus showed up within the dungeon before being given their assigned tasks by the weingmittee. With his duties for the moment taken care of Frost leaned his neck back and sunk into the sofa, rxing for a spell while he waited for the glorious meal his girlfriend promised. Dinners ready. 20 minutester Mayas charming voice alongside Nannas cute voice floated through the living room announcing that dinner was ready. Frost opened his eyes with expectation, a wild smile forming on his lips. His stomach growled as the appetising smell entered his nostrils. Loki was no less enticed, jumping up rapidly from the sofa he ran to the dining table and took his seat, ready and waiting for Maya and his sister to carry over the food. Frost followed swiftly after him bringing a gentle smile to Maya and Nannas faces. The family of four thus partook in the high quality meal that was azure spark quail, cooked using the recipe Maya received from her grandmother. By the end of the meal Frost had tears in his eyes, the taste was absolutely sublime but there was something else in the meal that warmed his heart, perhaps it was the taste of love Maya mentioned when she devoured Nannas first solo cooking. Either way it was by far the most delicious thing hed ever eaten. Frosts gaze then drifted over to Maya who was finishing off thest couple bites of her meal. Well perhaps the second most delicious thing. A lustful smile appeared on his face as he was reminded of their night together. His feet stretched underneath the table in search of Mayas. ..... Maya jumped a little at the contact and looked over to see the lustful expression on her boyfriends face. Impatient bastard She grumbled and batted away Frosts feet with her own but smiled at the same time. To escape Frosts aggressive clutches Maya decided to take Nanna and Loki to the training room once their stomachs settled. Their personal training had been on the back burner recently given their need to manage the dungeon. Something Maya wanted to rectify. The two kids had a lot of potential, digging it out now would grant them far more possibilities in the long run, she had high hopes for these two. Frost clearly had a disappointed expression on his face but knew that he needed to patient and not rush these things, besides it wouldnt do good to send Nanna and Loki to bed so early just so he could get intimate with Maya. Plus there was something he needed to do. The azure spark quail had already started getting to work. Frost felt all his ingrained exhaustion evaporating making him feel invigorated and as a light as a feather, but such feelings didnt make what he had to do any easier. Haaaaaaa Frost sighed as he sat on the sofa alone, the dungeon menu was open in front of him disying the function to contact Dark. His hand hovered over the icon that would request a call with Dark, struggling to click it. Frost didnt really want to rely on his father for the answer. He wanted to find out the features by himself and experience the joy in doing so like Dark initially nned but his current situation made it so he couldnt take the long route. Click! Ring ring, ring ring, ring ring Frost eventually clicked the button and in response the dungeon menu started ringing like when he used themunication crystal. It ran for about 6 seconds before Dark picked up and his image was disyed on the screen, a video call. Hey hey Frost hows it hanging son? Dark answered with a jovial tone like a typical dad character. Unbeknownst to Frost, Dark purposely waited 6 seconds so as to not seem desperate to speak to his son or that he was quite free, it wouldnt do good for his image as the Dark God after all. Hearing his fathers easy going voice and his warm greeting Frost forgot his nervousness and trepidation in calling him. He subconsciously smiled and felt his heart flutter, he missed his father and was happy to speak to him like this. Im doing well father, what about you? Haaaaa Id be a lot better if my children called me more often hmph. Dark put on an exaggerated hurt expression, reminding Frost of their first interaction. He let out a slight chuckle at the memory before replying. Well Im calling you now arent I? Yeah but I bet its just because you want something. None of you just call me just to chat and catch up well none of the boys anyway hmph. ..... Frost stared silently at the image of his father puffing up his cheeks and not looking his way, childish in his actions but funny and the Dark, Frost knew. ...Are you quite finished with your drama? Tsk you really arent cute Frost. Dark clicked his tongue, swiftly changing to an annoyed expression. So then my dear son what is that you want, free DP? Treasure? More of my precious wine or perhaps you want to a talk about the birds and the bees huh? Dark smiled mockingly hoping to get a reaction from his cold exterior son. ...Youre a littlete in that regard old man. Frost smirked ...... ..... ...Eh? youre serious! Dark suddenly stood up in shock, pointing his finger at Frost through the screen. He couldnt believe it, Frost was only a few months old and had that personality, this news was aplete surprise to usually omnipotent Dark God. Dark stared deep into Frosts eyes and saw no falsehood, his son was speaking the truth and from his gaze he could feel a slight mocking towards him. Dark lowered his finger and looked down in contemtion. Am I losing my touch? There used to be nothing I didnt know about. He looked back at the screen, at his 7th child. ....Maya? Frost nodded his head in response. ...Nice. Dark smiled and presented a thumbs up, praising his son as a fellow man. Frost revealed his teeth as he smiled, his chest puffing out with pride, revelling in his conquest. So why have you really called? Cant be just to stroke your own ego and brag to your father about your aplishments? Haaaaaa yes this call of mine isnt for a simple catch up. I need some answers that I dont have time to find out on my own. Frost finally got to the reason for his call. He exined the current situation his dungeon was in. About the monster stampede and the fact that Finy had hit an obstacle in his evolution. Hoh? Im aware of the situation in the cial mountains but I didnt think youd willingly take it on at your current stage, rather bold dont you think? Dark had returned to his chair and cracked open a bottle of wine and some snacks while he listened to Frosts situation. A little payback for Frosts obvious gloating. Well so far its been going rather smoothly, a few bumps in the road but nothing my dungeon hasnt been able to handle, until now that is. So your nned defence against theter stages relies heavily on your general Finy was it? evolving to B-rank? Yes. Dark brought his hand to his chin rubbing it as he thought. If you cant beat the waves why dont you block off your dungeons entrance? ....You mean run from the fight. Frost clenched his fist, his aura subconsciously oozing out of his body and affecting the air in the living room. Thankfully Nanna and Loki were in the training space otherwise they may have felt suffocated. Dark however smirked at his sons reaction. He was impressed with his sons growth as well as his refusal to back down from a fight. Courage was needed if one wanted to rule and be someone of worth in Nova. Alright, alright chill Ill give you some of the answers you seek. Youll get to finish the fight you started hehehehe. Thank you father. Well first off your guesses are correct, I have ced limitations on the monsters that you and your siblings can summon. Frost felt a small weighte off his shoulders, knowing that Dark had in fact limited his monsters meant it wasnt Finys fault or something he had done wrong that prevented his evolution. The reason for this is to keep the power bnce in Nova as well as protect you and your siblings from a bloody revolt. Right now your strength allows you to summon entry level C-rank monsters as thats the limits you can effectively control. That Finy may be very loyal to you but in general monsters obey the strong. So Finys level will remain frozen until either I reach a higher level of power, or I expand the dungeon to empower my influence. Generally yes but even if you grow to a higher level of power Finy still wont simply evolve to B-rank, that would be far too easy. Dark smirked, enjoying teasing Frost along to the answers he needed. Frost frowned as a headache began to thump away. Alright Ill bite why wont it be easy for Finy to evolve even if I meet the required criteria? Darks smile grew. Chapter 417 417 Chapter 417: Speaking with father (2) Alright Ill bite why wont it be easy for Finy to evolve even if I meet the required criteria? Darks smile grew in response to Frosts question. Lets break this down step by step shall we. How do monsters normally evolve to their next archetype? Dark fell back into old habits, granting only tid bits of information at a time. A tendency Frost wasnt too fond of but since he was the one looking for answers he needed to y along. By fighting and devouring other monsters. Correct. But do you know how rare it is for a monster to actually evolve to a superior rank naturally? (This doesnt include monsters like Kiba that be B-rank due to natural age growth.) Frost frowned and shook his head; he had no idea. Its quite rare even among the lower ranks. A typical G-rank has about a 1 in 20 chance of bing an F-rank while an F-rank has about a 1 in 100 chance of bing E-rank. The higher you go the tinier the possibility. The chances of a C-rank bing B-rank are pretty much abysmal so you can understand the cheat that the dungeon menu system provides you and your siblings. Frosts frown deepened before he nodded in understanding. I can get away with allowing easy transitions among the lower ranks but above C, no can do, too risky and bnce breaking. .....So what do I need to do then? Frost was getting irritated with this back and forth. ..... Darks smile continued to grow; he was enjoying his sons agitation. I wont tell you outright as thatd be too easy my son. Frost clenched his fists and held back from clicking his tongue. Of course the old man wouldnt make it that easy. Well what can you tell me? Hahaha Dark couldnt help but chuckle before releasing his next bit of information. For a monster to change its archetype and evolve to the next stage it fights to hone its skills and devours the essence of those it defeats, umting energy until it gathers enough to break through the limits of its current species. That fact remains regardless of the monster being natural or summoned. .... Energy huh. Frost started rubbing the bridge of his nose. Darks answer was quite vague, but he understood the logic. All the energy that the monsters would normally absorb and feast upon is sucked up by the dungeon core. Though the dungeon is dense in mana thats not quite the same as devouring life energy directly. The mana fills them with strength and removes the need for sustenance while they are connected to the core, but they dont hold a reserve or a build up of that energy. Therefore they cant propel themselves through the vast restructuring of their body and life energy thates with reaching B-rank. Frost needed to find someway to provide his monsters with energy and from the look on Darks smug face it likely wasnt going to be that cheap nor that easy to do. I cant use DP for this energy can I? Darks smile reached from ear to ear as he tapped his nose. Correct Ive omitted that feature from the system, at least for now. Perhaps in the future Ill allow you and your siblings to spend DP to bridge this gap but not right now. Youll have to find other sources of energy. So once a C-rank monster has umted enough experience, hones its skills and is provided with enough energy to break past the limit itll reach B-rank. Frost stated hoping to get confirmation. Perhaps, not everything is as simple as ck and white in fact most things in the world are quite grey. Failure can happen for who knows how many reasons hahahaha. Darkughed mischievously. His kids had had it too easy so far, never knowing failure, that was set to change once they progressed further along the path. Frost felt his insides twist as he desperately wanted to reach through the virtual screen and p his fathers smug face. How could he not know what his father was hinting at. Indirectly calling him spoiled and inexperienced in the true vicissitudes of the world. Just because one was talented and blessed with enough resources didnt mean they were guaranteed to reach the top. Dark was going to start introducing chance to his monsters just like in nature. Frosts future nning would grow even more convoluted. But in essence he did have it easy and couldnt really argue against his fathers reasoning, instead he should be thankful for it being so simple and easy until now. With difficulty Frost focused on the logic and calmed down his wayward emotions, gradually returning back to a calm demeanour and a half-smile. .....Tsk how boring. Dark clicked his tongue annoyed by his sons swift control. He preferred seeing his normally cold and calm exterior son acting out based on his instinctual emotions, it satisfied his mischievous desires. Thank you for this information father as without it Im sure Id be ced in quite a quandary. Frost genuinely thanked his father. With this information at hand he would no longer be so puzzled and stressed, ming himself or worse his monsters for failures. Dark was initially taken aback by Frosts gratitude before his smile changed from mischievous to one of pride. Smart as usual....very impressive. Dark was forced to praise his sons intelligence and control; he took his underlying meaning to heart instead ofshing out. Not as fun a reaction but much more meaningful one. Thank you for the praise father. Frost showed a slight smirk as he celebrated internally. Though he understood his fathers hidden meaning, the logic he spoke about and the fact that he answered his questions he loved nothing more than one upping his father. If Dark enjoyed seeing himsh out and looking pissed off hed do the opposite depriving Dark of his mischievous enjoyment. Only someone like minded and as devious as Dark himself would behave in such a manner, turns out Maya had been a very thorough teacher in many regards. I guess that answers my questions in regards to when my power reaches the required levels but what about right now. How do I get Finy to evolve to B-rank before my power increases? Frost remembered that Dark said Generally yes when he asked his question meaning Finy evolving at his current strength wasnt impossible. Dark looked at Frost with narrowed eyes before letting out a sigh. Technically you can force it, ignoring the safety limitations I ced on the system but are you really sure? That Ice trollmander of yours will likely be stronger that you once he evolves, do you believe hell still willingly be constrained by you? Dark set the safety limits for a reason; B-rank was a different level entirely from the rest. With the change in life force beings notice the difference in strength between them and others even more clearly. A person wouldnt care much for an ant no matter how many there were or how strong it was it was still an ant. Finys image shed before Frosts eyes and a nostalgic expression adorned his face. Maya mentioned something simr when he was about to name him. Back then after receiving the name Finy, Finy rose to be an ice trollmander with mid to upper C-rank strength, a fair amount above his own. Maya was by his side worried about the possibility of rebellion, but her worries were unfounded. Finy fell to a half kneeling stance the moment his evolution was done and greeted Frost as his lord, like a knight swearing an oath to his king. There wasnt the slightest thought of rebellion in his mind. I believe in Finy father; he will not be a threat to me. Please tell me what I need to do. Frost believed his rise to B-rank would be no different than his rise to C. He trusted Finy whole heartedly. Dark looked at his son and saw unwavering determination in his gaze, he sighed once again before replying. The methods stand the same as before, Finy will need to hone his skills and umte enough energy to break the barrier however in order to circumvent the safety limitations hell need far more energy, perhaps more than his body can safely control plus hell need to grasp power that is beyond the capabilities of his current archetype. Only then will he have a chance to evolve while youre still at your current level. Frost frowned; Darks requirement sounded anything but easy. Thank you father, I understand. Frost closed his eyes and bowed his head slightly in thanks, he knew roughly what he needed to do. By the way if I was going down the dungeon expansion route how many floors would I need roughly? Frost thought itd be prudent to ask. Hmmm probably around 20 plus floors, maybe 25 minimum yeah that should be about right. Dark answered nonchntly after calcting with his fingers. His answer caused Frosts lips to twitch. Hed just reached ten floors, with only 8 of them outfitted. He was a very long way off for that option. Chapter 418 418 Chapter 418: Speaking with father (3) Thanks for all your help father, it was nice talking to you. Frost had the answers he needed; it was now time for him to put some of them into practise before indulging himself in Maya. She could only run temporarily, once the kids training is down shell have nowhere to hide. Ehhhh so soon, are you sure theres nothing else you want to ask me, tell me or just chat about. Darkined, revealing his loneliness. Arent you rather busy being one of the two creation Gods? Ugh....yes yes I am but you caught me during a break so we can keep talking if you want. Dark fumbled a bit as he desperately came up with a lousy excuse. Though he was the Dark God he was actually quite free. Most of the things he created were automated and taking care of themselves. Lesser Gods would be in charge of monitoring areas of Nova as well as the actions of the many races and kingdoms. All he really needed to do was step in during emergencies and asionally look over the lesser Gods reports. Most of his time was made up of him ying around, adding a new thing here and there when it popped into his head, tending to his garden or for thest century he focused on designing the dungeon cores now however his schedule was quite open. Without anything to do and with his soul be damaged he was quite prone to boredom and loneliness, talking to his kids helped alleviate that feeling. Many of the lesser Gods would look at him in reverence and wary while the higher levelled ones like the primordials always wanted something from him whenever they hung out. Like the damn Primordial Ice king, that sneaky bastard was the worst one always pilfering him of his prized wine and other awesome products. Just thinking about his annoying face brought a scowl to Darks face. However other than Light the Primordial Ice King was actually one of Darks closest friends. It was him who created the high earth rank cold me for Frost, though his payment request was quite outrageous. Darks mind floated back to the discussion he had with the Primordial Ice King a while back. His gaze then focused upon Frost. ..... Father are you alright? Why is he looking at me like that? Frost felt weird upon seeing Darks gaze. It was as though he was being left out of something important, yet it involved him. Yes Im fine just thinking about something else. So is there anything youd like to chat about while Im still free? Dark asked again with a gentle smile. Frost felt itd be cruel to reject his fathers honest request. Maya was currently busy training Nanna and Loki, and the next wave wasnt due for at least another hour or two, he could spare his father some of his time. Thus Frost told Dark about his experiences over the past several weeks. His exploration into the cial mountains, his meeting with his teachers, Sam and L. His visit to Kranor an enve in the external regions, his partnering with Kiba, the cial winged tiger who was practically a big fluffy kitten. He then spoke of Daki and couldnt help a lustful expression appearing on his face as he described her. Frost thus thanked Dark for blessing him with such an attractive appearance getting a jolly goodugh from the old man. Frost then described the monster stampede, how his defences were faring, why he chose to fight as well as his future ns once it was over, all of which warmed Darks heart, he loved hearing about his sons adventures and wished all his children regrly did the same. Of course he could look in on them on asion, but the feeling wasnt the same and his interaction with each of them during the family meeting was rather brief, not enough time to go in deep like Frost was doing right now. Oh I almost forgot, thanks to the dungeon being connected to the local mana vein Maya was able to conclude that the cause of the monster stampedes every few years is due to corruption. Once the corruption reaches a certain point the mana vein explodes violently sending all the nearby monsters into a frenzy. Thats not umon. The mana veins distributerge batches of mana throughout the, ensuring that life can thrive in nearly every part of Nova. This process can have some side effects, such as blockages and corruption. To rectify these effects the veins burst out in high doses, neutralising the problem before returning to normal. Dark wasnt surprised by the effects on the local monster poption. Mana abundance grants great beneficial qualities to flora and fauna but too much can have the opposite effect, being akin to poison. madness and frenzy ware just some of the known side effects. Once the mana vein calms down however the affected fauna and flora would return to their natural states. Yes Maya mentioned that however it shouldnt be happening so often, and the monsters affected shouldnt be directed to anywhere in particr, ignoring their baser instincts. Frost mentioned the most important part causing Dark to frown and rub his chin in thought. The cial mountains covered a vast area on the Yangmir continent and were generally under the purview of the Primordial Ice King. Dark rarely interfered unless the situation was dire. Frequent mana vein corruption was unusual but from what he could surmise the situation didnt have any serious effects on the mana veins long term health. Therefore such a problem wasnt really a problem in the eyes of a God, mortal creatures die all the time after all. Maya understood this logic so she shouldnt be that bothered by the situation.... unless there was something more afoot. Dark jerked his asking Frost to ry all he knew about the situation and the more his son talked the more pronounced Darks frown became. Someone or something is artificially interfering with the mana vein yet not enough that it would grab the attention of myself or the other Gods, how...devious. The armrests of Darks groaned under the pressure of his grip. Messing with the mana veins was a very serious crime, one that could have disastrous consequences for Nova. That was Mayas conclusion as well. She and I n to investigate the situation in the future. Frost agreed with his fathers statement, something artificial was at work. No, such work is not your ce. Ill speak with Shiva; the cial mountains is under his dominion so it should be investigated by him. Dark then looked at Frost as the memory of hisst conversation with Shiva the Primordial ice king came back to the forefront of his mind once again. Youre due to visit Shiva in theing months because of the high earth ranked cold me he created at my request. Only if he asks or gives you permission at that time should you then investigate the cause of the mana corruption, nothing before that. We have protocols in ce to prevent further problems when dealing with the life blood of Nova. Tell Maya this as well, she should understand. Dark spoke with a serious tone, his mischievous and rxed mood now changed to one suited for work. Understood. Frost replied acquiescing to his fathers instructions. Haaaaaaa looks like I actually have to go out and do something. Thanks for the chat, I really enjoyed learning about your recent activities. Hopefully next time we meet youll be able to tell me more. Itd be my pleasure father. Frost smiled gently, his heart fluttering. See ya Frost, oh and say hi to the two phoenix kin for me. Dark then cut of themunication and leaned back into his chair. Fuck why do I need to go and meet up with that sneaky bastard so soon, cant I get any peace after working so hard. Dark roared out hisints, cursing his life and taking out his frustrations on a summoned punching bag. Though Dark spoke of Shiva in such a way the Primordial Ice King was in fact one of his closest friends, one in which he actually got along with quite well. The problem however was that the Primordial Ice King quite enjoyed Darks prized wine collection and somehow always managed to con him out of a couple bottles whenever they met over the past couple centuries resulting in Dark developing a slight irking possibly even fear of the man. Unfortunately now that hed learned what he had and already informed Frost of his intentions he couldnt really back down from this meeting. He had to go. Hopefully he wont be too brutal with his requests. Dark opened up a special dimension that held his prized collection of wine, wondering which bottle or two hed end up losing today. Back in the private space Frost also leaned back into his chair but his mood was the stark opposite of his fathers. A bright smile adorned his face and his body felt as light as a feather. The azure spark quail had already worked its wonders making him feel 110% and now the issue with mana vein corruption was going to be investigated by the Primordial Ice King taking a load off his shoulders. Now he just needed to enjoy the fruits of his hardbour. A lusty expression grew on his face as he envisioned the battle that will soon be taking ce between him and Maya. Chapter 419 419 Chapter 419: Testing the limits of the azure spark quail Frost smiled lustfully as he imagined the uing night battle between him and Maya. A certain area inevitably hardened and grew as a result of such thoughts and his wolf like heart started thumping away. His patience was dwindling. Frost ended up calling Maya through the dungeon menu, but she refused to pick up. She was still clearly trying to put off the event. The pain from their first time influencing her current actions. Since that avenue didnt work Frost called Nanna and Loki convincing them to act on his behalf. A couple minutester Nanna and Loki returned to the private space, flushed red from an intense workout but there was no sign of Maya. Wheres Maya? Maya said that she wanted to continue training by herself and didnt want to be disturbed. She feels that shes getting rusty when ites to your hands on training and wanted to brush up on a few things. Nanna answered, mirroring what Maya told her. She was still young, so she wasnt quite aware of the situation between Frost and Maya. In fact she felt inspired by Maya that even at her level of strength she was still wanting to improve and all so she could help Frost better, it warmed her little heart. Is that so. Frost smirked in response, not expecting Maya to be so resistant to what was for sure going to happen tonight. She started this ride when she prepared the azure spark quail that boosted stamina, so there was no way he was backing down. Alright thanks for telling me Nanna, why dont you and Loki take a quick bath before heading to bed. Weve got a long day ahead of us tomorrow so you two should get some rest. Kay! Both Nanna and Loki responded with excitement before dashing off to the bathroom hand in hand. ..... Frost meanwhile vanished from the living room to arrive in the training space. He appeared behind Maya who was lost in her thoughts, crouching down and twirling her finger against the floor. She was caught at a conflicting crossroads. If she had a flower she would be plucking the petals off one by one to arrive at the chosen oue. Should I go or should I keep avoiding him. She desperately wanted to fall into the abyss of pleasure with Frost but the pain from their first time was so evident that it caused her body to tremble at thought of going through that again. Her hand subconsciously drifted downwards below her abdomen, her mind awash with the memory of Frosts weapon pushing inside and filling her so much that her abdomen bulged out. A hot pink blush adorned her cheeks before spreading across her entire body, heating it up with carnal desire. Her throat suddenly felt parched, and the thought of Frosts body refused to leave her mind. A momentter a pair ofrge, smooth hands slipped from behind, wrapping her up in a hug. Next she could feel a breath next to her left ear. Looks like I caught you my little rabbit fenrir. Frost smiled lustfully before lightly biting Mayas left ear, a weak point of his lover. Maya moaned against her will and suddenly grew incredibly embarrassed. Whos your little rabbit fenrir!?! She turned her head around and red at Frost, he knew that nickname was one of her reverse scales but it seemed as though he didnt care. His smile only grew before he swiftly moved in, nting his lips on hers. His hands beginning to caress her lithe and sexy body, sending ripples of pleasure throughout her system. Frost pulled out of the deep kiss and rested his forehead against hers. Who else but you my dear guardian. He then proceeded to kiss her face, her neck and even ears, each one eliciting a moan from his lover. Her anger from the nickname waspletely extinguished as she was thoroughly subdued by him. God damn hes good. In her mind Frost was both the ally and the enemy of all woman. She suspected that none would be able to resist his clutches if he seriously made a move on them. As the kisses continued Frost began to slowly unravel Mayas dress while she unconsciously did the same. W...w...wait no...not here. Maya spoke throughboured breathes and moans, using all of her remaining resistance to do so. Frost kissed her neck again before replying. Why not, its another dimension so you wont need to worry about your sexy moans being heard by anyone but me. D...Damn beast, thats not the i...issue. Maya struggled control herself, her eyes bing ssy and her body desiring nothing more than to join with Frost. His teasing was diabolical. Frost smiled evilly knowing what Maya meant but he continued his sensual caressing, his hands already underneath her dress, directly touching her smooth white flesh. She really was a little bunny in his eyes right now and he was the wolf, slowly devouring her. Maya had to bite her lips to not lose herself entirely, but she couldnt speak anymore, her eyes however red at her lover. Well if my little rabbit wants to change venue then who am I to argue. Frost then lifted Maya up off the ground. Her head rested on his shoulders while his naughty hands cupped her bubble butt, groping and caressing her without end. Mayasrge breasts moved up and down with herboured breathing, straining against the remains of her dress and brushing against his broad chest, an irresistible feeling. Frost had to fight to constrain himself, his lover was just too sexy. With a strong bite of own his tongue the pain allowed him to keep his focus, allowing him to teleport himself and Maya into his or rather their bedroom. The door immediately closed behind them separating them from the outside world, away from all distractions and the ears of others. The moment Maya felt her back resting against the soft mattress she stopped holding herself back, letting her lust takeover. She began moaning loudly and gyrating and rubbing her hips against Frost begging for him to stop teasing her. Frost wasnt one to deny his lover. The two then engaged in carnal pleasure throughout the night and morning. It was blissful, even better than their first night. Frost or rather Maya really tested the limits of the stamina boosting effects granted by the azure spark quail. She never let up during the entire night, she was insatiable. Without the threat of agonising pain and threat of blood her sadistic and ravenous side came out. While Frost was holding the dominant position in the beginning Maya started to take control in the early hours, setting the pace and telling him exactly what to do. Frost found this side of her to be just as loveable as her adorable and cute rabbit side that he oh so loved to tease. Unfortunately Maya bit off far more than she could chew. Frost had been holding back quite a bit, he wasnt joking when he said he could hold up with her for a week and still not be satisfied. Maya gradually found herself lost in the pleasure, begging Frost to slow down or even stop as he wrestled back control. By the time morning arrived Maya was once more back in her previous position. Her ass slightly raised and quivering under the sheets. The enormity of it once again expanded thanks to Frosts tender touch. Bite marks and hickeys adorning her once fair skin and the pain she thought was a thing of the past was present once again and in some ways even worse. Nothing was torn and ripped like during their first night -well not as much at least- but she was exhausted and severally overdone. There were tears in her eyes as she gripped the pillow and did her best to rx. Though that was really hard when Frost was sitting against the headboard with a cocky smile as though he was admiring his work. Out of her peripheral vision her lover was still pitching a significant tent showing that he could keep going, that it was her that couldnt keep up. She couldnt see it, but she could feel it there, looming and calling for her to continue. Damn bastards insatiable. Im never making azure spark quail again hmph! She turned her head around, refusing to look in Frosts direction lest she pop a blood vessel in anger. She cursed her grandmother and mother internally as they were the ones to pass down the recipe to her, not revealing the true extent of the dishs stamina properties when eaten by a fully grown man. They were partially to me for her pain. She even at some point wished that Daki would arrive sooner so she could suffer in her ce, but this thought was quickly extinguished. The pain was one thing but the pleasure and thefort she felt while in Frosts arms was something she didnt want others experiencing, at least not any sooner than needed. Her memories ofst night crept up once again, the positions, movements, his rough yet tender attacks that made her feel as though her insides were being repeatedly rearranged. She felt desire fill her once again but then came the pain. Perhaps if we do it some more Ill get better acquainted at taking such a monster. Chapter 420 420 Chapter 420: Testing the limits of the azure spark quail (2) Perhaps if we do it some more Ill get better acquainted at taking such a monster. Maya thought before her right foot slowly stretched out in search of the monster that wreaked havoc on her delicate body. She quickly found it standing straight upwards, still as rigid and as hot as the beginning of the night. Frosts smile stretched from ear to ear as he felt Mayas movements, curious as to what she was doing. How the fuck can you still be this hard!? Maya question in shock. It was as if their love making over the past 10 hours or so never happened. Oh I can easily go again if your up for it? Frost asked with malicious intent. His left hand sliding under the sheets totch onto Mayas quiver cheeks. Bastard dont even think about it, youve destroyed my delicate and frail body enough for one night! Maya argued back through clenched teeth, powerless to stop Frosts naughty hands. Hoh frail and delicate you werent frail and delicatest night. If I remember at one point didnt you use your overwhelming strength to shove me down and start.... Ahhh s...shut up! Not another word! A pink blush grew on Mayas face as Frosts words conjured up a certain point of their activitiesst night. And for someone so frail you certainly left a fair amount of markings. Frost drew Mayas attention to the many bite marks around his chest and abdomen before chuckling. Maya was anything but innocent, full of wild passion and a sexy figure to show for it. ..... If you dont shut up Ill give you another marking right here right now! Maya suddenly emitted a chilling bloodthirst as her jaw erged and became filled with razor sharp wolf teeth. A marking from that would be anything but pleasant. ..... ..... The two lovers stared at one another in a silent stand-off. Frost was wagering whether he should continue to tease her or not. His mind drifted back to the feeling he got when Maya marked him before he ovepped that image with her current set of razor sharp wolf teeth. A chill ran down his spine. He thus stopped caressing her ass and kept his mouth shut. Thats better hmph! Mayas jaw returned to her usual dainty one and she showed a triumphant smile before cutely giggling. That however caused her to be hit with waves of pain once again, taking the steam out of her victory. Pfft Frost forced himself to hold back hisughter and wiped a solitary tear from his eye. A few secondster he looked down at Maya. He saw her body quivering slightly, signs of exhaustion and intense muscle pain. His eyes showed deep affection as well as guilt. Haaaaaa after letting out a small sigh Frost manoeuvred himself to straddle over Maya. W...What the hell do you think youre doing!? Maya acted like a cat that had its tail stepped on,shing out to hide her fear. She really couldnt do anything about his weapon right now. Frost just had to wait patiently for it to go down naturally. Just rx Im not going to doing anything bad. Frost responded in a gentle tone before covering his palms in a thinyer of cold mes. He then gently ced his palms onto Mayas back and started massaging her with his cold hands, hoping to alleviate her pain somewhat. Mmmmm Maya let out a moan, as Frost caressed her back. There was no sexual connotations just a deep set of care andfort. Maya rxed herself and enjoyed her massage, thinking that perhaps the pain was worth it in the end. I saw Sam doing this for L one night in the dungeon. He called it a massage and stated that its a technique every man should know if he wanted to have a happy life. Mmmmm Maya moaned again as Frost pushed down on her shoulders. I didnt really understand what he meant at the time, but I do now. Frost continued his motions, relieving a great deal of pressure and pain from Mayas back. Considering her body shape she was quite prone to taught shoulders and a tense back. Frosts touch was working wonders, she needed to make sure he supplied her with such bliss on the regr. Maya was able to enjoy her lovers delicate touch for around 5 minutes before a certain distraction overpowered her rxation. Frost. I know you mean well and its not as though your massage isnt good cause it is and its exactly what I need right now but the moods kind of ruined when that monster of yours keeps stabbing me in the ass whenever you move. Maya couldnt take it anymore; it was too big and noticeable to ignore. Frost stopped his movements and sat back, his weapon still rock solid and pointing upwards directly above Mayas bountiful cheeks. He scratched the side of his nose, feeling a little embarrassed but there wasnt anything he could do about it. If the thing actually calmed down when he was caressing his girlfriends soft and smooth back then thered be a problem. Haaaaaaa well thanks to you Im feeling a fair bit better [heal]. Maya let out a deep sigh before casting a healing spell, alleviating another dose pain. Care for another round then stud? Maya turned around and winked at Frost before raising her hips upwards, encapsting Frosts protrusion in her cheeks. ...Damn youre gonna be the death of me. Frost said before instantly taking Maya up on her offer. One round of course turned into three. Maya was forced to kick Frost out the bedroom so as to stop him from trying anything more and to stop herself from further giving into her own desires. Her body was truly at the limit this time. Thus Frost was forced out of his own bedroom with a mixture of a reluctant and satisfied expression. Thanks to the azure spark quail and his massage he managed to relieve himself much more this time but still he felt that he still had a lot more to give. I wonder how Daki will fare when ites to stamina? His mind wandered to his other girlfriend who was patiently waiting for him toe and pick her up. Unlike Maya she wasnt inexperienced. In fact Daki had the bloodline of a subus a species known for their expertise in the bedroom. She even had a reputation for draining all her previous partners dry resulting in her many rtionships being rather short term. The moment Frost first heard this he couldnt help but imagine how hed fare in such a high level exchange. Ascivious grin grew on his lips as he turned his head to look back at the bedroom door. Ill just have to make sure I get a lot of practise before then. Maya on the other side of the door shivered the moment Frost made his internal vow but she was in too much difort to take notice. Seems like her hardships were far from over. With his romantic time ending early,, Frost was forced to start working. He sat on the sofa and brought up the dungeon menu. Finy can you report on what happened while I was resting? Frost immediately called his chief general for a report. Certainly master. Can you do it in person Ive got something else to discuss with you. Frost still needed to inform Finy about the issues regarding his evolution to B-rank. Rying the information his father gave him yesterday took the backseat when his other option was getting intimate with Maya. .....Alright please give me a couple minutes to finish up here. Finy responded curtly before ending themunication. A couple minutester Finy teleported to the private space. However he was flooded with dozens of small gashes across his body, each leaking droplets of his ruby red blood, dyeing his skin and clothes. Frosts eyes opened up in surprise before he immediately removed a mid-level health potion from the dungeon vault and tossed the vial to Finy. Thank you master. Finy caught the vial and downed the contents in a few gulps. His wounds started closing several secondster and his lost blood was gradually being reced. [Clean up] Finy then cast [clean up] magic removing the blood and stains before taking a seat. Were you in the middle of battle when I called? Frost moved to the kitchen and started preparing some tea. Just finishing off the current waves upper ranks, the rest can be taken care of without me. Finy responded back, highlighting the fact that his absence from the battlefield was alright. Got it.... How have we been faring? Frost ced two mugs on the counter and added some tea leaves before starting up the kettle magic device. Practically speaking considering what we were up against weve been doing pretty good. The additional ronsos, other C-rank monsters and upper D-ranks certainly helped. While you were convalescing the dungeon suffered from 3 waves, two of which were night raids containing more ghosts and undead monsters. fairly easy pickings for the ronsos as well as the cold me traps you installed in the third and fourth sections. But inevitably especially with the current wave losses were inevitable. Many of our weaker D-ranks perished as well as 3 frost revenants, 1 frost revenant knight, 3 lesser yuki-onnas and unfortunately we also lost a ronso. Finy frowned as he brought this information up. Chapter 421 421 Chapter 421: Losing a ronso Frosts hands froze in ce when he heard Finy mention that a ronso was lost in battle. That was the first C-rank monster to die among his forces, a serious blow- the ice revenant was just in a state of depleted energy and would be back in the fight after another couple days of rest, so it didnt count. Thats not good. How did he die? Frost asked with a pronounced frown. The ronsos were quite important to him given his direct involvement in their species establishment. Losing one of them struck a cord in his heart, filling him with a sense of loss and anger. Finy let out a sigh before exining what happened. He knew his master would feel dejected at hearing the loss of one of the ronsos, so he exined in detail. This wave contained quite a mixture of different reptiles, drakes, lizards, snakes and even crocodiles. A lot of avenues to cover thus our upper ranks were spread quite thin. The drakes and crocodiles were both hard hitters with tough defences, refusing to go down even with extensive injuries. Whereas the snakes and lizards utilised their impressive speed and agility to make up for the drakes and crocodiles shortings. They also had venomous variants that dealt a significant blow to our forces. Finy frowned and took a breath before continuing. Seeing the danger Khuno, Kiba and myself all took to the battlefield alongside 14 ronsos and several other C-ranks. Unfortunately none of us were on our A-game given the exhaustion from the previous waves plus leading the reptiles were 5 C-ranks each in a heavy state of frenzy. 3 of them, a drake, a lizard and a snake were all within the range of entry level C-rank whereas thest two were mid rank, a crocodile monster known as the demon spiked zi. A fierce creature weighing several tons, chock full of armoured scales and devasting teeth. Its physical traits even outssed those of the mid ranked drakes you defeated previously master. Frost had just about finished making the tea, but his eyes opened up wide in surprise when Finy described the demon spike zi. The drakes were by far the most physically gifted species hed everid eyes on, but Finy was saying that a creature with the same ranking surpassed even them. His surprise quickly changed to shock. How on Nova were our losses so low if that was the case? Thankfully however it was a purely physical entity with no magic capabilities and no breath attack....it just took a lot of damage to finally bring it down. Finy covered his right shoulder. The demon spiked zi managed to dislocate it with a fierce swipe of its tail sending him flying across the field and through a bunch of trees. A rude awakening but one that alerted everyone else of the creatures physical capabilities. Finy however felt the frustration once again from his limitations, his strength had stagnated. He was truly struggling against his recent opponents, something that was set to only grow worse. What of thest C-rank? Frost asked as he carried over the two cups of tea. ..... It was a massive snake known as a baltic anaconda, over 12 metres long and with a girth of over 4 metres. This thing was an absolute monster, it practically yed around when faced against me and Kiba. Knocking us down with a swift flourish or easily dodging our strikes with its insane flexibility. Finy shivered as he remembered the look in the snakes eyes. It looked at him as though he was simply prey, a gaze full of mocking. It managed to instantly devour an ice dwarf. Stretching its jaw to an unimaginable size it swallowed him whole, like he was nothing but a snack. We couldnt even react in time to stop it, powerless to watch as the lump that was ourrade gradually descended down the beasts gullet. Getting crushed by its powerful internal constricting muscles. Within 20 seconds the lump had been reduced to the size of an artic horned rabbit.....that was when things really went downhill. Finy was visibly shaking at this point; his hands were clenched into tight fists and his teeth were grinding against one another. Frost took the seat opposite his general and passed him his tea before cing a hand on his shoulder, pacifying him and asking him to continue. Frost himself was no longer in quite a joyous mood, he felt regret in choosing to abandon his duties in managing the dungeon for intimacy with Maya but at the same time he recognised that despite the horrible situation the dungeon was still standing. Finy was here before him with many minor injuries but nothing too major and the losses suffered werent that bad considering. The dungeon didnt actually need him overseeing everything, something that was both a good feeling as well as a lonely one. Thank you master. Finy took the cup and sipped its contents before carrying on. The sight of the ice dwarf being devoured filled a lot of the lower D-ranks into a state of panic. Their reactions dulled and the strength behind their attacks weakened resulting in many of them perishing. Finy wasnt kidding when he said the majority of their lower D-ranks perished, Frost would need to spend a fair chunk to rece them all. The silver lining to this however meant that the ronsos and other C-rank monsters had less to defend, they could instead direct their energy into attacking thus we ended up in a pseudo stalemate with each side clearing out their weaker counterparts. Near the end of the battle the C-rank lizard and entry level C-rank snake -slightly smaller but of the same species as the baltic anaconda- perished under thebined efforts of Khuno and the majority of the ronsos leaving the devil spiked zi, frost drake and the bigger and nastier baltic anaconda. Clearly a good sign of our pending victory, moral sky rocketed, and the remaining D-ranks seemed to be reinvigorated. Finy paused and took a calming sip of tea before continuing. The remaining baltic anaconda then made its move. I dont know if it was angered by the loss of the other anaconda or if it had just gotten enraged at the fact that its prey had dared to fight back but the redness in its eyes amplified, and it began to attack in earnest and far with better precision. It reared itself upwards and hissed loudly, knocking its surrounding attackers into a temporary daze but it didnt attack right away instead this was an order. A momentter weaker snake monsters that specialised in poison reacted. They stop what they were doing and heeded the anacondas orders. They moved swiftly towards three of the ronsos attacking the anaconda in mass, utilizing their temporary dazed state to swarm them and bite down on their flesh, pumping them full of their special toxin. Frost frowned he could understand where this was going. The result of losing a ronso or even a couple ronsos was to be expected but the scarier thing was the anacondas ability tomand the other monsters with such precision. This was a sign that the upper ranked monsters that were attacking the dungeon were notpletely under the influence of the frenzied state, a far more dangerous adversary. A mindless beast was easy to deal with but one that could think, n, and more importantly be patient was a much different enemy. The venomous snakes were swiftly killed by the ronsos once they regained their faculties but unfortunately the poison was already inside their bodies. The snakes suicide attack had worked, sacrificing many lower ranked entities to harm or even kill a few higher ranked ones, a useful strategy. The ronsos gradually found their bodies failing them as the battle progressed, they lost strength, their visions darkened, and they were wracked with pain. Our other forces did their best to pick up the ck, but we were already struggling. The demon spiked zi was still raring for battle as was the frost drake and many upper D-rank monsters, there was nothing we could do. Inevitably one of the ronsos sumbed to the poison, he copsed to his knees unable to stand.....the baltic anaconda wasted no time, striking at that exact moment. It opened up its jaw wide and swallowed the ronsos whole just like with the ice dwarf. Finy snapped his fingers describing how fast the situation went down. Frost felt an eery chill down his spine, a frightening way to go. However.... Finy looked directly into Frosts eyes, his gaze filling with pride as well as frustration. Unlike the ice dwarf the ronso, your ronso didnt go down without a fight. He knew that this was the end of his life, so he decided to go out with a bang. Finy mmed his cup of tea against the coffee table. In hisst moments, as his body was consumed by the anaconda and inevitably crushed by its constricting muscles he filled his entire body with cold mes. Ones at a much higher level than what he could do normally. He expended his life force to summon high mortal grade cold mes and burned himself along with the baltic anaconda in a silvery ze of freezing fire...his brave act brought the beast to the gates of hell. He showed it that ronsos werent prey and that attempting to feast on them would result in death. Finy remembered that at that moment he could swear he could hear the ronsoughing as he and the anaconda burned together in the sliver mes. Chapter 422 422 Chapter 422: How to break the protective limitation Frost was silent in response to Finys report. The magnitude of the threat that his monsters faced and the bravery of one of his ronsos blew him away. After his valiant death and the death of the baltic anaconda we all rose up against the remaining invaders with fervent aggression, no longer caring for defence. Many of us ended up with quite serious injuries but we sessfully took down the remaining frost drake and the demon spiked zi. I got off easy due to my role primarily being support but you may wish to check in with Kiba and Khuno when you get the chance, their injuries were quite brutal. Right now the clean up job was underway and should bepleted within the next ten to fifteen minutes, Finy nor Khuno or Kiba were necessarily required to take part. ....I see thanks for your thorough report and sorry that I left you alone to deal with such an extreme threat. Frost sighed, pained by the loss of a ronso but at the same time full of pride due to his final act. He ced a hand on Finys shoulder reassuring him that it was over, that he could take a much needed break now. No thanks needed master. It is my duty and honour to serve you. Finy performed his usual military salute, but his hands were still trembling. He felt that he didnt perform well enough, if only he was B-rank such a thing would have not had had to happen. Frost sat back on his chair and brought up the dungeon menu. Ill rece all the lost monsters from the past 12 hours and send some more mid and low level health potions to the medical centre. That should be enough to bring everything back to order while you and I discuss a certain topic. Frost thus spent tens of thousands of DP to rece his lost monsters and restock the medical centre to deal with therge amount of wounded that was set to arrive in a few minutes. .....What topic? Finy inquired only just remembering now that Frost requested to speak with him in person. Its regarding your inability to evolve to the next archetype. Frost didnt beat around the bush and as a result Finy felt a sharp pain in his heart as though Frost just brutally stabbed his weak spot. His expression clearly portrayed his feelings about the matter. Rx Finy the problem isnt on your end but mine. Frost quickly ayed hismander of his misunderstanding. Finy had done absolutely nothing wrong. Dark had ced limitations on his children to serve as protection for them as well as safeguard the power bnce of Nova. ..... Frost thus described his talk with Dark, filling Finy in on all the aspects of these so called limitations as well as the possible loopholes that were ced within. Although Darks answer was anything, but clear cut Frost understood the gist of what he was getting at and had some idea of how to get passed the protection. So to prevent me from rising through the ranks at an abusive rate Dark God-sama ced limitations on the dungeon system to better reflect the true nature of evolution that happens outside the dungeon dimension. Yes that sums it up well. Outside the rate at which monsters actually evolve to the next archetype is incredibly rare, especially in the higher ranks i.e. above C. To impose fairness, protection and to technically deprive us of the golden spoon that wed been born with so far this limit is imposed on any monster attempting to reach B-rank and beyond and will remain in ce even if I myself reach A-rank or higher or I establish dozens of floors within the dungeon. There will always be a barrier making attaining upper ranked monsters through evolution far harder. Dark however didnt go into any detail regarding his or his siblings ability to purchase B-ranks or higher monsters directly once their power reaches a sufficient level but that was a long way in the future at least for him. Finy subconsciously smiled and his back straightened as a weight was lifted from his shoulders, he wasnt the problem. So for me to reach B-rank at your current level of power I will need to attain far more than whats normally required? Correct. My Father stated that the energy youd need may even be more than your body could handle and that youd need to hone your skills so much and or prove that in some way you have already surpassed the capabilities of your current archetype. And even then theres still a good possibility of failure just like in the wild, we may have to attempt this breakthrough more than once..... Frost frowned as he looked at his right hand man, his ice trollmander. Should he really push him to the point that his life could easily be forfeit. If the energy within his body proves to be too much he could lose his trusted general but more importantly the monster he relies on most. Finy was more than just a monster or a general he was practically family, his first named monster and the very first one that he could converse with, their was bond strong. Finy could see the conflicting emotions in his masters eyes and couldnt help but feel warm, his master truly cared about him. Master please allow me to attempt this forced evolution. Finy was sick and tired of feeling frustrated, so what if there was a risk he was willing to take it as long as it meant he could help his master. Finy Please master, I want to do this. ...Haaaaaaa Frost stared silently towards Finy before letting out a deep sigh and shaking his head. Fine but we still dont know exactly what we need to do. Im sure you already have some idea otherwise you wouldnt feel so conflicted in telling me about it. Finy smiled and let out a slight chuckle causing Frost to feel a little embarrassed. It was true he did have a n in mind. Frost reached out and summoned something from the dungeon vault, a magic crystal. Father said that energy was required to bridge the gap. DP cant be used and in the wild monsters grow by beating and devouring their opponents, feasting on their flesh and life energy. The dungeon provides a constant environment filled with dense amounts of mana, but that mana sustains each of you removing your need to eat. You cant however store vast amounts of this mana within you thus simply staying within the dungeon and waiting isnt an option. I cant send you out of the dungeon to embark on a killing spree either because every monster summoned by the dungeon is strongly connected to it, leaving it is practically impossible especially for any length of time. Frost had run a few tests with his monsters and found that the higher ranked ones could stay out for longer, but the difference was a matter of minutes, not enough to doing anything other than chasing down some escaped prey. In the future Frost wanted to test if a tolerance could be built up by the same monster repeatedly leaving for periods at a time but that was something for the future and if possible would take a long, long time to establish, time he didnt have. All the life energy from invaders is absorbed by the dungeon once they die leaving none for you guys. I dont think theres away for me to stop that or even minimise it thus thats also not an option. However magic crystals are left when a monster dies just like their flesh and corpse. These crystals are usually used to power magic devices and all manner of things in viges, towns, cities and across kingdoms and empires. Monsters also tend to eat their opponents magic crystals thus Im guessing the mana/energy contained within should qualify for the energy requirement. How much however Impletely in the dark about. Frost boldly stated his hypothesis which had quite a strong reasoning and if proved true would be a rather easily achieved requirement. The dungeon vault was stock full of thousands of magic crystals retrieved from the stampede so far. Frost had wanted to test the effects these magic crystals may have on his summoned monsters before but never got around to doing it. His earlier guess was that they would likely provide a minor amount of experience but perhaps this was the correct way to use them. Frost tossed the crystal over to Finy and gestured for him to try and absorb it and get a feel for the change in his body. Frost withdrew a mid D-rank magic crystal, not the highest that he had but enough that Finy should be able to feel a change if his hypothesis was proven correct. Both Finy and Frost grew excited, the two of them quite enjoyed the process of trial and error. Finy held the D-rank magic crystal in his hand and closed his eyes. The process to absorb it was quite simple, he just needed his mana to make contact with the crystal and suck out the mana held inside. Huuuuummmmm The magic crystal let out a humming sound and started glow as Finy rapidly absorbed its contents. 20 secondster the crystal lost its shine and started to crumble, it was now deprived of its mana a useless crystal without any magical properties, useless. Chapter 423 423 Chapter 423: Brutal training Finy let out a long breath as the magic crystal waspletely deprived of all its energy and crumbled away in kes of now useless material. The kes werent even pretty to look at, a dull grey colour filled with imperfections. Well? Frost asked gingerly, his fingers were crossed as he hoped his hypothesis was correct because if it wasnt hed truly be stumped. Finy repeatedly opened and closed his fist, sensing any changes in his body no matter how minute. Theres definitely an additional stream of energy within my body. its small and inert but its there. Finy could feel this foreign energy settling down in his body, different from the mana he naturally absorbed while present within the dungeon. With time hed likely be able to meld this stream into his flesh, organs, blood and even his mana veins, gradually saturating them to the point that hed be forced to either explode or evolve, withtter obviously being the aim in such an endeavour. Master I believe your theory is correct. As long as I continue to absorb the energy from these magic crystals Ill be able to build up enough power to qualify for evolution. Finys eyes sparkled with excitement as he spoke, the path, which was nothing, but darkness now had a powerful light beckoning him towards it. He would reach B-rank of this he was sure. Frost let out a sigh of relief and a wide grin adorned his lips. Thats one requirement done and dusted then. As long as he kept Finy and his other monsters supplied with the magic crystals of the deceased invaders they should be able to evolve into their higher archetypes. Now we just need to achieve the other parameters. Honing your skills to the point that they reach the criteria for B-rank. Frost had a good idea about this avenue as well given his own entry into B-rank. Youll likely need to bring your axe mastery to the advanced level and know an advanced level weapon skill or bring your magic capabilities to 4th circle..... Frost frowned before continuing. ..... The weapon mastery route will be our best option given that your magic capabilities are far less developed. Do you think you can achieve this? For monsters like Finy advancing through weapon mastery and magic circles without evolving is a very tall ask. Their species archetypes are far more restricting in terms of development whenpared to sapient races and monsters such as Daki and Druakai. The orcs themselves were already quite a varied race with a fair level of leeway in regards to personal development but when a member of that race has been born through generations of natural sexual reproduction, the line between sapient and monster blur even if said monster is of low rank. Finy was a monster created by Frost and the dungeon, summoned through the use of DP, simr to those created within monsterirs. Their talents and abilities were usually set in stone and only by evolving would they be able to utilise higher orders of magic and or hold a higher level of weapon mastery. Finy was gifted with a powerful body, knowledge and inherent skills from the onset instead of being born and growing day by day thus he like many other monsters suffered from these limitations. Bridging this gap wouldnt be any easier than containing the energy required to break through Darks evolution protection. Finy frowned and looked down at his hands in silence, contemting Frosts question. He more than anyone knew the capabilities of his own body. His axe mastery was at adept rank and after he reached level 49 it showed very little signs of improvement but even, so it was far better than his magic talents. Frost was correct in that regard. His capabilities as a magic user were pretty abysmal. Consisting of the [ice bolt] spell and nothing else, a means to attack at range, nothing more. Bringing that up to 4th circle capabilities was a definite no go. In fact Finy even doubted that itd improve much once he achieved his evolution. He was not a magic based monster. His chakra use was a little better especially after seeing his master put in such devotion into his cold me development and the capabilities of the ronsos, but he was still a long way off. Weapon mastery was his only option. Its not as though I have much of a choice, I need to improve my weapon mastery to the advanced level otherwise Ill remain C-rank forever. Finy responded with a self-mocking smile, but his fists were clenched tight. Ill start training immediately. Finy rose from his seat, his body expressing both determination and a slightck of confidence. His task was monumental especially given his narrow timeframe. Frost needed him to reach B-rank soon. The stampede was growing more and more deadly, and thete stages were just around the corner. Finy Frost called out once he stood up. Yes master. Head to the training space and prepare yourself. Ill be sparring with you personally and I will not go easy on you. If we want you to quickly improve well need to really put the pressure on so when were not training your in the thick of the battlefield relying solely on your axe and no weapon skills. Father said you needed to show a power that is beyond your current rank so having you face off against high level opponents that may even be stronger than you will be the best method to push you over the edge. Frost stood up from his seat as he spoke and ced both his hands on Finys shoulders before looking him dead in the eyes. This method will be risky, dangerous and oh so brutal. A sadistic smirk grew of Frosts lips making him look like a certain someone. Last chance, do you want to embark upon this path? Frost knew he needed strength to effectively deal with the ever growing monster waves but if Finy wasnt up for taking such a risk he wouldnt force it. Some things just werent worth the cost. Finys eyes shook as he felt his masters powerful gaze. He could feel Frosts care for his safety but more than that he could feel the trust he had for him. The trust that he would never betray him and the trust that if he chose to embark on this dangerous path that hed make it through to the other side. Finys contradiction of both determination and ack of confidence broke apart leaving only determination. Finy grabbed onto the hands on his shoulders and replied with an eager and confident tone. Without hesitation master, even if my path is littered with fire and a road of des Ill still walk through it. Finy then moved into a full military salute, banging his fist against his chest with an audible thump before vanishing into a space warp. He teleported to the training space instead of back into the dungeon. .....You cane out now. Frost watched Finy leave with a smile before turning his head towards the bathroom and calling out. A momentter Nanna and Loki appeared from the doorway with slightly embarrassed expressions. The two of them had woke up before Frost and had been in the bath, preparing for the heavy work schedule Frost had promised them. When they were done and set toe out they noticed Frost speaking with Finy and that the topic was quite serious, so they didnt interrupt, staying silent in wait until it was over. They didnt think however that Frost had already noticed them, now it looked like they were purposefully eavesdropping. Have you two eaten yet or did you both head straight for a bath once you woke up? Frost beckoned them over; he wasnt mad in slightest. He knew the two of them were in the bathroom when he got up since unlike his bedroom the bathroom wasnt soundproof. No we havent eaten yet master. Loki answered honestly as usual before taking a seat next Frost. Do you want me to prepare breakfast again? Nanna asked with an expectant smile, her eyes darting to the kitchen and towards the cupboard were her apron was hanging in particr. That would be lovely but how about we cook together. Frost hadnt had much opportunity to do any cooking since he separated from Sam and L and to be honest he missed it. Nanna responded with slightly uncontroble squeal of glee before dashing to the kitchen to remove her apron as well as one for Frost. Shed cooked several times with Maya but not with Frost her master and saviour, her emotions were hiked up to eleven. Frost smiled and shook his head before he, Nanna and even Loki worked together to quickly prepare a light breakfast that would fill their stomachs. With Frost present Nanna was allowed to try a more difficult dish, the three of them worked hard to prepare four portions of salmon with avocado and a simple rice congee. Simple ingredients but very appetising when prepared well. For the group of three with very little cooking experience however it was a little ambitious. The salmon was overcooked and the rice in the congee was very soggy, but the avocado was nice (the one thing that didnt need cooking). But even so it was quite tasty, none of them left a single morsel on the te feeling that they were duty bound to finish their own creation. Once they were all done Frost asked the kids to deliver Mayas portion to her in bed since she was incapable of leaving it in her current state. He highlighted the fact that they should knock and let her know that it was them entering and not him before he teleported to the medical centre on the sixth floor. Chapter 424 424 Chapter 424: Brutal training (2) While Nanna and Loki personally delivered Mayas breakfast to her Frost teleported to the sixth floors second section where the medical centre was currently set up. Here frost dwarf priests, ice dwarf apprentice priests and frost troll witch doctors were stationed at all times so as to take care of the endless amount of injured monsters. Patching them up with their healing magics and generous stock of health potions thus allowing them to get back into the fight that much sooner and quite frankly in more than a few cases staving off death. Frost arrived at the entrance of the medical centre through the warping of space. The scent of medicinal herbs, health potions and blood filled the area, and he could hear grunts and roars full of pain. The healers were so busy that they didnt even register Frosts arrival. Seems that this ce is also in need of manpower. Frost opened up the dungeon menu and purchased an additional 3 frost troll witch doctors and ice dwarf apprentice priests as well as 10 frost dwarf priests. The 16 new monsters suddenly materialised a few secondster from individual magic crests. They all turned to face Frost once they became fully corporal. Youre all assigned to the medical centre here. Speak with the frost troll witch doctor in charge and do your best to treat the wounded that arrive here. Yes master. Both the ice dwarves and frost trolls replied back inmon tongue while the frost dwarves grunted with determination before walking into the medical centre eager to work. Milord. Khuno spoke through clenched teeth. He rose from his resting area with great difficulty to greet Frost. His blue skin and gant white fur was dyed in blood and multiple deep wounds that exposed his bones could be seen. The skin around was starting to rapidly heal and close off the areas, clearly he had received one of mid-level health potions in stock. They were reserved for the most serious of injuries and the upper cast of Frosts forces. ..... However even with the powers of a mid-level health potion itd take Khuno sometime to fully recover. The stronger the body of the taker the more potent the potion needed to be. Bing unbelievable strong had some downsides. If Maya was injured for example a mere low level health potion wouldnt be able to do much. Whimper Following Khunos greeting was a whimper from Kiba. The big cat was lying prone with deep w marks spanning across his back as well as gruesome bite marks on his hind legs and wings. Frost briefly looked over Khuno but the moment he heard that whimper he couldnt help but tremble and feel a tug at his heart. He moved instantly to Kibas side taking the mid-level health potion from the attending frost troll witch doctor, choosing to care for him himself. Kiba was barely passed his kitten stage, a young cub with a lot of growth left in him. Frost petted him gently on an area without injury -which was quite difficult- and made soothing sounds as he slowly poured the potions contents into his mouth. The potion swiftly went to work, eliminating Kibas immense pain and healing his wounds. Kiba looked up at Frost with ssy eyes before his vision went dark, he passed out from exhaustion. Kiba really overworked himself in thest wave. Though he wasnt the strongest fighter we had he was the most nimble. He took it on himself to be everywhere at once, thus he ended up like that. Khuno spoke with deep regret. He knew that Kiba was practically still a young cub and that he shared a special bond with Frost, yet his hands were tied, their opponents were unrelenting. Frost continued to stroke Kiba as he began purring in his sleep. Ive really pushed him a lot. Thinking that he desired battle experience given his nature andck of it back in Kranor. An asional fight is one thing, but I practically dropped him into a war. .... Khuno had no reply. The battles are only going to get even harder, tell me what do you need? Frost looked at Khuno with a fiery gaze, the feeling of guilt returning. He shouldnt have engaged in intimate activities with Mayast night well at least not for the entire night and morning, the dungeon should be his number one priority at the moment lest something happens that hed regret. He looked back down at Kiba, losing him would be something hed definitely regret. Haaaaaa if you could create another 5 of myself or Finy wed be golden but since thats likely impossible we need to at least strengthen what we can summon and those we already have. There was no shortage of monsters gaining experience over the waves, but many died before they could evolve. The C-ranks however were only recently summoned, theyd take some time to evolve to mid or upper C-rank. Spill it. Frost was in no mood for waiting, he asked Khuno to speak his mind. Weapons would be good for some but more importantly armour. A lot of the wounds we suffer could be deflected or at least minimalised by a good set of armour. That alone would spare us a lot of deaths especially in the lower ranks while the upper levels would be able endure attacks from physically superior foes such as the frost drakes. The mage cast could do with specialised spells that help to restrict, slow and divide the horde to more manageable groups. Id also advise you to radically increase the amount of traps in the sections before our defence line. I know you need to think for the future in regards trap cement, but I believe were beyond that point milord. Best to buy them now and deal with our current situation and then use some of the DP we earn to move them to another part of the dungeon and or simply deactivate them creating a sort of fake trap that wouldnt end up in death or injury but would still keep adventurers on their toes. Khuno had been in the thick of battle ever since his creation. He and Finy were the two mainmanders of Frosts entire forces, so he had ample experience in regards to what work against the waves and what didnt. This knowledge expanded to environmental factors as well as weaponry. Frost frowned as he imagined the cost involved in achieving each of the steps Khuno mentioned. The weaponry and armour that was still being fashioned by the frost dwarf smiths was suited for the lower ranks only, i.e. the goblins. Outfitting the ronsos, the frost trolls and even some of the beast monsters was beyond the smiths current capabilities. Frost would have to fork out a hefty lump of DP to purchase 2 and 3 star armours readymade. He just didnt have enough time and resources to create these things in house. The cost for dealing with the stampede was starting to catch up with the ie it provided. Frost felt a headacheing on but if he wanted to survive this event without running from the fight he needed to put everyst bit of skin into the pot. Once you ride the tiger its damn near impossible to get off. Frost shook his head and let out a sigh before bringing up the dungeon menu. Im authorising you to have greater budget in terms of DP management. You can now purchase traps, armour and weapons with a limit of 20,000DP per day. Spells, monsters and anything else beyond that will still need to go through me but Id appreciate detailed requests. These powers however are only temporary, my father has put a limit on how much I can delegate to my monsters. Youll have this budget and the allotted permissions for 5 days, use them well. Frost clicked a few buttons on the screen before the automated voice confirmed Khuno additional permissions. Khuno was silent for a few seconds before immediately saluting. It will be done milord. A smile grew upon his face, his master trusted him wholeheartedly, a very moving gesture. Khuno spend no time at all delving into the dungeon menu looking to spend that first 20,000DP. He was currently still confined to the medical centre while his injuries heal and his stamina recovers somewhat, idle time that could be put to good use. In regards to gaining a stronger fighting force Ill be personally training Finy whenever there isnt a wave and when there is the two of us will be in vanguard position. I wont be squirreling away to convalesce anymore at least not as often or as long. .....Sorry Khuno felt a little guilty as thanks to his talk with Finy he understood what Frost meant by convalescing. Its fine. Therell be plenty of time for that once the stampede is over and we start cracking down on developing the external camp. Frost waved his hand absolving Khuno of any guilt. My father told me the reasons for Finysck of evolution as well as the vague method to resolve it. Hopefully with enough brutal training well be able to see him rise to his next archetype. That would certainly make things a lot easier.....give him my best wishes. Will do. Frost then left Khuno to his spending and gently removed himself from Kibas side before teleporting to the training space. it was time to begin Finys brutal training. Chapter 425 425 Chapter 425: Brutal training (3) Frost appeared in the training space where Finy was dutifully waiting with his battle-axe standing by his side. This was the first time Finy had been allowed to train within this space, so he was quite curious from the moment he arrived. Like Frost he checked the room, its dimensions, its materialposition and its miraculous ability to endure even a full blow from his weapon. Well what do you think? Frost asked with a smile, understanding Finys current emotions. Its durable.....thats not really a good sign for me is it? Finy trembled as the realisation donned on him. A hard floor meant Frost and him could go all out in their attacks without fear of damage (to the room). Well that depends on your viewpoint. Frosts expression became quite sadistic, very much like that of Mayas. Finys fear only grew as he looked at his masters disturbing smile, he slightly regretted agreeing to this brutal training. Schwing! Don! Frosts primary ive suddenly appeared from his storage ring before the butt smashed against the durable floor, highlighting its weight. Shall we begin? If Maya could see Frosts expression right now itd be like looking in a mirror. He had fortunately or unfortunately learned an awful lot from his guardian. Finy replied with a twitching smile before grabbing hold of his battle axe, he was in for a world of hurt and he knew it. ..... For the next few hours Frost yed the role of Maya while Finy yed his role. Frost brutally hounded after Finy with his ive constantly keeping his ice trollmander on the back foot. Smashing him against the floor, walls and even the ceiling showing little to no mercy. Finy was forbidden from using anything other than his battle axe while they fought, no skills, no magic just pure old fashioned weapon mastery. Frost attacked the weak points in his form, making Finy improve through physical abuse, the same way he learned. He tossed Finy a low level health potion before teleporting the two of them to the soon to be battlefield, the next wave was nigh. This intense training regime only escted over the next few days. Finy would be rushed immediately from training to the battlefield wherein he would be ced in the vanguard alongside Frost. Still restricted to only using his battle axe when ites to attacking, and he was required to be on the attack throughout the entire wave. Frost really wanted to push Finys limits to the upmost, he wouldnt improve otherwise. After beating the waves Frost made Finy absorb tens of magic crystals at a time before resuming the brutal training in the training space. Maya joined them on asion. She couldnt personally train Frosts monsters, but she could generate training materials for the two of them in the training space, something that stopped their regr duelling from getting boring. She took the fact that Frost would have to prioritise the dungeons management as both a good thing and a bad thing. Good because shed likely no longer be incapable of leaving the bedroom due to Frosts insatiable appetite but bad for the same reason. She did however understand his reasoning thus she restricted herints to a little moping, something Frost appreciated very much. With Frost onsite for every wave and with the purchases made by himself and Khuno they managed to sessfully endure the following waves. Losses were still rather abundant among the lower D-ranks, but the defence line continued to hold....though it had been pushed back even further to thest section of the second floor. Boooommmmm! Don! Don! Don! Finy was sted across the training room, his over 4 metre tall stature skidded across the white floor like a t stone on water before smashing against the wall. Ughhhh! Finy groaned as his entire body was wracked with intense pain. His entire body was covered in nasty looking bruises and every area of muscle was trembling from overexertion. He powerlessly slumped downwards, his ass reaching the floor while his battle axe remained tightly entwined in his hands. He refused to let go of his weapon even in his current state. Haaaaaaa youre improving but it seems advanced mastery is still out of sight.....we need to increase the danger. Frost was frowning, he let out a sigh as he looked over Finys current state. The repeated doses of magic crystals saturated Finy with so much energy that his skin wriggled and glowed whenever he overexerted himself. A good sign that his body was reaching the limit of what it could safely contain. Bypassing the protection protocols established by Dark God-sama will not be easy even with Finys talents. Maya chimed in from the side, she was watching over their brutal training with sharp eyes. Despite be a summoned monster Finy was making strides in terms of improvement but reaching B-rank soon seemed to be beyond him at least while the protection was still in ce. Finy wasnt the only one who benefitted from this gruelling training. Frost managed to stabilise and understand his advanced level ive mastery, getting some much needed experience under his belt. Do you think going off the deep end will let him bridge the gap? Hard to say. Ones instinct for survival can allow people to ovee incredible things. Experiencing the reality of death can draw out ones innate talent but it can also and in most cases result in that persons death. Maya replied before looking at Frost with a pronounced frown. Its your call. Whether you and him want to take that risk is up to you. She shrugged her shoulders neither agreeing nor disagreeing with tossing Finy into the deep end. Rumble! Suddenly the entire training space violently trembled as did the rest of the dungeon. Seems as though thete stages have begun. Frost clenched his fists causing them to crack, a sense of urgency washed over him. The monsters we have to contend with will be even more powerful now. He let out a deep sigh and looked at the still sitting and exhausted Finy. Thete stages not only have the risk of containing B-rank monsters the number of C and D-ranks will increase. Thankfully however the amount of low ranks and frequency of the waves should also greatly decrease. The B-ranks unlike the low rank monsters have far more control over their actions as well as the monsters that follow them. The waves that do decide to enter the dungeon instead of rushing south will be far more controlled making them far more dangerous. The strongest monster Frost and his forces had faced against so far was upper mid C-rank. Powerhouses that only Khuno and Frost could handle solo. That however was soon to change. Finy weve ran out of time. Thete stages have arrived meaning even stronger monsters wille, stronger than you can currently handle. Finy shivered as Frosts words sunk in. He forced himself to look up and stare into Frosts eyes, revealing his determination. He was ready to put his life on the line, hoping to grasp the opportunity granted by such a situation. Tossing Finy into the deep end meant having him fight against a superior opponent solo without any backup. Fighting Frost was brutal and effective but there was no chance of death, the deep end didnt have that safety bar. Haaaaaa looks like Finys made his decision and Id be a terrible master if I refused to acknowledge that determination.....well be going with the tossing him into the deep end n and hope for the best. Maya nodded her head before teleporting out of the private space. Get some rest Ill discuss the situation with Khuno and the others. Frost moved towards Finy and ced a hand on his shoulder before teleporting away. Things were starting to get very, very dangerous. Last section of the 2nd floor. Khuno. Milord? Finys training is working but not fast enough weve decided to go with a more drastic approach to help him ovee thatst hurdle. Khuno visibly frowned in response, he knew that such a method posed great risk to his colleague but understood that Finy wouldnt hesitate to try it if it meant helping Frost. When an upper C-rank monster arrives on the scene Finy will be sent to handle it, alone. .....Understood. Khuno let out a sigh before nodding his head in eptance. Hows everyone else doing? Were they shaken up by the tremors? No seems everyone else is used to them by now, me and the ronsos however found them a bit disconcerting. No damage was caused to the defences or our forces though, were ready and waiting for the next wave. Very well. Were now in the endgame Khuno the waves will likely be stronger but also more sporadic meaning longer resting intervals and hopefully after several days well be free of this war. The B-ranks should hold no interest in our home and redirect the majority of the remaining stampede against the soutnds. Leaving us free to convalesce and develop the external camp. Well the dungeon anyway. Once the waves stop interfering with the dungeon and the area outside bes safe he and Kiba will be making their way to Furano to help out in its defences. A grand battlefield filled with B-rank monsters and B-rank sapients still awaited the two of them. Chapter 426 426 Chapter 426: Thete stages After informing Khuno of his intended ns with Finy, Frost discussed their measures in handling thete stage waves. Dealing with smaller hordes but with greater individual strength required a different kind of strategy after all. Once everything was set Frost teleported to the private space, leaving Khuno and his officers to handle to change in protocols among his forces. Loki, Nanna are you both ok? The moment he arrived Frost asked about their status, the shaking was prevalent everywhere and was violent enough to knock someone unprepared off bnce. Were fine master but our cups and tes fell over and smashed. Nanna responded back while her eyes darted to the remnants of broken ceramic which Maya was currently in the process of disposing -couldnt have the two children handling something so sharp and dangerous. Good, good. Frost walked up to Nanna and Loki and ruffled their hair with affection before kneeling down, cing himself at their eye level. Thete stages have begun which means the most intense phase of the monster stampede is over and were close to the end of this war. Frost said with a smile. The mid stages of the monster stampede were always the most dangerous for the regr inhabitant of Furano and the other bastion towns. The number of monsters present during that stage as well as their diversity, their aggressive intensity and of course their attack frequency was unsurpassed whenpared to the early andte stages. The mid stages always resulted in the most deaths among the defenders as well as took up the vast majority of ammunition, supplies and even time. For most it was epted that once thete stages arrived they had already won. Reinforcements would be arriving and only the best of the best would be taking to the field, the average military man or woman as well as adventurer would serve solely as back up from that point. This situation was true for the dungeon as well. A solid unpassable bulwark wasnt needed for thete stages and quite frankly would be pointless. The dungeons impromptu defences were nothing in the eyes of the higher ranked monsters, a simple jump, step or light swing could see them annihted. In fact utilising such defences would likely serve as a limiting factor rather than a boon. It was far more effective for the upper ranked forces such as the ronsos, ice revenants and yuki-onnas to face down the invaders in openbat. ..... Furano and the other bastion towns behaved in the same way. At thete stages the upper C-rank fighters as well as the B-rank fighters primarily take position in front of the northern wall as despite it being over 10 metres high it wouldntst long against the monsters present at this stage. They were the wall, thest and pretty much only defence line. If the monsters made it past them then there wasnt much the people of Furano could do. The same held true in Frosts mind. If thete stage invaders made it past his C-ranks then his D-rank monsters would be nothing but cannon fodder. Are you two ready? Frost asked with a serious expression, Nanna and Loki would have to be on point while rying information between himself and the officer ss monsters. Un The two nodded their heads with gusto, they were ready for such responsibility. Frost then looked towards the ravishing beauty that was both his guardian and girlfriend. She had just finished cleaning up the damaged crockery and sashayed herself over towards him. Once Maya was in front of him she opened up her arms and wrapped them around his neck. She pulled his head downwards leaning it against her bountiful chest, Frost felt a heavenly softness against his face one which he found enchanting but was puzzled as to the reason why he was being granted such a reward. Maya stroked the back of his head as she pushed him deeper into her cleavage. Rx Frost, youre almost done. She spoke in a soothing tone. Nanna, Loki and his many monsters likely didnt see it, but they didnt have her perspective. Maya knew that Frost was quite stressed and anxious at the moment. He just hid it well and usually with excitement. Though he had the body of an adult and was fiercely intelligent he only had a few months of life experience, and for a decent chunk of that hed been embroiled in an ever intensifying war. Itd be strange if he wasnt nervous at this stage. There had been so much death during the mid-stages and now thete stages had arrived, a stage that promised even more powerful intruders. Frosts entire body trembled at Mayas words. His false front faltered, and he allowed himself to be worried, to be afraid. He remained entwined in Mayas embrace and cushioned by her motherly assets, enjoying thefort that they provided. Nanna and Loki wisely left the two of them alone, upying themselves with their homework -something that despite the seriousness of the stampede Maya still made them do regardless. Eventually Frost and Mayas position became rather ufortable for the both of them, so they relocated to the sofa where Frost received ap pillow as he monitored the dungeon through the menu. Around half a dayter -farter than they were used too- the next wave arrived, the first one of thete stages. Whereas thest wave easily held over 150 monsters this one barely had 70. The weakest one present however was mid D-rank and low and behold a prime target for Finys tossing into the deep end n was in charge. A war ursa, an upper C-rank monster that was the evolved form of a regr ursa. Bigger, badder and whole lot more powerful. The hallmark of the war ursa battalion, partners to their high ranking officers. The thing was a purely physical beast that weighed several tons and spanned at least 8 metres lengthwise. Its fur was snow white with streams of light blue near it limbs and neck. Its teeth and ws long enough to pierce all the way through a mans body and still have some leftover. Two mid C-rank frost drakes were shadowing by its side looking rather small inparison. Another 5 entry level C-ranks could be seen at the edges, normally powerful andmanding entities in their own right but next to this war ursa they were nothing. Well there goes the possibility of the first wave being easy. Frost said with a frown. To think an upper C-rank would arrive during the first wave, what terrible luck. Frost opened up amunication channel with Khuno and Finy. Khuno the first wave is here and its a strong one, 5 entry C-ranks, two mid and one upper rank, a war ursa.....dealing with that one will fall to you Finy..st chance to back out. Would never dream of it master, let me at it. Finy responded back while mming his forearm against his chest, he was ready to fight. Very well, Khuno you know the n. You, me and the other C-ranks will deal with the majority of the forces in the dungeons first section while the upper D-rank officers provide support. Nanna and Loki will serve as go-betweens keeping us abreast of how everyone is doing, and Finy will take care of the war ursa, any questions? No. No. Finy and Khuno both replied firmly, they knew all they needed to. The reason the fight was being brought back to the first section; the winter hignds environment was for a few reasons. First it gave them a lot of leeway in regards to a forced retreat. They could fall back several sections and not involve the weaker forces holding up on the lower floors. Second, the traps installed would do very little against the new intruders thus waiting lower down and hoping for them to pick them off or cause injury was pointless. If they are going to die itll be by the hands of Frost and his C-rank forces. Third the winter hignds room suited their battle ns better than the other sections. It was practically an open field right at the start of the dungeon, easy for them to keep an eye on each others situation and reinforce one another quickly if need be. The ice revenants, frost revenants, their knight variants as well as the frost troll lieutenants would form a pseudo wall grabbing the intruders attention. Frost would also stand at the forefront here emitting his aura and unbridled bloodlust making for an attractive target. The yuki-onnas would be behind them casting from the rear while the ronsos taking advantage of their colour scheme would hid under the snow like the frost goblins and ambush the unsuspecting enemy. However Frost didnt ce much hope on such an ambush working, the invading monsters were of high enough rank to have good instincts after all. Frost ended themunication and looked upwards at Maya. Looks like I have to go to work. His smile was full of reluctance. The feeling offort on the back of his neck was quite blissful. Maya replied with an enchanting smile before leaning down and nting a peck on his forehead. Be safe and good hunting. Chapter 427 427 Chapter 427: War ursa With his girlfriends blessing Frost rose up off herp and entered a space warp, teleporting him to the dungeons first section where his elite troops were ready and waiting. The over 12 hours without a single wave had worn their nerves thin, always on edge waiting, not knowing when the next battle woulde. With Frosts arrival however everyone present nearby felt invigorated. Those with the ability to make facial expressions smiled wildly as their blood started pumping in excitement, their lord and primemander had arrived, battle was nigh. Back in the private space Maya rubbed her thighs, they had be slightly numb from housing Frosts head. She was smiling but internally quite nervous, monsters that could truly threaten Frost wereing. Frost will be preupied with his battles, so hell be relying on the two of you to keep watch and spot any signs of danger. Maya looked towards the two phoenix kin would were slightly trembling in front of the floating core. Multiple screens were showing the winter hignds section from all manner of angles. Un! Nanna and Loki nodded their heads and grunted, their eyes remaining fixed on the screens. They knew what they had to do. Haaaaaaa so simr. Maya sighed and shook her head before getting up and moving to the kitchen. She still couldnt take an active part in dungeon management, but she could easily procure refreshments. Milord. Master Finy and Khuno both stepped forward the moment Frost arrived, each sporting fire in their eyes and wild smiles on their faces. Seeing their expressions allowed Frost to eliminate any remnants of anxiety. A wild almost mad smile quickly grew on his face mirroring that of his monsters. The horns calling once again boys and girls. I hope youve brought youre A-game because the stampede certainly has. ..... Uwaaaaagggggghhhhhhh! Everyone roared out in reply causing Frosts smile to grow further. Good answer. Lets give these invaders our very best wee! Move out! Frost raised his ive up high before moving into position. His elite troops mirrored his actions, getting into position before the enemy charged through their doors. Frost stood alongside the ice and frost revenants with his ive standing vertical against the ground. (Think Gandalf against the balrog or Hannyabal against Luffy saying you shall not pass, very imposing.) To his right was Finy caressing his battle axe, eagerly waiting for the arrival of his destined foe. His blood lust and pseudo aura emanating subconsciously. Rx Finy. Your opponent is stronger than you are so you must be inplete control of your emotions if you want survive. Frost immediately poured a bucket of cold water on hismanders unrestrained excitement. ....Yes master, thank you. Finy thanked Frost for his advice and retracted back his bloodlust. Khuno was hidden beneath the snow along with his ronso kin, ready to leap out at the opportune time. Frost enlisted his entire crew of C-rank monsters, no need for managed shift rotations anymore. This first wave would not make it past the winter hignds. A couple minutester a cacophony or roars could be heard as a swarm of high ranking monsters in a frenzied state barrelled through the dungeons narrow entrance, demolishing parts of it as they passed. Bears, lesser drakes, yetis as well as wolves charged forward and quickly caught sight of the wall made of revenants as well as the heavy threatening pressure emitted by Frost. Rooooaaaarrrrrr! Their frenzied state as well as the pressure emitted by their leader the war ursa left no hesitation, they all charged forward with their sharp teeth prominently disyed in threat. Revenants hold your ground, let theme to us. Yuki-onnas pelt them with your magic once they reach within 100 metres. Ronsos act as you see fit, youll know what timing is best. Yes sir. The revenants and yuki-onnas replied loudly while the ronsos silently smiled, keeping their presence hidden. Stomp! Stomp! As the D-ranks roared and charged head first towards Frost and the revenants the war ursa made its presence known. Even among the other C-ranks and dozens of D-ranks it was hard to miss. It walked through the dungeons entrance alone and took an eyeful of Frost and the monsters surrounding him. It could feel the threat posed by Frost and scowled. Unlike its lesser kin the war ursa retained some intelligence, so it knew the threat Frost, and this set up posed to its life, but it couldnt exactly retreat. The mana veins corruption resulted in a pounding desire to attack and devour, stalling its advance was the best it could do. Let the weaker more animalistic monsters charge in first, test the waters. Tch higher ranking monsters certainly pose far greater danger. Frost frowned as he felt himself and his forces being calmly judged and evaluated. A patient and forward thinking adversary was dangerous. He looked to his side where Finy was standing, whose gaze was focused on the war ursa. Hes got a real uphill battle ahead of him. Frost couldnt help but feel worried. Khuno and I will do our best to separate the war ursa from the rest, what happens after that will be on you. Understood master, I wont let you down. Finys bloodlust and pseudo aura surfaced once again, forcing the war ursa to focus on him. However its reaction was anything but positive, it scoffed at Finy, mocking his disy of strength. Finy of course red up in anger but managed to collect himself thanks to Frost being by his side plus the war ursa couldnt really be med for its disdain. He was beneath it in the pecking order at least strength wise. Frost already made it clear to him that he wouldnt be able to survive let alone win if he relied on his physical strength. He had a good brain, he just had to use it. The moment the horde crossed the 100 metre line the yuki-onnas let loose their spells, breaking up the advancing lines and slowing their progression. Revenants raise arms and brace! Frost roared out hismand and in response moved from a stalwart stance to an attacking one. Frost did the same with his ive. Booooooommmmmmm! A massive sonic boom reverberated throughout the area when the opposing sides fiercely shed. Bits of blood and runic armour exploded outwards, but the defence line remained in ce. Schwing! Frost shed downwards blowing away a lesser drake like it was nothing while his eyes remained focused on the war ursa that was slowly marching towards them. Suddenly the many hidden ronsos leapt out from underneath the snow sessfully catching a few monster unawares but many other reacted swiftly enough to withstand the ambush. What ensued was a bloody brawl between high ranking monsters, one that wouldst a fair amount of time. Frost rebounded several foolish attackers, injuring them but not killing them. Even at his level hed need to deal out a few attacks or at least one with his full focus if he wished to kill. He was currently donned in a thin yet robustyer of ice chakra armour making him appear quite gant. Its making its move. He loudly announced to Finy who was still nearby as well as Khuno who had revealed himself and was currently holding a yeti by the throat. The twomanders redirected their gazes to the upper C-ranked war ursa. It had sent the D-ranks ahead to test the waters and was quite d it did, a messy battlefield was beneficial to its survival given Frosts presence. The 7 other C-ranks under its charge moved in next further muddying the waters, making it harder for Frosts monsters to manoeuvre between opponents. Its gaze remained on Frost for most of the time, it did briefly nce at Khuno before frowning. Estimating that Khuno was roughly equal to it in power, another danger that it wished to stay clear of. The war ursa began scanning the muddied waters looking for a safe approach, an opponent that it could sink its teeth into. An unfortunate ronso was pushed to the edges of the battlefield by one of the entry C-ranks and got caught in its sights. Moving at a speed almost unimaginable for its size the war ursa dashed ahead, arriving before the unfortunate ronso in a fraction of a second. The area around the ronso grew dark, obscured in shadow by the war ursas bulk. He trembled as an intense sense of impeding doom filled his body. He looked up just in time to see the war ursas massive ws crashing down against his chest. He had no time to defend himself or even retreat, the swipe was true. Bang! The unfortunate ronso felt his ribs crack and a searing sharp pain across the majority of his torso before finding himself airborne. The weight behind the war ursas attack was akin to a mountain, far heavier that what the ronso could withstand even if he was truly prepared. He soon found himself careening through the air, smashing through some invading monsters before being caught by Khuno who sported a menacing re. Cough cough The unfortunate ronso violently coughed up blood as he held his chest in pain. The wound was devasting but thankfully not fatal, the armour the ronso wore made sure of that. Chapter 428 428 Chapter 428: War ursa (2) Khuno followed his own suggestion and used his newly given permissions to outfit each of his ronso kin in some armour, primarily around the torso which was their most exposed area and the most prone to being wounded. He had to incorporate Frost in the purchase due to how high it was but each of his ronso kin now sported chest tes as well as pauldrons making them look even more badass. The armour for them was of low level 3 star, an alloy made of a small amount of frigid iron and steel whereas Khunos was upper 3 star, made from a higherposition of frigid iron as well as being lined with the skin of a frost drake. This said armour saved the unfortunate ronso from an instant death granting him the opportunity to down a low-level health potion. Though the taste certainly didnt agree with him it was better than dying. An opportunistic ambusher. Frostmented with a frown. The war ursa would do anything it could to avoid being caught in direct confrontation with him or Khuno, that was clear. He then nced towards Finy. Perhaps it wont be that hard to iste the two of them. Frost noticed the way the war ursa perceived Finy, prey nothing more nothing less. Only he and Khuno were a true threat to it whereas Finy was roughly on the same level as the regr ronsos in its eyes. Frost then shared a look with Khuno who nodded in response. The sooner the duel began the safer his other monsters would be. The war ursa would likely aim for the head next time, leaving no opportunity to heal. It was currently licking the ronsos blood from its ws with a mocking smile, taunting the other ronsos as well as Khuno. Finy, Khuno and I are going to start. Move to an open area and well flush it in your direction. Frost spoke while intensifying his grip on his ive and showing a fake pissed off expression, tricking the war ursa. ..... Finy nodded before looking around the battlefield. Frost and Khuno then made their moves, attempting to nk the war ursa while Finy prepared. Such moves however were easier said than done. Many D-rank monsters not knowing the danger or simply too frenzied to careunched themselves at Frost and Khuno impeding their path. The war ursa appeared gloating as it nodded its head to the two mid ranked frost drakes, ordering them forward. Its gaze then moved away from Frost and Khuno searching for another susceptible target. Roar! The two frost drakes did as ordered and ced themselves in Frost and Khunos path before ferociously sucking in the ambient mana. Their chests expanded and glowed blue before their jaws opened wide and a dense beam of blue energy fired out, it was their draconic breath attack. Reckless bastards! Khuno cursed while coating his halberd in cold mes and swung upwards. Frost mimicked Khunos actions. The two fierce beams of dense energy were instantly deprived of their momentum, shattered and sent upwards into the dungeons ceiling, away from the chaotic battlefield. If Frost and Khuno didnt act in such a way many ronsos and revenants would have been caught in the st. The frost drakes didnt care about injuring their rades but Frost wasnt of the same mind. This manoeuvre however allowed them to lose sight of the massive war ursa for a few seconds, a few seconds that the war ursa made very good use of. Arggghhhhh! Tens of metres from where it was originally an ice revenant and ronso yelled out as they were assaulted. The ice revenant was literally overrun by the war ursa and was currently trapped under its right forepaw while the ronso was aggressively bitten on the shoulder and tossed half way across the battlefield. The ronsos quick reactions saved it from having its head bitten off but the injury was anything but light. The revenant however wouldnt be granted the same grace, it was pinned, and no one could save it. The war ursa turned around and looked straight into Frosts eyes before grinning maliciously. Crack! It drastically increased the force of its right forepaw, causing the revenants runic armour to groan and crack before shattering into fragments, exposing the vulnerable core. At this point the war ursa looked down at the terrified ice revenant before suddenly shoving its head within the now open cavity and devoured the ice revenants core, instantly killing him. Crunch! Crunch! Gulp It chewed the solid core fracturing it into smaller pieces before swallowing the remnants. A warm sensation filled its body as it did, filling it with power. But it didnt revel in the taste for long. Frost and Khuno increased their pace doggedly chasing after it but only managed to catch its shadow. By the time they arrived the revenant was already gone, all that remained was a collection of runic armour scraps. One C-rank down and two injured within 10 minutes of battle....not the best start. Nanna tell everyone to keep tight and watch their backs, this war ursa is an insidious ambusher that can kill with a single well prepared strike before swiftly retreating. Understood master, good luck. Nanna responded back rapidly before doing as instructed. The battlefield thus underwent a subtle change, no ronso or revenant moved solo and each of them whenever possible kept tabs on the war ursa. This change worked quite well. The war ursa continued its ambushes but its targets became much more resilient, no longer being caughtpletely off guard. Injuries still happened but it wasnt given the chance nor the time to kill it targets. Frost and Khuno gradually boxed it in, reducing its range of movement while also guiding it towards a more open area. Of course Frost and Khuno worked extra hard to not let the war ursa on to their n, thus it took a little longer but eventually the war ursa was right where they wanted it. At the edge of the battlefield there was a several metre wide void that was guarded by Frost and Khuno, beyond them was the war ursa, barred from re-entering the muddy waters behind them. A fierce expression could be seen on its face as it realised that it was pressed up against the wall and that itd been hoodwinked by Frost and Khuno. Its fury was paramount, it believed it was the grand instigator and strategist when in fact it was nothing, but a puppet controlled by Frost. The war ursa tensed its body and prepared itself for a likely unwinnable battle. Its pseudo aura was in full swing, almost to the point ofpletion. Enough to threaten and pressure the ronsos and revenants but before Frost and Khuno it held no effect; in fact it was pressured instead. Frost smirked mockingly; he could feel the war ursas fear. Shame however that he wouldnt be the one to smack it in the face, that honour would be left to his trusted right hand. As Frost and Khuno smiled, thetter even chuckling Finy made his presence known, appearing from the other side of the void, the side with the war ursa. Hello fat ass Im the one whos going to send you to the gates of hell. Finy loudly dered before dashing towards the war ursa with his battle axe raised overhead and his [enrage] skill activated to the maximum. [Mountain cleave] His battle axe shone with a bright azure light and his arm and back muscles bulged obscenely as he greeted the war ursa with a mighty swing of his axe. Schwing! Caught unawares due its focus on Frost and Khuno the only people it deemed a true threat Finys axe made clear contact with the side of its massive face. The sharpened edge sliced through the war ursas unprotected skin, leaving a nasty gash spanning through the beasts left eye, blinding it. Roaaaaaaarrrrrr! The war ursa roared in rage and pain before swiping at Finy with its paw but met with nothing but air. Finy leaped back milliseconds after slicing through the war ursas eye. He could have dealt an even deeper blow if he continued his downward trajectory but that would have left him open to the beasts ws. He was the weaker party, the war ursa could take blows from him but he couldnt do the same. I think Ive pissed him off master, he wont be leaving my side anytime soon. Finy spoke through a wild grin, his heart pumping a mile a minute as he felt intense pressure. The invisible yet certainly real spectre of deathtched onto him, whispering in his ear of his impending doom. His pseudo aura wasnt as developed as the war ursas something that it immediately made clear as it redirected its whole attention towards him. It pushed back his pseudo aura encapsting him in its pressure, it was almost suffocating. Finy even felt his heart stop for a second and the image of the already massive war ursa became evenrger. Fuck, this isnt the deep end its the fucking sea! Chapter 429 429 Chapter 429: War ursa (3) The war ursa unleashed its entire fury upon Finy pressuring him with its unbridled bloodlust and pseudo aura before charging forward. Its left eye was a bloody mess, but its right eye was still good, and it was locked solely on Finy. Finy visibly trembled and clicked his tongue as he braced himself for the charge, ready to dodge at the opportune moment. A full strength charge from a bear that weighed over ten tons was not something hed be able to endure. If he wished to win this battle he couldnt afford to be hit cleanly even once. Frost and Khuno smiled lightly as they watched on, struggling to hold back a chuckle. Finy well and truly pissed it off and then some. Whether that ends up being a good thing only time will tell. Now however since the war ursa had fixated upon Finy the two of them needed to delve into the muddy waters behind them. Even without the war ursa there was still two mid C-ranked frost drakes as well as five entry level ones in y. Powerful opponents that cared little about inflicting damage to theirrades or even themselves. The frenzied state imbued by the mana veins corruption filled them all with a mad ferocity and a numbness to pain. Without the two of them managing the battlefield the casualties would sky rocket. Four monsters had already been lost, an ice revenant, two frost revenant knights and a ronso plus those with heavy injuries numbered close to a dozen. Blood, flesh, scales and runic armour littered all over the battlefield while roars, screams, grunting and shes of weapons reverberated throughout the entire winter hignds. Frost gave a knowing look to Khuno who nodded his head in understanding, they couldnt stand here and monitor Finys battle, they were needed elsewhere. Plus having them watching on the side lines would make this battle pointless. Finy needed the true threat of death, something that wouldnt arise if Frost and Khuno were able to leap to his aid at a moments notice. Finy the floor is yours, dont die. Frost spoke bluntly before turning his back to their battle, his fists however were tightly clenched revealing his worries. Good luck brother! Khuno shouted loudly before joining his lord, turning his back and delving back into the muddied water to hunt. Bang! ..... Finy narrowly dodged a wide swipe from the war ursa, distracted momentarily by Frost and Khunos words almost met him with serious injury. He jumped backwards and noticed his heart beating a mile a minute and that a cold sweat had formed along his forehead and down his back. His hands and legs were trembling, partly from excitement but mainly from primal fear, something he had only felt from Maya and Frost yet this time the entity was doing their very best to kill him. As the feelings washed over him a mad smile grew on his lips and the trembling stopped. Like master like servant Finy was a battle junkie, he found his current situation exhrating. Boom! The War ursa roared out before sweeping up arge amount of snow and tossing it at Finy temporarily obscuring his vision. Shit! Finy cursed internally as his senses went haywire trying to guess what angle the war ursa would attack from. The spectre of death made its presence known once again, releasing chilling whispers into his ear. Fractions of a second passed but he couldnt see the war ursa in the slightest and the loud sounds of the nearby battlefield affected his hearing. Smell was also a no go, the area was chock full of the smell of blood and iron, he was blind in all his senses. As the milliseconds passed the feelings of dread brought on by his primal fear and the spectre of death grew and grew, making his mind chaotic and body heavy but it also made him extremely sensitive. His eyes darted all over for even the slightest sign while his ears did the same, doing their best to iste him from the loud cacophony of the nearby battle. People when in extreme circumstances can push beyond their limits achieving incredible strength, speed, reactions or even just rity of mind, slowing down their sense of time. Finy was starting to enter this special circumstance, the zone if you will. A state that would allow him to survive against a superior enemy perhaps even triumph if yed well. In this state he should be able to better understand the wall barring him from entering advanced mastery and subsequently B-rank. Unfortunately he wasnt given enough time to delve deep into this zone. The war ursa suddenly appeared from his left, its jaw was wide open revealing its razor sharp teeth that could shred his flesh apart with ease. Finy reacted on instinct; his battle axe smoothly swung out while he leaped away the moment the war ursa reared its head. Schwing! sh! The battle axe swung without any wasted movements and with a fair amount of force. The edge met with a few of the war ursas teeth generating a loud sh. Finy used this force to leap further back, utilising the war ursas charging momentum to push him out of harms way. Hended half a dozen metres away and once again took a braced stance, his battle axe once again at his side ready to be swung out at a moments notice. His eyes showed a strange serenity as he examined the war ursa in its entirety. His breathing also slowed down and his shaking stopped, he could see and react to the war ursa which meant he could fight it. That primal fear was slowly being overtaken by his excitement and determination. The war ursa however growled will shaking its head, the battle axe struck hard against his teeth and though they didnt break the vibration was quite ufortable. This difort allowed the war ursa to calm down its wayward emotions slightly, taking another more informed look at Finy. However Finy looked the exact same, still beneath it in the food chain thus its fury returned. This damn prey not only destroyed its left eye it escaped multiple times and even damaged its mighty fangs. Finy needed to die. The war ursas eyes or rather eye grew a deeper shade of red, the frenzy brought on by the mana veins corruption started affecting it more. Roooooooaaaaaaaarrrrrrrr! The war ursa let loose a magnificent roar before scattering an even greater lump of snow, once again obscuring Finys vision. This time however it wasnt going to go easy on this prey. The war ursa tensed its entire body and leaned forward before swaths of red energy covered its body, it was using a skill and from its form a charging skill. Finy had actually witnessed this skill once before when he fought against the standard ursa solo several days ago. Unfortunately he was caught cleanly by the bears charge sending him carolling through the air with heavy injuries. So much so that he was forced to recuperate for the next few waves. Now it was an even stronger monster using this charging skill and his vision waspletely obscured, the situation wasnt ideal. However he was currently in a very good state, his senses were all on full whack and his confidence was raised after sessfully dealing with the war ursasst attack. Seeing that his vision was once again obscured and the fact that the war ursa had intelligence and the known track record for being an ambusher he didnt take what wasing lightly, fully expecting something beyond what he could normally deal with. Itll likely use some sort of skill. He surmised while shuffling his feet against the snow to get a better foothold. A few millisecondster the enhanced war ursa appeared dead ahead. Its entire head and forelimbs were protected by a red energy shield, dramatically increasing its charging force as well as frontal defence. Finy winced but wasnt caught off guard, he expected such a move. He moved seamlessly, striking out with his battle axe once again while also leaping back hoping to negate much of the beasts charge. This time however the same tactic wouldnt quite work. Finys battle axe sliced through the air once again aiming for the war ursas exposed teeth but before it could reach them it stuck harshly against the red energy shield and was strongly rebuffed. The war ursas charge wasnt affected in the slightest in fact it appeared as though the thing was continuing to gain momentum; Finy was going to be literally overrun. However the smart ice trollmander wasnt done yet. A wild smile still adorned his face and time seemed to flow far slower than normal. He didnt have a choice if he didnt somehow break though his limits and enter the zone he was a dead ice troll. With the strong rebuffing of his battle axe Finy kicked against the snow and performed a backflipunching him backwards with enough speed to not be caught by the war ursa. His window to act was short, however. The moment his feet touched the ground again the war ursa was milliseconds from smashing into him. Such an attack would likely see his chest blown apart and his shoulders dislocated, killing him at that point would be a simple task. Finy immediately kicked off the ground, this time he wasnt leaping backwards but up and forward with a twist. The change in momentum was so sudden that the war ursa couldnt react. By the time it realised what was happening Finy was rising above its head and out of reach. It tried desperately to stop him but only managed to brush up against Finys foot. Its charge skill had been perfectly evaded. Chapter 430 430 Chapter 430: War ursa (4) Finy was currently flying above the war ursa thanks to his agile and well timed jump. He avoided the beasts sudden and powerful charge skill that would have seen his body destroyed if he was cleanly hit. The war ursa didnt even manage to catch his foot as his body rose and spun in the air, avoiding it by a hairs breadth. But a hairs breadth was all that was needed. Finys smile grew as he witnessed the war ursas confusion and utter disappointment as it barely brushed against his foot. He then raised his battle axe. [Enrage], [mountain cleave] He activated his [enrage] skill to fill his body with some much needed strength. Without it cutting deep into the war ursas flesh would be a very difficult task. He also added his strongest axe skill [mountain cleave] to the mix, he was aiming for a devasting blow. One that would likely reduce the beasts charging ability as well as burst speed. With his muscles bulging obscenely and his battle axe coated in azure energy Finy swung downwards once he passed the front half of the war ursas body. He aimed for its back legs; an area not protected by the red energy shield. Schwing! Squelch! Roaaaaaaaarrrrrr! The axended cleanly over the war ursas left rear leg cutting deep and sshing the surrounding area in blood. The war ursa roared out from the sudden attack. The red shield protecting its front body flickered in and out of existence as it lost control of its charge. Its left rear leg lost all ability to hold its weight and the war ursa immediately tilted crashing harshly into the snow, generating a veritable explosion of the stuff. The force behind its charge was enough to shake the surrounding area and even crack the floors foundation that was protected by several feet of snow. Finynded lightly on his feet several metres from the war ursa. His breathing was a littleboured and his arms were trembling slightly. [Enrage] was quite a draining skill especially if used multiple times over a short period. Thankfully Finy deactivated it the moment it was no longer needed. ..... His eyes drifted over his battle axe that was now covered in the war ursas blood. He felt something during thatst attack. He didnt even need to think about his movements, his body just made them. He felt more attuned with his battle axe, that it was a part of him and not just a simple weapon. Is that the feeling of advanced mastery? Finy queried in his mind as he tried to recall the feeling of that moment. The war ursa however struggled to stand, its face was significantly scuffed thanks to it charging into the floor but more than that was what was left of its left rear leg. Finys attack used his entire strength and then some. Along with an upper 3 star quality weapon the wound was anything but shallow. The entire rear leg as well as where it connected to the main body was mangled. Blood flowed liberally, staining its white fur as well as the surrounding snow. The bone could be clearly seen and sporting a major crack, though Finy failed to sever it entirely the damage was extensive. The war ursa would likely struggle to put much weight on that leg, thus limiting its speed and manoeuvrability. Even if it did decide to ditch this battle with him it wouldnt be able to dash around the battlefield ambushing hisrades like before. It was here to stay. The war ursa pulled its head out of the snow and shook off what was attached. Its mind was slightly dizzy thanks to the high impact but the shaking and pain from its rear leg managed to quickly resolve that. It turned around and looked at its rear leg and almost fainted. Its body sported a serious injury, a possible fatal injury if they were in the wild and it was caused by something weaker than it, damn prey nothing more. The redness in its eye deepened, the frenzied state bing more prominent and inadvertently reducing the pain it felt. Its gaze then moved to Finy who was looking at it with a smile, one that felt mocking. Roooooaaaarrrrrr!!!! The war ursa unleashed the greatest roar it had done in its entire life, alerting many of invading monsters stuck in the muddied waters. They all perked up their ears and turned towards the direction of the roar. Oh no you dont! Frost appeared before an entry level C-rank monster that suddenly turned around and tried to dash to the war ursa so as to lend it aid. With a mighty swing of his ive he send the monster flying backwards and barred its path. Everyone keep these invaders here; none are to interfere in Finys battle am I clear!? Yes milord! Khuno yelled out in confirmation as he also beat back an entry level C-rank. Yes master! Understood! Themander will have his duel! The ronsos and revenants both responded back while firming up their containment. Not a single monster would get past them and cross the void. Nanna, Loki call out any runners. Yes sir. Nanna and Loki replied with gusto as they opened their eyes even wider and brought up a couple more screens leaving no area unwatched. Frost then nced at the war ursa and his right hand man. Looks like hes faring quite well. He smiled with pride. Within a few minutes Finy had already forced the war ursa to give up its pride and call for aid -though given its personality it likely didnt care much about honour or pride but still an impressive feat. Finy heard his masters orders and couldnt help but feel relieved. Though it seems as though hes beening out on top in this duel there hasnt been a single second he hasnt been staring death in the face. He had zero room for distractions and or interference from other monsters. One good strike was all it took for his previous effort to go up in smoke. The war ursa had four legs, simply losing the use of one wouldnt stop this duel, itd only make it a little easier. Finy prepared himself once again, gripping his battle axe with both hands and staring down his enemy, analysing its every movement. The war ursa seeing that no one wasing to its aid forced itself to turn around and face its opponent. The majority of its weight was ced on its uninjured legs, but its stance still looked solid. Since charging was no longer a good option it needed to attack another way. It raised its left fore paw before coating it in red energy, another skill. Finy tensed his hands around the axes shaft and shuffled his feet against the snow as he braced. With a violent motion the war ursa swung its left forepaw summoning five tendrils of red energy in the shape of ws. It was a skill that looked simr to Frosts [w of the ice wolf] butrger and far more deadly. The five ws spanned several metres eliminating Finys ability to dodge to the left or right and they moved with such speed that he barely had time to react. He relied on that feeling of connection he had with his battle axe to move on instinct. He fluidly swung down making contact with the five red ws. Booooommmmm! A loud booming sound exploded on contact. Finy felt as though he was faced against a mountain, his axe and arms trembled in their attempt to repel the five red ws. His feet dug in deep as he was slowly pushed backwards. He waspletely pinned by the five red ws and the war ursa knew this. It smiled viciously before moving, doing its best to keep it left rear leg off the ground. While Finy struggled to deal with the five red ws it generated another five and sent them flying from another angle. Fuck! Finy loudly cursed as he spotted the second attack creeping up on his left. [Enrage]! Ahhhhhhhh! He swiftly activated his [enrage] skill for the third time giving him a sudden increase in physical strength. It allowed him to cleave apart the first five ws but even, so he didnt have it in him nor the time to swing his axe to fend off the other five. Relying on his survival instincts Finy instantly dropped to the floor. the second set of red ws flew over his chest, cutting it up slightly but more or less he dodged it sessfully. However without anyone repelling them the five red ws continued through the air, carving up the snow before hitting a D-rank monster a yeti. The poor yeti was cut up into five pieces without much effort. Finy gulped as he saw this and ced his hands on his chest that now sported five searing gashes. That was close. The spectre of death wasnt looming for nothing. Finy looked up at the war ursa who was once again preparing to throw another set of ws at him. Like hell Ill just sit here and take that! Knowing that waiting around was a sure fire way to get pinned again Finy rose to his feet and dashed towards the war ursa in a zig zag manoeuvre. Previously he wanted to avoid entering closebat especially with him on the attack given the war ursas capabilities, but the situation had now changed. With one of its legs out ofmission the war ursa would be slower to move about making closebat safer especially now that he knew about its long range abilities, those red ws were quite deadly after all. Only by being in closebat would he be able to deal any damage to the war ursa, plus itd be a lot easier to dodge those deadly red ws skills. Chapter 431 431 Chapter 431: War ursa (5) Finy ran like his life depended on it because it very much did. Hoolll! Fwooom! He rapidly changed direction as the war ursa sent out another dose of those red ws. The five red ws missed him by a small margin before flying beyond into the muddy waters behind him. A lesser drake suddenly lost its tail while the revenant fighting it was forced to desperately avoid what remained. But Finy didnt have time to care about what was happening beyond his current scope. He needed to enter closebat as soon as possible if those red ws were to stop. Without a moments dy he was on the move once again, dashing to and fro as he moved in on the war ursa. His opponent however was no slouch it knew exactly what Finy was trying to do so it did everything in its power to obstruct his path. not only was it repeatedly sending those long range w skills with differing strength and speed -to mess up Finys timing- it also kept moving away from Finy, keeping the distance between them. Gradually however Finy did make his way in close. He quickly learned the war ursas tactics with his heightened senses making predicting its moves easier. From an outside perspective or even the war ursas perspective it looked like Finy was dancing. Moving with such finesse and elegance that dodging the red ws appeared easy and without effort. Finy was rapidly improving thanks to the constant threat of death. Getting hit by just one of those ws could result in serious injury. ..... Lets see you use those red ws now! Finy taunted while standing in front of the war ursa with his battle axe primed and ready. Falling for the taunt the war ursa stretched back both of its fore paws before activating its skill on both. 10 fierce looking red ws appeared above its paws before being violentlyunched like a cross towards Finy. Idiot Finy mocked while leaping upwards and over the war ursa. At such a close distance the red ws didnt have time to pick up their tremendous speed nor expand to their full breadth, they could be dodged with a simple well timed jump. The war ursa however was no idiot, even in its tentative state it could still understand the limitation of its red ws. If they didnt strike true that was fine, there was really on one way for Finy to go.... up. With a vicious grin the war ursa followed Finys body as he rose into the air with its eyes before it opened up its jaw revealing its razor sharp teeth, ready tounch a devasting bite. A red energy surrounded its jaw and teeth enhancing its crushing power, a biting skill likely no less potent than the red ws. In an instant its neck was craned backwards beforeunching at the mid-air Finy. Guess youre not aplete idiot. Finy felt a deadly chill down his spine as the war ursas massive jaw swiftly moved to consume him. But he was prepared for this. He grabbed hold of his battle axe and smoothly ced the heads vertically within the massive jaw in ce of his sulent flesh. Crunch! The war ursas massive jaws mmed down on the battle axe resulting in a fountain of blood escaping. The war ursa may be an upper C-rank monster with terrifying biting power but with a well-ced blockage that can actually be a vulnerable weakness. The force exerted up and down upon the battle axe served to push the sharp des deep into its gums. A very painful feeling that even the further frenzied state couldntpletely block. Tears appeared in the war ursas eyes as its mouth filled with its own blood. Finys battle axe was now firmly in ce preventing it from closing or even opening its jaws any time soon. The crisis was sessfully averted and now it was time for Finy to attack. With his primary weapon current lodged within the war ursas mouth and likely not leaving anytime soon Finy had to be a little creative if he wished tounch a decent offensive. Unlike Frost he didnt have a spatial ring equipped that housed spare weaponry -perhaps something hed have to look into in the future- but he did have other means. As his body drifted across the war ursas back his target came into sight, the severely mangled left rear leg. He didnt need anything too devasting to breach an already open wound. So Finy started kneading his chakra to form a dense ice spike. He didnt care much about how it looked as long as it was sturdy and had a sufficient grip itd do. Within milliseconds Finy summoned a metre long ice spike with around 20cm diameter. It was rough and jagged, unappealing in terms of aesthetics, but such a structure may actually deal more damage. He gripped the spike with both hands and violently stabbed it into the open and mangled wound. The open flesh made a great entry point as the ice spike easily prated, tearing up another section of the leg and socket area. It did howevere to aplete stop once it reached the bone, shattering into sharp fragments that prated the surrounded flesh. Roooooaaaaaaarrrrrrrr! The war ursa roared in agony. Its remaining good eye clouded overpletely, bing blood red. It lost itself into aplete frenzy, a beast driven purely by madness. Finy knew that it was time to make a quick exit, so he rotated his body around so that his feet rested on the exposed area of the ice spike. He then kicked off shoving the ice spike even deeper into the war ursas bloodied flesh while also retreating. Not a moment too soon either. The instant he pushed off a set of red ws was fired his way, a reckless manoeuvre but the war ursa was beyond thinking rationally. The red ws flew past its body and even carved up a section of the wounded left rear leg all so it would have the chance to kill Finy. Unfortunately even with his impressive reaction Finy wasnt quite fast enough, the red ws brushed past his left arm, opening up five deep gashes before carrying on through the air. Finynded on the snow several metres away, blood dripping profusely from his left arm and pooling on the ground below. His left arm was injured quite badly, though hed likely be able to move it using his entire strength was no longer possible. This was the difference in rank, hended several clean blows yet the war ursa just had to graze him to do devasting damage. Thankfully it was just a deep cut and not the loss of the limb. Mid-level health potions had their limits after all. He covered his left arm with his hand and winced from the pain before reaching around to the small potion bag around his waist. He removed a mid-level health potion and swiftly downed the contents. Frost had prepared a few of such potions for this exact battle, price was not a concern if it meant he could reach the next level of power. Taking one now would mean hed have to wait a while to use the next one but a loss in strength from his arm and given the amount of blood he was losing he couldnt afford to take any risks. He needed to be at full strength at all times when confronting the war ursa, lest he be too slow to react and end up with far more than a few gashes. He tossed the empty bottle away and kept his eyes locked on the war ursa, ready to move at any moment. The health potion got to work several secondster gradually closing his open wounds and recing his lost blood -the most important aspect, being numb and weak meant slower reactions after all. The war ursa took this time to wrench out the battle axe lodged in its mouth. Using its paws it tore the thing out,pletely ignoring the pain and volume of blood before twisting the axe around. It then began chewing the axe with its razor sharp teeth. Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! A horrible sound escaped its jaws as it chewed the 3 star battle axe. The shaft was easily dealt with, but the axe head took a fair amount of effort. Its teeth grinded against the pykrete, groaning as they battled in terms of toughness. Eventually however the teeth won and the mighty 3 star battle axe that served by Finys side since he received his name cracked and fractured into pieces. The war ursa looked at Finy tauntingly before swallowing what remained. It then smiled with a bloodied yet now empty mouth. Bastard! Finy loudly cursed, that axe of his had sentimental value yet now it was nothing but scrap in a bears belly. Of course he knew that willingly cing his weapon within the war ursas mouth could result in such a scenario but seeing it in reality was far more disturbing. That was his weapon, his partner and something he felt a true bond with, even more so during this battle. His hands clenched hard to the point that blood was drawn, Finy was pretty pissed off. Chapter 432 432 Chapter 432: War ursa (6) The war ursa continued to smile madly, baring its bloody fangs at Finy. His weapon was now history, what was he supposed to fight it with now? That ice spike served only good at further damaging already mangled flesh. Useless against bone and quite likely its resilient fur. Finy clenched his teeth and fists drawing blood from his fingers. He was truly enraged by the loss of his weapon but not because he was powerless without it but for sentimental reasons. That weapon was with him since creation and went through an evolution the same time he did, there was a strong bond between the two. He was emotional but unfortunately this was neither the time nor the ce. huuuuuu Finy let out a restrained breath, calming his emotions before bringing up the dungeon menu. The war ursa had given him a moments reprieve so as to gloat; hed be stupid to not utilise such a time effectively. Though hecked a spatial ring like Frost and Maya he had been granted the ability to retrieve things form the dungeon vault. With a few clicks a brand new battle axe roughly equal in quality and materials as the one he just lost appeared in his hands. The process of retrieval was slower than a spatial ring and required him to use the dungeon menu thus he couldnt retrieve his spare axe mid-flight thus he had to use the ice spike earlier. Don! The butt of the heavy axe crashed against the ground. It was in pristine condition and at least 20% heavier than hisst one. A little harder to wield but should suit his current needs perfectly. Finy needed to breach the gap between adept and advanced axe mastery after all. A less wieldy weapon should force him to understand the connection between him and his weapon that much more, a risk he was willing to take. Frost had prepared a few battle axes for him, same with Khuno but with halberds. Each of which had slight differences i.e. different material makeup or weight that would suit different situations. A heavier axe in this case though slower to attack would contain more force, something that was clearly needed if he wished to cleave through the war ursas bones. The war ursas gloating swiftly stopped the moment it saw the new axe and heard the heavy don as it crashed against the ground. Roaaaaarrr! It roared in protest before firing off with its long range red ws however given its wounded and maddened state the uracy wasnt quite as on point. Unfortunately this actually made dodging harder. ..... Finy frowned before raising up his axe, it was time to test how it felt in battle. [Mountain cleave] Finy activated his greatest axe skill covering the weapon in a dense beam of azure energy before shing downward within immense ferocity. Smash! With the added weight and the use of a skill the red ws shattered into pieces, a few fragments passed by Finys cheek, leaving minor scratches but with the health potion still in effect these wounds healed almost instantly. Well that felt good. Finy smiled wildly as he raised the battle axe back up and rested it on his shoulders. The bnce of the weapon was very simr to his previous one even with overall greater weight it also had a simr texture along the handle. He easily connected with it, perhaps even more so than his primary one. The weight felt more in line with his current strength. The war ursaunched another five red ws at the smiling Finy not realising that its wounds were affecting its skills strength nor Finys current state. Finy saw the five red ws but didnt run or dodge instead he reared up his battle axe once again and struck down. sh! There was certainly a difference without using [mountain cleave] but he no longer felt pinned and two secondster the red ws shattered once again under his new axe. A strange expression appeared on Finys face as he retrieved his axe and looked deeply at the heads. He felt something when he struck down, a nagging feeling that pointed out the ws in his swing. His wild smile stretched from ear to ear as his gaze drifted over to the war ursa who looked as though it had seen better days. A limp leg that was nothing more than a mangled mess, its jaws still bleeding profusely and blinded in one eye. The once intimidating threat that was the war ursa was so badly wounded that it appeared to be barely hanging on, Finy did that. Again, hit me again! Finy loudly demanded, wishing for the war ursa to send another set of red ws his way as training material. Roar! Infuriated further by Finys attitude the war ursa reared up on its single working rear leg before viciously swiping with its forepaws, creating 10 red ws each stronger than the previous ones. It put a fair amount of energy into this attack, a little too much in fact. The war ursa suddenly stumbled and copsed onto its belly leaving it in a very vulnerable position but Finy was a little preupied to take advantage. I just had to go and open my big mouth. He cursed himself internally as the spectre of death wrapped around his limbs and even his heart, filling him with fear. This attack was fast, strong and incredibly deadly and he no longer had the chance to dodge, he had to take it. He gripped the shaft of his axe and stared dead ahead, seeing nothing but thick, sharp red ws formed of energy flying his way. Every fibre of his body was screaming either run or that this was the end of him. His axe would not be able to stop these ws and hed end up carved up into dozens of pieces, scattered across the snow.....at least with his current strength. There was no better opportunity to force him over the threshold, just like how frost fared in his sh with Rock. While enduring an overwhelming force with his ive he punched through and achieved adept mastery as well as his first skill. Finy simply needed to do the same, the risk however was incredibly high. A single misstep and he was dead, but it was this risk that made it possible in the first ce. His body needed to be filled with dread and be forced to ovee death. A fiery gaze filled with determination could be seen in Finys eyes. He braced himself against the snow, shuffling in for a better foothold while raising his new battle axe up high above his head. [Enrage], [mountain cleave] He activated his skillbo, granting him extra physical strength as well as empowering his battle axe. Energy surged out from within Finy, a light red mist covered his body filling him with intense aggression. His eyes turned a deep shade of blood red simr to the war ursas and his muscles bulged out with snake like veins. Whereas an azure coloured energy spread out across his axe, forming a dense beam around the de edge, greatly increasing its sharpness and crushing force. Finy used these skills to their upmost, putting in all he had. As Finy began cleaving downward time slowed and that nagging feeling returned. He subtly followed the directions given by that feeling and as a result his axe sped up and grew in force. His connection with it seemed to grow more in tune and an invisible wall started to breakdown. His eyes released a glint along with his axe before he made contact with the ten crossed red ws sent out by the war ursa. Boooooooommmmmmmmm! An incredible boom reverberated through the battlefield as the axe and red ws made contact. Plumes of snow were blown away from the surrounding area and many monsters still fighting in the muddy waters couldnt help but turn their heads towards the loud explosion. There they could see Finy with his entire body tensed and bulging holding back the ten red ws with his battle axe. The red coloured energy and the azure energy grinded against one another with neither refusing to give in. Their fierce sh sent sparks of energy flowing out and the area around started to twist, the force involved was strong enough to affect the surrounding mana. Finy was breathing hard, and his feet were being gradually pushed back but his eyes revealed a mad glint, and a bright smile adorned his lips. He could feel it, the door was breaking down and he could feel the light of knowledge washing over him. His body felt reinvigorated, and his axe became lighter, the force pressing on him from the red ws no longer felt so terrifying. This is advanced mastery. He had broken through; his gambit had paid off. Stomp! With his newfound strength Finy took a forceful step forward before roaring out and tensing his arm and back muscles even further. Smash! The terrifying red ws shattered apart revealing the vulnerable state of the war ursa. Finy recalled his battle axe and stared at the war ursa with a cold and calm look in his eyes. The rewards from reaching advanced axe mastery continued to wash over him. He smiled with satisfaction as new knowledge filled his mind. With this I should be able to break those bones of yours. Chapter 433 433 Chapter 433: War ursa (7) Finy stared at the prone and struggling war ursa with a calm and cold gaze. Its full on red w attack was shattered apart by him and now thanks to its overexertion and prominent wounds it was t on its belly struggling to find its feet, a prime opportunity. Finy felt invigorated, his entry into advanced level axe mastery allowed him to see the world with new vision, to feel a greater connection with his weapon and know new ways in which to use that weapon. One of which was screaming out in his brain dying to be let loose on the vulnerable prey. Yes the war ursa was no longer the predator but the prey in the eyes of this ice trollmander. Finy marched forward firmly, gaining speed with each step until he was running at full speed [cier crash]! Finy shouted out the name of the new skill he just learned, an advanced level skill with devasting power. An azure mist started to escape from his body as he picked up speed and leapt up high into the air. The mist grew more and more distinct, some formed around his axe, protecting and enhancing it to levels far beyond that of [mountain cleave]. The majority however coagted behind Finy in the shape of a giant cier. This image emitted a frightening chill but more importantly a mighty weight, greatly enhancing the force of his swing. With his battle axe raised up high Finy cleaved downwards as his body descended, his aim was the severely damaged left rear leg. It had been dangling there with the bone exposed long enough, it was time to sever itpletely. Rooooaaaaarrrrrrr! Of course the war ursa wasnt going to just sit there and allow its body to endure such a devasting blow. It tried to quickly stand up and evade but its limbs refused to listen, the blood loss and severe damage made control difficult. Since it couldnt move away it attacked instead, with a yet unseen skill. Red energy rapidly pooled from its body towards its head. This red energy formed into a red version of the war ursas head; it was a skill simr to Frosts [wyvern maw]. ..... The red war ursa headcked the detail and living quality of the [wyverns maw] but it was still quite impressive. The red bear headunched forward to intercept Finys [cier crash] with its maw wide open. Finy in its eyes was still just a mere ice troll, lower in the food chain. Despite the lethality it felt from this skill it strongly believed that it shouldnt be able to beat its red bear head skill, this arrogance was imprinted deep in its bones. Finy lips stretched from ear to ear in a wild smile, showing off his pearly with teeth. He was ecstatic, itd be a littlecklustre if his new move had nothing to fight against. He pumped in even more of his energy into his skill in response. Baaaaaaannnnngggggg!!! An ear shattering bang exploded at the point of contact. The massive azure covered battle axe crashed against the red ursa head, striking upon its forehead with unbridled weight, far too much for it to endure. The moment they made contact the red ursa head cracked, arge fissure opened up along the pseudo skull. The battle axe then easily cleaved its way through, splitting the thing in twain. Shards of red energy splintered off before the entire head dissolved, it was no match for the might of Finys [cial crash]. The war ursa froze in shock as it witnessed the shattering of its prided skill. Time for it seemed to slow as it was powerless to watch as Finys axe continued along it original trajectory with barely any momentum lost. Hoooowwllll! The air howled as the battle axe carved through the air before. Schwing! The enhanced de edge met with the mangled flesh of the war ursas left rear leg. It cut through it like it was butter, almost immediately reaching the durable bone. Bears had very tough bones no matter the rank so it could be imagined how strong the war ursas were. Several clean attacks from him while using his full strength as well as a skill and the sharpness of an upper 3 star weapon resulted in a mere crack. Now however such a possibility was impossible. ng! The axe made contact with the war ursas thick leg bone and after a fraction of a second it began cutting through with little resistance. Another fraction of a secondter it exited through the other side of the leg and smashed against the snow covered floor. The residual force sent plumes of snow flying all over the ce as well as blowing the several ton ursa away. Finynded on an area of dirt- after blowing away all the snow-, his battle axe cutting deep into the dungeons floor. A look of shock could be seen on his face as he stared at thepletely severed rear leg lying next to his axe and the exposed dirt around him. His hands that held the battle axes shaft were trembling, numbed from the resulting rebound of force. Such devastation..... I should have aimed for something more valuable ugh! Finy regretted not aiming for the undamaged rear leg or its spine or perhaps even its throat. With such a powerful attack, decapitation wasnt off the table. A sharp groan escaped his lips as the cost of using such a high level skill attacked his body. Cough! blood ran up his throat and out his mouth, his vision grew dizzy, and his entire body trembled violently. He fell to a half kneeling position and relied on his battle axe to remain upright as the sudden exhaustion took over. He just used an advanced level skill at its maximum power after fighting an uphill battle, the cost was too be expected thus his regret at choosing an easier target was quite deep. He struggled to even remain conscious cing him in an even more vulnerable position than the war ursa earlier. The monster in question had been blown back several metres and onto its back. Its mind was still in rtive shock, the fact that its leg had been severed and the fact that it was on its back hadnt quite clicked yet. A couple secondster however the realisation hit it, the pain of losing a limb rushed to its brain resulting in guttural howl before it rolled to its three remaining feet. Its eyes stared at the vacant area around its rear. A clean divide that removed the entire leg leaving nothing but a gruesome wound that was bleeding profusely. The war ursas blood loss was already serious even with the benefits brought on by the frenzied state. With such an open wound its time was limited, 10 minutes perhaps less. The serious of the situation quickly donned on it, the spectre of death that tightly lingered around Finy throughout this fight now attached itself to it, death wasing, and it was powerless to stop it. Anger and wrath starting building up to uncontroble levels. Its gaze drifted towards Finy the one who effectively killed it. Raaaaaaaaaawrrrrrrrrrr!!!! A wrathful roar filled with piercing bloodlust and unrestrained pseudo aura escaped its bloody maw, exasperating its wounds even further but it was beyond the point of caring. Finys body shivered and was assaulted by the blood lust, pseudo aura and even the literal air forcefully exuded by the roar. His body that had overtaxed itself by unleashing a devasting skill was too weak to counter the war ursas pseudo aura. He felt pressured and lost control of his limbs from primal fear, his heart even stopped as cold sweat dripped down his spine. Fuck! He internally cursed as his mouth was no longer working, his teeth chattering as his body was in full terror mode like a paralysed mouse in front of a snake. He tried to regain control of his body, but the primal fear was ingrained to deep, he couldnt override it in a short time. All he could do was look directly at the war ursa as it began charging at him with its three legs. Even if he was going to die he was going to openly face his enemy. His body may be paralysed by primal fear and the beasts searing blood lust, but his spirit would never be subdued, he would keep trying to fight. Move! Move! Move! Move! Dammit! He roared internally, desperately trying to move his limbs and he gained some minor sess but not enough to evade the war ursas maddened charge or raise his battle axe in defence. It seemed as though this was as far as he went. After fighting such a difficult death defying battle for so long and evening out on top for the majority of it, he was going to meet his end. A mixture of ying it safe and not taking into ount the true cost of using a skill beyond his current meansnded him in this position. If he had another 30 seconds or so hed likely be able to regain control of his body and get back in the fight. Hed be exhausted and drained but the war ursa wasnt any better, all he needed to do was drag out the fight and hed be the winner. But 30 seconds in a high level fight where multiple exchanges can happen within a single second was practically eons. Hed need a miracle or... Chapter 434 434 Chapter 434: War ursa (8) As Finy kneeled against his battle axe and tried his very best to move his paralysed limbs- with very little effect- his eyes stared dead ahead at the massive war ursa charging straight for him with its jaw wide open. Blood from the wounds he caused sputtered out and painted its teeth red making for an even more frightening image than normal. Time slowed down once again for Finy, but this was not advantageous it simple dragged out the time he stared death in the literal face. With its desperate and reckless charge the mighty war ursa arrived before him in a couple seconds. He could feel its blood filled breath against his cheeks and could see deep down its throat as its jaws opened up to devour him, ast act before it inevitably dies. Unfortunately Finy didnt have ess to cold mes so he couldnt mimic the actions of the brave ronso who lost his life a few days ago and even if he did he was in no state to use them effectively. Ice started to from along is skin in sharp protruding spikes, rather flimsy and thin but should at least agitate its throat as it swallowed him. [Sky fall] Suddenly above Finy and the war ursa Frost appeared with his ive in hand and a fierce expression on his face. His ive was pulled back and his air borne skill in affect, summoning four simr looking ives made out of energy around him before he and the ives shot down towards the war ursa. Frost had very little time. He noticed the battles state thanks to the presence generated by Finys [cier crash]. He saw his prided general ovee his limits that were so harshly imposed and triumph over his superior enemy. But that pride was short lived as danger swooped in almost immediately. Understanding the desperate situation he sted back the three monsters attacking him and dashed to Finys aid. His loud call and summoning of his ive skill didnt even draw the war ursas attention, all it saw before it was red, it cared not for anything but devouring Finy. The timing was going to be tight. ..... Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Letting out his desperation Frost roared out as he repeatedly kicked against the air, frantically trying to speed up his descent by any means. Fractions of seconds passed as the three entities moved closer to one another. The war ursa had its jaw encapsting most of Finys head and was beginning the short process of biting down. Finy was still desperately trying to move, aiming to shuffle back his head even slightly so as to grant his master more time to aid him yet he barely even bought a fraction of a second. But at this level ofbat even a fraction was something. When the war ursas sharp teeth started scraping against Finys head and slowly piercing into his skull Frost arrived. His true ivended roughly where Finys axe had previously protruded and cut through with ease. The sharp de prated through the upper jaw, passing or rather a little through the edge of Finys nose before continuing through the lower jaw decimating the muscle, halting the beasts contraction. The other four energy formed ives swiftly pierced along its back and shoulders pinning it in ce and preventing any sudden movements. Not enough it instantly kill it or even severely damage it (normally) but it was enough for Frost to appear behind Finy and wrench open the war ursas jaw and retrieve him for that death trap. Crunch! The moment Finy was freed the war ursas jaws quickly snapped shut despite being pierced by Frosts ive. Pain was a mute subject in its current state, it probably didnt even realise Finy escaped. Finys eyes were wide open in shock, his heartpletely stopped beating as narrow streams of blood flowed down his head. He was literally in the process of being eaten when Frost swooped in and rescued him from the jaws of death. The shocked feeling gradually passed and feeling returned to his limbs now that the danger was gone. He brought up his hands to his face and head. There was pain in the area where the war ursas teeth began puncturing and his blood was warm.... he was alive. His gaze drifted towards the young man who looked like an elf standing before him, shielding him from the war ursa. The man was emitting his full blown aura and had his eyes locked fiercely on the war ursa. Frosts heart was beating a mile a minute, if he was just a fraction of a secondter Finy would have been toast and he would have lost his most trusted monster, one who had beaten the odds to achieve advanced mastery despite the limitations of his archetype. He wasnt going to take any chances with his generals life, he ced himself directly in front of the war ursa and exuded his full blown aura and watched it for even the slightest moves. A desperate creature especially one as powerful as a war ursa was not a foe to take likely. An upper C-rank monsters life force wasnt anything to sneeze at. Frost felt that this wasnt the end of this insidious ambusher, so he prevented it from seeing Finy, redirecting its residual ire towards himself. Nanna get someone to guard Finy while I deal with this bear! Frost roared out an order while he summoned his spare ive and dashed forward in full attack mode. The best offence is a good defence. If he kept attacking the war ursa it wouldnt have time to attack Finy. He just needed someone to take care of guarding him from any other opportunistic ambushers. Yes master. Nanna responded quickly, aying Frosts fears. A nearby ronso arrived a momentter by Finys side, guarding him from any attacker while he regained hisplete faculties. The war ursa finally realised that something was wrong. Its mouth didnt feel filled with the head of an ice troll instead there was arge pole piercing its upper jaw and lower jaw together. It then saw Frost charging forward with his secondary ive and all rational thought left its brain once again. Another enemy to eat. It tried to roar but the ive pinned its mouth shut. It had powerful biting force but poor releasing force- simr to a crocodile. All that escaped was a muffled groan before it met Frosts charge with a charge of its own. The energy formed ives had already receded returning back to their formless and loose state. The wounds left were deep and painful looking, but nothingpared to the missing leg and as previously stated the war ursa was beyond the point of feeling pain. It let loose with a wide swipe enhanced by the red ws to which Frost could easily dodge but Finy and the Ronso were behind him. With a twirl of his ive he swung out and smashed it against its paw. Crack! The red ws summoned as well as one of its actual ws was shattered by the ive that was covered in a narrow yet dense amount of solid ice chakra. Frost however was knocked back by the residual force, his physical strength losing out. Damn that things got some power behind it. Frost internallyplimented the war ursa. Despite suffering extensive injuries that affected its bnce, power and even the control of its own movements he still lost in a power exchange against a simple angry swipe. Its aggressive movements though still strong enough to fend off Frost werent enough to deal any injuries to him and came at a cost. Blood flowed profusely from the major leg wound when it swiped at him, elerating its already major blood loss. As long as Frost made this a battle of attrition hed likely win without much danger but that didnt really sit right with him. Things can always go wrong so he felt itd be best to end this fight as soon as possible plus this wasnt the only battlefield. The longer he was away from the main area behind him the higher the risk was for his other monsters. He also believed that a dragged out battle would be insulting to his and Finys opponent. The war ursa was the most powerful entity he and the dungeon had ever faced. It was the leader of the wave and deserved to be beaten in a grandiose fashion. Not a logical reason but an emotional one that stemmed from Frost being a bit of a battle junkie, a warrior. Frost regained his bnce and twirled his ive, covering it in cold mes this time. Well then lets put you out of your misery and get back to the main battlefield. He pointed the ives de at the war ursa as he dered before once again dashing forward, going for a frontal assault. The war ursa wanted to yank out the ive that was impeding its jaw, but Frost gave it no time. Grrrrrrrrr With a muffled roar it sent out a shot of five red ws while preparing another shot on his other paw. Frost charged dead ahead with his ive. [w of the ice wolf] He summoned his own energy ws to sh with the bears. His were stronger but outnumbered 5 to 3 thus they ended in a stalemate. His dash however was unimpeded, Frost found himself in front of the war ursa once again. Chapter 435 435 Chapter 435: War ursa (9) After their exchange of w skills ended in a stalemate Frost ended up before the war ursas snout with his ive primed and ready for a deadly strike. His speed was astounding but nothing the war ursa hadnt seen before. It reoriented its remaining fore paw and its summoned red energy ws to attack Frosts current position. A deadly attack if it reached the target and if not at least Frost would be prevented from going ahead with his own attack. Frost however sported a smirk, his eyes not even wavering for a second as he watched the war ursa take a swing at him. [Ice spike] Frost called out the name of a 2nd circle spell and a magic crest rapidly formed on the floor between him and the rapidly approaching paw. Thinking that a mere 2nd circle spell would be able to block the red ws or even dy it for a fraction of a second was an impossibility, but Frost wasnt aiming for that. Ice swiftly formed in the shape of a dense ice spike from the magic crest and mmed against the war ursas fore arm, avoiding the deadly ws and even its horizontal momentum. Striking vertically, careening the swipe on an upward trajectory, away from Frost and straight towards the war ursas own face. The timing of Frosts rebuff was perfect, the poor war ursa had no time to react. Its prided red w skill was shot directly against its own face. 5 nasty gashes instantly appeared along its face and neck, deep, wide and bleeding profusely. Its visage was barely recognisable as flesh split apart and sloughed off revealing the bone underneath. A gruesome and terrifying sight, so much so that even Frost felt a little guilty about his actions. But that feeling was brief. Frost moved onto the next phase of his attack. He gripped his ive hard with both hands, tilting the de downwards in preparation for a powerful upswing. ..... [Earths upheaval] At hismand energy flowed from his body, coating his ive in a deep green lustre before forming the image of a weighty rock behind him, enhancing the force behind his swing. Bang! With a loud sh Frosts skill enhanced ive mmed against the war ursas chest. The de cut it open a little, but the primary function of this move was to send the target airborne, aunching skill. The war ursa however despite being severely injured still weighed several tons. A single upswing from Frost was hardly enough tounch something of its mass skyward. He did however seed in knocking it to a standing position and about a metre from the floor but that was enough. Not even rxing in the slightest after his upswing Frost twisted his ive and recalled it back to his side, saving some of the residual force before. [Wyverns maw]! The moment his ive was back in ce Frost activated another advanced mastery level skill. Energy was once again summoned from his body causing him to wince from the drain. Soon the image of a wyverns deadly maw appeared behind the ive and roared out. The fact that the skill [wyverns maw] was manoeuvrable and had some form of sentience made it the most costly of his high end skills but also the most powerful. Frost viciously swung his ive, catapulting the wyvern straight into the war ursas exposed torso. Rooooaaaaarrrr!! The wyvern roared out and bared its deadly fangs before sinking its teeth into the war ursas torso and shredding it to absolute pieces. The resulting impact sent the partially airborne war ursa flying backwards with the wyvern head. It crashed onto the soft snow over ten metres away, back first and violently convulsing. Its face was destroyed by its own skill and looked pretty much like a horror scene whereas its torso wasnt much better. The wyvern went to town on eating it. Itsrge sharp teeth eviscerated its fur, skin, fat, muscles and even fractured some of its ribs resulting in it looking like an open carcass. It received a direct strike in a vulnerable area from a B-rank fighter, the level of damage was too be expected. Its frenzied state allowed it to not suffer from the immense pain one would usually feel in such a situation, but it was done. The damage was too extensive, even the undead wouldnt be able to get back up from what Frost just hit it with, the battle was over. Hu hu hu hu Frost suddenly felt a little dizzy and started breathing heavily as the feeling of exhaustion assaulted him. Using [sky fall], [earths upheaval] and [wyverns maw] all in quick session was quite a tall ask. Thankfully he was young and within the dungeon so the feeling of weakness would quickly fade. Master Finy with the help of the guarding ronso walked over to Frost. He had aplicated expression on his face. He achieved the goal set out by his master but in the end still needed to be saved by him. Haaaaaaa just feel proud Finy, the mission was high risk in the first ce. The fact that youre alive regardless of the reasons is a win. Frost sighed and shook his head understanding his ice trolls personality. ....I guess youre right master. Finy silently took in what Frost said before smiling and agreeing with him. He fought against a superior enemy and came out alive and improved, he seeded. His gaze drifted over to the war ursa that was on itsst breath with a thankful look. It was because of it that he was now one step closer to evolving. Frost smiled as he also looked at the dying war ursa with thanks. Half a minuteter the beast finally croaked, and a high quality stream of life energy flowed into Frost making him feel refreshed and incrediblyfortable, like he just partook in a delicacy. A slightly mad glint appeared in his eyes as the pleasure washed over him, this really was a feeling one could get addicted too. Finy also felt a change. He opened up the dungeon menu and examined his own status. Name: Finy Race: Ice trollmander Rank: C Level: 50/50 Skills: [Axe sh], [mountain cleave], [cier crash], [invigorating shout], [enrage], [mad charge], [ice stomp],[frost breath] Passive: [war buff], [medium ice resistance], [pseudo aura], [advanced axe mastery] Magic: [ice bolt] It now showed his level as 50/50 instead of the horrible 49/50 hed been faced with the past few days. His new skill [cial crash] was also disyed as was his upgrade to advanced axe mastery. His magic was still pretty pitiful holding but a single spell [ice bolt]. Frost had offered a few times to purchase some magic skill books for him, but he refused, finding that theyd be better spent on perhaps the yuki-onnas or other magic based monsters. He didnt really need magic too much, relying on physical closebat and chakra usage instead. Hed use the [ice bolt] spell asionally when at range but that was just so he could do something while he closed in on his enemy, magic was not his forte. His smile couldnt help but grow as he saw a small notification at the bottom of his status. [evolution now avable] Confirmation of his sess. Now all he needed to do was make sure he had enough energy to break through the final barrier. Luck would also y arge part, as evolution was no longer a guaranteed sess. Master my levels now hit the maximum. I can start the evolution process. Finy said with a happy tone, unable to hide his excitement. Good, but not now. Since chance is involved I want you in your absolute best state. Well finish this wave, get you a full check up at the medical centre and fill you chock full with magic crystals till the point your about to burst. Then well attempt it. Frost looked up at his ice trollmander with pride, but he knew such an important event shouldnt be rushed. Understood master, I could do with some more practise with my advanced axe mastery. Finy caressed his axe, and a wild smile grew on his face. His energy levels were gradually returning, enough to deal with D-ranks at least. Fine but dont take any risks, ronso please stick by his side the entire time. Make sure nothing happens to him. Frost didnt argue against Finy re-joining the main battlefield as he was confident that the danger would be controlled. Of course milord, no harm wille to themander. The ronso replied with a military salute before looking at Finy with fierce intensity, he was going to watch him like a hawk. This sported a chuckle from Frost and an annoyed grunt from Finy who felt as though he was being treated like a reckless child. With Frosts return as well as Finys the rest of the battle continued to grow in their favour. Even the C-ranks fell one by one by either Frosts and Khunos actions or thebined movements of the ronsos and ice revenants. It was long and gruelling but after over an hour of constant battle the wave was over, and silence had returned to the winter hignds. Chapter 436 436 Chapter 436: Finys evolution 82 enemy and 15 friendly corpses littered the blood soaked snow of the winter hignds section. The thick stench of death, flesh and metal assailed the noses of the survivors. Many of which were injured, some very badly. A brutal result but in the end a victory and thats all that mattered at this stage, surviving the ordeal to fight another day. Alright, everyone that can still move safely make your way to the medical centre, those who cant, stay where you are, and the transfer team wille get you. Finally those in critical condition dont give up, the healers will arrive soon with plenty potions to see you through, you just need to fight until then. Frost loudly proimed while covered in the blood and guts of those he just smited. His booming voice and natural charisma drew the attention of everyone present. His powerful visage filled his monsters with strength and lessened their pain. Those who could move did as instructed while those who couldnt stayed where they were to avoid further injury. They also encouraged the critically injured to keep fighting until help arrived. Nanna and Loki already sent down orders to the medical centre and were in the process of teleporting the much needed medical staff and their supplies. Frost reunited with his left and right hand, both of whom sported simr attires to himself. Looks like the two of you had your fill of fun hehehehehe. He chuckled as noticed Finy and Khuno were more red than blue. You should look in the mirror milord youre far more drenched than either of us hehehehehe. Khuno teased Frost back causing him to finally take in his current appearance. [Clean up] He instantly casted clean up magic on himself as well as Finy and Khuno, removing the saturated blood stains as well as the horrible smell that he now started to notice now that the battle was over. ..... The three chuckled lightly but clear signs of pain were in their voices. 15rades died here today and all of them were of high rank. 4 ronsos, 5 ice revenants, 2 yuki-onnas and 4 frost revenant knights. Not the most theyve ever lost but certainly the most in terms of power. Thete stages really werent kidding around and that was just the first wave without a B-rank. The three heads couldnt help but be wary of the future. However Khuno tried to lighten the mood a little. He looked over at hisrade, Finy before pping his back. Well looks like someones going to get the opportunity to reach milords level, cant say Im not jealous hahahahaha Finy smiled genuinely appearing a little smug before replying. It wasnt easy but yes and dont worry Im sure youll get your chance soon. He mmed Khunos back hard as some sort of revenge, leading to the two of them lightly tussling which brought a genuine smile to Frosts face. Finy teleport to the medical centre for a full check-up, Ill call you when were ready. Frost spoke in a serious tone, breaking up their tussle. Yes master. Finy, who was currently in a headlock, responded curtly before wrenching himself free from Khuno. Khuno youll be present as well; it should serve as a good example for when you eventually make the same transition. Y...yes milord. Khuno coughed out of embarrassment before standing straight and saluting Frost. Multiple space warps opened around the winter hignds, some depositing people while others transporting them to another area in the dungeon or in Frosts case the private space. Master wee back. Nanna and Loki both announced before running towards him head first, wrapping him in a hug. Good work Frost. Maya made her presence known next, smiling gently as she looked at her young master. She nodded in approval after seeing no injuries (at least major ones) and that hed taken care of the blood bath he just took. Being covered in monster blood and guts was not an appealing look especially on someone like Frost. Under the childrens lead he sat himself down on the sofa and listened to their reports as well as Mayas praising of said work. This caused Nanna to blush slightly while Loki arched out his chest with pride earning them some affectionate hair ruffles. After recing all the lost forces the four of them sat down for a pleasant meal, separating personal and professional life. This was followed by a rxing bath which Frost felt he sorely needed. Loki decided to join him as did Nanna but given that she was a girl and almost a teenager they couldnt go in together, so Maya joined her on the female side to keep herpany. With Frost fully dpressed from his battle it was time to y with the dice.....Finys evolution. Frost, Finy, Khuno, Kiba, Maya and even the kids all teleported to the training space. A roompleted isted from the outside meaning no chance of interruptions. Nanna and Loki were also ordered to keep quiet throughout the entire process, just in case. Well how are you feeling? Frost asked Finy who was the current centre of attention. Great master. No injuries and Im in tip top shape. He replied while animatedly mming his chest. The docs patched him up with potions and spells of all kinds to make extra sure. Good. What about your energy levels, can you eat anymore? Urgh! Finy loudly groaned and showed a nauseous expression. The moment he was healed up Frost had him teleport here ahead of everyone and start stuffing himself with magic crystals, topping off his already maxed out body. His skin felt itchy and was bulging or rather swelling up, causing no small amount of difort and even pain. He literally felt he was going to explode ten crystals ago but pushed through to his current state. Frost rested a hand on his shoulder and sent a small stream of his own mana into Finys body. Damn hes like a veritable keg about to explode. All he needs is an idental spark. He was smiling as he thought this since it was the exact situation they needed right now. Darks protection required unreal amounts of energy to break through and on top of that was the energy requirements needed to reconstruct the monsters body into one equivalent of B-rank, a very different degree of power and life force. An already difficult prospect with a rtively low chance of sess was made even harder thanks to the limitations ced on Frost and his siblings. Finys path was going to be anything but smooth. Thanks to my fathers machinations your evolution process into B-rank will likely be very different from your first one. Frost remembered Finys transformation into an ice trollmander after he granted him his name. A process that was quite magical and smooth,sting less than a couple minutes, with no signs of pain or difort. Frost gazed at Finy with a concerned expression. Not only will this process likely be painful and filled with pitfalls we have no idea what youll evolve into. The resulting archetype will be based entirely on your own path just like in nature. Previously hed been able to choose the direction of his monsters evolutionary path so as to best suit the dungeons needs. That feature has thus been removed for the higher ranking evolutions. Finy visibly frowned before nodding his head. He wasnt in the dark to such a scenario. Channelling such levels of vtile foreign energy through his body was most certainly going to hurt. Even just sitting here he could feel it trying to escape the confines of his body. But he was still willing to embark on this path. Frost smiled reassuringly before taking a step backwards. Im going to start the process, are you ready? Mmm go ahead master. Finy responded with a determined gaze and somewhat mad smile. Nanna and Loki looked on with reddening eyes, their worry evident as they tugged onto Kibas fur. Whereas Kiba and Khuno had eyes filled with jealously, thetter even clenched his fists tight as he sorely wished to be in Finys position. Maya was silent, she was prepared to act if things went downhill, to do her job as Frosts guardian. Frost receiving Finys go ahead clicked on the dungeon menu, starting the process before stepping further back, next to Maya. He grabbed her hand causing her to smile gently. Hes nervous hehehehe. Maya giggled inside as she felt Frosts hand that was sweating and lightly trembling, yet his face showedplete confidence. A side only she was privy to know of a secret between the two of them. Once Frost started the process Finy felt a restriction on his bodye loose and his body naturally started the evolution process. The stored energy within started to move, gradually circting his body and picking up speed with every rotation. Once several rotations hadpletely. Urgh! Finy let out a painful groan as blood rushed out his mouth. His skin ballooned out thanks to the rotating energy, forcing his blood to the surface. The blue coloured ice troll now looked red all over, the pain could be easily imagined. Arggghhhhhhhh!! Eventually the pain was too much for Finy to remain silent. He roared out as he felt his body being torn apart from the inside, the rotation speed of the energy bing more and more aggressive. Seams along his muscles burst open leaking blood and streams of the violent energy crashing throughout his body. Maya and Frost quickly moved in front of Nanna and Loki to protect them from being struck by a rogue burst. Chapter 437 437 Chapter 437: Finys evolution (2) Blood continued to leak from Finys body, faster and faster as the energy became more and more wild. This was an endurance race between the protection barrier ced by Dark and Finys own body seeing which one would give out first. A brutal process that caused all those watching to frown and clench their fists as they were powerless to help him. You can do it Finy! Fight! Fight! Fight! Nanna and Loki resorted to cheering him on despite being advised to keep quiet. They couldnt help themselves; Finy was part of their extended family; they didnt want anything bad to happen to him. Frost initially wanted to tell them to stop and remain quiet lest they interrupt Finys focus, but Maya tugged his sleeve before he could speak. She then gestured with her chin towards Finy, telling Frost to look at him. Finys groaning and painful roars as well as his trembling all lessened the moment he heard Nanna and Lokis adorable cheering. Their words impacted him positively. Frosts eyes opened up wide as he realised this before he too cheered Finy on. Khuno and Kiba swiftly followed and soon the entire room was filled with people cheering on Finy as his body was devastated by the rampant energy. Minutes passed with Finy in this deplorable state that intensified every second. He was exhausted and was struggling to keep his eyes focused; his breathing was heavilyboured, and every single millimetre of his body was in agony. For him this ordeal felt as though itsted hours not minutes. Every time he felt that he couldnt go on hed hear the cheering from his family granting him another extension of willpower, but their cheers were quickly falling on deaf ears. All his senses were overloaded by the intense pain that he struggled to make out their voices and even see properly. He was truly on hisst legs, this protection set up by Dark was not an easy thing to surpass. The rampant energy continued to cycle through his body at immense speed, forcibly expanding his mana veins and body without care for the damage and pain it caused. ..... Suddenly when his vision was beginning to darken the energy violently mmed against something causing him to spurt a serious amount of blood and radically tremble. But before he could get his bearings the energy mmed against this thing once again, resulting in another fierce tremble throughout his body. Bang! Bang! Bang! Loud bangs could be repeatedly heard and felt by Finy as well as those observing. What the rampant energy was striking against couldnt be seen but the aftershocks could certainly be observed, it was definitely hitting something. Bang! Bang! Bang! It must the protective barrier father ced Frost surmised what was causing the obstruction. The energy within Finys body was gaining enough speed and momentum to strike against this barrier and now the true fight had begun. Bang! Bang! Bang! Finy was violently knocked up and down, side to side, back to front in pretty much all directions as the energy mmed itself against this invisible barrier. Each sessive m caused Finy to spurt blood and violently tremble. His mind waspletely overloaded, he didnt know which way was up or down and his vision was nothing but a blurry mess. Bang! Bang! Bang! The attacks grew more and more frequent causing more and more splits across Finys body before finally there was a loud crack. This was followed by another and another before he felt somethingpletely shatter and was granted a sudden sense of freedom with an absence of pain. The barrier was down. Around 70% of the rampant energy was expended during this violent exchange, thus there was no longer that horrible bloated and intense burning sensation in his veins. That remaining 30% coagted together and seeped into his pores, revitalising every inch of his body before gradually transforming it at the atomic level. A bright glow arose from Finy. It grew every second until he was encapsted in a dense sphere of light, hidden from the eyes of everyone else in the room. The next phase of his transition had begun. The hard part was over, but this thing still wasnt set in stone. Finy could fail at any time. The energy levels could be insufficient toplete the transformation, he could lose consciousness midway or fail for a possible 100 other reasons. This was the step that relied solely on his luck. Minutes passed and everyone waited on baited breaths, they werent cheering anymore. Just staring silently at the sphere of light that asionally undted to show that something was still happening. Nervousness gripped each and every one of them, Frost especially who stood with clenched fists and bloodshot eyes. After another ten minutes of this patient agony therge shining sphere starting to shrink and dim. Its form altered from spherical to that of a humanoid. Two arms, two legs and a head, Finy was clearly not bing some unrecognisable monstrosity. His humanoid form of light appeared to be a fair bit shorter than Finy was previously. Where he was originally around 4 metres tall this form was likely between 3 and 3.5 metres. Rather strange considering he was moving up in rank, a strangeness that didnt go unnoticed. Is this going to be a fail? Frost questioned silently in his mind before shaking his head, refusing to jump to conclusions so early in the game. All he could see right now was the outline of his possible shape, no energy, aura or even presence could be felt as of yet. Behind the light form the inside was nothing but rapidly transforming cells, still in their transformation period. After another minute or so Finys new form appeared in greater detail. The light almostpletely faded starting from the bottom. His skin appeared to still be blue but of a lighter shade and his leg muscles were smaller, matching his overall shortened frame. But they were very toned, and Frost could immediately tell that they contained far more power that their appearance suggested. He was the same way, despite being B-rank he wasnt buffed up the wazoo. The inner workings of his and now Finys muscles were categorically different from those of standard muscles. The rest of Finys body was much the same, but unlike before when he was simply donned in the bare minimum of clothes he was now equipped with a full set of shiny gear. His chest and arms were protected by a thin silverly scale mail that was clearly of high quality, peak 3 star at the very least. His groin and upper legs were covered in some sort of toughened monster leather that was decorated with blue lining that screamed of the ice element. The colour scheme and quality of the armour and even the light clothes hidden underneath portrayed elegance, nobility. This was enhanced by the changes to Finys face. Though it was evident that he was still the same person his face was far more refined and clean cut, less wild, more intelligent as if he took after a certain someone he was close too. A beautiful silver coloured oval gem could be seen embedded within his forehead, reflecting the light in the room and adding to his new impressive visage. Sharp gasps escaped the lips of many in the room as the lightpletely faded and revealed Finy in his entirety. His presence arrived at the same time, his aura naturally overflowing. Kiba and Khuno both fell to their knees, visibly trembling out of primal fear. Whereas Nanna and Loki felt nothing thanks to the swift actions of Maya who enveloped them in her own aura before narrowing her eyes and clenching her fists, ready to move out a moments notice. Frost was forced to take a step back as Finys full blown aura permeated his body. His arms grew goosebumps, and he felt a stifling weight on his heart and lungs. Finy was strong, stronger than himself. At this realisation Frosts lips turned upwards into a wild smile before he startedughing, a mad glint glowing in his eyes. Finy had seeded, he had beat the odds and entered the realm of B-rank. Gradually Finys aura receded, falling back within the confines of his new body allowing Kiba and Khuno to catch their breaths. His eyes were still closed but his eyelids started to flicker, he wasing to. Finy slowly opened up his eyes revealing their ice blue hue. He groggily looked around the training room, blinking on asion as though he was waking from a deep sleep. Eventually he focused upon Frost, his eyes opened wide, and arge smile grew on his lips. His aura then once again enveloped the surrounding area, Frost most of all, as though he was eliciting a challenge. Mayas frown deepened at this action, she clicked her tongue and started moving towards Finy, but she was stopped. Frost outstretched his hand stopping Maya from interfering, he knew Finy through and through, this was not a challenge but simply him disying his abilities to him. Like a child showing off to his father. Frost unleashed his own aura and despite it being weaker than Finys. Finys aura showed subservience, allowing his to take the dominant role. Finy then fell to his right knee and crossed his left arm over his chest like a knight prostrating himself before his king. I hope Ive met your expectations master. Chapter 438 438 Chapter 438: Finys evolution (3) I hope Ive met your expectations master. Finy said while looking up at Frost with a confident gaze. Frost was silent for a few seconds before erupting in a joyousughter. Met them hah! Youve seeded them Finy hahahahaha. Frost swiftly moved forward and aided Finy to his feet. He then squeezed Finys arms and mmed down on his shoulders before turning around to face everyone else. Well what do the rest of you think? He asked with a bright smile. Frost was currently over the moon and did nothing to hide his emotions. Maya who was wary of Finys newfound power let out a small sigh and shook her head before smiling. Kiba and Khuno who were previously forced to their knees thanks to Finys aura looked at one another before smiling wildly. Kiba chuffed and arched his chest out roughly tranting as Ill be at his level soon. While Khuno had clenched fists and fire in his eyes, desperate tounch himself into battle so as to progress through to his max level. Their jealously was obvious but it wasnt negative in anyway, they thought only the world of Finy. Nanna and Loki didnt really understand the change in Finys power due to Maya protecting them but given Frosts expression it was clear that he seeded in his evolution. They quickly popped out from behind Maya before dashing forward to Finy. Youve gotten shorter. Loki instantly pointed out his new height. ..... Your face is different. Nanna being a little bit more tactful chose to focus on a more vaguement. Hahahahaha I suppose I have gotten shorter Loki but Im still more than twice your height. Finy teased Loki back with a gentle expression. He ced his hand over Lokis head before bringing it back to his own body marking where the little phoenix kin reached. This caused Loki to be speechless before growing red in his cheeks and stomping the floor, looking absolutely adorable as he did. He repeatedly mumbled that he was still growing making him look even cuter. Maya had catch herself from a stumble as she waspletely taken by his actions. Having dealt with Loki, Finy then turned to look at Nanna who trembled when caught in his gaze, wary about him retorting herment back to her someway. No Im fine, I was neither negative or positive. Sheplimented her forward thinking as she returned Finys gaze. Is it a good different or a bad different? He asked teasingly. ....Good Nanna though about her answer before replying honestly, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks. Finy looked a lot better appearance wise. Though there were still some rough parts, and he was still clearly a troll he couldnt be considered ugly in anyway. Of course he still paled inparison to Frost, Maya, Loki and herself but it was a definite improvement. Finys smile stretched from ear to ear at her shy response before he ruffled her hair in an affectionate manner. Thank you for the praisedy Nanna. Nanna with still red cheeks nodded in reply before hiding back behind Maya, causing the Fenrir to swoon once again, cuteness is power. Finy turned back to his master before speaking It seems I pass in terms of appearance but thats obviously secondary....shall you do the honours or shall I? His expression portrayed a clear arrogance. Oh! Ill be doing it of course. Frost smirked and responded teasingly before moving a little away from the group and bringing up an erged version of the dungeon menu. Lets take a look at your brand new status. With an exaggerated flourish Frost manipted the dungeon menu to bring up Finys brand new status for everyone in the room to see and marvel at. Name: Finy Race: Ice troll lord Rank: B Level: 1/60 Weapon Skills: [Axe sh], [mountain cleave], [boomerang axe], [whirlwind sh], [cier crash], [holmgang], [spinning blizzard], [giants axe] Racial Skills: [empowering shout], [greater ice stomp],[ice breath], [focused power], [Focused rush], [ice nket protection] Passive: [greater war buff], [high ice resistance], [aura], [advanced axe mastery], [minor regeneration] Magic: [ice bolt], [ice shield], [ice partisan], [ice fog], [frost nova], [summon ice axes], [protect], [ice enchantment] The new status screen was a fair bit more developed especially in the magic section which used to house but a single 1st circle spell. An ice troll lord huh? Frost was cupping his chin as he read the information outlined on the status screen. From what he knew of the troll species, Lords were of very high status. Their intelligence and leadership qualities usually made them chieftains ofrge prosperous tribes or part of the ruling ss in city states and monster focused countries. He could surmise that Finys next evolution would likely make him either an ice troll king or emperor the very peak of the ice trolls ruling archetypes and a position that seemed to suit Finy to a tee. He couldnt help but nod in agreement as he imagined his right hand mans future potential. Finy twitched nervously as everyone examined his status in depth. He felt as though every part of him was exposed, an awkward feeling. Thankfully after a few minutes Frost asked him to disy some of his new skills allowing him not focus on that uneasy feeling. He started with his weapon skills. [Boomerang axe] and [whirlwind sh] were both adept level skills. The former was a long ranged skill that saw Finyunch his axe at a distanced target before it returned to his hands. It was a delicate skill that needed a fair amount of practise to easily catch the returning weapon. [Whirlwind sh] was a spinning skill, Finy and his weapon were covered in a green energy before they started rotating at pace like a dangerous top. A skill that was very violent andcking in control, seeing everything nearby as an attack target. [Holmgang], [spinning blizzard] and [Giants axe] were advanced mastery skills. The first was the same skill Bastion used to pull Rock towards him and away from Frost a couple months ago. A chain of energy from his axe would wrap around the intended target and violently pull them towards the user. [Spinning blizzard] was an enhanced version of [whirling sh] adding the ice element to the attack and being even more destructive. Whereas [Giants axe] had the energy used coagte around his weapon and extend it to three times its original size i.e. making it the size of a giants weapon. Nanna and Loki both cheered as Finy disyed his skills, awed by their overwhelming power whereas Khuno looked on with an analysing gaze, gaining personal insight into his own moves. For his racial skills there was only really a single new skill, the rest were just powerups of his previous ones. [Ice nket protection] was a very unique skill that matched well with Finys traits as a leader and support ss. Whereas [empowering shout] increased the strength and offensive based abilities of his allies, [ice nket protection] was a defensive enhancement. A nket of ice aspected energy would cover the intended allies, providing some magic resistance as well as keeping their muscles cool and sapping out their exhaustion. With this Finy really became a true militarymander. With him on the battlefield even if he didnt fight personally his forces would see a dramatic improvement in their capabilities. Finally there was the much anticipated magic. Finy was never much for using magic except for when he could only attack from a distance, that however was now a thing of the past. The silver gem embedded in his forehead was not just aesthetically pleasing but of a practical nature. It naturally enhanced Finys ability to control and absorb mana, making him a powerful wizard. His magic spells were thus expanded to amodate this change. None of his magic were spells that Frost didnt know about or even knew himself but the fact that they were attached to Finy made him a veritable jack of all trades, perfect for any situation. Frost was more than pleased with the oue, Finy went beyond his expectations once again. He was all smiles and head nodding while Finy openly disyed his capabilities. Hahahahaha perfect absolutely perfect, with your new archetype Im no longer even remotely worried about our defences. Let thete stages throw their worst at us, we can handle it hahahahaha. Frostughed out loud as a heavy weight lifted itself from his shoulders. He no longer needed to think about blocking off the dungeons entrance. Even if a B-rank monster came he was confident that with Finy by his side they could deal with it. His raucousughter spread amongst his warriors, Finy, Khuno and Kiba all looked forward to the next wave and those that followed after. Nanna and Loki also looked forward to it but more to the fact that with Finys new strength they wouldnt have to say goodbye to as many friends. Maya however felt as though Frost and the other men were getting a bit ahead of themselves, arrogance leads to downfall after all, but she kept silent for the moment. Right now was a time of celebration, she can lecture themter. Chapter 439 439 Chapter 439: Testing the capabilities of an ice troll lord Frost purchased a bottle of high C-rank sake -as well as a C-rank fruit juice for the kids and Kiba- in celebration. It was right to reward the efforts of his subordinates if he was to be apetent leader. The adults and children toasted to Finy before drinking with relish. Following that Finy returned to the dungeons forces letting them bask in his achievement as well as aying their fears of theing waves. Frost, Maya and the kids teleported to the private space where they fell back into their regr schedules. Nanna and Loki worked hard on their reading, writing and numbers with Mayas asional oversight while Frost sat on the sofa and began nning his external camp ns in earnest. Maya quietly warned him of his overconfidence when they returned, warning him about nting gs with his Let thete stages throw their worst at us statement. He took her warning to heart well at least on the surface, it was hard to not be overconfident when Finy the ice troll lord was now by his side. 14 hours passed until the next wave arrived, a stark differencepared to what they had to previously deal with. With such a wide time frame Frost and his monsters were more than able to get some much needed rest between the waves meaning they would always be a full strength. In the winter hignds section where over half a day ago blood dyed an area of several hundred metres squared and corpses stretched as far as the eye could see. That disastrous battlefield was once again a beautiful white. The dismembering corps had more than enough time to take care of the corpses, storing the valuable materials -which given that the majority of monsters were high D-rank was pretty much the entire thing- and shuffling off the leftovers to the side for the dungeon to absorb naturally resulted in a clean te. Frost stood with Finy, Khuno and Kiba by his side. The dungeons C-ranks and upper D-ranks stood behind them creating a wall of people. There was no ambush nned this time, just a straight up mud fight. Frost as well as Finy himself wished to test the limits of his new archetype. The wave like thest one contains roughly 80 enemies primarily made up of upper D-ranks. Theres no upper C-rank monster this time but theres 4 mid C-ranks and 6 entry C-ranks. Frost announced the wavesposition with a light-hearted tone, not worried in slightest. In fact he even sounded a little disappointed. ..... Thats perfect, without a higher levelled leader we can better rely on the ronsos and ice revenants and test how far my buffing capabilities can go. Finy however was more than happy with the waveposition finding that it suited their experiment better. Alright then Ill leave the entiremand to you, Khuno and I will go where you tell us. Frost mmed his ive against the snow, readying himself for battle. Understood. Finy responded back with a small smile before turning around to face the monster forces stationed behind them. Everyone the next wave is upon us so its time to shape up and ready our weapons. Ill be inmand of this battle and will be using my new abilities to buff up each and every one of you. Thus you should find yourself stronger, faster and far more resilient to damage making for an easier fight. Finy took in the form of every monster. This however is not an excuse to take it easy. Ill be testing the limits so Master, Khuno and myself will have limited involvement in this battle. The onus will fall on your shoulders to deal with this wave including the mid C-ranks...you ready? Rahhhhhhhhhh!!!!! All the C and D-ranks present roared out in response more than eager to test their mettle in battle alongside their new and improvedmander. They could already feel their strength improved thanks to Finys [enhanced war buff] and looked forward to his non passive buffs. Finy raised his axe above his head and unleased a snippet of his aura before roaring out with them. He then turned around to face the dungeons entrance. A momentter the wave appeared, crashing through the narrow opening that had partially repaired itself from the previous wave. I should probably put aside some DP to erge and enhance the entrance and gates between the different sections. Frost said internally as he noticed the broken stone archway that lookedcking inparison to whaty behind it. Like before the Yuki-onnas were assigned to the rear and only fired off their magic once the enemies crossed the 100m threshold, slowing down and slightly damaging the rampaging horde. Finy held his right hand up signalling for the frontline to wait. The instant when the horde reached the 20 metre mark he swiftly dropped down his hand and activated his new and improved [empowering shout], targeting the ronsos and ice revenants nearby. A magical vibration spread out from Finy and entered the bodies of the ice revenants and ronsos filling them with great power, strengthen their muscles and organs. They let out a powerful roar before charging forward straight at the horde, madness was in their eyes or rather wild excitement. Baaaaannnnnggggg! The contact of the two charging waves generated a loud bang but unlike before when the two sides were roughly evenly matched this time the mass amounts of D-rank monsters were sent crashing backwards with twisted and in some cases broken limbs. This sudden reverse in momentum wrecked the hordes chargending more than a few in hot water. Ronsos and ice revenants continued unabated tearing into the momentarily shocked horde resulting in first blood. Wow Frost couldnt help butment as he watched on the side lines, Khuno nodded in agreement. Theyve all been enhanced to the very peak of entry C-rank so despite their smaller numbers they have no problem smashing through the hordes charge. Khuno exined the reasoning behind such a situation. It also helps that the monsters in this wave arent bears, boars, drakes or other hard hitting species though to be honest I think the result would have been quite simr just not as dramatic. The ronsos and ice revenants madly swarmed over the horde killing monster after monster. After less than a minute ofbat already 10 of the original 80 had been killed with nothing more than a bruise and a few scratches on their side. The enemies this time were made up of wolves, lizards, frost trolls and worms. Unfortunately the frost trolls and even the 3 entry C-rank ice trolls were highly frenzied, negotiation was off the table just like with all the previous monsters. For the mid C-ranks 2 were demon spiked zis, while thest two were a giant frost ape and a frost mouth raptor (think a dinosaur carnivore,rge velociraptor). The ape had a lot of physical power and was far more nimble than it looked but its defences couldnt bepared to the other three. It alsocked ws, dozens of razor sharp teeth and a spiked tail. It did howevere with a rock club that was more than enough to break the bones of some ronsos and send ice revenants flying. Finy smiled evilly as he witnessed an ice revenant skid across the floor after blocking the apes mighty swing. Though it wasnt necessary for Finy to actively take part in this battle given the boons he granted the ronsos and ice revenants he had just achieved a new level of power. Not testing his new strength was impossible. Looks like youre the lucky one. He sarcastically muttered under his breath while staring at the giant frost ape. Gripping down on his battle axe -that unfortunately didnt go through a metamorphosis along side himself- he prepared to move out, signalling for the ronsos and ice revenants to focus on other areas -which they were more than happy to do. A void was suddenly created around the giant frost ape causing it to be momentarily confused but that confusion quickly melted away when Finy marched before it. Instead its skin trembled and its heart lurched as instinctual warning signs red off throughout its body. Fear was evident in its eyes, fear that grew more and more prominent with every step Finy took. Hoh well at least youre aware of the difference between us. Finy tilted his head to the side, looking quite terrifying. If this was in the wild the giant frost ape would have fled for the hills, thankfully Finy didnt have worry about that due to the monster stampedes frenzied state. His prey had no choice but to attack. In but a few moments he could see the change in its eyes, the red tint growing more and more evident as the seconds passed before. Roooaaaaaarrrrrr! Ovee with aggression the giant frost ape roared out and raised it mighty stone club overhead. A grey coloured energy covered the weapon, making it sturdier and heavier before it viciously cleaved downward, aiming to turn Finy into an ice troll pancake. Chapter 440 440 Chapter 440: Firewood Finy stood in a somewhat rxed position as the giant frost apes massive stone club hurtled towards him, covered in a dense grey energy. He smirked before raising up his battle axe with a single hand. Boooom! A loud boom erupted at the point of contact, air and snow was blown outward from the force, but Finy was still in the exact same spot. The snow underneath hadpacted but there wasnt even a single millimetre of drag marks. The mighty stone club of the giant frost ape was stationary,pletely absolved of its momentum after striking against Finys battle axe. It was clear that even without using a skill or even both hands Finy was physically superior and not by a small margin either. The gap between C and B-rank was a vast chasm that couldnt be bridged by a simple giant frost ape. With its eyes blood red in colour and the frenzied state taking full control due to its overwhelming instinctual fear the giant frost ape roared out before grabbing its club with both hands and pushing downwards, refusing to lose against the much smaller Finy in terms of physical power. Grinding sounds could be heard from the stone club as it pushed against Finys battle axe and sessfully pushed it downward slightly. Finys feet even began to sink into the floor from the pressure. Hmmmm not bad. Finy spoke with a tinge of surprise before his eyes showed a wild glint and his smile started to widen. ..... He tensed the muscles in his right arm (the one holding the battle axe) and pushed against the giant frost apes club, willing to engage in a contest of pure strength. As the moments passed the giant frost ape became red in the face and its arms and back muscles were expanded to their upmost, revealing thick bulbous veins. It was putting its all into pushing down its stone club but even, so it was making very little headway. Finy continued to limit himself to using only his right arm and although his expression was clearly a little strained he was in a far better state than the giant frost ape, he obviously had more to give. Infuriated by its inability to best Finy in brute force the beast roared out before swiftly recalling its stone club to above its head. Then once again it covered it a grey energy enhancing the weapons weight and sturdiness. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! It then proceeded to m down against Finys battle axe repeatedly like a jack hammer. Finys smile however continued to widen even as his bodypacted the snow beneath his feet to the point that it rivalled stone. Haaaaaaa He let out a sigh as boredom set in before when the stone club was about to strike down once again he swung upwards with immense fury. Smash! The giant frost apes stone club was shattered, the top half where the battle axe passed through was gone leaving a mere stump in the apes hands. Blood seeped out from the seams of its fingers due to brief yet intense force that passed through the club before it inevitably shattered. The giant frost ape stared at the stump in its hands in confusion before looking at Finy and blinking rapidly. Finy instead of bringing his battle axe back to his side raised it above his head before speaking to the dazed giant frost ape. Testing is over, thanks for ying [Giants axe]. Energy flowed through out his body as he spoke the name of one of his new advanced level skills. This blue tinted energy coagted around his battle axe mimicking its shape and texture before expanding it to triple its size and exuding a heavy pressure. This was now the axe of a giant, something that was even more physically renowned than this giant frost ape. The apes eyes were drawn upward to the massive axe that rivalled it in size, fear once again filled its gaze as the stench of death made its presence known. Finy decided to go all out, not only was he using one of his greatest axe skills his aura started to seep out, pressuring the nearby giant frost ape. His aura also intensified the weight behind his battle axe as well as increased the strength of his own body. To the giant frost ape Finy appeared to be a true giant, dwarfing its pitiful existence. Goodbye. Finy spoke in a neutral tone, neither mocking nor praising the giant frost apes efforts. The erged battle axe then started its descent and in a fraction of a second the massive weapon made contact with the apes head before instantly cleaving through. Like an axe through firewood the battle axe cleaved through the giant frost apes body like it was nothing, splitting it in twain before crashing against the floor. The giant frost apes eyes were still open and in shock as the two halves of its body slumped down. A momentter an explosion of blood and gore erupted from its divided corpse, dyeing the area in red, its killer included. Audible gulps could be heard from the sideliners as they watched the entire fight from beginning to end. Kiba was holding his head as though he felt the pain of Finys axe cleaving through whereas Khuno and Frost looked at one another. Khuno asked with his eyes if Frost could do something like that now that he was B-rank while Frost replied with a hell no. Finy was easily at the peak of early B-rank whereas he was still aplete novice who couldnt even attach his aura to his attacks yet. Plus his capabilities were more B-rank adventurer based instead of B-rank monster based so there was a veryrge gap physically. Of course he could have killed the giant frost ape, but he wasnt capable of doing it in the same way Finy did, that was absolutely brutal. He had to admit though that it was pretty cool, a subtle sense of jealously thus arose within him as did the desire to start another intense training regime. Finy who was painted in the blood and gore of the giant frost ape revealed a horrifying smile as he looked around the battlefield, locking eyes with the C-rank invaders as though threatening them. Each and every monster that fell victim to his gaze C friendlies included- couldnt help but shiver as a cold sweat ran down their backs. Finy was he terrifying already with his B-rank presence but now after a being covered in the guts of the strongest invading monster and smiling like that he jumped to another level of intimidating. Even the ronsos and ice revenants on his side couldnt help but subconsciously distance themselves from theirmander. Finy lightly chuckled before cing his battle axe over his shoulders and walking towards his original position near Frost and Khuno. That was fun. Hemented with a much less frightening smile causing Frost and Khunos lips to twitch. The battle thus proceeded as expected. With Finys passive and active buffs the ronsos, ice revenants and even the yuki-onnas managed to make short work of the D-rank monsters before taking on the remaining C-ranks who were quite frankly constantly wary of Finy after his dramatic killing fiasco. He kept his gazes on them, asionally utilising his aura to pressure them at certain moments but other than that it was the ronsos and ice revenants that took them down, working in teams to safely do so. Casualty wise there was still 4 deaths, one ice revenant, one ronso and two frost revenant knights, far less than the previous wave but the main difference was the amount of heavy injuries. Only one monster had significantly heavy injuries preventing him from moving to the medical centre on his own merit. The rest had minor wounds that could be easily managed by spells, potions and the natural healing environment of the dungeon. Frost and Kiba didnt even take part in this battle and the results were already so positive. Finys evolution had made a massive impact. Khuno however who wasnt necessarily needed in the fight couldnt stop himself from entering half way through, desperate to reach his max level which was unfortunately still quite a ways off. Finy had been alive for a fair bit longer after all plus given that Khuno was even stronger, an upper C-rank monster the amount of experience he gained from killing the invading monsters was less thus his journey was still a long one. With Finys newfound strength being made obvious by the results of that wave as well as his battle with the giant frost ape, a very positive mood lingered around the dungeon as everyone felt they could rx a little. Finys strength allowed them to no longer feel as though they were constantly on the knifes edge during battle plus the gaps between the waves granted them time to healpletely and dpress, allowing them to always be at full strength. 4 days passed in a blink of an eye. The waves grew more and more sparse and currently the dungeon hadnt suffered a wave in over 18 hours. Finy, Frost and Khuno were all gathered in arge bunker in the winter hignds that was prepared for their strategic meetings. The room was silent and each of them sported quite serious expressions on their faces. Ayout drawing was ced on an ice table between them and was the cause of their expressions. Well what do you think? Chapter 441 441 Chapter 441: Interesting, very interesting. Well what do you think? Frost asked while tapping theyout drawing before him with his index finger. Finy and Khuno who the question was directed to looked at one another before Khuno replied. Isnt it a bit early milord? Khuno replied while frowning. The drawing before the three of them was theyout n for the external camp. Frost wanted to begin construction of the outer walls and internal buildings within the next 12 hours or so despite thete stages still being fully underway. Really? I dont think so. Frost replied with a disagreeing opinion causing Finy and Khuno to once again look at one another. Please borate master. Finy spoke this time. Thest wave was what roughly 18 hours ago correct? Correct. And that said wave was smaller than thest ones, containing less than 55 monsters right. ..... ....Thats true. Ok then from that and what we know about the monster stampede as a whole we can surmise that the B-rank monsters the ones with the ability to retain their intelligence and control the lower ranked monsters under the stampedes influence have likely started moving in earnest. Frost stopped tapping the table and leaned forward as he began exining his reasons. The 2ndst wave though on time was also slightly smaller than the previous ones holding around 70 monsters instead of 80 thus theres a definitive pattern. The number of monsters being attracted to the dungeon over the urging to head south is dwindling, supporting the idea of either the south being more tantalising and or the presence of something actively encouraging their direction. Couldnt it just be that the monsters themselves are less populous. We have killed an awful lot after all and Im sure Furano and the other bastion towns have had simr if not even greater effects on their numbers. Khuno spoke of another possibility. Not likely, the number of monsters present in the cial mountains exterior regions alone likely number in the millions let alone the inner regions. No matter how many we kill there will always be more to rece them while the monster stampede is in effect. Frost instantly shot down Khunos argument. Hed done a lot of research on the monster stampede during the days leading up to it. Ending the monster stampede early was an impossibility. Only when the corruption in the mana vein had beenpletely expunged would things return to normal. Khuno was silent in response. So you believe that the dungeon is now in a state of safety master? If another wave with at least 50 monsters doesnt arrive within the next 12 hours then yes..... I believe the war for the dungeon is over. Frost spoke with confidence,pletely sure of his theory. The dangerous waves that the dungeon had faced over the past month were now over, they could truly breathe and start work on the next stage of their future ns, the external camp. I believe that the remaining hordes will now be under the full control of the B-rank monsters and march solely south towards Furano and the other bastion towns. Leaving the dungeon free to pursue our other endeavours. Frost tapped on the drawing before him once again. He wished to start construction as soon as possible, creating the external camp and have it up and running before others set their sights on his dungeon. It was effectively arge piece of meat in the eyes of the nearby Northrend empire after all. He needed to act fast to ensure hisplete control over the area and those who entered it. As you are aware I promised my de to Furano during thete stages of the stampede, and I n to make good on that promise. Therefore to make it in good time Kiba and I will be leaving once everything here is settled i.e. once the external camps construction is underway. Thete stages had been up and running for the past 5 days meaning for Furano the situation should still be in the rtive early phase, they shouldnt be stretched thin quite yet but that could change in the next few days. The lightening load on the dungeon meant a greater threat for Furano, the B-ranks were heading in that direction after all. Finy and Khuno both clenched their fists; they couldnt leave the confines of the dungeon thus only Kiba could fight by Frosts side, a frustrating situation given that the battlefield there would be far more intense that what theyd recently faced together. Very well master youve made a convincing argument; I agree with your thoughts. If nothing happens within the next 12 hours well start construction of the external camp. Finy let out a small sigh before agreeing to follow through with Frosts n. Khuno also ended up agreeing thus the three of them began discussing the overall nnedyout as well as the teams required for such work. It wouldnt be the fighting theyd gotten used to, but it was work that would benefit Frost all the same. The dwarven smiths especially should be quite excited by the prospect of construction, same with the ronsos who were designed to be quite skilled with their hands. Hours passed without a single sign of any monster wave happening anytime soon, strengthening Frosts hypothesis. After not a single wave for 24 hours the idea that the long war was finally over filtered through the dungeon bringing bright smiles to all of the residents. Many cheered and hugged theirrades, thankful that they could be sure that theyd be able see each other tomorrow and the day after that. Orders went down through the chain ofmand telling everyone of their next task, a massive construction n and as expected the dwarven smiths couldnt help but joyously cheer, excited by the prospect. Frost shared with them the ns he, Nanna, Loki and his two generals hade up with for the campsyout. The external section of the dungeon was currently 5kms by 5kms spanning quite an area. Frost didnt n on using the entire 5km in the beginning, but he also wanted a decent size area to start with therefore a wall was nned to span around the 1km mark highlighting the inner workings of the camp and the initial space. Over time additional walls would be added 1km apart to increase the size of the camp. This job involved a lot of forest clearing given that the majority of the 1km would be within the Northrend forest. The harvested lumber would thus be used to construct buildings within the 1km wall, hoping to not waste a single piece of free material. The wall came first so as to serve as protection against the natural fauna and to cement the idea of territory, next would be the integral buildings that would be needed to support people. Shelter in the from of inns, cabins and dorms focusing mainly on quantity rather than quality given that the primary dwellers would be adventurers. Food resources such as restaurants and butchers (farming areas to be built in the future likely within the dungeon). Shops ranging from everyday items to weapon and armour vendors focusing mainly on the needs of adventurers. After that was the idea of permanent residences, bars as well as empty dwellings to be used by approved businesses such as foreign merchants and hopefully the adventurers guild. Frost had quite a thorough n for the external camp over the next 12 months. There was also the restructuring of the dungeon itself and assigned safety areas that could form internal camps and or be used for recreational activities. But all these things would be gradual, the first thing to do was to build the external camps wall and cement his territory before the sharp eyed vultures moved in. Unfortunately when everyone was getting on board with this construction n, forming teams and preparing their assignments an unexpected situation arose. It started with Frost and Finy suddenly feeling a strong sense of unease and nervousness before Maya spoke through the dungeon menu. Looks like your luck isnt that great young master, you better take a look outside. She spoke with a tone that desperately hinted that she wished to say, see I told you this would happen. Frosts heart lurched as he heard what she said before he brought up the dungeon menu and scanned the vicinity near the dungeon. Fuck! He couldnt help but curse when the screen showed a certain object quickly making its way towards the dungeon, emitting a heavy pressure as it did. Finy! Khuno! With me! He urgently shouted as goosebumps grew on his arms, the three swiftly teleported to the winter hignds section, near the dungeons entrance. Outside of the dungeon. Hoh so this is whats been drawing away multiple hordes over the past few days. It certainly does have an interesting feel about it. What do you think Dn? The speaker asked the beast that he was riding upon. The beast was easily 8 metres tall while on all fours, covered in dense brown hair that skilfully hid its powerful body and was armed with deadly looking tusks. A warrior mammoth, an upper C-rank monster that unlike its more passive kin was a territorial bull that served to protect the other mammoths from predators. This Dn grunted in response, but it couldnt help but feel a strange attraction to the dungeon that was before it. Interesting, very interesting. Chapter 442 442 Chapter 442: Valend Interesting, very interesting This man riding the war mammoth spoke with a smile before dismounting. Don! The ground trembled and the snow underneathpacted from the mans sheer weight. He stood even taller than Dn, roughly ten metres and chock full of bulging muscle. He was adorned in beast skins and hides that still showed off much of his blue skin, creating a rather primal and wild image. Yet even the lowest quality hide was from that of a C-rank monster making him kitted out in some very high end armour. A massive hammer multiple metres in length and likely weighing north of a 1000Kg descended alongside this man. Itsposition was of pykrete, dense, heavy and of very, very high quality. It hummed, glowed and even emitted a chilling presence whenever it passed through the air. This was a 4 star weapon. Lets see what all the fuss is about then shall we. The mans smile grew, and his nostril red as he gradually walked towards the dungeons entrance alone with his hammer in hand, fully extending his aura as he did. Frost, Khuno and Finy had arrived near the dungeons entrance and each of them sported goosebumps and nervous expressions. They didnt need the dungeons evaluating system or direct line of sight to know that the personing was strong, stronger than all of them. A frost giant. Frost spoke out the name of the entity. ..... Frost giants: powerful monsters of the giant caste that rival the infamy of dragons. High up in the giant hierarchy, frost giants once fully grown are at the very least B-rank monsters, with many achieving A-rank or even S-rank. There was a legend within the cial mountains about a frost giant named Ymir who rose to such power that he ascended to godhood. The long crevasse that extended through the external regions and even into the inner regions was said to be made from a sh from his mighty axe the day he became a god. Many Frost giants live in reverence to this Ymir, dwelling within that crevasse, fiercely guarding it from outside interference. A holynd for the frost giants. Frost giants are natural physical powerhouses that can carve up mountains with their bare hands and sport a rather tenacious life force making them that much harder to kill. Their ice borne bodies allow them to survive even the lowest of temperatures and grant them a natural resistance to magic -not including fire based magic of course. This frost giant that came with the war mammoth called Dn was likely a mid-tier B-rank. A young adult among the frost giants who had unfortunately sumbed to the expunged mana corruption, driving him from his home and towards the south. It was rare for a frost giant to be affected by the monster stampede given their natural resilience as well as proximity to other high levelled giants. Proof that this monster stampede was anything but normal and bad news for Frost. Frosts arms were trembling, and his heart rang with fear and trepidation. A frost giant wasnt something he could hope to beat even with Finy by his side, not at least without a great amount of luck and likely sacrifice. Giants and dragons were the crme de crme of monsters, their innate abilities allowing them to be far stronger than their assigned rank. He looked towards his two generals, Finy sported a simr state to himself, but Khuno was visibly sweating buckets and was having to fight against the urge to step back. Frost let out a repressed sigh before moving forward and releasing his aura shielding both Finy and Khuno from the majority of the pressure. This act painted a target on him that the frost giant immediately noticed. Hoh! He stopped in ce about 20 metres from the dungeons entrance the moment Frosts aura flowed out from the stone arch in an attempt to threaten him, warning him to back off. A newly crowned B-rank but thats not all. His smile stretched from ear to ear before his own aura grew, solidifying its form and presence. A momentter with deft control the frost giants aura smashed apart Frosts aura like a swing of his hammer making Frost wince and feel blood rushing up his throat. He couldnt evenst a single blow in terms of an aura battle. The frost giants aura then moved passed Frost, examining Finy, Khuno and then finally the dungeon itself. So intriguing, a monsterir that isnt a monsterir. An ice troll lord that feels like one from Leblya instead of a mana creation. A species of tiger kin that Ive never seen nor even heard of and then. The frost giants aura immediately swarmed around Frost, analysing him from head to toe far more in depth that what mere eyes could do. You are something very special, an enigma thats connected to this strange monsterir. The frost giant suddenly felt an intense desire to feast, he licked his lips before muttering. How delicious. The frost giant instantly took a step forward eager to taste Frosts sulent flesh and feast upon the mysterious power dwelling within him. In response Frost and Finy nodded to one another before activating their auras to their full strength and preparing their weapons. Khuno still only had a pseudo aura that could at best protect him from some of the frost giants negative effects but nothing more. However that didnt stop him from wielding his halberd and standing beside his lord. The frost giant would have to go through him to get to Frost. The frost giant instead of feeling curbed by this disy increased his pace, he liked food that put up a fight. However the moment he ced his right hand upon the stone arch way (the entrance was a bit small for him after all) he immediately stopped in ce. Crunch! His hand that was on the dungeons entrance mped down crushing the stone arch like it was made of snow. This damn stupid voice arghh!!!!!!! Suddenly his face portrayed immense fury before he ripped apart the archway and instead ced his hand on his head in attempt to silence something inside. Frost and his generals who were about tounch a pre-emptive attack suddenly stopped in ce and instead observed the actions of the frost giant whos body could now be partially seen through the archway. The Frost giant repeatedly tried to force his way through the dungeons entrance but ever time he tried to take a step a voice would scream in his head forcing him to back off. Is this an extra protection granted by my father? Frost asked while tilting his head in confusion. No Darks only protection after the one month barrier is me. This is the mana corruption and the machinations of whoever is behind the monster stampede. Maya spoke out through the dungeon menu answering Frost question. Maya was correct, the pall that the monster stampede forced upon the affected monsters was the cause of the frost giants current predicament. The giant wished to feast upon Frost and devour the essence of the dungeon since that was what his instincts wanted however the directive for the monster stampede especially for the B-rank monsters was to head south and destroy the sapientnds. A clear conflict. The frost giant eventually gave up his attempts and retreated about 20 metres from the dungeons entrance, releasing him from the painful voice. His expression however was clearly one of disappointment and frustration. I cant believe a frost giant like myself fell victim to this damn corruption. He audiblyined but it was clear in his tone that he felt no small amount of fear towards the voice, to its origins as well as the pain it brought. He stared hard at the dungeons entrance that was partially destroyed thanks to his right hand. He still desired to feast but not enough to ovee the voice of corruption. Dn his trusted warrior mammoth arrived by his side and nudged him in an affectionate manner. Haaaaaa fine then lets head back Dn. The only way we can be rid of this envement is toplete our orders until the corruption has passed. The frost giant sighed and gave a long hard look through the archway spying some movement before climbing onto Dns back. You the one connected to this monsterir; do you have a name? He asked once he was secured on Dns back. There was silence from the other side of the dungeon before. Frost, my name is Frost. Frost answered with a loud voiceced with his aura, refusing to be intimidated. Frost then, my name is Valend, a frost giant of the Ymir sanctuary. When this damn stampede is over Ill return here and devour whatever power hides within you. Have fun until then hehehehe Valend cackled evilly before tightening his legs around Dn and riding off back from whence he came. Frost kept his aura on full whack until Valend and Dn were no longer anywhere near the dungeons purview. The moment the tension was over he felt a drain on his strength and nearly stumbled. Fear had powerful effects on the body. Master? Finy called him in concern. Im fine just a little bit shocked. Frost replied honestly while looking at his hand that was once again trembling. Valend. Chapter 443 443 Chapter 443: Valend (2) Valend Frost repeated the frost giants name internally as a wild smile grew on his lips. Hehehehe interesting. He chuckled and stared at his trembling hands, feeling both fear and excitement. Itd been a while since he was so directly threatened, an act that he found rather enticing. Finy and Khuno who were still wary of Valend looked at their lord with confusion, taken aback by his suddenughter. Frost clenched his fists and revealed a steely gaze before speaking out in a determined tone. I guess well see who triumphs in the end little frost giant. His smile now stretched from ear to ear and a strange madness could be seen in his eyes as he looked beyond the broken archway. Haaaaaaa hes got his battle junkie expression on. Maya suddenly teleported to the dungeons entrance. She sighed the moment she saw Frosts expression and shook her head before gently smiling. She was worried about his state after being faced with something beyond his capabilities and being so aggressively threatened but it seems she was worried for nothing. Frost though clearly able to sense the danger and the fear in his body saw Valend and his threats as nothing more than a challenge. And challenges were things Frost greatly enjoyed. Though shed likely never admit it -given that she never her saw herself as a battle junkie- Maya and Frost were very alike in their personalities. ..... Finy and Khuno looked towards Maya as she spoke before returning their gazes to their master and his wild expression. Crack! Crack! The ice troll lord and the ronso captain clenched their fists hard as they too started to view Valend as their next challenge. p! Alright thats enough of the aggressive stares, the frost giants already vamoosed, time to get back to work. Maya loudly pped her hands together drawing Frost and his generals away from their thoughts. Frost turned to face his guardian. His eyes werent filled with his usual affection or tant lust but instead he viewed her as his teacher, hisbat trainer. Training. He spoke a single word that was both a statement and an order. Haaaaaa. Maya sighed again and shook her head before walking towards Frost. Not even a please? She coyly asked but was met with a cold gaze that caused her spine to shiver. Frosts right hand silently rose up at her coy tone and instinctively Maya ced her own hands on her ample backside, protecting it. The rtionship between them that started out with her clearly being in the more dominant position had nowpletely reversed. Frost had developed a nasty habit of spanking her whenever she was thinking of being mischievous or acting coy. She stared at Frost with a mixture of threat as well as daring expectation. She actually loved Frosts burning touch but there was a time and a ce for everything. It wouldnt do for her powerful image if Frost engaged in such actions in front of Finy and Khuno thus she held her tongue, not saying another word. Frost lowered his hand before turning to face Finy and Khuno. Ill be training for the next 12 hours, so Ill leave the dungeons management to the two of you. Regardless of this Valend the n remains the same. In fact his arrival pretty much confirms that the dungeon wont suffer any more monster waves thus continue preparing the construction teams. After 12 hours Kiba and I will make our way to Furano to aid in their defence and you will begin construction of the external camp. If you have any questions ask them now. Frost spoke with a determined tone; his decision to leave would not be swayed. Finy and Khuno picked up on this and held back their concerns. Understood master. Loud and clear milord. They answered back with military salutes, their bodies screaming reliability. Frost smiled in response before cing a hand on Mayas shoulder and opening a space warp, the destination the training space. When the two of them disappeared into the spatial warp Finy and Khuno looked at one another before nodding and setting off in differing directions, preparing to follow Frosts orders. The training space. Frost and Maya appeared within the training space side by side, one with a focused look while the other warily keeping an eye on the others hands. Maya swiftly separated herself from Frost the moment they arrived causing Frost to briefly chuckle before donning a serious expression. This was no time for ying. Maya I need some intense training, no holds barred, put my body through the wringer. Valend likely wont be the only one at that level present at the Furano battlefield. His wild smile threatened to return as he imagined the glory of such a battlefield. He wouldnt be able to beat Valend by himself but in Furano he wouldnt be alone. There was at least 8 B-rank fighters present when he left roughly a month ago let alone now that thete stages had begun. The moment thete stages begin, powerful adventurers, soldiers and even nobles make their way to Furano and the other bastion towns to take part in high levelbat and reap the rewards from such battles. Frosts heart fluttered at the mere thought of fighting side by side with Dous, Ryuu, Bastion and the other B-ranks. An exciting prospect that he refused to miss. Maya quickly changed her attitude, a smile rapidly forming on her enchanting face. With pleasure young master. She replied in a joyful tone before summoning a set of ice hammers. Frosts lips twitched and a shiver ran down his spine as a primal fear far stronger than what Valend made him feel sparked in his heart. Training was the only time wherein Maya reaffirmed her dominance. Without a single moment to prepare himself Maya appeared below him, her hammers already in the upswing. Bang! Frost was sent careening into the air, the violent impact knocking the wind out of his lungs and shaking his bones. Maya the demoness drill instructor then suddenly appeared above him with a sadistic expression many times greater than what he could aplish before smacking her hammers upon his shoulders instantly reversing his momentum and firing him back down to the hard floor. Boooooooommmm! Frost body smashed into the floor and a painful groan escaped his lips before he was once again sent flying by Mayas hammers. He wanted no holds barred intensity then he was going to get it and then some. This brutal training continued for 12 hours. For 12 hours Maya destroyed every inch of his body, breaking his bones, tenderising his organs, muscles and spilling so much of his blood that it could have filled a swimming pool, all with a damn smile on her face. Truly a demoness who got off on causing him physical pain. However despite the nightmarish methods the results were fruitful. Maya attacked with such speed and intensity that even a frost giant like Valend would struggle to keep up thus Frost was now prepared to at least defend and track the movements of those several levels beyond himself. Winning was still out of the question but at least hed be able to survive long enough to receive aid from allies. Maya casted a high level healing spell swiftly bringing Frost back to life for the umpteenth time. The sadistic smile however was now gone from her face, reced with worry and anxiety. The training was over which meant Frost was set to leave soon. To a battlefield containing enemies and allies stronger than himself all without her by his side. As his guardian but more importantly now as his girlfriend she couldnt help but feel worried about his safety. She bit her lower lip and clenched her fists as she tenderly watched as Frost rose from the floor, his many wounds (that she caused) quickly healing, returning him to his impressive handsome self. I should have gone even harder or refused to cast healing magic. She muttered under her breath, but Frost was still able to catch it. He sighed and rose to his feet even quicker before walking towards Maya and wrapping her up in an all consuming hug. Ill be fine I promise. He pulled her head into his chest and rubbed the back of her hair in a soothing manner. Ive still got the teleportation talisman that father rewarded me so you can teleport to my side at a moments notice whenever my life is in serious danger. Frost summoned the talisman from the dungeon vault with a flick of his hand. He still needed the opportunity to infuse his mana into it and then rip it apart before Maya could teleport to his side but thanks to her dire training he was confident that he could use it even when faced against an A-rank opponent wherein a single second could mean the difference between life and death. Maya felt a little better after hearing Frosts words, but her arms remained firmly locked around his back not wanting to let him go. Chapter 444 444 Chapter 444: The Furano battlefield (volume 7) Frost and Maya remained in close proximity until Maya had her fill of him. The two then teleported to the private space joining Nanna, Loki as well as Kiba. A high quality meal was nned as a send off after which Frost and Kiba would make their way to Furano and embark upon the next battlefield. As a protest to Valend and his mount Dn, Maya and Nanna prepared a round of war mammoth steaks for everyone and garnished it with a special pepper based sauce and winter vegetables. A delightful tasting meal that garnered more than a fewughs, a pleasant send off. Unfortunately given the schedule created by himself, Frost couldnt spend more time with the kids nor have a farewell battle with Maya, something that both of them clearly regretted as they stared into one anothers eyes. Hurry back alright and remember to use the talisman the moment you sense extreme danger. Ill arrive in sh to protect you. Maya spoke in a serious tone while doing her best to keep the redness in her eyes from showing. Frost and Kiba wouldnt just be gone for a day or two but likely a week or so at least, a long time to be apart given their new rtionship. Frost held her hands and nted a kiss on her forehead. I promise. He then kneeled down, so he was eye level with Nanna and Loki. ..... Rely on Finy and Khuno when youre confused about something and make sure to listen to Maya and continue your studies while Im gone. Ill be leaving the dungeon and Maya in your capable hands. Nanna and Loki both clenched their fists before cing their arms over their chests in salute, trying to look as reliable as possible. Their eyes however were clearly red, sad to see him as well as Kiba go. The three of them had be quite close in the months time theyd been together. Being simr in maturity and position it was hard for them to not get along. Frost ruffled their hair with affection before jumping onto Kibas back, creating the image of a handsome and gant knight. Alright then were off, have fun and work hard while were away. Frost waved goodbye to his family as well as his loyal generals who were standing against the dungeons entrance to see him off. Frost then leaned down and spoke into Kibas ear. Lets ride. Rooooooaaaaaarrrrr! Kiba replied back with a mighty roar before dashing into the nearby Northrend forest. Within a few seconds they werepletely out of view and a dour mood spread among those left behind before eventually Nanna shook her head vigorously and pped her cheeks. You heard Master its time for us to get to work. Just because hes not here doesnt mean we can ck off. She turned around a shouted in her most intimidating voice which unfortunately still sounded adorable, but her point was made. The adults lightlyughed before replying. As you saydy Nanna we cant bezy while master is absent. Finy nodded and looked at Nanna with praise. Well then lets start this construction project. By the time milord returns well blow him away with our progress. Khuno roared out lighting a fire under the asses of the conscripted ronsos and dwarves. Maya silently arrived behind Nanna and swept her up in a tight hug, unable to resist her cuteness. Northrend forest. Vrrrrrr? Kiba chuffed, asking Frost a question which thanks to their soul bond was easily tranted. Sorry thats a no Kiba. I know you want to fly every chance you get but nows not the right time. Vvrrrrrrr? Why well because if Im being perfectly honest your wings still arent fully developed nor are your skills. Yes the travel time would be faster, but Id likely be throwing my guts up by the time we arrived, and youd be so exhausted that youd be nothing but deadweight. Frost instantly shot down Kiba suggestion to fly above the Northrend forest to Furano causing the winged tiger to moan inint. The two of them were riding through the Northrend forest at an already extreme speed but thanks to the monsters being horded to the same destination they were taking a very arced path that would see them avoid therge congregations. Of course avoiding them all was impossible thats why Frost currently had his ive out, ready to sh through any opposition. Blood was already coating the de thanks to a bunch of frost wolves that unfortunately crossed their paths. Still even with their wide berth and minor interruptions with Kibas speed onnd theyd be at Furano within 4 hours, more than enough time for the two of them to n and prepare themselves for what they were about to dive into. Frost and Kiba left the dungeon with full backpacks, filled with a vast supply of low-level and some mid-level potions, 2 sets of reserve armour and weapons, the smoke bombs he got from Leo as well as hefty chunk of materials that would sell well among the local merchants and adventurers guild- the dungeon vault was pretty much at the brim once again so he brought the excess and that which may spoil. The external camp needed coins to function as well as materials after all. With Kibas n shot dead in the water the dungeon core and young cial winged tiger made their way through the dense treeline in an arc towards Furano swiftly cutting down whatever was foolish enough to bar their path. Furano Fire the ballistae,unch the fire oil trebuchets and wheres that god damn volley of arrows I ordered! Colonel Hamon could be seen atop the northern wall with a red face as he hollered off order after order. Sorry Colonel were out of usable bolts and half the trebuchets have been damaged. A soldier aide by his side who was covered in blood (not his own) shouted back while cutting down an alpha frost wolf that had made its way up the wall atop the many monster corpses. Volleysing colonel! An officer in charge of the 2nd archer regiment roared out before a cascade of arrows wereunched into the air. This volley contained hundreds of arrows that flew gracefully over the northern wall before swiftly descending into a veritable river of monsters a hundred metres away from the northern wall. Don! Don! Don! This volley not only killed a few tens of monsters but more importantly stopped an aggressive charge about to happen that could have tipped the scales. Crack! Hamon clenched his fists hard causing his knuckles to crack, his expression hadnt eased in slightest despite the sess of the arrow volley. What the hell is this! This stampede is nothing like the previous ones! Fear could be clearly seen in his eyes as he overlooked the battlefield, taking in their current situation. Ammo was pretty much depleted, smiths were on call constantly pumping out new arrows, bolts and other ammunition thus repeated volleys were impossible. Hamon had to time each and every one precisely to ensure maximum damage. The contingent of wizards focused on ranged attack were wearing themselves thin trying to keep up withck of physical ranged support. Many were glugging down foul tasting low-level mana potions as they continued to cast balls of fire and wind into the invading hordes. And in the thick of it, the frontlines all the weaker soldiers and adventurers that survived the mid stages were called back and reced with those at the minimum of entry C-rank. These elite fighters held back the majority of the tide, wading through the corpses of monsters without so much of a second to rx. Dous, Bastion, all the closebat majors of the frost wolf battalion as well as 3 other majors sent as reinforcements and a B-rank adventurer party that arrived on sight yesterday were beyond the northern wall preventing it from being overrun. The sound of flesh being torn, weapons smashing against bone, scale and even other weapons not to mention the magic explosions filled the frontlines generating a din of madness. Voices couldnt be heard meaning orders could only be telegraphed by gs, but the chaos was too much for anyone to look away even for a split second. Dous the current viscount of the Furano territory didnt hesitate for even a second to put his life on the line. Along with Bastion and other season veterans he plunged into the mad melee with his sword and shield, cutting down monster after monster. In the beginning he felt revitalised. After being bed ridden for so long it felt good to be up and active doing what he trained so hard for. But eventually even with this not being his first stampede his will began to grow thin. He couldnt tell who was still fighting, hed lost track of Bastion and his other friends, finding himself alone surrounded by dozens of corpses and awash with monster blood. The smell, the noise and the sense of death was beginning to take its toll on the old veteran whos will out of everyones should be thest to break. He was the viscount the leading noble, everyone relied on him to shoulder the weight and lead them to prosperity, but that task seemed impossible right now. How long have I been fighting? Is Bastion ok? I cant hear anyone anymore. Dous pulled his sword out a in ice troll in a sluggish manner, this was just one of many that hed in. He looked around in daze seeing nothing but death and fire. The gs were still up on the wall, and he could make out people shouting and fighting atop the wall but couldnt hear a word they were saying. Such carnage. Will this be the end of Furano? Of my people? Of my family? Chapter 445 445 Chapter 445: The Furano battlefield (2) Dous looked around the chaotic battlefield with a dazed expression, his movements and thoughts more than a little sluggish. He felt lost as the smell of blood and metal filled his nostrils and the eeriness of death wrapped around his heart and muscles, whispering why keep fighting? The battle is already lost. He was no stranger to this voice given his battle experience, but it was the first time he truly felt tempted by it. Is there actually any point? He asked himself as the carnage around him became clear. Screams of agony, the explosion of magic and the nging of weapons and yes the convoluted voices of soldiers and monsters that sounded like a din of madness. The northern wall that he sanctioned to be extended to a whopping 15 metres looked cute in front of the invading horde that sported creatures almost half as tall and great beasts that were able to leap up to that height without much effort. Everything was beyond all expectations. They knew this stampede would be immense but not like this. The mid stages alone saw hundreds of men and women killed but they survived it and each day they fought they could see the light at the end of the tunnel but now. His gaze drifted towards the backlines where a group of certain monsters could be seen with predatory expressions. Rindars and three of them at that along with 3 other B-rank monsters that were currently on the frontlines facing against Furanos elites. ..... The first three that were on the frontlines arrived closely after one another. Each pretty powerful in their own right but none of which were tactical leaders and were expected given that it was thete stages. The other three however were not and they were the main reason why everything was looking so bleak. Rindars were a race of intelligent scaled humanoids that were said to have draconic ancestry but unlike dragonkin they were more bestial in appearance. They had no wings but their massive 5 metre tall purple bodies were adorned in scales and razor sharp quills. A long thick tail stretched out from their lower backs which ended in a natural mace perfect for bludgeoning. Their faces were reptilian, and their teeth were razor sharp and far more plentiful than a humans. Plus they sported an extra set arms and eyes making them far harder to deal with numbers wise but that wasnt their scariest feature. Though they had powerful bodies what made them truly frightening was their fierce intelligence and brutality. Where other monsters fight, kill and devour their opponents for reasons such as territory, amassing strength or even just hunger the Rindars did it for pleasure. Sadistic creatures that loved causing pain and torturing their victims, an enemy no one wanted to face. But here before them was three of these creatures licking their lips in glee as they strategically ordered the masses of monsters under them to attack, repeatedly testing Hamons capabilities as amander. Douss gaze was noticed by the middle rindar who seemed to be the leader of the group. Hoh! whats this a B-rank fighter left all alone With a grating voice and a forked tongue the lead rindar spoke in surprise but its upturned lips showed that it wasnt really unaware. In fact it had meticulously separated Dous from his group after seeing how important he was to the rest. With an evil smile the middle rindar tapped the shoulder of the rindar on its left signalling for it to move. The left rindar showed an even more evil smile before vanishing before Douss eyes. Rindars could camouge themselves, erasing all traces of their presence. Shit! Dous cursed as he exited his dazed state and prepared himself. He raised his shield up firmly and readied his sword while his eyes dashed across the vicinity looking for even the slightest sign of movement. His aura melded with his body, enhancing his physical prowess as well his eyes and ears. Seconds passed yet Dous spotted nothing, a cold sweat dripped down his forehead and neck as death whispered in his ear well not just death. Youre sweating old man. A sharp insidious voice trickled into Douss ear sending a jolt down his spine before he leaped forward away, twisting his body as he did and shing at whatever whispered in his ear. ng! The sound of a sword shing against hard scales reverberated in the vicinity before a mocking chuckle followed. Hahahaha so weak. The rindar looked down at Dous with contempt before knocking away the outstretched sword and returning to his camouged state, chuckling as he did. Dous was once again in the dark, his nerves primed to catch a single whiff of the rindar all while desperately looking for an escape route. Even in his peak state he was no match for a rindar alone, he needed help but knowing the tendencies of his foe the chances of receiving aid was low. That voice that urged him to stop fighting wormed its way back into his mind, draining him of his physical strength and will, making every concurrent sh weaker and slower. This nagging voice was assisted by the vicious rindar who appeared randomly, taunting him and mocking his efforts as though this was some sort of game. Hehehehe my brother is quite the strategist old man. The rindars voice appeared around Dous, never being in the same ce twice and he was too slow to catch him, cutting the air instead of flesh. We saw you surrounded by those elite fighters and saw how you were the centre of them hehehehehe do you know what went through our minds at that point? Schwing! Dous shed out a moment too slow, failing to strike his target. We thought how delicious it would be to iste you from those people and make them watch as we carve you up like a prime fillet hehehehe. The rindar revealed his face behind Dous licking his lips and drooling as he imagined the future feast. Dous felt a fire light up within him filling him with fury. He viciously turned around to face the rindar with a wrathful expression before shouting. Over my dead body [holy severance]! Dous swiftlyshed out with a high level sword skill that was tinged with a purifying element, perfect in dealing with a dark insidious entity like a rindar. aaaaannnnnngggggg! The enhanced sword glowed with a sharp white light before almost instantly appearing before the rindars face, but he failed to catch it by surprise. Thats the n old man. The rindars arms were crossed and his dense scales extended into a pseudo shield allowing him to cleanly blocking Douss aggressive attack. Haaaaaaa cornered sapients are always so predictable. This attack may have been dangerous when you were at your peak but after hours of slogging it out in the mud..... The rindar poked his head over his scale shield with a wide a grin. ...Youre nothing but bark. The rindar then revealed the entirety of its 5 metre tall body. He appeared more muscr than the other two rindars and wielded two sabres in his third and fourth hand while his remaining ones were morphed into scale shields holding Douss white sword in ce. Bang! The rindar fiercely shattered the white holy energy surrounding the sword before forcing Douss arm back. The rindar spoke cockily but the [holy severance] skill left a burning wound on his arms despite the scales. He frowned, annoyed by the pain before viciouslyshing out with his own weapons, hoping to mar Douss body in revenge. Dous felt his arm grow numb and blood rushed up his throat from the blow, he was no match in terms of physical strength....but physical strength, mastery of skills or even the quality of equipment was not the what made a veteran like Dous so dangerous. No, what made him dangerous was his experience, the experience that he gained from fighting against innumerable foes over his many decades of life. The rindar thought Dous was predictable but he thought the same thing about him. Rindar enjoyed toying with their prey, but their downfall was usually an excessive amount of pride that wouldnt let a single slight go unpunished. Dous knew an attack wasing and nned for it. He held back a portion of his strength and channelled it into his shield arm and legs. With astute timing, the moment the rindars sabres stabbed towards him he raised his shield over his chest and leapt backwards. [Blinding shield] Energy flowed out his body, covering the front of the shield in a thin film of sparkling light and the moment the sabres made contact with the film the energy burst forth in a luminescent explosion, temporarily blinding the rindar as he was blown backwards and away from danger. Douss focus was not to fight against this monster no he needed to flee and join up with his allies, that was his only chance. Argghhhhhhh! The rindar roared out in pain as he covered his face, his eyes were filled with a burning light that stung even more than the damn cuts on his arms. He had no idea where his target vanished to. Dous had sessfully escaped..... Chapter 446 446 Chapter 446: The Furano battlefield (3) Dous sessfully retreated. Aided by the force of the rindars sabres he glided backwards closer to the northern wall and hopefully help. Unfortunately the muscr rindar wasnt the only one he had to be wary of. In his path of retreat a second rindar appeared with a mocking expression on his face. Haaaaaa the youngest never learns, always losing sight of the targets at the worse points. The second rindar was the one from the right and was the first ones elder brother. He sighed and shook his head as heined about his siblings failings before smiling evilly. Despite hisining he was in fact happy about his younger siblings mistake. This weakness allowed him to enjoy a real treat, a face of pure despair on the victims faces as theirst hope of escape was erased thanks to his presence. The second rindar was equipped with a mighty great sword held by his third and fourth hands and primed to sh at Douss legs to prevent further escape. Dous frowned as he caught sight of the monsters vicious and ecstatic expression, he fell right into the second ones trap. A million thoughts shed through his mind at this point, ways in which to endure the second rindars sh, possible escape routes, the next step if he survived but pretty much all of his simtions ended in failure. This sh would hurt him badly, he may be able to save his legs but leaving without damage was impossible. The spectre of death intensified its grip around his heart and continued to whisper in his ear, foretelling his end. Dous bit his lower lip, drawing blood and sending a jolt of pain throughout his system allowing him to focus clearly. His eyes showed a stark refusal, he would do want needed to be done. Time was the goal, as long as he survived long enough he trusted that his allies would make it to him. ..... He prepared to twist his body using his sword as a vault in ce of his legs, staving off serious injury but ultimately sacrificing his weapon and use of his dominant arm. His decision happened in an instant, fractions of a second after he noticed the second rindar appearing in his path he began twisting as though moving on instinct. Tsk! The second rindar clicked its tongue but didnt try to change the trajectory of his great sword. Shatter! Douss peak 3 star sword shattered into dozens of fragments shortly after making contact with the rindars great sword. The residual force ran up his arm, cracking it and causing his body to violently spin but he survived the ambush. Don! Don! Don! Dous rolled and skidded across the blood covered ground,nding over ten metres from where the rindar ambushed him. With his legs saved he quickly found his feet and returned to a standing position. His shield was still firmly grasped by his shield arm and presented before his chest, but his sword arm hung limp by his side, numb from the extensive damage. The old mans breath was strangely calm and his eyes deadly focused on the second rindar who was already chasing after him. Not bad old man but Id like to see how you dodge a second time. The second rindar dashed after him the instant he was able, 10 metres was a real short distance for someone of his stature. He raised his great sword over his head and shouted the name of a skill. [Demonic rending]! Dark violet energy almost ck in colour flowed from the rindars body covering his great sword in a menacing beam that expanded its size, leaving Dous even less wiggle room. He wasnt going to fail to catch a mouse a second time especially after openly mocking his younger brother. Dous raised his shield and braced himself for the devastating impact hoping his equipment could take the blow. Booooooommmmmmm!!!!! Thankfully however he didnt have to, a blue fireball smashed into the rindars chest interrupting his attack and knocking him backwards. Dous get out of there! Ryuu hollered at the top of his lungs from the northern wall. Given his height advantage he was able to catch his friends situation and lend aid at the opportune moment with a blue fireball. His voice was also enhanced with wind magic allowing everyone in the vicinity to hear his roar despite the convoluted noise filling the battlefield. Thank you Ryuu. Dous internally thanked Ryuu for the assist before instantly running, making a break for the northern wall. Bastard! Get back here! The second rindar sported a wrathful expression after patting out the mes. The damage was minimal, but it did forcibly stop him from taking down Dous. He desperately charged after Dous and with his speed he was sure to catch up in a second or two. Oh no you dont [Great sundering]! [Heavens squall] [Jade thrust] Suddenly three attacks found there way towards the second rindar. Bastion and two of the majors of the frost wolf battalion who were nearby reacted to Ryuu roar, instantlyshing out in Douss defence. The Viscount couldnt be lost here otherwise the battle would surely be lost. Dous was the heart and sole of the soldiers and citizens of Furano, the backbone that gave them the courage to fight against this horde. Arghhh pathetic desperation! The second rindar cursed as he was forced to halt and brace himself against the three skills and watch as Dous made his way closer and closer to safety. Brother move! The first rindar had gotten over his blindness at this point and barrelled his way past his elder brother, not to help him with the attacks of course but to catch Dous. But their ns had already been found out, Ryuu and another mage on the wall casted a 4th circle wind and fire spell andunched at the muscr rindar. Fuck! Like his elder brother this rindar was forced to stop in ce and prepare his defences. His scales and quills extended turning into a nasty looking armour. Baaaannnnnggggggg!!!! He was blown from the ground, his body flying backwards to crash through multiple trees over a 100 metres back. Urgh! The muscr rindar coughed up some blood and his body was racked with pain. However after he retracted his scales it was obvious that the damage was minimal. A monsters body was truly different from that of a sapients no man or elf could withstand such an attack with their body regardless of their ranking. Dous paid no attention to what was happening behind him, focusing his entire strength on running, once he was closer to the wall hed be safe. Hamon could redirect the forces tounch coordinated attacks against the rindar who exposed themselves on the frontlines. Chasing Dous any further was a real risk. Haaaaaaaa a deep sigh passed through the din of the battlefield and into Douss ear causing his spine to shiver and his heart to lurch. Instinctively he raised his shield and a momentter. Baaaaaaannnnnggggg!! Arge scaly fist thundered against his shield leaving a clear dent before reversing his bodys momentum and knocking him back from the northern wall. Boom! Boom! Boom! Dous harshly skipped across the ground and coughed up a great deal of blood once he stopped. Hey prone on the floor, his head was ringing, and his shield arm fractured and useless just like his sword arm. That attack was so fast and so heavy that he didnt have time to properly react, he was saved by the sturdiness of his shield which thankfully was still in once piece. The remaining rindar the leader of three appeared from nowhere and punched Dous without muttering a single word, revealing himself for but a second before vanishing once again. Dous struggled to get off the ground but the leading rindar wasnt even going to give him that chance. My brothers talk too much. He appeared at Douss side before punching out, his aim Douss legs. Crack! Argggghhhhhhh! Dous screamed in pain as the rindars heavy fists pulverised his left leg, turning it into a mangled mess. There was no way he could flee now. Dous!!!! Dous!!!! Ryuu and Bastion screamed out with bloodshot eyes, moving with their greatest speed to save their long-time friend and liege. Actions and expressions that delighted the leading rindar but unlike his brothers he knew to not take any chances. Booooooommmmmm! He swiftly punched out with his back arms destroying Douss right leg, making all his limbs powerless. The leading rindar gave a cold chilling look towards the second rindar who trembled slightly under that gaze before nodding and cing himself between his brother and the three attackers, Bastion included. Another blue fireball swiftly found its way from Ryuus staff but the leading rindar scoffed at the attack before smashing the ball of fire to pieces with a strike of his fist. He then turned towards Dous with an evil grin. Now that your escape is impossible we can begin the feast. The leading rindars evil smile grew revealing his razor sharp teeth and long ck tongue that was grossly salivating at the thought of picking Dous apart in full view of his allies. Dous shivered as fear filled his body. All he could do was fiercely re into the awaiting maw, his limbs no longer listening to him. Fuck! Cass, Leo Im sorry. Chapter 447 447 Chapter 447: The Furano battlefield (4) Dous sat on the cold hard floor dyed red from his and the blood of those who had been fighting here over the past several weeks. His two arms were broken and limply hanging at his sides while his two legs had been pulverised by the fists of the leading rindar who at this very moment was licking his lips and drooling onto Douss face, inspiring an instinctual fear within him. He could hear the sounds of fierce battle behind him as well as the desperate shouts of Ryuu, Bastion and the majors of the frost wolf battalion as they tried to reach his side, but he knew deep in his heart that they wouldnt make it. This rindar wouldnt allow such a thing but he would certainly leave them a glimmer of hope before viciously quashing it. A sadistic creature that got off on misery and pain. Dous red fiercely toward his attacker refusing to show him even the slightest bit of fear. Hmph how boring. The rindar was displeased with Douss expression truly hoping for a more primal reaction, well you cant get everything you want. He smiled evilly after briefly ncing towards Bastion, the two majors and then to Ryuu making sure each of them would have a good view of what was about to happen. Their expressions would have to be enough. The rindar licked his lips before reaching for Douss skull, nning to crush the bones and peel away his skin, a gruesome and very painful death. He wondered if hed keep the same determined expression throughout such torture oh just the thought was enough to make him feel all bubbly inside. Suddenly however a loud bang could be heard from the west before the voice of a young man followed. [Wyverns maw] Frost who was riding Kiba shot from the tigers back with his ive in hand and activated his most powerful skill. Summoning the head of a wyvern andunching it towards the rindars outstretched arm. Frosts sudden entrance caught everyone by surprise the rindars included. ..... The leading rindar stopped reaching for Dous and tried to avoid the wyvern but the head followed his retreat and bit down hard on his scale covered arm. Its teeth sunk in deep drawing blood and refused to let go causing the rindar to wince in pain before smashing his arm and the wyvern against the floor until the energy formed lifeform dispelled. Frost who had leaped ahead to add to the strength of his swingnded back on Kibas back with deft flip of his body and activated another skill, one that he hadnt shown off yet, one that relied on him having Kiba by his side. [Hammering beasts charge] He roared the name of the final advanced level skill he learned the moment he achieved advanced ive mastery. A skill that required him to be riding a mount, abined skill that would fuse their strengths. Yellow energy started to float around Kiba while blue energy appeared around Frost. These two energies swirled around one another,bing into a green tint that covered the two of them greatly increasing their momentum and charging force. The dungeon core and cial winged tiger fused as one entity with Frosts ive acting as the focal point they charged at the rindar with intense ferocity. Boooooooooommmmmmmm!!!!!! An ungodly sonic boom rattled the air at the point of contact. Plumes of dirt, blood and dust obscured the area for a couple seconds causing the observers to tremble with worry. Dous, who was in a critical state, was forced to close his eyes from the explosion of air but when he opened them again he saw the wide back of a young man riding atop a winged tiger in an imposing manner. This young man, Frost turned around and smiled gently towards him before speaking. Im guessing Im not toote right? He asked in a teasing manner. Douss lips twitched as he struggled to hold back a retort. No I think youre right on time Frost hehehehehe. Heughed out as a great sense of relief filled him before he ultimately fell unconscious. Frost frowned and quickly dismounted from Kiba before giving out an order. Kiba get him out of here. Rooooaarrrrr! Kiba roared in protest not wanting to leave Frost alone especially against that thing they charged into. Go now, thats an order! Frost shouted before shing out with his ive. Bang!!! His ive met with the fists of the leading rindar who sported a furious expression. He hated having his prey taken away from him most of all. Go now Kiba Ill be fine! He shouted again as he parried punch after punch, the ground under his feet shifting at every contact, there was so much weight behind them. Thankfully it seemed as though his and Kibas charge did some damage and made the rindar wary of him. Kiba looked on with reluctance before acquiescing to Frosts order. He turned around and grabbed Douss clothes with his teeth before gently tossing him onto his back. He looked back at Frost and the rindar before taking flight towards the northern wall where safety was guaranteed. No!!!!!! The rindar roared out in protest doing his best to push Frost away and leap up after Kiba and Dous. Reaching out with his back arms in attempt to grasp Kiba hind legs and drag him back to the ground. Oh you can forget aboutying another hand on the Viscount you damn monster! From where Kiba rose into the air a muscr man wreathed in turbulent red mana crashed down, smashing away the rindars back arms and shattering more than a few of its hard scales. The muscr mannded beside Frost after knocking back the rindar and took his form in with an inspecting gaze. You must be that Frost Ive been hearing so much about....youre a lot stronger than I was told. Hamon the colonel andmander for this operation had joined the fray and thanks to Frost his entry wasnt toote. Frost looked up at this man who was easily 2 and half metres tall and chock full of muscle. I am and you must colonel Hamon the one leading the frost wolf battalion here in Furano. Frost replied back with a glint in his eyes. Wasnt he a wizard of some kind? He remembered what Leo, Dous and Ryuu had told him in regards to this colonel Hamon. A magic user that even surpassed Ryuu. Hehehehehe thats correctd, now how about we show this rindar here the ropes, what do you say? Hamon cracked his knuckles as heughed and prepared for a closebat slugfest with the 5 metre tall monster. Elders first. Frost gestured with his hand for Hamon to take first crack, curious to see how this fabled colonel fought. Hehehehe courteous as well as courageous I can see why Cassandra and Dous like you. Alright then let me show you how you deal with these riff raff. Hamon proceeded to smash his fists together covering them in a dense amount of mana. Hamon was a very unique type of wizard, a closebat specialist that used his body as his weapon of choice. The results were simr to high level chakra but was in fact a range of enhancement and defensive spells that he ced on his body. With a self-styled martial art Hamon could coat himself in different types of mana depending on the moves he used making him a very deadly foe on the battlefield. He wasnt just a capable strategist but an absolute tank in battle, one of the few people who could actually go toe to toe with monsters with his bare hands. The rindar who was struck back by his heavy mana punch shook his back arms that had be numbed from the blow. He eyed Hamon with no small amount of fear. He and the other B-ranks didnt push deep into the frontlines for one specific reason, Hamon. All of them felt that this human was stronger than each of them even by himself, an upper perhaps even peak B-rank fighter. The veryst person the rindar wished to be faced up against. He looked at Hamon and then towards his brother and briefly at the state of the current battlefield before clicking his tongue and putting up his dukes. He had no choice he needed to fight Hamon and make it passed him, given that he was themander hed likely not chase too far. His pride was also affecting his judgement. A mere human walked up to him armed with just his body, simr to his fighting style an offense that he struggled to ovee. How could a humans body really go toe to toe with that of a rindars. Frost covered himself in a dense level of ice armour and prepared his ive, looking for an opportunities to attack but leaving the main approach to Hamon. This wasnt really a foe Frost could safely face off against alone and he never intended to. If Dous wasnt in desperate need of his help and he hadnt seen Hamon on the move he would have left with Kiba. But with Hamon here taking the vanguard position this 5 metre tall rindar that put Dous in such a predicament didnt seem that scary. Lets see what this old mans hiding behind those muscles. Chapter 448 448 Chapter 448: The Furano battlefield (5) Frost took the position of a mid-ranged attacker while leaving the mana coated Hamon to face off against the rindar in closebat, curious to see the capabilities of this fabled colonel. Hehehehehe Hamon chuckled as a mad smile began forming on his lips. Don! Don! He mmed his fists together causing a bright red mana to cover them and form strange runic shapes along his arms and back before he outstretched his left hand and beckoned or rather taunted the rindar toe at him. The rindar nearly burst a blood vessel as his fury skyrocketed. Ahhhhhh! He roared out before charging straight for Hamon, all four of his fists tightly clenched and reeled back. The leading rindar didnt have a weapon like his younger siblings instead relying on the strength and durability of his own body. Scales extended along his arms and fists enhancing their size and power in a far less crude transformation than the youngest rindar. Hamon was unphased by this transition, he took a defensive martial art stance ready to wee the rindars attack. At a speed untraceable through a normal persons eyes the rindar arrived before Hamon and punched at his face with his second and third arm while his first and fourth aimed for his liver. ..... Hamon moved smoothly, wrapping his left hand around the rindars second and fourth arm like a fluid snake all while rotating his body and taking a heavy step forward into the rindars chest. Booommm! The rindar was smashed into by Hamons shoulder knocking him back ending his attack and leaving him open for a counter. [Lightning axe kick] Hamon leaped into the air activating a martial art skill as well as the runic inscriptions on his legs. Energy formed tendrils of electricity around his left leg while magic inscriptions enhanced the effects, doubling the intensity of the tendrils. This lightning covered leg swiftly cleaved downwards onto the rindars third shoulder. Crack! A loud crack could be heard as the rindars shoulder socket fractured from the blow but the rindar fought through the pain tosh out with his second and fourth arm. [Raptor strike] The rindar activated his own skill enhancing the speed and sharpness of his two fists and coating them in a dark violet energy. Hamon skilfully guarded the targeted side with his arm and another runic inscription activated as he did covering his arm and side with a dense metal mana formed armour. Booommm! The rindars strikes crashed against the metal and blew Hamon away. Hamon spun in the air with intense speed before elegantlynding on the floor without so much as a stumble. The metal armour cracked and disappeared returning to natural mana while the defensive inscription began recharging for the next time it was needed. He didnt even look the slightest bit injured. Wow! Frost couldnt help but say that as he watched the exchange unfold. Hamon was pretty much a living magic device, an intriguing concept. Frost, rindars are overly prideful and enjoy causing pain meaning they tend to attack areas that would cause high levels of damage and usually over estimate their defences. Hamon spoke up in exnation to the young warrior who was aiding him in this battle. Though in this case hes just simple outmatched hahahaha. Hamonughed before quickly dashing forward, pressing his attack. Watch my movements and attack him whenever you feel safe to do so, this bastard is smarter than the other two and is focused on escaping. Dont give him that chance. Hamon punched out with a simple straight but even that wasnt something the rindar could take lightly. It punched out with its own straight but found that once they made contact that the two of them were roughly equal in physical strength, a shocking realisation for the rindar who was easily twice Hamons size. He didnt even sense any special magic or equipment effects enhancing his power, this was purely based on his own muscles. Boom! Boom! Boom! Hamon and the rindar engaged in high speed shes, knocking fists against one another with him clearly on the back foot. Speed wise he was faster, but Hamon was able to perfectly predict his every move and counter with incredibly vicious reprisals. The wounds on his body continued to build as did his fear. Plus every time he looked to break off from the exchange and retreat back to the tree line Frost would appear andsh out with his ive. Far less intimidating than facing Hamons skill enhanced fists or feet but not something he could easily ignore either. He briefly caught sight of his second brother who wasnt doing much better than him, being attacked by three B-rank fighters each emboldened by the situation. His youngest tried to re-enter the battle but was fiercely targeted by Ryuu and the other magic based major. Things werent looking good. After 15 minutes of this the rindar was covered in its own blood, dozens of its scales were burst open and or littering the floor. Its breathing was erratic and eyes bloodshot as it stared at Hamon and Frost with unbridled fury. Hamon didnte out of the exchangepletely unharmed, but he was certainly better off that the rindar. Frost however had a fair few deep gashes and nasty looking bruises, a rib was even cracked after he was forced to block a clean strike from the rindar. The blow pierced straight through his ice armour and the armour Daki made for him. Frost was forced to realise at that point that he wasnt simply fighting another strong foe but one that was B-rank and stronger than himself. The only reason he could take part in this battle andnd more than a few decent blows was simply because of Hamons overwhelming strength and experience that kept the rindar on the back foot and under his thumb. Hu hu hu hu hu Frost was breathing rapidly, the pain in his rib starting to affect his movements. You alrightd? Hamon asked with a weary expression in his eyes. He may not be that injured but he had to go above and beyond stamina wise keep the rindar from breaking away. Yeah nothing to worry about, nothing extreme just sore. Frost answered back while holding his rib and wincing from the pain. He didnt dare take a potion out lest the rindar take advantage of his diverted focus. Hamons eyes narrowed as he analysed the situation as a whole. This bastards more tricky than I initially estimated, the wounds he suffered are all nasty looking but none are fatal or even severely limiting his battle capability....hes good. Hamon couldnt help but praise the rindar before them, he was truly a tough opponent. Frost was of the same mind, he realised that though the rindar was losing he was still able to limit/control the damage he received. Thats about to change however. Hamon covered himself in red coloured mana and runic inscriptions glowed all over his body. Hes finished weighing his options, the bastards going to make his move regardless of the cost. Hamon looked over at Frost. Hell be charging through youd. Frost trembled at the thought before a wild smile grew on his lips and he tightened his grip around his ive while slowing his breaths. Make him pay a nasty price got it. Hamon ced his hand on Frosts shoulder before moving forward. Got it. Frost added anotheryer to his ice chakra armour and adorned his ive in cold mes as well as activated the wind engraving, preparing to go all out. The rindar acted like Frost, he slowed his breathing and showed a determined glint in his eyes. He couldnt continue this fight any longer, to do so would be suicide, something that would him zero gains. With a clenched jaw the rindar tensed his entire body extending what scales he had left over his vital areas before charging ahead straight for Hamon. He crossed his arms before him further covering his vital areas. Even Hamon would struggle to effectively get through this blockade of armour, but hed still try his best. [Focused trigram palm] Hamon activated a skill unique to his martial art style. His right palm glowed golden and generated an image of a shining golden hexagonal behind him. The rindar frowned from the light but didnt stop his charge, he lowered his head down and activated his own skill. [Scaled bulwark] A dark violet energy covered his already durable scales and arms; this was going to be a contest between a mighty spear and a great shield. Boooooommmmm!!! With an air shattering sh Hamons palm struck against the rindars arms. The golden energy and purple energy shed against one another generating splintering sparks, neither willing to give way. Raaaaahhhhhhhh!!!! Raaaaaaghhhhhhh!!! Both Hamon and the rindar roared out as they pushed against one another. The sparks intensified before eventually the rindar and Hamons energy shields shattered with a violent explosion. Hamon was blown back but the rindar pushed through at an angle, desperately fleeing past him at the cost of his defences. But Frost was ready, Hamon knew the rindar would do anything to escape regardless of the cost and Frost was the weakest point in this triad. Frost make it count! Hamon roared as he crashed hard against the ground. On it! Frost replied back with a booming voice before charging at the rindar with his enhanced ive, aiming to take a decent chunk from the currently fleeing rindar. The rindar didnt think much of Frost, the level of hurt he could deal out paled inparison to Hamon. He continued to run at full speed despite seeing Frost barring his path with his weapon. Though many of his scales were damaged and or missing he was confident his body could withstand a blow from Frost. Frost had one chance to attack before the rindar rushed through him and he nned to make it count. Chapter 449 449 Chapter 449: The Furano battlefield (6) Frost positioned himself directly in the rindars path. His chakra armour at maximum thickness and his ive adorned in high level cold mes and a barrier of wind adding to their vtility. He focused his eyes upon his target before dashing ahead. The rindar was ready, despite his defences being blown by Hamon and his focus being on getting away from these two warriors as fast as possible he was still a 5 metre tall monster with a lot of power. With a fierce step the rindar catapulted himself forward, his arms tensed and reeled back into position, ready to pummel his way through Frost. Arrrrrrgghhhhhhhhh! Raaaaaahhhhhhhh! The two opponents roared out as they attacked one another. The rindar swiftly punched out with devasting force, smashing against Frosts ice armour, pulverising it before striking against the armour made from Daki. Two fists struck his already cracked rib sending an intense wave of pain through Frosts body while the others aimed for his left shoulder hoping to interrupt his sh. Frost winced from the pain but pushed through [wyverns maw] he activated his strongest skill summoning the head of a wyvern armed with a mighty maw. The wyvern swiftly bit down on the rindars torso, sinking its fangs in deep, shredding his exposed flesh andshing out pain for pain. ..... The rindars fists that aimed for his shoulder thus stalled for a brief moment allowing Frost to twist his body and avoid the blow. He stepped forward with his ive cleaving downward, his target being slightly different from where the wyvern struck. Schwing! The two bodies swiftly passed one another. The rindar not even looking backwards for a brief second bolted forward, running straight for the treeline while Frost had only moved slightly forward, his ive prating deep into the blood dyed floor. Hu hu hu hu hu Frosts breathing became incrediblyboured and the pain he fought through assaulted his mind with a vengeance along with a dizzying exhaustion. He stumbled forward falling to his right knee, leaning on his ive for support. One hand reached for his ribs before he coughed up a spurt of blood, his vision shaking as he began to fall. Woah there I got youddie. Hamon appeared just in time to gently catch Frost being careful not to touch his wounded ribs. Frost turned to face Hamon with difficulty before speaking. I got him good right? He asked with a cocky yet strained smile. Haaaaaa yeahd you got him good. Hamon smiled and shook his head beforeughing. Lying beside Frost was a gnarly looking arm farrger than either of theirs. Frost had taken one of the rindars arms in their brief exchange and significantly wounded another. He made him pay and then some. Hamon quickly observed the situation around them before pulling out a mid-level health potion and handing it to Frost. Drink up Frost we cant stay here for long. He spoke with a slight urgency. The other monsters had avoided this area during their confrontation with the rindar but since he had now left there was nothing holding them back plus the rindar would likely send everything he had at his disposal in revenge. Frost didnt argue and downed the mid-level health potion that was ptable to his tastebuds. The potion got to work the moment it entered his body, gradually recing lost blood and repairing the damage around his body in particr his ribs. Hamon then helped him to his feet before eyeing where the rindar fled. Hoh now thats an expression and a half. His eyes opened widely, and a wild smile grew on his lips as he witnessed the leading rindar. Frost turned to look and responded in a simr way. The leading rindar had just noticed the damage to its body in particr its missing arm and an expression of unbridled fury swiftly adorned its face as a result. He looked towards Frost as if he was his most hated foe, a person that did an incorrigible act towards himself and the only recourse was for him to rip Frost to pieces with his bare hands. Frost and Hamon enjoyed this expression finding it rather uplifting. Frost reached down to the lifeless arm and presented it towards the rindar. Forget something? He asked in a mocking tone making the monsters face even more furious and eliciting a chuckle from Hamon. Hes going to make it his lifes mission to hunt you down and make you feel a pain so bad that youll wish you were dead. Hes wee to try but I guess having amander so fixated on one person makes predicting his movements much easier right? Frost asked without even a single ounce of fear. If he was alone on this battlefield then hed of course be wary, but he had strong allies by his side. Hahahahaha yeah youre right about thatd. Hamon let loose a boomingugh as he mmed his hand down on Frosts shoulder. Hamon looked around the area once again and noticed the encroaching monsters as well as the breaking off of Bastion and his majors. Time for us to god, well head to the northern wall, best to check in on Dous and apprise you of the current situation. Alright, you want a ride, or will you jump up yourself? Frost asked before sticking his finger in his mouth and loudly whistling. Roooooaaaaaarrrrr! The sound of a tigers roar could suddenly be heard from within Furano before Kiba appeared in the sky swiftly making his way to Frost. Now that I get a closer look at it thats a cial winged tiger, a young one with a lot of room for growth. He cupped his chin and nodded in praise. A good partner, your future just keeps getting brighter. Hamon gestured a thumbs up to Frost who slowly ascended Kibas back. So you riding or not? Frost asked again and Kiba showed noint. Hehehehehe no youre alrightd Ive got my own methods. Hamon rejected Frosts offer before knocking his heels together. Another runic inscription appeared on his feet and calves summoning a whirlwind of wind aspected mana beneath him. Hamon then began to float off the ground showing an arrogant smile as he did. See if you can keep up young tiger. He taunted Kiba before stepping on the air like it was solid ground, rapidly increasing his speed as he rose up and headed to the northern wall. Roaaaaarrrrrr! Kiba spurned on by his taunt roared and pped his wings, swiftly chasing after Hamonpletely ignoring the twitching lips of Frost who was still in the process of recovery. The monsters in the area swarmed their location a couple seconds after they left, just missing them. The leading rindar thus smashed a couple nearby trees in anger. Brother the youngest rindar called out to his elder brother a mixture of concern (fake) and gloating clear in his eyes. Out of the three of them he was the least injured so technically he should now be the strongest and ultimately the one in charge in his mind. The eldest rindar knew the thoughts of his youngest brother well and didnt stand for it. Without the slightest sign he appeared before the youngest rindar and punched him directly in the face, knocking him to the ground and proceeding to beat him with his remaining arms and legs. Bastard if you hadnt messed up in the first ce I wouldnt have lost my third arm! He roared out in fury. The youngest rindar clenched his jaw beforeshing out against his brother. Bullshit you lost your arm because your weak! He pulled his brothers leg knocking him to the ground before shing out with his sabres aiming to deprive his brother of another arm. The eldest rindar shifted his body, dodging the shes and kneed his brother in the ribs knocking him back. Just because he was missing an arm and covered in wounds didnt mean the youngest could best him in a fight. He was at the bottom of the totem pole for a reason. The two rindar continued to tussle further wounding one another before the middle brother arrived with the other B-ranks. Enough now is not the time! The middle brother shouted with a hidden message in his eyes. The three other B-ranks saw the conflict between the siblings as well as the extensive wounds. If the youngest rindar had thoughts of taking control why wouldnt they. The two rindar swiftly stopped their fighting acknowledging the danger of the situation, the monster world was one ofpetition, one of pure strength. The biggest fist calls the shots. Only if the rindars worked as a team would they be able to take the lead at least in the beginning. The six of them were just the start of the high ranking forces set to attack Furano. That elf must die otherwise Ill never be able to rid myself of this anger. The eldest rindar stated in a chilling tone while staring at the northern wall with fire in his eyes. Theyll all die brother but only if we dont lose our heads. The middle brother acted as a calming voice allowing his eldest brother to refocus his goals, at least on the surface. Frost was a foe that he needed to personally eviscerate no matter the cost. The youngest though reluctant to give up the reigns looked over the other B-ranks as well as his second brother, finding that the situation was not right after all. Hed need to continue to bide his time. Chapter 450 450 Chapter 450: 4 Days While the rindars regained their strict control over the forces Frost and Hamonnded behind the northern wall and entered themand centre. There Dous could be seen lying down on a bed while slowly being healed by the best healer the frost wolf battalion had. He was barely awake and frowning, the healing process was going slow to ensure no permanent damage, but it resulted in an extreme itch. Leo was by his fathers side grasping onto his hand with reddened eyes. He was too weak to be on the battlefield at this point in the stampede, so he was regted to managing the relief and forging situations. But he urgently made his way to themand tent the moment he saw his father being carried by Kiba. When he arrived many others were already on site with panicked expressions, fearful of Kiba as well as the bloodied state of Dous. Leo immediately took charge, stepping froward without fear to check on his fathers condition before ordering for the healers and calming down the shocked soldiers and government workers. Leo Frost spoke his friends name gently causing Leo to tremble and turn around. Frost-senpai Leo let go of his fathers hand and dashed before Frost wrapping him up in a tight hug. Thank you, without you and Kiba my father would have certainly died. Tears flowed down Leos cheeks as he thanked Frost. A couple soldiers that descended from the northern wall to guard Dous looped him in on what happened once he got everything under control and questioned why Kiba was here with his father and Frost wasnt. Frost patted his friends head and returned the hug before they both broke away and Leo wiped away his tears. He couldnt be emotional at such a time, without his father in control the noble duties of the Furano house fell on his shoulders. Colonel Hamon hows the situation? Did you manage to drive back the rindars? Leo shifted almost seamlessly from crying teenager to reliable young noble, a change that Frost couldnt help but be impressed by. ..... Hes not the same person I met a few months back. A smile grew on Frosts face as he saw Leo not as the young boy he met but as a young man who could shoulder the duties ced on his shoulders. Dous didnt have anything to worry about in regards to handing over his position, Leo was a natural leader. Its not too bad, Frost and I managed to seriously wound the leading rindar while Bastion, Major Tanto and Major Geoffrey wounded the second one. Hamon gave a quick report of the situation. He had kept abreast of the entire situation even while fighting against the leading rindar. Our elite fighters managed to hold back the tide sessfully despite the absences of Bastion, Dous and the others. And the wall managed to hold back the chaff that made it through without needing to expend another volley of arrows or overload the mage regiments. The battle lines were split into four sections, the first line wasposed of Furanos and the frost wolf battalions elites, a regiment containing C-rank fighters. This group was in charge of forestalling the advance of the D and C-rank monsters and were ced in the vanguard position, in front of the northern wall. Alongside them were the closebat B-rank fighters such as Dous, Bastion and the two majors Tanto and Geoffrey. Their jobs were to control the actions of the B-rank monsters as well as aid the elite fighters inbat. Next was the forces lined up on the northern wall, a veryrge unitposed of fighters just below the elite fighters in ability. Their job was to take care of the monsters that made it to the wall, stopping them from reaching Furano. And finally behind them on raised tforms and lesser walls behind the great northern wall were the ranged corps. Mages and archers that would send their attacks over the wall and into the charging hordes, decimatingrge swaths and or preventing dangerous charges. The siege weapons such as trebuchets were also part of this group or perhaps a fifth line but given the absence of ammunition and damage to the machines it was pretty much no longer active. These lines did not break during the time he and Frost engaged with the rindar nor did they break when they retreated, a good sign. Good, good. Leo let out a relived sigh and nodded his head. He was worried that Douss situation may have caused a cascade break among the frontlines. His father was truly the heart and soul of the defence effort. Seeing him fighting alongside the soldiers and adventurers despite his nobility and even age inspired them all, filling them with pride and sense of duty. An act that could unfortunately backfire if he was lost, thankfully the worst did not happen. In fact the soldiers and adventurers fought with even more aggression, pushing back the horde. With the injuries you and Frost inflicted, the effort of our elite troops and the addition of a new high level fighter do you think todays attack will continue for much longer? Leo asked with a serious expression. Hamon frowned and cupped his chin as he thought. Logically it should end soon but rindars are quite vindictive, they may no longer care about logic and instead y all their cards just for the chance to kill those who slighted them. Hamon responded after thinking for a few seconds. Here in Furano and the other bastion towns the attacks in thete stages werent like those that Frost, and his dungeon had to deal with. The waves wouldnt crash against the northern wall until their ran out of monsters no the situation would be more akin to a long term siege. The B-ranks, the rindars in this case would allow for several hours ofbat between their forces and Furanos before calling off the attack, retreating to behind the range of their arrows, magic and war machines and replenishing their forces until they had enough numbers to attack once again. Furano relied heavily on this gap to rest their exhausted forces and swiftly clear some of the battlefield of the many corpse that strew across it. Leo Ill let you bring Frost here up to speed; it wont do us any good to have both me and Dous out of the fight. Hamon gave a military salute to Leo and nodded towards Frost with a smile before reactivating the wind aspected spells on his legs and ascending to his previous position on the northern wall. His presence was a pressuring existence on the monster horde. Just having him standing there made them wary. Frost and Leo watched Hamon run through the air andnd on the wall before emitting his heavy aura, announcing his return. Hopefully with Hamon having no signs of injury the rindars will think twice about continuing todays battle. Leo spoke with clenched fists. Though he wasnt able to be in the thick of the battle given his level of strength he was able to be in the know about the wars situation, his title as heir to the Furano Viscounty allowed him such privileges. Knowing that his father was not on the frontlines by choice but that they needed him to be spoke of the danger they were currently facing, and this was just the beginning. Hopefully those reinforcements arrive soon. Bastion repeatedly requested for high grade adventurers from the capital branch of the adventurers guild and along with Hamons and Dous request for more forces from the military their appeals were epted, they just needed to survive until their arrival. Leo then looked towards Frost as well as Kiba who was trailing behind him. With him added to their forces their situation looked slightly less bleak. Haaaaaaa Leo sighed as his thoughts were conflicted, thankful that Frost and Kiba arrived to render aid when they sorely needed it but also worried about this chaotic mess that his friend and saviour had been dragged into. Come and sit, Ill exin the current situation. Leo gestured towards a nearby table and asked Frost to take a seat. Alright Frost acquiesced, understanding that this was a serious situation. At the moment were barely keeping our heads above water. Our ammunition is all but spent, were using it quicker than we can craft it. Same can be said with our stock of potions, the mid-stages done a real number on our reserves and unlike arrows or even equipment potions cant be made in a short span of time. There was a brewing process that couldnt be rushed or done by those without the necessary skills. Weve had to rope in arge amount of able bodied civilians to help transport and carve up the monster corpses as our dismantling team was overwhelmed by the workload. My mother also worked hard to coordinate all the known merchants, smiths and other trade professions to generate temporary jobs for those who remain. Leo let out a slightugh before continuing. Silver lining is the public order in the territory is pretty high given that everyone now has something to do, and our meat reserves are through the roof. Theres so much that we cant store it thus the chefs of the territory have had their hands full preparing meals round the clock but regardless of how tasty the food is or how much energy it grants when eaten our men and women need sleep. We dont have enough forces to create efficient shift schedules. Leo outlined the situation at hand, stressing the major problems as well as their time schedule. 4 days. Chapter 451 451 Chapter 451: 4 Days (2) 4 days, we have to survive for 4 more days. Reinforcements are currently enroute, but the main force will arrive on the fourth day. Leo said with a determined expression. At least one A-rank fighter will be at the helm of arge contingent of soldiers and high rank adventurers plus apparently the crown prince will be among them, personallying to Furanos aid. A strong feeling of gratitude and pride filled Leo as he mentioned the crown princes actions. The next ruler of the empire will be entering the fray to help defend the empire and the territory of a mere viscount. Leo greatly respected the crown prince as he was more than just his future liege but a friend. Despite therge age difference between Leo and Randolph (the crown prince) the two of them could be considered good friends with Randolph taking the role of an elder cousin or brother. When Leo was growing up asionally Randolph would visit their family and teach him swordsmanship and tell him about life in the capital. It was a rtionship based on tradition wherein a member of the royal family would foster a friendship with a member of the Furano family to ensure loyalty and strengthen foundation of the Northrend empire. The rtionship between the two of them wasnt as developed or as solid as the one between their fathers but none the less it was certainly positive thus Leo felt especially moved by the fact that Randolph himself wasing to help them in their time of need. The current emperor had three children, two sons and a daughter. The oldest of his children, crown prince Randolph known as the white wolf of the empire, Sedrick the second prince who was close with the less than savoury elements of the empire andmonly referred to as the empires spider given his tendency to work in the shadows and finally there was the apple of his eye, the radiance of the empire, his darling daughter Avira. Traditionally given their ages Leo should have had the close rtionship with Avira but Franz (the emperor) immediately vetoed that idea, not willing to have his daughter associate with any guy regardless of how much he personally approved of their character. This decision which was made so many years ago resulted in a lot of chuckles and inside jokes between Franz, his wife Amelia (the empress), Dous and Cassandra who in fact agreed with his choice. Partially because they also found Avira to be loveable and worthy of protection but also to avoid possible romantic entanglement between their houses. ..... Leo was the heir to the Furano Viscounty and was their only child, he couldnt marry into the royal family and Avira couldnt marry into their house either given their noble ranking and the delicate situation in regards to the amount of political power the family was allowed to hold. Thus that left Randolph and Sedrick. Sedrick had no intention of forming a bond with the Furano family given his already forming political position that saw him side with many families that looked disapprovingly towards the Furanos. Therefore Randolph was the only one left and took on the role with enthusiasm, treating Leo like a much younger brother. Frosts eyes opened wide as he heard what Leo said. An A-rank fighter....interesting. A smile formed on his lips as he thought about seeing someone even stronger in action. The point about the crown princeing however made no impact on him. Frost wasnt a citizen of Northrend and cared little about the political powers of the empire. Why should he care about the title of crown prince? Was it more important than being a son of the dark God? 4 days is neither a long time nor a short time and whether we can withstand the onught is entirely dependent on the B-ranks that join the fray. The rindars alone nearly caused the situation to flip on its head with their attack on Dous. More and stronger monsters were sure to arrive within these 4 days and likely after. Actually would just having an A-rank fighter here ensure victory? Frost asked himself internally not willing to bring down Leos hope. A single A-rank fighter would certainly be a powerhouse worth multiple B-ranks, but monsters were worth more individuallypared to sapients of the same rank. It wasnt impossible for a peak B-rank or even a few upper B-ranks to be drawn into the war, more than enough firepower to restrict or even take out an A-rank fighter from their side. Well hopefully its more than one and or that contingent of B-ranks are plentiful. Frost chose to be optimistic about the situation, deciding to deal with what he could which was these four days. True but its something we need to do. Leo turned to look at his father who was groaning and trembling nearby as his wounds slowly recovered through the actions of the frost wolf battalions top healer. My father will likely be out of the fight for the next two days at least, more if my mother ever finds out how perilous the situation really was. He whispered the second half but Frost who heard it couldnt help but imagine Cassandras fury. He subconsciously nodded his head in agreement. Right now we need to reach the nextpse in the waves, once we can rest and reassess the overall situation Ill be able to properly assign you and Kiba your roles in this war, but Ill be honest Frost senpai, we dont have the luxury to not use you for all youve got. Leo turned back to Frost and spoke with a guilty look. Frost smiled wildly in response. No problem, Kiba and I are here to fight, the more you can give us the better. I still need to get ustomed to my entry into B-rank while Kiba is in his prime growth phase, the more experience he gains now the greater his future potential will be. Frost knocked his fist against his chest showing his reliability while Kiba chuffed and pumped out his chest. Haaaaaaaa really thank you both. Leo sighed and shook his head before smiling. For now Ill be in themand centre taking on my fathers role while he recovers, why dont you head up to the Northern wall. If the next break isnting soon Hamon could surely use you in the vanguard or even as part of the magic corps, has your magic capabilities expanded since we stormed my uncles mansion? Frost scoffed before replying Yeah Ive improved since then, no more two spells under my belt. Im not at the B-rank level in that regard but Id have no problemunching 2nd and 3rd circle ice spells if thats where you need me. Frost though not as advanced in terms of his magicpared to his ive and chakra was still a force to be reckoned with. Good we really need someone who can slot into any role. Dont say I didnt warn you Frost senpai. By the time this is over youll be sleeping for a week straight good luck. Leo chuckled before standing straight and emitting the aura of a noble giving out his orders. Understoodmander. Frost responded simr to how Finy to did towards him, with a military salute. Frost then turned around and hopped on Kibas back before remembering what he brought in his spatial rings. Ahhh before I head off I brought a bunch of things that should help with the war effort and Im sure the noble Furano family will give me a fair price for them. Frosts smile stretched from ear to ear as he removed a couple spatial rings that were filled with goodies he prepared before he left. Leo took the spatial rings and quickly inspected their contents causing his eyes to open wide and for him to look at Frost in disbelief. The two spatial rings were packed to the brim with low level health and mana potions, arrows both iron and steel headed, raw iron ore and monster materials that were cleaned and ready to be utilised in forging. Ive got another ring filled with high quality monster parts but youre probably not in dire need of those right now. Frost gestured to another spatial ring that contained a portion of the cleaned up materials from the high ranking monsters that died in his dungeon. These parts would him a very healthy yield of gold coins but that would likely have to wait till after the stampede was dealt with. Leos upper lips twitched, and his jaw was agape as he struggled to process the information. .....Thank you Frost senpai, I give you my word that our family will greatly reimburse you for these much needed materials. Eventually Leo clenched his fists around the spatial rings and revealed a determined look in his eyes. With these items well surely being able tost until the fourth day, Hamon wont be as restricted in his use of volleys and the injured will be able to get back into the fight. Frost truly was a godsend for their viscounty. Charlotte please take these spatial rings to my mother and tell her to make a note of the items so we can reimburse our good friend once this war is over. Leo called to one of themand centres aids before handing her the two spatial rings. Leo then turned to Frost once more. Anything else you might have forgotten to mention? He asked with bright eyes and rxed shoulders, a significant weight seemed to be lifted from his body thanks to Frosts generous gift. Chapter 452 452 Chapter 452: 4 Days (3) Frost didnt have anything else with him item wise, but he did tell Leo an abridged version of his encounter with Valend the frost giant, which caused another frown to appear on his face. Frost giants werent unheard of in the monster stampedes, but they were certainly a rarity and never encountered near beginning of thete stages. s this wasnt any old stampede, the current six B-ranks beyond the northern wall was evidence of that. Leo took in this new information with a sigh before Frost and Kiba took flight to the northern wall following the young nobles orders. Frostnded near Hamon who was still exuding his aura in a threatening manner and staring down the seething rindars, taunting them to make a move. Colonel Frost spoke while dismounting Kiba. Oh Leo finish telling you whats what and putting you to work already. Hamon smiled wildly as heard Frosts voice and noticed that the eldest rindars gaze was no longer on him. Looks like Im no longer the most hated. Hamon internally mocked but also analysed the dangers of such a situation. Frosts level of strength made him vulnerable to the attacks of the rindars far more than himself who previously held the focus of the enemymander. A young up anding adventurer who was not only highly skilled and brave but was close friends with the Viscount and his family, nothing could be allowed to happen to him. He eyed the eldest rindar with no small amount of trepidation,rge doses of fury can make someone act illogically regardless of their intelligence. Yeah he said that we needed to survive for another four days, at that point serious reinforcements will arrive. Frost nodded his head before turning to face the gaze that threatened to burn a hole in his cheek. ..... For someone with an extra two arms hes being awful petty about losing just one. Frost smirked towards the eldest rindar, fully taunting him before turning back to Hamon. I handed over some supplies as well so hopefully that will make our jobs easier until then. Much appreciated Frost, Ill make sure to put them to good use. Hamon gave a strong nod and thanked him. ording to Bastion and Ryuu youre someone with martial skills, chakra as well as ice magic correct? Hamon ced his hand under his chin and rubbed it while in thought, a habit he had developed. Correct though my magic is slightly weaker than my ive mastery and chakra control Ive got no issue casting 2nd circle spells and even a few 3rd circles. Do you need me to reinforce the magic corps? Personally he wanted to re-join the frontlines, using his ive and chakra to cut down swaths of D and C-rank enemies for their glorious DP and stabilise his advanced mastery. But this was a war situation, he was one but many high level fighters and needed to go where he was required if they were to have any chance of surviving this siege. This was not a one man show. Hmmm that would be for the best right now. Our vanguard fighters are strong enough and plentiful enough to handle the current situation, putting you in right now would be a waste of your stamina and our resources plus theres a very big target on your back right now, best not to further aggravate the enemy when we dont have to. Hamon agreed with Frost, the magic crops was in dire need of fresh blood. Understood Colonel, what of Kiba? Frost performed a military salute before gesturing towards Kiba and rubbing his head with affection. Hamons eyes narrowed as he looked at Kiba, at his wings in particr before smiling mischievously. Oh I think I can find something for him to do as long hes ok taking order from someone who isnt his master. Kiba and Frost looked towards one another, exchanging their thoughts through their soul bond. He says hes fine with that, youre strong and he respects you, so hell follow your orders to a tee. Frost answered verbally while Kiba chuffed and disyed his sharp fangs, eager to enter the fray. Perfect then its settled, until the next break in the wave Ill have you join the magic corps alongside Ryuu and Major Jessie while Kiba here will be under my directmand, Ill be putting those wings of yours to good use little tiger hehehehe. Hamonughed eerily but Kiba failed to notice the strangeness hearing only the fact that hed get to use his wings. Frost however did and shook his head in response before saluting Hamon once again and heading towards the magic corps that was set up across several towering tforms behind the northern wall. He could already see Ryuu staring his way with a bright smile on his face causing Frost to natural smile in response, his heart warming at seeing another friendly face. Wee to the special rxation destination that is Furano, a period that crops up only every few years but attracts nearly all adventurers in the vicinity and youre in luck this year seems to be far more popr and rxing than normal, hopefully you enjoy your stay here. Ryuu instantly joked about the situation causing the other B-rank mage, Major jessie to let out a restrainedugh before she elbowed him in the side for distracting her and lying so naturally. Frost shook his head and chuckled in response, finding the joke quite well timed. He then looked at Ryuus face. You look like shit Ryuu. He answered honestly. Ryuu currently had a serious case of bloodshot and unfocused eyes, a symptom of mana exhaustion. His body also looked as though it was struggling to maintain his bnce as though he could keel over at any second. Haaaaaaa if I was a woman I doubt youd be so brutally honest. Ryuu sighed but didnt reject the statement hed certainly seen better days; he was already at his limit before the desperate situation with Dous but now he was beyond that point and suffering the painful consequences. Hamon realised this would be the case thats why he needed Frost to rece the heavy hitter that was Ryuu, allowing him to get some much needed rest and avoid permanent damage, something they couldnt afford. Frost moved in close and ce his hands on Ryuus shoulders, gripping them tight. You can take a break now old man youve earned it. Ryuus eyes shook before he let out a sigh, the memory of their first meeting shing before his eyes. At that point he aggressively pressured Frost with his aura trying to make him fall to his knees as he believed he was an enemy that sought to harm his daughter. Only a few months had passed since then yet now Frost stood before him on equal grounds, his aura fully realised, a proper B-rank fighter. The young will always surpass the old, Frost was a clear basis for that statement. Just so you know your regr [ice bolt spell] wont cut it here you need to at least know and be able to cast 2nd circle spells repeatedly such as [blizzard], [ice ball] or [icence]. Only they will be strong enough to have some impact. To be honest an ice user really wasnt much good here given the type of enemies so even 2nd circle spells of that element would have minor affects at best. Frosts smile slowly stretched from ear to ear making him look cocky before his eyes glinted and he began casting a spell he purchased a couple days ago. [Ice burn like mes and freeze thine enemy in an explosion of cold fire, freezing fire ball] Frost summoned his mana and generated aplicated magic crest before him that summoned an azure ball of fire simr to the one Ryuu utilised earlier except it was cold instead of hot. The ball of high mortal ranked cold mes fired off in a parab over the northern wall before crashing down into a group of ice trolls. Boooooommmm! With an explosion of freezing fire the ice trolls were blown outward, their chests covered in chilling burns that sapped their physical strength and sent jolts of pain throughout their bodies with every breath. Two ice trolls had been significantly wounded from this single 3rd circle spell a fact that drew the attention of the rindars and other B-rank monsters. No one as of yet had used cold me spells meaning Furano had received new reinforcements. Well will this work? Ive also got some regr 3rd circle ice spells that can serve as crowd control instead of straight up damage dealers. Frost looked on at the shocked expressions of Ryuu, Jessie as well as the other members of the magic corps. Cold me magic was a very specialised ss that only a select few could utilise, Frost was one of those few. Ryuus lips twitched as he felt his decades of magic training was nothing but a joke in front of Frost this endlessly talented brat. But in the end he was his friend and could only feely happy about his improvements. Yeah thatll work right Jess? He asked his current colleague and vice leader of the magic corps. Certainly youll make a fine addition to the magic corps so keep firing, Ryuus not the only one who could use a good break hehehehe. Jessie replied with sparkling eyes and chuckled as a weight was lifted from her shoulders. Her physical state being not much better than Ryuus. Frost nodded his head and took up position on the tform before casting his [freezing fire ball] once again as requested. Chapter 453 453 Chapter 453: Break in the onught With Frost reinforcing the magic corps, taking on an aggressive approach, new life incorporated their spells as they drove back the endless horde with balls of fire, wind, ice and so much more. Hamon smiled with glee and no small amount of mocking as the rain of magic filtered overhead into the heart of the monster stampede, blowing apart and pushing back the monster riddled frontlines. A plentiful volley of arrows arrived on the back of those spells thanks to the supplies brought by Frost. Oraaagggghhh push them back! Bastion who was still on the frontlines alongside the two majors and the elite troops roared out in support as the magic and arrow fire softened up their enemies. His teammates roared out in response before attacking with newfound strength, emboldened by the magic and ranged corps. Hamons smile stretched from ear to ear as he watched the faces of the three rindars warp in fury as they witnessed their forces being forcibly pushed back. Fuck! Brother we need to sound the retreat, the lesser monsters will only be annihted at this rate. The second rindar the one that seemed to be the most calm and collected at the moment shouted towards his elder brother who despite missing an arm was still the most capable among them. The sounds of the eldest rindars teeth grinding against one another could be heard as his eyes spat out mes. Damn bastards! Crunch! ..... One of his teeth cracked from the pressure and drops of blood flowed down his jaw and neck but the pain brought rity to his mind. Though he couldnt bring himself to say the words himself he nodded his head to his second brother who nodded back before calling out for a full scale retreat. A couple trolls and other more dexterous monsters started to beat down on what appeared to be make shift drums. The loud booms alerted the maddened monsters. Their ears perked up at the sound before the redness in their eyes diminished and they backed off from their opponents. These makeshift drums were nothing special but each of them had the aura of the B-rank monsters attached to them and were beat at a certain tempo so as to be easily recognised despite the mad din of the battlefield. Hamon watched on with a focused stare as the attacking monsters swiftly fell back from the frontlines and the northern wall, retreating back to the Northrend forest. The three rindars were thest to leave, ring daggers at Hamon before turning around and joining the horde. The horde would rest and replenish its forces within the Northrend forest. Out of reach of Furanos artillery, spells, archers and even surprise charges of the frost wolf battalions namesake cavalry. All soldiers prepare to rest, head to the medical centre if youre injured or in need of potions, the smithing station if your weapons and armour need repairs and or reced. Clean up crews and their protective detail front and centre theres a lot of corpses that need dealt with; this great northern wall is nothing but a simple step thanks to the staircase made of flesh. A minute or so after the rindars retreated behind the treeline Hamon gave out his orders before silently letting out a sigh of relief. Finally some much needed rest. His heavy gaze then analysed the state of his elite troops and of those on the wall, noting their injuries and the trembling of their limbs. Four more days is a very tall ask. People had their limitations, will and potions could only take you so far and Hamon wasnt confident that they had enough tost the entire stretch. However he didnt let his feelings on the matter show on his face, keeping a stern and unyielding expression that exuded strength and reliability, an expression fit for amander. Im guessing this is the break he spoke about. Frost lowered his hands and cancelled his partly created magic circle without even a trickle of sweat on his face. He didnt even have enough to time for a good warm up. Yes, we should be able to rest for a spell before engaging in another onught. Ryuu who had already stopped his magic when Frost arrived replied with a contorted smile and narrowed eyes. He had a simr line of thinking to Hamon, fearing that making it another four days was....difficult. Ryuu Ill take everyone down and see to their conditions you handle the report and dealing with the newbie. Jessie ordered before ushering the rest of the magic corps down from the tform, wasting none of the time they had been granted. Ryuu couldnt even argue as Jessie was already descending the stairs. He sighed before standing up from his seat. You injured or in need of any supplies? He asked Frost. No Im good. Haaaaa the benefits of youth. Ryuu sighed and shook his head before making his way towards Hamon. Come with me then. Since youve joined us youll need to follow military protocols. Given your strength youll be granted a position simr to a Major thus while youre with the magic corps Ill be assigning you the role of a vice leader, simr to that of Jessie but of course her orders will take priority. Understood. Frost nodded his head in understanding, fully aware that hed be bound by Hamon and Dous orders while protecting Furano. Vice leader huh, has a nice ring to it. He smiled as he thought of his new title. A few minutester all themanding officers -bar two who were assigned to keep watch over the clean-up teams and the forest- were within themand centre. Some were seated whereas some were standing. Predominantly the older and more experienced were the seated while the younger stood. Whether this was a respect thing or because of nerves was unclear but it was certainly a contrast that didnt go unnoticed by Frost. By the way he was seated with Kiba lying by his side like they owned the ce. Alright thats everyone, Dous you doing alright? You up for this? Hamon called the meeting into session before looking towards the medical bed set up at the back. Ive been better, but I can still listen in, Leo however will serve in my ce. Dous who was leaning against the bed rest with a fair number of pillows spoke out with difficulty. The top healer of the frost wolf battalion was still hard at work repairing the extensive damage that required a slow process to ensure full functionality. Gilianna whats the prognosis, will he be up and ready to fight anytime soon. Dont worry Colonel with my deft touch I should have him healed within another 12 hours and back to full fighting force in 24. Gilianna gave a guts pose as a wide smile adorned her slightly wrinkled face. She was the oldest member of the frost wolf battalion and had been a veteran of war before Hamon had even joined the military. Though her rank was but Captain no one in the battalion dared to looked down on her. Hamon let himself smile upon hearing Giliannas positive response; this was good news. His smile spread amongst the othermanding officers who were also on edge about Douss state. Alright then first off Ill officially state that reinforcements from the capital are due to arrive in four days however this does not mean we can put all our eggs in one basket. Many things can happen on the long journey from the capital and the situation here is ever changing, we will not fight hoping to rely on these reinforcements but fight to end this war ourselves is that understood. Hamon suffused his aura within his voice, forcing everyone to absorb his words in their hearts. Obviously Of course Colonel. No question. The older members of the group scoffed before replying back, they knew what they should and should not be doing in this war. A..a...as you say Colonel. U..understood. Roger. The younger members stuttered slightly, pressured by Hamons aura as well as the daunting prospect of facing this ever growing horde without reinforcements. Frost however responded calmly fully expecting to hear such orders. His attitude got him a few looks from the other officers, some positive, some negative whereas others were simply curious towards this new youngster. Second and Im sure some of you have already noticed we have a new ally joining us, Frost care to introduce yourself. Hamon took this opportunity to introduce Frost to the rest of the battalion and the adventurers aiding them. Some of which however already knew him or had at least heard of him or saw him in action alongside Hamon. Bagua the C-rank adventurer who was the leader of the adventurer allies involved in Leos operation new dawn was among those that recognised Frost. He smiled and waved his hand, happy to see another friendly face. Two others from that night were also here but only Bagua was strong enough to have the right to enter themand centre. Frost smiled and nodded to him before standing up, ready to introduce himself. All eyes thus turned towards the young dungeon core, each with their own individual thoughts. Frosts lips twitched as he suddenly felt a little nervous. Chapter 454 454 Chapter 454: Stegadon steak With all eyes focused on Frost he audibly coughed before briefly introducing himself. My names Frost, a simple E-rank adventurer who came to help out my friends and this here is Kiba my battle mount, nice to meet you all. Frost smiled and rubbed Kibas head after giving a very brief introduction. Hahahahaha owowowowow dont make meugh it hurts my wounds. Dous couldnt help butugh when Frost referred to himself as a simple E-rank adventurer. Frosts words also caused a great deal of confusion among the officers present. E-rank was nothing to them, but he had a young cial winged tiger as his battle mount. Kiba was a C-rank monster why would he follow some E-rank nobody. Those in the know struggled to stifle theirughter before Hamon coughed drawing everyones attention back to him. Hit hum, dont be fooled by his words or baby face, Frost here although technically E-rank his battle capability is B-rank and hes a multiskilled adventurer adept not only in ive arts, chakra but also magic. The ice fire spells you saw crashing into the horde were his doing. Hamon quickly corrected their misunderstandings causing many of those present to stare at Frost in awe with their jaws agape. Many of the younger officers showed clear jealously in their eyes whereas others scoffed unable to believe Hamons words. Frosts eyes drifted to Hamon who gave a light nod. Whoosh! ..... Frost released his aura, it was cold and heavy and pressured everyone in the room, causing the naysayers to choke on the words they were about to spew. Aura fully manifested a clear statement of ones B-rank status. Frost retrieved his aura a momentter before sitting back down, he was done with his introduction and showing off. The people now knew who he was and what he was capable of, so it was time to move on. The addition of another B-rank however was a wee sight, relieving many of the officers of some of their burden. Alright now that your all acquainted and know the situation everyone report the state of your squads and gripe all yourints, the sooner we get this done the sooner we can all rest before the next onught begins. The younger officers shivered while the older ones grunted and frowned knowing all full well how precious this time of rest was. Over the next 30 minutes or all the officers reported their situations and Hamon strategized the battleyout for the next wave before sending everyone off to quickly revitalise, himself included. Themand centre had more than just the bed Dous was lying on; the higher ranking officers would take their naps here so as to be ready at the drop of a hat. Frost left with Leo who finally tore himself away from his fathers side leaving him in Giliannas capable hands. Lets go get some food before visiting my mother. Leo flinched the moment he said that, dreading the conversation. He thought it only proper to rope in Frost given that he was his senpai, friend and the one who saved his father. Wheres Luna? Frost found it odd that she wasnt by his side aiding him in his endeavours or shadowing the magic corps to learn what she could. Lunas even busier than I am at the moment. While Ive needed to supervise the situation with the clean up crews and now themand centre shes been dashing to and fro between the different departments lending her aid wherever she can. Basically shes been acting as my mothers hands while she remains away from the northern wall. Leo sighed heavily as he imagined that his mother was grooming Luna into another version of her. I see, perhaps well run into her on the way while we move. Frost smiled and his eyes glinted looking forward to seeing the visage of another one of his dearest friends. Leo looked a lot more mature and seasoned than thest time they met thanks to the monster stampede, so he wondered how it affected the young woman. That would be nice, I myself havent seen her since thete stages began, kind of miss her actually. Leo suddenly sported a mncholy expression as Lunas cute face floated in his mind. A couple minutester Frost and Leo found themselves in an impromptu food court set up for all the soldiers, adventurers and civilian volunteers. The loud nging of cooking utensils and the roaring of mes reverberated in the area. Dozens of chefs could be seen working without rest, preparing dish after dish using the many ingredients constantly supplied to them by the clean up crew. The food here is free for those taking part in the citys defence and is based upon ones role and abilities. The upper ranked chefs serve those that require more nutritious meals i.e. C and B-rank fighters but as long as theres materials and youre willing to pay you can go to these chefs even if youve only got E-rank strength such as myself hehehehe. Leo licked his lips with desire as he smelled the delicacies being prepared here. The chefs working right now were not just working another shift in their restaurants no they were putting in their best efforts to provide the best meals possible to the hard working folk who were defending their town. This food court also providedpetition between the chefs, challenging one another to see who could get more customers for their dishes. Many chefs could gain recognition here with their meals, advancing their careers. It wasnt just adventurers and soldiers that stood to gain from this war. Leo brought Frost to the highest ranked stalls reserved for those with upper C-rank strength and above. Ryuu, Jessie as well as a few of the officers Frost saw in themand tent and or on the battlefield were already either in the queue or sitting down with their piping hot food. Excitement could be seen on all their faces; this was one of the few things they could be allowed to look forward to during this war. When it was Frost and Leos turn for food they were met with a gruff looking man with bronze skin and a natural aroma of spices revealing the time he spent in the kitchen. He eyed up Leo before looking at Frost. You must be the new B-rank hero who swooped in to save the Viscount, Frost was it? The man asked with a smile. Yeah thats right. Good job Ill give you my very best dish sir. The chef lightly bowed his head to Frost before thumping his chest. He then looked towards Leo Leo you can have it too, but itll cost ya. Urgh! Fine charge away not as though Ive got anything else to spend my pay on. Leo given that he was active during the early and mid-stages and even served as a supervisor and interimmander during thete stages obviously received payment for his efforts, most of which was spent on these higher ranked meals. Alight, your meals will be with you shortly Ill holler your name once their done. The chef gave Frost and Leo a token before having a subordinate rece him at the counter. Ryuu and Jessie who had just gotten their dishes waved to the two of them before patting their table asking them to join them. I see youre spending your money as soon as you get it again. Ryuu poked fun at Leo whose lips twitched in response before grunting. Its not my fault the foods so addictive and spending money on good food is never a waste. True that little Leo, food is heart and soul. Jessie spoke animatedly in support of Leos actions before she scooped up a spoonful of stew filled with the meat of a high ranking C-rank monster. Her careless slurping caused specks of gravy tond on her cheeks. Haaaaaa what are you a little kid. Ryuu instinctively whipped out a handkerchief and wiped away the droplets not realising the intimate nature of his actions. Jessie blushed before smiling and allowing Ryuu to wipe her cheeks. Hoh Frosts eyes opened up in wonder before he elbowed Leo in the side and nodded his head, asking him to exin the situation here. Leo leaned over and whispered in to his ears so Ryuu wouldnt here. We dont think he realises his feelings yet but its clear that hes quite fond of miss Jessie and shes seems open to it. Were all watching with bated breaths wondering where this will actually lead. You have to know Ryuu hasnt been with anyone since his wife, even something subtle like this is enough to arouse all our interests. By our he meant his family, Bastion and his family, those who worked with Ryuu as well as Luna who at first was against her father dating again but after over a decade she was all for it. I see. Frost smiled from ear to ear as he watched the two mages interact intimately without even fully realising it. And following the actions of Leo and the rest he kept his mouth shut about it, letting things go their natural course. Several minutester Leo got up to get the meals after they had been called and returned with two prime steaks cooked to absolute perfection. A heavy dose of mana remained within these steaks revealing the skills of the one who prepared them. Chef Burusaa really did go all out, he used the flesh from a B-rank stegadon Leo licked his lips as he carried the two heavy trays, his eyes glued to sizzling meat. Stegadons: A giant horned dinosaur with a nearly impervious hide that is wrapped in tough scales. A brutal beast that wreaks carnage wherever it roams, crushing ground, flora and even fauna if it so happens to be under its foot. Colonel Hamon and two majors worked together to swiftly take this thing down a couple days ago, cant believe we get to eat this precious meat. Chapter 455 455 Chapter 455: Skin and bones Leo wiped away his drool, protecting the precious steaks. Colonel Hamon and two other majors took it upon themselves to y the owner of these steaks a couple days ago. It was the first B-rank monster to arrive at their doors and one they couldnt allow to run rampant. Stegadons had a well known nickname amongst the kingdoms. Wall breakers. Their reinforced hides allowed them to weather all manner of attacks without losing the slightest bit of momentum as they charged forth. Armed with mighty horns that made steel look like scrap metal they would smash head first into any obstacle, turning walls into mere fragments of rock and plumes of dust. Hamon really couldnt allow such a thing to get a running start so with his two majors who were adept in dealing with such foes they descended before it and used their full power to swiftly put an end to this dreaded foe before its powerful allies arrived. Thankfully they were quick enough, culling the beast before it could reach the mighty northern wall and before the rindars and other B-rank monsters showed themselves. Hamon himself lifted and carried the giant corpse over the northern wall, personally delivering it to the highly trained chefs such as Burusaa and generating a positive boost in moral as he did. Now Leo and Frost were lucky enough to partake in such a delicacy, Leo didnt even care about the multiple gold coins he was deprived of. Thisll probably be one of the best dishes Ive ever had the chance to eat. Chef Burusaa is one of the greatest chefs in the territory equal to uncle Vos perhaps even slightly better. Leo wiped another dollop of drool from his lips as the tantalising smell assailed his nostrils. Frosts eyes lit up as he looked at the generous helping of prime steak lying before him, anticipation thumping away in his heart. He had only tasted one other B-ranked dish, the azure spark quail prepared by Maya, so he held a lot of expectations for this dish. ..... Ryuu and Jessie looked on in silence, adding to grandeur of the dishes, smiling gently before focusing on their own meals that were also high ranked and delicious. Frost cut into his steak and found that it parted easily, tender being an understatement. Sulent pink flesh and a strong aroma of meat flowed out from the cut causing Frost to drool in anticipation. With grace he ced a small cube of steak in his mouth and began chewing. Bursts of vour assaulted his tongue with every decent of his teeth, the thick steak almost melted after a few chews, saturating his tastebuds with umami before a powerful explosion of hidden mana burst forth granting a second kick of vour and a resurgence in his stamina. Gulp Frost swallowed the former cube of steak, feeling it slowly pass down his throat and into his stomach, releasing bursts of vour and mana as it did. Water umted at the edges of his eyes and wide smile stretching from ear to ear adorned his face, as he wore an expression of bliss. This meal was certainlyparable to the azure spark quail he delighted in even surpassing it in some ways. Burusaa was definitely a very skilled chef. Now thats a very innocent expression, Im guessing the steaks to your liking. Ryuu asked with a slight chuckle, feeling revitalised at seeing such an innocent expression on his young friend. Being able to truly enjoy the glory that was good food while a desperate war was ongoing was something few could do. Ryuu wasnt the only one watching. Frosts expression was caught by many who on seeing it felt that their current situation wasnt quite so harsh, their own meals tasting a little bit better with their following bites. Frost wasted no time, quickly cutting up cube after cube of the high quality steak, swiftly cleaning his te. Leo was much the same, leaving not a single speck of food on the ceramic te. Leo leaned back with a blissful expression on his face, feeling all his troubles washing away and the stress brought on by his fathers near fatal incident and the uing talk with his mother dwindle into puffs of smoke. Alongside this weightlessness, power hummed within his muscles, making him feel as though he could hand wrestle a frost drake ande out victorious. The mana within the dish also flowed through him, subtly improving his body slightly, hed likely be able to reach D-rank strength soon. Frost silently enjoyed thest tendrils of vour before pushing his te away and clenching his fists causing them to loudly crack. He felt the desire to throw himself into the thick of battle, contending against the mighty B-rank monsters with his ive in hand. This meal perfectly prepared him for the uing onught. Shame Kibas not here to partake in this feast. Frost felt it was a shame Kiba couldnt enjoy a round of stegadon steak alongside them. Hamon had kept the young, winged tiger in themand centre toy out his future role in the war. Kiba was not the strongest here on the battlefield, but few could match his speed nor had his ability to fly swiftly through the air. Hamon nned to use Kiba as a fast acting response unit, swiftly flying in to retrieve wounded and or lend aid to weakening groups of warriors. A role he asionally filled but could no longer do given his title ofmander and his focus needing to be solely directed on the movements of the rindars and other B-rank monsters that were sure to follow. Once the blissful feeling had passed Leo stood up from his chair stretched out his back until he heard popping sounds. Lets go and see my mother. He then looked at Frost with a gentle smile and determination in his eyes. He was now ready to deal with his mothers reactions. Frost let out a breath before standing. Sounds good, Id like to see Cassandra again. Frost enjoyed seeing the faces of his friends, it warmed his heart. Ryuus eyes opened wide when he heard their destination. Are you going to tell her about Dous? He asked nervously worried about their answer. Yes, best she hears about it from me before catching wind of it from whispers among the popce. Douss situation wasnt exactly well hidden, many soldiers witnessed him being attacked by the three rindars and the state of his body as he was carried to safety by Kiba. Wagging tongues were hard to stop especially when people were on edge and desperate for any sort of news. If Leo didnt tell his mother shed likely hear from the whispers that her husband who had recently recovered from serious illness was struck down and ced in critical condition with no news of how he was faring. Though his mother didnt show it she was a very emotional person who cared deeply about her loved ones. Shed gone through enough pain over the past two years, he couldnt allow her to suffer another blow to her heart regardless of how difficult a conversation it may be. Haaaaaa true Cass would likely not react well if she heard such news on the wind. Go and tell her everything, dont let her worry more than she already is. Ryuu sighed before replying, he then looked towards Frost. Having him there should make it easier on Cass. Frost had a natural calming atmosphere and could easily distract her by talking about the two kids under his care. Once youre done talking to Cass quickly return to themand centre, youre the only B-rank here in peak condition, Hamon will surely use that in earnest. Youre going to have to fight for longer, harder and in more sectors than any of us, thats why Burusaa gave you the stegadon steak. Youre going to need the energy it provides. Ryuu smiled mischievously d that he was actually old for once. The hardbour would be left to the young who could bounce back into shape after a couple hours rest. Understood corps leader. Frost performed a military salute to Ryuu and showed a maddened smile, fully eager to be put to work. He and Leo then left the food court and made their way to the government buildings in the central zone. Cassandra had set up shop here since it was closer to all sectors including the battlefront, precious time would be lost if everyone had to travel to the manor after all. This ce seemed even more boisterous and busy than the northern wall. Civilians in all manner of trades as well as soldiers could be seen bustling to and fro working at 110% to manage the background facilities happening out with the battlefield. Managing the grand popce of Furano, handling the material transitions between the differing trades i.e. smiths, weavers, leatherworkers, chefs etc, taking stock of their rapidly dwindling supplies and of course serving as a contact point for heads of each sectors and their lifeline to the capital city of Arkheart. Cassandra sat at the head of arge table covered in thick stacks of documents that threatened topletely obscure her from view. Rapidly developing wrinkles could be seen forming on her fair brow and around her exhausted eyes as she listened to oral reports from those in the room. She was under no less workload than her husband and Colonel Hamon, perhaps even more so given theplexity and wide spanning of her duties. Thankfully she had able aides at her side, Calder the heir to the merchant guild and Luna were there assisting her in her endeavours. Frost and Leo quickly found themselves ushered into the room that was filled with a deep sense of foreboding pressure. Leo felt a headache starting the moment he saw all the paperwork. Cassandra moved a couple stacks of documents so she could get a good look at her only son, a bright glint revealed in her eyes as she took in his visage. Haaaaa youre practically skin and bones Leo dear, are you remembering to eat? Chapter 456 456 Chapter 456: Daft old sod! Haaaaa youre practically skin and bones Leo dear, are you remembering to eat? Cassandra asked her son with no small amount of concern. She got up off her seat and walked up to Leo, grabbing his face with her hands and feeling his cheeks. So skinny. Sheined with a frown. What the hell is she talking about where on Nova is he skinny. Frost who was beside Leo questioned in bafflement. He and Leo just finished a B-rank steak and if anything Leo had packed on the pounds since thest time they met -all muscle of course. One thing was for sure Leo definitely wasnt forgetting to eat, but mothers always seems to think their children needed more food in their bellies, a form of love. Haaaaaa Im fine mom, Frost and I actually just finished eating one of chef Burusaas best dishes. Leo sighed before gently removing his mothers hands from his face, smiling as he did, feeling the love his mother had for him. He then turned to Luna who behind her exhausted expression looked at him with just as much care, she too had missed him. Cassandra finally noticing Frost by her sons side smiled from ear to ear before sweeping him up in a strong hug, catching Frost by surprise. Its been too long Frost, its good to see that handsome face of yours. Have you been eating well? Hows Maya and the kids? She treated Frost simr to that of Leo, causing his heart to warm. After some hugs and small chit chat Leo put on a serious expression and began revealing his reason foring. Mom theres something you should know about before you hear any rumours among the popce. His sudden change in demeanour caused Cassandras heart to lurch and her fists to clench. She frowned with worry before gesturing for Leo toy it on her. ..... A couple hours ago father was injured in battle and his condition was quite serious. Cassandras heart stopped and her eyes shook, thankfully she was sitting down otherwise she may have copsed as her legs turned to jelly. Luna reached to her side, wrapping her hands around Cassandras so as tofort her though she was also quite shocked by the news. Dous was a B-rank fighter and usually highly guarded given his title of Viscount. Hamon couldnt afford anything happening to the heart and soul of the territory. He was ambushed by the three rindars and put in critical condition but thankfully Frost and Kiba arrived just in time to stop the worst from happening. Leo put his hand on Frosts shoulder directing their focus to him. Frost and Kiba forced back the eldest rindar long enough for Hamon to arrive and Kiba to get father to safety. His situation was still critical, and many saw his wounded body, but I summoned Gilianna the moment Kiba arrived with him in themand centre. She used all her ability to stave him from sumbing to his wounds. Cassandra let out a grieffilled gasp at his words. Its ok mother, fathers alright, theres no chance of him dying and as long as Gilianna continues to work her magic she assumes father will be back on his feet within 24 hours. It was a dangerous situation but thanks to Frost, father will continue to be pain in your neck for the foreseeable future. Leo grasped his mothers arms that were trembling, holding her with a strong grip hoping to reassure her. Cassandra was a sharp woman she understood from Leos words that this situation could have been far worse. If Frost didnt arrive when he did Dous would have been brutally killed in a painful and intimidating fashion. The very thought and realisation of how close she came to losing her husband sent a terrifying shiver down her back. Only thanks to Leos strong grip and Lunasforting rubbing did she manage to hold back her emotions. Her gaze drifted towards Frost who nodded his head in response, agreeing with Leos words. This gave her somefort. I....I...Is he awake right now? She asked nervously, her lips quivering. Yes mother hes awake andining about the pain and itchiness but hes bound to the medical bed until Gilianna finishes repairing his limbs. Leo smiled and sighed with relief upon hearing his mothers question. .....Good, good. Cassandra repeated the word good as her trembling started to ease and a gentle smile adorned her lips. Thank you Frost, once again you have saved my husband. I dont know how well ever be able to repay such favour. Cassandras demeanour roughly changed to that of thedy Viscountess, bowing her head to Frost in thanks. No need for that Cassandra, Im sure Dous would have done the same in my shoes, theres no need for favour among friends. Frost smiled warmly epting Cassandra thanks but rejecting the need for repayment. Haaaaaa shame Im taken otherwise I would have offered myself as payment. Cassandra sighed and spoke in a joking tone that caused Frost, Leo and Lunas lips to twitch. Guess she really is fine if she can joke like that. Alright if the old bastard is awake Id best go and see him so I can give him an earful. Luna, Calder can you handle to workload while Im gone, shouldnt be more than an hour. Wiping her eyes from the build up of tears she regained her earlier demeanour and asked Luna and Calder to handle the paperwork while she left to lecture her husband about taking care of his life that has now been saved twice by the same person. Urgh....well give it our best. Luna grunted before replying withcking confidence. The workload was already heavy enough with Cassandra spearheading the operation, without her even for ten minutes was a tall ask let alone an hour. Go, go well be fine. Calder who had remained in the room ushered Cassandra out knowing that shed be useless if she remained here without personally checking in on Dous. Great, Leo, Frost lets go see that damnable husband of mine before he saunters off and puts himself in more danger. Cassandra promptly rose from her chair and moved towards the exit, her gung-ho attitude hiding her clenched fists. The three people thus made their way to themand centre. Cassandra walked with strong purpose, her worry transforming into anger on the way making those in her path swiftly move out the way. Where is he!? Eventually they arrived at themand centre with Leo sporting a somewhat guilty expression as Cassandra roared out. A muffled groan was let out in response from the medical bed at the back of themand centre along with some stifledughter from other areas. Of course it was Dous who groaned. Cassandras sharp ears heard her husbands groan and her eyes narrowed in on his location, filled with fire, she was ready to tear his head off for cing himself in such danger at his age and with his role in this war. However the moment she noticed himying up against the bed, blood covering the sheets and clear signs of mangled flesh on his legs all her angry dissipated, reced with pain and upset. Her eyes reddened as she took quick steps towards her man. Boof! She crashed into him somewhat lightly, her head against his chest and her arms wound tightly around him as though to prevent him from running off. Atititititti Cass it hurts, it hurts. Dous felt a wave of pain through his body, more than he could silently endure. Gilianna who was by his side shook her head and sighed before gently loosening Cassandras grip or rather showing her where she could hold with the least amount of pain. Idiot! Dumbass! Senile old codger! A torrent of insults swiftly followed from Cassandras mouth as her anger returned and she red up at Dous from his chest causing the viscount to visibly tremble and his heart lurch. His wife was crying despite her anger and loud voice, tears flowed down her fair cheeks and the hands that held onto him were shaking as though full of fear. Haaaaaaa Dous let out a deep sigh before hugging his wife, pulling her in close to his chest and caressing the back of her head. Im alright Cass, Gilianna and Frost made sure of that. I n to see you go grey haired and wrinkled so dry your eyes dear please. Dous always struggled to deal with his wife when she cried. She was normally so headstrong and collected. Pffftt if you want that then stop running straight in the thick of danger you daft old sod! Cassandra twisted one of Dous nipples in protest causing the man to squeal in sharp pain but he continued to hold his wife close allowing her to let out her emotions. Eventually the insults, curses and sneak attacks stopped, and Cassandra simply leaned against Douss chest, her ear pressed against his heart listening to it beat. Frost, Leo and the others who were in themand centre wisely left shortly after the insults began, taking their work outside and leaving the Viscount and Viscountess to sort out their issues. Chapter 457 457 Chapter 457: Momentum Cassandra didnt stay long, no more than 20 minutes, but it was enough to time to calm her nerves and allow her to regain her natural imposing demeanour. She remined Leo and Frost to stay safe as well as ordered them to keep an eye on Dous, to make sure he doesnt get out of bed before Gilianna gives the ok before returning to her duties. Once she left Leo took over themand centre in ce of his father and Hamon- who was now resting- and his first order was for Frost to immediately help out on the northern wall. They couldnt have everyone simply vamoose from their stations and rest while there was apse in the waves. That was impractical and insanely dangerous. The waves could start up again at any moment, faster than theyd be able to reman their stations. Thus during the resting stages the reserves were on call, mainly made up the slightly weaker soldiers, adventurers and volunteers as well as a contingent of elites. Two majors and several captains, weaker than their usual line-up but still a force to be reckoned with. Given that Frost was still raring to go and full of pep Leo immediately put him to work. Frost guarded on top the wall with his eyes peeled for any signs of movement, eagerly awaiting the next battle. 4 hourster there was rustling in the trees and quakes in the ground, the monsters were on the move once again. Baaaaadooooonn! Baaaadooooonn! In response a loud war horn was sounded on the northern wall alerting everyone in the town. Those who were resting rapidly opened their eyes before getting up and heading to the wall. To save time they all slept in their armour and with their weapons and equipment by their sides. ..... Frost gripped his ive with tensed fists as a wild smile started to grow on his lips and anticipation filled his eyes. His heart started thumping loud and clear, his muscles quivering desperate to be let loose. Hamon, Bastion, Ryuu and the other majors swiftly arrived on top the wall and by Frosts side with Bastion and Hamon cing a hand on his shoulders. Rxd therell be plenty of fight to be had, theyre not going anywhere. Hamon chuckled finding Frosts eagerness amusing. Frost turned to Hamon. Colonel where am I stationed? He asked desperate to jump into the thick of it. Hamon looked hard at Frost and his tensed fists before gazing out beyond the wall, running numerous calctions in his head. The first line of monsters rushed out of the trees during this time. Dozens of wolves and leopards, fast and aggressive beasts that could rapidly cross the gap to the northern wall. Following them where a contingent of hard hitters, D-rank armoured lizards. Beasts with thick scales perfect for enduring arrow fire. The monster lines had strict purpose, no longer was there mad bull rushing, tossing everything all at once. Hamon frowned as he saw this before looking towards Ryuu and Jessie. Will you be alright without him? He asked while the permanently assigned squads and theirmanders swiftly made their way onto the battlefield or onto the prepared battlements. Ryuu looked at Frost before a wide smile adorned his lips. Sure let him blow off some steam first, he looks like he needs it hahahahahaha. Along with Ryuu many of the older soldiersughed out loud, only the young would act like this. Hamons gaze finally returned to Frost before he smirked. Looks like you get your wish young Frost. Take the vanguard along with major Bullen, give them hell kid. Hamonughed and mmed his hand against Frosts back before unleashing his aura, seeping his presence into every one of his soldiers and filling them with spirit. Rahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Loud roars erupted from the soldiers as they ran straight towards the charging wolves and leopards, their weapons drawn and ready. Frost felt a shiver flow through his body, Hamons aura was so thick and heavy, the ultimate backing for allies and a pressuring existence for the enemy. With his wild smile that now stretched from ear to ear Frostughed as he released his restraints, fully diving into his battle lust mode. With a loud bang he kicked off the wall,unching himself towards the charging horde. Many elite soldiers and adventurers followed his lead, inspired by his tenacity and will to fight. Booooommmm! Frostnded hard generating plumes of dirt and dust around him before he twirled his ive, pumping it with energy. [Wyverns maw] The instant hended Frostunched his most powerful skill. Green energy flowed from his body and into his ive before forming into a terrifying maw of a wyvern. It screeched letting its presence be known before with a mighty swing of Frosts ive shot off into the rapidly approaching line of monsters. An unfortunate wolf was swiftly eaten as was part of a leopard before the giant maw crashed against an armoured lizard flipping it onto its back after taking a chunk from its supposedly durable scales. But three monsters was just a drop in the ocean. The rest continued unimpeded towards the northern wall. Frost with a maddened expression dashed forward with his ive cleaving apart whatever monsters entered his range. Blood and limbs flew out from his position making him look like a veritable flesh grinder. Emboldened by his actions the elites that followed him as well as major Bullen went all out, carving up swaths of monsters, preventing them from ever reaching the shadow of the northern wall. They wouldnt let the monsters get hold of the momentum. Moral and the flow of battle yed a far more integral role in wars of this scale. An outnumbered force cane out victorious if their wills are of iron, unbreakable even under the most dire of circumstances. Mage corps light them up! Hamon nodded his head approvingly to Frosts actions before calling up Ryuu and Jessies corps. This war had many parts not just the vanguard. A momentter a deluge of spells hammered down on the following lines of monsters, ying dozens almost instantly and forestalling their advance. The vanguard team roared out in victory before elerating their attacks. Looks like we won the momentum first. Hamon muttered with a smile while his eyes focused on what stilly behind the trees, a nagging feeling somehow wrapping around his heart. The battle raged on, and monsters continued to charge out from the Northrend forest without end but Frost held his ground at the forefront. His wide and strong back leading the charge as his ive adorned in chilling mes cut down foe after foe as though hed never tire. The younger soldiers and adventurers couldnt help but asionally nce his way, their hearts encouraged. Frost though only being a recent arrival had already be a strong support for them. Major Bullen witnessed all of this with wide eyes. The kids got some real talent in leadership, even I feel the desire to follow him into battle. Itd be weird if Frost didnt have strong charisma, he was effectively both amander and a king. Beforeing to Furano he lead his monsters at the forefront in defence of his own territory so of course he picked up a few things. Corpses quickly littered the battlefield once again though thanks to the gung-ho attitude of Frost, the vanguard team as well as Hamons assisting orders few were piled up in front of the northern wall, no more staircase of flesh that made ess the to walled troops easy pickings. Hamon however no longer sported a smile but a pronounced frown. Somethings off, I can smell it. Hamon was quite confident in his instincts, instincts that had been grown through numerous battlefields. What started as just a nagging feeling around his heart -something thats always there during a war- now whispered in his ear, warning him of extreme danger. He rapidly scanned the horizon, searching for certain entities. Two low level B-ranks had revealed themselves so far as well as the youngest rindar but the older two were nowhere to be seen, a strangeness that shouldnt happen. Themander usually needs to be present and in the open so as to instil the greatest effect on both their allies and enemies. The whispers and sense of danger suddenly magnified. Shit! Frost, Bullen pull back now! Hamon roared out at the top of his lungs while at the same time empowering the many magic inscriptions drawn on his body. Frost and Bullen had pushed forward thanks to their victories and were now fairly close to the Northrend forest, something they didnt even realise until Hamon roared out for them to pull back. However the moment they froze, halting their momentum a venomous aura pounced out from the trees like an arrow, the target being Frost. Fuck! Frost didnt have much time to react but thanks to Mayas no holds barred training his reaction speed allowed him to even follow those at A-rank. With deft precision he moved his ives shaft before his chest, protecting him from whatever wasunched. Don! A loud don sounded from Frosts ive as a spiked purple barb that was dripping green liquid crashed against it. Frosts nostrils were suddenly assaulted by a corrosive stench. Poison! Chapter 458 458 Chapter 458: Poison Poison! Frost screamed internally, his lips twitching and his fists tightening around his ive as the memory of his first interaction with the dreaded stuff came to the forefront of his mind. The pain, the paralysis, the burning in his veins, all things he never wished to experience again. In but a fraction of a second he bashed away this poison addled barb and focused his gaze on where it originated yet saw nothing but green and shadow. Fwoom! Another barb shot out from behind the trees, swiftly followed by a second one flying with immense speed and fury. Don! Don! Frost swatted them away with difficulty, his fear of the poison allowing him to move even faster than normal but even still he was forced to take several steps backwards. His hands trembling from the residual force. The horrid smelling and painful looking green poison that dripped from the barbs attached itself to his ive and fought with his ice mes. Ssssssss A horrid sound of the poison evaporating as it came in contact with the chilling mes rang out. The liquid poison rapidly turned into a corrosive gas that assaulted Frosts nostrils and tingled his skin. ..... Detesting such a feeling Frosts ice me chakra burst out, enveloping his entire body and forcibly extinguishing the poison from the surrounding air. A frown was evident on his face and a cold sweat dripped down his neck yet still there was no sign of what fired these barbs, a hidden adversary that could attack from the darkness. However, though he was wary and even fearful his mind was clear. Major Bullen pull everyone back now! He roared out in desperation knowing full well that he wouldnt be the only target. Next he started summoning his mana as a spell started to formte. [Ice obey my will and form into a mighty wall separating me from thine enemy, wall of ice] Frost spoke the aria for the 2nd circle spell [wall of ice] creating arge blue magic crest on the ground which proceeded to summon a wall of ice that separated the vanguard elites from the nearby Northrend forest. Tsk Frost could hear a loud tongue clicking the moment the wall was raised and a momentter a vast swarm of lesser barbs fired from the trees, crashing into therge ice wall, cracking and even destroying parts of it. It was only a 2nd circle spell, so it didnt provide a lot of defensive power, but it was enough to at least lessen the momentum of the barbs and allow the vanguard elites to react in time. Dozens of barbs covered in colourful poison continued through the ice wall only to be swatted away by the elites who were experienced enough to not let the poison touch any part of skin or open wounds. They all instantly obeyed Hamon and Frosts orders and retreated backwards giving up all the ground they worked so hard to conquer. Remaining here served no purpose lest seeing to their deaths. This was a gruelling siege that wouldnt be ended in the next hour or even this day. Risking their lives for ground was pointless, they were the defenders in this war. Frost! Major Bullen a man riddled with an uncountable number of scars and armed with dual swords briefly glimpsed at the elites under hismand before braving the danger to arrive by Frosts side. Thanks to his quick actions a great many of the elites were protected and as the leader of the vanguard corps Bullen couldnt allow Frost to face the highest danger alone. A couple barbs -the same type shot at Frost- rapidly found their way before Bullen. Ding! Ding! Expecting to be attacked Bullen easily swatted away the barbs, losing not a single beat of momentum as he arrived by Frosts side. Frost smiled as he felt supported by Bullen, his fear of the poison vanishing and his grip around his ive tightening before the two men nodded towards one another. With that silentmunication the two moved in concert, guarding each others blind spots as they quickly retreated, falling back towards the northern wall. Tsk! Another loud tongue clicking could be heard from within the trees followed by a deep sigh and the grinding of teeth. Hes quick just like you said.....run them down. A dark insidious voice filled the air before grating chittering rang amok and the owners of these dreadful barbs finally showed themselves. Short creatures simr in size and stature to goblins, covered in dark coloured chitin and withrge bug likepound eyes that could see in far more detail than the eyes of any human, dwarf or elf creeped out from the shadows. Wild insidious expressions could be seen on their rat like faces. A strange and frightening visage that screamed evil, reminding Frost of the rindars. Sharp protruding barbs extended from their elbows, growing and dripping colourful poison, a regenerating part of their bodies that they fondly used as weapons. Frost struggled to immediately identify these creatures but thankfully Bullen looped him in, uttering their identity with clenched teeth. Poison heralds. Creatures of the darkness that dwell in all manner of ces where the sun rarely touches, despised by many species just like the rindar. Evil, insidious monsters that relish in torturing their victims. Watching them twitch in agony as their personal poison runs through their system. A person once spoke with a poison herald and finally asked why they did such things and apparently it wasnt just to satisfy their sadistic tendencies but like spiders their poison gradually liquefied their victims and though they could eat solid foods the taste when liquefied in their opinion was unmatched. This person miraculously survived his run in with the poison heralds and told this story to his local guild. The [federation of knowledge], the keepers of all things known in regards to monsters, monsterirs, oddities and special realms eventually corroborated his story, adding it to the official tomes in regards to the monster species poison heralds. Frost didnt have time to question Bullen as swarms of the creatures rushed out from the trees holding poison covered barbs in their hands and poison sshed over their chitin carapaces making getting in closebat with these creatures risky. Arger more menacing one with a far darker carapace and radiant green poison leaking from many pores across its body slowly revealed itself. In its hands were the deadly barbs that were flung towards Frost and Bullen it was clear this one was different from the rest. An aura of power floated around it revealing its B-rank status. Following at its side was the eldest rindar, he was the one who ground his teeth together in disappointment, wanting so much to see Frosts face warp in pain from the heralds poison. He was clenching the area where one of his arms used to reside while his eyes spurted fire as he watched Frost safely retreat. Bastard! He cursed through his teeth, struggling to stop himself from throwing all caution to the wind and chase after Frost but the one by his side prevented him from engaging in such foolish actions. This poison herald was very simr to himself in nature and would like nothing more than to supnt himself into his position, raking in the glory it promised. He already had difficultymanding the bastard with his missing arm and severeck of progress over the past couple days. Thankfully he had his younger brothers who agreed that internal unity was better in the presence of outside influence. The poison herald leader was just under the eldest rindar strength wise and came with arge contingent of his own lesser species but even, so his foothold was shaky at best. After hearing an abridged series of events of the past couple days and the loss of the eldest rindars arm heughed chillingly and decided on their current n. His aim, to capture Frost and severely damage the vanguard elites thus proving his superiority over the rindars. Right now there was a fiercepetition between the B-ranks formand roles, only the best would be able to avoid bing mere pawns in the game once the big fish arrive and take over. Neither the rindars nor the poison herald wished to be at theplete beck and call of another, being treated no better than the horde of lesser monsters currently being ordered to charge to their deaths. The B-rank poison herald sported a pronounced frown and hispound eyes analysed Frost from head to toe, taking in every slight movement gauging his strength. Fwooom! Suddenly another two barbs dripped in green poison wereunched without warning at possible blind spot but thanks to Bullen and Frosts teamwork they failed to reach their target, falling powerlessly to the floor, corroding the blood and fleshin strewn across the ground. His poison was a fast acting, highly corrosive type that literally melted whatever it touched. It was thus susceptible to antidote potions but by the time you glug one down or pour it on the infected area most the damage would have already been done. Each poison herald would nurture their own poison resulting in a wide range of effects thus making each one unique and extra hard to deal with. In some aspects the appearance of these poison heralds was a far worse situation than the 3 rindars. Yes, hes very fast and has skilled helpers. Taking him down with them around wont be easy. The frown on the B-rank poison herald deepened as his gaze drifted towards Hamon, the truemander of the battlefield. His arm shivered as he endured his biting gaze, a primal fear that struck to his core and sent shivers down his neck. He then nced at the fury consumed rindar at his side, understanding now why this person who though he would never admit it had a lot of respect for, was on the back foot in this war. His steps that were about take him fully past the treeline and towards Frost were halted in ce as Hamons full blown aura hammered down on him, pressuring him. That bastards terrifying. The poison herald knew that hed stand no chance if he went toe to toe with that monster, he wasnt even a duelling type. Haaaaaaaaa he let out a deep sigh before taking a step back not willing to draw the ire of that monster named Hamon so early in the game. Youre giving up! The eldest rindar screamed in anger as well asplete bafflement, they had the vanguard team on the run and his lesser species kin were hounding after them but without them following, their charge would be short lived. Nows not the time, besides our ambush has failed. To carry on now would only end in meaningless death. My subordinates will force them back, dishing out a few attacks before retreating. We serve best as ambushers and fighting in the shadows of others. The poison herald sported a wild grin, proud of his talents and those of his kin. He ignored the anger of the eldest rindar and pursed his lips, whistling in a high pitch that many who were not of his kin would struggle to hear. This was his order to retreat when necessary something the poison heralds knew well. He then turned and retreated back into the shadows waiting for his next opportunity tosh out. Smash! The eldest rindar smashed apart a nearby tree in his anger but that was all he could do. Though he was still technically inmand the B-rank poison herald wouldnt obey orders that didnt serve him or his ilk well, plus the bastard was right. He couldnt allow himself to be ovee with wrath during such tumultuous times. He gave onest look at Hamon and the retreating Frost before joining the poison herald behind the treeline. A thick wave of D and C-rank monsters rushed out in their ce, resuming the hordes advancement. Frost, Bullen and the vanguard elites however had used the time to swiftly make it near the main force at the base of the northern wall and Hamon was waiting. Magic crops and range corps full volley, fire! Hamon loudly ordered. Thanks to Frosts swift actions he didnt need to descend from the wall putting himself at risk. The big cheese couldnt ce himself in the firing line at every little upset. With his order a deluge of arrows and magic descended on the charging D and C-rank horde as well as the some of the less responsive poison heralds, cutting down several of their number. After that the damaged horde met with therge main force of Furano who were braced and ready for the charge. Many monsters met their ends on the tip a spear, sword, axe or even a bo staff without even culling a single soldier or adventurer. A braced line of experienced infantry wasnt something even heavy shock cavalry would sh against head on. They charged right into a chop shop exactly what the B-rank poison herald expected to happen. But if anything the number of lesser monsters under theirmand was endless, such vast amounts of death was nothing in the grand scheme. Dozens of additional lines of monsters charged out of the treeline, red eyed and caring little about the death of the previous lines. And so the regr melee that everyone was used to started up again. They had survived another strategy of the leading monsters and ended up with no deaths or even injuries, Frost seemed to be a lucky star. Chapter 459 459 Chapter 459: About time Chaotic melee ensued as monster after monster charged into the braced lines of Furanos main force. Plus the asional volley of arrows and magic hammered down upon them generating explosions of blood and flesh, The elite vanguards who were forced to retreat from the ground they recently gained dashed forward after the first few lines crashed against the bulwark of the regr soldiers, cutting apart the horde just like they did earlier though this time they kept more wary watch on their surroundings. Afraid of being ambushed by the poison heralds who were small enough and fast enough to stab them in the back from a blind spot. Just knowing that the poison heralds were present in the area taxed their concentration even if they never actually attacked, something the B-rank poison herald knew well. He was an avid researcher into the mind of his victims, knowing full well how to cause damage and drain them of their strength. He would wait until the moment his foes let their guards down, only then would he and his ilk strike and cause the most damage. The number of dead monsters continued to grow unabated, littering the recently swept clean battlefield with innumerable corpses. Making for an uneven standing and dozens of flesh made shields that blocked arrows and magic. Slowly but surely the braced lines were being pushed back, no more than half a step every few minutes or so but a noticeable shift. Hamon stood in open view up on the northern wall with a pronounced frown, his teeth clenched and eyes bloodshot as they took in everyst detail of the battlefield. He was ying the long game and knew just how much skin he could put in each sector of the battlefield and how long each of them would be able to endure not just for today but the next day and the days following. None of which looked good even with Frosts burst of vitality and enthusiasm inspiring the vanguard squads and the braced main line. Tens of minutes had passed since their forced retreat so that inspiring tactical retreat where in they suffered zero casualties was wearing off. Soldiers and adventurers were finding that their arms and legs were growing heavy. Their eyes in a daze as an endless sea of monsters crashed against them without end, their nostrils chock full of the smell of dead, bleeding flesh. When an area became sufficiently exhausted and or dazed the poison heralds reared their ugly heads, dashing through the shadows of therger more brutish monsters theyd stab and orunch poisonous barbs at these men and women before swiftly retreating with an evil smile on their faces. Enjoying their descent into pain and desperate attempts to undo the poison rapidly infecting their bodies. They moved so swiftly and silently that Hamon and the magic and ranged corps didnt have enough time to lend supporting fire. The heralds never stayed in the same ce long, retreating without hesitation whenever they attacked regardless of whether or not their attacks were sessfully. Devasting ambushers that made this long siege far more intricate, an addition that could ruin all of Hamons delicate rationing. ..... His mind ran through dozens of simtions but neither one seemed feasible. He simply didnt have the manpower or the resources tomit an effective force to hunting down these ambushers and even if he did theyd likely retreat out of harms way the moment the group moved. Same if he took on the role himself, he was far too eye catching. Gyahhhhhh! Suddenly while Hamon was cycling through methods to deal with the situation a pronounced scream rang through the area as a poison herald found its body frozen in ce. A freezing chill wrapping around its heart and organs, preventing it from sessfully retreating. It onlysted a second or two but that was enough. Schwing! Arge ive de sliced through the air and decapitated the herald. Its ugly head withrgepound eyes sported a confused expression as it saw the world flip upside down and its vision distort. It saw its own body standing there without a head and blood suddenly gushing forth from his open neck. Arge foot pressed on its decapitated head before stomping down hard and without mercy. Squelch! The head exploded in a gory mess causing many of the other poison heralds and even the nearby soldiers to freeze in shock and then audibly gulp as they imagined themselves in such a position. Frost pulled back his ive and scanned the area with his eyes, smiling like a hunter finding his prey. He didnt even bother to look at the burst head beneath his feet before moving to his next target. [Icy grasp] He quickly casted the 2nd circle spell [icy grasp] without an aria, saving time but also weakening its effects. Thankfully it seemed these poison heraldscked much ice resistance, only having enough to survive in cold weather but useless against his magic. With this Frost was able to hunt these poison heralds, something he enjoyed doing very much. Another nearby herald that saw what happened to itsrade was afflicted by Frosts spell, its body freezing temporarily. Fuck! It cursed as it was powerless to resist. Forced to watch as Frost dashed forward with glinting eyes, the sharp de on his ive reflecting the light of the sun as it swung for its head. Schwing! Another beheading and another poison herald deceased. Hahahahaha perfect, this kid really is a lucky star. Hamon couldnt help butugh out loud as he saw Frosts expert actions. He solved another one of his woes. Having someone young, multi-skilled and strong was a literal godsend. Where otherscked in one area or another Frost was a jack of all trades making him the most fluid solider under hismand, able to thrive in all situations. The poison heralds would have to think twice about attacking now that their retreats could be hampered. These creatures though sporting alright defence thanks to their chitin carapace it certainly wasnt their strongest suit. More focused on fast attacks than drawn outbat. Hamon no longer worrying about the poison herald situation pumped his focus into other areas where the soldiers could do some actual damage. He also had the ranged and magic corps focus solely on the treeline, damaging as much monsters as possible as they charged forth. A group of less than a dozen soldiers waiting on a tform behind him also received a silent look and a nod causing them to smile wildly before charging ahead and leaping from the northern wall. This group was a set of elite soldiers with C-rank strength, one of Hamonst cards to y before sending in the other B-rank big guns. He wanted to hold off on using them until a littleter but unfortunately he no longer had that option. Even with Frost hunting down the heralds the main forces and vanguard squads were struggling to endure the onught that sported stronger and denser lines than yesterday. It was clear that it wasnt just the poison heralds that reinforced the horde during the 4 hour break. Their numbers were far more plentiful than expected. After the dozen or so elites charged forth and reinforced the main line Hamon nced towards his side. Looks like Im going to need you a little earlier than nned Kiba. Kiba the winged cial tiger and Frosts battle mount was lying nearby, watching the battle unfold as he waited for his orders. Kibas ears perked up and he raised his head to look at Hamon with an eager expression, he was growing bored just lying here. Frost told him to listen to Hamon while they were in Furano and though he would prefer fighting alongside his master he respected strength and right now Hamon was the strongest person here, plus he was also the grandmander. Hamon initially nned on using Kiba as an emergency relief unit, having him swiftly flying through the battlefield to recover the wounded and or reinforce areas that were about the be overrun, taking full advantage of his wings and unmatched speed. Hamon smiled mischievously before speaking. How does helping out your master sound? An idea quickly formed in Hamons head. Frost couldnt be left to handle the entire poison herald issue, that was too much for one mans te especially if that person already had a target on their back. Kiba chuffed in glee and nodded his head vigorously, more than happy to do such a task. He had been watching his master from the safety of the northern wall and had been growing frustrated being stationed here away from the battlefield. Kiba stretched out his wings ready to leap into the air and immediately join Frost but was stopped. Whoa there hold your horses and finish listening. Hamon quickly grabbed hold of Kibas left hind leg preventing him from dashing into the sky. This got him a disgruntled look as Kiba retracted his wings that basically tranted as hurry up and finish then. Hamon lightly sighed before looking towards another solider on the wall. Artemis youre up. Hamon called to a young man with hawk like eyes and a veryrge and beautiful bow strapped to his back. The lips on the young mans face slowly turned upwards before he spoke in an arrogant tone. About time. Chapter 460 460 Chapter 460: Sky descending squall Artemis a young captain level officer spoke with arrogance as he grabbed hisrge rune covered bow from his back and made his way towards Hamon. He was one of the highly gifted youngsters among the frost wolf battalion, someone with a lot of ambition and promise. Hamon wouldnt be surprised if Artemis was leading the frost wolf battalion in the next decade. Along with his skills with the bow, his knack for understanding battle strategy, leadership qualities and ability to remain calm under the most dire of circumstances made this young soldier almost perfect in the eyes of those around him.... save for one fault, arrogance. Which to be honest couldnt really be considered much of a fault when he had the skills to back it up but none the less a trait that could eventually lead to his downfall. Hamon wished to round off this quality of his in this war and thankfully a recent enlistee by the name of Frost was the perfect tool to do that. Frost was someone that looked to be simr in age to Artemis, yet his strength had already reached B-rank, surpassing Artemis who was still at the threshold. He wanted to Artemis to realise the fact that theres always someone better out there regardless of how talented you think you are, Frost was one such person. Of course, Frost paled inparison to Artemiss other traits that he developed as a soldier, but power was always the focal point especially when people were young. Artemis wasnt part of the ranged corps right now but an individual shock trooper that had yet to see any action in the past few days, his abilities kept hidden. A painful situation for such an ambitious young man, even more so when he got to witness Frost in action. But finally, he was going to be able to show off his skills. Artemiss face revealed a fierce desire, his eyes spurting mes and his hands were gripped tightly around his bow as his hawk like eyes surveyed the battlefield looking for prey. Hamon smiled mischievously understanding the young mans feelings. ..... Artemis, I need you to ride on Kiba and be our aerial sniper. Take out the damn poison heralds that Frost cant reach or misses as such a task is too much for one man. Kiba who understood what Hamon was saying turned to look at Artemis with a tilted head as he examined this young man with some confusion. So, you need me to support Frost. Artemis asked with a peculiar tone. Yes Captain Artemis, do you understand your orders? Hamon infused his aura into his voice showing that he wasnt ying. These orders could mean the difference between victory and defeat, he had no time for arrogance and or personal feelings. Artemiss eyes winced as he felt Hamons aura and heard his serious tone. He let out sigh before replying. Understood Colonel, Ill see to it immediately. He saluted before walking next to Kiba. Looks like you and me will be partners for a while. He looked straight into Kibas eyes, showing not a single iota of fear, viewing him as an equal. Most soldiers in the frost wolf battalion were like Artemis in this way as they held many wolves under theirmand who were treated just like any other solider in the battalion. Kiba eyed this Artemis with a slight frown. He wasnt exactly fond of the young man and preferred that only Frost ride him like a mount, but he understood his position here. The fact that there wasnt any scorn or trepidation in the young mans made it easier, but he still audibly scoffed before lowering his back. Thebination of Artemis and Kiba then swiftly made their way high up into the air, using the sun to obscure their position. Artemis will surely be pleased getting to ride a flying mount thatpliments his fighting style. A major who was stationed alongside Hamon spoke with a smile, excited to see the devastation such a team could wreak upon this battlefield. Yes, Im sure he is in a way, shame Kiba is already bonded to Frost otherwise I would have done everything in my power to make a connection between the two of them. Hamon replied with a tinge of regret before focusing his gaze upon Frost who was still taking out poison herald after poison herald. Hopefully they work as a team and not against one another. I gave Artemis a warning but who knows how hell behave once things kick off. Tsk! Frost loudly clicked his tongue as a poison herald sessfully avoided his [icy grasp] spell while the next nearest one retreated from him with all it had. His actions were making significant waves and these naturally cowardly creatures had picked up on that. They started fleeing the moment Frost even moved funny regardless of whether they managed to deal any damage to the enemy. The madness of the battlefield already made catching these quick shadow-like bastards difficult and now that they were actively avoiding him, he failed more often than he seeded, infuriating him. He knew however that the moment he stopped chasing them and refocused on his duties as a member of the vanguard team theyd retaliate with vengeance. He was now stuck finishing what he started regardless of how inefficient it was. Twang! Fwoossh! Suddenly he heard the twang of a long bow and the sound of an arrow flying through the air before from the sky, obscured by the light of the sun it pierced the skull of the poison herald who avoided his spell, killing it instantly. Another arrow swiftly followed that one killing the second poison herald who believed it had sessfully escaped Frosts reach. Frost felt a tingle down the back of his neck, as though he was being eyed by a vicious bird of prey. He looked up but had to shut his eyes due to the sun, leaving but a narrow slit for him to see out of. There in the sky he could slightly make out the form of Kiba as well as something riding on top of him. He saw the figure move before the sound of a bow being released and another arrow piercing through the air perked his ears. The arrow shed by his face, avoiding it by a hairs breadth before lodging itself in the skull of a yeti attacking him from behind. The yeti let out a loud whimper before falling dead. Frost turned around to see a single high-quality arrow lodged deep in the creatures skull. He then brought a hand to his cheek; he could still feel a burn from where the arrow passed. A soulmunication then came through from Kiba who informed him of the situation in a proud and happy tone. Back up huh. Frost smiled evilly as he pried the arrow from the yetis skull and examined it in detail. Despite flying through the air at insane speeds and lodging itself deep in the skull of a yeti the arrowhead, shaft and even fletching were unmarred. The arrow had enough weight for it to wield devastating prative force yet was still light enough and well bnced to glide through the air. The shaft though bending when Frost applied pressure showed no signs of snapping despite using a great deal of force. This was by far the highest quality arrow hed ever witnessed and got his hands on, far higher quality than what was needed to take down a mere yeti. Frost looked over to the now deceased poison heralds. The arrows lodged in their skulls though of simr design were clearly lower in quality, this high-quality arrow was used for a reason. Is this him showing off? Frost pondered with an amused expression. His smile stretched from ear to ear as he ced the arrow within his storage ring. He then gripped hard onto his ive and twirled it around in a skilled manner while showing his smile to the one flying amongst the light of the sun. While Frost was having difficulty seeing Artemis and Kiba the same couldnt be said in reverse in fact Artemis could even see the individual contours of Frosts face and the stitching of his robe. The young archer couldnt help but smile wildly as his heart thumped. He gazed down into Frosts eyes and knew his message was understood. It was time to show this Frost the power of a Captain of the frost wolf battalion. Hahahahahahah heughed out without reservation before lining up another arrow in his bow. Kiba take us 10 metres to the left and stay within the suns gaze, cant have the B-ranks getting a line of sight on us. Artemis requested to Kiba while eyeing up his next target. Chuff Kiba chuffed while doing as asked, smiling as he did. The monster horde didnt just have closebat fighters, there were also ranged units and spell casters though they made up a much smaller margin. Artemis and Kiba flying through the air would make for an easy target if they werent hidden by the sun and or constantly aware of their surroundings. Artemis may wish to show off in front of Frost and the Majors, but he wasnt a fool, he knew the weaknesses of a solo archer. With Artemis assisting him Frost was able to cull a great many more poison heralds resulting in the B-rank leader nearly spitting up blood before he ordered a mass retreat of his kin, staring daggers towards Frost and the obscured archer in the skies. Their teamwork was almost seamless as though theyd fought side by side for years, a result that greatly surprised the two involved as well as Hamon and the observing Majors. Damn they cover one anothers shorings without even having tomunicate. Hard imagine that this is the first time theyve fought together. One of the Majors couldnt help butment with wide opened eyes. Together Frost and Artemis killed dozens of poison heralds as well as countless other monsters that were in the vicinity, creating a clear decrease in activity wherever they passed. A dream team of fighters. Hamon didnt reply with words, but his wide smile said it all, the results were beyond what he expected, and he could see with his skilled vision that Artemis had a very different expression on his face from when they began. Artemis noticed theirpatibility even more so than the others and was blown away. Where he initially wished to test his mettle against the neer Frost and prove to him that he wasnt the only one with skills and talent he now found himself full of respect and even awe for the young man as well as his partner the cial winged tiger that he was currently riding. Frosts movements, instincts and adaptability to any situation was something he envied yet the most shocking thing was Frostsplete and utter trust in him. He would openly ignore certain monsters because he knew Artemis would have a line of sight on them and would take care of it. Artemis felt his petty arrogance and jealously towards Frost wash away as this situation repeatedly happened. While he viewed this interaction as a test between them, Frost simply enjoyed having skilled support, someone he could entrust his back to while he went all out. He never had the slightest inkling of rivalry, was it because Frost was so far beyond him skill wise or that he himself was just petty and insecure, Artemis didnt know but his initial arrogance seemed childish and pointless. The moment his mindset changed there was a significant change in Artemis, his arrows flew faster, and his heavy bow felt lighter and easier to pull. He felt his bond with archery deepen and with-it new knowledge unfurled, and a mad smile adorned his lips. He achieved advanced bow mastery, an obstacle that had been impeding his path and weighing on his mind for past few months. Hahahaha master was right my skills were already high enough to advance but my mentality wasnt hahahaha. Artemisughed internally as a weight lifted from his chest and the knowledgepletely unfurled bringing with it a new skill. Not one to be patient Artemis filled his bow with his internal energy as he activated this newfound power. [Sky descending squall] Chapter 461 461 Chapter 461: Knocked from the sky Fully pumped from the sess in oveing thest hurdle to advanced mastery, Artemis wasted no time in activating his newfound skill [Sky descending squall]. Bright blue energy flooded Artemiss bow and quiver causing it hum and vibrate as he pulled back the string. An arrow made of energy soon appeared, shing with power. As the skill dictated in its name he aimed upward into the sky before letting the arrow loose. The arrow screeched as it ascended into the sky before violently exploding into dozens no hundreds of energy arrows that swiftly descended upon on the battlefield, prating numerous monsters without mercy. Frost and many others looked up in awe as the deluge of energy arrows continued to cover the surrounding area. Hoh seems Artemis crossed the threshold, Im pretty sure thats the advanced level bow skill [Sky descending squall]. An observing majormented with pride. Yes, seems youre correct. Artemis has taken the next step in advancing his career. Not many high level officers in the frost wolf battalion are skilled with the bow, his master will be proud. Hamon spoke with a smile. Artemis was one of the few core disciples of the famous former General Ullr, now captain of royal azure guard. An A-rank archer known to be the best in the entire Northrend empire and a particrly strict instructor. Hamon remembered the message he receivedst year from General Ullr. ..... That brat is even more skilled than I was at his age and will likely surpass me in the future but only if he reigns in that arrogance and learns true humility in his craft. Show him the world of war, let him experience the breadth of the battlefield and learn his ce within it. I leave him to you Colonel Hamon as your reputation precedes you, show him no leniency. Artemis can return under my tutge when he achieves B-rank....if he wishes it. Though Ullrs voice was rough, and it was clear that he wished for Hamon to be particr strict with his young disciple it was also clear that he was rather fond of Artemis and held high hopes for his future. As the deluge of arrows finally ended, Artemis felt his body being drained of all strength. He fell forward, copsing upon Kibas broad back, his fluffy fur rubbing against his cheek, tickling his nose. How soft Chuff? Kiba chuffed questioningly, wondering if Artemis was alright after copsing. Heheheh Im good Kiba thanks for...shit dodge! Suddenly Artemis felt his skin tingle as a strong sense of foreboding rang through his body. His instincts were warning him of extreme danger. Kiba was a little slower on the uptake but reacted well, immediately pping his wings to move unfortunately he wasnt fast enough. Without warning a purple beam pierced through the canopy of the Northrend forest, hounding directly for Kiba and Artemis. The sky thundered and colour drained from the sky. Hamon, Frost and the other high ranking fighters all turned to face the sky, powerless to intervene in time. Boooooommmm! An earth shattering explosion appeared in the air following the contact between Kiba and the purple beam. This was followed by smoke and the plummeting of Kiba and Artemis from the sky. Kiba! Frost roared in anguish as he kicked off the ground towards his falling friend, caring not for the monsters surrounding him nor the danger of revealing himself in the open like Artemis and Kiba. A malicious grin appeared on the eldest rindars face as he witnessed this happen. And following that, two different energy generated attacks were fired from the treeline, both malicious in nature and aimed at the now wide open Frost. Arge dark violet fist approached him from one direction while a neon green barb far more corrosive than the earlier ones hounded from another leaving Frost no room to evade. With clenched teeth and a cold sweat Frost felt his heart thump away and the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He had fallen for their trap, hook line and sinker. Time seemed to slow down for Frost as he turned his head away from the falling Kiba to see the devasting attacks heading his way. Fuck! He loudly cursed internally while doing his best to reorientate himself into a more defensible position. A difficult task when one is in mid-air and without wings but a trick he had mastered thanks to Maya. Her fists would continue to hound after him even if he was falling to the ground head first let alone being mid jump. Using his ive as a fulcrum and his ice mes as pseudo thrust he managed to rotate himself to face both these attacks head-on but even, so it was going to hurt and then some. With a steady grip his eyes locked onto the neon green barb, that was the most deadly attack in his eyes and the one he really couldnt allow toe in contact with his body. The violet fist could be endured but the barb could not. The vibrant blue mes covered his ive in excess and the wind engraving hummed to life. Hecked the time to activate a skill but pumping charka was fine, its main boon was speed after all. Ssssssssss boooooommm! His ive swung out like he was standing on solid ground swiftly making contact with the neon green barb with a decent amount of force. The cold mes immediately got to work destroying the poison as though they were the perfect antithesis, but this was a dedicated attack by a B-rank monster. Frosts ive trembled at the collision and the skin between his finger split open as his weapon was pushed towards his chest. Hecked the support of the ground so Frost couldnt generate any additional strength. His ive was thus pushed back and mmed into his chest causing him to groan in pain. However this was eptable as long as he held a firm grip and kept his ive between him and the barb he should be able to endure this assault. Unfortunately it seemed as though the eldest rindar and this B-rank poison herald were done underestimating him. The dark violet fist was slower that the neon green barb and that was by design. It waited for the barb to ce Frost on the back foot before swooping in for the kill. Therge fist appeared before Frosts eyes aiming for his chest or rather the back of poisonous barb. With the additional force behind it the barb would easily slip passed his ive and pierce directly through his chest. Frost wasnt confident hed be able to survive being afflicted with such devasting poison once it reached his organs. The situation just got a whole lot more dangerous. His mind ran a mile a minute as time slowed even further as if dragging out hisst moments. Fear creeped in, the instinctual reaction to ones impending death. Hed only been in this world for a few months, experienced so much, joy, friendship, family, love and even anger and hatred.....he didnt wish his journey to end here, he had too much to live for. With bloodshot eyes and clenched teeth Frost did his best to push against the barb. He did have one option, but he really didnt want to use it so soon, he and Kiba had practically just got here after all but when his life was truly in jeopardy nothing else mattered, he needed to live. Arghhhhhhhhh!!!! He roared out as his entire body tensed allowing him to slightly push back the barb that had started releasing corrosive gas thanks to his cold mes and attempt to reach for the teleporting talisman however in these short milliseconds Frost had forgot one important thing.....he was not alone. Fwooosh! An arrow suddenly appeared from the sky and struck against therge imposing fist. There was arge boom as they made contact and clearly the fist was stronger as the arrow lost its momentum and was flung backwards with visible cracks however, the fist had dimmed somewhat and reduced in speed. [Two sword style: red blossom] following the arrow was a pair of swords coated in dense, sharp looking energy that struck against the violet fist, slicing it apart. Frosts hand that was edging close to the teleportation talisman swiftly halted in ce before closing into a tightened fist as he witnessed this go down. The dark violet fist had been taken care of leaving only the poisonous barb, something he could handle. With a determined gaze Frost ced his other hand back on his ive, let out another roar and pushed back with all his strength. His body was pushed through the air, but his ive was no longer crushing his chest and once his feet touched the ground strength filled his body once more. With a fierce expression he swung out, shattering the barb that had been causing him so much issue. The corrosive gas was gradually destroyed by his cold mes, but his ice armour had some clear holes caused by the corrosion, his face even had a minor burn near the chin. God knows how much damage would have been done if it touched him in its liquid state or entered his body. Poison was definitely something Frost would never appreciate, apologies to his young brother Wilsander. Chapter 462 462 Chapter 462: Here to save the day Frost who had narrowly escaped death was trembling from head to toe and his heart refused to calm down despite the danger having passed. He reached into his robes to feel the teleportation talisman, rubbing it as though figuring out whether or not to tear it apart right now and simply leave with Maya. That near death experience was too close forfort. F....Fro....Frost!!!! Suddenly he was awoken from his daze by a loud shout from Major Bullen. He turned his head instinctively and was met with the ravenous face of an ice wolf with its jaws pried open to take a bite out of him. He was only distracted for a brief moment, yet he was already being attacked, thankfully it was just a D-rank ice wolf. Frost moved his head back to avoid the canines sharp teeth while at the same time punching upwards with an ice encrusted fist. Bang! His fist smashed into the ice wolfs chin and sent it careening through the air without mercy, knocking out many of its teeth as he did. Get your head in the game Frost you cant let your guard down for even a moment. Major Bullen arrived by his side and offered a shoulder, genuinely worried about his state of mind. Cant believe I forgot that despite his strength hes still young. That was probably the first time hed been so close to death. Bullen frowned as normally a more gentle approach would be better but unfortunately this was war, so they didnt have time for such luxuries. Frost quickly found his bearings thanks to Bullens aid, steadiness returning to his limbs as the shock passed and he could think clearly again. He raised his ive and stood shoulder to shoulder with Bullen. ..... Wheres Kiba? He asked while searching the sky. Hes fine, damaged wings and some nasty burns but he made it back to behind the northern wall. A different voice sounded in reply, a voice Frost didnt recognise. He turned around to see a young man with hawkish eyes and arge intricate bow in his hands. Artemis! Major Bullen cried out in shock not expecting to see the young archer captain down here in the thick of it. So this is Artemis, the archer who was working in concert with Kiba to back me up. He was also the first one to lend him aid against the dark violet fist sent by the eldest rindar. Artemis gave Frost a quick once over and smiled before looking towards Major Bullen. Kiba took most of the beams impact thus it affected his flying capabilities especially with me on his back, so I jumped off. Without my weight he was able to barely make it to the northern wall where Im sure the medical team will take good care of him. Thest part was said to put Frost at ease. But why are you here? Bullen quickly asked while knocking back a couple ice wolves. Artemiss gaze moved to Frost and then to the treeline that was gradually being pried open. Helping out arade as well as revenge I guess. He spoke with a smile when his eyes were on Frost but portrayed a fierce expression as he eyed the creatureing from the Northrend forest. His skin however was visibly trembling, and a cold sweat umted down his neck. Bullen and Frost both felt a change in the air and focused solely northward. Crash! Trees were crushed and knocked down as a giant monster moved forward with heavy steps. The beast was easily ten metres tall and chock full of muscle. Massive arms that wielded a giant club made of some sort of incredibly dense stone. Fur covered legs that looked like those of a goats. Grey, stone like skin that was easily several centimetres thick making standard arrows all but useless. A massive single violet eye upied the majority of its skull, blinking as it gazed upon the three men. This monster was a cyclops, a member of the giant species though less intelligent and far more feral in nature still a giant, a dangerous and powerful monster. Bullen frowned as the creature revealed itself, his hands cracking as his grip intensified. A cyclops was beyond his abilities even with Frost and Artemis by his side, an entity at the peak of entry level B-rank rivalling the eldest rindar and in many cases a far more dangerous foe to directly contend with. Frost felt the monsters violent and oppressive aura, it caused his skin to crawl and his legs to feel heavy but despite that a smile was evident on his face. The cyclops was clearly in the power category, the easiest to manage for someone like him who was confident in his speed. He just needed to make sure he didnt get hit. Artemis however was not like Frost and Bullen, he wasnt B-rank yet, so his aura hadnt developed. The best he could do was stand his ground in the face of it, but his battle capabilities would take a hit. The amount of damage and aid he could effectively dish out would be minimal at best as long as he was affected by its aura. Kiba was no longer in action so he couldnt take to the skies and eliminate that problem plus with his strength and battle style he needed to be wary of more than just the cyclops. He suddenly felt the folly of his actions, he shouldnt have been so gung-ho to lend aid and face off against what shot him down. As Frost and Bullen prepared themselves for a dire battle, exchanging silent looks and enteringbat stances the cyclops giant single eye glowed with a purple light. Shit dodge it! Bullen roared out while dashing to the left. This was the attack that knocked Kiba and Artemis out of the sky, a long range energy attack that was quick and destructive. Frost quickly went to move to the right but caught sight of Artemis being frozen in ce, his reactions dulled thanks to the creatures overbearing aura. Tsk! He clicked his tongue and frowned before halting his escape and heading towards Artemis. He couldnt exactly abandon the young man after he risked himself to save him a minute earlier. [Ice shield] he didnt have time to speak an aria, so Frost shortened his casting, focusing on speed. As he ced himself before Artemis, his ive twirling at pace in front of him, covered in a dense set of cold mes and his body adorned in a thickening ice armour a magic crest appeared before the two of them summoning arge shield of ice a few centimetres thick. Fuck! Artemis cursed himself internally as his body finally started listening to him, but it was toote all he could do was hide behind Frost and hope that his defences would hold. Hooooowllllll!!!!!! The air howled as a thick violet beam escaped from the cyclops eye and arrived before Frost and Artemis in a fraction of a second, like a purple lightning bolt. Baaaannnnngggg! The purple beam mmed against the hastily generated ice shield and swiftly blew it apart without much effort before continuing to smash against Frost and his twirling ive. Urgh! Frost groaned as the impact passed through his weapon to his organs, he felt blood rush up his throat and threaten to paint the air red. The force extended to his legs causing the ground he stood on to sink and crack as he did his best to remain stationary. His cold mes enhanced by the wind engraving did their best topete against the purple beam, gradually breaking it down fragment by fragment. Fractions of seconds passed, and Frost felt the ice armour around his hands and arms ke away soon revealing his unprotected skin. His mes were being snubbed out faster than he could regenerate them and despite his best efforts he was being pushed back. Blood dripped from his lips and a pained expression appeared on his face as the beam touched his skin, burning it. This beam attack was stronger than the one sent towards Kiba and in much closer proximity. Hed just used a lot of strength to repel the attack from the B-rank poison herald, so he was out of additional reserves. Slowly Frost was pushed backwards, his feet leaving trails in the ground, but he was ultimately stopped by Artemis who he was protecting. The archer couldnt do much in the current situation, but he could push his back, helping alleviate at least some of the weight. The two of them roared out as they pushed back against the beam, surviving until it lost all its power. There was norge explosion or booming sound as the beam fizzled out, the colour simply dimmed before the beam shrank and then vanished all together. Frost fell to a half kneeling position, breathing heavily with his hands trembling. Energy burns covered his hands and upper wrists. His chakra armour failed to endure the onught. Artemis wasted no time at all, he removed a low level health potion from his pack, popped the cork and poured the concoction onto the burns. Wounds such as this healed quicker if the potion was applied directly rather than consumed plus it had the bonus of not having to endure the nasty taste. Urgh! Frost groaned out as the potion got to work. An intense feeling of itchiness filled his hands making it hard for him to hold onto his ive, but he could see the burns visibly fading unfortunately it wasnt working fast enough. Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! The cyclops didnt waste any time either. The moment the beam disconnected from its eye it began running forward with its massive club, aiming to pulverise the survivors. Well shit! Frost swore while fighting through the itchiness. He gripped his ive hard with one hand while he grabbed Artemis with the other nning to carry him with him as he evaded the cyclops swing. Thankfully the thing really was quite slow and cumbersome, even with the fluid transition between firing the eye beam and dashing towards them Frost still felt he had enough time to evade. It was just annoying having to move so soon. Just as he was about to kick off with Artemis in tow he heard the voice of a womaning from behind them, filled with authority and strength. Rx kids Maggies here to save the day. Chapter 463 463 Chapter 463: Maggie Rx kids Maggies here to save the day. A woman nearing 7 feet tall and with a muscr frame that surpassed even Hamon dashed from behind Frost and Artemis with a bright smile. She appeared before the two young men, protecting them from the oing stone club. She licked her lips in appreciation and tightened her grip around her weapon. Aicallyrge hammer that obviously weighed more than a 100kg. Frost superimposed the image of Maya on this womans back finding them simr for a brief moment. SMAAAAASSSSHHHH!!! The cyclops cared not for the change in target as long as it could crush something it. Its massive club swiftly reached this Maggie with impressive force; the very air being pressurised into a sonic boom. Maggie responded with a joyous chuckle before tensing her already massive arms causing them to bulge obscenely. She didnt even bother using a skill or chakra simply retaliating against the 10 metre tall cyclops with her own brute strength. Her hammer swung fiercely dragging the air with it to smash against the cyclopss club. Baaaaaaaannnnnggggggg! A massive explosion of sound erupted upon contact and Frost and Artemis couldnt help their jaws from going agape in awe. The mighty cyclops was defeated in a match of pure strength. Parts of its stone club fragmented as it was blown backwards as if it was as light as a feather. ..... The cyclops was even more confused, it turned to look at its raised arm that was supposed to be parallel to the ground in bafflement before looking at its intended prey or rather the one that impeded its path. It saw Maggie standing tall with a smile and almost mocking look in her eyes. The cyclops wasnt the smartest creature, but it was smart enough to know when it was being mocked. Anger filled it and its raised arm started to tense and reveal thick veins. Its stone club groaned from the increased pressure exuded by its hand. Maggies smile grew as she readied her stance for another attack, this time a glow surrounded her hammer, she was preparing to use a skill. Bullen get your arse out of here youve got the vanguard squads to worry about. While both she and the cyclops readied themselves for a more destructive attack she wrapped her neck around to yell at Bullen who was watching the situation in a daze. Bullen who was covered in scars and sported a rather frightening visage shivered at Maggies yell, instinctively standing straight and saluting. Yes vice leader! He animatedly responded before leaving the vicinity to aid the rest of the vanguard that he was in charge of. Frost felt Artemis shiver through their close proximity at the same time revealing his fear towards this woman called Maggie. Artemis well discuss your choice in actionster but for now youre free to assist me and the young Frost here in our battle. Be wary of your surroundings and take a defensive approach, watch and learn how B-ranks battle. Maggie gave Artemis an almost threatening re before winking towards Frost. He fluid changes in attitude were rather surreal. Artemis audibly gulped as fear wrapped around his heart, dreading the discussion Maggie mentioned. The fear he had towards this woman was enough to make himpletely forget the pressure exuded by the cyclops, whether that was the point or just a coincidence was impossible to tell. Frost however not knowing much about this Maggie simply looked towards her with fascination as a wild smile grew on his lips. A few moments earlier, the instance that Frost leaped to the air and was fiercely attacked by thebined attacks of the eldest rindar and the B-rank poison herald, Hamons entire body tensed and the air around him became heavy due to his unrestrained aura. The northern wall underneath his feet cracked from the pressure and the nearby soldiers struggled to breath. Maggie take care of it. He released an order through clenched teeth and fury filled eyes. His hands repeatedly clenching and unclenching as he tried to remain calm and keep himself from diving into the action. He immediately knew the type of monster thatunched that violet beam attack and knew that such a foe was too much for Bullen and Frost to handle while also dealing with the regr vanguard duties. Plus Frost might end up being injured due the sudden attack from the rindar and poison herald. The B-rank monsters were starting to umte and take prime roles within the battlefield. Hamon had a clear view of the entire battle and noticed the 3rd and 2nd rindars as well as the other two B-ranks starting to move in earnest. He had no choice now but to send his own B-rank fighters. Maggie Chambers one of the two vice leaders directly under himself, a hammer user with strength equal to upper mid B-rank. Few in the entire battalion could match her when it came to physical prowess himself included. If he himself couldnt enter the field then she was an eptable substitute, strong, reliable and a charismatic leader plus a good match for a cyclops. Hehehehehehe as youmand Colonel. Maggie rose from her seated position with her massive hammer before running to the edge of the northern wall and leaping from it with an excited look on her face. [Tectonic shift] After winking towards Frost, Maggie the vice leader of the frost wolf battalion stationed here turned back towards the cyclops and called out the name of an advanced level hammer skill. Her hammer glowed with the colour of the earth and formed the image of the earths crust. Initially on the swings start up the earth was t and peaceful but as the hammer rose up the image distorted. Large tes crashed against one another below the surface causing the earth to explosively rise up, forming an imposing mountain, granting her swing enhanced weight and destructive force that even the earth couldnt restrain. The cyclops wasnt holding back either, purple light covered its stone club before transforming into purple coloured electricity that swarmed around it. The skills name was [thunder bash] simr in its destructive nature to Maggies [Tectonic shift]. It will be a contest of raw power vs raw power. Rahhhhhhhhhhhh! Maggie roared out as she swung putting all she had into this swing. Boooooooooommmmmmm! An earth shattering boom exploded upon contact and Frost felt the air attempt to push his entire body backwards. He was forced to stab his ive into the ground so as to remain in ce. Dust, fragments of stone, blood and other debris were swept up in the storm generated from their sh but eventually they subsided and revealed the winner. Boom! Boom! The massive ten metre cyclops was blown backwards, its club falling to the ground with a massive dent in the centre. The great beast was pushed from its initial position, skidding across the ground before falling backwards from the residual force with a bewildered and shocked look, unable to conceive how with its overwhelming size it was the one to lose. On Maggies side she was pushed back a couple inches and the ground beneath her feet sported spiderweb cracks, but she was standing, and her weapon seemed undamaged. However a few drops of blood leaked from her mouth before being quickly wiped away. Ah of course she wouldnte out of such an exchange unscathed. Frost noticed the blood and Maggies quick hiding of it. she was still a sapient, her body couldnt possibly be a match for the sturdiness of a monsters after all. This exchange was to serve as a signal, inspiring their allies with morale and their enemies with fear, she had pushed herself to do so. Frosts hand subconsciously gripped hard around his ive before he ced his hand on Artemiss shoulders. You heard the vice leader, watch and learn. He spoke with confidence and pped Artemiss back before leaving him alone and joining Maggie. Are you alright vice leader? He whispered so as not to alert Artemis or the cyclops. Maggie swiftly wiped her mouth one more time and swallowed any blood that threatened to rush up her throat. Perfectly fine, just needed to stretch a little first before the real bout starts hehehehe. Sheughed and ced herrge, furred hand on his shoulder. Like Jared Bando, Maggie was a member of bear beastmen tribe, a tribe known for their physical prowess. White fur covered many parts of her skin, and her ears were very simr to that of a pr bears but other than that she looked human. Probablyte thirties or early forties, same generation as Dous, Ryuu and Bastion. He hadnt met her personally yet, but he had heard about this vice leader of the frost wolf battalion. A fierce woman who was very fond of using her fists to solve problems and with strength only below Hamons, but never would he have guessed she could so easily floor a cyclops. That was a member -though bottom of barrel- of the giant race, a monster species with immense physical strength. His shock was evident on his face as his eyes couldnt help but drift between her massive biceps, hammer and the still floored cyclops. Hahahahaha its nothing much, my kin are already known to be physically adept and my skills in regards to using my weapon surpass this dull beasts. Sheughed and harshly wacked Frosts back causing him to choke on his breath before sporting a serious look. But more importantly it was only using one arm. Maggie knew her capabilities and knew that this creature surpassed her physically no matter how much muscle she developed. The cyclops was a monster and easily 4 times her size, if it really was fair contest she would lose without a doubt. The short exchange between Maggie and cyclops repeated in Frosts mind, he nodded in understanding, realising that what Maggie said was true, the cyclops held its club in one hand while she wielded her hammer with both. But even so. Thats still pretty impressive. Regardless of the cyclops situation Maggie still triumphed over it both with and without using skills, something he himself, Bullen and many of the other B-rank fighters were incapable of doing. Maggie deserved his respect. Well arent you a charmer. Maggie smiled from ear to ear before frowning. Looks like our conversation will have to end here. The cyclops was steadily getting up and the treeline was rustling. Maggie gripped her hammer hard and ced it across her shoulders while Frost readied his ive, adorning it in ice mes and preparing to move. Artemis! Skirmish! Maggie gave Artemis a clear and simple order which caused the young archer captain to shiver and salute on instinct before reading his bow. The cyclops picked up its stone club before facing Maggie and Frost. ME KILL ARGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!! Chapter 464 464 Chapter 464: Silver lining? ME KILL ARGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!! With an unintelligent grunting the cyclops leaped towards Maggie and Frost with its stone club raised up high and anger clear in its eyes. Maggie and Frost silently looked at one another before nodding. Frost swiftly moved to the right with his ive wreathed in cold mes while Maggie waited for thest possible moment to avoid the massive stone club. Her role would be the vanguard, keeping the cyclopss focus entirely on her while Frost utilised his speed to carve out wounds with his ive. Boooommmm! The stone club smashed against the floor throwing dirt and debris outwards but failed to reach its intended targets. Before the cyclops could retrieve its club Maggie was already mid swing. Her oversized hammer made clear contact with the monsters elbow causing it to groan in pain while Maggie clicked her tongue. Damn things harder than duram. Although it wasnt her strongest attack the force in her swing was enough to crush most D rank monsters into pancakes. The cyclops however was only mildly affected by it, likely receiving only a nasty bruise, its grip on the stone club didnt even weaken. Frost made his move a secondter. With his ive outstretched and his cold mes transformed into a dense beam running along the de so as to increase its cutting force he shed the cyclopss exposed side. Schwing! His ive howled through the air before slicing into the cyclopss flesh. The first fewyers were pierced without much issue but once he reached muscle the process dramatically changed. Frosts face winced as he felt a strong resistance. ..... With a roar he forced his ive toplete its cut and exit the other side but even without looking he could tell that the damage was minimal at best. The cyclops sported a gash roughly 30 centimetres long across its ribs, but the depth was practically meaningless. A little blood leaked from the wound, but no muscle was damaged. The cyclops felt only a stinging sensation thanks to the ice mes that rampaged through the wound. Taking down this beast was not going to be a short task. Frost couldnd a hundred blows with minimal effect, yet the cyclops would only need a single strong blow to break his bones, a starkparison. One which reaffirmed Frosts weakness in this wide world. However with Maggie taking the focal point and Frosts impressive speed the slow and cumbersome cyclops would need a miracle if it wished tond that single blow. Artemis wisely took some distance as he knew that he would be the most likely catalyst for that miracle. After taking a wide berth the fear induced by the monsters aura lessened allowing him to regain his quick reflexes and watch the fight calmly. He even managed to asionallyunch a few precise attacks at the beasts weak points thus facilitating his desire for revenge. Even while being a mighty B-rank monster having a skill enhanced arrowunched at your massive eye was more than just a little annoying. The cyclops grew angrier and angrier as the fight progressed, increasing its physical strength and tenacity but also making it far more predictable. Maggie, Frost and Artemis were practically ying around with it. This fact caused the observing eldest rindar to grind his teeth and explode a nearby frost troll with his fist out of sheer anger. His eyes spat mes and fury threatened to ovee his mind as he stepped forward, aiming to insert himself into the 3 on 1 battle but he was stopped by gnarly looking arm. Are you fucking stupid! The B-rank poison herald roared out with a frown and cold sweat running down his neck. There was a clear reason why he and the eldest rindar hadnt stepped up to the te after the initial surprise attack on Frost. The eldest rindar may have forgotten the reason due to his anger but he certainly hadnt. Turning away from the rindar he looked up to the northern wall where Hamon was standing, his aura was on full disy and his gaze fixed predominantly upon the rindar and himself, observing them for even the slightest sign of action. Hamon was restraining the two of them. The moment they decided to enter the fray the bigmander himself would also enter and from the look on his face he was done taking the safe approach. The poison herald knew it in his heart that if Hamon was forced toe down from that wall at least one of them would be killed by him, with a good chance of it being both. The eldest rindar initially turned around to attack the poison herald like he did to the poor frost troll that was just in the wrong ce at the wrong time but the moment he turned his back he felt a looming pressure. The image of a giant sized Hamon looking down on him filled his mind and his body visibly trembled. The eldest rindars raised fist unclenched and lowered back down to his side. He then retreated back to his original position with a fearful expression. Haaaaaaaa Hamon pulled back his aura a little after seeing this before letting out a sigh. Things werent actually going that well. Though it appeared that his mighty presence was preventing the eldest rindar and B-rank poison herald from taking action and that Maggie, Frost and Artemis were sessfully pinning down the cyclops and that the other B-rank fighters and upper C-ranks were holding down the other B-rank monsters this was just on the surface. In truth Hamon had no choice but to put his all into filling the two enemymanders with fear, if they entered the fray the bnce would be broken, and deaths would be inevitable. Plus though the other B-ranks were being sessfully handled it was at the cost of his high ranking fighters. Without the high rank officers controlling the horde the main force and vanguard troops were gradually being overwhelmed. Topensate the magic corps and ranged corps were dishing out extra volleys but there was a limit to their capabilities and the ammunition left in stock, even with Frost generous donation. 4 days, Hamon needed to n for the entire length and then some. Just surviving today and tomorrow wasnt enough thus he had a very serious and dour expression on his face. The battle continued until night fell and the nextpse urred. The battlefield was once again covered in corpses of all species, a veritable gold mine if one ignored the sapient corpses lying beside them as well as the ongoing situation. All units beyond the wall fall back! Reserve teams front and centre and dismantling corps clean the grounds for the next battle. Hamon roared out his orders as the drums of retreat rang from behind the treeline and the fragmented horde swiftly backed off. Hu hu hu hu hu Frost panted heavily with trembling limbs as he watched the cyclops regretfully retreat at the sound of the drums. He and Maggie took on a passive approach in the battle thus exposing them to much less risk but at the same time limiting the amount of damage they could cause. After several hours ofbat all four of them were exhausted and though individually minor, the wounds on the cyclops had built up. The ten metre tall monstrosity was painted red from its own blood and there was barely any part of its body that wasnt shed open and or burned. Significant bruises could also be seen near its joints and ribs, its right shoulder had even been dislocated by one of Maggies harder blows, but it was still fairly far from dying. Come on Frost lets head back, weve fought enough for now, well get him next time. Maggie spoke with a smile, but Frost was astute enough to notice that it was forced. It was clear that she was quite disappointed and possibly even worried about their failure to cull this creature. The B-rank monsters would only grow in number and strength, she couldnt be preupied with just one for such a long time. Her gaze then turned towards Artemis who was barely supporting himself, leaning on his bow just so he could remain upright. She shook her head and decided that their discussion in regards to his earlier actions could wait till another day. Artemiss advancement to advanced level bow mastery could be seen as a silver lining in todays events plus although she and Frost failed to end their B-rank opponent two other teams were in fact sessful. The two rindars survived thanks to their intelligence and use of the lesser monsters but the other two B-ranks didnt survive the conflict, dying from thebined efforts of the B-rank majors and some of the vanguard elites. Though they were both the weakest B-ranks in y and were already somewhat injured, it was a victory, nheless. Frost did his best to steady his breathing before he, Maggie, Artemis and the rest of the forces beyond the northern wall made their way through the mighty gate, entering the safety that was Furano. They now needed to rest up and n for the next wave that would likely be even more deadly than the previous one, it would be during night time after all. Chapter 465 465 Chapter 465: The sr dawn Hamon donned a clear grimace as he stood at the head of therge war table. He ran the calctions multiple times but each time the result was less than fortuitous. Reaching the fourth day alone with their current forces and the estimated increase in enemies seemed almost impossible. Hamon had been present in over half a dozen monster stampedes and was in charge of thest two not including this one yet never before had the situation been so dire. Their supplies which had been horded well in advance for a predicted hard stampede were pretty much gone, Frosts gift was but a drop in the ocean. Sure, their smiths were hard at work pumping out new ammunition, equipment and salves out of the innumerable corpses being supplied to them, but such work took time, and they were using them up far faster than they could make them even with their sparing measures. The monsters enlisted were just stronger and far more numerous than predicated. The cost to survive the mid stages was not a small number. Hamon was struggling to feel optimistic about their current situation, alreadying up with ideas on how to evacuate the citizens or at least protect as many as they could until the reinforcements arrived. He needed more men and woman that could fight but unfortunately there were practically none left. Was he supposed to forcibly enlist every man, woman and child that could hold a weapon and ce them on the battlefield.... never, not while he and his officers still drew breath. Hamons distress was evident on his face and created a dour atmosphere in themand centre. The young officers-Frost included- kept quiet, unsure in what to do and to be honestcking in knowledge of the big picture. Their jobs were solely to work with their squads and kill as much as possible while ensuring the least number of casualties. Only Hamon, Dous and those higher up in the food chain were aware of the seriousplications affecting their mission here. One of those said individuals let out a sigh and shook his head before smashing his fist down hard upon on the war table, drawing the gazes of everyone in the room, Hamon included. Hamon get that defeated look off that old face of yours its doing nothing to help the situation! The man yelled in a gruff voice as his cheeks turned red from his sudden anger. Hamons lips twitched in irritation before heshed out in reply. ..... Shut up Halgrave youre bloody older than I am! The man or rather Halgrave was a stocky built man with greying hair and was the 2nd highest officer here in Furano, one of the frost wolf battalions vice leaders, Lt colonel Halgrave. And FYI hes three years older than Hamon. Fire, good use it. Halgrave nodded and smiled, happy with Hamons current expression. His little outburst sessfully overturned the dour atmosphere, siphoning out the tension that was building up in the young officers who were oblivious to the situation. A few of the older officers as well as Dous, Ryuu and Bastion chuckled in response. Hamon looked around the room silently before sighing and internally thanking Halgrave. He always did know how to get him back on his feet, a great rival. Though his face was less tense, and the atmosphere was better the situation hadnt changed thus some of the other veterans spoke up. Commander if the situation is dire then all we need to do is fight harder. Yeah, we old bastards can just go all out. Agreed it would be a glorious way to die instead of bing a useless retiree hahahahahaha. Hamon felt a sharp pain in his heart as he heard the veterans words. His gaze drifted over each and every one of them revealing the determination in their eyes. These old soldiers and adventurers willingly offered up their lives, a noble sacrifice but unfortunately one which Hamon may have to use. His fists were clenched as he struggled to ept this, but he was themander after all. He replied with a fiery gaze and a curt nod, but he couldnt smile. The veterans however were all smiles genuinely looking forward to the opportunity to let loose all they had until they had no more left to give. The young officers however trembled as they heard this,pletely not expecting the situation to be so extreme. Many of these veterans were their teachers, their senpais and in some cases even family members. Such resolve is admirable. Frost nodded his head in respect towards these veterans before looking at Hamon. Why dont you exin to the rest of us how dire our circumstances are. He was technically an outsider but also someone with strength and friends with the local lord, he had the right to ask this question. Hamon turned to Dous, Ryuu as well as Halgrave who all nodded in response. Alright all of you listen up I wont repeat this a second time. Hamon then proceeded to unveil the current situation. How their supplies were nearly all but spent and their forces were dwindling much to quickly and that at their current rate the northern wall would likely be overrun before the 4th day. By the time the reinforcements arrive the town would already be lost. An impactful set of news that obviously filled the listeners with a sense of dread but for the majority their hearts were set aze, refusing to sumb to defeat. Hamon saw the fire in the eyes of these officers and couldnt help butment his earlier feelings. These men and woman were soldiers and adventurers, the moment they signed up for such professions they were already prepared to lose their lives. Morale would not be lost due to danger but instead be reenergised. A smile gradually grew on his lips before he started chuckling. So, what if death was on the table, if they were to die here, then they were going to die in the most glorious way. The monster stampede would have to pay a heavy price if it wished to take down Furano. With everyone now on the same page and the current predicament out in the open a grand discussion took ce with everyone trying to find solutions together. An hourter the meeting was brought to a close and the officers split up, some checking up on their squads, several going for a quick bite while the rest found the closest ce to get some sleep, recharging themselves for the nights wave. Frost was reassigned to the magic corps for the night wave which he initially thought would be a serious threat given the added ferocity of the monsters and the more nocturnal species being present as well as the near pitch ckness of the night. Back in the dungeon thetter part wasnt an issue since Frost could control the light levels throughout. When he brought up his query however Ryuu and Jessie tilted their heads in confusion. Thats not an issue in the slightest, in fact night-time is actually a far easier situation to deal with than the day waves. Ryuu said while Jessie nodded in agreement leaving Frost quite perplexed. Am I missing something? He remembered the difficulty his monsters had in facing the night-time waves, the ghosts, ethereal and often poisonous opponents wreaked havoc on his forces and their even more aggressive nature meant that it took far more to bring down the same monsters than during the day. Nocturnal monsters are usually more specified in their characteristics making them have clear weaknesses and strengths. Weve got an entire contingent of magic users, another of ranged users and all manner of closebat chakra users and weapon masters so finding their antithesis is rather simple. Jessie exined after seeing Frosts confusion. Darkness is also something non-existent as long as you have certain devices and or mages like us. A simple light-based spell can brighten up the night sky revealing all that dwell beneath it. We even have a special magic device that not only creates a temporary sun in the sky allowing us to see around us but also weakness those of the darkness element such as undead. Ryuu spoke thest part with a frown, he wasnt fond of the undead, few were. Things that refused to rest once their time was up, were unnatural in many peoples views. The sight of such creatures can cause even the bravest of people to tremble in fear i.e. Maya. Frost didnt have that aversion probably because of his father as well as siblings Yami and Agar. Yami being the embodiment of darkness was quite well versed in dark magic and using monsters of that element such as the undead whereas his younger brother Agar was in the form of a lich and was proficient with skeletons and other undead monsters. To him undead were just another monster type and nothing to be scared of but everyone was different and had their own fears and trepidations. Several hourster the warning rm sounded once again, and the soldiers and adventurers quickly ushered to their assigned ces. Theiryout had changed slightly due to the night-time aspect. More mages were on call to deal with the more specified monster types and besides the archers were buckets filled with oil and nearby fire pits allowing them to light their arrows on fire. Another method to deal with darkness-based monsters if youcked chakra or mana. The oil would also spread on contact, lighting the target up and in some cases create waves of fire across the battlefield. Many of the soldiers and adventurers stationed beyond the wall reced their weapons with massive shields focusing on preventing the advancement of the monsters while leaving their demise to the mages and archers. Of course, that wasnt all, special squads that contained soldiers and adventurers skilled in chakra and or with special weapons, perfect for cutting down those more physically resistant foes could be seen behind the shield wall. A fierce fire could be felt from everyone, their morale was through the roof. Including every one of the officers in the situation seemed to work wonders, Frost felt that this wave would be a stark contrast to the earlier ones. Their loses should hopefully be minimal. Hamon had calcted however that even under their most advantageous situations theyd barely make it to the morning of the fourth day let alone when everything was against them. Luck, determination and hope were all they had to rely on but right now what they needed to focus on was the current wave. They survive this one and move onto the next, win enough and they might see the light at the end of the tunnel, miracles can happen, but you need to work your ass off first. As the treeline rustled and the first lines of the monsters revealed themselves Hamon roared out his order. Light up the night sky! With his yell dozens of people used 100s of magic crystals to active multiple special arrays. These arrays lit up with a golden majesty before linking to together before arge magic device. One man was in charge of this device, the prime artificer of the Frost wolf battalion. Sensing that the arrays wereplete he removed arge high quality B-rank magic crystal that had been refined and ced it in the magic device. With a low rumble the device swallowed the magic crystal, absorbing its entire essence in a couple seconds before glowing. Aided by the multiple arrays the magic device shot a ball of light into the air, like a mortar. This ball of light fired up through the air, around 50 metres above the northern wall before exploding like a giant firework. Golden fragments stretched across the night sky in the shape of a massive runic diagram while arge sphere of light formed in the centre appearing like a miniature sun. This was the device Ryuu and Jessie were talking about. The sr dawn. Chapter 466 466 Chapter 466: Why are you here? The sr dawn magic device activated, lighting up the night sky, revealing those who dwelt beneath and weakening those of the darkness element. Dozens of ghosts, undead and shadow creatures cried out as the light of the miniature sun burned their bodies and reduced their strength. This was an important magic device that ensured Furano survived the night waves. Simr versions were set up within the other two bastions towns and there was even a backup in case something happened to it. This was a magic device designed and created solely tobat the night waves of the monster stampedes and so far, worked wonders. Fire arrows! Hamon gave his next order, and the ranged corps lit their ammunition on fire before firing in a high arc. Their arrows and bolts glowed with an orange light as they pierced the light filled sky before ultimately crashing into the weakened masses of ghosts, undead and shadow-based monsters. Fires spread out on contact thanks to the oil, affecting nearby monsters even if they werent hit. Chaos ensued as the monsters were set aze, they panicked and ran in all manner of directions, spreading the fire. The rindar and poison herald ground their teeth at such as sight but were powerless to stop it. The majority of their current forces were vulnerable to fire, such a situation was inevitable. Ready shields! Hamon roared out his third order as the vast swarms of monsters ran towards the frontline with maddened fury, many still aze. ..... In response the frontline infantry grabbed their massive metal shields that rivalled them in stature and mmed them down hard on the ground creating an imposing wall of metal. They then braced themselves for the charge, bending their knees and cing their weight against the shields. Booooooooommm! An earth shattering sh erupted as the monster swarm mmed against the shield wall, but this wall didnt even budge in the slightest,pletely shutting out the monsters charge. Carve them up! Hamon gave his final order with a wild smile. The special squads armed with enhanced weapons and or chakra mimicked his wild smile before leaping over the shield wall and carving up the temporarily stunned monsters without any effort. A deluge of spells swiftly followed their attack, impeding the next few charging lines that escaped the treeline. This gave the specialist squads enough time to clean up the first group and retreat back to behind the shield wall. The next steps would simply by a case of rinse and repeat. Though the arrows volleys would be reduced thanks to their limited reserves the mages would take over with their fire and light based magic. The sr dawn by itselfsts close to 2 hours but with the addition of the sub arrays and additional magic crystals it couldst entire night so there was no option to wait it out. The monster stampede simply had to grin and bear it. Thankfully for them it wasnt just dark based monsters within their ranks. Shortly after several lines were decimated a horde of armoured lizards, ice boars and other highly defensive monsters left the treeline in full charge. Not limited by the sr dawn they mmed hard into the shield wall causing many areas to be pushed back slightly and the shield bearers to cough up blood but still the wall held, and the monsters momentum was brought to aplete halt making them easier to cull. Frost watched on with amazement as wave after wave of monsters fell to these simple and passive tactics. If this was during the day the range of monsters charging at all manner of speeds would make such a formation far less efficient but at night it worked wonders. The darkness based monsters which made up the majority would be weakened from the sr dawn and thoroughly injured by the mage corps leaving their charging power rathercklustre. The use of the armoured lizards and other defensive monsters certainly packed a wallop, but the frequency of such charges made maintaining the shield wall possible. Frosts job for this wave was quite simple, fire spell after spell without end, seriously taxing his endurance now that he was no longer connected to the dungeon. 4 hourster the night wave ended, and the nextpse arrived. The majority of soldiers and adventurers were in rather good moods. The wave went down without a hitch, a few broken arms, some damaged shields and less than ten deaths, a very positive result that inspired them greatly. Many were all smiles and very talkative as they dug into their meals whereas others such as the mages were groaning and cursing as they dragged their bodies towards the resting tents. Their mana veins thoroughly overworked from the near constant barrage of spells. Ryuu and Jessie had arranged a three line system wherein the first line would fire up to 5 spells before being taken over by the second team which would then be repeated for the third team before starting over. This ensured that they were given enough time to recuperate in between casting and prevent mana exhaustion. Like the oil barrels and fire pits near the ranged corps the mage corps had mana amplifying and gathering devices that created mana rich areas surrounding their tforms. However time was still needed to absorb the surrounding mana thus having three lines ensured that not only would the mages have the time needed to gather mana but the deluge of spells would be constant. Frost, Jessie and a high C-rank mage named Yanni were each in charge of their own line whereas Ryuu oversaw the entire process and used his higher circle magic to take down specific targets. It was clear that the night time waves were carried by the mage corps thus while the others felt energised and celebratory from the win they struggled to even make it down the stairs. Of course Frost wasnt nearly as bad as they were still able to stand tall and unwavering, something that caused Ryuus lips to twitch in irritation. He mildly uttered something about youth under his breath before forcibly dragging himself to themand tent. He walked tall and steady, but it was clear that his limbs were trembling. Jessie attempted tough at Ryuus attitude, but she was too tired. She joined the other mages in heading off to recuperate, leaving the report to Ryuu and Frost. Frost being the only one who could move naturally scratched his cheek upon seeing how different he was from everyone else in the corps before quickly running after Ryuu and offering to assist him but was stubbornly waved off. Another strategy meeting went down and this time the atmosphere was far more positive. The night wave went down well so it was hard to be pessimistic after such a victory. However the morning wave would be a deciding factor in how the next few days would go. Given how hard they worked during the night wave, the mage corps would be far less effective during the morning and the ranged corps would have even less ammunition to utilise. The main line and the vanguard squads would have to fight with limited back up all while doing their best to preserve their numbers. Since rest was crucial and no new members had arrived since Frost the meeting was rather brief. Frost was invited to eat with Ryuu and Bastion, but he turned them down as there was something else he needed to do. Passing beyond the food court, the resting stations and the repair workshops Frost arrived at the medical centre where the wounded soldiers would be brought. To the left of this medical centre was an area designated for monster mounts as the frost wolf battalion -though he hadnt seen much of them- came with several hundred as part of their cavalry forces. Apparently they yed a major role in the mid stages and thus suffered devastating loses. With their reduced numbers and the fact that their attributes were more inclined to handle sapients armies rather than monster armies they were currently on standby since thete stages began. Frost made his way through the clinic spotting many frost and ice wolves with debilitating injuries as well as minor wounds recuperating with the aid of healers and doctors. A young woman who was in charge of this sector noticed Froste in. She dusted herself off to make herself more presentable before walking towards him. Mr Frost. She said with a bright smile. Miss K. He nodded his head with respect before looking beyond the young woman. Hows he doing? Frost asked with a painful look. K the healer in charge of the monster clinic let out a sigh before replying in a positive tone. Better, hes responding to treatment well and will surely make a full recovery within the next couple days. K then led Frost into the room behind her where the patient she spoke of was currently ced. There lying on a softyer of feathers was Kiba. In the earlier wave when the cyclops made its presence known he was shot down by the beasts eye beam. His wings were badly wounded as were areas around his torso and hind legs. Once Artemis jumped from his back Kiba with difficulty glided or rather fell behind the northern wall, crashing hard onto a few soldiers who moved to catch him. He was then shuttled off to the monster clinic to receive immediate treatment. Kiba was currently sleeping soundly and looked far better than when he visited earlier. The deep wounds had started to scab over, and colour had returned to his cheeks. They were taking the slow and steady approach just like with Dous so as to ensure no lingering damage, something Frost was grateful for. K wisely left Frost and Kiba alone after warning Frost to not touch any of the wounded areas and that it would be best if he didnt wake him. Though desperately wishing to hear his chuffs and roars Frost acquiesced to the doctors orders. He gently sat by Kibas side and lightly stroked his head in an affectionate manner causing the tiger to rx in his sleep and even subconsciously purr like a domestic cat. He stayed like this for 10 minutes before someone else walked into the room. Oh youre already here. The person was Artemis. Of course hes my precious partner after all. Frost quickly replied back while scratching Kibas ears. This wasnt the first time Artemis came to visit, like Frost the moment the previous wave ended he immediately made his way to the monster clinic. Kiba was the reason he was able to avoid being injured and even sessfully advance to advanced bow mastery, he felt a lot of gratitude towards him. Frost smiled when Artemis walked in, appreciating his attitude towards Kiba. Doctor K advised me not to wake him, but she said that he should make a full recovery over the next couple days. Thats good. Ill treat him to a high quality steak once this is all over. Artemis whispered as he smiled towards the sleeping Kiba. Im sure hed love that. Frost gave Kiba onest petting before standing up and walking towards Artemis. Have you eaten yet? No not yet, you? No I came here first. How about you join for a meal. Frost showed a toothy grin as he ced a hand on Artemiss left shoulder. Artemis was caught by surprise for a second before immediately nodding his head and agreeing. Though he didnt have a very high opinion of Frost when they first interacted, after fighting together and alongside Kiba he now greatly admired and even respected him. Alright then lets get some high quality grub and chat, Id like to hear more about the frost wolf battalion as well archery. Frost then led Artemis out of the monster clinic and towards the food court not forgetting to politely thank K and the others on call for taking good care of Kiba. At the food court Frost and Artemis both went to the highest quality food booth and received upper C-rank meals that were absolutely to die for. Frost reaffirmed the need to have some high quality chefs back in the dungeon and the in progress camp. The two young men chatted about themselves at length creating a firm bond of friendship, Leo and Luna even joined them at ater point thus generating a bond between an up anding solider and the next Viscount of the Furano territory. Frost learned that Artemis was only 23 years old but he already had a foot in the door to B-rank, very impressive not just in Northrend but across the entire continent. Artemis was a very talented individual, one that Frost couldnt help but want to poach somehow but that idea was swiftly shot down. Artemis was a loyal soldier and had no interest in serving another group or nation no matter the benefits. He wished to follow in his masters footsteps and be a mighty general for the Northrend empire. He talked about the capital as well as his master and sibling disciples quite a lot drawing the interest of Leo and Luna who were always inquisitive about the capital. So youre here in the frost wolf battalion to gain battle experience. Said Frost. Pretty much, my master signed me up and slotted me under Colonel Hamonsmandst year and said not to return until I understand the true role of an archer. Artemis spoke in a mimicking voice of his master beforeughing, quite impressed with his own impression. At first I was quite annoyed with his actions and sulked quite a lot but after taking part in this monster stampede, seeing the different roles in the army being utilised and of course fighting with Kiba and then by your side on the frontline I think I understand what he was getting at. A look of understanding donned his face as he came to terms with what his master meant. A smile then grew on his lips causing Frost, Luna and Leo to smile in return. Artemis then looked seriously at Frost this young elf like man who surpassed him in strength and talent. What about you Frost? Why are you here? Chapter 467 467 Chapter 467: Bloodbath What about you Frost? Why are you here? Artemis asked Frost with clear intrigue. Frost ced his hand under his chin in thought and looked briefly towards Leo and Luna before answering with a smile. Pretty much the same as you, I guess. The monster stampede holds great challenges making it the perfect opportunity for someone at my level to break through and gain valuable war experience. Frost didnt lie this was an integral reason for his part in Furanos defence. Of course, my friends being in need of my strength yed a big part as well. Frost smiled brightly towards Leo and Luna making their hearts warm with gratitude. Hehehehehe just what Id expect from someone with such strength at a young age. Artemisughed and downed his fruit juice (though it wasnt forbidden for officers to drink alcohol during the stampede Artemis would never risk his uracy). Most adventurers though many being quite loyal, and brave had money and fame as their prime goals especially during the monster stampedes. Even if they flocked to Furano in service to their home, they still wished to leave their names recorded in history and or be paid handsomely for their services. It wasnt a bad mindset and to be honest quite practical, but it did seem to be a restraint when it came to ones power. Only people fully focused on bing strong and challenging themselves regardless of the promise of riches made it into the legendary fables. Artemis believed that Frost fit such a description and was moved by his determination, feeling a sense of kinship with him. The group of four talked for a little while longer before splitting up to their own quarters. Frost and Artemis needed to rest and recuperate for the next wave while Leo and Luna had to do their part in managing the towns affairs. Though under heavy siege for the past couple months the town seemed to be full of spirit. Regr people could be seen walking through the streets with smiles on their faces as they headed to work or the children to school. It was as if the whole monster stampede wasnt happening, even the refugees that fled to the town rested peacefully and worked hard at their assigned jobs. ..... The civilians had such strong faith in the soldiers and adventurers that they couldpletely ignore the threat and go about their regr days. Something that wasnt possible under the previous viscounts, only with Dous and Cassandra had the monster stampedes turned into boons for the territory and no longer something to horribly dread. Of course there was still the loud screeches, roars and sounds of battle that could be heard throughout the day, but the residents were trained to tune that out. It seemed as though everyone within the towns walls knew that panicking andining solved nothing and only made the situation worse so instead they all worked hard and did their best to smile. This attitude not only helped them deal with the stress of being under siege but also the soldiers and adventurers, inspiring them to work even harder. Frost was quite surprised by theck of tension within the town and couldnt help but not his head in admiration. Several hours passed and eventually the sun began to rise in the sky marking the beginning of a new day. One day had now passed since Frost arrived, leaving three more until the reinforcements were set to arrive. 3 days, 72 hours, in the grand scheme of this long siege it wasnt that much time, but it wasnt a short time either. Baaaaaaddddooooooonnnn!!! Baaaaaaddddddoooooonnnnnn! In response to the rising sun arge war horn was blown awakening everyone on call, Frost included. He swiftly jumped from the bed and casted clean up magic before grabbing his ive and making his way to the northern wall. Hundreds of soldiers also swiftly swapped ces with the reserve teams, kitted out in all their gear and ready to face a new day. Hamon was as always the first one on the wall, it seemed as though the grandmander never slept for more than an hour before returning to his post, inspiring fear in the enemies and vigour into his subordinates. Colonel Frost crossed his arm over his chest and performed a slight bow, saluting his superior. Hmm Hamon mumbled in recognition while keeping his eyes locked onto the treeline that was beginning to part. Several Majors walked passed the two of them before jumping from the wall to join their squads. Not a very practical approach but certainly impactful. Frost hadnt been assigned a clear position yet. They had discussed their strategiesst night but since Frost was young, able and multiskilled Hamon decided to wait and see what the enemy had prepared before cing Frost. Though the soldiers in front of the wall looked plentiful and full of vigour the tforms behind the walls were rather sparce. 80% of the mages were still resting as they were unable to recover from the nights strenuous activity in just a few hours. The archers were also rather tired but at least half of them were reassigned to help guard either the top of the northern wall or the back lines of the main contingent, adding numbers to the closebat forces. Though they wouldnt be as strong as the regr soldiers and adventurers it was better than nothing. Any good archer worth their salt could use some form of dagger or short sword so Hamon put those skills to use thus allowing the smiths to try and catch up with their spent ammunition supplies. Those left on the tforms were the strongest of the bunch, the ones that wouldnt waste even a single arrow. Artemis was one of these few, he nodded and smiled at Frost as their eyes met. For the mage side Ryuu wasnt present but Jessie was. Frost would either be assigned to the mage team to help bolster theircking numbers or added to the ground teams. The treeline before the northern wall split open as the soldiers and adventurers all got into position. Roaaaaaarrrrr!! A cacophony of loud roars erupted as massive monsters charged forth with vicious expressions. Tsk! Bastards! Hamon clicked his tongue and cursed before giving some sort of hand signal to both Jessie and Artemis who both turned to their subordinates. Frost take up the frontline, squad three will be under yourmand, go! Hamon didnt even turn to look at Frost simply giving out his order and waving his hand. Understood Colonel Frost saluted and smiled wildly before leaping from the wall and joining squad 3 which was made up of minimum mid C-rank adventurers. Seeing Frosting towards them they all smiled and gripped their weapons tight before staring dead ahead at therge group of monsters charging forth. This group was considered quite talented and experienced thus their was little pressure on Frost, all he needed to do was fight and asionally keep an eye on them and theyd do the rest. Everyone ready arms! Hamon loudly proimed his orders, his voice drowning out the roars of the charging monsters and filling everyone with strength as they raised their weapons in preparation for the charge. Theyout this time was back to normal with a less dedicated shield wall and more offensive line up however upon seeing the monster types charging forward a certain group of weapon wielders made their way to the forefront of the defensive line, spearmen as well as halberdiers and other antirge weapon users. This was because charging towards them was arge contingent of trolls, ogres and minotaurs, all veryrge enemies that would be more susceptible to spears and other pole weapons just like cavalry. A shield wall, even a dense one wouldnt be able to stop a full on charge of these massive creatures, even the shortest trolls were still 3 metres tall. Normally such a line up would actually fair poorly given that Furano boasted arge group of skilled archers and mages. Larger bodies made for far easier targets, but their arrow supplies were low, and the mage team was currently a remnant of its usual power thus making this force quite dangerous and the reason Hamon clicked his tongue and cursed. The eldest rindar and the B-rank poison herald were certainly no pushovers when it came to military strategy, they were hitting them right where it hurts. Upper C-rank and B-rankbatants break their charge! Hamon shouted while smashing his right fist into his open left palm. A few powerful arrows along with some more hard hitting spells flew overhead in response, mming hard into the charging ogres, trolls and minotaurs bringing a few down. Frost smiled from ear to ear before being the first to run beyond the spear line, his ive hanging out by his side, gradually being coated in energy. [Wyverns maw] With a loud roar the energy filling his ive formed into a massive wyvern head and with a sharp swing it shot forward with its mouth wide open. Squelch! The massive jaws bit down hard on a trolls head, instantly decapitating it before mming hard against a nearby minotaur. A bipedal cow creature that sportedrge sharp horns and wielded a mighty great axe. Frost followed swiftly after the wyvern head diving right into the thick of battle. His ive shed against the club of an ogre while he kicked out with an ice encrusted left leg knocking back a troll. Blood quickly covered him from head to toe making him appear quite ferocious as he smiled. Many upper C-rank fighters swiftly followed his lead, utilising the gap he wrenched open they attacked in masse, heavily diluting the waves charging power. Multiple Major level fighters did the same as Frost, opening up a point for their subordinates to let loose with their weapons. But that wasnt enough to halt them all. Arge group still charged forth and mmed against the spear wielders knocking back the frontline with their ferocious swings. A bloodbath thus ensued. Chapter 468 468 Chapter 468: All-out war The smell of blood quickly covered the battlefield and corpses once again littered the ground. Wave after wave of these hard-hitting monsters continued to flood out from the treeline. Their massive bulk and powerful limbs allowing them to smash their way into the frontlines with devasting ferocity. Injuries and deaths continued to grow as time went on, without the aid of arrows and magic the frontline troops were taking an absolute beating. Of course, the monsters were dying even quicker, but numbers were never a problem for their side. The horde would constantly replenish their losses as long the as the stampede was still in progress and the B-ranks inmand remained. The rindar and poison herald knew this, so they felt nothing as wave after wave of trolls, ogres and minotaurs died. As long as the sapients continued to lose men and women it mattered not. After an hour several dozen soldiers and adventurers had perished and far more sported injuries, things werent looking good, the B-rank monsters hadnt even taken to the field yet. Frost and the other Major ssed fighters ground their teeth as they did their best to cull as many of the monsters as they could, but they were few in number. Their actions were like boulders along the shore, splitting the wave but unable to stop its whole destructive crash upon the cliff. Over time a hole would always be created. Ahhhhhhhh! A young woman screamed in agony as her right arm was torn off by an ogre and she was sent flying backwards, her consciousness fading. This fall was a major one as she was thest spear wielder in the vicinity. Following her fall the nearby ogres, trolls and minotaurs charged into this gap opening it up and swiftly injuring a dozen or so men and women and even killing another two. A crunch could be heard from atop the northern wall and the very next second before a troll was about to smash a solider into meat paste Hamonnded with a gaze full of fury. [Serpents whip]! With a loud roar he activated a powerful leg skill. A green serpent formed around his leg and grew to over ten metres long beforeshing out. The energy formed serpents body smashed against the trolls chest causing it to cave in before the monster wasunched backwards mming into an ogre and another troll. ..... Following this Hamon pped his hands together causing runic diagrams to form along his arms. Hamon was a very unique type of mage, one skilled in closebat and creating arrays. His entire body was covered in arrays formed of his own mana and activated with assigned movements or a simple touch making them far more reactive,parable to chakra in speed. The diagrams glowed with a purple light and funnelled mana between Hamons hands forming a rapidly erging sphere. [Trigram beam] Hamons hands then formed a triangle shape pushing the sphere of energy into a simr shape before the pressure became too much and it burst forth in a violet purple fury. The mana beam encapsted the three monsters affected by his [serpents whip] as well as the others that rushed into the gap created sending more than half of them careening through the air while literally disintegrating the rest. This was a very powerful attack, one which Hamon couldnt use repeatedly. The purple lightsted for a few seconds before evaporating and revealing a heavily burned ground in front of Hamon. The runic diagrams then swiftly faded and Hamon released a deep breath before giving his orders. Quickly recreate the formation! Hamon didnt look backwards and simply stood at the forefront of the main line, guarding it like an immovable deity. The nearby soldiers and adventurers stared at his back in awe for a brief second before quickly reorganising themselves into a solid formation. The woman who had her arm torn off was quickly shuttled to safety and given a potion to staunch the bleeding. That was way too close. Hamon thanked his quick reactions as he thought back on the situation. If he hadnt arrived when he did this gap would have grown and grown and likely caused a cascade of deaths before being rectified. He couldnt allow such a thing and despite being themander in chief heunched himself into battle. A decision that saved the frontline but also elerated the battle. Without his looming presence on the top of the northern wall the B-rank monsters woulde out to y. And as expected the moment Hamon decided to join the battle, the B-rank monsters, the two rindars, the cyclops as well as two new ones, an ogre and minotaur stepped forth. The eldest rindar and the B-rank poison herald who were overseeing the battle smiled from ear to ear. The enemymander was the first one forced into the battle, a subtle victory for them. Go and cause some havoc. The eldest rindar gave the order and all the B-ranks under him charged forth joining fray, even the B-rank poison herald joined them. Hamon should be too preupied with maintaining the frontline to involve himself with their actions, so he felt confident in entering the battle despite his cowardly nature. Hamon frowned as he saw this but was powerless to stop it. With a harsh stomp he braced himself before the frontline fully preparing himself to act as a guardian. Majors prepare for all-out war! With a loud roar amplified with his aura Hamon gave an order to Frost and the other B-rank fighters on the ground as well as on the wall. This order enlisted everyone at B-rank level strength so a few majors such as Maggie and Halgrave who were still on the wall jumped down with their weapons in hand. Hamon also made a hand gesture intended for the captain who would take his ce on the wall. The captain frowned before whispering to a nearby solider who saluted and rapidly descended from the wall, heading deeper into Furano. Squelch! Frost cut down an ogre with finesse before turning his attention northward. He licked his lips before steadily walking forward. His ice armour that had received arge amount of damage swiftly repaired itself and his ive was suddenly engulfed in a fierce silver me that chilled the surrounding air. His aura that had been growing thicker and thicker with every enemy he yed started to epass his body and make him look incredibly intimidating. Nearby D and C-rank monsters felt their bodies being pressured and their base instincts screamed at them to run but with the stampedesmands the conflict made them sluggish neither attacking nor retreating. Frost decapitated one such enemy and relished in the sudden surge of DP that filled his body and revitalised some of his expended stamina. He was preparing himself for battle, a grand battle. After several steps there were no more monsters surrounding him like before in fact, they instinctually gave him a wide berth. Only one monster stood in his path, a veritable giant of a creature with a single eye and visible wounds across its body evident from thest time they shed. The cyclops wielded itsrge stone club with both hands and looked down at Frost with immense fury, its eye swiftly being dyed red as anger took over. Rahhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Smaaaaasssshhhhhh!! The monster roared out as it swung its massive club down upon Frost. Bang! With a loud bang the club smashed against the ground but there was no blood, it had failed to strike Frost. Frost appeared a momentter at the creatures side, his ive pried and thrusting towards its rib where a scabbed over wound was already present. Squelch! The ive de easily slid into the wound reopening it and spilling drops of thick red blood, but such an attack was too shallow to mean anything. The cyclopss entire body was protected by a thickyer of muscle that Frost struggled to prate even with such well-aimed strikes. And after that was the creatures sturdy bones. The cyclops may not be agile nor smart, but it certainly was strong. Frost quickly retrieved his ive after expanding the wound and burning the cyclopss insides with his cold me. He then jumped backwards narrowly avoiding the cyclopss grasping hand. This massive lug was incredibly slow and rather predictable but if he made one mistake then it could be over. Frostnded a few steps away and readied his ive once again. Im going to take at least one of your limbs by the end of this. Frost arrogantly stated with unwavering determination. He nned to go the route of an eye for an eye. Kiba was bedridden with mangled wings and damaged hindlegs thanks to the cyclops, so he wished to return the favour. His ive may not be able to severely harm it right now, but he improved quickly. By the end of this fight, he was determined to slice through its muscle and even bones. His will was so strong that he waved a hand gesture to Maggie telling her to leave the cyclops to him alone. A bold and somewhat arrogant deration but to be honest one that was sorely needed. With reluctance she led her team to take on the nearby B-rank ogre thus if the situation was truly dire, she may have enough time to run to his side. Apromise that Frost understood and willingly agreed to as did Hamon. Chapter 469 469 Chapter 469: Duelling the cyclops Boom! Frost dodged to the left avoiding another strike from the cyclops causing its fury to escte even further. The beasts arms bulged obscenely, and its club groaned from the pressure of its grip as it was drawn back in preparation for another blow. Frost danced circles around the creature, easily avoiding each and every one of its swings. Even when it used weapon skills or that dreadful eye beam, he moved with deft grace and avoided taking any damage. After dodging hed swiftly counterattack with his ive, swinging it with devastating speed and force towards the cyclopss exposed areas. Unfortunately, even after shing dozens of times in multiple different areas he failed to leave a single deep wound. The creatures robust muscles and solid bones always stopped his ives momentum, and the cyclops never gave him enough time to push through. Frost skidded across the ground after jumping backwards for the umpteenth time. His chakra armour was still in pristine condition and his ive was still wreathed in slivery cold mes, but his breathing had be slightlyboured, he was growing tired. The cyclops wasnt looking that great inparison. Its body waspletely dyed red from its own blood and hundreds of cuts spanned the entirety of its body. Unfortunately, none of them could be considered fatal or even serious, just numerous. Frost stared at the cyclops with focused eyes and his jaw clenched in frustration. Damn things harder than duram! He internally cursed the cyclops before preparing for another attack. Though his progress was abysmally slow he could feel that he was making some improvements. His shes now cut 2 centimetres deeper than when he started. As the cyclops reeled back for another swing Frosts eyes focused on its left arm finally making his choice. ..... Booooommmmm! With another skilful dodge Frost evaded a skill enhanced strike that sent plumes of soil exploding outward. He twirled his ive as he moved filling it with energy as well as reinforcing his chakra. The sliver mes condensed into a dense silver beam along the des edge while the skill infused energy formed into three sharp ws of ice. [w of the ice wolf] Frost activated his most used skill, one that focused the cutting power of his ive. The three ice ws formed before the ives de reflecting the light of the early morning sun as they shed down upon the cyclopss left arm. Schwing! The ws of ice dug in deep before shattering, opening up the wound in preparation for silver beam of cold mes to slice even deeper before they to eventually fragmented, seeping into the cyclopss flesh, causing it no small amount of pain. Finally, it was the ive itself. With the skill and cold mes entering in advance it shed through a decent amount of muscle before once again being stopped. Frost wasnt dismayed by this however as once again hed reached a little deeper than his previous strikes. He then promptly pulled out his ive and jumped to the side narrowly avoiding the cyclopss attempt to grab and crush him with its oversized hand. Frost then proceeded to twist his body and shuffled his feet cing him back in front of the cyclopss left arm. [w of the ice wolf] He activated his trademark skill once again and attacked the exact same area as before, deepening the wound by another centimetre or so before once again escaping from the beasts field of control. Frostnded a few metres away and let out a restrained breath and smiled, slow and steady wins the race. Frost thus attacked the same spot over and over again, repeatedly deepening the wound. Of course, the cyclops wasnt aplete idiot it realised what was happening and did its best to protect its left arm, but Frost was far faster and far nimbler than it was. Despite its desperate attempts the wound on its left arm continued to grow and grow and soon the cyclopss bone was clearly exposed. The cleaving sound of Frosts ive carving up flesh changed to a nging sound reminiscent of metal striking metal revealing how dense and solid the cyclopss bones were. ng! ng ng! Rahhhhhhhhhh! Frost continued to sh away at the cyclopss left arm generating minute cracks on the bone after each contact. The cyclops roared in fury as it iled around madly, desperately trying to swat every possible ce that Frost could escape to. As long as the cyclops grasped Frost even once it knew it could turn this battle around. Frost couldnt dodge all this desperate iling, but he didnt need to. With a flourish of his ive, he shed at the cyclopss fingers, spurting blood and forcing back its hand before easily making use of the opened gap to escape, smiling arrogantly as he did. However, that arrogance was sure to be his downfall. A split secondter before Frost could getpletely clear the hair on the back of his neck stood up and a strong sense of danger gripped his heart, causing him to flinch. He was then forced to jump back into the reach of the cyclops. A millisecond after he moved a fist sized rock flew passed where his head once was and crashed into the ground. The force behind the rock rivalled that of a ballista as it burst open the ground leaving arge pit in its wake. If that had struck me, Id likely have been knocked unconscious. Frosts skin shivered as he imagined the possibility. If he was knocked out the cyclops would definitely take advantage of the situation, likely ripping him apart with its massive arms. Tsk! A loud tongue clicking could be heard by Frost the moment the rock missed but he didnt have enough time to turn around and see who ambushed him. Thanks to the sneak attack his body was now once again before the cyclops and the beast had already finished winding up. Its massive club was coated in an earth-coloured energy and the image of a dense rock could be seen behind it. The cyclops was using an advanced level skill and this time it was likely to meet its mark. Fuck! Frost cursed as he desperately braced himself for the impending blow. His ive was ced before him and gripped hard as he generated his strongest move. [Wyverns maw] With a violent swing a wyverns head was quickly created andunched straight at the rapidly iing club. Booooooooommmmmmm! A loud sonic boom erupted on contact. The cyclopss massive stone club smashed against the wyvern maw and was halted for a brief second before shattering the energy-based life form into millions of fragments. It then continued on towards Frost and his ive, dragging a fierce gale as it did. Frost frowned and gritted his teeth as he firmly nted his feet on the ground and tightened his posture. This was going to hurt, and he knew it. Booooooommmmmm! Another shockwave exploded when the two weapons met and like earlier the stone club was stopped but only briefly. The webbing between Frosts fingers split apart, leaking drops of ruby red blood down his hands. The residual force passed from his ive to his arms and then down his waist and legs before entering the ground. His muscles and bones trembled from the pressure and the ground on which he stood loudly cracked forming spiderweb shaped crevasses. Urgh! Frost coughed up blood before his defences gave out and his body rose up. The next moment Frost was literally swatted away by the cyclopss mighty swing, like a ball facing a bat. Don! Don! Don! Frosts body shot out and skipped across the ground. His chakra armour fragmenting as he rolled and even his white robes started tearing apart. After the third or fourth skip Frost reached out and mmed his ive into the ground, dragging a deep trail as he came to a stop. Cough cough Frost violently coughed up more blood and leaned against his ive for support. His appearance was quite ragged looking. His chakra armour was all but destroyed and even his white robes were torn up and covered in muck and blood. Crack! A horrible sound filled Frosts ears and his gaze rapidly focused on his ive. Arge crack and chips could now be seen running along the des edge. After battling for weeks in the dungeon and the fiercebat yesterday his weapon had finally been damaged. Dakis hard work hade undone. The weapon couldnt be med Frost ran it through the wringer after all. It was never designed to fight against B-rank foes and especially not to withstand a direct full-strength strike of a cyclops. Boom boom boom As Frost was gradually regaining his faculties andmenting the state of his weapon the cyclops started chasing after its hated foe, its massive weight causing the ground to shake with every step it took. Thankfully due to his quick reactions and good armour Frosts wounds were pretty superficial. With another blood-filled cough he felt much better and started finding his feet, he really couldnt risk taking another blow. Chapter 470 470 Chapter 470: Duelling the cyclops (2) Frost quickly rose to a standing position. He spat out a dollop of blood and gripped his ive firmly as he prepared to deal with the charging cyclops whose eyes had pretty been entirely engulfed by that blood red colour. It was in aplete state of madness. The beasts massive stone club was raised up high by its still good arm and threatened to squash him like a bug. Frost frowned and clenched his jaw as he kicked off against the ground, swiftly evading to the side of the easily telegraphed swing. However once again the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end and a strong feeling of danger gripped his heart. This time the target wasnt the back of his head but his weight bearing right leg so he could see the attacking as well as the attacker. Bastard! Frost internally cursed, his teeth grinding against each other in his anger. His gaze spurted mes as it focused on the mocking smile of the eldest rindar. The arm the rindar used to throw the rock was still outstretched, he wasnt even hiding the fact that he was the one interfering. Frost did his best to stifle his anger as he moved to quickly deal with the rapidly encroaching rock bullet. The ice cold mes that spanned his ives de receded and were almost instantly reced by solid ice chakra, protecting the de from further unnecessary damage. Then with a fluid motion the ive swung violently in a cleaving motion, striking the rock dead on with vertical force. Smash! The rock itself was nothing impressive strength wise but thanks to the rindars aura and arm strength it held a great deal of horizontal force. However upon being struck by Frosts vertical sh the rock instantly smashed into the ground and shattered into innumerable fragments about a centimetres away from his right foot. If it wasnt for Mayas no holds barred training there would have been no way Frost could have reacted in time. He internally promised that hed thank her profusely when he returned. ..... He wasnt out of the danger zone yet, however. This attack was but a mere distraction. Swoosh! With the rock failing to strike against his right leg Frost was free to continue dodging to the side. Boooooooommmmmm!! The cyclopss massive stone club thundered down upon his former position cracking the ground and sending plumes of dirt, blood and other debris flying outwards. The force behind such a blow wasnt something Frosts body could easily withstand. Frost swiftly reoriented himself and without a moments hesitation dashed towards the cyclopss wounded left arm and attacked with a fierce vengeance. ng! Once again he failed break the bone, but more cracks appeared, he was almost there. He backflipped off of the cyclopss body dodging another rock bullet andnded several metres away. He then looked towards his ive, the cracks on the de edge had be worse. Tsk! He clicked his tongue before cing the damaged almost 4 star ive into his storage ring and recing it with an upper 3 star ive that he purchased through the dungeon menu. A little inferior materials wise andcking a wind enchantment but should be enough to break through thest vestiges of the arm. While the cyclops cumbersomely looked around for the nimble Frost and readied itself for another linear attack Frost focused the majority of his attention towards the eldest rindar. His expression full of irritation and even mocking. The eldest rindar was so petty that despite being the grandmander of the current horde was preupying himself with Frosts battle. The eldest rindars expression was no less annoyed as he gently juggled fist sized rocks infused with his aura. He had grown unsettled over the past hour, watching the other B-ranks fight against the elites of Furano and even theirmander Hamon entering the fray had made him antsy. Especially when he saw Frost one of his most hated foes practically dancing around the cyclops like an expert ying with a child. The other B-ranks werent fairing too much better, but he didnt really care about them as much. Frost was the one that needed to die and to die in the most brutal of ways. At the start when Hamon first jumped down and entered the battle his focus was entirely on breaching the frontlines defences, ordering the masses to attack weak points and stretch Hamon thin but unfortunately Furanos forces were more stubborn than he expected. 20 minutes ago while Frost was focused on the cyclops and pretty much oblivious to happenings behind him a massive amount of corpses were lined up around Hamon. He stood stalwart before the frontline blocking any ogres, trolls or minotaurs from charging into the soldiers behinds him. These D and C-rank monster were practically nothing against an upper B-rank fighter such as Hamon, hell even the rindar and poison herald were fearful of him let alone them. However he was still just one man, and the northern wall was a very long line to protect. He couldnt defend everywhere at once and unfortunately that was beginning to show. The eldest rindar had him running from side to side so as to burn his stamina and dy his reaction times thus more and more frontline forces were being injured and even dying before Hamon could get to them in time. Slowly but surely chipping away at Furanos forces which unlike the monster horde didnt replenish. Hamon ripped apart an ogre with his mana enhanced hands, drenching himself in its blood before fiercely looking side to side. Where the fuck are they? He shouted internally before jumping towards the next closest enemy. Whistle. The next moment his ears twitched as he heard a high pitched whistle and smile swiftly grew on his lips in response. Theyre here. Suddenly from the sides of the northern wall two contingents of monster cavalry silently appeared. There was no more than perhaps 30 on either side but each and every one of them gave off a heavy pressure. This was the frost wolf battalions elite cavalry, their very namesake. Of course normally thered be several hundred riders but after weeks of battle their numbers had dwindled. These 60 men and women however were the crme d crme, each one battle hardened, experienced and at the minimum upper D-rank fighters by themselves with many being C-rank. However when theyre upon their battle mounts their strengths are multiplied making for a terrifying force. Earlier Hamon gave a hand gesture to the captain that took his ce upon the wall, it was ordering him to prepare the cavalry as he knew that he couldnt hold the line by himself. The eldest rindar didnt even hear theming and could only stand there frozen as the cavalry forces charged from the nks swiftly cutting down line after line of the ogre, trolls and minotaurs. Their longnces making it almost effortless when at full charge. With them present on the battlefield it was clear that this would not be the wave that conquered the town. The eldest rindar stared daggers at Hamon and the cavalry forces but eventually let out a restrained breath, his anger evaporating. It was wishful thinking in the first ce and the losses didnt matter it was just ogres, trolls and minotaurs, muscle brain idiots. Without a single care the eldest rindar ordered for the rest of the horde to dive in without care. Once their charge was brought to a halt those cavalry would be far weaker, bog them down with dense expendable numbers so as to be rid of that force permanently. Since there was no need to care about the overall battle situation anymore the eldest rindar then turned his attention to the battles that did matter, the ones between the B-ranks and thus eventually Frost was singled out as a target. Hamon who still needed to maintain his role as guardian of the frontline could only work with the frost wolf cavalry to decimate the masses that charged out from the treeline under the eldest rindarsmand. This took pretty much all his focus as he couldnt afford for the cavalry force to be reduced either. The Majors and their teams and especially Frost were on their own until the situation was resolved. Hamon gnashed his teeth as he envied the eldest rindars luxurious position, endless forces that could be expended without a second thought. But those feelings were brief, and he quickly returned to culling the enemy. Back to Frost Frost red at the eldest rindar before snorting in derision, now that he knew who was interfering and their position handling it was nothing. The cyclops was cumbersome enough and he already had enough experience fighting it to deal with the sneak attacks of the rindar at the same time. It was after all just a couple rocks. He gave a hand gesture towards the nearby team that was lead by Maggie showing that he was fine. They had witnessed him being fired across the air by the cyclopss club as well and were worried about his safety. Maggie stared threateningly at the eldest rindar causing it momentarily shiver before she attacked the B-rank ogre with even fiercer aggression. Her actions showing her stance, she and her team would quickly deal with the ogre before storming after the rindar. Maggie and Halgrave were both mid-level B-rank fighters with ample experience, so they were both strong enough to threaten the eldest rindar especially after it lost an arm and received multiple injuries in its battle against Frost and Hamon. It suddenly regretted drawing the bear womans ire but that too was brief. The rindar instead double down on its antics picking up rocks with its other hands and preparing tounch even more bullets at Frost and perhaps others from its ce of safety. Chapter 471 471 Chapter 471: Duelling the cyclops (3) Frost armed with his secondary ive was determined to take down the cyclops during this wave and the antics of the eldest rindar werent going to stop him. He twirled his ive and wreathed the de in a dense beam of cold mes, enhancing its cutting force. His tarnished robes and chakra armour also gradually start to repair, returning him to his glorious ice warrior image. Arghhhhhhhh! The cyclops roared out as it swung with immense fury. In Frost response shifted his focus to the cyclops and elegantly dodged to the side once again easily evading the beasts blow. A couple fist sized rocks flew towards him the moment his back was turned but he was prepared. His body twisted allowing the two rocks to fly right passed him, being aware of the attacks made them far easier to dodge. His body twisting turned into a fierce rotation as the cyclops swung wide in a horizontal sweep. He jumped up and spun like a tornado, building up force beforeshing out with his ive. [w of the ice wolf] With his rotation, the ive skill held even more destructive power. The ice ws and de smashed hard against the cyclopss exposed arm bone, shattering the area upon contact and releasing deep cracks throughout the entire bone. Finally after innumerable strikes the bone had finally shattered leaving just a thin strip to hold the muscle together. The effect was almost immediate, the beasts left arm lost most of its strength and flopped loosely at its side. Bits of bone, muscle and vast amounts of blood exploded outwards as Frost reeled back his ive and kicked off of the limp arm, dodging another rock that this time smashed into the cyclops, dealing some friendly fire. Frostnded lightly a few metres away with a gentle smile on his face and a focused look in his eyes. He felt in the zone, his connection to his ive as well as the activation of his skills and chakra were seamless. Not wanting waste this enlightened state his grip tightened around his ive as he kicked off the ground and charged towards the cyclops. He was going to slice through the rest of the arm with a single swing. Without the rigid bone in the way he was sure he could do it. After that he would move to kill the beast. ..... As Frost was gaining the upper hand against his foe Maggie and her team were quickly overwhelming the B-rank ogre. Knocking it back and forth between each other, granting it no breaks and no chance to counterattack. The eldest rindar felt a shiver down his spine as he saw this, his eyes also met Maggies re, she wasing for him. Anger and fury filled his body as he was looked at with such disdain, like he was some kind of prey. He was a predator; it was supposed to be him that looked at others in such a way. His focus thus left Frost and was redirected towards Maggie and her group. He filled the rocks in his hands with his aura to enhance their destructive capabilities and thenunched them with extreme force at the weaker party members, greatly aiding the B-rank ogre. Maggies team wasprised of upper C-rank fighters, weaker than Frost and herself so they couldnt react quite as well to the sudden rock bullets. One swordsman narrowly evaded thanks to Maggies shout but an axe wielder wasnt fast enough and was blown backwards from the blow. The rock smashed against his right shoulder, shattering part of his pauldrons and halting his swing upon the ogres waist. Urgh! he loudly groaned from the pain and grabbed onto his injured shoulder. His failure tond a blow on the ogre allowed the monster to gain a slight breather and violently swing its oversized great sword in a horizontal sweep, forcing back Maggie and the rest. It looked briefly looked towards the eldest rindar in thanks, not expecting to be saved by it. Of course the rindar didnt give two shits whether the ogre died or not but keeping it alive meant that Maggie and her team wouldnt be able to charge over and attack him. To be honest he was tempted to enter the battlefield in person, as long as he joined the cyclops or the ogre or even any of the other B-rank monsters theyd be able to destroy their attackers but he was wise enough to know that doing so would put him at great risk. Hamon though upied at the moment with protecting the majority of the frontline and the recently arrived frost wolf cavalry would drop that role at the drop of a hat if it meant an opportunity to take down the enemymander. It was clear that he regretted allowing it to escape the other day, he would not do so a second time. Thus even though he knew he could change some of the battles oue the cost was not worth the risk, so he remained at the treeline. His three hands filled with fist sized rocks as his gaze moved to the other nearby teams, Hargraves in particr who was facing off against his second brother. With the eldest rindars attention away from him Frost moved in even greater earnest. He ducked to avoid another wide sweep and rolled across the ground when the cyclops attempted to squish him with his massive foot. Though such movements appeared inelegant they were effective, and Frost was once again at the monsters left side with his ive primed for one more blow. [Wyverns maw] Frost felt arge amount of energy being sucked out of him as he used his most powerful and most costly ive skill. A fierce wyvern head swiftly appeared floating above his ive. The head roared as the ive shed downwards onto the limp left arm. Its razor sharp teeth tore into the cyclopss flesh, rending it apart till it was a mangled mess without any structure. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Frost then roared as his arm muscles bulged, stretching out his robe. He put his full strength and then some into this swing. The moment the head was finished shredding the arm the chakra enhanced ive sliced through it like a hot knife through butter. If he hadnt improved during the battle and hadnt used the [wyverns maw] skill to loosen up the muscle fibres then he wouldnt have been able to cut through the muscle and flesh so easily. Along with his sudden in the zone state everything added up and allowed him to achieve what he promised. Schwing! Frosts ive prated the cyclopss arm and exited from the other side, it was covered in blood and bits of flesh but still shone in the light. Don! A heavy thud was heard from behind him as the cyclopss arm fell to the ground,pletely severed from its shoulder. A geyser of blood gushed out from the open wound before gradually stopping, the wound cauterising or rather sh freezing thanks to Frosts chilling cold mes. Though this prevented serious blood loss it also eliminated the possibility of natural regeneration. The cyclops lost its left arm permanently. Even if it somehow escaped today and survived it would never again have a left arm. Payment for its sneak attack on Kiba. The cyclops thanks to its maddened state felt very little in terms of pain but it was hard to not notice therge and familiar arm lying by its feet. It blinked its massive eye in confusion, stunned by what it saw for a few seconds before anger overwhelmed it. ARRRGGGGHHHHHH KILLL YOOUUUUU!!!! Its roars shook the air like a sonic boom and its aura exploded, pressuring the surrounding area. Frost felt goosebumps form on his arms and the small hairs on his body stand up before his aura shed in intensity allowing him to calm down and continue moving. While the cyclops was confused for a few seconds he was already preparing himself to attack once again. After a few deep breaths and light shakes a mad grin appeared on Frosts face as his battle lust ignited fully. With a sharp swing the blood collected on his de was cleaned revealing the sharp silver metal underneath. Time to end this. With the creature missing an arm it was no longer possible for it to fervently protect its biggest weakness, its massive eye. Of course Frost wasnt just aiming to remove one of its arms for the sake of his own pride and training purposes no that was just a happy extra. The cyclops was slow and cumbersome but to make up for that it was incredibly strong, robust, covered in dense muscles and fairly magic resistant C Frost already triedunching an ice fireball at it and saw little to no effect. It did however have a ring weakness in its defences, its massive eye. Of course the cyclopss itself knew that and vehemently protected its eye from any aggression. Despite being slow and cumbersome it was pretty skilled and quick when it came to protecting its eye. Every attack Frost attempted would be met by the thick wall of muscle that was one of its arms. But now that one of them was out ofmission the eye was easy pickings. Frost with his mad expression charged dead ahead, his faceing infinitely close to the monsters massive club before deftly avoiding it by a hairs breadth. Booom! The club smashed down on the ground, missing Frost as always but this time it couldnt retrieve its weapon. [Ice obey my will and entangle my foe, ice entanglement.] Frost hastily chanted the aria for the 2nd circle spell [ice entanglement] enhancing its effect somewhat. Arge magic crest swiftly appeared beneath the stone club and summoned vines of ice that wrapped around it and its hand, restraining them against the ground. Of course with the cyclopss physical strength this restraint would onlyst a second or so but that was enough. The cyclops was easily 10 metres tall, a difficult height to reach simply by jumping -another problem in getting to its weakness- so Frost appeared on the monsters club and ran up its arm with his ive stretched out to the side. His chakra mes bing denser and denser around the entire de, forming a thick encasing. Panic suddenly filled the cyclops as its instinct were warning it of Frosts intended target. It madly pulled at its club trying to break the restraint while at the same time instinctively attempting to swat Frost away with his other hand but unfortunately it no longer had another hand. Unable to use its hands the cyclopss eye radiated a dark purple light as it prepared to use its eye beam. Frosts smile grew when he saw the purple light, he expected such a reaction. He continued to run up the cyclopss arm disregarding the rapidly expanding purple light. The moment he reached the creatures shoulder the eye beam fired with immense speed, greatly surpassing an arrow towards its right shoulder. Frost at the same moment suddenly kicked off the monsters shoulder, shooting up several metres. With a mad smile and berserk eyes Frost pointed his ive directly downwards and activated his advanced airborne skill. [Skyfall] Chapter 472 472 Chapter 472: Duelling the cyclops (4) [Sky fall] Frost while floating above the cyclops and staring down upon its massive eye reeled back his ive and activated his advanced ive skill [sky fall]. As he spoke the name, energy was swiftly drawn from his body, wrapping around his ive to copy its form before spreading outwards in the four cardinal directions. An additional four ives almost identical to the corporal one Frost wielded appeared around it, their des poised to prate the cyclopss eye with deadly precision. The moment the four ives were fully formed Frosts right arm tensed, his arm muscles growing several sizes as he started to thrust downward. The air before the five ives howled as it was suddenly prated, a minor sonic boom erupting as Frosts thrusting speed threatened to break the sound barrier. The cyclops was powerless to stop what was about to happen. Its use of the eye beam prevented it from even closing its eyelid, itsst line of defence C a several centimetre thick piece of flesh that could parry most half assed blows. The sudden change in position and sudden attack were far too much for it to deal with and even fathom. Time seemed to slow down for the cyclops as a deathly pressure wrapped round its heart and whispered in its ear filling it with dread. It watched in fear as the five ives grew closer and closer to its unprotected eye, powerless to stop it. Squealch!!! ..... The five ives viciously stabbed into the cyclopss massive eye causing bits of it to blow apart and decorate the battlefield. A gruesome sound escaped as they prated the strange substance and continued to dig even deeper, swiftly reaching the back of the eye almost into the monsters brain. A heart rending, animalistic scream erupted from the cyclops as Frosts ive pierced its eye and threatened to continue deeper. No amount of rage induced state could repress such immense pain and fear. The four energy formed ives vanished once they reached a protective wall, leaving just the 3 star ive lodged so deep that less than half the shaft was visible. Frosts ears were shaken by the loud scream and his attire was caked in bits of cyclops eye, but he ignored them all and continued to push his ive deeper, determined to kill the cyclops before his time ran out. Argghhhhhhhh! Frost roared out as he gave his thrust a second wind. This wall of protection was all that was separating his ive from the cyclopss brain. With the second thrust his ive pushed its way through the protective wall at the back of the eye and pierced the monsters brain causing its body to visible tremble and its screams to be even louder. The cyclops in its frantic state started iling around in an attempt to throw Frost off its body but it was toote. With the brain now reached Frost unleased his chakra mes without restraint swiftly enveloping it in fire, sh freezing the vulnerable organ and causing devasting damage. The result was almost instant, the cyclops stopped iling and its limbs lost their strength, its massive club fell to the ground and its organs started shutting down. However Frost didnt get a chance to enjoy his hard won victory. Booooooommmmm!!!!! Without any warning Frost was hit in the side by an immense force. His chakra armour shattered instantly, and the armour Daki made him cracked as it attempted to absorb the blow. The remaining force smashed into his ribs, breaking three of them and catapulting his body off the cyclops. He couldnt even keep his grip on his ive as his body was shot through the air. The sudden change was aplete shock, Frost a moment ago was dealing the final blow to the mighty cyclops but now his body was harshly skipping across the ground, leaving deep divots after each bounce. When his momentum finally died down his body was in a right state. Cough! Cough! Frost violently coughed up blood and a pained look adorned his face as he looked down at his injured side. Arge imprint of a fist could been seen, and his ribs were partially exposed, a serious injury. With difficulty he removed a mid-level health potion from his storage ring and glugged down its contents. The concoction immediately getting to work in healing his wounds and numbing the intense pain that made even breathing torture. Other than the major wound caused by the fist the ground he skidded across caused many other areas to be cut up and bruised while a couple fingers on his right hand were broken from attempting to hold onto his ive. After getting his bearings and taking the mid-level health potion Frost finally looked towards his original position. He had a good idea of who attacked him, but he had to be sure. In the distance he saw the cyclops in the same position and his ive sticking out of its eye at a slight angle but no sign of his aggressor. A sense of danger rippled in his heart, and he harshly turned around with his left fist ready to punch out. Thankfully however it wasnt an enemy. Frost are you alright? Hamon appeared by his side with a concerned expression. Yeah, broken ribs, a few cuts and bruises as well a couple broken fingers, but Ive already taken a potion. The armour he wore really saved him, limiting the damage to just broken ribs and not shattered ones which would need much longer to heal. What happened? He asked in confusion before hearing a woman scream from another area. Sorry gotta go cant let him get off scott free. Hamons face which showed concern quickly changed to one of anger and aggression before his form vanished as quickly as he arrived. Frost understood and watched the situation from afar, letting his wounds heal. Squad leader. Bagua one of the C-rank adventurers assigned under Frost as well as the one who led the adventurers during the new dawn operation came up behind him. Ill guard you until youre ready to move. Bagua stated before setting up beside Frost, his eyes watching for any sign of an attack. Frost smiled and let himself rx a little and watch the situation unfold as the potion did its job. He had guessed right; it was the eldest rindar who attacked him. The moment he got the jump on the cyclops the rindar moved to attack in earnest regardless of the risk, he couldnt risk losing the cyclops especially to Frost. However despite his quick actions he was still too slow, the cyclops was already dead on its feet the moment he arrived. Though filled with fury towards Frost he couldnt chase after him, a single surprise blow was all he could do before dashing away to the next battle site. The sound of the monster drums began resounding throughout the battlefield as Frost bounced across the ground, signalling the remainder of the horde to retreat behind the treeline. The eldest rindar didnt want to get bogged down in a fight with Hamon so he quickly made moves to free the other B-ranks and deal somest minute damage. After smashing Frost with an aura infused fist and checking the state of the cyclops he moved towards Halgraves team who were up against his second brother. One of the woman in his team was punched like Frost was and sent barrelling through the air with heavy injuries then he and his younger sibling pushed back Halgrave before he moved once again this time to aid his youngest brother. The others didnt matter as much, and the B-rank poison herald could handle himself when it came to quick retreats. However when he finally made his move against Maggies team to help out the B-rank ogre Hamon had caught up and wasnt letting him go. A violent battle happened between the two with the rindar clearly on the losing side despite Hamon expending his stamina for the past couple hours. Eventually the B-rank poison herald and the second rindar moved to aid theirmander allowing him to escape but there was a cost. The eldest rindar lost another arm and had a couple ribs broken while the second rindar lost an eye and broke his left femur. The poison herald appeared to be the least damaged externally but a fiercebo from Hamon devasted his organs causing him to cough up a serious amount of blood. And without the eldest rindars aid Maggie was able to take down the B-rank ogre. The three monsters made their escape shortly after that, not wanting to tangle with Hamon and her. Of course facing off against three B-rank adversaries by himself was no easy task, Hamon ended up with more than a few injuries and needed to seek treatment from their resident healer Gilianna. Once the two rindars and poison herald retreated behind the treeline with the remaining B-ranks and fractured horde Maggie and another one of her squad helped carry Hamon back to behind the wall for treatment. Bagua did the same for Frost which he was most appreciative of. The officer meeting after this wave had quite a despairing pall over it. Several dozen losses among the frontline, further loss of the frost wolf cavalry, serious injuries among their Majors and elite fighters and most of all theirmander came back injured and poisoned. Hamon sat on a medical bed while Gilianna attended to him with a condemning look, and several tongue clicks. She shouldnt have to be spending her time healing the twomanders, they were supposed to only enter the field under the most dire of circumstances and or when fighting the leader of the stampede yet here she was healing both of them just several days into thete stages. Hamon could only silently listen to her grumbling andints. Chapter 473 473 Chapter 473: 4-star weapon As Gilianna tended to Hamon with a condemning expression all the officers in the meeting stood or sat in silence around the strategy table. No one wished to be the first to speak after such a painful wave. Haaaaaaaa Frost who seemed to be the only one in decent spirits let out a loud sigh drawing all eyes towards him. Thanks to the mid-level health potion and the glorious DP he absorbed after killing the cyclops Frost was looking pretty well for someone that was sneak attacked by a B-rank rindar. Most of his serious injuries were healed leaving just bruises and exhaustion. Hed had enough of this negative atmosphere; it sucked out all the joy he had during his duel earlier. Yes, we lost more men and woman than expected and our upper ranked forces are sporting innumerable injuries and even Hamon is requiring the personal attention of Gilianna, but the enemy is in a far worse state. Frost loudly proimed, seriously annoyed by the dour atmosphere. He understood their reasons as unlike him who was technically untethered to Furano and the Northrend empire they were, losing here carried far more weight for them than it did for him. Thus, their fears and worries were to be expected but, in the end, they served no purpose, moping wasnt going to improve the situation and in fact it may even make it worse. Yes we were hurt but in return we massacred a vast amount of D and C-rank ogres, trolls and minotaurs. All powerful monsters that made up arge chunk of the hordes brutal charging power as well provide a vast amount of materials; meat, hides, bones you name it, veritable treasure troves. Frosts loud voice and positive attitude seemed to slowly infect those around the strategy table, the young officers in particr saw their fists start to clench, and smiles grow on their faces revealing prideful and somewhat greedy expressions. But most of all we severely weakened their upper cast, the B-rank ogre, dead! The B-rank cyclops, dead! The leading rindar, missing another arm! The second rindar is now blinded in one eye and the B-rank poison herald sports serious internal injuries thanks to our mighty Colonel Hamon who faced the three of them alone after guarding the frontlines from the endless horde! Frosts voice rose several octaves as he continued and he waved his fists in fighting gestures, inspiring the officers. We may have been hurt but the enemy was wounded. This wave may have been hard and costly but the next few should be a breeze. Our mage corps will be present, and the enemy B-ranks will be licking their wounds in fear, we have potions and healers whereas they do not. Frosts grand speech ended with a strong conviction before he turned to Hamon who couldnt help but feel inspired along with the rest of the officers. A mad smile could be seen on his face and his eyes revealed a zing fire that didnt really match someone of his age. ..... Maam whats the Colonels prognosis, will he be in fighting shape soon? Frost asked Gilianna with a respectful tone knowing thanks to his talks with Leo, Artemis and Jessie about the sway this old woman held in the frost wolf battalion. Gilianna smiled from ear to ear and subconsciously nodded in approval to Frosts attitude before answering. As long as he behaves the brat should be back to full strength by tomorrow. She harshly pped Hamons back causing him to cough and blush from embarrassment. He was a senior and the grandmander to the forces here in Furano, yet he was just called a brat in front of all his subordinates. Gilianna gave Frost a thumbs up, greatly approving of his speech that dramatically turned the mood around. Frost gave a respectful nod in response before returning to his seat, hed done what he set out to do. Now the atmosphere was far morefortable and far more in line with what it should be after he managed to solo kill a B-rank monster. Thanks to Frosts powerful speech the meeting went well, the next waves strategy was hashed out and the squad reports were dealt with quickly. After 20 minutes it was brought to a close and everyone broke off to prepare for the uing wave. Since Hamon needed direct treatment from Gilianna, Dous would be takingmand upon the Northern wall in his absence. Though he wasnt at his peak condition and was banned from enteringbat he could oversee the battlefield as amander thus inspiring the troops. The first thing Frost did once the meeting was over was visit the equipment repair workshops. His primary ive the half step 4 star weapon was damaged during his bout with the cyclops and needed to be repaired lest it breakpletely at the worst possible moment. His secondary ive that actually slew the cyclops was still in good condition -another adventurer that was under his assigned squad was kind enough to retrieve it for him while Bagua assisted him through the gate- but it was a tad too low in quality to repeatedly face off against upper C-ranks and ultimately B-ranks. Unfortunately there wasnt a single smith in Furano capable of forging 4 star weapons and equipment of that quality was still locked in the dungeon menu thus hed need to make do with repairing his half step 4 star ive whenever it was damaged. Given that Borris was one of the best smiths in Furano as well as the original creator of his weapon Frost sought him out. Like the food court the repair workshops were split into different areas depending on the equipments quality and type. And to be expected he found Borris at the highest area with his hammer repeatedly hammering against a red hot sword fresh out the forge. Sweat was clear on the old dwarfs face and his body was obviously tired given the bags under his eyes but his expression was almost fervent as though he was chasing after something madly, his eyes revealing a fierce fire that wasmonly associated with youth. One of his grandsons was working the counter and recognised Frost almost immediately. It was hard to forget his appearance after all. Mr Frost right, are you here for new weapons or repair work. The young dwarf asked in a loud voice as the surrounding area was filled with the nging of metal and the roars of furnaces. Repair work, my ive was damaged while facing the cyclops. Frost spoke loudly in reply while retrieving the cracked ive from his storage ring. The young dwarfs eyes lit up when he heard the word cyclops, but he also subtly frowned. B-rank monsters really needed 4 star weapons to beat otherwise there was a good chance of weapon damage. For Frost to fight against a cyclops and live was mightily impressive so he couldnt help but feel awed however he was a cksmith and knew that he nor anyone in his family could provide him with a weapon truly suitable for fending of such foes thus the frown. Alright understood, Ill have my grandfather see to it right after hes done with his current request, should be ready before the next wave starts. The young dwarf picked up the ive and analysed the damage thoroughly. Only the de was damaged, the shaft and engraving were unmarred so it should be a simple job even with the high quality materials. Just when the young dwarf was about to fashion Frost a ticket receipt and catalogue the request as per normal Borris who was previously working at the forge walked up silently and took the ive from his grandsons hands. The old smiths eyes that were full of fire while he forged became even more pronounced as he analysed the ive thoroughly leaving not a millimetre unchecked. His grandson was at first shocked by the sudden retrieval but held back his tongue the moment he saw the look in his grandfathers eyes. Frost who didnt know what was going on also stood in silence, waiting for Borris to speak. After 2 minutes or so arge grin grew on Borriss face and the fire in his eyes emboldened further. He turned to look at Frost, revealing the fire within him. This caused Frost to shiver before he smiled in reply. He recognised that fire, it was the same fire he had when he was training and was on the brink of breaking through. Borris seemed to be on the cusp of bing a 4 star cksmith. Do you have a backup ive? Borris asked as his hands caressed the ive in his hands, feeling the material, connecting with it. I do. Frost thus removed the 3 star ive he purchased through the dungeon menu. It was made of duram alloy pretty much through out thus it was quite robust butcked affinity with his chakra and magic and wasnt as sharp as his primary one but still a solid weapon. Borris looked over the weapon briefly, nodding subconsciously in regards to the craftsmanship. A good weapon perfectly forged. Hemented in appreciation, duram and its alloys were fine materials and easy to work with but near impossible to form anything higher than 3 star. His eyes then looked back at the ive he forged all those years ago, the fire within him roaring out. Will you be alright with that weapon for the next 48 hours or so? Borris asked puzzling his grandson who knew that even a through repair on the ives de would only take an hour. Frost brought his hand up to his chin and thought about the next 48 hours. The B-rank monsters should be taking a less aggressive approach for a while my opponents will mainly be C-ranks. An upper 3 star weapon should be enough for such opponents he surmised. As long as nothing unexpected happens it should be fine but any longer there may be an issue. Frost answered with a serious look. After 48 hours a B-rank or B-ranks stronger than the rindars may arrive. The image of that frost giant Valend who was yet to appear came to the forefront of his mind. If he had to face such a monster with just his 3 star duram ive thered be no chance of him being able fight on equal-ish footing. Borris was silent for a moment as his mind rang through numerous simtions. I cant promise anything since its unknown territory but if youre willing Ill do my best to meet that deadline. Borris spoke with conviction, his expression showing his fierce desire to try. Frost frowned initially before smiling, whether he had an upper 3-star ive or his half step 4-star ive Valend was still beyond him, hed still lose regardless so taking a chance was better than nothing. Very well show me your best work Borris, I have great expectations. Frost let out augh as the look in his eyes mirrored that of Borriss. The two men thus shook hands sealing the deal however Borriss grandson was left out the loop, his head tilted to the side in utter confusion. Whats happening? He asked curiously. His grandfather thus turned towards him with a wide smile and mad expression. Im going to attempt to reforge this ive into a 4-star weapon. Chapter 474 474 Chapter 474: 4-star weapon (2) Im going to attempt to reforge this ive into a 4-star weapon. Borris said with a clear voice allowing his grandson to catch his words despite this loud cacophony of nging metal and roaring furnaces in the area. Oh I see that would certainly help Mr Frost when hes fighting the B-rank monsters, they really do need 4 star wea....wait what!!!! At first his grandson didnt get the impact but after a second it hit him like a sledgehammer, and he stared at his grandfather in shock. A 4 star weapon, being able to forge something of that standard would separate one from the chaff, one would truly be a master of their craft. Anything below 4 star was rathermon even Furano given its boonies location had multiple smiths that could produce good quality 3 star equipment. It even had Borris and another smith who could asionally create half step 4 star equipment and this was just one town out of many in the empire. However the number of 4 star cksmiths in the entire empire number roughly 20 and each of themmand a great deal of respect in the smithing trade. Most work in the capital Arkheart whereas others are set up in therge cities in the more lucrative and powerful counties. Customers flock from all over the empire as well as other countries to purchased their wares. Beyond the 4 star cksmiths and the highest in the Northrend empire as well as the surrounding countries are the 5 star cksmiths whose work is unparalleled, they even have the emperors respect. Northrend boasts 3 of such individuals, one that has the title of royal forger, Lorenz Helmschmeid a mid-level 5 star smith who forges the equipment of the royal battalions and even the royal family. Next would be the military forger, David Baker who fashions equipment for the generals andmanders of the non-royal battalions (not the war ursa as they get most of their equipment from within the cial mountains). Amoner who rose to prominence through his sheer skill, also mid-level 5 star. And finally the greatest smith in the Northrend empire, Asakura Hina. The youngest of the three and the only woman yet her skills are undisputedly the best making her an upper 5 star cksmith. She is the only one that doesnt serve anyone, a free smith that forges and sells to whoever she wishes, never being restricted despite the very, very generous offers she receives. Shes technically considered a smith of the Northrend empire as its her home country, but she travels wherever whenever thus the first two are more prominently known in Northrend. ..... The young dwarf, Dean had always dreamed of bing a smith of such repute as did everyone else in his family but to this day none of them managed to even glimpse into that realm besides his grandfather. Borris was the most talented smith in the family, but he was old and he himself said that his abilities were rusting instead of improving. Dean didnt know exactly when, but his grandfather started passing the mantle of the workshop to his son and daughter, taking a less involved approach, he even gave away his so called greatest work to a young elf that showed promise a few weeks ago as if he was letting go of all attachments. However doing so elicited changes within him, Borris no longer felt the need to forge just for business sakes but purely because he wished too and giving away the ive stopped him living in the past. A new vibrant passion bloomed within him, inspiring him to push his skills to the next level. This onset monster stampede encouraged this newfound growth even further. Despite his advanced age Borris was doing a majority of the repair work and demanding forge work personally and was seeing minute changes in his craft after every forging. Upon seeing Frost and the damaged ive that was once one of his greatest works he no longer felt regret, despair or longing instead a phrase rang in his head like a bell. I can do better. As soon as this phrase entered his head he started walking towards his grandson and pried the ive from his hands, inspecting it in detail. A voice that had been quiet for so many years roared out like it did in his youth, too forge and too forge something better, more worthy of his craft. Dean was in shock for a whole minute before he rapidly blinked his eyes and began to question what he just heard. Did you say youre going to attempt to reforge this ive into a 4 star weapon? His voice was shaking as were his hands as excitement started to build up. Borris looked at his grandson with an evenrger smile before nodding. Actually what I should have said was that I am. No attempt I will re-forge this weapon to 4 star. Borris turned to look at Frost the client. On that I give you my word and honour as a cksmith. He thumped his chest hard asking Frost to trust in his skills. Ill hold you to that and promise to christen it with a B-rank monster. Frost loudlyughed with sparkling eyes, looking forward to wielding such a weapon. Borris on receiving Frost trust gave a light bow before heading off to a forge further in the back that was reserved for the highest quality of materials. Dean get your father and aunt, tell theme and assist me and call one of your cousins to man the counter, in your generation theres no one as gifted as you when ites to smithing I want you to watch each and every part of this process got it. Borris hollered in a joyful tone as he fired up his forge and starting to jot down designs as well as the materials hed need. Dean didnt respond for a few seconds before he pinching his cheek to make sure he wasnt dreaming. His body trembled and he flinched from the pain, this wasnt a dream, his grandfather the man he had watched since he was, but a little dwarf was back in action. On it! He yelled out before dashing off to find his father and aunt to be apart of the process. Seeing that he was no longer needed Frost left the area with a slight skip in his step, looking forward to being the owner of a 4 star weapon. Now that his ive issue was sort of resolved Frost dropped off the armour Daki made him with an armour specialist a couple workshops down so Borris could focus solely on the ive before heading to the food court. He picked up two high quality dishes, one for himself and one for Kiba. The young cial winged tiger was now up and awake but still restricted to the monster animal clinic as his wings needed some delicate work to prevent future loss in potential and or permanent scarring. The moment Frost entered his medical room Kiba attempted to leap into his chest and lick him affectionately, but he was hit by sh of pain as well as shout from the medical staff, so he stopped midway. Frostughed kindly before bringing out the meals, sausage, bacon and eggs from C-rank monsters, very nutritious and tasty. Kiba rubbed his head against Frost in thanks after quickly devouring the meal as if hed been starved -which he kind of had been given the length he slept and the energy required to mend his body. He then grumbled through their soul connection about how strict the medical staff were and how he was sorry for being a burden and wanted to fight by Frosts side. Frost rubbed the big cats ears and admonished him stating that he was never a burden and that he should listen to the medical staff and care only about getting better. He also mentioned that Artemis visited a few times while he was out cold and that he promised to treat him to a fine steak once this stampede was all over which caused Kiba to lick his lips in anticipation. Frost stayed with Kiba for close to an hour before leaving the medical centre, he didnt head to resting areas since he wasnt tired in the slightest. A single wave was nothing in terms of his stamina especially after eating a highly nutritious meal and devouring the vast amounts of high quality DP. Just remembering the taste of that cyclopss life force was enough for his eyes to grow red and his mouth to salivate. High quality beings tasted delicious when killed especially the first ones of each ranking, the taste was absolutely sublime. Instead of sleeping he went to find Cassandra and offered up his services wherever she needed him, hoping to learn more about the behind the scenes work during the stampede. Something hed need to know as his own territory developed. Cassandra was more than happy to have additional hands but was worried about wasting one of their top fighters strength and reluctantly tried to turn him down but after he showed her how energetic he still was and briefly described the situation with the enemies upper ranked she agreed and sent him to assist Calder and the merchants. Until the next wave began Frost found himself at Calders beck and call mainly dealing with the vast amount of materials being brought in by the clean up crews and dismemberment teams. Everything was catalogued and efficiently transported to different areas throughout the town that either needed the materials or served as long term storage solutions as most materials would be kept until after the stampede so as to generate money for the town. Such work was hectic in its own way and no less draining, Frost had give props to Cassandra and those making the town function seamlessly behind the scenes. And as expected when the next wave hit the forces within the horde were far lesser and the B-rank monsters practically didnt show themselves. Only the youngest rindar stood at the treeline acting as themander while his siblings and the stronger B-ranks recuperated. Inplete opposition to thest wave this one went off without a hitch, several injuries but no deaths, a perfect oue and one which emboldened the officers spirits during the strategy meeting. Frost was right thest wave really was a win. Though they still had a long way to go, things were looking a little better. Chapter 475 475 Chapter 475: New enemymander The second day since Frosts arrival came and went and it was now dawn of the third day. The B-rank monsters stayed quiet for most of waves after yesterday morning, but a couple newly uninjured ones appeared during nightfall but without the rest of them their presence was easily managed. Dous was back in fighting condition, perhaps around 85%, enough to safely head into battle. Hamon was still in recovery, but the majority of the Majors and other elite fighters were in good condition and ready to face off against the dreaded dawn wave. Once again the mages were pretty spent fromst nights defence but not as bad as the previous dawn wave. This time theyd have a decent amount magic support. There was even arrows for the ranger corps as well as repaired trebuchets and ballistae. This wave was expected to be a difficult one, so all the stops were pulled out to preserve as much of their forces as possible. Dous stood up straight on the northern wall in his bespoke tinum armour with Maggie, Halgrave and Frost by his side creating a very imposing image. How this wave goes down will likely determine whether or not theyd survive the full four days until the reinforcements arrive. Thankfully a few groups of C-rank adventurers arrived in the early hours through the south gate adding to their forces slightly. Unfortunately they didnt bring resources like Frost, but warm able bodies were just as good. The war horn was zing throughout the area heralding the hordes forces but even without that everyone could feel the earth shake. And as if on cue the moment Furanos forces finished arranging themselves the monsters madly charged out from behind the treeline in great numbers. It was a hodgepodge of speciespletely different from therge brutes that were sent the previous day. Everyone ready arms! Dous drew his sword causing the sun to reflect off the edge as he raised it above his head in a grandiose manner. Ready arms! Many captains and squad leaders mirrored his orders causing everyone to draw their weapons and enter their stances. The n for this wave was turtle tactics and will be the same for each and every wave following this. They were going to y full on defensive until their reinforcements arrived. Only the upper ranked fighters would head beyond the frontline and only when necessary. There was no more vanguard troops deployed beyond the frontline, too risky. ..... You guys will likely have a hard fight on your hands are you prepared. Dous asked the three people who were by his side. We are Lord Viscount Im always ready for a good fight. No problem, Dous. Halgrave responded respectfully while Maggieughed and smashed her fists together, creating a booming sound whereas Frost answered informally but all of them sported determined expressions. Good, lets survive this and deal with the next one. Dous gently smiled before releasing his aura in a simr way to Hamon. Since he was weaker his aura wasnt quite as heavy as Hamons, but it was no less rousing among their own troops perhaps even more so. Hamon was a colonel, amander of warfare, but Dous was a true blooded noble someone that bore the lives of thousands of people on his shoulders a weight that was passed down through his family and it influenced his aura. Following his outburst Halgrave and Maggie did the same, releasing their blood-filled auras for a powerful demonstration. The three of them together slightly surpassed Hamon thus causing many monsters to flinch in fear. However in response a heavy and dense aura rose from behind the treeline and smashed against theirbined aura, restricting it like an immovable wall causing Halgraves, Maggies and Douss faces to whiten. This aura wasnt from the eldest rindar or the poison herald but something stronger....a mid level B-rank. Following the outburst from this new monster came the auras of the rindar, the poison herald and the second eldest rindar as they were the only other ones able to fully utilise their own aura. It was a show of force and defiance as theyd had enough of being pressured by the aura of the frost wolf battalion. With their assistance the heavy aura of the unknown B-rank monster gained insidious qualities and increased in strength pushing back thebined auras of Dous, Halgrave and Maggie worsening their expressions even further. Dous gave a hand gesture and suddenly Ryuu, Bastion, four majors and even Frost summoned their auras andunched them in aid. Thebined auras of both sides battled for supremacy, the very air was visibly warped in areas and the sounds of hidden crashes appeared overhead. Only those that had started on the path of aura could understand what was happening and truly feel the building conflict. Those below, the monsters and sapients only felt a dreadful pressure above their heads that made them feel instinctual fear when it passed over them. After a minute or so there was still no clear winner between the two sides, perhaps the monster group was slightly weaker, but the difference wasnt enough to force them back, a realisation that greatly disturbed Dous and the two vice leaders of the frost wolf battalion. It was mainly because of that unknown monster its aura wasnt at full strength in the beginning, so they misjudged it. Now however it was clear that this monster was worlds apart from the rindar and likely as strong if not stronger than Hamon at least in terms of its aura. This was not a good sign but one that was expected. This monster stampede was already not like any other, far stronger and relentless so they expected that monsters in the mid or possibly even upper B-ranks would eventually attack thats why they requested the reinforcements. With no clear winner and the fact that constantly forcing out your aura like this was rather draining both sides rxed their auras calming the air and removing the looming pressure on those below. Dous grasped the hilt of his sword tightly, nervous about the battle toe. He barely made it out alive thest time he took to the field and couldnt help but wonder about the possibility but that feeling was brief and swiftly sent to the back of his mind. Ranger corps fire a volley! Since an aura attack didnt work theyd start with a deluge of arrows to soften up the first few lines. In response the ranger corps loaded their recently crafted arrows and shot a vast bombardment of arrows over the northern wall. Haaaaaaa fire the contraptions A deep voice sighed and spoke through the trees and in response what sounded like catapultsunched ball and chains into the air right into the path of the arrow volley. Crunch! Boom! Snap! The balls and chains smashed apart the volley like falling twigs eliminating the vast majority of the arrows. And thus another attack failed. Mage corps! Not willing to suffer defeat Dous roared out in anger causing Ryuu and Jessies teams tounch their spells while the two of them prepared fourth circle magic for an extra kick. Even Frost chanted the aria for his [ice fireball] adding to the devastation. A couple secondster an array of magic spells flew through the air in attempt to ughter the lines of monster charging the field. Haaaaaaa block it. The deep voice could heard sighing once again before giving out an order. In response dozens of blue magic circles appeared above the monsters side summoning thick shields of ice while the speaker themselves chanted an aria for a strong 4th circle magic spell to fight against Ryuu and Jessie. A colourful battle erupted in the air as spell shed against spell. Some spells those predominantly of the fire element as well as Frosts smashed their way through the ice wall but lost a lot of their destructive power in doing so and barely did any damage when making contact with the enemy. The magic attack also failed. Fuck! Dous loudly cursed and ground his teeth together. If this happened in the earlier stages it would have been fine since they could afford to waste some ammunition but not at this stage, every spell and arrow was a preciousmodity. This new B-rank was not only strong in terms of aura but knew strategy intimately, a very dangerous opponent. It knew to keep those contraptions hidden until when they were needed and even now they could only roughly guess their position within the forest. Arrow volleys were now too risky severely limiting one of their powerful attacks. The monster horde also seemed to be reinforced with a contingent of magic users likely the lesser kin of the newmander making their magic attacks fall short as well. Once again it seemed that the dawn wave would rely primarily on the frontline forces. Seeing that closebat would be the focus Frost was sent down to give aid while Maggie and Halgrave remained atop the wall to conserve their strength for when the B-ranks make a move. Chuff! Kiba who had pretty much healed chuffed in demand wanting to join Frost on the frontline, but Dous immediately vetoed that option. No Kiba youre needed here as emergency backup. None of us are as quick nor as manoeuvrable as you are so youll have to stay by my side so I can order you where to go at a moments notice. Dous understood Kibas feelings, but emotions couldnt y a part in his decisions he needed to make the most efficient and logical choices if they were to survive this war. Kibas ability to fly and fierce charging power made him great as immediate reinforcement and as a retriever of the wounded which given the line up they faced was likely to be generously open for business. The big tiger grumbled in annoyance before flying back to his little prepared area nearby ready and waiting to be put in motion. Minutes passed by and the monsters continued to charge forth in dense lines, swarming the frontline troops with numbers and the asionally high C-ranks gradually eating away at the towns defences. Arrows would still asionally fall but whenever the volley was too dense the hidden contraptions on the monsters side would reactively fire wasting the entire volley. Magic attacks didnt get much better with both sides reaching a stalemate however with Ryuu and Jessie pushing 4th circles spells the unknownmander was forced to repeatedly intervene thus they managed to make some guesses in regards to its species and unfortunately it wasnt good news. The battle was a veritable slugfest that gradually saw Furano be weaker and weaker. The newmander didnt use overly aggressive tactics, nor did they reveal themselves instead they slowly ordered their pretty much unlimited forces eat away at the frontline piece by piece. Amander with frightening patience. Chapter 476 476 Chapter 476: New enemymander (2) Time slowly dragged on and Furanos situation continued to worsen. The new enemymanderunched wave after wave of monsters into the frontlines while protecting them from the assaults of Furanos ranger and mage corps, slowly but surely eating away at their forces. The newmander sported a calm expression as he ordered swaths of lesser monsters to their deaths. The eldest rindar, the poison herald and the other B-rank monsters that Frost and the others had been struggling against were nervously keeping silent at his side, their hearts filled with instinctual fear towards him. The eldest rindar in particr was feeling the pressure as it was clear that the newmander was dissatisfied with his performance over the past few days. The loathing and mocking could be clearly felt whenever his gaze drifted over him and his many injuries causing the eldest rindar to seethe in anger but outwardly show subservience. This newmander was far beyond him even if he was in prime condition. He himself was at best at the peak of entry B-rank, half a step from entering the mid-level whereas this newmander was solidly in the mid-levels and not the early stages either. Plus, species wise they were not a very good match up. Send in the next group. The newmander spoke while leaning back against a throne made of ice mana. Yes, your lordship. Another new entry in the monster line-up, an upper C-rank monster that arrived with the newmander responded respectfully before passing the order down. A cruel smile grew on themanders face when he was addressed as lordship and his gaze once again drifted over the eldest rindar. He clicked his tongue and shook his head subconsciously before speaking out. So disappointing. You were given one job and that was to weaken the enemy before our arrival yet what do I find when I arrive? Bloodlust and aura were smoothly emitted from the newmanders body and attacked the eldest rindar causing his body to feel incredibly heavy. He visibly trembled and had to strongly resist falling to his knees in prostration. Annoyed that the worm didnt fall to his knees themander increased the weight. Perhaps my meaning wasnt clear, you have failed in your task so shouldnt you be sincere in asking for forgiveness! The pressure rose and rose causing the ground beneath the eldest rindar to crack yet still the rindar struggled, refusing to fall to his knees. His pride would not allow it regardless of the difference in strength between them. ..... The newmander swiftly rose from his ice throne, appearing in front of the eldest rindar in a sh before cing his right foot upon his head. KNEEL! With a loud shout the newmander forced the eldest rindars head to the ground, crushing the back of his skull under his foot before returning to his throne. The eldest rindar remained with his head partially buried in the ground, a cold sweat flowing down his neck from fear. Not a single B-rank level fighter on their side has died and their frontline forces are still dense enough to stop our charges which I could ept however, why is that on top of these issues our B-rank line-up is inplete disarray. More than a few dead while the rest sport numerable injuries hell even the so-calledmander is missing not one but two arms. If this isnt aplete failure, then I dont know what is. The newmanders words cut deep as did his condemning gaze that passed over each and every one of the B-ranks present causing them to fearfully tremble. The newmander fully expected to arrive in a grandiose manner and see the high walls of Furano severally damaged and their forces in tatters thus allowing for a swift and easy victory but what he got was practically the opposite, his disappointment was off the scale. From this point on youre going to follow my orders to the letter and finally show some decent results before the rest of us arrive. His words sent another chill through the present B-ranks, the newmander was not the only powerhouse on their way to the battlefield. Soon they would be nothing but weaklings to be used at the upper ranks will, a position they had recently enjoyed. On Furanos side Douss eyes were scanning the battlefield with a frown. None of their magic attacks or ranged attacks managed to deal much damage to the endless horde that continued to charge from the treeline, almost instantly replenishing the forces his soldiers managed to cull. Exhaustion was quickly building up even with the aid of the elites and a few Majors and once it sets in losses would be inevitable. Dous understood the newmanders strategy, he was slowly whittling away their forces with expendable monsters. Himself and the other B-ranks didnt even show themselves, remaining hidden behind the treeline. A strategy that Dous was powerless to counter as the moment he tried to the defence line would swiftly copse, all they could do was endure and hope that their tactics would see them through until their reinforcements arrive. Something that the enemy was in the dark about or at least unaware of when they would arrive. The minutes gradually turned into a couple hours yet still the B-ranks refused to show themselves, sending only their replenishable monsters. Not being able to witness a triumphant victory over an enemy leader and to be subjected to an endless horde of multiple species without break did serious damage to moral. And along with the build up of exhaustion, injuries and deaths started cropping up all over the defensive line. Kiba was run ragged to and fro, swooping in with fierce aggression before swiftly flying back into Furano with the injured soldiers on his back but he was just one tiger. Dous enlisted elites and Majors that were held back for the B-ranks to reinforce the soon to crumble areas, but it was a losing battle. Every minute ground was lost, and the horde encroached closer and closer to the wall. A few even reached Dous and attempted to take a bite out of the old man but were met with the razor-sharp edge of his sword and killed instantly. After another hour the death toll was in the dozens, almost twice as much as the previous dawn wave but this time not a single victory was made by them. No B-rank monsters showed themselves throughout the entire wave and now the drums of retreat sounded from within the treeline. Blood and flesh littered the battlefield, and a sense of despair filled each and every solider as they looked left and right noticing the many gaps in their formations. So much death without a single thing to show for it. Bastard! Dous cursed through gritted teeth, his eyes bloodshot from fury and his nails threatening to pierce his palm. This was a tough loss and one that would seriously affect the following waves. For the first time in thete stages the moral of the frontline forces took a big hit, their collective strengths would see a drope the next wave. Dous stared into the dense treeline trying to find the visage of the newmander, he could feel his eyes on him, full of triumph. Maggie who was by Douss side had blood dripping from her pawlike hands due to her overly clenched fists, she was just as if not more furious than Dous. Shed been part of the military for a long time and had seen her fair share of stratagems so she knew how devasting this wave could be for their forces. Halgrave released a sigh before he gave the order to sound the retreat, his expression being rather dark as he did. Trumpets sounded and bells were rung signalling the end of the wave. The forces beyond the wall all rxed slightly but not a single one of them sported a smile, even Frost who was usually rather upbeat and optimistic about the situation stared into the forest with a pained expression. The battle he just took part in was not enjoyable in the slightest as though it was hollow and pointless, a situation that irked him greatly. He stared hard at the treeline before eventually spitting and turning around to head behind the wall. However, the moment he did he felt a chill down his back and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, danger wasing. Suddenly as everyone let down their guards and started heading through the gate a massive magic crest appeared above the treeline summoning what looked like a giant ice serpent. This spell was a 4th circle ice spell called [wrath of the ice serpent] and it summoned a massive ice borne serpent that would devour and freeze the intended targets. The casting was so sudden that Ryuu and Jessie couldnt react, out of the entire forces they were the only people who could cast 4th circle magic and effectively counter such an attack. Hamon was still injured and Dous, Halgrave and Maggie were on the wall and not the most agile, their attacks even if on time would likely miss. Fuck! Halgrave loudly cursed before without hesitation leaped from the wall to try and block the high-ranking spell. Maggie was hot on his trail, but the giant ice serpent was already flying through the air and would be on their retreating forces in but a single second. Its intended targets being the exhausted soldiers and if possible, even a weakened Major who had been fighting non-stop for the past three hours just like Frost. Chapter 477 477 Chapter 477: New enemymander (3) Major Tarok turned around after hearing amotion only to be faced with the open maw of an ice borne serpent. Its breath freezing the very air as it lunged for him and those by his side. He was unluckily the prime chosen target of the newmanders 4th circle spell [wrath of the ice serpent]. Out of the present Majors and B-rank adventurers he was not only the easiest target distance wise but also sported wounds on his legs thus limiting his ability to evade. Tarok wasnt the strongest Major here, but he was strong enough to react in the brief time he was given. He instantly summoned his aura and pushed away those he could before desperatelyshing out with his battle-axe. ng! A loud nging erupted as Taroks battle-axe made contact with the mana formed serpent before almost instantly Tarok was blown off his feet and his battle-axe was knocked to the side leaving his torso and shoulders exposed. Dous watched on in horror as the massive ice serpent crunched down on Taroks left shoulder, swiftly tearing his arm from his torso with a violent jerk. Halgrave and Maggie moved fast but they werent fast enough. Not only was Tarok bitten by the serpent others in the area were catapulted into the solid northern wall by its powerful body. Many suffered broken bones from the crash whereas a couple were even immediately killed, their heads smashing apart like pumpkins against the imprable surface. Those who escaped the physical attacks were however not in the clear, the ice serpent brought with it a freezing air that made even these veteran warriors shake in their skin as the ice invaded their nerves and gradually froze them in ce, siphoning out their internal heat. This was a devasting attack that arrived at the worst possible moment, no one was in the right ce nor were they prepared to defend against such magic. Tarok who was falling from the air after having his arm ripped off red with bloodshot eyes at the serpent as it swallowed his arm with delight, his blood coating its lips. ..... His aggressive eyes met with the serpents, and it seemed to smile before moving in to finish the job. It was a construct of mana, so its death meant nothing but once Maggie and Halgrave made their way on scene it wouldnt be able to do its job thus it moved swiftly, ignoring the chaff in the surrounding area to once againe face to face with Tarok. Tarok felt the spectre of death grip his heart and he could see the eyes of the caster within the serpents eyes, looking at him as if he was but simple prey that had fallen into his trap. He felt a strong sense of fear from those eyes, enough to chill his heart and dy his reactions. Tarok!!!! Maggie screamed out at the top of her lungs as she descended but it was toote, her hammer wouldnt m down in time, Tarok would have already been crunched by those fearsome teeth. [Wyverns maw!] However, she and Halgrave werent the only ones who could intervene. Frost who noticed the change in the air first made his move. With his ive wreathed in silver cold mes he summoned the manifestation that was his strongest ive skill, the [wyverns maw]. Arge wyvern head with razor sharp teeth and powerful biting strength formed above his ive however Frost felt that this wouldnt be enough, so he tried something that hed seen done by the eldest rindar, Hamon, Maggie and Halgrave, he infused his aura into the ive as well as the wyvern. Though Frost was able to expand his aura beyond his body, skilfully controlling it was still rather difficult. The young dungeon core closed his eyes and focused on his aura entering his weapon instead of being emitted outwards. The process was difficult and highly inefficient given it was his first real attempt. Much of his aura failed to imbue itself within the ive, instead shooting off into the surrounding area however after repeated attempts changes appeared on his ive as well as within the wyvern head. The metallic sheen of the duram alloy gradually grew brighter and a pressure started surrounding the de edge making the ive feel far heavier that it actually was. Next the floating energy apparition that was the wyvern head became more corporal and felt more real, filled with the essence of life. Frost didnt stop there however fully in the optimum state of mind he attempted to add another power to his attack, his chakra. With his aura attached to the wyvern granting it some kind of essence he felt it could hold his chakra at least for a short time. The silvery cold mes that wreathed his ive funnelled into the wyvern head giving it a silver quality and me like skin thus making it appear far more menacing than before. Satisfied with his creation Frost violently swung down his ive and roared out the skills name, sending the enhanced wyvern head towards the serpents neck. The ice borne serpent was too focused on ending Tarok that it didnt even notice as the wyvern head arrived before its neck and bit down harshly. Since the serpent wasnt a living creature it felt no pain however the biting down on its neck forced its jaws to shut and it to veer of course. Tarok was knocked to the side by a reflexive jerk but that was far better than being turned into snake food. A couple C-rank soldiers in the vicinity that were able to resist the freezing ice mana leapt up and caught him, saving him from being wounded further. The massive ice serpent twitched and jerked as Frosts summoned wyvern head continued to bite down and tear apart its body. The difference in size was magnitude but the wyvern head had attacked at just the right point making the size difference moot. The added silver mes branched out from the wyverns teeth with each bite and invaded the massive ice serpent, destroying the mana making up its structure while the added aura gave the wyvern a far more potent bite. Of course, there was still a difference between an advanced ive skill and a 4th circle magic spell, Frost was not only weaker than the caster, but his attack was much shorter lived. After maybe four of five devasting bites the wyvern head started fragmenting but it had done a hell of a lot of damage in that brief time and most of all sessfully saved Tarok. Frost who used the already draining skill without the addons copsed to his knees withboured breathing, his legs and arms trembling from the sudden overexertion, but a wide smile adorned his lips. Made it. Tarok had been sessfully saved, he unfortunately lost an arm but that was far better than losing ones life, hell if hes lucky he may even get a chance to regain it. Northrend had some pretty high-level potions and healers within their military and Tarok was a B-rank Major, using such a high-quality merchandise on him would not be a waste. The ice serpent violently shook off the remnants of the wyvern head as it began fragmenting and turned to face Tarok still aiming toplete its intended mission however Frosts aim was never to destroy the ice serpent no, all he needed to do was force it away from Tarok and buy time for the big guns tond a blow. Andnd a blow they did. [Tectonic m] [Sundering of the earth] Halgrave and Maggie both utilised advanced level skills as their weapons crashed upon the head and neck area of the giant ice serpent. Maggies hammer filled with her rage mmed upon the beasts head and blew it apart like a watermelon whereas Halgraves great sword cleaved into the harshly bitten neck severing the beast in twain. Their fierce attacks immediately destroyed the remaining mana structure within the ice serpent. It fragmented apart and returned to natural mana, vanishing without a trace. The freezing chill that surrounded it and started freezing the retreating the soldiers and adventurers thus vanished as well. Many were strong enough to break free from the ice covering their bodies but for the rest the magic corps cast a wide range warming spell that melted the ice. Everyone behind the wall now! Dous roared out causing everyone who had stopped retreating toe to their senses and make way for the protection of the town. Tarok was rushed immediately to themand centre where Gilianna was currently wrapping up thest stages of Hamons treatment since she was the best healer around. Frost was assisted once again by Bagua behind the wall before the two of them made their way to themand centre to attend the strategy meeting. Dous, Ryuu and Bastion remained on the northern wall for a few minutes to make sure there was no surprises before cautiously summoning the clean-up and dismembering teams. They reminded them to keep an eye out and to retreat at the first sign of danger while also assigning a few extra elites to serve as watchers during thepse. This newmander couldnt be trusted to act per the usual routine. Once everyone was present in themand centre the dreaded meeting began and it was not a pretty sight. Chapter 478 478 Chapter 478: Damn it! Weve lost too many. Urgh! Tarok groaned in pain as Gilianna used a mixture of healing magic and special salves on what remained of his arm and shoulder, the process was not pleasant. His armour had been peeled off revealing his blood-stained clothes and the many other wounds covering his body. Many of the younger officers who were under Taroksmand and those who knew him well felt pain as they saw his current state and heard his groans and at some points even guttural screams. Hamon who was looking far healthier sat at the head of the war table, sporting a fierce grimace as his aides reported the situation in detail. Damn it! Weve lost too many. He internally cursed and bemoaned the current situation. They had clear cut quotas to meet with each sessive wave, meeting said quotas would grant them a sliver of a chance at survival but so far, they were on thin ice and thisst wave seemed to be the turning point. Their losses came to a staggering 146 men and women, far more than they could afford at this stage. Injuries were even more abundant with even elites and Majors receiving serious injuries that would affect them during subsequent waves. With the smell of blood and medicine thick in the room everyone donned dark expressions, Frost included. Not only was this the most devastating loss theyd experienced they dealt practically no damage to the enemy. All those killed were nothing but replenishable chaff, the upper caste, the B-ranks didnt even bother showing themselves. Such a show of power obviously dealt a strong blow to moral. Haaaaaaaaaa Hamon let out a deep repressed sigh after hearing theplete battle report. His gaze drifted over to Dous who was inmand in his absence hoping to somehow find fault with his orders but unfortunately, he did everything he would have done. Having him at the helm would have likely made zero difference thus crushing the small tendril of hope he fostered. He closed his eyes and was silent for a few seconds as was everyone else in the room as they anxiously awaited the orders of theirmander. Crunch! ..... The war table cracked and broke as Hamons hand clenched onto the edge, his shut eyes then opened with a fierce light and a mad smile adorned his lips. We lost this battle, but the war is still ongoing, the waves will continue toe, and we will continue to defend this town and our nation as we always have even if that means our death. A weight was lifted from Hamons shoulders, and a steely determination could be seen radiating within his eyes. This look and his confident tone eased the fears of those listening. Their tightened fists and clenched jaws loosened as fire spread in their hearts. Who were they, they were the frost wolf battalion the sword of the empire that crushed whoever or whatever threatened it with fierce aggression.... they were soldiers, men and women of war. As for the adventurers in the room their hearts were just as inspired, they fought against monsters for a living, they were aware of the dangers. At least this way they would be remembered in the annals of the Northrend empire instead of merely unfortunate adventurers that died on the job, to be forgotten like so many in their profession. Death was no longer as frightening when you had purpose and people to join you in the journey. Everyone in the room looked at the faces of those beside them, their friends, colleagues, rivals or just people that theyd been fighting side by side with over the past few weeks. Mad smiles grew on their lips as their vigour was reignited, they would go out in a ze of glory. Viscount Furano please have Cassandra make emergency preparations for the citizens, best we relocate them to the shelters ahead of time lest we dont get a chanceter. Hamon gave an order to Dous who frowned and sighed before nodding his head in understanding and leaving themand centre. The seamless activity of the citizens would now have to be brought to a halt. No longer could they risk having just a partially restricted lifestyle. The citizens who were not part of the defence forces i.e., the young, the old, the injured and those not working in the workshops and food courts would have to be remanded to the high defence shelters that ran underneath the town. There they would hunker down until the reinforcements arrived. The town and those defending it would be destroyed but at least a portion of the citizens would be alive and could rebuild what was lost. Hamon didnt make this decision lightly as it was sure to spread panic and affect the moral of the regr soldiers and nonbat workers, but he had no choice. The losses incurred from this wave would only escte with the following waves and soon the dam that had held back the tide for the past several weeks would blow apart, unleashing the horrors of the monster stampede upon whaty behind it. Ryuu, Jessie have you managed to work out what species the newmander is? Knowing the things species would pierce the vale of the unknown allowing Hamon to make some sort of strategy. Ryuu grimaced before answering. Were not certain but its highly likely hes a frost monarch. Sharp inhales followed Ryuus revtion. Frost monarchs are high ranking spirit monsters that not only possesses great magical mastery over the ice element but also devastatingly powerful physical bodies. Entities with very little weaknesses. They live deep within the inner regions of the cial mountains and rule over their own territories, where many of their lesser kin spirits and other ice elemental creatures dwell under their protective rule. Theyre very simr to the nobles of the sapient kingdoms in that way thus the monarch in their name. A frost monarch couldnt bepared to a rindar, this was a veritable leader of monsters likely equivalent to Dous in ranking, he would not be so easy to deal with. From their magic shes as well as the contest of aura it was presumed that the frost monarch was solidly in the mid stages of B-rank and had likely brought with him monsters from his own territory. Thus, the new contingent of magic users as well as devasting contraptions that melted apart their arrow volleys. Ive nevere across a frost monarch personally however I know a few people in the war ursa battalion who fight against them on the regr, I should be able to handle it if pushes to shove and the thing finally reveals itself. Hamon reassured his subordinates, as long as Hamon could still handle the enemy leader there would always be hope. Theyll likely make moves once our frontline fractures. Unlike the rindar this frost monarch seems to be rather patient. Hell grind down our forces bit by bit before swooping in for the kill. Halgrave gave his opinion. We can try and bait them out but if that doesnt work, well have to know who will be fighting who. Hamon frowned, his gaze finding its way to Tarok. Tarok is in no shape to fight so were already down a man. Ill handle the frost monarch solo, Bastion you and.... Wait Colonel, I dont think you should take on the frost monarch. Before Hamon could get started divvying up the enemy elites among his own forces Ryuu interrupted. .... Im listening. Hamon was usually quite traditional in his leadership and wouldnt appreciate being interrupted by someone of lesser standing especially one who wasnt one of his own soldiers however Dous, Ryuu and Bastion were different, he respected them greatly and weed their opinion whenever it came to the monster stampede. Thank you, Colonel. Ryuu saluted and bowed to Hamon to establish authority before continuing. Numbers wise and role wise yes, itd be better for you the strongest person on our side to take down the enemy leader. Not only are you yourself magically able but you also have a strong body that can contend with the frost monarch. Many officers nodded in agreement as Ryuu analysed their Colonel. But unfortunately, youre notpletely healed from your battle with the two rindar and the poison herald, we cant risk you falling in battle otherwise our entire armys moral would hit rock bottom. Unlike the monster horde we rely heavily on ourmander standing tall and valiant tobat the endless tide. Frowns and silence filled the room as many pictured the scene of Hamon either falling in battle against the frost monarch or receiving heavy injuries. Hamon frowned deeply partially agreeing with Ryuus statement, if he fell or was heavily injured the moral of their forces would crumble. But so, what did that mean he wasnt supposed to fight at all, to stand at the back and give orders from safety while those under him died, never. That wasnt his way nor was it Ryuus, so he was rather confused. What else? You cant wish to sub me out for such a petty reason such as my injury or even death. If they couldntst until the reinforcements arrive each and every one of them was going to die regardless, himself included. Hiding away was pointless Ryuu frowned and looked as if he was struggling to say his next words, but he eventually bit the bullet. I dont believe the frost monarch will be worst we have to face in theing waves. Another round of sharp inhales responded to his words and Hamons frown became even more pronounced. You are our only upper B-rank fighter so we cant have you waste any more energy or receive any more injuries fighting against those beneath your station. Ryuus words were oddly vague as well as rather precise. .... You think an upper B-rank wille. Chapter 479 479 Chapter 479: The frontline troops ......You think an upper B-rank wille. The moment Hamon uttered those words an eery silence filled the room and cold sweat started to umte down everyones necks. Upper B-rank monsters were something none of them could contend against, even Hamon would only be able to at best survive for a time. Everyone else would be swatted like flies given the difference in strength. Just like how Frost and the other Majors could easily cull scores of C-rank monsters an upper B-rank monster could do the same to them. Individually monsters are always stronger than sapients of the same rank and unless one was a very rare talent and or equipped with armour, weaponry and skills beyond their means they would lose 10 times out of 10. A monsters rank was equivalent to a party of sapients and only by working together would they be able to go against the monsters superior physical traits, size, mana pool and tenacity. An upper B-rank monster would generally need a group of simrly strong sapients armed to the teeth to be taken down effectively as when one rises to such levels of power numbers tend to be a pointless endeavour. Such a monster could literally steam roll forward and blow apart the northern wall and thered be very little they could do about it. The only option would be to send their strongest fighters to forestall its advance. If they wanted to take down such a monster, Hamon, Ryuu, Halgrave, Maggie and likely another two or three of the stronger Major level fighters would be required and not all of them would return. Unfortunately, such an endeavour would be impossible as there would be more than just an upper B-rank monster to deal with. .... Yes, given the current trend its highly usible for an upper B-rank to arrive as well as more mid B-ranks. In my opinion this frost monarch is but the first of the stampedes truly heavy hitters as from Frosts intel theres also that frost giant Valend who is yet to arrive. Ryuu responded with a serious expression. Hamon you are our strongest trump card and the only one who could possibly contend against such a monster so we cant have you risk yourself any further..... Leave the frost monarch to Jessie and I. Ryuu thumped his chest and revealed a fierce will through his gaze that caused Hamon to be momentarily stunned. Haaaaaaaa fine, the frost monarch will be left to you and Jessie however if its too much Ill... That wont be necessary. Ryuu cut Hamon off. Well get it done regardless of the cost. Ryuu was determined to do his part even if it meant overextending himself. His daughter was behind the shelter that was the northern wall and hed die before letting the stampede reach her. ..... Jessie who was standing by Ryuus side looked towards him in shock before sighing and showing aplicated expression in her eyes. She then also thumped her chest disying her determination. The magemanders would take care of the magically inclined frost monarch. With the most pressing match up resolved, Hamon proceeded to match up the remaining B-rank monsters and Major level fighters. Frost surprisingly was given a rather important role, he was assigned to take out the eldest rindar, a monster that normally would be beyond his capabilities given how green he was into B-rank but thanks to its extensive injuries they should be rather evenly matched. Plus given the hatred it still held towards him drawing the rindar out shouldnt be that difficult. A meeting that started with a heavy pall of dread was now filled with fire and determination, everyone in the room was ready to risk all they had against the enemy. Once the meeting was brought to a close all the officers made way for the food court with powerful steps. The very best food with the very best effects was prepared, energising the officers and generating a war induced pressure around them. The regr soldiers and the citizens who were just notified about the emergency sheltering couldnt stop their hearts from lurching at the sight and a single word rang in their minds over and over with resounding booms, WAR! ng! ng! Sizzle! Sizzle! The citizens orderly made for the emergency shelters withplicated expressions, doing their best to remain calm while those who still needed to be present such as the smiths and chefs put all they had into their craft. Fires roared as high-quality food was cooked in giant woks and pots without end, filling up each and every soldiers belly so as to provide them with strength for what was about toe. It was these men and women that would endure in the next few waves. The frost monarch being an intelligentmander with an eye for patience would continue to send swarm after swarm of replenishable chaff to eat away at them piece by piece until the mighty frontline was nothing more than a fractured mess. They knew it, the chefs and smiths knew it and the monsters certainly knew it but nevertheless these men and women ate with gusto and sported fierce expressions as they willingly prepared for such an eventuality. Whether theyst until reinforcements arrived was not dependent on the efforts of their upper ranked elites but primarily on them. As long as they stood strong the B-rank monsters would be wary to attack and time would drag on. Weapons, armour, ammunition as well as anything else that could help increase their strength was given freely. Several hourster the war horns sounded once again, and the men and women of the frontline grabbed their gear and made their way through the gate and stood in front of the northern wall. Fierce and determined expressions could be seen on the faces of each and every man and woman standing there. They stood ramrod straight in a devasting formation that screamed war and a thick pseudo aura coagted around them as their wills united and their bloodlust took form. The frontline though lower in numbers than earlier looked far more powerful and not just because of this almost palpable bloodlust that struck fear into the hearts of the lesser monsters gradually charging from behind the treeline but because of their equipment. Each and every person on the frontline had their primary weapons repaired or reced, granted secondary and in some cases even tertiary weapons as well as had most of their armour reced with dense heavy metal that abandoned speed for endurance. Like the shell of a turtle, they would withstand the onughts and protect whaty inside. Tsk! The frost monarch who saw the newly outfitted line-up from within the trees clicked his tongue in annoyance, this would make his chipping away at the chaff much more difficult and time consuming. A couple of his direct subordinates even reported that they could see magic devices on some of the soldiers that weakened magic. Seemed they prepared for any untoward magic attacks. The frost monarch didnt expect Furano to still have such reserves but, in the end, this was a good thing, the town was likely pulling out all the stops in ast-ditch effort. He rxed into his ice formed throne and ordered the replenishable chaff to charge like before, his tactics not changing in the slightest. For three hours the endless horde charged out from behind the treeline and sunk their teeth into Furanos frontline infantry. The turtle shell held strong for the most part but in thest hour cracks appeared due to repeated damage and exhaustion. By the time the drums beat the losses stood at 112. Not as bad as the dawn wave but still painful. The exact same happened during the next wave that urred less than 3 hourster. The monster horde repeatedly smashed against the defences of the frontline with reckless abandon. 200 died, a number that was hard to ignore when they lined up once again for the following wave. The frost monarch who was starting to get antsy revealed an insidious smile as he leaned forward on his throne. Not much longer now hahahahahaha. Heughed evilly with a glint in his eyes. The B-rank monsters who had been remanded to the forest couldnt help but shiver in anticipation. The strong smell of blood and the war fervour in the air was hard to resist but finally it seemed as though they would once again be able to take to the stage. When is Valend due to arrive? The frost monarch asked one of his direct subordinates after rising to his feet. He stood several metres tall and had a body made of ice. He looked like a very heavily armoured knight. He is set to arrive in the early hours of tomorrow, Lord Frostine. Good, good well soften them up some more tonight and deal the final blow to their frontline at dawn tomorrow hehehehehe. Lord Frostine chuckled as he walked forward, finally going to reveal himself to his enemy. The fourth wave of the day was underway and the losses from the previous waves forced Frost and the elites on the ground to be stretched thin as they filled the gaps. Hamon and Dous stood on top of the wall with deep frowns running the numbers in their heads over and over again, never getting a positive result. Hamon look Suddenly Dous spoke and pointed towards the treeline. So, hes finally decided to openly relish in his achievements. Hamons fists clenched hard as Lord Frostine made his entrance, standing tall with a smirk on his face as the other B-ranks revealed themselves. Seems the next phase will begin soon.... Jessie are you ready? Chapter 480 - 480 Chapter 480: Getting rid of deadweight 480 Chapter 480: Getting rid of deadweight Seems the next phase will begin soon. Jessie are you ready? Ryuu who also witnessed Frostines entrance turned to Jessie the mage corps vice leader. Their job would be to restrict the frost monarch, Lord Frostine so he couldnt interfere with the battlefield. A tall ask given theirparative powers but something Ryuu was confident in doing as long as Jessie assisted him. Ryuus mastery over fire magic would grant him a slight elemental advantage with his spells thus allowing him to ovee some of the power difference and along with Jessies earth style magic which was geared towards defence they had exactly what they needed to restrain this mighty foe. Taking him down however wouldnt be as easy. Dont worry Ryuu Ive got your back. Jessie replied in a yful tone before taking a step forward towards a specially prepared tform just for the two of them. There were no signs of fear or trepidation in her face or demeanour instead she was excited and felt a fire in her veins that she hadnt felt since her youth. A wide smile grew on her lips as she absorbed the surrounding mana like a starving child, preparing a grand wee for the enemymander. The tform prepared for the two of them was lined with magic devices that aided in umting and enhancing mana on an individual level rather than forrge groups, this way the two of them would be able to endure a battle of attrition against a B-rank monster with almost unreal mana capabilities and thats before the monster stampede. Thanks to the influx of mana corruption the ambient mana in the air was far higher than normal. Though it was rather chaotic this didnt affect high rank monsters as much as sapients in fact under such circumstances a frost monarch would see their spells be even more powerful and their mana regeneration grow. Without the prepared war machines and magic devices, the forces of Furano would be at a clear disadvantage. Ryuu smiled after hearing her response and with his limbs trembling from excitement, he joined her on this tform and began umting mana. Lord Frostine arrived in front of the treeline in a grandiose manner, his aura stretching forth so as to draw the attention of the sapients fighting for their very lives. He wanted to pressure them further, make them feel despair and weaken their resolve. The other B-rank monsters followed closely behind him making for a very impactful disy. Present were the three rindars, the B-rank poison herald as well as another 5 entry level B-rank monsters, 3 of which were newly unveiled and anxious to join the battle. Many exhausted soldiers couldnt help but grow weak in the knees upon seeing this line-up. However, before Frostine could get too cocky Ryuu and Jessie attacked in earnest, summoning some of their most powerful 4th circle spells with excellent synergy. ..... A fire bird made of azure mes appeared above Ryuu while a great earthen smander manifested before Jessie. The two mana lifeforms roared out before flying and leaping towards Frostine respectively. Tsk! Frostine clicked his tongue in annoyance, wanting to enjoy the spoils of his entrance for a little longer. [Ice obey my will, form into a mighty serpent and strangle my foes with freezing majesty, wrath of the ice serpent] Frostine chanted the aria for spell he used earlier to take Taroks left arm. In response to his words a massive ice serpent was summoned andunched itself at the azure firebird and earthen smander, generating a massive explosion of sound and colour as they collided. Do not falter, stand strong and protect what lies behind. Your families, friends, innocent children, the citizens of our mighty empire! Fight on and we will be victorious! In response to the magnificent confrontation of 4th circle magic Dous roared out at the top of his lungs, his words infused with his weighty and noble aura, inspiring the soldiers who were gradually faltering at the arrival of Frostine and the other B-rank monsters. Soldiers of the Northrend empire, loyal members of the frost wolf battalion! Your enemy is before you, rend them apart in the name of the emperor! Hamon followed with his own speech, greatly rousing his soldiers and creating a shift in the battlefields momentum causing Frostines face to warp in anger. He felt belittled as though his grand existence was nothing but a passing breeze. He wanted to blow apart these foolish soldiers and strike fear deep in their hearts, but Ryuus and Jessies magic took up his attention. A full strong 4th circle spell cast by powerful B-rank mages with no regard for holding back while also enhanced by magic devices and 4th star magic staffs was not something even, he could take lightly. You three and you join the fray and teach them fear! With a threatening look Frostine red at the three rindars as well as the most injured entry level B-rank monster. Beings that were failures and deadweight in his eyes. The youngest rindar trembled from head to toe in fear while the second rindar frowned and looked towards the eldest, the most powerful and talented among them. However, the powerful umbre that the two of them could shelter under was no more. Their eldest brother, the formermander of the monster stampedes forces was nothing more than a thorn in Lord Frostines eyes. Even in his peak condition their brother was nothingpared to Frostine and now that he was missing two arms and lost most of his defensive scales the eldest rindar held no leverage. The eldest rindar knew that Frostine was sending him and his siblings to their deaths and it filled him with fury but there was nothing he could do. The weak have no say in the monster world, just like the many D and C-rank monsters he sent to their deaths he was now in the same boat. With a clenched jaw and balled up fists the eldest rindar looked at Frostine with an aggressive re but backed down almost instantly the moment Frostine stared back. He had no options; his death was certain. Haaaaaaaaa very well as the lordmands. With a defeated tone the eldest rindar bowed his head and walked forward alone. Arguing against Frostine would only see him die quicker and pointlessly, at least if he joined the battlefield, he could erase some regret. All of his pent-up anger towards Frostine and his situation smoothly transferred towards the one that put him in this situation, the gnat that relied on the protection of Hamon to deprive him of his third arm and started him down his path of demise. With furious fire in his eyes the eldest rindar focused on the young dungeon core dashing to and fro to protect the frontline, he had found his target. Well? What are you waiting for? Frostines gaze drifted over the remaining two rindars and the other B-rank he ordered forward. His tone was filled with unveiled threat and the B-ranks not ordered forward either looked on in a gloating manner or let out sighs of relief. Fearing that theyd be struck down then and there the two rindars and the other B-rank monster made their way forward with anxious steps. Frostine chuckled in derision before focusing back on his magic contest with Ryuu and Jessie. Chaylen bring our personal forces into the direct fray; I want Furanos frontline decimated after this wave. Frostine spoke to an upper C-ranked spirit monster that was one of his kin. Understood Lord Frostine. Chaylen performed a light bow before moving to takemand of their spirit monster forces. Frostine then looked toward the B-rank poison herald. Have your forces move out as well, harm as many of them as you can regardless of the cost. He spoke with that threatening tone once again, it was clear that like the other B-ranks he only really cared about his own forces. The B-rank poison herald frowned in displeasure but was powerless to disobey, he sent the order down through one of his own subordinates and a momentter swarms of poison heralds and spirit monsters that were adept in magic took to the battlefield. Frostine didnt care about the rindars in the slightest, but the poison herald was a different story. Even though he also failed in his mission and sported a plethora of internal injuries thanks to his face off against Hamon he was still useful as were his subordinates. Poison was a really annoying thing to have to deal with while also fighting for your dear life against unsurmountable foes. With the worry of poison the forces of Furano would be under even more pressure but more than that the poison heralds would ensure that their reserves would bepletely spent by tomorrow. Frostine looked up at the sky that had been lit by with the magic device [sr dawn] not so long ago as well as the confrontation between his ice serpent and Ryuu and Jessies firebird and earthen smander. I wonder how long you can hold out. Desperation will only take you so far. Once Valendes tomorrow your end will be nigh and well be free of this insufferable urging. Frostine grabbed his forehead as he spoke, the mutterings of his instincts constantly whispering in his ear, ordering him to kill and decimate the soutnds towns and cities, Furano most of all. Frostine had been alive during the previous monster stampede but even then, when he was weaker, he wasnt ensnared by the corruption and stayed within his territory, ignoring the happenings of the outside world. This time however not only was he a proud and powerful frost monarch ensnared but so was a frost giant as well as something even greater. A frightening change that left him rather unsettled but powerless to do anything about. Only when the mission was done or when their strongest leaders were defeated would this crusade end. Chapter 481 - 481 Chapter 481: Facing off against the eldest rindar 481 Chapter 481: Facing off against the eldest rindar Schwing! sh! Gyahhhhh! The sounds of weapons cleaving through the air and into flesh resounded around Frost, followed with the inevitable screams of monsters dying from his ive. His beautiful white robes were covered in blood, as was his hair and weapon, the stench was quite impactful, but Frost didnt notice. He waspletely in the zone, culling monster after monster like a machine, growing more and more efficient after each kill. The constant supply of DP from those he killed kept his energy levels topped up and filled him with a mad pleasure which was portrayed by a crazy smile that stretched from ear to ear. He was having fun, the madness of war suited him greatly. However as though on cue, the moment he was at an all-time high, a sense of danger struck his body like lightning. His forearms formed goosebumps and the small hairs on the back of his neck stood up and his heart stopped mid-beat. A secondter he swiftly ducked his head down and arge fist passed where his head once was. The air above him exploded with a small sonic boom revealing the force behind the sudden blow. The danger wasnt over though, a purple knee appeared next, aiming to crack open his orbital bone. Frost twisted his body desperately to the side sessfully avoiding the rapidly moving knee by a hairs breadth. At the same time he violently kick against the floor pushing his body away from his aggressor. Boom! Though he moved quickly, the aggressor still managed to make contact with his body. A sudden shoulder barge sent him careening farther than he anticipated but with a quick flip and twist the extra momentum was dealt with. When hended Frost got to see the entity that attacked with such fervour, and he wasnt surprised by the result. ..... So the defeated dog dares to barge upon the frontline, you must really be tired of living. Frost chuckled in derision and entered a defensive stance with his ive. The eldest rindar who attempted to catch Frost by surprise felt his fury grow at his insipid insult. Better than a coward who hides behind hismanders, only attacking from a ce of safety. The eldest rindar replied back in a mocking tone before ncing at the nearby area as if looking for Frosts protectors. The cowardlyment caused Frosts lips to twitch as the insinuation though partially true hurt his pride. He faced off against the rindar with Hamon and only fought the cyclops solo once he, Maggie and Artemis wounded it the previous day and even then Maggie was nearby ready to act in a moment of danger. Dont bother looking they wont being, its just going to be you and me, just like what you wanted. Frost pointed his ives de towards the eldest rindar, taunting him. Bagua youre inmand of the squad, keep some distance lest youre targeted, this bastard isnt above using cheap shots. He countered the rindars cowardment with one of his own. The two fighters stared at one another full of aggression while the nearby monsters and forces of Furano made space for their battle. Atop the northern wall Dous, Hamon, Ryuu, Jessie and most importantly Kiba saw the eldest rindar make his sudden advancement. It took a lot of self-restraint for them to not rush to the young dungeon cores aid but this was a battle he needed to handle himself if they wished to survive this war. Rallen and Yvonne pick up the ck. Hamon gave an order and a pair of Majors replied understood Colonel at the same time before leaping from the northern wall. Rallen and Yvonne needed to handle the frontline while Frost and the other majors took care of the 4 B-ranks sent into the battlefield. Thankfully all four of them were injured thus the required manpower was feasible but risky, the matchups could go either way. Frosts on his own now, may fate shine brightly upon this young prodigy. Hamon spoke with difficulty and clenched fists as he really didnt want to take such risks, but the war gave him no other option, battles could be lost but the big picture the war could not, no matter what it cost. Dous also looked down at Frost with clenched fists, feeling immense guilt. How often have they put this young man in the firing line when all hed ever given them was aid. He sighed depressingly before reaching his arm out to stroke therge tiger whose fur stood on end from anxiety as he was forced to watch his master contend with a mighty opponent all by himself. Rx Kiba believe in your master, he will triumph like he always has. He portrayed a forced smile in an attempt to calm the emotions of the young cial winged tiger, but Kiba was wise enough to understand that the situation was truly dangerous. The only reason he still stayed on the northern wall was because of the look on his masters face as well as the emotion being transferred through their soul bond. Frost was excited and wanted no one to interfere in this duel not even Kiba so he remained silently on the wall. Dous felt he got through to Kiba, so his gaze then turned to another battlefield. There standing off against the second rindar who was blind in one eye was Bastion, his long time friend. His battle would not be an easy one either, the second rindar with its far less wounds was likely equal to the eldest rindar in strength and though Bastion was more experienced than Frost and likely stronger he didnt have the advantage of youth and the ability to absorb DP. After fighting for an hour in this slugfest, dashing to and fro the old guild master was significantly tired and was already breathing heavily before the rindar arrived. However his expression showed nothing but fierce determination as he tensed his biceps and back muscles andunched himself at his enemy with fiery aggression. Though Bastions battle may be even more treacherous Dous didnt feel as worried as he did with Frost. Hed fought side by side with Bastion for decades and knew his friends tenacity and experience thus creating a form of undeniable conviction that he could never lose. As Bagua and the rest of Frosts teammates moved away from him and the rindar the two fighters tensed their bodies and sharpened their eyes upon each other. A blood stter shot out from the shoulder of a nearby monster and acted as a sign. Both Frost and the eldest rindar moved at the exact same moment. ng! Frosts ive adorned in a narrow but dense set of cold mes shed against the rindars powerful fist. Both were knocked back,ing out even. ng! ng! ng! At hard to follow speeds Frost and the rindar exchanged blow after blow, relying solely on their mastery of their weapons, no skills or techniques involved. With the rindar only having two arms instead of the usual four Frost was able to keep up with his insane speed, skilfully deflecting his blows with his de edge without having to take a single step backward. They were evenly matched during the warm-up phase and thanks to his chakra and the rindarsck of scales, minor wounds were beginning to umte on the rindars fists. The eldest rindar frowned at this realisation before taking the battle up a notch. [Drunken gambit] while reeling up for a chest strike the eldest rindar activated a pugilist skill called [Drunken gambit] that made his movements changeup and be much harder to follow. His counters also became faster and heavier, and a numbness filled his body as though he was partially drunk allowing him to ignore the pain from the Frosts cold mes. Frost was encountering this type of boost skill for the first time, so it caught him by surprise. He miss-timed a punch and was struck in the rib, this lead to him receiving another then another and another. His chakra armour swiftly broke apart on contact and his newly repaired physical armour endured most of the damage but somehow a great deal of force still made its way through, bruising his skin and muscles. [Ice piercer] in response Frost took a step backwards granting him some distance before activating his final advanced level ive skill, [ice piercer]. As he drew back his ive, white-blue energy covered the des tip, enhancing its prative power and caused the surrounding air to chill. This ice borne skill was not only sharp and deadly but also matched well with Frosts ice element. Frost moved with incredible swiftness but the rindar was no easy opponent and had anticipated such a retaliation. The ice encrusted ive thrust out with immense force, breaking the sound barrier as it passed across the rindars torso. The monster twisted his body to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly tip however, arge gash still opened up as the ive passed by. The wind generated by such a fast thrust though invisible made its mark. Hmph! Annoyed by Frosts smile and the sting on his chest the rindar grunted before aggressively kneeing Frosts outstretched ive. Frost predicated such a counter and decided to lean into the upward force ced on his weapon. He leaped upwards and backflipped, distancing himself from the rindar in preparation for another skill. Chapter 482 - 482 Chapter 482: Facing of against the eldest rindar (2) 482 Chapter 482: Facing of against the eldest rindar (2) Frostnded back on the ground with light steps and with his ive poised for a downward sh, the words to his most powerful ive skill on the tip of his tongue. However there they would remain, the eldest rindar moved quicker and was already on the assault with his own skill. Frost was instead forced to lower his ive and enter a defensive stance. Unlike with the cyclops the rindar was fast, very fast meaning the battle would unfold very differently. Frost had no area in which he was superior to the eldest rindar thus finding weaknesses to exploit would be challenging. He needed to be methodical and patient lest he open himself up for a deadly barrage. [Storm of a hundred blows ] The eldest rindar moved instantaneously, appearing before Frost almost the very moment he touched down. He activated a pugilist skill of great renown, an advanced level skill that contained devasting destructive power. Blood red energy covered the rindars two remaining fists in denseyers turning them into solid weapons that even 3 star weapons would struggle to match. His upper body then grew in stature as his muscles tensed to obscene levels, the [drunken gambit] skill still being in affect only heightened the devastation that was about to be brought down upon his enemy. Frost frowned and a cold sweat ran down his neck as he firmed his grip upon his ive and covered it and his body inyers of ice chakra, going full on defensive. A momentter the storm began and the eldest rindar punched out with great force. Don! Don! Don! Don! The first four blows were parried by Frosts ive and very little damaged was incurred. There was a slight inconsistency thanks to the rindar only having two arms instead of his usual four, but this was just the beginning. ..... Don! Don! Don! Don! The blows came in increasing sets, the first was four, the second eight, the third 16, then 32 and finally 64 uninterrupted blows each faster and heavier than the first four for a grand total of 124 punches. Frost managed to parry the first couple sets with just his chakra armour being damaged but towards the end especially thest set his defences were blown apart and multiple punches smashed against his chest, hands and even sometimes his face. Boooooooooommmm! As thest blow came down Frost was blown backwards, his firmly nted feet dragging through the floor to create a trail. Hu hu hu hu hu the eldest rindar shrank in size after thest punch and started breathing heavily. His body was greatly drained after using [drunken gambit] and [storm of a hundred blows] together, of course his current state only enhanced the strain. He red towards Frost who despite enduring all 124 blows was still standing, he truly had be weak if such a greenhorn was left standing after such a barrage. Cough! Cough! Frost harshly coughed, spurting up blood. His body though still standing was in a great deal of pain. His chakra armour was all but decimated and the armour forged by Daki hiding underneath his robes was caved in and damaged in multiple areas, those final 64 blows were really no joke, each and every one felt as though he was being struck by a giant boulder. Internally his organs were shaken up, a rib was broken and his left wrist was likely cracked and the bruises that would show up if left untreated would likely make his skin more purple than white. However such damage was easily manageable, his battle capability wouldnt even be adversely affected too much, it just hurt. Frost felt a fair bit better after coughing up blood and after wiping his lips with his sleeve he looked towards the rindar with an excited smile. This battle was so much fun, thatst move especially really pushed him to his limits in terms of ive control however it also made something abundantly clear. You really have be weak. He said with a tone that was a mixture of mocking and disappointment. Such a tone caused the rindars face to warp in fury as his pride was hit. Yes it was clear that he had be weak if such a greenhorn like Frost was not only still standing after taking on a direct blow from hisbined technique but still had the strength to mock him. He felt a phantom pain in that moment where his two arms used to be. His [storm of a hundred blows] was only perfect when he had all his arms. With only two the timing was inconsistent, and the fierce momentum failed to build up to its highest point. There would have been no way for Frost to keep up with his onught passed the third set if he was in his prime, a realisation that pissed him off to no end. Well I guess its a good thing for me in the end.. Frost retrieved a mid-level health potion from his storage ring and started glugging down its contents- a low-level one would have been fine for injuries of such levels but as he stated before he would never again force his tastebuds to endure such abuse. ..If thats all youve got then this battle will be over soon. Frost spoke not with simple arrogance but with confidence as he twirled his ive and stretched his body. It was true that the rindars attack dealt some damage but now that hed seen and experienced it he knew that if faced with it again hed be able to endure far better. Unlike the rindar, Frost was in his prime and was constantly improving every second this battle went on; he would only grow stronger after each exchange. The rindar being as intelligent as he was and adept at looking down on others immediately understood Frosts tone and the look in his eyes, it filled him incandescent rage. His face became heated, and a blood red colour began to suffuse itself into his eyes as his body and mind gradually started sumbing to the madness of the stampede. You arrogant little gnat, you think just because Im missing two arms, my scales and that you survived myst skill head-on you think youre above me ha, your arrogance knows no bounds! The rindar almost screamed as his tired body suddenly became tense and his aura sted outwards. You are nothing but a brat that got lucky, Ill show what true power is! With his deration the rindar once again charged towards Frost with great speed, his fists already clenched and ready to pummel him into dust. Frost mocking look only grew as the rindar charged towards him, this time however he had enough time to dish out his own attack. With his ive raised above his head he dug in his feet and summoned his internal energy. [Wyverns maw] With his words the energy in his body infused into his ive before forming into a massive wyverns head with razor sharp teeth but that wasnt all. His cold me style chakra filtered through giving the mana creature a silver hue and me like skin. Next his aura entered, still with a rather inefficient and primitive approach but he was able sessfully give the wyvern head some essence, increasing its power and the ability to sustain his chakra mes. What followed was a devasting downward swing thatunched the fierce head at the charging rindar. Ha you think such a poor imitation is enough topete with the real thing, in your dreams! Not the least bit pressured by the mighty wyvern head the eldest rindar continued his charge unabated. [Vicious viper strike] He activated another pugilist skill that focused on swift destruction. Purple energy covered his left fist before forming into the shape of a viper that wrapped around his arm. Then with far better skill than Frost the eldest rindar infused his aura into his strike making the viper far more corporal and insidious. The massive wyverns head roared before snapping its jaws around the oing viper wrapped fist. From the outset it seemed clear than its size and power would grant it a swift victory but what could be visually seen was not always the truth. Bang! With a loud explosion the purple viper stretched out from the rindars fist and devoured the wyverns maw from the inside while his fist punched straight through as though it was merely constructed of paper. Frosts eyes opened wide at such a sight; shock clear on his face. The eldest rindar smashed apart his strongest attack like it was nothing. The rindar reeled back his arm and dissipated the aggressive looking viper with a disdainful expression. All shape and no essence, your aura is like a fractured mess. His eyes observed the young dungeon core, his anger somewhat dissipating as he was once again able to look at Frost the way he should, as a predator eyeing up his prey. Frost may be talented and a strong opponent for the unprepared and unexperienced, but he was still a greenhorn in terms of aura thus his threat to him, someone who was at the peak of the B-rank early stages and in full control of his own aura was limited. As long as he kept his focus and used his aura to attack and defend Frost would struggle to take him down. The games were over, he would unleash hisplete strength in hunting down this arrogant prey. Chapter 483 - 483 Chapter 483: "My turn asshole!" 483 Chapter 483: My turn asshole! Hehehehehehehe suddenly a chillingugh escaped from Frost bringing the rindar out of his thoughts. This didnt sound like augh of fear and in response the rindar felt a unease in his heart which only strengthened the moment heid eyes on Frosts expression. Hesughing and smiling out of.joy? He thought that he must be interpreting it wrong, how could Frost be joyful? Didnt he just see the difference in their power when he went all out, his aura covered fist easily vanquished Frosts most powerful attack yet this young man instead of trembling in fear or at the very least showing a worried expression was insteadughing his guts out as if he couldnt contain his excitement. Just when the eldest rindar was about to shout out in query his tongue lurched, and his eyes formed pinpoints. Frostsughter died down and he stared at the rindar with a fierce fire in his eyes revealing not a single iota of fear but that wasnt what caused the rindar to grow silent no it was what was happening to Frosts weapon. His aura that struggled to fuse itself with his ive and the wyverns head was now flowing with far better efficiency. It still wasnt perfect obviously but a stark contrast to what it was earlier. The eldest rindar felt a chill around his heart and a deep and deadly fear began gnawing at him as he watched this scene unfold. Frost twirled his ive smoothly and dissipated his aura, a small amount of sweat umted on his forehead from attempting something new, but his smiling face made him lookpletely unfazed in fact he looked even more energised after the fact. So thats how you do it, no wonder it shattered so easily. He cupped his chin and nodded in agreement to his own words. His smile continued to grow until it stretched from ear to ear and gave off a sense of madness. Lets try that again shall we? With deft movement Frost raised his ive above his head with both hands and gathered his energy. [Wyverns maw] once again the vicious looking wyverns head appeared and once again he infused it with his me chakra and his aura however this time the process was far smoother and far more aura entered therge head granting it a powerful presence. ..... Lets see how you smash it this time? Frost asked with a joyful tone, truly wanting to witness such a spectacle as it would only show him areas in which he could improve. This bastard! The eldest rindar internally screamed as he prepared his defence. [Vicious viper strike] He responded in the same way, reying the previous events however this time the almost instantaneous destruction of therge wyvern head didnt happen instead the massive maw continued to bite down refusing to lose to the tiny purple viper. Argh! I will not lose to some greenhorn that just learned how to infuse his aura! The eldest rindar roared out in protest as his body tensed and his aura burst forth with indomitable tenacity. The massive wyvern head exploded into fragments and returned to the ether, leaving the rindar victorious however it wasnt a perfect victory. Urgh! The rindar grunted in pain and looked at this left arm that was covered in his own blood and sported several puncture wounds where the wyverns teeth made contact. Hoh still not quite right but its definitely the right direction. Frost ced his hand under his chin in thought and once again nodded in agreement to his own words. This calm demeanour sent a horrifying chill down the eldest rindars back and hepletely forgot about the pain in his arm. A strong feeling of fear wrapped around his heart as he finally realised what the hell he was up against.a god damn prodigy. Such realisation struck an immense blow to the arrogant and insidious rindar that looked down on all sapients, seeing them as mere fodder, only fearing a select few that eclipsed him in strength. Impossible I wont lose to such a greenhorn, I wont! He screamed internally as he struggled to restore his confidence. He couldnt fail again, he could ept dying in battle but that would be against someone worthy such as Hamon or Maggie and Halgrave when they moved on him after ying Frost. Never for a second did he truly fathom the idea of losing to Frost the one that was like a fly assisting Hamon just a few days ago. As his fear began to consume him his mind weakened and the influence of the mana corruption and whatever caused it started to eat up parts of his mind, gradually turning him into a maddened beast that would fear nothing and have but a single purpose, to kill. Frost yed around with his aura a little and allowed the rindar to slowly sink into a crazed state, hoping that that would make this battle even more fun. He had already forgotten that he had a job to do, all that mattered to him right now was the thrill of the fight and the great chance to improve. The eldest rindar in his wounded state was the perfect opponent for his current level, a fair amount of danger but not too much that a single slip up could spell the end of him. A well versed and diverse opponent that outssed him in nearly all areas.for now at least. Frost already felt his ive control slowly improving as he faced off against the rindars relentless punchesing from all manner of angles and with varying speeds. Improving from advanced mastery to expert mastery was a very long and arduous journey that was impossible for most people, hell even crossing from the beginning stages to the mid stages of advanced mastery was difficult let alone a whole grade but even minute changes would see a measurable improvement at his current level so Frost would never give up such an opportunity. His control of aura was clearlycking as a B-rank fighter and was something that he had juste into contact with yet after just a few encounters and a generous closeup demonstration from the rindar he was already miles ahead of where he was when he arrived on the battlefield. This ce really had some amazing teachers. Eventually the eldest rindar had fallen quite deep into his madness and came up with a single solution, kill Frost before he had a chance to improve further, only then would be free. With this realisation the rindar focused his now much redder eyes upon Frost and his aura with all its insidious qualities seeped outwards before coating his arms and legs like armour. Oh looks like its showtime. Frost smiled and readied his ive, coating it in a mixture of his cold me chakra and aura which continued to flow more and more naturally with each passing second. He could feel his weapon and sense its position like it was a fifth limb, a magical state that was granted by his aura and ive mastery working in tandem. Arghhhhhhhh! The eldest rindar roared out aggressively before lunging at frost with his right fist reeled backwards. Frost let out a restrained breath and narrowed his eyes beforeshing out with his ive in an almost graceful manner. Booooooom! The aura enhanced ive and aura coated fist shed against one another, generating a loud boom. Frost was forced to take a step back as his ive was pushed away, losing in a direct contest of strength but he remained bnced and moved once again to parry the strike of the left fist. Boom! Boom! Boom! sh after sh continued as Frost remained on the defensive. The rindars aura coated fists repeatedly smashing against his ive, knocking it back with each blow and surely but surely pushing Frost back one step at a time. With the addition of aura it was clear that Frost was still a littlecking, but each confrontation educated him further. After ten minutes of this onught Frost eventually came out even in the exchanges, his aura bing as dense and as sharp as the eldest rindars. After another five minutes he was no longer simply defending instead attacking the rindar in earnest forcing him to be the one to backstep. When rindar was finally forced back to their original starting position he erupted with even more aggression, the red in his eyes growing deeper in that moment, even his voice sounded far more primal and animalistic. [Tigers roundhouse] The rindar starting using skills with his aura, the next natural step. Frost frowned and ced his ive to his side to block the deadly kick. With a loud don! the rindars leg struck his ive and caused it vibrate intensely, cutting open some of the seams in his hand. The rindar didnt let up in the slightest, continuing to use pugilist skill after pugilist skill to pummel Frost,ughing madly as he did. Frost may have learned how to apply his aura to his weapon, but he stillcked speed. The eldest rindar attacked with such fervent aggression and consistency that Frost didnt have any time to both activate his own skills and apply his aura to them. All he could do was endure the onught until the rindar was out of juice. Frost parried blow after blow with his ive and even endured more than a few with his own body but still he did not fall. Blood covered him and his weapon however it wasnt primarily his. The rindar in his bloodlust wantonly attacked him with no regards for the state of his own body. Yes he protected his arms and legs with aura, but he was striking against someone whose weapon and body were also infused with aura. And it was an aura that continued to be more and more solidified after each blow, hardening to the point that it eventually surpassed his own. Don! With a final blow Frost was forced to his knees and coughed up blood, his internal organs endured quite a pummelling after all. The rindar smiled madly at such a sight and ced his foot atop Frosts head feeling as though hed finally won. However what he got in return was a defiant look and the grabbing of his leg with a vice like grip. My turn asshole! Chapter 484 - 484 Chapter 484: Victory? 484 Chapter 484: Victory? My turn asshole! Frost loudly cursed as he intensified his grip on the rindars leg and forcibly lifted it off his head with a powerful yank. The rindar was pulled off bnce andpletely caught by surprise, didnt he just win? Didnt Frost copse due to being unable to continue anymore? As Frost yanked the rindars leg he swiftly rose up to a standing position and readied his ive to chop off the foot that dared to stand upon his royal head. [Earths upheaval] With a mighty roar he activated the advanced ive skill [Earths upheaval], an upward shing attack that was normally ideal forunching the target into the air but would serve just as well in severing a limb. Arge boulder formed behind the ive adding to its weight and power. Frosts aura then infused into de seamlessly before he swung violently upwards. Schwing! With only minor resistance Frosts ive cleaved through the rindars leg just below the knee cap, separating the foot from the rest of the limb. Blood spurted everywhere and the rindars eyes opened up in shock, unable to understand the situation. Frost with swift movements then grabbed hold of the severed foot and smashed the eldest rindar in the face with it, sending him flying backwards. The rindar thus crashed against the floor with great force, eliciting a groan and cracking sounds when hended. With the addition of a bright red footprint adorning his cheek the eldest rindar still sported that look of confusion and shock. ..... What the hell happened!? He screamed internally as his mind struggled to truly fathom what just happened. His confusion then swiftly turned to rage as he felt the burning sensation on his cheek and realised some of what just urred, but when he went to stand up and re-enter the fight he found that his body failed to properly respond. He was only able to make some minute movements. Haaaaaaaa take a look at the state of your body and then youll know. Frost who was currently crushing the separated foot with his own spoke in a mocking tone. The eldest rindar thus looked at his own body and was blown away by what he saw. His arms and legs were pretty much mangled messes, covered in blood and revealing the cracked bones thaty beneath, it was a miracle he could move at all. The realisation of his wounds immediately activated his pain receptors, even the madness of the stampeded couldnt repress this level of damage. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! The eldest rindar howled from the sudden agony, attracting the looks of many of the soldiers in the local area as well as the those standing on the northern wall. Hahahaha looks like Frost triumphed after all. Hamon chuckled and smiled from ear to ear, incredibly impressed with the result, he couldnt even see any serious injuries on Frosts body. Looks like I really need to inform the general about him, leaving him as an adventurer would be such a waste. Hamon made some mental notes that hed follow up on once or rather if they made it through this war. Dous didntugh like Hamon, instead he smiled gently and finally rxed his fists somewhat, relieved by the oue. Frost really did it, he beat the rindar. Bagua who was in the process of taking down a C-rank monster with another squad mate couldnt help but speak out, blow away by the result. He was weaker than me a couple months ago right? More and more soldiers looked towards Frost and the rindar unable to ignore such a victory. Their stares felt like daggers to the eldest rindar who had finally stopped writhing in pain and forced himself to a seating position. He red between his crushed foot and the ce it was severed. Normally while his aura was in effect and given the natural resilience of his body it should have been impossible for Frost to so easily sever it but the mangled state of his leg showed that there wasnt much to cut through. His aura must have been broken by Frosts leaving only the mangled muscle and cracked bone to contend with. If he still had his scales and had been in his right mind during his aggressive barrage then things would have been different. His scales would have given a 3 star ive such as Frosts great resistance and he would have backed off the moment he felt his hands and legs twist and break down as they shed against something much harder. Not to disparage Frosts skills and achievements but in the end the rindars wounded state yed a major role in his victory, without it Frost would never have been able to contend against him with his current abilities. But s all that really matters is the result. Frost had triumphed and the rindar had lost. A fact that the eldest rindar knew in his heart but struggled to ept. Frost red at the rindar with a sharp look, watching him spasm in pain as he continually attempted to rise to his feet or rather foot. His eyes especially showed a stark refusal to admit his loss, the redness within growing more and more distinct with every passing moment. Soon the pain would once again diminish and his sanity would bepletely lost, the rindar would be nothing but a mindless beast. Frost pressed down hard on the severed foot causing it to burst apart before he twirled his ive and moved towards the eldest rindar, a chilling expression adorning his face as he did. Frost wasnt too keen on duking it out with a fully maddened version of the rindar who no longer felt pain or exhaustion, so he moved to end this fight here and now. Plus though he was doing a very good job at hiding it, his current state was not exactly great. Though he was clearly the victor and looked fairly undamaged that was merely the external view, inside, his organs were a mess, and his muscles were torn from enduring the rindars fierce and relentless blows. Even twirling his ive caused his lips to twitch from the pain. Since he couldnt afford to drag the fight out any longer Frost clenched his jaw and raised his ive up high with both hands, aiming to decapitate the rindar with one final swing. [w of the ice wolf] Hecked the stamina to properly use an advanced level skill and the amount of aura he was able to infuse was minimal, but it should be enough to end this duel. Schwing! The sharp and deadly looking ive de struck downwards following three ws of ice. Nearby soldiers, the high rankers on the wall as well as the B-rank monsters standing at the treeline all watched this moment with interest. Not a single entity present however rooted for the rindars upset, a sad and almost pitiful situation.well only if the person in question was deserving of such sentiments, which the eldest rindar certainly wasnt. A cruel and malicious being that enjoyed torturing and causing pain to others no matter the species. But to Frost it was simply a matter of eat or be eaten, the eldest rindar was just the next in a long line of entities to be devoured by the young dungeon core, allowing him to grow stronger. The madness of the stampedepletely overtook the eldest rindar in thest moment allowing him to raise his arms up in defence. Don! Don! Don! The ice ws struck the rindars forearms rending apart the mangled flesh further before fragmenting into pieces after generating cracks on the exposed bone. However when the ive de itself, wreathed in a small band of cold mes followed after them and smashed against the heavily weakened bone. Crack! A loud cracking sound resounded in the air and the sharp and deadly looking ive de shattered on impact, exploding into at least a dozen shards. Frosts swing then followed through and mmed against the floor, his face sporting an expression of disbelief as he saw the shattering in almost slow motion. Youve got to be fucking kidding me! Now of all times you chose to break! He internally roared as the ive broke at the most annoying moment. Oh! However he was quickly brought out of hisining thoughts by a vicious swipe from the rindar who ultimately since his ive shattered, still lived and had entered aplete maddened state. Bang! The eldest rindars left arm smashed against Frosts ive shaft, forcibly knocking him backwards before roaring out with an animalistic howl. Blood pooled down its body and the horrible sounds of bones creaking and muscles being torn could be heard as the monster forcible stood up on its remaining foot. All signs of intelligence gone from its expression and its eyes nowpletely taken over by that blood red colour making for a very frightening visage. Luckily it appeared that the ive did at least some damage before shattering as despite the monster being taken over by the madness its right arm failed to move. The nerves and tendons must have been severed, something even the stampedes madness couldnt remedy. Frost who was already quite exhausted now had no weapon in which to fell the creature. Well.Fuck! Chapter 485 - 485 Chapter 485: The birth of a future king 485 Chapter 485: The birth of a future king Rahhhhhhhhhh!! The fully maddened rindar roared out, spurting copious amounts of blood from its throat as it did. The once indomitable and intelligent monstermander was now nothing but a severely injured and crazed beast with but a single thought remaining, kill. Frost was knocked back by the rindars vicious swipe, his ive shaft groaning from the unmitigated assault however, he managed to keep his footing, it would take more than that to fell him. Drip Drip Drip Blood dripped from the rindars body as he tensed up and prepared to charge. Frosts body also dripped blood but to a lesser degree. His internal injuries were nothing to sneeze at and were beginning to take a tole on him. His arms and legs were trembling from exhaustion, a state that could be easily perceived if one was paying attention. Hisst burst of aura and the use of [w of the ice wolf] drained most of hisst reserves, cing him in real jeopardy. With his reactions slowed and movements impeded by his injuries Frost struggled to dodge the fervent swipes of the rindar, relying on what was left of his ive to partially parry the blows and coughing up blood afterwards. Why wont you just die dammit! Frost bellowed while smashing his ives shaft upon the rindars face which seemed to only infuriate him further instead of causing damage. In retaliation when Frost went for another face smash the eldest rindar grabbed the shaft with his teeth and bit down with incredible force, pinning Frost in ce. Frost instinctively yanked the shaft causing it to move but only slightly. ..... Don! Urgh! Then suddenly without warning he let out a pained groaned. The rindars good arm smashed into his sr plexus when he was distracted. Frost spat out some dark coloured blood and took multiple unsteady steps backwards, his grip on his ive releasing. Grrrrr! As Frost struggled to catch his breath and was assaulted by waves of pain he could hear the sound of grinding, a sound that caused his heart to tremble. Grrrrrrrr! Grrrrrrrr! Grrrrrrr! As the grinding sound became more and more pronounced Frost gazed at the mad rindar in disbelief. The damn monster was attempting to crush what remained of his ive with its jaw, a feat that would quite frankly be impossible under normal circumstances. Duram is a strong and durable metal and rindars werent particrly known for their jaw strength however, the sounds being made alluded that it was only a matter of time. Grrrrr! Grrrrrrrrrrr! Crunch! And as expected after a few seconds of unrestrained biting his duram alloy ive shaft fractured. Two pieces fell to the side while what remained was chewed up and swallowed. A terrifyingly eery smile swiftly followed after the barbaric act. Blood, broken teeth and shredded gums were on disy, a sight that caused many to involuntarily shiver as they imagined the pain. Frosts lips twitched as he looked upon this monstrosity that knew no pain nor much intelligence. Who would do something like that just to crush an already broken weapon,plete and utter madness. Rahhhhhhhhh! The rindar roared out in some sort of strange glee,unching bits of his jaw outwards as it did before once again homing in on Frost who now no longer even had a stick to parry it with. Fuck! Frosts eyes shot wide open, and he leaped to the side narrowly avoiding the rindars fist but at the cost of straining his leg muscles. Someone give Frost a weapon! Bagua who was the closest C-rank fighter in the area roared at the top of his lungs but as a cost for splitting his focus he received a clean punch from a yeti, knocking the wind out of him. However despite that he desperately tried to move in Frosts direction, preparing to even toss his own weapon to him if need be. The battle could do without him but not without Frost. Thankfully such a sacrifice wasnt needed. Frostd, catch! Suddenly the loud bellow of an old man reverberated from the top of the northern wall. Frost recognised the voice calling him and despite the rindar once again charging his way he looked up, a smile slowly forming on his lips. Woosh! Following the old mans shout a beautiful ive wasunched in his direction, the item he was supposed to catch. Grip! Frost stretched out his right arm and caught the flying ive with elegant grace. It looked as though he called for the weapon, and it flew to his aid. The moment his fingers wrapped around the ives shaft, Frost felt an instant intense connection, his smile grew, and a glint shed in his eyes as the eldest rindar entered his field of control. His trembling limbs, pain and exhaustion seemed to evaporate just for a second, allowing him to grip the new ive with both hands and sh diagonally in a single smooth motion. No aura was used nor was any weapon skill utilised yet the force behind his swing wasparable to his mightiest blow. The wind howled as the razor sharp de cut through the air and arrived before the rindar before he even knew what happened. Schwing! With ease the ive shed open the eldest rindar from his right shoulder to his left hip. Its momentum not even slowing in the slightest when it met his spine, cutting through it like a hot knife through butter. Frost stood with his ive pointing downwards after splitting the rindar in twain, the two pieces of its body flew passed him before crashing into the ground, dyeing the already bloodstained ground with fresh blood. Silence consumed the northern wall, such a scene, even with the gore was beautiful and they did not want to ruin it with words. While the onlookers stared in wonder Frost pulled back the ive and began inspecting it in detail. This was the weapon he had been waiting for. The de radiated with a blue light and itsposition was very simr to his previous ive, but it felt purer, as if the materials used were not only forged to perfection but beyond it. The red coloured fired star wood which functioned as the shaft was now giving off a violet luminescence, making it an even better match with the blue pykrete de. It was the same shaft hed fought with for so long but it had been treated with something, making it harder, heavier but also even more flexible. The image of the wolf howling at the moon had been re-carved with better artistry and it appeared that the moon was now an inlet for a magic crystal. Finally the duram pommel that gave bnce to the ive and served as a blunt force instrument had been reced with something higher in quality -the only part that had beenpletely reced. It was still of metal origin but since Frost wasnt a cksmith he couldnt tell what type it was just that it was heavier than duram and gave off a natural chill. As Frost examined his new ive the life force from the in rindar flowed into him, reinvigorating his body and lightening his wounds. Feeling this sudden wave of pleasure and dense energy Frosts entire body tensed and his eyes shed with a silvery glow. He twirled the new ive in his hands and summoned his aura naturally. A dense, heavy and almost chilling pressure emanated from Frosts body, restricting those in the nearby vicinity, causing them to turn and look his way. There they could see the visage of an elegant knight adorned in white robes, a majestic weapon in his hands and a light surrounding him as he stood upon the corpses of in monsters. This was an impactful image that affected not just the nearby soldiers and monsters but also the upper ranked elites such as Hamon, Halgrave, Maggie and Dous standing on the wall. Each of them suddenly felt the desire to kneel, to bow in Frosts presence as if he was their king or emperor. His image at this moment had transcended mere power, there was something tangible there, are charisma that Hamon and Dous had only seen in a very select group of people..Royalty. Those who bore the lives of hundreds of thousands or perhaps even millions of people upon their shoulders, the very highest tier of authority among the sapients. Power and strength could be umted through rigorous training and even medicines, but royal aura was something one must be born with. Without such an aura a king or queen would not be able to inspire unity and strength within their popce. Thats why they are so fixated with bloodlines. Keeping the line as pure and noble as possible will increase the chances that the royal aura will be passed down. The birth of a future king Frosts aura now held royal authority. It was small and unrefined right now but as he grows so too will his aura, his maism, charisma and his attraction to people, others will naturally want to follow such a man. Dous and Hamon thought Frost was special, but never did they think he would have royal aura. Their image of him thus jumped a few notches and Hamons desire to have him join their frost wolf battalion grew exponentially. To their side while they were lost in their own thoughts Borris the old cksmith smiled from ear to ear and nodded his head. Looks like we finished just in time, and as promised the brat christened it with the blood of a B-rank monster hahahahahaha! The old dwarf had ved over his forge with the aid of his family for the past tens of hours, drawing out every ounce of skill he had to finish the promised product, a 4 star ive. Chapter 486 - 486 Chapter 486: 4 star glaive 486 Chapter 486: 4 star ive Borris who had been in a rut for the past decade, failing to make any improvements in his craft saw his passion and skill reignite shortly after first meeting Frost. The meeting itself wasnt anything grand but as a result he was finally able to let go of his prized weapon that had been gathering dust in the back of his shop. A burden that had been causing him to subconsciously live in the past. Along with selling the half step 4 star ive, Borris finally mustered up the courage to start handing over the family business to the next generation. Doing so lifted a heavy weight from his shoulders, allowing him to finally get some fresh air after being submerged in the quagmire of responsibility. From that moment on he started forging weapons and repairing equipment out want rather than need. He once again enjoyed his craft and could once again hear that voice in his heart that always said I can do better after finishing a piece. He smiled more and felt young again, able to work the forges for hours without needing a break. Theing of the monster stampede served to knock off all the rust that he had umted, returning him to his prime but with all the experience of an old master. When Frost came to see him the other day everything fell into ce, the sudden urge to breakthrough the threshold to 4 star status overwhelmed him as he caught sight of the weapon he believed was one of his greatest works, damaged and in desperate need of repair. With unbridled confidence he staked his reputation as a smith and promised to hand the young man a 4 star ive worthy of his strength within 48 hours, and after slogging alongside his most skilled daughter and son they managed to produce a weapon that was unparalleled to any that had ever been forged by them before. A solid 4 star ive that almost reached mid stage quality, beautiful, strong, durable and razor sharp. Every material used was brought to their peak condition and flowed together with great synergy, forming a mighty weapon that easily sliced a rindar in twain. Borris had outdone himself and despite beingpletely exhausted from 40 hours of forging he personally ran to the northern wall with the freshly finished ive in hand. He wanted to be the one to hand over his finest work and personally see it being christened and he was not disappointed. Frost upheld his promise and now radiated the aura of royalty, affecting everyone in the vicinity, himself included. ..... His masterpiece would be the weapon of a king, the honour was something Borris struggled to contain. His tired body was filled with vigour and his eyes sparkled with fascination as heughed and smiled from ear to ear. He made a decision in that moment; he would take Frost up on his offer. He may be old, but he wasnt feeble. A trip into the cial mountains, he could manage that at least. His potential wasnt spent yet and staying here would only stifle him and his descendants. It was time for a new chapter in his life and one which he now embraced wholeheartedly. While Borrisughed without restraint and Hamon and Dous looked on with amazement, Frost himself felt his tired body fill with energy as the pleasurable substance that was DP flowed through his veins and into his heart. His mind then connected with his aura and his new weapon to produce a terrifying effect that filled his allies with awe and his enemies with dread. Royal aura wasnt necessarily stronger inparison to regr aura, but it had a certain quality to it that made others feel inferior regardless of their strength. A dominionponent that was of higher quality akin to the difference between divine energy and mana but on a smaller scale. The fear the surrounding monsters felt when Frost released his royal aura was far greater than when it was his normal aura. His image that would already berge and imposing thanks to aura seemed to shine with an intense lustre forcing them to instinctively advert their eyes from his form and feel an pressure far greater than normal despite the weight being the same. The one most shocked by this situation however was the frost monarch. Bang! Several trees were obliterated by lord Frostine as his anger or rather jealously overwhelmed him. He was already disappointed by the eldest rindars failure to kill as single greenhorn but now that young greenhorn was radiating a pressure that caused even him to shake in instinctual fear. A pressure that he desired from the bottom of his heart. Why the fuck does a brat like him have royal aura! He roared out with a horrifying visage, his fury on full disy. He was a monarch, a ruler of arge territory in the internal regions of the cial mountains. Part of a dignified royal species and a powerful mid B-rank monster with a great deal of potential still to be unearthed yet he failed to awaken even the slightest crumb of royal aura. Frosts vibrant disy made it seem as if he was mocking him for that fact. Frostine in his anger conjured a 4th circle spell and fired what looked like a ballista sized bolt of ice at the unsuspecting Frost. This spell was known as [cial harpoon] and was very simr to the 1st circle spell [ice bolt] except the bolt was of far higher quality,rger and shot out at a speed several times faster than an arrow, a spell that was great for catching people unaware. The sharp ice harpoon flew through the air faster than the speed of sound and arrived before Frost in an instant. Frost caught the spell from the corner of his eye but instead of dodging or prepping his ive he turned and faced the oing attack with a gentle smile. [Magma shield] before the ice harpoon could reach Frost a thick shield of magma formed between the two protecting him from any danger. Don! The ice harpoon mmed into the magma shield, prating slightly through the other side before stoppingpletely and dissolving under the intense heat of the magma. Frost was not alone on the battlefield and the frost monarch was not his concern but Ryuus and Jessies. The two of them though taken aback by Frosts royal aura for a moment never took their eyes off of the frost monarch. They saw his anger and prepared to block anything he dished out. [Magma shield] was abined spell fusing Ryuus mastery of fire magic and Jessies mastery of earth magic. A very powerful 4th circle defence spell that not only benefitted from an elemental advantage over Frostine but served to not simply add Ryuus and Jessies magic prowess together but multiply them. Of course such magic wasnt exactly easy to do, the mages in question need to have great synergy and both know the spell in question thoroughly. Thankfully given their positions the two were quite adept in working with other mages. As the magma shield dissipated revealing Frost unharmed from the exchange the two enemies locked eyes. Frostines full of fury and frustration while Frosts contained what appeared to be indifference. Frostine was not his enemy to deal with. Frostines anger level rose even further and he took several steps forward wanting to pluck Frosts arrogant eyes from his pretty little skull but the moment he moved he could sense a great build up of mana upon the northern wall forcing him to halt in ce and change his focus back towards the two entities that had been getting in his way. Lord Frostine please calm your fury otherwise youll go against the very n you created. One of Frostines loyal subordinates braved his lords anger and reproached him for his actions. This of course angered Frostine more, he thus turned around and grabbed hold of his subordinates neck with a fierce grip. His aura was activated at full strength and the air around him rapidly dropped in temperature causing fragments of ice to build up on everyones bodies. The subordinate struggled to breathe and suffered from great amounts of pain as Frostine lifted him from the ground and brought him to eye level. Panic and fear filled the subordinates body, but he did his best to remain calm and look at his lord with an unperturbed expression. ying, begging for mercy and apologising would only see him swiftly killed, Frostine was just momentarily angry. The best course was for him to stick to his guns and wait it out, hoping his honoured lord would realise his devotion and listen to his words logically. Seconds passed with Frostines grip growing stronger and stronger, the subordinate was moments away from passing out, his eyes had even started rolling back into his skull. Hmph! However just before that eventuality Frostine released his grip, allowing his subordinate to live. He had managed to control his anger and once again think objectively, his eyes now revealed a level of respect for the subordinate. Hes got guts and isnt afraid to point out my mistakes for the sake of the bigger picture. Once this war is over Ill reassign him. Frostine internally praised his subordinate and made ns for his future once they were victorious and returned to their territory. Cough Cough! The subordinate loudly coughed while desperately filling his lungs with air, internally he apuding himself for being right. Frostine waved his hand, immediately summoning a second and third subordinate who carefully took away the first one before he conjured up another ice throne and sat downfortably, his previous outburstpletely forgotten about. Those two mages have their eyes on me and wont let me interfere with the battle any further..taking out that talented greenhorn isnt possible at the moment given the n, but it doesnt matter. All of them will fall eventually, a day or twoter makes no difference. Frostine spoke calmly surprising the nearby B-ranks who thought for sure their time hade to fully let loose. Well stick to the n, no other B-rank will enter the fray. Send the rest of weaklings, I want that frontline inplete tatterse tomorrow morning. An insidious smile grew on Frostines lips as he thought of what wasing. However it would be rude for me not to respond at all to this fervent monitoring. If they want to fight with magic lets fight, Ill consider it a warm-up before tomorrow. While remaining seated on his ice throne Lord Frostine summoned the nearby mana as well as what dwelled within him to start firing off spells aimed at Ryuu and Jessie with the asional one sent at key points on the battlefield just to keep them on their toes. Cascades of colourful and devasting magic rained over the battlefield as Frostine, Ryuu and Jessie faced off against one another for supremacy. However even with two of them, the assortment of magic devices and their elemental advantage they were roughlying out even. Whenever Frostine was starting to get pushed back hed simply target the soldiers on the frontline forcing Ryuu and Jessie to be defensive, an insidious but effective tactic. For the two of them this was a dire battle in which they couldnt rx for even a second but for Frostine it was nothing but a warm-up. Where they had to fiercely protect their ground Frostine could lose his without batting an eye, the monsters on the field were just chaff after all,pletely expendable. Chapter 487 - 487 Chapter 487: Mopping up the other B-ranks 487 Chapter 487: Mopping up the other B-ranks As a colourful and devasting exchange of magic covered the air the ground battlefield was as chaotic as ever. Frosts victory over the eldest rindar though imposing and morale boosting made trivial difference in the grand scheme. Soldiers and adventurers were still being wounded and even dying left and right as they were swarmed by overwhelming numbers. The back up Majors, Rallen and Yvonne were stretched thin and unable topensate for the absence of Frost, Bastion and the rest. Frost who was severally exhausted and sported many internal injuries from his battle with the eldest rindar stood in ce after his victory. No monster dared to go near him after his disy of royal aura, keeping a wide berth and instead focusing on the much less dangerous and more numerous frontline. The life force from the rindar filled his body and repaired some of the damage but not all of it. If Ryuu and Jessie hadnt moved to intercept Lord Frostines magic the consequences would have been dire. However his expression and bodynguage betrayed this fact, making it look as though he was a mighty god of war, unaffected by the harsh battle and instead was simply basking in the glow of his new weapon, which wasnt entirely false. Right now the chaos of battle failed to reach Frosts ears, even the attack from Frostine barely shook his mind as he waspletely engrossed in both the pleasure granted by the luxurious DP flowing through him as well as the feeling of his body as he held the 4 star ive in hand. The feeling was familiar but also different and far deeper than anything hed felt before. This ive was uniquely forged for his use and his use alone and because of that it felt like a part of him, an extension of himself rather than a tool. There was even a mysterious energy within that felt somewhat sentient. Though it couldntmunicate whenever he sent a stream of his own energy into the weapon he could feel joy emanating from it. Such a thing was truly mysterious and brought a smile to his lips. You want to show me what you can do right? He asked in a soft tone getting no response in return other than a subtle feeling. Hahahahaha Frost found it rather cute and found himself stroking the ive like he did with Kiba andughed innocently. A short whileter however he returned to his battlefield mindset and removed a mid-level health potion from his storage ring. It hadnt been long since he took hisst one so he wouldnt receive the full effects but every little helped. Frost downed the red liquid quickly before scanning the nearby battlefield, break time was over it was time for him and his new ive to truly bond. ..... With the eldest rindar now dead, 3 injured B-rank monsters remained on the field, Frost being the first one victorious. Bastion should be fine, so itll be one of the other groups. Frost had full faith in the guild master, so he quickly redirected his gaze to the Majors fighting the youngest rindar and the other entry level B-rank monster which appeared to be some form ofrge ape. Feeling that it would be a shame to send off the eldest rindar alone Frost chose his next target, the youngest rindar who at this point waspletely freaking out. Not only had he been forced to endure this death pit, his opponents were tenacious things that repeatedly covered for one another giving him no reprieve. And when things were finally looking for the better after he managed to leave a deep cut on one of them he heard the death wail of his eldest brother. Foolishly he then turned around to see Frost in his most awe inspiring pose emitting royal aura so of course he was scared out of his wits and wanted nothing more than to run away from this ursed battle. This caused a mind crushing conflict within the young rindar. He was afraid of Frost so he didnt want to keep fighting here but he was also afraid of Lord Frostine so he couldnt retreat either. His mind torn between these two hard facts saw it gradually sumb to the stampedes madness just like the eldest rindar. His eyes that revealed fear and intelligence gradually turned red, numbing his pain and wayward thoughts. When Frost finally arrived before him thest piece of resistance shattered and the youngest rindar fell into the madness bing nothing more than a rampant beast whose sole purpose was to kill. Major Sito, Major Caspian allow me to lend you a hand. Frost spoke calmly to the bruised up Major Sito and recently shed Major Caspian as well as the C-rank squad backing them up. Much appreciatedd, we were already struggling to contain him before he fell intoplete madness. Major Sito frowned, his gaze drifting towards Major Caspians wound. No problem lets deal with him quickly and re-join the frontlines before they copse from the pressure. Frost took the vanguard position with his new ive. Excitement was clear in his eyes, and he licked his lips as though he was staring at a fine delicacy which for him the lifeforce of a B-rank monster certainly was. Major Sito and Major Caspian ordered their C-rank squad to return to the frontlines as they would no longer be required in this battle. The youngest rindar who had just finished his decent into full madness roared aggressively but it was Frost who attacked first. This rindar sported far less injuries than his brothers at the start of the battle thus he retained his hard scales and devasting power making him far more tenacious than the other 3 B-ranks sent to die. However, now that Frost was armed with a 4 star weapon those mighty scales would be rendered useless, and without them he was just a weaker version of his brother thus Frost dove in headfirst without the slightest hint of hesitation. With impressive speed and grace he narrowly avoided the youngest rindars fierce [vicious viper strike] andshed out with an aura infused strike wreathed in a mixture of cold me chakra and the wind aspected engraving. ng! Squelch! With his aura, chakra and the engraving the 4 star ive sessfully cut through the dense scales with ease, carving a deep wound even without the use of a weapon skill. With blood adorning his ive Frosts smile stretched from ear to ear as his battle lust reignited. Frost, Sito and Caspian managed to take down the youngest rindar fairly quickly with their teamwork, thus eliminating half of the major trouble makers. After taking down the youngest rindar Sito and Caspian returned to the frontline granting it some much need manpower while Frost arrived to assist another Major and her team in dealing with the B-rank Ape monster known as a giant ice ape. A line of creatures that liked to live in frozen forests inrge packs. It had quite devasting arm strength and durability but was rather simple as an adversary. The team in charge of handling the giant ice ape however were in bad shape by the time Frost arrived. The Major who was leading the team was barely holding it together, her arm was dislocated and several of her ribs were broken. She unfortunately didnt have a partner like Major Sito, so her team was quickly overwhelmed leaving less than half of them still breathing. Frost had to take on the majority of the heavy lifting thus the battlested far longer than the previous one and he even received more than few punches to his body, undoing a lot of the effects of the health potion he took but they managed to sessfully bring it down without anymore casualties. The Major originally assigned was far too hurt to continue fighting thus Kiba was ordered to swoop in and carry her to safety. The master and battle mount exchanged knowing looks and spoke through the spiritual bond, but Kiba still chuffed in a huff before flying back to the Northern wall. He was annoyed that Frost was fighting against fun enemies without him, he was his battle mount yet all hed been doing was fetching injured. Frost let out an exasperated sigh as he watched Kiba fly into the air, he understood his feelings but the greater picture was what mattered. Kibas fast acting saves may even y a bigger role in the grand scheme than his taking down enemies. Frosts eyes were weary from battle and his body struggled to remain upright, but he couldnt rest yet, there was still onest battlefield. Urghhhaaa! Suddenly however he heard a loud painful groan from the direction Bastion was fighting. He swiftly turned his head and witnessedrge spurts of blood exploding in the area as well as the image of Bastion with arge hole in his side. Bastion!!!!! Frost roared out at the top of his lungs and forced his tired body to move in his friends direction. His loud call alerted Dous and the rest who felt their hearts lurch as they minds went to a dark ce. Chapter 488 - 488 Chapter 488: Bastion in crisis 488 Chapter 488: Bastion in crisis All eyes on top of the northern wall shifted towards Bastion upon hearing Frosts roar. Many of whom had their hearts lurch in fear the moment they caught sight of the guild masters heavily wounded state. Adventurers who grew up under his care and owed their current strength to him froze in ce, their blood running cold as their indomitable leader half kneeled before his enemy. From their view all they could see was the second rindar towering over Bastion with his great sword punching through his gut. A gruesome sight filled with blood and horror. Frost could see a little better from his angle, so he was able to see that even though Bastion was in dire straights the rindar wasnt doing so well either. One of his arms had been lobbed off in the battle and his body was littered with deep gruesome cuts that exposed the bone. Bastions mighty axe was also lodged in his shoulder, threatening to sever another arm. It was a state of what looked like an equal trade off however Bastions body was older and far less tenacious in regards to life force. Such a wound wasnt only debilitating but highly fatal. The situation was very, very dangerous. Unfortunately there was no one in the vicinity and with enough strength to quickly lend him aid. Bastions team that consisted of 5 C-rank adventurers had already fallen, their bodies lying still and in pieces across the battlefield. The second rindar was wise with his battle tactics, not only did he fight calmly, making use of all his innate skills he roped in a couple C-rank monsters to ambush the adventurers during their battle. Once they were wounded and became slow they were easy pickings. Utilizing the confusion of new assants and his ability to camouge hed slip away from Bastion to take out these annoying helpers one by one, eventually leaving Bastion stranded and alone. Hu hu hu hu hu Bastion painfully wheezed, his vision growing blurry from the intense blood loss and pain. Arrhrrrhhhhhh! He suddenly screamed out as the rindar slowly pushed his great sword deeper, making sure to cause as much damage and pain as possible. An evil smile adorned the monsters lips as he relished in Bastions screams and partook in the sweet scent of his blood. Out of the three brothers the second was by far the most ruthless and sadistic, and now he was in his element. With no more interloping distractions he could enjoy this hard won pleasure. ..... Squelch! His great sword continuing to edge its way through Bastions intestines, releasing more and more screams from the old dwarf. Bastions vision started to grow dark, and his legs struggled to support his weight but even, so he refused to give up. Fighting against the immense pain he grabbed hold of the great swords de with both hands, cutting them open in the process. The rindar who was easily pushing his great sword deeper and deeper suddenly found that he couldnt move it another inch. Bastion summoned deathly strength in his final moments, pinning the rindars great sword in ce, not allowing it move forwards or backwards. Tsk stubborn bastard! The rindar grunted in annoyance before reeling back one his arms and started punching Bastions face without mercy. Boom! Boom! Boom! Blow after blow came down upon Bastion, causing his head to be knocked backwards and blood to spurt from his nose but despite such punishment his grip remained solid, that sword wasnt going anywhere. The second rindar though sporting quite severe injuries still boasted a mean punch, Bastions face quickly became a mangled mess making him almost unrecognisable. Regardless the guild master continued to endure blow after blow, refusing to give even an inch, but determination could only take one so far, the body had limits after all. Don! Don! Don! How many does that make? I cant even feel my face anymore. Its.cold and .... So tired. Bastions thoughts were growing weak, and his mind started to shut down. He wanted to sleep, and the image of his dearly departed wife shed before him, beckoning him into the light.. The iron grip that refused to budge loosened at that moment. Caught by surprise at the suddenck of resistance the rindar slipped backwards, dragging his great sword with him. A massive and gnarly looking hole was left in its wake and not even one of Mayas high heals would be able do anything about such a wound let alone a mid-level health potion. Hell even the low quality high level potion Frost partook after fighting shadow wouldnt be enough. Bastion was truly at deaths door. Bastion in his final moments regained a brief moment of rity, his eyes focused up and he could take in the sight before him. His gut that was opened up and spilling blood, the corpses of his allies around him, the chaotic sounds erupting behind him andst but not least the evil smile of the rindar as he enjoyed his current state with rapt attention. ...Sorry Jaina looks like dads not going to make it. With a solemn tone Bastion spoke what felt like his final words. The memories of his daughter when she was young and gradually growing shed by bringing a gentle smile to his face, he would embrace death with a smile. Time seemed to stop for his friends. Dous and Ryuu fought desperately against Hamon and Jessie respectively as they madly attempted to rush to his aid. Meanwhile Frost, the only one on the ground and unrestricted by allies pushed himself forward, forcing his wounded body to run as fast as it could. However the short distance of 100 metres between them never felt so far, what would normally take him a few seconds to cross now felt as though even hours wouldnt be enough as a veritable quagmire of monsters obstructed his path forcing him to stagnate in ce, forever out of reach. This of course was the machinations of the frost monarch who found a good opportunity to enact some revenge and also help rid his enemy of a powerful B-rank fighter at the same time. His gloating smile was absolutely insufferable. As the light was about to fade from Bastions eyes forever the second rindar whod been his opponent for thest hour rose to his full 5 metre height with his great sword in hand. A fine trophy He said in a dominant manner before reeling back his sword, aiming to decapitate Bastion and preserve his current look forever. BASTION!!!!!! Frost roared out once again, putting his newly found royal aura in full swing and charging ahead without fear of injury. He sessfully barged passed a great deal of monsters, but it still wasnt enough, there was no way he could make it there in time. Schwing! The second rindars great sword started its swing, swiftly gaining enough momentum to sever Bastions head from his shoulders in a single motion. Bastion simply continued to smile gently, his body no longer able to move in defence, powerless. Dous and Ryuu looked on with horror filled expressions, their jaws tightly clenched and their eyes bloodshot from their overwhelming desperation. Someone please.do something. In their minds they begged and prayed for someone to act, to save their sworn brother before the monsters swordnded. Behind the northern wall at the emergency relief station a young dwarf who was helping to hold down a heavily wounded solider as the medics treated him suddenly felt a sharp pain in her heart. Her eyes became unfocused, and the image of her father shed across her mind causing a tear to drip down her cheek. She turned around to look at the northern wall,pletely abandoning her current task, something was wrong, very wrong. Dad. Jaina whispered under her breath as her heart lurched to a stop. Time proceeded very slowly for all those watching and what was in reality a single second felt like hours. The path of the great sword moving ever closer to Bastions neck and the widening of the rindars evil looking smile was burned into their eyes, so as to haunt them forever. Not while I still draw breath you bastard! Suddenly when all hope was lost a loud voice bellowed and the figure of arge muscr man could be seen descending from the sky. Before the rindar could even react the mans left foot kicked away his great sword and a momentter the right foot smashed against his face, sending him spiralling backwards. Many of the bones in face and his nose cracked, he was instantly disoriented, and blood rushed out from his nostrils. Therge man who descended from the sky and knocked back the rindar with a couple of kicksnded softly on the ground, standing before Bastion, protecting him from any danger. A viscous look could be seen on the mans face revealing the intensity of his anger. However a momentter his expression became one of panic, he quickly removed a potion from his storage ring, ripped out the cork with his teeth and force fed Bastion the bright red and somewhat silver solution. The moment the liquid from the potion entered Bastions throat, the man who had epted his inevitable death wrenched his eyes open as a vast amount of healing energy invaded his body, quickly moving to repair the devasting damage. I guess that finally makes us even, Eh Bastion? Therge man who was viciously ring down the rindar a moment ago gazed down at Bastion with soft expression, relief clear in his eyes for arriving in the nick of time. ..Uuu..ggg.guess so Vos. Chapter 489 - 489 Chapter 489: Enter Vaccos 489 Chapter 489: Enter Vos ..Uuu..ggg.guess so Vos. Bastion struggled to mutter those words before immediately passing out. Vos otherwise known as the mad iron chef, the head chef at the phoenix fledging restaurant in Furano and the fourth and youngest member of their group back in the day. Dous, Ryuu, Bastion and Vos were once known as the [Guardians of ice] a B-rank adventuring party of impressive renown. Of course they had split up and started following different paths over a decade ago, Dous bing the ruling Viscount, Ryuu a court mage, Bastion the guild master and Vos a spirit chef for the phoenix fledgling restaurant chain but even so their bond as sworn brothers remained. Dous even gave his son, Leo the middle name Vos in honour of this bond. However Vos was not supposed to be here, his master the owner and head chef of the phoenix fledgling restaurant chain called him back to the capital so as to avoid him being embroiled in this war. Vos was now a chef, someone who relied greatly on his hands so he couldnt very well be risking them against monsters. Itd be a little different if he used a weapon, but the mad iron chef only used his bare hands and legs when it came tobat, a crazy die-hard pugilist. Him being here meant he either convinced his master to let him fight or that he directly disobeyed him with thetter being far more likely. However thanks to his timely arrival Bastion was saved, at least temporarily. Don! As Vos was holding onto Bastions body and inspecting his injuries with great dedication, Kibanded before the two of them with his fur standing on end and a difficult expression on his face. He was worried about Bastion and was sent to quickly retrieve him by Hamon and Dous, but Vos caused his body to shiver the moment heid eyes on him. He felt that in the face of this man he was nothing but simple prey or rather an ingredient. Out of everyone here only Hamon gave him a simr feeling, Vos was strong, very strong. Vos eyed Kiba before smiling in gentle manner and delicately cing Bastion upon his back, tucking the used vial into his pocket as he did. The medical staff would need to know the concoction he fed Bastion with after all. ..... Take him to safety little tiger cub and leave the rest to me. As Vos spoke the rindar could be heard getting up after being smacked in the face with his foot. Kiba looked at the rindar with a tinge of fear before nodding his head and carefully ascending into the sky. Arge ice serpent quickly fired off after Kiba the moment he turned his back, but Ryuu and Jessie were on it, swiftly conjuring their own fire bird and earthen smander respectively. Frostine now failed to snipe two B-rank enemy fighters, a failure he would remembere tomorrow. He should be able to live after taking the potion master gave me. The potion Vos force fed Bastion was a high level health potion that was of greater quality than the one Frost had taken a few months ago and should prevent the worst from happening. His master had given him that potion for emergency use only and specifically for HIM! So when he finds out that Vos used it for another hell be in a whole world of trouble. Not even the famous owner of the phoenix fledgling restaurant could easily get his hands on such high end products after all. The matter of Bastion surviving was no longer an issue however even high level potions had their limits. The chances of the guild master ever being able to wield his axe in battle again werent great, this fight would likely be hisst. The second rindar who had once again risen to his full 5 metre height towered over the well-built Vos with an expression of pure fury. His efforts and sacrifice over the past hour were all for naught, taken away at thest second by this damn interloper. His hatred for Vos was palpable and it caused the madness of the stampede to encroach his mind. he was about to snap and fall into a bestial rage. However Vos beat him to it. The gentle expression he showed Bastion swiftly changed back to one of untamed viciousness. The veins across his forehead and face bulged, then his skin turned red and emitted steam before his already gigantic frame grew in size. Vos had entered the berserk state, the penchant for his famous moniker, the mad iron chef. In this berserk state Vos physical strength, speed and reaction times were all heightened to abnormal levels and his now red skin would give even monsters a run for their money in terms of defence. Even magic would seem to weaken within his presence, affected by the chaotic nature of the berserk state. This was a very dangerous double edged sword that would rend ones wisdom and intelligence moot, turning them into battle crazed demons that knew no restraint. A state that would also gorge itself on the users stamina, sucking them dry in a matter of minutes. Very few dared to ever use this technique due to its dangerous side effects however Vos was a very special case. His constitution allowed him to negate some of the harsh effects. He would retain control over his body and not lose himself in the madness. And unlike others he could enter and exit the berserk state freely especially if he was angry. Plus with thebination of the mortal me he fused with he became wreathed in red hot fire, enhancing his body even further. A wild smile quickly adorned his face before Vos dashed ahead with his fist drawn back. [Tiger fist] he attacked suddenly not giving the rindar even the slightest amount of time to react. Roar! A heavy fist wreathed in mes and supported by an illusionary tiger smashed against the rindars chest causing him to cough and lower his head only to be met with the next strike of the tiger style, [Tiger uppercut]. What proceeded was the disy of arge man wreathed in red mes beating down the rindar with his bare fists as if the B-rank monster was nothing but a helpless punching bag. Even when the rindars eyes becamepletely red and bestial rage overtook him, Vos still smacked him around without mercy. Every blow of his was aimed at the still in tact areas of the rindars body, slowly but surely breaking every single inch of him as reprisal for putting his sworn brother in such a state. For those watching it was genuinely hard to tell who was the monster as both entities appeared incredibly vicious. One was roaring as it got smacked around while the otherughed madly as it smashed apart its opponents bones and burned off its scales, quickly bing covered in the others blood as it did. Many older adventurers couldnt help but stare in awe and mutter The mad chef returns under their breaths as they were reminded of the events during their youth. The mad iron chef, the berserk and insane adventurer who fought with his bare fists and was more of a monster than the monsters themselves. Only his three friends Dous, Ryuu and Bastion could ever control that mad beast whenever he lost it. A young man with unrivalled potential and serious anger issues. It had been a long time since the mad chef had beenst seen in his berserk state, and whenever that happened it heralded rivers of blood. Reinforcements huh Frostine spoke with a cold tone and narrowed eyes as he watched Vos destroy thest remaining B-rank on the battlefield. Yes sir ording to the reports that man hasnt shown himself during the previous waves. He must have just arrived. Chaylen, Frostines prime subordinate replied. No matter, a single B-rank wont make a difference though the festivities will be more enjoyable. Frostine smiled evilly, only slightly taken back by Vos intervention. Deal onest blow then pull us out for the night, let them rest a while and suffer in fear for tomorrow hehehehehe. As you wish Lord Frostine. Chaylen bowed in response before heading onto the field with arge contingent of magic wielding spirit monsters. With the second rindar being taken care of Frost and the other elite fighters who could still fight worked with the frontlines to push back the onught of chaff. The sudden addition of hard hitting forces nearly made the lines break but through the skin of their teeth they pulled through. Vos being the newest entry and least exhausted was thest the leave the battlefield. He watched Lord Frostine with a fiery gaze as he left the field, returning to the Northrend forest. He felt unsettled by the smile on his face thus he remained on the field until the veryst solider was safely back behind the tall walls of Furano. His tall fiery stature standing at the forefront of the battlefield created a powerful image for the severely weakened forces, allowing them to not sumb to the heavy losses. His dragging of the horrifically beaten rindar corpse through therge gate certainly helped too. However it was clear that thisst wave really, really did a number on them. Things were not looking good. Chapter 490 - 490 Chapter 490: Bastion’s condition 490 Chapter 490: Bastions condition A dark air and heavy mood covered the town as the soldiers dragged themselves through the gates to safety, their numbers being far less than what they initially set out with. Every returning solider sported some level of injury, none were left unmarred by the battle. Frost aided Bagua and another member of his squad through the gates, their clothes and armours splintered and covered in blood. Hard to believe any of them came out victorious with their current states. Only Vos who triumphantly arrived from the sky and crushed the second rindar could be seen in a grand light. The mad iron chef who felt the heavy and hopeful stares of the soldiers and adventurers grabbed hold of the rindars carcass and dragged it behind him as the gates closed shut once more and the small reserve of relief soldiers took over. Vos wished to immediately check on Bastion however with his experience he knew that there was somewhere else he was better needed. With powerful steps he walked towards the food court with the rindar in tow. Ts move over, Ill take it from here. Vos spoke in an authoritative tone towards a middle aged chef named Ts. Understood head chef. Ts replied with a smile and slight bow before willingly handing over his kitchen. Ts was the vice-head chef of the fledgling phoenix restaurant here in Furano, Vos right hand man and the one left in charge in his absence. Good to see you hered, finally someone to share the weight hehehehe. The moment Vos started prepping the area to his style and giving out orders to the lower ranked chefs, Burusaa hobbled over with a wide grin. Vos replied with a smile and nod before diving straight into prep, the rindar he killed wouldnt be the only ingredient being served tonight. The men and women would need the greatest meals of their lives if they were to head back out into the chaos with so few numbers. Thus a great responsibilityy on Vos and Burusaa the only two spirit chefs in the territory. While the soldiers and adventurers were feeling rather down the support staff were filled with fiery passion. The chefs joyfully weed Vos arrival as well as the abundance of fresh ingredients flowing into the kitchen and vowed to prepare their very best dishes. ..... While the smiths were all blown away by the revtion of Borris forging a 4 star weapon and thus bing a 4 star smith. They all eagerly took hold of the soldiers and adventurers damaged and broken equipment, promising to return them better than ever. Their smiles and animated expressions helped to uplift the soldiers mood, easing their pain albeit slightly. Within themand centre however everyone present was very serious in their demeanour. How is he? Frost spoke up first, desperate to know about Bastion. He was right there on the battlefield yet no matter how hard he fought he couldnt reach his friend. Thankfully Vos arrived otherwise he would have lost one of his very first friends, a thought that gripped his heart in an icy grasp. Giliannas seeing to him now. Lady Cassandra and his daughter Jaina are with him but hes yet to regain consciousness but were hopeful thatll hell pull through. Vos gave him a very high quality potion so only time will tell. Hamon replied after letting out a deep sigh, his gaze then drifted towards Dous and Ryuu. The honoured Viscount and powerful court mage both wore dark expressions. Their eyes were red, and their faces pale from extreme worry, and blood leaked from their hands after their nails dug in from clenching to hard. They desperately wanted to be by their sworn brothers side in his time of need, but this was war and their status demanded that they be here in themand centre rather by his side. Frost felt a little relieved when he heard Hamons words but like Dous and Ryuu he was still very worried. Doing his best to ignore the issue of Bastion, Hamon began the strategy meeting which did not go down well. It was clear that no matter what they did there was no way they could survive until the arrival of the capitals reinforcements. Their aggregate power was just too small while their enemies was only growing stronger. The goal of this war was now simply to hold back the tide for as long as possible as victory was no longer an option. Vos sent a messenger since he was upied prepping meals shortly after the meeting began. He had set out by himself so he had no idea on the current whereabouts of the reinforcements thus it was still believed that they would arrive on the 4th day. About 30 odd hours from now and at least several more waves. It was difficult for them to make it through just one more wave let alone several. The meeting proceeded and concluded after a short 15 minutes as nothing really changed, the strategy would remain the same however now not a single person (bar Frost) felt they would survive this war. The officers stepped out from themand centre with their heads held high, sniffing the air that carried the glorious smell of dishes being produced by the towns greatest chefs. Time for ourst meals. With that thought they each made their way to the food court, to feast upon the flesh of the B-rank monsters. Meanwhile Frost, Dous and Ryuu all left for the medical centre where Bastion was currently resting under the supervision of Gilianna. Once they arrived they witnessed Jaina sitting by her fathers bed with tears streaming down her cheeks. Cassandra and Luna were sitting either side of her, supporting her in her time of need. Luna in particr was allowing Jaina to cry into her chest and was gently stroking the back of her head in a soothing manner. Bastion was still asleep, his bodypletely exhausted from his strenuous battle against the second rindar. The massive hole left by its great sword had been sealed thanks to the high level health potion used by Vos however internally things werent quite right. Vos was correct it was very unlikely that Bastion would be able to ever fully use his strength again. Though his skin was intact the muscles and organs underneath couldnt be fully regenerated to what they once were. Potions had their limits when it came to the moreplicated parts of the body, especially when so little or even none of the parts remained. Gilianna had just finished her examination and reported her findings to Cassandra and the rest resulting in Jainas crying which was a mix of sorrow and relief. Her father was likely going to live but he would have to hang up his axe, his pride and joy. Ill leave you all in peace. If he wakes up call for me. Gilianna left after saying those words, bowing slightly to Dous as she left the room. Bastion you daft old dwarf. Ryuu sighed and sat on the opposing bed side, staring down at his friends pale face. Haaaaaa he always has been the most reckless of us. Dous said with a depressing smile before sitting next to Ryuu. This however caused everyone in the room to turn and look at him in bewilderment. Dous really wasnt one to talk and the irony of his words couldnt be ignored by those present. Who was the one who almost who lost his life a couple days ago, and who was the one always running head first into danger when they were younger, always trying to defy his mortality, Dous thats who. Hahahahahahaha Ryuu couldnt help butugh and was quickly followed by Cassandra until even Jaina wasughing. The group sat by Bastions side telling stories of the old days, of Bastions life, reminiscing in the joys they had with him. Time gradually passed yet even after two hours Bastion failed to awaken. Frost, Ryuu and Dous couldnt remain by his side any longer, with reluctance they left to prepare themselves for the next wave that was set to arrive in the next hour or so. However even after devouring a highly luxurious meal and taking a nap the wave never came. But instead of rxing the people and allowing them the rest a little more this instead filled them with great stress. The men and women were constantly on edge, waiting for the battle toe. Only those very versed in warfare were able to properly sleep and ignore the psychological pressure. It was a long and restless night for the people of Furano. Within the Northrend forest however Lord Frostine sat within a room made of ice, the many B-rank monsters and his strongest subordinates were with him. This was theirmand centre. Valend should be arriving soon. At dawn we strike and decimate the town of Furano. He mmed his hand down upon an ice table, shattering it into pieces as he dered their intentions. A round of wide and evil looking smiles could be seen throughout the room, the monsters were antsy with anticipation. Chapter 491 - 491 Chapter 491: The third dawn 491 Chapter 491: The third dawn Frost woke up an hour or so before dawn, fully refreshed and ready to fight. It was a nice change not being woken up by the ring war horns. After grabbing his re-forged ive he made his way to the food court, wanting to charge up a little more before the big battle. As he walked Frost caught sight of the many dispirited and stressed looks on the faces of the soldiers and adventurers. Unlike him they had been up most of the night never knowing when theyd be called to battle, to sacrifice themselves. The chefs, smiths and officers did their best but even, so morale was low and to be honest expected. Few would actually face their death with pride and confidence. Frost shook his head choosing to not get swept up in the dour mood spanning the town, he would fight and enjoy the looming battle as best he could, but the atmosphere certainly did make it hard for him to go around with a wild expecting grin. He sighed and upped his pace towards the food court. The chefs were still going hard at it, preparing glorious meals that infused the air with their delectable scents. Burusaa and Ts were currently working the highest quality stall while Vos was seated at the table devouring meal after meal with ravenous gusto. Nearly all the frontline Majors and high ranked adventurers could be seen by his side doing the exact same thing. Loading their bodies with carbs, filling up their tanks purely for energy reasons rather than taste fulfilment but given who was cooking that was never a problem. Vos looked at Frost after hearing movement, he smiled and patted the table, asking him to join him. Frost smiled and joined Vos at the table. Ts another round of meals for Frost here. Vos hollered to his vice-chef. Coming right up boss. Ts loudly replied before fetching another load of high quality ingredients. ..... Since youre a closebat fighter like us youd best fill up your energy levels while you still can. The next attack will be like nothing youve ever seen, running out of gas mid fight would be a regretful way to die. Food is life, remember that. Vos spouted some words of wisdom in a serious tone before chuckling and diving back into his food. The majority of those eating right now were as Vos put it closebat fighters who relied heavily on their physical stamina to fight. Ryuu, Jessie and the mage corps were noticeably absent as the mage caste relied on a different source of power therefore an abundance of food wasnt quite as impactful to their battle styles instead meditation and good rest were key. A few minutester Ts brought over several overfilled meat dishes for Frost that teemed with energy. Youve improved Ts, just a little more and youll be able to call yourself a true spirit chef like Burusaa and me hahahahaha. Vos pulled himself from his gorging to praise his vice chefs improvements. The mana contained in the dishes were almost at an eptable level for a spirit chef. Thank you head chef. Ts smiled and blushed a little before quickly heading back to the kitchen. Giant Frost ape rump steak, Fried rindar thigh, stegadon meat balls and finally a frost lily and winter thistle soup, a pretty good set. Vos smiled from ear to ear as he named the dishes, his eyes twinkling with joy. The first three should fill your stamina levels to the point that theyre overflowing as well as grant you a decent strength boost while the soup will help with your chakra flow and mana control, a set meal catered specifically for your battle style. Frost listened with interest, his eyes drifting over to Ts who had returned to the kitchen. A spirit chef huh. Multiple thoughts flowed through his mind at that point, but the rumbling of his stomach brought him back to reality. He shook his head before digging into his set meal, such things could be dealt with after the stampede was over. Around 30 minutester when Frost was just about finished his meals Ryuu, Jessie and mage corps arrived in masse and ordered their own specialised mana boosting dishes. Any news? Vos asked with a serious tone, his table littered with clear bowls and tes, just where on Nova was he storing all that food. Still silent on the wall but the pressure emitting from the forest has grown considerably and my guts screaming the worst. Ryuu shook his head in frustration. Plus bastion hasnt woken up either. Ryuus eyes drooped as he mentioned Bastion and Frost and Vos felt a pain in their hearts. If only I arrived sooner. Vos though ultimately being the one to save Bastion when no else could, couldnt help but feel a level of regret. No you did what none of us could. Hell pull through this I know it; you know how stubborn that old dwarf is. Even the God of death would struggle to take his soul if he wasnt willing. Hehehehe thats true. Vos and Ryuuughed. The food court continued to amass customers as though a subtle force was guiding everyone there in preparation. Even Hamon and Dous chose to join, having their meals there instead of themand centre so as to boost morale. Cassandra, Leo and Luna also came helping to create a somewhat enjoyable atmosphere. The smiths and other support staff joined near the end, arriving with boxes and boxes of finely repaired and or newly forged equipment for the men and women about to head into battle. Borris was among them and instantly headed towards Frost the moment he saw him. He was curious about how his ive felt in the hands of its intended owner. So howd it feeld, my current greatest work and the very first 4 star weapon Ive forged? Current greatest work? Frost questioned with a knowing look. Hehehehe yeah, I may be old but I aint dead and I certainly aint washed up. Im going to keep forging and improve my craft, this ive [Wolf howling at the moon] will not be my only 4 star weapon nor my best, just the first hehehehe. Borris chuckled with pride, mming his chest in promise as his eyes shed with passionate fire. Frosts lips turned upwards in a smile as he tried to imagine how far Borris could go and he became greedy. He wanted him, such a talented and experienced smith hed be a fool to ignore such a tempting prospect. Once the stampede was over hed have to really sell the idea of his territory to him and if that didnt work theres always the forceful approach. Frosts mind ran a bit wild again beforetching onto something Borris said. [Wolf howling at the moon] whats that? Hmm oh thats the ives name, smiths always give names to works their proud of especially those that are above 3 star in quality. The people that wield high ranking weapons such as yourself tend to leave marks in history thus many are curious about the weapons they wield. Granting them names helps make such creations unique and if youre skilled and lucky even develop a soul, allowing them to be truly powerful creations that have the ability to grow. Borris exined a little while puffing his chest out, very happy with the name he thought of. [Wolf howling at the moon] huh? And weapon souls how interesting. Frost was drawn in and fascinated, there was so much to this world and it professions that he didnt know. I should find some time to chat with Damascus since his skills lie in forging. Dark had made it rtively for the dungeon cores to contact one another if they so wished but it was up to the individual whether or not to ept the contact but from what he remembered he got along with Damascus quite amicably at the family gathering. By the wayd about that territory of....Baaaddoooon! Baaaddooon! Suddenly Borris was cut off mid-sentence by the sound of the war horns, forewarning the onset of the next wave. With the war horns sounding off every soldiers and adventurer instantly put down their cutlery and stood up, their gazes turning towards the northern wall. Then as though in sync each and every one of them marched to the wall with resolute expressions. The next wave hade after such a long dy. Frost, Hamon, Vos, Halgrave and Maggie nodded to one another before making their way to the top of the wall while Dous and Ryuu said goodbye to their families. Thest stretch of this defensive war was here. All the chefs and support staff bowed sincerely as the soldiers and adventurers made their way beyond the wall knowing full well that the chances of them returning was frighteningly low. Battle stations! Every solider front and centre, no more reserve teams! Its all out WAAAAARRRRR!!!!! Hamon who swiftly arrived on top of the wall first roared out his orders with his aura instilled into his voice, greatly inspiring the forces down below. All the reserve teams and weaker wavepse teams no longer left their posts when the real thing started instead they were reassigned to the frontlines or to work the many war machines that had been brought out in full scale. Ammunition levels no longer mattered; they would use everything they had to deal the stampede a devasting blow. Chapter 492 - 492 Chapter 492: The third dawn (2) 492 Chapter 492: The third dawn (2) Apart from the regr soldiers and reserve teams quickly finding their positions before and on top the wall or tforms the number of war machines were much greater than before. Even if they were damaged they were brought into the fray as a single sessful shot could mean the death of one more monster. Ballistae lined the top of the northern wall with skilled marksman standing behind them, preparing tounch thest of the towns bolts without restraint. Vats of boiling oil were not only ced beside the ranger corps for their fire arrows but also at various strategic crenels allowing the boiling liquid to be dropped onto the battlefield below, scalding any monsters that dared to climb the wall. Hidden behind the towering wall at differing levels were trebuchets,rge, long range war machines that could hurtle massive rocks into the enemy lines. Unfortunately only one was in decent condition, two beyond repair and another two with partial damage, likely only able to get out a couple shots before breaking apart. Of course along with war machines there were the many magic devices that relied on magic crystals for fuel. Mana gatherers, amplifiers, the sr dawn as well as several other nick knacks that synergised with certain squads. Hamon ordered for everything to be brought out and used to their absolute limits, wear and tear, ammunition and even effectiveness was ignored. If it had the potential to kill or even maim it was brought to the battlefield in ast ditch effort tost through the remaining 24 hours or at the very least deal a blow so painful itd be seared into the hearts of the enemy. Ton! Ton! Ton! Ton! A cacophony of footsteps filled the area as everyone took their positions and drew their weapons, staring dead ahead with steely resolve. Chuff! Kiba who was resting in the monster pens arrived from the sky andnded by Frosts side. He proceeded to rub his head against his masters hand affectionately, an attempt to hide his fear as well as overwhelming excitement. Finally he would fight by Frosts side, as a team instead of being relegated to injured recovery. Its alright Kiba youll get your chance to see action but promise me that youll listen to my orders without any resistance. Frost rubbed the tigers fluffy head as he spoke, his heart warming as he did. ..... Chufff Kiba responded positively instantly, he may be young, but he was quite wise for his age. He knew that the enemies he and his master would be pitted against would be stronger than himself therefore if he didnt want to be deadweight he needed to strictly adhere to Frostsmands. Good boy. Lets go With a strong nod Frost jumped onto Kibas back and the two of them descended from the wall, joining the frontlines. Once everyone was in position an eery silence covered the area and cold sweat started to drip down the necks of those present. A stifling pressure, a looming fear gripped their hearts as time crawled forward without any change. Hold your ground, keep those weapons raised! Hamon roared while clenching his jaw, also feeling that something big wasing. Don! Don! Don! Don! Don! A moment after Hamons roar the sounds of heavy, very heavy feet could be heard making contact the ground. At first it sounded distant and rather sparse but soon it elerated and magnified to the point that the very ground started shaking. Therge and sturdy trees of the Northrend forest began falling down as though battered by the charge of a massive animal. Some of the weaker soldiers started to lose their bnce and fell to their knees. Frost and the other Majors focused their eyes and or their mana in an effort to see into the distance and gauge the enemy but Frostine and his spirit subordinates had eclipsed the area in an ice fog reducing visibility. They were in the dark, a very dangerous prospect this let in the game. Momentster the sound became so loud that many covered their ears to offset the pain and that was when it happened. Charging through the bare treeline and the dense ice fog were several dozen mammoths, each easily 6 metres tall, chock full of dense muscle and protected by thick hides. Fierce looking tusks that had been sharpened to frighting points decorated their faces, perfect for goring their prey no matter the size or strength. And between their tusks were long trunks that served as a fifth limb, far more powerful and flexible than a standard arm. Nearly every soldier and adventure turned white at the sight of these monstrous beasts as they charged towards them. Their legs turned to jelly and more than a few lost control of their dders. If that wasnt frightening enough what followed was a veritable explosion of sound as the mammoths red their trunks like horns. A few unlucky soldiers at the forefront had their eardrums pop. Fuck! Hamon loudly cursed and attempted to roar out reassuring orders however the trunks of the mammoths eclipsed his voice. He was cut off from his men and women. Dammit to have to use it at the very first charge, Fuck! Damien turn on the barrier! Instead of roaring beyond the wall Hamon yelled behind him as well as gave a noticeable hand signal just in case. In response a dwarf with bright purple eyes smiled from ear to ear before slotting multiple high level monster crystals into a device situated before him. This was the same man who was in charge of the [sr dawn], a device designed to bring light in the dead of night this however was a barrier device of highest quality and far more demanding. Along with his actions, support staff C his subordinates- inserted lesser quality magic crystals into connected devices that amplified the barrier generator. Boom! Boom! Boom! The stampede of mammoths swiftly found its way before the frontline, crossing the gap in what seemed like a blink of an eye. Frost looked to his left and right and saw nothing but fear and shaking limbs, the weaker soldiers and adventurers were overwhelmed by the pressure, stunned in ce. Even Kiba who was supported by his connection to Frost had his fur stand on end as the stampede encroached. Tsk! He clicked his tongue, twirled his ive in hand and released his aura that was now infused with royal intent. His aim was to wake up his allies from their sudden fear. Having the same line of thought all the Majors down on the ground did the exact same thing. Their powerful auras suddenly erupted andpeted with the physical pressure emitted from the charge of several dozen enraged mammoths. An invisible sh appeared in the air between the two forces and the fear induced soldiers felt an instant reprieve however time was not on their side and besides even without the strangling pressure they were still faced with the charge of creatures weighing several tons, a daunting prospect. Even with their preparation and the Majors stepping forward, this charge of mammoths could very well break them. Thankfully however such a thing wouldnte to pass. A second before the mammoths were about to smash into the frontlines a dense green barrier grew from the ground, encapsting the northern wall and all the forces defending it. Baaaaaaannnnnnnngggggggg! The line of mammoths thus smashed into this barrier instead causing it to shake violently and even develop minute cracks but nheless stopped them in their tracks, saving the frontline troops from a brutal death. Bang! Bang! Bang! As though unfazed from smashing headfirst into a solid barrier, the dozens of mammoths repeatedly bashed their tusks and or trunks violently against it, determined to bring down the sudden obstruction. Dont rx! The barrier will onlyst for a few minutes! Hamon yelled out, his voice finally able to reach his soldiers due to the barrier. At his word the ranks of frightened soldiers and adventurers started to get back on their feet, their hands tightening around their weapons and resolve once again filling their eyes. Get those ballistae prepped and ready to cull these beasts, ready the trebuchets as well. We need to bring these brutes down quickly otherwise our defensive line will be decimated by their overwhelming mass! Hamon bellowed out order after order as did Dous. The both of them knew the direness of the situation. Bang! Bang! Bang! The minute cracks on the barrier stretched and thickened with every attack, even with multiple high quality monster crystals maintaining such arge area against such strong and numerous foes for any length of time was strenuous. Tsk! Bastards really did have onest ace in the hole. Frostine who was bringing up the rear and kitted out in a full ice armour loudlyined, annoyed by the fact that the bugs kept up their futile resistance. Hahahahaha thats great I was worried this battle would be dull, hopefully they have even more up their sleeves. The voice of a young man replied to Frostine however this young man was practically 10 metres tall and riding upon a mammoth that put every one of the creatures attacking the barrier to shame, he was Valend. Chapter 493 - 493 Chapter 493: Valend’s order 493 Chapter 493: Valends order Valend, the frost giant that Frost encountered several days ago at the entrance to his dungeon. A massive figure that oozed power, power far greater than what Frost couldpete with. Back then even if he fought alongside the newly evolved Finy, Kiba, Khuno and his contingent of ronsos the possibility of winning was slim to none. This monster was at the very least mid-stage B-rank and of the giant archetype, a species that rivalled the fabled dragons in strength. Simply with him sitting there on top of his mighty steed Dn an invisible pressure filled their air and that was before he even activated his aura. A powerful enemy. Bang! Bang! Bang! The horde of mammoths repeatedly smashed their tusks and trunks against the barrier, gradually weakening it, causing the minute cracks to spread and widen. A few more rounds and the massive green barrier would shatter like ss, but it had served its purpose. The devasting charge of the mammoths was brought to a swift halt, greatly lessening the damage they could cause. The many ballistae, trebuchets and even the stronger ranger corps had already taken aim at the mammoths weak points, prepared to bring down the hammer the moment the barrier copsed. Ill head off first Frostine. Valends lips turned upwards forming into a wild and excited smile. He then raised his massive hammer onto his shoulders and squeezed his legs around Dn, ordering him to move forward. Dont hide back here too long old man otherwise therell be nothing left hahahahaha! After provoking Frostine, Valend and Dn charged ahead, causing the very ground to groan and crack from their steps. Haaaaaaa reckless and impatient...damn giants. Frostine clenched his fists, irritated by Valendsment. He wished to smack the young giant across the face, so hed respect his elders but held back in the end. Strength wise Valend was equal to him perhaps even slightly stronger given his species and Frostine for one didnt want to risk finding the truth just because of an impulsive taunt. ..... Chaylen ready our soldiers and have them follow after a wave of chaff. Frostine gave an order to his highest ranked subordinate before prepping himself for battle. Valend was right if he sat back in the rear like before thered be no enjoyment and Valend would get all the credit. Ill leave the boring enemies to you and the rest. Frostine ced a hand on Chaylens shoulder, symbolising the passing of somemand. By your will my Lord. Chaylen bowed deeply while showing a strong fanaticism in his eyes. Finally his lord would be taking the centre stage. Bang! Bang! Bang! The barrier continued to crack and weaken from the mammoths blows and in response the grounded Majors lifted the spirits of the surrounding soldiers with their voices and auras. They stood at the forefront with their weapons drawn and their feet firmly nted in the ground. They would act like giant sea boulders, enduring the devastation of the mighty ocean waves. Frost, Maggie and Vos were closely situated together, in the centre of the battlefield where the attacks would be most devasting. Maggie 12 oclock! Suddenly Hamon roared out in desperation despite the barrier still being up. I see him, Frost you and Kiba halt his mount, Vos you and me will block that hammer. Maggie showing her experience as vice leader calmly ordered Frost and Vos before moving to intercept. The barrier only prevent entry not exit. Yes vice leader! Frost and Vos both replied loudly before moving in tandem. Frost and Kiba rose into the air before flying towards Dn whereas Vos and Maggie aimed for Valend. Hahahahaha thats more like it,e lets see what youve got [Mountain crusher] With a loudugh Valend bellowed out and activated a high level hammer skill. A brown coloured energy covered his hammer before morphing into the shape of a mountain, granting the already heavy weapon even more weight and crushing force. His mount Dn also activated some sort of charging skill, his sharp tusks became enveloped in red energy, growing in size. Maggie and Vos both activated their own special skills and acted in concert against Valends hammer while Frost and Kiba used theirbined skill [Hammering beasts charge] that fused their strengths into one devasting blow topete with Dn the war mammoth battle mount carrying Valend. Boooooooooommmmmmmm!!!!!! An earth shattering explosion erupted the moment the two sides made contact. First Frost and Kiba covered in a green energy (fusion of Frosts blue and Kibas yellow) crashed against Dns red tusks. Frosts ive was made of harder materials, but Dn was heavier and went into the sh with a great deal of momentum. The result between them was pretty much a draw with perhaps Frost and Kibaing slightly ahead. Dn was forcibly brought to a halt and his energy dissipated while Frost and Kiba were blown back a few steps, resulting in Kiba being pinned against the barrier. Maggie and Vos however were seriously outmatched in terms of physical power. Maggie had even be more bearlike when she attacked, her already massive muscles bulging to obscene levels. Vos was in a simr state, pre-emptively activating his berserk mode which turned his skin red, hardening his defences and made his body grow in size. Yet despite such preparation the moment Maggies hammer and Vos fire chakra covered fists shed against Valends massive hammer the difference in physical strength between them was made clear. Maggie and Vos felt the weight of a mountain bearing down on them. The energy summoned by their weapon skills shattered and like tiny children facing an adult they were shot backwards right into the green barrier. Bang! Bang! Crack! Shatter! The green barrier that was already on itsst legs cracked even further when Vos and Maggie mmed into it before ultimately shatteringpletely. Urgh! The mad iron chef and the bear beastwoman groaned in pain, a sliver of blood running down their lips. Frost and the two of them looked up at the face of Valend, a sense of fear gripping their hearts as they understood what they were up against. Huuuuuuuuu not bad, not bad at all. Valend let out a breath as he recalled his hammer, cing it once again upon his mighty shoulders. His gaze drifted temporarily over Maggie and Vos since they were to be his prime opponents, but his attention was grabbed by a sense of familiarity the moment he witnessed Frost. He frowned and struggled to recollect where he had saw him before it finally clicked. Hoh! The interesting specimen from that monsterir. I guess you got too impatient waiting for me to return and devour you hehehehehe well aint lucky. Valend licked his lips, his mouth salivating and stomach grumbling as his eyes focused upon Frost and Kiba. He could sense that Frost was special in some way and that devouring him would be most delectable and strength boosting. Frosts skin grew goosebumps, and a sharp fury filled him as he was once again looked upon as mere prey, a very ufortable feeling. Kiba who was carrying Frost started trembling at the sight of Valends famished expression, his instincts warning him no screaming at him to run from this overpowered monster who hed be nothing but a snack for. Frost let out a breath, calming his anger. He stroked Kibas fur in a soothing manner before drawing out his royal aura, easing Kibas distress and intensifying his own image that was initially a minor shadow in front of Valend. He was joined by Vos and Maggie who both emitted their auras in full force, their stances at the ready, prepared to once again challenge Valend despite their earlier loss. ....Hahahahahahaha most interesting, I do love it when my prey struggles! Valendughed so loud that the air quaked. He raised his hammer upwards before pointing it forwards. Crush them! In response to his call the dozens of mammoths who were previously crashing against the green barrier blew their trunks like trumpets before charging forward. Hold your ground! Hamon roared out, his heavy upper B-rank aura suffused into his voice, solidifying the legs of the tiny soldiers barring the mammoths path. The majority of the frontline troops were equipped with spears,nces and other polearms well suited for fending offrger attackers but even so a mammoth was a bit much. The sight was almostical from an observers standpoint yet despite that the soldiers though filled with fear stood their ground, their polearms firmly held and braced against the ground. They would stop their charge or die trying. If the first line failed then the second would seed or perhaps the third. The mindset being that eventually after enough stabs the beasts would fall. Facing off against a man or woman that is prepared to die and bring you down with them is not a foe you want to be pitted against, regardless of your species. Of course the ground forces were not alone. The moment the barrierpletely copsed, and the mammoths began their charge the ballistae let loose their bolts. Large and heavy bolts roughly 2 metres long fashioned out of high quality duram alloy flew through the air at breakneck speeds. The marksman aimed for the weak points of the mammoths, the eyes, neck and underbelly if exposed. Along with that were the high ranking archers such as Artemis who let loose their highest quality arrows, drowning a couple mammoths in arrow fire. Multiple mammoths let out high pitched squeals as the thick ballistae bolts pierced through their eyes, neck or underbelly, or when dozens of arrowsnded on their backs and heads, individually slightly painful but together created a serious wound. Many more however crashed into the frontline soldiers with intense ferocity. Swaths of soldiers founds themselves crushed under their feet, gored by their tusks or swatted away by their muscr trunks like pesky flies. A bloodbath thus ensued the second the barrier was down or rather on Valends order. Chapter 494 - 494 Chapter 494: “May the gods have mercy on our souls” 494 Chapter 494: May the gods have mercy on our souls Bastard! Maggie roared out with fury in her eyes as many of her men and women were crushed under the brutality of the maddened mammoths. She dashed forward, her skin swiftly bing covered in fur and her nails elongating into ws. She used beastification to the extreme. Beastification, an ability shared by most sapient beastmen that allows them to transform their bodies closer to that of their animalistic origins. Basically a toned down version of the transformation abilities held by monster kin such as Nanna and Loki. Nheless it did seed in adding to Maggies already impressive physical strength. Vos wasnt one to fall behind, his berserk state intensified causing his face to warp to the point he looked like a mad demon hell bent on a path of destruction. He and Maggie knew that Valend wasnt an opponent they could take lightly thus they used all they had from the get-go, disregarding the cost in stamina. With Frost releasing his royal aura and donning his frost chakra armour the three people and one cial winged tiger readied themselves for an uphill battle. This is going to be fun. Valend who was on the receiving end of such furious res smiled evilly andughed before speaking. Three B-rank opponents and a C-rank cial winged tiger battle mount, an exciting prospect indeed. The great frost giant released his aura topete against thebined might of Frost, Maggie and Vos. It was heavy, dense and filled with unbridled ferocity. A pressure that felt even greater than Frostines. Booooooommmm! An invisible sh erupted between the four people and two battle mounts as the different auras made contact. Valends powerful aura expanded, quickly superseding thebined might of Frost, Maggie and Vos. Frosts auracked the depth required to properlypete with Valend and aid Maggie and Vos but thanks to the royal intent now held within, its superior quality allowed it to withstand the pressure, buckle and bend but not break. Hahahahahaha how amusing! Valend hollered before intensifying his aura, forcing Frost, Maggie and Vos backwards as they struggled to endure the overbearing pressure. It was clear that in terms of aura the three of them were outmatched. ..... Since such a battle was pointless Frost, Maggie and Vos retracted their auras to the point that they were only protecting their bodies. Having to only cover a small area their auras became denser, allowing them to withstand Valends pressure and move as per normal. Without said aura protecting them their bodies would be sluggish and slow as if suffering from intense gravity, making fighting effectively an impossibility. Maggie and Vos briefly looked at one another before nodding and charging ahead. [Reverberating strike] Maggie attacked first, covering her hammer in multipleyers of vibrating energy as she swung against Valend. [Howling fist] Vos was close on her heels attacking from above while she moved below. Lets go Kiba! Frost clenched his legs around Kiba and twirled his ive [Wolf howling at the moon] as the young tiger leaped into the air. In response to their actions Valend raised his hammer above his head, gripping it tightly with both hands and uttered themand word for a unique skill. [Giant crusher] Grey coloured energy filled his oversized hammer before forming the image of a phantom giant behind it. Valend swung with overwhelming power and such speed that the very surface of his hammer began to glow from the intense friction. This was a mighty swing that would obliterate anything that stood against it. For those with very keen eyes theyd be able to see Maggie and Vos attacks aiming for Valends weapon as though anticipating its path. Boooooooommmmmmm! Maggies hammer swung horizontally and struck the lower face of Valends hammer while Vos struck the top face at the same time sessfully knocking it off course thus preventing Maggie from bing a pancake. Valends hammer though not striking Maggie still smashed hard against the ground next to her causing plumes of dirt to explode outwards, obscuring the area and sending Maggie careening backwards with a great deal of force, though not any more than she was expecting. Immediately after mming into Valends hammer she jumped backwards to offset some of the bacsh. Meanwhile Vos flipped in the air, twisting his body until he was lined up to kick Valend in his oversized face. Vos was powerful but his true talenty in speed and flexibility. His attacks coulde from any angle at any time and with any tempo. His transition from one attack to another was practically seamless. Valends eyebrows rose in surprise as he was forced to quickly veer his head to the side. Vos left foot grazed passed his cheek, leaving a cut under his eye that extended towards his ear. The attack was a minor sess but now Vos was easy pickings, flying through the air with nothing to rebound off of. Valend removed his right hand from his hammer and reached up to grab Vos before he could escape however he failed to notice the smile on the mad iron chefs face. [Ice piercer] The moment Vos was about to be grabbed, Frost appeared like a silent spectre from Valends blind spot, his ive already thrusting towards Valends right eye thuds giving him a choice. Either lose an eye and get hold of Vos or retract his hand to block Frosts thrust.the choice was obvious. Without even the slightest hesitation Valend redirected his right hand to block Frost thus allowing Vos to make a clean escape. Kreeee! Frosts sharp ive skidded across a primitive looking gauntlet that protected Valends forearm. It left only a small scratch revealing that despite its primitive appearance the gauntlet was made of some choice material. Frost moved away the instant his thrust was blocked, not giving Valend a chance to retaliate against him. Since Kiba was a flying battle mount and of the tiger species he was able to be far more nimble than Vos and Maggie. However, Valend was not alone Dn the war mammoth made a move in ce of his master. He bucked like a bull and kicked out with his back legs, aiming for the swiftly retreating Kiba. Tsk! [ice shield] Frost annoyed that a mammoth a creature known for being rather slow in their movements was able to react when Valend couldnt clicked his tongue before desperately conjuring a shield of ice. Even though Dn was only a C-rank monster, getting hit by those massive legs of his would result in no small amount of injury. Smash! The hastily conjured shield shattered almost instantly but it gave enough time for Kiba to escape with a strong beat of his wings. He and Frostnded safely on the ground, east of Valend and Dns position while Vos manned the west and Maggie the south, surrounding him and preventing him from acting against anyone other than the three of them. Valend brought his right hand to his cut cheek, feeling the blood dripping from the wound as well erasing the remnants of mes left by Vos. Being a frost giant he was quite adverse to fire. The wild smile on his face gradually grewrger as he stared at his blood smeared fingers. Hahahahaha its been a long time since someonest drew my blood! Heughed and bellowed madly, his eyes radiating a fierce fire as his heart thumped strongly, excited by the prospect. Valend proceeded to pull up his hammer from the pit he created and ced it back upon his shoulders before stretching out his right hand and beckoning Maggie in a taunting manner. The three B-rank fighters looked at one another and nodded before moving in concert, working together to take down Valend and his battle mount Dn. While their battle was just beginning the chaotic melee between the mammoths and standard soldiers was already underway. Dozens of men and women had already fallen victim to the mammoths charge and their oversized limbs but thanks to their unity, the aid of the many war machines and the efforts of the grounded Majors a stalemate had been reached wherein neither side really gained any headway. Soldiers and adventurers would die but so would mammoths, an equal exchange if you will. However such a fragile bnce was swiftly broken and the forces of Furano once again found themselves being pushed back, unable to stand against the endless tide of rampant monsters. Lines of chaff -lesser monsters that the leaders didnt care about- followed after the mammoths, slipping in between them and catching many men and women unaware. If that was all it would have been fine but Frostine was not holding back in the slightest, the stampede was putting all it had into crushing Furano before the sun had time to reach its highest point. The grandmander himself along with the other B-rank monsters stepped into the fray, thinning out the already stretched thin battlelines thus forcing Hamon and Dous to remove the Majors and elite squads from the frontlines so as to restrain them the best they could. Ryuu and Jessie stood at the forefront of the northern wall, looking down with determined gazes as they were adorned and surrounded by a plethora of magic devices. They would restrain Frostine while the other Majors and elites handled the rest. Everyone had their targets as well as their own individual missions. Theycked the personnel needed to win this war but god damn they were going to endure no matter the cost. Ill be off Colonel, try to restrain yourself as long as possible. Dous spoke with clenched fists, his eyes already bloodshot from frustration. Good luck Lord Viscount. Hamon spoke through a closed jaw, his expression no better than Douss. He knew that apart from Frost, Maggie and Vos who were dealing with Valend as a team the other Majors were having to work solo against their B-rank opponents and in some cases there wasnt even a Major ss fighter avable. These men and women were sorely outmatched, with not even the remotest chance of winning. Hamon had to stand here and watch as he ordered these brave men and women to their deaths, he couldnt even join them in battle at least not yet. With the arrival of Valend and the actions of Frostine it was made even more apparent that there was something even more dangerous out there, a foe only he would be able to restrain. May the gods have mercy on our souls Hamon muttered as Dous leaped from the wall to fight against one of the approaching B-rank monsters. Chapter 495 - 495 Chapter 495: ‘I guess we’ll have to see what fate has in store for us.’ 495 Chapter 495: I guess well have to see what fate has in store for us. Screams filled with agony and despair repeatedly entered Hamons ears, and in response to each one his fists clenched tighter and tighter. A narrow stream of blood was already flowing through his fingers as his nails pierced his palms, yet he felt no pain. His eyes were focused resolutely upon the battlefield, refusing to even blink, afraid to miss even a single valiant sacrifice. The grandmander of Furanos forces had to stand here upon the northern wall and take in every single death without retaliating. The anger and frustration brought on by such a situation was far more than hed ever had to deal with before. His heart was screaming for him to act but act he could not. There was a n set forth by him and agreed upon by all the officers under hismand. Something far more dangerous than Frostine and Valend wasing and only then when the enemy was at their strongest could he enter the field. If he entered now and wasted all his energy there would be no one left who could even briefly stop such a monster. Dous who was technically in a simr position to him being the ruling viscount and all had already leapt into battle and was currently engaging a B-rank monster with a team of C-rank adventurers. Leaving him alone in this duty yet not for a single second would he wish it upon another. It had already been close to an hour since the barrier came down and the death toll was beyond counting. By this point massive holes had formed in the defensive line and dozens of monsters had made their way to the base of the northern wall. Those stationed on the battlements shot arrows and poured the burning oil onto those that dared to scale the wall, but it seemed like a pointless endeavour as whenever one monster died another simply reced it a secondter. Ammunition for the ballistae was all but spent thanks to the tenacity of the mammoths and only a single trebuchet remained. asionallyrge rocks could be seen hurtling through the air and crashing upon the dense lines of monsters charging through battlefield but it was but a drop in the ocean. What remained of the frontline troops was a fractured mess, something that could break at any moment, yet they refused to do so. Even after another hour and when 3 Majors had died in glorious battle the weak and fractured lines of troops continued to stand tall, enduring the crashing waves. A miracle brought on by resolute determination. If an arm was lost theyd use the other, a leg theyd hop and if they had no limbs left theyd bite and or throw themselves before their enemy giving theirrades a chance to deal a fatal blow. A marvel to watch, beautiful yet horribly sad at the same time. Hot tears streamed down Hamons cheeks as he watchedrade afterrade fall in battle, many of which hed fought alongside for decades. This battle would be the greatest loss the frost wolf battalion had ever endured within the past century, all while he was at the helm. The level of guilt and responsibility Hamon felt on his shoulders right now couldnt be put into words. Argrrrrgggggghhhhh!!! Suddenly the scream of someone he knew well entered his ears. ..... Halgrave! Hamon roared frantically as his eyes zoomed in on where the vice leader was battling. Halgrave being one of the strongest fighters on their side and one of the vice leaders took on the greatest burden. When the 3 Majors died it was him that did his best to pick up the ck and ultimately it became too much. His piercing scream was due his left and right arms being viciously torn off. The left from the pincers of a white Ankheg- a huge insect like monster that dwells under the earth in the inner regions of cial mountains- and the right from the jaws of a winter saurus- arge dinosaur like monster thats quick and armed with a vicious set of jaws. Hamons heart lurched to aplete halt and the colour drained from his face as he saw his oldrade and in many ways his rival fall to his knees, armless. The two of them had fought side by side since they were but young greenhorns, constantly doing their best to one up one another. As though he could feel Hamons pain Halgrave turned his head to look up at hismander and despite being filled with pain to the point of screaming a mysterious smile grew on his lips. His death hade, not the one he hoped for but glorious, nheless. As his eyes met with the distant Hamon his expression became peaceful, holding no regrets. Halg... Before Hamon could call out his name once more Halgraves peaceful expression warped into one of madness. He turned his head around and red at the white ankheg who tore off his left arm and roared. For the empire!!!! With those words Halgrave kicked off the ground, diving headfirst into the waiting maw of the giant insect. For many his actions would seem pointless, seeing only to hasten his death and grant his enemy a fresher meal but Hamon knew and for the first time since the wave began he closed his eyes unable to watch what was about to unfold, the pain being too much to bear. The moment Halgrave leaped into the ankhegs maw something activated inside his body covering it in mystical runes that forcibly absorbed the surrounding mana. Within a fraction of a second his body became bloated before. Booooooooooommmmmm!!!!! A magical explosion of great proportions erupted with Halgrave as the origin. Some very dedicated and or reckless soldiers of the empire willingly ced a bomb within their bodies that could be detonated in their final moments thus allowing them to take down whomever or whatever they were pitted up against if their strengths fell short. Halgrave was one such individual. The magic explosion thatbined mass amounts of surrounding mana with the internal runic system inside Halgraves body was powerful enough to not only blow the white ankheg to pieces but also heavily injure the nearby winter saurus. However this destructive capability came at a cost. there was not a single shred of Halgrave remaining. His every cell vaporised and transformed into the catalyst for the explosion. There would be no filled grave for this loyal solider Vice leader depressed mutterings escaped the lips of many soldiers in the area. His noble sacrifice being hard to miss. Halgrave senpai Maggie who was distracted by the events was knocked flying backwards by Valends hammer, her ribs suffering several cracks from the blow, but she didnt even notice. Her eyes were glued to where Halgrave once fought, and a sharp pain ran through her heart. A despairing pall formed across the battlefield as many soldiers couldnt help but be emotionally impacted. Hmph! End this with a wide and evil looking smile Frostine gave out an order in a booming voice, fully intending to take advantage of thisck in attention. The fractured lines that had held on for so long, fuelled by their determination and will were now faltering thus now was the perfect time to finally break them. Hahahahahahaha I knew I liked you old man! Valendughed as he knocked away both Frost and Vos who were doing their best to cover for Maggie. The frost giant wasnt one to care for the emotions of his prey. At Frostines order he rushed ahead intent on removing the enemys second vice leader and thus destroy the heart of his enemy. Boom! Suddenly an explosion that could be easily disregarded during the current chaos went off atop the northern wall. FUCK OFFFFF!!!!! A secondter Hamon in all his glory smashed down on the ground,nding in front of Maggie and before Valend. He roared at the top of his lungs and released the full strength of his aura forcing even Valend to stop in his tracks and reassess. Hamon had had enough waiting around, Halgrave was dead along with countless other soldiers, he couldnt hold himself back any longer. He wouldnt be able to call himself human if did. Dous who was at another part of the battlefield frowned and let out a sigh before shaking his head and dodging a blow from his opponent. Hamon had held on for a long time, more than he expected to be honest. I guess well have to see what fate has in store for us. Dous didnt me Hamon for acting out early. Humans were emotional creatures and ns hardly ever went they way you wanted them to. Cass I hope Ill get to meet you again in the next life. Dous reaffirmed his resolve beforeshing out against his foe. Brave men and women of the empire do not falter! And if you feel yourself waning look upon my back! As long as I still stand this battle is not lost! Hamon mmed his feet on the ground like a sumo wrestler which activated many of the runic inscriptions decorating his body. And in response his already tall and muscr form grew in stature and his skin gave off a golden sheen drawing the eyes of the many soldiers whose spirits were about to die out. He looked like a golden guardian that would never fall no matter what attacked him. This was Hamons ultimate battle form, The golden god of war, Ares. For the empire!!! Chapter 496 - 496 Chapter 496: For the empire 496 Chapter 496: For the empire For the empire!! Hamon roared out at the top of his lungs the final words of his rival, his best friend and most loyal subordinate before lunging straight for Valend, fully intending to bring down one the enemymanders in retaliation. Tsk! Cocky bastard! Valend clicked his tongue and activated his own aura, not holding back in the slightest when faced against the grandmander of the Furano defensive. Maggie, Vos and Frost were powerful as a unit and kept him on his toes, but a fully enraged Hamon was something he really needed to go all out against. That golden shimmer and body decorated in runic inscriptions sent a chill down his spine. If he wasnt careful hed end up with more than just a minor wound. [Dynamic freezing, rending of the frost giants] Valend with his 10 metre frame leaped from his war mammoth Dn who was at this point covered in all manner of wounds. High in the air he raised his giant hammer above his head with both hands. White and blue coloured energy transitioned from inside his body to the weapon, infusing it with a devasting chill that made even Frost feel cold. As if that wasnt deadly enough a massive image of what looked to be some kind of super frost giant formed behind the hammer, appearing almost fully corporal. This was a very, very high level hammer skill, far more than what Frost, Vos and Maggie had been pitted against. Frost who was looking up from on Kibas back felt a stifling pressure weighing down on him, his mind bing nk as he tried to think of countermeasures. Such a move was beyond him. He was reminded of the final move the ice revenant used against him back in the [beginners ice magic] monsterir. [Rending of the ice king] a devasting move that called upon powers beyond the level of the user, summoning an aspect of the king of ice. Valends [Dynamic freezing, rending of the frost giants] however felt even greater than that. That image of the super frost giant felt almost godly, it had a presence that mere mortals couldnt fathom but he could, and a name of legend whispered in his ear. Ymir. Frost muttered the name of the frost giant who reached the ultimate level, bing a God and transcending mortality. The great crevasse that spanned hundreds of kilometres through the cial mountains was said to have been formed by the cleaving of Ymirs axe the day he ascended. Frost rapidly blinked and his heart became strangled in fear, his hand subconsciously making its way into his robes to feel the teleporting talisman. If such power was to be used here then hed have no chance at survival. Hamon however who was the clear target of such a powerful move didnt even falter for a second. He stopped his forward dash and mmed his hands against several points on his body causing his golden sheen to be ovepped with red fire. [War gods eruption] Hamon yelled out themand words of his unique skill, one thatbined his mastery of the pugilist arts with hismand of magic and runes. Using prepared runes and his mana Hamons body radiated an intense heat that caused the very ground where he stood to bubble like magma. Following that magic circles formed along his skin, creating defensive barriers that made his body rival the durability of a 4 star weapon. ..... Finally Hamon ced his arms above him in a cross and stomped the magma like ground. In response the ground erupted like a volcanounching Hamon into the air. Red and golden energy formed across his forearmsbing with his magic and the volcano that sent him hurtling into the air Hamon looked like a human meteor. His presence was in no way beneath that of Valends in fact he may have surpassed him. The fighting in the surrounding area was brought to a halt as man, woman and monster alike couldnt help but be drawn to such a dramatic sh of energy and colour. Frost who was firmly holding onto the teleporting talisman let go and rxed his tense body. With Hamon unleashing his own powerful presence and attack he was able to think clearly. There was no way Valend could ever summon something that was in the realm of the Gods or even anything remotely close, he was only B-rank after all. Frost was merely caught up in Valends flow thanks to his superior aura, causing him to assume the worst. His body had been temporarily overwhelmed by Valends aura in a moment of distraction, a lesson he would not soon forget. You really cant let you guard down for a moment during high levelbat. Frost said internally before tearing his eyes away from Hamon and Valend, if someone was going to act they would likely do it now. And act they did. The moment Valends hammer wreathed in freezing cold energy shed against Hamons red and golden body a giant explosion filled with colour overwhelmed the skyscape and pressed down on the battlefield below. This created a lull, a moment which could easily be taken advantage of. Frostine who witnessed Hamons arrival and his sudden engagement with Valend calmly summoned powerful 4th circle magic the moment contact was made and everyone else was preupied in watching the events unfold. A massive three headed ice snake formed from his magic, an ice hydra. A subspecies of dragon that was rumoured to have unfathomable regeneration capabilities. This spell was stronger than his earlier ice snake spells and clearer drained the frost monarch as his legs became rather unstable as though unable to bear his weight. Like Valend he was overextending himself for a chance to nip this thing in the bud. Roaaaaarrrrrr!!!!! With a mighty roar the great ice hydra lunged at Hamons back as he started to descend, his conflict with Valending to a rough draw. His arms hurt a little from the sh whereas Valends hands were burned by his fire. Now however the two of them were falling back down to the ground, drained of their strength, the perfect time for an ambush. However Frostine wasnt facing off against inexperienced rookies. Frost eventually found his feet, but the other officers were well and truly prepared. Just because theirmander was on the field didnt mean they could rx. In the same moments that Valend and Hamon moved to attack one another, Maggie and Vos were ready to make a move on Valend while Ryuu and Jessie were prepared to contain Frostine. Though they were a little unprepared to handle a spell of that level. [Ten ton pound] [Whish roundhouse] Maggie and Vos leapt into the air and following Valends decent the two of them struck him with their weapon skills. Maggie going for his ribs with a heavy hammer blow while Vos aimed for his neck with a vicious spinning kick. Both advanced level skills packing some serious wallop, especially on a temporarily weakened target such as Valend. The prideful frost giant was forced to curl himself into a defensive ball and endure these blows with his durable body, cursing his ally as the blows struck true. Meanwhile Ryuu and Jessie summoned their firebird and earthen smander respectively topete against Frostines ice hydra. Their summoned mana apparitions were however quickly handled. One hydra head evenly dealt with each of the creatures thus leaving one free to attack Hamon as he fell. Fuck! Ryuu cursed and spat out blood as he tried to forcibly summon another 4th circle spell to deal with thest head, but he was already overdrawn. His magic circle failed to form, and the old mage fell to one knee, gasping for air. Hamon felt the killing intent held within the final head and forced his body to turn so as to face it head on. He let out a sigh and frowned before moving to activate his magic in defence, but it seemed as though that was no longer needed. A smile grew on his lips as he caught sight of the young man and tiger cub floating before him, shielding him from the oing hydra head. Leave it to me Frost yelled in reassurance to his allies before twirling his ive in the air, covering the de in ice fire and imbuing the weapon with his aura, something hed be far more natural in doing since yesterdays duel. Frosts standard ice chakra covered his and Kibas body like tight fitting armour, making them appear like knights of the imperial order. His royal aura permeated around him giving Frost a noble presence and protected him and his battle mount from the pressure of Frostine and Valend. [Wyverns maw] Frost utilised his strongest ive skill. Arge wyverns head was summoned above his ive, vicious looking and armed with a great set of teeth but sorelycking inparison to Frostines hydra. Frosts royal aura thus infused itself into the wyvern head making it far more corporal and gave it a presence. He then wreathed the beast in his ice mes as the cherry on top before shing out with his ive,unching the enhanced wyvern head against the ice hydra with its maw prized open. Roar!! The wyvern roared out with fury as it wasunched at the hydra. The two dragon subspecies that were formed of energy brutally battled against one another for dominance. The wyvern head viscously biting down on the hydras neck and burning its insides with ice fire whenever it got a chance while the hydra would attempt to squeeze the wyvern head into mush with its muchrger form. Eventually however the wyvern head lost, its form fragmented and dissolving back into natural energy, melding with the world leaving a hydra head that was covered in viscous bite marks and quickly faltering as the ice fire burned away its internal structure. Frost had sessfully stopped Frostines sneak attack on the Colonel. Chapter 497 - 497 Chapter 497: “…T…Th...That’s….” 497 Chapter 497: TTh...Thats. Hamonnded gracefully back on the ground, sporting no damage and still retained a great deal of stamina. Valend however after curling up into a ball and enduring Vos and Maggies well-timed attacks crashed into the ground with a loud thud, sending plumes of dirt flying outwards. Though he looked rather inelegant the massive frost giant was practically unharmed, pissed off but unharmed. Valend violently swung his hammer in a wide arc and flipped to his feet, causing the ground to tremble from his weight and a de of air to span around him from the sheer force of his swing. An expression of pure unbridled fury could be seen on his face as he red at Hamon and Vos and Maggie who had just descended by his side. Frost and Kiba joined them a momentter, floating above their heads, ready to dive back into battle at a moments notice. Valend was now faced with a very powerful group of sapients, a group that had the ability to serious wound him and even possibly kill him if he wasnt careful. For the first time since this fight began he felt an inkling of fear. Goosebumps formed along his forearms and a cold sweat dripped down his neck. A feeling a mighty frost giant rarely ever experienced... as the fear washed over him and he came to terms with his situation a smile grew on his lips and excitement exploded in his heart. Hahahahahaha thats more like it! Its no fun if the prey cant fight back hahahahahaha! Valend erupted into a bellowingughter, his booming voice causing nearby soldiers to cover their ears in pain. Hamon, Frost and the others braced themselves, preparing their stances, not taking Valend lightly in the slightest despite having the numerical advantage and Hamon in their midst. Dn! Valend gripped his massive hammer with both hands and called for his battle mount. Dn who was covered in multiple wounds grunted in response before charging towards his position. Valend leaped into the air andnded on the war mammoths back, his aura turning up to eleven before the two charged ahead without fear. Frost find yourself another opponent, well handle Valend. Hamon gave a stern order to Frost before once again activating his war god form. Vos and Maggie also activated their full battle states as they fanned out to the nks, leaving Hamon to handle the head on approach. Frost bit his bottom lip in frustration, knowing that he was truly too weak to be of much use in this battle, he may even just get in the way. ..... Lets go Kiba! With a reluctance Frost ordered Kiba to rise into the air so they may find a more appropriate opponent of which there were quite a few. The B-rank monsters now outnumbered their B-rank Majors and elite adventurers thus causing serious damage to the frontlines. Such a situation really couldnt be maintained. Frost gave a quick nce to Frostine and then to the Northern wall, wondering if he should join that battle given his resistance to ice magic but the determined look on Ryuus face gave him his answer. The team of the young dungeon core and cial winged tiger juvenile thus charged towards a B-rank minotaur that was cleaving its way towards Valend and Hamon, hoping to even up the ying field. [Hammering beasts charge] While in the air Frost and Kiba activated theirbined attack causing them to be covered in a green energy that enhanced their charging force. With Frosts ive tip as the focal point they mmed into minotaur who hastily raised up his battle axe in defence. With a loud boom the minotaur was sent skidding across the ground for several metres, its arms visibly trembling from the blow. Frost quickly nced around the area and singled out two C-rank fighters. You two help me take care of this one. Yes sir! The two c-rank fighters who were covered in multiple superficial wounds quickly brought down their current opponents before joining Frosts side. Valend meanwhile Frostine who had his prized 4th circle magic blocked red at the battle taking ce between Valend, Hamon, Maggie and Vos and called out his allies name. If Valend was pinned down by such strong opposition the battle would progress far slower. And thanks to Hamons speech and timely arrival the emotional state of the enemy that was near broken now resurged with such intensity that their forces were actually starting to be pushed back in areas. This was far from what the lord frost monarch wished. Why wont these ants just give up? Theres no way they can win against our forces so why do they continue this futility? Frostine internallyined, struggling to understand why their morale hadnt shattered. As he was caught up in his thoughts he was assaulted by a sharp pain in his head. The remaining two hydra heads had been taken out, bringing an end to his spell. Frostine red at the top of the northern wall, looking directly at the exhausted and pale face of Ryuu. He saw the will and determination in his gaze, and it filled him with fury. Fine then if you wont give up then Ill just have to crush you before moving forward! Truly annoyed by how the war was ying out Frostine roared and began moving in earnest this time against the two mages set on restraining his movements. A grand exchange of closebat skills that rocked the very battlefield erupted between Valend, Hamon, Vos and Maggie while a great and colourful disy of magic filled the skies as Frostine, Ryuu and Jessie faced off. Both battles pressured their surroundings and caused great amounts of side-line damage, but the individuals were restrained to a degree thus lightening the burden on the frontline slightly. Frost, Kiba and the two C-rank fighter helpers did their best to handle and quickly take out the B-rank minotaur as did the remaining Majors and their assisting elite teams. The arrival of Hamon on the battlefield inspired the remaining soldiers to an absurd degree granting them great bursts of temporary power which allowed their lines to remain together for another spell. Frost and the other high ranking fighters did their best to take advantage of this temporary boost. Each and every man and woman on the battlefield pushed themselves beyond their limits, fighting back with ferocious intensity. The air had long been filled with the heavy stench of blood and a pressure akin to aura and bloodlust generated by those fighting loomed over the battlefield. A regr person would feel sick and terrified just being near such pressure. This was war, bloody, brutal and in many ways insane. That such an easy going and rather peaceful town could suddenly be subjected to such brutality was a frightening prospect. War no matter how profitable was still war, something that inspired fear in the hearts of civilians and even soldiers. For those currently fighting the only thoughts running through their minds was kill and fight. Their bodies that were mangled, exhausted and for many partial, burned through their lifeforce to stay standing, refusing to let the monster opponents before them pass. And whenever they felt themselves waning theyd look towards the great golden back of theirmander and would be filled with strength once more. Pain was no longer something they felt, they were in the thrall of a mad war fervour much like their monster opponents, granting them the strength to continue and hold back the tide. However nothingsts forever. It started gradually, a solider who was at the very end of their tether found that their body no longer responded to theirmands regardless of how loudly or how persistent thosemands were. This effect spread to soldier after soldier, their bodies gave out one after another causing a cascade of breaks in the formation. Hamon who was blown back by one of Valends hammer strikes felt a chill down his spine and looked behind in response. Dammit! He cursed through gritted teeth as he saw soldier after soldier fall to the ground and be unresponsive. The lines had finally broken, and the horde of monsters wasted no time taking advantage of this change. They swarmed the northern wall and climbed up using their ws, hands and even the bodies of their fellow monsters. The weaker closebat troops, ranged troops and the mage corps quickly found themselves being assaulted in masse. The wall was under siege. A valiant effort Ill give you that, but your victory was impossible from the start. Frostine who was now free from Ryuu and Jessies containment walked towards Hamon and the rest with a gloating smile on his face causing Hamon, Maggie and Vos to frown and clench their fists to the point that blood trickled down their fingers. Screams ran rampant as soldiers were cut down without resistance and that unfaltering will started to corrode. Hamon and the elite fighters that were left standing felt their arms lose strength, their weapons threatening to fall to the ground. Is this it? Is this where well fall? Hamon looked up at the sky, a defeated expression donning his face. Even with his assistance they failed to take out Valend before the lines the broke. The sky was clear and blue, the sun not even at its highest point yet, they didnt even make it to midday. And as though to mock them even further a heavy aura far greater than even Valends spread from the treeline, pressing down on monster and sapient alike, filling their hearts with fear. Hamons gaze nervously moved towards the origin of that burst of aura. TTh...Thats. Chapter 498 - 498 Chapter 498: Head honcho 498 Chapter 498: Head honcho As all seemed lost; the soldiers falling like flies, the northern wall under heavy siege, the Majors and elite adventurers loosening their grips on their weapons, threatening to drop them to the floor and even their grandmander looking up into the sky with a defeated expression the situation became even worse. An entity with power eclipsing both Valend and Frostine arrived in a grandiose fashion. Its aura being openly disyed at it made its way onto the battlefield. Both monster and sapient alike froze in ce as the creatures aura pressed down upon them, filling their hearts with fear. Hamon craned his neck down and locked his gaze upon the creature, his teeth chattering as he tried to get his words out. TTh...Thatsa demon. Even Hamon an upper, almost peak B-rank fighter felt his nerves tighten and his heart lurch as he looked upon this creature that he called a demon. The monster stood at around 3 metres tall and was humanoid in form. Blue skin, bright red eyes, sharp horns protruding from the forehead and shoulders. A toned but not bulky physique adorned in what appeared to be luxurious tight fitting armour of superb quality. Its hands were rather long and sported sharp and long nails that looked more like ws and arge pair of wings the same shade of blue as its skin were outstretched behind it as it floated a few metres off the ground. Face wise it was simr to that of an elf, charming and without blemish yet insidious, almost evil in nature, a stark contrast to Frosts noble appearance. Demons are a very, very powerful species that can rival dragons, giants and other high end species in strength. They generally sport rather pleasing and humanoid statures but are superior in every way. Strong physical bodies like that of monsters, masters of magic both in casting and resistance. They are like the perfect fusion of sapients and monsters thus they are incredibly dangerous. Nature wise they are pretty much always evil, lovers of chaos, death and destruction. It is said that the demons present on Nova were the descendants of the mighty devils and demons of old that were banished to a separate dimension by the creator Gods out of fear for their overwhelming power thus these monsters are quite rare and normally only present in areas with high mana density. Perhaps their only w as a species is their poor fertility which keeps their numbers low. However for one such creature to be a part of the monster stampede things certainly werent normal this time around. It had been over a hundred years since thest demon like this one was sighted in the empire and unfortunately it had to be when they were at their absolute weakest. Hehehehehehe A depressedughter escaped Hamons lips as the true futility of their efforts donned on him. He was supposed to go up against that thing, he might as wellmit suicide right now. ..... That demon was at the very least at the peak of B-rank possibly even half a step into A-rank, something far beyond him and his subordinates even if they were in their peak form. Dous, Vos, Maggie and the other elites that still lived joined Hamon in his depressedughter which gave Frost the chills. It looked as though all the elites had gone mad in leu of the demons arrival. Normally Valend or Frostine would gloat at this point but under the demons presence the two of them didnt dare utter a single word. A weird silence filled the once chaotic battlefield, the strangeughter being the only thing one could hear. The demon looked over the state of the battlefield and listened to the strangeughtering from the sapients standing before him. An evil smile grew on the demons lips as he enjoyed such reactions. His disappointment at the fact that the northern wall still stood upon his arrival was erased thanks to such a pleasant sight. Kyackkyackkyack how utterly delightful, such pure and tasty emotions. The demon relished in the vour,ughing in a bone chilling manner. His species could feel the emotions of others and feed off them. He briefly looked towards Frostine and Valend. Though you failed to do what you promised you have seeded in breaking down their wills to such delightful levels.well done I guess. He dished out some half assed praises to Frostine and Valend who trembled upon hearing his grating voice before thanking him with bowed heads. This demon was the true head honcho of the stampede, the grandmander and mastermind. Someone the two of them greatly feared as well as respected. Following his praises two more monsters joined from his left and right. A pair of massive dinosaurs that rivalled Valend in stature yet looked far more menacing. T-rexes, powerful carnivorous dinosaurs that sport impressive biting force, resilient hides and speeds that didnt match their great size. These two were mid-B-rank at the very least, likely equal to Valend and Frostine in strength though far more bestial in nature. Theycked intelligence. Hamonsughter came to a halt shortly after their arrival, yet the strange smile was still there. You must be themander here, well have you been driven insane by my arrival? The demon asked in a yful manner. ..... Hamon was silent making it appear as though what the demon said was true thus causing his smile to stretch from ear to ear. Hamon looked at his hands and the inscriptions running across his body before turning around and looking at the few allies around him that still stood. It was clear that the moment this demon gave the order the war would continue and those that still stood wouldnt be for long. This was an impossible battle. Hamons gaze then drifted over to where Halgrave met his end, he remembered his face in his final moments and his words. There was no fear only resolute determination. Hehehehehehehehe He startedughing once again but it wasnt depressing, instead it sounded full of life. A demon as my final opponent, I could think of no greater glory. What about you guys? With a smiling expression Hamon turned to Maggie and Vos who were by his side. Sounds like something for the fablesmander. Maggie replied while tightening her grip around her hammer. Ive never had the chance to cook demon before. Vos eyes sparkled at the thought of demon meat. The smile on the demons face gradually started to disappear as he heard the words of the remaining elites. I still have a couple spells left; Id love to see how they fare against a demons magic. Ryuu wiped blood from his lips and stood up straight with his staff primed and ready for battle. The Furano house does not give birth to cowards. Dous smiled as he cleaned the blood from his sword. Guess Im the only sane one here but what the hell lets go out with a bang. Jessie shook her head in dismay before gathering up some courage. She went on her tip toes and nted a kiss on Ryuus cheek before returning to her position with a blush on her face. Alright no more regrets left. She announced while refusing to look in Ryuus direction. A round ofughter engaged among the soldiers who witnessed her actions as they too prepared themselves for death. The demons expression continued to darken, and his aura intensified, causing many to buckle under the terrifying weight. Kiba couldnt fly anymore, his wings refusing to move as if arge invisible hand was keeping him grounded whereas Frost was clutching his chest, his heart strongly thumping away, warning him of danger. The talisman kept in his robes was already being held within the confines of his left hand, to be torn at a moments notice. This demon was not something he could remotely survive against even if he was lucky. He was in true danger and only someone like Maya could save him from it. Thankfully he and Kiba were a bit away from the demon and the main battlefield, their activities taking them to the outskirts. Should we run? Frost asked himself as well as Kiba through their soul bond. Hed already done enough for Furano and his friends. His presence could no longer affect the oue of this war so why should he stay? Just to die pointlessly? Even if he summoned Maya her prerogative would be his safety and his safety alone, she couldnt and wouldnt fight on behalf of everyone here. Whimper Kiba let loose a small whimper, he was terrified and wanted to leave, to go home where it was safe. Frost rubbed the back of his head affectionately before staring at the demon and the T-rexes by his side. Will I even be able to escape without relying on Maya? The moment the demon made a move the war would be back on, and he was currently surrounded by monsters including the B-rank minotaur that was still going strong. Kiba couldnt move well under that things pressure and if he made any movements to escape right now hed be an obvious target. The hand clutching onto the teleportation talisman tightened as it gradually became his only option. Unlike everyone else here he had no reason to give his life for the Northrend empire so he wasnt inspired by their rousing words but instead felt pain. They were his friends, people hed fought side by side with for the past few days. He didnt want them to die but there was nothing he could do; his strength wasnt enough to change that fact. The demons face now appeared to be filled with fury, the ground and air around him crackled from the sheer pressure of his aura. How utterly revolting.Kill them all. Chapter 499 - 499 Chapter 499: Demon 499 Chapter 499: Demon How utterly revolting.Kill them all. With those hate filled words the horde of monsters that had been motionless and silent while in the demons presence started to move once again. A discord of roars, squeals and grunts erupted in response causing the very air to vibrate. Valend, Frostine and the two t-rexes showed evil smiles as they unleased their auras to their maximum. Joining with the demons aura to weigh down thest stragglers who showed rebellion, doing their best to snuff out thest vestiges of fighting spirit. However this seemed to have no effect, perhaps even the opposite. Those still standing or rather still breathing all stared at the golden back of theirmander, remembering his words. Brave men and women of the empire do not falter! And if you feel yourself waning look upon my back! As long as I still stand this battle is not lost! As long as Hamon still stood at the forefront with his great golden back filling their sights this war wasnt over. Not until they and theirmander drew their veryst breaths would this fight be over. The empire did not birth cowards after all. Rahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! Passionate roars and howls from the sapients side shed with the voices of the monsters, refusing to lose in terms of tenacity despite their lesser numbers. Sounds of the ground cracking beneath each of the remaining elites rang with these roars as they each tensed their bodies to their upmost, activating theirst ditch techniques, caring not for the cost. Hamon saw himself grow evenrger, his muscles threatening to tear themselves apart while Vos entered a full on berserk state seeing nothing but carnage through his eyes. Maggie covered herself from head to toe in thick bear fur, her nails elongating into sharp ws and her stature growing to match that of Vos and Hamon, she drew on her lifeforce to further spark the beast blood within her. Ryuu and Jessie sped one anothers hands and began casting their most powerfulbined magic. Their bodies shook and blood trickled from their noses, but they didnt stop. The remaining mage corps also siphoned their remaining mana into theirmanders, empowering their magic even at the cost of leaving themselves open to attack. The remaining frontline forces charged forth with their weapons drawn, going full on offensive with mad smiles stered on their faces. A sight which caused the demons anger to intensify to frightening levels. He was so angry that he was going to move against these ants himself. The great demon raised his hand, summoning a pitch ck scythe that sported a de as long as his own body. The sudden appearance of this weapon changed the demons aura making it feel far more sinister. A simple nce upon it would make one feel as though their very soul was being pried out from their bodies. It was scythe that bore the mark of death, an evil weapon that would see its victims suffer even in death. ..... Dous who activated the full capabilities of his noble armour looked at this weapon and felt his heart stop. These people fighting were his responsibility, his people, how could he condone such treatment. His eyes quickly scanned the battlefield until he found Frost. The capable young man who not only saved his life twice but also that of his sons and helped defend his town at its most vulnerable. A man who was not beholden to the empire, who came not for riches but to lend aid to his friends in their time of need. A strong feeling of guilt filled him the moment heid eyes on Frost and Kiba. He saw the fear in their expressions and the pain in their eyes as they struggled on how to proceed. Frost couldnt possibly hear any words that Dous would say but he felt his gaze. He turned towards his friend, his heart feeling guilty about his recent thoughts of escaping. Frost still struggled to hide his emotions, so Dous saw through him immediately. The old Viscount smiled gently in response before mouthing the word go. This was no longer Frosts fight, hed done enough, it was time to prioritise his own safety, so he gave his permission, ordering Frost to escape before facing off against the mighty monster horde. Tears started to well up in Frosts eyes and his heart felt as though it had been cut by a knife. Dous had taken away the responsibility, making the choice to flee no longer his burden to bear. A mercy that filled Frost with great pain as well as gratitude. He would never forget the man that was Dous Furano. For the empire!!!!!!! Hamon, Vos, Maggie, Dous and the others roared out the moment they charged forth into battle. The first three making moves directly against the demon. Hmph pitiful [Nightmare of a 1000 lifetimes] The mighty demon had scorn in his eyes as he reeled back his scythe. A ck corrosive energy covered the scythe, elongating it and causing to emit a deathly chill. The sound of screaming could be heard as the image of a hellscape formed behind the de, filled with the many souls the scythe had reaped until now. Indefinitely torturing them until their soulspletely degrade, a fate the demon wished to impart upon the annoying ants before it. With a graceful swing the demons scythe carved through the air silently creating a wide portal before him that stretched outwards and tried to entrap the charging Hamon, Vos and Maggie. The three valiant fighters responded with their most aggressive attacks, donning themselves in vigorous energy but the closer they grew to the hellscape the more their energy would be eaten until eventually their skills were nullified entirely. Their attacks werepletely ineffective against the hellscape and now they werepletely unprotected and heading straight for it. Was this it? were they going to be so easily absorbed by this nightmare without anything to show for it. The death energy of the hellscape started eroding their bodies, siphoning them of their strength. They were powerless against such an attack. Even covering themselves in chakra or standard magic proved to be ineffective. Vos high mortal grade fire an oddity that he had fused with managed to put up some resistance, but the effects were minor at best. Suddenly before the three were about to beingpletely engulfed Dous appeared before them with his armour and sword radiating an intense holy light. [Light Gods dawn] A bright sh covered Dous, Hamon, Vos and Maggie protecting them from the dreaded hellscape like an expanding barrier. Light elemental magic was the antithesis of such evil borne magic. It was lucky Douss equipment was imbued with powerful light runes. The demon was forced to cover his eyes from the bright light lest they be damaged. His skin even began to tingle as rays struck against him. The hellscape he summoned blew apart thanks to Hamons counter thus allowing Hamon, Vos and Maggie the chance to retreat. The screams from the hellscape intensified as it broke down and eventually shattered, the tortured souls returning to the scythe, bound to it forever. Frostine, Valend and you two idiots kill them! Kill them now! Completely enraged and sporting some minor burns the demon screamed out orders to which the targets responded immediately. Eachmander ss monster had a single opponent each, leaving the demon grandmander to conjure up something even more nasty than the hellscape he just used. Before he was just letting out a standard attack against those three persistent ants but now he was going to summon something that would absorb the souls of everyst one of them at once. Something that a mere [light Gods dawn] couldnt stop. As Hamon and the others prepared themselves to handle the onught of Valend and the rest Frost sat atop Kibas back, his heart in turmoil. Hed tried to get out of this quagmire of monsters but failed, there were just too many of them and the B-rank minotaur was particrly adamant on keeping him here. His left hand still held the talisman as he wavered on whether on not to use it. The wounds across his body and Kibas continued to pile up as did his fear towards the demon that so easily dealt with Hamon and the others. If Dous didnt have a particrly powerful light based enchantment the three of them would have been captured in its hellscape to be tortured for eternity. A thought that caused his skin to crawl, such a fate was a terrifying prospect. Boom! As he was distracted the minotaurs mighty battle axe shed against his ive, sending him and Kiba careening backwards. Whimper Kiba let loose a whimper as his leg was hurt from the blow, blood was leaking out and it appeared twisted. They werent escaping by themselves anymore with that kind of wound. Calling Maya was the only resort. Frost looked over at the struggling Dous, Hamon, Vos and Maggie onest time before firming his resolve. He withdrew the teleporting talisman from his robes and moved to tear it apart and summon his mighty guardian to his side. However as he did this the demon had finished chanting something foul and a massive ck magic crest appeared beneath him and expanded across the entire battlefield, marking every living sapient as a target, Frost and Kiba included. Chapter 500 - 500 Chapter 500: Demon (2) 500 Chapter 500: Demon (2) [Great soul stealing hellscape] With a dark and eery voice the demon bellowed themand words of his prepared spell. A move that aimed to encapste the entire battlefield and bring a swift end to Furanos resistance. All sapients within a several hundred metre radius were marked as targets as a ck magic crest stretched out beneath them. The ground trembled as the lines of the magic crest began to glow. The ambient mana, blood residue and the thick stench of death that pervaded the battlefield was all sucked into thisrge crest as nourishment. Frost, Hamon and the other targets all felt their bodies freeze and their hearts tremble as the sound of distant screaming escaped from the ground, quickly growing louder and closer with every passing moment. A grey mist filled with death aura formed along the ground before ethereal spectres, tortured souls and other ghastly entities stretched out their hands and feet searching for signs of the living. These ghosts and tortured spirits quickly sought out the sapients like sharks smelling fresh blood, hounding after them and wantonly ignoring the monsters who were not deemed targets. They wrapped their bodies around them and or dove inside in search of their very souls. People screamed out in terror as the ghosts swarmed them and invaded their bodies, their desperate ying and attacks proving to be useless against their ethereal makeup. Those with magic and chakra managed to defend against the onught but those without such means quickly found themselves growing weak, tired and listless as if their lifeforce was being forcible drained. Eventually when at their limits the ghosts would escape from their bodies dragging with them a fresh, powerless soul. With a quick tug the bond between the body and soul would be severed and in response the body would fall to the ground, motionless and empty, never to move again while the ghosts would cackle evilly as they dragged the fresh soul through to the other side of the portal, to be tortured indefinitely like they were. A terrifying fate that caused Hamon and Dous to burn with unbridled fury and hatred, they could never condone such treatment towards their people. [Light Gods dawn] Dous being the only with specialist equipment ideal for facing off against those of evil origins activated his armours ability causing a bright sh of holy light to spread outward from him. This bright light burned the ghosts and pushed them back, but it was only a temporary measure at best. As long as the magic was still in effect the amount of evil spirits being unleashed would never end and unfortunately [Light Gods dawn] was not strong enough to destroy such magic and they certainly werent strong enough to take down the demon. Kyakkyakkyak thats more like it, drown in the fear of what awaits you, fight back if you wish but youre merely dying the inevitable. The demon wiped his brow- even for him casting such magic was a bit of an ask- andughed evilly, a malicious grin returning to his face as he listened to the screams of people fending off the ghosts and being forcibly dragged into hell. Hamon, Dous, Vos and Maggie all sported blood crazed expressions as they viciously fought back against the four mid B-rank monsters. They were strong enough to resist the pull of the ghosts, but the others werent. Soul after soul was dragged down into the demons hellscape to be tortured for eternity as they struggled to endure theirbined might. Against Valend, Frostine and the two t-rexes they were sorely outmatched and with their exhaustion building serious wounds quickly developed, especially on Dous who was singled out due to his armour. All while the grandmander, the mighty demon floatedzily in the air, marvelling at the spectacle and relishing in the forceful descent of fresh unblemished souls. Hed asionally lick his lips as if savouring a delicacy sparking further hatred within the Furanomanders. Frost watched on in grief as many people hed fought side by side with were dragged into the hellscape, powerless to resist. ..... Ahhhhh! Suddenly as he was about to rip the teleportation talisman and summon Maya, he heard the scream of someone he knew close by. Bagua! Roaring out and releasing his grip on the talisman, Frost ordered Kiba to dash forward. The two of them were wreathed in ice fire chakra that helped to stave off the ghosts advances, but it was still annoying. [w of the ice wolf] He shed out with his ive skill, summoning three ice ws that blew away several ghosts swarming Bagua but that only dealt with the external threats. Baguas eyes were white, and his body was spasming, clear signs that his mind and soul were under attack. Frost desperate to help Bagua leapt from Kibas back and ced his hands on his shoulders before injecting ice fire chakra into his body, forcibly burning the invading ghosts out. Screeeeaaaaaaammmm!!!! The ghost screamed in horror as they were forced to let go of Baguas soul and escape his body but the ice fire followed after, swiftly burning away their essence. Bagua! Bagua! Frost shouted and shook his squad member, trying to rouse him from his unconscious state. Urghh! Bagua slowly woke from the ordeal. His head felt like it had been spilt in half and a deep residual feeling of dread lingered in his heart but he was alive. ..FFFrosttt With blurry vision Bagua managed to make out Frosts face. Yeah its me, that was a close one. Frost breathed out in relief as Bagua came to and recognised him. Bagua ced his right hand on his head to try and soothe his splitting headache and his eyes gradually regained focus allowing him to see around him clearly. Frost look out! The moment his vision was clear Bagua spotted arge monster standing behind Frost with its battle-axe drawn, ready to cleave Frost in twain. Not hesitating for even a single second Bagua forced himself up and pushed Frost out of the way, a smile clear on his face as he did. Bagua! Frost called out as he was pushed backwards only just now noticing the presence of the B-rank minotaur behind him. It all happened so fast; he didnt have any time to react. As Frosts body was pushed back he watched in detail as the minotaurs battle-axe swung down where he once was, cleaving through Baguas torso without resistance. Spurt! Blood spurted from Baguas body andnded on Frosts cheek, his eyes wide open in disbelief as Baguay before him, cut in two. His death was swift, the ordeal from the ghosts attacking his soul leaving him weak. A gentle smile adorned his face as hey there almost peacefully, like he had no regrets. Frost struggled toprehend what just happened, the man he dashed over here to save just died moments after he rescued him, making his efforts seem pointless perhaps evenughable. A strangeughter escaped his mouth as his upper lip twitched. He entered a daze,pletely oblivious to the dangering for him. Roar! Kiba howled as he ced himself between Frost and the minotaur, staring it down with a snarl. His leg was still injured, and bleeding and the pressure emitted by both the demons aura and the minotaurs weighed down on him, filling him with fear and panic but still he stood, refusing to leave his masters side. As this was happening it appeared that Hamon and the rest could no longer hold back the enemymanders and as a result Dous who was being specifically targeted was caught. Douss beautiful sword shattered as he defended against Valends hammer while one of the t-rexes bit his right shoulder, sinking its teeth into the armour causing it crack and groan under the pressure. Frostine even started chanting a 4th circle spell to blow him away if that wasnt enough. Maggiey nearby on her back in a pool of her own blood. Her beastification undone, revealing a body covered in deep and likely fatal wounds, she was currently unresponsive. Vos was half kneeling by her side, doing the best he could to protect her from the remaining t-rex and was thus unable to leave her side, forced to watch as another one of his sworn brothers was ced in dire straits. Hamon the strongest of the group stood tall with his mighty golden back in full view for the soldiers fighting behind him to see but the front was awash with blood. Parts of his ribcage werepletely exposed, and multiple puncture wounds littered his limbs where he had been bitten by the t-rexes but worst of all was a small puncture that spanned all the way to his heart. The demon finding his rebellious look a little too indignantunched an attack against him with his trademark evil grin. A ck dagger filled with malice and death arrived before Hamons chest after he was blown back by one of the t-rexes tails. It easily punctured through his runic inscriptions, destroying them outright as it pierced his skin and reached into chest. The dagger burst apart the moment it touched his heart, covering it in ck ash that assaulted it with sharp freezing pain whenever it moved. He felt as though it was slowly and painfully corroding him, polluting his blood and organs until his entire body waspletely turned ck and oozed death. Hamon could barely move at this point, all he could do was either stare hatefully at the demon or watch as the other B-rank monsters tore apart Dous before moving onto the rest. It was clear that the demon wanted him to diest, to have him watch as the rest were weed into eternal suffering. All truly seemed lost at this point. Chapter 501 - 501 Chapter 501: Prayers 501 Chapter 501: Prayers Kyackkyackkyackkyack The demon manicallyughed as he endured the hate filled gaze of the barely breathing Hamon. An insidious ear reaching smile adorned his face as his heart was filled with joy. He relished in their despair, their hatred, their pain, a delicacy of great renown. However all meals must eventuallye to an end. The hellscape he summoned dragged soul after soul into its depths, leaving only the strongest survivors to battle with evil spirits, resisting their pulling and tearing. His eyes drifted across the remaining elites, Maggie who was at deaths door, Vos who fervently defended her from the enemy and of course Dous whos weapon had been shattered, his armour cracked and was currently held in the air by the jaws of a t-rex as Frostine readied a mighty spell to end the tenacious viscount. His heart couldnt help but tremble in joy at the sight of that nasty light aspected armour crumbling apart and falling from Douss body. It wasnt strong enough to cause him a great deal of damage but dark entities especially evil ones such as himself abhorred anything rted to the light no matter their strength. By the time his gaze returned to Hamon his smile had disappeared and a serious expression had reced it. The hounding of the stampedes madness bellowed within his mind, impatient for victory. Time to end this and move on. He spoke with a chilling tone before drawing in an extreme amount of ambient mana. In response to his actions Frostine, Valend and the other B-rank monsters moved swiftly to pin down the remaining elites, preventing them from acting out in defence. Even the B-rank minotaur attacking Frost and Kiba changed its tactics. Frost was still kind of out of it, the sudden loss of Bagua despite his quick actions dulled his thinking, making it seem as though what was going on around him was miles away. He struggled to hear anyones voice and sense the movements around him. Kibas attempts at reaching him through their soul bond were slowly bringing him back to reality but unfortunately it wasnt fast enough. Bang! ..... Kiba was knocked to the side by the minotaurs battle axe, his head bleeding profusely from the blow and momentter Frost was pushed to the ground by the minotaursrge hand while the other pinned him to the floor. This sudden touching and thest roar of Kiba brought his thoughts back to reality but by that point he was thoroughly pinned as were the rest of the elites. He struggled to push against the minotaur but received a harsh blow in response, pushing him deeper into the dirt. His eyes met with blood covered Kiba whose breathing had beboured and his heart lurched to a stop. Hisck of focus had caused this situation, because he couldnt keep his head in the game Kiba was seriously injured and he was pinned down. Frost tried his best to reach into his robes choosing to no longer dy summoning Maya but the minotaur wasnt making it easy. Even slightest movements resulted in a fierce reprisal. By this point the demon had finished gathering the mana he needed and upon seeing that all his subordinates had followed his orders he mmed the gathered mana onto the hellscape, infusing it with a burst of nourishment. The ck lines that acted as the portal lit up and a loud chorus of evil screams escaped from the ground before dozens perhaps even hundreds of apparitions charged out from the hellscape and swarmed towards the pinned down elites. The grey, death filled fog grew thicker as the barrier between the two realms narrowed thus turning this war torn battlefield into a literal nightmare. The remaining elites were strong and could fend off several ghosts without much issue but dozens or perhaps even hundreds was impossible. While being pinned down ghost after ghost entered their bodies, violently attacking their minds and souls without mercy. Many screamed in agony as they endured a torture that was far more terrifying than something physical. Even Frost who held ice fire chakra found that he couldnt burn them out as fast they could enter. His mind was quickly assaulted and a pain he couldnt put into words rampaged deep within his core. The hand that was mere moments from tearing apart the teleportation talisman froze before his body started spasming. He no longer hand the opportunity to call Maya. The demon exhaled a deep breath a he felt drained from conjuring such arge amount of mana for his summoned hellscape, but the price was worth it. The remaining elites would soon be dragged down into the portal to be tortured for eternity thus leaving the town of Furano undefended. He and the rest of the horde could thenplete their main mission, to destroy Furano and wreak havoc upon the soutnds. Hamon who had been forced to his knees by Valend continued to stare hatefully at the demon, refusing to let out a single scream as the ghosts assaulted his soul, he refused to give the demon even the slightest amount of satisfaction. Though in his heart he was in despair, what awaited him and the brave men and women behind him was a lifetime of endless torture. Even someone as experienced as him dreaded such an oue. Many prayed to the Gods and or thought of their loved ones in their final moments, hoping for a miracle to appear and save them from this terrifying fate...and their prayers were answered. As the souls a few elites were brutally torn from their bodies and about to be dragged down into the summoned hellscape muttering could be heard from a distance. Quiet and unclear at first but eventually the voice rang clear like the sound of a mighty church bell. [Eye of the heavens] Themand words for a mighty light elemental spell were heard in the ears of those still conscious before the sky above cracked open andvished the battlefield with beams of holy light. The ghosts screamed and roared as the light set them aze, purifying their souls entirely. Souls that were being carried into the hellscape were set free of their captors and swiftly returned to their host bodies, bringing them back to life. Noooooooooo!!!!!!! The demons aura burst out in fury, his expression warping into madness as he red at the sky and the endless streams of light cascading down upon his hellscape. These beams of light were not just destroying his summoned portal but were thoroughly purifying the realm and the souls within, undoing all his work. Even the souls recently pulled into the hellscape were able to escape with the aid of the light beams and find their way back to their slightly cold bodies, the timeframe still being within the allowed separation. Following the cascade of light a barrage of magic erupted from behind the northern wall smashing into the endless horde of monsters making their way into the town, killing dozens in an instant. Next the sound of swords and des could be heard being drawn from their sheaths as knights ridingrge ice wolves suddenly appeared from the east and west sides of the battlefield. Frost wolf knights charge forth and aid ourrades. A woman donned in a full set of blue armour and armed with a deadly red spear roared out as she charged at the vanguard on top of a wolfrger than even Kiba. Along with the ground forces,ing from the air with the mage who cast the 5th circle spell [eye of the heavens] were a regiment of griffin knights all donned in glorious and regal looking white armour. At the head of these flying knights were two men, one old with a natural overpowering presence and one who was likely in histe twenties perhaps very early thirties dressed in the mostvish armour Frost had ever seen. A small crown also adorned his head and though he was nowhere near as strong as the old man by his side it felt as though he was in charge. Royal griffin knights, destroy the enemies of our mighty empire! The young man pointed his sword high into the air as he gave amand. Your will be done Your Highness. The griffin knights responded respectively before unsheathing their weapons and diving into the battlefield. Ill leave the demon to you General Warik. His Highness the crown prince spoke with respect to the old man by his side before following after the griffin knights. Be safe Your Highness. General Warik crossed his arm over his chest and bowed slightly before focusing his gaze upon the demon. Thank you for your timely magic Sir Dmar but I can take it from here. Warik turned his head to speak to a man even older than he was who was riding what appeared to be a couatl with his young apprentice behind him. No thanks needed General I only did what was expected of me. The adventurers guild requested that I join the reinforcements but I will follow your lead. Dmar was the A-rank adventurer that the capitals adventurer guild sent due to Bastions request however the grandmander was this general Warik, therefore if he was asked to not interfere further by him then he would not. Of course Warik was only referring to the demon as it would be far better for the empires soldiers to handle the enemysmander. The reputation of the Northrend empires military couldnt be seen heavily relying on the strength of the guild. Warik nodded his head in thanks for Dmars understanding before ordering his griffin to fly at the demon. Come Natalie lets go and see where we can lend a hand. Yes grandfather. Chapter 502 - 502 Chapter 502: Mighty reinforcements 502 Chapter 502: Mighty reinforcements The couatl carrying both Dmar and Natalie pped its feather wings and moved behind the northern wall so as to aid therge contingent of soldiers, mages and adventurers that entered the town from the southern gate. The hordes advancement into Furano was thus quickly stopped by these reinforcements, a brutal conflict ensuing in the streets and on top of the northern wall. Thankfully the support staff already made their way to the bunkers thus preventing an unnecessary bloodbath. Hoh looks like hes still kicking. Dmar muttered, a smile growing on his lips as he started chanting some 4th circle magic. His apprentice and granddaughter Natalie looked on in awe, blown away every time she got to witness her masters magnificent magic. [Piercingnces of azure fire] After a short aria Dmar waved his beautifully carved staff and summoned dozens of intricate blue magic crests upon the battlefield below. In response all around Ryuu, Jessie and what remained of the magic corps,rge spears made of azure mes appeared and pierced through the monsters that assaulted them in masse. They raised their bodies regardless of rank high up into the air before turning them all into ash. Ryuu who was barely conscious, overdrawn to the absolute limit from interfering with Frostine and then protecting those below him trembled as a nostalgic sensation flowed through his body. With blurry vision he looked at the dozens of azure spears surrounding him and his subordinates, he recognised the spell but more so the mana used to cast it. He slowly craned his neck upwards to see Dmar and the couatl descending from the sky. M.MMaster. Ryuu forced out those words as the tension that supported his exhausted body disappeared and he became limp, his legs copsing out from under him. Whoa there, looks like I came a littlete. Dmar however being the skilled A-rank magician he was quickly conjured up a pocket of air to support Ryuu, preventing him from falling. Once the couatl was a couple feet off the ground Dmar passed a few choice mana and health potions to Natalie. Hand these out to those in most need while I see to your senior brother disciple. Natalie epted the potions and moved to hand them out to the magic corps after ncing painfully at Ryuu. ..... S...Sir Dmar? Jessie who was by Ryuus side and sporting a deepceration on shoulder asked tentatively. Dmar looked at her briefly and noticed how close she was to Ryuu and the injury on her shoulder. He recognised her as a Major of the frost wolf battalion and nodded in reply before retrieving a high level potion from his storage ring. That should restore you to at least 80%. He said and ced it in her hand before looking over Ryuu personally. Seeing the extent of Ryuus condition however brought pain to his old heart and he regretted not arriving sooner. Haaaaaaaa Dmar let out a sigh, grateful that Ryuu was still breathing at least and that they did manage to arrive just before the absolute worst happened. He thus retrieved a high level potion of very high quality and personally poured it down Ryuus throat not even for a second hesitating to use such a luxurious product. Even with his A-rank status and great wealth such potions were very, very hard toe by. As Dmar was seeing to Ryuu the couatl which was his battle mount helped take some of the pressure off the magic corps while Natalie went to and fro with the potions Dmar had given her. Booooooommmmmm!!!! Beyond the northern wall however where the battle was fiercest General Warik smashed down from the sky with a massive two handed great sword in his hands. His royal griffin steed built up momentum as it dived downward beforeunching its master at the terrifying demon, thus adding strength to Wariks mighty swing. Hisrge two handed great sword reflected the light of the sun as Wariks energy and mighty aura was infused. A presence far beyond that of a B-rank fighter filled that weapon, greatly increasing its power and sharpness. The very air around him and the demon felt thick and viscous as the image of great phoenix erupted from behind his sword. [Royal Northrend sword style: Cry of the phoenix] The phoenix the very symbol of the Northrend empire appeared with such rity that it was almost indistinguishable from the real thing. A fierce wave of pressure weighed down on the monsters present on the battlefield, the higher ranked ones especially found their legs trembling and hearts lurching in fear. An A-ranked enemy and not one simply in the early levels either. The demon who was the prime target of the attack reacted the most. His face warped into a maddened fury as his massive scythe became increasingly dark as he infused his own insidious aura into it. He was strong enough and of a superior species thus he faced off against Warik without any fear. [Demons soul rending scythe] Using his full strength the demon swung his scythe to meet Wariks two handed great sword and the phoenix behind him. The image of a soul reaper, an apparition of death formed behind his scythe filling the surrounding area with the stench of death, causing many to shiver as their hearts grew cold and slow. While Warik shed with the mighty demon, the royal griffin knights swooped down to rescue the surviving Majors and elites as did many of the stronger knights from the frost wolf battalion. The woman riding a massive wolf and wielding a bright red spear appeared before Hamon after easily knocking back Valend. A few Major level soldiers who followed her rushed to aid Maggie and Vos while the crown prince with some of his strongest body guards rescued Dous from the clutches of the t-rex. The tables turned almost instantly; the monster horde that was clearly in the superior position suddenly found themselves outmatched in terms of aggregate power. Even with waves of monsters still pouring out from the Northrend forest the number of elites joining the fray made such quantities moot. Along with the mighty General Warik, a General of the royal knight battalion with mid A-rank strength was the third ranking general of the frost wolf battalion, General Anya who was also A-rank (the woman with the red spear). Of course following these two were multiple Major level soldiers which easily tripled the number of B-rank fighters present. If that was all it would be dangerous but still somewhat manageable however alongside the soldier brigades were dozens perhaps hundreds of adventurers that answered the call for reinforcements. Most were C-rank but a fair few B-rank parties were also present making for a frightening force. Adding on the crown prince and his bodyguards there was now at least four B-rank sapients for every B-rank monster. As Hamon and the rest were rescued from the clutches of Frostine, Valend and the T-rexes, Frost who was under the palm of the B-rank minotaur spotted his chance to escape. His aggressor was distracted by the sudden reinforcements, his eyes watching the dramatic sh of Warik and the demon as well as the diving griffin knights engaging with his B-rankrades and the upper C-rank monsters. Luckily he was on the fringe of the battlefield thus it seemed he was temporarily overlooked. Thisck in attention weakened his hold over Frost who swiftly took advantage of the situation to wreath his body in cold mes. The minotaur grunted in pain and pulled back his hand on instinct thus allowing Frost to roll sideways andsh out with his ive. Schwing! His swing was fast and sharp, the ive de caught the minotaurs fingers as he pulled away, chopping three of them off without much resistance. Hed have needed to use aura and a skill if he wished to cut anythingrger, but it was enough for the initial payback. Choosing not to push his luck Frost gave up on following up on his attack and instead manoeuvred to Kibas side. He withdrew a mid-level health potion from his storage ring and poured the contents into his mouth before turning back to face the enraged minotaur. Kibas state was more important than chasing after a single opportunity. Shall we try this again. With a fierce flourish of his ive Frost wrapped his weapon in cold mes and expanded his royal aura outward, a determined gaze clear in his eyes. Rahhhhhhhh!!!!! Pissed off from Frost cutting off his fingers and the danger of the current situation the minotaur began sumbing to the stampedes madness. The red in his eyes grew more vibrant and his sense of pain and rational thought dwindled. After roaring therge beast charged at Frost with his battle-axe raised high above his head. Frost dashed forward instead of dodging sideways, he needed to take the battle away from Kiba while he healed plus hed had enough running away. [Earths upheaval] Arriving right before the minotaur and with its battle-axe shing down towards him with fierce momentum and the image of a horned cow behind it symbolising the use of a skill Frost responded with his advanced ive skill [earths upheaval]. With arge upward swing Frost infused his royal aura and cold me chakra into his ive. The rock that formed behind his swing was thus far more corporal and covered in cold mes, greatly enhancing the weight behind his swing. Booooooommmm!!! The air exploded as the 4 star ive met with the minotaurs battle-axe. Dust and bits of the ground burst outwards as Frost held his ground. his feet sinking a couple inches into the floor as his ive stopped the battle-axes downward trajectory. His face appeared flushed from the exertion, but he seeded in matching power for power. Well once anyway. The minotaur seemed to be in a brief moment of shock as it never imagined Frost withstanding a direct blow. Frost however was already on the move. He twisted his body the moment the minotaur was distracted to gain rotational force, he then re-tensed his arms and sent the battle axe upwards with a restarted upswing thus knocking the minotaur off bnce. [Ice entanglement] While rotating he also cast the 2nd circle ice spell [ice entanglement] causing vines of ice to wrapped around the minotaurs legs. Following that once his body was once again facing the minotaur he leaped forward and kicked him in the chest as he ascended into the sky. His moves were so well coordinated and seamless that the minotaur had no time to react. By the time he knew what was going on he was already falling backwards, powerless to do anything about it. Don! As the minotaurs back mmed against the ground Frost had reached several metres into the air and was about to begin his descent. His ive was now posed for an arial downward thrust, the final move of his dreadedbo. Chapter 503 - 503 Chapter 503: The chase was on 503 Chapter 503: The chase was on [Skyfall]! With themand words spoken, energy transfused into Frosts ive before forming 4 identical ives in the four cardinal directions, all pointing downwards at the incapacitated minotaur. A fraction of a secondter Frost thrust out as he descended, aiming for the monsters heart, hoping to finish this battle in an instant. But the minotaur was still in the end a B-rank monster, a powerful and tenacious adversary. The five ives were all thrust down at the same time, impossible topletely defend against but the most dangerous one, the ive in the centre had to be blocked. The minotaur desperately protected his torso with his arm and the shaft of his battle-axe. Squelch! Ding! Ding! Three of the ives sunk deep into his flesh, leaving open and heavily bleeding wounds as they dissipated. The remaining skill formed ive shed with the tough vambrace protecting his forearm while the true ive struck against the minotaurs battle-axe, saving him from near instant death. Even as a monster the heart was a very integral organ. Tsk! Frost clicked his tongue after his thrust was blocked and wasted no time at all in retreating, using his ive as a vault to flip backwards and out of harms way. The minotaur reacted almost instantly,shing out with his battle-axe the moment Frosts skill ended but unfortunately he was a little slow, his battle-axe seeing to only catch the hem of Frosts robe. Frostnded gracefully back on the ground several metres away, his ive ready and waiting to take on the minotaurs next attack. Rinse and repeat, eventually after enough damage had been done the minotaur should fall plus the longer he dragged the fight out the higher the chances reinforcements would arrive. A minotaur was a big target so they wouldnt be overlooked for long. Rahhhhhhhhhh!!! The minotaur roared out furiously as it rubbed the bleeding slits left by Frosts skill, its anger growing stronger and stronger with every passing moment, quickly making itpletely numb to any sense of pain before eventually sumbing fully to the stampedes madness. All rational thoughtpletely disappearing, leaving nothing but an enraged beast. Something that was in many way far easier to deal with considering Frosts skill set. ..... Frost twirled his ive as though taunting the beast, beckoning it to rush him and rush him it did. The minotaur scraped its hooves across the ground as it built up potential for a charge, its mighty horns humming from an influx of energy before it loudly mooed, and summoned the image of charging bull behind it. Frosts brow twitched as he loosened his body, nning to react like a leaf caught in a gust, timing and flexibility being key. Boom! The ground cracked the moment the minotaur started its charge. The massive beast dashed forward at speeds rivalling that of a crossbow bolt leaving Frost very little time to react but thanks to Mayas no holds barred training he was prepared. He saw the monster in practically slow motion as it rampaged toward him, kicking up no small amounts of dirt and even causing the air before it to heat up from the sudden pressure. With precise timing Frost spun on the balls of his feet, elegantly evading the minotaurs oversized body as if it was an ordinary feat. His ive infused with his royal aurashed out as he spun, utilising both its incredible sharpness and the momentum of the minotaur to cut deep into the monsters side. If the beast wasnt numbed to pain such a move would have caused it to stumble and crash before struggling to get back to its feet however the minotaur at this point felt absolutely nothing. It wasted no time at all preparing itself for another charge the moment it passed Frost. Blood dripped down profusely from its wounds, dyeing the ground red but all it noticed was Frost still standing without injury. Thus began a game of matador, Frost utilising his sharp perception and flexibility would calmly deal with the minotaurs reckless charges and attacks that cared very little for defence. A taxing and risky method but one that suited his current state. Eventually however a couple royal griffin knights and soldiers from the reinforcing frost wolf battalion made their way to his side and with their help Frost promptly brought down his adversary before falling to his backpletely exhausted from the long ordeal. Kiba cuddled up by his side, rubbing his fluffy head against him, granting him somefort while he rested. The knights proceeded to thin out the monsters in the area while Frost recovered. The long and devasting war seemed to be over now that the reinforcements had arrived. Many like Frost who had been fighting with all they had for so long were finally able to rx and hand the battle over to the many reinforcements. While the Generals and Majors fought against the B-rank and upper C-rank monsters the many soldiers and adventurers started a mass clear out of the horde section by section, gradually recovering the lost ground. After 30 minutes most of the town had been recovered, returning to sapient control. After an hour the Northern wall and after 90 minutes the monsters advancing from the Northrend forest started to grow thin allowing the fiercest battlefield, the area before the wall to bepletely retaken. Dous, Hamon and the others who were put in critical condition were ced in the imprable protection of General Anya and her most loyal subordinates. A bunch of healers equal to Gilianna in station quickly saw to them once the medical centre was back in business. Dmar as requested yed only a minor role after casting his 5th circle magic, seeing to just protect the weakened soldiers and adventurers as they waited for the reinforcements to reach them. In fact his granddaughter and apprentice took on the more aggressive role,unching devasting spell after devasting spell into the still advancing hordes. Warik as promised handled to demon pretty much solo, so as to promote the power of the Northrend empire. It was a battle of great upheaval that saw the nearby terrainpletely uprooted. It was a long and terrifying disy that outshone all other conflicts. The air shattered whenever the two shed against one another and their auras constantly battled for supremacy, pressuring anyone who dared toe to close. Just standing at the outskirts of their duel could see one seriously injured. A mere leftover residue from one of their attacks was able to carve up the ground and shatter massive boulders let alone a living person. Ultimately, since Warik was an A-rank fighter he came out ahead in each of their shes, gradually increasing the wounds on the demons body one at a time until eventually decapitating the monster in a grandiose fashion. A tenacious opponent to havested so long against him but in the end its loss was inevitable. Warik stood tall, his body covered in dark blood belonging to the demon as he raised its severed head in the air in victory. He himself sported a few wounds but nothing a health potion couldnt fix. His 5 star quality armour saw fit to protect him from most of the demons attacks, a few however did still make it through. Proof that monsters should never be underestimated, high ranking species most of all. A loud, ground shaking cacophony of roars from the soldiers and adventurers sounded in response to Wariks victory. And for the opposing side a deep sense of dread filled their hearts and panic set in. Without their demonmander the horde began to fall apart, their bodies no longerpletely at the mercy of stampedes madness and those still retaining some semnce of intelligence were affected most of all. Valend and Frostine who were littered with serious wounds -Frostine was even missing a leg and Valend had lost his battle mount Dn- looked at one another inplete panic. They had lost and as long as they remained here all they would gain would be death, something neither of them wanted. Frostine still had to lord over his own territory while Valend wanted to return to his n in triumph. However the two of them were pretty much surrounded by powerful B-rank fighters at the peak of health plus they could see General Anya quickly making her way towards them after seeing to theplete upation of the other battlefields. Also now that the demonmander had been taken care of who would be the first ones General Warik turned his attention to, them thats who. As if in sync the frost monarch and frost giant erupted with their full strength, overdrawing themselves to activate their most powerful moves. This however was just a ploy, the moment their attackers braced themselves they both used nearby monsters as substitutes and even one another to desperately retreat, quickly leaving them in the dust. A mid B-rank monster that truly wished to run was not something easy to prevent. Dammit, bunch of cowards! General Anya bellowed out her frustrations as her targets vamoosed before she even got the chance to fight. As she stopped in ce however and stamped the ground a shadow flew over her head and the voice of young man sounded out. General Ill slow down at least one of them, you can still have your prey. Frost riding Kiba was flying towards the fleeing Valend and Frostine, determined to make sure at least one of them failed to escape the battlefield, he still held a great deal of grudges towards the two of them after all. Anya smiled from ear to ear before quickly jumping back on the back of her prized battle mount, Freya and charged after the two of them. The chase was on. Chapter 504 - 504 Chapter 504: The chase was on (2) 504 Chapter 504: The chase was on (2) Frost and Kiba both looked in pretty good condition- considering what theyd both been through- as they flew after Frostine and Valend. During the past 90 minutes while the reinforcements gradually pushed back the stampede the two of them recuperated with the help of mid-level potions and a much needed break, moving only when absolutely necessary. They met face to face with General Anya during this time. After getting Hamon and Maggie to safety, the man she left in charge of Furanos defence gave her a quick oral report of all that happened before he cked out, his body too damaged to retain consciousness. He had mentioned Frost and asked the General to check on him, to make sure he made it through this ordeal. Hamon held great expectations for the young dungeon core and sorely wished for the frost wolf battalion to make some moves in recruiting him or at the very least leave a favourable impression. General Anya trusted in her Colonels eyes and set off the moment the healers began seeing to him and Maggie. She was feeling especially guilty as she rode her prized battle mount Freya. So many of her loyal soldiers had died in this war and even Halgrave a high ranking Major lost his life.it was a dark day for the frost wolf battalion, she needed something positive. Upon finding Frost she was greatly surprised. From Hamons enthusiasm she expected to be greeted by a muscle bound giant not some pretty boy that looked to be in his early twenties, a rather refreshing reveal. Several elite knights were guarding the area around Frost when she arrived with her naturally imposing presence. All of them instinctually trembled before vigorously saluting her arrival. Like Warik she was one of the few people in the empire that held the title of General, something that garnered a great deal respect. Frosts skin grew goose bumps and Kiba began shivering the moment she approached. Though Anya was weaker than Warik she was still an A-rankbatant, someone far beyond the current Frost and Kiba. Even without releasing her aura she held a natural overwhelming disposition. Are you Frost? Anya asked in an intimidating tone, she also infused some of her aura into her voice letting Frost feel a fraction of her power. Yes thats me maam, apologies Im not from Northrend so I do not recognise you but from the reaction of this lot Im guessing youre much higher ranked than Hamon. Frost gulped audibly before performing a polite military salute and responding in calm and clear voice. Her power was certainly mighty but in regards to what hes faced with every day she wasnt much and even though her voice sounded intimidating he felt no malice in fact it even looked like she was hiding a smile. Hahahahahaha bold I like it hahahahaha just like Hamon described! Anya bellowed before leaping from the back of Freya. ..... Now off the back of the massive wolf that dwarfed even Kiba, Frost was able to get a closer look at the imposing woman. Many grey strands were present in her ruby red hair but her face sported very few wrinkles, it was clear that in her youth she must have been quite the beauty. She was likely in the same generation as Hamon perhaps a little older if he guessed solely by her looks. As far as he could see she was human and rather tall, about 6ft. Body shape wise it was hard to see given that she was encapsted in a full suit of te armour, but he assumed shed be of the more muscr type given her equipment. As Frost was giving Anya the once over she was doing the same. Very young indeed, great body shape and doesnt have the same ugly mug most of my men have, plus. Anyas brow furrowed and her A-rank aura seeped out in greater force. Frost subjected to the sudden strain instinctively reacted with his own aura, revealing the royal intent held within that despite being weaker than Anyas held a degree of majesty that allowed it to withstand the superior force. Her lips stretched upwards into an almost mad smile and a possessive look entered her eyes. I really want him in my battalion, with the right training he could easily reach the rank of General. Anya started chuckling as she thanked Hamon for turning her on to this prized gem. After getting her fill Anya retracted her aura and faced Frost with a smile. Youre correct, my name is Anya and I hold the rank of General in the frost wolf battalion. Anya crossed her arm across her chest in salute before she and Frost started engaging in a little chat.well chat may not be the apt word. She was practically soliciting him for the military under the guise of getting a more thorough report about the situation during the stampedeste stages, Hamon was after all only able to give her the highlights before slipping into aa. Thus a sort of quick friendship was created between the two of them -despite Frost clearly refusing her soliciting at every turn- which lead to the current situation where Frost offered to work alongside her to take down Frostine and or Valend. Back to the present. Kiba despite being only in the early stages of C-rank was a true master of speed, even Anya on her battle mount Freya struggled to keep up, the same therefore held true for Frostine and Valend. [Ice burn like mes and freeze thine enemy in an explosion of cold fire, freezing fire ball] While Kiba chased after the frost monarch and frost giant through the air Frost spoke the aria for his specialty magic, [freezing fire ball]. A silvery magic crest thus appeared before his hands and summoned arge sphere of fiery cold mes. This sphere was thenunched at the two fleeing monsters. Tsk annoying weakling! Frostine who was running on a chakra formed leg clicked his tongue the moment he sensed Frost acting against him and Valend. Frost was nothing but a small fry in their eyes, an addon in their battles that buzzed around, only striking at their weakest moments. What gave him the balls to chase after them in such a fashion. Frostine turned to look behind him as he conjured up a 3rd circle ice shield and unfortunately caught sight of General Anya in the distance doggedly in pursuit. Fuck! With her there it ruled out him and or Valend swiftly taking care of the interloper, even losing a couple seconds of running could see Anya and her wolf catch up to them and at that point escaping would truly be a pipe dream. Once one reached A-rank their mastery over aura reached a much deeper level and, in many ways, transformed entirely. A-ranks had far more capabilities in regards to aura than simply empowering themselves and or their weapons. Frostine turned his neck back forward after conjuring a quick ice shield and was about to inform Valend about the true threat of their little tail but before he could a massive foot headed his way. Boof! Without so much as a warning Valend, while Frostine was casting his magic and ring at Frost leaped from his position and kicked the smaller Frostine in the face, halting his momentum instantly and even knocking him backwards. Valend you bastard!!! The kick wasnt enough to cause any real damage, but Frostine was certainly disced. Valend didnt even dignify Frostine with a response nor did he even looked back his way, instead he kicked his retreat into overdrive, dashing faster through the forest and back towards the cial mountains. The hounding of the stampede was still ring in his mind, but it was weaker now that the head honcho had been taken out, thus allowing him to ovee it and flee. He was a damn frost giant with limitless potential why the fuck should he die here. He had absolutely no qualms about sacrificing Frostine as he knew hed do the exact same to him, he just simply acted first. Frost frowned as he saw this, Valend was certainly crafty, and it was almost certain now that hed be able to escape. Looks like the victim will be Frostine then. He concluded internally before conjuring more and more balls of ice fire to help restrain the rampant frost monarch further. Valend!!!!!! Frostine was racked with fury, his veins bulging as his blood pressure skyrocketed and the sudden balls of ice fire only served to exasperate his condition. The great frost monarch seemed to snap as he knew that his death was almost a certainty. Bang! Frostine viciously punched one the balls of ice fireing his way causing it to explode around him, the silver like me fragments slowly corroding his fingers until he waved them out. His anger towards Valend was thus redirected to Frost and Kiba. He nced at the approaching form of General Anya and concluded he only had a brief window to act unimpeded. A vicious expression then grew on his face as he red up at Frost. His mind yed some tricks on him making it look like Frost was smirking (which of course he wasnthonest). So, you think this is funny do ya brat? Lets see whosughing once I rip apart that smirking mouth of yours! Frostine roared beforeunching himself at Frost, his arms tensing and thick ice chakra covering his fists to create fierce looking gauntlets. Hed kill Frost before Anya had the chance to intervene. He was confident in that at least. Chapter 505 - 505 Chapter 505: The chase was on (3) 505 Chapter 505: The chase was on (3) Frost rubbed the back of Kibas head affectionately before whispering in his ear and smiling. Kiba chuffed in response before ascending higher into the air, his wings spreading out wide, fully prepared to engage in an aerial battle. Frost expected that whomever was left behind would redirect their hatred towards him, hoping to at least take him down before ultimately being killed by Anya. A partial victory that would lessen the disgrace of death however, Frost wasnt going to simply let such a scenario y out. Denseyers of ice chakra stretched over Frosts body, granting him a full suit of armour, turning his noble attire into one of a fierce ice knight but that wasnt all, his chakra then stretched towards Kiba covering his joints, torso and even his ws in ice thuspleting the knightly look. Fly. With that simple word Kiba roared out and started beating his wings. Frost tightened his grip around Kibas torso as well as his ive as the two working in tandem dived down from on high, heading directly for Frostine. Hmph arrogant! Frostine smiled evilly as his target willingly came down to face him, a foolish choice that would make his job that much easier. He started casting two 3rd circle spells, one to restrict Kibas movements and another to generate ice steps in the air, allowing him to fight an aerial battle. In response to the restrictive spell that summoned what seemed to be an isted blizzard around Kiba and himself, Frost raised his ive overhead and started spinning it with tremendous force. He then changed the state of his chakra to that of ice fire and allowed it to fill his ive without limit. The silvery ice mes eventually escaped from the ives tip as it spun thus generating fierce whips of ice fire that easily shredded apart the magic blizzard. The dungeon core and cial tiger then continued their onward trajectory, losing very little momentum. [Frost monarchs judgement] Unperturbed by the destruction of his spell Frostine kicked off one the ice steps he conjured and activated a unique race skill. Internal energy covered his hands, greatly enhancing the ice chakra surrounding them before an image very simr to himself coalesced behind him, mimicking his actions and words. The two frost monarchs then raised their hands overhead as if they were mighty hammers before mming down with thunderous fury. Even Valend a mighty frost giant would be sent flying if hit by such a blow let alone Frost and Kiba. As the target of such a powerful technique Frost felt a pressure seep into his body, limiting his attempts to escape its judgement. Aura was in y and with Frostines mastery using it conjunction with his attacks was almost natural. Frosts lips twitched from the sensation, but a smile stubbornly remained. ..... [Wyverns maw] In response he erupted with his strongest ive skill as well as his royal aura in full force. The activation of his aura swiftly swallowed the pressure that limited his movements as well as Kibas before attaching itself to the conjured wyverns head. With a quick addition of ice mes Frost then swung his ive down andunched therge wyvern head at the two Frostines before having Kiba swiftly alter their course slightly. Boom! The air exploded as the two skills smashed against one another, fragments of chakra and energy firing off into the distance. The wyvern head opened its jaw and bit down on the hand hammers but was unfortunately outmatched. The moment its fangs started to puncture passed the ice chakra armour and insert the cold mes into Frostines body the force of the hammering hands came down and blew it apart, like a fragile balloon. Thankfully it was only an energy formed construct otherwise thered be a real mess to clean up. Frost felt a chill down his neck as he saw the result of his strongest attack being eviscerated in under a second, but it was to be expected. Frostine was far above him in terms of both strength and experience, in fact all the B-ranks were. until they werent. After fighting for so long back at the dungeon and more recently in defence of Furano, Frost no longer fought as though he was infallible. Losing was fine as long as he could try again, eventually with enough training he would surpass any foe. Frostine was no different, his aim was not to kill the monarch but to buy time for Anya to catch up. Kiba, thanks to Frosts royal aura wasnt pressured and easily changed direction bringing the two of them around Frostines left nk. Rooooaaaaaarrrrrr!!! Kiba let loose with his [tiger roar], a skill that utilised sound vibrations as well as killing intent to disorient enemies. However given the difference in rank it was nothing but a more irritating roar to Frostines ears. Frost followed up Kibas attack with a quick sh of his ive but without using a technique or properly infusing aura into his weapon he failed to breach Frostines skin. Woosh! The two narrowly avoided Frostines right hand that attempted to grab Kibas hindlegs before once again rising up into the air, out of arms reach. They couldnt however remain there as the moment they let up with their attacks Frostine would use the chance to start running. Thus Frost and Kiba started several rounds of divebombing, utilising their superior speed and teamwork to avoid Frostines blows at thest minute. Not an easy task Ill tell you that but certainly rewarding. Even the slightest mistake could end up in his and Kibas death thus he was forced to stay in the zone throughout the entire fight, greatly improving both his own skills as well as his teamwork with Kiba. Fucking fly!!! Frostine bellowed furiously as he desperately chased after Frost and Kiba, kicking off the ice steps he summoned with such force that most of them shattered. His anger was through the roof, even after multiple attempts he still couldnt catch this damn fly even once. Sure, his attackspletely annihted Frosts but they nevernded on him, he and Kiba always escaped and even regrly cut into his armour, nothing serious but still of great insult to the mighty frost monarch. Rahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! Boom! Boom! Boom! In a mad fit Frostine screamed out in rage before stomping down on multiple ice steps, rapidly bringing him behind Frost and Kiba. He used such strength that the steps shattered on impact and even his chakra formed leg cracked from the excess force but finally he had the upper hand. No matter how fast they were this time theyd feel his wrath. Time to die you damn flies! He raised his fists up overhead and activated his racial skill [Frost monarchs judgement] once again, holding absolutely nothing back. He was going to pulverise Frost and Kiba with a single perfectly executed blow. However, he failed to notice the change in Frosts smile to more of a smirk. The damn elf didnt even look the slightest bit afraid or even shocked by his sudden ambush. Frostine continued to have his face warped by madness as he brought down the hammers of judgment and only in the veryst moment did, he notice something was wrong but by then it was far toote. Baaaaannnnnggggg!! There was a loud sound clearly indicating that Frostines attack struck something hard, but it wasnt Frost nor was it Kiba. Haaaaaaaa to think we took so long to get here, Freya looks like youre going to have to go on a diet. The sh was from Anyas spear. The bright red weapon inserted itself between Frost and Frostine and easily stopped the attack, she didnt even have to use a skill. Bark! Freya her battle mount loudly barked at her masters dietment, taking great offence to it but their easy-going banter highlighted how easy it was for Anya to stop Frostines all or nothing blow. A fact that sent shivers down Frostines spine as his current situation became all too clear. With a simple flick wave of her spear Frostine was sent hurtling down to the ground, he couldnt even resist as Anya utilised her aura. Well done holding him down. Shame we could only get one of them but nevertheless could job Frost. Anya praised Frost with a bright smile before she and Freya inevitably started to descend after their jump. Thank you General. Frost saluted in a militaristic fashion before gazing down at Frostine. Looks like this is where his journey ends. He knew that now that Anya was here Frostine had zero chance in escaping and such thoughts brought joy to his heart. The frost monarch was always a sneaky bastard, always interfering in his fights ever since he arrived, now however it was payback time. Kiba and Frost rose up higher into the air so as to avoid the ensuing carnage, he didnt want to end up as an unfortunate fatality when Anya let loose. Of course, he was still close enough that he could thoroughly spectate the battle prowess of an A-rankbatant, a very opportunity. His eyes however did end up drifting to the north where Valend escaped. He had a nagging feeling in his heart that theyd somehow meet again in the future and finally resolve their grudge. Chapter 506 - 506 Chapter 506: Crushing Frostine 506 Chapter 506: Crushing Frostine As opposed to Frostine, General Anya and her battle mount Freyanded softly and gracefully upon the ground, letting out no more than a slight tap as Freyasrge body made contact with the soil. Anya red at the pit before her with chilling ferocity, this monster was the cause for so many deaths among her subordinates, a debt that she nned to repay. Get up!! She spoke with such unbridled bloodlust that even Frost hovering in the distance felt his skin crawl, his instincts warning him of the extreme danger. Frostine let out a groan as an all-epassing pressure pressed down on his body and his alone. The surrounding soil, trees and leftover snow werepletely unaffected. An A-rankbatant had far better control over their aura than those of B-rank. Frostine felt his body ache as his muscles forcibly contracted and blood seeped out from his many wounds, Anyas demand to get up was proving difficult for the mighty frost monarch. Eventually however, relying on his pride and brute force he rose from the pit and red back at the old woman, his hatred for her bing almost tangible. This was the woman who was going to end him he knew that and despised her for it. He was a glorious monarch, a ruler of a decent sized territory in the inner regions of the cial mountains, someone who lorded over others yet here was under Anya thumb, like amb prepped for ughter. A guttural and animalistic roar escaped his lips as he continued to fight against the pressure and even take steps towards Anya despite his body breaking apart as he did. A chilling smile grew on the Generals lips and a look of derision filled Freyas eyes. She turned her neck upwards and nced into the air where Frost and Kiba were hovering and winked, a sign that told the young dungeon core to watch and learn, to understand the difference between the B and A-rank. In response Frosts eyes opened as wide as they could possibly go and his senses strained themselves to the peak of sensitivity, he wouldnt miss as single movement. ..... General Anya looked back down at Frostine who had gradually made his way closer towards her, his body covered in cracks, cuts and blood, a gruesome sight for others but not her as she was a General of the Northrend empire someone who had be used to such images long ago. You dared to attack the mighty Northrend empire, brought war to the gates of ournd, threatening the lives of our citizens and ended the lives of so many of our brave men and women. The sentence is of course. Death!!! In response to Anyas final words, aura burst forth from her body, making her presence radiated outward, she looked like a giant about to cast judgement. Rahhhhhhhh!!!! Frostine roared even louder, his eyes turning blood red as his violent instincts took over but in front of a General of the empire such roars were nothing but pathetic cries. General Anya raised her red spear, pointing the tip at Frostine and in response invisible chains formed from her mighty aura came into existence and wrapped themselves around Frostines limbs, pulling and stretching him as they lifted his body off the ground and disyed him before her like a criminal ready to be hanged. Frostine roared and desperately fought against the invisible chains but failed to break free. He attempted to conjure a skill but found that while wrapped in these chains his energy struggled to flow, severally weakening and dying the activation of the skill. Freya let loose a powerful roar in response to his efforts, causing a skill activation failure. The rebound effect thus caused Frostine to suffer even more damage but his maddened state numbed him to the pain. Since skills didnt work he tried magic. His mana seemed to be far less constrained than his internal energy therefore the spell activated without hindrance. Freya was about to make a move but stopped when Anya stroked her ears. [Ice hydra] Frostine funnelled as much mana into the 4th circle spell as he could, summoning a massive three headed serpent from the established magic crest. A smile grew on his lips as he madly ordered it to devour Anya and her battle mount. Haaaaaaa pathetic General Anya let out a sigh before twirling her spear in the air and redirecting her attention to the suddenly summoned ice hydra. Rooooooaaaaarrrrrr!! The ice hydra roared with all three heads before diving down with its jaws wide open, ready to swallow Anya and Freya whole. Anya stared at the summoned beast with scorn as she reeled back her arm in preparation for a thrust. [Sky splitting thrust] With thosemand words Anyas internal energy and aura filled her spear, causing it hum and glisten in the light. An apparition that was practically corporal formed behind her back. A female giant with features simr to Anya wielded an equally simr spear. The two women tensed their arms before, in perfect harmony thrust upwards with frightening momentum. Alongside a fierce howl the spear rose upwards to meet the massive ice hydra. A split secondter the two forces made contact and despite the ice hydra being an upper 4th circle spell and several timesrger the beast burst apart like a fragile balloon the moment it touched the spearhead. It was nowhere near its match. The residual force of the thrust continued beyond the ice hydra and pierced the sky, leaving a massive hole in the overhead clouds. Frost watched the entire process with rapt attention. His skin had formed goosebumps and a biting chill wrapped itself around his heart as he witnessed the majesty of Anyas spear. Despite the fear however he kept his eyes glued on her every movement, refusing to even blink lest he miss the slightest change. That must have been an expert level skill Frost muttered as he understood some of the strength held by this female General. Expert was the level beyond Advanced mastery, the realm usually seen as the highest sapients could generally reach unless they were absolute prodigies i.e. those that could reach S-rank. Beginner-basic-adept-advanced-expert-peak-perfect and finally origin those were the 8 stages of weapon mastery as well as weapon skills. Frost was at the advanced stage which was generally a hallmark of B-rank. Expert was the realm of those at A-rank whereas Peak was reserved for those that reached S-rank, a level that very, very few sapients ever reached. Perfect was the realm of those who had reached the very limit of S-rank and focused the majority of their strength on their weapon. Maya could be considered roughly at the perfect rank for her hammer mastery, though only at the very early stages. Origin was the realm of the Gods. Only entities of that magnitude could truly understand the true origin of a weapon and reach the pinnacle of mastery, able to unleash the fabled origin ranked skills that could shatter dimensions. Of course such power was way beyond Frost at the moment, even Anyas mastery was beyond what he could currently understand. As the ice hydra burst apart and Frostine lost his connection to it his mind cracked and an overwhelming sense of inferiority filled his heart. So this is A-rank huh. He said internally, realising the true depth of the canyon that separated the two of them, he stood no chance whatsoever. He wasnt even at the upper ranks of B-rank, just a middle ss weakling.. The massive giant that looked like Anya didnt fade away as her skill was unleashed, instead both Anya and the giant version of her reeled back for a second strike, this time aiming directly for Frostine. In but a moment the spear reached the frost monarch and practically vaporised everything above his shoulders, leaving nought but a headless frame. The B-rank frost monarch that controlled the monster stampede to decimate a vast portion Furanos forces died just like that. Yes, he was injured and far from his prime but still a single blow. Frost was left speechless, the difference between ranks only grew the higher you went. Anya breathed out and nodded, her subordinates had been avenged. She looked up to the sky, seeing Frost still frozen in awe brought a prideful grin to her lips. Good hes impressed. She destroyed Frostine in such a shy way on purpose, all so Frost would have a good view of her and the frost wolf battalion. Hed be more inclined to join them if he could see the limits of their strength. Come Frost, weve done what we can. She briefly nced to the north remembering the retreating figure of the frost giant but hed already fled too far for them to chase. Frost trembled upon hearing Anyas voice, his mind slowlying back to focus. He nodded and ordered the even more frightened Kiba to descend next to Freya. The two warriors and battle mounts thus made their way back to the Furano battlefield. Clean up operations had begun, removal of the dead monsters but more importantly retrieval of their dead. Those who died in service of protecting Furano from the stampede would have their names written in the memorandum of heroes, forever recognised as the brave warriors they were. Chapter 507 - 507 Chapter 507: Victory!! 507 Chapter 507: Victory!! Though victory had been won a depressed mood covered the battlefield, there was so much death, how could they ever celebrate such a hard won victory. The remaining soldiers and adventurers that were here fighting day and night dragged themselves behind the wall to the medical centre with zed eyes, their hearts already dark and cold. The mighty northern wall that stood as bastion during the stampede was littered with massive holes and cracks making it look like the walls of a ruin but the most frightening thing was the colour. The grey and blue wall was now blood red, so much blood had spilled that the colour hadpletely changed. The pungent liquid seeped deep into the stone, ice and pykrete forever changing wall, a permanent reminder of the losses endured these past few days, today most of all. All the Majors suffered extreme wounds, many that would be fatal if not treated immediately and by skilled hands. General Warik and the Crown prince looked at the expressions of the survivors and couldnt help but tremble. They could hardly imagine the suffering these people had gone through as they defended the town. Warik gave an order to the griffin knights before making his way toward the crown prince. He wanted to suggest that he use his charisma and lineage to inspire the people present, doing so would greatly increase his prestige among the local popce, something that he needed if he wanted to sit on the golden throne. The crown prince listened to Wariks advice and nodded his head agreeing with the General. He was just about to start his speech when Frost and Anya made their way back through the treeline. Some of the survivors saw Frost returning with arge monster crystal in hand and the zed look in their eyes transformed. Their hearts started to thump away, and vigour returned to their tired bodies. This was a man theyd fought side by side with, a man who had braved the same hell as them and came out the other side, victorious. A couple adventurers muttered Frosts name and it started to spread like wildfire, soon the majority of the survivors were shouting his name at the top of their lungs. Frost! Frost! Frost! They chanted repeatedly, growing louder with each repetition. The once silent and dismal battlefield was reced with loud cheers for one man, Frost. Frost not expecting such apuse turned to Anya who had given him Frostines monster crystal hoping to make him into some kind of hero thus owing her but never for a moment did she think Frost would have such an impact on the survivors. It seemed as though despite her open mindedness she still underestimated this young man. What are you waiting for, theyre calling you. She said yfully and winked his way before stifling her presence as much as possible, keeping the spotlight on Frost. ..... Frost nodded in thanks to Anya before a wild smile stretching from ear to ear grew on his lips. He tightened his legs around Kiba as the two dashed forward into the heart of the battlefield, allowing everyone to get a good look at him and the monster crystal in his hands. Frost! Frost! Frost! The chanting grew more and more fervent, so much so that the ground started to tremble. The soldiers and adventurers who arrived as reinforcements felt themselves drawn into to the chorus, chanting Frosts name even if they didnt know why. When in full view of everyone Kiba stopped and roared at the top of his lungs causing the chanting to halt, Frost was about to speak. Frost looked over the battlefield locking eyes with each and every one of them, they were his brothers and sisters in arms, valiantrades who fought by his side during the war, never giving up. Frost hadnt nned on giving a speech as he never thought it would be him in the spotlight, he was just a helper here to lend aid in the name of riches and friendship so he kept it simple. He rose therge monster crystal above his head and activated his royal aura to the limit, spreading his presence as far as possible before roaring out a single word at the top of his lungs. VICTORY!!!!! The soundwaves travelled far and wide entering the ears of everyone present, his aura helping to do so and drastically improving his charisma. There was silence for a couple seconds before the earth trembled with such strength that it was akin to a herd of mammoths charging. VICTORY!! VICTORY!!! They repeated Frosts words while raising their weapons in the air and stamping the ground beneath their feet. The despair that wracked the battlefield was thus blown away by a single mans words. General Warik stared in awe at Frost, apletely instinctual reaction but one that was noticed by the person by his side. While everyone else had smiles on their faces this man sported a dark expression, that was supposed to be his role not one of an outsider. Royal aura with a high degree of potency and if Im not mistaken hes the one that knocked my brother down a peg. The crown prince eyed Frost with a dark expression. He didnt appreciate someone stealing what was rightfully his. Eventually the chanting died down, but the valiant spirit remained. General Anya returned to his side and the two of them walked through what remained of the mighty northern gate. The crown princes knuckles audibly cracked as he made a tight fist, he felt snubbed. Frost and Anya didnt even look his way or even acknowledge his existence, he was the crown prince of the empire god dammit. Of course, Frost didnt do it intentionally, he had no idea the crown prince was here nor what he looked like but even if he did it wouldnt make much difference, his title meant nothing to Frost. Anya however was doing it intentionally, she was not in the crown princes faction and didnt feel like he deserved any glory when he wasnt the one doing the fighting. Sure he arrived in mass with the royal griffin knights but for the majority of the short battle it was his bodyguards doing the fighting while he watched or handled the weaker monsters despite being adorned in superb quality equipment. He wasnt ever in any real danger. The support staff had alreadye out to help in the clean-up and handle any other jobs so the brave soldiers and adventurers could rest up. They all bowed as Frost and Kiba walked by, their hearts full of gratitude to the young man who theyd seen on many asions charge straight in the fire of hells so as to protect them. Frost nodded his head towards each and every one of them as if it was natural greatly surprising Anya who was by his side. Despite her no longer hiding her station Frost still drew more attention. Hes more of a royal than the crown prince. She felt that Frost was a natural born leader and that for a split second even she felt the pull to serve him. She blinked rapidly in confusion, shocked by her reaction. How very interesting a smile grew on her lips as multiple thoughts ran through her mind. The current political situation of the Northrend empire was a dangerous cesspool where the crown prince and second prince fought against one another openly and in the dark for supremacy. Each desired the throne and were doing all they could to take it. However, the current emperor was still quite able thus the session wouldnt happen for several years so all they could do was rally the many factions throughout the empire to their sides, the nobles. The crown prince who was currently holding his fathers endorsement as well as that of multiple department heads fought for the right to lead reinforcements in aid of Furano despite the possible danger. Such actions further garnered his fathers favour and he was sent with a vast regiment of the royal battalion and General Warik as his bodyguard under the emperors edict. His father knew that his eldest son wanted glory, reputation and the support of military and perhaps more importantly the Furano family but such ambitions were natural and not a bad thing, he was after all going fight in a war for his empire. The second prince ground his teeth at his brothers noble act, but chose not to fight on that front, knowing his efforts would be counterintuitive. Though the crown princes reputation was rather good and even the Emperor favoured him General Anya didnt like him and always felt that behind his smile was a sinister personality that was possibly worse the second princes. Therefore, she was an advocate for the princess, the emperors third and youngest child. A kind girl who always thought of the prosperity of the nation before her own needs, a very, very dark horse in the running but one Anya stuck with. Seeing Frost with royal aura, his age, abilities and the fact that he was close to the Furanos and was now a veritable hero among the people here she wondered if she could somehow utilise his influence in benefit of the princess. Of course, she wouldnt do anything underhanded or force the issue, but it would do well for the two to meet. With Anya thinking up future possibilities and Frost greeting all those he saw warmly the two made their way to medical centre. The war was over, and he needed to inform Dous and Hamon of their victory. Chapter 508 - 508 Chapter 508: Victory!! (2) 508 Chapter 508: Victory!! (2) Frost and Anya entered the medical centre where many soldiers and adventurers were currently getting treatment. Healers of the viscounty and those that came with the frost wolf battalion and royal knights battalion were scuttling back and forth, tending to the overflow of patients. Gilianna, the foremost healing authority under Hamonsmand was no longer in charge, instead a middle-aged man with a clean-shaven look was running the show. He was part of the healing corps following General Anya and held greater authority than Gilianna despite being several years younger. He personally tended to Hamon, Maggie, Vos and Dous along with his trusted deputy as they were in the most critical condition and of the highest authority. A great deal of sweat was on the mans brow as holy light spread from his hands and was gently infused into the patients, slowly and carefully reconnecting their shattered limbs, muscles and even organs. He had his work cut out for him. Joseph how are they doing? Anya asked the moment she came in, her tone full of authority. Joseph stopped channelling his healing magic and turned to face her with an obvious frown. They should be fine by the time Im done however I cant promise aplete recovery, only with the addition of special herbs and high-quality medicines would such an oue be possible. Joseph replied with confidence, sure of his skills. Anya frowned at his words before letting out a small sigh and shaking her head. Get them healed first, Ill see what I can do about the herbs, we may have some in stock back in the capital. Anya knew about her battalions budget as well as the reserve stock of medicines they kept in their barracks vault. She wasnt that confident that theyd have enough for everyone. Thankfully however theyd likely get a substantial bonus for seeding against the stampede. The emperor wasnt stingy with his rewards. Joseph nodded his head before turning back to his work, he was currently treating Maggie who was in the worst condition. ..... GGen. General Dous who had regained consciousness thanks to some of Josephs treatment forced himself to an upright sitting position and greeted General Anya with weary eyes. His lips however started to curl upwards the moment he saw Frost. His heart felt warm upon seeing the young in a healthy condition. Lord Viscount, apologies for arriving sote. Anya crossed her arm across her chest and slightly bowed with respect towards Dous. She held the man in high regard, a noble that was indifferent to status and always ced himself at the forefront of danger. Willingly sacrificing himself for the prosperity of his citizens. You and your citizens fought well, holding back such enemies for as long as you did is an achievement that will be remembered for centuries toe, the emperor will surely praise the valiant spirit of the Furano people. Anya spoke eloquently and from the heart. A peak B-rank Demon along with multiple B-ranks were assaulting the walls, a truly frightening force far greater that what theyd usually handle. If they hadnt arrived when they did the town of Furano, the bastion that guarded the entrance to the cial mountains would have been razed with not a single survivor. Hahahaha you tter us too much General, without the aid of you and General Warik we would have surely been erased, sucked into that demons hellscape to be tortured indefinitely. Dous appreciated Anyas kind words but knew the truth of the matter. After saying his piece Douss eyes drifted to Frost who was standing by General Anyas side. He could see that Frost sported a few injuries but nothing major, a simple health potion or even time would easily rectify them. His once noble looking white robes were now blood red and infused with a deathly aura thanks to the hundreds of monsters perhaps even thousands hed in on the battlefield. He looked like a valiant warrior, a master of war returning after a hard won victory. He could see an arrogance or rather an unwavering confidence in the young mans eyes. The smile on his lips grew until it reached his ears, a giddy feeling warming his heart. Its over isnt it? He asked almost yfully. Frost smiled wildly in response before nodding his head, the war was over, they were victorious. Hahahahahahahaah cough cough. Marvellous. we won. we survived in the end. Dousughed out loud without any restraint which aggravated his wounds causing him to cough violently, spurting out dollops of blood. A serendipitous look then appeared on his old, wounded face before hot tears rolled down his cheeks. They had won, Furano was now safe. An unimaginable weight was thus lifted from his shoulders causing him to feel weightless and fuzzy, a momentter thanks to the loss of tension Dous drifted back to sleep, a smile still on his lips. He must have forced himself to awaken and remain so until he heard the news, a great man Dous Furano. Anya bowed even lower before quietly checking up on the rest of her soldiers, letting the Viscount sleep. Frost gazed at the smile on Douss face before shaking his head and leaving him to his rest. He to checked on the soldiers, greeting many that he recognised. His and Anyas presence helped lift the mood in the medical centre, news of a final victory was always uplifting to hear. Eventually however a meeting was called for the people of authority, all who were able to attend were summoned, and proxies used for those who couldnt. Frost being one of the strongest fighters, a key warrior during the defence that inspired the local soldiers as well as friend of the ruling nobles was of course in attendance. He sat next to Leo who was there in ce of his father. Luna and Jaina were also there, standing in for their fathers as all three were currently with Joseph receiving intensive care. Even Cassandra and Calder were in attendance given that they were in charge of civilian and resource management during the martialw. Cassandras eyes were puffy and red, clearly, she had been crying recently. She almost burst into tears again upon seeing Frost, she wrapped in a tight embrace and thanked the Gods that he was safe and sound. Frost could feel her heartfelt concern and couldnt help but be moved. At the head of the meeting table was a man perhaps in histe twenties of early thirties with golden hair and decent looks, the crown prince of the Northrend empire. By his side were General Anya and General Warik empowering the mans natural maism. Frost nced briefly towards the crown prince and only learned who he was once Leo informed him. So this is the crown prince, the one set to inherit the Northrend empire.he doesnt seem like much. Frost didnt think much of the human prince. His station meant nothing to him and from what he could gleam talent wise he wasnt anything special thus he continued to chat with those he was close to instead of being awed like many others. Everyone please be silent. General Warik stood up and announced with a voice tinged with aura, instantly stopping the chatter amongst those present before granting the floor to the man next to him. Thank you General Warik. The crown prince first thanked General Warik with a warm expression before looking at all those present. First off Ill introduce myself, Crown prince of the Northrend empire, Randolph Northrend at your service. A few awes and ahhs suffused amongst the people present who werent sure of his status, many then bowed in response or curtsied before replying we greet the crown prince. Frost merely nodded since he was not beholden to the empire nor felt that his status was any lower than Randolphs. General Warik sent a re Frosts way for his disrespect but stopped after remembering his status. Id like to first congratte the people of Furano and the branch of the frost wolf battalion forsting as long as they did against superior forces, youve all done the empire proud in this war. Some soldiers teared up at that statement, their sacrifices feeling validated. Though we arrived and sessfully routed the enemies top echelon, without you holding the fort there would have been nothing to save, you have mine and my fathers upmost gratitude. Cassandra, Leo and those who resided in Furano bowed in response and thanked the crown prince generously for his words. Richard smiled upon hearing their fawning and ttering. This generations monster stampede is now officially over, and peace will once again return to the prosperous Viscounty. Soldiers will continue to be stationed here for another few weeks to deal with any fractured waves but other than that regr life should resume over the next few days. Those who bravely sacrificed themselves during the war will be added to memorandum of heroes so as to never be forgotten while those that achieved great merits will be honoured by the royal family, giftedvish rewards and perhaps even granted medals of honour. Such promises eased the minds of many soldiers and adventurers while also sparking interest within others. Frost especially was quite interested in the so calledvish rewards. The crown prince then went on the discuss with those present the steps to be carried out over the next few days such as the handling of materials, payments, pulling out of the military as well funerals etcetera. Such a meeting though not exactly inspiring nor that interesting allowed the clout of war to be extinguished. Regr life was set to return and with the level of the stampede great levels of profit were sure to flow into the coffers of the territory. The merchants could barely stop drooling as they imagined the amount of money to be made off of the thousands of monster corpses. Furano would certainly see a great boon to its economy in the foreseeable future. Calder and Cassandra would certainly see to that. Chapter 509 - 509 Chapter 509: After the stampede 509 Chapter 509: After the stampede Frost didnt take too much part in the meeting other than enlightening the some of the reinforcements on how the battles went down over the past few days. He spoke of many brave souls that gave their lives in the battle, Halgrave being one of them. General Anya couldnt help but clench her fists in frustration as she listened, Halgrave was a loyal soldier in her battalion, to lose him here was a devastating loss. The crown prince tried to speak with him a couple times, but their conversations were always rather brief, seems they didnt mesh well. Frost even felt that Randolph carried some sort of grudge towards him, it was well hidden, but his gut was warning him to be wary. ording to the original timescale the reinforcements werent supposed to arrive until the morning of the 4th day but thanks to the trepidation felt by both General Anya and General Warik as well as the crown princes desire for glory they arrived during the afternoon of the third day, a lifesaving result for Frost and the others defending the town. So even though he didnt exactly get a good feeling from Randolph he was grateful for his timely arrival. The meeting was brought to an end after an hour or so with all the procedures being outlined. Afterwards Frost finally went to rest, his job and the job of the soldiers and adventurers was over, they could now have some well-earned rest. Given that the stampede was practically over, there was no need for him to sleep in the barracks near the northern wall anymore thus Cassandra offered a guest room in the lords manor which Frost epted dly. A servant of the manor attended to him, preparing the room, spare clothes, food requests and the bath for his convenience. Frost was tired, physically, mentally and emotionally so he just let the servant handle everything. First, he took a long dip in a hot bath, allowing all his pores to open up and remove anysting bits of grime on his body that clean up magic didnt get. Afterwards he went straight to his room and fell asleep almost instantly. The servant came to check on him an hourter to see if he was hungry but quickly left after seeing Frostpletely out of it. 16 hourster Frost roused himself from his sleep, the previous day had ended, and it was already the morning of the next. Hed never slept so much at one time before, but he didnt feel groggy or out of sorts, it was clear that he needed a good rest to fully recharge. His back and shoulders popped and cracked as he stretched but all he felt was relief, his body and mind once again in peak health. ..... The suns up so its been at least one day. Frost covered his eyes from the sun that shone brightly through a crack in the curtains. He rang a bell and the servant that helped him yesterday promptly arrived with a smile on his face, eager to serve Frost in any capacity. How long was I out and has anything major happened? He asked as the servant guided him to the dining room for some food. Its been about 16 hours Sir Frost, and no I dont think anything major has happened during your rest. The Madam and young master returned once or twice and asked how you were but swiftly returned to work after hearing you were still asleep. The servant answered Frosts question dutifully. I see thank you. No problem, Sir and if anything, I should be thanking you. Without you we would have surely been overrun and ughtered by the stampede. You have my upmost thanks for protecting our home and people. The servant performed a deep bow and tears dripped down his cheeks. Frost felt rather awkward but had grown used such reactions, so he simply nodded his head and patted the servants shoulder before continuing to the dining room where a meal was being prepared for him. Is there any update on Douss and the others conditions? Frost asked after swallowing the food in his mouth. The Lord Viscount has woken up Im told but is still in the intensive care unit, same with Colonel Hamon, Sir Vos and Sir Ryuu. A servant who was responsible for gathering information replied to Frost as he ate. The staff liked to be kept abreast of the ongoing situation and surmised that Frost would ask them about it the moment he woke up. And Bastion? Frost asked clearly more nervous that before. Sir Bastion has regained consciousness however his strength has left him almost entirely. The servant spoke with sadness. He has unfortunately lost the function of his left leg and his arms are no longer able to wield his axe. His life had been saved but his adventurer days were over. His possible life expectancy had even been reduced due to the damage inflicted upon his organs. A miracle herb would be required to restore Bastion toplete functionality. Frost frowned and clenched his fists as he listened, his heart hurting from the sad fate of his once powerful friend. He looked upwards, his eyes growing red as he fought back some tears. War even if victoriouses with devasting consequences. Frost shook his head and chose not toment on the situation, Bastion was alive thats what mattered. As Frost was finishing his meal the door to the dining room opened revealing Cassandra and Luna with heavy bags under their eyes however they lit up upon seeing Frost, even running to his side to give him a hug. Have you just woken up? Yes. Did you sleep well, any aches, wounds or anything? Cassandra badgered like a concerned mother. Yes and No, Im fit as a fiddle. Frost tensed his arms as if to show his impressive strength, garnering augh from the two women. Do you know about the outside situation? I just asked the servants about everyones condition, seems everyone is alive at least but Bastion may be disabled. Cassandra and Lunas eyes darkened upon being reminded of Bastions condition. Yes unfortunately thats true in fact all of them will likely no longer be able to use their full strength again.their fighting days are over. Cassandra said thest part with an awkward tone. Happy in a way that her loved ones wouldnt be able tounch themselves into danger anymore but sad that they couldnt at the same time, they all prided themselves on their acquired strength after all. I see. Well ignoring the obvious downers weve started tabting the possible revenue to be made thanks to the stampede as well as started calcting the rewards for the many adventurers, yourself included. Cassandra tried to shift to a more positive oue. Ohhh Frost raised his brow, clearly interested. Other than helping his friends and relishing in glorious DP -which actually amounted to several tens of thousands over the few days he was here- money was another reason. He needed vast amounts of coins to establish a properly functioning camp plus they could be transmuted into DP if need be. Weve also decided on when to hold the grand victory celebration, a final hoorah to erase the negative atmosphere brought on by the war. Everyone is invited, soldier, adventurer, support staff and civilian alike. Together well celebrate surviving the stampede as one. Therell be fireworks, food, dancing and tons of other activities, Im sure youll enjoy it. A party huh. Frost pondered the idea in his mind before smiling, growing excited at the prospect. A victory celebration was sure to be fun. When is it? If it wasnt for another week or so hed have to decline, Maya and the kids were waiting after all. Tomorrow night, Leo will be acting as the host in ce of Dous. It should be a good test for him since hes set to inherit the Viscounty. Dous would normally be the host given that he was still the ruler, but his current condition made that almost impossible. He may be out of bed by then, but hed have to go around and mingle all night, far too strenuous for a critically hurt patient like him. Frost was surprised he thought for sure itd be a bitter given the injured but then again it did make sense to have it as soon as possible. Once the celebration happens the war would be officially over, and the people can confidently return to their regr lives and work. Sounds fantastic Ill be there. Great. The three people then chatted some more as two meals were brought for thedies. Frost was in no hurry at the moment to do anything so he kept thempany while they were on break which was unfortunately rather short. Not twenty minutes in a servant came and whispered something in Cassandras ears causing her to frown and shake her head before leaving with Luna who hadnt finished eating yet. Guess Ill head out and see if Leo or the guild needs any help. Frost said with a smile however a subtle agenda was also hidden behind that smile. It was time to startying the breadcrumbs for his future camp. Hed already hallmarked Borris and would likely visit him sometimeter today or perhaps tomorrow tond the final nail in the coffin but there were others he needed as well. The merchant guild, bank, adventurers guild and perhaps even inns. The more worthy people he got the more DP hed be able to rake in passively and the faster hed be able to establish a proper economy. With his ns set in motion Frost first headed to the government district to discuss possible avenues with Leo and the admin staff there. Chapter 510 - 510 Chapter 510: After the stampede (2) 510 Chapter 510: After the stampede (2) The town seemed even busier now that the war was over. Countless citizens were dashing through the streets trying to get Furano back in working order as soon as possible. Inn keepers and restaurants offered great deals on luxurious meals thanks to the abundance of high-quality meat present in storage, a deal many epted with gusto. Tradesman and merchants on the other hand promised to fashion all manner of high-quality equipment for customers at low, low prices, quickly getting the economy back on track. If you ignored the damage to the northern sectors and the abundance of soldiers wandering about it was hard to believe that this town was moments away from being razed not 24 hours earlier. The people of Furano were a hardy people, resilient and brave. Frost couldnt help but nod in appreciation. Frost was escorted to the conference room in the main government building shortly after arriving. There Leo was sitting at the head of the table with stacks of paper reaching above his head and people sitting at his sides rolling off report after report orally. The poor young heir looked as though hed aged several years from the strain, administration was definitely not his forte. Thankfully by his side were hard-working, dedicated and skilled staff who would assist him through every step and monitor his work. Leo just had to push through it since it was now his responsibility. Looks like youre swamped with paperwork Leo. Frost smiled at his friends misery before offering to help. Leo perked up at seeing Frost and was just about to agree before he held his tongue. No this is my responsibility as the future lord of the territory, I should be the one to do itthanks though. Though clearly reluctant he knew that if kept relying on others hed never be a capable leader. Frosts smile grewrger at his words. True, then I wish you luck young Viscount. Frost eyed the mounds of paper not envying Leo in the slightest. I realise this may be a bad time given the amount of work already on your desk but theres an issue I wanted to discuss with either you or your father. Frost spoke firmly, emphasising the importance of his request. Leo immediately caught on and gave the aides by his sides a hard look. I can give you twenty minutes not a moment more. Leo replied with a dignified tone, his charisma as a noble shining through. The aides and everyone bar Frost and Leo left the conference room to give them some privacy. ..... Whats the issue, if its nothing major then I promise youll have the full backing of the Furano viscounty. Leo immediately opened with that, giving Frost practically a nk cheque, an action that made Frosts heart warm. Thank you, Leo, but I dont think its anything too major. My proposal is in regards to the territory that Im in control of. Ah yes I do remember you mentioning something about having your own ce, its where you were during the early and mid-stages of the monster stampede right? Pretty much. Its a budding new territory that myself and those who work for me are in the middle of establishing and Im here today to not just inform you of it but to also perhaps create a rtionship between our two territories as well as another that has already agreed to be friendly with us. Leos brow rose in surprise before lowering a secondter, his expression bing calm as he leaned forward. Please borate. Leo assumed the mantle of the Viscountys interim lord at this moment, Frosts proposal was something that needed to be discussed in a formal manner not some chitchat between friends. Frost then as requested began to exin his territory, where it was, the rough state of development, the forces involved, purpose as well as mentioning the enve Kranor situated in the external regions of the cial mountains that already promised to establish rtions. The more Frost spoke the harder it was for Leo to keep his calm; Frosts territory was in effect a camp and within the confines of the cial mountains, yet it was also right on Furanos front door. He was shocked that someone, especially someone he knew had already not just discovered the potential of the dungeon but had moved to im it as his own. Thews around the establishment of camps were usually firste first served before people tried to vie for control. It was a bold move to make one so early in the game. Therell surely be many who wish to take advantage of the area once the camp is fully established. Having Frost set the groundwork while they swoop in to take the finished prize. Building arge camp so close to Northrend territory and being privately established was just asking for trouble. If it wasnt the empireing after him itd be the order of the ice shield and the countries present in the cial mountains. The dungeon is, as of yet an untapped market that the big wigs will surely wish to exploit. However as Frost went on he realised that his friend was practically unfazed by such troubles. His forces were already established and the groundwork had already begun despite the stampede just ending. Frost and his subordinates were either incredibly strong or just in crazy. But to take a bite out such a big pie one needed to be a little crazy. Leo was smiling from ear to ear by the end of Frosts exnation, he felt as though this proposal could be even more fruitful than the monster stampede. Ill have to discuss to details with my father and mother before making a final decision however if Im being honest with you, we of the Furano Viscounty would dly join hands with you and your territory. Such a high level camp would bring nothing but boons for us after all. Leo gave his reply with confidence, sure his mother and father would agree with him. Thank you, Leo, Im d this ended on a positive note. Frost said with a gentle smile, if he wasnt such a close friend with the Furanos this could have easily led to some sort of strife or even war. No problem, Ill talk to my mother and father when I next get a chance meanwhile Ill give you permission to solicit help from our citizens. Im sure many of them would like to be part of this venture. I suggest however that you head to the guilds next as theyll be able to grant substantial aid to your cause and even grant legitimacy to your camp, granting it some protection in the interim. Leo really looked forward to the growth of such a camp that was on friendly terms with Furano. The tired and listless look that was present in his eyes the moment Frost entered was now gone, reced with excitement and determination. The two chatted for another couple minutes before the aides had to forcefully interrupt their meeting, Leo still had a lot of paperwork to get through after all. Haaaaaa Ill try and organise a dinner at the manor tonight, Father should hopefully be able to attend. We can discuss the topic further then and there as well as deal with the rewards that youre due from your efforts during the stampede. Leo sighed and waved Frost off promising to meet again for a meal in the evening, more determined than ever to power through all his paperwork. Frost nodded his head in acknowledgment before walking out of the building. Guess Ill head to the guilds like Leo suggested. Frost turned and headed to adventurers guild first which was currently swamped, people desperately mouring for information on their rewards as well as those seeking to buy the abundance of materials kept in the guilds warehouses. Frost barely managed to make his way through the wide entrance given how packed it was. He only seeded because over half of the people present recognised him and moved to the side, allowing him to cut the very long line. Kamey was working at one of the desks and recognised him almost immediately. Sir Frost wee, how can I help you? She spoke with much greater respect than she used to. His endeavours during the war as well as his rise to the B-rank made the young dungeon core a highly prized asset for the guild. Frost smiled upon seeing the face of someone he knew. I was wondering if I could have a chat with the vice guild master about a certain proposal. He exined the reason for his visit though left out the key details as it was still rather hush hush at the moment. Kamey noticed a certain authority in Frosts voice, he was speaking to her in a very formal manner. This proposal must be big. Give me a moment Ill go and speak to the vice guild master. After quickly having another employee reced her at the desk, she went up the staircase to Bastions office where Thrall was currently at work. With Bastion out ofmission the guild was in his hands. Along with the Keeper he had full control of the guilds day to day activities. Chapter 511 - 511 Chapter 511: Territory proposal 511 Chapter 511: Territory proposal Knock, Knock Kamey knocked on the door to the guild masters office. What is it? Thrall hollered with an impatient tone. His face was buried in paper work that scaled even higher than Leos. The adventurers guild was gued with work and not enough hands to deal with it. Kamey didnt flinch at Thralls irritated tone she as was already used to such responses. Vice guild master Sir Frost is here and needs to speak with you about a certain proposal. She replied through the door calmly and clearly. Sir Frost? A Proposal? Thrall looked up from his desk and nced at the closed door, confusion clear in his eyes. Eventually however he shook his head and replied to Kamey in a far less annoyed tone. Please show him in then. Frost was of high importance to the guild considering his B-rank strength and his actions during the monster stampede. Thrall had to treat him with a great deal of respect. Kamey smiled behind the door before heading back down the stairs. Thrall meanwhile quickly moved to tidy the ce up a little. Vice guild master. Frost showed a friendly smile and nodded towards Thrall once Kamey ushered him in. ..... Sir Frost, please take a seat. How can I be of service? Thrall had managed to clear the guest sofas as well as most of the coffee table thus allowing them to both engage in discussion. Frost epted Thralls offer and sat on the sofa in afortable manner. Thrall then gave Kamey a nce before sitting opposite him and in response Kamey politely left to get refreshments. Im here vice guild master to deliver a proposal to the adventurers guild, something that requires the sign off of those in upper management. Frost leaned forward and spoke with a formal tone like he had with Leo. Thralls disposition changed the moment Frost spoke in a formal tone, he donned the title of vice guild master immediately. Very well please exin your proposal in detail so I can give you an informed response. Thank you, vice guild master. First off Ive already discussed the proposal with young lord and he was quite agreeable to it. He pointed me in the direction of the guilds to seek more tangible aid. Frost then exined to Thrall about his territory, the current state, military force, future ns etc before moving onto what help the adventurer guild could provide as well as the benefits of providing such aid. By the end of Frosts exnation Thrall was leaning back on the sofa with his arms crossed, a heavy frown on his face as he thought deeply. Kamey had returned and was standing behind him with a look of amazement. Thrall was silent for a few minutes before letting out a deep sigh. Sir Frost this proposal of yours is certainly impressive and very likely to benefit our guild as well as the territory of Furano however unfortunately I cant make the final decision in regards to this matter. I can certainly help promote your new territory and even send a request to the capital about endorsing the legitimacy of your ownership but in the end the decision will be above my pay grade. Even Bastion would have to receive their approval if we wanted to engage in more substantial exchanges. Thrall gave his answer after thinking long and hard, unfortunately unlike the local lords family who had free reign to interact with pretty much anyone who wasnt considered an enemy or rival entity to the empire they were part of arge organisation that had to be prudent in their actions. Thrall could obviously see the benefits of such a territory that would likely be restrained to the boundary of the new dungeon and was quite certain that those in the capital would as well however it was likely that they wouldnt establish a meaningful rtionship until the territory was firmly built and securely defended. Entering into a pact with Frost would be meaningless if another country or the order of the ice shield or even another private group swooped in and took control. Frost revealed a disappointed look but didnt me Thrall, he didnt exactly have much coteral after all, his reputation only existed in Furano not the throughout the empire. Thank you for your candour vice guild master. Lets start out small then, if you could promote my territory and send word to the guilds headquarters about my intention Id be most grateful. Frost smiled gently and stretched out his hand. Thrall smiled back as he grasped Frosts hand and shook on their deal. Kamey let out a small cheer once they reached an agreement, she even suggested opening up one of Bastion prized liquors in celebration which of course Frost was open to but Thrall harshly reprimanded her, loudly asking if she wanted him and her to have their legs shattered the moment Bastion returned to the office. Frost left the adventurers guild ten minutester, though he didnt get everything he wanted his visit wasnt fruitless. Guess Ill head to the merchants guild next. With a confident smile Frost headed to the merchants guild to have a simr discussion with Sebastian and Calder. Over a period of many hours Frost visited, the adventurers guild, the merchants guild, the tradesman guild, the main bank of the territory as well as a few inns, restaurants and shops. Most were quite intrigued by his proposal with quite a few merchants interested in investing once the territory reached a certain level of attraction, same with the inns and restaurants. No one was going to dive in at the start which Frostpletely understood, it just meant that hed have to rely on his ronsos more in the interim. Frost thus gained a great deal of information as well as goals for his territory. Sebastian and Calder however were two of the more daring people he talked with, the two of them immediately offering their insights as well as possible coboration once the stampede waspletely handled. Something that filled Frost with confidence. Pretty much all of the shops he visited however werent interested in the slightest. Most of them were single stores and they had no interest in relocating their shops or in opening up a franchise but that was to be expected. The trade guild promised to put his requests up on their bulletin board thus allowing their members to apply individually if they so wished. There was always young people looking to set up their own shops and take some risks, perhaps Frost would get lucky. He returned to the Lords manner once the sun was setting. The guards at the gate saluted him with sparkling eyes as they asked about his day and informed him that Kiba had missed him while he was gone. Hearing that Frost turned away from the manors door and headed to the stables where Kiba was kept. The young tiger jumped up the moment he sensed Frost and dashed into his arms, nearly knocking him to the floor. Frost endured the charge and petted Kibas fluffy head affectionately. Theres going to be a celebratory party tomorrow night thatll have all manner of tasty foods, you and I will both get to attend it as guests of honour. As Frost described the party to the young cub his mouth began to salivate, clearly looking forward to such an event. The next morning however well head back home. A momentter his joy was reced with a sense of loneliness. The images of the two young phoenix kin, the mighty fenrir and all other monsters hed be friends with shed through his eyes. Aroow He let out a quiet whimper, he missed his new home. Frost also thought of home at that moment, the kids, his monsters and probably most of all, Maya. Absence makes the heart grow fonder apparently. He hardly had any time to think about anything else but fighting over the past few days. So after finally getting a chance to remember her face he was lost in a trance and wide natural smile grew on his lips. He missed her. The two, dungeon core and young tiger remained entwined as they both thought of home. Eventually however they came back to reality, Frost had Kiba return to the monster stables while he entered the manor. Another discussion was sure to take ce at dinner. A servant led Frost to the dining room wherein many people were waiting. Leo, Cassandra, Dous, Bastion, Jaina, Ryuu and Luna were all present at the grand table. The three men didnt look their best but they were no longer covered in blood and incapable of movement. A group of medical practitioners were present next the servants, keeping an eye on the high value patients. Frost Dous noticed Frost enter first and spoke his name with a gentle smile. His voice was no longer strained but he still looked rather white in the face and Frost could sense that he was still quite feeble. Good to see that youre all back in one piecewell mostlysorry Bastion. Frost replied with a well meaning statement but quickly felt guilty as he remembered Bastion. The old dwarf was sitting next to his daughter with a pair of crutches resting by his chair. His left leg was gone. The damage was beyond repair for Joseph and Giliannas skills, so it needed to be amputated to prevent further corrosion of the body and a case of permanent pain. His arms were also badly damaged preventing him from ever wielding his axe again. Frost saw that his arms were trembling with every movement, perhaps even using cutlery would prove to be an ordeal in the beginning. Bastion had a long road ahead of him. Baaaahhhhh no need for apologies, Jaina was always saying I needed to lose some weight hahahahahahahaha. Bastion replied joyfully andughed without restraint but it was clear that he was masking his pain with humour. Ryuu, Dous and the rest showedplicated expressions while Jaina started crying. A sombre atmosphere filled the room before Cassandra tapped her ss with a fork, drawing everyones attention. No tears tonight, this is a celebration of victory, only positive feelings should be shared. Cassandra looked at the crying Jaina with a gentle, motherly expression. The young dwarf struggled but eventually pulled herself together and presented a rather awkward smile. Frost please sit so we can begin. She turned that same gaze to Frost who instantly felt a warmth in his heart. He sat down at his chair which was next to Leo. Tonight well feast on delicacies and be thankful that our family and friends are still with us after all weve been through. Yes, were hurt but were alive and thats what matters in the end. Cassandras voice spread through the room like an oriole, bringing joy to all those who heard it. Dous, Ryuu, Bastion and Frost nodded in agreement before the servants started piling in to announce grand menu. Chapter 512 - 512 Chapter 512: Territory proposal (2) 512 Chapter 512: Territory proposal (2) Cassandra really went all out with the menu, there was no shortage of B-rank dishes being served and topliment them she brought out a bottle of wine called rose blossom red. An A-rank wine that had been aged for over a century, truly the very peak of fine dining. The servants marched to and fro, bringing in dish after dish with smiles on their faces. Gentle music was even yed in the background to help generate a joyful atmosphere, taking away the pall left by the war. Halfway through Bastion started smiling for real as he shoved mouthful after mouthful of B-rank meat into his mouth and sipped the wine. His paleplexion gradually turned rosy from the high-quality meat and wine making him and the others look almost healthy. Frost held nothing back stuffing himself with dish after dish to the point he felt like bursting. So tasty he smacked his lips and eximed internally before reaching for more food. He did however ask one of the servants if he could prepare a special meal for Kiba since he too yed a major part in the war. The servant smiled, moved by Frosts care for his battle mount however he shook his head and said that it had already been taken care of. Cassandra never forgot that it was Kiba who flew her husband to safety the first time he was injured so she had the chefs prepare an equally glorious feast for the young tiger. If he wasnt so big, she would have invited him in to eat alongside them. Frost smiled and thanked Cassandra for her thoughtfulness before he continued eating. The mealsted over hour and by the end each and every person had gone up at least a couple belt sizes but none of them felt bad in fact they all had greatly satisfied expressions on their faces as they patted their bulging bellies. They engaged in small chat, avoiding anything serious and anything rted to the stampede as their stomachs settled. However eventually there had to be some real discussion, Cassandra just wanted to have them engage in merriment beforehand. ..... Frost, Leo informed me and Cass about a certain proposal you and he discussed. Dous started the formal discussion and though he was still fairly injured his natural noble charisma couldnt be masked. Thrall also sent me a message about that. Bastion who was feeling much better turned to look at Frost. Ryuu seemed to be the only adult in the dark as he was looking back on forth between Dous, Bastion and Frost. Frost nced at Leo who gave him a thumbs up gesture. Yes, we discussed establishing a close-knit rtionship between Furano and my territory. Frost replied back with a formal tone, assuming the same demeanour he did when discussing the issue with the guild heads. Your territory? Ryuu asked in confusion, unable to follow the discussion. Allow me to exin. It was Leo who spoke. He stood up from his chair and began to exin the proposal to everyone present along with the asional input from Frost. He included his suggestion and personal opinion hoping that the adults would agree with him and Frost. A private run camp set up next to the new dungeon that lies between our territory and the cial mountains, right at the southern entrance correct? Ryuu questioned. Thats correct. Fwooooo Dous, Bastion what are your thoughts? Ryuu let out a long breath before asking for his friends opinions. This proposal was more geared towards the two of them after all. He was just a court mage that handled the administration of the territory, Dous was still the shot caller. However in his personal opinion he was pretty convinced. As long as Frost wasnt lying about the state of development and the level of military force protecting it the venture sounded very promising. And given his knowledge of Frosts personality as well as their friendship he didnt think hed be one to lie. Dous, Bastion and Cassandra all thought deeply about the proposition keeping Leo and Frost on tenterhooks. Personally, I think its a great idea however my word doesnt mean much in these matters. For the adventurers guild to get properly involved well need permission from the headquarters in the capital. All I can do at the moment is inform the local adventurers about a new camp. Bastion shook his head, annoyed that his guild couldnt fully invest in such a venture until it had already proven itself. He and Ryuu then turned to Dous and Cassandra, the only ones with the right to pretty much do what they want regardless of the risks. Dous and Cassandra looked at one another before staring directly into the eyes of their only son. Leo youll will inherit the viscounty and be the ruling lord in the future. Engaging in such a partnership will not be easy and could very well cause a cascade of problems down the line when youre in charge, you cannot be blinded by emotions. Are you really sure you wish to back Frost and his territory? Dous imbued his words with aura, making Leo endure a heavy pressure despite the fact it aggravated his wounds. Leo trembled from the weight and found it painful to look into his fathers eyes. He questioned his intentions and resolve. Is this really the right choice? Am I simply blinded by my friendship with Frost and his personal strength? Will this partnership benefit us in the long, long term? Frost could see Leo wavering, unsure of himself. He sighed internally but didnt say anything as it wasnt his ce to interfere right now. He simply had to trust in Leo and the proposal he submitted. 30 secondster Leo shook his head, his thoughts coalescing back into one. He stared straight at his father with resolve ring in his eyes. Yes father, I believe that partnering ourselves with Frost and his territory will not only be beneficial in the mid-term and long term but also decades in the future. The dungeon though something new is still at its base akin to a monsterir and it already has more than five floors all with differing environments and monsters. Its a goldmine in terms of materials and it only shows signs of growing such abundance. We would be fools to not take advantage of such a ce in the early stages better yet with someone we know and trustpletely. My emotions may have swayed my thoughts in the beginning however Frost has given a clear cut proposal this stands on its own merit. Hes already ahead of everyone else, has substantial military might and even the aid of a highly popted enve in the cial mountains external regions. Father, Mother we should ept Frosts proposal. Leo announced in an unwavering voice, the charisma of a noble briefly shining through him causing Dous, Cassandra, Ryuu and Bastion to be in awe. Leo was finally showing his mettle as the next ruling lord. There was silence for a few seconds before a bright smile adorned Cassandras face and Dous startedughing. Hahahahhaha I couldnt have put it better myself. Very well the Furano viscounty will ept Frosts proposal and enter into friendly territorial rtions. Leo since who epted and presented the proposal to your mother and I, you will be in charge of the project. Consider it your first major test as my heir. Dous bellowed his response with pride in his heart. Leos body trembled with excitement. He turned to face Frost and raised his fists up into the air and roared we did it! His joy clear as day. Frost however was much better at controlling himself, he simply smiled brightly at his young friend without any fanfare, but his fists were clenched under the table and his heart was screaming sess. Getting the support of the Furano viscounty would help so much in the long run. With the proposal epted therge group engaged in future discussions. The adults lending their expertise to the two young men who had just cemented their territories friendship. The group talked wholeheartedly for hours about the project as well as the uing celebration that would involve everyone in the territory. Dous felt relieved at passing the torch to his son, though he did enjoy being the host of the stampede victory celebrations he couldnt really be up and walking for hours on end in his current state. Bastion and Ryuu also decided to hand over their responsibilities to their subordinates and the young, their time was over. Of course, the topic of injuries did crop up on asion but it was met with warmth and positivity. Dous dered hed search high and low for medicines that could restore each of them to full fighting condition, Bastion most of all. Every time he saw that missing left leg and those trembling arms, he felt an intense pain in his heart. Money would be of no consequence in his search as he could always make more. Bastion cried at his statement, but they were happy tears. Ever since he woke up and felt the state of his body he fostered a horrible dread in his heart, that he would be abandoned by those he cared about. Douss words and the heart-warming gazes of everyone at the table cleared him of that doubt and suddenly the loss of his leg and the weakness in his arms no longer mattered as much. Oh, I almost forgot we were going to hand over your rewards tonight. Chapter 513 - 513 Chapter 513: Rewards 513 Chapter 513: Rewards Oh, I almost forgot I was going to hand over your rewards tonight. Leo suddenly remembered his earlier promise. He turned to look at the nearby clock and found that it was almost midnight. The meal was long over, and everyone was in the midst of leaving but it shouldnt take long to hand over a few items. Hoh Frosts attention was grabbed by the mention of rewards. Surely working his ass of for several days with his life on the line at every moment was worth a great deal. Everyone who was about to get ready for bed decided to sit back down, eager to see the items being granted to Frost, a B-rank fighter who came to their aid in their time of need. Of course, Dous and Cassandra were privy to the details, but they still looked forward to seeing Frosts reaction. Leo smiled widely seeing the interest in Frosts and the others eyes. He whispered to a nearby servant who went to fetch something on his behalf. In addition to the gold from the adventurers guild theres the gold from our house, the payment for the much-needed supplies as well as a few choice items that have been specifically retrieved from our vaults. All the B-rank adventurers who came to our aid and survived the war are entitled to a single item from our vaults given their prowess however given our friendship and your remarkable efforts during thete stages weve added a few extrasjust dont tell the others. Leo winked and ced a finger on his lips in a silent gesture. A smile grew on Frosts lips upon hearing Leos words and his interest heightened. Now Im really looking forward to these rewards. I wonder what they could be? I have no need for weapons, Armour perhaps. Skills? Potions? His mind filtered through multiple possibilities as he waited. A few minutester the servant returned with a storage ring of supreme quality on top of a velvet pillow. Its quality was such that even after several centuries the space inside wouldnt degrade, all without any maintenance. This ring was one of the Furanos prized possessions, their impregnable vault that held their most hallowed artifacts and resources. Leo lifted the storage ring carefully from the velvet pillow and ced it on his index finger. The many intricate runes lit up once it was slotted but he had yet to gain ess. This storage ring was of the highest quality and required the highest protection, only members of the Furano house could ess the space inside. The password if you will, was a drop of their blood therefore Leo cut a small gash on his finger with a ceremonial knife the servant brought. Once the ruby red blood made contact with the ring the runic markings absorbed it, their glow turning from blue to red before eventually bing gold, a sign that the blood had been epted. At that moment a wide space filled with many high-ss items and artifacts connected to Leos mind. His family had gathered these items over the many centuries since their houses conception. Only the ruler of the Furano family and the dered heir could ess this ring even Leos uncle Alex didnt have ess. Leo felt honoured and incredibly respectful as he perused the items earned by his ancestors, this was their houses glory, proof of their valiant nature and their duty as the northernmost bastion. He could see several 4 star weapons and even a couple 5 star ones perfectly preserved in one area whereas others had equally rare armours, magic devices, skill books, magic tomes and even deeds to territories. The vaults of an old noble family were nothing to sneeze at. ..... Leos awe however was brief, he had a clear purpose for essing the familys vault, he could admire it another time. He focused his mind on the few items he, his father and mother had chosen to reward Frost with. A momentter three items were retrieved from the ring before he removed it and ced it back on the velvet pillow. The servant bowed his head before promptly leaving the dining room to ce the familys storage vault back in the physical vault. Luna who was by Leos side cast a healing spell, sealing up the tiny cut made by the ceremonial knife which earned her a look filled with affection. Jaina rolled her eyes at such a scene, clearly finding it rather cringeworthy. Bastion, Cassandra and Dous however smiled happily at the young love. Ryuu on the other hand was twitching at the lip, his fists opening and closing as he tried his best to endure the sight. Frost didnt even notice the scene his eyes entirely glued to three items brought out and ced on the table. Just from their appearance and the strict protocols needed to ess the storage ring he knew they were of high quality. One of the items appeared to be a piece of armour that covered the torso. The metal shimmered like starlight and looked to be as light as simple robes, more of a vest than armour. The second and third items were book sets, one focusing on magic whereas the other was for pole weapons such as ives, spears and halberds. Leo after looking lovingly towards Luna introduced the three items starting with the shimmering vest. This is a tunic made from starlight mithril, an upper 4-star armour that weighs less than 500 grams yet outshines even thick ted steel. It can be worn under regr clothes, hidden from view and is so light that it wont interfere with even the most flexible of movements. Leo chose this tunic for multiple reasons. First, he wanted something the help ensure his friends life. Second Frost was a very active warrior, someone who twisted his body in all manner of ways and relied heavily on his speed and flexibility to take down his foes. Finally, starlight mithril was a rather good conductor for ice-based chakra and provided a slight protection against magic all things that would benefit and suited a warrior such as Frost. The item would therefore be going to a good home, to someone deserving and who could bring out all its advantages instead of letting it gather dust on a shelf. Frost -with Leos permission- picked up the starlight mithril tunic and ran the metallic fibres through his fingers, feeling how light and flexible it was inparison to the other armours hed seen and tested. Even the armour that he currently used which was fashioned to his exact measurements by Daki was far more restricting than this tunic and only provided half the protection value. Of course, the tunic only covered his torso but still it was quite amazing that something so light and thin could outperform te armour. Frost squeezed the tunic with a fair amount of force and even attempted to tear it but made no headway. This starlight mithril tunic was truly an amazing piece of armour and was surely worth tens of gold coins. Therefore when his eyes met with Leos they were filled with immense gratitude. Although the B-rank adventurers who fought in the war could pick a single item from the Furano familys vault such a high-level armour probably wouldnt be on the list shown to them. This was a special privilege just for Frost. Thank you, Leo. Frost genuinely thanked Leo for his generosity, even bowing his head slightly. No need for thanks Frost senpai, this was something you earned by risking your life. Leo smiled gently before moving on to the other two items. Frost stored the vest in his own storage ring carefully as if afraid to scratch it. First off, this set of books contain knowledge in regards to ice-fire magic. Leo pointed to the first stack which contained 4 books wrapped up in a blue ribbon. Whereas these ones contain a set of techniques for pole weapons such as the spear and your ive. The next stack contained three books wrapped in a red ribbon. None of them were skill books, Frost would have to read and understand their contents the old-fashioned way. One of my very distant ancestors reached the A-rank as a mage and specialised in ice-fire magic. He left these tomes in the family vault hoping for one of his descendants to follow in his footsteps unfortunately there hasnt really been anyone particrly adept in magic born in our family for many generations and even those that werent badcked the capability to use ice-fire spells. Leo shook his head, slightly ashamed that they had let such high-quality tomes go to waste for so long. The four tomes contain his personal insights on the ice-fire element as well as the steps needed to learn two standard 4th circle spells and one 4th circle spell of his own design. A hallmark spell that made him rather famous back in the day. I hope his knowledge will help you break through the bottleneck and someday achieve the same level he did or perhaps even higher. Leo looked at the books with a glimmer of hope, wondering if Frost mastering his ancestors magic would bring him joy in the afterlife. Frost took the first book set with a heavy heart and excited grin. His magic had fallen behind his ive mastery. He was sorely in need of books such as this. Ill do my best Leo. Thats all I ask. Finally, these books contain the insights of my great, great, great aunt who was a master of pole weapons, spears, ives,nces, halberds she practised them all andpiled her knowledge and techniques into these tomes, passing down her legacy. Though my father and I use the sword and shield the knowledge is still useful, though we may not wield the same weapons as her learning their styles can help us defend against them. Im sure however that youll be able to benefit far more than we have. Leo thus pushed thest special reward to Frost, remembering the times he read them along with his father. Are you sure you wish to give away such knowledge? Wouldnt this weaken the Furano house for future generations and even expose the secrets of your familys battle styles? Frost asked nervously as he caressed the books. You dont need to worry about that Frost. Weve already made copies of their tomes, so the knowledge wont be lost. Plus, were only giving them out because its you, we trust that you wouldnt abuse this knowledge. Dous replied with a jovial and easy-going tone. Frost was their friend and ally; the family had no hesitation in exposing their battle styles to him. Frost felt touched by their trust once again, he bowed his head even lower this time as his heart flooded with gratitude. Those are the special rewards from our family vault, hopefully theyre to your liking? Leo asked confidently, a knowing smile on his lips. More than to my liking, theyre absolutely perfect, exactly what I need right now. Frost jokingly shoved thest set of books into his storage ring as if fearing Leo would take back his rewards. This made those present lightlyugh. No one however seemed shocked by thevishness of Leo and Dous, finding that such rewards were more than justified. Whats left is the transfer of gold. Chapter 514 - 514 Chapter 514: Rewards (2) 514 Chapter 514: Rewards (2) Whats left is just the gold coins, far less exciting but certainly unforgettable. The same servant who retrieved the items from the vault returned with another storage ring, one with far lower quality, it too would be a gift for Frost, an extra if you will. First off is the gold allocated by the adventurers guild which amounts to 30 coins, divided into the standard pay for a B-rank adventurer during thete stages of the monster stampede, the hazard pay frombatting superior enemies, a bonus for changing the tide of battle at dangerous moments, Kibas fast and reliable saving of numerous wounded and finally the excess from the mountains of monster materials recovered due to the war. Leo exined how the total of 30 gold coins was calcted but even, so Frost was pretty blown away. 30 gold coins was no small amount, adding on the three special items he just received his total ie was likely nearing 100 gold coins. Not bad for a few days work. Being a high-level adventurer was certainly a very high-ie job. Next, we have the additional gold reward from our household which is split between you personally answering our call for aid as a friend, saving my father from certain death, killing the dreaded rindarmander in a duel and finally payment for the supplies you brought in our time of need. All of which amounts to another 20 gold coins. Leo pulled out the entire 50 gold coins and piled them before Frost in sets of ten. The bright gold shimmered in the light, giving off a gold sheen that sparkled in peoples eyes. That was a lot of gold, far more than Frost had even seen however he had gotten a little more used to money since his first encounter thus he managed to slightly restrain his expression, disying only a wide smile even though internally his heart was performing backflips and singing Money! Money! Money! Money! Money! Even Leo who was the heir to the Viscounty and whod been involved in more than a few high-level transactions couldnt help but have his lips twitch and his hands tremble as he put the money back in the storage ring. Those 50 gold coinspletely eclipsed the savings he had in the bank. Haaaaa maybe I should keep at the adventuring gig for a bit longer. Leo was already in training to be the next head of the house, oncepleted hed have far less opportunity to go on adventures and rake in the dough. Being the head of a territory certainly entailed arge amount of ie but the vast majority of it would be used to cover the territories many expenses i.e. maintaining the manor, the towns and viges, paying wages etc only a small sum would actually end up in his pocket a personal spending money. Plus, money earned as an adventurer or through personal hard work felt more empowering. He looked at his father and wanted toy some me on the old man considering he got to keep adventuring until he was in his mid-twenties but erased that line of thought a momentter. His father had endured enough it was time he did his share. This is yours now, spend it wisely. Leo said as gently as possible, masking his jealously the best he could. Hehehehe I will, dont worry. Frost giggled seeing right through his young friend but chose not to rub it in too much. If I simply turned the 50 gold coins into DP thatd be 50,000 right off the bat but unfortunately theres another need for it. 50,000 DP was certainly tempting but the camp he was in the middle of establishing needed startup capital, 50 gold coins would go a long way in ensuring a smooth workflow. ..... I should visit the bank again tomorrow to get at least half of the gold coins changed into coppers and silvers. Though there was a small charge for such a service Frost was in need of a variety of coins not just gold. With the rewards handed over as well as thevish amount of gold it was finally time for everyone to hit the hay. Cassandra and a servant helped Dous to the bedroom while Luna and Leo helped Ryuu and Jaina and Frost helped Bastion who really wasnt used to using his crutches. Medical staff were on standby outside their rooms to be ready at a moments notice. Frost returned his room where he recently slept like a log for 16 hours. He didnt feel all that tired thanks to that but after a quick dip in the bath he quickly entered a deep sleep. He had a few more ces to visit tomorrow while he was still in Furano. The bank, a couple workshops as well asying thest breadcrumbs for Borris. Having such an experienced smith in his new budding territory, someone who could teach his ronsos as well exchange ideas with Daki was a highly desired asset, plus he was quite fond of the old man. Time passed and Frost woke up from his sleep at roughly 8 in the morning, the sun already rising in the sky and many people were already on their way or at work. He stretched his arms up high above his head causing his back to crack. He then looked at the clock, saw the time and nodded before casting clean up magic and donning his robes, the brand-new starlight mithril tunic hidden underneath the armour forged by Daki thus greatly improving his defence. He hardly even felt the new addition to his line-up, bringing a smile to his face. After calling for a servant he was guided to the dining room for breakfast. Leo, Luna and Jaina werent present as they had mountains of work to do. They left before the crack of dawn, picking up the ck of their elders who were currently injured. Dous was still in bed resting as was Ryuu, but Cassandra and Bastion were there. They smiled and greeted Frost as he entered. Bastion sounded a lot more chipper after their hurrahst night, no longer feeling as pessimistic about his situation. So, what are your ns today? And remember weve got the celebration tonight so be back by 5. Cassandra asked and reminded him about the grand celebration, a clear twinkle in her eyes as she did. She absolutely loved the grand celebration that happened every few years, never did she feel as close to the popce as she did during those events. 5, alright. I n on visiting a few more stores and workshops in regards to working with my territory. Hardly any showed any interest yesterday, but a few stated what they needed for such a venture to be viable thus giving me clear goals for the future. Itll be difficult in the beginning with few people taking the risk but after weve been established for a few months or even years Im sure well be far more appealing. Cassandra and Bastion both nodded agreeing with him. Hardly anyone would be willing to dive into a such a new venture, it entailed a lot of risk after all however once that risk was lessened or even eliminated Frost would likely be the one doing the rejecting. And after? Well, I need to visit the bank again, Ill likely open an ount and change some of my gold into lesser coins so as to support the early stages of the territory. After that I n to visit Borris, the one who forged my ive then Im free. Borris, the old dwarven smith in the money pit sector? Cassandra questioned noting that Frosts intentions were to possibly poach him. She wouldnt have minded that much when he was till a 3-star smith given his advanced age, but he was now a 4-star smith, the best Furano had ess to. Frosts lips twitched at her tone and weirdly intimidating gaze, realising that his plot had been seen through. Haaaaaaa yes thats the one and yes, your assumption is correct I do intend to bring up him moving to my territory. Weve already had a few discussions about it since hed been feeling rather uninspiredtely and wished to reignite his passion through travelling. Frost let out a sigh and disyed his intentions openly, lying would get him nowhere and would only insult their friendship. Cassandra continued to eye him with her intimidating gaze as she ran numbers in her head and thought of the benefits and cons before going over Frosts words clearly. Eventually however she also sighed and gave a reply. Although I would obviously prefer such a skilled smith staying in Furano, if hes willing to leave due tock of inspiration and truly wishes to join you theres nothing, I can say about it however you must be above board in your offers and not mislead him in any way. Plus, his store in Furano must remain open and we can use his new status to promote the smithing industry in our territory. She spoke firmly, allowing for no negotiation. Borriss advanced age and her friendship with Frost yed a big part in herpromising this much as when you get down to it Frost was literally stealing their talent to benefit his own territory. Certainly, its only Borris whos showed interest in a change and as far as I know hes already in the process of handing over the store to his children effectively semi-retiring. But Ill ry your words to him when I meet himter. Frost had no issues with Cassandras demands as they didnt disadvantage him in any way. Alright then you can do as you see fit. She nodded her head in eptance before digging into a fruit sd that was to be her breakfast. Bastion however nced at Frost warily before speaking. You better not n on poaching any of my guild staff. He said in a slightly serious and slightly joking manner. No, not yet anyway. You! Im kidding, rx I know better than toy my hands on the adventurers guild especially during such hectic times. Frostughed at seeing Bastion suddenly re up. Of course, hed be delighted to have the guild staff under his wing as theyd be great for handling the influx of adventurers visiting his dungeon but doing so would make him a clear enemy of the guild. If or rather when the guild decides to build a branch in his camp, hed be able to broach the transfer of staff in an official manner but until then hed have to do most of the work himself. Hmph! Bastion hmphed before digging into his meal which was something tailored to his recovery i.e. focused more on benefits than taste, a good reason why he was so grouchy. After breakfast Frost visited Kiba in the monster stables and informed him that hed be wandering around town again and that he should stay and y with some of the other battle mounts in the meantime. This got him an annoyed growl but eventually he turned away to interact with a couple ice wolves hed gotten close with, forgetting all about Frost. Guess Ill start with the shops and workshops then. Chapter 515 - 515 Chapter 515: Banking 515 Chapter 515: Banking Frost made his way towards the manufacturing district to meet with some of the workshops owners he didnt get a chance to visit yesterday as well as the ones who showed some basic interest. Unlike regr shops, workshops were more open to the prospect of a new budding territory, especially one like Frosts given its close proximity to a dungeon as they depended far more on materials than customers. By setting up a workshop in Frosts territory they could easily rake in and treat a vast amount of monster materials. The end products could then be transported back to Furano to be disyed in their established shops. Of course, most were still not willing to make any substantial moves until the territory proved itself nheless it gave Frost an inkling for the future. He left for the bank after visiting all the remaining workshops and shops on his list. He hadnt broached the topic of involving the bank in any of his ns mainly because he knew for a fact it was a pointless endeavour. Frost had no coteral and only a minor reputation that only extended to Furano. The banks headquarters even disliked having one of their branches in Furano so why would they open another or even risk providing a loan to help establish an even smaller territory. Frosts only intention was to seek some minor advice and open up an ount to help facilitate the frequent transactions hed be involved in. Business owners, wealthy families, territory lords and their extravagant scions rarely used actual coins whenever they make purchases as it would be quite an ordeal to carry that vast amount of gold around whenever they went shopping. Sure they could store it their storage devices but it still took up space, space that could be better utilised. Instead, bankcards were used in leu of coins. The magnificent works of art were connected directly to their owners bank ount through the wonders of magic and skilled artificers. The cards logged the amount of wealth stored in their ounts and deducted from that number whenever a transaction was made. The deduction would then be transferred to the sellers bankcard facilitating payment. It was a smooth, quick and thanks to multiple protections making it so that only the owner of the card could facilitate its services was also a much safer alternative. Of course not everyone could gain ess to such an advanced service no this feature was exclusive to the rich. A bank card required the customer to have a minimum level of capital in their ount in order to be epted for the service. This was followed by a monthly subscription fee and an agreement that allowed the bank to take a small percentage of each transaction made with the card. The bank really drained their customers as much as they could for using this service but those with unlimited funds could care less. Having a bank card was not only easier it was a clear status symbol that separated the rich from the poor. In their eyes it was a small price to pay. Frost was currently flush with cash and would likely see a high level of ie and expenditure in theing months, so he was inclined to get one to help facilitate future transactions. The manager of the bank, Hoggins who he was introduced to by Leo several weeks ago cleared his schedule the moment he was informed of Frosts arrival, he would handle the young dungeon core personally. After doing a substantial background check on Frost after hisst visit the shrewd bank manager came up empty which only deepened his respect. Frost was surely of a very powerful background, his appearance, talents and charisma all spoke of such origins. Mr Hoggins its good to see you again, hows business? Frost opened with some minor small chat and niceties, knowing that these simple exchanges helped down the line when he started talking business. You as well sir Frost, Ive been hearing nothing but good things about you. Im honoured to be aquatinted with such a young and talented warrior. Hoggins replied with expert ttery. The two exchanged a few other pleasantries before Frost brought up the reason for his visit. He didnt go into much detail in regards to his territory as that yed no part in his partnership with the bank. All he wanted was to exchange some of his gold coins for those of lesser value, gain some information on loans and the bank cards. I see, so youre here pretty much as an entrepreneur with a n already set in motion and a decent level of capital. Hoggins highlighted the situation in terms the bank could understand. ..... Since youre not a citizen of the empire, have no residence within itsnds and given that youre a first timer in terms of business at least to our knowledge we cant offer any sort of loans to you for your current venture, the risk is far too much for us. He first rejected the loan possibilitiespletely which Frost fully expected. He nodded in understanding and kept the smile on his face showing he was unperturbed by the rejection. Exchanging of gold coins to those of lesser value is a service we offer to anyone regardless of origin though there is a small fee. Id also rmend exchanging more than 20 gold coins worth given your current venture. The customers youll be entertaining as well as future employees wont have much need for gold coins, at least in the interim. In regards to a bank card, given your capital and the rmendation of the Furano family I can offer you a few different cards each with their own requirements. Hoggins first exined his professional opinion in regards to Frosts need for lower value coins before cing a couple contracts on the table. First off we have the lowest bank card service that we employ called the opal card. This requires a minimum of 10 gold coins in your ount and has a monthly fee of 3 silver coins. Theres also a stiption that each transaction using the card includes a 5% charge on top of the initial exchange e.g. if you buy something for 100 silvers, youll be deducted 105 silvers. This card also has a limit of 10 gold coins per transaction, it cant facilitate anything higher. This was another reason why the bank cards stood as status symbols. The better the bank card the higher the individual transactions. Next, we have the emerald card which is the mostmon card used by small to medium business owners. The requirement for this one is to have 25 gold coins in your ount andes with a monthly fee of 5 silver coins. The stiption is also reduced to 4% and the transaction limit is increased to 25 gold coins. We also offer an overdraft facility with this card to the extent of 5 gold coins. Hoggins thus went through a few of the more detailed uses of the emerald card as this was the main card he was pushing for Frost. Finally we have the next step up which facilitates therge medium businesses,rge businesses and more spendthrift noble families, the ruby card. Minimum starting capital is 100 gold coins, and the monthly subscription is 12 silvers. The stiption is again reduced to 3% and the transaction limit is increased to 100 gold coins. Theres an overdraft service that has a limit of 10 gold coins butes with an extra month to pay it off before interest umtes. The ruby card also allows preferential treatment in regards to loans even if you arent a citizen of the empire. Though this card was out of Frosts price range at the moment the fact that by having it he would be able to apply for a loan spoke volumes. Hoggins probably showed this one so as to inspire him to fill his bank ount. Frost currently had around 60 gold coins with him, a fair bit shy of the 100 gold requirement for the ruby card. The other two cards were within his price range, the opal one seemed to be for the slightly well off people who wished to own a bankcard whereas the emerald one was for real businesses. If Frost exchanged 30 gold coins, hed still have 30 left, enough for the emerald card. Is there any contract to prevent canction and how easy is it to upgrade to the next level of card? The opal and emerald carde with a 6-month contract whereas the ruby cardes with a 12-month contract. Terminating the card within the contract period constitutes some pretty heavy fees. Hoggins answered honestly, not willing to risk his rtionship with Frost. Upgrading however is very easy, all it takes is a discussion with one the bank tellers and the signing of a new contract, no fees included even if youre within a contract period for one of our other cards. Itd be pointless to convolute an upgrade process thatted them more money. With his questions answered and any misgivings rectified Frost thought in silence for a couple minute before choosing the emerald card as it suited his business scope more than the opal one. Plus he felt put off taking the cheapest option given his status. After signing the contract an assistant came and took it away while another brought in a contraption that was used to weigh coins. Hoggins himself then took Frosts 30 gold coins and handled the exchange. In the end Frost ended up with 2100 silvers and 85,000 coppers, making the charge for the exchange 50 silvers. An emerald-coloured card decorated with silver engravings was delivered to the office a minute after the exchange wasplete. With the insertion of his mana the card was bound to Frost making him the sole user. His bank ount currently had the 30 gold coins needed to facilitate the activation of the emerald bank card. Before leaving he decided to withdraw 10 gold coins and ce them in his storage ring along with the mountains of silver and copper. Guess Ill go and visit Borris now. Chapter 516 - 516 Chapter 516: Sudden danger 516 Chapter 516: Sudden danger Frost gradually made his way towards the money pit where Borris shop was located. Many soldiers, adventurers and citizens respectively nodded his way as he passed, grateful for his aid during the war. Peace and regr life was swiftly returning to therge town. Smiles, asionalughter and bright expressions were abundant through his eyes. Of course there was also the strictness of the reinforcing soldiers, the still lingering scent of blood and iron as well as those who were not so joyful. Those who lost dear ones in the war and or suffered devasting injuries, leaving them broken and crippled. The orphanages gained more than a few more members by the end, painting both the good and bad images of the war. However now that Adam was no longer in control of the territory Cassandra and Dous made damn sure that their hopes and dreams for the territory were put back on track. The orphanages in particr were sanctuaries full of life and love. Children who lost their guardians would be nurtured with great love and care within their walls. The only want theyd have would be for parents, a wish that was more often than not granted in the Furano territory. Those who were unfortunate enough to not be adopted however would notck in any way. The orphanage would raise and educate them to the same level as any other child with parents and the businesses in the territory would open their doors to them without prejudice. Frost witnessed several crying children being encased in the arms of a sister from the orphanage, his heart strings tugging as the image brought to mind Loki and Nanna. In another instance he saw a man who had barely any light left in his eyes staring dead ahead. A bowl of soup was on the table before him yet he could not eat it as he was without arms. His wife or close family member sat by his side doing her best to encourage his will to live. Where there was joy, celebration and even eagerness there was also loss, pain and despair. Haaaaaaa, hopefully time will heal their wounds. Frost sighed and muttered under his breath as he looked away from the listless man. Seeing him brought up the memories of those who died in the war, Halgrave, Bagua and so many others. Thankfully the reinforcements arrived early otherwise the death toll would have been so much higher. His gaze turned towards the northern wall. There the reinforcements stood watch, guarding the town from any fractured waves. The crown prince, General Warik and General Anya were all there to give a sense of solidarity and invincibility to the ones sheltering behind the wall. Frost thought for sure that the crown prince would be staying in the Furano mansion given that he was the prince of the empire, and they were the ruling lords of the territory but instead he chose to rest with his soldiers at the barracks. Of course his quarters were far more luxurious given his status, but it helped build up his image among the popce. Something he needed to do to further his agenda. His activities during the final battle were rathercklustre inparison to the generals and Frost who was praised as the ultimate hero of the war. He needed to do all he could to garner support. ..... Though Frost saw through the mans intentions he didnt think ill of him in fact he supported the princes decision as it meant that he didnt have to deal with him back in the manor. Regardless however he was grateful for the princes swift arrival. Frost started to get rather peckish as he walked so he first visited a restaurant on the way to Borris store. Nothing fancy like the phoenix fledgling restaurant but tasty none the less. He paid less than 3 silvers to fill his stomach and put a satisfied smile on his face. The act of visiting a recently reopened restaurant that was filled with enthusiasm after a hard worn war calmed his heart. He could feel the resourcefulness and hardy nature of the Furano people through the meals vour. He left a nice tip as thanks before continuing his journey to Borriss shop hoping to chat with the old man and convince him to visit his territory in the near future. He also had to officially thank him for the exemry job he did on the ive and congratte his promotion to a 4 star smith. As he walked, thinking about how the conversation would go down he failed to notice that the people around him grew more and more sparse until finally he waspletely alone on a street. A very strange situation given the poption and the attitudes of the citizens. A cold air and a well-hidden bloodlust knocked Frost out of his thoughts. His entire body shivered, and goosebumps formed along his skin. His hair stood on end and his heart lurched as an immense feeling of dread consumed him. Fear and the eery spectre of death wrapped around him, whispering in his ear that his death wasing, and he was powerless to stop it. Frost had no time to question why he was suddenly feeling this way, he saw nothing and picked up no unusual sounds or magical vibrations, but his instincts never steered him wrong. Maya always told him to never ignore his instincts especially when it came to fear. Most people at his level would bepletely frozen stiff from this level of pressure but Frost was not most people, hed been subjected to even greater levels of fear from his guardian during training. He could still think and act calmly. Suddenly the bloodlust amplified, and Frost sensed a devasting attacking from behind, his heart was the target. With a minuscule amount of time to act Frost wasted no time at all, dodging such an aggressive, fast and well-timed blow was impossible. The attacker was clearly far above his level. All he could do was redirect the blow to a less fatal area. Frost desperately shifted his body forward and to the left, changing the point of contact. This whole process happened in but a fraction of a second from the moment Frost was alone on the street and stopped walking the game was in y. DONNNN!!! Frost was struck hard on his right shoulder de. His robes burst open revealing the armour Daki crafted for him whichsted less that a moment before it shattered. The sharp and deadly objected thrusting into his back thus shed against the starlight mithril tunic Leo gifted him. Hmmm? A questioning mutter sounded before Frost wasunched forward like a cannonball. Boom! He crashed into a nearby wall, his body groaning from the sudden impact. Frost coughed up a great deal of blood as he hastily stood up so as to not leave himself undefended. His right shoulder was broken and dislocated, and his right lung nearly burst. Thankfully the starlight mithril tunic remained intact and absorbed most of the force otherwise he wouldnt have been able to remain conscious. Frost didnt know exactly what happened or why, but he knew one thing for sure, he was in grave danger. A single blow from this person was enough to seriously wound him. His mind thought of only a single possibility A-rank. Though there was only a single level between them that level was a sheer chasm, the two couldnt bepared in the same sentence. Frost wasted no time in being arrogant or prideful, he knew what he could and couldnt face off against. This person was definitely something he couldnt. Though every movement of his body sent waves of pain throughout his system Frost reached into his robes and removed an intricate talisman. This was his saving grace, an item that hed kept close at hand throughout the entire monster stampede. He was almost forced use it on a few asions but none of them even remotelypared to his current threat. Thankfully it seemed as though the one who attacked him didnt think he was much of a threat as he didnt immediately chase after him when his ambush failed, a very big mistake on his part. The assassin who attacked Frost stood in the street garbed in ck robes. A gnarly looking dagger was in the persons right hand. They were inspecting the tip with a questioning look in their eyes -the only part of their face that was revealed. How peculiar, my reaping dagger not only failed to pierce him he even sensed me and moved to protect himselfno wonder he wants rid of him. The assassin had a male voice that was grating to the ears and elicited a fearful chill to those who heard it. He was surprised at his initial failure but didnt dwell too much on the problem as Frost was too weak to be of any sort of threat. Shame you have to suffer, I prefer killing my victims with a single blow, less painful that way and far easier to clean up. The assassin looked at the trembling Frost with pity before twirling his dagger and bing like a shadow. You can me your own talent for your pain. After saying his final words the assassin prepared for his next killing blow, Frost would not be able to avoid it this time. Hmph! And you can me your ignorance for yours! Frost roared back as he tore apart the talisman in his hands, causing a burst of powerful energy to escape and warp the space before him. The assassin halted in ce as he felt an immeasurable pressure from the talisman. What the hell is that! He roared internally as fear filled his heart. Afraid me? He questioned his own instincts before fury took hold of him, angered by his own reaction. He wantonly ignored the sense of danger and unknown power emanating from the torn talisman and restarted his attack. Whatever it was, taking out Frost first seemed like a safe bet. The assassin once again turned into a shadow and moved towards Frost with his dagger aimed at his throat, his speed at the very limits of Frosts perception. The sense of death once again filled Frosts heart and his body felt as though it was wrapped in ethereal chains preventing even the slightest movement. The assassin, no longer taking any chances used his aura to pin him in ce, shame it was toote. As the gnarly daggere upon Frosts neck a dainty white hand stretched out from the void and grabbed it, holding it in ce like a vice. The assassin didnt even have enough time to react before the weak looking hand tensed into a fist and shattered his prized dagger as if it was harmless scrap. The next moment he felt a pair of eyes lock onto him from the warped space,rge, imposing and full of unbridled wrath. The white hand proceeded to m into his chest causing a horrible crunching sound to fill the air before he was smashed against the ground, leaving a deep trail in his wake. His armour was practically dissolved and his rib cage was inundated with cracks. His heart was even ruptured in multiple ces. If he didnt take a high level potion or reach a skilled healer soon hed be dead. A level of fear he couldnt evenprehend wrapped around his body as the owner of the white hand stepped out of the void, revealing herself to the world. Chapter 517 - 517 Chapter 517: Maya’s fury 517 Chapter 517: Mayas fury The teleporting talisman connected the space in between Frost and Mayas location, interposing the two coordinates as one. The moment Frost ripped apart the talisman the energy held within warped space and connected to Maya. Maya who was in the middle of teaching Nanna and Loki suddenly trembled before being instantly whisked away into a spatial warp, leaving the two children rather confused and worried. The timing of her transition was momentary but long enough for her to know what was happening. Her young master was in grave danger, one that threatened his life. Anger and desperation filled her heart as prepared herself for battle not willing take even the slightest chance. Her hand appeared first from the void and instantly grabbed hold of a gnarly looking dagger that threatened to pierce through Frosts exposed neck. She promptly shattered the insolent weapon into dust with her overwhelming physical strength that byed her dainty appearance. Shortly following that sudden action she swatted the dark cloaked assassin with the same hand, easily shattering all his protective measures and sending him careening across the ground. The assassins chest was caved in from the blow and his organs received extensive damage. Just a simple p from Maya had ced the A-rank assassin in dire straits. The difference in strength was greater than the chasm between the earth and the heavens. An S-rank fighter was practically unrivalled throughout Nova, only second to the immortal Gods that governed thews and aspects of the world. The dainty white hand was soon joined by the rest of Mayas jaw dropping body. Her figure, appearance and even her charisma were poles apart from any other woman within 100,000 kilometres. Unfortunately given her anger and desperation her expression was cold and filled with killing intent. Her eyes briefly nced at Frost- gleaming his current state- before focusing on the assassin and the world around her. Thankfully Frost was in decent condition, his wound though striking could be mended by a mid-level health potion. She was summoned because he could not ensure his survival against a second strike. Though shed only arrived for less than a second Maya was able to understand her young masters current state, the strength of his aggressor as well as the awkward situation surrounding the empty street. Her anger shot through the roof when she noticed the level of preparation the assassin enacted just to take out Frost, a newly promoted B-rank. The methods were clearly overkill but they ced a strong emphasis on stealth, isting Frost from everyone else so as to make the killing swift and well hidden. If Frost didnt have such tenacious instincts not only, would he have been killed without even knowing what happened, all traces of who did it would have been erased. Upon realising this Mayas bloodlust and aura started to infuse into the air without restraint. The bloodcurdling pressure instantly enveloped the entire street, pressing down on everything with a pulse. Even Frost who was not the target of her anger was forced prone. His body copsing under the weight and trembling out of primal fear, like a rabbit staring into the maw of a wolf. The A-rank assassin who was already making efforts to minimise his injuries and escape from the sudden interloper was frozen in ce. All his nerves acted up, preventing the signals from his brain reaching his muscles. Even his subconscious that controlled his breathing, blood cirction and other motor functions stopped in ce, leaving just a single powerful emotion.fear. ..... Even with the assassins ample experience with death he was nothing under the predatory eyes of Maya. He was no different from a weak E-rank in her eyes. Mayas aura and bloodlust continued to grow and grow as she slowly stepped towards the shivering assassin. After taking 3 steps the magic device that isted the street from the rest of the world starting twisting. At the 5th step it groaned and cracked. Then when her foot made contact with the ground at her 7th step the isted world copsedpletely, immediately reconnecting the street with regr space. The street was still empty as the device persuaded people to avoid the area while it was active but now Mayas aura and bloodlust were no longer contained within that encapsted space. Her presence quickly proliferated the surrounding area with great speed, causing countless citizens to tremble and break out in cold sweat. Those who were at the minimum of C-rank and who had glimpsed upon the knowledge of aura felt the danger even more clearly. Each of them turned their heads towards the money pit where the presence originated. During the entire stampede they never felt such a powerful presence even when General Warik or General Anya released their auras. The C-ranks thought that it was someone who was high in the A-ranks whereas the B-ranks felt that it was someone at the very peak perhaps half step into the fabled S-rank. None of them felt that it was an actual S-rank fighter given how rare they were and their current location. Why the hell would a legendary S-rank be here in Furano. The three A-ranks however were far more knowledgeable, the presence was definitely not from someone at the A-rank. Dmar who was at mid A-rank stood up from his chair with a panic-stricken expression. His granddaughter and apprentice Natalie was taken by surprise from his actions and was about to loudlyin but before she could Dmar sternly ordered her to stay in the room and note out until he returned before dashing out the door. In another area General Anya reacted much in the same way, she gave simr orders to her nearby subordinates before quickly running towards the money pit. Some B-ranks also made their way toward the money pits at top speed, keen to see who this powerful warrior was and why they were emitting such bloodlust. Ryuu, Bastion and Dous who were still recovering looked towards the money pit and frowned, that presence somehow felt familiar yet also unknown at the same time. They wanted to check it out as well but knew that in their condition it was an impossibility. They left it to the Generals and sir Dmar instead. Thankfully Mayas bloodlust and aura only seemed to pressure the nearest vicinity, the assassin in particr, Maya was still in some control of her rage. The pressure on Frost also lightened as she stepped closer to the man, enough that he could pull out a mid-level health potion and down its contents. Maya had little to no interest in allowing the assassin to live much longer. Her aura had already begun to crush his body and interfere with his motor functions. He was dying in a very painful way which alleviated some of her anger. The poor assassin couldnt even articte words to beg for his life. He was filled with despair; this was supposed to be a simple job with no danger whatsoever. Frost was merely a recently promoted B-rank, with only a single piece of 4 star quality equipment, an easy kill for him who was A-rank and one of the best assassins in the empire. However despite this despair he didnt hate nor even attempt to turn on his employer to save his own hide. He was loyal and even while under excruciating pain he actually worried about his master kicking an iron board. Even if his master summoned his entire forces theyd be nothing against this woman, she was an absolute monster in the truest sense of the word. By the time Maya stood in front of the assassin he was nothing but a twisted, blood coated heap that barely retained the form of a human. He did try to use some magic devices and even skills to fight against Mayas pressure and or escape it but those methods meant nothing to someone at S-rank. While B-ranks could emit their aura beyond their bodies, allowing them to intimidate their foes and even imbue their weapons. At A-rank one could form their aura into physical manifestations and evenbine them with a measure of worldlyws however once someone reached S-rank they could establish a domain, an area of rule where they were veritable Gods. As long as someone was encapsted in this domain they were subjected to the whims of the user, they were pretty much invincible within these spaces. The poor assassin was already trapped within this domain, any method he used was easily quashed by a single thought. As resignation filled the mans eyes Maya reached down and wrapped her dainty white hand around his partially copsed neck. She then lifted his mangled body off the ground, holding therger man in the air as if he was weightless. Her eyes were suffused with a horrifying chill that threatened not even let off the assassins soul. She gave him onest dose of her killing intent, before ending his pitiful life. Die. She coldly said before her internal energy rampaged through his body and eviscerated the man down to his very atoms. Even his blood was broken down into an imperceptible dust. The A-rank assassin, a powerful fighter of the Northrend empire was thus annihted in an instant without leaving a single fragment. Maya didnt bother getting his name nor did she interrogate him about his master, such things were beneath her given her strength. Her eyes then coldly scanned the surrounding area before turning back to Frost, her cold expression instantly bing warm and affectionate. Her steps quickly turned into a sprint and a momentter Frost found himself wrapped up in a tight hug. His powerful guardian changing into his girlfriend in that moment. Chapter 518 - 518 Chapter 518: A bold accusation 518 Chapter 518: A bold usation Frost struggled to breath under Mayas vice grip but he didnt push her off instead he simply bared with it until she calmed down. His heart that had been through the wringer from the sudden assassination calmed down as the smell of Mayas hair filled his nose, bringing him a sense of peace. When he was with her, he was safe, he was home. A few momentster Maya removed herself from Frost with reluctance and donned a serious expression fit for a resolute bodyguard. Frost was surprised at first and instantly put his guard up thinking there was another danger lurking around but rxed when he sensed who hade. General Anya, General Warik, Sir Dmar as well as the crown prince all arrived within moments of one another. It was clear that they came to investigate the situation given the ring bloodlust Maya emitted in her rage which was kind of intentional. She wanted the bigwigs in the town to arrive so Frost could get an exnation. An assassination almost happened in the middle of a highly defended town, there were even 3 A-ranks present in the area. Frost also changed his demeanour quite drastically, he was pissed, incredibly so. General Anya who was more acquainted with Frost recognised him immediately and despite her wariness to Maya who was no longer hiding her strength she inquired about his health. Which painted her in a good light in Frosts eyes but he kept a dark expression. He practically red at General Warik and the crown prince, his hatred almost seething. Maya informed him telepathically that General Warik and the crown prince were actually in the vicinity when he was attacked. Though they tried to hide their presence and even arrived at roughly the same time as the others Maya was able to find the locations of everyone the moment she arrived. It was clear to her and Frost that the two of them at the very least had some inkling into the assassination attempt. He didnt think they were the ones behind it given that he hadnt pissed them off enough to warrant such action -at least not yet. He guessed that they must have gotten wind of the job and probably intended to use him as bait. With Frosts death theyd have enough clout to go after the assassin and even the one backing him. His death would merely be an eptable loss to them. Given how close they were they could have possibly intervened and rescued him but from what Maya said they showed no signs of movement despite the assassination already being in y. It seems Ive been too involved with the Northrend empire, not everyone is like the Furanos. Frosts identity as a dungeon core and not a sapient was reaffirmed in that moment. They were not the same. Despite having friends in Furano, people and monsters that werent under his dungeons purview were in the end possible prey, food for him to feast on. He had yed this adventurer and sapient act for too long, forgetting who he was. It was time to change that mindset. As though a fog had been lifted Frost rose from the crumbling wall, his clothes were in disarray and spatters of blood dotted his body but thanks to the health potion he was no longer in severe pain. His back stood straight and he looked dead ahead at the three A-ranks and one crown prince, focusing on thetter in particr which caused the arrogant man to wince and frown momentarily before doing his best to regain a friendly demeanour. Frosts royal aura naturally spread out as he walked ahead with Maya remaining closely behind, clearly stating her position in the power dynamic. Frost was the master whereas she was the guardian. This of course caused the three A-ranks to open their eyes in disbelief whereas Randolph burned with jealously. Not only was Maya a kingdom toppling beauty she was at the S-rank, a level no one in the entire empire had reached yet she was Frosts bodyguard. Hed never felt so poor in his entire life. ..... Frost turned to look at General Anya who had at this point curtailed any hope in having Frost join her outfit, his backing was far too high to be drafted into the frost wolf battalion. He gave her a slightly less chilling look given their past rtionship. I apologise for my partner and I for causing such amotion in the middle of town. Unfortunately I was met with an attack that sought to deprive me of my life and hide any traces of the act. An A-ranked assassin forced my partner to reveal her true strength thus resulting in all of you being informed. Frost spoke solemnly, his gaze washing over the four as well as those who started arriving. His announcement rang like a bell in the minds of those who rushed over. Who would dare try to assassinate Frost the hero of the monster stampede? He was a promising youth yes but he was only at B-rank, wasnt an A-rank assassin overkill? And why would someone risk attacking him now when 3 A-ranks were in town? This question caused some of theter arrivals to ponder a conspiracy, their gazes unconsciously turned to the two generals. Anya trembled and felt defamed, she was a loyal soldier why would she move to act against a promising junior. General Warik however sported a frown, Frosts words clearly conveyed a not so subtle usation. If Maya wasnt by his side General Warik would have likely suppressed Frost in that moment so as to prevent any suspicions developing. However the worst was about toe, Frost cared little about status before this incident but now he really didnt give two shits. Frost didnt want to remain here any longer than he had to so without any fear or care he once again red at Randolph before taking several strong steps towards him. General Warik immediately moved to stand in front of the crown prince but received a harsh re from Maya which halted him in ce. Randolph didnt expected Frost to not even care about his status as crown prince nor the A-rank General by his side. He looked down on him as if he was nothing but a mere bug before leaning over and speaking into his ear in a not so whisper. If you ever try to use me as bait again little prince, it will be thest thing you ever do. Frost tantly threatened the crown prince in front of multiple witnesses including two generals. Randolph felt incensed, his faced turned red and his hands balled into tight fists. No one had ever dared to speak to him like that, he wanted Frost dead, and his pride urged him to order the two generals to kill him, but his rationale won out. Frosts partner was a S-rank fighter, his two generals were nothing in her eyes. Plus the look Frost gave him as he leaned back filled him with fear, he truly was nothing but a bug in Frosts eyes. Randolph did his best to keep a somewhat neutral expression, trying to pretend that he didnt hear what Frost just said. He needed to keep his reputation, if heshed out now it wouldnt only demean his standing. As long as he didnt respond it would be nothing more than meaningless nder as long there wasnt any evidence. Hmph! Lets go Maya. Frost hmphed before deeper into the money pit sector with Maya, paying no more attention to Randolph and the other onlookers. Maya took care of the assassin so there was no need for Frost to remain, he said his piece and informed those who needed to know about the events. It was time to finish what he set out to do. Yes, young master. Maya acted in ordance with Frost, helping to paint a certain picture as she trailed after him. Frost still had one ce he wished to visit before finally leaving this town, it was a shame he wouldnt get to partake in the festivities tonight, but Dous and Cassandra surely wouldnt me him. General Anya tried to speak out and have Frost stay so she could give her word that she and the frost wolf battalion had nothing to do with the assassination attempt as well as promise to look into the situation to the best of her ability but he turned a deaf ear. The looks on the crown prince Randolphs and General Wariks face also prevented her from chasing after him. Frost basically used their prince of a serious crime and she for one actually believed it had merits, she never did trust Randolph. However being so proactive in cating Frost would be a target on her back, one that was already big enough. Young master? Maya asked as she and Frost continued to walk deeper into the money pit, leaving the multiple observers behind. Not now, well talkter. I want to finish onest thing before we leave. Though Maya didnt agree with postponing their departure, one thing was fine plus Frosts current attitude left no room for negotiation. She could only bite her lips and stifle her emotions for his wellbeing until they reached safety. At that point shed wrapped him up in her arms and refuse to let him go. Though it seemed as though Frost was untouchable at the moment the truth was the exact opposite. The teleporting talisman allowed Maya to use her full strength in defence of his life once, thus leaving him only one opportunity left. Frost didnt want to waste and or risk another chance here and now, who knows what sort of trouble could crop up before the next family gathering. It was best to be more cautious. Frost walked with brisk pace towards Borriss weapon store, he needed to nt onest seed before his departure as he likely wouldnt be visiting Furano again anytime soon. Chapter 519 - 519 Chapter 519: Waves 519 Chapter 519: Waves While Frost and Maya quickly made their way towards Borris weapon shop the situation in the alley had taken on a rather tense atmosphere. General Warik, General Anya and sir Dmar all wore serious expressions for differing reasons, each worried in their own way about how the situation went down. Being on the receiving end of a S-rank fighters ire was not something easily endured after all. General Warik in particr was looking rather unwell after receiving Mayas re, only he knew how close he and the crown prince were to death. He looked down at the young man who prevented him from interfering with the assassination attempt with worry, the crown prince had kicked an iron board with his decision. General Anya however was more worried about providing Frost with a suitable investigation and maintaining close or at the very least neutral rtions with such a frightening character. Although she enjoyed seeing Randolph and Warik kick and iron board she was worried that the blowback would affect more than just them. This incident painted the entire Northrend empire in a dim light given that it involved the ruling family, the representatives of the empire. The crown prince Randolph however looked the worst. His face rapidly switched from disying unbridled hatred and a neutral almost robotic expression as if he was desperately trying to control his anger and failing. Never in his entire life had Randolph been so insulted, he was the crown prince of the powerful Northrend empire, even the noblest families had to curry favour with him yet this random elf with unknown background dared to threaten him in front of so many witnesses. So what if he used him as bait what did the life of a single no-name elf mean when it came to the workings of a royal. In his mind Frost should be honoured to be a part of his ns. The possibility of him being someone even more important than himself never crossed his mind. Even now his anger kept him from thinking straight, chocking Frost up to be nothing more than a lucky bastard who relied on that frightening womans protection. His status could never be as high as someone like him. While Randolph continued to struggle with his anger, whispers already started spreading throughout the other witnesses. They muttered amongst one another and asionally looked at the warped expression of Randolph and Warik as if seeing the two of them in a new light for the very first time. Randolph was the crown prince known far and wide as a righteous and brave individual who had the backing of many nobles and government officials who praised his talents, glorifying the day he ascended the throne. A supposed starkparison to his younger brother who was known to be ruthless, insidious, cold and unworthy of the mantle of leadership in the eyes of the masses. However, despite such negative des the second prince was still in the running given that many Dukes and marquises of the noble faction backed him. The regr people all flocked towards the crown prince due to his bright andwful depiction, this current event however threatened to change all that. Was the crown prince really as honourable as they believed? A good image takes years to build up but moments to shatter, if Randolph didnt stop the bleeding soon and thoroughly his reputation could take a real dive, giving his younger brother an avenue in which to attack. Your highness. Warik whispered into Randolphs ear and ced a heavy hand on his shoulders hoping to bring him into focus. The act however instantly angered Randolph who viciously swatted away Wariks hand and red at the General with hatred, as if focusing the entire fault of the situation on his ineptitude. The once calm and friendly crown prince now looked like a demonic monster. Warik winced before quickly cing his hand back on Randolphs shoulder. He squeezed tightly and repeated his words with some force and aura. He couldnt allow his prince to keep such an expression, especially in public. This time Randolph managed to curb his anger and retain a neutral albeit cold expression, but the damage was already done. Many onlookers stood aghast and even fearful as Randolph looked over them, as if he was marking them for death. Of course the thought had ran through his mind, but such an act was impossible, it would only further lower his reputation and open him up to retaliation. Plus given the amount, the levels of the onlookers and where they were it would be impossible to cover up the news of such a bloody act. No, he needed to smooth things over as best he could, and hope time would eventually smother this potential fire. ..... As though the previous situation never happened Randolph smiled and did his best to calm down the waves, using his status and experience as a royal to the upmost. He sessfully limited the damage and saved much of his reputation but in the end many were still sceptical and would likely be more prudent in regards to news about him in the future. Angered and disappointed at his failure Randolph decided to cut his losses and left with General Warik, leaving General Anya in charge of the investigation and informing the Furanos. He wanted to split himself from the incident as much as possible. Once he left the onlookers were ordered to disperse by Anya who then scoured the area for possible clues. Tales of this incident quicky made the rounds throughout of the gossip circles, inns and taverns of the empire. Dmar returned to his granddaughters side after Anya dispersed everyone. Whats up grandpa, whyd you rush out so quickly? Natalie who was still rather awestruck by her grandfathers sudden seriousness quickly asked for the deets the moment he got back. Dmar looked down at his granddaughter and pondered on whether to tell her or not but eventually relented after minutes of constant pestering. There was an assassination attempt on one of the B-rank fighters, that Frost that everyone was singing the praises of when we arrived. That handso. I mean talented elf with the cial winged tiger battle mount. Natalie instantly knew who Dmar was talking about as she couldnt help but steal a few nces at the young hero in passing. Is he alright? Do you know who did it and why did you leave here so quickly? Natalie was rather shocked by her grandfathers revtion. Who would dare to assassinate someone under the noses of the frost wolf battalion and even more so the young hero of the monster stampede. However the fact that her grandfather left in such a rush made the situation all the more weird. Sure it was rather big news, but it had little to do with him who was an A-rank adventurer, practically beholden to no one. Haaaaaaaa Dmar let out a long, weighted sigh before informing Natalie of the entire event in detail, causing the young womans shock to grow and grow with every sentence. In the end she shivered as a cold sweat dripped down her neck. An S-rank fighter was something legendary perhaps even mythical. The Northrend empire sported a fair amount of A-rank fighters but not a single one at S-rank and hadnt in the past century, they were just too rare. Yet not only did one appear here in the boonies but she served as the protector of the young hero who was the target of the assassination attempt. Add on to the fact that it was a conspiracy involving the royal family this event was a real scoop, perhaps the biggest in several years. No wonder her grandfather left and ordered her to not leave the room, even he would be nothing in the eyes of an S-rank fighter. After taking all the events in Natalie was silent for a while before speaking in anxious tone. .... What will you tell the emperor? Haaaaaaa, the truth, its what he asked for after all. Dmar let out another sigh before responding. Dmar wasnt just here to y his part as reinforcements from the adventurers guild no he was actually requested to go by the emperor. The wise ruler wished to send the best his empire had to the Furano territory without stirring up the annoying nobles. He and Dmar went way back and had been friends for decades. Along with his eldest son he wanted his friend to volunteer on behalf of the guild hoping that hed not only guarantee victory and the safety of his offspring but also serve as his eyes and ears. To give him a true report of went on. The emperor knew his son well and the strenuous situation he was currently in given the backing of his younger brother. He believed Randolph would certainly utilize the stampede to his benefit which was fine, but he just wanted to make sure everything was done above board. Though he heavily favoured his eldest he also knew that no member of royalty was squeaky clean in regards to their rise to the throne, he being no exception. His role however was to monitor the line, too much over it and hed have grounds to strip them of their session rights. Dmar would give him the true report that was unedited by Randolph, Warik or even Anya who was for some reason opposed to Randolph. Dmar felt a headache as he imagined exining the situation to the emperor. He also hoped that Frosts fury didnt spill over to the empire as a whole. Someone with an S-rank protector wasnt someone even their mighty empire wanted to fight against. Haaaaaaaaa With one of the deepest sigh hed ever made Dmar shook his head and made a decision. Lets go and speak to Dous and your senior disciple, the sooner they know of this issue the better. Wanting to share this hot potato Dmar dragged Natalie to the Furano manor to inform Dous of what happened. Chapter 520 - 520 Chapter 520: Poaching Borris 520 Chapter 520: Poaching Borris Despite the stampede being effectively over dozens if not hundreds of men and women were gathered both inside and outside Borris weapon shop, each keen to meet with the newly crowned 4-star smith and ce a personal order no matter the price. A 4-star weapon truly divided the amateurs from the professionals. An opportunity no one wanted to miss especially given that theyd be flush with cash from the stampede rewards. The line outside the shop went so far back that Frost and Maya couldnt see the end. It would take a very long time for it to be their turn. Well only if they queued up of course. Frost was still in a certain mindset that caused his royal aura to permeate his surroundings and along with his rather cold expression people naturally parted as he walked by. Add on the fact that he was the local hero and wielder of Borris first 4 star weapon the men and women waiting allowed him to enter ahead without any fuss. Frost gave a curt nod in thanks but nothing more, he was in no mood to waste pleasantries. The bell that usually chimed when a customer entered the shop was gone, thus Frost silently walked passed the threshold without much fanfare. The inside of the shop was actually far less cramped that he imagined. It was clear that Borris or whoever was currently managing the shop floor enacted some rules in light of his ascension. Only 8 people were allowed in the store at one time and had to be quick with their requests. Frost quickly spotted two of Borris grandchildren manning the counters with exhausted and stressed expressions. Im sorry sir as Ive previously stated my grandfather has no intention of taking any orders for 4 star equipment nor will he ept any personal forging requests. Hell only guarantee that any equipment forged within our workshop will have to meet his approval before being sold. The young dwarf reiterated the same phrase over and over to everyone who entered regardless of their station and willingness to pay exorbitant amounts of coin. The young dwarf couldnt fully understand his grandfathers reasoning but followed through, nheless. His words always frustrated the would-be customers to no end. Many of which stormed out in anger cursing Borris arrogance as they stomped passed the still queuing customers whereas others simplymented the lost opportunity before cing a regr order. Just having the approval of a 4-star smith meant the equipment would be a notch above its usual quality, a lesser win but still a win I their minds. Is Borris avable for a private chat? Frost, as if taking no notice to the current atmosphere spoke up shortly after entering the shop. His words were quickly met with eye rolls and an even more frustrated look from the two grandchildren. One of the two replied rather curtly, annoyed by this whole ordeal. Frost wasnt the first one to try and throw his weight around, hoping to skip procedures and get special treatment. ..... Im only going to say this once, my grandfather is. He is and hes been expecting you sir Frost. Before the grandson at the counter could finish speaking Dean -another of Borris grandsons- walked out from the back of the shop and cut him off. Perfect, lead the way then Dean. Frost nodded and smiled in a slightly gentle manner but retained his rather cold demeanour. Those still waiting and the two grandchildren at the counters stood with their jaws agape, not expecting such treatment. The waiting customers instinctively wanted toin but held their tongues the moment they saw and recognised Frost. He was the hero of the stampede and the wielder of Borris first 4-star weapon. This way please. Dean gestured for Frost and Maya to follow him into the back of the shop. The young dwarf carried himself with a fair bit of confidence after assisting his grandfather in forging the [Wolf howling at the moon]. Of course he only yed a very small part in the process but just being in the same room while the forging was happening allowed his skills to deepen. He could now see the path he needed to take. Dean quickly led Frost and Maya to workshop where Borris could be seen monitoring the forging process of his progeny, makingments and guiding them in the right direction as they forged. The old smith looked rejuvenated, the fire in his eyes zing like an inferno and his back that had begun slouching naturally from his age was ramrod straight. New life had been infused into him the moment he broke through the barrier, his potential hadnt run out yet. A notion that filled the old man with sheer joy. For the first time in years he felt ambitious in regards to his own achievements instead of the future of his talented offspring. Youre certainly looking fired up. Frost couldnt help butment with a wild smile forming on his lips. Borris being in such a state was only good news for him. Borris turned around at his words, replying with a wild smile of his own. Of course, the ideas are just flowing through me, how can I not be pumped up. Borris made a fist and grasped his bicep in a pumped-up gesture. lets head to my office. Borris said as his apprentices and progeny grew distracted by both Frosts presence as well as the one following silently behind him. Even him given his advanced age and experience couldnt help but double take as he took in Mayas beauty. He gave Frost a knowing look and a discrete thumbs up before leading them into his office. A drink? Borris asked while revealing a few hidden bottles of alcohol. Im good thanks, Maya? Frost waved his hand, not in the mood for any alcohol. Maya surprisingly shook her head, denying a ss, she too wasnt in the mood for a drink. More for me then. Borris ced two sses back before pouring himself an amber coloured whiskey. Ahhhhh good stuff. Ive kept these bottles here for so long that dust has started umting. Im d I finally earned the right to partake. Borris relished in the smooth, rich vour of the B-rank whiskey. You seem a little off Frost, everything alright? Borris asked rather awkwardly, finding the mood around the young man rather chilling. Just a little issue that has unfortunately changed my perspective. Frost didnt bother exining the event, not keen to rehash it with Borris. Fair enough. Though I expected you toe at some point whats the prime reason for this visit. Borris understood from Frosts words that he didnt want to talk about it so he changed the topic. Frost smiled gently before speaking about his intentions. Obviously I want to officially thank you for the [Wolf howling at the moon] but the main reason is in regards to what I mentioned previously. .Are you referring to your territory and my wish to possibly foray into the cial mountains. Borris leaned back on his chair, his mind pondering on the discussion the two of them had several weeks ago. Yes. Ive already informed the Furanos and the guilds about my territory and have gotten their permission to solicit aid from those living in the territory, you included. So youre here to poach me from Furano. Borris replied with a chilling tone. He was very fond of his hometown and didnt like the idea of switching allegiances. Not exactly. Frost then exined the details in regards to his territory, the benefits in moving as well as his discussion with Cassandra. Dont think of it as poaching especially since you yourself mentioned your wish to travel. Im just offering you a ce to start your journey. There you can solidify your rank without being pressured by outside influences and Ill guarantee you an endless supply of materials to work with as well as the chance to interact with a smith from the cial mountains. That girlfriend of yours that forged your armour. Thats the one. Maya trembled slightly upon hearing his words but quickly readjusted herposure. ... Borris silently pondered the issue. To be honest Frosts terms were very, very tempting. Add on the fact that the Furanos supported his actions the offer posed little risk. Ill also promise to help you get to the inner regions if thats what you wish. Frost threw out hisst benefit. Though hed wish to keep someone as skilled as Borris within the confines of his own territory, he knew that the old smiths ambitions would lead him in search of any opportunity to improve his craft. .... Ill have to tie up a few things first but youve got yourself a deal. Borris nodded his head in eptance. Frosts terms were just too appealing to his current state and all he asked in return was for him to teach his subordinates some smithing basics and interact frequently with Daki so she could improve her craft. Thats perfect, I look forward to working with you Borris. Frost smiled from ear to ear as he leaned over the desk and shook Borris hand. His territory would now have an expert smith on hand. Ill need around a month to finish setting everything up but after that youll be golden. Frost then stood up with Maya and went to leave, their business was now done. Borris had all the information he needed and now with his decision made he walked the two out of the shop personally before heading back into the workshop. Hed teach his progeny as much as he could and finish off the official handover during theing weeks before embarking to Frosts territory. The very thought filled him with excitement as well as anxiety. It would be his first time visiting the cial mountains. Chapter 521 - 521 Chapter 521: Leaving Furano 521 Chapter 521: Leaving Furano Now that his business with Borris was over Frost hailed a carriage to take him and Maya to the Furano manor. The transport would grant them some privacy as well as shorten their travel time. And as far as Maya was concerned the sooner, they left the Furano territory the better. Take us to the Furano manor please and step on it. Frost requested before helping Maya into the carriage. Yes sir. The driver responded with an enthusiastic tone as Frost passed him an extra couple silver. Once the carriage door was firmly shut and the wheels started turning Frost finally let out a strongly repressed breath. His shoulders slumped down and his legs lost their strength. The tension had finally run its course leaving his body to suffer from the side effects of excess adrenaline. Maya silently moved to his side, she took his head and rested it gently upon herp before stroking his hair in a soothing manner. She did her best to bring some form offort to her young master but the trembling of her hands and fingers revealed her own anxiety. This situation was too close forfort. Though Frost could gleam the movements of someone at A-rank that waspletely different from being able to survive against them in battle. If the assassin had aimed for his neck or moved just a little bit quicker after failing to kill him in a single blow Maya would have never got the chance to intervene. She would have lost him forever. Tears gradually dripped down her cheeks before sshing against Frosts head. A sombre yet intimate atmosphere arose between the two of them as they travelled in the confines of the carriage. The ongoings beyond the wood walls meant nothing to them as if they were in a separate dimension entirely. After calming down his own fear, Frost gradually turned his head around to face Maya. What he was greeted with was a tear stricken expression that caused his heart to lurch and feel a sharp pain. He really struggled at seeing this side of her. His loyal and overwhelmingly powerful guardian was still a young woman with boundless emotion. Frost reached out his hand to wipe away some of her tears before holding her cheek gently. He stared deep into her mesmerising albeit slightly swollen eyes with intense emotion, viewing herpletely as the young woman she was and not the indomitable S-rank fenrir. Im ok Maya. He said gently while sitting up straight thus bringing him to her eye level. His words shattered the dam that was holding back her emotions. The young women practically wailed at that moment, her tears gushing out at the triple the speed and triple the volume as her armstched onto Frost like a vice, locking him in ce against her own body, refusing to let him go. ..... Normally such an action would result in a heavenly feeling for Frost given the softness and ample curviness of her body however thanks her rather distraught state this meant that she didnt put much thought into her strength. Frost was thus practically squished against her to the point that all he felt was pain. His bones even threatened to crack from the sheer pressure but not for even a second did he yelp in pain nor ask her to stop instead he simply endured her bear hug, allowing her to release her pent up anxiety. This state continued for most of the entire carriage ride, but Frost didntin. Instead of bemoaning the pain he did his best to pull Mayas head close to his chest and gently stroke the back of her head until she finally loosened her iron grip. After regaining some semnce ofposure Maya wiped her eyes and saw fit to straighten out Frosts wrinkled robes, all while struggling to look him in the eyes. Frost found her actions to be absolutely adorable so he leaned over and nted an affectionate kiss on her lips that warmed both their hearts. After which Maya remained on the same side of the carriage as Frost and ced her head on his shoulders while her arms -lightly this time- wrapped around his waist, something that she refused to relent on. Once we pick up Kiba well leave Furano post-haste. Good, the sooner we get you back to the dungeon the sooner I can rx. Theres too many dangers to you here. Maya said with relief, more than keen to leave this dangerous ce. When they visited several weeks ago she didnt feel this way but that was then and this was now. Not only were there multiple B-ranks here there were 3 A-rank fighters, one of which wasnt exactly friendly. I agree. Im far to exposed here. Just a single attack from that assassin almost sent me to the afterlife.Im far too weak in the eyes of the truly powerful. My eyes have been opened. Ive had it too easy so far, not realising the true danger this world holds for someone like me. Frost could only imagine the things hed have to defend against if his true identity was ever leaked or better yet the machinations of the Light God who frowned on his existence to point that he and his father nearly came to blows. The danger would only be greater as time moved on, not weaker. With clenched fists Frost stared into the horizon, making a solemn pledge to grow his strength by any means necessary. The power he could hold as an individual was limited by his age. No matter how talented he was it would take a lot of time to reach the upper realms of B-rank let alone the same level as that assassin. I need to increase my forces. The best solution was to develop an army, his own protective forces who could fight in his ce. A means that hed already embarked upon and suited his origin as a dungeon core perfectly. He and his siblings were truly far more deadly when in the confines of their own dungeons. Frost nned to build up his territory and in particr his armed forces so as to solve his current weakness. Maya looked up and nodded her head in approval, very much agreeing with his ns. The carriage quickly made its way to the Furano manor making record time thanks to the drivers enthusiastic driving. Thankfully the carriage quality was good enough that despite the rapid pace and frequent stopping and starting the upants were unaffected. Frost and Maya alighted the carriage with frosty expressions, simr to the ones they donned back in the money pit. It was as the previous crying episode never happened. The two gate guards saluted Frost and joyfully weed him back, clearly still in the dark about what happened earlier. Frost nodded towards them in greeting and was just about to inform them about his departure when the ground started to tremble from heavy footsteps. Frost turned towards the sound, his face warping slightly as he saw the cause before quickly being tackled to the ground. A giant tiger weighing more than a ton leaped up into his chest knocking him to the ground without an ounce of gentleness. Frosts back mmed hard against the stone floor. KIBA!! Frost yelled as his back screamed in pain from the blow. His yelling however fell on deaf ears as the massive tiger cub looked down at Frost with reddened eyes and started licking his face in an affectionate manner. Kibas emotions flowed through the soul bond filling Frost with thoughts of worry, sadness, regret as well as relief. Kiba hated the fact that he wasnt by Frosts side in his time of need and hated himself for being so weak. The moment Frost was attacked by the assassin and ced in serious danger Kiba was notified through their soul bond. The young tiger immediately sprang to his feet in an alerted state before rushing towards his master. However the moment he started to move Frost sent an order through the bond ordering him to stay put and wait. Kiba was too weak to lend any help and him rushing out of the Furanos grounds would only ce him in danger as well. Frost had no way of knowing whether or not Kiba was also a target given that he was his battle mount. As long as he stayed at the Furano manor however hed be safe. It was one thing to ambush someone within Furano but to act within the confines of a nobles manor was apletely different matter. It would be an affront to the nobility, something that was treated very seriously within Northrend. Thus Kiba was left here to wallow in worry and panic while his master fought a battle of life and death. Though the bond remained and Frosts life no longer seemed to be threatened ording to the information ryed through their soul bond that was nowhere near asforting as seeing him in person. Therefore the moment Kiba sensed Frost enter the manors vicinity he rushed at full speed to meet him. Frost fidgeted and squirmed under Kibas incessant licking and rubbing, the emotions of the heavy tiger prevented him from shaking him off, Maya however wasnt quite so affected. Meow! Kiba meowed like a cat as Maya effortlessly lifted him off Frost by the nape of his neck. She dropped him a little bit to the side with a slightly threatening re causing the big tiger to cower and mumble inint. Thanks Maya. Frost scrambled to his feet and dusted off his robes before once again donning a neutral/cold expression. Please inform Lord Dous and Lady Cassandra that Ill be leaving now. Chapter 522 - 522 Chapter 522: Leaving Furano (2) [End of volume 7] 522 Chapter 522: Leaving Furano (2) [End of volume 7] Frosts words caused the two gate guards to don a shocked expression. DDid you say youre leaving sir? One of them asked in a confused manner. Yes, immediately. Please inform the Viscount and Viscountess on my behalf and give my apologies for the sudden departure. Frost replied calmly to the two shocked guards before turning around. But sir what about the celebration? Im afraid I wont be able to attend farewell. Frost waved to the two guards as he alighted Kibas back. He then leaned over and grabbed Mayas fair hand, pulling her onto the tigers back. Then while the guards were still floundering the three of them set off at speed and within a few seconds werepletely out of sight. The hero of the stampede and the ravishing beauty that was Maya were gone just like that. The gate guards turned to one another and frowned, clearly suspecting that something untoward was afoot but such things were beyond their jurisdiction. The two let out a deep sigh before rushing to inform the Viscount who was currently in a meeting with sir Dmar. He what! A couple minutester Dous was informed by the head servant and jumped from his chair, exasperating his injuries and causing him to cough up some blood. Ryuu who was also present showed a no less shocked expression. Haaaaaaa not the most positive reaction but certainly reasonable. Sir Dmar who had just been informing Dous, Ryuu and Cassandra about the assassination attempt leaned back and sighed, bemoaning the result. Cassandra started tear up, her heart mping up at the thought of being hated by Frost. She sharply red at the three men in the room as if ming them for the whole situation. One was the lord Viscount, another the territorys court mage and thest a famed A-rank mage and Ryuus former master. How could such vaunted people not prevent a simple assassination attempt within their own territory. Hell, none of them even caught wind of such an operation, only when Frost dealt with it himself in a shy way were they finally informed by Dmar. A blemish on Douss and Ryuus prestige for sure. ..... Dous wanted to yell,in and demand that his servants g Frost down so they could talk about the situation but his better judgement prevented such an eventuality. Eventually he slumped back down on his chair with a defeated expression. Haaaaaaaa hopefully the two of them wont hold this against us. He sighed and shook his head before donning a stern, almost threatening demeanour that made even Dmar shiver. We will leave no stone unturned in our investigation. Ryuu you have permission to bathe the underworld in blood if they refuse to y ball. I dont care who the assassins backer is, our territory will be bathed in fire and justice will be brought down in Furano. Dous bellowed out his orders, a fierce me of hatred raging in his eyes. There were a few seconds of silence before Ryuu and Cassandra smiled evilly. As youmand Lord Viscount. Ryuu replied with a formal salute while Cassandra giggled and showed an even more hate filled expression than her husband. Ill call in a few favours with the merchants. With their aid we should be able to severely damage the backers financial capability. Furano has remained too quiet and easy going during the past century. The empire has forgotten who we are. Yes, they have. Dous agreed with his wife, giving her the go ahead before turning to Dmar. Thank you, sir Dmar, for informing us of this situation without obscuring any details, I wont forget your honesty. However I also know where your allegiances lie. Douss weight as a noble and highly experience adventurer formed a heavy pressure that surrounded Dmar. Of course it wasnt enough to truly threaten an A-rank mage such as him but it made Douss stance clear. Regardless of the assants identity the Furano Viscounty will retaliate with their full force. Dmars eyes opened wide, and his body trembled. He cant be serious. What Dous just said could easily be construed as a threat, a threat towards the ruling family of the empire, practically treason. Dous was just a Viscount and, in many ways, a close friend of the emperor yet he was willing to rip up that friendship due to an assassination attempt on their soil. It wasnt even on a member of their family, just a local friend whose background was practically unknown. Dmar looked into the eyes of Dous, Ryuu and Cassandra hoping to see some form of softness but all he got in return was an unwavering will of iron, they were 100% serious. ...Ill inform him of your stance. After sucking in a sharp breath Dmar replied sternly. Good. There has never been any subtlety between us and that will not change now. Dous nodded his head and showed a wide smile before erasing his threatening aura. The choice was up to the emperor, whether or not he wished to dip his hands into covering up this situation and or protecting those involved the Furano Viscounty would continue their retaliation unabated. While the Furanos were boldly announcing their stance, the crown prince Randolph was ransacking his private quarters in an unbridled rage. THAT DAMN BASTARD!!!! HOW DARE HE THREATEN ME!!! BANG!!! A chair was sent flying and smashed against one of the rooms walls. Randolph was red in the face, huffing and puffing as his blood boiled with rage. General Warik stood silently at the side with his head hung low. A couple of scratches could be seen on his face and hands. It was clear that a few pieces of furniture were previouslyunched his way. His status as a mighty General meant nothing to the crown prince especially while in a fit of rage. He simply kept his mouth shut and endured the blows, letting them run over his back like water. This wasnt the first time hed been present for one of Randolphs meltdowns. Whenever his younger brother Sedrick made a y for control and gained a victory no matter how minor hed shut himself off and let out the rage that couldnt be shown to the public. In a way the fact that General Warik was allowed to be present was a sign of good faith, he was truly part of Randolphs inner circle. A few blows were a small price to pay for such luxury. Eventually once Randolph tuckered himself out, he deigned to speak. Your highness has your fury abated? Bang!! In response to his question another piece of furniture was sent his way, though this time it merely crashed beside him instead of against him. My fury on this issue will never go out! Randolph screamed with an expression akin to a demonic being. Haaaaaaaa then I suggest your break some more things in the room before leaving. This situation isnt something we can easily deal with after all. TSK! Randolph loudly clicked his tongue and moved tounch a couple more things at this useless General but stopped midway, his intelligence finally oveing the blood haze. ...Youre right but even so, regardless of who that bastard is I refuse to be slighted without retaliating. After a few deep breaths, Randolphs expression started to return to normal and the red colour receded from his skin. Warik get me everything you have on this Frost, information and patience will be key to getting revenge. Wariks expression practically glowed, he smiled enthusiastically and nodded his head. This was one of the many reasons he followed Randolphpletely. The young man was able to control his emotions when needed and look at the big picture. He could be patient or ruthless when needed and though he was of royal blood he wasnt insufferably arrogant -wellpared to someone like his brother. Warik could see Randolph leading the empire into a glorious age, equal or perhaps even surpassing his father Franz. While many parties made their ns in regards to Frost the man in question had already made his way beyond the northern gate atop Kiba, with Mayatched around his back. Though the guards were rather confused with his departure they waved them on through, many saluting and or bowing as he passed. Giving their thanks to the noble warrior. Seems you made a veryrge impression on them. Maya chimed in as Kiba rode into the Northrend forest. While fighting side by side in the mes of war its hard not to make an impression. Frost answered back with a tinge of nostalgia, already reminiscing about the time he slept in the barracks, ready to head into battle at a moments notice. Maya looked at Frosts chiselled face and then to his wide back that seemed to radiate a strong sense of reliability. In her eyes he had grown, matured, slowly treading the path he was meant to take in life, a natural leader. If it wasnt for the assassination attempt this trip would certainly have been nothing but a glorious sess. She looked at him gently while thinking. Im sure he was looking forward to the celebration tonight. Shed overhead the guards mentioning the event as they tried to convince Frost to stay. Knowing that her boyfriend was likely feeling a little depressed she squeezed herrge chest against his back, allowing him to be wrapped in a heavenly feeling as they made their way home. A minor luxury but one that didnt go amiss. A smile and slight blush grew on Frosts face as he unceremoniously leaned back against Mayas bountiful assets. Chapter 523 - 523 Chapter 523: Finally home [Volume 8] 523 Chapter 523: Finally home [Volume 8] It took roughly 3 hours for Kiba to carry Frost and Maya back home. they took a more careful approach thus dying their arrival slightly but thanks to that there were very few incidents. A glorious sight, our home. Frost smiled and visibly rxed as his connection to the dungeon core was re-established. The power thrummed throughout his body filling him with energy and a sense of safety. Here he was unstoppable. Yes, it certainly is. Maya agreed while looking up at massive mountain ahead with fondness. This was also her home. Seems Khuno and Finy have been hard at work in my absence. Frosts gaze gradually came across the makings of a sturdy ice wall stretching beyond the mountain and around the surrounding area, marking Frosts new territory. The ice wall looked strong and resilient though it was rather short and unfinished at the moment it revealed strong potential. His monsters clearly adhered to his instructions to focus on quality when it came to the protective wall. Width wise it was currently 2 metres but Frost nned to make it at least 3 perhaps even 4 so as to withstand the charges of a herd of mammoths. Height wise it wasnt anything impressive at the moment as Frost could even gleam over the top without standing on his tip toes but that was something that could easily be improved over time. It was the foundation that mattered most. The wall was scheduled to epass a square area roughly 5 kilometres in length and breadth. Right now only 40% wasplete which was rather impressive given that Frost had only been away for a week and the feral monsters were still abound in the area. To be honest Frost would have been impressed if only 20% was done, this was a happy surprise. Of course they have, they wished to prove their capabilities in areas other than battle thus they worked their subordinates hard and even took part in building the wall personally. Maya answered with an obvious tone. Ill have to reward them all then, good thing I made quite a windfall from fighting in Furano. Frost made a whopping 50,000DP during his time guarding the northern wall. It was less than what the dungeon made during the more intense waves but this was all made solely by him and with an 80% loss of DP per kill. The amount of lives he snuffed out personally could overfill a standard cemetery. ..... Theyll be d to hear that, more than a few worked extra hard just for that possibility. Maya had noticed that several monsters under the dungeons purview were developing their own individuality regardless of their intelligence. It was an unusual sight, quite mind-blowing in a way. The dungeon core was changing monsters, developing them in a way that normally took generations of improvement. She wondered why the Dark God designed the dungeon cores in such a way. Did he want to show off the potential of monsters along with his newest creations? With that reveal Frost hallmarked a few thousand DP for rewards before ushering Kiba forward. As the group grew closer they could see swaths of monster squads hard at work developing the nascent wall as well as nning out the first bunch of buildings. Barely a single monster was left out in this duty, from the minor goblins and slimes all the way to the mighty Ronsos, all were involved in some way or another. Along with the ice mined from the cial mine, the abundance of nearby trees and generous helpings of iron the mighty protective wall was being fashioned. The ingredients werebined into a form of mighty pykrete serving as the core of the wall. Furthering its prowess squads of magic inclined monsters built up ice around the pykrete before a ronso would use their inherent ice fire chakra to strengthen the alloy and remove impurities, leaving only the strongestbination. It was a great undertaking but one that would certainly prove useful in the future. Everyone was made sufficiently aware of how important a solid defensive structure was in regards to the monster stampedes. Their rather half assed approaches during the recent war saw them constantly retreating deeper into the confines of the dungeon every few waves once the danger escted. With the camp being in service such actions wouldnt be propere the next stampede. Abandoning it would undo all their hard work and put those living within in great jeopardy, thus their highly focused and enthusiastic response when building the wall. Any part that didnt meet the strict quality control demanded by the squad captains was shattered and remade then and there. Of course after a week of work such things didnt happen nearly as much anymore but Frost just so happened toe across such a scenario. Not good enough, scrap thest 3 metres and start from scratch. A wall is only as good as its weakest point. A single opening is enough to invalidate the entire structure. Goblins and slimes bring more trees from within the dungeon and avoid the previous area. Its likely that the wood caused the fragility. Grunt! Multiple monsters grunted in understanding before following the ronso squad leaders orders to dismantle the work theyd just finished. Frost smiled from ear to ear as he overheard the words of the ronso squad leader. Pride filled his heart as he silently sanctioned another 1000DP to be spent on rewards. How impressive, you certainly havent let me down during my absence. Frost revealed himself atop of Kiba and loudly proimed causing nearly every monster in the vicinity to turn his way. At first, they were wary, thinking that a bunch of sapients had encroached upon their domain. They prepared their weapons but then quickly sheathed them the instant they caught side of Frosts visage. Master!!! Those who could speakmon tongue screamed with glee while the others grunted and or made animated gestures to show their joy. Several goblins and other lower ranked monsters even dropped what they were doing and rushed to his side, acting like children seeing their father for the first time in ages. Though their actions damaged the strong working image they had just made Frost didnt reprimand them. He smiled genuinely and cated his monsters, finding a sense offort in doing so, something he really needed right now. For too long he was thrust into the heat of war, adding on the assassination attempt he was near breaking point, desperately in need of some R&R. Yosh yosh Im happy to see you too. His smile became more and more genuine as he patted and stroked the endless amount of heads demanding his attention. Master After a minute or two of pampering word reached Khuno who was overseeing the entire wall operation today. The mighty Ronso captain made his way towards his long absent master with a smile on his face and a haggard look in his eyes. Though a great deal of progress had been made and the monster squads appeared to move almost seamlessly in their work this level of efficiency took a lot of supervision. Getting monsters or varying species and personalities to work as a unit without Frosts presence proved to be a rather arduous task even for someone with his strength. Khuno was greatly relieved upon seeing his master for the first time in a week. Khuno, its good to see you. Frost moved through the clingy goblins, frost dwarves and slimes to stand before Khuno his second named monster. He looked at his pride in joy in earnest and noticed the exhaustion in his eyes. You worked hard Khuno, allow me to take it from here. He patted the taller ronsos shoulder while speaking in a soothing yet reliable manner. Master. Khuno felt a sense of relief at Frosts words, his body visibly trembling and standing a little straighter as if a weight had been removed from his shoulders. He actually missed the days of war,manding monsters in battle and straining himself against worthy opponents was in many ways easier. Ill return to the kids, Im sure their quite worried after my sudden departure. Maya announced before teleporting herself and Kiba into the private space. Though Nanna and Loki were made aware of the possibility of Maya vanishing without warning actually experiencing was another matter. Frost nodded his head in understanding before refocusing back on Khuno. Hed been away for an entire week and needed to brought up to speed with the current progress as well as amend a few of his ns. Khuno thus guided Frost throughout the entire camp, highlighting their progress as well as giving his own suggestions. Some things could only be realised once you started the task. Though our n for the wall is quite sturdy and ensures the possibility of widening and heightening its parameters to a certain degree it has its limits as a territorys external wall. Itll pale inparison to the defensive strength of Furanos outer walls even with an additional metre in thickness. Frost ryed to Khuno some of the aspects of the war in Furano as they walked and talked. True but its the best we can do given our current materials. Khuno agreed with his master but didnt find the prospect detrimental. The next stampede wonte anytime soon. By then well likely have expanded our reach and or had sufficient time to remake the entire wall from scratch. Its current capabilities are more than enough to constitute the defence of a new budding territory and them some. True, but Id like to see our defences taken up a notch sooner thanter. Frost no longer wished to take any chances, best to be prepared and not have the dangere than to be unprepared when the danger does. Ill pass the order down, do you want it thicker? Taller? And or change the materials. If its thetter youll need to spend some DP to build a higher quality mine with a decent output. The dungeon currently had four 3-star mines in operation, two frigid iron mines, a kyanite mine and a duram mine. The frigid iron was already being infused into the walls mixture, but the percentage was rather low. Make it an extra metre wide and increase the amount of frigid iron used in each batch to double, Id rather use the duram metal for equipment given its preference in the market. Buying a 4 star mine however is out of the question not only does it cost at least 300,000 DP for the worst one we dont have any way of properly utilising the stuff. Our smiths still struggle with 3-star materials let alone those higher. Frost quickly shot down buying a high quality mine at least for now. Understood, anything else? Dont bother with any of the internal buildings until the wall isplete, were not going to have to entertain any guests for quite a while after all. Though the stampede brought a massive influx of DP the following month or so would see the dungeon make pittance. No adventurers had any reason to travel beyond the gates of Furano. Their work during the war would see their coffers bursting with coins thus eliminating the urgent need for work. Of course thered still be people needed escorts and whatnot but very few would be going hunting in the new dungeon. Frost ryed a few more ns to Khuno and the other squad captains before teleporting to the private space, a strong feeling of anticipation growing in his heart as he did. Im finally home. Chapter 524 - 524 Chapter 524: Trauma 524 Chapter 524: Trauma Space warped within the private space before a tall, handsome robed individual appeared. He looked around the smallish space with a nostalgic look in his eyes, feeling peace at the familiarity. Master!!!!! A momentter the man was assaulted by two small children. Blue feathers could be seen intermingled throughout their hair and azure scaled decorated parts of their faces highlighting their adorableness. The two children cared not for any decorum as they leaped from Mayas side with their arms outstretched. They crashed into the robed man with a loud thud and a great deal of momentum, but the young man barely flinched as if expecting to be bombarded. Enduring such actions from Kiba was still beyond his abilities but remaining upright from Nanna and Lokis assault certainly was. Oooffff youve both gotten a little bigger. Frost said with an affectionate tone while picking the two of them and cradling them in his arms. The young girl Nanna blushed and felt embarrassed about Frost weighing her whereas her younger brother Loki thrust out his chest out with pride. One of the first things Frost and Maya sought out to correct was their malnourishment, putting on weight was proof of their sess, so he was very happy broadcasting it. The two children wrapped themselves around Frost refusing to let him go until ordered. They had missed him a great deal and after seeing Maya vanishing without any warning they worried for his safety. Frost was more than just their master he was family, akin to a father or an older brother. Knowing that he was in serious danger weighed on their hearts. Nanna especially worried about what would happen to them if such an eventuality ever came to pass. Would she be able to protect her little brother. Feeling their strong emotions Frost didnt order them to let go instead he moved around with them still attached. He then looked at Maya who was staring at him with affection, finding his current image with the kids absolutely adorable, she was even a little jealous, both of Frost and the kids. How about I tell you about my recent adventures while we have a meal? Frost made his way to the sofa with a little bit of difficulty, making sure not to dislodge Nanna and Loki in any way. The childrens eyes lit up at his words, their interest stoked. They nodded their heads rapidly, eager to hear what he had to say while their stomachs rumbled revealing their hunger as well. Haaaaaaa guess I better get to work then. Any limits on the DP? Maya sighed and shook her head in a yful manner before moving to the kitchen. No go all out if you want, weve got more than enough to spare. With the 50,000DP from his time in Furano, his leftover savings and what the dungeon made during his absence they currently had roughly 120,000 DP, more than enough to withstand avish meal. Perfect, Ill try and do something new then. Nanna do you want to help or are you satisfied where your are? Maya asked with a teasing smile causing the young phoenix kin to blush before tightening her grip around Frost, her answer clear. ..... Hahahahaha where should I start then. Garoww!! As Frost was pondering on where to begin Kiba lightly roared. Oh good idea Kiba. Ok shortly after Kiba and I left the dungeon and arrived at Furano the...Rindars. Sr dawn. Mighty ice demon...reinforcements arrived and then. Frost started his story from the very start, embellishing the fanfare to a glorious level which caused the two children to bubble in excitement. He left out some of the more gruesome details but urately portrayed the feelings of the defenders and how abysmal their chances were before the reinforcements from the capital arrived. Maya kept her ears alert throughout the entire story, asionally smiling whenever Frost started gesturing or imitating the voice of someone else. Frost continued to describe his journey over the past week and answer any questions the two children had while they ate their meals. Maya truly went a bit overboard with the food, purchasing more than a few B-rank ingredients to produce a remarkable stew that featured a calming effect, perfect for dealing with stress and anxiety. The vour was nothing to sneeze at either, shame that most of the mana was lost form the dish but that couldnt be helped after all Maya wasnt a spirit chef like Vos. Nanna and Loki hung onto his every word, growing more and more excited as the story progressed. They imagined the battlefield in all its wonders, with their master braving against an impossible storm, standing at the fore when no one else could, a veritable hero. Their fanaticism actually grew to the point that Frost felt a little embarrassed. Mayas judging look and a few discrete coughs helped him tone down his story telling. Eventually however the dreaded question came up. Why did Maya get summoned then? Loki asked innocently. Frost had described fiery battles and times where he felt the urge to call upon Maya but stopped himself. He also mentioned that he was about to call for her at the end but the reinforcements from the capital arrived before he got the chance -he didnt tell them that the ice demon prevented him from summoning her with his summoned hellscape. Frosts jubnt and light-hearted expression soured at the young boys question. He was brought back to the time he walked unguarded through the alleys of the money pit. Devoid of others andpletely eclipsed from the outside world. It was only thanks to his terrifying instincts that he was alerted of the danger, allowing him to move a few inches to the left thus avoiding a deadly strike to his heart. Even with the calming effect of the delicious stew and thefort of surrounding family his body still trembled, a cold sweat dripping down his neck as the memory of his near-death experience reyed in his mind. His eyes became clouded, and his heart started to race. The spectre of death once again announced itself, whispering in his ears with its callous voice, weing him to the other side. His sudden change in demeanour frightened the children and Maya made moves to stand by his side and offer her support. The event had likely traumatised him to some extent. Thankfully however Frost regained his faculties a few momentster without needing her help. The danger was already over, to be bound by a mere memory was pointless. Sorry, I was remembering the situation and unfortunately it wasnt pleasant. Loki looked guilty and apologised for bringing it up, but Frost shook his head. You did nothing wrong Loki, you just asked a question how can there be anything wrong with that. He patted the young boys head while showing a bright smile though it looked rather forced given his pale expression. Regardless Ill still exin and this time I wont embellish anything. Maya was summoned because of an assassination attempt. An A-rank assassin was hired by someone to take me out and almost seeded. His words caused the children to suck in a sharp breath as they eyes trembled in shock. Luckily I notice his ambush in time thus allowing me to move a few inches to the left otherwise my heart would have likely been shattered. Frost showed the children the remnants of his armour to emphasize the danger as the wound had already been healed but it was enough to make the children visibly tremble, their hearts lurching at the image of Frost being struck by such a powerful person. I was sent barrelling into a nearby wall with heavy injuries but thankfully he didnt chase me down right away thus allowing me to tear apart the teleportation talisman and summon Maya to my side. Frost looked towards Maya at that point with gratitude, truly thankful for her hasty arrival. .... Loki and Nanna remained silent with their heads down, obscuring their current expressions from Frost. Their hands however were balled up into tight fists as waves of anger radiated in their hearts. Who dares to mess with our master. They wanted to rend the offender apart and offer them up as sustenance to the dungeon. Frost had saved them from pain and eternal darkness, he was their family, their everything and they hated the fact that someone nearly took him from them. Frost scratched his cheek and looked at Maya who simply shook her head also puzzled by their silence. Eventually however Frost was once again assaulted by their little bodies. They wrapped their arms around him as tight as they possibly could and whispered. Youre safe now. Three simple words but their impact was impressive. Tears welled up in Frosts eyes as the remnants of trauma was blown away by their words. He was incredibly moved and in response hugged them tightly against his chest as warm tears dripped down his cheeks, wetting Nanna and Lokis heads. Maya look on with reddened eyes before joining the three-way hug to make it four-way. The family was back together, safe and sound. Chapter 525 - 525 Chapter 525: Current state of the dungeon 525 Chapter 525: Current state of the dungeon After several minutes of warm hugging the family of four broke off with cheery smiles, the pall brought on by the assassination attempt bing a formless breeze, lost in the wind. Frost then proceeded to ask Nanna and Loki about their lives over the past week which they were more than happy to regale. The two children spoke of their progress in terms of their education, their roles in regards to helping out with the construction of the newly minted camp as well as the fun times they had ying with the monsters during their downtime. Each tale widened Frosts already ear stretching smile, he couldnt be prouder and more enthralled by their words. Just hearing about their daily lives brought warmth and joy to his heart. He now understood his own father a little better. After talking the four of them prepared for an early night so as to be up at the crack of dawn ready to work. Frost had a hefty schedule to uphold after all, so much work to do in preparation for his future customers and residents. Though the dungeon wouldnt likely see another sapient for theing weeks the amount of construction needed to meet his minimum requirements was staggering. The fierce war where his and his monsters lives were in jeopardy was over but now a new chapter promising to be no less exhausting was underway. Maya joined him for the night, sleeping peacefully entwined at his side, providing the two of them a sense of ease. Frost had the first peaceful rest in quite a while, even his dreams were ratherforting and soothing thus when the sun finally rose over the mountain where the dungeon resided, he awoke with a spring in his step. His body feeling limber, supple and full of strength, ready for a hard days work. Maya was still more ofte riser, so she cutely groaned as he shifted off the bed. She had no need to get up so early and never would if she had the option. Frost gently ced a peck on her forehead before leaving the bedroom as quietly as possible. It was time for him to shift gears and make do on his many ns. Adventuring time was over, now it was time to be a dungeon core. Frost made his way to the sofa and plopped himself down in front of the pseudo dungeon core that allowed him to view and control pretty much every faculty of the multi-floor spanning dungeon. Guess I should take stock of the dungeons current state before taking any action. Frost proceeded to bring up a 3d hologram of the dungeon, allowing him to view it as a whole. The first floor was still a winter hignds environment followed by a winter forest and then the ruined castle interior to finish. There was the addition of a few spawners that still continued to churn out monsters every 12 or 24 hours as well as the iron mine connected to the winter forest. It was rather unusual for a monsterir to have differing environments especially after every room, but Frost decided that there was no need to change it. The three rooms worked fine as is and would help set his dungeon apart from the rank-and-file monsterirs plus having changing environments helped shore up an adventurers skills thus increasing their survivability. The second floor consisted of a continuation of the ruined castle interior for the first section whereas the following two were ice cavernbyrinths that were to be honest a little simple and could be easily mapped out after several delves but since it was only the 2nd floor he didnt care much. He nned to increase the difficulty of the dungeon as it descended both in regards to monsters and environments. ..... Most of the temporary changes enacted for the purpose of the stampede had already been removed thus returning the focus back onto adventuring parties rather than waves and waves of maddened monsters. After the second floor the dungeon began incorporating the same environment for the entire floor. The third floor was a winter forest whereas the fourth was a cial steppe, an environment very simr to the one he saw in the [beginners ice magic] monsterir. Ice everywhere in all manner of crystal-like forms, a very beautiful environment though quite deadly if underestimated. Two mines sections were also added to this floor, a second iron mine and a 2-star cier mine. The two floors also contained multiple monster spawners thus making them a step up from the first two in terms of importance. Frost envisioned the 3rd and 4th floor handling the bulk of his initial visitors. Not too dangerous but also not too easy to be a worthless endeavour. Solid E-ranks and perhaps new risen D-ranks would be ideal in this area. Beyond that was the fifth floor, the first floor with a boss monster that prevented anyone from proceeding to the next floor unless defeated. Right now a Lagombi seemed to be the perfect choice, an average D-rank monster that could take a real beating. The Dungeon was at the point now that it could simply summon a new Lagombi whenever it was killed, 500DP was a very minor expense. In regards to the environment the entire floor was a winter hignd simr to the one found in the dungeons first section/room. Wide open ins with a recurring blizzard perfect for beastlike monsters. Thegombi would be stationed at the very end of the floor where a pseudo ice arena barred ess to the sixth floor which was designated as the safe floor. Previously Frost nned on having the ursa he bought serve as the guardian of the fifth floor but considering the level of adventurers hed likely get in theing months, something weaker was more apt. For the sixth floor the environment was far more pleasant than the previous ones with the temperature not even being in the negatives, something called a winter prairie. The flora and fauna contained within werent of very high quality but were numerous and beneficial for long term living. Rather open ins with multiple gentle rivers,kes and asional rolling hills, a pure paradisepared to the dangerous environments of the upper floors. The n was for the sixth floor to be a separate space from the regr dungeon aiming to provide a resting space for the adventurers as well as his more sapient like monsters. On this floor the first internal camp or outpost would be established. Frost had learned a lot from his books as well as through word of mouth from his acquaintances. Monsterirs that spanned tens of floor would be far too challenging toplete in a non-stop delve therefore areas would be carved out within to serve as rest stops. More popr monsterirs would even have several of these outposts manned 24/7 and armed to the teeth with defensive armaments that could put even Furano to shame, all in the name of profit and adventure. Frost nned to copy this treatment to make his dungeon even more appealing and practical. The higher quality mine rooms were also on the sixth-floor branching left and right from the second section. A kyanite mine, two frigid iron mines as well as a duram mine all of 3-star quality thus making the sixth-floor resource rich. Beyond that all the proceeding floors -of which there were currently four- held 2-star environments that were hazardous to intruders and of the same strain, cial steppe. These floors looked almost identical to the floors found in the [beginners ice magic] monsterir, beautiful, majestic and filled with an abundance of ice-based flora and fauna. Thanks to the abundance of DP gathered during the stampede all ten floors had been fully expanded and outfitted with environments before he left for Furano leaving the dungeon in a fairly good position to wee a vast range of intruders. All he needed to do now was improve a few features, develop the external and internal camp as well as decide the cement of his monsters. For the 10th or rather the 11th floor the future n was to have a moreplex ice maze that spanned the entire floor, one that had shifting walls and a vast array of traps and punishments before leading to a more borate arena that would house either, Finy, Khuno or himself as thest bastion but then again it was unlikely any adventurer would make to the final floor before he had enough DP to further expand. The dungeon itself is in quite a good ce and actually doesnt need much improvement, at least in the short term. Frost analysed while cupping his chin in thought. He could expand a couple sections or add more spawners but that could wait until the customers return. Haaaaaa 120,000DP used to be such a massive number, now it only serves to purchase a few assets. Developing my dungeon is truly an endless money pit. Frost sighed as he reminisced about his early days, missing the cheapness of low-ranking monsters and materials. The external camp will take up most of the dungeonsbour over the next couple weeks. After that we can work on the internal outpost for the sixth floor, further promoting long term tenants. Terra really does have the right approach. Passive gains will surely overtake active gains in the long run, thankfully Im taking action early rather thante. Frost had no wish to lose his current 4th ce ranking and in fact wished to ascend to 3rd perhaps even 2nd or 1st but thetter two were just a dream at the moment he knew that Yami and Aqua were truly in a ss of their ownpared to him and his other siblings. Surpassing Pyro however was not only a feasible goal but also a very satisfying proposal. Confident with the Dungeons internal situation he manoeuvred the 3d image to the external camp where hundreds of small figures representing his monsters could be seen moving to and fro. Thanks to shift patterns and the benefit of night vision work on the camp was 24/7. Chapter 526 - 526 Chapter 526: That’s.....a problem 526 Chapter 526: Thats.....a problem Looks as though theyve got their work schedule down to a tee. Frost eyed the movements of his many monsters andpared it to clockwork. At first it looked like a hodgepodge of messy paths where idents and collisions could happen every other minute but in fact there was a very established flow or at least the makings of one. Several groups showed some difficulty in performing their work exactly as ordered but not to the point of causing aplete copse. Finy was the general currently on shift and could be seen in the centre of the camp standing before arge ice table that disyed a rudimentary n of the envisioned camp including the minor changes Frost discussed with Khuno yesterday. The wall will do for now, there shouldnt be any sign of another stampede for at least a few years and the only other threat will be from the opportunistic bandits and profit hunters, a minor inconvenience even if they do bring a substantial force. Frost wasnt simply being arrogant he took great stock in his potential enemies and prepared for them and then some. The camps walls may not equal the defensive strength of Furanos but lying behind it were dozens of C-rank monsters, two B-ranks and hundreds of D and lesser ranks. The camp would not be easy pickings for those looking to take advantage. Plus having the Ronsos act as the face of the camp alongside himself prevented any untoward sabotage or coercion. Khuno and the rest would never betray him. Within two weeks at the earliest the wall needs be at least 8 metres high and cover the entire perimeter of the camp, the rest areas, medical centre, food services, toilets, smithy as well as a couple basic vendors also need to be established so as to meet the basic criteria for an official camp. Specialist stores, high quality rest areas, bars etc can wait until the traffic flow bes more developed and those from Furano, Kranor and anywhere else decide to toss their hat in the ring. Frost nodded at his own n, finding it ambitious but not too ambitious. Out with the necessary development of the camp there was the future development of the outpost on the sixth floor as well as the space and materials fit for the two high ranking smiths that would soon grace the dungeon with their presence. Borris was a 4star cksmith with decades worth of knowledge under his belt as well as ample teaching experience. He expected his chosen ronsos as well as the ice dwarven smiths to take full advantage of his time here. Of course the old dwarf would still be kept in the dark about most things, primarily being restricted to certain areas and kept separate from the dungeons daily processes. The same however couldnt be said about the other smith. Daki, a beautiful orc woman with subus ancestry whos appearance and voluptuous figure gave Maya a good run for her money. Unlike Borris she was not being scouted simply for her cksmithing capabilities but would instead join Frosts inner circle like Nanna, Loki and of course Maya. She was to be part of the family, a lover who was kept abreast of the inner workings and helped out in their grand ambitions. Of course Daki was currently in the dark about all this only knowing that Frost held a rather impressive secret and background, but the young dungeon core had a strong feeling that the truth wouldnt faze her. He asionally talked to her over the magic crystal every couple of days, keeping her up to date on the stampede and his current situation. Frost still needed to finish setting up quite a few things and reserve arge chunk of DP to suit her tradeswoman wishes but shed already packed up her stuff and sold off her shop, diving all in on this rtionship despite their short interaction. Their connection was something instinctual and deep regardless of time. For Daki there seemed to be no other than Frost. Her many years of searching appeared to be over, Frost was the man for her. He nned on heading over to retrieve his woman in a week or so. By then a good chunk of the camps foundation would be finished and the stampede would officially be over. At the moment there were still small groups of ravenous monsters affected by the mana veins corruption trolling around the external regions. But the DP being released by the mana vein was gradually diminishing day by day, clearly heading back to normal levels. Though the ns are in ce theres still lots of work to be done. On top of handling the camp and preparing his abode for its new arrival he also needed to facilitate his own growth and improve his dungeon through more creative means lest he fall behind the other remarkable dungeon cores, Frost wasnt one to rest on hisurels. There just werent enough hours in the day but thankfully he no longer needed sleep. ..... Lets get down and dirty then. With a confident smile on his face Frost rolled up his sleeves and teleported from the private space to the external room. Hed take part in the construction personally. If he truly wanted to know what the dungeoncked he needed to talk to its inhabitants and be actively involved in the construction process. Frost disappeared into a space warp as if the process was as natural as breathing, he no longer felt even the slightest bit nauseous or dibobted by it. Hey Finy, hows it going? He teleported within spitting distance of his right hand man who looked right in his elementmanding legions of monsters. Therge, athletically built ice troll lord looked up from the table with a growing smile. Master, its good to see you again. Finy replied back with a poorly hidden sense of exhaustion. Haaaaaaa seems Ive put a lot on your shoulders with my absence. Frost shook his head and sighed, partially regretted being away from the dungeon for so long and so often. No, no Master its nothing I cant handle. Finy tried to emphasise his energy levels with a muscr disy but the bags under his eyes were as clear as day. Well Im back now and ready to go to work. Why dont you run me through the schedule youve arranged today and highlight any areas youve foundcking. Frost tapped Finys shoulder in a reassuring manner before manoeuvring to his side so as to get a good look at the set up outlined on therge ice table. dly master. Finy replied with an enthusiastic voice, happy to share his heavy workload. At the moment Ive assigned 8 ronsos to oversee the walls construction along with our more capable dwarven smiths. Our current rate of section failure is about one in twenty but its improving every day. At the start we failed to produce an eptable section of wall perhaps 20% of the time so were definitely getting better with our craft. Finy pointed out the many teams in the distance as well as where they coincided on the table ns. Ive alreadymuned with Khuno and adjusted our material form to include more frigid iron in the walls construction and at our current rate well probably finish the full foundation within ten days andplete the 2nd stage within 3 weeks give or take a day or two. In regards to the camps buildings weve outlined their foundations but havent really started building them up given that the wall takes priority. Frost nodded his head along as Finy spoke, agreeing with his assessment. In terms of problem areas we could use morebour appropriate monsters. Goblins, slimes etc can help carry things but we need dwarven smiths to specifically create the slurry of pykrete and metal, yuki-onnas to enhance it with ice magic and of course our ronsos to add the final touch with their cold me chakra. Our construction speed is integrally linked with these three groups so only by adding more of them will we be able to increase our pace though too much would also cause overcrowding. I guess I could assign some DP for more of these monsters if you believe it will speed up our progress. Ideally, Id want the 2nd stage done in two weeks rather than three. If thats the case then we definitely need morebourers. 3 ronsos, 6 yuki-onnas or 18 lesser yuki-onnas and several dozen ice dwarven smiths would be appropriate to meet such a deadline if only just. Frost brought up the dungeon menu from his forearm and added those monsters to his shopping cart. There is one other issue that Id like to specifically bring up. Go on. By building a wall to protect the camp weve ended up isting us from the wayward monsters and beasts that were asionally drawn towards the dungeons mana radiance. Overtime it could add up to a staggering amount of DP considering theres far more monsters in the world than sapients. Finy noticed this ring issue when a couple raiding monsters were stopped and killed beyond the wall thus greatly reducing the amount of DP they rewarded. In the future when the stampedes madnesspletely dissolvedrge monster packs wouldnt be so dumb as to assault the high walls of the camp, choosing to instead pluck more low hanging fruit. Thats...a problem. Chapter 527 - 527 Chapter 527: Hard labour 527 Chapter 527: Hardbour Thats...a problem. Frost said with a developed frown. DP was the dungeons lifeblood, wantonly abandoning a significant chunk of it was not a wise move but building a protective wall around the camp wasnt something they could avoid either. They needed some way to both attract adventurers and future residents as well as allow the wandering monsters and beasts to enter the dungeons purview though doing so defeated the purpose of a defensive wall. Frost was truly stumped in regards to this issue and hadnt thought about the camps impact on the natural monsters. As his frown grew and grew Finy brought up other issues that needed to be dealt with. On a not so impactful note well need to start developing a sturdy gate for the camps entrance as well as purchase new war machines to dot the walls once theyre finished. The stampede saw us lose all but one machine though its condition is anything but ster. Can the dwarven smiths not repair them? Unfortunately the mechanisms present in the ballistae are tooplicated and delicate for their current abilities. Theyre really only good at basic construction and simple weaponry after all. Youll need to allocate a reserve of DP to outfit our walls with at least a couple dozen of the machines if we want to do them justice. A simple high and thick wall is nothing to conniving opportunists. Only when the wall can actively go on the offensive will they struggle in mounting a long-term siege. Finy highlighted a few other areas but only the first couple posed real impactful issues. In regards to the wild monsters Frost had a couple ideas but nothing concrete whereas the wall defences only needed an influx of DP, something he could easily grant. Understood Ill increase the reserve of DP to be allocated to the walls ande up with a way to best suit the needs of our wild monster problem what about the camps internalyout, is there anything there that may need to be revised and or my personal attention? Well since weve only really drawn the foundations weve not encountered any known issues as of yet and any obvious ones such as size issues, internal traffic flow and environmental resistance can only be dealt with after theyve been built. Well really need to test the waters and listen to theints of those who chose to dwell within and use them as their ce of business. However from the books you retrieved, our smiths opinions on dimensions and your descriptions of the buildings in Furano, Kranor and the camp ced before the [beginners ice magic] monsterir as well as the few buildings avable for purchase through the dungeon menu weve aired on the side of practicability, going for a more orthodox approach rather than something unique and wildly creative, bar your ce of course, all weve done there is mark out arge square wherein you can design your office as you see fit. Frost was to be the effective mayor/manager of the camp therefore he needed to have a mayoral office to conduct business in and where the residents and visitors could go to bring up their issues with the camp. ..... I see. Thats probably the correct approach, we wont really know what the people really want until theyre actually here. There was a lot of space left unmarred within the confines of the walls to serve as future real estate for that time, only the essential buildings as well as a few testingyouts were drawn up. Theres only so much we can n master, sometimes its best to just go ahead and alter your course based on what obstacles are ced in your path as they appear. Finy struggled toe up with anything else that was a concrete problem or boon. True, guess well just stick with our current ns and hope for the best. Frost somewhat reluctantly shook his head and shrugged his shoulders before refocusing himself. Alright where should I go to work first then? With the ns set and some DP allocated it was time to decide where the man in charge would be best ced. Though Frostcked a lot of the technical know how of the dwarven smiths he could utilise ice mes like the ronsos and use most of the same ice magic as the yuki-onnas. This. Finy looked a little perplexed at the question. Sure Frost was rather capable and with him working on the walls they were sure to increase their productivity, on paper at least. The monsters working by his side would obviously be affected by his presence, whether it would a positive change or a negative one Finy didnt know but it would definitely affect the fine-tuned work flow theyd recently established. After a few seconds of silence Finy finally made a decision. Given that your ice mes are a level above all of the ronsos, Khuno included you could start by further strengthening the walls foundation. Meanwhile Ill arrange for a contingent of dwarves and trolls to be assigned to you so you can then start fashioning the camps buildings. Sounds great, Ill head over now. Send me a message when the team is arranged. Frost nodded his head and smiled before heading off to where the external first started. He was very happy to be given some hardbour, staying behind a desk all the time and supervising any work was not in his blood. Turns out he and Leo shared a lot of simrity though he wasnt quite as opposed to the rigors of leadership. As Frost summoned out his bone chilling ice mes to further harden and improve the basic foundations of the external wall he ran through multiple possibilities in solving the wild monster issue. The more he thought of it the more annoying the situation became. The dungeons core was a tantalising gem to wild monsters, their instincts would naturally drive them towards the dungeon so as to partake in the juicy mass of energy. The endless waves drawn during the stampede were proof enough of its attractiveness and this was something that would only grow as the dungeon developed. The more floors he built the greater the scent produced thus attracting bigger fish. I cant have the monsters and beasts being attracted to the camp as that would be pointless. Most monsters would avoid a camp full of bloodthirsty adventurers and protected by a massive wall whereas those that werent curtailed would instead pose a serious threat to the safety of the camps residents. Though their deaths would grant me a significant amount of DP itd defeat the point of passive ie haaaaaaaa what to do, what to do. Expanding the area outside the dungeon could work to a degree but the monsters would still be blocked off from essing the dungeon unless they barged through the camp and its high walls.I need a way to facilitate ess for both without ovepping the two. Frost thought deeply as freezing mes gushed out his hands and encapsted arge section of the external wall. He pretty much acted on auto pilot as his brain entered problem solving mode. Thankfully there werent any workers near his position thus preventing him from identally freezing a goblin or two. After a hour or so Frost had covered nearly half a kilometre of wall with his ice fire thus increasing its overall strength by roughly 10 perhaps 20% in some areas. The price however for this constant heavy use of high level chakra exhausted him greatly, even with his connection to the dungeon core non-stop chakra usage wore Frost out. He was panting, sweating buckets and felt that his mana channels were about to burst. He did however have a smile stered on his face reaffirming Mayas opinion that he was a bit of a masochist. Hahahaha not only did I get a real chakra workout Ivee up with a pretty decent solution to the wild monsters problem. Frostughed as he fell onto the lightly snow-covered ground and summoned a mid-level mana potion from his storage ring. He glugged down the blue liquid with gusto, finding the vour more than eptable, it was akin to a man nearly dying of dehydration taking arge gulp of water, exactly what his body needed at that precise moment. I doubt many choose to go down such a brutal training path, but it certainly has its rewards. Frost positively remarked as he sensed his mana veins slowly but surely expanding each time, he worked them to the absolute limit. It was the same with his muscles, after breaking them down through super intense workouts they grew stronger after healing, all it took was some determination and pain. After finishing his mana potion and inspecting his mana veins Frost looked over the remaining wall, 500 metres was only a little over 3% of the entire external wall. 3 sides each 5kms long, he had quite a ways to go. Looks like even construction can serve as a good workout hehehehe. Heughed looking very much forward to the results after he finished the entire wall. At the moment however he needed to rest, too much damage to his mana veins would have the opposite effect. Solving the wild monsters issue will require not just DP but some careful nning, possible rearranging and perhaps even testing the bounds of what Im allowed to get away with. I might have to ask father for his input but technically there shouldnt be a problem. Frosty his back against the cold floor, finding it ratherfortable as he brought up the dungeon menu. Lets test the waters first. Chapter 528 - 528 Chapter 528: Quick fix 528 Chapter 528: Quick fix What Frost ideally envisioned was to create an offshoot of his current dungeon, not necessarily creating a second dungeon but another entrance that differed from the currentyout. He first wanted to attempt such a notion and see if the dungeon menu rejected his proposal as it has happened before putting all his eggs in one basket. Frost along with a great number of his siblings attempted to push the boundaries of their dungeon creation skills over the past few months with a great many being shot down by their fathers actually fairly rule bound system. One such example was a certain sibling wanting to ce their dungeon core in an unreachable room therefore permanently preventing anyone from getting ess to it lest they started destroying the dungeons many walls and boundaries. This was of course immediately shot down with the statement intruders must be able to reach the dungeon core some way or another or rather the dungeon core cant be cordoned off from any part of the dungeon. The limits imposed by this rule however are dependent on many factors such as the dungeons location, type, intruders etc but the basis was that the dungeon core needed to be essible through some shape or form to those that would be entering it. Others thus took that word essible with a grain a salt and further pushed the boundaries, some seeded in their machinations, but many were outright rejected. If one wished to go to far with their ploys and get away with it there was one possibility that Dark eventually- after getting annoyed with the inundating creativity of his children- established. Which was the possibility of creating a second/subordinate dungeon through the use of a dummy dungeon core (a hollow soulless entity, like what Dark used to exin monster summoning to Frost and the rest in the first couple chapters) or the core of a monsterir. The first method was pretty safe and posed fewer limitations but so far no one knew how to get their hands on one of these dummy cores and Dark didnt bother telling. The current assumption was that they could be prizes in the gacha and or rewards given by Dark during future gatherings as currently the dungeon menu didnt offer them for sale anywhere. The second option of using monsterir cores however providing a definite route to establishing a subsidiary dungeon though with many caveats. First being that youd need to subdue a monsterir and absorb its core which was not only difficult and possibly dangerous the act itself would put a target on your back. There was an established ord throughout Nova to not mess with monsterir cores as the monsterirs served as a significant sources of ie and materials for their surrounding popce. Losing said source threatened their livelihoods so them bing furious anding after the one who caused such a loss was to be expected. Secondly the subsidiary dungeon would be limited in size, equal to whatever size the monsterir was at the point of acquisition. Third the DP retrieved from deaths within the subsidiary dungeon would only be 50% of what would be gained in the primary dungeon given that they were a poorer imitation of the real thing. Finally recovery of monsters, traps and environmental assets would happen far slower thanpared to the main dungeon though therger and more developed the monsterir the smaller the difference. Basically the way to go was dummy dungeon cores but since ess to them was severely restricted monsterirs offered a way to grow quickly albeit at the expense of quality. This was certainly true for the moment where only the top half dozen or so cores were at the B-rank. The level of monsterirs they could conquer was quite limited. ..... Frost currently had no ns on embarking down such a route, especially at his current juncture. Hed already been at war for several weeks so he wasnt keen on starting another one just so he could establish a substandard dungeon solely for wild monsters. Instead he was thinking of creating a second entrance that would eventually lead to the regr dungeon albeit through a rather circuitous route. Thanks to the magic of spatial magic the internalyout of the dungeon could bepletely lobsided but still line-up well with the following and preceding floors. Frost could pretty much build in whatever direction with a great deal of leniency. Of course if he ascended further and further up the mountain thered eventually be far less actual space to work with but at the moment he had more to work with than he could ever dream of using. I could create an out of the way entrance somewhere within the external cial mountains and have it eventually lead back to the mainyout thus keeping the two separate while at the same time not tripping up on any caveats, however.. Error! Error! Error! As expected, when Frost went to create a second entrance somewhere far in the distance he was met with an error message. Unless the entrance was connected to the dungeon core in some way it wouldnt fly, he couldnt build after the fact only before. This could end up being quite DP intensive. The second entrance needed to be far enough from the camp so that the two forces wouldnt need to interact and hidden well enough that sapients would really be interested/attracted to it over the main one. The idea being that only wild monsters and beasts would really use this entrance. A simple solution would be to put an entrance above the camp, higher up the mountain where the dungeon resided thus granting him ess to the plethora of monsters residing there. The distance in that case wouldnt need to be that great and the link up could happen within a couple floors therefore saving a lot of DP. However, the monsters residing on the mountain werent the same as those residing on the floor. They were far stronger thus posing a serious danger to the dungeon given its current forces. Frost wasnt stupid enough to open up a path to his core for a tide of C and B-rank monsters that were beyond his abilities just for some extra DP. This solution also wouldnt help with the DP lost from the wild monsters the dungeon currently had ess too. Haaaaaaaa if Im being really cost effective I could theoretically create a floor with really long and narrow rooms to cut down the distance but that feels like a real cop out... I could instead make something simple a little out of the ways with the n to eventually abandon it or repurpose it. That way the DP cost will remain low and itd be able draw the monsters within the Northrend forest and very, very slightly beyond. The question was either to spend a decent amount of DP to create a proper wild monster attraction,pletely devoid of sapient interaction and with full draw effects to a vast area of the cial mountains or set up a small, nearby hub that would only offer an alternative route to the very local monsters. Personally Frost frowned on low quality choices especially after reaching his current strength but practically he didnt have enough DP to embark on such a grand n. There was an issue affecting the dungeon in the present and he could only afford the quick fix. He wasnt set to make any significant DP gains during theing weeks, perhaps even months. Though the stampede injected him with hundreds of thousands of DP likely rocketing him beyond his other siblings he was in for a significant dry spell now that it was over. Haaaaaaa well I can always incorporate the area for other means and even alter its environment, it wont be a lost fixed asset at least. Frost decided to go down the simple fix route thus reducing another chunk of his stored DP. As divine energy flowed through his body four new sections established themselves beside the second section of the fourth floor leading off towards an 8m by 6m stone entrance approximately 30km away from the camp. The entrance though fairlyrge was facing away from the regr sapient traffic, people would have to really be looking for it if they wished to find it. The four sections were each expanded to medium size and sported greater length than breadth thus allowing Frost to cut down the required sections while still retaining a simr ambience to the other areas of the dungeon. Simple winter forests were used as the environments thus filling the new areas with bountiful flora and fauna, perfect for attracting the wild monsters in the nearby vicinity. ess to and from the fourth floor was also well hidden and difficult to transition between the two areas -though still possible thanks to Darks connected policy. It wasnt exactly atheistically pleasing when Frost looked at the Dungeons overall 3d image, but it did the job. Perhaps when I add more rooms to the other floors itll bnce out in the end, regardless the wild monster issue can be now be considered resolved, at least for now. Frost nodded his head, rtively happy with his solution but noted in his mind that he would definitely establish a more effective solution in the future. The amount of DP lurking in the cial mountains both upwards and to the north was not something he wished to neglect for long. Chapter 529 - 529 Chapter 529: Off to pick up his feisty green enchantress 529 Chapter 529: Off to pick up his feisty green enchantress With the wild monster issue resolved, Frost rested for a brief 5 minutes before carrying on with his original task. He needed to solidify the foundations of the entire protective wall, all 15km -though not all of it wasplete yet. Over the following week Frost woke up at the crack of dawn every day, hed kiss Maya gently on the forehead as left the bedroom only to receive a rude grumble in response most mornings before teleporting straight into the semi-established camp where Finy or Khuno would assign him his work for the day. Along with his expert help as well as that of the additional dwarves, yuki-onnas and ronsos he summoned, the first phase of the external wall wasplete and many of the primary buildings were significantly underway. The dungeonsrge stone entrance was now surrounded by a 4-metre-tall wall with solid foundations that spanned 5 kilometres beyond the mountain and the makings of a nascent vige was beginning to unfold within, turning this boring field of snow and trees into something rather habitable. Everyone who gazed upon the budding camp couldnt help but feel proud and impressed by its potential. This was the result of their hard work over the past couple weeks. No instant creations from the dungeon, just back breakingbour from all its inhabitants. Even Nanna and Loki did their part once their daily lessons wereplete. Its really starting toe together. Frost said as he stood in the centre of the camp. There was still a long way to go but the bones were clearly showing. Your first fief. Maya who had managed to get herself up early today. No thanks to Frosts actions the night before, she was still finding his appetite rather difficult to endure given her current limping and trembling hips. However she willingly engaged in such activitiesst night with much greater enthusiasm given where Frost was heading or rather who he was going to meet. It was a way in which she marked her territory, a im for dominance in the face of the other woman that was set to join their little family. Frost of course was smiling from ear to ear due to her antics not dissuading her marking in the slightest, in fact he even egged her on and teased her resulting in them going a little overboard. Thats a good way of putting it. Given that my identity needs to remain a close guarded secret this camp will be the first territory officially under my namehehehehe. Frost started giggling as he repeated the word fief in his head and started referring to himself as Lord Frost. Owning ones ownnd and bing a king was always of a fantasy of the young and ambitious. I wonder have far my ambitions will take me. Perhaps years in the future it wont be the Northrend empire reigning supreme but mine. A sh glinted in Frosts eyes as he spoke, a fierce me and a tendril of arrogance attached themselves to his smile. Youve got a looooooonnnnnggggg way to go if thats what you want. Right now youre nothing but a fly in their eyes. Maya ever the buzzkill or rather the collected one doused his arrogance and ambitions with a pitcher of cold water, swiftly bringing an end to his boasts. True, true just a single well-trained assassin almost took me out of the game before it even started. Frost replied with a deted expression which caused Maya to let out a small giggle before gently patting his back. ..... Youre still young and full of potential just dont get too full of yourself. The world is vast and very cruel to a tree that rises beyond the rest. Unless you have sufficient protection and or indomitable strength youll be easily cut down by jealous peers. Your current ns to fully establish the dungeon and focus on its growth is a very good start. Slow and steady wins the race, reaching the peak is a marathon not a sprint after all. Maya spoke with a strange sense of wisdom that was beyond her years, causing Frost to look at her rather strangely. He leaned down and ced his hand over her forehead checking to see if she had a fever. Did we go at it so muchst night that your brains all jumbled upahh owowowow! His mocking care was met with a swift grip and twist of his side. This friendly interaction between the couple caused many monsters in the nearby area tough and smile, finding their exchange rather heart-warming. So youre going today? After giving Frost a sharp dose of pain Maya asked with a resigned tone. She did pretty much all she could to dy his departure but the addition of another woman to their rtionship was inevitable. Maya pondered over this issue a lot over the past few weeks, trying her best to find the silver lining and tone down her natural misgivings. She hadnt met the orc subus yet but from what Frost told her she seemed nice and quite simr to herself in many ways. She didnt like the idea of sharing her man especially given that their rtionship was still in the early stages but sometimes, especially at night she did wish there was another person to pick up the ck, Frost was truly insatiable. It was like he was given a body that never tired nor ran empty. She wondered if the Dark God designed his other children the same way on purpose so as to increase the chances of proliferation among his progeny, they were after all a new species that contained his essence. What parent didnt want as many grandkids as possible. While thinking along this route her aversion to Daki grew slimmer by the day though she was still set in being number one. asionally she thought itd be nice to have something like a sister to hang out and exchange girl talk with as Nanna wasnt old enough for such things. Yeah, now that the walls foundation isplete and many of the main buildings are nearingpletion, I feel confident in leaving Finy and Khuno in full control of what remains. Shes waited long enough. To be honest Daki was fully keen on leaving with Frost as soon as possible. In fact she would have left with him the day he first left Kranor if it was possible, a fact that wasnt lost on him. Over the past few days when they talked over the magic crystal, he could clearly feel her desire and frustration from being left alone for so long, she was beginning to grow quite impatient. Because of that he really didnt want to dy their reunion any longer despite Mayas inviting attempts to do otherwise. Haaaaaaa fine go and bring her then, I really cant wait to see the woman thats managed to grasp your heart so tightly despite only interacting with you for a couple days. Maya cutely pouted but wasnt truly angry. In response Frost smiled gently before kissing his girlfriend on the forehead and pulling her into a tight embrace. Regardless of her grip youre still and always will be my first and number one. He soothed her with sweet words from the heart which worked very well, she blushed from ear to ear and sunk into his chest, quietly calling him an idiot as she rubbed her finger against his chest. In celebration forpleting the first phase of the external wall Frost arranged avish feast, awash with alcohol, fruit juice and rather delectable desserts. For most of the meals he dug into the supply of monster meat that theyd gained from the stampede while he used DP to purchase the drinks and desserts. All of his monster were invited to partake in this luxury as a reward for their hard work during the stampede and the construction of the camp. The monsters sang their masters praises as they dug into the food and drink. They regaled to one another their experiences during the war and became more than just monsters serving the same master. Many became good friends regardless of their species. It certainly helped that Nanna and Loki intermingled with so many, drawing arge group of monsters into their little band of ymates. Frost watched as they partied, interacted and even sang with pride welling up in his heart. These were his people, beings that relied upon him to guarantee their safety, food, shelter and very lives. A tall ask full of responsibility but one he epted without hesitation. I will bring you all to the peak of this world. He muttered under his breath as a solemn vow was written in his heart. Once the feast was over it was time for Frost to head over to Kranor to pick up his long waiting girlfriend. Hed already informed his cadre of monster officers about his intention and ordered them to prepare for her arrival in a glorious fashion. A substantial amount of DP had also been hallmarked to suit the wants and needs of his new lover. Out with the additional space needed in the private space he prepared a small section for her on the sixth floor that would serve as her personal workshop wherein she would holdplete dominion. There was also the makings of a small but well decorated shop in the camp that would allow her to entertain any future customers, but the real magic would primarily happen within the personal workshop. The ce wasnt outfitted yet as he wanted to leave that to her professional discretion but given that the sixth floor had easy ess to numerous high-quality mines, he believed thered be no better location for her workshop. The rather pleasant environment throughout the floor would certainly be an added bonus. Keep working hard while Im gone but hopefully this time I wont be away for too long. Understood master. Both Khuno and Finy saluted to Frost who was currently riding atop Kiba. Nanna, Loki try to stay out of Khuno and Finys way unless they specifically ask for your help. Listen to Maya and keep working on your lessons. Yes master. The two phoenix kin responded excitedly; they were quite looking forward to meeting Daki. Not only because Frost was rather taken with her but because she forged the gear they loved to wear during training. Frost then turned his attention to Maya who was showing a somewhat crooked/forced smile. Dont look so miffed, Im sure the two of you will get along great once you actually meet. Please try to be at least somewhat weing when we return. Frost tried his best to ease the tension surrounding Maya but gave up on achieving a positive response, merely aiming for lukewarm or neutral. Hmph. He got a hmph in response which was wasnt that bad in his opinion. Well then, Im off. To Kranor Kiba. Roar! Kiba who didnt care about the delicacy of Frost and Mayas love life roared happily at the fact hed get to return to his hometown. The young tiger cub swiftly dashed away through the gap in the external wall which would soon be protected by a high-quality gate. Frost was off to fetch pick up his feisty green enchantress. Chapter 530 - 530 Chapter 530: Reunion with Daki 530 Chapter 530: Reunion with Daki Now that the stampede was officially over -the mana vein also returned to giving its normal daily DP dosage before he left- Frost didnt have to worry too much about running into wandering packs of monsters that were infused with unbridled bloodlust however there was another issue. Guess they werent kidding. Frost had to force Kiba to stop while he took in the views before him. Thendscape he remembered from his previous excursion into the cial mountains had shifted due to the incessant march of millions of monsters heading south. But the most important change was the change in controlled territory. With vast sums of monsters leaving for the south never to return, areas that were once under the firm control of a former group of monsters were now up for grabs thus leading to aplete change in the local monster demographic. Whenever there was a monster stampede, especially arge one, all the information collected by the local camps, outposts, countries and enves regarding the local fauna had to be thrown out. Only after several months of brutalpetition between the newly born monsters would they be able to urately identify the new pecking order. An area that used to be flush with frost wolves could turn into a habitat for pr bears, frost spiders or even frost lizards, greatly changing the established hunting routines. It was a bit of a pain in the ass but overall seen as a good thing. The stampedes brought new life to the external regions, a regr change that helped reduced overeating and hunting of a particr species. For Frost however it meant that the path he intended to take was no longer as empty as he would have hoped. An area that was previously devoid of anything remotely violent and dangerous now housed a group of pr bears fighting against a couple frost drakes for dominion of the unimed territory. Haaaaaaa dys, dys and more dys Frost let out a sigh and shook his head. This was the fourth group of aggressive monsters that impeded his path and he was starting to grow frustrated at all the stopping and starting. Garow Kiba offered a solution to their problem. No were not flying there. Despite your increased skills its still too dangerous. Garow! The young tiger drooped his head in disappointment. What good was having massive wings if he never got to use them. ..... Just roar at the top of your lungs and see if that scares them off and if not, Ill use my aura. Grrrr! Kiba acquiesced to the order though it was clear that he still wanted to fly to Kranor. ROOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRRR!!!!! With a mighty roar that threatened to shake the heavens Kiba revealed himself in all his glory to the battle enthused pr bears and frost drakes. The D-rank monsters that had been fighting each other for control over the past hour trembled at his roar. They all turned to face the massive tiger with fear in their eyes. Instinctively they started stepping backwards from one another, opening up arge gap between the two sides that would facilitate Kibas passage. Looks like his roar worked well this time. Frost petted the young tigers head with affection as the two charged through the established gap without any interference. The two opposing monster groups remained frozen as they passed and only after a couple minutes after their departure did they resume their battle with an even greater ferocity. Despite the many interruptions and changes in thendscape, Frost and Kiba managed to make it to the Kranor enve just as the sun was about to set and cover the region in utter darkness. Their arrival however caught the assigned guards by surprise, it was rather rare for someone to be out in the wilds so soon after the stampede but after a few questions and a few people recognising him and Kiba he was allowed entry without too much fuss. She should be staying either at Sam and Ls, the mayors or Druakais. Frost didnt tell Daki about his sudden arrival, preferring to surprise her so he didnt know exactly where she was staying. Her main residence was officially with Sam and L, but she opted to stay with her younger brother Druakai on asion as well as Chia to learn more about being a good wife or something, she didnt go too deep into the details. Unfortunately thisck of information meant he didnt know where she was exactly. Guess we just gotta pick one and hope were right. Come Kiba lets start with Mayors manor. Frost and Kiba thus swiftly made their way towards the mayors manor which was the closest option. He could have called someone and asked but felt that it may ruin the surprise. Frost is that you, my, my if I knew you wereing, I would have arranged a celebration or avish feast at the very least. Chia (the mayors wife and Ls mother) greeted him in a hurry as the guards weed him in. The elderly rabbit woman was as ravishing as ever, her evening work attire doing very little to hide her ample figure, Yarrow was a very lucky man indeed. Sorry I kind of wanted it to be a surprise. Youre looking as lovely as ever Chia. Frost shed a yful wink at the older woman as he praised her beauty. Hows Yarrow doing? ttery will get you everywhere Frost. Chia quickly interlocked her arm with Frosts and gently leaned into his side, boldly showing off the capabilities of an experienced woman as she led him towards the reception room. Frost wasnt the only yer; in fact he was nothingpared to her back in the day. She wanted to make the young man blush a little with her moves, but it was clear that Frost had be more ustomed to such attacks, he didnt even blink out of sequence, so she upped her game a little. My husband is as fit as a fiddle thanks to the medicine you procured for him, in fact he acting like a man half his age. The rabbit woman smiled from ear to ear and licked her lips as she spoke, clearly indicating a double meaning. Frost was forced to raise his hands up in surrender, he truly wasnt her match in this regard. What about everyone else? He asked after lightly coughing, trying to discretely change the subject. Well my darling daughter has finally dropped her guard and started studying for real, so much so that Yarrow and I might be able to fully retire within the next couple years. Ahhhhhh retirement, being able to do what you want when you want without being shackled by responsibility, I cant wait hehehehehe. Chia giggled as she imagined her and Yarrows retirement years, the ces theyd visit, the food theyd try, the romantic nights where itd be just the two of them without a care in the world just like when they were young, ah pure bliss. Sams therefore been picking up the ck at home while shes been knee deep in her governing crash course but from what I know hes been putting real thought into his restaurant business. Using his borate home kitchen hes been having the kids taste his personal recipes and give their honest feedback. Its not exactly working in a restaurant but its giving him an idea on the type of things he wants to put in his future menu. His former teacher Ramsey senior has also been asionally visiting him, helping to enlighten him on the more business aspects of running his own restaurant as well as helping to dust of some of the rust that had been building up since his training days. Im sure that by this time next year hell have picked a location for his restaurant and officially embarked upon his new career. Chia spoke with high praise when it came to Sam. She always found him to be the perfect son inw. Strong, capable, loving to his family and 100% loyal. She genuinely supported his venture into cooking and looked forward to his future achievements. The grandkids have been as bright and joyful as ever; in fact I cant remember thest time they were this happy. When their grandpa was growing sicker by the day and their parents were off in search of a cure it took a lot of effort to bring a smile to their little faces...thats not an issue anymore. Chia grew mncholic as she remembered the past and grew more grateful to Frost for helping end those dark times. However Im sure youre more interested in knowing how a certain orcs been doing. The elderly rabbit woman gave a knowing look as she took a sip of freshly prepared tea. No, no Im ecstatic to hear all about L, Sam and the kids. Frost promptly denied the usation, but it was clear where his true thoughtsy. Haaaaaaa young love or rather lust is a beautiful thing. The elderly woman shook her head and smiled. Dakis been great, she doesnt shut up about you and how shes going to finally live in peace and no longer have to search far and wide for a decent match. The damn girls got her head in the clouds and behaving like a school girl having her first crush hmphbut its not as though I can me her. Youre certainly quite the catch and a proven good man, shes a lucky girl but you better do right by her, or Ill beat you ck and blue personally. As Chia transitioned into a threating mother bear her evening wear began to stretch as her muscles tensed to crazy levels. Frost doubted hed be able to win against her if it came down to a straight physicalparison. Chia can be quite frightening; no wonder Yarrow and Sam are so submissive to her. He audibly gulped as he imagined the force that could be brought to bear by those seemingly dainty hands of hers. Well it seems as though you lucked out in your choice. Shes currently helping out at Druakais but is set to sleep here tonight so if you dont mind waiting, shell probably be walking right through the door in the next hour or so. Chia took another sip of tea and rxed her shoulders. Ahhhh good stuff. She couldnt help butment. While she rxed and enjoyed her cup of tea, Frosts heart started beating a mile a minute as he imagined his reunion with Daki. He grew nervous and greatly anticipated her arrival, working and reworking what hed say to her first. Roughly an hourter the front door to the manor was opened revealing a beautiful orc dressed in casual clothes that screamed tomboy yet her impossible to obscure dynamite figure spoke otherwise. Auntie Chia Im back. The young womans voice boomed throughout the hall causing Chia to smile gently and shake her head while Frost visibly trembled. Im in the reception room and Ive got a surprise for you. Chia yed along with Frosts surprise n quite eager to see the look on the young womans face when she first saw him. A surprise, now Im really excited. Daki responded in an excited manner and practically skipped towards the reception room. She opened the door without knocking and stepped straight into the room with a bright smile. Whats the surprise is it another tale of when you were.... Her words were cut short as she took in the form of the young man sitting across from Chia whos image had been flooding her mind since the day they separated. She practically froze and stared at him bug-eyed. Frost was no less moved but gained control of his faculties first. Da. However the moment he went to say her name therge woman leaped from her spot with her arms outstretched. She smashed headfirst into his chest, knocking him off his feet and wrapped him up in a vice like hug. A coffee table and some crockery were unfortunately damaged in the tussle causing Chia to slightly frown but she forgave Daki a momentter. WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG IDIOT!!!!! Chapter 531 - 531 Chapter 531: Reunion with Daki (2) 531 Chapter 531: Reunion with Daki (2) WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG IDIOT!!!!! Daki screamed as her eyes grew red and tears threatened to flow down her cheeks. She had waited and waited for him for weeks and weeks, dreaming of the time theyd reunite. Frost who was smashed against the coffee table and subsequently the floor could barely move as his entire body was trapped between her muscr arms and squished against her bountiful chest and ripped abs. There was pain but also warmth andfort. Knowing that he kept her waiting too long he carefully wrenched out his right arm from her vice grip and gently stroked her hair in a soothing manner. Im here now. He spoke softly into her ear as her grip slowly but surely weakened, allowing him to breathe. Eventually Daki removed her pretty face from the confines of his chest and looked at his face as if making sure it really was him. Frost responded with a smile full of care and adoration, she was even more beautiful than he remembered. He proceeded to cup her face with his hand and lean in for a kiss. The moment their lips touched it was as if fireworks went off in Dakis head, her body lightly trembled and electricity shed throughout her system. Frost moved with an insane level of skill, leaving no part of her luscious lips unmarked. His tongue made short work of her defences finding easy ess to her own. With every brush of contact she felt her body heat up and her mind clouding, all semnce of rational thought slowly evaporating only to be reced with feelings of pleasure and desire. The reception room grew rather steamy thanks to the young couples actions, unfortunately they werent alone. Hut hmm, guess you forgot about my presence. Chia coughed loudly quickly bringing the two lovers out of their self-made world. Hehehe sorry Chia. Frost let out an embarrassedugh before apologizing. He truly did forget about her in that moment, let alone the servants standing in the background. Daki however loudly clicked her tongue and red at Chia as if she ruined a perfect moment. ..... Thats quite a fierce re youve got there little Daki, you must really be backed up to be swooning from a simple kiss or is he really that good. perhaps I should get a taste and find out. Chia teased with a sparkle in her eyes. NO! HES MINE!! Daki reacted like a cat having her tail stood on. She bared her tusks and wrapped her curvaceous body around Frost, protecting him from the older womans advances. Hahahahahaha god youre priceless, rx Daki, I wont steal him from you, Im more than happy with my Yarrow. Chiaughed without restraint, throwing her full body into it but Daki didnt loosen her grip. Instinctively she knew how threatening Chia could be, she may be known as Kranors beauty queen right now but before her it was Chia. The older rabbit woman could be a dangerous rival if she ever decided to throw her hat in the ring. Alright everyone lets leave these two to their little reunion unless theyd prefer to give us a show. A couple servants couldnt stifle theirughter at her words which caused the normally unphased Daki to blush, Frost even more so. Oh and Daki Ive already arranged for that room to be prepared. Chia muttered as she and the servants left the reception room. Dakis ears twitched in response upon mention of that room and after a couple seconds of realisation a predatory smile grew on her lips, one that made Frost suddenly feel as though shed turned into a ravenous wolf. A momentter the previously emotional woman that pressed herself against his body, afraid to let go leaped to her feet with fierce determination and stared down at him while licking her lips in delight. Frost was a real specimen to behold, muscr and strong yet also unbelievably handsome and graceful a trait lost among most male orcs. She felt the desire to howl as she imagined what shed do to that body and what that body could do to her. Her memories of taking his measurements lit a fire in her, one that needed to be quenched. Daki proceeded to pick Frost up in a princess carry which didnt look too out of ce given her stature and Frosts own beauty, the man being carried however was a little taken back by her actions. Um Daki? Quiet, Ive waited long enough, and you knew exactly what you were doing when you kissed me like that. Were going to do it until you cant walk straight. Daki announced or rather dered before rushing out of the reception room with Frost in her arms. She was heading straight for that room the one specially prepared by Chia. Oh. Im cool with that. Frost replied yfully and smiled with no less predation as his gaze drifted over Dakis very ample chest that provocatively bounced before his eyes. His throat grew parched as his imagination ran wild with desire. The princess switch had been flipped; his arms thus reached around Dakis midriff to grab sufficient hold of the giant bubble butt that put even Mayas to shame. Mmmm Daki cooed as her cheeks were aggressively grabbed, she looked down at the princess and saw that his desire was no less than hers perhaps even more so. With a lick of her lips she picked up speed, charging through the hallways like a maddened bull chasing after a red g. That room that Chia brought up was a very special room in the manor, not only was it bereft of any servants the walls werepletely soundproof. There was but one single purpose for this room and that was sex, the more unrestrained the better. Here a couple could engage in their wildest fantasies without bothering anyone else present in therge manor, Yarrow and Chia made triple sure of that fact. L was actually conceived in said room as were two of their grandkids. That room was better known throughout the inner circle as the baby making room given its sessful track record. Daki immediately understood her auntie Chias intentions and was all for it. No better way to wrangle in a man than to give birth to his children. Boom! Daki violently kicked open the door to the baby making room revealing its impressive interior. The bed was clearly of the super king size and draped in silk sheets and bright red rose petals to create a romantic feel. Adding to that special ambience was a bottle of fine champagne and a tray of aphrodisiac food such as strawberries, choctes and pistachios -not like they needed it however- on a nearby sideboard. Behind the massive bed, beautiful furniture and generous helpings of mirrors was a bathroom specially designed for sharing. There the couple could continue to remain intimate as they washed one another. But that wasnt all, hidden in the wardrobes, drawers and dressers were all manner of aids to help increase the nights enjoyment. This room had no problem hiding its main function. Kyaaahhh Frost let out a fake girlish scream as Daki tossed him onto the massive bed but immediately he felt rather awkward. ...Yeah, thats really not me. Aww I thought it was rather cute. Daki let out a flirtatious giggle as she stood over the bed, appearing very dominant with her muscr figure and tall stature. Sorry but Frost quickly appeared behind Daki and picked her up in the same way she held him. Im definitely going to be the one in control tonight. He then tossed her onto the bed in same manner. Kyaaaahhh Dakis squeal sounded a lot less forced. Much better. Frost then followed her onto the bed and stared over her tantalising figure with an intense gaze. The clear desire in his eyes caused Dakis body to heat up as he scanned her to his satisfaction. She squirmed and wriggled under his arms ying right into the bottom archetype. She was an experienced woman and had yed many roles in her time so she wasnt adverse to letting Frost take control, though whether he could maintain it throughout the whole night was another story. She wasnt known as the devourer of men for nothing. Not one for patience Frost leaned down and nted a deep sensual kiss onto her fair lips before his naughty hands started taking hold of the promised bounty that taunted him so. First, he gradually tried to ply apart her clothes but when that wasnt working fast enough, he straight up tore them apart, instantly revealing the beautiful jewel of a body that hid beneath. Glorious. Frost couldnt help butment in appreciation as he gazed down at her bare-naked body. Massive breasts that seemed to defy gravity, bouncing up and down with her every breath. A taut abdomen that could be used as a grater and a giant heart shaped ass thats circumference was impossible for his arms to fully epass. She was absolute perfection. Not bad yourself my love, far beyond my initial expectations. Daki wasnt exactly motionless while Frost felt her up and disrobed her in a dominating fashion. She already removed his upper robes, revealing his rather perfect body however her eyes were clearly drawn to the veryrge and angry looking protrusion pushing against his lower robes, desperate to be set free. Frost looked down at his weapon, it was fully roused and ready to do battle. He licked his lips and smiled from ear to ear before gradually baring his all. What followed next need not be exined, the young couple obviously actively engaged in their carnal activities, truly testing the very limits of the rooms sound proofing. Chapter 532 - 532 Chapter 532: Reunion with Daki (3) 532 Chapter 532: Reunion with Daki (3) Frost put back on his robes as he alighted from the super king size bed. An impossible to remove smile was stered across his lips and an apanying glow suffused his skin. He even walked with pronounced spring in his step and asionally broke into a delightful hum. He felt as though he was walking on clouds, that the world was full of light and joy with nothing negative in sight. Once he was dressed the young dungeon core turned back to therge bed to take in the glorious sight that was before him and the reason for his unbelievable chipper mood. There lying with her ass hovering above the bed and her entire body squirming and trembling from over-sensitivity was Daki. Though she was far more experienced that Maya in regards to intimate rtions she truly underestimated Frosts vigour, her highly developed talents therefore came back to bite her in the ass. The orc with subus ancestry always suffered during her time with her previous partners as none of them could keep up with her insatiable appetite. Most copsed after a few sessions never to grace her temple again for fear of being permanently drained. This was clearly not a problem for Frost in fact given that she could handle far more than a regr woman he didnt have to hold back as much. In the beginning Daki allowed him to retain control, finding his devotion and eagerness rather cute however as time dragged on he not only became more skilled, but his speed and intensity ballooned to the point where she could no longer regain any semnce of control. This was a first for the young woman, never had she ever been on the receiving end of such a lopsided domination. Despite her cries for him to slow down and take it easy Frost continued to push and push knowing that she could take it. In the end she fellpletely into his mercy just like Maya had thus resulting in her current state. Every brush against the silk sheets sent tingles throughout her system and the vivid handprints and hickeys decorating her emerald skin continued to radiate intense heat. She felt marked and imed and despite the difort she absolutely loved it. This was the effect she always left on others, never was she the one to experience such satisfaction. No wonder most of them werent coherent after a few serious sessions. As she remembered some of her previous victims she actually berated her own body for being unable to endure more of Frosts affection. That was amazing Daki, I cant believe we managed to go at it for so long heheheh. Frostughed joyfully, truly amazed that he and Daki were able to go at it for so long without a break. Maya was never able tost that long. at least not yet. To Daki however, his words of praise felt like daggers carving up her pride. Though Frost was over the moon it was evidently clear that his body still had more to give, unlike hers. She adamantly dered that theyd be going until he couldnt walk straight but in the end it was her who failed to keep up. Her sexual confidence thus took quite a blow. No matter what tricks she used or what part of her body she utilised and even with the addition of aids from the rooms dressers he never let up always asking for more. ..... Hu hu hu you were certainly amazing Frost, I always knew you were the one for me. Through strained breaths and a rather forced smile Daki replied with heartfelt honesty. Frost was definitely the man for her, she just needed to improve a little if she wanted to keep him truly satisfied. Do you need anything at all? Frost asked with a little concern, he remembered how Maya always struggled to move after their sessions. No Im fine, just need a little time to recover. Ill join youter. She felt incredibly moved by the care contained in his voice but also ashamed by it at the same time. Alright then, Im feeling quite famished, so Ill be heading to dining room. His stomach gurgled in response to his words causing a slight blush to grow on his cheeks and Daki to lightly giggle before squirming again. Since she seemed fine Frost leaned over and nted a kiss on her forehead before moving to leave the bedroom, but he stopped after a few steps as if he had forgotten something important. A momentter and with a wolfish grin he turned back and leaned over the form of his sexy girlfriend. One for the road. He proceeded to grab hold and squeeze Dakis prominent cheeks, relishing in their firmness before lightly pping them. Ahhhhnnnnnn! Oi! Daki let loose a loud moan before staring daggers at him. Hehehehehe now Im good. Frostughed before dashing out of the bedroom with an evenrger smile on his face. He always had to go just a little bit further with his antics. Insatiable bastard...heheheheh how ironic. Dakiughed with glee, how many of her previous partners referred to her in a simr manner after their sessions. I better not take too long to get up otherwise auntie Chia will never let me here the end of it. She imagined the older rabbit womanughing her guts out over her current predicament. While Daki recovered Frost quickly made his way to the dining room, hed already cast cleaning magic thus eliminating the sweat and strong smell of intimacy that emanated from his body. Ideally however hed still like to have a bath, but his stomach dyed that option. Grumble! Yeah, yeah I know. He had effectively fought for 12 hours straight so of course his body craved nutrients. Several servants greeted him as he passed and informed the kitchen of his hunger before he even reached the dining room. There at the table were Yarrow and his wife Chia already dressed in their work attire as they ate their breakfast. Chia showed a simr glow on her face as Frost thought not quite as prominent whereas Yarrow looked a little drained though he also sported a bright smile. Frosts arrival however caught the two of them by surprise. How the hell are you up and. walking? Yarrow immediately asked with his jaw agape, staring at Frost as if he was some kind of monster. He leaned over to his wife and whispered. You did prepare that room for them right? Yes and knowing Daki she would have never let him go without sucking him dry. Chia whispered back, showing an even more shocked expression than her husband. She knew exactly how demanding Daki was, her subus ancestry and track record were nothing to sneeze at. She was even more insatiable than she was in her youth, thus the confusion. Wheres Daki? She asked tentatively while eyeing the door, expecting her to enter at any moment. Oh shes still in bed, hehehe we kind of went a bit overboardst night so shes still recovering. Frost proudly dered with a confident air though a slight blush still grew on his cheeks. His words however set off a bomb in both Chia and Yarrows heads. Daki. lost. Yarrow looked at Frost as if he was some kind of demon, a monster in the skin of an elf. Chia however blinked rapidly as she digested this information. A momentter she stood up from her chair and excused herself from the table before dashing out of the room at some speed. Around a minuteter Frost and Yarrow could hear the unrestrainedughter of the rabbit woman reverberating through halls along with the asional yells of Daki telling her to stop or to shut up. Frost was rather confused but didnt sense anything negative in Yarrow or Chia, so he chose to ignore it, perhaps it was an inside joke. Given his hunger the kitchen prepared a veryrge selection of meals which Frost wolfed down with upmost adoration, praising the chef endlessly. Chia returned during his wolfing with a smug look on her face and new appreciation towards Frost. However seeing him devouring te after te of food gave her a thought. She then gave an order to a nearby servant who ryed hermand to the kitchen. When the next round of meals came out for Frost an additional selection was prepared for Yarrow who looked at the numerous tes of food in puzzlement. He then looked towards his wife who sported a bright grin and a certain look in her eyes and realised her intentions. God dammit is she never satisfied! He bemoaned internally while forcibly increasing his food intake under her intense gaze. He sent a few res Frosts way given that it was him who inspired such treatment, but the young dungeon core waspletely clueless. After his meal Frost checked on Kiba who had been left in the manors monster stables. Thankfully he didnt need to worry about his treatment, Kranor was his hometown, and he was practically family. Therefore Chia and Yarrow spared no expense with his meals andfort, a servant was even arranged to groom him which normally fell under the purview of Nanna and Loki back at the dungeon. Well you certainly look pampered. Frost remarked upon seeing Kiba syed out on top of a fancy cat bed with a bowl of monster steak at his side. He looked to be inplete bliss. Garow! Kiba spoke back through their soul connection, basicallymenting on Frosts current radiance and super smile. It seemed as though it wasnt just him that received a good pampering. Hahahahaha I guess you could say that Daki was, quite attentive. The master and battle mount thus caught up a little before separating. Kiba was in no mood to leave Kranor quite yet and Frost wasnt exactly in a rush either. He had more than enough time to visit his friends and take part in a proper send off for Daki. Chapter 533 - 533 Chapter 533: Reunion with Daki (4) 533 Chapter 533: Reunion with Daki (4) After catching up with Kiba, Frost returned to the baby making room- a name that he was still in the dark about- to check on his darling orc queen, hoping that she had recovered somewhat. Thankfully it seems that she was quite a bit more robust that Maya in that regard. By the time he returned she was already out of bed and stretching her muscles to alleviate thest of her sensitivity. Now thats a sight and a half. Frost audibly gulped and even whistled as his eyes took in the amazing view. Daki was stretching down to touch her toes in nothing but her underwear, emphasizing the massive green moon that he enjoyed oh so muchst night. Given that hed just topped off his energy levels the young man in his prime couldnt help but get aroused. Dont even think about it. However before he could get any wild ideas Daki swiftly shot him down with a fierce re and quick straightening of her limbs. She even went as far as grabbing the nearby silk sheets to cover her ample derriere though the thinness of the fabric seemed to only highlight its prominent shape. Frost really couldnt resist his urges in front of such a tantalising piece of fruit. With a predatory grin he moved faster than Daki could evenprehend and before she could even squeal in protest Frost had picked her up and held her in his arms like princess. Rx Ill be gentle, plus we never did get to enjoy the couples bathroom hehehehe. With a lustful expression Frost carried his weakly struggling queen into the bathroom. Daki waspletely powerless against him; her body was still rather sensitive thus limiting the strength she could draw from her muscles but more than that her body craved his touch, desperate to sumb to its previous state of bliss. Thankfully Frost wasnt aplete monster he really did uphold his word, treating her very gently as if she was a fragile piece of art. He caressed and kissed her entire body as hethered her in soap, leaving no spot unwashed, and Daki being the proud woman that she was couldnt let such devotion go unrewarded. While he embarked upon his task with gentle thoroughness she choice to use a more intense approach to wash her lover of his umted grime. Using her massive chest and bountiful ass she rubbed away anything that didnt belong. Unfortunately her technique was a little too good and Frost being the young stallion that he was couldnt hold back. An hourter he carried her out the bathroom andid her on the bed. She was once again worn out and needed to rely on him to carry her but by this point she had grown to enjoy it. Ill have someone bring you food. Frost once again donned his robes though a little reluctantly, Daki was truly quite addictive. ..... Thanks. Daki pulled herself up, so she was sitting on the bed. Since youre out of sorts Ill head out with Kiba for a while, might as well catch up with L, Sam and of course my future brother. Frost teased her at the end with a cocky grin. Sounds good. Dakis heart thumped at the thought of making their coupling official. Once Im capable of moving again Ill sort out thest of my affairs with Chia and Yarrow before helping out with the big send off. Auntie Chia really wants to go all out for some reason. Probably because she sees you as a daughter, she practically threatened to rip me to shreds if I ever hurt you. Really. She looked up in surprise before a heart-warming smile adorned her lips. Memories of her time as a child, a teenager, a young woman and even recently shed through her mind. She truly wasvished with love. Frost nodded his head before leaning over and pecking her on the forehead. Make sure you say goodbye properly because I dont know when well be able to return. I or rather weve got a lot of work ahead of us. I will. She kissed him back on the cheek before he left. They didnt engage in too much talkingst night but Frost did suggest that there was far more to him than meets the eye. He stressed the sensitivity of his origins and hoped that she would ept him no matter what and keep his secrets. She of course unequivocally epted his terms, eager to learn more about her lover no matter the story. Upon leaving the baby making room Frost made his way towards Yarrows office to inform the man of his itinerary. You want to catch up with the rest of family, marvellous though well all likely be present at the celebrationter itd be nice for you to catch up with them individually. Yarrow nodded his head, all for Frosts intentions. Ls a bit preupied so you might not be able to meet with her, but Sam should be more than free at their home on the fourth floor. The kids will be at school but Im sure the headteacher wouldnt mind a visit from an aplished adventurer such as yourself. Frost couldnt hide his rise to B-rank even if he wanted to. Yarrow and Chia were far too experienced to not notice the change within him. Druakai as always can easily be found on the 7th floor, in fact he would probably appreciate a hand. He recently gained a new batch of monster cubs which have proven to be rather mischievous. Daki was recently helping him out but thanks to your . activities I dont think shes in any shape to do so. Yarrow presented a knowing smile as he said thatst part along with a discrete thumbs up. He was well and truly impressed by Frost capabilities. Well since I am the cause of her inability to work I should probably fill in on her behalf, its only right after all. The smugness and pride practically oozed out of Frost as he bragged. Hehehehe. Hehehehe. The two chuckled in a male like fashion before Yarrow sent him on his way. Though he was in the process of handing over his duties to L there was still much he needed to do as the enves current mayor. A few minutes was all he could afford to his young friend and house guest. Kiba, wanna go visit Druakai? Kiba was still in the exact same position he was earlier, stretching out his back and limbs like amon housecat against the plush bed that was prepared for him without a care in the world. Upon hearing Frost mention Druakai however his ears perked up and the multi-ton tiger jumped to his feet, shedding all his previousziness. Haaaaa I guess Ill take that as a yes. Frost sighed and shook his head before jumping onto Kibas back under his incessant urging. Kiba was ecstatic to go and see his adoptive father and mother again. He hadnt seen them in weeks and though he had a lot of fun with Frost and his family he still missed them. He wanted to regale them of his adventures and show off his brand-new skills so they could be proud of him. With the eagerness of Kiba the two quickly made their way to the 7th floor where most of the enves livestock and farms were based as well as Druakais monster stables. As they passed through Kranors many established floors Frost couldnt help but take additional notes, spotting many things he wished to see within his own territory. The divide between areas was especially eye-opening. Without these divides in ce the vast levels of living traffic would swarm areas and bring productivity to a halt. So much went into the development of Kranor that he gained a far deeper respect for the infrastructure that he previously took for granted. Ill have to n ahead well. Its better to have and not need than to need and not have. He regurgitated a saying that cropped up in some of the books he read. The phrase struck a definite chord in him, a policy he was very much for unfortunately doing say came with substantial costs. DP, I need so much more DP. His growth was highly dependent on this valuable substance, without it he could not build or develop anything worthwhile. Without a strong source of the stuff hed quickly find himself being overtaken by his siblings or worse prey for the many powerful individuals and empires strewn throughout Nova. This was a world where the strong prey on the weak, Dungeon cores where not beyond this concept. Roooooaaaaarrrrrrr!!! The moment Frost and Kiba reached the boundary of Druakais farm the young tiger let loose a mighty roar that shook the nearby trees, he announced his triumphant return. A minuteter the massive form of Druakai could be seen charging forward with Ruby in tow. KIBA! The giant orc roared with joy as he left deep footprints in the dirt. Druakai missed Kiba with all his heart so the moment he heard his mighty roar he dropped all else and dashed towards him, eager to embrace his absent son. Frost wisely descended from Kibas back allowing the young tiger cub to dash forward and crash against Druakaisrge frame with his full weight. If it was him hed likely struggle to endure the tigers charge, most likely hed be mmed to the ground with a great deal of excess force. Druakai however with his over 4 metre height and gigantic muscr frame easily withstood it to the point that he didnt even need to take a single step backwards. He was clearly used to such weight and bore the physique necessary for enduring such a sh. Chapter 534 - 534 Chapter 534: How monsters are born 534 Chapter 534: How monsters are born Oof youve gotten a fair bit bigger since Ist saw you Kiba, Frost must be feeding you well. Druakai openly disyed the strength held within his physique by picking Kiba up off the ground and lightly tossing him up and down. Garow! Kiba replied in a proud fashion equating all his weight gain to muscle development. After Druakai had his hug it was time for Ruby to greet her adoptive kid and assess his growth. The two cat monsters eyed one another before rubbing their heads together and purring. Thanks for bringing him over Frost. No problem, family is important after all. Frost smiled gently as he looked at Kibas and Rubys exchange. Yeah, youre right about that. There was clear love and adoration in the B.F.Gs eyes. Yarrow already told me about the situation, youre here to fill in for my big sister right. Yeah shes not exactly up for any heavybour right now and also needs to cross off a fewst things with Chia and Yarrow before we leave. Frost was perfectly fine with bragging about his skills to Yarrow or Sam, but Druakai was different, Daki was his sister after all. Haaaaaa so the time has finallye, my big sis will be leaving the nest. Druakai let out a heavy sigh as memories of his childhood with Daki shed before his eyes. Though his sister had left Kranor multiple times for business and the asional vacation this time was clearly different. She was following after Frost the man of her dreams as she put it. Thankfully however despite her departure from Kranor, Frosts territory wasnt that far away. If he really missed her he could always visit without too much hassle. Still, her leaving made him quite emotional. Treat her well okay. ..... Of course, you have my word brother. Brother huh..has a nice ring to it hahahahaha. Druakai erupted into boomingughter before wrapping his arm around Frost. Well then brother lets put you to work, these little critters I recently got hold of have been nothing but trouble. Kiba youe to you can serve as intimidation for these arrogant little pups. Druakai thus dragged Frost towards arge warehouse in the distance with Kiba and Ruby following close behind. During the monster stampede we had to deal with the asional wave offshoot, nothing too serious like what you had to handle but stillanyway one of the attacking groups was a bunch frost drakes, one of which was pregnant. Druakai started exining the situation as they walked. Unfortunately due to the mothers maddened state it was impossible to capture her without some injury and therefore she was unable to survive giving birth. However despite that we managed to secure 6 healthy albeit very aggressive baby frost drakes for our pens. If you can sessfully raise them into adults theyd make for some deadly battle mounts. Even though the frost drakes could never match the might of Kiba, Frost didnt dismiss their value. Druakai and Kranor would likely make a pretty penny by the end. Thats the n, however when ites to 1st generation spawnings, especially those that are born during such tumultuous times raising them sessfully in captivity is no easy task. Druakai shook his head and frowned as he imagined the uphill battle he was faced with. What do you mean by first spawnings? Theyre the first set of monsters birthed through the mating of two mana spawners. Druakais answer left Frost with more questions than answers, a situation that was conveyed through his confused expression. Sam did say that you were rathercking in regards to somemonly known knowledge Druakai scratched his cheek in thought before continuing. Monsters can be birthed through five different methods, the first and the rarest of them is being directly created by one of the Gods. These almighty beings can utilise their mastery over divine energy to create new life in whatever shape or form they see fit, though they usually mimic traits of the God who created them. Those born through this method are usually the ancestors of their species, the first and original of their kind. Frost could partially fall into this category given that he was personally created by Dark. Second, and by far the mostmon is through natural mana spawning. The natural mana throughout Nova frequently pulls itself together to create new life in the form of monsters. The species and strength of the monsters however are heavily dependent on the surrounding environment and mana density. You wont see a fire elemental being born anywhere near the cial mountains under normal circumstances. The third method which can been seen as a more specialised version of the second is through monsterirs. The cores of theseirs absorb the nearby mana to create monsters that are bound to them, forbidden to leave their influence. These monsters also tend to be of lesser quality than those birthed through the second method unless the monsterir is of a sufficiently high level. The fourth method which applies to Daki and me is natural mating. Most monster regardless of their birthing method andck of any defects are born with the ability to mate with others of their species. Our father and mother met and fell in love just like any other sapients and eventually gave birth to me and my sister. And as youve probably noticed monsters birthed this way tend to be a little different than our more mana born counterparts. Frost nodded his head in agreement. Daki and Druakai were practically indistinguishable from sapients when it came to their manner and intelligence. As the process of mating continues and gives birth the subsequent generations certain wild and primal traits tend to be curtailed and reced with intelligence and wisdom. Though at heart Im still an orc and can evolve just like my primal kin Im not as restricted in my development as they are. Druakai and Daki were the products of multiple generations of evolution. The final method is rather abstract as it only facilitates temporary life and that is summoning. Certain spells allow people to act as pseudo monsterirs and use their internal mana to create a monster bound to their will. Frost was quite knowledgeable in regards to this method as his 3rd circle spell [summon ice golem] fell into this category. The 6 frost drakelings youre about to meet are the result of two monsters born from the second method mating thus their natures are still very aggressive. They see pretty much everything that isnt their parents or siblings as enemies, hell sometimes even their siblings are on that list. More than a few times weve had to break up fights that were heading down a dark path. It wasnt unheard of for monsters to eat their own siblings to grow more powerful. If you ignore the biting, the wing and the aggressive roaring theyre actually quite cute. Druakai was clearly biased towards any baby monsters finding even the most repellent ones adorable. Though it may be fine for him with his massive, muscr physique the same couldnt be said for his weaker staff. The first thing Frost was graced with when Druakai opened the warehouse doors was the sight of two young monster ranchers donned in thick, soft armour being attacked and bit by 6 frost drakelings. See, cute right. Boss stop gawking and help us already! One of the two ranchers, an elven woman who looked to be in herte teens roared at Druakai the moment he spoke up. You two really need to learn how to handle these things on your own, theyre only babies after all. Yeah with razor sharp teeth and ws ow! The other rancher a human male retorted before having one of the drakelings fangs pierce his skin. Only Druakai could stand in the buff without worrying about their fangs and ws. They however had to make do with these makeshift soft armours fashioned from pillows and cushions. Haaaaaa fine. Druakai shook his head before rolling up his sleeves and heading in. Frost, watch and learn how I handle them. Despite their vicious appearances theyre still babies and quite weak. Druakai appeared behind one of the drakelings and pinched the back of its neck in a firm yet gentle manner akin to lifting a cat by the scruff of its neck and slowly pried it away from the elven woman. You cant be too forceful or too weak otherwise. He loosened his grip for just a moment and the instant he did the little drakeling twisted around and attempted to bite off his hand. The thing really was a vicious little demon but only care and affection could be seen in Druakais eyes. Theyre just scared. Without their mother theyre practically lost in this world. Druakai didnt flinch or pull away as the drakeling bit his hand, doing so would not only show weakness but could damage the drakelings teeth, something he abhorred to do. Instead he allowed it get out all of its rage before gently cing it on the floor. [Calm] He then used one of his monster breeder skills to further calm the drakeling, helping to present himself as a non-threatening entity, an ally. The previously aggressive drakeling thus changed in demeanour, though it still looked rather wary, and tense it no longer showed aggression towards Druakai. You two should have learned how to use [Calm] by now, why didnt you use it? Does it look like we got the chance o! The male rancher got bit again and Druakai shook his head in disappointment before moving to help detach the rest of the drakelings in the same manner. Chapter 535: Chapter 535: Kranor elementary Druakai professionally removed each and every frost drakeling from his employees, being very careful not to hurt them and preserve their ''fragile'' teeth. After using his [calm] skill on each of them the vicious little demons stopped trying to eat the ranchers though they still growled and asionally swiped at them whenever they tried to get close. There would be no picking up and cuddling these babies. "Alright how about we get you brats some food." Druakai pped his hands drawing the attention of the drakelings before calling for Ruby. A momentter the red-tailed snow leopard appeared from behind with a chunk of blood dripping boar meat in her mouth. The 6 drakelings quickly redirected their attention to the boar meat. Its tantalisingly meaty smell caused their stomachs to rumble with desire and their mouths to salivate. They couldn''t resist such grant temptation. "Ruby" Druakai softly called Ruby''s name when the six kids suddenly started mouring over one another for the meat. "Grrrrrr" Ruby growled threateningly in response, causing the drakelings to stop in their tracks. Their primal instincts warning them of danger. Druakai smiled and nodded his head towards his partner who proceeded to lower the meat to the floor all while keeping up her intimidation. The drakelings needed to learn who was in charge and follow orders. Druakai waited for a few seconds, stretching out the limits of the drakelings patience before ordering Ruby to step aside and retract her intimidating presence. He then muttered the golden word "eat". In response the six drakelings charged ahead and began ripping apart the bloody boar meat with their razor-sharp fangs and ws. The two young monster ranchers winced at the sight, if they weren''t wearing their improvised soft armours they''d be no different from that chunk of boar meat. "Stopping them from eating food when it''s directly in front of them helps to create order and ces me as the alpha, the only position they can understand." Druakai knew how to be intimidating when he needed to be. The drakelings wouldn''t respond to kindness or affection at this point in their development, it just wasn''t in their nature. Only by being the alpha could a bond be established. Unfortunately it was clear that his two subordinatescked the necessary qualities to be alphas. "Raising wild monsters seems to be far morebour intensive than I first thought it''d be." Frost recognised that he''d had it easy when it came to his monster popce. The dungeon system automatically made any monster he created loyal to him, preinstalling a defined and strong bond that clearly categorised him as the master and them the servant. All the usual time consuming and patient demanding work that monster breeders such as Druakai needed to do in order to instil these two traits was thus unnecessary. It certainly saved a great deal of time and effort but at what cost? "Yeah it can be, but the results are more than satisfying." Druakai rubbed Ruby''s head with affection. He loved his job and wouldn''t change it for the world. "I''ll need you and Kiba to act as alphas so these two can do their jobs without worry." Druakai disappointingly pointed to the two monster ranchers with his thumb. He thought that hiring more employees would decrease his mountainous workload but so far the opposite held true. These young rancher weren''t quite up to his professional standards therefore they required supervision and or aid when it came to the more demanding jobs. "Daki managed quite well so I''m sure you''ll be fine, Kiba should also know how to behave. This wouldn''t be his first rodeo in dealing with aggressive pups after all." Upon hearing Druakai''s praise, Kiba puffed out his chest and donned a leave it to me expression. While Frost enthusiastically responded with "I''ll do my best." Over the next few hours Frost assisted the two young monster ranchers in taking care of the 6 drakelings, work which turned out to be no easy task for the young dungeon core. Despite his strength the little monsters hardly listened to him, paying no heed to his orders. Unless he actively used some of his aura they simply looked at him as if he was an idiot. Just because Frost was strong and asionally scary it didn''t mean that he could order them around willy nilly. It was clear that in their minds there was a stark difference between himself and Druakai. Thetter imposed respect and order whereas he could only inspire fear with his superior strength. ''Am I just not cut out for being a monster alpha or is it because of his profession?'' Frost tried many different methods throughout his shift but none of them seemed to match Druakai''s influence. Kiba who was a supposed pro at handling arrogant brats actually fell t on his face during their first interaction, 2 drakelings even dared to bite his nose when he tried to threaten them. Frost had to physically restrain his partner when he moved to dish out some corporal punishment in revenge. Eventually however Kiba regained his honour and ended upmanding the drakelings'' respect. He had grown a little too domesticated during his time with Frost and his family, losing some of wild re. Once he dusted that off the baby drakes started to respond in an appropriate manner. "Well now that you''ve gotten to know them a little better what do you think? Cute right?" Druakai returned with Ruby a few hourster to relieve him of his duties. Frost gave Druakai the stink eye. "We''ll have to agree to disagree on that matter." All he saw was a group of little devils that had only two things on their minds, eating and killing. They were a far cry from the developed Kiba and Ruby. "Hahahahaha perhaps I set the bar a little too high, 1st generation spawners are always a little more wild than theirter generation counterparts." Druakai scratched the back of his neck, feeling a little guilty. He practically tossed Frost into the deep end when it came to monster breeding. "Anyway, thanks for the help brother, you really lightened my workload." The giant orc nevertheless patted Frost''s shoulders and thanked him for his efforts. "No problem, happy to help brother." "Yarrow sent me a message a few minutes ago saying he''s finished clearing your visit with the school''s headteacher. They''re more than happy to wee someone as aplished as you for a visit." "That''s great, guess I''ll head there next then." Frost really looked forward to visiting one of Kranor''s highest ranked schools. The amount he could learn from such an honoured institution would certainly help his own designs in the future. Seeing Sam and L''s kids again was just an added bonus. ''I wonder what I should talk about.'' He was expected to impart some wisdom onto the students in exchange for his visit. He could talk about his battle experiences or his training schemes but given that they''re still children he''d have to censor some of the goriness while also keeping hold of their interests. ''I manage to keep Nanna and Loki entertained so it shouldn''t be too difficult.'' "Here, take these with you. I''m sure you''ve gotten rather peckish after dealing with the drakelings." Druakai handed over a few slices of dried jerky. "I smoked and seasoned these myself, a speciality of sorts here at the monster ranch, hopefully they''re to your liking." "Thanks, if the taste is as good as the smell then I''m sure they''ll be delicious." Kiba who was waiting at the side had already started slobbering, he used to love eating Druakai''s jerky. Thankfully his adoptive father didn''t forget about him. "And here''s your portion Kiba." He pulled out a muchrger helping of jerky from behind his back. A few slices were immediately inserted into the young tiger''s mouth while remainder was given to Frost to hold. "Say hi to the kids for me." After those parting words the massive orc turned around and headed back to work. He still had a lot to do if he was going to be able to attend the grand celebrationter today. Keen to visit the school Frost leaped onto Kiba''s back before taking a bite of his jerky. "Mmm that''s some pretty good stuff." He quickly devoured an entire slice before pulling out a second. "Garow" "You''ve finished already, fine here but go slow." Kiba had finished his mouthful of several Kiba sized pieces and demanded that Frost hand him another helping. The two partner thus slowly made their way towards the school on the fourth floor while eating their jerky. Though it couldn''t be considered a lunch or even a meal it was a pretty filling snack, they wouldn''t have to worry about running out of energy anytime soon. They easily made it up to the fourth floor but navigating through it was rather difficult. The vast majority of people lived on this floor after all so the amount of traffic and built up areas was obviously going to be much higher than other floors. Kiba struggled to move gracefully through the streets even in thenes designated for carriages and monster mounts. Thankfully those passing were understanding and more than helpful when he asked for directions. "So that''s Kranor''s elementary institute of education, or Kranor elementary for short." Chapter 536: Chapter 536: Kranor elementary (2) Kranor elementary was the highest ranking school within the enve when it came to educating their young. The students attending this institute would be granted the very best the enve could offer. Well-designed buildings that could house hundreds if not thousands of students with ease. Architecture that gave the campus a noble yet ambitious ambience and beautiful, well-kept gardens that filled the school with colour. The entire campus was in one word beautiful. Though certainly an impressive sight it didn''t convey ostentatious orvish rather, deserving. Students and teachers would feel pride in being able to attend such a campus. The generations of mayors from the conception of Kranor always respected the need for high quality education and nurturing of their young popce. Large swaths of Kranor''s annual budget was always funnelled into its educational departments, keeping its campuses in pristine condition, expanding their teaching curriculums and ensuring the quality of their teachers and educational staff. Frost suspected that if hepared the educational systems of the other enves in the area he''d find that Kranor stood far above the rest. Since it was a campus ground full of young children Kiba was banned from entering. Despite being bound to Frost there was always a chance that he could bring harm to a student, something the teachers would never allow therefore he needed to park himself at the nearest monsters stables while Frost was inside. Thankfully there was one quite close by as a few teachers and even more well off students kept bound monsters as forms of transport, though they were more of the docile kind. Not a single tiger let alone a predator could be seen within. "Do you want to wait here, or would you rather head back to the mayor''s stables?" Frost looked at his partner and asked. These stables were a far shy in terms of qualitypared to the mayor''s personal stables, plus he''d have to be a lot more restrained here given that all the other upants were docile herbivores. "Garow?" Kiba looked at his master with a querying expression. "Yes, really." "Vrrrrrr" In response to Frost''s confirmation the massive tiger purred and rubbed his head against him with affection before dashing away with a joyous look. He ultimately chose to ditch his master for the promise ofvishfort. ''I''m sure some people will be freaked out by the sight of a giant tiger running through the enve without its master but knowing him he shouldn''t cause too much inconvenience.'' The fact that he was bonded and somewhat known should help. "Guess I''m on my own then." Frost sarcastically smiled before making his way onto school grounds. He was quickly shown to the headteacher''s office the moment he arrived. The main receptionist was already aware of his impending visit and spared no expense in greeting him with joyous ttering, thankfully the headteacher was less annoying to deal with. "Sir Frost it''s an honour to have someone like you visit our little establishment." The headteacher invited him to sit opposite her desk. "Would you like something to drink, tea? Coffee perhaps?" "A tea would be nice." "Milk or lemon?" "Milk please." The headteacher was an elderly woman of the fox tribe likely half a generation or so older than Chia given the loss in colour in her hair and well developed crow''s feet. She also sported a greying bushy tail that poked through the back of her professional pantsuit. As first impressions go Frost got the feeling that she was quite an easy-going and calm person, there was a depth of wisdom and experience behind her eyes. "Thank you." Frost took the cup of tea from the woman''s hands and thanked her. "You''re wee." She sat back down at her desk and smiled gently towards the young man before her. "You''re even younger than I pictured, Yarrow did say that you were a prodigy but even then to have reached B-rank at your age. I must say I''m more than impressed." ''I wonder how she''d react if she found out that I''m not even a year old yet.'' Frost internally chuckled at the notion. "I''ve still got a long way to go, B-rank is not my end goal after all." "Good, ambition is sorely needed if one wishes to reach the peaks of this world. Yet arrogance can create obstacles as impassable as those created by poor work ethic. It''s refreshing to see such a modest talent, I''m sure our kids can learn a lot from one such as you." "Thank you for the praise." "Do you have an idea of what you might like to talk about? Forewarning pretty much every student will be in attendance, including those still at nursery." The headteacher quickly informed him, tales of a gruelling battle may be eptable to their older students but not so for their younger ones such as Ren who was but a mere 4 years old. "I assumed that would be the case but don''t worry I know how to tone down my stories. I''ve got two kids under my care back at home and I manage to keep them entertained." "Good, I''d hate to have to pull the plug and ruin the opportunity to hear from someone as talented as yourself." Though the headteacher spoke highly of him and of the benefits he could bring to their establishment she wasn''t above ending it in a heartbeat if it posed a detriment to the kids under her care. Frost and the headteacher lightly chatted for a ten minutes, allowing him to learn more about their school and finish his cup of tea. After which the elderly fox beastwoman led him towards a veryrge amphitheatre where practically every student was sitting, awaiting a special surprise lecture. Frost discretely poked his head out from the stage''s curtains and saw hundreds of students of all shapes and sizes along with their teachers sitting in different tiers. At the front were the youngest kids, those in nursery and 1st grade whereas those at the highest tier were the oldest kids, those who were set to graduate in the following year and enter either the workce or higher education. Kranor elementary taught from the ages of 4 to 16, after that you were considered an adult and could choose your own career path. All of the kids were shuffling in their seats and whispering amongst one another. None of their teachers had told them what this sudden surprise lecture entailed or who was presenting it. Frost with his keen vision managed to make out the 3 kids he was specifically here to visit. ''I wonder how they''ll react?'' Ren was quietly sitting next to his friends and showed clear interest in the stage whereas Jasmine lookedpletely bored wanting to be anywhere but here. All the supposed guest lecturers were either former alumni talking about their paths in life or representatives from the most dull and boring career institutes in the enve. She had zero interest in bing a farmer, a teacher, a fashion designer or bing involved in politics. Her path was set from the moment she could first form wants and desires, she was going to be an adventurer just like her parents and grandparents. She had grown up on their stories and wished for such a life, the freedom, the adventure and thrill of battle. Unfortunately the school very rarely weed lecturers from the military or the adventurer profession, so her low expectations were understandable. The oldest daughter, Tulip seemed to hold a very different air from her younger sister. Jasmine was a real fireball, always desperate to move and engage in sports whereas she was like a delicate flower. She was currently surrounded by a group of girls who were akin to her followers, doing their best to mimic her grace. Frost could also see that quite a few of the boys in her ss and those higher couldn''t help but sneak a few nces her way. Not only was she the mayor''s granddaughter she was a quickly blooming beauty plus if her mother and grandmother were anything to go by she''d shape up to be quite the woman. More than a few eagerly wanted to nt a good impression before she soared beyond their means. After giving the kids enough time to settle down and getfortable the headteacher walked out onto the stage. "Good morning everyone." ""Good morning, Mrs Fennec."" All the students replied in concert. "Now I''m sure all of you are quite curious as to why we''ve arranged for an impromptu lecture here in the main amphitheatre. Though some are clearly more so than others.miss Jasmine Tarnell your attention please." Mrs Fennec quickly caught theck of interest in the young Jasmine and called her out on it. "Eeppp sorry." Jasmine quickly apologised and focused her attention back to the stage rather than talking to her nearby friend. "I know that our usual lecturers are not exactly your cup of tea youngdy, you''ve made abundantly clear in the past but I''m sure this one will more than excite your interest." Her statement caused a few mutterings throughout the audience. Jasmine who initially only paid attention due to fear of punishment now had a sparkle in her eyes as a certain possibility formed in her mind. "Is it an adventurer?" She couldn''t help but ask. "Hehehe yes and not just any adventurer this young man is at the B-rank." Mrs Fennec smiled yfully, knowing exactly how to foster excitement in her students. This bombshell of a revtion resulted in a calm silence throughout the amphitheatre before quickly being reced with loud excitement, even the teachers were blown away by the news. Someone at the B-rank was practically never seen in their little enve after all. Jasmine, at this point was standing up and practically shaking from her sheer excitement. ''A B-rank adventurer, a B-rank adventurer oh my god!'' Even Tulip struggled to hide her interest, such an opportunity was incredibly rare. Mrs Fennec upon seeing a much more enthusiastic response turned to face Frost who was still hiding behind the curtains out of view. "I''ve warmed them up for you." "Thanks." Frost thus made himself known by stepping out from behind the curtain and recing Mrs Fennec at the centre stage. "Hello boys and girls my name is Frost, it''s nice to meet you all." Chapter 537: Chapter 537: Isolation leads to decline All the students and teachers who had been previously warmed up by Mrs Fennec werepletely stunned by the appearance of Frost. He was so devastatingly handsome and young that that in itself was a bombshell but to hear that he was also a B-rank fighter.impossible. Tulip was affected by Frost''s arrival more than most. She instantly stood ramrod straight the moment she saw his face and her heart started racing. A clear blush donned her cheeks, and a cat had caught her tongue as she tried to articte a response. However someone beat her to the punch. "Uncle Frost!" "Big brother!" Both Jasmine and Ren called out at the top of their lungs. "Oi I''m not old enough to be called uncle, Jasmine, learn from Ren!" Frost instantly took offence to being called uncle, he wasn''t even a year old yet and looked so dashing, how could he ever be referred to as uncle. Of course Jasmine failed to understand the age implications or just didn''t care. "But you''re mommy and daddy''s friend and dating big sis Daki ergo uncle just like uncle Druakai." She argued back. "Why is Daki big sis then." "Ehhh Big sis Daki is big sis Daki because she''s big sis Daki duh!" Jasmine retorted back,pletely confused by the question. "...."Frost''s face twitched in frustration; his argument fellpletely on deaf ears. "Just call me big brother Frost ok." "Fine if you say so." Frost had a strong urge to rub his knuckles on either side of her head upon hearing hercklustre eptance. "Wait a minute if you''re the lecturer then that means you''ve reached B-rank!" Jasmine suddenly remembered the Mrs Fennec''s words. "Big brother''s awesome!" Ren uttered with pure fascination in his eyes while a couple of his nearby friends tried to find out more about his rtionship with Frost. "Haaaaaa yes that''s why I''m here." Frost sighed in an exasperated manner. His grandiose reveal had beenpletely torn apart by this point. "No way! Why didn''t you tell me? And when did you get back? Are you here to marry big sis Daki?" Jasmine loudlyined. "JASMINE WILL YOU BE QUIET FOR A MINUTE AND LET FROST TALK!" Her repeated interruptions and insulting questions finally broke her big sister''s patience. Completely out of character the quiet flower that was Tulip roared at her to shut up and let Frost start his lecture. Her sudden outburst put the fear of God into Jasmine, Tulip hardly ever got angry but when she did oh boy. "Sorry big brother please continue." After roaring at Jasmine she swiftly turned back into her approachable self and smiled endearingly towards Frost. "Uhhh Ok thanks Tulip." Tulip''s smile grew brighter as he said her name. Finally he could start his lecture. "Alright, other than me being friends with the Tarnells I''m a recently promoted B-rank fighter who''s here to give you kids a lecture by request of Mayor Yarrow and your headteacher Mrs Fennec here ." With Frost personally dering his rank another collection of murmurs broke out between the students. A teacher who seemed especially blown away by the news couldn''t help but ask. "Are you really B-rank?" The man who asked was at the C-rank and the school''s self-defence instructor. He was a former military man who was injured during his service. After being medically discharged he took up the job of teaching the kids of Kranor elementary the basics of self-defence and created a firm foundation for those who wished to pursue a military career. Jasmine was quite fond of his sses. Frost wasn''t insulted by the man questioning his strength, his aplishments were quite rare after all. He turned his gaze towards the middle-aged teacher and gently smiled, sensing no malice hidden within his words. The next moment his royal aura started to escape the confines of his body. A heavy presence filled the amphitheatre making the children feel a slight chill down their backs while those who could truly sense aura like the middle-aged teacher found themselves struggling to breath. It was as if a giant was looking down upon them, ordering them to kneel in his presence. That pressure disappeared a secondter, Frost didn''t want to harm anyone, just provide proof of his rank. The middle-aged teacher who questioned him was sweating and his heart was thumping wildly. ''Aura that was true aura, he really is at the B-rank.'' "I apologise for my impertinence and thank you for showing such leniency." He bowed with genuine respect to a man that was much younger than him. Frost epted his apology with a friendly nod, bringing an end to the matter. The teacher''s actions caused another murmur to breakout among the students and faculty. They had never seen him so submissive before. Eventually every student and teacher focused their gazes back on Frost and realised that he was the real thing, a veritable prodigy here in Kranor, one who was about to talk about his experiences. The experiences of a B-rank fighter, how amazing could they be. "Now that I''ve proven myself let me tell you a little about my skills." Frost waved his hand causing his prized ive to appear from the storage ring on his finger. "I''m a master of the ive, an umon pole weapon thatbines the traits of a spear and a de." He twirled the weapon around before demonstrating some of the ive''s basic moves. "My current level of mastery is at the advanced stage which yed a crucial part in my ascension to B-rank. Though there are many ways to reach B-rank, going the weapon route is fairlymon." He finished his routine by disying the ive skill [wyvern''s maw], which really excited the crowd. "However just because I use the ive doesn''t mean that''s my only trick. [Summon ice golem]." With a shortened aria a magic crest appeared on the floor of the stage and summoned a nearly 2 metre tall ice golem. "Though it currently falls behind my weapon mastery my magical capabilities are nothing to sneeze at either." He made the ice golem perform a few moves and even an impromptu dance making the younger kidsugh. "Unfortunately I can only use the ice element, severely limiting what spells I can use, however.. [freezing fireball]" Again with a shortened chant a new magic crest appeared before his right hand. This time a 1 metre diameter ball of freezing fire was constructed. "Within the ice element there''s a special branch referred to as cold fire magic, a very rare derivative element thatbines ice with the properties of its arch nemesis, fire." Frost thenunched the [freezing fireball] at the ice golem resulting in a colourful explosion. The stalwart golem was blown apart by the spell, leaving only aplete pair of legs and a heavily deformed upper torso. "Cold fire magic greatly expands the capabilities of the ice element, thus allowing the user to deal high amounts of damage to entities that would usually prove impervious to regr ice magic." The devastation to the ice golem was more than enough proof of his im. Regr ice magic would at best deal half damage or at worst even heal such a foe. Many students and even teachers were amazed by such a revtion, their minds opening up to a world of possibilities. Within the cial mountains those with the affinity for ice magic were rather plentiful but also rather useless given that most of the monsters in the area held strong resistances to ice magic. Frost''s disy of cold fire magic changed many of their dismissive thoughts towards the element. Frost smiled as he saw their minds churn out ideas. The ice element was not something to be dismissed or relegated to the level of a minor branch. He was the epitome of the ice element and pledged to unearth its endless possibilities. Cold fire was just the beginning. Of course he had no ns to mislead these young minds. "The capabilities of cold fire magic are quite extensive; I''ve only brushed against them recently however just because it exists doesn''t mean you can use it. It''s a rare form for a very good reason. You must have the affinity for it otherwise the branch will forever be closed to you." His dousing statement dampened some of their excitement but only slightly. It was clear that many of them who had the affinity of ice magic desired to test themselves, hoping to be of the rare few capable of using cold fire. Frost disyed a few other spells of the ice element to showcase the awesomeness of the original branch. He also expounded upon the diversity of Nova as a whole. Just because ice magic was less than optimal within the cial mountains didn''t mean it''d be the same in other territories. He stoked their adventurous spirit, encouraging them to see the world when they reached adulthood. Even if it wasn''t as adventurers just by expanding one''s view they could advance in all manner of professions. Merchants would learn of new materials and practises imposed by other nations. Doctors and healers could learn new techniques ande across wonderous medicines that were unattainable in the cial mountains. The same could be said for cksmiths, artificers and other tradecraft professions. Experiencing what the world of Nova had to offer was not only enlightening but meaningful in regards to life, at least that''s how Frost viewed it. His father the Dark God wanted his children to explore and enjoy his creations. His words touched the hearts of every student even those who initially had no interest in ever leaving Kranor felt the desire to learn about the outside world. Of course such strong views could be construed as detrimental to the interests of the enve, but it was in fact a topic Mrs Fennec and Yarrow heavily endorsed. They wanted Frost to enlighten and promote travel outside of the enve as doing so would enrich their citizens'' capabilities. It was their job to make sure their roots remained strong, that they''d choose return and bless the enve with these newfound skills, allowing their little state to grow and improve. Istion leads to decline. Chapter 538: Chapter 538: Enlightening lecture Frost continued to show off his skills to the children. Since he''d disyed his weapon mastery and magic capabilities it was time for chakra. "The two main branches are of course weapon mastery and magic however there is a third, Chakra." After removing any remaining effects from his magic Frost kneaded his internal mana forming it into an artful suit of ice armour that added to his charm. Chakra was still very much in development as far as Nova was concerned. Unlike with weapon mastery and magic there was no measurable scale when it came to chakra. That didn''t mean it was disregarded in fact the opposite held true. Anyone who could utilise their chakra to a reasonable level was not to be underestimated as Frost was about to clearly show. "Chakra is a very wonderful skillset to have. Not only does it grant an enhancement to your main techniques it can function as both an offensive and defensive weapon." In response to his words the chakra armour donning his body morphed in many ways. Spikes of ice suddenly formed on one of his shoulders, theyers surrounding his heart and organs thickened to an extreme level and a ive of ice grow from his hands. "Chakra is effectively the kneading of one''s internal mana without the use of a magic crest." He regurgitated some of the lessons taught to him by Maya and Sam. "To utilise -at least at the moment- your mana needs to have a natural elemental quality. Mine for instance as you can see is ice." He disyed a few more adept manifestations of his chakra to show off its wonderous capabilities. "Many describe using chakra as an instinctual method of kneading mana, a direct opposition to the heavily knowledge based applications of magic. You don''t need to be book smart or well-read to use chakra it''s all about feeling." This was amonly epted notion as many less than intelligent people were capably of using powerful forms of chakra while beingpletely illiterate to magic. "Whether you can utilise but a small level of chakra or have a practically endless supply, practise makes perfect. If you do not experiment and flex your mana veins you''ll never be able to utilise it in battle regardless of your reserves." While Frost was clearly in the endless supply camp, Sam was cursed with a very modest amount internal mana, severally limiting his adaptations. However Frost never looked down or underestimated Sam for this supposed weakness. Sam was strong and well versed when it came using his chakra perhaps even further along than himself despite his ability to change its inherent nature. Frost decided not to reveal thatst part given that he was already quite an oddity, showing off too much may in fact douse the ambition of the young students. He didn''t want to paint himself as someone born with a silver spoon, even if was true. One''s starting point did not dictate one''s end point after all. With his skills revealed and his advice given he opened the floor for some Q and A. Many wished to hear about his life as an adventurer, especially his battles so he regaled them of some of the more exciting and meaningful battles as well as the thoughts and feelings going through his mind during. Of course he remembered Mrs Fennec''s warning and kept his tales kid friendly making them sound like fanciful fairy tales. Following that he weed a few of the older students, the self defence instructor as well as some of the more demanding and enthusiastic students -Jasmine- to the stage for some personal skill assessment. Only the older students who had already established a firm foundation and knew where their skillsy could really benefit and provide a good demonstration. The younger students were too green for him to give any particrly noteworthy advice. The self defence instructor who introduced himself as Mr Javas would serve as a good disy for more intensebat and help to reveal the extent of the gap between someone at C-rank and someone at B-rank. Jasmine who was only 8 years old and incredibly stubborn refused to be left out of such an opportunity. Given his rtionship with her parents he didn''t refuse and allowed her to take part. The older students all disyed some of their skills before the master that was Frost and their bright eyed juniors. Frost even if he didn''t specialise in their chosen weapon or even magic element was able to quickly identify ws in their stances or in their construction of magic crests. He patiently guided each of them in a way before either summoning an ice golem to serve as an opponent or personally allowing them to attack him. At one point he even allowed all of the students including little jasmine to attack him at the same time. What ensued was Frost easily dodging each and every one of their blows with ease. They were just too slow and too green to evennd a single hit on him but nheless a few showed a decent amount of promise. Jasmine especially was far beyond her young years when it came to her battle intuition. Frost was reminded of Nanna and Loki as he watched her swing herrge two handed training sword. Once the children had gotten their chance to ''spar'' with the fabled B-rank it was finally Javas'' turn and he couldn''t be more thrilled. He dreamed of reaching Frost''s height since he could wield a weapon. He envisioned himself bing the most powerful solider of the enve, charged with protecting it from its most fearsome adversaries. Unfortunately the vast majority of people are trapped, unable to cross or even sense the door to B-rank. It didn''t help that he received a debilitating injury to his left leg that permanently reduced his mobility while he was still in theter years of his prime. Even now after years of teaching at Kranor elementary he still walked with a limp, but Frost didn''t underestimate the man. Despite his injured leg Javas clearly re-trained himself to fight with such a disability. His strong leg faced forward and supported the majority of his weight while the weakened one yed more of a support role. Frost''s lips curved upwards into a smile and respect was clearly reflected in his eyes. Javas was a warrior, one who''s edge hadn''t dulled in the slightest. It was clear Javas was going to throw his all into this spar. He wanted to see the limits of his current body and perhaps peer into the endless gulf that separated him from B-rank. His once diminished ambition rose to the forefront of his emotions, demanding that he prove himself. He may be middle-aged, but he wasn''t dead. Man could always improve regardless of circumstance; it was only their preconceived mindsets that acted as an obstacle. Javas closed his eyes and readied himself for battle before staring straight at Frost with clear intent. His narrow rapier poised and ready to thrust with unmatched speed. "Please let me experience the true strength of someone at your level." The massive amphitheatre grew silent at his words. Javas'' students all stared at the stage with intense focus. Frost''s forearms formed goosebumps and his wildness began to suffuse into his smile, he was excited. "Come." With his secondary ive in one hand -using the [wolf howling at the moon] would give him way too much of an unfair advantage- he beckoned Javas towards him, allowing the instructor to make the first move as per his rank dictated. Boom! The moment Frost called, Javas shot ahead through the use of a special movement technique, he was fast, incredibly fast but still not fast enough to catch Frost off guard. ng! Javas'' narrow and flexible rapier thrust forward in an attempt to skewer Frost through the heart but was easily met with the ive''s de. "You''re certainly fast." "[Swallow''s pierce]" Javas didn''t let up transitioning straight into an adept level rapier skill that enhanced his weapon''s already devasting speed and thrusting ability. Wooosh! The sharp rapier pierced the air where Frost''s head once was, a slight trickle of blood adorning its edge. Javas managed to scratch Frost''s ear with his fast flurry, hardly damage worthy but he sessfully drew blood from a B-rank fighter, something to be proud of. However just to achieve this minor victory he opened himself up to an easy counter. If this was a real battle Frost would have more than enough opportunity to deprive him of an arm ornd a critical blow against his chest, but since this was a spar Frost showed no intention of wounding his opponent. Instead he showed disappointment as he stepped away from Javas. "I thought you wanted to spar and understand the true might of the B-rank not get some kudos by taking advantage of my mercy." His words were suffused with his royal aura causing Javas to visibly tremble. "..My apologies." Javas genuinely apologised, feeling contempt at himself. Frost was giving him a genuine opportunity to improve yet he almost squandered it. "Let''s continue Mr Javas." With Frost''s criticism Javas no longer allowed himself to be so easily exposed to counterattacks and treated the spar as a proper match. Of course in the end he lost in every possible way, Frost was faster, stronger, more reactive, and surpassed him in both endurance and weapon mastery. He was well and truly outmatched even before Frost used his royal aura. The students watching the fight were truly amazed by Frost''s prowess, he easily dealt with any move Javas sent his way, simr to how an adult could easily handle a child. There was practically no way Javas could win, the difference was just too substantial. Chapter 539: Chapter 539: Enlightening lecture (2) Once Javas had expended all his fighting methods Frost finally unleashed his royal aura, pressing on the man''s soul, causing his once vaulted speed to degrade by an entire level and his movements to be rigid as if his entire body had grown tense. He felt as though his body weighed far more than normal and every fibre of his being was screaming to either run or bow down to his enemy. Frost didn''t hold back in directing the full weight of his aura upon Javas, allowing him to bear his full force for just a few seconds. "As you can see and perhaps maybe even some of you can feel the main difference between B-rank and those below is the application of aura. This mystifying ability is the result of a qualitive change within an individual, those who reach this realm have truly started upon the path of power." Frost spoke with a booming voice before looking back at Javas who was struggling to keep hisposure. "Mr Javas can you please exin how it felt being assaulted by my aura." "..It was like I was wrapped in a chilling pressure that filled every fibre of my body with fear, like I was being stared down by a vicious predator." Frost nodded his head, happy with his answer. "One''s aura is always different depending on the person however for B-ranks especially in the early stages the prime affect is to subject an enemy to a strong pressure. Like how a rabbit will freeze when met with the gaze of a tiger a person with aura bes a veritable predator, an unbeatable existence in their eyes. Only those with their own auras or who have gained a glimpse into it can resist the pressure. It''s one of the main reasons why quantity bes far less efficient in the upper levels. By use of my aura alone I can severely reduce thebat effectiveness of any C-rank and below." "Of course such notions aren''tpletely infallible, those with very strong will or a tempered bloodlust tend to do better when ites to resisting aura. Mr Javas here performed remarkably well even while under my full pressure despite not being able to interact with aura himself." "If I''m correct Mr Javas you were likely part of the military in the past and have a substantial wealth of battle experience." Javas reminded him a lot of the officers in the frost wolf battalion. "Correct, before my injury I was part of Kranor''s military and defended her against multiple assaults." The former military man replied with pride, subconsciously arching out his chest. "Thank you for your honoured service, it was pleasure to spar with you Mr Javas." Frost replied with upmost respect. "No, the pleasure was all mine Sir Frost, thank you for teachings." Javas bowed his head in reverence before limping towards his seat. Frost had showed him the gap between them step by step, enlightening him of the path forward. Perhaps he''ll be able to improve again, perhaps not but he was willing to try. Javas was weed back with a loud round of apuse and numerous shoulder pats from his fellow teachers and more advanced students. "What I disyed before is but the tip of iceberg when ites to the maniption of aura. Following the simple application of emitting a heavy presence and protecting yourself from such attackses more advanced forms which I have really only seen or just started to experiment with. For example [wyvern''s maw]" Frost activated one of trademark ive skills once again however this time he infused some of his aura into it, enhancing its corporal form and giving it more presence. "During my fights in the monster stampede I witnessed more than a few of my allies and enemies use this method to enhance their techniques and even spells, granting them additional qualities and power. I''ve been told that one can also eventually turn the benefits of their aura inwards granting them more strength, speed, endurance or even improvements to their mana flow and control. Unfortunately I''m not at that level yet." All the students were thoroughly engaged with his words, and immensely grateful. None of their instructors or family members could urately describe the nature of aura or the fabled B-rank realm because none of them ever reached such a level. Frost was truly giving them a lesson they couldn''t get from their home state. Jasmine was practically shaking with rapture as she imagined herself reaching such a level. However her curiosity instead of being sated grew exponentially. "What else? What about A-rank or S-rank?" She couldn''t help but ask, Frost was the first one she''d ever met who could possibly answer these questions. Frost turned to face the inquisitive little demon with a bright smile. "Unfortunately I''ve only just stepped into the realm of B-rank so my knowledge in regards to those beyond is rathercking..however someone was kind enough to give a basic exnation of those ranks." Sharp inhales erupted throughout the amphitheatre. Frost had already enlightened them so much about B-rank, a level likely none of them would ever reach. Yet now were they going be graced with knowledge about the levels even further beyond. A-rank was seen as pretty much the eptable peak, S-rank was just too far ahead for anyone to even contemte. Even the mighty Northrend empirecked anyone at S-rank. Frost let them regain their calm before exining some of what he knew. "If up to D-rank serves as the foundation of mortality, then C-rank is the preparatory stage for ascension to a higher life grade. Once one reaches B-rank their internal make-up changes drastically, they be far stronger, have extended life span and are able to generate aura which is the beginning of the next stage." This was the foundation of progression in Nova ording to those at the very peak. It was how Maya exined the journey to him, he was merely repeating her wisdom. "Within B-rank one needs to understand and formte their own personal aura, their own individual power, creating a strong foundation for the upper stages. At A-rank one gains the ability to physically influence the area around them in far more literal terms than simply generating fear in their enemies or boosting their attacks. Their aura is of a much high quality than what I can muster. I was once able to witness a General from the Northrend empire form invisible chains with her aura that fully restrained her B-rank opponent." His words resulted in his audiences'' already wide eyes to stretch open further. "As for the legendary S-rank as far I''m aware they''re capable of generating domains, a field in which they are invincible, akin to Gods." Domains were the precursor to forming a dimension that could establish life, once an S-rank was able to form their own personal dimension they ascended to the ultimate level, they be true Gods. "What power these abilities entail I do not know but I''m certain that the aura avable to me is nothing to such entities. The gap between ranks only grows with each jump, the journey to the peak is never over." At this moment Frost was akin to a legendary professor who''s students hung onto his every word. Silence suffused the amphitheatre as his revtions worked their way through the minds of the young students and even teachers. Mrs Fennec despite her advanced age was no different, this was the first time she was hearing such an exnation. And with that his lecture was finally over. Once he was finished Frost was met with grand apuse and a standing ovation, everyone thoroughly enjoyed his lecture and would take his words and lessons to heart. Mrs Fennec led him back to her office after dispersing the students back to their sses. The two of them sat down opposite one another for a minute or so in silence before the old fox beastwoman finally said something. ".That was far more enlightening than I expected Sir Frost and my expectations were quite high from the start." Frost was the first B-rank to ever give a lecture at her school and was most definitely a prodigy, so she expected something grand, but this was something else entirely. "I''ve never heard the division of ranks being put in such a way.it clears up a lot of confusion surrounding the premise." Frost gently smiled feeling a little guilty in taking credit for his words, he basically parroted what Maya said while adding his own ir. For those at the peak of Nova the division of ranks was abundantly clear as was the methods to breach them however knowing how it was done and achieving it were not the same thing. People like Mrs Fennec and those in Kranor however didn''t even know much about C-rank let alone the mysteries of B-rank and higher. It was no wonder none of them reached B-rank, they were practically fumbling in the dark without any sense of direction. Frost had now given them that direction. "On top of that you managed to keep every single student hanging onto your every word even those who held no interest in ever developing their strength. And for those that do you patiently guided them, pointing out their faults and suggesting improvements without the slightest bit of arrogance. Your spar with Mr Javas was particrly educational showing your ability to teach anyone, regardless of age or station...Do you perhaps have any interest in bing a teacher, or perhaps at least a guest lecturer here at Kranor elementary." Mrs Fennec was desperate to have Frost join her staff. Unfortunately she was ultimately going to be disappointed. "Afraid not Mrs Fennec, most of my teaching methods were just me copying the one who taught me -albeit without the brutality- so I doubt I''d make a very good teacher, one lecture was enough, besides I won''t be staying in Kranor. ".That''s a real shame, regardless if you ever change your mind our doors will always remain open to you." "Thank you." Chapter 540: Chapter 540: The strongest sword is forged through the fiercest hammering Frost left Kranor elementary with a couple extra books that were mandatory study for their teachers as well as a copy of the institution''s sybus. They''d help him develop and manage his own school in the future or at least get him started. "That was more fun than I expected." Frost bore a smile on his face as he walked through the campus'' grand arch. He found shaping young minds and having them hanging on his every word greatly satisfying. He looked over the books he received, keen to dive into their pages but it would have to wait. He had more pressing matters. With his visit to Druakai and Kranor elementary over it was time to visit his teacher. "I wonder how far his culinary skills have improved." His stomach rumbled lightly in anticipation, hoping Sam would grace him with some tasty tid bits. The jerky Druakai prepared was certainly tasty but not nearly enough to rece a hearty meal. Thankfully Sam and L''s abode wasn''t too far away from the school. Even without Kiba it wouldn''t take him more than 15 minutes of walking. In fact, by choosing to walk on his own two feet he was able to admire the architecture of the upper ss residences with a keener eye. Many residents also greeted him in a more friendly manner, Kiba was quite intimidating after all. "Very impressive, the environment here is absolutely ideal for peaceful living" Frost admired the individuality expressed by the different residential blocks as well as the vast greenery, ygrounds and recreational facilities. Elderly couples could be seen sitting beside artificially createdkes, feeding the many fish residing within them without a care in the world. Elsewhere groups of adults were engaging in some kind of ball sport with a healthy audience cheering them on. It was hard connect this blissful ce with the dangers of the cial mountains. Frost was fascinated by what he saw and couldn''t help but imagine his dungeon generating the same ambience in the future. A camp or internal outpost would never be able to offer the same level of safety as this former monsterir. Unless he built an established infrastructure he could forget about attracting the vast majority of people, civilians. "Frost, good to see you man. Come inside and make yourself at home. Yarrow already told me about your visit." Sam answered the door while dressed in casual clothes and a stained apron. It was clear that he had been in the kitchen recently. Frost''s lips naturally turned upwards into a gentle smile the moment heid eyes on Sam; he missed interacting with his teacher. Sam quickly led him into the living room, which was a little messy, this ce was clearly a home not a house. "Sorry about the mess, keeping on top of three little monsters is a tall task." Sam quickly pushed aside some of Ren''s toys, Jasmine''s clothes and even Tulip''s books to make the ce a little less crowded. "It''s fine, Nanna and Loki are the same way." Frost remarked with a gentle expression. "I''d really like to meet those kids of yours." "Perhaps in the future you, L and the kids could visit my budding territory for a vacation or maybe when I''m less busy I could bring them over for a visit." "That would be nice." Sam was onboard with either option. The two smiled at one another before settling on the now freed up sofa. "To be honest I''m rather shocked that you''re here. Knowing how infatuated Daki is with you I was sure she''d be all over you the moment you arrived." Sam looked Frost up and down as if he was eyeing some sort of strange organism. Chia had already informed him and his wifest night about Frost''s arrival as well as his reunion with Daki. Sam knew Daki well, so he was absolutely sure she''d pounce on him the moment she got the chance yet here he was sitting in his living the very next day without the slightest hint of exhaustion. ''Did Daki resist her usual tendencies and choose to take the slow approach..not a chance in hell.'' Frost also had a certain glow about him that he was certainly familiar with. "Oh she was." A perverted expression grew on Frost''s face as he rememberedst night''s festivities. "...And." "She''s recuperating." Smugness and pride practically oozed out of the young dungeon core. "...hahahahahahaha!" After staring at Frost as if he was some sort of monster for a few seconds Sam burst outughing, his eyes threatening to tear up from the irony. The subus finally got hereuppance. Frost was well and truly her perfect match. After Sam sessfully pried out a few details from his young student they returned to normal conversation. "So you''ve already met up with Druakai and even lectured at Kranor elementary. How lucky for them, to receive the teachings of a B-rank fighter, kudos by the way. I always knew you had the capability, but I didn''t think you''d reach that level so soon..would you mind?" "Not at all." Frost released a snippet of his royal aura causing Sam''s body to writhe in primal fear. "Haaaaaa the true thing is far more impressive than pseudo aura, the two can''t even bepared in the same sentence, heaven and earth." "True however achieving thetter is needed to establish the former. Having pseudo aura means you''re one step through the door." Frost wanted to uplift Sam''s spirits rather than rub his sess in his face. He believed his teacher had the capability to reach the same level as him as long as he kept up with his training. "I see, perhaps there''s still hope for me and L after all." Though he wasn''t too optimistic about their chances there was still a chance. "I''m sure there''ll be plenty of food and drink at the farewell celebrationter on, but would you like to try some of the recipes I''ve been working on?" "Definitely, lecturing for 2 hours was hungry work." Frost nodded enthusiastically in response, dying to get some good food in his belly. "Great, finally someone who I know will be straight with me." Recently he''d been relying on the words of his kids and wife, not exactly the most trustworthy while his former teacher Ramsey senior did his best not toment on his dishes, instead preferring to review his knifework and business sense. His former teacher was quite well known for his biting criticisms while in the kitchen. Sam wasn''t quite ready to endure such tirades, so they wisely avoided the topic. Frost however was a good middle ground; he wasn''t close family so he wouldn''t put his feelings first nor was he an established chef who''d tear apart his pride. Sam invited his protg into the kitchen and like their time in the [beginner''s ice magic] monsterir he showed him the ropes of cooking. The two engaged in chatter as Sam prepared his signature dishes with Frost''s aid. Such work helped rx Frost, allowing him to erase the leftover tension from the monster stampede and his attempted assassination. Sam listened to hisints and patted his shoulder when he struggled to describe the events that transpired in Furano. "You''ve had it rough Frost, no wonder you broke through so fast." Sam no longer left jealous towards his student. "The strongest sword is forged through the fiercest hammering." He decided to refer to his troubles as trials to forge himself. "True, but if you don''t allow the de to rest it''ll be brittle." Challenging oneself and diving into the heat of battle was fine but couldn''t make up one''s entire life. There must be bnce to ensure the best results. Over the next hour Frost got to taste a vast selection of dishes bringing an end to his stomach''s rumblings. Sam was an incredibly skilled chef, none of his dishes were bad. Even the vours he didn''t personally enjoy had great texture. Even putting on his most critical hat he failed to find much fault, much to Sam''s appreciation. His kids and wife weren''t lying when they praised his dishes. "I''m really looking forward to seeing your own restaurant." Frost said while patting his belly. "I''m still a ways off but thanks for the confidence." "How''s your territorying along by the way?" "The foundation''s been set but like you we''ve got a loooooooong way to go." "I see, I wish you all the luck in the world Frost. Establishing your own territory is no easy task." "I know but I''m confident I''ll seed in my ambitions, having a talented smith by my side should also help." "Does Daki know how much you''re nning to work her over?" "I''ll do my best to make it worth her while hehehehe." Frost left his teacher''s abode twenty minutester with a bright smile on his face. "Time to reunite with my green temptress." A sparkle shed in his eyes as he thought of Daki. With a skip in his step Frost made the long way back to the mayor''s manor. After a proper send-off the two would embark on theirbined journey. Chapter 541: Chapter 541: The camps progess As Frost crossed the threshold into the mayor''s manor he couldn''t help but notice the pampered cat lounging atop a fluffy bed as a young servant brushed his thick fur. There was even a bowl of fish sitting by his side which he could pick at as he pleased. Frost struggled to say anything, simply twitching at the lips as he held back hisints. ''How can a mighty cial winged tiger transition to an adorable house pet so easily?'' He knew best how vicious Kiba could be when it came to battle, even he asionally struggled to endure the sight of him rending apart the limbs of his enemies. He decided topletely ignore Kiba and entered the manor. There was several things he still needed to discuss with Yarrow and Chia before he left. "Frost you''re back, I missed you." The moment he walked into Chia''s office he was met with a joyous smile and a kiss on the cheek from his green skinned lover. "I missed you too Daki." He kissed her back. "Have you managed to sort out all the legal stuff with Chia and Yarrow?" "Most of it but not all, give us 30 minutes no an hour and we''ll be done." A fair bit of paperwork needed to bepleted for Daki to properly abscond with Frost. Her rtionship with the mayoral family, her high ranking smithing skills as well as the business she brought to Kranor all needed to be quantified. What would the enve be losing by allowing her to leave with Frost. The enve needed to be aware so it could deal with the iing loss in ie. Borris would likely have to got through a simr situation with Furano''s legal department when decided to leave. The enve had no intention in taking advantage of Daki it just needed to be filed and recorded. Tedious work but necessary as Frost understood it. "Is there anything I can do to help?" Though he was a bit unnerved at seeing the stacks upon stacks of paperwork surrounding Daki and Chia he still offered a hand. "Thanks for the offer but no, this is something only I can do." As thanks she leaned in and kissed him deeply on the lips before allowing herrge hands to wander down his body until they took firm hold of his cheeks and squeezed. "Ah much better, I''m full of energy again!" She loudly dered as she pulled away from her lover''s lips, a trail of glistening saliva still connecting the two. She now understood Frost''s fascination with her own posterior, squeezing cheeks was a great stress reliever. Frost initially looked surprised before his lips formed a predatory grin. He chased after his girlfriend''s escaping body, wrapping her muscr waist in his arms before leaning in for a true kiss. He invaded her lips with his skilled tongue, quickly causing her mind to grow fuzzy from bliss. Her left leg naturally elevated from the ground as the two delved into a moment of passion. "Hit hum!" Unfortunately they weren''t alone. Chia who was facilitating Daki''s paperwork was also present and got front row seats to their intimacy. She wasn''t too adverse to the sight in fact normally she''d even encourage it but right now there was work to be done. Her loud announcing cough brought the two lovers out of their moment albeit reluctantly. "Finish your work first, then the two of you can go at like rabbits if you want." She dered in amanding tone, not taking no for an answer. Frost and Daki thus looked at one another before sharing a knowing smile. "Try to make it 30 minutes." "I''ll aim for 20." Now that their switches had been flipped it was very hard for them to turn them off, their physical attraction to one another was irresistible. Chia practically had to physically shoo him out the door and order a servant to escort him to Yarrow and L. They could deal with him while she finished with Daki. "It''s like dealing with lovestruck teenagers." She loudlyined as she saw Daki''s eyes trailing after Frost''s figure. "Ohe on we''re not that bad, and even if we are is that really a bad thing." "Haaaaaaaa" Chia loudly sighed in response. Young love was not a bad thing per say, it was innocent, free and exciting but terribly distracting. Just a single kiss and close proximitypletely wrecked their focus, throwing all else to the back of their minds. "You''re just jealous hmph." Daki hmphed and started humming a pleasant tune as she started the next line of paperwork, looking forward to indulging herself with Frost afterwards. Chia let out another sigh before refocusing. Perhaps Daki was right, maybe she was a little jealous. Frost was quickly brought before Yarrow and L who''s work situation looked even more hectic that Chia and Daki''s. L even had bags under her eyes and ack of her usual sparkle in her irises. That changed however the moment Frost entered. Seeing an opportunity to ditch her work she jumped from her seat and wrapped her body around him before dragging him towards the sofa. Frost was to be her shield against her overbearing mayoral father who didn''t know the meaning of too much work. "Get your butt back in that seat and finish going over the agriculture department''s budget report youngdy, don''t make me spank you!" Unfortunately for her, Yarrow didn''t give a rat''s ass about his or her image in front of Frost. L visibly trembled, before sullenly dragging herself back towards her desk. Her father wasn''t kidding, her age made no difference, if he thought she deserved a spanking, a spanking was what she got. Perhaps that''s how she managed to overtake her mother in the size department, the many, many spankings as a child and even as a young adult leading to a defensive ballooning in size. With his daughter in her rightful ce and focusing on her work Yarrow turned to his guest. "Mrs Fennec was just singing your praises and demanding that I do everything in power to retain you as a teacher." "Hahahaha I had a feeling she wouldn''t be one to give up so easily." Frost respected her tenacity, but it didn''t change his mind. "How was Druakai''s did he have you help with those little demons of his?" "Urgh! Yes he did, do you know he finds them cute." "Yeah he''s always had strange tastes." Yarrow was quite versed when it came to dealing with Druakai''s unusual tendencies. The young orc had a fair amount of free reign when it came to managing his monster ranch, so he wasn''t adverse to taking some liberties with such power. More than a few times he purchased or rescued some of the most eldritch looking monsters you can imagine. Obviously these oddities didn''t sell well but Yarrow was remised to cage his passion, Druakai was the only highly skilled monster breeder in the enve after all. "Regardless I was able learn quite a lot about his profession and gain more respect for it, monster breeding isn''t for the tame of heart nor thezy." "That''s true, he works hard, too hard sometimes." Yarrow shook his head, hoping that his new employees would eventually reach Druakai''s exacting standards and help him out with his more strenuous tasks. It was easy to find simplebour to take care of the cuddly and friendly monster pups. They were so docile that they were practically no different from regr beasts, very easy to manage. It was the feral and brutal first and second spawners that were the real challenge, breeders needed to be on their toes and have genuine skill if they wanted to reign in these monsters and train as battle mounts. The two chatted amicably while L was forced to work her butt off, her irritation growing with every word spoken as if she was but a fly on the wall. Seeing that she was likely to blow a fuse Yarrow and Frost changed to topics that could use her input, i.e. managing territory and the agreements between Frost and Kranor. It wasn''t exactly what she hoping for, but it was better than being left out. "When do you think you''ll be fully up and running?" Yarrow asked in a rather serious manner. The longer Frost took to set up a fully functioning camp the greater the risk to his control and the longer they''d have to wait before engaging to proper trade. Frost stroked his chin and thought for a few seconds before answering. "At the moment we''re still building the foundation and have zero form of traffic but that''s to be expected given that the monster stampede just ended." L and Yarrow nodded their heads in agreement. "The camp''s area epasses 25km2 around the entrance of the dungeon. Currently we''ve erected a sturdy wall that''s 4 metres high, but we n to make it 8 metres within theing weeks, that should be enough to ensure decent protection. The final height we''re aiming for is roughly 12 metres, simr to Furano''s walls and like Furano we n to reinforce it with multiple war machines, but we should be fine without them in the interim." "Our buildings are still very raw, only a couple are nearpletion, but we''ve lined out multiple districts for future development, there''ll be no issues in regards to space for quite some time. However to answer your question I''m not exactly sure it, depends entirely on how the initial visitors grade the camp. If they find the dungeon to be very profitable I expect waves of adventurers and merchants to flood to my territory in a matter of months but if it doesn''t take off well then perhaps a year or so until we can facilitate proper rtions between our territories." The prosperity of his territory was heavily dependent on adventurers, when they''d first arrive, their experience with the dungeon as well as how they find the camp''s facilities. Frost had worked out a fair number of options to help entice people to stay and invest, but word would have to spread first. Chapter 542: Chapter 542: Realm of monsters Frost felt a little guilty with his wishy washy answer, but Yarrow and L werepletely blown away by it. To them his progress waspletely astounding, not only were there defences in ce, but buildings were also starting to be constructed and divided into their assigned districts. They had no reason to doubt that a camp situated around one of the new monsterirs, referred to as dungeons wouldn''t draw a lot of attention. The main issue was whether Frost could im the territory fast enough and establish his own fief before the vultures swooped in. For Frost to say that his territory would be able to facilitate genuine trade within a few months at the earliest to a year at thetest waspletely mind blowing. They expected over a year at minimum, likely two or perhaps even three before his territory became ready for external dealings with other territories. The two looked at the young man as if he was full of mystery. What kind of powers did hemand and what level of support was he privy to, to allow such rapid construction. The monster stampede ended only days ago yet already Frost was half prepared to defend his camp from a well-armed force. ".That''s a lot faster than we initially predicted." Yarrow eventually said before turning towards his daughter. "We''ll have to alter some of our projections to amodate such rapid development." L pulled a strained face upon hearing his words. Despite agreeing with him, this obviously meant more work for her. The three continued to discuss topics surrounding Frost''s territory given the new timescale. Around 45 minutester their discussion was cut short when a loud voice boomed throughout the manor. "FROST! I''M FINISHED!" Daki proimed the moment shepleted thest sheet of paperwork causing Frost''s lips to form a wild grin. "Apologies Yarrow, L my queen is calling." Frost gave a quick farewell before dashing out of the office, his heart beating with desire. Yarrow and L watched his departing figure with rather mixed emotions, jealously, happiness, hatred as well as anger. While the two of them were here working through mountains of paperwork -some of which that was rted to him- he suddenly gets to chill and sleep with his new lover. The world could be so cruel sometimes. Out of the two of them L was especially irked by the situation, her teeth even started grinding against one another as she struggled to restrain her bubbling frustration. She''d been working hard and deserved some release but where was her knight in shining armour or valiant king, at home doing his stupid cooking that''s where. ''Stupid Sam!'' "Haaaaaaaa why don''t we call it quits for today. You should head home and prepare for the farewell party." Yarrow suggested after letting out a sigh. It was clear that his daughter was no longer in the mood to work and that forcing her would only result in rejection and mistakes. They''d gotten a fair amount done already so ending a little early wouldn''t hurt their progress too much. L perked upon his suggestion, her frown of displeasure instantly turning into a smile full of joy. She leaned over and pecked her father on the cheek before thanking him in a cute manner. "Thank you daddy." Then like she was on a mission she packed up a couple things from her desk and dashed out of the office. Her husband was in for a very nice surprise when she made it home, curtesy of Frost and Daki. Yarrow let out another sigh when he say the look in his daughter''s eyes, she was the spitting image of her mother whenever she was in the mood. Speaking of her mother, a minute after Frost and L left the elder rabbit woman sauntered into his office with a gentle smile on her lips. ''Damn my wife is beautiful.'' He couldn''t help butpare her to a wonderful work of art, just seeing her smile warmed his heart and melted away the stress from work. Click. His state of admiring her beauty was brought to an abrupt end when he heard the sound of his office door being locked. "Chia?" He asked in confusion and a little fear as his wife''s gentle smile and rxed demeanour began to change. Her eyes revealed an intense desire as she scanned her husband from head to toe. She licked her lips in appreciation before pouncing. "Ahhhhh!" Yarrow only managed let out a short yelp before his voice was silenced by her luscious lips. Daki''s desire had clearly spilled over to her, and she wasn''t one to ever restrain her desires. While the elderly couple engaged in their own escapade, Frost and Daki returned to the baby making room to continue their romance. After several hours apart Daki was more than ready to go at it again and Frost was more than eager to test her limits. A very pink atmosphere filled the manor as the two couples engaged in the most expressive form of love. Meanwhile the servants and workers all helped prepare for thevish farewell celebration. A few hourster as Daki and Frosty in bed together a servant knocked on the door. "Sir Frost, Lady Daki the party is set to begin in the next 60 minutes." The young servant informed them before vanishing, no servant was ever permanently stationed within the vicinity of the baby making room. "An hour huh, not enough time for another round unfortunately." Frost whispered as his naughty hands ran over his girlfriend''s voluptuous body. "For you no! But for anyone else it would be plenty." "Are youining?" His hands grew more adventurous as a confident smirk adorned his lips. "Ahhnnnnn no I''m not ahhhhnnnining at all." His green skinned temptress couldn''t help but moan as he targeted her more sensitive spots. "I''m sure they wouldn''t mind if we''re a littlete." He started sensually kissing her body making her feel like putty in his hands. "N.N.No stop, Frost stop, I''m serious." Eventually Daki worked up the strength to push her lover away. Though she was physically reluctant to do so her mind was firm. "A few minutes may be enough time for you to get ready but not for me. We girls need to time to prepare our battle armour." Daki pulled herself from the bed with nothing, but the silken bedsheet wrapped around her curvy figure. Frost was obviously crestfallen at her denial; he looked rather pitiful in fact causing Daki to giggle. "Don''t look so down we''ll have all the time in the world to enjoy one another''spany, what''s a few hourspared to that." She lightly kissed her lover on the lips before sashaying into the bathroom. "You swaying your hips as you walk really isn''t helping." Frost loudlyined only to be met with another giggle. ''Damn Maya was nowhere near as teasing. At least she''d blush and fall t on her face whenever faced with one of my counters.'' Daki''s ample experience meant there was pros and cons to their interactions. If he wasn''t careful he may even end up wrapped around her little finger. "I don''t know why you''re still raring to go, you heard her we''re done." He lightly snapped at the prominent tent poking through the bedsheets. Unfortunately his words seemed to fall on deaf ears. To calm down Frost entered the bathroom -doing his best not to look in Daki''s direction- and turned on one of the shower cubicles, setting the water to cold. It only took him 10 maybe 15 minutes to wash his body, tie his hair into a ponytail and put on one of the stylish suits he procured in Furano. Since this was a party he should dress for the asion. Though the party wouldn''t begin for another 40 minutes or so he was kicked out of the room so Daki could prepare without distraction. "Guess I''ll go and find Yarrow, Sam or Druakai." He assumed that the men would all be ready well ahead of time like he was. A servant guided him towards a small reception room where the three of them and Ren were all waiting patiently. A game of cards was currently in y, the group was clearly adept at having to wait. "Frost, the man of the hour,e,e sit and join us, we''re ying Realm of Monsters." Sam beckoned him over along with Ren while Yarrow smiled and nodded his way. Druakai however was heavily frowning, it was his turn in the game and he had nothing decent in his hand. "Ahhhh screw this I forfeit." Eventually he tossed his cards in the air and gave up, causing the three other yers to discreetlyugh. Frost grew quite interested in the game. "Can you exin the rules?" "Sure, I had a feeling you wouldn''t know." Sam smiled and patted the empty chair by his side. "Just watch the three of us y and I''ll exin how it works as we go." "Alright." Realm of monsters as it was called was a very popr card game throughout Nova that could be yed between 2 to 8 yers. Each yer could assemble a deck between 30 and 40 cards that constituted of monster cards, spell/skill cards and equipment cards. And far as Sam knew there were over 10,000 different cards in cirction with new ones being generated every year if not every month. Realm of monsters was a very diverse game that required a lot of strategic skill as there were many, many configurations a deck could take. Element based, spell focused, high quality equipment focus, quality or quantity in monsters and of course a more bnced approach, the possibilities were endless. The game''s cheap cards and widespread avability made it the go to game for pretty much all ages. It was very easy to get a hold of a basic starter deck and y with friends. Frost grew quite enamoured with the game and after Sam and even Ren showed him the ropes Druakai handed over his deck for him to y with. The giant orc was never that good at the game and had grown tired of being repeatedly thrashed so he willingly let Frost take his ce. It was his turn to suffer. Chapter 543: Chapter 543: Farewell party Frost and the others continued to engage in their game of realm of monsters until a servant came in and dered that the party preparations wereplete. Frost being new to the game suffered just as badly as Druakai if not worse but even, so he thoroughly enjoyed it. He made a mental note to purchase a few starter decks and even guides next time he got a chance. "Finally, I was getting bored destroying you lot hahahaha." Yarrow boldlyughed as he stood up from the table. The old mayor was by far the best yer, knowing the ins and outs of the game and his opponents strategies like the back of his hand. Even when Ren, Sam and Frost tried to team up against his prowess they still came up short. The group packed away their stuff and straightened out their clothes before following the servant to the grand reception room that had been specially prepared for tonight''s festivities. The room was usually reserved forrge parties and events such as entertaining diplomatic delegations, borate birthday parties, as well as weddings. The room''s entrance first opened up onto arge balcony that was connected to arge ornate staircase leading to the main floor. The arrivals would be called out by the servants manning the door in a noble fashion causing everyone to look their way as they descended. The room''s design was quitemon among the rich and upper ss of the world. Since this was more of a family affair Chia and Yarrow held back on some of the morevish and ostentatious features but even so the room screamed elegance. Frost was more than impressed. Arge open space was in the centre of the main floor to amodate mingling and dancing between guests while several white clothed tables lined the sides with a vast array of dishes. Arge table was ced at the northern end of the floor allowing the guests to sit down and rest or engage in a more intimate dinner. Ren wasted no time rushing down the stairs towards the dessert tables, his mouth practically salivating as he eyed the luxurious chocte cake. Sam quickly rushed to his side and made sure he didn''t stuff himself silly on desserts alone. Yarrow introduced Frost to some of the band members who would be providing the music for tonight''s celebration while Druakai eyed up a roast pig prepared by Ramsey senior. The orc monster breeder wasted no time in requesting a rather thick b of pork. While the men all got settled in a servant atop the balcony loudly announced the arrival of the woman. "Presenting Lady Chia, Lady L, Lady Daki, Lady Tulip and finally Lady Jasmine." A trumpet followed his announcement causing all the men to turn their heads. "Wow!" "Alright honey ''wolf whistle!''" "So pretty." Yarrow was blown away by the beauty of his wife while Sam couldn''t help but let out a wolf like whistle the moment he took in L''s curvaceous form. Ren was a lot more innocent, simply finding them pretty. His lips curled up into a bright smile as he ran up to his mother and hugged her leg, praising how pretty she looked. This of course got him a lot of points in her book, she couldn''t help but hug her adorable little angel back and lift him up into her arms, her Ren was just too cute. While all the men were stuck in a daze from the mesmerising sight Jasmine who was dressed in a noble blue pantsuit that despitecking in frills, flowers and restrictiveness was still feminine walked ahead of the others and loudly coughed. "As you can see Grandma Chia here is wearing a distinctive red and white ensemble that highlights her brilliant figure while also invoking her hidden ferocity." Jasmine gestured towards her grandmother who boldly took a sexy pose and blew a kiss towards her husband, causing the man to audibly gulp. "Next we have my ravishing mother donned in a no less attractive blue dress that screams elegance while at the same time drawing attention to her beautiful face." L giggled cutely while holding Ren, she disyed less skin than her mother but was no less ravishing. "Following that we have my radiant big sister Tulip who went for the opposite approach to my more simple attire. Like her namesake she decided to wear a bright orange and frilly dress that amplifies her cuteness and purity." Tulip performed a slight curtsey in response to her sister''s description, her face donning a slight blush. Though they practised this doing it in front of the boys -especially Frost- was still embarrassing. Jasmine grinned widely before she introduced the final member of their group. This was technically her party after all, so she deserved the most dramatic wee. "Finally we have the daring, the bodacious, Kranor''s number one beauty and star of the show, Big Sis Daki!" At her words Daki who had been standing behind the rest, slightly out of view revealed herself in all her splendour. "....." Complete silence filled the boy''s side of the room as they took in Daki''s appearance. She was absolutely mesmerising. Daki was draped in a skin-tight ck mini dress that entuated her already prominent curves. The thin straps exposed her smooth shoulders as well as ample amounts of cleavage that would stir up lust in all who saw her. Her muscr midriff was exposed thanks to a diamond shaped hole in the dress while the bottom part struggled to contain her prominent butt that became even more pronounced due the high heels she wore. If that wasn''t enough her long legs were practicallyid bare as the dress only reached her thighs. She was the perfect embodiment of a subus. Yarrow and Sam werepletely ck jawed while Druakai shook his head inint. He had no desire to see his sister''s exposure. Frost wasn''t any better than them, his mind waspletely lost as he took in his girlfriend''s sexy form. He audibly gulped as his throat grew parched. His heart beating a mile a minute as his desire grew with every passing moment. He didn''t even notice when Daki arrived before him, onlying too when her enchanting perfume wormed its way into his nose. "Well, what do you think, sexy right?" She moved in close and leaned against her lover with confidence. This was one of her most devasting dresses, it never failed to capture her targets. Frost felt his entire body heating from her touch and whispers. "My green temptress sexy is an understatement." Frost wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close before kissing her on the lips. He no longer felt that waiting was a waste of time, if Daki needed time to don her battle attire he would be willing to wait for days if need be. "Hehehehe I''m d it''s to your tastes." Daki cooed back in delight before locking arms with him. By now Yarrow and Sam had received simr greetings from the significant others resulting in rather goofy expressions. Jasmine giggled from the side while Druakai felt more lonely than ever. Whereas Tulip struggled to keep her cool whenever she saw Daki make a move on Frost, it seems she truly wasn''t resigned to let him go even at this point. For the farewell celebration the groups first began with vast array of food lined up on the side tables before giving toasts and good wishes to the happy couple. Druakai brought up lots of embarrassing yet endearing stories about Daki''s childhood. Some of which caused her to boil with incandescent rage, how could he tell such embarrassing stories to Frost. She promised that whenever Druakai got hitched she''d b all about his humiliating past. L and Sam regaled their experiences with a teenage and young adult Daki which was far less embarrassing to hear and quite insightful. Daki was truly quite the bold troublemaker when she was younger, in fact she still was ording to Chia just in a less obvious manner. Frost learned so much about his girlfriend''s life, yet she hardly knew anything about him neither did anyone at the table for that matter. Though he felt rather guilty he couldn''t say what he couldn''t say. Either it didn''t exist yet due to his very young age or it was too pertinent to his own safety. Perhaps in the future he''d be able to share more about his life with his friends but not now. What they knew already was enough. Following the food and toasts was dancing, something he had absolutely no experience in. But thanks to his natural talents and Daki''s patience he picked up a few steps fairly quickly. The two were thus able to enjoy a few songs together as a couple, though they were a far shy from the experienced partners such as Chia and Yarrow. The two of them were so skilled that they couldn''t help but draw all eyes towards them, especially when they started to perform a more rigorous dance which Daki called the ''Dove''s descent''. Their bodies were in perfect sync, emphasising their strength as a couple. Frost and Daki as well as L and Sam both looked up to the elderly couple as some sort of goal. Of course they didn''t just engage in couple dancing, everyone had a turn in dancing with one another including Druakai though he was very reluctant. By the end all the adults were sufficiently drunk and giddy while the kids were exhausted. Ren had even fallen asleep with a bright smile on his face. The party was a sess, everyone had fun and got to say their farewells to Daki and Frost. "We wish you all the luck in the world Frost, Daki." Chia said as she and her husband wobblily made their back to their room. "...." Druakai who had gotten a little emotional didn''t say any words instead he patted Frost''s shoulder before strongly hugging his sister for several seconds. "We''d love to have you over at any time. You''re always wee in our home." L was next to say her piece. Jasmine and Tulip yawned while holding her hands, too tired to even think straight but they agreed with their mother. "You''ll be wee in my restaurant too, no charge." Said Sam with Ren asleep against his chest. "Thank you, I''m sure we''ll find time to visit Kranor." Frost replied as Daki leaned against his shoulder with a giddy smile, she drunk quite a lot. The groups all made their way back to their respective quarters, for Frost and Daki it was once again the baby making room, a name he was now aware of. He carried his green temptress over the threshold, his nose taking in her tantalising perfume and his hands enjoying the feel of her body. "The baby making room huh." Chapter 544: Chapter 544: What’s he like, your father? Frost and Daki awoke from another romantic night early next morning. Though it wasn''t crack of dawn it wasn''t too far off. "Daki it''s time to get up." Frost whispered into his lover''s ear before leaving the confines of their bed. "Mmmmm 5 more minutes." Daki grumbled as her hands tried to keep Frost under the covers, she had been treating his arm as a pillow. Frost smiled gently before poking her undefended forehead. "No, we''ve got to get going." "Nnnngggghhhh carry me." Still sleepy Daki demanded Frost pick her up. And him being the loving and caring boyfriend that he was acquiesced to her demand withoutint. With his physical strength even her muscr form was as light as a feather. "Hehehe" She giggled and snuggled up against his chest, relishing in his grip and strong scent. Frost carried his lover into the bathroom wherein the two of them quickly got themselves ready, a task that took a lot of focus on his part. Daki was a real temptress and very keen to continue their intimate activities, but he needed to get back to the dungeon. Thankfully Daki had already packed the majority of her possessions into a storage ring and a few bags before he arrived, so all they needed to do was get dressed and have breakfast before they would be ready to leave. The two partook in a light breakfast along with the rest of their entourage. Final farewells were given, and a few tears were shed but eventually the two waved goodbye from atop Kiba''s back with smile on their faces. Frost rode up front with Daki wrapping her arms around him for support. She eyed the passing buildings and people of Kranor as Kiba made his way to the surface of the enve as though carving the images into her heart, never to be forgotten. Though she had left Kranor before she knew that this was different. Frost''s territory wouldn''t be a passing visit but her new home. "Don''t be sad, we''ll be sure to visit whenever we get the opportunity." Frost did his best to ay her pain. "Un" She meekly nodded in reply, her arms gripping tighter around his waist. A short 20 minutes after saying goodbye to their friends and family Kiba dashed through Kranor''s mighty gates and into the wild that was the cial mountains. The sharp contrast in temperature caused Daki to involuntarily shiver and even sneeze. "I''m d I chose to bundle up, the outside world is always so damn cold." Unlike her usual attire that exposed her smooth green skin and ample curves, today she was wearing thick, furry clothes that helped keep out the majority of the cold. She eyed her boyfriend as if he was some kind of aberration. Unlike her he was wearing his usual robes that were thin even for warm weather. "Are youpletely immune to the cold or something?" "Something like that. Once we get a bit further in our journey I''ll tell you more." With the additional weight Frost estimated it''d take Kiba around 3 and half to four hours to reach the dungeon, as long as nothing too unexpected happened. He rubbed Kiba''s neck with affection, enjoying the feeling of his fur against his hands. "Take us home Kiba." "Garow!" Kiba picked up speed the moment they left the vicinity of Kranor. Out in the open ins he could really let loose, out here was the king of speed. An hour or soter after Frost bravely forced a group of aggressive yetis and frost drakes to back away, he turned to his girlfriend who was leaning peacefully against his back, admiring his disy of power. "I guess I should start exining now." They were far away from Kranor and in the depths of the wild and with thisst group of monsters forced to back down it''d likely be sometime before they crossed paths with another. Daki''s ears perked up and she pulled herself away from him and looked into his eyes. She was finally going to learn more personal details about the man she''d fallen for. "First off let me start by saying I''m not an elf, nor do I have any rtions to their kind." Given his appearance the vast majority of people he had met assumed he was one of their kind. His beauty, pointed ears and athletic build were allmon traits among elf kind. "Oh, then what are you?" Daki asked full of curiosity. "Well.." Frost first warned her to keep an open mind before he started to reveal his origins and story. "..." Daki listened with no prejudice and as calm a demeanour as possible, but the moment Frost brought out the big guns she couldn''t help but blink rapidly and grab his face with her hands. "YY.You''re the son of the DARK GOD!!!!" She practically screamed at the top of her lungs. His identity as a dungeon core was far less shocking, she simply viewed him as a new powerful monster species which wasn''t that umon an urrence. New species crop up and get discovered every year across Nova after all. But not a single one could call themselves a son or daughter of the Dark God. This was somethingpletely unheard of. Other lesser Gods and even the primordials have had offspring over the many years since Nova''s conception, which each one of them being mighty. Yet the two Gods of creation have never described any of their creations as their offspring. Frost and his siblings were truly unique, the first of their kind. Daki struggled toe to terms with his grand status, he was way, way more important than she initially thought. ''No wonder he''s perfect and can aplish so much in so little time.'' A lot of the mysteries surrounding Frost could now easily be exined. She let go of his face and eyed him from top to bottom, analysing him to an extreme degree beforeing to a realisation. "I''m dating the son of the Dark God..I had sex with the son of the Dark God...I''m going to marry the son of the Dark God..ergo the Dark God will be my father inw." Her brain practically overheated as she came to terms with her new status. The greatest being in existence would be her father. "Are you alright?" Frost asked with concern. "Just give me a minute..this is quite a lot to take in." She held the side of her head as she felt a headacheing on. "I''m not actually finished yet." "You mean there''s more!" "Haaaaaa" Frost sighed before telling her everything. His abilities, his actual age, about Maya, the kids, his ambitions as well as the ins and outs of the dungeon, all of which made Daki''s budding headache turn into a real monster. She waspletely silent for a good 10 minutes after he finished much to Frost and Kiba''s concern. ''Is it really that shocking?'' Frost underestimated the importance his father held in Daki''s heart. For most inhabitants of Nova the Gods were so far removed from their lives thating across something with even a hint of a rtionship to one sent their emotions into overdrive. The Gods were unbelievably respected, none more so than the original two, Dark and Light. The moment Daki sorted out her thoughts and opened up her eyes the way she looked at Frost had changed. She saw him as something more, something to be treated with tentative decorum and respect. A being that shouldn''t be profaned or corrupted by someone like her. The sudden change pierced Frost''s heart, this was the one thing he really didn''t want to see. Ignoring her altered emotions Frost took Daki in his arms and held her close, allowing her to listen to his beating heart. "Listen to my heart Daki, hear it pounding away just like yours. There is no difference between you and I, we are the same, made of flesh and blood. Regardless of who my father is I''m still Frost, the man you met and fell in love with." He ced a hand under her chin forcing her to look into his eyes. "And you are the woman who I love, the one who I want standing by my side." He then leaned in and ced a kiss on her fair lips. A move that strongly sparked their desires for one another. Daki was still unsure at first, but the longer Frost kissed her and the deeper his tongue invaded the more her worries seemed pointless. Did it really matter who he was or who his father was. Did knowing this make him any different from the man she fell in love with. Was he still not the same person who rocked her world and let her feel such satisfaction and bliss. Eventually after several minutes of aggressive kissing her mind had turned to mush, and her body screamed with desire. She started kissing him back and wrapping her burning body around his, craving his touch. Frost had achieved his goal. He pulled away from her lips much to her reluctance. "Better?" ".Mnnnn much better..thank you." Frost actions allowed her to remember what was important. She and Frost were meant to be, they loved one another and desired one another, nothing else mattered. Once she realised this she was no longer bothered about the bombs he dropped and in fact grew strangely curious. "What''s he like, your father?" Chapter 545: Chapter 545: Meeting the family As Frost and Daki made their way towards the dungeon, the camp''s construction continued unabated. Finy and Khuno pressed their subordinates hard in Frost''s absence, sincerely wishing to surprise their master upon his return, a sentiment that was widely shared by the manualbourers. The walls surrounding the camp steadily grew in height practically every hour while more and more buildings had their foundations put in ce. The camp would be more than ready for the arrival of their first ''customers'' in theing weeks. While the monsters of the dungeon worked hard to meet Frost''s deadlines, Nanna and Loki were tasked with furthering their own education and personal training, slowly but surely bing more well-rounded in their development. However whenever they were granted some free time the duo could be found in the camp, aiding Finy and Khuno in their endeavours. They wished to do their part just like everyone else. The strange one was thedy of the dungeon, Maya. Since the moment Frost left to retrieve Daki she''d been rather out of sorts. Her mind drifting during lessons, pacing back and forth in the living room, muttering under her breath and rapid changes in emotions. Though she had epted the addition of Daki in her mind her heart was another story. She wasn''t used to sharing and struggled toe to terms with the situation. She''d gone over and over the pros and cons of the situation as well as how she''d first greet this supposed rival/sister. First impressions were very important for all manner of reasons, the first encounter could very well determine their standings in the rtionship hierarchy. Herck of experience in such situations caused her to toss and turn in her bed at night.shecked confidence. "What if she''s prettier than me? Sexier than me? What if Frost''s more attracted to her? What if she''s a better cook? Or is more liked by the kids?" She repeatedly asked these kinds of questions without any response. When Frost and Daki finally arrived at the outskirts of the dungeon''s purview she leaped from her bed like a cat getting her tail stepped on, she wasn''t ready. Quickly she dashed to her closet and grabbed one of her nicer dresses, before sprucing herself up for this grand battle. She couldn''t show any signs of weakness especially when she had the home field advantage. "So this is your territory or rather the camp you''re developing." Daki said as she took in the still under construction walls that barred their path. "It''s quite basic." That was the best she could say without being too offensive, she was never one for beating around the bush. "Haaaaaa, true it is rather.basic but we''re not finished yet. Construction only started a few weeks ago so expecting it to be at the same level of an established town or enve such as Kranor is rather unfair. However, I believe that given enough time the camp that you see before you will stretch far beyond its current confines and be a true hub of civilisation." Frost genuinely believed what he said. As long as the dungeon remained, the camp would see dramatic growth over the years and expand to the point that even Furano would fall short of its development. "Besides the true masterpiece lies within the mountain not out with." This was another point. The camp''s only duty was to facilitate customers and passive ie, the real magic would take ce within the dungeon, setting the territory apart from other nations. From Frost''s detailed exnation Daki understood his point and also realised that being able to achieve this much in so little time was an impressive feat however seeing is believing. Right now the camp was very much under construction, so its first impression wasn''t the best. "I''ll reserve my judgement for the future then, hopefully the ''private space'' you described is more finished." "Oh there''ll be no issues there. The private space can be altered at will and only contains the highest quality materials." He could never condone shabbiness in the heart of his dungeon. ".The forge I promised you will also be of superior quality and fashioned precisely to your specific desires." Upon hearing mention of her personal forge Daki''s eyes light up and a smile formed on her lips. Seeing the current state of the camp she couldn''t help but fear the worst for her personal forge. Frost promised to outfit her with one that equalled or surpassed what she had in Kranor, a promise she hadn''t forgotten. "I look forward to that." She giggled in glee and pressed her body against his as her mind filled with possibilities, she took her craft as a cksmith very seriously. Eventually the couple and Kiba made their way through the camp''s entrance which was at this point just a veryrge gap in the wall. The ornate gate wouldn''t be added until the wall reached its minimum height of 8 metres. Dozens of monsters who were hard at work couldn''t help but turn and greet Frost as he passed, many also stared at the beautiful woman riding beside him, taking stock of their new mistress. "Master, wee back." Finy was the one currently on duty in the camp and was the first to properly greet him. Hisrge form and natural presence radiated strength; it was clear to even someone who was monster illiterate that Finy was of a high ranking species. Even though she''d already been informed Daki couldn''t help but be taken aback by the sight. A mighty ice troll lord, a B-rank monster of great renown was created by her boyfriend and called him master. "It''s good to be back Finy, I see work has continued at a brisk pace." Frost remarked as he nced at the clear difference since he left. "Of course Master, we wished to give you a pleasant surprise upon your return." Finy smiled gently and acted in a very subservient manner. "I presume that the youngdy behind you is Lady Daki." "Correct, Daki, this is Finy my right hand man." Frost introduced Finy with pride. He was his only B-rank subordinate and the first monster he ever granted a name. "Daki Primrose, it''s nice to meet you Finy." Though a little nervous Daki eventually introduced herself in a confident manner befitting her new station. "The pleasure is all mine Lady Daki. If you are in need of anything please don''t hesitate to call upon me." Finy politely bowed towards his new mistress, finding her far easier to interact with than Maya. He may be strong in Daki''s eyes but to Maya he was still nothing more than a bug that she could swat with a single flick of her hand. Despite the two of them being friendly and cordial with one another his instincts would always be slightly on edge while in her presence. Khuno and several ronso officers arrived a few momentster all keen to greet Frost and his new girlfriend. They wanted to take stock of their new mistress and get on her good side early. Daki was a little overwhelmed by the onught of enthusiastic monster officers, but with Frost by her side she managed to endure the pressure and return their greetings with a bright smile on her face. She had underestimated the power under Frost''smand, with so many monsters he could give Kranor''s military a run for their money. ""Master!"" Following the swarm of high ranking monsters were Nanna and Loki. The moment they noticed his arrival the two kids instantly dropped what they were doing and dashed over. "Nanna, Loki" Frost leaped from Kiba''s back and pulled the two of them into a hug causing them to giggle. "I''ve got someone to introduce to the two of you." Keen to show off his new girlfriend to his family he picked the two of them up in his arms and carried them to Daki who had started fidgeting on Kiba''s back. Frost technically had kids, so it was very important for her to make a good impression on them if this rtionship was to work out long term. "This is Daki, thedy I was telling you about. She''s going to be joining our family." He spoke in warm and gentle manner as the kids watched Daki in her furry apparel descend from Kiba''s back. "The person who made our armour?" Loki asked innocently. "Yes." "Wow." He eximed with glee before scampering down Frost''s arm to stand before Daki. "My name''s Loki, it''s nice to meet you miss Daki. I really like the armour you made for me and my sister." Loki introduced himself in a very adorable voice that almost made the orc subus swoon. "Oh you''re just so cute." She immediately leaned in and wrapped the young phoenix kin in a hug, rubbing her cheek against his. "I''m happy you enjoyed my work, I''ll do my best to forge you aplete set, would you like that?" "Un un" Loki nodded his head while in her embrace, already fond of his new family member. His sister however wasn''t as enthused. She was old enough to know a little about theplications of rtionships. She''d seen how Maya was acting recently and found it rather hard to be so open to Daki''s arrival. Daki picked up on this as did Frost but neither of them forced anything. She greeted Nanna in a friendly manner but didn''t hug her like Loki, which she respected. "I''m Nanna, Loki''s big sister. It''s nice to meet you miss Daki." Nanna performed a slight curtsey before moving to stand behind Frost as if she was shy. Daki actually took her more meek response as a good sign. The fact that the young girl even said hello in a polite manner was a win in her book. Eventually however, the real challenge arrived. Chapter 546: Chapter 546: Meeting the family (2) As Nanna nervously introduced herself to Daki, Maya teleported a little out of the way after donning her battle attire. She chose to wear the same red and white dress that she wore on the day she and Frost first met. Not only was it devastatingly charming, high in quality and oh so generous at showing off her curvaceous figure, it would incite nostalgia within her man, drawing his attention her way. The moment she arrived she bore a noble expression that helped add to her intimidation. She couldn''t abuse her superior strength to win this confrontation lest she wished to draw her boyfriend''s ire. Therefore she curtailed her dominating aura as best she could but even so, she made for quite the entrance. The monsters surrounding the group couldn''t help but shiver and subconsciously part as she walked, their eyes inadvertently avoiding her gaze. Nanna foreseeing a storm quickly grabbed hold of her brother''s hand and took shelter by Kiba''s side, leaving Frost and Daki alone to confront Maya. Frost''s lips started twitching as a sense of crisis assaulted his heart. He felt as though there was some kind of invisible sparks surrounding Maya as she gained momentum, drawing closer and closer towards him and Daki. Perhaps he underestimated the effect of bringing Daki into the fold. While he was starting to internally panic, Daki stared at Maya''s approaching form with a fierce intensity. She was no stranger to womanly confrontations. The same set of invisible sparks that surrounded Maya starting to surround her, the battle was on. Seeing a rather unfazed reaction from her rival Maya stepped it up a notch. Once she was within spitting distance of the young orc woman she veered over to Frost, pulling him close and nted a longing kiss on his lips as though marking what was hers. This of course caused the air around Daki to grow more turbulent, an aggressive move right out the door was always rather painful, but she''d handled worse. While maintaining an amiable smile Daki started to remove her heavy, fur-covered clothes in a teasing manner. "Ah good to get out of those stuffy clothes, hold on to them for me please." She handed her fur-covered clothes to a nearby ronso before striking a confident pose. Daki was well aware of the dangers in confronting a rival with the home advantage. Unlike her Maya would have an array of clothes to choose from and sufficient time to doll herself up while she''d still be in the same clothes she left Kranor with. The solutionwear he battle attire underneath. A surprising, good jab that Maya wasn''t expecting given the clear evidence of a frown forming on her brow. "Umm!" Frost tried to intervene in this contest but was quickly sent a fierce re by the two women, preventing any words from escaping his lips. Maya in her form hugging red and white dress removed herself from Frost''s arm and squared up to Daki who was easily a head or two taller than her without fear. She eyed the orc subus''s tantalising figure with a keen eye. Daki did the exact same, eyeing up every inch of the beautiful fenrir. There was tense silence between the two for quite a while as neither was willing to admit defeat or show any signs of weakness. The audience, including Frost simply had to wait until the two women finished sounding each other out. Strangely Daki and Maya both had the exact same though running through their minds during their close proximity confrontation. ''Damn she''s gorgeous!'' The two quickly identified each other''s level. In all categories, though different in style the two of them judged one another to be equally beautiful, neither gaining superiority over the other. This realisation created a base for mutual respect, reducing the threat they felt from one another. Eventually they found a lot inmon when it came to their figures, personalities and even appearance. Frost certainly had a type. Silently an ord or truce established between the two of them. "So you''re Daki." "And you must be Maya, Frost told me a lot about you." Maya nced at Frost, wondering what sort of things he told her. "I can definitely see how you caught his attention, it''s clear he has a type." "Upon seeing you I have to agree." Daki nodded her head in agreement before looking at Frost in a simr manner. "Though he told me about you his words don''t do you justice, you''re definitely the most beautiful woman I''ve ever seen." Daki couldn''t help but praise and feel slightly jealous towards the young fenrir, she was practically the ideal woman in many eyes. Cute, beautiful, small yet very curvy and with skin as white as snow. "I could say the same about you." Maya''s eyes once again roamed over the orc subus''s body, admiring her muscr arms, legs and midriff as well as her advanced height. Both of them saw qualities that they desired for themselves in one another. "Umm are you two cool now?" Frost who was sitting on tenterhooks throughout the entire process asked nervously. In response he received fierce res from the two women before they smiled at one another, the sparks surrounding them dissipating. "No problems here right Daki?" "Not that I can see Maya." The two giggled before Maya locked arms with her rival/sister. "Come,e let me show you around your new abode, be careful though the teleportation may make you a bit queasy." Before Frost could fullye to terms with the sudden change Maya and Daki had linked arms and disappeared into a space warp. Nanna and Loki quickly followed after them leaving him alone and surrounded by his monsters who were just as confused as he was, well at least the men were. "Is this a good thing or not?" He muttered in confusion. He was d the two came to some kind of mutual understanding but the two looks they gave him at the end made him feel as though it was at his expense. "Finy carry on with constructing the camp, I''ll hear your reportter on when I''m free." He had the nagging feeling that he shouldn''t leave Daki and Maya alone, so he quickly opened up a space warp and teleported into the private space to catch up to them. Within the private space Daki was holding up far better than he thought when it came to the spatial teleportation, she recovered almost instantly and was already being shown around by Maya, Loki and Nanna who had instantly warmed up to her the moment Maya did. If Maya was cool with the new addition she had no reason not to like her. "This is our true home, the dungeon''s private space." Maya eagerly showed off their home. "The kitchen, dining area and living room is all open n as you can see, helps to foster closeness and warmth. Currently I prepare most of the meals with the asional aid from little Nanna here. Do you like to cook?" "asionally but it''s not my strongest suit." Daki painfully admitted, it was one of the skills she never found the need or had the talent to master. Usually she''d eat something basic or go out for food. "That''s fine, we all have our own strengths." Maya reoriented the focus away from the kitchen since it was no longer important. "We try to have at least one meal as group every day but given how hectic our schedules can be it''s not always possible. If you get hungry you can either whip up something basic or use the dungeon system to produce a meal." She brought up the dungeon menu and slowly navigated to the prepared food section. "So this is the dungeon menu Frost told me about." Daki waspletely in awe of the holographic screen before her, she''d never seen nor even heard of anything remotely simr. Her awe only grew when Maya summoned an apple out of nowhere courtesy of the system. "Wow that''s amazing." "I know right, with enough Dungeon points we can practically get anything we want." Maya thus showed off some other items for sale, alcohol, cakes, clothes and since Daki was an avid cksmith metals and other wonderous materials. Frost''s anxiety melted away as he witnessed their friendly exchange, Maya and Daki looked like good friends rather than bitter rivals, strange considering how confrontational they both were a minute ago. Though he enjoyed seeing them getting along he did feel a little left out, so he promptly inserted himself into the conversation. "Everyone is given a basic allowance of DP which they can spend however they wish, anything over a certain amount however needs my approval otherwise this ce would be full of unnecessary dresses and alcohol." He gave the stink eye to Maya who cutely stuck out her tongue. "Will I be able to use it like everyone else?" "Yes it''ll just take some practise, I''ll grant you permissionter but first lets finish the tour." Frost ced his hand against Daki''s lower back and guided her towards the bedrooms. "In the corner there is Kiba''s room which he moaned to get but never uses." "Garow!" "You don''t use it you either sleep with Nanna and Loki or in the dungeon." After grumbling therge tiger as if to prove his master wrong glided into his room and parked his rump on the high quality cat bed. "Next we have" "Our room, this is mine and my sister''s room." Loki interrupted in an excited manner before opening the door wide allowing Daki to peer in. One half was covered in clothes and books, looking rather messy while the other half had a few sets of daggers lined up on a desk and a slightly unkempt bed but in a far better condition that its neighbour. Nanna with a bright red blush quickly charged into the room and did her best to tidy up her half of the room. "Over here we have the bathroom." Frost opened up the door to reveal its contents. The room was far bigger on the inside than the outside suggested. This bathroom was practically a fully functioning bath house that could be found in noble manors, even the one in Yarrow''s and Chia''s ce paled inparison. Frost was quite proud of that fact. "Finally we have Maya''s room on the right, mine in the centre and yours on the left." Though Maya rarely slept in her own room anymore she still used it as storage for her clothes. Obviously Daki didn''t peer into the room on the right but she was quite interested in seeing Frost''s room but that could wait untilter. "I used the same format as ours so it''s rather basic. If you want to change it in any way just tell me, the dungeon system allows me to change the private space almost instantaneously. The bedroom was almost identical to Maya''s, arge bed in the centre with a walk in closet and all manner of dressers and cabs. Daki couldn''t spot anything wrong in fact it was glorious, far better than what she had back in Kranor only itcked a personal touch. "Can I change the colours and swap out some of the dressers?" "You can do whatever you want, this is your room after all." A tear welled up in her eyes as Frost said that. This was her home now. Chapter 547: Chapter 547: Meeting the family (3) Frost let Daki make herself at home in her new room while he gently pulled Maya to the living room. "So.how pissed are you really?" His continued interactions with her allowed him to better glean her thoughts. The smile on Maya''s face quickly flipped. "I wouldn''t say pissed morefrustrated, annoyed, neglected even." She spoke from the heart. Frost pulled her into his chest and rubbed the back of her head in a soothing manner. "I''m sorry you feel that way, I never meant to hurt you." "I know and from what my instincts tell me Daki is a nice woman. It''s just hard." She leaned in, resting her head against his chest so as to hear his heartbeat, an intimate gesture that warmed Frost''s heart. However a momentter he experienced a sharp twisting pain in his side. "You smell like her." A fierce glint appeared in her eyes as her anger and possessiveness were stoked. Frost silently endured the quickly intensifying pain, treating it as penance. When the pain was about to overwhelm him he was suddenly granted relief before a set of sharp teeth dig into his chest, drawing blood. "Mine." Maya dered while patting her handiwork and rearranging his robes. She then left to help Daki unpack with a smile on her face, feeling much better after discharging her anger. "...Ow!" Frost groaned a momentter. Thankfully nothing else happened after that little incident, Maya''s smile never shifted. She even admired Daki''s style in clothes, iming she could never pull off certain looks while Daki encouraged her to try it on. To Frost the whole thing felt kind of surreal but he knew better than to poke the bear, he kept his tongue and simply watched with a smile on his face. "Master." "Yes Nanna." "You''re going to have to buy a very nice bottle of wine." "That bad huh." "Un, at least that''s what my intuition is telling me." The young girl felt it necessary to give her master fair warning, she didn''t want him to suffer after all. "Haaaaaa thanks Nanna." Frost rubbed her head affectionately as he mentally allocated a significant sum of DP for the ''very nice bottle of wine''. Once Daki finished putting away the majority of her stuff the group partook in a sumptuous meal before continuing the great tour. There was lots for her to see and learn, best to do it on a full stomach. Frost guided his girlfriend through several floors, highlighting its grandeur, purpose, as well as the usual residents. He already exined the aspect of DP and how he obtained it and to be honest she wasn''t even remotely shocked or put off by the aspect. Monsterirs had been around for centuries and were well known to feast on their invaders, turning them into the energy they need to sustain themselves and grow. It was an epted fact known far and wide in adventurermunity. People die all the time in Nova, whether it''s from old age, illness, battle, or devoured the cycle of life continues. In her opinion Frost wasn''t doing anything wrong or beyond reproach. He was a sentient monsterir that needed to feed like any other creature. Of course he brushed over some details, and she chose to ignore some others, but she had already made her bed and was still willing to lie in it regardless. Frost''s ancestry certainly helped in convincing her. She didn''t know much in regards to monsterirs or military matters but what she did know was materials. Her eyes practically lit up whenever Frost brought her to one of his mines or quarries. "The mines increase in quality as we descend, I''m sure you''ll be jumping for joy when we reach the sixth floor." "I hope so, 1 star iron and pykrete aren''t exactlypelling materials for someone of my rank." "Don''t worry, we''ve got 3 star mines and I''ve put aside enough DP to buy another of your choosing." She beamed like a schoolgirl once he said that. Frost received a prominent kiss on his cheek the moment he showed her the plot of her future forge. "This ce is perfect; the environment reminds of Kranor and there''s mines and quarries within spitting distance all mine to y with hehehehe." She started drooling as she thought of the designs she could attempt with the Duram mine alone. Forging materials were the same to her as alcohol was to Maya. "I''ll assign a team of ronsos and ice dwarves to help you build your ideal workshop here in theing days. The forge itself we can purchase through the dungeon menu." "What about the mine of my choice?" "We can look into that as well, but it won''t be anything higher than 3 star, my budget and material ess can''t supply anything higher.yet." "That''s fine, 4 star materials are tooplicated for me to use right now but the moment I break through." She batted her eyes at him in an adorable manner. "I''ll provide you with a 4 star mine yes." "Hehehe my boyfriend''s so cool." She wrapped her body around his in reward, causing his mind to drift back to their activities the night before. Thankfully Maya wasn''t present otherwise there''d be an additional nail in his coffin. "I''m probably going to have to make it up to Maya for a while." "I know. I had you for two nights it''s only fair she get''s her turn." ".Sharing is also another option." A wild, predatory smile formed on Frost''s lips as his eyes ran over Daki''s white blouse. Daki pushed herself away and looked at him with a look of contempt. "Ok, let me get this straight your n to make it up to your lover is to invite another into the same bed chambers after their very first meeting. You''re either really stupid, or really cocky and really stupid." Frost really didn''t understand the heart of a woman if either was the case. "I was just joking. but a man can dream can''t he." "Yes he can, but there''s a time and a ce for everything." She thus promptly separated herself from him, depriving him of her body''s warmth and perfumed scent. "Tsk, I should have just enjoyed the moment." Frost clicked his tongue inint. After showing her the mines on the sixth floor and the plot of her personal forge Frost brought Daki to the external camp where the vast majority of his forces were currently stationed. "The area of the camp covers roughly 25km2, with a squaredyout. Smaller than the likes of Furano butrger than a standard camp or town. It won''t hold much in terms of high ss residences, but I expect many merchants and even adventurers to settle down here on a permanent basis. The wall once it''s fully furnished will provide a high level of protection alongside our ronso forces." "Will they be your only defence teams?" "In the short term yes. Since this area is rather close to the Northrend empire they''re not used to being in the presence of monsters that aren''t wild and aggressive. The ronsos provide a happy medium for such clientele." "Good choice." Even someone like Daki would be heavily discriminated against if she travelled into the empire. Furano wasn''t quite so bad given that it was on the borders but counties and duchies on the other side of the empire weren''t quite so open-minded. "Over there will be the lord''s office, my chambers in the camp and the centre point of the camp''s governance. Currently it''s the only finished building." The monster forces were quite keen on establishing Frost''s residence first before all else. "While this will be the main economic district." He gestured towards arge area filled with pre-made foundations. Shops, workshops and other business oriented establishments would be ced in this district, including Daki''s own shop. "All the goods you manufacture in your personal workshop can be sold here." He brought her before the barebones of a functioning smithing shop that was very simr to the one she had in Kranor. "I won''t charge you rent or interfere in your business in any way but given that I''ll be supplying the materials I''ll take a small cut of your profits. Nothing too major just enough to sustain the supply." "Sounds fair. Since you''ll be the ruling lord you can''t show too much favourability even to family, nepotism is really frowned upon when ites to business." Daki even thought Frost was being too lenient given that she''d retain pretty much full autonomy over her shop and goods. It''d be different if the shop was going to be managed and run by himself or the ronsos as they were indistinguishable from the development of the camp and dungeon. However in this case she was being treated as a partially separate entity, an entrepreneur, a sole trader whose business benefitted her rather than the dungeonat least for now. Frost was actually ok with this premise; he didn''t want to stifle his girlfriend''s personal ambitions and dreams. So what if he was being unfair to the other merchants or lost some money, Daki''s happiness mattered more. In fact if Maya, Nanna, Loki or even Kiba wanted to start their own enterprise he''d be fully onboard and grant them the same benefits. "I can decorate this ce however I want as well?" "Of course but please try to avoid relying on the dungeon system, it''s not exactly favourable when ites to infrastructure prices. Since there shouldn''t be anything to technical required the ronsos and ice dwarves should be able to fashion up anything you need." "True since it''s only a disy shop all I''ll need is cabs, counters etc.. does it have to pykrete?" "No not necessarily but that''s our most plentiful resource given our location." The dungeon was surrounded both internally and externally by trees, snow and ice. "You can use iron if you want, and I''ll allow a small allowance of 3 star material but in the end it''s just a transactional building. It doesn''t need to be that high ss, what matters is the products being sold inside." "I know but sometimes the look of a shop can instantly deter or entice customers, we''re very visual creatures after all." Chapter 548: Chapter 548: Meeting the family (4) "So what do you think of my budding territory after the tour?" Now that Frost had effectively shown Daki everything she needed to see he was keen to hear her opinion. In the beginning, her view was less than spectacr. The camp was basic, rudimentary and weeks away from being functional but there was promise. The private space was theplete opposite, she''d never seen such high quality furniture. A very stark contrast to the camp. The fact that it was held in its own separate pocket dimension was another sign of the power held by her boyfriend. The dungeon itself was quite simr to the monsterirs she''d seen before in her adventuring days. The upper floors weren''t too impressive but as she made her way down the quality of materials, environment and even the monsters stationed there quickly escted. This ce was a veritable gold mine, a ce that would make even C-rank adventurers drool in anticipation. She was very much impressed. As she formted all her thoughts Daki turned to stare at her boyfriend. All this stemmed from him, his power and origin as a dungeon core. Through the use of Dungeon points as he called it he managed topletely transform a barren area with nothing in it to this quickly developing metropolis. A frightening yet also stimting prospect. She had no idea how far he''d go in the future, but one thing was for sure, she be there with him, standing by his side. "It''s amazing, all of it is so hard to imagine. Just months ago nothing was here yet now there''s all this.you''re incredible." She spoke from her heart, truly blown away by the capabilities of her boyfriend. "Hehehe thanks but I can''t take all the credit. I may be the one able to absorb and utilise DP but it thanks to Maya, Finy, Khuno, the kids and the rest of monsters that all this was able toe into being. Without their protection I''d surely be destitute." "Even so..What''s your end goals? Where do you see yourself in theing years?" "Hmmm I''ve never put too much thought into. The reason I''m building this camp and preparing to house outside residents is solely for the purpose of DP. Amassing that energy will allow me to grow stronger, surpass my siblings and ensure my own life so.I don''t really know. I want to make my father proud, to reach the limits of my strength, to experience the wonders of Nova and.to enjoy my life, to spend time with those that I love and protect them from all danger." Turns out he had quite the list of desires and ambitions, none of which would be easy to obtain but at least he was heading in the right direction. "Admirable and honest hehehehe sounds like fun." Daki giggled before looking lovingly into his eyes. A momentter the two shared a passionate kiss before breaking apart. Night soon fell over the dungeon and the cial mountains. Though this didn''t stop the monsters from continuing their work in the camp Nanna and Loki were in dire need of sleep. Once the kids went to bed Frost, Daki and Maya were left in the living room to ''chat''. Well chat may not be the right word, right now Daki and Maya were exchanging information regarding their shared boyfriend, some of which being rather embarrassing, but the worst part was that Maya retained a fierce grip on his side. Whenever Daki said something that enmed her jealousy he''d be met with a sharp twist or pinch..there was a lot of those moments. Eventually Daki knew that she needed to leave the two of them alone so they could work out some of their issues before this new rtionship could truly bear fruit. She faked a yawn and decided to hit the hay early, leaving the two original love birds alone on the sofa. She didn''t forget however to swing her wide hips as she walked away, drawing Frost''s intense gaze. "OWOWOWOW!" His lecherous stare earned him a very, very painful pinch on his backside from the peeved fenrir sitting next to him, it felt like she even ripped apart the muscle. "Ok I think that one was a bit much." He rubbed his affected cheek to dissipate some of the pain. "Hmph!" Maya simply hmphed and puffed up her cheeks, refusing to look at him. He tried to lessen her anger with alcohol, the bone dry bottle of wine lying on the table was proof of that however it seems it wasn''t quite enough and to be honest it really shouldn''t be. "Maya." He called her name with affection, his hands caressing her delicate shoulders as he pulled her into his chest for a hug. She didn''t fight him at least. A couple minutester she seemed to calm down, even her tail was rxed as she leaned against his chest. Their heartbeats gradually synced together along with their breathing. With their bodies in such close proximity for such a long time certain reactions began to take ce and a romantic atmosphere filled the room. "Maya." Frost called her name again and cupped her chin forcing her to look into his eyes. There was no longer any aggression in her gaze only love and lust. He leaned down and kissed her ruby red lips, sending electric shock throughout her system, Maya practically melted in that moment. "I love you Maya." He kissed her again. "..II love you too Frost." She replied back in between kisses. The moment before shepletely sumbed to the rapture she ced a finger over his lips, preventing him from kissing her again. Then silently, she stood up from the sofa and turned her back towards him. Even from behind she was truly a magnificent sight. Maya proceeded to walk away to the bedroom, dramatically swinging her hips from side to side, causing her giant peach to bounce. "Gulp" Frost audibly gulped as his eyes honed in on his girlfriend''s ass, a certain part of him rising for battle. Maya turned around once she reached the door of his bedroom. "Youing or what?" "Yes Ma''am!" The bedroom door mmed shut the moment Frost rushed in after her thus preventing any noise from escaping. What ensued was momentous. Maya clearly jealous of Daki and desiring to surpass her in every possible way entered the battle with gusto. She was willing to engage in all manner of offensives that initially caught him by surprise beforepletely flipping his switch. Kudos had to be given to Maya, she really did put in a great amount of effort but unfortunately she was met with the wrong opponent. Frost was truly insatiable, not even Daki the part subus who was known as the drainer of men could oust him with all her experience. How on Nova could Maya do what she couldn''t. Early next morning Frost rose from the bed with his brightest smile to date. He gazed lovingly at the sprawled out woman at his side who had passed out after theirst session. He didn''t even get to sleep at all thanks to Maya''s stubbornness, something that she genuinely regretted. The pleasure was just too much for her body to handle. "Hehehehe that was so much fun, we should do that every night." Opposite to her Frost was right as rain and didn''t look exhausted in the slightest, in fact he was brimming with energy. Not only was his face glowing a certain part of him was still rock hard, his hunger hadn''t been sated yet. His predatory eyes scanned the outline of Maya''s body lying beneath the sheets, before slipping his hands underneath to grope and caress her. "Mmmmm" A instinctual moan escaped her lips as Frost moved towards more sensitive areas, her consciousness slowlying too. Frost rolled over, cing her body between his knees before leaning in to whisper at her ear. "Again?" He asked before nibbling her ear and poking the small of her back with a certain hard part of him. Maya''s groggy state was quickly brought to focus as the memories ofst night''s activities thrusted themselves into the forefront of her mind. "NOOO!" She wriggled in defiance and did her best to push his face away, wanting to put as much distance between her body and that insatiable dragon of his as possible. There was even genuine fear in her eyes as she felt it poking her. "Ohe on I''m still raring to go and it''s barely morning. Weren''t you the one that said we''d be going all night and that you''d make mepletely forget about that other woman." He attempted to attack her pride, a trick that worked earlier whenever she ran out of steam. Unfortunately this timeparing her to Daki failed to deliver. "FUCK OFF!!! I''m not falling for that again you bastard owowoowow!" Her sudden shouting caused waves of pain and pleasure to assault her system, a few tears even welled up in her eyes, she never felt so powerless. Frost frowned and felt rather annoyed about her inaction. "What am I supposed to do with this then!?" He gestured towards the towering protrusion that demanded relief. "..D.I" Maya mumbled something into the pillow. "Pardon?" "I SAID GO GET DAKI!!" She lifted her face off the pillow and screamed at him, her aura even suffused her words causing him to instinctively shiver. Frost was silent for a few seconds as he took in what she just said. ''Is this some sort of test.'' "Are you serious or just trying to trap me." He really couldn''t tell. Maya raised her face from the pillow once again though this time she stared at him with the intent to kill. "Go to Daki, that''s why she''s here right, another lover because your current one can''t keep up with your appetite." "Urgh!" Frost groaned, that was a really crass way of putting it. "Frost if you genuinely love both of us then leave this bedroom this instant and go break her like you did me. I won''t be the only one to suffer from this condition." Seems that her view on Daki had changed. The orc woman needed to suffer in the same way as her, to share the burden only then could they truly be sisters. "..Yes ma''am I''ll go break her right now." Frost nodded his head like a good solider before dashing out of his bedroom and into Daki''s. "Finally some peace and quiet." She muttered before falling asleep. Her dreams were filled with images of Daki begging Frost for mercy as if he knew what that word meant, a smile formed on her sleeping face as she pictured such a scenario. Daki was not a rival, she was a teammate, one that she sorely needed in order coral the beast that was Frost. Chapter 549: Chapter 549: The opening of the camp As the days progressed the new family member quickly adapted to her new life. Her rtionship with Frost, Maya as well as the kids mellowed out and she started finding her own ce within the dungeon''s system. With a team of ronsos and ice dwarves at her beck and call her personal forge was quickly fabricated to her own specifications and she wasted no time at all in testing it out. Nanna and Loki soon found themselves kitted in matching equipment toplete their initial set. A gift that quickly strengthened the rtionship between the three of them. For her personal mine she chose Frunium, a metal that boasted impressive sharpness andpatibility with the ice element. She decided the best way she could contribute to the dungeon was to outfit the monster officers with their own high ranking weapons, fit to their fighting styles and physical measurements. Such a task would certainly take a great deal of time and resources but in her mind and Frost''s it was well worth it. Not only would his forces grow in strength Daki would truly exercise her craft. While Daki was training in her own way Frost decided to focus on improving his magic capabilities whenever he wasn''t needed on site at the camp. Part of the reason Maya limated to Daki''s presence so soon was due to this training. She was able to get out all our pent up aggression during their spars. Overall everything progressed smoothly, the camp reached the functional phase roughly on time two weekster. The walls reached an impressive 8 metres tall and encapsted the entire 25km2 of the camp''s interior that was now flush with over a dozen buildings made out of pykrete, ice, stone and or iron, there was even more than a few dashings of 3 star materials here and there revealing the bounty held within the dungeon. The ce was more than ready to wee its first customers, Frost even decided to spend a little DP to spruce up the dungeon''s original entrance, making for quite the sight. No longer was there a simple stone arch that melded into the mountain no, now there was a solid arch made out of 3 star duram, iid with kyanite as well as leftover monster cores. The difference was like heaven and earth, it was clear that the dungeon had evolved into something of much higher ss. Now even C-rank adventurers would be drawn to this new brand of monsterir. Frost waited on tenterhooks for his first customers. He frequently contacted Bastion and Calder for information but unfortunately very few people were interested in hunting as of yet. Furano was still working its way through all the materials gained during the stampede, as were the other bastions towns. It wasn''t until a weekter that the first people arrived at the camp''s doorstep yet depressingly they weren''t adventurers nor were they here for the dungeon. It was trade caravan from one of the kingdoms based in the cial mountains. It wasmon for trade envoys to visit the Furano viscounty several weeks after the monster stampedes ended. They''de with bags filled with gold, gems, ores and other tradable merchandise, hoping to fill up their wagons and caravans with plentiful monster materials in exchange. Furano would always stash away a reserve for these caravans in leu of their arrival. The bodyguards in charge of guarding thisrge procession quickly brought the convoy to halt as their minds shook from the unexpected sight before them. They''d made this journey dozens of times and were up to date on their information for their nned route yet not a single iota of data mentioned a fully functioning camp. Bewildered was the best word to describe their current thoughts. They did not know the faction in control of such a base which meant it could be a viable threat to their convoy. The captain and leader of the guards charged ahead with his trusted lieutenants to inspect this so called camp. "Captain, these walls rival that of Furano and there''s high activity within." A scout who first inspected the camp reported to his captain. "Urgh hopefully they''re friendly. If it turns out to be some sort of bandit hideout I''m afraid we''ll be no match for their numbers." The captain already thought of multiple escape ns that would ensure different levels of retreat i.e. saving more people or more cargo. The captain''s fears reduced as he came closer to the walls however, they were too neat and well-constructed to be the work of bandits, good news so far. His lieutenants also informed him about one of the new ''Dungeons'' being present in the area which further ayed his fears. ''Someone must have acted very, very quickly to snatch up the location before any of the usual suspects made a move.'' There was no mention of a camp in the works by the [Order of the ice shield], The Northrend empire or any of the big wig countries in the cial mountains therefore it was likely a private endeavour. ''Whoever it is they know what they''re doing.'' He couldn''t help but be impressed at the grandeur of the walls and the suddenness of their appearance. As the leaders neared the camp therge ornate gate that barred entry slowly opened up to reveal the interior as well as the smiling face of a certain dungeon core and his entourage. "Finally customers." Frost was practically beaming as he eyed the two men and one woman riding D-rank battle mounts, a type of frost mare that focused on speed and endurance if he wasn''t mistaken. The sudden opening of the gates and the presence of Frost, Finy and Khuno instantly made the three go on alert. They immediately halted their steeds and reached for their weapons in preparation for an attack, a cold sweat starting to trickle down their foreheads. Finy alone gave them no small amount of fear. "Rx, rx we mean you no harm." Frost quickly attempted to diffuse the situation by waving his hands and appearing as harmless as possible. "Who are you sir?" The captain asked in a respective manner, his eyes asionally drifting over to Finy. "Me, my name''s Frost and I''m the owner of this newly constructed camp. What about you three?" ".My name is Talion, leader of Convoy bulwark, a security force based in the jade flower kingdom while this is Grandon and Felicia, my lieutenants." Captain Talion introduced himself and subordinates while also name dropping his affiliation. Doing so usually prevented anyone from acting on their nefarious machinations. Not everyone wanted to get on the bad side of an entire country. "Jade flower kingdom, that''s within the periphery of the inner regions if I''m not mistaken." "You are correct sir. We''re here on business, a trade convoy is set to visit the nearby town of Furano for a veryrge transaction, we''re their security." "Oh you''re heading to Furano, how marvellous I''m sure Dous and Leo will wee your arrival." Frost name dropped himself, highlighting his close connection to the Furano nobles. This act finally lowered the rest of Captain Talion''s fears. ''So he''s close to the local nobles, no wonder he was able to establish a camp so close to their border.'' "You said this is a camp, is it perhaps set up around the Dungeon that''s present in the area?" "Correct, the entrance can be found in the mountain behind me. Do you perhaps have an interest in visiting it?" "Afraid not Lord Frost duty calls." He instantly shot Frost down, he had no interest in exploring a dangerous monsterir. He was a guard not an adventurer. "Pity.well how about taking a break within the camp, I''m sure your group must be exhausted after travelling all the way from the jade flower kingdom." ".." Talion looked at his lieutenants and quietly discussed the option with them. To be honest they were quite curious about this new camp and had been on their feet all day. "We''ll have to discuss it with our clients but I''m sure they wouldn''t be adverse to staying in proper lodgings instead of camping outside for another night. Do you think you''d be able to amodate all of us, we''re quite arge group after all." Frost''s smile stretched from ear to ear as the fish started to bite the bait. "Oh you don''t need to worry about that, we''ve already established a couple inns as well as mass lodging quarters. We even have some shops up and running." Talion and his lieutenants thus nodded their heads before dashing away into the distance, where their convoy was holed up out of sight. "Do you want us to kill them all milord, the DP to be gained should be quite substantial plus they admitted to carrying arge amount of tradeable materials?" Khuno asked once the three were well out of earshot. "No, our aim is long term passive ie. Besides they''d be better spreading by word of mouth once they arrive in Furano." Though he was genuinely tempted to do as Khuno suggested he eventually chose otherwise. His camp was at the point where it needed to be inviting not the other way around. Chapter 550: Chapter 550: The Convoy Bulwark Thankfully the Convoy Bulwark''s clients were more than happy to take shelter within Frost''s territory, they too had had enough of camping outside and having to defend their merchandise from all angles. "Lord Frost, pleasure to make your acquaintance." A rather rotund dwarf that was garbed in luxurious clothes and outfitted with lots of jewellery greeted Frost in a respectful manner. "My name is Artun and I''m the leader of thisrge merchant convoy." "It''s nice to meet you Mr Artun, I hope my humble establishment here can allow you some much needed rest." Frost shook the dwarf''s hand with an almost twitching smile. Artun was the stereotypical rich, pompous merchant who always enjoyed showing off his wealth while at the same time behaving in respectful manner,unching hidden jabs that couldn''t be called out. "I''m sure your amodations will suffice; it can''t be worse than camping outside after all." ".Allow me to show you to the inns and mass lodging quarters." Artun and Talion''s group numbered around a 100 men and women, a sizeable entourage but nothingpared to his own. Talion and his guards quickly found themselves outmatched when they witnessed dozens of ronso patrolling the area with their halberds, ives and spears, each of them being at the C-rank level. "To the left we have the inns which provide individual and small sharing rooms whereas to the right we have the lodges that contain simple bunks and cots." Frost made sure to cater to both categories as it wouldn''t just be adventurers and or those with sparse pockets visiting the camp. "The lodge costs 50 coppers a night whereas the inn depends on your choice of room. A ronso will be stationed at the reception to answer any questions you might have about our deals and facilities. We can also provide you with rudimentary meals if you''d like or supply you with ingredients gathered from the dungeon that you can cook yourselves. I''m sure your chefs are probably better than what we currently have avable after all." Right now all he had were a couple of ronsos, dwarves and even a yuki-onna on the cooking detail, rudimentary would even be a stretch. "However since you''re our first customers I''m willing to open up a premium service wherein my partner will cook for a select few of you if you''d prefer a higher ss of meal." By partner he actually referred to the dungeon menu rather than Maya or Daki. "Hoh that sounds interesting." Artun couldn''t help but perk up at the sound of a premium meal while Talion looked forward to possibly purchasing some of the offered ingredients. The dungeon was sure to have some choice meat. "In terms of wares we''ve got a few things avable but not a lot, feel free to browse the economic district in your spare time if you''re interested." Frost pointed towards the scant few shops that were prepared and manned by ronsos before looking at Talion. "We do have a smith on hand so if you or your men are in need of some minor repair work I''m sure you can work something out." "Truly! What rank?" "She''s currently 3 star and fairly experienced, I''ll introduce you to herter." Once he finished giving the basic tour Frost left the group to their own devices. "If you need me for any reason you can likely find me in the Lord''s office over there, otherwise the ronsos will be more than happy to answer your questions." Artun and Talion both thanked him as he left, both feeling good about their amodations. "Captain I''m sure you know what to do." "Yeah, despite being surrounded by walls my men will keep just as keen a watch." "Good, I''ll retire to the inn Lord Frost mentioned before joining himter for that premium mealwould you like to join us, my treat of course." Artun didn''t feel quite right attending dinner with a stranger without some sort of backup. Though he was frequently viewed as a miser he was anything but when it came to his own life. "Thank you sir, I''ll look forward to it." Talion knew exactly why Artun extended an invitation, but he didn''t care, he''d be getting to eat premium food, that''s all that mattered. The merchant leader thus apanied his trade staff to the more luxurious inns while Talion and his lieutenants led their security team to the mass lodging quarters. Shift teams were quickly assigned for guard work and rest. Talion also assigned a couple of his trusted scouts to peruse the entirety of the camp, to get they of thend and grasp as much information about the ce and its owner as possible. Meanwhile Frost teleported back to the private space the moment he entered the lord''s office. "Now to let the DP flow in." After taking a seat on the sofa he pulled up the dungeon menu to inspect the dungeon''s current DP ie. Excluding the mana vein as well as the DP brought in by Daki and the kids the merchant convoy was bringing a little over 3000DP, roughly 30Dp per person. Most of the merchants gave little more than Nanna or Loki, clearly nonbatants but the guards were all at least upper F-rank with Talion, Grandon and Felicia all being solid D-ranks, a decent strength force that bandits would easily falter against. Of course if Frost ever changed his mind and wanted a sudden influx of 30,000DP and to fill his coffers with gold and gems they''d barelyst more than a few minutes against his mighty forces. A fact that caused his to smirk and feel giddy. Their lives were practically dependent on his whims. "Master''s looking evil again." "He must be raking in the DP, that''s the only time he shows such an expression." Nanna and Loki discussed their master''s current expression quietly as they worked on their books. "It really does make him look evil doesn''t it." "Oh you should have seen the look he had the first time he feastedSuuuuper evil." Maya and Daki also chimed in on the topic. "You know I can hear you right." "Your point?" "Urgh." He visibly winced at their retort, their giggling worsening the impact. ''Just wait until tonight, I''ll make sure the both of you are begging for mercy.'' The merchant convoy quickly settled in as the skies grew dark, they were more than happy to pay the reasonable prices Frost established. He didn''t exactly low ball the rates, but they certainly got what they paid for. The mass lodging quarters provided ample berths for the security team,rge lockers for storage and ratherfortable bunks that were a hell of a lot better than camping. The warmth of the ce was a nice bonus. Frost designed his infrastructure to very high specifications, thick instionposed of monster fur was standard issue. At 50 coppers per person for a single night heted close to 40 silvers, add on the more expensive inns rooms that ranged from 2 silvers a night to a mighty 12 silvers, he made north of a whole gold coin, pretty good for just providing a ce to sleep. Daki even made some money from her repair work, but Frost was loathe to take from her small earnings. Unfortunately he was unable to entice the group into purchasing any of his shop''s wares. Other than a few looky-loos and some private interest there was no sign of anyrge transactions with the convey, their cargo was already spoken for. The group even resisted purchasing any of the monster meat Frost offered just in case it was tampered with in any way. The possible regret they''d feel at sumbing to an ambush so close to the end goal was enough for them to take no chances regardless of how tantalising the smell was. More than a few res were thus sent Artun and Talion''s way when they made their way towards the Lord''s office to partake in the so called premium meal. Frost was joined by both Daki and Maya for the dinner, a flower on each arm. Talion and Artun begrudged Frost''s luck but understood his charm. Not only was he incredibly handsome, he wielded territory, personal power and a great deal of wealth, who wouldn''t want to be attached to his hip. The premium meal consisted of a light soup that contained recuperating herbs followed by a frost drake steak for the main and strawberry ice cream for desert. Apanying the grand meal was of course avish bottle or two of high quality wine. By the end Artun waspletely blown away, he seriously underestimated Frost''s prowess. Even he with his established wealth was only able to partake in such luxury rarely. His esteem for Frost skyrocketed, he needed to learn more about this young elf and his territory. He smelled a profit. "The meal was most agreeable Lord Frost, far more than I expected from a recently established camp, most impressive." "Thank you Mr Artun I''m d it pleased someone of your status." Artun smiled and puffed up his chest at the clear ttery. "I''m sure your camp will be a flourishing hub ofmerce once word of mouth spreads." "A satisfied customer will always remember good service and rmend it to those they know. What about you Mr Talion have we provided you a good service?" Chapter 551: Chapter 551: Dungeon of Niflheim The high priced meal between Frost and the leaders of the merchant convoy went swimmingly. Respect was gained and a subtle agreement was made. If the merchants and guards rested well and met no unforeseen circumstances during their stay they''d regale their visit to the inhabitants of Furano and quite possibly the Jade flower kingdom. A camp of such standards erected around one the new so called Dungeons was a windfall waiting to happen. Artun could literally smell the gold emanating from the camp. This ce was going to be big; he was sure of it. "Now all we have to do it wait." Frost muttered as he rxed against the sofa, a bright smile adorning his lips. "Not quite, you also need to resist devouring the vast the sums of DP they promise." Mayamented from his side. "True but it''s not as tempting to me as you might think. The monster stampede already granted far more with a singlete stage wave, so the sum isn''t that eye catching to me plus I know better than cash in a short term windfall in exchange from long term gains. The words of a well-established merchant convoy, and their guards are for more valuable than what I can gain from reaping their lives during the night." Frost was determined to be as efficient as possible, that was the true method to reaching the top of the rankings. "If you say so." Maya simply shook her head before leaning against his shoulder. The night passed without any fanfare, the merchant convoy suffered no mishap and each of its members awoke feeling very well rested. Even Artun who was rather experienced with a high level of service found the bed to his liking, furthering his image of Frost as someone to keep an eye on. Though many were loathe to leave so soon they had a job to do. Shortly after dawn the convoy was once again ready to continue its journey to Furano. "Thank you Lord Frost for your generous hospitality, hopefully by the time we are set to return to the Jade flower kingdom we''ll be able to enjoy your facilities for a second time." Artun bowed with respect before alighting the most luxurious carriage in the convoy. "d to have you Artun, Talion, safe travels." Frost with Maya and Daki at his side bade farewell to his first customers, trying very hard to dilute his smile. The convoy only stayed for half a day, but heted over 2000DP. Originally it was going to be 1500DP but thanks to the locks added to the inn''s rooms the input given by the residents was tripled. Shame there was nothing he could do about the mass lodging quarters but you can''t have everything. Money was especially enjoyable when it was gained with hardly any effort. "The convoy will spread word about the camp but that can be a double edged sword." Daki said once the convoy had departed from view. "Though we''ll attract customers we''ll also attract people with less savoury intentions." Bandits, ruthless privateers and perhaps even hidden forces of the [order of the ice shield] and others who''d have a vested interest in iming the location and its newly erected infrastructure. "Hahahaha let theme, our walls are erected, and we have more than enough forces to defend ourselves from multiple battalions of well trained soldiers let alone bandits. In fact I''d be remised if they didn''te for us as we''d be losing out on mountains of easy DP." He had no issues ughtering those who held evil intentions for what was his. Bandits, privateers or even soldiers if they came to wreck or take his camp then they only had themselves to me. ''Perhaps I should establish a prison deep within the dungeon, out of sight of the regr delvers. Then I can truly milk them for what they''re worth hehehehehe.'' The young dungeon core startedughing evilly as he imagined such a scenario. "Finy! Khuno! Come with me we''ve got work to do hehehehe!" Fully determined to prepare this prison Frost called upon his right and left hand to start the proceedings. Daki and Maya simply shook their heads in response before teleporting away. They had found that the best way to deal with his evil impulses was to just ignore him and let him have his fun. Over the following days Frost expanded his infrastructure projects, he even summoned additional ronsos to help put them into action. First was the prison that would hold any troublemakers. The ce was built on the 10th floor -the current lowest level of the dungeon- out of sight, behindrge obtrusive boulders and cliffs. One would have to really look hard to find the ce especially given the fact that a convenient blizzard constantly obscured the surrounding 200 metres, he didn''t want to take any chances. The room itself wasn''t anything special, an allotment of dozens of individual cages that held a simple bed and a bucket for bathroom needs, nothing else. Those ced in these lockable rooms would not be given decent treatment. Meals and water would be provided to extend their suffering if need be but not a single upant would leave the dungeon alive. Frost wisely kept this feature hidden from Daki and the kids; they didn''t need to know of the darker sides of the dungeon. Apart from that more buildings wereplete within the interior of the camp and female ronsos were ced in strategic locations, serving as eye candy and draws for the rough adventurers though if any of them acted upon their impulses they''d quickly find themselves bereft of a couple limbs. Daki finished preparing some rudimentary stock for her shop and helped the ice dwarves in charge of the gained monster materials clean up some hides, bones and other materials for sale. The convoy may not have had much interest in their wares but the same couldn''t be said for theing adventurers. The medical clinic that was set up had a swath of low level health potions, mana potions, and other elixirs Frost managed to find for sale in the dungeon menu. Turns out the potion itself is rather cheap it''s the container that costs an arm and a leg. He managed to purchase arge barrel of health potion for the same price as 3 vials, aplete steal. However, ss was used for a reason. Degradation happened rather quickly when it came to subpar containers making the usual price not so outrageous. But thanks to Frost''s stinginess and desire to experiment he found a solution that worked almost as well for a fraction of the price. Half the potions and elixirs for sale in the clinic were stored in vials made of high quality ice, summoned either by Frost or the Yuki-onnas. Natural ice didn''t work as well but conjured ice managed to preserve the potency of the potion at a 90% ratepared to the ss vials. A very worthwhile trade off in Frost''s opinion, especially when delving into a dungeon. He sold these ''ice vial'' potions for 30% less than the ss vial ones but would in fact make a muchrger profit margin from them. A caveat of such as solution however in addition to their slightly diminished preservation capabilities was their restriction to cold weather climates, weakness to fire based contact as well as only being viable for low level potions. Anything mid-level or higher would see their potency evaporate at a frightening rate. To help promote honesty and customer satisfaction Frost decided to inform the buyers of the first three caveats, thest one however shouldn''t matter. By the time the first ''actual'' customers arrived the camp had went through another metamorphosis, making it seems as though the Convoy bulwark and their clients underestimated the ce. Several more buildings werepleted thus making the ce feel less empty. Female ronsos were nearly as plentiful as their male counterparts within the camp, helping to entice arge market of adventurers. Like the males the females were tall, and muscr but more athletic in definition as opposed to their power lifting counterparts. These girls were sure to break some hearts in their future. It was a shame he couldn''t enlist the aid of the yuki-onnas as easily as they were deemed rather monstrous in Northrend despite appearances. "Perhaps in the future there''ll be no distinction within the confines of my territory" Since the dungeon was so close to Northrend his customers were primarily beholden to its culture and political views. If the dungeon was perhaps deeper within the cial mountains there wouldn''t be any distinction or at least people wouldn''t devolve into attacking on sight. Multiple adventuring parties that either felt themselves growing rusty or had spend all their savings made their way towards the camp shortly after the merchant convoy sang its praises. They were eager to delve into this so called dungeon and experience something ground-breaking as ording to their sources the ce had changed drastically since the monster stampede. 2 F-rank parties, 3 E-rank and even 2 D-ranks, over 30 people walked through the ornate gates of the camp with minor trepidation. "Wee to the Dungeon of Niflheim." Chapter 552: Chapter 552: Dungeon of Niflheim (2) "Wee to the Dungeon of Niflheim." Frost boldly announced as a greeting towards the adventuring parties. Naming the Dungeon was something he''d been putting on the back burner for a while. Given that he was the first person to truly delve into the dungeon it wasmon for that person to be given the right to name the monsterir or in this case Dungeon. The other two groups who visited in the earliest days already waived their right to name it. The first group didn''t even make it past the first room and the second got all their data from Frost, thus leaving the duty solely with him and it was a duty that he had thought long and hard about. This was his territory; it was only right that he''d be the one to name it but what, was the question. This name would be forever remembered and be an official ceholder in Nova''s history, he couldn''t screw it up. He came up with a lot of names, some far more grandiose than others but none of them really sunk in. Who was he? What was his dream? What was the territory and dungeon all about? When he asked himself these questions the answer became clear. There was a dimension known in legends home to the origin of ice, where the primordial ice king resided. Niflheim, the realm of ice. Frost was the embodiment of ice, very much akin the primordial ice king so despite copying the name of his realm he felt that nothing else suited his dungeon and territory more. The primordial ice king resides in the realm of Niflheim, a separate dimension he created while Frost rules over the Dungeon of Niflheim and the possible kingdom of Niflheim. Simr yet also different, one is within Nova while the other is technically not. Regardless, from the name it was clear that the dungeon was ice based, it both sounded great and worked as a good marketing strategy. "That''s rather bold and perhaps even presumptuous of you but then again if anyone''s going to do it best be you, the son of the Dark God." Maya felt mixed about the name. She agreed that the namesake fit right at home but in the end he was still technically stealing the idea from the Primordial ice kingthough he wouldn''t be the first. Many people liked to name things after legends, myths and aspects of great power however normally these were just the ideas of mortals, inconsequential entities in the grand scheme. Frost was not one of those individuals. "Rx it''s just a name and as long as we don''t dishonour it I''m sure the Primordial ice king won''t mind." Frost was dead set on his choice and wouldn''t take no for an answer. He published the name with the adventurer''s guild a day before the new guests arrived, so they were unaware of the new designation. "Dungeon of Niflheim?" The leader of one of D-rank parties queried. "Yes it''s the name of this dungeon, officially designated yesterday. And this would be the Niflheim base camp that facilities ess to the dungeon for adventurers such as yourselves." "Do you want a quick tour or are you fine exploring the ce yourselves?" "We''re fine." "We''ll take the tour." The group that was sorelycking in money declined the tour as they wished to enter the dungeon as soon as possible while those that were here to brush off some rust or just wanted to stoke their curiosity asked to be shown around. "Perfect, the dungeon''s entrance is at the very end of the camp, there''s signs and two guards protecting the entrance, you can''t miss it." Frost ushered the eager group towards the dungeon while he instead focused on the more sociable parties. "Are you all here to delve or just curious?" "Delve of course we''re just not in as much rush as the others." The ones who took up the tour were the two D-rank parties and one of the F-ranks. The veterans knew that rushing without any knowledge was a fast way to end up dead, they wanted to get they of thend first. Frost examined the two veteran parties and found that they were geared for the long haul, clearly they wished to mine this new monsterir for much of its initial worth. Thest group seemed to be filled with curious young girls and boys who simply thought it''d be wise to follow the footsteps of the veterans rather than rush headlong into danger, a choice that would likely see them survive their first delve. "Well as you can see the camp is still in its initial stages, but all the essentials are up and running. Over there we have the budding economic district where our stores are set up. Currently we have 1 star and 2 star weapons avable for purchase, monster materials gained both from the dungeon as well as the recent monster stampede, low level potions and a repair service for damaged equipment." "To the left we have the residential district where you can find multiple inns and mass lodging quarters, we n to also construct permanent residences for anyone who wishes to stay within the camp for a prolonged stay." Frost continued to point out the many facilities the camp already provided as well as some of his future ns. "In the centre of the camp is my office where I can normally be found, if you have any questions that my ronso staff can''t answer then I''ll be happy to help you." "Ronsos?" One of the adventurers asked, not recognising the word. "Ahhh that''s the name of the species you can see patrolling the camp, they''re my direct subordinates who help me run the camp. Ah Khuno perfect timinge introduce yourself to these able bodied adventurers." Frost spotted Khuno in the distance and called him over. "Yes milord." Khuno crossed his arm over his chest in a militaristic fashion before staring down at the trembling adventurers. "Hello, my name is Khuno, and I am milord''s right hand." ".D.Damien." The strongest of the adventurers mustered up the courage to shake Khuno''s outstretched hand. "Khuno and his ronso brethren are a rare species of tiger beastkin so it''s not unusual for to have not heard of them." "I see." It was clear that the veterans had been around the block, they''d encountered many intelligent monsters that behaved just like sapients, it was more the show of power that got to them. The F-rank rookies however instantly withdrew their weapons instinctively when Frost''s described the ronsos as beastkin rather beastmen. This of course made Frost and Khuno frown, a pressuring aura was even released by the young dungeon core. "Ahhh!" The group of rookies screamed in fear as their bodies started screaming danger. Thankfully the veteran captains moved to correct their behaviour before Frost didn''t anything drastic. "Sheath your god damn weapons!" The veteran captains roared at the top their lungs before pping the back of the rookies'' heads. "Apologies Lord Frost, they''re rather new at this and don''t quite understand how the world works beyond the confines of Northrend''s borders." Frost retrieved his aura, allowing the adventurers to breathe and sequester their weapons. "No apology necessary Damien, I understand the culture of those raised beyond the mountains. I just thought a show of force would best correct such illusions." Frost smiled in a rather cold manner sending shivers down Damien''s back. The tour managed to get back on track despite the unsavoury confrontation though the rookie F-rank party still refused to look Frost''s way, afraid of drawing his ire. "This is the entrance to the dungeon which currently stands at 10 floors. The ronsos guarding the gate here will ask for your rank before you enter and suggest the maximum number of floors you should descend." "How perilous is it?" "The upper floors not so much, even the F-rank rookies here can survive the first floor as long as they work well together however, beyond the 6th floor even C-rank adventurers could lose their lives if they''re not careful." Such a revtion caused the veterans to balk and look at one another, silentlying up with new ns. "If you want to learn more about what you''ll encounter you can try asking the ronsos, many of the guards have delved into the dungeon themselves." "Thank you for the tour Lord Frost as well as the personal advice, we''ll be sure to inquire with your subordinates lest we foolishly fall for a trap that could have easily been avoided." Damien said this with emphasis for the education of the rookies, knowledge was power. "No problem, if you ever get injured we have a clinic on set near the entrance with an array of potions for sale. We even have a Niflheim specialty that you may be interested in trying out." Frost subtly promoted his ''ice vials'' hoping they''d catch on. "Will do." "Happy hunting." Frost waved the groups off and headed to his office before teleporting to the private space to watch the festivities. It''d been a long time since he had any adventurer guests in his dungeon. "Now how many should I have killed?" Chapter 553: Chapter 553: Dungeon of Niflheim (3) As the days progressed more and more adventurers visited the Niflheim base camp, all keen to delve into the wonders that was the dungeon of Niflheim, an apt name as far as they were concerned. Though more than a few reckless and even careful individuals still lost their lives within the dungeon''s confines the interest never let up. For many it was far more profitable and beneficial to base themselves within the camp and regrly delve into the dungeon than to ept the asional quest from the guild. This preferred interest alerted the local adventurers guild in Furano as well as their sister branches within the cial mountains. Frost caught a significant amount of scouts surveying the area, some friendly, some neutral and some that had more unsavoury agendas. One night when the level of adventurers present in the camp was low and the sun had long set, bringing near total darkness arge group of ruffians armed to the teeth with weapons and the odd piece of siege equipment surrounded the camp''s mighty walls. Their scouts inspected the camp over the previous two days, identifying the weak points of their defences, the number of guards on patrol as well as the gear assigned to them, all in preparation for tonight''s attack. "Is everyone in position?" The leader of the group, a tall human with arge scar over his right eye asked as he gripped the handle of his trusted great axe. "Everyone''s ready boss, we''re good to go." "Good, let''s get to work then." The leader smiled wildly as a fire erupted in his eyes. He and his group were hired by a certain privateer to take down this newly constructed camp and execute the current owner so said privateer could take over the flourishing gold mine. The ce had only been in business for a couple weeks yet already the local predators could smell the potential. The longer they waited the harder it''d be to take down. "I have to admit that their rate of construction and development is quite astounding but that only paints arger target on their back." The group came prepared, amply ready to face off against the defences of the camp and the ronso guards stationed there.well at least they thought they were. Frost had long noticed their intentions and prepared certain traps. He purposely made sections of the wall appear weak, reduced the number of ronsos on patrol and even reced some of their weapons all to give off the illusion of a weak prey. "Finally an excuse to put my new prison to good use hahahaha." Frostughed evilly as he viewed the arrangement of red dots on the dungeon map. 200 enemies willingly handing over their lives, oh how generous. "Milord?" Khuno asked through telepathy. "Do it, take the stronger ones alive if you cankill the rest." "Understood." The moment the ''powerful'' force of bandits were about tounch their invasion dozens of monsters suddenly appeared from behind and by their nks. "AMBUSH!!!!" "AAAHHHHHH!!!!!" "Squealch!!!" Therge force of 200 was quickly dealt with under the cover of night. Only 20 were taken prisoner and stuffed within the cages on the tenth floor, the rest were executed, granting Frost a substantial amount of DP as well as money. For bandits this group was quite well off, the high ranking individuals alone carried close to 4 gold coins. "Hahahahaha gotta love bandits." Frost was ecstatic, culling invaders was such an easy way to make money. Unlike adventurers he didn''t have to worry about killing too much or thinking about how to prolong their stay, he was free to kill each and everyst one of them, doing so would even earn him praise. Bandits were despised throughout Nova and usually held bounties in which any individual could redeem for reward. A decent chunk of adventurers actually make bandit hunting their prime upation. "What are you going to do with those you captured?" Daki who watched the affair by his side asked after letting out a relieved breath. She was stunned when she heard about the scouts and the army surrounding their home. To ease her worries and reassure her Frost insisted that she watch the battle -or rather ughter- by his side. "Information extraction as well as payment. I''d like to know who''s behind this group so we can prepare for any more serious threats." He was confident that this group wouldn''t be the only ones foolish enough to try their hands at taking over the Dungeon of Niflheim. Word spread through dark channels that the entire 200 bandit force was annihted, instantly elevating the threat level of the newly established camp to one that was alreadyplete and fully defended. If one wished to rece the current ruler they''d need a far stronger force and or go the more shadowy route i.e. assassination. Frost didn''t quite wee such methods given his past trauma as well as the greatly reduced ie possibilities, but beggars can''t be choosers. A couple of female ronsos were ced in charge of intelligence gathering within the camp, they''d willingly engage with the visitors in order to gleam as much information as possible. He also advised Nanna, Loki and Daki to be on alert whenever they were within the camp just in case anyone targeted them instead of himself. He wasn''t prepared to take any chances. Thankfully after the first attempt there wasn''t another in following weeks instead a different approach was taken by some. "Get out!!" "Lord Frost don''t be so hasty; you''ll never hear an offer as good as this one." "I said GET OUT!!!!" Frost summoned his ive and ced the razor sharp edge under the offender''s chin. "Ahhhhh!!!! You crazy barbarian! You''ll regret this!!" An obese cat beastwoman screeched as she dragged herself from his office. "Do these people really think I''m such a pushover or an idiot." He mmed his fist against his desk to relieve his anger. "That''s the seventh person iming that It''d be in my best interest to transfer control over to them or their bosses, while only offering pittance in reparation. Damn leeches that think they can swoon in on my hard work and take what''s mine! Enough!!!" "Finy!" "Yes milord." "The next person that says they''re offering to buy me out, kick them out of the camp and if they still kick up a fuss execute them!" He was really pissed, he''d had enough. His nice guy routine had its limits. "Happily milord." Finy responded with an eager tone, he too was not pleased with how these businessmen and women were treating his master. "Unless there''s anything else for me to deal with I''ll be heading to the training room to let off a little steam." "Nothing''s on the schedule, so you should be free." "I could do with a proper secretary, using you feels like a waste of your talents." "I''m happy to help you in any way I can master." "Haaaaaa" Frost sighed before teleporting from his office to the training space. Lately he''d be trying to improve his magic capabilities to the point that he could be considered a B-rank magician. Maya offered a lot of pointers and frequently sparred with him, but his progress was rather slowpared to his recent exploits. Without any sense of danger there was no sudden explosion of improvement, he was thus learning or at least trying to learn the virtue of patience. "Rough day?" Daki who currently in the training room to brush up on her skills and keep her body in its current sexy form asked when she saw the scowl on her boyfriend''s face. "Rough is an understatement." He snarled back, his fury rising whenever he remembered the condescension and contempt in the words and gazes of his recent visitors. He preferred when they sent people to kill him instead of trying to broker a deal face to face. It took a great deal of restraint not to murder each and every one of them. "More people suggesting that you transfer ownership or else." "Yep and as far as I''m concerned thest one. I''ve already instructed Finy to take care of them. I''m done!" He summoned up a few practise dummies in the distance before conjuring up a ming ball of ice fire andunching it at the targets. Daki who had built up a little sweat wrapped herself around him, pressing her ample chest against his back as her hands rubbed his shoulders and tense arms. "I''m surprised yousted this long. I thought for sure you would have made an example of the first or second buyer thus killing the chicken to scare the monkeys." From what she knew of his personality he wasn''t above such methods. "Believe me I wanted to do." He leaned back and took in a whiff of his girlfriend''s natural scent. "So why didn''t you?" "Because I want to draw people to my territory not drive them away. If I killed those I disagreed with or who insulted me at the drop of a hat then it doesn''t really put me in a good light as a ruler right?" "..Actually I think it would." "Eh?" "Think about it, in this world power is very important. Showing force guarantees the capability to protect your subjects from powerful foes plus your territory is different. Unlike most you''re basing yournd around a dungeon, and starting off with a camp, strength is even more important and in this line of work force is sometimes all that matters. Has you rejecting all these busybodies with shit offers stopped theming." "...No" "And they won''t not until you make them realise who their dealing with, you need to show that you''re not someone unprepared to do what''s necessary to protect what''s yours. You need to disy power and authority; only then will they see you as an equal. Whether or not this ups their aggression at least you won''t have to deal with their annoying badgering right." "...." Frost waspletely stunned, floored by Daki''s insight. He''d expect such words from Maya but not necessarily her. ''Have I really been too easy-going.'' If Daki was right then he wouldn''t have to walk on eggshells and cater to the whims of others, instead he could truly run the ce his way, regardless of what his neighbours thought. An evil smile grew on his face as ns ran through his mind, it was time for a change. He turned to his girlfriend with clear lust in his eyes. "You''re amazing." "Oh I knowyou''re quite gifted yourself." Her eyes drifted down towards his groin as she licked her lips, keen to embark on another kind of exercise which Frost was more than happy to oblige. "Finy change of n I''m going to be busy for quite a while. If anyone like the woman from earlieres, rough them up before booting them out, I want them to know that we don''t give two shits about their so called offers." "Yes milord." Once Finy received his new orders Frost pounced on his green enchantress and gave her body a real workout. Chapter 554: Chapter 554: Territory development With his new treatment of ''guests'' in y the amount of people thinking that they could threaten or force him out as owner drastically dwindled, leaving only the most foolhardy who quickly regretted their decisions. Their heads still in a state of disbelief sat atop sharp iron spears along the camp''s walls as a warning, Frost was not someone to be messed with. And credit to Daki''s insight his actions paid off. The adventurers and even the brave merchants who made their way to the camp nodded in approval when they heard of the reasons for such a disy. Soon the dungeon received many regrs who would base themselves within the camp and delve into the dungeon on a frequent basis. Merchants or rather couriers under their employ would visit the camp to retrieve the swaths of merchandise gained by these adventurers, hoping to sell the stuff back in Furano. Frost acted quite quickly, cing several taxes on such practises thus encouraging the merchants to open shop within the camp lest they wished to pay an arm and a leg for each run. This act infuriated a lot of merchants who thought themselves clever but what could they do, the camp was under Frost''splete control, whatever he said wasw. "Well yed Frost." A few days after the taxes were put in ce Frost received a joint call from Bastion and Calder who was filling in for his grandfather more and more. "Took a page out of one the books I got in your grandfather''s library." Frost replied with a clear smirk. He put a hell of a lot of research into how to run his territory. Though painfully boring and head spinning he refused to neglect the aspect of taxes for both internal and external services. "I''m d my grandfather''s knowledge is being put to good use. You don''t know how many of my colleagues are cursing your name hahaha." Calderughed, genuinely pleased with Frost''s wit. "I''m guessing you didn''t call just to praise my quick actions." "No we didn''t." Calder looked to his side where Bastion was sitting with bags under his eyes. "Frost the rate in which you''ve established your camp is unprecedented and has raised quite a lot of rms within the adventurer''s guild as well as amongst some heavy hitters in the mountains." "I''m aware, we''ve already had to deal with a decent sized strike force as well as poorly veiled threats from a bunch of pompous ''businessmen''." Frost practically spat as he thought of his petitors''. "I heard, well done by the way." "Thank you, it wasn''t anything we couldn''t handle." "Anyway despite the threat both the adventurer''s and the merchant''s guild want to speed up our responses. What would have normally taken several months if not years is already in motion. The guilds want to establish a minor branch within the confines of your camp." "That''s quick." "It is and it isn''t. Time wise yes it''s really early and perhaps even premature but stage wise it''s right on time. Your camp is already pretty much fully established. You have high defensive walls, sufficient military power, arge and rapidly building influx of visitors and perhaps most importantly for the merchant guild especially a truly neglected revenue of materials." The merchant''s guild and the adventurer''s guild couldn''t stomach the high taxes for any outgoing trade, to avoid this they needed to establish a storefront within the camp thus bing residents. A few merchants had already begun the process of applying for real estate within the camp, Calder was one such person. "In the higher ups eyes the sooner we establish our guilds within your camp the sooner the transfer of materials can happen on a grand scale. Your customers will also benefit from our presence." "...." Frost was silent in thought as he took in the words of Calder and Bastion. Technically given that the camp was fully under his control he could reject the establishment of guild branches as well as individual merchants forcing everyone to pay exorbitant taxes but that betrayed his long term goals. "Very well I''ll grant permission and reserve ideal locations for the branches, but you''ll be subject to taxes just like everyone else." "Of course. We''ll discuss the more business aspects at ater date, this is just a deal procuring call." "How long do you think you''ll need before the branches will be in service?" "Oh not long, we have crack construction teams that can establish a simple branch in couple of days. In the meantime however we''ll send a small team of guild staff to help facilitate the guild''s services in the meantime." "...Shrewd but I''ll allow it. I look forward to working with the guilds." Frost ended the call and leaned back against his sofa. "Well what do you think?" "It does seem rather quick, but I understand their positions, when ites to money and ess to materials it''s best to act fast so there''s less supply wastage." Daki gave her thoughts on the subject. "Yeah thest condition was quite devious." Maya agreed with her counterpart. Any ''business'' conducted by the arriving guild staff would fall under the guilds'' purview thus allowing them to avoid the external taxes Frost levied. Shrewd but eptable in his mind, he wasn''t set on scrounging every possible coin he could, he just didn''t want to be taken advantage of. "I''m fine with letting them have that, the sooner the branches are established the sooner we can expect a decent rise in customers. Right now though well-developed our camp is still seen as something privately established and run. That''ll change somewhat once the adventurer''s and merchant''s guild have branches set up. It''ll be a publicly epted hunting ground, something far more inviting to themon person." An invisible seal of approval that reassured visiting adventurers and merchants. Owners would be less able to behave like tyrants with the guilds in y. "Right now we''ve got a healthy dose of adventurous adventurers and the asional brave merchant, but we don''t have many looking to stay for the long haul. Even the merchants like Calder who have begun the process of setting up a storefront are too few in number for my liking." There was still an abundance of space within the camp, space he wanted to fill as soon as possible. With his current daily DP ie sitting over 4000 Frost was keen to develop it further. Passive ie was definitely the way to go. "How are you for ores? Do you or your subordinates need any more mines?" "We could always do with more mines, especially ones that are 2 star and 3 star. Even if we can''t use all the material it helps to have a surplus. You may even find that selling the material before refinement could establish a healthy trade revenue." Daki wouldn''t say no to an additional mine or two. The more materials she had to work with the more confident she was in testing her fabrication limits. Her subordinates as Frost put it were a group of ice dwarf smiths and a few personally inclined ronsos who were at her beck and call and assisted her in forging equipment. They were quite rough but better than having no help at allshe could however use someone with genuine skill. "Any word for Borris yet?" "None so far but Calder mentioned that he''s still interested. It''s just taking a little longer for him to fully pass over the reins." Daki was the one most looking forward to Borris'' arrival. The chance to talk shop with a 4 star cksmith was something she craved. "Maya what about you, is there anything you want?" Frost had the sudden urge to take back this offer the moment the words escaped his lips. Maya''s growing grin certainly didn''t help. "Me? Well now that you ask there is something I''d like." Her smile stretched from ear to ear as she moved in close, pressing her soft body against her boyfriend and looking at him with pleading eyes. "Out with it. If it''s not too expensive I''ll consider it." "Hehehe it''s nothing much I just want to try at set up that alcohol brewing facility we talked about several weeks ago." Since Daki had her mines and forging work she felt she should do something productive as well. "...That''s not actually a bad idea and meshes well with Daki''s ore trade proposal." The camp was already bing a hotspot for trade due to the abundance of monster materials and asional treasure found within the dungeon''s depths -something Frost was easily able to afford thanks to the increased DP ie. This was only set to develop further the moment the guild branches establish themselves. Perhaps it was wise for him to build up a supply train that wasn''t monster materials. The more he thought about the idea the more convinced he became. With a nod of his head he opened up the storage vault to retrieve a selection of books. "Here''s some reading material, research them and get back to me with a fleshed out proposal." Frost had purchased quite a library of books during his visits to Furano as well as Kranor. Some of which detailed the process of brewing, beers, wine, spirits etc Maya took hold of the books with a surprised expression, not expecting Frost to be so onboard with her request. She actually wanted to do something rather small scale and intimate with him but giving how enthusiastic he was that may not be possible. She was still excited though, brewing the ultimate wine was always a dream of hers after all. Chapter 555: Chapter 555: Visit from the order A dayter the groups from the adventurer and merchant''s guilds arrived ready and willing to get to work. A simple shack was erected in the interim while their construction teams discussed terms with Frost''s ronsos. Both branches would be positioned near the dungeon''s entrance and cover a sizeable area, far more than required by a standard shop. Once the functions were fully underway Frost would receive rent appropriate for the size of the buildings as well as a very small percentage of any sizeable transactions that took ce under the purview of the guilds. Negotiating such figures was a real uphill battle for the young dungeon core, his natural intelligence and gift for business meant nothing when it came to specialisation and ample experience. He felt railroaded by the negotiating team and would likely have came off worse if the group didn''t have orders to be ''lenient'' in their efforts. Regardless in the end a deal was met, and Frost would see a decent pay out for allowing the guilds to spread minor influence within his territory which was officially dered out with the bounds of ''civilised''nd. This deration meant that intelligent monsters weren''t restricted in doing business with the guilds within said territory. Frost thus learned that the rtionship between the guilds in ''civilised'' territory and the so called wilnds or danger zones was actually closer than he was led to believe. Though different in their rules and views they both fell under the purview of the federation of knowledge and other worldwide organisations thus making them part of the same family tree. In fact even some of the guilds operating within the ocean and sea kingdoms were subject to the same influence. With the guilds now staking a im within the camp, word spread regarding the official status of the Niflheim base camp, drawing far more to the newly established gold mine. Frost practically drooled as he watched his daily DP rise by several hundred every day, in a few weeks he may even surpass 10,000, a super milestone that he greatly desired to achieve. The ''privateers'' swiftly stopped their actions the moment the guilds came into y and instead a more worthy group of ''businessmen'' entered the fray, ones that Frost couldn''t treat lightly. "Greetings Lord Frost my name is Auriel and I represent the order of the ice shield." A middle aged elf with a powerful presence greeted Frost with a gentle smile. "Wee Sir Auriel what can I do for the order of the ice shield." Unlike the ''privateers'' the order of the ice shield was a true big yer, a group that made Frost and his budding territory inconsequential inparison. The order of the ice shield was the independent body that controlled the vast majority of monsterirs, special zones and even enves within the cial mountains. Most camps and newly generated territories held their influence. The group itself was set up through the efforts of multiple big wig kingdoms, tribes and even Northrend''s cial mountain territory as abined effort to even the ying field and reduce friction between them and all in all the experiment paid off. Disagreements that could lead to all-out war sharply reduced since their conception, preserving a great many lives. The order was now fully established and held a great deal of authority and sway within the mountains. Frost expected that one of their members would pay him a visit, but he didn''t think it''d be so soon nor that they''d send someone at B-rank. Whether this was a sign of respect or a show of force he didn''t know but he decided to air on the side of caution. "Well for starters I''d like to ask you few questions." Auriel released his aura in an imposing fashion, hoping to restrain Frost and force him to answer truthfully, however. Crack! The wooden desk separating Frost and Auriel released audible cracks as Frost revealed his own strength. His royal aspected aura battled against the thicker aura of Auriel and forced it back, he wouldn''t be pressured in his own home. His sudden burst of strength surprised Auriel who clenched his teeth and retrieved his aura, epting that this assignment wasn''t going to be so cut and dry, in fact thanks to hisck of information the discussion started off on the wrong foot. "Apologies Lord Frost I didn''t know you were.." "Someone who could hold his own." Frost retorted with a fiery expression. "Cough Cough.I meant nothing by it. I merely wanted to be sure that you answered my questions honestly." Auriel suddenly found himself in a rather ufortable position, he wasn''t expecting to be in the weaker position. Frost pressed him a little more before retracting his aura. "Ask away." ".Ok first do you represent the interests of any to the kingdoms or tribes present within the cial mountains?" "No." "Do you represent the Northrend empire?" "No." "Do you have the backing of any groups that do represent these mentioned organisations?" "No, my rtionships with the Furano Viscounty and the Kranor enve are based upon friendship first and then equal trade between our territories. They did not bankroll this camp, nor do they have any say in how it is run." Frost knew exactly what the order wished to know. They needed to know if one of their members was responsible for this camp as that would be a vition of the initial agreement and infringe upon their duties. Only if Frost was truly acting as an individual with his own ambitions devoid of the influence of the cial Mountain big wigs would his actions be allowed. Thankfully he truly had no rtionship to these big wigs, everything he created was through his own hard work and the work of his subordinates. "..." Auriel was silent as he took in Frost''s answers. It was harder to tell if he was lying without his aura wrapping around him but from his tone and bodynguage he gauged that Frost wasn''t lying. "Very well, if this camp is truly of your own machinations then the order has no reason to fault you however we would have appreciated a heads up. We could have assisted you in its development and even offered financial aid." "Hmph I think I''m doing pretty well by myself actually. Though you''d offer assistance it wouldn''t be without cost and I''m someone who doesn''t like to be in the debt of others." Frost was smart enough to know that involving the order would be anything but beneficial for someone like him, he liked to be in control. "Haaaaaa I think there''s been a misunderstanding, but you''re entitled to your own opinion." Auriel sighed and shook his head. "Anyway to keep the peace we''d like to be able to set up a branch within your camp just like the adventurer''s guild and the merchant''s guild so as to facilitate those who enjoy our services." ".Why should I do that?" "Eh?" Auriel didn''t expect a negative reaction. "I''ve already allowed the adventurer''s guild and merchant''s guild to create branches here so why would I need to entertain the order. While I understand that you offer alternative services and hold quite a lot of influence within the mountains and even run a vast number of camps what does that have to do with mine?" "...." "As it stands the order can likely offer me several things, first being official status which I''ve already gotten thanks to the guilds and my rtionship with the Furano Viscounty. Second, subtle protection from being under your organisation''s umbre. This is also something I have no need of given the military strength at my disposal. Third which I''ll give you could be interesting, is ess to your vastwork, i.e. materials, people, information etc.. but again it isn''t something I necessarily need plus there''s other avenues I can use to get such things. Therefore allowing you to open a branch within my camp serves only your interest, I don''t get much value out of such a transaction." He''d be better granting the real estate to merchants or long term residents. "..That''s a rather narrow minded viewpoint, the order can offer far more than that andmonly any camp set up within the mountains holds one of our branches." Auriel felt snubbed and perhaps even slightly insulted. "Commonly yes but as I''ve stated there really isn''t anything you can offer me. I have no need of the order''s services, simple as that so I won''t entertain your request for the establishment of a branch. If one of your members wishes to set up a shop then by all means go through the approval process and we can work something out, but I don''t require the presence of the order within my territory." Frost was firm with his decision, he would not allow a major and in many ways suspicious organisation like the order of the ice shield to take root within his territory. As far as he was concerned the order was just like the many privateers he threw out previously just more established and with greater backing. "Lord Frost are you sure? Rejecting the order is not a wise decision." "Is that a threat?" His royal aura suffused into the nearby air, pressing down upon Auriel. The middle-aged elf nched and clenched his teeth as his mind ran circles. ''Why the hell is this happening? This isn''t how it''s supposed to go down.'' Chapter 556: Chapter 556: Visit from the order (2) An awkward silence followed Frost''s usation; Auriel started sweating bullets as his heart warned him of danger. He could likely handle Frost alone, but Frost wasn''t the only danger present in the camp. There was Finy the ice troll lord as well as the feeling of something else, something far more powerful gazing down on him from who knows where. This was not how the n was supposed to go down. He was supposed to arrive at this new and unsanctioned camp -in the Order''s opinion- and meet with owner and subject him to pressure thus allowing him to glean the required information and further the Order''s agenda. They wanted to hold sway over all the camps and special areas within the cial mountains, to consolidate their power and gain ess to untold levels of wealth. The order had grown to the point that it wanted to uplift itself from the machinations of its creators, to be a truly independent organisation. Frost''s Niflheim base camp actually yed arge role in their ns. Not only was its location ideal for spying upon the nearby Northrend empire it was built around one of the brand new dungeons, a monsterir that could evolve and grow exponentially if their sources were to be trusted. The wealth potential it had was something even the wide reaching Order didn''t want to give up that''s why they sent Auriel, a skilled negotiator and powerful fighter. They believed that sending him would either make Frost feel honoured or allow them to pressure him into following their will. Unfortunately they underestimated Frost''s strength as well as conviction. Auriel''s mind was spinning as he tried to think of some way to salvage the negotiation. "LLord Frost please calm down; I didn''t mean for my words toe across as a threat. I was merely stating advice. Our organisation holds far more benefits than you believe so denying us the opportunity to work together would definitely be an unwise decision." He first backtracked, hoping to cool down Frost''s anger. it worked. Frost pulled back his aura and presented a calmer expression. "As I''ve already stated I have no need of your services at this time at least not any that require you to establish a base of operations within my camp. I''m more than willing to engage in the asional trade and exchange with the Order. By no means am I intending to be your enemy it''s just that I do not require your involvement in how I run my own territory Sir Auriel." Though he was firm in rejecting the Order''s involvement within the confines of the camp Frost didn''t wish to reject them outright. The organisation was still a very big yer within the cial mountains and offered many services he''d find useful whenever he went exploring. He just needed to make it clear that he didn''t want to engage with them when it came to his territory, individually was fine. However that wasn''t what the Order wanted. Auriel tried to make Frost reconsider his stance many times but was continually rebuffed. He ended up leaving the office with a disappointed expression, he didn''t achieve the oue he set out to achieve. The camp was truly an individual endeavour, but the owner was not willing to allow them any core ess. They''d be treated no different than regr merchants and adventurers. "Haaaaaaa headquarters isn''t gonna like this." Auriel sighed and shook his head as he walked away with his entourage, there was nothing left for him to do but report back his failure. Frost was left in a rather foul mood thanks to Auriel, so he teleported out of his office and into the private space for some R&R. Daki was already waiting on the sofa. She patted her thighs inviting him for ap pillow which Frost saw no reason to reject. "Better?" "Much better." The two giggled as they enjoyed one another''spany. "Is Maya training the kids?" "Yeah they started about 15 minutes ago, Loki was all decked out in the equipment I forged for him yelling that he was now unstoppable." "Hahahaha that''s sounds like him." Frost brought up the dungeon menu to view the training room. There he saw Nanna and Loki all fired up as they faced off against a rather slow and predictable moving ice golem while Maya lounged at the side, advising them on their form. "They''ve got a lot of potential, it''s rare to see such drive and passion amongst children as young as them." "They want to be strong enough to work in the dungeon like Finy, Kiba and Khuno." Frost knew that their desire to pay him back and protect their new family was what drove them. It wasn''t the best life for children, but the fact was, training brought them joy. They loved improving themselves and fed off being guided by their family. Frost and Maya thus saw no reason to stop their training nor did Daki, but she did emphasise the fact that they needed additional hobbies. Nanna had cooking but Loki was stillcking in that regard. "Have you thought about teaching Loki to forge?" "I have but unfortunately he doesn''t have even the slightest interest in the craft." Daki shook her headpletely rejecting the notion, Loki enjoyed wearing his armour and using his weapons and even fawned over their craftmanship, but he held no interest in learning to craft his own. "That''s a shame." Frost knew that his girlfriend wanted to share her passion with her new family, but no one seemed to share her interests, even he showed little inclination towards forging. "However I do think there''s another craft he might excel at." Daki had spent a lot of time with the kids over the past few weeks as she tried to improve their rtionship. She learned a great many details about them including some of their dreams, aspirations and personal interests. "Oh what''s that?" "Medicine, Loki cares a great deal about the health of others and has shown keen interest whenever Maya heals our injuries." Back when they were still enved, Nanna would always stand in front of her younger brother to take the majority of the beatings while he would do his best to nurse her wounds as he cried. Though those dark times were over he never stopped worrying about the health of his sister. "Medicine huh, that sounds interesting, I''ll arrange some timeter where he and I can talk." "I''m sure he''ll love that." Both kids adored their private time with Frost, it was rare and very special. Frost enjoyed somefort with Daki, allowing him to rx and let go of any built up stress. He brought up the dungeon menu to examine the overall state of the dungeon and camp now that it had been functioning for almost a month. The time really flew by given that there was always things for him to do. Whether it was taking part in the actual physical building of the camp, dealing with visitors, privateers, merchant applications or even deciding who to off in the dungeon he was pretty much always on call from dawn to dusk. This left very little time for family time and actual training, he really needed to start delegating some of his work. His true job was to control and develop the dungeon, the camp was simply a way for him to gain DP and territory. "Thanks to the mass attraction of adventurers our DP levels are back in the green, standing at 120,000, a significant sum." A reserve that was certainly nothing to sneeze at, he could build and fully furnish multiple floors with that amount but there wasn''t much need for that, at least at the moment. The dungeon currently had 11 floors 10 of which being monster infested. The sixth floor or rather floor 5.5 was designed as a safety floor where the first internal camp was due to be set up. Daki''s personal forge and many of the high ranking mines and quarries were also built on this peaceful floor. The final floor was added in a week ago to evenly split the dungeon into 5 upper floors and 5 lower floors. The upper floors were restricted to those at D-rank and below whereas the lower floors required adventurers to be D-rank at the very least lest they wish for a quick death. Of course a few chose not to adhere to this warning and thus met a gruesome end but since the warning was given the faulty with them not the dungeon. Few had made it to the safety floor and beyond, but all were shocked by the situation. Safety areas were asionally found within monsterirs, but they were very rare and in many cases very unique and dependent on certain circumstances but within the dungeon of Niflheim the entire floor was a safety area. For the first week or so after its ''discovery'' delvers refused to let down their guards but eventually after zero attacks throughout the entire floor people naturally began to rx. The sight of Ronsos and even Frost himself preparing an outpost of sorts certainly helped conjure an air of safety upon the floor. A lot of rookies desperately wanted to visit the fabled floor but unfortunately they were too weak to make it passed the guardian D-rank monster and its helpers, stationed at the end of the 5th floor. Some disregarded the danger and died thus providing the dungeon with plentiful nutrients while others tried their hardest to improve their skills for the sole point of unearthing the dungeon''s many mysterious. The increased activity within the dungeon not only increased the amount of DPing in but also the amount going out. More and more spawners had to be erected and monsters had to be manually reced more often by either Frost or one of his officers. But despite this his current bnce was still sitting at 120k proving that the ie was higher than the expenditure. Even when C-rank parties grew intrigued and delved into the dungeon the situation was manageable. The groups never even made it passed the 8th floor despite their strong willingness to do so. Of course this was still the first real month of business, he was confident that after a few more attempts the same groups or others would surely reach the 9th or even the final 10th floor but it likely wouldn''t be too soon. "Where should I start?" Chapter 557: Chapter 557: Dungeon delving "Hey Lando, time to get up work''s a calling." "Urgh you don''t need to yell, I''m up, I''m up." Lando groggily dragged himself from thefier than he expected cot he was sleeping in. "Yeah right, you sleep heavier than a Kro. Anything less than a scream in your ear has little to no effect. Just be grateful I didn''t get physical this time hahaha." Lando pulled a grimace as memories of his previous wakeup calls came to the forefront of his mind. "Get your gear and meet outside, the Captain''s already waiting." "Ahhh shit why didn''t you wake me sooner then!" Lando trembled as he imagined running afoul with their Captain. As a former military man the Captain really didn''t appreciate tardiness. Lando learned that the hard way when he was forced to run himself ragged or perform the entire team''s grunt work for an entire week. "I''m your friend not your mother just hurry up." His friend Lawrence pped his shoulder before dashing out of the lodging quarters. Several minutester Lando was thest to arrive and was met with nefarious smirks from his party members, he waste. "Lando." The Captain of their party said his name with a cold tone, sending shivers down his back. "Sorry for beingte Captain, I overslept again." Being used to such a tone Lando responded honestly as such an attitude usually lessened the punishment. "I can see that." The Captain red at the rushed dressing and unkempt hair of Lando before shaking his head. "I''ll give you a pass this time, you''ve got 2 minutes to finish getting ready then we''ll set out." "Yes Sir." The rest of the party looked at their Captain as if he was some kind of imposter. Since when was he so lenient. Fortunately for Lando the Captain also slept in a little thanks to the unexpectedfiness of his cot so his pride didn''t allow him to admonish Lando. Lando quickly straightened out his clothes, reoriented his gear and fingerbed his hair making him look a lot more presentable. "Alright now that everyone''s prepared let''s discuss our goals." The group made their way towards an area with multiple pykrete tables where parties could discuss strategies and talk business. "The Dungeon of Niflheim is a very hot hunting ground right now. Swarms of parties just like ours are congregating to uncover its many mysteries and make their names in the adventuring world. The ce holds great wealth but also great danger. Though we''ll be restricted to the upper floors given our party''s strength that doesn''t mean we can rx. No small amount of D-rank parties have met there end within due to arrogance or poor preparation. We will not be one of those groups, is that understood?" ""Yes Captain"" The five party members responded with enthusiasm towards their older leader. "From Krief''s investigations we know roughly what kind of monsters we''ll face in the upper levels as well as the generalyout. So tell me what are the main dangers we need to keep an eye on." Lando raised his hand to answer. "Monster such as the frost wolves and frost dwarves as they are skilled in working together, thus reducing our team advantage." "Correct anything else?" "The ice spiders in thebyrinth sections could pose issues given their ability to scale the walls and ceiling. Though we''ve prepared antidotes for poisons getting caught in their webs could open us up for some nasty ambushes." Lawrence responded this time. "Apart from the obvious monster dangers there''s also the blizzard that randomly starts up on some of the floors. Poor visibility can leave us open to ambushes and traps from both monsters and other adventurers." Krief the one who was in charge of investigating gave his opinion. He heard many tales from previous delvers as well as a few female ronsos than he couldn''t help but strike up a conversation with. Being a tiger beastman he wasn''t too far removed from the Ronsos who were tiger beastkin thus he was particrly attracted to some of them. An advantage given that most rookies and even many veteran adventurers struggled to engage with intelligent monsters on a friendly level. "Good answers. We''ll also have to keep an eye on dungeon generated traps, from what I hear there''s more than a few spike pitfalls and even cold fire spewing statues. Krief you''ll need to be on your A-game during this delve." "Always am Captain." Krief smirked proudly. He was the party''s scout; it was his job to alert them of impeding danger and chart a path. "Rodger no daredevil shenanigans am I clear." The Captain red at another member of the team. "But we''ve got Lando the guardian, he''ll be able to bail me out no matter the danger." Rodger openlyined about having to restrain his usual tendencies. He was a pugilist, someone who needed to get up close and personal with his enemies. People with such professions tended to fit into two types, calm and patient or aggressive and violent, Rodger was thetter. He was all for taking risks and trying out new techniques and fighting styles on the fly, sometimes to the point that it ced him in serious danger. Unfortunately their leader was having none of it on this delve. "Cork it, we''ve never explored the Dungeon of Niflheim so we can''t take any chances besides you shouldn''t rely so heavily on Lando''s capabilities to preserve your own life." Out of the six party members the Captain whose real name is Royce was the strongest, an aplished D-rank swordsmen who''d been in the adventuring game for over a decade. Following closely behind him was Lando, nicknamed the guardian due to his above and beyond defensive skills. There were few people at the same rank who could best Lando when it came to shield work. Unfortunately his offence was rathercking otherwise he''d be well on his way to C-rank by now. The others were upper E-rank strength with Krief inching towards D-rank. Overall a rather decent party that suited the upper floors of the dungeon quite well. A swordsmen, a shield warrior, a scout (armed with a bow), an earth focused mage (Lawrence), a pugilist and finally the youngest of the group Gabbie, a mage focused on protection spells and buffs. "We''ll take our time and explore slowly. Does everyone have their camping gear and delving supplies?" Everyone tapped their backpacks and nodded, they were all set and then some. Despite their youth Captain Royce had sessfully indoctrinated the need to be prepared. Better to have and not need than to need and not have, a saying that saved a great many lives when followed and ended much more when not. "Alright then hands in." They all put their hands on top of one another and smiled eagerly. "Icy Talons on three, one two ICY TALONS!!" With a roar the Icy Talonspleted their ritual and headed towards therge archway that lead into the dungeon. "Rank?" The two Ronsos on guard asked in a perfunctory manner. "D-rank." Captain Royce answered nervously under their re. These two guards alone could squash his entire team like they were bugs. "Understood, you''re advised to go no lower than the 5th floor, any further and you''ll likely meet a swift end. Good hunting." After giving their warning the two ronso waved the party through the arch, no longer caring about them in the slightest. An attitude that irked a great many parties but not the Icy Talons, they knew better thanks to their investigations. A D-rank party like theirs was truly nothing of importance to them, even C-rank parties had to be respectful to these guards as the ronsos weren''t just strong they served as the arm of the camp''s owner, an elf by the name of Frost whose strength surpassed them all. A veritable B-rank who fought for Furano during thest monster stampede, helping to cull multiple B-rank monsters and dozens of C-ranks, a true hero. "Alright here we are, the Dungeon of Niflheim, let''s see what all the buzz is about." Captain Royce and his team took in the grand sight of Dungeon''s first section, the winter hignds. "Apparently this section is simr to the environment found in the nearby area, the monsters as well as the flora and fauna are simr as well. We''ll likely encounter frost goblins, ice slimes, horned rabbits and other G-ranks here with the asional F-rank and very, very rarely an E-rank frost wolf ording to sources." Krief filled everyone in. "Interesting, well let''s get started I want us to scour every inch of the ce. We''re not here to rush to our deaths in the lower floors nor hunt piddling G-ranks, first and foremost we''re here to explore and enjoy this experience and learn from it. Let''s start treasure hunting boys and girls." ""Yes Captain!!"" The Icy Talons nned to stay within the Niflheim base camp for the long haul. They''d stay a few days within the dungeon to get their bearings and learn more about it before returning to the surface with their loot, thus allowing them to cover their stay in the lodges, the cost of resupply as well possibly improve their gear. Others may wish to delve to the lowest floors and or face off against the best the dungeon had to offer but the Icy Talons knew their capabilities, slow and steady wins the race. They''d be best focusing their time on exploration, the asional hunt and of course treasure hunting. asionally adventuring parties would return from their delve with bountiful treasure from chests hiddenly located in obscure areas and or defended by monsters beyond the level of the others in the area. Just a singlemon ranked chest could pay for multiple days of lodging and then some. There was far more to adventuring than simple fighting monsters. Chapter 558: Chapter 558: Dungeon delving (2) The Icy Talons set off into the Dungeon with upbeat steps, taking wonder in all the sights. For Gabbie and Lawrence the two mages, this was their first time visiting a monsterir, so everything was new to them. "Wow I can''t believe all this just appeared one day. What was once solid rock is now an array of life and mystery. Our world really is a magical ce." Lawrence spoke with awe as he pictured the mountain''s original insides. "Gods especially the Dark God can''t be fathomed by mortals like us. What we find mind blowing could be as simple as breathing to them." Gabbie muttered as she retrieved a nt from the ground. A simple flower that offered no medicinal value or even much in terms of taste but still something that shouldn''t be present within a mountain. "I know the two of you are finding all this impressive but remember to keep your eyes open for any danger. Monsters could be hiding beneath the snow, waiting to ambush us or a trap could be activated upon stepping somewhere you shouldn''t. This ce though only being the very first section is still a danger zone. We''re not some tourists visiting Arkheart." Captain Royce rained down on their parade, causing the two of them to apologise and get their heads in the game. "Rx Captain, there''s nothing in this section that can harm us." Krief tried to ease the tension. "It''s thoughts like that that get you and your teammates killed Krief. Being amazed and curious is fine but you can''t let it affect your perception." Royce was doubling down on his stance which waspletely right but hard to enforce with such a young team. The group slowly made their way through the dungeon,bing over areas far from the natural path hoping to find something interesting and or valuable. They met a few other adventuring parties during their exploration but after a few nods and perhaps waves to each other they''d head in differing directions. Some were puzzled why the Icy Talons were heading inpletely the wrong direction while others ignored them entirely. What did it matter to them what some young D-rank party was doing. In terms of monsters the party only came face to face with groups of G-ranks and the odd F-rank, no E-rank frost wolves thankfully. Worthwhile materials were ced within their backpacks for selling while the rest was left for the dungeon to recoup some of its losses. The rules of monsterirs applied to the newly discovered dungeons. Monster carcasses if not being used as bait must be left for the dungeon to feast on so as to continue and further its existence. Unfortunately after several hours ofbing nearly every inch of the winter hignds the Icy Talons came up empty. No treasure chests, strange monster variants, unique flora or hidden rooms, nothing worthwhile. Disheartening but not unexpected, the winter hignds section was just the first of many and the section with the most ess. It''d be strange if they did easily find something rare. "Well this sucks." Rodger kicked a pile of snow in frustration. The party had gone full circle for nothing. "Hey good thingse to those who wait and those who are meticulous. No we didn''t find anything of import, but we also didn''t end up with nothing. No one was injured, no supplies were wasted, and we did manage to sessfully hunt some monsters." "G-ranks Captain, my grandma can kill G-ranks." "It still counts Rodger. Time is money and we''ll make enough money from them to cover part of the time used so rx, we''re here for the long haul remember. Some days will be less eventful than others but as long as no one ends up dead or injured it can be considered a win in my book. You can''t spend money or enjoy your fame if you''re dead." Rodger was about to mouth off again but struggled to form the words, Royce was right, and he knew it. "Haaaaaaa I get it, I get it, but I still want to take out some of my frustrations." He eyed up another pile of snow and went to kick it, but unfortunately it wasn''t just snow in the pile. Kechuk! Hidden under the snow was a rock, a rock that was attached to something. All members of the Icy Talons turned towards the slightly shifted rock, their faces quickly draining of colour as a pit formed in their stomachs. "Fu....!" Before Rodger could finish cursing the floor beneath them opened up, swallowing the entire team in less than a second. No other group was in the area to see what happened, the Icy Talons disappeared from the winter hignds without being able ask for help or put up any resistance. Kechuk! The chasm that swallowed the Icy Talons closed back up and the rock returned to its original position. Snow quickly covered the area making it seem untouched, ready and waiting to swallow up the next unsuspecting prey. "AHHHHH! RODGER YOU FUCKING IDIOT!!!!!" Krief screamed at the top of his lungs as the group slid down arge chute to who knows where. "I only kicked some snow it''s not my fault. You should have checked the area for traps, you''re the scout after all!" "Wahhhhhhh!!!!!" Screams, curses and prayers filled the tunnel as the Icy Talons made their way downward in darkness before being suddenly deposited within a small, enclosed room, blocked off by mighty ice walls that stretched from floor to ceiling. "Ow!" Lando and Roycended first followed by the rest of the party dogpiling on them, thankfully their momentum wasn''t enough to cause any serious injury. "Is everyone alright?" "II think so." "Good here." "Yeah but I''m about to murder Rodger." "Piss off you useless scout!" "ENOUGH!!!" Lando screeched at his teammates, taking the words out of Royce''s mouth. "Everyone needs to rx; we''re not hurt just deposited somewhere else in the dungeon. Krief check the room for any more untoward surprises. Lando and Rodger try and figure out where we are. Lawrence and Gabbie check our supplies, make sure nothing was damaged from the fall." ""Yes Captain."" Thanks to Royce''s calm and confident voice as well as Lando the guardian''s outburst the team quickly calmed down and got to work. They huddled back up a couple minutester to report their findings. "Krief anything dangerous I should be worried about?" "I don''t think so Captain but there is something strange that you should take a look at." Krief replied withcking confidence. "Alright I will, what about the rest of you?" "We think we''re on the second floor given how long we were travelling in that chute plus the walls here are simr to what''s supposed to be present in the ice cavernbyrinths." "That''s good news, the second floor shouldn''t pose too much danger to us. Gabbie, Lawrence are our supplies alright?" "Yes Captain, some jerky got squished and a rabbit horn broke, but the rest is A ok." Everything seemed to be positive news. "Alright no one''s injured, our supplies are good and we''re likely on a safer floor so it''s not all that bad." Royce let out a breath of relief, he was truly worried for a second there. "Krief what''s the strange thing you wanted me to check out?" "Over here Captain. Though there''s no clear exit there seems to be some kind of switch." The two men nched when Krief mentioned the word ''switch'' and subconsciously looked at Rodger. A ''switch'' was the reason they were down here in the first ce. Unfortunately it looked like they didn''t have much choice given that they were surrounded by four solid walls and no doors. ced in in sight on one the walls was a red square demanding to be pressed by anyone who saw it. Royce meticulously examined the switch and the area around it before lightly pressing it once his teammates prepared themselves for any eventuality. Kethunk! As set of mechanisms activated the moment the red square was pressed. One of the four walls shifted and receded backwards to reveal another room. "Anyone else getting danger vibes from this thing?" Rodger asked as goosebumps formed along his forearm. He''d been in two monsterirs during his career and only encountered simple traps such as spiked pitfalls, hidden mps and the asional boltuncher hidden in the walls but never had he experienced anything like this, none of them had that''s what made it so daunting. "It''s different I''ll give you that but I''m not feeling too much danger." Krief their premier scout gave his valued opinion. Though he had even less experience when it came to monsterirs he knew traps. For all intents and purposes if this trap was meant to kill it would have done so already. A pit full of snakes, spikes or evenva should have been waiting for them at the bottom of the chute if that was the case but no instead they got this leading scenario. Eventually after analysing the intent behind the trap, Krief changed from being nervous, wary and afraid to excited and intrigued. Perhaps this trap was leading them to some kind of reward. "Captain I think we might have found a jackpot." Krief''s excitement quickly escted as a wide grin adorned his lips. "Calm down Krief we''ll take this one step at a time." Though he said that Royce was starting to feel the same way. It was clear that this trap was not out to kill them, at least not immediately. Chapter 559: Chapter 559: Dungeon delving (3) The Icy Talons slowly made their way through the receded doorway, keeping a close eye on their surroundings lest they activate a more lethal trap. Their caution was unnecessary. The revealed room was elongated like a hallway, widening the closer you got to the other side. The same solid ice walls blocked any attempts to escape, funnelling the party towards the contraption and two ornate doors that rested at the end. Two doors, two choices, which would lead to safety, and which would lead to danger. Thankfully the group didn''t have to guess. "What''s behind door number 2." Krief read the bold writing from what looked like a description pedestal you''d find in a museum. "The door on your left will lead to safety and a constion prize, the only price will be time whereas the door number 2 will test your skills. You''ll face off against a powerful enemy for the chance to win big. The choice is yours brave adventurers." The Icy Talons looked at one another in confusion, this ''trap'' was far beyond the norm of what they were expecting. "So.we can choose?" "Guess so." Lando shrugged his shoulders before directing his gaze to their Captain, it would be his call after all. "Well Captain what do you say, do you want to attempt the trial by fire or take the easy approach?" Rodger asked with a glint in his eyes, his vote was obvious. Royce was thus on the receiving end of 5 pairs of young, enthusiastic eyes that wished to test themselves, risk it all for a chance at glory and to say that he himself wasn''t moved would be an understatement. Though every veteran bone in his body was screaming at him to choose the safe option his heart refused to listen. They were in pretty much peak physical health, their equipment undamaged and their supplies untouched, why shouldn''t they take a little risk, it was only the 2nd floor after all. Royce stood silently as his thoughts shed against one another with neither winning out. He was their Captain, their safety was his responsibility, he really didn''t want to make a rookie mistake that jeopardised their lives especially after all his sermons. "..We should take the sa" "Captain let''s try it." Before Royce could dere his decision Lando the Guardian spoke out, followed quickly by Lawrence, Rodger and Krief, Gabbie remained undecided. "But.." "I know what you want to say Captain and you''re probably correct but sometimes you just gotta risk it. We''re adventurers we live and die for the thrills of our profession. This is one of the times we just gotta go with our gut and mine''s telling me we should fight and win big." Lando was determined to test himself, his instincts were telling him to challenge the unknown regardless of the consequences. Though logic probably dictated that Royce''s choice was best, sometimes adventurers needed to listen to their instincts. Good intuition was a hallmark to being a great adventurer. Royce looked into the eyes of Lando and felt his unwavering determination. "Haaaaaa fine let''s do it." Royce was convinced. "Hahahahahha" The Icy Talons broke out into manicughter as they started checking their gear and prepared themselves for a daunting battle. "[Protection]" Gabbie cast defensive spells on Lando and Royce and a speed buff on Rodger while Lawrence enchanted Krief''s bow and Lando''s shield with the earth element. "Everyone got their potions and spare weaponry at quick ess?" ""Yes Captain."" "Alright then, let''s do this thing, Icy Talons on three, one two ICY TALONS!!!" ""ICY TALONS!!!"" The party engaged in their pre battle ritual before Royce led them through the door on the right, otherwise known as door number 2. DON!!! The door quickly mmed shut behind them once they were through preventing any possibility of retreat. Unless they defeated whaty within they''d be unable to leave. Patches of ice covered the floor making it hard for the Icy Talons to keep a firm stance but given their location they were used to having to battle on ice, this wouldn''t be much of a detriment to them. But that wasn''t all, Large stctites pointed menacingly downward from the ceiling and gnarly stgmites rose from the floor, creating obstacles and barriers for ranged weaponry. The room was fairlyrge, perhaps 50 metres each way in the shape of arge square with the guardian resting dead in the centre atop a beastly throne, its eyes opening slowly when the door mmed shut. The Icy Talons were silent as they stared at the monstrosity slowly starting to rouse. The beast that was initially lying prone rose to all fours and red at the intruders. Its massive bulk crushed several small bones as it reared up to stand over 4 metres tall. "Fuck! it''s a Lagombi." Krief cursed as he readied his arrows and prepared to move behind cover. A Lagombi is a D-rank monster that specialises in power and bursting speed. Its powerful legs grant it insane jumping power that allows it reach prey at breakneck speed. From there it can easily crush it with its bearlike arms or bite down with its oversized teeth. Though average in strength for its rank it is still a D-rank monster something the Icy Talons would struggle against. Thankfully however it wouldn''t be an impossible battle, just hard and a fair bit dangerous, injury was likely. "Lando you know what to do." "Yes Captain." Lando moved ahead of everyone else and raised his massive shield forward before smacking its face in a taunting motion, redirecting the Lagombi''s ire to him. He didn''t yet have a taunting skill, but he knew how to get a beast''s attention. "ROOOOOOAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!!" Thegombi was having none of it. It locked eyes with its prey before tensing its powerful leg muscles in preparation for a jump. "It''s gonna leap! Everyone spread out!" All but Lando dashed to the sides and readied themselves for a counterattack. "[Earthen weight]" Lawrence quickly cast another spell on Lando that increased his weight, perfect for a shield warrior. While Krief took stock of the many stctites on the ceiling, thinking up ways to use them to their advantage as well as be on top of any that were about to fall due to the ensuing chaos. Rodger and Royce moved to pincer thegombi once itnded relying on Lando to endure and redirect the beast''s lunge. "Here ites!" Boom! There was arge burst of noise the moment thegombi kicked off from its throne and a momentter the massive creature that surely weighed over a tonne could be seen rocketing towards the solo Lando with devilish look on its face. Thegombi hadn''t seen much action since its birth so it was a little overexcited by the sudden arrival of the Icy Talons. It nned to relish in this fight and leave not a single member of the group alive. That would surely please master, right? Unfortunately despite its mass and power its moves were easily predictable especially by someone as skilled at his job as Lando. Mere moments before contact Lando took a simple sidestep and parried the beast''s charge with perfect timing. Lando was painlessly buffeted away by some residual momentum which he turned into a violent spinning motion. "[Shield bash]" With a loud booming voice he activated a skill causing his massive shield to glow yellow and be more solid. Dong!! With thebination of his [shield bash] skill and his violent spinning force Lando smashed his shield against the side of the Lagombi''s temple knocking it off its feet and making its head spin. "Now!" Royce gave the order and moved in tandem with Rodger to attack the temporarily stunned Lagombi at its weakest points. "[Sword sh]" "[Monkey''s fist]" Blood erupted from the Lagombi''s rear as Royce''s sword sliced into its rump while Rodger''s [Monkey fist] targeted the beast''s rear left knee hoping to cripple its jumping ability. Unfortunately thegombi''s bones were just to hard, Rodger barely even managed to induce a small crack before they needed to retreat. Thegombi let loose another roar as it wrapped its head around to face off against the one who stabbed it in the rear. "Oh no you don''t your opponent is me." Lando didn''t let such an opening go free, he mmed his heavy shield down on thegombi''s right forepaw, breaking one of its toes and drawing the beast''s ire back to him. Following that the party engaged in tactics that kept the Lagombi between Lando, Royce and Rodger, preventing it from attacking their more vulnerable rear guards and or getting some distance. Agombi''s lunge was deadly if not properly handled. Through the use of specific tactics, well-coordinated teamwork and the asional crashing down of a stctite, slowly but surely the Icy Talons chipped away at the beast, drawing more and more blood as time progressed. The Lagombi soon found itselfcking in strength, its vision darkening and its body bing cold, it was dying. "ROOOOOAAARRRRRR!!!!" Thegombi refusing to ept such an oue was ovee with the colour red and the strong desire to take down one of its attacking with it at the very least. "Shit! Its gone berserk!" Royce hollered in desperation through heavy breaths, holding such a powerful creature in ce was not easy. Though none of them received much in the way of injuries the exhaustion was very real. Upon seeing the red in thegombi''s eyes and hearing Royce''s words the Icy Talons attacked with all they had, hoping to bring down the mighty beast before anything disastrous happened. Chapter 560: Chapter 560: Dungeon Delving (4) Each member of the Icy Talons attacked the wounded Lagombi with all they had. Lando smashed his massive shield against the beast''s face with the majority of his remaining strength. Rodger pulled back his arm and tensed his muscles so hard that it doubled in size before punching the Lagombi''s cracked knee, hoping to shatter it once and for all. Royce carved up a juicy section of exposed rear flesh, drawing another spurt of blood while Lawrence conjured up a bolt of stone and fired at the creature''s right eye, piercing the soft organ and causing the creature to screech in agony. Krief fired a loaded shot from his bow that pierced passed the beast''s ribcage, almost reaching one of its lungs. Even Gabbie cast her only known offensive spell tond an additional blow. The poor Lagombi was assaulted on all sides in a single moment, its death was a surety however its will was not weak. Catapulting on the benefits brought on by a berserk state the monster pushed through the assault and locked eyes with a single member of the Icy Talons, the one who dealt the most gruesome and extreme blow Lawrence. "Roooooaaaaaarrrrrrr!!!!" With a terrifying roar the Lagombi became encased in a red sheen as it activated a powerful unique skill. "Shit! Lawrence get out of the way!" Royce bellowed in desperation but unfortunately the Lagombi was just too quick. In a fraction of a second the monster smashed through the blockade set up by Lando, Royce and Rodger,pletely ignoring their attacks despite the severity of doing so. The monster dyed red from its own blood was now face to face with the piddly earth mage who repeatedly pierced its body with bolts of rock and stone, thest one being particrly devasting. It would have its revenge even if it meant dying afterwards. "Lawrence!!!" Lando screamed as he tried his best to reach his friend in time, but it just wasn''t possible. Their only hope was perhaps Gabbie with protection magic but unfortunately she was too inexperienced to remain calm and act with haste. Lawrence had to protect himself. "Fuck!! [Earthen shield]" Sensing the aspect of death looming in Lawrence refused to die willingly. Despite fear gripping hold of his nerves as the oversized Lagombi peered down at him with an evil look in its remaining eye as it prepared to crush him with its arms he quickly conjured up an earthen shield between himself and the monster. Smash!! However a hastily conjured shield was no match for thegombi''s final blow. Its ws easily smashed through, losing only a small amount of momentum before reaching the ''fragile'' cloth that protected Lawrence''s body. "AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" With an agonising yell the Lagombi''s ws sunk through the magical protection and pierced deep into Lawrence''s torso and shoulders. Fountains of blood erupted from his body before it was thrown against the nearest ice wall causing minor spiderweb cracks to develop along its surface. Lawrence slunk down from the wall with a groan, his body in enormous pain and his vision darkening. Blood was in his throat and possibly his lungs given how hard it was to breathe. He managed to make out the aghast expressions of hisrades as well as the image of the Lagombi copsing from its many wounds before darkness took hold, his consciousness slipping. "Krief get to him now!!!" Royce seemed to be the only one on the team that could still think straight. He knew that the longer they left Lawrence in his current fragile state the worse his chances were. Guilt roared in his heart as the possible cost for their reckless challenge became clear. Was a reward really worth losing Lawrence? "YYes Captain." Krief who was still in shock quickly did as ordered. He dashed towards Lawrence to check his wounds and readied a health potion -one of their higher quality low level ones. "Lando and Rodger make sure the Lagombi is actually dead, we can''t suffer anymore mishaps." "CCaptiain.Lawrence." Lando the guardian who''s normally the mostposed was in a right state. His body was shaking, and tears threatened to pour from his eyes. He could only watch in clear detail as the Lagombi tore into his best friend, powerless to help in any way. "LANDO! Take a breath and calm down. We''re checking on him right now but what I need you to do is make sure we won''t suffer another mishap. Is that understood?" Royce knew from experience that he needed to act a certain way. He needed to be the team''s rock, the pir of reassurance no matter what they faced. While Lando was a very skilled shield warrior with the nickname "Guardian" he was just like the others, young and inexperienced. None of them had ever lost arade in battle.yet. "Gabbie watch over Lando and Rodger while I check on Lawrence with Krief." "Yyeyes Captain." Gabbie was pretty shell shocked by the whole event; she had already started crying. ''Please Gods have mercy on our party.'' Royce chanted a silent prayer as he moved to inspect his downed teammate. "How''s he looking Krief?" "It''s bad Captain. He''s fallen unconscious so he can''t drink a potion. The monster''s ws ripped his torso to shreds, even his bones are showing, and the blood isn''t stopping.II don''t know what to do Royce." Krief held Lawrence''s blood covered body with trembling hands. "It''s alright Krief, take a breath and move over." Royce gently took over from Krief and analysed Lawrence''s wounds. ''Damn it really is bad.'' There was always the chance that Krief''s panicked state made him exaggerate Lawrence''s wounds, but the earth mage truly was in bad condition. ''Even a truly qualified medic or healing mage would struggle to fix this.'' A deep sinking feeling assailed Royce''s gut. ''I should have chosen the other door.'' While Royce internally regretted his decision and worried about Lawrence''s chances he didn''t let it affect his ability tomand. Unlike the rest of the party he had lost before. "Lando, Rodger is the beast dead or not!" He did his best to put pressure on the more seriously bleeding wounds while instructing Krief to create bandages, tourniquets and ready some potions. Even if it was pointless or simply dyed the inevitable Royce was going to use every trick in the book. "It''s dead Captain." Rodger who was less out of it than Lando shouted back. "Good, one less thing to worry about. Now quickly find the reward the dungeon promised." "Captain?" Rodger disyed confusion as well as slight disgust. Was the Captain really worrying about treasure at a time like this. His confusion was shared by Lando and Gabbie who turned to look at Royce in a cold manner. "Idiots! There might be a mid or even high level health potion so if you want Lawrence to survive get your asses moving!!" Time was of the essence. The three visibly trembled before splitting up in the three directions to search for the supposed reward, desperately hoping for a health potion. "Captain?" "We''ll do what we can to forestall his death but only a mid-level health potion or higher can save him. Pass me the herb soaked bandages and apply a tourniquet to his left arm." Krief did as instructed. Gabbie searched the end of the arena and found nothing, whereas Rodger investigated the sides looking for another button to push or a hidden room, but it was Lando who discovered the prize. "Over here by the beastly throne!" Hidden where thegombi rested was a beautiful chest that didn''t match the surrounding bones and fur. This was their reward for defeating the Lagombi. Lando wasted no time in opening the chest, a dangerous move considering it could have been a trap, but he wasn''t thinking about that. All he cared about was whether there was a potion that could save his friend. A bright shining light escaped the confines of chest once opened, obscuring the contents for a second before unveiling the bounty held withinit seems their luck was rather good. Contained within was a 3 star longsword of supreme forging quality, a lump of kyanite, a single use spell scroll for the 2nd circle spell [ice entanglement], a pair of leather boots that appeared to be of 2 star quality and finally half a dozen potions, a veritable windfall however Lando was only interested in the potions right now. "Please let there be a high ranking health potion." He put the other treasures to one side before examining the potions in detail. Four of which seemed to be of the so called Dungeon of Niflheim speciality, instead of being encased in crystal ss the vials were made of mana infused ice. "Low level health potion, low level mana potion, low level antidote, another low level health potion." None of the ice vial potions were of high rank making them useless to him, his hope rested on the remaining two vials. "This is.mid-level but it''s a mana potionjust one chance left, please Gods make this a mid-level health potion." Rodger and Gabbie made their way towards Lando the moment he pulled out the final potion. They heard his prayers and crossed their fingers hoping for a miracle. Chapter 561: Chapter 561: Dungeon delving (5) Lando closed his eyes as he withdrew thest vial from the chest, he prayed internally and hoped with all his heart that it''d be what they needed. Lawrence was in dire straits, even with Royce''s quick actions and basic triage he was losing blood, his organs rapidly shutting down from the extensive trauma. If they didn''t get their hands on a mid-level health potion or higher he''d surely die. Lando held the vial in a tightly clenched grip and opened his eyes slowly one after another, he was anxious, afraid even to know the answer, but it seems luck was on their side. "IIt.IT''S A MID LEVEL HEATH POTION!!!!!" Lando bellowed with unrestrained joy as he took in the potion''s markings. The red liquid inside was not pure in colour. Glistening streams of silver ran through the red indicating its status as a mid-level health potion and one of very high quality too. With this Lawrence could be saved. "Then what are you waiting for bring over now!" Royce roared back quickly bringing an end to their celebration. They can rejoice after administering the potion. "Ah! On my way Captain!" Lando held the vial close to his chest for protection before dashing over, being careful not to trip on anything. "Here Captain." He passed the potion over to Royce with trembling hands. His grip loosened and became shaky the moment he caught sight of Lawrence''s condition. There was so much blood. "That''s a mid-level health potion alright, now for the part he''ll be haunted by for the rest of his life." Royce smiled nefariously causing his teammates to cock their heads to the side,pletely lost. A momentter Royce tore off the vial''s cork and took a decent sized swig of the liquid before leaning over Lawrence''s body and connected their lips. "Ehhhhhhh!!!!!!" All four members of the Icy Talons who were watching with bated breaths balked at the sight of their Captain kissing Lawrence as hey there unconscious, the term sexual assault came to mind. Royce ignored their shock and continued his actions. He was not kissing Lawrence he was just forcing the mid-level health potion''s contents down his throat and into his body. This was a true and tested method called mouth to mouth transference, amon practise in the military. When soldiers were unbale to drink potions for reasons like Lawrence''s a teammate would use mouth to mouth transference to force the potion''s contents into their bodies. A potion was far more effective when deposited within the body than when sshed over the wounds. With a case as serious as Lawrence''s he had no choice but to use mouth to mouth transference. The Icy Talons watched on as Royce repeatedly took a swig of potion and forced it down Lawrence''s throat with his mouth to mouth transference. Eventually after a few rotations the more knowledgeable members noticed the point of this method and understood Royce''s methodology but even, so it was hard to stomach. Royce''s words were certainly true, Lawrence would certainly be haunted by this event. The poor earth mage who hadn''t even had his first kiss lost it to their gruff looking Captain and Gods know they wouldn''t be able to resist mocking him for it. The potion'' contents got to work straight away, rapidly healing the most dire wounds on Lawrence''s body. He awoke roughly ten minutes after receiving treatment, though he was still in pain and felt as though he had the hangover of all hangovers he was alive and conscious. "What''s your name?" Royce began a list of medically relevant questions once he came to. "L...Lawrence, Lawrence Mackenzie." "Good, how many fingers am I holding up." "Three." "Two for two great, now who are we?" "Captain Royce, Lando, Gabbie.shit for brains Rodger and the failure scout Krief." "Oiii!" "Seems we were mistaken, Lawrence died from his injuries." Rodger grunted in annoyance while Krief pulled out a dagger and waved in front of his face. "Hahahahaha." The other two simplyughed, Lawrence was fine. "You gave us quite a scare there Lawrence, if Lando didn''t find a mid-level health potion we would have lost you." Royce spoke with a sombre tone, his hands shaking slightly as the tension finally dissipated. "Sorry everyone." Lawrence apologised the moment he saw the redness in everyone''s eyes and the trembling of hands. "No need, you fought well and made no mistakes, our opponent was just that strong." Royce nced at the deceased body of the Lagombi. A powerful foe for their party. "We''ll rest here until you''re fit to move then we''ll make our way for the exit. I think we''ve had enough adventure for our first delve wouldn''t you say?" The Icy Talons nodded their heads in agreement. The party stayed within the boss room for around two hours before making their way to the other side of the arena where a red square was now able to be pushed thanks to the defeat of the Lagombi. Within those two hours the party rested -Lawrence especially-, ate a heart meal, scavenged the useful materials from the Lagombi and stored the plentiful rewards from the chest which after knowing Lawrence was ok could be fully enjoyed. Royce was particrly moved by the 3 star longsword, an immense improvement over his currently well-worn 2 star one. The other items were divided up between the others based first onpatibility and then by random draw. Those who didn''t get something would instead bepensated with some coin gained from the delve. A lot of arguments cane about from the dispersal of dropped loot therefore several systems were put in ce that adventuring parties could follow. Most and quite frankly the longersting parties usually relied on set dispersal rules that were written up as a contract between the party and the guild. Those found breaking the contract would be investigated by the guild and could have their licenses revoked, a serious punishment for any adventurer. The Icy Talons were one of the smarter parties that relied on a contract with the guild therefore there was very little disagreement when it came to loot drops since the process was clearly detailed and something they all willingly agreed to. If the part about Lawrence nearly dying was omitted this single delve was aplete windfall but Royce made damn sure that his team didn''t forget how close they were to losing a party member. Thest thing he wanted was for them to marginalise the danger they experienced today just because they made off with a decent haul. People normally weren''t so lucky. Thankfully the group didn''t show any signs of disagreement, they took today''s events as a lifelong lesson to never underestimate the dangers of their profession. The Icy Talons sessfully left the arena without issue and thanks to their previous investigation they sessfully manoeuvred through the dungeon''s second floor and back to the entrance where a sharp ray of sunshine pierced their eyes. They''d been gone for over 24 hours and were very grateful to see natural light. Though Lawrence consumed a mid-level health potion he wasn''tpletely recovered thus the group had closely guard him the entire journey back, a nerve wracking and rather draining experience. "Alright let''s get some rest at the inn if we can, we deserve a proper rest." Royce decided to splurge a little given what transpired and what they managed to gain. His words brought smiles to his teammates lips as they hobbled towards one of the established inns. Soon word spread thanks to the lubrication of alcohol that the Icy Talons made bank with their first delve, inspiring many parties to join in on the fun. If the Icy Talons could do it why couldn''t they. One such group that overestimated their capabilities was currently fighting for their very lives down on the fifth floor. Boom! The body of arge muscr human male was sent barrelling into a nearby wall thanks to a tail swipe. "God dammit! Why! Why can''t we beat these dumb monsters!" Anotherrge human male roared out as he witnessed another party member getting killed. This group was known as the muscr axemen, a party of 6 burly gentlemen who fought with axes and relied on their impressive physical strength to hunt monsters. All of the members were early stage D-rank with the exception of their party leader who was mid stage. A group far superior in terms of aggregate power whenpared to the Icy Talons, more experienced too. However, theirck of diversity and still majorly early stage D-rank strength meant wasn''t enough to conquer the Dungeon''s fifth floor. The party had gotten ''lucky'' as they travelled through the floor''s first two sections, rarelying across anything too strong or with significant numbers. Unfortunately to reach the fabled sixth floor they couldn''t avoid a confrontation with the floor''s boss. The muscle addled idiots were so sure of their own strength they didn''t even properly prepare for the fight. They simply charged in recklessly with their axes overhead thinking that the boss like all their other opponents would be cleaved in two after a single or perhaps two swings. Oh how wrong they were. Chapter 562: Chapter 562: Dungeon delving (6) The muscr axemen who thought themselves invincible charged into the boss room on the fifth floor without an ounce of forethought. They couldn''tprehend the possibility of a monster not falling under their axes. An endeavour that ended in the worst way possible. The boss room held on the fifth floor was home to a devasting pair of monsters that guarded ess to the far more perilous levels down below. Those incapable of felling two frost drakes didn''t deserve to delve any deeper. This room was frequently covered in blood, the stench never fully receding before the next party recklessly attempted to charge their way through. If the muscr axemen had thought retrospectively for just a moment they likely wouldn''t have entered into a wanton ughter. A frost drake''s hide was near impervious to physically obsessed adventurers like themselves. Their once hallowed axes barely made a dent in the creature''s mighty scales. What proceeded their reckless charge could be easily imagined. With no possibility of retreat and the muscr axemen refusing to believe in their inability to cut the beasts the party was well and thoroughly crushed. The great drakes overpowered them, crushed them with their mighty limbs or swatted them away with their tails. By the end six crumpled bodiesy in pools of their own blood as the twin drakes joyfully devoured them limb after limb before returning to their original positions, ready and waiting for the next foolish party to grace their doors. No matter how much the ronsos or the more veteran adventurer parties warned those with D-rank strength more and more kept making their way to the drakes'' doors only to be devoured by them or the dungeon. Of course there was the odd asion where a more powerful party sessfully took down the drakes and made it to the fabled sixth floor where peace reigned. One such party containing only four members easily decimated the drakes with far superior strength, none of them even came out the slightest bit injured. "I can see why so many people have died to these boss monsters. Handling one is fine but two ups the anti to whole other level." One of the party members, a powerful looking bear beastman decked in heavy looking te armour uttered as he pulled his massive Warhammer from the skull of one of the drakes. "Only parties that have upper D-rank or higher strength will be able seed in this battle. Those below will end up like this earlier group." A human archer from the party said while highlighting the still present remains of a party that entered before them. "It''s their own fault, the guild and even the owner of this camp gives fair warning to those who enter. If they choose not to listen to the ronsos or us they only have themselves to me." The third member a powerful mage adorned in fancy robes shook her head in disappointment. Why were people in such a rush to die. "The young are foolish and reckless; all we can do is warn them time and time again. Were we really all that different back then." The party leader forced his teammates to reflect upon their own past which made the mage wince most of all. She was quite arrogant in her early youth. "Come on let''s take a look at the fabled ''floor of peace''" A name that was gaining traction among those staying in the Niflheim base camp. This group of four were known as the Skrks a powerful C-rank party with a plethora of quests under their belts. Veterans of the game so they knew their way around the block, but they weren''t old enough that B-rank status was out of question, in fact they held quite a decent chance at seeding. They hoped that perhaps training within the Dungeon of Niflheim would be enough to close the gap or at least point them in the right direction. From what they knew once they passed the fabled ''floor of peace'' the dungeon was apletely different beast, home to a plethora of C-rank monsters. The Skrks scavenged the useful parts from the frost drakes before descending down to the next floor with curiosity aze in their hearts. Even with their track record they couldn''t help but be excited at the thought of experience something new. They were adventurers through and through. "Well would you look at that." Oscar the party leadermented once they finished descending and caught sight of the fabled ''floor of peace''. Unlike the previous floors they could easily see the boundaries of the first section and even the entrance to the second the moment they entered, a fascinating sight considering where they were. "It really is as described in the rumours, a pleasant, warm environment with not a single monster in sight." Philippa the mage scanned the horizon for any danger and found nothing. "The ''floor of peace'' indeedhuh is that." Yarik the heavily armoured bear beastman noticed a somewhat familiar face in the distance and drew the attention of hisrades. "I think it is, I wonder what he''s doing here?" "Perhaps delving like us, he is the only one to have reached the bottommost floor after all." "Why don''t we just ask him?" "Couldn''t hurt." The Skrks thus sauntered over to the familiar face. "Lord Frost." Oscar greeted him with a friendly smile and a respectful stance. Frost was not only the owner of the camp but also a respected B-rank fighter. "Oh you''re.Oscar from the Skrks right." Frost acted as though their meeting here was just a coincidence when in fact he''d been following their progress from the moment they entered the camp. Anyone who was C-rank deserved his attention given the amount of damage they could cause to his precious dungeon. He watched as they methodically made their way from the upper floors, killing only when necessary as well as their swift take down of the two frost drakes. Their strength was the real deal, so he informed the yuki-onnas, ice trolls and revenants present on the lower floors to expect a challenge. The Skrks would see a dramatic difference in difficulty once they passed the ''floor of peace'' but right now Frost had a different agenda. "I''m honoured you remembered us." "Of course you''re a hopeful C-rank party with the ambition to reach B-rank, I''d be foolish to not keep an eye on you hahahaha." Oscar and the Skrks blushed slightly as their hearts swelled with pride. "Are you here on a delve Lord Frost?" Asked Philippa. "Not this time unfortunately." Frost instantly shot down their hopes at possibly travelling with him as they delve. "Actually I''m here with a few of my subordinates to map out and n for an internal camp here on the fabled ''floor of peace.''" "Eh! You want to build a camp inside the dungeon." The idea wasn''t unheard of, but it only happened within those massive monsterirs that had tens of floors and were managed by heavy duty groups such asrge kingdoms and empires. The amount of manpower, money and technical difficulty required to maintain and establish an internal camp was immense. The Dungeon of Niflheim was only recently established and only had ten floors so an internal camp at this venture seemed unnecessary. "I know what you''re thinking, and I agree with you, but this Dungeon isn''t like the regr monsterirs you''re used to. This ce will continue to develop at an abnormal rate and I''m confident that within the next few years it''ll rival some of therger monsterirs that can be found across the Yangmir continent. I''m merely nning ahead for that eventuality besides with an entire floor designated as a safety area I''d be foolish not to take advantage of such a boon." Frost exined his long thought out n to the Skrks, slowly bringing them around to his thinking. Under normal circumstances such an idea wouldn''t be worth the effort but with thebined situation of abnormally fast development and an entire floor being designated a safety area the idea became far more feasible. "Right now I''m just visualising the thing, actual creation won''t happen for quite a while. There''s still the official external camp to finish after all." "It''s a bold idea Lord Frost and from your exnation a fruitful one. I can see this whole space bing a functioning metropolis in the future. I wish you luck." "Thanks Oscar, good hunting to you and your teammates. Be careful however, the lower floors are a whole other ball gamepared to the upper five." Frost gave them a stern warning as they left, it''d be a shame for this group so soon. "Alright the seed has been nted time to start developing hehehehe." The moment the Skrks left the area Frost smiled like a money addict andughed evilly before teleporting to the private space. The dungeon had been very, very lucrative over the past several weeks. His passive ie continued to increase every day, he was getting closer and closer to a daily ie of 10,000DP. The many, many deaths and injuries only added to his fortunes. So many arrogant and foolish groups such as the muscr axemen met their ends within the hallowed halls of the dungeon. Yet the visitors continued to amass, the promise of wealth and adventure was just too alluring. The fact that parties could randomly stumble upon vast windfalls of treasure such as the Icy Talons was enough to drive the ambitious adventurers wild let alone the promise of easy ess to a plethora of different monsters. Another note some of the more experienced adventurers noticed was the fact that the monsters present in the dungeon were stronger and smarter than those found in monsterirs, upping the challenge but also the reward. It soon became known that the dungeon of Niflheim was not only a wealth gold mine but also the perfect training ground for those wishing to improve their skills and really challenge themselves. Chapter 563: Chapter 563: Code black As time passed the external camp continued to develop, quickly filling up therge empty spaces within the 25km2yout. The braver merchants who took a chance on Frost''s new territory in the earlier stages had set up their stores in the prime locations. Easy ess to customers, ample territory and fair and reasonable rates and taxes. These rare few made real bank in the initial stages, far more than they expected. Word of mouth of course spread thus weing a 2nd and 3rd wave of merchants hounding at Frost''s door for a piece of the pie. Of course their deals weren''t quite as generous given that they wereter to the game, but the profit margins were still immense. The Dungeon was just too prosperous. The variety of monsters, their numbers as well as the treasures and materials found within drew so many adventurers that merchants could no longer afford to neglect such a venture regardless of the percentages Frost would umte just from being thendowner. Frost''s coffers were practically overflowing, so much so that he struggled to keep a straight face most the time in private. He was rich, super rich.well at least for a short time. To make money or rather to keep making money he needed to spend it. He only got to relish in the pile of bronze and silver for a short while before parting with them in exchange for more fixed assets. More and more buildings were erected to amodate the swiftly increasing poption. Goods were bought from Furano as well as Kranor to improve the market situation and dozens of staff were hired to man the shops, offices and other infrastructure under the purview of Frost and the dungeon. It was aplete waste of their abilities to rely on the ronsos to be secretaries and receptionists after all. Frost was consistently swamped with work until he learned to delegate more tasks to the new hires as well as his own monster subordinates. Running a new territory especially a rapidly flourishing one like his couldn''t be maintained by him alone, the workload was just too much. Thankfully he had friends such as Calder, Ryuu, Bastion and the Furanos to help him out in this regard. They pulled some strings and supplied him with some experienced management staff, a gift he was most grateful for. Borris also finally arrived in the third month since the camp officially opened. With his workshop and family legacy fully passed down to his most capable son and daughter -the ones who aided him in forging Frost''s 4 star ive [the wolf howling at the moon]. He was now a free man in his retirement, no strings binding him and restraining his artistry, he was free to do whatever he wanted and right now that was forging. He wanted to reignite the fires of passion he had as a youth. He may be old, but he certainly wasn''t dead nor was his craft. Frost promised him ess to arge range of materials to do with however he wished, all he needed to do in return was exchange ideas with Daki and teach a few prospective smiths some basic skills, nothing in rtion to his trade secrets. After that Frost would help him enter the inner regions of the cial mountains so he could experience their diverse forging styles and improve his personal craft. "It''s good to see you again Borris, how''s things?" Frost asked with a bright smile from behind his luxurious office desk. "You tood, I''ve been good but handing over full control was a lot harder than I first thought. Turns out I''m more of a control freak that I''d cared to admit." Borris let out a hollowugh. "However my son Borin and daughter Alda will make fine sessors. I can rest easy knowing that the two of them will work together to continue our family''s legacy." A clear weight was lifted from his old shoulders and a prideful smile grew on his lips whenever he thought of his family''s future. "With all that taken care of I can finally relish in my retirement and personal freedom..so which way to the forged?" "Hahahaha I should have expected as much, Leo was right you truly live and breathe fire and metal. You''ve been here all of what five minutes and already you want to work." Frostughed before standing up. "Good thing I expected such a response,e with me I''ll show you to the upper workshop." Frost had discussed multiple possibilities with Daki and Maya about Borris. How much should they tell him and how much should they allow him to see of the dungeon were the main points of the debate. Unlike Daki he wasn''t nning on spending his life with Borris so he couldn''t be treated with such familiarity, but he didn''t n on treating him like the other merchant and tradesman that flocked to the camp. He needed to first ascertain how trustworthy the old dwarf was and how well he could keep secrets. "Upper?" Borris queried as Frost led him towards a heavily guarded area within the camp. The upper workshop was a sealed off area within the camp where his ice dwarves and asionally Daki produced items for the camp as well as the dungeon. It also served as a cloak for when Frost bought war machines from the dungeon menu to ce on the walls. No inhabitants were allowed ess to this area regardless of their status, only Frost and the ronsos were allowed anywhere near this ceuntil now. "Yes the upper workshop, I have others but whether you can ess them will be determined by how much I can trust you with territorial secrets." Frost smiled yfully before continuing. "However regardless of which workshop you''ll be working in I''ll still provide you with a plethora of materials for you to y with. Just tell me what you need, and I''ll see if I can get my hands on the stuff." The dungeon menu didn''t just offer mines and quarries he could purchase individual units of any material he currently had ess to -which was still unfortunately below the 4 star grade. "I see." Borris couldn''t help but grow interested in the other workshops as well as the so called secrets Frost held. The young man was just too mysterious. After a short walk the two came across a highly guarded area that was surrounded by multiple ronso guards armed to the teeth. Though many were tempted to sneak in and discover whaty behind the curtain doing so was simply not worth the effort. Who in their right mind would try to bypass the closeknit guard of nearly a dozen C-rank monsters in a simple camp. "I''m sure you can understand some of the reasons as to why I''ve sealed off this area from the public." After having their identities verified and being granted ess to enclosed workshop Borris was greeted by an impressive sight. "Ice dwarves, you''re employing monsters and fashioning the camp''s defences within this so called ''upper workshop''." "Correct. This ce serves as our military factory as well as workstation for my ice dwarves that may or may not be so easily epted by our current clientele, we are after all closer to the Northrend empire than one of the kingdoms in the cial mountains." The stigmatism surrounding intelligent monsters was hard to ovee especially in the early stages. The Ronsos were one thing but if ice dwarves, trolls, yuki-onnas and revenants started popting the camp then people would struggle to ascertain where the dungeon begins. In future however he envisioned a far less restrictive divide between races at least within his territory. "Are these the guys you want me to teach the basics of cksmithing to?" "Yes. Currently they''re only capable of forging simple items with low grade materials but I believe as long as they receive sufficient mentoring they''ll be no less capable that their sapient counterparts.do you have any issues with this arrangement?" If Borris was one of those people who twisted up at the thought of working with monsters then this rtionship would be off to a rocky start, but Frost believed Borris wasn''t that kind of man. "Hmph do I look like some naive brat that doesn''t know how the world works, monster, sapient or demon I don''t give a rat''s ass as long as they''re willing to learn and have passion for smithing I''ll teach anyone regardless of their origin." Borris scoffed at Frost''s worries. If he had an issue with monsters then he wouldn''t be willing to head deep into the cial mountains. "That''s good to hear as they''ve all been looking forward to your arrival." Some of the ice dwarves couldn''t help but look at Borris with fascination and awe once Frost introduced him. Their master promised to bring in a 4 star dwarven smith to teach them how to properly forge and now he was here, their tion could easily be imagined. "This workshop can be temporarily considered as your domain Borris. If you wish to change theyout or alter its design and or appliances you''re free to do so. Just tell me or have one of your new students inform of what you need, and I''ll do my best to supply it to you." "Sounds goodd, there is a couple changes it''d like to make but nothing too drastic. The person who designed this workshop certainly knows what they''re doing." Borris praised the designer as he examined the facilities and some of the rough work left out. "Oh I''m sure she''ll be over the moon to receive your praise. I''ll ask her toe over and visit next time she gets an opportunity." The ice dwarves weren''t the only ones eagerly anticipating Borris'' arrival. "Can''t wait to meet your cksmith girlfriend, I wonder what kind of tastes you have in women kid." The sudden thought of marrying off one of his grandkids to Frost came to the forefront of his mind. "Hahahaha I''m sure you''ll be pleasantly blown away." Frostughed and waved goodbye to Borris and his eager new students. Another milestone done and dusted; the territory was truly starting toe together. "Master we''ve got a code ck." Suddenly as he exited the workshop Frost received a warning message from Khuno. "Code ck huh." Chapter 564: Chapter 564: Code black (2) "Code ck huh." Frost repeated the warning with a heavy frown before finding a safe ce to teleport back to the private space. Code ck was one of the warning codes he established to quickly identify the type of problem the dungeon was facing. Code ck was fairly high on the list of importance and quite frankly both a situation Frost both despised and loved at the same time. Code ck referred to acts of evil against or within the dungeon i.e. torturing his monsters for fun, abusing their superior power to ughter far weaker enemies, bandit behaviours such as attacking and killing fellow adventurers in order to steal their quarry and or just for the sheer thrills. He condoned the asional bullying ck of killing) but groups that entered the dungeon for the sole purpose of hunting his other customers was a no go in his books and needed to dealt with to the extreme i.e. all offenders being transferred to the dungeon''s prison. Frost teleported into the private space to gain a more detailed report. Luckily the kids were in the middle of training and Daki was currently working her ass off in her personal forge meaning he could disy his evil side openly. "Khuno give the details." "Yes milord." Khuno thus proceeded to enlighten Frost about the situation. "Bandits masquerading as adventurersseems the prison is going to gain more upants." The dungeon''s prison was a cold dark ce with very poor facilities that restrained and imprisoned anyone Frost deemed a criminal. The offenders would be whisked away by his monsters never to see the light of day again. They would spend the rest of their pitiful lives behind bars, locked in cages to serve as bountiful nourishment for the dungeon. Lesser offenders would simply starve to death in a couple of weeks, left alone without any from of contact whereas those who really pushed Frost''s buttons would see themselves tortured as he kept them alive with meals and the asional healing. So far only Barren from the Sanguine snakes received such advanced treatment, but a few came close. The current group were of E-rank strength andposed of three full adventuring parties i.e. 18 people. The three parties entered the dungeon independently masquerading as regr adventurers with nothing to do with one another but once they entered the second floor they''d mysteriously link up and start their true ns. Word had already spread about how bountiful the Dungeon of Niflheim was thus attracting waves and waves of adventurers and merchants alike. It was to be expected that less savoury characters would also like a slice of the juicy pie. These three teams were proficient in banditry, hunting down people rather than monsters for their hard earned spoils. Working within a monsterir or in this case a dungeon helped to hide their tracks, as the dead were quickly devoured, and their deaths usually attributed to the monsterir rather than foul y. Of course people weren''t stupid, if such attacks happened too often they''d quickly wise up. Therefore bandits had a limited window, their targets had to be financially worth the risk. Finally after two long days of preparation therge group finallyid eyes upon their targets. A mighty upper D-rank party that sessfully made it to the fabled floor of peace was ascending the floors to sell their rich bounty. They were the bandits high value target and werepletely in the dark about the ambush awaiting them. Not only were they outnumbered 3 to 1 the adventurers were sure to be in less than pristine condition and weighed down but their own loot. The ambush went off perfectly, the 18 bandits attacked them without warning, quickly injuring two of their targets before swarming the rest before they could conjure up a decent formation. Within 15 minutes the group of six adventurers were dead, their blood dyeing the frozen ground beneath while the 13 remaining bandits revelled in their victory, adorning their hard worn spoils and celebrating the uing payday. The monster materials could be sold anywhere but the pilfered equipment would need to go through a fence, a ck market dealer who didn''t give a rat''s ass where the sellers got the merchandise. The n was already set in motion and buyers lined up, all they needed to do was leave the dungeon without drawing attention to themselves. Unfortunately they never suspected that the entire dungeon was under constant watch. Their actions and movements were already known, and the watcher did not approve. "Drag them all to the prison" Frost dered their sentence with a cold expression. "As you wish milord." "Wait!" "Milord?" "Actually on second thought I''ll handle it personally. It''s been a while since I''ve gotten to let loose." An evil smirk adorned his lips as he imagined the agony he was going to wreak upon them. Khuno simrly smiled in an evil manner, his eyes glinting with expectation.d "Understood, Milord will take out the trash personally." Like a good subordinate he facilitated his lord''s wishes. The area around the bandits was thus inconspicuously made bereft of monsters and even other adventurers due to some skilled manoeuvres. Frost would get to enjoy his meal without interruption. "Hahahahaha I can''t believe we managed to take them down so easily!" A bandit disguised adventurer roared with glee as he searched one of the six bodies, revelling in how easy the takedown was. Sure they lost 5 from their group but that just meant the split would go 13 ways instead of 18 plus those that died were all rookies, hardly a loss to their aggregate power. "Hahahahaha we''ll get to live like kings for weeks with this much loot." Another bandit was no less joyful as she pilfered a robe from one of the dead adventurers. "Damn this girl had good taste, a little tight around the chest but I can make it work hahahahaha." All 13 bandits were in a great mood but despite their celebration none of them truly let their guards down, constantly keeping an eye on the surrounding for possible interruptions. They were experienced in their work, professionals rather than amateurs thus theck of monsters and even sounds in the area was eventually noticed by the scouts. "Somethings wrong boss, it''s too quiet." They''d been scoping out the area for the past two days and knew the likelihood ofing across the indigenous monsters. With the strong scent of blood in the air and the sounds ofbat there should have been multiple monsters scouting the area for food but instead there was silence, an eery silence. The bandit boss was fiery looking woman with long curly hair and a stature that would put most men to shame. She was currently supervising the pilfering, making sure none of her subordinates dared to cheat her but she couldn''t ignore the words of her scouts as doing so was a sure way to lose their heads. "Abule take Jackson and check the perimeter, everyone else speed up the pilfering. I want us filled to the brim with loot and out of here within the next 5 minutes." "Got it boss." "Damn I wanted to take it easy after fighting." "Shush do you want the boss to tan your hide." "Maybe I do." A female bandit licked her lips in response as she nced at her boss with lust. The boss was sure to hold a grand celebration once they escaped the dungeon, she could make her move then and there. She was always frisky after fruitful jobs after all. Abule and Jackson quickly followed their boss''smand and inspected the extended perimeter, being very cautious in their actions unfortunately no matter how careful they were they were only E-rank. Schwing! Before Jackson even knew what hit him a razor sharp ive severed his head from his body, decapitating him in an instant. Blood gushed from the open neck like a burst dam. His body then crashed against the ground alerting Abule who was looking in another direction. "ENEMY!!!" Abule managed to roar out a warning to hisrades before arge bolt of ice flew through the air and pierced through his chest like he was made of butter. Two bandits down, eleven to go. Abule''s loud warning alerting the remaining bandits who wasted no time at all getting into formation. Unlike their quarry they knew how to react to unexpected situations. "Huddle up, vanguard at the front, rearguards in the centre!" The bandit boss skilfullymanded her teams like an experienced militarymander, perhaps previously she was a soldier but that was then, and this was now. The group heard the sounds of steps calmlying towards them, lightly crushing the snow underneath. It seemed to be a single set but instead of being relieved the bandit boss only felt more danger the closer they got. Eventually a handsome young man revealed himself, an elf adorned in white and blue robes and wielding a beautiful ive covered in ruby red blood. "Well, well bandits in my territory. I hope you''re prepared for what''s about to happen because I really despise people who hunt my valuable customers." Frost said with an evil looking smirk that sent chills down the bandit boss''s spine. Her muscr arms formed goosebumps and her heart froze in fear, her mind screaming danger at the sight of the young elf. ".Fuck!" Chapter 565: Chapter 565: Code black (3) "Fuck!" The bandit boss loudly cursed as Frost sauntered closer to their formation with a malicious expression stered on his charming face. Her body instinctively trembled in fear because she knew the threat that Frost posed. The lord of the Niflheim base camp,mander of the devastatingly powerful ronsos and a mighty B-rank fighter himself who''suded as a war hero by the local inhabitants. He was not someone a bunch of bandits like them could hold a candle against even if their numbers were doubled or even tripled. They were akin to children ying war before him. Unfortunately though she and a few of her wiser subordinates knew of Frost the lower rabble did not. They visibly rxed the moment they saw that their opponent was just one man. "Hmph just some pompous elf, let''s rip him apart boss. Those robes of his could fetch a pretty penny on the ck market hehehehe." A grotesque looking bandit venomously spoke, pure hatred and envy leaking from his eyes as he gazed at Frost''s supreme appearance. Frost''s evil smile widened as a result; the bandit''s ignorance would make what happens next much more satisfying. However someone beat him to it. Half a second after the grotesque bandit threatened Frost arge hammer struck his skull from behind. His head burst open like a watermelon, covering his formerrades in blood and brain matter. The rabble were paralysed with abject fear, their bodies shivering as they tried to understand what happened. Frost didn''t move a muscle, yet their friend suddenly died. Eventually they understood that the attack came from behind and saw the bloodstained hammer of their boss as well as the intimidating expression on her face. Her more trusted subordinates all bore agreeing expressions, one even let out a sigh of relief as if she was grateful for the boss''s quick reaction. The rabble simply couldn''t understand, why did the boss kill one of our own? "Hoh, interesting." Frost found the y rather curious, his anticipation for the future growing. "Apologies for that ignorant gnat Lord Frost, I assure you we have no intention to enter into conflict with someone as respected as you." The bandit boss spoke with respect and with experience, she knew what opponents she could and could not provoke. "Hmm I see but what if I want a conflict?" His smile continued to widen as his head tilted to the side. "Urgh." The bandit boss grunted, she hoped to get out of this predicament cleanly but clearly that wasn''t an option. She wracked her mind for apromise. "I''m sorry we intruded upon your territory as bandits, we promise to leave immediately, never to return and will offer youpensation for our crimes." She''d rather live than desperately cling to their loot, this just wasn''t their day. What were the chances of being caught red handed by a B-rank fighter, the lord of the camp no less. "...." Frost replied with silence making the bandits think he was mulling over their generous offer. Unfortunately for them however Frost had no intentions in sparing them. The weaker ones would fall to his ive just like those two scouts whereas the stronger bandits such as the eloquent boss would spend the rest of their miserable lives in his prison, providing his dungeon with ample nourishment. Though he did somewhat appreciate her ability to understand her position and even offer apromise her fate was sealed the moment she hunted his customers. ''It''s a shame I can''t use them even after their deaths like Yami and Agar. I''m sure she''d make a decent undead subordinate.'' Frostmented his inability to raise the dead like his brothers. While he specialised in ice magic the two of them focused on dark magic. Agar in particr was quite adept in handling the undead, dead husks of the living. When enemies died in his dungeon he could -with cost- raise them as undead entities to serve as new monsters in his dungeon, truly milking intruders for all their worth. ''Maybe I could ask him for some magic scrolls or something?'' Though his dungeon menu wascking in non-ice rted magics their father never said anything about preventing trade between his children. In fact he even promoted it to an extent. Damascus already had a couple orders for his personally forged weapons. Maybe Agar or Yami would be willing to trade dark scrolls for some of his ice scrolls. Frost''s silence strained the bandits'' nerves, the boss in particr was feeling less and less confident the longer hisck of response continued. The question was simple, let them go and receive a juicy payday as well as booting them out of his territory or fight them. It shouldn''t be taking him this long to decide. "..You''re not letting us go are you?" Eventually she reached the end of her patience. "Let you go.why on Nova would I do that?" Frost''s thoughtful expression returned to an evil smile. "You rats dared to intrude into my territory and hunt my delicious food. You are vermin and there''s only one way to deal with vermin." Frost''s let his aura slowly diffuse into his surroundings, drastically increasing the pressure the bandits felt. "Ffoodwwhat the hell do you mean!" The bandit boss struggled against the pressure; her mind rattled by Frost''s strange references. "Oh since you''re not going to leave this ce alive I guess I can grant you some knowledge, I''m very merciful that way hehehehe." Frost giggled eerily, amplifying the fear filling the bandits. The spectre of death looming in, whispering into their ears about their approaching death. Their hearts and lungs wrapped in its ice grasp making breathing almost impossible. This was the pressure of a B-rank fighter, an aura. Some bandits started tearing up while the boss clenched her jaw and did her upmost to raise her hammer for battle but internally she already knew this was the end. She at least wanted to know the reason why? "My dear bandits you should be honoured." Frost took several forceful steps towards the group, increasing the pressure upon them. "You''re one of the very few people who get to learn the truth." "T.tthettruth?" The bandit boss struggled to look directly at Frost, his aura instinctually demanding that she not profane him with her gaze, to kneel before him. "Yes. Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Frost, Lord of the Niflheim base camp and the personification of the Niflheim Dungeon. Basically I am the Dungeon. Where you''re standing is a part of me." His promation was suffused with his royal aura, forcing many of the bandits to their knees, the boss however struggled with all she had to remain partially upright. Her mind however was frantic, yet a measure of understanding was also present. "Now you see why you need to die. You hunted my food in my territory without my permission, taking away my sustenance. Your life force will thus be taken in reparation." Frost was now within spitting distance of the bandits and looking down at them like a king, his aura in full swing and an evil grin stered on his handsome face. He was having so much fun right now, ying the viin suited him well. While the rest of the bandits fully sumbed, practically immobile before his aura the bandit boss tightened her grip around the shaft of her hammer and conjured up all her fighting spirit. If she was going to die she''d go out swinging even if it was pointless she refused to simply hand over her life. ng! Her hammer met with Frost''s ive generating several sparks. "Good fighting spirit, shame you''re a bandit." Frost withstood her attack with ease. His physical strength was far beyond the bandit boss despite her muscr stature. After stopping her pathetic swing he parried the hammer upwards before shing horizontally. Her hands were severed allowing the hammer to fly through the air andnd tens of metres in the distance, but the bandit boss didn''t seem to care. A maddened look marred her face, it was like she was a berserk monster. She felt no pain from her severed hands and went back on the offensive, punching out with her stumps, spraying blood everywhere. s this too was a pointless endeavour to Frost. He easily dodged her blows, all she managed to do was flick some blood on his robes and face. A slight admiration filled Frost as he evaded the woman''s desperate attempts. Perhaps he wouldn''t torture her for her crimes and instead allow her to die from starvation. He let her attack a few more times before ending the charade. "Enough!" With a sudden burst of force he knocked the butt of his ive against the back of her head, knocking he bandit boss out cold. He then eyed the remaining bandits who struggled to even hold onto their weapons. He isted the higher ranked bandits for imprisoning and culled the rest. "Khuno have these four transferred to the prison. Fleece them for all their valuables and call me when they awake.especially the bandit boss." "As you wish Milord." Khuno replied through dungeon menu and a minuteter ronsos appeared and carried the four bandits to the hidden prison on the 11th or rather the 10th floor. Frost had already created hidden routes throughout the dungeon that his monsters could use to transport prisoners out of sight from the regr delvers. It''d be a lot easier if he could simply teleport them there but then again a system like that could easily be abused. "Well that was rather fun, no thrilling battle but still fun." Frost genuinely smiled from ear to ear, he enjoyed the little y. Meanwhile back in the private space two women were sitting on the sofa watching the whole event. "See totally evil right." "Yeah I see what you mean but." "He still looks damn good doing it right?" "Yeah." Maya and Daki giggled between themselves as they enjoyed seeing a certain side of their boyfriend. Chapter 566: Chapter 566: Challenged "Ring, ring, ring, ring." Several days after the event with the bandits Frost was suddenly awoken from his blissful sleep by a torrent of annoying ringing. "Who''s calling me so early in the morning?" He groggily sat up in bed, gently moving the two arms that were wrapped around his waist to the side. One being green and muscr while the other being white and dainty -albeit containing far more strength than the former. The three engaged in quite the battlest night, the first time the two of them decided to work as a team rather than individuals. Of course he came out on top once again, even with theirbined might they weren''t able topletely satisfy his hunger, perhaps another was needed or maybe two. Nevertheless he certainly enjoyed thebined experience and would make sure to engage in simr battles in the future. Anyway back to the matter at hand. It wasn''t themunication crystal that was ringing but the dungeon menu, meaning that it was either his father or one of his many siblings. "Yo! Little brother how''s it hanging." The loud voice of Indra bellowed through the screen followed by the image of him rxing back against his sofa. His style was certainly different from his own, a lot more wood and cobalt colouring in the background. "What do you want Indra?" Frost questioned in an irritated tone, annoyed at being awoken from his blissful sleep. "Ohseems I interrupted you little brother hehehehe don''t worry I can call back in a little while if you''d prefer." A mischievous look adorned Indra''s face as he peered through the screen to see the exposed skin of Daki and Maya. "Hmph!" Frost didn''t take kindly to his brother''s perverted looks and instantly turned off the visual aspect of the call. Only he was allowed to see his girlfriend''s naked body. He quickly donned his robes, entered the living room and sat on the sofa before reopening the visuals. "Tch stingy, some people would call depriving others the chance to witness art a crime." Indra teased. "Is that so, do you happen to agree Izuna?" Frost asked with a friendly smile, his words immediately causing Indra to sweat bullets and turn around in desperation only to see no one there. "That was low." "So is trying to take a peek at my girlfriend." The two brothers stared at one another for a good few seconds beforeughing. "So what''d you call me for so early in the morning?" "I can''t just want to chat with my favourite little brother." "You sound like Aqua." "I think I''ll take that as apliment, knowing her she''d somehow know if I badmouthed her." "True she does seem to be able to read my thoughts whenever we talk." Aqua called every few days to chat with him, constantly begging him toe and visit her in the northern oceans or at least allow her to visit him. In fact ever since the family gathering and therge update to the dungeon menu system, his contact with his family continued to grow. Indra and Aqua were not the only ones he grew close with albeit being the most distinct. Indra especially was quickly bing his best friend. "Alright stop looking at me like that I''ll tell you." Frost gave his brother the stink eye until he verbally exined the real reason for his call. "I just finished my first war. One of our much younger sisters Ch who specialises in avian monsters challenged me for some reason and as you probably guessed I''m pretty much destroyed her. She was a terrible match up element wise and position wise." "Congrattions, I guess." Indra didn''t seem too happy about the result. "You''d think that wouldn''t you but no instead of relishing in a hard won victory like your match against Gobuske I had to console our crying sister after she barelysted an hour against my forces.I''m not good with crying women Frost." Indra wore an exhausted and almost traumatised expression as he relived that moment. The poor girl wanted to test herself against one of the best dungeon cores around because in her mind she was worthy of an upper position, she even willingly gave herself a handicap by picking someone who had an advantage in their element. The result was harsh and heartbreaking for poor Ch who instantly burst into tears the moment her loss was announced. Indra was thus inundated with res from her guardian, Izuna and even their father hell even some his own monsters looked at him as if he was some kind of bully. The joy he was supposed to relish in was thus nothing but misery. Eventually Ch stopped crying but the whole idea of testing his skills against another sibling was ruined, he became despondent. "So that''s why you haven''t called in a while." Frost now knew why it''d been over a week since theyst talked. "So what changed, why are you calling now?" "I need something to improve my mood, training with Izuna has helped but it''s not enough. I need something to really get my blood pumping." Indra eyes shed as he stared directly at Frost. "If you want to have a war with me you can forget about it. I''ve already cleared my quota and have no time for arge scale war right now. My territory has just gotten popr, a sudden shift in the dungeon could ruin it''s worth." Though he''d like to have another war at some point due to the enjoyable experience and bountiful rewards on offer now was not the time. "I know, I know you''ve told me multiple times about your growing territory and to be honest I''m slightly in the same boat plus my monsters just went through a war they don''t exactly want to go through another quite so soon." Though he had reced the majority of his lost forces since the war with Ch they weren''t up to code level wise. "What then?" "Hehehehe I asked Father for a new type of dungeon core challenge which he agreed to after several requests." "You badgered him into it then." "Pretty much, but I''m sure my disappointment with the war against Ch certainly helped." Indra didn''t deny his persistent pestering. "Anyway the old man created a new challenge for us which allows dungeon cores to duel on an individual basis, no monsters just us and our skills. Interested?" Frost leaned back against the sofa, cupping his chin as he thought about Indra''s suggestion. To be honest the idea of duelling his siblings in singlebat was quite interesting, especially against Indra who was said to be roughly on par with him training wise. Both had entered B-rank through their weapon mastery, and both were skilled in their use of chakra and magic. Ice and lighting could pose for a very good match up given that neither held clear dominion over the other. For example if Frost was challenged by someone like Pyro for instance though he''d love to sock that arrogant elder brother of his in his smug face he''d immediately refuse. Fire held too much advantage over ice especially in the early stages of development, he''d be nothing more than a punching bag in such a match up. "Why haven''t I heard anything about this from father?" "Because he just designed it and wants us to be the exhibition match." "By exhibition do you mean all our siblings will be watching?" If that was the case then he''d have to refuse, he didn''t want his potential rivals to see how he fought. "No, no it''ll bepletely private bar the result. I think the old man''s set up some kind of bet between our siblings to see who wins." He did the same thing during the first dungeon war exhibition match. "Alright as long as it''s a private duel with only the results being broadcasted I''m game. Has he set any specific rules?" "The only thing he asks is that we don''t kill one another, anything else is fine. Our guardians are to be stationed in the duelling space with us to make sure nothing goes wrong so all we need to do is focus on fighting to our hearts content." Indra looked really revved up for the duel. His passionate words and bright expression couldn''t help but move Frost, he felt himself getting more and more fired up. "When will we do this thing?" It was a bit early for a duel and he didn''t want to be the one to abruptly wake up Maya from her dreams after what he put her throughst night. "How about tonight, around 6pm. The old man said we''ll be sent a notification through the dungeon menu and that by clicking ept we''ll be teleported to the duelling space with all our equipped gear." "Alright 6 sounds good, I''ll leave one of the kids in charge of monitoring the dungeon and inform Finy and Khuno about it. They should be able to handle anything during my absence." Since both he and Maya would be indisposed he''d have to delegate some tasks. "That''s great see you then little brother and may the best lightning master win ciao." Indra ended the call with a cheeky grin and a wave causing Frost to light-heartedlyugh. "You''re so going down Indra." Chapter 567: Chapter 567: Duel with Indra Nanna and Loki awoke a couple hourster to find the living room empty, an unusual sight. Normally at least one of the adults were there to greet them when they woke up. "Maybe they''re still sleeping." Loki guessed while rubbing his eyes, he was quite tempted to go back to bed himself. "Perhaps. I''ll check the dungeon so why don''t you knock on master''s door." "Ok." The young phoenix kin dragged his tired body towards Frost''s door and knocked but didn''t receive any response, so he returned to his sister''s side. They''d been thoroughly educated not to intrude into Frost''s room ever since he began his rtionship in earnest with Maya and Daki. Frost didn''t want to traumatise the kids with something they weren''t ready to see. The most Loki was allowed to do was knock on the door and ask for a response. "No response, are they in the dungeon?" "Not exactly, I don''t know where Maya and Daki are but ording to Khuno, master''s apparently in the training space with Finy." Nanna informed her little brother of what she knew before the two of them teleported into the training space. It was unusual for Frost to train so early in the morning. The moment their bodies materialised they were assaulted with a sudden pressure that forced them to the ground. In the distance two forms were shing against one another with reckless abandonment, every contact between their weapons shaking the very air around them. Remnants of ice magic littered the battlefield along with no small amount of sweat and blood. "Master stop!" Suddenly before the two shed for the umpteenth time Finy halted his attack and yelled. "Huh why?" Frost was forcibly dragged out his revelry, something he didn''t appreciate. He and Finy were really pushing their limits and he was finally really getting into the swing of things. He could feel his reaction times and predications of Finy''s movements bing smoother. "Lady Nanna and young master Loki have entered the training space." Finy quickly retrieved his aura and extinguished his bloodlust as he gestured towards the small figures of Nanna and Loki in the distance. "Damn!" Frost also retrieved his aura the moment he caught sight of the two phoenix kin sprawled out on the floor. The pressure emitted by two B-rank fighters was too much for them to withstand at their current level. "Are you alright?" Frost asked gently, worried that he may have hurt them in some way. "We''re fine just a little winded." Nanna rose up first and aided her younger brother to his feet before bowing apologetically to Frost. "Sorry we didn''t mean to intrude." "No need for that, I''m just d you''re both alright." Frost rustled their hair in an affectionate manner. "What brought you down, it''s a little early for your scheduled training no?" "Ah no one was in the living room when we woke up and there wasn''t an answer from your bedroom so."Loki bashfully admitted. "I see, sorry about that." Frost smiled gently knowing that the kids were quite prone to loneliness. "To make up for our absence how about I help you with breakfast." Nanna and Loki''s eyes lit up at his offer. "Un" The two nodded their heads with goofy smiles stered on their lips. "Finy would you like to join us?" "I certainly would master." The massive ice troll lord was practically beaming as the group teleported to the private space. "Aright Nanna, Loki purchase some eggs, bread, potatoes and beef sausages from the dungeon menu for cooking." "Yes sir." Nanna and Loki both saluted before finding their kitchen apparel. "Finy help them with preparing the ingredients and readying the appliances while I go and check on the sleeping beauties." "Understood master." "Here Finy you can wear this apron, it might be a bit snug, but you can''t cook without it." Nanna handed Finy one of therger spare aprons which the ice troll lord tentatively put on. Frost thus walked towards his bedroom with a mixture of guilt and irritation in his heart. He didn''t know if the reason why the two of the were still in bed was due to his actionsst night or if they were just beingzy.it was probably the former for Daki and thetter for Maya. He quietly opened the bedroom door and closed it behind him before witnessing a glorious sight. "Well ain''t that a pretty picture." Both Daki and Maya were entwined around one another as they slept, using one another as body pillows. Their rtionship had certainly blossomed over the past several months, but this was just magical. And to be honest he didn''t want to ruin it, but it was time for them to wake up. Daki had her own work to do while Maya needed to prepare for tonight''s duel with Indra as well as teach the kids. Suddenly as he was about to creep onto the bed and gently wake them in an intimate way he remembered a nifty feature of the dungeon menu which he had been neglecting, the camera. With a perverted grin he brought up the dungeon menu screen and activated the camera feature and with multiple clicks he preserved this beautiful scene into the memory banks where he could enjoy it for years toe. ''Perhaps I should start a sexy album just for me. I''m sure Daki would be onboard for that hehehehe.'' Images of Daki and Maya in different sexy lingerie filled his mind, distracting him of his initial mission for a few seconds. But with a quick shake of the head he was able to get back on task. He gracefully crawled onto the bed and hovered over the two of them before gently cing his left hand on Maya''s soft thigh while his right took hold of Daki''s magnificent rear. He lightly squeezed eliciting a subconscious squirm from the two of them before moving upwards, sensually caressing their lust inducing figures before nting a kiss on their lips one after another. "My beautiful queens it''s time to wake up." He whispered into their ears, gently rousing them from their rest while his hands kneaded their most sensitive spots. "Unn five more minutes." Maya groaned inint while leaning into his touch whereas Daki returned his kiss passionately and wrapped her legs around his waist, seems she was more than on board for another session. "Sorry Maya but you need to get up now, we''re making breakfast together and then there''s something I need to tell you." He reluctantly pulled away from Daki''s lips to deny Maya her extension. "And Daki we''ll have to get intimate some other time sorry." "My, my Frost denying sex this is a first hehehehe." Daki giggled cutely before stretching her body, highlighting her dynamic curves. "Perhaps we really did manage to drain himst night after all." Maya begrudgingly woke as well,pletely at ease with her and Daki being naked in the same bed. "Haaaaa you wish I barely managed to get started before the two of you passed out from exhaustion. You''re going to need to be at least three times more enduring or triple your numbers if you want to fell me hahahahaha." Frost proudly dered while arching his chest making the two girls sigh at the insatiable hunger of their boyfriend. It seems that two women really wasn''t enough for Frost. At this rate they''ll be gaining a fair number of sisters. Frost watched with fascination as his girlfriends donned their clothes, enjoying their beauty before having a pillow thrown at his face. "Get out and start making breakfast, we''ll be out in a few minutes." The two women chucked him out the door before attending to their makeup and attire. "How''s Maya and Daki?" Nanna asked as he walked into the kitchen and donned his apron. "They''re fine just slept in. They''ll be out in a few minutes." Both Nanna and Loki let out sighs of relief before focusing back on preparing breakfast. With Frost and Finy both supervising, the two of them were allowed to use the kitchen''s appliances which brought Nanna especially great joy. Cooking was her hobby, she loved everything about it and getting to do it with Frost was practically icing on the cake. With cooking equipment that came with the private space Frost and the kids prepared avish cooked breakfast. A mixture of fried and scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, beef sausages, toast and butter as well as plum tomatoes an addition chosen by Nanna which turned out really well. All the ingredients were either normal or 1 star quality meaning there wasn''t anything special about them but that didn''t stop them from tasting fantastic. "Oh that smells divine." Daki took in a big whiff of the air as she exited Frost''s room in her clean smithing attire. Her stomach rumbled shortly after as if agreeing with her words. "Our little Nanna''s going to be a top rank chef at this rate." Maya parrotedpliments as she sauntered over in a red qipao behind Daki. Nanna blushed as she added the finishing touches to the meal. She loved getting praised for her cooking. A couple minutester the six of them sat at the table and ate the hearty breakfast with smiling faces. Good food and family time was a great way to start the day. "So what''s this important thing you need to tell me." Maya demanded to know with her eyes threatening to rip Frost a new one if she didn''t deem it worthy enough to interrupt her beauty sleep. "We need to train." "Huh that''s it! We can train anytime, hell you can even do it by yourself. Why''d you wake me up then?" Maya mmed her fist against the table in frustration. "Because I''m duelling Indra one on one tonight at 6pm and you''reing to make sure nothing goes wrong. Father''s orders." "...Ehhhhhhh!" Chapter 568: Chapter 568: Duel with Indra (2) To be honest Maya was not expecting the reason for her ''forced'' wake-up call to be a duel with Indra, but it certainly qualified as a good one. Indra was ranked roughly on par with Frost during thest family gathering and had been making quite a name for himself as an adventurer in the western reaches of the Yangmir continent i.e. the storm mountains. Unlike Frost who had to defend himself from waves and waves of berserk monsters during the stampede, Indra gradually increased his guild rank through a plethora of quests. The young lightning based dungeon core was one of the hottest neers within the storm mountains and was just a couple quests away from bing an official B-rank adventurer. He was worthy to be called Frost''s rival. After Frost gave her the details regarding the challenge Maya practically dragged his ass back to training space, leaving the kids in Daki''s capable hands. "You wanted to train then we''re going to train. There''s no way in hell you''re going to lose to Indra, Izuna would never let me hear the end of it." While Frost and Indra had a rather friendly rivalry- at least at the moment- the one between their guardians was far more vicious. A long standing enmity between the two made them almost unbearablypetitive at times. Maya would see Frost''s victory or loss as a personal reflection on her teaching ability, as would Izuna thus she would do everything within her power to make sure Frost won this duel of his. Frost hadn''t seen Maya pumped up with so much fighting spirit since the day he brought Daki back to the dungeon. His body instinctively trembled both out of fear and excitement. "Use all your tricks cause I''ming at you hard and I''m not going to stop." Maya summoned two massive hammers, farrger than her dainty frame, each easily weighing a tonne, yet she wielded them as if they were as light as feathers. She was serious. Frost audibly gulped as goosebumps formed across his arms before covering himself in sturdy tes of ice chakra and readied his 4 star ive. A silver coloured me danced around the de edge amplifying its lethal capabilities. To finish he coated his body and ive in his royal aura, growing his presence and adding further protection. He was going all out. "Hmph it''ll have to do, try not to die my dear Frost." Maya smiled in an evil manner as she transitioned to demon instructor mode. A fraction of secondter her lithe form vanished along with her hammers. Boooooommmm!!! Before he could even catch her shadow Frost was smashed into the air,rge chunks of his chakra armour fragmenting apart as his aura dispersed into the air. "Focus!" He managed to hear another order from behind before once again being smashed by her hammers. This was going to be some training experience. Several hourster Frost exited the training space behind Maya, his gaze looking rather hollow and listless while Maya''s looked anxious as though thinking that she may have gone too easy on him. She really didn''t want him to lose this duel. "Rest up for a couple hours, I''ll prepare you a special meal before we''re set to head off." "Yes ma''am." Frost dragged himself towards his bed and copsed onto without even removing his robes. A pained whisper escaped his lips before he slipped into unconsciousness. Daki who was present in the room at the time looked at Frost full of worry. "Don''t you think you went a bit too far, normally after your training sessions he leaves in pain but with a smile on his face. This time however it''s like you broke his spirit." "He''s fine, I just let him know some of the true depths of power this time around. He''ll bounce back, it''s not in his nature to cower before a wall." Maya was confident that Frost would be back to his normal self after a good rest and meal. She did feel a little guilty about beating him ck and blue, basically mocking his B-rank status but it was necessary. Indra wasn''t a normal opponent, he was sure to have just as many tricks up his sleeves as Frost, perhaps even more. The lightning element was not only quick but rivalled the destruction of the fire element. Though she was loathe to admit it, whenever she and Izuna shed in battle she was usually on the losing side more often than not. That damn ''failure'' of a celestial fox was no slouch when it came tobat strength after all. "I hope so, seeing him like that just felt wrong." Frost was always confident in himself whenever she was with him. "Where are the kids?" "They''re helping out at the Sleeping Fenrir" The Sleeping Fenrir was thergest and most popr inn run by Frost and his monsters in the Niflheim base camp. Nanna and Loki were too young and weak to help in the dungeon as fighters but there was nothing stopping them from putting their education to work as receptionists in the inns. Their adorable appearances also helped draw in wealthy visitors. Maya was happy with such an arrangement as long as the security around the inn was doubled whenever they worked, that way she knew they''d be safe from those with less than savoury intentions. "Good. I know they enjoy helping out whenever they can." Maya smiled and nodded her head, pleased with Daki''s handling of the kids in her absence. "Care to help me prepare his pregame meal?" "I''m not that skilled when ites to cooking." Daki embarrassingly admitted. She could prepare simple things, enough for a person to enjoy a little variety but that was it. Even Nanna could be considered a better chef than her. "That''s fine, I can take the lead role while you can be my assistant like Nanna." Maya tried to convince Daki, but she really wasn''t sold on the idea. "Food always tastes better when filled love Daki." That final cheesy statement won her over, she''d do pretty much anything for Frost. Frost woke up a couple hourster feeling light as rain. The aches in his body and strain on his organs had dissipated. He squirmed and wriggled on the bed relishing in thefort of the mattress as well as the lingering scent left by his darling girlfriends. Maya''s scent in particr sparked a strong reaction within him. Memories of the brutal beating he received resurfaced to the front of his mind conjuring feelings of being helpless and powerless against an unbeatable foe. Every time he felt that he closed the gap between them Maya would show him just how foolish that notion was. There was still an unsurmountable chasm between them. "Haaaaaa well just gotta keep improving then." He wallowed in misery for only brief period before getting fired up again. The fact that she used even more power meant that he was better than when they first started. Slowly but surely he''d surpass her, nothing would stop him being strong enough to be the one doing the protecting rather than being the protected. "Oh something smells good." The breakfast they had in the morning was great, but this was different, clearly high ranking ingredients were being used. "Take a seat we''ll be finished a in a few minutes." Maya briefly turned her head and smiled at him before focusing back on the food, humming a pleasant tune as she stirred. Frost did as requested and sat down at the table. He leaned his hands against his chin and admired the backs of Maya and Daki as they cooked, finding the moment heartwarming, this was life. "So what have you girls decided to cook?" The smell was absolutely divine, and his patience was wearing thin. "Don''t ask me I just followed her instructions." Daki waved her hands in dismissal. "It''s a dish eaten by mighty diators before important matches, a famous dish in the core and inner regions of the cial mountains known as Ymir''s stew of might. With it you''ll be able to summon incredible strength far beyond what you were previously capable of." Maya added what looked like an azure chilli causing the stew to bubble and writhe as it sank beneath the surface. "I hope you like it spicy." She nefariously warned while stirring in the azure coloured chillimonly known as ''blue rage''. "Gulp I will admit that sounds tantalising, but wouldn''t it be cheating?" The stirring stopped as Maya slowly rotated her neck. "You think that stupid fox won''t try the same thing. I bet she''s feeding Indra her damn grandmother''s secret recipe. Only Ymir''s stew of might can possiblypete with what she has ess too." She quickly returned to stirring the stew. There was no doubt in her mind that Izuna would try to buff up Indra just as much as she buffed up Frost. Their pride was on the line after all. "Alright but I''m warning Indra beforehand. I don''t want to win with an unfair advantage." Unlike Maya he didn''t have some sort of long standing and deep seated rivalry with Indra in which they''d stoop to any level to get ahead. The only reason he didn''t confront Maya about her actions was because deep down he knew that beneath their rivalry she and Izuna were actually very close. As long as they weren''tpeting or felt the need to insult one another they behaved rather cordially. "Suit yourself." Maya didn''t argue, Frost was free to warn Indra if he wanted. After a few minutes of agonising waiting Frost was served a steaming bowl full of Ymir''s stew of might. Frost stared down into the bowl his mouth salivating from the scent alone. "Before I eat do I want to know how much DP it cost to purchase the ingredients?" "No you do not." Maya bluntly answered causing him to wince slightly. "Well I better savour every bite then." Choosing to ignore the price of the dish that was sure to ruin his appetite he picked up the nearby spoon and retrieved a generous mouthful. "MNNNNNN!" The moment the stew touched his tongue he was assaulted by an intense meaty vour followed by a red hot heat that threatened to sear his tastebuds. "HHHot, hot." "Don''t be a wuss you gotta finish it in one go if you want to get the most benefits. Daki help me out." "Ehh!" "Come on we need to make sure he eats every bite." "Stop it''s too spicy!" "No excuses bottoms up." Maya forcibly restrained him and pried open his jaw while Daki funnelled spoonful after spoonful into his waiting maw. The two women actually felt some sort of sadistic pleasure from their actions. Seeing Frost tearing up and begging them to stop reminded them of their own trials. How many times did they ask him to stop or at least slow down during their intimate activities. Did he ever listen no he did not. Chapter 569: Chapter 569: Duel with Indra (3) It was quite the sight for Nanna and Loki to see upon their return to the private space. Their master who they loved and adored was being physically restrained by Maya and Daki while they force fed him some sort of blue coloured stew that smelled absolutely divine. However his tears and the bright red tint strewn across his face obviously meant that this wasn''t some sort of romantic situation. "Uhm?" Nanna being the older of the two spoke up. "Mmhmmnnnn." Frost tried to garble a request for help but was quickly silenced by another spoonful from Daki. "Be quiet and finish your meal." Maya ordered as she repositioned herself to better restrain him. If he wasn''t being force fed such an evil concoction he would have probably relished in having her and Daki wrapped around him but that was not the case. "Rx Nanna he''s just being made to eat something spicy that''s all." Maya attempted to lighten the situation with a friendly expression, but her sadistic side was in full swing, and Daki wasn''t any better. It was clear to the siblings that their master was on the receiving end of their antics but then again he probably deserved it to some degree. Plus as far as Nanna could tell Frost wasn''t in any real danger or pain, the meal was simply a bit spicier than his liking. Therefore using all of her learned knowledge she wisely took hold of her brother''s hand and bowed. "Sorry for disturbing you." After saying that the two of them teleported outside of the private space, allowing Maya and Daki to finish what they started. "Mmnhmhmmmm!" Frost garbled some more words in desperation, his heart aching from being betrayed by them. "Come on now just a few more bites and you''ll be finished hehehehehe." The two womenughed evilly as they force fed Frost thest of the powerful stew,pletely ignoring the death res he was giving them. If he was to let something like this go unavenged he wouldn''t be Frost. ''Just you wait, I''ll have the two of begging me for mercy in theing days.'' The kids returned 10 minutester after being called back. This time Frost was no longer restrained by Maya and Daki nor was he tearing up, instead the three sat on opposite sides of the living room with one side feeling proud of what they aplished while the other plotted his revenge. The moment Nanna and Loki materialised in the private space they were met with a frightening grimace to which they instantly shivered and moved to apologise for their earlier actions. Abandoning their master in his time of need and wilfully ignoring a plea for aid was unbing of a ve regardless of whether or not they were treated as such. Thankfully due to Frost not really holding any true animosity towards them and being unable give a coherent voicemand their cors didn''t act up, but they still felt rather guilty. "Oi! Stop looking at them like that it''s not as though they could have helped you." Maya quickly rose up in their defence, sessfully drawing Frost''s ire back to her. The two faced off against each in silence for a few seconds before he gave up. "I suppose you''re right the two of ''THEM'' are innocent." He emphasized the difference in parties. Maya and Daki were certainly not going to be let off. "It worked didn''t it." Maya retortedpletely showing no remorse for her antics. To this Frost struggled to argue. Though his tongue was still stinging his body was brimming with power. He felt as though he could challenge a giant to an arm wrestle and win. Ymir''s stew of might was certainly impressive, the most beneficial meal he''d ever had by a longshotif only it wasn''t so damn spicy. "Hmph!" He loudly hmphed, unable to get over his earlier treatment. Surely there was some other way to go about boosting his attributes. His behaviour only seemed to fuel the girls'' smug giggles. ''We''ll see who has thestugh.'' Frost clenched his fists and internally promised before refocusing on the matter at hand. 6pm was just a short 15 minutes away, enough time for him to mentally prepare himself, double check his gear and digest the majority of his meal. "Armour check, ives check, soon to be begging for mercy guardian check." A minute before they were set to leave Frost sent another re Maya''s way to which she proudly arched out her chest as if taunting him. "Alright everything''s ready, Nanna you''re in charge of monitoring the dungeon while Loki you''re in charge of the camp. Finy and Khuno will be avable to take care of any problems that crop up while we''re away so don''t be afraid to use them. Daki please supervise the kids and help them out if they need you." "Of course." ""Understood master"" The kids and Daki all took his orders seriously. "Well then I guess we should head on over." Frost felt his heart pump with anticipation as the notification he was informed of earlier appeared on his screen. "Wish me luck." "Good luck Frost." "Kick his butt master." "Good hunting master." With his family''s support Frost clicked the ept button shown on the screen. Both he and Maya were then encapsted in a spatial warp and vanished from the private space. A couple secondster Frost and Maya appeared within the dimension that would serve as host for the duel. The entire room was roughly 3 to 5 timesrger than their training room and was awash with interesting architecture. Arge stone circle arena was ced in the centre of the space with one half being white and silver in colour and the other being cobalt, a homage to Frost and Indra. A small amount of scenery foliage surrounded the edges of the space to make it appear more natural and pleasant. It wasn''t his best work, but it was evident that their father put some effort into designing the arena. As well as therge arena itself and the rather beautiful background foliage three seating areas were in ce around the arena. Two were on opposing sides of the stone circle to serve as waiting areas for the guardian''s while thest was floating in the air in a grandiose fashion. Dark showed no restraint when it came to outfitting his own viewing tform. Golden pillows, high quality food and wine as well as self-fanning leaves adorned this masterpiece allowing the Dark God to enjoy maximumfort as he watched the proceedings. Indra appeared a moment after Frost with Izuna trailing behind him with a confident expression. Her and Maya''s eyes narrowed the moment theyid eyes on each other. "Rabbit fenrir." "Washboard fox." They greeted each other as per usual, generating invisible sparks which Frost and Indra wisely distanced themselves from whereas Dark who was already lounging against his many pillows chuckled with glee, finding thepetitiveness between guardians amusing. "Good to finally meet in the flesh again right, little brother." Indra smiled in a friendly manner as he stretched out his arm. "Yeah, contact through the dungeon menu just isn''t the same as being able to touch and interact in person." Frost grasped hold of his brother''s hand and pulled him into a hug, only realising in that moment how good it felt to make proper contact. "Hahahaha well I''m sure we''ll get the chance for more contact soon. You ready to be my punching bag Frost?" Once the hug broke Indra immediately taunted his brother. He could barely control his excitement, finally after that disaster of a war he was going to get the chance to really test his mettle. Sparks of lightning shed in his eyes and his aura that was no weaker than Frost''s started to leak out, pressing down on the air around them. Frost not being one to behave passively responded in a simr fashion. Wisps of cold fire formed around his body, lowering the surrounding temperature while his own aura shed against Indra''s, refusing to cower from the provocation. From the initial tests the two of them were roughly on par, neither gained any ground over the other despite their difference in makeup. Frost''s was heavier, denser and more defensive in nature while Indra''s aura was shaper, more destructive and better suited to relentless aggression. "Alright I think that''s enough showing off. Maya, Izuna I know the two of you go way back and have been rivals since young but as beings at the S-rank level and guardians you should set a better example for your charges." ""Apologies Dark God-sama" The fenrir and celestial fox both bowed with cold sweat dripping down their backs. How could they act so childishly before the Dark God. Of course internally they simply ced the fault on each other. Both Frost and Indra quietly sniggered at the two women who were busted for their actions. It wasn''t very often that they got to see their guardians being so submissive. "We''re here today because Indra demanded a chance for dungeon cores to interact with one another on an individual basis rather than through dungeon wars." "''Demanded'' is a bit harsh old man, I merely requested it." Indra immediately took offence with the word ''demanded''. "When you bitch, moan and send the same request but with different wording several times a day I think the word demanded suits just fine son." Dark red at his sixth child. He had a whole long term n set up so he wouldn''t need to do too much work, but Indra just had to keep bugging him. Indra held his tongue at this point causing the other three to snigger under their breath. "Anyway because of his DEMAND I''ve agreed to facilitate this type of challenge along with the regr war challenge after today''s test match with the rest of your siblings albeit with some conditions. First, there will be a DP cost to do so, something I''m waving this time. Second, wagering will not only be allowed but encouraged between those involved as well as those invited to either watch or bet on the duel. Third, duels can only be requested by a dungeon core once every 3 months and can be rejected without any penalty." Dark didn''t want to promote this kind of duel since it didn''t test their dungeon mastery or involve their management of DP. But he did understand the desire to test personal skills against one another as well as the difficulty his children had in meeting one another outside of the family gatherings. "There will be other rules and conditions in the future, but most can be decided between those actually duelling i.e. magic only, no magic, low tier equipment only etc For this match however the only rule is no killing, anything else goes. Both of you can use your weapons, artifacts, armour sets, magic, skills whatever you have you can useexcept potions they''ll only extend the battle unnecessarily. Do the two of you agree to these terms?" ""Yes father."" The two responded loudly and nodded in agreement. "Very well, consent has been given so the match will go ahead and since this is an exhibition match I''ll reward the victor with 10,000DP while the loser will get a constion gatcha pull. Do either of you wish to put any further skin in the game?" Chapter 570: Chapter 570: Duel with Indra (4) Frost and Indra turned to look at each other before smiling wildly. "I''m fine with betting another 10,000DP." "That all, I''m good with 15,000." Frost raised the stakes by an additional 5000DP over his brother starting a pissing match between them. "18, 000" "20,000" "22,000" "24,000" "30,000!!!!" Indra roared at the top of his lungs a veryrge number making Frost hesitate with his next bid. However before he could shout an even more outrageous number a dainty white hand appeared from behind and covered his mouth shut. A simr situation happened to Indra though it was apanied by a bonk on the head and whisper of the word ''idiot''. "30,000DP it is then, may the best dungeon core win." Dark also finding the stakes to be rather high for a simple duel tactically supported the actions taken by Maya and Izuna. "Guardians please leave the arena so your charges can let loose." "Yes Dark God-sama." With a few words of encouragement and perhaps a threat or two Maya and Izuna relegated themselves to the stands, leaving Frost and Indra facing one another in the centre of the ring. "By the way I should probably tell you before we start, Maya made me eat a special dish that improves my strength." Though even more eager to bust up his elder brother''s cocky face and earn a whopping 40,000DP he still decided to warn him. "No worries, Izuna did the same thing to me. She said there was a 200% chance of Maya pumping you up with some kind body enhancing meal or drugs, so she''d only be levelling the ying field hahahahaha." "Their rivalry goes deep I see." Frost simply shook his head. Knowing that Indra was also boosted he thus felt no hesitation in going all out. At practically the same time both he and Indra donned theirbat modes. Ice chakra formed into dense moulded tes, covering Frost in a beautiful white coloured armour. While his 4 star ive the [wolf howling at the moon] was taken from his storage ring and twirled between his hands. Flickers of silver cold mes danced around the de edge making the already powerful ive appear even more deadly. His physical armour which had been mended and altered slightly by Daki was already equipped beneath his robes, working in concert with the exterior chakra armour. With all that in ce Frost was ready for battle. Maya nodded her head in approval as Frost set himself up in just a couple seconds. She turned to look at Izuna with a cocky grin, hoping to lord over her with his dashing appearance however all she got was a look of contempt and a chin gesture directing her to look at Indra. Unlike Frost who was garbed in head to toe in his robes and now ice armour, Indra showed off a lot more skin. His chest was partially exposed as was his forearms and some of his calves. A very different stylepared to Frost''s noble schr image but no less attractive. In fact in Izuna''s eyes Indra''s wild look was far better, practically no contest but that wasn''t the main point for her gesture. Sparks of lightning formed arcs around Indra''s body, acting like a defensive barrier. His long hair was also strewn with sparks causing it y outwards into sharp spikes. This was the lightning element''s version of chakra armour and was the first time Frost hadid eyes on something so unorthodox. His ice element as well as Sam''s metal element behaved and looked like regr armour when in their protective form, a stark contrast to Indra''s armour that appeared to be full of gaps. Seeing the snakelike lightning tendrils wrapping themselves around Indra''s body Frost couldn''t help but wonder how much protection it actually provided. Would his ive glide through the obvious gaps or was there more to this barrier of lightning than meets the eye. Indra wasn''t finished there however, along with covering himself with lightning chakra armour he summoned arge two handed de, a katana. A very sharp single edged de with devasting cutting and thrusting power. A weapon that relied primarily on skill to be truly effective and from first nce its quality was likely equal to the [wolf howling at the moon] thus making it a 4 star weapon. The lightning chakra enveloped the de, drastically improving the weapon''s sharpness and speed. Frost frowned as his heart thumped away in anticipation. Indra would not be an easy opponent. Maya warned him ahead of time about another nasty feature of the lightning element. Though not as adept in defence like the ice and metal elements the lighting element was unbelievably fast and destructive. Some of its effects also happened out of sight, deep within the user''s body. There was a reason why Maya used her super speed in their earlier training. Seeing that both his sons were kitted out and ready to begin Dark smiled before bellowing from hisfortable seat. "The duel will began when I ring the gong!" He summoned an ornate gong and giant mallet in the air. "Good luck!" Gooooooonnnnnnnggggggg! With the mallet striking against the gong the duel began and both participants rushed towards one another with their weapons at the ready. However it was clear that one was far superior when it came to speed. Frost barely managed to make out Indra''s cocky smile before his body was reced with streaks of lightning only to rematerialize a momentter to his left with his katana already swinging. ng! Their first sh forced Frost to make a quick deflection, knocking him slightly off bnce, a weakness Indra was keen to exploit. ''Fuck he''s fast!'' Frost loudly cursed internally as he tried to quickly reposition himself. Thanks to Maya''s training he was able to effectively react to Indra''s speed but transitioning straight to offence after parrying in time was a bit difficult. Before he could even get a solid stance in ce Indra practically teleported to his right side with his katana thrusting straight for his left leg. Frost immediately decided to abandon his position and chance for retaliation, he jump upwards to avoid the thrust and backflipped out of way. "[ice entanglement]" While in the air he quickly cast the 2nd circle spell [ice entanglement] with a shortened aria causing a magic crest to appear beneath Indra''s position. Vines of ice quickly reached out from the crest to take hold of Indra''s legs but met with only air. Indra had already vanished from the area, appearing several metres away with a wide smile on his face. He watched Frostnd on the ground without moving. "To be honest I didn''t think you''d be able to react that well during our first sh. Not only did you manage to perfectly parry my sh you even dodged my thrust and cast magic at my feet while you avoided it.you''re the first toe out unscathed." Indra''s smile stretched as he spoke, bing wild, almost mad in appearance. "This is so much fun! More brother! Let''s keep dancing! Hahahahahaha!" Indra practically snapped as his excitement levels went through the roof, finally there was someone at his level who could handle his speed. Lighting chakra users have the ability run lightning through their own bodies drastically increasing their speed, eleration and reaction times to obscene levels however it mainly focuses on linear movements. As long as Frost can follow Indra''s pre-dashing motions and predict his path he should be able to mount an effective defence and counterattack. Simple but easier said than done. "[Ice floor]" Before Indra finished his maddened rant Frost covered the arena floor around him with ice hoping to impede Indra''s speed, however. "Hahahahahaha that won''t work little brother." Indra appeared a momentter at his side with his katana raised above his head. The areas of ice floor that he stepped on were destroyed by his lightning armour thus allowing him to stand on solid ground. He wasn''t even the slightest bit phased by Frost''s magic. "[Fierce swallow''s sh]" Indra''s katana became coated in a purple sheen and the image of a fierce looking swallow formed behind it, making the already sudden attack even faster. Frost barely managed to catch the blow with his ive and unfortunately earned a gash on his left cheek that dripped ruby red blood. Indra had drawn first blood in their duel, yet Frost was the one with the bigger smile. "Hahahahahaha I knew it you''re just like me brother you live for battle!" Indra thoroughly enjoyed the look on his younger brother''s face before quickly backstepping to avoid Frost''s vicious counterattack. It was true Frost was just as enthralled as his brother perhaps even more so. "[Freezing fireball]" Frost instantly cast specialty 3rd circle magic without any warning. Arge silver ball of freezing fire thus appeared in front of him beforeunching straight at Indra. Boom! The attack obviously missed but the area was lit up with cold fire. "Hoh that''s cold even at this distance." Indramented as he appeared tens of metres away. Schwing! An ice bolt appeared the moment he spoke and was cut down by his katana without any effort, the next attack however wouldn''t be quite so easy to handle. "[w of the ice wolf]" The freezing fireball and ice bolt were merely pretences to his real attack. Frost appeared from Indra''s blindside the moment he shed apart the ice bolt with his ive raised overhead, time for Indra to be on the defensive. ws of ice formed before the ive as it swung down against Indra''s shoulder. Frost hoped that with his strategic attacks and sudden ambush he''d catch his brother by surprise but unfortunately the lightning dungeon core was just too quick. "[Spark storm]" Without much effort Indra rotated his body and struck out with his katana. Fierce tendrils of lightning wrapped themselves around his weapon before transforming into lightning katanas. The image of a powerful lightning storm then appeared behind Indra. He was using an advanced skill. Chapter 571: Chapter 571: Duel with Indra (5) Frost''s ws of ice were swiftly obliterated by the vicious swirl of lightning and sharp katanas. ng! A loud earth shattering nging of metal striking metal burst out the moment his ive met with Indra''s katana. He was forced back from the residual force but kept his feet firmly on the ground, preparing to strike back against his brother at the next opportunity. However, ng! ng! ng! ng! Indra didn''t let up on his offensive even after the effect of his skill [spark storm] had ran out. His blows may not be as heavy as Frost''s, but he could attack at double possibly even triple the speed therefore Frost was quickly overwhelmed by the aggression and forced to focus solely on defence. For a moment Frost felt as though he was fighting against Maya. Drowning in an endless cycle of deadly strikes, unable to evene up for air, forever on the backfoot. But Indra was not Maya, in fact he was miles from reaching her level. Frost continued to act like a turtle as Indra stabbed, shed and sliced from all manner of angles and positions, as if desperate to break open his brother''s shell which he was in a way. Attacking in such a manner not only required specialised breathing and focus topletely iste Frost within an endless cycle but a hell of a lot of stamina. It wasn''t easy to keep up such an exhaustive measure and normally his opponents would be felled rather quickly or at least expose some sort of weak point. Not Frost, however. The damn bastard switchedpletely to defence without a moment''s hesitation and even buffed up the more exposed areas of his chakra armour, using them to deflect some of the off angle blows. After over 60 seconds of getting nowhere Indra was getting annoyed. "God dammit stop cowering like a turtle Frost! Fight like a ma.." Indra''s taunt was cut short by a vicious stabbing from Frost''s ive that scratched the side of his neck, drawing blood. "Guess we''re even now." Frost replied with a viscous expression as he pulled back his ive and took a deep breath before going on the offensive. "Shit!" Indra realised toote that he had been drawn into a trap. His stamina was greatly expended during his onught, slowing down his reactions and overall speed but that wasn''t all. The area around him and even his body feltcold. It was only now that he noticed tendrils of silver mes wrapping themselves around his katana and body, silently encroaching upon the lightning chakra armour. The chill slowly developed and invaded his body as he continued to attack Frost in closebat, like a poison. He needed to make some distance and fast. "[Cage of lightning]" While parrying a heavy sh from Frost, Indra used magic for the first time in the duel. Just like Frost he could easily use up to 3rd circle magic. In response to his aria arge yellow magic crest appeared below and above Frost before encasing him within a cage made of lightning, immediately halting his aggression. Wasting no time at all Indra used this opportunity to get some distance and purge the effects of the invading chill however his [cage of lighting] barelysted a couple seconds before Frost was free and on his tail. "[Freezing fire burst]" The moment the lightning cage walls locked him in Frost activated his own magic, a spell that he''d been practising an awful lot recently. This spell was usually used as an attack, the magic crest would appear on the enemy and wrap them in cold mes before bursting outwards however Frost learned to use it in a different manner. Thanks to his immunity to ice and ability to harness ice fire, such magic was practically a tonic for his body therefore he could use it on himself and turn his own body into an exploding bomb of ice fire. Such a move was useless against Maya as was the use of steadily invading ice fire chakra but against Indra and his lightning element it worked wonders. The ice element was bing more and more unfathomable as he delved deeper into its hidden capabilities. "What the hell is that!" Indra waspletely blown away by the sight of Frost effectively blowing himself up in order to escape the [cage of lightning]. "Magic! Now let''s see how you handle this strike [Wyvern''s maw]." While Indra was still surprised Frost activated his most powerful weapon skill. In addition to the usual enhancements to his ive when the skill was activated a massive wyvern head formed at the edge of the de. Its teeth, razor sharp and more than capable of biting off Indra''s arms if given the chance. Frost while bearing a mad smile swung his ive with all his strength,unching the wyvern head at Indra. "A ranged attack is it. Two can y at that little brother [Lightning serpent]" Indra''s katana glowed azure as he slowly rotated the de in a circle. Once it rotated the full 360 degrees lighting spewed from the circle and formed into a feathered serpent with azure skin. The summoned creature roared majestically the moment it was born before charging straight for the massive wyvern head. The beasts shed viciously, tearing one another apart as their masters dashed to the side, starting a conflict of magic. "[Ice bolt]" Frost summoned five ice bolts each roughly 70cm long and fired them at Indra as his wyvern battled against Indra''s lightning serpent. "[Lightning bolt]" Indra responded in kind with the lightning element''s spell equivalent. Five lightning bolts simr in size to Frost''s appeared from a yellow coloured magic crest before flying towards their target. Bolt took out bolt with neithering out on top. "[Icence] Frost upped the anti by moving to 2nd circle magic. Argence of ice easily 2 metres in length was summoned above his head and before like the previous bolts charged straight for Indra. "Hmph! [Lightning shield]" Indra chose to test his defensive magic and summoned arge kite shield made of lightning. Bzttztztzt! The shield sparked and buzzed as the icence crashed into it, peeling backyers of ice from thence as it struggled to pass through. However in the end the shield copsed, allowing thence to continue its journey in a far less impressive form. Indra chopped what remained in half with his katana, a frown evident on his face. Defensive magic was not his forte. "[Call lightning]" Wanting to regain the advantage Indra activated the 3rd circle offensive spell [call lightning]. Frost looked up and clicked his tongue as the massive yellow crest formed above his head. This spell was one of the lightning elements most powerful 3rd circle spells. Simple in its action but incredibly deadly. A thick pir of lightning would be summoned directly on top of the target, striking them from on high. Not only was the spell destructive, it was fast, very fast. He could always attempt to dodge the st or endure it with his weapon, but they werepeting in magic right now. Doing so would be like admitting his loss, his inability topete. Thankfully he had a spell that suited the situation perfectly. Through his study of the magic tomes left by Leo''s ancestor his control and knowledge over ice fire magic had improved considerably. That, along with his frequent interactions with the high earth rank cold me increased the repertoire of spells avable for purchase in the dungeon menu. [Freezing fire burst] was one such spell as was this one. "[ming ice shield]." This was Frost''s only defence oriented 3rd circle spell and what a spell it was, more than enough to rival the mana cost andplexity of Indra''s [call lightning]. In response to his aria an ice shield -simr to that of the 2nd circle spell, though more detailed- formed above his head before being encased in silver cold mes. A rather beautiful image that only became more pronounced the moment Indra''s lightning was summoned and crashed down against its surface. Boooooommm!!! As you would expect from a powerful pir of lightning, the sound it created when making impact with the shield was tremendous in of itself but even with all that power and ferocity the pir failed to breach the shield. The cold mes sapped away much of the lightning''s magical strength while the iceyer, which was enhanced by the mes endured the physical blow. Two sides working in tandem topletely block Indra''s mighty [call lightning]. "You''ve got to be fucking kidding!" Indra loudly screeched while pointing at the still hovering shield above Frost''s head. Though seriously damaged from the attack it was obvious who won the bout. "How the hell did that measly shield survive my [call lightning]?" "Cause it''s stronger idiot." Frost smirked and arched out his chest in a taunting manner, feeling proud of his achievement. Indra however was twitching at the mouth, his fury about to overwhelm him. "Alright that''s enough for a warmup don''t you think!" Really irritated by the results of their magic bout Indra red at his brother with clenched fists. "Sure, sounds good to me. Just don''te crying when I knock you t on your ass!" Frost twirled his ive and readied his stance. ".Trust me that''ll never happen LITTLE brother." Chapter 572: Chapter 572: Duel with Indra (6) ".Trust me that''ll never happen LITTLE brother." Indra spoke with a fierce expression, his will to fight reaching beyond the limits of containment. Now it was time for the real battle to begin, no more testing the waters and holding back their trump cards. The air around the arena shifted as though a breeze had entered the duelling space. An invisible storm slowly grew around Frost and Indra as they relinquished their restraints. Their auras flooded throughout their bodies before impacting their surroundings with devasting ferocity. If Nanna or Loki were nearby their bodies would instantly copse from their pressure, their hearts overwhelmed by primal fear. Thankfully the two duelling were actually the weakest in the space therefore the observers merely smiled with interest as their powers washed over them. At their level Frost and Indra were akin to children..cute to watch but posed very little danger. Maya couldn''t help but develop a mad smile as she watched her charge grow his presence, his auraing out in full swing, far more efficiently than ever before. She turned towards her own rival in a taunting manner only to see Izuna doing the exact same. Both were confident in their own charge''s victory. Both Frost and Indra waited until their power ups wereplete until resuming the duel. Their chakra armours had been repaired and enhanced with their auras giving them presence and a slight alteration in colour, but it was their weapons that changed the most. There was an almost lifelike bloodlust attached to them as though they craved to rip apart one another. The proceeding blows would be far heavier and sharper than earlier, one misstep could mean the loss of a limb. "Be careful little brother, in this state I won''t be able to stop mid-swing." Indra gave onest warning to Frost as his aura receded back into his body, further buffing his attributes. In response Frost showed a wild smile and twirled his ive as he entered a battle stance. "Do your worst Indra. That de of yours won''t ever get the chance to cut into my flesh." His charka armour hummed as though challenging Indra''s attack power. Those of the ice element though proficient in attack were far more suited to amplifying their defence. Indra would not only have to pierce through his weapon guard but also his manyyers of dense armour. "So be it, don''t tell me I didn''t warn you." The moment Indra finished speaking he vanished, leaving but a few tendrils of lighting in his ce. He was even faster than before but Frost was ready. DOOOONNNNN!!! Indra appeared from his left with his katana swinging but his ive was ready. The two weapons shed, releasing sonic booms as de edge met de edge. Don! Don! Don! Don! The two shed several times at far higher speeds and with far more ferocity than earlier. The solid stone arena that they stood on fractured with their steps andrge gashes formed across its surface from their shes. Frost struggled to engage at such speeds, he was once again on the defensive but unlike Maya, Indra failed to break through his guard, leading to a pseudo stalemate. However this time Frost''s use of cold mes failed to pierce Indra''s body. His lighting armour violently reacted to such intrusions, fizzling the wisps out of existence, Indra had learned from his earlier mistakes. Don! Don! Don! Don! The two moved across the arena, exchanging blow after blow as Indra practically danced around his brother, assaulting from every known angle. But even so Frost did not let up, his mastery of the ive was sufficient to block, guard and even asionally parry Indra''s blows with nothing more than the asional brush against his armour. To describe their battle as exciting would be a great understatement. The three observers were practically at their edge of their seats as they watched the two evenly matched opponents push themselves far beyond what they thought was possible for their level. Both Indra and Frost were learning and rapidly improving after every sh with no signs of stopping. Their weapon mastery alone was sure to jump leaps and bounds thanks to this duel let alone their otherbat abilities. "[Thundering torrent]" "[Earth''s upheaval]" Since regr attacks weren''t cutting it the two dungeon cores moved to using their skills however this time they attached their auras greatly improving their destructive and or protective powers. More and more of the stone arena blew up from their shes, quickly altering the battlefield. It was getting hard to stand on a t surface, a fact that was putting pressure on Frost. "[Lighting serpent]" "[Wyvern''s maw]" A change happened the moment Frostunched the massive wyvern''s head at Indra''s lightning serpent. The step he tooknded on an uneven surface causing his bnce to falter for just the briefest of moments but against Indra that was enough. Finally after wrecking the battlefield for the past 10 minutes the fruits of theirbour finally paid off. Frost barely managed to blink before he was met with the vicious expression of his brother bearing down on him with his katana raised high, ready to chop off his right hand. He had no time to defend the only option was to relinquish his weapon, a practical death sentence but one that needed to be done. In milliseconds Frost released his grip, dropping his ive and pulled back his right hand. Schwing! The katana moved faster than the human eye could follow but thanks to Frost''s quick reactions it didn''t manage to sever its intended target but nheless blood was drawn. A smooth cut was made across the back of his hand, easily slicing through the thinyer of chakra armour and light gauntlets fashioned by Daki. Blood streamed down his forearm; the cut was quite deep but thankfully not debilitating. His fingers were still fully responsive as was his grip, it just hurt. Frostpletely ignored the pain and used this opportunity to enact some revenge. At practically the same moment Indra''s katana was slicing the back of his right hand, his left hand aimed directly for Indra''s face. "[Freezing fireball]" a small sphere of silver cold fire was instantly created before his left hand and hurled directly at Indra''s face, catching the lightning speedster by surprise, forcing him to quickly protect his face and back away. His sudden attack was thus brought to a halt, preventing any further damage but Frost wasn''t about to let him go that easily. The still falling ive was caught by his foot and kicked back into his hands. Catching it stung but Frost ignored the pain as he activated one of his weapon skills. "[Ice piercer]" With the activation words Frost kicked off from his position, dashing straight for the retreating Indra with his ive wrenched back, building up its pration strength. A spear head of ice formed at the tip of the ive as he drew near. Indra was now the one being surprised by his opponent''s speed. ''Fuck!'' He internally cursed as he rotated his body to avoid the majority of blow, but he wasn''t quite fast enough. Squelch! The head of the ive cut into Indra''s left thigh, drawing enough blood to dye the tip red. Indra rapidly escaped into the distance after kicking away with right foot. The two brothers then stared at one another as they dripped blood onto the arena. Frost''s right hand was injured which was sure to affect his ability to swing his ive at least somewhat while Indra received a cut across his left thigh which would likely dampen his terrifying speed. Though Indra was bleeding more due to the location of the wound it was hard to guess who received more damage. This fight was still anyone''s game. Drip Drip Drip Drip A few seconds of silence passed between the two of them as their wounds dripped blood onto the arena. A million thoughts and simtions ran through their minds as they analysed their previous exchanges and tried to think of ways to take the other down. The pain in their hand and thigh respectively made the danger of this duel all the more real and..exciting. Wild almost maddened smiles formed on their lips as their hearts started thumping away, demanding more onught. As if in sync both Frost and Indra activated their chakra over their wounds at the same, one freezing the area to stop the blood and the other cauterising it before charging towards each other with their weapons drawn. A terrifying exchange of blows followed with more and more wounds being opened across their bodies. 30 minutester puddles of blood littered the battlefield, and the two duellists were practically dyed red. Their robes torn to shreds and their armour obliterated thanks the swings of their weapons and destructive magic. Their upper bodies were thusid bare thanks to the battle, their clearly defined physiques on full disy for their observers to ogle at which they did with gusto. Izuna and Maya had their eyes wrenched open as wide as they could go, allowing them to fully take in the fabulous sight before them. If this wasn''t beauty then what was. Even the red blood dripping down their chests was mesmerising to them. A few wolf whistles could asionally be heard from the spectators along with demands to cut off more clothing and armour. The girls were probably having just as much if not more fun than their charges. Dark who was sitting high up in his floating pnquin smiled with pride as he witnessed the fire between his children and the admiration in the eyes of their guardians. This liveliness was exactly what he wanted for them. It was the dream of every father, for their children to be happy and enjoy their lives to the fullest. Of course he was asionally on the edge of seat at times whenever the duel grew perilous, but the ''innocent'' smiles stered across his sons'' lips whenever they shed eased his worries. Though bloody and even outright vicious the duel was still fun in their eyes, so he saw no reason to end it prematurely. Chapter 573: Chapter 573: The duels conclusion "Hu hu hu hu hu" "Hu hu hu hu hu" Both Frost and Indra red at one another as they panted and trembled from exhaustion. The two had been battling with all they had for the past hour with neither backing down. No matter how much blood was spilled or how much armour was chipped away they remained standing, refusing to fall in defeat. At this point it was a veritable miracle that either of them were still standing let alone having the strength to swing their weapons with enough force to destroy the stone arena. "Dammit. why won''t. you fall?" Indra asked with half opened eyes, his stance faltering and breathing be moreboured with every word spoken. He was so tired he couldn''t even think straight but even so he refused to fall down. ".. Fall? Me?.. I''m full of .. energy why would. I fall?" Frost responded in a no less exhausted manner, even smirking was difficult. It was clear from their battle that the two of them were evenly matched therefore victory would be decided by whoever had the strongest will and or desire for victory. The audience members would watched the entire duel with their butts hovering over the end of their seats still had no idea who''de out the victor, Frost and Indra were just too evenly matched. However at this point the duel''s excitement had run its course. No longer was it a contest of skill but stubbornness, far less interesting to watch. Dark felt a strong urge to end the duel at this point. His sons had proved their mettle and came out equal. Prolonging this disy of stubbornness served to only further their injuries unnecessarily. The duel was exciting and thrilling to watch in the beginning but now their shes no longer provided improvement to their mastery, mere shadows of what they used to represent. It was time to call it. "Haaaaaa" Dark let out a deep sigh as he struggled with his decision. He wondered if his stubborn sons would ept such a result, would they hold it against him or perhaps escte their friendly rivalry down a dark path? Regardless he raised his hand into the air and was prepared to call an end to the long duel. however. Indra who was seemingly about to crash perked up as though he was injected with stimnts. His eyes blinked rapidly, and a look of confusion and surprise adorned his tired face before he turned to gaze at Izuna. The beautiful celestial fox woman was on her feet and donned a determined expression as she nodded her head. A growing pink blush formed across her cheeks as power filled Indra''s body. The once exhausted lightning speedster immediately stopped hisboured breathing and stood ramrod straight as lightning tendrils flickered around his blood covered body. A predatory smile then adorned his lips as his aura burst forth with unbridled force, cracking the stone beneath his feet and pushing back the stunned Frost. ''What the hell!'' Frost internally screamed as he witnessed Indra summoning strength from who knows where. ''Was he just pretending to be exhausted?'' Fear and jealously gripped his heart, how could Indra still have strength left? Dark who was about to call the duel a draw stopped his actions as he analysed both Indra and Izuna. He immediately thought of foul y, but the strength Indra summoned was his own. Something changed, allowing Indra to tapped into some hidden well of energy. ''What happened?'' Even though he was the majestic Dark God he had no idea what transpired. But regardless, now that Indra had the strength to properly fight there was no longer any need to call the duel a draw. Even with the sudden surge of power Frost refused to surrender. He stubbornly dug his ive into the stone arena and braced his body against the raging waves of aura that threatened to tear him apart. His many open wounds were agitated, causing streams of fresh blood to roll across his body but still he refused to fall. ''If Indra can find some hidden well of energy then why can''t I?'' He desperately searched inside himself andmuned with his dungeon core heart, hoping to unleash something that would allow him topete with Indra.but he found nothing. No hidden spring or source of untapped energy, he waspletely devoid of strength. Despair filled his eyes as he gazed at his brother who readied his katana. "Sorry little brother but it seems I can''t afford to lose this duel. Not when there''s such a precious reward waiting for me once it''s over." An expression full of fervent desire covered Indra''s face as readied his katana for a final blow. He no longer cared about the duel or the chance to test himself against his younger brother, all that mattered to him now were the words of his guardian. Indra''s deration caused Dark and Maya to look at Izuna in question, wondering what on Nova could she have promised to cause such a reaction in Indra. The fox in question couldn''t stop her blush from intensifying. Maya''s inquisitive gaze was especially hard to endure. "What the hell did you promise?" Maya asked with both coldness and curiosity in her eyes. "NN..NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!!" By this point Izuna''s face waspletely red from embarrassment. Sheshed out like a cat getting her tail stepped on and refused to utter another word, instead covering her face with her hands as she sat down on her seat, her heart in genuine turmoil. Maya only grew more and more curious, she stared at Izuna''s squirming form and refusal to even look her way. It only took her a second or two to understand that it must have been something lewd. ''This sneaky bitch.'' She never thought that to win this duel Izuna would resort to using herself as a prize. Plus given the extreme reaction shown by both her and Indra it was clear that she offered something very, very special. She absolutely needed to know what it was but right it was necessary to level the ying field. Just as Indra started moving, preparing to end this duel in a single strike, Frost''s ears twitched as Maya''s voice appeared within his head. Simr to what happened to Indra, Frost looked distracted and confused for a moment before ncing over at his guardian as if unable to believe what he was hearing. "This is the end little brother." Indra moved with speed almostparable to when they first started using their auras, a speed far greater than Frost should be capable of handling in his exhausted state. Indra''s katana swung down with immense speed, cutting apart the air as it aimed lob off Frost''s dominant arm. As long as he didn''t kill him he was confident their father or at least their guardians would be able to repair all manner of damage, so he really didn''t let up. Unfortunately with his mind so focused on the promised reward he failed to spot the sudden change within his brother. DOOOOOONNNNNNN!!!! A magnificent explosion of soundwaves reverberated throughout the space as Indra''s katana met not with Frost''s flesh but with the de edge of his ive, swung with no less force than his own weapon. A look of confusion flittered through Indra''s eyes before a sense of danger wrapped itself around his heart. "Shit!" He backed away just in time to avoid a nasty knee to the gut and now he had the opportunity to witness the full changes in Frost''s demeanour. "Ehhh!" Frost''s eyes held a freezing energy that made Indra''s nerves tighten as his gaze wondered over him. His chakra armour quickly repaired itself with wisps of cold fire wrapping around his ive and body in a protective manner. "No Indra, I''ll be the one deciding when we end." He spoke with an eery chill. The two brothers stared at one another for a couple seconds as their powers continued to grow. "Seems you''ve been offered something as well." "Indeed." "Hmph! No matter." Indra readied his katana. "Nothing will stop me from getting my reward! Prepare to lose little brother!" The lightning swarming around Indra''s katana changed colour, switching from yellow to almost azure. His next attack would be unlike any other. He was adamant in being the victor this day. "I refuse! You will be the one to fall today Indra. The reward shall be mine to enjoy." Frost readied his ive, his cold fire chakra and aurabining to amplifying the weapon''s lethality to extreme levels. Clearly the two of them were not talking about the 40,000DP reward but rather what was offered by their two blushing guardians. "Horn dogs, my sons areplete horn dogs." Dark would have to bepletely clueless to still not understand what happened. His two sons were clearly promised something very, very special by their guardians upon their victory, so much so that they managed to summon strength out of nowhere just for the sake of obtaining that special reward. The Dark God was twitching at the lips as he felt both proud and ashamed of his sons. ''Ah screw it!'' He decided to simply ignore the reasoning for their sudden revival and focus on the duel''s end. Despite being suddenly imbued with power it was likely only a temporary state brought on by their strong desire. ''One blow, perhaps two that''s all they''ll get before copsing.'' Frost and Indra knew their situation and decided to risk their victory on one single exchange. Whoever survives would get to relish in their promised reward. The two brothers stared into one another''s eyes before moving at the exact same time. Whooosh! Schwing! Their forms vanished before reappearing a millisecondter where the other started. Silence filled the arena as both stood still. Spurt! A momentter a geyser of blood erupted from Frost''s left shoulder and Indra''s right shoulder respectively. Their chakra armour and aura gradually fell apart revealing gnarly, deep cuts spanning most of their torso. ""Lucky hit!"" The two of them both muttered through throats filled with blood before copsing onto the arena at the same time. Neither moved as blood continued to drain from their bodies at a terrifying rate. The situation was so sudden that Izuna, Maya and Dark were caught unaware before immediately moving into action a few secondster in distress. "Frost!!!" "Indra!!!!" Chapter 574: Chapter 574: The duels conclusion (2) Maya and Izuna appeared within a sh by their charges'' sides, cradling their heads against their bodies as they inspected the gravity of their wounds. However just when they were about cast their most powerful healing spells. "Don''t. let me." Dark floated down from his luxurious pnquin with a concerned expression on his face, truly worried about the conditions of his two sons. Then with a simple wave of his hand divine energy was summoned beneath Frost and Indra, safely wrapping them up in a ck cocoon. Divine energy was far more effective than any healing spell especially when utilised by the mighty Dark God. Once the cocoons were finished Dark let out a repressed breath before smiling gently at the two shocked guardians. "Rx, they''ll be fine. I''m sure they''ll still be able to enjoy whatever you two promised them hahahaha." Darkughed mockingly causing the two girls to blush. "TT.Technically he didn''t win so I don''t need to give it up." Izuna tried to worm her way out of her promise, her body squirming and her eyes looking into the distance as she did. Her actions only drew Maya''s curiosity. "Really? What on Nova did you actually promise him?" She really, really wanted no, needed to know. "None of your business!" Izuna snapped back at her friend and rival, determined that she''d be thest person she''d ever tell. "Ohe on be a friend, I''ll tell you all about my promise as well the things Frost, and I get up to in our free time." Maya was absolutely determined to get the answer out of Izuna even to the extent of bbing about her own secrets. Thanks to Frost''s frequency and the inclusion of Daki she''d long lost a lot of her shame when it came to lewd activities. A stark contrast to her inexperienced self from several months ago. Maya continued to pester her friend, whispering in her ear with tempting offers and cing her hands on her body in a teasing manner as she guessed what the reward could be. Dark meanwhile was thinking back on his choice of guardians. Was teaming up Maya and Izuna with Frost and Indra really the right call. ording to his initial evaluations and knowledge of their personalities he suspected that they''d get along, but this was a bit much and far too soon. His gaze then wandered over to the ck cocoons holding his sons. ''It must have been their doing, I''m sure they''re the ones responsible for corrupting these two girls.'' He instantly med his sons for the changes in Maya and Izuna. A few minutester, after Maya finally got the answer she was looking for thanks to her incessant pestering and asking of Dark to cover his ears so Izuna could safely reveal her shame, the ck cocoons containing Frost and Indra started fracturing. Bright divine light escaped the cracks before the ck shells dissipated revealing the undamaged forms of Frost and Indra. The two woke up immediately in confusion and inspected their bodies. Finding not a single wound they turned to their father and guardians. "Ehhh why''s your face so pink?" Frost asked the moment he saw Maya''s blushing cheeks. "NN...Nothing." She squeamishly replied, her gaze repeatedly drifting towards Izuna''s magnificent rear. "Hit hum!" Dark loudly coughed so as to steer the conversation in a more graceful manner. "That was quite the duel my sons, especially thest bout, very enjoyable to watch indeed." Dark nodded his head and showed a wide smile. "Not the end I was expecting but sometimes the unexpected is more interesting." Frost and Indra looked at one another before tilting their heads to the side. They both passed out the moment after saying ''lucky hit'' so the victor was still unknown to them. "Who won old man?" Indra loudly questioned as he started remembering the reward promised by Izuna. The young celestial fox felt the intense desire in his tone and shivered, biting her lower lip as she struggled to look directly at her charge. "Geez! You''re the only one that refers to me as ''old man'' Indra why can''t you be more lovable like one of your sisters." Dark shook his head in disappointment. His daughters were much cuter than his sons. "Tch it''s a term of endearment old man now tell us who won the duel." Indra brushed off his father''sint and continued to hound him for an answer. "Please father we need to know." Frost joined his brother in their request, the look in his eyes only slightly less fervent than Indra''s. "Haaaaaaa can you not be so obvious with your desires. Here I am trying to be all civil in regards to this official duel yet all you two can do is think with your lower halves. Why are my sons like this, what did I do to deserve this." Dark continued to loudlyin, slightly embarrassing Maya and Izuna but the boys were having none of it. ""Who won!"" They asked again with aura suffused into their words. They couldn''t have been any more obvious. "A DRAW!! IT WAS A DRAW OK!!!" Dark snapped, roaring the answer before showing a mocking smirk. ''Hahahaha with no winner there''s no reward for either of you hahahaha!!'' Dark''s revtion took a few seconds to sink in. "A draw" Frost and Indra blinked their eyes repeatedly and looked towards their guardians for confirmation. After seeing them nod their head their gazes focused on the floor beneath before. "DAMNNITT!!!!!" Frost screamed at the top of his lungs and punched the ground with unrestrained fury. "WHY THE FUCK IS IT A DRAW! Now neither of us gets rewarded!" Indra also punched the ground with great force before falling to his knees in despair. If thest ditch encouragement from their guardians never happened they''d likely be celebrating such a result, hell they may have even hugged while leaping up and down. Now however they only felt dispirited and robbed. The promise of riches dangled before them only to be snatched away at thest moment, proving their efforts worthless. Dark watched this debacle with twitching lips, his frustration growing at an rming rate. He couldn''te to grips with the fact that two people who seemingly lived for battle and had so much fun with their duel were falling into despair just because they lost the chance to engage in certain lewd acts with their guardians. It was an insult to the duel they just took part in. He refused to let this stand. Bonk! Bonk! ""OW!"" Dark rattled his fists against their heads with a sufficient amount of force. "You two stop this nonsense right now. Starting acting like respectable men or I promise I won''t be as lenient with the next blow." A dark swirl of energy wrapped itself around Dark''s fist, making for quite the intimidating sight. In response to his threat the two dungeon cores wallowing in despair shivered in fear as their hearts warned them of overwhelming danger. Their dad wasn''t kidding. Fearing the promise of further pain the two of them rose to their feet and faced their old man with nervous expressions. "It seems the two of have forgotten everything else in leu of private rewards hmph! Did the two of you not enjoy testing your skills against one another? Did you not enjoy the thrill of the fight? The chance to push yourselves beyond what you thought was possible. Were those wild smiles of yours a lie?" Dark spoke with intense gravitas instinctively making his sons tremble before him, struggling to meet his disappointed gaze. ""...Sorry father"" Eventually the two young men apologised with their heads down, feeling rather foolish about their actions. How could theypletely forget the joy and exhration they felt as they shed against one another because of a few choice words from their guardians. Their sights thus drifted towards the women standing by Dark''s side with awkward expressions. "Don''t you darey the me on those two. You two were the ones who acted like a pair of brats after hearing the duel''s results!" ""Ugh! Sorry father"" They were forced to apologise again. Dark''s fists were still shrouded in that ck energy as if waiting for another opportunity to smack them. "Hehehe" Maya and Izuna failed to fully restrain their giggling thus drawing Dark''s ire away from his sons. "Don''t think you two arepletely innocent in this debacle. If you two hadn''t promised something so tempting these two idiots wouldn''t have acted so shamefully and ruined an otherwise joyful event." ""Sorry Dark God-sama"" The two guardians quickly found themselves bowing their heads in apology. Perhaps they did go a little too far. Dark ranted for several more minutes until his disappointment was appeased and he could smile happily again. His kids and their guardians learned their lesson, so it was time to bring an end to this duel. "Well the initial agreement was that I''d hand over 10,000DP to the winner while the loser would get a free low rank gatcha spin. The two of you also decided to wage a further 30,000DP of your own reserves on the oue of this duel. However, there is no winner, nor is there a loser. Your duel ended in a tie, an unexpected oue and one that hadn''t been taken into ount when we set up our initial agreement." Dark expressed difficulty, cupping his chin as he thought and paced around the rebuilt arena. "However it would a great disservice on my part if I didn''t grant you a single reward after witnessing such a heroic sh, your behaviour afterwards being excluded of course hehehehe." Dark once again mocked his children beforeing up with apromise. "How about 3000DP each and a free low rank gatcha spin, sound fair." "Yes father, that sounds very fair." Frost was ''happy'' with Dark''s offer as was Indra. Something was better than nothing after all. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 575: Chapter 575: The duels conclusion (3) "Good. Overall I believe this exhibition duel worked out pretty well. Though I prefer the dungeon wars I''ll uphold my side of the deal and allow duelling to be incorporated into the dungeon system with the previously mentioned costs and limitations." Dark smiled and spoke gently, internally grateful for Indra''s incessant pestering. Granting his children more opportunities to interact was definitely a good thing. Family should be close after all. Dark waved his hands causing a notification to appear on Frost''s and Indra''s dungeon menu. "I''ve transferred 3000DP to each of you as well as a free low rank gatcha spin. Feel free to use them however you see fit and thank you for such an enjoyable experience." Dark then ruffled Frost''s and Indra''s hair with affection before bidding farewell. "Remember to work hard and enjoy Nova''s many delights. I''ll see the four of you again at the next family gathering, farewell." With those final words a ck warp in space formed behind Dark and swallowed him whole, transferring him away from the duelling space. Thus leaving Frost, Indra, Maya and Izuna to ponder over his words and the results of the duel. Hearing of the next family gathering should have been a positive thing that brought smiles to their faces, but instead troubled frowns decorated their expressions. The next family gathering would mark the first anniversary of the dungeon cores'' birth as well as the start of their independence. Guardians such as Maya and Izuna were set to leave their charge''s side at that moment, removing the training wheels ced on them. Supposedly this was meant to promote growth within the dungeon cores. The guardian''s had one whole year to prepare them for the dangers of the world and train them how to properly utilise their immense potential. However for multiple pairs the rtionship between charge and guardian had evolved into something more. Frost and Maya were dating, and it wasn''t some casual fling but a serious rtionship which neither of them wished to give up. The uing family gathering was thus an event that could see them separated forever unless they got Dark''s approval. So far however the man had been rather ambiguous and evasive whenever the question came up, leaving many partners worried for their future. "Ahhhhh it doesn''t matter what that old man says I won''t be letting you go!" Indra loudly dered at the top of voice. "...Um what are you doing?" Izuna asked with a perplexed expression,pletely blown away by Indra''s actions. Her wild looking young master was currently wrapping her up in his arms in a loving manner, at least on the surface. Truthfully his eyes which were instead full of lust rather love were primed on her bountiful rear as were his perverted hands, squeezing and groping it without restraint. "Enjoying what''s mine hehehehe" Indra let out a pervertedugh as his mind ran wild with fantasy. His so called words of love were in fact words of lust aimed at her ass rather than her. "...." Izuna blinked her eyes rapidly as Indra''s words and perverted actions sunk in. Boooooommmmm!!! It didn''t take long for Izuna to uppercut Indra right in the jaw, sending the recently healed lightning speedster flying through the air. Her face red and full of anger and shame. She could already feel Maya''s mocking gaze and restrained snicker. ''This damn bastard really knows no shame. When I get through with him he''s gonna wish he''d never been born.'' She internally cursed before smiling kindly towards Frost. "Apologies young master Frost for such an embarrassing disy. We''ll be leaving now farewell." She politely bowed her head before quickly scrambling over to the knocked down Indra. Grabbing him painfully she forcibly opened up the dungeon menu to depart from the duelling space. ".But you promised." Frost only managed to catch a couple words from Indra before the two vanished into a spatial warp. "..Hahahahahaha." Eventually Maya couldn''t hold back herughter. "I''m guessing I''m missing something." Frost also thought the situation was a little funny but not to the extent of tearing at the eyes like Maya was. "Yeah a BIG something hahahahaha." Maya continued tough until her stomach hurt. Frost watched her with joy and a gentle smile before wrapping her in a hug from behind. "I also won''t let go of what''s mine regardless of what my father says. Your ce is by my side Maya." He whispered loving words into her ears as he tightened his grip around her. Unlike Indra he was referring to Maya in her entirety thus she blushed rather than hitting him. "So possessive." Maya turned her head and pretended to admonish him while relishing in his grip. "When the fruit''s so sweet I''d be a full to let anyone else have it." Frost nibbled on her right ear causing Maya to let out a seductive moan before he ced his lips on hers for a deep kiss. The two enjoyed their moment for a couple minutes before breaking apart. "So are you going to tell the reason for your unrestrainedughter?" "Ummm." Maya who was still blushing from the kiss looked side to side and even used her mana to check the surrounding area. "Alright she''s definitely gone and there''s no one else spying." She gestured Frost to lean down so she could whisper into his ear, her blush growing with every second. "..Eh for real?" Frost asked with wide open eyes, wondering if he heard Maya right. "Un" Maya nodded her head, too embarrassed to say any more to him with the blush on her cheeks already spreading to her neck. "..." Frost slowly pondered Maya''s revtion. A wild and perverted smile growing on his lips as the images became clearer. His eyes filled with intense desire wandered down towards Maya''s -though nowhere near as bountiful as Izuna''s-rge ass. "Don''t even think about it!" "But!" "No! It''s not happening! Never, ever, ever!" Maya was quick to shoot down Frost''s developing thoughts. "Why not?" Unfortunately now that the image was stuck in his head Frost was fairly determined in seeing it through. "Why! You''re asking why!" Maya pushed against Frost''s chest and gestured towards her ass. "I''m very proud of what I''ve got here butpared to Izuna I''m practically tiny so there''s no way I''m going to do something that even she with her colossal ass is afraid of doing!" She was adamant in her refusal, no matter what Frost offered, tempted or even threatened there was no way she was going to agree to such acts. Frost frowned in disappointment but continued to think of ways to convince her. "If size is the issue we can just change your diet and workouts, I hear cakes are great for developing that." His suggestion was cut short by a fierce re. His skin then developed goosebumps as genuine fear wrapped around his heart. One more word could very well spell the end of his existence at least that''s what his instincts were telling him. "This discussion is over, am I clear!" Maya stated with a cold expression, her bloodlust and even aura suffused into her words. ".Ok" Frost waved his hands in defeat, understanding her position well. She truly had no interest in engaging in such proclivities with him despite her rival doing so with his brother. After ring at him for a few seconds Maya stopped her intimidation and let out a sigh, feeling the smallest amount of regret. Why couldn''t she be blessed with a naturally massive rear like Izuna or perhaps more daring in her personality. "If you want to engage in such actions talk to Daki, maybe she''ll be more open to it." She decided to pawn him off to her sister girlfriend instead. Of course such words caused Frost to once again enter dreand as he fantasized about his green enchantress which immediately irritated Maya despite her being the cause of his wayward thoughts. Her pouting expression was just too cute to resist. Frost once again pulled her into his embrace and whispered into her ear. "Now that I remember didn''t you also promise me a special something." His words caused Maya to visibly shiver as she looked up at his face. Her lips twitched as remorse filled her body, she hoped he had forgotten about that ''offer''. "WWell that was if you won the duelyou didn''t so no reward." She looked to the side, afraid to meet his gaze. "Hmmm is that so." He smiled like a devil. "So not only did you get my hopes up by telling me all about Izuna''s promise to Indra just for you to deny offering it yourself, ever. You''re now denying me any reward whatsoever despite me trying my very best against him is that right?" "Ugh!" His words made Maya groan. "Ahhhh my girlfriend''s so mean to me, how cruel." He started to fake cry, acting hurt from her actions. "Ugh!" Maya groaned once again as her guilt climbed. "Boohoo thankfully I have another woman by my side who''s far more caring. I guess I''ll have to go to her forfort, ah my beautiful Daki." As he was about to open the dungeon menu so as to teleport into Daki''s arms, his robe was grabbed by a dainty white hand halting his actions. "Maya." He called her name like a devil, tempting a soul. ".You''re such a bully." She said with a reddened face, pouting expression and tearing eyes. So cute. "Yes but I''m your bully." He then pulled her in for a kiss before slowly peeling away her red qipao dress. He thus managed to receive some form of reward that was much to his satisfaction despite only drawing against his brother. Chapter 576: Chapter 576: Dungeon development Frost and Maya teleported out of the duelling space several hourster after having their fun. And with their departure the duelling space violently shook before erasing all its features, returning to a nk canvas ready to be re-designed for the next duel. The two arrived back in the private space hand in hand a momentter with their rtionship closer than ever. "Ah Master, Maya wee back. How did the duel with Lord Indra go?" Nanna who was sitting on the sofa and perusing through the dungeon menu questioned with a beaming smile, her fingers crossed, hoping to hear the gant tale of her master''s victory. Unfortunately she was destined to be disappointed. "Haaaaa unfortunately I didn''t win Nanna. Indra was just too strong. I barely even seeded in wing out a draw thanks to Maya''s encouragement." His words earned him a coy look from the woman attached to his hip, but he simply ignored it. "Ohthat''s unfortunate but I''m sure you''ll win next time master, don''t be sad." Nanna moved from her seat on the sofa to pat Frost''s head in a soothing manner which brought a bright smile to his face. "You''re so adorable Nanna what did I ever do to deserve you." Frost picked up the young phoenix kin and rubbed his smooth chin against her like a father to his child. Nanna was of course embarrassed from his actions but said nothing to stop him bar blushing from head to toe. "Yeah she''s far too cute for someone like you isn''t that right Nanna dear." Maya couldn''t help but steal Nanna away from his arms, holding onto her with even more affection. Their Nanna was just too cute. After ten minutes of getting their Nanna recharge the couple let the young girl go, smiling from ear to ear after getting their fix. "How was the dungeon while we were away?" Frost now sat beside Nanna on the sofa as she manoeuvred through the dungeon screen disyed above the pseudo core. "Perfectly normal master, in fact pretty uneventful." He and Maya were only gone for several hours but that was enough time for a strong party to deal some real damage if left unchecked. "The regrs repeated their usual delves, some groups made it deeper while others were devoured, same old same old." Nanna shrugged her shoulders with evident disappointment. "When ites to losses our numbers were pretty low and restricted solely to those summoned through spawners, overall, a pretty profitable evening." Though dull and basic it was in fact the best result for the dungeon especially when its master and mistress were absent. The actions Nanna, Loki, Daki, Khuno and Finy could take were still limited after all. "Fantastic, I''ll have to reward you and your brother for doing such a good job in our absence." Frost took over control of the screen, transitioning towards the food section for sweets and desserts. Choosing was actually quite easy whichever picture caused the strongest reaction in Nanna''s expression won. In this case it was a strawberry cheesecake. "Thank you master." Nanna visibly beamed as she dug into the sweet cheesecake, rubbing her cheeks in glee with every bite. "No problem you deserve it." The small amount of DP he just spent was already paying dividends, she was just that cute. "What about the camp? How''s business and where''s your brother and Daki?" Frost gently stroke Nanna''s blue hair as she ate. "Umm other than a couple spats between visitors and the usual troublemakers, some of the more ''privileged'' visitors have beenining about theck of service and wait times." The camp had been developing at an extreme rate thanks to Frost''s substantialbour force and methods but even then it seemed to be too slow for the iing traffic. For example the Sleeping Fenrir and other higher ranked hotels were always fully booked, greatly disappointing those who were toote to the party. "Guess I''ll have to increase the camp''s development speed." Frost rubbed his chin as he re-examined his initial ns. He really wanted to start work on the ''floor of peace'', but the camp always needed thebour teams'' full attention. ''That 40,000DP would have been perfect for expanding my workforce. Haaaaaa looks like I''ll just need to dip into the reserve budget.'' Frost shook his head, refusing to furtherment hisck of victory. At least it wasn''t it a loss. Though 3000DP was but a fraction of what he would have gotten if he won, it was better than nothing. As Frost was pondering how to spend his well-earned DP Nanna continued. "Daki''s in her personal forge, churning out as much 2 and 3 star equipment as she can so as to keep up with the camp''s ever growing demand while Loki''s helping out at the medical clinic. Daki suggested for him to take up education under our witchdoctors and priests whenever he''s free given that he has pretty much zero interest in following her craft." "Good, I''m d Loki''s found something that interests him. What about you, how''s your cooking skillsing along?" "Umm pretty good I think but there''s a limit to what I can learn simply through books and Maya''s tutge." Maya could teach her house level skills but for her to truly advance as a chef she needed a proper tutor. "You want to learn from a professional?" "Un, If I really want to improve then yes." Frost cupped his chin in thought. Currently the dungeon had no monsters with cooking skills, nor were there any avable for purchase, though a few had personal interest like Nanna none were particrly gifted. "I''ll look into finding you a good teacher." "Thank you master." Nanna reached up over and pecked him on the cheek before digging back into her cheesecake. "Muhmuhmuh" Maya grumbled with jealousy from the nearby table, she wanted to be fawned over by Nanna too. She also regretted the fact that her skills were only at the home cook level, shecked the necessary qualities to raise Nanna as a spirit chef which was her dream. After hearing Nanna''s full report Frost spoke with Khuno and Finy before joining up with Loki and finally Daki. Like Nanna they all tried tofort him after hearing about his failed victory, Daki''sforting being particrly pleasant. He brought up the promise Maya failed to uphold as well as the one Izuna promised his brother and fortunately unlike Maya his green enchantress was much more daring, in fact she was quite enthusiastic with any lewd scenario her lover came up with. Despite a fair amount of difficulty and even pain, that night was by far one of the most magical experiences he had ever experienced. "Ahhhh this is the life." He said while leaning back in bed with Daki and Maya resting peacefully by his sides. Any anguish he felt over his draw with Indra was thus vanished, reced with far more pleasant memories. Life in the dungeon of Niflheim continued unabated. DP continued to be raked in thanks to the popce passively residing in the camp as well as the daredevils delving into the dungeon itself. The many businesses operating within the camp grew both in size, and poprity as word spread throughout the Yangmir continent. The Dungeon of Niflheim was quickly bing the ce to be for any active adventurer below B-rank. Coins flooded in, to the point that Frost was able to safely start transforming his gold into extra DP which he then spent on further expanding the dungeon. A little over 3 months since the duel with Indra the once 10 floor dungeon (Not including the floor of peace) was now sitting at 12 floors. Not that much deeper but far wider than before. Most of the DP was used to add new sections to the existing floors. The first floor was now effectively 3 times its original size as was the 2nd and 3rd floors given that they were the most popr. So many young and ambitious E and even F-rank adventurers flocked to the dungeon hoping to dip their feet into the waters that was dungeon/monsterir delving. It was too dangerous for these groups to delve below the 3rd floor thus Frost focused on expanding the areas that could be essed by this plentiful majority. After that the following floors were each given at least 2 or 3 extra sections, thus greatly expanding the dungeon''s total size. The floor of peace aka floor 5.5 where no aggressive monsters resided was now home to some makeshift camps that catered as rest stations for those in need of sanctuary. There was still a lot of work to do but the foundations were there. Daki''s forge which was also present on this floor had been expanded upon her request and attached to an additional 3 mines which she had full reign over, much to her delight. Excess iron and other low rank materials that couldn''t be turned into equipment or used in the camp''s construction was thus used as trading materials for the trade caravans that journeyed between both Frost''s territory, Kranor and Furano. Gems, magic stones, and monster materials were also part of the outgoing trade resources. The Dungeon of Niflheim was slowlying into its own as an established territory. Soon they''d be able to truly delve into unique trades, offering items that couldn''t be found anywhere else in the surrounding area. Frost''s frequent interactions with his siblings through the dungeon menu granted him never-ending insights into unique products. Aqua had created and designed a new fish monster thatcked much fighting strength but was absolutely delectable once cooked. Her Abelina fish had taken the nearby underwater kingdoms and coastal territories by storm thus providing her more than a pretty penny as well as fanatical customers. Indra discovered a special type of gemstone that reacted uniquely with lightning chakra to create mesmerising colours across its surface. Acting swiftly upon this discovery he purchased multiple gem mines for his dungeon and started exporting the brand new fashion trend. Opposed to products that brought coin ie Void and Chronos started selling scrolls of their unique spells to their siblings while Damascus epted orders to forge personal weapons. Even with the 4 star ive [wolf howling at the moon] at his side Frost was tempted to request a weapon from his younger brother who''d already reached the same level as Borris, a 4 star cksmith. Chapter 577: Chapter 577: Dungeon development (2) Dark''s prized children were quickly making their marks upon Nova, bringing a bright smile to the old god''s face. "Things seem to be progressing well, even better than I hoped." Dark sat in his prized garden with a ss of his personally brewed wine in hand, gazing at multiple screens that showed the lives of his children. "So diverse and already I can see signs of the stagnation lifting." He nodded his head while praising his own genius before frowning. "Light, what are you doing?" The Light God his creationist counterpart already dered his disgust for the dungeon cores, demanding their immediate destruction shortly after their birth. The man had been hard at work in the background trying to conjure up favour among the other Gods as with their support he may be able to overturn their stalemate. Unfortunately for him not many agreed with his views, seeing him as being nothing but paranoid, afraid of change and untrusting towards anything new after the events of the church of light. This of course angered Light greatly and only furthered his vendetta against the dungeon cores. Dark was starting to get worried about his friend, fearful of what he might do. "Haaaaaaa all I can do is hope for the best. Prepare yourselves my children, only with strength can you endure what he ns to throw at you." Dark particrly worried about some of the youngest cores, unlike their elder siblings they were barely scaping by when it came developing their own dungeons but even, so he refused to lend a hand. Their lives and destinies were their own, he had provided enough aid. Back to the Dungeon of Niflheim. With the dungeon''s continued development and poprity more and more people flocked into the camp, quickly filling out the remaining space. Shops, hotels, workshops and permanent residences cropped up everyday thanks to Frost and his workforce but even then it didn''t seem to be enough. More and more people wanted to settle down and invest in his territory, the dungeon of Niflheim had be a real hotspot. Alongside new buildings farms were being developed in the southeast corner of the camp as well as beyond the southern wall. With the trading caravans as well as the vast poption it had be necessary for the camp to start growing its own fruits and vegetables. Purchasing through the dungeon menu was quite efficient but difficult to rationalise over a long period time especially for a growing poption, thus the farms. There was even few secret farms run by his monsters on the lower floors that provided extra crops as well as the ingredients needed for the Sleeping Fenrir and Nanna''s cooking experiments. Frost failed to find a suitable long term teacher for Nanna in the past three months, but he had arranged for her to intern under some of the chefs working in the new inns and restaurants. His position as territory lord granted him enough influence to easily persuade these professionals despite Nanna''sck in experience. Their fears however were unfounded, the young phoenix kin worked incredibly hard and quickly showed off her talents, winning over the stubborn head chefs who despised amateurs in the workce. While Nanna worked towards her goal in bing a first rate spirit chef Loki studied under the highest ranked troll witchdoctors and ice dwarf priests, soaking up their medical knowledge. He was adamant in bing the ultimate doctor that could heal any of his family''s injuries and illnesses. Daki frequently exchanged smithing knowledge with Borris thus making great strides in her craft while Frost continued to train with Maya and asionally Finy, slowly but surely improving his strength. His magic capabilities were set to break into the B-rank any day now. Yes, everything seemed to going swimmingly for Frost and his family. The same however couldn''t be said of the Furano household and the Northrend empire. Frost was currently sitting in his office and conversing with Dous through amunication crystal. "Things are getting pretty heated here Frost. You need to be wary of anyone suspicious entering your territory and by no means should you visit Furano or the Northrend empire." Dous warned with an exhausted expression. Ever since the 2nd prince of the empire allegedly tried to assassinate Frost and the crown prince''s inadequacies brought to light multiple battles happened in the dark. The fight for the throne had begun and it was clear that no small amount of blood would be shed. The Furanos'' fervent attacks against the 2nd prince in retaliation to his actions towards Frost prompted the eldest prince to make moves of his own, hoping to finally put an end to his younger brother''s ambitions before he had the chance to shake his position as crown prince. The emperor was powerless to stop the events that were transpiring as fighting for throne was natural, he only hoped that the damage to the empire would be minimal but unfortunately that seemed impossible. He frequently chided Dous for forcing these events to start prematurely but the stubborn Viscount refused to admit any fault, annoying him to no end. Currently the empire was covered in spies thus making the entire ce dangerous for an outsider like Frost. Both the crown prince and the 2nd prince would love to see him fall after all. "Thanks for the warning my friend, I''ll be sure to keep my eyes open. How are you doing by the way? You look exhausted." "Haaaaa I''ve certainly been better. I wish this confrontation between the princes would have happened a few years down the line when Leo could have taken up the mantle." Dous was tired and worried for his family; assassinations weremonce but more annoying was the sanctions and embargos set up by rival nobles who were jealous of their position. The war for the throne gave them the go ahead to act on their whims. The territory that was previously wrecked by Alex''s despicable management and struggling to recover was now being assaulted by its neighbours. If it wasn''t for the monster stampede the Viscounty would be really struggling right now, financially speaking. "But it''s no useining about what''s already happened. Our house will survive thispetition for the throne just like we always have. It''ll just be hard for a while." "If you need anything, anything at all please tell me." "Much appreciated but we''ll be fine, just concentrate on building up that territory of yours that''ll be help enough." The stronger Frost''s territory became the more the Furanos would benefit. The stronger the ally the stronger the deterrent it has on their enemies. "Understood, what else?" Dous wouldn''t waste his valuable time just to give him a simple warning. Dous looked to his side before leaning in close to the screen to speak. "You''ll be getting a group of high profile visitors soon that you must not offend under any circumstances." Dous spoke with such seriousness that it made Frost''s spine tingle. It had to be understood that Dous knew of Maya''s strength therefore for there to be a group that he couldn''t offend their background must be unimaginable. "Exin." Frost''s curiosity was peaked. "The federation of knowledge has finally sent out an investigation team. They arrived in Furano a couple days ago and have already interviewed myself, Bastion and Leo about the dungeon that you''ve taken over. They''ll likely be heading to your territory in theing days, so you''ll need to be prepared to amodate them. I know your strong and that you''ve likely got some serious backing but even then the federation of knowledge is not a group you should get on the bad side of. Their organisation spans the entire and is filled with both brilliant scientists and powerfulbatants i.e. S-ranks. If that wasn''t enough they have a strong rtionship with the Dark God. They serve as messengers, alerting the world of any new additions the God of creation adds to Nova. So please don''t do anything to piss them off." Dous practically begged Frost to be on his best behaviour. Something that irritated the young man. ''What do you think I am? Some mad dog that attacks anyone I find remotely interesting.'' "Rx Dous I''ve got no beef with the federation; they''ll be treated as my guests of honour." This statement was true, Frost truly had no issues with the federation in fact he held a great deal of respect for them. Their connection to the Dark God certainly helped validate their position. "Alright I''ll hold you to it. Answer any questions they have honestly, lying will get you nowhere and only serve to dy their investigation and piss them off." "Ok I get it, nice and friendly." The call ended a few minutester after Dous reported a few more details to his young friend but nothing was as impactful as the arrival of the federation of knowledge. "Hmm the federation of knowledge, I wonder what their investigation will entail." Though he wasn''t too adverse to the group studying his dungeon in depth there was a limit. Opening up his most sensitive secrets and dungeon heart to these people even if they served as an arm of his father was not something he was that keen on. "I''ll let them study everything but the lowest floorsif they can make it that far." The final floor would remain off limits regardless of their status. "Hopefully they''re understanding." Chapter 578: Chapter 578: The federation of knowledge 2 dayster in the early morning a group of individuals dressed in dark cloaks walked through therge gates of the camp. "The reports really don''t do this ce justice." One of the individualsmented as they gazed upon the majestic walls of the camp and the many buildings inside. "The territory lord is a gifted individual armed with a strong business sense, hefty finances and arge pool ofbour. He knew exactly what he was doing when he chose to establish this ce." Another robed individual praised Frost''s abilities without restraint, truly moved by his swift actions. "Let''s go and meet this business savvy individual then. ording to the guild master of the local adventurers guild there''s no one who knows more about the dungeon here than him." "Agreed." The group of eight men and women thus made their way towards Frost''s office to meet with him. This group was the investigation team sent by the federation of knowledge. Four investigators along with four bodyguards, three of which reached the upper stages of B-rank while thest, the group leader was a half-step into the A-rank. A very powerful group capable of handling all manner of riffraff during their travels. Even the nobles and royal family of the Northrend empire dared not impede these individuals though they kept a close eye on their movements. Within the dungeon''s private space. "Is the federation really linked to father?" Frost asked while enjoying a hearty breakfast. "In a way yes. They''re a group dedicated to knowledge, fervent in their desire to uncover all of Nova''s mysteries and unlike the church of light they don''t seek dominion or control over the world in his name. All they want to do is learn and protect the many marvels of Nova. Respecting this mission Dark God-sama endorsed their values and granted them a means ofmunication with him thusbelling them as one of his representatives. The federation of knowledge was the first group informed about you and siblings, and it was them who disseminated the information to the rest of Nova." Maya informed her young master with a great deal of respect in her voice. The federation was a massive organisation that despite being so vast and epassing continued to uphold their set values without falling into corruption. Some of theirbat focused individuals could even school her in battle, they were not a force her young master could defeat. Maya''s answer made him frown. "Since they''re so focused on knowledge they likely won''t give up until they''ve uncovered everyst nook and cranny, right?" Obsessed researchers weren''t necessarily malicious, but he really didn''t feelfortable unveiling himself. "It''s highly likely, they are quite fervent in their pursuits after all. Even if Dark God-sama warned them and ced a veil around the connection between you and the dungeon''s core they''ll probably still discover a lot of your secrets." Maya spoke as though being scanned from head to toe was inevitable and that he should simply ept it. "How ufortable." Frost groaned in protest, not liking the situation in the slightest. "Cheer up, they at least know what information to release to the public and what information to keep secret. As long as they''re in the know that''s all that matters to them." "Hmm maybe I should attempt an exchange then, tit for tat if you will." If his secrets were going to be exposed to them regardless he might as well get something out of it. "Does the federation have much presence in the cial mountains?" Frost turned to face Daki who was quickly devouring a te of eggs and sausages before she was set to visit her personal forge. The cksmithing orc subus had been working hard on a new piece equipment, so much so that she was skipping sleep and even meals. Frost had to force her to join him for breakfast recently lest she copse from overwork. "Oh yeah, even in a danger zone like the cial mountains the federation is present in pretty much all the major kingdoms. The mountains are home to troves of treasures and magical mysteries after all. I''ve even met a few of their members while on business, a highly educated sort that are filled with almost insane passion and drive when ites to the unknown. In fact the federation is home to some of the most skilled and experienced grandmasters whose sole desires are to reach the very peak of their crafts, to do the impossible. For a time I was even tempted to join them in pursuit of mastering my own skills." Daki spoke with even more reverence than Maya. "Hoh why didn''t you?" Frost grew curious. Daki was quite the talent given the fact she was able to reach the upper ranks of a 3 star cksmith at her age and with her background. Of course he was grateful that in the end she chose to stay in Kranor thus allowing the two of them to meet. "Creative differences, afraid to leave home,ck of confidence, abination of reasons really but in the end I just felt that it wasn''t a good fit despite the many advantages they offer." Daki shook her head and shrugged, choosing to not enter the federation of knowledge was not one of her regrets. She would ze her own path even if it meant not making it as far. "So the group is very highly regarded no matter where in Nova you are." "You got that right, even the most powerful empires and nations respect and honour the will of the federation so be on your best behaviour." "Why does everybody seem to think I''m going to screw this up somehow?" Maya and Daki both looked at one another before turning back to Frost with bright smiles adorning their lips. ""Intuition"" They both said yfully. "Urgh!" Frost groaned in response causing the two of them tough. A short timeter in the lord''s office. "It''s an honour to meet your Lord Frost." The leader of the investigation team a young looking elven woman bowed her head in reverence after pulling down her cloak. Herpanions followed suit a momentter revealing their diverse cast in races. There wasn''t a single human in the bunch. "I believe the honour I mine miss?" Frost smiled politely from his desk, quickly standing up so at to not put on any airs of arrogance. These individuals were not stuck up merchants but researchers who deserved his respect. "Ara ara where are my manners, allow me to introduce myself. 5th star investigator Ladius Palmer of the federation of knowledge at your service milord." Miss Palmer proudly introduced herself before gesturing towards herpanions. "Aiding me in my work are my three juniors Carl, Mina and Suiten, each 3 star investigators in their own right." Thanks to Maya''s education Frost was aware of the hierarchy within the federation. Their investigators, profession masters and evenbat personal were divided into star ranks with 1 star being the lowest and 8 star being the highest. Miss Palmer being a 5 star investigator meant she was rather high up in the hierarchy. "Pleasure." "Nice to meet you." "Greetings." The three junior investigators, Carl a dragonkin, Mina an elk beastman and Suiten a water genasi who could breathe both underwater and onnd performed their own greetings after being introduced by miss Palmer. The three of them were her direct subordinates, to learn from her as she fulfilled her duties. "It''s very nice to meet the three of you." Frost shook their hands before eyeing up the remaining four individuals who bore a natural intimidating presence. He wasn''t a match for a single one of them. A fact that honestly put him a little on edge. Thankfully however there was an entity by his side that did the same to them. Maya who was dressed in a beautiful blue dress stood by his side with a gentle smile, providing support for her young master in this meeting. The junior investigators didn''t pick up on her presence that much bar the fact that she was a devasting beauty, but the bodyguards certainly did. Cold sweat dripped down their necks as they failed to look away from the dangerous entity, thankfully however Maya showed no intention in using her strength. "Of course I can''t forget to introduce our lovely guardians, Terrance if you wouldn''t mind." Miss Palmer coyly asked with a mischievous grin. She knew of Maya''s strength and was particrly enjoying seeing their team''s mighty bodyguards shaking in their boots. ".It''s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Lord Frost and Lady" "Maya." "Yes Lady Maya. My name is Terrance and I''m a 5 starbat guard in service to the federation and protection leader for Miss Palmer''s team." Terrance the leader of the guards and the one half a step into the A-rank greeted nervously after called being upon. He then gestured with his chin to the still wary people standing behind him. Though reluctant to draw attention to themselves the other three gave their introductions. "Mammon, sir anddy." "Quintep." "Ariana." The three of them were of the same rank as Terrance but given his superiority in strength as well as seniority he was the protection leader. "It''s an honour to be in the presence of such strong individuals, I''m sure miss Palmer, Carl, Mina and Suiten are grateful for your protection." Despite Frost''s attempts to kindle pride in the protection team they still stared warily at Maya, unable to rx in her presence. "Haaaaaa rx she doesn''t bite...well asionally she does but ow! What was that for?" While making a joke to lighten the mood Frost''s side was fiercely twisted by his darling girlfriend. Following that he received a threatening re warning him to keep his pretty mouth shut if he wanted to live. The interaction between the couple allowed the protection detail to finally rx, Terrance and Palmer evenughed a little before sitting down to continue the official meeting. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 579: Chapter 579: The federation of knowledge (2) With the mood lightened, Frost, Maya, Terrance and Ladius took their seats while the rest remained standing. The official meeting between Frost; the lord of the camp they were in as well as the one with the greatest knowledge in regards to the dungeon and the federation of knowledge''s investigation team was thus underway. "Well to get started let me say that I''m aware of your identity to some extent Lord Frost." Miss Palmer started out swinging. "Urgh.would you mind borating Miss Palmer." Frost was caught by surprise, not expecting the lead investigator to open with something so provocative. "Hehehehe please call me Ladius Lord Frost, to have someone like yourself greet me with such respect would be rather unbing of my station no?" Ladius smiled mischievously making Frost''s lips twitch. "Please don''t tease me Ladius I get enough of that from her." He gestured towards Maya who arched her chest out with pride. "Hehehehe alright I''ll be straight with you lord Frost. His eminence the Dark God has already informed the federation of knowledge about the truth surrounding the dungeons in other words YOU." "..." Frost chose to remain silent, prompting Ladius to continue. "He informed us that each of the dungeons would have a physical personification that could act independently from the dungeon itself. Taking the form of an intelligent monster or sapient they could travel the world and interact with the rest of Nova just like any other inhabitant while at the same being in full control of an advanced monsterir and all the benefits that entails." Frost kept a calm expression but internally he was screaming at his father, cursing his loose gums. "From my personal investigation I have learned that you came into existence shortly after the dungeon was discovered, before that there wasn''t even a single trace of you. A man whose appearance is certainly unforgettable and talent that would put even the most gifted people to shame couldn''t have possibly remained unknown this entire time. Add on the fact you have a powerful S-rank fenrir by your side as well as your intimateow.connection to the dungeon its clear that you are this physical manifestation. The embodiment of the dungeon and a child of his eminence." Ladiusid bare her theory with a confident expression. Dark only told them snippets of the truth, it was her that linked them together to identify Frost. To be sure however she peered into his body with her [Analyse] skill causing a painful bacsh, tears of blood dripped down her cheeks but now she was absolutely certain. The veil held simrities to the Dark God, their eminence. "..Haaaaaaa here drink this." Frost eventually let out a deep sigh before handing over a mid-level health potion to the bleeding Ladius. "Thank you Lord Frost." "Don''t mention it. Guess the cat''s really is out of the bag." "So you''re admitting it." "It''d be pointless to lie after you deduced so much. Yes you are correct Ladius I am the personification of the dungeon and Maya here is my guardian assigned to me by my father the Dark God." Frost openly revealed his true identity resulting in a fervour among the investigators and even bodyguards. "A true child of his eminence." Ladius and the other investigators all bowed their heads in reverence as they prayed to Dark, thanking him for his grace. Meanwhile Frost started getting chills, Ladius and the others were starting to devolve into religious fanatics. Eventually they managed to calm themselves and return to a somewhat normal state though their voices were forever tinted with heartfelt piety. "So apart from identifying myself what else is on the agenda for the federation of knowledge?" Surely they didn''te all this way just to confirm his identity. "Ahh yes our true mission is quite standard, research and investigate the dungeon in its entirety. Examine its depths, future potential, monster allocation,yout as well as all the differences from a regr monsterir stuff that would help us understand the true nature of the dungeon and aid those delving into its depths." Ladius exined with dramatic hand gestures. "So pretty much how you''d investigate a new monsterir or special dimension?" "Yes, nothing too fancy if we exclude yourself." "And what about myself, do you intend to study me in depth?" "If you''re willing then absolutely and I promise any findings pertaining to you as an individual and your link to the dungeon will remain a secret to the public. His eminence was quite adamant about that." ''Seems he''s good for something at least.'' "Alright permission granted but you''ll be treated the same way as regr delvers." He wasn''t going to make it too easy for the group to sniff out his deepest secrets. "Of course, we don''t expect any special treatment in that regard that''s why Terrance and the others are with us." Ladius gestured towards the strong looking protection team who could individually crush Frost and his strongest monster Finy without much effort. Frost was happy to let the group investigate the dungeon in detail after chatting with them. Since Ladius already made the link between the dungeon and himself he wasn''t too bothered about them finding out some more. The group were rather pious towards Dark and seemed trustworthy plus given how methodical they were they''d likely be staying here for quite some time which was glorious news for his DP ie. Four B-rank bodyguards with one nearly reaching A-rank was already north of 1000DP a day. Oh the development possibilities. "Please tell me if there''s anything else I can do to make your time here more pleasant. I''ve already arranged for rooms in the Sleeping Fenrir to be made avable to you while you''re staying with us, free of charge of course." Resting in the Sleeping Fenrir would see their DP values triple whenever they used them, over 3000DP from a paltry four people muhahuahahuha. Frost had to restrain himself fromughing. "You''ve been most helpful already Lord Frost, don''t worry we won''t impose on your daily life too much while we''re here but if you don''t mind would you be open for the asional chat, I''d love to hear more about you as a person." Ladius ced her soft hands on top of Frost''s as she smiled in a flirtatious manner. Her actions of course caused a reaction in Maya, her tail puffed up and she started staring daggers at the elven woman who suddenly appeared threatening. "Hahahaha I''m sure we can arrange that Ladius. I''d love to hear more about the federation in exchange as well as the kind of work you do for them." Frost yed along with the exchange, smiling softly. "It''s a date then, I''ll see you tomorrow at noon for lunch." "I look forward to it." For a finale Frost lightly kissed the back of Ladius'' hand before escorting the group out of his office, feeling far chipper than when they started. Maya however was ring at her boyfriend as though she wished to tear him a new one. "Do you have something to say?" "Hmph." She loudly hmphed and pouted making Frostugh, she was absolutely adorable when she was jealous, part of the reason he engaged in flirting with Ladius. Of course the flirting was just ying he had absolutely no interest in Ladius, nor did she have any in him at least not as a man more as a mystery that she wanted to unearth. Using feminine wiles was a proven way to extract more information from a male target after all. Maya probably knew that as well, but it still irked her plus she liked pouting every so often as it led to Frost soothing her in a gentle manner. The federation''s investigative team quickly made themselves at home here in the camp. Word of their presence soon spread causing a hubbub of excitement in the residents. The federation of knowledge was a massive organisation that covered the entire, many were curious about them, some of which even wished to aid them and or join their group. Ladius and her team thus had to work alongside the pseudo adventurers guild set up within the Niflheim camp to organise these curious individuals so their work wouldn''t be impeded. Information about the federation was thus avable at the guild as were quests to help Ladius'' investigation i.e. mapping, retrieving certain materials, monster hunting as well as giving interviews. Since the team wanted to be as thorough as possible they assigned minor work to these enthusiastic volunteers while they themselves did the more important tasks. For the first week, the group thoroughly scanned the upper 3 floors, taking many environmental samples, copious notes and testing of the monsters present on each floor. Each time the group left the dungeon and returned to their rooms in the Sleeping fenrir bright smiles could be seen on their faces and unrestrained passion in their eyes despite their haggard and dirt covered bodies. Everything about the dungeon was simr to a monsterir in a way but also new and so much more diverse and intricate. Rules that were established for monsterirs didn''t necessarily equate to dungeons. Ladius and her team for example timed how long certain nts took to respawn or how fast the environment would take to heal itself after being damaged andpared it to a monsterir of a simr size. To their amazement the dungeon despite only having 12 floors wasparable to a monsterir roughly five times the size. And this was just one of the many discoveries they made as they explored the dungeon''s possibilities. Chapter 580: Chapter 580: The Holy white empire "Everything is better, more efficient, more diverse and more dynamic than I thought possible. Topare a dungeon to a monsterir even the most advanced is an insult. It''s likeparing heaven and earth, a boundless uncrossable chasm lies between." Ladius who was sitting across from Frost in one of the camp''s restaurants ranted on with sparkling eyes. Her passion was unrivalled, her desire to learn all there was about Dark''s new creation unending. Frost barely managed to get a word in edge wise whenever they had these little dates of theirs. "I''ll take that as apliment." He found her intrigue interesting and somewhat embarrassing. In a way she was describing himself, he was the dungeon, and the dungeon was him after all. "Oh you definitely should, you''re amazing, soplex yet so familiar. Never in my entire career have I ever felt that monsterirs werecking, until now. Your dungeon is magnificent, alive and filled with so much potential. If I was a merchant the term gold mine would be a severe understatement." "Thanks." Frost rubbed his upper lip as he felt a blushing on. It was hard to hear such tant personal praise. Unfortunately Ladius wasn''t finished. After taking a swig of juice and arge bite of steak she pointed directly at him. "And then there''s you as you. A form akin to an elf of the noblest line, with an appearance that would make any woman swoon from the slightest sign of affection and talent that allowed you to reach B-rank after just a few months of living. If his eminence favours anyone it''s you and your siblings, even dragons aren''t as gifted as you." Her jealously was obvious but she was old enough and experienced enough to not be swayed by such feelings. Frost was a magical existence to her, a rarity far more noble and mysterious than even ancient dragons. The only beings ranked higher by her standards were the Gods, those who superseded their mortality to reign beyond Nova in their own established dimensions. "When we''re finished analysing every inch of you and your dungeon I''m sure to get a promotion and finally enter the true upper hierarchy of the federation hahahahaha I''ll finally be able ess some of the ancestral tomes." Ladiusughed manically as she looked over Frost''s body with fanaticism. "Cough, cough Ladius you''re doing it again." Frost quickly called her out on her actions the moment she started drooling. "Ahh sorry sometimes I just can''t help myself, a bad habit of those in my profession." Ladius sat back in her chair and removed the umtion of drool from her lips. She''d frequently enter dazes like this whenever she sat across from him for a lengthy period of time. "While I''m d to be an object of such intense interest I believe it''s my turn for the questions." Initially he was quite worried about Ladius'' interests. He had been warned several times and knew the importance of keeping his secrets close at hand but thanks to a revtion by her during their first ''date'' he was no longer bothered. The federation of knowledge held very strict rules when it came to disseminating knowledge to the public, especially private/personal knowledge. Anyone at the 3 star level or above was bound by strong contract magic preventing them from bbing the federation''s many secrets. All knowledge gained by Ladius, and her team would first be inspected by the keepers who would then decide how much to reveal to the inhabitants of Nova. However all knowledge in regards to Frost himself was under lock and key, never to be revealed by the federation as dictated by Dark. Therefore any and all discussions held between Ladius and Frost on their dates was protected by this contract, fully aying his worries. "Haaaaaa fine I guess it''s only fair." Ladius sighed with disappointment, but she was a woman of her word. As per their agreement Frost was entitled to ask her anything about the federation''s held knowledge or about herself as an investigator. Whether she could actually answer the question or not was another topic, but the rules were quite lenient for someone like Frost. "Thanks. Continuing on from yesterday I''d like to hear more information about the Church of light?" During their first few interactions Frost learned a great deal about the federation as a whole from Ladius. He learned about their mission, their members, their presence i.e. territory across Nova as well as some of the benefits in joining their organisation. After that he focused on learning about known mystical dimensions, massive monsterirs and legends about his father and other Gods, thest topic being quite enjoyable for Ladius to embellish. Now however he wished to learn about his enemy, the group that is so despised by the world that even his father couldn''t help but spit after uttering their name. "Delicate tastes as always but I can''t say I me you." His request was quite a challenge for Ladius as knowledge regarding the Church of light was highly restricted given how dangerous they were but considering his position she decided to reveal a few things. "Right now the Church of light and the Holy white empire is fully restricted to the central continent with all the major nations across Nova keeping a close eye on their movements however despite their restricted state the empire is still strong, very strong. No other nation on the central continent can match them economically or in terms of military power thus they either live in fear of their looming presence or are viscously vassalized under their tyrannical thumb. And despite their failures and condemnation by the very God their follow they still enve all races that aren''t human." "Why do the nations across Nova condone this, why not just destroy them once and for all?" This question had been in the back of his mind for a long time. His father and the Light God were restrained by their pact, an agreement that restricted how much they could directly interfere with the inhabitants of Nova but what stopped the powerful nations such as the Northrend empire from finishing the job. To finally put an end to their tyranny. Ladius narrowed her eyes and looked to her sides before speaking. "Because they''re still strong, filled with trump cards and have hidden enves dotted across the. The Gods are no longer indirectly giving aid to the alliance and the wounds from the grand war are still being felt. Attacking the Holy white empire would enact a toll no nation is willing to pay so they restrict them, preventing their growth and expansion. A foolish choice when ites to long term damage but one that was agreed upon and is still upheld today." The cost to erase thempletely was just too much. "I see." Though he didn''t fully agree with the alliance''s choice he now understood why the Holy white empire and Church of Light still existed. "Can you talk about those trump cards and hidden enves?" If he knew what they were he could possibly prepare defences against them. "Utuhn!" Ladius immediately denied his request, making arge X with her arms. That information was highly, highly restricted. "What about information about their technology, and unique magics?" "Utuhn! Also restricted. Such magic and technology must not be spread throughout the world again, the cost and depravity is too great." "Does that include their ve tattoos?" He still had the hope of releasing Nanna and Loki from their envement. "It most certainly does Lord Frost. In fact that is one of our most restricted subjects. I can''t say anymore." Ladius was strangely serious when it came to this topic, firmly denying any possible wiggle room. ''Guess I''ll have to search somewhere else.'' He had ns to involve his brothers Void and Chronos but thought it best to wait until they became more established with their magic knowledge. The two of them may be the most magically inclined of the dungeon cores but they were still young. To expect them to be able to crack something that no other mage has been able to do in centuries was rather na?ve. "Alright then what else can you tell me?" "I can tell you about the nation''s territory, who runs where as well as a little about the factions and current political leaders but pretty much everything else is restricted." The Holy white empire and the Church of light were very sensitive subjects, hardly any information was disseminated to the public. Only those high up in the alliance and federation of knowledge were privy to such details. "Ohh that could be interesting, do tell." Who ran such an evil church and tyrannical empire. "Well the current emperor is Linarias Levin Archibald the 17th, direct descent of the first emperor of the Holy white empire and father of Linarias Levin Archibald the 18th, and two other children, a son and a daughter. The empire is controlled heavily by emperor Linarias with both the nobles and officials controlling but a minority of political power making it pretty much a dictatorship." ''Sounds right so far for an evil empire.'' "The only group that is beyond the emperor''s reproach and has the ability to give orders to him and the nation as a whole is the Pope of the Church of Light, a middle aged woman by the name of Genova who''s attunement to the light element is unmatched even when considering her predecessors. These two hold the empire in the palm of their hands, relishing in their power and cruelty." It was clear that Ladius didn''t have a high opinion of either one of them. "Below them you have the nobles, the aristocrats of the empire who fall into three factions, the first being the passive faction a group who desire to put off their nation''s grand ambitions and instead focus on internal development. Then there''s the aggressive faction who wish to start dominating the rest of Nova as soon as possible regardless of the price their citizens would have to pay. And finally thest and smallest faction is the royal faction, a group of nobles who basically cling to the legs of the emperor, agreeing with whatever he says even if it weakens the powers of the nobles as a whole. They''re by far the most despised faction among the other nobles and officials as they believe that the emperor already has more than enough political power." "The allied nations also secretly do their best to influence the political war within the Holy white empire, hoping to curb their rise and recovery but with the power bnce being so heavily favoured on the emperor it''s difficult for them to make any real change." "That sounds like something you''d be restricted in telling no?" "Not really, it''s a sort of open secret. Political subterfuge happens in every nation, the Holy white empire is no exception." Of course the specific details of such subterfuge was highly restricted. Chapter 581: Chapter 581: The Holy white empire (2) "Now for the church." Ladius took a breath before moving onto the second major power within the empire. "Simr to the emperor Pope Genova rules the Church of Light with an iron fist, in fact her power is even more consolidated, no one dares oppose her, an organisation that is truly of one mind. Even if it is severely warped." Ladius snickered in a mocking fashion. "The four cardinals assist Pope Genova as her capable hands while the many bishops, deacons and priests below them tend to the massive flock of brainwashed and magically influenced sheep that make up the empire''s citizens. Even their brutally beaten ves are brainwashed into believing that they are abominations that deserve such a life. Despite the grand war their faith is unshakeable." "How is it that they can be so united despite being rejected by the very one they worship?" "Insanity, stubbornness, blind faith, a hefty amount of indoctrination and of course stark refusal to ept Lord Light''s rejection, take your pick. In fact there''s a strong consensus among the flock that they''re still carrying out the God of Light''s true wishes, many have no idea that they''ve been abandoned by him and that they''re condemned by the rest of the world. The Pope and Cardinals have made sure to quickly snuff out such damaging influences over the many years so as to protect their control and power over the masses." "So only the upper ranks know the truth. Are they a coboration of faithless liars and chatans? To speak of the God of Light''s will while knowingly being forsaken by him." "I see how you came to that conclusion but no the upper ranks despite knowing the ''truth'' are the most pious and faithful, truly believing that their actions are just and beholden to his true will. They believe that the God of Light who currently condemns them is confused or possibly even an imposter and that only by achieving their god given mission will they be able to restore the bnce and return their Lord back to who he once was." Ladius said with extreme seriousness, she was not joking. The Church of Light''s upper ranks truly believed in this facy. "That''s.." "Insane, yeah that''s the Church of Light for you. A lost cause of fanatics and not the good kind." Clearly the good kind were like herself and the federation of knowledge who passionately explored the mysteries of the world regardless of the danger. Ladius continued to exin all she could about the Church of Light and the Holy white empire, slowly but surely putting a clear face to his otherwise unknown enemy. For an empire restricted by the alliance of nations their economy was actually fairly strong. Even without international trade the empire had ess to vast array of different materials thanks to their far spanning territory. Ore mines, magic crystal mines, abundance of monsters and even ess to the ocean, a self-sufficient nation that relied solely upon its own majesty. Frost and Ladius continued to engage in these so called dates every day or so despite the woman''s busy schedule, she''d always make time to chat with the prominent dungeon core. After 3 weeks the investigation team started reaching the lowest floors, easily surpassing the most determined regrs. By all ounts -bar Frost- they were the first ones to reach such depths, a cause for celebration among the adventurers'' guild. Finally they''d be able to know some of whaty at the bottom of the dungeon, a mystery they''d likely never be able to personally see given their own strength. The protection detail of Terrance and his team made short work of the C-rank monsters Frost sent to test them, easily culling them while at the same time allowing Ladius and her subordinates to study their movements and abilities. Whether it was a revenant, an ice troll or a yuki-onna all were no match for the prowess of the 5 star bodyguards. "There''s definitely a difference in intelligence and battle capabilitypared to the monsters born inirs." Terrance remarked with glee as he decapitated an ice troll with his great sword. "The environment here is far purer and of much higher quality thus allowing for stronger monsters to be created though even among the same species there''s quite a range of diversity." Ladius who was apanying them on the delvemented as she studied her notes. "Agreed, it''s like there''s some sort of difference in natural attributes and battle experience among their numbers. It''s closer to the natural world than a monsterir." Terrance judged based upon his extensive battle knowledge. Monsters born across Nova were not all the same, some were born with more talent than others and even the asional mutation. While those from monsterirs however tended to be a notch weaker overall and pretty much equal across the board. "Fascinating, I''ll have to carve out some more answers from our dear host during our next date hehehehe." Ladiusughed manically as she examined the body of the deceased ice troll. Meanwhile in the dungeon''s private space Frost sat before the pseudo dungeon core with a constrained expression. "Did you really expect a different oue?" Daki charmingly asked from his side, enjoying the opportunity to help Frost in his work. "No but it still doesn''t feel good seeing my strongest forces carved up likemon goblins." The look in Ladius'' eyes certainly didn''t help his unease. Dealing with her though incredibly beneficial was draining on his nerves, there was only so much passion he could take. "Rx they''re almost finished." Daki rubbed his shoulders in an attempt tofort him. "Instead of watching them like a hawk why don''t you focus on something else, isn''t Khuno ready to attempt a breakthrough?" "Haaaaaa I suppose you''re right, observing them will only strain my nerves." Though he''d grown to trust Ladius and her team it was a whole different ball game when it came to exposing his heart to them. He had already discussed the possibility of restricting the investigation team to the secondst floor, barring them from reaching the dungeon''s core, his heart, and greatest weakness but Ladius refused. Their purpose was to examine and analyse the entire Dungeon, and that included the core. He''d have to rely solely on their word to do no harm as it was clear that his forces proved to be pitiful defenders against the might of Terrance and his team. Of course there was still Maya but that was truly ast resort, culling the entire investigation team would reflect quite poorly on his rtionship with the federation of knowledge. Though indirect agents for his father they weren''t barred from enacting vengeance upon his children if they responded with such violence to their innocent investigation. "Helping out Khuno would serve as a good distraction, thanks honey." Frost ced a kiss on Daki''s cheek causing her to lightly giggle. "My pleasure babe." "By the way how''s your own breakthrough going?" Daki had been working tirelessly the past few weeks, desperately trying to catch up to the camp''s other smithing resident. Borris lit a fire under her ass, his capabilities and knowledge opening up a new world for the young woman. "Slowly but surely my love. Being unbound from the responsibilities I had in Kranor and having ess to an unlimited volume of materials to experiment with has done wonders. New ideas for equipment pop into my head every day and my exchanges with Sir Borris have allowed me to envision my future path." Daki spoke with great enthusiasm and passion. She''d been in a rut for a few years back in Kranor. Her responsibility as the highest rank smith in the enve restricted her freedom, her ability to experiment and risk failure. She was forging for the sake of the enve and her many customers rather than her own development. A trait she and Borris shared, allowing them to grow quite close. Whenever Frost and him chatted the old dwarf would always sing her praises andpliment his ability to bag such a gem. "I''m pretty confident that even if I don''t get a sudden burst in enlightenment my natural progress will see me reach 4 star within a year or two." She said with her fists clenched in promise. "Amazing, gifted with both beauty and skill, I''m a lucky man." "That you are." "Hahahahaha." "Hahahahaha." The coupleughed and leaned in close to one another, enjoying each other''s touch. ''I''ll have to prepare avish reward for the day she breaks through.'' Frost internally noted, preparing to set aside a hefty amount of DP for her present. The achievement of reaching the rank of 4 star cksmith was a very impressive feat especially for someone so young. As the lord of the territory and more importantly her boyfriend he''d be embarrassed to repay such grace with something cheap. The two lovebirds chatted amicably and enjoyed one another''spany. They rarely had much alone time given their rather hectic schedules, so they didn''t wish to waste a single minute. Eventually another topic of discussion came up, one that Frost had been avoiding. "So.have you decided yet?" Chapter 582: Chapter 582: A dungeon war challenge "So.have you decided yet?" "You know asking that with sparkling eyes does little to hide your opinion on the matter." "So does that mean it''s a yes." Daki blinked her big doe eyes in a flirtatious manner. "Haaaaaaaa no I''m still undecided." Frost sighed and shook his head, putting off his decision. "Tch you''re no fun, I was looking forward to experiencing a dungeon war." Daki visibly pouted which looked incredibly sexy, but his mind was firm. ok he wavered for a moment, but could you me him. The topic of contention Daki was talking about was a dungeon war challenge he received 4 days ago from his younger brother Kadrick. Now since Frost took part in the exhibition match with Gobuske he was exempt from having to take part in another dungeon war before the next family gathering, meaning he had the right to refuse. Though running away wasn''t exactly his style he had sufficient reasons to reject such an aggressive challenge. First his territory was currently in the initial stages of development, an important state that he didn''t want to ruin. Second the DP he was getting right now was quite plentiful thus engaging in a dungeon war with someone of Karrick''s standing was likely more trouble than its worth. Third he knew the true reason for Karrick''s challenge, and it pissed him off, he didn''t want to y to that bastard''s tune. Overall there was very little reason for him to ept Karrick''s challenge in fact he had more reason to reject it outright but the idea of running away pissed him off almost as much thus theck of a decision on his part. "I''ll hold off on making my decision until Ladius and her team have finished their investigation." He used Ladius and herrades as an easy excuse. "Tsk, if you don''t want to do it then just say so don''t use others as excuses. Where''s the confidence that I fell for?" Daki didn''t let up, she really, really wanted to take part in a dungeon war. Tales of the battle against Gobuske frequently escaped the lips of the Nanna and Loki. She thus felt a little left out. Frost''s lips twitched in response to her usation. "As usual you don''t pull your punches." "Isn''t that what you love about me?" "..." "Haaaaa I guess you''re right; I really shouldn''t be using others as excuses, but I''ll still hold off until they''re done. Karrick can stew for a while before I put him in his ce." "Really you''re going to do it." Daki nearly jumped in glee from his answer, a wide smile quickly growing on her lips. Frost leaned towards her and poke her forehead. "Since my beautiful green enchantress wishes to see a dungeon war how can I possibly reject her wishes." "Hehehehehe." Daki giggled before nting a strong kiss on Frost''s cheek. "Now that''s more like it." Karrick''s number among the dungeon cores was 053 and his DP standing during the gathering was in the early 40s, a pale shadow of Frost who was ranked number 4 and likely on the up thanks to the monster stampede and the prosperity of the Niflheim territory. A rather brutish looking man who had the form of a red scaled lizardman and was known more for his brawn than his smarts, a trait that was shared with another sibling that Frost really, really didn''t appreciate. Pyro who was the 3rd eldest and holder of an element directly opposed to him was not only simr to Karrick but his boss if you will. Karrick who was also a user of fire magic was subdued by Pyro in an earlier challenge. Being so easily crushed by someone of a simr style and element Karrick willingly came under Pyro''s influence once asked. His challenging of Frost was actually under the orders of Pyro in an attempt to mock him and reduce his standing among the other cores. ''Though I really hate having to follow the tune of that bastard it''s better than letting other''s think I''m weak. Sorry little brother but you chose the wrong sibling to follow.'' An evil smile adorned Frost''s lips as he finally made up his mind to crush Karrick and his foolish thoughts. Just because he was a user of the fire element did he think he''d be a match for himself, foolish and na?ve. The only fire user that could go toe to toe with him was Pyro of that he was certain. Frost and Daki enjoyed some time alone together beforeter teleporting to the training space where Khuno was ready and waiting. "Are you ready?" Frost asked calmly with arge pile of shining mana crystals lying to his left. "Yes milord, I''m ready to take the plunge." Khuno responded with a determined nod. He had reached max level a while ago and had been steadily ruing mana crystals so as to breach the boundary between C and B-rank. Frost himself as well as his dungeon was stillcking the ability to support a B-rank monster let alone two. Therefore like with Finy before him Khuno needed to absorb mass amounts of crystals, to the point that he was ready to burst before attempting evolution. Of course luck would also y arge in whether or not he seeded but both he and Frost had high hopes. "Alright, let''s begin." Frost nodded his head and ordered the start of the procedure. Both Nanna and Loki were here for support while Maya and Finy were left to manage the dungeon''s affairs. Slowly Khuno started devouring mana crystals, topping off his saturation levels to the point that it hurt. Every mana crystal he absorbed would increase his chance at sess. He refused to lose to Finy. "You can do it Khuno!" "Just one more!" Nanna and Loki cheered in support of his efforts while Frost clenched his fists nervously. Daki meanwhile looked on in amazement, this process was so different to what she knew. ''Could I evolve if I stuffed myself with mana crystals?'' Daki never worried about her rank and species as a monster. She was intelligent enough that she could grow and advance simrly to that of a sapient but upon choosing to bond with Frost she suddenly feltcking. She wondered if evolution would allow her to bridge the gap between her and Maya as well as Frost himself. ''I''ll experimentter.'' She vowed to give it a try. Perhaps she''d be even more lovable and sexy after evolving, that alone was incentive enough. "II''mat the limit." Khuno said through strained breaths. "Then advance Khuno!" Frost gave permission and a secondter radiant light burst out from Khuno; he was advancing. Pressure spread out from the ronso captain as his aura formed. luckily Frost expected this and shielded Nanna and Loki from it, they were still too weak to safely endure such pressure after all. "Urgh!" Groans of pain escape Khuno''s lips as his body was forcibly reshaped by the abundant mana that flowed through his veins. An intense burning sensation followed by the crushing and breaking of bones almost overwhelmed his consciousness, but he fought through it knowing that to faint here would mean failure. The light surrounding him eventually grew to be so mesmerising that his original form could no longer be seen. ''Come on Khuno, you can do it.'' Frost looked on with hope as did everyone else. "AAARRRRGRGHHHHHH!!!" Suddenly Khuno screamed in pain which was followed by a final blinding sh of light and mana that forced the observers to cover their eyes and look away. "KHUNO!!" Frost screeched in a panicked tone before rushing towards his loyal subordinate. Before he could arrive by his side however arge blue hand stretched out from the mana induced fog and smashed against the floor causing it to violently rumble. Next the body a ronso a fair bit bulkier and taller than Khuno revealed itself. Its skin appearing glossier, muscles more supple and its white tufts of hair being more prominent and with a tinge of blue at the tips. But the most eye-catching feature was its mighty horn that grew from its forehead, far more grand than what Khuno had before. "Khuno is that you?" Though it was impossible for it to be anyone else Frost found the changes to be very drastic. "Ehhh of course it''s me milord. Did I change so much that you don''t even recognise me?" Khuno answered in a slightly deeper voice, genuinely worried about his new appearance. "Hahahahaha no just a little blown away, you look very strong Khuno, very strong indeed." Frostughed and patted Khuno''s muscr shoulder while smiling. Khuno looked even more impressive than he first envisioned for the B-rank ronsos or elder ronsos as he called them. Underneath his muscr stature Khuno''s ability to handle cold fire chakra and his mastery of the ice fire element were equally boosted, turning him into a real powerhouse with multiple strengths, just like his master. Keen to view the exact details Frost brought up Khuno''s new status page. Name: Khuno Race: Elder Ronso captain Rank: B Level 1/60 Along with the basic details there was a vast plethora of both active and passive skills apanying Khuno''s new rank as well as spectacr ice fire spells that even Frost couldn''t use (yet). Like Finy, Khuno was more of amander but that didn''t mean he couldn''t deal devasting damage when he wanted to. Frost believed that a match between the two of them would likelye up even, perhaps he may even be at a disadvantage. Luckily however Khuno showed no signs in rebelling against him. He was as loyal as they came. "Thank you master." Khuno kneeled in reverence to his master and ced his arm across his chest in salute as he disyed his unwavering devotion, bringing a prideful smile to Frost''s lips. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 583: Chapter 583: Testing Khuno Following Frost, Daki, Loki and Nanna all sang Khuno''s praises and admired his new powerful look with envy. All three of them sorely wished to be stronger, to better support Frost. "Daki would you mind taking the children out, I''d like to test the limits of Khuno''s newfound strength?" Frost requested with an ever growing smile and a fierce glint in his eyes. His penchant for battle rising to the surface. "Tsk fine, guess we''d just get in the way with our strength." Daki clicked her tongue before reluctantly pulling Nanna and Loki away from the training space. He couldn''t protect them from the outbursts of aura if he was in the midst of battle. Khuno apologised when he saw the evident disappointment on the children''s faces but did nothing to protest his master''s suggestion. He too wished to test out his newfound strength without having to worry about external factors. The moment Daki, Nanna and Loki warped away Frost brought up the dungeon menu from his arm and connected to Finy, his other B-rank monster. "Finy are you busy?" "Not particrly master, why?" "Want to help me test Khuno''s new rank?" "..Give me a minute and I''ll be right there." Frost knew of the friendly rivalry between Khuno and Finy, he was sure his right hand man wouldn''t miss the chance to retain his superior position. "Hahahahaha see you soon." Frostughed and ended themunication before looking at Khuno. "Finy''s in, look''s like we''ll be able to have a real battle." In response Khuno tightly clenched his hands around the shaft of his new and improved halberd that apanied his evolution. The weapon was now a rival for Frost''s own [wolf howling at the moon]. "Finally I''ll be able to put that pompous ice troll in his ce." His lips stretched from ear to ear revealing a set of razor sharp teeth that could easily tear apart even the toughest flesh. Tendrils of cold mes instinctively formed along his body in response to his emotions, quickly lowering the temperature around him. Their sliver colour was even slightly deeper than the ones Frost could summon revealing his superiority over his master at least for the short term. A minuteter Finy warped into the training space with his battle axe in hand and wearing the armour Daki specially forged for him. He was ready to get down to business. "Perfect, let''s get started then shall we." Frost summoned his own weapon in hand before covering his body in chakra armour. "A three way battle, no holds barred. Khuno show us what you can do." With a final dash of cold mes around his ive Frost was in full battle mode. "I missed sparring against you Khuno, finally you''re strong enough to endure another beating." Finy taunted his colleague with a tant smirk. "Hmph just keep smiling Finy, I''ll put you in your ce soon." Khuno''s cold mes red around him in challenge. The three B-rank fighters stared daggers at one another, eager to tear each other apart. Frost brought out a coin from his storage vault and tossed into the air, the moment it reached the ground the battle wouldmence. The three of them red at the coin as it slowly descended, their muscles tensing in preparation for a charge. Clink! Boom! The moment the coin touched the floor all three dashed forward with their weapons raised. Axe met halberd, halberd met ive and ive met axe. The three weapons shed against one another with immense force and ferocity, none of them held back in the slightest. The first test was brute strength. "Ngh!" Frost unfortunately despite being the master was the weakest in the contest of pure power. He reeled backwards, his ive vibrating so much that his hands grew numb as he skidded across the floor, struggling to maintain his bnce. Finy and Khuno however continued their sh, refusing to yield even the slightest millimetre. Veins bulged across their arms, legs and even foreheads as the two monsters pushed their weapons towards the other, demanding that the other submit to their power. Grind! The sound of metal grinding and defiant grunts escaped from the sh but even after a several seconds there was no clear winner and Frost had gotten bored waiting. "[Freezing fireball]" Knowing he was weaker in terms of brute strength heunched a fireball of ice fire at the two forcing them to pull away from one another lest they wished to be freezing barbeque. Following that he charged with his ive in hand at Khuno. "[Earth''s upheaval]" The image of arge, heavy boulder formed behind his ive, adding weight and durability to his already imposing swing. In addition tendrils of cold fire chakra danced around the de edge and aura was infused into the blow. Frost would struggle to attack any harder but unfortunately Khuno waspletely unfazed. "[cial shift]" The powerful ronso responded with one of his own weapon skills, a new entry into his extensive list of abilities. Simr to [Earth''s upheaval] this skill added weight to the weapon but instead summoned a cier rather than a boulder and like his master he infused his aura into his blow though he was rather inexperienced in such matters it still added lethality. Booooooommmmm! A mighty sh erupted between the two, bursting the very air between them, creating sonic booms that reverberated throughout the training space. This time they were roughly on par with one another, but this was no longer a contest of brute strength, the battle was truly underway. "[Fiery burst]" Keen to experiment with his newly gained abilities Khuno used another. [Fiery burst] pooled arge sum of his cold me chakra, moulding and folding it over and over until it was ready to burst with a fierce vengeance. And that it did. Khuno''s skin was suddenly engulfed in a silver like sheen before the dam broke. Silver mes explosively burst from his body violently repelling Frost away while at the same time piercing through his skin with an ethereal chill. Even though Frost held high immunity towards the ice element he could feel how cold and invasive Khuno''s mes were. An instinctive shiver ran up his spine as he skidded across the floor. Unfortunately Khuno was far from done. "[Chilling wraith strike]!" With his halberd raised, energy flowed through his body and into his weapon, forming an ethereal ghost-like apparition that screamed death. The wraith matched Khuno''s stance behind him before both of them charged at Frost, ready to cleave him in twain. "Shit!" Frost loudly cursed as he quickly readied his ive to block the frightening move. DUUUUNNNNN!!! Frost felt his arms and even legs grow numb as Khuno''s halberd crashed against his ive but thankfully he endured, at least he thought so at first. The physical strike was only the first attack, following close behind was the wraith with its ethereal halberd. Frost expected to be blown away by the second strike but instead of withstanding a blow filled with force the ethereal de passed straight through his ive and hounded for his heart. A horrifying fear gripped Frost as he slowly witnessed the ghost-like weapon easily bypass his ive and even his chakra armour though it seemed to have more difficulty with thetter. How was he supposed to block such a strike? Just as his mind drew a nk an untoward saviour appeared from behind him with his battle axe outstretched for a wide swing. Bang! "Urgh!" Frost violently coughed as Finy''s axe sent him careening through the air and away from the Khuno''s deadly strike. This was followed up by him leaning into the spin and striking Khuno with an even stronger blow. Finy thus sessfully managed to st away both his opponents after being ignored. This was a three way battle after all not a simple duel. Finy smirked with pride and rested his axe upon his shoulders before taunting both Khuno and Frost, he was determined to retain his position as the most powerfulbatant within the dungeon (Maya excluded of course). Frost and Khuno looked at one another for a second before epting Finy''s challenge. "[Wyvern''s maw]" "[Lance of Niflheim]" While Frost responded with his trademark [wyvern''s maw] Khuno used another new skill, this one being something unique to the elder ronso race. Layered, dense ice was summoned in the shape of a massive stake before being adorned in silver mes that not only enhanced the stake''s toughness but acted as propellent, drastically amplifying its speed. Frost''s [Wyvern''s maw] looked rathercklustre inparison. Even Finy who confidently taunted the two of them started having second thoughts as the shadow of the stake loomed over him. The three B-rank fighters thus continued to trade blow after blow for the next several hours, fully testing the limits of Khuno''s new form. Unfortunately for Finy, his colleague had finally surpassed him in strength, albeit only slightly it was still a harsh blow for the prideful ice troll lord. Khuno had far too many new abilities and methods of attack, he and Frost were pretty much on the backfoot for the entire battle. Nheless the fight was greatly enjoyable and enlightening, all three of them gained a lot from it. Frost even felt the barrier that blocked him from bing a B-rank mage crack, he only needed to take a single step to enter that domain. Chapter 584: Chapter 584: Studying the core Following the three way battle Khuno returned to his duties and showed off his new look to his ronso subordinates who were tinged with envy, they couldn''t wait to be elder ronsos. Whereas Finy was rather grumpy and even dispirited upon realising he was no longer Frost''s strongest monster. To ease his pain Frost ordered him to spent some time with Nanna in the kitchen as that always seemed to lighten his mood. Nanna also enjoyed having him as a helper, making it a double win. Frost cloistered himself within the training room with the tomes he got from Leo, determined to ride the wave and break through the B-rank mage barrier, 4th circle magic was just a single step away. His desire to improve and the enjoyable battle he had with his right and left hand men sessfully distracted him from the work of Ladius and her team. He was no longer anxious with them being so close to his heart.well at least for a short while. Three dayster when they breached thest section of the lowest floor he was back in the private space, eyeing their movements with a focused re, his hands balled up into fists and his feet nervously tapping the floor. His earlier breakthrough was overshadowed by their frightening presence. Even with the capabilities of a B-rank mage and Khuno''s evolution he was still no match for Terrance and his security detail, his only sce would be to enlist Maya''s single use protection if things went sour. Thankfully logic won over instinct. Ladius and her team meant no harm, they truly only wished to study every inch of him, to gain new knowledge. "Rx, you''ve met with Ladius and her team multiple times, you know of their intentions." Maya sat beside her young master and tried to ease his anxiety but her words and actions only pierced skin deep. No matter how he rationalised the situation or wasforted by his family he was still nervous. How calm could you be if a knife hovered mere inches from your heart? Even if it showed no intention of piercing you the fact that it could was threat enough. "Haaaaaa fine just sit there and stare at the screen until they''re finished we''ll handle the rest of the dungeon." Maya eventually grew tired of his behaviour. She sighed and stood up from the sofa before handing out tasks to Daki, Loki and Nanna since Frost was indisposed. "Thanks." Frost uttered a quiet thank you before refocusing his attention to the screen where Ladius and her team were approaching his most hallowed ce, the dungeon core room. "Finally we''re here, the core of the dungeon." Ladius loudly bellowed with a grin stretching from ear to ear, her excitement was palpable a stark difference to her younger investigator subordinates who were exhausted by the extensive delve. Even Terrance and his security team were tired let alone the weaker investigators. Ladius was a strange enigma who''s stamina was endless as long as there was new things to study and examine, knowledge was her food source making her the ideal investigator for the federation of knowledge. "What''s with those exhausted expressions, after weeks of delving we''re finally at the heart of the dungeon, the veritable source of all this magnificence. Doesn''t the idea of studying it fill you with energy and passion?" Ladius was practically bouncing up and down as she lectured her subordinates. What she got in response was a few muttered grunts and insults under their breaths before a range of forced smiles. "Much better, onward then, for knowledge." ""For knowledge."" Her team parroted the slogan of the federation as they gathered their strength and followed Ladius through the ornate gateway. As they entered the domain of the dungeon''s core their federation of knowledge badges activated, covering them in a magical veil that protected them from the desire and magical hunger that monsterir hearts would induce. Without such measures they''d struggle to safely study the core. Only Ladius refused to activate her badge, she willingly breathed in the core''s natural aura, allowing its majesty to flow through her and affect her natural instincts. Desire filled her; an indescribable hunger screaming for her to devour the core and absorb its divine energy. A maddened look adorned her face as her body trembled and her breathes becameboured. She wrapped her arms around her body and squirmed with a reddened face as her insides started heating up. "Magnificent, so pure, so majestic, this aura is irresistible." Ladius cooed like a girl in love as she relished in the feeling the core invoked within her. Throughout her career Ladius had experienced the aura of dozens of monsterir hearts but none of them couldpare to the dungeon core before her. Never before had she felt so in tune with her lord, the glorious Dark God. Her emotions were at the peak and her body unconsciously drifted towards the core, hoping to gleam deeper into the forbidden knowledge. "Cough, cough miss Ladius." Thankfully Terrance intervened before Ladius did something untoward to the core. He loudly coughed and ced a hand on her shoulder. And with a strong squeeze he brought her out of her stupor thus earning him a rather terrifying re from the woman followed by a reluctant thank you. A momentter Ladius activated the protective veil function in her badge thus separating her from that tantalising aura. She was a high ranking investigator for the federation of knowledge therefore it''d be rather unbing of her station to be swept up in the aura of the core and damage such a prized asset. The federation''s rtionship with Frost would also take a sharp dive. Ladius took several deep breaths to calm herself before donning an expression fit for her station. "Alright everyone assume your positions, I want no stone left unturned." ""Yes ma''am"" her subordinates saluted in the manner of the federation before retrieving multiple magical devices from their storage rings. All these devices were unique to the federation of knowledge, their sole purpose being to read, monitor and analyse their surroundings and catalogue the vast data for the investigators to study in depthter on. Hardly anything could be hidden from these devices, they were able to pick up even the slightest sign of magic, aura and anything else Nova could produce. Hell some say that even divine energy could be analysed by them, allowing the federation to understand the intrinsic nature of the Gods..of course this was only half true. The domain of the Gods could not be understood by mortals no matter how advanced their devices were. All they could do was ascertain whether divine energy was present, nothing more but that didn''t stop the federation from trying. A few minutester multiple devices were arranged around the dungeon core and the room it inhabited, a pleasant hum filled the area as they were turned on. All manner of data was thus being recorded. "Start the investigation." Ladius gave the order with a flick of her arm and a smile on her lips. ""Yes ma''am."" Following her order everyone started fiddling with the devices, actions that were beyond the understanding of the untrained eye. Frost who was still watching with rapt attention failed to gleam their purpose but somehow felt stuffy in his heart. His anxiety only grew when Ladius started mouring around his core with her own devices. The devices themselves weren''t that bad it was her fanatical expression that truly disturbed him. It gave him shivers. This unpleasant situation continued for the better half of a day and Frost watched them that entire time, never dropping his guard for a single moment. Even when it was time for dinner Nanna had to bring his meal to the sofa, so he didn''t have to move. His family gave up on convincing him to rx since their words went in one ear and out the other. They instead supported his anxiety and hoped that Ladius and her team would finish their investigation soon. Eventually however Ladius and her team had to call it quits, their instruments had picked up all they could, so it was time for them leave. Though clearly reluctant to do so Ladius brought their investigation to an end. All the captured data would receive a cursory sift through back in the Niflheim camp before being brought to one of federation''s local embassies'' where it could be transferred to their headquarters where the keepers could analyse the data in true depth. "Alright, pack up the devices carefully and we''ll head back to our previous camp site." Everyone was rather exhausted after their thorough investigation, so rest was paramount. They could make for the exit tomorrow. "Understood, protection detail be on your guard, we can''t let our valuable data be ruined after all our effort to get here." Terrance ordered with a booming voice. ""Yes sir!"" His protection detail subordinates responded with strong vigour, they were pretty bored and useless during the past several hours, finally they could stretch their legs again. "Move out." The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 585: Chapter 585: An investigation brought to a close (end of volume 8) "Haaaaa finally this ordeal is over." Maya loudly announced as she saw Ladius and her team leave the dungeon core room, giving Frost a little stink eye as she did. Her young master was truly irritating to watch during the past 24 hours. His eyes glued to the holographic screen, blocking out nearly all outside information just in case he missed something. And then there was the incessant tapping of his feet against the floor. Tap, tap, tap, tap, the sound reverberated in her head over and over nearly driving her mad. Thankfully she along with Nanna, Loki and Daki weren''t confined to the private space thus allowing them some much needed reprieve. Their noble prince-like figure really didn''t suit the image of a worrywart, it ruined his good looks and usual confident demeanour. Frost waited until Ladius, and her team were at least several hundred metres away from the core room before letting go of all the built up tension. He let loose a very deep breath and sunk into the sofa, suddenly feeling overwhelmingly weary despite doing nothing but sitting for the past 24 hours. Finally however it was over, he could go back to his usual antics and not worry about the potential threat climbing over his heart. "I think I''m going to lie down for a while, Nanna please supervise the dungeon for a few hours." Completely ignoring Maya''s annoyedments and digs Frost rubbed his eyes and made his way to the bedroom after requesting Nanna''s aid. "YYes sir!" Nanna brightly replied with a wide smile on her lips, whenever Frost gave her a job rted to the dungeon her heart would always flutter, she enjoyed being useful and needed. Loki meanwhile clicked his tongue in disappointment for a brief second before trailing after his big sister, looking to offer aid. Nanna was the older one and by far the most adept at supervising, so it was obvious that she''d be chosen to perform such duties over himself, but it still stung. He wanted to be as reliable as her and be helpful to their master, their family. Maya who had aint stuck in her throat was stunned, she half expected Frost to retort or possibly even apologise but to head straight to bed, perhaps she underestimated how anxious he really felt. Feeling rather guilty both she and Daki bounded after him into the bedroom, not to cheer him up with carnal activities but to act as emotional support i.e. hug pillows in a manner of speaking. He always seemed to sleep better whenever he had one of them wrapped up in his arms. Thankfully Nanna had the dungeon and camp fully under control, nothing untoward happened while Frost slept, the usual clientele had already learned not to cause any disturbances within the Niflheim base camp lest they wished to draw the ire of the mighty ronsos. In the earliest days of the camp it wasn''t umon to see people being manhandled by theserge tiger beastkin and tossed out of the camp. Of course there were still the asional situation but the ronso patrol was sufficient to handle such issues without needing Nanna''s intervention. It also helped that the federation of knowledge provided a natural calming effect upon the camp. No one with a brain wished to draw their ire. 2 days after Frost awoke from his much needed slumber Ladius and her team left the confines of the dungeon with exhaustion as well as fanatism clear in their eyes. To ascend from the bottommost floor to the exit in 2 days was quite the achievement even with the strength of their protection detail. Apparently Terrance and his team tantly disyed their aura throughout the lower levels naturally repelling any monsters that dared bar their path or thought about attempting an ambush. It was a tiring effort but allowed them to make great time. "Pfuaaahhhhh finally we''re out of the dungeon and back in the Niflheim camp. Time to study the data!!" Ladius hollered in a strangely energetic tone, her eyes shing with a fierce determination. "Ummm miss Ladius I think we should rest first." Terrance ever being the voice of reason countered her orders while gesturing towards the rest of the team who had copsed the moment they left the dungeon. Mina and Suiten even fell straight asleep the moment the tension left their bodies; light snoring could suddenly be heard from the young elk beastwoman. With such a situation it was clear that Ladius would be the only one capable of doing any work, highly inefficient so as per usual she had to follow Terrance''s lead. ''Seems I need to instil some stamina in my subordinates before our next foray.'' Determined to not be held back in the future Ladius envisioned harsh training for Carl, Mina and Suiten once this job wasplete. With such ack in energy how could they ever rise in rank as investigators in the federation. After another 3 days Frost was sitting across from Ladius at one the camp''s most highly rated restaurants as she harped on and on about her findings and about how fascinated she was with his dungeon. "The way the mana flows through the entire system ispletely sublime and the makeup and natural mysticism of the heart is baffling. I''ve never experienced such purity even in monsterirs dozens of floors deep." Never ending praise was being spewed out along with concepts that wentpletely over Frost''s head but even so he couldn''t help but slightly blush from embarrassment. Ladius was technically describing his insides. "Alright I think that''s enough Ladius, if I hear any more I''m likely to be self-conscious." He quickly covered her mouth with his hands to stop her from speaking. Lick. "Ugh did you just lick my hand?" He quickly removed his hands from Ladius'' mouth, a wet mark sitting in the middle of his left palm. "Hehehehe so that''s how a dungeon tastes." Ladius not feeling even the slightest bit of shame giggled in a creepy manner as her eyes dancing with untoward thoughts. ".You''re really weird you know that right?" "Yep, it''s what makes me so interesting hehehehe." She was used to being called weird, strange and other less savoury adjectives, such insults were like raindrops, plentiful but harmless. "...Can''t argue with that I guess but please enough with the artful descriptions, it''s too embarrassing." Frost had to admit that Ladius'' weirdness did make her interesting, especially as a conversation partner. "Fiiiinnnnneeee I''ll stifle my fanaticism slightly." Ladius reluctantly agreed with a taunting smile, finding teasing Frost to be most enjoyable. "Thank you, now we can get down to business." Their pleasant chat now crossed over into a proper discussion. "Considering that you''ve delved to the very bottom of my dungeon and even examined the core I believe your investigation has nowe to an end?" "Correct Lord Frost our study of the dungeon and its heart has beenpleted and therefore the need for us to be based within your camp hase to a close. My team and I have studied the data we gained at length and have finishedpiling a report for our superiors. We''ll thus likely be leaving within the next few days depending on how desperate the keepers are for our findings." Ladius winked as she said thatst part, hinting that the keepers were well and truly desperate, she and her team may even get the order to move out tomorrow if they''re unlucky. "I see, well as your host I''m certainly sorry to see you go but I''m very happy you were able to aplish your mission without incident." Frost''s feelings on the matter were actually split. Having Ladius and her team delving into his secrets especially his core was exhausting and worrisome therefore he couldn''t wait for them to leave. However Ladius herself was both a font of knowledge and great conversation partner, he''d be remised in letting her go plus the thousands of DP her protection team supplied on a daily basis was very, very hard to ignore. "On behalf of the federation I thank you for being so cooperative Lord Frost, the experience has certainly been most enjoyable and one my team and I will certainly not forget." Ladius salute and bowed in the fashion of the federation as she gave thanks thus bringing their cooperation to a close at least for the initial purpose of studying the dungeon. The two of them then enjoyed a fond meal before Frost requested a favour. "There''s something I''d like your help with or rather the federation''s." "Oh, count me intrigued." Ladius sipped at her cocktail and gestured for Frost to continue. They had exchanged a lot during their little dates, so Frost knew of the heavy restrictions imposed by the federation. They were a strictly neutral body and therefore did little to aid the desires of others. "I want to set a precedent among the dungeons, something that would help us a group of individuals down the road as well as prevent unnecessary death among the adventurers delving within." Ladius nodded her head allowing Frost to continue, so far every seemed to be right up the federation''s alley. "In exchange for this favour I''ll grant your team, your protection detail in particr the opportunity to experience a rather unique exchange between dungeons." Frost did his best to hide a cocky smile as he imagined the look on Karrick''s face when he sees a group of highly skilled B-rank fighters from the federation''s militant forces during their uing war. Of course he probably didn''t need their help but if it would lessen his losses and crush his arrogant little brother faster he was willing to use outside help. "....I''m going to need more details." Chapter 586: Chapter 586: Asking for a favour from the federation (Volume 9) Ladius and Frost sat across from one another in one of the Niflheim camp''s most popr restaurants. They''d had just finished a glorious meal and had concluded the wrap up of Ladius and her team''s investigation. Now the young dungeon core was in the midst of asking a favour from the federation of knowledge, one that would help him crush his na?ve little brother Karrick as well as help set a useful precedent for future dungeon wars. However the federation of knowledge was a strictly neutral party, an entity that did its best to steer clear of granting advantages to a single party over another. That said Ladius was certainly intrigued by the prospect of helping out Frost with a unique dungeon experience, so she demanded the details instead of rejecting him outright. "As you are likely aware I''m not the only dungeon core in existence." The many inhabitants of the Yangmir (Northern) continent were already made aware of several possible dungeons appearing in theirnd let alone the envoys of the federation of knowledge who had a direct pipeline to the Dark God. Ladius nodded her head in agreement, they knew from Lord Dark that 100 of such individuals were created and spread across Nova. Multiple teams like her own were currently travelling across thend and sea to investigate these newfound entities. "Well our father has enacted several ways for us siblings to interact with one another as well aspete against each other." Ladius'' eyes sparkled with clear interest as Frost uttered the word pete''. How would dungeon cores test who was better? Her instinctual thirst for knowledge red as started to lean across the table, desperate for answers. Frost knowing that he''d got her on the hook started to slowly reel her in. "Our father established an activity that he has coined ''dungeon wars'' wherein dungeon cores like myself and my siblings battle with our established dungeons. Upon the start of such a war the entrances to our dungeons would be linked thus allowing our monster forces to invade one another with the aim being to reach the core room or eliminate all our opponent''s monsters." Frost started to use hand gestures and ice chakra moulded into certain shapes to describe and embellish upon the activity that was a dungeon war which helped fuel Ladius'' interest. "Dungeon wars are well appreciated and even encouraged by our father, so you''ll likely be hearing of situations wherein people are locked within a dungeon and or barred from entry for a period of time. It is for this reason that I''d like the federation of knowledge to help set a precedent, to help avoid needless casualties when us dungeon cores arepeting or at least shine a light on the reason for their entrapment." Though he said entrapment it''s likely that those who were caged up during a dungeon war met a swift end. "Aspensation I''ll allow your security team and perhaps you yourself to take part in this dungeon war thus granting you a seat at the front of the action. Of course whether Terrance and his team actively engage in the battle themselves will bepletely optional. I won''t force you or even ask you to battle on my behalf however I can only control my own forces not those of my sibling''s." Basically, they can get a prime seating position but will draw the ire of Karrick''s forces by just being present. Knowing how devout Ladius is it''d be impossible for her to avoid interacting with the opponent''s dungeon. She wasn''t the kind to blend into the background and take the safer yet less exciting approach. Terrance and his team would therefore be forced to participate in the war whether they wanted to or not.well as long as Ladius agrees to the favour. The woman in question was at this moment about to erupt into giggles as her heart thumped away from unbridled excitement. Her eyes shed with a radiant intensity that momentarily gave Frost the chills, perhaps he shouldn''t have asked her for the favour. However despite Ladius'' clear interest she was first and foremost an investigator for the federation of knowledge. She forced herself to calm down and answer in her capacity as an investigator. "Thepensation is intriguing and technically neutral in a way since you''re not forcing us to battle on your behalf however it''s obvious that you''d be receiving our aid in one way or another while your sibling will be disadvantaged." It wouldn''t look good for the federation to support one dungeon over another. Frost did his best to hold back a tongue clicking instead showing a calm and amenable expression. "You are correct Ladius, however even without your aid I''m set to win this war without much effort. My sibling is simply in over his head when challenging me. Your participation will do nothing to affect the end result." He spoke straight to the federation''s neutrality. "Bold and perhaps rather arrogant. On what basis am I to believe in your unquestionable superiority against this sibling of yours." Ladius wouldn''t be fooled by Frost''s handsome face and pretty words. ".." The young dungeon core was caught off guard not expecting Ladius to be so professional. He wondered if his earlier description wascking, wasn''t she a knowledge nut with poor control over her emotions. "Haaaaaa that''s a fair point to you who knows nothing about my ranking as a dungeon core and the capabilities of my opponent it may seem like nothing more than arrogance." Regardless of being caught off guard he had prepared another measure. "Ranking?" Ladius asked curiously, another thing she and the federation weren''t aware of. "Yes, during ourst family gathering we dungeon core were given a ranking based on the development of our dungeons and how much energy we''d manage to amass from delvers and other sources." It would be rather uncouth to call it life energy harvested from victims, but Ladius was knowledgeable enough to read between the lines and understood the very nature of dungeons. Just like monsterirs they feed on those who enter them to grow and create monsters. "So what was your ranking if I may ask?" Ladius asked as a smile grew on her lips. This was exactly the angle/excuse she was looking for. The federation needed some measure of proof if it was to embark upon this favour for Frost. "4th" A wide pride filled grin appeared on his face as he announced his ranking. He also pushed his chest forward slightly and his back straightened, he was quite proud of that achievement. "Hooooohhh that''s quite impressive Lord Frost, congrattions." Ladius pped in support of his aplishment before adding. "..Now what about your uing opponent." "43rd" Of course since this ranking was only based after the first month it didn''t really mean much in reality, but it helped establish a distinction between Frost and Karrick from Ladius'' point of view. "That''s quite the differencebut since this is a ranking that we the federation is unaware of I don''t think it''s enough to guarantee that you''ll be victorious even if we don''t intervene." Though she really, really wanted to take part in this unprecedented dungeon war she needed to follow proper protocol. Thankfully Frost wasn''t finished. "True then how about our track records for dungeon wars, though it''s a bit sparse I''ve participated in one and came out victorious whereas he lost his first challenge and if that''s not enough just remember that I sessfully withstood the fabled monster stampede that gues Northrend and the cial mountains every few years." It''s a shame they didn''t have much more of track record but what can you do. Ladius was silent as she took in this reveal, biting her lip as she pondered back and forth on whether or not she could actually ept this offer on behalf of the federation. The federation were quite strict in their rules but given how invested they were in finding out every little thing they could about the new dungeons she in ordance with her rank was actually given a little leeway. Should she take a little risk? What was the actual harm? It wasn''t a true war after all just apetition between siblings, the fallout couldn''t be that bad right? "...Alright I think we can be onboard with this favour of yours as long as you provide the previous statedpensation and assure us that we don''t have to actively participate in the war itself on your behalf if we chose not to." Eventually after mulling over the offer for a good ten minutes Ladius finally agreed. "Of course, I won''t ask for your aid at any point and will ensure that my own forces won''t interfere in your actions throughout the war. You''ll be given free reign." Frost dly reiterated his promise before cementing the deal with a hearty handshake, now to go into the particrs of the bargain. "So what exactly do you want us to do for this precedent?" "That''s actually really simple. I''ll create some sort of signal within my dungeon as a precursor to the war and I want you to interpret it as a warning. On the lead up to the war you can use your background as the federation of knowledge to advise people to exit the dungeon and steer clear until the war begins, and the entrance is closed. Then after the war isplete and the dungeon reopens you can announce your findings. How much you wish to reveal to the public will of course be up to you but now delvers will know of the danger and either chose to vamoose whenever the signal shows up, choose to hunker down until it''s over or perhaps even choose to participate willingly. Either way I''m sure the victims will be lessened, and we dungeon cores will find engaging in wars far less arduous." If all the delvers could be given notice to leave before a war begins there''d be less challenges in managing a growing territory for passive ie. "Hmmm that does sound rather simple yet perfect for the situation, but won''t the signal only apply to your dungeon?" "No I''ll spread the word through my siblings using this scenario as an example. I''m sure most will agree to use it." The majority of his siblings were quite level-headed after all. "Alright Lord Frost the federation of knowledge agrees to your request wholeheartedly, I''ll inform Terrance and the rest immediately." Ladius thus left the table with a bounce in her step, eager to take part in this unique experience. "Well that settles that." Frost let out a relieved breath, convincing Ladius was a little harder than expected, she really was a true blood investigator and not just some knowledge seeking fanatical. "Guess I just need to ept Karrick''s challenge and make my own war preparations now." Frost''s lips stretched from ear to ear, revealing a set a sharp teeth, he was looking forward to crushing Karrick under his foot. Chapter 587: Chapter 587: Preparing for the dungeon war against Karrick "So Ladius and the federation are onboard?" Maya asked with a smile once Frost returned from his negotiations. "Yes, Ladius epted my offer and immediately left to inform Terrance and the rest about the opportunity, so mission aplished I guess." Though he didn''t need their aid it was reassuring to have a group of people stronger than himself taking part in the war on his behalf. Even if they didn''t actively kill Karrick''s forces they''d work well as deterrent. "That''s great, I look forward to another victory." Maya was ted at the prospect of another dungeon war, especially one against a muscle brained idiot like Karrick. Though his elemental nature was a bit worrisome Frost was more than capable enough to offset such a disadvantage, of that she was certain. "As do I." Frost was feeling far more interested in the uing war than he did a few days ago. With Ladius and the federation agreeing to help set a precedent he would be far less distressed in starting wars once his territory truly flourished. The external town would be safe since areas outside of the dungeon''s entrance were considered out of bounds during the dungeon wars but any future outpost and or dwelling built within i.e. on the floor of peace would be swept up in these matches. By having his ''guests'' be aware of the danger they could choose whether or not to take part making management far less arduous. It''d also likely get him some praise from his father who was keen on seeing more wars between his children. Frost sat himself on the sofa and nced at the holographic disy hovering above the pseudo dungeon core. "Karrick himself isn''t much to be concerned about, either myself, Khuno or Finy should be able to handle whatever he can throw at us but his monsters and even his dungeon could prove.tedious." Slotting ice borne monsters that thrived in chilling weather into a veritable volcano inparison would not do well for theirbat capability. Even if they were a notch or two stronger in terms of quality and perhaps even numbers it''d be meaningless if they couldn''t call upon that strength in battle. Ice magic would surely be weakened by at least a grade or two when exploring such a hot environment while the opponents devasting fire magic would hit even harder than normal, a nasty disadvantage but one Frost was confident in offsetting. "Once I ept Karrick''s challenge I''ll need to enter the training room for a while, can you and the others manage the dungeon and camp in the interim?" "No problem, Daki''s keen in trying her hand with management so I''ll leave it to her." There was a subtle usation hidden within Maya''s words. Daki practically begged Frost to ept this challenge so it''s only right that she handles the problems that crop up because of it. "Perfect." Frost smiled with an evil grin as he pped his thigh in triumph, everything wasing together nicely. A couple hourster after Ladius finished exining the situation to Terrance and his security team and Daki and the kids had returned to the private space Frost called up Karrick to ept his challenge. "Ring, ring, ri" the call barely made it to third ring before a gruffughter responded. "Hahahaha big brother Frost have you finally decided to stop being a coward and ept my challenge!" Karrick answered with a mixture of impatience, excitement and of course arrogance. As one might expect from a fire addled idiot that followed Pyro like a loyal peon the red scaled lizardman was burly and constantly unted his fire mastery. "Hahahaha big words little brother but I was never a coward just needed to put some things in order first as unlike you my dungeon requires a great deal of management." A not so hidden jab at Karrick''s simple nature andcking dungeon development, of course this jab went right over his head. "Ughhhh so are you epting or not?" Karrick scratched his head in confusion before growing angry. His patience was already wearing thin from staring at the undecided notification in his inbox. Frost neither epted his challenge nor denied for days, it was driving him mad, but Pyro insisted on patience. "Of course I''m epting little brother, I need to teach you some manners after all. How about 3 days from now?" That should be enough time to retrofit a few areas of the dungeon and prepare his monsters for their foray into a fire based dungeon. "Pahhhh who needs manners between siblings hahahahaha. Fine in 3 days we''ll fight, and I''ll show you the power of fire!!" "I look forward to it, till them Karrick." Frost ended the call and let out a sigh, dealing with idiots was taxing even if it was for just a couple sentences. "So what do you think of my ''cute'' younger brother?" He directed this question to Daki and the kids. "Arrogant." Was Nanna''s response. "Rude." Was Loki''s choice of adjective. "A prime example of a hot head with nothing but brawn." And finally there was Daki putting the final nail in the coffin. None of them held a very high opinion of Karrick but perhaps that''s because they were spoiled by Frost''s demeanour. "That pretty much sums him up to a tee but deep down he''s actually not that bad a person just simple minded and a bit misguided. As long as I beat him fair and square in the war he''ll treat me with respect." There was no subtlety when it came to Karrick, he was honest about his feelings and respected strength simple as that. Yes he was naturally arrogant in regards to his element but who among their siblings wasn''t. Even Frost himself was adamant that ice was the greatest element around. Well at least that''s the feeling he got when they first talked during the initial family gathering. It''s a shame he cosied up to Pyro first, he was a bad influence on his na?ve innocence. "Alright the date is set, now to prepare. Daki you''ll be in charge of the dungeon and camp''s management while I''m readying the dungeon and our forces. Nanna and Loki please give her a hand whenever you can ok." ""Yes master"" Both Nanna and Loki responded with chipper smiles while Daki twitched at the lip slightly, hoping to protest the arrangement. She preferred having an assistant role at most as her true passion was consumed by forging unfortunately Maya wasn''t going to let her off easily. "She''ll be happy to aid you Frost, but don''t worry I''ll be sure to show her the ropes." Maya herself couldn''t do much in terms of control but she had been with Frost since the beginning and was his teacher so there was no one better to learn dungeon management from. Daki was thus forcibly dragged away by Maya to the bedroom where she could ''educate'' her thoroughly. ''I''m so lucky to have such reliable girlfriends'' Frost felt his heart warm at such a sight. The two loves of his life getting on so well was a glorious thing. But unfortunately he didn''t have time to indulge in warm fantasy. He brought up the dungeon menu and connected with his right and left hand men. "Finy pleasee to the training room with 3 squads of yuki-onnas and lesser yuki-onnas." "At once Master." "Khuno bring all the ronsos not required for the minimum security detail in the camp as well." "Understood milord." The Ice troll lord and elder ronso both responded with excitement. Being Frost''s right and left hand men they were in the loop in regards to most things dungeon rted. Thus they were aware of the uing war and were looking forward to it, a true chance to test their capabilities without having to worry about causing too much carnage. Karrick''s strongest monsters would fall to their axe and halberd. "Nanna, Loki I''ll leave things to you in the meantime. Try to handle what you can but if you really need help please don''t hesitate to call me but under no circumstances are either of you allowed to step foot within the training room over the next 3 days, am I clear." What Frost nned to do with the ronsos and yuki-onnas was very intense and could pose great danger to someone of Nanna and Loki''s strength therefore he sternly ordered them to keep their distance. He could barely imagine the two of theming to any harm least of all because of him or his subordinates. The two phoenix kin had truly, and welly wormed their way into his heart. "Yes master." "You can leave it to us." They both saluted with their arms crossed over their hearts, simr to how Finy and Khuno behave but instead of being imposing and loyalty inspiring it just looked cute. Frost couldn''t resist giving them a tight hug before teleporting away. "3 days huh, not a long time but also not that short." Thankfully he didn''t n on altering theyout of the dungeon too much as he already designed it with future wars in mind. The main issue was to prepare his monsters for the foray into an environment the pr opposite of what they were used to as well as help Ladius set up a precedent for future dungeon wars. 15 minutester Finy and the yuki-onnas arrived alongside Khuno and the ronsos. "Perfect everyone''s here, let''s begin. Chapter 588: Chapter 588: Preparing for the dungeon war against Karrick (2) Over the next 3 days neither Frost nor any of his summoned monsters left the confines of the training space. Within they all readied themselves for a dangerous delve into an unfriendly environment. Fire and heat were not a wee pair for creatures born of ice, therefore sufficient preparations needed to be made lest he wanted his forces to be continually on the backfoot. Thankfully the monsters he arranged for this special training were all rather intelligent and skilled, so they picked up the required techniques without too much trouble. 3 days was more than enough for them be considered somewhat adept and left enough time for Frost to asionally alter some of the dungeon to suit the uing war i.e. more chokepoints, kill boxes and barriers suited for mass invaders rather than small groups. When Frost finally left the training room there was a strong air of confidence about him, he was ready for this war, ready to crush his arrogant little brother and finally teach him some manners. "How was the camp and dungeon?" He took a seat on the sofa and ced a kiss on Daki''s cheek before asking her. In response Daki turned to face him with an exhausted expression full ofint. "Exhausting, I don''t know how you and the kids are able to manage everything every day. There''s so much that goes on at every moment that it''s impossible to keep up. I''m so tiredplease tell me I can go back to forging, I''ll do anything please." Daki clearly wasn''t one for territory management, hating nearly every second of it. She mbered over her boyfriend, pressing her soft body against his as she begged to be freed from this tortuous task. Frost couldn''t help but enjoy the soft feeling against his skin, his blood quickly heating up as desire filled him. It''d been 3 days since hest slept with his girlfriends thus he was a little pent up. Thankfully there was still half a day before the war was set to begin, he could indulge a little. "Anything?" He repeated her words with an evil smirk as his hands made contact with her seductive figure. "Hehehehehe I''m always up for that." Daki giggled in a flirtatious manner as she wrapped her arms around Frost''s neck and kissed him on the lips. Frost wasn''t the only one pent up. "Cough, cough." Their short moment of bliss was unfortunately interrupted by a loud cough from the kitchen. Maya was standing there with a judging look in her eyes as well as something else. Frost and Daki looked at her for a second before looking back at one another and smiling. "I think Maya''s feeling left out." Daki said before nting another kiss on her boyfriend and pulling him close. Her actions caused the young fenrir to twitch at the lips, a jealous look forming in her eyes. Daki was right on the money. "Is that so, Maya are you perhaps jealous?" Frost truly enjoyed this y; it wasn''t often he got to be the one doing the teasing. He returned Daki''s kiss with gusto before picking her up, his hands tightly groping onto her bountiful cheeks as she straddled him with her muscr thighs. A certain part of him was already turning rock hard as intense desire filled his heart. The two kissed one another repeatedly as they waited for Maya''s response. Unfortunately all they got was freezing cold re and no small amount of killing intent. Now to the unexperienced and untrained eye this would be seen as something dangerous, a clear warning but to Frost and to a lesser extent Daki they knew how to read between the lines. Maya was quite a proud, stubborn and rather bashful person when it came to her love life therefore admitting jealousy was something she really struggled to do. Thankfully however Frost could read her desires like a book. Without even the slightest bit of fear or hesitation he effortlessly carried Daki over to the kitchen, making sure to fondle her with every step. He then leaned in close to Maya''s frigid face and kissed her on the lips while at the same time removing his left hand from Daki''s ass and cing it on Maya''s. He then picked her up and allowed her to straddle him in a simr manner as Daki, thus he was carrying a flower in each arm. "Hehehehehe this is going to be fun." Frost proudly bellowed before carrying his two girlfriends to the bedroom and mming the door closed behind him, preventing any noise from escaping -of which there was sure to be a lot- as well as themselves. He nned on going all out, nearly 3 days of being locking in a training room with his monsters had really built up his appetite. Maya and Daki were in for one hell of a night. Thankfully the kids were busy working in the camp or dungeon otherwise Frost wouldn''t have been so open with his affection. They still cared about Nanna and Loki''s innocence after all. Several hourster Frost left the bedroom with a beaming smile and an obvious glow radiating from his skin. He felt as light as a feather and full of energy, energy that he could put use in crushing Karrick. "Hello master, did the training go well?" Nanna who had returned to the private space a little earlier to prepare food asked with curiosity. ''Master looks positively glowing.'' Since she didn''t see the earlier situation when Frost absconded with Maya and Daki into bedroom she assumed his good mood was from the training session, innocence saved. "Why yes it did Nanna, thanks for asking. Karrick won''t know what hit him hahahahaha." Frostughed with glee as he sauntered over to Nanna to ruffle her hair, bringing an embarrassed smile to her lips. "How was the dungeon and camp been while I was away, Daki looked like she was struggling." "The workload was a little heavy given that the security detail was reduced to the minimum and the fact that both Finy and Khuno were busy but nothing major of note happened just a lot of little things." Nanna responded honestly, clueing Frost into why Daki was practically begging him to remove her from her management post. Without the reassurance of a strong lineup of ronsos and the presence of either Finy or Khuno troublemakers felt more emboldened to take action and any action they did take took longer to handle thus resulting in more issues. Basically hundreds of little things built up to the point that Daki was forced to put out fire after fire without much rest -though she didn''t sleep much anyway given her passion for forging as well as carnal activities but at least she enjoyed those two. "Is that so, thank you for being honest and sorry for dumping so much on you for such a long time. You''re a really good girl you know that." Frost ruffled her hair again as he praised her causing her blush to now cover her entire neck, she still wasn''t used to such tant praise. "Are you making breakfast for everyone?" "Yes, I''ve been volunteering to do it whenever I have time. Cooking is wonderful and the appliances in the private space are so much better than the ones in the camp." Nanna gushed out her love for cooking with sparkling eyes, she truly enjoyed the craft from the bottom of her heart. Seeing such innocent childlike wonder warmed Frost''s heart, this was what he wanted to see from them. "I''m d you''ve found a trade that you truly enjoy." "It''s all thanks to you master if you hadn''t found my brother and me I''d never have been able to have any of this..thank you so much." A few tears rolled down Nanna''s cheeks as she thanked the one who saved her and her brother. "You''re very wee Nanna." Frost replied gently while wiping away her tears. "So what''s on the menu this morning." He skilfully redirected the topic to something more positive. "Eggs, sausages, beans and fried potatoes all normal ingredients however, I''m still not skilled enough to properly handle 1 star ingredients and up by myself." "I''m sure it''ll taste great as always Nanna just give it time and you''ll get there. I can picture it now Nanna the world''s greatest chef hahahahahaha." Since Maya and Daki were practicallyatose in the bedroom he volunteered himself to be Nanna''s able assistant, something he always wished to have more time for. The two prepared a glorious feast for 6 people, Frost, Maya, Daki, Nanna, Loki andst but not least Kiba who was more of a part of the family than subordinate monster. The smell was utterly divine so much so that Maya and Daki dragged themselves from the bed and to the dining table. They could have let Frost bring the food to them but there was a good chance he''d attack them again which was something their bodies really couldn''t endure. Even Daki who was famed for being a devouring of men and women, an orc with a subus ancestry hobbled painfully to her seat and let out a cute moan the moment her cheeks touched the chair. Maya wasn''t any better she could barely feel her lower body as she shakily ate her breakfast. Frost the cause of such feelings received no small amount of hateful res but instead of being apologetic or embarrassed he grinned with pride. They may be ring now butst night they were begging him to continue even after he warned them about the consequences. In response to his genuine heartfelt warning all he got was "Just shut up and keep fucking us!" An order he was most happy to ept. Chapter 589: Chapter 589: The war with Karrick "When''s the war set to start Master?" Loki being the innocent saving grace that he waspletely ignored the subtle tension between Frost, Maya and Daki. The young phoenix kin was very much looking forward to the uing war as he wished to y a key role within it and therefore be praised and rewarded by Frost. His precious trove of candy was starting to dwindle given hisck of restraint and he felt guilty asking for more without aplishing anything first. Frost opened up the dungeon menu to check the time. "In about an hour Loki, enough time for us to finish breakfast and do ast rundown of our forces." By now the residents and visitors within the Niflheim base camp were aware that something major was happening. Ladius and her team using their influence as envoys of the federation of knowledge immediately spread word throughout the camp that something was changing within the dungeon and that everyone should steer clear for the next few days. To aid or rather provide evidence for this im Frost made the entire dungeon rumble 24 hours before the war was set tomence every hour on the hour as a warning. Of course a few groups decided to risk it anyway given how valuable even a small amount of time was within the dungeon but thankfully they were a minority and of little consequence. Frost already ordered Finy and Khuno to erase them before the war began thus eliminating potential loose ends. Now only Ladius and her team were sheltering within the dungeon due to their agreement. "I can''t wait hehehehe." The young phoenix kin couldn''t hide his excitement as he quickly wolfed down his breakfast and positioned himself on the sofa where the pseudo dungeon currently hovered. He and his sister would be in charge of observing the battle andmunication between the assigned teams. The same asst time but far more in depth and with a much greater workload but neither nched at the daunting prospect instead they were invigorated. Daki despite her current physical condition and obvious hatred of management would y as simr role since she was only the one who was yet to experience a dungeon war. Finally Maya would do as she always did, facilitate a background role and offer support as the contract between her, and Dark was still in effect. What about Frost you may ask well unlike the war with Gobuske this time there''s no restrictions on the dungeon cores themselves meaning if they so chose they can enter the battlefield personally and Frost being who he is wasn''t one to miss such an opportunity. A wide battle lust inspired smile grew on his lips as he pictured the invasion, the only question was whether he''d be part of the defence or the offence. The hour timeframe passed rtively quickly and was announced with the ringing of a loud bell and audible notification utilising Dark''s voice. "A dungeon war has been agreed to by Dungeon core Frost and Dungeon core Karrick. Your dungeons will be connected in 3.2.1.connected. You can now begin your invasion, have fun kids." This voice was heard within the heads of Frost, Maya and those who had the rights to interact with the dungeon menu i.e. Daki, Loki, Nanna and his most trusted subordinates Finy and Khuno. For everyone else the dungeon seemed to shake violently as the space around it shifted. The entrance that once led to the Niflheim base camp was reced with a ck energy wall that served as a corridor to Karrick''s dungeon. The offensive teams would first enter this space before being transported to the opposing dungeon, thus preventing an obvious and dull sh at entrances. "Alright, it''s on everyone, time to let loose!" Frost roared at the top of his lungs as he raised his ive up high and led the charge into the ck barrier and into Karrick''s dungeon. He decided to be part of the invasion force rather than the defenders. "Follow after our Lord!" Khuno was joining him in the invasion as were the majority of the ronsos and yuki-onnas who were part of the special training squad whereas Finy was left in charge of the defence. The mighty elder ronso fully keen in exercising his newfound abilities let loose an earthshattering tiger roar before chasing after his master''s back with his teeth bared. He was on the hunt and enjoying every second of it. A plethora of fire monsters would meet their end today. Frost led hundreds, almost thousands of monsters through the ck abyss and into his younger brother''s dungeon, he was not going to hold back in the slightest. He''d show Karrick the folly in challenging one of the top rankers a second time. After a couple minutes of travelling through the spatial distortion Frost and his mighty cohorts of ronsos, yuki-onnas and even revenants were met with a fierce, ufortable heat. Before them was a wide cavernlike environment dotted with burning trees, and red hot dunes of sand and granite. The air was so hot that objects in the distance were distorted, a strange and foreign concept to the young Frost. "Damn that''s ufortable!" Frost didn''t even register the battalions of fire monsters that were grinning maliciously towards him and his ice brethren before calling on the yuki-onnas enlisted in his special training. "Activate the veil." "Yes milord." The strongest and defacto leader of the yuki-onnas replied while frowning, she too found the environment utterly unpleasant. ""[Veil of ice]"" The yuki-onnas followed their leader and cast their recently acquired spell, [veil of ice]. This spell held no offensive nor defensive properties instead what it did was summon a thin curtain of ice mana around their forces, protecting them somewhat from the insufferable heat. Neutralising itpletely was an impossibility but at least now they''d be able to summon most of their innate strength. But Frost wasn''t satisfied. "Ronso corps show them your fire!" "ROOOOOAAAAARRRRRR!!!" In response to their master''s call the flock of ronsos let loose a terrifying howl as they set themselves aze in silver and azure coloured mes. The temperature surrounding Frost''s forces lowered even more, and the magic users could feel their connection with their natural element being restored. Their opponents however grimaced at the sight, the frontline monsters even took several steps back as the chilling cold unsettled them. And Karrick who was watching the scene from one of the lower floors punched a nearby cliff out sheer anger. "HE DARES TO USE FLAMES AGAINST ME!!!!" Veins bulged and throbbed across his body as his rage threatened to blow him up from the inside. Was there anything more insulting to a master of fire, to use cold mes in his own house, no this affront, this insult must be met with savage aggression. Hepletely ignored thebined might Frost brought the field, all he saw was those cold mes denying his beautiful fire cavern. The war was on, and leniency and mercy were no longer on the table. "Clear me a path." Frost calmly ordered with his ive outstretched into the distance. "dly master!" The ronsos adorned in cold mes smiled from ear to ear before charging ahead with reckless intent. These fire monsters were nothing to them, even with the environment being what it was, dozens of unique C-rank monsters was a force to be reckoned with. And as to be expected the mighty ronsos bulldozed a path for Frost,unching and cleaving Karrick''s forces in twain, nothing but a ughter. "Yuki-onnas and protection teams keep apace with our main forces as we follow after the vanguard, we''ve got a red scaled lizard to hunt." ""Yes sir"" With a brisk and confident gait Frost thus led his forces deeper into Karrick''s dungeon, his vanguard making very short work of the majority of Karrick''s defences. To Frost and his soldiers this invasion was akin to a walk in the park. The two and half days spent within the training spaceprised of Frost mass purchasing anti fire spells for his ronso and yuki-onnas and them learning how to properly utilise them for the uing invasion. He also summoned the high earth rank cold me and allowed his soldiers to study the oddity so as to improve their innate gifts with the ice element. Their overall strength didn''t improve all that much but their ability to counter fire and more importantly hot environments skyrocketed. What was once a weakness was now Karrick''s bane.at least in the upper floors. Frost wasn''t foolish enough to expect his little tricks to work the same once they reached Karrick''s true depths. However for an opening punch the effect was quite drastic. Poor Karrick felt his heart lurch as Frost''s ronsos ughtered their way through his frontline defences. The carnage brought up memories of his first war, the sheer difference in strength, the weakness he showed, his fragility and ..the inevitable ending. His hands trembled as he thought of Pyro, he didn''t even register his monsters screaming at his side for orders. He suddenly felt small and powerless.again. ".....No..not again.." The trembling in his hands gradually changed and the fearful expression he donned warped until a vicious smile grew on his lips. Even if he was outmatched he would not cower or submit, he would fight even if it meant defeat. It was time to own his arrogance. Boom!! Karrick blew up a nearby boulder with his fist so as to calm his frayed nerves. "Move up the yuanti, ming hippogryphs and..willowisps." Chapter 590: Chapter 590: The war with Karrick (2) "Move up the yuanti, ming hippogryphs and..willowisps." Karrick gave his first order with strained bravado. "Bbut sir the willowisps are only G and F-rank." Karrick''s aide a C-rank fire drake questioned his order. The yuanti were fine given that each of them were at least D-rank and by far the main force behind their aggregate strength. The ming hippogryphs were also a good choice given their ability to fly and natural agility. Willowisps however were some of the weakest monsters in existence, even slimes fared better than them in directbat. Karrick''s aide struggled to understand why his master would order for their weakest monsters to be set to the frontlines, to fight against Frost''s monstrous ronsos. "I know but they''re perfect for dealing with that pesky veil and restoring our elemental advantage." Karrick knew the capabilities of his monsters quite well and his innate skills in terms of warfare were actually rather high he just had the wrong opponent. Shortly after sending his orders down the chain ofmand a toon of yuanti, snakelike monster kin that resembled half human, half snakes and ming hippogryphs, a cross between an avianlike beast and a horse appeared from behind Karrick''s third line of defence. Their arrival greatly inspired the regr monsters that made up Karrick''s defences, the yuanti were their pride and joy. Intelligent, dexterous and capable of all manner of attack, equivalent to Frost''s ronsos in flexibility though of a lower ss. Frost''s ronsos stopped their advance upon seeing the change in line-up, they waited for their lord to arrive which he did ten minutester. "Hoh certainly a step up, I can count more than few C-ranks among their kin." Frost remarked Karrick''s yuanti with respect, finding their race to be quite strongof course they were still a far cry from his glorious ronsos. Rooooaaarrrrrr!! The ronsos bared their fangs and let out fierce intimidating roars as their bodies tensed, desiring nothing more than to receive the order to eviscerate these snakelike monsters and their deluded kin. Frost smirked but analysed the battlefield in a calm manner, this time was different. Not only was the third floor hotter than the previous floors, the regrmon monsters were a notch stronger even without the yuanti and ming hippogryphs, Karrick was starting to show his mettle. "But it''s not enough, rend them apart just like those before." Frost gave the order in a chilling tone and received a joyful chorus of roars in return. With permission given the vanguard charged forward with their weapons at the ready and silver mes wreathed around their bodies. To Frost it really didn''t matter how many yuanti stood before his forces, they''d fall all the same. The difference in power was just too much. However what he expected to see happendidn''t. His mighty ronsos with their halberds, axes and even ws shed hard against Karrick''s defensive lines and pushed them back a fair amount but failed to rend them apart like before thus leaving them open for a fierce counterattack. Before Frost could even react to the sudden change Karrick''s yuanti attacked with extreme aggression, forcing his vanguard to retreat with no small amount of wounds, a perplexing situation. By all ounts his ronsos should have barged straight through, killing dozens of fire monsters in their path before eventually losing momentum and retreating safely for another charge. "Khuno can you exin?" Frost asked rather calmly. The situation was unexpected but not something to panic about. None of his ronsos were killed and they were strong enough to sort themselves out. Khuno narrowed his eyes trying to sense and see something that they might have missed. "Their momentum weakened by at least a fifth the moment they reached the enemy. That dip caused their charge to fail in breaking their lines." Khuno easily identified the reason but not the cause, thankfully someone else did. "There''s another monster in the line up other than the yuanti and ming hippogryphs, I believe they''re the cause." The leader of the yuki-onnas spoke up, seizing an opportunity to prove her worth. Frost and Khuno listened to her words and looked into the distance. They saw the willowisps but thought they were harmless, a decoration or starter monster that served little to no purpose. Even a slime felt stronger than these little floating fire puffs to the two of them. To the yuki-onna leader however they felt insidious and nauseating. She could feel it from the other side of the battlefield, these little puff balls were dangerous, they made her skin crawl. Frost noticed the effect they had on his officer and though he personally failed to sense any threat from them he trusted her instincts. He thus identified these little fire puffs as high priority targets. "Hit their lines with some magic salvos, get the ronsos out of there so we can regroup." "Yes sir. You heard him girls st away." The yuki-onnas and lesser yuki-onnas giggled before conjuring dozens of magic crests. A volley of ice bolts,nces and even boulders were thus fired at the enemy, with more than a few being specifically aimed at the dreadful willowisps. Don! Don! Don! The magic volley smashed hard into the frontlines, but it was clear that its grandeur was akin to a paper tiger. Barely ten enemy monsters died from the volley despite dozens of C and D-rank yuki-onnasunching it. "Tsk" Frost loudly clicked his tongue as the elemental disadvantage was in full view. The moment their spells left the ice veil they weakened by a level and by the time they reached the coverage of the willowisps they dropped even further. "Annoying little buggers!" The yuki-onna leader was far more vocal with her disappointment. Those willowisps were pretty much the antithesis of their long distance ice magic. Despite being only F and G-rank these little fire puffs could dramatically effect the magic arsenal of Frost''s forces. The volley of ice magic was barely enough for the ronsos to get back on their feet and start pushing back those clingy yuanti and ming hippogryphs. But it also drew the focus of Frost and his forces allowing Karrick to get another jump on his brother. While they were so focused on what was happening at the frontlines they failed to take notice a group of yuanti and willowisps appearing along the left and right ridges of the room. "Ambush!" Khuno roared the moment he sensed their movements, but the ball had already dropped. Waves of weak ass willowispsunched themselves down at Frost''s main forces, quickly melting apart their precious veil of ice and draining their connection to the ice element. The weaker monsters in his entourage immediately felt the difort of the environment. Their skin itched from the sudden heat and their breaths becameboured, softening them up for the next attack. The yuanti followed up with a volley of ming arrows, a force to be reckoned with even without the elemental advantage. Khuno reacted quickly as did the protection teams, but none were as quick as Frost. "Well yed little brother, well yed but still.not enough [Wall of ice fire]" Frost let loose with one of the spells he learned from Leo''s ancestor. A 4th circle spell that was without parallel inparison to the rest of his spell repertoire. The mana cost for the spell was incredibly high but losing the momentum and dozens of his precious monsters was too high a cost to ignore. The moment he uttered themand words a giant magic crest appeared around the perimeter of his forces, far more intricate and detailed than any he had summoned before. From the crest fierce silver mes roared outwards and upwards encapsting him and his soldiers within and protecting them from the deadly barrage of fire arrows. The wall was imprable, any arrows that touched the silver mes were sh frozen and then turned into ice dust while those inside feltfort. The chill brought on by the fire though extreme was a godsend for the ice monsters who had delved into the depths of a fire dungeon. "Hu hu hu hu." Frost barely kept managed to hold the wall up for 10 seconds before the strain hit him like a ton of bricks. His breathing becameboured, and his mana veins felt overwhelmed as they tried to channel a tempest rather than a dense yet calm flow. He was a long way from bing proficient in the spell thus he needed to suffer some side effects after casting it, especially with a shortened aria. Mana wise he was fully capable of casting 4th circle magic without too much burden but that only applied to those he''d mastered to a sufficient degree, [wall of ice fire] was not one of those spells in fact it was quite miraculous that he managed to summon it at all let alone to such an effect. Khuno quickly supported his master who nearly buckled the moment the fire wall vanished. "I''m fine Khuno, take care of the ambushers and continue our assault." Frost pushed his left hand man away as he regained his bnce and steadied his breathing. It was just a momentary exhaustion nothing more. Though worried Khuno did as ordered, he tookmand of the many battalions that made up their primary force and ordered them to annihte the interlopers while he and few of the officers focused on helping the vanguard regroup with the main force. Karrick was sessful in stalling their advance but only slightly. Frost''s forces were not weak by any ount and with a more patient mindset they moved in greater numbers and slowly but skilfully wore down Karrick''s third defence line before moving deeper into his dungeon. Even with tricks, sneak attacks, sudden changes in circumstance and the obvious elemental advantage it was clear that Karrick was no match for his elder brother. Chapter 591: Chapter 591: The war with Karrick (3) Though Frost and his soldiers moved at a slightly slower pace after the difficulties on the third floor they still made great time and suffered minimal casualties, losing only a fraction of their weakest monsters. Karrick however was continually on the back foot, his defences whether they be monster, trap or environment failed to endure against their indomitable march. Carnage and ughter was all that was left in their wake. The young red scaled dungeon core felt his heart thump away madly in his chest as he watched his elder brother lead his forces closer and closer to his position. There seemed to be nothing in his arsenal that could forestall the inevitable but even, so Karrick refused to back down until he tried everything. "Summon more yuanti and low ranking me drakes!!" Karrick roared as he saw Frost enter his fifth floor. "But sir our DP Levels." His trusted fire drake aide immediately spoke up but was quickly shut down. "I know and I don''t care, I''m not going to allow my elder brother to see me as weak even if it means we have to expend all we have." Karrick would rather ruin his future dungeon development than allow Frost to continue to breeze through his dungeon as if it was a peaceful stroll. "How''s our own invasion going?" He asked another aide who was left in charge of their offensive team. "Not good master, we''re barely at the end of the first floor." The other aide who was of the minotaur species replied with a frown. Their invasion was not much better than their defence. A few hours earlier Karrick''s forces charged through the ck energy wall established by Dark and arrived in the dungeon of Niflheim''s winter hignds section where they were met with Frost''s first and weakest line of defence. "Pah far too cold for my liking, let''s heat the ce up men!" A ming tusked minotaur who was one of the invasion team''s leaders roared out in arrogance as he stamped down on the snow covered floor which was quickly melting due to his ambient body temperature. Unlike Frost''s forces Karrick''s soldiers didn''t feel their strength being sapped away by the environment, the cold didn''t affect their battle capabilities in the slightest. The ming tusked minotaur received loud cackles in response as more and more fire monsters entered the winter hignds and quickly raised the surrounding temperature. The snow that was beneath their feet quickly melted, even the reinforced ice walls and battlements showed signs of dripping, and this was without the use of magic. Under normal circumstances it was obvious that any ice monster would surely lose against one of fire, but this situation was anything but normal. The first line of defence established by Frost had been in ce since the monster stampede. They knew well how to handle invasions on a massive scale and how to minimise the damage they received. Even if Karrick''s soldiers managed to breach their lines the vast majority would be able to retreat to the second or third floor thanks to their strict training. "Enemy sighted, ready your bolts, arrows and magic and wait for my signal." A frost troll lieutenant was left in charge of the first line of defence along with several frost dwarves to serve as his officers. This was not an overly strong defence, but it was a well-trained one who were prepared to meet the enemy calmly. At the frost troll''s words dozens of clicks could be heard from the crossbows being primed and bows being pulled back. Magic users also calmed their bodies and readied their veins for a sudden rush of mana. All that was needed now was for the enemy to enter their range. The image of hundreds of fire based monsters charging ahead with mes decorating most of their forms was quite a scary sight especially for those borne of ice but none of Frost''s forces faltered. They''d been face to face with a berserk onught before and had learned to trust in their lord and the officers inmand. "Hold." The frost toll lieutenant raised his hand up priming to give the order to attack. DOON DOON DOON! The stamping of heavy feet caused the very ground to tremble yet still the defence team waited, nary moving a muscle as the enemy quickly charged at them with their weapons raised. "KILL THEM ALL!!!!!" The ming tusked minotaur bellowed out loud from the front of the pack. Wielding a massive battle axe in hand he kicked the ground hard in an attempt to leap over therge ice wall protecting Frost''s forces but failed. He barely managed to catch the slightest smirk on the frost troll lieutenant lips before the ground beneath him gave way. It was a trap, one that he fell into hook line and sinker. And not just him dozens of monster following in his wake were caught off guard by the sudden hole in the ground. "FIRE!!!" The hole itself caused little to no damage to the enemy but lined them up perfectly for a powerful volley. Ton Ton Ton Arrows, crossbow bolts and magic ice bolts thundered down on the temporarily stunned vanguard, at least a dozen lives were reaped over the course of 2 seconds with many more to follow. "RAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" The ming tusked minotaur who fell first pushed aside the corpses of some weak fire goblins who fell in after him and leaped out of the trench. Arrows and crossbow bolts barely even managed nick his skin, as was the capabilities of a C-rank monster, only the weakest and more numerous would fall to such tactics. But the frost troll lieutenant was already aware of that. The first line of defence''s job was to weaken the invaders, soften them up for the next line of defence not stop them dead in their tracks. That was far too tall a task but even, so they did have a few tricks up their sleeves. "Frost trolls pin the enemy D-ranks in ce, ballistae operators lock and load!" "Yes sir." One of the frost dwarf officers, the one in charge of the ballistae replied with a salute before having his subordinates pull back several cloaks that hid their war machines from sight. A regr crossbow bolt may not be enough to pierce the skin of a minotaur but what about a massive tempered steel ballistae bolt. Before the enemy could even register the sight of the mighty ballistae the skilled operators had them primed and aimed at their chosen targets. Ptwang! A solid metre long steel ballistae boltunched at the ming tusked minotaurmander catching him by surprise but as previously mentioned he was a C-rank monster. The bolt was certainly more impactful than something from a crossbow or a standard bow, but the mighty beast reacted in time, deflecting it with the de of his axe. His arm tingled but other than that no woundsthe same couldn''t be said for his subordinates, however. More than a few D-ranks and even somerge E-ranks were poked full of holes by the sudden volley, once again curbing their aggressive momentum. Those that still made their way towards the ice wall through the death filled volley were met with the stalwart shields of the frost trolls. Karrick''s first charge was thoroughly quashed, reducing the battle to a slugfest. Over the course of several hours Karrick''s forces only managed to gain ground through dozens of casualties, theplete opposite of Frost and his soldiers. Karrick was severely outmatched; time only amplified the difference. Tactics, quantity of monsters, quality of monsters even mastery of traps and environments Frost surpassed his younger brother with ease. Yet despite this difference Karrick didn''t feel all that hopeless at least not to the same degree as when he faced Pyro. That battle was.brutal, Pyro simply destroyed him through sheer tyrannical force, but Frost felt like a teacher, showing him the many ways in which he could improve. Karrick could see the situation happening in his dungeon and hear the many reportsing from his invasion team and from it he could see why he was losing, what he could have done better and or what he needed to reflect upon. His initial anger and arrogance was quashed not with strength but with education. Explore stories at m-v le-mpyr "I never knew you could fight like thatit''s inspiring." His eyes shined brightly as he watched Frost get closer and closer. He no longer seemed to panic about his situation instead taking it all in like a dutiful student. He could feel Frost''s intentions, there was no malice or hatred, he truly was teaching him some manners like an elder brother, simple as that. "Hahahahaha summon me serpents to aid in the invasion force and get more willowisps for the sixth and seventh floor, that pesky veil needs to be brought down for good otherwise my brother will leave without a scratch." Karrickughed joyfully as he gave out new orders, taking notes from how Frost easily pierced through his previous defence efforts to rearrange his blockades. Don! After giving out a new round ofmands and with a reinvigorated passion Karrick summoned his personal weapon, a long 3 metre spear with a bright red feather tassel attached at the end. "I''ll leave for the final blockade, Kenta, Margo with me leave themand centre to your most trusted subordinates." "Yes milord!!" Chapter 592: Chapter 592: The war with Karrick (4) Karrick with a grin adorning his lips and a reignited fighting spirit left the confines of his hallowedmand centre with his most powerful subordinates for the final blockade, the barrier erected on the 9th and bottommost floor. "Hmph guess I''ll have to thank that Frost for showing my little lordling the right path." Arge, winged man with bright red skin muttered under his breath as he watched Karrick leave. This man was his guardian, Lapata, a magma devil who was a hairs breadth away from reaching S-rank. Lapata was considered somewhat of a prodigy as were the majority of the chosen guardians and decided to take on a less personal approach when it came to his interactions with Karrick, choosing to serve solely as a temporary teacher and supervisor. There was no close rtionship between the two of them like there was between Frost and Maya or Indra and Izuna, but it wasn''t negative either like how Gobuske used to be treated. Lapata was here to do a job nothing more, nothing less, he acted professionally and never over stepped, leaving Karrick to find himself even if it meant going down the wrong path. He became a guardian for his own benefit, not because he deeply wished to be of service to Dark or that he was overly curious about his new creation no, he wanted the promised reward as well as the opportunity to observe and feel divine energy in action on a regr basis, as doing so would likely allow him to reach the vaulted S-rank and truly be one of the blessed entities that were above all but the Gods. This was Lapata''s official stance but over several months of close proximity with Karrick, it was difficult to prevent some level of attachment developing, thus his true feelings broke through for a brief momentshame that no one else was free enough to hear it. Karrick quickly arrived at the final blockade, greatly inspiring the soldiers who were there and prepared toy down their lives for their creator. His strongest and most battle worthy forces made up the final barrier, with him and his aides joining them in the uing carnage Frost would have no choice but to make some sacrifices but that was still a few hours away. "Master, Karrick''s forces have sessfully breached the second floor and conquered the first section." As Frost was moving through the corpses of Karrick''s sixth defence line Nanna quickly contacted him through the dungeon menu system. "Hoh I thought he was struggling during yourst report." "Yes he was but his tactics have changed, and more monsters have entered through the spatial connection, even themander was altered to someone who''s less head-on in their strategies." Nanna gave her report calmly though there was a subtle hint of surprise. Karrick''s tactics so far could barely be called such, brute force that relied on their elemental advantage nothing more, the worst match-up for someone as experienced as Frost. "Interesting seems my young brother isn''t stupid enough to stubbornly stick to the same method even when it no longer works." Though such a change was naturally disadvantageous for him given that he was the enemy it still brought a smile to his face. These wars were meant to test a dungeon core''s ability to manage their dungeon and their military forces against one another. If there was no learning and improvement involved then what was the point. It seemed Karrick understood that and decided to learn from his opponent despite his initial arrogance. "Seems there''s potential for my younger brother yet hahahahaha." Joy as well as battle lust filled his heart as this dungeon war just became that much more fun. "Khuno time to move." "Yes milord!" Khuno shook the bloodstains from his halberd before following after his master with their intact forces bringing up the rear. ''You may have reach my second floor Karrick but unfortunately what waits for you there is another lesson. I hope you don''t descend intoplete despair hahahaha.'' Second floor, final section. "So you''re saying that the opposing dungeon''s forces will be here within an hour." "Yes Sir and as agreed to by our master we will not interfere with your actions unless it causes direct harm to our own defences." At the second floor''s final defence line multiple walls had been reconfigured to create kill boxes and limit ess to the stairs from the ice cavernbyrinth. And tucked safely behind these defences was a group of sapients pleasantly interacting with the surrounding monsters and environment with one in particr beaming as she took dozens of energy readings. A ronso who was ced in charge of the federation of knowledge''s investigation team informed Terrance of the situation, boldly warning him not to betray their lord''s trust lest they wished to meet a gruesome endsubtlety of course but bold none the less. Terrance couldn''t help but lightly chuckle as he and his colleagues released a snippet of their aura causing the ronso to tremble instinctively. "Rx ronso we have given our word and the federation does not break its promises. We won''t interfere in your defences but will defend ourselves when necessary and retreat when we see fit. Fight as you normally would without us here." Terrance could feel that though he and his team were weed by Frost and that he ordered his monsters to work alongside them there was still a strong sense of unease among them. Of course he couldn''t exactly me them he''d be the exact same. Without their master or Khuno present there was hardly anyone who could put up a decent fight against them if things went south. "I hope so Sir Terrance for both our sakes." The ronso refused to be fully cowed even if it meant his death, he''d uphold the dignity of their master. He left a momentter to attend to his regr duties. "Tensions are already high enough Terrance, are you sure you should be acting so confrontational?" Ladius who finally managed to curb her curiosity for a damn second questioned her security team leader. "Trust me he''d be more on edge if we didn''t stand our ground to some degree, I know how soldiers think miss Ladius especially during times of war." "Very well, I''ll continue to leave our interactions to your discretion." Ladius trusted in Terrance''s expertise over her own. She was an investigator while they were effectively the federation''s military. "By the way I''m quite interested in seeing the other dungeon as well as that spatial corridor connecting th" "We''ll see miss Ladius, depending on how hectic the war between the opposing forces gets as well as their strength you might need to curb your curiosity for once. My job is primarily to protect you and get our previously gained data back to headquarters, anything else we gain during this so called war is a bonus not a necessity am I clear." Terrance quickly took a stern approach, knowing exactly how reckless his charge could be when her interests took hold. "Hmph spoilsport." Ladius was of course displeased with his response but was powerless to do anything about it, she was under strict orders to follow Terrance''s lead during this little excursion. 40 minutester Karrick''s newly reformed invasion team reached the boundary of the second floor, giving off a far more deadly feeling than they did previously. Instead of heavy hitting minotaurs and chaff leading the pack recklessly their forces were far more structured, mimicking Frost''s. Military lines were clearly divided into frontline hitters, cavalry, ranged attackers, support and magic users, making this war far more real and devasting. The worst change was the mass addition of me serpents, fast, agile monsters that were not only capable of moving through all manner of terrain but could spit dollops of fire based venom that made short work of defensive ice magic as well as ice based structures. Catching them wasn''t easy either given that ice restraining magic was nothing more than a tickle on their fire scaled bodies. The newmander was a C-rank fire serpent who unlike the ming tusked minotaur was patient. The moment their forces reached the defensive line and made away with the finicky traps on the outskirts it ordered for a deluge of fire to rain down on the enemy softening them up before charging in, far less reckless and casualty prone. "Raise shields, protect the ballistae and key areas of the walls. Magic corps weaken the fire as much as you can. Quarrellers and archers aim for their mouths, you can miss but at least they''ll be unable to spit fire." Another frost troll lieutenant was left in charge of the second floor''s defences and reacted well to change in the enemy''s tactics. He may not be the strongestbatant on the field, but Frost''s troll lieutenants were akin to Finy mini-mes focusing on leadership andmand skills rather than personal strength thus making them ideal officers. Unfortunately Karrick''s soldiers were getting better and better at utilizing their natural elemental advantage, there was limits to how much he could neutralise. "It''s a nasty match up but that frost troll lieutenant and the forces under hismand are durable and pretty well trained for such a young force." Terrance judged the war effort with respect as did his colleagues. They were well and truly impressed with how a young group of monsters managed to achieve something that would take a well-oiled military battalion years to achieve. Frost was growing more and more impressive in his eyes. Ladius wasn''t the only sent to evaluate the capabilities of the young dungeon core. Chapter 593: Chapter 593: The war with Karrick (5) "Damn, me serpents, fire mephits, red goblins, burning drakes and even scorch lizards, this really is a war between elements." Ladius who was under strict supervision literally bounded up and down in an attempt to get a better view of the enemy. The monster species weren''t anything she hadn''t seen herself or at least read about but seeing them here in Yangmir and the cial mountains wasunique. Fire monsters may have a distinct advantage over ice monsters but the chances of them actually meeting and duking it out in nature are slim to none given their opposing habitats habitats. This whole scene was an impossibility, naturally speaking. Ladius'' eyes sparkled and despite Terrance and his team doing their best to restrain her the avid investigator still managed to wriggle free from their grasp and run to wall''s edge with her many scanners. She desperately needed to document this unique scenario, never before had there been such an elemental sh of this magnitude. The federation would be singing her praises and then some once headquarters got their hands on this data. "Miss Ladius please don''t leave my side again or I''ll be forced to abscond with you to the lower levels." Terrance who promptly appeared next to her at the wall''s edge grabbed her shoulder hard and smiled in a way that wasn''t a smile. He was mad. Ladius howeverpletely ignored his words and withdrew more and more scanners with her free hand. Nothing would get in the way of her research not even Terrance and her team. Unfortunately her excitable actions and booming voice got the attention of the fire monsters who looked over in confusion. "Commander there''s a group of sapients among the enemy." A D-rank me crow reported the situation to the C-rank fire serpent who was the newly designatedmander. "Sapients? What are they doing interfering in the war? Why didn''t Lord Karrick''s brother devour them beforehand?" The fire serpentmander frowned, confused by the situation. Karrick ordered for all those currently delving in his dungeon to be consumed hours before the war was even set to start. Their bountiful DP thus served to facilitate their mass offensive and prevented any untoward intrusions into their glorious war. "Are they ves?" "Unclear but the enemy ispletely ignoring their presence." The crow responded with what it knew before flying back into the air. "Strange.you send a team to quickly take care of them." ''Whatever their purpose or reason for being here it doesn''t matter they''ll die all the same.'' "Yes ma''am" Another D-rank monster responded before ordering a team to take out Ladius and Terrance. "Hoh looks like we''ve gotpany." Terrance muttered under his breath after noticing a group of fire monsters heading in their direction and Frost''s forces wilfully ignoring such actions. "Get behind me miss Ladius." "But." "Now." He sternly demanded before forcefully moving her behind his back along with all her scanners. "Take care of them quickly, let them know of our strength." ""Yes sir"" Quintep and Ariana of the security team practically teleported in front of Terrance and Ladius with their weapons drawn, one with an axe and the other with two short swords. A dozen fire monsters of varying strength ''stealthily'' made their way to the edge of the ice wall that seemed under guarded. Their targets were the few sapients that could be seen recklessly standing at the wall''s edge without a care in the world. Thankfully it seemed their presence had gone unnoticed given that no barrages of ice magic or arrow volleys barred their path, almost as if they were being led here. Shame none of them were wise enough to notice such a situation. The moment Ariana and Quintep teleported to the wall''s edge the squadmenced their attack. Two membersunched a pair of ming arrows while another spat a dollop of fire venom. Another cast twin fire bolts while the rest charged at the wall in an attempt to scale it and confront the two sapients in closebat. "10 E-ranks and 2 D-ranks, I''ll take the left you take the right." Ariana softly suggested before leaping from the wall with her two swords. "Haaaaaa as usual I don''t actually get a say in the matter." Quintep shrugged before following after her. Schwing! Slice! Crunch! Stay with the story on m v l e m p y r The whole exchangested less than two seconds. Ariana chopped up the two ming arrows, blocked the dollop of fire venom with her cloak before effectively dancing her way through the left hand side of the enemy, building up her aura with every step beforeing face to face with the D-rank squad leader. Quintep was pretty much the same though his charge was less graceful. His axe shattered the twin fire bolts as well the bodies of the E-rank monsters that foolishly charged towards him before he too stood before the other D-rank monster with his aura in full swing. Their sudden showing of strength not only caught the attention of Frost''s forces but Karrick''s as well. Their aura was impossible to ignore after all. The two remaining monsters of the enemy squad crumbled into the floor as their bodies spasmed violently from the pressure of Quintep and Ariana''s aura before eventually turning inert. Then after giving a threatening re to the many observers Ariana and Quintep returned to behind the ice wall acting as though the earlier butchery never happened. An eery silence covered the battlefield as all eyes were drawn to the remote section of the ice wall. Frost''s monsters knew of Terrance''s and the other''s presence as well as their supposed strength but seeing and feeling it in action themselves was apletely different concept. The ronso who was in charge of handling their presence during the war was trembling from head to toe, the stronger one was the more they understood just howrge the gap was. Even their master was nowhere near their level. He audibly gulped before attempting to force himself to greet and interact with them after such a showing, thankfully a saviour appeared, rescuing him from such a daunting task. "Damn, seems we really have quite the way to go before reaching your level." Finy appeared from behind the ronso with a wide grin on his face and his own aura radiating outwards in a reassuring manner. His arrival and memorable aura calmed the nervous soldiers, allowing them to focus back on the task at hand, the enemy. "How modest Finy, I''m sure you''ve got more than a few trump cards hidden away." Terrance replied with a soft smile knowing that they''d gone a bit too far given the situation. For observers they''d made too much of a ssh. Even Ladius who was on their team was giving them dirty looks. "Perhaps we should move to another area lest you continue to interfere." Finy appeared amiable but his words were tinged with irritation. This was supposed to be a war between dungeon cores and yes Frost did allow them to take part and document the event but was it really necessary to use their B-rank strength and their auras against a group of E and D-rank opponents, overkill much. "We''ll take you up on that suggestion.sorry." Terrance, Quintep, Ariana, Mammon and Ladius thus followed Finy away from the battlefield so the war could continue properly. "Ruined, a perfectly good opportunity to observe and catalogue an impossible war and you had to go and blow it just for a chance to show off your strength." Ladius sulked and berated Terrance and his team who hung their heads in shame. Terrance just wanted to guarantee their charge''s safety and for the fire monsters to stop aiming for her and thus interfere with her research never imagining it would backfire to such a degree. "I''ll inform my master about the situation, but I think it''d be best if you don''t show up on the battlefield anymore. He wanted his brother to learn something and perhaps hit a wall not copse intoplete despair." Finy continued his usations. "Sorry." And Terrance apologised once again. The situation back in the second floor''s final section remained awkward even after Terrance and his team left with Finy. The shock among Karrick''s forces was just too much. There was at least 3 B-rank fighters among the enemy, opponents that could easily crush them without batting an eye. They felt like children ying war. On the seventh floor of Karrick''s dungeon Frost was marching through the second section with sweat trickling down his brow, the heat increased another grade once they entered this floor making it very, very ufortable. "Why did I ever agree to this war?" He questioned this decision several times throughout the delve, the heat even with the use of the ice veil and the conjuring of cold mes was still getting through every so often and he despised it. "What''s so good about warm weather anyway?" "Absolutely nothing milord." Khuno who was wreathed in white fur was no less irritated by his difort. "Let''s just finish this as soon as possible and get back to where we belong." Frost summoned a few tendrils of cold mes to wrap around his body, lowering his body temperature. "Master are you busy?" Loki''s voice suddenly appeared telepathically. "Another report? Did Karrick make it to the third floor already?" Frost asked with no small amount of shock. Perhaps he underestimated his brother. "Umm not exactly there was a little incident." Loki then went on to exin what happened with Ladius and her security guards. "..." Frost was silent in response. ''Didn''t they say they''d be discreet and only interfere when necessary.'' He wanted to teach Karrick a lesson, to eventually show him the power that sapients could bring to the table not have it blow up in his face. He didn''t want Karrick to give up now that he''d started to truly enjoy this war, bar the heat of course. Chapter 594: Chapter 594: The war with Karrick (6) "Haaaaaaaa" Frost let out a deep sigh after hearing Loki''s ount of what transpired. The n he initially had was for Terrance and his team to make a little showing, revealing the fact that sapients weren''t just mere fodder, not for them toe out swinging with their full strength against a bunch of riff raff. He could only imagine how Karrick must be feeling at this very moment. To know that no matter what he did there wasn''t the slightest chance of victory. "Have Terrance and Ladius withdraw from the battlefield, hopefully without their presence the war can continue to some degree." He wanted Karrick''s forces to keep attacking even if the result was predetermined. "Finy already removed them from the scene, he''s taken them down to the third floor for now but is awaiting your instructions." Loki replied. "Good, keep them out of sight but if Ladius kicks up a fuss have some of the ronsos guide them through the secret paths, she can study the spatial connection if she wants.'' At least that way they won''t pose a serious threat to Karrick''s forces. "Understood master." Loki thus left to inform Finy. "Let''s move Khuno." "Yes sir." Frost and his invading forces continued their delve with a quickened pace. On the bottommost floor of Karrick''s dungeon where fires raged across thendscape and streams of boilingva stretched across the floor. A terrifying blockade of high strength monsters, traps and even several war machines could be seen blocking the entrance to a small ornate room. This was thest barrier before one could reach the dungeon''s core. Karrick along with his trusted aides, Kenta and Margo stood stalwart atop the wall with their weapons at the ready and their bodies itching for battle.at least they were until a certain report came in. "Say that again." Karrick requested with a shocked voice. "Lord Frost has the aid of peak B-rank sapients sir, at least 2 but likely more as well as a B-rank monster, some kind of ice troll. Our invasion team has been broken sir; their morale shattered by their arrival.what do we do?" The monster on the other end of line reported while trembling. "..." Karrick was silent for several second before breaking out into manicughter. "Hahahahaha so it truly was an impossibility from the very beginning ahahhahahaha, what a fool I am." "Sir?" Kenta his loyal aide spoke up, worried for his master''s mental state. "I''m fine Kenta." Karrick raised his hand to ay his subordinate''s fears, the news was certainly shocking but not enough to shatter his spirit. "Did the B-rank sapients stick around to continue the fight?" Instead he acted rationally and asked for a thorough report. "No sir, the ice troll guided them away from the battlefield." "That''s good, seems that my brother never intended for us to truly fight against such forces. Transfer my orders to the invasion team, they are to continue the assault regardless, care not for the B-rank sapients, forget they even existed do you understand?" "YYes sir I''ll tell them, but I don''t know how effective it''ll be." He wasn''t even there yet he already felt hopeless about the battle, he couldn''t imagine how his fellow monsters felt being subjected to the might of a peak B-rank''s aura. "I trust in my subordinates; we won''t be cowed by something like this." Karrick smiled and spoke with confidence, but his hands were shaking. Frost was truly bing an infallible existence. Karrick''s orders were quickly sent through the chain ofmand along with some supportive words. The invasion team that was practically falling apart thus rallied to some degree thanks to their strong belief in their lord as well as the absence of the B-rank enemies. As long as they didn''t show up they could muster their strength. Loki, Nanna and even Daki worked without missing a beat, quickly transferring orders across the dungeon as well as monitoring the entire battlefield. The injured -if they could be saved in time- were quickly transferred to the medical stations set up on the lower floors while recement monsters rapidly filled their positions until the pressure started to overload the entire defence line. Once a retreat had been requested or ordered everyone worked hard to safely dismantle the current defensive line and move to the next station. Those left behind to stall the invasion were all spawner monsters thus greatly reducing the loss of the more valuable personnel. Daki who was experiencing this situation for the first time was inplete awe. The military precision of Frost''s forces, the diverse battlefield environments and the quick yet uratemunication across several floors was mind boggling. The Niflheim territory which should have been in the very early stages was alreadyparable to long standing cities in terms of their warfare and defensive capabilities. She was excited and thoroughly enjoying the whole experience, her love for Frost only grew as time went on, he was bing more and more impressive. ''She''spletely smitten.'' Maya who was watching from the sidelines couldn''t help but notice Daki''s feelings, the sparkle in her eyes, the biting of her lower lip and asional squirming. She shook her head wondering how on Nova Daki could still be wanting more after the events ofst night. The two of them struggled to walk to the breakfast table yet she still wanted more. Thank you for reading on m v le_mpyr A pink blush grew on her cheeks as her mind drifted back to the events ofst night and soon she was behaving just like Daki. ''Damn bastard.'' She cursed internally but was outwardly smiling. Seems Frost would due a hell of a reward once the war was over. As Karrick''s forces did their best to breach the third floor and Frost''s team descended onto the 8th floor Ladius and her team were led through the secret back passages to the dungeon''s entrance where a ck energy barrier stood in ce. Hours ago this gate led to the outside world, to the Niflheim base camp, now however it led to a separate dungeon halfway around the world. Karrick was stationed on Vulcan the southern continent, practically as far as you could possibly be from the cial mountains. "It''s beautiful." Ladius who had been kicking and screaming whenever she got the chance after being pulled away from the battlefield finally changed her tune. She leaped towards the ck barrier and ced her hand upon it, sensing the most minute fluctuations with her mana and investigative skills before pushing her hand in. "The connecting area is liveable, medium temperature, presence of air and mana, how peculiar." She instantly withdrew her trusty magical devices and set up shop while Terrance and the others stood guard. However much like the dungeon core room but to an even greater degree, her many devices barely picked up a thing. She couldn''t exin the physics or the magical reasoning for the spatial hallway just that it existed, as if it was somehow natural. Her curiosity continued to build and of course she decided to, without hesitation take the plunge. One moment she was fiddling with her magical devices the next she leaped into the darkness vanishing from sight. Thankfully Terrance and the rest were used to her behaviour, while Quintep and Ariana picked up the leftover devices Terrance and Mammon dove in after her. Several minutester the team from the federation of knowledge found themselves at the entrance of Karrick''s dungeon which was theplete opposite Frost''s. Ladius pulled out what seemed to be a magicalpass from her storage ring and nearly nked out the moment she got a reading. "We''re really on Vulcan, thepass doesn''t lie." Teleportation gates were certainly in existence in fact they were actually quitemon but none of them could evene close to transitioning between continents. This spatial distortion was suddenly the highlight of this trip, if they could somehow replicate it even slightly the world would be forever changed. Frost and Karrick were now yesterday''s news. "Set up a monitoring station on either side, I want as much data as possible in the timeframe we have left." "Yes ma''am." Terrance quickly split his team up and followed her instructions, he too understood the gravity of such a find. On the ninth floor of Karrick''s dungeon. "They''re what?" "I don''t know sir, the B-rank sapients have erected some sort of device at the dungeon''s entrance." Someone from themand centre quickly informed Karrick of the strange situation, the scary sapients had entered his dungeon and were doing something his monsters couldn''t exin. "Haaaaaaa ignore them, there''s nothing we can do anyway, I''ll just ask my brother once he arrives." That fact was an inevitability, despite his shoring up of blockades and change in tactics Frost was still making his way down towards him at good pace. Shortly he''d be face to face with his elder brother, an opponent he initially looked down upon for a plethora of reasons. His element being at a severe disadvantage against his own, his dy in answering his challenge, his noble/schrly looks and of course Pyro''s attempts to disparage his character and capabilities. Now however he held nothing but respect for him and was grateful for his teachings. Karrick would meet Frost on the field of battle with his spear in hand, perhaps he could prove superior when it came to personal strength. Chapter 595: Chapter 595: The war with Karrick (7) Over an hourter Frost finally reached the final floor of Karrick''s dungeon, a floor that far surpassed the previous floors in terms of temperature. Tssss Droplets of sweat evaporated on contact with the ground, the entire ce was akin to the inside of an oven, unbearable to a normal person let alone one blessed by ice. Multiple weaker monsters and those that were injured copsed to the ground, their bodies'' in pain and turning red from the heat. "Shit! Those below D-rank leave the floor immediately, yuki-onnas and ronsos double your output for the veil and your cold mes." The lower ranking monsters would practically dead weight in this environment. After delving for so long into somewhere so inhospitable and fighting against their antithesis they were too exhausted to endure the punishment. "Sorry master." Those who could articte themon tongue apologised before dragging themselves and their allies upwards to a more hospitable floor, a small detachment of lesser yuki-onnas joined them to cast [veil of ice] as they travelled. "Everyone else stick close together and keep your eyes peeled, fighting in an environment of this level will be immensely draining on our stamina and strength but manageable as long as we keep on task. We''ve trained for this, ronsos form concentric circles within our formation and channel your cold mes, yuki-onnas, start chugging mana potions if you need to. The only magic that will be of any use here is the [veil of ice] so no need to restrict your mana usage." ""Yes master"" The yuki-onnas did as intrusted, pumping more mana into the surround veil of ice while the ronsos abandoned their role as vanguards to further reduce the insufferable temperature. It''d be a slog to the end, but he was determined to get there and face Karrick openly. Thankfully Karrick pulled back the vast majority of his remaining forces to the final blockade, leaving just the traps to bar their path which failed rather miserably thanks to Frost''s keen senses and hisck in utilising them as effectively as his brother. It did slow them down though which prolonging their time in the oven. By the time Frost reached Karrick''s position he had lost most of his patience and the smile that used to adorn his face was reced with a frown, he really, really didn''t like heat nor did his monsters. "What''s wrong brother you''re looking rather red in the face." Karrick who had been on the backfoot for the majority of this war and had been trembling in anxiety as Frost grow closer couldn''t help but act smug upon seeing his expression. ".." All he got in response was a chilling re that sent shivers down his spine, Frost clearly wasn''t in the mood for jokes at this point, he heard that loud and clear. But even so it was uplifting to see him struggle, a small win amongst a long string of losses. Frost quickly doused himself in cold mes and coated himself in ice armour that almost immediately started to melt. "I really hate fire." He spoke these four words with great force as he straightened his back and regained his usual demeanour. "I''ll try to not take offence to that." "Oh you should take a little." ".That''s just mean." "Well I am pretty pissed right now." More and more tendrils of cold me chakra danced around him as if mirroring his hatred. "Pot calling the kettle ck brother as I too am pretty pissed." Red hot mes danced around Karrick and his spear as his voice rose in volume. "My forces have barely made into your fourth floor before beingpletely decimated whereas you''ve made it to my final floor with the vast majority of yours still intact. You didn''t even have to put in much effort for your victory. Tell me brother how can that not PISS ME OFF!!" Karrick roared out his frustrations, his anger, his helplessness, catching Frost by surprise. "....There is always a taller mountain little brother no matter how strong you be but as long as you don''t give up you can learn to scale it, to surpass your previous self." Frost was silent for a few seconds before quoting a phrase from a book he read which of course came off as a lecture from the strong to the weak, angering Karrick further but eventually the message got through. "I guess I should thank you for the lessons, but the ss isn''t quite finished, is it?" "No I don''t believe it is Karrick." Frost tightened his grip around his ive and did his best to ignore the surrounding heat. "Those sapients?" "I''ll exin once we''re finished here." Frost flourished his ive and readied himself for battle. Karrick smiled from ear to ear as his heart was set aze, finally he could pummel out his frustrations. "Kenta, Margo let''s turn up the heat." "Rooooooaaaaarrrrr!!!!!" Karrick''s forces roared out at the top of their lungs, shaking the ground and establishing a threatening pressure upon Frost''s forces. "Tsk he couldn''t have used worse words." Frost clicked his tongue before readying himself and his forces for the fight of their lives. "This battle will not be easy, but it is one we shall not lose, are you with me?" "Always master." Khuno, the ronsos, yuki-onnas and revenants all pledged themselves for the uing battle with unwavering dedication while the drakes and wolves roared and howled in support. They''d follow their lord into fire, literally. "Hahahahahaha well then let''s show my brother our power, the unrelenting spirit of ice and the might of the Niflheim dungeon." With those inspiring words Frost led the charge, diving headfirst at Karrick''s forces. The moment he started his charge fire and magma was shot into the air by Karrick''s spellcasters and rained down upon the invaders with fierce vengeance. The mighty [veil of ice] that protected Frost and his group throughout their delve barely even slowed the barrage down. The environment and elemental disparity had never been clearer. Arge ball of magma smashed into the chest te of an ice revenant, seriously cracking the mighty piece of armour, exposing the core hidden within. Across the field two lesser yuki-onnas were set aze as if they were made of dried tinder. The losses only continued to rue as they charged. "Dammit! Khuno, ronsos protection!" Frost felt a sharp pain in his heart as he heard the many screams of his monsters dying behind him. These were monsters he fought beside, talked to and spent a hell of a lot of DP and time on thus every one of their deaths was painful. "Yes sir!" Khuno and the ronsos acted immediately, charging ahead and jumping up to knock down the worst of the barrage before more of their weaker forces sumbed to the rain of fire. It was taxing work but necessary. Boom! "Tsk should have expected that!" Frost narrowly avoided a nasty trap that Karrick ced before his defensive line. A plume of red hot magma burst forth from ground the moment his foot touched the marked area. If he was a split second slower he''d have been doused in the burning liquid. "Watch out for traps." "Master look out!" "What! Shit!" Practically the same instant he dodged the magma trap a massive ming boulder came flying in his direction. Without Khuno leaping to his aid to push him away he would have been struck, sent reeling to back of formation, bruised and battered, not a good look for a leader. While Frost had ballistae and simrly style war machines Karrick had ess to what appeared to be trebuchets, very long ranged catapults that could hurl massive spheres from behind the walls, nasty piece of equipment that sacrifices mobility and rate of fire for distance and devastating impact. Though he managed to escape such an attack thanks to Khuno several others weren''t quite so lucky. A ronso for example was struck mid-air, his body barrelled into a nearby wall before falling into a pit ofva, beyond the reach of his alliesdead. "He''s really going all out with his forces this time." Frost remarked with a pronounced frown after crossing another hundred metres. The monsters at Karrick''s beck and call this time were far more numerous and of much higher quality than before. Getting to them wasn''t going to be easy, thankfully he brought a veritable army as well as a mighty general. "Enough of this shit, Khuno let''s clear a path [Wyvern''s maw]" Frost seeing his monsters falling at a substantial rate conjured up his ultimate strength and called on Khuno to do the same. "[Freezing tornado]" Both Frost and Khuno activated one of their most powerful skills. A massive wyvern''s maw appeared behind Frost''s ive, showing off its mighty fangs. Aura seeped into the maw granting it substance and density. Next chilling sliver mes with splits of azure danced around it, enhancing its already devasting power. For Khuno his halberd hummed with power, waves of energy rotated around the de and shaft, quickly merging with his cold fire chakra to create a raging blizzard. The two charged forward at the exact same time with their skills in full swing. A fierce torrent of energy mmed forward, wrecking apart the ensuing barrage and even reaching the protective walls where some of Karrick''s forces were stationed. "Charge ahead now!!" Frost loudly bellowed making sure not even a single second was wasted, this reprieve wouldn''tst long. At hismand Frost''s forces charged ahead following after their liege andmander caring not for their defences in that moment, all so they could shorten the distance between them and the enemy. Having the shoe on the other foot felt terrible, without their long range ice magic supporting both their charges and defences they realised just how much their truly relied on it. Regr arrows and bolts alone weren''t enough topete with what Karrick was throwing at them. Thankfully they were strong enough to endure and gradually gain ground though without Frost taking action the losses would have been momentous. Karrick stood at the edge of his defensive wall, watching the entire battle unfold before his eyes. His forces were terrifying, they had significant advantages in this fight yet still they were being slowly pushed back even before Frost and his ronsomander decided to unveil another secret. "So you''re also at that level." Chapter 596: Chapter 596: The war with Karrick (8) Karrick''s hands gripped hard around the shaft of his spear, his heart beating like a relentless drum. His forcesunched a fierce volley of fire and metal at their invaders, cutting down Frost''s soldiers one by one, yet still they were slowly gaining ground. Frost''s soldiers were plentiful, of high rank and incredibly determined to bridge the gap. Despite being inundated with waves of fire magic, massive ming boulders and the asional magma trap they pushed ahead, inching ever closer to himself and his defensive line. And now Frost and Khuno utilised their immense B-rank strength to open up a hole, temporarily allowing the soldiers behind to charge ahead without fear. His entire body trembled the moment he felt the whisper of Frost''s aura and witnessed the devastation brought down by his ive. Frustration, anger but mostly envy coursed through his veins. "Kenta, Margo begin phase 2." Commanded Karrick with a swing of his spear. "Yes sir." Kenta and Margo were Karrick''s most trusted and most powerful aides, the two of them leaped from the defensive wall alongside their direct subordinates, creating a bulwark between the enemy and their master. Kenta, a peak C-ranked fire drake, whose scales could easily block steel and ws rend apart even the toughest of hides tookmand of the eastern section while Margo a ming minotaur who had mes for fur and a massive battle-axe as her weapons controlled the west. They would stop the charge of the enemy or die trying. Frost silently exchanged looks with Karrick as his forces charged ahead with maddened expressions. Click click click The moment Frost''s forces reached a certain point an array of clicks went off and plumes of fire rose from the ground, engulfing the frontlines. Screeches erupted from the ice borne monsters as the fire assaulted their bodies without mercy, but the majority continued their charge through the fire. The ronsos and magically inclined monsters could protect themselves to some degree thanks to their cold me chakra and ice spells respectively but for the rest they simply ignored the pain and pushed through it in rage. Spear, axe and sword shed against one another, and the smell of charred flesh quickly filled the air, causing Frost''s face to grimace. This battle was far different than the previous ones, his forces were truly struggling in the most painful way possible but still they fought and killed, hoping to make a path for their lord. As time passed more and more blood was spilled, death was all around but the battle continued as the soldiers on either side were still plentiful. "Khuno have the ronsos and ice revenants move in, I want his defensive line to feel the pressure." "As youmand my lord. Ronsos, revenants attack formations now!" Khuno gave the order with a booming voice that broke through the chaotic din of battle. "We hear and obey!" The ronsos and revenants replied with glinting eyes, finally they were allowed to go all in. These C-rank monsters couldn''t bepared to the numerous regr soldiers that made up Frost''s army no they were elites, champions that could deal real damage when let loose. 20 ronsos and 15 ice revenants answered the call and swiftly charged ahead to carve up the brutal death line that had been created between the two forces. "Tsk guess he got tired of waiting, drakes and minotaurs endure their charge, the heat will gradually sap away their strength, continue to hold out and we can still win this war!" Karrick quickly supported his forces, urging them to y a war of attrition. They had the home field advantage, and the environment would eat away at the enemy''s strength, there was no need for them to take any aggressive risks. His forces replied with enthusiasm as they braced themselves for a devasting charge while he himself smiled and waited for Frost''s ronsos and revenant to near. As the ronsos wreathed in their cold me chakra and ice revenants with their durable armour picked out their targets Karrick tapped the butt of his spear against the wall activating a bunch of hidden traps. With a light rumble gaps in the tall wall opened up to reveal what appeared to be iron pipes. "Burn" The moment the word left Karrick''s lips raging hot fire spewed out from the revealed pipes. The ronsos and ice revenants were suddenly awash in fire bringing their sudden assault to a stop. The fire charred their skin and or weakened their armour but most of all stopped their momentum. Karrick''s minotaurs and drakes then quickly surrounded the ronsos and ice revenants with their numbers and used their stubbornness to hold them in ce, returning the battle to a stagnant mire, that benefited Karrick. "The little bastard really isn''t going to make this fight easy is he." Khuno merely growled in response, displeased with the failure. Frost looked across the fire filled battlefield with narrowed eyes, feeling the heat seeping through his clothes and into his pores irritated him. He''d had enough of this dreadful heat and wished to return to the cold embrace of his own dungeon and the cial mountains. He had taught Karrick enough and had showed him who was superior in terms of dungeon management. It was now time to test his personal development. He looked back at Karrick who stood stalwart on the wall, gazing down at the battlefield with fiery eyes. "Karrick I think it''s time to end this war." Frost spoke with the aid of aura allowing his voice to clearly reach Karrick''s ears. "What? Starting to feel the strain brother, didn''t take you for one to surrender at the final stretch" Karrick replied in a booming voice, his taunting words reaching across the room. "Arrogant litt." Khuno clenched his fists until they started to crack, he desperately wanted to smack Karrick across the jaw but was stopped by Frost. "You know as well as I do Karrick that this war is already over, I''ve beaten you at every turn. All that remains is a field of blood and death." Frost gestured to the frontlines where countless bodies of all shapes, sizes and origins now resided, being crushed under the feet of theirrades as they continued to do battle. Frost words carried a solemn tone within, a tone that made Karrick follow his gaze and see the plight thaty before him with a different perspective. For a moment he felt guilt and wondered if his pride and desire to not bebelled weak was worth it. He spent so much of his hard earned DP and sacrificed countless soldiers for what, another loss. He had only recently recovered from the war with Pyro and now he was going to be in red once again, destined to fall behind even further. It was impossible to not feel some level of regret but in the end it was just some. "You are right brother this is a field of blood and death but it''s valiant blood and honourable deaths. You may have beaten me at every turn like you said but I am not done yet. I will not bring shame to my soldiers by surrendering before I''ve given this war everything I''ve got. So do your worst brother, we wee the challenge." Karrick beat his chest and pointed his spear''s tip directly at Frost as he roared out his promise. His gant figure and inspiring words conjured up a flurry of support from his forces. The battalion of fire monsters that stood between Frost and Karrick turned up the heat, attacking with a sudden burst of strength as though they were injected with stimnts, forcing Frost''s forces several steps back. "...." Frost silently took in Karrick''s words and felt the battle lust radiating off him and his energetic soldiers. "Hmph." With a loud hmph Frost''s lips began to turn upwards, his heart beating like a drum and music began to y in his ears, urging him to wield his ive and dance. "Well said little brother, let us see how your personal strengthpares to your skills in management." Thick tendrils of silver cold mes wrapped around Frost''s body, creating what appeared to be a suit of armour, he was gearing to enter the fray personally and Karrick was more than happy to join him. "Khuno take care of those two aides of his but don''t kill them, I''d rather not create a permanent vendetta with my brother." "I''ll try my best master but no promises." Khuno replied through clenched teeth, he too was feeling the urge to dance in amongst the enemy. Frost lightly shook his head and internally wished Kenta and Margo luck before charging ahead with Karrick locked in his sights. He looked forward to exchanging blows with a spear user. Don! Don! In response Karrick tapped the wall beneath him with the butt of his spear twice in rapid session the instant Frost entered range. Two more iron pipes at least 50%rger this time poked out from the wall and suddenly breathed red hot mes in Frost''s direction, hoping to turn him into a chargrilled dungeon core. "Not hot enough!" Unfortunately Frost wasn''t like the weak rabble nor was he defenceless against the mes. While still running he ced his ive before his body and started rotating it with extreme speed. Cold mes wrapped around the spinning ive to create a swirl of silver fire that shed with the red hot mes, dissipating them without mercy. "Tsk use the me cannon." Unperturbed by the failure of his trap Karrick called upon a group of azer (Fire borne elementals that have an appearance simr to dwarves) who pushed up arge cannon like contraption to the edge of the wall. "Try and cool down this one brother hahahahaha." Chapter 597: Chapter 597: The war with Karrick (9) Frost sessfully diffused the red mes spat out by the iron pipes but now an even greater threat was pushed towards the edge of the wall and aimed directly at him. A massive cannon made from unknown materials and decorated with an abundance of red crystals neared under the efforts of 2 burly azer. Frost felt a chill run down his spine and goosebumps form across his arms, this cannon was dangerous. "Hehehehehe try this one on for size!" Karrick loudly cackled, his eyes sparking with fanaticism as his subordinates loaded up the me cannon with magic crystals. Soon the beast roared to life, the barrel hummed, and the red crystals sparkled like stars in the night sky. The next moment there was an intense sh of light. The me cannon recoiled backwards nearly knocking down the burly azer as a thick orange beam fired out from the barrel. The surrounding air warped and the wall supporting the cannon showed signs of sudden melting, the heat radiating from this beam was no joke. Frost grimaced as the beam appeared but didn''t hesitate to defend himself. "[Freezing fire ball]" Acting hastily he summoned a ball of ice fire from his right hand and fired it forward to impede the beam''s path. A vibrant ball of silver mes imbued with aura smashed into the me cannon''s orange beam with devasting force. The air rippled and a sonic boom spread across the battlefield as the two fires shed against one another, but thissted but a moment before the orange beam sessfully pierced through the silver fire. The beam was less pristine and had lost a decent amount of heat but even still it wasn''t an attack that could be taken lightly. Expecting his [freezing fire ball] to fail -given Karrick''s grandeur- Frost gripped his ive [the wolf howling at the moon] and summoned forth his internal energy to activate a skill he''d recently purchased through the dungeon menu. He was far from being proficient in its use but needed something stronger than [wyvern''s maw]. His ive rapidly filled with energy to the point that it started hum or rather cry out. Following the cry the channelled energy escaped the confines of the ive and gradually formed what appeared to be a ming blue bird. As the image intensified the entity''s origin also grew clearer. "[Flight of the Luan]"As Frost uttered themand words the bird or rather the Luan let out an ear piercing screech as it followed the path of his ive''s upswing. A trail of bright blue mes that could make even Frost shiver followed in his ive''s wake. sh! With a fierce sh the ive along with the Luan following closely behind collided with the orange beam. An intense vibration flowed through Frost''s hands in that moment, almost to point of forcing him to let go. The heat radiating from the orange beam fought against what was effectively the long tail of the Luan, each struggling to dominate the other. What seemed like an eternal battle between fire and ice ended in but a brief second. Frost with the aid of his new skill sessfully sliced the orange beam in twain, forcing the spilt sides to crash either side of him and melt the ground until they ran out of steam. The blue Luan was victorious this day and let out a sonorous cry as its form dissipated. Frost felt his strength being sapped as a sudden sense of exhaustion assaulted him, [flight of the Luan] was a very costly skill to use. He wobbled slightly as his bnce shook bit quickly regained his stance. That momentarypse however was enough for Karrick. Almost the very instant the fierce orange beam met with Frost''s Luan Karrick leaped from his highly defensible position with his spear in hand. He followed the beam''s path and silently attacked the moment the confrontation was over. He didn''t use any skills, but he did surround the spear tip in fire chakra increasing his lethality. Read further on m_vl em,pyr Frost barely got the chance to blink before he saw Karrick flying at him with his spear already thrusting for his chest. The timing was just too perfect, even with his superior skills and weapon mastery there was no way he could avoid this perfectly timed blow. A mad smile decorated his lips as respect for Karrick filled his heart. His younger brother truly was one that didn''t know how to quit. Even at this stage he was still thinking of winning this war. Fwoosh! Karrick''s spear that was made from high grade, fire resistant materials stabbed into Frost''s chest with great deal of force. The fire chakra surrounding the tip shed against Frost''s pseudo cold me chakra armour- since his ice chakra armour kept melting- thus allowing the spear head to easily glide through unimpeded. Millisecondster the spear head met with Frost''s kimono and ripped through it like it was paper. The resistance started after breaching his schrly attire. Beneath his robes Frost wore the armour set that was lovingly prepared by his skilled cksmith girlfriend Daki. The amour set was of high quality, the upper reaches of 3 star given the materials and care Daki put into it but even so Karrick''s spear though with great difficulty still managed to pierce through. The spear was a half step shy from being 4 star and thus slightly superior to Frost''s outer armour. Add on the force wielding it as well as the suddenness to the attack that left Frost in the lurch defensive wise it''s no wonder the spear managed to breakthrough. However that''s where it stopped. Hidden beneath his outer armour was the inner armour, the mithril vest he received from Leo after helping Furano with the monster stampede. A genuine piece of 4 star armour that practically stopped the spear in its tracks. It continued to push forcing Frost back several steps but in the end the tip barely managed to scratch the upperyer of his skin. Karrick grimaced at his failure and quickly used Frost''s chest as springboard to retreat several metres back, his surprise attack though perfectly timedcked the punch necessary to break through Frost''s defences. "Impressive armour and the only reason you''re still standing." Karrick loudlyined as he readied his spear. Frost rubbed his chest in pain before coldly looking at Karrick. He was right he truly was saved by his armour but that too was part of his strength. "I''m lucky to have a very skilled cksmith as part of my family as well as well-connected friends in the sapientnds...that cannon of yours though, it must have cost you a bucket load." He had never seen such a behemoth of a war machine, it put all he currently had ess to, to shame. To force someone of his strength to seriously defend himself against its attack made it one hell of a contraption and one that likely had a devasting price tag. "Yes it did but as a trump card it serves quite well.normally at least." Karrick''s upper lip started twitching at the fact that his prized possession failed to even mildly burn its intended target. The me cannon that he had ess to was something he had seen during his foray into his nearby danger zone. A monster run kingdom that sported walls tens of metres high had these brutal war machines decorating the top as turrets. Any creature that attacked them would be struck by these beams of fire and depending on their resistance they would either be disintegrated or turned into charcoal. Karrick knew the instant he saw them in action that he had to have one no matter the cost. Out of fear of anything happening to his lovely trump card the two burly azers in charge of it pulled it back from the edge of the wall and out of harms way. He wouldn''t be using it again during this war. Frost noticed it disappearing behind the wall. "You sure you don''t what to use it again?" Though the me cannon failed to inflict wounds on him it''d likely be very effective against his monsters. "I''d rather not risk damage to it plus its ammunition ain''t exactly cheap either." "Fair enough." Frost shrugged his shoulders and readied himself for the inevitable duel. The cold mes tendrils once again wrapped around his body like a suit of armour and a wild smile grew on his lips. With one hand on his ive and the other stretched forward he beckoned/taunted Karrick. "Come little brother, show me your spearmen ship." A madness, a powerful desire stretched out from Frost as he weed his younger brother to attack. Karrick was pretty much the same, a battle inspired smile danced on his lips and his entire body tensed in revelry, finally the grand finale was here. He licked his lips, pressed his feet against the ground and held his spear parallel to the floor with both hands. Fire roared from his back, covering him like a set of fiery robes. His pseudo aura was conjured next, granting him resistance to Frost''splete aura as well as slightly increasing the pressure he invoked. Frost waited patiently for Karrick to be ready, allowing him to chose when to start. Karrick who''s momentum was building closed his eyes and released all the air trapped in his body before suddenly tensing. His eyes opened up and then his entire body shot forward like arrow from a bow. The duel was on. Chapter 598: Chapter 598: The war with Karrick (10) Karrick charged forward with precision; his spear aimed directly at Frost''s heart. He held nothing back as internal energy filled his weapon. "[Piercing me]" Fire erupted from the spear''s shaft and spread across its entire frame, covering it in a protective cloak. Tails of fire grew from the butt of the spear, pushing the weapon forward, increasing Karrick''s thrust. This [piercing me] was an adept level spear skill of the fire element, equal to Frost''s [wyvern''s maw]. Frost fully prepared this time stood his ground, flourishing his ive in an attempt to parry the oing spear. The speed and force behind Karrick''s attack was well within his capabilities to withstand, the addition of the fire element however was something he struggled to quantify without personally experiencing it. He activated no skills of his own given his superior level of weapon mastery instead he gripped his ive hard with both hands and covered the de edge with thick tendrils of cold me chakra. He waited for the right moment and swung, hard. ng! The sound of metal crashing into metal was heard as Karrick''s spear collided with Frost''s ive. The spear that shot dead ahead was pushed to the side and brought to aplete stop, but the red mes wrapped around the spear continued to fiercely battle against Frost''s silver mes and quite surprisingly they were starting to win. Schwing Karrick struggling topete against Frost in terms of physical strength pulled back his spear and readied himself for another attack. From that simple exchange he was able to work out where he stood in this battle. His physical strength, speed, reaction and even weapon mastery were below Frost''s but thanks to their local environment as well as his element he possessed an advantage. As long as he leveraged it correctly victory may yet be his this day. Frost frowned as Karrick pulled away, he too noticed that although his silver mes were less burdened by the environment than ice they didn''t receive any enhancements. "Interesting." He smiled and reapplied the snuffed out cold mes to the ive''s de edge. Then with quick steps he went on the attack and again he utilised no skills so as to urately weigh in his opponent. He did however add a little kick to his cold mes. Wind from the equipped engraving bolstered the silver fire, kicking it into high gear. Karrick fully expecting Frost to attack was light on his feet. His spear was embalmed in me chakra as it quickly pierced the air and stabbed at Frost''s ive for about a millisecond before swiftly retreating. An instantter another deadly stab was shot out before once again pulling back a momentter. Karrick''s spear shot out three times in quick session, each thrust cutting away at the momentum behind Frost''s attack. And with each thrust Karrick took one step backwards, distancing himself from his attacker. With three steps and three thrusts Frost''s sh was defused of nearly half its strength, leaving a mere husk of a blow, one that Karrick could easily handle but that was not the end of his movements. The three steps allowed him to build up momentum which was used the moment Frost extended himself and his spear had returned to its origin for the third time. Karrick''s lips turned upwards as his entire body tensed and starting from his feet a sudden surge of power rose up through his legs. With but a simple twist the momentum he had built up was transferred to his arms and back all of which allowed him to thrust out his spear at a speed iparable to the previous thrusts. And this blow was not aimed at Frost''s ive but at himself, his face to be exact. The spear was a weapon of devasting speed, and he was on the receiving end of a perfect disy. Frost panicked slightly not expecting such a fierce reprisal from Karrick. He saw the spear at his side and the next moment the sharp tip was inches away from his face. He fiercely twisted and rotated his neck to avoid the attack, but he wasn''t quick enough to avoid injury. A red scaled lizardman stood with his spear outstretched, ruby red blood covering the tip. Drip Drip ssss ssss The blood dripped down onto the red hot ground and boiled away in but a few seconds, leaving not but a strong smell of blood in the air. Opposite to the lizardman was a handsome elf with a deep wound running across the middle of his face. The elf looked to be in a state of shock, he brought his hand up to his wound and flinched the instant his finger made contact, it hurt and not just a little. Frost and Karrick stayed in this state for a few seconds before pulling back at the exact same time. Karrick though the clear victor of the recent exchange trembled from head to toe, his heart screaming for him to get away from Frost. It was just for a moment, but Frost released the full extent of his aura. He felt death grip his heart, like a spectre looming over him waiting to deprive him of his life. He knew that Frost had been going easy on him so far, but he didn''t know by how much.now he did. Frost meanwhile felt the wound that stretched from one side of his face to the other, cutting deep across his nose. It stung and continued to bleed profusely. He had underestimated Karrick once again. While he acted like some sort of superior who was merely ying along in a spar Karrick was fighting as if his life depended on it. He withdrew a mid-level health potion from his spatial ring and downed 80% of the contents and sshed the remaining 20% directly on the wound. Karrick simply waited for his elder brother to finish, too nervous to take action beforehand. "..That counter of yoursis quite deadly Karrick." Once the pain went away and he could feel the wound across his face closing Frost turned to face his younger brother with a chilling gaze. It was clear that he was done messing around, his aura even started to envelop him and radiate outward. Karrick grimaced as pressure assailed his body "It''s a technique of the zing sh spear style of which I am a student of." He channelled his pseudo aura to fight against the pressure threatening to overwhelm his body before exining its origins. "zing sh spear style?" Frost had heard rumours of weapons style schools but never came across one personally. Furano was rathercking in that regard. A weapon style such as the zing sh spear supports the user''s weapon mastery and known skills with a unique fighting style that incorporates unique steps, moves and techniques such as the counter Karrick just pulled off. No internal energy or chakra is used, instead it relies solely on his skill with the spear. It''s a shame that despite being rathermon across Nova, Furano held no such schools. The capital Arkheart had plenty but Frost had yet to visit and with the ongoing political situation he''d likely be unable to do so for quite a while. He was now slightly jealous of his younger brother but that could be addressedter. Now, it was time for him to let loose for real. Frost''s aura was released without restraint, greatly increasing his presence as well as the physical capabilities of his already powerful body. The cold mes that were wrapped around his body and ive seemed to evolve, forcibly cooling the surrounding temperature. There was even ayer of frost appearing around the hem of his robes. Karrick stood his ground with heavy limbs, his pseudo aura protecting him from the majority of the pressure but not so much the instinctual fear that he felt. Frost was dangerous, an opponent far beyond his current skills even with the homefield advantage but despite his fear his face showed an expression of ecstasy, unadulterated joy. He wanted to fight such a battle, to put everything he had into a fight without having to worry about anything else. The chaos of the battles around him were but a distant whisper. He could no longer hear the cries of monsters dying, his subordinates cheering him on or the enemy carving their way towards his core, no all he witnessed was the man standing before him with his ive resting on his shoulders, staring at him with a frigid gaze. "Round 2 brother." He readied his spear and wreathed himself in mes no less vibrant than Frost''s. "Round 2 Karrick." Frost nodded his head before pointing forward with his left hand. [Freezing fireball]" With a short aria he summoned a ball of silver mes and shot it directly at Karrick. Karrick knowing that shit just got real didn''t rx for a moment. He strafed to the right to avoid the ball of freezing fire while at the same time casting his own magic -which to be honest wasn''t exactly his forte. "[Fireball]" Responding with the regr version a ball of red mes that was at least 30% smaller was fired back at Frost. "[Freezing fireball]" Frost countered back by summoning two balls of ice fire and moving to the left. The first [freezing fireball] exploded upon on contact with Karrick''s but the second carried on ahead preventing him from double backing. "[Wyvern''s maw]" A momentter in the shadow of the second [freezing fireball] arge wyvern''s maw infused with aura and cold mes flew after Karrick from the left leaving him little wiggle room. "Shit!" Chapter 599 The war with Karrick (11) "Shit!" Karrick loudly cursed as he picked up speed and charged at the [wyvern''s maw] preferring to tango with that than Frost himself. Unfortunately for him neither was a good option. "[Piercing me]" He shot out with what was his trademark skill, hoping to pierce through the skull of wyvern and move forward but instead. Boom! "Ahhh!" After a momentous sh Karrick screamed in pain as he was forced to take several steps back. His entire right arm felt numb and several seams between his fingers burst open, he even lost a couple loose scales. The force behind the wyvern was clearly higher than that of his spear thus the painful bacsh but worse than that he was now directly in Frost''s path. Ignoring the pain and weakness in his hand he quickly turned himself around and took a defensive stance. His feet moved into position to best absorb force as dictated by his spear style but. "You''d probably be better dodging this one [cial crash]." Frost warned from above. A massive cier formed behind his ive, adding weight to his overhead blow. Karrick grimaced and immediately chose to follow Frost''s suggestion. He dropped his defensive stance and leaped to the side without much grace. Booooooommmmmm!!! Frost and his ive came down onto the ground like a p of thunder. The earth around the impact site shattered as arge hole was made with Frost left in the centre. The blow was strong enough to cause the entire room to tremble as if an earthquake hit. "Shit!" Frost cursed asva started to seep through the cracks he created. With urgency he leaped away from the devastation his attack caused and followed after Karrick, his ive raised and ready for another mighty swing. ''Friggin monster!'' Karrick screamed in his mind as he jumped to his feet and ran. Frost quickly chased after him, wondering where his previous confidence and desire to battle had gone. Was he really scared off by a little crack in the floor. "Karrsneaky bugg" he started to call out to his fleeing brother but suddenly heard an ominous click beneath his feet and with a quick look down he realised that he''d been led into a trap. The moment his foot made contact with trap,va started to bubble to the surface, half a secondter it exploded or rather erupted upwards in an attempt to swallow him whole. Frost was forced to recklessly kick the floor to push himself off bnce and out of the way. Waiting for this exact situation was Karrick, he double backed the moment Frost entered the trap''s range. Without having to fear the offshoots ofva he stabbed out with his spear, aiming for Frost''s left leg. "[Piercing me]" Once more with the adept level spear skill he stabbed at his elder brother, hoping to once again deal some unexpected damage. One had to admit Karrick had quite the tactical mind when it came to using his surroundings in battle. Shame Frost was no longer holding back. "[Freezing fireball]" To counter his imbnce Frost mmed the butt of his ive against the ground. Following that he conjured a ball of ice fire right in front of Karrick''s face before leveraging his weight against his ive to spin out of the way of his thrust. As the spear tip passed through Frost''s former position, Karrick felt a freezing pain across his face and had his vision obscured. He lost track of his target, and an ominous feeling arose in his chest. Before he could retrieve his spear and retreat however he felt a sudden pain in his left ribs. The next thing he knew he was flying through the air struggling to hold back a torrent of blood running up his throat. Don Don Don Hia body bounced across the floor, cutting up his robes to reveal the scaled body underneath. "Cough cough" He let out a few coughs after using his tail to stop his momentum. ''What the hell happened?'' Frost''s actions were too quick and precise for him to react but from the pain he felt on his left side he knew he got hit and hit hard. "[Freezing fireball]" Frost didn''t even give his younger brother a moment of respite, immediately sending another [freezing fireball] his way. "Fuck you!" Inspired by the pain he felt Karrick stabbed the oing fireball with his spear, refusing to dodge. Unlike with wyvern his spear managed to sessfully pierce and destroy the oing fireball but following in its shadow was Frost with his ive already primed for a horizontal sh. Karrick quickly ced the shaft of his spear along the ive''s path. Schwing! Karrick felt like he was hit by a mountain, the weight behind Frost''s swing was just unreal. He thought ives were more akin to spears, focusing primarily on speed but now he believed they were more like axes. His body was once again forced to skid across the ground until his tail dug in and absorbed the momentum. He looked up and saw his brother''s smiling face and the spring in his step, the bugger was truly enjoying this..his lips twitched as a tightness gripped his chest, frustration, anger all of it was revealed in his eyes. He punched the ground and steadied his breathing before disying a wild expression. So what if he was outmatched, the fight must go on, right brother. The two siblings looked quite simr at this moment; both were fond of fighting. Karrick truly did fight to hisst breath; he exchanged hundreds of moves with Frost, losing pretty much all of them but refused to stay down. The fight only ended once all his energy was spent, and his consciousness left him. The red scaled lizardman stood leaning against his spear with blood pooling at his feet. His body marred with deep, painful cuts and had all but a few key scales remaining. Frost let out a deep exhale, the duel was finally over as was this war. "Warriors of the Niflheim dungeon cease fighting!" Wasting no time Frost loudly shouted at the top of his lungs. With an infusion of aura his words covered the entire battlefield and entered the ears of his soldiers no matter how hard they were fighting. Every single remaining soldier of the Niflheim dungeon heard his words and instantly stopped their attacks. "Yes Lord." They proudly replied while saluting. Less than a hundred soldiers remained but each of them were the best of the best. Some of Karrick''s forces tried to continue the attack upon noticing their enemy''sck of aggression but another order quickly stopped them. "ENOUGH!!" Margo who was barely conscious roared out in ce of Karrick bringing this war to an end. Their master had been defeated in battle and it would only be a matter of time until all of them were ughtered if this continued. She internally thanked Frost for his mercy. She and Kenta had been battling Khuno well battling might not be the correct word. The elder ronso basically yed with them, taking their strongest blows as if they held the strength of children. It was degrading but also enlightening. Never had they feasted for evolution more than they did today. With Karrick unconscious and the two forces no longer battling the war was brought to an official end by the voice of Dark. "Congrattions Frost for your win, Karrick better luck next time." With that announcement everyone returned to their original dungeons including Ladius and her team who were caught by surprise and quite disappointed. They''d barely even scratched the surface of the spatial corridor before being forcibly teleported back to the Niflheim dungeon. Just before transit Frost passed a high level health potion to Margo for Karrick to take. His wounds were more than a little extensive, he tried to avoid depriving him of any limbs or major organs, but the man was a real sucker for punishment. A mid-level potion may not have been enough, so he willingly parted with a high level one despite only having a few in his possession, Karrick''s health was more important. Margo was very grateful for the gift and immediately moved to help her unconscious Master drink the vial but was interrupted by a red skinned hand. "Leave his care to me kid." Lapata who''d been watching the war from behind the scenes appeared the moment Frost left. He shook his head and sighed before teleporting Karrick to the private space for healing, leaving Margo to deal with dungeon''s aftermath. Since there was no individual betting between Frost and Karrick on the results of the duel as the winner Frost was awarded with a t 10,000DP as well as a free 10,000DP gacha pull while Karrick got 2000DP and a free 1000DP gacha pull. Not exactly impressive but that was never the goal for these wars, no they were just a bonus. The real prize was the hundreds of thousands of DP to be gained for killing enemy monsters within thebined space of the dungeons. Frost especially made an absolute killing from this war. Except from Karrick''s final floor he hardly lost any soldiers and those he did lose were usually the weakest/cheapest ones, same for those on defensive detail the vast majority were spawner monsters. The dungeon of Niflheim will be looking forward to another expansion soon. Chapter 600 The war with Karrick (12) Frost and his remaining forces were teleported to the first floor of his dungeon once the war was over. The moment their feet touched the snow and the cool breeze flowed over their skin each and every one of them took in a deep breath and relished in thefort of home. Karrick''s dungeon was truly unbearable for ice borne creatures such as themselves. Frost smiled as he saw this and picked up a handful of snow to rub between his fingers. "Much better" he muttered before getting to work. "Alright, everyone who took part in the war can take the next 24 hours off, retreat to the lower floors so the recement shifts can take over your regr duties. Officers please report the losses from your regiments to Finy and prepare your own analysis for how the war went down." Frost wanted his officers to utilise their intelligence and learn from each and every battle so as to lessen the losses in the next war. With his orders given his forces dusted themselves off and very slowly made their way to the lower floors. "Oh and don''t worry I won''t forget about your rewards." His subordinates were waiting for him to say that. A loud chorus of praises and chants for their lord rang throughout as they picked up the pace and smiled from ear to ear. Frost lightly shook his head in response but couldn''t stop a smile from growing on his lips. He very much liked the current rtionship he had with his monsters. "Ohhh looks like somebody''s not happy milord." Said Khuno while gesturing with his chin in the direction of a charging young woman. "Haaaaaa I can probably guess the reason." Frost sighed before putting on a genial smile. "Ladius how great to see you again, I hope the little exchange between my brother, and I proved fruitful to your investigation." "Oh it certainly was until about 5 minutes ago when we were forcibly teleported back to your dungeon." Ladius was huffing and puffing with a reddened face. She was so close to picking up on something essential with the spatial corridor but was rudely absconded at the worst possible moment. Now the ck energy barrier waspletely sealed and about to disappear along with the possibility to further understand the spatial magic behind it. Frost let Ladius rant for a few minutes about how close she was to a discovery and how important such a discovery would be to Nova before putting a pin in it. "Ladius you can rant and rave all you want but nothing''s going to change. You had an opportunity to witness and briefly study something that was created by the Dark God. Instead ofining that you didn''t have enough time you should just be d you had such an opportunity in the first ce." He bluntly sshed her with cold water bringing an end to her little tirade. "Now I''m going to my chambers to rest after a very long day, I hope that I can trust you to hold up your end of the bargain miss Ladius Palmer..Terrance." He spoke in an authoritative tone that allowed for no refusal and to make sure he nced at Terrance, handing responsibility of making Ladius do the work to him. To which he flinched but acquiesced with a nod. "I''ll find some timeter to convene with you but right now I''ve got a whole list of other things to take care of goodbye." Frost waved farewell and started walking deeper into the dungeon with Khuno following after him. "..b..bb..aaa..hhh." Ladius was tongue tied, she wanted to protest andin some more or beg for another opportunity to study the spatial corridor, but Frost was already walking away, and her security team was doing their best to usher her to the door. They couldn''t impose on Frost at this time, to do so would be incredibly rude. Eventually Terrance gave up and threw her over his shoulders dragging her towards the dungeon''s entrance that was beginning to open up once again. Several hours ago they crossed through the same stone archway andnded halfway around the world but now it once again led them to the Niflheim base camp. Arge group of observers had been watching the entrance for the past 40 hours or so ever since the ck barrier covered it up, preventing ess. "Quick look someone''sing out." "Is that?" "It''s the investigation team from the federation of knowledge, quick someone inform the guild." The Niflheim dungeon being ssed as a sudden restricted zone was known by all who stayed within the camp''s borders. Under Ladius'' lead her team informed the local popce of the change in circumstances and strongly advised everyone to stay clear of the dungeon until the situation had abated itself. Many where obviously curious of the situation and some even believed it to be a load of hogwash but when the ck barrier came down over the entrance and barred entry to all that tried to gain ess those sceptics all changed their tune, something really was happening. Thus the moment Terrance, Ladius and the others exited from the dungeon dozens of people swarmed around them in curiosity. "Calm down, calm down we''ll exin what happened after we''ve rested and talked with the adventurers guild." Terrance loudly informed the nosy group while Mammon, Quintep and Ariana made a hole for him and Ladius -who was promptly ced back on her own two feet, couldn''t let her image be ruined in front of the masses. "Is it safe to go back in?" "Has the dungeon changed at all?" "Is it the same difficulty?" However despite Terrance''s words many couldn''t hold themselves back. Hundreds of people had moved their workspaces and invested heavily in the dungeon, whether or not it was still viable was a very important fact in regards to their future. Not having ess to it for a few days was already painful enough for the energetic adventurers that swarmed to the camp under the promise of fame and riches. Terrance looked at Ladius for answers, he was just the security detail, such questions were best left to the head investigator. Ladius let out a sigh and shook her head knowing that these people needed something. She arched her back and started addressing the crowds in a booming voice that didn''t match her small stature. "Your questions will all be answered in due time so please have patience and if you really can''t wait I''ll only say this. You can enter the dungeon again but whether or not it''s safe I cannot say, but for those of you who are worried about the dungeon''s long term viability I can confirm that that is not an issue, good day." Ladius said her piece, bringing a great deal offort to the many merchants and business owners that set up shop in the camp. The adventurers however were split, some wanted to rush into the dungeon immediately to scoop up any possible treasure while others took Ladius'' warning of danger very seriously. Regardless the crowd dispersed allowing Ladius and her security detail to reunite with the rest of the team hunkering down in their inn. "Miss Ladius you''re back." Her junior investigator subordinates all let out breaths of relief upon seeing her unharmed. "Yes, yes I''m back and boy do I have a story for you guys." Dungeon''s private space. After Ladius and her team exited the dungeon Frost had Khuno rendezvous with Finy while he teleported to the private space to rx and celebrate with his loved ones. "I''m home." He said joyfully the moment he materialised in the living room. ""Master wee back."" Both Nanna and Loki energetically replied before running into his outstretched arms for a hug. The two had been working in shifts over the course of the war but made sure to both be awake for the final stretch so as to wee their master home together. "Oh so squishy." Frost pulled them in tight against his body, enjoying how soft and cute they were, his heart warming at the sound of their giggling. "Cough, cough" Daki loudly coughed with an obvious pouty expression and squirming figure. Her desire couldn''t be any clearer. Frost reluctantly put down Nanna and Loki and moved to capture her in a tight embrace. The luscious green enchantress cooed from his touch, her hands wrapping tight around his back as she kissed him on the cheek, leaving a clear imprint thanks to her lipstick. "So what did you think of the dungeon war?" He asked while guiding her to the sofa, with Nanna and Loki trailing after him to im his legs for seats. "She''s been pacing back and forth out of worry whenever a report came in, I almost had to restrain in ce with rope." Maya yfully dobbed her in with a coy smile on her lips. She appeared from behind Frost, wrapping her arms around his neck she pulled him back and gave him an upside down kiss in front of everybody. Daki of course felt betrayed, her sister girlfriend tattling to their partner about her embarrassing actions, so not cool. Loki giggled, enjoying how close the family was while Nanna blushed from seeing Maya''s bold actions. Chapter 601 After war celebrations Frost allowed himself to enjoy the feeling of Maya''s tongue wrapping around his own before she pulled away, shing him a coy smile as she did. Feelingpetitive she then winked at Daki and wiped away the kiss mark she left on his cheek. The orc subus was practically fuming at her actions, pulling possessively on Frost''s arm, drawing him closer. Unfortunately neither of them could go any further with their pissing contest while the little ones were present, they needed to preserve their innocence after all, something all of them took very seriously. "So Daki, what did you think?" Eventually they managed to get back to the original topic. Frost was quite keen to hear her opinion since she yed a major part in why he epted the challenge in the first ce. "Honestly I waspletely blown away. I''ve seen the military in action back in Kranor, you know when things got real dangerous as well as the mighty battalions of the Great Dwarven hold Karak Kanz so I''m not exactly new to the hole war thing, hell I''ve even yed a part in a few during my early twenties." Daki reminisced about her past. Times when a rival enve attacked Kranor when she was a young child, times whenrge groups of bandits tried to takeover her home as a teenager. And then of course were the battles she witnessed and took part in as a young adult throughout the great kingdoms of the cial mountains. All of which had shaped her view of war and battle. In her eyes the Dungeon of Niflheim was a far cry from the armies defending Karak Kanz and the other great kingdoms but it could give a few enves a run for their money. A rather substantial feat given how young the territory was. "Your forces didn''t act like a newly trained army in slightest. They followed orders to a tee and responded to any and all situations in a calm and collected manner. Even without you at the helm your many officers controlled the battlefield as though they had decades of experience under their belt" She gazed at Frost and all he was with clear eyes. "Their loyalty is inspiring and potential.frightening." "Frightening?" "Yes frightening, you''re ability to mass generate soldiers and slide them effectively into your army puts all other territory''s to shame." Daki shook her head and sighed in disbelief; her man was guaranteed to change the face of Nova. "But did you enjoy it, being part of that frightening potential?" Frost asked with a smooth smile. "..." Daki was silent for a moment. Her mind reliving the earlier experience, the feeling of authority, responsibility and of course the rush of victory that she helped achieve. Honestly the whole thing brought on waves of excitement and seeing her man leading the charge with thousands of soldiers rallying behind him and valiantly returning with an air of victory turned her on so much that she struggled to restrain herself. A wild smile grew on her lips as she leaned over and whispered a few steamy words into Frost''s ear causing him to audibly gulp and feel fire grow inside him. Doing his best to restrain his desires untilter in the evening Frost asked Nanna and Loki give their reports. The children smiled from ear to ear and shuffled atop his legs to getfy. They were very keen to give their reports so they could receivevish amounts of praise and perhaps a reward in form of candy. Loki especially was quite thorough in his report, going the extra mile to ensure said reward. Frost struggled to keep a straight face as Loki really wasn''t one for subtlety. He joyfully put aside a set amount of DP to spent on candy once everything was finalised. While those three were interacting Maya pulled Daki to the kitchen to help her prepare tonight''s celebratory feast. Frost could only hear a few whispers and ominous giggles as they worked, the two of them were certainly cooking up more than dinner. 20 minutester, shortly after Finy handed over the total loss report he received a call through the dungeon core. Frost set aside what he was doing and answered the call with a smile on his face, he was waiting for this call. "Hey Karrick, you''re looking better." He opened with a light taunt, causing his younger brother to lightlyugh. "Considering that thest time you saw me was after you beat me within an inch of my life I should think so..thanks for the potion by the way." Karrick''s face appeared in holographic form along with the background of his own private space which was of a very different style to Frost''s. "Don''t mention it, the least I could do after putting you in such a state..how''s the damage to your dungeon?" Karrick grimaced upon hearing his question. "And people say I''m blunt, haaaaaaa I''m pretty screwed to be honest. I only recently recovered from the war with Pyro now I''m back to where I was a couple months ago. The DP I earned from killing your forces won''t even cover half of my expenses for the war..." Karrick could be seen rubbing his temples to alleviate a headache. "Do you regret the following Pyro''s orders and challenging me to a war?" ".Yes to the first no to the second." "Hoh" "I should have never allowed myself to be used by him that''s something that I will always regret but going to war with you, no. I may have lost a hefty chunk of DP and the majority of my forces thus setting my dungeon''s development back several months, but I also made some important gains." Karrick looked through the holographic screen and into Frost''s eyes, revealing true sincerity and gratitude. "Thanks to you I now know how to use my monsters effectively in wars, manage my traps and even environment to hinder and penalise invaders but most of all my personal development that had hit a wall after fighting Pyro has seen some major improvement." Frost''s eyes lit up upon hearing that. "You feel you can break through the barrier?" This was great news, a whole new world opened up once one reached B-rank. "I do. Immediately after I finish setting up my ns for the dungeon''s recovery my guardian Lapata and I will enter the training room. I won''t leave until I break through the wall." There''s was a fierce determination radiating through his eyes as he made his pledge. "I wish you luck little brother." "Thank you Frost, you''ve enlightened me and for that I can''t thank you enough." Karrick bowed his head in gratitude. "Pshua enough of that Karrick there''s no need for such heavy feelings of gratitude between family. We''re all brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of the Dark God, equal in stature. I''m just a little bit older so I gave you some tips that''s all, nothing more, nothing less. Hold your head high and ze your own trail in the future rather than following the whims of another." Frost quickly lectured Karrick hoping to raise his self-confidence. All of them were siblings and were equal regardless of their rankings. Karrick had no need to follow the orders of Pyro just because he was older and a little stronger right now. "Hahahaha I understand brother and I promise that in the future when I challenge you to another war it''ll be because of my own desires not someone else''s." Karrickughed and then showed a provocative smile. He would challenge Frost again in the future with the intention of evening out the scoreboard. Frost''s upper lip twitched as he heard Karrick''s deration, and a sinking feeling filled his gut. He actually dreaded having to enter Karrick''s dungeon again, the heat was really unbearable. The two siblings chatted amicably about their personal lives for a little while before moving on to more important topics. "Those sapients, you promised to tell me about them once the war was finished." "I did." "Well, I''m waiting." It was strange to imagine that these two were insulting one another a few days ago, now they looked like the best of friends. "Have you heard of the federation of knowledge?" "A few references why, are they from that organisation?" Frost then gave a short description of who the federation of knowledge were and why they were snooping around dungeons. "So they''re envoys sort of speak for Lord father." Karrick was one of the dungeon cores that referred to Dark in a very respectful manner. "Yeah pretty much. They were in my dungeon to investigate all the nuts and bolts of how it works and report back their findings to their organisation''s headquarters. From there some information will be disseminated to the public to help understand the nature of our dungeons and reduce the overall death rates. I suspect that in theing months or even years there''ll be books written about our dungeons that''ll help adventurers delve in safety to a certain degree. Our poprity will also skyrocket. If you haven''t thought about setting up some sort of territory with your dungeon I''d advise you do so soon since people will start flocking to the area. Best to beat them to the punch and assert control over your own ce." Even if you ignore the DP possibilities it was nice to control the area around one''s own dungeon. Karrick took down a few notes but to be honest the idea of running his own territory didn''t interest him in the slightest, too much hassle but even so he listened and took his elder brother''s words to heart. Chapter 602 After war celebrations (2) The topic of the federation of knowledge continued to be discussed between the two brothers or rather Frost filling Karrick in on the details Ladius told him. "Their equipment can feel intrusive and ufortable but there''s very little we can do to stop them at the moment. You''ve seen their team, 4 sapients each at the peak of B-rank with their leader being a half step into A-rank. Even if I summoned all my strongest monsters and took part in the battle personally there''d be nothing I could do to such a line-up. So I strongly advise you to not make an enemy out of this world spanning group no matter how much you want to." Frost warned his brother with a warped expression. He remembered Ladius poking, prodding and analysing every inch of his dungeon, it gave him the creeps but her backing, and security detail prevented him from taking aggressive action. He just thought it''d be right to warn Karrick of what maye to him in the future. "Got it, I know I may be rash and rather full of myself at times but even I know that I shouldn''t piss off someone like that." Karrick replied confidently failing to notice the smirk on Lapata''s face in background. In his guardian''s eyes the possibility was actually 50/50. "Good, good." Frost nodded his head and let out a breath of relief, genuinely worried about his younger brother. "Why were they involved in our war though?" He could understand the investigation into the dungeons but entering a war between siblings seemed a bit intrusive. "Oh that''s because of a bargain I struck. I wanted their help in setting some sort of precedent for future dungeon wars as well give you a little scare hehehehe." He couldn''t forget that little detail, his little brother really did freak out upon seeing a bunch of B-rank sapients ughtering his invasion force. "You certainly seeded in doing that." Karrick openly admitted to being frightened. "Did you also notice the fact that sapient''s can be used as more than just fodder for our DP reserves. In the future we''ll likely have more wars between us and by that point our dungeons will be massive. The amount of adventurers delving within will be multiple times more than what we have currently. Simply killing them all off every time there''s a war seems a little wasteful in my opinion plus it''ll set a dangerous precedent." Frost was worried about people refusing to enter his dungeon due to the fear of a dungeon war starting and their ughter being all but guaranteed. "You''re suggesting we use them in our wars to fight alongside our own monster forces." To someone who had little interest in establishing and managing an overreaching territory in addition to his dungeon the idea seemed risky. "In a manner of speaking yes. I n to have people dwell within my dungeon on a permanent or perhaps semi-permanent basis so as to improve my passive DP ie. I don''t really want to have to ughter all these people every time there''s a war or have to worry about their intentions during one therefore I want to help set up some sort of system to protect and possibly utilise them during our battles. Without this sort of system cores such as myself, Terra, Aqua and many others won''t see much value in taking part in dungeon wars, the negatives would simply outweigh the positives." Frost tried to exin his stance as simply and directly as possible to a dungeon core that followed a different path from his. "Ok I sort of get your reasoning but what do you want me and our siblings to do. Do you want me to make a promise not to kill the sapients in your dungeon or something because if that''s the case then I''ll reject you right here and now." Karrick though having a 2-0 losing streak was keen to take part in more wars, in fact he believed that wars with his siblings were the fastest and most efficient way to develop their dungeons. Take Frost for example from this war alone he must have raked in several hundred thousands Dungeon points. "No, no I wouldn''t ask for something as foolish as that I just want to set up a warning signal for those within and around our dungeons before a war begins." "Oh.if that''s all you want I can get on board. What did you have in mind?" A simple warning sign wouldn''t really cost anything and was likely easy to facilitate. "Well before our war began I had the group from the federation of knowledge announce that the dungeon was undergoing some sort of transition, so they advised people to stay clear until the transition wasplete. Then once it was 24 hours from the start of our war I had the dungeon quake and tremble every hour on the hour before the entrance was sealed with the old man''s magic. Of course some people decided to risk the danger anyway, I killed them and left just the team from the federation alive. Then as thanks for allowing them to take part and study a war between dungeon cores the federation has agreed to spread word of this warning system to the public so I was hoping to rope our siblings onboard to make this something official. I''ll also ask father, but I wanted to keep amongst us first since we''ll be the ones doing it." "Just a few dungeon wide trembles leading up the start of a war I can agree to that." Karrick didn''t find the request too difficult, so he agreed to his brother''s request, just 98 dungeon cores to go. With that topic covered Frost discussed a few personal things with Karrick, tales regarding their livelihoods while he waited for dinner to be ready. Unlike him Karrick didn''t have a family to rx with, all he had was his guardian who kept him at arm''s length and his named monster aides Margo and Kenta who were slowly recovering from their many wounds. Hecked people he could truly bond with. Seeing Frost interact with Nanna and Loki through the holographic screen and the asional sight of Daki and Maya in the kitchen made him feel lonely. He had had some interesting adventures and even made a few people he could call friends out with the dungeon but inside well it felt rather cold. Frost continued his friendly family interactions never picking up on his younger brother''s jealously, he was too interested his life in the southern continent. He especially grabbed onto the story about his entry into the zing sh spear style. He now really wanted to find a school for the ive but unfortunately Furano wascking in that regard. Karrick said that he was studying the style in a monster kingdom found within his local danger zone rather than a local sapient kingdom. Hearing this Frost was inspired to return to the cial mountains and reach one of the kingdoms there. Daki did mention a great dwarven kingdom that was a true monarch in the area, perhaps he should find an opportunity to visit. "Dinner''s ready." Maya''s enchanting voice was suddenly heard from the kitchen. "Sorry Karrick we''ve got to go, it was nice talking with you and I really enjoyed our war. Don''t be a stranger little brother, you want to ask for advice or simply want to chat I''ll be here. Wave goodbye to Karrick." Frost said his farewells and asked Nanna and Loki to do the same. "Goodbye Mr Karrick." "Bye uncle." Nanna was polite as usual whereas Loki jumped straight into calling him uncle, making the red scaled lizardman smile and feel a warmth rise in his heart, he liked the title. The call ended and Karrick sat back in his seat with a gentle expression on his face. "Uncle huh," saying it out loud made his smile growrger. Now he really wanted what Frost had. "That Kameria was rather fond of me, perhaps I should pursue her after all." Since his elder brother had connected with someone outside their inner circle why couldn''t he. He remembered the beautiful face of a young lizard woman who was a senior student of his in the zing sh spear style. Kameria was kind, gentle and had more than once caught his eye and he hers but it was only after seeing his brother''s life that he started to truly think about her. Lapata couldn''t help but smirk silently in the background, pleased with his young master''s train of thought. It be good for him to have someone once he left. Back at the Niflheim dungeon Frost, Nanna, Loki and Kiba who appeared practically the instant Frost mentioned dinner were greeted with a substantial spread. Maya went all out to prepare avish feast in celebration for their victory over Karrick. High quality ingredients were used in abundance. Thankfully the Dungeon''s ie both passive and from the war was sorge that Frost no longer cared about the cost of one of Maya''svish feasts. Daki wasn''t much of a cook, but she cut up most of the vegetables and helped te up the food, arranging it in a rather elegant disy. Her eyes however were always lingering back to a certain centre dish that was reserved just for the adults. Nanna, Loki and Kiba were forbidden from even sneaking single bite. Frost''s expectation grew greatly upon hearing that, he looked forward to theter evening''s festivities. Chapter 603 After war celebrations (3) Following thevish feast that was fit for a king, Frost enjoyed a more intimate celebration with Maya and Daki who thanks to the special meal they prepared were able to keep up with his bottomless appetite. By the timete morning came Frost struggled to leave the confines of their bedroom. Their irresistible moans and tempting gestures kept drawing him back under the covers to start another round with the twin beauties. s work waited for no man, the Dungeon had just been through a rigorous war, things needed to be done and people needed to be met. For a good few moments he wished that Nanna or Loki were adults so he could pawn off such duties to them and truly savour his rtionship with Maya and Daki, but they weren''t. Thus he donned his robes and left the room that smelled oh so sweet. Nanna and Loki had already left their rooms to start their regr daily activities leaving just him alone in the kitchen well almost. "Purrr!" Kiba who was for once asleep in the bed he bought for him woke up with a deep stretch and sauntered over to rub up against him. There was pleading look in his eyes before his stomach loudly rumbled. Like Frost he slept in and missed the breakfast prepared by Nanna. "Raw or cooked." Since he wasn''t much of a chef the list of what he could prepare was quite limited. He himself was only nning to have a couple sausages and eggs for breakfast. "Garow." "Raw it is then." Thanks to their soul bond Frost was able to urately understand Kiba despite the obviousnguage barrier. Raw made his job a lot easier but it would also cost him a lot more. Kiba was a smart little tiger, since a raw dish required no cooking skills he could have high quality meat for breakfast. He looked up at Frost with an expectant look in his eyes and a puppy dog expression. Frost would cave in anyway this at least gave him some sort of excuse. "You really have be a spoiled house cat haven''t you." Frost remarked with a shake of his head but still opened up the dungeon menu and purchased a thick b of mammoth steak. Kiba quickly bit into the juicy meat and carried it to the table, he was a refined kitty after all. A few minutester Frost walked over the dining table with his own breakfast in hand, sausages and eggs as initially nned. "I''m guessing the steak was nice." He sat down across from Kiba who was in the process of licking his paws and face clean. Therge tiger simply purred happily in reply before continuing to clean himself of what little remained of the steak. Frost dug into his hastily prepared breakfast, finding the taste ratherckingpared what Nanna and Maya usually make, plus seeing Kiba devour a mammoth steak certainly didn''t help but it wasn''t bad. "Oi where do you think you''re going?" Just as he ate thest piece of sausage Frost saw Kiba slinking back over to his bed to sleep off his breakfast. ''This damn tiger really thinks of himself as a damn domestic cat.'' Kiba had be far toozy ofte, and he was determined to put a stop to it. Kiba turned around with a confused and irritated expression. "There''s no napping for you, you''re with me today got it." "Garow." Kiba grumbled in protest, but Frost was having none of it. "Time for you to pull your weight." Frost ced his te and utensils in the sink, cast cleanup magic on both Kiba and himself before teleporting them into his office in the camp. "You''ll be following me as I interact with the local residents and talk with Ladius and her team. The people are on edge and in the dark about the whole war thing, so we need to be present to provide some stability in their lives." Kiba growled a little more but knew when to fall in line. Frost quickly went through a few document that had built up on his desk during his absence, notifications, permits, applications the usual before heading out with Kiba to begin the rounds. People in the camp quickly flocked over the moment they saw him. Many were distressed about the whole dungeon situation, worrying about whether or not they''d be able to maintain business here. Frost calmly spoke with many of them in his capacity as Mayor and reassured them in their time of need. Though he didn''t go into any specific details he personally vouched that the Dungeon was back to normal and that things should return to how they were a few days. Frost''s personal evaluation eased a lot of their worries especially those who had been with the camp since the early days as well as the adventurers who knew of his strength. If a B-rank fighter such a Frost was saying the dungeon was back in business then what did they have to worry about. Of course, there was still danger but that was part of the job anywhere. More than a few adventuring parties who had been ying it safe since yesterday decided to dive right in, thanks to his words, which brought a smile to his face. Eventually after visiting the different sectors of the camp a ronso came up to Frost and whispered something in his ear. "Thank you, I''ll head right over." Miss Palmer had finished resting andpiling her notes and was requesting a meeting, likely theirst. "Kibae" he called on Kiba who was posing heroically for a few newbie adventurers, they had heard the tales of Frost and Kiba from their seniors back in Furano. A handsome elf with unlimited potential, hero of Furano and his reliable battle mount Kiba who carried dozens to safety during what was probably the worst monster stampede in recent history. It was an honour to see the two of them in the flesh. After saying their farewells Frost and Kiba made their way back to Frost''s office. "Are we still in agreement?" Frost asked from behind his desk. Kiba was nestled in the corner while Ladius and Terrance sat opposite. One with a smile on his face and the other with an expression of clear reluctance. "Yes, yes that matter has already been cleared by the higher ups. You can expect word to be sent out in theing weeks or months." The federation would reveal some details to the public in regards to dungeon wars thus allowing Frost and his siblings to maintain their attractiveness to adventurers. Even those battle hardened adrenaline junkies would balk at the idea of being locked in these ces with no chance of rescue. Why take the risk when there''s perfectly good monsterirs already in abundance throughout Nova. "That''s good." Frost nodded his head, pleased with the deal they made. All he had to do now was bring up the topic of an agreed upon warning system with his many siblings and their father and he''d be set. In future he''d be able to manage his territory and easily go to war with his siblings without fear, allowing him to rake in the cash from both ends. His lips began turning upwards at that thought which irked Ladius. "That''s good, that''s all you have to say?" She puffed up her cheeks and threatened to leap from her seat. Terrance in response looked to the side and sighed as if trying to separate himself from the situation. "Yeah pretty much. Our business here is concluded is it not Ladius?" "Ow." Ladius covered her heart as though she''d been stabbed "that''s pretty cold Frost." "Well I do specialise in ice." "...." "...." His clich joke lingered in the air, leaving an awkward silence. "You know what I mean?" Eventually Ladius continued, as if the joke never left Frost''s lips. "..Terrance I''m pretty sure we already had a celebratory farewell several days ago right, the one where we all got together and had a nice meal and literally said goodbye to one another." "That is true we did say our farewells and were set to leave, our business concluded." Terrance replied in a stoic manner. "So what does she want?" "I believe since we didn''t leave and even got involved in another situation with you she wants another party." "Is she that clingy or starved for social interaction?" "No I believe she just wants the opportunity to barter more knowledge from you, like with the dungeon war agreement." Frost and Terrance spoke about Ladius in the 3rd person despite her being present in the room. "Are you sure she just doesn''t want to go h.." "OI!! Stop that right now!" Ladius had had enough, she leaped up from her chair and started waving her finger at both Frost and Terrance with an enraged expression. The two men shrugged their shoulders and stifled theirughter in response. Eventually Ladius managed to coax out a round of farewell drinks with Frost, Maya and Daki after they finished up with the adventurers'' guild which Frost wasn''t too against. He had no intention of bartering anything else with this die hard investigator. As soon as she and her team were away he''d be able to sleep soundly in his bed. After dotting a few I''s and crossing some T''s Frost, Ladius and Terrance met with the representatives for the local adventurers'' guild where they reported some of their findings. Ladius'' team were the only group held within the Dungeon during the transition that made it out alive so of course the guild was desperate to learn what transpired. The talks didn''tst long but already a crowd had gathered outside and inside the guild hall to hear the result. Frost gave them all a wave and a smile as he walked down the stairs with Ladius and Terrance. The representative of the guild however leaned over the railing of the second floor and loudly announced that the danger zone notice for the Dungeon of Niflheim had been lifted and that the guild would transition back to normal activity. Cheers erupted in response as guild staff ced new quests on the board and adventurers rushed in to ept them. The period of unknown was over, and life could go back to normal Chapter 604 After war celebrations (4) Ladius and Terrance fought against the bustling crowds as they tried to exit the adventurer''s guild and return to their inn. Ladius even made sure to holler at Frost in the distance, reminding him about his promise of drinkster this evening. The young dungeon core shook his head and waved his hand high up in the air as he made his way back to his office with Kiba by his side. Mayoral work was finally over so they could return to the Dungeon. "Garow?" Kiba chuffed in question the moment the door closed. "Yes you can go for a nap now, but I want you to get some more exercise in your life. Whenever Nanna and Loki head for the training space I want you to join them lest you truly be an oversized housecat." Find your favorite tales at m v l e mp yr "Gruff!" Kiba replied with an annoyed grunt before teleporting back to the private space, leaving his master alone in his office. "Guess I''ll clear the desk before it bes overcrowded again." With a twitch in his lips he started going through the many documents that had piled up. Being the owner of a flourishing and quickly growing camp was hard work, so much paperwork and so little people to delegate it to. Frost frequently thought more and more often that he needed a bunch of trusty employees to help him handle the camp''s day to day business. The ronsos were certainly capable of the job but he felt that that would be a waste of their talents. Other monsters such as the frost trolls and frost dwarves were toocking and their ice superiors were still monsters, monsters that were quite prevalent in the Dungeon. Finding a way to safely and methodically introduce them into the camp was an onerous task that needed to be handled delicately and slowly given that the majority of his residents were from Northrend. The merchant Calder suggested hiring sapients from the guild, but he could never be sure of their loyalty especially now when Northrend was on the brink of a political upheaval. The best way to keep spies at a distance was to not foolishly hire one in the first ce after all. Nearly every other day he''d find suspicious people loitering around the camp, sifting for information and trying to get into ces they shouldn''t. Frost''s work continued until the sun started to drop beyond the horizon signally nighttime. He stretched his back until his spine and shoulders loudly cracked. The once paper covered desk was now somewhat visible, a valiant effort but it was more than a single day''s work. "Ladius will likely burst through the door if we''rete." He said while gazing through a nearby window, enjoying the night sky and the stars that sparkled across it. He didn''t have a lot of time before their scheduled meeting. "Maya are you and Daki almost ready?" He opened up a telepathic link with Maya. "Oh yeah, we''re in the middle of choosing what to wear." Her answer though sounding like a yes was probably the furthest thing from it. Maya and Daki were both ravishing women with several closets full of battle attire. Nighttime drinks with Ladius was the perfect opportunity for them to show off their assets andpete fairly against one another. Therefore choosing the correct dress required a great deal of time and concentration. Frost visibly grimaced upon hearing her reply. He internally chastised the fairer sex before teleporting to the private space. "Wee back master." Nanna was present on the sofa with a book in hand. "Hi Nanna, do you want me to bring you back something or are you and Loki good for dinner tonight?" "We''re good, I n on making us a milk stew once he''s finished in the training space." The book in her hands was a cookbook Frost bought her. She''d frequently look through it and pick a dish at random to prepare, sometimes it suited their tastes sometimes it didn''t what mattered was that her range improved. A milk stew however sounded quite nice; Frost was reluctant to miss out. "Sounds tasty.have they been at it long?" He redirected the discussion to Maya and Daki. "Umm maybe 3 hours or so, so no not that long." Nanna replied innocently. ''Ah I forgot she''s a girl too.'' Perhaps 3 hours really wasn''t that long maybe he was the weird one but there was no need to pull on that cord. After a short chat with Nanna he headed straight into the bathroom for a shower, he''d sort himself out first before trying to rush his partners. In under 30 minutes he''d washed his body and hair with high end soap, dried and brushed the mane that stretched to below his waist and picked out a lovely midnight blue suit that gave him a very different aura than his usual robes. With a tight ponytail as his chosen hairstyle he was the epitome of a handsome gentlemen. Maya and Daki really did have their work cut out for them. Knock Knock "Not ready yet." Maya replied through the closed door. "Can I help at all?" "No! it''ll be a surprise. Just wait on the sofa." "Haaaaaaa." Knock Knock he moved to the left bedroom and knocked on Daki''s door. "Yeah?" "Are you almost ready?" "Give me a minute I need to change my essories." With both partners rebuffing him Frost was forced to as Maya put it sit on the sofa. At least he''d have somepany. "I might have to send you in to retrieve them if they take much longer." He whispered to Nanna after ncing at the silver watch wrapped around his wrist, his choice of essory. "Mmm" Nanna whose was blown away by her master''s appearance quietly mumbled and nodded her head in a daze, an evident blush on her cheeks. Why did her master have to be so handsome. 10 minutester, rustling could still be heard but no one exited their bedroom. 20 minutester still nothing. 30 minutester Frost asked for an update and received a sharp reply. 45 minutester he sent in Nanna who wanted to get started on her and Loki''s dinner. The young phoenix kin first went into Daki''s room as she seemed to be the closest to being ready. 60 minutester he received a report that Ladius was at the restaurant and growing restless. Also his little helper was no where to be seen, Daki obviously roped her in and refused to let her leave. 70 minutester Loki returned with Kiba covered in sweat, exhausted and starving. He was looking forward to the meal prepared by his sister but didn''t see her in the kitchen nor did he smell anything cooking. Frost was there though with arge frown on his face. Seeing Loki enter the private space he smiled evilly before charging straight for him. "Loki I''ve got a job for you." With an ominous expression and his hands firmly grasping the young boy''s shoulders he ordered him to enter Maya''s bedroom and convince her to get a move on. The young phoenix kin being the good boy he was happily knocked on Maya''s door and entered after receiving permission. 80 minutester there was still no one exiting the rooms. Nanna and Loki both failed in their duties falling victim to Maya and Daki''s whims. Frost grew more and more irritated with the time and could literally feel Ladius'' anger building as she waited in the restaurant; he had waited long enough. With loud stomps he marched towards the bedrooms, ready to barge through those doors and forcibly drag his partners out. The moment however when he was about to loudly announce himself both doors swung open, revealing the figures of both Maya and Daki in all their glory. Frost stood there in stunned silence as the two enchanting women lightly giggled and strut towards him with Nanna and Loki following their heels, both bearing simr awestruck expressions. "Well how do we look handsome?" Daki asked in a charming tone as her eyes feasted upon her man, very much enjoying his choice in attire. Maya was a little more restrained, covering her mouth with her right hand to hide her smile and pinkening cheeks as she patiently waited for Frost to say something. "..." Frost was speechless, his eyes open wide like saucers as they perused each and every inch of the two beauties. Daki like her bold personality chose to wear something quite provocative. A skintight ck dress tightly followed her impressive curves, amplifying their already substantial draw. The back was open, revealing her chiselled shoulders as well as part of her thus resulting in some major side boob action. If that wasn''t enough though the dress was long, descending all the way to her angles arge slit stretched upwards revealing most of her muscr right leg. For jewellery she wore a couple crescent moon earrings and a long chained heart ne that loving rested atop her cleavage. She was an absolute bombshell, a kingdom topping beauty that could see empires go to war just for her smile. And that was just one of them. To the right was Maya who being more restrained than Daki chose to wear a beautiful white and blue qipao that screamed ephemeral beauty. It was as if her body was as soft as cotton, drawing out Frost''s innate desire to protect and cherish her. Less skin was shown but the image was no less intense. One was bold, lust inducing while the other was like a refined deity, Frost was a very, very lucky man. Chapter 605 After war celebrations (5) Frost stood in awe at the two beauties standing before him. For over 4 hours they had been stuck in their rooms picking out their attire for this evening, determined to show up one another. Frost had sat on the sofa patiently for the past 90 minutes and was just about to forcibly drag them out when the bedroom doors opened and revealed their chosen garments. He was stunned by their beauty, one dressed provocatively and the other refined and delicate, both equally tantalising to the eyes. When Daki asked for his opinion his mind drew aplete nk, he honestly couldn''t think of any words that could possiblye close to describing what he saw. He simply enjoyed the sight for a brief moment before his lips formed a joyful smile. A few tears then leaked from his eyes as he reached out and hugged these two beautiful women, drawing them close to his chest as if he needed physical contact to prove that this was not a dream. His actions caught the two by surprise, but it didn''t stop them squirming and blushing in happiness, Frost had given them the answer they wanted. Nanna and Loki both giggled upon seeing this, their hearts warming at how close their master was with Maya and Daki. "Nanna take care of Loki while we''re gone and head to bed before 11 alright." Frost who was still in the middle of hugging Maya and Daki tightly said to the young girl. "Understood master, have fun." She replied with an innocent smile. "Oh we will." He said in a more yful manner as his hands started caressing the warm bodies pressed against his chest. Without much warning he then teleported the three of them out of the private space. And the moment they arrived in his office the restraint he showed before the childrenpletely disappeared. His wolf like hands groped and caressed their bodies, wanting nothing more than to rip them out of their carefully selected dresses. His advances were hard to stop given that both Maya and Daki weed them with open arms. The three exchanged kisses and their bodies quickly started to heat up as desire took over. Soon a certain area on Frost''s body turned rock solid, threatening to burst through his pants. He pushed Daki onto the desk and lifted up her legs while Maya captured his lips and allowed his other hand to freely grope her. This was happening and there was nothing that could be done to stop it. What did they expect to happen after wearing such enticing attire. The room started to heat up from their steamy actions and just when Frost was about to disrobe Daki and start devouring her there was a loud knock at the door. "FROST GET OUT HERE!!!" The shrill scream of an enraged Ladius broke a swift end to their romantic air. The three paused for a second or two, quickly sobering up. Soon after they scrambled around, tidying up their dishevelled clothes and reflected on their sudden carnal impulses, how could they forget about the very reason they wore these nice clothes in the first ce. "Sorry, can you give us a second." Frost hastily replied as he picked up Maya''s dropped clutch and one of Daki''s earrings. Thankfully Ladius wasn''t bold enough to barge in and see the three of them in such a state. Some of Ladius'' initial anger was swept away upon actually hearing his voice, she couldn''t be certain he was even in his office but thankfully he was. A few momentster the door opened revealing Frost in his suit and a flower in each arm. The sheer level of beauty was almost blinding, Ladius felt for the first time in her lifeplete and total inferiority despite being quite a catch herself. ".You''rete." Summoning some courage she stared right at the three and denounced them. "Sorry we got a little sidetracked." Frost apologised with a shifting gaze. "Sidetracked huh." Ladius'' eyes scanned him like a hawk. "You''ve got a little sidetrack on your neck there." She pointed at a hickey mark left on his neck before turning around with an obvious flourish. Frost, Daki and Maya all blushed from embarrassment, they were caught. "I''ll expect somepensation for my wasted time." Ladius mockingly said with a hidden smirk. "I''ll have the restaurant bring out a higher ss bottle than normal." Frost immediately understood what kind ofpensation Ladius was looking for. "Good now let''s get a move on I''ve been eagerly waiting for this all day hehehehe." Ladius giggled in triumph before dragging the three of them to the booked restaurant. She too had dressed up a little for tonight but given her inferior figure andcking choice of attire she was no match for Maya and Daki who drew the eyes of every single man and woman that they passed. Still since she wasn''t out to steal Frost for herself she didn''t care, she was here to have a good time and possibly pilfer some secret knowledge that could further her career. The four of them quickly found their arranged table and began ordering drinks as well as a few dishes to whet their appetite. Frost even pulled the waiter aside a whispered something in his ear. The man understood and quickly left to retrieve one of the more expensive bottles they had in storage. Though the Niflheim camp hadn''t been around for long its ess to good food and even better alcohol was already well developed given their regr clientele. Adventurers need work, food and booze, all else was secondary. The waiter returned a short whileter with a bottle of high grade B-rank red wine that cost 2 gold coins as is or 50 silvers a ss. Thankfully business was booming so Frost barely flinched upon hearing the cost. "We''ll take that one as well as." He pointed to a few other drinks on the menu that looked appealing before having Ladius and Daki pick a few. Maya was set to gost, after he lightly pinched her thigh and warned her with his eyes not to go overboard. He got a stuck out tongue in reply before she ordered a few cocktails and a bottle of sake. When the first drinks arrived the four clinked their sses together and toasted to their continued friendship and good fortune for Ladius and her career, not so subtly hinting that she needed to leave after tonight. Tales were exchanged, little secrets were brought out into the open as well as a few attempts to draw out another agreement, but Frost was adamant despite the level of alcohol in his system. Ladius and her team needed to leave, their job was over, it was time for them to head home. Ladius even tried to get Maya and Daki on her side but to no avail. She cried and called them mean but it was obvious that she was faking her tears. Eventually she gave up on the idea and instead focused on leaving a more joyful memory. "Hup Lord Frost you''re really a charmer you know that hup." Ladius mumbled through drunken slurs. "Here you are with hup two beautiful flowers yet here you are staring at me with those pretty silver eyes of yours hup." Frost frowned. ''When was I staring at her.'' He failed to notice a smirk on growing on her lips as well as predict her intentions. "Hehehe what''s a girl to do when you''re inviting her so openly." Ladius suddenly leaned forward. Grabbing the back of his cor she pulled him close and ced her lips upon his. She even had the audacity to slip in a little tongue before pulling away with a string of saliva between them. Her moves were so sudden and unexpected that Frost, Daki and Maya were left dazed. "Tasty, I''ll have to have it again next time I''m in town hehehehe." Ladius giggled before grabbing her stuff. "Guess I''ll call it a night, farewell Lord Frost it was fun while itsted." She then gazed at Maya and Daki. "It was a pleasure meeting you as well Lady Maya, miss Daki, pleasant dreams." She blew a kiss vaguely directed at Frost before confidently leaving. The very moment she left the building Frost was assaulted by a set of intense stares. A chill ran up and down his spine and goosebumps formed across his forearms, Ladius just dumped his ass in hot water. All this time he kept stressing that his interactions with her were tonic, asional banter and harmless flirting nothing concrete but her actions tonight upended that story making Maya and Daki think dangerous thoughts. ''That damn bitch!'' He internally cursed her knowing that she did this on purpose knowing full well how these two would react. Down the street Ladius was practically skipping along,ughing her heart out. "That''ll teach you to make ady wait hehehehe." Frost decided that it was probably in his best interests to end the night here, more alcohol may end up worsening his position. He requested the bill under Maya and Daki''s piercing stares, they hadn''t said a word since Ladius left, it was ominous. After paying, the two women grabbed hold of his arms and escorted him out of the restaurant and back to his office, away from prying eyes. Frost didn''t know yet if this was a good or bad thing, only fate knew. Chapter 606 After war celebrations (6) With his arms tightly pinned between his girlfriends'' chests Frost was escorted into his office, silently and without any possibility for resistance. His heart trembled in both fear and anticipation. He could feel their irritation, their frustration, anger but most of all jealously. A feeling that could result in both good and bad oues. Meaning the possibility of some very hot sex was still on the table. The moment this possibility entered his mind it started affecting him physically. So despite Daki and Maya sporting unreadable expressions and doing their very best to ignore him until they werepletely alone, a goofy smile appeared on his lips and a certain area started to swell. By the time the door to the office was shut and Maya and Daki were prepared to go on the offensive their lusty wolf of a boyfriend was near full mast and his naughty hands started to take advantage of their proximity. The two women fiercely twisted their heads around to re at him but were met with his horny expression. In their brief moment of confusion Frost loosened his arms from their grasp and started slipping his fingers under their dresses. At the same he leaned forward and kissed them both in quick session. Maya and Daki blinked their eyes rapidly before exchanging nces, talking silently to one another about their current situation. This was not how this was supposed to go down, they''d lost the momentum. Their eyes darted back to Frost as his hands continued to work their magic. ''Damn him!'' They roared internally as their bodies start to sumb to his touch. They struggled to keep their focus, to keep being angry. Quickly they started kissing him back, cing their hands against his body and gave in to their desires. Only when they were half disrobed did their thoughts coalesce. "Urgh!" Suddenly Frost felt a tight grip on his weapon causing him to flinch. With a cold sweat quickly developing across his forehead he looked at the reddened faces of his girlfriends and noticed the yfulness in their eyes. Daki being the more bold of the two spoke up first. "Before you get to have fun with ''this'' you''ve got a debt to pay." "Yeah a long and thorough debt." Maya piggybacked Daki''s words and tightened her grip on Frost''s tool forcing him to really listen to them. "WWhat''d you.. have in mmind?" He asked nervously. Maya and Daki turned to face one another before smirking back at him. Following that they climbed up onto his desk side by side and spread their legs before him. And being such a well-trained lover Frost instantly understood the ''debt'' he had to pay upon seeing Daki and Maya sticking out their tongues. With an eager expression the handsome man who was half naked kneeled down to worship the goddesses that brought him such joy in his life. The night ran long and all three were more than satisfied. At some point during the night they had managed to return to the private space, so Frost woke up nestled under his sheets rather than the floor of his office. His waking movements made Daki and Maya groan in protest, but he was full of energy. Gently he left his bedroom with his robes in hand. The living room was currently empty given the time, so he popped straight into the bathroom to enjoy a nice rxing bath afterst night''s intense workout. It had been quite a while since he simply soaked in the hot water. His recent schedule barely left him any time for a shower let alone a long soak in the tub. Frost left the bathroom an hourter with a ruddyplexion and a spring in his step. "Khuno give me they of thend." Taking a seat on the sofa he opened up a connection with Khuno and asked for a report. "Yes master. Currently the amount of adventurers delving in the Dungeon is 30% higher than normal. They''re actively investigating any changes in the Dungeon''syout as well as searching for riches. I suggest nting more chests and treasures throughout the floors if you want to keep their attention." The adventurers went wild after ess to the dungeon returned, bringing great business to Frost and his monsters. "Good suggestion I''ll look into it. What about dangers, any parties we need to take special care with?" "3 C-rank parties are currently delving, two are on the sixth floor while the 3rd is currently halfway through the seventh, neither of which can pose a real threat to the Dungeon." Khuno responded in a calm manner, finding the situation to be quite normal. After all the lower floors were currently swarming with Ronsos, ice trolls, yuki-onnas and ice revenants, rather deadly opponents for those at the C-rank. "There''s a stronger C-rank party residing in the camp but again they''re not strong enough to truly affect our defences." Even a standard B-rank party would struggle to make much headway in the very lowest floors. "How''s the camp?" "Development is still progressing as scheduled despite the war hup, we''ll likely be reaching phase 4 within the next couple weeks." Frost broke up the development of his territory into several phases. The first phase was establishing the camp, the second was weing in multiple outside businesses and the third was having a certain level of permanent residents. The fourth phase which they were soon to reach was the camp being able to support true interterritorial trade with Furano and Kranor. Right now they were primarily buying in products, producing very little of their own goods. That was soon to change. The dwarven smiths that had been learning under Borris and Daki were using the Dungeon''s mines to mass produce weapons and equipment that was fit for the trade caravans travelling between the three territories. On top of that Frost had been purchasing a significant share of the monster materials retrieved by adventurers delving within the dungeon. Arge amount of the quests pinned up in the adventurer''s guild were on behalf of the camp thus after several months of activity the Dungeon''s personal vaults as well as the warehouses prepared in the camp and lower floors were full of materials just waiting to either be used or traded for goods. If that wasn''t enough the sudden influx of DP gained from the war with Karrick would allow the camp to improve its ability to be semi self-sufficient, another hallmark for phase 4 of the camp''s development. "Good, I''ll check in with the kids before doing some dungeon remodelling. Are they working?" "Yes, Nanna''s currently at the sleeping fenrir learning from the head cook while Loki''s at the medical centre trying to learn from the witchdoctors and priests." "It''d be great if we could attract a licensed doctor to the territory then Loki would have the chance to learn medicine from a proper source." He thought of Doctor Mira who he met back in Kranor, someone like her would make a fine teacher for Loki. Shame she had no desire to relocate nor did anyone else in the medical field it seemed. All the camp got was merchants, businessmen and adventurers. Recently Frost had been feeling rather guilty about the matter, it didn''t seem fair that Nanna had the opportunity to learn from proper chef while Loki had to make do with his summoned monsters. Their knowledge served only to benefit themselves, an ingrained and instinctual practise that didn''t trante very well when it came to teaching others. "If you want to find him a teacher that badly you should discuss it with either Dous or Yarrow, I''m sure they''ll be able to point you in the right direction. After that we''ll just need toe up with a good enough incentive." It wasn''t impossible to attract a certain type of person to the camp but there needed to be a reason for them toe. For adventurers it was easy, there''s a Dungeon containing a myriad of monsters to hunt simple as that, moving to the Niflheim camp was a wise choice given their profession. Same with merchants and other businessmen, the camp promised riches. Someone like a doctor however had little need for a Dungeon so why would they risk their lives to move to a small and still developing territory over where they currently lived. "..." Frost silently thought, scratching his chin repeatedly. He could offer money and lots of it but then again doctors were an already affluent profession, it might not be enough. "Haaaaaaa I''ll call up Yarrow and Dous like you suggested, thanks for your advice Khuno." Eventually Frost sighed and put the topic on hold untilter. "My pleasure master." Khuno replied with respect before the connection was cut. Despite not having to personally take part in battles the elder ronso was quite a busy man. Frost delegated a fair amount of the Dungeon''s defence management to him and Finy. The amount of reports they received every hour from each floor was quite frankly staggering. After hearing Khuno''s report Frost tidied himself up and teleported into his office. He stood frozen in ce the moment he arrived, documents littered the floor, furniture was damaged, and a pronounced smell of carnal lust still lingered in the air. Perhaps they went a little overboardst night. Chapter 607 Remodelling Frost spent a short moment to tidy up his desk and office before heading out for a quick set of rounds through the camp. Seeing him out and about promoted stability and reassurance to the people in his territory plus he got to see the simple things that couldn''t be exined through standard reports. For example the expressions on people''s faces, their goals, passions and desires for certain creatureforts. Everywhere he went someone had something to say. Some were worried about the camp''s external defences; many had endured through the monster stampede recently in Furano and felt that the walls were far too low and that the war machines were insufficient to protect them all from an assault. More than a few merchants suggested that he should create a garrison to help fend off unscrupulous bandits, wary that Frost''s position as owner was in jeopardy. Through their eyes he was a kind and benevolent lord who taxed them fairly and hoped to create mutual profit rather than bleed them of even the slightest gains. Therefore to see such a person brought down from his position of power would be anything but good for business. Others had started to feel ustrophobic given the rapid increase in residents. Before they could run around in whatever direction they wanted without fear of bumping into someone. Now however the streets were starting mirror Furano. Frost took time to listen to each of their worries and took their input to heart, truly understanding where they wereing from. Some of his future ns needed to brought forward if his residents were to have peace of mind, thankfully he now had the DP to do just that. "Nanna are you here?" Ending his rounds at the sleeping fenrir Frost called into the kitchen. "Ah over here master." Over by a potato peeling station was a young girl with azure hair standing on a wooden step with a potato in hand. Her ears perked up at the sound of Frost''s voice and she turned around to face him with a bright smile on her face. "Nanna don''t run with the peeler!" Just as she was about to run to his side however the thunderous bellow of the head chef reverberated throughout the kitchen. Nanna froze in ce, a cold sweat forming on her brow. "Sorry head chef!" She loudly replied before cing her peeler down and carefully rushing to Frost''s side. "Hahahahaha well said Wilson, well said." Frost praised the head chef, admiring the care he showed to his student beforeughing out loud causing the little girl to blush from ear to ear. "Do you mind if I grab her for lunch?" "Not at all Lord Frost she was due for a break anyway." Head chef Wilson acquiesced and returned to his duties. Frost then led Nanna out into the inn''s cafeteria. "Good teacher that Wilson." "Yes master, he''s very kind and patient with me." Nanna exined with a gentle smile on her lips. "Except when you act dangerously. Do you do that a lot?" "No, no I usually know better I just got excited and forgot." She quickly waved her hands in denial. She truly was a very good student, careful and meticulous but her master, her treasured family was visiting her at work. "Good, I''d hate to see you injured." Frost rubbed her head in an affectionate manner. "Since you work here what dish would you rmend?" He nned to have a private meal with just the two of them. "Oh then I''d..." Nanna proceeded to give her personal opinion on all the top dishes, struggling to pick just a single one. "We''ll order several then, I hope you''re hungry." Nanna''s face always lit up the moment she talked about food. "Un." She nodded her head and started to hum away from sheer joy, her feet even started swinging under the table. The pair of pseudo father and daughter thus enjoyed a very pleasant meal together before separating. Nanna went back into the kitchen to help head chef Wilson while Frost walked back to his office. It was time for some more Dungeon rted work. Once he was alone in his office Frost teleported back to the private space to start some remodelling. The living room was still absent of anyone, and he couldn''t hear any running water. "Those two must still be resting." He could wake them up for another round or just for the sake of a healthy lifestyle but instead he chose to y it kind. "Khuno does everyone know about the uing remodel and is Loki still at the medical centre?" "Yes and yes milord." "Perfect I''ll contact him now and have him join me for the design phase." Frost quickly opened up a Dungeonmunication path with Loki. "Master?" "Hey Loki, I was wondering if you''d like to help with the next Dungeon remodel." "..YES, YES SUPER YES!!" The young boy was silent for a second before excitably roaring back. "Quickly finish whatever you''re doing then and join me in the living room." Frost warmly replied before setting up the uing workstation i.e. arranging suitable snacks for the hardworking men. Loki appeared a few minuteter with slightly messed up clothes and hair, it was clear that he really rushed to finish whatever he was doing earlier. "Come sit." Frost tapped the seat next him. "Un" Loki bounded across the room and sat beside him, wasting no time at all to dig into a bowl of hard candy. His actions brought a bright smile to Frost''s face. He rubbed his head affectionately like he did with his sister before bringing up the Dungeon menu. "750,000DP a hefty sum, where should we start Loki?" "Floors!" Loki yelled with his hand raised and a lollipop sticking out his mouth. "You want more floors." "Yes, more floors means a bigger Dungeon and a bigger Dungeon means we can have more monsters, more environments, more everything." The young phoenix kin gave his in depth reasoning with a serious expression. Frost felt like he was going to pull as stitch from holding in hisughter and the urge to hug the adorable things sitting beside him. "Alright we''ll start with a couple extra floors." The dungeon currently had 12 regr floors and two passive floors (floors without any monsters) which were being regarded as floor 5.5 and 10.5. Both had the same winter prairie environment but only floor 5.5 was currently in use for its intended purpose as no one bar Ladius and her team had reached below the 10th floor as of yet. In the future Frost nned to have passive floors at every 5th or 10th floor interval, to serve as resting points for the arduous adventurers and in time be the perfect locations for internal camps and outposts, mirroring features found in therger monsterirs. Right now to add an additional floor to the Dungoen even without room expansions and environments cost 20,000DP per floor. So Loki just requested a minimum purchase of 40,000DP with a lollipop in his mouth and Frost waspletely unfazed by it. Eventually after spending money like running water enough times a person bes numb to the fact. "Should weplete the floors or leave them empty?" As though 40,000DP wasn''t enough Frost asked if Loki wanted to outfit the floors with environments and expansions. "How about we partially outfit one and leave thest one bare." Loki wasn''tpletely ignorant it seems, decorating one floor wasn''t too much of a stretch. "Good n, economical. No point in fleshing it out if it''s not going to be used anytime soon." Frost agreed with his decision and with a flick of his wrist he manoeuvred the Dungeon menu so they could start designing the 13th floor. "We''ll just go with a simple expansion along with environments." Basically the three given rooms would receive a single size upgrade and will be outfitted with a chosen environment. No extra rooms will be added, and no special features would be applied. "Un." Loki nodded his head in agreement and opened up the list of environments. The 11th and 12th floor both had 2 star winter hignds as their environment throughout the entire floor. The question was whether to continue with this pattern or change it up and change it up by how much. Frost was all for maximising his gains and ying to what made sense, but he also wasn''t against asionally tossing in something out of the box. One of the main advantages a Dungeon had over a monsterir was the change in environments. This not only allowed adventurers to experience different battlefields but also a wider variety of monsters. ying it safe and structured may appear more logical but it failed to set the Dungeon of Niflheim apart from itspetitors. "Loki let''s go for an environment jumble, I''ll close my eyes while you scroll down the list and the moment I say stop we''ll pick whatever environment your fingernds on for the 1st section. After that we''ll swap ces." "That sounds awesome." Loki''s eyes opened up wide and his smile threatened to stretch all the way to his ears as he frantically nodded, fully onboard with Frost''s suggestion. "Alright are you at the top of list for 2 star environments?" "Yep." Loki replied with his finger itching to start scrolling. "Ok 3, 2, 1 go." Chapter 608 Remodelling (2) "Ok 3, 2, 1, go" Frost closed his eyes and told Loki to start scrolling. After a few seconds "Stop" Frost opened up his eyes and called for Loki to stop. The two then looked at the Dungeon menu to see which environment Loki''s finger was pointing at. Five fingers of Ymir C 19,000DP A long stretch ofndscape that offers significant changes in elevation, five deep valleys spanning horizontally across the room representing Ymir''s fingers. It was a gruellingndscape that didn''t even require monsters to pose a threat. The fall from one of the peaks was enough to kill even a skilled adventurer. To descend into the valleys one needed to either physically scale the perilous cliffs or follow the set of narrow and fragile stairs carved into the side of the valley. "Damn." Frost said after reading through the environment''s description. Seems the two of them really hit the jackpot with this little game. The five fingers of Ymir was a little pricier than what they''d chosen for previous floors, but it was definitely different. "Shall we try for 2 out of 2?" "Un" Loki nodded his head before closing his eyes, it was his turn to say stop. "3, 2, 1 go." Around 12 secondster "Stop!" "Alright what do we have this time." Winter hold keep C 17,500. An old abandoned keep that has weathered through storms of ice and snow. An arrangement of small andrge rooms with built in traps, open walls that grant ess to freezing winds and secret passages running through the entire structure. This environment was a sort of an upgrade to the ruined castle (interior) found on the upper floors. Invaders would first enter onto a snowy in, the massive keep would theny ahead with walls spanning from one end of the room to the other. The only way to move forward was to enter the keep through the damaged gate. Frost found the idea of an old keep lying beyond the five fingers of Ymir environment quite intriguing. He turned to look at Loki and could see a glint in his eyes that matched his own. They both found thisbination appealing, it stoked the adventurous spirit in their hearts as though screaming that something mystical must dwell in the following room. As if in sync the two of them then pointed at the exact same environment for the final room. "That one." Heart of a 1000 year cier C 21,000DP The entire environment is the inside of a 1000 year old cier. Cavern like paths stretch throughout the cier''s system, leading to open chambers with freezing streams and deadly stctites. As one draws deeper into the cier, the temperature drops and pits of what can only be described as spurting iceva dot the paths. The ce is a veritable maze that gradually freezes any who enter. Currently there wasn''t a single environment in the Dungeon that couldpare to this environment''s ambient temperature. Both Frost and Loki felt that such a perilous and daunting route deserved something like this at the finish line, none of the other environments seemed to do it justice. So withplete agreement from his little partner Frost packaged up the new floors andpleted their first purchase of the day for a grand total of 106,500DP (new floors =40,000, 3 medium room expansions =9000, 3 environments = 57,500). Almost a 7th of their reserves spent just like that on something that wouldn''t be seen by adventurers for quite some time given their current progress, but still, a fixed asset was a fixed asset. Following the light-heartedness with choosing environments both Frost and Loki took the rest of their remodelling more seriously. Another 200,000DP was attributed to increasing the output of the mines on floor 5.5 as well as outfitting them with additional frost dwarf spawners to retrieve the extra material. 20,000 was spent on additional traps for the upper floors while 40,000 was spend on the lower floors (upper floors =1 to 5, lower floors = 6 to 10). This was due to the adventurers mapping out most of the current ones thus making them far less efficient. 250,000 was spent on 4 D-rank spawners, 2 being for frost drakes, 1 for lesser yuki-onnas and thest one being for pr bears. An additional 70,000DP was spent on purchasing individual monsters of both high and low rank. Frost wished to expand his roster through differing evolutionary paths. The slimes in particr were a group he was keen on seeing flourish. A monster with endless potential but with a very, very weak starting point. Despite him actively purchasing them since the Dungeon began few managed to evolve multiple times. Right now the strongest he could purchase was only E-rank a fair bit off from bing slimeoids who could alter their form at will and be a true menace on the battlefield. 10,000DP was spent on misceneous items, 15,000 was set aside as rewards for his monsters (For their efforts during the war with Karrick) while a final 30,000DP was used to create randomised treasure chests throughout the Dungeon as suggested by Khuno to keep the current adventurers engaged. The grand total for today''s spending thus amounted to 741,500DP leaving a paltry 10,000 in the bank. This was by far thergest purchase Frost had made to date, but did it phase him? No not in the slightest. The Dungeon was currently raking in tens of thousands of DP per day, so this sum would be regained in a month or two, but it could also be spent just as easily. It was an endless cycle, growing the Dungeon to increase DP ie also increased the costs to run the ce. Frost was sure that by the time the Dungeon of Niflheim reached 30 floors he''d likely be spending a million DP every month just to keep up. All this remodelling caused the Dungeon to repeatedly shake with every purchase. The monsters were in the know thanks Khuno warning them beforehand but the adventurers within got spooked thinking that they were going to be locked in again. Only when the rumbling ceased and nothing unexpected jumped out at them did these people finally calm down and continue their delve. Time moved on in the world. The Dungeon of Niflheim as well as the many Dungeons around Nova continued to develop and disy their own unique traits. Some like Frost formed territories around their entrances, attracting permanent sources of DP while others killed and feasted upon their intruders like starving animals forcing up their danger rankings, attracting juicier and far more rewarding prey. Another group of let''s just say more callous Dungeon cores didn''t want to manage territory beyond the scope of their dungeon but they also didn''t want to lose out on that delectable passive DP, so they set up massive prisons within their Dungeons and captured hundreds of adventurers to serve as caged livestock. Frost always frowned whenever he heard rumours about this through the Dungeon core sibling grapevine. He wasn''t necessarily against the idea of caged livestock as he himself asionally partook in the practise, but he felt that these siblings were taking a substantial risk doing it on such a grand scale. However to each their own. The federation of knowledge eventually released several statements regarding Dungeons as well as a short pamphlet that could be purchased either at any of their branches or the adventurers'' guild. Inside were key details, outlining some differences between them and monstersirs, things to be aware of such as the prewar warning signal and finally some basic suggestions and rules of approved behaviour. The war signal that Frost suggested had been agreed to by at least 30 other Dungeon cores and rejected by another 15 before Dark stepped in an made the whole thing official. As a reward he was granted a 10,000DP gacha pull which resulted in a 4th circle ice spell called [Icy tempest]. With the federation taking action more and more adventurers swarmed to these Dungeons keen to take a bite out of the new hype. While merchants and businessmen flocked to the areas nearby so as to take advantage of the new gold mines. The Niflheim base camp saw a sharp increase in visitor and permanent residents the moment the federation released their statements. Everyone wanted a piece of these Dungeons while they were still growing to avoid the rabidpetition that would ensue in the future when these Dungeons sported tens of floors. While Frost and his Dungeon prospered the same couldn''t be said for Northrend. The political carnage that was the fight for the throne became more and more fierce as time went on. The crown prince that was originally a sure win for the throne was now without protection. His actions against Frost as well as several other incidents that the 2nd prince manage to bring to light convinced their father emperor Franz Northrend to even the ying field. He withdrew his support thus isting Randolph from arge chunk of his backing. He now needed to fight tooth and nail with Sedrick for public support. Whoever gained the most loyalty from themoners, noble families and government officials would be crowned emperor. Find adventures at m v lem|p-yr It was a dark and stressful time for empire of Northrend. Chapter 609 Northrends political strife The Northrend empire was a long standing nation with a rich history. For centuries they were one of the foremost leading countries on the Yangmir continent, housing vast riches, diversend, high poption and a terrifying military. Few could hold a candle to the many regiments that guarded its borders. Their neighbours unable topete directly with Northrend chose to ally with them instead. Trade alliances, non-aggression pacts as well as the asional defensive alliance almost guaranteed the empire''s security, at least directly. Each and every one of the empire''s allies even those that they were closely intimate with desired on some level to supnt the mighty empire that had reigned over the continent for so long. Their spies constantly siphoned mountains of intelligence that allowed them to keep abreast of the empire''s state secrets and use them to their advantage. Discover the next chapter on m-vl-em,pyr Therefore despite Northrend developing its riches and truly entering what could be considered an economic golden age its current internal political strife was leading to an unseen and devasting opportunity that may very well see the once mighty empire crumble and be a mere shell of what it once was. While Frost and his Dungeon continued to grow and develop Northrend was being torn apart by the actions of its crown prince and second prince. These two brothers held no love for one another in fact hatred was all that remained. The two of them or their subordinates would argue vehemently during court sessions, disparaging each other''s actions and doing their very best to stop any agendas the other side had. The court was constantly divided in two as was the military. Those who sided with the crown prince and those that sided with the second prince. Of course there was a third group, the neutral party but they were small in number and weighed little on the future oue but from the seat of the emperor it was this small and insignificant group that truly cared about Northrend. While Randolph and Sedrick did their best to pull members of the nobility and government into their circle it was this small group that cleaned up their messes and enabled the empire to keep running despite the carnage the two sides wrought. This small group of officials were the only ones actually doing their jobs properly and for that the emperor was not only grateful but filled with guilt. Randolph and Sedrick fought in court disrupting important proceedings, they fought in the dark leading to a sharp increase in crime as well as deaths among the officials and nobility. More than one or two entire ns had been annihted, with not even the children being spared. Military leaders and garrisons chose to follow their preferred prince, ignoring the needs of the nation as whole to the point that it jeopardised the safety of the citizens. The war of the princes is a dire time with every generation even Franz''s was no exception. He fought with his brothers for the throne and even had to kill two of them but even, so he was starting to find the actions of his own children deplorable. In his opinion it was as though they cared not for the nation or its people, all they cared about was sitting on the throne regardless of the cost. As time passed Franz could see his own influence waning as more and more officials migrated to the princes. Very soon the situation would grow beyond his reach and the son would supnt the father. This was a natural event, an inevitability but upon seeing the situation with clear eyes especially the true face of his eldest son Franz felt that he could no longer allow this to pass. One son had the support of the old and established noble families, he engaged willing with the dark and hadmitted great crimes but there was always a clear agenda. Whereas the other originally had his full support, the backing of the emperor and the long established ministers. A son that was once destined to lead the empire into a new age of glory, an easy passing of the fabled torch. All he had to do was live up to expectations and the throne would be his. Sedrick the second prince was never really favoured, and boy did he know it. His father never seeing his potential warped his mind and personality. He wanted the throne, to finally prove that he was superior to his elder brother in father''s eyes, and he was willing to do whatever was necessary to ensure that oue and to be honest after looking without bias Franz didn''t me him. His son was dealt a losing hand from the start, so he had to take extreme measures in order to win. Sedrick pulled the oldest noble families to his side; they would support him in the race for the throne and in turn would be rewarded with even greater authority. With their deep pockets and long standing connections Sedrick was able stand somewhat evenly with Randolph. To surpass him however he needed more. His elder brother was skilled at masking his true personality and thanks to their father he was born with a golden spoon in his mouth. He never had to fight for support, to risk his own future to ensure their loyalty. He had it easy but even, so he was still capable thus Sedrick failed time and time again to draw him down from his pedestal. That changed however after Frost openly threatened him. The imprable exterior started to crack, and Sedrick wasn''t one to let go of such an opportunity. So despite being assaulted on all sides by the Furano household, Randolph''s allies and even their father to some degree he recklessly went after his brother''s image. A decision that paid off in spades. The war for the throne began and Randolph lost the protective bubble their father had ced around him, now it was truly a level ying field. Originally Sedrick had a n that would improve his legitimacy for the throne, a n that was suggested by and agreed upon by the old noble families that supported him. Sedrick was the second born and had the same mother as the crown prince thus there was nothing he could do to change his natural standing in the pecking order, at least not naturally. However there was an old tradition, a fable that involved the early years of the Northrend empire from over a millennia ago. ''If a member of royalty couldmand the loyalty and respect of a true blooded ice phoenix then the throne would be in safe hands under their reign.'' It was said that the founder of the empire was close to an ice phoenix, so close that he decided to use their image as the symbol for his empire thus establishing a link between the royal family and ice phoenixes. If one could create a bond with a true blooded ice phoenix they would be seen as a seconding of the first emperor. Sedrick and the noble families behind him desperately scoured thend in search of such a creature but came up empty. An ice phoenix especially a true blooded one was very likely to be an S-rank monster, not something that could be easily handled by Sedrick and his subordinates. One would have to travel to the core regions of the cial mountains to even think about finding such mythical creatures. Since that was a bust they went after the next best thing. Through interacting with the underworld and a certain ver they managed to track down two phoenix kin with rtively pure bloodlines. With the aid of the church of Light''s ve crest they nned to forcibly use these two to support Sedrick''s legitimacy to the throne. Unfortunately they failed to take into ount the actions of a recently born Dungeon core. Their hard work in finding them and their efforts to keep their identities an absolute secret, hidden from the eyes of their enemies went up in smoke the moment Frost aided Leo Furano in taking down his uncle. With Frost''s actions Sedrick''s ns had to change, the two phoenix kin would pose a substantial threat to him if they ever fell into Randolph''s hands. Sedrick and the nobles families supporting him thus attempted to assassinate Frost, their master killing three birds with a single stone. But again that n went awry, Frost was too well protected. Emperor Franz understood the situation after an in depth investigation but failed to uncover enough evidence to convict his second son of any crime. In retrospect however it did reveal something he was blind to for so many years. Randolph was not the man he thought he was. His eldest son who was always the one he was most proud of and who he envisioned as his future sessor, who he had protected and trusted was now akin to a cancer in his eyes. The young man that held so much promise started repeatedly failing after his encounter with Frost. Under the attacks of Sedrick and his own attempts to at least give his second son a decent opportunity Randolph revealed his true nature, his ipetence, his pettiness, hisplete disregard for those below him. His eldest son had a superiorityplex that could not be challenged, any attempt to do so would bring down his unbridled wrath. There was his way or death. Randolph had been getting his way for so long that this characteristic never really showed up. Now however it was all he could see. Even his wife who doted on all her children as evenly as she could despite their faults struggled to recognise the man as the same boy that used to chase after her. The war of princes brought out the worst in people, hearts would be shattered, images torn apart and betrayals amon urrence. But in the end a necessary part of any empire. The die was already cast, Franz was powerless to stop it no matter how much wanted to. A choice between two evils, the question was which one would do the least harm. Chapter 610 Northrends political strife (2) As time went on and the battles both in the open and in the dark intensified Franz continued to feel his gaze drawn to the neutral officials, the ones who despite all the hell surrounding them and the pressure to choose a side remained headstrong and steady,pleting their work and ensuring that the empire continued to run. His appreciation for them continued to grow partly because he couldn''t bare to look at his two sons, Randolph especially. Franz could feel his body growing cold and shivering whenever he saw the fierce glint in his son''s eyes. Gradually he was leaning more and more towards making Sedrick emperor, seeing him as the lesser of two evils despite the long list of crimes he had allegedlymitted. Randolph apparently sensed this causing the way he looked at his own father to change. His gaze was bereft of kindness and love, reced with anger, betrayal and actual hatred. He couldn''t understand why his father subjected him to his current plight. He was the favoured son, the crown prince. He had earned the support of countless officials as well as themon folk. The tasks assigned to him were all handled andpleted as requested. Sure he made a few errors in judgement and perhaps had been a little more vicious during the past few months but that was all because of Sedrick and that darned Frost. For years he''d been the go to son for handling the empire''s affairs. He had led numerous campaigns with the army, safely managed diplomatic rtions and even improved the livelihood of their citizens, he was the perfect son, the perfect crown prince and the ideal choice. Sedrick however repeatedly engaged with the empire''s underworld and allegedlymitted countless crimes, even his backing, the old noble families had terrible reputations and were banking on Sedrick to grant them even greater authority. How could the wise and talented emperor Franz not see how superior he was to Sedrick. After his encounter with Frost and the piercing usations of his brother Randolph''s entire world starting crashing down. His father grew suspicious of him and started to rethink his previous bias. His earlier work, the grand campaigns, diplomatic dealings and other projects were thoroughly examined, and his father took off the kid gloves and started poking holes in his behaviour as well as his suggestions. Before Franz would always gently encourage or support him with alternate choices but now he wouldn''t help in the slightest and would in fact tear apart whatever memorials he submitted. Randolph had always gotten his way before, so this change was a first for him and he really didn''t like it. Eventually it came to light that many of his sesses were because of his subordinates and that whenever he met with resistance or possible failure he was quick to explode and ce me on others. The golden image of the crown prince quickly fell apart causing a violent shift in his demeanour. He stopped hiding what he was and started nning how to get what was owed to him. The ns that were annihted earlier were actually ones that originally supported him. Randolph had them erased for their betrayal preventing anyone else from leaving his faction. For Franz that decision was the final straw that broke the camel''s back. From that point on he struggled to look at his eldest son, seeing him as nothing more than a potential cmity. Thus his gaze continued to linger on the hardworking neutral officials, his mind churning. These people were the true loyalists if only he could handover the throne to them instead. Franz could be seen sighing more and more recently and chose to sequester himself away every other court day, choosing to apany his darling wife Amelia and his radiant daughter Avira. The two of them helped to clear up the darkness in his heart and alleviate the weight ced on his shoulders. His daughter the apple of his eye and the youngest of his offspring especially helped. He never really discussed much of the nation''s affairs with her given that she was a princess and not a prince but with his two sons tearing apart the empire he found himself rambling about his worries to her. And the more they talked the more dumbfounded he became, his daughter was insightful, kind, charismatic and open minded. Before he knew it he was discussing the events of the day''s court proceedings with her, asking how she would handle the affairs if she was the one in charge. When he then learned that the majority of the neutral officials and military garrisons were actually loyal to her his mind was blown. All this time he''d been trying to choose between two evils when there was a golden child right here. Franz quickly formted a n, though Northrend never had a female monarch there were other kingdoms that did so it wouldn''t be apletely unheard of precedent. Ensuring that she had enough support however despite that was a tall order and he didn''t have much time. The war for the throne had already begun and Randolph and Sedrick had already pulled the majority of nobles, officials and evenmoner groups into their factions. But he needed to try, he couldn''t allow his empire to suffer under the hands of either one of his sons. Though he felt guilty about how Sedrick turned out he had caused too much damage to the empire to be worthy of the throne. Avira was the best choice. As things developed in Northrend and the entire world learned of the lucrative prospects of Dungeons a certain event was nearing close. The next family gathering between the Dungeon cores was set to take ce shortly, marking the end of their first year alive. For many this was an exciting prospect, some wished to show off their supposed independence while others looked forward to spending time with their many siblings. A bunch were anxious, nervous about how well they''d do on the umted DP rankings, whether or not their rank rose or fell since thest gathering. Frost wasn''t bothered by his possible ranking, nor was he particrly worried about meeting up with his siblings no he was stressed for another reason. Within the Dungeon''s private space Frost currently sat on the sofa his eyes glued to Maya''s back as she rustled up something in the kitchen. Daki was working in her forge while Nanna was at the sleeping Fenrir and Loki was helping out in the medical clinic. It was just the two of them here. Chop chop chop Maya chopped up a bunch of vegetables for the stew she was preparing trying her best to ignore the heated stare that was locked onto her but eventually. "Frost is there a particr reason you''re staring at my ass!" She loudly questioned before chopping with increased vigour. "Actually there is but it''s not your ass I''m staring at." ''This time at least'' Maya had a very sexy ass it was hard for his eyes not to wander over it every so often. "Hoh then if it''s not my ass then what are you staring at with such focus?" Maya stopped chopping and turned around, curious to hear what he had to say. With her now turned around showing off her front Frost''s face visibly frowned in disappointment, growing her curiosity. "We''ve been dating for months now yes?" Frost decided that since it was just the two of them here he wanted to get this off his chest. "Yes and it''s been fabulous." An enchanting smile grew on Maya''s lips as she spoke from the heart. Frost had been the perfect partner, he supported her emotionally, rocked her world in the bedroom and genuinely made her heart flutter everyday they were together. "Un and we''ve been intimate pretty much every day right?" He agreed their rtionship was truly magical. "Yyes pretty much." A significant pink hue appeared on her cheeks, embarrassed by the question but she still answered. If for whatever reason they missed engaging in such activities one day Frost made up for it the following night or so. "The same could be said for my rtionship with Daki." "Yes and your point." Now she was really confused. "Well considering that we''ve been going at it nearly every day for months and considering the amount of well you know that I''ve filled the two of you with why is that still t?" Frost pointed directly at Maya''s taught stomach hoping for the past several weeks that it would be of a different shape. "....WWHAT!!!" Maya was silent for a couple seconds as her mind digested Frost''s word before her entire face and neck turned red. She wagged her shaking finger at him and screamed at the top of lungs, never before had she been so shocked. "You know pregnant, babies, offspring, little Frosts and Mayas". Embark on a quest at m-vl-em,py-r "Stop just stop!" Maya waved her hands and starting to take deep breaths to calm herself down. Frost''s words were just too shocking and surprising, there was no lead up or finesse in his approach. Instead he just roared it out. She ced her right hand across her forehead and massaged her temples before shakily walking over to the sofa where Frost was sitting with an impatient look on his face, a face that looked oh so pable. After sitting herself down and taking another deep breath she turned to face him. "Start talking." Chapter 611 Baby talk "Start talking." Maya ordered with a stern voice; her eyes fixated on Frost as her mind twisted itself in knots. Were they really having the baby talk right here, right now and why on Nova was he so crass about it. Frost failed to understand the true ramifications of his previous outburst, so he dove right into exining himself without much care. "I''ve been sleeping with both you and Daki for months now and not to toot my own horn I''ve been filling you up with a substantial amount ofseed." Maya had to catch herself from pping him as a rush of embarrassment flooded her heart. Frost was certainly very proactive during their nights together and certainly wasn''tcking in terms of volume. "So I''m wondering why neither of you are pregnant by this point." Frost was genuinely puzzled as well as a little afraid. Did this mean he wasn''tpatible with them, was there something wrong with his ''seed''. Maya''s upper lip twitched as she tried to calm herself down and speak in a rational manner. "You''ve never mentioned this before Frost, is it a recent thing or have you been genuinely trying to get us pregnant?" "Well it''s kind of recent. Even though I know that there''s always a chance in getting either of you pregnant whenever we get intimate I''ve been specifically aiming to get ''you'' pregnant for the past 3 maybe 4 weeks." Frost nervously admitted. "..." Maya didn''t speak, her mind practically exploding from his confession. It was a genuine shock, to hear that her boyfriend was selfishly trying to get her pregnant without even informing her was a lot to take in. Her heart was awash with a cascade of emotions, anger pain, irritation but also love joy and even hope. Eventually thetter emotions overwhelmed the former surrounding her heart with a peaceful and protective warmth. She smiled at the possibility of having children with Frost and felt victorious at the fact that she was chosen over Daki. However there still a lingering confusion, the why? Frost had never brought this subject up even once during their time together, it was aplete and utter surprise. "Why? Why do you want to get me pregnant now?" She asked with neither anger nor joy. Frost squirmed in his seat feeling rather guilty about what he was about to say next. "The next family gathering is just around the corner Maya and with it the end of your duties as my Guardian. 365 days that''s how long father allowed you to be by my side, to help prepare me for world of Nova and nurture my independence. Once that deadline is crossed, our bond is to be severed, and we''ll be forced to go our separate ways." This was the duty assigned to the many guardians, they were teachers and protecters but for a limited time. "I''ve asked father time and time again to rethink his stance, but he''s refused to say anything on the matter.I don''t want to lose you Maya." Frost gazed deep into Maya''s eyes with heartfelt affection, his hands curled up into tight fists as he felt powerless to stop what wasing, he was afraid and in pain. "I thought that by having a child Father would be unable to tear us apart." His actions though misguided were born out of love, the desire to not be separated from his woman. Frost''s words filled Maya''s heart with love, several tears slid down her cheeks as she hugged him, never wanting to let him go. She quietly sobbed against his shoulder; she was also rather stressed about their uing separation. But with Dark refusing to give out any information on the matter she could only hope for the best. After holding one another for a couple minutes Maya pulled herself away from Frost and dried her eyes before staring at him with a stern gaze. "Answer me this honestly, do you genuinely want to have kids with me or is this just a ploy to force your father''s hand?" She needed to know the truth. Whatever Frost said here could determine the future of their rtionship. Frost straightened his back under her gaze. "Honestly, yes I''d love to have kids with you Maya, you''re someone I want to by my side till the end of time but ideally I would prefer us to be a little further along in our rtionship." Maya''s heart lurched, and her gaze showed pain. In response Frost took her hands in his and peered into her eyes before continuing. "However that''s just the ideal situation, regardless of the time I''d be over the moon Maya. My heart would be filled with endless joy at the prospect of having a child with you." Maya''s eyes opened wide, and a torrent of hot tears flowed down her cheeks. She then sunk into Frost''s chest and cried her heart out for a good ten minutes before regaining herposure. "Thank you." She whispered with heartfelt gratitude. "Don''t thank me I failed remember, no matter how much effort I put in you never got pregnant.I think there might be something wrong with me." Frost felt a wave of guilt. He tried and failed to impregnate her after months of activity, and now it was clear to both of them that they desired children at some point. What if he couldn''t make good on that desire, would she no longer want to be with him. Seeing the depressed look on his face Maya blinked her eyes several times beforeughing. Herughter only seemed to aggravate Frost''s depression but thankfully she exined. "Rx handsome there''s nothing wrong with you hahahaha." She continued to giggle finding Frost adorable. "But you''re not pregnant and neither''s Daki!" He loudly protested, sure that there must be something wrong with him down there. It was all well and good for him to be able to satisfy them in the bedroom but if he couldn''t get them pregnant he was a failure of a man, at least that''s how he viewed it. Maya quickly held back herughter upon seeing how distressed he was and cupped his face with her hands. "Frost trust me there''s ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with you down there, I guarantee it." She spoke with clear confidence which calmed him down. Read more content on m-vl-em-pyr "But?" "No buts you''re perfectly healthy Frost, if anything you''re too healthy." Maya let loose a sigh and shook her head before exining. "Daki and I are on contraceptives, meaning that no matter how much effort you put into your work there''s zero chance of us getting pregnant." ".So it''s not a problem with me?" "Not in the slightestyou feel better?" "Un" Frost meekly nodded his head, a weight finally lifting from his chest. "Good." p! Suddenly without warning Maya pped him across the face. "Ow." "That''s for trying to impregnate me without asking." Maya angrily said before once again cupping his face with her hands. "And this is for wanting to." She leaned in and kissed him on the lips. Frost thus enjoyed both a tasty pleasure on his lips and a searing pain on his left cheek. "Sorry and thank you?" He was a bit confused by the whole mixed signals thing and spoke as though he was asking a question. "I forgive you and you''re wee." Maya replied with a toothy grin and a set of crossed arms which pushed up her breasts and drew Frost''s gaze. He momentarilypsed into a daze upon seeing her mountainousndscape, those things were dangerous. "You said you were on contrasomething?" "Contraceptives yes." "And that is?" The inherent knowledge granted by Dark didn''t trigger upon hearing the word nor had he found it in any of the books he''d read so it was aplete foreign concept to the young Dungeon core. "Contraceptives are preventive measures that stop a woman from getting pregnant thus allowing them to enjoy the wonders of a healthy sex life without having to worry about children." Maya started exining the term from the basics, not embarrassed in slightest that she had to exin something like contraceptives to her boyfriend. "Contraceptives cane in a few forms such as herb based pills that have to be taken every day, potions that can be taken every month or contraceptive runes which are ced on the body with magic and are semi-permanent. Just so you know both Daki and myself are currently using contraceptive runes since they''re the most effective and hassle free for women of our age." Contraceptive runes were incredibly useful, once it was ced a woman never had to worry about getting pregnant again. Out of all the preventative measures contraceptive runes were the most effective and easy to manage, the user''s internal mana would feed the rune allowing it to function indefinitely. The only downside was that it could only be applied to young women and only on women who had never been pregnant before. Therefore it was a rather big deal when removing them as after that they''d be forced to rely on either expensive potions or daily pills to prevent pregnancy. Of course there were also male contraceptives, but they weren''t nearly as effective nor as developed. "So as long as you and Dakihave this contraceptive rune I can''t get you pregnant." "Correct." "Not even if I put in a serious effort." An evil smile grew on Frost''s lips as he asked yfully. "No.but you''re free to try." Maya responded back with a flirtatious wink and coy smile. Frost''s evil smile stretched from ear to ear as he donned a wolflike expression, his hands silently wrapping around Maya''s soft, curvaceous body. The two of them quickly checked where Nanna and Loki were before dashing to the bedroom in attempt to put Maya''s contraceptive rune through the ringer. Chapter 612 The 2nd family gathering Another 3 days went by but despite Frost''s rigorous efforts neither Maya nor Daki got pregnant, their contraceptive runes were just too effective. The young orc subus practically blushed from head to toe the moment Maya informed her of Frost''s noble intentions. For years Daki had been searching for a partner that could withstand her appetite and instinctual nature, but the idea of children was such a distant and difficult prospect that she was truly caught by surprise. Her reaction was so adorable that Frost immediately disrobed her and attacked her contraceptive rune with great vigour. Sex was a great way to reduce stress, all that worry and anxiety that both he and Maya had built up was cleansed through their acts of intimacy at least until today. The family woke up early, practically at the crack of dawn in preparation for today''s events. The 2nd family gathering was happening today. At 9.am the many Dungeon cores across Nova would be summoned by their father to participate in a grand reunion. It also marked a year since Frost''s conception, his very first birthday. An event that should have been filled with celebration but instead it had the man in question on edge and tense. Today Maya''s duty as his guardian woulde to an end and he and his siblings would be granted their independence, forced to rely solely upon their own merit to survive within this grand world. Frost both looked forward to and dreaded this day. He couldn''t bear the thought of separating from Maya, to lose the woman he loved. But in the end he was truly powerless, even Maya an S-rank Fenrir who was hailed as a prodigy among her kin was nothing but a speck before his father. If he couldn''t convince him with words then there was no forceful alternative. "Is everyone ready?" Frost asked while pacing back and forth in the private space. He and Maya would be indisposed while the gathering was taking ce thus management of the Dungeon had to be handed over to Daki, Nanna, Loki, Khuno and Finy in the meantime. "Yep we''ve got this babe." "Easy peasy master." "No problem." "By your will milord." "Ready and willing master." The five of them responded with vigour hoping to ay Frost''s anxiety. It wasn''t a major task nor was it one that they hadn''t undergone before but still, this time was different. Despite their best efforts the five asionally nced over at Maya, their eyes revealing their feelings on the matter. They didn''t want her to go either. A few hourster and once everything had been ounted for, for the umpteenth time Dark''s summons arrived. Two magic crests appeared beneath both Frost and Maya''s feet before quickly encasing them both in a ck egg. The next moment space warped, swallowing both eggs and they were gone just like that. "Alright that''s our cue everyone, action stations we''ve got a Dungeon to run and a birthday party to n!" Daki bellowed with a booming voice the moment Frost and Maya vanished. "Hehehehe I can''t wait to see master''s face when he returns." Loki giggled cutely and started jumping up and down on the spot. "I''ve been studying how to bake cakes for the past week, all for this moment." Nanna balled up her hands into fists and looked over at the kitchen with determined eyes. The five left in charge thus split up to carry out their duties until Frost returned. Frost travelled through space with some speed but thanks to the protection of the ck egg he barely felt a thing. Ten minutes or soter his travelling came to an end. Therge ck egg stationed itself upon a marble floor before dissipating, revealing its handsome passenger. Dozens of matching arrivals happened metres away and soon Frost was face to face with his 99 siblings. "Frost, over here." A wild voice called from the distance; a voice Frost recognised. Turning around he saw Indra beckoning him over with a wide grin stered on his face. Seeing his sixth brother in the flesh brought a smile to his lips. Out of all his siblings Indra could be considered to be the one he got along with most. They frequently talked through the Dungeon''smunication system, keeping one another apprised of their adventures. Simr to his own Dungeon of Niflheim, Indra''s Lightning Grove (the name of his dungeon) was also developing external territory, drawing in lots of passive DP. In fact the number of his residents even surpassed his own thanks to Indra''s talent in business. So many jewellery merchants and artisans flocked to his camp desperate to get their hands on his special lightning gems. Don''t miss out on m-vl-em-pyr Frost was keen to copy him but was struggling to find something unique or rather the right product for his territory. As Frost started walking towards his sixth brother however Indra was suddenly ambushed. A fair hand that looked as soft as silk smacked into his left cheek with enough force to send him spiralling across the room. In his former ce with a genial smile on her lips and a radiant and weing expression on her face was Aqua, their eldest sister and somewhat of a mega fan of Frost. Frost didn''t know why their eldest sister was so obsessed with him, but he''d learned in fact they''d all learned to just keep their mouths shut and y along with her whims lest they wanted to leave with broken limbs. Only Aqua could be so violent and ruthless to her siblings while sporting an angelic expression on her face. Frost felt a shiver run down his spine as he locked eyes with his big sister. He momentarily nced at the prone Indra in the distance and after noting that he was still alive he warmly greeted his sister. "Aqua-nee you''re looking as beautiful as ever." "Oh such a charmer. Come,e join your big sister." Aqua practically teleported to his side and wrapped her arm around his before starting her usual inspection. She''d nailed the doting big sister personality to a tee when it came to him. A minuteter while she was busy examining Frost for injuries and seeing whether or nor he''d gained any weight since theyst saw one another Indra dragged himself over with a reddened cheek and boldly interrupted her. "Always nice to see you big sis." Indra tried to act as friendly and humble as possible, but it was clear from his clenched fists and twitching lips that he was struggling to hold back. Aqua turned around and red at Indra annoyed by his presence, an invisible storm rising between them leading to Frost sighing at the side. "Alright I think that''s enough you two, how about we just wait together." Eventually Frost stepped into the middle of their standoff, offering his right hand side to Aqua and his left to Indra which was apromise the two were willing to agree to. Slowly the groups that formed during thest gathering as well as over the course of the past 11 months drifted towards one another. Frost''s group of three soon expanded to include, Terra, Yami, Sylph, Damascus, Void, Chronos and finally Gaia, making this by all ounts the most powerful group around. The ten siblings exchanged pleasantries and talked for a couple minutes before their attention was finally drawn to the top of a set of nearby stairs. Dark had summoned them to the exact same ball room that they were summoned to for thest family gathering. Though the colours, ce settings and even the food avable was slightly different, enough to offer a different ambience theyout was the same, separating the massive room into a lower and upper section. Don! With a loud shifting of metal Dark arrived through a set ofrge, golden doors and following behind him were the 101 guardians that were assigned to protect and educate his children during their first year. Seeing this many felt pain in their hearts, Frost included. His eyes searched through the vast group before finallynding on Maya''s exquisite form. She did the same and the two lovers as well as many of the Dungeon cores and their guardians exchanged meaningful looks. "Wee, wee my children!" Dark announced with a voice that reverberated throughout the entire room. He spread out his arms and smiled at the 100 individuals standing beneath him. A look of nostalgia growing in his eyes "Has it really been a year already? Time really does fly when you''re having fun.man a whole year look how each of you have grown." He slowly panned over each and every one of his darling children, his heart growing ever warmer with each pass. "Though some of you have certainly aged better than others." His gaze then stopped at Void, a smirk quickly growing on his lips. "For someone whose only a year old why do you look even older than I do Void?" Void the Dungeon core in question stared up at his father in silence, his upper lip twitching. Chronos who was beside him and had an almost identical appearance though with a very special difference C Chronos being an avatar of time could shift between appearing old and young depending on the angle one viewed him- desperately stifled hisughter as did many of their siblings. "I was born looking like this father! You made me look like this!" Eventually the normally calm and easy-going Void roared at the top of his lungs, feeling embarrassed by the giggles and mocking looks from his siblings. Dark blinked his eyes several times before frowning. He then looked side to side and made it look like his was whispering something to Void discretely despite being tens of metres away. "That''s the joke Void." He nodded his head with confidence before smiling at some of the guardians behind him as though looking for reassurance. His words earned a wave of utter silence from both the Dungeon cores and guardians. This was Dark''s attempt at humour it seems. "Oww" Void groaned as he felt an invisible knife stab him in the heart. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 613 The 2nd family gathering (2) "Hmmm tough crowd." Dark muttered as silence pervaded the entire room, not a singleughter from his punchline. But despite the poor response he didn''t take it to heart, it just meant hisedy had room to improve. "Ok we''ll put a pin in that for now and move on." Dark quickly brought back his grandiose demeanour. "Today marks your first birthday and the day that your training wheels will be removed. As you see standing behind me are your guardians the ones who have taught you and protected you from harm during this past year. Though some of you have never had to rely on the lifeline that they provided each and every one of you have benefited from their teachings thus all of you owe them a debt of gratitude." "They offered themselves, their time and their hard earned knowledge to you without restriction for an entire year. A year they could have spent improving themselves or spending with their families, they chose to answer my call to help prepare you for the world of Nova." Dark spoke with great charisma, his words glorifying the work of the men and women standing behind him. "I want all of you to deeply thank your guardians for the time they invested in teaching you." The Dungeon cores standing on the lower floor all looked up at their guardians. They remembered their teachings, the time they spent alongside one another, the feelings that developed between them be they friendship or perhaps something more. Eventually one Dungeon core started the chain reaction, the young woman bowed her head low and deeply bellowed her thanks. All the 100 Dungeon cores then followed her lead and gave their heartfelt gratitude. Even the most reticent of guardians struggled to not be moved by their bows. This was it, the end of their rtionships. Their charges no longer needed their services, it was time for them to stand on their own two feet. More than a few broke down in tears, Maya was one of these individuals. She gazed down at Frost, her heart feeling as though it was being shredded to a million pieces. This ceremony felt too much like a farewell, a result she dreaded with every fibre of her being. Dark seemed to willingly ignore the emotions on disy in front of and behind him, bringing this separation to its conclusion. "Thanks have been given and the deadline has passed. My children you were given one year to improve and develop yourselves under their tutge. Now however it is time for you to leave the nest and survive on your own merit. Along with the withdrawal of your guardians, the training space will no longer be a free service, several DP price changes wille into effect and development of the Dungeon shop will be far harsher. You''ll have to do more than simply grow a little stronger." Dark was removing multiple aids he put in ce, making it that much harder for his children to develop in theter stages. "I will allow you the opportunity to say a final farewell to your guardians, after that we''ll carry on with the true purpose of this gathering." Dark then allowed the many guardians to descend the stairs to speak with their charges onest time. After which they would be forbidden from interacting with any of the Dungeons as per the contract they agreed to. Some guardians quickly said their farewells, wished their charges luck in their future endeavours before returning up the stairs. These were the ones who took a more distant approach to teaching, treating this task as a simple job and nothing more. A small group didn''t even bother to say goodbye, their rtionship with their charges being the opposite of amicable. Next were the close friends who hated the idea of leaving their charges, hoping they could stay by their side and watch as their newborn wings unfurled. Last but certainly not least were the guardians who were romantically involved with their charges, there weren''t many but their distraught was clear for everyone to see. Indra held Izuna tight against his chest,forting her with a warped expression as her cries rang loud in his ears. He couldn''t stand to hear her cry. Frost however didn''t hold onto Maya, she never made it down the stairs, copsing to her knees in grief she couldn''t handle a farewell. Despite this possibly being thest time they''d ever see one another she couldn''t bring herself to move. Dark stood at the side like an emotionless robot, indifferent to the pain of his children and the ones who treated him with reverence. Seeing Maya paralysed on the floor with redden eyes an intense anger filled Frost. He stared at her, memorising her pain as his hands curled up into tightened fists. ".No" after what seemed like eons Frost spoke a single word in a tone so chilling that the surrounding air seemed to freeze. Only a few of his siblings heard his voice but each of them felt a jolt running through their bodies and Dark who was standing at the top of the stairs, indifferent to what was happening nced in his direction. "No!....No father I will not be saying goodbye to her!" Suddenly Frost in his anger roared at the top of his lungs, imbuing his words with the greatest amount of aura he could muster. Dark was thus attacked by a presence that could crush boulders but to him it was non-existent. Frost''s aura evaporated the moment it touched Dark''s surroundings and in response a heavy pall fell over the entire ball room. Even the guardians who were at the peak of S-rank felt their bodies shudder, all were forced to bow to this presence. Frost''s bluster was vanquished in an instant and an invisible hand pushed his head down until he was kneeling on the floor. However despite this overwhelming force acting on his body his facial expression showed no sign of surrender. He red at his father, refusing to give way. Ton Ton Ton Following the forced silence brought on by Dark''s reprisal, footsteps echoed throughout the room as Dark slowly descended the staircase and made his way towards his kneeling son. "What did you say to me, Frost?" Dark asked, his voice filled with the majesty of a superior God. At this moment he was not Frost''s father, the amicable Dark but one of the mighty Gods of creation, a being without parallel who created Nova and all that dwelled within. Frost felt as though every cell in his body was being crushed but still he forced himself to look up at his father''s face and speak out. "I refuse father, I won''t be separated from Maya." His eyes screamed of his conviction, regardless of the warning signals his body was firing he refused to capitte. The price did not matter, Maya would stay by his side. Dark briefly nced up at the form of Maya stered on the floor before looking back down at Frost, his feelings on the matterpletely hidden by his neutral expression. "She is your guardian, the protecter I assigned to you for a period of one year and not a second more. Have you squandered the gift I granted? Are so incapable of handling your own affairs that you need to be permanently supervised?" His voice grew louder and louder as he continued, so powerful was his voice that blood even started dripping down Frost''s ears. "No father I''m not incapable and I did not squander your gift. My reasons are not born out of fear or ineptitude but of desire. I don''t want my guardian, the mighty S-rank fenrir, I want Maya the person, the woman!" Through clenched teeth and obvious pain Frost roared out, his words causing those in simr situations to tremble and Maya who was stuck to the floor to convalesce, her heart filling with warmth. "Frost." She whispered as hot tears flowed down her cheeks. Father and Son intensely stared at one another in silence,iehr willing to back down from their stance. Frost was asking too much, despite his desires for Maya she was still a being that stood at the very peak of the food chain, only the Gods reigned above her and her guardian colleagues. If any one of them remained by his children''s sides they''d never reach the limit of the own potential, always subconsciously or consciously banking on their protection when they chose to risk life and limb. A short period was fine but any longer would be detrimental to their growth. Even if separation caused emotional pain to his children it was something that was beneficial in the long run. As Dark prepared himself to bepletely callous a voice interrupted him from the side. "I also refuse to separate from my guardian father, for the same reasons as Frost!" Indra fought against the pressure released by his father, he raised his head and supported his younger brother, willing to be punished along side him if that meant he could stay with Izuna. "Indra." With Indra speaking up the same level of weight that was assaulting Frost attacked him forcing his expression to warp in pain and his muscles to brutally tense up. One son was bad enough now two of them were arguing with his decisions. "I too don''t wish to separate!" "As do I" "Same here." Terra, Gobuske and dungeon core called Liana all raised their heads in defiance. "You!" "Father!" Frost as the first one to argue bowed his head willingly to their father not out of surrender but as an act of begging, hoping that he''d take pity on his children and allow them to stay with their guardians. Chapter 614 The 2nd family gathering (3) "...." The great God of creation appeared seething with rage, the pressure mounting upon not just the children that rose to defy him but all those present in the room. Some Dungeon cores and even guardians red at the defying cores and their guardians with hatred, me and anger. Just because of their foolish attachments they all had to suffer Dark''s wrath. Just when the pressure started to reach obscene levels causing the very space around them to twist and turn, heralding a grievous cmity and just when Aqua and Yami were about to take a standdue to being the eldest siblings that very pressure vanished like a puff of smoke. The invisible hands that were pressing down upon Frost, Indra, Gobuske, Liana and Terra''s heads disappeared as did the crushing force mping down on their limbs in a mere instant. Frost looked up to see his father''s face, confusion as well as a hint of hope lingering in his gaze. The indifferent and somewhat cold expression was still there on his father''s face for a brief moment before. "Ok, you can stay together." Dark''s voice was once again amicable, warm and kind. His lips were even upturned into a gentle smile as though his earlier anger was non-existent. Frost''s face rapidly alternated between being happy to utter confusion. How could his father change moods so easily, he almost looked proud. The siblings that defied alongside him also bore confused expressions as did everyone else, it was just too surreal. "Haaaaaaaa" Eventually Dark released a deep sigh before talking in a voice that reached every boundary of the room. "Sometimes Frost you need to bring the thunder if you want to see the true extent of someone''s resolve." He then smiled knowingly from ear to ear before chuckling. "..You were never angry were you?" Frost asked after reigning in his tempest of emotions. "Nope, all pretend hehehehe." Dark arched his chest out, proud of his acting skills. "Were you actually going to separate us?" "If no one questioned my decision then yes because there wouldn''t be a good reason not to." Dark answered honestly. Ideally his children would be separated from their mighty protectors and thus be independent, able to spread their own wings and reach the limit of their potential, but he wasn''t a fool. Living breathing people had emotions and their own sense of will so after being partnered up with one another for an entire year it was normal for some level of rtionship to be born. In fact the amount of guardians that would actually chose to abandon their charges when they had the option to stay were few and far between. Even if there wasn''t a romantic rtionship there were bonds of close friendship. Gobuske for example a Dungeon core who initially received an abusive and hate filled guardian now had two bright and bubbly girls by his side who cared for him and eased his trauma. He''d do anything to keep these people by his side, they were his light in a long tunnel of darkness. Dark knew all this and did nothing to stop it in fact he encouraged developments between his children and their guardians viewing it as something healthy and natural. He wanted them to fight for what they desired even if it meant standing up to him. Very few beings in the universe ever argued let alone defied his will, he didn''t want his children to fall alongside the masses. He may be a near omnipotent God, but he was nowhere near perfect, like everyone else he needed people to reign him in every now and then. Hearing his father''s honest answer Frost looked at him silently, a sudden wave of understanding of his father''s true personality washing over him. It was lonely at the top. "Father?" "Yes Frost." ".You''re kind of a jerk." Frost straight up insulted his father and felt much better afterwards. "Seconded!" "Totally agree." Indra and Terra quickly gave their support, nodding their heads in agreement. Liana and Gobuske kept silent but the look in their eyes gave away their agreement. "Ah no you see it was a lesson, a teachable moment, a dose of much needed tough love." Dark scrambled to exin himself but received nothing but dirty looks in return. Desperate for even the slightest bit of support he turned to the ones he felt he could most rely on, his eldest children. Unfortunately Aqua liked Frost far more than her father so without even the slightest doubt she sided with him and gave Dark one of the most heart wrenching looks of derision a daughter could give a father. "Ugh!" The old man literally felt a knife stab through his heart, his entire body quickly bing encased in frigid ice as his blood ran cold. The look his daughter just gave him would send most fathers to the gallows or at the very least into an eternal depression. It was a though with a single look she didn''t just sever their bond but tore it apart, set it on fire and then crushed it under her heel. With his heart under fire he turned to hisst hope, his eldest and most reliable son, Yami. He would understand the need for tough love, the benefit of his actions right? Yami looked at his father''s face and understood the extent of his emotional damage but.Yami didn''t say anything, nor did he give his father a specific look instead he simply turned away as if ignoring his entire existence. Perhaps he thought this was a kindness, a silent show of support for his younger brother without the need to inflict further injury on their father but instead it was like the final nail in the coffin. All vitality seemed to disappear from Dark''s body in that moment, his shoulders slumped, and he suddenly looked 10 years older. Hundreds of eyes locked onto him, piercing through his flesh as if to mock him, to iste him like a solitary ind in the vicious ocean. The former grandiose and charismatic looking Dark God turned into an impoverished old man without any signs of light in his frail eyes. Under the gazes of his children and the many people who revered him he slumped over to a corner in the room and faced the wall muttering the word jerk over and over again. "He''s probably going to be doing that for while right?" Frost asked feeling the slightest bit guilty about what he did. "Probably, he''s not exactly the most stable person." "I remember when Sylph called him stupid one time, he refused to talk to anyone for 3 days." "Ah stupid Terra that was supposed to be a secret!" "Oww" Sylph knocked her muchrger younger brother on the back of the head while blushing. That was something she told him in confidence. "He does seem to have a habit of breaking down whenever it involves one of his daughters." Indra surmised while stroking his chin in thought. Dark was a bit shocked by Frost''s words, but it wasn''t until Aqua gave him that frightening look that he really broke down. The older Dungeon cores and the ones that seemed to be more sure of themselves collectively chatted away, agreeing topletely ignore their father mumbling away in the corner. Eventually Frost remembered the whole reason he was defying his father in the first ce. His eyes quickly scanned the upper level in search of Maya, but she wasn''t there. Panicked he looked from side to side chasing after her figure but still nothing. A momentter however a pair of slender arms reached out from behind his back and hugged him. The warmth of her hands and softness of her chest against his back brought an unrestrained smile to his lips along with a few tears. The two lovers remained in that position for a while, enjoying theck of distance and thefort of one another''s touch. Maya cried softly against his shoulder, her heart bursting with joy as she had been granted permission, permission to be with him. Though Dark hadn''t brought up the price for his agreement she didn''t care as long as she could stay beside him nothing else mattered. Indra, Terra and Liana all used this moment to hold their significant others, to relish in their momentous victory. Most were overjoyed with this scenario, lovers would be allowed to stay with one another, friends wouldn''t have to be separated and those who put their all into teaching could remain with their charges if they so wished. Yes it was all good news.for the majority. However what of the groups who had no desire to keep their guardians or what if the guardians had no desire to stay with them would they not be penalised in that case. To be bereft of such an incredible teacher and protector while others could enjoy them, hardly seemed fair. Thus a small group started to look at Frost, Terra, Indra, Liana and Gobuske with unkind eyes, viewing them as annoyances. There was even one or two Dungeon cores and guardians whose fanaticism towards Dark was so strong that they abhorred even the slightest transgression, his words werew, divine instructions to be followed to the letter. Miraculously the family gathering that Dark summoned them all for continued without him. The Dungeon cores simply left him to sulk while they caught up with another and discussed certain development options as well as possible exchanges. The more the siblings interacted with one another the more interested they became. Dungeon cores with different core types could develop inpletely different ways and summon items that soundedpletely foreign to another sibling. Exchanging of dialogue expanded their minds, granting them new ways of thinking. Working together was far more effective than working alone. This was the true reason and heart of the family gatherings, to openly exchange views and test their abilities against one another. It was just a shame that Dark was too bummed out to participate at least for the first few hours. Eventually though he pulled himself together (though keeping his distance and gaze away from Aqua) and inserted himself into the conversation. Chapter 615 The 2nd family gathering (4) Several hours after everyone arrived and after Dark stopped moping in the corner, the grand gathering carried on. Dark returned to the upper level to address his many children as well as their guardians. "Alright, alright settle down we''ve still got a little more business to take care of before we move on to the next phase." His loud voice reverberated throughout the room drawing everyone''s eyes. More than a few still had looks of derision, mocking, pity etc but Dark ignored them as he carried on. "Though I have agreed to letting your guardians stay by your side if that is their and your wish there will be severe restrictions put in ce if you choose to do so." He paused for a moment to highlight the gravity of what he was about to say. "Before Frost, Indra, Terra, Gobuske and Liana objected to the separation you would have parted ways, simple as that thus allowing you to break free from your containment, spread your wings and be truly independent. Now however you have a choice, option A you will immediately part from your guardian going down the route I initially nned or option B your guardian will remain by your side but under very different circumstances." "Now I am aware that this will create an unfair imbnce between the cores who choose to have their guardians remain and those who choose to separate from them thus for those that choose option A I will grant you a one time injection of 100,000DP as well as a B-rank monster that will be fully under your control regardless of your Dungeon''s or your personal development." The Dungeon cores who had no desire to keep their guardians by their sides and who had started to develop ill feelings towards the uing situation immediately felt relieved. With an injection of DP and a free high ranking monster the scales evened out somewhat. "For those who choose option B your guardians will be allowed to remain by your side, but their strength and capabilities will be strictly capped. The restriction that prevented them from interfering in the Dungeon''s defence will be rescinded but their strength will be restricted to a sub level below your own i.e. if you''re at the mid stages of B-rank your guardian will only be able to use strength equivalent to entry stage B-rank. This goes for their weapon mastery, chakra quality and their magic, all forms of power will ultimately be restricted. The only way they''ll be able to return to their former power is if you are able to reach their former heights. This effect will continue indefinitely as long as they remain by your side, even when their lives are in jeopardy it will not be lifted." "In the case that you the Dungeon core perish for whatever reason their lives just like the lives of the monsters you summon with DP will end in that moment. The lives of your guardians will be bound to your own.This is a big decision and against my initial ns but if you and your guardians truly wish to be with one another you must agree to these terms otherwise I will not sanction it, you will be forced to separate here and now." Dark coldly looked down at his children before addressing the guardians in particr. "Those who agree to stay with their charges will be putting their lives in their hands, a heavy request but one I must enforce. If for whatever reason you decide to change your minds you will be granted a single opportunity to opt out at the next family gathering in a year''s time. After that you will be forever bound to your decision.Take your time and think about your futures, option B can only be carried out if both parties are willing." With his final piece said Dark took a step back and waved his hand. The moment he did guardian and Dungeon core were isted together so they could discuss their options. Dark decided to allot them a maximum of 30 minutes, a generous amount of time given that it was never nned for in the first ce. There was so much to get done and so little time to do it in. Keeping his children away from their Dungeons longer than he had to was counterintuitive. Within the first ten minutes over half the Dungeon cores and their guardians left their temporary istion. Most opted to split up after hearing how restrictive the new contract would be. Thankfully the Dungeon cores that were rejected by their guardians could spend away their sorrows with the free 100,000DP. After 20 minutes less than a dozen were still mulling over their options but those leaving at this point usually chose option B. At the 30 minute mark the remaining few were forcibly ejected from their temporary space and forced to give their answers. Surprisingly Frost and Maya were actually one of thest couples to exit. Now this wasn''t because they were getting cold feet after hearing Dark''s new restrictions, no they had already made up their minds to stay together no matter what price Dark asked of them. Staying within the istion space for the full 30 minutes was just so they could get some alone time to celebrate their victory as well as ease the tension brought on by Dark bringing the thunder. As they left Frost had some evident kiss marks on his cor and nape while both their clothes were slightly dishevelled. Dark''s upper lip couldn''t help but twitch up seeing this. He let out a long sigh and shook his head before addressing them all again. "67 Dungeon cores have chosen option A thus choosing to separate from their guardians and receive an injection of 100,000DP as well as a 100% loyal B-rank monster in leu of that sacrifice." Dark nodded his head in approval, encouraging the choice his children made or were forced to make. "33 of you have chosen option B, both you and your guardians have agreed to be bound by the new restrictions and forgo the possibility of the DP injection and free B-rank monster." He eyed the remaining third of his children with some mixed feelings. He appreciated the emotional bond between his children and their guardians but deep down he was still of the opinion that option A would be better for their long term development. What made this more annoying was that the majority of those who chose to stay with their guardians were the upper ranked cores, the ones doing fairly well on the umtive DP rankings. He wondered if the allure of 100,000DP and a B-rank monster wasn''t attractive enough to them given their sess but that was the offer he made, it was toote to take it back. He lightly sighed before waving his hand. "The 67 guardians who have chosen to leave please exit through the portal on my right. I wille and see each of youter to hand over your rewards and alter the magic contract I ced on you." "Yes your eminence." "By your will great God of creation." "If the Dark God wills." "Understood Dark God-sama," Multiple forms of respectful replies and bowing erupted from the 67 guardians before they made their way through therge portal. Each of them sported wide smiles as they thought about thevish rewards Dark promised them over a year ago. Even for beings like them who were pretty much above all, but the Gods showed greed in their expressions. The grand ball room was a little less crowded with the 67 departures, but it only amplified the festivities as those remaining truly wished to be here. Readtest chapters at m_v-l''e-NovelFire "For the guardians who have chosen to remain I''ll rewrite your soul contracts as the gathering transpires." For someone as powerful and skilled as himself rewriting a few soul contracts was easy as 1 2 3. He could even do it while talking with his children. The remaining guardians all bowed their heads to Dark before facing their charges now partners with satisfied smiles. Their bonds were sure to be even closer over the next year. "Alright let''s get back to the actual schedule then shall we." Dark loudly announced with a spring in his step. " First off I''d like all of us to have a meal together and exchange life stories, I want to hear all about how you''ve been living, what you''ve done, where you''ve gone, who you''ve met and what you enjoy doing beside developing your Dungeon." Dark craved these details, it was what gave his life meaning now, to hear about the lives of his children. "After that I want have a short Dungeon war exhibition as well as a few duels, with prizes for the participants and gambling for the observers. Then we''ll get into what you''ve all likely been either looking forward to or dreading, the DP rankings. Depending on how well you performed and how much better you didpared to eleven months ago a varied list of rewards will be made avable to you. For those who didn''t do so well and or greatly declined in their rankings they will be given a forfeit challenge. Completing one will allow to you avoid penalties and possibly even unique rewards so don''t worry too much about ranking lower on the board." "And to finish we''ll have arge group discussion about Dungeon development. We''ll share ideas, bring up the pros and cons of the current system ande up with inventive solutions to make your Dungeons that much more interesting..by the way I''m really looking forward to the group discussion after overhearing some of your earlier conversations hehehehe." The Dungeon cores provided excellent feedback during thest family gathering so he expected them to do the same this time possibly even better. Chapter 616 The 2nd family gathering (5) The moment Dark finished speaking the golden doors behind him opened up, allowing a sulent scent to drift into the ball room. All the Dungeon cores and remaining guardians felt their mouths start to salivate and their stomachs rumble with greed, the smell alone was irresistible. "Come, everyone join me in the dining room, the food is already prepared and waiting to be devoured." Dark smiled as he saw the looks on his children''s faces, he put a lot of work into preparing the family meal. He summoned some of the best chefs and utilised some of the greatest ingredients all for this one meal. Your next chapter is on m v|l-e-NovelFire His children would get to experience the very height of Nova''s food and understand the benefits of being at the very peak of the world. Dark hoped that experiencing such luxury would inspire his children, so that one day they could enjoy such benefits through their own capabilities. Dark turned around and walked through the golden doors. Frost and his many siblings and their guardians quickly followed after him, keen to see what was giving off such a delectable scent. The dining room Dark had prepared wasvish in style, silver walls, grand chandeliers and a massive round table in the centre. All seats were customised for each Dungeon core, allowing everyone no matter their form to sit and eat in peace. Rumble Countless stomachs loudly rumbled as their eyestched onto the many, many dishesid out across the table. Stews, roasted meat, soups, vegetable dishes and more filled Frost''s eyes, all more appetising than thest. "Well, what are you waiting for, take your seats and dig in before it gets cold." Dark said with a bright smile as he took his own ce at the table and began filling his te with bits and pieces of his favourite dishes. With Dark giving the ok his children quickly found their seats and started digging in, well most of them. Frost looked to his side where Maya was standing with saliva dripping from her pretty lips, there wasn''t a ce for her and the other guardians. Were they supposed to remainposed, standing against the walls as he and his siblings enjoyed quite likely the greatest meal of their lives. Frost was no longer ignorant, if he didn''t speak up here on her behalf he''d definitely pay for itter. He nced over at his father with a pleading look in his eyes, doing his best to ignore the growing vice grip wrapped around his arm. "Haaaaaaa no need to look at me like that Frost." Dark reluctantly stopped eating and waved his hand causing the round table to expand and 38 new chairs to suddenly appear. "Thank you Dark God-sama!" Maya squealed with glee before dragging her significant other to the table. The other guardians gave their own thanks before joining their charges. "Ow!" "Ow!" Two stifled screams arose from Indra and Terra the moment their guardians sat beside them. Frost was considerate enough to think of Maya how could their partners be so insensitive. Their pain earned a few rounds of chuckles before the feast truly got underway. Dark allowed his children to fill their bellies a little before starting his round of questions. At random Dark picked out a young Dungeon core called Wukong, who had the form of arge monkey to start. "Wukong how about you start us off, your Dungeon''s based on the Eastern continent right, near the Wuji mountains?" "Ah yes father my Dungeon''s in the outer peripheries of the Wuji mountains." Wukong who had a mouth filled with spaghetti was startled by Dark''s sudden question, but he quickly downed the contents of food and replied honestly. "Hmm the Eastern continent is known well for its varied climate and is home to some of the most diverse species of monsters and sapients. How have you been finding it? do you like the area?" "Umm yes I like it very much, the food''s good and the nearby towns are very weing, I''ve even managed to make a few friends." Wukong spoke with excitement eager to tell his father and his siblings about his life. "That''s good to hear son, what are their names, and have you developed any hobbies out with the dungeon?" "There''s Kazuma, who''s a beastkin of the great ape tribe and a fellow practitioner of my Jihan mountain staff style. Sana who I''ve been friends with since I joined the local adventurers guild, we entered at the same time and are currently racing to see who reaches B-rank first. Then there''s Mino who trades in gemstones, she helps me handle the gems produced in my Dungeon. And as far as hobbies go I quite enjoy making jewellery out of gemstones, Mino says I have quite a knack for it." "More than a knack, your talent made hertch on to you like you were a piece of royal quartz." Wukong''s guardian, Botta chimed in making Wukong blush and Darkugh. "Agar what about you?" Dark moved onto another one of his children, Agar who had the form of a regal skeleton. "Me, well given my appearance it''s rather difficult to meet with sapients but the local monsters around my Dungeon are more than weing. I have a few wraith friends who I asionally explore with as well as a local lich who has taken it upon himself to act as my elder and teacher in the way of necromancy." "Hobbies, romantic interests?" Dark pried for more details. "I haven''t taken up a trade if that''s what you''re asking but I have grown fond of baths if that can be called a hobby. Romance though, sorry nothing on that end father." Agar held very little interest in romance right now. "No rush, no rush you can take your time Agar." "Tori would you like to go next?" "I''d rather not father." Tori a woman that was half spider and half human in appearance coldly replied. "Ugh Tori?" Dark frowned and pleaded slightly but was rebuffed with the silent treatment. Tori had no intention of bing friendly with her siblings, letting them know all her secrets. She viewed Frost and the rest aspetition, possible enemies not siblings who she could rely on. Though Dark wished to hear about her life he decided not to force it, each of his children had their own wills and personalities. If she didn''t feelfortable giving away her secrets that was fine by him, he thus moved onto another child. For several hours Dark and his children relished in stories and enjoyed a sumptuous meal, their bonds as family growing. With that the first phase was over and the next stage could begin. Therge group made their way back to therge ballroom that had been retrofitted as they ate. Now it was arranged so everyone could view a giant screen that stretched from one side of the room to the other. "Time to start a Dungeon war, Void, Queek are you ready?" "Do I have to?" Void grumpilyined while Queek nervously nodded his little head. "Yes you do Void! You''ve yet to take part in any Dungeon war and given your personality it''s likely you''ll avoid it forever if I don''t force you." Dark quickly quashed Void''sints. His son who was the avatar for the space element detested having to take part in a Dungeon war. Not because he was some kind of pacifist but because he felt it was aplete waste of his time. All he cared about was studying magic, even his Dungeon suffered from hisck of interest, sporting a paltry four floors. His opponent Queek had the form a rat beastman and stood at barely 4 feet tall. He was one of the lowest ranked Dungeon cores both in the sibling hierarchy and the DP rankings. In his early days Queek tried to be a little too proactive and suffered greatly for it. He lost the majority of his Dungeon''s forces as well as the one time save of his guardian. From that moment on he yed it very, very safe, afraid to take any risk. His Dungeon had even less floors than Void, just three though they were expanded a few times over. Void reluctantly prepared himself for the inevitable war, hoping that his father would at least reward him with something rted to magic for his time. "Void and Queek willpete in a restricted Dungeon war, they will be limited to using only the upper three floors of their respective Dungeons, forbidden from taking to the field personally, using DP to summon more monsters mid battle and the war itself will have a time limit of 4 hours. If none of them have defeated the other''s invading team or they fail to reach their opponents core the victor will be determined by abination of damage and delve progress. The winner will be granted a personalised reward with an upper limit value of 20,000DP while the loser will earn a 5,000DP gacha pull. Do the two of you understand the rules that I have set?" "Yes father." "Yes Lord creator." Void and Queek replied respectively. "Good, I''ll give you each 1 hour to ready your Dungeons for war, good luck." With a wave of his hand two magic crests appeared under Void and Queek spiriting them away. Dark then turned to face the rest of his children with an evil smirk. "Time to ce your bets kids." Chapter 617 Void vs Queek While Void and Queek left to arrange their Dungeons for their war the rest of the Dungeon cores, heralded by Dark started making bets. "10,000DP on Void." Without even the slightest hint of hesitation Chronos, Void''s closest sibling and Dungeon neighbour ced arge bet in support, drawing the eyes of those around him as well as his father. "Bold bet Chronos, seems you have a lot of faith in your brother." Dark said with a smile. "I know him and his Dungeon better than anyone else, he''s got this in bag." Chronos replied with even greater confidence. Though he and Void avoided developing their Dungeons to the same degree as Frost, Indra and the other upper ranked cores the development they didplete was quite thorough. The twin Dungeon cores had an almost unbridled fascination with magic, spending the vast majority of their time invested in studying the boundless possibilities of mana. Thanks to this both Void and Chronos were already at the B-rank, prominent mages that could hold their own in duels. s even with Void being forbidden to take to the field personally Chronos knew from experience that Queek would struggle against him, especially given the short 4 hour time frame. Chronos'' bold bet spurred the others on. "3000 on Void!" "2000 on Queek!" "3500 on Void!" With his children calling out their bets one after another Dark quickly summoned arge board to write them all down. Soon it was clear that Void was favoured as the victor over Queek with a ratio of roughly 7 to 3. "Anyone else?" Dark asked with a wide grin, his excitement spurred on by everyone''s enthusiasm. "15,000 on Queek." Suddenly a gruff voice threw out thergest bet yet. Pyro who''d been silently stewing red at Frost with provocation. ''Pyro.'' Frost grimaced as his brother''s voice battered his eardrums. He just finished cing a bet of 8000DP on Void, this was a clear challenge, Pyro likely didn''t even care about the oue as long as he was opposed to his younger brother. The Dungeon core of ice and the Dungeon core of fire stared at one another, their hatred for one another''s guts palpable. Pyro didn''t forget about Karrick''s failure not for a single second but what really pissed him off was the change in Karrick''s attitude. Before his war with Frost his younger brother was a dutiful subordinate, listening to his orders with rapt attention and gave his all toplete them. Now though Karrick barely interacted with him and whenever he did he''d look him in the eye with a raised head full of confidence and strength. He still epted Pyro as stronger, but he was no longer superior, a clear difference and one that Pyro struggled to ept. All this happened because of Frost, of this he was sure thus he redirected all his anger toward his most hated sibling. Dark kept silent, enjoying the discord between his children, a thrivingpetition led to innovation and excellence plus it was quite enjoyable to watch. "Haaaaaaa I''ll put 18,000 on Void then, what about you Yami?" Eventually unable to stand Pyro''s smug arrogance Aqua ced a bet that surpassed his own, swiftly cutting down his pride. Pyro was the 3rd sibling and ranked 3rd on the DP rankings (at least during thest gathering), he was strong, more powerful than most, but he was still a far cry from Aqua and Yami, they were the true king and queen of the Dungoen cores. "I''m good, I''ll save my money for the duels." Yami held very little interest in this betting event, if Aqua didn''t call on him he would have kept silent throughout it. He briefly nced at Pyro, ming the whole situation on him. Yami was not fond of talking, rarely did words escape his lips thus he found Pyro''s actions irritating. The looks from both Yami and Aqua sent cold shivers down Pyro''s back forcing him to look away, his wrath hidden within behind his gaze. Dark added Aqua''s and Pyro''s generous bets to the board before bringing an end to polls. Now they just had to wait until Void and Queek were finished with their preparations. Dark made a few quick rounds during that time, interacting with his children on an individual level. Once the hour time frame had passed therge screen turned on revealing the forms of both Void and Queek in their private spaces, ready and waiting for Dark''s signal. "Are the two of you ready?" "Yes." "Un." "Very well, the Dungeon war between Dungeon core Void and Dungeon core Queek will now begin, good luck to both of you." Dark waved his hand causing a spatial corridor to appear between Void and Queek''s Dungeons, thus starting the battle. Therge screen in the ball room then spilt into two, the left side for Void and the right side for Queek. It then further split into smaller screens showing different areas of their Dungeons, granting the observers panoramic views so nothing would be missed. A simr set up appeared during thest gathering when Frost fought against Gobuske. Now though Frost could experience it for himself. "How interesting, we can see the major areas of their Dungeon in real time, there''s even a highlight screen for the most active areas." Frost found the disy to be most satisfying. "It''s better this time take a look." Indra who watched as an observer during the Frost and Gobuske war drew his attention to his forearm. There disyed in a miniature form was one of the many split screens. "Last time we couldn''t shift between the different screens, father clearly improved the system." The actual battle teams would take at least a few minutes to meet one another so Frost used the time to inspect Void''s Dungeon along with Maya who sat by his side. "It''spletely different from ours." Mayamented almost instantly. Void''s Dungeoncked the open and varied feel that the Dungeon of Niflheim had. Where Frost''s Dungeon mimicked the outside Void''s seemed to be a set of varied mazes, multiple dead ends as well as locked routes which made passing through difficult even without the presence of monsters. It was clear that Void had gone apletely different route. He relied onplicated and changing paths, riddle barred gates and doorways as well as sophisticated traps to dy and kill intruders rather than themon monster blockade. Frost had to admit he was quite curious as to how such a design would yout. "This style suits Void to a tee." He muttered with a smile, his gaze ncing over at Chronos. The two of them were quite simr, he guessed that their Dungeons would be as well. After getting a rough feel for Void''s Dungeon he brought up the images of Queek''s. ".Queek''s is rather standard, nothing really stands out." "It''s like a subpar version of ours, simr to what Gobuske had." "Agreed." Queek''s Dungeoncked an impressive environment,plicatedyout or highly defensible bulwarks. It was akin to a monsterir, built through instinct not careful nning. His monster forces also seemed to be rathercking, mostly F and E-ranks with a small number of D-ranks and like Queek they all seemed be rat based, with the asional marmot. Find your next read on m_v l|e-NovelFire "Frost pay attention the first sh is about to happen." Indra knocked Frost''s shoulder and cajoled him to look up at the big screen''s highlight window. There Queek''s forces of rats could be seen charging out of the ck barrier that served as the conduit between the Dungeons. Queek''s forces charged ahead inrge numbers, the weakest at the front and the strongest at back, apart from that there was no solid formation to speak of. Theserge groups were swiftly narrowed into the tight corridors of the Void''s maze and after the second turn the first trap was activated. Underneath the paws of a couple G-rank rats no bigger than 30cm a silver magic crest appeared and spirited them away. 200 metres west those same rats appeared in another part of the maze but waiting ahead of them was a ck cat roughly 1 metre long. Upon noticing the sudden appearance of the rats the cat''s eyes sparkled as it revealed a predatory smile. A momentter the cat vanished, somehow swimming through space it appeared above one of the rats. Crunch! A sharp bite brought an end to the small rat''s life, with itsrades following quickly after it. While Frost started off with frost mines Void had spatial mines. These traps had little to no offensive power instead they teleported victims through space. Dozens of such traps were littered throughout every room, some led their victims to one of Void''s monsters, others dropped them straight into a hazardous area such as a spiked pitfall or in range of a more deadly trap and a scant few simply teleported their targets to random areas throughout the floor. An hour could be spent reaching the very end of the maze only for you to step on one of these mines and be instantly transported back to the beginning of the Dungeon. Void Dungeon was in one word, frustrating. Chapter 618 Void vs Queek (2) Void''s Dungeon catered to a very different type of clientele inparison to Frost''s and Indra''s. The Dungeon of Niflheim and the Lightning grotto held a great variety of monsters, offering bountiful materials and ample hunting experience for their delvers. Void''s Prism of the Mind (the official name of his Dungeon) however promisedplicated puzzles, difficult riddles, unique traps and most importantly magic based treasures. He would frequently create low level spell books, one time inscriptions and other oddities to be ced throughout his Dungeon, making the experience a true treasure hunt and a holynd for young and aspiring mages. But for Queek and his army of rats Void''s Dungoen was a literal death trap. His rats charged without care, rampaging through the narrow walls of the maze, powerless against Void''s traps. Every few minutes a new group would either be teleported away and transported before a powerful enemy or be dropped into a hazardous area, both quickly iming their lives. The number of traps, their careful arrangement, the reckless advancement of his forces and the sheer number of rats made evading impossible. Frost and his siblings repeatedly watched as Queek''s forces were methodically disced and eradicated. Frost had to admit that his younger brother was far better than he was when it came to trap management. Thus he leaned in and took many mental notes, hoping to improve his own craft. Maya smiled at his side, silently approving of his conduct. "Seems Void was a safe bet brother; we''ll being making bank in a few hours." Indra chortled with a sparkle in his eyes. Like Frost he bet on Void to win, cing 7000DP on the line, chump change in his eyes but free DP was free DP. "Agreed but let''s not count out Queek so soon, he may have a few trump cards hidden away." Frost smiled and agreed with Indra. "Void''s defence appears pretty solid especially against what Queek''s capable of, but his offence could certainly use some work." Aqua chimed in with a moment of rity, causing the two brothers to alter their screens so as to view Queek''s Dungeon. A momentter Indra blurted out "You can''t be serious!" Shocked by what he was seeing on the screen. Void''s invading team was a mere fraction of Queek''s, less than 100 monsters. Though their individual quality was rather high it was quitecking inparison. Both Frost and Indra thus turned their gazes to the one person who could possibly exin this dilemma. Chronos'' body trembled under their scrutiny before mounting an exnation "Our Dungeons don''t have many monsters in them. We focus more on quality than we do quantity so in my eyes scrapping together a hundred monsters is already pretty good all things considered." "Don''t you think you should have told us that before we ced our bets?" Indra questioned with a twitching upper lip. Experience exclusive tales on m v|l e-NovelFire Chronos looked away before answering back. "Does it matter?" "You!" "Calm down Indra, Chronos is right. The onus should have been on us to ask and whether or not Chronos chose to reveal such intel would also have been entirely up to him. It''s just a few thousand DP anyway, nothing to get worked up about." "Tsk!" Indra loudly clicked his tongue and sat back down in his seat, unable to retort against Frost''s logic. "The final oue''s still up in the air Indra, we might still make bank." Frost tried to soothe his brother''s anger. "There''s no might, he will win!" Chronos aggressively corrected, his eyes focusing on therge screen ahead. He knew Void better than anyone else, he knew his brother''s strength and trusted that his victory was all but assured. "Hmph!" Pyro who overheard their conversation loudly hmphed in disapproval. Since he bet on Queek he obviously wanted him to win this war. The Dungeon war continued on. Void''s forces though few in number averaged between D and C-rank in strength thus allowing them to easily carve their way through Queek''s multitude of rats. Their overbearing strength heavily reduced the chance of injury and death, but their low numbers made the journey slow. Queek was invading faster but he was losing far more monsters than Void, whether it would be the tortoise or the hare that would win only time could tell. In the interim however Frost thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle. Void''s invading force though abysmally small was a marvel to see. Each of them specialised in the space element in some way or another. Whether they had the ability to teleport instantaneously across the battlefield, cast space twisting spells or carve apart the thickest armours with a single swing of their sabres Void''s monsters were truly fascinating. For many, Frost included this was their first time seeing such abroad spectrum of spatial magic thus they struggled to look away. "Spatial magic is absurd." Frost couldn''t help butment when he saw a C-rank monster of Void''s cast a spell that literally twisted the space around a group of E-rank rats, tearing them apart without even the slightest resistance. "Space and time are two of the mostplicated and difficult elements to understand. For every two hundred mages only one or two have the talent necessary to use them. Yes they are incredibly vtile and powerful but they''re also very hard to master." Said Maya with no small amount of jealously in her eyes. Fenrirs were few in numberpared to most species thus very, very few of them ever had the ability to use and master the space element. In fact only one person in her whole n could currently use it, her great uncle. "Your talents liepletely with ice magic so don''t even bother imagining it." She wasted no time dumping a bucket of ice water on her boyfriend''s head which improved her own feelings on the matter. "It''d be nice however if we could get some of those spatial monsters in our Dungeon, it could certainly benefit from some variety." Shortly after thest family gathering Dark instituted the trade system allowing his children to exchange items between one another therefore if Frost offered enough DP or an item that Void wanted he could trade for some of his spatial element monstersas long as Void was willing of course and he had an environment that could support their natural habitat. However very few of his children engaged in such trades, choosing to focus solely on what they could procure themselves. "I know that no need to rub it in and.I''ll bring it up with Voidter." Frost knew he was a one trick pony; he didn''t need to be reminded of it, but he also agreed with Maya''s suggestion. His Dungeon really would benefit from a more varied monster roster and perhaps an environment that didn''t have an ambient temperature that was below freezing. On that note he perused the variety of his siblings, wondering who would make for a good training partner. Indra was at the top of the list obviously given their close rtionship, but a few others may provide more unique opportunities. Once the war hit the two hour mark and after a valiant effort on Queek''s part his invading forces were finally eradicated by Void''s defences upon reaching thest section of the second floor, bringing an end to his invasion. Now all Void had to do was delve further within the remaining 2 hours to be granted aplete victory. By this point Void''s forces were still rather consolidated thanks to their superior strength and they had just reached the early stages of Queek''s second floor. Therefore at the current rate it was obvious who''d be victorious in the end, but Queek refused to surrender, hopeful that a miracle would happen. But unfortunately a little after 3 hours and despite Queek bringing out what he considered his trump card Void''s forces reached his third floor thus bringing an end to the war. Void had won and by no small margin. His forces still held close to half their original numbers while all of Queek''s invading team was eradicated along with 80% of his defensive forces, a decisive victory. "It''s over, Void has won." Said Frost with a rxed and satisfied expression. "Hahahaha see I told you he''d win hahahahaha." Chronos erupted into celebration, pumping his fists high into the air andughing as he relished in Void''s victory as if it were his own. "14,000DP, thank you Void!" Indra also celebrated with gusto. Focusing primarily on his winnings,pletely forgetting about his earlier misgivings. "Useless bastard!" Pyro however loudly cursed, directly insulting Queek and his efforts which quickly drew the ire of many of his siblings as well as their father. Dark really didn''t appreciate Pyro bad mouthing his younger brother over his loss. Just because he had a particr grudge against Frost it didn''t give him the right to drag in the rest of the family. "Hmph!" Unfortunately Pyro''s stubbornness and pride didn''t allow him to apologise or admit any wrongdoing. Instead he blew steam out his nostrils and turned away, ignoring the res from those around him. Dark flourished his sleeve making therge viewing screen go ck and magic crests to appear below both Queek and Void. A few minutester the two Dungeon cores appeared back in the ball room to face their peers and relish in their results. "Congrattions on winning your first Dungeon war Void, well done." Dark proceeded to start a loud round of apuse causing the old man that was Void to rub his neck from embarrassment with a goofy smile on his face. Following that Dark looked at Queek with care and affection in his eyes. "Queek you put in a valiant effort, I was happy to see such aggression within you after what happened to you before but in the end Void was simply the better Dungeon core, better luck next time." "T...thank you Lord creator." The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 619 Duels "T...thank you Lord creator." Queek forced himself to smile as he thanked his father meekly. Internally he was dissatisfied with his performance, feeling like a failure in Dark''s eyes as well as the many siblings around him. He waspletely outmatched in every shape and form. His aggressive tactics were not based on logic but because he didn''t want to live in fear, to be consumed by the possibility of danger anymore. Though he somewhat seeded in oveing his trauma what did it get him,plete and utter defeat. He didn''t even register the extent of his father''s words, oblivious to thepliment he gave him. Whether he''d continue to mire in his own fear or triumph over itpletely only he knew. Dark had said his piece, the rest was up to Queek. "The war is over and we have a victor and a loser thus it is time to unveil the promised rewards but first for those who bet on Void you''ll receive double whatever you risked while those who bet on Queek, better luck next time heheheh." Dark smirked evilly before waving his sleeve, sending beams of silverly light into the chests of the fortunate gamblers. The lucky victors saw their DP reserves jump the moment the light touched them; Dark''s abilities truly were iprehensible. After paying out several tens of thousands of DP in winnings Dark looked down at Queek with a gentle smile. "Queek since you were defeated in this war your prize is that of a free gacha pull worth 5000DP." Dark summoned what appeared to be a silver ticket and handed it over to Queek who nervously epted it. The ticket would be used instead of DP the next time Queek went to use the gacha system. "Now for Void''s spoils." Dark brought his right hand to his chin and started stroking it as he thought long and hard. Queek''s reward was simple but for Void he promised something personalised meaning he needed to think. With an upper limit of 20,000DP there was quite an array of things he could grant, spell books, magical devices, specialty monsters or perhaps a low level mortal rank oddity. He gazed at Void in his entirety for a minute or so before making his decision. Since Void loved magic his choice centred around that fact. "To be honest you''d probably benefit best from a spatial oddity but 20,000DP isn''t enough to provide a good one so instead I''ll grant you a 4th circle spell called [gravitational rotation] as well as a coded map which once deciphered will point you in the direction of a high level mortal ranked spatial oddity." Since Void liked puzzles and riddles so much he felt that this was quite the heartfelt gift, positive that his son would get a great deal of pleasure out of decoding the map, he even chortled as he quickly ced a seal on the map and handed it over along with a spell book for [gravitational rotation]. The 4th circle spell was one that not only created intense gravitational shifts in a confined space thus allowing one to tear their opponents asunder but would also help Void deepen his knowledge in regards to the gravitational aspect of the spatial element. The moment Void heard the name [gravitational rotation] his eyes lit up, desperate to research and devour its contents as if it was the most delectable of meals but when Dark mentioned the coded map his mind went nk before his lips turned upward resulting in a smile that spanned his entire face. Dark didn''t even get the chance to fully extend his arm before Void snatched the map from his hand, his eyes filled with an eery fascination. "I take it you like your reward?" Dark asked confidently but got no response in return, his son''s eyes were glued to the map, muttering away as ifpletely oblivious to world around him. "...Chronos would you taking care of your brother so we can carry on?" "dly father!" Chronos who was ardently staring at the map in Void''s hand loudly replied before dashing over to assist his brother. Thus the two older looking Dungeon cores moved over to a quiet corner to contemte the puzzle Dark had just created together. Such a sight brought both a sigh and a smile to Dark''s face. "Alright let''s move on without the two of them, next up is duels. Do we have any volunteers first of all?" "I''ll do it." "Me to!" "Ready to go Lord Father!" In response to his question nearly a dozen cores raised their arms eager to take part in a duel. "Magnificent! Wukong you can fight Lilia, Brooke you can take on Patan.." With this many volunteers there was no need to force anyone to take part. Dark quickly and appropriately paired off many of the volunteers ording to their strength but wascking another individual at the B-rank who could go toe to toe with Pyro who was among the very first to volunteer himself. Therge brute of a man repeatedly taunted Frost and Indra as he stood in the centre of the room without an opponent. Unfortunately for him both Frost and Indra held no desire to face him inbat. Though they''d love to knock the arrogant son of a bitch down a peg they also that theycked the strength to do so, Pyro was strong, very strong. Just when Dark was about to request either Yami or Aqua to be Pyro''s opponent a low rumble shook the seating area as a giant of a man stood up and made his way down. "I''ll fight him father." Unexpectedly the one offering to fight was the person known among them as the B.F.G (big friendly giant) Terra the 5th Dungeon core and master of the earth element. Though Terra appeared intimidating with his mountains of rippling muscle and giantlike mass he was the gentlest soul you''d ever meet. A man who abhorred unnecessary violence and strove to protect all life. His Dungeon the Heart of Titan rarely killed its intruders, focusing more on passive ie granted by its external residents. Out of all the territories established by the Dungeon cores Terra''s was the most developed and most popted. Frost, Indra and the others were simply imitating his actions, he was by far the leader of such movements. Thus seeing him volunteer to fight, against Pyro no less was quite a shock. Explore more stories with m,v l''e-NovelBin "Stupid Terra what are doing get back here!" Sylph who was the closest to Terra loudly admonished him, ordering him to return to his seat. Terra however wantonly ignored his elder sister, his gaze locked onto to Pyro. "You wish to fight Pyro, Terra?" Dark asked also rather confused. Such an action really wasn''t in his nature. "Yes father." "Hmph though you''re not the one I wanted you''re a single digit, so you''ll do." Pyro clearly looked down on everyone that wasn''t him. His words agitated everyone in the room, but no one was as disturbed as Terra. Crack! Crack! His massive hands audibly cracked as they formed into tight fists, he was enraged by his elder brother, his indifference to those he deemed lesser than himself. Terra respected all his siblings, seeing no such thing as hierarchy thus he was wholly ipatible with Pyro. Many times he''d felt the desire to confront this older brother of his but each time he held himself back or another took to the stand now however it was his turn. His insults towards Queek was thest straw. "Very well, winners of their duels will be granted 10,000DP while the losers will get 1000, have fun." With those words and wave of his arm all those taking part in the duels were transported to separate spaces where they could wreak havoc on their opponents without having to worry about their surroundings. The Large screen switched back on showing 6 different fights with Pyro and Terra''s holding a significantlyrger portion than the rest. "Um does anyone know how strong Terra is?" Of course betting was once again encouraged and learning fromst time Indra chose inquire a bit before wagering his money. Unfortunately no one seemed capable of giving him the answer. "No idea, I''ve never even seen him make a fist before." Aqua shook her head, unable to given Indra the answer he was looking for. Frost was the same as was Yami, Gaia and Damascus. Terra only ever talked about his territory and the lives of the people living in it, rarely bringing up his own merits. Several of them turned to Sylph for answers since she was the closest one to him but even she shook her head. "I know he''s reached B-rank but that''s about it, I''ve never seen him fight personally nor do I even know the type of weapon he uses." She shrugged her shoulders and frowned, her heart more confused and torn up than the rest of her siblings. ''What are you thinking about you big dummy.'' "He''s strong, very strong, more than a match for Pyro." Suddenly while all Terra''s siblings were in the dark about his strength the voice of a young man with earthen skin and a height close to 3 metres spoke out drawing everyone''s attention. "Geb" Chapter 620 Duels (2) "Geb" Sylph called out the young man''s name, recognizing him instantly. Geb smiled in response before continuing "Terra''s strength has long reached B-rank, though he rarely takes to the field personally he has never once cked off during training. The man abhors violence and battle but that does not mean he''s a stranger to it. Master Pyro may be strong but so is Terra." As Geb spoke his eyes stared up at the screen showing Terra, his gaze suffused with adoration and pride. Geb was Terra''s Guardian, his teacher, protector and now significant other. He personally trained Terra and knew his deepest secrets even more than Sylph; he knew the extent of Terra''s power. The young Dungeon core though avoidedbat whenever possible made damn sure he was ready for the times that that wasn''t an option. Pyro was sure to lose if he kept up his arrogant and dismissive attitude. Geb''s words were like a bright light in a tunnel, changing how everyone viewed Terra. "If you don''t mind me asking what weapon does Terra use?" Frost asked with a great deal of respect. Geb was of the same position as Maya and sported equal possibly even greater strength. In response Geb''s smile stretched from ear to ear as he pointed his finger up at therge screen. "He is the weapon hahahaha." Terra was a pugilist, his entire body whether it was his hands, feet, shoulders or knees every part of his body was a weapon. The siblings looked up at the screen and then at one another before quickly announcing their bets. "5000 on Terra!" "4000 on Pyro!" "2000 on Pyro." Thanks to Geb''s input the ratio was about 5.5 to 4.5 in Pyro''s favour, rather close odds making this fight have a truly unknown oue. Of course the duellers were oblivious to the ratios now that they were in a separate space. Pyro was just waiting for the go signal from Dark so he could quickly put an end to his younger brother and disy his overwhelming power. The only siblings in his eyes were Aqua and Yami and even then he still believed that it was just a matter of time before he surpassed them. Terra meanwhile silently tensed up his body, readying it for battle as though dusting off a build-up of umted dust. A few momentster above the two of them the word ready appeared before a count of 10 started. "Try not to lose too quickly Terra hehehehe." Pyro tauntinglyughed as he summoned a zing red great axe and wreathed his whole body in burning mes. "Your arrogance will be your downfall Pyro." Said Terra as a brown sheen covered his body, transforming his skin into stone. Pyro''s mes roared fiercely in response to Terra''s provocation and the moment the counter hit 0 and Dark''s voice reverberated through the duelling space telling them to begin he dashed straight ahead with his axe overhead. "[Volcanic rend!]" Pyro activated a high level skill that coated his axe in magma and summoned the image of an erupting volcano behind it. Few axe moves contained as much destructive force as [volcanic rend] Pyro wanted to end this fight quickly. However it seemed as though his fanfare fell on deaf ears, Terra didn''t even flinch as he saw the mighty axe crashing down upon him. Instead he balled up his right fist, spread his legs and lowered his centre of gravity. "[Titan''s counter]" Terra activated his own skill covering his right hand in an abundance of golden energy, that took the form of a massive godlike arm. The next moment the massive golden arm punched upwards striking against the edge of Pyro''s great axe. Booooommm!!! A cataclysmic sound erupted the moment the two skills made contact. Terra endured what seemed like the full force of a volcano''s eruption bearing down on him while Pyro''s felt as though he tried to cleave apart a mountain rather than a person. Very soon a victor was revealed. "Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!" Terra roared deeply, a sound that was akin to the earth quaking as his entire body tensed up and twisted surging up strength from the floor beneath his feet to smash against the onught of Pyro''s axe. A momentter Pyro was sent flying through the air, his arms trembling from the residual impact as he struggled to control hisnding. Hended with a loud thud at the other side of the room sporting a shocked expression and a sliver of blood leaking from his lips. "What''s wrong Pyro? Is that all you''ve got?" Terra let out a breath and cracked his shoulders as if he was just warming up. "Seems that the useless bastard is you if that''s the extent of the power you''re so proud of." As Terra spoke his aura and earth chakra grew around his body turning him into a massive rock giant, furthering his already intimidating form. Boom boom He punched his fists together creating sonic booms. "Get up Pyro, it''s time someone put you in your ce!" "Holy shit! That is Terra right, not some doppelganger?" Indra couldn''t help but ask while trembling. "Oh no that''s definitely him, he''s just angry that''s all." Said Geb with a knowing look. "Maya remind me to never piss off Terra." "Un" While Terra stood tall in his full battle mode Pyro silently wiped away the blood that leaked from his lips. He didn''t respond to Terra''s words at all, his mindpletely consumed by the force behind his brother''s unexpected counter. The mes around his body showed signs of decline but never went fully out as he processed the move. "Hahahahahahahaha!" Just as Terra was readying himself to go on the attack Pyro suddenly startedughing like a maniac, his mes responding in kind, reaching metres above his head and burning the air surrounding him. Following that his body creaked and cracked as it quickly grew in size, his original body incapable housing the force held within his muscles. Though he was still a fair bit smaller than Terra the strength held within his body was no less potent. Pyro was no longer holding himself back. Terra was strong enough to earn his respect, a true opponent. "It seems I judged you too quickly Terra, perhaps this will be enjoyable after all hahahaha!" Pyro''s mes continued to billow outward, rising in temperature with every second. "Again! [Volcanic rend]" once again Pyro charged at Terra with his axe raised overhead, performing the exact same move but this time he was putting everything he had behind the blow. Terra frowned as he saw the changes in Pyro''s stature but nevertheless he entered the same stance and activated his defensive block [titan''s counter]. Boooooooooommmmmmm!!!! Am explosive sh rocked through the duelling space, magnitudes greater than their previous exchange. A gear like grinding followed as Pyro''s red energy contested against Terra''s golden arm before theing of a loud bang. The Large rock armour covering Terra''s right arm blew apart and the massive giant was sent skidding across the ground from the concussive force. Pyro meanwhile had his mes snuffed out and his great axe rebounded upwards forcing him to flip in the air. The two Dungeon cores then steadied their bodies at roughly the same time,nding 30 metres apart, appearing equal in their exchange. However drip, drip, drip from Terra''s right arm a trickle of blood leaked from his fist, Pyro''s axe sessfully pierced through his armour and reached flesh. Terra bore a deep frown as waves of biting pain flooded through his hand, the Earth element was known far and wide for its defensive prowess. The fact that Pyro managed to cleave his way in was not a good sign. Opposite Terra, Pyro was also frowning, he put his whole back into that swing yet all he got was a shallow cut between the 2nd and 3rd finger. ''Tough bastard.'' He internally cursed as the fire within him zed out once more, determined to cleave deeper with the next strike. "Come Terra, let''s see how hard that skin of yours really is!" With a vigorous shout Pyro''s mes once again covered his entire form before he charged ahead with his axe at the ready. "Hmph!" Terra responded with a loud hmph as he reced his rock exterior and slowly but heavily dashed forward to meet Pyro in closebat. Boom! Dun! ng! Thick fists repeatedly shed against the sharpest points of the axe''s edge. Terra despite his massive size moved without any wasted movements allowing him to keep up with Pyro''s building onught. His progress as a pugilist was clear to the naked eye, Pyro felt his arms violently tremble with every exchange. The weight held behind his brother''s fists were so devasting that he was forced to rely on his axe to take the brunt of every blow. His ownbody though rather durable and tenacious held noparison to Terra''s. To Pyro what he was fighting was not a person but living breathing mountain. s this only fuelled his battle lust, a durable body meant he could truly let loose without risk of idently killing his opponent. "[Meteoric crash]!" After utilising the leftover momentum from one of Terra''s uppercuts Pyrounched himself high into the air, so high that his feet stood against the ceiling. A momentter he grasped his axe with both hands and activated his most destructive skill. Violent energy enveloped around his axe and body, yellow at the edge, orange below and deep within the centre was a bright red hue. This giant sphere of energy pulsated like a miniature sun, threatening to burn away the duelling space. Terra winced as the destructive heat washed over him despite being tens of metres away. It was clear that Pyro was taking the battle up a notch. Chapter 621 Duels (3) With Pyro taking the temperature up to an absurd degree Terra readied himself. Releasing a deep breath, his heart, beat like the shaking of the, harder and faster until the very ground beneath his feet started to tremble. He then opened his eyes and stared upwards at the miniature sun that was Pyro, his fists clenched tight as earthen chakra congregated around his body, growing denser and denser with every passing second. Next, a heavy and powerful aura billowed out from his heart, adding to his already impressive presence. Then with a smooth movement of his hands and feet Terra took on the image of a gilded monk, a peak practitioner in utilising the strength of his own body. "[Earthen fury!]" A deep, resonant voice escaped his lips as he burst forth with vigorous internal energy. His body grew evenrger, even heavier as his hands stretched outwards as if to tear apart the very earth that he stood upon from the ground. s there was no ground to tear up, so his internal energy, chakra and aura reced the physical with something just as solid. Concrete forms of earthen bs formed above his hands, easily weighing upwards of tens of tons. This was Terra''s most powerful skill and what he chose to contest against the raging hot meteor that was now swiftly crashing down upon him. This brief moment before the meteor struck the earth seemed to drag on for an eternity. Frost and his many siblings sat on the edge of their seats with bated breaths, their eyes glued to thergest of the six screens up above in anticipation. Even Dark couldn''t help but clench his fists as the excitement bubbled up within him. ''Show him what you can do Terra! Show him the power of earth.'' Geb was all smiles as he watched with keen eyes. Suddenly the moment was over. Boooooooooommmmm!!!!! Space quaked, cracked and twisted at the origin of their contact. Such an immense force was used that even Dark''s personally generated space trembled, struggling to contain the destructive aftershocks that were being unleashed. Red hot magma crashed against theunched bs of earth, blowing apart massive chunks as its heat swiftly bore down towards Terra. The heat prated deep, liquify vast quantities of earth as it travelled towards its prime target yet even with this level of devastation the meteor was still quite aways from reaching him. Several brief momentster when the meteor finally bore all the way through the giant bs of earth that Terra conjured there was very little momentum remainining. The solid sphere of liquefying magma was all but gone revealing the fire borne form of Pyro and his deadly great axe. "Ahhhhhhhhhh!!" Pyro roared out at the top of his lungs as Terra''s giant form appeared before his eyes. With a fierce glint in his gaze Pyro primed his axe and swung down with a brutal vengeance. Rock encrusted arms met with the weapon, barely managing to chip away at its power before a set ofrge brown hands swiftly mmed into either side of the axe head. Don! The destructive force behind the axe was brought to a sudden stop. Plumes of dust, fragments of earth and raging mes obscured the area for a moment before eventually revealing the result of the momentous sh. Terra stood with his knees bent, sweat dripping down his forehead and significant burns marring the palms of his hands and upper forearms but held between those palms was Pyro''s axe, unable to budge even a single inch while in his grip. "Cough!" Pyro who was fiercely gripping the shaft of his axe with trembling arms coughed up blood. The rebounding force had shook up his internal organs to the point that his entire throat tasted like iron. Find your next read at m_v l|e-NovelBin Following his opponent''s blood filled cough Terra relinquished the vice grip he held and fell to a single knee, his body drained of strength and his hands in no small amount of pain. Their sh appeared to be a draw with both ending up injured to some extent. As if reaching a silent ord both Pyro and Terra moved away from one another and started to recuperate, aiming to heal up as much as possible before continuing their duel. Outside the duelling space where the remaining Dungeon cores were, silence was abound. Everyone was blown away by both the destructive power held by Pyro and the defensive ability of Terra. Frost and Indra both imagined themselves facing off against either [earthen fury] or [meteoric crash] finding themselvescking in some way or another even after taking out the poor elemental match up. "I''d have to find some way to dodge Pyro''s [meteoric crash], I''ve got nothing that could block something that destructive." Said Indra with both a frown on his face and a growing smile. "Same here, my defence based skills would fracture instantly upon contact but we''re different from Terra. We have the speed and flexibility to dodge." Unlike Terra, Frost and Indra held a great amount of agility and made for much smaller targets. "True but standing still and taking such a blow looks pretty damn cool." Indra''s eyes sparkled when he saw Pyro''s axe stuck between Terra''s palms. ''Terra''s got some balls.'' "What about his [earthen fury]?" "A frontal assault would be thest thing I''d do. The move has a lot of power and covers arge area but there''s still a lot of blind spots especially for someone like me." Though Indra''s lightning fared poorly against earth it didn''t stop his insane speed. "Oh I know you''re fast Indra my personal experience can attest to that but even if you are, if you can''t pierce that durable shell of his it''s pointless." "Haaaaaa you got me there." Indra shrugged his shoulders in defeat, the only option he really had was to slowly grind away at the shell, but his fighting style wasn''t exactly designed for attrition. "Not bad." As Frost and Indra were intimately discussing how they''d deal with both Pyro and Terra, two simple words ofpliment were uttered by Yami who surprisingly had a small smile on his lips. "Terra''s just full of surprises, I really didn''t expect such strength from him but." Of course Aqua was the only one capable of holding a casual conversation with this eldest brother of theirs. "Pyro''s stronger." "Yes.his arrogance is warranted." While all the other Dungeon cores felt that the match was still very much undecided Yami, Aqua and the guardians all knew the truth. ''Terra.'' None were more heartbroken than Geb, he truly believed that Terra was strong enough to beat Pyro into submission, he trained so damn hard after all. "Hmph you all think Pyro''s arrogance and pride is all for show, that he''s simply taking advantage of the fact that he was born 3rd out of 100." Suddenly a tall, beautiful woman with bright red hair, pearl white skin, the asional pink scales and a set of mighty draconic wings and matching tail spoke up with a prideful tone causing the remaining 33 guardians to grimace. "Fafnir." Geb uttered with a pronounced frown. This woman, Fafnir was Pyro''s guardian and one of the most powerful species across all of Nova, an ancient re dragon. Even he one of the primordial earth king''s children was a littlecking inparison. Among the entirety of the younger generation Fafnir truly stood head and shoulders above the rest of her colleagues. A fact that no one could dispute and because of this her personality was rather.dominating. "Hmph!" With a loud hmph and a powerful crack of her tail Fafnir red at her colleagues with her head held high. "You all seem to view Pyro as an annoyance, a person full of himself, who disdains and is critical of everyone around him and to a degree you''re not wrong. He is brash, rough, cruel and has no filter, but he is also determined, ambitious and dedicated. You think that your charges train hard, that they don''t know the meaning of cking off pshua howughable." As Fafnir spoke she gazed upwards, staring at Pyro''s distant form. "Pyro truly doesn''t know the meaning of giving up. Every training session only ends after I''ve ripped his body and mind to shreds. He is strong because he has made himself so." She bore an expression of exuberating pride as she watched him stand up and redon his armour of mes. "He may be critical of others, harsh and highly demanding of their conduct and capabilities but that''s nothingpared to what he expects of himself.Pyro will be the strongest of them all not because of his 3rd ranking or because he was born with additional advantages but because of the efforts he puts in everyday to reach his goals." Fafnir''s words subtlety attacked both Yami and Aqua, the only two cores who ranked above Pyro. She strongly believed that the only reason they surpassed him was due to these additional advantages that they were granted at birth. This dig was of course noticed by the two of them, but they were powerless to retort. Fafnir was still much, much stronger than the two of them plus her usations weren''tpletely unfounded. Both Yami and Aqua were born slightly more powerful than the rest of their siblings including Pyro, but this was because of their Dungeon''s location and the roles that Dark wished for them to take up. However it was rather arrogant of Fafnir to credit the difference solely on this small starting advantage. "Fafnir watch your tongue!" Aqua''s guardian Leviathan took to her defence. He was one of the very few guardians that could actually hold their own against Fafnir. "Hmph, so defensive, did I strike a nerve." "You!" "Enough! Stop bickering like children and watch the battle unfold, you''re embarrassing yourselves." Suddenly when it seemed like a fight was about to kick off a man draped in shadow spoke out in a chilling voice. Both Fafnir and Leviathan trembled upon hearing him speak. "Diablos." Chapter 622 Duels (4) Diablos, Yami''s guardian, the de facto leader of their group and the most powerful among their numbers. Apart from Dark, he was the only one who could control these prideful and sometimes arrogant geniuses. Like his charge Diablos was a man of few words but whenever he did deign to speak, everyone listened lest they were fond of suffering. "Hmph." "Tsk." Out of respect and a small amount of fear both Fafnir and Leviathan stopped their antics. They listened to his orders, and silently watched the screen above, no longer bickering. ''They might not get you Pyro, but I do. I know that you''ll reach that fabled level and fulfil your heart''s desire.'' Though she was made silent Fafnir internally acknowledged Pyro''s efforts. He was a man that was hard to understand, hard to see beyond his stubborn and arrogant crap riddled exterior but since she bore a simr nature it allowed her to see through his outer shell. To her Pyro was a man full of insecurities, heavy expectations and.fear. While his siblings slowly developed, grew and explored the world of Nova he was desperately improving his own strength, to be acknowledged as the older brother that he was, as a dutiful son and most importantly a shelter, a shield which could protect his weaker siblings from the reckoning that was yet toe. He wanted to be the beacon, the man who held up the sky as the Light God''s condemnation struck them down. He wasn''t good with words and quite frankly was hardly friendly, but he cared, he cared deeply about their survival. Unfortunately the only method his muscle brain could understand, was force. The audience watched the rest of the duel in silence, afraid to upset Diablos in anyway. And as predicted after a determined slugfest, Terra''s blows gradually lost their weight, his rock armour crumbling faster and faster while his opponent Pyro seemed to only grow stronger and more vicious, his mes refusing to be snuffed out. The difference between the two of them in regards to power wasn''t all thatrge but the difference in battle experience and sheer determination to win was what granted Pyro victory today. "Puahhh!" Finally Terra was blown off his feet, his body sent flying backwards as blood surged up his throat and violently passed through his lips. With hisplexion ashen and his body filled with pain he craned his head up with great difficulty in an attempt to get up from the floor. "Enough Terra, you''ve lost ept it." Pyro released the mes surrounding his body and lowered his axe. His breaths wereboured but he still held more than enough strength to continue his attack. "Ughhh.ahnnn." Terra groaned as he tried to move his limbs but eventually passed out from exhaustion. ".Father." With a strange expression on his face Pyro looked upwards and called out for Dark. "The winner is Pyro, well done." In response Dark''s voice reverberated throughout the duelling space, bringing an official end to the duel. Following that two magic crests appeared beneath the brothers and whisked them back to the ball room. Pyro was deposited next to his guardian Fafnir while Terra appeared next Dark who proceeded to personally heal his injuries before handing him over to Geb. With Pyro back among his siblings everyone seemed to view him differently, there was less distain, less fear and more respect. Pyro''s personality may not be appreciated hell perhaps even hated but his strength was the real deal. "Terra!" While Pyro was regting his breathing and receiving a few words of praise from Fafnir, Geb called out, his voice filled with concern as he held the brown giant that was Terra in his arms. "II lost." Though his injuries were healed by Dark he was still exhausted, simply forming a few words took a great deal of effort. Geb gently stroked Terra''s cheek and firmly grasped his right hand before answering "yeah, you did." A frustrated expression grew across Terra''s face and his left hand audibly cracked as he tightly clenched. He then looked over at Frost, Indra and also Queek as if apologising for his failure. He was supposed to put Pyro in his ce, to show him that the livelihoods of his siblings mattered, that he was wrong to dismiss, insult and criticise their efforts. In response his siblings smiled and shook their heads in an attempt to ease his worries, there was nothing for him to be sorry about. "You were strong." While Terra was slinking into a depressed state three words entered his ears from a voice that he recognised but really didn''t expect to hear at least not giving outpliments. Pyro gave Terra a brief nce along with a simplepliment before turning away. Upon hearing his words Terra felt a rush of peace and a strange sense of acknowledgement. A smile grew on his lips as he leaned back and allowed his body to rest. His efforts weren''tpletely wasted it seems. Apart from Terra''s and Pyro''s duel another 10 of their siblings werepeting against each other, 4 of which had already finished and were already sitting back on the stands before Pyro and Terra, but no one seemed to notice them. Their duels just didn''t have as much re, or dramatic attraction as the sh between two single digit cores. However now that the big draw had ended everyone was forced to take notice of who was left. "Liana and Wukong seem pretty evenly matched, neither of them has managed to get the upper hand." "That staff style of Wukong''s is pretty strong but also very orthodox in its movements, making it predictable andcking in flexibility against moves such as Liana''s. Her utilisation of the whip is fairly unconventional and wild thus making it an unusual match up wherein neither can make much sense of the others technique." Wukong''s and Liana''s duel may not have been as shy or explosive as Terra''s and Pyro''s but there was a certain grace present that made Frost and Indra appreciate it. They focused more on their weapon mastery and personal fighting styles rather than energy consuming skills thus both Wukong and Liana still held a great deal of stamina and sported only superficial injuries. "Have you checked out Dn and Shira?" Indra inquired as he brought up their duel on his personal viewing screen. "No why?" Frost recognised the names but not much else. Dn and Shira were both low ranking Dungeon cores and thus they tended to mingle with those who were simrly ranked. Frost being one of the top ranked cores was therefore excluded from this group in fact he''d only met them both once and very briefly at that during thest family gathering. "They''re both mages." "Hoh, interesting." Frost''s curiosity was officially peaked. He and Indra were both capable of using high level magic but despite this they couldn''t be ssified as mages. Why because they fought with their weapons and chakra, mainly engaging in closebat, the antithesis of the standard mage caste. Dn and Shira however were your typical mages, their bodies were bursting with mana, they bore magical staffs as their weapons and stood a solid 20 metres or more apart as they engaged in battle. This was a long distance sh in a very different stylepared to what they were used to. Frost had fought alongside mages before, but this was his first time seeing a duel between two of their kind. Dn and Shira wouldunch spell after spell at each other which wouldpete for dominance in the centre of the stage. A few spells would asionally make it through only to be avoided or to strike against a prepared defensive spell. The battle appeared to be slower in nature, more attrition focused, chipping away at their mana reserves one spell at a time. The loser would be the one who failed to keep up with the mana drain and or who lost their casting focus. It was different and perhaps less interesting to watch but very educational. While Frost and Indra perhaps used two or three spells on rotation as battle aids for Dn and Shira this was their bread and butter. Their repertoire of spells easily exceeded theirs multiple times over granting them a great deal of flexibility and options in battle. And unlike the two of them they were not bound by their inherent element, further increasing their range of spells. Seeing them and their battle brought back memories for Frost, memories of the night he aided Leo in taking down his uncle. There was an opportunity there to see Ryuu fight as a mage but unfortunately he was needed elsewhere and his strength at the time wascking, making him nothing more than a hindrance. ''Perhaps I should spar with Ryuu next time I get a chance.'' It was clear that his experience against true mages was sorelycking and needed to be rectified. Time passed and eventually all 6 duels were brought to a close, the victors decided and rewarded for their efforts as were those who came in second and gambled on the results. Both Frost and Indra managed to make another 10,000DP each from their bets thus happy smiles adorned their lips. Once thest of the rewards were dished out Dark walked to the centre of the room and faced his children with arge grin on his face. "We''ve had our family meal, discussed the guardian situation, enjoyed a Dungeon war between Void and Queek and now we''ve concluded a total of 6 duelsnow it''s time for what you''ve all been waiting for." Suddenly the sound of a drum roll filled the room before Dark raised his right hand and summoned a massive board with all of his children''s name''s on it. "The Dungeon core DP rankings!" shing lights went off behind Dark as announced it, assisting his dramatic fanfare. ''Haaaaa he really doesn''t change does he.'' Frost shook his head and internally sighed but still smiled, despite it being a bit much at times he enjoyed this side of his father. Chapter 623 The second Dungeon core DP rankings Upon the arrival of therge leader board and Dark''s fanfare many cores eyed their ranking with hawk like gazes, some even red at their nearby siblings, marking them as directpetition. Pretty much everyone was curious about their rankings as it was a reflection of their development, something that could make their father proud. Frost was no exception his gaze quickly eyed the top ten spots confident that he would be among them. He was 4thst time and that was before he experienced the very lucrative monster stampede so surely he''d be ranked even higher this time around, right. The rankings were based on cumtive DP ie since thest family gathering. Whether that DP was spent or saved in the bank mattered not, it only cared about the ie not the expenditure. Thus having arger victim pool, more efficient harvesting methods and to some degree arger dungeon certainly made a difference. However this was not the only way to gain DP. Some Dungeon cores such as Void, Chronos and Damascus frequently exchanged items through the Dungeon menu for a set amount of DP. Treasures of any kind could be exchanged through the menu not just gold and silver coins. For example Void and Chronos would trade in their excess supply of spell books while Damascus offered up the asional weapon or armour that he forged. If there was value in an item then the Dungeon menu would ept it, whether or not the resulting DP was worth or not was hard to say but the three of them managed to establish a fairly lucrative business through these regr exchanges. And in addition to these minor transactions Void and Chronos received a hefty downpayment directly from Dark the moment they created a brand new spell while Damascus charged an arm and a leg to personally forge weapons for his siblings. There was always another way to make DP. If the Dungeon cores held no talent or interest in the traditional methods, they just needed to find it. With it being 11 months since thest ranking and with many of the Dungeon cores branching out in many shapes and forms it was hard to tell where one might stand this time around thus the eagerness was to be expected. Cursing, sighs of relief and even a few jumps of joy resounded around Frost as he finally set eyes upon his own ranking. "3rd" He had surpassed hisst ranking, discing Pyro who was now relegated to 4th. Yami and Aqua were still aways ahead of them both but the margin between him and Pyro was a paltry few thousand DP, equivalent to mere hours of their daily ie. Perhaps if Pyro had betted with a little more thought and less emotion he would have retained his position, however that was not the case and the moment he realised that he''d not only failed to breach the gap between him, and 2nd ce but fell to 4th. Well something seemed to snap inside of him. His hatred for Frost that was already palpable and easily seen whenever they were in close proximity exploded. mes erupted around him as he red at the ring number four and Frost''s name that sat above it. He was positively livid. Fafnir, who was by his side was no less shocked, she knew how hard Pyro worked, how much his Dungeon had expanded, how many beings he''d killed and wars he had started and yet all that carnage had failed to get him the position he rightfully deserved. She openly revealed her animosity, ring harshly at Frost as he stood in a daze as though shocked by the situation. Maya as his guardian immediately put herself between the two absorbing the brunt of Fafnir''s aura and not so subtle killing intent. It onlysted a single second before Dark''s gaze wandered over without any hint of the gentleness he showed his children but that brief moment was enough to make Maya''s skin crawl. Just like how Frost was a bad match with Pyro she was a bad match for Fafnir. Their natural inherent elements and even their bodily forms gave Maya a severe disadvantage. This was one enemy she really didn''t want to make but if it was for Frost she''d even stand up to a God. "Tch seems you''ve moved up in the world Frost while I''m still slumming it down with the average riff raff." Indra''s irritatingint caused everyone nearby to look at him with disdain. The damn bastard was ranked 5th, same asst time yet he described himself as riff raff. If the 5th ranked dungeon core was just average then what did that make those ranked lower, trash. Of course Indra meant it as a joke but unfortunately it really didn''tnd well.he was quickly forced to apologise. Though most of the upper rankings remained in simr positions the middle and lowers rankings saw aplete change-up. Terra who was in the mid-30s was now ranked 9th and would surely rise even further by the next gathering. A Dungeon core with the name Collete ranked 91stst time but now she was 47th while the new 91st was formerly 68th. A major change that caught most by surprise and revealed who had been putting in the hard work. "My my my, certainly a big change sincest time, Pyro has been dethroned from 3rd ce, Terra revealed his fangs with his abundance of passive DP. Void and Chronos are no longergging quite so far behind and little Collete I believe you''ve improved most of all jumping a whopping 44 ces, very well done." "Hehehe thank you Dad." Collette was over the moon,pletely blown away by her ranking. She had unfortunately lost her first Dungeon war and expected to ranked as low asst time, but it seems that the major overhaul she did to her Dungeon afterwards paid out in spades, far better than what she imagined. "Yami, Aqua prime role models as always and Frost congrattions on moving up to 3rd ce very big aplishment considering the efforts of the surroundingpetition." Dark wasted no time praising his eldest son and daughter while at the same time making Frost out to be the enemy of everyone ranked 4th to 10th. 1st and 2nd were off the table, but 3rd was certainly up for grabs, Sylph, Indra, Damascus, Gaia and most certainly Pyro would being for his head at the next gathering. ''Jerk'' Frost internally cursed his father as several sharp gazes locked onto him, most holding a friendlypetitive attitude within but one or two were not so nice. "Hmph must have gotten lucky." Sylph loudly hmphed as she refused to ept her inferiority to Frost for a second time. Apart from Pyro she was the Dungeon core with the biggest chip on her shoulder. "..."While Sylph was very vocal Pyro was eerily silent, his re piercing and if looks could kill he would dead a hundred times over. Even Indra his supposed best friend was tantly revealing his ambition, quietly muttering under his breath ways to knock Frost down a peg. Of course these mutterings were purposely made loud enough for Frost to hear. "Piss off Indra or I''ll tell Izuna what you''ve been saying behind her back." "Ahhh what are you crazy or something shh shh." "Hoh what exactly has he been saying Frost?" Izuna with a haunting smile suddenly appeared behind Indra, her hands tightly grasping his shoulder. ''Asshole do you have no honour?'' ''Honour? says the one nning to openly stab me in the back.'' ''It was a joke idiot!'' ''Yeah but hidden beneath it were true feelings, you''re super jealous.'' The two brothers quickly had a full silent discussion with just their eyes. And thankfully in the end -for Indra''s sake- Frost backed him up against Izuna''s interrogation, calling his outburst an idental slip of the tongue. Whether or not she bought their story was a whole other subject. Dark gave his children several minutes to finish finding their name and revel in either joy or misery before moving on to the rewards which there were going to be a lot of this time around. "First we''ll grant those in the top 3 ces their prizes, followed by the top ten and then a special prize for the Dungeon core that has improved most since thest gathering.. Punishments and forfeit challenges willest and no I didn''t forget about them." Dark bared his teeth evilly as he spied some of the lowest ranked cores causing them to cringe and tremble. "1st ce Yami, please step forward." "Father." Yami boldly stood before his father with an unperturbed expression, not even the slightest hint of him revelling in his victory could be seen. "For being 1st in the rankings, for a second time I grant you these boots of the shadow walker and a free purchase of any 3 star environment." Dark brought out arge chest from his spatial ring, inside were a pair of 4 star shimmering ck boots that allowed their wearer to travel through shadows, within reason of course. There was a limit to the distance travelled and the size of the exit and entry shadow as well as how opaque it was. Nheless it was a fine looking gift that suited Yami''s style to a tee. But the free 3 star environment was truly something, though it wasn''t a physical asset that he could personally use it could dramatically improve the prospects of his Dungeon. Only his most recent floor made use of a 3 star environment and the cost for a single room was in the tens of thousands. Chapter 624 The second Dungeon core DP rankings (2) "Thank you father." With an almost imperceptible smile on his lips Yami took hold of the boots of the shadow walker, finding them more and more to his liking the longer he held them. They''d make a fine addition to his battle attire. "You''re very wee." Though he would have appreciated a more animated reaction Dark had long gotten used to Yami''s personality. With a curt nod he passed over a special ticket that would allow Yami to purchase a 3 star environment for free before calling out to his eldest daughter. "Aqua if you would be so kind?" From the difference in tone and the fawning expression on his face it was obvious to everyone that Dark preferred his daughters over his sons, he wasn''t even bothering to hide his favouritism anymore. "Happily father, what goodies do you have for me today?" Knowing full well the power she had over their father Aqua leaned into the fawning, giggling under her breath and batting her eyshes in his direction. Several of the male Dungeon cores visibly grimaced as they saw the smile on their father''s face grow and grow in response to their sister''s yful antics. "Of course I saved the very best of goodies for you my dear Aqua." Dark''s sudden turn to apletely doting father earned him the ire of pretty much every other Dungeon core in the room bar Aqua. The old man thus ended up on the receiving end of some very harsh res and... "Cough, cough" feeling the shame building he loudly coughed before returning to the task at hand. "Aqua for ranking 2ndI''m prepared to offer you a very special item, one that''ll pair well with your beauty and add to your royal endowment." Aqua''s eyes sparkled upon beingplemented for her beauty, her interest in the uing reward reaching a fervour. Dark waited a brief moment, dragging out the suspense before summoning a crystal covered chest that screamed luxury. All the Dungeon cores that cared deeply about beautiful objects couldn''t help but drool in anticipation. "For you my dear Aqua I grant you the tiara of the oceanic queen, a piece of headwear forged from rare metals found only in the deepest parts of the northern oceans and iid with shimmering celestite. A peak 4 star piece of equipment that not only automatically protects its user from danger with dense shields of water mana but greatly improves their natural mana regeneration." Contained within the crystal chest was a tiara that not only provided impressive defensive capabilities but looked like a work of art. Aqua grasped hold of the tiara with trembling hands, a sliver of drool quickly forming at her lips as she wasted no time cing the item upon her head. Immediately she felt a wave offort and power flowing through her veins and subconsciously she adopted a sense of valour andmand, before Frost and his siblings was no longer their big sister Aqua but a queen of the ocean. Dark''s choice in reward was very apt, even Frost couldn''t help but feel himself drawn to his sister''s beauty a fact that Aqua very much revelled in. "How do I look Frost? isn''t your big sister just stunning?" Unable to form any words Frost simply nodded his head as though in a daze. Normally this would be something that would spark Maya''s jealousy given that his eyes were drawn to another woman, but she wasn''t doing any better. Aqua was already stunning, adding on that radiant tiara was just overkill. Even Sylph who''d normally be the first to rain on Aqua''s parade found herself staring in awe. Dark repeatedly nodded his head, his heart full of pride as he saw Aqua show off her beauty but there was still work to be done so after allowing for a couple minutes of showboating he reluctantly asked her to return to the stands so he could hand over the next prize. "Frost, congrattions. You may not have moved up the most ranks, but you imed one of the hardest. 3rd ce, the top 3 amongst all your siblings, very, very well done my son." Dark was all smiles as he praised Frost, he was particrly proud of this 7th son of his after all. Not only did he run a tight ship in regards to his Dungeon but he truly explored the outside world, he found friends, rivals and even started a family plus he was the first to stand against him, to openly dere his own desires. Now the question was what to reward this filial son with. He already had ess to a strong weapon and a cksmith girlfriend, so equipment would be a poor choice. An oddity would have been good, but he''s already got an earth ranked cold me on loan. Free monsters and environments won''t do by themselves so there needs to be something, something that truly speaks to Frost, a unique item that shows he put some thought into it. "..." Dark frowned and stroked his chin in thought for a good few minutes before finally pulling something out of that addled brain of his. "Alright I''ve got it. Since you''ve got that cksmith girl with you I''ll grant you a free 4 star mine as well as a single improvement to your regenerating robes." After loudly pping Dark announced the reward he came up, something that took Frost''s personal circumstances into consideration. "..." Frost silently processed his father words before a smirk developed on his lips and a glint formed in his eyes. "Have I ever told you how much I love you father?" Frost absolutely loved this reward, not only was it beneficial to his Dungeon and personal safety but would likely see him rewarded in other ways by that cksmith girlfriend of his. "Hehehehe not often enough son." The father son pairughed in a knowing manner before an iron ticket was exchanged and a silver light embedded itself within Frost''s robes, upgrading them to the next level of durability. Bonk! "Ow!" The moment Frost returned to his seat however he received a harsh p across the back of his head. "Pervert." Maya openly chastised him with puffed up cheeks knowing full well what was going through her boyfriend''s mind the moment he received his reward. "Hey, I am my father''s son, and I don''t see youining when it''s you upying my mind." After long grown into his own Frost boldly retorted, his right hand skilfully finding its way around her waist, pulling her in close. A blush quickly adorned Maya''s face as people started looking over, why did she have to get involved with such a pervert? After the top 3 it was time for those ranked in the top 10 to receive their rewards. The six of them however had to all go up at once making it far less personal, their rewards were also a degree or two lower. For example Indra who was ranked 5th got two free 2 star environment tickets while Gaia received a gacha draw worth 10,000DP and a free F-rank spawner.Pyro nearly blew a gasket when he received a rather mediocre reward and a not so subtle dig from their father, chastising him for his earlier behaviour. Among the six only Terra received something special and that was because in addition to ranking 9th he had sessfully jumped more than 20 ces since thest ranking. Dark granted him an egg simr to the one he gifted Yami for ranking firstst time. As long as Terra provided the egg with an abundance of earth aspected mana it could grow into a powerful S-rank spirit, though it would require a great deal of time and luck to do so. Yami''s egg was still yet unhatched after an entire year of effort. Following the top ten and Terra''s special exception was Collete, Dark had chosen to reward her specifically because she had jumped the most ces since thest ranking. From the very low rank of 91st to the middling rank of 47th, Collete had jumped a total of 44 ces, outshining the 2nd ce improver by 13 spots. Dark wanted to reward and encourage suchpetitive spirit thus Collete was granted something rather spectacr given her ranking. "Collete for your inspiring efforts over the past 11 months I''d like to grant you 3 things, first a one-time injection of 50,000DP." Just the first prize alone caused many Dungeon cores to sharply suck in their breaths, a lot could be done with 50,000 especially in lower ranked Dungeons. "Second a 4 star fan and finally two E-rank spawners. With these I hope you''ll be able to stand tall in battle and further develop your Dungeon''s defences." The prizes may not have been all that unique (bar the fan, a very unusual choice in weapon but one Collete was most skilled in) but to Collette''s Dungeon that spanned just six floors it was a literal godsend. E-rank monsters were her Dungeon''s bread and butter, to get two of them for free allowed her to save tens of thousands of DP. "Thank you so much Dad!" Collete was a bundle of excitement and anxiety. She felt awkward being the centre of attention but hearing the list of rewards sent her mind into overdrive, she had ns, big ns for the DP and spawners while the fan would ensure her personal level of equipment for quite a while. Unlike Frost, Indra and the other battle focused cores she was still piddling around early maybe mid C-rank, so a 4 star weapon was almost too good. "You''re wee Collete, you''ve earned it." Dark was all smiles again as he watched another daughter jump in joy and call him with affection. A few momentster however once Collete had calmed down there was a change in the atmosphere, and everyone suddenly felt colder and less joyous. "Now for the punishments and forfeit challenges." Chapter 625 Punishments "Now for the punishments and forfeit challenges." Said Dark in a very cold tone as he eyed over the Dungeon cores who sat on thest ten ces of the leaderboard. "Will the bottom ten please step forward." He asked with a smile that wasn''t a smile. The bottom ten ceholders felt their skin crawl and bones tremble while under that gaze but not a single one of them was brave enough to disobey. Soon ten nervous Dungeon cores were standing before Dark with their heads hung low, wishing for this disy to be over and done with as soon as possible. "Since I am rewarding those who do well in these rankings it''s only right that I punish those that do not exceed in equal measure thus giving you all something to strive for as well as desperately avoid." Dark smile seemed to grow more and more mischievous as he spoke a sign that his form of punishment was sure to be something funny in his eyes. "This is either going to be really good or traumatising." "My money''s on traumatising." Experience new tales on m v|l e''-NovelBin "Put me down for that as well." Frost, Indra and Damascusmented on the side eager to enjoy a show. "Each of you have either fallen to your bottom ten ranking over the past 11 months or have remained there from the start." Dark''s gaze lingered on a short, dark skinned Dungeon core named Ms in particr. The young man who looked like a mole beastkin ranked 97th 11 months ago and was now ranked 98th, doing even worse the second time around. "This isn''t good and not what I want to see so you''ll need to suffer a little." Dark barely managed hold back a manicughter as he stretched his hands forward. Suddenly nine beams of ck light shot out of his fingers and punctured everyone bar Tovar who ranked 91st. The moment their bodies were pierced the Dungeon cores felt no pain, but they did feel a little chilly, as though a breeze was brushing against their skin. "Ahhh." "Oh my." "Kyaaah." Loud exims from the stands quickly erupted along with an embarrassed scream from the woman ranked 95th who finally opened her eyes and saw what Dark had done. All nine of them had been instantly stripped of their clothes, leaving them naked for all their siblings, their guardians and the their father to see. "Hahahahaha!" "Now that''s a punishment hahahaha!" Frost and Indra couldn''t help but lean against one another as theyughed their guts out, truly enjoying their father''s sense of humour. He didn''t enact penalties to their Dungeons, nor did he inflict physical pain but instead he attacked them with shame. While Frost and Indra found the situation hrious however some found the prospect of being stripped in front of their peers utterly humiliating, their faces drained of all colour as they thanked their lucky stars that it wasn''t them being punished. Dark seemed topletely ignore the voices and reactions of those in the stands, focusing solely on the men and women baring all before him. He didn''t choose this sort of punishment lightly, after careful consideration he believed that something like this was more than appropriate for the circumstances. No one would be physically harmed, there would be no taking of hard earned DP, nor would any restrictions be ced on their Dungeons instead their dignity would pay the price, a construct that most people tended to protect from even the slightest injury. Thus Dark believed that after today those ranked in the bottom ten would do everything in their power to avoid such treatment in the future. "As punishment for ranking in the bottom ten of the DP leaderboards the nine of you must run 3ps around the ball room buck naked in front of everyone here!" The nine men and women looked up at their father with either distraught or shocked expressions, unable toprehend what was happening. Never in their wildest dreams did they believe this was the type of punishment intended for them. A p on the wrist, a fine of DP hell even being forced to endure something physically painful would be more bearable than this. All of their siblings were watching, it was so embarrassing. "What are you waiting? Get going.Now!" Dark was like an evil demon personified, their tear stained cheeks only seemed to empower him and broaden his malicious grin. A few of the Dungeon cores desperately tried to refuse his orders, covering up their bodies with their limbs and stayed still but Dark was prepared for that. "Ow!" "Ow!" Painful electric shocks stabbed into their backsides forcing their limbs apart and their legs to straighten. There was no recourse for them, they needed to run 3ps around the room naked whether they wanted to or not. "Hahahae on Ms you can run faster than that!" "Melion no need to be embarrassed we''re not judging hahaha!" Several Cores in the stands started hollering after those running making them feel even more embarrassed. Only once they''dpleted the firstp did Dark''s attention focus on Tovar the only one of the bottom ten still standing with his clothes on. "Tovar, Tovar, Tovar at thest gathering you weren''t exactly ranked high, but it wasn''t bad, now though not only are you in the bottom ten you''ve dropped the most ces out of all your siblings." Tovar was the opposite of Collete thus Dark felt it was fair to grant him a special punishment. "Gulp" Tovar loudly gulped as his body warned him of a frightening premonition. What could his father do to him that was worse than what he just did to the rest of the bottom ten. He really, really didn''t want to find out unfortunately there was no hole for him to crawl into, no way to escape his fate. He felt the gazes that had been drawn away by the naked nine home in on him with eager anticipation, it was so intense that his back formed goosebumps and his spine tingled. Dark with his demon like expression sauntered over towards him, he ced a hand on his shoulder and whispered into his ear. His words slowly making Tovar''s face nch of all colour and be filled with unadulterated fear. "Pplease no." He begged with red eyes and trembling hands. "This is your punishment Tovar, learn from it and maybe from now you won''t be sozy." Dark''s hand gripped down hard on Tovar''s shoulder pinning him in ce, preventing any form of instinctual escape. "But don''t worry I''ll wait until the rest are done with their punishment; it wouldn''t be fair to have everyone distracted from your efforts after all hehehehe." In that moment Tovar''s spirit suffered a fierce blow, his heart tearing apart as he epted his fate. Once the naked nine had finished their assignedps Dark generously recreated their clothes, granting them back their modesty but not a single one thanked him. Instead their eyes were filled with hatred and anger as they looked at him. For now he was no longer their father but a demonic bully. Dark was strangely unmoved by their anger even the wails of his daughters fell on deaf ears thanks to his hardened resolve. "Great everyone''s finished you know what that means Tovar." "Urgh" Tovar groaned with tears streaming down his cheeks. His expression quickly drawing the interest of his siblings. Even the naked nine looked at him with some level of anticipation and hope. If what Tovar was made to do was worse than what they did perhaps they could save some of their fractured dignity. "Tovar here is not only one of the bottom ten but also the Dungeon core that dropped the most ces since thest family gathering thus he''s been chosen to participate in a special punishment." Dark tapped Tovar''s shoulder magically eviscerating his clothes until he was in his birthday suit. Once naked he gently pushed him forward and waved his sleeve causing a spotlight to beam down on Tovar and music to start ying throughout the room. "Time to dance Tovar." "Urgh.ow!" Initially he adamantly refused but a cascade of shocks forced his body to twist and move awkwardly like an attempt at dancing. Frost, his siblings and the remaining guardians thus watched Tovar being forced to dance by their father, buck naked and to upbeat music. The naked nine runningps was certainly something, but this was something else entirely. No one jeered, hollered or praised instead they all watched in silence as Tovar moved reluctantly to the beat of the music bearing everything Dark had given him. "..Ok the first range of punishments were funny, but this is." "Traumatising." Frost, Indra and Damascus were no longerughing yet they couldn''t pull their gazes away, mesmerised by Tavor''s plight. The group watched on for a couple minutes before finding the situation truly unpleasant. "Should we step in?" Damascus asked feeling that this form of punishment with the spotlight, music and every single pair of eyes in the room honed in on him was too much. Though the punishment would likely see Tovar do his very best to never be in such a position ever again was it worth the cost. "Do you have a suggestion like?" Inquired Indra, softly agreeing that something should be done. "We could join him." "You mean willingly strip down and start dancing beside him, hah fat chance." Indra quickly shot that suggestion down; this was Tovar''s punishment so why should he bare all. "We don''t need to strip but dancing by his side should provide moral support." Damascus had no intentions of stripping either. "Alright as long as all three of us do it I''m in." Though still a little reluctant Indra agreed to draw attention to themselves and away from Tovar all in the spirit of brotherly bonds. "Frost?" "I''m in." With that the three brothers were in agreement and if in sync the three stood up as one and made their way down to Tovar who was still reluctantly dancing. "We so have to film this right?" "Totally." "We can''t ever let them forget this golden event." While Frost, Damascus and Indra made their way down their guardians huddled together and activated their Dungeon''s camera functions. "Hmm Frost, Indra, Damascus what are you doing?" Not expecting the three of them to appear Dark loudly questioned with a frown on his face. He was in the middle of Tovar''s punishment whatever they wanted couldn''t it wait until he was finished, the song was already at the halfway point. "Nothing much." "Yeah just felt the need to do some stretching father." "Great song by the way, Tovar do you mind if we join you?" The three acted as one, confidently standing beside Tovar with smiles on their faces. "Eh?" Tovar stopped his movements for a brief second but was then immediately shocked, forcing him to continue dancing. "We want to dance with you Tovar." After nodding to one another Frost, Indra and Damascus stood next to their younger brother and faced the gazes of their many siblings before joining him in his dance. "Hoh this is actually pretty fun, great exercise hahaha." Indra started to really get into the groove, adding his own re which was quickly followed by both Frost and Damascus. Those in the stands watched in awe as the four of them danced together and for the first time since he was forced to start dancing Tovar didn''t feel ashamed or fearful instead he felt protected. Though his three brothers were still clothed they willingly put themselves at risk to help him, to dance beside him and ease his pain. Tovar smiled through his tears and started to really dance, no longer relying on the shocks to force him. Chapter 626 Soul damage Dark waspletely speechless as he watched Frost, Indra and Damascus dance by Tovar''s side, effectively erasing the majority of his humiliation, the whole damn point of his punishment. Soon he even saw some of his children dancing in the stands to show their own support,pletely ignoring the exposure of Tovar and gradually that speechlessness turned to anger, then fury and finally wrath. An eery pressure formed around him as his entire body started to tense. Frost''s body visibly trembled as he sensed extreme danger, his back quickly bing drenched in cold sweat as warning bells went off in his head. It felt as though a bloodthirsty predator was breathing down his neck. Yet despite this danger that he and his siblings felt they continued to wantonly ignore it, continuing to dance by Tovar''s side as though shielding him from those that wished him harm. It was a risky endeavour but one which he, Indra and Damascus felt needed to be done. Sure Tovar needed to receive some form of punishment so as to dissuade others from beingzy and falling behind in terms of their DP ie, but this was not the way. It was cruel and unnecessary. Just as Dark was about to blow his top off Frost sent a pleading look towards the only two people who could save them from their father''s wrath. An instantter those two saviours appeared between the four of them and Dark. "Father don''t you think this has gone on long enough." "You''re punishment has gone too far old man! It''s cruel and unnecessary!" Yami and Aqua boldly dered as they shielded and endured the pressure that was meant for Frost and the others. The two of them weren''t just the strongest in their family but the ones with the most sway with the old man. If he was in his right mind he''d listen to the two of them. Unfortunately right now he wasn''t in his right mind. The splitting of his soul to create his children had left it damaged thus he was asionally subjected to re ups of emotion, poor judgement and sometimes in the worst cases bouts of mania. Thankfully until now he''d been able to hold back the asional attack, but everyone has their limit. Dark''s aura continued to billow outward quickly growing in density and presence, soon Aqua and Yami struggled to even breathe let alone stand tall against it. "Oh no, everyone move in to restrain Dark God-sama!" Sensing that something was very wrong Diablos roared out to the other guardians before teleporting in front of Yami and Aqua. It took the guardians only a split second to realise the gravity of the situation before all 34 of them appeared between Dark and his children. Maya and Izuna quickly pushed away Frost, Damascus, Indra and Tovar while Damascus'' guardian Emery retrieved Yami and Aquaunching them into the stands where an isting barrier was quickly erected. The guardians then surrounded Dark and channelled their powers into an advanced, intricate formation that quickly encased Dark, isting him in a separate space. The situation was far more dire than Frost and the others suspected, each of the guardian''s had ashen faces, their expressions being that of one''s prepared to face off against an impossible adversary. There was a vast chasm between someone at S-rank and a God and that was just for a standard one, Dark was the ultimate existence with but a single equal. Despite the power these guardians held in the mortal world, inparison to Dark they were but ants no less than ants, amoeba, insignificant specks that could be erased with but a single thought. The mighty formation that ced Dark in a separate space didn''t evenst a single second before the dimensional walls disintegrated, revealing a man shaped shadow, who apart from his eyes all else was an all consuming ck. "Dark God-sama please calm your anger!" "Lord Creator!" "All Father!" "Your eminence show mercy!" All the upper ranked guardians screamed, begging Dark to calm his anger, to stop his sudden outburst. Unfortunately their pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears, the shadow that was Dark blinked his eyes once and an aura that couldn''t be quantified by mortals pressed down on the 34 guardians quickly smashing each and every one of them into the ground without mercy. Bones cracked, blood was spilled, and strong feelings of terror and fear filled the room. Frost watched on in abject dread as the entity that felt so disconnected from life, his supposed father took out 34 of the strongest beings he had ever seen with nothing but a simple blink of his eyes. For the first time in his life he viewed his father not with admiration, embarrassment, joy or anger but with pure unadulterated fear. This entity was not just their father but an existence that stood above everything and everyone else, they had forgotten that. "Ahhhhh Dark God-sama please!" The guardians that could still resist the pressure continued to call out, desperate to return Dark to reason. Frost heard Maya''s screams as more of her bones were broken and she was pushed deeper and deeper into the floor. Dark''s aura was only growing stronger as time passed and soon if nothing was done all the guardians would be killed. This was something he couldn''t condone. Despite being filled with so much fear that his body felt akin to solid lead and that his heart convulsed irregrly, threatening to stop at a moment''s notice he braved through it. With veins undting across his forehead and entire body Frost roared from behind the barrier. "FATHER!!!!" He shouted so much that he spat up blood, but he continued to yell and soon his siblings, Indra, Damascus, Void, Chronos, Sylph, Terra, Gaia, Pyro, Aqua and Yami and a few others who had breached B-rank joined him. "FATHER!!" "OLD MAN!!" "DAD!!" "GREAT FATHER!!" The only hope they had was for Dark to regain his sanity, even with theirbined might they were no match for a single hair on his head, so they shouted and roared with emotion, pleading for their father, the man who created them, the one who was always smiling and cracking terrible jokes not this apparition of shadow. Of the 34 guardians only 10 or so were still conscious by this point and only Diablos was still able to keep his head raised. ''It''s hopeless, we''re done for.'' As the pressure continued to build despite the efforts of his colleagues and even their charges he said a final farewell before stopping his resistance, resigning to the fate he had been dealt. With him lowering his defences and subjecting himself to the weight thest vestiges of the barrier fell, reconnecting the Dungeon cores with the ball room. "FATHER!!!!!" The moment the barrier fell all the Dungeon cores called out as one, their voices no longer as hampered by the barrier quickly tore through the room to reach the apparition of shadow, but sound could only travel so quickly, and the pressure emitted by Dark wasn''t any slower. While the word was still on their lips a pressure akin to that of an entire mountain and more fell on their heads. The family of siblings were powerless to resist, even Yami and Aqua sumbed instantly. Time appeared to drag on, in the fractions of a second that it took their bodies to be pressed against the floor their words reached Dark in his maddened state. And as though a re went off in and filled with darkness Dark started to wake up, his mind surging into action. The shadowy visage that was akin to perhaps his true form receded in an instant once again revealing his appearance as a handsome middle-aged man. His violent and boundless aura that had continued to grow and grow was pulled back faster than a mortal''s mind could even register. Before Frost and his siblings could even blink Dark had returned to his amicable self, removed his aura, wrapped the 34 guardians in a ck egg and teleported within their cluster catching each and everyone of their falling bodies with divine energy. One minute they were facing darkness, an impending doom where their bodies, mind and even souls were set to be crushed and the next they were falling into what felt like a warm embrace. "I''m sorry." Frost heard his father speak two words before he fell unconscious, his body drained of all strength. Dark took in the devastation his state had caused and how close he was to losing everything he held dear. Just a moment longer, in fact not even a moment all of his children would have died, by his hand no less. Find more chapters on m_v l|e-NovelBin Dark bore an expression filled with pain and panic, he knew of his outbursts, his re-ups and asional bouts of mania but never before had hepletely lost control like he just did, and it was with his own children. If he had lost himself with one of the Gods it would have been fine, their strength would have allowed them to withstand his aggression but his kids. Even the strongest were only at B-rank, nothing but a speck inparison. As his thoughts coalesced he examined his past actions and the lead up to the attack. "What did I do?" He gazed over at Tovar who was still without garments, his heart in turmoil. He couldn''t believe that he thought it was fine to subject his son to such extreme humiliation because he was a bitzy and failed to rank high on the DP rankings. It was no wonder Frost, Indra and Damascus took to the stage, to support him in a manner that didn''t directly contend with his decision. At this point he remembered seeing the four of them dancing, seeing Tovar smile and even some of his other children dancing in the stands as a show of support. He remembered his anger building in that moment and refusing to stop, growing, festering until he was fit to burst yet still he failed to notice anything wrong with his mental state. Finally when Yami and Aqua confronted him directly the dam burst, and he was consumed by his fury. Everything was clear now, he was sick, his mental scars running far deeper than he suspected. He was dangerous and couldn''t trust his own judgement. "I need to get a handle on this before I do something I''ll regret." With a pained expression and tightly clenched fists Dark solemnly swore. He could not allow something like this to happen again. Chapter 627 Soul damage (2) "Diablos are you awake?" After quickly inspecting each of his children Dark called out to the leader of the guardians. "Yes Dark God-sama." Diablos meekly responded a momentter, his wounds having been rapidly healed by the ck cocoon Dark summoned. "Good. I''m sorry about this Diablos it seems my condition is far worse than I first imagined." There was a clear quiver in his tone, revealing to Diablos the true extent of his shock. "Your eminence?" Never before had Diablos heard such worry and unease in his master''s voice. "I''ll be fine it''s not at the level where it can affect my base existence, but it does need to be managed if I''m to continue interacting with my children and the mortal world.Diablos send word to your grandfather, I''ll be needing to rely on him for a while." After a brief silence Dark made a decision, before his state gets any worse he''d refrain from interacting with entities below the God level. "As youmand Dark God-sama." A whirlpool of thoughts and emotions swirled in Diablos'' mind as he listened to his words. He wanted to help his liege but knew he was powerless; he had no business in the domain of the Gods. His grandfather however was a different story. Erebus, known as the God of shadows was very close to Dark, and before his ascension to Godhood he essentially worked as his prime servant, a go between the godly and mortal realm. Even now despite his lofty position Erebus served Dark wholeheartedly, attending to his needs whenever it was required. There were very few entities that Dark could trust with his most intimate secrets, Erebus was one of these few. After giving a respectful bow and ncing in Yami''s direction Diablos slipped into a pir of shadow and exited this dimension, heading straight for his grandfather''s domain. Your next journey awaits at m v|l-e''-NovelBin "Haaaaaaa I hope they won''t look at me with fear filled eyes." Dark let out a deep sigh as he dreaded the prospect of his children looking at him like he was the manifestation of terror. While his children rested Dark saw to the healing of the guardians, he apologised for the situation and asked that they do their best to look after their charges, to help them ovee any trauma that develops and if possible put in a good word for him. He desired nothing more than to salvage the rtionship he had with his children. The guardians all bowed their heads in reverence to his words, iming that no apology was needed, they were his eternal servants. A response that made Dark cherish his children even more. "They''ll likely be out for a while so in the meantime line up so I can rewrite your soul contracts." Feeling that his mind was once again fully under his control and that another attack so soon was unlikely Dark decided to rewrite the guardian''s contracts which would bind them to their charges, limiting their strength and tying their fates together. He was just thankful that he didn''t do this earlier thus saving his children from a very gruesome fate. Several hourster Frost started toe to. His body felt no pain but there was residual fear present that made him tense up and scream the moment he was conscious. "Frost rx, you''re safe, you''re safe." Maya quickly swooped in and wrapped her arms around his trembling and iling body. He struggled and appeared to be in a heightened state of panic but slowly thanks to her tight grip, the softness and weight of her body against his, her enchanting scent and the beating of her heart he gradually calmed down, his mind bing clear. "WWhat happened?" "..An ident, something that Dark God-sama says will never happen again." Maya was silent for a moment before replying. Frost visibly trembled as she said his father''s title, he remembered the appearance of that ck apparition with chilling eyes, the fear that overwhelmed his mind and body, how very close he and all his siblings were to death. "Indra! Aqua! My siblings?" "They''re safe, everyone is safe." Maya said soothingly before gesturing to their side where most of the Dungeon cores were still unconscious, but a few were awake and in their Guardian''s arms. Seeing Gaia, Damascus and the rest asleep but breathing steadily calmed him down. As long as no one was seriously hurt or killed life could go on. Frost allowed himself to seekfort in Maya''s embrace for a few minutes, granting his heart enough time to steady its beat before searching for a certain figure. He caught sight of Aqua, Yami, Terra and Pyro awake and alert with simr expressions to his own, but he didn''t see their father the one responsible for their current situation. He felt that this was rather unnatural, knowing his father he was the type of person who''d quickly try to fix his mistake, to take an all in caring approach, at least that''s how he viewed him. He was silly at times, strict and even sometimes harsh but most of all he was extremely doting, especially to his daughters. Yet Aqua and Sylph were both awake and still in shock, yet his presence was nowhere to be seen. Though there was still a strong remnant of fear coursing through his veins, bringing the image of Dark''s true form to the surface of his mind every other second there was also pain, worry and love. His body feared his father but also loved him. As the seconds passed he grew more and more concerned, where was their father? Was he ok? Was his soul damaged? Was he in pain after causing this? With a sudden surge of resolve Frost clenched his fists and pulled away from Maya''s embrace. "My father, where is he?" ".." Maya silently frowned, unsure how to answer. Dark had chosen to recluse himself from their current dimension so as to avoid frightening his children. He didn''t want to exacerbate any trauma or fear they had towards him. ".He''s." It was clear that Maya was reluctant to answer as she squirmed under his gaze, piddling with her choice of words. "Enough, I''ll find out myself." Frost quickly rose to his feet with an air of determination around him. He nced over at the bodies of his siblings, most where still unconscious but those who were awake had quickly started to regain their faculties. He wasn''t even the first stand up, Yami just like himself was looking around, taking measure of his siblings and searching for their father. He too was worried about the old man. "Father." Frost loudly called out but received nothing but silence in return. "..Old man." Again even with the change in title there was no response. ".Old bast.." "Ok that''s enough of that." Suddenly before Frost could finish saying the new monicker Dark''s voice reverberated within his skull. ''Hmph so now you answer.'' "Where are you?" "Not here." "Obviously." "..." "You''re hiding." "No I''m not, it''s just not safe to be around me right now." Dark seemed to take offence, quickly giving an excuse for his absence. "Bullshit! You''re inplete control at the moment, you''re just feeling guilty." "Urgh!" The exchange between Frost and Dark was happening entirely telepathically on Dark''s part thus all everyone else saw was Frost loudly arguing with an empty space, growing angrier with every word. "Suck it up and show yourself old man or so help me I''ll have everyst one of your daughters ignore you for an entire month!" "You wouldn''t dare!" "Try me!" Frost viciously threatened. For a few moments there was silence before space warped and the form of a handsome middle aged man appeared before Frost and everyone else. The man was frowning and in his eyes there was a mixture of fear, anger, desperation and reluctance. Though his gaze was primarily focused on Frost it asionally drifted over his other children, measuring their reactions to his appearance. And although one or two visibly trembled, for most fear was not their initial reaction. "..Are you ok Father?" Frost''s initial bluster vanished in an instant, his apparent anger and threats seeing only to bring his Father back before them. His voice was tinged with concern as he walked forward wanting to embrace his father. "Frost?" "We''re fine father, everyone is fine." Frost wrapped his arms tightly around Dark and spoke in a soothing manner. He acted the same way Maya did for him, hoping to cate his father''s fears. Eventually Dark hugged Frost back, his heart practically unravelling as his eyes grew red. "I''m sorry, so sorry." He apologized repeatedly to Frost and his siblings wanting nothing more than to take back what he almost did to them. Seeing their father in such a fragile and emotional state practically erased the terrifying image he had created earlier. Smiles returned to their faces and those who were awake took to their feet and moved to embrace both their father and brother, putting the pain of what happened beforepletely behind them. "Exin father, we can only help and be prepared to lend you our aid if we know what''s happening." "Yes, please tell us Father, we want to help you." "Don''t keep us in suspense old man." "You owe us that much at least." The children in arge circle surrounded their father and demanded that he tell them everything. And though reluctant Dark acquiesced, he told them about his fractured soul, the symptoms he had to endure and what he needed. Chapter 628 Bringing the second gathering to a close (end of volume 9) "So in creating us your soul became fragmented and thus you''ve had to endure bouts of mania and extreme aggression." Frost summarised what Dark told them. "Yes and it seems to be far more problematic than I first anticipatedright now I''m too dangerous to be left unchecked so I''m having Diablos call an old friend. With him helping me out I should be able to find some solution to my current predicament." He had great faith in Erebus'' discretion and capabilities. "I see.is there anything we can do to help?" "No, not now at least. Just keep developing and living your lives, seeing that brings me joy." Though he appreciated their willingness to help there was nothing his children could do at least with their current strength. As the rest of the Dungeon cores came to, the older siblings helped ease the fears held by their younger siblings thus saving the rtionship between them and their father. Diablos returned to the ball room a few minutester and whispered in Dark''s ear. He had met with his grandfather and ryed his message; Erebus would join him in his pce once he was finished with his little family gathering which now that he was back in control and his kids didn''t look at him with abject fear could continue. However before that he owed a special apology to Tovar. Because of his condition he thought that it was ok to brutally humiliate him in front of his siblings, he had erred greatly in this regard. Thus after bowing nearly 90 degrees and begging for his son''s forgiveness he promised to have a one on one chat with him once the gathering was over wherein he''d receive a unique gift, something that was strongly encouraged by the rest of his children. The naked nine however wouldn''t receive anything extra, it was agreed upon that their punishment was actually rather fit, not too extreme, not too lenient and no one was singled out in their shame. "So.where were we?" After apologising to Tovar Dark asked with obvious embarrassment. "The punishments had beenpleted so I guess it''s the so called forfeit challenges right?" "Yeah, dinner, war, duels, DP rankings rewards, punishments and finally forfeit challenges before we move onto discussing the current Dungeon system." Gaia listed out the progression Dark first outlined with his fingers, earning a round of agreeing nods. "The forfeit challenges eh?" Dark stroked his chin in thought. The point in offering forfeit challenges was to grant those falling behind their siblings a chance to catch up, allowing them the opportunity to rise from being eternally ranked at the bottom. Thus they needed to be quite specific, to focus solely on improving one''s ability to generate DP. Experience more content on m v|l e''-NovelBin "The forfeit challenges will only apply to the bottom half of the rankings and will include many tiers." Dark stood before his children and expounded upon his ns. "The first tier will apply to all bottom fifty, if you can increase your monthly DP ie by at least 20% within the first three months you''ll be granted a free G-rank spawner, F-rank if you can surpass 40%." "The next tier will apply to just the bottom twenty. If you can surpass 75% you''ll be granted a free E-rank spawner as well as a free 2 star environment while surpassing 100% will grant you an additional floor and an extra F-rank spawner." "The final tier applies solely to the bottom ten andes with detriments alongside benefits. Surpassing 100% will instead grant you an additional E-rank spawner rather than an F-rank one however if you fail to increase your monthly DP ie by at least 20% in the first three months you''ll lose ess to yourtest developed section, and if your monthly ie actually bes lower than what it is currently you''ll lose ess to the entire floor, all of your developments on it bing erased." This was the rules Dark had formted after a great deal of thought. Granting the lower ranked Dungeon cores free spawners would help revitalise their attraction to adventurers while also not granting them too many unfair advantages. If they worked hard they''d be rewarded for that effort and if not they''d continue to fall behind, simple as that. Dark''s revtion resulted in a fierce chorus of murmurs, the bottom fifty were quite enthusiastic about his prepared forfeit challenges. The different tier system was quite novel and catered well to how badly each Dungeon core ranked on the leaderboards. Even the bottom ten who would be subject to quite severe losses if they didn''t improve their ie epted the terms with smiles. Each of them had sworn to improve their standing by the next gathering as their naked run left quite a mark on their hearts. As for the upper fifty only those ranked in the forties found the situation a little unfair, if only they''d raked in a slightly lower amount of DP then they too would have been able to enjoy the fruits of the forfeit challenges. Those ranked higher could easily afford the offered rewards based on their own ie so there was no skin off their backs. Following the agreement on the forfeit challenges Dark, his children and the remaining guardians sequestered themselves to another room wherein they took part in a grand debate regarding the current Dungeon system. The pros and cons, what could be improved, what served no purpose and what they wanted to see happen. This discussionsted close to 24 hours before they were finally happy to walk away and return to their Dungeons. In theing weeks Dark was sure to roll out a great many updates to the system so as to amodate all the new changes he and his children had agreed to. "Hopefully this time trade between them will be far moremon." Dark muttered as thest of his children left the space he had created leaving just him and Tovar. "Now Tovar let''s discuss how I can make up for my transgressions against you." Dark stretched out his hand to his son who happily grabbed on, feeling quite special in this moment. "Un." Several minutester Frost and Maya were deposited back in their private space, back home after a gruelling two days of dealing with family and drama. "Haaaaa feels good to be back home." "Un." Maya nodded her head in agreement as she leaned against Frost''s shoulder. Ever since Dark had rewritten her soul contract limiting her strength to below Frost''s her body had felt rather weak, and asionally tingly. She wasn''t used to having her strength so fiercely restrained. Before she could chose to not use her overwhelming power but now she had no choice in the matter, even an instinctual re-up was no longer possible. She was now well and truly bound to Frost, something that she found to be incredibly romantic. Just as she was gazing up at him and about to kiss his lips to express her affection the sound of an excited scream pulled them apart. "Master! Maya!" Loki in all his cuteness dashed out from his bedroom the moment he heard their arrival and leaped into their arms. By this point there was very little left of the shy and fearful young boy that Frost saved. "You''re lucky you''re adorable." Frost shook his head before taking hold of Loki in his arms, letting him sit on his forearm as the three of them walked. "Hehehe" Showing not even the slightest level of guilt Loki giggled in glee as Frost carried him to the sofa. There he and Maya regaled to him what transpired over the past two days, embellishing when necessary of course. The young phoenix kin waspletely transfixed on his every word, his eyes sparkling when Frost spoke of the grand battle between Terra and Pyro and his mind whirling with ideas when he told him of the Dungeon war between Queek and Void. It was only when they were wrapping up that the rest of the family made their way back to the private space, sporting rather weary expressions. Without Frost at the helm a lot of the duties fell to Daki and Nanna, and they never worked out as smoothly. To up their spirits Frost started his story from the beginning, bringing an official close to the family gathering and bringing back the usual order to the Dungeon of Niflheim. "So Maya''s no longer at the top of the food chain." Daki couldn''t help but smirk at her sister girlfriend''s possible plight. "I''m still stronger than you Daki." Maya bit back resulting in Daki sticking out her tongue in a yful manner. "Yes, father bound her soul to mine thus heavily restricting her natural strength." Frost only felt closer to her because of this, shown by the level of affection in his eyes as he gazed at her. Her power was never what he cared about after all. "A lot of changes wille into effect in theing weeks because of the recent gathering so we''ll have to change how run things. First of all the training space no longer has ess to free equipment and even using it as is has a small charge." Any training dummies, battlefields or targets now needed to be exchanged for with DP and there was a 100DP basic charge for every hour the space was in use thus adding to the Dungeon''s daily costs. "We''ll also likely be in contact with more Dungeon cores in the future as trade has been heavily encouraged." Frost had already put out some feelers with Void, Indra and couple others, keen to add their specialities to his own Dungeon. Chapter 629 Dungeon developments (volume 10) Following the end of the family gathering the Dungeon was kicked into high gear, its master keen to expand his domain even further so as to keep his hallowed third position amongst his siblings. He wasted no time choosing his free 4 star mine after getting Daki''s professional opinion. Though the output was the bare minimum for its rank, a paltry 5kg a day it was still ess to a material he couldn''t get his hands on normally. With a contingent of muscr ronsos and ice dwarves as its miners (no one else being strong enough to actually retrieve the ore from its solid confines) a vein of pr thulium appeared on the still unfinished 15th floor, far away from investigating adventurers. The mines on the fifth floor had already been discovered by more than a few groups. In the beginning Frost simply had those that treaded upon his secrets killed but when more and more came across them it was wiser to reveal something that could no longer be kept hidden, to instead openly im them in his name. Several 2 star mines were already starting to wee external miners under his rule as lord of the Niflheim Dungeon. Time continued to pass and the Dungeon of Niflheim continued to grow and develop. Its fame grew, spreading far and wide as the ce all manner of adventurers needed to be, and merchants needed to make their mark. Along with Indra''s Lightning Grotto and the other Dungeons present on the Yangmir continent the market was shifting. Monsterirs were already big enough news when they sprung up with five to ten floors let alone Dungeons that rapidly expanded to twice that many in merely a year''s time. The Dungeon of Niflheim''s territory was not only a bustling haven for adventurers and merchants but even people with far less dangerous and money seeking careers were being drawn over. The recent and still building turmoil in the Northrend empire was filling many of its citizens with fear. Large swathes of them were fleeing the realm, escaping to the nearby territories before the sword of Damocles truly fell. The war of princes was always filled with turmoil, but this generation felt different. "Dad are you sure about this?" One day a family consisting of a father, a son and young daughter arrived at the gates of the Niflheim camp with their belongings in tow. The father sported a determined expression while his children were clearly worried. "Yes, I''m sure. Northrend is no longer safe and holds no prospects for us." The father under the current storm chose to relocate his family and the business he worked so hard to build to beyond Northrend. He had seen the signs and his intuition told him that if he wished to protect those he loved they needed to leave and leave now. "But father why here? This territory has only been around for a few months?" The son who was old enough to know the workings of the adult world couldn''t understand his father''s decision. Moving was fine but why not to the Cleran kingdom or the Lumerian federation well known countries that would likely offer greater business prospects than the Northrend empire did in their prime. "Hehehe because this ce is a true empire in the making, its prospects far exceed that of Northrend''s neighbouring countries. It may not be much right now but in the future I can guarantee that the realm of Niflheim will span far and wide. Us getting here now also means there''s far lesspetition.Please trust in your father''s judgement." The man who was in his forties had always trusted his gut instincts. It was how he got the woman of his dreams, won the trust of his master and even seeded beyond all doubt within the crowded markets of Arkheart. ".Fine, though I can''t see this ce in the same way you do your judgement has yet to steer us wrong father. We''ll follow your lead as always." The man''s son hadplete faith in his father, the worry in his and his sister''s eyes thus vanished in that moment. Several minutester the young family walked through the camp''s gate and headed to office of residential registration. This was too be their new home. This family were far from the only group to walk through the gate of the Niflheim base camp in search of a new life. Though some were just passing through on their way to kingdoms residing in the cial mountains many remained within Frost''s territory, adding to his growing poption and the passive DP he raked in on a daily basis. On another day a group of adventurers following the rion call that was adventure strolled through the gates with great expectations. "Boss we''re finally here the Dungeon of Niflheim." A cat beastman with ck fur shook the snow from his cloak as he rushed forward keen to enter therge gate leading into the mountain. "Yes, after travelling for three weeks from the periphery of lte we''ve finally made it." The boss of this adventuring party couldn''t help but grin, the weariness of their travels vanishing like a puff of smoke. The Harkers were a group with boundless adventuring spirit, profit was secondary as was ranking up in the guild. They travelled far and wide in search of mystery and wonder and since Dungeons were thetest big thing, they were desperate to be a part of it. After quickly arranging their lodgings, visiting the local guild and getting they of thend the Harkers wasted no time at all entering the first floor of the Dungeon. Though the team of five were equal to an upper C-rank party they didn''t rush their delve, choosing to enjoy and take wonder in the local environment. "Frost goblins and slimes the basic of the basic." The scout of the group announced as he pulled out his dagger from one of their throats. "Yes but it seems the rumours were true. The monsters here are stronger than normal, even these frost goblins held more intelligence than the standard variety found in the wild." "Let''s move onto the deeper floors, only there can we be truly tested." Arge ox beastman bellowed as he rested a massive Warhammer across his shoulders. "Agreed." The Harkers quickly descended through the many floors only taking true pause once they finally reached floor 8 as that was where the C-rank monsters came into y. Frost was gradually moving his strongest monsters down as the Dungeon developed, soon C-ranks wouldn''t appear at all on the first ten floors. However a certain problem grew more and more prevalent therger the Dungeon became, a problem that many people grumbled about but were powerless to solve. For parties like the Harkers and the other C-ranks to reach the floors that suited their strengths they needed to traverse the entirety of the preceding floors. Discover more content at m,v l''e-NovelBin Sure they could rush through doing their best to avoidbat but that was still tens of kilometres of travel through rugged terrain, travel that cost time and energy. Now though with trade being heavily encouraged and Frost being able to witness the designs of Void''s Dungeon he thought of a solution, one which greatly inspired his brother who quickly went to work designing this proposed structure. Frost just needed a group to be the prospective guinea pigs and the Harkers fit the bill nicely. As the Harkers battled against an ice revenant on the eight floor, slowly but surely chipping away at it with their well-coordinated teamwork none of them suspected that the master of the Dungeon was eyeing their progress with clear interest. "Jakka hurry up with your enchantments!" The boss of the Harkers loudly orders as he leaped to the side dodging the ice revenant''s mighty swing. "I''m going as fast as I can, stop moving so much." Jakka their resident mage roared hisints as he did his best to keep focus. Though hecked big shy spells he was quite adept at enchantment magic that greatly improved his team''s weaponry and armours. "That''s easier said than done Jakka!" The ox beastman with his Warhammer chided from the side as he took a massive wallop at the revenant''s great sword, both of them beingunched backwards from the residual force. "Ah here I''m done!" "Perfect!" "Sweet!" "Now the party can really begin ahahaha!" The Harkers were emboldened by the earth aspected mana wrapping around their weapons and armours with this they didn''t have to fear the ice encrusted around the revenant nor their weapon''s being damaged by its armour. "[Grand wallop]" "[Swallow''s pierce]" "[Sword fang]" With their weapons enchanted the three closebat fighters of the Harkers attacked with some of their most powerful skills all at once instantly forcing the ice revenant to take defensive measures but unfortunately it wasn''t enough to endure heavy blows from three different directions. The ice revenant was severely wounded and quickly fell to their des a few minutester, leaving the armour that was its body and a damaged soul core lying on the ground. "Phew that was close, ice revenants really mean business." The group were clearly exhausted after their battle as all five of them fell to the ground and broke into heavy breathing. This was the third C-rank they''d fought against today and it drained them of all their remaining stamina. "Let''s call it a day and find a ce to make camp." The leader who was known as Rindou dered an end to the day as he moved to rifle through the materials left by the ice revenant''s corpse. "Huh what''s this?" Chapter 630 Dungeon developments (2) Rindou scavenged through the ice revenant''s corpse, isting the most useful and valuable materials for retrieval. Not everything could be used after all. With such a brutal sh of weaponry and skills much of the ice revenant''s body -its armour- was covered in deep gashes and splintering cracks. The Harkers would be lucky if even 10% of its corpse was usable. Damage to a monster''s body was a verymon urrence in their line of work so it was integral that at least one member of the party was skilled in identifying the quality and usability of what remained, Rindou just happened to be that person. Your adventure continues at m v|l-e''-NovelBin Rindou continued to shuffle through the corpse with an ever growing frown, the results of his search being subpar at best. The group were tired from the long trek and previous battles thus they neglected the care aspect when it came to hunting the ice revenant. Much of the corpse was trashed, even the revenant''s core was pretty much scrap as it littered the ground in countless fragments. "Haaaaaaa" Rindou let out a deep sigh filled with disappointment; he was ready topletely write off the entire corpse bar a few slivers of metal when a glimmer caught his eye. "Huh? What''s this thing?" This wasn''t the first time his team had hunted an ice revenant, so he was confident that he knew every single inch of usable material but apparently he was wrong. Rindou moved a couple chunks of metal to the side revealing a small spherical object covered in intricate runes. It was the runes that glimmered in the light, drawing his attention. "A runic stone?" Rindou was perplexed by the object now resting between his fingers. It was a small ck stone norger that 3 inches in diameter and decorated with silverly coloured runes that he couldn''t recognise. Truly a baffling object that had no business being with the ice revenant they just killed. "Jakkae over here for a moment." Since he couldn''t identify the rune himself Rindou called upon the Harkers eminent mage. Jakka begrudgingly dragged his tired body over to Rindou dropping his current task. "Take a look at this, have you see these runes before?" "Hmm." Jakka took hold of the runic stone and started investigating it. He rubbed it between his fingers, squeezed it, weighed it and examined the intricate runes before inserting a snippet of his own mana into it. The longer he ruminated on the stone the deeper his frown grew. "Sorry boss I''ve got no idea." Jakka shrugged his shoulders and passed the runic stone back to Rindou. He could identify that some of the rune had links to the spatial element but that was it. He had no clue what the stone did once filled with enough mana. Rindou gave the runic stone onest look before lightly tossing it upwards and catching it with his other hand. "Guess we''ll have tomission the guild for answers." The adventurer''s guild was home to a great many services, not only did they facilitate the creation and administration of quests for adventurers they also offered dismantling services, item storage as well as identification services. Items that could not be identified by their finder could be deposited with the guild for a small fee. The guild would then utilise its vastwork of knowledge and connections to analyse said item. Rindou and the Harkers given their fancy for exploration and unearthing of mystery were well acquainted with this service. "The rest of the corpse is pretty much useless so it''s time to go." "Yes boss." The Harkers thus made their way to a safe area where they could set up camp for the night. They would make for the surfacee tomorrow with their packs and even storage ring filled to the brim with bounty. As the Harkers drifted into a peaceful slumber Frost who was watching their actions from within the private space smiled and leaned back against the sofa. "The first stone has been given." The runic stone that Rindou found was purposely left with the ice revenant by Frost in the hope that they''d retrieve it. This small stone was the result of Void''s and hisbined efforts (well mostly Void''s but Frost came up with the idea). "What''s the next step?" Daki asked from his side. She was taking a break from her forge and was currently lying across the sofa, her legs resting on Frost''sp. "I''ll have a few more parties conveniently find these stones before going to the adventurer''s guild with my own and a rudimentary exnation." Frost replied back while massaging his girlfriend''s calves. "If we''re lucky this will result in another boon, adventurers will be hounding at our gates to get hold of these stones." An evil smile formed on his lips as Frost imagined the result of his little experiment. The runic stones he had Void develop were quite simple in nature but solved a deep-seated problem that gued all monsterirs of a significant size and now also Dungeons. Though he nned to invest in a more established structure in the future, for now these little stones would allow his customers to instantly travel to floor 5.5 from anywhere within the Dungeon, all they needed to do was pump it full of mana and whoosh they''d be teleported to the floor of peace, safe and sound. This stone would change how everything worked, primarily they''d allow adventurers to cut their delving time in spades, high ranking parties would no longer need to travel all the way from the first floor to reach their targets and that was just one aspect. The stones if enough time was given would allow their wielders to escape danger, in one moment they could be facing off against a group of terrifying ice trolls and the next they could be safe and sound on the floor of peace, away from harm. The stones could even be used in reverse, a group of adventures who had reached the lower floors could teleport back up to the floor of peace decreasing their return journey and even sparing them from fighting their way back. Frost was confident that the introduction of these ''Floor Jumping Stones'' as Void tentatively named them would see his Dungeon flourish. Adventurers would have more time to hunt and would delve with a veritable safety if they had one of these stones thus increasing the amount of money they could earn without further jeopardising their lives. Of course with money being a factor the merchants wouldn''t be left out. The moment the stones were revealed the savvy businessmen of the Niflheim Camp would surely make scrounging up as many of the stones their 1st priority. They would then sell them to adventurers at a very healthy premium. The stones would even allow those who weren''t strong enough to reach the floor of peace to see it in the flesh. This not only included newbie adventurers but also merchants who perhaps wished to set up shop on the Dungeon''s safety floor. The Floor Jumping Stones would allow these merchants to easily transferrge swaths of materials down into the Dungeon. Getting stuff back out however would -for now- be restricted to the old fashioned way. Frost nned to release different degrees of the Floor Jumping Stones as time went on. "So we''ll be getting a lot more DP soon?" Daki said with a sparkle in her eyes, her ambitions clear to see. "I just got you a 4 star mine, where would you even find the time to enjoy anything else." Frost shook his head in dismay; this was the first time that wasn''t briefly in bed that he''d seen his girlfriend since the pr thulium mine became operational. During the first few days she didn''t even sleep, constantly experimenting with the pr thulium, learning its traits and behaviours with other materials. Eventually she even roped in Borris and now the two of them were working together on some special project involving the 4 star material. "For a cksmith there''s never enough materials hehehe." Daki giggled mischievously, eager to get her hands on more mines if Frost could be convinced. Daki''s feet started to find their way towards his groin in an attempt to seduce him and trade sex for a new mine. "Find a good use for the materials you currently have ess to then we''ll see." Daki''s enticement stopped at his words, she even puffed up her cheeks in protest, but the sudden withdrawal of her touch seemed to rile up her boyfriend. "Oi who said you could stop, I''ve been methodically massaging your calves and it''s the first time in days that we''ve been able to have some alone time together." Frost was determined to get in some good romantic interactions with Daki before she vamoosed back to her forge. Daki bore a nk look for a second before it was reced with a seductive expression, her feet once again moving towards Frost''s groin while she sat up and licked her lips. "If you wanted sex you only ever have to ask Frost dear, I''m always up for some romping in the sheets my love." Daki though passionate about forging was no less passionate when it came to a very healthy sex life, hell if she could somehowbine the two a lifelong aspiration would be fulfilled. Frost smiled from ear to ear before nting a sensual kiss on Daki''s luscious lips. "Well a gentlemen never refuses ady''s gift." As Daki''s feet wormed they beneath his robes his hands stretched out and started caressing her supple body, one to her chest and the other below. "Ahhhhn!" Daki let out a devilish moan as Frost''s skilled hands got to work which seemed to galvanise her boyfriend''s efforts. Ten minutester the two of them made for the bedroom and didn''te out for the next two hours. When they finally left they did so with dishevelled clothes and ruddyplexions. Chapter 631 Floor Jumping Stones The Harkers along with 3 more adventuring parties made for the adventurer''s guild the moment they surfaced. Each of them had found one of the runic stones and wished to get it appraised at the guild, hoping that they had stumbled upon a veritable gem that would bring them great riches. When the first group arrived the situation was treated as something uneventful but when 4 groups and even the Lord of the camp Frost arrived within simr stones in hand the situation changed. "The runes are clearly awash with the spatial element, transposition if we''re being technical but it''s also different from the regr runes." A wizened old man with a trove of experience in regards to runes gave his opinion on the matter. With his clear eyes and wealth of knowledge he could easily distinguish the purpose of the stones but even so there was still some elements of its function that alluded him. "There seems to be some sort of restrictive mechanism, the coordinates appear fixed as is the area in which it can function." Another elder who was an expert in sealing runes as well as an avid former delver of mystical dimensions and unusual monsterirs remarked with glinting eyes. It wasn''t often that he got to see something new and novel like the runic stones. "Has anyone actually tested it out yet, assumption can only get us so far." When the third elder spoke he was met with a bunch of nodding from his peers who then looked towards the local guild master. "There is and he''s already ascertained what you theorised." The current guild master was a longtime subordinate of Bastion''s, a man named Ringwald. If Bastion was number one, Thrall number two and the keeper number 3 then Ringwald was number 4 in the hierarchy and though he was lower ranked his workload was normally much higher. Ringwald was in charge of a vast range of activities back in Furano as well as the guilds spread across the rest of viscounty which made him the ideal person to help set up a new guild. Bastion was too important, Thrall too busy and the Keeper too specified in his skills. Though it was supposed to be just a temporary thing while a proper guild master was arranged Ringwald desired to stay in his current position. The pay was better, the work more fulfilling and here he was in charge, no one above ordering him around. "Really who? And what does it do?" The wizened elders moured around Ringwald desperate for the knowledge he held. "I can answer that." Just when Ringwald was about to escort the group into a waiting area where they could interact with Lord Frost the man in question entered of his own volition. This was technically against the rules but since Frost owned thend around them and was himself a powerful adventurer and was the one who brought the knowledge, Ringwald ignored his impropriety. "Elders please pay your respects to Lord Frost, the owner of the Camp and the most aplished delver of the Niflheim Dungeon." Ringwald introduced Frost with great grace, his voice tinged with respect and admiration. "No need for that in fact it should be me paying respects to the elders. As Ringwald said my name is Frost and I run the Camp here outside the Niflheim Dungeon." "Respectful and upright a goodd." "Un" The wizened elders all nodded in appreciation as they admired Frost''s manners. Few still held such respect nowadays especially the younger generation gifted with boundless talent. "Lord Frost, Ringwald says you''ve used the runic stones and know of their function is this true?" "Yes, I used a couple recently to test them out. Shall I exin my findings?" "Please." The elders were like eager school children as they waited with bated breaths for Frost to tell them the results of his investigation. "Very well. First off these runic stones or Floor Jumping Stones as I''ve seen to call them allow the wielder to teleport directly to the Dungeon''s safety floor otherwise known as the floor of peace. To do so the wielder must infuse their mana into the stone until it reaches full capacity they must also be within the Dungeon. I tried to activate them out with, but nothing happened." "They really are transposition runes, and the restrictions must be in regards to the Dungeon itself." The first and second elder chimed in as realisation dawned on them. "These stones can change how adventurers delve, so much time can be saved." "Not only that they could also function as escape devices as long as the mana required is low and the activation sequence is rtively quick." Enjoy more content from m-v l''e|-NovelBin "Those injured below could be instantly brought somewhere safe thus preserving a life that may have ended otherwise." "There''s got to be more restrictions, we need to thoroughly test these what did you call them Floor Jumping Stones." "I agree how many people can they teleport? Can items be moved with them and if so how many, what''s the limit?" "Are the stones single use items, permanent or something in between?" The elders quickly isted the important details causing a smile to grow on Frost''s lips. "Ringwald can you gather the stones collected by the other adventuring parties." "Yes Lord Frost." Ringwald quickly gathered up the Floor Jumping Stones and handed them all to Frost. "3 of these stones are of the small ss while the other two could be considered medium ss. From my own trials I discovered that the small stones can transport one person to the floor of peace maybe 20 times before breaking apart whereas therger ones roughly 50 times given the level of degradation after each jump. How that trantes with numerous people and or merchandise I can''t say but it''s certain that these things aren''t permanent, they will break after enough uses." If he came out with something permanent then there''d be very little profit to be made, Frost would never make such an amateur mistake. Frost''s revtion started another thorough debate between the elders who scrambled together a n. Shortly after Frost visited a statement was announced at the guild, they were seeking these Floor Jumping Stones that could be found within the Dungeon of Niflheim. Any small stones would be purchased for 5 silvers while medium ones would be 20 silvers, anythingrger would have to be analysed before any payment was given, due to there beingck ofparison. This announcement took the Camp''s residents by storm, adventurers flocked to the boards, taking precise note of the stone''s features before dashing off to inform their teammates. Merchants instantly smelled an opportunity, but Frost and the adventurer''s guild quickly put up a short-term restriction. The stones were regarded as sensitive research material thus making outside transactions illegal until further notice. You''d think that this would curb the merchant''s enthusiasm, but their passion only grew. By making the stones illegal the merchants determined that they must be something of real value. Several individuals decided to risk thew to quickly prepare future stock while others with confidence in their strength chose to get the merchandise themselves. Selling to anyone other than the guild was illegal, but it couldn''t stop them from hoarding whatever they found themselves and once the ban was lifted they''d be able to freely offload their stones at a hefty premium. So many groups smelled money in the air, even those who didn''t wish to risk any sort of reprisal from thew prepared themselves for a shift in the market. With every adventurer on the hunt the Dungeon saw a vast resurgence in customers, bringing a glorious expression to Frost''s face as he sat in the private space, rubbing his hands together andughing. "Ok this side of you is really not that attractive." Mayamented with mild disgust as she saw her noble and handsome boyfriend devolve into a money or rather DP hungry beast. "It''s attractive whenever I buy you alcohol." "Urgh." Frost''s sharp retort made her speechless. Frost watched with glee as adventurers flocked in mass numbers, hunting vast swaths of his monsters (mostly those summoned by spawners). Many died in search of treasure adding to his healthy DP reserves but many also found their bounty. Whether a stone was miraculously dropped by a monster or found in one of the many recurring treasure chests throughout the Dungeon the founders raised their hands in celebration.Along with whatever usual materials they retrieved from hunting they would be able to exchange a tiny little stone for at least 5 silvers, that''s a new weapon for some of the lower ranked adventurers. Over the course of three days dozens of stones were sold to the adventurers guild while even more were hoarded away for future transactions. It was impossible for their function to remain a secret after all this time thus once it was revealed an even greater storm was set off and the Dungeon raked in the profits. Frost didn''t even care a single iota in regards to the many losses among his monsters, as long as his upper ranked were untouched any price was worth it when the money was this good. The Dungeon quickly found itself home to several new E rank spawners that proliferated the upper five floors. "It''s about time I start moving those at the C-rank and upper D-rank down to the bottom most floors." Chapter 632 Floor Jumping Stones (2) The Dungeon of Niflheim was currently home to 15 floors -excluding the floors 5.5 and 10.5- and all but the final floor was fully stocked with environments and expansions. However only the top ten floors were in use by the public given that no one had ever reached beyond the tenth floor -bar the team from the federation of knowledge. This was primarily due to the vast sums of C-rank monsters prowling the halls. Furano and the nearest towns and enves had few C-rank parties let alone groups at the B-rank thus this was a barrier no one could ovee. Eventually if Frost left things as they were B-ranks would be attracted to the Dungeon and would destroy his current utopia with their overwhelming strength. At the moment only he, Khuno and Findley were capable of going toe to toe with a B-rank party. Though his C-rank forces were numerous, to take down a party of that level would result in some serious losses to their numbers, a price that Frost would find hard to stomach. Whenever a D-rank monster or lower died in his Dungeon Frost wouldn''t even bat an eye anymore. Given how much DP he was raking in on a daily basis the cost to rece a monster of such a low rank was so miniscule that it hardly mattered in the grand scheme. Before he genuinely cared about each and everyone of his monsters but now given how many there were and how cheap their lives were he had grown a little numb. His care was reserved for Findley, Khuno and the officers as well as his family. Perhaps it''s rather callous but it is the truth nheless and a fact that Frost has epted. Of course if anyone abuses or tortures his monsters for fun then it''s a different story, such offenders would quickly see themselves absconded to a secret prison where all manner of torture wouldmence. Day after day a monster of high rank would carve them up, letting them experience true fear until eventually they died of their wounds or starved to death and those were the lucky ones. The greatest offenders were kept alive forever through the use of healing magic and being forced to eat and drink, to be eternally tortured and siphoned of their delicious DP. Thankfully Frost restricted his prison for the most evil of people, he fiercely fought against the growing attraction, the possible levels of DP that such a system could produce. He would not join that faction among his siblings regardless of the benefits, it just wasn''t him. Anyway he felt that now was a good time with the stones drawing everyone''s focus to gradually shift his strongest forces down a few floors, finally putting some use into them. By the end of the transition only the tenth and possibly the ninth floor would be home to a small amount of C-rank monsters thus allowing ess to floor 10.5 (that was still pretty empty bar a few mines that were hidden out of view) and moving the hard barrier to the 11th or possibly the 12th floor for now. This would healthily leave 3 floors between the current adventurers'' delving capability and the Dungeon''s heart. After seeing the madness in Ladius'' eyes and the attraction his heart had on her he didn''t want a single less constrained adventurer toe even remotely near it. "Finy start the shift and make it gradual, there''s no hurry." "Yes master." With the order given Finy moved within the Dungeon, organising the majority of the Dungeon''s C-ranks in a full descent leaving varied levels of D-ranks to fill in the gaps. As time progressed the team assigned to analyse the differences between the Floor Jumping Stones uncovered their limitations and after roughly a week they published their results shaking the foundation of what was known. Word spread from the Camp to the surrounding towns and cities thus attracting even more adventurers and merchants. And speaking of merchants the moment the ban was lifted many of the more prolific merchants starting offering a vast range of Floor Jumping Stones for a very healthy premium. A single stone ranged between 15 and 20 silvers while a medium one ranged between 60 and 70 silvers. And despite these inted prices many adventurers and other merchants quickly snapped up their entire stock. Simply selling theses stones for a profit was one way to make money another was to use them in transporting supplies down to the floor of peace. With more and more people reaching this fabled floor and even Frost developing a rudimentary outpost and opening up mining opportunities several merchants decided to utilise the vast sums of money they had earned in the camp to set up shop within the Dungeon itself. The stones would greatly reduce the logistical problems for at least half the journey. "Son I''ll leave setting up our second branch to you, use this experience to temper your skills." A father ordered his son to make his way to the floor of peace with multiple storage rings and bags filled with materials on his person. "Yes father, I won''t let you down." The son replied with sparkling eyes, his voice filled with determination. This was a heaven sent opportunity, his father was truly letting him fly solo and take on a momentous task. If he seeded in setting up an aplished shop within the Dungeon his family''s legacy would be ensured and their coffers invigorated. The young man wasn''t the only one, quite a few young entrepreneurs and some of the more steely elder ones held Floor Jumping Stones in their hands as they said farewell to those they were leaving on the surface. This trip of theirs would at the very least keep them from their family for a few days but likely more. After saying their goodbyes the group of ambitious merchants stepped into the Dungeon and activated their Floor Jumping Stones. Whoosh! Each of the merchants, their luggage and anyone who was travelling with them were encased in silvery ck shells before being instantly teleported deep underground. They arrived on the floor of peace a momentter, their arrival drawing the attention of the patrolling ronsos and a few adventurers who were resting in the area. For most this was the first time they''d seen the stones in action, so they were inpete awe. One or two of the merchants even threw up theirst meal as the sudden movement through space upset their internals. "So this is floor 5.5 otherwise known as the fabled floor of peace." The son who was sent by his father remarked with awe as he took in the pleasant atmosphere andck of danger around him. Behind him stood two well built men who were to act as his guards during the time he was here. "Let''s head to the outpost set up by Lord Frost, we''ll be assigned an area where we can set up our shop there." Frost had alreadyid his im on this floor before anyone else even thought to utilise its peaceful environment. Of course it was hard for one man toy im to the entire Dungeon but somehow Frost seemed to do it, and no one was willing to shake his position. First of all there was no one at Frost''s level of strength nor anyone with his level of backing. Frost wasn''t truly alone after all, the legions of Ronsos and two B-rank monsters served as his subordinates, following any of his orders without any hesitation. Of course no one really wanted to remove him either, Frost was a fair ruler that not only supported a great quality of life but held great administration skills. By being assigned a space by Lord Frost there''d be no fierce fighting or bidding wars to secure one and security was pretty much guaranteed. They were free topete but solely based upon their skills as merchants and the products they supplied. Maron the young man sent by his father was more than happy to acquiesce to Frost''s arrangements, in fact he was grateful for them. ''This will be the first step on a long path, whether or not our family can rise to the peak will be determined by how well we do here.'' Maron was determined and full of confidence in his actions. He lead the two guards his father had arranged for him and made his way to the local outpost and after a short and concise meeting he was granted a prominent area to establish his shop as were the others who had decided to ze their trails into the Dungeon. With adventurers mouring throughout the floors in search of Floor Jumping Stones and merchants making their way down to the floor of peace no one noticed a shift in the monsters. Finy and his officers were very subtle in their movements as per Frost''s orders. They took their time, slowly moving the stronger monsters deeper into the Dungeon making not just the 6th to 10th floors easier but also the 1st to the 5th. The Dungeon though still being home to a veritable army of C-rank monsters was now also bing more inviting to the weaker adventurer parties. Even those at the F-rank and perhaps G-rank were able to survive the first two floors thus attracting lots of young blood to the Camp. For the local guild and the senior adventurers this was a sight that warmed the heart. A ce that could wee both juniors and elders was sure to thrive. Chapter 633 Fierce operation Almost a month after the second family gathering ended and word of the Floor jumping stones had spread far and wide, many minute changes within the Dungeon and the Camp had taken ce. The fifteenth floor was now fully developed with multiple expansions, secondary rooms and was awash with dynamic, high priced 2 star environments of the ice element. Following that the sixteenth floor had even been prepared but was instead decorated with a range of environments and monsters of the spatial element. Following their joint development on the Floor Jumping Stones the two siblings engaged in arge transaction involving elemental environments, monsters, magic books and even unique mines C Thest one being due to Daki''s incessant pleading. On the sixteenth floor instead of being greeted by a world of ice one would be met with a range of ancient mazes wherein every step could teleport victims halfway across the room. It was a floor filled with illusions, transpositional traps, eery elongated hallways that took ages to travel through and deadly teleporting monsters, a very different experience to the previous floors but no less deadly. With Frost''s acumen in war and his experience in dealing with the monster stampede he greatly improved upon Void''s initialyouts, establishing a truly puzzling and deadly floor. There was even a small section in the final area that was a just a dimension of space, no paths, walls or objects. Those who entered would be encapsted in a deep darkness with only the glimmer of stars allowing them to see around them. To escape a victim would need to tread blindly through aplicated path lest they wished to remain trapped forever. This mini environment like trap was something Void had developed personally after pooling together his knowledge of spatial environments. Initially he had no intention in selling this piece of work but Frost''s vast sums of DP as well as his ess to unique ice fire magic- which Void found particrly fascinating- finally won him over. Now all that was needed was for a group of high powered adventurers to make it down to the bottommost floor and experience its grandeur. s given the Dungeon''s current clientele it would be an event in the far future. Because of that he held off on trading with Indra, Aqua and the rest of his siblings. As the Dungeon, the camp and even the internal outpost continued to develop, weing more and more people the situation in the Northrend empire grew dire. Every day crime was rampant throughout the realm, the hands of both the first and second prince ying a crucial part. Whether on their orders or those of their subordinates the empire was inches away from being embroiled in mes. Stay tuned to m-v l|e''-NovelBin ck market groups, underworld gangs, illegal vers and even drug cartels stopped showing restraint. With the entire empire consumed by the war of the princes there was no one left to contain their antics, hell a few opportunistic nobles even hired them to further the chaos and or seek revenge against their enemies. It was a dark period far worse than Emperor Franz could have ever anticipated. Every day he''d see the reports of his country in chaos and theck of care in the expressions of both his sons and the people who supported them. His power had already dwindled to a fraction of what it once was. His abdication was already in motion thus making the remaining officials and nobles seek shelter under the umbre that they believed would prevail regardless of its intentions and capabilities. Franz had tried to stem the transition as best he could while he garnered support for his daughter but once the die for abdication had been cast it was almost impossible to take it back. Only the most loyal and good in nature were left but as if inplete agreement the two factions holden to the princes actively suppressed them, preventing them from rising to any meaningful level of power. Franz actions even seemed to incur Randolph''s wrath; the asional nce his son sent his way made his blood chill. It wasn''t long until he started growing suspicious of the people taking care of the daily needs of his wife, daughter and himself, and quite frankly it was lucky he did. Shortly after ordering his most loyal shadow guards to monitor the servants and investigate the defences a report was delivered to his desk that caused his face to pale and indescribable anger to shoot through his veins. "Bastards! Do you really think this empire is already yours!" Franz roared at the top of his lungs, his aura and cultivated strength causing the very walls surrounding his office to tremble. Franz being of noble blood and from growing up surrounded with the best medicines, teachers and books was naturally powerful. The man despite in hister years was still a world renowned A-rank expert who could cleave the earth in twain with a single swing of his sword. "Cough Cough!" His powerful outburst however resulted in a powerful bacsh, aggravating some deep seated wounds that he umted in his youth that even the best medicines couldn''tpletely cure. "Damn bastards, I have no sons!" Though blood flowed out his throat and his chest felt as though a mountain was pressing down upon it Franz grew angrier and angrier. 7 cases there was actually 7 cases in the past week that werebelled suspicious by the shadow guards -suspicious in this case being treasonous. Servants had been swapped out with unrecognisable faces without his knowledge while others had been seen in contact with members of the princes'' factions. Alone this wasn''t anything too worrisome but given what followed. The new servants were highly skilled in martial arts rather than caretaking, hidden soldiers or rather assassins while the ones in contact with the princes'' factions were assigned to either sensitive positions or were somewhat close to the empress and princess. It was clear that both Randolph and Sedrick wished to control the imperial pce, to lock their father and even their mother and sister in a prison while they finished their duel. If this was all then perhaps Franz could have epted it as these actions could be considered precautionary, a warning but that''s only when they weren''t acted upon. The shadow guards discovered traces of poison in the meals provided to both him and the empress, while Avira also had her tea spiked. The poison was insidious and almost impossible to trace and or even notice unless one was looking for it. By the time Franz had noticed and taken action his wife had already ingested several doses of the substance and had begun to fall ill. His daughter being wiser than he ever gave her credit for had miraculously avoided being poisoned, treating ever meal and drink she ever ingested once the war began with harsh scrutiny. A doctor of great renown and who could bepletely trusted was sneaked into the imperial pce but unfortunately there was nothing he could do. The poison used was called ''Fairy''s passing'' a concoction that had no known cure. Though the process was slow and minorly painless the victim would die, nheless. The Empress perhaps had a couple months before her body wouldpletely give out. The doctor''s diagnosis was an arrow threw the Emperor''s heart. That night he coughed up a great deal of blood resulting in the same doctor examining him. What he found in the Emperor was even more devasting than what afflicted the Empress. While Amelia''s poison could be considered gentle in nature the one afflicting Franz was truly insidious. The poison was practically useless against the young and fit in body but was merciless to those with hidden injuries such as Franz. Slowly the poison would gnaw at these wounds, aggravate them more and more until the victim was internally torn apart. Both the Emperor and Empress were poisoned and given a clear death sentence; the only silver lining being that Avira was healthy and that they still had the strength needed to protect her. "Shadow guards I want round the clock protection for Avira, kill anyone who dares intrude upon her sanctuary as well as anyone you find remotely suspicious!" Franz coldly ordered before receiving a cold reply from a nearby shadow. "As youmand your majesty." "Someone bring me general Anya." Franz then summoned the only general who waspletely loyal to his daughter. There were some things he needed to arrange before he and his wife inevitably passed. While chaos reigned in the Northrend empire a rtively normal looking group of adventurers arrived at the gates of the Niflheim Camp. From their attire, speech and even the level of strength that they disyed this group was a run of the mill D-rank party just like the rest who were drawn over to the Niflheim Dungeon. But looks can be deceiving. "Has everyone memorised the appearance of the targets." The apparent party leader questioned with a cold voice. The friendly mannerisms and brutish attitude this man disyed while in the presence of outsiders vanished the moment this group were alone in a locked room, away from any prying eyes. ""Yes sir."" Five people, three women and two men replied from their positions around the room. "Well then let the operation begin, our client does not tolerate failure." The leader''s harsh reminder caused the other five to grimace but a momentter the group split up to take care of their assigned duties. Chapter 634 Fierce operation (2) "Haaaaa finally we''re out!" A tall woman with a very muscr physique loudly announced as she and three other woman with simr physiques left the Dungeon and returned to the Camp after a 3 day delve that saw them reach all the way to the 9th floor. "I''m going to need to bathe for a week to get all the blood, gore and stains out of me." A second woman trembled all over as she sniffed under her arms finding the smell truly revolting for someone who cared very deeply about cleanliness. Despite the use of cleaning magic there was just some things that needed a good old fashioned scrub to get rid of. "Bathing will have to wait girls; we''ve got loot to unload and a quest to turn in." The leader of these amazonian women was thest to exit and she stood at least half a head taller than the others and was at least 15% more muscr. "Of course sis, the job''s not done until it''s done as you always say." Thest woman spoke in agreement with their leader who also happened to be the eldest of the four sisters. The others grumbled under their breath but followed their eldest sister''s lead. This group of powerful women were known as the ''Amazonian Beauties'' a strong C-rank adventuring party hailing from the eastern edges of the Yangmir continent. Originally they hade to the northern reaches in search of certain herbs that could help preserve their skin''s sticity despite their profound muscle growth. Plus they heard from their seniors that the cold weather present in the cial mountains provided a great environment for body resilience training. The group was going to simply stay within the camp to rest before carrying on into the mountains but soon found themselves unable to extricate themselves from it. The Dungeon of Niflheim was just too lucrative to pass up. The variety and strength of the monsters present within called to their warrior''s blood while the untapped mysteries thaty in the lower floors spoke to their adventurous spirit. It didn''t take long for the Amazonian Beauties to be repeat customers. The local amenities weren''t anything to snuff at either. Frost had long ago provided several public bath houses where in hot water flowed freely, allowing even the most hardened of adventurers to rest their weary bones. It was a rather unique experience to enjoy the warmth of a bath while surrounded by snow and even the asional blizzard. These local bath houses quickly became popr drawing in not just adventurers but the merchants and the permanent residents. If one was lucky there was even a chance for them to brush shoulders with the Lord of the Camp himself. Though Frost deigned to only charge a very small fee for ess to the bath houses it quickly rued, bing one of the Camp''s most lucrative businesses. The Amazonian Beauties hade to very much adore the idea of resting their muscle weary bodies in arge open air tub while snowkes drifted down on top of them. "Hopefully there''s not a queue. If we''re toote the bath houses will be too crowded to enjoy." The youngest of the four sisters lightlyined as she tried to rush her siblings to the guild. Given their appearances both in their beauty and their physical stature the four always drew attention to themselves, this only increased once they removed their clothes. Though the bath house was split into male and female sides it did little to help the gawkers. With their younger sister''s urging the group swiftly made their way to the guild with their bounty held within a storage ring, a necessity for a group of their strength to have. "Ah Maressa it''s good to see you again, another sessful hunt I presume." Jaina, Bastion''s daughter had been transferred recently to the Niflheim branch to learn the ropes from Ringwald. At least that was the official reason. In truth Bastion just wanted his daughter away from Northrend, away from the cmity that was slowly drawing close. The spoiled and arrogant attitude she once had back in Furano waspletely gone, reced with that of skilled and experienced receptionist. Frost and Maya''s grand reveal and her finally getting truly rebuked by her father forced her to mature lest she really wanted to be a lost cause. Even Leo and Luna were taking seats at the big table, being their cousin she couldn''t fall far behind. "Of course we sisters never fail do we girls." "Never" "With biceps like ours how could we fail." The sisters proudly responded, flexing their muscles. Jaina couldn''t help but giggle the Amazonian Beauties were real characters that always brought a smile to anyone''s face with their disys of power. Strange how having a pretty face and enchanting figure could change everything, if a gruff middle-aged man bragged and showed off like they did it''d be off-putting, and she''d look down at him with derision perhaps even disgust. "3 pairs of whiskers from coeurl pups as well as their pelts with a minimum of good quality, an extra 20% payment if they''re in perfect or near perfect condition." Jaina quickly retrieved the quest document after scanning Maressa''s guild card. "That''s the one, Myrina the storage ring." "Here sis." "You should be able to find the items within the storage ring along with the other materials we intend to sell to the guild as is." Maressa took hold of the storage ring held by Myrina and passed it to Jaina. The group had ess to two storage rings of low quality, one was used to hold items for the guild while the other held their less wieldy luggage as well as the materials they wished to use somewhere else. It was already known to them that two very skilled cksmiths called the Niflheim base Camp home. By bringing their own materials they were more likely to be favoured and granted a request. Maressa was keen to get her hands on a possible half step 4 star weapon before they left for the inner regions of the cial mountains, a destination they had really put off for too long. "I''ll quickly have this checked by our material inspectors, do you wish to wait here for our analysis, or would you like a ticket?" "A ticket please we want to get to the bath house before it gets too crowded." Myrina the youngest sister answered in Maressa''s stead. Her sisters giggled at her impatience but were inplete agreement. Find your next read on m_v l|e-NovelBin "Very well here you go, we should be finished within a few hours, more than enough time for you to enjoy the bath house." Jaina said with a smile but there was a clear longing in her eyes, her shift didn''t end for another 5 hours and now Maressa and her sisters got her thinking about the bath houses. ''Damn you Frost foring up with these addictive services.'' She internally besmirched the Lord of the Camp as the Amazonian Beauties left and headed towards their favourite bath house. Frost truly was a skilled businessman, he not only created bath houses for his people but staggered them in different styles as well as costs thus drawing in all sses. At the very peak of luxury was the Moon''s Blessing bath house which catered to the very rich, depriving them of gold just so they could brag about enjoying the highest level of care andfort. Did anyonein however no because it was truly built with quality in mind. Not only were the bathing areas private, restricted to a maximum of six people drinks, snacks and even massage services were provided free of charge for their customers. Of course such luxury was out of reach for the Camp''s normal inhabitants, but Frost fed on their desires, their temptations. So every month anyone who''d visited one of the other bath houses had the chance to win a free visit to the Moon''s Blessing. With that the popce werepletely hooked even Jaina couldn''t help but hope for the chance to visit the most luxurious bath house in the camp. The Amazonian Beauties made straight for their favourite bath house, the Frosty Evening hoping to beat therger crowds and with luck they seeded. The four were able to soak and unwind without restraint for a good hour or so before the ce started to fill out and the not so subtle nces became ufortable. "Sis look I think my skin''s actually glowing." Myrina loudly bellowed C a tad drunk from the sake they purchased within the bath house. "You think that''s something look how clean my pores have be, it''s like I''ve aged backwards." The two youngest sisters argued over who benefited more from their long soak while Chana the second oldest sister sauntered over towards a ronso with a wild look in her eyes. It was clear that all three of them drunk of their asses. "Well aren''t you cute and so robust, what''s your name handsome?" Chana quickly appeared next to a pair of ronsos who were on guard duty for the area. She wrapped her arm around the one the right, lightly squeezing his arm, finding him to be quite attractive. The ronso being grabbed onto blushed and panickily looked to hisrade who struggled to hold in hisughter. Most of the people in the Camp even the stronger adventurers were fearful of them, some even viewed them with disgust, seeing them as nothing more than wild monsters. A few groups were friendly, but this was the first time someone was actually flirting with one of them and..what a woman it was. Chana was always quite aggressive when it came to seeking out partners and she usually got what she wanted due to either her beauty or physical prowess, but thetter was pointless against this ronso a fact that turned her on. So what if he was a monster kin hot was hot and muscles don''t lie. Normally this would be when Maressa stepped in to save the poor male, but she was distracted, something she saw in the distance instantly erased the drunkenness from her body. "Is that?" Chapter 635 Fierce operation (3) While Chana flirted with the attractive ronso guard, pressing her strong yet soft body against his and her two youngest sisters started to fight amongst themselves due to their drunken state, Maressa frowned and purged the alcohol from her body. "Is that?" She saw something that made her blood chill. A human woman with a height of roughly six feet, auburn hair and a scar across her right eye. And though she appeared delicate and thin underneath her cloak Maressa knew that the woman could likely go toe to toe with her when it came to pure physical power. "Kalia" She spoke the woman''s name with an icy chill, her hands instinctually balling into tight fists as she did. Without a moment''s hesitation Maressa charged towards the two ronso guards like a woman on a mission. Her sudden burst of speed and tense expression put the ronsos on alert, both quickly reached for their weapons and readied themselves for battle. Chana who waspletely oblivious was blown back several steps almost losing her bnce. "Hey" Before she couldin however she caught sight of her sister''s face and swallowed her words, her instincts screaming that something was very wrong. "The two of you serve the Lord of this territory, Lord Frost correct?" Maressa wasted no time caring for her drunken sister, she was a big girl a little fall wasn''t going to do much to her. ".Yes we serve Lord Frost." It took the ronsos a second or two to release the grips they had on their weapons and once again rx. The woman before them though intimidating and baring a rather worrisome expression revealed no fighting intent at least towards them. "Good." Maressa let out a short sigh of relief before telling the two ronso guards what she saw. " Just now I caught sight of a well-known assassin from the underworld syndicate by the name of Kalia. This woman is wanted in over five kingdoms for mass murder, kidnapping, theft and a whole load of other crimes. She and her colleaguesck a single shred of morality, they''ll kill and torture anyone even children if the price is right. Her presence here can only be bad news." The ronsos only humoured her words in the beginning but by the end of her tale both were frowning and exchanging furtive nces. Maressa''s report was actually worth their time. "Thank you miss we''ll inform the Lord of this immediately; he''ll decide on how to deal with this problem." The ronso guard on the right replied to Maressa before sending the guard on the left to inform their direct superior who would then inform Frost. "Good, in the meantime I''ll follow after her and try to prevent her from taking any drastic actions." Before the ronso guard could even reject her interference the woman was off, quickly chasing after Kalia''s shadow. "Chana get up off your ass and follow!" "Urgh what about Myrina and Freya?" "Leave them, they''ll only get in the way in their current state." The two youngest sisters were not only the weakest of the group but were also the most drunk, totally useless for what was about to take ce. Chana quickly dusted herself off, gave the frowning ronso guard a flirtatious wink and chased after her elder sister. "What are we doing?" "It''s Kalia from the underworld syndicate, she''s here in the Camp, likely not alone." Maressa curtly said before picking up the pace, using her senses and tracking skills to follow Kalia who hopefully had no idea that someone recognised her. "Kalia!" Chana uttered the woman''s name with a simr chill as her sister, her face instantly turning savage as fury flowed through her veins. Enjoy new adventures from m-v l''e|-NovelBin One of the kingdoms that Kalia was wanted in for her crimes was theirs. Maressa and her sisters were from a small Queendom in the east that encouraged their women to be strong, more than a match for any man. Within this small Queendom was thergest and most powerful all female army on the continent. The country may becking in size and poption inparison to the Northrend empire but none of its neighbours take it lightly. Thankfully, though they promote strength in their women they don''t seek to belittle men thus diplomatic rtionships weren''tplicated, with many even being staunch allies with the Queendom. Several years ago Kalia and her group from the underworld syndicate were hired to retrieve a rare medical herb from one of the imperial warehouses. A crime that by itself may lead to long imprisonment and perhaps even death but it wouldn''t galvanise an entire nation in hatred towards you, no, the problem was what Kalia, and herrades did to get the item and what they did on the side. All the guards were killed without mercy, several merchant and herbalist families upturned, the elders ughtered while the children and the women taken out of the country to serve as illegal ves. They even burned two other warehouses during their escape just to fool their pursuers. It had been a long time since the Queendom of Ranullia had suffered such a barbaric humiliation. The Queen herself ordered that every single soldier, adventurer and mercenary that called Ranullia home had to keep their eyes peeled for Kalia and her cohorts. Those with at least C-rank strength were even ordered to kill on sight regardless of the territory they found themselves in, the Queen would ept any diplomatic repercussions. Both Maressa and Chana were C-rank thus given that they were both loyal citizens of the Ranullia Queendom they had a duty to uphold. Any remaining alcohol was swiftly purged from Chana''s body as she and her sister dashed to and fro following after Kalia''s trail. 15 minutester the two sisters had followed Kalia to what seemed to be her target destination. From their position they could see her and at least two aplices enter into the Sleeping Fenrir, acting like bog standard D-rank adventurers here to eat a rewarding meal after a long day''s work. Their disguise was rather seamless only Chana and Maressa knew their true identities due to the Ranullia Queen spreading Kalia''s appearance and characteristics to each and everyone of her citizens, their nation''s anger ran deep. "This is the Sleeping Fenrir." "Their target must be inside, what should we do sis, we''re not exactly master''s of disguise." It was rather hard to go unnoticed when you looked the way they did. "Put on your heavy cloak, as long as we don''t reveal too much skin we''ll be able to pass simple nces." Though if Kalia and her team took a few seconds to closely examine them then they''d be screwed but Maressa was hoping that their focus would be on the target and whomever was guarding them as well as the ronsos who patrolled the Camp. "Alright sis I''ll follow your lead." The two sisters were more than prepared for this to turn into a devasting brawl in the middle of the Niflheim Camp. Though this could sink their reputation with Lord Frost their Queen had given her orders and letting Kalia go was just not possible. ''Hopefully the Lord acts quickly, an assassination or worse in his territory wouldn''t do him any favours.'' Maressa albeit confident in her martial prowess knew that Kalia and her group were no easy targets. Having a B-rank fighter like Lord Frost fighting with them would make the whole takedown much smoother. "Come on Chana let''s go, for Ranullia." "For Ranullia." With their heavy obscuring cloaks adorned Maressa and Chana entered the Sleeping Fenrir with their weapons at the ready, hidden beneath their cloaks. "Hi wee to the Sleeping Fenrir, are you here to stay or just for a meal?" A receptionist asked the two cloaked giants as they crossed the threshold. "Just a meal please for two." "A meal for two is it then please find yourself a seat on the western side of the dining room but if there''s no seat avable you can sit at the southern side." The receptionist handed the two of them a dinner time menu before returning to her duties. Maressa and Chana nodded to one another before naturally walking into the dinning room with their eyes peeled. "Sis by the southern side, therge middle window and by the entrance to the kitchen on the western side. "I see them there''s also two more, each at the northern and eastern side." The dining room was clearly guarded in all four directions. Suddenly Maressa felt a prying gaze over her body but a momentter it was gone. ''Phew that was close.'' Their gamble had paid off Kalia and her team weren''t focused on those entering the dining room. "Sis Kalia''s in the centre of the room." Chana discretely flicked her chin in Kalia''s direction. There the woman was reading through the menu with a pensive look as though struggling to chose what to eat but asionally her eyes would dart to the kitchen door as well as her colleagues. Her actions weren''t actually much to draw attention to given that this was an adventurer''s camp, everyone was a little wary here, a state that helped them keep up their disguises. "What''s the n sis?" Chapter 636 Fierce operation (4) Maressa and Chana both sat either side of one another pretending to look through the menu. They ignored the hustle and bustle flowing through the dining hall, their attention fully focused on Kalia and her team. "Discretely ready yourself for battle, if she doesn''t attack whomever her target is within the next five minutes you and I will go on the offensive. This sinner must not be allowed to leave here alive, no matter the cost." There was a frigid light in Maressa''s eyes, she was willing toy down her life to end the criminal that was Kalia. Her sister Chana trembled for a second C taking in the full gravity of her sister''s words- before returning a simr gaze. They would seed or die trying. Across the room Kalia sat with a clear view of the kitchen door. Beneath her cloak her body was primed and ready to pounce and an indistinct sliver of sweat dripped down her brow. After 3 days of intelligence gathering she and her team were finally ready to take down their target. Such a task was really not easy given the amount of ronsos kicking about as well as the care and protection shown to the target but finally after dedicated research they had found the perfect moment to strike. Whether any of them would seded in escaping after the deed was done was a mystery and not important. This job came from the higher ups and needed to be achieved no matter the cost. Her superior even hinted that she should ensure that at least one person was captured which she was more than happy to do. "Everyone ready, the target''s about to exit." Kalia whisper into a small stone and a momentter several voices replied. "Good here." "No ronsos in sight good to go." "Ready to break the southern mirror once target is down." "Good, once the target exits and disys her back we''ll attack as one, swift as a swallows." ""Swift as swallows"" The seconds seemed to stretch into eons as both Kalia''s team and Maressa and Chana waited with bated breaths, their bodies growing tenser with every passing moment. Creak. Just when Maressa and Chana were about to strike Kalia the door to the kitchen opened and the air around Kalia and her team instantly changed. "Thank you for the lesson head chef, bye everyone see you tomorrow." Nanna pushed open the kitchen door with a slightly tired expression, but she didn''t forget to thank the chef and say goodbye to the people she worked with. "Goodnight Nanna-chan." "Do you have enough cookies you can take some more if you want." "We''ll focus of controlling the fire tomorrow see you then Nanna." Everyone bade farewell to the little angel with bright smiles. Nanna grinned from ear to ear and felt her heart warm but the moment she was about to turn around a strange sensation gripped her heart. It was fear, she was in extreme danger. Her hair started to stand on end, goosebumps formed along her arm and just when she was about to nervously look around the sound of several tables and chairs scraping across the floor reverberated in her ears along with a woman shouting "Now!" Kalia and her team moved seamlessly, the moment Nanna left the kitchen and bade farewell all, but the person assigned to assuring their escape route pounced with their weapons drawn. Four powerful assassins attacked Nanna all at once holding nothing back. What was once a group of separated D-rank adventurers were now high ranking C-rank assassins. The change was drastic and took everyone in the dining room by surprise, not even if they had the strength to help would they be able to react in time. Well as long as they hadn''t been paying close attention. The moment Nanna exited and the air around Kalia changed Maressa and Chana immediately made their move both charging at Kalia with their weapons drawn and a fierce look in their eyes. "Chana the girl!" "On it sis I''ll do my best, for Ranullia!" "For Ranullia!" The sisters tore off their robes and revealed a sharp great axe and a spear, their weapons of forte. "What the fuck some bitches from Ranullia!" Kalia loudly cursed as she was forced to contest against Maressa who blocked her path forward. ''These damn lunatics.'' For years, ever since shemitted that one job in Ranullia bitches as she called them like Maressa and Chana had been hounding after her. Whenever they caught a glimpse of her they''d drop whatever they were doing and attack without any ounce in forethought for the time or ce. "Dammit, Rual, Terri, Tanya kill the target while I deal with this bitch!" Kalia gave her orders while she quickly engaged with Maressa. "Die fiend, for the innocent blood you spilled in Ranullia! [Great stone cutter!]" Maressa regardless of the location charged up her great axe with a powerful skill. "Crazy bitch! [Laceration of envy]" Kalia wasn''t one to care about the lives of others, she immediately swung her whip at Maressa, carving up more than a few tables and forcing guests to duck for cover. "Ah what''s going on?" "Someone get the ronso guards." "No they''re after Nanna!" Chana was quick and rather strong, but two hands would struggle against four fists let alone six. With her spear she lunged at Rual while she kicked a nearby table at Terri but there was still Tanya. "Ahhhh!!" Nanna screamed in panic, powerless to stop the powerful Tanya who was flying through the air with her daggers raised. Even though she never missed a training session and Maya said that she was rather skilled she was still just a child. Her power allowed her topete with a goblin maybe something a little more but certainly not a C-rank assassin. She barely had enough time to register the vicious look on the woman''s face before her and her daggers were inches from her heart and neck. "Bye bye little money pouch." Tanya sliced her daggers with immense speed, giving up the opportunity to activate a skill in leu of it. However that may have been a mistake. The moment her daggers were about carve into Nanna''s sulent white flesh a hand appeared from behind the kitchen door. This hand though white and smooth radiated strength as it punctured through the door and grabbed onto the oing daggers, halting them firmly in ce despite the edge cutting into the owner''s skin. Tanya suddenly got a very bad feeling and the next moment a pressure akin to the weight of a mountain and filled with wrath encapsted her and everyone in the dining hall. Tanya felt her skin crawl as the stench of death assailed her nostrils. She tried to pry away her daggers, but they wouldn''t budge, and a chill seemed to be forcing its way through them in order to invade her hands. "Fuc." She didn''t even have enough time to curse when the daggers in her hands were firmly pulled, instantly breaking her wrists. The pain caused her to wince but her hands were now free so she immediately ran, there was no way she could defeat whoever this person was, the job was a failure. She ran as fast she could but whether she was allowed leave wasn''t up to her. The kitchen door of the Sleeping Fenrir melted away as a blue chilling me burst forth. The next moment revealed Frost adorned in his trademark robes with a wrathful expression. His eyes rapidly locked onto the assassins making their hearts freeze in fear before he positioned himself in front of Nanna, acting as her shield. "Khuno, Findley take care of this." Frost said with a frigid tone, as though he was a judge ordering for capital punishment. "Yes your lordship." "By your will master." Both Khuno and Findley suddenly appeared at the entrance to the dining room with no less wrathful expressions. For anyone to dare to harm one of their little ones was an immediate death sentence. "Fuck run!" Rual bellowed before dashing for the southern window but again he didn''t have permission to leave. "[Icy grasp]" Frost cast a spell that caused ice to form across the chests of those trying to escape, slowing their movements to but a pathetic crawl, Khuno and Findley took care of the rest. Without any surprises Findley and Khuno easily dealt with the assassins spilling no small amount of blood from their bodies however no one was killed, death was too easy a sentence for what they tried to aplish. ''So that''s the power of B-rank.'' Maressa internally noted as the dreaded Kalia who could easily put her on the back foot did her best to flee only to be struck down by a single swing of Khuno''s halberd. His strengthpletely eclipsed hers, and his simple act achieved a revenge that an entire nation sought after. The Queen of Ranullia was sure to reward Frost and his subordinates for their actions. "Damn seems like we weren''t even needed." Chana suddenly felt rather useless. "No you weren''t but the fact that you not only tried to warn us but also did your best to intervene in a battle that you''d have surely lost will not be forgotten." After Frost finished calming Nanna down and made absolutely sure she was safe he walked toward to the two amazonian sisters. "I thank you two from the bottom of my heart for your efforts here tonight, please tell me if there''s anything I can do to repay this debt." Chapter 637 Fierce operation (5) Frost respectfully titled his head in a slight bow to Maressa and Chana, genuine in his thanks. The two sisters though powerful in their own right were truly no match for the five assassins. Kalia alone was at the peak of C-rank even stronger than Maressa. If Frost, Khuno and Findley hadn''t stepped in then the two of them would have surely died here tonight. Maressa gazed at Frost as he bowed, a nervousness and modicum of guilt filling her heart. She and Chana didn''t exactly interfere out of the kindness of their hearts. "Please raise your head Lord Frost, we''re not worthy of your bow." Maressa was a naturally honest person; thus she couldn''t endure the weight of Frost''s gratitude. "My sister and I acted against Kalia and her group because of our own reasons, not to defend the girl." Maressa bowed her head far lower than Frost''s as she spoke. "..." A knowing smile grew on Frost''s lips as he heard Maressa''s words and witnessed her actions. Of course he knew about their true motives but that didn''t change the fact that they helped. "While that may be true nevertheless you and your sister did try to protect Nanna in the battle and did you not also inform one of my guards about the situation beforehand. These two things were surely unnecessary perhaps even detrimental to your goals, yet you did them anyway so again you have my thanks." Frost stubbornly bowed his head once again. "This" "I''d prefer it if you just acquiesced to my whims." Frost released a small amount of his royal aspected aura, slightly pressuring Maressa and Chana. "Haaaaa very well Lord Frost." Maressa was forced to ept Frost''s thanks and his favour. "Master the assassins are secure." Khuno who had taken down Kalia with a single blow reported with his arm crossed across his chest. He and Findley acted very quickly, subduing the enemy, breaking several limbs before passing them off to the ronsos guards. "Good." An evil glint shed in Frost''s eyes as he nced at the bodies of the assassins being carried by his guards. The five of them would be making fine additions to his prison. "Lord Frost if I may be so boldthat woman do you intend to kill her?" Maressa though knowing that her actions were rather improper needed to ask. ".Eventually yes." Frost wasn''t displeased in the slightest and after ridding his mind of all the evil thoughts aimed at Kalia and her group he turned to Maressa and answered her. "Good, then we can rest easy." Maressa breathed out a deep sigh of relief, the tension almost instantly escaping her body. "The Queen of our homnd ced a kill order on that woman, any citizen of Ranullia that crosses path with her and that has at least C-rank strength must do their best to end her dog life no matter the cost or ce." Hatred spewed out of Maressa''s and Chana''s eyes as the memories of Kalia''s crimes shed through their minds. Finally after several years justice had been served. "Oh interesting.I can''t give you the right to take her away, but I''ve got no problem granting you her head once I''m done with her." "That.we would be most grateful Lord Frost." Having Kalia''s head would not only serve as sufficient evidence of the deed but would likely see Maressa and her sisters rewarded. The sisters bowed their heads even lower this time, enacting a very respectful posture but with their rather revealing attire and their recent visit to the bath house it had a very different effect. "It''s just a head no need to bow." Frost had to ardently fight his desire to nce and ogle both Maressa and Chana. Maya and Daki had already caught him more than once paying specific attention to this adventuring group. "While my guards set out to restore the peace here in the Sleeping Fenrir why don''t we retire to my office where I can show you my gratitude." Though his words may appear suggestive his meaning was entirely genuine. "Thisvery well Lord Frost we''d be honoured to join you." Maressa couldn''t help but slightly blush, finding a little expectation in her heart upon hearing his suggestive phrasing. Though it wasn''t Frost that her eyes were drawn to but the musclebound ronso that was by his side, the one who so effortlessly took down her nation''s most hated foe with a single swing of his halberd. Just like her sister Maressa was drawn to those with muscr forms and an abundance of ''hair'' on their body. Frost and Khuno led Maressa and Chana to the Lord''s office while Findley handled restoration. The Sleeping Fenrir''s dining room and kitchen were promptly closed off so a group of ice dwarves could sneakily enter and being the repair work. Those staying in the rooms and those who were unfortunately dining during the time of the incident were treated for any injuries, apologised to for the inconvenience and offered generous freebies. Money and free stuff was a small price to pay to keep the residents happy and secure. "Maressa! Chana!" The moment Frost and the rest entered the lord''s office or rather somewhat of a manor by this point Myrina the youngest of the Amazonian Beauties called out. A group of ronsos guards had guided the two drunk and brawling sisters to the Lord''s office shortly after Maressa dashed after Kalia. "Myrina, Freya." Maressa called out the names of her youngest sisters with pure affection, only realising just now that she may have never gotten the chance to see the two of them again. Her eyes grew red at the thought and silently she wrapped up the two with herrge muscr arms, pulling them in close. "Sis?" Myrina was confused not expecting to be hugged with such affection by Maressa in front of strangers, it was against her nature. "Just shut up for a minute." Maressa hugged the two of them tighter as she silently relished in their touch. A momentter Chana joined her with a few tears rolling down her cheeks. Frost smiled in silence, letting the family of sisters enjoy their reunion while he quietly walked to the side of the room where Maya and Daki were waiting for him. "Did you handle it, is Nanna safe?" Maya asked with no small tinge of concern. Though she and Daki knew about the nned assassination it still made her uneasy. A single thing going wrong, a wrong calction, a fumble, ateness of just a fraction of a second and their precious little girl could have been harmed. "Un she''s fine, a little spooked but no injuries." Frost even made sure that Nanna didn''t see the carnage Findley and Khuno wrecked on her attackers so as to protect her from any mental trauma. "Good, good." Both Maya and Daki breathed out in relief and unsped their hands. Having to wait here and babysit Myrina and Freya with pleasant expressions was a momentous weight on their hearts. "I''ve ordered Kiba to keep herpany in the private space but if one of you want to go andfort her." "I''ll go, Daki will you be fine handling things here?" "Yeah we''ll be fine, go to her." "Thanks." Maya left a momentter, teleporting to the private space once she was alone in the next room. Continue reading at m|v-l''e -NovelBin While Frost discussed a few things with Daki and Khuno, Maressa regaled to Myrina and Freya what happened and why they were summoned to the Lord''s office. "What Kalia was here, and she''s been captured." Freya jumped to her feet like a cat having her tail stepped on Her skin formed goosebumps and a cold sweat quickly flowed down her neck. Nearly every single citizen of the Ranullia Queendom knew of Kalia, tales of her crimes would fill them with unequivocal wrath, but her personal strength would also fill them with fear. Both Freya and Myrina weren''t even C-rank yet, they would have beenmbs to the ughters if they came across Kalia in battle. "Yes, Kalia the scourge of Ranullia was taken down by the hands of this gentlemen here and Lord Frost." Maressa gestured towards Khuno with a sparkle in her eyes which caused the man in question to slightly start. He was no stranger to such looks; he''d seen many a women look at his master in such a way. "Phua hahaha." A poorly restrainedugh escaped Daki''s lips as she saw the fierce desire in Maressa''s eyes. She couldn''t help but look to her side with clear mockery. Frost''s face was twitching and growing redder by the second under his girlfriend''s scrutiny. All this time she and Maya were worried about the Amazonian Beauties showing an interest in Frost but no they clearly liked those with a ir of the wilds. Internally Frost let out a sigh filled with disappointment, though he''d likely never act on it he truly did find these Amazonian beauties rather attractive. He gazed over at Khuno who was looking back at him with no small amount of confusion. ''Lucky bastard.'' Was all he thought before moving on, if Khuno was their type then good for them and him. "Shall we get down to business then?" With the youngest sisters being informed of what happened and their little reunion done with, it was time for a proper discussion. Frost not only wished to grant them a sufficient reward for their efforts but also wished to learn more about this Queendom of Ranullia. Chapter 638 Fierce operation (6) In his domain at the base of one of the entrances to the cial mountains Frost had very little interaction with nations other than the Northrend empire. Its borders spanned so far and wide that it''d take days perhaps even weeks to reach another. And to the north within the cial mountains all that dwelled within the external regions were enves and minor kingdoms. There was still much he did not know about the continent of Yangmir let alone Nova as a whole. When Dark described the world of Nova as being ''big'' he was being modest. The realm which Frost, and his siblings now inhabited was truly vast, covering billions perhaps even trillions of square kilometres. And the nations, tribes, enves and mighty empires that spanned itsnds and oceans were truly endless. From his interactions with travellers, chats with Maya and Daki and even his ''dates'' with Ladius Frost managed to get some semnce of an idea of his surroundings. Covering nearly 60% of the northern territories before the cial mountains was the powerful Northrend empire, a nation that had existed for centuries, its hegemony never shaken. The empire even extended its reach far into the mountains, establishing an invincible fortress that was guarded year round by their fiercest and most powerful army the War Ursa Battalion. However though they covered a vast area they weren''t the only nation that bordered the edges of the cial mountains. To the west were two kingdoms who''s territory covered more elongated borders inparison to the their circr neighbour. Other than the fact that the kingdoms shared a less prominent ess point to the cial mountains there was nothing unique about them. Whereas to the east was the Khaganate of Lucresia, and that was even colder than Northrend and home to swaths of wild barbaric looking citizens who lived alongside the environment rather than changing it to suit their needs. The Khaganate of Lucresia was actually one of the stronger nations dwelling in the north of the Yangmir continent, a surprising fact given its proximity to Northrend. It was well known that two tigers could not dwell upon the same mountain. Centuries ago these two nations were embroiled in brutal wars in order to decide the true hegemon of the north and in the end Northrend was victorious but instead of vanquishing their foe they allowed them to live under certain caveats. Since then the Khaganate has never once attacked Northrend despite its powerful armies. Further south dozens of smaller countries could be found all the way to the central regions where another powerful empire dwelled, but Frost knew very little about them only that they had existed for almost as long as Northrend and that they were not to be underestimated. Keen to expand his knowledge especially in regards to the nations on the eastern and western ends of the continent Frost looked forward to an enlightening discussion with the Amazonian Beauties. His attention grabbing cough and loud words drew Maressa out of her stupor. "Ahh yes of course sorry." She quickly apologised feeling slightly embarrassed but despite that her gaze continued to drift over Khuno finding him more and more pleasing the longer she ogled. Very few men ever caught her eyes but Khuno with his muscr form that was even bulkier than hers, his beautiful blue fur and his brave perhaps even regal tigerlike face hit all her strike zones but the final nail in the coffin wasthe sight of him vanquishing Kalia with but a single swing of his halberd, effectively saving her like white knight. Chana, Myrina and Freya couldn''t help but giggle amongst themselves, it''d been a long time since their sister had set her sights on someone and in their opinion far too long. Maressa had been getting a little stir crazytely, she needed to getid, bad. The three of them discreetly eyed Khuno before nodding their heads, finding him eptable. "What did you want to discuss Lord Frost my sisters and I are open books." As oblivious to her sisters'' attitudes Maressa did her best to act official. "A few things actually, first I''d like to know why you''re here in my camp, is it a coincidence that you''re here or have you been tracking that Kalia?" Though he already knew this wasn''t the case, from their point of view he shouldn''t. "Aplete coincidence I can assure you Lord Frost. I just happened to catch sight of the criminal and acted in leu of her Majesty''smand. If Kalia never appeared my sisters and I would have carried on as per normal, delving into the Dungeon a few more times before leaving for the inner regions of the cial mountains." Maressa quickly denied any hidden motives knowing that to feign ignorance or outright lie would only anger Frost. ".I believe you; you don''t have the bearing of someone with malicious motives." Though Frost released a little of his aura to pressure Maressa he bore no real threat. "Can I ask what you intend to do in the cial mountains or is that too personal." Asking adventurers this question was considered bad form but given his position as Lord of the territory and their involvement in the attempted assassination he''d be remised if he didn''t ask. "This" As expected Maressa struggled to answer, her eyes trembling as though she was weighing up her options, she even turned to her sisters who were in the same boat. Though it wasn''t some well-guarded secret and that revealing their intentions to Lord Frost wouldn''t negatively affect them in any way they still felt ufortable telling him. Noticing their reluctance Frost didn''t pressure them. "If you don''t want to say that''s fine, I''m an adventurer too so I understand having to keep certain secrets, forget that I asked." Though he was disappointed Frost didn''t push. His original intentions in asking this question was too learn what his Dungeoncked whenpared to the cial mountains. What did Maressa seek that couldn''t be found within the confines of his own Dungeon. "Thank you Lord Frost." Maressa truly felt pressured by his question and was immensely grateful that he didn''t push the issue. "For my second question are you willing to tell me more about the Queendom of Ranullia you hail from as well as the crimesmitted by this Kalia that caused you to almost recklessly throw away your lives?" "This question we are more than happy to answer." Maressa and her sisters thus regaled all they knew and could tell to Frost about their homnd. Where it was, how it matched up to the neighbouring kingdoms, life there and even what it was famous for and though they didn''t reveal the exact details of Kalia''s crimes they revealed enough for Frost to get a good sense. "No wonder you hate her so but for your Queen to give such an order to all her citizens.I have to say she sounds like quite the character." Frost found the impression he had of Ranullia''s Queen growing more and more to his liking. She sounded fierce, loyal and brave, a great person to be friends with. "Un we won''t deny that, but it''s also what makes us love her so. Each and everyone of Ranullia''s citizens would follow her lead across fire and swords if that was her will." Freya spoke with such pure devotion that Frost couldn''t help but tremble. ''To inspire such loyalty from those in the adventurer profession, truly a woman I''d like to know.'' Frost''s interactions with royalty so far had been less than ideal so it was a change of pace to hear about someone like Ranullia''s Queen. Explore more adventures at m,v l''e-NovelBin One of the most interesting things about the Queendom that he learned however was how they viewed intelligent monster species such orcs and beastkin like Daki and Khuno. Within the borders of Ranullia there was very little prejudice between sapients and monsters, the two worked side by side to protect theirnds. With the Queen ruling overrge cities and towns monster tribes dwelled in great numbers across the ins and swamps making for a strong partnership. Maressa and her siblings even grew up alongside monster children, calling arge number of them friends and even the asional one lover. Frost now understood theck of fear and unease the women showed while dealing with his ronso guards hell Chana even made some clear advances while Maressa seemed to be soon following in her wake. With the Amazonian Beauties praising their Queen to the heavens and promising that she''d surely wish to reward Frost and his subordinates for their efforts in taking down Kalia, Frost formted a n. ''Perhaps weing some of these Ranullians into the territory as permanent resident would solve some the many administration issues.'' Frost struggled to trust the sapients that came from Northrend no matter how well he got to know them there were many levels of secrets and barriers he kept in ce. Even Borris who Daki worked closely with and who he interacted with nearly every other day wasn''t privy to the vast majority of going Ons in the territory let alone the Dungeon itself. But given the nature of Maressa and her sisters and how they described Ranullia he thought it''d be good to try and strike up some form of alliance. Though the Camp of Niflheim was allied with Kranor the small enve was limited in what it could do same with the viscounty of Furano but if he was on good terms with arge nation one that was not linked with Northrend then the possible developments for his territory would skyrocket. Frost had long ago started to think about the future and how his territory would eventually be shaped. Chapter 639 A bold Maressa Maressa and her sisters continued to regale Frost about Ranullia and its current queen hoping to foster a good image. And the more they spoke the more interested Frost became. He was now certain that Ranullia would make for a firm ally. A wide smile adorned Frost''s lips as he nodded his head. "Ranullia sounds like a wonderful country I''ll certainly have to visit when I get a chance." "You definitely should Lord Frost, Ranullia is always weing to visitors especially ones with such transcendent capabilities." B-rank fighters were always seen as true experts throughout the world and were thus treated very well no matter the country. The more the group talked the closer they became, Maressa and her sisters who were at first more reserved due to Frost''s status and strength were now talking as though they were all long-time friends. Frost just had this air about him. "I guess I should move onto my final question now before it gets toote." The group had been in the Lord''s office for a good few hours now, the sky had already grown very dark. Find your next read at m_v l|e-NovelBin "Since I''ve ascertained the reason for your presence in the Camp and have learned quite thoroughly about you and where youe from, the only thing left is to decide on a reward for your efforts this evening." Initially he was just going to give each of them something simple but enough to show his gratitude. Now however Frost felt that he needed to go a step further. A good present could help facilitate a longsting friendship and even help with future diplomatic rtions between their two nations. Maressa and her sisters couldn''t help but straighten their backs upon hearing Frost''s words. His bearing and status as Lord of a territory was once more exuded, filling them with respect. There was also of course a hint of curiosity especially among Freya and Myrina. Frost turned to Daki who nodded her head, silently agreeing to something the two of them already discussed. "As you may be aware my lovely partner here is quite the capable cksmith therefore given that each of you are adventurers I''d like to offer each of you a piece of equipment personally forged by her." This would likely be considered quite an expense for someone else but given that Daki was looking for every opportunity to practise her craft and that he had ess to a vast plethora of materials it could hardly be considered much. To Maressa and her sisters however this was a momentous gift and one that continued to get better. "You can choose what piece of equipment you''d likemissioned as well as the material specifics. All expenses will be covered by Frost here so there''s no need to hold back in fact I strongly urge you to bleed him dry." Daki took over talking since the reward would technically be provided by her. Her words made Frost''s twitch at the lips but since he didn''t retort it was clear that he wouldn''t reject any outrageous requests. Maressa''s head practically exploded when she heard Daki''s words. Not only were they getting a piece of new equipment but each of them would be fully customized orders with no limit in terms of budget. The only factor would be the capabilities of the smith forging them and as far as Maressa was aware Daki was at the very peak of 3 star, just a hairs breadth away from reaching the same level as Borris the resident 4 star smith that hardly anyone was able tomission. "Yahooo!!!!" Myrina and Freya were unable to restrain their joy, without even having to fight the two of them were going to get their hands on a piece of quality equipment, this day just keeps getting better and better. "We can start by taking your measurements and preferences tomorrow morning, I''ll have one of the ronso guards bring you to my personal workshop at 10am." "Thank you so much Lady Daki, Lord Frost, your generosity is greatly appreciated." Maressa doing her best to remain calm thanked Frost and Daki with a slight bow while her heart thumped away with ecstasy. "Don''t thank me just yet I wasn''t exactly finished." As Maressa raised her head in confusion Frost reached into his left breast pocket and pulled out 4 intricate tokens. These tokens appeared to be made of ice aspected jade and each of them had the image of a moon carved on them along with many other beautiful carvings. "These four tokens will allow you to enter the premier bath house Moon''s Blessing free of charge whenever you want, lifetime passes." It wasn''t lost on Frost that the Amazonian Beauties were fond of his bath houses in fact ording to his sources out of all the adventuring parties present in the camp they frequented them the most and stayed the longest with each visit hell they even deigned to purchase the inted goods present within. These four were true bath house connoisseurs. All of the sisters loudly squealed as they took hold of these four jade tokens. If the promise of new equipment spoke to their profession then these tokens spoke to their hearts. Each of them cradled the tokens, rubbing them against their cheeks as though they were the most precious items in the world before safely stuffing them in between their breasts for safe keeping and profusely thanking Frost for his generosity. A sight that truly caught Frost by surprise but also brought a wide smile to his lips. "I''m d the tokens are to your liking, if there''s anything else you need please don''t hesitate to ask." Frost nodded his head before rising to his feet with Daki symbolising an end to the meeting. Maressa and her sisters thanked Frost once again before rising to their massive heights, readying to retire for the night but just before leaving Maressa managed to unearth some courage in her heart. She quickly dashed towards Khuno who was at least a full head taller than even her. "I don''t believe we''ve been properly introduced; my name is Maressa." Maressa extended her left hand towards Khuno in greeting with a fierce determination glinting in her eyes. ".Khuno my name is Khuno miss Maressa." Though a little confused and feeling the urge to seek out his master Khuno shook her hand and introduced himself formally. He struggled however to retrieve his outstretched hand. Maressa mped down on him like a vice refusing to let go. Khuno was quite surprised not expecting her to be capable of such brute strength. Whenever he exerted a greater pull she''d respond with more force as if they were having some hidden contest. Maressa who was squeezing as though her life depended on it couldn''t help but be turned on. This was a little thing she enjoyed doing whenever engaging with someone that attracted her fancy, she was aplete sucker for pure physical strength and not everyone had it, sometimes their muscles were just for show. This wasn''t the case for Khuno, however. Despite doing her best to hold on if felt as though she was squeezing metal and that behind that metal hand was a mountain pulling at it. This was probably the strongest man she had ever seen. A man she needed to have no matter the cost. With sultry eyes Maressa gazed at Khuno''s face. She licked her lips in a flirtatious manner and sashayed her hips as she pulled in close enough for Khuno to smell her scent. "Maressa please miss sounds so distant." She whispered yfully before moving even closer. "Sir Khuno I know I may be a little forward here but are you single by any chance?" She wasted no time in her pursuit. Before Khuno could even know what was happening Maressa''s feminine scent filled his nasal passages and her muscr body was pressing against his own. Her hand that was still grasping his own even started to interlock their fingers. Maressa was a very experienced huntress whereas Khuno was but an inexperiencedmb. Though Khuno never had the desire forpanionship, his sole focus being serving Frost even he couldn''t resist his instinctual impulses. Within moments his breathing quickened, and his blood grew restless. Maressa''s fresh scent and her supple touch awakened something inside him. Without him even thinking his free hand gradually found it''s way to Maressa''s hips and he starting pulling her in close. Seeing this a confident smirk appeared on Maressa''s lips. She quickly grabbed the hand that was resting on her hips and ced it lower, so his fingers cupped her ass. She then leaned over and whispered into his ear practically bringing an instant end to the hunt. "Oh I do like a man with a firm grip." With these provocative words something that was restrained deep inside Khuno''s body seemed to break free. The mighty Elder ronso wished to devour the sulent prey held in his arms but the sudden sense of desire also greatly rmed him. His consciousness seemed to return with great difficulty and instinctively he turned to his master for aid. "Wow and I thought you were aggressive." Frost couldn''t help but praise Maressa''s boldness, finding her style more and more to his liking, shame she was more interested in Khuno. "If a woman wants something why shouldn''t she take it. Khuno dear why don''t you take care of Maressa, show her around we wouldn''t want to be rude to our guests hehehe." Daki giggled with a knowing glint in her eyes. Maressa''s actions spurring her own desire, her hands were already beginning to roam her own man''s assets, something Frost was very much a fan of. "Hehehe well said honey, Khuno please take care of Maressa here, show her a good time." Though there was still hints of envy in his eyes Frost gave the order for Khuno to ''entertain'' the eldest of Amazonian Beauties while he took hold of Daki and left the office in a hurry. With that Khuno''s fate was sealed and he had no reason to restrain his instincts. Maressa could feel both their bodies growing hot and she could see the building desire in Khuno''s eyes, realising in that moment how much she needed this. It had been too long sincest had someone between her legs. "Chana take Freya and Myrina away so I can have some alone time with Sir Khuno here. I need to personally thank him for ridding Ranullia of its most hated scourge." Though Maressa spoke with a smiling expression her tone was firm, she was giving her sisters a fierce order and brooked no arguments. "Tch.Freya, Myrina let''s get out of here before she startsshing out." Even though they were her sisters Maressa wouldn''t hold back if they got in the way of her sexual desires. The three sisters promptly left the Lord''s office allowing Maressa and Khuno to enjoy one another''spany. Chapter 640 Brutal interrogation It was ratherte in the evening, the stars were pretty much the only thing lighting up the Niflheim base Camp, a time in which most people were starting to rest their eyes. And considering what the Amazonian Beauties had been through it would be normal if they too sought shelter. However upon seeing their sister boldly make a move on the hunk that was Khuno and even chase them out of the Lord''s office so she could privately indulge herself, sleep was thest thing on their minds. "I''m going to find that cute guard from earlier so you two can make your own way back." The three of them had barely gotten out of the office before Chana decided to ditch them. Seeing Maressa making her move on Khuno got her all hot and bothered, she needed to find an effective release and thus remembered the guard she came across earlier. Without so much as a wave goodbye Chana dashed off in search of her own hunk leaving Freya and Myrina dazed and confused. "Ahhh that bitch,e on Freya let''s go and find our own partners." Myrina cursed Chana before turning to Freya, quickly striking up a partnership before she could be ditched by her too. "Un but I get first dibs." "Ahh just because you''re a little stronger and a little older you think you can walk all over me like Chana and Maressa." "Un!" Freya nodded her head almost instantly with a wide smile on her face. The next moment she wasughing and running away as Myrina chased after her in anger. It didn''t take long for loud seductive moans and tremors to escape from the confines of the Lord''s office. A sound that wasn''t that umon giving how prolific Frost, Daki and Maya were but this time the moans were far more primal, and the shaking was far more prominent. On asion a mighty roar filled with pride could be heard as Khuno mmed himself into Maressa, practically crushing her against the walls. There was no delicacy in his nature the lucky woman found herselfpletely at his mercy, his powerful arms that were akin to steel lifted her legs up and pined them against her breasts as he held her in the air and thrusted upwards. Every single thrust resulting in a loud pping sound as his powerful thighs met herrge cheeks. Though she was literally being manhandled by the beast that was Khuno a blissful expression adorned Maressa''s face. This was want she wanted, what she needed, what she craved. It''d been too long since shestid with a man with such destructive power, the satisfaction she felt from being cradled in his arms and thrusted into by his vicious weapon were indescribable. She found the idea of people being attracted to pretty boysughable, what was really needed was someone strong, someone who you couldunch yourself at and beunched at in return. Maressa let Khuno have his fun in brutalising her till she was satisfied before swiftly turning the tables and going on the attack. She used her muscr yet supple and flexible body to control the beast between her legs, returning his dominance with far more skill. By the end of their lust filled encounter Maressa walked out of the Lord''s office with a beaming smile on her lips. Her body was feeling refreshed and energised as well as a little sore, but it was a good pain. "We''ll have to do this again sir Khuno. I''m currently staying at the Frosted Lantern, feel free to visit me whenever you want to go for another round." Maressa spoke with great charm before skipping down the road. "Urgh." There was a distinct groan from the office as she left and a few momentster Khuno exited with a haggard expression though there was an indescribable smile stered across his lips. He finally understood why his master always had such a rosyplexion and bright smile on his face whenever he and his partners engaged in such activities. "The Frosted Lantern eh." Khuno noted down where Maressa was staying in his mind, quite keen to engage in that second round she promised. While Khuno and Maressa engaged in some potent lovemaking and the rest of the Amazonian Beauties found targets to help settle their own cravings Frost unfortunately had to reject Daki''s fervent advances, something that he really didn''t want to do but needed to. "I''ll catch up with youter on, there''s still the issue of interrogation." Frost''s smile was quickly reced with a malevolent expression as he remembered the assassins he had brought to his prison. "Haaaa very well, I''ll entertain myself in the meantime.throw in a few hits for me and Maya." "Will do, night." Frost kissed Daki on the cheek before teleporting to the specialised prison that had been relocated to the 15th floor for decent sum of DP. Here several prisoners that had offended Frost and his cohorts were trapped within cruel cells, surrounded by the roars of monsters that wished to do nothing more than tear apart their flesh. This was where Frost sent his so-called criminals. Here they would suffer unspeakable torment until the day they died, milked for everyst shred of DP their bodies held. A few residents of the prison that had been here for quite some time visibly trembled and cowered at the sight of the usually amiable Frost knowing now of his true colours. He was not the brave adventurer who plunged into the depths of the Dungeon and Lord of the base Camp but their jailor, the owner of the Dungeon. "Findley how are our guests?" Findley had been tasked with setting up the new residents in their new homes. After sealing off the Sleeping Fenrir and arranging for the repairs he supervised their delivery and was just waiting for his master to arrive. "They''re just starting toe to so brace your ears." A few moments after Findley gave warning a loud screech filled with agony reverberated throughout the prison making the other residents squirm as they did their best to ignore the screams. "Ahhnn music to my ears." Frost disturbingly smiled from ear to ear as he heard the heart wrenching screams of the sapient prisoners making him appear akin to a demonic king, an apparition of evil. His eyes that were just a few moments ago filled with delight and joy as he interacted with Maressa and her sisters were now stone cold and filled with malice. With a curt nod to Findley his trusted right hand man stepped into the cells and stuffed the mouths of the assassins dulling their screams, so they''d be able to hear Frost''s voice. Lying within the samerge cell were the five assassins who tried to take out Nanna. Their bodies and clothes were drenched in blood and more than a few had parts of their bodies'' missing. Nothing life threatening but certainly debilitating and most importantly pain inducing. Even Kalia who was the apparent leader was no exception, her left leg had been cut off at the kneecap, and the wound singed shut by cold mes resulting in bursts of freezing pain to shoot throughout her body with every movement. As Findley forcibly stuffed her mouth with some kind of cloth caring not that he knocked out a couple teeth in the process she red at him and Frost who stood behind him with hatred, wrath and fear. This whole thing was just too weird. The job going wrong and her death she could ept but this was something else entirely. She knew in her heart that what she was about to endure was going to be akin to hell. Kalia was desperate to escape somehow, her eyes discreetly looking for weaknesses and for a way out in between her hate filled res. She also searched the cell marking the injuries of her subordinates as she looked for a certain person. Upon not finding him however she almost imperceptibly let out a sigh of relief, but this minor reaction was noticed by Frost who couldn''t help but smile. "Kalia oh Kalia you really shouldn''t expect to escape this ce. You and associates dared to attack one of my people so you should have been prepared to suffer my wrath no?" Though wracked with pain Kalia faced off against Frost with a mysterious courage. Seeing that she wished to talk Frost had Findley remove the cloth. Phua, Kalia spat out a glob of blood along with a fractured tooth. "So what now? Are you going to torture us as rpense perhaps hope to gain some intel on who sent us." "Pretty much, yeah." Frost didn''t deny his intentions. His callous words and frigid re made the assassins shiver. Even with their training hearing the chill in Frost''s voice frightened them at their core. "Do your worst Lord Frost, we assassins of the underworld syndicate do not betray our clients nor the organisation." Though she knew that her escape was likely impossible Kalia would never betray the syndicate, even if it meant she could avoid torture. As long as their superior the one who was truly in charge of the operation here was still atrge there was hope and the mission could still bepleted. "Is that so, I truly wish to test the extent of your resolve." With an evil smirk several ronsos, yuki-onnas, revenants and dwarves appeared from behind Frost and a momentter the assassins were split up and taken to a special gallery where they were to be ''tested''. "Ahhhhhh!!!!" "Please no ahhhhhhh!!!" "Wahhhhh God help me waaah!!!" "I''m sorry, I''m sorry ahhhhhh!" While Khuno and Maressa enjoyed their evening together Frost and Findley enjoyed the screams and crying of the assassins as their torture teams tore them apart and healed them back up again, truly testing the limits of their resolve. Chapter 641 Brutal interrogation (2) It took an entire 6 hours of dedicated torture for one of the assassins to finally break and release knowledge of their client." "The second prince of Northrend." Frost stroked his chin in thought as he ordered the torture to continue. 30 minutester another assassin crumbled under the torment and released the same information, the one who hired them was the second prince Sedrick. Hearing this name filled Frost and Findley with anger, this wasn''t the first time Sedrick had attacked them. ''Are you truly that foolish?'' Though Frost was angered and almost believing the information revealed by the assassins something didn''t quite add up. When even Kalia eventually gave up their client also naming the second prince an evil smile grew across Frost''s lips. "This damn 2nd prince, if I wasn''t confined to the Dungeon I''d march over to the capital and rip him apart!" Findley loudly roared, his aura breaking loose throughout the room causing the furniture to creak and groan. He was truly incensed by Sedrick. First he had Nanna and Loki turned into illegal ves and held by that bastard Adam Furano then he had the nerve to arrange an assassin to take out his master and now this. Findley was truly at the limit of his patience. "Calm yourself Findley, don''t you think we got this information a little too easily?" "Huh? What do you mean master?" "These assassins especially that Kalia have surely gone through extensive training would they really give up their organisation''s secrets after just a few hours of torture." Even if the torture was rather extreme it still seemed rather soon. Frost sensed that there was a conspiracy at foot. "Let these five rest for the time being, we''ll start interrogating the other one and see if he reveals the same answer." "Understood master." Though only 5 people were directly involved in the assassination of Nanna, Frost and Findley knew that there was a sixth one thanks to their ability to view the entirety of the Dungeon including the Camp through the menu. Kalia was only the team leader in the field the true leader was the man who remained in the hotel while theymenced the operation. Before Kalia and her cohorts had even reached the Sleeping Fenrir, Frost, Khuno and Findley had already attacked and restrained the hidden leader. A few momentster a man littered with wounds was escorted into the torture room by a regiment of ronsos with their guards fully up. Though this man was in chains and severely wounded his strength was actually that of a B-rank fighter, far stronger than Kalia and the true mastermind behind the assassination attempt. Knowing the man''s strength ahead of time Frost, Khuno and Findley attacked without any restraint, swiftly bringing him down before anyone could notice. A feat that wasn''t exactly easy. "If he breaks down and gives us the same answer then there''ll be no doubt left in my mind." These assassins were still carrying out their duty, doing everything in their power to aid their so called client. Findley took part in the leader''s torture personally and after a gruelling 4 hours he also caved in a way that seemedpletely natural but again he revealed the name Sedrick, the 2nd prince of the Northrend empire. The moment he spoke Sedrick''s monicker Frost stood up from his chair with a frigid expression and exited the gallery. He ordered for the five assassins to be brought to the torture room as a unit so they could see the state of their leader and quash theirst hopes. "SSir." A light in Kalia''s eyes seemed to go out when she saw the battered and bruised body of her superior. This man was a powerful B-rank fighter and an intelligent strategist, she never believed that Frost would manage to capture him as well. With him in chains their hope at salvation was all but erased. Upon locking eyes however the man and Kalia exchanged a secret message, even though they were captured their job wasn''t over. Kalia grit her teeth and reluctantly epted the role she and him now had to y. A role that was originally supposed to be filled by the lower ranks who could be easily reced. "A touching reunion don''t you think." Frost appeared within the torture room with his telltale cold expression that these people had gotten used to. His gaze primarily focused on Kalia, and the man strapped down in the centre of the room. "I''m guessing you thought that with him outside there was still a chance for you to escape, for either reinforcements to be sent or for him to find some leverage hmm." Frost''s uracy chilled Kalia''s heart, she bite her lower lip in frustration causing blood to flow. "What else do you want; you''ve tortured us, and we''ve given you the information you want so just kill us. We were only doing our job after all!" Fuelled by anger Kaliashed out, screaming at Frost until her throat became hoarse. "Just doing a job huh, and I have all the information I need hmm." His words sent a wave of panic through the leader''s and Kalia''s minds. ''What! Does he know something?'' Though they panicked internally nothing showed on their faces. "I''ll give you the job thing, true you were just fulfilling your duties, but those duties involved killing an innocent little girl. You deserve everything I''m about to do to you and then some." Frost replied with pure hatred, his royal aspected aura quickly spreading out until it filled the entire torture room, pressing down on the assassins'' wounded bodies. Even the leader was no exception, he felt his wounds breaking open and a heavy weight stifling his breathing. "However, to say that I''ve got the information I need isn''t quite right, is it?" Frost walked towards Kalia with forceful steps his aura bing thicker with every step. "Each of you said that your employer was the 2nd prince of the Northrend empire Sedrick Northrend." As if truly surprised by his subordinates revealing the name, the leader of their group harshly red at his subordinates with me and hatred, but Frost knew this was just an act. "6 counts of the same information from all parties involved, logically this should mean that there''s no doubt that the orchestrater behind this assassination was the 2nd prince. And to be honest when looking at the facts could it be anyone else? Nanna and Loki were originally illegal child ves meant for him so it''s only logical that he''d either want them back or want to kill them so no one else could have them. If that''s not enough proof the 2nd prince already sent an A-rank assassin to kill me in revenge for my interference thus cementing our rtionship as enemies." By the end of his exnation Frost leaned down and stared directly into Kalia''s eyes as though he could see into the depths of her soul. "Logically everything points to the 2nd prince, even the assassins captured im that he''s the mastermind after enduring gruelling torturethen Kalia why is it that I don''t believe you?" A subtle shift appeared in Kalia''s eyes, panic and it was seen by Frost. "Hahahaha seems that I am correct the 2nd prince isn''t involved in this scheme at all and to be honest that makes better sense. Though we have shed and could be considered enemies given the current situation could he even spare his attention towards me and even if he could, why would he? Nanna and Loki are likely pointless to him at his current juncture so why would he risk drawing my wrath when he''s currently embroiled in a battle for the throne?" Though Frost was fairly distant from the contest being beyond the empire''s imed territory his contact with Bastion, Dous, Ryuu and Leo meant he had quite a good grasp on the current situation in the Capital. "If we''re talking about who would truly benefit from such an aftermath then wouldn''t the crown prince be more suspect." Frost''s smile stretched from ear to ear by this point and a strange sense of giddiness filled his heart. He had seen through this little charade. Kalia and her superior''s panic swiftly grew knowing that their scheme had been seen through. The two shared a brief look before instantlyshing out in concert. Since the charade was up and only a slow death awaited them it was better to attempt a breakout and die in the process. The leader of the assassins burst out with the remaining vestiges of his strength, his aura billowing out from his body as he lunged at a nearby ronso intending to take hold of his halberd. Kalia didn''t waste a second either she dashed straight for Frost''s throat intending to bite and tear apart his jugr. The rest of the assassins weren''t as quick but within moments they all attacked at once, doing their hardest to escape from their captors or at least force them to kill them quickly. s Frost and Findley expected as much. As if they were waiting for this Frost reached out with his right hand and tightly grasped Kalia''s jaw while Findley swiftly subdued the assassins'' leader with the help of the ronso guards. The others meanwhile were ''allowed'' to escape in multiple directions but after only running for a short distance they were met with awaiting guards. "I have to say I do respect your resolve but I''m not someone you should have ever crossed." Kalia''s eyes shivered in panic, an overwhelming fear gripping her heart as Frost wrenched open her jaw and reached in with his other hand. "Ghbhbifbib!!" An iprehensible howl reverberated throughout the room as Frost tore out Kalia''s tongue and burned it to frigid ash with his cold me chakra. "Since I''ve gotten what I needed your words are no longer necessary." He fiercely pped Kalia and dusted off his hands. "ce them back in their cells." "Yes master" As Frost stared at Kalia with obvious derision the ronsos and revenants present dragged the assassins back to their cells with minimal damage. A quick death was not in the cards for this lot. Stay connected through m-v l|e''-NovelBin Chapter 642 Necromancy Reluctant screams filled with anguish, hatred and fear reverberated through the halls as Frost''s ronso guards ruthlessly dragged the wannabee assassins back to their holding cells. Frost had what he needed, the true mastermind had been revealed and all that was left was to make those who daredy a finger on his family beg for their deaths. "I want their deaths to be slow and painful, spare no expense in elongating their suffering." Frost''s voice was so cold that even Findley shivered upon hearing it. Their master had been truly angered. "As you wish master" An ice troll witchdoctor responded to Frost with a growing smile that was filled with evil intentions. He would be the one in charge of bringing these assassins back from the brink and evaluating how much pain they could take before they''d hit their limits. Frost walked a few steps before remembering something which caused an evil smirk to form on his lips. "The sub leader, Kalia make her suffer more than the rest, she''s the only one with a time limit after all." "It will be done master." "Un, I''ll visit periodically to grade your efforts." The witchdoctor and the rest of the torturing team trembled and bowed their heads as Frost walked out with Findley by his side. This was the first time in a long while that Frost had deigned to take such an interest in their methods. "Master what you said before?" Once they were clear of the prison''s halls Findley couldn''t help but question his Lord. "The second prince truly has no real motive at this point to anger me especially after learning or rather supposedly learning about my background. His focus ispletely on Randolph, even the attacks against the Furanos have dwindled in the past few months." Frost regrly kept in touch with Dous, Ryuu and Bastion given their alliance andmon enemy. Though danger was brewing in the capital and across the empire until everything goes to shit an out of the way Viscounty and his recently established camp were inconsequential to Sedrickfor now at least. "Considering how easily the information concerning the second prince fell into ourps and how weak the assassins were there''s now not a single doubt in my mind, Sedrick wasn''t involved." "So it was the crown prince?" Though Findley was still sceptical, upon hearing the confidence in Frost''s voice he was no longer confused. "Again I can''t be 100% certain but there''s few others who could pull this thing off and who would have the motive to spark another sh between Sedrick and I." The reaction of Kalia and her superior were also quite damning. Crack! The sound of knuckles loudly cracking could be heard from Findley''s fists and a vicious expression formed across his visage. "Calm yourself Findley, blindly releasing your anger will only cause yourself pain." Frost spoke calmly but a fire could be seen within the depths of his eyes. Their revenge needed to be well nned, only then could they be truly satisfied. "Take care of the Dungeon''s tasks and check in on Khuno I''ve got a call to make." "Yes master." Findley saluted with his arm across his chest before vanishing through a spatial warp leaving Frost alone. ".Randolph seems that you didn''t take my warning seriously thus I can''t be med for what happens to you and your precious Empire." Frost''s wrath was far more serious than even Findley realised. He wished to bathe in Randolph''s blood, to y his flesh from his body one strip at a time as he begged for mercy. No one could target his people and get away with it especially the children who weren''t even able protect themselves. After relishing in his dark thoughts for a few minutes Frost brought up the Dungeon menu that had changed in minute ways since thest family gathering, he was still getting used to the newyout andfort features. Ring, ring, ring Frost quickly found his list of contacts and starting calling one of the dozen or so people listed. Ring, ring, ring There was no answer even after multiple rings but eventually just when he was about to give up someone on other line picked up. "Huh Frost what do I owe this pleasure." An eery perhaps even sinister sounding voice came from the dark screen as an image started toe through. "Agar, I didn''t catch you at a bad time did I?" Frost had called his younger brother Agar who had the form of a lich and was a master of the undead ssification of monsters as well as necromancy magic. Agar was also one of the few siblings Frost considered close. "Not really, I was just about to go for a good soak but since it''s you calling I can put it off hehehe." Agar despite having a rather scary form was incredibly easy going and quite affable. "Thank you brother. The reason I''m calling is too ask you a few questions about your speciality as well as perhaps conduct a quick trade." "Hoh you''re interested in the undead or necromancy?" Agar''s eye sockets lit up with glee, not many people were interested in either of his specialities. "For a personal reason I''d like to know more about necromancy in particr." "If I can answer your questions I will, go ahead brother." "Very well, through necromancy you''re able to reanimate the dead correct?" "Not exactly, what necromancy entails is the creation of an undead monster through the use of a corpse. The previous person/inhabitant of the body does note back to life, and they also don''t be an undead monster rather it''s more akin to a brand new entity, a fusion of the physical offering, the leftover fragments of their soul and the magic of the necromancer." Many people had the wrong idea about necromancy, it wasn''t something that could bring a person''s loved one back from the dead or reanimate long dead heroes as long as they had their corpse and an abundance of magic. "I see, is there no leftover vestiges from the previous owners?" "There can be, though the soul can never be whole again the higher the spell used and the more advanced the necromancer the more likely somethings than can remain such as memories, skills and even weapon mastery. In some cases the created undead can even be stronger than the host corpse used to create them but only those at the very peak can do that." Agar could be considered rather gifted but at his current level converting C-rank corpses was his absolute limit and the result would be a D-rank undead with practically nothing useful remaining from the host soul. Frost couldn''t help but frown upon hearing Agar''s answer, he had the hope that by turning the assassins into undead monsters he''d be able to gleam into their memories even those that had been previously sealed. Though Kalia and her group had mentioned that the second prince was the mastermind they never did openly admit anything regarding the crown prince and during the initial interrogation very little was carved out in rtion to their organisation. Key memories such as those were locked behind a powerful mental seal that would destroy the host''s mind the moment Frost or another went poking around. ''Well guess that''s a dead end.'' A shame but not aplete loss, he was already pretty certain of Randolph''s involvement and had to be honest he cared little about the so called underworld syndicate. "Thanks Agar your exnation has answered most of my queries." "No problem brother." Agar was more than happy to help Frost; it was just somemon knowledge as far as he was concerned. "Are you able to purchase necromancy spell scrolls, ones that can utilise the bodies of C-rank entities?" "I can yes but the results will be even less efficient if a non-necromancer uses them plus they aren''t cheap." Agar''s bone skull showed a smile and a chortle passed through his teeth. He was all for lending a hand to his brother but when it came to business there was no such thing as family. If Frost wanted his specialty scrolls he was going to have to cough up a hefty amount of DP. "Urgh, how much?" "7000DP a scroll not a single DP less." "That''s extortion, 7000DP to create a single low ranking undead." Agar was almost charging the same amount as a basic B-rank monster. "True but I have something you want and as far as I know I''m the only one who''d offer you such a low, low price for it." Frost could practically see coins floating in Agar''s eyes, the man was a ruthless merchant right done to his bleached bones. "Bastard" "Hehehehe I love you too." Frost gnashed his teeth together and cursed Agar''s brutality several times but eventually his younger brother won in the end. Frost was in the weaker position, Agar had something he wanted so he could charge whatever he wished. Though in the end Frost did manage to haggle the price down to 6200DP per scroll, a minor win but one he refused to relent. "Hehehe nice doing business with you brother." Agar''s smugly chortled as his bnce rose an additional 50,000DP. "They won''t work at all on B-rank corpses?" "Nope their bodies are too strong for this level of spell and unfortunately I don''t have ess to a higher circle yet." Seems the assassin leader would be getting off lightly in the end, no eternal torment for him. "Alright thanks Agar, enjoy your soak." Though he feltpletely fleeced he didn''t hold anything against his brother and wished him well. "Ciao." "Haaaaa torture sure is pricey." Chapter 643 Reluctant send off Though Frost coughed up 30,000DP for the assassin prisoners and an additional 20,000DP for other who had been patiently waiting to serve their new lord and master he still felt it was worth it. With a flick of his hand one of the scrolls transferred over by Agar appeared before him. The parchment was made from sturdy beast leather and the runic inscriptions made from the ckest of inks, the thing radiated death energy. 3rd circle spell [create undead] by imbuing the scroll with mana Frost could cast a spell not of the ice element though with less potency than an actual necromancer. If used on a peak C-rank corpse a mid or upper D-rank undead monster could be created. Definitely not worth 6200DP but at least the created monster like those individually summoned had the capabilities to rise through the ranks plus the main objective was to ensure he got the most out of his prisoners pathetic lives and deaths. "How enchanting, maybe I should put aside some DP for scroll trades." If he could have ess to a few scrolls of different elements even if they were a little weaker it''d be very beneficial to a one-trick pony such as himself. With another flick of his wrist Frost stored the scroll within the Dungeon vault and cleansed himself of any evil thoughts before teleporting to the private space. He needed to check on Nanna. Frost appeared a momentter within the living room but there was no sign of Maya, Kiba, Loki or Nanna it was just Daki sitting on the sofa as if waiting for his arrival. "Did you take care of business?" Though Daki didn''t take part personally in the more nefarious practises Frost performed she wasn''t in the dark, she knew all sides of her partner even the darker ones. "It''s in the works, I''ve arranged for them to suffer a great deal.how is she?" Frost said thest part with a slight quiver, genuinely worried about Nanna''s state. "Fine I believe, though she was quite shaken up, given that you arrived quickly, and Maya took care of her in the aftermath she should bounce back fairly soon." Daki had seen Nanna for a short time before she fell asleep in Maya''s embrace. Though the young girl had been through at lot during her younger years as a ve she had begun to let her guard down. This event seemed to trigger her past trauma. "We can only hope." Frost looked towards her bedroom affection clear in his gaze. He wanted to go in and hug her but knew that waking her up would probably do more harm than good. After letting out a sigh Frost joined Daki on the couch, he summoned a bottle of wine as well as two sses. "I could use a drink you?" "Definitely." Though she wasn''t an alcoholic like Maya she was still rather fond of the stuff. The two lovers leaned against one another in silence as they drank their wine, as if trying to drink away their stress. "Did you find out who organised the attack?" Eventually Daki couldn''t restrain her curiosity, she too was burning with a fierce vengeance. "I believe so yes, but we''ll have to wait for revenge, the timing isn''t ideal." Randolph himself was a powerful fighter let alone the strength hemanded as crown prince of a mighty empire. Frost would be foolish to respond with his current strength. "As long as it happens I don''t care how long?" Daki took arge glug of her wine and stifled any further questions she wanted to forget tonight''s experience, thinking about only served to anger her. Frost acquiesced and the two continued to drink in silence. Once the bottle was practically finished and the two were slightly pink in the cheeks they were suddenly reminded of the mood struck earlier. They had witnessed Maressa boldly press herself against Khuno and openly dere her desire for him. Such aggression and seduction of course affected a healthy couple like themselves but because Frost had things to take care of they didn''t get the chance to relish in one another''s bodies. Now however there was nothing standing in their way. Daki made the first move, her hands roaming over Frost''s chiselled body feeling sparks of electricity shoot through her system whenever she passed over something flexed. Frost responded in kind, his left hand caressing her calf before slowly moving upward. As their hands got to work the two moved closer and locked lips, they kissed passionately turning their already pinkened cheeks crimson. "Do you.thinkKhuno''s havinga good time?" Daki asked in between kisses, her heart ame with desire as her legs wrapped tightly around her lover refusing to let him go. "Hehehe I''m sure he his, Maressa''s quite the catch after all." Frost''s mind drifted for a second as he imagined the naked form of Maressa. Such thoughts quickly caused a reaction from the dragon nestled between his thighs. Daki also noticed the sudden increase in rigidity as well as the distracted gaze in her lover''s eyes. "How bold to think of another woman while being embraced by me." There was an undisclosed hint of anger in her voice, nothing burns more than a woman''s fury. "Hehehehe you can''t fool me my love I wasn''t the only one turned on by her." Frostughed in the face of her supposed anger. If it was Maya then it would have likely been genuine but Daki she was just as tempted as he was perhaps even slightly more. The beautiful green enchantress seductively stuck out her tongue and batted her eyshes not denying his words. Unlike Maya or Frost she was very, very experienced with both male and female partners but even for her Maressa was quite the bombshell, Khuno was certainly lucky to draw the attention of such a fine woman. Frost and Daki continued to kiss passionately and caress each other''s bodies until they were ready to burst. "Alright enough forey babe." "As you wish my love." "kyahh hahahaha." Daki loudly squealed and thenughed as Frost lifted her from the sofa and carried her to the bedroom. The next morning after Khuno returned to work he of course received more than a few jeers from his fellow monsters as well as his own master and mistresses, but they simply rolled off his back like harmless water droplets. He very much enjoyed his time with Maressa and was tempted to engage in several more rounds. During his patrols and even while in the Dungeon his mind would frequently wander back to the previous night. He couldn''t forget the feeling of her skin, her supple yet powerful body as well as her fierce personality. Maressa consumed his thoughts and likely wouldn''t be leaving anytime soon, you don''t really forget your first after all. Daki as promised met with the Amazonian Beauties to discuss their equipment. She couldn''t help but notice that Maressa, Chana and Freya all had rather rosyplexions like herself, it was clear to her that it wasn''t just Maressa that managed to bag herself a good time. Myrina, the youngest sister however sported a dark expression, clearly she failed where her sisters did not, and it frustrated her. Daki and the others chuckled under their breaths and shared knowing looks which seemed to only infuriate the young woman further. Daki got to work on their requests post haste and promised to deliver the products within 3 days and that they''d be of the highest quality. Maressa and her sisters were more than happy with her response, they weren''t in too much of a rush after all. Frost promised that Kalia would remain detained by him and his forces for the foreseeable future thus allowing them to visit the cial mountains before heading back to Ranullia. In fact he even encouraged them to take their time, hoping to drag out her pitiful life as much as possible. Your journey continues at m v|l-e''-NovelBin Though they were a little unnerved with letting Kalia live for so long they strongly trusted in Frost''s capabilities. With him and his forces here in the Niflheim Camp Kalia had no chance at escape. On the third day Maressa and her sisters left Frost''s territory with their new equipment in hand and a strong reluctance in their hearts. Long treks and fierce battles awaited them as they marched to inner regions of the cial mountains. It''d be a long time until they''d be able to enjoy themselves in the bath houses of the Niflheim base camp. Frost was too busy and of too high a station to send them off but Daki, Khuno and quite a few ronso guards vehemently volunteered. Daki was there as a stand in for Frost while Khuno was there to support Maressa who he''d been spending a fair amount of time with since their first night together. The mighty elder ronso fell victim to his physical desires a mere 8 hours after Maressa first drained him and caused a little incident while at work. While giving his usual orders and receiving reports from some of the monster officers his mind grew distracted, and he started picturing Maressa in some rather provocative poses. Thus during a staff meeting while surrounded by yuki-onnas he pitched a rather significant tent making them all blush and mock him. Thankfully Maressa was free and more than happy to take care of his needs. The others which amounted to almost a dozen guards were pretty much all for Chana. While Maressa and Freya stuck with a single partner she was more promiscuous. "Bye boys don''t forget about me." Chana seductively blew a few kisses making many of the guards grow red in the face. Freya being rather wild at heart simply groped her partner''s ass and whispered into his ear before walking off with her sister. "Sir Khuno we''ll be back in a few weeks, and I sincerely hope we can continue to get to know one another then." Maressa spoke with the most reluctance, she had truly grown rather fond of Khuno. Not only was he impressively strong and a total hunk he was such a goody. She even had the notion that she may have found her one and only, but more time was needed for her to be sure. As the Amazonian Beauties left for the mountains and the ronsos guards depressingly went back to their duties Daki eyed Khuno. "Now that you know the wonders of sex Khuno you''re going to have to restrain your urges we can''t have another incident like before." She elbowed him in the side with a smirk stered on her lips. "Urgh" Poor Khuno could only groan, he was going to have to suffer for a while. Chapter 644 Slimeoid A couple weekster more and more adventurers were reaching beyond the tenth floor and were starting to notice a stark change in not just the monsters but also the local environments and resources avable. Frost after listening to his popce as well as the adventurers guild started purchasing extras for certain floors such as unique nts and herbs that were key ingredients for potions and even magic devices. Slowly but surely his Dungeon was bing more and more attractive and hopefully with enough time there''d be little difference between it and the cial mountains. Though no B-rank adventurers deigned to visit yet Frost was gradually getting ready for them. "Yuna how goes the monster evolutions, anything interesting today?" Frost asked from behind his desk. Across from him was a rather beautiful young woman who was adornedpletely in white. Both her hair and skin were as white as snow. "There is one master, an ice slime has finally reached the goal you previously set." The woman, Yuna replied with a soft voice and a small smile that seemed revealed pearly white teeth and two short fangs. Though she looked simr to a human woman Yuna was in fact a monster, Frost''s third B-rank and third named monster. Previously Yuna was simply known as the leader of the yuki-onnas, the one with the highest level as well as the one with the sharpest mind. Below Findley and Khuno she served as head of Frost''s magic corps and was just below them in authority. Following her efforts in the war with Karrick and her skilful management during the Dungeon''s day to day tasks Frost promised to grant her a name once she achieved an evolution, growing from a low C-rank yuki-onna to an upper C-rank yuki-onna maiden. There was even a glorified ceremony for her ascension into the ranks of named monsters. Frost used the opportunity to raise the spirits and motivations of his monsters, but he never thought that by granting her, her name she''d be able to evolve for a second time. Yuna after receiving her name became a maiden of ice a B-rank monster. After which she firmly cemented her position as fourth inmand, below Frost, Findley and Khuno but definitely above the rest of the officers even those that had be upper and even peak C-rank species. Her role also changed to Frost''s direct secretary, she followed him throughout the Camp and helped him handle the overall day to day tasks, taking a great burden off his shoulders but it still wasn''t enough, Yuna was just one person after all. "Oh that''s perfect, do we have any important meetings in the next hour?" Frost who was initially rather bored andcklustre sprang to life upon hearing Yuna''s words. He''d been trying to evolve his ice slimes to the point where they could take on non-blob like forms -a stage where they became truly difficult to handle- forever. Unfortunately in the lower ranks slimes were miserably weak making the process long and difficult. So many of his slimes died just before managing to reach max level but finally one had seeded. "Nothing important just the regr meeting with Ringwald but it can be pushed back." Yuna replied in a calm and professional manner taking her role as Frost''s assistant very seriously. Though she had less authority than Findley and Khuno her current role allowed her to be by her beloved master''s side the most which was far better in her opinion. "Great, push it back we''ve got an evolution to handle." With a wide grin on his face Frost rose to his feet and pped his thighs before quickly walking into a nearby room. Yuna promptly followed him after asking one of the ronso guards to inform Ringwald about the meeting push back. Once Frost and Yuna were in the room they closed the door and used the Dungeon system to teleport themselves to the max level slime''s location. A momentter the two arrived on the 6th floor where mainly E and D rank monsters could be found. "Where is it?" "It should be in this area; I''ll summon all those nearby master." Yuna then opened amunication channel to all monsters in the vicinity and a few momentster Frost spotted arge slime with partially formed limbs make its way towards them as if filled with excitement. "lower D-rankrge limbed ice slime." This was thest stage before slimes would be slimeoids, an important threshold. "Finally after so many arduous months one has finally reach this point." Frost had a smile that reached from ear to ear as he nodded approvingly as the slime drew near. Only he knew how many failed attempts there''d been, the painful losses, wasted efforts and spirit crushing defeats. Frost had wanted slimeoids in his roster for quite a while but no matter how much he improved personally or developed his Dungeon the option never appeared. Now however that was about to change the moment when the slime in front of him evolved, its new species would automatically be avable for purchase and the long mocked weaklings could finally reign supreme hahahaha. Frost felt giddy just thinking about it, slimeoids weren''t just strong, they were tenacious and far, far harder to kill than their weaker slime counterparts. "Um master." Yuna poked his side drawing him out of his personal revelry. "Is the nearby area clear?" The signs of an evolution would surely draw over nearby adventurers. Frost tested this a few times, allowing his less important monsters to evolve the moment they reached max level without his input. The result was that the change in the ambient mana and the glow of evolution quickly drew nearby adventurers like sharks to blood in the water. A recently evolved monster was always rather weak the moment they evolved given that they weren''t used to their new physical form thus it was the best time to kill something of a higher rank and rarity. Frost didn''t want anything to go wrong with his slime''s special evolution thus he wanted the area to bepletely devoid of people. "Unfortunately no master there are several parties in the nearby vicinity, an evolution would surely attract their desire." "Haaaaaa looks like we''ll have to do it on a lower floor or within the training space." Though there was now a charge whenever the training space was being used and its myriad facilities were also no longer free of charge Frost still used fairly often. It was still the ideal room to train in given its durability, istion and repair functions. Frost quickly checked to see if anyone was using the training space at the moment and upon learning that it was empty he teleported the three of them there. A small dose of DP inparison to the vast reserves and daily ie of Dungeon was thus removed but Frost no longer cared about such small charges. His excitement was still at the peak. "Slimeoid hahaha finally a slimeoid." Only Frost knew how much he wanted this particr monster. He didn''t even really know why he was so obsessed with it. Though slimeoids could be considered as strong they still weren''t the strongest nor were they the fastest, sported the best defence nor did they even have the most sought after materials but still for some reason he was drawn to them. "Little one time for you to evolve and break free from the shackles of weakness." Frost gave his permission for the slime to start its evolution and a momentter therge silverly blob started to condense into itself, and an obvious glow flowed from it core. No matter how many times Frost saw it the process of evolution was always a magical event that brought joy to his heart. The entire process of evolution didn''t take too long a couple minutes or soter the glow died down and the silver blob that was previously spherical in nature was now in the rough shape of a humanoid, it wascking some definition, but it was certainly a stark contrastpared to what it looked like previously. The monster now also had eyes and could be considered as having some basic intelligence. The silverly slimeoid looked with its brand new eyes and inspected its new body in amazement, it was so different from what it had before. It had truly evolved into something brand new. "Hahahahaha my first slimeoid hahahahaha!" Frostughed without restraint as joy overwhelmed his heart, this was what he was working so hard to achieve. The slimeoid''s form was the exact same as described in the monster encyclopaedia he had. "Though it''s very rough and clearlycks definition it''s an obvious step in the right direction." Frost cupped his chin in thought and nodded his head as examined an evaluated the young ice slimeoid before him. Species: Young ice slimeoid Name: None Rank: D Level: 1/40 Though it was still considered a D-rank monster it was in the upper stages simr in strength to that of the lesser yuki-onna''s and the frost troll warriors. As the slimeoid evolves further its ability to morph into different forms as well as its intelligence would grow and grow making it one hell of an adaptable monster. Frost spent the next half hour or so interacting with the slimeoid, testing its capabilities and level of intelligence before having it reassigned to a lower floor and returning to his duties as Lord of the Camp but this time with a little more enthusiasm in his heart. The Dungeon''s tasks were more enjoyable but his duties as the Lord of the Camp was no less in important as it heavily affected the Dungeon''s ie. Just as Frost and Yuna were about to return to the office and meet with Ringwald Frost received amunication from his Father, the first one since the gathering. Chapter 645 Returning what was borrowed "Hey Frost, how''s things?" Dark''s charismatic visage appeared before Frost the moment he epted the call. Neither Frost nor any of his siblings had received anymunication from their father since the family gathering ended. Hearing his voice and seeing him in an apparent healthy state brought a smile to Frost''s lips. "I''m pretty good bar a few issues with my neighbours and a little incident." A sh of anger passed through Frost''s eyes the moment he recalled the attempt on Nanna''s life, but he quickly covered it up, not wanting to burden his father with any problems he could handle himself. "What about you father? Are you stable?" Though Dark yed it cool and even summoned another God to help him with his situation it didn''t stop Frost and his siblings from worrying about him, he was their father after all. "Haaaaa you don''t need to worry about me Frost I''ve taken the appropriate actions and with Erebus by my side the chances of any re-ups are minimal." Dark had a lot of faith in Erebus'' talents and trusted him wholeheartedly with his condition. It was rare for Dark to be so forting with anyone other than Light, the only entity that could actually be considered his equal. Even the great primordials were still beneath him and Light. Frost noticed the pride and even relief in Dark''s voice as he mentioned Erebus. It was clear that this man who was known as the God of Shadows was a close confidant of his father. "As long as you''re properly taking care of yourself." "I''m am son, hehehe having your children worry about your wellbeing it''s rather pleasant." Dark was truly enjoying the many experiences of being a father. "Anyway enough about me the reason I''m calling is because the years'' time limit has long passed. That high earth ranked cold me oddity needs to be returned." "Urgh!" Frost instinctively groaned upon hearing his father''s words. Though he knew his ownership over the me was temporary he was still quite reluctant to hand it over. The cold me had not only vastly improved his own strength both in chakra use and ice fire magic, but it helped him create his ronsos and even improve the innate talents of his magically inclined monsters. It did all of this while in a sealed state. Frost still wasn''t strong enough to endure the full strength of the high earth ranked cold me even after reaching B-rank. There was still much of this resource untapped. "Well that''s a reluctant expression if I ever did see one hahahaha." "Can you me me, that cold me has done wonders for my personal development as well as that of my monsters, it''d be a fool if I didn''t feel remorse." "Is there any chanc" "Don''t bother, the choice isn''t up to me anyway. That me oddity was a gift from the Primordial ice king, whether or not you can extend your lease is entirely up to him." Dark instantly shot down Frost''s hopes or rather redirected the responsibility to the primordial ice king. "The primordial ice king huh." Frost had heard a fair bit about this God from Maya. Shivali the Primordial ice king, one of the ancient primordials who governed the ice element and who resided in his self-made world, Niflheim of which Frost''s Dungeon got its namesake. For fenrirs, ice giants and other ice based monsters Shivali was revered alongside Dark as one of their most hallowed deities. Those with the Primordial title were the very first Gods created after Nova''s creation. Each of them governed corews and elements that made up the fabric of Nova. In the hierarchy of Gods, Dark and Light stood far above everyone else but directly below them would be the Primordials. Though few in number these entities held immense strength, a newly established God or one with a weaker foundation could be obliterated with a single blow. These people were true big wigs, entities that should never be offended under any circumstances. Frost could act immature and even cocky with Dark because he was his father, but Shivali was neither family nor friend but someone who stood at the very peak of this world. Even with all his talents it was unlikely that he''d ever be able to stand equal before such a person. "You may actually be in luck Frost. Shivali wishes to meet you and requests that you hand deliver the high earth ranked cold me to him in person." There was a mysterious subtlety hidden in Dark''s voice which Frost failed to pick up on. "He wants to meet me why?" Though he was one of Dark''s children, Shivali was a lofty Primordial far above his status. ''Could it be the Dungeon''s name.'' Frost trembled as this thought started to take root. "There''s a few reasons but since he wants it to be a surprise I won''t ruin his ns; all you need to know is that the choice will ultimately be yours in the end." Again there was a strange look in Dark''s eyes as he looked over his son. There was definitely something afoot but at least it didn''t sound negative. There was a slight issue, however. "How am I supposed to get there?" The realm of Niflheim was in a separate dimension but the main entrance was known far and wide to be within the very heart of the cial mountains core regions, where the temperature was so cold that anyone below B-rank would be instantly sh frozen by a simple breeze. A harsh environment that only the strongest of people would dare to call home. As he was now Frost would find the inner regions rather perilous let alone the core regions. His confusion was shown in his expression. Even if he could somehow survive the freezing storms, B-rank monsters roamed the area asmon as regr beasts let alone the plethora of A-ranks and even dreaded S-ranks. He''d be nothing but a toothpick to them with his current strength. "Hahahaha rx Frost he''s not asking you to brave into the core regions with your current strength, that''d be impossible." Once again Frost despite his quick gains was reminded of how small and weak he truly was in terms of Nova as a whole. "Though it can''t be considered without its own dangers there is another entrance to the realm of Niflheim." Dark waved his hand causing arge intricate and detailed map to appear behind him. The grandeur of this map would surely send the Northrend empire as well as its neighbour into a fervour. The map held by Dark was hundreds of times more detailed than anything held by the mortal kingdoms. Enjoy new adventures from m-v l''e|-NovelBin But Frost knowing his father''s identity and being used to the many wonderous things he could pull out of thin air was totally unaffected. Instead he did his best to memorise as much details as possible before Dark started manipting it. "Your Dungeon is positioned at thergest of the southern entrances, basically on the border of what''s considered the cial mountain danger zone." Dark zoomed in on the map to show the area around the southern entrance. Magically the map already showed his Dungeon as well as the Niflheim base camp. The markings were even moving, upon zooming in even further dots representing people could be seen moving to and fro throughout the camp. This was a living map that was constantly updating in real time, a true treasure. "Going a little north you''ll enter the external regions of the cial mountains, a good teaser for what''s toe further in. Here many small kingdoms, tribes and enves are abound but beyond within the inner regions the territorial powers there rival that of Northrend and in some regards even surpass it." Dark briefly disyed some of the more powerful kingdoms that called the inner regions home before moving towards the boundary between the 1st and 2ndyer of the inner regions. While the external regions were divided into zones i.e. Alpha, delta, gamma etcthe inner regions were divided intoyers, 9yers to be specific. "In this area here there is a special entrance to the realm of Niflheim that requires someone on the other side to open the gate thus despite existing for millennia knowledge of it hasn''t spread." Dark withdrew an ice jade token from his robes before tossing it into a spatial warp. A momentter a spatial warp appeared by Frost''s side and the ice jade token fell into hands. ''So cold'' Frost''s hand flinched as his skin met with the surface of the ice jade token. "That''ll serve as your pass, once you reach the correct coordinates someone on the other side will open the doorway and allow you to enter the realm of Niflheim. What happens next will be up to Shivali." Though the inner regions would still be rather perilous for Frost he only had to reach the end of the 1styer,pletely doable. Frost memorised the local area around the hidden entrance and stored the ice jade token in his robes. "Is there a timeframe?" To be honest leaving the Dungeon at the moment was far from ideal. The situation with Northrend could devolve at any moment, there was still much he needed to prepare for if things go south. "No Shivali didn''t set one, but I''d suggest that you not wait too long. The journey itself will likely take a week or two and though Shivali can be considered rather friendly among the Primordials it would be unwise to test his patience." Basically finish what you need to as quick as possible and then head off. "Alright I''ll leave as soon as I can." ''Looks like I''m going to be rather swamped over the next few days.'' Chapter 646 Change in plans "Good, I''ll tell Shivali to expect you soon then, have fun Frost." Dark waved goodbye with a bright smile before ending the conversation. The moment however when the screen became inert his smile vanished and an exhausted look appeared across his face. He then turned to his left where a man wreathed in shadows was sitting with arge cauldron in front of him. A violet fire was fiercely zing beneath, cooking whatever ingredients sat in the pot. A thick medicinal scent escaped through the trembling lid and the man sported a focused expression before suddenly tensing up. In that moment the violet fire turned ck, and the cauldron started to tremble, the medicinal scent growing thicker and thicker by the millisecond before the man suddenly smiled and erased the fire, his work was finally finished. "I''ve troubled you Erebus." The man wreathed in shadows was of course Erebus, Dark''s confidant and Diablos'' grandfather. "No trouble at all my lord and besides we''ve only just started." Erebus wiped the sweat from his brow before scooping out a silver liquid concoction from the cauldron. "This should help stabilise your soul for the time being and create a foundation for the next course of treatment." Erebus despite being the God of shadows and having a rather evil appearance was in fact one of the most talented medical alchemists in the world. Even Dark admitted his inferiority to him when it came to producing medicine. "This is thest step in the primary treatment yes?" Dark had already being forced to drink several of Erebus'' concoctions yet there was still more toe. The soul wasn''t something easily remedied let alone the soul of someone as powerful as Dark. "Correct after drinking this the foundation will be set and I can start with the proper treatment however you''re not going to like it." Erebus wasn''t referring to taste when he said this. "Urgh, speak what do you need?" "Hehehehe nothing much just a few stems of Visceral soul grass, a silence apple, body cleansing bamboo shoots and. A mind cleansing lotus "You!" Dark''s lips twitched as pain and fury filled his heart. The other three ingredients were all rare and precious but he could stomach the loss, but the mind cleansing lotus was a flower that only bloomed once every thousand years. Even he with his impressive garden housed but a few of them. To part with just a single one felt as though Erebus was carving out a piece of his heart for consumption. "I''m not done." As if taking some sort of pleasure in seeing Dark''s heartache Erebus continued to list many more ingredients that he required, some of which being even more precious than the mind cleansing lotus. Eventually Erebus left to fetch the ingredients from Dark''s reserves after receiving a painful nodcking in strength. Dark slumped in his chair, a devastated expression adorning his face. ''Why did I wait so long to get this problem sorted.'' He now truly regretted leaving the problem of his soul alone for a year. Instead of hoping for the best he should have immediately consulted his long-time friend for a check-up. That way he may have been able to avoid using up his most valuable medical reserves. While Dark ruminated his uing loss Frost immediately frowned the moment the call ended. "Haaaaa never a moments peace." His initial ns would now have to be brought forward. "Yuna can you inform Ringwald that we''ll have to cancel our meetingactually in fact ask him if he''s freeter this evening for a more in depth chat. Given how broad the adventurers guild influence has be within the camp I should run a few things by him first." "Of course master I''ll inform him right away." "Also I''ll need you to handle running the Camp in the meantime as I''ll need to discuss the situation with Findley and Khuno." "Of course, by your will." Yuna bowed her head with respect before teleporting back into the Lord''s office to handle the tasks Frost still needed toplete. Once she was gone Frost opened up amunication with both Findley and Khuno. "I need the two of you toe to the training room ASAP." "Understood, I''lle right away master." "I''m in the middle of a critical task, can you wait a couple minutes?" Findley immediately dropped his current task -which wasn''t anything important- While Khuno requested to finish what he was doing before teleporting over. "Make it quick we''ve got a lot to do and with very little time." "Understood, give me two minutes." Two minutester Khuno arrived within the training room where Findley and Frost were already seated across from one another, their discussion already started. "Sit." Khuno thus sat down beside Findley, a curious expression on his face as he wondered why both he and Findley had been urgently called upon. "Both the Camp and the Dungeon''s next phases need to not only be brought up now they need to bepleted within the next 2 weeks, not a single dayter." Frost immediately set out their goals causing the elder ronso and ice troll lord to grimace. Frost''s nned expansions and development phases were currently on track and would likely seepletion within the next 3 to 6 months thus it was understandable for them to be blown away by the two weeks deadline Frost just stated. Just when Khuno was going to ask the why Frost raised his hand to stop him. "I''ll give you the quick gist since we don''t have much time. Under my father''s orders I need to venture into the inner regions of the cial mountains. A journey that''ll likely see me away from the Dungeon for at least two weeks perhaps more thus given the situation in Northrend I want the Dungeon and Camp to be able to defend itself from a possible cmity. Only if we finish the next phase of development will I feel secure in leaving for such an extended time frame." Findley and Khuno nced at one another before letting out deep sighs, the work was certain to be round the clock for the foreseeable future. "We''ve already pretty much established the basic n all we need to do now is alter it too fit such a short timeframe haaaaa it may not even be possible master. The manpower alone is a considerable task not to mention the materials and the cost in DP.I don''t feel confidant promisingpletion." Khuno the more level-headed of his generals openly talked about the struggles while Findley the usual yes man simply remained silent with a pensive expression which basically tranted into his consent to Khuno''s opinion. "I know it''s far from ideal but it''s something that needs to happen. We''ll split the tasks ordingly and involve everyone we possibly can. In regards to manpower I''ll think of something, perhaps even bring up another venture that I had put off previously. DP wise we should just about make it if we start exchanging our excess gold coins." "But?" "I know it''s not ideal given their poor exchange rate, but it''ll allow us to ovee theck of funds if just barely." "I n on meeting with Ringwald as well as the representatives for the merchant andbour guilds, given that the sensitivity of some of the development isn''t ssified we could use the manpower of the sapients." Experience more content on m v|l e''-NovelBin The development Frost was talking about was the creation of an outer perimeter wall that extended 3km further out than their current one. This wall would serve as a true war defensive wall reaching close to 20 metres in height and 8 in width with a hell of a lot of battlements and war machines. More than enough to hold back the tide of another monster stampede or possibly a march of Northrend troops. For materials it''d be simr to the initial wall but would contain twoyers with a thick, reinforced b of high strength steel sitting in the centre. Ice would then seal the structure together making for a mighty wall that could withstand the charges of mammoths. Initially this n was supposed to be done gradually over the current year but given the current political situation in Northrend and his uing absence Frost wanted the wall to be established to at least 80% of its final height and outlined with the majority of its nned war machines and battlements. The design of the wall on top of the twoyer construction would also have a hollow system throughout the upper 6 metres that would house his battle hardened forces. From this tunnel they could fire their ranged weapons through the removable ts while remaining protected from the enemy''s attacks. Following that the preceding 800 metres behind the wall would serve as a permanent military bastion hosting barracks, medical centres, food halls, smithies as well as high battle tforms for mages and archers simr to how Furano was during the monster stampede. This wall would ultimately change the Camp designation from camp to a fortified vige or even town, truly cementing its position in the area. This alone however would require a staggering amount of materials andbour toplete let alone the other developments Frost wishedpleted at the same time. Sleepless nights and long shifts were on the horizon. Chapter 647 Borris departure The three men discussed their ns in depth for the next two hours before breaking off to take care of their assigned tasks. "Quicky calcte your initial costs and send me your reports so I can start bulk purchasing what we need." With the initial ns set each of then needed to figure out how much they needed to buy, whether that be in monsters or extra materials to be bought directly. What they managed to mine from their many quarries and mines was far from enough to support such arge construction job. "I''ll have someone talk to the local merchant caravans, perhaps we can purchase their materials with all the gold coins we have lying about.Alright that''s enough nning time to start working." "As you wish master." Findley and Khuno both teleported out of the training room with determined looks leaving Frost with an evident frown even he was unsure of their chances. "Yuki-onnas and ronsos perhaps even ice trolls can be assigned to the walls construction but it''s not enough. The Ice dwarves are a littlecking still and would likely cause a scene appearing in mass even with my blessing. Guess I''ll have to finish up that previous project." Ideally he wanted to take his time with this but unfortunately he needed them sooner thanter. However just when he was going to start his pet project he received another call this time from Yuna who was left in charge of the Camp. ''Please be good news I don''t have time to deal with anything else right now.'' "Yuna what''s up?" He asked rather sternly, conveying how busy he was. "Sorry to disturb you master but Sir Borris wishes to urgently speak with." Though reluctant to disturb her master there was nothing she could do. The situation with Borris was beyond what she was allowed to handle. "Borris.Dammit has he decided to leave?" "I''m not sure but it''s likely." "Haaaaaa very well I''ll meet with him right now, perhaps I can convince him to stayby the way did you manage to arrange a meeting with Ringwaldter?" "Yes he''ll be free after 7pm tonight." "Good, try and see if you can have all the influential representatives of the camp there as well, it''ll save us some time." "Understood I''ll try and arrange for a meeting at 7.30pm with as many people as possible." "Perfect, carry on Yuna." "Yes master." Frost couldn''t help but frown even deeper as he thought about Borris. The old dwarf already made it abundantly clear that he would only being stay here in the Niflheim base camp temporarily and from his recent interactions with him and what Daki had been telling him he was starting to grow restless. Though his chances at keeping him here were slim he needed to try at least, that a was a 4 star smith after all. After quickly cleaning up his robes and straightening out his hair Frost teleported into his office before heading towards the reception room where Borris was waiting patiently with a ss of whiskey in his hand. "Ah Frostd I''m not interrupting anything am I?" "A little but your issue is more important." Frost waved his hand before sitting across from Borris who somehow seemed to appear younger than he did back in Furano. Getting his passion back did wonders for his physical health. Borris took another sip of his whiskey before showing a serious expression, seemed Frost guess correctly this was him giving his notice. "Haaaaaa I''ve been staying here within your developing camp for quite some time now." A forlorn look appeared in Borris'' eyes as he summoned up his courage. "Before, back in Furano I already mentioned my desire to travel, to rekindle my passion for smithing by engaging with other smiths deep within the cial mountains. Though I''ve enjoyed my time here and have found thatss Daki of yours to be even more talented than my sons. Engaging with her has been a great start on my path however." "It is only the beginning; your stay here was but a temporary resting spot for your to prepare. Your true destination lies within the mountains." Frost finished his speech with a clear sense of defeat in his voice. Seeing Borris as he was Frost knew there was nothing he could do to convince him to stay. Borris was never destined to remain within his territory. "Haaaaa." Borris let out a long sigh as he cemented his decision to leave. The camp here was wonderful, the people here respected him and treated him fondly without expecting much in return. A young orcss with a devasting appearance and a passion even greater than his own would frequently work alongside him, testing his knowledge, pushing his own limits as she herself absorbed his experience like a sponge. In his eyes Daki was not far from reaching his current level. Here he could y around with as much 3 star and 2 star material as he wanted and could even request a certain quota of 4 star material to do with as he wished. Rarely did Frost request for him to perform actual work, simply allowing him the freedom to focus on his craft, something he was immensely grateful for and a key aspect of what made his current decision so difficult. s while unlimited experimentation would help expand one''s limits and create a solid foundation it was not that conducive to his current level. Unlike Daki who really benefited from such a system he already had a vast and solid foundation based on his decades of working experience, what he needed now was inspiration. Something that couldn''t be found while sheltered here. He''d have to give up his ess to unlimited materials, his ess to high quality food, bath houses and the joy of interacting with Daki on a daily basis but for his passion, his destiny it was a worthy sacrifice, even if it hurt to do so. "Your heart is truly set on leaving?" "Un" "..When?" Discover more content at m,v l''e-NovelBin "In 3 days, there''s a trading caravan that''s heading to the Junok enve, which is near the Three Flower Kingdom, from there I should be able to find passage to the empire''s northern most bastion." Borris had already thought long and hard about his intended destination and how best to improve his craft. His skill had dwindled over the past decade or so, quickly umting a thickyer of rust. Only when he met Frost and handed over the ive he forged for another did his heart start to thump again. But it was the thrill and pressure of war that finally and truly reignited the old man''s fire once again. Seeing weapons, armour and other pieces of equipment that he handled put through the ringer everyday allowed him to clearly see the inadequacies in his craft and charge ahead against the bottleneck. The cumtion of this knowledge and putting it into practise to reforge the [wolf howling at the moon] allowed him to ascend to the rank of 4 star cksmith. He thus felt strongly that war was the key and where best to offer his services than the Northrend empire''s northern most bastion, the grand fortress of the War Ursa Battalion, the great city of Icethorne. At Icethorne war was ever abound, the great kingdoms and powerful tribes of the inner regions constantly throwing their warriors head long against their mighty walls, desperate to unearth the stele established by the Northrend empire that barred their way south. Here mass death was a weekly urrence far removed from the Viscounty of Furano that only saw a monster stampede once every few years. "." Frost was silent for a moment as his mind turned. ''Perhaps it''s fate.'' "If you''re not in an absolute rush perhaps you could hold off for a few days and at most a couple weeks." "Huh why?" Though a week or two wouldn''t make much difference he''d rather leave now before Frost and his ilk had more chances to dissuade him from leaving. His trepidation was clearly shown on his face causing Frost''s lips to twitch, feeling slightly wronged. "It just so happens that I''ll be heading into the cial mountains soon and that my final destination will see me pass through Icethorne. I''d be more than happy to take you along with me when I leave then." Frost didn''t n on bringing anyone else bar Kiba with him into the inner regions. Far too dangerous for the kids and given the danger present with Northrend he preferred having both Daki and Maya at home to handle any disturbances. Borris would therefore make a pleasant partner to interact with on his long journey. "Really?" For a moment Borris felt that Frost had no reason to enter the mountains that this was some sort of ploy or an act of pity but eventually after gazing into Frost''s eyes he realised that the young man truly did have to visit the inner regions. "Well if that''s the case I''d be a fool to reject your escort Lord Frost. The strength of a B-rank fighter far surpasses that contingent of guards the trade caravan hired. With your protection I''m guaranteed to reach Icethorne hahahaha." Plus with the difference in travel speed between Frost and arge trading caravan his arrival time wouldn''t differ that much, win-win. Though Borris entered Frost''s office with a heavy heart and an aura torn between stubbornness and reluctance he left with a smile stered across his lips. Being able to enjoy the bounty of the Niflheim base camp for an extra week was uplifting enough but getting the opportunity to travel with Frost the bearer of his greatest weapon he''d get to see its performance up close and say a more in depth farewell to the young man who helped him rise from the ashes. Chapter 648 Designing his second unique monster species "That went better than I thought, at least there''s no hard feelings between us." Frost muttered as he sank into his office chair. Thankfully he''d been expecting Borris toe give his notice otherwise he wouldn''t be feeling so relieved. "Please let this be the only hup as we progress over the next 2 weeks." Frost would likelye to regret saying these words but at the moment the only thing on his mind was his next task. "Yuna how many representatives will be attending the meeting tonight?" "Everyone bar the head farmer; he stumbled and broke his leg the other day so he''s unable to attend." The representatives Frost mentioned were the influential people residing within the Camp that were not under his dominion i.e. sapients. Such people included those from the major guilds, Ringwald from the adventurers guild, Calder from the merchants guild -who recently moved over to help develop the trade caravan routes, An older woman by the name of Rana from thebourers guild, Darak who was not only the head farmer but also involved in handling the entirety of the produce and meat of the Camp as well as a few big wig businessmen who operated therger shops. With Frost as the Lord, Daki as head of the smithing operations and Khuno the head of the Camp''s defences made up the improvised council. Most major decisions and developments passed through this group who''d give their input though in the end Frost had the final say. "That''s good, Darak''s role isn''t really needed with the current development, so his absence won''t affect things but have someone deliver him food from the Sleeping Fenrir and ask if he needs anything else." Though Darak had a rtively minor role in the past with the growing amount of nned fields and even meat being procured from the Dungeon his workload rapidly expanding along with his influence. Frost wanted to take care of such a promising individual who could possibly be a true backbone for his territory. "As you wish master. Is there anything else you need me for, or shall I continue to fill in for you until the meeting?" Yuna shed her eyes with expectation always keen to receive any and all manner of tasks from her beloved master. "No, just keep abreast of any developments and only call me if something urgent crops up, I need focus for my next task." Though Borris was a rather pleasant interruption it was an interruption, nheless. "Understood." Yuna bowed her head before returning to her own office that was established just outside his own. Frost then teleported back to the training space so he couldmence his next task. "Unlikest time I should be able to finish the basicyout within a few hours." Frost brought up the Dungeon menu and manoeuvred towards the monster section before opening up the monster design function. Frost nned to design his second unique monster species, a species that would solve hisck in workable manpower. "I don''t need fighters since the Ronsos cover that part and I don''t need magic users thanks to Yuna and her Yuki-onnas." Leaders and warmanders were also covered by Findley and his ice trolls. "What the Dungeon needs right now is specialty manpower, a species with tradecraft skills and a more amiable appearance thus allowing them to be easily epted by the locals." Though his ronsos were rather fierce looking monster kin their limited numbers, role as protecters and the presence of the B-rank Khuno helped restrain those with inherent bias. It would take quite a while before his residents grew to the point of epting monsters in other roles however but unfortunately time waits for no man. Thus he nned to bring up a certain project that had been in the works for some time. The territory''s residents probably wouldn''t like it, but Frost no longer cared. The only saving grace was that his nned creation would have a less aggressive appearance hopefully making the transition easier. Crack! Crack! Discover hidden tales at m,v l''e-NovelBin Frost cracked his fingers, neck and shoulders before getting to work, letting the ideas that had been flowing in his mind surge forth, directing his hands as a new species slowly came into fruition. Frost sat in the same position in front of the dungeon menu for 7 hours straight with a strained expression before finally smiling from ear to ear. "Finished, at least the rough draft is finished." There was still a lot of refinement needed in terms of evolution paths and other areas, but the basic outline was done. "Niflheim gnomes, gnomes unique to my territory and my territory alone." Frost stretched his body until loud cracks reverberated from his bones before saving his progress and closing the Dungeon menu. With his initial experience in refining the Ronsos as well as the recent updates Dark made to the designer system Frost''s second foray into designing a unique monster species was far smoother, with the initial draft taking but a fraction of the time. There was still a lot of work to do but the heart, the core of the species was alreadyplete. Across Nova, Gnomes were a far rarer sight whenpared to their dwarven cousins. These very short creatures could easily match the stature of goblins when it came to height and were far less stocky in appearance than dwarves but inparison their longer arms and thin fingers allowed them to surpass them when it came to artisanal skill. Perhaps due to their rather weak forms and pure battle capabilities gnomes tended to recluse themselves away from other races, dwelling deep within mountains or even underground caverns, rarely seeing the light of day. There within the safety of the earth they congregate and locate vast veins of minerals to mine with their powerful senses. Given enough time a tribe of gnomes could fashion a glorious underground metropolis that could put many elven, human and beastmen fortresses to shame. It is at this point that the rather wary species would then deign to perhaps explore beyond their defences and if confident reach out to nearby territories to trade with. It was well known that if a nation was ever approached by a gnomish emissary fortune was abound. Sessfully striking up a deal with them would ensure vast riches of high quality ore and minerals flowing into their nation allowing them to develop far beyond their rivals. Frost''s Niflheim variant changed little in terms of the basic gnomes appearance. They were still short, roughly 1 metre tall and though far less stocky than their dwarven cousins their arms were by no means weak thus allowing them to easily swing a heavy forging hammer. Their skin however was blueish silver, simr to that of the Ronsos but a few shades lighter, a trait often seen with species of the ice element. In fact the only real difference these Niflheim gnomes hadpared to their regr gnomish brethren was the ability to conjure and manipte cold mes as well as mould ice like it was y. This however wasn''t just a simple case of copy and paste. Where the ronsos'' cold mes granted them devasting strength the cold mes of the gnomes focused solely on crafting, unable to effectively threaten a living being. Therefore even with the ability to summon cold mes these gnomes wereughably weak, but it was a trait Frost was happy to ept. The other monsters under hismand could handle the battle aspects, leaving them a more supportive role. The lowest ranking Niflheim gnomes were to be called lesser Niflheim gnomes and would start as D-rank monsters though their inherent strength would see them struggle with even the weakest E-ranks. But in terms of work efficiency and building capabilities these lesser Niflheim gnomes would put even his ice dwarves to shame. A heavily skewed species but one the Dungeon was in dire need of if he wished toplete the next phase of development within two weeks. "Given the legends of the gnomish race, their unthreatening appearance and paltry strength I doubt many willin." Frost was particrly proud of his achievement and wanted to get started with their creation right away but unfortunately it was nearing 7pm. The final touches and Dark''s approval would have to wait until after the meeting with the Camp''s council. "Clean" Frost first used magic to clean his body and robes before teleporting to the private space to do a quick check-in with the family. He had unfortunately missed the family dinner but given his workload Maya didn''t hold it against him. "Where''s Daki?" "In the shower, don''t worry though she doesn''t n on dressing up for the meeting." Frost sudden despair was quickly remedied by thetter part of Maya''s statement. Last time it took hours upon hours for the two of them to choose their desired outfits but if she didn''t n to dress up it means she''d be showing up in her smithing work clothes which would be appropriate given that she was representing the Camp''s forging department. Though there was a sh of desire in Frost''s eyes as he entertained the idea of joining his lovely green enchantress in the shower, time was not on his side. "What about you, do wish to join the meeting tonight?" Though Maya didn''t have a specific department she was in charge of she still held a lot of sway with the council given her rtionship with Frost. "From what you''ve told me it''ll be apletely business oriented meeting ergo boring so no I''ll stay here thank you very much.However you might want to bring Loki, he''s been wanting to take up arger role in managing the Camp and Dungeon." "Hoh is that so." Frost''s eyes opened up in surprise, this was the first time he was hearing of such interests at least when it came to running the Camp side. "He''s still a bit young but I guess I could bring him along to observe." Though he wouldn''t ce any responsibility on his shoulders given his age, learning the ropes early couldn''t hurt. Chapter 649 Meeting with the council Upon hearing Frost agree with her suggestion Maya smiled before loudly calling "Did you hear that Loki he said yes." A giggle erupted in response from the direction of Nanna and Loki''s room before a young boy charged out with a wide grin on his face. "Little rascal." Frost muttered with affection as he tussled Loki''s hair. "If you want to join me and Daki you''ll have to promise to behave ok." "Un I promise." Loki was all fired up, full of excitement however what he was excited about was going to be anything but fun. "You''ll need to be calm throughout the meeting, don''t fidget too much and don''t interrupt unless I call on you. This isn''t a party or celebration we''re going to be working do you understand?" "Yes I understand." Under Frost''s scrutinising gaze Loki did his best to lower his enthusiasm before replying with determination. He knew this meeting would probably be anything but fun, but he was just so happy that he''d get to help Frost with his work. "Alright then, have you eaten?" "Yes, Nanna and I both ate an hour ago and I''ve had a shower and changed into fresh clothes." As though prepared for Frost line of questioning Loki jumped the gun and answered before Frost''s could even ask. ''Haaaaa this kid is just too adorable.'' Frost internally remarked as he once again tussled his hair with affection. "Alright once Daki''s out the shower and dressed we''ll head off, do you know what we''ll discussing and who''ll be present?" "It''s about the Camp''s next phase of development right. The n was originally for it to be done over the course of the next 3 to 6 months but for some reason you want it to be at least 80% finished within 2 weeks." Loki answered like a faithful student. News of Frost''s intentions had already made their way into their ears, but Loki and his sister were still in the dark about the why. "Those in attendance will be the whole council bar Darak who won''t be attending due to an injury." "Spot on Loki, looks like you''ve been talking with Yuna." "Hehehe." Loki simplyughed cheekily in reply. "You are correct the discussion this evening will be in regards to the development n Khuno, Findley and I had prepared to be rolled out as you said previously over the next 3 to 6 months however since I need to enter the cial mountains soon I want the Camp and the Dungeon''s defences to be prepared for any eventualities before I head off." Loki sharply turned his gaze to Frost''s face, a sadness filling his eyes as he asked, "You''re leaving again?" Frost felt a painful tug on heart as he saw Loki''s almost despairing expression. "Yes, I need to return something I borrowed and will be gone for at least a couple weeks perhaps up to a month." Though he was loath to be away from his family for so long he was also looking forward to adventuring again. His desire to explore wasn''t being scratched as long as he remained within the Dungeon''s territory. ".That''s a long time." "Yes I suppose it is but I''m confident you and your sister will be able to protect our home in my absence." Frost firmly patted Loki''s shoulders as he looked down at him with a proud smile. As the two waited for Daki to finish up Frost gave Loki a quick summary of his intentions with this meeting and why he wanted to enlist their aid not just inform them about his agenda. With a boost in confidence Loki left the private space holding Daki and Frost''s hands, creating an image of a child going to work with his parents, a heartwarming scene. Within the Lord''s manor/office all the representatives from the most influential departments throughout the Niflheim base camp were sequestered into the manor''s primary meeting room where the council would usually congregate. "Ringwald you were supposed to have a meeting with Lord Frost earlier do you have any idea why he summoned a council meeting." Rana from thebourers guild bluntly questioned Ringwald, she was a busy woman and didn''t enjoy having her time wasted. "Sorry Rana I also have no idea, Lady Yuna just mentioned that the Lord needs every council member who can attend, attend, the reason however she did not say." Ringwald was helpless, knowing as much as everyone else waiting here. The only one who may know more was "Calder do you know something?" Seeing that Ringwald was useless Rana turned to Calder who out of everyone here could be considered an actual friend to the Lord not just a business partner/colleague. "I''m also in the dark but I can guess a few things." Though Yuna didn''t tell him anything either Calder was able to analyse the situation given his acumen. Frost rarely called for the entire council, only when he was nning something big would he call on them and inform him of his n. Thus Calder logically suspected that Frost was nning a new development one that required their input and quite possibly finally their actual aid. For quite some time both he and Rana have been trying to rope Frost into using more of their resources instead of relying primarily on his own subordinates. Calder had a feeling that today that goal would be realised however what that development would entail specifically he did not know. Just as a few of the council members were getting antsy the room''srge doors swung open. "Lord Frost, Lady Daki and young master Loki have arrived." Yuna melodious voice announced the three''s arrival before she stood to the side allowing them to pass. A B-rank monster acting so subservient to Frost and his family was always a showstopper that never got old. "We greet you Lord Frost." The council representatives all bowed their heads as Frost, Daki and Loki entered the room and took their positions. Yuna prepared a small seat next to her for Loki to sit on while the meeting took ce. Seeing the cute child that wasn''t even ten years old confidently take his seat brought smiles to the council members'' faces, even Rana who was initially in a bad mood could be seen smiling from ear to ear like a grandmother admiring her grandchildren. Both Nanna and Loki had a very special ce in all their hearts. Your next chapter is on mvl "First off I want to thank you all foring on such short notice." Frost started things of respectfully, nodding his head towards each member of the council who took time out of their busy schedule toing to his impromptu meeting. "No problem I was free anyway." "It''s part of our duties as council members." "As long as it''s for something important Lord Frost, I''m quite busy after all." Thestment was of course from Rana who out of every council member was the most dissatisfied with Frost. Though he had aplished much and allowed many businessmen to take residency within his territory he rarely used anybourers which put her in quite the pickle having to scrap together what little work there was for her guild members. Frost briefly nced at Rana but didn''t feel offended by her attitude in fact he respected her for it as he understood her dissatisfaction. A hidden smirk however shed across his lips as he knew that after today the old woman would likely be both singing his praises and cursing his name. Before there was no work but after today there''d be so much that many of them would likely crash from exhaustion. "Of course miss Rana I wouldn''t wish to waste your time." "Hmph!" Rana loudly hmphed with crossed arms feeling some sort of subtle dig in Frost''s words but despite that she remained seated, waiting to hear his important proposal. "Ladies and gentlemen I''ve called you all here because I wish to embark on a bold development n with a very harsh timescale, Loki if you would please." Frost looked over at Loki giving him the floor, thus allowing him to take a little part in the ongoing conversation. Loki nervously nodded his head before walking over to therge round table seated in the centre of the room. Once before it he removed arge map from a storage ring he had on and ced it on the table. "This here is a rough map of the Camp''s current territory, it shows the basicyout, main buildings, pathways, important sections as well as few future development ns but that''s not going to be the focus of the meeting today." Frost thus gestured for Loki to proceed. The young phoenix kin thus took out a pencil and drew two lines 3 kilometres beyond the Camp''s current boundary before returning to his seat where Yuna discreetly gave him a thumbs up and congratted his efforts. "Along the line where Loki just drew I wish to build a wall, a true wall that will serve as a proper line of defence for the Niflheim territory. This wall will be almost double the height and double the thickness of our current boundary wall and will be geared as a true fortification. Atop will lie countless war machines, ramparts and lookout posts while behind it will lie countless barracks, food halls, medical tents and war forges thus evolving our current territory beyond its Camp status." Chapter 650 Meeting with the council (2) Frost''s words seemed to set off a bomb in the council members'' heads. The Niflheim base camp hadn''t even existed for an entire year yet Frost already had the ambition to turn it into a full-fledged city, a territory that could officially be ced on the continental maps. Though initially shocked and blown away greedy smiles started appearing on everyone''s lips as this ambition would not only influence Frost and the territory but them as well. They''d go from being an impromptu council with limited powers to true big wigs, the profit alone was secondary to the authority they''d have control over. A territory with a defendable wall and a standing army was on apletely different level to any Camp. It would give them true standing, allowing them to officially interact with other territories, as an entity at the same level. Seeing the ambitious looks in their eyes Frost also smiled knowing that he''d have full support even if his request was nearly impossible to fulfil. These council members were all on his side, each wanting the Niflheim territory to flourish and quickly be a leading figure among the surrounding nations. Most of them had bet their lives'' and all their savings such a result. "What do you need?" It was Rana who replied first with a smile that was impossible to hide. Such an ambitious venture would surely need manybourers. "I''m d you asked Rana, first off I''ll likely need everybourer you can muster since the ns I have for this wall are not only intricate and detailed but with a very strict timeline." Frowns gradually appeared on everyone''s faces bar Rana''s. "What''s the time frame?" "I want at least 80% of the wall done within two weeks." Silence absolute silence followed by rounds of sharp breaths. Then shaking of heads and a chorus of "impossible" mutterings. Only Rana remained silent as she ran the numbers through her head. ''Alone even if I summon everybourer in the territory and even those in Furano it''s impossible, the scale is just too much but.'' "Who else is going to be involved?" It was already well known that Frost had some rather significant backing and had the allegiance of quite a few forces thus Rana couldn''t immediately reject such an ambitious proposal. "Along with my Ronsos of course, there''ll be a tribe of yuki-onnas helping as well as a group of gnomes that are currently heading our way from the cial mountains." Another round of sharp breaths reverberated throughout the room. The Ronsos alone were a force to be reckoned with let alone the magically inclined yuki-onnas but never in their wildest dreams did they imagine Frost had connections to a group of gnomes. Dwarves they could understand even if they were ice dwarves, but gnomes signified something else entirely. It seemed that even with their already high opinions, Frost and the territory he nned to create was still beyond all expectations. ".Ronsos, Yuki-onnas and gnomes along with all mybourers hehehe it might work but why the deadline?" Frost said but a single word "Northrend." ".You believe the turmoil with affect us?" Calder chimed in with a grave look on his face. Unlike the others here he was quite well informed about the situation in the capital but even he didn''t think that anything drastic may happen in such a short time frame. Your next read awaits at mvl "I don''t know but I don''t want to take any chances. I need to enter the cial mountains in two weeks thus I want my territory to be in the best state possible while I''m gone." Though it may cause some panic to have their Lord away from his territory and perhaps a few bad apples to try and take advantage of the situation Frost believed that he should inform regardless. "That makes sense then.have you finished the design ns for the wall and the military encampments?" "Yes the designs have already beenpleted but I''m open to your input when ites to your specialties. Niflheim deserves the absolute best therefore anyone who volunteers to help with the development will be granted generous wages, lodgings, food as well as free ess to the lower ranking bath houses while the wall''s construction is underway. I''m also nning to keep manybourers employed to help further develop the outeryer that lies between the current wall and the new one. Its too much for my forces alone after all." This was music to Rana''s ears, finally herbourers wouldn''t be sidelined during the territory''s development projects. Frost then turned to Ringwald the leader of the adventurers guild as well as Calder the representative for the merchant guild. "I''ll also be looking to hire a great amount of adventurers. Those with magical talents can help strengthen the walls alongside the manybourers under Rana as well as those with lower ranks who can''t hunt for the vast amounts of material we''ll need from the Dungeon. Again the rewards will be very generous, my personal vault as well as the taxes collected from the camp will be fully avable for this project, hold nothing back." "I''m sure many will flock over to Niflheim just to take part in this venture, will the same conditions apply to them." It was not umon for people to travel long distances for rewarding work. "Of course, the more the merrier. With therger space provided we''ll be once again looking for permanent residents." Frost was more than happy to wee new additions thus growing his DP ie. "Calder though I have ess to quite a vast level of materials it still won''t be enough toplete the wall and the surrounding encampments. I''d like you to utilise your connections with the surrounding merchants to get us those much needed materials, preferably at a fair price." Though his coffers were filled with a deluge of gold coins Frost wasn''t fond of being ripped off. "Once work begins and word spreads the territory''s desire for building materials will be obvious and the merchants will react in kind.if you want to keep the prices as fair as possible it''d be best for us to buy as much as we can as soon as possible. Do you have the projections?" "Some initial estimates which I''ll send overter, specifics however will take another day or two, air on the side of excess." "Very well I''ll seek out the local merchant caravans and if needed ask for my grandfather''s aid." "Much appreciated Calder." If Sebastian the old kingpin of the merchant guild got involved getting those supplies would be a piece of cake. "Of course Lord Frost, the development of the territory is as important to my interests as it is yours." The more Niflheim flourished the more money he could make. Though he was certain Calder would surely make a great deal of money with his control over the supplies Frost still felt grateful for his aid. Having someone trustworthy and skilled like him handle arge portion of authority greatly eased Frost''s overall burden. Frost and the council thus further discussed the fleshed out n for the territory''s evolution with each member giving a fair amount of input even the major businessmen who simply got their seats due to being first had quite a lot to say. Therefore Frost''s n that included not just the wall but also the military encampments and some future depiction of what could be developed within the newly paved 3 kilometre space grew more and more detailed. "It''s a shame that Dakar couldn''t be present since he''ll be ying a major role in the aftermath, but his health muste first." "Agreed, since his vision isn''t needed until after we''re done we can let the man rest and shore up his strength." "He''s going to be rather busy in a few weeks." A few council members couldn''t help butugh as they imagined the poor Dakar who frequentlyined about ack of work being swamped in the future. Arge percentage of the newly enclosednd as well as certain sections beyond the uing wall were ted for farmwork. The territory could supply arge chunk of its meat from the Dungeon, but it was sorelycking when it came to vegetables and grain, a problem Frost was keen to remedy. "Alright everyone has their initial assignments so let''s wrap this meeting up. I''ll have some of my subordinates deliver the updated estimates to youter. Please as soon as you can write up your own reports and send a copy both to myself as well as Calder who will be in charge of procuring any excess materials we''re currentlycking, dismissed." The council members thus quickly shuffled out of the meeting room with determined and slightly anxious expressions, Frost had ced a lot on their te after all." "Phew the die is cast now we just have to wait for the results toe through.will you be able to handle your workload?" Frost fell into thefort of his seat and exhaled before ncing at the woman by his side. "It''ll be difficult, not only am Icking skilled hands and materials the sore fact that we have a limited amount of forges will likely forestall our progress." Daki shook her head not feeling as confident as the other council members. With her being a cksmith and in charge of the territory''s overreaching forging output she was tasked with turning their tons and tons of iron ore into refined steel as well as other high strength metals. This grand development would see her having to abandon all her current projects and even then she could see herself struggling with the intense workload. Chapter 651 A secretarys corruption As Daki exined her limitations Frost was forced to ponder the outlined problems. "Forbour the Niflheim gnomes I''m designing should be able to settle right in when ites to basic forge work perhaps even being able to help with the more advanced processes without much aid." His Niflheim gnomes were ted to be far more skilled and talented than any of his ice dwarves, a boon that came at an expense of weakbat capabilities. "In regards to materials, whatever we can exhume from the Dungeon''s mines either Calder will provide, or we can purchase outright with DP -as long as our reserves holdout." Though they''d managed to produce a significant war chest of several hundred thousand DP that had to cover a whole range of areas not just materials. Therefore the main problem Daki highlighted and one that Frost strongly agreed with was theck of forges. Even if they had thebour and the materials if the devices used to transform those raw materials into something useful were few in number it didn''t matter how many people or how much materials they had. Why don''t you just build more forges then? You might ask. Well that''s not as easy as you might think. To produce Daki''s main forge alone cost tens of thousands of DP even without the extra additions she''s added over the following months. Readymade buildings and workshops cost an arm and a leg through the Dungeon menu thus with the war chest already spread thin over the many other areas Frost couldn''t wantonly spend it on a couple basic forges. No the only option was to build them from scratch one brick at a time. "Building additional forges will take upbour, time and speciality materials" "If you want the wall done on time you''re going to have to find a way to get me thatbour, the time needed as well as the necessary materials." "Haaaaa I''ll ask Calder if he can add forge supplies to the list of materials and hope for the best. In the meantime do what you can with the forges we have avable to us." "Will doseems we won''t be getting much sleep over the next couple ways and not in the good way" Daki stared at Frost in a particr manner, a suggestive look in her eyes which Frost quickly caught on to. "Loki you did very well tonight, I''m proud of you." Frost quickly moved over to the young boy who was resisting the urge to fall asleep. "Master." Loki became alert upon hearing Frost''s words doing his best to cover up his tiredness appearing rather adorable. "It''s ok we''ve been here for a while, discussing some rather boring topics plus it''s past your bedtime, it''s no wonder you''re tired." "Head to bed Loki, you''ve earned a good rest." Loki yawned at that moment and rubbed his eyes, no longer feeling the need to fight the urge now that Frost had spoken. Following that he smiled, waved goodbye to Frost and Daki before teleporting into the private space and heading to his bedroom where Nanna was already fast asleep after her own work filled day. Now with Loki out of the room Frost finally responded to Daki''s gaze. "Frost dear since I''ll be working hard for the next couple of weeks with nary a break don''t I deserve some sort of reward, an encouragement for my efforts." Daki batted her eyshes in a flirtatious manner as she sauntered over towards him, sashaying her wide hips side to side. Frost instinctually gulped as his blood heated up and desire festered in his heart. Daki''s words were true, for two weeks both she and him were going to be run ragged before he''d have to quickly venture into the frozen wastnds which were the cial mountains. So much time not being able to enjoy herpany, the softness of her skin, the heat that dwelled within her and pleasure that came withying with both her and Maya. A pleasure he''d be without for quite some time. For a moment he had a strong desire to never leave the confines of his Dungeon to eternally wee the embrace of his women. Ah such joy that would be but unfortunately that was not his sole desire. Though being without their touch would certainly be painful it was necessary. Frost shook his head of his wayward thoughts before pulling Daki into his embrace, this was likely one of the only few times he''d have left to be with her before returning from cial mountains. "What do you suggest then my beautiful green enchantress?" Frost asked full of obvious intent, his lips already finding sour upon Daki''s fair neck. "Since we''re short on time I won''t ask for much, but I really can''t stand the thought of being bereft of your manhood for such a long timea quickie please then I promise I''ll dedicate my full attention to producing steel for the territory''s new wall." Daki whispered seductively into her lover''s ear as her hands began unravelling his robes, revealing the toned body thaty beneath. "Hahaha with you my love there''s no such thing as a quickie." "Kyaah!" The two lovers thus ensued in an intense exchange in leu of theiring separationpletely forgetting that though Loki had left the manor and returned to the private space there was another in the next room who had to suffer through their animalistic moans. A deep pink blush appeared across Yuna cheeks as she inadvertently listened to her beloved master m himself into her mistress with wanton abandon. The lewd sounds of Daki''s cheeks pping against Frost''s thighs reverberated in the maiden of ice''s innocent ears. With her increased intelligence upon bing B-rank her sense of self also increased straying further and further from a simple monster that was driven by her instincts. She was bing more and more akin to a fully rounded person and with it came thoughts and feelings. Before she was in admiration of her master and full of unending respect but sitting here in her office listening to her master make Daki squeal with pleasure she couldn''t help but fidget in her chair. Her blood heating up as desire filled her heart and sweat started to flow across her snow like skin. Almost imperceptibly her hands drifted downwards where a certain area was giving off far more heat than any other, strongly craving to be pierced by something hard and thick. "Ahnnnn" Yuna let out a seductive moan as her fingers found their target, stroking, caressing and plunging deep within her slowly allowing her to experience some relief. It didn''t even ur to her that the polite thing to do while her master and mistress engaged in intimate activities in the next room was to perhaps leave rather than eagerly listen in. Frost''s and Daki''s debauchery slowly corrupted the innocent maiden of ice, it''s likely that like Khuno pretty soon she''d be seeking out a worthwhile partner that could help curb her growing desires. Once their little session was over Daki returned to her bedroom for a solid rest, thest she''ll likely be having for quite some time. Frost however was still rejuvenated, his spirits and mental faculties set aze by his union with Daki as well as the bountiful level of DP flowing into his core, granting him untold strength, strength which he funnelled into quickly finishing off histest design the Niflheim gnomes. Shortly after the sun had risen on the territory and the council members had awoken and started the long list of tasks they had been given Frost finished his work and sent the design off to his father for the final approval, but he was already 100% certain that his father would approve. During thest family gathering after interacting with several of his siblings he learned that quite a fair few had had their submissions rejected for various reasons such as being impractical, too strong,cking in detail and such. Dungeon cores like himself, Yami and Indra were one of the few who took their time with their design rather than ham hocking something together and hoping for the best. Though the Ronsos would always be his true pride and joy due to being the first monsters he ever designed and ones that he spent a substantial amount of time designing his heart already had a soft spot for his little gnomes. Not expecting his father to give his approval right away Frost set off to work with both Khuno and Findley in tow. "Have you finished arranging the required manpower and tabted how more we need?" "Pretty much given the base estimation of the amount of sapientbourers avable to us." Frost and his cohorts were no longer restricting the activities of the sapientbourers instead truly epting them as part of his territory forever more. It was far more efficient for him to utilise the vast troves of gold coins sitting in his vaults to pay sapients over, using DP to purchase monsters solely forborious tasks. He still needed to run the Dungeon during thisrge development nafter all. "Good, try to air on the side of excess though, I won''t be that fussed about a little wastage if it means reaching our target on time." "Understood. We''ve left arge chunk of the quota to be allotted to these Niflheim gnomes was it?" "Yes that''s the name I''m giving the species, I''ll mostly be needing the D-rank lesser variants, but a few C-rank true bloods will also be required, have you ounted for that?" "I believe so, under your advisement we have aired on the side of excess after all, the Dungeon''s current reserves as well as daily perhaps even hourly ie for the foreseeable future is pretty much ounted for. "Hopefully it''s enough." Chapter 652 Work begins Along with the quota for the not yet seen Niflheim gnomes Findley and Khuno attributed the rest of the manpower quota to getting lesser yuki-onnas, yuki-onnas and ronsos, monsters that could leave the confines of the Dungeon and build on the surface level albeit awkwardly in the case of the lesser yuki-onnas. They were still viewed as rather monstrous but given that Frost informed the council beforehand and that he''ll also be employing full yuki-onnas as well as his ronsos thebourers shouldn''t be too hard pressed. "We''re also upping the amount of goblins, frost dwarves and couerl pups as they can help gather and carry the materials within the Dungeon which the surface group can then collect and utilise for the wall." Given that Daki''s forge as well as a couple more were present within the Dungeon they needed a group to transport these materials through the floors. "Have the hidden paths been established, no one has noticed anything?" "A few adventurers found them, but we took care of them thus the hidden paths remain a secret. Our forces can easily bypass the delving adventurer parties if needed." The fact that a great deal of the stronger adventuring parties would teleport directly to floor 5.5 through the floor jumping stones also helped. "Looks good." Frost muttered as he listened to Findley and Khuno while also skimming through their reports, groaning slightly whenever his gaze passed over a set of costs. ''Urghit''s all part of the n, it''s all part of the n'' Frost internally chanted a mantra as he added what was listed to the Dungeon shopping cart and clicked confirm. A juicy tendril of creation energy briefly flowed through his body as the Dungeon core started to hum and spin. A momentter dozens of monsters appeared across the Dungeon from magic crests, their assigned officers ready and waiting to give them their first orders. "The manpower on our side is now ounted for and they are receiving their instructions. Come let''s head to development site and begin the festivities." Frost tightly clenched his fists as he boldly walked beyond the Camp''s gates, stopping after roughly 3 kilometres. "Begin!" With his order Findley, Khuno and himself started marking out points across the 3 kilometre stretch. They were swiftly joined 20 minutester by Rana of thebourers guild as well as Jaina from the adventurers guild and a young woman by the name of Tessa who was filling in for Calder as he interacted with the many merchant caravans in the area. "Here''s the altered ns Rana, I trust I can leave you and your capable subordinates to supervise the overall project." Though Frost considered himself rather capable Rana and her guildmates were true professionals when it came to construction. "Sure thing Lord Frost, leave it me." Rana mmed her arm against her chest in confidence before loudly hollering orders to a group of gruff men and women behind her who quickly got to work with sparkling eyes. To work on such a grand project such as this was a dream for many of them, so of course they were rather excited. "I''ve got teams collecting materials from my vaults as well as the Dungeon itself so just let one of my officers know how much you need and when." Frost gestured to the yuki-onnas and ronsos who started arriving behind thebourers. "The yuki-onnas and ronsos will be integral to adding thatstyer of strength to the wall as will any magician capable of powerful ice magics." "I can see that in the ns and to be honest it''s nothing I haven''t encountered before. Once you reach a certain depth within the cial mountains all the nations there use simr methods to establish sturdy walls of ice." Though there were a few additions that truly made this old woman marvel at Frost''s ingenuity the basic foundation for the wall itself was not one of them. "Hoh I didn''t know that you had ventured into the cial mountains." Frost was quite intrigued, he looked at the gruff old woman known as Rana with interest. "Pah and there''s a lot more you don''t know about me my Lord but yes in my youth I forayed more than once into cial mountains. I visited not just the kingdoms in the outer reaches of the external regions but also those in the inner regions. In fact I even helped repair a few walls at Icethorne along with the previous guild master hahaha." Ranaughed without reserve as she sunk into nostalgia. "Anyway my point is that when ites to constructing this wall of yours as long as you can supply me with what I need it''ll be a piece of cake." "It''s a relief to have someone so reliable by my side." With Rana taking on more responsibility it would free him up in other areas, a pleasant surprise. "Oh you don''t know the half of it hehehe." Rana was perhaps subtlety jabbing at Frost, given that before today he adamantly rejected using thebourers guild for the Camp''s important developments thus causing him to lose out. Frost simply had to take the blow, internally admitting that he may have been a little too paranoid resulting in the territory developing slower than it could have done but there was no use crying of spilled milk. "Jaina I''m guessing Ringwald''s busy at the guild arranging all the quests I submitted?" Though their first interaction certainly wasn''t that pleasant Frost no longer held anything against her. "Yes but on top of that he''s summoning as much of the adventurers as possible to help with the wall''s development whether that be hunting for specific materials in the Dungeon or being consigned as aid for the skilledbourers. To be honest I don''t think he even went to sleepst night." After speaking Jaina shed a slight re at Frost warning him that she would not be doing the same, her beauty sleep was very important to her. "How''s that going?" Frost ignored the yful look Jaina gave him; their rtionship had actually grown to the point that she wasfortable throwing out the asional jabs. "So-so, adventurers enjoy freedom and don''t see much glory in helping develop the territory in such a manner but as long as the pay is good, and the guild master does enough sermons we should be able to meet our quotas." "Good, you''ll need to liase with Rana frequently as she''ll be the one directing the overall workload." "I expected as much." Jaina thus sauntered over to Rana''s side and informed her of the adventurer recruitment drive. "Tessa was it, how confident is Calder in getting our much needed materials." The woman Calder sent as his representative had a bookworm like appearance and was naturally quiet. She stuttered nervously when Frost directly questioned her. "T...The young master said he''s confident in getting at least 75% at a fair price, the remaining 25% will be tricky." "I see, what about the addition I mentioned, the materials required for building forges." "That he was even less confident in getting a fair price. Materials to build forges are always in high demand and sometimes even regted. Given the situation in Northrend as well as the urgency in which we need them he''ll likely have to use up several favours and even then it''s unlikely he''ll be able to get everything. "How many?" "Two, he said he can just about get you the materials required for two high grade forges within 2 days." "Haaaaa it''ll have to do I guess, have him keep an eye out for more though." Daki wanted to have at least 3 more high grade forges, two would be cutting it real close, something she would surely be unhappy about. "I''ll inform the young master immediately." "Un." Frost watched from the sidelines for the next hour as many amended reports were handed to him but after the paperwork was finished he joined Rana''sbourers, personally taking part in the construction. An inspiring image for the these gruff men and woman, seeing the local lord willing to get his hands dirty filled their hearts with fire. Their work output increasing to 110%. It was a couple hourster that Yuna contacted him through the Dungeon menu system, letting him know that Dark had approved of his new species and even left a congrattory note. Apparently Frost was the second Dungeon core to sessfully created their second unique race, falling just behind Indra who on top of his initial species the Oni which were akin to lighting aspected demon ogres created an airborne species called Tengu. "Huh Indra was first not Yami or Aqua?" "Apparently so master." "Seems he really isn''t satisfied being 5th ce, how interesting brother." Frost considered Indra his friendly rival so seeing him dash ahead inspired him greatly. "I''ll be over in a minute; we can enact the reveal n then." "Understood." Frost ended themunication and walked over to Rana. "Rana it seems I''ll have to leave the site in your capable hands for now as our guests from afar are about to arrive." Rana raised her brows "The gnomes?" She asked with a glint in her eyes. She had never seen a gnome before, but she''d heard of the legends and to someone like her who was abourer the craftsmanship of the gnomes was even more hallowed. Frost simply nodded his head in reply before leaving the site with a spring in his step. He had nned an borate ruse for the gnomes arrival. Chapter 653 Niflheim gnomes Frost quickly found himself back in his office where Yuna awaited him. "Let''s start the show." "Yes master." The two then teleported to the Dungeon''s extension, a set of forest-like rooms that were connected to a secondary entrance within the cial mountains themselves. This ce was built upon the idea of not missing out on the glorious levels of DP brought in by wild monsters that the establishment of the Camp had put a stop to. After several months of trickled activity dozens of monsters had managed to find their way through the hidden entrance. Following their instincts, their hunger for mana and power these monsters were drawn to the Dungeon and were faced with trees as far as the eyes could see and plentiful, weak beasts to feast on, a veritable paradise. After settling in for sometime these monsters would then be faced with a life changing choice. Frost or one of his officers would appear before those deemed useful, offering them the opportunity to join the Dungeon, toe under Frost''s rule and relish in the high levels of mana that proliferated through its many floors. Unfortunately few were willing to submit even when faced with Frost himself, choosing to either fight to the death or more frequently flee for their lives. And with the forces behind Frost not a single monster that chose to run ever made it out of the Dungeon, forever bing nutrients for its grand development. Those that were wise and farsighted in their choice quickly became like the rest of the resident monsters within the Dungeon. After a brief ceremony with Frost a soul contract would link them to him and alter their being into his servants and allow them to enjoy the glorious benefits of such a bargain albeit at the cost of their freedom, bound to the Dungeon forever more. However right now this extension was where Frost nned to summon his Niflheim gnomes. From here they''d back out of the Dungeon''s secondary entrance and walk with him to the Camp as though they had journeyed through the cial mountains to get here. A clever ploy that required little work but one that would help add to Frost''s mystery as well as prevent people from linking the gnomes to the Dungeon. "Are we clear?" Frost asked Yuna after they arrived in a rather open de. "Yes sir I had the coeurl corps scour the area for any wild monsters that found their way inside, you won''t be interrupted." The coeurl corps were a regiment of coeurl pups and coeurls that were ced under Kiba''smand several months ago during the monster stampede. However recently more and more coeurls pups had evolved into their C-rank couerl form with some even bing variants, stronger than the standard version. This of course was glorious news to Frost and the Dungeon as a whole but to Kiba it was a literal nightmare. Monsters especially beastlike monsters like coeurls and winged tigers had very strict hierarchy, whoever was strongest was top dog or in this case cat. With the coeurls being C-rank monsters and with some of the variants even reaching mid C-rank, Kiba who was a C-rank himself not even being at the peak had seen no small amount of challenges from his former loyal subordinates. It had gotten so bad in fact that the young tiger was forced to actually start training himself alongside his master rather than act like the domestic housecat he had recently gotten used to being. It was no longer a strange sight to see Kiba covered in wounds and emitting a rather baleful aura whenever he was not within the private space or out on patrol with Frost in the Camp. He was gradually honouring his heritage, growing step by step closer to the B-rank. "Alright time to get a look at these fes that are filled with my blood, sweat and tears." Happy with Yuna''s arrangements Frost opened up the Dungeon menu''s monster section and scrolled through it until he reached the new addition that had been created, the Niflheim gnomes. Niflheim gnomes: a unique variant of the gnome species created by Dungeon core Frost. Their stature and appearance differ only slightly from their regr kin albeit leaning more to a blueish skin colour. These proud and talented gnomes hold very little battle strength but in absence of that their talents in regards to craftmanship surpasses all others at the same rank. With their mastery of cold mes these monsters can easily mould both ice and metal to their whims, allowing them to put most aspiring cksmiths and artificers to shame. Although primarily specialising in forging and artificing these talented individuals can easily pick up nearly all tradecrafts that require skilled hands. Lesser Niflheim gnome, D-rank; 625DP Niflheim gnome, C-rank; 1800DP Their base prices for their grades were roughly average a fair bit lower than the ronsos but such a price poorly reflected their overall capabilities. "Hehehehe." Frostughed without reservation, a sparkle shing in his eyes as he added over twenty lesser Niflheim gnomes and 3 Niflheim gnomes for purchase. Just like the dwarf caste these individuals were capable of evolving into different specialties further down the line however all, but a single path was rted to crafting, thus truly eclipsing this race from fighting on the frontlines. Wasting no time at all Frost clicked the confirm purchase button and felt a wave of creation energy pulse through him before 23 magic crests appeared before him and Yuna. A short momentter the Niflheim gnomes were revealed in all their ''grandeur?'' For Yuna, a B-rank monster that respected strength it was difficult for her to respect the tiny individuals that now stood before her. Though her master had expounded repeatedly about their usefulness and though she understood the concept on a logical level her instincts seemed to still take precedent. There was a natural sense of scorn forming in her eyes that was difficult for her to hide. Frost failed to initially pick up on her reactions due to being over the moon from seeing his creation in the flesh. The three C-rank Niflheim gnomes however immediately picked up on it and without the slightest bit of fear red at the B-rank maiden of ice. A female Niflheim gnome even had the courage to mock her. "Useless bimbo that has muscles for brains, unable to understand how pathetic she really is in the grand scheme hmph." These sharp words and the intense mocking tone behind them of course set Yuna off. "What was that toothpick!" Despite being by her master''s side Yuna was truly incensed by the gnome''s words. Veins protruded and throbbed across her body as she visibly tensed up, mana naturally coalescing around as she readied herself to attack the cocky gnome before her. "Huh you deaf bimbo or just stupid, getting angry just proves my point." Riled up by Yuna sudden show of force the female Niflheim gnome instead of retreating doubled down on her opinion, even going to the extent of taunting Yuna, daring her to hit her and see what happens. Yuna being as prideful as she was felt something snap in her mind and the area around them suddenly sharply lowered in temperature. "YUNA! Stand down!" By this point it was impossible for Frost to remain ignorant of the situation. Without any restraint he released his royal aspected aura immediately deting Yuna''s outburst. "But master?" Yuna felt the urge to cry, feeling betrayed by her beloved master. ''Why isn''t he taking my side, I''m a B-rank monster with a name.'' "You to, your words went too far." "S...sorry master." The female gnome visibly trembled while under Frost''s pressure, instantly apologising for her actions and taking a step back thus allowing the tension to ease. "Yuna you looked upon my creation with scorn the moment they arrived thus she was justified in her attacks against you however Yuna is my capable secretary, questioning her capabilities especially in front of myself is insulting me." Frost kept his aura released as he spoke pressing down on both Yuna and the female gnome. ""We are sorry master."" The two bowed their heads and apologised for their outburst. Frost was truly quite angry, a glorious moment that he was filled with expectation for was pretty much ruined. s he didn''t hold it too much against Yuna and the gnome, a sh in personalities and their respective species was something natural. Hidden behind his expressed anger however was a smirk. ''Hehehe feisty and courageous despite theirck in strength just how I designed them.'' This rebellious spirit that saw the female gnome boldly stand head to head with Yuna was a rather rare trait among gnome kind at least when they weren''t in a vastly superior position of power. However Frost believed that despitecking strength the fact that these monsters stood head and shoulders above their peers in regards to craftmanship they should have ample arrogance thus resulting in the current standoff. "You Niflheim gnomes will be my Dungeon''s greatest support, I have high expectations for all of you." "You will not be disappointed master." The three C-rank Niflheim gnomes saluted with conviction as did the 20 odd lesser gnomes. "Good because I have your very first assignment." Chapter 654 Niflheim gnomes (2) Choosing to conclude the earlier spat Frost moved straight to handing down the gnomes'' first mission. "Right now our territory is starting its evolution. Our quaint little camp will be a full blown territory, a city state that can hold its head high amongst our neighbours. For that to happen I am in need of your talents, your gifts in regards to craftmanship." A range of prideful and hopeful smiles grew across the Niflheim gnomes'' lips and in response Frost retrieved a rolled up parchment from his robes and handed it to one of the C-rank gnomes. Disyed on the parchment were his ns for the territory, the intricate details of therge defensive wall, the military buildings, farms, new businesses, residential sections as well as several improvements that had been discussed for the inner area which was the current grounds covered by the Camp. There was also a few other details that had been added which Rana and the rest were kept in the dark about. Information that Frost trusted only in the hands of his own forces and them alone. "I need all of you to assist the monsters as well as the territory''s residents inpleting this ambitious venture.you have two weeks to get at least 80% of the wallpleted, the other works you can take your time with, but the wall must be done within the assigned timeframe." Frost reiterated his strict timeframe, epting nothing but sess. "The head of the localbourers guild is taking prime point on this project; I want you to work along side her and her team.if she proves to be less skilled than she lets on you can takeover as the primary but until then follow her instructions." Though having to follow the orders of a sapient didn''t sit well with their pride, the Niflheim gnomes didn''t snub her outright. If Rana had the skills to back up her position then they''d dly follow her, gnome hierarchy was based not on strength but on ones skill with their craft. "We will not fail you master." The one who received the ns took the role of temporary head, speaking for the rest of the gnomes standing behind him. Frost smiled and nodded his head finding the look in their eyes most aggregable. "First of all however we''re going to have carry out a little y." Frost thus ryed to them all about his little ruse as well as a few rules they needed to follow while acting within the Camp inparison to within the Dungeon. Find adventures on mvl Ten minutester Frost with the three C-rank Niflheim gnomes walking by his side and the twenty lesser gnomes falling closely behind left through the Dungeon''s branch exit and made their way towards the Camp, appearing as though he and his entourage were originating from the cial mountains. The group at first didn''t cause too much of amotion given that such groups frequently travelled through the mountains'' southern entrance however once they drew closer to the Camp it was impossible for their uniqueness to go unnoticed. "Is that Lord Frost and..gnomes?" A middle-aged merchant who was in the middle of arge transaction of goods was the first to catch sight. He was quickly followed by another and then another. Soon there was a gaggle of onlookers staring at the prideful looking gnomes walking by Frost''s side. Though not everyone knew of the legends of the gnomish people they knew how rare they were. Eventually Frost and the gnomes made their way before Rana and herbourers, many of whom were inplete awe as they approached. "To think I''d get to work alongside side an actual gnome, my father will likely die of envy when I tell him." Onebourer muttered under his breath. Rana handled herself with a bit more decorum than her jaw-dropped subordinates, but she was no less excited. A powerful desire rose to the surface, she wanted to test herself against these gnomes, to test the extent of her own talent and experience. "Rana I''ll leave my subordinates in your capable hands." Frost lightly smiled as he ced the Niflheim gnomes under Rana''s control. "Urg..a..asure." Still in disbelief Rana barely managed to get a word out before the three C-rank Niflheim gnomes stood before her. "We look forward to working with you Miss Rana." ".." There was an awkward silence wherein Rana looked back and forth between the three gnomes and Frost. Her heart was madly beating, and her mind was awash with shock, awe, confusion as well as an intense pressure. In the background abourer was so shocked that he lost his bnce and fell straight to the ground. Eventually however thanks to her vast experience Rana managed to calm herself and take hold of the head gnome''s outstretched hand, shaking it firmly. "d to you have you and yourrades on board, please let me know if there''s anything you find disagreeable, I''m eager to hear your thoughts on our little project." Those with simr interests could always find some level ofmon ground. Redirecting their attention to the building site Rana and the three Niflheim gnomes starting chatting away like old friends. A scene Frost expected. ''Haaaaa with this a major problem has thus been solved'' Frost internally sighed before he and Yuna returned to the Lord''s manor. Though he had no problems getting dirty with manualbour there were some things that only he could do as the territory''s Lord. The Niflheim gnomes quickly settled in alongside Rana''s skilledbourers as well as the hired help and volunteers. With hundreds of skilled bodies on the job the wall''s foundations werepleted within a matter of days, sessfully keeping to Frost''s stringent timescale. s the foundations were the easiest toplete given the elevation and materials on hand. It was the next phase that met with a few issues. "Sorry Frost I can only get my hands of 70% of the requested materials and they''re going to cost an arm and a leg." Calder said across themunication crystal. Despite his fast acting, generous offers and wide-spanning connections it didn''t take long for the merchant tycoons to get word of Frost''s ns. With such tant demand these merchant kingpins restricted the local supply in an attempt to both please the uing new ruler of Northrend as well as make a very generous buck. While Calder was rather well connected and particrly skilled these tycoons werepetitors of his grandfather, Sebastian. With the old man gradually stepping down it was a prime opportunity for them to take his throne rather than letting it safely fall into the hands of a young pup like Calder. "Haaaaa it''s alright just buy what you can, the price does not matter." Frost felt a headacheing on but a hup such as this was one he was prepared to handle. "Understood..sorry Frost." "No need to apologise Calder, we never expected to avoid rattling the ho''s nest in the first ce. 70% is still a fair chunk, we''ll find some way to make do." Frost waved his hand and smiled absolving Calder of his guilt before ending the call. "Yuna can we cover the excess with DP?" "With the additional peopleing to the territory with the promise of work our daily ie has certainly increased but so has our expenditure, we''re barely managing to cover our initial projections." Yuna replied through a thick stack of documents. "So no." "It''s unlikely." "Haaaaaa, either we need to cut back on a few of our investments or find a reliable source of materials. With Calder striking out with the local merchant groups we''ll have to ce our hopes on the foreign market. Kranor''s already giving us quite the generous stipend at a reasonable price but what about the other enves in the area or the nations bordering Northrend?" "Kranor''s mayor said that our deal with them is rather unique as enves tend to avoid dealing with outsiders and if they do, it would generally be with longstanding and highly reliable kingdoms such as the three flower kingdom." Frost just didn''t have enough of a rtionship with those that dwelled within the cial mountains. Even if he managed to contact and set up a pricey deal with a nation such as the three flower kingdom by the time the materials actually arrived the two week deadline would be over. The same could be said for the nations beyond the Northrend empire. Frost''s need for haste greatly limited the options avable to them. "Tsk, well we have at most 3 days toe up with aworthwhile solution by then theck of materials will start to seriously affect our progress." 3 dayster Frost, Yuna and the council failed toe up with a solution to their material shortage thus threatening to drag out the wall''s development. In such little time there was nothing to be done thus Frost prepared to cut back on a few things, so he''d have piece of mind while away. Just when he was about to dere the changes however a ronso guard arrived with some surprising news. "Huh Luna''s here." It wasn''t that shocking that an old friend woulde and visit him but normally they''d inform ahead of time through theirmunication crystals. Luna''s appearance was thus quite unexpected. Though Frost was incredibly busy he was more than willing to make some time for Luna however the moment he stood up from his chair a strong sense of unease passed over his heart and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Chapter 655 A weighty request Frost''s instincts alerted him of danger and almost unconsciously he brought up the Dungeon menu and disyed the Camp and surrounding 15 kilometres, all of which was within the Dungeon purview due to his expansions. His gaze was immediately drawn over to a set of two dots, one appearing rather weak, an E-rank adventurer nearing D-rank while the otherthough concealing themselves well it was the strongest person bar Maya to have ever graced his territory. "Khunoe with me now! Findley prepare our defences and Yuna temporarily bring Nanna and Loki into the private space." Frost quickly gave his orders before dashing from the manor with a determined expression. A momentter Khuno was by Frost''s side with his halberd poised for the battle of a lifetime while Findley called for an emergency within the Dungeon, readying their defences before preparing to join his master in glorious battle. Frost and Khuno quickly reached their destination. There Luna stood with an awkward smile on her face. She tried to greet Frost but noticed that his gaze was rather fixed on the person apanying her and that it wasn''t friendly. In fact Frost was poised to draw his ive at a moment''s notice. "Luna what manner of guest have you brought to my gates?" Eventually after a tense standoff Frost asked with a cold tone which made Luna droop her head and sigh. The person beside her was covered head to toe in cloth, preventing their identity from being exposed, hell it wasn''t even possible to tell if their were male or female. However after a stifledugh escaped the cloaked individual''s lips their identity was quickly exposed. "Hahahaha not bad, not bad at all Frost." The person''s stifledughter quickly became unreserved as the cloth that hid their appearance came undone. "It''s a shame I couldn''t convince to join my Frost Wolf Battalion back then but given how sessful you''ve be it''s clear you made the better choice hahahah." Once the cloak and thick cloth was removed and the person''s identity revealed Frost instantly rxed, he even sighed in relief. This person was certainly strong but likely wasn''t an enemy. "General Anya it''s been quite some time since west met, how have you been faring?" General Anya the third ranked general within the Frost Wolf Battalion and the valiant woman who came to the aid of Furano in their darkest hour. She and Frost chased after the fleeing Frostine and Valend with the former eventually falling to her spear. Back then Anya was quite taken with Frost''s talents and wanted to rope him in to joining her battalion, but he refused due to his personal aspirations. With Frost lowering his guard Khuno followed suit which brought a great sense of relief to his bones. This woman before him could likely kill both him and Frost without much effort. To stand opposed to her was an impossibility, it would just dy the inevitable such was the strength of someone at the A-rank. The smile and apparent joy of Anya''s face from meeting Frost again vanished the moment he asked about how she''d been. Pain and despair shed across her face as her eyelids drooped and she struggled to look him in the eye. "Frost there''s some things you need to be made aware of; can we talk somewhere more private?" Luna stepped in at this point, her eyes observing their surroundings hinting something to Frost. Frost thought for a few seconds before nodding his head and leading the two of them to his manor, away from prying eyes. "Speak, why have youe to my territory unannounced and with General Anya?" Once behind closed doors Frost adorned his Lord persona immediately setting a tone for the following discussion. "Haaaaa where should I start." Luna shook her head in dismay still struggling to get her head around everything herself but eventually she exined from the beginning. A few days ago the Emperor of Northrend Franz Northrend died as did the Empress Amelia Northrend. It was an assassination but one that was in great contention. Randolph used his brother Sedrick while Sedrick in turn used him. There wasn''t even time for the body to be cold before both brothers dered themselves Emperor and started forcibly taking control of what they could as fast as they could. It was at this point in the story that Anya released a strong bloodlust, her aura manifesting to such a degree that the walls started to shake, and the furniture began to tremble. Blood leaked from her lips, eyes and fingers as her fury threatened to take over her mind. For her there was no contention she knew exactly who killed the Emperor and Empress, yet she was powerless to stop him. The crown prince, the first born Randolph was the killer. He murdered his own father and even his mother for the throne. He had already poisoned them cementing their deaths but because of Franz''sst ditch efforts in curbing his enthronement he deigned to do the deed personally and ahead of schedule. If it wasn''t for the shadow guards as well as Sedrick making his own moves against Randolph, Princess Avira would have met her demise as well. Princess Avira while under the protection of the shadow guards was delivered to General Anya her staunch supporter andst line of defence. The Emperor had already given her, her orders in advance. Without a moment''s hesitation she and her trusted allies fled the capital and ushered their princess to safety. Their first destination, the Furano viscounty. "So why are you here then?" Frost asked with a heavy frown feeling that a veryrge request wasing his way. Luna sighed again before continuing " The princess'' location is hopefully still a secret but anyone with a decent head on their shoulders will assume that she either retreated to southern ducal state where Empress Amelia hailed from or that she''d head North to the Furano Viscounty which refused to pick either the side of the crown prince or the second prince." Frost nodded his head in agreement, it wasn''t hard at all to think that the princess another member of the royal family would try to bring down her eldest brother by rallying people behind her in the name of justice and honour. While the southern ducal territory was vast, affluent and held a powerful military it had ties to all three children thus it''d be difficult to gauge how they''d react, a possible risk. Furano however had very little risk given Dous'' standpoint, but the Viscounty was far from the capital and in no wayparable to the ducal estate in terms of military power and influence. It was safe but would be unable to aid her much in her quest for revenge. "I was sent here because my movements are the least likely to be monitored while also have some degree of influence with both you and Furano itself, basically I''m here on behalf of Viscount Dous as well as my father to request your aid Lord Frost." Luna clearly stated her role and reason for her presence. ".." Frost was silent as he stared into her eyes. He wasn''t moved in the slightest and could tell that Luna wasn''t actually expecting him to throw his banner in with the Princess and aid her final quest, so it begs the question, what kind of help were they here for? "I have no interest in the political situation in Northrend, whether Princess Avira sits on the throne or Randolph to me it matters not. Only if they encroach upon my domain will I in turn act so if your hoping that I''d supply her with resources and even soldiers you''re bound to be disappointed." He wasn''t a citizen of Northrend why should he be involved in their internal problems. Luna patted her chest expecting such an answer from Frost, but Anya frowned hoping to hear something more beneficial to their cause. "If you help the princess with her current plight you''ll be highly rewarded, riches,nd and even authority within Northrend she could grant you them all." Frost turned towards Anya with t expression. "Not interested." He vehemently rejected her before turning back to Luna. "So what do you or rather Dous and the Princess really want from me?" "Temporary shelter for Princess Avira as well as protection for the next leg of her journey." "Shelter I can understand but protection." Frost''s gaze was once again drawn to General Anya. "Though I''m rather confident in my skills they pale inparison to a mighty general of the Frost wolf Battalion such a General Anya here. What use would she have of a single extra B-rank bodyguard?" Read exclusive content at mvl "You wouldn''t be an extra but the only." Said Anya with a clearly conflicted look in her eyes. "Huh?.....oh I see you and her strongest supporters will be acting as bait, distractions as wherever the mighty general Anya is the princess must also be." "Correct, though it pains me greatly me being by her side during this time will actually bring greater jeopardy to her highness." If she was stronger, at the upper or perhaps even mid A-rank then maybe she''d be confident in protecting her from their adversaries but unfortunately she wasn''t. There were at least 7 Generals who had already sworn their allegiance to either Randolph or Sedrick who could easily defeat her let alone the ones who could fight her to a draw. Frost rubbed his chin in thought, if Anya was taking most of the heat then the job itself likely wouldn''t pose much danger as long as the princess'' identity remained hidden. If this was any other time and if the pay was especially good Frost may very well agree to such a request howevernow really wasn''t a good time. Chapter 656 A weighty request (2) "I''m sorry, I can agree to provide temporary shelter out of respect for Dous and your father but taking on the role of a Princess'' bodyguard is not something I can agree to. Even if you offered a rather substantial reward I am needed here so I''ll have to refuse your request." Anya''s eyes visibly drooped, her disappointment and even despair obvious to see. Luna however donned a slight smirk. "She needs to reach Icethorne." Though her words were spoken rather softly it was like a bell ringing in Frost''s head. Hisck of interest and clear rejection immediately changed as a smirk donned his own lips. "Go on." "Lord Dous is aware of your current predicament in terms of materials. As long as you ept this request Furano is willing ede on your behalf, purchasing the materials you require and then selling them to you at a fair price." Frost''s eyes narrowed as he strongly red at Luna. It was clear that his territory''s current predicament had long been known by his allies which in effect wasn''t a bad thing but now it was clear that they were using it to have him agree to their request. ".I want a reward befitting the job as well as a promise from the Furano territory that if anyone from the Northrend empirees snooping around trying to cause trouble in my absence you have to lend my territory aid." A fierce negotiation thus took ce between Frost and Luna while General Anya remainedpletely in the dark, unable to understand how Luna got Frost to reconsider his stance. Regardless it meant that they had achieved their aim, her Princess would likely be in safe hands with Frost by her side. "I''ll be leaving in a week; she can stay within my territory until then. I''ll have the Sleeping Fenrir arrange lodgings and do my best to prevent untoward spying." "On behalf of Princess Avira as well as the Furano Viscounty I thank you Lord Frost, I''ll return with her highness tomorrow." Luna bowed her head acting as an official representative before Frost''s position as territory lord. "You''re leaving already, you can stay a while if you want. Though I''m quite busy myself I can have one of my ronso guards show you around." With business over Frost returned to their amicable rtionship as friends. "I''d love to, but I really must get back to Furano however when Ie with the Princess tomorrow I''ll dly take you up on that offer. You can take the opportunity to brag my head off about your bustling territory eheheh." Luna giggled feeling much lighter after havingpleted her duty while Anya was rather desperate to get back to the Princess and say her farewells. "Tomorrow then, I''ll be waiting, farewell Luna, General." Experience tales at mvl "Goodbye Frost." "Frost a quick word in private first." Just when Luna and Anya were about to leave Anya pulled Frost back into the Lord''s manor and gave him a fierce look. "I''m leaving the Princess'' care in your hands Frost that means if anything should happen to her I''ll being for you, understand." Anya first raked her thumb across her neck before cing her knee against his groin. "ANYTHING" Frost felt a sharp pain down there that caused him to break out in a cold sweat. Thankfully it was just a stern warning, Anya released his rather delicate jewel a momentter. "Don''t forget." Her face at this moment was like that of a demon, inscribing fear on Frost''s very soul but a momentter it turned friendly and rxed as she faced Luna. The two thus walked away leaving Frost frozen at the Manor''s doorway, a clear chill scraping across his skin. "Did I just make a big mistake." He suddenly felt a rush of regret flow through his heart but a momentter a mischievous smirk appeared on his lips. "Saying I can''t do something just makes me want to do it more." Anya''s warning seemed to spur him on somewhat but after another moment he felt that chill once again and immediately erased such notions. "She''s probably not my type anyway." Frost discreetly hmphed before returning back to his desk to finish his work. "Lady Luna how did you convince him to agree?" Once she and Luna were beyond the gates of the Niflheim base camp Anya couldn''t hold back her curiosity. "Simple, we gave him what he needed most as a territory lord." "Huh?" "Didn''t you notice the hive of activity happening along the outskirts?" Luna asked in a somewhat cocky manner. "Now that you mention it they do seem to be engaging in some sort of grand project." Anya''s talenty solely in being a soldier thus she was unable to recognise what the development fully entailed just that it looked somewhat like the beginnings of arge wall. "As his close ally the Furano viscounty knows fully of his ambitions and in fact we''ve already agreed to aid him through standard trade agreements and transfer of personnel. Now however through me the Furano Viscounty has agreed to take it a step further." A smile grew across Luna''s lips as she remembered her father''s words. ''Frost intends to instantly elevate his camp into that of a full-fledged territory, but he''s underestimated the greed of the local merchants as well as the restrictions both Randolph and Sedrick have ced on certain materials during such tumultuous times. Though Calder is talented he alone will be unable to ovee thest hurdle.If he refuses to lend his aid offer him our support in this area and see if that changes his mind.'' This decision by her father as well as Lord Dous was a major one as it crossed the bounds of a simple trade agreement and directly goes against the wishes of both Sedrick and Randolph, cing them in opposition to the throne. Upon hearing the full details of Frost''s venture as well as the decision of the Furano viscounty General Anya visibly trembled. ''This.'' She turned around and fiercely stared behind her where the camp stood. Frost''s ambitions were certainly surprising but the fact that the Furanos were willing to bet their futures on him was truly cmitous. ''Has the empire''s waters be so muddied that even the loyal Furanos are thinking of jumping ship..haaaaa'' Anya sighed internally as she reevaluated their current position. ''The Princess will need to hear of this.'' Anyacked the station as well as the capabilities to make a decision, all she could do was loyally report her findings to her Princess. Luna lightly smiled as Anya walked ahead with a serious expression before once again concealing herself from those around. It was also agreed upon that if such a negotiation came about that General Anya should be informed of it thus indirectly informing the Princess as well. The Furanos did not wish for their choice to be hidden from the Princess, thus preventing any misunderstandings. "Haaaaa in less than a year the friendly and reliable senior that Leo and I met has be someone that can rival our fathers perhaps even surpass them." Luna felt an urge, a strong desire to improve herself as she muttered under her breath, her hands subconsciously balling into tight fists. Work on the wall continued with an even greater pace as shortly after Luna left word came from Calder that the much needed materials were already on their way and would arrive within a matter of hours. "Hmph interesting." Frost smiled and shook his head as he heard this report, taking the whole negotiation as another lesson in politics. "With the materials on hand there''s nothing left that can hold us back, Yuna take over here I want to get my hands a little dirty before we have to take care of our important guest." "Understood master, have fun." Filled with excitement Frost dashed from his office and ced himself under the orders of Rana who wasn''t shy in putting him straight to work. Meanwhile in the Dungeon''s private space Maya sat beside Nanna with an inquisitive look on her face. "Northrend''s Princess eh, I wonder how she''ll choose to behave." "Is she an enemy?" Nanna asked with a vicious glint in her eyes that betrayed her cute appearance. "Unknown we''ll have to wait and see, be careful while you work at the Sleeping Fenrir." "I will." Nanna left a momentter to make the assigned arrangements for the Princess. She would be given their best room as well as the best guards they had on hand. Luna returned to the Furano territory a couple hourster on the back of a domesticated frost mare. Her father and Lord Dous were eagerly awaiting her arrival. "So he agreed?" "Yes, Sir Frost will escort her highness to Icethorne in a week''s time." "Haaaaa good, good, Franz and Amelia will surely be able to rest easier knowing that their daughter will be in safe hands." Ryuu sighed as a heavy weight was lifted from his shoulders. The Furano Viscounty though loyal to the Emperor Franz Northrend and his wife Amelia Northrend just weren''t in a position where they could openly stand diametrically opposed to the might of both Randolph and Sedrick. Their territory was effectively the boonies after all. However they could at least ensure the protection of the Princess on her way to true safety, fulfilling their duty as loyal vassals to the crown. And Unlike Furano, Icethorne would be able to protect her safety and even possibly aid her in reiming the throne. Icethorne held the strongest of the empire''s battalions as well as the most loyal, only the Emperor or their true representative couldmand their loyalty. Not even the crown prince would be able to budge them from this oath even if he took the throne by force. Chapter 657 A violent coup While Luna reported back to her father, Dous and even Leo who was taking part in such major decisions General Anya discreetly made her way into a quiet yet well preserved mansion within the nobles district. After crossing the threshold however two des quickly found their way before her neck, threatening to sever her head from her shoulders. "It''s me." Anya pulled off her cloak and revealed her appearance as well as her badge of identity. The two des immediately halted in ce upon hearing her voice, leaving a narrow trickle of blood leaking from the General''s neck. A momentter she truly would have been left without a head. "Damn the shadow guards really live up to their reputation." Anya rubbed her wounded neck, feeling the hairs on the back of her head standing upright. "Must you test their skills every time you return, at this rate there''s going to be an ident." The voice of a middle-aged man appeared from the surroundings, but no figure revealed themselves. "Of course I do, can''t have your men and women growingx when ites to her highness'' safety." General Anya provocatively smiled as her eyes fiercely scanned the area in an attempt to find the person who spoke. The initial two shadow guards however sheathed their des and immediately returned to their hidden state, taking no offence to Anya''s testing. "Though you''re not bad and still have room for improvement you should give up. Unless I want you to find me you''ll never see my form General." The middle-aged man''s voice spoke out once more with a yful tone, finding Anya''s fire rather entertaining. "...Haaaaa I''m still too weak." "Yes, you are." Anya''s expression turned despondent as she walked into the mansion seeking to meet with the princess. Though her journey inside was without incident every hallway, room and roof held a shadow guard who watched her every movement like a hawk. The pressure was rather unbearable for her but after enduring for a while she''d gotten used to it and even thankful for it. With such imprable defences even a group of A-rank assassins would fail to cross into the mansion''s core regions, dying practically at the door. Eventually Anya arrived before the mansion''s master bedroom. She took a moment topose herself and don a more cheerful expression. "Princess, Anya has returned from her mission." She spoke through the door before gently opening it but even with her careful movements the young woman inside still flinched, her body shivering from pure fear. At this sight Anya couldn''t help but feel heartbroken, she rushed to the woman''s side and took hold of her hands, attempting to alleviate her fear. "I''m fine Anya, it''s just a physical reaction." The woman who was trembling quickly pulled away her hands, hiding them behind her dress as she donned an awkward smile. "Your highness." General Anya only felt worse upon seeing her act brave. "You''ve been through a severe trauma, there''s nothing wrong with being afraid." "When there''s no real danger present there is Anya, being a woman of war you should know the difference between effective fear and debilitating fear." "Haaaaa you always expect too much of yourself." "I''m a Princess, I should always lead by example." General Anya could only sigh and shake her head upon hearing Princess Avira''s stubborn attitude. The two women silently stared at one another in silence, one with a gaze full of pity and one trying their best to restrain their trembling and avoid the other''s piercing gaze. While her body trembled, and fear once again formed in her heart Avira''s mind was brought back to that night. Several days previous in the Capital of Northrend, Arkheart, Emperor Franz sat in his office, exhausted and listless. For weeks he''d been doing everything possible for his darling daughter. Methodically arranging multipleyers of protection that would see to her safety once he and his wife were no longer there. He''d even been drumming up hidden support for her rule as well as nting secret allies throughout the empire for her use and her use alone. Thest step was arranging for her to have the power necessary to forcibly usurp her brothers. s his many machinations and efforts to undermine Randolph''s progress had finally broke the camel''s back. Suddenly without any warning a shadow guard who was assigned to his protection smashed through the door with blood running down his left arm. "Your majesty we''re under attack!!" Whoosh! Pshuua! The moment the words left the guards lips an arrow pierced through his skull bringing an instant end to his life, but he had sessfully done his duty. "RANDOPLH!!!" Franz roared with intense hatred and loathing, his face growing red from his exertions and the desk before him crumbling from the mming of his fist. Two shadow guards appeared a momentter by his side, protecting him from the intruders but unfortunately they were going to be outmatched. Ton ton ton With heavy steps ringing across the blood covered floor the crown prince Randolph appeared beside the corpse of the brave shadow guard who warned Franz of the attack. Beside him were at least 8 dark clothed soldiers each at the B-rank as well as 2 who were A-rank. Randolph had finally grown tired of his father''s irritating efforts and decided to bring him down here and now. "Worthless scum that couldn''t understand the direction the wind was blowing." Randolph stomped his left foot upon the skull of the deceased shadow guard, crushing it instantly as if he were a bug. "You truly are nothing but a monster, I can''t believe your mother and I were tricked for so many years. I''m disgusted by the fact that my blood and the blood of my ancestors runs in your veins." Franz''s anger shot through the roof but when he tried to call on his strength he was assaulted by a violent pain and coughed up darkened blood. The poison he ingested had already taken root. "Monster, father I am an Emperor who is killing those who are getting in my way, nothing more. It''s these fools as well as you who are simply asking for death. If you had just continued to favour me and impede that annoying brother of mine none of this would havee to pass. I would have cleanly inherited the throne and the dreamlike view you held wouldn''t haven''t been disturbed.everything that''s happening here is because of you father." Randolph loudly dered with a vicious look on his face. "No! You would have revealed yourself regardless and by that point there would have been nothing I could have done." Franz vigorously argued back refusing to ept his monster of a son''s viewpoint. "Hmph I really should have made my move earlier, poisoning you was far too kind but no use crying over spilled milk." Randolph nced to his left and right. "You''re going to die here father but don''t worry I won''t be sending you alone that would too cruel to mother." An evil smile grew on Randolph''s lips as he announced his intentions. "Monster." He wouldn''t even spare his mother iming that it would cruel to have her live without her husband. "Kill this old fool for me, then we''ll handle my mother and that treasonous bitch of a sister!" "Randolph!!!!" Franz roared and grabbed his weapon, fighting against the pain rampaging throughout his body. He''d deal with this cmity before it could harm anyone else. s he and what remained of his shadow guards were truly outmatched. As the melee began and blood sttered across the room Franz noticed movement from a nearby shadow. Seeing this he grit his teeth and shook his head causing the shadow to flicker but a momentter as though understanding something it became still once again. Experience more tales on mvl "Puahhh!!" "Finally the old goat is dead." Randolph felt a wave of pure triumph as he saw his once powerful father slide down the edge of his subordinate''s sword. "You know what to do." "Yes my liege." One of the A-rank dark soldiers replied with a respectful bow before ordering a couple subordinates to help set the scene. Sedrick would be taking the me for this ''atrocity.'' "The rest of you follow me to continue the purge." "By your will Emperor Randolph." As this was going on a man dressed in a ck tunic dashed through the shadows with tears streaming from his face. "Don''t worry your majesty I will ensure princess Avira''s safety then I will join on the long road to the underworld." This man was the head of the shadow guards, the Emperor''s strongest and most loyal bodyguard. It was him who was within the shadow earlier and it was him who the Emperor ordered to not interfere rather having him follow the original n. Despite the pain it caused him to not fight by his liege''s side he obeyed hisst orders, to protect the Princess and ensure her safety. The Royal pce was in violent turmoil, fires ran rampant,rades fought againstrades, blood drenched the once hallowed halls and a stench of death lingered in the air. This was coup and a particrly violent one at that. "For Emperor Randolph!!!" "Kill the betrayers!!!" Those loyal to Franz were few in number but each of them were willing to throw down their lives and throw them down they did. Randolph''s forces bulldozed through the Emperor''s retainers with zing determination leave a field of bodies in their wake. It had gotten so loud and violent that even those dwelling within the back pce were alerted and their worst fears were brought to light the moment the head of the shadow guards, Dartanan arrived with his face in tears. "Mydy Empress, my Princess I''m sorry the worst has happened, I need to see you to safety immediately." It was like a bomb went off in Amelia''s and Avira''s hearts, tears streamed down their faces as great despair and sorrow overwhelmed them. Chapter 658 A violent coup (2) "My Franz!!" "Father!!!" The two women wept and wailed as grief threatened to tear their hearts apart. Unfortunately they would have no time to grieve. Randolph''s forces were quickly making their way towards the rear pce. "My Empress, Princess please we must leave now!" Though also in extreme pain Dartanan loudly bellowed as he moved to grab hold of both Amelia and Avira. What remained of the shadow guards quickly broke into two teams, one to dy the enemies advance while the other would work with Dartanan to sweep away the Empress and Princess to safety. The Princess still in shock was easily manhandled but Amelia stood motionless, resisting Dartanan''s attempts to dislodge her. Dartanan frowned and looked directly at his Empress with a pleading look, but he was met with an expression that shook him to the core. His Empress, Amelia Northrend with tears streaming down her face donned a look of unmatched resolve, biting her lower lip until blood was drawn and her teeth starting to grate against one another as her tears turned red and an air of malice and bloodlust burst forth from her body almost knocking Dartanan off bnce. "Dartanan take my daughter to safety let nothing bar your wayI will not run from that which I brought into this world. If he has chosen to be a monster, a cmity to all that we''ve strived to protect then I as his mother shall return him to the void!" Amelia''s voice was chilling to the bone andpletely opposed to the gentle, calm woman that most citizens of Northrend knew and revered. For Dartanan however it was nostalgic as though he''d return to the time of his youth where he journeyed throughout the realm alongside the young Emperor. ''The ice wraith of Northrend'' this was her monicker, a woman that could alter the weather with her spells, an ice mage with few who could be considered her equal. It had been years, decades even since this womanst wielded her staff and activated an aura that gave even someone like Dartanan pause. "My Empress?" "Go, that''s an order Dartanan." With a torn look Dartanan bit his bottom lip and nodded his head. "I wish you a smooth journey and glorious reunion." With thosest words he tightly wrapped his arms around the gradually flinching Avira and charged into a secret back passage along with half of his shadow guards. "Mother!!!!" Avira''s pained scream was thest thing Amelia heard before the wall closed and the entrance caved in on itself barring any who would try to follow. "Take care to avoid my magic lest you wish to be frozen along with my enemies." With Avira gone Amelia let loose with her full power, her aura shook the room and slowly froze the surrounding furniture. She didn''t have much stamina given the progression of the poison her son slipped her, but she should have enough for at least one spell that was without parallel. "By your will Empress.it is an honour to die by your side." The remaining shadow guards all bowed and crossed their arms across their chests, they had long ago resolved themselves to die in service to the royal family. "The honour is mine as is the guilt, I brought this monster into the world thus I should be the one to take him out of itisn''t that right Randolph!." A look of pure wrath shed across Amelia''s face as the figure of her eldest son appeared before her. "Haaaaaa mother." A deep sigh escaped Randolph''s lips as he gazed across the room, marking the faces of the shadow guards as well as that of his mother''s. He himself donned a look of irritation and cold indifference. "Though I initially nned to grant you a more peaceful death, just like father you had to go and betray me haaaaaa kill them all, my mother included." There wasn''t even a shred of love within his gaze as just like with his father Crown Prince Randolph ordered for his mother''s death. Randolph''s subordinates lunged forward with their weapons, quickly shing against the remnant shadow guards, a brave few even made their way towards Amelia. "From the depth of Niflheim I call upon thee, frigid storms of the eternal cold, destroy all that dwells before me [Cmitous ice storm]" With her eyes closed in focus Amelia chanted an aria for a 5th circle spell, she even ignored the attacks directed at her, allowing a pair of daggers to pierce her flesh just so she could summon 100% of the spell''s ferocity. "Sayonara Randolph, my son." "Your highness get back!!!" Booooommmm!!!! A momentter the area between Amelia and Randolph devolved into a freezing storm that instantly froze all those within range before tearing apart their frozen flesh, eviscerating them in but a single moment. "Ahhhh!!!!!!" Randolph screamed at the top of his lungs as multiple defensive artifacts were activated and instantly destroyed. A loyal subordinate sacrificed himself to push him away but his left hand, his sword hand was still caught in the st. Erupting with all her strength Amelia ughtered dozens of her foes and even took her son''s dominant hand s perhaps because she was justcking in strength or perhaps deep down the love she held for her son stopped her fromnding the final blow thus Randolph survived. "Honey." Amelia copsed after casting [Cmitous ice storm]. Her body grew cold, her organs failing as the lingering effects of the poison fairy''s passing exploded throughout her system. As death approached she saw the face of her beloved and a peaceful smile donned her lips. "Ahhhh kill her! Kill that bitch!!" Randolph screamed at the top of his lungs with bloodshot eyes and a mangled left hand. An instantter 3 surviving subordinates lunged at Amelia and ran her through, but she was already numb to the pain. Amelia thus died somewhat peacefully, ack of pain, knowing that her daughter would be safe and image of her smiling husband granted her serenity as she drifted away. From then Dartanan ushered Avira to safety, rendezvousing with General Anya and the others who were loyal to both Emperor Franz and the Princess. Their escape was sessful thanks to both Randolph receiving a debilitating injury as well as Sedrick making his own moves against his brother, drawing the prime focus of his attention. "Princess, Princess." Avira was drawn out of her stupor, her memories of that night as well as the following days in which they desperately fled to the Furano Viscounty by General Anya''s calling and shaking. "I''m fine you can stop worrying." Her words only enhanced Anya''s anxiety. "Haaaaa didn''t you have something to report?" Avira sighed and shook her head before forcibly changing the subject. ".The mission was a sess, that Frost has agreed to protect and escort you to Icethorne." Anya then proceeded to inform Avira about the specifics including the fact that the Furano family were upping the degree of their alliance. Explore new worlds at mvl "Hoh now that is interesting. Uncle Dous is supposedly a very apt ruler at least that''s how my father and the prime minister always described him. For him to be willing to earn the ire and possibly even drift away from the control of my brothers to this Lord Frost is curious indeed." A calcting smile formed on Avira''s lips as she was finally distracted from her trauma. ''Curious indeed, openly revealing their intentions to me is it a form of loyalty, a trait of honesty or are they trying to suggest something. Is this Lord Frost really that impressive.'' She hadn''t the opportunity to meet Frost in person, but she''d heard a lot about him through the grapevine. A young elf prodigy, a hallmark for a future A-rank adventurer perhaps even the very peak. Skilled with the ive, ice magic as well as chakra, a triple threat with a strong rtionship with the Furano noble family. Arriving in the their territory less than a year ago he proceeded to save Leo and Luna from the machinations of their Uncle. He then even joined them in taking him down, restoring Dous as Viscount and healing his wounds. The bonds of friendship were sealed that day and only grew when he along with a young cial winged tiger cub as his battle mount fought on the frontlines during the monster stampede, killing countless C-rank and even B-rank monsters. However due to an attempted assassination by Sedrick a cmity was nearly brought down upon their empire. This man''s background was so vast that he could call upon the aid of an S-rank fighter, a level in which no one in their entire empire could match. From then he established his own territory on the outskirts of the Furano Viscounty quickly bing a capable lord with reliable subordinates and a significant draw to local adventurers. All this alone was incredibly impressive but still, was it to the point that the Furanos may even forgo the Empire? Avira''s smile grew and grew as her interest in Frost rose. "Hehehe he''s also supposed to be rather handsome, perhaps he''d make a decent suitor ahahahah." "Princess you must not be fooled by his appearance and talent." Anya acted like a cat having her tail stepped on, her fear rather genuine in regards to this topic. "Hoh so even you think he''s rather good looking and skilled." Anya''s response only exacerbated her desire. "Princessssss." Chapter 659 Princess Avira Time progressed and soon it was the morning of the following day and as promised the Niflheim base camp weed an important guest. After being informed of the situationst night and confirming things with the Furano family Princess Avira split from her honour guard and headed to Frost''s territory incognito along with Luna the next Viscountess. General Anya went to great lengths to conceal her movements, even when she revealed herself to Frost the previous day it was but for a mere moment before she once again donned her hood. Now however she was exposing herself somewhat openly as she crossed into one of the baronies south of the Furano territory while Dartanan along with his most determined of shadow guards actuallyunched attacks upon some of Randolph''s loyal subordinates, taking advantage of their absence. With Anya drawing gazes and Dartanan causing chaos Avira''s movements were perfectly concealed. "Frost as promised I''m here to tour your territory and take wonder in the many developments you''vepleted." Luna boldly dered with a look of excitement on her face. In response Frost smiled and nodded his head before leading her and the supposed servant who was by her side to the lord''s manor. Though he was aware of who this was he did his best to not break her cover during this little y. "It''s always lovely to see you little Luna and.if I''m not mistaken you must be Princess Avira, the younger sister of those two fools" Once behind closed doors the servant following Luna was finally free to reveal herself. "Phew travelling incognito is certainly ufortable." Avira removed the cloth coverings that obscured her appearance as well as her gender, making it almost impossible for her to be recognised. In doing so she felt a wave of much needed release as the thick articles of clothing were quite stuffy. Frost was thus for the first time met with the appearance of the fabled Princess of Northrend. ''Wow, I know I expected her to a beauty but still, rumours really don''t do her justice.'' Frost was momentarily stunned as he gazed at her exquisite features. Snow white skin that was soft and supple with nary a single blemish, long silver hair that stretched all the way down to her lower back despite being styled in an intricate ponytail. Ruby red lips that portrayed a sense of heat despite the frigid temperature surrounding her. Eyes that were verdant green, akin to the lush leaves found in a tropical forest. Even Maya would have to admit that this young human woman was in no waycking when it came to beauty. Anya didn''t threaten him for nothing, any male or female would struggle to restrain their desires when facing Avira''s beauty. s Frost was already used to seeing such appearances thus his stunned statested but a brief moment before he started scanning the rest of her form, showing not even the slightest sign of restraint as he perused her body. Normally this course of action would be an obvious affront to a youngdy let alone a Princess of an Empire s thedy in question waspletely unfazed as she too was scanning the young man before her. ''Damn Anya really wasn''t joking he''s aplete dreamboat, the full package.'' Her gaze was perhaps even more perverted than Frost''s. Few men had ever stoked her interest thus she was rather excited upon seeing Frost in all his glory rather than simply hearing about him through the mouths of others. Luna, who was by the side, sighed and shook her head staying out of this little measuring contest. She''d already experienced what Avira was feeling, Frost truly was a feast for the eyes, so much so that even a Princess was moved. Frost however gradually lost interest in his inspection. ''She''s got a pretty face I''ll admit but in terms of figure she''s sorelycking whenpared to Maya and Daki.'' There was also her blood rtionship to Randolph and Sedrick, all minus points in his overall evaluation. Read exclusive adventures at ?? As if sensing his dwindling interest Avira''s brow started twitching and a sudden sense of defeat and loss shed across her heart before giving way for a burst of rage. However before some choice words escaped her lips her gaze caught sight of two women standing at the door each donning pride filled smirks. One had ephemeral beauty that surpassed even hers while the other was the embodiment of lust and desire. She knew instinctively that she wasn''t their match. "Maya, Daki." Frost spoke their names with affection, his face warping into a love addled smile. "Were you perhaps worried?" He teased, his eyes briefly passing over Avira. "Hmph." The two women loudly hmphed before sitting either side of him, their arms linking around his possessively as they arrogantly looked down upon the possible interloper. However like Frost their smirks grew upon seeing Avira''s rathercking assets. Their man liked a woman with curves and a decent amount of muscle, a stark contrast to the thin, watery soft figure that was Avira. Luna watched on from the side as Frost with an elegant flower on each arm looked down upon the sole flower that was struggling to show off her radiance. ''Haaaaa as expected even Avira has to submit when faced with big sis Maya.'' Luna shook her head before loudly pping her hands, bringing an end to this little contest. "You are correct Frost senpai this is Northrend''s Princess and the rightful ruler of the Empire, Princess Avira Northrend as well as your charge from now until she is safely delivered to Icethorne." A smirk appeared on Frost''s lips as he appreciated Luna''s attempts to protect Avira''s pride. ".Though I can''t be considered well informed when ites to the royal family of Northrend I do know that your father and mother were reputed to be wise and kind rulers, it a significant loss to the Empire and perhaps the entire Yangmir continent now that they have passed..my condolences miss Avira." Frost expressed his honest feelings on the matter. He solemnly bowed his head with respect to the loss of her parents but did not address her with her title rather by her name like he would any other woman. A rather strong disy of his allegiance, one that Avira couldn''t help but notice. ''He really doesn''t care about my background in the slightest. He''s either incredibly arrogant and cocky or my status as Princess of the Northrend Empire is truly nothing in his eyes.'' While her brother took this as an affront to his authority, unable to ept thetter she however felt that it was more likely that Frost truly hailed from a power that far surpassed her Empire. Although she epted this she still held her own pride. "I thank you for your sincerity Lord Frost, the Northrend Empire has truly suffered because of their passing but hopefully I can rise to the asion and lead my people to even greater prosperity." Avira adopted a regal stature and held her head high, showing no sign of submission. An act that earned Frost''s respect. ''Interesting.'' "And to do that you need to get to Icethorne?" Though he had been informed of their destination he hadn''t been told toplete why though he could probably guess. "Yes, while your territory as well as that of Furanos can provide shelter it cannot support me in seeking vengeance against the sinner that is my eldest brother nor the unworthy heir that is Sedrick. My father and mother arranged for many hidden supports but without a strong army and the influence of the noble families it is impossible to achieve thus I need to secure the loyalty of Icethorne, the territory beholden to Northrend''s most powerful army the War Ursa battalion." Determination glowed through Avira''s eyes as she spoke of Icethorne and their War Ursa battalion. Most may believe that the Empire''s royal guard who enlist only the finest of soldiers from the other battalions and serve as the direct forces of the royal family were Northrend''s most powerful force, but they''d be wrong. The War Ursa battalion is an army that is permanently stationed within the inner regions of the cial mountains. These soldiers are all that stand between Northrend and the mighty monster kingdoms that dwell there. Year round they face against numerically superior foes without nary a single break. They are the hardest and most battle experienced soldiers within the Empire perhaps even across the entire continent. If Avira gained their support she''d have more than enough courage to stand against her brothers, such was the threat of the War Ursa battalion and even more so the person that stood at their helm. The invincible Duke Runak, the behemoth of the Northern reaches. "I''m guessing that you have sufficient reason to believe that they''d endorse you, no?" If Avira nned on using her words and guile then this so called revolution of vengeance would be dead in the water. A man such as Duke Runak would not fall victim to empty promises, he likely had even less reason to help than he did. For a man whomanded the strongest force of the Empire and controlled the affluent and influential territory that was Icethorne, risking it all to help the Princess seed the throne came with very little benefit. It would rely primarily on how loyal the Duke was to Emperor Franz. "Of course I do, getting their support was never in question." Avira boldly stated while thumping her chest, this was something she had absolute faith in. Chapter 660 Princess Avira (2) The Duke of Icethorne was the most loyal ally Emperor Franz had, he and his War Ursa battalion would obey any of his orders without question. As long as Princess Avira held onto her father''s token Duke Runak would treat her the same as he would her father and follow her will without question. Seeing the confidence in Avira''s gaze Frost was curious as to what could guarantee the aid of such a powerful and sessful noble. But since it was likely a closely guarded secret he wouldn''t pry, something Avira greatly appreciated. Frost would act as her bodyguard for the next leg of her journey, nothing more. "Very well as agreed upon yesterday I shall escort you to Icethorne in a week, prepare any provisions you may need and feel free to enjoy the sights and activities avable within my territory at your leisure." "Thank you Lord Frost for your hospitality." Both Luna and Avira bowed their heads before smiling at one another. Luna had been chatting her head off on the journey here about the famous bath houses of the Niflheim base camp or rather the Niflheim city state which was a more apt title given the progress of the new wall. With the official business concluded Frost along with Maya and Daki who remained glued to his arms escorted the disguised Princess Avira as well as Luna throughout their territory. And as expected Frost abused the opportunity to brag about his fair city, expounding on how prominent it had be and how limitless its future was. Princess Avira took everything in with her analytical gaze doing her best to see the true form of the man known as Frost and the territory he had established. ''Strong soldiers, excited citizens, well established defences, businesses and limitless potential. Frost really chose an apt ce to establish his territory and so far hasn''t let a single opportunity slip by.a fearsome man.'' Though Avira kept a ratherposed expression her heart was in turmoil as she gazed upon the many facilities present within the Niflheim city state. Frost was clearly a capable leader no less talented than the lord of the Furano Viscounty perhaps even more so given his young age and future potential. She could now empathise with Dous and Leo in their decision. ''Haaaaaa Sedrick, Randolph you''ve truly went and kicked an iron board.'' For a brief moment she even believed that her uing revolution may not even be necessary. The moment Randolph or Sedrick dared to stretch their ws towards Frost''s territory would likely be theirst and knowing the two of them it was only but a matter of time. A momentter however Avira shook her head and smiled to herself. ''Haaaaa I have to stop thinking like that, this is my duty, my problem to resolve.'' She clutched onto the token held near her breast, the key that would grant her the power topete for the throne and truly oppose her sinner of a brother. Eventually their brief but detailed tour guided by Frost and his partners came to an end once they reached the Sleeping Fenrir, Avira''s quarters for the following week. "I''ve already arranged for your lodgings and have assigned our little Nanna to be in charge of your care during your stay. If there''s anything you desire or need feel free to inform her and she''ll do her best to support you." As they pulled up to the Sleeping Fenrir, Avira caught sight of a young girl perhaps 11 or 12 years old. She had long azure hair and bright blue feathers protruding from around her ears. She was absolutely adorable, a true beauty in the making. The gaze however that this young girl was directing her way was frighteningly cold. Avira felt as though she was being stared at by a beast, eyeing her every move. ''Gulp so this is Nanna, one of the two phoenix kin ves that Sedrick arranged for and who Lord Frost subsequently saved.'' Knowing the young girl''s past and given her own familial rtionship to both Sedrick and Randolph she perfectly understood the reasoning behind such a re. Frost obviously noticed the animosity held in Nanna''s eyes but chose to say nothing. This Princess had to earn their trust while she was here, to prove to them that she wasn''t like her brothers rather than being given the benefit of the doubt. "I hope you act in ordance with your position while you''re here miss Avira because if you don''t you''ll not just have to face little Nanna''s wrath." Luna sucked in a sharp breath, astonished by Frost''s boldness. He straight up went and threatened the Princess of the Northrend empire. ''General Anya''s not the only one in a position to dictate fates heheheh.'' Frost was filled with satisfaction as he saw Avira''s lips twitching from anger and frustration. "We leave for Icethorne in a week, make sure to prepare your own supplies since my only job will be escorting you.oh and just so you know you won''t be my only charge." Frost really was cutting Avira down to size, treating her no differently than a normal person, something that she had never experienced before. Princess Avira struggled to maintain her decorum, her hands tightly balled into fists as several choice words attempted to escape her lips but eventually she shook her head and took a deep breath, calming her nerves before turning to Frost, the one with all the power. "You don''t need to worry about me Lord Frost, I may be a pampered Princess whocks worldly experience but I''m fully capable of gathering my own supplies and sharing my escort with another however I do ask that I be appraised of their identity before we set out." "Hoh you''ve got fire I''ll give you that but if I''m revealing their identity would I then not be honour bound to reveal yours to them as well.is that something you are willing to ept?" Frost wasn''t quite done punishing the little Princess quite yet, finding bullying her quite enjoyable. s it seems he was starting to push it given the re Luna was sending his way. "Umu." Avira''s face practically warped threatening topletely devolve into something without the slightest bit of noble grace. Again however she managed to restrain herself at thest minute but this time she decided to mark Frost on her list, this debt would certainly be repaid in the future. "I''m willing as long as they agree to not spread the information." With great difficulty Avira agreed to Frost''s conditions as her request if you ignored her status as a Princess could be considered fairly arrogant. "Hmm." Frost nced at Avira''s face, an evil smile on his lips as he did his best to resist continuing his bullying. Maya and Daki certainly didn''t help the situation however with their poorly stifledughter and asional praising caresses. They also found seeing the vaunted Princess of Northrend unable to voice her frustrations rather pleasing. "Alright, I guess I''ve bullied you enough." Luna was right at the point of exploding, her finger primed and ready to start pointing and lecturing this group of mean older brother and sisters. "We''ll be travelling with a friend of mine, a former resident of the Furano Viscounty, Borris Darksteel. His destination also just happens to be the city of Icethorne, perhaps you''ll be able to be friends." "Borris Darksteel?" Avira didn''t recognise the name, but Luna certainly did. "Ehh uncle Borris want to go to Icethorne." "Yes, he feels that he''ll be able to further improve his craft by offering his services there." "That makes sense, but still I can''t help but feel worried, he''s not exactly young anymore." Luna knew Borris as a friendly cksmith that was trusted by nearly every adventurer in the Furano area regardless of their rank. He and his family had long provided choice equipment for their clientele, a true and trusted staple in the adventuring world. "I wouldn''t let him hear you say that about it him, he''s quite touchy when ites to his age after all." He himself had had his head bitten off a few times whenever such topics came up. "However since I''m escorting him I can at least guarantee he''ll reach Icethorne safely whatever happens after will depend him.the same goes for you Princess. Once I''ve safely delivered you to the Duke I have my own tasks to handle, so I won''t be able to take care you." Frost gave onest nce at Avira before walking off with Maya and Daki, leaving the two girls in Nanna''s capable hands. "Luna who''s this Borris Darksteel?" It was clear that her information in regards to the Furano territory as well as Frost''s was rathercking. "A cksmith of decent renown in Furano. He recently advanced to the 4th star rank during the monster stampede, bing the first to reach such a level in our territory in decades." "There was such a person." 4th star craftsmen and up were highly protected assets within the empire. "Un, however immediately after the stampede he retired from his workshop, handing the reigns over to his descendants and relocated to Frost''s territory." Luna quickly informed Avira about the particrs. "He even has the capabilities to draw over such an aplished smith away from the empire.truly enlightening." The mysteries around Frost just kept getting more and more puzzling. Explore more stories with ?? Where on Nova did this young mane from? Who was backing him? Chapter 661 Princes Avira (3) "Are you sure Nanna''s fine with this assignment?" Frost asked once they were clear of Princess Avira and Luna. "Un, she said so herself." Maya replied with a smile, greatly alleviating Frost''s worry. "Very well I''ll leave her in charge of the Princess. How are things on the Dungeon side?" "The outpost on floor 5.5 is flourishing at pace and we''ve already started making preparation for the next bait reveal." "Good, along with thepletion of the defensive wall and promise of wide spanning developments people will continue to flock to the city-state of Niflheim in theing months." Though much of Frost''s and his team''s focus was on the establishment of the new defensive wall care was still taken in other areas. New businesses repeatedly opened up within the original Camp''s grounds as well as within the Dungeon''s first outpost. Thus constantly bringing in vast sums of wealth as well as attracting more and more merchants and tradespeople to the territory. The many quarries and mines established on the ''Floor of peace'' were also opened up to the public, allowing adventurers andbourers to work in sectors beyond simple hunting and building of the outside walls. On top of that Frost never stopped thinking about ways to increase his Dungeon''s draw to his most important clientele, the adventurers. Find more to read at ?? These profit and thrill seeking people always needed something new to keep their attention and Frost wasn''t one to let them down. With the floor jumping stones bing a big hit, drawing more and more people to the lower floors Frost had to revamp these areas to fit the rise in delvers. Mainly adding the asional spawner, room expansion and or areas of highly sought after herbs and nts. s he felt this still wasn''t enough thus he came up with the idea of providing battle mounts for his guests. From his talks with Daki, Frost had learned much about the monster rancher profession given that her brother was one. The profession itself wasbour intensive, emotional and even rather expensive but the rewards if done correctly far outweighed the costs. With the Dungeon being what it is and Frost being in a position ofplete dominance amongst themonsters he summons much of the intense efforts required in starting up a ranch and maintaining it were easily fulfilled. The problem however was that it was well known throughout Nova that monsters birthed within monsterirs and bound to their domain cannot be contracted, under any circumstances. Only those born naturally in the world can be contracted i.e. Those born due to the ambient levels of mana in an area, created by one of the Gods or born the old fashioned way can enter into a contract. Very rarely however when a monsterir dematerialises some of the monsters birthed within could survive the copse, from that point on they gradually adjusted themselves to be simr to their natural mana born kin. But the Dungeon was fully operational and showing no signs of copse thus one would assume that the monsters within were unable to form contracts. s this was a misconception especially after thest family gathering wherein a great many updates were made thanks to the varied requests and feedback of Frost and his siblings. It was now quite easy for monsters born within a Dungeon to contract with someone, whether that be as a battle mount, or summoned beast both were possibleas long as the Dungeon core allowed it of course. Dungeon cores such as Frost would have to willingly terminate the connection they had with a monster before a soul contract could be made. This was the new lure Frost had thought to unveil. If it became known that the Dungeon of Niflheim that was practically ruled by Frost could on top of what it already offers bes able to produce high quality battle mounts the war potential of the territory would skyrocket. Druakai''s position in Kranor was incredibly stable, drawing in clientele from all over the cial mountains and that was just one person. Imagine if the Niflheim city-state could produce dozens of battle mounts every week, how terrifying would that be. They''d have customers lining outside the gates. Of course such attraction had its downsides. Dark entities, people with nefarious intentions whether spurned on by greed, desire or simple jealously would surely make aggressive moves upon their territory. Thus the need for an improvement in the territory''s outer defences as well as its evolution into a city-state. Such changes were necessary if Frost and his subordinates wished to protect what was rightfully theirs. Initially as the news spread a great deal of frost mares and frost wolves would be released throughout the Dungeon for the sole purpose of being captured and contracted as mounts. Later on however the adventurers woulde across coeurl pups and even adult coeurls and their variants on the lower floors in far greater numbers than usual. It would be at this point that the city-state of Niflheim would truly became impossible to ignore. Coeurls were C-rank monsters, if they could be produced and contracted with in mass numbers, the face of war would ultimately change. "Daki how are you faring with your forging work?" Frost turned to his left where a fair green enchantress was coiled around his arm, reluctant to let go. "Haaaaaa it''s first time in days that we''ve been able to be in the same room and you want to talk about work." Daki shook her head and let out an exaggerated sigh before putting on a pouting expression s her little dance had no effect on Frost who was more interested inpleting his work on time. "TchIt''s going fine, perhaps we''re a little behind but not by much. The two extra forges as well as the materials sent over by the Furanos has really helped. Rx I promised to deliver you the allocated forged materials and I intend to keep my promise, even if I have to work like a damn Plow horse to do it." "In your case it''d be more akin to a cow." Maya muttered under her breath as she eyed therge swaying mounds attached to Daki''s chest. Though she spoke quietly her words were clearly heard by Daki as she rapidly turned around and red her way. "As if you can talk, it''s not like your udders are that much smaller than mine, at least by working hard mine won''t sag when I get older." A vicious standoff thus began between the two beautiful women. Sparks of lightning shed between them as fire radiated from their eyes. Frost was unfortunately smack damn in the middle, forced to endure their quarrelling. "Seems I need to spent some more time with the two of you lest you tear each other''s throats out from frustration." With all work and no y his girlfriends were obviously a bit pent up and quick to aggression, s there truly was no time. The moment he or they decided to indulge themselves half a day would go by at the very least. ''I really need more Yunas in my life.'' It was growing more and more apparent as the scope of the territory and the Dungeon grew the more he needed help running it and not just any help, skilled help that was privy to his secrets. Unfortunately he wasn''t at a level of being able to wantonly summon B-rank monsters who could safely be ced in such positions of power. Though there was no time to indulge in carnal pleasure Frost did take out a precious 15 minutes from his schedule to hold the two of them in his arms and asionallyther them with kisses and affection which seemed to alleviate their pent up stress somewhat. Over the following couple days Princess Avira while disguised wandered around the Niflheim city-state. On the surface she was taking in the sights and buying up supplies for her uing journey to Icethorne but beneath she was analysing every single inch of the city, trying to find some sort of clue in regards to Frost''s background. The unknown was scary and as long as Frost remained a mystery she would struggle to feel rxed. Though she wasn''t foolishly arrogant like her brother Randolph she did find the fact that an unknown person unrted to their empire sessfully setting up such a thriving business on their veritable doorstep in so little time unnerving. He could be considered somewhat friendly at the moment but who knows when that could change. With such a severe change in Northrend''s political state Avira had grown ustomed to gauging potential threats. Frost unfortunately sat fairly high on that list. Frost of course was made aware of her antics early on but let her be. He understood her wariness and even respected it, she had every right to be cautious when it came to powerful strangers. As long as it was just being cautious it was fine however if that cautiousness ever turned into some sort of preventative action he would be forced to nip this problem in the bud. The ball was in Avira''s court. Would she be unable endure a possible threat or would she realise the folly of going against him and in turn either chose to simply ignore him or establish a friendly rtionship like the Furanos. Or perhaps something moreintimate. Chapter 662 S-rank Frost chose to leave Avira to her own devices, checking on her only asionally through either the Dungeon menu or through Nanna albeit after a certain incident he chose to avoid the former. It wasn''t a perverted scenario just a fragile one, through the menu screen he saw the valiant and headstrong Princess crying into her pillow, calling out for her mother and father as her body trembled from head to toe. He pitied her and stopped his hidden snooping from then on. With just a few days until the deadline he previously set was up, the new wall in its true grandeur was there for all to see. By this point it was clear that thisrge project wasn''t something simple. The tall, menacing walls that promised to grow even further already eclipsed the walls present around Furano. Discover exclusive tales on ?? This camp could no longer be referred to as such, it was now a city-state, a ce capable of sheltering even regr citizens and their families safely. Frost''s territory was well and trulying into its own, and with its new designation grander eyes would be drawn to its bounty. However it would take time for these people to prepare their ws, time in which Frost would further develop his territory''s defences as well as develop his own strength. ng! Schwing! Don! Within the training space booming sounds reverberated throughout the room as two individuals shed with nary reserve. One a young man adorned in elegant robes and welding a mighty ive in his hand while the other was a beautiful woman in a red cheongsam that exposed her athletic legs. Her weapon of choice was a pair of oversized intricate hammers that conflicted greatly with her shorter stature. However the strength held within the young woman''s arms was more than enough to asionally overpower her male opponent, forcing him to avoid direct shes. Finally after who knows how many shes the man and woman broke apart, exhausted and breathing heavily as they struggled to stay on their feet. "TThis hu hu seal that.Dark God-sama ced on me is really.intense." The woman, Maya spoke through gasping breaths as she stared at her shaking limbs that could no longer support the weight of her mighty hammers. Ever since the end of the 2nd family gathering all Guardians that chose to remain by their charge''s side had the strengths sealed. This was to prevent the Dungeon cores from growing too dependent on their Guardians horrifying strength while at the same time allowing the Guardians to take on a more active role within their Dungeons and not upset the bnce. Maya for example after being sealed by Dark had her power plummet to the peak of C-rank, a sub-level beneath her charge, Frost. Although Maya found the seal rather taxing and difficult to manage at first after repeatedly training with Frost as well as Findley whenever he was free she had finally gotten to a level in which she wasfortable. And now despite only being at the peak of C-rank and having weapon mastery and magic levels to match such a rank she could boldly go toe to toe with Frost in a straight up duel and not lose. This was mainly due to two factors, her abundant experience that couldn''t be fully locked away as well as her mighty hammers. With these two supplements she could ignore Frost''s utilisation of aura as well as his near limitless stamina while within the Dungeon. Frost of course found this ''mildly'' frustrating. Even with her strength restricted to below his he still couldn''t win against her. "Not intense enough if you ask me." Frost unceremoniously fell onto his backside as he childishly sulked and shook his head. "Hehehe you''re a hundred years too early to truly challenge a mighty fenrir such as me muhhahah!" Filled with pride and confidence Maya smiled from ear to ear and thumped her chest with a mocking glint in her eyes. Frost''s eyes narrowed into slits and his lips turned upward, revealing an evil smirk in response. "Hoh that''s funny who''s the one always begging me to stop and let rest during our nightly activities. What is you always say oh yes ''Guh please take it out you''re going to Guh break me.''" Frost even went so far as to imitate her pleading tone as well as intimate gestures. Boom! Without any warning arge hammer that was hundreds of times stronger than steel flew through the air and smashed beside the sitting Frost with enough strength to shake the floor. Frost awkwardly turned his head to the side, a chill running down his spine and a dryness filling his throat. A blow like that wasn''t something he could easily walk away from. "Did you say something Frost dear?" Maya''s eyes expressed a devilish intent, such that Frost''s skin formed goosebumps. ''Madwoman'' He could only internally call her such,cking the courage to further mock this vengeful girlfriend of his, holding his arms up in surrender until the evil intentions left her gaze. "You can be considered at the peak of the early stages of B-rank, just a little more and you''ll be able to reach the mid-stages." A few minutes after the little contest Mayamented on Frost''s progress which was quite substantial in her mind. "It''s too slow, I''ve barely made any progress over the past few months." Frost however felt that his progress was far too slow. "Haaaaa this is what happens when you rise through the ranks. The higher you go the harder it is to cross the next boundary some never do after years or even decades of effort. You show no signs of stalling so rx and let nature take its course." "Says the one who''s already at the very peak of the world." Frost wanted to bridge the gap between the two of them as fast as possible, only then could he truly protect her like a good partner should. "Haaaaa do you really think I was at the peak." Maya replied with a look of frustration. "Huh?" "This world is far more vast than you can possibly imagine Frost. The S-rank is unbelievably expansive and a practically endless path. Though I am at the S-rank I can at best be considered a junior on the path, someone just starting out." There was longing in her tone and a strong desire in her heart. "You saw it briefly at the gathering how vast the difference between S-ranks can truly be." ".Diablos, Leviathan and Fafnir." Frost recalled the brief disy of power the three of them showed which eclipsed Maya''s might. "Those three can be considered the strongest within our generation but still that''s only within our generation, like me the three of them are merely at the beginning of the S-rank, just a little further along." Boom! Frost''s mind exploded in shock and his upper lip unconsciously started twitching. "They''re only at the beginning!" Frost leapt to his feet truly blown away by Maya''s revtion. "Un, didn''t you find it strange that all of us were rather young?" "Now that you mention it." "My parents are still alive as are my grandparents and even great grandparents, how strong do you think they are inparison to the youthful woman that is me." Frost''s head sunk low as the gears in his mind turned ceaselessly. The bracket of S-rank was truly vast, with the elongated lifespan granted by reaching this fabled rank there was an immense amount of time for one to grow. Maya as well as the other Guardians were prodigies and geniuses, but they were still young. It was impossible for them to have rued as much experience as their elders. S-rank for the vast majority is the final endpoint. If they are unable to evolve and shed thest of their mortal shell S-rank is where they shall remain until their livese to an end. However during that time they continue to grow in mortal strength. Maya knew for a fact that she really wasn''t much in the grand scheme, her chances at reaching the peak or even thete stages of the S-rank were slim let alone ascending to God status. It was because she understood this that she currently bore such a conflicted expression that was filled with frustration, longing as well as hope and even a little despair. Her volunteering to be a guardian despite the risks and possibly demeaning work involved came with benefits that she couldn''t ignore as long as this desire remained in her heart. Improving beyond her current level was immensely difficult inparison to Frost reaching the mid stages of B-rank. Thus once again Frost was shown how truly small he was inparison to the world. There is always a higher mountain, no matter how much you train or how much of a genius you are there is always someone better, someone stronger than you. Although if that wasn''t the case challenging the heavens would be too boring, no? Frost and Maya sat in silence as they pondered their own thoughts on the matter but in the end smiles were evident on their lips, this didn''t dissuade their goals in the slightest. "Ready for another round?" "Are you sure? Don''t you have work to do?" "Perhaps but after your revtion I feel the need to put in a little more effort." Frost smiled from ear to ear as he stretched and loosened his joints. "Very well,e at me Frost." The sounds of a heated exchange once again filled the halls of the training space. Meanwhile far to the north, arge fortress surrounded by walls over a dozen metres thick and nearly a hundred tall received some unsettling news. The news was so devasting that the man who controlled this mighty fortress, a person at the peak of A-rank copsed into his chair, his heart shattering into a millions pieces. "My Emperor." Chapter 663 Kalias final fate The next day Frost was down in the Dungeon''s prison enjoying some festivities. "Ahhhhh!" "Please no more!!" "Kill Me!!!" Anguished wails from the people that tried to kill Nanna echoed throughout the prison, mentally scarring the residents patiently awaiting their turn. Frost stood in the prime torture chamber with an ever growing smile, relishing in their screams as if they were a revitalising tonic. His focus however was primarily directed at a certain woman who was currently strapped to a chair as a ronso methodically carved up her skin and broke each and every one of her small bones. This woman who''s screams were several octaves louder than herpanions thanks to the ronso''s methodology as well as a certain poison that flowed through her veins was Kalia the second inmand of the assassination squad as well as the most hated enemy of the Ranullia Queendom. Her torture today was at a higher level than usual and was personally supervised by Frost because today was set to be herst. Once this final round wasplete her head would be severed from her body and handed to Maressa and her sisters who had returnedst night after achieving their goal the cial mountains. They''re arrival in the dead of night went unnoticed by most but Frost and his officers were immediately notified. Khuno especially rushed to greet the lead amazonian woman, he''d missed her quite dearly during the time she was gone. Maressa had awoken a fierce me within his body that without her touch threatened to overwhelm him. Thankfully Maressa''s longing was no less than Khuno''s, the two lovers absconded to a hotel the very instant they reunited leaving the remaining three sisters and the ronso guards to pick up the ck in their absence. Upon hearing news of their arrival and the sudden upation of his left arm Frost sighed before donning a grin filled with malicious intentions. "Prepare Kalia and herrades for their final farewell." He spoke these words and momentster Kalia along with two of herpanions were strapped down and made ready for theirst few hours at life. "Ahhhhh!!" "It''s like music to my ears my dear assassins. Did you ever think that by epting your most recent job that you''d ever end up in a situation like this. A position where you have no control, forced to suffer agonising torture day in day out with no knowledge of when it''ll end." Frost''s words were spoken with maddened joy that pierced straight into the hearts of his three guests. Their work was always dirty, kill some targets get paid, kidnap and torture someone get paid, steal something and kill the owners, get paid. Simple terms but only now did they truly understand the possible consequences. Death wasn''t scary to them, but this was. They could be hunted for revenge even imprisoned for life both things they could ultimately ept but this, this was demonic. Even hardened criminals like them balked at the mere thought of what Frost had done to them over the past few weeks. The pain was never-ending and always growing inplexity, they felt fear and dread towards this young elf all the way down to their very souls. Making enemies and hated foes was all well and good but one should never make a madman their enemy as the carnage they could erupt upon you would show no restraint. In their eyes Frost was worse than a devil, a beast that felt immense pleasure from the suffering of others. This was actually true but that pleasurable feeling was only ever attached to his enemies, he took care of his friends and those he deemed his own rather well. The kind of man who would repay kindness with kindness and evil with even greater evil. "PPlease" Kalia with her body carved up to the point that it was no longer recognisable, a bloody husk of mangled flesh stuttered in agony, begging for mercy. "Hehehehe you want me to stop right, to end your suffering, to put you out of your pathetic misery right?" Frost stepped forward bringing his face inches next to Kalia''s. He could see into the depths of her soul, the pain, the anguish, the unending fear and thest flicker of hope. Kalia nodded her head before continuing. "Isn''tthis enough?" All they did was try to assassinate someone, it would have even been a quick death, painless perhaps even humane. Did they really deserve this level of hical treatment. Kalia was an evil woman but even if she calcted every single crime under her belt this degree of punishment still felt a bit much. In response to her plea Frost was silent for a few seconds. He watched as the flicker of hope in Kalia''s eyes grew a little before allowing his smile to stretch. "Perhaps it can be considered a bit much given how in the end you failed in your attempt." "Then?" The flicker expanded like a zing sun, a long needed sense of relief supporting her pain addled body. Crack! "Ahhhh!!!" The moment that sense of hope and relief was at its greatest Frost reached out with his right hand and crushed her left shoulder de like it was an eggshell. "Unfortunately for you I''m nowhere near finished with you Kalia. Your crimes and actions may not warrant such treatment among society but when have I ever cared about what society thinks hehehehe. You can simply me your bad luck, for your suffering is just beginning Kalia, do it!" With his eyes emitting bloodlust and his aura leaking from his body, pressing down on the three assassins Frost gave an order to one of the ronso guards by his side. "Yes master." A momentter that guard withdrew his halberd and thrust it into chest of one of assassins. The power behind the thrust pulverised the man''s heart instantly. The assassin felt but a rush of intense pain, then a chill before darkness overwhelmed him, he died. Kalia who was pinned in ce watched in horror as well as confusion. Death was something one naturally feared but if continuing to live far more unbearable then death was a blessing. Frost had just said that their suffering was just beginning so why was he killing one of them? Kalia did not understand but her instincts were screaming that something truly awful was about to happen.and she was right. Once the deed was done Frost removed himself from Kalia and walked over to the now deceased assassin with a look of interest and perhaps expectation. ''This better work Agar.'' He retrieved from his storage ring a scroll filled with dark ink and intricate symbols that gave off a feeling of death. Frost held within his hands a scroll of [create undead] that he''d bought from Agar several weeks ago in preparation for this day. As previously instructed by his younger brother Frost filled the scroll with his mana causing it to hum to life. The intricate ck runes came to life with the injection of mana and once reaching maximum capacity they floated off the scroll and formed a magic circle at the base of the deceased assassin. Kalia visibly trembled at the sight, knowing full well what Frost intended to do. "No!...No!...God please no!." She screamed and writhed against her straps, exacerbating her already substantial injuries but a troll witchdoctor quickly moved beside her, preventing her from moving too much and seeing to her current injuries, they couldn''t have her killing herself, Frost would never allow such a mercy. "Rise and serve me again in death." As if ying fully into a certain character Frost even spoke the cheesy line Agar expressly mentioned finding it quite suitable for the asion. Thankfully a certain Fenrir and Orc subus wasn''t present to rain on his parade. Following his words the magic circle fully activated. The deceased assassin''s body twitched as though being animated by electricity then the image of a ghost, a fraction of their fragmenting soul became visible above their corpse. ck light that contained the intricacies of the death element as well as Frost''s own mana thustched onto these fragments forming a brand-new albeit far weaker soul which then took over the trembling corpse. A momentter the corpse started iling around as though possessed but eventually it calmed down moving more naturally. The assassin''s eyes which were previously blue were now a solid ck. The corpse had been sessfully reanimated bing an undead monster fully under Frost control. "Hahahahaha perfect, though far weaker than before it''ll be able to serve its debt even in death." Frost bellowed withughter, his eyes glinting with fanaticism as he sessfully used magic from another element for the first time. Kalia repeatedly shook her head as she attempted to back away from Frost, her fear levels skyrocketing. s her fate was already set. With an evil smile Frost forced Kalia to watch him turn the other assassin into an undead puppet before finally moving onto her. "Anyst words?" There were tears in Kalia''s eyes as her ''death'' was finally before her. "I" Frost didn''t let her finish before lopping off her head with his ive. Why did he have to give her any piece of mind in her final moments. Just like the earlier two Kalia was reanimated as an undead monster albeit missing her head inparison to her tworades. "Prepare the head for transport, as for these three. Leave them in the prison as warnings for our current guests." "By your will." Chapter 664 Deadlines met ''That was far more enjoyable than I thought it''d be.'' Thought Frost as a joyful smile adorned his lips. The screams, the smell of blood, the personal destruction of theirst glimmer of hope. Frost thoroughly enjoyed each and every second of it, his heart filling with immense satisfaction. He licked his lips in a way that could easily make those looking shiver in fright. A true monster was starting to be unleashed. Thankfully this side of him was only shown towards his enemies but a few sadistic thoughts did creep their way towards another area of his mind. Given that he was deprived of most ''sensual pleasures'' during the wall development Frost''s mind was prone to the asional daydream. And right now it seemed that his imagination linked up with his more sadistic mood. The evil smile on his face slowly morphed into something more lewd as images of his green enchantress bound by rope drifted to the forefront of his mind. A certain area grew and hardened as these images grew clearer and more diverse. He saw Maya with a blindfold on, her mouth gagged as her body writhed from the external pleasure. "Hehehe" Augh escaped his lips as desire took hold. "Master you''re drifting off again." Just when Frost was about to ignore his schedule and hunt down his lovers to partake in his imagined y Findley spoke up from his side. "Urgh" Frost groaned in displeasure. "I know you''ve been struggling to restrain yourself recently master, but the wall is almost ready." Findley shook his head as he struggled to understand the extent of his master''s cravings. "Haaaaaa you''re right as always Findley, our work needs toe first." Frost sighed and calmed down his rising emotions with great difficulty. ''It''s all Khuno''s fault. How dare he ditch work and get some while I have to restrain myself hmph.'' Somehow Khuno had earned his master''s ire. "I''ll go and inspect the wall, inform Maressa and her sisters that Kalia''s head is ready and waiting for them." "Understood master." Findley the ever dutiful subordinate saluted with his arm across his chest before teleporting to another part of the Dungeon. "Two days and the deadline will be up; they better make it." Following the end of Kalia and herrades Frost as he said inspected the progress of the mighty defensive wall set 8 kilometres beyond the Dungeon''s entrance. Like every other day previous since work began the ce was packed with people. Hundreds upon hundreds ofbourers, adventurers and monsters could be seen all over the grand wall, slowly but surely adding to its already imposing height. 18 metres was the current average height across the entirety of the wall, already 50% higher than Furano''s northern wall but considering their location a necessary measure. After the final ns the end height was set to be 24 metres, so they were around 75% done in regards to just the height but of course there was more to it than that. The wall once it reached 16 metres was no longer just a simple solid protrusion that separated one area from another no, the inside became partially hollow, granting people ess. Within this hollow recess soldiers such as the ronsos would be able to walk two abreast across two levels. Within these levels would be war machines (both long and short range), ammunition reserves as well as other aspects that would allow those dwelling within to fire upon the encroaching enemy while remaining safely protected by the surrounding walls. Managing this section as well as the top section which needed to house an even greater amount of war machines and soldiers was a lot more tedious andplicated than the previous sections. Here the skilled Labourers from thebourers guild as well as Rana herself needed to be on point with every calction. A mistake here could be disastrous, opening up a weak point in the mighty wall thus making its purpose moot. When Frost arrived he was instantly slotted into the yuki-onna division and ordered to solidify the wall''s connections as well as strengthen the pykrete and cial ice used in the foundations. A job that only those with adept ice magic and or ice chakra could do. Though he was the Lord of territory Frost didn''tin in the slightest, immediately getting to work, slowly but surelypleting one area at a time. It couldn''t bepared to his training with Maya but having to methodically utilise his magic and chakra over and over again with precise control was training in itself thus he was happy to take part. Plus with his aid perhaps the job would bepleted faster, and he''d no longer have to hold back his ever growing urges. The Amazonian Beauties received ownership of Kalia''s head a few hourster in the day and though with clear reluctance the party once again left Frost''s territory. This time however they were heading home to the Queendom of Ranullia, a journey that would take them several weeks at the very least. Khuno along with the ronso guards Chana and Freya yed with were obviously a little depressed by them leaving once again but thankfully the girls promised to return as soon as they were able, finding the Niflheim city-state very much to their liking. Frost was even told that it wouldn''t be strange if the Queen herself joined them on their return trip so she could thank him in person. Their Queen really wasn''t like the royalty in other countries, she truly yed to her beat. Frost genuinely looked forward to meeting the woman that Maressa and her sisters held in such high regard. 2 dayster, the final day of the set deadline Frost stood at the eastern edge of city''s boundary and watched as the final touches of the main gate were finished. "Magnificent.'' Hemented as a strong feeling of aplishment radiated through his body, filling him with pride and joy. Two weeks, for two weeks the entire territory had been working non-stop toplete this monstrosity that stood before him. A mighty wall that would elevate their Camp into a city-state and provide much needed defence against even the most brutal of monsters and deadliest armies. There was still much to be done but from a rough gauge close to 90% of the wall was alreadyplete thus clearing Frost''s deadline and then some. Don! As thest hammer fell and the ornate gate that was fashioned from 3 and 4 star materials slotted into ce a silence filled the area before a chorus of celebration erupted. "Whoaaaaa!!" "Finally!!!" "It''s perfect." Manybourers slumped to the ground from exhaustion, the strained tension and focus that kept them going for so long left the confines of their body, allowing them to at longst truly rest. The requirements set by Frost had been cleared so now they could finish the final additions and more normal pace. "Well done Rana, you exceeded my expectations." "Hehehe thanks Lord Frost but I didn''t do it alone, my workers, the adventurers, volunteers as well as your trusted subordinates all yed arge part." Rana scratched the back of her neck as she felt a little embarrassed from hearing Frost''s praise but like a good leader she didn''t forget to spread the merit. "Of course, everyone that took part went above and beyond for this project, I am immensely grateful." Frost knew that his sudden timeline was a very big ask and that many people thought he was paranoid but regardless they still did their best to meet his proposed deadline. Feeling grateful Frost took a step forward and loudly spoke. "Tonight we celebrate, all food and drink will be on me!"His words resulted in another round of celebration; they could finally let loose. After a few more words of thanks and professional inspections Frost along with his loyal secretary Yuna returned to the Lord''s manor. Now that the wall was over 80% finished it could properly protect those that dwelled within thus leaving nothing to hold Frost back from embarking on his next adventure. "Have the supplies been prepared, how are Avira and Borris?" "We''ve put together enough supplies tost a month, food, camping gear, money etc you shouldn''t have any problem with a prolonged expedition master." They also made sure to supply extras in case a certain Princess failed to properly take care of herself. "Borris finished his preparations a few days ago and is currently using his remaining time to rx in the bath houses, partake in the higher ranked restaurants and asionally interact with Daki." "Princess Avira however seems to be getting more and more stressed. Luna while she was here tried to get her to rx at the bath houses as well as taking her shopping, but it seems she''s really desperate to leave." Frost had Nanna as well as certain monsters keep a close eye on Avira''s movements and the usual reports that passed through his hands corroborated what Yuna said. The young Princess was very keen to leave here and reach Icethorne. Of course this wasn''t anything against Frost or his territory but more that she just couldn''t rx while her brothers continued to vie for the throne, and she remained without any viable support. Plus not having a confidant such a General Anya by her side or the shadow guards started to wane on her mind. "Haaaaa inform her that we''ll be leaving tomorrow perhaps that''ll perk her up a bit." "Yes master." "Is there anything else?" With the focus primarily being on the wall''spletion as well as his personal development most of the day to day Camp/city and Dungeon stuff was handled by Yuna and Findley respectively. Frost just received the asional summary of what happened. "Nothing that needs your personal involvement master but the number of possible spies as well as saboteurs has certainly been on the rise, especially over thest few days." "Well that''s no surprise." Chapter 665 Spies and interlopers "Well that''s no surprise." Frost said while leaning back against his chair. The moment the Emperor was assassinated, and the two princes vied for control of the empire pretty much all the ''smart'' nobles wanted to gain as many merits as possible before the official enthronement thus guaranteeing themselves and their families a life of luxury and authority. It was no secret that both Randolph and Sedrick had problems with the Furano territory as well as the man named Frost. While a few people wanted to simply spy on the bold new territory that was set to evolve into an entrenched city-state along the Empire''s borders many wished to sabotage Frost''s efforts as a way to suck up to the Princes. Unfortunately none of them knew of Frost''s true capabilities, spies were easily identified through the Dungeon menu which had constant watchers. The same could be said of those who intended to jeopardise the wall''s development. Frost ronsos caught a few people smuggling explosives to the work site while some more skilled ones attempted to ce magic devices within the foundations that could be activated at a dire moment far in the future. Rana wasn''t a slouch either when it came to protecting her build site, more than a few times it was her herself or one of her most trusted subordinates that first confronted these supposed saboteurs and her approach when dealing with them was rather brutal. A fierce punch or three to the face, a breaking of arms, legs and usually several ribs. She despised these types of people and wasted no time at all taking care of each and every one she discovered. Frost was even tempted to recruit the old woman into his ronso guards given how deft her nose was at finding interlopers. "Once I leave, up our countermeasures. I don''t want our enemies to think of my territory as somewhere weak whenever I''m absent." "Of course master I''ll make sure to project fear into whomever dares intrude upon our hallowed ground." Yuna spoke with a frigid chill, her heart eagerly anticipating the day when she''d get to unleash all her pent up wrath. Frost sternly gazed at his secretary. "Yuna." "Master?" "The time in which I''m away may be far more dangerous than you realise." Though the wall was beyond his minimal requirements Frost couldn''t help but feel anxious, as though a pair of greedy fangs were priming themselves to bite down upon his flesh when he least suspected it. "Be careful not to get too arrogant, our foes though preupied with other factors are still massive entities that could squash us like ants if they ever truly get serious." The massive wall and the powerful monster retinues certainly served as a proficient deterrent but if Northrend ever decided to truly attack them it won''t just be a few hundred or even thousand soldiers they''d be facing no it would a force of tens of thousands, each armed to the teeth with the very best equipment and battle knowledge. It would be aplete ughter regardless if Frost was present or not. Yuna''s eyes twitched for a second as her heart shed with panic. She pictured such a carnage bearing down on them. ''We wouldn''t stand a chance; at most we''d be able to dy the inevitable.'' She absolutely hated this feeling, this feeling of weakness. "Right now it''s just minions and greedy individuals that are picking a fight with us, not a true reflection of our opponents, never forget that." Frost felt that pride and arrogance were the ultimate killers, Randolph and Sedrick were the perfect example. Because of their arrogance they ended up picking a fight with him, a Dungeon core, a child of Dark with the backing of a mighty S-ranked Fenrir and still they continue to stretch their ws his way regardless of these threats. Because of Maya, Frost knew full well that he was immensely far from being able to stand tall in this world, to be able to look down upon all its inhabitants by the grace of his strength alone. Nova was truly vast. Thus he would also do his best to curb any growing arrogance within his ranks, to prevent such a future tragedy. With nothing further to report Frost moved onto the Dungeon''s ns that were set to take fold during his absence. "I''ll reveal the monster mount situation at the celebration tonight and deliver the particrs to the adventurers guild as well as the council tomorrow morning before I leave so expect a lot visitors." Frost knew how paradigm shifting this reveal would be, so he warned Yuna in advance as during his absence she''d be serving as interim Lord with Maya overseeing her. Ideally as his partner Maya would be better than a secretary but when asked she responded with "Eh that sounds boring, pass." She had grown used to a life of leisure, preferring to spend her time looking after the kids as well as researching alcohol brewing methods for her future ntation. "Do you want the monsters avable to be limited or unlimited?" Yuna had already been informed of her future duties and was eagerly looking forward to it. She had studied up on all Frost''s proposed ambitions, learning every insight by heart so as to earn his praise. "Hmmm that''s a good question." Frost stroked his chin and thought deeply about the situation. Having unlimited monsters for contracts could dilute the market and cause a headache for those in charge of severing each and every monster''s connection whenever a contract was being established. Plus these monsters were purchased with DP, letting an unlimited amount of them just go sounded like a bit of a waste. "Make it a limited amount, talk with Daki she should be ablee up with an effective number. Also make it random, forcing adventurers to waste magic contracts." ''Perhaps I could start suppling magic contracts that were 100% guaranteed to work on any monster of a certain rank within the Dungeon thus controlling another piece of the market.'' "Un I''ll talk with Mistress Daki when I get the chancespeaking of the mistresses I''m guessing that the three of you will be indisposed for most of the night?" There was a slight blush on Yuna''s cheeks as she asked this, her mind drifting back to lewd sounds she listened to through the office door the other week. Upon hearing Yuna''s words and seeing the redness on her cheeks a wild smile grew on Frost''s lips. ''Hoh seems Khuno''s not the only one I''m going to have to worry about.'' "Hehehe correct, I''ve kept them waiting long enough." With that Frost stood up from his seat and prepared to teleport straight to the private space to reunite with his lovers and finally engage in onest grand battle before he leaves for the north. "Contact me only if it''s an emergency Yuna." "Of course master." "Un farewell." Frost then teleported away leaving Yuna alone in his office. "Haaaaa so jealous, why can''t he ever look at me with such eyes." Yuna''s eyes zed over as she sniffed her master''s remaining scent and imagined all sort of glorious things he could do to her. This young woman was thirsty. Her corruption was a forgone conclusion now. A momentter Frost appeared within the private space, his eyes rapidly scanning the room in search of his target. It didn''t take long for him to notice the rear view of a young woman with long white hair that drifted side to side below herrge perky ass as she hummed a tune while preparing a meal. She was so absorbed in her actions that she didn''t even notice the arrival of her lover in the room thus granting Frost a pleasant opportunity. The young Dungeon core with a predatory smile on his lips that revealed his sharp teeth slinked forward, quickly wrapping his hands around her frame and took hold of therge melons that were attached to her chest. "Kyah." A cute squeal left Maya''s lips as Frost''s hands took hold and rudely started caressing her in a delicate yet also rough manner. She then felt the weight of his chest against her back and trembled as he breathed across her right ear. "Maya my love, you look absolutely divine." He then proceeded to sniff her hair. "And smell even better." The young man was particrly aroused, his male weapon quickly rising to attention, stabbing stiffly against the small of Maya''s back. Though finding it hard to resist her lover Maya creased her brown and pouted. "Can''t you see I''m busy here, I''ve got no time for your cruel teasing." She showed a somewhat angry expression but to Frost she just looked cute. "Cruel huh, if I was truly being cruel it''d do something like this." With an evil grin Frost''s left hand slipped into her dress and started ying with her nipple while his right went lower deciding whether or not to attack the front garden or the back. "Ahnn!" His advances of course resulted in another moan escaping Maya''s lips, she was really struggling here. She and Frost hadn''t truly satisfied themselves with another since this wall development began, a long time for such a young couple that was used to copting like rabbits. Thus from just a light touch she was already turned on to the point that she''d likely need to change her underwear. However as Frost''s hand descended, moving towards her sacred garden she steeled her resolve, biting her lip she grasped his wrists, preventing anymore movement from him. "I said I''m busy Frost, I don''t have the patience to enjoy a session that leads nowhere." Just caressing and groping without proper pration was just elongated torture, she needed something more to be satisfied. Finding such resistance adorable Frost decided to tell her the good news. "The wall''s finished." "Eh?" "I said the wall''s finished, meaning no more restraint." Maya''s body trembled as though being shocked. She turned her head up and gazed into Frost''s eyes, her hope and desire as clear as day. "The whole night?" She asked rather calmly. "We''ll have to make a brief visit to the celebration tonight but yeah you''ll have me for the entire night to do whate eh!" Frost didn''t even get to finish his sentence before the Maya wrapped in his arms disappeared. The next thing he noticed was himself being carried like a princess as a lewd expression adorned his lover''s face. Maya like magic dropped what she was doing in the kitchen and forcibly carried Frost to the bedroom, tossed him onto the bed and mmed the door shut behind her before donning a wolf like smile on her face that stretched from ear to ear. She took a brief second to send a message to Daki and Nanna, informing the first about the sex ban being lifted and the second about how none of the adults would be avable for quite some time. Following that she red at Frost. "Strip!" She ordered like a queen before removing her own attire. Finally she could get some loving. Chapter 666 Sexual carnage Many hourster Frost along with his lovers were resting within theirrge bathtub, their sinful bodies hidden beneath the waters as they washed off the carnal scent stuck to them like glue. From the moment Maya demanded that Frost strip something that could only be described as sexual carnage took ce within their bedroom. The moment Maya saw the outline of Frost''s sculpted physique and the growing bulge in his pants her switch waspletely flipped. She didn''t even bother to wait for her sister and pounced on him like a cat in heat. With her facepletely pink she tore off what remained of her partner''s robes and took in his heavenly scent. His manly pheromones instantly sending her body into overdrive causing her sacred garden to leak as it demanded pration. Frost no less turned of course responded in kind, his hands cupping her breasts before roaming all over her body until finding themselves sinking deep into the flesh that was Maya''s lower cheeks. Perfect handles in which to control the movements of the sexy woman before him. By the time Daki arrived the couple were already engaged in the natural act of lovemaking. Sultry moans escaping their mouths as Frost pounded his hips against Maya''s curvy cheeks without mercy. p p p For a moment Daki was mesmerised by the sight before her as well as the scandalous sounds that reverberated throughout the bedroom whenever Frost''s powerful thigh and pelvic muscles mmed into Maya''s soft bubble butt. s this stunned statested but a single brief moment before desire and jealously took hold within the young woman''s heart. "Mohhh you were supposed to wait!" She cried as she rapidly disrobed, revealing her devasting form that was the definition of lust and desire. Frost''s manhood hardened and grew even more as he obsessively ogled Daki''s swaying breasts and lusted for her muscr thighs. With great experience Frost slightly shifted the practically incoherent Maya to a different position and bared his arms towards Daki, inviting her to join the fun or rather demanding her presence. With a seductive lick of lips Daki bounded across the room and leaped into her lovers arms, greeting him both with a deep kiss as well as pressing her giant green bunnies against his chest. From that point Frost tookplete control of his lovers, sharing his love between them equally until both were beyond the point of satisfaction. When it came time for them to break it off and attend the city''s festivities Frost had to carry the catatonic Maya to the bathroom with his rod still firmly lodged within her gates, her fleshly doors refusing to let it go despite herck of thought, purely instinctual. When she did finally wake up she was naked and without a certain instrument carving up her insides. In that moment she felt a sincere feeling of emptiness as well as solitude. However such emotion was quickly erased as her wolf ears picked up a sloshing sound and repetitive bangs. She immediately turned around and was faced with Daki''s breasts and face pressed up against the ss cubicle of the shower as Frost mmed into her from behind. The two had barely managed to rinse off the rued sweat before growing horny again. "Ahhhhhnnnn!" Suddenly Maya was forced to watch her sister''s face warped into a face ofplete and utterly lewd fanatism as she came like never before. Her muscr thighs and hips tensing as Frost prated as deep as he could possible go before releasing the dam. The orc subus practically reached nirvana as her lover filled her with his potent seed, painting her insides, marking her in a dominant fashion. Frost held her body tight as his liquid flowed into her womb as if desperately trying to impregnate her and overwhelm the contraception rune that could be seen along the small of her back. He gazed like a predator at Maya''s stunned state as if promising her the exact same treatment next. Thus because of the vicious cycle of bing horny immediately after cleaning one another Frost, Daki and Maya were ratherte to the party. However in the end they did manage to curb their desire and present themselves in a professional manner amongst the denizens of the Niflheim city-state which was now its official designation. Frost with two beauties by his side and two children sitting beside them raised a ss filled with a sweet mead-like alcohol to everyone in the vicinity, drawing their attention. "First off I want to say congrattions, the task I set for you was not an easy one by any means and despite several obstacles attempting to bar your path you have delivered what was promised and then some. I Lord Frost the ruler of this new city-state hereby give you my thanks and raise this ss in the name of the hundreds ofbourers, adventurers and merchants that made this aspiration possible. Thank you for your glorious efforts!" "Woah!!!!" "Here here!" In response to his words everyone present raised their mugs of alcohol and roared in celebration. Frost as well as the council members had set up a grand celebration dinner for all those involved. Utilizing the new space between the old and new outer walls, massive firepits were set up along with tables and chairs. Free food and drink was too be served throughout the entire night courtesy of Frost who enlisted the aid of some of the chefs that took up residence in the bustling hotels and restaurants to provide a palette of pleasure for the hardworking Sapients and Monsters. It was a fond night that helped further bridge the gap between monsters and sapients as well as generate a strong sense of loyalty to Niflheim as a budding nation. As they delved into a glorious feast Frost called over Ringwald and Jaina who were seated nearby to discuss his most recent discovery. "This is one hell of a party Lord Frostit seems I''m still underestimating your prowess and natural charisma." Ringwald said as he pulled up a chair, his gaze passing over the smiles of the people present. Noticing the true unreserved joy and growing devotion in their minute expressions. ''He''s a natural born leader, I was right to ce my bets on him.'' Ringwald could envision a bright future, a future that would see him in charge of one of the most glorious guild branches across Yangmir. "." While Ringwald sang Frost''s praises Jaina eyed him with wariness. "Alright out with it already, you''ve discovered something interesting haven''t you." Jaina had interacted with Frost enough to know when he had something important to reveal and knowing him it was likely somethingpletely broken and paradigm shifting like those floor jumping stones. "Hehehehe it seems you know me well Jaina." Frost smiled her way causing the young dwarf to slightly blush and look into the distance. That natural charm of his was quite dangerous. Ringwald''s eyes lit up upon hearing Frost admit that he had discovered something. ''Hoh something new that could bring us more money and glory, I can''t wait.'' Hepletely ignored the possible paperwork andbour involved in utilising such a discovery. Frost''s smile grew as he gestured for the two to lean in close, building up the reveal. Whisper whisper Frost whispered into their ears, acting very covert as he revealed his ''findings''. A couple days ago while he was delving for materials he came across a frost wolf which seemed a little more intelligent than the others he came across. Curious he used his strength to subdue it and tested the creature. For some reason- that Frost didn''t give- he decided to try and form a contract with it despite knowing that it was supposed to be impossible. All monsters born in monsterirs couldn''t be contracted due to being contracted to the monsterir itself. The same thought was prevalent for Dungeons given that they behaved in a simr manner. s because of Frost''s ''whim'' he decided to actively test this theory and ''miraculously'' discovered that the premise was false. With a contract scroll he had on hand Frost sessfully contracted with the frost wolf, cing itpletely under his control rather than the Dungeon''s. This news despite being covertly whispered froze Ringwald and Jaina in ce before both at the same time screamed "What the fuck!!" Their loud voices obviously drew the attention of those nearby as well as a set of res from Maya and Daki who replied with cold smiles. "Language." And gestured towards to two young children sitting nearby with tes of food in front of them. Their cold tone and partial blood lust made Jaina and Ringwald shiver, but the bomb Frost just dropped was just too much. Without caring about their surroundings the two forcibly dragged Frost away to hear more on this topic as well as to request proof. If what Frost said was true then this discovery would surely change everything about Dungeons. Their value would skyrocket to even further unprecedented levels. Ringwald being as experienced as he was immediately took a cautious approach, preferring that such information never left the confines of their city, at least in the interim. Frost held nothing back from the two guild employees upon learning of their desire to keep this information in house. ''They''re finally putting the prosperity of our territory before that of Northrend and even the adventurers guild as a whole.'' He greatly appreciated such a mindset. Chapter 667 Sexual carnage (2) After exining the situation a little further as well as giving his own insights on the matter Frost eventually brought Ringwald and Jaina to a warehouse that sheltered the contracted frost wolf. Of course the whole thing could have been doctored, there was no way for Ringwald and Jaina to know if the frost wolf before them was truly from the Dungeon, but they chose to believe in their Lord, trusting that he was above lying to them. Another trait that he was grateful for. "I don''t think every monster within the Dungeon can be contracted but we shouldn''t believe that every rule applicable to monsterirs will be the same for Dungeons." "Agreed, these Dungeons have already proven in many areas to be different, I suspect that the federation of Knowledge will have to write apletely new dossier." Ringwald agreed with Frost''s summation, the Dungeon of Niflheim alone was regrly supplying such surprises. "We''ll need to investigate and experiment with this; it may be that the frost wolf you found was an outlier amongst the bunch but if it isn''t." "The value of Dungeons will skyrocket." Frost finished Jaina''s words. "Exactly thus I agree with guild master Ringwald we should keep this knowledge in house as long as we can. Let the residents of the Niflheim city-state enjoy the fruits before drawing the eyes of others. "Un." Frost and Ringwald nodded in agreement before discussing how they''d go about informing the council in the morning. Frost and his family left the party shortly after he''d finished talking with Ringwald and Jaina. He carried Nanna in his left arm and Loki in his right as the family of five walked back to the Lord''s manor which was their designated surface abode. The moment the doors were closed however they all teleported to the private space which was much more homely. "I''ll spend some time with Nanna and Loki before joining you two for the night." Frost gently kissed Maya and Daki before carrying the children to their bedroom. "Don''t make us wait too long, I haven''t gotten enough vitamin F." Daki flirtatiously winked as she rubbed her stomach which made Maya blush and Frost smile wildly, this woman was insatiable. Despite his desire growing, festering inside him and threatening to overwhelm his senses Frost calmed himself and gently tucked both Nanna and Loki into bed. He gazed softly at their faces as they rubbed their tired eyes. He wouldn''t get the chance to see this sight for quite some time. "Would you like me to read you a bedtime story?" Frost had heard that many father''s enjoyed doing this for their kids at night. It helped foster a sense of security and deepened the bond between father and child. "Un yes please." Loki wasted no time at all in epting the offer, his tiredness temporarily vanishing as excitement took over. Nanna however blushed a little, she wanted to ept but found it a little embarrassing given her age and forced maturity. But since she didn''t refuse Frost took that as a yes. He pulled up a nearby chair and removed a book from his personal storage, a novel called ''the rising of a pauper''. The novel focused on the life of a young girl who was born in the slums without any parents or support system. She had to work hard since she was ten years old and through that hard work she gained integrity and dedication. Qualities that drew people to her side as she grew and matured. By the end of the story the young girl was a full grown woman, over the years she''d gained a great many friends and had entered the world of nobility as an honourable A-rank adventurer who everyone respected. Unfortunately both Loki and Nanna failed to reach the end, falling asleep near the middle. ''They''re so adorable.'' Thought Frost as he kissed them goodnight and pulled up their covers, tucking them in for the night. He would be able join them for breakfast tomorrow morning but after that he''d be leaving with Avira, Borris and Kiba and would likely not return for several weeks at the earliest. A long, long time to be away from his family considering he''d only lived for just over a year. He quietly closed the bedroom door and almost instantly donned apletely different persona. His aura changed from that of a loving father to one of a lust driven beast with an insatiable appetite. His earlier foray with Maya and Daki was glorious but was far from being able to satisfy the amount of desire he''d built up over thest two weeks. A predatory smile adorned Frost''s lips as he walked towards his bedroom. Opening the door he was met with a most tantalising sight. His two lovers were baring their all, their supple skin and most hallowed areas presented before his eyes as theyy atop of one another. Their massive asses that were akin to a pair of giant moons were pointed in his direction, drawing his lustful gaze. Frost audibly gulped as a sudden thirst assaulted his senses, his blood began to boil and his manhood swiftly rose to attention, threating to tear apart his schrly robes. With Daki resting below, herrge, toned green orbs supporting the slightly small but far softer white moons of Maya above the two women were presenting a feast for his eyes, begging him to dig in. And that''s exactly what he did. With a predatory smile reaching from one ear to the next Frost disrobed, revealing his toned physique that could drive even the most reserved of women wild. Halfway down his form a mighty spear was piercing the heavens, its frightening length and terrifying thickness that rivalled that of the women''s forearms promised to deliver untold devastation upon its targets as it repeatedly pulsed and throbbed. A seductive aroma escaped the two women as their gates began to leak precious nectar in preparation for the uing siege. "There''s no way in hell the two of you are going to be walking around tomorrow." Frost boldly stated as he approached the seductive sandwich. His provocative words made the women tremble in delight as joyful smiles adorned their lips, they craved such an event, right down to their very souls. Frost presented with two options both equally sulent wasted no time diving in, with skilled hands and even greater tongue work he readied his lovers for the pounding of a lifetime. Thankfully there was still a little DP left in the pot, so they''d be able to quicky reced the bed and other furniture in the room that was almost certain to not survive the night. For the next several hours, all the way until sun had risen high in the sky Frost unleashed his pent up desire upon the two women. He gave no quarter and took not a single break; his lust was just too much and unfortunately or fortunately Daki and Maya paid the price. By the time Frost left the room with a glorious smile on his face, through the doorway the remains of what could only be described as sexual carnagey in his wake. Maya was on the bed in a catatonic state, her ass high up in the air as thick white liquid drippled down her leg. Her entire body ached and quivered at the slightest breeze. Her bones and muscles were akin to jelly after having achieving nirvana so, so many times. She was truly no match for the man that was Frost. Her sister lover Daki was no better, shey against the side of bed with a smile that eerily stretched across her entire face, her eyes had rolled back into her head as she squirmed in ravenous pleasure. Her right hand caressed her partially blotted stomach in a possessive manner as her sacred gates did their best to prevent the escape of Frost''s seed. Her muscr thighs and bountiful ass cheeks were more red than green due Frost discovering a shared fetish. She enjoyed being spanked, hard and Frost enjoyed spanking her toned physique. The orc subus had never had such a wild night, Frost had well and truly satisfied the insatiable beast that dwelled inside her. A feat no one had ever been able achieve even with weeks of effort and or backup. He truly was her ideal man, perhaps even too ideal. Frost''s sexual appetite made even her a descendant of a subus tremble. Thisst battle proved something to both her and Maya.he still had more to give, a lot more. Though possessive and reluctant to share, the two women in their practically unconscious state had the exact same thought running through their minds. ''We need more sisters.'' Yes if Frost was to be truly satisfied just Daki and Maya were far from enough to kept up with his stamina. Frost waspletely oblivious to their thoughts as he stretched his body, feeling as light as a feather. "That was amazing, shame we had to cut it short, but don''t worry I promise to give you even more love when I return from the cial mountains." He said in a loving manner which caused the two women to visibly tremble in fear. ''Fuck!'' They both internally cursed as their bodies both instinctively feared such a future as well as longed for it. Chapter 668 Feasting upon flames Noticing that the living room as well as the kitchen was upied Frost quickly shut his bedroom door behind him, he couldn''t have Nanna idently seeing the carnage his lust wrought upon his lovers. Loki also had to be prevented from seeing it, but his sister was at a more sensitive age, puberty was just on the horizon. To make sure his little angel couldn''t be corrupted he quicky dashed into the bathroom, cast multiple clean up spells and even rapidly showered before entering the living room and kitchen area. "Master." Loki called out with a big smile. He was currently sitting on the sofa with a holographic screen depicting the Dungeon floating before him. The young Phoenix kin was doing his morning rounds, inspecting a few key areas of the Dungeon and receiving a few reports from the monster officers as he waited for his breakfast. Nearby in the kitchen area Nanna was hard at work preparing the meals for both herself and her brother. Usually she''d do this with Maya, but she''d already been warned that she and Daki and perhaps Frost would be indisposed at this time thus she was cooking alone. "Master." Nanna stopped humming a little tune and turned down the cooking fire before unabashedly charging into Frost''s arms. Though normally she''d be embarrassed to act in such a manner she knew that her beloved master was leaving home for quite a while thus her affection ovee her embarrassment. Frost caught her in his arms and hugged her tight, relishing in the bless as he loving stroked her head. It didn''t take long for him to feel another set of arms grabbing him from behind. "Hehehe." Lokiughed with a smug grin as he rubbed his face against Frost''s back. His heart was fiercely assaulted by their cuteness and threatened to buckle in the face of their attacks. Even his lust towards Maya and Daki seemed to fail inparison to his desire to hold and cherish these little angels. His uing expedition suddenly feltcking and almost irritating but still he did not cave. This journey was necessary, even if he''d rather stay home and enjoy the delights of being a father and husband he couldn''t. The three of them stood still like this for a good few minutes only separating when the smell of breakfast started to change. Though clearly reluctant to let go Nanna separated from her master and ran back to the kitchen to finish her preparations. "Will Maya and Daki be joining us?" She asked while opening the Dungeon menu for more ingredients. A prideful smirk grew on Frost''s lips as he pictured the state he left his lovers in. "No it''ll just be us." There was no chance in hell those two could even move let alone walk to the dining room table and eat. "Oh." Nanna replied with a smile, grateful that she and her brother -but mostly her- would get to enjoy Frost''spany without having to share. She thus decided to up her game a little, adding a few choice ingredients that were harder than normal to prepare, hoping to earn his approval and praise. Once again she started humming that little tune of hers. ''She''s bing more and more like Maya as time passes.'' Frost gazed at Nanna''s back with a smile on his face before carrying Loki to the sofa so as to assist him with his morning rounds. "Anything interesting happening?" He asked, keen to gauge the young boy''s improvements. "Not really but since everyone knows that you''re going to be leaving for a while all the monsters especially the officers are rather downcast." Nothing abnormal was happening in the Dungeon but since the mood was rather depressing amongst the monsters there were more deaths, adventurers were finding it easier than normal to delve deeper. "I see." Frost replied in a thoughtful tone, having emotionally intelligent monsters was both a boon and a curse. ''Perhaps I should have taken some time to give a proper farewell.'' He briefly thought before shaking his head, there was a fine line he needed to draw between himself and his many monster now. He was their liege; their master and they were his servants. Their rtionship could no longer be as close as it once was, that care was reserved solely for those he''d named such as Findley, Khuno and Yuna as well as perhaps a few more long time officers. "If it bes a bigger issue have Khuno discipline them." Though he had no problem with them feeling a little sad and despondent but if it affected their work then that was another story. "Un." Loki nodded his head before answering the rest of his master''s questions knowing that this was a good teachable moment. "Breakfast''s ready!" Several minutester Nanna''s charming voice could be heard as she called them to the table for food. "Hoh this looks delightful Nanna, you''ve improved again." "Hehe thank you master." A pink colour shed across Nanna''s cheeks as she smiled and wiggled in her seat. She loved receiving genuine praise, something she never got in her early years. Even if she did a good job as a ve and behaved the only thing she and her brother got was a less painful beating, a stark contrast to now. "Mmnn it tastes even better than it looks, you truly do have talent as a chef." Frost was always generous with hispliments, but he never lied. "Umu sis has be such a good cook." Said Loki with his cheeks stuffed with food, looking like a chipmunk preparing for winter. The three of them, one adult and two children quietly devoured the food in front of them with gentle smiles on their faces. There was an air of peace and home surrounding them that filled their hearts withfort. "Remember to keep up with your studies while I''m gone but don''t forget to rx and enjoy yourselves as well, you''re both still children after all." Frost spoke after finishing his meal, his te practically licked clean. "Un." With a mixture of sadness and warmth in their hearts Nanna and Loki both nodded their heads. "You''ll likely have a lot on your te but always remember that you''re not in this alone. If you feel that you''re overwhelmed, confused or just struggling know that Maya, Daki, Findley, Khuno and Yuna will be there to help you." Again the two children nodded their heads, but a clear redness was building up around their eyes. Knowing how attached the two children had be to him Frost shook his head and smiled before getting up from his seat and walking towards the two of them. "Come here." He said softly while picking the two of them up and holding them tight against his chest. "I promise to return as soon as I''m able so please don''t make such expressionssend me off with a smile, won''t you do that for me, Nanna, Loki." With a soothing tone, filled with fatherly love Frost asked them to show their adorable smiles. Nanna and Loki trembled slightly in his arms upon hearing his request but like well behaved children they listened to their father and did their best to look up at him with a smile. "Much better." Frost smiled in return before carrying them towards the sofa where in the twoid against his shoulders with their arms wrapped around his chest as though trying to imprint themselves on his body, so he''d never forget them. It was an adorable action that Frost thoroughly enjoyed. The three of them sat in silence for a good twenty minutes, allowing their hearts to once again be at ease and for their recently eaten food to go down. "Onest thing." Feeling that his time was drawing short Frost retrieved something from the Dungeon''s vault. A momentter an encased silver me appeared above his hand, instantly lowering the surrounding temperature, Frost''s hand even developed ayer of ice. The sudden arrival of the high earth rank cold me sent the young phoenix kins'' instincts into overdrive. An intense desire and hunger overtook the children''s senses, their eyes narrowed as if they caught sight of the most delectable prey. Their bodies tensed up, their hands tightly gripping Frost''s robes as their heads turned to gaze at the mesmerising me. "Grrr." An audible growl escaped their lips at practically the same moment and an instantter both Nanna and Loki attempted to leap from theirfortable positions with saliva dripping from their mouths. They werepletely lost in their instincts. Thankfully Frost was well prepared for this eventuality and as though he was very experienced in such movements Frost restrained both Nanna and Loki, preventing them from moving any closer to the floating cold me. ''Haaaaa even after all our training they still can''t restrain themselves when it''s in such close proximity.'' To Loki and Nanna the cold me before them was equivalent to the most delicious piece of meat imaginable. Their ancestor species was that of an ancient ice phoenix, a being that could rival dragons and behemoths in regards to strength and purity of bloodline. And what did this ancient monster feast on for sustenancecold mes, the higher ranked the better. This desire and hunger was thus passed down to Nanna and Loki despite their inability to feast upon such high quality goods. Even if it would lead to an inevitable death their instincts screamed for them to eat, to devour the silverly me swaying before their eyes. Frost and Maya worked on training their restraint over the past few months but when its scent, its mesmerising glow danced within arms reach there was nothing the two children could do. They thus devolved starving animals. Chapter 669 Interim Lord Frost internally sighed as both Nanna and Loki desperately tried to escape his grip and dive headfirst into the high earth rank cold me that floated before them. They''d gotten a little better in terms of restraint over the past few months but when the me entered such close proximity the two devolved into starving beasts,pletely forgetting the fact that their bodies would be unable to endure the frigid energies contained within the me. Knowing this Frost still retrieved the me from his hallowed vaults, why because this would be thest time the two of them would get to ''enjoy'' its aura. Despite the circumstances and theplete loss of inhibition just being near such a high quality me was beneficial for the two of them plus With skilled control Frost pulled a wisp, a tendril as thin as a few human hairs from the cold me. He then split this tendril in two and had them float towards Nanna and Loki. "Eat." He said and a momentter both Nanna and Loki devoured their tendrils with ravenous desire. The instant the thin tendrils entered their bodies Nanna and Loki shivered, their eyes glowed bright as the wisp of silver me descended down into their stomachs and burst open with frigid energy. Their breathing becameboured and cold, the air escaping their lungs was filled with ice crystals and a thinyer of frost grew over their skin as the me flowed through their bloodstream and reached their organs. The two phoenix kin looked like a pair of children suffering intense hyperthermia after being stuck in the snow for hours but unlike regr children they weren''t feeling pain rather they feltfort and satisfaction. The frost upon their bodies soon melted and their shivering stopped after a minute or so. The two quickly returned to their usual state, but their hunger was far from satisfied. The small tendril only seemed to heighten their desires rather than curb their growing hunger. "Haaaaa so greedy." Frost sighed and shook his head before pulling out more me tendrils and feeding them to the adorable brats held in his arms. Frost continued to hand feed Nanna and Loki their dessert andst meal of cold mes with a gentle smile on his face. Once the two were finally full, their ravenous instincts retreated, and an intense exhaustion overwhelmed them. Nanna and Loki fell into a peaceful slumber with a smile on their lips and bulging stomachs. Carefully Frost removed himself from the sofa and ced the two of them across the cushions. He then withdrew a nearby nket and tucked them in before nting a kiss on their foreheads. Katcha He also didn''t forget to preserve such an idyllic scene for the memory banks by using the camera feature of the Dungeon menu. Nearly 80% of the photos stored within the Dungeon''s vault were of the two adorable angels now resting against one another. The rest were mainly made of up of restricted pictures that only Frost was allowed ess to, for example a certain picture of a particr orc subus in a rather provocative pose and specific lingerie. Of course there were a few ''normal'' pictures i.e. of his monsters, opening days of certain businesses in the city and even a few adventurers -The Amazonian Beauties- but most were of his family. With his lovers satisfied, his kidsforted and fed it was time for Frost to wrap things up and head out. He really didn''t want to earn the ire of a primordial God after all. Frost teleported from the private space to the lord''s manor where Yuna was ready and waiting for him in her secretary uniform. "Master." She bowed and saluted in a respectful manner. "Yuna I hope I didn''t keep you waiting." "Perish the thought master, you''re right on time. Thest council member just arrived and they''re all ready and waiting for you inside." Yuna quickly denied histeness before leading him to the meeting chamber where all the council members were waiting, ALL of them. "Lord." "Lord Frost." "Your Lordship." The council members all gave their greetings as Frost entered the room. This time however there was clearly more awe and reverence in their tones. This man before them was no longer just an owner of a highly developed camp, no he was the ruler of a city-state, the early stages of a nation, a future king, perhaps even emperor. "Please be seated everyone." Frost took his seat at the head of the table while Yuna as usual stood to his left. "Now I''m sure I don''t need to tell you the main reason I''ve summoned you all here." Frost had already mentioned during several meetings in the past that he''d be leaving for a while. "Yes you''ve informed us of your intentions Lord Frost but is it really the best time for you to leave. I know that our territory now has a massive wall that can protect us from our enemies but there''s still so much more we need to do internally." One of the major merchants who joined the territory in its early stages spoke up, clearly wanting Frost to stay and help galvanise the city''s internal development. Several other council members that included Calder and Rana also nodded their heads in agreement. Having the Lord present within the territory made a great difference when it came to its active growth. Frost was the leading force of the development, the arrangement strictly followed his will meaning that if a problem cropped up the council would struggle to provide an alternate solution without his direct input, Frost held the majority of the power after all. "I understand your concerns but don''t worry, in my absence Yuna will be fulfilling my role as interim Lord with my partner Maya overseeing her actions. The two of them together have my ''full'' authority." This didn''t just mean that Yuna would represent Frost in his role as the head of the council and Lord of the territory but that she''d also be inmand of the ronso guards. A powerful military outfit that was beholden to Frost and Frost alone. Frost''s words caused several council members to look at Yuna in a new light, before she was a capable secretary and a monster with impressive strength but now it was clear that she was far more important to their lord than they first realised. Of course there were a couple who frowned upon hearing this. Whether they had something against monsters, Yuna in particr or in regards to Frost in general only they knew but Frost had taken precautions against such events. He knew that his absence could lead to a few people fostering some rebellious thoughts but with the ronsos having unquestionable loyalty he wasn''t that worried. In fact he weed them to try and overthrow him that way they''d be able to crush the annoying rats all at once. "I should be back after several weeks but in case my expedition takes a little longer I''ve already left development ns with Yuna so there''ll be no shortage of nned work." "Understood." The council members could only grumbly ept Frost''s decision. Before deciding to officially hand over his position to Yuna, Frost nced at Ringwald who nodded his head in reply. "There is one other reason that I summoned each of you here." The council members perked up their ears, curiosity festering in their hearts as they moved on from Frost''s departure. "A rather delicate discovery has been made recently, one which could alter the very bnce of world." His words raised a lot of eyebrows. "Now before I continue I need to say that this information isn''t concrete as of yet and that only myself, Jaina and Ringwald of the adventurers'' guildhave been made aware of it." Frost nced at Ringwald who continued his words. "Lord Frost and I believe that this information should remain a secret, privy only to those of the Niflheim city-state for as long as possible thus allowing us to first benefit from the bounty before all others." With both Frost and Ringwald acting this way the council members couldn''t help but be on edge. The merchants in particr could smell the stench of profit, their lips naturally started to turn upwards into greedy smiles. It was these people Frost and Ringwald were most worried about but nevertheless they were also council members. "Yuna if you wouldn''t mind." Yuna nodded her head before handing out a certain document to each of the council members seated before her. "Please read the information described in the document, it exins everything my master discovered as well as some of our ns in benefitting from said information." The council members quickly scanned the document and almost instantly, especially amongst the merchants eyes rapidly blinked and hands began to shake. "Iiis this for real?" Calder asked with a pronounced stutter, the cogs in his mind going mad from the information. "Un, my master has sessfully contracted with a monster from the Dungeon, specifically a frost wolf, an E-rank monster." Yuna who was going to be the interim lord naturally took control of the conversation as dictated by Frost. Since she was going to be the one handling the issue he thought it''d be best to have her take control early on. With her confirmation nearly everyone in the room sucked in a sharp breath as the gravity of the situation sunk in. This truly was something paradigm shifting. Chapter 670 Interim Lord (2) Under Yuna''s lead as well as the asional input from Ringwald and confirmations by Frost the council became fully informed of the situation and broke into a thorough debate. Thankfully it seemed that the merchants Frost was initially worried about were of no consequence. They disyed natures simr to Ringwald and Jaina, choosing to rather forgo promises of substantial profits in leu of protecting Niflheim''s interests as a growing nation. The group discussed at length, diving deep into the possible scenarios depending on the adventurers guild''s future findings as well as generating long term ns. Seeing this Frost couldn''t help but smile from ear to ear, his subordinates were very capable. Even without him being present, his territory would continue to flourish at an advanced rate. Another weight was lifted from his shoulders allowing him to once again look forward to his uing expedition. "This topic clearly warrants much more discussion but unfortunately I''m out of time." Frost spoke up just as the topic was truly getting underway, drawing the gazes of everyone in the room. After silently waiting for a few seconds Frost stood up from his chair and ced a hand on Yuna''s shoulder. Knowing what was about to happen each of the council members also stood up and crossed their arms across their chests. "Yuna I Frost, Lord of the Niflheim city-state hereby grant you the authority of interim Lord during my absence. Do you ept this mantle, to lead and protect the citizens of our flourishing city-state?" Yuna felt goosebumps form across her arms as Frost''s tone, stance and natural aura sent chills down her spine. Her beloved master was just too cool. "Yes, master I promise to uphold your expectations to the best of my ability and not betray your trust." Yuna bowed her head in a very respectful manner, doing her best to keep a straight face. "Very well, it is done, from now on any decisions regarding the development and running of the Niflheim city-state need your express approval, good luck interim lord." "Congrattions Interim Lord Yuna." "Greetings to the new Interim Lord." As if perfectly choreographed each of the council members saluted Yuna and bowed their heads. Most enjoyed this little fanfare knowing that it sounded far more serious that it actually was. "Un, I leave the territory in your capable handsdies and gentlemen." Frost announced after Yuna took her seat at the head of the table. "Good luck on your journey Lord Frost." "Safe travels Lord Frost." "Remember to bring back souvenirs." Thestment was made by Calder who had arge grin stered across his face. His eyes glinting with the prospect of receiving something rare that could only be found deep within the cial mountains. Frost eyed up his merchant friend and smirked "I''ll see what I can do." He said before leaving room. "Findley the Dungeon''s defences will be under jurisdiction until I return, I''ve already increased your spending limit by an additional 30%." Once he left the Lord''s manor Frost opened up a telepathicmunication channel with Findley, his right hand man. "Thank you master, I won''t fail you." The voice of a respectful soldier was heard in reply. "Un." Frost nodded before connecting to some of his other monsters. "Khuno there''ll likely be a few incidents while I''m away, coordinate well with Yuna and remember to keep a close eye on Nanna and Loki. I don''t need to tell what will happen if something happens to either one of them right?" Frost''s final words wereced with terrifying intent, so much so that even Khuno a B-rank monster felt his spine shiver. "Of course milord, such a thing will never happen under my watch." "Good, I''ll see you in several weeks then." "Safe travels milord." "Kiba hurry up and get your ass to the gate!" After saying farewell to his left and right hand men Frost activated his soul connection and roared in an irritated manner causing a certain winged cial tiger to spring to his feet and dash towards the city''s main gate. 20 minutester Frost arrived with Kiba as well as his contracted frost wolf at the City''s new main gate. There by the side was aidback Borris with arge Warhammer strapped to his back, te armour that covered the majority of his body and a gourd of alcohol by his side. The man was certainly geared up for the adventurer of the lifetime. "Are you sure you can move well in something like that?" Frost asked doing his best to hide his snigger. Surprisingly however the moment he finished speaking Borris jumped to his feet, grasped his hammer and was standing right in front of him with arge grin on his lips. "You should never judge a book by its cover young Frost, doing so may lead to an unfortunate ident." Said Borris in a sagely manner. ".Thank you for the lesson." Frost was truly caught by surprise. He assumed that given the extent of his armour as well as his age that Borris would be heavily guarded but rather slow. On closer reveal however he could see that the te armour was not nearly as heavy as it appeared, plus the joints were incredibly flexible granting the wearerplete range of movement. Borris himself was also a lot more physically fit than he first imagined, his ripped muscles were usually hidden behind thick heat resistant cloth. Underneath the man looked as spry as a man half his age, thanks to regaining his passion and drive. The pampering and good food of the Niflheim camp now city-state certainly helped as well. "Is this something you developed here?" Frost asked curious about the armour he was wearing. "Yeah, it''s the first 4 star armour set I''ve ever made[Moonlight''s embrace]. A durable yet flexible te armour that''ll protect me as I travel under the direct gaze of the moon." This was an armour set built for someone travelling through the natural world, under open skies. A poetic and perhaps a little cheesy description but one that wasmon among artists such a Borris. "Your wife helped me with the final forging, thatss is an utter monster, far more talented than I am." Though proud of his own aplishments Borris raised his hands inplete surrender when it came to Daki. Her talent far outshone his own and not by a small margin. "A year probably less and she''ll already be at my level, haaaaaa almost makes you want to give up the craft when you see such a monstrous genius doing what took you decades to master." Though he sounded slightly depressed and clearly envious the fire that fuelled his passion was more aze than ever. Seeing Daki''s capabilities only spurred him on more. "Thank you Borris." Frost genuinely thanked him for all he''d done while in his territory, especially the time he took to train and teach Daki. "No need for thanksd, I was more than happy to help out a diamond in the making." Daki would go far in her craft of this he was certain. By helping her in her early years he would cement his role in guiding this rising star. After greeting Borris, Frost''s gaze was then drawn to the individual standing next to him, who was also awaiting his arrival. The person was bundled up in a mixture of monster leather armour and thick cloth that couldbat the frigid temperatures of the cial mountains. Their hair was tied up revealing its long length, but the style was clearly unisex, and it appeared rather dull and dry for the hair of a woman. They had a thin sword sheathed at their waist, slighter thicker than a rapier, a weapon designed for quick attacks but that wasn''t all. Adorning their hands were sturdy looking gauntlets with spikes along the knuckles and hidden along their sleeve were pockets filled with throwing daggers of some sort. It was almost impossible to identify this person''s true battle style. Frost couldn''t help but smile at this sight finding the person truly mysterious, he was 100% sure that none of the visible weapons were their true style. The situation was either a very in depth ruse or this person was well and truly skilled in many different weapons. ''It''s probably a bit of both.'' "V" Frost uttered the codename Avira requested resulting in the mysterious figure nodding their head and walking towards them. Frost leaned down and whispered in the Princess'' ear. "You''re actually quite enjoying this covert style aren''t you?" "Shut up!" Avira or V snapped with a fierce re, her hidden cheeks reddening at being so tantly caught. It was true, ignoring the pressure she was under, and the loss of her closest confidants Avira was truly enjoying the act of travelling incognito, pretending to be some mysterious adventurer rather than a sheltered princess. She even spend 3 days thinking up the ideal codename that wouldn''t give her away and wasn''t too cheesy i.e. V. "Hehehe" Frostughed while under her re finding her rather cute, teasing her and making her act naturally was much better than seeing her constantly on edge. "Your weapons, are you truly skilled in them all or are they all a feint to add depth to your ''character''?" Chapter 671 Deciding with route to take Avira took a little offence to Frost''s word choice but nheless she answered him honestly. "Both. I''m skilled in many forms of weapons due to my upbringing and personal talents however that is unknown to anyone bar my deceased parents and my shadow guard teachers." A sh of pain appeared in her eyes as she referred to her parents as deceased, but she quickly carried on. "To the public I''m simply a sheltered princess who has a modicum of magical talent thus my disguise is a stark contrast to what they may expect." Her brothers and their subordinates weren''tpletely ipetent nor were the many powers that retained a vested interest in the Empire''s political state. Is she didn''t take extreme precautions to disguise herself in public then it was all but guaranteed that a group of assassins would soon be on her trail. Spies were all around her, whether knowingly or not word would quickly spread. "To the public eh." Frost noticed the modicum of pride in her words, this little princess was hiding a great deal. He unconsciously smiled as ideas about their uing expedition formed in his mind. With that little bit of pride in her tone Avira had drawn the man''s interest, he wanted to test her, to see how ''talented'' she really was. From the Dungeon he could see that her strength was equivalent to someone at the C-rank, an impressive feat considering she was only a couple years older than Leo and Luna. Avira feeling a shiver down her back turned her head to look at Frost''s face. She noticed the growing smile on his lips and couldn''t help but slightly blush as her mind delved into a few private obscenities. ''God dammit why does he have to be so damn hot!?'' Frost was truly a feast for the eyes even for someone like her who was used to seeing the upper echelon of what could be considered beauty, hell she herself was quite the catch. What really drove her mind towards these thoughts however was the rejection and total indifference he showed to her when she first arrived. Frost wasn''t even the slightest bit interested in her, her the princess of one of thergest empires on the continent. That never before seen rejection made his current smile all the more devasting. "We should head off soon, have you both prepared your supplies?" Pulling away from his thoughts Frost asked. Chapter Explore: "I''m ready to go when you ared, V?" Borris had already been informed of the princess'' current situation and identity so as discussed he also used her ''cute'' codename. "Same but exactly how will we be travelling? You haven''t told us anything about our route or transport." Avira had amply prepared -in her mind- for their journey to Icethorne but the chosen route, estimated travel time, stop points etc.. she waspletely in the dark about. Everything was left to Frost. Borris was in the same position; Frost hadn''t told him a single detail about their route but unlike Avira he was more than happy to leave the details to Frost given that he''d never entered the cial mountains before. He trusted himpletely. "I''ve got several routes nned out but which one we take depends on a few things." Frost sagely said while rubbing his chin in thought. "Such as?" Avira asked, keen to finally get some details. She wasn''t too bothered about the route per say but more so the travel time and rest stops. Since the trip would likely take at least a week she needed to know about the sleeping arrangements, were they going to solely camp outdoors, taking turns to guard against local monsters or would they rest in established towns, viges, camps and other nexus points that had been prepared for travellers. Though the cial mountains was considered a high level danger zone it was quite popted and facilitated many trade routes between the kingdoms of the inner regions and the southern countries like Northrend. To amodate these plentiful trade caravans viges and camps were erected throughout the external regions. The Beta zone camp Frost visited before entering the monsterir [beginner''s ice magic] was one of these camps. There, all manner of travellers would gather, to seek shelter from the harsh wilderness. "Well first off I''ll need to know both yours and Borris'' battle capabilities as there''s a few routes that are quicker but more hazardous." Frost with his B-rank strength was quite reassuring, but he was just one man, protecting two burdens against a heavy onught of monsters was far harder than if he was by himself. "I see" Avira narrowed her eyes, understanding Frost''s reasoning. "And the other things?" "The current state of the monster habitats after the stampede, congestion of the route, possible tracking and finallyfort preference.though your current get up paints a very good picture, you are still a princess who grew up in the royal capital. Are you prepared to frequently camp in the wild or do you require more stable shelter?" Frost asked without any hints of ridicule. It was unlikely that the beloved princess ever suffered much before the death of her parents thus he wouldn''t expect from her the same values as a rugged adventurer. Plus he himself even booked one of the priciest yurts when he stayed at the Beta zone camp therefore he had no leg to stand on if it came down to a debate. He liked luxury andfort and wasn''t ashamed to admit that. Seeing no ridicule in Frost''s gaze Avira smiled slightly and replied honestly. "Personally I would like to rest in camps rather than in the wild." Though she was willing to brave through the difort if necessary, if there was an option she''d obviously choose the one that was morefortable. Frost nodded his head before looking at Borris. "And you Borris?" "I''m fine either way to be honest. I''d like the chance to camp out in the wild like an adventurer, but I wouldn''t mind sleeping in a proper bed now and then." Borris unlike the Frost from several months ago was carrying with him quite the fortune that he''d saved up over his many years of service. He could more than afford the most luxurious amodations avable at the camps but since this was an adventure for him he wanted to go down a more rugged route. Frost stroked his chin again as he highlighted certain routes in his mind, narrowing down their choices. "What about transport Frost? are we walking the entire way, hiring a carriage or" This would again determine how long the journey would take, something Avira was keen to know. The sooner she could reach Icethorne the better after all. Once there not only would her safety be guaranteed but she''d be able to truly begin her quest to avenge her parents and im what was rightfully hers. "Hmm isn''t that obvious." Frost replied with a bit of confusion. "Our rides are already here." He pointed behind where a rambunctious Kiba was teasing a poor frost wolf that wasn''t even half his size. "Borris will ride my frost wolf while V will ride with me on Kiba here that way we won''t be restricted to travelling in slow carriages and can easily dictate our own route." This was an option full of freedom, perfect for traveling incognito and with great speed. Borris looked behind Frost and eyed up the young wolf, he gazed at it for a few seconds before nodding his head finding it to be a fine specimen, a little weak considering its master''s strength but perfect for someone like him. Avira meanwhile blushed and felt butterflies in her stomach as she imagined being in such close proximity to Frost for their journey. To travel on the same mount as a man was rather indecent for a royal princess such as her no... She didn''t voice anyints about it, however. "With that settled let''s get moving, you can show me your strengths once we leave the city, Kiba, wolf" Frost called for Kiba and the frost wolf who immediately went to his side. "You''ll serve as his mount for the journey, take could care of him and follow Kiba''s and my instructions to a tee got it." He instructed the recently contracted wolf who nodded in acknowledgement before greeting Borris with a submissive head bump. "Wow he''s very well trained." Borris had seen several monster mounts during his time, but he''d rarely seen one so docile in its actions. Even the war steeds nurtured by the Frost Wolf Battalion still showed some of the wild nature regardless of how strict their training was. He didn''t know whether the wolf was special or if it was another quirk of the mysterious Frost. "He''s slower than Kiba but should be more than adequate for our current foray into the mountains, don''t rely too much on his battle capabilities, however. He may be smart but he''s still only an E-rank monster." "Un" Borris grunted before skilfully ascending the wolf''s back. "Hmm it''s ratherfy." He quite like his new seat, particrly the increase in height it granted him. "V." Frost stretched out his hand to Avira so as to help her reach Kiba''s back. An act that drew the young woman out of her fantasies. She blushed even more upon seeing his gentle smile and outstretched hand. "I...I''m fine I can get on myself." With a slight stutter Avira used her hood to mask expression before elegantly leaping upwards andnding on Kiba''s wide and fluffy back. Frost''s smile stretched as he witnessed her acrobatics. ''Impressive.'' Chapter 672 Testing their skills Following Avira''s elegant leap Frost jumped up andnded behind her, nestling himself in the middle of Kiba''s back while Avira sat at the front. "Let''s go." He said before Kiba dashed forward forcing Avira to tighten her legs so as to not fall off. Her face quickly developed a blush as she felt Frost''s chest resting against her back and shoulders. Her nose twitched and her blood heated up ever so slightly as a manly scent assailed her nostrils, she could get used to this. Borris and the frost wolf quickly followed after Kiba and soon the group departed from the city state of Niflheim and made their way towards the boundary that separated the southernnds from the cial mountains. Beyond this point was the official danger zone of the Yangmir continent. For a ce that wasbelled as a major danger zone the pathway was rather crowded. Flocks of adventurers could be seen entering between the two massive mountains alongsiderge trade caravans bothing and going with hefty supplies. With the monster stampede having recently ended and with Frost''s territory rapidly flourishing the southern entrance was far more congested than normal. However thanks to the sheer size of the entrance there was no queues nor were there any traffic idents even among thergest of caravans. Several adventurers and merchants that recognised both Kiba and Frost nodded their heads as they passed while some even waved and loudly greeted him. Frost had be quite the icon among the locals recently. Frost and his group travelled for roughly an hour before stopping near an empty snow field. "Borris how about you go first." Frost intended to gauge how strong his twopanions were before travelling much further. "Alright but just so you know I''m not much of a fighter though I''m confident in my defence." Borris loudly beat the te armour adorning his chest before leaping from the back of the frost wolf. "That''s fine I just need to get an urate read." Frost would test them both personally before finding an appropriate monster opponent. Frost and Borris stood several metres apart while Avira observed with keen interest. "Attack me with all you have, using whatever means you can, weaponry, magic, chakra, skills all is fair." Though his words coulde across as patronising and perhaps rather arrogant considering the age difference between them, Borris truly wasn''t much of a fighter. He was more than a fair bit weaker whenpared to Avira ording to the Dungeon''s estimation. "Alright." Borris didn''t feel insulted and instead took Frost''s words seriously. He withdrew his hammer and held in firmly with both hands. Finding a steady centre of gravity Borris slowly starting moving closer to Frost before picking up speed. Once his charging momentum was at maximum he raised his hammer overhead and activated a skill that seemed to be unique to those adept in the smithing arts. "[Hammering anvil]" Red energy formed around the face of the hammer, greatly increasing its force and through his eyes Borris could see points throughout Frost''s body, possible faults which could be hammered for maximum effect. As Borris'' mighty hammer came down with great destructive force, aiming for Frost''s left wrist the target in question remained stationary until the veryst second. Frost easily avoided the blow causing the hammer to crash against the snow. He observed Borris as he clumsily retrieved his hammer and went back on the attack. ''His linear movement isn''t bad, but his recovery time is abysmal.'' He judged while dodging several more blows that contained a great deal of power butcked speed and flexibility. Keen to test out his defensive reactions Frost threw a punch. Borris noticed the attack but was too slow to avoid it thus Frost''s fist struck his te armour. Don! The sound was loud, and Borris was forced to slide across the snow from the blow while Frost shook his hand, feeling an aching pain across his knuckles. ''That''s certainly a tough set of armour.'' He estimated that even a full strength blow from one of his ronsos would merely leave a small scratch upon it. "Your power''s not bad but youck flexibility and agility. Come at me again but this time only use 80% of your strength, use the remainder to reorient your stance after your initial attack fails." "Ok." Borris took a deep breath before once again charging at Frost with his hammer raised. This time when he attacked there was a little less force, but he was far faster in terms of recovery. Although he was nowhere near fast enough to catch someone like Frost, an average D-rank monster was within his range. His practically broken armour would help handle whatever blows he failed to block or avoid. Frost fought with Borris for about ten minutes before achieving his goal. "Without your armour you''re barely at the D-rank level but with it, as long as you focus on defence you''ll be able to endure an onught of several upper D-rank monsters perhaps even a few C-ranks, enough time for me to reach you at least." "Hu hu hu thanks hu hu." Borris huffed and puffed as he copsed onto the snow, his face red from exertion. He was used to swinging his heavy hammers but that was while staying in one ce and usually with a simple up and down motion. His legs however were clearly out of shape. "V you''re up." Seeing Borris withdraw a sk of water and start drinking from it Frost turned to Avira, it was her turn to strut her stuff. "Alright." She moved like a graceful cat quickly arriving before Frost with her weapons still sheathed. "Same conditions?" She asked with a hidden smile. Unlike Borris she was actually fairly strong, more than enough to catch this despicable man by surprise. Unfortunately Frost already had a decent idea regarding her strength. "Pretty much but with you I won''t be taking it so easy." Frost showed a mischievous grin before suddenly vanishing from his position. Avira was instantly on alert, her battle sense tingling as she scanned from side to side as well as behind her before looking up and seeing Frost crashing towards her. "[Cat steps]" Wasting no time at all Avira activated a movement skill that allowed her to gracefully avoid therge man falling towards her like a meteor. Boom! Thick plums of snow erupted from where Frostnded and with it he lost sight of Avira. "[Piercing gale]" Suddenly from behind Avira thrust with her rapier like weapon, targeting his heart without even the slightest bit of mercy. Such resolve lit a small fire in Frost, he was faced with a natural warrior. With a smile still on his lips he quite easily avoided the rapier and locked gazes with Avira for but a moment before the two of them backed away from one another. "Quick, silent and very deadlyimpressive V." Frost felt his blood heating up as he summoned his ive and twirled it in the air. "You haven''t seen anything yet Lord Frost." With the expression of an enthralled warrior on her face Avira starting dancing on the snow, making it hard to predict her movements. ''A fighting style huh.'' Though he had seen a fair amount of adventurers few every had true fighting styles like his brother Karrick or Avira who was before him now. "[Cold fog]" As her dancing picked up speed Avira channelled her mana and activate a 2nd circle spell. Harmless but heavily obscuring fog formed several metres around both her and Frost, making eyes practically useless. Though he could easily disperse such a move Frost chose not to, keen to see the true fighting style of the famous Northrend princess. A woman that was supposedly a sheltered girl,cking the talents of her swordsman father and magically gifted mother was acting very much like an assassin. Moments after the fog was released Frost suddenly felt the hairs on the back of neck be erect. Not one to ignore his instincts he tightened his grip around his ive and closed his eyes, focusing more on his ears and spatial awareness. Fwoom! Suddenly a small daggerlike weapon pierced through the fog reaching a couple inches from his groin before being knocked down by his ive. A cold chill ran down Frost''s spine as he imagined the devastation such a blow could have wrought if he was but a moment toote. ''Vicious!'' He internally screamed before tensing his entire body and swinging his ive across the fog. Ding! His ive met with Avira; a metal baton wreathed in thick wind chakra blocked his sudden blow. Her eyes showed a glimpse of surprise before she licked her lips and vanished back into the fog. "You do realise that you''ll make some rather powerful enemies if you damage my manhood right?" Frost asked with his aura attached to his voice, a trick he''d been getting much better at recently. "Tsk, all''s fair remember, those were your words." Avira''s charming voice responded but it was impossible to tell from where, she was like a phantom in this fog. "Such a vicious princess, I weep for the man that has to marry you." Frost quickly ducked allowing Avira with her rapier to fly over his head before she once again vanished with her deft footwork. "Who says it''ll be a man." Avira teased before readying a faster, more deadly blow. Chapter Enjoy: "[Ghost de]" Her rapier was enveloped in a grey coloured energy as it vibrated and appeared somewhat illusionary. Then with the addition of ayer of wind chakra Avira also activated her [cat steps]. Within an instant she was in front of Frost, her rapier already thrusting forward in an attempt to stab through his gut. Chapter 673 Testing their skills Frost''s brow was raised as he caught sight of Avira''s illusionary rapier fiercely thrusting towards his gut without much warning. ''So fast.and deadly.'' The wild smile on his lips grew as his battle lust kicked into high gear, Avira was truly skilled. "[Ice shield]" Milliseconds before the de was set to meet with his armour Frost conjured a shield of ice and covered his gut in a denseyer of ice chakra. Crack! The ice shield swiftly cracked and shattered into a million pieces, but the dense chakra armour held up, preventing Avira''s de from prating his flesh. "Tsk" A loud tongue clicking was heard before Avira once again tried to vanish into fog, but this time Frost was ready for her. "Ut ant un, not this time little kitty cat." The moment her feet started dancing upon the snow and her body began to fade away Frost reached out and grabbed her right wrist, locking her in ce. He pulled Avira close, her face inches from his own as he stared into her eyes with a predatory grin. "To think that the beloved Princess of Northrend preferred the fairer sex, a definite scoop indeed.but if that''s the case then why would she drool with desire when in my presence?" He proceeded to tease the young woman, bringing his body close to her own and threatening to kiss her fair lips. His skilful manoeuvres and teasing words instantly made Avira blush. She tried to look away from those enchanting eyes of his but only managed to move down towards his inviting lips. As if driven by instinct, she hungrily leaned forward, eager for a taste. Frost''s smile stretched to the limit as his teasing found its mark. Just when their lips were about to touch he immediately pulled back with a mocking expression. "Sorry my dear Princess but I''m already taken." He yfully teased, increasing the shade of red sprawled across the young woman''s cheeks. "Oh you''re drooling again V, how unbing." The young woman was like putty in his hands, so fun to mess with. "Ahhhhh!!! YOU ASSHOLE!!!!" Hisst remark however was thest straw, her embarrassmentpletely transitioned into pure rage. Avira tensed up her free arm causing her biceps to bulge as she formed a fist and ruthlessly punched Frost in the face. Frost not expecting such a sudden attack received a solid blow. His vision shook for a second and the grip he had on Avira''s wrist loosened, allowing her to escape and once again fade into the fog. Frost quickly scanned the vicinity but failed to find even the slightest trace of her, she had be a ghost. The hairs on the back of his neck stood erect and he gripped his ive hard realising that the real fight was set to begin, he had truly angered the little demon. Whoosh! Again a sharp dagger aimed straight for his groin, intending to deal him a significant blow. He managed to block the dagger with the shaft of his ive once again but the moment he did two more daggers flew through the fog targeting blind spots. Frost craned his neck to the left dodging one of them while he summoned a shield of ice to handle the second. "[Wind spike]" However the moment he moved to dodge, affecting his bnce, a green magic crest appeared beneath his feet. "Shit!" He cursed before leaping to the side, a momentter a spike made of wind pierced upwards from where he was just standing, once again his groin being the prime target. ''So vicious.'' Though he could feel an imaginary breeze blowing down there his excitement was growing, this battle was so much fun. For the next twenty minutes or so Frost endured Avira''s quick and deadly onught that was akin to the movements of an assassin. She was strong, incredibly strong. "Very impressive V, your strength can be considered at the mid stages of C-rank but with your timing and burst lethality you''d likely be able to handle those in the upper stages. A triple threat like myself, flexible, multi skilled and resourceful with nary a weakness." In his view for her rank Avira was perfect, her attack power, speed, reactions, battle instincts and defence capabilities were all at a high level. She was even able to endure sudden bursts of his aura without missing a step, she was well trained. "Tsk! You say that but I failed tond even a single scratch on you." Avira pouted as she sat on the cold snow floor, drinking from a sk of water. She went over the whole battle in her head and couldn''t help but feel irritated, she waspletely at Frost''s mercy. In her mind he wasn''t that much older than her, yet he was able to handle her like an adult does a child. ''Is the difference between C-rank and B-rank just that great or is Frost a perverse anomaly.'' She thought to herself. "I''d be more surprised if you didnd a clean blow -the punch not counting. Once you reach B-rank you''ll understand, plus your fighting style is rather poorly matched against my own." Avira was strong yes but the difference between C-rank and B-rank was a qualitive shift rather than a quantitative one. Plus Frost was particrly skilled at dealing with fast opponents due his training with Maya as well as his battle with Indra who was the personification of lightning. Avira grumbled in response, her mood rather sour because of her pitiful disy. No matter what Frost said she still failed in her opinion, her pride took a hit. ''Avira''s strength should allow us to take a more treacherous path if speed is key, Borris can simply rely on his te armour to endure.'' With their strengths revealed Frost was more certain of what routes they could now take. All that mattered now was their preference as well as onest test. Frost eyed up Borris and assumed he wouldn''t be a problem but when he looked at Avira he frowned. She was strong that''s for sure and clearly had good instincts but.she''s likely never killed before. "Once V''s rested for a spell we''ll head deeper into the snow fields, I want to see how you handle a true life or death situation." "Alright but don''t pick something too strong, I''m old remember." Borris grunted as he got up from leaning against Kiba''s soft fur. ''Only when it''s annoying to do something does he call himself old.'' Frost bit his tongue to stop a fierce retort from escaping his lips. Avira visibly trembled when she heard the term life or death situation. She gazed a Frost and bit her lip knowing that her inexperience in killing had been revealed. She remembered the teachings of her mother as well as Dartanan who taught her how to fight. "Princess you may be incredibly talented when ites to battle, you''re skilled with both weapons and magic but never forget that unless you have the will to kill an enemy that talent is useless. If you hesitate to kill, it will be your undoing." "My dear daughter I hoped that you would remain as my little flower, unmarred by the world but it''s clear that that is no longer possible. There wille a day when your training will no longer be training, you will have to use your skills to end the life of another." Avira remembered the sudden shift in her mother''s demeanour as she spoke. The woman that was soft and approachable, always with a lovely smile on her face shifted to someone with an icy expression who emitted a deep bloodlust. "Never hesitate Avira, never." She quickly returned to the mother she knew after that, but Avira never forgot the stark contrast between the two states. ''I guess that time hase.'' She suddenly felt nervous and anxious, she had never killed anyone or anything before. She''d seen death especially during the night of her escape, but it was always someone else doing the deed. Avira look at her hands that had begun to tremble, she was afraid.but such a time was inevitable. The moment she decided to pick up the sword and train her magical capabilities she was prepared. ''I won''t hesitate mother.'' She internally promised before storing away her sk and looking at Frost and Borris with clear determination. "Let''s go." Frost looked over Avira and smiled, he liked the look in her eyes. "Very well." The group continued their journey deeper into the mountains, Frost scanned the horizon and used his senses to search for appropriate opponents. Finding one for Borris was rather easy, the area was plentiful with upper E-rank and even D-rank monsters. They quickly came across a lone D-rank yeti. Frost, Kiba and Avira surrounded the monster to prevent it from escaping while Borris was sent up to challenge it by himself. The goal wasn''t necessarily for Borris to kill the creature but rather to test how well he handled a non-human target and if he had the stomach to go for the kill. The battle was anything but mourous in fact calling it aedy routine may have been more appropriate. Borris was outmatched when it came to speed and his reach was far shorter than that of his opponent''s. The Yeti practically toyed with him,unching flurried blows before moving out of harm''s way but gradually it started to grow cocky and make mistakes. Borris was naturally patient thanks to his profession, so he simply waited and waited until a perfect opportunity knocked on his door. Chapter 674 Testing their skills (2) The moment the yeti started to overextend itself, preparing for a more forceful wallop, Borris'' lips turned upwards. The older dwarf curled his toes, steadied his waist and summoned all the strength he could muster in his arms. "[Hammering anvil]!" With a loud roar red energy formed around the hammer''s face and Borris'' eyes revealed the weak points of his enemy. With great speed and delicate precision Borris caught the monster unaware. The yeti too engrossed in its own windup was easy pickings. Don! With a loud don Borris'' hammer struck across the yeti''s cheek, shattering its lower jaw and dislodging more than a few of its teeth. The mighty beast was knocked from its feet due to the sudden concussive force. It fell hard against the snow as stars danced in its eyes, its mind muddled by the blow. Wasting no time whatsoever Borris proceeded to deal the final blow. "[Final temper]" His hammer once again lit up with a fiery red glow but this time several illusionary hammers appeared behind making for a total of seven. Don! Don! Don! Don! Don! Don! Don! With his biceps threatening to blow apart his te armour Borris mmed his hammer down hard upon the yeti''s skull. Seven bloodcurdling sounds echoed as the first hammer cracked apart the monster''s hard skull while the following six hammerspletely blew it apart, turning its brain to mush. By the end Borris was covered in guts and brain matter, his beautifully forged te armour presenting a frightening image. "Huueee that was exhausting." Not even the slightest bit bothered by the remains decorating his armour and weapon Borris released a deep breath and began shuffling through the creature''s corpse in search of bounty. Seeing his actions Frost was all smiles, there truly wasn''t any need for him to worry when it came to Borris. The man was experienced and knew how to handle himself in a fight. He turned to look at Avira and found her frowning and covering her nose, ufortable with the sight before her. "Nice job Borris I can see that despite your age you''re still a man of action." Frost praised while nodding his head in approval. "Tch you can''t get to my age without bing a little desensitised to this stuff, oh there it is." With his hand covered in guts Borris pulled out the yeti''s magic crystal and ced it within his storage ring. He then unceremoniously took out a hunting knife and started removing the creatures pelt as well as its more sturdier bones, all of which could be fashioned into decent goods. "Geh!" Avira practically wretched when she saw the state of Borris. The blood, the gore and god the smell it made her cringebut knowing that this was not just normal behaviour but behaviour that was encouraged so as to not waste a life she stubbornly forced herself to endure, staring at his every action without nary a blink. ''Not bad, she has the will.'' Both Frost and Borris internally praised the young princess, not many with her kind of upbringing could easily stomach such a sight. The group rested for a little while after disposing of the yeti''s corpse. Finding Borris a worthy opponent was easy given his roughly early level D-rank strength, Avira however was a challenge, but Frost did have some idea. An evil smile grew on his lips as he made a decision. "Let''s move I know the perfect opponent for our little V." He said with excitement in his voice, an excitement that made Avira feel a shiver down her spine. ''What''s this asshole nning and why does he keep referring to me as little?'' She really didn''t like him calling her that way. Though it sounded like a term full of endearment for her it felt insulting. Whenever she heard him refer to her as ''little'' her eyes would naturally drift downwards to her chest and images of Daki and Maya''s ''full'' figures would sh across her mind as if making a mockingparison. From just a simple word the young princess'' eyes were now full of mes whenever she gazed at Frost and his annoyingly handsome face, toned body and seductive smile.. ''Ahhhh!'' She screamed internally finding it impossible to stay mad at such a prime specimen. Avira was experiencing an internal war and Frost had no idea. The monster Frost wanted to pit Avira against was a bit further in, so the group first visited the nearby Beta camp so as to get a better idea of their possible future lodgings. Frost also wanted to get some recent intel regarding the change in monster habitats as well as any political changes that had taken ce recently. Though most of the major nations resided within the inner and core regions there were still a few, such as the Three Flower Kingdom dotted around the external regions which their group would likely have to either pass by or even through. Frost let Borris and Avira explore the camp alone while he went to visit an old acquaintance for the information, believing that she''d know more than what was just rumours and on the camp''s information board. "Well well if it isn''t our charming young prodigy Frost, have you finally decided to take up my offer, I''m free right now if you want to have a quick ride in my office." Mother Callie almost immediately started to unbutton her shirt, giving Frost a brief glimpse of her pearly white orbs that put even Maya''s to shame. "As forward and as ravishing as ever Mother Callie, if only I weren''t taken then perhaps we could have enjoyed ourselves." Frost had be far more experienced when it came flirtatious taunts thanks to his darling orc subus. Feeling the need to get back at the older woman a little he leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "Plus I assure you my dear there''d be nothing ''quick'' about it." He then leaned back and disyed a pearly white smile. The confident older woman of the sheep beastkin tribe blushed from ear to ear as her imagination ran wild, giving birth to genuine desire. ".You''ve be a real monster you know that." It took her a few seconds to calm herself down and properly look at Frost''s charming face without blushing. "Oh you don''t know the half of it Mother Callie." Frost teased bringing another blush to the older woman''s cheeks. ''Hahahaha revenge oh it tastes ever so sweet.'' "Alright spill it what do you want from on olddy like me Lord Frost?" "Oh so you know about me, I''m rather touched." "Alright stop that right now, you''ve had your fun so let''s get to business." ''This boy is practically an incubus, whoever taught this monster needs to be hung drawn and quartered for sake of the women in Nova.'' "FineI need information on the changes in the local monster habitats, route advice as well as information about a certain territory lord." "Well you''ve certainly came to the right ce, there isn''t a single piece of news happening in the external regions that I don''t know about." Callie beat her chest with pride, information was her trade and since the one asking was such a talented young prodigy that her organisation was still keeping tabs on she was more than happy to regale her findings. "Mypanions and I are travelling to Icethorne I need to know of any major issues along these routes." Frost pulled out a map of the external regions and highlighted the possible routes he nned to take. "Companions?" Callie asked curiously. "Yes, now the information." Frost didn''t n on revealing anything about Borris or Avira. If she wanted to know then she''d have to dig out the knowledge another way. "Stingy." Callie pouted in a cute manner, but Frost was unfazed as he repeatedly tapped the map. "You''ll want to avoid Dragon w pass due to a major territory dispute plus the area around the crevasse of Ymir isn''t much safer." Callie quickly crossed off certain areas that fell on a couple of his suggested routes. "Dangerous even for me?" He assumed Callie knew of his rise to B-rank. "Around the crevasse of Ymir most definitely, dragon''s pass maybe not but it''s a real shit show over there. Not only are a species of drakes fighting against great horned rhinos for territory, but the enves nearby have also decided to go to war for some stupid reason. Getting to Icethorne now requires a more roundabout route if you''re not willing to brave some serious danger." No one even knows the true level of danger dwelling within the crevasse of Ymir, a massive chasm that stretches throughout both the external region and the inner regions, a supposed hallowed ground for the giant race. Callie had already received reports that several frost giants had been seen surfacing at multiple points. "Good to know." Frost immediately crossed off a couple routes and made a few detours to some others as Mother Callie revealed nearly every relevant detail to her handsome customer. "That probably covers your trip to Icethorne, so what''s this about a territory lord?" She asked finding the request rather unusual considering his ns. Frost simply smiled in an evil manner before saying. "I want to know about the Iceborne Huntsman?" Chapter 675 Iceborne Huntsman A territory lord, referred to a monster that was so strong inparison to thepetition surrounding it that it dominated the region, bing a bestial King or Queen. Within the external regions such entities needed to be at least C-rank and were usually variant species that had an edge over their standard kin. Upon hearing mention of the Iceborne huntsman Mother Callie visibly trembled. Fear and revulsion filling her eyes as the form of the Iceborne huntsman upied her mind. "How ungentlemanly of you Frost to ask a woman to talk about such a creature." It was obvious that even mentioning the thing indirectly made Callie nauseous. Frost was quite frankly surprised by the experienced woman''s reaction. ''Hoh so even someone like her has issues with them, heheheh how adorable.'' His evil smirk stretched, greatly irritating Callie. "Tsk bully." Callie pouted before summoning up her courage, she really didn''t want to do this but in the end she was a professional. "The monster" "The Iceborne huntsman." Frost teasingly said drawing a fierce re his way. "YES the ICEBORNE HUNTSMAN, is still located in the western reaches of the Lambda sector. The shifts in habitats from the recent monster stampede failed to dislodge the creature from its infested mountain. Therefore any previous information recorded is still considered solid as is the quest to erase the creature from existence!" Callie practically spat herst words, having the sudden urge to bathe and toss salt over her shoulder. For most women and even arge percentage of men the Iceborne huntsman was the stuff of nightmares. The creature was not ghostly in nature nor was it undead but was considered by many as something far, far worse.a spider. And not just any spider but a big one, with long legs, sharp fangs, multiple beady eyes and a very aggressive temperament. Unlike the frost spiders prevalent in the Dungeon of Niflheim this Iceborne huntsman didn''t utilise webs instead the creature would silently stalk its prey before literally chasing or jumping at them with it fangs and legs raised, a horror that was a very active hunter. With legs that stretched more than 2 metres from its body this creature that was covered in white hairs could perfectly blend into any environment within the cial mountains and once it set its eyes on you there was no escape. The mountain was its territory any that entered within its domain would be hunted not just by it but also by the legions of lesser spiders that itmanded, a massive den of eight legged horrors. Callie thanked her lucky stars that she was never assigned to the Lambda sector camp, she wouldn''t be able to sleep at night knowing that that thing rested nearby. "..You gonna kill?" After managing to clear her mind of some rather grotesque images Callie asked with a small amount of hope. Frost with his potential and current B-rank status was well and truly a decent opponent for the Iceborne huntsman. "Possibly, I want to use it as well as its children as whetstones for mypanion." Yes the monster Frost had chosen to test Avira against was one that could make even an experienced woman like Callie cringe in horror. He was well and truly diabolical. Of course the fear was only part of the reason he deemed this monster a good match up. Avira would likely be terrified yes but she''d also have little hesitation inmitting a mass ughter given their form, a silver lining you could say. Plus in addition to the fear the spider species especially the huntsman variants perfectly countered her speed and hidden battle style, Avira would be forced to think outside the box when facing such a monster. Frost also noticed that her battle style though deadly was more suited to facing single targets thus he wondered how she''d fair against a horde of weaklings. ''Should I tell her straight away or wait until the veryst moment hehehe.'' Evil thoughts ran amok in Frost''s mind and a slightugh escaped his lips causing Callie to reel backwards. ''Whoever it is that''s travelling with this monster I pray for your soul''. Callie solemnly prayed for Borris and Avira, pitying their future and their poor choice inpanions. "If you do end up killing the territory lord remember to bring back its fangs as proof to any of the order of the ice shield''s camps or residences. That way you''ll be rewarded for your efforts, the bounty on that thing is quite high after all." Due to abject fear the price for the monster''s head was far higher than a simrly ranked territory lord. Callie turned around and sashayed her wide hips as she retrieved a dossier on the Iceborne huntsman and handed it over to Frost. The moment Frost went to take the document however Callie grabbed his wrist, pulled him close and whispered in his ear. "Frost dear if you do manage to erase that abominable creature, please do return here so I can personally reward you." She lightly blew into his ear and pressed her ample assets against his chest hoping to make the young man blush like she used to but unfortunately Frost was truly a different man after repeatedlyying with Maya and Daki. He simply smiled as his eyes scanned Callie''s body like a predator. She was certainly in fine shape given her age and those breasts of hers were quite eye-catching but as he said earlier he was already taken. "Very tempting Mother Callie, any man would be blessed to receive such advances from a woman as beautiful as you but as I''ve said I''m already taken." His eyes revealed a sense of longing as the figures of both Maya and Daki filled his mind, he would not betray them. Callie was genuinely moved and genuinely jealous. "She''s a lucky woman." She said, drawing herself back, no longer in a seductive and teasing mood. "No I''m the one who''s lucky." Frost smiled with such strong love that Callie felt a stabbing pain in her heart. "Ahhh too pure glugh I can''t stand it, take your loving romance and leave before I glugh." She couldn''t stand the current atmosphere; it was too painful and revolting for her single status. "Hahahahah alright, alright I get it I''m leaving geez." Frost shook his head andughed before turning around to leave her office. "Tsk another handsome man has joined the dark side, such a waste, he had the making of a decent yboy." Once Frost closed the door and was a little away from the building Callie loudly clicked her tongue and mourned the passing of a bachelor with great potential. Deep down however she was actually jealous. Throughout her many rtionships and one night stands she''d never had the chance to experience the intensity Frost just disyed. Something she secretly longed for but never found. She was thus in a rather annoyed mood for the next few days thanks to him. "Did you get what you wanted?" Avira immediately asked once Frost came to find her and Borris. "That and more. I''ve further narrowed down our travel options and gotten a lead on the monster I want you to fight." He did his best to hide his evil intentions, but Avira still shivered, somehow sensing that something was amiss. "What monster?" She asked both anxious and curious to know, it would be her first kill after all and a chance to disy her true worth to the man escorting her to Icethorne. "It''s a surprise, once we near itsir then I''ll tell you." He teased. "Meanie." Avira assumed Frost was simply teasing her not realising his insidious intentions. "What about you two did you get a good look around? Did the lodgings, food hall and merchandise meet your expectations?" "Pretty much for me but.." Borris replied while hinting towards the person next to him. "It''s quite a bit more ''rugged'' than I expected." Avira didn''t sugarcoat it; she was quite disturbed by the state of the camp. Though she knew it wouldn''t be anything like her home in Arkheart she did think that it''d be of a simr standard to Frost''s territory. A very unfortunate expectation. The Niflheim city state even when it was in its early days as a camp was a prime product that offered high quality goods, far beyond any basic camp found in the cial mountains. "I think V was spoiled by the amenities in your territory Frost, thus giving her a warped outlook on camps." Borris whispered into Frost''s ear. He too was rather taken aback by the standards in Frost''s territory, but he at least had decades of experience to see it something unique rather than standard. Avira blushed from embarrassment, she struggled to look at Frost''s face feeling that there''d certainly be a mixture of a mocking and prideful smile on his face, but she''d be wrong. "I should have expected as much. For you who rarely left the capital it''s no wonder you''d assume such things given that my territory was only just recently established." Frost didn''t mock her for her views in fact he felt a little guilty for not warning her in advance. This journey was clearly going to be a bit more ufortable than the princess expected s there was no turning back. "It''s fine, now I know so I''ll prepare myself better. Are we leaving now?"The sun was still high in the sky so it wouldn''t be efficient to rest in the Beta camp. "Yes, we''ll be heading to the Lambda sector which should take us about two days. There''s a camp roughly halfway and one in that sector so we won''t need to take rest in the wilderness." A small mercy for the young Princess. "Our monster target is also in that sector as is the end of our current route, depending how you fair we''ll either head northwest or northeast from the Lambda sector." "One''s the long but more safe route and the other is shorter but riskier" Avira stated. "Bingo." Frost touched his nose and smiled. "Let''s get a move on then, no point waiting around here when there''s a monster to hunt and journey to be made." Feeling energised by Frost''s smile Avira leapt onto Kiba''s back and requested that they head on off. Something both Frost and Borris were all for. Chapter 676 Iceborne Huntsman (2) "Fuck off!!!" 2 dayster shortly after the group left the boundary of thembda camp Avira screeched very unlike a princess. Her face drenched of all colour as she pointed a trembling finger at Frost''s face with terror in her gaze. The bastard finally told her about the monster she was to hunt, and she was not pleased, not pleased at all. "Any louder and they''ll hear you in Vulcan." Said Frost while rubbing his ears. "Hehehe what did you expect Frost." Borris chuckled lightly knowing full well how the young woman was feeling. The phobia of spiders was verymon throughout Nova, affecting even some of the strongest entities in existence. There was just something about them that stroked one''s fears. "Pick another one you bastard! I''m not going anywhere near that thing!!" Avira''s entire body was trembling with fear and rage as she backed away from Frost and their current direction. After two days of seeing Frost, Kiba and Borris asionally handle a monster or three during their travels she''d be really amped for her first true fight, but all that excitement was destroyed the moment Frost told her about the Iceborne huntsman. She''d rather fight a B-rank monster than face off with that thing and its kin. "Come on we''re already here anyway V, might as well do it. I know its scary but there''s really no better opponent for you." It was true, there were few monsters that weren''t also territory lords that could match Avira''s prowess so well in the outer rim of the external regions. Not only was the Iceborne huntsman a good match up, its location was on their route, falling just before the need to choose between the safer or more riskier option. "But." "If you really don''t want to I won''t force you but if I''m being honest you really shouldn''t shy away from this opportunity. Your future is going to be a constant uphill battle, gued with risks and threats to your life. You should take every chance you can to increase your own strength and ovee your fears." Frost''s words seemed to hit home, and Avira''s expression was torn between emotions. She understood Frost''s point and even strongly agreed with him but.it''s a spider. Seeing that she still wasn''t fully convinced Frost tried one more time. "You also won''t be alone, Borris, Kiba and I will all be by your side making sure the worst doesn''t happen." It would be utter suicide if he asked her to waltz in all by her lonesome. "..." Avira faced an internal debate between logic and emotion, really struggling. "You''ve got quite the mean streak kid." Borris whispered as he watched Avira agonise over her choice. "I won''t deny that but it''s also true that the iceborne huntsman is an ideal opponent for her. Facing off against such a monster will bring her nothing but benefits." "True but is it really necessary for her first?" Borris understood his logic but thought it was a bit much for someone''s first true opponent even if that person was particrly strong and gifted. "Necessary, no but considering the path she''s choosing to walk, a valid choice." He was choosing to toss her straight into the deep end rather than slowly start in the shallows. Avira if she truly wanted to take the throne from her brothers needed to mature quickly. "Alright, just don''t force her to the point of creating a trauma." This was Borris'' bottom line. "I won''t, I may enjoy a little teasing, but I won''t go that far. If she truly can''t handle it I''ll pull us out and we''ll follow the safer route. She can fight somemon D-ranks along the way instead." He was just offering her an opportunity, whether she grabbed it or not didn''t matter too much to him in the grand scheme. "Fine let''s do it." after several minutes of internal back and forth Avira finally mustered up her courage to enter the spider''sir though she still wasn''t exactly happy about it and firmly noted down in her heart to get Frost back somehow. The group thus headed west on the backs of Kiba and the frost wolf who immediately showed a reaction an hourter. "Awooo" The monster mount bared its teeth, the hairs along its back going erect as its instincts went haywire. There was a scent before it, marking the dominion of the iceborne huntsman, a powerful monster that could easily devour the pitiful E-rank wolf. "Easy boy, easy." Borris stroked the wolf''s ears in a soothing manner which helped a little, allowing it to remember who it was with. Ahead of the group was arge mountain littered with hundreds of deep dark crevasses and fissures. It stood several kilometres from the ground and oozed dread and despair. Webs decorated the cliffs, trees and even the snow all around it. There was no question in regards to what dwelled within. "Eeeekkk!" Avira let loose a high pitched squeal as she saw dozens of eight legged freaks crawl around the mountain as if weing the arrival of their next meal. "We''re not even face to face and you''re already flinching and screaming." Frost shook his head in disappointment. "Shut up!" Avira snapped, no longer having even the slightest amount of endurance when it came to his teasing. "Frost I have to agree with V, spiders are a well known phobia, such fear is perfectly natural." Said Borris while discreetly tightening his grip around the shaft of his hammer. Though he wasn''t as terrified as Avira seeing dozens of massive spiders suddenly crawling out of a dark fissure made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. "Haaaaaa." Frost sighed feeling that this little escapade was not going to be as fun as he initially thought. He looked dead ahead at the swarming monsters and thought ''Why are they so creepy looking?'' He then remembered the reactions Maya and Nanna had to his frost spiders hell even he was a bit unnerved in the beginning. As he noticed Avira shivering and unconsciously leaning back against his chest he suddenly felt a little guilty. "Haaaaaa." He let out another sigh before pooling his mana together. "[Freezing fireball]" With his hand pointing towards the swarm of encroaching giant spiders Frost conjured a massive ball of silverly me andunched it dead ahead. Boom! The was an explosion of me, the 1 metre diameter ball of fire exploded outward the moment it made contact with one of the giant spiders. The me engulfed the surrounding area,tching on to over a dozen spiders as they were charging ahead with drool forming along their pincers. "Kyeeekkk!" Sharp squeals filled with anguish and pain reverberated throughout the ins as the spiders were burned alive by Frost''s cold mes, creating a rather magnificent sight. Avira and Borris were speechless as they watched the spiders crash into one another and desperately roll along the ground in attempt to douse the fire corroding their bodies. Suddenly the fear they had seemed to vanish, the spiders no longer seemed all that frightening. "They may look horrifying, and you may instinctively tremble at the mere sight of them but remember they''re still monsters, living beings that can easily be killed through the skills you worked so hard to develop." Frost was attempting to erase the image Avira had in her mind, to see these creature with a fresh perspective. The change in her was gradual, her back slowly moved away from Frost''s chest and her eyes narrowed in on the burning ze before her. Her breathing slowed and her nerves became less taut, changing from a state of fear to one of excitement. She very much liked the look of seeing these abominable creatures burning under Frost''s mes. ".Thank you." She quietly muttered with a slight blush before descending from Kiba''s back with her rapier drawn. "Happy to help." Frost gently smiled before also descending from Kiba''s back. In this battle he and Kiba would be far more active than they were previously. While Avira would be the main protagonist, the two of them would be loyal guardians making sure to keep the pressure within her capabilities. "By your lead V." Frost said, handing control over to her. "Un, lets go kill some spiders." With building enthusiasm Avira charged forward, her eyes set on a group of spiders who were half frozen by Frost''s fireball. By the time the spiders noticed her arrival she was already upon them. Avira reeled back her rapier and swiftlyunched three piercing thrusts. Her de easily passing through their skulls as she was cutting through butter. The three spiders let loose a light screech before darkness permanently overtook them. Avira had taken her first life and wasted no time taking another. This was the perfect opportunity for her to change the image she had of spiders. Frost''s mes had weakened them to the point that they were helpless, pitiful and easy pickings. Riding this wave she ughtered F and E rank spiders like vegetables, her fear subsiding with each and every kill. Frost couldn''t help but smile as he saw the building battle lust in hispanion, it was a good look on her. Chapter 677 Iceborne Huntsman (3) "Die! Die! Die!" Avira hollered at the top of her lungs while repeatedly thrusting out her rapier and tossing her throwing daggers. She evenunched a wind spell or two, splitting the spiders in twain as she advanced with madness in her eyes. Avira chose to transform her fear and trepidation into anger and madness. She barely even looked at her in kills before leaping to her next target. The young princess was nowmitting a mass ughter like a natural born exterminator. Frost kept close to Avira with his ive, chakra and magic at the ready. Every so often he''d y arge group of spiders, limiting how many could swarm Avira at once. He also kept a close eye on Borris and Kiba who were following close behind. The older dwarf who was donned in te armour from head to toe was like an imprable tank. None of the spiders were strong enough to pierce through his equipment thus allowing him to slowly crush them one by one. Kiba whose job was to guard Borris simply utilised his massive ws and jaws to rend the attacking spiders apart. Despite the dozens of the deaths among them the spiders continued to charge with abandon at the intruders, as though they had been starved for weeks. Frost could easily handle this swarm with the use of his aura but chose to restrain himself, appearing roughly equal perhaps even weaker than Avira, letting her experience the joy of being endlessly assaulted. Far behind them stood the frost wolf Frost contracted as it was too weak to take part in this battle. Frost didn''t want Borris to lose his only mount. As the battle progressed more and more spiders descended from the mountain as if limitless and eventually upper E-ranks and even a few D-ranks came. These spiders were a fair bitrger and were clearly of the huntsman species given their appearance andck of webbing organs. The moment these huntsman spiders appeared they charged at Avira, caring very little about where they were stepping. Several unfortunate spiders were thus crushed under their feet as they moved, one or two were even turned into quick snacks, revealing the brutality of these creatures even amongst their own kin. Frost specifically took note of the D-rank huntsmen before giving an order to Kiba through their soul connection. Avira needed to face off against the C-rank iceborne huntsman not these D-ranks. Her current victims were nothing but appetisers, inconsequential given the minimal threat they posed. Upon hearing Frost''smand Kiba turned to his master and nodded his head before taking a dominant stance. The young Winged cial tiger tensed his entire body causing it to grow in size. His fangs elongated and a bloodthirsty aura pervaded his surroundings as he took a deep breath. His chest proceeded to fiercely expand and a momentter. "ROOOOOAAAARRRRR!!!!!" A primal roar that was so devasting that the nearby spider infested mountain violently shook. Hundreds of new cracks and fissures formed along the mountain''s external rock face while the original fissures grew in size, some even caving in on themselves, crushing the spiders dwelling within. Kiba''s mighty roar froze the battlefield, the weaker F and E-rank spiders had their hearts stop in fear as their gazes naturally drifted towards the powerful tiger. The recently arrived huntsman spiders were also momentarily stopped, their beady eyes shifting from Avira to Kiba. Avira who was caught by surprise turned to Frost in confusion. "Give it a sec." Was Frost''s response before a few secondster. "crrriiiii!!!" A high pitched roar no less deafening than Kiba''s reverberated from deep within the mountain and a couple secondster Frost, Avira, Borris and Kiba witnessed something that made their skin crawl. From one of thergest fissures a set of long white haired legs covered in deadly hooks appeared. The rock face cracked apart from the pressure as these several metre long legs pulled out therge body they were connected to. Even with the size increase of the fissure this monster still brushed against the edges as it came into view and the moment it did Avira could swear that something warm dripped down her leg. This thing was truly the stuff of nightmares. 12 bright scarlet eyes filled with malice locked onto them as drool dripped down from a set of fangs that could easily snap their bodies like dried twigs. The face alone was enough to terrify Avira let alone the long threatening legs supporting it nor the massive abdomen behind it that likely stored dozens if not hundreds of baby spiders who would like nothing more than to feast on her sulent flesh. Perhaps her only slight saving grace was the fact that the monster''s gaze was focused primarily on Kiba rather than her but still her confidence took a severe blow. She craned her neck to Frost, tears threatening to fall from her eyes as she donned an almost pleading look. Begging him to handle it in her ce, the thing was just too frightening. Unfortunately for her Frost had Kiba let loose a challenge just so she could be the one to confront it. Towards her pleading he innocently smiled, his expression asking for praise since she could now fight against it without having to handle all its weaker kin. "Kiba keep an eye on Borris while V handles her prey." He brightly said, not so subtly urging V to take care of it. "Bastard! Asshole! Bully!" Avira loudly cursed with tears forming in her eyes. "V don''t drop your guard." However before she could continue Frost responded in a very serious tone and the next thing she knew her heart lurched. Her skin formed goosebumps and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. She turned around, her hand already tightly gripping the handle of her rapier ready to stab at whatever was attacking her but. "Eeeeeekkkk!!!!" When she turned around what she saw was the monstrous iceborne huntsman flying through the air with its legs outstretched and massive fangs primed and ready to bite. She only looked away for a second or two but that was all it took for it to leapt from the mountains and arrive several feet above her. Her two eyes met with the huntsman''s 12 and her soul trembled. In that moment she froze, she forgot to defend herself, there was no fight or flight reflex only all consuming fear.she thus screamed at the top of her lungs, her teeth loudly chattering as her grip on her weapon loosened and that small amount of golden liquid running down her leg threatened to turn into a stream. "Haaaaaa." Frost somewhat expecting such a reaction was already moving to protect her. He sighed, a little disappointed with her behaviour on the battlefield but nheless he moved with speed beholden to his rank. Moments before the huntsman''s fangs were set to devour little Avira Frost appeared before her with his ive swinging. "[w of the ice wolf]" He activated one of his trademark skills, summoningrge ice ws before his ive which quickly met with therge spider''s fangs and legs, halting it in ce for a moment before he twisted his body. Starting from the ground Frost rotated his feet, legs, hips and then shoulders to p the iceborne huntsman away with his ive, thoroughly showing off his physical prowess. "V GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!" The moment he sent the iceborne huntsman flying Frost turned around andnded a fiery p across the practically catatonic Avira''s cheek before loudly shouting. "Eh?" Avira still in a confused state held her reddened cheek, she felt a searing pain that made her want to cry. "Where are you right now V?" Frost shouted again while covering his surrounding with ice fire, forcing Avira to focus solely on him and his booming voice. ".The battlefield." The young princess'' eyes rolled around as her mind gradually starting working again. She realised Frost pped her and was instantly angry but a momentter she also remembered where she was and what happened just a second ago. ''I would have died.'' Yes if Frost hadn''t intervened when he did Avira would be dead simple as that. Avira''s body violently trembled as a fierce coldness stabbed deep into her heart, she didn''t want to die, she had so much she still had to do, she was scared. Seeing the flurry of emotion Avira was going through Frost felt guilty, questioning his motives in bringing her here and asking her to face off against the iceborne huntsman but then he remembered her talent, her gift and willingness to work hard as well as her ambition. If she was dead set on fighting for the throne then there would be no small amount of situations in which her life would be in jeopardy. Best to experience such things early while a protector was by her side. Frost made a decision, and he was going to stick to it. "V a second ago you died!" He spoke harshly making the young woman jump. "Are you going to die again? Because I won''t always be here to rescue you." "..I.." "V! You are on the battlefield and the enemy is before you! Do not show mercy!" Frost roared before thrusting his ive behind Avira, the de edge narrowly missing her left ear. Behind her she felt a warm liquid ssh against her neck. Frost then retrieved his ive which was covered in the guts of an ambushing D-rank huntsman. "Or you will die here." Frost flicked the grim off his ive before turning his back to Avira. He removed the defensive ring of ice fire, revealing the maddened assault of the spiders. "So choose Princess of Northrend will you stand and fight or will you be its food?" Chapter 678 Iceborne Huntsman (4) "So choose Princess of Northrend will you stand and fight or will you be their food?" Said Frost boldly with his ive outstretched before him and Avira, pointing at the masses of spiders mbering over one another to attack them. Avira stared at the enemy, her heart quivering in fear whenever her gaze passed over the faces of the huntsman species, the massive iceborne variant in particr. But along with that fear there was a fire, the will to live, to fight, to survive and gradually while staring at Frost''srge back that will started to ovee the fear. She still trembled at the sight of the Iceborne huntsman but her will to live was bing stronger than her fear. Avira wiped away her tears, punched the snow beneath her and rose to her feet with eyes filled with determination. She gripped her rapier, took stock of her throwing weapons, secondary weapons as well as her wand before steading her breathing. "Sorry and thank you, I''ll be alright now." Her first words were rather quiet but by the end she spoke with great volume. Frost gave her a once over and smiled before allowing her to once again take the vanguard position. This was the look and the determination he wanted to see in her, Avira was a natural warrior who had unfortunately been restricted by her sheltered upbringing. Right now she was not Avira, but V and she had spiders to kill. "Don''t underestimate it, it''s stronger, faster, deadlier and far more experienced than you are. A single misstep is all it would take for you to became heavily injured." Frost ced a hand on Avira''s shoulder and whispered into her ear. "So don''t get hit, stay on your feet and learn, understand its movements and act ordingly. Your goal is not necessarily to win but to show me that you can endure against a stronger enemy that wants nothing more than to kill you and if presented the chance willing to kill such an enemy." Avira had very little chance in victory, but she certainly had the strength to wound her opponent and grow throughout their battle. Avira didn''t flinch nor let her thoughts run wild as she felt Frost''s breath on her ear, her entire focus was on the iceborne huntsman and his advice. She nodded her head in reply showing that she understood, her blood quickening as she crushed her building fear under an onught of battle lust and the will to survive. "There are no chains to hold you back here V, so show me who you are. Not the sheltered Princess of Northrend but the warrior that trained in all three schools ofbat and reached her current strength at such a young age. Crush you foe and ascend, V!" Frost injected a tendril of his high quality of mana into Avira to help manage her fears but instead she took that tendril and used it as fuel to embolden her fighting spirit. The early stages of an aura thus started to form within Avira''s body, emitting a slight pressure in the immediate vicinity. "[icy fog]" Wasting no time at all Avira cast the 2nd circle spell [icy fog] conjuring an ice fog around her and the surrounding spiders, heavily decreasing their visual capabilities. A momentter Frost heard the unusual cadence of Avira''s fighting style and then she was gone, vanished into the fog. Thest thing he saw was arge grin stered on her lips and fire in her eyes, a look that sent a shiver down his spine. He then stared directly at the iceborne huntsman who had chosen to not make a single move after being so easily repelled by Frost. Initially it left its nest due to Kiba''s roar thinking that another C-rank monster was here to challenge it for its territory. But upon leaving the mountain it was rather shocked, seeing only four intruders. The tiger that roared, a possibly dangerous opponent, an old dwarf covered in armour that really had no business in such a battle. A strange elf that felt neither weak nor strong and a human woman at the vanguard who trembled at the mere sight of its appearance. A strange group but intruders, nheless. Seeing Avira revealing a moment of weakness the iceborne huntsman wasted no time at all in going after her but was blocked by the strange elf who somehow appeared with a speed far greater than its own. If it was just speed then it wouldn''t be too worried but along with that speed the elf disyed enough physical strength to p away its charging body with little effort. These two moves along with its instincts and varied battle experience screamed one thing, the elf was dangerous, very dangerous. Therefore the massive spider didn''t dare take its eyes off of Frost,pletely ignoring Avira and even Kiba who remained in the background next to the useless dwarf despite its aggressive challenge. The iceborne huntsman had a bad feeling about this whole situation, Frost was an unknown and that caused it to feel fear. While it took stock of its current situation, its gaze locked onto Frost, Avira''s fog encroached its surroundings but to one as strong as it a mere fog was nothing. "[Flying swallow peck]" From within the ice fog Avira appeared with her rapier poised, the image of an agile swallow forming behind her weapon as she thrust out with a speed faster than sound. Her target was the spider''srge abdomen which contained its many organs and was considered a difficult area for it to defend. However her moves were easily seen through, the spider''s spatial awareness and ability to sense vibrations through its fine hairs easily picked up on the sudden attacker. And though it was primarily focused on Frost it wasn''t foolish enough to let Avirand a blow. The massive spider took a sidestep to the right avoiding Avira''s thrust before shing at her with two of its rear legs. Avira was forced to quickly evade the sudden counterattack. Boom! "Tsk!" Avira barely avoided the spider''s simple kick and clicked her tongue upon seeing therge hole in the ground that was left from the iceborne huntsman''s counter. Frost wasn''t kidding when he said that all it would take was a single misstep for her to be seriously injured. ''I need to be faster, quieter, and much stronger.'' [Flying swallow peck] was not her strongest skill but it was certainly one of her fastest but even then with the added benefit of an ambush she failed tond her attack. She was going to have to think outside the box. The iceborne huntsman didn''t chase after Avira since in its eyes she was merely an annoyance the real threat was the strange elf in the distance as well as the winged cial tiger. Therefore because Frost and Kiba were exerting a strong pressure on the iceborne huntsman Avira was able to slowly limatize to its strength. Her moves became faster, quieter and far more deadly but it wasn''t good enough in Frost''s eyes, there was still more potential to be unearthed. Just as Avira was getting the hang of evading the iceborne huntsman and asionallynding a few hits on its legs, breaking off a hook or two she suddenly felt danger from behind. Trusting her instincts she evaded and a momentter a D-rank huntsman snapped its fang down on where she once stood. "This is a battlefield not a duelling ring remember." Frost''s voice could be heard in her ear despite the din of carnage that gued the area. A rush of anger burst through Avira as she pictured Frost''s annoying face but the next moment another spiderunched itself towards her forcing her to move once again. "Don''t forget your main opponent either." His voice was once again heard and thankfully she listened. "Eeeekkkk!" She let loose an instinctual scream as she was suddenly face to face with the iceborne huntsman''s fangs but this time she didn''t let herself be overwhelmed. "[Wind shield], [afterimage]" She summoned a shield of wind between her and the iceborne huntsman''s fangs and activated an evasive skill that was enhanced by her wind chakra. While the shield slowed down the spider''s advance her evasive skill split her into two, a phantom copy remained where she once was while her real body dashed back into the ice fog and away from danger. A momentter the iceborne huntsman''s fangs snapped shut, utterly decimating Avira''s wind shield and snapping her afterimage in twain like it was a toothpick. The monster was truly angry now, Avira had taunted and escaped for thest time. To hell with the threat posed by Kiba and Frost it was time to devour this little fly. "Scriii!" The iceborne huntsman screeched and fiercely tapped its legs,manding the horde of lesser spiders. "Hoh finally pissed off huh." Frost smiled and twirled his ive. He now needed to be ready to give Avira assistance at any moment. The iceborne huntsman wasn''t going to hold back anymore. "Kiba stay by Borris'' side it''s probably smart enough to know that he''s our weakest link." The only reason the iceborne huntsman didn''t attack Borris first was because he was at the rear and far too weak to even matter but now just ending one of the intruders would send a message, it didn''t matter which. "Grrrr." Kiba growled in response before moving several steps closer to Borris. To be honest if they weren''t here to test Avira, he would have loved to challenge the giant spider. "V its going toe at you for real now, brace yourself." "Eh?" She turned to look at Frost for a mere moment before a wild smile unconsciously formed across her lips. ''I''m smiling from that information.'' She felt confused as her excitement started to build and her heart started to pound in her chest, screaming fight! Fight! Fight! A side of her the side of V was trulying out.and she loved it. It was as though all the stuffiness, pressure, stress and pain she''d experienced in the capital was burning away. It was an exhrating and pleasurable experience. "Hahahahaha!" Before she knew it Avira was loudlyughing. She stared directly at the attacking iceborne huntsman and raised her rapier to wee its attack. "Let''s do this!" Chapter 679 Iceborne Huntsman (5) With a calm gaze Avira took in the movements of the iceborne huntsman, not letting its horrifying appearance affect her concentration in the slightest. Her previous aggression and inefficient movements had drained her stamina, she would only have a few chances tond a blow great enough to prove her worth and impress the young man watching over her. ''1 2 3'' she counted in her head and only moved once she reached 3, narrowly evading one of the iceborne huntsman''s leg thrusts. She was now even closer to the monster, so close that she could make out the individual hairs on its skin and smell the revolting, acidic odour emanating from its fangs. Her nose couldn''t help but curl up in disgust but still she continued. ''Next it''ll spit venom before spinning around with half its legs outstretched, like a de whirlwind.'' Avira watched and learned the iceborne huntsman''s every move, she knew its patterns to a tee but even, so she didn''t let her guard down. The monster was clearly different from earlier, to assume nothing had changed would only lead to her downfall. Frost was about to warn her to avoid such a misstep but upon seeing her move faster and with more wiggle room he held his tongue, she knew what she was doing. And just as Avira had predicted moments after she evaded its leg thrust a dangerous wad of venom wasunched where she once was. The blue liquid instantly corroded the ground it touched as well as the carapace of an unfortunate E-rank frost spider. Even with its resistance the venom dissolved its flesh in under a second, quickly finding its way onto the poor monster''s organs. Within 4 seconds the entire monster was but a puddle of blue liquid. Avira''s choice of generous evasion was clearly the right choice given that the wad of venom was far greater in volume than before as was the huntsman''s next move. The instant the venom escaped from its mouth the iceborne huntsman raised half of its eight legs, stretching them out like sharp spears, each at varying degrees. A grey coloured energy formed along the edge of its many hooks and generated sharp des at the ends of its feet. Following that the monster started to rotate and quickly picked up speed. Soon the spider''s extended legs were but a blur as they carved up the surrounding area, quickly dissipating the ice fog Avira cast to reveal her location. The young woman was revealed to be behind the huntsman and appeared surprised by the strength of its move but that was just a deception. The iceborne huntsman being none wiser took Avira''s expression as an opportunity. While mid spin it urately targeted her lithe form and attacked, spreading its legs out as far as possible so as to block any escape routes to the side and front. Plus in that moment two D-rank huntsman spiders silently appeared behind Avira under their Matriarch''smand thus blocking her backwards retreat. It was a perfect pincer move that would see Avira eliminated and the iceborne huntsman''s fury quenched. Frost, Kiba and Borris were even fiercely held down by its swarm, they recklessly threw away their lives just so they''d be unable to act during these precious few seconds. Frost had to give it to the iceborne huntsman it was certainly a good hunter as well asmander, he didn''t expect such cunning from a wild C-rank monster. ''I guess not just any monster can be a territory lord.'' It was a shame however that Frost was its opponent. While such moves may be able to restrict someone like Kiba and Avira it was useless against him. The iceborne huntsman was right to ce him at the top of the danger scale but it was still underestimating him. He was not a higher levelled C-rank but something beyond, a B-rank foe, an entity that even a territory lord like the iceborne huntsman was powerless to stop if when chooses to truly act. s despite the dangerous situation Frost still didn''t move, instead he peeled his eyes open as wide as they could go and watched Avira strut her stuff. She was going to put all she had in her next blow, and he owed it to her to watch her performance. Frost wore a wild smile, like that of a predator, a look that if the iceborne huntsman noticed would surely send rm bells ringing in its mind. Avira or rather V was also starting to show a rather wild smile. She noticed the D-rank huntsmen behind her, blocking her path of retreat as well as the oing iceborne huntsman that would surely tear her to shreds if given the chance but was unfazed. Time seemed to pass in slow motion for V as she sensed her surroundings, waiting for chance. Milliseconds passed and then. ''Now!'' "[Greater afterimage]" Just when it seemed as though all avenues were cut off V pulled off her most draining movement skill, [Greater afterimage.] This time instead of one copy being generated two were formed and they were both far more corporal to the point that she was able to kick off their shoulders and slide through the narrow gap in her opponent''s assault. Her afterimages were instantly taken down, but Avira was now in prime position to deal out some real damage. She floated above the iceborne huntsman, staring down at its 12 scarlet eyes and readied her rapier. Chakra swiftly formed along the de, densely congregating at the tip as she reeled back for a devasting thrust. "[Falcon dive]" Avira called out with a booming voice, activating her most powerful skill. Green energy flowed out from her body, mixing alongside her wind chakra while a detailed image of a mighty falcon floated behind her, greatly increasing her rapier''s pration capabilities as well as her descending speed. However this wasn''t all she did in those brief moments. While her rapier was in her right hand she took hold of her cherished wand in her left and began chanting the aria for the 3rd circle spell, [cleaving wind sickle], an advanced version of themon [wind de] spell. She didn''t care in the slightest that utilising chakra, mana and her internal energy all at the same time would drain herpletely, all she cared about wasnding a severe blow on her opponent and if she was very lucky, end its miserable life. "Beautiful." Frost managed to utter a single word before the dual attacksnded on the defenceless iceborne huntsman. Schwing, Squelch "Scrriiii!!!" V''s rapier stabbed deep into the iceborne huntsman''s skull, eviscerating 3 of its eyes and drawing out a thick stream of green coloured blood while her [cleaving wind sickle] lobbed off one of its front legs after cracking its left fang. Painful but not life threatening blows. Avira was a little disappointed in her failure to kill the thing but the moment her attack was expended she felt dizzy and started to ck out, her stamina was all but spent. A rather perilous position to put yourself in while on the battlefield but she knew she wasn''t alone. She had a strong protector who''d surely take care of her after such a disy. In a maddened rage the iceborne huntsman shook Avira from its body and moved to bite her with its fangs but before it could it was met with a fierce ze of silver mes that chilled it to the bone, in all its life it had never felt such an intense cold. It looked for the source of these mes and saw the strange elf, cradling V in his arms in a protective manner. The pain sent it into a rage but upon feeling those mes and seeing the strange elf suddenly appearing in front of it the iceborne huntsman''s experience screamed danger and it had lived long enough to know when it should run, and this was one of those times. The massive spider let loose a set of shrieks and leg taps before dashing as fast as it could back into its mountain, hoping to seek shelter deep within the fissures. Surely it''d be safe deep beneath the ground. It ordered its entire swarm to sacrifice themselves so it could escape, a callous move but an efficient one. As long as the iceborne huntsman survived it could easily repopte the lost numbers. Again Frost was impressed by the iceborne huntsman''s intelligence, unfortunately it was too little toote, he had decided to make his move. "[Freezing fireball]" He firstunched arge ball of silver mes at the fleeing spider, forcing it to dodge while he readied his next spell, one that was far more intricate. "[Ring of ice fire]." Just when the iceborne huntsman was several metres away from reaching one of therge fissures a wall of silver mes encapsted the area around it, preventing it from fleeing in any and all directions. "Kiba I leave it to you." Frost softly said before carrying the exhausted Avira towards Borris who was currently covered by several F and E-rank spiders. "Garow!" Kiba as though being granted a significant treat roared joyfully before taking to the air and flying towards the ring of fire Frost created. A benefit to having wings. Chapter 680 Iceborne Huntsman (6) Kiba elegantlynded within therge ring of silver mes, being very careful to not burn himself on his descent. His arrival caused the iceborne huntsman to grimace. It knew it was trapped, the only option it had was to struggle against Kiba and hope for a miracle. With a resigned look the massive spider prepared itself for the fight of its life, Kiba was a stark contrast to the human woman from earlier after all. Without its swarm and ess to three dimensional terrain the iceborne huntsman was at a severe disadvantage and that''s before counting the significant injuries caused by V. The young winged cial tiger didn''t care about its advantages instead he smiled from ear to ear, looking forward to the opportunity to truly stretch his legs. While Avira could at bestnd a decent blow Kiba had the strength to kill it and then some. Disying his razor sharp teeth in an intimidating manner Kiba started off with a loud roar before pouncing on his would be prey, starting their mighty sh. Meanwhile Frost erased the spiders surrounding Borris with his cold mes allowing the old dwarf to see the light once again beforeying Avira on her back to rest. The young woman was panting, every breath exhausting to take. Her face was flushed, and she felt both boiling hot and freezing cold. Her mind was foggy and her vision blurring, she wanted to so badly go to sleep but her will and desire forced her to remain awake. She gazed up at Frost as though expecting something from him. ''Haaaaa is this how Maya felt when she trained me in the beginning.'' It was clear that Avira was looking for praise, a pat on the back for a job well done. Frost smiled gently and caressed V''s head "You did well V, now rest. Kiba and I will finish what you started." A smile that could only be described as angelic appeared on V''s lips as she heard Frost voice singing her praises and a momentter she passed out. She got what she wanted. "Is it over?" Asked Borris as he kicked a few spider corpses. "Almost, V showed her mettle now we just have to wait for Kiba to deal the final blow.do you want to help me mop up or are you content in observing from this point?" "I''ll just observe." There was no hesitation in Borris'' voice. Frost couldn''t help but stifle hisughter. Seems the stoic dwarf wasn''t all that keen in facing a horde of giant spiders. "Is there any point in keeping the corpses?" There was only a reward for the iceborne huntsman not any of its kin. "Not much, apart from the venom nds there''s really nothing useful." A spider''s corpse apart from its venom was pretty useless. Their bones too weak for a cksmith, their hairs too short for a tailor and their blood was too contaminated for runes, of course this only really applied to low ranking spiders i.e. anything D-rank and below. If there were D-rank non-huntsman variants however it would be a different story. Along with their venom nds the webbing organs as well as any recently generated webs would be highly desired. Some of the most fashionable clothes and protective robes were partially formed from threads made of spider webbing. Unfortunately given that the spider matriarch was an iceborne huntsman most of its kin were of the huntsman variety making the vast majority of their ughter aplete bust, profit wise. "So just burn them all?" "Yeah, anything below D-rank isn''t worth the effort." Though it felt like aplete waste it really wasn''t. "Alright" Upon hearing Borris'' confirmation Frost turned to face the masses of spiders that remained in a confused state, not knowing whether to dive into the ring of fire to help their matriarch or continue attacking Frost, Borris and V. "[Freezing me waves]" Frost thought about his choice in spell for a second before choosing one of his new editions. The Dungeon menu was awash with 4th and 3rd circle spells after all. [Freezing me waves] was a 4th circle spell that targeted arge area. With the spell''s name spoken, Frost felt arge chunk of mana flow out his body to create a wave roughly 5 metres tall and 15 wide made up of silver mes. The giant wave behaved very much like the waves found on the ocean, it built up a great deal of momentum before crashing down upon dozens of low rank spiders, incinerating and crushing them in an instant. Nearly a dozen waves just like the first one followed in its wake, easily decimating hundreds of spiders who werepletely powerless to resist. The gap between Frost and their strength was toorge for them to pose even the slightest threat. Frost was able to kill them at will, as long as he had the mana of course. ''It''s certainly a different feeling than when I''m in the Dungeon.'' Frost noticed a small amount of strain and even exhaustion in his body after casting the 4th circle spell [Freezing me waves]. Out in the world his stamina was no longer quite so limitless thus he decided to stick to 2nd and 3rd circle spells, it''d take longer but he wouldn''t be out of gas by the end. While Frost took care of the ''stragglers'' Kiba was facing off against the wounded iceborne huntsman and unlike the fight with V this was a contest between monsters. Their attacks were violent, vicious and full of momentum. Kiba aggressively charged into the iceborne huntsman, pushing itsrge body to the edge of the ring, lighting its backside on fire while his jaws bit down on its remaining front leg and his ws attempted to rake its abdomen. With its life on the line the iceborne huntsman was in no mood to hold back. With eyes filled with bloodthirst it withstood Kiba''s charge, utilising its rear legs to dig deep into the ground while its fangs attempted to clip the tiger''s wings. The two exchanged vicious bites, raking of ws/hooks as well as intimidating roars as they pushed against one another. Deeps cuts and nasty gashes quickly covered their bodies spilling litres upon litres on blood on the snow beneath their feet. But to these giants such a small amount of blood was nothing, they barely even felt it as their monstrous duel continued. Their fight held no technique, no strategy it was simply a brutal contest of power between two alpha predators. As their wounds worsened it was clear that one of the monsters was dominant in their fight. Kiba was in a far better state, his wounds were mostly superficial, and he controlled the battlefield well, keeping the iceborne huntsman''s back up against the ring of fire. The only thing he had to be wary of was the spider''s venom, it was the main reason why he couldn''t fullymit to an attack. Thus he was forced to gradually weaken his foe with ''lighter'' blows and force it to expend its reserves before moving in for the kill. The iceborne huntsman was wise and experienced, it knew full well of its current situation but unfortunately there wasn''t much it could do to change it. Kiba was too quick, his hide too tough for itnd any severe blows yet its own body threatened to crumble whenever it suffered one of his ws, the difference in physical strength and body density was obvious. In its mind Kiba was likely in the upper stages of C-rank possibly nearing the peak while it was still middling around the peak of the early stages, a significant chasm that it was struggling to ovee. s it wasn''t a young monster. Suddenly the iceborne huntsman appeared to buckle, its body falling to a kneeling position after receiving one of Kiba''s many w strikes, cing it in a very vulnerable position. Kiba''s instincts roared when he saw this, his eyes glowed red and his mouth opened wide as he moved in to deal the final blow and relish in his victory. However this was a trick, a cunning ploy from the experienced hunter. The moment Kiba''s mouth was opened as far as it could go, and he craned his head back the iceborne huntsman suddenly ignored the pain from its wounded legs and forced itself to stand. A fraction of a secondter a dark blue wad of venom -thest and most potent of its reserves- was shot from between its fangs, aimed straight for Kiba''s awaiting maw. The young tiger''s eyes trembled as fear jolted through his system. If that venom reached his mouth and went down his throat the pain would be unimaginable, his strength would instantly plummet, and his life could be in jeopardy. He tried to quickly close his mouth, to prevent the venom from affecting his internals but that still left his face, primarily his eyes and nose exposed. He was too impatient and now he was going to pay for it. ''Wings'' Suddenly however he heard Frost voice through their soul connection and as if driven by natural instinct hisrge white wings which were strong enough to let his body fly high in the air moved to shield his face. Sizzle! "Grrrr!" The wings made it in time, taking the full wad of venom. It hurt a lot, his wings felt as though they were on fire, he groaned from the pain but with his wings taking the blow rather than his face his fighting strength wasn''t affected. But now he was angry. Chapter 681 Spider for lunch "Roooaaaarrrrr!!!" Kiba let out a tumultuous roar, so loud that he conjured up a minor windstorm. The iceborne huntsman who was moving to deal a severe blow to him while he was preupied with its venom was blown back, its rear legs stepping into the ring of ice fire. "Scrrii!" It screeched in pain as the ends of its legs started to corrode and freeze over but before it could even remove them it suddenly lost stability. Its front half starting to tilt. The massive spider stared up at Kiba and saw its remaining front leg dangling from his mouth. It was shocked it didn''t even feel it getting torn from its socket. The monster then turned a few eyes towards the stub that remained, blood was gushing forth from the wound and with that realisation came pain, intense pain. "Ssscrriii!!!" It screeched even louder this time, but its wails were quickly brought to an end, Kiba was done ying with his food. Crunch! Crunch! He devoured the iceborne huntsman''s leg, allowing its green blood to stream down his white fur before swallowing the remaining chunks. It tasted absolutely disgusting but its what his animal instincts told him to do. Then once his meal was done he stomped his ws upon the iceborne huntsman''s shoulders, pinning it in ce as he stretched open his deadly maw and bit down on its skull. Crunch! Crunch! The sound of bones being snapped, and muscles being torn apart along with frantic bestial screams reverberated throughout the area before soon all that remained was the sound of chewing and the asional spitting. Kiba killed the iceborne huntsman and devoured its body, leaving just the fangs and venom nds for loot. He hated the taste of the spider but once he finished eating all of it, the magic crystal included he felt a wave of energy pulsing through his system, he had be stronger, ascending to the peak level of C-rank. Just a little more and he''d be able to assault the barrier to B-rank and be able to boldly stand side by side with Frost, Khuno, Findley and Yuna. Then those damn evolved coeurls would show him the respect he deserved. Kiba was so entranced in his meal that he didn''t even notice the ring of ice fire dissipating and Frost appearing next to him with a displeased expression. "You moron!" Frost lightly pped Kiba''s rump. "Did I or did I not tell you to be wary of its venom? And have I not told you a thousand times to not jump the gun, geez if I hadn''t warned you you''d have spider venom tearing up your insides and this battle couldn''t gone very differently." Frost was annoyed by Kiba''s actions but at the same time proud of him for winning, a strange mix that''s why his p was light, and his tone wasn''t all that lecturing. "Grrrr." Kiba submissively growled knowing he messed up and the moment he did the pain in his wings cropped up. "Come here, you''re lucky I stocked up in the Lambda camp." Frost pulled out a potion from his storage ring and poured the contents directly onto the affected area. The liquid was blue in colour and served as a perfect antidote to the iceborne huntsman''s venom. Kiba immediately felt a cooling sensation, then tingling and then finally itchy. The antidote was working but would need a flew minutes to flow through his system and remove all aspects of the venom. But since he was feeling much better Kiba licked Frost''s face affectionately which immediately erased his frown, instead making him smile. "Haaaaa you did good Kiba, very good." He scratched the big cat''s neck and ears making him purr like a kitten. A rather warm image if you ignore the litres of blood on the floor and decorating the tiger''s white fur. While Kiba waited for the antidote to finish its magic Frost made sure the area was clear of any spider monsters before returning to Borris and the still sleeping V. "Kiba''s not all that hurt, nothing a potion can''t fix. V however needs a proper rest." "What do you suggest?" Asked Borris. "We double back to the Lambda camp, stay there for the night, get our bearings and decide our final route." Frost was more than happy to take both V and Borris through the riskier route after today''s expedition but in the end he wanted to hear V''s opinion. Plus they could deposit the proof of kill to the order of ice shield''s sentry while there and receive a hefty reward. "I''m alright with that, I quite fancy a decent drink and some good food after all that carnage." If he didn''t see a spider again for the rest of his life he''d be one happy dwarf. "Well said, Kiba we''re heading back to the Lambda camp, just let me know when you''re ready to leave." "Garow" Kiba waved his wing while Frost whistled, calling on his contracted frost wolf who had to sit out of the fight due only being E-rank. A little over an hourter the group pulled up into the Lambda camp. Borris was on the frost wolf while Frost rode Kiba with Avira resting against his chest, still asleep. "Back so soon sir Frost?" The manager of the camp was on his regr rounds and spotted Frost and his team pull in. His eyes revealed curiosity as well as hope. It was no secret to him that Frost left to take care of the iceborne huntsman as he asked him about it the previous night. "Yeah the battle didn''t take quite as long as I thought it would but mypanion''s quite exhausted, we''ll stay here for the night before continuing our journey North." Frost gently leaped from Kiba''s back with Avira in his arms. Reading between the lines Grant couldn''t help but feel excited, finally that dreaded spider had been dealt with, he and his subordinates could now get a full nights sleep. "Hahahaha that''s fantastic please allow me to offer you and yourpanions our finest lodgings free of charge." Grant bellowed with a smile on his lips. "Thank you for your generosity Grant." Frost wasn''t one to pass up a free service especially one that would normally cost him tens of silver coins. "It''s the least I can do hahahaha." Only Grant knew how nerve wracking it had been for him having to run thembda camp so close to the iceborne huntsman''s territory. Grant personally led Frost and hispanions to the dorms and arranged for their lodgings, waving all costs. Frost thanked him again before whispering. "I''ll see to mypanion''s health first beforeing to brief you on the oue." "Much appreciated." Grant then left the group and headed back to his office. The Lambda camp just like the Beta camp had high ss yurts that were usually reserved for travelling nobles, they cost a pretty penny even for a single nights stay but you get what you pay for. Inside the yurt that could house Frost, Borris, Avira, Kiba and even the frost wolf with room to spare there wasn''t even the slightest speck of cold, it was as if they walked into apletely different world. The walls were covered in thick skins and fur pelts, all from high grade monsters while several magic crystal operated devices helped regte the temperature inside and provided many creatureforts. Hot water was in unlimited supply and was provided almost instantly. There was even cooking appliances that could prepare and store high quality meats and fish. A true mping experience. "Seems that the iceborne huntsman was a bigger deal than we thought." Borris shook his head with a wry smile. If it wasn''t such a nuisance then Grant would never willingly gift them a free night in such a high ss yurt even with Frost''s status as a city lord and highly gifted B-rank prodigy. "Agreed but it''s a pleasant surprise." Frost replied as he ced Avira down on one of the beds and tucked her in tight. "Can you keep an eye on her while I meet with Grant?" "No problem, I could do with a rest myself." Borris then started to remove his te armour, boots and greaves. "I''ve left a mid-level health potion on the table, have V drink it when she wakes up." "Will do, oh and bring back some good liquor on your way back so we can celebrate our victory." The old dwarf made a drinking hand gesture causing Frost to wave his hand as he left the yurt. "I''ll see what they have." A celebration was certainly necessary after such a hard fought victory. ''I''ll make a stop at the merchant quarter on the way back. They should have some high quality monster meat avable.'' After checking in to the yurt and seeing to Avira''s safety Frost made his way towards Grant''s office to inform him about the battle and to hand over the iceborne huntsman''s right fang which was the required proof of kill. Don! The iceborne huntsman''srge right fang dropped down onto Grant''s desk, its weight substantial enough to make it tremble. Seeing the item Grant quickly go to work; he ced a strange monocle over his left eye and started to inspect the fang. The whole process only took about 30 seconds. "It''s the real deal." Grant leaned back into his chair and let out a repressed breath, the proof of the deed was sitting before him. There was now no question that the territory lord, the iceborne huntsman who had caused him and his staff so much misery had been dealt with. "Thank you foring to me personally, it means a lot Sir Frost." Frost was under no obligation to deal with Grant directly but since Grant was the most affected by the monster he believed he should be the first person to be informed of its passing. "No problem Grant, you can rest easy now." "Yes, yes I can, thank you Sir Frost..now about your reward, do you have any special requests, or would you just prefer cash?" The order of the ice shield asionally -especially for high value requests- offered alternative payments for their rewards. i.e. instead of coins the client could request ores, armour, weapons, herbs etc... "Keep it as coins, that way it''ll be easier for me to split it with mypanions." Though Frost and Kiba effectively carried the group he wouldn''t deprive Avira''s and Borris of their earnings. "Very well that makes the transaction quite simple, N please bring me the coin vault allocated to quest rewards as well as the necessary documents." Grant called on his assistant who promptly left to fetch the storage vault that held the coins reserved for quest rewards. When Frost left Grant''s office he was 34 gold coins richer, a substantial bounty, at least double the usual reward for a territory lord of simr standing. The iceborne huntsman was really quite hated/feared by the nearby inhabitants. Chapter 682 Hidden talents With his coin purse threatening to burst at the seams Frost jaunted over to the merchant''s quarter in search of fine liquors and monster meat. He nned to use 4 of the gold coins for their celebration leaving the remaining 30 to be split evenly between himself, Borris and Avira. Once the merchants learned of his generous budget they immediately started to pawn their wares, desperately trying to catch his favour. Unfortunately his only interest was in food and liquor leaving many depressed and downtrodden. "I''m back." "Oh great did you remember the booze?" Borris asked the moment Frost walked in the door, his back leaning against a soft chair while his feet rested next to the magic furnace, all he need now was a hard spirit and a cigar and he''d be golden. "Wee back, did you trade in the iceborne huntsman''s fang?" Following Borris'' voice was one belonging to a young woman. "You woke up." Frost smiled upon hearing Avira'' voice causing the woman to slightly blush from his devasting attack. "Hahaha of course she woke up, the moment she could no longer feel your presence she got up with a start hahahahaow!" Borris''ughter was quickly silenced by arge cushion hitting his head. "ShShut up you stupid dwarf!" Avira was like a cat that had her tail stepped on. She viciously red at Borris, treating him like an enemy. Her face redder than a tomato as her embarrassment reached the heavens. How could he phrase it that way, what would Frost think of her upon hearing that. She sounded like some kind of lovelorn little girl who could only feel safe by his side. She nervously nced at Frost, gauging his reaction but all she got in return was a gentle smile which acted like an arrow through her heart. ''Why is he so damn charming?'' She internallyined wanting to hide beneath the covers. Frost actually found her reaction to be rather logical as well as endearing. He was the one protecting her, the one who rushed to her side when she was deprived of energy and the one who held her close as they returned to the Lambda camp. It was quite natural for her to findfort in his presence after all that. However while Avira was acting like a lovesick fool,looking at Frost as man, he was unfortunately looking at her in the same way as he did Luna. She was nothing but a girl in his eyes, cute and sometimes adorable but not a woman. He admired her potential as a warrior but there was no lust in his gaze, she failed to meet his high standards, falling short of both Daki and Maya. "Did you drink the health potion?" He asked with concern, in a tone simr to that of a caring elder brother. "Unthank you." Avira withdrew her hands from her face and bravely thanked him with a curt nod. "No thanks necessary, as long as you''re well." "Umu" She mumbled, moved by his concern which forced Borris to stifle hisughter, finding their exchanges to be romanticedy gold. In his view Avira was aplete lost cause, a fly caught in Frost natural web of charisma and attraction. She probably never had the chance toe in contact with any males other than those pompous noble heirs with their heads up their asses. Frost was probably akin to a breath of fresh air, a feeling so real and intense that she never wanted to give it up. "The iceborne huntsmanted us 34 gold coins, I used 4 to purchase supplies for a celebratory feast while the remainder will be split evenly between the three of us. Is that eptable to the two of you?" "Oi why do I get a share, all I did was crush a few low ranking spiders, it was a miracle I wasn''t dead weight like that frost wolf of yours." Borris immediately argued, not happy with the split in the slightest. He was a proud man; he didn''t like receiving payment for work he didn''t do. "Woof?" The frost wolf barked in response, having been brought up in conversation. The old dwarf nced at the frost wolf who raised its head and added "No offence intended." To his earlierment causing the monster to lean back down as though satisfied. "I have to agree with Borris, though I took part in the battle against the iceborne huntsman and wounded it the real damage was done by Kiba, I merely assisted." Though Avira felt that she probably deserved some payment it certainly wouldn''t be a third of the total, at most maybe a sixth or perhaps a tenth, Frost did have to save her life a few times after all. Frost blinked his eyes not expecting either of them to argue about the split especially not in the way they did. "Haaaaa Borris you were dragged into a situation where you generally had no business being, thus your life was in constant danger, a risk worthy of payment." Though he didn''t really contribute much he still took to the field and ughtered as much spiders as he could. "While V you were in even more danger and though Kiba did deal the final blow you shouldn''t demean your efforts therefore don''t worry about it we''ll keep the split even." ""But"" Avira and Borris wanted to argue further but Frost wasn''t willing to listen. "The hunt was for the two of you not myself, if I wanted to train my skills or hunt for profit then I would have chosen a monster at the peak of C-rank at the very least not some spider piddling at the entry C-rank level..do you think I really care about 10 gold coins or even 30 given how prosperous my territory is, such amounts are but a drop in the ocean for me." This was actually true; Frost was immensely rich even after pumping arge chunk of his coins back into his territory. Certainly he wouldn''t reject more money, but he wouldn''t steal it from his friends out of greed. In his mind both Borris and Avira more than earned their 10 gold coins. Seeing his stubborn attitude and a refusal to budge that would make even the oldest of dwarves sing his praises both Avira and Borris backed down and epted their third share with gratitude in their hearts. "Borris how''s your cooking?" With the splitting of the reward agreed upon Frost moved onto their celebrations. "Abysmal if I''mpletely honest, my wife was the cook in the family and when she passed my daughter took over. I can make a simple stew but that''s about it. It''d just butcher whatever you bought." The old dwarf raised his hands up and boldly admitted to his shorings. "Damn I''m not much better, I only recently started learning some basics, Nanna''s leagues ahead of me." Though Frost had learned a few recipes and skills from Sam hecked experience. "I think the camp offers a cooking service; we can hire one of the chefs for the night." "How much would that cost?" "I don''t think it''d be too pricey, but to prepare such choice ingredients with our meagre skills would be outright heresy." Frost purchased meat procured from D and C-rank monsters, far beyond what their basic abilities could handle. ".I can cook." Just when the two men were about to look for a chef in the camp they heard a feminine whisper and turned their heads. "Did you say something V?" Frost asked thinking he heard wrong. "I said I can cook." "...." "...." Frost and Borris were speechless, they frowned, looked at one another then back at Avira. The sheltered Princess of Northrend could cook? Fighting skills they could understand given that even the children of barons and viscounts receivedbat training but cooking? "What don''t believe me?" Avira felt an anger festering in her heart upon seeing the disbelief on their faces. Frost and Borris looked at one another again before Frost said. "Well yeah." Crack! Avira clenched her left fist so tightly that her knuckles cracked. Her upper lip started twitching and a vein throbbed above her eyes. "The polite thing to do in this situation is lie or feign ignorance!" ''Why was he so direct, does have no decorum, this hateful man.'' "What''s the point in doing that?" Frost tilted his head to the side, failing to understand Avira''s reasoning. "It''s a weird noble thing don''t worry about it." Borris who was in agreement with Frost but understood the situation whispered into his ear. "Oh, I see. How good are you then?" Frost''s sudden eptance and then questioning of her abilities deted all the anger in Avira''s chest, how could she stay mad at him for being honest. "3 star spirit chef, I can easily prepare and handle ingredients of C-rank monsters without too much mana wastage." Avira revealed her status with pride, arching her chest forward as she leaned back to wee the awes and praise from the two men. "Hoh that''s very impressive V, to already be a spirit chef at your age. Seems you''re a girl of many talents." Borris pped his hands and nodded his head, truly impressed by her status which of course inted the young woman''s ego. "Incredible I''ve only met two people who can be considered spirit chefs, and both are far older than you V. Borris is right you are a woman of many talents." Frost was equally impressed wholeheartedly agreeing with Borris'' judgment. "Hehehe." Avira yfully giggled, very much enjoying being looked at with such respect. "Who taught you how to cook?" Frost asked. "My mother, she learned when she was younger so as to win my father''s heart through his stomach. She thus started teaching me in the hope that''d I''d be able to do the same."She started off with a confident tone but as she spoke of her mother''s reasoning she couldn''t help but go a bit red in the cheeks, her gaze intermittently shing over Frost. ''Maybe I can impress him with food instead.'' She''d already written off affecting him with her beauty and figure, Maya and Daki won hands down in that department. Chapter 683 Which path? "That must have been nice." Frost imagined a young Avira smiling joyfully as her mother, the Empress of Northrend took time to teach her the art of cooking. "It was.I miss her so much." Avira dwelled in her memories, tears forming in her eyes as the image of her mother giggling by her side, telling her all about how she won her father''s heart. Heartwarming scenes that she''d never get to experience again. Her brother robbed her of that gift. Thinking of her hateful brother anger flourished in her heart ruining the moment. "Anyway we don''t need to hire someone I''ll prepare the food." She wiped her eyes and forced a smile. "Great, here''s what I bought." Frost unveiled a true bounty, rousing Avira''spetitive spirit. The group -thanks to Avira''s efforts- enjoyed a veryvish meal and celebrated until the sky grew dark, only then did they deign to discuss business. "So V, Borris which route do you want to travel, the short but risky one or the slow and safe one?" Frost asked while sipping a ss of amber coloured liquor, greatly enjoying its mellow taste. Frost''s personal opinion of the matter leaned more towards the short and risky option, anything to save time on their journey was a win in his book. But since he wasn''t traveling alone he had to take in the opinions of both Avira and Borris. Avira and Borris straightened their postures and thought for a few seconds before Avira asked. "Howrge is the difference between the possible routes, how dangerous is the risky route? And how much longer would the safer route take?" To answer her query Frost withdrew a map of the cial mountains'' external regions. Several areas had markings on them left by Mother Callie, notes/updates for known problem areas. "The direct northern route would have us make a straight beeline for Icethorne, we''d only have to avoid a few geographical blockades thus our travel time would roughly be 3 days or so." Frost used his finger to trace the supposed route. "The problem however is that right around here a new territory lord hase into y meaning they''re incredibly aggressive to any and all intruders plus the recently dethroned monsters will be loitering around the vicinity, starving, willing to attack even someone like me." He tapped arge area less than a day from the Lambda sector. "Following that we have an aggressive enve which is more akin to arge bandit hold than a small nation. They frequently attack caravans for loot unless they pay a healthy tax which I definitely won''t be doing." He refused to be extorted. "Finally if that wasn''t enough the path brings us rather close the crevasse of Ymir." "Is that a problem?" Avira couldn''t help but ask, she knew a little about the crevasse as well as the monsters that chose to dwell within it. But as far as she knew those monsters usually kept to themselves, as long as you don''t enter the crevasse then they''d leave you alone. "It is right now." Frost turned to her and started to exin what Callie told him. "Due the monster stampede there''s been a lot of activity in the external regions regarding monster territories. These movements have put the giants and their kin who reside within the crevasse on edge, far more than normal thus there''s been sighting of frost giants leaving the crevasse. Whether it''s for hunting, defending their territory or perhaps even expansion it''s bad news for the routes passing near the crevasse." A standard frost giant was usually at the peak of C-rank at the very least and it wasn''t umon to see B-rank individuals such as Valend. Frost would struggle to deal with such adversaries by himself let alone while having to protect Borris and Avira. The two individuals felt their scalps grow numb; frost giants were frightening concepts. They shouldn''t even be in the external regions given their strength but thanks to the crevasse of Ymir they were. It was fine when they stayed within the crevasse but the prospect of them leaving and gallivanting through the external regions was just a cmity waiting to happen. "In addition to those problems we''d have to travel off the standard route therefore there''d be no camps, we''d have to set up in the wilderness all the way to Icethorne." Not only was it dangerous it was far lessfortable. "Now for the safe route." Frost redirected their attention to a winding route that avoided the previously mentioned dangers. "This route will take us at least a week and there''s little to no signs of danger, we can even rest at camps for most nights while one we can even find shelter in the Three Flower kingdom. If I was a merchant or someone with time to waste I''d definitely choose this option. Its dull and uneventful butfortable, as opposed to the quick and dirty route I previously mentioned." Frost leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. "Both routes have their merits and I''m fine either way, one is safe andfy while the other has danger and risk but in leu of that we''d cut our journey time by more than half." Time was a luxury one could not buy more of, once it was spent there was no way to get it back. For Avira time was of the essence, the sooner she reached Icethorne the safer she''d be and the sooner she''d be able to start her conquest and avenge her parents. She simply had to weigh the saving of time against the risk to her own life. Something she now better understood thanks to her battle with the iceborne huntsman. Frost allowed the two of the mull over the information for a minute or two, knowing that such a decision should not be rushed when they would be the ones in the most danger. Eventually Borris was the first to choose. "I''m for the short, risky option. My te armour guarantees my defence and I trust in Frost''s skill. I''d like to experience the rougher side of adventuring before reaching Icethorne." His view was that he wasn''t tough enough to make his mark in Northrend''s great fortress, he needed to rough his edges a little. "And you V?" The young woman who thanks to the privacy of the yurt had removed much of her disguise, revealing the beauty that hid beneath rubbed her chin as she internally deliberated. "..The short route, the sooner we reach Icethorne the better." Her expression warped several times as she thought about theck offort along the way but eventually she steeled herself and chose the shorter route, making the decision unanimous. "Perfect it''s decided then we''ll be taking the straightest route to Icethorne. Enjoy thefort of your beds tonight, remember the warmth and softness because you won''t be experiencing it again until we reach Icethorne and even then it might not be as good, it is a war fortress after all." Frost teased with a wide grin making Borrisugh and Avira tremble, she really couldn''t get used to the idea of sleeping in the wilderness. When early dawn broke, Frost, Borris, Avira, Kiba and the frost wolf were up, washed and fed. They bought a few extra camping supplies from the merchants quarter before heading northwards to Icethorne. The arrangement was the same, Borris on the frost wolf while Avira rode shotgun with Frost on Kiba. Borris at one point did yfullyin about the difference in treatment and pushed for a chance to trade ces with Avira but the young woman fiercely defended her spot, refusing to budge from Frost''s embrace, this was her spot and hers alone. The group travelled the first day without much incident but by the second they were in range of the new territory lord and as expected several groups of what appeared to be white wed scorpions. Large monsters roughly 3 metres tall with 7 metre long bodies covered in thick carapace. They were also poisonous, but the main danger came from their ws, thick strong pincers that could crush iron like it was mud. Frost and Kiba handled most of the aggressors while Avira practised with one and Borris stayed on the back of the frost wolf. They were beset by squads and squads of these monsters throughout their journey until eventually the mass ughter drew over the big daddy, the new territory lord. This white wed scorpion was at least 50% bigger than its lesser kin and was far stronger. Frost estimated that it was roughly in the mid-stages of C-rank, a little stronger than the iceborne huntsman but with far lessckeys. "Grrrrr!" Kiba violently growled at the massive monster whounched itself from beneath the snow fields. "You want to take it?" Frost asked. "Garow." Kiba nodded his head, a wild smile stretching from one side of his face to the other. "Alright just don''t becent, its armour is thick, and those ws are deadly." Frost gauged the monster, finding it to be a worthy opponent for Kiba and hopefully tastier. He affectionately scratched the back of Kiba''s head and wished him luck before walking towards Avira and Borris, to stand guard and observe from a distance, leaving everything to Kiba. Chapter 684 Kibas prowess "Will Kiba be alright on his own?" Avira asked more than a little intimidated by therge white wed scorpion blocking their path forward. Though it wasn''t as scary looking as the iceborne huntsman she felt it was stronger and more dangerous. Her rapier would struggle to pierce through its thick carapace that seemed to cover its entire body. "As long as he keeps his calm and doesn''t try to showboat he''ll be fine V. Kiba himself is at the upper level possibly even peak of C-rank. Those ws and fangs of his aren''t just for show." He may look like arge kitten who loves being petted but that is merely one side of him. The cial winged tigers were a powerful species, not much lesser than dragons, behemoths, giants and even fenrirs. Despite not even being fully grown Kiba was almost at the B-rank, even if he stopped training and chose toze around like a house cat, his natural growth into adulthood would see him jump that chasm and it wouldn''t be the only one. Beastlike monsters such as tigers, wolves, bears etc tend to have another jump whenever they reach middle age therefore Kiba, as long as he stayed alive had a good chance of reaching peak B-rank possibly even A-rank solely because of his gics. So he may look cute and cuddly but if he deems you an enemy you better run for the hills. "He''s that strong?" Avira couldn''t really believe it; Kiba looked so docile when he carried her and Frost on his back. "Vss he''s a cial winged tiger. That scorpion''s nothing but a snack in his eyes." Borris who knew full well about Kiba''s origins replied with smile, finding Avira''s concern amusing. Avira blinked her eyes rapidly and looked back and forth between Kiba, Borris and Frost. Her mind churned as knowledge regarding the cial winged tigers came to the forefront of her mind. She looked at Frost for a confirmation and received a curt nod in reply. "Oh, well tell him to make it quick then." The concern disappeared from her tone instantly. If Kiba truly was a cial winged tiger, the same species she knew from the monster encyclopaedias then there really was nothing to worry about, except maybe him ying with his food. "Kiba, V wants you to make it quick hahaha." Frost hollered with augh. "Garow!" Kiba felt hurt, he looked back at Avira as if asking her what happened to their loving rtionship, but such moves were no longer effective on the young woman after she learned of his true strength, so he turned back and internally promised to be so quick that she''d be shocked. The poor white wed scorpion trembled feeling that something awful just happened but before it could act Kiba made his move. As requested the battle didn''t take long, 10 minutes maybe 11 and the scorpion was spasming on the ground as Kiba devoured it alive. His massive teeth and powerful ws tearing through its vaunted carapace with ease. Though the white wed scorpion lost it did manage tond a few choice hits. Its pincers clipped hard on Kiba''s forelegs, snapping a tendon or two while his wings were brutally ravaged. There was even a prating wound across his back from the monster''s stinger, thankfully however its poison was rather mild, Kiba only felt a little dizzy. Crunch! Crunch! The white wed scorpion''s carapace would have made a lovely material to craft with but unfortunately Kiba was keen on devouring everyst morsel. It tasted better than the spider but not by much. Once again after devouring his defeated opponent Kiba felt a surge of energy refining his body, making him slightly stronger than before. "Haaaaa seems we won''t be retrieving anything from its corpse, sorry Borris." Frost shook his head at Kiba''s gluttony. "No problem its his kill, he can do whatever he wants with it." At least it wasn''t going to aplete waste. Once Kiba was made to drink a mid-level health potion, healing his many wounds the group carried on with their journey which was a lot smoother after taking care of the local territory lord. Once night started to fall the group searched for lodgings, a cliff, a recess, a cave, something that could shelter them from the harsh winds and even colder temperature, not an easy thing given their location. "There, a cave, we''ll rest there for the night." Eventually Frost caught sight of decent sized cave in the distance and ordered Kiba to head over. Unfortunately this cave already had residents, 3 monsters that looked like a fusion of an ape and a lizard, each at D-rank. Frost made short work of them before handing everyone their jobs. "V you''ll be on cooking duty while Borris you''ll arrange the tents, I''ll handle the security perimeter." ""Got it"" V quickly removed cooking utensils from her spatial ring and retrieved a selection of meat, veggies and water from their carried luggage. While Borris pulled out their tents, sleeping bags, misceneous tools and their fire starting kit. Frost meanwhile walked to the cave''s entrance to scan the horizon for threats i.e. monsters. Seeing nothing in the nearby vicinity he used magic to conjure walls of ice that blocked all but a gap roughly 8 inches wide at the roof of the cave. This allowed fresh air to flow into the cave while at the same time minimising the encroaching chill. Though the wall wouldn''t be able to stop the more determined monsters from getting in it did block them from view. Any passing monster -who didn''t take the time to investigate further- would see another wall of white amongst the thousands of others. Ten minutester a pleasant aroma could be smelled from arge pot while three robust tents were propped up in a triangle formation around the fire, capitalising on the warmth it provided. "Stew''s ready." Avira announced as shedled a generous serving into her bowl. The four of them -Borris, Frost, Kiba and the frost wolf- couldn''t help but lick their lips in anticipation. They had been running and fighting for the entire day, taking only a few short breaks in between. They were famished and were looking forward to a warm meal rather than cold jerky and crackers. "So goooooood you''ll make a fine wife in the future V." Borris knew just how seductive a woman that could cook was to a man. He couldn''t help but remember his deceased wife as he devoured mouthful and mouthful. Hisment caused the young woman to blush, but she also smiled. "Umu if you weren''t having to go to Icethorne I would have hired you as Nanna''s teacher back in Niflheim." Frost felt it was a shame, he''d been trying for months to get Nanna a proper teacher but so far found no one, only regr chefs that were usually preupied with their own duties. "Oh." Hearing Frost, Avira couldn''t help but imagine herself living in the Niflheim city state. Enjoying the luxurious bath houses on the regr, dining in fancy restaurants, being able to be close and interact with Frost on the regr while also being within walking distance to Luna. She had to admit it was quite tempting and not a bad failsafe.s such a life was not meant for her, at least not at the moment. She needed to get her revenge, to tear Randolph from his throne and send him to very depths of hell, the only ce a disgusting urchin like him deserved to call home. Avira held a great weight on her shoulders, a weight that made her nights rather restless. When she slept she''d think of that night, the blood, the screams, the horror of never being able to see her mother and father again. Every night she was gued with nightmares and would wake up suddenly covered in sweat, a secret that she never told anyone. Strangely however the time she slept after her battle with the iceborne huntsman, when she was cradled in Frost''s arms was blissful. No nightmares, no agitation justfort and safety. Her body was thus drawn towards him, craving his touch. Such feelings merged with her already growing interest. As Borris put she was quickly bing a lost cause and who could me her. Frost was strong, talented, handsome, rich, filled with confidence and charm, so different from the pompous noble heirs she was forced to mingle with at the royal balls and banquets. Frost and Borris dug into their bowls of stew as Avira''s mind lingered in her fantasies. A bowl was prepared for the frost wolf and a very small one for Kiba. "Grrrr!" Kiba growled in protest at his small portion. "Why do you even need food? You devoured an entire C-rank white wed scorpion." Frost replied with a frown on his face, what a greedy cat. "Garow!" "What do you mean there''s always room for tasty food?" "Gaarrow." "No that is notmon sense you damn glutton." "Hahahaha your rtionship is really close hahahaa." Borris couldn''t help butugh until his sides hurt. "One more bowl not a drop more, you eat anything else, and I''ll have to put you on a strict diet." "Gaaarrroooo!!" [No diet! I''ll be good promise!] was the literal trantion. Frost thus refilled arger bowl for him while Borris was on the floor nearly puking his guts out, even Avira was giggling under her breath. When night fell and the temperature dropped several degrees even with the protection of the ice wall and roaring fire Borris and Avira went to their tents. The frost wolf and Kiba joined them respectively to preserve heat, something Avira was over the moon about, Kiba''s fur was so soft after all, he was the perfect hug pillow. Borris was less enthused but hated the cold more. This left Frost alone by the fire to ruminate on his thoughts, he wasn''t quite ready to go to bed. Chapter 685 A young womans desires Crackle Crackle The firepit soothingly crackled as Frost held his hands over the mes, enjoying the feeling of warmth against his palms. Borris and Avira were already in the tents and likely sleeping, Borris certainly was given the sound of snoringing out of his tent. But he was still wide awake and wasn''t bothered by the cold temperature like they were. He sat in silence, his mind conjuring up images of home, his two sexy lovers, the two children who looked up to him for protection, his loyal monsters as well as the city and dungeon that he ruled. It''d only been a few days, but he was already missing it and not by a small margin. "Half a night really wasn''t long enough." Frost muttered after letting out a sigh and shaking his head. Though that half night was certainly enjoyable and likely enough for Maya and Daki he was far from satisfied.He''d only been away for a few days, yet he was already pining for their flesh, his desires rising whenever his mind drifted to Maya and Daki. "Half a night of wasn''t enough for what?" Just as he was regretting not taking an extra day to satisfy his lust he heard a woman''s voice from his side. "Eh?" He was caught off guard, his eyes blinking rapidly as his neck craned towards where it came from. There he spotted Avira in her nightly attire; she was still bundled up quite thick, but her figure was no longer quite so hidden. "I thought you were asleep." He said attempting to gloss over his earlier statement but unfortunately Avira seemed rather fixated on it. "Nightmare, now answer the question." Despite having her body wrapped in Kiba''s thick fur she was still unable to have a pleasant night sleep. The ghosts of her parents haunted her, asking her why she hadn''t avenged them yet. She thus woke up with reddened eyes and heard Frost still awake sitting by the fire. Frost nced at Avira and saw the strange determination in her eyes and sighed. ''Is this a situation where I should respond honestly or lie?'' He wondered which option was best. "How old are you?" "18 why?" "Guess that counts as an adult." Avira felt proud, her chest arching forward as she heard Frost refer to her as an adult. To her it was a direct confirmation that she wasn''t being viewed like a child,pletely disregarding the hidden connotations. Frost smiled mischievously, the urge to tease blossoming in his heart as he looked at her. "Sex." He said but a single word, a word that was like a bomb to Avira''s ears. "Eh?" "Sex V, after a gruelling 2 weeks of working on my city''s new wall, I fucked my girlfriends for a half a night, hoping that it''d be enough to satisfy me for the entire length of my journey into the cial mountains and unfortunately, it wasn''t thus you heard mementing that half night wasn''t enough my dear Princess." His smile stretched from ear to ear as he watched Avira''s mind graduallyprehend his words. Avira was initially stunned but quickly a fierce tinge of red donned her cheeks. She huffed and puffed, her body trembling in rage, jealously, shame, embarrassment she didn''t know which, but she certainly wasn''tfortable. "You, you, you." "Yes V what am I?" Frost scooted close to her making her instinctively scoot backwards. "You deplorable beast!" She loudly screamed. In response to her name calling Frost ced a finger a top his lips and said, "Inside voice, Borris is still sleeping." Luckily his snoring continued unabated, a heavy sleeper. Avira quickly looked towards Borris'' tent, eyeing up any signs of movement before ring back at Frost and hitting his shoulder, her cheeks still as red as a tomato. "Oi what was that for, you asked what I meant, and I answered, why the violence?" Frost pretended to be hurt, holding the shoulder that was so viciously assaulted. "Pervert, bastard, asshole." The aggrieved young woman pped him after every insult causing him tough. After a few minutes Avira eventually ran out of gas, her embarrassment receding. "You''re a jerk you know that." "Why? I asked your age. Confirmed you were an adult and then spoke to you like one, simple as that." "Haaaaa how can you look like that yet be so crass." She had never met such a person before in her life. "Crass no you''ve just been surrounded by people with sticks up their asses." "Sticks up their asses?" Avira parroted Frost''s words back, images of such a condition appearing at the forefront of her mind. "Pfft." She couldn''t help butugh and smile. "A genuine unfiltered expression is far better than one restrained by pointless traditions. Smile if you''re happy, cry if you''re sad,ugh without restraint and always if you can, be honest." Frost delivered a bit of wisdom that he gained from his many interactions with adventurers. Avira''s regr mannerism were far too rigid for his liking, she should be more like Leo and Luna, who do not restrain their inner personalities yet stillmand respect from their citizens. Avira mulled over his words in silence, finding serenity in them. She looked around and saw their tents, the fire, the walls of the cave and it dawned on her that she wasn''t in the capital. There was no one here she needed to be prim and proper with, to wear the veil of a sheltered princess. Memories of her mother and father floated in his mind, especially those of her mother. Amellia''s true personality that was only shown behind closed doors was a stark contrast to what the public saw. She was blunt, bold, enjoyed cooking and rather violent when her temper red, very unbing of a traditional Empress. ''Maybe I should stop restraining myself.'' She gently smiled and looked at Frost, her mind going down a dark path as her cheeks started to redden. "So you''re saying you''re pent up." Avira boldly said with a slight quiver on her lips. "..Now who''s being crass hehehehe." Frost found her sudden and rather smooth transition unexpected, but he still smiled and evenughed. This look and attitude was more in line with her true personality he thought, the V in Avira. The twoughed freely before, the air around them started to heat up a few degrees. Avira shuffled close to Frost and smelled his scent; her eyes bing ssy and the redness along her cheeks swiftly turning pure crimson. Her hands nervously grasped the edge of her nightly garments as she steeled her resolve, a mixture of anxiety, desire and determination forming in her eyes as she looked, truly looked at the handsome man before her. If he was pent up then couldn''t she alleviate his burden, a fair exchange considering how attentive he''d been in protecting her and even training her for the battles she''d most certainly be faced with in the future. The more she thought about it the more she wanted it, she inched even closer and stared deep into Frost''s eyes. Her lips naturally puckering as they grew close to his, dying to taste him. "V, you should stop." Frost who for a brief few seconds was dazed by the young woman advancing towards him spoke in a solemn tone. He ced his hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her away. "But why, am I not attractive enough? Do you find me ugly?" Tears threatened to pour from her eyes as the young woman was strongly rejected, her feelingsid bare before him. Frost had to admit he was moved by her actions and felt a little guilty, but he couldn''t cross that line. "No not at all V, you''re very pretty, cute and charming but we can''t." "Why!" Avira yelledpletely forgetting about the sleeping Borris. It was at this point that the tears started to flow, and Frost lost hisposure, he really hated seeing a crying woman. He pulled her into his chest and stroked the back of her head in a soothing manner. "V I''ll be straight with you, there''s several reasons." Frost thought ''fuck it might as welly all the cards on the table.'' "First though you are pretty and cute you''re too underdeveloped and before you get mad I''m not simply referring to the curves on your body but your literal size." Avira who was leaning on his chest looked up at him, instantly bing angry when she heard the word ''underdeveloped'' but was then confused when he mentioned her size. What did he mean by that. "Here." Going all in Frost took hold of Avira''s right hand and ced it upon his thigh at least she thought it was his thigh. "Do you really think you''d be able to handle something like this V? Maya''s at the S-rank while Daki''s part subus yet even with the two of them working together they struggle topete with me." He whispered into her ear as his manhood started to grow, stretching below his undergarments, filling and even pushing apart Avira''s thin feminine fingers. The young woman had steam flowing out her ears as she realised exactly what she held. Her breathing quickened and a twisting sensation gripped her stomach as her thoughts ran wild. Her hand however that was still grasped around the outline of Frost''s still growing bulge started to instinctively stroke, rub and caress the object making Frost shiver. Seems the danger and fear aspect wasn''t strong enough to deter the young woman, a strong part of her was still very, very interested. "Second I''m currently spoken for, only if Daki and Maya give their blessings would I be willing to take another lover." Frost tried to gently remove Avira''s right hand, but she stubbornly held on as though entranced by it. "Third you''re a Princess, Northrend''s Princess and by the will of your father the true heir to the throne. Your ambition requires your entire focus, if you wish to avenge your parents and bring order to Northrend then you can''t be tied down by romance." Plus he had no intentions in bing Emperor of Northrend. Frost''s third reason seemed to hit home, her hand stopped stroking and a frown grew on her face as she thought deeply about how such a rtionship would y out in the long run and unfortunately Frost was correct. A romance with him would distract her from her ambition and though the distraction was incredibly tempting it was still a distraction, nheless. Chapter 686 Pay the toll "Though I''m loathe to admit it you''re right Frost. I have my ambition while youare already spoken for." Avira sighed and shook her head before looking into Frost''s eyes. She rather regretted noting to an agreement with Maya and Daki beforehand but unfortunately she couldn''t predict the future. "I''m d you understand V, and I''m sorry." Frost let out a relieved breath and apologised knowing that his teasing and flirtatious remarks probably didn''t help the situation. "It''s fine, I''m sorry to." Avira also apologized knowing that she also held some of the me. She reluctantly got off Frost''sp and straightened out her clothes. "Goodnight Frost.and thank you for being so candid." She spoke softly, her voice slightly trembling, her heart was in pain, but she knew that it was the right decision. "No problem V, sweet dreams." Frost knew she was vulnerable butforting her anymore would only worsen the situation. Avira thus made her way back to her tent where Kiba was still sound asleep. Once in bed however she whispered in a voice only she could hear. "Get the Empire then get Frost." Seems she wasn''t ready to give up on having him as her man. When morning came Frost and Avira acted the same way they normally did, as if the events ofst night never happened. Borris was none the wiser given that he slept through the whole thing. Once Frost removed the blockading ice wall the group set off, continuing their journey to the fortress city of Icethorne. Today the danger would stem from a less than friendly enve who were akin to bandits, demanding high tolls from anyone passing through theirnds. Those who refused to pay or who carried luggage too appealing for them to pass up would be killed, simple as that. Frost understood and even supported the idea of taxes, but he vehemently refused to be extorted by a bunch of arrogant bandits. If they deigned to demand tribute from him then they''d quickly find themselves on the receiving end of his ive. During the first few hours the group ran across more of the lizard ape monsters who were likely the species that lost their homes to the white wed scorpions. Most of them were violent, and thin, clearly starving after being driven from their home. Since speed was the aim and Avira had already proven herself Frost and Kiba simply ughtered any packs that barred their way. Taking only a few seconds to both kill them and retrieve their magic crystals. Once it passed noon however they entered the imednds of the local enve/bandits. Frost wore an irritated expression by this point. His heart was internally torn, he both wanted to encounter these greedy individuals while at the same time hoped to be left alone on their journey. s it seems that the moment he wished for an obstacle even partially fate decided to give him one. "Halt!" Just as the group was passing through a valley between two cliffs they heard the loud bellow of a man. Secondster the owner of the voice appeared along with a dozen of his buddies, who quickly surrounded them, leaving not a single escape route. "Tsk!" Frost loudly clicked his tongue, his irritation building. "V looks like we''ve encountered your next opponent." "Huh?" Avira who was positioned in front of Frost turned around and questioned what he said. "They''re going to ask us to pay a toll and I''m not willing to do so. So we''ll fight, which one do you want to face?" Frost grinned with malice, briefly looking like a bloodthirsty demon as he eyed the walking bags of DP. He was never fond of bandits. "Quick talking amongst yourselves, hand over 20 gold coins, your mounts andthe woman and you can live." Not knowing the danger he was in the brutish bandit that stood just shy of 2 metres tall and carried a massive, spiked club demanded not only payment but Avira and Kiba. His keen eyes weren''t fooled by Avira''s bundled up disguise. In his mind a woman only disguised herself so heavily for one of two reasons. The first being beauty, any particrly attractive woman around these parts would quickly find themselves targeted by men such as them, thus the need to obscure their allure. While the second was because their identity was rather sensitive, whether that meant they were a noble or a criminal it mattered not to these men. As long as they took care of the witnesses then they could y around with her as much as they liked regardless of her background. The foolish bandit''s demand made Frost appear even more vicious. His expression turned cold as his eyes scanned their surroundings. 13 bandits, all buff men with obvious battle experience. Their weapons though nothing special were covered in dried blood, clearly left as a means of intimidation unfortunately they chose the wrong targets. "Kiba keep an eye on Borris and the frost wolf, V I''ll leave the leader to you." Frost boldly announced, caring very little about alerting the bandits. With a wild smile on his face he leaped from Kiba''s back andnded directly before one of the gnarly looking bandits. A beastmen of jackal tribe who had long limbs and prominent canines. His weapon of choice was a pair of bloody hatchets but before he could even get a chance to use them Frost''s hands covered his ears and. Crunch! Squelch! Frost brutally ripped the man''s head from his shoulders resulting in a high pressure geyser of blood erupting from his exposed neck. An instant kill. "Eh!" The remaining bandits were shocked silly, theirrade was killed instantly they didn''t even manage to see what happened. One minute Frost was on the back of his mount talking and the next a blood fountain was erupting from where their friend''s head used to be. Frost wasted very little time, once he tore off the jackal beastman''s head he immediately used it as a weapon. Another bandit that wasn''t much stronger than the jackal was thus smacked in the face by his friend''s head, breaking his nose and obscuring his view. "Too slow." Those two words being whispered into his ear were thest words he ever heard as Frost''s ive cut him in two with a fierce rising sh. The sudden splitting resulted in a veritable bursting of blood. The red liquid quickly died the white snow as well as Borris and the frost wolf who were innocently standing nearby. "Tsk I just cleaned my armour." Borris loudly clicked his tongue as he tightened his legs around the frost wolf, ordering it to attack. He was also not a fan of bandits. He saw them as scum, trash that was lower than monsters, he held no reservation when it came to ending lives such as theirs. Avira however though no longer a virgin when it came to true battles was still rather reluctant when it came to facing non-monsters. The bandits may be awful criminals that would do unspeakable things to her, but they were still people in her eyes. A thought that caused her reactions to slow and her aggression to falter. "V get moving!" It wasn''t until Frost roared with a voice tinged with aura that the young woman swiftly departed from Kiba''s back,nding before the bandit leader with her rapier drawn. The bandit waspletely bbergasted by Frost, his heart lurched in fear, but the moment Avira appeared before him with her thin weapon poised to strike he couldn''t help but stand his ground. From her eyes he could tell that not only was this woman a true beauty but that she had never taken the life of a person. He couldn''t help but smile at this realisation. It didn''t matter howrge the difference in strength was as long as he appealed to this na?ve woman he''d be able to turn the tables. He''d done it many times before. A young noble woman passing through their territory with a contingent of guards wasn''t exactlymon, but it wasn''t umon either. These young women were arrogant, thinking that the world was their oyster. With their training and equipment it was impossible for them to lose to mere bandits so of course upon seeing the rabble on the back foot they''d take to the field themselves and gain all the credit for cleansing their filth from the world. And of course the moment the prim and proper nobledy took to the field, away from her guards the bandits would suddenly go on the offensive, quickly taking hold of the said women at the expense of a few bloody injuries. At this point the woman would be their hostage, entirely at the bandits mercy so what would these skilled men do? They''d order the guards to lower their weapons and promise safety only to ughter them in the next moment. The formerly proud and arrogant young noble would then be ravished by her attackers, her innocence spoiled, her soul and mind fractured from the abusive torment. The woman would never be heard from again, transported back to their hideout to function as a breeding cow until the day she died or managed to get promoted to a bandit herself. Amon tale that people especially noble women would hear about before they travel somewhere dangerous, but they would never take heed of the warnings, iming that they would never fall for such ploys. The bandit leader felt that Avira was of these nobledies and that Frost and Borris were her assigned guards. As long as he managed to take her hostage then Frost would be powerless to act. Chapter 687 Pay the toll (2) Avira could hear the violent and pain filled screams of the Sapients behind her, every one of them causing her lips to twitch and the colour to slightly drain from her face. She was fine with the death of monsters but people that was something else, her heart and mind couldn''t help but waver. Even as she stood before the leader of these bandits with her weapons drawn she couldn''t look at himpletely as an enemy worthy of death. Her right hand''s grip was weaker than normal, and her nned moves aimed to debilitate rather than maim and or kill. The bandit leader however was weighing his options, doing his best to analyse Avira''s type before Frost ended everyst one of hisrades. ''She''s not talking arrogantly nor is she charging at me with righteous furya difficult one.'' He''d been faced to with noble women before and knew how best to deal with such characters. Those who were full of themselves and or viewed him and hisrades like filth, deserving of nothing short of death were not only the easiest to handle but they were also his favourite. His mind couldn''t help but reminisce about two of his breeding bitches who were locked up back at the enve. Two noble women who once looked down on him were now nothing more than his sex ves. Proud beautiful women who were once superior now desperately curry his favour whenever hees home. Eager to gorge themselves on his bandit manhood all so they could eat well for the day. A miserable end that always made him hard just thinking about it. Avira however was a little different, if he wanted to survive this ordeal and return to his loving breeding sluts then he had act with a little finesse. He gripped his club with two hands and charged forward with a feigned look of determination, as though a solider bravely confronting an enemybatant. His moves and expression caught Avira off guard, but she was skilled enough to parry his club and move to the side. She instinctively thrust her rapier at his exposed nk but hesitated in thest second which brought a smile to the bandit''s lips. "Vicious noble! Why don''t you just pay the toll." He hollered while swinging his club. His gaze warily ncing in Frost''s direction as another one of hisrades bit the dust. Avira frowned in response but didn''t answer, her feet dancing as she readied her specialised fighting style. Before she could summon her ice fog however the bandit leader charged straight for her with a very wide swing full of openings. Avira could easily see multiple opportunities tond a severe blow but for some reason she was unable to take a single one. The man''s look of fear and misguided anger towards her shook her will. Her rapier eventually found purchase within the bandits left thigh, stabbing deeply but far from the muscles and artery. The man''s face however warped in pain and his fear intensified shaking Avira''s soul. Her grip weakened even further, and her entire body trembled. "Ahhhhh!" When the man screamed in pain shepletely froze for just a moment, a moment that the bandit precisely aimed for. His expression of pain vanished, and his reckless unpolished movements transformed in an instant. Before Avira could even register the change the bandit leader was viciously swinging his club against her right leg without mercy. "[Brutal crush]" The bandit leader activated a low ranking skill that granted weight and concussive force to his spiked club. Crunch! "Ahhhhhhhh!" The man''s club smashed against Avira'' right thigh, fragmenting a chunk of her bone. She screamed in agony as her body crumbled to the floor. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she held her blooded right leg and looked up at her attacker in shock and horror. Gone was the fear and determination in his expression, reced with gut wrenching perversion and glee. He smiled from ear to ear with a lustful look while raising his spiked club for another blow. "Oh I can''t get enough of that look. The sudden realisation of doom, that your life is actually at my mercy, a bandit''s mercy. Ohhhh it''s orgasmic, I''m going to love forcing you to gag on my cock, to see you beg for your freedom in the beginning only to graduallye to not only love my touch but be addicted to it just like all the rest." The bandit leader no longer hid his desires as his spiked club came swinging down on Avira''s left thigh, fracturing her other leg. Then with experienced hands the bandit leader grabbed hold of a tuft of Avira''s hair and dragged her pain riddled body across the snow. "Oi guardsman lookie what I''ve got." He bellowed with arrogance, his hand cupping Avira''s chin, presenting her tear covered face to Frost, Borris and Kiba. "Grrrrr!" Kiba violently growled, his fur standing on end as his muscles tensed in preparation for an attack. "V!" Borris loudly shouted, his hands tightening around his hammer. Frost meanwhile nonchntly finished off another bandit before turning around with a bemused expression on his face. He had been keeping an eye on Avira the entire time, so her current predicament wasn''t a surprise to him. "Lay down your weapons otherwise little miss noble here gets my club to her face." The bandit leader who''s strength was roughly at the peak of D-rank waved his club in front of Avira''s face in a threatening manner. Borris frowned not knowing what to do, he looked to Frost for answers. Frost who found the whole thing rather amusing couldn''t help but slightly smile. "Now why on Nova would I do that little bandit." He said before casting a [freezing fireball] killing off thest of the bandit leader''srades. "YYou, don''t you care about the life your mistress?" The bandit leader fearfully asked wondering why Frost was going off script. "Hmm" Frost gazed at Avira who was clearly in no small amount of pain and currently at the bandit''s mercy. "I think you''ve made a mistake little bandit, I''m not her servant nor is he." Frost gestured towards Borris who also kept his hammer in hand despite not wanting any harm to befall Avira. "So why would we drop our weapons, our primary means of defence just because you said so?" "I''ll really kill her you know." The bandit leader thought that Frost was just bluffing, attempting to sike him out and buy time so he ced a blood covered spike against Avira''s cheek and cut open her flesh to prove his intentions. "Oh I don''t doubt you. Go ahead, kill her." Frost strangely encouraged the bandit. "Huh?" Now he was really confused. "Why would I care about her current condition when she brought it on herself. A woman who far surpasses you in strength, technique and equipment lost because of her foolish naivety and preconceptions despite my heartfelt advice. By this point if it isn''t by your hand it''ll be by the next, so go ahead put her out of her misery." Frost taunted with an evil expression, his eyes looking almost expectant. The bandit leader couldn''t help but tremble at such disregard for Avira''s life. He genuinely believed that Frost didn''t give a shit. ''Did I guess wrong.'' The bandit leader thought for sure that Frost was Avira''s guard and even if he wasn''t he was sure that he''d care about her enough to at least make some effort to protect her. Unfortunately it seemed that he really bet wrong. Without Avira he had no assurances, his life would be forfeit. Borris who waspletely not okay with Frost sacrificing Avira, the Princess of his home nation as well as their travellingpanion fiercely red at him and moved to confront the young man but before he could Kiba held him in ce, discreetly shaking his head. An action that puzzled Borris but keeled his jets. Avira was even more shocked than the bandit leader, she even momentarily forgot the immense pain in her legs as she gazed at Frost, the man who upied a ratherrge part of her heart by this point. ''Will he really let me die?'' She asked internally, her confidence shaken by the evil expression on the young man''s face. ''Am I really not worth the effort?'' She thought about his words and found strong logic within them. She really did bring this on herself. Frost warned her repeatedly about battles with her life on the line, he told her to never hesitate yet what did she do, hesitate. He told her to never underestimate her enemy as to do so would only result in death. Because she ignored his advice, hesitated and struggled against the bandit just because he was a Sapient she now had two broken legs and her body was in so much pain that she couldn''t think straight. The bandit leader''s revtion also dealt a strong psychological blow, greatly impacting her mental state. Frost''s words however started to wake her up. "Little bandit, what are you waiting for? Finish the deed. If she can''t handle someone at your level, an opponent far weaker than herself then what use is she?" Frost taunted one more time, stressing the pointlessness of Avira''s life if she couldn''t even handle a simple bandit. Chapter 688 Big girl As Frost stared down the bandit leader, pressuring him to make a choice Avira was pretty much forgotten. All the brutish man could think about was how to preserve his own life and escape the young elf who could kill him with a single blow. His earlier assumption about the group''s rtionship couldn''t have been more wrong. Frost instead of dropping his weapon and pleading for Avira''s safety instead egged him on, pressuring him to act on his threats, to kill her. Frost repeatedly referred to Avira as someone useless, a na?ve woman who lost against a foe far weaker than herself and in no time at all, a shameful disy. If she couldn''t even take care of a single bandit then how would she ever take on her insidious brothers. The machinations of two highly supported princes and their near limitless subordinates would be far more devious than those of a mere bandit. Avira truly would just end up being killed at the hands of another if she couldn''t handle the man currently shaking in his boots from Frost''s mere presence. He wasn''t even using his aura, just his natural charisma was more than enough to pressure the bandit leader. As the men stood in silence waiting for the other to make a move Avira was able to recollect herself and find her bearings. Frost''s harsh words though heart piercing woke her from her delirium. Her mental acuity slowly returned allowing her to take stock of her current situation. Her two thighs werepletely shot for the moment, the bandit knew exactly what he was doing, the pain alone sent intense spasms throughout her body every other second. The physical pain was far greater than anything she''d ever experienced; she was afraid and couldn''t help but cry and scream. The battle was over so quickly and so abruptly that her adrenaline hadn''t started pumping, she was feeling the full level of pain. Pain especially intense pain like what she was currently suffering was a significant moment for those who risked their lives. Soldiers may feel strong and courageous when standing side by side with their brothers and sisters, led into glorious battle under the umbre that was their valiant generals, but once those boons were lost and the solider was alone, bereft ofrades and wounded, a person''s true worth would be revealed. Some cringe from the pain, cry, scream, holler for their parents as the intensity overwrites everything they trained for. The fear of death turning them to desperation. That is not the point that decides one''s worth, however. Pain and fear of that pain as well as death is natural. Those experiencing it for the first time like Avira couldn''t be expected to just grin and bear it, ignore their wounds and ultimately focus on the task at hand. It was natural for their souls to tremble, for them to turn to their baser instincts. No, what determines a person''s true worth is the moment after, when the pain is no longer a surprise, when their mind is able to limate to the intense change. If they then still choose to scream, cry and behave in a pathetic manner then they will never be able to take to the field of battle again, at least not effectively. The moment things start to go sour, or if they''re up against a superior foe they''ll run, desperately trying to avoid that traumatic, pain filled experience regardless of how such an action would affect others. The same held true perhaps even more so for adventurers, they who faced death on a regr basis, who regrly stared into the awaiting maws of monsters could never allow themselves to crumble, to falter in fear as the moment they did, death woulde calling. But if a person is able to calm their mind, to focus on the task at hand and regain control of their mind and body once the initial period of surprise had passed then these people could be called true warriors. Avira was experiencing this opportunity at this very moment. Her mind that was previously numbed because of the pain as well as the sudden change in attitude within the bandit was starting churn. Frost''s harsh words woke her up, forcing her to either remain useless and worthless or to fight, to clean up her own mess. Frost barely managed to conceal a proud smirk as he noticed the light in Avira''s eyese back to life. ''That''s it V, remember the battle isn''t over until you draw yourst breath.'' The more he watched the more interested he became. Avira was like a diamond in the rough, unpolished but holding immense potential. He wanted to see her bloom, to flower into a warrior that could fill her brother''s with abject fear. Only someone like that could effectively take control of the Northrend empire and be his ally. "Little bandit maybe you can stand here all day, wasting daylight but my friend and I have ces to be so you can either uphold your threat and kill her which in turn will result in me killing you or you can drop your weapon, all your valuables and prostrate yourself on the snow and beg for mercy.and then I''ll kill you." Frost yfully offered the bandit two choices, briefly alluding that the second would waive the death penalty, only to crush his hopes a few secondster. "If you''re going to kill me then why would I bother with the second option, might as well as bring this bitch down to hell with me!" The bandit leader roared, his wrath allowing him to ovee his fear. "As I said the choice is yours.well it was." Frost''s smile grew making him look like a demon, his eyes shining as Avira made her move. "Huh!?" The bandit leader was confused for a moment, a moment that this time Avira took advantage of. "[Wind bullet]" With her mind focused again Avira was able to utilise her magic albeit with noticeable difficulty. With her left hand tightly wrapped around her wand she rapidly conjured four bullets of wind and fired them at the bandit leader''s body. Don! Don! Don! Don! The four wind bullets mmed hard against the bandit''s leather armour, leaving divots along his cuirass. Nothing was broken but the sudden and well targeted force heavily bruised his ribs and right shoulder. The bandit leader was thus pushed away from Avira after dropping his spiked club. ''Fuck!!'' He internally screamed knowing full well that he was a goner, Frost with his strength wouldn''t let such a prime opportunity go. He turned away from Avira and locked eyes with Frost hoping to see how he''d die but strangely Frost wasn''t moving, instead he remained where he was with a look of amusement. He then suddenly felt the surrounding air writhe and a chill ran down his spine. Turning back to Avira he could see her lips moving and could hear some sort of aria being spoken but he failed to recognise the spell, but his instincts were screaming danger. He tried to regain his bnce and move but his feet were suddenly wrapped in chain bs, he thus fell forward into the snow. And the moment he crashed down Avira finished her casting. "[Pir of raging wind]" She chanted theplete aria, utilised her wand to its maximum capacity and even overextended her mana veins all to cast this half step 4th circle spell, the strongest and most cruel spell in her arsenal. A green magic crest with a diameter of 4 metres appeared beneath the bandit leader locking him in ce. The crest then rose 8 metres encasing him in a green pir. At this point Avira red at the bandit with hate filled eyes. She imagined the amount of women this man had ruined and abused as well as the hundreds perhaps even thousands that were kidnapped by his bandit enve as a whole. The image sickened her to her stomach. She could have just as easily be one of them, a woman who could only survive by bringing pleasure to the man who destroyed her. "There''s a special ce in the hells for a being like you!" She screamed with such hatred that it felt grating to the ears. The next second the green pir encasing the bandit leader conjured up a storm of wind des that gradually picked up velocity. "Ahhh!" The bandit leader screamed as des of wind carved up his skin, drawing small amounts of blood, like minor paper cuts. These wounds continued to build and build until not a single section of his flesh wasn''t yed. The entire torturous process took 3 minutes, after 3 minutes the bandit had been cut up into minute chunks, his organs and blood desecrating the snow where he once stood. Such a disy brought a shiver to Borris'' back while Frost was all smiles, he even nodded his head and pped in admiration. A slow painful death by a woman he deemed nothing more than his next breeding sow. Once the spell was finished and the battle was officially over Frost walked next to sitting Avira. He ced a hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes. "What did you learn?" He asked yfully. ".to not show mercy." Avira replied through a clenched jaw, her thighs still in immense pain and her heart still wounded by Frost''s words even though she now realised the reason he said them. "Good, now take a health potion so we can continue our journey to Icethorne." He said with an amused smile. "..No praise, no apology for being so mean?" "???? You took down a man far weaker than yourself and you want to be praised for it, look at the state of you do you really think you did good." "Urgh" Avira couldn''t help but groan as Frost''s words stabbed her heart. "And an apology, for what? Me calling you useless when you pretty much were or for me buying you time to resolve the situation yourself like a big girl." "Urgh! Urgh!" That one hurt a lot, she nearly coughed up blood. Avira red at Frost with reddened eyes finally realising how much of an asshole he could be. His words though correct were still harsh and his actions could be considered cruel but very effective, she truly had no leg to stand on. Frost couldn''t help but grin from ear to ear as he watched Avira''s cheeks puff up from her inability to argue. She was so darn adorable. Eventually however he gave her what she wanted and even deserved. "You did good V, I''m proud of you." He said in a soothing manner while tussling her hair which caused her mind to go poof and a crimson hue to don her cheeks. Chapter 689 Run! After giving the praise she so desperately craved Frost reminded her to take a health potion before walking over to Borris. Kiba meanwhile sauntered over to Avira, he gently licked her face, rubbed his fur against her and mewed in a concerned manner. "You''re one vicious bastard you know that." Borris couldn''t help but say once Frost walked over to peruse the belongings of the bandits. "Perhaps from your perspective I''m being vicious but in my view I''m just being efficient and a little mischievous." Frost knew that his methods wouldn''t be for everyone, but he didn''t care. "Huh forcing a young girl with no experience in killing others to fight and kill a bandit and then deem her useless for failing, even going to the extent of urging the bandit to put her out of her misery if that''s not vicious then I really want to what you consider vicious." Boris understood the logic behind Frost''s methods and to be honest couldn''t argue with the results but still it really left a bad taste in his mouth. Avira was just a girl in his eyes, na?ve and innocent, traits he deemed worth protecting. Just because she had the potential didn''t mean she had to be forcefully matured. He worried about her mental health. "Borris first off I never forced her she could have said no at anytime and or asked for help and I would have given it. V chose to follow my methods because she knows of the dangers that await her.stop looking at her like a little girl Borris, she''s a warrior, a woman with the potential to be the Empress of Northrend." Frost turned around and spoke in a serious tone. "Second what I consider vicious would be akin to greeting death on daily perhaps even hourly basis until you bepletely numb to the meaning of fear." His eyes showed a strange fanaticism as he said this. Only training like what Maya put him through could be considered vicious, carving up his body, breaking each and every one of his bones again and again, leaving him on the brink of death over and over, that was vicious but againeffective. Borris'' eyes shook upon seeing such a look in Frost''s eyes. He now understood Frost a bit better. How could someone as young as him have such great strength? Talent alone could only get you so far. He surmised that Frost must have experienced something far more gruelling than Avira. "Are you just going to stand there or are going to help me fleece the bodies, we''re on the clock remember." Frost returned to normal expression seamlessly making Borris wonder which Frost was the true Frost. As expected the bandits didn''t have much in terms of valuables, all their money was back in the enve and Frost, Avira and Borris were their first marks in days. Frost divided up the meagre spoils and set their corpses aze before gently cing Avira on Kiba''s back and continuing their journey to Icethorne. They ran into few more packs of bandits but learning from her mistakes Avira wasted no time taking out the opponents she was assigned. Unbeknownst to her the air surrounding her was colder and filled with a natural bloodlust, she had changed,pletely shelving her former identity as a sheltered princess. Once night fell they spent theirst night in the wilderness, tomorrow -as long as nothing unexpected happens- they''d reach Icethorne. Avira would find sanctuary and could begin nning her conquest for the throne while Borris would be able to reinvigorate his passion for smithing by offering his services to one of the most war-torn fortresses'' in Yangmir. And Frost would continue his travels, making his way towards the secret entrance of Niflheim, the personal dimension of the primordial ice king, Shivali. The group slept rather well despite their anticipation, they also filled their stomachs withrge portions in preparation for thest and possibly the most dangerous leg of the journey. Though it wouldn''t even take half a day to reach Icethorne from their current position the route was near the crevasse of Ymir, meaning frost giants. A race beholden to the same category as dragons. Even their weakest members were C-rank and none of them were in the early or entry stages. Frost was particrly on edge as they travelled. There was no talking, and everyone had to listen to his orders without dropping a single beat. The first couple hours were quiet but by the third hour the group could smell blood. In the distance there was what could only be described as carnage. From what he could tell a merchant caravan was travelling nearby and was attacked by a pack of dire wolves and thus forced near the crevasse. This action probably alerted a nearby troop of frost giants who immediately ughtered everything in sight. Bodies of dire wolves were torn in half, some sporting bare skeletons after being feasted upon while the merchants were crushed and robbed of anything the giants deemed valuable. Everything else was left for the mountains to reim and to serve as a warning to anyone passing through. As they continued the group came across a few more battle sites as well as territory markings. By this point Frost''s hairs were standing on the back of his neck and his ears were twitching at even the slightest sounds of movement. Eventually he was inundated with a sense of dread. He raised a closed left fist ordering the group to immediately halt. Kiba quickly tensed his muscles while Avira drew her rapier and Borris held his hammer. There was silence for tens of seconds, no sign of any movement but that sense of dread never left Frost''s heart. Borris was the first to break under the pressure, he wasn''t used to being so on edge. He loosened his grip on his hammer andmanded the frost wolf to move closer to Frost, so he could discuss what was going on. The moment he let down his guard and had the frost wolf move however, disaster struck. "Shit Borris dodge!" Frost desperately called out but he was toote. Boooff! Suddenly from beneath the snow a massive giant with pale blue skin leaped upwards like a fish in water. The giant wielded a massive club that was already swinging upwards as he ascended. The target was Borris and the frost wolf. Crunch! "ARRRFFFFF!!!" The frost wolf took a heavy blow to its ribs and was sent flying along with Borris. The poor E-rank wolf had its ribcage shattered and several organs pulverised; death was a certainty. Borris got off better thanks to it taking the brunt of the attack, but his insides were still rattled. Frost quickly leaped from Kiba''s back and caught Borris, bringing him onto Kiba''s back while he withdrew his ive ready to meet their giant adversary. "Kiba protection detail, don''t drop them!" "Garow!" Frost wasted no time at all, he attacked with some of his most powerful techniques hoping to end the fight as quickly as possible. "[Wyvern''s maw]" He shed out with one of his best ive skills, summoning a semi-corporal wyvern''s maw surrounded in ice fire. The wyvern''s maw roared and flew at the surprised frost giant, taking a bite out of its left arm while Frost quickly followed up. ng! Squelch! The wyvern maw bit deep into the frost giant''s muscle, causing it to roar in pain and fail to properly defend itself from Frost''s ive. His weapon first shed against some kind of bone armour that greatly reduced the force behind his sh. In the end he was only able to cut a few inches deep which was, but a flesh wound for the frost giant. Frost frowned finding his opponent far more durable than he expected but he didn''t hesitate in continuing his attack. "[Freezing fireball]" He used a 3rd circle ice fire spell to soften it up while coating his ive in chakra, his target the monster''s throat. He couldn''t have it call for reinforcements after all. Given how close they were to the crevasse of Ymir this battle had to be quick, quiet and done without aura lest he wished to paint a target on his back for the nearby B-rank frost giants who were likely on the lookout for powerful intruders. The one in front of him right now was an upper C-rank and likely just an outlying scout. "Can I help?" Avira who had really started to grow into her own over the course of their journey asked with her rapier in one hand and wand in the other. "No! stay put." Frost loudly replied as he shed out with his ive, constantly having the frost giant on the back foot but that didn''t make him happy in the slightest. ''God damn meat bag!'' He internallyined at how dense the giant was, his ive could cut through iron like butter, but he was only managing to cut a few inches deep into the monster''s flesh. Its muscles were just too damn thick and its bones like diamond. He even failed topletely destroy the creatures throat. "ROOOOOOOAAAARRRR!!!" "FUCK!!!" What he dreaded happening happened, the damn monster despite the blood pooling in its throat roared at the top of its lungs, likely alerting itsrades. This roaring did give Frost that chance to finally kill it, but the damage had already been done. A secondter they could hear the roars of frost giants in the distance. "RUN!!!" Frost gave the order to Kiba who quickly started running once Frostnded on his back. Carrying three people would slow him down somewhat and the space was rather cramped but what choice did they have. Chapter 690 Run! (2) "Roar!!" The moment the group started running tumultuous roars erupted in multiple directions, the frost giants had been summoned. Cold sweat dripped down Frost''s forehead as he tightly grasped the shaft of his ive, his eyes and senses primed to react to even the slightest sign of movement. Their current situation was extremely dangerous. Frost giants were strong, even their youngest and weakest members were dangerous individuals that could ughter Borris and Avira without much effort. With Kiba having to carry everyone on his back, Frost was the only one who could effectively protect them, a heavy duty. He did his best to restrain his aura, but it was only a matter of time, the moment their current aggressors failed too apprehend them and or fell to his ive the big boys woulde out to y. Frost knew his limits; he could go toe to toe with perhaps one maybe two entry level B-ranks but defeating them unlikely. Their only choice was to run, to make it to the borders of Icethorne before they''re overwhelmed. As Kiba ran like his life depended on it, his weaker riders struggling to even hold onto his back Frost caught sight of 3 frost giantsing from their left while another scout came from their right with more on the way. "Tsk [freezing fireball]" Not wanting these 4 individuals to impede their charge Frost went on the offensive casting multiple 3rd circle ice fire spells. Strong enough to curb their advance while also dealing some minor damage but not enough to send them into a frenzy. "Kiba keep running north don''t stop for even a second." Frost stressed with a pronounced frown knowing full well how dire their current circumstances were. "Garow!" Kiba loudly chuffed before picking up even more speed,pletely leaving obstacle removal to Frost. More and more frost giants began to pop out from the snow with furious expressions. Twice Kiba was nearly caught by their outstretched palms, but Frost was quick, hecerated them in an instant allowing the group to keep running. "Rooaarrr!!" Unfortunately their aggressive fleeing finally drew the interest of a more powerful individual, not a B-rank but one just a half step from it. This frost giant was a head taller than the rest of his kin but still shorter than the B-rank frost giant Valend. He appeared directly in front of their path with tworades lining his side. He wielded a massive great axe forged from the bones of a mighty monster as well as high quality metal. His armour was also far more intricate than the others and covered more of his flesh. Taking him down would be anything but an easy task. "Shit! Kiba avoid him." Frost wasted no time ordering Kiba to take a wide berth, choosing to take a detour and risk further surrounding than to try and steam roll over the higher ranked frost giant. "Coward!" Therger frost giant cursed aloud before making a few gestures with his hands. The next moment 2 frost giants appeared directly ahead of Kiba''s new trajectory. He quickly turned to head in another direction but once again with a single gesture of therger frost giant another two frost giants impeded his path, they were surrounded. Therger frost giant and his cronies dead ahead, two to the left, two to the right and a building horde behind them leaving them but two options. One, to fight their way through one of the groups while the other was take to the air and fly over them s the second option was not so easy. All the frost giants bar therger one wielded a set of hunting chains, perfect for capturing low flying prey. Why not fly high then you might ask well that''s because once you''re above a certain height in the cial mountains the temperature plummets and the space is inundated with vicious flying monsters that care not for the boundaries between the external, inner and core regions. There was a very real possibility of a swarm of B-ranks or even an A-rank loitering around in the air above. "Grrr!" Kiba growled in frustration, his paths all cut off while Frost red at therger frost giant, they were trapped, fighting being their only true option. ''He''s smart, a true hunter.'' Frost characterized therger frost giant who was currently very pleased with himself as such. Frost nced beyond therger frost giant and then towards the crevasse of Ymir in the distance, internally calcting a few things before sporting a heavy frown. The odds weren''t great, they were still a decent ways from Icethorne and far too close to the crevasse for his liking, but they were out of options. "Kiba focus on protecting V and Borris, leave the battle to me. Borris hunker down and rely on the strength of your te armour while V onlysh out when you have no other option, the moment either one of you is dislodged from Kiba''s back it''s over." "Got itd." Borris gruffly replied as the hairs on the back of his neck, arms and even back stood erect, he could smell the stench of death. "What about magic? I don''t need to move to use it." Avira however felt her blood boiling, her battle lust threatening to overwhelm her as a wild smile adorned her lips. She desperately wanted to test herself against the frost giants, monsters that were in the same league as dragons. If this was any other time Frost would have encouraged such behaviour and enjoyed watching the young womane into her own as a fellow battle maniac but unfortunately there was a time and ce. "Alright but no full arias, you need to keep your eyes peeled and retain focus on your surroundings." He gave permission for magic as long as she stayed firmly attached to Kiba and never lost sight of what was going on around her. Avira curtly nodded in reply before sheathing her instinctively drawn rapier and instead grabbing hold of her wand with her left hand while the right held onto Kiba''s fur. While the group briefly discussed their options the frost giants were already moving in, shrinking the box that surrounded them. "Looks like they''re going to finally fight." Therger frost giant who was inmand of the current group was smiling from ear to ear, his blood heating up from the carnage that was set tomence. "Close the box and work as a group, our prey this time isn''t simple." ""Yes captain."" The two giants by his side replied with a wild salute before fanning out. Therge frost giant was named Gageus and was the leader of the scouting groups in their current location. A young talent that was just a hairs breadth away from reaching B-rank, perhaps after defeating and devouring their current prey he''d finally take that final step and ascend to be a truly qualified member of their race, an adult. As the frost giants shrunk the box and fanned outwards Frost made his decision. "Kiba head north, we''ll break through their strongest defence line and head straight for Icethorne." His reasons for such a decision were multiple. First it was the most direct route to their destination, breaking through Gageus and his direct cohorts would eliminate the need for a time consuming detour. Second while the left and right routes held a weaker force Frost assumed that more were waiting behind them creating a false sense of power. Third it was clear that Gageus was the one inmand of the current operation, taking him out or at least gravely wounding him would likely impede any follow up attack thus making the northern route the best option. "Garow!" Kiba chuffed in agreement before tensing his entire body and letting loose a primordial roar that shook the snow beneath their feet and slightly intimidated the weaker giants trailing after them. In the next moment he charged dead ahead as directed, aiming straight for Gageus and his cohorts with a vicious expression. As Kiba moved Frost closed his eyes, calmed his heart and covered his entire body in a denseyer of ice chakra armour, adding to his already substantial defence. His ive however was decorated with ice fire chakra, sliver mes dancing along the de edge, forming ice crystals in the air wherever it passed. Then without any hesitation Frost leaped from Kiba''s back high into the air. "Bring him down!" Gageus loudly ordered while readying his great axe, coating it in ice chakra giving it an even more frigid appearance. His direct cohorts however took hold of heavy chain bs and tossed them at Frost, aiming to drag him back down to the ground where their standard weapons could reach him. "[Skyfall]" Frost expecting such a move reeled back his ive and activated one of his few airborne skills. His internal energy was absorbed to create four identical ives that surrounded the [wolf howling at the moon]. The next moment he was descending like a meteor his ives loudly shing against the thick chain bs, cracking multiple chain links as they were sent hurtling into the horizon. "[Freezing fireball]" Following up his ive skill Frost summoned two balls of ice fire and sent them barrelling towards the two giants whounched the chain bs. "Tsk!" They loudly clicked their tongues and drew their twin hammers. With deft movements the two frost giants mmed the faces of their hammers against one another, obliterating the ball of the ice fire thaty between. Frost''s magic waspletely ineffective, leaving a few bits of frost on their brows, nothing more. These two though they were weaker than Gageus, it wasn''t by much, definitely peak C-rank. Chapter 691 Run! (3) Frost couldn''t help but frown as he saw his freezing fireballs erased by the might of their twin hammers, they were far more tenacious than he first thought. However with them being preupied with him and having used their chain bs Kiba was free to charge forward unencumbered at least for a few tens of metres before being faced with Gageus. Therger frost giant kept his eyes entirely on Kiba and the weaker prey that resided on his back. He moved seamlessly to block their path forward, his great axe raised above his head. "[Great cier cleave]" Gageus used a high tier weapon skill that greatly increased the size of his axe as well as its weight. He swung down with enough force to rend apart the ground beneath their feet, an inferior copy of Ymir cleaving apart the cial mountains millennia ago. Kiba felt his fur stand erect, his instincts screaming for him to dodge the intimidating blow. Boooomm!!! The great axe fell upon the snow fields with immense fury, exploding the point of contact for metres in all directions. Cracks quickly formed along the ground, expanding into massive fissures as they hurtled towards Kiba. "Grrr!" The cial winged tiger was forced backwards and into the air, undoing the distance he managed to cover. "[Wind bullet]" Feeling annoyed Aviraunched several green wind bullets with her wand in retaliation but Gageus simply stood his ground, he didn''t even block, allowing the wind bullets to collide against his armour and even flesh. "Hmph!" He smirked in reply, finding Avira''s magic ticklish. "V don''t bother with offensive spells, nothing you have will work against him!" Frost suddenly appeared between Gageus and them with his ive at the ready. "Focus on those two while I clear the way." He loudly ordered before dashing straight at Gageus. This battle needed to be over yesterday, every second they waste the closer the horde behind them bes and the more attention they draw from the real powerhouses lying in wait. Gageus was a test, the strongest line-up they''d send before bringing in the big guns. Gageus who saw Frost charging at him with his ive poised and his body donned in ice armour couldn''t help but grin from ear to ear. His heart thumped in anticipation, his lust for battle filling every inch of his body as he gripped the shaft of his axe and readied himself. Finally his true opponent was facing him head on. "[Wyvern''s maw]" Frost made the first move, summoning a massive wyvern''s maw covered in ice fire chakra. The great beast was let loose with a violent swing of his ive, roaring as it moved to bite Gageus'' left arm. "Hmph you think a pathetic little wyvern can intimidate me, a giant." Gageus wasn''t pressured in the slightest, he didn''t even ready his axe instead he moved his left hand and simply grabbed hold of the vicious wyvern''s maw. "You want to bite into a giant''s flesh then you''re going to need a full blown dragon little elf!" Gageus stopped the wyvern''s maw dead in its tracks with his physical strength alone and after mocking the creature''s species mmed the semi-corporal maw into the snow beneath his feet, dissipating it instantly. "I know but what about my ive." Frost coldly replied as he appeared right beside Gageus, his ive''s de edge glinting in the sunlight as dreaded silver mes danced across it. The [wyvern''s maw] was a decent skill but rathercking when it came to dealing with those in the higher ranks, Frost knew this therefore he didn''t expect it to deal any sort of damage, merely draw Gageus'' attention while he got into position. Time seemed to slow down as Frost''s ive was filled with internal energy as well as a sliver of his aura, not enough to draw too much attention but enough to harmonise with his next skill, a skill that required one to be at the advanced level of ive mastery. A move that far surpassed the [wyvern''s maw] and one that had the potential to end this little duel in an instant. He was going to use everything he had to put Gageus in the ground in shortest amount of time. Gageus who''s instincts were at a high very high level instantly sensed danger,pletely different from the threat of therge wyvern''s maw. His muscles grew taught, and a cold sweat dripped down his spine as the spectre of death started to whisper into his ear and take hold of his heart. ''Shit!'' He internally cursed while giving up on all forms of offence. Without even looking at what Frost was cooking up he immediately locked himself up like a turtle, protecting his vital areas with his thickest muscles and armour in preparation. "[Flight of the Luan]" As Frost spoke themand words for his most powerful ive skill, his internal energy moulded into the form of arge Luan, a bird of ice fire, a sub species of the ice phoenix. Therge bird loudly cried out, shaking Gageus to his core and in the next moment the Luan along with Frost''s ive [wolf howling at the moon] shed with such intensity that the soundgged behind the swing. Schwing! Squelch! Ding! "Ahhhh!!" Gageus roared in pain, his arms werecerated to the point that the bones were showing. Ruby red blood dripped profusely onto the snow as fragments of his armour ked off, some were finely cut, others were deformed while a few werepletely shattered, blown apart by the frigid mes of the Luan and Frost''s chakra. A serious wound that made even holding onto his great axe difficult let alone swinging it. Gageus reeled backwards from the residual force, partially grateful as it put some much needed distance between the two of them. Gageus knew that Frost was strong, but this was something else, this wasn''t the strength of a person at the peak of C-rank no this was someone at the B-rank and not necessarily at the entry stages either. Despite him not using a full blown aura Gageus knew Frost was not in the same realm as him. "Shit he''s." Doing his best to ignore the pain in his arms Gageus tried to warn hisrades and hopefully any true tribesmen in the area. But before he could Frost was on him like a shark on blood. ''Fucking dense meat bag!'' Though he appeared calm and rational, internally Frost wasmenting his failure to deal more damage with his advanced level ive skill. That thing was a move that even a strong B-rank monster would struggle to endure yet Gageus didn''t even lose a limb, his density and resilience was truly monstrous. "Kiba!" Not forgetting his aim Frost loudly called upon his battle mount who had be entangled with Gageus'' cohorts. He''d swipe with his ws, beat his wings and asionally attempt to take a bite while Avira enchanted him with wind magic and focused on shielding his blind spots along with Borris. "Garow!" Understanding his partner Kiba roared and forcefully pushed back the two frost giants before dashing north towards Icethorne now that the way was clear. Meanwhile Frost focused on eliminating the threat that was Gageus, as long as the man could chase after them and instruct his fellow giants they''d simply be dying the inevitable, he needed to be taken care of if they didn''t want to be bogged down in another ten minutes. As if sensing Frost''s desire to kill Gageus once again turtled up, this time however he increased the density of his own ice chakra armour over his vitals. Unfortunately Frost had already learned of his durability thus he aimed lower. "[Flight of the Luan]" Once again he used his strongest move. Ignoring the cost in stamina he targeted Gageus'' legs. His arms were injured to the point thatunching a decent swing was an impossibility but as long as he could move he''d be trouble thus Frost targeted his legs. Killing someone as strong as Gageus in such a short amount of time and without the full use of his aura was impossible and though desired not integral. "Criiiiiii" The Luan cried out the moment it formed once again causing Gageus'' soul to tremble before he was struck with an intense, sharp, burning sensation along his legs. Blood burst forth like a geyser, drenching Frost''s white robes red. The cuts were deep, the nerves damaged by ice fire to the point that even the slightest of movements sent pangs of intense pain through Gageus'' body. His lower strength left him, his bnce faltering as he threatened buckle, his legs no longer able to support his immense weight. Despite the pain however Gageus remained locked up like a turtle, refusing to give Frost even the slightest glimmer of reaching his vitals, stubborn to the end. An act that would see him live to see another day but first. Don! He felt a strong kick to his midriff and the next thing he knew his massive 8 metre body was sent barrelling through the air, his blood leaving a distinct trail as he passed near his tworades. "Gageus!!" They roared in concern before dashing to catch him,pletely ignoring Frost and Kiba who used this chance to escape. Using Gageus'' body as a springboard Frostunched himself into the air andnded on Kiba''s back. "Run!" Chapter 692 Run! (4) Once again the group ran towards Icethorne as fast they possibly could and soon Gageus, his two closepanions and the other frost giants moving in from the west, east and south lost sight of them. "Fuck!" Gageus roared out in anger. The wounds Frost left across his arms and legs violently spurt out blood, dyeing both his own blue skin and those of hisrades ruby red. The pain was extreme, but his fury was even greater. "Gageus don''t il around you''ll only make it worse." One of the frost giants who caught him loudly ordered while the other one moved to restrain him. "Bastard! I''ll kill him and eat his flesh!" Gageus fury continued to rise, his body struggling against hisrades as a viciousness filled his gaze. "Bring me back to the temple!" His tworades trembled upon hearing his order, knowing full well of his reasoning. Though they needed to head back to the crevasse anyway to report their failure and treat Gageus'' injuries they knew that wasn''t the reason he gave that order. "Understood." The two of them nodded their heads and epted the order, grabbing hold of Gageus gently from the side and carrying him back to the crevasse, where their tribe lived and thrived. While Gageus was carried to safety by his tworades Frost and his group were able to make great distance, gradually closing the gap between them and Icethorne however Frost was anything but relieved. His strength and capabilities were surely known now to the local hegemons. "Faster Kiba we need to make it to Icethorne before they move!" "Garow!" Kiba chuffed and forced himself to pick up speed at the expense of stamina. Borris and Avira were forced to hold themselves even tighter against the tiger''s back lest they wished to be thrown off. "Frost what are our chances?" Eventually Borris asked the big question with a heavy heart. He was experienced enough to realise the situation they were in and to pick up on the state of their most powerful protector. "I''m not going to lie, it''s not good. The one I took down was almost at B-rank, meaning whoeveres at us next will be equivalent to my level possibly even higher." Frost himself was almost breaching into the mid stages of B-rank and was far more capable than most at his level but he was just one person, one person who had to protect others rather than fighting solo. At this point Borris and Avira were truly deadweight, their existence limiting his options. Borris was his friend and Avira well he promised General Anya and Luna that he''d safely escort her to Icethorne, he had his pride and honour but.if there was absolutely no choice then he''d have to abandon them to save his own skin, a choice he dreaded even thinking about but currently a distinct possibility. "Haaaaaa if ites down to itd don''t feel guilty, I''m old and I''ve lived a good life. I''ll dly sacrifice this body of mine if it''ll ensure the future of the younger generation." With a deep sigh Borris volunteered toy down his life, hoping to take a weight off Frost''s shoulders. The cial mountains were ssified as a danger zone for a reason. Lives were lost each and every day, amon urrence, one that Borris knew and epted going in. "Borris?" Avira turned her head to look at Borris in confusion, failing to catch onto the gravity of the situation at hand, stillpletely certain in Frost''s capabilities. "Just promise me that you''ll protect V. She''s too young to die and has so much to do for Northrend." Borris looked at the young princess with a gentle kindness, the same way he looked at his granddaughters. He''d grown really fond of her during their journey together. ".." Frost was silent for a few seconds as he took in Borris'' stance and endured his determined gaze. He bit his lower lip in frustration, his words struggling to leave his throat. ".Haaaaaa very well I give you my word Borris but we''re not there yet." Eventually he sumbed to the old dwarf''s will and promised to protect Avira. "I know but it''s best to be prepared beforehand." A moment''s hesitation could spell the end after all. Avira who had just caught on had tears streaming down her cheeks, shemented her weakness, her inability to protect herself let alone one of her citizens. The four continued with their journey, counting every single metre they crossed and every minute that passed. Eventually after almost 2 hours the boundary was in sight. A massivendscape of a mountain range stretching across the horizon and piercing beyond the clouds boldly separated the external and inner regions of the cial mountains. Dead ahead between two mountains in arge gap that stretched several kilometres wide allowing those from either side to pass through was an entrenched fortress. They were still too far to make anything out but even then Frost could tell that it was an absolute monstrosity, an impassable bulwark that kept the kingdoms and empires within the inner regions at bay as well as their personal beacon of sanctuary. Just a little longer and they''d make it. It was impossible to stop a sense of relief from festering in their hearts as the distant image of the fortress came into view but as if waiting for that exact moment disaster struck. "Not another step little kitty cat." Suddenly a booming voice tinged with a dense aura and bloodlust reverberated around them. Borris and Avira nearly passed out from the pressure while Kiba painfully groaned, his body feeling 3 times heavier and radiating fear, he struggled to disobey the voice. "Ignore her Kiba!" Frost was the only one not pressured by the voice and replied with his own aura, forcing back the aggressor''s pressure. "Tsk that wasn''t a request!" The low yet clearly female voice roared again this time with an even stronger aura as well as a physical attack. A fierce looking harpoon wasunched from the distance, piercing through obscuring snowfall to target Kiba''s hindquarters. The enemy intended to take away his legs, forcibly preventing him from taking another step. Frost with his battle instincts fully activated covered his ive and arm in chakra before shing at the oing harpoon. He was no longer holding back in the slightest, his aura was flowing through his body and weapon like water, enhancing his every move, adding density, speed, resilience and the ability topete against another''s aura. Frost was stronger, faster and more durable when his aura flowed like this, but the state was rather draining, an empowered mode that he could only use for a short period of time. His aura and chakra enhanced ive struck against the harpoon that travelled faster than sound. Boom! There was cataclysmic explosion of air when the two weapons shed, and Frost visibly winced as a strong force ran up his arm and nearly popped out his shoulder. Kiba who was the supporting foundation was blown backwards by the explosion, all four of his feet bing airborne as he drifted back close to ten metres. The momentum behind that harpoon was terrifying, just a single throw with no skill or even chakra, just pure physical strength and aura managed to make Frost grimace and knock Kiba off his feet. This opponent truly wasn''t someone Frost could hold back against. "Huh?" The enemy however was rather shocked by the situation. Her spear failed to pierce the tiger''s rear in fact it failed to pierce anything. She gazed at Frost as if trying to see through his secrets. ''Interesting.'' She internally said before slowly revealing herself from behind heavy snow fall and boulders of ice. The woman was a frost giant but farrger than Gageus and even Valend, standing roughly 12 maybe even 13 metres tall. She was covered in muscle and wore rather primitive, barbarian like attire. Crude leather and fur pelts along with monster bone armour. Her main weapon was a hammer fashioned of bone and ice, that likely weighed hundreds of kilograms. She was a frightening individual that screamed power, strength and wild brutality. The several scars across her torso, face and legs certainly didn''t help to soften her appearance, she well and truly a wild warrior. There was however some semnce in her face to Gageus, perhaps they were rted. When the woman was revealed in all her glory Avira and Borris visibly trembled, their instincts immediately setting off rm bells. This woman was strong, impossibly strong. Borris frowned heavily as he gazed at her massive hammer knowing full well that his te armour would fail to endure such an impact. Not wanting to entertain this woman with a dance Frost subtly ordered Kiba with their soul connection to keep running, he''d handle her aura as well as any projectiles sent their way. Kiba didn''t even chuff of growl in reply instead the moment his feet touched the snow covered ground he continued his charge north, towards Icethorne. "Acha I wouldn''t do that if I were you." The female frost giant said with an evil smirk and a momentter nearly a dozen javelins flew in the air, all targeting Kiba. "Shit stop!" Frost ordered Kiba to immediately stop, allowing him to avoid some of the javelins while the rest were shed by his ive or slightly redirected by an ice shield or three. Kiba tried to run again once all the javelins had been brought down but another volley was immediately sent his way ruling that out. Frost and the group were thus forced to face off against this massive frost giant as well as the several frost giants that stood hidden in the vicinity. From the javelins and his own senses Frost surmised that their enemy''s numbers stood at roughly a dozen perhaps more, terrible odds. Chapter 693 B-rank frost giant With their path forward cut off by deluges of javelins Frost, Kiba, Borris and Avira were forced to confront their new adversary, a massive B-rank female frost giant and the dozen or so C-rank giants still hidden within the nearby blizzard and behindrge boulders of ice. Their destination was in sight, no more than an hour or so travel yet it never felt so far. Avira and Borris visibly trembled and felt their hearts clench as they looked upon the giant''s towering form. They knew instinctively that they were no match, mere ants under her hammer. Even twenty C-rank frost giants weren''t as intimidating as this woman standing before them now. The twenty they could at least outrun and endure against but her, there was no escape. "Frost?" Borris being the more experienced of the group called upon their strongest protector with a resigned look in his eyes. They were truly up against a rock and a hard ce. He expected Frost to don an even uglier expression than his own but surprisingly there was a wild smile on his lips and though his body was tensed up, his jaw clenched, and he was visibly trembling it didn''t seem to be out of fear like himself and Avira. Instead Frost appeared excited, thrilled even. Borris'' assumption was on point, Frost was truly excited by the situation. Of course he understood their abysmal prospects but beneath that was an opportunity, an opponent to throw his all at. The B-rank frost giant was clearly in the upper levels of B-rank, a fighter with an abundant amount of experience behind her given the many scars lining her body. An opponent that was stronger than him and who would do everything in her power to devour him. His inner battle maniac couldn''t help but get riled up by the prospect. His blood flowed at a faster rate heating up his entire body, improving his reflexes and allowing his chakra and aura to flow through his system with near perfect fluidity. His body was ready for a fight, but his mind still needed to take care of the situation. They were several kilometres from Icethorne''s boundary, still within the crevasse of Ymir''s extended territory. The B-rank giant and her cohorts were thoroughly pining them down, any attempt to leave their zone of control resulted in a deluge of javelins and Frost could pick up movement in their surroundings. More and more giants wereing their way, yet none deigned to shown themselves apart from the B-rank woman. Perhaps there was a possibility of negotiation or at least a window of opportunity. As long as he could control and limit the actions of this women perhaps they could make a break for it or maybe just Avira. Borris was too much of a liability and had already offered to sacrifice himself. Frost needed to fight, there was no recourse for that thus that left Kiba and Avira. Avira alone would easily be run down by the C-ranks hidden behind the snowstorm so Kiba would have to go with her. Choosing to do so would not only fulfil his promise to Borris, Luna and General Anya but would present an opportunity. With Avira''s identity as long as she made it Icethorne she could enlist aid from their soldiers. The war fortress of Icethorne was filled with dozens of B-ranks and even several A-ranks, more than enough to intimidate the group currently moving to surround them. "Whatever you do don''t let go of Kiba." After rapidly analysing their situation for a second or two Frost sternly said, his eyes locked onto the giant woman with an evil smirk on her lips. She was enjoying the sight of her prey floundering in her presence. Frost closed his eyes for a moment, let out a deep breath and then leaped from Kiba''s back to stand before the giant woman with his ive in hand, ready to face off against her without nary a fear, leaving protection of Borris and Avira to Kiba who at this moment was shivering. The young cial winged tiger was afraid, fearful of the strength held by the female frost giant but more so about his partner who was now standing against her. "Hoh interesting, you''ve got balls I''ll give you that but then again it''s not like you''ve got much choice." Therge female giant lightlyughed as she rested her massive hammer across her shoulders and took a few steps forward. With her almost 13 metre frame she dwarfed the 2 metre Frost, like an adult looking down on an infant that just learned to stand, the sight if you take out the danger and bloodlust filling the air was ratherical. The female frost giant or Be as she was called wasn''t simply standing in front of Frost in an intimidating manner no her aura was fully unleashed, pressuring the surroundings and entirely focused on the little elf before her. Yet the man didn''t even stumble or wince instead he red back at her, unleashing his own aura in reply. Frost''s aura wasn''t as heavy nor as all-epassing but there was a greater quality to it, a density that allowed it stand on roughly equal footing with Be''s. A situation that truly surprised her and made her smile stretch from ear to ear. "No wonder my son was so heavily injured." Be was Gageus'' mother and someone with a rather high standing back in their tribe. When her son came home with significant injuries she was furious and upon learning that they were caused by a B-rank elf who had intruded upon their territory she immediately rounded up a battalion and set off in pursuit only just now managing to catch up and deploy their anti-escape measures. "Your flesh will make for a great tonic, allowing my son to bridge the gap and be a true member of the tribe." Be was quite a protective mother and had high hopes for her son so despite it being a little overkill moved to hunt this little elf personally. "Hmph you know I was thinking the same thing, I''ve never had frost giant steaks before." Frost taunted in reply with a starving look in his eyes, looking Be up and down as if she was a walking delicacy. "..." There was an eery silence for a second or two before sudden cracks and twangs reverberated. Being looked at as prey by someone inferior set Be off. Throbbing veins instantly appeared across her forehead and along her arms as without the slightest hesitation she swung out with her massive hammer. DON!! Frost expecting some sort of responsive had his ive and chakra armour ready but even so the moment her hammer made contact he felt like a child. The force behind her blow instantly lifted him from the ground and sent him skidding across the snow. His chakra armour lining his left side literally exploded from the impact and blood trickled down his forearm as the seams between his fingers split open. There was at least several tons behind that sudden blow, a great deal more than what he was expecting. ''She''s even stronger than I thought.'' Frost purposefully baited Be into attacking him suddenly, hoping to gauge the extent of her physical brutality and he wasn''t disappointed. His internal organs were shaken, his vision slightly blurry and he felt like he wanted to puke his guts out but that was only temporary. ''It''s just like Maya.'' Hepared Be''s blow and even movement to that of Maya who also used hammers and who before the family gathering trumped him in terms of physical strength. If Be used an axe, a sword or anything other than a hammer then he wouldn''t be quite so optimistic but given that he trained profusely with someone who had perfect grade mastery over hammers Be''s capabilities seemed rathercklustre inparison. "Frost!" Avira loudly screamed in concern, her body fighting against her base instincts and her desire to run to his side to help him but in the end she stayed put. Her body refused to leave Kiba''s back, Be was just too intimidating. This was the right call as the moment she left Kiba''s back was the moment this battle was over. Frost stood before Be so as to draw her aggression and protect her, Borris and Kiba while they waited for an opportunity. Right now only Be was making moves in the open, whether that was out of arrogance, or some other reason Frost didn''t care as it was advantageous to them. ''There''ll be a chance, there has to be.'' ''Kiba use your nascent aura to calm yourself, watch the surroundings and if you see an opportunity run for Icethorne and don''t look back.'' Frost used his soul connection with Kiba to silently give him an order while he shook off Be''s impact and moved to retaliate. The young tiger trembled as he heard his partner''s voice and moved to used his still growing aura, an action he had very little experience in doing. "[Freezing fireball]" Frostunched two balls of ice fire at Be, obscuring her vision as he moved into a blind spot, using a simr method as he did with Gageus. And to be expected the balls of ice fire were nothing in Be''s eyes, with a simple punch and headbutt these balls of ming magic were dissipated, revealing the tiny elf directly below her chin. "[Flight of the Luan]" Using his most powerful ive skill Frost summoned a silver blue Luan around his ive and shed upwards, holding nothing back. His blow was infused with ice fire chakra and his royal aspected aura to its absolute limits. Such as sh was even greater that what Gageus was hit with and the timing, angle and speed were bang on perfectUnfortunately his opponent was stronger, faster and more experienced than he was. Chapter 694 B-rank frost giant (2) "Criiiii!!" The semi-corporal Luan cried out as it moved in concert with Frost''s upward sh, the sound attempting to shake Be''s soul, to freeze her for a moment so as to deal maximum damage. s Be was strong and a very experienced fighter. Frost''s initial attempts to ovee her senses were nothing but childish attempts in her eyes. She abolished his freezing fireballs with minimal movement and locked her gaze almost instantly beneath her chin, predicating his movements with frightening uracy. Though his ive skill was rather impressive and his aura quite distinct it was nothing she hadn''t faced before. The high pitched cry of the Luan didn''t faze her in the slightest. The moment Frost''s sh moved upwards in an attempt to carve up her face she deftly used the head of her hammer to partially redirect the blow and took a single step backwards. Schwing! The sharp sh cut through the air, splitting it apart with a trail of frost. A mighty blow thatpletely missed its intended target. Frost was internally surprised, not expecting such skilled and quick movements from the muscle bound giant but he didn''t let it distract him. Using the residual force of his upward swing he flipped his body andshed out with a brutal kick. With his right leg covered in dense, multyered ice chakra he aimed for Be''s sr plexus, not aiming to deal much damage but to use her as a springboard. Unfortunately this too was predicted by the scar covered woman. Crunch! Be''s left hand was silently ced before her chest and the moment Frost''s leg made contact she grabbed him and squeezed hard. "Quick little bastard aren''t you!" Said Be with a smile that stretched from ear to ear and filled those watching with trepidation. She wasn''t expecting her prey to be quite so nimble as well as physically strong. Her massive hand felt numbed from his kick, and she barely managed to catch him despite predicating his moves. Frost was strong, far stronger than her son. Crack! As she started to get excited by the potential of her prey and thought on how lucky her son was she mped down on Frost''s caught leg, crushingyer afteryer of his dense ice chakra as if it was brittle ss. Frost grimaced as the pressure increased, he tried to pull himself free but failed to even move a single millimetre from her grip. He was locked in tight; Be wasn''t going to let him go until his foot had be mush. He attempted to kick with his other leg but still her grip tightened, he was starting to really feel it now, just a few more kilograms of force and his bones would start trembling. "Let go!" He roared while swinging out with his ive but was unfortunately met with Be''s massive hammer, his only other recourse now was to freeze burn her off. When anotheryer of ice chakra was crushed silver mes burst forth from the cracks engulfing Be''s hand. The ice fire chakra chilled the surface of her hand and attempted to invade her flesh, but it was a rather slow process. The massive B-rank frost giant was clearly resistant to his mes. Just when his ankle bone was about to sumb to the pressure a redness filled Frost''s eyes as desperation set in. "[ck ice guillotine]" Since his ive was repeatedly rebuffed by his opponent''s hammer, his ice armour unable to endure her physical strength and his mes too slow to force her off his only recourse was magic. Frost cast a 4th circle ice spell that summoned a guillotine of ice so transparent that it was invisible to the naked eye. This invisible guillotine wasn''t all that thick and if struck by a half decent blow, was likely to fracture but it was razor de sharp, even Be''s dense muscture would likely struggle to endure against its edge. Finally there was something that made the frost giant wince. The woman almost immediately reeled back her hand, releasing Frost from her iron grip. [ck ice guillotine] was a very lopsided spell, giving up all forms of defence, speed and robustness for pure cutting power. Even someone like Be who was resistant to ice magic and sported a thick musclebound form would see her flesh severed if she wasn''t careful. Her position made letting Frost go her only choice if she wished to retain full functionality of her left arm. Not waiting to give the woman another chance to take hold Frost immediately moved backward the moment his feet touched the ground. The two stared at one another silently for a few seconds, reevaluating their opponent''s strengths. ''She''s fast, strong and far more experienced than I am.I can''t let her catch me again.'' Frost was rather confident in his acrobatics even Maya praised him on his manoeuvrability but against Be such flexible attacks were just pointless movements asking to be countered. The size difference between them was revealing significant advantages and disadvantages. ''Slow and steady, don''t go for a shy attack, chip away at her.'' Frost steadied his breathing, shook his throbbing leg and fixed his chakra armour before readying himself for round two. Be who wasn''t hurt in the slightest also changed her attitude. Frost was stronger and more dangerous than she first thought, an opponent she couldn''t let herself rx around. A glint shed in her eyes as she licked her lips, curious to know how sulent his flesh was. The stronger and more talented Frost was the better. Not only would he be tastier the chances of her son ascending after eating his flesh would be higher plus she could actually enjoy herself. It''d been years since shest had a good fight, spars and matches with her fellow frost giants just weren''t the same as fighting a being with their life on the line. She gripped her hammer with both hands, dug her feet into the snow and gestured for her cohorts to stay back, to only move if the tiger did. The pressure continued to build between the two fighters, the suspense weighing heavily on the observers'' hearts, Kiba and Avira especially. Just when the suspense couldn''t get any greater a small hill of snow copsed under the wind and Frost vanished, appearing a momentter behind Be, his ive thrusting at her back like a spear. Ding! As if she had eyes on the back of her head Be used the butt of her hammer to deflect his ive while at the same time spun round with her left hand in an attempt to smash Frost like a pumpkin. Her movements were seamless and incredibly quick, but Frost had learned from his earlier mistake. He took no chances, the moment his thrust was deflected he moved. Utilising his powerful legs he manoeuvred around Be and started peppering her with quick jabs and shes, only very rarely activating a skill like [flight of the Luan]. Skills were generally finishing moves or moves used in a pinch, no one not even Frost could continually use skill after skill in a fight, the drain in stamina being way too high. Add on the fact that he was using his aura throughout his entire body as a boost to his physical strength, he really couldn''t afford to squander his reserves. He had very little hope in winning this battle, even if he somehow broke through to the mid stages of B-rank he still wouldn''t be a match for Be. Her strength was likely just a level lower than that demon from the monster stampede. The one that took an A-rank general to subdue. No his aim was to buy time and hopefully create an opportunity for Avira, Borris and Kiba to flee to Icethorne. Without them being around he could fight harder, more recklessly and hopefully endure until aid arrived. Unfortunately after several minutes there was no such opportunity cropping up. Be was taking his entire focus while she was manhandling him with concentration to spare. Every so often she''d tease moving towards Kiba or have her cohorts make some noise, pressuring them all, Frost especially. She was wise enough to know of his ns and loved siphoning off the hope he held one tendril at a time, it greatly improved the vour of the meat. "Hoh almost got you that time." "Come on be more aggressive or I might just decided to end you all at once." "Maybe I should kill one of them to motivate you a little more." "If the tiger moves even slightly pierce his hide with javelins." The taunts came one after another, wounding Frost''s psyche and gradually pressuring him to change his tactics. The more he slowly peppered her with attacks, ying mouse the more aggressive the taunts became and the more danger Kiba, Borris and Avira were in. This was just a game to her, Frost was an interesting opponent but if he wasn''t going to face her head on she''d rather just decimate them all with their number advantage. Don! "Urgh!" Finally after being repeatedly taunted Frost moved in for a deadlier blow and left himself open for a fierce reprisal. Be smashed her massive hammer against his left side after taking a minor sh to her vicle, another scar for her remarkable temple of a body. Frost wasn''t as prepared for this one and was sent flying through the air, one of his ribs making a loud cracking sound as he crashed against the snow. Blood drained from his face as pain radiated from his ribs, one was broken while another two were cracked. He could still move well but the force behind his ive wouldn''t be the same. The trade-off in their exchange was too lopsided. Chapter 695 "Whats your name elf?" Frost kneeled in the snow, his right hand firmly holding onto his ive while his left felt his ribs, assessing the degree of damage. ''Fuck that hurt!'' The physical strength behind each of Be''s blows was immense, rivalling that of Maya''s and then some. Every blow she dealt required hisplete focus and attention, a slight miss and he''d end up in his current situation, tossed aside like a ragdoll. Thankfully his own body was rather durable and quick to heal. The bruised ribs were already bing numb while muscles around the broken one bulked up to prevent excess movement. It still hurt but not enough to take him out of the fight. He stood up, gripped his ive with both hands and once again entered a battle ready stance, weing the massive female giant charging towards him with her hammer raised over her head. "[Titan''s cmity]" Enthralled by the smell of blood Be stepped up her aggression, she used an advanced level hammer skill hoping to turn Frost into a pile of mush. If he survived great she could continue to enjoy this little game and if not then it was a job well done, she could then return home, see to her son''s injuries and hand him the flesh of her prey. Flesh that would surely allow Gageus to ascend to her realm and be a true member of the tribe. Among the frost giant caste those at C-rank were the weakest of the weak and the very young. Only when a frost giant achieved B-rank would they be considered and adult and be granted an official status within the tribe. Until then they could only take on rudimentary and unimportant tasks such as scout work in the external regions of the cial mountains. Be''s already massive hammer grew in size as the image of a giant evenrger than herself formed behind her. Before the weapon even began to descend Frost could already feel its immense weight. He felt as though the gravity around him increased by several degrees, restricting him to the one area, ensuring sessful contact but Frost was already used to such a feeling. Maya thoroughly trained him in regards to both hammer techniques as well as the effects of aura that could appear within those at the B-rank. With a flush of his own aura through his body he brushed off the pressure and rolled away. A momentter Be''s hammer came down with a thunderp. A cataclysmic explosion erupted when the hammer met the floor. Snow, ice and even deep-seated bedrock burst out, flying tens of metres in all directions, revealing the insane strength behind Be''s blow. Kiba barely manage to stay upright as the ground beneath his paws trembled and even fractured. Avira and Borris felt their hearts lurch as fear and worry overcame them. They didn''t manage to catch Frost''s escape and thought he''d been caught. The confident and suave elf who seemed nigh invincible, crushed by the hammer of a monster, just a few tens of kilometres outside the fortress of Icethorne. Thankfully he did manage to escape and was already on the attack. Through the thick dust of ice and snow Frost''s handsome face appeared, his expression wild and his eyes fixated on the visage of Be before him. Moving silently and with immense speed Frost thrust his ive dead ahead, aiming for Be''s calves. Squelch! "Bastard!" His de edge sunk several inches deep, not much in regards to lethality but certainly painful. The area was rathercking in armour and couldn''t result in anything substantial, so Be wasn''t expecting to be attacked there, least of all by a thrust. She felt a stinging paining from her left calf and on instinctshed out with her hammer, but Frost had already disappeared back into the snow dust she herself had caused. The dust obscured her vision, and his soft movements made it hard for her to rely on her ears, so she could only use her years of experience as well as battle senses. Unfortunately Frost appeared to change up his tempo. He was still peppering her from different angles, relying primarily on his speed and small stature but this time he was being very proactive and attacking unusual areas. While she blocked her vitals a sudden sh would cut up her backside or when she was protecting her arms his ive would end up slicing her pinkie finger. The uncouth young man even targeted her breasts, chopping off over half her left nipple, taking advantage of her fashionably exposed flesh while avoiding the harder to reach areas. Within a couple of minutes the massive giant was covered in minor cuts and scrapes. All of which stung like insect bites. "Annoying bug!!!" Her fury finally hit the fan when her breasts were targeted. She sported dozens of scars throughout her body, but her breasts were still smooth and firm just the way she and her husband liked them yet now the left one had a nasty scar running straight across and half her nipple hade loose, pping in the air. "ROOOAAARRRR!!!" Be suddenly lowered her centre of gravity, looked upwards into the sky and let loose with a primordial roar that shook the souls of all those dwelling nearby as well as tens of kilometres away. Kiba''s roar was like a that of a mere kittenspared to hers. Even Frost who was somewhat prepared for it lost his footing, his ears ringing from the intense vibrations. Worst of all the dust of ice and snow was forcibly cleared, bringing Frost back into the open as well as a surprise. Be in her anger didn''t even register the situation her entire focus aimed at Frost. Wasting no time at all she wielded her hammer in anger and began wildly swinging the beast, her desire to quash the annoying bug palpable. "Fuck!" "They''ve gone!" It was the surrounding frost giants who were there to serve as backup and escape prevention that noticed the immediate problem. Kiba, Borris and Avira had disappeared. Their original position was bereft of arge tiger, a human and a dwarf. All that remained were a few paw prints from where Kiba once stood. There wasn''t even a trail showing the direction in which they ran, clearly the beast utilised his wings to hover slightly. Despite theck of a trail it didn''t take a genius to work out their direction. Within a couple seconds each and every one of the frost giants in the background turned to the face the north and far in the distance they could see the blurry figure of a tiger and two people riding him. "Priestess the tiger escaped!" One of the higher ranked frost giant''s immediately informed Be who was wantonly chasing after Frost with heavy swings, the damn elf deftly avoiding each and every one with a calm expression. "Huh?" Hearing the ruckus from her subordinates she reluctantly pried her gaze from Frost and took note of the situation. "Fuck!" She loudly cursed, her fiery gaze once again turning back to the tiny elf standing before her in a taunting manner. ''The sneaky bugger used the snow dust to order hisrades away and used aggressive pain inducing moves to keep my focus entirely on him. fuck!'' She was absolutely furious, she felt humiliated and mocked. "Costa! Davros! Take half the giants and chase after them, we can''t let them reach Icethorne!" Though the frost giants were quite the powerhouse Icethorne was an enemy they didn''t want to cross right now. The Duke was especially frightening. Not only did the man have a personal strength nearing S-rank he was unrivalled when it came to warfare. The man could win a battle easily when outnumbered ten to one. His monicker among the local monsters and nations within the inner regions was the [Iceborne War God]. Even her A-rank superiors wouldn''t want to mess with him let alone her who was only at the peak of B-rank. "Understood priestess." Costa and Davros replied with a military like salute and quickly took off after Kiba, Borris and Avira along with half their giantrades. Leaving 8 not including Be to restrain Frost in escaping which was now a likely scenario given that his weaker party members were clear of danger. The frost giants that kept themselves hidden within the natural snowstorms and ice outcrops now revealed themselves and subtly surrounded Frost. With their Javelins primed and ready they took aim, waiting only for Be''s signal to start the deluge. If they allowed him to get away as well then they could kiss their lives goodbye. "Seems that I''m rather popr" Frost said with a slight chuckle yet internally he was feeling the pressure. It wasn''t afortable feeling being surrounded by giants that stood almost ten metres tall and pointed 4 metre javelins at you while an evenrger giant red at you in fury with a massive hammer in her hands, a hammer that could pulverise you in an instant if not prepared for the blow. Veins protruded along Be''s body as her anger threatened to overwhelm her reasoning but eventually she managed to calm herself back down. She bit her lower lip, drawing blood and breathed which was not a good sign for Frost. An anger fuelled enemy though more aggressive and physically strong was easier to predict and manage. "Congrattions elf but unfortunately you''ve merely dyed the inevitable" Be shook her head, insinuating that Frost''s valiant efforts were pointless. "However, I respect your courage and because of that I''ll kill you myself." She gestured with her hands causing the surrounding frost giants to lower their javelins. "What''s your name elf?" Chapter 696 "Whats your name elf?" (2) "What''s your name elf?" Asked Be with a clear tone of respect in her voice. Frost, though mere prey was worthy of her attention. His stubbornness, patience, wit and focus had won him the right to be treated as a true foe thus Be ordered her subordinates to lower their javelins despite having Frost in their crosshairs. He was to be her prey and hers alone.of course if he stupidly attempted to flee from her loving embrace then things would be different therefore the javelins were only lowered not sheathed. "Frost, my name is Frost.and you." Feeling the spectre of death fading Frost replied with a strained smile, doing whatever he could to keep those looming giants at bay. Be alone was hard enough to deal with, if he had to face the threat of another 8 frost giants then he might as well dig his own grave. His current situation was extremely perilous, death constantly looming but he didn''t lose hope. He could still move, still attack and still defend himself. As long as he could still draw breath the battle was far from over. He didn''t have a powerful guardian who could teleport to his side anymore, but he had faith in both his own capabilities and those of Kiba, Borris and Avira. As long as he bought enough time, help woulde. "Be." With a wild smile that was steeped in barbarity, joy, carnage and battle lust Be formally introduced herself. She curtly bowed her head in greeting before intensifying the aura that surrounded her body. "Be proud little elf for you have earned the right to die under my hammer as a true foe." Her muscles tensed and bulged to obscene levels as she raised her hammer above her head. Ice chakra then formed over her body to protect the areas not covered by her armour. Her technique wasn''t as refined as Frost''s, but the density and thickness was certainly there and with her insane level of strength the extra weight would only increase her potential devastation. Frost felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as Be readied herself for a true battle rather than a game of cat and mouse. His heart thumped away like a jack hammer and an indescribable excitement flowed through his veins as the pressure from her aura attempted to crush his spirit and body. It was clear that Be was going easy before, a notion that should have him quaking in his boots but instead it brought a mad smile to his lips. In response to her shift in attitude Frost also released his restraints. Without having to keep an eye on those behind him he could now go all out. His royal aspected aura battled against the heavier aura released from Be, defying it at every turn despite being weaker. He gripped the shaft of his ive with both hands, calmed his breathing and readied himself for the most dangerous yet also the most exciting fight of his young life. Hepletely forgot about the frost giants surrounding him and erased any and all thoughts of escape and instead focused entirely on therge woman before him. She was his enemy, and an enemy must be killed. Fwoosh! Frost vanished in an instant and appeared a momentter before Be with his ive at the ready. The only thing he had over her was speed, so he was going to use that advantage to its upmost. While Frost began his true engagement with Be, Kiba, Borris and Avira were desperately fleeing north as fast as they possibly could. "Hurry Kiba every second counts!" Borris roared at the top of his lungs, a guilty expression adorning his face as Frost grew smaller and smaller in his rear view. ''Damn bastard!'' He cursed Frost internally, feeling awful about the situation at hand. Frost was young, kind and full of potential while he was nearing his deathbed, an old man with only so much left to give. It should have been him to make the sacrifice but unfortunately he was just too weak. He and Avira didn''t even get any prior notice, one minute Frost was facing off against Be the next snow and ice dust obscured their surroundings and Kibaunched himself to the North with them on his back. Though he hated the situation Borris knew better than to ruin Frost''s efforts, so he strengthened his grip and encouraged Kiba to go faster all while making sure that Avira was locked in ce. The young girl may very well do something foolish like jump off and run back to Frost''s side to die alongside him. "Borris!?" Still shellshocked by their sudden departure Avira rotated her neck and shouted at the old dwarf with a mix of anger and confusion. "Not a word V, Frost knows what he''s doing." Borris wrapped his arms around Avira to hold her down before continuing. "We need to get to Icethorne as soon as possible, you especially, only then can we help him." "But?" Avira wriggled, her gaze looking firmly at the gradually shrinking form of their protector. "We''re useless against those kind of monsters V, only by reaching Icethorne and you requesting aid from their soldiers can we help him." Borris knew full well of his intentions. Frost couldn''t win against Be, nor would he be able to escape from her clutches, all he could do was buy time, time for them to get help. Icethorne was close, close enough for help to reach him in time and with Avira''s status that help was pretty much guaranteed. "Garow!!" Kiba loudly chuffed in agreement, picking up even more speed, he even used his wings to propel them forward, desperately using every scrap of strength he had to increase their speed. The group of three, a winged cial tiger, a dwarven smith and a princess travelling incognito barrelled through the falling snow, heading directly North towards the vast fortress in the distance, hoping to find aid as fast as possible. Unfortunately with their reactions and massive steps it didn''t take long for Costa and Davros to narrow the gap. "Shit! Kiba we''ve gotpany." Within 15 minutes Borris caught sight of Costa and Davros chasing after them with arge contingent of frost giants behind them all armed with javelins. "Grrrrr!!" Kiba growled and tried to elerate but he was already going as fast as he possibly could. All his earlier running along with the two heavy weights that were Borris and Avira -mostly Borris- had greatly taxed his stamina. At their current rate the frost giants would be within javelin range in 3 maybe 5 minutes. Icethorne was still far in the distance, and they hadn''t run into a single patrol so far things weren''t looking good. "Kiba if you can''t lose them in the next two minutes I''ll buy you some time and lighten your load. Without me dragging you down you should be able to reach the fortress in time." Said Borris with a resolved expression. He didn''t know how much time his weak ass could actually buy them but even if it was just a few seconds Kiba could likely drag that out for several minutes thanks to the reduction in weight. Kiba tilted his head slightly to stare at Borris, the two exchanged looks for a second before Kiba chuffed and nodded his head. The agreement had been made, if he couldn''t lose their followers within the next two minutes Borris would voluntarily jump from his back and face them with his hammer. Tears streamed down Avira''s cheeks as she silently held strong onto Kiba''s back and fur. She was too weak to do anything, a pathetic princess who''s only use was her status, something she was born with rather than earned. Kiba did his best to lose Davros and Costa but unfortunately in the end he failed. The frost giants with their massive strides,ck of extra baggage and non-exhausted states allowed them to eventually catch up with the winged cial tiger. Seeing this Borris leaned back and gently smiled as his life shed before his eyes. It was a life well lived. Though he failed to reach the peak of the smithing world he made a decent attempt and never gave up on his dreams even in old age. More importantly he met a beautiful woman who filled him with joy each and every day that they were together. She blessed him with many children and they in turn blessed him with adorable grandchildren. It was a life filled with love and bliss. He truly had nothing to regret. As thest seconds ticked by and the frost giants started to make their moves Borris bore a gentle smile. He looked fondly at Kiba who was on the brink of tears and then at the young woman who he recently met and travelled with through the cial mountains. A woman who reminded him so much of his grandchildren yet bore such a heavy responsibility. "Hahahaha" Heughed before cing a hand on Avira''s hood and gently saying, "be a good Empress V." Then in that moment he pushed against Kiba''s back with his free hand and allowed his body to safely dismount from the tiger''s back. Borris readied himself for a worthy death. Chapter 697 Cold greeting As Borris left the safety of Kiba''s back and slowly drifted down onto the cold snow thaty beneath, ready to face off against Costa, Davros and the many frost giants trailing after them he felt a sharp tug from his neck. It was so strong that he abruptly choked, his entire body''s weight pulling against whatever held him back. "Gugh! Ahh V!!" It only took a second for him to realise who impeded his dismount. Ignoring his gargled words Avira used all her physical strength to wrench the old dwarf back onto Kiba. "Cough cough V what the hell are you doing!?" Borris roared; his face warped in anger. He was absolutely livid, she practically sentenced them all to death with her actions. "Look" With warm tears streaming down her cheeks Avira forcibly turned Borris'' face to the northwest, allowing him to see why she did what she did." "V!....Eh!" With his eyes still clouded by anger it took Borris a couple seconds to see what V was trying to show him. ".Hahahaha we''re saved, praise be to the Dark God and the great Volmir, the heavens smile upon us." In the distance Borris could make out the forms of people, soldiers marching in formation towards them. It was a patrol, a regiment of Icethorne''s army. Kiba without even needing to hear Avira''s voice turned towards the patrol in the distance and dashed forward, burning away thest vestiges of his strength. "Shit soldiers from Icethorne." Davros noticed the patrol a few secondster and briefly slowed down his advance as his mind processed their options. Costa and the other frost giants also instinctively slowed down allowing Kiba the chance to break away from their dreaded pursuit. "Davros, we have to pursue them." Costa yelled through gritted teeth knowing full well the price of failure. "Ahhh fine everyone run them down, ignore the soldiers for now but if they dare to interfere.ughter them all." Davros knew how dangerous Icethorne was but as long as there were no witnesses it should be fine. The pursuing group only slowed for 5 maybe 10 seconds but that was more than enough time for Kiba to leave them in the dust and make his way towards the patrolling soldiers. Unfortunately they didn''t exactly receive the warmest of wees. The moment the soldiers caught sight of Kiba they each readied themselves for battle. Shield bearers formed a phnx with the aid of the spearmen while the archers and mages congregated into the centre where they could be best protected. Within mere moments Kiba was targeted by multiple bows, offensive magic by one of the mages and a deluge of well trained bloodlust that made even him an upper C-rank winged cial tiger tremble in fear. Thankfully the soldiers quickly noticed the fact that the monster in question was carrying two people and was in fact contracted thus the arrows were never loosed but they weren''t lowered either. "Halt! Identify yourself!" Arge human woman with long white hair and a sharp scar across her nose bellowed with such volume that a minor avnche started on one of the nearby mountains. "Please help." "Sergeant they''re being chased by frost giants." Before Avira could even begin to exin her situation and reveal her identity one of the woman''s subordinates noticed the many frost giants running behind them with determined expressions. "Fuck!" Therge woman loudly cursed before ordering her subordinates to tighten their ranks and prepare for a bloodbath. Her gaze towards Avira and Borris which was already rather wary and unfriendly was now filled with aggression. An arrow was quicklyunched at Kiba''s feet forcing therge tiger to stop in his tracks. "Grrrr!!" Anger filled Kiba as he growled at their supposed allies. "You!" Avira nearly blew a gasket upon seeing the change in the soldiers eyes, they were being treated no different than enemybatants. "Take one step closer and the next arrow won''t miss." Therge woman with a scar spoke with an eery chill, she wasn''t bluffing. She had no idea what was going on but the fact that Avira, Borris and Kiba were being chased by frost giants changed the whole dynamic. Their small patrol force wasn''t prepared to face off against a group of frost giants, therefore, to protect the lives of her subordinates and the interests of the current Icethorne she drew an immediate line between them. The rtionship between Icethorne and the frost giant tribes wasn''t exactly harmonious but as long as they didn''t directly interfere with the interests of the other then battle could be avoided. Silence filled the area as Kiba, Avira and Borris were entrenched between a rock and a hard ce. Behind them the frost giants were swiftly catching up, their javelins already drawn for a deadly volley while aheady the soldiers of Icethorne revealing no less aggression than the monsters hunting them. "Kiba get me in front of that woman." As milliseconds passed in slow motion Avira took a breath then leaned over and whispered into Kiba''s ear while fiddling with imperial token given to her by her father. Kiba looked into Avira''s eyes for a brief second before nodding his head. The next moment the young tiger tensed his leg muscles and violently pped his wings, he charged dead ahead. "Bastards! Shoot it down!" The sergeant loudly ordered with a grim expression, her heart tearing itself apart with grief as she knew that all could be lost. Arrows enchanted with magic rapidly flew through the air, taking deadly aim at Kiba''s vitals and glorious wings. Avira did her best to cover him in wind shields and buffet away some of the arrows with her spells but more than a few still broke through. The sharp arrowheads pierced several inches into Kiba''s flesh making him wince in pain and let out a sad whimper, but his momentum didn''t stop for even a second. He charged through the arrows and leaped into the air, kicking away a spear head while allowing another to graze his hindquarters all to fling Avira directly before the female sergeant. "Lower your weapons now or yourmander dies." It happened in an instant. One second Avira was on Kiba''s back casting magic the next she was standing in front of the sergeant with her rapier resting against her throat, a trickle of blood already dripping down onto the snow. Thanks to Frost''s brutish training and harsh sermons as well as her own natural talent Avira was able to quickly take advantage of the fact that the soldiers intentions were to push them back rather than go for the immediate kill. She wasn''t even phased by their dense bloodlust and in fact found it strangely pleasant, warm and inviting. The surrounding soldiers all hesitated for a brief second, not knowing what to do. "Lower those weapons and I''ll kill you myself!" The woman with a de to her throat immediately rebuked Avira''s words, she even stepped into the rapier causing the initial wound to deepen and spurt a significant amount of blood. She didn''t care that her life was in jeopardy, they needed to separate themselves from this group of people lest the frost giants assume they''re in cahoots. Icethorne really couldn''t afford to make additional enemies right now. Avira''s eyes widened in surprise and a hint of respect formed in her heart, but she had no time to dwell on it as the soldiers upon hearing their superior''s order no longer hesitated. Ignoring the threat to the woman''s life they moved to continue their attack. Just as spears were about to be thrust into Kiba''s flesh, magic to fall on Borris'' head and two swords aimed to cut off Avira''s arms "Shit all of you stop!" The female sergeant''s tone abruptly changed and the next moment the gruff battle worn woman had descended to her knees in a loyal salute. "This blind subordinate greets your highness, Princess Avira Northrend." A bomb went off in the soldiers'' minds and a momentter all of them copied their sergeant, kneeling in the snow and bowing their heads low in salute. "We greet her highness Princess Avira Northrend." Every single member of the fortress of Icethorne knew of Princess Avira, Duke Runak made sure of that. The moment he received word of the Emperors'' demise and his handwritten letter Duke Runak sent down precise orders. If any woman of a specific age range introduced themselves as the Princess of Northrend and or carried with them a specific imperial token they were to be safely escorted to Icethorne immediately. Avira in the moment that the sergeant was about to throw her life away withdrew the imperial token from her robe and showed it to her. The female sergeant recognised the token immediately thanks to Duke Runak drilling its description into all of his officers and thus instantly changed her tune. A cold sweat dripped down her neck as she kept her head lowered, she couldn''t believe that she almost had the Princess the one the Duke had been so ardently waiting for and worried about killed. She knew that if she didn''t behave in the most respectful manner she''d be yed alive the moment she returned to Icethorne. "Quickly get up this is no time to stand on ceremony." Avira let out a short breath of relief before quickly ordering to soldiers to their feet, there was still the frost giants to deal with after all. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 698 Pink distress flare "Soldiers of Icethorne immediately hand over the tiger, dwarf and human woman!" The moment the soldiers were forced to their feet by the young Avira the frost giants had arrived. Costa with Davros intimidatingly standing by his side loudly demanded, giving the soldiers of Icethorne a chance at redemption. If they refused his goodwill however then he could not be med for what would follow. If Avira hadn''t revealed her identity then the female sergeant wouldn''t have hesitated in handing them over for the sake of her subordinates as well as the prosperity of Icethorne but unfortunately that was no longer an option. Avira''s safety was now their upmost priority, so a handover was impossible.N?v(el)B\\jnn With nary a shred of indecision the female sergeant who was previously standing opposed to Avira pushed her behind her back and drew her sword. "Friends of the frost giant tribe I''m afraid your request is impossible, please leave ournds." With a voice filled with strength and conviction the female sergeant refused Costa''s request. Her subordinates as though in tune with their superior moved into battle positions in an instant. The shield wall and spearmen now protectively covered Kiba, Borris and of course Avira, making their stance obvious. "Hmph!" Not expecting such a strong refusal Costa was initially surprised but a momentter an evil smile appeared on his lips as a fire flowed through his veins. "Oh how disappointing.ughter them all." "ROAARRR!!!" The frost giants following Costa and Davros let loose primal roars that shook the surroundings to the point that some soldiers had to rely on theirrades to stay upright. "Shields up, mages cast protection and enhancement spells, archers fire whenever you see an opening, swordsmen cut down any wayward javelins!" "Yes sergeant!" Like a well oiled machine the patrol unit readied themselves to defend against the onught of the frost giants, a vastly superior force. Only the sergeant and one other solider were at the C-rank the rest were D-rank, practically ants inparison to the many frost giants moving in the for the kill. "Princess please stay behind cover." "Understood but what about you and your soldiers?" Avira knew well that given her position her safety would be all these men and women were thinking about so she couldn''t recklessly fight on the frontlines alongside them. "Don''t worry about us we''ll hold the line as long as it takes." The female sergeant performed a military salute before looking at her second inmand. "Send up the re after their first volley." "Yes ma''am" The second inmand was a young swordsman in his mid-twenties, an officer with a wealth of battle experience despite his youthful looks. Don! Don! Don! The sound of heavy javelins rattled against the shields of the Icethorne soldiers, many were pushed backwards, and some had their shields cracked but none fell victim to the initial volley revealing their training. "Now Endo!" Fwooosh! The moment the initial volley ended a pink re shot up from the centre of the shield huddle. It loudly screeched as it ascended before exploding several hundred metres above them in a burst of pink fog that could be seen for tens of kilometres despite the torrents of snow. "Fuck! Kill them now!" Costa with a face warped in a mixture of anger and fear grabbed the shoulder of a nearby frost giant and shoved him forward. That re was a distress re used by the soldiers of Icethorne and not a regr one either. Usually the colour blue or purple was used and on the rare asion red but pink, that was of the highest order only to be used when the situation was of the upmost priority and extreme danger. A blue or purple re would summon additional regr reinforcements while red would alert the high ranking officers, requesting at least someone or several someone''s at the mid to upper B-ranks. Pink however was reserved solely for Icethorne''s top brass.the A-rank generals. Costa could count on his fingers how many times a pink distress re had been used in the past hundred years, yet now because of a young woman, an old dwarf, a tiger and some regr patrol soldiers it was being used for him and hisrades, a half dozen or so C-rank frost giants.the word overkill reverberated within his mind and filled him with dread and desperation. The moment the pink fog filled the air above them the frost giants went into berserk state, determined to annihte the sapients in front of them despite the cost. The remaining javelins were tossed aggressively while they ran forward to engage in closebat, a frost giant''s forte. "Shield wall brace from impact, mages conjure additional shields." Fully prepared for such a reaction the female sergeant readied her men and women for the giant''s advance but even with her strong words and their strict training an onught of frost giants was intimidating and hard to forestall. "Ahhhh!!" Several soldiers screamed as their arms broke, twisted or downright exploded when a frost giant swung at them with their hammers or clubs. The force behind it being too much for them to individually endure. "Hold the line!" The sergeant repeatedly invigorated her soldiers while asionallyshing out with her sword, using her C-rank strength to force back a giant''s hand while Endo drew two swords from his side to sh apart a javelin that was aimed at her. While Frost engaged in a deadly duel with Be and Avira and her group fought alongside the soldiers to withstand the assault of Costa and Davros the burst of pink fog alerted those stationed on Icethorne''s southern wall. "Captain someone set off a pink distress re, 20 kilometres directly south of the wall." An officer quickly reported the sight to his superior who then ordered for a warning bell to be rung. Within a minute high rankingmanders and even two generals appeared on the southern wall to investigate the re. "It''s pink alright, will you go or will I?" A massive woman of the bear beastman tribe looked to her left and asked the elegant looking woman adorned in dark robes. "Neither the rookie''s already left." The elegant woman gestured with her chin towards a plume of snow in the far distance. "Hoh! He''s quick." The bear beastwoman nodded her head in praise, finding the ''rookie''s'' diligence admirable. "Come let''s head back to the Northern wall before some idiot tries to take advantage of our absence." "Agreed." Therge bear woman and the elegant woman in robes thus disappeared as quickly as they appeared leaving the situation entirely in the hands of the ''rookie''. A few minutes passed and unfortunately six soldiers fell to the giant''s onught with even more injured. The patrol squad was made up of 25 soldiers including the Sergeant and her second inmand Endo. With 6 deceased and even more injured the squad wasn''t even at half capacity while their attackers the frost giants sported nothing more than minor wounds. One had a few deep cuts along an arm, but his remaining arm was still able to swing at full strength. A few minutes more and they''d bepletely wiped out. Strangely however it the was the frost giants who sported the more desperate expressions, expressions that grew worse with each passing second. These soldiers were taking too long to kill. Davros and Costa tried to focus on Avira, Borris and Kiba but whenever they tried the soldiers would erupt into a frenzy pushing them back even if meant they had sacrifice themselves. They wouldn''t let a single haire to harm on the princess'' head. Eventually their valiant efforts were rewarded. "Hmm a squad of frost giants? Arge beastman of the bear tribe with two blue axes sheathed by his side remarked as he charged across the snow at a speed that made even Kiba ashamed. The man arrived because of the pink distress re so he was expecting more of a fight but "No matter I''ll ask about it once they''re safe." Boom! Therge man kicked against the snow and appeared beside the frost giants like a bullet. He withdrew his axes and shed with extreme dexterity and ferocity. He used no skill in the sudden attack instead relying solely on his weapon mastery and the sharpness of his axes. The poor frost giant that was unfortunately chosen as his first target was Davros one of the strongest frost giants in the assault. s the mighty enemy that both the female sergeant and Endo struggled to even push back was carved apart with minimal effort. The many sections of the giant''s body didn''t even manage to fall to the ground before the surrounding area was filled with a dense aura that forcibly froze each and every one of the giants in ce. Pure fear gripped their hearts as the beastman''s aura overwhelmed them. This wasn''t merely the pressure of someone at the B-rank no it was something far denser, far more corporal. ''A-rank'' Costa internally screamed, his words failing to pass beyond his lips. A-rank for many was the absolute peak, the ultimate level of power they could attain with effort. Anything beyond that required specific bloodlines and inhuman talent. Even the mighty Northrend empire one of the strongest nations in the world didn''t have a single person at S-rank thus those at A-rank were revered like kings. Costa trembled from the pressure and did his upmost to resist falling to his knees in submission, but his resistance made little to no difference. He along with hisrades were carved up in less than a minute, the bear beastman didn''t even pause to take a breath. Chapter 699 General Jared Bando Costa, Davros and the frost giants that followed themy cut up across the ground, their blood swiftly dyeing the snow red. A strong smell of iron assailed the nostrils of the awed soldiers, the sight of such powerful enemies being cut to ribbons in a matter of seconds set their hearts aze. Passion, loyalty and excitement ran rampant through their bodies, instantly quashing the frigid cold that constantly assailed them as well as the fear that grew within a few minutes prior. There was a stunned silence for a few seconds as the soldiers registered what happened but following that was a cheering roar and a fierce outburst of stamping as the men and women raised their fists in triumph, they would get to live another day. The bear beastman, the soldier who appeared like a lightning bolt and carved up the mighty frost giants scanned the celebrating soldiers with a harsh gaze. He stopped as soon as he found the female sergeant. "Sergeant what is the meaning of this?" He asked in a tone that would make even the most fearless warrior shiver. The female sergeant who was named Olive shivered as she looked upon therge man. He appeared farrger to her than even the frost giants. Her heart instinctively tightened, and her voice passed through her lips with a nervous stutter.N?v(el)B\\jnn "G...General Banddo sir." To help calm herself down she took a breath and performed a military salute, cing her right arm across her chest. This was the first time she''d ever been in such close proximity to one of the fortress'' generals thus she was naturally nervous regardless of the current situation. "Apologies General Bando for using a pink distress re but the situation was truly very urgent." Knowing that her own and the lives of her subordinates didn''te close to warranting the use of such a prized re Sergeant Olive looked at Avira before swiftly introducing her. "General this is Princess Avira Northrend the Princess of the empire and the one the Duke has been waiting for." Olive bowed her head in salute as she waited the man''s response. General Bando''s eyes narrowed upon hearing Olive''s words, if what she said was true then using the pink re was the right call. His gaze was thus directed towards Avira who had been silent all this time. Avira was currently in deep thought as she was momentarily blown away by the General''s prowess. "Prin.c." ''With his strength then surely.'' "PRINCESS!!" Avira was fiercely drawn out of her thoughts by a loud roar infused with aura. Rattled by the sound she blinked her eyes repeatedly before locking eyes with General Bando and in that moment everything seemed to click. "Greetings sir I presume that you are a General under Duke Runak correct." She disyed a polite royal curtsy that looked rather strange with her current garments but nheless evoked a sense of nobility. "Correct I am Icethorne''s newest General, Jared Bandoare you Princess Avira?" The scrutiny never left the man''s the eyes. "I am, Princess Avira Northrend, daughter of Franz Northrend and Amelia Northrend, Princess of the Northrend empire and rightful heir to the throne." Avira raised her head and stared directly into General Bando''s eyes without any trace of fear or subservience. The General internally smiled, pleased with her response, she passed the initial checks at least. "Do you have proof?" Regardless of how well she presented herself or how urate her appearance was without the imperial token her identity could not be confirmed immediately. "You mean this." Avira pulled the imperial token granted to her by her father from her clothes and the moment she did General Bando descended to his knees and saluted. "General Jared Bando greets the princess and future Empress." His frown and scowl werepletely gone from his expression. Instead he bore a gentle smile and a clear look of relief. His gaze darted towards Sergeant Olive. "Congrattions Sergeant you and your team have performed a great merit, well done." "We were merely performing our duties, General." Replied Olive. "Well said Sergeant. I''ll send for another patrol to recover our lostrades and see to it personally that they each receive an honourable burial." "Thank you General." Tears streamed down Olive''s eyes as she remembered her lostrades, the men and women who bravely gave their lives in battle. An honourable burial was an act that would bring great glory to the deceased and their family. The family of the deceased would receive a generous stipend for the next 30 years and would be exempt from taxes for the next 2. On top of that any member of the family that wished to join or train for the military would be immediately epted after a simple interview, allowing them to bypass the usual tests and trails. To be deserving of an honourable burial one must die with great honour on the battlefield and sessfully perform a deed of substantial merit. Protecting the Princess of the Northrend empire against a vastly superior foe certainly met such a requirement thus General Bando was not acting beyond his station. "Sergeant see to your wounded while I escort the princess to the fortres. "General wait!" Avira suddenly interrupted Jared, puzzling him. "Princess is there something wrong?" Avira shivered as the image of a young man came to the forefront of her mind. She clenched her fists to the point that her knuckles audibly cracked, and her face donned an almost begging expression as she looked up at General Bando." "Pleaseplease save my friend". Several tens of kilometres south. Don! Boom! Schwing! Loud sounds of objects shing against one another and cutting through the air reverberated throughout the surroundings. Within a loose circr wall of giants two opponents were facing off against each other with wild abandon. One was a massive hulking frost giant standing over 12 metres tall, armed with arge hammer while the other was an elf like man with devilish good looks and a sharp ive in hand. The frost giant sported dozens of ''shallow'' cuts all across her body that constantly leaked small streams of blood. Adding in her already prominent scars the woman looked as though she was covered in spider webs, like a fractured vase. s her wounds were only superficial at best, even the blood loss was rtively minor. Her arteries and vulnerable areas were all protected by her bestial armour that despite valiant efforts on her opponent''s part remained solid. She was however in quite a bit of pain whenever she had to make anyrge movements. Everywhere stung but her strength was still there as was the wild smile on her lips. A smile that was now covered in blood making her look all the more fierce. However it wasn''t her blood that dripped across her lips and danced on her tongue, delighting her taste buds. No the delicious blood came from her opponent, from Frost. The young dungeon core stood across from the hulking giant, his ive stabbed into the snow beneath to support his wounded body. His right arm hung loosely by his side, mangled and dripping torrents of blood. Be first shattered his bone with a precise blow of her hammer before following up with a tight grasp and brutal twist. The pain was so intense that he could barely see straight, and he couldn''t even remember how he got away from her but somehow he did. The arm was miraculously still attached to his shoulder butpletely useless, he couldn''t even wiggle his fingers. That was probably the most graphic injury he bore but the rest of his body wasn''t much better. Ribs were broken and shattered, muscles were torn apart and his entire body sported distinct dents, it was a miracle he could even stand at all. Sheer will and stubbornness were all that supported him by this point. "Cough, cough!" Frost violently coughed up blood and even a part of his lungs that had been shredded apart. His entire body was in extreme pain and his vision was obscured by shadows and a bloody screen yet still he stood defiant against his opponent, not giving a single opening. He may look vulnerable, like someone who could be blow over by the simplest of breezes, but Be had learned the hard way that he was still a threat. Therge frost giant raised her hand to her cheek and left eye, a gnarly gash could be seen missing the vital organ by just a few millimetres. Just when she thought her prey was out of gas and ready to be put down heshed out with a thrust so quick and devasting that she could have nearly lost half her face it wasn''t for her uncanny instincts. Thus despite her overwhelming superiority she remained stationary, ring at her opponent, waiting. Time dragged out slowly, each second feeling like minutes or even hours but neither one of them moved a muscle. Their bodies remaining constantly taught. Frost couldn''t make any moves given the state of his injuries, all he could do was wait patiently for her toe to him whereas Be was remorse to risk serious injury against a foe that was on his dying breath. As long as she waited long enough his body would eventually sumb to his wounds and he would no longer have the strength tosh out with one final blow. "Urgh!" The moment Be was waiting for came without warning. Frost suddenly groaned and fell to his knees, his legs no longer able to support his weight. Be''s smile stretched from ear to ear upon witnessing such a sight, finally the man had sumbed. Chapter 700 Chapter 700 General Jared Bando (2) As Frost''s strength gave out, his face twisted. A mixture of intense pain and stark refusal marred his expression. The young man internally roared, chastising his body, ordering it to remain strong but unfortunately sheer will could only carry him so far. The moment his knees hit the soft, blood soaked snow they became totally unresponsive, silent as rocks. He was no longer capable of defending himself. The frost giants, Be included couldn''t help but smile from ear to ear at such a sight and while the massive woman proceeded to then lick her lips and show a famished glint in her eyes the others let out long held breaths of relief. Enjoy new chapters from empire The young Dungeon core was a wily foe, an enemy none of them could even hope to win against. Only Be could deal with him and even then the mighty priestess was adorned in dozens of freshly carved scars. Since the fight began in earnest these C-rank frost giants were unable to let down their guards as just a moment of distraction could see them injured or worse see Frost escape pass them. Now however that worry was clearly gone from their hearts. The young man even if he couldunch onest attack with his ive his legs werepletely shot, he could no longer escape. "Hahahahahaha! Marvellous truly a spectacr disy little Frost but unfortunately pointless in the end.I''m going to enjoy devouring your flesh." Be erupted with joyful and somewhat maddeningughter. She looked down hungrily at her kneeling opponent, showing him her razor sharp teeth that could easily tear into even the toughest of hides. Her stomach rumbled with demand as she stepped closer, and saliva began dripping down from her lips. She looked like a starving beast while Frost looked like a helpless rabbit. However even in his debilitated state Frost wore the same stubborn and prideful expression. He showed no fear while gazing up at the approaching giant, his would be predator. His body was gued with pain and his limbs were all but useless, he could barely hold onto his ive yet still he refused to give up. As long as he could still draw breath the fight was never over. Time seemed to slow to a crawl for Frost as Be approached, his mind rapidly processing his options. He knew going in that victory was all but impossible, Be was at the very least an expert at the upper B-rank, an opponent far more skilled and far more experienced than himself. He may have managed tond a couple decent blows and catch her by surprise a few times but that was nowhere near enough to take down the monster that was Be. Her body was so durable that even when using his strongest skills and his royal aspected aura his ive failed to slice more than a single centimetre into her bones, resulting in nothing more than a mere flesh wound. So why did he choose to keeping fighting an unwinnable fight? Was it just to buy time for Avira, Borris and Kiba? Crunch. The snow underneath Be''s feet let out a loud crunch as she stopped directly in front of Frost, well within striking distance. s nothing came, there was nost ditch effort, no final desperate bite from her cornered mouse. Instead the young man gazed up at her with a wild smile as though he was in the throes of ecstasy. A look she understood to some extent but still found baffling. Never in her long years had shee across such a natural battle maniac. ''Haaaaa if only he was a giant.'' She brieflymented the fact that her race failed to give birth to such a gem before once again donning the expression of a starving beast. She could strongly smell the scent of his talent filled blood and see theyers of his muscles, delectable meat that would taste perfect either raw or roasted. Her monster instincts threatened to overwhelm her consciousness, screaming for her to devour this prey before her in its entirety but she was no longer a youngling, unable to resist her natural temptations. With a fierce shake of her head she erased such urges, choosing to leave the better parts for her darling son.an arm wouldn''t matter though right. Be reached out with her muscle bound arm that was thicker than Frost''s entire body, she aimed to tear off what was left of his shattered right arm. Despite her clear victory she didn''tpletely let her guard down, one eye was constantly on Frost''s ive, wary of even the slightest movement. Strangely she failed to notice that there was no longer a hand wrapped around the ive''s shaft nor did she notice the glint shing in Frost''s eyes, the glint of a hunter finally catching his prey. As her hand neared and her focus was drawn to his weapon Frost reached into his robes and discreetly withdrew a crystal like object from his storage ring. It was yellow in colour and appeared rather fragile as though it could burst apart at any moment. This crystal was something he recently received from Indra; a speciality product known as a sh crystal from his Dungeon the Lightning Grotto. These sh crystals were imbued with high levels of low grade lightning mana, filled so much to the brim that even the smallest of mana injections and the slightest amount of concussive force would cause them to explode. The explosion itself was rather mild in terms of damage potential but the light given off was more than enough to temporarily blind one''s opponents thus the name ''sh crystal''.N?v(el)B\\jnn ''This better work Indra.'' With a fierce expression Frost pulled out the crystal and moved to inject some of his own mana starting the process.however the situation suddenly changed. Just when Be was about to take hold of Frost''s arm she suddenly stopped in ce and her face that originally expressed hunger and joy was now marred with fear and dread. Goosebumps swiftly covered her arms, and the scent of death assailed her nostrils. Her instincts screamed danger and she was never one to ignore her instincts. Without even the slightest hesitation the massive frost giant reeled backwards and swiftly distanced herself from the heavily wounded Frost. A momentter a blue axe appeared like a lightning bolt where she once stood. If she had been any slower her arm would have been severed from her body or at the very least made useless. The force behind that axe was far beyond anything Frost could have wrought with his early B-rank strength. "Hoh good instincts." A man''s voice was heard following the attack, praising Be for her swift reactions. Upon hearing this nearby voice the surrounding frost giants shivered before rapidly turning around to confront this new arrival. There slowly walking towards them as if on a leisurely stroll was man of the bear beastman tribe, standing at 2 metres tall with a blue axe in his right hand, an identical match for the one now stabbed deep within the snow before Frost. Jared Bando had arrived. Frost who was just about to use a sh crystal struggled to see the form of the approaching man given his weakened vision but the axe directly in front of him and the voice seemed oddly familiar. ''Where have I heard that voice before?'' He questioned but didn''t dwell on it. What mattered was that someone strong had arrived in time meaning Kiba and Avira seeded in their mission. ''Guess I don''t have to waste a teleportation talisman.'' His initial escape n was to use a sh crystal to momentarily blind Be and obscure his own movements from the surrounding frost giants. In that brief moment of respite he''d then use a teleportation talisman, an item he purchased from Void for a rather significant sum to instantly teleport himself up to ten kilometres away, escaping the immediate danger. He would then use his sole high level health potion to quickly recover from his severe wounds. Afterwards he''d just have to do his best to keep a low profile, hoping that he wouldn''t run into anything else before reaching Icethorne. That was his n anyway and his confidence in facing of against Be alone. Be and the frost giants were silent as the bear beastman Jared bando walked towards them. Even without the use of his aura Jared''s natural presence and confident stature intimidated them, sending their instincts aze, Be''s especially. ''Fuck why did one of them appear here?'' There was only a single group of people from Icethorne that could make her body react in such a way.Icethorne''s vaunted Generals. "My, my, my it really is youd, to be granted the chance to pay back my debt so soon, the Gods must be truly smiling on us." Jared Bando stopped about 15 metres from Frost and Be, he looked at the kneeling Frost and couldn''t help but smile from ear to ear. He immediately recognised him despite the many wounds marring his body. Several months ago while investigating the external regions of cial mountains he came across a young elf from Furano, an E-rank adventurer on a scouting quest. The two shared shelter for a few hours and talked about their lives and in doing so Jared was able to put down some regrets he had in regards to his hometown thus allowing him to finally see a way forward, a path to A-rank. A debt was thus incurred by the old soldier, a debt he promised to repay. Chapter 701 Chapter 701 General Jared Bando (3) General Bando gazed down at Frost with warmth in his eyes, happy to see the young man again after so many months. Because of him he was able to bridge the gap and ascend to the A-rank, a level respected by all. From his perspective he owed a rather substantial debt to the young man thus he handed him a badge, a token that represented the War Ursa Battalion and the vaunted fortress of Icethorne. With it in hand Frost would be seen as an ally of the Dukedom, a friend that would receive substantial benefits when in their territory. Friendship with Icethorne and the War Ursa Battalion was something many people lusted after but even so Jared felt that his gift was rathercking thus he eagerly anticipated the next time he and Frost would cross paths. Now months after their first meeting the two men were reunited and Jared had the perfect opportunity to pay back his supposed debt. ''.Jared Bando.'' Though his vision was obscured his hearing was clear. It took him a few seconds but eventually Frost remembered the owner of the voice. An old solider from Furano, a man of the same generation as Dous and Ryuu yet instead of choosing the adventurer route he instead chose to join the military. Stay tuned to empire They met during his first foray into the cial mountains, a brief yet memorable meeting between the experienced and the inexperienced. Back then he was a Major in the War Ursa Battalion and a person who had reached the upper levels of B-rank. But now it was clear that he''d improved a great deal since then. Just from his presence alone Be who Frost had struggled so hard against was shivering in her skin, wary of even the slightest of his movements. Be''s fear was actually much greater than Frost surmised, the reason being that she didn''t recognise Jared''s face. All the Generals under Duke Runak were well known throughout therger monster tribes and nations within the cial mountains. This was because they needed to know everything about their enemies'' deadliest weapons. The only exception was the newest General, the ''rookie'' who had just recently rose to prominence. Jared''s face was unknown, but his reputation wasn''t. The so called ''Rookie General'' was vicious, aggressive and hungry for achievements, wherever he went a trail of blood would follow. Since she did not recognise Jared''s appearance and given the way her body was reacting she could only assume that he was Icethorne''s newest General, the ''Ravenous Beast''. Be''s assumptions were quickly proven as Jared''s tender expression quickly vanished, reced with a bloodthirsty grimace as he turned to face her. The aura of an A-rank soldier with hundreds perhaps even thousands of deaths under his belt burst forth like a tsunami. The invisible pressure wrapped around the frost giants forcing them all to kneel in the snow. Each and every one of them felt the spectre of death lean over their shoulders and whisper in their ears as its ws grasped around their hearts making every single beat a struggle. For most of them this was the most fear they''d ever experienced in their entire lives, the pressure of someone at the A-rank was no joke. The only one able to stay on her feet -albeit barely- was Be. Her instincts were screaming to either run or submit but thankfully this wasn''t the first time she''d experienced such pressure thus she didn''tpletely copse. With a cracking clench of her jaw the scarred woman who stood over 12 metres tall, gazed dead ahead at the 2 metre tall bear beastman as though he was the giant and she was but a frail antlike existence.N?v(el)B\\jnn "Lord General what has brought someone of your status all way over here?" Though she stuttered a few times Be spoke directly to Jared in a calm and diplomatic manner, specifically highlighting the fact that someone of his rank and status had no business interfering with their machinations. Despite being so close to Icethorne territory and attacking people clearly heading towards it, there was still no need for a General to interfere. A-ranks were seen as the maximum level of strength a nation could muster thus it was usually agreed upon that beings such as themselves would refrain from interfering with lower ranking fights. A-ranks were so strong that lower ranked opponents would struggle to even raise their des against them let alone hurt them in any way. This unwritten pact between the nations and major tribes of Nova mainly aimed to prevent A-ranks from ughtering young talents thus preventing them from reaching their level. Be was highlighting this pact hoping to dissuade Jared from making any foolish moves. Icethorne was already in muddy waters, it didn''t need her frost giant tribe added to the mix. Jared frowned slightly and reduced the strength of his aura pressing down on Be. "A priestess of the inner temple.you can certainly be considered protected under the pact but." His aura sharply increased causing Be to cough up blood. "There is a limit to you arrogance!" "Aghh!" The C-rank frost giants in the surroundings roared in pain as they violently coughed up blood and struggled to remain upright. "You!" Be screeched, enraged by Jared''s arrogance. She believed that with the mentioning of the pact he''d back off a little and they coulde to some sort of negotiation but instead he directly punished her subordinates with his aura. ''What the hell is going on? Is he a mad man?'' Her mind spun in all directions as she tried to ascertain what was happening "Priestess of the inner sanctum you''ve made two mistakes." "Huh?" "First you attacked someone you really shouldn''t have!" His aura increased another fold forcing Be to her knees and in response she quickly nced at Frost, wondering what sort of identity he held. "..Bu" Even if he was a high ranking noble this aggression was uncalled for. "Second." An evil smile grew on Jared''s lips before he continued. "The General you came across was me and I really don''t respond well to threats!" An intense killing intent honed in on Be making her blood run cold. ''This was not how things were supposed to y out, how did hunting a random group of intruders end up with an A-rank General from Icethorne confronting us?'' Be felt that the world had flipped upside down, never in her wildest dreams did she believe that a General from Icethorne would get involved in this mess and even disy unbridled killing intent towards her. ''Who the fuck are you!'' Her gaze once again drifted towards Frost who she assumed was the reason for this whole scenario. She hadpletely forgot about the old dwarf and young female human. Jared as an A-rank individual normally wouldn''t have much cause to interfere in such a battle let alone get personally involved but given that the princess and future Empress of Northrend was the one Be and her subordinates attacked the pact could no longer restrict his actions. Making a move on a member of the royal family was tantamount to dering war thus Jared was free to do as he wished with the would be assassins. Of course there would likely be some political bacsh against Icethorne by the frost giant tribe, a scenario Duke Runak could really do without given Icethorne''s current predicament, but Jared didn''t care all that much. The frost giants had been a thorn in their sides for long enough, the attacks on their trade caravans, messengers, the asional patrol and now their Princess, enough was enough. It was time to put these monsters in their ce. In Jared''s mind all it meant was that there''d be an additional enemy to deal with, more blood to decorate his axes. The whole situation was a bit of shame really, if the General that arrived wasn''t Jared or if Be had just been a little more respectful she could have lived but now, there was nothing she could do. Jared moved closer to the kneeling woman with his axe in hand. His aura and killing intent were at their maximum level, the ''Ravenous beast'' wasn''t bluffing. "Arghh fuck you dog of Runak! Kill him!" Seeing that there was no way to negotiate Be erupted with her maximum power. She coated her entire body in aura and bellowed out with a primordial roar that helped buff her subordinates, allowing them to fight against the pressure emitted by Jared. Be and her frost giants took hold of their weapons and charged towards Jared, but the man only smiled evilly in response. "Not bad but you''re far too slow." He quietly muttered before vanishing like a ghost. "Urgh!" "Argh!" "Oorgh!" In the following moments Jared shed between the C-rank frost giants, shing their throats with his aura imbued axe. The mighty giants barely managed to catch sight of his shadow before a geyser of blood burst from their necks bringing them down. C-ranks were no match for an A-rank but what about Be, a monster that was at the very least in the upper grades of B-rank and of a powerful bloodline. Her body was covered in cuts thanks to her fight with Frost, but her strength was all there as was her wit. She knew she couldn''t hope to fight evenly against Jared so the moment she saw him move to attack she turned and leapt at Frost, aiming to take the little bastard hostage. Chapter 702 Chapter 702 General Jared Bando (4) Be''s frost giant subordinates were no match for the mighty General Bando. Even with their priestess'' morale boosting roar they couldn''t even summon a third of their normal strength. "Argh!" Angry howls of anguish reverberated throughout the surroundings as General Bando easily danced between the hulking giants. His axeshing out with a frightening speed and dexterity, like a controlled bolt of lightning, far beyond anything these giants had ever seen before. He required no skills to take down his foes, just simple and urate cuts across their vitals. His natural speed, quality of his weapon and the imbuement of his aura allowed his axe to easily slice through their thick skin and dense muscles like butter. First cut; a neck is split open. Second cut, an arm is severed.N?v(el)B\\jnn Third cut, a femoral artery is carved open. Fourth cut, a heart is eviscerated. Each and every one of General Bando''s attacks were lethal and resulted in literal geysers of thick giant blood dyeing the snow covered ground. So much carnage in so little time. Be forced herself to ignore the screams of her subordinates and the stench of fresh blood assailing her nostrils. While her C-rank subordinates charged at General Bando in a maddened frenzy she focused on the only thing that could save her life. She moved to take Frost hostage. Frost quickly noticed his predicament but unfortunately his legs were still shot and the pain wreaking havoc throughout his body made even the slightest of movements an ordeal. Thankfully he never let go of the sh crystal hidden within his robes. With a brief and blurry nce Frost estimated that Jared was too far away to reach him in time thus he''d have to take matters into his own hands. He could see madness in Be''s expression and knew that the moment he entered her grasp only hell awaited him. Be reached out with her massive right hand in an attempt to take hold of his skull. To her it was akin to the size of an apple and just as easy to crush. With this Frost''s life would bepletely under her control, one wrong move from General Bando and crunch! The high status elf would be nothing but a bag of useless meat. Frost started to funnel mana into the sh crystal and was prepared to make it explode at the veryst second but once again his actions appeared unnecessary. Boom! Be''s outstretched hand crashed into an invisible wall halting her advance. "Impossible!" She screeched in disbelief before repeatedly punching at the wall or rather shield that prevented her from reaching Frost. He was her only hope, without him in her clutches she was as good as dead. With a tightly clenched fist she punched the invisible shield twice yet all she got in return was a pair of bloody knuckles. "It can''t be! That''s impossible!" Fuelled by desperation she gripped the shaft of her hammer and raised it high above her head. Boom! With a mighty downward swing of her hammer the invisible shield appeared to distort in shape, a gnarly grinding could be heard as the shield met with the face of her hammer but that was the extent of the damage, a deformation but no break. "Ahhhh! [Crescent Moon''s impact]!" Since a regr blow wasn''t enough Be summoned everyst shred of her internal energy to use one of her most powerful hammer skills. A dense violet light covered her hammer, greatly multiplying its weight before conjuring what appeared to be a miniature version of the moon in its crescent form. Frost could feel the pressure even while protected by the invisible shield, his legs sunk deep into the snow and his organs felt as though they could burst at any moment. If he was hit by this attack not even bone dust would remain. He wasn''t worried though, in fact a smile adorned his lips because he could see behind Be, he could see the prone forms of all her subordinates squirming on the ground in the throes of death as well as the face of the man who killed them, well his calm unperturbed smile at least. Jared was staring right at Be yet there wasn''t a hint of worry in his expression, so Frost feltpletely at ease, so at ease in fact that he struggled to remain conscious. The constant tension and thrill of battle that had kept him going was now beginning to loosen. His already blurry and fogged sight was growing darker by the second and a strong urge to sleep was beginning to overwhelm him. Thest thing he saw before darkness took hold was the sight of Be''s hammer skill fracturing open the invisible shield only to be met with Jared standing below with his axe in hand. He managed to hear Be utter something about ''aura manifestation'' before ultimately passing out, his body falling forward onto the blood dyed snow. "How can you manifest your aura to such a degree already?" Be asked in shock moments after Frost fell unconscious. "Trade secret priestess." General Bando replied after easily enduring one of her strongest skills. He quickly used his powerful senses to check on Frost''s condition before nodding his head and prying his other axe from the ground. "..The frost giant tribe won''t stay silent dog of Runak." Be once again threatened General Bando with retaliation from her tribe in a desperate attempt to save her life but once again the ''ravenous beast'' ignored her efforts. General Bando simply smiled in an evil manner before saying ".I certainly hope not priestess, my axes have grown rather fond of giant blood after all." "Bastaaard!" With veins throbbing across her forehead and her muscles bulging to the point that her armour and clothes groaned from the strain Be roared out in anger. She wielded her hammer with both hands and began the greatest battle of her life. Ten maybe fifteen minutester Frost who was sound asleep felt a stinging pain on his left cheek. He was forcibly brought out of his slumber and the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was Jared Bando looking down on him with a gentle expression. "Good you''re up." "Why''d you wake me?" He passed out from exhaustion and sheer damage; his body was literally telling him he needed to sleep. "This isn''t the time nor the ce to sleep Frost even if you need it.here drink this, it''s a military grade mid-level health potion. It should heal most of your wounds and make you stable enough to move." Jared gestured towards their surroundings before retrieving a health potion from his storage ring. "Thanks but I''ve actually got something better." Normally he wouldn''t pass up the chance to get free stuff but considering the extent of his wounds he didn''t want to take any chances. With strained movements Frost retrieved his sole high level health potion from his storage ring. Jared kindly removed the cork and helped pour the liquid down his throat being very careful not to waste even a single drop. "To think that you have a high level health potion, impressive Lad." Jared''s surprise was warranted as within the Northrend empire the royal family and several dukes held a strict monopoly over any manufactured high level potions. One either had to have significant connections, a hell of a lot of capital or immense luck to get their hands on just one bottle. The taste of the high level health potion was sublime but unfortunately given his pain Frost failed to fully enjoy the vour. The results of the potion''s effects however were most impressive. Within a few seconds his entire body felt warm and fuzzy, the pain that was wreaking havoc melted away. He could literally see his wounds being rapidly closed and his lost blood regenerating. And after a few minutes he was practically 90% healed. He was still exhausted and drained of mana, but his wounds had disappeared, leaving not even a single scar across his pristine skin. "I can count the times I''ve seen someone using a high level health potion with a single hand, it''s truly miraculous how such devastation can be remedied in just a matter of minutes." Jared couldn''t help but shake his head in amazement. "Really? I thought someone of your standing would have free ess to such medicine." Jared was now a General of the War Ursa Battalion, an A-rank individual. "Pah even the Duke can''t use high level potions willy nilly let alone me who only recently attained A-rank." The resource budget for Icethorne was quite meagre inparison to its duties. Even Jared a newly crowned General was only allowed to carry two high level potions on his person and only when there was no other choice was he allowed to use them. "Congrattions by the way and.thank you for saving me." With his wounds pretty much healed and the pain dissipating more every second Frost rose to his feet and bowed to Jared, giving his genuine thanks. "No need for that Frost, you can just consider our debt paid, besides if you want to thank someone you should thank the Princess, she refused to budge an inch and even threatened to take her own life unless I agreed to help you." "Haaaaa sorry that must have put you in a difficult spot." Frost could easily picture the scene of Avira balling her eyes out with her rapier resting against the front of her neck as she demanded Jared to take action. "Not really, if I wished I could have easily knocked her out and dragged her back to Icethorne." It wouldn''t be much of an issue for an A-rank individual like himself to apprehend Avira before she harmed herself. "Hoh.why didn''t you just do that then?" Surely the safety of the Princess was of upmost importance. Jared gazed directly into Frost''s eyes with a serious expression before saying. "Because my liege gave me an order and for me to disobey it would be tantamount to treason." The moment he recognised Avira as the Princess of Northrend, the rightful ruler of the empire her every word became a decree for the loyal soldier. Chapter 703 Chapter 703 Welcome to Icethorne (end of volume 10) General Jared Bando was the personification of a loyal soldier. Just like his superior Duke Runak he swore to serve the Northrend throne and the Empire as a whole. Thus despite not having much backing from the powerful noble houses situated in the Capital, because of the words left behind by the former Emperor Franz Northrend, in their eyes Avira was unquestionably the rightful heir.N?v(el)B\\jnn The moment her identity was verified she became his highest ranking liege. Faced with such unwavering conviction Frost couldn''t help but ovep Jared''s appearance with that of Findley, their loyalty was frighteningly simr after all. Thinking of this brought a smile to his lips. "Hahaha truly the living embodiment of loyalty, V''s quite lucky." "..You should refer to her as Princess Avira or her highness Frost." Jared half seriously insisted but Frost wasn''t intimidated in the slightest. "Rx I have permission to call her that plus I''m not a citizen of Northrend." Frost waved his hand on front of his face as though batting away the usual formalities. "Very well but I''d advise you to be more respectful when in front of the Duke as he may not be as lenient as the Princess and myself." Jared bared his teeth and pped Frost''s back in a friendly manner. "Ow! Ease up a little." Frost felt a burning pain where Jared pped him, the old soldier needed to learn how to control his own strength. Speaking of his strength Frost finally took a moment to view his surroundings. "Urgh" a groan escaped his lips as he took in the debauched scene of carved up Frost giants littered across the now reddened snow. The C-rank''s were cleanly taken care of with a single cut or two, but Be wasn''t quite so fortunate. Bits of her flesh and muscles had literally exploded under Jared''s attacks, nketing the entire area with gruesome chunks. Worst of all was the frozen expression stuck on her deceased head, a face filled with madness and terror. Frost looked back at Jared who seemed to not have a single blemish or spot of blood on his uniform, even his axes had been cleaned at some point. The contrast was so awkward that it was hard to imagine him being the cause of the nearby devastation.somehow it actually reminded him of his own behaviour as he too liked to be clean. ''Is this how Ie across after defeating my foes, walking by with nary a hair out of ce or spot of blood on my robes?'' "She was quite strong for a priestess." As Frost was getting lost in his own thoughts Jared spoke up, his eyes focused on the decapitated head with a terrifying visage. "Such determination and stubbornness.a shame." He let out a sigh and shook his head. "How so?" Frost asked, curious of his meaning. Jared removed his gaze from the deceased giant and turned to face Frost. "Within the Frost Giant Tribe only those who reach B-rank can be considered true members of the tribe and once they reach that rank their given official roles." Jared began exining what he knew of the inner workings of the Frost Giant Tribe. "To gain the position of priestess one must have a high degree of talent, be female and follow the direct will of their sacred temple which was erected after the ascension of Ymir. Usually their strengths range from the upper early stages to the lowerte stages, but this one was actually in the upperte stages, just a step further and she would have been at the peak of B-rank." ''No wonder I wasn''t a match for her.'' Be was miles stronger that the Rindar he barely managed kill during the monster stampede. A miracle hested as long as he did. "On top of that she was incredibly stubborn and tenacious, forcing me to use highly devasting attacks to curb her advance.more than half her body''s now ruined because of that, haaaaa what a waste." Even this deep into the cial mountains it''s rare toe across a monster as strong as Be. Her corpse was beholden to a plethora of good materials, materials that Icethorne was in dire need of thus for half of it to be ruined it was a substantial loss, a loss that even Jared an A-rank General could understand. "I see." Frost found his respect for the deceased female giant growing despite their opposed rtionship, Nova was a world based on strength after all. He would remember her might and use their battle to fuel his own growth, surpassing her in the end. Jared and Frost remained silent for a few seconds as varied emotions flowed through their hearts. "Come on Frost we should get going." Assuming that the health potion had run its course Jared was anxious to return to Icethorne. Princess Avira agreed to leave with Sergeant Olive after receiving his vow, but she was surely still worried plus given the situation someone of his standing couldn''t be away from the fortress for too long. "Are you not going to retrieve the bodies?" Jared had definitely killed his opponents but there was no sign of him rummaging through them for their held items or usable materials. "No a patrol team will do that; now follow me the Princess is probably worried sick." Jared was clearly eager to get back so Frost could only follow his lead hoping that these valuable corpses wouldn''t go to waste. "Let''s see how fast you can run little Frost." Jared yfully stuck out his tongue before sprinting north, quickly kicking up a trail of snow and dust. In response Frost who was feeling much better after drinking the high level health potion tensed his legs muscles and charged after the old solider, determined to not fall far behind. It wasn''t every day you get to race against an A-rank individual after all. An hourter Jared (who was jogging lightly) stopped in front of a truly massive gate made of Runic metal. He stood perfectly straight and was breathing normally while Frost who was trailing after him was gasping for air and struggling to remain upright on his trembling legs. He''d never run so damn fast in his entire life. Every time it seemed that he was gaining on Jared the damn bastard would increase his speed and look back with a provocative smile. And Frost being who he was always replied with more speed resulting in a quick exhaustion of what little stamina remained after his gruelling fight with Be. "Not bad, you''re much faster than I thought you''d be. Your physical capabilities are quite something little Frost." Jared was all praises for his young friend but in Frost''s ears it sounded grating. "Wee to Icethorne Frost, the territory of Duke Runak and the northern most bastion of the Northrend Empire." Jared who was about to be swarmed by eager soldiers gestured towards the massive monstrosity thaty before them. If you considered Furano''s or Niflheim''s walls tall then the walls of Icethorne reached the clouds. Standing before the southern gate Frost had to tilt his head all the way back if he wanted to see the top. 100 metres that''s how tall the damn southern wall was, and that 100 metre wall spanned several kilometres between two rugged mountains that surpassed the cloud line, barring entry and exit for all who dwelled within the inner regions of the cial mountains. The Northern wall that faced the inner regions was even taller, thicker and wider than the south reaching close to 130 metres in height, lying over 15 kilometres further north making the fortress of Icethorne thaty between far, farrger than Furano. Intimidating didn''t even begin to describe the feeling Frost was currently experiencing. The fortress of Icethorne was clearly built for a single purposewar. "Impressive right?" Jared reacted the exact same way when he arrived decades ago. For a young soldier trained in the civilised Northrend it was hard toprehend the need for such an insane fortress, but he quickly learned. Not even a month after his arrival he was thrust into his first true war, a war that was unlike any other he had ever seen. Now whenever he gazed upon the mighty walls of Icethorne he actually felt that they were rathercking. Frost who was like a deer in headlights could only mutely nod his head in agreement. All his previous pride in developing a new outer wall for the Niflheim city-state came crashing down, his walls weren''t even a 5th of the one that now stood before him. He felt as though he was just a child ying at Lord. "General Bando!" A group of soldiers lined up in formation before Jared and saluted him with their arms crossed over their chests. "At ease, did the Princess arrive safely and has the patrol teams left to attend to our deceased and the bodies of our enemies?" Jared nodded his head in reply, as a superior officer he wasn''t required to salute someone of a lower ranking. "Reporting sir, the Princess and her allies arrived safe and sound with nary a scratch, his lordship the Duke has been informed and will make his way to the pce as soon as he is able." Icethorne was quite a big ce and Duke Runak was a busy man, even if it was the princess'' arrival he couldn''t simply drop his current tasks. "Regarding the patrol teams Sergeant Gregory and Sergeant Thomas have been sent in response to your request sir. We should have the bodies within our walls before nightfall." A muscr human woman standing over 2 metres tall responding to Jared with fervour in her eyes. She couldn''t believe that she was actually getting the chance to speak to her idol. "Good work Captain, ensure that our deceased and injuredrades receive our highest level of care. Sergeant Olive''s squad has achieved great merit and must be rewarded for their efforts." "Sir yes Sir!" All the solider loudly called and stamped their feet with passion and loyalty in their hearts. "Alright then, dismissed." Jared waved off the soldiers before then turning back to Frost. "Once again wee to Icethorne, Frost." Chapter 704 Icethorne (volume 11) "Once again wee to Icethorne, Frost." General Bando animatedly weed Frost to Icethorne as the fortress'' southern gates were craned open by a team of muscr soldiers and a durable lever mechanism. From just a cursory nce Frost estimated that the gate weighed tens, perhaps even hundreds of tonnes and was made out of a metal he''d never seen before. As the gate slowly opened he was able to see a beautiful marbling running within the metal, its colour appearing slightly lighter and far shiner than the rest, it even glinted whenever a sunbeam passed across its surface. It was obvious that this metal that made up 90% of the gate was of a very high rank. ''Even I repeatedly used [flight of the Luan] I doubt I''d be able to shave off more than a few centimetres.'' Frost could immediately tell that without special equipment it would be impossible to break through this giant wall and gate. "I''ll have someone give you a grand tourter but first let''s go and settle the Princess'' nerves." Jared could see the curiosity welling up in Frost''s eyes but unfortunately there wasn''t time to indulge. "Alright." Frost shrugged his shoulders and shoved down his curiosity as he followed Jared through the gates and into the fortress. "Garow!" However the moment they began to cross the threshold a massive four legged creature with wings sprouting from its back let loose an aggrieved roar before charging straight for Frost with reddened eyes.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Oooff Kiba!" Frost despite quickly bracing himself for the impact was instantly knocked off his feet and pinned to the ground. Lick lick Kiba who had been worried sick this entire time whimpered as he repeatedly licked Frost''s face with his rough tongue, refusing to budge an inch until he had his fill of attention. "Hahahaha what a loyal and affectionate kitty cat hahahaha." Jared bellowed withughter finding Kiba''s actions downright adorable. He was supposed to be a noble and wild cial tiger not some house cat that missed his owner. Frost was initially annoyed by Kiba''s clinginess but after hearing his aggrieved voice through their soul connection and noticing his trembling he smiled and gently stroked the back of his head and ears until he calmed down. "Well done Kiba." Once back on his feet Frost warmly praised his partner''s valiant efforts and climbed up onto his back. "Chuff!" In response Kiba proudly arched out his chest and loudly chuffed as a smile quickly adorned his goofy lips. The surrounding on duty soldiers and residents of Icethorne tried their best to ignore the sight but Kiba''s actions were just too darn cute. Muffled chuckles and bright smiles could be seen all around as Jared led a proud Kiba through the streets with Frost on his back. "The Princess would have been escorted to the noble embassy same with that cksmith dwarf, what was his name?" "Borris Darksteel." "Yes that''s right Borris Darksteelhis arrival couldn''t havee at a better time." A forlorn expression flitted across Jared''s face for a brief moment before he forced himself to smile. "Anyway I''m sure they''ll both be happy to see safe and sound Frost." "..Is the situation here really that bad?" Frost asked keen to know the true story and not something sugar-coated. Upon hearing his question Jared stopped walking and turned to face Frost, a frown evident across his brow "..Haaaaa bad doesn''t even begin to describe it Frost." He sighed and shook his head, his shoulders slumping down as though unable to withstand a massive weight. "Jare" Frost was just about to press him for details, but Jared held up his hand and said, "I''d like to tell you more about it, I really would but I think it''d be best if you heard it directly from the Duke." Since Frost came with the Princess his position was rather delicate, he couldn''t be considered as a simple civilian, nor could he be considered as part of the Northrend military thus what could be told to him and what couldn''t needed to be decided by the Duke himself. ".Very well I''ll ask the Duke." Though he was keen to know about the territory he was leaving his two friends in he understood Jared''s position. "Thanks." The group of three thus continued on towards the embassy, a building reserved for important and high ranking visitors. Since it was built near the southern gate it didn''t take Jared, Frost and Kiba long to reach it. Just 10 minutes after entering through the gate and being assaulted by Kiba, Frost found himself in front of arge ornate building that exuded a noble charm far different from the many military styled buildings he passed on the way. "Oh." Jared uttered his surprise upon finding a woman standing outside the embassy. She was adorned in roughed up adventurer clothes and had her arms tightly across her chest, but her face was no longer hidden. "Your Highnes." Jared moved to kneel and greet her, but the young woman darted passed him,pletely ignoring his existence. "FROST!!!" The woman or rather Avira loudly screamed out Frost''s name with tears streaming down her cheeks. Then without any thought in regards to her status she leaped from the ground and wrapped herself around him, hugging him tightly against her body as she cried her heart out. For the past two hours she had been beside herself with grief. Frost was strong but he wasn''t a match for that oversized frost giant and her cronies. Her only sce had been that the contract between Frost and Kiba had remained all this time but that only ensured that he was alive not what state he was in. Would hee back on the brink of death? Would he be missing a limb or limbs? Would he have a permanent injury that would ruin his future? Or perhaps his beautiful face had be destroyed? Her mind went round and round imagining all sorts of terrible oues so when she finally caught sight of him after all this time she broke down into a bawling mess. Experience tales at empire At this moment she was not a revered Princess, but a young girl worried about her friend. "Wah wah." Avira continued to cry into Frost''s chest and all he could do was gently stroke the back of her head, not having the heart to push her away. "Let''s head inside." Jared suggested after noticing that people were being drawn over by the sound of a young girl crying. He couldn''t have the Princess; the future leader of their nation being seen in such a vulnerable state. With the fortress currently beset with danger their future leader needed to be portrayed as strong and confident amongst the residents. "Agreed." Frost nodded his head and skilfully held Avira against his body as he descended from Kiba''s back and entered the embassy with Jared. "Hahahaha I should have known you''de back without nary a scratchd." Once inside Borris appeared with arge grin stered across his lips and red tinge on his cheeks, clearly he''d been drinking heavily while in the embassy. "It was far more than a scratch Borris, in fact I''m lucky to even be alive." Frost immediately regretted his words as the woman wrapped around his chest violently shivered before looking up at him like a baby on the edge of a tantrum. "Y..Youhickgot hurt?" Her eyes welled up in preparation for the wailing of a century. Frost''s upper lip started twitching in response and he craned his neck to the side to avoid looking directly at her. ".I misspoke it was just a scratch." He quickly took back what he just said. As though sceptical Avira narrowed her eyes and scanned him for any signs of wounds and only after finding nothing too out of ce did she nod her head and go back to being glued to his chest. Borris and Frost shared a knowing look, they''d talk at lengthter once Avira calmed down, she was too fragile at the moment. "Frost feel free to rest here with the Princess, you''re bound to be exhausted after your journey." Said Jared after calling on the staff servicing the embassy. "I am so I''ll take you up on that Jared.do you need to get back?" "Yes in fact I''ve already wasted too much time haaaaa I''ll try and visit the next time I''m able, but it might be easier for you toe and visit me instead." Jared sighed and once again showed that dark expression. "Got it, where?" "Where else? The frontlines." His dark expression was mixed with a bloodthirsty smile which Frost instinctively mirrored. Where else would a General be during times of war. "Hopefully the Duke will be able to return to the pce shortly but if not I''m sure one of his aides wille in his ce, see ya Frost." "Farwell Lord Darksteel." "Until next time your majesty." Jared gave separate farewells for his friend, the talented 4 star cksmith Borris Darksteel and of course his highest ranking liege Princess Avira who unfortunately didn''t even register his voice given her focus on Frost. "Good hunting General." Borris replied with a military salute, he was full of respect for the man and looked forward to fighting the good fight alongside him. Don! Jared closed the embassy''s front door behind him and then instantly used his A-rank speed to dash North to the frontlines. Chapter 705 Icethorne (2) It didn''t long for General Bando to make his way back to the fortress'' frontlines, its northern wall. The scene here was quite a bit different from the rather easy going southern wall. Instead of having a few small toons keeping up appearances, the northern wall was littered with soldiers from both the Duchy''s own forces and the vaulted War Ursa Battalion. Thousands perhaps even tens of thousands stood atop and before the massive wall that stretched several kilometres across. Men and women of differing Sapient species stood stalwart at the base of the wall, adorned in high quality armour fashioned from a mixture of metals and monster materials. These soldiers were the Duchy''s vanguard, men and women of great physical strength and unwavering courage. They didn''t rely upon the safety of the wall behind them no they stood in front of it, culling any would be aggressor that dared to infringe upon theirnd.N?v(el)B\\jnn Their armour and clothes long dyed red from the blood of their enemies. Across the entire empire there were few regiments that could match their experience and sheer kill count. With powerful shieldmen armed with tower shields as tall as themselves standing at the forefront, deadly spearmen and pole users primed behind and vicious swordsmen and axe users in the rear this 3yer system acted like a meat grinder, swiftly dispatching swaths of enemybatants regardless of their shape or form. Atop of the wall stood the Duchy''s ranger corps, crossbowmen and archers arrayed in individual rectangr formations with closebat bodyguard units standing in between. While behind them were the magic corps, mages of all elements who were grouped up on extended tforms and specially build towers that amplified the flow of mana. From on high and safety the ranger corps and the magic corps rained death from above but even then their firepower paled inparison to the war machines lined across not only the top of the wall but also within it. Just like the newly built wall around the Niflheim city-state this monstrosity was partially hollow allowing soldiers to enter it at will and man the ballistae and even mana cannons ced within. If that wasn''t enough stationed behind the wall was the cavalry of the Duchy and the War Ursa Battalion. Men and women who rode upon bear monsters ranging from E-rank to even upper C-rank. Hidden pathways within the nearby mountains as well as beneath the ground itself allowed this deadly force to appear and disappear like the wind, stabbing deep into the heart of the enemy forces before swiftly returning safely behind the wall. Throughout Northrend hell probably throughout the entire civilised regions of Yangmir there wasn''t a single fortress that came close to matching the defensive power of Icethorne. General Bando when his eyes gazed upon the current state of the northern wall surprisingly frowned, his expression briefly darkening as worry filled his heart. Smack! The moment he was lost in thought however arge hand mmed hard against his back, leaving a distinct handprint and forcing the mighty general to reel forward. "Wee back rookie!" His attacker was a bear beastwoman even taller and more muscr than himself. "Katrina." Jared grumbled, his back searing from her malicious smack. "How long are you gonna call me ''rookie'' by the way." Though in pain and annoyed by her choice of greeting he was in a lower position hierarchy wise plus he may have took longer than necessary to return to his post. Katrina or rather General Katrina Orwell tilted her head to the side in a yful manner. "Hmmm probably until the next person reaches A-rank then they''d be the rookie General." ".I''m the first new General in ten years" "Un so you have your answer, rookie." Katrina nodded her head, mockingly praising Jared''s intelligence which caused the usually calm and collected man to twitch at the lips. His fists trembled as he restrained the urge to pick a fight with the woman as doing so would only result in his abysmal defeat. General Katrina was one of the oldest Generals under Duke Runak, ady who was literally ughtering people when he was still in diapers. Currently she was in the upper ranges of middle A-rank, but Jared suspected that her true strength was even higher, possibly evente stage A-rank. With him being the rookie who only just ascended to A-rank she could easily crush him without much effort and in fact one of her favourite pastimes was too abuse him under the guise of training. Katrina taunted and teased urging him to take a swing at her so she could put him in his ce, but he refused to take the bait. "Tsk boring.by the way what took you so long?" Katrina clicked her tongue before changing topics. "The Princess appeared." "Ahh no wonder Oscar''s been so enthusiastic." Katrina turned to nce at the Northern wall''smand centre. There a human man with short white hair, a bushy white beard and an intimidating a face stood with his arms crossed as he gazed beyond the wall. This man was Oscar Runak the Duke of Icethorne, leader of the War Ursa Battalion and the strongest soldier in the Empire. Experience tales at empire The old Duke was too strong to get personally involved in standard battles, but he regrly tookmand as the main strategist. Katrina had noticed that his orders had been rather aggressive over the past hour, now she knew why. "That still doesn''t exin you being absent for so long though." Katrina was too wizened to be fooled by a hot topic. "There was a bit of aplication" Jared proceeded to tell Katrina about having to rescue Frost because of the Princess'' order/request. "Frostis he the one you met several months ago, the one you said helped you cross the gap?" Katrina asked knowing quite a bit about Jared''s activities which was to be expected given that he was once under her directmand. "Yes." Jared didn''t hide anything. ".How intriguing." Katrina stroked her chin in thought as a smile formed on her lips, she was curious. Frost''s exploits were too impressive to ignore.she wanted him as a subordinate. "General Bando give your report!" Suddenly Jared and Katrina were interrupted by a loud booming voice that sent shivers down their spines. "Yes War Marshall." Duke Runak had two titles; one was his nobility title the Duke of Icethorne while the other was War Marshal of the War Ursa Battalion. Whenever they were on the battlefield or discussing the war effort Duke Runak insisted on being called War Marshal instead of Duke. While Jared was reporting to the Duke, Frost, Avira and Borris got some much needed rest. The journey had been quite taxing on their minds and bodies especially thest leg. Their assigned rooms were far better than even the best yurts found in the camps run by the order of the ice shield and miles apart from camping in a cave, so after a quick wash and a ss of a milk like drink the three of them fell asleep the moment their heads hit the pillow. 5 hourster when night had fallen, turning the once whitendscape a beautiful ck Frost and the rest were awoken from their sleep by the embassy attendants. "Sir Frost the Duke requests your presence in the pce." "Understood" Frost stretched and cracked his back after acknowledging the attendant''s words. He then looked out the nearby window and saw the moon high in the sky "What time is it?" He asked. "A little after 9pm sir." "Seems I slept through dinner." "Not to worry Sir a banquet has been prepared in the pce for you, Lord Darksteel and her majesty the Princess." The attendant was quick to ay Frost''s worries. ''Great I''d hate to have to deal with the Duke on an empty stomach'' "Thank you, I''ll be down in a minute." Once the sound of the attendant''s footsteps disappeared Frost put on his robes and armour, casted clean up magic to get rid of any bed head and checked his appearance in a nearby mirror. "Good as always." He narcissistically said before nodding his head and leaving the bedroom. "Eveningd you''re looking better." Borris was already waiting in the foyer with a ss of whiskey, a standard dwarven cksmith pick me up. "A good rest and hopefully tasty food should have me back to full potency." Though the high level health potion cleared up the majority of his injuries his exhaustion was still present thus when he arrived with Jared earlier his face was pale, his eyes bloodshot and sporting significant dark bags underneath. "That''s good to hear." Borris took a sip of whiskey before frowning. "How bad was it?" He asked knowing that Avira wasn''t here yet. "Bad, I had to use a high level health potion." Shatter! The whiskey ss in Borris'' hands shattered, the old dwarf in a rush of anger clench his hand too hard causing the ss to break and the whiskey to go to waste. "Sorry, ah such a waste of premium liquor haaaaa." An attendant quickly moved to help clean up the broken ss and wipe down Borris''s hand and clothes. ".What were you thinkingd? If we hadn''t run into that General Bando what would you have done?" Borris looked up at Frost with an aggrieved expression, his pain was evident. Seeing this Frost felt his heart warm, and a gentle smile grew on his lips. Chapter 706 Icethorne (3) Frost with a warm heart smiled gently and shook his head. "Rx Borris I had a n." "Which was?" Borris wanted specific details and Frost was more than happy to oblige now that the danger was over. He removed two items from his storage ring and showed them to Borris. "Hmm" The old dwarf failed to recognise one of the items, but the second one was covered in rather familiar runes. "Is that?" "A teleporting talisman and a sh crystal." "A sh crystal?" Borris had never heard of such an item, but he could roughly guess its purpose from the name. He weighed the two objects in his hands and immediately understood Frost''s supposed n. "A distraction followed by a sudden magical disappearance and a high level health potion to quickly resolve any debilitating injuries." An effective n but rather costly he surmised. Just the health potion alone would likely have cost multiple gold coins let alone the teleporting talisman. Both were items beyond the grasp of themon adventurer. "Exactly." Borris fumbled around with the teleportation talisman and was able to roughly gauge its limits. ''10 kilometres or so in a random direction.'' Pretty high level stuff but hardly a guarantee of safety given where they were. "Your n relied too much on luck, next time don''t take any chancesd.you only have one life after all." The old dwarf wasn''t satisfied with Frost''s precautions so he hmphed in a grumpy manner and refused to look in his direction to show his displeasure.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Avira arrived a couple minutester to see Frost awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck and Borris standing silently off to the side with a fresh ss of whiskey in his hand. It was clear to her that something had happened between the two of them while she was getting ready. The young woman who had been donning disguises since the night of her parents'' murder no longer had a need to hide her appearance as she had reached her destination, her proimed sanctuary. "Wow." Borris who had been keeping silent in protest couldn''t help but gawk and exim the moment he saw Avira standing at the top of the stairs. The beautiful young Princess was wrapped in a satin blue dress enamoured with silverly specks, reminiscent of the night sky. It hugged tightly against her slender curves, leaving no question in regards to her gender like her previous attire did. Her shoes were no longer of the practical sort, ck high heels that made it almost impossible for her to run and move with purpose, they did however make her taller and add more definition to her ass. Her long silver hair was done up in a beautiful princess style braid andyfortably across her chest. A small amount of make-up was used to touch up her skin, masking the minor blemishes brought on by her difficult journey and less than ideal sleeping habits. Her clothes, shoes and make-up were all elegant in style, creating the image of a more mature beauty, less Princess more, Empress. Avira subtly smiled in response to Borris'' exmation, but her real focus was on Frost. As she gazed down at the young man she batted her eyshes in a flirtatious manner and arched out both her chest and rear so as to appear more curvy, hoping to shock him with her beauty. Of course even with her wearing a beautiful dress, high heels, makeup and her obvious arching the young Princess was still no match for Maya and Daki in the shape department, but she was still a kingdom toppling beauty. "You look beautiful V." Frost gave his honest opinion in a smooth fashion. "Hehehe thank you Frost." Avira blushed and giggled, very pleased by his choice of words. Once Avira descended the stairs an attendant entered the embassy and politely announced "Your highness, Lord Frost, Lord Darksteel there''s a carriage waiting outside to take you to the pce." "Perfect I can''t wait to see uncle Runak again after so many years." A redness formed in Avira''s eyes as her emotions swayed in nostalgia. She hadn''t seen the man she called uncle Runak in over a decade; would he even recognise her now. Find your next adventure on empire "V." Frost the perfect gentleman held out his hand, offering to serve as her escort/chaperone, an offer Avira was more than inclined to take. With a bright expression she took hold of Frost''s hand and was led into the awaiting carriage. "Haaaaa can''t believe I''m being a third wheel at my age." Borris grumbled andined as he entered the carriage after the two ''supposed lovebirds'' but the smile on his lips ryed his true feelings. The carriage ride was quite smooth, no sudden bumps or shaking throughout the entire 30 minute journey. Both the carriage itself and the road they travelled upon were of a very high quality, the Duke being a military man knew the true value of a smooth and solid road. "Entering her highness Princess Avira Northrend, future Empress of the Empire and herpanions Sir Frost and Lord Borris Darksteel." The group was announced by a loud attendant and a round of salutes from the nearby soldiers. Avira was used to such receptions given her upbringing and Frost was unperturbed given his own status but Borris who was practically aymen was unnerved by the wee. The hundreds of eyes staring at him gave him the willies. ''How am I supposed to remain calm somewhere like this.'' He suddenly missed Furano, the Viscounts were far more casual in their actions and tended to host only a small amount of people during celebrations. "Rx Borris just think about smithing, and you''ll be fine." Avira being a skilled noble whispered some advice in the old dwarf''s ear which allowed him to calm down somewhat. The room they entered into was a massive hall with a long, thick ice table in the centre. A grand assortment of food was ced upon the table that stretched from one side of the room to the other, allowing up to 50 people to dine infort though there was considerably less than that currently present. At the head of the table sat arge man with snow white hair and an intimidating appearance. Behind him constantly in arms reach was a ck heavy sword, 2.5 metres long and at least 60cm wide. Its dual sided edge glinting whenever the light passed over it. This was Duke Oscar Runak, War Marshall of the War Ursa Battalion and the Empire''s strongest soldier. And the weapon that was ced behind him was the [Night''s descent] the War Marshall''s personal weapon that was almost as famous as the man himself. Seated next to Duke Runak were his vaunted generals, Katrina Orwell, Maximus Landow, Jessica Tunray, Vox Nitros as well as Astra Pocise, all big names in Northrend. Famous individuals who stand at the peak of the nation''s military. If these powerful men and women weren''t intimidating enough the walls of the hall were decorated with the heads of powerful A-rank monsters and soldiers adorned in heavy te armour and armed with military pikes lined the edges of the room, silently watching everything like hawks. It was clear that this whole thing was a show of strength but whether it was for intimidation purposes or support Frost couldn''t tell. All he knew was that he was nothing but an ant before these people, any one of them could crush him without any effort. Strangely however he didn''t feel fear but excitement, especially when his gazended on Duke Runak. He could feel something instinctual, a pressure hidden deep within that wasn''t present amongst his generals, something he''d only felt from Maya and the other guardians. This man was truly strong. While Avira looked intimately at Duke Runak and Frost felt his blood start to boil from excitement Borris who was previously anxious locked onto the ck sword sitting behind the Duke. "[Night''s descent]" He quietly mumbled as his heart threatened to burst. The [Night''s descent] was a 6 star weapon forged over a century ago by one of the Empire''s greatest ever cksmiths. For someone like Borris it was likeing across the greatest of all treasures, a genuine masterpiece of craftsmanship. He desperately wanted to take hold of the prized weapon and study it for weeks perhaps even months alone in a private forge but thankfully his reasoning overcame his desire though it didn''t remove the obvious twinkling and sparkling in his eyes. ''Interesting.'' While Frost, Borris and Avira were taking in their surroundings Duke Runak was examining them. He smiled gently and felt a joy in his heart when he gazed at Avira, recognising the young woman instantly as she was the spitting image of her mother. For Borris he initially felt that he was a cksmith at the end of his tenure, someone with a decent level of skill who could be put to good use butcking in passion and the possibility of improvement. The reports he received earlier however were a far cry from the real thing. The supposed old dwarf whocked passion and fire lit up like a child the moment he saw [Night''s descent], a reactionpletely opposed to one who had lost the joy of their craft. However Frost was the most intriguing of all , a young man who appeared from nowhere and took the Northrend empire by storm. Within a year he managed to reach B-rank from the early stages of C-rank, a trusted friend of the Furano Viscounty, someone who didn''t fear battle and a man who was protected by someone at the S-rank, a level even he couldn''t reach. Now that same man, the lord of a swiftly growing territory right on the border of the Northrend empire, an enemy to both Princes yet an ally to the Princess was standing before him and his generals with a look of excitement rather than fear. A reaction that couldn''t simply be chalked up to arrogance, there was something truly special about Frost and Duke Runak was curious to know what it was. Chapter 707 Icethorne (4) "Uncle Oscar" Avira loudly called out with a voice filled with affection and repressed pain. After travelling for so long in secret, hiding from her brothers'' eyes she''d finally found sce. The image of Duke Runak''s tall muscr frame and his battle hardened appearance broke the dam that guarded her emotions. The strong, brave young woman that faced off against the dreaded iceborne huntsman and endured the hunting of Be and her frost giant subordinates instantly turned into a bawling child. Wet tears streamed down her cheeks and her body visibly trembled greatly shocking the man sitting at the head of the table. "Little V!" The war hardened Duke rose from his seat and dashed forward taking the trembling Avira in his arms. "Wah wah uncle hic hic my mom and dad.." Avirapletely broke down in his arms, revealing all the repressed pain that she''d hidden so well from Frost and Borris. "I know child, I know let it all out." Duke Runak tightly pressed Avira against his chest and allowed her to let out all her frustrations, more than willing to act as her rock. Avira''s loud wailing and Duke Runak''s now warm and gentle expression destroyed the once tense atmosphere. "Sit with uncle, V, I had Icethorne''s best chefs prepare a glorious banquet for your arrival." "Umu" Avira meekly mumbled and nodded her head before Duke Runak carried her to the head of the table. He sat down and gently ced her on hisp before reaching out to grab a piece of fragrant monster meat. After having a few bites Avira''s tears stopped and her emotions calmed down slightly, the meat was very tasty. "Sir Frost, Lord Darksteel please take a seat and partake in the feast before it goes cold." With Avira now calmer Duke Runak turned to face Frost and Borris. "Thank you Duke Runak." Frost and Borris both respectfully bowed their heads before taking their assigned seats. The Generals seated nearby eyed them both with interest, keen to strike up a conversation. "Frost was it? It''s good to finally put a face to the name." General Katrina Orwell wasted no time in striking up a conversation with the handsome young man, her eyes even analysed every inch of his body as if attempting to grade his potential. "You know of me?" Frost expected them to have done some kind of background check, but Katrina''s tone seemed unusually warm and friendly. Continue reading on empire "Hahaha that brat Jared brought you up frequently, going on and on about your potentialseems he was onto something. What do you say young man fancy enlisting in the War Ursa Battalion, I promise to train you personally." Katrina''s eyes were well trained, even without the use of a skill she could perceive a great many things about a person through a single nce.N?v(el)B\\jnn "Hahaha I''m certainly honoured to receive an invitation from someone as strong as yourself but unfortunately I''ll have to decline. I have no intention in joining Northrend''s military." His response was respectful but firm, allowing for no negotiations. "I see." Katrina was obviously disappointed, but she didn''t hold anything against Frost in fact she respected his staunch refusal. "Well if you ever change your mind pleasee and find me, I Katrina Orwell would love to have you in my toon." "Tsk he''s already refused your advances Katrina stop pestering himyoung Frost why don''t you sit over here and discuss the world with this big sister." Immediately after Katrina spoke General Jessica Tunray, the War Ursa Battalion''s pre-eminent mage appeared next to Frost and wrapped herself around his arms, purposefully pressing her ample chest against him. "Ha big sister more like grandma." Katrina red daggers at her shameless colleague, finding her approach despicable. Jessica was of the same generation as her, her looks were only a fa?ade formed by magic and expensive make-up. The other Generals, Maximus, Vox and Astra internally sighed, choosing to ignore their antics. It wasmon for Katrina and Jessica to trade barbs whenever they were in the same room. Frost was slightly troubled by the situation as both women could easily kill him with a flick of their wrists, he couldn''t risk offending either one of them. Thankfully someone came to his rescue. A few seconds after Jessica wrapped herself around Frost a deadly burst of killing intent and bloodthirst was sent her way. The two Generals being at the peak of military strength immediately honed in on the killing intent and found that it came from Avira. The presence wascking in strength, but the quality was certainly there. "Let go." With a chilling gaze Avira ordered Jessica to leave Frost''s side. An action that stunned everyone in the room bar Borris and Frost. Duke Runak who was focusing all his attention on Avira couldn''t help but gawk as he saw the fragile bawling woman suddenly unleash such a chilling re at one of his most trusted Generals. He looked at Jessica and then at Frost before once again looking back at Avira. ''Well shit!'' Being a wise man Duke Runak instantly understood his darling niece''s mood, she was marking her territory. Not wanting to upset her nor diminish her status he gestured for Jessica to back off which caused the woman donned in sleek purple robes to hmph and return to her seat. She just wanted to y around a little. Like Katrina she had quite the eye for talent, particrly in regards to magic. Not only was Frost incredibly handsome but his natural mana levels for his current rank were off the charts, a true diamond in the making. One she desperately wanted to get her hands on even if it wasn''t through enlistment. So what if her current appearance was supported by magic, what difference did it make? Sexy and beautiful was sexy and beautiful regardless of the means plus as long as she had mana she would retain her early thirties appearance indefinitely, so it was basically permanent. But if the Princess, soon to be Empress of Northrend had alreadyid her im then she being a loyal soldier of the empire couldn''t throw her hat in the ring, regardless of how tempting the prize may be. "Frost it seems we need to have a proper chat don''t you think?" Duke Runak said with a smile but there was something ominous in his tone, something that made Frost shiver in his seat. "Iit would be my honour." ''Dammit why did I have to draw this monster''s ire.'' Frost suddenly regretted teasing Avira during their journey. "Everyone eat up, we''ll move on to official talks in an hourJessica, Vox once your done rece Jared and Danielle." ""Yes Duke"" Jessica and Vox performed a military salute before quickly digging into their meals. Hardly anyone talked after that, everyone waspletely focused on eating. An hourter Duke Runak, Avira, Katrina, Astra, Maximus, Frost and Borris left the hall where the feast was prepared and entered into a highly defended and magically sealed war room. "Please sit." Duke Runak gestured for his guests to sit down at therge metal table where a 3d model of Icethorne was disyed with frightening uracy. Maximus, Astra and Katrina didn''t sit, instead they stood directly behind their War Marshall in an intimidating manner. This time they were truly acting in an official capacity. Frost could feel his every muscles tremble and scream as he was subjected to their pressure without mercy. He could barely even look the Duke in the eye. "Princess Avira please tell me everything, I want to know exactly how our stalwart Emperor and noble Empress were deprived of their lives and by whose hand.tell me who took the lives of my friends!" Duke Runak couldn''t restrain his fury as he viciously mmed his fist against the metal table, forming a deep dent at the point of contact. The 3 Generals did their upmost to protect Borris and Avira from his leaking aura and bloodlust, but Frost was left to endure it alone, a sort of test and perhaps sign of respect on their part. For Frost however he felt as though he was faced with an unsurmountable mountain, a foe that he couldn''t even hope to survive against. In his short but experienced life he''d only felt such an intense level of power twice, once when he first mentioned the Church of Light to Maya and the second during his father''s outburst wherein all the guardians swarmed to restrain him and failed. Though Duke Runak was far weaker than both Maya and his father he was certainly not a run of the mill A-ranker. There was a presence there that could only be found in those at the S-rank or those half a step away from it. Feeling the depth of Duke Runak''s aura and killing intent he remembered a lesson Maya gave him several months ago. "What''s the difference between B-rank, A-rank and then S-rank?" Frost who had be floundering around the entry stages of B-rank wanted to understand the upper levels a bit more, so he asked his Guardian who at the time was still at the S-rank. "It''s not wise for you know everything as that may in fact limit your own path but I guess I can reveal the basics." Chapter 708 The barrier between ranks "It''s not wise for you know everything as that may in fact limit your own path but I guess I can reveal the basics." After an intense training session Maya decided to answer Frost''s query, allowing him to know the basics of what separated the upper ranks. "Now that you''ve reached B-rank you probably understand that the main dividing factor between C-rank and B-rank is being able to utilise and harness your own aura." Maya applied a rudimentary version of aura for disy purposes. "Following that by training your control over this newly grasped power and increasing its strength and internal capabilities you can rise upwards through the B-rank. Of course your weapon mastery and or spell mastery also ys as significant part, but aura is the key. Through enhancement of your aura you can empower your chosen weapon, cast higher circle spells and even improve the state of your body as well as pressure those weaker than yourself. This is the B-rank." Maya continued to disy some more advanced versions of B-rank level aura, several of which Frost was unable to grasp at his current level. "Now for A-rank." Suddenly the pressure Frost felt intensified to an extreme level, Maya''s aura became dense, practically corporal in nature. "To reach the A-rank one must be able to manifest their aura externally without the aid of skills, spells or instruments. To do this their aura must reach a certain level of density and quality. Can you feel the difference?" "Yes it feels like the difference between a gas and a liquid." Frost strained his senses to understand the pressure ced on his body and the change in Maya''s aura. "Not a bad analogy, you''re right the aura is in apletely different state which allows me to do something like this." With a flick of her wrists invisible chains wrapped around Frost''s body, holding him in ce. She urged him to struggle free but he felt not even the slightest give. Read exclusive content at empire "A-ranks can externalise their aura into whatever form they can imagine. Chains, swords, des, arrows, walls, shields as long as their control and reserves are deep enough anything can be generated. The higher they reach in the A-rank the more diverse and solid their projections be, for example the chains I''m binding you with now are equivalent in strength to a 4 star weapon." Frost couldn''t help but thank his lucky stars at that moment, grateful that the A-rank assassin Sedrick sent after him was too cocky, giving him enough time to summon his super strength girlfriend. Maya let the information sink in for a few seconds before continuing onto the S-rank, a rank that was practically fable within the civilised world. As Frost was limatising to the pressure of an A-rank''s aura his surrounding suddenly changed and a pressurepletely eclipsing what he felt previously forced him prone against the floor. He heard the howling of wolves and his body formed thick ice crystals across his skin as the temperature plummeted. He felt as though he was teleported to the deepest reaches of the cial mountains and unable to provide even the slightest degree of resistance. Thankfully the feeling onlysted for a second or two before he was back in the training room. Maya stood with a wide grin on her lips and asked, "Well young master how does it feel to experience the power of a domain?" "A domain?" He asked, his body still shivering from the intense cold. "Yes, it''s what separates A-rank and S-rank. For one to reach my rank they need to grow their aura to the point where they can manifest a domain, an area of influence in which they haveplete and utter control. Though domains differ between individuals the core essence remains the same, within the sphere of influence that is their domain they are Gods who can control every aspect of that space." "So that frigid world?" "Yes it was the manifestation of my domain and something that not even a person at the upper levels of A-rank could ever hope to escape from. The moment you find yourself trapped within an S-rank''s domain you''re practically finished. The only way you can survive is if you can manifest a stronger domain, one that can eclipse theirs and overwrite their control of the surroundingws." Maya emphasized the futility of resistance, S-rank wasn''t something that could be ovee with brute strength or numbers. Back to the present. Frost could feel that Duke Runak was very close to forming his own domain, as though he was but a single step from achieving it. His already great respect for the man became even greater as his strength washed over him without mercy.he was truly strong. ''Monster'' Katrina kept a close eye on Frost the entire time, curious to see how he''d fare against the Duke''s unbridled strength. What she didn''t expect to see however was a growing smile on the young man''s lips, it was obvious that his body was struggling against the pressure but instead of turning submissive in the face of overwhelming power he was growing excited and staring straight at the source. ''The rumour must true.'' Katrina had read the intelligence reports regarding Frost, a skilled prodigy with a lot of potential but even if he was the most talented kid in Nova he still shouldn''t be able to stand firm against the Duke''s aura. The only way he could aplish this, is if this wasn''t his first time experiencing an aura that at the very peak of A-rank. In the reports she read there was an unverified rumour that Frost was protected by someone at the S-rank, a level that no one in the entire empire had been able to reach. She believed it to be utter nonsense, an opinion based on the skewed perspective of those in the lower ranks.at least until now.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The way Frost''s gaze was unfazed by the pressure meant that in his eyes such pressure was normal perhaps even considered weak. She quickly reevaluated Frost, cing him on an even higher pedestal, unfortunately this only made her want him more. The other Generals were simrly impressed by Frost''s conduct but not as much as Katrina who along with Jessica was the most senior of the War Ursa Battalion''s Generals, even the Duke himself was half a generation younger than the two of them. Thankfully the sudden outburst receded in a matter of seconds otherwise Frost may have fainted while standing up. Duke Runak briefly nced at the young man with praise before locking eyes with Avira, waiting for her answer. "Huuuuu I''ll start from the beginning." Avira let out a deep breath before regaling to Duke Runak the entire story, starting several weeks prior to the Emperor and Empress'' deaths before ending with her long journey with Frost through the cial mountains. General Jared and Danielle arrived during the midpoint of the story, the two of them were the youngest and most rookie of the War Ursa Battalion''s Generals and were supposed to be on duty tonight but Duke Runak wanted no interruptions thus he ordered Jessica and Vox to rece them. "While Frost held back the frost giant leader, Borris, Kiba and myself ran towards Icethorne in an attempt to run into a patrol squad. Thankfully we came across Sergeant Olive who after learning of my identity risked her life along with her squad mates to protect us until General Bando was able to arrive and decimate the enemy. That probably sums up everything that happened Uncle." Avira felt weak in the legs after telling her entire tale, she really endured a lot just to get here. "Unfilial bastards!!" "Unworthy trash!" "How dare they plunge the empire into chaos." The Generals were up in arms, filled with righteous fury. Even Katrina who never let her anger control her was clenching her fists to the point that blood was seeping through her fingers. p! Duke Runak loudly pped the metal table bringing a stop the their ranting . "The first Prince is guilty of patricide, matricide and treason of the highest degree. The second prince is also guilty of treason of the highest degree, I Duke Oscar Runak, ruler of Icethorne and War Marshall of the War Ursa Battalion dere his support for Princess Avira Northrend, she is the rightful heir to the throne, and we shall not ept another." Duke Runak loudly dered, firmly stating his stance in this royal war. The fortress of Icethorne would obey the Princess and no one else. Tears streamed down Avira''s cheeks as a weight was lifted from her heart, she now had a solid backing. "Little V, Icethorne will always be a sanctuary to you, a haven where you can be free from the machinations of your deceitful siblings. Please rest and recuperate here until you can work out your next steps." That weight that had just been lifted dropped back onto her heart. The Duke''s words were gentle and warm but rather strange as though he was avoiding something. "Eh?...next steps?... Aren''t they obvious?" In a flustered manner Avira reached into her dress and retrieved the imperial token that her father handed to her. "I need you to help me take back the throne uncle! This imperial token that was handed to me by my father." She waved the token in the air before mming it down on the table. " Acts as his decree, I need the War Ursa Battalion and you as a long standing Duke of the Empire to help fight against Randolph and Sedrick." Her forces were but a drop in the bucketpared to her brothers'' as was her standing amongst the nobility. She needed Duke Runak''s military might, provisions and influence if she wanted to stand on even remotely equal footing. Chapter 709 Icethornes plight "..." There was an ufortable silence within the war room. Avira had withdrew the imperial token handed to her by her father and announced her decree. She wished for Duke Runak to thoroughly support her im to the throne, to use his massive military and noble standing to fight against her brothers. Not even for a second did Avira believe that this request wasn''t a given. Her uncle was the most loyal man of the Empire, his allegiance to her father unquestionable. Why then did it sound like he was avoidingmitting his forces to her cause? Did he not say that she would have his full support? That the Duchy of Icethorne would not ept any one other than her on the throne? She stared at the non-responsive Duke as well as his Generals who just a moment ago were up in arms about the depravity shown by her brothers. Were they just like the other nobles? All talk and no bite. Her heart was on the brink of shattering, her hopes and dreams of revenge copsing as she saw her uncle struggling to form words. "WHY!!" She screamed in anger and despair but all she got in response were downcast expressions filled with inner turmoil. "It''s not that he doesn''t want to V, it''s that he can''t." Suddenly a voice that she hade to rely upon came from behind her followed by a gentle yet firm grasp of her shoulder. Avira turned around with reddened eyes to see Frost with a gentle smile on his lips, calm and unperturbed. "What do you mean?" She tried her best to calm down a little before asking. In response Frost nced at Duke Runak and asked, "May I?" In a respectful manner to which the battle hardened man nodded his head, thankful that someone else was willing to take the burden of possibly crushing his niece''s initial hopes. He was known far and wide as a ruthless monster that was born for war and battle but deep down there wasn''t a singlemander more caring than him. He took to heart even the smallest of losses amongst his forces how do think he''d fare against someone he considered family. He couldn''t bear to break Avira''s heart after having her cry in his arms. So he allowed Frost to tell her hoping that hearing it from him would somewhat soften the blow. "V what is the purpose of Icethorne?" Frost wasn''t as restrained as Duke Runak but he too didn''t want to cause unnecessary pain to the young Princess, so he decided to use a thorough exnation. "What does that have to do wi." "Just answer the question please." Avira wasn''t really in the mood for riddles and off topic conversation, but she struggled to refuse Frost''s request when she saw the sincerity in his eyes. "It serves as a bulwark, a frontier outpost of the Northrend empire. It being here allows us to keep the powerful kingdoms and tribes of the cial mountains inner regions in check while ensuring a steady stream of trade goods from them into our empire." She gave a textbook answer, her studies to be the next ruler were quite thorough. "Correct, now how do think these powerful tribes and Kingdoms view Icethorne?" He was leading her towards a certain answer one that he thoroughly understood thanks to his brief discussions with Jared as well as the current look on Duke Runak''s face. ".An enemy, something that prevents their expansion into the south as something that acts as a leash on their economic state." Icethorne practically served as the only trade route to the south meaning they could charge high taxes and even choose who was and wasn''t allowed passage. Avira knew that the actions of the Icethorne fortress would not be epted back in the civilised world, neighbouring nations would never allow such a powerful monopoly. "If that''s the case how do you think these enemy nations would react when they hear that the Northrend empire is in a state of chaos. That their rulers have been assassinated and that the heirs are currently fighting violently amongst themselves for control." "!!!!" Avira had a sudden realisation. Even before she had to run away to the Furano Viscounty her father was already receiving reports that their close knit neighbours were making moves both openly and secretly. If even their allies acted in such a manner then what would their enemies do? She quickly turned to face her uncle as the gears in her mind started to turn. "If I''m not mistaken the Duke and the War Ursa Battalion is probably having to fend off waves of enemies practically every day or sothus I doubt he even has the capability to spare a single soldier let alone arge chunk of his entire battalion." Regardless of how much Duke Runak wanted to lend military aid to his darling niece he just didn''t have the forces avable, in fact he was probably more in need of support than Avira. "Uncle is that true?" "Haaaaa I hate to admit it but yes. Icethorne even at this very minute is likely under siege at the northern wall. Half of my Generals need to be present there at all times and I''m unable to leave the fortress. The moment we give even an inch the enemy nations will swoop in with their regr army." Duke Runak was infuriated by the situation, constant unending attacks that kept his soldiers in a state of constant wariness. The moment word of the emperor''s death reached the nations and tribes of the cial mountains an impromptu and unofficial alliance was formed. The great beastkin kingdom of Jakbrak, ruled by the powerful Winter Tigerkin and cunning snow leopardkin. The northern nation of cial sprites and ice elementals. The horde of ravenous blue ants and pr mantises. The Mighty tribe of therge horned ice drakes as well as the frozen demonic empire thaty close to the border between the inner and core regions. These 5 entities served as the main force of the anti Icethorne alliance. Along with the hidden aid of more neutral parties such as the order of the ice shield and the great dwarven hold of Karak Kanz theyunched aggressive attacks upon the northern walls of Icethorne. Normally there''d be the asional bout of aggression on their part, a way to force reduced concessions and tariffs or for them to cull their swiftly growing numbers. Now however the assault was of apletely different nature. The attacks were no longer sporadic and minor but major disruptions that drained on Icethorne''s reserves. There was even A-rank monsters at the helm to keep the War Ursa Battalions in check. It was clear that these five entities and those who helped supply them with resources, manpower and ess were hoping to destroy the Northrend empire''s mightiest bulwark. Duke Runak was auded military general, unmatched in terms of strategy, personal strength and quality of soldiers but even he struggled to see the light at the end of this very dark tunnel. They were outmatched, outgunned and all alone out here in the mountains, surrounded by enemies. With the Empire in its current state hoping for reinforcements was nothing but a pipe dream, hell he''d be lucky if the empire didn''t send forces to help subdue him. In his mind the possibility of Sedrick or Randolph contacting the enemy to help rid themselves of an uncooperative Duke was not low, the situation was truly dire. Right now the battlefield was still under control, but the pressure was building every day, the enemy''s forces were growing in number and in quality. Duke Runak estimated that if nothing changed the fortress would fall within 3 to 6 months even with his presence. Upon hearing her uncle''s confession Avira''s anger transformed into concern and panic. She couldn''t rely upon her uncle''s military might and if they weren''t careful the Empire could lose its northern most fortress, a bulwark that kept the powerful nations of the cial mountains at bay and ensured that substantial trade flowed into their southern territories. Although Avira was still a young woman she was intelligent and wise and had received a ruler''s education from the Emperor himself. Seeing the powerlessness in the expressions of the nearby Generals as well as the repressed rage in her uncle''s eyes she took a deep breath and reorganised her priorities. Your journey continues with empire Her revenge would have to wait, ensuring the War Ursa Battalion''s and the duchy of Icethorne''s survival was more important. "I understand uncle and I apologise for my emotional outburst; I shouldn''t be so quick to ignore the plights of my subjects if I am to be a fair and just ruler." "V" Duke Runak looked at Avira in shock as well as nostalgia, he could see the shadows of his friends behind her resolute expression.N?v(el)B\\jnn ''Your daughter has be a fine woman Franz, Amelia.'' "We must solve the current problem of Icethorne before focusing on the state of the Empire. As long as Randolph and Sedrick continue to battle against one another the nation will not fall immediately.we have some time but not a lot" Avira would first have to help her uncle resolve the current situation with the enemy alliance hounding at their doors before being able to reim what is rightfully hers. ""By your will, your highness"" Chapter 710 Icethornes plight (2) Duke Runak and his vaunted Generals willingly lowered their heads in reverence to the young Princess. Their hearts that were previously filled with guilt and frustration were now aze with loyal passion. "Uncle please borate on the Duchy''s current situation. If I am to help I must understand the true depths of this plight." Avira spoke with a natural gravitas that uplifted the hearts of those who heard her words, the voice of a leader who was eager to take on their burdens.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om A few teardrops fell from Duke Runak''s eyes as he took in her regal bearing. To him she bore the same charisma of her father but held the appearance of her mother, empress Amelia. He had never felt prouder than he did at this very moment. "It would be my honour Princess." He replied with a warm smile on his lips, an expression that he hadn''t been able to show in quite some time. "Princess, lord Duke before we discuss the particrs are you sure that Sir Frost and Lord Darksteel should be present?" General Danielle Argrave who arrived earlier with General Jared Bando raised her hand and politely asked. They were about to discuss the ongoing war situation of the Empire''s northern most Duchy. Yes Frost and Borris were the Princess''panions, trusted friends on her part but nevertheless one was a civilian, a talented cksmith who had zero ties to the military and their Duchy while the other was a lord of a territory not beholden to the Empire. Protocol wise they should not be present during such delicate talks. "You can trust them General; Borris wishes to enlist in the Duchy''s services anyway and Frost bears no threat towards the fortress. I have no problems discussing the war efforts with them in the room in fact I''d prefer it if they stayed, perhaps given their stance as outsiders they may be able to see a solution which we cannot." Avira didn''t wish to be separated from her friends as Frost and Borris were currently serving as her emotional support, allowing her to easily talk face to face with the Empire''s most experienced Generals. ".." Duke Runak however was silent in response, his lips moved but no words passed through. He held a fairly high opinion of both Frost and Borris, feeling that they were naturally trustworthy plus he wished to respect Avira''s position, but he also understood protocols given his military background and station thus he was torn. Frost who was currently sitting by Avira''s side was quite curious about the war situation and if given permission wished to be present during the discussion as such talks would be very beneficial for his role as Lord of the Niflheim city-state. s he too understood the misgivings of General Danielle thus he was going the remove himself from the discussion voluntarily however "I agree with the Princess and as someone who is already acquainted with him I''ll vouch for Frost, he''s a good man, brave, honest and more than trustworthy." General Jared Bando smiled and winked at Frost after he said his piece causing the young dungeon core to both internally sigh and feel warm at the same time. With General Bando chiming in Duke Runak felt that there was enough sway to allow Frost and Borris to stay. He nced at his Generals who each responded with curt nods, even General Danielle though it was clear that she was still a little reluctant to reveal military secrets to outsiders. "Very well Sir Frost and Lord Darksteel are permitted to remain within the war room while we discuss the current plight of Icethorne and debate our options." ""Thank you Lord Duke."" Frost and Borris respectfully crossed their arms across their chest in salute as they thanked the Duke for his kindness. What followed was an in depth conversation of the Duchy''s current predicament followed by possible solutions and many, many dead ends. The fortress of Icethorne was practically besieged from the northern side. Waves of monsters would attack throughout the day alongside hired mercenaries and even the asional military outfit. Passage into the inner regions waspletely blocked off due to this thus trade was brought to a halt. No caravans could move beyond the Northern wall lest they wished to be devoured and ransacked for all their worth. At the moment the situation was still manageable as the members of the impromptu alliance loosely known as the cial Mountains liberation alliance were still amassing their armies. Currently only the forces of those beholden (subordinate/vassalized) to the big 5 as well as hired mercenaries were attacking Icethorne''s northern wall. The quality and quantity was rathercking but still enough to force the War Ursa Battalion to constantly be on red alert. Supplies were still solid as the Duchy forcibly purchased all goods from the caravans that couldn''t enter the inner regions but the longer the inner regions remain closed the more agitated the merchants would be. Tensions would grow as profit declines. The Kingdoms, tribes, enves and nations prevalent in the external regions would eventually be forced to make a decision. The 3 to 6 month timeframe Duke Runak gave previously was due to a multitude of factors. First his forces would likely be exhausted and possibly overrun by then, second their supplies even with the forceful buying from the northbound caravans and likely inted transactions from countries in the external regions they''d run out of much needed military supplies i.e. arrows, mana crystals, metal, potions etc however the main reason for the time frame was the interests of these nations. If trade wasn''t opening back up and it was due to the presence of the Icethorne duchy then these less powerful nations and tribes would eventually team up with the cial mountains liberation alliance and attack the fortress from the south. The moment the duchy was pincered and truly had enemies on all sides the war would be lost. Read exclusive chapters at empire Duke Runak was known in the cial mountains as a local war god, amander without parallel on the battlefield. The minor nations and tribes within the external regions respected and feared his strength. When they had no other choice they were willing to submit to his position and payrge fees to conduct trade through the fortress as well as asionally with the Northrend empire but if he was ever in a perilous situation they''d spare little hesitation in pushing him off a cliff rather than pulling him up from the edge. The Duke knew of this, but his hands were tied, the cial Mountains respected strength, everything else was secondary. With his forces trapped within the fortress he would be unable to maintain their image of unparalleled strength thus their fear towards him and the Northrend empire would wane. He could at most send a small and powerful group of envoys but even then that would only dy the inevitable. The only way they could maintain their position was if they achieved aplete and total victory. Unfortunately the famous Duke was unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The sudden alliance was just too much. One or two nations he could ept but 5 big names all working together was beyond what he could handle. He greatly valued his intelligence corps, but it was obvious that they dropped the ball, he received no prior warning in regards to this alliance. The speed and determination of this sudden agreement was bone chilling. The necessary work needed to facilitate this alliance meant that the nning stages had to have been in progress for quite some time. The current chaos in the Empire was merely an opportunity for them to act early yet he heard not even a whisper. For the first time in a long time Duke Runak felt as though he was dancing on his enemy''s palm, that his every move was calcted and prepared for. Frost felt his skin crawl when he understood the true gravity of the war that was festering beyond Icethorne''s walls. It couldn''t even mentioned in the same breath as the monster stampede faced by Furano or his dungeon. The scale waspletely different. The War Ursa Battalion and the Ducy of Icethorne had soldiers in the tens of thousands yet they were by far in the minority. Their enemy numbered in the millions, and they had the quality to go toe to toe with the Battalion''s Generals and even the War Marshall himself. Although the fortress boasted of a wall that reached 120 metres in height and that was armed to the teeth with mana cannons, ballistae and other war machines the sheer difference in number was impossible to ignore. ''He ims to be able to hold out for 3 to 6 months against such an onught.'' Frost struggled to see the possibility; he reckoned that 2 months maybe not even that was his absolute limit. He really wanted to fight alongside this powerful Duke and learn of his methods s he had a prior engagement to uphold. Chapter 711 Glacial Mountains Liberation Alliance "We need to break this alliance and ensure that the south won''t be besieged." After a lengthy discussion the group had their goals set. "The kingdoms and tribes in the external regions primarily respect strength. How can we ensure their cooperation when we can''t even defend ourselves from our current enemy." General Danielle asked, unable to see a viable solution. "Since the Duke cannot leave nor can any of you I will take up the mantle. I may currently be just a deposed Princess, but my lineage should still carry some weight diplomatically speaking." Avira despite the chaos in the Empire was still a legitimate princess. She may not have the strength and support of her brothers, but she still represented the might of the Northrend empire. ".With the Princess speaking on our behalf they should at least humour our request and think twice about double crossing us." General Katrina agreed with Avira, other than the Duke himself she was the best candidate for an envoy within the external regions. "That should buy us some wiggle room in the south, but the priority remains with the cial mountain liberation alliance." Duke Runak was also in agreement with Avira''s n but that was only a small and far less dangerous part of the problem. His words immediately put a damper on everyone''s emotions, the atmosphere was once again tensed. Avira bit her bottom lip out of frustration, she wasing up empty just like everyone else. "The 5 groups leading the alliance what do you know about them?" Frost who had been quietly listening at the side finally spoke up. ''In war sometimes it''s not military power that determines the winner but the degree of one''s knowledge.'' He remembered this phrase from a book he read and felt that it held merit for their current situation. Explore stories at empire One of the main reasons why this assault was so deadly was because from Duke Runak''s perspective there was no warning thus he was caught unprepared. "Katrina give them a run down." Duke Runak was pleased with Frost''s insight but at the same time disappointed by the failure of his own intelligencework.N?v(el)B\\jnn "Yes War Marshall" Katrina saluted before starting the exnation. "First off let''s start with the beastkin Kingdom of Jabrak." She inserted her mana into the metal war table causing the 3d model of Icethorne to shift into arge and unfortunately simple map of the cial mountains inner regions. "The Jabrak Kingdom can be found within the eastern section of the 5thyer, a powerful nation that loves war and battle." The map zoomed over to the 5thyer where a crude drawing of the kingdom''s borders and major cities were marked. "The citizens are primarily beastkin and it is ruled by the mighty winter tigerkin tribe who serve as the kingdom''s royal family and the cunning snow leopardkin tribe who serve as its highest officials. Due to their love of war and aggression our Duchy has been in a constant state of war with the Jabrak Kingdom, often engaging in minor and major battles throughout the year. However, our rtionship with them can actually be considered rather amicable. Since the Jabrak Kingdom respect strength far more than the other tribes and nations thus they are very fond of Duke Runak who is known far and wide as the War God of the cial mountains." There was no inherent hatred between the Icethorne Duchy and the Jabrak Kingdom, war and battle was simply their way of expressing friendlypetition. "..Is there any way to convince the Jabrak Kingdom to fight alongside the Duchy rather than the liberation alliance?" If they were only involved in the attack due their love of war and battle then it shouldn''t matter what side they''re on right? "Unfortunately not." Duke Runak sighed and shook his head before exining. "King Doloman is a prideful man who lives by his own ethics. He has no problem with entering alliances to take down arger foe, but he abhors betrayal. Since he officially announced that the Jabrak Kingdom is a part of the cial mountain liberation alliance there is no way they''d join us, he''d rather die than betray his own moral code." Duke Runak respected King Doloman and internally cursed the ipetence of his intelligence corps. If he knew about the alliance in advance he would have tried to rope in the Jabrak kingdom before they officially joined his enemy. "Flipping the Jabrak kingdom is impossible but unlike the other groups they should back off once they''ve had their fill of carnage." Katrina alsomented the lost opportunity but instead looked at the bright aspects having them as an enemy. "2nd on the alliance list is the Northern nation of cial sprites and ice elementals." The map on the table once again shifted, this time focusing on the 3rdyer. "Unlike the Jabrak Kingdom this nation truly despises us, they hate the idea of Sapients having a foothold within the inner regions of the cial mountains and would like nothing more than to feast on our flesh. Unfortunately for them however theyck the strength to do anything about it and because of their antagonistic views we have routinely supressed them, growing their hatred towards us." Though still one of the big names in the inner regions the Northern nation of cial sprites and Ice elementals was weaker and smaller than the Jabrak kingdom, posing far less of a threat.at least when they were alone. "3rd we have the horde of ravenous blue ants and pr mantises who dwell between 5th and 6thyers. Theyck the intelligence found in the Jabrak Kingdom and the Northern nation but instead they make up for it with numbers and ferocity. The horde is bloodthirsty and eternally hungry, seeing anything that moves as a meal to be devoured. Only the upper caste have the ability to think and n, the rest simply follow their baser instincts." This group was the farthest thing from civilised, a barbaric horde of eternally starving monsters. "I''m guessing the Duchy''s rtionship with them isn''t that great either." Given the expression on the Duke and his General''s faces it was obvious how they viewed the horde. "Correct, just like the Northern nation of cial sprites and Ice elementals we''ve routinely supressed their growth, culling millions of their numbers throughout the past decade." However they weren''t the only group to do so. "What''s their angle then? Revenge?" "That''s probably part of it but likely their true aim is the external regions." The horde that continued to grow was routinely suppressed within the inner regions and could never fully satisfy its hunger. But if they managed to enter the external regions where the prey was plentiful, weak and for ripe for the picking then they could overturn their fate. The War Ursa Battalion and the Duchy knew full well of the carnage and horror the horde could cause in the external regions and perhaps even the soutnds thus they vehemently denied them ess. ''One group enjoys war; another hates them with a passion while the other vehemently wants ess to the bountiful feast that lies behind their walls..shit.'' Frost internally cursed, the prospect of breaking the alliance through of these three was all but impossible. Though their end goals differed the Duchy was always the one barring their way, amon enemy that strongly bound their interests. "The 4th member is the tribe of therge horned ice drakes and their many vassal tribes. They reside within the 7thyer and can be considered as one of most powerful groups within the inner regions. Their military power is greater than the Jabrak Kingdom and their domain is nearly twice asrge. Plus like the Jabrak kingdom the Duchy has engaged in several wars with them since its inception, but the reasons were more economical." When the map showed the domain of therge horned ice drakes it was clear that the details were more advanced, and that the territory was muchrger than the previous three. "Therge horned ice drakes control a vast amount of resources due to their location, personal strength and connection to the core regions of the cial mountains. This allows them to conduct vast amounts of trade between the other nations within the inner regions." "Icethorne prevents them from reaching their ws into the external regions and the Sapientnds." Frost was quick to pick up on the reason for their beef with the Duchy. "Precisely, our rtionship is that of business rivals and in some ways their hatred is even greater than that of the Northern nation of cial sprites and ice elementals." Riches can drive men and women to do terrible things let alone a mighty tribe or nation. "What about the final member?" The moment Frost said this an eerie silence filled the room and the expressions of Duke Runak and his Generals turned ck. ".Thest member of the cial mountains liberation alliance, the most powerful of them all and the likely ringleader, is the Frozen Demonic Empire." Even the tone in Katrina''s voice was different when she spoke of them, it wasced with wariness and even fear. Chapter 712 Glacial Mountains Liberation Alliance (2) "The Frozen Demonic Empire is thergest force present within the inner regions, and they perform a simr duty as our fortress of Icethorne but instead of the boundary between the external and inner regions they guard the entrance to the core regions." The map moved northwards bing less and less detailed the deeper into the cial mountains it showed. Eventually at the 9thyer a massive ck outline containing over 70% of the entireyer was seen with bold lettering in centre spelling out ''The Frozen Demonic Empire. "We know very little about this group, only that they are the true hegemons of the inner regions in terms of military might and that every other nation is wary of their presence." Given the vastness of the inner regions and the Duchy''s habit in staying in their local area they very rarely encountered the Frozen Demonic Empire but even then they could still feel their influence.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "The 9thyer, Demonic Empire" Frost muttered under his breath while stroking his chin in thought. ''Why would a force so powerful suddenly decide to make a move on the Duchy? What do they stand to gain?'' The other nations all had a reason that they could deduce but the Frozen Demonic Empire was aplete mystery. "Have you angered them in some way or hold something that they desire?" Frost quickly asked. "Unknown but my instincts tell me that this isn''t something recent, the Empire must have been nning to dethrone us for quite some time." Duke Runak''s gut was screaming to him that this was some far reaching insidious plot. "..Is there no weak link then?" Avira asked in an exhausted tone. Katrina had exined what they knew about the alliance members at Frost''s request all so that they could find some way to break up their alliance. Unfortunately not a single one showed promise. "Regardless of what their end goals are the Icethorne Duchy stands in their way, only when that impediment is removed can the alliance fall apart internally." Frost summarised with a shake of his head; this was a dead end. "We came to the same conclusion." General Katrina Orwell let out a restrained sigh after sharing a knowing look with Duke Runak. "If we can''t break their alliance or weaken it through external methods that only leaves one option." "And that is?" Avira who was clearly exhausted from their discussion perked back up upon hearing his voice, her faith in Frost was rock solid. Frost nced at Duke Runak who seemed to already know his answer. ""We need an ally"" the two of spoke at the same time resulting in a wild smile forming on both the lips afterwards. ''This brat knows warfare quite well'' Duke Runak internal praised, finding Frost more and more to his liking. ''Damn Duke if you already knew the answer then why did we spend thest several hours going back and forth!'' Frost however was cursing his counterpart ratherplimenting him. "...." Strangely instead of bing passionate due to finding a solution the mighty Generals all disyed awkward expressions. "..Don''t tell you''ve offended everyone during your tenure here as Duke?" Frost had a strange feeling forming in the pit of his stomach. In response to his query Duke Runak stared straight into his eyes, locking his gaze for a few seconds before growing slightly red in the cheeks and looking to the side. "Noment." He pushed out these two words before pretending to whistle innocently. "....." Frost, Avira and even Borris who never managed to bring himself to get in a word edgewise were stunned silly. "..General Katrina is there really no one you can call upon for aid?" Feeling that discussing this any further with the Duke would lead to him saying some rather profane words Frost focused on Katrina who was still amicable in his eyes. "Unfortunately most groups in the inner regions would love to see us deposed but there may be one who''d be willing to help us. s we''ve been rather reticent to negotiate with them given our history as well as the restrictions ced on our decision making by the Empire." The Icethorne Duchy was still a territory under the rule of the Northrend Empire, they couldn''t just shack up with another nation whenever they wanted even if it was too save their own hides. The Generals and a reluctant Duke Runak all looked at Avira with expectation. "Fuck it! You have my permission as a member of the royal family and the future Empress, do whatever you need to do." Her identity allowed her to easily lift the restrictions on the Duke as well as the War Ursa Battalion. "Perfect that makes things easier then." Only now did the Generals get pumped up. "Our only possible ally is the great ice dwarven hold of Karak Kanz!" Katrina mmed her right hand against the metal table causing the image to swiftly move southwest to the 8thyer of the inner regions. "Karak Kanz, the ice dwarven empire situated in the western regions of the 8thyer. A hegemon nation that even the mightyrge horned ice drake tribe dare not offend." The map this time despite showing an area in the 8thyer was surprisingly well detailed. "As long as we can offer them a substantial reward I''m sure their king would listen to our request." The great ice dwarven hold of Karak Kanz was a neutral nation that traded and interacted with all its neighbours including the Duchy of Icethorne. Situated behind walls that towered even higher than their own the great hold was a bastion that symbolised defensive warfare. Not even once in the past thousand years had their walls ever been breached by an enemy. No other nation had existed within the inner regions for as long as they had, and no other nation could hold their heads up high when dealing with the Frozen Demonic Empire. A powerful group that thankfully was still rather lukewarm towards the usually arrogant and warlike Duchy. As long as they could offer something that could move their interests then Icethorne would have a reliable and powerful ally. "That reward however is the problem." Duke Runak announced with an evident frown on his face. "Karak Kanz is certainly powerful and capable of standing against more than a single nation like ourselves but for what reason would they risk their own nations'' safety. I''m afraid that the price to do so would be beyond what we''re prepared to give." In this situation it wouldn''t be the case of Karak Kanz taking advantage of their weak position but the fact that what they were asking of them was so extreme that price would also have to be extreme. "..." Duke Runak''s worries were shared amongst his Generals. They couldn''t help but imagine what the Duchy would ask for if their positions were reversed. "You won''t know until you ask them so imagining the worst case scenario will only dampen your spirits." ".Haaaa well said young Frost. Katrina have the logistic corps and the fortress management team write up a report of our assets both physical and intangible. Princess I''ll need you to go through the report with me so we cane up with a ceiling limit." Though the restrictions had been lifted by a member of the imperial family he still felt that she should be involved in the actual transaction. "I''d be honoured Uncle." Avira couldn''t help but feel a little giddy, this was the first official duty she was taking part in as heir to the Empire''s throne. "Umm" Duke nodded in approval before looking towards General Maximus. "We''ll need to send a sufficient envoy to Karak Kanz, since I can''t afford to let go of a single General send a long standing Major and three Captains." "By your will War Marshall." Maximus loudly mmed his arm across his chest in salute before leaving the war room to enlist the chosen envoys. A Captain position in the War Ursa Battalion was reserved for those between half step B-rank and the early stages of B-rank i.e. like Frost while Majors epassed the mid-level to peak B-rank. Above Major was Colonel and General, thetter was reserved solely for those who had crossed into the A-rank while the former was usually filled with veterans who had served in the military for decades and who would struggle to improve their strengths any further. Duke Runak couldn''t afford to send even a single General and his Colonels were also desperately required for the battles toe thus only a Major could be sent and preferably one that was older and wizened. "Lord Darksteel if you''re ready and able I''d like you to get yourself acquainted with the battalion''s smiths as soon as possible." A great war was on the horizon, and he needed every able bodied man and woman to do their part. "Ah..uhCertainly Lord Duke." Frazzled at being suddenly called up Borris stuttered slightly before nodding his head and bowing. Momentster however he was feeling giddy and full of energy, finally he''d be able to take part in another war. His cksmithing heart was aze at the prospect, this old dog wasn''t too old to learn new tricks. Duke Runak next locked eyes with the young Frost, he smiled initially but then an intimidating pressure assaulted him. ''Fuck!'' Frost internally cursed knowing that he''d drawn the old man''s ire in some way. "Young Frost would you mind following me to my private training grounds, I''d like to see your potential personally." The way he spoke was warm and friendly but their was a malice hidden within, an ulterior motive that made Frost''s spine tingle. Frost wanted to refuse but for some reason he felt that that would only make the situation worse. "I''d be honoured Lord Duke." He was forced to agree resulting in the vaunted War Marshall smiling from ear to ear. ''Haaaaa why did I ever agree to leave my Dungeon?'' Chapter 713 Chat with the Duke While the Generals shuffled off to handle their regr duties or rest until their next shift Frost was escorted to arge spacious hall by Duke Runak. The dimensions of the hall were at least 30 metres in height and 300 metres both in length and width, a sizeable chamber. Several Large cuboid stones and intricate crystal figurines stood at the far end of the hall, their utility aplete mystery to Frost. Along one of the side walls was an arrangement of training weapons, facilitating the ability to practise differing styles whereas another contained weights that clearly weren''t designed for a normal person. Duke Runak walked into the centre of the hall and with a simple flick of his wrist the doors sealed shut, locking Frost and himself inside. "Wee to my personal training hall young Frost. It may be simple perhaps even a bit crude in your eyes, but it gets the job done plus it does very well in isting my strength from those dwelling outside." I.e. no one would be able to hear his screams. Frost couldn''t help but shiver when his eyes took in the malicious grin stered across the Duke''s face. Memories of Maya in her demon drill sergeant mode shed through his mind, the resemnce was uncanny. After gazing at the Duke''s arrangement he bravely replied, "It''s magnificent, I have a simr set up back home, simple, clean and very isted." He chose to take on a bold approach, showing that he wasn''t so easily intimidated. His words however only caused the Duke''s grin to grow. "Thoserge stone blocks and crystal figurines, What''s their purpose?" He continued to ask, curious about their functions. "Them? The stone blocks are strength inhibitors while the crystals ones are aura resisters. You never tried one?" Duke Runak was quite surprised, though these items were of very high quality and out of reach for themon man he assumed Frost would posses several given the rumours about his guardian. The mystery surrounding him only grew deeper. "Strength inhibitors and aura resisters!" Frost''s gaze immediately filled with desire, just a singlemon strength inhibitor or aura resister could set you back hundreds of gold coins, a true luxury. He''d been tempted to buy one through the Dungeon menu before, but its prices were even more ridiculous. A strength inhibitor was a special object, usually made out of a rare type of stone that radiated a unique field that weakened one''s physical strength. The nearby user would feel as though their body weighed several times or even dozens of times heavier than usual. Training within such a unique environment was great for people who wished to forge their physical strength beyond their natural limits. The aura resisters were also made of unique materials and were even harder to get your hands on than strength inhibitors. These crystal structures emitted a field that restricted the flow and formation of one''s aura. Within the field the user would find that their aura was viscous and rigid making it much harder to control. Through the use of the these objects Duke Runak was able to thoroughly forge his body into the temple that it currently was. "I can gift you er if you''d like but first we need to have a little chat." Duke Runak suddenly released his dense, overwhelming aura along with an incredible wave of bloodlust. Frost felt his muscles groan from the pressure, his organs twisted, and his blood ran cold as the stench of death assailed him. His body immediately fought back, engaging his fight or flight response. "I''ll only ask you this once young Frost." Duke Runak slowly walked forward, his every step causing the floor and walls of the hall to tremble. "Did youy your hands on her!" His aura suddenly skyrocketed to a point that even Frost found it unbearable. The young Dungeon core struggled to remain conscious as corporal swords surrounded his body, threatening to pierce his flesh the moment he gave a wrong answer. He could obviously try and lie but sessfully tricking someone at Duke Runak''s level was an impossible task, thankfully he truly hadn''tid a hand on her. "No!I view her as a friend, arade plus I''m already spoke for!" He loudly shouted with veins bulging across his skin, just speaking through the pressure was difficult let alone fighting back. Duke Runak continued to walk closer, unleashing the full extent of his aura. He red at Frost''s face, his handsome features were certainly attractive, he worried that Avira had been tricked by them, falling into the trap of chasing beauty. His panic, rage and fury were imbued into his aura making Frost constantly feel as though he was at death''s door but even, so he refused to buckle and sumb. He knew deep down that he was innocent, nothing untoward had happenedat least not yet. Filled with confidence and stubbornness he craned his neck and red back at the approaching Duke. With their eyes locked onto each other the two men sensed each other''s character. The staring conteststed for close to ten seconds before Duke Runak called back his aura letting Frost breathe and rx. "I believe you..but we still have a problem Frost." The Duke''s aura came back but this time there were no invisible des threatening to pierce his flesh at a moment''s notice and the level of pressure was far less intimidating. His muscles however still groaned in protest, ufortable but bearable. Frost knew the situation couldn''t be over so easily, Avira''s attachment to him was clear as day. "I can''t be held responsible for V''s emotions only my own." He bluntly replied with a strong shake of his head. "Tsk, she''s a Princess, the future Empress of Northrend." The Duke took offence at him using Avira''s nickname. "I''m not a citizen of the Northrend Empire, Lord Duke and V has already given me permission to call her as such." Frost felt a little cocky for some reason, knowing that his rtionship with Avira got under the Duke''s skin he couldn''t help but want to tease the old man.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Arrogant little.that''s precisely why! Your background is unknown, your allegiance is unknown! And your intentions are unknown! How can you be trusted!" Frost''s cheeky retort earned him the Duke''s wrath, the pressure multiplied, and several invisible aura des appeared around his neck, their tips pressing against his skin until drops of ruby red blood fell. Frost had to admit that he was genuinely intimidated by the Duke''s show of force but regardless of his true feelings he portrayed unwavering confidence. "You seem to have a misunderstanding Duke; it was not I who sought out V but V and her cohorts who sought out me. I am a friend of the Furanos, an adventurer registered with the guild and the Lord of a territory that neighbours their territory." "My background is none of your business, my allegiance is to myself, my family and my territory and as for my intentions I was asked by my friends to escort V to Icethorne, an off the books hiring that was generously sponsored by General Anya and the Furano Viscounty. A task that I have nowpleted, thus terminating the contractual rtionship between V and myself." He bellowed the facts and even leaned slightly forward causing the aura des to dig deeper into his skin. Duke Runak was speechless, he wasn''t expecting Frost to be so aggressive in their exchangeto be honest he was really starting to like the kid but the variables surrounding him worried him greatly. His aura started to retreat, and the aura des were pulled back but Frost wasn''t finished talking. "I''m a man who is currently spoken for, I love my partners Maya and Daki but I''m not blind, I can see the way V looks at me and acts towards me. Despite the professional contract between us I''ll admit that we''ve be friends over the course of our journey together, but I don''t have any intention in pursuing anything more than that." Duke Runak rxed upon hearing Frost''s words and his aura receded another a notch. "But I won''t stop V from attempting to pursue me either." The aura that was pulled back red to the maximum in an instant. "If she''s determined to chase after me despite my current attachments then that''s up to her. If you wish to stop it then you''ll have to confront her rather than me Lord Duke." Frost stood his ground and released his own aura in defiance, this was his stance and he refused to back down. "..I could always kill you here and now." The Duke replied with an equally forceful stance, showing off the bearing of the one known as the War God of the cial Mountains. "You won''t." "Hmm why''s that?" ".First despite your efforts in intimidation you actually respect me, second you know that doing so would destroy the rtionship you have with Avira and third you don''t know the strength of my background thus you can''t quantify the consequences that would follow after killing me." If he couldn''t understand the true nature of the Duke by now then he was an idiot. Duke Runak didn''t want to kill him, he never did, he just wanted to pressure him, to keep him from having any intentions towards the Princess. Chapter 714 Chat with the Duke (2) Frost stood forcibly opposed to Duke Runak, there was barely a metre between the two of them as they squared off with their auras in full swing. Frost was like a stubborn rock refusing to crumble in the face of a raging sea. Despite his weakness he boldly dered that the Duke wouldn''t dare to kill him. ''This kid'' Duke Runak struggled to stop a genuine smile forming on his lips. Frost''s character and bearing were qualities he greatly admired. He was weaker than himself, but he remained steadfast in his resolve, never backing down. He could tell that this wasn''t due to simple arrogance or foolish stubbornness but from a well thought out and logical standpoint. Frost knew his exact worth, he was strong, talented and never did anything that could truly pit him against the Duke but most of all he knew the weight of the unknown. Duke Runak being a person so close to the S-rank and one who constantly protected the Empire against the dangerous enemies within the cial mountains knew full well that someone with an S-rank protector couldn''t be made into an enemy. A faction or even an individual at that level could crush his Duchy without even breaking so much as a sweat. Frost could therefore not be touched.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om ".Hiding behind your protector, a bit cowardly don''t you think?" "I could say the same about the man trying to intimidate me with the power of his Empire and the status of an elder." Duke Runak kept stressing Avira''s position as the Princess and future Empress of the Northrend Empire, highlighting the difference between her and Frost. He was pressuring him with the dignity and power of the Northrend Empire, subtly deeming him unworthy of her, dering him a dog chasing after a swan. A strangeparison given that Frost held the beauty card, but the meaning was clear. Frost''sment about the Duke taking advantage of his status as an elder was him implying that the Duke was only stronger than himself due to his age. Frost thoroughly believed that he''d easily surpass him given enough time. "..." "..." The two continued to re at one another in silence before. "Hehehe aggressive, bold and fair well said Frost hahahaha!" Duke Runak suddenly erupted with boomingughter and in response Frost subtlety smiled and released a restrained breath. ''Guess I made the right call.'' After internally sighing Frostughed alongside the Duke, erasing the tense atmosphere that had developed between them. Duke Runak had a high opinion of Frost and no longer saw him as a threat to the Princess, he''d let nature take its course and see where it leads. Of course if Frost ever hurt Avira he''d chase him to the ends of the world even if he was protected by someone at the S-rank. With the drama out of the way the two could finally chat amicably. "What''s your true view on this matter Frost? Do you think we actually have a chance?" The two men moved over to the rest area that was established within the training hall, nothing fancy just a couple offy chairs and a stone table. The only beverage was water as the Duke didn''t want to mix luxury and decadence with his training. ".From what I''ve seen of Avira during our travels she''s more than capable in handling the nations and kingdoms of the external regions. As long as the Northrend Empire is chaotic but not fractured it''ll still pose pressure on them, she can take advantage of that." Frost felt that the issues with the south were no longer a problem, Avira would be able to secure their non-interference for at least 6 months perhaps even a year.the problem was the liberation alliance. "The true issue will always be the cial mountains liberation alliance, as long as they remain united the Duchy will fall, it''s only a matter of time. Only if you can secure theplete military support of Karak Kanz will there be a chance and even then you''d know more than I." Frost took a sip of cold water and nced knowingly at the Duke. His actions over the past few decades meant that the Duchy had little to no friends, in fact the vast majority of the cial mountains would love to see them removed from their perch. Duke Runak frowned in response and yed with his cup. "Kastreas Iceforge, the king of Karak Kanz is a strong individual at the very peak of A-rank. His Empire is vast, consolidated and unafraid of both war and economicpetition. His army would certainly be able to bolster our forces to the point that we''d be on par perhaps even surpass thebined might of the Jabrak kingdom, the Northern nation of cial sprites and ice elementals, the ravenous horde and therge horned ice drake tribe but.the Frozen Demonic Empire is too well hidden. I have no clue when ites to the depths of their power just that they surpass all other nations within the inner regions." Honestly Duke Runak didn''t have a lot of hope for their current situation. "Do you think that Karak Kanz has a better idea of their strength?" "I do and that''s why I''m not confident in gaining their help." Even if the reward was extreme they''d be going against the most powerful empire within the cial mountains inner and external regions. "..What if they do?" A strange thought was building within his mind, as though a fog was clearing. ".." Duke Runak stopped fiddling with his cup and thought seriously for a moment before replying. "If they do then I''ll know not only the depths of the Frozen Demonic Empire''s strength but also perhaps their motive." The same thought started to appear in the Duke''s mind. If Karak Kanz agrees to support them in this war it means that the alliance or at least the Frozen Demonic Empire would threaten their nation''s interests. Duke Runak now had a theory of what the alliance or rather the Frozen Demonic Empire desired. "Guess I''ll have to wait to hear back from King Iceforge." Everything hinged on the stance of Karak Kanz. Since further talk about this topic was useless the two men moved onto to lighter issues. Duke Runak asked about Frost''s time in Furano, about the development of the Niflheim city-state and also about the Dungeons that had appeared throughout the world. There was no permanent branch of the Federation of Knowledge nearby, so they were kind ofcking in information. Frost was happy to exin a few things and regale his past to the mighty War God of the cial mountains, it was always better to have an extra friend rather than another enemy. He was rewarded for being so forthright, the Duke in turn exined the development and running of the fortress, a ce thatpletely dwarfed the current Niflheim city-state. "You need to make sure that you foster talent among your subordinates, trustworthy and hardworking individuals that you can delegate your authority to. It''s impossible for one person to manage an entire territory by themselves no matter how talented or strong they are." Duke Runak stressed that attempts to retain as much direct control as possible would either lead him to bing a tyrant or someone who restricted and eventually destroyed what he strove so hard to create. Frost took his words to heart and agreedpletely with his view. He''d already started fostering talented subordinates like, Maya, Daki, Findley, Khuno, Yuna and of course the kids Nanna and Loki. He even started to test a few others who held council positions. After warmly chatting for nearly an hour Duke Runak suddenly donned a serious expression, his lips mumbled as though he was struggling to say something. ''Haaaaa I''ll regret if I don''t.'' Eventually he seemed to muster up the courage. "Frost do you truly have someone at the S-rank by your side?" Frost thought for a few seconds before replying with a simple nod. Though Maya was currently restricted she was still technically an S-rank at heart and since there was already a rumour going around why should he hide it. Your next chapter is on empire The moment Frost nodded his head Duke Runak''s whole body trembled and a strange fascination filled his eyes. He then grabbed hold of Frost''s hands and stared at him with an almost pleading expression. Frost fearing that the Duke wanted to request aid from his supposed S-rank quickly denied the possibility. "Don''t even think about asking for her help, she has no intention in aiding the Empire in any of its plights." Though he wasn''t against offering his own services once he was done with his current task Maya was off limits. "No no no you misunderstand Frost!" Duke Runak quickly waved his hands and shook his head in denial. He knew that such a request wasn''t feasible. What he wanted was something more personal. "I just want to ask for your opinion on something." ".My opinion? On what?" He was intrigued. "You''ve felt and even endured my aura yet unlike my Generals you aren''t at the A-rank and back in the war room you even had a look in your eyes that seemed unmoved by it..you''ve felt the aura or rather the domain of an S-rank haven''t you?" Chapter 715 Chat with the Duke (3) "You''ve felt the aura or rather the domain of an S-rank haven''t you?" Duke Runak anxiously asked.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The War God of the cial mountains had remained at the peak of A-rank, a half-step into the S-rank for nearly a decade now without any signs of further improvement. Though his weapon mastery had improved and even diversified he was unable to bridge the gap, to baptise himself and ascend into the legendary S-rank. He longed to join that fabled realm, obsessed with it even. As long as he reached the S-rank all the Duchy''s current problems and even some of the Empire''s issues would vanish like a puff of smoke. The influence and impact of an S-ranker was just that strong. Frost internally sighed, thankful that the Duke wasn''t asking for Maya''s interference. "Yes, I have" he said with a serious countenance causing he Duke to once again visibly tremble in excitement. Throughout his long career as a member of the Northrend Empire''s military Duke Runak had onlye across an S-rank entity once and that was in his formative years. Over three decades ago when the Duke was still a young rising star in the military, a young man who had just reached the mid stages of B-rank he left the confines of Icethorne and headed North. Discover hidden stories at empire With a pack filled with supplies, his trusted heavy sword and a heart filled with determination and arrogance he departed from the fortress alone, aiming to reach the mysterious core regions of the cial mountains. s he wasn''t even able to breach past the 7thyer, forced to desperately retreat with severe wounds. His attackers chased him for tens perhaps even hundreds of kilometres before he managed toe across a mysterious mountain that stretched far beyond the clouds. With blood covered armour, exposed flesh and drained of the majority of his stamina and mana the young Oscar Runak climbed up the mountain. Eventually he came across a massive cave like abode high above the cloud line filled with crystals, gems and strange, magical treasures. The sight was so mesmerising that he didn''t even realise that the monsters hunting him down had already given up on the chase. Their faces that were once filled with aggression and hunger transformed into abject terror as they hurriedly descended the mountain and retreated back to their own territory. With the image of a peaceful abode ahead and ack of any monsters behind him the adrenaline that had been coursing through his veins finally stopped. Just before he lost consciousness he saw somethingrge move in the corner of his eye, but he was too exhausted to investigate. The young Duke didn''t wake for quite some time but when he did he noticed that most of his wounds had been healed and that he was lying on what appeared to be a bed of some sort. "Finally awake kid." He heard the voice of an old woman next to him the moment he awoke instantly putting him on alert. Well trained from his youth the Duke jumped to his feet, guarded his vitals with his limbs and searched for his weapon before examining the person who spoke. It was indeed an old woman, she appeared rather frail but that was impossible, no one frail could survive this deep in the mountains especially in a ce so high in the sky. "Good reactions kid but there''s no need for you to be so tense. I don''t n on hurting you and I''d hate for you to reopen the wounds I worked so hard to close." The old woman wasn''t offended in the slightest by his actions, she lightlyughed and instead looked at him fondly. ".Sorry my body sometimes acts before I can think." Oscar Runak apologised to the strange woman before sitting down on the bed in a more rxed manner. Luckily his wounds didn''t reopen but the pain hit him like a truck. "Heheheh it''s fine even if you did try and attack it''d be pointless." The old woman suddenly unleashed an aura thatpletely overwhelmed the young Duke. His surroundingspletely changed in that moment; he was no longer within avish cave abode but on a snowy in. A chill stabbed deep into his bones before a massive shadow covered him from head to toe. He looked up and saw a blue covered dragon that wasrger than a mountain staring down at him like an insignificant ant. His heart stopped out of fear and the next moment he was back on the bed with the old woman smiling from ear to ear in front of him. The old woman was an S-rank ice dragon who hadmandeered the mountain he climbed. He had intruded into her abode and gazed at her horde of treasure yet surprisingly she spared him. The young Duke was lucky, the old dragon was in a fairly good mood when she came across him and decided to rescue him in his moment of need rather than end his young life. He had potential and she admired his determination to live so she picked up his wounded body and began treating his injuries. Duke Runak stayed with the old dragon for a few days before leaving on his own ord. The old woman was rather friendly and a good source of information, but every moment felt as though he was walking on eggshells. She saved him on a whim thus she could also end him on one. His personality and goals changed once he managed to return to the Icethorne Duchy. He was no longer insufferably arrogant nor was he quite so reckless. Ten yearster he reached A-rank and was bequeathed the title of Duke, yet he never stopped training, eager to reach the realm of the dragon who once saved his life and pay back the debt he owed. Unfortunately he was barred at the veryst step and had no one who could help him step passed it. His memory of that dragon''s domain was already blurry, and he''d already managed to learn all that he could from what he inferred from it back as a B-rank. He needed more knowledge, and some inspiration. Frost could likely grant him both. With hope gleaming in his eyes Duke Runak practically pleaded "Frost would you mind examining the depths of my aura and tell me what I''m missing?" This was quite a tall order for the young Frost given that he was only at the early stages of B-rank, but Duke Runak was desperate. Frost frowned for a moment before eventually nodding his head. The experience for him would likely be almost unbearable but risks usually came with rewards. While he could reiterate the lessons he received from Maya he could in turn use the Duke''s strength as his own whetstone. "Hahaha thank you Frost." Duke Runakughed joyfully as his heart became aze with passion, pumping boiling hot blood through his veins. It was as though he''d regressed to his primal youth, a headstrongd with only the heavens in his eyes. With Frost''s agreement the two moved to the centre of the training hall where Frost readied himself for a great battle. He took some deep breaths, widened his stance, covered his entire frame in ice chakra armour and opened his eyes as wide as possible so as to take in everyst detail. "I''m ready when you are." With his senses alsopletely focused on the Duke, Frost gave the ok and a momentter Duke Runak started to formte his aura. He went slow and steady at first, folding and intensifying his aura as much as possible before letting it leave his body. He had a rough idea of what a domain was butpared to Frost who had the direct teachings of Maya his thinking was rather simple and linear. With his aura bing denser and denser, far surpassing the physical manifestation of a standard A-rank Duke Runak formed an image in his mind, an emotion, a picture that reflected his heart''s unique strength. Finally once the image was concrete his aura flowed out and encapsted an area around Frost, isting him from the outside world. The scene and manifestation within his heart attempted tobine with his aura, in an effort to form a domain. Frost who was at the centre of this cage felt an intense pressure, far greater than what he felt previously from the Duke but.there was still a massive difference between this and the domain of someone like Maya. He strained his eyes until they were bloodshot and tensed his muscles to resist the pressure. He sensed the density of the Duke''s aura and felt the prelude of what he was trying to achieve but regardless of how many times he tried he couldn''tbine his aura with the image he had in his heart. There was something missing, an ingredient that would allow the two ipatible forces to mix andbine into one and be a domain. After several minutes Duke Runak loudly coughed and even spit up some blood. His aura instantly fell apart revealing his exhausted state. Repeatedly trying to force the two aspects together obviously caused a certain degree of bacsh but even though he was in pain the War God of the cial mountains smiled from ear to ear as blood dripped down his chin. He had improved slightly since thest time he attempted to forge his domain. The image in his heart was clearer but still it refused to bond with his aura. He looked at Frost who was physically trembling as his ice chakra armour fractured off in pieces, destroyed but the intense pressure. "Well? Your thoughts?" He asked, eager to hear the young man''s answer. Chapter 716 Chat with the Duke (4) "Urgh." Frost audibly groaned as the pressure assaulting his body vanished. His dense chakra ice armour ked off in pieces and his legs turned to jelly. He then kneeled and panted as though he had been deprived of oxygen for a long time. Withstanding the entirety of Duke Runak''s aura/pseudo domain was an exhausting task given his early stage B-rank strength. It took a good twenty seconds or so for him to collect himself and then reply to the eagerly awaiting Duke. "Your aura is dense and heavy, far more than a typical A-rank. You also seem to have a solid image in your heart but." Frost frowned before continuing, unsure of how to exin it. Though Maya gave a rather thorough exnation and even patiently disyed her own domain he was too far away in terms of strength to truly understand the process. "There''s something missing and until you discover what that is you''ll be forever barred from the S-rank. Your aura and heart''s image strongly reject one another, all your doing is trying to force to ipatible entities into one. A domain is theplete fusion of the two, one that is seamless and natural, not forged through brute strength." Frost''s words were unhurried and filled with thought. Duke Runak frowned as he listened to Frost''s opinion, his words coincided with a lingering premonition he had. All this time he''d been trying to improve the quality of his aura or deepen the image held in his heart never delving into why they resisted each other in the first ce. Perhaps at one time he believed that the image in his heart was an incorrect manifestation but after searching inside himself for a long period of time he scrapped that view, that was not the problem. Thus perhaps it was a question of strength, his aura wasn''t strong enough or his foundational manifestation wasn''t solid enough. Now however after listening to Frost he was once again questioning his views. Did he truly understand what it meant to be an S-rank? was it not simply a new level of power? "Frost from what you''ve learned what is S-rank?" Apart from his brief interaction with the old ice dragon Duke Runak had only read and heard tales of the legendary rank. Unlike the A-rank knowledge regarding the S-rank was covered in mystery. Frost''s brow tensed and his right hand cupped his chin as he thought back on both what Maya told him as well as his own personal views. "B-rank is the discovery of aura while A-rank is the physical manifestation of it." B and A-rank could be simply attributed to these two levels. "S-rank however is not just a step into a higher level of strength but a true baptism of quality, a transcendence. All those below are no different than ants because, S-rank is the first step into Godhood. Their domains rewrite thews of the world, within their sphere of influence the S-rank practitioner is a God, what they wish for bes real, creation and destruction with just a single thought. It''s more than just an illusion formed by aura." Though miles apart from a true God, S-rank truly was the first step into this hallowed realm at least in Frost''s view. "TThat''s." Duke Runak waspletely blown away by Frost''s hypothesis. ''Is this the difference in our basic knowledge?'' The Northrend empire is a powerful nation that rules vast swaths of the Yangmir continent yet despite this their knowledge of the S-rank pales inparison to the unknown Frost. Even the books and memoirs left behind by the Empire''s S-rank ancestors failed to grasp the true meaning of the legendary realm. "First step into Godhood.Domain,w, rewriting the world.Transcendence" Duke Runak muttered to himself as ideas started to form in his mind. Frost''s view had enlightened him, allowing him to see a light at the end of the tunnel. A light that shattered his foundations, proving that his previous approach was wed. Despite the majority of his efforts over the past few years bing a waste of time the War God of the cial mountains was grinning from ear to ear. The mysterious wall that barred his progress no longer seemed so impassable. Of course it''d still take him some time to actually breach it, but he was now confident in doing so. With a serene, enlightened look in his eyes and a maddened smile on his lips Duke Runak looked at Frost and thanked him from the depths of his heart. "Heheheh no need to be so serious Lord Duke I just repeated the words spoken to me by my Guardian and gave my own perspective on the matter. I''m sure you would have managed to reach a simr conclusion on your own eventually." Knowledge truly is power. "No there is young Frost, the knowledge that you so easily imparted to me is beyond the development of the entire Northrend empire. You effectively granted me the knowledge to produce steel whereas before only iron or perhaps even bronze was the limit." "..Surely you''re exaggerating." All he did was say a few sentences. "Trust me Frost, I''m not." His revtions was so earth shattering that it could bring an upheaval to the civilised world. He cleared the fog surrounding the legendary S-rank, now even if people failed to ascend they''d be able to understand why instead of simple chocking it up to innate potential or worldly fate. Frost was a little unnerved by the Duke''s enthusiasm and seriousness. He made it seem as though he flipped the world upside down, that his words werepletely paradigm shifting. "Haaaaa rx Frost this is just the difference between our foundational knowledge. What you may perceive asmon sense and simple could actually be world shattering for others." He didn''t want to make his new friend feel awkward. There was a strange atmosphere between them for a while but eventually the mood returned to normal. An hourter Frost left the training hall leaving Duke Runak -who had given him permission to now call him Oscar- alone to ruminate on his new findings. He needed to understand the thing that would allow oil and water to mix, to let his aura and heart''s image be one. Frost was escorted by a pce attendant to his arranged room wherein he napped until morning. His n was to stay in Icethorne for one day, get they of thend, understand the inner regions better and perhaps observe and even take part in the northern wall''s defence before leaving for the entrance to the dimension of Niflheim, the realm of the primordial ice King Shivali. The Duke/Oscar was more than happy to have Frost aid in their territory''s defence. Before Frost''s head hit his pillow he''d already arranged for General Jared Bando to show him around and disy the prominence of their mighty War Ursa Battalion. Avira despite wanting to join him on his tour, loving the idea of possible walking hand in hand through the street was far too busy. She needed to understand the full extent of Icethorne''s finances, rtionship with the nations of the external regions as well as n her own journey. She could no longer act like a wilful adventurer; she had a duty to uphold. Borris wasted no time at all enlisting under the War Ursa Battalion''s and the Duchy armament corps. There he got to meet with the three 4 star cksmiths who had been at their current rank for many years. As the neer Borris was weed with a mountain of tedious work. He had to earn the respect of his (slightly embarrassingly younger) 4 star colleagues. He wasn''t put off by this however, he''d been the boss of his own workshop for so long that he kind of missed being the target of such hazing. Even when he was put in charge of recycling the far gone officer weapons Borris still sported a smile and moved with vigour. Finally he was here at Icethorne where battles happen every other day. His work would be put through the ringer and then some.N?v(el)B\\jnn Frost was actually thest of the trio to get up and move about. He enjoyed a hearty sausage and eggs breakfast before heading to the northern wall alongside Kiba. He''d first experience the grandeur of a true war, one between unimaginable numbers and with insane levels of firepower. "Wee to hell Frostor heaven depending on your personality hehehehe." Frost was animatedly weed by an excited Jared who already sported blood on his blue axes. Frost couldn''t help but smile from ear to ear in response to such a bold wee. "Heaven naturally hehehe." As a battle maniac and as someone who ruled a vibrant territory filled with monsters he of course loved the scent of war and battle. "We''ll see how long you can keep that expression kid." General Jessica chimed in from behind, her massive stature dwarfing both Frost and Jared. "Come and take a look at the Duchy''s pride!" She roared before grasping hold of Frost''s robes and carrying him to the top of the northern wall to take in all its grandeur as well as the endless army thaty before it. "ARRGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!" "WWWWAAAARRRRRRR!!!!" Frost didn''t even get the chance toin about his treatment before his ears were assaulted by maddened roars and yells from the endless regiments of monsters charging towards the wall with bloodthirsty expressions. A view that could only be described as true carnage. Chapter 717 Scale of war Frost currently stood at the top of Icethorne''s northern wall. The great behemoth of defence stood at a shocking 120 metres, making all those standing at the base appear like ants. Here at the very top of the wall scores of terrifying ballista, catapults and even dreaded mana cannons of varying ranks were lined up as far as the eye could see. Every second or so a volley of huge bolts, dense ming rocks and corporal balls of raging mana were fired at the enemy ranks. The sound of these war machines, the roars of enemies and allies alike shook the wall''s foundation to the point the Frost even found himself struggling to stand straight. The vision around him was far more brutal than what he experienced during his own wars; the scale simply couldn''t be matched. He peered down over the precipice with wide eyes. There standing boldly at the forefront of the wall were regiments of the War Ursa Battalion''s vanguard. Fierce, physically strong and without fear these men and woman forgo the walls defence and ughtered the enemy that dared to assail their gates. At the forefront were shieldmen donning thick heavy armour and massive tower shields that could even stop the full charge of a tri-horned white rhino or even a mammoth. Physical strength was the prime focus of these soldiers as they were tasked with halting the enemies momentum no matter the species. Directly behind them were spearmen, at least two for every shield bearer. These soldiers stabbed and swiftly ughtered those who were stopped by their shield bearingrades. A swordsman or an axeman served as an auxiliary to handle smaller enemies and whatever managed to breach the first two lines of defence. Thousands of such squads made up the front lines allowing the injured and tired groups to easily rotate out and be reced. Behind the frontliners were groups of mages who focused on buffing magic making theirrades even tankier and more adept at ughter. They were joined by a small group of archers and crossbowmen who prioritised sniping certain dangerous targets while the true ranger corps stood upon the wall, drowning the enemies in a deluge of arrows and bolts from up high. With a seamless and practically perfect frontline the enemy forces that survived the onught of the war machines and endless volleys of arrows and explosive magic failed to breach through and were thus culled in thousands every minute. The stench of blood was so thick that even those standing 120 metres in the air couldn''t smell anything else. This was the true state of war, a battle that would only end in a party''splete and utter annihtion, there was no mercy here. Boom! Frost''s attention was suddenly drawn by the sound of a massive mana cannon. This beast of a machine stood at 4 metres tall,10 metres long and with a barrel diameter of 2 metres.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Arge sphere of purple mana was fired out, its target one the densest areas among the enemy lines. Here a powerfulmander at the mid stages of the B-rank was overseeing the many E, D and C-rank soldiers in the vicinity. Just when he was about to give the order for more reinforcements his body trembled, and he felt a sudden sense of danger. A fraction of a momentter a shadow appeared around him, he looked up and saw the giant sphere of purple mana hurtling towards him. "Shi." BOOOOOMMMM!!! He didn''t even get the chance to curse before he and the surrounding 100 metres was engulfed in a mana explosion, erasing everything within the st zone. Not even ashes remained of the once dauntless B-rankmander. Frost felt his scalp tingle and strong sense of unease washed over him as he saw the entire thing. With just a single blow an entity roughly at the same level as himself was easily erased, leaving not even a single speck of blood. "Gulp" he audibly gulped bringing a prideful grin to General Katrina. "That''s Big Bertha for you, an A-rank mana cannon that can even cause someone like me to be wary let alone a small B-rank hahahaha." This was a clear show of force. Frost had to reevaluate the number of things that could threaten his life. ''Fuck!'' Every time he left his abode he''d always be reminded how weak and pitiful he truly was in the world. Thankfully ''Big Bertha'' as Katrina called it wasn''t in great supply. Across the entire Northern wall there was only two of such cannons and the cost to fire them even a single time was insane. Thankfully however the swaths of dead monsters assaulting their gates provided a near endless supply of mana crystals. Ignoring his internal plight General Katrina dragged Frost over to themand centre were the other on duty Generals and Majors were holed up. She needed to show Frost just how awesome the War Ursa Battalion was if she had any chance in roping him in. ""General"" Several soldiers saluted and bowed the moment Katrina entered the tent. "At ease." Katrina replied before pushing Frost forward with her oversized hand. "This is Frost, a young prodigy here to experience a true war so treat him well." Only the Generals who were summoned to the meetingst night knew about Frost so everyone in the tent bar them was surprised. For General Katrina to personally escort him and even call him a young prodigy meant that he must be truly skilled or hold an unparalleled status. "Greetings Sir Frost" A few thick skinned soldiers immediately tried to get in Frost''s good books by treating him with excess respect and humility. An act that would normally have General Katrina tutting in disapproval but strangely this time she was nodding her head as if encouraging such actions. Such a reaction spurred the rest of the Majors, Captains and other soldiers present to give very friendly greetings. Frost who was being forced to smile and shake hands with these veterans of war suddenly felt something soft and warm against his back. Next a pair of jade like hands appeared from behind and enclosed around his chest and shoulders. "Little Frost you should have sent word that you wereing. If I knew I would have escorted you personally." A sultry voice appeared next to his ear as the hands gently caressed his body and the soft,rge mounds of flesh pressed and strained against his back. "JESSSICA!!!" Katrina screeched with a malevolent expression on her face. "Haaaa loud as ever you damn oaf of a bear." The one holding tightly against Frost was General Jessica another big name in the War Ursa Battalion. A woman who was at the same level as Katrina and her lifelong rival/nemesis/best friend. "What the hell do you think you''re doing, you damn grandma!" Katrina moved to wrench her colleague from Frost. Jessica was of the same generation as her, old enough to be a grandma or even a great grandma yet here she was wrapping her body (that was preserved in a youthlike state by her magic) around Frost a prodigy she had her eye on (strictly as a solider). "Pfftt foolish Kat even at your age you still don''t understand the mind of a young man. Since he doesn''t have any desire to join our Battalion for glory and prestige then you have to draw him in with something he does." Jessica said a mocking tone before wrapping herself even tighter around Frost, allowing him to feel the softness and heat of her skin. "What do you think little Frost? Do you want to team up with this big sister here? I can teach you the wonders of magic as well as some more personal skills." She whispered into his ear in a tempting manner as her hands drifted downwards. Subtle wasn''t in her vocabry. Even though General Jessica was in full view of the other soldiers she didn''t hold back and those watching didn''t even flinch as though they were used to her acting in such a way. General Jessica was well known in their battalion as a devourer of talents, doing everything (above board) to entice them to join her corps even offering herself if they were particrly handsome or beautiful. She kept her body young with magic not just to suit her own vanity but to use it. Unlike Katrina she never lost her appetite with age. ''Haaaaaa talent, good looks maybe this is actually a curse rather than a blessing.'' Frost constantly found himself drawing attention because of his gifts. Since the other party was a vaunted General, someone who could easily kill him if she wanted he couldn''t be rude. "Your offer is certainly tempting General Jessica, but I''m already spoken for and have no desire to join the War Ursa Battalion." He politely refused, making his stance clear once again. "Hehehe." Jessica in responseughed in a charming manner "Please just call me Jess little Frost and don''t worry about joining the Battalion, I''m still more than willing to give you some personal one on one lessons.I won''t tell if you won''t." Herst few words were said so that only she; Frost and Katrina could hear them. Jessica wanted him bad; it wasn''t every day she came across a young man with unparalleled looks and a mana affinity that even put hers to shame. Chapter 718 Scale of war (2) Frost could feel an alluring touch caressing his chest and shoulders, a soft sensation enveloping his left arm and a seductive voice whispering in his ear, encouraging him to let loose, to give in to the temptation. Given his recent evolution his first instinct was to flirt back against this aggressive female general, to take advantage of his unparalleled good looks and ever growing natural attraction. Several woman who teased him in his early days would now find themselves struggling to maintain their decorum whenever he shed a smile or yed along with their antics. He''d start by wrapping his arms around Jessica''s supple body, pulling her in close as he smiled mysteriously with a gaze filled with desire. He would then subtly move her naughty hands lower down while his own would grope her in return, eliciting a slight moan from the woman before he''d lean in and whisper into her ear. "Such an inviting offer mydy, one that as a gentlemen I cannot possibly refuse in good faith... however" He''d lightly bite on her earlobe before continuing, allowing Jessica''s fair hands to touch his growing weapon, to get an insight into its size and radiating heat. "Miss Jessica, can you truly handle me? My current partners are an S-rank rank Fenrir and a woman with the lineage of a subus, and they can barelyst a single nightly session. By the time I''m truly revved up they''re already in a catatonic state, trembling from sheer pleasure as their bodies refuse to listen to theirmands." At this point his manly scent would be filling Jessica''s nostrils, his body practically merging with hers, turning her into putty beforending the final blow. "So I ask you again, are you sure you can handle me?" He''d then once again bite her earlobe before coldly pulling away from her body, cutting off all forms of contact in an instant. Her body would naturally search for his warmth again, desiring to feel such intimacy and thus e wouldpletely entrap his would be prey. This was but his first instinct and thankfully not the one he acted on because just a momentter a second feeling arose in his heart, one screaming danger. His instincts were warning him that the woman before him was not like Maya, a devilish beauty without any defensive measures but someone simr to Daki, a person with ample experience. So much so that her threat was far greater than that of the young subus. General Jessica''s hunger was endless, her age only increasing her appetite, she was a predator not prey. If Frost behaved in the manner that he first pictured she would not swoon but be even more aggressive, jumping at his offer and spiriting him away to her abode until she had had her fill. Her whole tempting act was to lure him into trying to take control thus gaining ''consent''. Frost felt the back of his neck drip with cold sweat as he pictured the true form of the enchantress looking up at him with doe eyes. ''She''s a demon, a full blown subus.'' He''d put money on the fact that Jessica like Daki had subus blood running through her veins. He quickly shook his head trying to erase his fear. "Thank you for the offer General Jessica but unfortunately I won''t be staying long." He straight up refused her temptations, not willing to fall for the demon''s traps. His reaction caused Jessica to raise her brow and don a surprised expression before a smile began to stretch from one side of her face to the other. She stuck out her tongue a seductively licked her lips as though she was eyeing a feast that got even more tantalising. Her desire only grew with his steadfast refusal. By this point Jessica even entertained the idea of absconding with Frost this very second. Abusing both her overwhelming strength and authority in Icethorne to force him into her clutches. She was certain that after having a few energetic sessions with herself he''d understand reason. Thankfully for Frost there was another woman present who was no less powerful nor lower in standing than General Jessica. Ssh! Without any warning a literal bucket of ice water was dumped on Jessica''s head. "Cool your jets Jess, this isn''t someone you can touch!" General Katrina bellowed as she handed the empty bucket back to a solider and stood between Frost and Jessica. "Kyyaaaa you''re such a bitch Kat you know that!" General Jessica screamed as her body violently shivered,pletely taken by surprise. The cold water did however ''cool her jets'' as Katrina put it, she was no longer feeling horny. She looked at Katrina with a hate filled re before wrapping her body in heating magic and leaving themand centre in a huff, her good moodpletely ruined. Strangely the soldiers present in themand centre were still unfazed by the whole y as the entire thing was actually a rathermon urrence for them. Even the bucket of ice water that Katriana dumped on Jessica''s head was an already prepared countermeasure. The General''s sexual appetite was a well known issue, one that they had gotten used to handling. "Sorry Frost, Jess struggles to control her desires but I''ll make sure she knows where to draw the line." General Katrina shook her head and sighed, apologizing for her friend''s antics was something she''d been doing ever since they were young army prodigies. Enjoy new tales from empire Frost felt moved by Katrina''s apology and to be honest he didn''t hold much or really any resentment towards Jessica. Her motives though overwhelming werepletely pure, stemming from an unbridled sexual desire. Unfortunately it seemed as though the valiant General had simply failed to find someone who could keep up with her appetite. He wondered if Daki would have ended up in a simr situation if the two of them never crossed paths back in Kranor. ''Maybe I should try and y matchmaker, the girls had so much fun pairing up Khuno and Maressa after all.'' Frost felt that finding someone for the horny General could be fun and since he was going to the domain of the Primordial Ice King he was sure to find someone with decent stamina. He wasn''t one to shy away from doing a good deed. With Jessica leaving they could get back to the true task at hand, letting Frost experience the true mettle of war. "Frost here specialises in the ive but he''s also a master of ice chakra and even ice magic, a true triple threat." Katrina continued to sing Frost''s praises. She''d read up on the reports regarding himst night as well as asked about him from the Princess and Jared. "Hoh." The Captains and Majors all eximed with obvious glints in their eyes before a verbal brawl took ce. "He should be assigned to my zone; we need another B-rank after Derrick''s injury!" "No he needs to join the magic corps, the frontline has more than enough bodies!"N?v(el)B\\jnn "Screw that he should be part of the cavalry teams given that he has a cial winged tiger as his battle mount." The different divisions argued with one another each demanding that Frost help them out over theirrades. Frost given his many capabilities, B-rank strength and personal high rank battle mount was a highly desiredmodity. Themodity in question couldn''t help but twitch at the lips as these men and women argued over how to use him. He felt a mix of pride, shame and embarrassment a reaction that caused Katrina tough out loud before enforcing her own decision. "Rx he''s only here for a single day so we''ll have him rotate through as many positions as possible, that way he can experience the true depth of our situation and lend the maximum aid." Katrina was 100%mitted to treating Frost like a Plow horse, a decision he waspletely unable to refute. Thus Frost just as General Katrina instructed found himself first standing alongside the War Ursa Battalion''s vanguard as a new wave of monsters assaulted their position. He was put in charge of frontline zone 7B and given 3 C-rank Captains as deputies who helped him adjust to his role in the battle. His job wasn''t to dive headfirst in the bloodbath but to stand stalwart atop Kiba and give far reachingmands. A war involving millions of individuals couldn''t be won through the efforts of a single powerful person after all, hell even the monster stampede assaulting the Dungeon and Furano needed the efforts of thousands of soldiers and adventurers let alone the monstrosity that was hounding the northern wall of Icethorne. "Major Frost you need to manage the flow of battle, to decide when and where to reinforce our frontlines as well as choose the opportune moments in which to lend your own de." One of his deputy Captains exined with a smile. The Captain was more than happy to exin the war effort to the rising genius before him. For hierarchy sake Frost was given the temporary designation of Major meaning he could givemands to Captains and lower but other Majors were above him. "Understood, please exin everything thoroughly and don''t hesitate to call out my mistakes." Frost replied warmly, finding his position intriguing. He was akin to one of his monster officers, not high enough to make battlefield spanning decisions but high enough that he held a great deal of responsibility. Chapter 719 Icethorne Bulwark Upon hearing not even a trace of arrogance in his voice the deputy Captains assigned to Frost and their nearby Sergeants couldn''t help but smile before responding with their valuable insight. "Certainly Major, we won''t steer you wrong." A Captain by the name of Johnson, a well built beastman of the bear tribe mmed his oversized hand against his chest. The man was nearing middle age, stood well over 2 metres, had white fur lining his skin and a brutal exposed scar marring his chest. He was a talented and well experienced officer among the War Ursa Battalion''s vanguard, a perfect choice to aid Frost in his toe dipping. "The soldiers under yourmand Major Frostprise of 1000 E-ranks, 400 D-ranks, 80 peak D-ranks/ half step C-ranks and 20 full blown C-ranks." 1500 men and women who bravely stood stalwart against hundreds of thousands perhaps even at times millions of enemies without blinking an eye. "Our duty is to maintain the 7th western defensive line, a duty that you are now beholden to." Johnson exined thoroughly the current situation of their regiment and their assigned duties all while the soldiers at the forefront did battle with the enemy. Frost nodded his head in understanding. "I''ll do my best to not let the 7th western line fall." He felt his blood pumping through his veins as the stench of battle excited him. It had been too long since hest stood upon a true battlefield. "Myself or one of the other senior Captains will report the frontline''s situation to you every 10 minutes or earlier if a major change takes ce." There was a strange cadence in his tone as he said this, a strangeness Frost quickly picked up on. "Don''t worry Captain Johnson I know well enough not to mess with a well oiled machine." He was here to learn ,not screw over the systems already in ce among the War Ursa Battalion. He was merely a guest not a true Major. Captain Johnson let out a breath of relief before once again smiling from ear to ear, he was liking this fresh recruit more and more. Time passed and after roughly an hour or so since Frost took to the field a change urred, a change that made him marvel. A Sergeant assigned tomunications with headquarters held her hand up to her left ear as she received orders through a short-rangemunication crystal. "Urgent Report!" The young woman''s face paled for a second when she heard the order but a momentter she turned around and roared at the top of her lungs drawing Frost and Captain Johnson''s attention. In the same moment that she and many othermunications officers moved to ry the urgent orders from headquarters a change could be seen in the far distance. The frontlines that were overwhelmed with enemy bodies had started to thin, allowing even those on the ground level to see in the distance. And what they saw was not a retreat of the enemy, nor ack in their numbers but massive blurred figures surrounded by kicked up snow and ice. "Heavy assault inbound! Headquarters is ordering the use of the Icethorne Bulwark!" The female Sergeant bellowed with a growing smile on her lips, an expression that was mirrored by the other officers. Only Frost was left in the dark. "You heard her men, prepare to activate the Icethorne Bulwark. Emma, Lucinda, Darius and Mokan move out." "Yes Captain!" With practised precision the four Captains each of whom were at the very minimum mid C-rank responded with a roar before heading to the frontlines along with their Sergeants and Lieutenants. "Johnson what''s the Icethorne Bulwark?" Frost asked with a frown. With his impressive eyesight and battle instincts he could feel danger encroaching upon their position. Stay connected with empire "Hehehe you''re going enjoy this Major." Johnson responded with a wild smile and mad look in his eyes. He gestured for Frost to gaze ahead, to not miss a single beat. Within a minute the entire frontline of the War Ursa Battalion had shifted into a special formation. Extra shield bearers moved forward while the axe and sword users retreated back several metres, they were useless in dealing with what wasing. Dozens and dozens of Captains moved behind the shield bearers and spearmen to take directmand and help enact the Icethorne Bulwark. By this time the blurred figures were bing clear as day and the ground upon which Frost and the soldiers stood began to tremble. Hundreds of massive, hulking monsters, each weighing several tons were charging towards them at great speed. Mammoths, Three horned rhinos, stone drakes and several other noteworthy monsters could be seen in the line-up. Devasting opponents that posed a significant threat even when alone, yet here they were charging like a regiment of heavy cavalry. Even Frost with his B-rank strength felt the back of his neck tingle when faced with such a sight yet the D and even E-ranks soldiers under hismand bore eager smiles, donning not an ounce of fear. ''What the hell is this Icethorne Bulwark?'' He internally questioned, genuinely curious as to what manner of thing could grant such confidence among even the weakest in their number. "Activate the Icethorne Bulwark!" Suddenly General Katrina''s voice roared from the top of the wall and with her decree Boom! The mighty shield bearers stamped their feet against the ground, ced their shields before their bodies, controlled their breathing and summoned their internal energy. "Major Frost do you know what a battle formation is?" Captain Johnson teasingly inquired. "Battle formation?" Frost wracked his brains, searching through his innate knowledge and from what he read in books but all he managed to scrounge up was short, inconclusive information. Not surprised by Frost''sck of knowledge Captain Johnson proceeded to exin. "A battle formation is a special technique that allows a group of people to pool their internal energy together, linking them into a single unit. And in doing so their strength bes amplified, far beyond what they can normally summon." As he spoke a visible, blue coloured energy formed around the shield bearers, spearmen and the assigned Captains at the frontline. This energy wrapped around their bodies before spreading out in search of others, swiftly linking them all up in a chain. Following this those affected had their breathing, muscle movements and even heartbeats sync up, turning them into a single entity, with a single purpose. Once linked their individual strengths soared, bing on average half a rank higher before the blue energy coalesced into the shape of a massive and regal looking bear. "Roooooaaarrrrr!" The energy based bear roared aggressively as its presence continued to grow without end, enacting a pressure simr to that of a dense aura. "Icethorne Bulwark!" General Katrina shouted. "Icethorne Bulwark!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Icethorne Bulwark!" "Icethorne Bulwark!" "Icethorne Bulwark!" Her roar was mirrored by countless soldiers, eager to taste blood. With their raging bellows the mighty bear transformed, it pooled its essence into the shield bearers at the forefront. Their tower shields shone with a bright blue light before conjuring an invible barrier, a thick half metre, transparent screen that screamed invincibility. Frost waspletely blown away by the sight, it felt like a skill yet not at the same time, a strange and intriguing thing that stoked his greed, his desire, he wanted it for his own forces. Captain Johnson was a good reader of emotions so he easily picked up on Frost''s interest but even if he wasn''t it''d be strange if the young man wasn''t curious..s simply desiring something didn''t mean you could obtain it. He thus proceeded to dump or at least attempt to dump cold water on the young prodigy''s head. "The Icethorne Bulwark, a battle formation developed by our War Ursa Battalion after decades of effort is a shining example of our unity and high level of skill. Even the simplest of battle formations requires the users to bepletely in tune with one another and individually unrivalled in skill. We of the War Ursa Battalion have always focused on quality rather than quantity thus we are able topete with enemies that outnumber us ten perhaps even a hundred to one without issue. Our experience and dedication allows us to transcend the limits of standard soldiers." Battle formations, the sign of a truly unified andpetent force. Secret techniques that are usually beholden to the military of powerful nations such as the Northrend Empire as only they have the capabilities to meet their strict requirements. The soldiers of the War Ursa Battalion needed to spend years practising before they could even hope to unleash the lowest level of grandeur of a battle formation such as the Icethorne Bulwark. Frost hoping to utilise such a formation among his own forces after simply seeing it in person was nothing but a pipe dream. He had no idea of the amount of blood, sweat and tears that went into achieving such a disy. Captain Johnson hoped to convey that wanting to learn and use battle formations was a tall almost impossible order for the young prodigy. Unfortunately for him Frost wasn''t so easily deterred. ''Though I doubt it''d be easy, aren''t battle formations perfectly designed for my forces?'' He internally analysed, finding that the fact that all his monsters came from the same controlled source and that they maintained a connection to that said source should allow them to easily form connections between one another, instantly achieving the first milestone of a battle formation. With this thought growing more and more prominent in his mind, Frost''s desire grew in concert and a wild smile formed across his lips. ''Seems that I need to start researching battle formations.'' Chapter 720 Icethorne Bulwark (2) Frost could picture a future where in he faced off against one of his stronger siblings in a dungeon war. A war in which he would likely hold not a single advantage. His forces, equally numerable, equally strong and equally experienced in battle. Even his own strength would fail to surpass the imagined sibling. Defeat or a draw being the only possible oue....unless he acquired a secret weapon.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Battle formations, the hallmark of a truly united and unparalleled fighting force. Techniques designed for one thing and one thing only.War! With the number of skilled monsters under hismand, gaining mastery of even just a single battle formation like the one being prominently disyed before him could likely change the tide of battle. "Young Major burn this image into your eyes, this is how the War Ursa Battalion deals with our enemies." Captain Johnson proudly dered before turning his gaze back to the frontlines, daring to not miss even a single second of hispany''s bravery. Frost obeyed without hesitation, locking his gaze northward where a massive transparent blue barrier stood stalwart before the War Ursa Battalion''s vanguard. Faint depictions of a mighty bear could be vaguely seen moving along the barrier as though it bore a strange essence. The mighty regiment of hulking monsters charging dead ahead cared not a wink for the suddenly erected barrier. Their minds long devolved into madness as they charged headlong into an unwitting death. The ground quaked beneath the soldiers but not one balked in the face of such overbearing aggression, instead they smiled, eager to see these mindless beasts crash and implode against their mighty defences. The moment seemed to drag on for eternity but eventually contact was made. BOOOOMMMM!!! With a thundering crack the rampaging monsters crashed head, fang or tusk first into the great barrier. Such was their momentum and power that the ground underneath and the grand mountains lining the sides quaked and fractured. Find exclusive stories on empire But even with this immense force the hulking monsters made not a single dent upon the Icethorne Bulwark, instead their flesh, carapace and bones shattered. Their bodies exploding into bursts of gore and mangled viscera. Boom! Boom! Boom! Like unthinking beasts the following lines crashed into the barrier quickly joining the first line''s miserable fate. Across the entire frontline the stench of death and blood was overwhelming, so much so that the shield bearers found their noses reeling from the acidity. The Icethorne bulwark remained unfazed for a total of 5 cmitous shes, only after did the light start to dim and the vague figure of the bear recede. "Spearmen!" General Katrina''s voice bellowed once more from atop the great wall. In an instant the men and women wielding long, sharp spears standing directly behind the shield bearers tightly gripped the shafts of their weapons and burst forth with unbridled strength. The barrier then diminished at a visible rate and the residual energy flowed into these spear wielding soldiers. "Strike!" Katrina ordered and the next second these men and women thrust forward with their spears, generating beams of eye catching light that eviscerated all that stood in their path. This was the final phase of the Ice Bulwark, a mighty imprable shield followed by an unstoppable thrust that would clear away all that remained. And just like that the daunting charge of dozens perhaps even hundreds of massive monsters that each weighed several tons was eliminated, with nary a single casualty on their side. All that was left was mutted carcasses and energy seared flesh. "WAAAAAGGGHHHHH!!!" In response to this carnage the soldiers of the War Ursa Battalion and the Icethorne Duchy erupted with cacophonous roars. Their voices tinged with madness and brutality as they mmed weapons against either their armour or the snow covered ground beneath their feet. An intimidating sight, a dominating disy of power and ferocity. A sight that caused the monstermanders in the distance to wince and bite their tongues. "Not even a damn scratch ptuu!" Said arge beast covered in scales and dense fur before spitting in disgust. This monster who stood multiple metres tall and twice that long was the current overseer, the general of the cial mountains liberation alliance''s first advance. He was an ice drake of an impure bloodline, a vassal of therge horned ice drake tribe. And despite his impurity he still managed to reach the A-rank and thus held a decent amount of sway within the great tribe, he was even granted a marriage to one of the royal princesses, showing how favoured he truly was by them. The powerfulrge horned ice drake tribe strongly pushed for him to be granted the role of vanguard General for two reasons. The first was his unwavering loyalty to their tribe and their interests and the second was his vast experience and durability in battle. Vash Gothack was not an easy monster to kill, with near imprable scales and a tough hide, few could pierce his skin but beyond that as a General he was cautious, patient and calm even in the face of great adversity. With him at the helm the attack on Icethorne would never falter. His sess did not lie in breaking down the northern wall rather ensuring that the War Ursa Battalion and the men and women of the Icethorne Duchy had no chance to rest. "Sir it seems that they truly have no limitations when ite to their Icethorne Bulwark." An ice drake who was serving as one of Vash''s subordinates replied through clenched teeth. This wasn''t the first time the War Ursa Battalion had used their fabled battle formation in this war. "Hmph, seems that the old bastard''s reputation as War God of the cial Mountains isn''t undeserved." To be able to train soldiers to such a high degree of efficiency and skill wasn''t something a standardmander could achieve. Even he, a respected General in service to therge horned ice drake tribe was far from the mark, a fact that irked him greatly. "There is always a higher mountain." Vash muttered under his breath as a ruthless light shed through his eyes. Simrments were passing through the lips of the other monstermanders. They originally came here thinking that with their numerical advantage Icethorne would be ripe for the picking, oh how wrong they were. "Most impressive." Frost couldn''t help butment with a voice filled with desire. "Hehehe oh we''re just getting started Major." Captain Johnson chuckled. The War Ursa Battalion had much more that just the Icethorne Bulwark. "Then I look forward to seeing what else you guys have in store." Frost''s smile stretched from ear to ear and the hands that held onto his ive tightened around it. He barely managed to restrain himself from leaping into fore, to carve up the monsters before him for their mouthwatering DP. As though expecting failure the lines of the liberation alliance quickly restarted their assault. And once again the frontlines were filled with the din of weapons shing against weapons, scales, ws and even fangs. The Captains Emma, Lucinda, Darius and Mokan stayed at the frontlines to help tide against their next aggressors. The Icethorne Bulwark was incredible, but it did have to siphon energy from somewhere. Those involved in its activation would feel weakened and drained for a period, not enough to disable theirbat prowess but enough to make fighting harder and more dangerous. "Major this will be the real test for you. Now that the bulwark has been used the enemy will attack with increased ferocity. We can''t let a single one breach our gates, we must be on our game when ites to reinforcements and intervening on a personal level." Captain Johnson was the second strongest soldier present after Frost and like him he was to remain here until the enemy sent out an appropriate foe. Being the defensive party and the side with the least amount of soldiers it was rare for them to go on the offensive. Only General Jared and perhaps General Danielle would be able to dive headfirst into the battle, leaving nothing but carnage in their wake without too much consequence. General Katrina and General Jessica who bore rather aggressive personalities would certainly love to cleave apart the enemy with their personal strength but once you reach their level of status their every move is watched and prepared for. If Katrina, Jesssica or the Duke himself entered the battlefield the atmosphere would ultimately change. Right now was the still the time for testing the waters, not the time to put all their cards on the table. Over the next 30 minutes or so the western 7th defensive line constantly fended off aggressive attacks from the enemy. Frost and Johnson were forced to frequently swap out weakened soldiers for those yet to be bloodied this day. Even the Captains under him were forced to move forward so as to deal with the approach of C-rank monsters. "Tsk, Bhus is on the move Major." Captain Johnson angrily spat. His fists clenched tight and the veins along his jaw bulged as the figure of arge, framed tiger beastkin approached. "Bhus." Chapter 721 Bacchus "Bhus?" Frost questioned with a frown; he''d been warned about this individual beforehand. Stay connected through empire In the distance gradually making his way towards the War Ursa Battalion''s frontlines with a powerful and unperturbed gait was arge tiger beastkin with an imposing physique. "Hehehe my axe calls for blood." He said with unbridled bloodlust, his eyes scanning the horizon for delicious prey. The monster stood almost 3 metres tall and had arms and legs the size of thick tree trunks. His body was covered in greyish white fur and was prominently exposed to the cold air cial mountains air. He wore minimal armour and proudly disyed his many battle scars that ran across his chest, arms and even back. Garosh Bhus a Major equivalent from the Jabrak Kingdom and a member of the three eyed tigerkin tribe, a tribe who sat directly below the ruling winter tigerkin and snow leopardkin tribes. A powerful individual representing an even more powerful faction. Just like the other members of his tribe Bhus was bloodthirsty, a monster who relished war and battle. With his third eye he could perceive even the slightest of movements made by his enemies and even see the flow of the ambient mana. Along with a body that rivalled iron and steel he was a force to be reckoned with. "A Major equivalent from the Jabrak Kingdom, Garosh Bhus. The one who put our previous Major in the medical wing." Said Captain Johnson through gritted teeth. He tightly grasped his left shoulder as a phantom pain assailed him. During theirst confrontation their toon''s usual Major was severely injured by him and even he received a grievous wound during their retreat. Thankfully however his was easily remedied by a mid-level health potion but the memory of his flesh being rendered apart by that bloodstained axe sent jolts through his nervous system. Frost narrowed his gaze and focused on the approaching giant, subconsciously tightening his grip around his ive. His heart that was already in an excited state started thumb with a powerful, almost audible rhythm. Don! Don! Don! It screamed for battle, for him to let loose, to plunder the bountiful DP stored within Bhus'' oversized body. Unknowingly a wild smile shed across his lips as a hunger assailed his body and a red glint shone in his eyes. Finally he would have a chance to strut his stuff. The stench and heavy atmosphere of the battlefield had already seeped into his pores long before the vanguard even used their vaunted battle formation. It was a miracle that he hadn''t devolved into a maddened beast, driven by battle lust before now. Thankfully Bhus decided to take to the field, he''d make a good punching bag. "Major Frost I don''t know how strong you truly are but since headquarters ced you here I''m sure you can hold you own in a fight but nevertheless I''ll advise you to be careful. Bhus is a natural battle maniac; you show even the slightest sign of weakness, and he''ll pounce and sink his teeth in you." Captain Johnson was obviously wary of the man, the memories of theirst battle warping his objectivity. Despite his fear and wariness however he still tightened his grip around his sword and shield, preparing himself to enter the fray as alongside Bhus there was his most trusted righthand man, his cousin from the same tribe, a monster in thete stage of C-rank, Johnson''s fated foe. "Hmph rx a little Johnson, being tense before the duel will only lead to your defeat." Sensing his fear Frost firmly pped Captain''s Johnson''s back before showing an undaunted and reassuring smile that stretched from ear to ear. From the moment he saw Bhus mozing up to the frontlines he knew exactly what his job was. Headquarters, General Katrina specifically assigned him to the 7th western defence line over all the other for one reason..to take down Bhus. Realising this he turned his head back and upwards to nce at the valiant form of General Katrina standing at the edge of the northern wall. Sensing his gaze Katrina peered down with a knowing smile, her eyes silently saying ''Show me what you''ve got young pup'' before once again focusing on the battlefield as a whole. "Johnson leave Bhus to me; I''ll make sure to avenge your previousmander." With a bold deration Frost started to move forward, his every step filled with strength and confidence. Captain Johnson was dazed for a second, his heart in that brief moment urged him to bow and revere Frost, to follow hismand even if it was through a valley of des or through the depths of a volcano. Before this only the Duke was able to naturally instil such emotions within him, could Frost be at the same level as their invincible Duke? ''Impossible'' he shook his head and denied such a possibility instead chalking it up to a mere fluke before boldly following in Frost''s wake. "Tara you''re inmand until we return." He handed authority to another senior Captain before leaving. "Good hunting Major Frost, Captain Johnson." Captain Tara loudly announced with a proud salute, the other officers mimicking her gesture a momentter. "Hmm a new challenger is it." Once Frost and Johnson arrived near the frontline their arrival was spotted by Bhus and his right hand man. Bhus recognised Johnson, he smirked and licked his lips as he remembered the taste of the senior Captain''s blood on his axe. Frost however was an unknown. Since he severely wounded the 7th western defence line''s previous Major he didn''t expect them to show up today butsuddenly upon getting a good look at Frost''s face and frame anger boiled within him. "DOES THE WAR URSA BATTALION WANT TO INSULT ME!!!" He roared at the top his lungs, his natural cadence and tone causing the weaker soldiers to freeze and even go limp in the knees. "YOU DARE TO SEND OUT SOME WEAK PRETTY BOY WHO STILL REEKS OF HIS MOTHER''S MILK!!!" Bhus was absolutely livid. Though he could sense that Frost was in fact at the B-rank it didn''t matter. All he saw was some unbloodied pipsqueak with nary a scratch across his skin. This was war and he was a glorious solider, he deserved to be faced with an equally experienced enemy. He felt disrespected and insulted, a rather unusual urrence when ced against the War Ursa Battalion given their penchant for quality and experience. The tiger beastkin serving as his right hand man was no less furious, he red at Captain Johnson. "Has the War Ursa Battalion run out of Majors already or are you insulting our three eyed tigerkin tribe!" Captain Johnson felt a wave of anger wash over him as his eyes became bloodshot and his fists threatened to snap the handles of his sword and shield. But unfortunately the sh was fleeting as he struggled toe up with a counter to their enemy''s words. Frost was truly an unknown and his appearance and youth certainly gave off a vibe of inexperience. "Hmph how moronic, all brawns, no brains and certainly no instincts you''re an insult to your tiger ancestry." Frost however had no trouble exchanging barbs with the two beastkin. He couldn''t believe that someone with so much blood on their hands was truly judging a book by its cover,pletely ignoring the threat that obviouslyy beneath. "YYou!!" Bhus'' right hand man shifted his re to Frost and pointed menacingly at him as he readied himself for a tirade of a lifetime but before he could. "Enough Tulu he''s not falling for it." Bhus who was red in the face just a moment ago was now eerily calm as he stared at Frost, a stark change that made Johnson''s spine tingle and Frost smirk. "Tsk and here I thought we could have some fun." Tulu clicked his tongue and shook his head, before also donning a mask ofplete calm. Their previous anger was just a disy, a trap to lure Frost and even Captain Johnson into treating them like blind, arrogant fools. Of course if Frost was so easy to manipte then their anger and fury would be all but genuine. Only an unbloodied pup would fall for such provocation, and that would be an insult to their honour. Bhus and his cousin Tulu may be battle maniacs, but they weren''t stupid, and they certainly weren''t an insult to their tiger ancestry. Even a lion or in this case a tiger would go all out when facing a rabbit. Since their first ploy failed the two of them immediately moved onto their next but unfortunately Frost was of a simr nature. Just when Bhus and Tulu were about to suddenly attack without warning Tulu was assaulted by a devasting pressure, a pressure so strong that it made his veins bulge across his skin and his legs momentarily freeze. Frost made a move first. Without waiting for any more talk he summoned his full blown royal aspected aura andunched its entire essence upon Tulu, briefly halting his movements.N?v(el)B\\jnn Being an experienced soldier Captain Johnson immediately took advantage of his enemy''s predicament and charged shield first into the beastkin monolith before he could react. "Tiger w sundering!" Bhus wasn''t one to relent, only Tulu was frozen meaning he was free to carry out his sudden assault. Completely ignoring his cousin Bhus leapt at Frost with his massive blood stained axe overhead. His muscles bulged obscenely as he summoned his internal energy. A red tiger phantom formed above his axe head, cleaving downward with its massive ws alongside his swing. For a sudden attack Bhus certainly wasn''t holding back. He was smiling at the thought of smashing apart Frost''s pretty face, his blood would certainly make for a fabulous tonic. Chapter 722 Bacchus (2) Tulu suddenly pressured by Frost''s aura failed to react in time against Captain''s Johnson''s shield bash. With a ringing thud his chest was smacked hard and he reeled backwards from the blow. Johnson quickly followed up with a decisive kick sending the tiger beastkin flying through the air, generating some much needed distance from the higher ranked duel that was just about to take ce. "[Tiger w sundering]!" While Tulu was expertly separated by Captain Johnson, Bhus unphased by the assault on his cousin leapt into the air and raised his mighty axe high above his head as he took aim at Frost''s annoyingly handsome face. With a jeering roar the over 3 metre tall monster caused the ground beneath his feet to cave in as he leapt high in the air. His internal energy flowed seamlessly into his already blood covered great axe forming a blood red phantom, a vicious bloodthirsty tiger that locked its gaze and massive ws on Frost. Bhus'' movements were as fast as lighting in the eyes of the nearby enemy and ally soldiers but to Frost every single step was calcted. With nary a hint of desperation Frost''s lips turned upwards to form a wild smile. He stepped forward towards the quickly encroaching Bhus with his ive locked firmly in his right hand. Tendrils of chilling ice chakra silently grew inyers upon his skin and clothes, swiftly forming an intricate and powerful set of armour that only added to his natural majesty. Silver mes danced along the edge of his ive as he effortlessly twirled it in the air and took another forceful step forward and nted firm roots. Stay connected through empire With his armour donned, his weapon at the ready and his stance in ce Frost stared dead ahead at the encroaching enemy, waiting for him. There was glint in his eyes as he saw Bhus reel back for a thunderous blow, his wild smile grew and his grip on his weapon tightened. He summoned his royal aspected aura, allowing it flow unperturbed throughout his body, empowering him, improving his body''s already terrifying physical strength and natural endurance. Frost intended to test the limits of the body his father granted him, so he abstained from using a weapon skill. This entire process happened in under two seconds, one moment the four men were squaring off against one another, exchanging words and the next their weapons were drawn and the distance between them was miniscule. BOOOOMM!! With a crashing impact Bhus'' axe cleaved down upon Frost''s ive. The summoned tiger struck first, its vicious ws hitting with more than triple the strength of Frost''s [w of the ice wolf] technique. Shards of chakra armour vaporised with each w and the ground beneath them cracked apart like a spiderweb from the residual force, but Frost didn''t buckle. His legs remained solid and the weapon in his hand showed no signs of breaking.at least until the axe head made contact. The tiger ws were merely the appetiser, bringing with them the strength of a wild beast whereas the giant great axe that dripped ruby red blood heralded a mountain. The moment metal shed against metal Frost felt a force run through his muscles that was so powerful that the seams between his fingers split open and the arms holding up his ive instantly became numb and lost their strength. Boom! With another earth shattering boom Bhus'' axe destroyed Frost''s guard and continued its downward momentum. Frost was thus sent reeling back in a simr manner to Tulu. His physical strength being unable to endure such a violent blow even with the added boost of his aura, a skill mind you he was still rather inexperienced in using but capable nheless..Bhus was strong, much stronger than the Rindar he killed during the defence of Furano. Neither Bhus nor Frost continued their exchange immediately instead they seemed toe to terms with a simr realisation. ''He''s strong'' ''He''s strong'' Bhus who had initial misgivings towards Frost now saw him in a new light. He wasn''t just a young pretty face here to rece the recently indisposed Major, no he was a worthy foe. This realisation sparked his battle lust, his excitement started to build as did his alreadyrge physique, he could enjoy this fight. Frost was simrly analysing his opponent gauging where he stood amongst those he had fought before. ''Stronger than the Rindar but weaker than Valend, Frostine and Indra.'' Peak of the early stages of B-rank perhaps initial middle stages, equal to himself but.weaker. Though his guard was blown apart he wasn''t injured nor was he ced in a vulnerable position; a stark contrastpared to his duel with Be wherein every strike could have been hisst if he let up for even a second. Bhus would make for the ideal training partner, the perfect level of danger and threat to help him gauge his current strength and perhaps breach the middle stages. He could feel it now, all he needed was some more worthwhile experience. "Your name boy?" Bhus who''s muscles were spasming out of joy and excitement asked with fascination in his gaze. A primal and beastlike aura grew around him, making him seem dangerous, like a wild and starving animal. Even the way he held himself had be more beastlike. As though sensing his joy Frost''s own demeanour changed, his form was less rigid, donning the appearance of a sheathed de waiting for the chance to be drawn. "Frost and I''m no mere boy, little cat." His ive swung outward and pointed directly at the lumbering Bhus, the silver chakra mes once again erupted along the de, threatening to singe his hair. ".." ".." There was a silence between the two as they locked eyes and a momentter. sh. ive met axe, leg met leg, fist met fist and ws met armour. The exchange was brutal, sudden and vicious. Every blow sent out sonic booms and thebined sh of aura created a dead zone over 30 metres in diameter. Whether they were members of the cial Mountains Liberation Alliance or soldiers of the War Ursa Battalion they all kept their distance during such fights. Anyone foolish enough to get caught between two B-ranks or higher was just asking for death thus there was amon consensus among them. The war between the soldiers would not end nor even take a break, it would simply move a little to the left and right, giving their officers space to let loose and not affect themon folk. Johnson was free to engage Tulu and Bhus was free to fight Frost all while the war continued without them. Funny thing was scenes like this were happening all across the frontlines. B-rank level fighters all made their moves after the Icethorne Bulwark, resulting in over a dozen such duels taking ce all at once, Frost wasn''t even the most eye-catching. One Major of the War Ursa Battalion who''s strength was in thete stages of B-rank was facing off against 3 B-rank enemy opponents and was holding his own, perhaps evening out ahead. In another area twin Majors relied on their officers to activate a personal battle formation allowing them topete with 5 B-ranks and multiple peak C-ranks and that was just the frontline confrontations there was still the rearguards, the archers and mages who also took to the fore. War especially long sieges like this once tended to follow certain rhythms, routines. Currently it was the phase in which the B-ranks, the upper officers strutted their stuff.a phase in which the War Ursa Battalion was outnumbered but certainly not outmatched in fact it was the phase in which they shone the brightest. "Gahhhh!!" Bloody screams erupted every minute or so as an upper officer of the alliance was run through or even killed by their War Ursa opponent. Very rarely did the alliance ever get the upper hand during this phase, a hard pill that General Vash and those at the peak of the enemy army had no choice but to swallow. Their opponents were much stronger on the individual level, especially right now when their main forces were still on route to their location. "General, things seem to be on track today." While Frost and the other Majors did battle on the frontlines a Captain assigned to headquarters spoke to General Katrina who still stood stalwart at the edge of the Northern wall. "It would seem so, yesterday may have been just a fluke but we can''t let the enemy have any hope crush it before it begins to fester." General Katrina was dissatisfied with the army''s performance yesterday too many of their officers were injured in battle and not nearly enough enemy officers were killed. Worst of all this was in front of the War Marshall, such a disgrace. "As you say General." To aid in this endeavour Katrina even arranged a few special weapons to be slotted into the officers ranks, hoping to as she said, ''crush their hope before it begins to fester''. Frost was one of these so called special weapons. She hoped that he''d be able to give Bhus a nasty surprise and if they were lucky perhaps even deprive him of his pitiful life.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Her gaze thus drifted over to where Frost and Bhus were duelling. ''Kill him Frost, let them know the meaning of fear.'' Chapter 723 Bacchus (3) The sound of weapons and armour violently shing filled the air. Don! Don! Don! Two men, one with the appearance of a handsome elf and the other a bipedal tiger monster from the Jabrak Kingdom were engaged in battle, their weapons and ws showing not the slightest sign of mercy. Sharpened de edges would narrowly miss vital areas as the two dodged one another''s blows. The ground around them was covered in deep fractures and crevasses as a result of their physical exertions and their originally pristine attire, (one more than the other) was drenched in blood. Wounds galore covered nearly every inch of Bhus yet despite his injuries and his immense pain his face still showed a bright smile and the grip around his massive axe was as solid as ever. With his vision locked onto Frost, Bhus roared from the depths of his lungs, spewing out blood as he once again charged with his axe raised above his head. Schwing! Squelch! Frost who sported far less severe wounds easily deflected the rabid tigerkin''s violent blow, knocking his weapon aside before cutting deep into his ribs.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Urgh!" Bhus groaned from the pain, his body spasming as he turned around to face his foe once more. "Again!" He bellowed, raising his axe once more and summoning what remained of his internal energy. "[Third path of the Jabrak Kingdom]" Bhus being a vaunted officer of the Jabrak kingdom and valued member of the three eyed tiger tribe was well versed in the Kingdom''s self-created skills. A well-structured set of techniques that managed to catch Frost by surprise more than once or twice. Unfortunately for him Frost was a fast learner, and after exchanging hundreds of moves he''d long been able to predict his every effort. "[Ice fire shield]" Frost summoned a durable shield of silver mes that effortlessly blocked Bhus'' technique before he followed up with a swift sh of his ive, opening up a deep gash across Bhus'' chest. "It''s time to end this." He muttered under his breath before revealing a sharp glint in his eyes. A momentter, before Bhus could reorientate himself Frost went on the attack, utilising everything he managed to learn during their duel. His speed, his flow, his use of aura and even the forming of his skills all jumped up a notch. Bhus with his third eye opened as far as it could go witnessed the change in slow motion. A stream that was once violent and inefficient now flowed with smooth purpose, granting far more power.a state he knew all too well. "Mid stage." He barely had time to utter two words before Frost''s ive blew through his guard and pierced his flesh. "[Dragon tail thrust]" Frost who had made a breakthrough in both his use of aura and ive mastery used a brand new technique, one that had escaped his grasp until this very moment. A dragon''s tail was known far and wide as one of the most dangerous weapons in existence. A thick fleshly limb covered in imprable scales ending in a sharp narrow tip that could pierce the depths of even thergest and densest mountains. The effect was instantaneous, Bhus saw the shape form around Frost''s ive and then in the next moment he felt as though the weight of an entire mountain was focused on a single point. His guard was blown apart, his great axe that hadn''t left his side ever since the war began was sent flying, breaking half his fingers as it did. His left arm which was already drenched in his own blood and pilfered with holes snapped from the force, bending backwards, connected by nothing more than a narrow strip of flesh and muscle. The great dragon tail didn''t stop for a single second, brutally pushing aside what remained of his arm to stab into his exposed chest. The sharp tip easily pierced through his pectoral muscles, wreaked havoc on his ribs and punctured through the centre of his heart before sting through his back. Such a violent act resulted in a veritable geyser of blood erupting from Bhus'' back. The organ that vigorously pumped blood throughout his body thumped desperately as it hovered in the air, pierced by Frost''s ive like a piece of kebab meat before gradually bing inert. "BACCHUS!!" Tulu who was engaged in a duel with Captain Johnson roared in fury as he caught sight of his brave cousin falling to his knees with his heart pierced through by the enemy''s weapon. Tears of blood ran from his eyes and an emotional pain so strong that it made his heart literally stop assailed him. Bhus was his hero, his best friend, the older brother he relied on and worshipped. In his eyes his cousin was invincible, an infallible existence that would one day lead their three eyed tigerkin tribe to greatness, surpassing both the winter tigerkin and snow leopardkin. All he needed was time, time to grow into his own. Schwing! "Arghh!!" "Looking away from your enemy during a fight is just asking to be killed." In that brief moment of distraction Captain Johnson ran Tulu through with his sword piercing his left lung before twisting and shing towards his heart, a mortal blow. Tulu could feel his life quickly slipping away, he gazed at the kneeling figure of his cousin in the distance, focusing on his face as though aiming to burn hisst expression into his mind as he died. Strangely there was a natural smile on his lips, joy and satisfaction were his final moments. Then as though in sync both Tulu and Bhus uttered theirst words. ""A good death."" The two then drifted into the endless darkness, never to wake or see the light of day again. The fall of Bhus and Tulu was quickly followed by cacophonous roars amongst the War Ursa Battalion. Their felt energised and inspired by the fall of their enemy and might of their new Major. Frost knowing the impact he had on these men and women and aware of his current role capitalised on his victory. "7th western defensive line! URAHHH!!!" He shouted at the top of his lungs amand word unique to the War Ursa Battalion. "URAAHHH!!" The soldiers responded vigorously and erupted with cataclysmic strength so profound that their current enemies were torn to shreds or pummelled into paste. The ''URAAHHH''mand was basically a primal roar of victory that once used meant everyone in the vicinity needed unleash their ultimate strength and rend apart any who stood before them. It was the greatest show of force and perhaps even respect. Frost who''s wounds were already starting to close thanks to the sudden injection of DP nced down at the corpse of Bhus and silently nodded his head in respect. He was a worthy foe who helped him cross into the mid stages of B-rank, thus he was thankful. "I''ll put your life energy to good use..Bhus." He internally noted his opponent''s name before looking over at Captain Johnson who was in quite bad shape. "Johnson fall back and seek immediate treatment, have Captain Tara continue your duties." "Yes sir, what about you?" Captain Johnson knew well the extent of his injuries and thus didn''t refuse the order. After seeing the true capabilities of Frost he had a newfound respect for the young Major, he was now truly arade in arms. "I''ll stay on the frontlines for a period to act as intimidation before falling back, the enemy will likely call off their advance pretty soon." Bhus wasn''t the only enemy officer to suffer at the hands of the enemy after all. "Understood Major." Johnson smiled and moved to limp his way back to the rear where a toon of healers were stationed but before that he looked seriously at Frost and performed a strict salute. "It has been an honour to fight by your side Major Frost." "The honour has been mine Captain Johnson now quickly see to your wounds before they be too serious." "Yes sir." The captain thus made his way back to the rear of the army with the help of a nearby sergeant while Frost as stated remained at the frontlines with his ive in hand, still hungry for blood and gore. "Such glorious DP, it''d be such a waste to let it all escape into the ether." With a ravenous smile Frost quietly muttered before knocking the butt of his ive against the ground and imbuing his voice with aura. "Captain Emma, Captain Mokan lead your toons after me, it''s time to wreak some havoc on the enemy." "Sir yes Sir!" "Hehehe took the words right out of my mouth Major." Explore more at empire "Tsk lucky." Emma and Mokan responded with excitement as they sauntered forward with their weapons drawn. Captain Lucinda and Darius however clicked their tongues, annoyed that they weren''t chosen and thus had to stay behind to block the enemy from breaching the gate, the standard routine. Meanwhile at the enemy''s headquarters. "General Vash we''re losing too many perhaps it''s time to call back our upper officers." Vash''s subordinate from the same tribe spoke through a frown. The War Ursa Battalion were just too strong at the upper officer level, yesterday must have been aplete fluke. "That damn bitch Katrina!" Vash roared and mmed his fist down against the ice table before him, leaving a significant crack. He knew the old woman''s n; he''d have to be blind to not notice the difference amongst the enemy officers by now. Unfortunately simply noticing didn''t mean jack, this was an open strategy, the battle amongst the upper officers still needed to happen regardless of the changes. Suddenly just as Vash was contemting whether or not to order his officers to fall back an urgent report came to him. "Lord Commander, Major Bhus of the Jabrak Kingdom has been in." Chapter 724 Generals to the frontline "Lord Commander, Major Bhus of the Jabrak Kingdom has been in." A soldier from therge horned ice drake tribe reported with a nervous expression knowing full well how potentially disastrous this piece of information could be. "WHAT!!!" Vanguard General Vash jumped to his feet and hollered with a red face, his anger and fury clear for all to see. "How the fuck?!" He loudly questioned, grinding his teeth as he did. Major Bhus wasn''t the strongest among the Vanguard''s conscripted officers in fact he was one of the weaker ones but unfortunately he represented a major faction within the Jabrak Kingdom, the three eyed tiger tribe. A powerful and influential group who had recently hallmarked Bhus as a potential Patriarch candidate, a position that was below one and above thousands. The only reason such a prospective candidate was even here right now was due to his own insistence, desire for glory and Vash''s promise that he''d be ced away from the core danger zones. The 7th western defensive line was perfect for such a young and talented officer. Only a single Major was present, and he too was one of the War Ursa Battalion''s weaker individuals thus Bhus was able to overpower and even seriously wound him the previous day. Vash noticed the changeup in the frontline''s officers but thought nothing of the 7th western defensive line and Frost. The report stated that the man was young, even younger than Bhus and that they had zero intel on him, a truly unknown individual. He should have been alerted by that fact, but he unconsciously overlooked the possible danger due his age, his belief in Bhus as well as the low priority of the 7th western defensive line, a mistake he had nowe to regret. "How is that possible? The one who reced Major Conner was but a child, someone also at the early B-rank stage!" A senior Major of the Jabrak kingdom roared while viciously grabbing hold of the messenger, unable to believe that Bhus lost. If the opponent was older and or surpassed him in strength by arge margin he could understand it, but Bhus was highly talented. Though he wasn''t groundbreaking he was certainly a top tier individual, how could he possibly lose his life in this overwhelmingly advantageous war and so soon at that. The senior Major from the Jabrak Kingdom felt his skin crawl and his heart lurch at the thought of the chaos the three eyed tiger tribe would cause once this information was known to them. ''Those insane bastards will wantonly ignore the big picture and focus all their energy on revenge.'' The three eyed tiger tribe was a veritable ho nest, just a slight poke would summon the entire swarm. Crack! Find more to read at empire With bulging veins covering his entire body Vash smashed apart the table before him and charged outside themand tent. His gaze instantly locked onto the area where Frost and Bhus shed but the moment he tried to locked onto the young individual carving up his forces alongside the War Ursa Battalion he felt a coldness across his neck, as though a knife was pressed up against his flesh. In response to this feeling that he was no stranger to he red upwards to take in the form of a mountain of a woman standing atop the Northern wall with crossed arms and a smirk on her lips. Her aura was locked onto him, treating him like a fish on a chopping block. A predator staring at its prey. Such an ufortable feeling for someone so used to being the predator. "Katrina." He uttered through clenched teeth, his fury rising to an explosive degree. This damn woman had yed him so easily, taking out key targets after supposedly suffering a demoralising lose. On the Northern wall General Katrina locked her piercing gaze upon Vash. As she saw the rage, the fury and the aguish threatening to overwhelm his control her face begin to distort, her smirk slowly transforming into an expression of wild madness. "Jared, Danielle go and y a little." She yfully said and a momentter. "By yourmand Field Marshall" Danielle appeared from her right with twin longswords in her hands, both far superior to Frost''s [wolf howling at the moon]. "Finally, I was worried if I''d ever get any time to let loose today." Opposed to Danielle''s more orthodox military approach General Jared Bando was far more rxed as he walked out from the left side. "Cannon corps give them a nice entrance." Katrina subtlety ordered. Boooom!! With her order dozens of cannons shot out thick spheres of turbulent mana that exploded deep into the enemy lines, killing hundreds no thousands of enemybatants and from the left over ashes two figures that were moments ago standing on the Northern wall were now smack dab in the middle of the frontlines with murderous glints in their eyes. With such a shy entrance and provocative look on their faces the two young Generals wantonly taunted Vash and his officers, begging them to give into their nature and attack like ravenous beasts. "Vanguard General give the order! Let us tear these bastards apart!" An A-rank General sent from the northern nation of cial sprites and ice elementals demanded with hatred marring his face. Out of all the 5 members of the alliance perhaps the Northern nation hated the War Ursa Battalion the most. "Death." A General from horde of blue ants and pr mantises spoke but a single word as they sharpened their ded limbs against each other. The vast majority of the other officers were in agreement, demanding that Vash give the order for a full on attack,mitting their strongest individuals to the battle. Hell even Vash had the urge to roar at the heavens and charge into the field headfirst and make the War Ursa Battalion pay in blood. See if Katrina would still be smirking when they disyed the decapitated heads of her youngest Generals. s he wasn''t like the other Generals, he was cautious, patient and cool headed when it counted. "Generals Duso and Mabak will face off against Jared and Danielle while General Lucra will serve as backup as well as a hidden deterrent. Do not lose yourselves to anger because that''s exactly what Katrina wants. We''ll fight passively against them and not lose our cool. Hold them down, nothing more am I clear!" General Vash took a deep breath, calmed himself and gave his orders, brokering no argument. He knew the purpose of the Vanguard and wouldn''t let a simple emotion like pride or anger ruin their objective. "Urgh!... by your order General." Though reluctant the Generals and officers obeyed his words and moved out with purpose. "Lucra if things look off at any point target their soldiers." "Yes General." Lucra then vanished amongst the tens of thousands of soldiers to act as a preventative force. Though such tactics could be considered hical during a regr war, this was one of annihtion, ethics meant nothing as long as they were victorious. Vash would grasp onto any method avable to him no matter how evil or cowardly it may seem. They could withstand the deaths of tens of thousands perhaps even hundreds of thousands of theirmon soldiers in this war, but the War Ursa Battalion couldn''t. Every one of their soldiers was precious and even losing a single one could tip the scales across the battlefield, the weakness of being highly outnumbered. Boom!!! Momentster there was a thunderous sh as four A-rank individuals shed against one another, their residual momentum and aura tearing apart the ground beneath their feet. Frost who started to pull back his forces couldn''t help but stare at such an impactful scene. "So strong." He said as his blood began to boil and the grip around his ive tightened. He couldn''t wait to be able to fight at such a level. "Fall back we''ve culled enough." He gave the order to retreat back to their usual positions. Their delve had helped lessen the pressure on the 6th and 8th western defence lines which had suffered more than theirs during the officer sh. Captain Johnson who left after killing Tulu to be checked by the medical corps was already back on duty alongside Captain Tara. "Healed already?" Frost asked curiously. "Pretty much, everything''s closed but the pain is still there." Johnson grumbled as he rotated his shoulder des. The War Ursa Battalion''s medical corps were very skilled at returning soldiers to the frontlines with minimal time. As long as their wounds were closed, a core bone wasn''tpletely shattered and theyplete basic mental checks they''d send them back into the fore, pain could easily be endured by such battle hardened veterans after all. "By the way you''ve been ordered to return to themand centre atop the wall Major, seems your time with us hase to a close." Said Johnson with a regretful smile, he enjoyed fighting side by side with Frost, he had an attractive charisma that made him feel that even if the sky fell he''d be able to hold it up.N?v(el)B\\jnn "Ahhh.I see." Frost frowned feeling that the time he had with Captain Johnson and the 7th western defence line was too short. "Thank you for you guidance Captain Johnson it has been a true pleasure to fight alongside each and every one of you." Frost gave a respectful salute to those who were just recently under hismand. "Soldiers salute." Johnson and the other Captains roared and led the hundreds of soldiers in a reciprocal salute. "Farewell and good hunting." Frost nodded his head in gratitude before walking towards the Northern wall where General Katrina was awaiting him. Chapter 725 Generals to the frontline (2) "You performed marvellously young Frost." General Katrina smiled at Frost as he walked to her side. "So it was all part of your scheme." Frost nced at her sideways finding that the woman he saw previously and the one standing before him now werepletely different people. Given her eager, loud and rather boisterous personality Frost assumed that General Katrina was more of an instinctive type, one who overwhelms her opponent with force and will rather than keen strategy, but he was wrong, dead wrong. "Scheme is such an uncouth word Frost I much prefer strategy." She smiled with a knowing look, enjoying seeing the slight surprise in the young man''s eyes. "Seems that I foolishly judged a book by its covera mistake I won''t make again." "Oh you likely will young man. People can''t help but make assumptions based on visual input as for most that''s our primary source of information. The best you can do is be prepared for your analysis to be wrong." "..I''ll remember that." "Good, humility in the face of someone stronger and or more experienced will allow you to continue onwards, to further improve. Arrogance though sometimes justified can lead to misconceptions and even the destruction of one''s path." Katrina looked over Frost in his entirety, noticing his stance, the subtle shifts in expression as well as the slight change in the air surrounding him. "You''ve advanced to the mid stagesimpressive." Her eyes couldn''t help but light up. "Facing off against a worthy adversary made all the difference." After crossing des with Be, a foe that was far beyond him and then Bhus who was supposedly at a simr level to himself, Frost was able to cross the threshold, to understand what he was missing and stabilise his B-rank foundation. "Was this not your original intention?" He asked wondering how deep the old General''s thought process ran. "Hahahah I may be a master of warfare but urately pinpointing one''s breakthrough especially someone at your level and who I''m unfamiliar with is beyond me." Katrinaughed and shook her head, a little embarrassed by the pedestal Frost ced her on. "My initial predictions assumed that the battle between you and Bhus would be hard fought. Though he may not have been at the peak of the early stages his bloodline and innate battle senses should have proven difficult for you to ovee despite you''re slight lead but." She once again looked over Frost in his entirety before continuing. "You truly are a monster; you didn''t simply hold your own nor did you leave him with a serious injury but instead you directly imed his life and rather easily at that." She had to raise her hands in defeat, Frost was way beyond her estimates. A natural born warrior with talent far eclipsing anything she''d ever seen before. ".It wasn''t that easy." Frost refuted with some honest truths. "Our capabilities were fairly even in terms of physical strength, chakra control and even weapon mastery and although my aura was more profound it wasn''t to the degree in which I couldpletely overwhelm him." "Then how?" Though she could see the fight from her high position upon the northern wall the distance and the overall situation made it easy for her to miss the subtleties of their duel. "Experience, particrly our experience facing off against superior foes." Bhus likely had more general battle experience given his age and background but in regards to experience with fighting against a far superior foe he was clearly an amateur inparison to Frost who was repeatedly brought to the brink of death by his spartan like teacher/girlfriend. "Experience against a superior foe huh." A wild expression couldn''t help but mar Katrina''s face as she imagined Frost''s training routine, the depths of his teacher and mysterious background. "Does me killing Bhus affect your ns at all?" "No, the ho''s nest was already thoroughly poked, hitting it again won''t make any difference. If anything it''s a positive result, an annoying enemy has departed ahead of schedule and sparked a possible issue with the enemy''s morale.well-done Frost." General Katrina would never disparage a soldier for going beyond expectations. "Thank you General." His thanks were genuine as because of her influence he was able to grow and develop as a warrior, a favour he''d be sure to repay in the future. "Tsk unfortunately it seems that even Bhus'' death as well as the deaths of certain other officers isn''t enough to truly drag Vash out from his turtle shell." Katrina loudly clicked her tongue as she noticed the actions of the enemy A-rank generals. They were being defensively passive and even threatening their regr soldiers rather than being filled with a maddened rage when confronting Jared and Danielle. Frost followed her gaze across the battlefield to see Generals Jared and Danielle working in concert to sh against Duso and Mabak while at the same time keeping an awareness of Lucra. Such a scene confused him slightly. Sapients especially humans as far as he knew were unable to fight against monsters of the same rank unless they were part of a group or a party. The basis of this assumption was from the adventurer guild, a reliable source yet before his eyes both Jared and Danielle were holding their own perhaps even putting pressure on the enemy monster Generals. He could ept himself being that capable given the fact that despite his form being close to that of a Sapient Frost was actually closer to that of a monster or high ranking spirit but Jared, Danielle and even themon soldiers within the War Ursa Battalion were all Sapients.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "I thought Sapients were at a disadvantage when ites to one on one fights with monsters of the same rank?" His curiosity forced him to ask. "Generally that hold true especially at the lower ranks and particrly with monsters that have a naturally powerful body but there always exceptions to the rule." A majestic charisma surrounded Katrina as she smiled and tensed her body with a look of pride. "The men and women below us are the best of the best Frost, the elites of the strongest Battalion of the mighty Northrend empire. Topare them to regr adventurers is nothing but an insult. Each and every one of them is trained thoroughly and repeatedly under the most extreme methods and are armed to the teeth with the best armour, weapons and magic artifacts that the Duchy can get their hands on. In addition to that we supply every one of them with knowledge in battle formations, weapon skills, spells and fighting styles. We are the best of the best and our Generals are those who surpass those elites to be unparalleled heroes who can easily hold their own against A-rank monsters and even supress them." The War Ursa Battalion couldn''t bepared to random adventurers, even elite adventurers paled inparison. Frost felt that Katrina''s words made a lot of sense. A monster especially in the lower and middle ranks rely heavily on their natural form, their innate strengths which naturally surpass the bodies of Sapients however if the sapient is armed with a high quality weapon that can cut through a powerful carapace or hide with ease or has mastered a weapon style that can easily handle the simplistic attack methods of a monster then their advantage disappears. The lines be even more grey as one reaches A-rank as Aura bes the defining trait rather than one''s physical form (though it still ys arge part). "Interesting." Frost and Katrina continued to observe the battlefield for a little longer, allowing Frost the chance to calmly analyse a battle between multiple A-ranks, a scene rarely seen in the civilised world to the south. "Frost I''m assigning you to Jessica''s Magic corps next, Sergeant Suna show him the way." Eventually Frost needed to be put back to work, his little break was over. "Yes General, this way Major." A tall woman with partial scales across her skin then led Frost towards the magic corps stationed upon the northern wall. Frost was initially excited, eager to stretch his mana veins but then he remembered the leader of the magic corps, the lust filled General Jessica who wanted nothing more than to devour him. "Rx Frost, Jessica knows better than to mix private affairs with official ones." Katrina lightlyughed before waving him off, aying at least some of his fears. A few minutester he was deposited amongst the magic corps and was staring at the image of a bold woman with an impatient expression on her face as she stared down from her perch on the left side of the northern wall. "Beta team increase your firepower by 10%, Epsilon recuperate, Team Omega swap out your batteries!" The sexy mage woman who earlier wrapped herself around him was giving off orders like a machine, she didn''t even look his way, as though he didn''t exist, a rather start contrast. He had to wait in silence for nearly 10 minutes before she had time to deal with him and even then it was far from positive. Your journey continues on empire "Do you know any war magic?" Chapter 726 Living mana battery "Do you know any war magic." Asked General Jessica with a hint of impatience, her eyes dancing across both the battlefield and her own soldiers, Frost was barely an afterthought.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om ".Apologies General but I don''t." Frost as though infected by the strong sense of duty and militarism present crossed his arm across his chest in salute and slightly bowed his head. War magic was a collection of modified spells that utilised multiple mages and wizards rather than a single individual, much like a battle formation. The resulting spell would thus be several perhaps even ten times the size and strength of a regr spell of the same circle. Such magic yed a massive part in this war, allowing even the standard mages to wound enemy officers as long as they pooled their mana together as one. "Tsk practically useless then." Jessica loudly clicked her tongue, clearly disappointed with his answer. Frost not being privy to even a single war magic spell meant that his uses within the magic corps atop the wall was rather limited. Unlike the defences at Furano that relied primarily on the individual along with a few simple group formations Icethorne was a purely military outfit, here, against such overwhelming enemies things needed to be different, a standard needed to be put in ce. "Flora take him to the battery toon, if he can''t effectively utilise his mana then we will." Jessica waved her hand ordering a nearby mage to take care of Frost before ignoring himpletely. "Follow me Major." Flora a middle aged human woman with striking purple hair led him away with quickened steps. "Please don''t misjudge the General, the amount of work ced upon her shoulders with this war is unimaginable. If you can''t be used then she doesn''t have the time to pander you." Flora quickly defended her General''s actions but didn''t deny Frost''s uselessness to them. The young Dungeon core struggled to keep a straight face, his upper lip desperately trying to twitch in protest but thinking more upon the situation he kept silent and followed after Flora. "Ketta got a fresh high level battery for you." Even further to the rear Frost was brought before arge group of people with exhaustion clear in their eyes and varied forms. Some were young and naive, others were old and several were even injured or crippled, dregs would be an apt description for this group. Ketta the one of charge was the only one with a focused and animated gaze. "Fantastic I''ve got the perfect ce lined up." Ketta stared at Frost like he was a prizedmodity, a delicate feast which she needed to devour. He couldn''t help but tremble while under her gaze. "He''s aplete noob so exin how things work first then put him straight to work." Flora didn''t waste much time in handing over the liability. "Tch fine Yo pretty boy perk up your ears because I''m only gonna say this once." "It''s Frost ma''am." "Don''t care." Ketta raised her chin and fished out some wax from her ear, she really didn''t give two shits. Clearly his treatment in the magic corps was going to be a lot different from the Vanguard. "Listen up you''re here in the battery toon to offer up your valuable mana which you''re incapable of using effectively on your own. Whether that''s because you''re young and haven''t had enough training like the brats sitting over there." She rudely gestured towards a group of young recruits lying t on their backs as they desperately tried to recover their mana. "Or you''re too old to efficiently control magic crests or if you''re seriously wounded to the point that you''d be a liability on the frontlines I don''t care. The only thing that''s important to me is the level of your mana reserves and how quickly you can regenerate it." Frost''s knowledge of 4th circle spells and talent with ice magic were unimportant, in Ketta''s eyes he was nothing more than a living mana battery, albeit a handsome one but a battery nheless. Frost had to fight the urge tosh out and teach this woman some manners but there was truth to her words, and this was not his territory but the domain of the War Ursa Battalion. He wanted to learn and appreciate their methods, so he had no choice but to do as ordered. He reluctantly nodded his head showing that he knew and understood his current position which earned him a slight smile from the toon leader Ketta. "Alright newbie you''re job for now is to act as a mana battery for team Gamma." Ketta pointed towards arge runic crest ced on the floor with the words Gamma at the forefront. "Sit in the runic circle and cycle your mana and for the love of the Dark God DON''T REJECT THE PULL!" Frost did as ordered and sat in the centre of the runic circle alongside several other toon members. The moment he sat down in the circle he could feel that the ambient mana surrounding him had grown in volume and had be much easier to absorb and manipte. The keyy in both the runic circle and the high quality mana gathering artifacts by the wayside. This whole area was a veritable mana producing factory. "Since you can''t take part in the primary or secondary roles of our war magic you''ll have to be a tertiary resource. Though the efficiency isn''t that great you can provide an extra boost of mana despite knowing nothing about the spells, making you slightly better than useless hahahahaha." Ketta continued to exin before erupting in a fit ofughter. "Let''s see how much stamina my new battery has." With a flick of her finger she activated the runic circle connecting Frost and the others who sat in the formation to the Gamma team. "Urgh!" Grunts and groans quickly escaped the lips of those seated as their mana was forcibly pulled from their bodies and transferred to the Gamma team who were preparing a 4th circle war magic. "Hmm." Frost with his vast reserves and impressive control felt this pull and like Ketta stressed he didn''t resist it. The sensation was weird perhaps even a little tingly, but he wasn''t groaning like those sitting beside him. In fact his first thought was that such forceful absorption would make for great training. With his mind shifting to the idea of bing stronger he stopped being passive. Instead of allowing this formation to take his mana he generously offered and even pushed it out himself. His actions caused a reaction in the runic circle, the markings glowed a brighter hue of blue and the invisible threads connecting it to the Gamma team became visible. On the opposite side of the formation the Gamma team felt that the amount of mana being provided suddenly multiplied and in response their spell formed far quicker than expected and utlised far less of their own energy to do so, the entire team was delighted. ''Must be a new high ranking battery or perhaps even several. Hmph I knew it Ketta definitely has feelings for me if she''s assigning such worthwhile goods to my team.'' The Gamma team leader an average looking wolf beastman couldn''t help but conjure such thoughts in his head. Back at the battery toon, however. "God damn kid that''s a lot of mana and this regeneration is off the charts hahahaha I owe the General a drink for sending me such a fine specimen hahahahaha. Keep going kid don''t stop pumping, show me how much stamina a youngd like you has." Ketta was ted and strongly urged Frost to keep running at full speed in a somewhat suggestive manner. Frost wasn''t the first battery to strut his stuff in such a way, most high quality newbies did so but eventually they''d hit a wall and have to stop. The key was finding out their limit as soon as possible thus allowing her to better gauge how to assign them. Stay tuned with empire Unfortunately or perhaps fortunately for her Frost showed no signs of slowing down even after a full 15 minutes of proactively sending out his mana. Even a couple young kids who''d been acting passive the entire time were threatening to buckle under the hunger. Frost appeared bottomless to them, a monster. "His mana reserves are already equal to the peak of B-rank yet he''s still going strong.General what kind of monster did you find." Ketta''s gaze that was usually filled with disregard and perhaps even a slight amount of scorn was now staring at Frost with interest, she wanted to know his depths. After another 15 minutes Frost was starting to feel the burn, his output noticeably decreased but even, then his face was still full of colour. "Kid what was your name again." Keta asked with a much friendlier tone than earlier. "Hu hu Frost ma''am." "Frost eh, I''ll remember it." Ketta nodded her head and smiled, taking a mental note. "You can get up now the Gamma team''s received more than their fair share of mana." "Don''t I have to go until I''m bone dry." Frost nced at the exhausted husks thaty on the floor beside him and at the one who had to be pulled out earlier. "Normally yes but you''re an exception." ''Damn bastard can still talk smoothly and even has enough strength left to care about others.'' Ketta felt like she was dealing with someone at the A-rank, a person with near bottomless mana thanks to both their massive reserves and obscene regeneration. Thanks to both the runic circle and the high quality mana generators Frost''s recovery was inching close to what it was like back in his Dungeon thus making him the ideal battery. "Alright, where do you want me next ma''am?" Chapter 727 Living mana battery (2) "Alright, where do you want me next ma''am?" Frost mbered up from the runic circle, dusted himself off and asked with an obsessive glint in his eyes. He found the forceful absorption of his mana to be quite a thrilling exercise. The effect was simr to him casting spell after spell, but the feeling was a little different, novel even. ''Tsk cocky little brat.'' Ketta internally clicked her tongue, but a wide smile adorned her lips, she loved high quality goods. The battery corps was always in need of worthy vic..volunteers after all. The older woman thought to herself for a few seconds beforending her gaze upon one of the most draining things under her care. When she turned back to Frost her expression was full of malice and eager excitement. "Since you''ve got mana as high as the sky we''ll have to assign you to something a little more extreme Miles! Hook our new friend here up to our biggest B-rank mana cannon." Ketta summoned one of her close subordinates stationed near the high ranking mana cannons. Miles a middle-aged man with me-like scars around his eyes turned in their direction. He let out a small sigh upon seeing Frost before following Ketta''s orders. "This way pup and word of warning the drain from these babies are at the very least triple what the Gamma team''s capable of outputting, prepare yourself." "Got it thanks for the warning." Frost felt tested at every turn, like amodity being forced to disy all his talents for his observers enjoyment. Not a very nice feeling but it did stoke a fire within him. Miles deposited Frost next to one of the B-rank mana cannons one of the most powerful war machines the War Ursa Battalion had ess to. To the left of the cannon was a pool of half liquid mana and half high quality crystals while on the right was Frost and another two individuals serving as living batteries. "Hoh you must be quite a vigorous kid if Ketta''s assigned you to our team." One of the other batteries, an ancient woman easily in her 80s lightly spoke. "Hmm." The other person a taciturn man, simr in age to the woman merely grunted in greeting. Frost seemed to be the youngest assigned to the high ranking cannons by a long margin. "Hands out kid." Miles bellowed before attaching a set of strange gauntlets to Frost''s hands. A thick cable physically connected these gauntlets to the cannon to provide a more efficient transfer of energy. They also had the nasty feature of locking the battery in ce, preventing escape. "Take a deep breath and..now." Miles locked the connection, inputted a few things into the nearby device and a couple secondster Frost felt a suction so extreme that he unconsciously stumbled forward. ''WWhat the hell!'' His mind was in chaos as his body reacted rather aggressively in response to the rampant devouring. Instinctively he tried to slow the devouring force but the second he did that he felt an overwhelming pressure across his entire body, and he remembered the warning Ketta gave earlier, he was not to resist. "Urgh!" He loudly groaned as he felt a searing pain throughout his mana veins and even muscles as they unconsciously spasmed in response. If supplying mana to the gamma team was the kiddie pool then this was the straight up ocean. Not only did he need to know how to stay afloat he needed to brace himself against sudden currents, waves and even dips in temperature. A whole different kind of beast that was putting a real strain on his body. As sweat trickled down his forehead he turned to gaze at the old man and woman who were seated beside him. They were under the same kind of influence, yet they didn''t look even the slightest bit perturbed. About 60 secondster the aggressive devouring came to a sudden stop, the old man and woman took this chance to instantly rx their bodies and take in some much need air. The woman even flicked her wrist resulting in a nearby battery corps member to hand her a mana potion. Find adventures at empire Unfortunately Frost was too out of it to notice this shift. The absence of pain only allowed him to regain focus for a moment before. Booom!!! The cannon they were supplying fired off a massive shot, careening deep into enemy lines, killing dozens and even injuring an officer. In the next moment however the cycle restarted, and Frost was once again plunged into the depth of a starving ocean. He was wracked with pain and couldn''t think clearly but strangely enough there was a smile on his lips. He could sense it; such violent training was perfect for someone like him who was gifted with a near perfect vessel for a physical body. While others would feel strain from a simple workout he''d have to go above and beyond to feel a true sense of burn and desperation. Ketta may have wished to humble the young upstart, show him the true height of the world but instead she lit a fire under a training maniac''s feet. Boom! Boom! Boom! Over the next forty minutes the massive B-rank cannon that Frost was linked to would asionally fire off its shots into the enemy ranks, granting him and the two oldies no more than 30 seconds of rest before each charging. For the first five shots Frost waspletely overwhelmed, his head aplete mess as he barely endured the terrifying devouring of his mana but after requesting a mana potion and using the brief rest time to rx and breathe he slowly grew ustomed to the ebb and flow.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om ''Pull, pull, twist, wave, cold, hot, release.'' The suction of mana wasn''t a constant stream but everchanging, a method that felt quite debilitating at first but after suffering a few cycles Frost found that such changes kept him awake and even allowed for certain areas of his mana veins to recuperate during the charging phase. After the tenth shot he was able to keep his eyes open and even take in some of the spectacr sight that was the B-rank mana cannon. He could see the war machine greedily devour both the mana from himself and the other batteries as well as the pool of high quality magic crystals. The vibrant slurry of mixed mana was churned and blended into a beautiful and dense purple liquid. This concoction was of such high quality that it radiated power even when inert. After the fifteenth shot Frost could briefly enjoy seeing the purple liquid transform into a giant zing sphere and devastate the enemy lines before the Northern wall and it wasn''t the only one. Five of such monstrosities were currently in operation along with dozens of C-rank cannons and over a hundred D-rank ones which were on a constant unending salvo. By the time forty minutes were up and he could feel that his body reached its true limit Frost could even hear and understand the orders of General Jessica. She''d always order for the cannon to target the most vulnerable areas and even utilise organised salvos. Just once he was able to momentarily see a bright sh of light and the next second hear a thunderous boom as all five B-rank cannons, several C-ranks and even tens of D-rank cannons shot forth at the same time,unching out a formation of mana spheres over a targeted area. Ear piercing screams barelysted a single second before a massive star shape was carved into the snow and soil beneath the enemy soldiers. Those with a prime view were able to see thousands of enemy monsters instantly turned to ash along with 3 high ranking officers who had underestimated the devastation of the cannons. The salvo even forced the enemy general to make a move allowing both Jared and Danielle a moment''s reprieve and an opportunity tond a serious blow. s General Vash was quick to respond, as though expecting such a move he had already ordered another General to move into ce while several high ranking B-rank officers moved to prevent disarray where the cannons targeted. Confusion and chaossted a mere 40 seconds before order was restored and the frontline was back into full swing. "Alright shift''s over.kid you''ve earned some much deserved R&R, I''ll tell the General of your efforts." Ketta truly couldn''t keep a straight expression before Frost, she wanted to bind him to their magic corps as much as Jessica now. As long as he joined he''d be hers until he picked up their war magic, a battery of the highest quality was always needed. "My time''s over already?" Though extremely exhausted he felt that his experience with the magic corps was far shorter and far less impactful at the individual level than the Vanguard team. "Yes it is kid, anymore and even someone with your abilities will suffer permanent damage." Ketta shook her head with clear reluctance, but that was the current situation. While Frost was pumping out his mana she had done a little digging into him and also received the asional visit from Flora asking about his situation. Cleary the General despite not being able to move personally was rather interested in Frost''s capabilities. She was also informed about his still uing duties with the cavalry corps, meaning she couldn''t wreck himpletely. He would be given a health potion, a mana potion, an energising potion as well as an hour''s rest before being sent back into the direct fight. A harsh but certainly productive schedule. Frost could only me himself for being so useful and limited on time. Chapter 728 6th circle magic Frost who had his current status confirmed sunk to the floor, his back t out as he panted desperately for air. His whole body was well and truly drained, there wasn''t a single part of him that wasn''t throbbing and in searing pain. Only when Ketta confirmed the end of his shift did his body truly rx from its tense state. "Hu hu hu hu!" Withboured breathing he struggled to even move a single inch, the pain and itchy difort building without end. "Oh I was certain he''d instantly pass out, nerves of steel this one has." The old woman who was working as a cannon battery alongside Frost couldn''t help but lightly chuckle through her own pain and difort. "Impressive, bottomless potential." The man who was also part of the battery team uttered a mere three words but just that alone caused those nearby to open their eyes wide in surprise. The old man was not much for talking and even less for giving outpliments. Many could go through whole career without hearing him mutter a single positive syble yet here Frost who wasn''t even part of their military forces received three full words. "Genera." Ketta fuelled by memory and nostalgia was about to say the man''s rank but was stopped just before. "Enough of that little Ketta, you know more than most that we''re no longer worthy of such titles.we''re old retirees nothing more." The olddy interrupted with a forced smile. She and the old man who were now relegated to working as mere batteries in their free time and during emergency summons were once vaunted Generals of the War Ursa Battalion. Soldiers from a generation senior to even General Katrina and General Jessica. s, time waits for no one, especially for those who fail to ascend and escape the chains of mortality. The body eventually ages and passes far beyond its peak condition. Those who fight mercilessly on the frontlines, relying on their physical strength to do battle see this decline first. Mages and healers tend to have the longest battle life but even they cannot escape the cycle of life. While fighters see their muscles dwindle, their bones weaken, and their joints lose their flexibility Mages have their mana veins corrode and their connection to both internal and external mana bes chaotic, difficult to control and harness. A mage who has lost integrity through their mana veins and struggles to control mana can''t function as a mage on the battlefield anymore as they would pose a significant threat to nearby allies. A weakened fighter can still garner bursts of strength and perhaps rely on experience to dance around with a weaker enemy, but a mage can have their circles literally explode and cause catastrophic damage to their surroundings. The old man who rarely spoke was once referred to as General Mason, a member of the twin tailed wolf beastman tribe and a former A-rank frontline fighter. He was a pugilist who relied upon his strong arms, natural ws and abundant chakra to sh against enemy forces many years ago. Now however his once powerful body had shrunk by over 30% and his once vibrant ck fur was now grey and patchy. He no longer had the energy to fight in a protracted war and even if he managed to summon what little remained of his life force for onest sh he''d struggle to evenpete with someone at the upper B-rank. Even Frost would have a chance to take him down as long as he yed a war of attrition. The old woman was in a simr state, a former General who had fought side by side with Mason for decades before eventually sumbing to her age. They used to love their titles; it filled them with pride and made them feel respected but now even just a single mention felt like a dagger to the heart. The pain of what they had lost was sometimes too much to bear. The only reason they even enlisted in the battery toon was because they wanted to feel even the slightest bit needed when Icethorne was in danger. They could summon and control their own mana reserves but having it forcibly sucked out was perfectly fine, they just had to suffer some pain and difort. Seeing the evident pain sh across the former Generals'' eyes Ketta bit her tongue and instead bowed her head with respect as did the nearby officers who knew of their past. Frost unfortunately was too out of it to register what happened, he was still in the dark in regards to his temporaryrades former identities. Soon, after some of the spasms had ended Frost was handed three mid-level potions, one health potion, one mana potion and one energising potion all of which were of high quality. And just when he was downing thest of the potions Flora who had guided him here earlier appeared with jump in her step. "The General wants Frost toe immediately." She immediately spoke to Ketta, the leader of the battery toon. "Take him, he''s done his duty and then some." Ketta waved her hands releasing Frost from her custody. She''d be lying if she said she wasn''t reluctant, but she knew that Frost wasn''t someone she could keep trapped here, as a mere battery. "Sir Frost this way please." Flora spoke with a greater degree of respect this time around, willing to give him some level of special treatment. Since she was in charge of rying information between the magic corps'' leaders and their General she had heard and even seen his prowess during her brief visits. Add that onto the special interest that General Jessica had in him she felt he was more than just someone with high potential but someone that deserved her respect. Frost quite enjoyed the friendly treatment, but he didn''t let that get to his head. He first finished his potions then stood up rather shakily before performing a military salute to Ketta and those that he''d work alongside. He thanked them for the opportunity to learn how the battery toon operated before leaving with Flora.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Haaaaa polite, modest, friendly alongside unrivalled talent.I hope the War Marshall knows what he''s doing with that kid." Said the old woman who was once known as General Neith. "It''s no longer our ce." Replied retired General Mason before closing his eyes and returning to his silence. "Miss Flora I thought I was supposed to rest for the next hour?" Asked Frost as Flora led him back to General Jessica. "That''s true but the General wants to grant you a gift before that as a reward for you diligent efforts." Flora could barely hold back the smile on her lips, drawing Frost''s curiosity but she refused to borate. Eventually Frost once again found himself before General Jessica. Just like earlier she was portraying the seriousness of a General rather than a sex starved subus but at least she wasn''t ignoring him. "Flora tells me that you performed splendidly under Ketta, sessfully powering a B-rank cannon alongside my seniors Mason and Neith." "Ah was that their names, I didn''t get much of a chance for chit chat hehehe." Frost felt a little guilty, he was sitting right next to them for the better part of an hour, yet he barely even remembered their faces let alone knew their names. "I suppose you didn''t.shame." There was a brief sh of guilt and perhaps pity in Jessica''s eyes as she mentioned the names of her seniors, but she quickly returned to her task at hand. "Anyway I called you over to show you something rather spectacr." A wild or rather maddened expression grew upon her beautiful features and her powerful aura started to naturally permeate the surrounding in response to her heightened emotions. "Tell me Frost have you ever seen a 6th circle spell? What about a 6th circle war spell?" Jessica''s aura continued to build, and waves of visible dense mana started to flow around her and even into her body. The General was suddenly connected with over half the living batteries. Her question stymied Frost, his initial response being a t no but then he got chills. Goosebumps formed across his arms and his lips started to arch ever upwards as he tried to imagine what Jessica was alluding to. He''d never even seen someone use a 5th circle spell let alone a 6th circle spell that was on mana steroids. The devastation of such magic was beyond hisprehension, but he wanted no, he needed to see it. His magic was always slightlygging whenpared to his weapon mastery and chakra control but his talent and potential in the area wasn''t any weaker, he justcked the experience. Your next read awaits at empire Maya was a lot of things, but magic was not necessarily one of her strong points. She could cast high level magic of course, perhaps equal to or even greater than Jessica but she very, very rarely used it. Spells just weren''t really a part of her fighting style thus his training in said area wasckingpared to the rest. Finally however he was going to be able to witness the veritable peak of the sapient''s magic world. There were so few mentions of S-rank sapients that Jessica was truly one of the frontliners, at least within the Northrend empire. A 6th circle spell cast in the form of war magic. General Jessica being the primary caster, several B-rank mages as the secondary casters and dozens of high ranking batteries as the tertiary suppliers. Such power could even no, would eclipse the firing of Big Bertha, the A-rank mana cannon. Chapter 729 6th circle magic (2) As the gears of Frost''s imagination began to turn General Jessica was connected to multiple living mana batteries from the battery toon as well as half a dozen B-rank mages from the magic corps, one of which was Flora the one who had guided him here. The ambient mana in the surroundings became so thick that the very air felt dense, rivalling that of a liquid. And in the centre of thising storm was General Jessica. A woman who stood at the supposed peak of the Sapient magic world. With an elegant set of purple robes lined with high quality crystals and a two handed staff that was exquisitely carved from a 5 star tree famously known for its mana conductivity Jesscia took a solid stance, fortifying her position. Her visage that was previously strained and serious gradually softened bing enchantingly ethereal as she connected with her soul, easily entering a prime state of focus. Her bountiful aura that escaped alongside her mana coalesced around her, solidifying into what looked like a giant high quality mana crystal above her head. Her own mana as well as the mana being supplied to her became denser and far less mboyant as it passed through it. The skin covering Frost broke into goosebumps and his lips instinctively turned upwards as excitement filled his heart. He could feel the extent of what was about to happen, magic at a level far removed from his current state, a process that would see thousands perhaps even tens of thousands of soldiers perishthe stench of blood and power caused his heart to thumb so loud that he could perfectly hear every beat. General Jessica silently prepared herself for a full minute before ncing towards the centre of the Northen wall where General Katrina was stoically standing with crossed arms. Feeling Jessica''s gaze Katrina smiled with a violent glint before nodding her head and dragging her thumb across her neck. General Jessica''s serene and calm expression shattered in that instant. An evil, obsessive smile grew on her face as a feeling of madness overwhelmed her. "Watch closely young FrostI''ll carve into your eyes the beauty of magic and its endless possibilities." With her true nature unleashed General Jessica began chanting a very long aria alongside the six B-rank mages. Every word no, every syble evoked a powerful reaction, drastically consuming the vast quantities of collected mana to establish a part of the most intricate and massive magic crest (that he could somewhat understand) Frost had everid eyes on. There was a significant change in the atmosphere, both tangible and not. The sky above was quickly covered with a massive red magic crest that stretched for several hundred metres while the ground and nearby objects started to tremble. Down on the ground the Vanguard team had already been given fair warning by themand centre as did Generals Jared and Danielle who had been restricting the enemy Generals. Thus even before the changes in the surroundings began they had retreated to a certain point. An action that hadn''t gone unnoticed by General Vash but the why still eluded him at least until he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. Feeling a sudden wave of dread his senses screened the battlefield before narrowing atop the Northern wall. There was however someone even faster than him. "Fuck! General it''s the Mana Subus she''s casting something insane!" A highly respected mage General from the Jabrak Kingdom roared in desperation. He too was someone who delved into the depths of magic, a powerful A-rank mage but the waves of mana being consumed right now were far beyond what he was capable of even on his best day. Even their Kingdom''s most eminent mage wasn''t capable of something like this. That meant one thing, the War Ursa Battalion''s strongest mage, the Mana Subus General Jessica Tunray was making a move personally. rm bells went off in Vash''s skull, just the words Mana Subus made him tremble. His first and natural instinct was to run for the hills but unfortunately that wasn''t possible.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Time was short, he needed toe up with a decent n otherwise the losses would be catastrophic. Unfortunately other than himself and one other all the Generals present on their side were in the early stages of A-rank, a stark contrast to Jessica who was at the very peak of thete stages or perhaps even higher. A big yer was making a move so early on, a move that their Vanguard was poorly equipped to manage. Hundreds of thoughts were processed in Vash''s mind in less than a second each one however only made his current grave expression worsen. "FUCK!!! READY THE CANNONS FOR A DEFENSIVE BARRAGE, ALL MAGIC USERS CONJURE AS MANY SHIELDS AS POSSIBLE!!" Vash bellowed at the top of his lungs and animatedly waved his hands and arms to stress the seriousness of the situation. "All Generals to me we have to use our aura to block as much of whatever''sing otherwise the losses will be unimaginable." The only solution Vash had was to throw numbers at the problem, efficiency be damned. "Grrrr yes General." Unable to deny the dread and pressure inflicted upon them by the presence of the Mana Subus the 7 A-rank Generals of the Alliance''s Vanguard followed Vash''s order with nary a single argument. Likemon foot soldiers the male and female monsters stood as one with Vash in the centre. While the massive red magic crest finalised its form hundreds of low rank magic shields were conjured above the masses of the alliance. The element and circle did not matter, as long as one could utilise magic to some degree a rudimentary shield was formed in whatever space remained. Mana cannons and war machines prepared by the alliance for their siege were redirected to point straight up. Their arrows, bolts or mana chambers filled to the brim as they awaited theirmander''s orders to fire. Frontline fighters who were unable to manipte mana were powerless in regards to what wasing. The best they could do was raise their shields overhead or cover their bodies in simple chakra armour hoping that the residual st would be too weak to kill them after breaking through the main defences. There wasn''t a single monster in the entire army that was confident in being able to block a blow from the infamous Mana Subus and her magic corps. Even Vash who had several A-rank Generals standing by his side was calcting the extent of their losses rather than how they''d manage to break theing spell. Back on top of the Northern wall Jessica was uttering thest words of the her 6th circle war magic. "[Greater Meteor Fall]" With the final three words spoken the massive magic crest covering the sky wasplete. A silencing hum reverberated throughout the air in response and a momentter the red coloured crest shone brighter than the sun. Don don don. The sound of bodies falling against a hard surface echoed around Frost. The B-rank mages and all the living mana batteries instantly copsed, their expressions marred by ack of blood and energy. Nearby soldiers quickly ran to their sides to support them in their time of need. Frost who witnessed this instantly locked his gaze upon General Jessica, if the secondary and tertiary controllers were this drained then what of the main caster. Discover more content at empire "Cough!" The master caster, General Jessica had fallen to a half kneeling position, relying on her staff to hold her upright. Her hands were trembling, and her body seemed to visibly age at an extreme rate. So much focus and internal mana was summoned that the magic used to protect her youth was disturbed. She really put all she had into the spell, [Greater meteor fall]. "Frost you''re looking in the wrong direction." Despite her exhaustion Jessica still found enough energy to berate Frost and quickly cover up the rapidly showing signs of aging. ''She seems fine.'' Relieved by her reaction Frost turned his head to see just what the War Ursa Battalion''s magic corps had summoned. It didn''t take long, perhaps a few seconds from when Jessica spoke the final words of the aria for the magic crest to activate. It shone with an almost blinding light as it transformed the rued mana into shape. And just a Frost turned his gaze back to the centre of the spell a darkness, an overreaching shadow blotted out the sky. A mass of immense magnitude crossed through the crest, stretching the already massive radius as it passed. "What the hell!" He instinctively took a step back as a chill ran down his spine. From the magic crest a giant boulder of some kind covered in fire andva burst forth with a powerful vengeance. A meteor over two hundred metres across was crashing down upon the alliance''s forces. The size and weight of the meteor was so immense that those underneath felt a weight press down upon them as it loomed. Any hope they had in their hearts was immediately crushed as every nerve in their body screamed for them to run. This was no longer the work of magic but the fury of nature, what could mere mortals due in the face of such devastation. Chapter 730 6th circle magic (3) "SHIT! ALL GENERALS USE YOUR AURA, WAR MACHINES FIRE AT WILL!!" Vash whose face was cker than night bellowed orders as he scrambled to keep even the slightest semnce of calm. ''What the fuck have you managed to cast?'' He internally questioned which one of them was the true monster. [Meteor fall] was normally a 6th circle spell that summoned arge meteor usually no more than several tens of metres in diameter with several smaller ones following alongside. Just that alone given their immense weight, frightening momentum, tough exterior and red hot surface was enough to devastate swaths of enemies or demolish imprable walls. The force of that spell alone usually exceeded several shots from an A-rank mana cannon such as Big Bertha, yet that deranged Mana Subus turned it into war magic. With the amplified mana she managed to summon something farrger than normal, a meteor spanning over 200 metres and made of even tougher materials. General Vash and the other Alliance Generals felt a cold sweat cover their bodies as they summoned everyst ounce of aura they had to generaterge shields above them and their subordinates. Large explosions followed his order as mana cannons and war machinesunched their ammunition at the elerating meteor, aiming to reduce its size and building momentum.a foolish notion. "All soldiers brace for impact, activate the walls shielding." General Katrina gave off hermands with a twitching upper lip, not expecting Jessica to summon something thatrge. Though thending point was to be deep within enemy lines the sheer size of the meteor would unfortunately result in severe aftershocks across the surrounding 10 maybe even 20 kilometres. If they did not make their own preparations the northern wall could be damaged and their own soldiers affected, let alone the fragile city thaty behind them. Katrina couldn''t help but re at the slumped over Jessica, silently admonishing her desire to show off to Frost. Of course what she got in response from her friend was a puffed up hmph filled with pride and arrogance. General Jessica who put all she had into that spell was assured of her victory. ''No mage can resist after seeing such glorious majesty.'' She was confident in the allure of magic; certain that Frost would be unable to extricate himself from the ck hole that was magic. He would be a starved animal and in his eyes she would be a generous giver of alms, an angel who would wrap him up in her warm embrace. Oh she couldn''t wait to have him step into her domain. A pink blush formed along her cheeks as her lewd imagination took over. Thankfully Frost''s gaze was locked onto the falling meteor, so he didn''t see the depraved expression on Jessica''s face.her subordinates did, however. ''She really never changes.'' Pretty much each and everyone of her close confidants sighed and shook their heads. As the brief moments before the meteor hit its mark passed there was an almost eery silence just before contact, a silence that seemed to drag on forever, a brief moment that represented so many lives about to be snuffed out. BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!!! A truly earth shattering collision erupted over a kilometre north of the mighty wall, dead set in the centre of the Alliance''s forces. The first line of defence, the hundreds no thousands of magic shields amounting to over a dozenyers shattered like fragile ss. Along with the rapid fire from the war machines they barely managed to scrape off a few kes of the giant asteroid. But that was never the true hope. Read exclusive content at empire Boooooommmmm!!!! There was a second concussive boom as the meteor crashed into the nket of dense aura generated by Vash and the other Generals. "Psh!" 4 generals coughed up blood and fell to their knees while the remaining 3 turned pale and struggled to breathe. The impact was too much, the weight of the meteor equivalent to a massive mountain thanks to its elemental make-up. Just from the initial impact the aura nket was covered in deep fissures that rapidly worsened thanks to great weight it had to support and the raging magma and mes that melted it away. At least however its descent was slowed slightly, enough for them tounch a counterattack or two.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "B-rank Mages fire at will, archers and any one with long range capabilities destroy that rock!" Vash shouted through a bloody mouth knowing that theirbined aura nket could at most dy its descent not stop it. Several precious momentster what was predicted came to pass. The aura nketpletely shattered, and the massive meteor continued its looming descent, threatening to crush all who dwelled beneath. That brief pause however allowed the long range units among the Alliance to chant full arias and even ready their most devasting skills. A varied flurry of magic assaulted the meteor, king offrge shards and cracking its sturdy shell but unfortunately it just wasn''t enough. Boooooommmmm!!!! A third explosive boom was heard and this time it was followed by a mighty shake of the earth. Soil and ice fractured all around as arge sonic boom mmed into the shielded northern wall. Every member of the War Ursa Battalion grabbed hold of whatever was nearby as the wall groaned and flexed. Fissures opened up underneath the feet of the soldiers, devouring a few who were unlucky. The northern wall itself generated a few minor cracks but not much else, overall it suffered very little damage. Behind the wall however several buildings caved in from the vibrations, barracks were torn apart, smithies destroyed and even a few civilian residences and shops further back were damaged but luckily no one was seriously hurt. Katrina who received immediate reports about the situation had red hot mes in her eyes as she red at Jessica who this time avoided her gaze, knowing that she did in fact go a little overboard. The environmental damage was so impactful near the Northern wall that the devastation at the epicentre could be easily imagined. At the point of the meteor''s impact. Absolute carnage, was the best way to put it. The meteor crushed and exploded tens of thousands of monsters and literally shattered the surroundingnd to the point that thendscape was unrecognisable. The stench of fire, blood and seared flesh was so strong that even those with the most iron of stomachs wretched. ".Lucra what are our losses?" Vash the mighty A-rank drake who''s scales rivalled that of the highest quality duram alloy was sitting atop an ice chair with an absent look in his eyes. Blood dripped down his left arm and bruising covered 3 of his ribs. When the meteor fell he was knocked flying by a massive chunk, he only survived because of his innate durability. ".It''s devasting General." Lucra who had luckily escaped with only minor injuries was ced in charge of gauging the damage, a task that filled his heart with grief. "Among themon soldiers alone we''ve lost almost 35,000, low ranking officers, 3000, mid ranking officers 180 and high ranking officers..22." "22!" Vash flinched at thest number. Common soldiers were a dime a dozen as were low ranking officers. Mid-level officers were umon and not as easy to rece but the high quality officers were all B-rank, their army''s true bread and butter. ".Sir we also lost General Mabak while Duso was severally injured, he can''t fight anymore." "...." Vash was stunned silent, not only did they lose 22 high ranking officers but a General even died while another could no longer take part in the war. Just a single move from the Mana Subus and her magic corps was enough to severally wound their entire Vanguard force.for a few moments he even wondered if there was any point in sending a vanguard team. Were they not simply sent to their deaths. The deaths alone inched close to 40,000 but the amount of wounded both severe and minor was much higher.the Alliance''s vanguard had been dealt a severe blow. "Sir?" Lucra meekly asked, desperate for a direction. He himself was an A-rank General, someone greatly respected, someone who led droves of subordinates but at this moment he was trembling in his boots, unsure on how to proceed, the loss was just too much too bear. ".Have our forces fall back to the thirdno fourth defence line. Those who are severely injured move them to the rear and save as many as you can. If there''s no officer avable in one toon promote the next in line and if the aggregate strength is less than 20%bine them with another. We must regroup, rebuild our morale and wait for the dust to settle.the War Ursa Battalion aren''t likely to attack us immediately so we must use this time effectively." Tossing his emotion to one side Vash calmly gave out orders.he refused to give up after all they''d been through, death and even annihtion would not stop them from aplishing their mission. "By your o...orderGeneral." Lucra wasn''t capable of being so calm, so he stuttered his words before absentmindedly moving to ry Vash''s orders. His spirit was almostpletely broken. "...Haaaaaaa well yed War Ursas well yed." Vash sighed before harshly grinding his teeth together out of wrath. Chapter 731 6th circle magic (4) "Jessica you addle brained bimbo just look at the damage you''ve caused!" While Vash and the alliance members tabted their unbelievable losses and retreated from the frontlines General Katrina stormed over to where General Jessica was stationed. Her every step caused the northern wall to tremble and her loud booming voice forced weaker soldiers to cover their ears. Jessica however waspletely unaffected by her colleague''s tirade. She gave Katrina some side eye as she loomed over her with her intimidating physique before clenching her jaw and responding in an even more aggressive manner. "Oh piss off Kat! So what if a few buildings crumbled or the wall got another crack or two. Newssh you old biddy it''s already riddled with them. A minor shake or two isn''t enough to bring it down so calm the hell down. You should be praising me for what I did not admonishinghow many enemy soldiers died because of my and my team''s magic huh? We even managed to kill a General." The more Jessica spoke the bolder she became and by the end of her loud retort their noses were practically touching, Jessica wasn''t cowed in the slightest. General Jared and General Danielle the newbies among the A-ranks could only shake their heads in disappointment. Under normal conditions both Jessica and Katrina were prim and proper the ideal role models for military excellence and protocols. Only when they were together did things end up like this. No matter how old and respected the two woman became the moment they had even the slightest disagreement they''d instantly regress to their youthful years. Even Duke Runak was sometimes unable to stop them from going at it. Thankfully everyone else had gotten used to such situations so they didn''t miss a beat. The officers from themand centre quickly managed the battlefield as per Katrina''s orders before she left while those under Jessica saw to their exhausted colleagues and took measure of any damage to the mana amplifiers and connecting runes. Frost was left alone in a stunned state for a time unknown to him. The power and devastation disyed before him was far removed from anything he''d ever seen before during his time on Nova. Though the disy performed by his father and the top ranked guardians was of a much higher level it was way beyond hisprehension; this however was truly enlightening. The amount of mana, the size of the crest and the details of said crest was momentous but not beyond his scope of understanding. Though he was still quite far from being able to do something of that magnitude himself Frost firmly believed that it was within reach. As long as he steadily improved, grew and tested his limits again and again he''d be able stand equal to Jessica perhaps even higher. Maya however well that was still up in the air, just because he was born with a blessed body, strong and full of talent it didn''t mean his ascension was guaranteed. A-rank was the generally epted limit of power for most, S-rank required good genes, dedication and a hell of a lot of luck and even then how far one could travel down the long path of S-rank was also a factor. The strength difference between someone at the beginning and the end was equivalent to the difference between someone at the C-rank and the A-rank, a divide that could not be breached by external factors and unrivalled talent. Maya and the other guardians were all golden children blessed with the best foundations and environments possible, yet they were still merely in the early stages of S-rank. A striking achievement, one which Frost may very well achieve himself but not without time. "Sir Frost? Sir Frost?" While Frost was lost in the experience, memorising the feeling and magnitude of Jessica''s 6th circle war magic an officer from themand centre tapped his shoulder and called out to him, bringing him out of his dazed state. "Sorry?" Frost blinked rapidly a few times before graduallying back to reality. "It''s quite alright Sir Frost your current reaction is to be expected however I need to escort you to the barracks." "Huh?" "General Katrina still wishes for you to lend your services to the cavalry corps, and they want you at your best." This officer was ordered to take Frost for a rest before the next sortie. The potions would have certainly solved most of his physical dependencies but not the mental strain. The officer thus rather aggressively guided Frost away from the battle between Katrina and Jessica. The two managed to make it halfway down the steps before Jesscia noticed and roared out in protest. "Ah Kat your bloody moron! He''s at his most susceptible right now so why are you sending him off, momma needs to work her magic." With a ck eye and scuffed up robes Jesscia screeched in a high pitched voice. "Shup up Jess! Act your age for once! He''s off limits!" Katrina had had enough of her friend''s antics. Did she known no shame, trying trick a young prodigy into joining them with such perverted methods. Again the two old friends viciously fought, cursing and beating one another as per usual. Frost was thus sessfully escorted to the military barracks (one that hadn''t been damaged by the massive meteor). It was a good thing as well because once he got a chance to calm down he realised just how vulnerable he truly was. If Jesscia had had an opportunity to wrap herself around him while he was still enthralled by her magic he would have likely agreed to a great many things just to see something like that again. ''Maybe I should introduce her to Void or Chronos.'' The two of them were even more fanatical when it came to magic, plus unlike him they portrayed themselves as middle-aged men, an appearance perhaps better suited to someone of Jesscia''s age. He internallyughed at this thought but discarded it a momentter he couldn''t do such a thing to his cute younger brothers. "Sir Frost someone from the cavalry corps will arrive in an hour or so to take you to their base of operations, there you''ll be apprised of your mission and will be outfitted with a set of battlements for your personal battle mount." While he was off engaging in the war Kiba was rxing at the embassy, being treated like monster royalty by the stable staff. Frost had allowed this because he had truly given his all during their mad rush to Icethorne, but everything had its limits. Kiba would be joining him on hisst excursion for the War Ursa Battalion. The officer from themand centre was just about to leave Frost to rest when he asked, "By the way why aren''t we attacking immediately?" Though he was quite tired wouldn''t now be the best chance to catch the enemy at their weakest point. The meteor disrupted their chain ofmand, decimated toons of their soldiers and even destroyed thendscape. "Attacking immediately after General Jessica''s spell would technically be apt but the damage caused to them was too great Sir Frost. If we send our forces in now the enemy Generals may forgo all semnce of war etiquette. Soldier wouldn''t fight against soldier, officer against officer,mander againstmander and General against General but instead it''d be aplete free for all. Our losses in such a situation would be far too great therefore we''ll wait for them to recover a little and cool their jets sort to speak." The officer from themand centre was quite well versed in military strategy and had no problems exining their n to their ally. "I see." Frost immediately understood, if the enemy A-rank Generals started killing everything in sight then hundreds perhaps even thousands of regr soldiers from the War Ursa Battalion would be lost in vain. This war was a marathon not a sprint, every single loss had to be strictly calcted if they were to survive this gruelling siege. After answering Frost''s question the officer ced his arm across his chest in salute and left Frost alone in the officer''s barracks. Here he''d have his own room and wouldn''t be bothered by the nearby minor noises.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Yawn" With the tension and excitement finally leaving his body Frost let out a long yawn, his eyelids started to droop, and he searched for the bed, his mind was truly exhausted. With a light thump he crashed onto the bed and drifted off, his mind conjuring up images of war and magic as he peacefully dreamed with a smile on his face. This trip to Icethorne was so rewarding, he regretted noting earlier. Your journey continues with empire Time slowly passed. The battlefield that showed zero signs of letting up earlier was now practically silent. "Take care of the wounded, retrieve our fallen brothers and sisters. Dismantling teams take only the most valuable and needed of the enemy, burn and dispose of the rest." General Katrina ordered, her visage appearing renewed after letting out a few grievances upon Jessica. "Yes General." Multiple officers replied with strong military salutes. Though they had won the battle there were still losses and many injured amongst them. Many soldiers had tears running down their cheeks as they carried their deceasedrades home. The War Ursa Battalion did not bury their dead, those fallen in battle would be cremated and their deeds recorded in the battalion''s charter. Brothers and sisters would be turned to ash alongside one another in giant bonfires, only high ranking officers and Generals would be handled on an individual basis. The work was dirty and painful, but no oneined, they were honoured to do so. Not a single soldier would be left out in the records while the bodies of the enemy would be put to good use, to ensure the survival of morerades. Chapter 732 Crime of the council General Katrina Orwell stood at the forefront of the Northern wall overseeing the clearing of the battlefield. Her brow was furrowed and her eyes narrowed as she took stock of the current situation. "Tsk!" Upon seeing something in the distance she couldn''t help but loudly click her tongue. "How''s it looking Kat?" General Jessica Tunray who still had a ck eye from their earlier spat asked. She stood to Katrina''s left looking no less serious. "Bad, even with your extra embellishments Vash shows no sign of retreating. You managed to wipe out a significant fraction of their forces and even deprived them of two generals yet still they persist. Though they''ve retreated back several hundred metres they''re still somewhat united." The more she talked the more furrowed her brow became. The fact that Vash and his vanguard forces were not cowed by Jessica''s spell meant that they still had the confidence to crush them in this war. Of course the Vanguard itself was incapable of such an achievement but behind them was the Alliance''s main force.Vash was clearly confident because of them. The Vanguard may look strong from the outset given that 8 A-rank generals including Vash were present alongside dozens of B-rank officers andmanders but that was purely on an individual level. The million strong army was a coalition of 4 groups, the Jabrak kingdom, the northern nation of cial sprites and ice elementals, the horde of ravenous blue ants and pr mantises and finally the tribe of therge horned ice drakes. These four groups supplied a portion of their forces to make the Vanguard. Doing so allowed them to build a sufficientlyrge force quickly but at the cost of unity. Since the soldiers are from differing sources they cannot utiliserge scale battle formations or war magic, thus depriving them of a core warfare strategy. Instead of a solid wall they are akin to a loose sandcastle, easily dispersed. Jessica''s war magic spell [greater meteor fall] wouldn''t have had nearly as much impact against a united force even if their generals and officers were individually weaker and lesser. Being able tobine their strengths together would have allowed them to destroy far more of the meteor before it crashnded. This was why despite them being outnumbered the War Ursa Battalion didn''t take the alliance''s Vanguard all that seriously. Unfortunately they were merely a prelude to a much more dangerous force. "Have you noticed it Jess, there''s no sign of the demonic empire." Out of the million strong army Katrina failed to find a single soldier from the demonic empire, the most powerful nation within the inner regions of the cial Mountains. "I have.they''re truly going to great lengths to keep us in the dark." The War Ursa Battalion and Icethorne knew practically nothing about the demonic empire except for the fact that it dwelled within the 9thyer and that their military made even the most powerful nations within the inner regions nervous. "The unknown is always the most dangerous factor in war..do you feel it Jess?" Katrina pulled back her sleeves to reveal goosebumps. Her heart beat with audible thumps and her instincts were going haywire. "War Jess, a true war hehehehe a battlefield so chaotic and desperate that even you and I may fail to see another sunrise." As she spoke Katrina clenched her fists tightly and began to smile. Jessica mirrored her best friend. It had been too long since the two of them had felt any true danger.a primal feeling that they had missed. Regardless of the oue they would enjoy this war to the fullest and leave no regrets. The two high ranking Generals continued to stare into the distance, their minds churning in anticipation. While Icethorne endured a dangerous siege, back in the Niflheim city-state, several days after Frost had left the ce in Yuna''s capable hands a mandatory meeting of the council members had been called. This was only the second mandatory meeting called since the town''s conception and it was called not by Frost but by his stand in. Some were of course a little annoyed by this, feeling that Yuna was overstepping her bounds but the moment ronso guards appeared at their residences to escort them they held their tongues. Within Niflheim''s meeting hall, all members of the council were seated with not a single person missing. The air was tense, and no one spoke a single word as they awaited Yuna''s arrival. Behind them were ronsos guards to prevent anyone from leaving or causing a ruckus.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Some members such as the guild representatives were apparently aware of the reasons for this sudden summons and were looking at the other council members warily and somewhat aggressively which caused a great deal of confusion. Thankfully they didn''t have to wait in a tense silence for too long. Therge double doors to the hall opened wide to reveal interim lord Yuna as well as Daki, Maya and even the head of the guards Khuno. Each of them however bore cold expressions, something very serious was going down. Yuna quietly sat at the head of the table, Daki and Maya took their seats by her side while Khuno intimidatingly remained standing behind them armed with hisrge halberd. There was a palpable blood lust in the air that unsettled the weaker members of the council. They felt their blood run cold and had the sudden urge to evacuate their bowels. "Members of the Niflheim council first off I apologise for the sudden summons and the less than respectful escort but unfortunately there was no other recourse as the subject of this meeting is rather dire." Yuna spoke with an air of authority as her gaze passed over the council members. ".." "Colleagues I regret to inform that there are traitors in our midst, dogs that have not only dared to bite the hand that feeds them but backstab them in the most cowardly way possible and for that they must be punished." Yuna flicked her hands and in response the ronso guards standing behind the council members swung into action. Bang! In less than a second two council members had their heads violently mmed against the table. Such aggression sent shivers down the spines of the other council members. A few wanted to quickly shout and reprimand Yuna for her methods but held their tongues when Khuno''s fierce re narrowed in on them. "W.Why?" one of the restrained council members a merchant by the name of Josif asked through the pain, confusion evident on his face. He was genuinely taken by surprise by Yuna''s conduct. In response he received a vicious smile from the young woman before she happily exined. "Josif and Nash we graciously epted you into the Niflheim city state, granted you prime real estate and even weed you into the council to better serve and protect ourmunity. Lord Frost had high expectations for the two of you.so tell why did you stab him in the back?" "I don''t know what you''re talking about!" Your next chapter is on empire "I would never harm Lord Frost I owe him so much!" The two pleaded their innocence so naturally that many in the room felt that Yuna had made a mistake. "Interim Lord what exactly have they supposedly done?" One of the other council members who weren''t in the know asked nervously. How Yuna responded and managed this situation could very well break the trust and confidence these people had in the Niflheim city-state. "I''m d you asked, and I''d be more than happy to tell exin but first I''ll grant these two an opportunity toe clean.well, Josif, Nash?" "..I don''t know what you''re talking about." "I''m innocent! Josif hesitated for a second, but Nash immediately dered his innocence once again which caused Yuna''s lips to turn upwards. "Very well I shall reveal your crimes to the rest of the council. Lord Frost is rather lenient when ites to your individual interests as am I. For example despite the order being passed down to keep the knowledge regarding the ability to contract with monsters from the Dungeon in house some of you have taken it upon yourselves to ry that information to outsiders." A few merchants stiffed up as this revtion, Josif and Nash included. ''How did she find out?'' They all asked themselves. They couldn''t have been more discreet in their actions yet still they were discovered. Was this the treasonous action? But did such an act deserve this kind of treatment. One of the ''guilty'' feeling council members moved to question Yuna but was silenced before he could open his lips. "Rx fellow council members Lord Frost and I have no intention in seriously reprimanding any of you for your disobedience in regards to this. The majority of you are merchants, information is your lifebloodwe expected you to leak it eventually." "Then?" "Though Josif and Nash are alsoplicit in the outside trading of this information that''s not the reason for this meeting nor why I had the ronso guards restrain them." At this moment the bloodlust in the room skyrocketed. Both Daki and Maya were crushing the chairs they sat on as their fury struggled to be contained any longer. Seeing the wrath in their eyes the council members once again kept silent, Nash and Josif however began to tremble and shiver. The hatred and anger was solely directed at them, Maya even used her pseudo aura to pressure them, desiring nothing more than to squash them into meat paste. Yuna didn''t say a single word for a few seconds, letting Nash and Josif stew under Maya and Daki''s pressure. Her silence generated an air of curiosity among the other council members, a curiosity that needed to be sated. Chapter 733 Crime of the council (2) A heavy silence loomed within the meeting hall. Maya and Daki red at Josif and Nash with fire in their eyes, wishing nothing more than to rip the two of them to shreds. While Yuna the interim lord sat eerily with a haunting smile on her face, enjoying the two men''s torment. The other council members who were still unaware of the supposed crime had shifted from a frightened and wary position to a curious one. What on Nova could the two of them have done to anger not only Daki by Maya as well? Daki was frequently around the city as she enjoyed interacting with the adventurers guild, it was good for her business thus the council members were already used to her asionally abrasive personality. Maya however was quite mysterious, asionally she could be seen hanging around with Nanna and Loki but for most of the time unless Frost was around she was entirely absent even from the council meetings. Despite the rarity of their interactions however the men and women present believed her to be a gentle and kind soul. Seeing both these women as well as the entire Ronso guard and Yuna all up in arms was quite frankly fascinating. Many eyes thus turned towards Josif and Nash. "Members of the Niflheim council these two men havemitted a grave sin against our state, against our lord.and against our family!" Yuna roared aloud, attaching her aura to her voice dramatically increasing the pressure and fear factor ced upon Josif and Nash. Daki and Maya practically shattered the arms of their chairs as they struggled to maintain their decorum. ''Family.'' That was the key word. The many eyes staring at Josif and Nash thus showed knowing glints before unanimously turning into harsh res. Frost was gone, Maya could hold her own and even Daki was a mean fighter when she wanted to be leaving but one possibility..The children. Thest time someone attacked Nanna and Loki the entiremunity was up in arms and not a single person questioned the degree of punishment inflicted upon these deplorable assassins. Both Nanna and Loki were genuinely loved within the city state, many adventurers even voluntarily protected them in their free time just in case anything were to happen. "You two, tell me you didn''t" One of the merchant ss council members who had been appointed at the same time as Josif and Nash asked with trembling hands. The children were this ce''s reverse scale. ""Lies we didn''t do anything to them!"" Josif and Nash bellowed despite their fear. They knew well what would happen the moment such a charge was attached to their heads. "Hoh is that so Josif, Nash unfortunately our records beg to differ, Ringwald, Calder." Yuna immediately called upon Ringwald and Calder the representatives for the adventures guild and merchants guild. The crime was perfectly witnessed and heard through the use of the Dungeon''s monitoring system but that couldn''t be used as evidence. This usation needed to be irrefutable thus Yuna enlisted the aid of the two guilds, they would stand witness. With a curt nod both Calder and Ringwald retrieved documents from their bags, evidence proving Josif and Nash''s crimes. These notes were passed around the table so as to enlighten the other council members. "Though you may have not been the one''s doing the deed the two of you sold information to the underworld gangs and our enemies. Habits, appearances, routes, ess and even documentation you supplied everything they needed to enter and target Nanna and Loki, innocent and vulnerable children for what! A little bit of money!" Yuna was practically roaring at this point. "The worse part is that there was nothing about myself, Lady Daki, Lady Maya or even Lord Frost apart from his recent absence of course. All the information you sold was about the children. You literally painted a target on their backs and personally guided the des!" By this time both Josif and Nash had relieved themselves as they listened to Yuna''s roaring and witnessed the pictures and documented evidence of their crimes. All the blood drained from their faces as the realisation dawned on them. They did everything they could to cover their tracks knowing that their actions were wrong but only when Yuna actually outlined the facts did they truly understand what they did. They didn''t just sell wanted information for money what they did was a facilitate and abet an assassination on both Nanna and Loki. Their treason was clear as day. If information about Frost was released they may have just gotten a p on the wrist, a minor punishment. Frost was strong he could handle himself but Nanna and Loki that was low and unforgivable. "Fellow council members you have seen the documents provided; their guilt is as clear as day do you concur?" Yuna asked with her authority as interim Lord. "I concur" "I concur! "Concur!" "I concur Lord Yuna. How should we deal with this kind of scum?" Rana the head of thebour guild in Niflheim cracked her knuckles as a show of force. "Miss Rana you don''t need to worry about that. Now that the council has agreed upon their guilt we shall take it from here." Yuna smiled strangely at Rana before snapping her fingers. That was the signal she had previously agreed upon with Maya and Daki before this meeting. The two needed to hold in their anger until they received this signal. Afterwards they could do whatever they wanted to Josif and Nash. There wasn''t even a moment''s hesitation before Maya and Daki leapt from their chairs and took over the restraints of the two men who at this point were near catatonic from abject fear. With a guard of Ronsos Maya and Daki dragged the two criminals out of the hall. They would transport them to the Dungeon''s prison and start the well deserved torture. "Good riddance." "I can''t believe I trusted that bastard!" "To go after the children do they have no shame!" "Disgusting pttuu" the remaining council members were all fired up. They hadpletely forgotten about their earlier displeasure and started praising both Yuna and the two guilds for their effective efforts in stopping a potential disaster. It takes but one hole to bring down a mighty damn. "Thank you all for your cooperation and once again I am sorry about the mandatory summons. It was necessary to make known our family''s stance in regards to these kind of things." A.K.A do anything detrimental to Nanna or Loki and we''ll hunt you down. The message was loud and clear, and the remaining council members were all for it. Once the council members had all left the hall, Yuna was left alone with Khuno. "Haaaaa why does it have to be so tedious" She loudlyined. Through their ownworks they immediately knew of Josif''s and Nash''s betrayal. It would have been so easy just to send a bunch of ronso enforcers to apprehend them and take them to the Dungeon or even arrange for their own assassination but unfortunately there were now many working cogs in the running of Niflheim. Things had to be handled in awful and above board manner otherwise none of the council members would feel safe in their positions.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "I''m sure master will be proud of your actions Yuna." Khuno reassured his colleague speaking his honest feelings on the matter. Yuna was quite adept in her role if it was him he would have surely resorted to simple force at least once or twice during the ''investigation''. "You really think so?" Yuna instantly beamed a joyful smile as the image of Frost floated in her mind. ''I miss master.'' Frost was currently unaware of what went down after he left his Dungeon. In fact at the moment he was still in the middle of a beautiful dream. He was striding across the battlefield with his ive in hand. His robes were marred in so much blood that they had turned dark red, and his body sported hundreds if not thousand of minor cuts and grazes, yet he smiled before the endless amount of foes still impeding his path. He felt a crazed rush, his body that should be in pain and exhausted felt warm and fuzzy with every foe he cut. The more he killed the more his ive felt like a limb rather than an external weapon. "Frost my mighty champion." "That''s it Frost show me how strong you are." By his ear he could hear the enchanting voices of Maya and Daki cheering him on, promising him endless delights if he seeded in reaching the end of the battlefield. It was a fantastic dream that unfortunately ended far too early. "SF.T" Just as the end of the battlefield wasing into view the seductive cheering was reced with a jarring male voice. "Si.Fro" Again the voice was heard, and the dream world started to shatter and copse. "Sir Frost." By the third call Frost sharply woke up and red at the interloper with a gaze so cold that the battle hardened man visibly shivered. "Sir Frost no Major it''s time, the cavalry corps requests your presence." The soldier balked for but a moment before saluting and announcing the reason for his presence. Chapter 734 Cavalry assualt "Already?" Frost questioned after yawning and stretching, it only felt like a few minutes since he drifted off. "Yes Major, you''ve been asleep for almost 90 minutes." The soldier replied with a slight urgency, time was of the essence after all. "Tsk oh well lead the way." Irritated from being rudely awakened Frost clicked his tongue and casually gathered his things, thankfully he hadn''t removed his clothes or under armour before resting so he was ready almost immediately. "This way sir." The soldier thus lead Frost out of the barracks and to the western edge of Icethorne. Here half of the cavalry corps was present alongside their mounts. "Garow!" Shortly after arriving Kiba noticed his master''s scent and charged over toin about his rough treatment. These barbarians hoofed him from hisfy abode and started measuring him for armaments, they didn''t even listen to him when he said they were too tight. Of course his whimpering only caused Frost''s irritation to grow, the young tiger thus received a fierce bonk on his head before being looked down on. "Really you''reining about having to do a little bit of work thiste in the daywhat happened to the tiger that wanted to strive to be the top, to dominate the other monsters and im dominion over the beasts back home." He had finally begun to take his training seriously after a few of the coeurl cubs evolved and began challenging him. But after a little bit of pampering he was once again showing off his spoiled nature. "Grrrr!" [this and that are two different things!] Bonk! Kiba was hit again and this time he didn''t argue but simply grumbled as he followed behind Frost. The solider who guided Frost here left after introducing him to the cksmith who dealt with Kiba''s equipment. "We''ve outfitted your battle mount with some temporary battlements, they should help stave off some serious blows and help with his charging ability, but I''d advise against taking too much risk, the quality isn''t as good as the proper stuff after all." The cksmith in charge of the Cavalry corps armaments exined a few things to Frost and Kiba, the former being all ears while thetter was ring. This was the man responsible for dressing him up in such ill fitting and paltry armour. His hide was thick and his fur dense what need did he have for hastily produced armour. The so called temporary battlements however were actually around middle perhaps upper grade 3 star quality, far better than your run of the mill equipment. Kiba just didn''t like how it felt against his skin, so he caused a bit of a fuss. As the cksmith spoke the gears in Frost''s mind started to turn. He had neglected to properly arm Kiba as well as the many beastlike monsters back in the Dungeon. While his dwarves, trolls, ronsos and even goblins benefitted from their production of in house weaponry his wolves, coeurls and pr bears received nothing despite also being an avid part of the Dungeon''s defence force. This was a mistake, one in which he promised to remedy upon his return. He thus listened attentively to the cksmith and took note of the workshops currently repairing and forging monster formatted armours.N?v(el)B\\jnn Thankfully Kiba''s shape and size wasn''t all that different from the standard monster cavalry used by the cavalry corps thus preparing something temporary wasn''t all that difficult or time consuming, however. "There''s nothing we can do about his wings though, best to keep them receded during your excursion otherwise you might mess up the formation''s tempo." Kiba''srge white wings were out with the cksmith''s speciality, so he left them unadorned, a good thing too given how sensitive they were. "You don''t have any flyers?" "We do but they''re not part of the Cavalry corps but the elite aerial division and unlike us they''re mainly utilised for scout work and emergency medical retrievals." The cksmith shrugged and shook his head, it was an entirely different group of smiths in charge and therefore nothing to do with him. His focus and his entire team''s focus was on war bears and Ursas, heavy cavalry monsters that could bulldoze through even the most heavily defended lines. These namesake monsters could be seen in the nearby stables and underneath the legs of the cavalry corps soldiers. They were big, muscr and durable and what theycked in flexibility they made up for with immense power. A horse may have endurance, speed and even strength but in short brutal engagements they paled inparison to a bear, especially a bear that had been raised by the War Ursa Battalion. A good lot of them were evenrger and more intimidating than Kiba, another reason he was a little on edge. Rarely did he evere across another battle mount in the same rank that could go toe to toe with him let alone crush him. These monsters had seen action, far more than the sheltered Kiba who was barelying into his own. Of course the most eye-catching were the mighty War Ursas, B-rank monsters that only the highest ranking Majors and Colonels could ride. Just one of them easily weighed several tons and that was without their armour. "Alright that''s all I needed to exin, head over tomand centre as we''re about to head out." "Thanks." "Volker.Ulf Volker." The cksmith gave his name before heading back to the forge, he''d already wasted enough time. "Come on Kiba let''s go and hear about our battle arrangements." "Garow!!" "Ah Major Frost d you could join us, please take a seat." The moment Frost entered themand centre with Kiba at his side an older man from the bear beastman tribe greeted him with a friendly smile while others simply nodded their heads, their eyes ncing and brightening upon seeing Kiba. A cial winged tiger was a guaranteed B-rank monster after all, one that was perfect for cavalry. Frost performed a military salute before taking his seat. He wasn''t the only one here apanied by his battle mount. The older man from the bear beastman tribe for example had a massive War Ursa behind him that''s mere presence had Kiba shivering and Frost narrowing his eyes. ''Its strength rivals mine.'' Frost had just entered the mid ranks, and he could feel that this War Ursa was at a simr level. "Cough cough" The older man coughed to draw Frost''s attention back to him. "First allow me to introduce myself, my name is Colonel Casper Anders and I''m in charge of the left wing of the War Ursa Battalion''s Cavalry corps." A genuine big fish, someone who''s authority was only eclipsed by the Generals and usually that only included the older generation such as Jessica and Katrina. Jared and Danielle were but young pups whenpared to him. Casper was a man who had lived and breathed the battlefield for decades, a man who''s strength was stuck half a step into the A-rank for thest twenty years, a man worthy of respect. Casper proceeded to briefly introduce some of the other officers but none of them were Colonels, all Majors and Captains. Being respectful Frost stood up from his seat and ced his arm across his chest "Major Frost, it''s a pleasure to be joining you today in your assault against the enemy." He gave his own introduction before sitting back down, an act that made the other officers smile from ear to ear. It was rare for non-military personnel to be so polite and respectful especially when they were so young and full of vigour and talent. "Major Frost do have you any experience with cavalry formations?" Again the first thing the corps leader asked was his experience and once against Frost had to embarrassingly say none. At least this time he wasn''t called useless. "I see then it''ll be best if you ride close to me when we move out." Casper didn''t mock or insult him in anyway instead he silently and instantly amended his initial ns. Since Frost couldn''t be given amand position he''d simply use his individual strength instead. This wasn''t the first time he''d been handed an inexperienced yet individually strong gem after all. "By your order Colonel." Frost had no issues with such arrangements in fact he felt liberated by it. Command was taxing and he was more in the mood to simply bulldoze his way into the enemy lines without having to worry about those beneath him. Colonel Casper then exined the overall strategy of both the left and right wings of the cavalry corps. "Along with the right wing we''ll be moving out in full force." Atop the war table was a map of Icethorne and the territory beyond the wall. Two groups of mounted figurines representing the two wings of the cavalry corps were at the west and east of the city. "General Jessica and her magic corps have dealt a serious blow to the enemy but still they refuse to retreat. Their will is still strong.so we''ll be the ones to break it!" "Urah!" "Urah!" The cavalry corps grunted and repeatedly beat their fists against the war table, eager to see blood. "We''ll hit them hard, and we''ll hit them fast, in and out in under fifteen minutes, are we clear!" "Sir yes sir!" "Frost follow behind me and learn as much as you can, we''ll be using simple arrow and diamond formations but what matters most is the flow of battle." Shock cavalry in and simple. "Yes Colonel." ''Follow and learn, piece of cake.'' At least he wasn''t aplete noob when it came to riding Kiba, it''d be a disaster if he fell from his back mid charge. Chapter 735 Cavalry assault (2) Colonel Casper, leader of the left wing of the cavalry corps exined the mission. "We''ll mount up in five minutes and leave through the catbs." Casper moved the figurines on the war table next to a mountain that protected Icethorne''s western edge. "Exits four, five and six will be used and then sealed upon our return, the rest will remain closed so don''t knock on the wrong door." "Hehehehe" Casper''s words earned a round ofughter from the officers, Frost however was puzzled. This was the first time he was hearing of the ''catbs.'' "You''ll understand it when you see it Frost, don''t worry too much." Casper smiled his way, soothing his confusion. "Upon our exit we should be right in line with the mid and rear forces. The vanguard and ranger corps will draw their focus and deal with their frontline allowing us to get the drop on them. Speed will be key." Shock cavalry relied primarily on their substantial weight and charging momentum to be lethal and because of this they are rather inflexible. They struggle to stop and redirect their charge once they get going thus a surprise attack, one in which the enemycks the time to reorientate their forces makes a world of difference. Casper picked up the figurines representing the left wing and ced them outside of the Northern wall, within 800 metres of Alliance''s forces. "Upon our exit which will be synced with the right wing we''ll enter the arrow formation and begin our charge. Contact with the enemy should take roughly 30 seconds." Several officers did some internal calctions, some nodded confidently while others frowned. 30 seconds was cutting it close. 800 metres give or take, in 30 seconds, that''s roughly 27 metres per second. Their war bears and ursas were certainly capable of such speed but that brief 30 seconds also included their eleration. "I know what some of you are thinking but trust me it''s doable, difficult yes but doable. Trust in your battle mounts and we''ll make it." Casper quickly dispelled the anxiety building among some of the less confident officers. "5 seconds before contact we''ll erect the [Golden bear] and with our added momentum we''ll blow apart their fragile lines and dig deep into the heart of their forces." At the mention of the [Golden bear] many eyes lit up. The [Golden bear] was the cavalry corps'' infamous battle formation, a formation as well renowned as the [Icethorne bulwark] perhaps even more so given that its primary focus was destruction rather than protection. Find adventures on empire "Once we''re in we''ll split into smaller diamond formations and carve up the enemy. Kill as many as you can and do your best to retain your momentum. The moment you slow down is the moment you die!" Casper eximed, stressing the seriousness of hisst point. A stationary or even slow cavalryman was easy pickings, even easier to kill than a foot soldier. "Variables?" A senior Major queried. "There are a few." Casper retrieved a couple figurines that represented the enemy forces." First the mammoths and the other heavy monsters, avoid them at all costs as they''ll only impede our advance and waste our limited timeframe." The mentioned heavy monsters were durable, tenacious and not worth the time it takes to kill them. "Second and most obvious the Generals and upper officers, our job is to quickly mow down as many enemies as possible and weaken their morale. Though the death of an Upper officers would certainly spread fear amongst their ranks they are too dangerous and potentially lethal to our own soldiers regardless of our speed thus they should be avoided if possible. The Generals even more so, keep a very wide berth." The enemy Generals such as Vash were the biggest cause of concern for Colonel Casper and the cavalry corps. Numbers and momentum meant nothing in the face of overwhelming power after all. Generals Jared and Danielle would be enlisted to keep some of them upied but by this point the likelihood of one or two of the Generals throwing out the rule book was quite substantial. "The third variable is the unknown. What we see and hear may not be everything. Keep your wits about you and your eyes peeled for anything suspicious. Those with the rank of Major should use their experience to determine the best course of action in such situations, Captain and those lower should follow their orders to the letter and if neededI''ll call for a full retreat." Though he was reluctant to do so if the threat to his men was great enough he was willing to fail in their mission as long as it preserved their lives. The Generals and War Marshall were of the same mind. Attacks on the enemy could fail but their lives couldn''t be sacrificed in vain, not when they were the ones so vastly outnumbered. "Questions? Misgivings?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "." "None here." "All good Colonel." "Major Frost?" Casper looked at Frost the only officer present without any experience. ".If all I have to do is follow in your wake and kill as directed then I''ve got no issues Colonel." Frost replied with a confident nod. If he was in a position ofmand then he''d want to know more but since that wasn''t the case there was no problem. p! Casper loudly pped his hands and smiled from ear to ear. "Our mission is set, our parameters agreed upon and our confidence unwavering. Men, Women return to your squads and gear up, we leave in five minutes." ""Sir yes Sir"" All the officers and Frost loudly replied with their arms across their chests in salute. Roughly 5 minutester, Colonel Casper stood next to his oversized War Ursa as he addressed the Cavalry corps'' left wing, a contingent of 8000 men and women strong. "All soldiers mount up! It''s time to ride!" ""Urah!!"" All 8000 soldiers roared so loud that their lungs threatened to burst. A momentter all 8000 men and women ascended upon the backs of their battle mounts. 8000 soldiers and 8000 bear species battle mounts, quite an intimidating sight. "Move out!" Casper bellowed as he led the charge with his trusted partner ran. The entire left wing moved seamlessly through the cities war time highways. Wide, t highways clear of obstructions and traffic allowed the left wing to smoothly arrive before the catbs in just a few minutes. Here at the base of the massive western mountain several soldiers could be seen guarding.nothing? there was no door or gateway or even clear path up the mountain. Frost couldn''t help but be intrigued. "Cavan inform the catbs detail of our mission requirements." "Yes Colonel." A youngish Captain, one with a bright future charged ahead on his War bear to meet with the soldiers in charge of guarding the supposed catbs. A moment after he left Casper leaned over to speak to Frost. "You have your own territory in the soutnds right?" "Yes, it''s near the southern entrance to the cial mountains, about a day''s walk from Furano." It was always good to advertise his new territory, especially amongst people who could very well be important future clients. "If its near a set of mountains then you''ll likely appreciate this little mechanism of ours." Casper smiled in a mischievous manner. Frost wanted to hear more about this ''mechanism'' but Cavan was already on the way back. "We''re good to go Colonel." "Splendid Cavan, men move out!" Therge procession of soldiers was once again on the move and this time they were heading directly into the face of the mountain. Not a single soldier had any hesitation as their mounts built up speed and charged headfirst into the wall. Frost wanted to shut his eyes in horror as he imagined these men and woman turning into meat paste the moment they made contact with the rock hard surface. Kiba was no less disturbed by the situation, he wanted to stop but the wave of battle mounts behind him pushed him forward, there was no way out. "Ah!!!" A captain who was at the head of the march screamed in a mad fashion just before he made contact, sending a chill down Frost''s spine. ''What the actual fuck?'' In the next moment however the man and monster seemed to vanish, their bodies didn''t smash into the rock wall but rather mysteriously passed through it. "Hahahahaha." A loud chorus ofughter erupted amongst the soldiers after seeing Frost''s face turn pale. The screaming captain was just yanking the newbie''s chain. "Hmph!" Casper didn''t approve of such behaviour. He loudly hmphed, skilfully attaching his aura as he did, bringing a quick end to the ruckus. "An illusion?" Frost ignored theirughter, personally he might have done the same if he was in their shoes. "Yes and no." Casper replied before both he and Frost charged through the rock wall. The moment he passed through Frost felt a familiar twisting in his stomach. ''Spatial transposition'' Whenever he teleported throughout the Dungeon or entered the private space his body would be encumbered with a strange pull in multiple directions. The scene before his eyes blurred, stretched and twisted before reorganising into somethingpletely different. They were now within arge tunnel embedded in the mountain, tall enough to hold both Casper and ran and wide enough to sustain four cavalry soldiers and their mounts standing side by side. A major construction. Chapter 736 Cavalry assault (3) The degree of work involved in creating the catbs was staggering. Icethorne''s residents weren''t Gods nor were they like Frost who could utilise creation/divine energy to maniptend and space in whatever manner they saw fit, no they had to rely on mortal means. Physical effort, tools and a great deal of magic over a period of decades perhaps even centuries to finallyplete their secret, underground highway system. "These catbs are a result of many years of painstaking effort, a hidden highway that allows our forces to travel through the nearby mountains unseen and unheard." Casper spoke with an air of pride. Icethorne''s catbs were a great source of confidence and reassurance for the military, allowing them to engage in devilish warfare and even provide them with a means of escape in the most dire of moments. Though they were under siege the War Ursa Battalion was not trapped.N?v(el)B\\jnn The catbs spread throughout the city and beyond, splintering off into dozens perhaps even hundreds of different paths. It may bemonly referred to as an underground highway system, but it was much more than that. Large chambers had been dug out to allow for defensive warfare, containing sturdy barriers, military supplies and even a few war machines while other areas served as storage vaults, alchemy rooms, training venues and even monster stables. It was hard to board thousands ofrge bear monsters within the city after all. Rather than catbs, underground metropolis may be a more apt description. "We were teleported weren''t we?" Frost asked, recognising the familiar pull upon his body. "Yes but not far." Casper leaned down from his battle mount ran to speak. "The outeryer of the mountain, several metres worth ispletely untouched by our excavation so as to increase the hidden aspect of the catbs. There is no breach on the city side and therefore no entrance to find and exploit." The two men and monsters continued to lightly trot forward so as to not cause a blockage. "To enter the catbs the soldiers on guard must activate one of the spatial doors, magical devices that fold space and link two nearby coordinates. Without them we would actually crash into a solid surface so they''re quite important." Casper''s mind drifted off for a second, remembering a time or two when these so called spatial doors actually failed.a lot of jaws were broken and teeth lost that day. "25 maybe 30 metres give or take yeah that''s about right." Said Casper after internally calcting and or remembering the distance. The spatial doors leading to areas 4, 5 and 6 on the western side weren''t all that far from where they had grouped up. "Amazing." Frost was quite shocked by this reveal. The idea may be quite simple in theory, but the application was pure genius. A hidden underground city with no visible entrance, how many fortresses could im to have such an ideal system. Of course to power such a system the spatial magic devices were integral and thankfully Icethorne not only had many, but they also had the knowhow to produce more. Such devices would make a real killing on the open market but unfortunately for others the spatial doors were a military secret of the highest order. Only a very select few knew of their inner workings, even the Northrend empire was in the dark about this technology. "You can look as much as you want as long as you don''t fall behind." Casper admired Frost''s interest in their catbs and allowed him to peruse to his heart''s content as long as he kept up with the group. If he wanted a full tour however he''d need the War Marshall''s permission. "Understood Colonel." Frost wasn''t polite and immediately started analysing every nook and cranny as they charged along. ''The wall are so dense, perhaps they''re reinforced with magic.are they using magic crystalmps and luminescent nts to keep the ce alight.was that a supply depot we just passed.it reminds me of home a little.'' Frost found the idea of an underground city simr in nature to his Dungeon. So much activity happened underneath the city. much of it actually supplying the surface. Currently there was also a high speed highway hidden within the Dungeon that some of his monsters used to travel between floors unnoticed. Though there was no need for such a system in the shadow of the surface city yet there would be in the future and likely sooner than expected if the ce continued to develop at its current rate. ''I could establish a neutral floor, one which is excluded from the Dungeon wars and connected to the bottom of the city.'' The surface of the city was already a part of the Dungeon for DP collection so why not the ground directly underneath. ''With such a system we could transport materials to each workshop, forge, tannery, tailor and who knows what else without disturbing the streets.'' Kranor had a simr set up that allowed the produce from the mines, quarries and fields to easily make its way to the upper floors. Frost''s mind churned and churned, fostering a strong desire to return home and get to work unfortunately now was not the best time. He was brought out of his reverie by the loud booming voice of Colonel Casper who had made his way to the forefront of the pack. "Exit''s in sight men, clench your thighs and ready yourselves for battle!!" The tunnel ahead seemed to be blocked, a dead end but shortly after Casper approached the number five painted on the end wall glowed bright and the next second the wall started to shake and recede. Soon a sturdy ramp was revealed along with a great deal of natural light. With quickened pace Frost''s group of soldiers charged out of the mountain to find themselves beyond the Northern wall. Directly ahead, less than a kilometre in the distance was the alliance''s forces. They were preupied with the assault on the frontline, so they hadn''t noticed them as of yet. "Group up into the arrow formation and charge!" Casper drew his spear and raised it high in the air as the rest of the left wing came out of exits 4 and 6. The time it took them all to shuffle out and quickly enter an arrow formation was quite short, no more than 40 seconds. Your next read is at empire Frost as previously instructed glued himself to Casper and awaited the order to kill. His wayward thoughts of home werepletely extinguished the moment he saw the enemy in the distance. His heartbeat thumped away in his chest as a crooked smile appeared upon his lips revealing his sharp white teeth. His hands, one holding the shaft of his ive, the other holding the saddle resting on Kiba''s back tightened to the point of loudly cracking as he entered battle mode. Such actions were mirrored by the many men and women standing by his side, the stench of blood and war excited them greatly. "Cavalry corps left wing! ALL AHEAD CHARGE!!" Seeing everyone in position or at least the majority Colonel Casper loudly roared. "Urah!" "Urah!" hundreds of cavalrymen grunted and roared at maximum volume as the mass contingent of 8000 men and women starting charging at the enemy in their sights. Their eyes turning red from the promise of carnage. Don! Don! Don! The audible thumps as bear paws crashed upon the ice and snow, along with the howls and roars of bloodthirsty soldiers couldn''t be ignored. "Shit! It''s an ambush, anti-cavalry teams to the right!" A high ranked officer who was part of enemy''s rearguard loudly hollered, causing many monsters to turn their heads in fear. "Wait there''s another group from the left! Fuck it''s the War Ursa''s cavalry corps!" Another officer noticed the right wing at almost the exact same moment. At this rate both nks would be under their assault in 30 seconds. "Sound the rm, call back the rest of the anti-cavalry!!!" Wooo! Wooo! Wooo! A high pitched rm went off a couple secondter. Time to impact 27 seconds. "Colonel Casper and Colonel Ridge." General Vash uttered the names of the wing leaders. "Should I have a contingent of anti-cavalry report to the rear?" One of his direct subordinates asked. "No there''s no time.they got us good haaaaa. Order the rear to fall back, have the nks brace themselves and summon our heavy cavalry monsters, they''ll move faster than our infantry and should help better dy them" Vash was almost unmoved by the sudden ambush despite the lethality of it. "Let them have their fill of bloodfor the moment." A vicious smile then appeared upon his lips followed by an eerieughter escaping his throat. A great danger loomed upon the horizon, a danger which the cavalry corps knew nothing of as they charged headfirst into the enemy lines. Time until impact 15 seconds. By this time most of army in the nks and rear knew of the impending assault, soldiers looked to their officers for guidance, to theirrades for support and the rear for signs of an escape. The onught of 16,000 heavy shock cavalrymen was something that would cause even the most battle hardened soldiers to tremble in their boots. Despite this malevolent force charging towards them and their likely inevitable death these monsters gathered their courage and braced themselves against the tide. Time until impact 10 seconds. Chapter 737 Cavalry assault (4) Time until impact 10 seconds. Frost could see the varied expressions of the enemy standing in the distance. Beastkin, bipedal ants, mantises, spirits, elementals and even a few drakes. A real hodgepodge of species yet they all bore simr weaponry. Those standing in the periphery were armed with spears and halberds, equipment specialised in taking downrger targets such as cavalry. Defenders, closebat units tasked with protecting those in the rear and mid sections of the army. The majority of the target enemy however was made up of ranged fighters, archers, crossbowmen, mages as well as some war machine operators, individuals who faired poorly in closebat. The Defenders had strong stances and determined expressions as they nted their feet deep into the snow and pointed their weapons unwaveringly ahead. But those behind them, the mages in particr. were shaking in their boots, internally dreading every single metre crossed by the enemy. "Archers fire!" Thankfully themand structure was still in full swing. The moment Frost and the cavalry corps crossed a certain threshold an enemy officer ordered for a devasting volley. Twang! With an immediate response hundreds perhaps thousands of arrows and or their equivalent wereunched from the central belt of the enemy army. "Arrows iing!" Casper roared and in return half of the cavalry corps retrieved their shields from the rear of their battle mounts while the rest either withdrew des to cut down the approaching arrows or took shelter by those with shields. None of them however decreased their speed rather the promise of arrows seemed to give them a boost. Frost given his B-rank capabilities scoffed at the deluge of arrows, with a simple swing of his ive and a couple hastily prepared magic shields he and Kiba received not a single scratch. Unfortunately not everyone was as lucky. Don! Don! Don! Several soldiers from the left wing faltered under the fierce stream of arrows, their shields failing to block, breaking under the assault or their swords being too slow to chop them all down. With reluctant cries and roars of anguish these brave men and women were the first to fall. The enemy''s hastilyunched volley was actually rather strategic, individuals such as Frost and Casper received only the minimum coverage whereas those weaker received a near endless deluge. With every solider that fell those behind had to not only ignore their grief but avoid the fallen corpses lest they wished to be the next victim. A poorly trained outfit would likely crumble under such an onught, their deceasedrades driving them into a killing frenzy, destroying their formation and turning them into easy targetsThe War Ursa Battalion was not like that. With skilled manoeuvring they easily avoided their fallenrades and kept their speed. The deadly and imposing arrow formation was still solid and moving in for the kill. Time until impact 5 seconds. With arrows falling down upon them endlessly and magic spells falling close behind Casper gauged the distance to the enemy. A momentter he nodded and craned his neck upwards. "[Golden Bear]" With an air shattering bellow Colonel Casper along with hundreds of upper ranked soldiers who were dotted throughout the formation summoned their internal energy, synced their breathing and started the process of summoning the [Golden Bear] of the War Ursa Battalion''s cavalry corps. Time until impact 3 seconds. On the right and left sides of the enemy radiant energy burst forth into the sky in the form bright golden pirs Eventually as more energy was supplied through these golden pirs a corporeal entity was generated. "Rooooaarrrr!!!" Two massive golden bears appeared above the two wings of the cavalry corps, fierce and aggressive in nature they roared the moment they were born. The instant the [Golden Bear] came to life Frost felt a foreign energy envelop him and Kiba, empowering the two of them. The same thing happened to each and every member of the cavalry corps whether they were involved in the summoning or not. Each of them glowed with a golden hue as their speed and mass increased by nearly 30%. ''I''m definitely researching battle formation once I get back''. Frost internally promised as his excitement threatened to overflow. With the extra power flowing through his body Frost madlyughed and readied his ive. Kiba also prepared himself, his ws were extended and his hindlimbs tensed. Time until impact 1 second. In thest moment before impact the [Golden Bear] reared up onto its hind legs and smashed apart the enemies frontline, crushing hundreds of monsters into meat paste and sending even more flying in all directions. "Kill!!!" Following that the cavalry corps charged in and decimated the enemy in droves. With every swing Frost was able to cut down multiple panicking monsters while Kiba could devour anything that crossed his path with a sharp crunch of his teeth. The nks were torn apart like paper and in less than ten seconds half of the cavalry corps were drenched the blood of the enemy. Thousands died in the initial charge and more quickly followed. "Break up, diamond killing formation, regroup in 60 seconds!" Casper continued to give orders, his voice so loud and clear that even the din of battle failed to obscure it. "Frost follow me to take out some of their elites." "dly Colonel." Frost smiled evilly and wasted no time following after Casper. In this scenario he was nothing but a de to be used by him and it was a role he was honoured to y. Casper and Frost led a few officers in a small diamond formation and targeted some of the enemy C-ranks, quickly causing chaos in the chain ofmand. "Bastards!" Their attempts however were soon noticed by a nearby Major. "I''ll leave him to you." "No problem." Casper and the other officers separated from Frost to continue their head hunting while Frost along with Kiba turned around and charged at the interloping enemy Major. ''Early B-rank, he''s even weaker than Bhus.'' Frost was a little disappointed but still readied his ive and warned Kiba to be on guard. "Garow!" Kiba grunted in reply, locking his gaze on the enemy. With the two of them working in concert their strength was enough to take on someone in the upper stages let alone an early stage newbie like this one. The key wasn''t just killing the enemy but to kill them quickly and without much injury. With this point in mind Frost didn''t hold back and neither did Kiba. "[Hammering beast''s charge]" Frost''s blue tinged internal energy merged with the yellow energy from Kiba to generate a green almost emerald coloured energy that elevated theirbined strength. With a form that appeared 50%rger than normal Kiba leapt at the enemy with his limbs outstretched, prepared to rend the foe apart with his razor sharp ws while Frost pulled back his ive for a valiant thrust. Ayer of ice chakra protected the shaft and bonded it to his hand while cold mes danced along the de edge, forming ice crystals in the air as it passed by. With an injection of aura his ive was ready to pierce through even the thickest of hides. "Eh!" Not expecting to be violently attacked the enemy B-rank was caught by surprise and barely had time to defend himself. Ting! The enemy monster was from therge horned drake tribe and in order to protect himself from thebined might of Frost and Kiba he curled up hisrge body, hoping to rely on his durable to scales to endure the attack. Unfortunately he underestimated the force behind their attack.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Kiba''s ws though tough and sharp were still those of a C-rank monster, they rubbed against his scales generating a metallic sound, scratching them and even prying off a few but in the end failing to deal any serious damage. "Grrrr!" The young tiger was quite dissatisfied by this. Squelch! On Frost''s end however the result was far different. The sharp tip of his ive, aided by his aura and chakra pierced through the outeryer of scales and continued to sear and pry open hardened flesh, only stopping after ravishing the monster''s left lung and hitting the back of his ribs. "Tsk!" Frost frustratingly clicked his tongue, he missed. His original target was the monster''s heart, but its size and physique threw off his aim. The enemy officer coughed up blood in response, his face paling and a cold shiver running down his spine. His durable scales were pierced through so easily, he had underestimated his enemy, a mistake that would likely cost him his life. "Fuck! Get over here and help me take down this asshole" Fearing for his life the enemy monster called for aid. "Tsk! Kiba again." This was exactly why Frost wanted to take down the enemy in a single blow, this was no longer a duel but arge free for all. The operation was supposed tost no more than 15 minutes so as to capitalise on their strengths and diminish their weaknesses. The longer cavalry was tied up the less effective they became. Frost spent almost two minutes to take down the enemy elite monster as well as those that came to his aid. 40 seconds to rejoin with Colonel Casper, another few minutes to take down some C-rank officers dotted around and another couple minutes to plunge headfirst through the nks and into the heart of the enemy ranks, drawing ever closer towards the A-rank Generals and upper ranked officers. Wisely however Casper and Colonel Ridge didn''t delve in too far, merely teasing the enemy, provoking them until their faces turned red in anger. By this time the operation was past the halfway point and over 20,000 enemies had been killed while no more than 40 had been lost amongst the left wing and 50 by the right, a clear and decisive victory. Filled with hubris, pride and perhaps arrogance many among the cavalry corps started to let down their guard, relishing in the joy of their invulnerability. Find exclusive stories on empire A very, very dangerous state to be in when ites to war. Chapter 738 Cavalry assault (5) "Kill!" "Arghh!" "Mow them down!" Loud aggressive shouts resonated amongst the din of the battlefield. Find your next adventure on empire The two wings of the cavalry corps led 16,000 strong soldiers deep into the nks of the cial mountain''s liberation alliance''s Vanguard, culling over 30,000 lives in a mere ten minutes. A demoralising, terrifying result that shook the very foundations of the army. Thousands of monsters quivered in fear and ran away in terror whenever the enemy drew near. For the cavalry corps killing the enemy was like shooting fish in a barrel. Because the vanguard was held back by the War Ursa Battalion''s own frontliners the majority of the enemies Frost and Casper had to face were long distanced fighters who fared poorly in closebat. Apart from the minimal amount of defenders and the asional interruption from enemy heavy cavalry the ambush operation was proceeding smoothly, so smoothly in fact that many soldiers were bing cocky, letting their guards down as they relished in their superior strength. A natural reaction even amongst the most battle hardened and strictly trained soldiers. Victory especially a decisive one could easily warp one''s mind, making them forget the threat of cornered prey. Casper did his best to crush such behaviour the moment it surfaced and thankfully the cavalry corps weren''t amateurs, their guards only loosened slightly but even so, it was enough for a disaster to strike. At the core the Alliance''s Vanguard. "How many?" Vash themanding General of the enemy forces asked. "It''s nearing 35,000 General." One of his trusted subordinates replied with a cold sweat dripping down his brow. "Hoh 35,000 deaths in just a few minutesthe Cavalry corps of the War Ursa Battalion certainly live up their renown." Vash spoke in an almost yful manner before letting out a menacingugh. "Hehehehe I''m curious to know what kind of faces those two bitches will show once the tables are turned." His gaze honed in on the top of the Northern wall. It was time for a little payback. "Weep in regret Katrina, Jesscia hehehehe." Vash sounded like a depraved ghost, hysterical at the climax of his revenge. 20 secondster when the time felt right he looked to his subordinate and said, "Send the signal." Before returning to his own personal amusement, eager to watch the fireworks go off from a distance. "Yes General." The subordinate officer replied with a forced smile. The loss of 35,000 soldiers on top of what they had already lost because of the meteor weighed heavily on his mind but he was just a mere mid-ranked officer, it was not his ce to argue against a General. Hundreds of metres to the west Frost who was charging to and fro alongside Colonel Casper suddenly felt a sense of danger. The operation had proceeded a little too smoothly, but this was the first time that he felt that something was truly wrong. He quickly nced across his surroundings but didn''t see anything suspicious. ''What is it?'' He queried as that nagging sense of danger grew more and more prominent. "Kiba watch my back for a second." Unable to ignore his instincts Frost had Kiba guard him while his investigated. He closed his eyes and spread his senses, ignoring as much of the chaos of the battlefield as possible. A tall task even for someone with his level of strength. The loud roars, the shing of weapons, the air shattering explosions, the thick stench of blood and of course the dense congregation of bloodlust in the air masked all else. He was practically blind, restricted to searching but a finite area and with poor uracy. Yet despite this limitation he continued to search, the feeling of danger continued to grow. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end and a looming sense of dread wrapped itself around his heart. By this point Colonel Casper had noticed Frost''s strange behaviour. He was about to reprimand him for his foolishness -a warrior should never close their eyes on the battlefield- but suddenly he too felt something in the air. There was a smell, something foul on the wind. A momentter Frost''s eyes opened wide after catching something. He swung his ive at the ground, revealing something hidden beneath the snow. "Webbing?" Why was there webbing hidden underneath the ground? So far they hadn''te across as single spider or worm based monster.it shouldn''t be there. rm bells rang, he turned to look at Colonel Casper who''s face had rapidly drained of colour. And before he could even get a word out edgewise Casper retrieved a cylindrical object from his back pocket and pointed it upwards. With a quick injection of mana a bright red light shot into the sky and exploded like a firework. This was the Cavalry corps'' signal for immediate full retreat, one that could be seen even in the most dismal and obscured battlefields. "Frost we move!" Wasting no time Casper spoke to Frost in a hurried tone before having his battle mount Avalon make a U-turn. In under 3 seconds the entire left wing abandoned their targets and desperately retreated back to the western mountain. The right wing was a little slower to react given the distance from the firework as well as momentary confusion and because of that they paid a price. Practically the instant the left wing started to leave the snow and soil underneath their feet started to shift and vibrate. The hidden webbing was pushed to the surface and a momentterrge circr doors were wrenched open and from insiderge spiders appeared. They were roughly 3 metres in diameter, had ck and purple colourings, thick hairy legs and devastatingly sharp fangs. Several of these frightening monsters attacked the nearest living thing in sight, biting down upon their flesh as they forcibly dragged them back down into their hidden bunkers. Some of the soldiers from the right wing were unfortunately caught in such a manner. Either themselves of their battle mounts were bitten and injected with paralysing poison, eliminating their ability to resist and within a second or two they were dragged underground never to be seen or heard from again. The vast majority of these spider monsters however remained in ce above their self-created trapdoor and fired dollops of poison at the fleeing Cavalry corps hoping to restrain their mobility. "Demonic trapdoor spiders." Colonel Casper said through a clenched jaw as he urged Avalon to pick up the pace. These monsters were rarely seen even in the deeperyers of the cial mountains. Vicious creatures that ambush their prey and drag them down in the depths of their underground nests. Deadly assassins, armed with some of the most potent paralytic poisons known to man. Thankfully Casper reacted quickly and set off the emergency firework otherwise the cavalry corps could have met with a real disaster. Quick, hidden leapers armed with a poison that affect mobility, a cavalrymen''s bread and butter. It wasn''t a stretch to say that these monsters were their antithesis or at least they held a significant advantage. Frost fired off some [freezing fireballs] and asionally stabbed with his ive whenever one of these demonic trapdoor spiders attacks. ''D and C-ranks.'' They weren''t too threatening to him but to the average member of the cavalry corps they were deadly. "Pick up the pace!" Casper roared as he carved a path through the still floundering nks of the alliance. The chaos was great for killing but detrimental to picking up speed, something they desperately needed right now because it wasn''t just demonic trapdoor spiders that were hunting them down. That sense of danger Frost and Casper felt was still there and still growing. About 15 seconds after the spiders showed themselves the ground shook once more and in the distance, barring their path to the western mountain long thick pirs appeared. "Fuck! Night bloom adders!" An upper ranked major who was riding nearby loudly cursed, his aura trembling as he spoke. These things were even more dangerous than the demonic trapdoor spiders. "Colonel!" "I know, I know.Frost, Laman, Kursch, Deikka with me we''ll carve a path for the others." With time being such a critical factor Casper ryed his orders, summoning some of the most powerful soldiers under hismand to his side. "So the Demonic empire has made their move after all." The demonic trapdoor spiders and the night bloom adders were not units under any of the other alliance members, he was certain of this.N?v(el)B\\jnn Colonel Casper didn''t quite know how to feel about the situation. He was d that the unknown had finally revealed something but their timing and what they actually revealed spoke volumes about their nature. Decisive, powerful and vicious. Casper trying not to dwell on the overall situation but rather on the problem currently facing his team shook his head and urged Avalon to steam roll through everything in his path. To which Avalon grunted in reply before kicking it up a notch. "Night bloom adders." Frost muttered, he had read a little about them in thependium of monsters found in the cial mountains, but the information was quite bare. Huge, venomous vipers that could only be found in the deeperyers of the inner regions, the further north the better. Rumoured to have the blood of demons running through their veins, weakest members are C-rank. That was it. Keen to know more about this deadly enemy Frost turned to the Major who immediately identified them at a single nce, a man by the name of Kursch. Chapter 739 Cavalry assualt (6) "Major Kursch you know about these monsters?" Asked Frost. Major Kursch, a dwarf with a short stature and a strangely amiable expression given their current circumstances turned to Frost as they chased after Casper and Avalon. "Yes thanks to my younger cousin." He replied. His cousin was a talented peak 3 star cksmith who had travelled throughout the inner regions in her youth, learning all manner of skills and techniques before eventually setting up shop in Icethorne. "ording to her they can asionally be found at the fringes of the 9thyer and are supposedly a subspecies of another species of viper that inhabits the core regions." Although it was just an unconfirmed hypothesis by Kursch''s cousin anything even remotely rted to the core regions was certain to be powerful. Very few sapients ever managed to travel beyond the inner regions and survive but all those that were lucky enough, described it as a hellishndscape, littered with upper ranked monsters as far as the eye could see. B-ranks weremon, A-ranks merely umon and even S-ranks were simply rare. A chaotic ce where survival of the fittest reigned supreme. "Any weaknesses?" "F''raid not Frost. They''re fast, flexible, resistant to magic especially the ice element and pack a deadly corrosive venom that they can spit over long distances or inject directly through their fangs." Karsch replied and shrugged his shoulders causing Frost to frown. "The only advise I can give you is to stay away from their tailsOh and try to preserve as much of their skin and organs as possible, they make for great smithing and cooking materials hehehe." Kurschughed and salivated at the thought of some snake hotpot. ''Haaaaaa guess I''ll have to y it by ear then.'' Frost sighed andmented his luck. "Eyes front, weapons and shields at the ready, take them down!" Colonel Casper loudly bellowed as he led the charge. The night bloom adders were ahead and charging right for them. Their long split tongues flickering in and out of their venomced maws as they eyed up Casper and his cohorts. Such delicious prey was offering themselves up on a silver tter. These vipers with their rugged scales easily slithered across the ice and snow faster than any horse, eager to taste Sapient flesh. Stretching more than 15 metres in length and numbering in the dozens these monsters made for quite an intimidating sight. Yet despite this Colonel Casper, Frost and the other Majors picked up speed and readied their weapons, diving headfirst into the monstrous pit. Once the distance between them reached 50 metres or so the night bloom adders arched their necks upwards. A wide hood decorated with a threatening pair of fake eyes then extended from the sides of their heads. Following that they all hissed as arge bubble formed and rose up through their necks. "Venom iing!" Casper warned and in the next second thick, viscous dollops of purple and red venom wasunched their way with immense speed. "Dodge!" The Cavalry corps elites took evasive actions, weaving side to side in order to dodge the corrosive rain. "[Fire bullets]" "[Wind shield]" "[Freezing fireball]" Two of the elites were capable of utilising low circle magic. They tested the waters with an offensive fire spell and a defensive wind spell. "Tssss!" The venom corroded the wind shield in less than a second while the fire bullets were quickly engulfed and extinguished. Only Frost''s [freezing fireball] managed to offset the venomous blob, gradually eroding it until it vanished. The ice fire element seemed to still be effective against them albeit barely, half of his fireball''s energy had been used up dealing with just one blob. Frost ned to try out his ive next but in his peripheral vision he saw someone block a blob with their shield. The thick purple and red liquid wrapped itself around the metal and instantly started to eat away at ityer byyer. The female elite was forced to dispose of her shield lest she wanted to lose an arm. Upon seeing such a reaction the rest of the team focused on evasive actions. Such an aggressive volley may be devasting for arger group but for a small squad of elites it was merely an annoyance. "Tsk Carol''s going to chew me out for losing another shield, she just made me that one." The female elite who abandoned her shield clicked her tongue and visibly shivered. She was more scared of dealing with the wrath of a certain cksmith than the snake monsters before her. "Hahahaha serves you right, who told you to block something so corrosive." Another eliteughed out loud as he and his battle mount zigzagged in amongst the purple and red rain. When the group were less than 20 metres away from the snakes they all unsheathed their weapons and prepared their strongest skills to make short work of the enemy. "Ahhhh!" "Urahh!" "Diieee!!" They roared aloud, madness marring their expressions. Vast explosions of energy, creative applications of chakra and razor sharp weapons crashed down on the night bloom adders. Blood gushed forth like geysers, instantly painting the snow and ice below bright red. A full on onught from a bunch of B-ranks was quite the destructive force. Even these immensely strong C-rank snakes crumbled like paper before such immense fury. High pitched hissing escaped their lungs as heads rolled and guts were spilled. "Charge through!" Casper gave another order before ripping apart a night bloom adder that reached close to 20 metres in length, a monster that was just a single step away from the B-rank.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Roaaaarrr!!" Avalon his trusted partner crushed another night bloom adder beneath his paws and roared out in victory. The other battle mounts -Kiba included- replied with their own roars, allowing the thrill of battle and carnage to flow through their veins. The first line of adders was down, on to the next. Colonel Casper and the other elites carved through the adders, making sure to stay out of range of their devasting tails whenever possible. A few of them were almost knocked off their mounts due to a single moment of carelessness. Unfortunately the adders had a couple B-rankmanders with intelligence. While the strongest of their group restricted Casper and the elites a few dozens fanned out from the sides and charged at the rest of the left wing. "Fuck!" Casper loudly cursed as he blocked a tail whip from one of the B-rankmanders. "Military order, focus on escaping. Don''t get bogged down with killing the enemy." The standard cavalry soldiers were like sheep to these ravenous snakes. Just one alone was able to take down multiple soldiers and mounts at the same time. Killing all of them would only dy their escape, the broken nks of the enemy were already showing signs of resurgence. The longer they stayed the worse it''d get. Your next read awaits at empire So despite knowing that such an order would result in multiple deaths Colonel Casper still issued it with nary an ounce of hesitation. "Frost ughter a path; the other Majors and I will cover the rear and widen it." "Yes Colonel!" Frost bravely replied with a firm military salute before charging ahead, picking up some of the extra ck. He''d never say no to extra DP after all, plus Kiba was showing signs of improvement. Although he wasn''t all that threatened by the night bloom adders Kiba was just a C-rank monster, one that was still a little aways from the peak. Even the slightest mistake could result in him suffering serious wounds. He needed to be constantly on guard, ducking and weaving, biting and wing, mowing down enemy after enemy. The carnage, the thrill, the bloodlust all inspired him, igniting his natural instincts, the blood of a predator, a devourer that ruled both thend and sky. "ROOOAARRRR!" Kiba let loose a roar so earth shattering and intimidating that a B-rank Night bloom adder temporarily froze in fear. Its reptilian eyes stared at the smaller Kiba situated beneath Frost. Within his tiger frame and his curled up wings it saw something that made its heart lurch. An image of a fierce predator, one that relished in the flesh of snakes. Though the illusion was momentary it was more than enough time for Frost to take advantage of it. With a swift sh of his ive he severed its head from its body, opening up the path ahead. Kiba meanwhile had a sudden strong urge to eat. The moment the snake''s head fell to the ground he wrenched open his jaw and swallowed a massive chunk of its juicy flesh. It was delicious and energising, Kiba felt like he was going to explode if he didn''t continue to fight and devour his enemies. The two partners, one a Dungeon core and the other a winged cial tiger entered a battle focused fugue state wherein their every move was as efficient as possible. Moving in perfect concert the two killed and moved almost as fast as Casper and Avalon. Within a couple minutes Frost and the other elites managed to create a wide channel, wide enough for the left wing to pass through and reach the western mountain. "Move! Move! Move!" Casper shouted desperately, his spear stabbing in all directions. Their losses were growing exponentially, if they didn''t leave right this second then the alliance''s mid ranks would catch up and pelt them to death with ranged attacks. Cavalrymen after cavalrymen charged through the channel, running at full speed towards the western mountain while Colonel Casper and several other elites defended the channel and blocked the rear. "The way is clear Colonel!" Frost hollered. By this point there wasn''t a single spot of his robes that weren''t dyed red. "Good work Frost. You and Kursch guard the fleeing troops from any more surprises! Everyone else follow in pairs every ten seconds." "What about you Colonel?" "I''ll be thest to leave now go!" Casper was the strongest member of the left wing and their leader, he would hold off the enemy for as long as possible, guaranteeing the maximum number of survivors. He was strong, strong enough to ensure his survival even if the enemy caught up to him and started to surround him. The only way his life would be in true danger was if an A-rank General made a move and so far he didn''t see any signs of them heading over. Battle etiquette was still being upheld for now. Chapter 740 Heart of a soldier Frost and Kursch led the members of the cavalry corps'' left wing towards the western mountain, chopping down the asional night bloom viper as they passed. Two Majors followed in their wake every ten seconds, fiercely guarding the regr soldiers in the centre of the retreating convoy. With them reaching the edges of the enemy''s nks there were few obstacles in their way allowing them to pick up significant speed but even so the sudden retreat of nearly 8000 soldiers couldn''t happen in an instant. Colonel Casper, the leader and strongest member of the left wing defended the rear, preventing the approach of both the revitalised alliance soldiers and the rest of the night bloom adders. With his spear he thrust in all directions, ying monster after monster with no sign of exhaustion. Even when he was the only elite remaining in the back he still held the line. With a determined look on his face he swung his spear horizontally, rebuffing multiple monsters. "You shall not pass!" He roared while crashing the butt of his spear against the ground. In response the snow and ice shook and formed a violent wave that pushed back all monsters within a 20 metre radius. Casper was outnumbered but he wasn''t outgunned. He was a Colonel of the War Ursa Battalion for a reason. Thest few cavalrymen passed through the opening and gained a fair amount of distance from the enemy and just in time because a momentter a thick deluge of arrows and magic thundered down upon their former positions. Casper was forced to cover his body in chakra armour and strengthen his internal force with aura. Magic and arrows pelted down upon both his armour, exposed body and spear but there was no damage. His rank was far too high to sumb to such an uncoordinated attack, but it did hold him in ce for a few seconds. When the dust eventually cleared from the deluge Casper nced behind and prepared to make his own retreat but the moment he went to take the first step his instincts warned him of imminent danger. "Haahhhh!" He quickly swung his spear, channelling lighting chakra through both the weapon and his body. With the added eleration he managed to make contact in time. Ting! A high pitched ting of metal meeting metal rang out followed by a loud clicking of tongues. "Hmph quick reactions Colonel Casper."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "We were just half a beat too slow." Two voices, one a woman''s and other a man''s both rather old spoke out. Casper pulled back his spear into a defensive stance while Avalon hunkered down and growled aggressively at the two interlopers. Casper''s arm felt numb and the seams between a couple of his fingers showed signs of tearing. The attack he bore was strong, strong enough to wound someone like him. There were few of such individuals among the enemy ranks. He narrowed his eyes as he recognised their faces. "Colonel Abagar of the Jabrak Kingdom and Apostle Celunia of the Northen nation." Among their own forces the two individuals had the same rank as him but just like how theirmon soldiers paled inparison to those of the War Ursa Battalion, one on one they were no match for Casper. Abagar and Celunia felt a tinge of pride at being recognised by their enemy but almost instantly that pride turned into embarrassment and disdain. Casper spoke their names and origins but followed it with a sigh of relief and a look of derision. "Bastard!" Celunia holding a particr hatred for the War Ursa Battalion screeched andunched a vicious attack against Casper. "Shit don''t ah fuck it!" Abagar knew Casper was taunting them but was powerless to stop Celunia. After giving a brief order for the surrounding soldiers to disperse or chase after the cavalry corps'' left wing he joined the assault on Casper. "Hmph just the two of you want to take me on! In your dreams!" Casper showed off a wild expression as dense lightning chakra flowed through his body, granting him and Avalon an insane degree of speed and freedom. Despite being stronger than the two of them he couldn''t easily retreat in their presence. In a brief moment offort he nced at the Northern wall far in the distance. Though it wasn''t exactly clear he could still make out General Katrina standing there with her arms crossed. She saw him as well and responded with a curt nod which basically greenlit his battle with Celunia and Abagar. She and Jessica were keeping a close eye on the overall situation, especially the movements of Vash and the Generals not fighting with Jared and Danielle. "An ambush by the forces from the Demonic empire." Katrina muttered to herself, tapping her fingers against her arms as she thought. Though they were prepared for something to go wrong this particr problem was unexpected. "Poison, nasty stuff too." Poison was a real problem during a war like this one. Treating the victims required resources, resources that were finite. "Night bloom adders and Demonic trapdoor spiders, all at a decent rank.is this merely a prelude or an arranged misdirection." Too little was known about the demonic empire, she thus she couldn''t be sure. Were these two species just the equivalent of disposable Vanguard forces or true representatives of their official army. One was bad while the other was much, much worse. "Ahhh the suspense is killing me. How long do I have to wait?" Katrina was getting agitated, she wanted to see the true form of the alliance''s leader, to know the extent of the behemoth that was supposedly marching upon their gates. "Kat." Jessica called from the side gesturing towards the Cavalry corps right wing. Unlike the left wing which Frost was currently a part of and who were sessfully engaging in a full retreat the right wing wasn''t faring too well. Their reaction to the firework was just a tad too slow allowing several of their soldiers to be dragged underground by the demonic trapdoor spiders. Dozens more failed to escape their spitting venom and thus sumbed to the paralytic symptoms. The remaining nk forces who were starting to revitalise thanks to the aid of their reinforcements quickly swarmed them first, tearing them apart with vicious expressions on their faces. Numerous losses sent a wave of panic through the right wing generating more chaos and slowing down their reactions even more. 20% of them charged desperately to the eastern mountain as fast as possible and encountered the second ambush. By the time Colonel Ridge managed summon a contingent of elites to cut open a path several dozens of their soldiers had already sumbed to the vipers attack. Their escape was hard fought and with far more losses than the left wing but even, so they seeded in the end. Like Casper, Ridge was guarding the rear and was eventually assailed by two enemy Colonels. The problem was that the two Colonels sent after Ridge were a notch stronger than the ones attacking Colonel Casper and that a certain A-rank General was in the near vicinity, asionally ncing at Ridge as if he was juicy prey. Katrina wasted no time dissuading such thoughts. With a loud hmph she and Jessica released their aura, harshly intimidating the enemy Generals to the point that their skin formed goosebumps, and their hearts refused to beat. "Lucra fall back!" Through clenched teeth General Vash reluctantly ordered. Katrina and Jessica were watching them like hawks, he even felt as though their intimidation was actually a taunt, daring them to make a move so they''d have a good excuse to engage in a wanton ughter. Lucra who was dangerously close to Ridge nced at the Northern wall in fear before shuffling back to the core of the army, leaving the two Colonels to handle Ridge. "Colonel Ridge might struggle toe out of this safely." Said Jessica clearly still worried about the situation. "An unfortunate ident if it doese to pass but also a lesson." Katrina replied calmly. Colonel Ridge was slightlycking whenpared to Casper, he was more arrogant, more dismissive of the enemy''s strength and less skilled in training those under him. Of course thisparison was strictly in regards to Colonel Casper and a few other Colonels of the War Ursa Battalion. Compared to the Colonels of the Jabrak Kingdom or the Northern nation of cial sprites and ice elementals he was a prodigy. The War Ursa Battalion and Duke Runak just had insanely high standards. While Katrina and Jessica supervised the enemy Generals, preventing their interference. And Colonels Casper and Ridge engaged in two on one duels Frost and Kursch finally reached the western mountain with the first wave of cavalrymen. "We''re using the same paths as before, move move move!" Kursch loudly ranted as he activated a runic medallion to open up the catbs. "What about the enemy?" Frost asked as he took guard on the left side of the passages. "Kill any who make it to the boundary during the retreat, afterwards we''ll copse the passageway." "Copse?" ''They''re going to destroy three exits, such a sacrifice ofbour and time.'' Though he agreed that such a method was secure the loss was unimaginable to him. Unlike him they couldn''t just use DP to carve out a tunnel, no it took time and manpower, a great deal of it too. "Don''t worry about it Frost, this is war. Even if we have to sacrifice the entire catbs to win we''ll do it without hesitation.lives can''t be brought back but inanimate objects and structures can be rebuilt and repaired. There is noparison." Kursch was unwavering in his philosophy, a stance that reverberated within Frost''s mind. The heart of a soldier. Chapter 741 Heart of a soldier (2) Hundreds of cavalrymen shuffled into the western mountain every second. Their movements were seamless and well-coordinated, whichever passage they left out of that was the one they entered. No traffic jams, no idents. 2 minutester what remained of the left wing had sessfully entered the mountain, leaving just the highest elites and of course Colonel Casper who was still engaging the enemy Colonels. "What now?" Frost asked, his ive eager to spill more blood. "We wait for as long as we can." Replied Major Kursch calmly, underneath however he was quite anxious. Colonel Casper was still quite far from the mountain, and he showed very little signs of retreating. Plus the enemy ranks that they had recently managed to demoralise and ughter a path through were marching towards them. If Casper didn''t fall back soon they would be forced to copse the tunnel early, cutting off his path to safety. "Kursch the Colonel''s engaged with the enemy''s top ranked, a Colonel from the Jabrak Kingdom and an Apostle from the Northen nation.retreat is unlikely." Another Major who was part of thest group to leave spoke up, rifying the current situation. "Shit! Are we going to have to abandon the Colonel." One of the younger elites, someone with fire in their veins and bloodshot eyes roared in frustration. Colonel Casper was akin to the sky for the left wing, the absolute leader, their protector and for some even a father figure. Duke Runak was the War Marshall and the heavens but the one that they interacted with on a daily basis was Casper. To abandon such a person was akin to stabbing themselves in the heart. The emotional pain was indescribable. Upon hearing the words of theirrade Frost witnessed each and every single elite clench their jaws and violently tremble. Some growled in an attempt to hold back their desire to charge off into the enemy ranks while others even cried tears of blood. Their hearts screamed for them to charge into battle and give aid to their Colonel, but their minds remembered their duty and Casper''s words. They were the Cavalry corps of the War Ursa Battalion and thus duty and following orders was above all else. Colonel Casper gave the order for a retreat, so retreat they must. "200 metres." Said Kursch through the grinding of his teeth. "When the majority of the enemy reaches the 200 metre mark we''ll fall back and copse the tunnels.The Colonel will have to make his own way back if he fails to return in time." His order was reluctantly given yet unanimously agreed upon. 200 metres, they could wait until that point and no longer lest they wished to jeopardise the entire catbs so early in the war. With a decision made Frost and the elites stood their grounds with their weapons at the ready. Their frustrations could be borne by the fearless group of monsters running ahead of the masses. Don! sh! Bang! Several hundred metres from the western mountain Colonel Casper was engaging with Colonel Abagar and Apostle Celunia. Fighting two on one he actually held the advantage. With his highly honed lightning chakra Casper moved even faster than Indra, suddenly vanishing from their sight and reappearing somewhere else a momentter. At the start of the battle Celunia charged headfirst at Casper, fuelled by her anger. She moved to her own tune and because of that Casper was able to easily evade and manoeuvre between the two. Casper was an old dog with a bucket load of tricks and experiences. Even without the use of shy skills he could run circles around the two of them. While their attacks either failed to reach him or were repelled by his chakra armour his own drew blood. Not serious but enough to infuriate his opponents. Only when Abagar and Celunia managed to calm themselves and work together as a unit was the fight more bnced. As the battle progressed Casper kept looking from side to side as well as behind whenever he got a chance, gauging the overall situation. ''Tsk these two are so annoying.'' He wasn''t in any danger of losing against them anytime soon, but he couldn''t break away. With the enemy soldiers moving around him he knew that his men would have to destroy the catb''s passages soon. He looked back at Abagar and Celunia and then towards the south were the frontlines were engaged. ''Can I make it.'' He asked himself. The distance wasn''t too far for someone of his rank but whether he''d be allowed to or not was the question. Even ants when in enough quantities could take down an elephant let alone the dragons that lying in wait. General Katrina and Jessica could intimidate Vash and the other Generals to some degree but there was a limit. If his escape was truly cut off and he had no choice but to try and reach the frontlines then even if Katrina threatened to enter the battle herself Vash would still order the other Generals to take him and Ridge down.N?v(el)B\\jnn The Vanguard''s whole purpose was to detain and weaken the War Ursa Battalion before the main army arrived. Having the opportunity to take down two or even just one of the Colonels of the enemy''s Cavalry corps was not something they could easily ignore. Even if they didn''t do the deed themselves they could use their pressure to restrict his movements allowing the ants to nibble away. Casper only had one option, he needed to push them both back at the same time, so much so that he could escape their influence and desperately charge for the mountain with Avalon. ''It''s either do or die'' He internally sighed while dodging a blow from Celunia, one that managed to leave a shallow cut across his cheek as it grazed passed him and blew up the ground. By this point skills had started being used, making every attack far more deadly. ''Avalon it''s time to use that.'' Caspermunicated with Avalon through their soul connection. The mighty War ursa frowned in response before agreeing. He really didn''t like using this skill, it hurt too much. Casper and Avalon while charged with lightning chakra practically teleported several metres away, establishing some distance from Abagar and Celunia. Such a choice was dangerous because in the very instant he moved away the two enemy Colonels pulled back their weapons and prepared to use one of their strongest skills. Even with Casper''s speed dodging ultimate skills, especially two of them was an almost impossible task. Thankfully however he didn''t n to dodge. Casper took a deep breath and Avalon strengthened his legs. The two formed a solid connection through their soul pact allowing their energies tobine and flow between them as if their were a single entity. The four of them erupted with auras so dense that they were on the very brink of bing a tangible substance, the hall mark of an A-rank. The very air around them swirled and exploded from the building pressure. Three ultimate skills generated by three Colonel level fighters and a peak B-rank War Ursa, even a General would have to be on his guard. "[Fury of the elements, lightning avnche]!" When he and Avalon''s energies reached maximum output, and their auras had perfectly fused Casper called out the name of his most powerful skill. "[Cry of ice the queen]" "[Tiger king''s judgement]" Celunia and Abagar made their moves in the same instant. Behind Celunia a giant female spirit entombed in thick ice was formed. The entity initially had its eyes closed but when Celunia made her move it opened them wide and screamed so violently that the ice tomb shattered. For Abagar atop his appeared an enormous tiger with a natural crown resting atop its head. The summoned beast that was almost indistinguishable from a living lifeform gazed at Casper and Avalon with disregard before shing down with its mighty paw. These two skills were more than enough to easily blow apart someone like Bhus, a man who -when he was alive- was at the peak of the early stages. Frost on the other hand now being in the mid stages could perhaps survive thebined blow but his injuries would be critical perhaps even fatal. s it was not Frost facing down these two Colonels but Casper and his powerful battle mount partner Avalon. Though the pressure from these two skills made breathing an ordeal Casper was unperturbed. His energy that seemed to already be at maximum output changed. His lightning chakra that was empowering the skill became violent and chaotic as a second type of chakra was added. Casper was a natural lightning user, born with the affinity whereas Avalon could effortlessly use ice chakra. Over the years the two of them gradually built a tolerance and perhaps even a slight talent for one another''s element. As long as they were careful and used small amounts they couldbine the two, giving them an extra edge in battle. This skill however did not use such paltry amounts, and they were anything but careful with it. [Fury of the elements, Lightning avnche] was the result of many years of hard work and training. Casper and Avalon while working together could violently collide their chakras resulting in a chaotic burst of explosive power that could even injure someone at the A-rank. The only downside was that using it resulted in a painful bacsh. Casper and Avalon would be seriously wounded as a result and thus the technique rarely saw the light of day. But now, a painful bacsh was the lesser of two evils. Chapter 742 Heart of a soldier (3) As Celunia''s entombed ice spirit and Abagar''s giant tiger king unleashed their might, behind Casper a chaotic mess of violent lightning repeatedly shed against sturdy ice crystals. The ensuing chaos generated a fierce storm that roiled and boiled, growing at an absurd rate as brutal explosions happened within. Within seconds the giant looming storm outshone both the ice spirit and the tiger, threatening to engulf them both. An ideal representation of how fragile life was in the face of mother nature. "Die!" Loudly bellowed Casper as he shot one final injection of chakra into the massive storm, finally pushing it over the edge. With a cataclysmic boom the storm burst open like a violent volcano, erupting the chaos sealed within upon Celunia and Abagar. ""AHHHHHH!!!!"" The two enemy Colonel screamed in terror as their ultimate skills were ripped apart and their bodies were sent flying like a pair of ragdolls. Bones shattered, blood erupted like a geyser and the ground all around waspletely destroyed. An enormous pit more then 15 metres deep and twice that in diameter was formed where Celunia and Abagar once stood. Such destructive prowess couldn''t go ignored. Vash and the other A-rank Generals in the core of the army turned their heads in Casper''s direction. Such an attack would put even them on tenterhooks let alone individuals still at the B-rank. "Go Avalon!" Knowing that his current predicament and disy of strength would draw attention from the sleeping dragons Casper despite his wounds ordered Avalon to retreat as fast as possible. He even summoned a few tendrils of lightning chakra to increase their speed. As the two ran away, dozens of blood vessels burst open throughout their bodies, quickly dyeing them blood red. "Cough, cough!" Casper loudly coughed, spitting up a significant amount of dark coloured blood and even bits of his lungs. [Fury of the elements, lighting avnche] was no joke, his body couldn''t handle such chaotic power. Everything in his body hurt, the pain was so bad that every signal sent to his brain was trying to knock him unconscious. Despite his severe injuries however Casper pulled out three metallic spheres from his storage ring, charged them with a little mana and tossed them behind, to his left and to his right. Moments after these spheres struck the ground they exploded, fragmenting any nearby monsters and putting up a thick smokescreen to mask his tracks. With that done he no longer looked back, he stuck his body as close to Avalon''s back as possible and the two ran for the western mountain in the distance. In the core area of the alliance''s army General Vash red at the fleeing Casper, his dark thoughts obvious for all to see. To his left at roughly the same time Colonel Ridge also managed to sessfully push back his opponents and make a dash to safety. This was not good news, not good at all. One of them had to die. With just a quick exchange of nces Vash ordered two A-rank Generals with decent speed to chase after the fleeing enemy. To hell with Katrina''s threats, these Colonels needed to die. Their movements were soon noticed by Generals Katrina and Jessica who instantly bared their fangs. "You dare!" They loudly questioned, their auras piercing the sky in an attempt to intimidate their enemy. s this time Vash was determined. He and the remaining Generals stood stalwart against their intimidation, releasing their own auras in reply. The speed of an A-rank was hard to describe, even with the distance between them and the narrow head starts that Casper and Ridge had managed to secure the enemy was on their heels in just 20 seconds. "Bastards!!" Katrina roared once more, this time taking a forceful step into the air, using her aura to form a solid surface beneath her feet. Her mind was split between two choices, should she continue to restrain herself orpletely let loose. It wasn''t the ideal time for her to go on a ughter but then again she couldn''t allow the War Ursa Battalion to lose such talented Colonels. This short period of indecision was exactly what Vash wanted; an A-rank only needed a moment tounch a devasting attack. Once the deed was done and the enemy was dead would she still risk an all-out war at such a juncture? He was gambling on the answer being no.but even if he was wrong, he couldn''t let the two Colonels leave. A couple hundred metres from the western mountain. Casper and Avalon who had charged ahead as fast as they possibly could at the expense of more injuries felt the spectre of death wing at the back of their necks. The pressure they suddenly felt was magnitudes greater than that from Celunia and Abagar. ''Shit they really made a move.'' Casper felt a tinge of despair in his heart. If he wasn''t injured he wouldn''t mind going a couple rounds with a weak A-rank but now.his injuries were so severe that just one well-ced attack could end him. Whenever he used [Fury of the elements, lighting avnche] he was gambling with his life. As long as he killed or incapacitated his enemy he''d be golden but if he failed, he was easy pickings. Casper felt regret, regret for his own weakness. Because of his limited strength he would never see his family again, never again fight alongside his brothers and sisters in arms, never watch the young pups grow up into a generation of soldiers stronger than thest. He didn''t want to die, he still had so much to live for. But he was a man of honour and duty, if he was to die then he would die fighting. Casper shared his emotions with Avalon and without a single shred of fear the two turned around and readied themselves for one final battle. His spear and Avalon''s ws had never tasted the flesh of an A-rank fighter, perhaps today would be the day.a fitting end. ''Sorry War Marshall, Field General Katrina I''ll be leaving ahead of schedule.'' With blood dripping down his lips and his bones aching with even the slightest of movements Casper internally bade farewell before tightly grabbing the shaft of his spear and thrusting outwards at the iing ded leg. "Goodbye Colonel Casper." The A-rank General, a fierce looking bipedal mantis from the blue horde said her piece before bringing down her right leg upon his head, aiming to end it in a single blow. "STOP!!!" Katrina roared for the third time, her aura sting out to such an extreme degree that even Vash felt his insides churn. Katrina was strong, far stronger than he was, but she was too slow to act. Even if she moved this very second she''d never make in time. General Jessica however didn''t hesitate, she conjured a 5th circle spell and shot it directly at the A-rank hounding after Colonel Ridge who was perhaps even more injured than Casper. The two A-rank Generalspletely ignored their antics, focusing all their efforts on the two Colonels lest they lose their nerve at the final moment. Katrina and Jessica were quite terrifying after all. Casper seeing the determination in the enemy General''s eyes summoned thest vestiges of his strength. "Urah!" He loudly grunted and thrusted with his spear. ng! His spear was easily repelled by the enemy''s ded leg. He was sent reeling backwards, his right shoulder on the brink of dislocation and his guardpletely blown apart. "Shit!" Casper let out a curse filled with frustration; he was too weak in his current state, carve up a piece of flesh hah he couldn''t even leave a tiny scratch. The mantis General donned an evil smile as she followed through with her downward cleave, Casper would be split in twain. "COLONEL!!!!" "Not today bitch!" "Taste my spear!" "And my axe!" Suddenly just as the mantis General''s leg was about to make contact with Casper''s head the Majors who had stayed back to guard the catb''s entrance suddenly appeared from behind with their weapons in hand. "Urah!!" Frost and Kursch were among them, a total of 8 B-rank fighters joined together to block the strike of an A-rank General. Despite their sudden movements the eight of them were quite in sync. None of them used skills so as to avoid being detected ahead of time yet even without such extras the physical strength of 8 B-ranks was nothing to sneeze at. With theirbined might they forced the enemy General back, saving Colonel Casper from certain death. "Frost!" The moment the enemy was rebuffed Major Kursch called out to Frost. "On it." He curtly replied before making aplete U-turnn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Sorry about this Colonel" Frost ignored the confused, relieved and somewhat anger expression on Casper''s face and took hold of him. "Urgh!" Casper grunted in pain as Frost carried him from Avalon''s back and onto Kiba''s. The moment he was secure Kiba charged for the catbs. "Avalon!" "Don''t worry Colonel we''re on it." The moment Frost took hold of Casper a pair of B-rank War ursas nked Avalon and supported him as they ran in the same direction. "AHHH you bastards how dare you disobey my orders! I''ll see you all court martialled for insubordination when we return!" Casper after seeing that Avalon also being carried to safety was suddenly filled with anger. He red at the backs of his subordinates and loudly bellowed through fits of violent coughing. "Hahaha sounds great Colonel." "A court martial it''s been a while since myst one hahaha." "Try not to die on the way back Colonel otherwise who''ll punish us hehehe." The Majors allughed and smiled from ear to ear upon hearing his threats. They saved theirmander, why would they fear a little court martial. "Bastards!" Casper cursed once again but this time tears were streaming down his face. ''You better all return or else I''ll chase your asses into the underworld.'' Casper feared for their lives, they may outnumber the enemy and be in somewhat peak condition but none of them were at the peak stage. 7 B-ranks against a single A-rank, fighting perhaps even defeating was possible, but losses would be inevitable. Chapter 743 Heart of a soldier (4) Frost and Kiba carried Colonel Casper into the western mountain following the rest of the unit while the 7 Majors held back the enemy General. Individually they were no match for her but by working together as a single cohesive unit they could hold their own. "Ahh you damn annoying flies!" The General from the blue horde roared out her frustrations as sheshed out with her ded legs. Each and everysh was equivalent to a full strength blow from ate maybe even peak stage B-rank due to the shell of solidified aura wrapped around her legs. She was absolutely livid, her face turning red from her growing fury. Her mission was to kill Casper not thesemon officers. The death of a Major even seven of them couldn''t bepared to the death of a single Colonel like Casper. The choice to attack Casper and Ridge came with great risk. Without sess the consequences would be dire and their efforts would have been made in vain. A creeping fear, a primal terror wrapped around her heart, growing more vivid with every passing second. All she could do to resist this encroaching fear wassh out at the flies swarming around her in a desperate attempt to save their leader. "Kill! Kill! Kill! What are you louts waiting for! Follow them into the mountain!" Therge bipedal mantis loudly ordered as she witnessed both Casper and Avalon vanish into a hole in the ground. No matter how hard she hit or how fast she moved she couldn''t escape the 7 Majors restraints. Whenever she blew one away another would simply take their ce, rotating in and out so as to share the burden. They were determined to hold her in ce no matter the cost. "Hah is this all you''ve got." Said one the Majors as he shed with his massive axe. "You want to take the Colonel''s life with just this, in your dreams." "So this is what passes for A-rank in the alliancePathetic." The Majors all mocked and taunted the enemy, growing her fury and redirecting her attention to them rather than the fleeing Casper. Even if they died here today as long as Colonel Casper survived, and the catbs weren''t breached they''d consider this operation a sess. Behind them near the catbs entrances a trio of senior Captains were left in charge of the copse. Ordered to blow the tunnels to kingdome the moment the enemy forces made an advance on the mountain. "AARRGGGHH!!" The enemy General''s eyes turned blood red in her anger, she gave up all manner of defence and decided to kill all the annoying flies first. Boom! A Major caught unprepared by the sudden aggression had his shield blown apart and his right arm broken as his body was smashed against the ground. The others weren''t quite fast enough to reach him before Squelch! "AAAHHH!" One of the mantis general''s ded legs stabbed him in the gut, eviscerating his intestines and leaving a gruesome, open wound that spurted out blood like a geyser. This decisive action didn''te without some cost, however. Because she focused her full attention on attacking the mantis General was left open for a counterattack. "DIE!! [Snakebite thrust]" Major Kursch with his spear in hand used his most developed skill, summoning the image of a vicious green snake around his spear. The apparition was filled withrge amounts of aura, solidifying its form and giving it a terrifying glint in its eyes. The spear and snake moving as one flew through the air, generating a high pitched ringing before crashing against the torso of the enemy General. Two more equally strong attacks came from two other Majors. Their attacksnding at the same time, their enemy incapable of defending herself. Don! Don! Squelch! The three attacks were on the mark, one to the torso another to the back and thest to the head. The timing was perfect, the strength behind them immense and all at the exact same time, impossible to block. Unfortunately their opponent was an A-rank monster, and they were just B-rank, not even at the peak. The attack on the back crashed against the General''s carapace with a loud thud, 50% of the power was absorbed by a barrier of aura while the rest was endured by the strength of her natural body, resulting in nothing but a small mostly superficial crack. Mantis monsters were not just strong physically but highly armoured thanks their dense exoskeletons. Breaching their carapace with sub star weaponry was an almost impossible task. And the opponent before them was not just any mantis monster but one that had reached the A-rank. The hardness of her exoskeleton likely rivalled that of 4 star metals at the very least. An axe filled with primal strength shed at her head, but it was easily caught by her razor sharp mandibles. There was no crack or nick with this one, but her mandibles were heavily bruised by the blow. Despairingly however at the moment they appeared pristine, not even a slight blemish left after taking the Major''s axe skill head on. Finally there was Kursch''s spear and unlike his two colleagues he actually drew some blood. The snake apparition tore apart her aura defence at the expense of its form while the spear thrust straight for a discoloured spot on her torso, likely left behind by Jared, Danielle or perhaps the meteor summoned by General Jessica and the magic corps. He didn''t know the origin of the weak point but nevertheless he set his sights upon it. His spear met with great resistance but eventually it plunged through a chink in the carapace and reached soft flesh. The head went in as far as 70% of its length before being unable to continue. Thin streams of the General''s blood flowed along the spearhead''s narrow grooves, dripping down onto the snow below. There was an eerie silence that seemed to linger forever. The A-rank mantis General that was roaring a second ago waspletely silent as she looked down and saw the spear thrust into her torso. She felt pain, true pain. A B-rank trash actually wounded her glorious body, such an insult couldn''t be allowed to pass. Without a single sound or warning her right foreleg cut through the air and smashed into Major Kursch sending him flying like a sack of bricks. "Cough!" Such a blow rattled his organs and nearly dislocated his shoulder. The opponent was far stronger than he thought. Following him the soldiers who attacked her back and head were also sent flying a momentter, powerless to resist such immense force. Crack! The axe that was still lodged in the mantis General''s mandibles was turned into scrap metal the moment she bit down. A half-step 4 star weapon, crushed just like that. The owner couldn''t even bemoan his loss as he crashed into the ground with his wounded body. Kursch''s spear was snapped in half, the shaft tossed into the distance while the head remain lodged within her torso. Thest weapon failed to pierce her carapace and was thus still in the hands of the woman she just sent flying. Things weren''t looking good, their formation waspletely shot, half of them were injured -one in critical condition- and separated across the battle zone. They could onlypete with an A-rank enemy if they worked together as a cohesive unit. Split apart they''d be easy pickings and unfortunately the enemy General had set her sights on her first target. The man she stabbed in the gut earlier. She chose to kill the one in critical condition first and then gradually pick off the rest, one by one.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om By this point she hadpletely forgotten about her mission to hunt down Colonel Casper. She was so focused on the annoying flies buzzing around her that she let her anger override her judgement, and because that she forgot something important. Her anger made her ignore her sense of danger, that looming dread and pressure that made her very skin crawl and heart struggle for every beat had been forgotten. With murder in her eyes she red at the seriously wounded Major bleeding from his gut, his allies desperately trying to cover for him and or drag him to safety. Her re made the battle hardened man shiver in fear, he turned to look up at the woman''s insectoid face and a momentter she was right in front of him with her ded forelegs armed and ready to slice him apart. His mind became nk, and his sense of time slowed down to a crawl. He watched as she towered over his body, feeling harmless and fragile in the face of an apex predator. Fear? Yes he did feel afraid. He didn''t want to die but what he worried about more was therades currently by his side, ready to block this iing blow that was sure to be fatal. If he justy here, his friends would be seriously wounded, and his death would merely be dyed for a moment. The choice was obvious. With a determined smile on his lips he ignored the pain in his gut and picked himself up. He saw his fractured shield by the waysideuseless, but his sword, that was still tightly gripped in his left hand was whole. Pushing hisrades out of the way he charged forward with his sword, eager for a glorious death. ''No court martial for me I guess.'' Chapter 744: Wrath of the Iron Bear 744 Chapter 744: Wrath of the Iron Bear A man and a woman, two Majors of the cavalry corps'' left wing were suddenly pushed aside by their seriously woundedrade. The man bore a look of fierce determination and conviction, and with a powerful sword wielded in his left hand he charged straight for the enemy. His allies caught by surprise were powerless to stop him. By the time they managed to react he was already swinging his sword at the enemy General. "Kiros!!" They pleaded, their eyes swiftly bing red. "DIE!!!!" The wounded Major known as Kiros lightly smiled upon hearing their voices but then in the next moment he roared like a wild beast. He injected everyst morsel of his aura and internal energy into his sword, summoning a vivid apparition in the form of a golden bear. With this golden bear by his side Kiros unleased the most powerful sh of his entire life. ng! With a loud metallic ng his sword made contact with the General''s razor sharp foreleg. Sparks ignited and the very air exploded as energy smashed against energy. Kiros'' final blow was strong and tenacious, filled with desperation he managed to force back the enemy General''s right foreleg. The A-rank mantis felt a stinging sensation along the end of her limb, Kiros managed to leave a slight wound and even shake her exoskeleton, an impressive achievement in his final hours. Unfortunately it wasn''t enough, while Kiros was severely drained and forced to take several steps backwards exacerbating his already critical wounds she simply swiped down with her left foreleg a momentter. He managed to stop one attack but what about two or three or even four. His line was already cut, thest of his strength used up in a pointless disy. ''Die little fly'' She held nothing but contempt for these annoying B-ranks, how dare they impede her path. Kiros would be but the first to die under her might. With her mandibles vibrating in glee at the prospect of blood the A-rank mantis brought down her left foreleg, aiming to slice Kiros in twain from head to toe. It''d be easy, sapient flesh was always so soft and simple to cut through. If they didn''t have their forged armours, weapons and magic then how could they everpete with powerful monsters such as her and her kin. To her having a weak physical body was a sin. Kiros was as white as a ghost as a veritable river of blood leaked from his intestines and dyed the snow beneath his feet. He red at his enemy and refused to drop the sword in his left hand, he would die fighting. Suddenly however when he readied himself for death he blinked twice in rapid session before smiling from ear to ear. ''Hahahaha looks like the Gods are blessing me this day.'' He internally celebrated, his fear of death vanishing in an instant. The enemy General was so fixated on the prey before her that she waspletely oblivious to her distant surroundings. Kiros only managed to notice due the change to the direction he was facing. The moment her ded foreleg was about to make contact with Kiros'' head arge ck object flew through the air faster than the speed of sound. This object collided against her outstretched leg with a loud boom and immediately shattered her exoskeleton and almost severed her entire limb. "Skriii!!" The mantis General let loose a shrill cry as she suffered the feeling of extreme pain. Kiros and the other Majors may have managed to sting her a little and even draw out a small amount of blood butpared to this they were no different from mosquitoes. The intense pain brought her out of her raged induced bloodlust finally allowing her to feel that sense of danger once again, a feeling that couldn''t be any more profound at this very moment. Her heart that was beating rapidly in excitement now refused to beat at all, afraid that even the slightest bit noise would draw attention. Her strong body that was protected by a durable exoskeleton started to shiver uncontrobly and she could feel the spectre of death looming all around her as if patiently waiting to take her soul to the other side. It had been years, decades even since she had ever felt so terrified, a primal fear that only surfaced when faced with a far superior predator. Holding her shattered left leg close to her chest the mantis General turned around to face her aggressor. There standing in the air several tens of metres away was Katrina with a cked expression. She had ordered the A-rank Generals to stop, to not interfere in the battle of soldiers yet they refused to listen. Not only did this mantis General almost kill Colonel Casper but now instead of falling back she was trying kill the Majors that got in her way. Was she Katrina someone weak? A vegetarian that the enemy could walk all over. No she was anything but. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om s it seems that the enemy needed a reminder of her moniker, the Iron Bear of the War Ursa Battalion. "Leave now." With her aura and bloodlust starting to billow outwards in an intimidating manner, General Katrina nced at the Majors of the Cavalry corps and ordered them to leave immediately. This battle no longer concerned them. Feeling energised and full of spirit each of the Majors, Kiros included- Saluted in her direction and said "Yes General" before quickly running towards the western mountain. They didn''t look back nor did they kill any of the enemy soldiers in the nearby vicinity. They simple ran as fast as they possible could. The mantis General and the thousands of soldiers charging towards the western mountain didn''t dare stop them in fact none of them even dared to move. The pressure exuded by Katrina was so profound that each and every one of them felt like a set of razor sharp fangs were positioned around their necks. Katrina didn''t focus much on themon soldiers merely intimidating them a little with her presence, a show of force nothing more. The situation was still on tenterhooks, if she rashly attacked themon ranks then Vash would have no choice but to engage in a full blown war of the upper ranks. The mantis General however was a different story, her gaze was firmly locked onto this previously intimidating monster. This foolish woman dared to continue her attack after failing, she dared to test Katrina''s patience and because of that she was going to die. No matter what Vash said or threatened there was no way she was going to allow this bitch to live another day. Katrina waved her hand slightly and the ck object that shattered the mantis General''s carapace so easily flew back into her hand. The object was cylindrical, simr to a narrow hourss in shape. Its base colour was jet ck with a few golden trims along the edges. This was General Katrina''s signature weapon, an upper-5 star staff cudgel made from the femur of an A-rank ape monster and several other high quality materials. Adding in a significant amount of her own wealth she had itmissioned by the smiths in the Capital for her tenth anniversary as a General in the War Ursa Battalion. Together with her famous cudgel Katrina invoked fear across the entirety of the inner regions, even those in thete stages had to be wary of falling victim to her weapon''s destructive power let alone someone in the early stages like the mantis General trembling before her now. Her prided exoskeleton was nothing whenpared to the might of Katrina''s [10,000 tonne cudgel]. A rather boorish name but one that Katrina adored. Her fighting style was rather simple; she didn''t rely on chakra, fancy footwork, feints or magic instead majored in physical strength. She would hit hard, hit fast and hit urately. Nothing more and nothing less. Such a fighting style could be seen as primitive and basic but in that simplicity Katrina was able to get rid of all wasted movements and learn to perfectly control 100% of her strength. Making each and every single one of her blows deadly. With the cudgel in hand Katrina''s aura jumped to another level and the mantis General had to resist falling to her knees in submission. The difference in their levels was just too far apart. The cudgel could shatter her armour as if it was ss, depriving her of a key advantage. The two A-ranks stared at one another in silence for several seconds. In the distance the Majors and their remaining battle mounts charged into the catbs along with the senior Captains who remained behind. Momentster the sounds of several explosions going off came from inside the western mountain and thest 300 metres of passages 4, 5 and 6 copsed, barring all ess from either side. Only when the catbs had been blocked and the left wing had sessfully retreated did Katrina let out a sigh of relief. The soldiers were safe now it was time for her to dole out a little punishment upon their aggressor. Her left hand wrapped around the shaft of her cudgel so hard that her knuckles loudly cracked in response. A turbid air filled with the scent of blood surrounded her as she stepped down from the sky and touched the ground. Crack! The snow, ice and rock crumbled under her feet, unable to endure pressure and weight of her body. The mantis General visibly trembled and unconsciously took a step back as she approached. She was afraid. Katrina''s aura continued to grow along with her bloodlust, the stench and pressure was so intense that the soldiers in the vicinity began to see illusions of a dead sea. "Anyst words?" Chapter 745: Wrath of the Iron Bear (2) 745 Chapter 745: Wrath of the Iron Bear (2) "Anyst words?" General Katrina asked in a tone so cold that the very air began to freeze. There was no negotiation, the A-rank mantis was going to die here one way or another. "G..G..Ge" overwhelmed by fear therge bipedal mantis stuttered. She didn''t want to die. She tried to talk to Katrina, but the Iron Bear of the War Ursa Battalion gave her no quarter. The pressure afflicting her grew stronger and stronger as did the stench of blood and the sense of iing death. Katrina slowly walked towards the female mantis one heavy step at a time, herrge cudgel lightly swinging back and forth creating small air explosions as it moved. The name [10,000 tonne cudgel] spoke volumes -though notpletely urate- about its weight. Just like Maya''s heirloom hammers her cudgel was far, far heavier than it looked. Her visage seemed to grow and grow to the point that the originally two and half metre tall Katrina reached as high as the clouds, dwarfing the mantis General. This was an illusion brought on by a mix of her own fear and the density and purity of Katrina''s aura and natural bloodlust. Her mind generated an image that was impossible to resist and thus straight from the get-go her strength was handicapped. This sensation was what people felt when facing against someone who was both far superior and of a high rank. Aura affected ones instinctual and primal fears. Frost would have a simr effect against those in the early stages of C-rank and below. His image would be akin to a giant, an invincible being that they were hopeless to defeat. A high ranking individual could pressure the masses with their aura alone, significantly limiting the amount strength they could muster. The mantis General could feel every cell of her body warning her of imminent death. She was also at the A-rank, how could the difference be so staggering? ''No this is impossible!'' She refused to ept this; it was nothing but a mind game. "Rooaarr!!" Refusing to fall victim to Katrina''s intimidation she roared in refusal, attempting to overwrite her instincts. Her own aura started to churn and fight back against Katrina''s. The overwhelming giant thus started to shrink and appear marginally weaker, unfortunately Katrina saw no reason to give her a chance to break free. "You can die now little bug [Copse of the heavens]" since the bug had said her piece it was time for her to cross over to the other side. With her cudgel raised high above her head, aura and internal energy fused together to form what appeared to be a floating city above the clouds. Trumpets, harps, bells and enchanting songs could be heard and shadows of people dressed in white could be seen interacting with one another. Such a magical scene gave off an intense pressure simr to that of the meteor that Jessica summoned only on a smaller and more targeted scale. The mantis General''s body suddenly felt tens of times heavier and her every move was a struggle. It was as though a heavenly being, a God was watching her and about to hand out her sentence. Her aura slowed and the internal energy she summoned to activate her own ultimate skill was chaotic, unbridled as though refusing to be controlled by her. "KATRINA!!!" She screamed in anguish as the heavenly city started to fracture and fall from the sky. Frantic and desperate wailing came from the heavenly city as it was torn asunder. A violent and chaotic force was released from within the broken city, a force that followed the path of Katrina''s descending cudgel. This immensely destructive force easily blew apart the mantis General''s shaky skill activation and proceeded to tear her body apart atom by atom. The mighty A-rank mantis General with a single swing of Katrina''s cudgel was forced prone, unable to resist as her supposedly durable exoskeleton caved in on itself. Her body was quickly fractured, broken, torn and mashed up into a gruesome meat ball no more than 50cm in diameter. Katrina didn''t hold back in the slightest, destroying everyst morsel of the mantis'' usable material. The purpose of this battle was not for resources but to send a message and invoke fear amongst the enemy. And it was a roaring sess, 30% of the soldiers in the nearby vicinity passed out while the rest fell to their knees, voided their bowels and screamed in abject terror. This was the Iron Bear of the War Ursa Battalion, a woman on the same level as the Mana Subus perhaps even slightly higher. Over a kilometre west Vash and the other Generals -bar the one who went after Colonel Ridge- red at Katrina with a mixture of wrath and fear but mostly fear. "Bitch!" Vash cursed under his breath; his hands balled tightly into fists so hard that blood was drawn. Katrina''s brutal disy upended their entire resurgence, the morale that they so delicately recovered was destroyed in that one moment. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om His anger was to be expected. And unlike the rest of themon soldiers, officers and even Generals he was much on the true reasons for Katrina''s overwhelming victory. Yes Katrina was strong, far stronger than the mantis General but it''s also true that she took her by surprise, intimidated her so much from the get-go that she couldn''t properly defend herself but most importantly the two of them were a terrible match up. The mantis General boasted an incredible natural defence system and impressive physical strength, areas in which Katrina reigns supreme. Her cudgel with its frightening density and weight fares poorly against fast and flexible individuals but itpletely dominates those who rely on hard outer shells. The moment such individuals get hit by her cudgel that impressive defensive system of theirs would break apart like a te of ss. Even Vash''s scales would struggle to endure a direct blow from her [Copse of the heavens] though he wouldn''t be quite so overwhelmed by it like the mantis General. If she hadn''t stupidly remained stationary and tried to fight force with force they she may have been able to retreat somewhat, allowing him and the other Generals to make a move. s due to abination of bad match-up, surprise and Katrina not holding back in the slightest the battle ended in an instant, leaving them powerless to react and another General short. "Ahhh!" Suddenly to the east the General sent after Colonel Ridge was sent flying through the air, his left arm nothing but a mangled mess. Vash refused to lose another General today. "Enough, let''s end the battle here today.you win Katrina." He loudly admitted defeat and gestured for a pair of Generals to quickly retrieve their woundedrade before Jessica finished him off. Vash and Katrina exchanged looks. The tension continued to build, and Jessica showed no signs of letting her target go. Another 5th circle spell was in the chamber, ready to be fired at a moment''s notice. She even taunted the two Generals heading over, daring them to try and rescue theirrade just so she could try and kill 3 enemies with a single shot. Why should the slowpoke Katrina get to kill her target while she is forced to let them go, so unfair. "Katrina don''t force me!" Vash bellowed, his voice heavily tinged with aura. He was on the very brink of copse. If Katrina didn''t put a stop to the battle this very second he''d start the free for all and see just how many of the War Ursa Battalions precious soldiers he could kill before Katrina and Jessica manage to take him down. General Katrina seemed to relish in Vash''s madness, she let him stew for another second before saying "Enough Jess, let''s call it a day." Colonel Casper had escaped thanks to the actions of his Majors and her while Colonel Ridge was saved by Jessica, their losses were minimal and thus the battle could be considered a roaring sess and a perfect point to end on. "KAT!!" Jessica however was practically fuming; she had charged up a whopper of a spell and was told not to use it. "General Jessica" Katrina spoke up again, this time was an authoritative tone. She wasn''t speaking as her friend but as the field Marshall inmand of the entire battlefield. "Tsk!" Upon hearing the official order Jessica loudly clicked her tongue and dissipated her spell. "Count yourselves lucky, the next time you dare to push your limits I''ll encase you all in earth and light you on fire." She threatened the Generals in distance before shaking her butt and flying through the air in a dissatisfied huff. Her spell listcked destructive force when it came to individuals that''s why slowpoke Kat was able to kill her target first, not because she was weaker. The two old Generals each had their own strengths and weaknesses. ''Well I can consider us even; I did kill a General earlier after all.'' Jessica consoled herself with this fact as she promptly returned to her magic corps. Katrina meanwhile shook her head, thepetitive edge between the two of them was still there after all these years, both a blessing and a curse. "Today''s battle is over; everyone retreat to the wall!" General Katrina''s voice encapsted the entire frontlines and in response a loud chorus of victorious chanting was sent in reply. The War Ursa Battalionpletely crushed the enemy this day and removed the shame from the previous day. Morale was as high as it could possibly be. Chapter 746: Loss 746 Chapter 746: Loss Frost and Kiba carried the wounded Colonel Casper through the catbs as quickly and as smoothly as possible. He was unable to see nor hear the 7 Majors doing battle with the enemy nor eventually General Katrina bringing a final end to the day''s festivities, but he did manage to hear the loud explosions that copsed part of the passageways. His face portrayed a clear look of worry, how many managed to escape in time? Was Kursch still alive? "Don''t dwell on it Frost, they made their choices as did I." Casper spoke words offort, but his expression was even tenser and darker than Frost''s. ''You lot better return.'' By the time they reached the end of the catbs and returned to Icethorne the battle was over. Katrina gave her order and momentster the frontlines began their retreat, falling back to behind the northern wall. The sun had begun to set, and night was creeping in. Today''s battle was over, it was time to rest, recover and calcte their losses. Frost used his shoulder to support Casper as he called for the left wing to stand at attention. Standing together as a unit a few bare areas revealed themselves to the old Colonel. Tears ran down cheeks as some soldiers stood next to an empty plot, theirrades in arms never able to fight alongside them again. Casper began a role call so as to calcte their exact losses and tomemorate the names of the fallen into the minds of those who still lived. When he reached the name of the first Major who remained behind Casper struggled to speak, his heart lurched at the thought of pronouncing them as dead. "Major Kursch.condition unknown." "Major Kiroscondition unk" "Condition runningte and heavily injured respectively Colonel." Suddenly from behind Casper 10 people passed through the portal alongside their battle mounts -well those that survived . Upon his arrival Major Kursch interrupted Casper with a booming voice followed by victoriousughter. Colonel Casper didn''t turn around immediately instead he wiped away a few hidden tears before smiling from ear to ear. "You''re alive.Good that means we can proceed with the court martials then. Major Juniper please make the arrangements." "Huh? Are you serious Colonel, that wasn''t a joke?" Kursch who was ready to sing and dance after managing to survive their ordeal froze in ce, his reverie immediately doused by a bucket of cold water. In response Casper coldly red at them all in a very serious manner. "When have you ever known me to make jokes when ites to military affairs." ''Fuck!'' The seven Majors all cursed internally as they saw Major Juniper -who didn''t stay behind with them- approaching with a set of military documents. Why was their Colonel such a hard ass? Of course Casper was just teasing them, their court martial would only result in a minor punishment like cleaning out thetrines or doing the unit''sundry, tasks usually reserved for the lowest ranking soldiers and or hired civilians. With the 7 Majors and 3 senior Captains returning alive -though Major Kiros was quite injured and had to be rushed to the medical tents- the total losses for the left wing was 144 souls. It was a mere fraction of the total 8000 men and women that made up the cavalry corps'' left wing but a painful loss, nheless. One that couldn''t bepletely overwritten by Katrina''s announcement of victory and the wave of excited cheers and celebrations that followed. If it wasn''t wartime these men and women would likely drink away their sorrows at the military bar and relish in the fond memories of those that had left. s alcohol was forbidden and mourning, true mourning for the dead had to be set aside. Any pain and anguish they felt needed to either be bottled up or unleased as wrath upon the enemy. Only when the war was over could they allow themselves to wallow in the pain. While the left wing shed a few tears for their dead and managed to celebrate their sess the right wing was filled with despairing wails and silence. Not a single person was smiling. Because of their slightly slower reaction time, weaker teamwork and the unfortunate choices they made during their retreat the right wing suffered far, far greater losses and far more injuries. Their death toll was over 600, over 4 times more than the left wing. At this moment over by the eastern catbs'' entrance a Major with arge but thankfully not that deep wound across his chest addressed the soldiers of the cavalry corps'' right wing. Many of their number were seriously injured and had to be immediately transported to the medical clinic for treatment. Colonel Ridge was included among this group and thus the duty of addressing those that remained fell to the Major currently standing on the podium. The man was not young by any means, a senior in the field, even older than Colonel Ridge yet even he with his vast experience struggled to find his words. His gaze crossed the field, taking in the many looks of despair, loss and the significant amount of voids left throughout their formation. This was the greatest loss the right wing had ever encountered in the past several decades. The young, confident and boisterous juniors were at a total loss, their courage shaken as they witnessed theirmander carried away in a makeshift stretcher. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The once invincible Colonel Ridge was covered in blood. Wounds so deep that his bones were on disy and worst of all he no longer had a right arm. While Colonel Casper managed to repel both Agabar and Celunia with his self-harming skill [Fury of the elements, Lighting Avnche] Colonel Ridge was forced to sacrifice his right arm in order to leave their control and thus escaped in much direr straits than his counterpart. Afterwards when the enemy General hunted him down, he survived by the skin of his teeth. If it wasn''t for General Jessica''s swift actions in redirecting the enemy''s blow he would have died then and there. Thankfully however he was only further injured and ultimately rescued by two Majors and two Captains who had volunteered to stay behind. His return to the battlefield anytime soon however was unlikely, the right wing was thus left without their leader at their lowest point. "..Everyone stop your tears and silence your wailing. You are all proud sons and daughters of the War Ursa Battalion, soldiers. And soldiers do not show weakness." The lightly wounded Major, a senior by the name of Zed applied aura to his voice and spoke to all those that remained in a strict military fashion. When in doubt rely on your training. They were soldiers, men and women of war, they should be treated as such. "I know you''re in pain because I feel it too, but we must not let it control us. Today we fought valiantly and killed thousands of enemy soldiers at the loss of a mere 600 of our own, a truly decisive victory by all standards!" Zed spoke from the heart and with a booming voice that echoed throughout the surrounding area. ""URAHHHH!!!!"" Zed''s strong words resonated with the soldiers, and they loudly responded with a unanimous Urah. They remembered who they were, their purpose, their duty and their honour. They may have bled today but the enemy bled more and that was what mattered. "VICTORY!!!" "For the Empire!" Zed let out a repressed breath of relief as the soldiers chanted and gradually regained their fire. They were shaken but not broken, all they needed was for someone to point them in the right direction and thankfully Zed was up to the task. "Not bad." A fair distance away Katrina who had recently returned from the battlefield quietly remarked. She was quite worried about the mental state of the Cavalry corps'' right wing but thankfully one of their Majors took a stand and resolved her worries. "I hope they take today''s lesson to heart." The right wing from a strategic standpoint actually performed quite well in response to the sudden ambush, unfortunately the timing and the forces involved were so well prepared that they inevitably suffered significant losses. The lesson was not that they were weak, but that they had grown arrogant and looked down upon the enemy. Ridge and his forces struggled to entertain the possibility that Vash and his army could pose a significant threat to them. Believing that as long as they did their part then they''d return safe and sound. Casper and Frost did not have this weakness, they trusted in their sense of danger and were constantly wary of the enemy and thus retreated earlier and in fact forced Vash to make his move. If Casper neverunched that firework things could have no, would have ended much, much worse. Seeing that the situation had been resolved General Katrina returned to the mainmand centre to oversee theplete retreat of their forces. " Start the report, I want to know exactly how many soldiers we lost today as well as the amount of resources we expended." Katrina wasted no time at all in dealing with the ''tedious paperwork''. "Yes General." "Have the recovery and cleaning teams head out the moment the Vanguard passes through the gate, we''re on the clockdies and gentlemen. The faster we move the faster we can rest and prepare for tomorrow." "On it General." The officers stationed in themand centre loudly replied before setting off to handle their tasks. There was much to be done before the day was truly over. Chapter 747: Hidden strength 747 Chapter 747: Hidden strength While the post battle operations were underway an officer from the pce came to find Frost. "Now?" Frost asked with a little reluctance. Duke Runak was summoning him. "Yes Sir Frost, the War Marshall awaits you in the pce." In response Frost turned to Casper, he didn''t even get the chance to properly thank him for the ''lesson''. "Go kid, it''s not wise to keep the War Marshall waiting but don''t worry you''ll always be wee among the cavalry corps'' left wing." Casper sent him off with a smile while the nearby officers such as Major Kursch honoured him with a military salute. Frost fought side by side with them on the battlefield and even helped repel an enemy General. He had earned his ce among them. "Grrrrr." Kiba received a simr response from the contingent of battle mounts, Avalon even nodded hisrge head in recognition, filling the teenage cub with pride. "Thank you all, I wish you good hunting in the battles toe." Frost feeling a strong camaraderie with such dedicated soldiers spoke with joy. Throughout his time on Nova he had met a great many types of people both Sapients and monsters. Some were trustworthy, generous and kind while others were deceitful, malicious and petty. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Frost liked the former and despised thetter regardless of their race. Whether they were Sapient of Monster it did not matter to him as both could be regarded as his food source. If he liked someone they could be friends, allies perhaps even something more like Daki, Nanna and Loki but if he felt nothing or negative feelings towards them then they were nothing more than tasty sources of DP. Soldiers of the War Ursa Battalion, the Kranor enve and those loyal to the Furano Viscounty were all held in high regard by him and if ever they should happen to wander into his Dungeon then he''d give them a decent chance at survival. Frost and Kiba after saying their farewells followed the officer back to the pce. Kiba was taken to the Duke''s stables and was pampered with care and affection while Frost met with the stern middle-aged man whomanded Northrend''s northern most fortress. "You took part in the battle today, first on the frontlines with the vanguard then with General Jesscia and her magic corps and finally you charged into the heart of the enemy lines with the cavalry corps'' left wing.so, how does my Battalion hold up in your eyes young Frost." Duke Runak asked shortly after Frost took a seat. The two of them were currently in Duke Runak''s personal office, arge chamber with high walls littered with war memorabilia. Broken weapons, taxidermy of defeated foes, bloodied medals, dog tags of deceased servicemen just to name a few. His decorations spoke volumes of his personality, Duke Oscar Runak was a military man through and through. Frost took a moment to think before replying. ".Terrifying. I''ve taken part in some small scale wars such as the defence of Furano in the recent monster stampede, but they pale inparison to what I saw and experienced today." His hands were still trembling from the adrenaline. A few hundred thousand facing off against over a million strong and winning by andslide. Sure there were a few almost hups but overall it was a massacre. The power behind the soldiers of the War Ursa Battalion, their diverse corps, their battle formations and of course their devasting weaponry shattered all that he knew about warfare. Everything he had experienced thus far could be considered small scale, minor conflicts and this realisation made his heart tremble in fear. Before leaving on this excursion he demanded that the outer wall of the Niflheim city-state needed to bepleted so as to give him piece of mind in his absence. That was a wall reaching 20 metres inheight, less than a fifth of the Northern wall of Icethorne. He felt so foolish and arrogant in this moment. His rtionship with Northrend was quite frankly abysmal due to the sudden coup. Both Sedrick and Randolph viewed him and his budding new territory as enemies. The two of them were inmand of an empire that possessed several battalions just like the War Ursas. If they really decided to deal with him, a mere 20 metre wall and a barebones military outfit would do little to impede their path. His Dungeon, his home was in jeopardy. Such a feeling was extremely ufortable and further stoked his desire for power. ''I need to quickly expand the Dungeon and fortify the city-state. My own strength is important, but this war has shown that war cannot be decided by the strength of one person.'' At least not someone with his strength. If Maya was still at the S-rank level and had freedom of movement then no matter how desperate Northrend was to be rid of him they would strongly hesitate, such was the power of those at the peak of the mortal world. His territory was only safe thanks to the war of control between the two princes. The moment it reaches a conclusion however or the moment the pressure lets up, an army would likely be hounding at his door. "Ah yes you were present for the recent monster stampede weren''t you." Duke Runak remembered an intelligence document that he read. A young, recently ascended B-rank adventurer fought on behalf of the Furano Viscounty, allowing them to hold the line against impossible odds. The scale was certainly noparison to their war with the cial mountain liberation alliance, but the desperation and smaller defence force involved was in line. Unfortunately however they couldn''t rely on another Battalioning to their aid in the final hours. With the stampede brought up Frost reminisced and remembered a crucial fact about that war. "Duke Runak at the end of the stampede there was a demon, a powerful monster half a step into the A-rank.could they have been?" "It''s highly likely. With this War happening so soon afterwards, it''s logical that they had scout forces down south. The one you faced was likely an elite sent to gauge and or interact with the forces displeased with our control over the inner regions.one that evaded our intelligencework." The cial mountains were just too vast to cover themselves and the amount of narrow pathways and rugged routes that passed through the inner belt were in the dozens, far too many to monitor 24/7. Still even so he considered it an abysmal failure on his part. "That demon was immensely strong, we only survived because of the forces arriving from Arkheart." Frost remembered the insane disparity between himself and that monster. With just its aura and presence it managed to easily supress himself and the other B-ranks. Only those at the A-rank were able topete with it. If that was just a single scouting elite from the demonic Empire then Icethorne''s chances at winning this war were minuscule at best. Though the events of today were eye opening to Frost the enemy they faced was just the Vanguard, the prelude to the real thing. With a pronounced frown Frost proceeded to ask "Can Icethorne and the War Ursa Battalion really hold out for more than 2 months?" Earlier though winning wasn''t possible the Duke was full of confidence when it came to stalling for time. Furano had to endure the stampede for a week or so before beingpletely overwhelmed yet Icethorne stated that they could endure for 8 times longer against an even greater force. Even a 120 metre wall and a stacked contingent of war machines had a limit. In response to Frost''s question Duke Runak simply smiled in a yful manner. "Hehehe Frost do you really think my War Ursa Battalion and the Icethorne Duchy really revealed all our forces against a mere Vanguard force?" "Huh?" Frost balked, surprised by Duke Runak''s yful tone. He expected them to hide some trump cards, but Runak''s expression led him to believe that there was something far greater at y. "Allow me to enlighten you my young friend." Duke Runak stood up from his chair and walked towards one of the walls covered in war memorabilia. "The War Ursa Battalion has been stationed here in Icethorne for more than a century and in that time we''ve controlled numerous trade routes, handled an immeasurable amount of monster materials and fought in hundreds of wars both small andrge scale. Because of this we have rued an insane amount of assets and battle experience." Duke Runak picked up a broken sword from its pedestal and remembered the former owner of the weapon. "Those you fought side by side with today were mostly rookies, those with minimal amounts of war experience, supervised by a select few elites.The enemy''s vanguard forces are simply the War Ursa Battalion''s whetstone." "Grind away the weak and polish the strong that remain." A brutal method but one that was needed in such dangerous territory. "Over 80% of our elites and officers have remained stationary either in the city or within the manymand centres. It is these men and women that make up the true power of Icethorne and their time can''t be wasted on mere improvised trash." Chapter 748 Chapter 748: Hidden strength (2) 748 Chapter 748: Hidden strength (2) While fiddling with the shards of the broken weapon and reminiscing about the past, Duke Runak continued to exin the true situation of the War Ursa Battalion to the young Frost. "For years and years we have umted an uncountable number of refined gems." He ced the broken weapon back onto its pedestal. The former owner was once one of these so called gems. "These elite soldiers are the true bastion that stands between the monstrous nations of the cial mountains and the sapientnds directly south." Duke Runak slowly turned his head, revealing a yful smirk and an unmasked pride. "The War Ursa Battalion that you experienced today is nothing but the outer shell, inexperienced whelps in need of a good grinding." An air of brutality and bloodlust naturally oozed out of him as he spoke. Those in the military were not soft by any means, they would dly sacrifice the few for the benefit of the many. "80%, tens of thousands of men and women who have reached, C, B and even A-rank have remained hidden despite theborious assault on our gates." "The Vanguard of the cial mountains Liberation Alliance is not worth their time. Only when the true enemy arrives will they take to the field and revitalise the War Ursa Battalion into its true form." The Duke stood tall as he spoke, his bearing, strength and power personified. The true strength of the War Ursa Battalion was much, much greater than what had been shown thus far. Frost''s eyes stretched wide open as a result of the Duke''s words; he expected something to be hidden but not to such a degree. The forces he fought alongside were considered whelps, younglingscking in experience. Though some elites were added to the mix to manage the formations and strategies such a revtion was hard to ept. These men and women were strong, immensely strong yet they were only considered themon rabble, not true elites of the Battalion. How deep did the War Ursa Battalion''s foundations run? Frost ruminated on this question before remembering the extent of the carnage, the wounds and the many who died fighting on the frontlines. He understood and even agreed with the idea of grinding away the chaff to some degree but wasn''t it too risky? "..Isn''t it a bit dangerous to risk so many lives and the safety of the northern wall given Icethorne''s current situation." He tentatively asked. "Hehehe you think the situation right now is perilous, that the risk outweighs the possible gains. That perhaps I''m cutting off my nose to spite my face?" Duke Runak''s smile grew as returned to his seat. "Isn''t it?" Frost questioned before stating the known facts. "Two Colonels, the leaders of the cavalry corps were nearly lost, narrowly escaping by the skin of their teeth with grievous injuries, one perhaps even crippled." If this couldn''t be considered dangerous then he didn''t know what could. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Well then let me ask you this then, those that died in that assault how many officers were among them?" Runak''s smile disappeared in an instant. "Eh?" Frost didn''t know, his knowledge was restricted to the left wing and even then he didn''t have much time to notice before being escorted to the pce. "ording to the report I received there were less than a dozen and none of them were of a particrly high rank. None of the upper caste were lost, only injured and even then there''s hope for them to return to the battlefield in time for the main event." Duke Runak stated, subtly referring to Colonel Ridge who returned without his right arm. Such an extreme wound would cripple most but this was the War Ursa Battalion and the Duchy of Icethorne. High level healing potions and even healing mages were openly avable to them in times of war. One of the reasons that the Duchy has remained an unshakeable overseer to the trading routes in the cial mountains is because they don''t skimp on using their wealth to improve their military power. Thus Colonel Ridge would return to the battlefield with a newly regenerated arm and a curbed arrogance "But!" "Are you going to say that it was merely luck." The Duke already predicated such a response forcing Frost to bite his tongue. "Hmph young Frost when you reach my level you learn to never rely on such unpredictable measuresluck had absolutely nothing to do with it." "The weak died while the strong and resourceful remained." "That''s!" Frost wasn''t buying it, he was there, chaos ensued and Colonel Casper and even the seven Majors who held back the General from the ravenous horde were almost ughtered. "They didn''t die Frost and though the situation seemed chaotic to you there was a n and someone very powerful overseeing the whole situation." He was of course referring to General Katrina. "Everything was ultimately within her control. Katrina''s strength is so overwhelming that even if Vash and all his A-rank allies teamed up they''d at most be able to forge a stalemate." Such a situation would thus then leave Jessica, Jared and Danielle free to ughter to their hearts content. ".." Frost was speechless, ''Is Katrina really that powerful? Is it the difference between early andte stage A-rank or is it because of the person herself?'' "In a disy of great anger she ughtered the enemy General with a single thunderous blow, thoroughly intimidating the enemy forces with her immense strength while at the same time allowing our soldiers to appear somewhat fragile inparison. Thus curbing the high ranks and emboldening the lower.she moved at precisely the right time and to the perfect degree." The whole thing was a staged production by the upper ranks of the War Ursa Battalion, resulting in an engagement between themon soldiers and the retreat of the higher ranks. Everything was for the sake of polishing the newly unearthed gems before the main event, a desperate race to provide the War Ursa Battalion with more elites for the true battle. "...." Frost was silent in response as he processed this information. Being in the thick of it, it was hard for him to understand the greater picture but if Katrina was truly that powerful then what Duke Runak said made sense. How chaotic and dangerous could the situation truly be if someone so powerful was watching the whole thing like a hawk. He had underestimated the War Ursa Battalion, General Katrina, Jessica and most of all Duke Runak. A man filled with such far seeing strategies was not someone you''d want as an enemy. ''This man is an absolute monster.'' Frost internallymented, looking forward to the day that he could see him take to the field personally or better yet the day he manages to ascend to the S-rank. Out of all the people he''d met over the past 16 months, excluding his siblings and their guardians Duke Oscar Runak was the most talented and fearful he''d evere across. The man was strong, truly strong. ''I wonder how he''dpare to Maya once he ascends.'' One was naturally gifted and blessed with a powerful body while the other was raised in war and battle, fighting tooth and nail to get where he was, with innumerable to scars as proof of his efforts. He''d had to ask upon his return but for now he needed to know his current limit. "How strong are you really?" He asked with a poorly hidden sense of excitement. If Katrina at thete stage could hold back Vash and six other Generals without losing then what about him. "Me?" Duke Runak pointed to himself before once again smiling in a yful manner. "As long as an S-rank doesn''t get involved I''m confident in winning even when outnumbered." He was a direct as he could possibly be. ''Fuck! Is that arrogance or simply confidence.'' The War God of the cial mountains practically dered himself unrivalled among A-ranks. The strange thing was Frost believed him. "Is there no one that''s your match in the inner regions?" Surely the Duke wasn''t the only one at the very peak of A-rank. "No! The grand Prince of Karak Kanz and the former patriarch of therge horned ice drakes are both at the half step mark and I''ve fought the two of them before, neither are my match." The Duke''s im was not without basis. Many years ago to cement his reputation as War God of the cial mountains he duelled those at the peak and remained undefeated. "And the demonic empire?" "Unknown but as long as they''re still in the A-rank I can win." His strength wasn''t just a little higher than the others at the half step, he could actuallypete with both the Prince from Karak Kanz and the former patriarch of the ice drake tribe at the same time ande out on top. With [Night''s descent] in hand he was confident in defeating any aggressor that dared to infringe upon the territory of the Northrend Empire. ".What''s the chances of an S-rank making a move?" The Demonic empire could be found at the very edge of the inner regions and perhaps even stretching into the core regions, a territory where only the strongest could survive. ".."It''s possible but unlikely." Duke Runak thought about his answer for a few seconds. "There''s an unspoken ord that restricts those at the S-rank from interfering in the affairs of the inner and external regions but if the S-rank hails directly from the Demonic Empire then it''s considered a grey area." Though the possibility was small (he assumed) it wasn''t zero and unfortunately there was nothing he could do to prepare against such an eventuality. There was no S-rank in the War Ursa Battalion after all. "If an S-rank doese.then I guess I''ll finally have a worthy battle on my hands hehehe." New year, new outlook and hopefully revitalised motivation, happy 2025 everyone. Sword_immortal1 Chapter 749: No longer a girl 749 Chapter 749: No longer a girl Duke Runak''s smile stretched from ear to ear in a wild manner as he envisioned himself fighting against a being at the S-rank, the very peak of the mortal world. He was so close to reaching that realm, his wounds, duties andck of knowledge all held him back at thest step, a bottleneck. A grand battle however, one that would really test his limits and endanger his life could be the spark he needed to shatter the wall and ascend. Icethorne and the War Ursa Battalion were under great threat, the possibility of annihtion being very high yet at the same time it was an opportunity. People always improve the most while under unprecedented pressure. C-ranks could climb to B-rank, Majors and Colonels to A-rank Generals and longstanding powerhouses like Katrina and Jessica could reach his level, the peak of A-rank. This war was a catalyst, a gift that would see his Battalion rise to the very peak or fall in disgrace, there was no third option. Frost couldn''t help but be affected by the Duke''s words and attitude. He yearned for battle, a true battle, a desire he himself knew all too well. The rush, the euphoria that flowed throughout the entire body as one channelled every facet of their strength to win and to survive was unparalleled. He envied Duke Runak in this moment, envied his opportunity to face against such a powerful foe. Something he would not get to see as his duties led him elsewhere. The war between the War Ursa Battalion and the cial mountains Liberation Alliance would transpire and conclude without his interference. He would visit the Primordial Ice King, Shivali in his God realm Niflheim, return the earth ranked ice me oddity to him and then return to his Dungeon to prepare his defences for the uing onught of the Northrend Empire as well as the challenges of his siblings. Frost was not beholden to the Empire and thus wasn''t required to take part in their wars. Only if it benefited him and he had the time to do so would he then interfere. Take this war for example he only took part because he just so happened to be staying here for a short period of time and wanted to experience something on a grander scale. If he didn''t need to visit the Primordial Ice King then he would have never travelled this far into the cial mountains during such tumultuous times. Frost and Duke Runak discussed a few things in more depth. The Duke exined more about Icethorne''s history as well as that of the War Ursa Battalion''s while Frost spoke of his knowledge of the S-rank as well as his outside opinion of the Northrend Empire, a view which both Avira and Borris couldn''t provide given their bias. If he wasn''t so close and loyal to the recently deceased Franz and saw hope in the young Avira then he would have seceded from the Empire the moment the civil war broke out. Icethorne was in such a prime position -before the outbreak of the current war- that doing so would in fact be very beneficial to its economy and management. s he was a loyal General, a proud citizen of Northrend as were most of his soldiers. They couldn''t abandon the Empire in its time of need even if those in the Empire turned their backs on them. Frost shared a meal with the Duke, partook in some delicious alcohol free wine and then returned to his quarters to rest. He would leave in the early hours of the morning alongside the contingent setting off for Karak Kanz. About an hour after he drifted off to sleep however he was awoken by a knock on the door. "Who is it?" He asked in a frustrated manner. "It''s V" Avira''s melodious voice replied. "Can Ie in?" She boldly asked. Such behaviour could be seen as uncouth, a young woman, a Princess even barging into a man''s room in the dead of night. Frost thought for a moment before giving permission. "Sure." Avira thus opened the door and quickly closed it behind her. She was dressed in a blue nightie, one that was specifically designed for the cold weather of the cial mountains yet at same time appearing quite mature, almost sexy even. Of course Avira didn''t have any such lingerie with her given her usual attire and quick departure from the Capital no this outfit was borrowed from a certain well known subus in Icethorne. A woman who''s carnal appetite was never sated despite her advanced age. With a burst of determination and courage Avira sped the lock on the door, took a deep breath, turned around and showed her enchanting appearance to the somewhat groggy Frost. Unfortunately she didn''t exactly get the reaction she was hoping for. Frost with his vast experience in seeing both Maya and Daki in all sorts of provocative outfits and positions and being in a somewhat tired state barely registered the scene before him. Avira certainly looked quite beautiful and rather cute given the growing blush on her cheeks but that was it. He wasn''t flustered, didn''t bleed from the nose and didn''t have any obvious physical reaction. Thest one being a supposed certainty ording to Jesscia''s promise. This outfit had bagged her all manner of young studs over the years, just a single nce was all it took for them to start drooling in hunger. s unlike her Avira was rathercking in the curves department. She wasn''t t by any means, but her oranges could neverpete with the watermelons Frost was used to. Frost liked his women older, flirtatious and even aggressive. Avira was more like a meek and adorablemb that had attempted something she wasn''t used to. He smiled gently towards her, his expression full of fondness and care but not an ounce of lust. Such a look hit her hard. ''Am I really not attractive? Even with this kind of outfit he still doesn''t see me as a woman.'' At first she was shocked, her pride taking a significant blow but then she got angry, frustrated. ''Bastard!'' She internally cursed determined to be seen as a mature and sexy woman like her mother. Her parents were dead, her Empire in turmoil. She travelled through dangerous paths and even fought against deadly monsters just to reach here. The spoiled and pampered Princess that was the ample of everyone''s eyes was gone, all that remained was the Empress to be. A young, vibrant woman filled with confidence and determination.she was no longer a girl. Convincing herself of this her blush vanished and she appeared next to Frost on the bed, her shoulder resting against his as she took hold of his right hand and gave him a clear view of her little rabbits and the soft valley between. She wanted to imprint herself on him, to be seen as a woman in his eyes, a target for his affection and longing rather than just a friend who he travelled alongside. "V?" Frost muttered with confusion. "Don''t say anything or push me away, just let me sit here with you." Avira replied, refusing to budge as she relished in his smell, his aura and his current dishevelled appearance. This was enough for now; she would ingrain his being into her memory while he would struggle to forget her. Anything more would be too much and too forced. She still had her pride as a woman. She could flirt and wear appealing attire, but she wouldn''t sell her herself. Such an action was beneath her and uneptable as an Empress to be. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The two thus sat in silence for a few minutes, one feeling very satisfied while the other feeling somewhat awkward. Frost liked Avira but just not in that way, she was too different from Maya and Daki but at the same time he didn''t really feel the urge to push her away. A strange contradiction. "You''re leaving in the morning?" Eventually the silence was broken by Avira. "Yes, I''ll be leaving with the envoy team set for Karak Kanz." Frost replied softly. The small team would enter the catbs and leave through an exit further removed from the battlefield. If there was anyone waiting in the vicinity they''d work together to take them down before splitting up. The hidden entrance to the realm of Niflheim was between the 1st and 2ndyer, northeast of their current position while Karak Kanz was in the 8thyer and more to the northwest. "You''re delivering something?" During their journey Frost spoke little about his task after they reached Icethorne, but V knew and could guess a few things. "Yes, a friend of my father''s lent me something. I need to return it to him." He didn''t say anything further. It wasn''t necessarily a good thing for him to reveal his origins. If Avira knew that he was the son of the Dark God their rtionship might change or rather she might change. Her empire was in disarray, and she was in the weakest position amongst her siblings. If it was revealed that Frost was of an extremely powerful background then she may sacrifice everything to drag him into the turmoil, to use him as a tool rather than a friend. Though he believed that the chances of her doing so were slim he didn''t want to take the risk. "Mmm." Avira hummed lightly in reply, not daring to delve deeper into his mystery. She was fine with not knowing everything about him, at least for now. There was silence once again. ".Can you help?" ".No, I need to return and take care of Niflheim. The longer I''m away the more dangerous it gets." The longer the master was away the easier it was for something to go wrong. "..." "..." Avira knew the answer, but she asked anyway, hopeful somewhere deep down s Frost had his own priorities. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!