Chapter 49：Icy Castle (2/2)
As they were going through the ice lands, Arthur kept using his rune in his pocket. With the mana he had now, there was no problem of keeping it active. After a few moments, he sensed a life form ahead. However, there was nothing but white in front of him. He stopped Kira as he began to survey the surrounding.
”Why did you stop? Are you scared now?” Jin kept taunting him, but Arthur ignored him. He looked at a small part of the glacier that looked like a giant white rock, and he sent a wind slash at it using his hands.
There was a dull sound at the point of impact, and nothing else. Jin was about to mock Arthur again before the group heard a wailing scream before the rock stood up, revealing an ice golem. After a short moment, another ice golem appeared. They were a Middle-mid-tier monster. The group was in for a tough battle.
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Arthur wasn't the one to finish them off, as everyone kept attacking until they died. Kira proved to be extremely helpful in the fight, as it took care of one of the golems on its own. The others had to group up to finish it off in an unfavorable environment.
Now, they had to set up a camp. They tried to pick a low ground to shield them from the cold, and they made some fire to warm them. It was then that Jin revealed his usefulness, holding into a rare storage artifact and took out a tent for them to sleep in.
Arthur realized how ignorant he was about artifacts, as he never knew that such an artifact existed. He tried to take a peek at it, it was a ring with runes on it. Unfortunately, he can't learn it yet since his level was too low.
After spending the night, the group resumed their travel toward the ice castle. On the way, they hunted together and lived together, sharing life and death and stories of the ancient. For the first time in his life, Arthur started to trust people.
After several days of fighting, they reached the ice castle in the distance. It looked like a miniature mountain, white all over and grand looking. They stood in front of its giant door, covered in the white fur they had taken from the demonic bears.
”We're here, everyone.” Arthur smiled at them, feeling the pride in what they had accomplished. The rest of them nodded, smiling. Even Jin, who was usually cold to him, warmed up to him after so many days of battling together.
With one strike from Kira, the castle's doors were wide open. The group advanced, finding knights made of ice. Using his boots and newfound speed, Arthur dashed toward them. Each one of them was a middle-mid-tier monster, and Arthur had no hope of defeating it alone currently. He would be able to handle a low-mid-tier alone, but he need help for this one.
He started kitting the monster, using his runes and skills to inflict damages and get away while letting others do the same. This way, they were able to finish them off cleanly and took away their mana cores. Arthur absorbed the ones he has slain when the group was not looking, and then they advanced into the castle.
They kept fighting monsters that came their way, breaching the defenses of the castle with Kira's strength being the main reason they were having an easy time. Before long, they reached the last chamber where a single figure was seated on a throne.
The figure stood up, wearing blue armor while being surrounded by the icy interior of the castle, unsheathed his sword. It let out a frosty breath before the eyes under the helmets lit up with red color. It let out an angry scream before it dashed in their direction.
Arthur was the first one to act, sending several Bladeless Wind Slashes in its direction. It used its sword to easily deflect them, before using a skill of its own. Giant ice spears appeared around it as it let out an angry roar, commanding the spears to launch forward.
”Kira!” Arthur shouted as he and the rest rushed forward. Kira used its flames to destroy the spears, allowing the others to close in on the monster.
Arthur realized this monster was peak-mid-tier, just like Kira. However, it had an advantage in the surrounding castle so Kira couldn't take him out on his own. Jin summoned his bear and minotaur while also advancing. Hazel also summoned the Ghost Ogre, her strongest summoned monster.
Miko teleported all over the battlefield, attacking the monster's weak points while Arthur engaged with it in battle. Although it was way above their level, working as a team allowed them to take a stand against it.
After several clashes and wounds inflicted, they were finally able to take it down with Kira using one of his most powerful skills to kill it. Its fur turned crimson red as fire fangs appeared in its maws, it gained incredible speed and strength for a short amount of time.
Unfortunately, Arthur couldn't absorb the monster's essence. However, he got to keep the core since Kira killed it, and the others thought of Kira as Arthur's tamed monster.
To be honest, Arthur didn't do anything to tame, but he was glad to receive a high-mid-tier core, so he gladly accepted.
”Go ahead,” Arthur told Hazel after entering the final room, where a coffin laid there. She wiped away tears of gratitude as she nodded, and advanced toward the coffin. The moment she touched it; a bright light engulfed the whole castle.