Chapter 96 : Chapter 96

Chapter 96 - The Frozen World (3)

Splash!

The moment the water touched his whole body, Artier felt a skin-tearing pain and his vision went dizzy.

‘It’s cold…!’

It was the bottom of a lake that had been frozen solid in the middle of winter.

In an instant, he felt all the joints in his body creak and stiffen coldly.

At this rate, even his heart would surely stop.

‘I have to get out of here.’

Artier hastily moved his stiffening limbs, but there were unexpected ambushes at the bottom of the lake.

Swish!

“...!”

Feeling a cool sensation on his back, Artier hastily drew his sword.

‘Ocean Hellmorphs!’

He swung his heavy limbs with all his might, but the shark-like monster bit Artier’s sword and began to drag him down to the bottom of the lake.

Artier, who tried to shake the sword, confirmed that it wouldn’t budge and immediately reached his left hand towards the surface of the water.

[Using Telekinesis.]

Blub…!

A large air bubble created at the surface of the water began to chase after Artier and the Hellmorph.

‘At this rate, it’s too late. I have to stop this thing somehow.’

The situation was clearly disadvantageous for Artier.

The creature was a monster specialized for activity in the water, and it seemed it wasn’t affected by the cold like Artier was.

Moreover, it was so fast that the air bubble Artier was pulling with telekinesis couldn’t catch up to him.

At this rate, it seemed there would be only one of two outcomes: Artier would either die of a heart attack or drown.

‘You think I’d let that happen?!’

Artier immediately put his left hand into his inventory. And as soon as he took something out, he immediately stabbed the Hellmorph.

Stab!

It was a spare iron sword he had bought in the county.

In terms of attack power, it was a match for the Burning Ancient Longsword Artier used, but the Hellmorph opened its mouth and let out an even more ferocious roar.

Crack!

[The Nimble Metal Longsword has been destroyed.]

‘This brute!’

No matter how ordinary the iron was, was that a sword that would break like that?

While bewildered, Artier put the air bubble over his head. It was a truly expensive price to pay for his life.

“Breathing is solved, but…”

The problem was still this ice-cold water.

The lake was still robbing Artier of his body heat moment by moment.

Moreover, the underwater environment was excessively advantageous to the creature.

Clang! Clang!

The ignition option attached to the Burning Ancient Longsword was powerless underwater.

The same went for Flame Cleave.

In the end, he had to rely on Perfect Counter and Parrying, but his heavy body didn't even allow that easily.

[Your body has been frozen.]

[All stats are reduced by 20% and you take damage per second.]

[At 5 stacks, your body will be paralyzed for 5 seconds. Currently at 2 stacks.]

“Heok… Heok…”

Master! Are you alright!

As he was catching his ragged breath, Collie's thoughts echoed in his head.

Is it dangerous! I’m coming right now!

Don’t come!

Crunch!

The Ocean Hellmorph bit Artier’s sword once again.

Artier could see the sword trembling and the cracks growing.

‘This sword too?!’

Come to think of it, the sword that had been emitting heat in the ice-cold water was in a more vulnerable state than the iron sword he had just taken out of his inventory.

He hastily pulled his hand back, but the sword in the shark’s mouth did not come out easily.

‘No!’

Crack!

In the end, even his last sword turned to dust in the Hellmorph’s mouth and scattered.

[The Burning Ancient Longsword has been destroyed.]

Artier stared at the sword, of which only the hilt remained, with a look of despair.

The Hellmorph, which had been munching on the sword fragments as if chewing on dried squid, circled once underwater and stared at Artier. It looked as if it was certain of its victory.

“…I was thinking of replacing it soon, but.”

Even so, he didn’t want to part with a sword he had used for over half a year like this.

It was the moment Artier scowled and glared at the Hellmorph.

Flash!

“Master!”

A light flashed in the empty space, and Collie, inside a large air bubble, appeared by his side.

As soon as Collie grasped the situation, he surrounded himself and Artier with a wall of ice.

KABOOM!

With a tremendous impact, the two tumbled inside the ice sphere.

“What in the world are you telling me not to come for in a situation like this?! Please be aware that I am your summon!”

“It was underwater. I didn’t know you could come with an air bubble…”

“I can feel that the master is underwater without even seeing it with my eyes.”

Artier looked beyond the ice wall.

When the ice wall remained intact even after several charges, the Hellmorph circled around and continued to watch them.

“How is the situation up there?”

“That giant Hellmorph is continuously throwing chunks of ice. The size of it is comparable to a decent-sized building, so everyone is scattered.”

“…Oh no.”

This was enemy territory with enemies on all sides. Scattering would never lead to a good outcome.

Artier looked up at the surface of the water.

“Collie, raise the sphere. Let’s go up to the lake surface!”

“Understood. Hold on tight…”

Thud!

The moment the sphere tried to rise, the Hellmorph immediately rammed the ice sphere, slamming the two back down.

“Aargh! The creature is obstructing our ascent.”

“Can’t you ascend while avoiding its charge?”

“The ice is too big for that. This size is impossible to control with delicacy.”

“…I see its objective.”

The air bubble Collie had brought was quite large.

It was large enough for Collie, who was the size of a tiger, to fit inside.

But as long as they continued to breathe, the oxygen would eventually run out.

If they stayed here, they would surely self-destruct slowly even if the Hellmorph did nothing.

“Let’s release the ice wall and go up separately.”

“Will that be possible?”

“We have no choice. Staying like this won’t accomplish anything.”

Artier forced a grin.

“Don’t use telekinesis to hold the air, use it for movement. Then we can get to the surface before the creature catches up.”

“…Understood. You must be careful.”

[Wild Protection is applied.]

Blessing of the Chosen Monkey: Mana increases by 5%.

Artier, who had used Wild Protection on himself and Collie, quietly held his breath and began to count.

As if sensing their mood, the Hellmorph stopped in its tracks and stared at them intently.

“Three, two, one! Release!”

Flash!

As soon as the ice broke, water rushed in.

Artier and Collie simultaneously shot up quickly.

Kuaaa…!

When the Hellmorph saw the two choosing to flee instead of fighting, it let out a roar and belatedly began to chase after them.

But the distance between a being that had just started to brake and the two who had been accelerating with intent from the beginning gradually widened.

We did it, at this rate…

We can get out!

But there was an unexpected ambush that neither of them had paid attention to.

[Your body has been frozen.]

[Your body is paralyzed for 5 seconds and you take increased damage.]

‘Ugh! The cold debuff!’

Artier felt his arms and legs stiffen.

‘There should still be time left…!’

As the telekinesis was cut off, Artier stopped in his tracks.

Kyaaaak!

The Hellmorph did not miss that moment.

The creature, which reached Artier in an instant, bit his waist and began to slam him back down to the bottom of the lake.

Keoheuk!

Master!

Bubbles began to leak from the mouth of Artier, who had been taken by surprise.

Collie, realizing the anomaly, gave up on ascending and hurriedly chased after the Hellmorph.

Five seconds. How short a time.

But in those five seconds, the Hellmorph was able to drag Artier, who had almost reached the surface, down to the bottom of the lake.

Let go of the master!

Collie bit the Hellmorph’s tail and braked with all his might.

But there was a limit. It seemed to falter for a moment, but in the end, Collie began to be dragged to the bottom of the lake along with Artier.

Collie! Let go of that thing!

I can’t.

You could die if you’re not careful!

The same goes for the master!

How deep did they go down?

As soon as the feeling returned to his body, Artier turned his head.

The bottom of the lake, which had seemed like it would never be visible, was there.

The problem was that the creature was not reducing its speed at all.

At this rate, Artier would surely have all the bones in his body broken with an impact like being hit by a dump truck.

Kkeueueuk!

Bubbles began to come out of Collie’s mouth as well.

‘What should I do…!’

Even while this was happening, the wall of the lake was getting closer and closer.

Master! Please strengthen me!

At Collie’s echoing thoughts, Artier, who had been trying to force open the creature’s mouth, snapped to his senses.

Come to think of it, why hadn't he thought of it?

[Unity Rite is activated.]

[The stats of the summoner and the summon are combined.]

Thump!

The moment a light enveloped the two of them, the Hellmorph’s forward speed noticeably slowed, and its mouth began to open slightly.

Artier kicked his legs in the air and did a full turn.

Then he was able to escape from the Hellmorph’s mouth.

We did it! Let’s get out!

M-master… My body…

What?

Artier witnessed Collie stagger and then stiffen.

[Collie’s body has been frozen.]

[His body is paralyzed for 5 seconds and he takes increased damage.]

‘The cold debuff again?’

This was abnormal.

The time it took for the cold debuff to activate was shorter than Artier knew. Especially for a dog with thick fur like Collie, it should not have happened.

Kyaaak!

The creature twisted its body and shook off Artier and Collie.

Then it made a large circle and rushed towards the two again.

Collie!

Artier instinctively jumped in front of Collie and drew his sword.

…Wait, a sword?

‘Ah…!’

What came out of Artier’s hand was only the hilt.

By the time he realized that, the creature’s teeth were already right in front of him.

CRASH!

In the end, the Hellmorph’s teeth collided with the bottom of the lake.

***

“Jeina…?”

“It’s me, me! Is everyone okay?”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the lake.

Gerard, who had been aiming a Mana Bullet in one direction, quietly closed his grimoire when Jeina walked out from between the bushes.

“Are you alone?”

“Yeah. What about the others?”

“Most of them have returned. But… we’re still missing four.”

The party members had lit a bonfire and were sitting in a circle, warming themselves up.

There wasn't a single person who wasn't shivering from running around frantically on the ice, where the cold was rising up.

“Four? Who?”

“The healer and swordsman from Reinard’s party. And Artier and Collie.”

“What? Have you tried communicating?”

“They are all unresponsive. I hope they are not in too dangerous a situation.”

BOOM!!

At that moment, with a tremendous tremor, the lake water shook violently.

The ice of the lake, which had barely started to freeze again, shattered into pieces and shot out in all directions like sharp spears.

“It’s dangerous!”

Clang! Clang, clang!

Gerard hastily used Shield to protect everyone.

Fortunately, no one was hurt, but Gerard’s gaze was fixed on the lake.

“What in the world is…”

Gerard knew.

He knew that Artier had fallen in there, and that Collie had gone to help him.

Over there… what on earth was happening?

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