The serpent's gaze fixed on me, its eyes narrowing. The air grew even colder, and I could feel a dangerous pressure building.
The serpent's eyes flashed with a terrifying light, and I could feel my body starting to stiffen. As it did, I felt a cold, paralyzing grip encroaching, allowing me to witness ice starting to form on my skin. The petrifying gaze was attempting to immobilize me completely, and it would have if not for my ice immunity abilities kicking in, granting me immediate reprieve from the petrificating effect.
With the temporary relief, I took another step back and focused on what to do next. But before I could think of anything, the creature lunged at me, its maw wide open, ready to tear me apart—no, it looked more like it was just ready to engulf me in a single voracious bite.
With no plan in mind, the only thing I could do was allow my body to do what instinct was screaming at me to do: put as much distance as possible between myself and the gaping mouth. I turned on my heels.
There was a reason I never even thought about running when I faced the Frostfang One-Eyed Serpent. As a level 16 Hexcaster, I knew it was far beyond my skills and abilities to take on. Yet tragically, outrunning it wasn't an option either; it was faster and this was its territory. I couldn't fight it, and I couldn't flee. So what was left for me to do?
Well, there was only one sensible option: dash toward the cave in the wall that I had earlier considered for hiding. Shedding my backpack to gain speed, I sprinted and took a literal leap into the cave, narrowly escaping the serpent's jaws by a hairbreadth.
Arguably, entering a cave that was very obviously frequently used by the snake and mostly dug by it didn't sound like a smart idea, but with little time to think about it, it was the most genius plan I could come up with.
Rolling from the leap and swiftly recovering, I rushed deeper into the cave. After reaching a dozen meters in, I turned around, clutching my staff. I activated my [Ice Magic], summoning a magic circle while simultaneously conjuring five ice balls with my [Frostburst Detonation] to greet the serpent that I knew wouldn't just let me be. Tense seconds passed with no sign of the serpent, but then it entered the cave, its width allowing it to slither in freely.
With less than a dozen meters between us, and with no space for the serpent to evade, the icicle, lances and shards struck true and struck hard. Shards and lances of ice glinted in the pale light as they flew through the air, homing in on their target.
The serpent hissed and thrashed, recoiling in pain. It slammed against the cave walls, causing them to tremble, making me fear a collapse that could bury me alive. Ignoring that thought, I seized the moment and backed away, creating more distance between us. Tightening my grip on my staff, Impotence, I prepared to dual-cast an attack.
The effects of Magic-type skills are manifested through magic circles. When someone unlocks a Magic-type skill, they gain control over the magic circle of the respective element, not the element itself. Mages, a class primarily using Magic-type skills, undergo training to accurately project their magic circles. Unlike conventional skills, which may only require a keyword, mental command, or stance, Magic-type skills are more complex and customizable. This complexity can lead to casting errors if the magic circle is not projected correctly. With sufficient MP, it is possible to cast two magical effects simultaneously, though this comes with the risk of errors and significant MP expenditure.
Confident, or to be exact, without the time to doubt my ability, I projected a magic circle beneath and above the serpent. But before I could allow the magic to be manifested, the creature retreated out of the cave. The sight of it was both relieving and daunting. Relieving because at least I was not in immediate danger, and daunting because I was still directly in danger out there. I heard the creature hissing and felt the ground shaking, most likely from the serpent thrashing outside. But then it slowly calmed down, which felt even more threatening.
Eyes set ahead, ears attuned to the faintest hint of the serpent's presence, I remained on high alert, ready to unleash another barrage of attack. But there was no sign of it, not from the entrance it had used. Instead, I sensed the serpent moving inside a passage above me. Turning toward the inner part of the cave, I realized it must have taken another entrance above me and would likely appear from deeper within.
Adjusting my grip on Impotence, I took a few steps back toward the entrance, which now seemed safer. My eyes locked onto the deeper part of the cave, reminding me of the long corridors of the Chateau’s dungeon.
Tense seconds passed with no sign of the serpent, giving the naive impression that it had gone. But it hadn't. Its head suddenly emerged from below, about fifteen meters away. Our eyes met briefly, its gaze burning with murderous intent, and it frantically slithered toward me.
Calling forth my [Ice Magic], I initially considered another icicle but opted for a better alternative. I projected two magic circles, one on the floor and one on the ceiling, a few meters apart. Just as the serpent crossed beneath and above the circles, pillars of ice erupted, sandwiching the serpent around its throat level. It hissed and wriggled frantically, trying to break free.
I understood it was only a matter of time before that happened, so I knew the ideal outcome with the pillars I erected was that they would crush it. But despite trying, it wasn't enough to make it past the creature's defenses.
It was alright.
It was already a fortunate outcome that it was stuck, but as per the shaking of the pillars and the whole cave, it was only momentarily effective. So, it was best I took advantage of that opportunity, and take advantage I did.
Holding nothing back, I cast and unleashed all spells and magic that could be rapidly cast at the creature: [Frost Shards], [Hexed Frost Lance Conjuration], [Hexed Frost Sword], and [Hexed Frost Dagger Conjuration] and even [Ice Magic] which I still manage to attack with. I recast on the creature the likes of [Frostbound Stride], [Inflict Frostbite], [Winter Clutch], and [Debilitating Surge]. Despite knowing very well that, with how much time had passed since casting the debilitating skills, they were still most likely active, and yet I cast them again. Heck I went as far as to cast:
The only offensive skill I didn’t use was Glacial Eclipse and Frost Burst Detonation—the former because of how long it took to take effect despite being a spell—a fast-effect skill, and the latter because I feared using it; with its effect, which liberated a highly pressurized mist, would be more helpful to the serpent than to me, after all while my Ice Milder Immunity effectively made me an untouchable target and a to-be-ignored target for my spells effect it only applied to my body and nothing surrounding me, not even my ice magic’s effects, such as the pillars. So I kept the ice balls around me to use when a better and smarter opportunity arose.
Salvo upon salvo, unleashed onto itself, the Frostfang One-Eyed Serpent began sustaining actual injuries despite trying to coil to shield its head. In spite of its high defense, the injuries prompted it to attack even more intently. I had to kill the creature here; there would be no better opportunity. With no care for my MP, which despite having a lot due to being a Sorcerer with a high intelligence attribute, the additional MP granted by my level 4 skill [Mana Reservoir] being boosted by the MP stored into my Staff of Impotence, had a lot to spare. But it was currently seeing a quick drain because of my use of it. Nonetheless, I was set on finishing it here. The sight of it quickly depleting didn’t stop me.
Without appraisal, I couldn’t tell how much HP the creature had left. But by the time I reached 212 MP and was summoning yet another set of Hexed Frost Lances, the creature uncoiled itself. Its blue eyes met mine for a split second, and its third eye glowed menacingly. I was unaffected, for my full attention was to the notification in the corner of my eye:
At the sight of it, with about as long as it took me to utter, "Oh fuck!" I immediately dispelled the spell I came up with to cast [Hydroblast], which summoned in a mere breath about enough water to flood a two-story modest house. Then, coupled with my level 5 [Cryogenize], which turned the released water momentarily into solid ice in less than a second, encasing the creature in thick ice, which would make one believe that the First Eye skill was aborted.
It was not; it was already cast. What the spell combination did was act as a shield for me as the shockwave was released.
Groaning, I got blasted outside the cave, rolling for about half a dozen meters, her ice balls following before coming to a stop.
Clenching my staff, Impotence, I tried to stand up, but pain shot through my body. I glanced at my HP first, then at my body, which was covered in bruises from rolling on the hard ground. Although my HP had decreased considerably, I hadn't sustained direct damage; otherwise, I wouldn't be in any state to even check my injuries.
Apprehensively, I glanced at the hole I'd been blasted from. Inside, I could hear the creature hissing and wrestling. I winced, understanding the implication, and lamented, "I don't have any more MP to spare for this."
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It was then that a series notification appeared in the corner of my eye through my identification skill:
Clearly, it was angry, very angry. So much so that it began a rampage, spamming its skill, causing dozens of caves on the side of the mountain pass wall to crumble and collapse under one another's weight. At that sight, I couldn't help but pray that the creature had died crushed under the weight. But despite praying, I wasn't so naive as to think that was remotely the case, for my Hexcaster instincts told me that the debilitating attacks I unleashed were still grinding down the creature's status, meaning that it was still very much alive.
As if to confirm that, it emerged from the debris, sending rocks flying up like a spitting volcano would, the debris landing all around me.
Once again, I winced—no, I did more than wince; it was a full-blown grimace that formed on my face. As a prize of consolation, I told myself at least all my attacks had the merit of not being for naught. The creature was bloodied, almost as much if not more so than I was. Clearly, it was at its last straw, having sustained damage from my attacks and the debris collapsing on it. So I told myself that all I needed to do right now was land the coup de grace.
With a deep breath, I tightened my grip on my staff, Impotence, and summoned a magic circle. The plan was to finish it off with an icicle like the one I unleashed earlier. To be frank, I just had enough MP left to unleash that, and my fatigue percentage was getting dangerously high. "Well, I suppose this is going to be one of those make-it-or-break-it situations," I muttered to myself. My target should be either its head or, even better, the interior of its mouth. Upon noticing me, the creature, like a bull to red, charged toward me, intent on engulfing me in one bite. Holding firmly, I sent out my attack, which came in the form of a large icicle.
The icicle flew at substantial speed, crossing the distance between me and the snake in an instant. But as it reached the serpent, it swiftly swerved, not just dodging the icicle aimed at its head but also contorting its form to slap the incoming icicle, shattering it and sending the shattered pieces back at me.
"Crap!"
Instinctively, I raised my staff as a sort of shield. Having neither the time nor the MP necessary to erect a wall between me and the incoming rain of shattered ice, this turned out to be a very bad move. With my unlocked Ice Milder Immunity ability, I was completely immunized to damage from ice-related spells or magic of my doing. The way it worked was that it completely bent the laws to make my own damage and effects simply harmless to me. It did so, I believe, by acting as a coat that extended to my whole body, clothes included. Unfortunately, that coating didn't extend to the likes of staves. The moment the shards of ice landed onto Impotence, which I reflexively used as a shield, I felt the weight of the projectiles. So much so that, in fact, I felt a bone dislocating, wedging somewhere it shouldn't be. But I didn't even get to feel it fully as the impact blew me backward, the staff blown out of my grasp. I rolled on the hard ground, coming to a miserable stop after several rolls.
This time, I didn't feel like standing up at all, not only because of the pain, which was unbearable, but also because I had just wasted the best opportunity to finish it off. Now I had virtually no MP, and my fatigue percentage was at the lowest it had ever been, a whopping 93%. Sure, there were instances in this incarnation where it went higher, but that happened when I was training, in a safe environment where my life was not in danger. It wasn't the case here. The danger was real, not simulated. My life might end here. Well, technically, no, but this incarnation's journey would end here.
As I thought about it, I found the idea of dying here deeply ironic. I took this path through the pass wanting to avoid the place where I had died twice, which led me to this place. To think I'd die here was truly ironic, so much so that it was laughable. Despite that, it wasn't all bad.
Ironically, dying eaten by a Frostfang One-Eyed Serpent might be one of the most respectable deaths I've ever had, because it sure was more respectable than my death in my first two incarnations. In that moment, unpleasant memories related to these two first deaths flashed in my mind, snapping me out of my stray thoughts toward my incoming death, allowing me to pick up the hiss of the serpent.
Pushing myself to stand up, I saw the serpent, which for some reason hadn't attacked when I was down, approaching. At first, it moved slowly, but then it took off at speed.
In that moment, at the sight of the approaching creature, another memory flashed in my mind, one that wasn’t as unpleasant as the one she just had. It was a lesson from Justaff.
"Remember," he had said in his usual nonchalant voice, "a sorcerer should never allow themselves to be hurt. Their strength lies in their spells, not in their physical resilience. Keep your distance, use your spells wisely, and always stay a step ahead of your enemies."
"What's that, a flashback?" I chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Well, sorry Justaff, I remember your advice, but I'm a terrible student."
Ignoring the throbbing pain, I charged toward the approaching serpent, which was closing in alarmingly fast. Not even bothering to recover my staff, I ran, my ice balls following me. Limping, but I ran nonetheless. Half a dozen meters away from me, the Frostfang One-Eyed Serpent once again opened its mouth to engulf me. As it did, I enacted the only plan my inhibited brain could come up with, literally throwing myself into the creature's wide-open mouth.
The mouth closed in on me, trapping me in the dark, but not for long. In that moment, the ice balls that followed me into the creature's maw released their effect, the skill earning its name for allowing highly pressurized mist to be released. After a couple of seconds of being shut in the dark, feeling instantly submerged in deep and highly pressurized water, I, in a mushy explosion, saw light again.
Lying there in a pool of blood, the blood of the Frostfang One-Eyed Serpent, which had just exploded from within, I remained motionless. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to move; lying here covered in blood didn’t sound like a good idea. But I was simply unable to move a single muscle. Facing the sky, hidden behind thick clouds, I smiled and then burst out laughing when a notification appeared.
[Level Up Interface]Experience requirement met.
Congratulations! You've Leveled Up!
Attribute Points Earned: 12『Expand』
[Level Up Interface]Experience requirement met.
Congratulations! You've Leveled Up!
Attribute Points Earned: 11『Expand』
[Level Up Interface]Experience requirement met.
Congratulations! You've Leveled Up!
Attribute Points Earned: 11『Expand』
[Level Up Interface]Experience requirement met.
Congratulations! You've Leveled Up!
Attribute Points Earned: 12『Expand』
[Notification]
Congratulations! Your Frostbinder Adept title has evolved.Title Name: Frostbinder Master
Description [Identification Lvl.7]:
Title’s Bestowed Enhancement:
[Notification]
Congratulations! You've unlocked a new Ability!Skill Name: Negative Resonance
Status: Unlocked
Description [Identification Lvl.7]:
[Notification]
Congratulations! You've Acquired and Unlocked a New Ability!Ability Name: Eyes of Perdition
Status: Unlocked
Description [Identification Lvl.7]:
[Notification]
Congratulations! You've Acquired a New Skill!Skill Name: Eye of Nullification
Effect: Nullifies an opponent's magical abilities temporarily.
Description [Identification Lvl.7]:
『Expand』
[Notification]
Congratulations! You've Acquired a New Skill!Skill Name: Eye of Petrification
Effect: Paralyzes the target.
Description [Identification Lvl.7]:
『Expand』
[Notification]
Congratulations! You've Acquired a New Skill!Skill Name: Eye of Desillusion
Effect: Overwhelms the target with hallucinations and confusion.
Description [Identification Lvl.7]:
『Expand』
[Notification]
Congratulations! You've Acquired a New Skill!Skill Name: Eye of Siphoning
Effect: Drains the target's life force, weakening them while healing the user.
Description [Identification Lvl.7]:
『Expand』
[Notification]
Congratulations! You've Acquired a New Skill!Skill Name: Eye of Horror
Effect: Induces a crippling fear status onto the target.
Description [Identification Lvl.7]:
『Expand』
[Notification]
Congratulations! You've Acquired a New Skill!Skill Name: Unbound Sorcery
Effect: Allows the user to cast magic without the need for a magic circle.
Description [Identification Lvl.7]:
『Expand』
Unable to even properly read the content of the notifications, my vision blurred, and the world around me darkened. Despite the victory and the level-ups, the exhaustion and pain were too overwhelming. With a final, faint smile on my lips, I passed out, surrendering to the darkness.