Chapter 71

In a riverbed covered with red and black stones, blocks of ice suddenly appeared.

Upon closer inspection, these were formed by countless tiny pillars of frost.

The monsters, covered in frost with fine, needle-like protrusions, were completely frozen white and had stopped moving entirely.

The <Frost Flower Array> that Thor had heard of was supposed to be a triggered magic technique that pre-cooled the ground, freezing the feet of anyone who stepped on it and slowing their movements.

It was certainly not something that would create such a massive ice sculpture.

The magic user who had frozen the five monstrous creatures in one breath seemed to notice that no one was speaking and quietly turned to observe the situation.

Upon realizing that everyone’s eyes were filled with surprise, they smiled and stuck out their tongue.

The air, which had been tense with a chilling expression, suddenly relaxed.

At that moment, Muu let out a cute sneeze.

It seemed that the sudden appearance of a large source of cold air had rapidly chilled their rain-soaked bodies.

"Oh, did I make it a bit too cool?"

"Are you okay? Your face is completely white!"

Sora, in a panic, spoke not to Muu but to Yuril.

Yuril, with her usual tone, did indeed look paler than usual upon closer inspection.

Thor, rushing over, wrapped his arms around her slender waist and carried her to the back of the tent.

After seating her in a chair, Yuril let out a thin breath.

"It seems that whenever I use this staff, I tend to overdo it. I'm sorry for the trouble."

"No, leave the cleanup to us. Please rest here."

"By the way, be careful; they’re probably not dead yet."

Ordinary creatures would have died upon being frozen, but these monsters, with their abnormal vitality, were different.

Moreover, their large bodies meant that the ratio of surface area to volume was small, allowing them to retain more heat and become more resistant to the cold.

"Understood. I'll finish them off while they can't move."

"Yes, and it's raining, so please hurry."

Indeed, the light rain was gradually eroding the shape of the frost pillars.

Thor, nodding vigorously, quickly issued orders.

"Diargos, start with the one on the left. Tapa and Tari, I need your help too."

"Understood!"

"……I understand."

"I have no idea what’s going on, but we just need to take it down, right?"

"Looks that way, bro."

"Watch my heroic form, Yuril-san!"

The three brothers, who had returned by making a wide loop around the embankment, joined the six people attacking the frozen hippo.

"We’ll take the right side. Muu, stay with Yuril-san."

"Leave it to me, Thor. I’ll protect Yuril-grandma!"

"Hold on, we need to do the usual thing first."

Just as Muu was about to jump onto Yuril’s lap, Thor grabbed the back of his neck.

Muu, enjoying the sensation of being suspended in mid-air, laughed and was enveloped in a purple snake and a blue, glowing needle.

Thor, emerging from the tent, led Sora to the back and approached the frost sculpture.

If time was running out, he needed to strike with maximum force.

With his heightened vision from <Lightning Needle>, he clearly saw the shape of the rampaging hippo through the ice.

With his body at maximum speed, he powerfully stepped forward and swung his sword diagonally upward with both hands.

The monster, with its right front leg severed along with the ice, lost its balance and leaned forward.

The returning blade cut into the lower jaw of the rampaging hippo, creating a deep wound through the bone.

The sword, without stopping, severed the other front leg and then the remaining part of the lower jaw.

Finally, the monster’s massive body collapsed to the ground, exposing its head.

This moment, however, lasted only a few seconds.

Thor, jumping onto the snout, smoothly brought his iron sword down onto the hard skull of the rampaging hippo.

Though the movement seemed to lack power, the blade silently entered the monster’s head.

The skull of a living creature, with its rounded and indented structure, is surprisingly easy for attacks to slide off.

However, Thor’s sword, accurately striking the indentation at the top of the skull, cleanly bisected the brain below.

Quickly dodging the gushing blood, Thor, with his exhausted body, whispered as he used <Restoration>.

"---One down."

On the opposite side, Rorolf and the others were diligently chipping away at the frozen rampaging hippo.

The weapons used by the three were not designed for sharpness, so the situation was more like cutting down a tree with an ax.

Diargos, joining in with his club, was striking the frozen legs, adding to the odd atmosphere.

"Striking a stationary monster is kind of fresh, isn’t it?"

"The attacks are hitting for sure, but there’s hardly any buildup of fighting spirit. Is it because these things are practically dead?"

"Let’s hurry. Thor seems to have finished the first one."

"Every time I see that ridiculous sharpness, I wonder how he does it. It’s just an iron sword, right?"

"To be honest, there’s no point in thinking about it, bro. Just accept that it’s Thor."

"You’re right."

"……Too much talking."

"……Focus on the task."

The twins, scolding the three brothers, delivered somewhat lackluster attacks.

The fat layer that usually deflected impacts was lightly frozen, making it easier for Rorolf’s attacks to penetrate, but the arrows were also being absorbed.

The monster’s head was now a pincushion of arrows, but none of them were fatal, creating a rather bizarre scene.

However, even if the effect was weak, it was a group effort.

The monster, with its legs chipped away, slowly tilted and finally fell over.

The warriors, raising victorious roars, struck the head and body with axes and spears.

By the time Rorolf and the others had finally taken down the first one, Thor had finished the second and was about to move on to the next target.

However, the freezing time had come to an end.

The remaining two monsters, freed from the ice’s restraint, glared at the humans with intense malice.

A roar filled with rage echoed through the cloudy sky, which stubbornly continued to pour rain.