NOVEL NEXT Chapter 82
Chapter 82
"Yeti?"
A monster from the snowy plains with thick fur and skin had appeared.
Reina and her companions immediately drew their weapons.
However, the Yetis emerging from the snow were not just a few in number.
Dozens of Yetis were approaching Reina and her group.
The largest one among the group of Yetis moved forward, opened its mouth wide, and let out a roar.
"Craaaa!"
It was as if the roar was a warning not to come any closer.
For Reina and her party, turning back was not an option, as they needed to pass through this path to reach their destination. They didn't know any alternate routes.
Reina expressed her doubt while confronting the Yeti group.
'Why would a group of Yetis, who usually remain hidden, suddenly appear like this...?'
At that moment, Edward flashed in her mind.
Climbing up, she thought it was strange that there were no attacks from the Zimmens side, but she hadn't imagined they would have stationed a group of Yetis near the summit.
As Reina and her companions refused to back down, the Yetis' eyes turned red.
Their sharp fangs were bared, and they puffed their bodies as they slowly approached.
Tension-filled, Reina and her friends held their swords at the ready, preparing for what might come next.
Suddenly, something flew from behind towards them.
Boom!
One of the Yetis at the back had formed a gigantic snowball and hurled it at Reina and her companions.
The projectile was not just an ordinary snowball.
Reina quickly realized the snowball had transformed into a hardened ice rock and shouted.
"Evade!"
At Reina's shout, her companions swiftly scattered.
Crash!
The ice block shattered upon hitting the ground, sending sharp ice fragments flying in all directions.
"Ugh!"
One of the companions was grazed by an ice fragment, leaving a wound.
The danger lay in even small wounds as they could quickly freeze, posing a risk of frostbite.
Reina rushed over and poured a potion on the wound.
Sssss!
The wound healed thanks to the potion, but their troubles were far from over.
Thud!
The Yetis began throwing similar ice projectiles from all sides.
Boom!
Crash!
Reina and her group had to continuously swing their swords to deflect and dodge the rain of ice bombs and shattering fragments.
"Huff. Huff."
The sub-zero temperatures in the highlands quickly drained their stamina with even slight movements.
Eventually, Reina, wielding her sword, turned toward the Yetis' leader.
"Haaaa!"
Propelling herself off the snowfield, she leapt toward the Yeti leader.
Turunn Style - Dragonslaying Art
Charge Technique
Bull Horn Strike
A technique developed from the Dragonslaying Art, unique to the Turunn family, unfolded.
Reina's aura-enveloped sword rapidly descended toward the Yeti leader.
The leader raised its arm to block Reina's sword.
Thunk!
The Yeti's thick fur and skin repelled the aura-coated sword.
"Ugh!"
Having failed her charged attack, Reina injured herself internally and had to retreat.
The Yeti leader did not miss this chance.
"Craaaa!"
It bared its sharp teeth and lunged at Reina.
Swish!
Reina rolled to dodge and swung her sword again.
Thunk!
The result at its side was the same.
The sword, unable to penetrate the thick fur and skin, bounced off again.
"Whew. Whew."
Reina took a step back, trying to compose her breathing.
Meanwhile, the other Yetis continued bombarding her companions with snowballs.
The snowfield was akin to a siege ground for the Yetis.
'We'll all be annihilated at this rate.'
To save those loyal to the Draker family, she had to retreat from there.
Reina gritted her teeth and shouted to her companions.
"I, Reina Draker, will hold them off! Get out of here!"
The group hesitated at her words but soon turned to flee the snowfield as more Yetis approached.
Reina swung her sword relentlessly to keep the other Yetis from pursuing her companions.
Thwack!
A hit Yeti recoiled and rubbed its wound with snow, causing the bleeding to stop.
"Craaaa!"
Now focused on Reina, the Yetis gradually surrounded her, maintaining their distance.
They had no intention of letting her go after drawing first blood.
Reina was exhausted.
She gripped her sword tightly, bracing herself.
'Even if I die here, it can't be helped.'
Soon, one of the Yetis lunged at Reina.
She attempted to swing her sword, but her grip faltered.
"Craaaa!"
Then, suddenly.
Thump!
Something flew toward the charging Yeti and struck its heart directly.
'What was that?'
She turned around.
A figure wearing a bearskin stood on the snowy field.
Nevertheless, Reina recognized who it was.
'Sieg Draker?'
Sieg, who had been seeking Yetis for points, had stumbled upon the group attacking Reina.
Drawing Bahamut, Sieg stepped in front of the Yetis.
"Come at me."
An extraordinary aura emanated from Sieg, causing the Yetis to hesitate.
But the Yeti leader had no intention of forgiving those who had invaded their sacred snowlands.
"Craaaaa!"
At its roar, the other Yetis, frightened, charged at Sieg.
"Screeee!"
"Creeeak!"
Sieg's sword sliced through the neck of the charging Yeti.
Thud!
As the foremost Yeti's neck fell, the others were startled.
Sieg wasted no time.
Slash!
Once again, his sword glimmered, severing another Yeti's neck.
Having lost two Yetis, the leader bared its teeth and slowly approached Sieg.
He spoke, eyeing the leader Yeti.
"So you're the leader. This will score quite a few points."
"Craaaa!"
The leader Yeti charged at Sieg.
Sieg swung Bahamut, its blade wrapped in aura.
Slice!
Unlike Reina's attack, Bahamut pierced through the Yeti's fur and skin, wounding it.
"Craaak!"
With sharp teeth bared, the leader attacked Sieg.
Whish!
Sieg swiftly leaped onto the leader's arm as it charged.
Then, like an acrobatic move, he swung his sword from that position.
Slice!
Sieg's sword grazed the leader's neck.
"Craaaa!"
The leader roared louder, its neck wounded.
It ordered the other Yetis to attack Sieg.
But they merely watched the duel from afar, not moving.
The leader had to kill Sieg itself to maintain its authority.
"Grrrr!"
The leader rubbed its eyes to stop the bleeding before facing Sieg again.
Sieg taunted it, raising his sword.
"Bring it on."
With the leader Yeti provoked, he assumed the Dragonslaying Art stance.
Dragonslaying Art - True Dragon Sword Art
6th Chapter, 2nd Verse
Dragon Heart Stab
Sieg's sword tip aimed for the leader's heart.
The leader dodged the tip, swinging its long arm to grab Sieg.
Then, in an instant.
Whish!
Sieg's sword tip wavered and shifted direction.
From Dragon Heart Stab, it seamlessly transitioned into Dragon Head Cleave.
Though basic Dragonslaying Art, the essence of the True Dragon Sword Art allowed for seamless combo techniques.
The sword tip redirected toward the leader's neck.
Evading the leader's attack, Sieg surged in, swinging his sword with great force.
Slice!
The sword cut through the thick fur and skin, severing the leader's neck.
Splat!
The leader's head fell to the ground.
『You have slain the Yeti Chieftain. You have earned 50 Karma Points.』
Screeech!
With the leader dead, chaos ensued among the Yetis.
Baring their teeth, the Yetis approached Sieg.
The one who devoured Sieg, who had killed the leader, could become the next leader.
Watching the approaching Yetis, Sieg smiled.
"Come on, points."
Screeech!
The aura from Sieg's sword illuminated the snowy plains.
Splat!
The aura blade encased in his sword pierced through the Yeti's thick fur and skin, slashing their necks and limbs.
The Yetis that charged recklessly finally realized they couldn't overcome this human.
Realizing they'd be annihilated, the Yetis began to retreat.
Sieg called out, turning around.
"Felix!"
Felix hurled the wooden spears he held toward Sieg.
Sieg planted several wooden spears in the ground, pulling out each to hurl at the Yetis.
Wham!
A spear imbued with tremendous power pierced through a Yeti's body.
"Craaaa!"
Though they had distanced themselves to hurl snowballs from afar, they misjudged, and their snowballs fell short.
In contrast, Sieg's thrown spears accurately hit the Yetis.
"Kwaaa!"
Seeing that they would be annihilated otherwise, the Yetis started fleeing.
However, Sieg showed no mercy with his spears.
The fleeing Yetis were struck by spears in their backs.
『You have slain the Yeti. You earned 20 Karma Points.』
『You have slain the Yeti. You earned 20 Karma Points.』
With each Yeti he felled, a message appeared before him.
'Not bad.'
Crushing the Yetis soon after, Sieg amassed a large number of points, feeling satisfied.
It was enough to replenish the points spent on scrolls and ancient potions during the competition.
After dealing with all the Yetis, Sieg slowly approached Reina.
He then took out a potion, pouring it on her wound and feeding it to her.
"Sieg Draker... how did you...?"
Sieg spoke to Reina, who was still in shock.
"Let's make a deal."
He implied she should repay him for saving her life.
The Draker family was straightforward, and their values on grace and vengeance were clear.
She felt she owed a debt to Sieg for saving her life.
"... The Draker family never forgets a favor. What do you want?"
Sieg grinned at her.
"We'll think about it later. For now, let's go. Time's almost up."
He had Felix and Liam support Reina.
Shortly after walking, they left the snowy field and reached the summit's destination.
At the summit, others who had already arrived stood waiting.
Edward and those loyal to the Zimmens family, along with Helen Draker, had arrived and were waiting.
Edward gritted his teeth upon seeing Sieg's party arrive, supporting Reina, at the destination.
'How did this happen?'
He had planned for only the Zimmens side to survive the survival race, making it easier from the second round of the tournament onward.
As soon as Sieg's group entered, the hourglass marking the 48-hour limit emptied.
In unison, Gareth and the Draker family referees appeared.
"The first round of the tournament is over. Thirty-four have passed."
Those who survived the Zimmens sabotage were Sieg's group, Reina, and Helen Dragon disguised as Elin Sabrina .
Edward gritted his teeth at the sight of Sieg's group as they descended the mountain.
Watching this, Sieg chuckled and let it slide.
At that moment, Helen approached Sieg.
"Sieg Draker."
Surprised by her approach, Sieg turned his attention to her.
"Elin Sabrina."
Pretending not to know, Sieg commented.
"I've never heard that name, but your skills are impressive. To break through all the Zimmens interference and reach here."
Elin scrutinized Sieg with intense determination.
Then, she spoke.
"These childish games don't interest me."
Her eyes bore into Sieg with fierce determination.
"Sieg Draker. I want to test your limits and abilities."
Leaving only those words, Helen turned and left the mountain.
Sieg, hearing Helen's words, felt like he understood her intentions a bit.
'To test, huh. She must have joined Kali's side.'
Given her sense that he had chosen to side with Kali instead of Abel, it was likely she entered the martial tournament herself to see if he was truly worthy.
'Indeed, an act befitting the Knight of Steel.'
At that moment, Reina, having regained some composure, approached Sieg.
"Sieg Draker. I owe you my life."
Sieg spoke to Reina.
"Since we're like this, how about you do the second round with us? There's bound to be some nonsense from the Zimmens guys again."
Reina nodded at Sieg's suggestion.
Though the Draker family was simple, they were never foolish.
She too realized it was logical to join forces with Sieg for the second round.
Reina decided to participate in the second round with Sieg's group.
Having made her decision, she informed Sieg.
"I know what the second round of the tournament entails."
Her words startled Sieg's group, as they had no information on the second round yet.
Felix exclaimed excitedly.
"Re-really? What is it?"
Liam also focused intently on Reina.
She slowly revealed.
"The second round is... tightrope wrestling."