It was a long day.
In the cave still sat Elliot. Still waiting for his mana to recharge by doing strength training.
[STR: + 1]
Wiping his hand over his forehead. Elliot stood up If he was right, it should soon be nightfall.
He hadn't slept; he wasn't sure what was down the gap in the cave. If there was anything at all.
Why has my health regen slowed down?
Elliot's body had been using spare mana to heal passively, but Elliot had been using it all to train, barely allowing time for him to recover.
Whatever. I just want to get out of this cave.
As if on cue, a vibration rang out from beneath his feet. Soon, it spread around the entire cave. Looking at the block entrance, Elliot could see the snow shaking. Before slowly retreating down the mountain.
Sticking his head out, Elliot could see the lands beneath slowly being revealed. As if they hadn't been covered in snow mere minutes ago.
What is actually going on here? Think Elliot.
Weird snow, stupid quest. It all makes no sense; there has to be something more.
Not wanting to waste any time sitting around any longer, Elliot started to climb back down the mountain. Elliot was scouting out the local areas as he was climbing; he didn't want to wander too far away. While he wasn't sure if it was safe, the cave was his best bet at surviving this.
A short distance away, Elliot spotted a set of ruins; it seemed to be off a temple. It was the only thing around for quite a while.
I'd better try that, I don't actually know how long I was out for earlier. So I'm not sure how long the night lasts.
Reaching the base of the mountain, Elliot instantly broke into a sprint. He couldn't afford to waste time. On his approach, he saw more Feral Ice Wolves, but they seemed to be fighting something. Looking closely, there appeared to be what he could only describe as an Ice Goblin.
Elliot tried to just sneak past. He didn't want to have to deal with all those; sadly, the goblin picked up on his movement.
The goblin darted out from between the wolves, diving towards Elliot at high speed. Elliot, barely seeing the attack in time, pulls out his claymore to block the strike.
But it was a fient, a trick. The path of the goblins' attack changed last minute and struck him across the chest.
[Feral Ice Goblin detected]
[HP: -20]
Great, that was all the HP I healed last night.
Trying to ignore the gaping scratch mark that was covering his chest, Elliot tried to put some distance between himself and the goblin.
But the golbin was fast and relentless, not giving time for a rest, and it charged after Elliot. Once again, it attacked with the claws on its hand.
Elliot this time could only choose to block where he expected the attack to go. But once again, he was wrong. A kick came flying towards his stomach. But Elliot was prepared.
I'm not going to fall for the same trick twice, dumbass.
Elliot quickly jumped back, dodging the attack.
The goblin looked at Elliot in shock.
"KREEEE."
Charging again and swiping at Elliot, He dodged once again, but there was no time to stop and look. Elliot needed to find an opening and fast.
But there was no time; he was barely blocking the fake attacks and dodging the real. Elliot's eyes traced the movements of the goblin.
This is a game, and that means there can only be a certain number of attacks. I just have to find that.
Elliot was stuck on the back foot, but no longer lost. His brain kicked into action, analysing each and every attack that was thrown at him.
Soon, he had spotted it. When the goblin lunged at his left leg, there was a small delay before it revealed the true attack aimed at the chest.
Waiting to strike, Elliot soon saw the opportunity. With a fake of his own, Elliot acted like he was ready to block the attack, but as soon as the gap appeared.
Elliot struck.
Elliot swung his sword horizontally at the goblin. Leaving a massive gash across the torso.
[Frost Pulse lvl.1 Activated]
[MP: -20]
"KREEEE!"
The goblin, not having any time to react to the skill, was severed in half.
[Feral Ice Goblin slain]
[Aspirant + 0.1%]
*Huff*Huff*
Elliot turned around to see the frost wolves stalking him.
For god's sake.
...
Later, all the wolves were dead. Elliot was getting quite good at killing them.
I never checked how much I grew last night.
[Status Window]
Name: Elliot Nightwalker(Elliot Frostbloom)
Title: None
Race: Human
Class: Ice Soldier
Rank: Aspirant(2%)
Affinity: ICE (Transcendant++)
Attributes:
STR: 17
AGI: 12
END: 15
INT: 14
WIS: 16
MP: 64/140
HP: 117/160
Skills:
[Frost Pulse - lvl.1] Send a burst of freezing mana at the enemy
[Basic Swordsmanship - lvl.2] Basic control of swords
[Mana sense - lvl.1] detect mana on a basic level
[Analytical Eye - lvl.1] See logic in the illogical
Bloodline: ICE FOX
- gives buffs in cold weather
- NOT UNLOCKED
[END STATUS]
Not bad. Wait, what is that skill? I've not seen that before. Did I get that by being able to understand the goblin attacks? Why did I not see the notification from the system?
Still, that should make it so much easier to fight now.
Elliot got up he still had what he came out here to do. The temple.
Elliot soon arrived at the temple, not encountering any more monsters on the way.
The outside was crumbling, bits of stone and brick on the floor, walls cracking.
Don't be a dud, please, I need something.
Elliot scouted all of the outside areas. Nothing. But there was still the inside area.
Cautiously stepping inside, Elliot was greeted with darkness. Then light. The torches hanging on the walls that had been left untouched for decades flickered to life. Revealing a wall full of murals.
Elliot walked closer, ignoring all caution he had once had. The walls depicted a woman standing above all others with a crown on her head. In her hand was a staff with the symbol of a snowflake on it. All the people around knelt before her.
The image then switches to her in a palace. She stands opposite a man in a similar position to her. But with fire in his hand.
Then it's a wedding between the two.
Shows a world at peace and prosperity for the people.
Then it shows a man in bed with a woman, but that woman is not the Ice woman. With the Ice woman discovering this.
She throws he arms into the sky and snowflakes seem to be falling around her.
Then it was blank.
Creepy much. What the hell is this story? It sounds so fake.
Deciding to explore the rest of the room, Elliot found some parchment on the floor. It had been mostly destroyed by time. But some words were still legible.
{Ice Queen, Peace, Betrayed By, Endless Winter, Storm}
Great, that just gives no more information. I mean, all that was obvious from the mural. But at least I know who caused this mess.
Elliot sat on the floor for a second to process everything.
Wait, I don't have to fight her, do I?
I need to explore more. There has to be more information.
So he did, and he left the temple.