"Great! Just our luck! From all the ten corridors, we came across the one that has a Rank-A beast in it?! That stinkin' old man is a LIAR!"
Rever barked as he narrowly dodged the Frost Titan's massive claws while barraging the beast with his bow gun, which shot concentrated arcane force.
But alas, the Frost Titan's hide was so tough that even with all those bombardments, Rever could barely scrape its skin. And what was worse, it only made the beast howled in pain as it became more berserk with its attacks.
"Less talking and more fighting!"
Alfonse bellowed as he swiftly dodged the monster's claws and jumped above, unleashing his skill against the beast, aiming for its eyes.
Alfonse's lance's blurred as hundreds of strikes rained down on the Frost Titan, with each attack came with an explosive force.
[Lancrest]
ROAR!
The beast howled in pain as droplets of blue blood splattered everywhere.
After seconds, those blue blood turned to glaciers, freezing everything it touched within a ten-meter radius.
"Did I get him?" Alfonse mused.
"Alfonse, look at out!"
The moment Alfonse turned, a crushing force of the Frost Titan's tail hit him on the stomach.
BAM!
The impact was like a meteor descending from space. If not for Alfonse's lance that he quickly angled to guard, his body might have been split into two.
Alfonse was sent flying, and he crashed against the wall –– hard, causing the wall to hollow and crumble as he slid to the ground before he was buried by fallen debris and rubbles.
"Ethan!" Rain immediately called and replaced Alfonse as the vanguard.
"On it!"
Even though Ethan was shaking, he was, after all, a person specializing in the arts of spells. Thus, his mental fortitude was way higher than the rest. When it was time, Ethan didn't waste any second in casting his spell. He knew that the situation was dire, and any delay in second could cause a life.
Not long after, Alfonse was surrounded by healing light. His broken ribs, dislocated elbow and knee, and other injuries were rapidly healed.
Rain continued to attack the beast without pause. He had to keep going with his attacks, keeping the beast focus on him while Rever and Arca supported him from behind.
Once he stopped, no one was left to take the vanguard as Alfonse was still being healed, and the next target would probably be those three.
Although Rain was confident in Rever's defense, not the same could be said about Arca and Ethan.
The Frost Titan's movement was now considerably slower than before, with its two eyes being destroyed by Alfonse's lance.
Nevertheless, its attacking power only continued to grow as it grew more berserk. Just one hit from that massive limbs, and they would instantly turn into meat paste.
Rever, sensing that the situation became somewhat dire, unleashed his skill.
He shot his bow gun upward, and not long after, thousands of arrows covered the ceiling and rained down on the beast-like tiny droplets of rain.
[Arrow Rain]
The ground shook and cracked as rubbles and blood flew everywhere.
Unleashing skills and spells needed to be executed at the right time, for it took a while to absorb arcane energy again. It was never wise to unleashed everyone's spells and skills together as no one would remain in full force when something unexpected happened.
"Did it die?" Rever asked when Rain moved to their side, trying to pry if the beast was dead amidst the mist and smoke created from Rever's arrows against the monster's chilly body.
Grrr . . .
The beast let out a low growl as it stood there with new visible wounds, yet those wounds were now frozen solid. Preventing any more blood from leaking out as the temperature only dropped to terrifying degrees.
"I-impossible . . . ," Rever mumbled.
"Something is not right!" Arca warned as the beast just continued to stand there motionless.
The Frost Titan's gaping mouth breathed out frosty air while his body emanated bone-deep cold as sparkles of blue electric lights occasionally lit his horns.
"Shit! Ethan, barrier! Now!"
Rain roared as he grabbed Arca by the waist. He retreated in the blink of an eye near where Ethan and Alfonse were, not minding proper etiquette.
Arca restrained a frown but remained tight lip as she knew that this was not the time to voice her discontent for being treated like a weak damsel in distress.
Rever immediately withdrew near Ethan and the others as the barrier spell could only encompass a certain radius.
Once Rain, Arca, and Rever landed near Ethan and Alfonse, Ethan immediately cast a barrier just in time for the Frost Titan to unleashed a terrifying icy breath of hazy smog from his mouth.
[Everlasting Frost]
All were covered in mist. And for a time, only icy haze was seen.
Even with Ethan's barrier, the cold still penetrated inside everyone's bones. If not for the arcane energy that helped strengthen their physique, they would have long gone became ice figurines.
Everyone's faces paled when the fog and mist cleared, and only the sight of everlasting thick ice covered the whole room.
Alfonse shivered, not from the cold but from the relief of taking Ethan with them. Clearly, without the man's help, they would have become popsicles for this beast to feast upon.
"R-rain . . . I-I'm running out of arcane force. Another blast like that and I . . ." Ethan trailed off as his eyes turned misty with despair.
"Shit . . . I'm running out of ammo too . . ." Rever sneered. His face had a hint of madness on it while his lips curved in a dreadful smile. "Never would have thought that old man can be this ruthless as to really kill his students."
Rain ignored them as he glanced at Alfonse, who was now on his two feet. "Alfonse, what about you?"
"I'm good to go. However, I still needed more time to absorb arcane energy to unleash any skill." Alfonse felt resigned, but his eyes refused to give up. I haven't proven anything yet! I refuse to die here!
Rain closed his eyes and opened them, zeroing in on the behemoth who was still unmoving as it gazed at them, promising death.
Rain clicked his tongue.
Do I have to resort to that?
Do I have no other choice?
They could return to where they came from, but that too was no longer an option. When they took their first step inside the room, all openings were sealed with nowhere to escape.
As Rain was busy having inner struggles, he didn't notice that the monster's horns lit up again.
"Not good!" Rever shouted, and before anyone could react, a blurry white shot towards the Frost Titan.
"Arca!"
Only then that Alfonse cry of Arca's name that Rain snapped out from his momentary loss of self.
Rain's head shifted at that white-haired woman who was moving so fast towards the beast.
Everyone wanted to stop her but was shocked and rooted on the spot instead when Arca's speed, coupled with her gun in each hand, bombarded the Frost Titan with concentrated force nonstop, completely dominating the beast in lock combat.
Rain, for a time, was mesmerized.
He admitted that at first, he underestimated Arca for having no ability to absorb arcane energy. But now, seeing her hurled herself in danger without reservation –– admiration blossomed in his heart.
Arca's weapons didn't do much damage. Though each strike was just like any ordinary attack, it was enough to keep the beast's focus entirely on her.
But even so, the Frost Titan's horns continued to lit up, signifying that it would unleash its ace. Its sinister eyes remained lock on that beauty with white hair as it opened its mouth to release its devastating spell.
"Arca! NO!"
Alfonse cried out as he dashed towards Arca. Rain sprinted towards her as well, without a second thought to save her.
"Alfonse! Rain!"
Ethan and Rever shouted at the same time.
Alfonse and Rain were still meters away from Arca.
The Frost Titan was wholly focused on eliminating the woman in front of it with its mouth wide open, flanking Arca against the wall with nowhere to retreat.
"NO!"