Chapter 128 - Elemental Of Snow, Khione
-
⟨⟨Absolute Zero Zone⟩⟩
"Guh—!!" I instinctively blocked using my hands as we were knocked far out from the sudden surge of shivering blast. As I rose from the ground, sweat, now cold, drops down my cheeks as everything within my sight were now encased in a layer of ice. Everything was frozen instantly.
I'm so glad we took a sip of Cold Resistance Potion. We would've freeze along with everything within the vicinity. Nonetheless, "Where's everyone..."
"Aruji-sama!" Relived, a familiar voice advancing towards me. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." I replied. "How about everyone, Akari? Did you see them?"
The surface, the structures, everything was completely frozen. The surroundings were foggy, I can't breathe properly as well. This is...
"Unfortunately, not." Akari shook her head. Currently, it's just Me, Akari, and the blue haired woman over there. I finally get it now. "In any case, Aruji-sama."
"Yeah, I know." We were inside what you might call a domain, or more precisely, the woman's domain in front of us. "Khione..."
In front of us stood the true body of Khione. There was never any mention of Khione uttering a word before the spell, but just like in the game, Khione expanded a field of her domain—an absolute zero temperature, instantly freezing anything caught within its reach. We would have become ice statues if not for the influence of the Cold Resistance Potion.
"—?!" Our muscles tightened, ready for the impending attack. With her arms still raised, Khione uttered another word,
⟨⟨Cryonic Burst⟩⟩
Immediately, a materialized beam blasted from her hands. Both Akari and I, startled, broke apart and quickly evaded the concentrated beam by a hair's width. It's so fast—!
⟨⟨Hypothermic Pulse⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Cryogenic Eruption⟩⟩
"Ugh! Two at the same time—Kuh!" Another series of pulsating waves disrupted our movements. In addition, several ice spikes erupted from the ground. Careful on balance, we jumped. I quickly draw out my sword while Akari permeate something dark within her hands.
⟨⟨Sword Technique: Offensive⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Spinning Slash⟩⟩
⟨⟨Umbral Wave⟩⟩
With efficient but minimal movements, I slashed all the spikes in a circular motion while Akari blasted them with a black sharp projectile, leaving a mark on the icy ground.
"Kuh! This is," Even just doing those instant movements took me a lot of strength to pull out. Is this the influence of Khione's domain? "I feel slow, and it's hard to breath as well. I feel like my lungs are freezing..."
⟨⟨Chillspike Hailstorm⟩⟩
The relentless onslaught persisted, with Khione conjuring a hailstorm of massive icicles once again. "Akari, support me from the rear!"
"Yes!" I swiftly transformed into 『Leviathan』 and bombarded Khione with a hail of water bullets. Akari raised her palm, poised to counter any incoming assault from Khione. I had my doubts that the water bullets would freeze before reaching Khione, but fortunately, that wasn't the case.
However,
⟨⟨Aegis of Frostbite⟩⟩
Before the hail of water bullets could strike Khione, it conjured a defensive transparent ice shield, rendering my attacks completely futile.
"Tsk," Swiftly transitioning to melee, I propelled myself towards the unmoving Khione. That shield, it's most likely the shield that protect Khione from any physical projectiles. Looks like I have no choice but to engage in close combat, huh... "You're supposed to be weakest in the game, though."
Khione was known as one of the weakest bosses recommended for early Chaos Mode encounters. If one of the weakest bosses could trouble us this much, how much worse would the upper bosses be?
⟨⟨Battōjutsu⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Multiple⟩⟩
⟨⟨Umbral Wave⟩⟩
With a quick unsheathe, I sliced through all the icicle projectiles as I advanced. Assaulting from the rear, Akari followed with a barrage of projectiles, providing support.
⟨⟨Blizzard Serpent⟩⟩
In response, Khione spawned another pair of Snow Serpents. Violently, the two giants plunged towards me. Good, it seems to be the same pattern of attacks since the start of the fight.
⟨⟨Reverse Voiding⟩⟩
Before they could completely devour me, I vanished, reappearing behind them, and proceeded to advance towards Khione. The pair of Snow Serpents immediately turned towards me. However,
⟨⟨Glistening Dark⟩⟩
Before they could reach me, they were ensnared with chains of glistening darkness, their movements abruptly disrupted.
Man, Akari has been carrying us well ever since we arrived here, huh?
A few meters from Khione, I took my stance, blade ready to unsheathe. As soon as Khione was within my range of attack, with a quick swing,
⟨⟨Sword Technique: Offensive⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Highblow⟩⟩
I swung a vertical slash towards Khione's head. However,
⟨⟨Icebound Minions⟩⟩
"Wha—?!" Suddenly, an animated ice construct appeared in front of me, blocking my solid attack and rendering my slash useless. "Man, where did you even come from—"
⟨⟨Frostbound Chains⟩⟩
I was quickly ensnared with a cold chain of ice. Khione's casting was fast! It didn't give me time to react. Moreover, the chain was reducing my health...!
"Aruji-sama!" Akari's concern echoed through the domain. Shortly, that worry immediately transformed into rage. Furious, Akari materialized a black plasma before blasting the concentrated beam towards Khione.
⟨⟨Umbral Collision⟩⟩
⟨⟨Glacial Vortex⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Chill Touch⟩⟩
"Uwoh—?!" As I struggled to break free, Khione's relentless attack persisted, conjuring a swirling vortex of vacuum reminiscent of that one attack. This one sucked me in as well, disrupting my attempts to escape. Additionally, Khione summoned a pair of ghostly hands made of snow; one intercepted the incoming concentrated beam, blocking it, while the other punched me, knocking me back near Akari. "Ouch?!"
Khione's ghostly hand persisted in blocking the concentrated beam, but it didn't last long before the beam's constant damage began eating away at its health. Shortly, the beam penetrated the defense, now heading straight for Khione.
"Die!" Akari uttered her curse as the beam landed wholly on Khione's body, sending the stationary girl flying far away from her position, ultimately crashing at the edge of her domain. "Haap!"
Summoning all my strength, I broke free from the frozen chains and immediately propelled myself towards Khione once again, not wasting Akari's given opportunity.
⟨⟨Adrenaline⟩⟩
My strength surged the way my mana simultaneously vanished. Putting all my power into my feet, I dashed towards the blue-haired girl. "Haap!"
⟨⟨Haidong Gumdo⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Sandan Begi⟩⟩
Khione was still pinned from her domain's wall. With a quickdraw, I unleashed a combination of left, right, and center slash. I didn't unleash a hail of slashes, knowing how Khione behaves.
"—?!" Suddenly, the domain's barrier shattered. How crafty. She's going for a reset, huh...
The sound of cracks echoed through the place before eventually breaking apart. The foggy environment, enveloped with a surface of ice, had now returned to its original state. We were back in Wintervale City.
"Only three cuts, huh..." I murmured as I backed away. Then suddenly, "Woah...?"
A massive werewolf sizing of a motorcycle leaped at me with to intention to kill. Unsheathing my sword, I cleaved the werewolf clean, cutting it in half before disintegrating into ashes.
Another monster followed suit. This time, it was a trio of blue-skinned caveman Mahaha. The three ganged up on me, following only their instincts, assaulting me with a hook. I quickly weaved and shoved my sword into one of Mahaha's stomach, following up with a kick to its face and leaping midair. Swiftly, I took my 『IDS』 guided by my momentum and sliced the trio's heads simultaneously.
"Aruji-sama," finishing off the monsters, I turned to see Akari who called me. Similar to me, ashes of disintegrated remains gushed near her.
"I'm fine," I replied. "Still, looking at the situation, it looks like the stampede is already happening, huh."
"It seems to be the case," Akari replied. "Also, Aruji-sama,"
"Yeah," Khione as well as the stampede. We already had our hands full with Khione, and now the stampede...
Abruptly, the Mystic Dial suddenly squawked inside my head, "Sai, can you hear me?"
Oh? It's Lily's voice, "Took you long enough. Anyways, what's the situation?"
"So-so?" Lily replied. "I mean, we already had Lemuen decimating with her explosive petals. The leftover survivors were then finished by us. I think it's going well so far?"
"You're quite confident, huh." I replied. "Anyhow, think you guys can handle it yourselves?"
"Um, yeah." Lily replied. "As long as it doesn't get any worse than this..."
"Good to hear. We already had our hands full with Khione," I replied, turning around to where I last saw Khione. However, she wasn't there. "Huh? Akari, did you see Khione?"
Likewise, Akari wasn't beside me as well. Shortly, the Mystic Dial once again buzzed inside my head, "Aruji-sama, Khione suddenly ran away. I'm currently tailing her. Judging from her direction, it seems that she's joining along with the stampede."
"Your direction?" I asked. She should've told me before she left, though...
"Yes, it's from the innermost center of the Wintervale." Akari replied.
"Alright, I'm coming," I grappled upward before swinging away structure by structure. "Before I get there, I'll leave Khione to you, Akari."
————————————————————————————————————————————
[Akari POV]
"Yes, please leave it to me," I replied.
A movement that seems like she's spamming Aruji-sama's ⟨⟨Voiding⟩⟩, Khione landed exactly at the center of the perimeter, a place already swamped with diversity of monsters.
As Khione slowly raised her hands, numbers of explosions erupted into her sides, it looked as if she was acting on an opera. It looked beautiful. The explosion came none other than Lemuen, who was acting on a major role in this stampede according to the Mystic Dial told by Lily.
On the other side, was being defended by Luna and Astra, who stiffened shortly as soon as Khione landed at the center.
"—?! What's is this woman doing here...?!" Astra asked.
"Be careful," Luna replied. "My senses is telling me she's dangerous."
"You're right, Luna." I gracefully landed, sliding just in front of Khione, face to face. "You girls focus on the stampede. I'll handle this one myself."
I don't know why, but I feel a sense of similarity within you, Khione. Which is why, I'll play with you for a while. Moreover, Aruji-sama asked me to leave you to me.
"Come," I declared.