Sky went close to him, held his wrist and started to pour her golden aura into it. As she did that he started to wince but no sound left his mouth.
"Did you hear that? " I asked because the expression they had wasn't like people who had heard that horrifying shriek.
For a creature that was being defeated, it sounded like a cry for revenge. That it wasn't done. And I wondered how the virus could've managed to do that since it was basically lifeless without a host.
"The fire had died down?" Sky asked as she looked at me with a confused expression written all over her face. The expression on Hassan's face matched the one on Sky's face.
"No. The loud sound from the ice Bear just now"
Hassan shook his head and Sky said "No"
So, I was the only one that heard the frightening shriek.
"How was the sound?" Hassan asked
"It was high-pitched and terrifying."
" But the mad king of ice bears is long gone. What could've made the sound?" Sky asked
"The Loucura virus. " I said as I squinted my eyes.
"Could it be a psychic thing? " Hassan asked.
That wasn't far from what had popped into my mind. The creature was psychic and far more sentient than anything I had seen. The creature made me believe that what we were experiencing was more than the 'Aliens' depicted in movies.
"Maybe," I said as I finally took one chunk of meat that was done roasting. "let me see your palm," I said to Hassan who was about to roast another chunk of meat. He was doing pretty well with the roasting. Although the meat of the creature tasted horrible it was cooked enough and he didn't burn it.
I inspected his palm and was surprised to find it looking perfectly normal, as if it hadn't been burned by his own flames. His fire abilities posed a danger to both himself and others, so it seemed likely that he enveloped himself in his dark aura to shield himself from his own fiery power.
"Where did you learn to roast?" Sky asked. Sometimes she took words right out of my mind like she was the one with the psychic power.
A faint smile crept onto the corners of Hassan's lips, although it seemed like he was making an effort to conceal it by firmly pressing his lips together.
Sky continued as if she expected no answer. "Eating this made me even more thirsty. What are we going to do? Are you guys not thirsty too? "
That was true. One thing more horrible than being extremely hungry was eating while being extremely thirsty.
"Let's convert the snow to water"
Hassan said with his focus still on the meat he was roasting.
That was a genius thought. How come it didn't occur to me?
"Wow! That's totally good!" sky said "But how are we going to do it?" she continued
"My shop just refreshed and I got a steel pot from it"
'How strange' I thought. That was evident enough that we were being watched or perhaps the odds were just in our favour.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Sky yelled. She was so comfortable with him as if they had known each other for a long.
That was when Hassan left the meat and made the pot appear from the thin air.
It wasn't like the usual pot that I knew. It was tinier and almost the size of a teapot.
"What use is this for us? " I asked.
How long will it be before we can get enough water?
We were not as hungry as we were thirsty so we removed the roasted meat from over the fire and set the fire in such a way that we could put the miniature pot on the fire. Then without minding that we had been stepping on the snow we gathered some of the snow in our hands and poured it into the pot.
"Can you increase the intensity or something?" Sky demanded. She was the one most expressive of her thirst out of the three of us.
"Won't it melt the pot?" I asked
"It is taking too long," she said
Meanwhile, Hassan sat there, gazing at the pot with such intensity that it seemed like he was trying to work some kind of magic to hasten the boiling process.
After some time, the pot was boiling so vigorously that its loud bubbling could be heard from quite a distance away.
"This should be hot enough to kill any germs," Sky commented as she hurriedly tried to lift the pot. However, the scalding temperature quickly overwhelmed her, causing her to release the pot and spill its contents onto the ground. Every drop of water was lost in that accident, but miraculously, she managed to avoid getting injured by the scalding hot water.
"Sky!" I cried out as the whole incident unfolded before I could even rise to react; not like there was anything I could do.
"Sorry," she mumbled, standing there motionless, clearly stunned by what had just occurred.
We had to start afresh and this time we all had to exercise some patience.
The water wasn't sufficient for all of us, so we had to boil it twice. Unfortunately, it contained some sandy particles, but we lacked the means to filter it. And if there was something else the heat couldn't kill ... Well, we'll have to find out about that later.
When we were all relaxed after drinking the water and finishing the last of the roasted meat that Hassan had brought out and roasted, he brought out forty puzzle pieces.
"Here!" He said as he looked at me. Unofficially we had agreed that I was going to be collecting the puzzle pieces.
"No way!" Sky exclaimed, rushing closer to him to discover how he had acquired all the puzzle pieces. As soon as he handed me the two pieces, the five puzzle pieces I already possessed combined with the forty he had brought, making the total forty-five pieces.
45/200
Observing the increasing number beneath the puzzle pieces was truly invigorating. It provided a glimmer of hope that we were making progress in this mysterious place, where it was all too easy to become disoriented and fall prey to countless frightening predators.
"I got it from the last two fights"
Hassan said. He appeared willing to answer questions and didn't seem to be hiding anything, perhaps indicating a newfound trust in us compared to the past when he had concealed the true nature of his ice gladius.
Congratulations
The mad king of the ice bear has been defeated.
Rewards;
Twenty Puzzles to the Grand Quest of the Cold Lands
Message:
The Loucura virus is weakened
Message:
The Loucura virus is weakened
Message:
The Loucura virus is weakened
Message:
The Loucura virus is weakened
Message:
The Loucura virus is weakened
Message:
The Loucura virus is weakened
Message:
The Loucura virus is weakened
Congratulations
The Loucura virus has been defeated
Rewards;
Twenty puzzles to the grand Quest of the Cold Lands,
A life-stealing technique,
Soul-bound armor.
Exclusive skill: Life-Stealing Technique
Description: The Life-Stealing Technique is an ancient, weathered scroll inscribed with cryptic symbols and diagrams. It measures about one meter in length and is made from a fragile material that appears to be a blend of parchment and silk. Its surface bears the marks of age, with faded ink and frayed edges. Function: This technique, when properly understood and mastered, allows the user to drain the life force of their target. By channeling their inner energy and invoking the symbols on the scroll, the practitioner can siphon vitality, weakening their adversary and strengthening themselves in the process.
Properties:
Life Drain: When the Life-Stealing Technique is employed, the user can extract the life force of their opponent, causing physical and magical exhaustion in the target.
Energy Transfer: The stolen vitality is channeled into the user, enhancing their physical abilities and magical prowess temporarily.
Learning Barrier: Mastering the Life-Stealing Technique is an arduous and perilous journey. It often involves seeking out hidden knowledge and battling inner demons.
Durability: The scroll is exceptionally delicate due to its age and fragile materials. It must be handled with extreme care to prevent further deterioration.
Origin: The Life-Stealing Technique is rumored to have been created by a reclusive sage who delved into forbidden arts in search of power and immortality. Its true origin is obscured by centuries of legend and myth.
Value: While the Life-Stealing Technique is not valuable in the traditional sense, its knowledge is highly sought after by those seeking to master dark and forbidden arts. Its significance lies in its potential for both great good and terrible evil.
Note: The Life-Stealing Technique is a dangerous and morally complex skill. Its use can lead to dire consequences, including corruption and malevolence. Those who pursue its secrets should proceed with caution and self-awareness.