Holstering his pistol and unsheathing his sword, Tristan muttered, "Round two."
He took a deep breath before darting to the side, propelling himself forward while keeping his power shield-bearing hand directed towards the creature's head.
With a swift motion, he spun his sword to clear a path. The giant snake hissed and spat its poisonous saliva, its head turning towards Tristan.
Despite the thick snow, Tristan's speed and agility allowed him to quickly maneuver behind the beast's rear, evading its venomous shots. Once the rear body of the creature was within range of his sword, he groaned as he channeled his power into the blade. Then...
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of his sword striking Frigusfera's rear body shattered the silence. The beast hissed in pain as Tristan's sword sliced through its metallic snake-like form. As the creature pulled its rear forward, its upper body slithered towards Tristan, and its head lunged, attempting to bite and spit venom.
However, Tristan's power shield provided a protective cover, preventing the beast from reaching him.
Tristan relentlessly pursued the beast's tail, unleashing a flurry of sword strikes. Occasionally, he spun his body with incredible speed to add force and leverage to his attacks. His movements matched the extraordinary speed of the giant snake.
He continued to slash at the beast's tail while it hissed and spat poison in response. Running, jumping, and spinning, Tristan chased after the tail, delivering precise slashes. His right hand firmly gripped the sword, rarely pausing in its assault on the tail, while his left hand deflected the continuous onslaught of venom with the power shield.
As time passed, the pace of the battle escalated. Tristan's speed increased gradually, reaching its peak where his movements blurred, resembling a flying shadow. The giant snake appeared to be chasing its own tail.
Taking advantage of his swift agility, Tristan used his momentum to propel himself higher above the creature's head. At that moment, the beast's spittle struck its own tail, accompanied by loud hissing. Once its tail was struck by its own spat, the giant beast became slower, and it was seemingly unaware that Tristan was above its head.
As Tristan prepared to land on the beast's head, he channeled his power into his sword. Right before making contact, he thrust the blade into the creature's eye.
With the sword embedded, his feet briefly grazed the creature's forehead before he planted himself firmly, head down, gripping the hilt tightly. A deep hiss of agony escaped the beast as Tristan stood upside-down on his sword, defying gravity. He swiftly drew his gun with remarkable speed and precision and unleashed three shots at the beast's other eye.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound reverberated through the air as the bullets found their mark. The creature's hisses intensified, and it violently shook its head to dislodge Tristan, now back standing on his feet while remaining firmly lodged his sword in the beast's eye.
However, Tristan maintained his grip, adjusting his position to counter the beast's movements. Feet planted firmly on its forehead, and both hands gripping the sword embedded in its eye, he fought to keep his footing despite the violent shaking.
Realizing he couldn't hold his position for much longer, Tristan simultaneously pulled his sword and rolled backward. He swiftly slashed the giant snake's back in a fluid motion, creating sparks upon impact. As he landed on the snow, he channeled power into his feet. He propelled himself away, trying to create as much distance as possible from the dying creature.
Coming to a stop slightly far behind the injured beast, Tristan drove his sword deep into the snow, sinking to his knees as he clung to the hilt to support himself. The intense battle had depleted his power to such an extent that he couldn't even stand on his own two feet.
With the realization sinking in, Tristan released his grip on the sword and sat on the snow for a moment before finally lying flat on his back. The beast continued to hiss loudly, but the sound gradually faded away.
Soon, the only audible noise was the chilling wind blowing through the surroundings.
Tristan remained lying flat, his eyes gazing at the darkening sky. Exhausted and devoid of power, all he could do was breathe and warm his exposed skin.
"Daggo... what... happened... to me? Am I... 'alright'?" His voice was trembling, barely audible as he whispered.
"Scanning your body, Master," Daggo replied.
Tristan had waited anxiously for what felt like an eternity, yearning for Daggo's assessment of his condition. But when the AI finally spoke, its words only added to his growing despair.
However, amidst the overwhelming sense of hopelessness, a familiar sound reached his ears. It was coming from the radio and wasn't just one person's voice.
"Daggo, it's Princess Valeria... and Lady Ayana!" Tristan whispered.
"Tristan! Hold on, don't be afraid. We're coming," Lady Ayana's voice came through the radio, attempting to calm Tristan.
As tranquility enveloped the surroundings once more, Tristan focused on regulating his breathing, attempting to calm his racing heartbeat. He delved into a state of deep meditation, seeking to find solace and gather his inner strength. Gradually, his mind and body grew lighter, and a surge of energy coursed through his veins.
In this heightened state of awareness, Tristan's senses sharpened. He could perceive the world around him with heightened clarity. Even the mythical beast he had vanquished remained within his sensory grasp, though barely clinging to life. Despite its grave injuries, the creature had managed to slither away, distancing itself from Tristan's current location.
In addition to sensing the fading presence of the beast, Tristan could also feel Lady Ayana and Valeria making their way through the darkness toward him. The distance he had covered during the intense battle became apparent to him now. They had swiftly moved away from the cave where Lady Ayana and Valeria had been encamped, traversing a considerable distance in the process.
In an instant and without warning, a deafening boom shattered the tranquility around Tristan, jolting him out of his meditative state. Despite the rejuvenating effects of his meditation, the resounding thunder filled him with a profound sense of unease.
Dread coursing through his veins, Tristan whispered with a tinge of anxiety, "W-What is that, Daggo? Any advice?"
Daggo's response quivered with uncertainty, mirroring the imminent danger. "It... It's an avalanche, Master. It's heading directly towards us," he stammered, sensing the encroaching peril.
"Fuck my life!! Fate has a twisted sense of humor," Tristan muttered, his hand clenched into a tight fist, frustration etched across his face.