Chapter 362: The Encounter in the Frost Forest
In the vast, snowy wilderness of the far north, traversing the terrain was no easy task for humans. Lacking the furry soles of animals, walking on soft snow was a challenging endeavor unless they could expand the contact area between their feet and the snow.
Fortunately, William and his companions had the ability to fly close to the ground. This not only allowed them to avoid encounters with large Beast but also enabled them to better discern traces left on the snow.
Olaf, their guide, Pointed to the snow-covered trees in the area and shared his knowledge. "These trees, flowers, and plants may appear to be covered in crystalline snow on the surface, but they have natural defenses against the cold and continue to grow."
Burned Cinder and the others gazed at the colossal trees, some reaching tens or even hundreds of meters in height, as well as the scattered flowers and plants nearby. It was evident that the Frost Forest couldn't have reached this state within just three months of the warm season.
Olaf continued to educate them, "In fact, if you were to scrape off the white crystals on the surface with a knife, you'd find green shoots beneath. However, herbivores and Beast in this region tend to spit out these white crystals when consuming these plants, as they are inedible. These trees are known as Ice Snow Trees. They used to hold great value, but this area falls under the territory of the Snow Elves, so no one dares to come here and harvest the wood."
William, who had a penchant for knowledge, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at Olaf's extensive insights. He had been a self-taught scholar in the past, but now he found someone encroaching on his territory.
Olaf shrugged nonchalantly, "I used to serve as the scouting captain of the Northern Duchy. While dealing with the Northern Orcs, I often ventured into the East Frost Forest in search of food, so I'm quite familiar with this place."
William was intrigued and asked, "How did you end up in your current position?"
He couldn't help but feel optimistic about Olaf, a man with epic Bloodlines. It didn't make sense for him to be demoted to a mere guard, let alone a janitor.
Olaf paused for a moment and replied, "Violating military orders and acting recklessly can lead to consequences as severe as death."
William nodded, acknowledging that for someone in a leadership position, Olaf's reckless scouting was a glaring lapse in judgment. But he couldn't help but ponder the morality of such a situation.
After a brief moment, Olaf continued his story, "Indeed, it was a light punishment. I risked disobeying orders, but I still couldn't save the town where I was born and raised. I watched as my own son, wife, relatives, and friends were all slaughtered by the orcs. I was subsequently demoted to being a guard at the portal of Glacier, Capital City, with no chance to exact revenge on the orcs."
William was rendered speechless. Olaf had violated orders in an attempt to save his family, and in the face of such a choice, who could definitely say what was right or wrong?
Military orders were strict and akin to sacred laws, but in the end, they were human-made rules, and sometimes, the heart's desires could not be easily suppressed.
However, Olaf's tale took an unexpected turn. He added, "But I have a son once more. He was my comrade, and his father was my brother. Unfortunately, he perished, entrusting me with the care of his orphaned wife and child. I married his widow, and although his son never called me father, his mother became mine."
William couldn't help but marvel at the complexity of Olaf's life. What began as a tragic tale of loss and demotion had evolved into a story of unexpected bonds formed through shared hardships.
As they continued their journey through the Frost Forest, the tranquility was abruptly shattered by a thunderous roar. A colossal tree was hurled through the air, hurtling toward them.
Olaf, witnessing the impending danger, instinctively considered a hasty retreat.
However, Prince William's eyes gleamed with anticipation. He waved his hand dismissively and remarked, "It appears there's a skirmish among the Beast. Let's investigate and see if we can profit from it."
Olaf hesitated but ultimately acquiesced, understanding that William was not averse to danger.
They followed the source of the commotion and arrived at the scene of the conflict. What they encountered were three Frost Giants, towering seven to eight meters in height, clad in brass armor. Each wielded a massive shield in their left hand and a colossal axe in their right, with two long horns adorning their helmets.
Facing off against the Frost Giants was not a White Dragon, as one might expect, but a colossal beast with long, brown fur, standing at an imposing thirteen meters in height. Its powerful musculature exuded boundless strength, and its massive fangs protruded menacingly from its mouth.
At that moment, the behemoth seemed consumed by fury, roaring and charging forward with a humanoid mecha-like gait, crashing through thick trees with its sheer power. It retaliated against the Frost Giants with overwhelming strength, sending two of them reeling.
Before the two Frost Giants could react, the behemoth launched a powerful kick that sent the Frost Giant with the longest beard sprawling, leaving him vulnerable to further attacks.
Riding on the fallen Frost Giant, the behemoth rained down a barrage of devastating blows with fists larger than the heads of five men. The thunderous impacts echoed through the forest, shaking the very ground beneath them.
The Frost Giant with the Longest Beard was soon overwhelmed, unable to withstand the relentless assault. Even his massive shield, while effective in blocking some blows, bore visible cracks and concave marks.
"Cut him down!" The Frost Giant leader roared, frustrated by their dire situation.
The other two Frost Giants, however, hesitated, "Isn't the behemoth supposed to be our ally and not our enemy? We can't kill it."
Frost Giant Leader grew increasingly exasperated, muttering, "What should we do, let it pummel me into the ground?"
Just then, the behemoth appeared to tilt its head back momentarily before charging forward once more, grabbing the handles of the two axes that were stuck in its flesh.
In an instant, blood spurted out as it tore a chunk of flesh away, its bloodshot eyes fixated on the axes. It let out another furious roar, signaling its escalating rage.
"Cut off its head, you idiots!" The Frost Giant Leader barked in frustration.
With the behemoth displaying inexplicable hostility, the Frost Giants had no choice but to fight back. They raised their colossal five-meter-long axes, preparing to strike the beast from behind.
Before they could carry out their plan, a swift movement caught their attention. Three agile figures descended from the sky. As they neared the ground, their descent slowed, allowing them to gracefully land on tree branches.
Two of them swiftly deployed magic ropes, entangling the behemoth's legs, while the third unleashed a barrage of ice magic to encase it in frost.
Nonetheless, the enraged Behemoth continued its ferocious onslaught. Its powerful legs jerked, causing two snow Elves who were clinging to a tree to be flung away. As the behemoth closed in, it seemed poised to trample the two helpless individuals to their demise.
But just as the behemoth's enormous fist was about to descend upon the fallen snow Elves, William ceased hiding in the shadows. With astonishing speed, he transformed into a streak of lightning and descended to the ground. His arrival was perfectly timed to prevent the behemoth's devastating strike.
With a swift, precise movement, William extended his left hand and struck the behemoth's skull with tremendous force. The impact generated a deafening boom as the more than ten-meter-tall creature was struck heavily on the head and crashed to the ground.
The earth beneath them quivered as the behemoth's massive form fell heavily, its movements coming to a halt. The Frost Giant and the snow Elves watched in stunned amazement.
Despite the powerful blow, the Behemoth still struggled to regain its footing. Undeterred by the dire situation, William stood atop the creature's chest and delivered another forceful punch to its head.
Boom!
The behemoth's skull collided with the ground once more, causing the entire earth to tremble. In the vicinity, the snow-covered terrain turned to snow as a result of the shockwave. The behemoth was rendered unconscious, its frenzied state quelled.
At this juncture, William removed his snow-white hat, revealing his Pointed ears. He touched his undamaged gloves and flashed a friendly smile at the snow Elves, saying, "I'm unharmed, and this big guy is still alive."
Several of the snow Elves swallowed audibly, taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. Among them, a female Elf who had been utilizing ice magic gazed at William in astonishment and inquired, "Are you the Black Leaf Elf?"
"Hello, my name is William Black Leaf. I am here on the behalf of the Black Leaf Elf KING," William responded.
"Hello, your highness," acknowledged the snow Elves, including the three masters among them.
Burned Cinder and the rest of William's companions, who had been following him closely, offered smiles and nods, signifying their united front.
The leader of the Frost Giants approached William, kicking the Behemoth lightly with his foot. As he observed the flattened visage of the creature, he couldn't help but turn his attention to William, inquiring, "Are you a fighter, one who unleashes their full strength?"
William chuckled, "Oh no, I'm a Ranger…" He showcased his Legendary Rank bow and arrow to the Frost Giant leader.
The Frost Giant leader remained stoic, smoking his pipe. Another Frost Giant whispered in his ear, "He's lying. A Ranger's punch isn't this powerful."
"No, really, I'm a Ranger, and I can hear you," William insisted.
"Well, you've certainly given me a new perspective on Rangers," the Frost Giant leader mused. He then turned to the snow Elf and instructed, "Freeze this big guy, and we'll take it back to our homeland."
The snow Elf agreed, saying, "Alright. We don't yet understand what's wrong with it. If we're unable to cure it, please have them seek us out in the Frost Forest."
With the situation resolved, the group took a moment to catch their breath. The behemoth was incapacitated but not beyond hope.
"Your highness, please follow me," the female magician among the snow Elves said to William with a warm smile. She extended her arm, inviting him to accompany her.
William returned her smile and took Annie's hand, following the snow Elf as they embarked on a journey into the realm of the snow Elves.