Max POV:
My mana is almost about to be depleted when blizzard finally stopped.
Max still didn't dispelled his barrier yet till he confirmed its safe to go outside.
As blizzard ends everything becomes clear infront of everyone they could see ice sculpture that were once moving and living human beings.
It was nightmare for them to see so many of them die like this again.
Infant child mother is just outside the barrier with her hand stretched out in throwing motion. Even though she died but she still able to save her child.
Soon after settlement safety barrier was dispelled and people were coming out of it.
Seeing people walking around safely Max dispelled his ice barrier and fall on to the snow below his feet due to low mana in his body.
Max start to take deep breaths and stabilize himself.
"Thank you Max for saving our lives."
"If it wasn't for you me and my son wouldn't have survived."
"I'm really grateful for your help Max you saved my family twice, thank you Max."
"You are our savior."
All the people that were in Max barrier showed their gratitude to him for saving their life and their loved.
But not all of them were lucky some of them lost their family tonight.
Crying and sobbing sound resounded throughout the settlement as people try find their dead family member and crying for their death.
Everyone was familiar to this sounds as they live in this world except for Claude.
As this was his first time seeing so many people cry over their dead family.
Claude covered his both ears with his hands he couldn't handle this type of things.
Max turned to Claude and said, "you should get used to this scene cause this is what living has to see in this world."
"On every step there's death and sorrows, those who forget this become the part of falling snow from sky."
Woodcutter Brian put his hand on Claude shoulder, "Don't talk like that infront of kids Max."
"They're still young give them time, they have it worse than us, we atleast grow up in proper home not like now running around from place to place to live."
"What's your name kid , I never got to know your name." Brian asked Claude.
Claude looked behind him,"Claude, my name is Claude Vedh."
"Thanks Claude for bringing that warm lether it helped my child stay warm." Brian said with sincere smile on his face.
Claude didn't know what to say he wasn't used anyone saying thank you to him.
Claude made awkward smile and said, "Its okay, there's no need for you to say that. I didn't what other would have done same in this situation."
They were having conversation but surrounding was still gloomy with all the death.
Claude still looking at people who freeze to death in blizzard.
Brian walked away with his family towards his home and everyone else also were trying to find their family or going back to their home. Even though most of them were got destroyed in blizzard.
Few minutes later Brian come back with two cups of coffee in his hands.
"Hey, Max and kid here's the last two cups of coffee I have is for you."
"Don't reject it I made specially for both of you."
Claude accept coffee with slightly bow in thank you and hold the coffee cup.
Coffee was hot but it felt good holding hot coffee cup in this weather the warm sensation in his palm felt unreal.
As three of them were walking towards people who have gathered in village square.
Suddenly Claude, Max and Brian saw blood stains on snow that were not there before and sword was sticking out of Claude stomach.
Claude didn't even realised when he got stabbed by sword.
Blood was dripping down from his stomach like water fall, Claude couldn't even turned around to see who just attacked him.
Max and Brian were just beside him but even they couldn't feel killing intent.
Brian turned around kicked at one who attack Claude from behind, Brian used his full force in kick but attacker didn't even bulge from her place.
The one who attack Claude was none other than Marlene, she looked at Brian kicked him of distance and at the same time Max pulled out Claude from sword.
There was gaping hole in his stomach Max use his ice magic to seal Claude wound with one hand and with other hand he summoned ice spike to attack the abuser.
Marlene jumped back few steps back feeling mana gathering around beneath her feet, she looked at the man who just cast ice spike spell.
Before Max could question her, Marlene asked him first with frustration in her voice.
"Why you are protecting that dark elf offspring."
Max now knew why she attacked Claude but he still can't forgive her for her misunderstanding cause she attacked with intense of killing in one move.
"His not dark elf, his human just like."
"You better stay away from him, if you tried to attack him again don't blame me for not going easy on woman."
"Ohhh, you think I'm weak women."
"Old man you have no idea who you are talking to right now."
"Defending dark elf offspring is crime you should know."
"I already told you his not dark elf or hybrid between human and dark elf."
"He's complete human just like us."
Even though Marlene didn't release her aura or any kind of power Max still felt fear like he's facing powerful monster not human.
Max was already low on mana despite that he summoned his contracted spirit.
Small light blue blue butterfly appeared around Max flapping their wings and releasing ice mana in surrounding ic mana in Max surrounding got intensified but Marlene just had little smirk on her face.
"Country bumpkin will always be country bumpkin, no matter how strong you might consider yourself you will always be frog in well."
"Just because you made contract with spirit you think you are strong enough to face me old man."
"You are completely wrong about and you are going to find this in hard way."
"I'm going to kill that dark elf offspring last, first I'm going to kill you for betraying human."
"You might have sold your soul for power to this dark elf."
Max was losing his patience around her and attack Marlene with ice shard, five ice shard flew in the air towards Marlene in fast speed.
Marlene just stood at her place without jumping back few steps this time, ice Shard collided with her sword, one swing of her sword had destroyed all ice shard.
Marlene dash towards Max, Max quickly made ice barrier like tall wall but Marlene just cut it apart like hot knife cut butter Max ice wall didn't even stand a chance against Marlene attack.
Marlene punched Max stomach, just as her fist made contact with Max ribs breaking sound of ribs resounded throughout the air and like leaf in strong winds Max flew out like broken kite in distance.
Max collided with one of the frozen hut and couldn't be scene as he's body got buried beneath the earth.
Everyone one who saw that got scared cause Marlene is treating Max like punching bag here not even considered him as opponent you should be worried about coming out top again.
Faint sound of murmuring could be heard from hut but only Marlene heard other couldn't hear this sound, everyone else though Max might loose his life might have fainted after getting hit like that but Marlene knew he's still alive and kicking.
Even though Marlene knew Max is still alive and chanting some spell she didn't even thought for one second that Max will have upper hand in fight.
Max chanting ended and Marlene was prepared for his upcoming attack but this time no ice shard or ice spike appeared but small light blue butterfly appeared in four direction to Marlene and they quickly disappeared just as it appeared.
Just as butterflies faded into thin air Marlene got trapped in big ice dome, she couldn't even move her limbs in it.
From broken hut stood up Max his clothes were ripped apart here and there, blood was dripping down from his mouth and the place were Marlene punched turned black from hit.
Max was breathing hard it was already difficult for him to breathe let alone stand up, his broken left side ribcage has penetrated his lungs.
With support of broken stick in hut Max walked out and just as he walked few steps he was on his knees again. He couldn't mustered up his strength to walk as it hurts like hell every time he breathe.
Despite having grave Injuries Max didn't look at his terrible condition but at Marlene trapped in ice dome, he could see visible cracked appeared on surface of ice dome.
Max knew in few seconds Marlene would be free from his trap.