Chapter 6: The Clash with the Frost Wyrm
The frigid winds howled as Kai ascended the icy peaks of the Velkris Coalition. He had grown stronger after the Arena of Ascension, but the world's dangers hadn't diminished. He had chosen his next target: the Frost Wyrm, the creature representing the ninth-ranked territory.
Kai's goal was twofold. First, he needed to test his limits against one of the top-ranked monsters. Second, he sought to devour the Frost Wyrm and claim its abilities for himself. But as he reached the summit, he realized just how unprepared he was.
The Frost Wyrm emerged from a glacial cave, its massive body coiled like a serpent. Its scales shimmered with a pale blue light, and its icy breath turned the air into a freezing mist. Its piercing, glowing eyes locked onto Kai, radiating an intelligence that sent a chill down his spine.
The system chimed.
[Opponent: Frost Wyrm – Level 35]
[Abilities:]
Frost Breath: Unleashes a torrent of freezing air capable of encasing enemies in ice.Cryo Armor: Generates a layer of unbreakable ice over its body.Glacial Domain: Alters the battlefield, enhancing the Wyrm's powers and weakening enemies.
Kai swallowed hard. The Frost Wyrm was far more powerful than any opponent he had faced before. But he couldn't back down now.
The Battle Begins
The Frost Wyrm struck first, releasing a blast of Frost Breath. The icy wind roared toward Kai, and he barely managed to summon a barrier of flame to protect himself. The fire melted some of the ice, but the sheer force of the attack sent him skidding backward.
Kai countered with a combination of his abilities. He launched a volley of Flame Blasts, mixed with shards of ice from his Ice Manipulation. The attacks struck the Wyrm's body, but its Cryo Armor absorbed the blows with ease.
"Damn it," Kai muttered, realizing his attacks weren't enough to pierce its defenses.
The Frost Wyrm roared, activating Glacial Domain. The ground beneath Kai's feet froze instantly, and the temperature plummeted. His movements became sluggish as the cold sapped his strength, while the Wyrm seemed to grow even more powerful.
Kai used Shadow Step to teleport closer to the Wyrm's head, aiming to strike at its glowing eyes. But the creature anticipated his move. It lashed out with its tail, catching Kai mid-air and sending him crashing into an icy wall. Pain shot through his body as he struggled to stand.
Desperate Measures
Kai gritted his teeth, refusing to give up. He activated Toxic Spit, launching a corrosive spray at the Wyrm. The acid hissed as it made contact with the Cryo Armor, creating small cracks in the ice. Encouraged, Kai followed up with a burst of Lightning Strike, the electricity coursing through the Wyrm's body and causing it to writhe in pain.
But the Frost Wyrm was far from defeated. With a furious roar, it unleashed a massive wave of Frost Breath, engulfing Kai in a blizzard. His flames flickered and died as the cold overwhelmed him, encasing his limbs in ice.
The Wyrm loomed over him, its glowing eyes filled with contempt. It opened its jaws, preparing to deliver the final blow.
The Defeat
Kai summoned every ounce of strength he had left, breaking free from the ice just as the Wyrm struck. He dodged the attack, but his movements were slow and clumsy. His energy was nearly depleted, and his abilities were no match for the Frost Wyrm's overwhelming power.
The Wyrm's tail came down like a hammer, slamming into Kai and pinning him to the ground. He screamed in pain, his vision blurring as blood pooled beneath him.
The system's voice echoed in his mind.
[Warning: Critical Damage Sustained. Retreat Recommended.]
Kai clenched his fists, furious at his own weakness. But he knew he couldn't win. Not yet. He activated Shadow Step one last time, teleporting away from the Wyrm's crushing grasp.
The Frost Wyrm let out a victorious roar, its icy breath freezing the air around it. Kai staggered to his feet, his body trembling from the cold and his injuries. He had lost, but he was alive.
A Lesson in Defeat
As Kai limped away from the battlefield, the system delivered another message.
[Defeat Recorded. No Abilities Gained.]
[Advice: Increase Level and Abilities Before Facing Higher-Ranked Monsters.]
Kai's jaw tightened. The humiliation of defeat burned brighter than the pain in his body. He had underestimated the Frost Wyrm, and it had nearly cost him his life.
But he wouldn't let this failure define him. He had learned valuable lessons from the fight. The Frost Wyrm was a reminder of the power he still needed to achieve—and the dangers of overconfidence.
Kai clenched his fists, determination hardening his resolve. "I'll be back," he muttered, his breath visible in the freezing air. "And next time, I'll win."
End of Chapter 6