"I'm the one who's going to kill you."
I stood my ground, my chest rising and falling, each breath sharp, ragged, and laced with ice.
The orc didn't move—not immediately.
It had tossed me around like a plaything, but now? Even it seemed to be catching its breath, its massive chest heaving, nostrils flaring as it took in slow, deliberate breaths.
The air between us grew colder.
A faint blue mist drifted from my lips, swirling softly into the air like a lingering breath of frost. My body was aching, screaming for rest, but I ignored it. Pain didn't matter. Not now.
I wiped the blood from my nose with the back of my hand, flicking it aside like an afterthought.
The ache in my body? It no longer mattered.
Nothing else mattered.
The forest around me? Gone. The murmurs from the others? Nonexistent.
All I could hear was the orc.
All I could see was the orc.
All I could think about—was how to kill it.
My fingers curled into fists, my muscles coiling like a predator ready to strike. My breath came out slow, controlled—blue mist spilling into the air like the calm before a storm.
And then—I attacked.
I rushed forward, closing the distance between me and the orc in an instant.
It was still standing in the creek, its massive frame partially submerged, the water rippling violently around its legs.
As it saw me charging in, its lips curled back into a snarl.
ROOOAAARRR!
The orc swung a massive fist, the sheer force of it splitting the water apart as it crashed toward me.
I dodged swiftly, slipping beneath its arm as I pressed forward.
With the blood still slick on my hand, I focused, ice rapidly forming and extending into a long blade.
In one fluid motion, I drove the frozen weapon deep into its stomach.
"ARRGHH!"
The orc flinched, its muscles seizing from the pain.
But it recovered fast.
Its wild, burning gaze snapped onto me, its massive hands lunging to grab me.
Not this time.
I leapt upward, narrowly avoiding its grip, and with a swift arc—sliced across its chest.
A deep gash tore through its thick skin, black blood spilling into the water.
The orc let out a frustrated snarl.
Then, without hesitation, it scooped up a wave of water and hurled it at me.
I barely had time to react—
The cold rush blinded me, distorting my vision.
Shit—!
I sensed the attack before I saw it—
The orc's massive palm swung in from the side, aiming to crush me.
I barely managed to harden my arm in time, bracing for impact.
BAM
The force of the blow sent me flying, my body slamming into the water with a sharp splash.
For a moment, I sank, the icy current pulling at me—
But this wasn't over.
Not even close.
I rose from the creek, water dripping from my body, my breaths slow and controlled, but my limbs felt heavier now.
The water wasn't deep, only reaching my knees, but the weight of exhaustion pressed down harder than before.
My gaze locked onto the orc.
It wasn't looking at me—not at first.
Its glowing green eyes were fixed on the wound in its chest, its massive hand pressing against the deep gash.
Then, slowly, it lifted its gaze back to me.
And I saw it.
The fury.
The pure, unfiltered hatred.
A low, guttural growl rumbled from its chest, its nostrils flaring, its lips peeling back to reveal its sharp, bloodied teeth.
Even with a deep wound, I had to get close to injure it.
And that was the problem.
I was tired.
I couldn't keep dodging forever.
I needed to finish this.
Now.
The clear water around me darkened, turning a murky black as the orc's blood seeped into the creek, swirling around my legs like ink.
I exhaled slowly, the faint blue mist drifting from my lips, my fingers twitching.
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Victor and Milio sprinted toward the sound, urgency driving their steps. Frustration burned in Victor's chest—being pushed aside so easily was humiliating. As they reached the creek, his eyes locked onto Bel, who was hunched over, gasping for breath. Blood trickled from his nose and mouth, his body battered and exhausted.
Victor clenched his fists. There was no way he could take this monster down alone.
His gaze shifted to the creature. It bore a deep wound in its body, proof that it had already taken damage. But as Victor took in the scene, he noticed something else—four figures standing at a distance, observing. They appeared ordinary at first glance, except for one.
At the front stood a woman, and the sight of her sent a chill down his spine. She had the same striking red hair as him, but her presence was something else entirely—towering, muscular, exuding the raw power of an Amazon warrior. Despite the chaos, neither she nor her group intervened.
Well, whatever. Victor had more pressing matters at hand.
He took a step toward the monster, his body tense. He probably had one more Amplify left in him before exhaustion took over. Bel looked completely spent—he wasn't getting back up anytime soon. That meant it was Victor's turn to step in.
Locking his sights on the wounded beast, he steadied himself, preparing to advance. But just as he was about to move—
She appeared.
The woman, who had been at least thirty meters away just moments ago, now stood directly in front of him.
His breath hitched. Fast.
She loomed over him, her muscular frame radiating raw power. Her piercing gaze locked onto his, and her voice was sharp as steel.
"What do you think you're doing, soldier?"
"Wha… What do you mean?.... I'm going to help," Victor said, his voice firm.
He moved to step past her, determined to join the fight, but before he could take another step, the woman extended her arm, blocking his path with an unyielding presence.
"No, you're not." The woman stepped forward, placing herself between Victor and the battlefield. "The boy doesn't want interference."
Victor's eyes hardened as he met her gaze. His hand moved to his sword.
"Move." His voice was low, edged with warning.
From the side, Milio raised his bow, his arrow trained on her in an instant.
The woman let out a slow sigh, unfazed by their aggression. "I'm not sure your friend needs your help." She glanced back toward the fight. "We offered ours, and he refused. If you interfere now, you risk ruining his honor."
Her tone was calm, but firm—a warning, not a request.
Victor's gaze shifted to Bel.
What he saw stopped him cold.
Bel's eyes burned with unshakable determination—a fire so absolute, so unwavering, that nothing else seemed to exist for him.
He wasn't even aware they were watching.
Victor had seen that look before. The expression of someone who had already decided to put their life on the line.
His grip on his sword tightened, his teeth grinding together.
"Damn it." The words slipped out, low and strained.
For the first time, Victor felt it—
Bel was beyond his reach now.
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The orc roared, its massive form barreling toward me, arms outstretched, fingers twitching in anticipation.
It wanted to crush me.
And yet—I stood my ground.
I let him grab me.
His grin widened, jagged teeth glinting beneath the glow of his eerie green eyes.
His grip tightened, both hands clamping around my body, his massive fingers digging into my flesh. He was going to squeeze the life out of me.
I didn't harden myself this time.
I didn't use bitter ice to shield me.
I was vulnerable.
And I wanted that.
"Arrghhh—!"
A sharp cough of blood escaped my lips as the pressure mounted. My bones creaked under the force. My body strained, the pain creeping into every nerve.
Then—
Crack.
A searing pain shot through my ribs.
I think he just broke them.
The orc paused for a moment, his eyes flickering with triumph.
He thought this was the end.
Fucking idiot.
I forced my head up, locking eyes with him, and through the blood dripping from my lips—I smirked.
"You're in my territory now."
At that moment, a sharp pillar of ice erupted from the water, piercing straight through the orc's stomach.
"ARRGHHHHHH!" The monster's agonized scream tore through the air as its massive hands instinctively released me, its body collapsing into the creek.
The impact sent water splashing in all directions, but the orc didn't just fall—it writhed.
It twisted and convulsed, thrashing like a worm impaled on a hook.
My ice didn't just hurt him —it was burning him.
His flesh sizzled where the ice touched, his once-powerful limbs twitching uncontrollably as steam rose from his wounds.
Slowly, deliberately, I stepped forward.
Water sloshed around my legs as I watched him struggle, his body spasming from the unbearable cold.
With a flick of my wrist, ice spread across the water, crawling up his limbs like hungry vines.
His arms—frozen solid.
His legs—trapped beneath a thick sheet of ice.
I stepped onto his chest, standing above him, watching his panic rise.
"Pathetic." My voice was cold, as frigid as the water itself.
I met his wide, terrified gaze, and through the blood dripping from my lips—I smirked.
Using the blood mixing in the water, I had frozen the entire creek, forming the perfect battlefield.
This place belonged to me now.
And here?
I was invincible.
"Why aren't you smiling?"
The words left my lips slowly, deliberately, my voice carrying the same cold edge as the ice that bound him.
The orc's face—once twisted in arrogance—was now contorted in pure terror.
Its wild, panicked eyes darted around, frantically searching for an escape. Its chest heaved, each breath coming out as a ragged, desperate gasp.
It wriggled violently, trying to break free, its massive body jerking and convulsing in the frozen water. But this wasn't normal ice.
Then it screamed.
A sound full of fear, not rage.
I watched as its head thrashed, its entire body twitching uncontrollably, as if the realization had finally sunk in.
It couldn't move. It couldn't win. It was completely powerless.
Good.
Raising my hand, I created two thick blocks of ice, letting them form slowly on the side of its head.
The orc whimpered, its entire body shuddering as it realized what was coming.
I didn't plan to let it bleed out.
That would be too merciful.
No—
I was going to make it suffer.
Slowly—just like he did to Kai.
I kept my eyes locked onto his, unblinking, unrelenting, as I began to close the ice around his skull.
The orc's body seized, its eyes widening in sheer, animalistic terror.
Its breath hitched, turning into ragged, frantic gasps.
Crunch.
"ORHHHHHHHHHH!" It screamed, its voice splitting the air in agony.
Another crack.
Its entire body convulsed, thrashing uselessly beneath the ice.
It knew. It knew this was the end.
I didn't blink.
I didn't flinch.
I just watched—holding his gaze, forcing him to see the inevitability of his fate.
No mercy. No escape. No hope.
His eyes flickered, darting wildly, pleading for something, anything—but there was nothing left.
I leaned in slightly, my voice low, steady, final.
"Tell your queen... I'm coming for her next."
Then—
CRACK.
His skull collapsed inward.
The ice crushed through flesh and bone, splintering it like brittle glass.
Black blood exploded outward, spilling into the frozen water, staining the ice in dark, inky veins.
The body twitched once—then went still.
Then—
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have gained an Attribute ability.]
[You have killed a Goddess' Champion.]
The notifications flashed across my vision, but I barely processed them.
All I could do was exhale, the lingering blue mist swirling from my lips.
Then, my body gave out.
I stumbled, then collapsed, landing on the orc's lifeless stomach.
Exhaustion crashed into me like a tidal wave.
I didn't feel pain—not yet.
But I knew it was coming.
A few more minutes, maybe.
For now, my breath came in ragged huffs, my chest rising and falling as I stared up at the sky.
Slowly, my gaze shifted, scanning the area.
Victor and Milio were there—watching.
Victor's jaw was tight, his hands clenched into fists, frustration etched across his face.
Milio, in contrast, looked… worried.
And the red-haired woman?
She was smirking.
But—something was wrong.
They weren't moving.
Not even blinking.
My stomach twisted as I turned my head, my gaze shifting to the other side of the creek.
The other three warriors, the ones who arrived with her—they weren't moving either.
The water—
The current had stopped.
Everything had stopped.
A creeping chill ran down my spine as I slowly pushed myself up.
And then—
"Well done, child."
A voice, smooth as silk and smoke, echoed through the frozen silence.
I turned toward the voice, my breath catching as I laid eyes on the figure standing behind me.
She wasn't human.
She stood tall and regal, her very presence exuding an aura of frost and authority.
Her gown, an intricate blend of white and icy blue, shimmered like frozen starlight, woven with delicate crystalline patterns that seemed to shift with the faintest movement. The fabric itself appeared almost alive, trailing behind her in an elegant cascade of frost-laced lace.
Wings—massive, feathered, and made entirely of ice—extended from her back, glowing with an ethereal blue radiance. The edges crackled with a faint, misty cold, as if they could freeze the very air around them.
Her face was striking, her features sharp and flawless, her skin deep and dark, like the midnight sky, contrasting beautifully against the frost-kissed elegance of her attire. Her eyes, glowing with a piercing icy light, bore into me with a gaze that felt both ancient and omnipotent.
Atop her head sat a crown of jagged ice, its structure both delicate and deadly, resembling frozen thorns.
"I had instructed this orc to emerge so that the warrior over there might assist in its defeat. However, it appears you have far exceeded my expectations."
Her voice was smooth, refined—each word carefully enunciated, carrying the weight of both wisdom and authority.
"For such an achievement, you have earned my highest regard."
She spoke with deliberate grace, as though addressing someone who had proven themselves worthy of acknowledgment.
As her words settled, realization struck me like a dagger to the chest.
This was her.
The one who commanded the orc.
The so-called queen.
The one responsible for Kai's death.
Rage ignited in my veins. Without hesitation, I reached out to the water, willing the ice to rise.
Even with time frozen, my abilities still worked.
Two sharp pillars of ice erupted from the creek, their jagged tips aimed straight at her.
But—they stopped.
Mid-air. Frozen, motionless, suspended as if caught in invisible hands.
I gritted my teeth, my breath coming out in sharp, frosted exhales.
I didn't stop.
I summoned another pillar, willing it to launch forward, but—
Nothing.
It never reached her.
"Please, child." Her voice was smooth, almost amused. "You may command the ice, but the ice adores me."
My fists clenched, my nails digging into my palms, but I barely felt the sting. My breath came out in sharp, furious exhales. "Why did you kill him?"
She tilted her head slightly, studying me like a child throwing a tantrum.
"Oh, you mean that insignificant boy?" A soft, dismissive chuckle slipped from her lips, as if I had said something amusing. "He was nothing. A soul without purpose, a fleeting ember destined to fade."
Her icy gaze locked onto mine, unwavering, unbothered.
"The mere fact that I acknowledged his existence was an achievement in itself. No—" She smiled then, slow and cruel, watching me as if expecting me to break. "The very act of me uttering his name is the greatest honor he could have ever hoped for. He should be grateful that I even deign to speak of him now."
These gods…
They acted above it all, playing with lives as if they were meaningless specks in their grand design.
Kai wasn't meaningless.
His life wasn't worthless.
Just because he wasn't part of their twisted plans, that didn't mean he didn't matter.
And yet—she spoke as if he was nothing.
Like he never even existed.
My entire body trembled with rage, my breath coming in sharp, uneven exhales. My fists clenched so tight my nails bit into my palms, drawing blood.
My vision blurred at the edges, but my focus was razor-sharp.
I locked eyes with her, my voice low, raw—laced with fury that burned hotter than any fire.
"I am going to kill you."
Her expression shifted.
The cold indifference melted away—replaced by something far more twisted.
A slow smile crept across her lips, followed by a soft chuckle. Then, with a sudden burst of laughter, she threw her hands toward the sky.
"Ahhh! Yes! Yes, please!" Her voice was filled with something almost ecstatic, feverish.
"Kill me! Tear me apart! Devour me! Hate me!"
Her gaze snapped back to mine, her glowing eyes alight with something unsettling—something wild, unhinged.
"And don't stop with just me!" She took a step forward, her presence suffocating. "Hate them all! Destroy them! Make them suffer!"
Her voice dropped lower now, almost seductive, dripping with both temptation and madness.
"Devour the gods, child. Show them the wrath they have sown."
I simply stared at her, my mind racing.
She wanted me to kill her?
This wasn't just arrogance or overconfidence—she wanted me to hate her.
Was that the reason she had Kai killed? To fuel my rage? To push me toward something?
Before I could make sense of it, she extended her hand.
A key sat in her palm. Without hesitation, she tossed it toward me. I caught it midair, my grip tightening around the cold metal.
"There is a woman in that cave," she said smoothly, her voice carrying an eerie certainty. "She will prove useful to you in the future."
Then—she vanished.
In the blink of an eye, she was gone. No sound, no trace.
And then—
The world resumed.
The stagnant air shifted, the water current rushed forward once more, and time snapped back into place.
"Bel! Are you okay?"
I turned, my body still rigid, my mind struggling to catch up.
Victor was rushing toward me, his expression tense, his voice edged with urgency.
I swallowed, my grip still tight around the key, my knuckles white.
What the hell just happened?