Episode 168
168. Episode 168
– Welcome to the 20th floor of trials.
– Subject: Ice Lake of Despair
– Time limit: –
– Before you reach your destination, the ‘Frost Fortress’, you discover a large army of monsters blocking your way.
– Reach the Frost Fortress by any means possible via the Ice Lake.
The 20th floor of trials, the ice lake of despair.
This was the message that appeared before the eyes of the Diablo Clan as soon as they passed the 19th floor trial without Seun’s help.
The content of the ordeal was simple.
It wasn’t about defeating monsters, it was about somehow getting across the lake.
I looked down at the lake beyond the snowy field, thinking that if I just avoided it well, I might be able to pass the ordeal without much fighting.
As soon as that happened, a curse came out of Park Jeong-pil’s mouth, who was at the forefront.
“crazy…….”
Ice Lake of Despair.
Whoever named it, I don’t know, but it was probably a very straightforward name, created by combining words that came to mind the moment they first encountered the lake.
First, despair.
There were thousands of monsters swarming on the lake. No, thousands wasn’t even enough.
There were so many of them that it was impossible to count them with the naked eye. The lakes stretched far enough that the horizon was visible.
Second, ice.
The only silver lining was that the lake was frozen solid, making it possible to walk across it.
Of course, it seemed that there would be significant restrictions on movement due to the slipperiness unique to ice and the snow piled up on top of it.
Plus, you have to deal with monsters up there… … .
As it was the final ordeal of completing a theme and entering the shelter, the difficulty was more bizarre than imagined.
“No, how am I supposed to get through there? Does this make sense?”
“… … I can’t help it. Let’s think of a way.”
It was equally hopeless for Yu Seo-ah, but that didn’t change the ordeal.
Fortunately, there is no time limit.
If you think carefully and strategize, you will be able to move without difficulty.
“Can’t you just get through it?”
“I think it’ll be difficult this time. For now, I think it would be best to go around the outer area as much as possible… … .”
Kang Han-cheol tried to step forward, but Yoo Seo-ah stopped him.
At other times it might have been different, but now was not the time to simply push through with force.
No matter how strong the iron was, it was impossible to just force it through that lake.
Even if it were possible, this trial would not be a personal one. In order to protect the clan and move forward, another method would be needed.
“Baekhyun, can you stop the monsters as an undead?”
“Hmm, that’ll be difficult. As you can see, my summons are weak to the cold… … .”
A situation where countless monsters are swarming is the optimal environment for a necromancer, but on the other hand, the biting cold is an extreme environment for a necromancer.
Because the undead tend to move more slowly as the cold gets worse.
If you try to forcefully raise and move such undead, you will need more mana than usual.
Considering the distance, it was impossible to reach the other side of the lake with such a penalty.
“Sister, I think this will be difficult for us too… … .”
“How about making a wall out of snow and ice?”
“Are you going to build the Great Wall of China? All the way there?”
“Hehe, that’s impossible!”
Everyone racked their brains, but there was no perfect solution.
It seemed like if we combined our strength we could somehow reach our destination, but it was impossible to arrive without any damage.
If possible, I wanted to proceed with the trial without relying on Se-Woon, but even though I had a plan that was close to 100%, I didn’t have a 100% perfect plan.
And Yushua had no intention of risking her clan members in that gamble.
“I’m sorry. If only I could have handled Saha’s predators.”
“No. Baekhyun is already a great strength to me.”
The second shelter, the Predator of Saha, an undead raised together with Baekhyun in Skabe.
With that thick leather, you should be able to move around unaffected by these low temperatures.
However, Baekhyun has not been able to control it on his own yet. At best, he can only control parts of his body.
Then, Park Jeong-pil started to point somewhere while making a fuss.
“Huh? Isn’t that a person?”
“There’s no way there’d be people in a place like this… … Huh?”
It wasn’t a mistake. There really were people.
It was quite a distance away, and they too were struggling to make their way towards their destination, perhaps undergoing trials themselves.
When Yu Seo-ah saw that, she realized.
This 20th floor trial was not a clan-level challenge. It was a group trial that went beyond the clan level.
This is also why there is no time limit.
This meant that if you don’t have the courage to challenge with just your own clan, you should wait until another clan appears and then challenge together.
“Let’s help them first!”
The Diablo Clan’s combatants stepped forward, led by Yushua.
With a single clan, there will inevitably be casualties, but with more people, the number of strategies and plans available to use increases.
So, gather as many players as possible and cross this snowy field with minimal casualties.
That was exactly Yusuh’s plan.
* * *
Flutter!
As soon as he finished the 19th floor trial, Seun took out Icarus’ wings and quickly flew towards the next trial.
Although I used a lot of my internal energy and divinity in the fight against the lord, I still had plenty of mana, so I was able to spread Icarus’ wings.
Of course, numerous flying monsters appeared as if the system would not tolerate easy progress through the trials by flying.
– Predated the ‘Wiggle Cloud’.
– Absorbs nutrients and increases stamina by 1.
– Predated the ‘Giant Eagle’.
… … .
– The constellation, ‘The Hungry Prince’, devours his food eagerly, feeling like he is addicted to the dizzying pain.
They were no match for Seun.
With just a light swing of the sword using the acceleration, they disappeared into Beelzebub’s snack.
Although they haven’t spent a long time in the Ice Castle of Trials, by now the Diablo clan would have already passed the 19th floor of trials.
Se-Woon knew how monstrously difficult the 20th floor trial was, so he had no choice but to speed up.
‘I hope you don’t recklessly rush in first.’
Of course, I thought that Yu Seo-ah wouldn’t do that, but you never know.
After flying for a while like that, the 20th floor trial, which decorates the last of the snowy theme, began with a system message.
Seun, who was looking for the Diablo Clan in the waiting area where the trials begin, soon discovered an unexpected scene.
“uh?”
The Diablo clan had already taken on the challenge.
I was walking along the edge of the lake, with my back to the snowfield, avoiding monsters as much as possible.
To avoid being surrounded by enemies, the twin sisters put up a makeshift wall, and Baekhyun put up the undead.
The exposed areas were taken care of by combat players including Kang Hyeon-cheol.
The strategy is good, but the challenge could be called reckless.
However, Se-Woon soon had to change his mind.
‘I didn’t know you could already figure out the purpose of the 20th floor.’
It wouldn’t have been that long until Se-un arrived, but Yu Seo-ah had called all the surrounding clans together and was cooperating.
Did you bring in roughly three clans?
More than a hundred players were working together to fight against the monsters.
It seemed that he understood better than anyone else the purpose of the snow theme, which was to test ‘cooperation’.
‘It was from here. I started to realize the power of my unique skill.’
Before returning, Se-Woon was able to accurately perceive the power of the ‘Journey’s Guide’ for the first time here.
He stood in front of the people who had gathered to survive and guided them along the way as a guidepost for their journey.
Find a place with fewer monsters, thicker ice, and a safer place.
It was the first time I was satisfied with the guidebook for the journey, while I was regretting not having combat skills like others.
‘I guess it’s okay to interfere a little bit with that.’
Se-Woon, who had been watching the scene with pleasure for a moment, spread Icarus’ wings wide.
Monsters that looked like pterosaurs blocked Seun’s path, but he easily dealt with them with a single sword.
As I was approaching the place where people were, feeling the cool breeze, something strange happened in front of them.
BANG!!
The thick ice floor, which had not shaken even a little bit despite being stepped on by thousands of monsters, cracked and water burst out.
While people were busy trying to stop the broken ice shards, a monster emerged from the ice and revealed itself.
“Koooooooo!”
It was a monster with a long neck like a dinosaur called a plesiosaur.
It was so large that it was likened to a dinosaur, and the shadow of its neck alone could obscure most people.
The guy opened his mouth wide, revealing his sharp teeth. Then, the cold air around him quickly rushed into his mouth.
Ice breath.
This was an attack that condensed and released the cold air from the surrounding area, and it was also the attack that caused the most casualties and injuries when Seun crossed the lake before returning.
Watching the scene, Se-Woon took out his spear.
– The Treasure Trove of Greed has been opened.
[Gáe Bolg]
– A harpoon made from the bones of a gigantic sea beast, a weapon used by Cu Chulainn, the Prince of Light of Ulster.
Choaack!
Seun, who had stopped flying for a moment, twisted his arms and waist and then forcefully threw the Aphelion imbued with the power of Gae Bolg.
The spear swooped down quickly, piercing the wind like an eagle.
The monster that reigned as the ruler of the ice lake did not even expect an attack from above.
Phew!
By the time he realized the attack, the spearhead was already blocking his throat.
Despite its incredible speed, the spear failed to completely penetrate the neck and became lodged in the guy’s body.
However, this was not due to a lack of strength.
He deliberately manipulated the power of the spear in order to fully unleash the power of ‘Gae Bolg’ that resides in Aphelion.
Se-Woon lightly grabbed the hand after confirming that the spear was in the right place.
OK.
Pubububububuk!!
Dozens of thick thorns extended from the tip of the spear embedded in the guy’s neck.
The thorn not only tore at the guy’s neck, but it also grew longer and protruded through his skin, piercing his head and heart.
It was already a power close to instant death, but the moment Seun remembered one of Aphelion’s abilities, recovery.
Phew!
Dozens of thorns emerged, tearing at the monster’s insides.
A monster that reigned as one of the rulers of the lake lost its life in a single attack.
“Mr. Seun!”
Yu Seo-ah was the first to notice Se-un’s appearance.
Se-woon, who folded his wings and landed on the ground, immediately called Baekhyun.
“Are you ready?”
“Ah, finally!”
Kookung!
– The constellation, ‘The Horse That Tramples Death’, is very excited, saying that he has been waiting for this moment!
The Devourer of Saha, reborn as an undead, tramples the fallen ruler of the lake.
fantasy,
