Chapter 288
WHOOOOSH!
A blade-like cutting wind and a chill that felt like it would freeze solid enveloped Zeke's party.
Zeroth also sensed that something was wrong and gripped his staff, tensing up.
Gripping the God Hunter, Zeke said, "Sir Zeroth, please prepare an earth-attribute spell."
Zeroth was taken aback by this. "What? Not a fire attribute?"
"Fire is useless against it anyway. It's more effective to create a protective wall to block the cutting wind when the attack comes."
In his past life, Zeke had also used a fire-attribute scroll against the ice monster, but it had been completely ineffective.
Krrrrrrk!
From between the Ice Bones, a monster slowly revealed itself.
Zeke tensed and raised his weapon.
'Here it comes. The Ice King.'
The Ice King, the boss-level monster controlling the Ice Bones, walked on two feet unlike the normal ones, and was shrouded in a cutting wind and a deep chill.
KRRR-CRACK!
The ground froze wherever the Ice King stepped.
Its face and body, with bones showing through, were covered in dried flesh, making it look like a frozen mummy.
In its withered hand, it held a staff made of solid ice.
The Ice King raised its staff and opened its mouth wide.
KIEEEEEEEEK!
An eardrum-shattering scream echoed out. At the same time, the Ice Bones charged toward Zeke's party.
Zeke shouted to Zeroth,
"Now!"
Zeroth instantly cast his spell, and sharp pillars shot up from the solid floor.
Kaaaaak!
The Ice Bones were impaled on the sharp pillars and struggled.
Zeke dashed between the pillars, charging toward the Ice King.
SWOOSH!
He swung the God Hunter, shrouded in aura, at the Ice King.
KLANG!
A crystal of ice created by the Ice King blocked the God Hunter.
Krrrrrack!
White frost spread up the God Hunter from the point of contact with the ice crystal.
Zeke infused his aura into the weapon, shaking off the frost, and swung it again.
The Ice King then thrust its staff forward and unleashed a powerful blast.
SHWAAAAAAAK!
A tremendous cutting wind and chill flew toward Zeke.
Pzzzt—
The blade-like wind sliced at Zeke's body. An ordinary knight would have had their hands and feet frozen solid, unable to move.
The massive cutting wind also blew toward Zeroth and Michel. As expected of a genius, Zeroth did as Zeke said and created a protective wall to block it. At the same time, he used a Bind spell to stop the Ice Bones from reaching Zeke and attacked them with Energy Balls.
Zeke smiled in satisfaction after seeing Zeroth's competent response, then equipped Hercyon.
SHRAAAAAK!
The cutting wind no longer had any effect on Zeke while he wore Hercyon.
Inside his helmet, Zeke's eyes glowed gold.
He slowly advanced toward the Ice King.
A flustered Ice King raised its staff and summoned a more powerful ice storm. Its power was comparable to 'Blizzard,' a high-tier ice-elemental spell.
However, it was useless against Hercyon, which possessed high magic defense. Moreover, Zeke's countermeasure didn't end there.
Zeke reached out his hand and used a Magic Backflow Technique, an application of Luther's skill.
Zzzzzzzing—
As the Magic Backflow Technique took effect, the light from the Ice King's staff flickered. The power of the ice storm gradually diminished.
The panicked Ice King screamed again. In response, dozens more Ice Bones swarmed from behind.
Zeke swung the God Hunter at the charging Ice Bones.
KWAKWANG!
When he slammed down the aura-infused God Hunter, the Ice Bones couldn't withstand the force and were shattered to pieces, their bodies scattering.
Before it knew it, Zeke was standing in front of the Ice King again.
The Ice King tried to cast another spell, but Zeke's attack was faster.
WHOOSH!
The God Hunter he swung blew the Ice King's entire arm off.
KIEEEEEEEEK!
As the Ice King let out a bloodcurdling scream and tried to retreat from Zeke, Zeke threw the God Hunter he was holding at it.
RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE!
The God Hunter, imbued with immense strength, completely obliterated the Ice King's upper body.
Pssssss—
The Ice King, which had scattered into ice crystals, also vaporized and disappeared.
As the Ice King vanished, the charging Ice Bones also turned into ice crystals and scattered, and the raging ice storm disappeared without a trace.
Zeke deactivated Hercyon and approached the protective wall.
Michel, with icicles hanging from his beard, was huddled up and shivering, while Zeroth had a cautious expression, ready to form a hand seal for a spell.
"I've eliminated the Ice King, so you can come out now."
At Zeke's words, Zeroth finally relaxed and slumped over.
It seemed the mental fatigue was considerable, as it was the first dungeon for both of them, and a high-level one at that.
Observing the two, Zeke decided to light a fire on one side of the dungeon and rest for a while before their stamina dropped further.
Zeroth was surprised as Zeke skillfully took out camping gear from his inventory, lit a fire, and prepared food.
"Is that a subspace bag? I've never seen one that can hold so many items."
"I found it in some ancient ruins."
The lie came out very naturally now.
Zeroth and Michel nodded and warmed themselves up with the hot drinks Zeke gave them.
Zeke, who was brewing and drinking warm tea beside them, looked at Michel gobbling down rations and asked,
"Michel, what's the item you need to find in a high-level dungeon like this?"
At Zeke's question, Michel flinched and his eyes darted around. "Th-that is..."
"If you don't tell me, I'm just going to go back. For your information, to clear a high-level dungeon like this, you'd need at least a full knight order. And even if you brought them here and succeeded, all the items found inside would belong to them."
At Zeke's words, Michel's face turned pale. He hesitated before saying in a trembling voice, "I-I need an Elixir."
Zeroth frowned at Michel's words. "An Elixir? Isn't that something that only appears in legends?"
The legendary panacea said to cure all illnesses and grant immortality to whoever drank it. It was a unique item as rare as the Philosopher's Stone.
'An Elixir...'
Unlike Zeroth, who didn't believe in its existence, Zeke knew that this panacea was real.
'Because it's on the list of items that can be crafted through the System.'
The problem was that many of the required ingredients were nearly impossible to obtain, so he hadn't even dared to try making it, and it also required 50,000 Karma Points.
Zeke looked at Michel and asked, "What do you plan to do with the Elixir?"
At his question, Michel looked at Zeke and said in a shaky voice,
"Th-there's someone who I must save."
"Are they sick?"
"N-not sick... but s-something similar."
With his Dragon Body, Zeke could discern the truth hidden in words through his keen senses. Surprisingly, this was the most truthful thing Michel had said so far.
Then Zeke said to Michel, "I'm sorry, but an Elixir won't be able to cure them."
Michel was startled by his words. "Wh-what do you mean? How do you..."
"Unlike the legends, the Elixir is not a panacea. It's a type of alchemical ingredient."
"Th-that can't be..."
"The Elixir is a miracle drug that enables reactions between substances that normally cannot react, defying the laws of the physical world. For alchemists or mages, it might be a priceless reagent, but drinking it won't grant immortality or heal the body."
This was the information about the Elixir that Zeke had confirmed through the System. He knew it was a valuable reagent, but he hadn't felt the need to spend 50,000 Karma Points to make it, so he hadn't even thought about gathering the ingredients.
At Zeke's words, Michel's shoulders slumped in dejection.
Then Zeke sent a telepathic message to Michel.
Is the person who needs healing in the druid village?
At Zeke's words, Michel looked up at him.
I can read your thoughts, so just speak to me in your mind.
Michel then thought,
―That's right. They're in the village.*
―Good, I will heal that person. In exchange, you will guide me to the Fairy's Lake.*
At Zeke's words, Michel's eyes trembled.
―H-how do you know about the Fairy's Lake?
―I don't think I need to tell you that.
Michel's eyes darted around as he thought,
―But h-how can a knight like you heal someone?
―I am of Luberne's bloodline. I can use Healing.
―A H-Healer! The power of miracles!
As a druid, Michel knew about the Healer class. Although his eyes were darting around, he had no other choice. What Zeke said about the Elixir might not be true, but even if it was a lie, he couldn't get it without his help.
―I-I understand. If you come to the village with me and heal them, I will guide you to the Fairy's Lake.
―Good.
The deal with Michel was struck, and having confirmed Zeroth's skills, there was no need to take the risk of bringing them both along any further.
Zeke looked at Zeroth and said, "
Sir Zeroth, it seems that even stronger monsters will appear from this point forward. If that happens, it will be difficult for me to protect you both any longer."
Zeroth understood what Zeke meant. "Don't tell me you're planning to clear the dungeon by yourself?"
"Clearing it might be difficult, but exploration should be possible. However, if you're both with me, it will be difficult for me to make a quick escape in an emergency."
Zeroth's shoulders slumped at the implication that he wasn't helpful. But even he had to admit that it would be more helpful to Zeke if he took Michel and left, rather than staying and getting in the way.
Zeroth nodded and said, "I understand, Sir Zeke. We will head up to the surface first."
Michel, who would have normally been stubborn, seemed to have no energy left to argue and obediently followed Zeroth.
After confirming that Zeroth and Michel had left the dungeon, Zeke took out Roland.
"Holy Flame should be more effective against the monsters that will appear from now on."
Until now, he hadn't used his Holy Flame because he couldn't show his skills to Zeroth, who belonged to Nirvana. However, this dungeon's difficulty was so high that continuing to hold back his abilities could get him seriously injured.
Zeke assumed Zeroth might report on the dungeon to Nirvana, and he intended to finish exploring the place before other mages could flock to it.
First, he summoned Richmond.
VWOOOONG!
Richmond appeared before Zeke from within his shadow.
"Ugh. Where are we that it's this cold?"
"Aten."
"Hmm, Aten. Not a place I have fond memories of."
"Cut the chatter and prepare for battle. The monsters here are mainly ice-attribute, so it should be more advantageous for the undead."
Grumbling, Richmond summoned the Durahans and Dragoons.
Zeke summoned Ghost Soldiers and assigned them to scout, then advanced with Richmond and the undead troops.
A few Ice Golems appeared along the way, but the Durahans were enough to destroy them.
'It's nice not having to do the work myself.'
Zeke had been quite frustrated having to hide his strength while protecting his companions.
As Zeke calmly advanced, clearing out minor monsters, a huge door appeared before him.
'This doesn't look like the door to a 9th-Circle mage's laboratory.'
It seemed the lab Zeke remembered from his past life was in the opposite direction.
'I'll deal with this place first, then go to the lab to collect the artifacts.'
Zeke used the System to switch the door to manual. A Durahan opened the door with all its might.
RUUUUMBLE!
As the massive door opened, a blast of cold air rushed out. Inside the door was a world completely covered in ice.
Richmond looked around in fascination. "Wow, Master. There are a ton of ice statues here."
Ice statues of all shapes were scattered about, but in the very center stood one that exuded a mysterious aura.
Zeke was startled when he saw the statue.
'An angel?'
At first glance, he thought of an angel, but upon closer inspection, it looked completely different from the typical angel statues found in the church.
It had two pairs of wings, six arms, and its eyes were covered with a cloth.
Zeke slowly approached the huge angel statue. The intricately carved statue looked as if it could move at any moment.
'Why was an ice sculpture like this placed here?'
Just then.
A message appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[You have discovered a sealed Constellation's Incarnation.]
[The security system has been activated, and the Incarnation's seal will be released.]
[The incarnate body 'Queen of Snow' of the Constellation 'The One Who Promises Eternity' awakens from her seal.]