Vivian's pupils constricted sharply as the enemy burst into view!
At such close range and with such a sudden ambush, she only had time to hastily conjure a thick ice shield in front of her for protection.
Boom—!!
The Frost Breath slammed squarely into the ice shield!
The frigid energy frantically shattered the ice crystals.
While the ice shield still held, Vivian took the opportunity to counterattack with ice magic. However, due to the Frost Lizard's high Ice Magic Resistance, her attack failed to deal any significant damage.
How can this be...!
Just as Vivian gasped in surprise, a crisp crack echoed. Web-like fissures spidered across the surface of the ice shield, and the breath weapon surged through the gaps, aiming straight for Vivian!
Although she possessed some Ice Magic Resistance, her body was still that of an ordinary human. If she took this hit directly, she would undoubtedly be severely injured.
But at that moment, Greg threw himself directly between Vivian and the Frost Breath, using his body as a shield!
Since there was no time to push Vivian out of the way, he chose the most direct and dangerous method possible!
The cold current roared past them on both sides. A faint blue glow covered Greg's body—it was his LV3 Ice Magic Resistance working at full capacity!
At the same time, Vivian's nearly shattered ice shield helped absorb some of the impact and the biting cold.
Cough!
Greg's body jolted violently, and a trace of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth.
The massive impact and terrifyingly low temperature made him feel as if he had been struck by an ice truck. His internal organs felt displaced, and his exposed skin was instantly covered in white frost, sending needles of stinging pain and numbness through him.
Fortunately, with the buffer of the LV3 Ice Magic Resistance and the ice shield, the damage was greatly reduced, allowing Greg to withstand the blow at the minimum possible cost.
Greg!
Vivian's ice-blue eyes snapped wide. Seeing the blood at the corner of Greg's mouth and his suddenly pale face, a sharp pang of pain unlike anything she had ever felt before gripped her heart!
"Don't get distracted! I'm fine. Now, it's our turn to fight back!"
Greg let out a low growl and swung his left hand. A LV3 Fireball, radiating a wave of intense heat, whistled through the air and slammed into the Frost Lizard's head!
Even with the forty percent damage bonus from the Dungeon Pioneer talent, this single strike wasn't enough to be fatal.
But that wasn't Greg's goal.
In the instant the firelight exploded and smoke rose, a fierce light flashed in Greg's eyes. He raised his right hand and made a grasping motion toward the Frost Lizard.
Wisps of dark energy, like venomous snakes emerging from their burrows, silently sank into the Frost Lizard's body while it was momentarily disoriented by the fireball in its face.
Void Erosion!
【Target is afflicted with "Weakness"!】
【Target is afflicted with "Resistance Reduction"!】
【Target is afflicted with "Confusion"!】
【Target is afflicted with "Corruption"!】
【Target is afflicted with "Mana Disorder"!】
【Target is afflicted with "Limb Paralysis"!】
The Frost Lizard's body stiffened abruptly. It let out a pained hiss as the dark blue scales on its body quickly lost their luster, as if being eaten away from the inside by some invisible force.
Under the negative effects of Void Erosion, its resistance to the ice attribute plummeted!
Although Vivian didn't know Greg had used dark-attribute magic to shred the enemy's resistances, she had no intention of letting this perfect opening go to waste!
She pushed her mana to the absolute limit and formed a hand seal with her left hand. The ice-blue light shone with unprecedented brilliance!
"Ice Crystal Spike Array: Focus!"
No longer a fan-shaped scatter, every ice spike converged as if guided by a single will. They formed a violent, spiraling ice drill that tore through the air with a shrill scream and slammed into the Frost Lizard!
Pshhh—!!!
Vivian's full-power strike, concentrated into a single point, pierced through the lizard's throat without resistance!
It burst through the back of its neck, carrying shards of ice and blue blood!
The Frost Lizard's massive frame froze for a second. The light in its crimson vertical pupils faded rapidly, and it crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of ice dust.
"We did it?"
Vivian looked at the scene before her with a look of surprise. She hadn't expected that single strike to be so effective.
It was natural that she didn't realize the truth; the Frost Lizard hadn't actually died from her ice magic.
【Target has triggered "Instant Death Check"!】
This was the final notification that had flashed in Greg's mind before the lizard fell. Once it collapsed, several more messages popped up immediately:
【Killed a Frost Lizard. Gained a large amount of experience...】
【Level increased to LV37.】
【Gained skill: 【Freezing Ice Mist】 (Active, 24-hour cooldown, maximum 5 uses per day. Effect: Releases a spreading ice mist that deals minor ice damage to enemies within range and applies a slow status for 60 seconds.)】
【Ice Magic Resistance increased to LV4.】
The battle was over. No more monsters appeared. It seemed that the previous waves, combined with this elite lizard, were the entirety of the welcome party for this area.
"Cough, cough..."
Greg coughed up a bit of bloody phlegm containing ice shards. As the adrenaline faded, a burning pain radiated from his chest, and he felt a lingering chill seeping into his bones.
Fortunately, he had brought several recovery potions, and with his Ice Magic Resistance now at LV4, this level of injury was manageable.
"Greg! You..."
Vivian had already rushed to his side. Her ice-blue eyes were filled with unconcealed urgency and worry, even a hint of panic.
She instinctively reached out to touch his injuries, but she pulled back, afraid of hurting him, her hand hovering in mid-air.
She didn't know Greg had Ice Magic Resistance; she only saw him use his body to shield her from that lethal breath and get hurt in the process.
"I'm fine."
After drinking a recovery potion, Greg waved her off, trying to reassure her.
"It's just a minor injury. A bit of cold got into my system, that's all. I have a strong constitution; I can handle it. It's no big deal."
He didn't want to dwell on the subject, and he certainly didn't want Vivian's guilt to hamper her combat effectiveness.
Today was the final deadline for him to complete the second layer. If he gave up now, he wouldn't have enough time to try again. He had to seize this chance.
Greg turned his head, his gaze sweeping past the temporarily quiet battlefield toward the distant, purple-mist-shrouded horizon.
The tall, broken, and twisted silhouette of an ancient temple loomed through the dim light and fog, emitting a heart-palpitating, ominous aura.
Greg raised his left hand and pointed toward the temple with a smile.
"Our destination is right before us. I'm sure the President doesn't want to be someone who quits halfway, right? So, stay with me until the very end."
Vivian looked at Greg with concern.
While she wanted to suggest returning to the surface immediately to check his injuries, she could vaguely sense that Greg had a reason why he had to finish the second layer today.
And more importantly...
She thought of the figures in her memories who had walked away, the attempts at connection that had been cut short by cold words before they could be spoken, and finally, that public break that had completely frozen the lake of her heart.
The ripples of worry in her ice-blue eyes gradually settled, replaced by a hardened resolve.
It wasn't just out of gratitude or a desire for strength. It was a choice from the heart, a refusal to let history repeat itself.
Meeting Greg's gaze, she nodded firmly. Her clear, cool voice echoed through the underground space.
"Yes. This time... I will never leave you again."
Rate on N.U.
