Dungeon of Niflheim

762  Chapter 762: Beware of the skies (5) @@novelbin@@

A truly torn expression appeared on Kiba's face as he listened to his master's order/request.

He struggled with the idea of running for his life, hiding and waiting for an opportunity for escape while his master, a member of his family that had been nothing but good to him acted as a distraction, a sacrifice.

Even if he did manage to live and eventually manage to return to their home how would he ever be able to look Maya, Daki, Nanna and Loki in their eyes again….his innate pride as a mighty Glacial winged tiger wouldn't allow him to show such weakness, such cowardice.

Despite these feelings however he could also understand Frost's reasoning, his desire to let his loved ones know about what happened here as well as his desire to protect him someone that he too considered as a member of his family, an individual worthy of his protection and sacrifice.

Kiba was too tired both emotionally and physically to argue but his warped expression portrayed his inner conflict.

He nodded begrudgingly but only fate knew whether he'd listen when the time came.

With Kiba somewhat agreeing to his decision Frost changed from a loving expression to one filled with unwavering determination.

He stared up at the looming Artic Zu, determined to wipe off the malicious, skin tingling grin plastered across its lips.

With his glaive in hand Frost took a deep breath. He collected every single residual fragment of his strength, his mana, his physical capabilities as well as his aura.

With the look of a dedicated soldier, the chakra armour that had been torn to shreds and thinned to the point that it was no thicker than a few sheets of paper was magically reformed.

A suit of ice blue armour, intricate, solid and intimidating covered his body while a noble helmet protected his head and face.

He cared not for the expenditure, the fact that to pull off this transformation he had to draw upon his life force, a delicate pool of energy that was hard to recover even for the most gifted and powerful of individuals.

Prolonged and excessive use of it could lead to permanent injuries that even magic and potions could not fix, the shortening of one's lifespan and last but not least damage to one's potential.

Duke Oscar Runak suffered from the latter effects, his long career of fighting, many times in deplorable states had thus expended a great deal of his natural life force, making his ascension to S-rank much harder than it should have been.

The very fact that he had managed to reach the half step mark at current his age and with his condition was a testament to how much of a monster the man known as Oscar Runak truly was.

Frost for the first time was accessing this part of himself, drawing out some of his future potential for a boost in strength.

His actions didn't simply stop at reforming his armour, however. Vivid silver flames blazed into existence with a fiery passion, almost engulfing his entire form before consolidating into a thin, dense layer atop his armour as well as the blade edge of his weapon.

The very air around Frost dropped several degrees, so much so that even Kiba with his natural resistance felt his blood run cold. Specks of super chilled ice formed in amongst his fur, lightly irritating his skin.

The younger tiger didn't speak up about this however as he was in complete awe of his master.

'This is his true strength, when he holds nothing back' he thought, marvelling at the scene before him. His master was so cool.

Still not finished with his preparations Frost's aura that previously acted in a defensive manner, primarily shielding Kiba from the intimidation effects of the Artic Zu billowed out in an aggressive fashion, roaring loudly like a proud beast in an attempt to make its presence known in the surrounding region.

Frost held nothing back, allowing all his powers to burst forth at maximum output, wild and unrestrained before slowly bringing them under control, giving them purpose and greatly increasing their lethality.

Many avian monsters who were spying on the hunt from afar quivered in response to Frost's blatant intimidation. They felt an instinctual fear, even those at the very peak of B-rank and a couple at the early stages of A-rank felt threatened by his aura.

The Artic Zu however merely narrowed its eyes, such an arrogant display displeased him. His prey only ever dared to viciously bite back when they had been cornered.

'Seems that this little game of cat and mouse has come to an end….shame I hadn't quite had my fill of entertainment.' The Artic Zu felt a little disappointed, he was still full of energy and not quite ready to end their little game but alas his prey clearly couldn't continue.

"Hmph!" With a loud ear shattering hmph the Artic Zu extended his own aura, an aura that was of a completely different level of quality when compared to Frost's.

In an instant the wild tendrils that spread out from Frost's body in a threatening manner were extinguished. His royal aspected aura was thus forced back to just outside his body, no longer able to intimidate and claim dominion over the surrounding area.

The Artic Zu narrowed its eyes at the current sight, despite being forced back, Frost's aura seemed more condensed and even more arrogant, just limited to his own body.

Such a failure irked him, fostering irritation in his heart and taking away from the joy he had thus built up. The wide mocking grin that was eternally plastered on his face thus diminished, gradually turning neutral and eventually becoming filled with anger and hatred.

How dare a mere worm, a mere meal look upon it this way, the mighty king of the skies, sole ruler of this vast region.

"Your lives no longer bring me entertainment…time for the games to end." Said the Artic Zu in a tone so chilling and intimidating that even the blizzard surrounding them faltered.

"Kiba you know what to do." Frost continued to gaze up at the massive Zu, its wings now stretched out to their maximum length. The monster was so large and so intimidating that it seemed to cover the entire sky, a fact that caused his instincts to go haywire.

Even with his use of life energy, his strongest armour, most violent ice flames and aura as dense as he'd ever been able to make it he was still akin to an ant before the Zu.

A fight, a contest between them was still off the table. Instead of dying in a single blow he may be able to last two or three…hardly worth it in the end but as long as it kept the beast's focus on him and allowed Kiba a chance he could live with it.

With his heart dedicated to a brief and hopefully vibrant engagement Frost scratched the back of Kiba's ears before putting strength into his legs.

The next moment he kicked off of Kiba's back and rose high into the air with a smile that promised nothing but carnage on his lips.

He held his glaive with both hands as he created ice shelves to step on, quickly rising towards the Artic Zu.

The Artic Zu narrowed its eyes as its anger and irritation grew. The feathers covering its body became ruffled, somehow drawing the strength of the surrounding blizzard towards them.

"[Flight of the Luan]" Frost used his most powerful skill, summing a tangible Luan, a bird monster of similar standing to the Artic Zu before him. With a sharp cry and form large and more detailed than any that he'd managed to summon before the beautiful Luan charged straight for the Artic Zu, unphased by the difference in size and strength.

"Tsk petty little tricks fitting for a mere worm [Blizzard's judgement]" With clear mockery in its tone the Artic Zu clicked its tongue before using its own skill, an attack of a much higher order.

The surrounding blizzard was drawn towards its feathers, filling them up with a bright blue coloured glow.

When the Luan was about to enter the Zu's controlled space the massive beast beat its two wings with such force and ferocity that the very air burst and reverberated as sonic booms for tens of kilometres.

Kiba who had moved slightly from its earlier position, torn between running as instructed and remaining to die alongside his master was effortlessly knocked down from the sky by the residual burst.

Frost's Luan and Frost himself however endured the true impact. A turbid sphere filled with the prowess of a raging blizzard formed before the Zu, its mere presence drawing in the surrounding winds and snow.

With the strong beat of both its wings this sphere filled with condensed destruction was flung at the little Luan obliterating more than 90% of its body in an instant before slamming into Frost.

"Ugh!" Frost released a guttural groan as his body felt as though it had been hit by a literal mountain. His reformed chakra armour shattered into a million pieces, his glaive sent flying from his hands as the bones in his fingers, wrist and elbow and even shoulders cracked under the strain.

Before the Zu's [Blizzard's judgement] he was nothing, but a pitiful ragdoll sent careening through the air with a broken and mangled body.

Despite the immense pain and his obvious defeat however there was a small smile on Frost's lips.

Fwoosh!

The small part of the Luan that wasn't eviscerated continued towards the Zu and with what remained of its strength it formed a claw and scratched the beast's left cheek, rending apart feathers and even leaving a distinct cut that dripped thick ruby red droplets of blood.

Though the wound was tiny, he someone who had just entered the mid stages of the B-rank managed to wound someone who could likely give General Katrina and Jessica a run for their money.

He wasn't entirely sure given the strength disparity between them and his lack of knowledge regarding the two women, but he knew instinctively that the Artic Zu was a fair bit stronger than the Alliance's Vanguard General Vash. This minor achievement made him feel like the winner of this contest as his defeat was a forgone conclusion but a wound appearing on his enemy was not.