*Hissss~

The chilling mist was spreading from the figure's body, obscuring his white, bloodstained frame. His pace was extremely slow as he crawled forward, but he never stopped.

In fact, he couldn't stop. If he let his battered body slacken for a second, he would fall in eternal slumber. The holy water was revolving around his whole body crazily, fixing up the badly mangled internal organs. The frost dulled his pain and stopped the internal bleeding.

- Haaaaa~

The figure exhaled white, chilly mist. The blood leaked from his mouth as he did that motion, but it quickly froze on the ground.

- Life...Give me...

His whole body suddenly sprang in the air once more, dropping on centipede monster's back

- Keeeeekkk~

The monster screeched as part of its back was encased in ice.

*Crack

Lorian's frozen sword plunged the frozen spot, which exploded into ice pieces.

The monster was severed into two and soon stopped moving.

+118 Battle Exp

Lorian noticed the chief and slammed on the monster in front of him after using force step.

He encased the monster's body parts in ice, helping the chief in the fight. The monster was somewhat strong, but its movements were reduced, which in turn helped the chief to deal the deadly blow. Lorian wouldn't let the opportunity slip and dealt the last blow himself. The monster's body went down with a bang.

He dropped from monster's back and somewhat straightened his body as he knelt on his sword and mumbled

- Holy. Water. Give.

The chief's mind was still in chaos.

'My god, how did he survive the fall from such high altitude? And the place, where he dropped...was the exact direction where dozens of monsters were fleeing at when the Oculus lost control over them. They might have been scared of us, but would they be scared of a single, injured human? Does that mean that he...'

Chief looked at the specific direction and his heart beat like drums. Dozens of mutilated and frozen corpses could be seen in the distance. In the fire of the battle, the chief had no time to care about the fleeing monsters. But now that he's seen them dead, he couldn't help, but be scared.

- Give. Holy. Water.

Lorian's head was dropped as he repeated in a low and feeble tone.

The chief woke up from his daze and complied, giving a bottle of holy water.

Lorian poured the entire content into his belly. In response, his body started producing more mist.

Next, Lorian continued crawling forward and harvesting the lives like a reaper. His body was operating solely on instinct, willpower and a little bit of consciousness he had left.

The more Exp he gained, the more his body was strengthened, increasing his chances of coping with his deadly injuries.

- Is it that brat?

Zenos exclaimed, alarmed.

Jedy nodded his head, somewhat shaken.

- Hmm, the brat's at death's door, he'll die on his own. Resume slaughtering the villagers.

He gave orders as he frowned.

- Gyaah~

- Ah, stay away, aaaaaah, die!

*Splash

The soldiers continued ruthlessly slaughtering worn out villagers.

- I'll kill you!

The chief roared as he finally got his hands free of monsters and appeared in front of Zenos, panting in rage. His eyes were bloodshot as he attacked without restraint.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Zenos was weaker than him, but after this battle, the chief was exhausted and Zenos managed to resist the chief's assault.

- Dance with this daddy, old lunatic, see who tires first.

The chief's attacks were very fierce, demanding flesh for flesh, blood for blood, so Zenos had no choice but to resort to being passive, in defensive mode.

His eyes narrowed as he saw the Oculus was about to land on the ground.

- Out of my way!

He threw a ruthless kick at the chief, who had no choice but to dodge. Zenos used this opportunity to escape. The chief wanted to follow him but hesitated.

- Encircle it!

Zenos' eyes grew fervent as he rushed at descending, bloodied Oculus.

Seeing, that soldiers' target change, the chief didn't hesitate anymore. Killing the monsters was the most important currently.

'I will avenge you all.' He vowed in his heart and continued fighting the monsters.

Other than soldiers, there was somebody else, whose target was the exact same monster.

Lorian was the first to reach the dying Oculus, which crashed down near the trees. Its body was sure to give a lot of Exp, strengthening his physique, increasing his chances of survival.

- Courting death!

3 soldiers appeared from behind. Lorian's eyes flashed, knowing he couldn't kill the Oculus in a short time. Meanwhile, others could kill him several times over, so he had to deal with the soldiers first. At his current condition, he didn't even bother to think he would be taking the lives of actual humans.

*Bam

Lorian's body bounced in the air, at low altitude, recklessly flying at soldier's direction.

*Clank!!!

The unpleasant sound of sword meeting sword screeched as Lorian's body came to halt.

- Scram!

*Bang

His body was kicked away. Meanwhile, the other soldiers were approaching.

Lorian's expression turned sinister underneath the mask as he swept his sword at the approaching soldier's legs. The soldier was surprised, not expecting the fallen, bloodied Lorian to still be able of movement. He couldn't jump in time and Lorian's artifact sword severed his leg.

- AAAAAAAAGGHHHH!!!

His throat issued bloodcurdling scream as he fell backward.

- Bastard!

Another soldier hacked down viciously. Meanwhile, 7 other soldiers made their way to here.

Lorian allowed the sword to hack his shoulder but froze it in ice. The soldier was dumbfounded. Lorian pushed the ground and bit on the stupefied soldier's exposed neck, biting off the chunk of flesh. The blood sprouted but soon ceased as the wounded area froze and invaded from soldier's neck. The soldier howled in pain and then fainted on the spot.

- Die!

Before he knew it, Lorian was cornered. He jumped back, exposing his back to the unconscious Oculus as he faced 8 soldiers. However, he was on guard against the monster too.

He grinned as he took out the spare sword and froze it into ice.

The soldiers stood in a circle, cautious of his actions.

He ignored 2 arrows, which were shot by soldiers and threw the frozen sword at their direction.

*Boom

The sword exploded into metallic ice shards, injuring them before they could flee.

- Aaaah, bastard!

Pieces of metal were lodged in some of their bodies. 1 of them even died and 3 more were seriously injured.

- Haaaaaa~

Lorian spat icy mist at their direction after secretly gulping down several mouthfuls of holy water.

The ground froze and the soldiers' bodies turned rigid.

- What fucking monster is this?

One of them cursed as fear sprouted in his heart. He didn't dare get close to the lunatic.

- Useless pieces of shit.

Zenos walked out with sinister expression.

He was gloomy in his heart. The kid was obviously was not a star warrior, then how did he acquire the skill which controls the ice element? Was he a mage? but it didn't seem like it.

Lorian sensed the approach of Zenos. His perception told him, that the opponent was stronger than him, so he skimmed through system notifications, trying to find important ones, which might help in battle.

Anti-poison body has become level 1

4th stage of instances has been constructed

Quest 2 complete

+ 200 General Exp

Title gained: Returnee

Remark: For escaping the clutches of death. For rising where a million others would fall.

Effects:

+ 1 affinity with negative alignment

+ 1 all resistance value

+ 1 killing intent

Spirit +0.1

Attunement +0.1

Lorian Ellins (???) Warrior (Level 0) (5,118/10,000) General Exp: 0 Battle Exp: 0

Titles: Returnee

Innate trait: Anti-poison body (Level 1)

Skills: Basic sword mastery (Level 2) (7,916/15,000)

Basic dagger mastery (Level 1) (792/10,000)

Frostbite (Level 1)(0/20)

Force step (Level 1)(134/1,000)

Attributes:

Spirit: 1.2

Attunement: 1.1

Lorian fixed his posture into kneeling on sword position.

*Hissssss~

The amount of mist his body exuded increased.

Zenos grinned as he unwrapped jagged longsword.

Lorian's piercing blue eyes were fixed on him.

- Little shit, did nobody teach you, the good dog doesn't block the way. Scram and I might let you live.

Lorian didn't answer.

*Bam

Suddenly his body jumped to the left, revealing a beam of light, which originated from fallen Oculus.

- Damn you!

Zenos' eyes widened and then contorted in hatred. He grabbed the nearby soldier and positioned him in front of him.

- Nooo~ AHHHHHH~

Zenos discarded the fried soldier like a piece of garbage as he stared at Lorian with a sinister expression.

- Let this daddy make a mincemeat out of you.

He charged at Lorian with heavy steps, while the jagged longsword was hung on his shoulder.

- Die!

In a blink of an eye, the longsword appeared right in front of Lorian's body, ready to slice him into pieces.