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🎅Santa: Yuletide Revenant - level 50
STM: 56 (10)
INT: 56
WIS: 58
STR: 55
AGI: 50 (8)
CHR: 10
Frost Resist (55)
Poison Resist (100)
Minions: 3
RA: 5/40
Spells:
Yuletide Resurgence
Festive Dragon Fire (Rank 3)]
Ghoulish Command
🎁 The gift of giving
💀 Raise the Festive Dead
Skills:
Roar of the Northern Winds
Gift Giver's Guile
Candy Cane Leap
Passives: 13
🎅 NOTIFICATION 🎅
Reach level 60 for next skill unlock.
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"S.E.R.G., locate Twixy and Baublekin and report back!" Santa spoke, twirling his formidable fire poker in his hand.
"Yes, sir!"
Before departing from the house, Santa turned to the three zombies with a mischievous glint in his eye. "You three, take good care of her," he instructed.
The zombies exchanged confused glances. Santa rolled his eyes and pointed at his wife. "That lovely lady there is my wife," he emphasized.
Mrs. Claus waved nervously as the three eyed her with vacant expressions and slack jaws.
"Protect her, and listen to every word she says!" Santa reiterated firmly.
The three zombies nodded as one.
Facing his wife, he offered a warm smile and said, "Take care, dear."
"Good luck!" She put on a brave face, but there was an unmistakable undercurrent of worry in her voice.
Santa's smile faded as he adopted a serious expression. "One last thing, sweetie," he said, his tone serious. "Whatever you do... DON'T drink the cocoa."
With that warning lingering in the air, he blew her a heartfelt kiss and exited the house, stepping into the biting cold. His fancy new suit and frost resistance made the harsh weather feel no more severe than an autumn day. However, despite his suit with all its bells and whistles, it couldn't help him see through the dense snowstorm, which had reduced visibility to an all-time low.
Santa knew he needed both a plan and allies. Thanks to his significant level-up, he could now summon quite a lot more sentient ghouls with his Yuletide Resurgence spell. Unfortunately, the spell had an annoyingly long cooldown period. Despite this limitation, he knew even one could help.
He hurried to the stables, where all the elves' bodies were piled up. His mini-map, unaffected by the storm, hung in the corner of his vision and served as a guide through the worsening conditions. Most of the way he had to rely solely on the map to navigate as he pushed through the blizzard.
Occasionally, he kept an eye on the four small dots on the mini map moving about inside his house. One of the dots, larger than the others, indicated that his wife was home and safe.
“Good, stay safe dear.”
As Santa approached the stables, the howling wind had intensified even more, as if driven by some mysterious force. He blinked repeatedly, trying to clear the snowflakes from his eyelashes and brushing off the snow that threatened to freeze his beard solid. His boots left deep, crisp imprints in the snow as he pressed forward, his determination driving every step. The swirling flakes stung his cheeks, and the fierce gusts seemed determined to divert his path.
"What is causing this blasted blizzard?"
With every step, he pressed on, his determination unwavering. The stables were just ahead.
Finally, he pushed open the heavy wooden door of the stables. Upon stepping inside, he immediately felt a shift in the atmosphere. With the door slamming behind him, the storm outside abruptly ceased; its deafening roar replaced by an overwhelming silence.
Santa’s eyes slowly adjusted to the dim light. Ahead, lanterns hanging from rafters cast a dull, flickering glow on the interior revealing, rows of empty stalls. The scent of hay and the soft rustling of straw underfoot filled the air, bringing a sense of calm amidst the chaos of the storm outside.
Santa couldn't help but smile as he gazed around the familiar surroundings. The stables were like a sanctuary, a haven of peace and safety amidst the town’s peril. It was here that he would find his next trusted companion.
As Santa strode toward the area where they had left the dead elves, a rising sense of panic accompanied him.
"Oh, gingerbread crumbs!"
The place where he had left his elves was now empty. In its place, there were hundreds of tiny elf-sized footprints scattered all around, stretching from where his loyal helpers had rested to a side door he never used.
"Where could they be?" Santa muttered to himself, checking his mini-map. To his dismay, there were no friendly dots in either the stables or the workshop.
Yet somehow his reindeer were left untouched, their bulky forms too cumbersome for any elves to move. He moved towards the deer. They were all resting peacefully together in a nearby alcove.
"Did Twixy find a safer location for the elves, or..." He hesitated, reluctant to entertain the darker possibility.
"She must have..." Santa began to say, his doubts creeping in. Despite his uncertainty, he wanted to trust his head Elf, hoping for the best while preparing for the worst. He shifted his attention back to the mound of animals. "I still need backup for this fight," he muttered, recognizing that the almost-zero visibility outside was his most significant vulnerability.
Just then, a brilliant golden light flashed, and S.E.R.G. burst through the stable wall.
"What did you find out?"
“Sir, it’s not good!” S.E.R.G. said in a panic. "I checked the surveillance footage in the workshop. Twixy and Baublekin have been… captured by a… thing."
Santa's eyebrow arched in curiosity. "A thing?"
S.E.R.G. nodded vigorously. "Yes, it has red text above its name, but it's all question marks. Even I can't read what it says. That means it's a super high level.”
"And the others?" Santa pressed.
"They've been shoved into your red sack, sir!"
“Fruitcake!” Santa swore as he absorbed the unsettling information.
"And what's more, this storm! It's magical and been summoned by that weird creature thing!"
Santa nodded, his mind racing with thoughts of how to rescue his captured elves.
"I think the thing is waiting for you in the eye of the storm!"
"And the villagers?"
“They’re being rounded up and forced into the black sack,” S.E.R.G. replied, his concern evident. “What are we going to do?”
As Santa mulled over the grim news, a peculiar thought filled his mind, and he mumbled under his breath, "Nearby deceased individuals..." His curiosity piqued, he turned to S.E.R.G., who was waiting anxiously for his next command. "How many are there?”
"Evil elves? At least a ninety!" S.E.R.G. reported, his tiny face etched with concern. “The evil elves are carrying our dead elves into the red sack.”
Santa's eyes widened, but he forced himself to focus on the task at hand. "Nutcrackers?”
"Many more! Possibly hundreds, maybe even a thousand! And there's a big one, it's massive! The Nutcrackers are the culprits behind gathering the villagers and herding them into a black sack!"
Santa's mind raced.
“They're putting the villagers into one sack and my elves into the other. It doesn't make sense, but there's a strange sense of organization to it.”
“Seems that way, Sir!”
"I suspect that all the students from the tower are in the black sack as well. Did you happen to spot a massive bone dragon out there?" Santa asked.
S.E.R.G. shook his head, his voice quivering slightly. "The storm was too fierce. Is this dragon a friend of yours?"
"Yes, she is."
"She? In that case, she probably got caught in the storm," S.E.R.G. reasoned.
Santa sighed deeply. "I fear I may have to resort to something drastic..."
“Sir?”
With a resolute purpose, Santa shifted his attention to his nine reindeer, striding toward the youngest among them. Even in the dim light of the stable, his gleaming nose was unmistakable.
S.E.R.G., who had been watching Santa intently, suddenly realized what he was planning. He chimed in, excitement in his voice. "I have the perfect class choice for him."
Santa responded without hesitation. "Do it."
With a calm but solemn demeanour, Santa addressed the young reindeer. "Rudolph," he spoke, his voice filled with memories of Christmases past, "won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Pointing his hand toward the fallen reindeer he cast the spell.
"By the frosty winds of the North, and the starlit skies so vast,
I call upon the Yuletide spirits, echoes of Winter's past.
Rise from your silent slumber, in the snow where you lay,
Awaken now, as I beckon, on this magical sleigh.
With the jingle of bells and a cheer so bright,
Return to the realm of the living, under the aurora light."
As the incantation left Santa's lips, a sense of enchantment filled the air. Rudolph's eyes blinked open, his head popping up with a mix of confusion and surprise. His red nose gleamed even more brilliantly as he looked around, clearly bewildered by his unexpected revival.
🦌 Ally has come online.
Rudolph (Level 1 ‘awakened’ Reindeer) ‘Christmas Beastmaster’ has been revived!
“Christmas Beastmaster?” asked Santa.
S.E.R.G. winked with a twinkle in his eye.
He turned back to the young deer. "Rudolph," Santa's voice carried a gentle tone, "tonight, I'll need you to guide the others." He gestured toward the lifeless reindeer surrounding him.
The young deer's eyes widened with alarm at the sight of his fallen kin. Sensing Rudolph's growing unease, Santa extended a reassuring hand and placed it soothingly on the deer's side patting the newly resurrected animal.
"Calm yourself, young one," Santa said kindly.
Santa cooed and continued to pat Rudolph's side, calming the young deer who looked close to panic.
“The village is under attack, and they need you. I need you.”
The young deer shifted its focus to him, as if the words had struck a chord within it.
"Don’t worry about the others. They will wake up very shortly, and I have chosen you as their leader. With your nose so bright, you can help us get through this snowstorm."
Rudolph's eyes, once wide with alarm, began to soften as Santa's words sank in. He nodded, understanding the importance of his role. His distinctive red nose, now gleaming with newfound purpose, would indeed be a beacon of hope in the midst of the raging storm.
🦌 Rudolph (Level 1 ‘awakened’ Reindeer) ‘Christmas Beastmaster’ has joined Santa’s party!
Santa then turned to the others, outstretched his arms, and began to sing, "O Come, All Ye Undead!"
As Santa sang the haunting tune, a remarkable transformation took hold. One by one, the once-lifeless reindeer began to respond to the enchantment. Their rigid limbs gradually relaxed, and their vacant, glazed eyes began to flicker with a hint of awareness.
[Dasher, Zombiedeer, Level 1] [Dancer , Zombiedeer, Level 1] [Prancer , Zombiedeer, Level 1] [Vixen , Zombiedeer, Level 1] [Comet , Zombiedeer, Level 1] [Cupid , Zombiedeer, Level 1] [Donner , Zombiedeer, Level 1] [Blitzen , Zombiedeer, Level 1]
Gradually, the lifeless figures stirred, their movements slow and uncertain. They rose from the ground, no longer the vibrant beings they once were. Instead, they had become eerie undead creatures, their vitality replaced by an unsettling aura. The reindeer's fur, once soft and healthy, had transformed into a rough, mottled mess, and their once-smooth horns were now razor sharp.
"Sir!" S.E.R.G. said, "May I display the Christmas Beastmaster's primary ability?"
Santa gazed up at the hovering creature. "Please do."
🦌 Festive Bestial Synergy: (Passive)
Class requirement: Christmas Beastmaster
Description:
The Christmas Beastmaster class shares a special connection with holiday animal companions that goes beyond ordinary kinship. Using the magic of the holiday season, they can share their abilities and strengths with the beasts under their control, creating a harmonious bond that enhances both the player and their animal companions.
Effects:
Shared Ability: Can bestow one of abilities and share passive traits onto controlled companions.
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Shared Statistics:
Rudolph shares (25%) of his statistics with his companions, making them stronger in battles. Likewise, his companions can boost Rudolph's abilities with (25%) of their stats.
Santa's grin widened as he read the deer's ability, and an idea began to take shape in his mind. However, he knew he needed to test it. He turned to the Zombiedeer and pointed at Rudolph. "Alright, Rudolph, is in charge now. Listen to his words and follow his orders."
🎅Grant control of 8 minions to Rudolph?
Yes/No
“Yes!” Santa said as he pressed the button.
The Zombiedeer all turned toward Rudolph as one, eagerly awaiting their first command.
[Rudolph has gained: 8 animal companions]
[Festive Synergy: (Passive) has been activated.]
As the connection was forged, the deer's bonus statistics interwove like a web, amplifying the stats of every deer in the group. Their transformation happened in an instant. They stood taller, their muscles bulging, and their eyes gleaming with newfound intelligence, their capabilities increasing eightfold.
“It works!” S.E.R.G. squeaked in satisfaction.
"That's great, but that's only the beginning," Santa remarked, his mind going back to Emry’s words. The old man said that Santa only needed just one specific ability. Santa grinned, the old man was right. His plan was in motion. “This feels like the first snowball rolling down a hill, about to gain traction.”
He turned to S.E.R.G., a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. "I have an idea," Santa continued, his voice filled with anticipation. "But let's just hope it works..."
“And that is?”
Santa kept a watchful eye on the cooldown timer, his anticipation growing. "We will find out in just one more minute," he said aloud, his gaze fixed on the countdown. Thanks to his Gift of Abundance Passive, the total cooldown was a mere half an hour, and it seemed to reduce by nine minutes with each mastery upgrade.
As the cooldown finally reached its conclusion, he turned to the young deer standing nearby, a mix of hope and uncertainty in his voice. "Okay, it looks like it's ready."
Santa then leaned in closer to Rudolph, muttering softly, "Still… I hope this works..." With a deep breath, he issued his command, "Rudolph, Merry Christmas!"
As he extended his hand toward the young deer, a gentle, ethereal light enveloped Rudolph.
🎁 The gift of Abundance mastery has increased!
[Rudolph has received a gift!]
[Rudolph has gained the ability: 🪽 Magical Gorge (Passive)]
[Festive Synergy: (Passive) has been activated.]
Suddenly, Rudolph transformed. The light from Santa within him grew brighter and multiplied. In a matter of seconds, he released a burst of brilliant light that struck each Zombiedeer in turn.
[Rudolph has shared an ability!]
[Dasher has gained the ability: 🪽 Magical Gorge (Passive)]
[Dancer has gained the ability: 🪽 Magical Gorge (Passive)]
[Prancer has gained the ability: 🪽 Magical Gorge (Passive)]
[Vixen has gained the ability: 🪽 Magical Gorge (Passive)]
[Comet has gained the ability: 🪽 Magical Gorge (Passive)]
[Cupid has gained the ability: 🪽 Magical Gorge (Passive)]
[Donner has gained the ability: 🪽 Magical Gorge (Passive)]
[Blitzen has gained the ability: 🪽 Magical Gorge (Passive)]
“My goodness!” S.E.R.G. said in surprise.
“It worked…” Santa said. “Now, it’s time to try out the next step…”
“There’s more?”
Santa nodded and grinned. He then plunged his hand into his new coat pocket, where he’d stashed his Pot of Respite Pills. Rudolph sniffed the air with his bright red nose as Santa retrieve a single pill for the deer. The young deer tilted his head, his intelligent eyes locked onto Santa's, seemingly asking, "What is it?"
"Go on, eat it," Santa encouraged.
Rudolph, always one of the brightest among the reindeer, understood Santa's words. Yet, there was something different in his gaze now, a newfound depth of understanding. Santa realized he needed to address Rudolph with the utmost respect.
"The town is under attack by very bad men," Santa explained solemnly. "They are the ones who hurt our family."
Rudolph nodded, his antlers bobbing with the gesture, his gaze shifting with a hint of anger.
"If you eat this," Santa continued, holding out the pill, "you will be able to increase your power by one level and fight off the bad men."
The deer nodded again and stamped its hoof, taking in Santa's words. Without hesitation, Rudolph chomped down on the pill, swallowing it in an instant.
[Level Up! Rudolph is now Level 2]
[Rudolph has gained the ability: Reindeer Resilience (Passive)]
[Festive Synergy: (Passive) has been activated.]
[Level Up! The ‘NINE’ are now Level 2]
[The ‘NINE’ have gained the ability: Reindeer Resilience (Passive)]
"The nine? Interesting..." Santa mused, impressed.
As the deer levelled up at once, their forms seemed to grow. Their muscles became more defined, and their antlers extended, becoming longer and sharper.
“Well, that’s just cheating!”
Santa shrugged, “Well, I do need strong back up!”
“What now?”
Santa turned to the next deer in the row and handed the deer another pill. “We got eight more pills to go.”
[Level Up! Dasher is now Level 3]
[Dasher has gained the ability: Reindeer Sonar (Passive)]
[Festive Synergy: (Passive) has been activated.]
[Level Up! The ‘NINE’ are now Level 3]
[The ‘NINE’ have gained the ability: Reindeer Sonar (Passive)]
"So, they all level up together regardless of who eats the pill, and they all gain the same ability?" S.E.R.G. inquired, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
“It seems that way,” Santa replied, moving to the next deer in line. “The pills have a cooldown of ten minutes, and I believe that cooldown is individual.”
“So, they can each have one per cooldown period. That sounds like an exploit,” S.E.R.G. remarked.
Santa shook his head, his expression thoughtful. “I don’t think so. I believe this is working as intended.”
Methodically, Santa continued the process, distributing a pill to each and every one of the reindeer. Each pill granted the deer a level and a single shared ability, and their newfound powers accumulated with each dose.
As Santa approached the final deer in the line, a sense of purpose filled the air, a tangible reminder that they were gearing up for a formidable battle ahead.
[Level Up! Blitzen is now Level 9]
[Festive Synergy: (Passive) has been activated.]
[Level Up! The ‘NINE’ are now Level 9]
As all of them reached level nine, their transformation was complete. They now appeared significantly more intimidating. The once-cute and huggable creatures had been replaced by towering, massively strong, and agile beasts. Santa could hardly believe his eyes.
🦌 NOTIFICATION 🦌
Reach level 25 for next skill unlock.
Santa swiftly examined the Rudolph’s stats and abilities, checking the deer's newfound powers.
🦌 Rudolph: Christmas Beastmaster – level 10
STM: 19 (38)
INT: 11 (22)
WIS: 11 (22)
STR: 15 (30)
AGI: 19 (38)
CHR: 10 (22)
Spells:
Frosty Stealth
Chilling Charge
Stomp
Passives: 6
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🦌 Reindeer Sonar (Passive)
This passive ability, Reindeer Sonar, harnesses the natural instincts of Christmas creatures. It allows the player to perceive their surroundings clearly. By using the gentle jingles of sleigh bells, it creates a mental map of the environment. Players with this ability can share their location on the mini-map with others who have the same ability, as long as they are within range.
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🦌 Jingle Bell Agility (Passive)
Enhances the reindeer's agility and speed, allowing it to move swiftly and evade attacks more easily. Every step generates a soft jingle bell sound, which can either distract enemies or boost the morale of allies.
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🦌 Frosty Fortitude (Passive)
Increases the reindeer's resistance to cold and ice-based attacks.
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🦌 Frosty Stealth
Activate to gain stealth, allowing the deer to move silently like a gentle snowfall. This makes them particularly adept at sneaking around unnoticed, perfect for delivering gifts or avoiding detection.
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🦌 Chilling Charge
Charge at enemies, dealing cold damage and slowing them down upon impact.
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🦌 Stomp
With a powerful stomp of their hooves, the reindeer can shatter the bones of nearby foes, rendering them immobile.
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🦌 Spectral Antlers (passive)
The reindeer's antlers become imbued with spectral energy, allowing them to pierce through thicker armour and pierce enemies’ defences with ease.
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🦌 Soul Bond (passive)
When the reindeer vanquishes an adversary, it absorbs their essence and channels it back to the one who resurrected them from the dead.
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“This goes bar beyond a snowball effect, this is more like an avalanche!” S.E.R.G. said delighted by the change in atmosphere in the stables. “How many pills you got left?”
Santa counted, “Twenty-three left.” Then popped a pill of his own.
[+ 36800 EXP]
[Level Up! You are now Level 51]
“Now twenty-two.”
Santa couldn’t contain his mirth as he let out a jolly “hohoho!” Then directed his attention to his reindeer. “Okay boys and girls! We have a town to save. Hop hop hop!”
Santa left S.E.R.G. in charge of the stables and workshop, transforming it into a makeshift command centre. He then pushed open the heavy stable door, revealing a massive wall of snow.
The storm had gotten worse.
“Let’s go.”
Rudolph, Santa's trusted and youthful reindeer, confidently stepped forward. With his newfound strength, he effortlessly pushed aside the wall of snow blocking their path. His bright red nose glowed brilliantly, resembling a beacon of hope, illuminating the stormy darkness with the fiery intensity of a pyromancer's flame. Guiding the 'Nine' into the heart of the blizzard, Rudolph and his ghostly companions moved with ethereal grace, like wraiths hailing from Christmases long past.
Santa's grin broadened as he monitored their progress on his mini-map. With determination, he walked through the cold, swirling snowstorm. He pressed on, ignoring the howling wind, as he headed towards the town centre. Guided by Rudolph's nose and the faint jingle of bells, he made his way through the snowstorm.
On his mini-map, he could see the tiny dots representing his deer had spread out. Their base instincts and heightened sense of smell, once reserved for detecting predators, now served as distinct advantages, turning the peaceful deer into efficient hunters within the blizzard.
As he watched the mini-map, he noticed more dots appearing, this time marked in red, clearly hostile. He prepared himself for the imminent battle when suddenly one of his friendly dots vanished.
[+ 1000 EXP]
Santa stared at the mini-map, confusion furrowing his brow as the friendly dot reappeared right where the red dot had been. Holding his fire poker firmly, he continued his determined march toward the centre of town. Then a whole horde of red dots appeared on the map. It looked like they were all running in his direction, getting ready to surround him.
Then, a red name flashed ahead piercing through the snow.
[ShadowSneaker The gloomy, Level 44]
Santa's gaze shifted to the enemy's level. “Forty-four? They’re growing stronger,” Santa muttered under his breath.
The elf's face twisted into a snarl; a stolen kitchen knife held menacingly in his grasp. Santa maintained his stance, his grip on the fire poker tensed as he braced himself for the inevitable clash.
A bone-chilling scream pierced the air as the elf bellowed, "Die!" With remarkable swiftness, the elf leaped into the air, ready to strike.
Before Santa could react to defend himself, a colossal figure materialized from the falling snow. With lightning speed, Blitzen dashed forward, its antlers gleaming ominously, and in one swift, powerful strike, it caught the elf mid-air, skewering them on its antlers before flinging the lifeless body into the snow, staining the ground red.
[+ 2200 EXP]
Santa blinked the Blitzen was gone. Vanishing as swiftly as they’d appeared, using the frosty stealth ability to blend seamlessly into the snowstorm.
Santa's gaze fixated on the mini-map, and he observed his deer flashing in and out of existence. With each reappearance, the confirmation of a kill resounded throughout the snowy landscape.
[+ 2300 EXP] [+ 2400 EXP] [+ 2100 EXP] [+ 1900 EXP]
[Level Up! The ‘NINE’ are now Level 10]
[The ‘NINE’ have gained the ability: 💀 Skill Cannibalism (Passive)]
🦌 NOTIFICATION 🦌
Reach level 25 for next unlock.
[+ 1800 EXP] [+ 1200 EXP]
"Wow," Santa gasped, amazed by his once-charming deer's newfound speed and ferocity. Their transformation from gentle companions to fierce killers was remarkable and somewhat horrific.
But he knew that this drastic change was necessary. They all had to adapt, improve, and overcome any obstacles in their way if they were to have a chance at survival. Santa's determination burned brighter than ever as he knew that none of them could afford to be passive bystanders.
These thoughts swirled through his mind as he marched toward the town's centre. With each step, he noticed a subtle change in the blizzard. The once-fierce storm began to relent, allowing him to see more clearly as he pressed forward.
He was getting closer to the eye.
As he made his way, dark elves emerged from hiding spots and launched relentless attacks, but Santa had seen them coming. Armed with his trusty fire poker, Santa was more than ready for blood, slamming his poker down onto the skulls of would be ambushers, never slowing his pace for even a second.
[+ 2300 EXP]
His deer companions dived in and out of sight, slamming their hooves or gouging others as Elf after elf fell under the relentless onslaught of the Zombie deer, all the while Santa followed the red glow of Rudolph.
[+ 1300 EXP] [+ 2400 EXP] [+ 1300 EXP] [+ 1900 EXP] [+ 2300 EXP] [+ 2400 EXP]
[Level Up! The ‘NINE’ are now Level 11]
[+ 1200 EXP] [+ 2200 EXP] [+ 700 EXP] [+ 900 EXP] [+ 1300 EXP] [+ 2100 EXP]
[Level Up! You are now Level 52]
As soon as Santa levelled, he popped another pill.
[+ 38990 EXP]
[Level Up! You are now Level 53]
[+ 700 EXP] [+ 900 EXP] [+ 1300 EXP] [+ 2100 EXP]
[Level Up! The ‘NINE’ are now Level 12]
While fighting off the attackers, the sight of Rudolph’s form ahead confirmed that the storm was indeed getting weaker the closer they got to the centre. Slowly, he began to distinguish other objects through the swirling snowflakes.
The towering evergreen trees that had lined the streets emerged as white silhouettes, their branches caked with pristine snow. The once-vibrant buildings were now hidden beneath layers of frost, lending an eerie beauty to the place.
As the snowstorm cleared, all the deer became more visible, and their jingling bells echoed louder through town.
Santa's determination grew stronger as he ventured into the eye of the storm, his focus on reaching his friends and the villagers. However, when he finally saw the centre of town, his breath caught in his throat.
A vast army of Nutcracker warriors stood guard, forming an impenetrable barrier to prevent anyone from entering or leaving the heart of town unnoticed. These soldiers were just like the ones in the tower, armed with gleaming golden halberds and clad in dark, formidable armour. Santa knew all too well that these warriors wouldn't be easily defeated. Their sheer numbers were terrifying.
Santa squinted beyond the line of warriors. There, he saw a horrifying sight: the villagers were being herded into a large black sack by the menacing Nutcrackers. Interspersed among them were dark elves, and to Santa's horror, they were carrying the remains of the deceased elves towards his stolen red sack. These poor souls, deceased and frozen, were callously thrown into the sack with little regard.
“Blasted, fruitcakes!”
But what sent a chilling shiver down Santa's spine was the figure orchestrating this wicked operation—the mastermind behind all the chaos, the poisoning, the heartache, the magical tower's misfortune and everything that had plagued Santa throughout this insane quest.
This creature appeared as if it had been torn straight out of a nightmare, towering far taller than the rest, its entire form shrouded in black fur.
While Santa had encountered many impostors in the past, mere pretenders to the throne, this grotesque figure stirred ancient memories. This wasn’t an imitation but rather the original, the Prime antithesis of Christmas itself.
It was none other than the original Krampus.
He was monstrous, with elongated blood-red horns, sharp claws that glinted wickedly, and eyes that gleamed with spite. His long, sinuous tongue snaked out, licking his razor-sharp teeth with a sickening hunger as he oversaw the cruel procession with a malevolent grin etched across his horrifying face.
[???????, ????? ???]
A clawed hand tightly gripped a thick, rusted chain, that coiled around the beast’s midsection like a serpent ready to strike. In his other hand, he held a long birchwood staff adorned with wiry branches, resembling a twisted tree turned into a mystical artifact through dark rituals.
His staff, ancient and gnarled, thrummed with a cold, malevolent energy. A torrent of wintry magic was surging from its core, cascading down in an icy deluge. The village, once a beacon of festive warmth and joy, had been engulfed by a swirling maelstrom of sleet and snow.
Krampus, his eyes gleaming with a triumph, stood at the epicentre, confident in the might of his spell. The barrier he conjured shimmered with a chilling beauty; its icy borders seemingly unbreakable.
Yet Krampus had underestimated his foe.
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