Winter was flying through the air, his rib cage trembling from the sudden impact.
"Argh."
Crashing into the soft snow, he slid a few meters before coming to a stop.
Just a few meters before him stood a mighty beast, with white and grey hide, viscous saliva dripping from its maw. Large canines bared as it let out a low growl.
From afar, the abomination did not look that menacing, but now that Winter was up close, he could witness its terrifying figure in all its glory.
Not even before getting a chance to land a scratch, he was instantly overwhelmed.
The beast stood still, as if waiting for its prey to stand up and fight.
"Are you toying with me?"
"Am I still too weak?" he muttered.
Even after ascending, he was at the bottom of the food chain — a fragile existence, easily squashed by anything he came across.
I thought I had become stronger...
But I'm still weak!
His realization filled him with sadness but was soon replaced with anger. He slammed his fist into the snow, silently cursing.
His adversary, still motionless, howled and resumed its attack.
"Shit."
Winter rolled away and narrowly avoided the attack.
Standing up, he dashed toward the beast, gripping the shard of ice he had created before engaging in battle.
With his ascended body, he reached incredible speed and drove the shard of ice into the side of the beast, easily piercing its hide.
With a glint of excitement in his eyes, he pressed harder...
Until the shard was entirely in the flesh of the beast.
Wait—
The beast pounced with the might of a giant, easily driving its adamantine claws into his chest.
His bones groaned from the pressure as he felt his rib cage barely holding on to its structure.
I should have thought this through, he thought, lamenting his decision-making.
A stifled moan escaped his lips under the weight, barely able to keep the air in his lungs.
The beast pinned Winter to the ground, exerting more force on his body. His lungs, now pierced and welling with blood, caused him to cough, reducing the pressure in his chest.
Shit, shit, shit...
What do I do?!
His mind was now racing against the clock. Certain that if he did not act, he would certainly die within the next few moments.
The maw of the beast opened, viscous saliva dripping onto Winter's face. The drops crystallized the moment they touched his skin, and a sudden realization hit his mind like a truck.
After a second of thought, he remembered the description of the [Ice Conduit] ability.
A pale smile on his face, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth, he spat, his voice trembling:
"If I die here, at least I'll take you with me!"
No longer caring for his life and absolutely frenzied, his mind went into a state where logic and reason were non-existent. Winter was petty and vindictive — his only solace in death would be the demise of his adversary.
As he lost his reason, he lost his concept of restraint and instantly used the [Ice Conduit] to its limit. His veins bulged as his blood raced toward his hands, supplying them with the mysterious energy saturated in his blood.
However, this time there was no surging of air, only the faint noise of ice cracking as a shell formed around his hands, sharpening his fingers to a lethal degree...
A wicked grin on his face, Winter thrust his hands into the underside of the beast, tearing through its mystically strong hide.
A faint crack could be heard as he gripped the rib cage of the beast, making it growl in pain, lessening the pressure on Winter's own chest.
An eye for an eye, a rib for a rib.
Now able to move, he pushed his hand further, bypassing all organs in the way in search of something deeper within.
Now still, his hands clenched on something soft and squishy — the bulging heartbeat reverberating through his hands.
A low voice muttered, with utmost satisfaction:
"Who's the prey now?"
Exactly after the silence took over, his veins pulsed once again, harnessing the power of ice...
And then froze the heart of the beast, making it convulse in pain.
His mentality now back to normal, he regained his senses and rejuvenated in his accomplishment.
I did it!
Then the thundering voice of the Curse broke his rejoice, now like music to his ears.
[You have slain a taintless beast, Ashen Wolf...]
Ashen Wolf?
[...]
[You have received an artifact.]