Through his last journey through the pass, he recounted that he and his crew traveled from Auroravia, managing to make it unscathed through the first fourth of the pass. They hacked their way through ice specters and the Yealling Peaks' well-known residents—the Frostfang Serpents. But as they reached the halfway mark, they were attacked by a large Frostfang Serpent. Long story short, it exterminated Tom’s crew, leaving him as the sole survivor. He didn't defeat the monster; he chose the smart option to run for his life. Without a doubt, the encounter left sequels, physical and mental.
The creature that attacked him and his group was what he gave me the most warning about. I took that warning to heart, gathering all the information I could about that creature. From his story, I gleaned that the creature was a Frostfang Serpent, a high-level one from the size he described, but a Frostfang Serpent nonetheless. It had yet to undergo the evolution that would’ve turned it into something even my level 13 self had no hope to defeat. I confirmed this with him multiple times, and each time, he described a Frostfang Serpent, not a Frostfang One-Eyed Serpent. This was where part of my confidence in traveling through the pass came from—I believed I would be able to defeat that monster. And yet, the creature in front of me was clearly not what I was promised.
The snake-like monster in front of me had its scales shimmering with a frosty sheen, each one looking like a small, perfectly cut ice crystal. The serpent's body was partly visible—a fraction of its body was still hidden within the hole it slowly crawled out of. Icy veins ran along its body, glowing with an ethereal blue light that seemed to pulse with the creature's every movement. What struck me the most was its head. Unlike the Frostfang Serpents Tom described, this one had a single, glaringly bright pair of eyes centered on its forehead. The rest of its face was smooth and featureless, except for a slit where its brows would be if it were human. Behind that slit was its defining feature: an additional eye. A feature proper to the evolved animalistic monster known as the Frostfang One-Eyed Serpent.
"Tom, you inaccurate, cowardly moron." In my mind, I cursed the man whom the handlers of Eimbridge referred to as the Menace. I called him every imaginable name, but especially a liar. This creature, which I was certain was the same one that had exterminated him and his comrades, was nothing like the one he described to me. Even though I called him every name in the book, I was objective enough to realize I was cursing him because I needed someone to blame for this mess—because that’s what it was, a mess.
From the moment I realized that I’d been dealing with dungeon spawn, I always kept that possibility in my mind. No, it was, in fact, before that—there was always the lingering assumption in me that the creature he’d warned me about was not the monster I expected. I thought about it all the way here, as I fought the revenants. I didn’t immediately think of it because my immediate focus was on the monsters I was dealing with. The fact that I didn’t encounter any of the Frostfang Serpents in the place I was promised to find them didn’t help either, so much so that somewhere in my heart I believed that the snake-like resident of the pass had been exterminated by the new spawn neighbor, meaning that I wouldn’t even have to deal with any of them, only with the revenants. But needless to say, that first impression was shattered with my first interaction with the creature back then, a creature I couldn’t confirm the race of because of the ice wall’s translucency. Now, I could, and I didn’t like what I found out.
Not daring to make a move that would betray my presence, I slowly exhaled, trying to keep my heartbeat steady as I assessed the situation. The Frostfang One-Eyed Serpent's gaze swept the area, its icy-blue eyes glowing with an eerie light. For now, it didn’t seem to have particularly noticed me. The fog present almost everywhere in the pass was, for once, working in my favor.
My mind raced, calculating my options. Because it did feel like I had some, as the creature didn’t look like it had noticed me yet. The serpent slithered further out of the cave, its massive body undulating with each movement. It seemed to be searching for something, its tongue flicking out to taste the air repeatedly.
I considered making a cautious step back behind a rock a half a dozen meters away or even retreat to the large cave entrance ten further meters away from the boulder, but the thought of being found because of that attempt made me give up the idea. I prioritized not making a single move, hoping that it would keep not noticing me and eventually leave like it did last time—for I knew for a fact that I was dealing with the same snake. Unfortunately for me, as the saying goes: when things can go wrong, they will go wrong. After what felt like an eternity, just as I’d hoped the creature would slither into one of the many caves, its eyes met mine. For yet another moment that felt like an eternity, there was an ambiance that reminded me of the instance in a documentary movie where the predator and the prey are eyeing each other before the bell rings, signaling the beginning of the chase.
Needless to say who was the prey and who was the predator, but the ringing bell announcing the beginning of the battle was obviously a hiss the snake unleashed before cocking back to open its maw, revealing its long and sharp fangs, glistening with a deadly, icy venom that dripped and sizzled upon hitting the ground.
Accepting bitterly that outcome but refusing the role that was obviously mine, I pointed at the snake and immediately activated [Frost Lance Conjuration], summoning five lances that I hurled mercilessly and consecutively at the creature’s head.
With a reaction that belied its size, the Frostfang One-Eyed ducked evading the first lance, partly evading the second that only bruised past it. Adjusting my remaining lances, it weren’t able to avoid the other remaining three like it did the two first. Serpent recoiled from the impact of the five lances, but its icy-white scales shielded it most of the damage, the lances shattering like glass thrown at a wall.
Tsk.
Out of all the Hexed Frost conjurable weaponry available through the ability Hexcaster Weaponry, the Hexed Frost Lance deals the most damage per individual projectile. At level 5, the Hexed Frost Lance allows the summoning of 5 lances, each delivering high damage. In comparison, the Hexed Frost Sword and Hexed Frost Dagger deal less damage per individual projectile but allow summoning of a greater number of weapons. At level 5, the Hexed Frost Sword allows summoning of 10 swords, providing a balance between the number of weapons and the damage each sword can deal. On the other hand, the Hexed Frost Dagger, which currently is at level 4, permits the summoning of 20 daggers. While each dagger deals the least damage individually, the sheer number of daggers can collectively result in significant total damage.
Thus, the Hexed Frost Lance is suited for delivering powerful, concentrated attacks, the Hexed Frost Sword offers a balanced approach with a mix of moderate damage and a higher number of projectiles, and the Hexed Frost Dagger is ideal for overwhelming enemies with numerous smaller hits that accumulate into significant damage. All that to say that something that couldn’t be damaged with Hexed Frost Lance certainly wouldn't be with either Hexed Frost Sword or even less Hexed Frost Dagger.
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I could imagine my Frost Lances had its HP dropping but only slightly, if at all, but while it didn't seem to have made much damage, it certainly successfully managed to get its attention. The serpent's icy gaze never left me, and I could see the glint of its fangs as it reared back, preparing to strike.
"Fine," I muttered, gripping my staff, Impotence, tighter. "Let's see how you handle this."
After casting back to back all my available debilitating skills, namely Winter Clutch, Inflict frostbite, and topped with Debilitating surge to boost out the two skills hopeful effect. I immediately threw myself into the process of coming with an attack with my ice magic, but knowing very well that the creature wasn’t going to wait for me to just cast my attack, I sent another volley of Hexed Frost Lance at it, aiming as I was the first time—the head.
This time the creature for some reason making it look like in comtempt didn’t even make an attempt to dodge the attack, it just slitghtly lowered its head,
My lances flew true, striking the creature at its head, but all shattered on impact upon striking its icy scales, without causing much visible damage, not even causing it to recoil. But at this point I wasn’t even surprised anymore, it held so well without the ability so with it, it wasn’t surprising at all, what was surprising was the lock of reaction from the snake, at this point I was expecting it be lunging at me in pure annoyance yet it just stood there menacingly. Despite being left unconfortable by that impression, I, aiming my staff at the creature ready to unleash the attack I came up with my [Ice Magic], my fire power wasn’t limited to Hexed Frost weaponry, I had my Ice Magic which allowed me to come up with attack similar to spell like Hexed Frost Lance, but spell I could adjust the power of.
At that moment, just as my magic circle was about to manifest the attack, I saw it—through the intricate, holographic circle in front of me—the creature’s eye, which had been closed until now, suddenly opening. And not just any eye, its first eye. As it did, an Identification notification flashed in the corner of my vision.
The moment I saw it, I felt a primordial emotion that I remembered having felt once in each lifetime I’ve lived through. It was an emotion I’ve felt at the end of each one of my life, it was what most would call the fear of death—for me, it was more like the fear of having everything you’ve worked for in the present incarnation being destroyed. But regardless of what it was it prompted a very equally primal reaction, one that made me give up the attack I was coming up with to rush behind a boulder half a dozen meters away from.
As I rushed to the boulder, I, in the corner of my vision, caught sight of it—a hypersonic shockwave unleashed from the serpent's third eye, striking the spot I had stood moments earlier. The shockwave was like that of a mini-nuke, sending debris and shards of ice flying in all directions. Even though I had taken cover, the force of the blast still hit me, making me roll on the ground to the side of the mountain.
Gasping for breath, I quickly assessed my injuries. My HP had taken a hit, and I felt bruised and battered, but there was no time to lament. The serpent was already preparing its next move, finally advancing toward me. I couldn't afford to be caught off guard again.
Activating FrostBurst Conjuration, which very recently reached level 5, I summoned five ice balls and instantly sent them toward the serpent, mentally detonating them with the intent to cause as much damage as possible. Surely this skill, easily the most explosive spell in my arsenal, would do something against this creature.
The ice balls reached the snake and exploded, unleashing a shockwave so strong that it momentarily shook the ground, causing pebbles to fall off the side of the pass walls. Just as I had hoped, the spell managed to stop the snake from slithering toward me and even caused it to back off. However, the bad news was that the skill didn't seem to have left even a bruise on it.
"Just how strong is this bastard?!"
Conjecture upon conjecture had led to this current and very uncomfortable predicament. But once again, having none of the required skill to figure out its true level,’ I could only make an educated guess about the creature's level and strength.
The thing about animalistic monsters is that their path to power is really geared toward an increase in size. After the milestone that allows them to evolve, Frostfang Serpents go through a level-following process very similar to the one that precedes their evolution. So yes, after evolving, Frostfang One-Eyed Serpent will still get bigger, just like they did as a regular Frostfang Serpent. This allowed me to assume, since the size didn't look very different from the size described to me, that despite being a Frostfang One-Eyed Serpent—an evolved Frostfang Serpent, it was a low-level one. This meant that, despite not wanting this battle, I still had a chance to win. But after unleashing my best spell at it, I was beginning to doubt that assumption.
Despite the miserable result, I didn’t let myself be taken down by them. Instead, I was set on taking advantage of the opportunity the spell offered. Taking a few steps toward the creature, I cast Frostbound Stride, slowing down its movement before casting Glacial Eclipse, trying to restrain the snake-like creature into a spherical ice sarcophagus.
Something I realized after my exchange against the Frostfang One-Eyed Serpent thus far was that with my current arsenal, I would struggle very much to defeat it. Considering the level difference between myself and the human equivalent of the creature, it wasn't very surprising. I could make it past its defence, but I was afraid I would run out of MP before being done with it. And the moment someone like me—a sorcerer—runs out of MP, it's the same as being already dead. This meant I had and could only rely on my debilitating abilities, which could bypass the creature's defenses that I couldn't pass through.
The problem with my debilitating abilities was that they affected their target slowly. Sure, conventionally they would be considered fast-effect, but it would still take several minutes before the damage would be comparable to that of a frontal and direct assault. So, what I needed to do was earn myself a few minutes.
The spell began to condense ice around the snake, forming a spherical sarcophagus. The serpent hissed and thrashed, trying to break free, but since it squirmed on its spot, the [Glacial Eclipse], which required the target to be immobile, still took effect. It looked like I was about to encase the snake into a moon-like sarcophagus, most of its body already covered in ice. However, at that moment, a series of notifications flashed in the corner of my vision.
The serpent's eyes glowed with an eerie blue light, and I could feel the air around us dropping in temperature. Its body shivered violently, not in a struggle, but in preparation. Then, with a surge of power, the serpent unleashed a shockwave from its eyes, hypersonic blasts that radiated outwards upon another.
The ice that had begun to encase the serpent shattered violently, shards flying in all directions like a storm of frozen daggers. The moon-like cage I had almost completed exploded into a thousand pieces, the sheer force of the shockwave sending fragments spinning through the air. I had to shield my face with my arm, feeling the sting of ice shards cutting into my skin.
The serpent, now freed from the icy prison, hiss in defiance. Just like earlier when it activated its Frozen Fury ability, Its scales glowed with an otherworldly frost. This wasn't just about breaking free; the creature's power had significantly increased. Its eyes, all three of them, glared at me with a chilling intensity, the "First Eye" in particular glowing menacingly.
A sigh escaped me. "Of course, it couldn't be that easy."