Chapter 80 – The Battle Against Tylant (3)

Watching Tylant’s back as it descended from the peak to the entrance in a single leap, I pondered.

How were all of Tylant’s seals broken?

Did Lilith use her “blessing”?

I almost hope so.

I’m not sure if I can handle Tylant with all seals removed.

It probably won’t be easy.

But if I can defeat this blessed Tylant here…

It would derail Lilith’s plans completely.

If I kill Tylant and dissipate the blessing, Lilith will do anything to kill me.

All of Lilith and Erden’s schemes will come crashing down.

But that’s exactly what I want.

Sure, I might get tired, but…

In the end, they’ll all thank me.

I kicked off and ran.

I had to immobilize it before it jumped again.

Using Thirst wouldn’t be bad, but I wouldn’t learn anything.

First, magic.

Watch closely.

If you can’t understand, just memorize!

I seized the wild magic, bringing it under control.

I merged it with my blood, circulating it through my body.

I infused magic into every muscle fiber.

I packed magic tightly into my optic nerves.

Preparations complete.

I unfolded my tucked-away senses.

Beyond my clear vision, information from my senses appeared.

A hulking figure over five meters tall.

One eye with four independent pupils.

Four arms, two on each side.

A form like both bear and lion.

Thousands of teeth between slightly parted jaws.

Human-sized claws.

Hide dozens of centimeters thick.

Fur radiating biting cold.

Skin creases.

Muscles beneath.

Bones, organs, vessels, cells.

Magic flow.

The seal catalyst in its heart.

A master’s artifact.

Kalt’s sword.

Again.

Magic flow.

Cells, vessels, organs, bones.

Muscle movement.

Deepening skin creases.

Magic-emitting fur.

And from all this…

Its next move.

Finally looking at me. How arrogant.

Tylant’s head turns.

No warning.

Icicles shoot up from the ground.

They fall from the sky.

Ice walls materialize, blocking retreat.

Fist-sized ice chunks fill my vision.

Eyes wide open, I observe everything.

Next magic lesson: greatsword techniques.

I hold my breath, activate True Step.

My left foot shifts, swirling snow.

My waist twists accordingly.

Moderate strength in core and shoulders, death grip on the hilt.

The greatsword swings.

No sound.

Everything rushing at me, sliced apart.

I etch every movement into my body.

Understand?

This is how you use a greatsword.

Tylant’s lips twist into a sneer.

The massive body moves.

Still no warning.

One step.

Earth cracks.

Two steps.

Sky ruptures.

Three steps, then attack.

A fierce roar mixed with blizzard obscures my view.

Thousands of icicles burst through the air.

Storm-wrapped claws slash down.

Fractured earth becomes a maw, ready to swallow me.

A meteor-like ice chunk falls from the sky.

A literal catastrophe.

A disaster no human could endure.

I move without hesitation.

Scatter the snowstorm with my greatsword.

Twist and swing to deflect icicles.

Let the storm carry me as I flow with the sword. Claws deflected.

Stomp the cracked ground, halting it.

The ice chunk—

Focus my senses, find a weakness.

I slice it.

Charge at Tylant’s face, drive my fist in.

Crunch—dozens of teeth shatter.

Broken teeth replaced by ice.

Frost forms on my fist.

I move remaining elixir to my hand.

Heat surges just before frostbite, dissipating cold.

Similar to the partially sealed Tylant I fought before.

There must be more.

Grip the greatsword, charge forward.

Slash through all obscuring attacks.

Thud—Crunch—

The wildly swung sword shaves fur, embeds in hide.

[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRR—!!]

As the sword sticks, hide regenerates.

Reverse grip, yank it out.

Splatter—bright blood on white ground.

Spin, swing the greatsword.

A swing that would’ve blown Carpeng’s hands off.

Crack—

Tylant catches it with one hand.

Immediately, three arms swing at me.

Storm roars. Blade-like snow swirls.

Icicles, ice chunks, boulders.

Death approaches.

Concentrate magic from my body to arms.

Untrained arms scream in protest.

Veins bulge, skin darkens.

Crunch—grip the hilt like breaking it, tear it free.

Blood gushes from Tylant’s torn hand, staining the ground.

Spread magic again, deflect and flow past impending death.

Slash, deflect, stab.

Twist and pull, swing at Tylant’s arm.

As expected, can’t sever it completely.

Even with magic, my arm’s in bad shape.

But Tylant’s arm isn’t great either.

Half-severed arm dangles, spilling blood.

Immediately use elixir to heal.

Snowstorm gathers around Tylant’s injured arm.

Snow from the mountain range converges on Tylant.

Short breath, dash forward.

Each snowflake slashes like a blade.

Ground snow becomes projectiles.

Concentrate senses, map the gaps.

Follow the lines, adjust stride, advance, stop, twist, dodge.

Subtle movements make snowflakes seem to miss intentionally.

Tylant’s brow furrows.

Wind surges, altering snowflake trajectories.

Floating ones sink, grounded ones rise.

New snowflakes fall, whirl, pour down.

Eyes wide open, miss nothing.

Sometimes use the sword, sometimes take hits.

Completely evade them.

Hot water bursts from my eyes.

Blood on lips, charge at Tylant.

Clang—Boom—!

Sky shakes with each collision.

Deafening noise long since ruptured eardrums, echoes in mind.

Vibrations travel through me.

Grip blood-soaked hilt, keep swinging.

Wounds appear on Tylant’s body.

Wounds deepen to injuries.

Injuries split, spewing blood.

My body’s similar.

No direct hits, but pushed muscles bleed through skin.

But I don’t stop.

Breaking this flow might mean losing the chance.

Must weaken it before phase two.

Dodge arm, slash the other.

Bleeding arm twitches up.

Three arms reach to grab me.

Raise sword horizontally, spin.

Crack— Weak swing can’t cut magic-covered fur.

But enough to halt enclosing hands.

Step on knee, launch up, kick chin.

Crack, slam sword on closed jaws.

Tremendous recoil hits hands.

Embrace numbness, slam harder.

Bang—Bang—Bang— Black blood from snout.

Blood droplets float up.

Frost-wrapped, become blades, shoot at me.

Exhale, deflect oncoming blades.

Exhaled breath freezes, icicles fall on feet.

Lean on sword, kick them.

Magic-gathered foot shatters icicles.

Shards become weapons, charge.

Thrust forward, scatter everything.

Instant magical explosions create snow fog.

View blocked.

I scoff.

I was blind to begin with, punk.

Close eyes, expand senses.

Tylant’s form clear in my mind.

Cut through fog, thrust sword into knee back.

[GRAAAAAAAAAAA—!]

Tylant’s panicked scream echoes.

Don’t stop, drive elbow into hilt.

Crunch—vivid sensation of tearing muscle.

Sword lodged between muscles, won’t move.

Pick up fallen icicle.

Cold pierces to bone.

Tylant swings arm.

Dodge minimally.

Another arm swings.

Wait.

Slowly.

Watch, and just before it hits…

Duck. Few hair strands cut.

Drive icicle into foot, tear out claws.

My close dodge makes Tylant’s claws rip its thigh.

Its own icicle pierces its foot.

Slight twitch in muscles holding the sword.

Immediately grip sword, yank free.

Flesh chunks splatter my face.

[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRR–!!]

Tylant’s scream filled with greater rage.

Operate elixir, minimize body damage.

Snow fog disperses.

Area drenched in Tylant’s blood.

Once-white fur streaked red.

Check body’s motion range.

No issues yet.

Charge at Tylant again.

Rage-consumed creature moves less skillfully.

But attack power doubled.

Each exhale freezes air to snow.

Deflect sudden magic, flick away claws.

And cut.

Stab, twist, split, break.

Each strike increases magical pressure.

But don’t stop.

Over two hours.

Countless exchanges.

Finally sever two of Tylant’s arms.

Pull out every tooth.

Tylant’s roars fainter.

Even rough breathing quiets.

No anger left in its gaze.

Even I struggle to stand in the swirling dark energy.

No white left in the area.

Mountainside drenched red.

Snow begins falling again.

Not white snow.

Blue snow.

Tylant’s second phase begins.

I release all controlled magic.

Dark red magic surges, pushing away blue snow.

Alright.

Noah’s second phase begins now.