// Volume 4: Rise of the Frozen King
After the unpleasant events at the tournament and creating his own Guild called "Life Guild", Scythus is now facing new challenges not only to himself and his friends but also throughout the whole world of New Life Online. //
-Mysterious Castle-
Oh crap! I didn't see that coming... or did I?
I'm falling and I can feel the wind passing through my body. As I fall deeper, I can feel that the temperature is getting warmer than from above. It's like beneath this mountain is something warm but I don't have time to check it out.
"Hey Kyut, please give me a hand or should I say give me wings," You're the only one who can help me now, Kyut.
"As you wish, Scy." Wings started to grow behind my back.
*FLAP FLAP FLAP* This is the first time I heard and used Kyut's wings. It's convenient but slower compared to fire booster. The good thing about the wings is it won't consume that much mana. Once you summon the wings, you only need to use a part of your maximum mana to sustain it.
"I still can't get used to these wings. It's time for a payback!" I soared up ahead.
As I check closely, they are almost near the end of the bridge.
*SWOOOOOOSH! BAAAAAAAAM!* I hit the end of the bridge with my sword before they can get to the entrance of the Skull Cave.
They looked at me really surprised and before they knew it, they are already falling because the stone bridge collapsed after what I did.
"Sh*t!" They jumped trying to reach the entrance of the cave but they failed. Both of them don't have the ability to fly which is really lucky for me.
"Damn it! You'll pay for this!" Shiv exclaimed angrily. I think he still hasn't figured it out yet that I'm the one they hate like crazy. Hating me now isn't actually new to me.
The fall should kill them off. There's a chance that they will hit something hard and it will be as nasty as hell. They started it and I ended it. I don't regret what I just did.
*ROAAAAAAAR!* Oh crap, the sound of what happened caught the attention of the Minotaur and the Lamia but because of what I did, both of them can't go to the other side where I am currently at. Minotaur has the upper body strength of a superhuman and the enhanced durability of a bull. Not only that, like the Centaur King, the Minotaur also uses Giant Axe. Lamia, on the other hand, has the lower part of a snake and a body of a woman. They said that they can petrify you if you look a Lamia in the eye so if the rumor is true or not, I should probably get cautious and be careful.
Both of them can't do anything so they are just standing there doing nothing, I can tell they're pretty pissed.
I should move out soon and explore the area before they can send someone or something here.
-Skull Cave-
I entered the Skull Cave hoping that I could discover something from the inside. I walked slowly and silently trying not to make a sound. I'm also trying to suppress my aura asking Kyut to sleep for a while and wake her up when I need her. This is really weird. I don't feel anything or anyone inside. This might lead me to some dead end and maybe that's why the monsters didn't do anything to stop me but why are they guarding the entrance so heavily. Two Legendary Bosses guarding the pathway isn't a joke.
I didn't go really that far but it seems this is the end of the cave. It's like an empty room but with just a small altar with a cup and some lines written on some kind of large rectangular table, the table is kind of weird though. I'm not so sure but it seems that even the Legendary Bosses aren't allowed to go here.
It's really weird that it's colder here than outside. Did I just risk my life and ended up here nothing to see? I didn't even end up inside the castle.
"Scy, I'm really not feeling well here. I don't know why but I'm really afraid of this place." Kyut said worriedly. Kyut's instincts are pretty well accurate and that means there's something off here.
"Are you sure? It's just an empty room. This altar kind of looks weird but that's just it." I said and...
What is happening?! My body is getting heavier and I realized that I'm already on my knees and my hands are already touching the floor trying to suppress something!
"I didn't expect that you of all people could come up here this fast. You made a scene outside too." It's a girl's voice coming from the darkness... It sounds like she knows me.
"Who is it? Show yourself..." I am indeed feeling scared for the first time and I felt like my life is in a brink of collapse in just a blink of an eye.
Then I saw a girl walk slowly in front of me wearing a long rugged cape and a red devil mask.
"I don't like names... but as a reward for reaching this place first, you can call me Cerise. You're just on time too. I'm about to wake a little friend of mine early... What would you do next? I'm watching you..." I don't get her but she's someone I don't want to mess up with.
"Oh, is it time for me to wake up?" I heard a hollow voice. It's the first time I heard something like that in person. That's what you mostly hear on some horror films.
I did my best to look where the heck the sound came from and I saw that the altar isn't actually an altar but a coffin instead! The girl in the red devil mask slowly walked away... I wanted to ask more questions but... I can't seem to move on my own! This pressure... it's worse than I expected. I'll just have to leave her alone for now...
The coffin slowly opens up after I heard the hollow voice. Oh crap, don't tell me...
"Oh, are you one of my minions?" Don't you even know what the difference between humans and monsters? I saw it! It's a full metal armor but I can see that there's nothing inside of it! It emits green light in every hole in its body and I can tell that this guy or monster is the World Boss that will start the invasion.
"Yes, my lord. I'm your humble servant and wish you the best." I need to calm down... my heart is freaking beating so fast. I tried to act as one of his minions or I'll get killed here in an instant.
"I just woke up so I can't see you clearly. Maybe there's something wrong with my eyes. It's been 385 years since I started sleeping." Seriously? He is exaggerating about how long did he sleep considering the game was only released more than a year ago and for hell's sake you don't have freaking eyes.
"I'm a Harpy, my Lord, and to tell you honestly, I can't even breathe with your magnificent aura." Thankfully, I'm still in my girl appearance and thanks to Kyut's wings, I resemble a harpy.
"Where are my generals? Where is the Harpy Queen?"
"I'm sorry my Lord but Harpy queen lost to some group of people and they wear gold and white heavy armors." This will be a payback, Order of Light.
"So she failed to gather some souls for me, huh. How about the others?" Others? And what kind of souls is he talking about?! I only have seen Minotaur and Lamia outside but if the Centaur King is part of their group then that explain things.
"Both Minotaur and Lamia are still guarding the entrance my Lord and I'm just here to clean your precious room." I have to do something and get out of here as fast as I can.
"Tell them I need to have more souls to summon my best warrior. Tell them to execute the plan." What plan is he talking about? This is really a bad timing for me.
"Yes my Lord, but what plan sir? I'm just a regular underling and I don't have knowledge in the coming invasion," I hope I wasn't being so nosy.
"To attack the humans who grouped themselves below. I can feel their presence. They are fools to do that. They made it easier for us to slaughter them. Move now." Oh crap. I should warn the guilds before they get slaughter outside!
"Yes, my Lord," I rushed towards outside of the Skull Cave.
As I managed to escape the Skull Cave safely, Minotaur and Lamia are still waiting on the other side. Not only that, but they are also accompanied by monsters and even harpies!
"Gorgons! Fire your arrows!" Oh crap! Lamia's army consists of archers!
*SWOOOOOOSH SWOSWOSWOOOOSH!* A large volley of arrows flew towards my direction! I have to get out of here fast!
I flew upwards and tried to evade all the arrows but there are too many arrows!
Ah! I was hit on my left arm! Not only many arrows, but their accuracy is really high and it also hurt like crazy!
After they fired the first wave of arrows, Harpies charged at me! With their speed and number, it's really hard for me to outrun them! I grabbed my sword and fought back but with my regular form, it's hard for me to escape!
"Help me Kyut! THUNDERBIRD'S WRATH!" I transformed into Kyut's form.
"THUNDERBIRD'S LIGHTNING CLAW!" I slashed every Harpy near me but there are just too many of them! Some of them grabbed my arms and legs! It's hard to move!
*BZZZZZZZT!* Kyut's passive took effect and paralyzed the harpies who touched me but how long will my mana last? Once I get rid of some Harpies on me, another group of them would flock on me!
"Gorgons! Fire another wave!" Oh crap! Some of the Harpies are still holding me! This is bad!
"THUNDERBIRD'S EARTH SHATTERING THUNDER!" Take that you pesky Harpies! I used a spell that a lightning came down from above and killed nearby Harpies!
"THUNDERBIRD'S AGILITY!" My speed increased and with fast dive, I was able to evade the arrows and escaped the remaining Harpies.
"FROZEN KING'S GRASP..." Ack! I can't breathe! Out of nowhere, my neck is being held but there's nothing! I'm choking!
Holy mother of all mothers! It's the World Boss this time and who is that girl?!