Dungeon of Niflheim

But even then it wasn’t finished, the freezing cold energy suddenly floated ahead of the blade before splitting into three, looking like massive blue claws, paying homage to the name [claw of the ice wolf]. The moment was only a brief second so the audience couldn’t comprehend the change. The hammer user was so focused on his strike he didn’t register Frost’s words, continuing to strike down without worry. He saw the pale blue light and just assumed that Frost was trying to quickly use the skill from earlier but to him it didn’t matter.

‘Even if you do conjure up that skill you’ll still be at a disadvantage against my hammer.’ With cocky thoughts the rat beastman put even greater strength into his swing.

The ugly leader and pugilist were just regaining their balance when contact happened.

Bang! Bang! Squealch!

Three distinct sounds roared out once the two skill met. The grey energy from the hammer’s [elephant stamp] skill was turned to shreds from just one of Frost’s claws. The remaining force slammed into the hammer’s face causing the first bang. The second struck a moment later and actually cracked the thing, sending fragments in all directions while the third unimpeded by the hammer’s face was free to carve up some flesh. Along with the glaive blade itself the blue claw sliced upwards passed the hammer. The rat beastman’s shoulder was nearly sliced off in its entirety, the bone could easily be seen, with the majority being sheared.

The rat beastman’s confident/cocky expression quickly flipped, his face turned pale and insane levels of pain were shot to his brain. His arm was not only dangling at his side, but his nerves were experiencing freezing damage. it almost felt as though he was being burned.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhh!” He roared out in pain, dropping the remains of his hammer, he held his carved up shoulder with his good arm and wailed, not even taking into account the time and place. Frost meanwhile was momentarily stunned, not expecting his new skill to be so effective, he was caught in a daze, failing to take advantage of the situation. The hammer user was easy pickings for him as long as he acted now but chances are fleeting.

‘Fuck I knew it!’ Kargul had a dark expression on his face, he grimaced at the sight but didn’t forget his job. “[Piercing shot]” not standing on ceremony he launched his steel arrow along with the standard archer skill, amplifying its penetrative power. He’d need at least this much to pierce Frost’s chakra armour.

.....

While his two colleagues and his target were still in shock he moved. His steel arrow left his bow with a sharp twang, howling through the air while covered in a coating of green energy. The sharp howl alerted the ugly human leader and pugilist who regained their focus immediately.

“Fuck!” The ugly human leader cursed aloud as he saw the state of his comrade. He and the pugilist both dashed forward, they couldn’t allow Frost to finish the job. The battle was already against their favour with 4 on 1, if they lost a member now, they were as good as dead. Kargul’s arrow would likely do no damage but should buy them enough time to move for assistance. Their desperate attempts were quite impressive, with their speed Frost didn’t have time to end the hammer user.

The moment the arrow was launched his instinct warned him of danger and he reacted as they deemed. His glaive was not going to arrive in time, so he used the back of his hand to smash the arrow that headed towards his face.

Boom! With his chakra enhanced arm and impressive strength the arrow was blown to pieces, regardless of the [piercing shot] enhancement. The innate strength of an arrow could only be so much, though its piercing capabilities can be enhanced it still is in the end an arrow. Kargul didn’t have much hope with his attack, but he didn’t falter. Before the first arrow even arrived he had already drew once again, launching two more steel headed arrows.

Smash! Smash!

Once again using his skilled unharmed technique Frost shattered the arrows that headed his way, he was forced to redirect his attention from the hammerer in order to deal with them. Normally this would have been the perfect opportunity for his wounded foe to counter attack but he was stuck in place due to pain. If it was just a deep cut of his shoulder he could have probably endured it, clenching his teeth as he charged at Frost, but the freezing energy doubled if not tripled his pain making him unable to take advantage of the situation, much to the annoyance of Kargul and the others.

Once the third arrow was shattered Frost moved to end the hammerer with a swift stab of his glaive before he lost his opportunity but unfortunately he was too slow.

“Rahhhhhhhhhh!” The ugly human leader charged forward with force, his shield raised before him, he planned to slam directly into Frost. There was no technique or finesse, just desperation to stop his glaive.

Frost didn’t expect such a move and was caught by surprise, the human leader smashed into his chest with the shield, breaking a couple layers of his armour and forcing him to take a step back.

“Are fucking kidding me!” The human leader bellowed in anguish, that was a charge with his full strength, yet the man just took a small step back. ‘How fucking strong are you?’ If he had time to cry he probably would right now, this was so unfair.

With the human leader in such proximity to Frost, Kargul couldn’t launch anymore arrows, but the pugilist could still help. Without even thinking about his leader, the pugilist dashed forward and jumped, his legs stretched forward into dropkick position. A moment later the pugilist dropkicked the back of the human leader giving him a sudden strength boost, though probably not the type of boost he wanted.

Frost grimaced, he couldn’t barely see what was happening thanks to the human leader being right up in his face and the moment he regained his footing from the man’s charge an even stronger force hit against his chest. Frost even with his superior physical strength couldn’t endure, his feet lifted from the ground and he along with the ugly leader, pugilist and even the hammerer were sent flying backwards. Four men flew in the air each with differing expressions. The hammerer’s was filled with pain, the injury on his shoulder be exasperated. The ugly human leader looked like he was about to cry, getting kicked by your own subordinate haaaaaaaaa. The pugilist was gleeful that his attack worked and Frost with was filled with indignity, ‘Wasn’t this a battle, why are you dog piling on me?’

Finally, there was Kargul the only one not sent flying, his expression was one of pure confusion, his bow imperceptibly lowering as he took in this situation. A moment later however he too had an ‘Ingenious’ idea, he once again drew his bow ready to launch an arrow, though this time he aimed at the sky, while his eyes analysed Frost’s landing position.

A second later the four men landed on the ground, the hammer crossed the least distance, he was prone on the ground as blood pooled around his body. Next was the pugilist who once again kicked his boss before landing near the hammer, he was in the best condition out of all of them and the only one who chose his landing position. Next was Frost and the ugly leader, the ugly leader drifted slightly downwards, his shield was now leaning against Frost’s legs instead of his chest. He sported little injury other than that of his ego, since it was a pushing motion kick his back didn’t hurt too much but it still felt shameful.

Frost meanwhile scraped along the floor, taking on the full brunt of the fall but his ice chakra armour blocked the damage, it did however fall apart in places, he now looked more like a dishevelled warrior than an ice king. Unfortunately, even with this bizarre situation he didn’t get a moment’s rest.

Kargul made his move, he launched several arrows up into the air while shouting “[sky shot].” Another one of the basic archer skills that allowed one to have their arrows swarm downwards onto their target with great precision and timing. The green energy covered these three arrows and increased their speed as they fell from the sky and all of them were aimed where Frost fell.

“Shit!” Staring up at the ceiling he could see the three arrows starting their descent, in irritation he kicked the swordsmen from his legs and rolled desperately to the side.

Ton ton ton

A moment later the arrows landed in his previous position with one even nicking his arm, drawing blood.