Dungeon of Niflheim

The centipede’s eyes shone with glee as it finished priming its body, a fraction of a second later when it was about to let loose.

Boom!

Suddenly a fireball flew through the air and smashed into the centipede’s torso stopping its attack. The fireball hit with a fair amount of force but that wasn’t where the real damage lay, the heat seared the centipede’s flesh and caused it immense pain. Like most ice creatures it had a weakness to fire.

Its jaws relinquished their vice grip on Frost’s arm for the first time giving him the opportunity to free himself. No longer willing to hold back and being fearful of being bitten once again Frost changed positions slightly, placing his right arm directly in the centipede’s jaw he summoned his glaive from the spatial ring.

It appeared in a moment and forced open the centipede’s jaw before piercing through. His arm strength wasn’t enough but with all the thrashing he didn’t have an opportunity to resummon his glaive, thankfully the fireball gave him that chance.

Just when another spell was going to be launched at the centipede and another person was rushing up with a massive great sword ready to lend aid. Frost’s glaive wrenched open the monster’s jaw, tearing it apart in the process. The centipede screeched in agony, its body started to twist and convulse from the pain, but Frost wasn’t done. A determined light shone in his eyes; he would not treat this fight as practise anymore. Kicking off of the centipede he performed a flip in the air, getting some distance. When he was once again facing the centipede he brought across his glaive diagonally aiming to cleave it in two. He no longer aimed for its carapace, but its softer underbelly and he didn’t hold back either.

“[Claw of the ice wolf]” he used his most powerful skill. Energy seeped from his body and into his glaive before splitting into three to generate large blue claws to rend apart his foe.

Squealch!

.....

This time it was not the sound of metal on metal but metal on flesh. The glaive easily cut into centipede and continued on until it burst out through the other side. Frost had cut through the torso where the fireball had struck making for an even easier slice.

The mage and great sword user stood stunned in place, their mouths agape. Suddenly feeling as though their actions were unnecessary. Even the great sword user wasn’t confident in slicing through a great frost centipede in one slash but that’s what happened.

Frost gracefully landed on the ground, his face revealing a fierce expression as the top half of the centipede landed at his feet. He raised his glaive once more. Killing intent and his improved pseudo aura was expressed around him. The great sword user and mage trembled slightly from this.

‘Such dense killing intent and his aura its almost fully formed.’ Thought the great sword user as he sheathed his weapon since his aid was clearly no longer required.

Frost held his glaive up high before activating another glaive skill [shattering strike]. Energy filled his weapon once again as he smashed downward onto the centipede’s head. The monster was still alive, its body convulsing in death rows but this strike ended that.

Boooooommmm! The glaive struck down like a large hammer and exploded half of the centipede’s head, silencing the monster permanently but Frost didn’t let down his guard until its juicy DP entered his body. Once it did he slashed the air with his glaive to remove the blood before turning to face his helpers. His killing intent and aura were still in full effect, so the great sword user and mage were on guard.

A moment later however Frost’s managed to recede his aura and killing intent and greeted them with a gentle smile before immediately bowing his head.

“Thank you for saving my life, I Frost owe you two a life debt.” Frost spoke with a solemn tone, his mannerisms full of respect. Without the aid of these two, the mage in particular he would have likely lost his arm before he’d be forced to use one of his talismans, effectively a life saver. Frost was the type to treat those who showed him kindness with ten times as much in return. His words were a bond, if he had the chance he would save these two if they required it.

The great sword user’s eyes twitched in confusion whereas his companion’s did much the same. This wouldn’t be anything weird if Frost was weaker than them, it could be treated as seniors coming to the aid of a junior but given Frost’s aura they surmised his strength to be roughly equal to theirs if not higher. But that wouldn’t change their actions, even if they knew Frost was strong at the start they’d still lend their aid.

The mage walked forward revealing herself for the first time. She was a fairly attractive rabbit beast woman in her thirties or so. She was dressed in close fitting robes that showed a fairly decent figure with a very large ass, cutely outfitted with a fuzzy white rabbit tail. Her ears were also floppy and framed her face.

The great sword user was a human male, muscular, and tall, roughly equal to Frost’s height. His appearance wasn’t handsome like Frost more brave, like the face of an experienced soldier. He had an almost barrel like chest and thick legs, clearly someone with substantial physical power. His armour was all metal and clearly of high rank, possibly duram or at least an alloy. His great sword too was likely made of duram metal, easily a 3 star weapon.

For safety the woman stood next the great sword user, wrapping her arm around his. Clearly these two were more than just an adventuring party, they were a couple.

As Frost’s killing intent receded and they received his heartfelt words, the man was taken aback slightly before immediately moving forward to help Frost up from his bow. Though Frost was likely their equal in strength his face showed that he was most likely younger, they could still treat him as a junior.

“Please there’s no need for all that, it’s our responsibility as seniors to help out our juniors.” The man forcibly raised Frost from his bow while patting his shoulder in an amicable way. From Frost’s appearance he surmised that he was around 20 or early twenties, far younger than he and his wife.

The man waved his wife over to help gleam over the situation, a life debt was a heavy thing not just for the proposer but also the receiver to bear, especially such good hearted people like his wife and him.

Frost rose up with the help of the man and was greeted with friendly smiles from both the man and his wife, his heart warmed as he was reminded of those in Furano who also gave off gentle and friendly atmospheres.

“Very well I’ll take back the life debt but please at least allow me to give you the spoils of the battle.” Frost took back his earlier statement after seeing the determined expressions on his two helpers faces. The materials of a high D-rank monster such as a great frost centipede was clearly worth a pretty penny but obviously not enough to make up for his own life being saved. The man and woman were silent in response and Frost believing that it wasn’t enough was about to up his offer but was beaten to the punch.

“Hahahahahah no need for that young Frost, just treat us to a meal and we’ll call it even, I for one am absolutely famished, what about you dear?” The female mage spoke up, her voice was sonorous and full of charm, she turned to her husband for his opinion.

“Hahahah perfect idea my love, and as a matter of fact I know a good recipe for preparing centipede.” The husband caught on to his wife’s agenda and immediately agreed, even proposing that they use the centipede in the meal, satisfying Frost’s second offer.

However, the first part aligned with the woman’s interests but the second part. Her face visibly paled and trembled at the thought of eating a huge centipede. She suddenly glared at her husband before elbowing his side without remorse.

“Urgh!” The man winced in pain as he buckled over, confusion and betrayal was on his face. ‘What the hell, isn’t that what you wanted me to say?’

Frost struggled to contain his laughter at their antics, it reminded him of Douglas and Cassandra as well as a little of himself and Maya, he became quite taken with the two.

“No need to listen to my husband’s foolish suggestion, we have much nicer ingredients for use, as long as you help in the cooking we can call it even young Frost, what do you think?” The woman instantly returned to her previous gentle expression while looking at Frost, he was very easy on the eyes and she didn’t care that her husband was right next to her, she feasted on the beautiful display to her hearts content. Just cause she was married didn’t mean she couldn’t appreciate beauty.