Eating Souls In Another World

Chapter 12

[SYSTEM ALERT]

[《King of Frozen Peaks 》 has appeared]

[You have entered a king’s domain.]

[Due to the overwhelming difference in level all stats have been temporarily reduced.]

[Due to 《King of Frozen Peaks》’s domain the temperature in the area has significantly dropped.]

[You’re suffering from negative status effect: Frostbite]

[You’re suffering from negative status effect: Fear]

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[Quest: 《King of Frozen Peaks (SSS)》 has been generated.]

[Quest denied due to the overwhelming difference in level.]

[Quest: 《Escape the king’s  domain (SS)》 has been generated.]

[《Escape the king's domain》:

You have foolishly entered the domain of one of the most powerful Magical Beasts in this world. However, hope isn’t lost yet. The beast is currently engaged in battle against the army of the church of Eternal Night and your presence is too insignificant for it to notice you.

OBJECTIVE: Escape Mount Icewyrm before the King of Frozen Peaks notices your presence. 

CLEAR CONDITION:

Reach the forest at the base of Mount Icewyrm.

Rollo’s survival.

CLEAR REWARD:

250 Soul Essence.

Title: “SURVIVOR".

ON FAILURE:

Death.

]

Hiding behind a boulder, Drake read the contents of the blue screens that popped up one after the other.

“FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!”

His eyes were bloodshot and his teeth clattered uncontrollably. A layer of frost gradually enveloped his face and despite the thick clothes he stole from the storage room, he felt his temperature dropping by the second.

Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve it? Why do I have to go through all of this?

~[ ]~

The moment he stepped out of the cavern a wave of intense cold washed over him. The light had forced his eyes shut, and by the time he opened them the chaotic sounds of the surroundings sent tremors through his body.

it was then that he saw it.

Wings of blue cut through the air, the feathers coating them like ice crystals with white tips. Talons long enough to be sharpened tree logs. A deep red color painted their tips as if they were quills dipped in ink.

A sharp cry rang out from the creature's blood-covered beak. Its form was that of a bird, but no bird could have grown to such a size.

The shadow it cast while flying high above covered everything under it. With each flap of its majestic wings, a storm of ice and snow blasted everything, bringing with it a cold so intense it pierced the bones.

Three deep blue crystals stood on its head, a crown that proved its standing as the king of this land.

For a very long moment, all Drake could do was stare. The creature was a work of art. A majestic being overshadowing anything he had seen in his life, but for all of its beauty, all Drake could see was a monster. A blood-drenched abomination raining terror on everything that dares to enter its domain.

Drake felt a warm feeling spread through his pants. Nothing could have frightened him enough to let it out, not even the spear of fanatic cultists. Faced with such a calamity, however, the boy was made aware of his weakness.

“God… It’s the King of Frost…”

Rollo's trembling voice brought Drake back to his senses only for another sharp cry to take them away. The two fell to their knees holding on to their necks as air refused to enter their lungs. An instant later, spears of solid ice rained down from above.

A few pierced the ground around them but luck had it so they wouldn't be hit. But that was where their fortune ended. The ground was covered in snow. Despite that, one could still see veins of frost spreading from spear-like icicles.

Drake knew nothing of what might happen if one of those veins touched him or the boy. He wasn't willing to risk learning, however. With great struggle, he pushed himself to his feet, grabbed his red-haired companion by the collar, and reached for the sensation he had experienced many times before.

[Skill: Quick Step]

The world around them blurred and the two arrived at a faraway boulder in just a couple of steps. Drake chose the location at random, but to his luck, it turned out to be outside the area bombarded by the ice spears.

Drake leaned his back against the frozen rock and forced air into his lungs. As he gasped, the cave they escaped from came into sight. The cultists chasing after them were nowhere to be seen.

It made sense. There was a giant bird flying around and the sky was raining ice spears. In their minds, the prisoners couldn't possibly survive and thus there was no point in chasing them beyond that point.

The moment of reprieve Drake was painstakingly able to secure had to be interrupted by the appearance of several blue screens. His eyes darted around as he absorbed the text and the terror he experienced grew with each word.

What do you mean one of the strongest!? Why the hell is it here!!?

Drake could only stare at him in stunned disbelief, but then the rage took over and he turned to the red-haired boy.

“HEY! WHAT IS THAT THING!!! WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT!!!?”

The boy was speechless for a few seconds before shouting back.

“HOW WOULD I KNOW! THAT THING ISN’T SUPPOSED TO BE REAL!!!”

Another wave of icy wind swiped the area.

"THE HELL DO YOU MEAN IT'S NOT REAL!? LOOK! IT'S THERE GODDAMN IT!!!!"

The boy with red hair was silent for a while then skidded over to the edge of the boulder. He hesitated, his body trembling. Taking a deep breath, he slowly peeked his head.

“That... that's the King of Frost, no doubt about it." He said after a while, his voice calmer than before. "I only heard of it in stories. The elders call it the guardian deity of these mountains."

Though he heard him loud and clear, Drake's mind refused to believe anything he said. He barely accepted the existence of Magical Beasts and Souls so how could he accept that something that is thought to be a myth by the people of this world exists?

No, that doesn't matter right now!

Escape. That was the only thing he should be thinking about right now.

He focused on the map in the corner of his sight and caused it to spread. He wanted to check for exits but when he saw what was on it despair dealt him a powerful blow.

The map showed a roughly circular shape with several holes in it. He recognized that those represented the rocks and boulders scattered around the snow field since the white dot representing him was behind one of them. 

Near the edge of the circle, on the side opposite to where he and the boy were, was a large yellow dot moving a little to the left then to the right. It took him a while but he understood it represented the giant blue bird.

Hm? Something isn’t right… 

In front of the big yellow dot were several red ones scattered at random intervals. The red dots were supposed to represent enemies so Drake didn't understand why there were so many right behind the boulder pressed against his back.

“So this is what they are after…”

Rollo's voice drew his attention, and though fear crippled his limbs, Drake slowly pulled himself to the edge and peeked at what was happening in the snowy field.

When they escaped the cavern, the two were too busy gawking at the majestic creature in the sky and paid no heed to what was happening on the ground.

The scene could only be described as a painting depicting the brutality of war. Men in full-plate armor ran around carrying bladed weapons of every kind. Others dragged shields that towered over them in size. Others were on the ground, some frozen solid and others pierced with translucent spears.

“FLAME THROWERS!!!”

Someone among them shouted. The next moment the snow field was painted orange as multiple flame torrents suddenly shot from the ground toward the flying beast.

“PREPATE THE CHAINS!” 

The same man shouted again as the flames hit their target. Drake glanced at the map once more and realized that the randomly scattered dots were actually gathered in groups of six creating a formation of some kind.

The leader was without a doubt the one shouting commands from the very back. His armor was crimson, unlike the others, and around him were several rows of shield bearers.

“INCOMING!”

The man in crimson armor shouted again. Up in the sky, the giant bird was readying for another attack. Particles of light gathered together forming sharp icicles that grew in size until they were larger than the armored knights.

A wave of wind followed the bird swinging its blue winds and the ice spears blasted down like missiles.

The bombardment scattered snow like it was dirt and dust. Some of the icy spears pierced empty grounds while others found their way to the soldiers. Those with shields were able to save themselves while the rest were left to be impaled where they stood.

As he watched the massacre with his own eyes, Drake never noticed the red dots disappearing from the map in the corner of his sight.