Dungeon of Niflheim

83 Chapter 83: Assaulting the compound (4)

While Frost got off with little more than a few scratches and slightly numb arms, Bruno didn’t fare nearly as well. Although he used a fairly strong defensive skill the gap in their comparative strengths was too much.

The moment the loud bang happened Bruno was hit with a powerful impact; his body swiftly left the ground bulleting through the doorway and into a wall.

Thud!

Bruno smashed into the wall with enough force to make a human shaped indent.

“Ugh” he released a painful groan as a burst of blood rushed up his throat. At least two of his ribs were broken as well as a couple fingers but thankfully nothing life threatening, in fact it shouldn’t even affect his battle capability in the short term, it really hurt though.

‘God dammit I didn’t sign up for this.’ Bruno yelled internally, he was but a young D-rank adventurer who had a bit of a gambling problem and had no choice but to be employed by Adam to avoid enslavement. The archer with him had similar circumstances, the two of them weren’t inherently bad people like the rest of the goons, just unlucky. But if Bruno knew that by working for Adam, he’d have to face off against a monster like Frost he’d willingly choose the enslavement option, at least that way he’d keep his life.

Bruno and his archer companion, Taka didn’t even know what was happening. Since they weren’t ‘part’ of Adam’s regular goons they were left out on need-to-know information and were always forced to head into danger first.

Take today for example, all they’d been told was to guard this floor from any intruders, killing all who enter. After which their debt would be paid, and they’d be free men.

“Hahaha should have known it wouldn’t be that easy.” Bruno laughed at his naivety while prying himself from the wall. His companion Taka had a depressed expression, just the two of them alone likely wouldn’t be a match for Frost and it’s not like they could ask for aid. Knowing the people cowering in the last couple rooms of the floor. They were more likely to stab them in the back to ensure their own safety or to just simply buy themselves some extra time than help.

.....

“Ptuuah” Taka spat on the ground in disgust before readying his bow with three arrows taking aim at the doorway in anticipation of Frost. He needed to buy time for Bruno to regain his strength. Only then could they truly fight.

Both sides were waiting on the other to make a move, Frost wary of underestimating his foe once again remained silent. Taking in his position and thinking through his next move. Unwittingly granting Bruno the time required to recover and move closer to Taka. This time however he wielded a single-handed Warhammer alongside his shield prepared to take an offensive approach.

Frost quickly grew impatient, he could hear the footsteps of Leo and the rest starting to follow behind, he didn’t want to share this battle, so he moved.

The doorway was a kill box, the moment he stepped into the light, arrows and who knows what else would be sent his way.

[Ice armour] Frost muttered quietly, with a strong image in his mind, Frost utilised his chakra, manipulating it into shape. Quickly a layer of ice covered his chest and arms.

Once the armour was complete Frost bull rushed through the door, his arms crossed and his head lowered, protecting his torso and head from injury.

“Shit! Taka now!” Bruno shouted as soon as he heard movement. He bashed his hammer against his metal shield as some sort of provocation towards Frost, but it was unnecessary since he was heading his way anyway.

“I know! [piercing shot]” Taka shouted out a name of a skill causing his bow and arrowheads to shine green. An instant later the three arrows were shot his bow in rapid succession one directly behind the other, bolstering its penetrating force.

Frost appeared through the doorway covered in ice armour, heading straight for Bruno, he prepared himself to be attacked by arrows, but the force was way beyond his expectation.

Dong!

The first arrow swiftly struck Frost in the centre of his cross guard, removing a substantial amount of his ice armour and weaking his guard.

Dong!

The second arrow struck true as well in the exact place as the first, cleaving opened Frost’s cross guard and slamming directly into his chest with its left-over momentum.

Frost panicked, his chest was exposed, and he doubted his armour could withstand the third arrow. His momentum was too much for him to change direction and dodge and he didn’t have enough time to swing his glaive. All he could do was supply the ice armour remaining on his chest with as much mana as possible and hope for the best.

Dong!!!

The third and final arrow struck the hardest blow and successfully brought Frost’s powerful charge to a sudden halt.

“Ugh!” Frost groaned as he felt a metallic taste in his mouth, he survived but barely. The third arrow managed to pierce his chest by half a centimetre but that was plenty frightening. Frost turned to face the archer his gaze was filled with fear and respect. Not only was there a young dwarf that proved a worthy opponent there was also a young archer.

Now that he was in a lit room Frost could finally see the faces of his opponents.

‘They’re young’ Bruno was a dwarf with thick blue hair and short beard who looked to be in his late twenties but given that he was a dwarf he’s probably younger than he looked.

Taka was a dog beastmen with blond hair and floppy ears who looked to be in his early or mid-twenties.

Frost looked down at his chest, there was now a hole in his robes leaking a small trail of blood. He wiped some his blood with his finger and brought it up to eye level as though questioning if it was his or not.

Bruno and Taka were stunned, that was his strongest move and Frost only ended up with a minor injury that wouldn’t even affect his battle ability.

Bruno gave a solemn look towards his companion; they hadn’t known each other long but had become good friends. They were after all the only good apples in the bunch. Taka returned a similar look before looking off into the distance as though remembering someone or something important.

“Hahahahahah” Their depressing mood was quickly interrupted by Frost’s raucous laughter.

“Hahahah that’s more like it.” Frost smiled madly as his body filled with excitement, the thrill of battle was invigorating. Clashing your own skill and strength against another what could be more enjoyable and enlightening. Frost looked happily towards Taka and Bruno hoping they were feeling the same rush he was.

“Eh?” Bruno felt weird receiving such a gaze from Frost who he considered the greatest threat to his life, but those feelings were quickly replaced. His blood started to boil, and his gaze became enflamed.

‘Hahahaa I’d almost forgot the thrill of battle, has it really been so long.’ Bruno had forgotten why he’d become an adventurer in the first place, fame, money, and power! He’d been forcibly employed by Adam for so long that he forgot this feeling of testing your strength against powerful foes such as monsters. And in Frost’s case he wasn’t exactly far off, he could be considered a type of monster.

Taka just looked over at his now smiling companion as though he was as insane as Frost.

‘We’re likely going to die and you’re laughing your head off, and does this guy get off of killing?’ Taka struggled to understand the two of them, but his fears and depression were now gone.

“Oh well if we’re going to die might as well go out with a bang.” Taka raised his bow and once again pointed it a Frost.

“Well said” Bruno smiled in response and banged his hammer against his metal shield preparing to charge at Frost.

Frost wasn’t one to take his time, seeing that the two of them seemed to understand his excitement caused his smile to widen.

He twirled his glaive around before resuming his rushing attack, he didn’t bother with using chakra to make ice amour this time. He simply rushed towards Bruno with his glaive looking to trade blows.

“[ice bolt]”

With his left hand Frost deftly cast a spell sending a bolt of ice towards Taka forcing him to roll away, preventing him from launching another arrow his way.

“Bring it on!” Bruno smiled and rushed towards Frost willing to go blow for blow.

Swiiing

Bang

Frost’s glaive cleaved from the side and was met with Bruno’s shield causing an intense vibration, but Bruno held on, he stopped Frost’s swing and struck with his hammer aiming for Frost’s shoulder.

In response Frost pulled back his glaive and blocked the hammer with its shaft before he pushed forward with both hands knocking Bruno off balance giving him an opening to attack.

Screech!

The moment Frost was about to bring down his glaive against Bruno’s chest he was forced to pull back thanks to Taka’s timely arrow.

“Tsk” Frost clicked his tongue in annoyance. He couldn’t take care of Bruno as long as that archer was there to bail him out. Nor could he easily take out Taka without Bruno rushing to bar his path. Dealing with two strong opponents at a time was difficult.

It was the first time he was in such a situation, Maya only summoned one golem for practise leaving him lacking in experience.

“Yahhhhh” while he was zoned out in thought Bruno yelled and charged at him with his hammer raised high.

Dongg!

Frost evaded the strike causing the hammer to smash into the floor, generating cracks. This was followed by another arrow, but Frost simply smashed it with his glaive before casting another ice bolt. It was a shame he couldn’t cast more ice bolts otherwise he’d be able to pin Taka down, but Bruno never gave him a chance to cast more than one spell. Their teamwork was quite impressive.

With Taka evading another ice bolt he prepared to fire another arrow towards Frost whenever Bruno required aid. Given that his strongest skill [piercing arrow] failed to cause any significant damage and the fact that he had finite ammunition Taka settled into the role of support. Bruno would have to be the one to take the primary assault role.

Frost deflected another blow from Bruno without much difficulty but couldn’t move to take advantage due to the looming threat from Taka.

‘This is difficult.’ Frost wasn’t in too much danger of dying or even receiving too much damage however this wasn’t the only fight he was to take part in. Who knows how many more goons lay beyond this room and then there was Adam himself. Frost had a strong feeling that the Baron wouldn’t be an easy opponent.

This battle with Bruno and Taka was purely one of enjoyment and learning but he couldn’t waste too much of his energy. The wise decision would be to fight a battle of attrition given the fact that Taka only had a set number of arrows, and his stamina was likely greater than Bruno’s. Bruno required more energy to ward of his attacks than Frost required to do for his.

Leo and the rest would mostly likely arrive shortly as well, given Ryuu and Bastion’s abilities the battle would quickly end with their aid, but Frost didn’t want that. This was his fight, and he was enjoying it, he wouldn’t share.

Swiiing

Whooooosh

Frost swung his glaive once more at Bruno only to receive another arrow heading for his right hand forcing himself to pull back. He wasn’t adept enough with his chakra to create an armour of ice over his arm in anticipation of an arrow, another quality he was lacking. The more his struggle with Bruno and Taka went on the more he understood Maya’s worry.

Although his strength was roughly entry C-rank, he severely lacked the experience to utilise it effectively, he also lacked knowledge about the skills his foes may have access to.