Dungeon of Niflheim

105 Chapter 105: Fighting Adam (2)

Frost frowned as he tried to focus his senses, trying to find any indication of unusual mana disturbance. Adam needed to be receiving mana from somewhere, as long as he found the source, he could stop it. However, focusing one’s attention while in a dangerous high paced battle was easier said than done.

Dong Dong

Frost was suddenly hit by two earth bullets the moment he closed his eyes to sense, quickly knocking him out of his focused state and sending him reeling backward.

“Bleurgh” Frost started coughing and spitting up saliva as he gasped for breath, he was struck on the lungs, very painful. With his eyes bloodshot he stared with anger towards Adam who simply smirked at him before casting more magic.

“[Earth bullet]” he summoned several more earth bullets and started firing them at Frost. He knew exactly what Frost was trying to accomplish and he’d be foolish to allow him to continue.

Along with his highly enchanted robes made from C-rank monster skin, and his almost 4 star staff and short swords, Adam was outfitted with a few handy magic devices. One of which being a mana absorption ring. This ring looked just like any other jewellery, yet it was a well-designed and subtle magic device that discreetly absorbed the mana from the surroundings and funnelled it into the user, refilling their mana levels at a sufficient rate.

Alone this wouldn’t be enough, but all around his vault Adam had strategically placed multiple mana generators that produce a mana rich environment. This wasn’t mainly to aid in battle no that was just a happy coincidence. The main reason for the generator was for the diverse range of items that he had stored here. Some high quality products required this sort of environment too not decompose and or lower in quality.

Even without a mana absorption device people would find the area easy to replenish their mana levels, as long as they were meditating and focusing on absorption. During battle however they would be restricted to their natural regeneration capabilities thus resulting in their current predicament.

Adam had a significant advantage it terms of attrition based combat and he knew it. If Frost successfully located the mana generators or could pinpoint which of his many rings were the mana absorber he’d be in danger. Although he was successfully staving off the group of three’s advances if they started to split up and no longer focus on him, he’d struggle to stop them.

.....

“[Earth bullet] [fire bolt]” Adam continued to fire earth bullets at Frost to prevent him from narrowing down the source of his mana and he fired a bunch of fire bolts at Leo who was attempting to shield charge into his back, successfully thwarting his attempts.

They had however now realised the problem and would use every chance they got to find the source of Adam’s unlimited strength.

‘Tsk this isn’t going to be easy.’ Frost was forced to run in all directions as he dodged the speeding earth bullets launched at him without end. Adam was no longer hiding his obvious unlimited mana and started to cast even he faster. Frost barely managed to evade the bullets let alone move in close for an attack or try to sense the flow of mana.

This did however create an opportunity.

Adam was so wary of Frost that he neglected someone else who could utilise mana, Luna. Whether this was due to sheer arrogance or something that he didn’t have choice in was unknown. Luna was intelligent and knew she was the best hope the group had at levelling the playing field.

Luna sent Frost a look with her eyes basically translating as ‘leave it to me’ allowing Frost to fully engage in evading and attacking, pulling Adam’s entire attention.

Meanwhile she whispered into Leo’s ear who had been sent reeling back to her position by Adam’s fire bolts.

“Keep the pressure on him and protect me whenever you can.” Luna gave Leo his instructions before closing her eyes and sensing the trails of mana within the room. She’d be vulnerable during this time and needed to be free of distractions. The multiple mana generators made the mana thick and difficult to follow flowing streams especially with her meagre abilities.

Frost winked in her direction showing that he understood before going on the offensive once again.

Woosh

A couple earth bullets flew over his head as he ducked, and this time instead of dodging to the side he ran forward straight for Adam, his glaive in front, he’d weather a few blows willingly if it meant he could get up close and personal.

Leo’s eyes opened wide as he witnessed Frost’s actions before he nodded and smiled in understanding, making his own moves.

Moving in concert with Frost but from opposing sides they closed the distance, forcing Adam to focus intently on their movements and completely ignore Luna’s actions. The thick mana also served to work against him in this regard, if he couldn’t see Luna’s actions with his own eyes, he’d struggle to sense it through mana sense.

Smash smash shwing don

Frost used his glaive to shatter two earth bullets sent his way, cleaving another in half, evading one by tilting to the side yet failing to dodge the last, it striking against his chest, but it was predicted. Frost generated a thick layer of ice chakra armour over a small part of his left chest and moved his body so that the earth bullet struck there. It still hurt but at a significantly reduced level, his momentum wasn’t curbed in the slightest and within a second, he was once again before Adam with his glaive raised. He couldn’t care about stamina or risk at the moment.

“Tsk” Adam clicked his tongue and moved to parry the strike with his fire enchanted sword along with an added bonus.

“[Shattering strike]” Frost activated his skill filling his glaive with energy as he cleaved downward.

“[Parry]” with a smirk Adam used his own weapon skill, a defensive skill that enhanced his weapon’s parrying force, similar to a weak version of rampart but on the weapon.

Just before the two skill enhanced weapons were about to strike however, Leo intervened.

“[Shield bash]” Leo activated his own skill, covering his shield in a protective energy and ramming forward right into Adam’s back. It caused little to no damage but did successfully knock him off balance, redirecting Adam’s sword swing ever so slightly.

Shinnnng

With the short sword’s swing direction off target, Frost’s glaive slammed down without much resistance, the short sword merely grinding against the side before being knocked away.

Slice!

“Raahhhhhh” Frost roared as his glaive with still a large amount of momentum cleaved downward, slashing across Adam’s torso.

“Ahhhhh! Bastard!” Adam shouted in pain, a long yet fairly shallow cut opened down his torso. His robes protected his body well, but Frost’s strength and high quality weapon managed to cut through the material and his own body, causing sharp pain. The wound was superficial at best but was still the first wound Adam had received in years and the notion filled him with wrath.

Eye’s growing red Adam swung out in a spin with both his sword and staff.

“[Spinning strike]” using a skill he spun with force pushing Frost and Leo backwards which they were more than happy to do given their recent success however that may not have been the best move.

Not happy with the distance he forced his two assailants back too, Adam channelled his mana to cast a 2nd circle air spell.

“[Shockwave]” Frost and Leo was thus forced back even further; their backs almost reaching the wall. Luna was already at the very back but even so she felt the air pressure but what really shocked her was what was coming next.

With her eyes closed and entirely focused on the flow of the ambient mana she could clearly see now the large amount of mana that Adam was sucking in as well as it’s direction. She found it.

‘A mana absorbing ring.’ She couldn’t however express her joy since from the amount of mana Adam was channelling meant he was about to cast an incredibly powerfully spell.

Luna snapped open her eyes and shouted towards her companions.

“He’s about to cast a 3rd circle spell!” She yelled as fast as she could while hastily creating a quick mana shield, the basic shield spell learned by mages to defend against other magic.

Leo winced and moved as close to Luna as possible, bulwarking himself beside her and activating a special effect of his armour, covering his body in a pseudo mana shield. Leo didn’t have any magic defence skills, so he had to rely on his armour.

Frost however was a little taken back by Leo and Luna’s actions he hadn’t the chance to experience any 3rd circle magic and failed to realise the implications.

3rd circle spells were a cut above those of the 2nd and 1st, far more destructive and impactful. Wherein 1st and 2nd circle spells are considered low level spells 3rd and 4th and consider medium and a dividing threshold between amateur and truly skilled mages. When a mage could use 3rd circle spells, they truly became a powerhouse of any adventuring party.

Unsure on what to expect Frost simply fortified himself the best he could, heavily placing layer upon layer of ice chakra armour over his body ignoring the cost in mana and energy.

Dong

He stabbed his glaive into the floor hoping to assist in blocking whatever was coming his way, his blood boiled in excitement as he felt the mana being summoned by Adam.

With their preparations complete Adam had finished gathering his mana, he’d need to chant an aria for this one.

“[Wind become like twisting blades, slicing those who bar your path, gale force].” With Adam’s words a massive green, complicated magic crest was created beneath his feet before it summoned what appeared to be a mini tornado full of blades of destructive air.

Don

With the tapping of his staff upon the crest the gale force spell spread outward like the shockwave spell but all the more devastating. Before the wind even reached Frost, he could feel the sharp blades and intense pressure bearing down on him. His body was already being pushed backwards and flakes of ice armour starting to be blown off.

‘Shit!’ Frost frowned and his entire body tensed as he braced himself for the oncoming onslaught.

Hooooooowwwwwwl!

The gale force tornado howled and screamed as it expanded and smashed into Frost, Leo, and Luna.

Leo and Luna although the weakest people in the room were the best prepared, with the two of them combining their defence into one solid bulwark along with their heavily enchanted armours braced themselves and bravely fought against the sharp and powerful blades of wind.

Griiiiinnnnddd

It sounded like metal being grinded upon metal as Leo’s shield met the blades of wind, hiding the majority of his and Luna’s bodies behind it, protecting them from most damage however even with their defences, the blades of wind carved gashes into Leo’s shield as well as slicing up his arms and shoulders, drawing blood.

Luna’s mana shield was obliterated pretty quickly but she continued to pump in mana to restore it, with little success. She too started to sport bloody gashes all over her body but that was it, the two of them managed to avoid any fatal or serious wounds. But their robes and armour were quite damaged in the aftermath.

Frost however was not nearly as prepared and had to rely on his superior strength to endure the sharp and intense buffeting. Stabbing his glaive into the floor was the correct choice, otherwise he would have likely been slammed into the back wall.

He buckled down and his body was carved up by the dozens of wind blades, slicing off layers and layers of his ice armour as though it was merely cloth. As the seconds went on, his body was thoroughly carved up by the wind, his entire torso dripping red from his blood. Parts of his hands were cut so deep that bones where showing, and his immaculate face now sported red whiskers from where the residual wind blades passed.

The gale force tornado spell lasted only around 15 seconds, but the damage was evident, Frost was exhausted and in great pain all over his body, the room they were in had deep carvings on the floor and walls, some of Adam’s prized possessions were even destroyed but at this point he didn’t care.