136 The Dwarf's Return and the Yeti's Fall
“……?”
I rubbed my eyes at the sight of Kudran striding toward us. The viewers were just as shocked.
-Huh?
-Wasn't he dead?
-The corpse is walking ;_;
-Call 119, you bastards!
-Buying this ;
“What the……”
“How's he perfectly fine?”
The two adventurers caught on a beat late. But nothing was resolved yet.
Kruk-!
The Yeti, furious at failing to kill its prey, let out a guttural roar from its throat. Its gaze locked solely on Kudran.
Whoosh-!
Suddenly, the Yeti thrust its arm into the air. Kwaddd-!
A long spike of ice formed in its clenched fist—one of its signature moves.
Thud-!
Hanbit kicked off immediately, swinging his sword hard against the oncoming chill.
Kwadddd-!
The cold shot out along the blade's arc, instantly encasing the Yeti's arm—and half its upper body, from the ground to past its shoulder—in ice. The sword's enchantments were proving their worth.
Kruk-!
The beast swiveled its red eyes, glaring at the approaching Hanbit. It raised its opposite fist and smashed down on its own frozen limb.
Bam-!
Kwaaang-!
After a few swings, cracks spiderwebbed through the ice before it shattered. No surprise—a mountain-dweller like this would have cold resistance as a baseline.
Thud-!
Meanwhile, Hanbit circled behind and dove low, slashing at the Yeti's ankle.
Shiiik-!
His focused strike sliced keenly. Even the beast's thick hide couldn't fully block it.
Splatter-!
Kruaaah-!
The Yeti screamed in agony from the sudden pain, but it wasn't enough to hobble its movements.
Kwaagaga-!
Enraged, it swept its arm wildly across the ground. Hanbit, who had pulled back, checked Kudran's position. Despite the earlier hit, the dwarf looked unscathed as he charged in.
That armor?
The silver armor Kudran wore was unfamiliar. Hanbit knew the dwarf's durability from past memories, but it shouldn't have tanked a Yeti blow like that. Clearly top-tier gear.
“Black Dragon! Fall back!”
Jinook's voice rang out from the side, Kevin hot on his heels. Red light flickered along the polearm gripped in both hands—a power-up skill for the weapon.
Whoosh-!
Kevin leaped high and smashed down with full force. The Yeti, sensing the attack, swung its right arm.
Cliiing-!
The clash of tough hide and metal sent shockwaves rippling with a deafening clang.
“Ugh!”
The Yeti didn't budge an inch. Kevin's face twisted from the jolt racing up his arms.
Thud-!
Jinook surged in right after, targeting the legs and ankles just like Hanbit had.
Shwick-!
Splatter-!
His strikes didn't land cleanly, only stoking the Yeti's fury further.
“Haha! This guy's the real deal!”
Kudran, who had arrived unnoticed, wiped sweat from his brow with a grin.
Hanbit eyed him. “How'd you get here? Weren't you fighting with the dwarves?”
“His Highness ordered it! Said you had this handled and to back up Black Dragon! Gave me these shoes too—told me to hustle!”
Kudran pointed at his feet with a booming laugh. From that speed earlier, they had to be speed-boosting magic tools.
-Whoa.
-Support on god mode ;
-Fr, would've been toast without Kudran.
-Yeti fists are bugged af.
Gorik's backup was unprecedented in past loops. The circumstances differed, making it hard to pinpoint why.
“Can you block that thing's attacks?”
“Of course!”
Kudran pulled a shield from his back. And he'd tanked a punch barehanded? It spoke volumes about his desperation to save Hanbit.
Bam-!
Kwaaang-!
The fight between the Yeti and two A-rank adventurers was razor-thin. Time to stick to the plan.
“Kudran, focus purely on defense.”
“Got it!”
Kudran nodded, gripping his shield tight. Hanbit popped a mana potion and extended his hand.
“Fire Lance!”
Fwoosh-!
A fiery spear launched with the incantation, amplified by Element Amplification for extra punch.
Boom-!
It nailed the Yeti's eye dead-on, exploding on impact.
Kruaaaagh-!
The beast thrashed in worse agony than before. Hanbit swallowed his potion and pivoted.
“To the cliff!”
Fwoosh-!
Flames and gusts ignited along Hanbit's charging sword. The trio followed suit.
Kwaaang-!
The pained Yeti swung wildly as it pursued. The eye hit still lingered, but it wouldn't last.
Kwaddd-!
As it closed in, it formed another ice spike in its hand and hurled it at Hanbit.
Whoosh-!
The ice hurtled with gale force. Kudran intercepted.
Thud-!
Shield up, he dashed into its path. The ice struck right after.
Bam-!
A massive impact hurled him back. But this time was different.
Kwaagaga-!
His sturdy legs and shield gouged the ground but held firm to the end. As momentum faded, he rejoined Hanbit's rear.
-Whoa. lol
-Tank's insane ;
-This is what a tank does.
-Meh compared to Mars.
-They're bringing the vanguard. lol
-Yeah, got wrecked by Snow Drake, right?
Comparisons to the vanguard aside, Kudran was solid for defense.
Thud thud-!
Flames and winds built steadily along the sword amid the pursuit.
“So what's the plan? Can't kill this thing.”
Kevin, running abreast, glanced back at the rampaging beast.
Once the eye pain cleared, it'd only speed up.
“We're killing it. Otherwise, it'll chase forever.”
Yetis didn't let prey escape—even across cities.
“Cliff's coming up!”
Jinook called ahead. The dense forest gave way to the sheer drop.
At that, the Yeti reverted to form.
Bam-!
It leaped high, slamming both hands into the ground. Muscles bulged.
Kwadddd-!
A massive ice wall erupted at the forest edge.
“What the……!”
“It has tricks like that too?”
Retreat sealed, the adventurers' faces hardened. Hanbit halted and turned.
“You two hit the legs, draw its eyes.”
“Dunno if it'll work, but worth a shot.”
“Got it.”
Kevin and Jinook readied weapons with nods. The dwarf beside them had the same role.
“Kudran, just block the big hits.”
“Understood!”
His hearty reply boomed back. Hanbit, using Element Amplification, downed another mana potion.
Fwoosh-!
Flames and winds surged from his sword, buildup complete. Time to face it.
Thud-!
The Yeti yanked its hands free and stomped forward, shaking the earth. With retreat blocked, it looked triumphant.
“Here we go.”
Thud-!
Hanbit launched ahead. The Yeti grabbed a nearby boulder with one hand and chucked it.
Whoosh-!
The rock screamed toward him—threatening. But Hanbit didn't dodge.
Thud-!
Kudran beat him to it, shield forward. Collision followed.
Kwaaang-!
Shards exploded amid thunderous impact. Kudran reeled but planted his legs to endure.
Thud thud-!
Hanbit closed in unhindered, aiming for the solar plexus—the uneven muscle's weak spot.
Whoosh-!
The Yeti punched at the intruder. Then the adventurers hit its legs.
Kwaaang-!
Splatter-!
Glowing polearm smash and yellow-slashed sword. Small but real damage. They ducked behind trees and rocks.
Kruk-!
The nagging strikes enraged it. The duo kept hit-and-run pressure.
Shwick-!
Kwaaang-!
But the Yeti had chosen: the strongest foe first.
Suuuu-!
It inhaled deeply, chest ballooning. Breath attack incoming.
Thud-!
The pair lunged for the legs again. Then—
Kwaaaa-!
A storm of frost blasted from its maw.
“Ugh!”
Jinook and Kevin bailed from the wide AoE freeze.
Kwaddd-!
It iced a broad swath. The Yeti looked pleased, lifting its gaze.
But.
Kruk-!
Its main target was gone.
Whoosh-!
It whipped its head around, hunting. Any movement would register.
Shh-!
A faint rustle from above. It ripped frozen rock and hurled it there.
Then—
Thud-!
Footsteps from elsewhere.
Kruk-!
Instinct swung its fist back. But the sensation was off.
Claaang-!
Hard metal rebounded a small figure. Flames scattered in overlap.
Fwoosh-!
Hanbit struck the chest with scorching gale.
Releasing this power would waste it. Had to bury it deep.
Both hands gripped full force.
Kwadduk-!
Blade pierced white fur and hide. The Yeti swung to crush—but too late.
Kwaagaga-!
Inner flames and winds ravaged and detonated.
Hide and fur meant nothing.
Kruaaaah-!
Eyes rolled back in searing pain as it lurched forward.
Craaack-!
Bam-!
Trees and rocks shattered. Stumbling steps reached its own ice wall.
Kwaagaga-!
Fist pulverized it.
Drip-!
Hanbit, clinging to the charred chest, twisted the embedded blade.
Kruuugh-!
The Yeti flailed to dislodge it, sloppy now. Death's shadow loomed in blurring vision.
Hanbit gripped the hilt two-handed, activating Attribute Manifestation and Element Amplification.
Kwaddd-!
Mana-fueled frost erupted, flash-freezing the flame-torn insides.
Kruh……
Powerless, it tilted. Hanbit yanked the sword free, kicked the chest, and leaped back.
Sliide-!
Fully unconscious, the Yeti plummeted off the cliff.
A clear chime rang in Hanbit's ears as he landed.
Ding-!
[Main Quest #12 completed.]