Book 1 Chapter 703

703.

Chloe's unique magic.

Fimbulvetr engulfed the orc settlement.

Kyaaaak!

Keaaa!

The sudden cold snap made the orcs scream.

"Humans! Humans! Kyaaak!"

"It's a human attack!"

Despite an immense number of orcs freezing to death instantly, the orcs' response was calm.

"Human mage! It's difficult to use such magic multiple times!"

Orc warriors took the lead, swinging their axes and commanding the orcs.

"Surround! Surround!"

With a roar, the orcs formed a encirclement in an instant.

Not only that, but archer orcs approached, aiming their arrows in the direction the magic had come from.

'This is no ordinary orc settlement.'

Leo narrowed his brows.

It was an orc settlement experienced in battle.

'The mere existence of an Orc Shaman King means they are the elite of the orcs.'

An Orc Shaman King is not just someone who wields powerful dark magic.

As befits the name 'King,' they possess strong leadership.

An orc settlement led by an Orc Shaman King is no different from a single powerful army.

'Well, it won't matter in front of Chloe, though.'

Despite the orcs closing in, Chloe calmly prepared her next spell.

With Leo holding the front, the orcs would never reach Chloe.

Of course, Chloe wasn't calm solely because Leo was there.

The situation where they were being surrounded was actually even better.

Ka-ga-ga-gak-!

The ground Chloe stood on began to freeze solid.

Not just the ground.

The very air froze.

The rain that had been falling like ice pellets had turned into hail.

This area alone felt like mid-winter.

Not just any winter, but a winter reminiscent of the harsh cold of the northern continent's heart.

"Hoo."

Leo exhaled, and white mist like smoke emerged.

Chloe, who had been concentrating on the magic array with her eyes closed, opened them.

With a face like an ice sculpture, Chloe gazed at the horde of orcs.

"Ice World."

Her unique magic, her signature, was complete.

The torrential rain further amplified Chloe's already powerful magic.

The roaring orcs froze in an instant.

Seeing that, Chloe struck the ground with her staff.

Clang!

The orcs, turned into ice statues, shattered simultaneously.

"It's over."

Chloe looked at Leo.

Leo brushed off the thin layer of ice clinging to his body.

"You look cold?"

"Whose fault is that?"

Seeing Leo glare, Chloe giggled.

"It's cold. Let's move to the next area."

"Alright."

As Chloe nodded with a bright smile at the grumbling Leo.

Tzereok-!

The sound of ice cracking was heard.

Leo and Chloe stopped walking.

Chaengrang-!

An ice fragment broke among the frozen orcs.

Chloe looked at the Orc Shaman King with a puzzled expression.

"It seems the power wasn't enough to defeat the Orc Shaman King in one go."

Chloe wore a serious expression.

"Should I increase the power further?"

"It seems sufficient already?"

"Huh? Isn't it insufficient?"

Chloe blinked with an innocent face.

Leo clicked his tongue at Chloe.

'This is why mages are like this.'

Mages tend to be obsessed with the power of magic.

Because of this, it's not uncommon to see them add all sorts of power-boosting arrays to even ordinary spells without considering the spell's balance, maximizing its power.

'Luna was like that too.'

The reason mages are obsessed with the power of magic is simple.

'Because they can.'

In their obsession with power, it's not rare for their spells to reach a level where they harm allies.

Of course, a truly insane mage wouldn't harm their allies.

The problem arises in situations like this, when they are paired up with just one other person.

'Kyle wouldn't die from this.'

Saying that, Luna would often unleash her power limit when paired with me.

And Chloe's eyes right now were just like Luna's when she said that.

"I really should increase the power… What are you doing?!"

Chloe swatted away Leo's hand pinching her cheek and covered it with her hand.

Leo said, looking at Chloe, whose face was flushed red with protest.

"I'll handle it, so you just watch."

Chloe showed a slightly displeased expression at his words, but she soon stepped back obediently.

Thump-

Leo stepped forward, treading on the frozen ground.

'Speaking of which, it's strange.'

Leo glared at the Orc Shaman King.

An Orc Shaman King in this era is a rare anomaly.

However, 5,000 years ago, Orc Shaman Kings were not uncommon.

Thus, Leo had ample experience hunting Orc Shaman Kings.

As far as Leo knew, even though an Orc Shaman King is a powerful monster, it shouldn't be able to withstand Chloe's magic.

Yet, the Orc Shaman King before him was alive.

'It doesn't even look like it took a significant blow.'

He felt a sense of unease.

Screech-

Leo drew his sword.

At that moment.

Thump-!

The Orc Shaman King struck the ground with its staff.

At that moment.

Tzere-tzere-tzereok-!

Dragon heads shot up from the ground.

An ice dragon with its mouth agape lunged at Leo.

Fwoooosh-!

Schwing-!

The ice dragon was split in half and instantly turned into water, pouring down like a waterfall.

'Was it a creature that wielded ice attributes?'

That would somewhat explain its immunity to Chloe's magic.

However, Leo's sense of unease did not dissipate.

Chloe's ice magic was so potent that even Luna spoke of it as special.

Even a creature wielding ice attributes should be surprised to withstand it.

Fwoooosh-

Leo increased the power of his flames.

The frozen ground began to melt.

Goooooo-

Immense heat pressed down on the Orc Shaman King.

Heat that would turn one to ash just by being nearby.

As Leo aimed his sword at the Orc Shaman King, the heat intensified.

At that moment.

Goooooo-

The chilling aura emanating from the Orc Shaman King grew stronger.

It instantly pushed back Leo's flames.

As Leo's shoulders twitched.

Tzere-tzere-tzere-tzereok-!

The ground around the Orc Shaman King began to freeze.

Leo jumped.

At that moment.

Ziiing-!

Snowflake-shaped ice fragments began to spin around Leo like a shield protecting him.

Looking at the ice that showed no sign of melting from Leo's heat, Leo looked at Chloe.

Chloe, sensing that the Orc Shaman King was unusual, had also cast an ice shield.

Leo's red eyes flashed.

Fwoooosh-!

Golden flames enveloped Leo's sword.

It was Dweno's flame, no less.

Schwing-!

Leo's sword split the Orc Shaman King in half.

The Orc Shaman King died instantly.

However, Leo felt a strange sensation.

'The feeling of cutting ice.'

In fact, the body of the Orc Shaman King, split in half, was entirely frozen.

At that moment, Leo felt a chill.

As far as Leo knew, Dweno's flames were those of the King of Phoenixes.

As hot and intense as the flames of the God of Flame.

That's why he could resist and not be consumed by Erebus's flames.

'But why… isn't it melting?'

At that moment.

The eyes of the dead Orc Shaman King rolled around and turned towards Leo.

The moment their gazes met, filled with cold hatred.

Leo didn't hesitate and ran towards Chloe.

"Leo. What…"

Chloe, who had a bewildered expression, widened her eyes as Leo pulled her into an embrace.

Leo summoned his obsidian cloak and wrapped himself in it.

Poof-!

At that moment, the Orc Shaman King's body exploded.

An immense cold blast swept from its center.

Chloe, who had her eyes tightly shut, cautiously opened them.

Then, she took a breath.

Before her eyes was a familiar pair of red eyes.

"Are you okay?"

Leo's face was close enough to feel his breath.

Chloe, her eyes wide with surprise, nodded.

"I'm okay."

Leo chuckled at Chloe's reply and stood up.

Whoooooooosh-!

With him, a blizzard swept in.

It felt like arriving in a snow-covered mountain in mid-winter.

"What is this…?"

As Chloe looked surprised, Leo brushed off the thin layer of ice from his cloak and said.

"It feels like a curse."

"A curse?"

"Yes. I've seen a similar curse before."

Fortunately, the Orc Shaman King's explosion did not cause significant harm to Leo and Chloe.

However, it had a tremendous impact on the surrounding environment.

Leo had seen something similar four times before.

'Of course, the phenomenon was the opposite.'

When Erebus was dealt a heavy blow.

The surrounding area was engulfed in inextinguishable flames of disaster.

The flames of disaster, burning by consuming all nearby mana, could instantly paralyze one's abilities.

'Well, compared to then, this is much better…'

The flames of disaster were at a level that could turn even great heroes into ashes.

But the harsh cold that was now blowing in wasn't enough to freeze one to death.

'But what is this, anyway?'

Leo looked at the blizzard with a stern expression.

Just like when Erebus fled after being injured.

Mana wouldn't move.

But it was clearly different from then, when all the mana had burned away.

Now, the mana was frozen and wouldn't move.

The outcome was the same.

But the phenomenon was completely different.

"Leo, this snow… it's strange."

"What is?"

Turning his head, Chloe, holding the snow accumulated on the ground, wore a bewildered expression.

"It's not melting."

As she said, the handful of snow in Chloe's hand slipped through her fingers like grains of sand.

It didn't melt.

No matter how cold the weather, a person's body heat is sufficient to melt snow.

Leo pondered for a moment after hearing Chloe's words and said.

"Let's find a place to avoid the blizzard for now."

"Okay."

***

Leo and Chloe found a cave not far away.

Upon entering the cave, they felt a slightly stuffy and hot air.

"That's good then."

"What is?"

Chloe shivered and looked at Leo.

Even an ice mage, with their mana frozen, was exposed to the cold.

Thanks to their innate resistance to cold and trained physique, they could endure it, but their stamina and body temperature were significantly drained.

"It seems there's a hot spring inside."

At those words, Chloe's eyes widened, and she looked into the dark interior of the cave.

Leo used the dry branches and leaves scattered around the cave to make a bonfire.

He then made a torch to illuminate the cave and went inside.

As Chloe followed, they saw a steaming hot spring, just as Leo had said.

Chloe's face brightened as she checked the water quality and said.

"No problem! You can get in here and warm up!"

Leo nodded at Chloe's words and said.

"Then take off your clothes and get in."

"Okay. Alrigh-- What?!"

Chloe, startled, looked at Leo.

"What did you just say?"

"I said take them off."

"Why?!"

"Are you going to go in like that?"

"Ah…"

Chloe's face turned red.

Leo clicked his tongue, looking at Chloe.

"What on earth are you imagining?"

"I wasn't imagining anything! I was just surprised because you suddenly told me to undress!"

"Okay, let's assume that."

"Assume that? I'm not!"

Chloe grabbed Leo and shook him violently.

A moment later.

Chloe, hesitating, asked.

"Are… are you going in with me?"

"…"

"No! Why are you looking at me like that! It's because I'd feel bad if I went in alone! S-so! I was just asking in case!"

Leo clicked his tongue as Chloe sputtered with a bright red face.

"Kids these days, really."

"What do you mean by that? And you're a kid these days too!"