BXBX NOVEL Chapter 170 Combat Exam (11)
Swish...
As I propelled myself toward the edge of the hollow, the wind roared in my ears, drowning out everything else. My heart pounded in rhythm with each footfall, a mixture of exhilaration and madness fueling my actions.
My thoughts raced, a cascade of doubts and excitement intertwining.
"I'm so fucking dumb!"
The thought flashed through my mind, a split second of doubt that was quickly overtaken by the determination that had driven me this far. Fear and excitement coiled within me, a potent mix that made my heart race even faster.
The Rune-enchanted rocks were clenched tightly in my hand, and as I fell through the air, I released them one by one in rapid succession. The projectiles streaked toward the Frostfire Tiger below, leaving trails of light against the backdrop of white snow.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions erupted in a sequence of powerful blasts, the sound tearing through the air like thunder. The Frostfire Tiger, sensitive to the sudden noise, let out a roar of pain and anger.
Roar...
The ground shook beneath its massive form as it reacted to the unexpected assault.
My descent continued, and with a surge of adrenaline, I adjusted my body's position. My free hand gripped the hilt of my longsword, readying it for the confrontation that awaited me.
As I neared the Frostfire Tiger, my heart pounded with a mixture of exhilaration and trepidation. The creature's icy blue eyes locked onto me, its instincts recognizing me as a threat. It bared its sharp teeth, a mix of anger and pain in its gaze.
Boom...
I slammed into the beast's side with a force that jolted through my body. My sword met its target, sinking into the Frostfire Tiger's fur with a satisfying impact. The clash of steel against fur reverberated in the air, the sound merging with the echoes of the explosions.
For a moment, I thought I had the upper hand. But then, the creature's massive paw swung toward me, a sudden and powerful movement that I barely had time to register.
Thud...
The impact was like hitting a wall of solid rock. My body was slammed, the force of the collision jarring every bone. Pain lanced through me as my body shook from the sudden hit, my grip on the sword faltering.
"Ughh..."
My body flung through the air like a ragdoll, crashing into the icy ground with a resounding thud.
It felt like I was hit by a speeding truck, the force of the impact leaving me dazed and struggling to catch my breath.
My arm that took the full force of the blow screamed with agony, throbbing with intense pain.
However, I quickly drank a Health Potion from my Spatial Ring before the Tiger could even strike again, replenishing some of my vitality and numbing the pain.
Grrr...
The Frostfire Tiger growled in frustration as it realized its attack hadn't been enough to finish me.
Its massive body stood up from the platform and stretched its massive frame, muscles rippling under its fur.
The monster's sheer aura made my legs tremble under pressure.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
I threw another set of rocks toward the Tiger and as soon as they hit the beast's body, they exploded in a burst of flames and smoke.
Roar...
The Frostfire Tiger let out a deafening roar, a mix of fury and pain echoing through the air.
The sound was too immense, making the tiger thrash furiously and using its paws to cover the sensitive area of its ears, trying to drown out the noise.
Zing...
Suddenly a Mana arrow whizzed through the air and struck the Frostfire Tiger's hind leg, causing it to stumble and lose its balance momentarily.
Roar...
The tiger roared in anger and frustration, its muscles tensing as it regained its composure.
It seems that Katarina still hasn't abandoned me.
Grrr...
However, before I could even react, the Tiger opened its massive jaws, revealing sharp fangs gleaming with icy frost.
"Shit..."
Whoosh...
Suddenly a powerful frost breath erupted from the Tiger's mouth, making me jump out of its way unless I wanted to be frozen solid in an instant.
The icy breath billowed forth from the Frostfire Tiger's jaws, freezing the ground where I had stood just moments ago. I scrambled to evade the frost, my heart racing as the danger became even more palpable.
The air was frigid, the chill seeping into my bones as I fought to stay one step ahead of the creature's deadly attack. The Tiger's roar of frustration echoed in my ears, a constant reminder that I was facing a force of nature far beyond my own.
I needed a plan, a way to turn the tide of this battle in my favor. The Rune-enchanted rocks had proven effective, but they were a finite resource. The Frostfire Tiger was wounded, but it was far from defeated. I couldn't rely solely on brute force to defeat it.
Swish...
As I dodged the freezing breath, I noticed a pattern in the Tiger's movements. It was wounded, and it was becoming more predictable in its attacks. I needed to exploit that predictability and find a way to land a decisive blow when the opportunity presented itself.
Gritting my teeth, I summoned my Mana once again, channeling it into my sword. With a deep breath, I lunged toward the Frostfire Tiger, my blade gleaming with determination. The creature was momentarily distracted by its own attack, giving me the opening I needed.
Swish...
My strike was swift and fierce, aimed at a vulnerable spot on the Tiger's flank. The blade met fur and flesh, and for a moment, I felt a surge of triumph. But the creature was quick to react, its massive paw swiping at me with blinding speed.
Thud...
The force of the blow sent me sprawling, the impact knocking the wind from my lungs. Pain radiated through my body, a reminder of the immense strength of the Frostfire Tiger. I struggled to catch my breath, my vision swimming as I fought to regain my footing.
But there was no time to rest. The Tiger was already recovering, its icy breath building once again. With a burst of adrenaline, I forced myself to my feet and sprinted in the opposite direction, narrowly avoiding the freezing attack.
My mind raced as I assessed my options. The Tiger's movements were growing sluggish, its hind leg wound taking a toll on its agility. I needed to keep it off balance and find a way to keep it on the defensive.
Tap...
With a swift motion, I grabbed a handful of the explosive rocks from my pocket. I hurled them toward the Frostfire Tiger, creating a series of explosions that rocked the platform.
Roar...
The creature roared in pain and frustration, its movements becoming even more erratic.
Seizing the opportunity, I charged forward once again, sword raised high. The Tiger tried to swipe at me with its paw, but its movements were slower, its reflexes dulled by the explosions. My strike landed true, the blade sinking deep into its side.
Roar...
The Frostfire Tiger let out a guttural roar, a mixture of agony and fury. It thrashed and writhed, trying to dislodge me from its flank. But I held on, my grip on the sword unyielding. This was my chance, my moment to turn the battle in my favor.
As I fought to maintain my hold, Katarina continued to shoot arrows from a distance. But something had changed.
The tiger no longer tried to evade her arrows, instead allowing them to pierce its hide.
Grrr...
For a second I thought it gave up, but I couldn't be further from the truth...
Whoosh...
Mana began to radiate from the Frostfire Tiger, swirling and crackling in the air around it.
It was almost like a bomb had been set to detonate.
"Fuck..."
Jumping back from the creature, I ran as far as I could, dashing behind a large rock for cover.
However, before I could fully take shelter, a blinding explosion erupted from the Frostfire Tiger, engulfing the entire battleground in a swirling vortex of icy flames.
It was a sight to behold, a spectacle of power and destruction, unlike anything I had ever witnessed before.
Before I could even fully slip behind the rock, the explosions managed to reach my legs, freezing them almost instantly.
"Ughh..."
I growled in annoyance, feeling my legs numbing from the freezing blast, but I refused to let it deter me.
Without hesitation, I instantly started drawing a Fire Rune on the ground, which took a few seconds to complete and immediately engulfed my legs in the fire.
I could see my flesh being licked by the intense flames, but the pain was quickly replaced by a surge of adrenaline.
I was slowly regaining the feeling in my legs as the fire rune worked its magic.
Although I was basically burning myself alive for a moment, the pain was worth it.
Grrr...
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the air and I slowly lifted my head upward to see the Frostfire Tiger looming over me with fire still smoldering in its eyes.
"Shit..."