Chapter 179: Chapter 178: Approaching Death

The gigantic Skeleton roared as it pursued them. The group could only watch helplessly as the creature shrugged off their continuous Cantrips and closed the distance.

Amidst the scattering snowflakes, Ale chanted a magic Spell.

A patch of grease created by the spell immediately appeared under the Frost Giant Skeleton’s feet.

The moment the Skeleton stepped onto it, it began flailing its limbs, trying to keep its balance. Although its movements looked clumsy and comical, after struggling for a moment, it actually seemed to have regained its footing.

’I can’t let you get away with that...’ Colin made a hand gesture.

[Silver Light Sharp Words]

A silver light flashed above the Giant Skeleton’s head. Its newly-regained balance was broken once more, and the massive creature pitched headfirst into a snowdrift, sending up plumes of white powder.

The impact alone seemed to make the entire ground tremble.

"That did it! There’s no way it can catch up now, right?!" Colin shouted.

"Hah... villains who defy the Gods..."

A sharp, grating sound suddenly came from the direction of the Giant Skeleton.

A blue light flickered in its hollow eye sockets, and a visible path of blue light extended from them to a point behind Colin.

"AWOOO!"

A pained howl suddenly came from one of the sled dogs up ahead, and the sled’s Speed jolted to a near-stop.

Colin looked ahead.

The lead sled dog, Pepe, now enveloped in the blue light, was covered in a layer of white frost. The poor creature collapsed to the ground, seemingly paralyzed, forcing the other sled dogs to drag its body as they tried to move forward.

The sled’s Speed dropped drastically because of this, and it soon slowed to a halt.

The other sled dogs gathered around their leader, nudging it with their noses as if that alone could make Pepe get up again.

Orelia quickly jumped down beside the sled dogs.

"How is he?" Colin asked.

"His injuries are severe. I’ll have to use a Divine Art to get him running again."

’Do we have to use a Divine Art?’ Colin glanced back. Not far away, the Frost Giant Skeleton had already picked itself up and was starting to charge toward them.

Sensing his hesitation, Ale spoke up. "This ability is very similar to that of the legendary evil Snowman. It probably can’t affect the same target twice in a short period, but it can definitely attack the other sled dogs!"

Colin’s heart sank at her words.

’Use a Divine Art to save a dog? Even if we save this one, what happens if the Giant Skeleton attacks another? Divine Arts are our best weapon against the Undead. What will we do if we use them all up?’

"Get going first," Kase said, jumping off the sled.

With a swing of his axe, he severed the harness on Pepe, then hoisted the sled dog onto the sled. Seeing this, Orelia quickly scrambled back on as well.

The Half-Orc pulled the sled forward, giving it a running start.

’We couldn’t seem to shake that Giant Skeleton with six dogs, so how can we possibly manage with only five? And that Skeleton Legion in the distance hasn’t turned back either; they’re still closing in. If we get caught, we’re finished!’

Colin’s mind was racing, and he could only vaguely hear Kase shouting something.

’Ever since that Giant Skeleton appeared, it feels like every choice we’ve made has been the wrong one.’

"Mister Kase!"

Orelia’s shout snapped Colin out of his thoughts.

He quickly looked forward, and his heart skipped a beat.

Kase was nowhere to be seen in the driver’s seat.

Looking back, he saw the Half-Orc charging toward the Frost Giant Skeleton on the snowy slope.

Countless snowflakes, as large as goose feathers, fell around him, blurring his retreating figure.

In the distance stood the Frost Giant Skeleton, twice his height, holding a Battle Axe the size of a door.

Even farther away was an army of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of ancient Skeletons. Their Square Shields were arrayed like a solid wall, their Long Spears rising like a forest.

The Half-Orc was wearing only thick furs, holding nothing but his Insect Shell Shield and a Battle Axe. The huge pile of weapons and the money pouch he usually carried were all left on the sled.

’That stupid Orc, what does he think he can do all by himself?!’

Colin was angry, but as he thought it over, a cold realization surfaced from the depths of his mind.

Kase was right.

After having stopped, the sled couldn’t possibly pick up enough Speed to shake the Giant Skeleton. But if someone could just hold the creature back long enough for the sled to get out of its attack range, the rest of the party could escape to safety.

One life in exchange for three. In Kase’s eyes, at least, it was a worthy trade.

But...

’Kase... my foolish brother...’

’At the very least, I have to pull him back,’ Colin’s thoughts were a tangled mess. ’But can I even get him back?’

He quickly jumped off the sled.

Orelia and Ale jumped down right after him, and they all ran toward Kase together.

Between the sled moving forward and the Half-Orc’s charge, a distance of over ten meters had already opened up between them.

"Go on, get out of here! Take our tribe south!" Kase shouted from ahead. "Thank you for always stickin’ with me! Thank you for comin’ all this way with me!"

The moment he finished speaking, he reached the massive Frost Giant.

BOOM!

The Giant’s Giant Axe came crashing down, and the layer of snow on the ground exploded into a cloud of white mist.

Through the hazy white mist, they could faintly make out the figure of Kase striking back with his Battle Axe.

"Kase!" Colin yelled, trying to call him back.

The words had barely left his mouth when the Giant Skeleton took a step back and brought its Giant Axe down once more.

The cloud of snow kicked up this time was even larger than before.

The wind from the weapon’s swing blew the falling snowflakes into Colin’s face. A moment later, with a loud CRACK, half of the Insect Shell Shield flew through the air and slammed into the ground not far in front of him.

’The Shield broke?’ 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

’Kase... is dead?’

A cold, almost absurd feeling of emptiness seized Colin.

’Winter Wolf, Carrion Insect, Yenogu the Poison Fang... Kase, who had escaped death with me time and time again, just died here like this? I’m not dreaming, am I? Am I still asleep back in the cave?’

No!

That’s not right.

’The Shield must have just broken, that’s all. Yes, that’s what happened.’

’I have to get Kase back. His arm is probably broken, too. I’ll drag him back, and we can reattach his arm after we get out of here. Yes, that’s what I have to do.’

Colin drew his Giant Sword and put on his Helmet.

Though the Magic Net around him was as chaotic as his thoughts, it still answered his call, helping Colin maintain his Sword Dance.

"O lost wanderer of winter, I bid you look to the sky..."

Orelia’s voice came from behind him, the prayer she was chanting vastly different from her usual ones.

Colin then noticed a faint golden light appear on his body. The feeling was different from a Devout Shield; it had to be the Power of the Lost Wanderer’s Holy Emblem.

After she finished, Orelia spoke again.

"O Morninglord, may your radiance shelter this man."

Colin could feel the faint light emanating from his body grow stronger.

A Devout Shield, much like other Magic such as Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, requires the Caster to concentrate to maintain it. Once the user’s focus is broken, the spell itself will end.

Colin said, "Just support me from the rear."

"Alright, Mister Colin..." Orelia’s voice sounded strained.