Chapter 38: The Trial of the Ice Giant
2015-05-26
Author: Floating Tower of All Beings
Demigod Giant.
Special life forms of elemental nature, essentially all beings referred to as “giants” among the four elements possess divinity. However, the most active elements are fire and wind; in most cases, adventurers encounter Wind Giants more frequently. They are also the most interesting of the giants, as Wind Giants enjoy asking others questions or presenting problems to test them. If you can answer the Wind Giant’s question correctly, you might gain its help or even rewards.
This holds true regardless of good or evil, as elemental giants generally lean toward neutrality.
In this world exist some special legendary artifacts.
They may be magical bottles or divine lamps, which contain sealed or trapped Demigod Giants. If one can find them, they can control the giants to serve them, but there are corresponding rules.
Elemental life forms possess their own contracts, and Demigod Giants rarely interfere in mortal affairs.
…………..
Is it possible not to fight?
Soren stopped in his tracks upon hearing this, turning to look at the distant Ice Giant, yet he did not approach, as Soren is a very cautious individual.
“Yes.”
He nodded slightly and said, “Honorable Lord Karona Grass! I am the one who freed you!”
The Demigod Giant is very powerful.
Unfortunately, they have fatal weaknesses; they can be restrained by certain special means, which has driven many legendary spellcasters to attempt to confine these giants.
The Ice Giant before him seems to be one that is sealed!
Soren carefully observed it. Among Demigod-level enemies, the most difficult to deal with is the Demigod Lich. Although the challenge difficulty of elemental giants is much lower than that of Demigod Liches, they are still legendary beings with a biological level above 24. (You must ascend to legend to become a Demigod.)
“Very well.”
Karona Grass rotated its massive body and frowned as it looked around. In a deep voice, it said, “I do not like the material plane. Mortal! I shall soon return to the elemental world; are you ready to accept my trial?”
Trial?
Soren was momentarily stunned, then asked, “What trial?”
Karona Grass gazed at Soren and said in a low voice, “Even though you have freed me, I cannot allow you to take the elemental crystal casually, nor can I reward you in violation of the contract.”
“Every seal has its day of unsealing.”
“The one who unseals must pass a trial to take it away! Of course, you can try to escape! However, doing so means you must defeat me according to the contract.”
At this point, the Ice Giant raised its hand and pointed forward, and Soren saw the ice and snow in the distance crack, instantly turning into a massive avalanche, blocking the exit of the valley. The scene before him made Soren’s gaze turn serious because had he fled just now, he could have been buried in the snow, though it wouldn’t have threatened his life. However, the escape plan was likely foiled.
“Alright.”
The Demigod Giant Karona Grass frowned as it looked at the sun, then said, “Mortal! I do not have much time to waste, so prepare to accept my trial now.”
“I will pose some questions to you!”
“Please choose your answers wisely, as they will determine what you will face next.”
It stared at Soren, its voice deep, “So! Mortal! If you are trapped in a dungeon and see a button before you, pressing it will save you, but an innocent person will die.”
“What will you choose?”
Soren furrowed his brow at these words, glancing at the Ice Giant. He said solemnly, “I will press it.”
“Very good.”
Karona Grass nodded, uncertain if it was satisfied or dissatisfied, and then asked, “Because you pressed the button, an innocent person dies. However, while you escaped the dungeon, you encountered an immensely powerful demon that you cannot defeat. In other dungeons, you found your past companions. Combining everyone’s strength, you might be able to defeat this powerful demon, but it’s more likely that you will all die here. Yet, you can also coax others to help hold back the demon while, as a wanderer, you can easily escape.”
“What will you choose?”
Soren’s brows knitted even deeper. He had pressed a hand to the hilt of Icebane without realizing it and then said earnestly, “I will choose to fight.”
The Ice Giant’s smile became somewhat playful.
It raised its hand and waved, and a twenty-sided die floated into view, showing numbers ranging from 1 to 20. Karona Grass looked at Soren and said, “Do you know the war game from the Arcane Empire era?”
“To defeat an enemy that is nearly impossible to conquer, you must possess absolute luck.”
The die, made of ice, spun rapidly.
Then, with a snap, it fell to the ground, and the numbers rolled before finally landing on 20.
“Looks like Lady Luck is on your side!”
Karona Grass’s expression was somewhat indifferent, continuing with a low voice. “Congratulations! You have slain this immensely powerful demon, and you and your companions have been saved, and as a reward for defeating the demon, you have received a significant amount of wealth.”
The Ice Giant waved its hand gently.
Before him appeared a dimensional pocket, and soon, azure gemstones fell from within, exactly twenty in total, all laid out before Soren.
The Demigod Giant glanced at the astonished Soren, a playful expression on its face, “Mortal! These are Ice Crystals from the elemental plane, a rare and precious gem, and your well-deserved reward.”
“However!”
At this point, Karona Grass paused for a moment and continued in a deep voice, “Everything is not over yet.”
“As you defeated this powerful demon, you discovered that the dungeon is a very complex maze. Beside the demon’s corpse, you saw something that came from the most important person in your heart.”
“The person you care about the most seems to be trapped in the dungeon as well!”
Soren’s expression changed slightly, while the Demigod Ice Giant’s expression remained playful, its voice deep, “You are prepared to enter the dungeon again to find the person who matters the most to you.”
“However, your team is experiencing a divide.”
“Some companions, after the entirely luck-based fight they just experienced, believe they should leave here instead of putting everyone at risk for one person.”
“Half of them support you, willing to follow you back into the dungeon.”
“The other half oppose you, preparing to leave in search of a safe exit.”
“Just at this moment, a demon’s apparition appears, using insidious words to accuse you. It tells the others that your initial plan was to let them out to delay the demon, and then prepare to run away yourself.”
“Your companions believed it.”
“Because the demon’s words are so beguiling, you eventually become isolated, and your companions decide to leave.”
“At this moment.”
“What will you choose? Will you search for the exit of this dungeon maze with them? Or will you return to the dark and dangerous cave to search for the most important person to you who could be trapped here?”
Soren looked up at the Demigod Ice Giant and without the slightest hesitation said, “I will choose to return and search for the most important person to me.”
As soon as he finished speaking.
The Demigod Wind Giant nodded its head, then waved its hand, causing some monster apparitions to appear out of thin air.
“Very good.”
Karona Grass continued in a deep voice, “You chose to return deep into the dungeon. Your companions went to search for an exit to escape.”
“It is quite dangerous here.”
“Because you just encountered a demon that you could hardly defeat. Soon, you will face a new enemy!”
“A strong Minotaur warrior!”
The light of magic glimmered.
The Demigod Ice Giant seemed to cast some kind of summoning spell, revealing an abyssal apparition before it, and then a robust Minotaur wearing armor, standing three meters tall, appeared, wielding a battle axe weighing over 300 pounds. Upon appearing, it let out a furious roar at Soren and swung its massive axe toward him.
“Unfortunate.”
Karona Grass’s expression seemed quite interested as it continued with a low, almost commentary-like voice, “What you face is a Minotaur from the Bottomless Abyss. It may not be as powerful as the first demon, but it is still quite difficult to handle.”
Rumbling!
The ice on the ground shattered as the battle axe struck. Soren leapt to avoid the enemy’s attack, simultaneously drawing the curved blade Icebane.
This trial seems to have become a bit interesting!
In his past memories, only a few Demigod Giants seemed capable of turning simple questions into situations like this, and one of them seemed to have “Nagus” in its name.
Clang!
Soren blocked the attack of the abyss Minotaur with his blade, being pushed back three steps by the immense force. Then, he spun and slashed, scoring a mark on the Minotaur’s sturdy armor.
Biological level exceeds 15!
This is a demonized Minotaur brought over by some medium to high-tier summoning spell. There are many such Minotaurs in the Bottomless Abyss, as one of the most powerful demon lords is a Minotaur.
Roar!
A deep, rumbling roar sounded.
The abyss Minotaur stomped the ground, creating a shockwave that ravaged the surroundings. It then locked onto Soren’s position with its crimson eyes and once again swung its heavy battle axe toward him.
—”Shadow Assassination!”
—”Sword Intent [Decapitation]!”
A cold light flashed in Soren’s eyes, and his figure suddenly dove upward, appearing like a phantom before the curved blade Icebane swept across the Minotaur’s throat.
Thud!
A headless corpse fell to the ground as Soren stood still, expressionless as he sheathed his blade.
………….. (To Be Continued ~^~)
