I Only Tame Dragons

Chapter 136 Fractured Pride, Frozen Defeat

A deadly silence fell as the attackers realized something was wrong. Frigid's crumbling exterior suddenly seemed unyielding, his HP no longer dropping no matter how much damage they poured into him.

Worse yet, the very air around them seemed to freeze, forming a creeping frost that snaked up their legs and slowed their movements.

"What the hell is this?!" one of the mages shouted, struggling to lift his staff as the frost took hold.

"It's some kind of skill! My attacks aren't doing anything anymore!" another DPS cried out, his strikes bouncing off Frigid's reinforced defenses.

Frigid, now bolstered by a 20% boost to his already monstrous defense, stood unmoved by their efforts. The icy aura around him sent shivers down spines, literally and figuratively, as the attackers found their agility reduced by the chilling effect of the frost.

Von watched from his vantage point within the cave, a smug grin creeping across his face. "Exactly as planned," he muttered under his breath, lining up his next shot through the narrow gap created by Frigid's colossal frame.

Nightshade's confidence wavered as he watched his forces grind to a halt, their attacks ineffective and their movements sluggish. "Keep attacking!" he barked, desperation creeping into his tone. "We've almost got him!"

But the reality was starkly different. Each second that passed only made Frigid's overwhelming presence more apparent. His HP, which had briefly dipped, began to regenerate steadily, aided by Silphie's healing magic that pulsed from within the cave.

The attackers' earlier triumph turned into a nightmare as their mana reserves dwindled and their stamina waned. Worse their weapon's durability lessened by the minute. If their weapons broke, they have spares but they could only bring so much within the 5 slots limit.

Von, meanwhile, took full advantage of the situation. Through the gap, he unleashed a volley of perfectly timed sniper shots, each one finding its mark on the weaker enemies who lagged behind. The first bullet dropped a mage instantly, a clean shot to the head. The second pierced through the chest of a DPS who had barely begun to notice the source of the attack.

"Hey!" Von called out mockingly, his voice carrying over the icy battlefield. "Weren't you going to finish this in a minute? It's been five, and so far, it looks like we're the ones doing all the killing!" His laughter echoed, grating against Nightshade's nerves.

"Damn it!" Nightshade cursed, his fists clenching as he glared at Von's hidden position. The relentless sniping had reduced their numbers even further, and with every loss, their chances of breaking through Frigid's defenses dwindled.

The frost thickened around the battlefield, biting into the attackers' resolve. Frigid, unmoving and undeterred, loomed like an indomitable fortress, his frozen breath curling into the air as if mocking their futile efforts.

"Retreat!" one of Nightshade's subordinates finally shouted, panic overtaking the group.

"No!" Nightshade snapped, his pride unwilling to accept defeat. "We can still—"

But before he could finish, another of Von's bullets found its mark, silencing the protest with ruthless efficiency. The attackers hesitated, their morale shattered, as the frost tightened its grip, sapping their strength and leaving them vulnerable.

By the time Nightshade and his remaining allies realized what was happening, it was too late. Their once-formidable squad had been whittled down to a desperate handful. Only Stormcaller, Kael, Val, and two other guild leaders stood by his side now, their faces etched with exhaustion and despair.

Yet even as the odds turned against him, Nightshade refused to back down. His pride burned hotter than ever, feeding the madness in his eyes. "You think you've won?" he snarled, his voice dripping with venom. "I'll kill every last one of you myself if I have to!"

But Von's voice rang out from the shadows, cold and cutting. "Brave words for a man standing on the edge of defeat."

The battlefield fell silent as Von stepped into the light, his guns glinting with fresh blood. His presence was like a shadow made flesh, commanding fear and respect in equal measure.

Stormcaller's grip tightened around her staff, her knuckles white. Kael muttered a curse under his breath, his gaze darting toward the distant exit they had yet to reach.

Nightshade, however, stood his ground, his pride refusing to let him acknowledge the truth: the battle was lost. He raised his weapon, his voice a rallying cry of defiance. "Then come! Let's see if you have what it takes to finish me!"

Von's smirk widened as he stepped forward, his guns raised in response. "Gladly."

The battlefield was a frozen graveyard, littered with the remnants of shattered weapons, the broken bodies of Nightshade's once-formidable squad, and the fading echoes of their futile resistance.

Von strode forward, his sniper rifle slung across his back and twin pistols now in his hands.

Veilborne's morale had crumbled to dust. The remaining members stood paralyzed, their gazes darting between Von, and Lydia, who moved like a shadow beside him.

Nightshade's defiance, once the fire that fueled his comrades, now seemed more like a desperate spark refusing to die in the face of an unstoppable storm.

Nightshade's breaths came in ragged bursts as he clutched his weapon, his knuckles white with exertion. Blood trickled from a wound on his temple, but his grip didn't falter. His pride refused to let him retreat, even as his allies' resolve shattered around him.

Von's cold, calculating eyes locked onto Nightshade. "This is the end of the line for you," he said, his voice devoid of pity or mercy. The pistols in his hands gleamed, each a harbinger of death. "You should have known better than to challenge us."

Von raised his weapons, the sound of the first shot ringing out like a death knell. Nightshade staggered back as the bullet pierced his shoulder, his weapon clattering to the ground. A second shot followed, striking him in the chest, and he collapsed to his knees, his defiance draining away as blood pooled around him.

"Finish him!" Lydia's voice cut through the icy silence. She moved quickly, her daggers flashing as she dispatched another Veilborne member who tried to charge her.

Inside the cave with Frigid guarding her was Silphie who continued to support Von and Lydia who was fighting outside.