Banished from the herd, I was actually a member of a very rare species. ~With the unique skills that only I can use, I can grow and evolve quickly. I will become an unrivaled monster~ - Episode 149: The One Who Commands the Eternally Unmelting Frozen Sea 6

Episode 149: The One Who Commands the Eternally Unmelting Frozen Sea 6

“([Block]!)”

Immediately after activating my [Weapon Skill], I got hit with the “Freeze”. To be precise, I realized that because the “Freeze” state was released and the scenery skipped, but… well, that detail isn’t important.

“Ruru!?”

“(Yes, I did it!)”

The surface of my white shield was thinly coated with ice after taking hits from dozens of freezing light projectiles, but that was all. Instead of shattering, it hadn’t even cracked. This was partly due to the shield’s inherent durability, but the effect of the [Weapon Skill] that enhances strength was significant too. Normally, [Block] is a [Weapon Skill] that can only be used momentarily, but its effectiveness is high for that very reason. And since it lasts as long as time is frozen, its effect continues during that brief moment.

I had previously worried that I might be the target of “Freeze”. But the fact that [Block] was sustained this time negated that possibility. It’s clear that if my consciousness were interrupted, I wouldn’t be able to maintain my [Weapon Skill].

“Ririri!”

“(Here it comes, [Block]!)”

While my mind continued analyzing, my body didn’t miss the timing I had learned. I activated my [Weapon Skill] just before “Freeze” hit, preparing to catch the light projectiles. However, it seemed the Sea Angel had decided not to recklessly charge straight at me anymore. When “Freeze” was released, it teleported behind me… No, it had simply moved behind me during the time freeze, but it appeared to me like it was instantaneously teleporting.

Due to the time spent moving, I didn’t take many hits from the light projectiles. But that didn’t mean I could be optimistic. If my body temperature kept dropping, the duration of “Freeze” would increase. And eventually, I would take damage.

“([Replicant Form], Five!)”

I created five replicas of the white shield. Including the one I was holding in front, that made six.

“(Cubical Defense Formation!)”

I directed one white shield each towards up, down, left, right, front, and back, forming a cube-like defense. Thanks to my [Clairvoyance], I had no issues with visibility. But in a way, it felt like I had reverted back to my form before {Evolution}. 

Though the white shields resembled tower shields, they were still somewhat rectangular and didn’t quite form a proper cube.

“Rulurara!”

“([Block], Three-Fold!)”

Without delay, “Freeze” came again. I activated [Block] with the white shields directed toward the Sea Angel and in the up and down directions. Normally, my shadows would be faint. But thanks to my [Multi-Sword Style], it had become easier to use [Weapon Skills] in parallel. Even in a pinch, a three-fold activation was possible.

While this only protected half of the six faces, the sides were sandwiched between ice chunks, so the only vulnerability was my back.

“(Guh! So that’s how it is. I misjudged that.)”

I thought so, but then shocks reverberated from both sides. The surface of the ice chunks was being ground down like a rasp, scratching away at my shields. The ice rasp was more effective against my white shields than the light projectiles. If they kept scraping away at it, they would likely break, so I had to respond.

“([Lightning Strike]!)”

I unleashed lightning at both ice chunks. At this moment, my lightning should have been able to easily shatter the Great Magical Wilderness’ ice… but it barely made a dent. It seemed that the Sea Angel had a [Skill] that increased its durability. 

Meanwhile, during “Freeze”, the Sea Angel had stayed put. It continuously fired light projectiles at me from the front. But thanks to [Block], I hadn’t suffered much damage from those.

With “Freeze”’s timing coming up again, I activated [Block] for three sides—this time protecting the front and the sides—and in the next moment, I found myself inside an iceberg.

“(Oh no!)”

Instinctively, I realized I shouldn’t be here. The sheer amount of |Mana| rising from the thick ice slope, emanating from the Sea Angel’s body, reinforced that feeling.

“(Release [Mimicry], [Replicant Form]!)”

I released the white shield and mimicked about four narwhal drills. Then, I began to burrow through the iceberg like a worm, heading toward the opposite side of the Sea Angel while breaking the ice into tiny pieces. 

Ideally, I wanted to escape from the iceberg. But at my current speed, I would just get ahead of it and end up facing “Freeze” again. Since the Sea Angel seemed focused on activating its powerful [Skills], it wasn’t manipulating the iceberg. So I needed to create as much distance as possible.

“(But there’s no way I can make it in time!)”

My goal was to emerge on the opposite side of the iceberg before it activated its [Skill]. But it was likely that activating the [Skill] would be faster. Although the time required for the charge was uncertain, there had to be a limit to it. And according to my [Projectile Prediction], the Sea Angel’s [Skill] could penetrate the iceberg.

It was a long-range attack capable of obliterating a wide area, making it impossible to dodge within the iceberg.

“(Disrupting it would be ideal, but… Heat Ray Magic Eye! …Yep, it’s definitely prepared for that!)”

The Sea Angel was shielded by layers of auroras and ice crystal shields, enduring even the heat ray magic eye’s attack.

The absolute defense that disregards |Mana| consumption embodies the “Polar King’s” resolve to finish things with the next strike.

“(In that case, I’ll just focus on defense with all I’ve got!)”

Fortunately, it seemed there was still time. I continued to dig deeper while implementing defensive measures. One of these was transforming ice into shields using [Weapon Creation]. While it’s challenging to transform the Great Magical Wilderness’ ice mountains into weapons in one go, I could manage to do it in small amounts with the nearby ice.

The adjustments I made only focused on increasing strength.

I also created several replicas of the white shield. This would be the main force for this battle.

Finally, I activated a certain [Skill] with all my might while waiting for the moment of fate. That moment occurred almost simultaneously as I reached the core of the iceberg. 

The seemingly endless increase of the Sea Angel’s |Mana| came to an abrupt stop, and I used my [Weapon Skill].

“(Here it comes! [Block] Three-Fold!)”

“Ralrolurururu!” 

With that, a white light burst forth, delivering an absolute judgment.