Chapter 353 - 207: Brother More Pay
Time rewinds to a few minutes earlier.
Within the cloud forest.
Upon hearing Benest say that the departing Frost Giant might be going to outflank Baron Olsen, Raine immediately decided to officially confront the Frost Giant captain.
Unlike the previous tactics of ambush and distraction, Raine knew clearly that to completely stop the Frost Giant squad in front of him, someone needed to be able to withstand the Frost Giant captain.
It wasn’t that there was a life-threatening danger, but even if he were to do it, he didn’t have much confidence.
Although he had previously fused with the Frost Giant captain’s bloodline, Raine never underestimated his enemies, especially not the Frost Giant captain Tollesk, who had once fought Olaf of the Neverwinter Shield to a standstill.
Even before the ambush, Raine estimated that if he unleashed his full power, he might be able to hold his ground against the Frost Giant captain, though it was unnecessary earlier due to the unclear situation.
But now, the situation had changed.
On the other hand, Raine himself had always looked forward to a face-to-face encounter with the Frost Giant captain.
Because of his special profession, ’Frost Lord,’ in some ways, his combat style and techniques had many similarities with those of the Frost Giants.
Thus, if he fought the Frost Giant captain, he would surely have insights and improvements!
This had been proven by his continuous gains from previous battles with the Frost Giants, and furthermore, he had advanced to Classes Level 4 through this.
Thus, Raine and Benest decided that he would primarily deal with the Frost Giant captain, with Meredith supporting from the side, while Benest and the remaining combat-capable Royal Guards would hold off the remaining three Frost Giants.
And at this moment.
"Clang!!"
With a piercing crash, the dense clashing sounds of metal stopped abruptly in the center of the battle!
Following that, a shockwave swept all around, and even the Level 9 Sword Dancer Meredith who was skirmishing on the side was blown seven or eight meters away by the blast.
Meanwhile, over a dozen towering spruces, enough for one person to embrace, crackled as their trunks snapped and fell outward in a radial pattern.
As the dust and snow gradually dispersed and settled, the two figures in the center of the battle, one large and one small, became clearly visible.
Raine, holding the Counterattacker, was pushing against the bone axe of the Frost Giant captain, locked in a face-to-face struggle.
Though Raine was only half the height of the Frost Giant,
though his legs were deeply embedded in the hard frozen tundra,
and though the Frost Giant captain’s bone axe pressed against his hammer’s surface, gaining an apparent advantage,
everyone who saw this scene would not think Raine was weak. Rather, they would marvel at how a human could achieve such a feat.
"Damn, he’s actually wrestling with the Frost Giant captain."
"Is he even human?"
Everyone, from Benest to Meredith to the Royal Guards, was left somewhat dumbfounded!
The same feeling arose in the hearts of Henry and the team of mages from Critt who were watching from not far away!
As the dust and snow cleared, Henry immediately recognized the figure.
Tessa’s guess was spot on; it was Raine who was fiercely engaged with the Frost Giant captain at that moment.
"Whoa! It actually is Raine!" Henry blurted out.
Upon confirmation, Henry lost his composure.
Amidst the shock, Henry quickly thought of something and promptly said, "Let’s go, let’s support Raine immediately."
In Henry’s view, Raine was locked in a tense, even skirmish with the Frost Giant captain, presenting a perfect opportunity.
If the Critt team could get there immediately and unleash a volley of fireballs, they could tip the balance decisively.
After a swift victory, they could then support Baron Olsen.
Although this plan was a bit circuitous and would take a few more minutes, it could wipe out all the Frost Giants except the Commander in one go, creating excellent prerequisites for the subsequent battle.
"Lord Viscount, what about the three wounded?"
"If I heal them with all my might now, I might not be able to fight later." At this, the priest from the Critt team, who was also the Henry estate’s clan priest, said with a wry smile.
A Level 5 priest healing three critically injured Royal Guards in a short time would likely exhaust all his Spiritual Power.
"Just perform some emergency treatment on the wounds."
"Colonel Tessa, please take care of the wounded, and follow behind us slowly. We’ll advance first."
"No problem, Lord Viscount!"
Time waited for no one, and Henry and the Critt team proceeded swiftly toward Raine’s location.
...
In the spruce forest, with branches laden with ice and frost flowers.
The fierce battle continued.
"Screech~~"
With a piercing screech, both sides pushed their powers, causing the Frost Giant captain Tollesk to step back slightly, while Raine fell back six or seven steps, each stride covering at least three or four meters.
After regaining his stance, sweat poured from Raine’s forehead like rain.
Great amounts of heat steamed from his skin pores, forming a swirling white mist above his head.
’Still a little short!’
Looking at the Frost Giant captain in front of him, Raine couldn’t help but lament inwardly.
He had just activated ’Second-stage Gigantification’ and ’Fury,’ while also triggering the first-stage special effect of the Emperor’s Twin Hammers’ ’Counterattacker,’ and in between, activating the second-stage effect.