player POV-Chapter 66: for the test 8

We advanced forward slowly, taking a few cautious steps, until we began to clearly hear the sounds of fighting coming from the front. We all stopped immediately, and then Alissa’s voice was heard whispering in a low tone:

"It seems there is a group fighting a monster... and most likely it is a D-rank. Therefore, it is better that we observe from a distance, without drawing their attention, and take advantage of their distraction during the fight."

Everyone nodded in agreement at the same moment. And while I was preparing to move forward a little, an inner question swept over me that I could not ignore:

How could a group withstand a D-rank monster?

That could not happen unless that group was truly strong. Perhaps it was Zion’s group? He is the only one, to my knowledge, capable of facing a monster of this rank alone. Or maybe Lina, as she also possesses the ability to fight monsters of higher ranks... or perhaps someone else I did not expect.

In any case, it does not matter who it is.

The sounds of battle grew closer and more intense, until they became disturbingly clear. At that moment, we all stopped once again, freezing in our places when our eyes fell upon who was fighting the monster.

It was Silvar, along with Kar, Lia, and Simon.

As for the monster, it was massive in size, resembling a mammoth to a great extent, but its color was a pale white, almost reflecting the light off its thick skin.

The white mammoth was an extremely difficult opponent; its tough hide was like a natural armor, difficult to penetrate even with good weapons. And that was not the most dangerous thing about it, as its icy breath posed a real threat; any excessive approach could expose you to a cold blast capable of freezing your body for a full half second, a duration sufficient to determine your fate on the battlefield. In addition to that, it possessed sharp claws capable of tearing flesh with complete ease.

For this reason, the white mammoth was considered one of the most dangerous monsters within the D-rank, as it combined violent offense and solid defense at the same time, which made many fighters of the same rank avoid confronting it as much as possible.

We stared at the scene for some time, and the picture before us grew worse with every passing second. It was clear that Silvar and his companions were already losing.

Lia and Simon were suffering from serious injuries across their bodies, and the fight had exhausted them to an obvious extent. As for Kar, his condition was slightly better compared to them, but he was not well by any means. The only person who appeared to be in a relatively acceptable state was Silvar, as his injuries were limited compared to the others.

Alissa’s voice suddenly broke our silence as she said sharply:

"What are you standing there staring at? We must help them immediately, before they are wiped out!"

Only then did everyone return to their senses, as if they had awakened from their astonishment. Alissa moved forward without hesitation, and Aron, Drak, and Enzai followed her at the same moment.

As for me, I remained standing, staring at the scene for a few additional seconds. I was hesitant...

I knew that Silvar was planning something. He was the one who deliberately made himself fall into this trap, and it was not without reason.

I let out an irritated breath.

Damn it... there’s no time to think now.

I drew my sword and headed toward the battlefield.

At that moment, the white mammoth was delivering a fatal blow toward Kar. Kar had no time to evade it, and Silvar had been pushed away from his position, thrown at a distance that made him unable to intervene. In that moment, Kar thought that his end had come.

But suddenly, bluish-purple arrows shot through the air at lightning speed, striking the white mammoth directly in the head. The monster froze for just one second, but it was enough. Kar seized the opportunity and jumped away immediately.

Kar breathed a sigh of relief as he turned toward the source of the arrow, to see Alissa standing there, her eyes steady and her bow still drawn.

The white mammoth looked at her with obvious anger and let out a thunderous roar before charging toward her at an unexpected speed. The distance between them was only a few steps. It attacked her with its massive claws, but Alissa stepped back a single step, narrowly avoiding the blow.

The monster did not stop there, but continued its assault with a series of consecutive strikes, one of which nearly hit Alissa directly. However, its foot got stuck in the ground for a brief moment, causing it to lose its balance, and it fell heavily to the ground.

At that moment, Enzai had placed his hand on the ground, using his ability, as brown-colored threads began to wrap around his body. He was using Ania ...

Aron and Drak seized the opportunity and attacked at the same time, their swords cutting through the air with force, but their strikes caused no noticeable effect on the monster’s tough hide. Shock immediately appeared on their faces.

The white mammoth completely ignored their attack and directed all of its attention toward Alissa. It was clear that it considered her the most dangerous person on the battlefield.

It charged toward her again, its claws raining down one after another, but Alissa continued to evade them skillfully. Then, with a smooth circular motion, she drew another arrow, bluish-purple in color, and fired it directly at its head.

The arrow hit its target.

And the white mammoth froze once again for one second.

— Tap.

I launched at the same moment, delivering a swift strike toward the white mammoth. The strike hit its hand, and blood exploded from it, gushing abundantly. The monster let out an angry roar, then slowly turned its head toward the person who dared to hit it.

Its eyes settled on me—Rion... I was the one who struck it. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

I cursed inwardly.

I had been aiming for its neck already, as it was its true weak point, but I missed at the last moment. Had I hit it, the battle would have been decided or at least its course completely altered.

The white mammoth stared at me with a gaze full of anger and hostility, a look that sent a cold shiver crawling down my spine. It gave me no time to think, and charged toward me immediately.

I retreated several steps quickly, trying to gain distance, but the white mammoth was faster than I expected. In a moment, it was right in front of me, raising its giant claws toward me.

The strike was about to hit me...

But I changed my body’s direction at the last moment, using Altaria threads to pull myself aside. The claws passed by me, hitting me only with a superficial wound on my cheek, leaving a burning mark.

The monster did not stop there.

It moved with a sudden motion, spun at an unnatural speed, and attacked me with its other claws from a blind angle I could not see in time. I felt danger closing in, and the claws were about to pierce my body...

And suddenly—

The white mammoth froze completely.

I immediately stepped back without hesitation, taking advantage of that brief opportunity. And after only two seconds, the ice began to crack and shatter, and the monster regained its movement again.

The white mammoth looked with anger fiercer than before toward the person who had frozen it. I followed its gaze and saw Silvar standing there, surrounded by glowing white threads, wavering around him.

My eyes met Silvar’s.

He stared at me for just one second... then lightly shook his head.

And in the next moment, he charged with all his strength toward the white mammoth...

I stood in my place for a moment, my mind working at maximum speed.

Damn it... if the situation continues like this, our energy will run out sooner or later, and then our end will be almost certain.

At that moment, I activated the Calm Analysis skill. Everything around me changed; the world seemed slower, clearer, and more detailed. I began to see the ground, and everyone’s movements in a different way...

And then, an idea came to me.

I quickly turned toward Enzai, who already looked exhausted, his breathing heavy and his features tense from intense focus. I said to him quickly, without wasting time:

"Do you see that area over there? Use your power on it."

Enzai followed the direction of my finger with his eyes, staring at the place I pointed to for a second, before nodding in agreement without asking.

Meanwhile, I rushed again toward the battlefield. Alissa and Silvar were already fighting the white mammoth, but the superiority was clearly with the monster. I noticed that their faces had paled slightly; they had consumed a large amount of Ania, and fatigue was beginning to creep into them.

I raised my voice and said,

"When I ask you to use your power... do it immediately."

They looked at me for a moment in surprise, but they did not argue. They nodded in agreement.

In the next moment, I used the Altaria threads and directed them toward the white mammoth. The threads wrapped around its right foot, and I managed to wound it deeply, making it stagger a step back. I did not waste the opportunity, and immediately used the Phantom Step, appearing beside it, delivering another strike to the same injured foot.

Blood gushed from it abundantly.

The white mammoth roared with immense anger, and real madness was evident on its face. It shouted at the top of its voice, then charged directly at me.

I immediately retreated, but its speed was terrifying. In a moment, its claw was rushing toward me. I raised my sword and parried the strike, but the force of the impact pushed me violently backward. I felt as if the bones in my hand were about to shatter.

My breathing was heavy, my chest rising and falling rapidly, while the white mammoth began approaching me slowly, as if savoring the moment. It raised its claw, and it was clear it was preparing to deliver a finishing blow.

And the moment its right foot touched the ground— it sank into the mud.

That mud that Enzai had prepared beforehand.

I was about to shout Alissa and Silvar’s names, but I stopped... they had already understood the plan.

In a single moment, the mud froze completely, turning into solid ice, which suddenly stopped the white mammoth’s movement. It tried to move, but it lost its balance. Its right foot, already injured, was stuck inside the ice, and with the force of its movement... it was completely severed.

Its massive body shook violently, and it remained standing on one foot, staggering unstably.

And at that crucial moment— a bluish-purple arrow pierced its forehead directly.

The white mammoth froze for one second. One second... was enough.

— Tap.

I used the Phantom Step.

In a flash, the white mammoth’s head flew off its body, before the massive body fell to the ground motionless, causing a muffled thud... and then silence spread.