Absolute Craft-Chapter 81: Supreme Blizzard (4)

Chapter 81: Supreme Blizzard (4)

With a single step, he turned a lake into an ice rink.

His breath summoned an avalanche.

His sword’s flicker unleashed a blizzard.

And in all that chaos, only his three heads could see everything—the Conqueror of Winter.

That was the Oni’s Avalanche skill, bearing the second-highest cooldown in Blake’s arsenal. For five minutes, it allowed him to become an elemental menace, with every action tied to winter—just what he needed to foil the 11th Lost King’s plan.

Blake hadn’t expected to use it against the Stone Troll General, given the monster’s armor and natural defenses. Yet the 11th Lost King’s ingenuity had finally shown itself fully, earning still greater respect from Blake.

Having acknowledged that, Blake leaped onto one of his ice tracks and sped past the troll. He made for the dragon husk, scooped it up effortlessly, and left winter’s chaos in his wake, plugging the scorching cracks with frost.

Using his Cold Axis skill, Blake darted from one track to another unpredictably, tearing through the chamber and spreading cold wherever he went. He soon spotted Sol, whose tiny body bobbed about in the midst of his own warmth.

Blake swooped in and deftly placed Sol inside the dragon husk’s cockpit, locking him in. Safe at last, Sol whimpered contentedly, then shut his eyes and promptly dozed off.

"Don’t sleep!" Blake shouted.

"Blake... eat..." Sol whispered.

"You’ll eat plenty when this is done," Blake replied. "We’re going for the win."

Sol couldn’t quite manage "win," but he tried, focusing on what lay ahead. Blake was carrying him toward the troll, whose final aim was to keep the chaos raging. It seemed like a fanatic on its last legs, encircled by ice and snow and everything else a blizzard would bring.

Rushing it looked suicidal, yet Sol’s eyes glinted at the idea of doing something so reckless. It was hardly surprising that this odd little one matched Blake in spirit.

Meanwhile, Blake studied the troll’s armor, deciding where and when to deploy Sol so the little dragon could fulfill his mission. The ice plating was riddled with gashes, with plenty of shards chipped off—providing Blake with multiple options. Plan in mind, he surged forward.

He raced along a curved slope of ice, launching himself near the troll’s chest plate. Midair, he shouted, "Sol! Big mission!"

Sol let out an enthusiastic chirp. His cockpit flung open, hurling him at the troll’s chest. He landed in a dent, triggering a chain reaction that blasted him back and exposed more of the troll’s stony flesh.

With a sizable gap torn open and the troll’s health whittled down to a few hundred points, the rest fell to the archer. Off in the distance, Beatrix had already drawn her bowstring, waiting for the right moment as she repositioned herself.

She halted once Blake contained the commotion and steadied her aim. From that vantage, she invoked her skill—a small ice arrow.

As it flew, the arrow absorbed the chamber’s chill. It also fed on Blake’s slashes, growing larger and sharper the more it consumed. Within moments of release, it expanded into a formidable projectile rarely seen outside of fantasy.

It pierced the Stone Troll General with an earthshaking impact, pinning it against the fractured wall with one more resounding blow. A wave of heated air scalded the creature’s back, roasting it as it glared at the intruders who had seized the chamber.

With the final flicker of life in its eyes, it let out a low growl—perhaps saluting its creator—before its last breath escaped.

<You have defeated The Stone Troll General Lv. 15 (Epic)>

<You can’t level up>

<You have received a new title—Forged In The 11th Lost King’s Chamber (Common)>

<You have earned one gold>

<You have obtained sixty-four blocks of malleable stone>

<You have obtained ownership of the Winter Protector Pole (Epic)>

"We got more malleable stones for your husks, Sol!" Blake cheered, noticing Sol still swirling from the backlash. "Ah."

Nearby, Beatrix simply stared, not quite able to feel triumphant just yet. Although her master had received much higher-quality rewards than malleable stone, his first thought was about Sol’s needs. Perhaps if Blake hadn’t been short on malleable stone, she wouldn’t have looked at him that way.

Even so, she couldn’t dwell on that for long. Relief finally washed over her: the troll that had once rendered her helpless was defeated in a manner that veered from their plan but proved even more rewarding. Everyone had adapted and forged stronger bonds.

Meanwhile, Blake hurried to Sol, secured him in the dragon’s cockpit, and allowed him to sleep, promising a feast once he woke. Naturally, they and Beatrix still had to leave the chamber, which remained unstable.

A few minutes after their departure, the place collapsed, transferring its heritage into new hands.

Had the 11th Lost King heard his creation’s dying words, he would have understood that it acknowledged Cerberus as the rightful inheritors of its legacy.

Oblivious to those nuances, the trio ventured deeper down the dark corridor. Blake reflected on the fight from start to finish, usually reviewing his own performance but now focusing more on his allies’ achievements.

"I can usually gauge someone’s worth by testing them in battle and seeing whether they really deserve the gear we find," Blake mused. "But helping others shine feels way better—especially if it’s you."

He gently patted the sleeping dragon’s head and glanced at Beatrix with a smile.

She nodded, her true expression veiled by her mask.

"Crafting is tough, but it really gets me going," Blake said. "I want to learn more about both of you so I can use my skills to support you."

In that moment, Beatrix felt the same way. She wanted to understand Blake better, too, but the thought unleashed constraints she never knew existed. A sudden headache crashed down on her. Strange murmurs flooded her mind—grotesque and overpowering—and she blacked out.

Just before her vision failed, Beatrix heard a piercing scream in her head:

[IMPERFECTION!]