Dungeon of Niflheim-Chapter 909: Not death but salvation (4)

"But don’t worry... I am not that brute." Frost brought Neve and her companions to the brink of despair before offering them a kind hand. He donned a warm, inviting smile polarising himself in contrast against the brutish frost giant.

Neve and her fellow maidens simply needed to understand the true depths of their current predicament before he would elaborate on his offered terms, only then would they accept them without much resistance. Break them down so as to build them up stronger.

"I will not accept those who do not pull their own weight but unlike that brute I will not force you against your will nor will I abandon you after some time has passed." Frost’s voice stretched throughout the cave and entered the ears of every single maiden including the two elders who had nearly passed out during his speech.

"Under my leadership you will regain that which you have lost, your strength will return and no longer will you have to cower under the yoke of a bandit like that giant." He spoke with authority and immense charisma, several of the Lunar maidens were already becoming inspired, their hearts becoming emboldened by the prospect. Frost offered them a chance to stand on their own two feet, to become what they were destined to be rather than simple tools to be used and discarded when their master was done with them.

The frost giant would never offer them equal standing, their innate nature made them dangerous, a liability to his iron rule. The longer they remained a part of his cohort the higher the possibility of his subordinates becoming their thralls. If they were to be of use he needed to keep them tightly controlled, likely through fear and pain before simply erasing them once he achieved his goals.

After locking eyes with each and every one of the Lunar maidens, cementing his positive status in their hearts Frost looked back at Neve, a young woman who despite her youth – likely mid-twenties- had managed to hold together the last vestiges of the Lunar maidens’ main lineage through such a gruelling trial.

"Neve I would like for you to trust in my judgement, to follow my will without resistance, do so and you will become strong once again, strong enough to rebuild everything you have lost and more....having you and your sisters weak and fragile does not bring me any benefits." While the rest could be moved by his charisma and positive promises Neve as a leader needed something more concrete i.e. motive.

Neve’s heart and mind were spinning, her confusion and the pressure to make a life changing choice giving her pause but eventually after an internal ordeal she pushed down her fears and the traditions drilled into her by her elders. "Neve greets you Master Frost." She kneeled before him, completely subservient to his will. She would follow his directions no matter what they may be, choosing to believe in his vision for her race.

""We greet you Master Frost."" Following after their leader, the youngest moving first the Lunar maidens dropped to their knees and greeted their new lord and master at least most of them did. Unable to reject the traditions that had been so thoroughly drilled into them and still innately struggling to accept subjecting themselves to someone who was not one of their own the two elders Shalla and Yana couldn’t bring themselves to kneel. They froze in place caught in a stalemate, pain and distress clear in their expressions as they scanned the room and discovered that no one else shared in their burdens. It seemed as though there was no place for them in the Lunar maidens’ new future.

Frost watched this pledge of allegiance with glee, doing his best to stop his smile from reaching all the way to his ears. He noticed the struggle on Shalla and Yana’s faces but said nothing, nor did he change the way he looked at them but internally he had already written them off. He could probably do something about their wounds given the supplies he had on hand, but he had little reason to help those that could prove resistant to his manipulations.

Both Shalla and Yana seemed to infer his intentions, understanding full well that they wouldn’t be able to see the promised rise of their race under Frost’s rule and strangely they were fine with it. Despite it being a temporary and somewhat false pledge the two elders fell to their knees and mirrored the words of their young Matriarch.

"Well done, you may rise." Acting like a dignified monarch Frost waved his hand and ordered the Lunar maidens to rise to their feet. He accepted their loyalty and trust, and now he would reward them for it. "Honouring your faith in me I’ll describe a little about where you’ll be residing." Although the time for the frost giant’s arrival was nearing Frost believed he had just enough to allay some of their lingering fears.

He didn’t speak much on their future duties choosing to put off such details until they had more time available to discuss it at length instead he focused more on the territory and Dungeon itself, describing its base system, purpose and the bountiful lifestyle that could await them there. His explanation brought smiles and hope to their eyes even Neve found herself growing curious and even somewhat ambitious, feelings that grew even deeper when Frost passed her the soul orb that Shivali had quickly fashioned.

Now that he’d found Neve its tracking properties were unnecessary thankfully however it did hold a secondary function. The moment Neve held the orb in her hands she felt a strange, yet familiar energy enter her body and within moments she felt her strength start to grow.

Previously she could be considered barely at the late stage of C-rank, just behind Shalla and Yana and compared to others at the same rank she’d likely fall behind given the lacklustre battle strength of a sexually starved Lunar maiden but after the energy from the soul orb started flowing through her veins she felt her power grow and by the end she ended up crossing into the peak stage, the same level her mother had managed to reach before she was brutally torn apart.

Even a few decades before they were set upon by the ogres it was rare for them to have even a single individual at the B-rank, Neve could already be considered highly talented given the strength she already possessed.

"Thank you master." Neve kneeled again as she felt strength blooming throughout every inch of her body, with this power she could better protect her sisters. The frost giant would still be out of reach but his lieutenants, she was sure she could kill at least one of them.

"Your gratitude is misplaced Neve this was something created by the Primordial Ice King so he’s the one you should be thanking."

’Peak C-rank, should improve our chances of escape by a degree or two.’ With Neve and Kiba both being at the peak he could better focus on his fight with the frost giant if it ever came to pass.

"Understood." Neve started praying, giving thanks to the Primordial Ice King for his generosity. Gods especially high ranking ones could receive faith from mortals and turn it into strength. Neve’s prayers despite happening so far from Niflheim would surely enter Shivali’s ears.

"Alright, it’s time to go. Young adults surround the children, those older keep a tight watch and rush to their aid if needed. Neve you’ll act in concert with Kiba, serving as the wings that protect our flanks as we move whereas you two will cover our rear." Frost announced the battle plan, ending with Shalla and Yana the two injured elders. His intent was clear, the two of them would cover their retreat if things went wrong. A duty both elders were more than willing to take on.

Neve frowned slightly upon hearing Frost’s tactics, she didn’t want the elders to be sacrificed but given their age, wounds and their slow reaction to pledging to Frost she also understood. A logical choice but still painful nonetheless, she and a few of the wiser adults shed a meaningful tear before readying themselves for battle.

Frost would lead their caravan through the mountains to escape from the grasp of the frost giant and his coalition. The ideal outcome being able to leave his sphere of influence before he even knew what happened, but would things really turn out so well?

"You two wait." Just as the caravan started to move out of the cave Frost called on Shalla and Yana, stopping them in place.

"Yes Lord Frost?" Yana asked, completing accepting her fate.

"Drink this, it won’t completely heal your injuries, but it should allow you to summon your full strength for a brief period." Frost handed over two mid-level health potions with a slightly conflicted look in his eyes. Though they were impediments to his goals he couldn’t help but feel a little guilty after seeing their complete and utter acceptance.

But after briefly analysing the state of their wounds he internal sighed in relief. Even a high level health potion wouldn’t be able to undo such damage, the wounds were too old, and the flesh was already starting rot. He couldn’t save them no matter what, it was a sheer miracle they managed to survive until now.

Shalla and Yana quickly drank the health potions, the pain racking their bodies diminishing somewhat but they knew it was merely staving off the inevitable.

"Let’s go." With his final grace given the caravan started its escape.