Dungeon of Niflheim-Chapter 910: ’This is far too easy’

With Frost at the forefront the caravan consisting of 27 Lunar maidens left the confines of the cold, dark cave that had been their home for the past several weeks. The four children that managed to survive the ogres’ massacre were crying tears of joy as the entrance to the cave vanished from their sights, no longer would they be confined to that hellhole. The older maidens however couldn’t help but be on edge as they knew full well that their departure wouldn’t be easy.

"Master did you get a chance to see the giant’s camp?" As though giving a voice to their collective worries Neve spoke up, her eyes dashing across the steep cliff edges and in amongst the gnarly ravines for any sign of possible threats. The sun was still up so their movements couldn’t exactly be considered lowkey despite their shallow steps and quiet whispers, but night wasn’t far off, an hour at most and the sun would set over the horizon.

"Unfortunately not, I entered from the inner regions and made only a few small detours." Frost mainly followed the directions outlined by the soul orb but knowing what would come after he did scout a few possible escape routes, determined the level of danger as well as how likely they would lead to either an exit or simply deeper into the mountains.

"I’ll fill you in then" Neve picked up her speed a little, coming up by Frost’s side so she didn’t have to raise her voice, neither of them could use telepathy unfortunately.

"About a week ago I sent Yana as a scout, and she discovered his base of operations several kilometres south of our cave. His numbers by then were already in the hundreds and they had established a highly defensible fort right before the mouth of the mountain range, blocking the nearest exit to the external regions." Neve slightly frowned as she remembered the time Yana returned.

"He had little in the name of sentries beyond his direct sphere of influence, but the fort itself was impenetrable, not even a small fox could go unnoticed. Yana was quickly found and taught a severe lesson." The elder’s already wounded body was viciously dragged back to the cave and tossed in front of Neve’s feet like a piece of rotten meat by the B-rank frost giant along with a strict warning for them to not get any funny ideas.

"After waiting for two days I commissioned Shalla to try and venture through a different path, but she didn’t make it more than a few kilometres before coming across danger that was beyond her means." The main exit directly south was guarded fiercely by the frost giant and his cronies, the north would take them back to the inner regions a literal death sentence for their feeble group while east or west meant they’d have to travel across rugged terrain and through the territories of the monsters that dwelled within the mountains, many of which were of the ambushing type, the worst match up for a group containing injured and young.

The frost giant knew full well that the Lunar maidens lacked the means to escape, setting up multiple sentries was a waste of manpower, as long as he sat firmly at the mouth of the mountain all they could do was wait for death.

"I expected as much." Frost nodded his head not the least bit surprised. "Don’t worry we won’t be travelling directly south for quite a while, the paths Shalla found dangerous shouldn’t be a problem with me and Kiba assisting you." To head south was certainly the fastest method but it was also the most foolish, they wanted to avoid fighting the frost giant not walk straight up into his kingdom. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Frost planned to travel through the mountain range for several hours before attempting to find a route south, bypassing even the furthest reaches of the frost giant’s control before moving incognito through the external regions. From then it was a simple matter of choosing the safest route back to the Dungeon. No need for time constraints nor the testing of power like he did with Avira and Borris.

"Of course master." Neve had complete faith in Frost’s strength, convinced that with him by their side they wouldn’t face even the slightest degree of danger.

The caravan continued its march through the harsh terrain, Frost using his powerful senses and Kiba his highly developed nose to spot any potential monsters lurking in the shadows and culling them before they had a chance to pick off any stragglers. The smell of blood was hard for these predators to ignore, and Frost was afraid that using too much of his strength would draw the attention of something more dangerous.

In his mind this leg of the journey was the most lethal, without his aura he couldn’t deter the local fauna too much thus the caravan encountered more than a few skirmishes. Of course they didn’t last long, and no one received any additional injuries, but it did slow them down.

When the sun finally set marking the time the frost giant was supposed to arrive and enforce his ultimatum the caravan was already a few kilometres into their journey but despite the distance covered Frost couldn’t help but feel nervous. From the moment they left the cave he felt that something was wrong.

’This is far too easy.’ The frost giant may not have needed sentries to keep an eye on the Lunar maidens the entire time, but this was the final day, surely he must have suspected that they’d attempt something drastic yet even with his senses turned up to eleven Frost failed to find a single monster that could be a part of his forces.

Everything alluded to the fact that there was no back up, no forethought in regards to a possible escape but even so Frost couldn’t shake the feeling that they were walking to someone else’s tune.

About fifteen minutes later after this sense of anxiety reached a fervour Frost raised his right hand bringing the caravan to a swift halt.

"Master?" Asked Neve but instead of voicing a reply Frost brought his finger to his lips. He then took a deep breath and thoroughly scanned the area; this was the prime spot for an ambush. His senses roamed over every nook and cranny within a 50 metre radius but still found nothing his instincts however screamed danger.

"Grrrr." A moment later Kiba seemed to share in this instinctual warning, he growled aggressively at an area directly in front of the caravan.

With this Frost was absolutely certain, both their instincts couldn’t be wrong. "Such stealth arts may allow you to allude the perceptions of the women behind me but not Kiba or myself, show yourselves!" Frost suddenly roared no longer restraining his strength in the slightest. A dense fear inducing wave of aura and bloodlust spread forth, attacking the most suspicious area and strangely upon making contact the space seemed to warp as though a veil was being lifted.

"Interesting I was wondering what these bitches were relying on, but I have to say I’m quite surprised. I didn’t think they had any sort of pull left. Are you an acquaintance of their tribe? A descendant or an in law of one the exiled branches here to pay back some sort of grace or perhaps you’re merely a snipe, here to steal what’s mine!" In response to Frost’s words a deep booming voice pierced through the other side of the veil before a massive blue hand tore it apart, revealing what hid within.

The moment the veil fell apart eery cackles flooded the mountain path as several powerful monsters followed behind a massive giant that stood roughly ten metres tall.

There were 7 men who followed behind the frost giant and apart from 2 each of them were from a different species but without a doubt they all shared a similar nature, vicious and evil. Several of the Lunar maidens ended up shivering in terror as the gazes of these men wandered up and down their bodies. What made it worse was that these men weren’t hiding their strength, three of them were at the peak of C-rank, rivalling Kiba and their newly risen Matriarch while the other four were in the late stages, just a single one of them being more than a match for the injured Shalla and Yana. Things were not looking hopeful.

As fear and despair started to sink in the Lunar maidens turned to gazes towards their protector, the man sent by the Primordial Ice King and whom they had chosen to pledge their service to. They scanned his expression, searching for signs of anxiety or fear but what they ended up seeing left them befuddled. Frost was frowning but it didn’t seem from worry but rather confusion, as though he was trying to ascertain something. Unfortunately however since it wasn’t 100% positive the Lunar maidens couldn’t help but worry.

"I offered you a chance, a chance to serve me and in return I’d allow you to live, I even gave you time to think about my offer yet instead of accepting or even rejecting me outright you scampered away like rats hehehe so much for your vaunted pride hahahaha." The frost giant bellowed, his gaze full of contempt and derision as he looked down on Neve the young Matriarch.

’Foolish woman.’ If Neve had simply agreed to his proposal she could have lived a little longer but now after being defiled by him he’d have to cull the lot so as to maintain his prestige amongst the forces he had gathered. A shame was all he thought as his gaze wandered over to their summoned helper, a man who’s strength was at the very least entry B-rank given his usage of aura.

"Ehh?"