SSS Awakening: I Can Class Change at will-Chapter 319: Selene’s Demise.

The creature’s hide was torn and burned from her [Dragon’s Breath] attack, blood streaming from multiple wounds where it had struck rocks during its own fall. Its movements were leaning towards its left side, its right side clearly heavily injured.

They were both teetering on the edge of collapse, facing off in what would likely be their final confrontation, one that would decide which one of them would become the victor, and which would become a speck of the past.

With only two lives remaining and a crippling debuff reducing her combat power by more than half, Selene knew this encounter would determine whether her ambitious hunt for strength ended in triumph or permanent death.

The ox lowered its massive head, bloodied tusks aimed directly at her heart as it gathered what remained of its strength for one final charge.

Selene gripped her staff with trembling hands, knowing she had perhaps one spell left before exhaustion claimed her entirely.

The mountain had become their arena, and only one of them would leave it alive.

Selene’s attack and the wounded ox charged toward each other.

The collision was devastating. Selene’s remaining flames seared into the beast’s already burned hide, but the ox did not stop its charge until its massive tusks found their mark, piercing through her chest even as she tried to dodge.

[You have died]

[You have lost 2500 Lives]

Selene spawned even weaker than before, the debuffs leaving her barely able to stand. Her mana reserves were almost completely depleted, and her vision swam from the accumulated penalties.

The ox, still burning but alive, turned toward her, the fire burning in its eyes stronger than the ones burning its body.

With no other options as she watched the creature prepare its final charge, Selene made a desperate decision. She would force herself into complete mana depletion—pouring every last drop of mana into one final attack.

Drawing on reserves she didn’t know she still possessed, Selene channeled the absolute remainder of her power into a weakened form of [Dragon’s Breath].

The cone of flame struck the charging ox directly, eliciting a roar of agony as the creature collapsed on the snow.

But Selene also crumpled to the frozen ground, completely drained—unable to move a single muscle.

Her eyes blurred as she watched the ox struggle back to its feet with determination that surprised her, slowly limping toward her prone body.

’Am I going to die like this?’ Selene thought with strange calm. ’I should have listened to Julian... no, I made my choice. If I can’t survive this, how can I survive what’s coming? How can I ever defeat him...how can I ever prove him wrong. I’m too weak... I deserve what’s coming.’

She accepted the approaching end with a heart that was filled with unfinished regrets.

No one was coming to save her—the storm still raged, and only fools like herself had ventured out in such conditions. Even if someone found her body, they would more likely rob her equipment than offer aid. This was a dangerous world where those willing to help were too far and too few.

As the massive beast positioned itself above her head, preparing to deliver the final crushing blow, it suddenly collapsed beside her broken body.

Selene couldn’t move a single muscle, but the victory notification blazed across her fading vision.

’It seems like it’s not the end just yet,’ A cold breath escaped her mouth in relief. ’I still have some time left to grow stronger...’

Her eyes closed as exhaustion finally claimed her, her body shutting down now that the immediate threat had passed. The mountain had nearly claimed her life, but she had survived through sheer determination and perhaps a touch of fortune.

Ten minutes had passed since Selene had lost consciousness, and the predators that had been hiding nearby began to emerge from their shelters.

The rich scent of the ox’s blood, combined with Selene’s own bleeding wounds, created an irresistible lure for any creature in the vicinity, regardless of their strength.

A small Arctic Sloth detected the alluring aroma from hundreds of meters away and began moving cautiously toward the source. Driven by curiosity and gnawing hunger, it navigated through the snow-covered terrain with surprising stealth.

When it finally arrived at the scene, the sloth’s eyes widened with delight. Two powerful creatures lay motionless on blood-stained snow—what appeared to be an unprecedented feast waiting to be claimed.

The sloth’s instincts flared with excitement. This wasn’t just a meal; this was enough sustenance to last for several days. The Musk Ox’s were a known predator in the area, and usually the sloth wouldn’t dare approach an area where they moved through—but this one was dead.

It was the perfect opportunity to feast on stronger predators. The sloth began scanning the area carefully for potential threats or traps. After confirming there was no threats in the vicinity, the sloth approached the first body in caution.

After a quick inspection, the sloth confirmed the death of the ox.

Huff-puff

The sudden sound of breathing immediately attracted the attention of the sloth to Selene’s prone body.

The sloth’s demeanor immediately turned hostile as it noticed the faint vapor of breath escaping her lips. The human was still alive, and if woken up, could pose a serious threat to its feeding opportunity or life.

Without hesitation, the sloth raised its razor-sharp claws, preparing to deliver a killing blow that would ensure the sleeping figure never posed a problem.

Whoosh!

A sword struck the creature’s neck from the back.

The Arctic Sloth had been so focused on silently eliminating Selene that it completely failed to detect any approach. Blood poured from the deep gash as the creature collapsed beside Selene’s unconscious form.

Before the wounded sloth could recover or retaliate, the unknown attacker struck again with trembling hands that shook from both cold and adrenaline. He continued delivering blow after blow until the kill notification finally appeared in his vision.

Julian’s entire body shook—his hands trembling from the cold temperature, his breath coming in ragged gasps that created clouds of vapor, and his eyes quivering with the aftershock of being able to hunt such a beast.

He had ventured into the storm against all wisdom and common sense, driven by worry for Selene’s safety. His decision to follow her had likely just saved her life, though she remained unconscious and critically injured on the blood-soaked snow.

"Selene," he whispered urgently, Julian quickly knelt beside Selene’s body, pressing two fingers against her neck to check for a pulse while observing the rise and fall of her chest.

"Her pulse is weak, but she’s still breathing," he muttered with relief, though concern remained evident in his voice.

Without wasting precious time, Julian hurriedly stored both the massive ox corpse and the sloth’s body in his storage ring. The valuable materials could be dealt with later—Selene’s survival was the immediate priority.

He retrieved a healing potion from his storage ring, carefully lifting Selene’s head and helping the liquid flow past her lips. The golden liquid would help stabilize her condition and begin repairing the most critical damage.

"Come on, Selene. You need to get somewhere warm and safe," Julian whispered as he gently lifted her unconscious form onto his back.

Despite his own exhaustion and the brutal cold, Julian began the arduous journey back toward shelter. Each step through the deep snow was a struggle, but he pressed forward with determination born from concern for someone he felt like...was the younger sister that he never had.

The storm continued to rage around them, but Julian had found what he’d come looking for. Now he just had to get them both back alive before the mountain could claim another victim.

Arriving back at the makeshift human shelter, several residents noticed Julian struggling through the entrance while carrying Selene’s unconscious form on his back.

Some of the more cynical survivors scoffed at the sight.

"Look at this fool, risking his own life for someone who wouldn’t listen to reason."

"Should have let her learn the hard way instead of endangering himself."

Others shook their heads with weary resignation, having seen this pattern before among newcomers to the harsh Second Sanctuary environment.

"This is exactly what happens when newbies don’t listen to the seniors. We warned her about the storm for good reason."

"Pride always comes before the fall. She is lucky Julian had enough heroic sense to go after her before she got herself permanently killed."

"She’s lucky he cares enough to risk his neck. Most people here wouldn’t have bothered."

A few of the more experienced residents moved to help Julian get Selene next to the bonfire, while others simply returned to their own concerns with indifferent shrugs.

The shelter’s informal hierarchy was built on survival experience, and Selene’s reckless venture had only reinforced their belief that listening to veteran advice was the difference between life and death in this unforgiving environment.

Julian ignored the commentary entirely, focused solely on getting Selene the care she needed to recover from her near-fatal encounter with the mountain’s dangers.