Frostfire Legacy

Chapter 271 Dark Hands

Both sides stood still for a brief moment, their eyes locked, measuring each other. Aster could feel the tension in the air, like the calm before a storm.

Then, without warning, he took the initiative. In a burst of speed, he dashed forward, sword gleaming as he aimed a powerful downward slash at Lorelai's left shoulder.

"Naive..."

Lorelai's voice was calm, almost mocking, despite the force behind Aster's attack.

While his speed was impressive for someone at level 100, it wasn't enough to catch her off guard. With a casual flick of her wrist, the staff in her hand swirled through the air, and the floor beneath them began to shift. The once solid ground turned into a black, bubbling bog, expanding rapidly between them.

The change was subtle, barely distinguishable from the already dark surroundings, but Aster wasn't alone. His two companions, Pyra and Crysta, were ever-vigilant, their senses finely attuned to the fluctuations of mana around them.

[Master, don't step on that floor! It's a trap!?]

Pyra's fiery voice rang out in his mind, a warning he immediately heeded. Glancing down, Aster noticed the bubbling surface just in time. The black bog was almost unnoticeable, but the strange texture gave it away, making it clear that stepping into it would be a grave mistake.

He sharply turned his body, pivoting on his heel to avoid the trap. However, Lorelai had already anticipated this. She wasn't idle while he dodged—her incantation was already complete. From the center of the bog, hundreds of black, ethereal hands burst forth, writhing and reaching out with terrifying speed, each one aiming for Aster.

The sight was unsettling, to say the least. The dark, skeletal hands moved unnervingly fast, and Aster found himself reacting purely on instinct, dodging and weaving through them. But the hands were relentless, and despite his agility, one of them managed to graze his arm.

"...!"

His eyes widened as a strange sensation coursed through him. It wasn't pain, but something far worse—a draining feeling, like his very energy was being siphoned away. His mind raced.

'Energy Drain!'

The thought hit him immediately, though his knowledge of the spell was far from complete. One thing was clear: if these hands caught him fully, it would be disastrous.

Aster slashed at the hand with his sword, severing it cleanly at the wrist. The dark appendage dissolved, vanishing into the air. But his victory was short-lived.

The severed portion of the arm bubbled and frothed, rapidly regenerating into a new hand. It was as if the darkness itself was infinite, capable of restoring whatever he cut down.

Frustration bubbled up inside him. Each time he struck down one of the hands, another took its place, and with every swing, he found himself being pushed further away from his target. Lorelai stood behind the mass of black hands, unbothered, as though she had all the time in the world.

'Tch! At this rate, I won't even get close to her!'

His mind raced as he dodged another set of hands. Each time he tried to advance, the black hands shifted, always moving to block his path. They seemed almost intelligent as if they were reading his movements, preventing him from making any meaningful progress.

Aster gritted his teeth, frustration mounting. The black hands were not only physical restraints but also drained his energy whenever they made contact. If he got caught, he would be completely at their mercy. He needed to change his approach—and fast.

After retreating a safe distance, beyond the reach of the hands, he took a deep breath, his mind racing through his options. He couldn't just keep running or swinging his sword aimlessly. He had to break through her defenses.

"Secundi Flarre Spicht! Flame Lance!"

His voice echoed through the chamber as he cast a spell, summoning a fiery lance that shot forward with deadly precision. Lorelai's eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting such an attack. But her surprise didn't last long. Her expression quickly hardened, and she raised her staff once again.

The dark hands shifted from their pursuit of Aster to intercept the flame lance, swarming around it like a black tide. In an instant, the fiery projectile was extinguished.

"What...?!" Lorelai gasped, but her shock was short-lived.

By the time her attention returned to Aster, he had already closed the distance between them. Using one of his newly learned skills, Ground Shrink, he had moved across the battlefield in a blink, appearing right in front of her. His sword was raised, ready to strike.

"HAAAP!"

Aster let out a fierce battle cry, swinging his sword with all his might, aiming to cleave Lorelai in half. But despite the suddenness of his attack, Lorelai's reflexes were sharp.

She raised her staff horizontally, catching the blade. The impact was jarring, but the staff held firm. Despite its fragile appearance, the staff was enchanted, strong enough to withstand even Aster's powerful blows.

Without missing a beat, Aster followed up with a spinning kick, aiming for Lorelai's side. However, Lorelai was prepared. She shifted her stance slightly, lowering her elbow and blocking the kick with her forearm. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, but Lorelai barely flinched.

"Damn it!" Aster cursed under his breath.

Her defenses were incredibly tough, and every move he made was met with a swift counter. She was not only skilled but also unnervingly calm, even as the battle intensified.

Aster backed off slightly, reassessing the situation. Lorelai was far from a simple opponent. Her control over the dark magic, the regenerating hands, and her unyielding defense made her a formidable adversary. But he wasn't about to give up.

His eyes narrowed, focusing on Lorelai's staff. The way it had withstood his sword strike made it clear that it was a key part of her strength. If he could disarm her, the battle might shift in his favor.

Aster gripped his sword tighter, preparing for another assault. This time, he would aim not just for her body, but for the staff itself. He could feel his adrenaline pumping, his senses sharpening as he prepared to charge again.

Lorelai's cold gaze met his, but Aster saw a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.