Extra's Path: The Eternal Frost Monarch

Chapter 186: Battle

The demon standing in the center had dark gray skin, but apart from that, his appearance was almost identical to a human’s.

Two black horns curved upward from his forehead, and his crimson eyes carried a cold, emotionless gaze.

A spear held in his right hand. A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Hello there..." he said calmly. "My name is Botis."

Damien tightened his grip around his sword. "Where is Ken?"

Noah glanced at him in surprise. "Ken? Was he with you?"

Damien nodded without taking his eyes off the demons.

"Yes. We met during the exam. He tried to get away from me, but we ran into these demons."

Botis chuckled softly.

"Oh? Your friend?" He shrugged. "He slipped away... leaving you behind."

He put pressure on his leg, ready to attack at students, but just then.

Click.

The crisp sound of a sword sliding back into its scabbard echoed through the forest.

Botis’s expression changed instantly. His instincts screamed.

Without even looking toward the source, he immediately ducked.

Whisssh!

A razor-thin silver slash shot across the battlefield from the demons’ right side.

The left side from Noah’s and the others’ perspective.

The slash narrowly missed Botis’s head.

Slash!

The enormous tree standing beside him was cut cleanly in half.

A heartbeat later.

BOOM!!

The gigantic trunk crashed onto the forest floor, shaking the surrounding ground.

Dust, leaves, and broken branches exploded into the air.

Noah, Damien, Kaelan, and Myra quickly retreated several steps to avoid the falling tree.

The battlefield was soon covered in drifting dust.

Noah coughed lightly.

"Cough..."

He already knew who had launched that attack.

His eyes immediately searched toward the left side of their formation. The direction from which the slash had come.

"Ken?"

As the dust slowly settled, a lone figure emerged from between the towering trees.

It was Ken.

He stood quietly with a black scabbard hanging at his waist.

His sword had already been returned inside it.

His expression remained as calm as ever, as though he had merely taken a casual stroll through the forest rather than launching an attack capable of cutting down a massive tree.

His crimson eyes remained fixed on Ken.

"...Interesting," he muttered. "I nearly died from that attack."

Ken stood there calmly with one hand resting on the hilt of his sheathed sword.

Ken’s eyes were cold. There was no other expression. No fear, no tension...only cold calculation.

He straightened his posture while keeping his spear lowered.

"Good thing my instincts warned me in time."

His gaze remained locked on Ken. "I would have lost my head otherwise."

Ken remained silent. His expression did not change in the slightest.

The only response he gave was tightening his fingers around the hilt of his sword.

Damien glanced at Noah.

"What should we do?"

Noah never took his eyes off the demons.

"We fight."

Damien nodded.

While Noah asked, "Can you handle one demon alone?"

Damien answered without hesitation. "I can handle one of the two behind him."

His gaze shifted toward Botis. "But the demon name Botis... he’s too strong."

Noah quickly assessed the battlefield. There were four of them.

They were four students and three demons.

Botis was clearly the strongest among them.

Noah made his decision immediately.

"Alright."

He pointed toward the two demons standing behind Botis.

"Mary and I will take one."

He looked toward Damien.

"You take the other."

Finally, his eyes landed on Kaelan and Ken.

"You Kaelan, you fight Botis together with Ken."

He spoke seriously. "I think the two of you have the best chance against him."

Kaelan gave a firm nod.

Ken on other side remained silent, but he stepped forward.

That alone was enough of an answer that he was already prepared to fight.

Botis finally turned his face and quietly watched them divide themselves before chuckling.

"So you’ve already assigned your opponents."

He slowly spun his spear once.

"How thoughtful."

Behind him, Xavier stepped forward and unsheathed his sword.

"Botis."

His voice was cold.

"Let’s kill them."

Daniel also drew his weapon.

"We don’t have much time."

His eyes briefly moved toward the dead body lying several meters away.

"Caim is dead."

His expression darkened.

"We’ve already lost one."

Botis clicked his tongue.

"What a disappointment."

He slowly raised his spear. "Then let’s finish this quickly."

Noah tightened his grip around his own spear before shouting,

"Mary! Come with me!"

Without another word, he burst forward. Mary immediately followed behind him with her wand already glowing.

At the same moment Damien dashed toward Daniel.

Kaelan charged directly at Botis. Ken silently vanished from his spot.

Everything happened at once. Botis reacted instantly.

His spear flashed upward.

Clang!

Kaelan’s twin daggers collided against the demon’s weapon.

The impact echoed throughout the forest.

Kaelan’s feet dug into the ground as he absorbed the force.

Botis smirked.

"You came back for another beating."

Kaelan answered by twisting both daggers and launching another flurry of attacks.

Meanwhile, Damien changed direction midway.

Instead of joining Kaelan, he shot straight toward Daniel.

"Ken!"

Damien shouted without slowing down.

"Help Kaelan!"

Ken did not reply. His body blurred before appearing beside Botis.

Without hesitation, he drew his sword and put it inside.

For many, it felt like he never draw his sword out.

But his movement was just so fast that no one notice it expect Botis.

Click.

A razor-thin silver arc flashed through the air.

Botis’s instincts screamed. He immediately leaned backward.

Whoosh!

The slash narrowly missed his face before continuing into the forest.

Several towering trees behind him were sliced cleanly in half.

Boom!

The massive trunks crashed onto the ground, sending dust and broken branches flying in every direction.

Botis looked at Ken with a far more serious expression than before.

"...That attack again."

For the first time since arriving he no longer looked relaxed.

Even though he was stronger... one wrong movement and he was dead.

Kaelan took advantage of the brief distraction.

Darkness gathered around both daggers before he slashed in a cross pattern.

Two black crescent blades tore toward Botis. The demon spun his spear.

Dark mana exploded around its shaft.

Boom!

The darkness attacks shattered apart.

However, Ken had already disappeared again.

Botis’s pupils contracted.

He sensed behind me. He spun around instantly.

Clang!

Ken’s blade struck against the shaft of the spear.

Sparks erupted. Neither side moved.

For a brief moment their eyes met.

Botis smiled. "You’re dangerous."

Ken calmly pushed his blade away before retreating several steps. Not a single unnecessary movement. Not a single wasted breath.

Botis finally understood. Among all the students present. This silent young man could become biggest danger.

---

Several dozen meters away..

Noah and Mary had already reached Xavier.

The demon calmly rested his sword over one shoulder as he watched the two approach.

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"So..."

His gaze shifted between them. "My opponents are just children."

He slowly lowered his sword. "I was hoping for someone stronger."

Noah smiled back. "Don’t underestimate children."

Blue mana quietly flowed around his sword.

Beside him, Mary raised her wand as orange flames began gathering around its crystal.

The air gradually grew hotter.

Xavier’s smile widened.

"Perfect."

He lowered into a fighting stance.

"Come."

The battle began.