After wiping his lips from the blood he spat out, clearing his mouth of the excess fluid, Lassim charged and countered with a swift strike from his halberd as he aimed for the yeti’s exposed side.
The halberd’s rune-charged blade met the massive yeti’s thick hide, cutting into it and drawing a spurt of dark blood. The yeti howled in pain and rage, its eyes glowing with an icy blue light.
Lassim could feel the beast’s power radiating from it, a tangible force that made the air and falling snow and sleet around them shudder with energy.
Thinking quickly, he summoned his [Aegis] shield just in time to block a retaliatory swing from the yeti’s other fist, the force of the blow sending him skidding back several feet, thankfully not as bad as the first time since he was more prepared. However, the ice he formed around himself with [Aegis] shattered as if it was a brittle pane of glass and fell to the ground.
Gritting his teeth, Lassim pushed forward, using his [Tempest Steps] to close the distance between them in a flash. He brought his halberd down in a powerful [Slash], aiming for the yeti’s shoulder this time.
The yeti moved with surprising agility for its size, twisting its body to avoid the blow and countering with a backhanded swipe that caught Lassim across the chest.
The impact knocked him face first into a snow pile at the edge of the cave’s entrance. As soon as he absorbed the blow, he felt a few ribs crack under the immense force.
Lassim stumbled back to his feet, gasping for breath, his left hand clutching his chest and the halberd in his right.
The yeti did not relent, pressing its advantage with a series of rapid punches and swipes. The nails on the yeti’s blue and hairy hands were long and razor sharp.
Lassim ducked and weaved, his halberd spinning in his hands as he deflected some of the blows and struck back with his own attacks. He activated [Lightning Lash], sending a crackling whip of lightning at the yeti. The lightning struck the beast, causing it to roar in pain as the electricity coursed through its body, briefly paralyzing its movements.
Taking advantage of the opening, Lassim lunged forward with a powerful [Thrust], aiming for the yeti’s heart. The halberd’s tip pierced the yeti’s chest, but its thick hide and powerful muscles prevented the blow from reaching deep enough to be fatal.
This was truly a Spirit Transcendent level beast and it came with all of the enhancements that would come with being two entire stages above Lassim’s current Spirit Transformation stage.
Normally, if he hadn’t had his divine mana enhancing his physique for several years and trained in Khaalseru’s realm and he was just like any other Spirit Transformation stage spirit warrior, he’d have long perished in the first attack without knowing what struck him.
The yeti roared again, this time with a mix of pain and fury as blood dripped down from where the lightning bolt and halberd’s piercing attack had struck with his [Thrust], and brought both fists down in a hammer-like blow as he was still in close range.
Lassim barely managed to roll out of the way, the ground where he had stood a moment ago exploding in a shower of snow and ice.
The yeti’s eyes glowed brighter, and the temperature around them dropped sharply as the beast summoned its ice elemental control. Icy winds whipped around them, and jagged spears of ice formed in the air, shooting towards Lassim with deadly precision. Lassim conjured another [Aegis] shield, but the ice spears shattered it on impact, forcing him to dodge and weave to avoid being skewered.
He countered the onslaught with a [Slam], bringing his halberd down on the ground and sending a shockwave in the form of a tidal wave of water and lightning enhanced energy towards the yeti.
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The tsunami connected with the yeti, throwing it off balance and giving Lassim another momentary respite. He took the opportunity to catch his breath, his mind racing as he tried to devise a strategy to overcome the beast’s overwhelming strength and elemental power.
Lassim’s body ached from the numerous blows he had taken, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could feel the strain of the battle wearing on him, his stamina draining with each passing moment due to the broken rib.
His cultivation energy circulated wildly through his internal organs and body to speed up the healing process, but he was sorely lacking in the form of any healing abilities to maintain this level of intensity while absorbing the full power blows of a Spirit Transcendent opponent. It was truly a miracle that he was still alive and even able to damage the beast as well.
The yeti’s situation, despite its injuries, seemed to be in a much better place as it was fueled by its rage. Its movements were becoming more frenzied and aggressive.
The yeti charged again, this time with a series of rapid, crushing blows. Lassim parried and dodged as best he could, but the sheer power behind the yeti’s attacks was relentless. He struck back with a [Slash], opening another wound, this time on the beast’s right arm, but the yeti barely seemed to notice, its focus entirely on pummeling Lassim into the ground.
Lassim knew he needed to change tactics. He couldn’t match the yeti’s raw power, but he could outmaneuver as he had noticed he was capable of a slightly higher speed than the yeti and that he had better agility.
Using [Tempest Steps], he darted around the yeti, striking at its legs and sides with quick, precise blows. The yeti roared in frustration, its massive fists swinging wildly as it tried to catch the elusive warrior.
Lassim then executed a series of rapid [Thrusts], each strike aimed at the yeti’s joints and weaker points. The halberd’s blade bit into the yeti’s flesh, drawing blood and weakening its movements. But the yeti’s hide was incredibly thick, and despite the numerous wounds, it continued to fight with undiminished ferocity.
It’s stamina was truly beast-like and the "death by a thousand cuts" strategy didn’t seem to be having any noticeable effects.
The yeti raised its arms, summoning another wave of ice spears. Lassim prepared to dodge, but this time the yeti combined its elemental power with its physical strength, launching the ice spears with the force of a cannon as it punched them in rapid fire towards him.
Lassim’s eyes widened as he realized he couldn’t avoid them all. He raised his [Aegis] shield, bracing himself for the impact. Mari enhanced the [Aegis] as best as she could to support Lassim by charging the mana into the technique as well.
The ice spears shattered against the shield this time with the additional help, but the force of the blow sent Lassim tumbling backwards. He again landed hard. The impact jarring his already bruised and battered body.
The yeti was on him in an instant, its massive fists descending like hammers. Lassim rolled to the side once more, narrowly avoiding being crushed, and Zaphy controlled the mana in the halberd to counter with a [Lightning Lash] of her own to save Lassim at the last second.
The whip of lightning wrapped around the yeti’s arm, sending another jolt of electricity through its body.
The yeti roared in pain, but it also seemed to grow more enraged. It tore free from the lightning whip, its eyes blazing with fury. Lassim knew he was running out of time. He needed to end this fight before the yeti’s relentless attacks overwhelmed him. He was going to die if he didn’t do something outrageous.
Summoning all his strength, Lassim launched himself at the yeti with a powerful [Slam], this time using nearly all of his reserves of divine mana, despite Khaalseru’s warning, and aimed for its head.
The halberd’s blade struck true, embedding itself in the yeti’s skull with such a divinely powerful force that it shook the entire mountain range.
The beast staggered, its roars turning to a pained groan as it struggled to stay on its feet. Lassim pulled the halberd free, preparing for another strike.
But the yeti, driven by sheer willpower and truly a Spirit Transcendent level beast, managed to swing one last, desperate punch.
The blow caught Lassim square in the forehead, sending him flying backwards. He crashed into the snow, the punch sending his head spinning. His vision blurred, and he struggled to get back on his feet.
Through the haze of pain, Lassim saw the yeti stumbling, its strength waning. It was injured, but still dangerously powerful. Lassim knew he had a choice to make. He could continue to fight and risk being killed, or he could retreat and live to fight another day.
Gritting his teeth, Lassim made his decision. He summoned his [Lightning Lash] one final time, the whip of lightning wrapping around the yeti’s legs and sending a paralyzing jolt through its body. The yeti roared in pain, collapsing to its knees.
With the beast temporarily incapacitated, Lassim activated [Tempest Steps] and turned, retreating towards the other side of the mountain towards the side with his destination in the south.
He moved with blinding speed, the landscape a blur around him as he put as much distance as possible between himself and the yeti. His energy reserves weren’t able to fully utilize [Tempest Steps] to maintain the lightning bolt form, only enhance his footspeed.
He tripped and fell several times, rolling down the mountainside but was able to catch himself midroll and continue forward when it happened.
As he fled, Lassim couldn’t help but feel a mix of relief and frustration. He had survived the encounter with an opponent two entire stages higher than him, but the yeti had proven to be a formidable opponent that pushed him to his absolute limit. He vowed to grow stronger, to prepare for the challenges that lay ahead.
For now, though, survival was paramount. He needed to quickly get away from the beast and find a way to recover and heal. He really wished he had some healing battle arts with his water element, and regretted not learning any during his time at the academy when he had full access to the Library.
Lassim continued his journey, his determination unshaken, but his pride a tad wounded. He at least had a new goal in mine for what technique he wanted to focus on next. Before that, he really needed to heal his broken ribs and rest enough for the dizziness to go away.