Powerful Combination

Ellis stood at the end of the narrow pass looking across the large frozen lake in front of him. He had thought of a way to get across, but it was going to be risky. He was no match for the snake at this point, so his plan was to outrun it.

As he journeyed down the mountain, he practiced using Partial Lightning State as much as he could without overdoing it. He had gotten to the point where he could maintain it for 40 seconds and with enough anima in reserve to not pass out afterward. He also discovered when he used Partial Lightning State in conjunction with the thousand year radiant berry wine, he could increase the amount of time he could use Partial Lightning State by 10%, which added on additional 4 seconds to his total time in his enhanced form. The thousand year radiant berry wine also had the effect of increasing his speed even further.

With 44 seconds of Partial Lightning State, I should barely be able to cover the entire length of the frozen lake at full speed as long as nothing goes wrong. Hopefully, I'll be to the other side before the snake even breaks through the ice.

Before when he had crossed the frozen lake, he had been walking for six minutes before the Ice Naga decided to ruin his day, but there was no telling if the giant snake would wait so long this time. In addition to practicing his Partial Lightning State as he went down the mountain, he also crafted some spikes that he wrapped around his boots for more grip on the ice. They were crafted from the Iron-like wood of the Ironbark Evil Tree's he came across and extra leather he had.

"Ok... I can do this."

Ellis pepped himself up as he stretched his body in preparation for the sprint of his life ahead of him. He was going to have to run full force without making any mistakes and without encountering the Ice Naga.

After he finished stretching, he took a swig of the thousand year radiant berry wine and let its full effects warm his body before checking to make sure he got the boost. He then got as close as he could to the edge of the frozen lake and looked out over it. He couldn't see any traces of the Ice Naga under the layer of ice, but it was sure to show up once he started running.

"Be kind to me giant snake monster!"

Ellis activated Partial Lightning State and flashed forward with as much speed as he could manage on the slippery ice. Even with the spikes on his boots, it was still easy to lose his balance. Each step cracked the ice underneath of him, leaving foot shaped cracks in the ice below.

A quarter of the way there.

Ellis's heavy footsteps pounded and echoed around the frozen lake in the valley. There was no way the Ice Naga hadn't heard him yet. It was only a matter of time before it showed up. Hopefully, when it appeared it would appear behind him.

Halfway across the frozen lake.

Ellis had just enough anima to reach the other side without passing out and if anything happed he could only afford a one second delay. There was still no sign of the Ice Naga, he was feeling good.

Three quarters of the way to the end of the frozen lake.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ellis noticed the large shimmering white body of the Ice Naga underneath the ice in front of him to the right. The large white body slithered through the water with ease as it tried to intersect Ellis's path.

Shit. It's trying to cut me off!

Ellis pushed his Partial Lightning State as far as it would go. He had to make it to the before the snake broke through the ice in front of him and blocked his path. If that happened he would be done for. Ellis was just a few seconds away from the end of the frozen lake when the ground below him cracked and shot up into the air. The sheet of ice he was standing on rose up into the air preventing him from moving forward and Ellis swung he arms around to regain his balance. He was lucky he had on the spiked shoes or he surely would have slipped and fallen into the icy water below, becoming a snack for the gigantic white snake.

The Ice Naga and Ellis had made it to the same place at the same time. As Ellis wobble around, the sheet of ice he was standing began to slide down the monsters long back, propelling him forward toward the exit.

"Nice! Stupid monster you helped me out."

Ellis jumped off the sheet of ice and began to run the rest of the way to the exit while the Ice Naga looked around with a confused look on its face before it finally noticed Ellis almost at the exit. The Ice Naga ripped through the ice at max speed and hissed loudly as it gained on him. Ellis reached the snowy bank of the frozen lake and then dove behind large jagged rock expecting the monster to attack, but nothing came. Ellis peaked out from behind the rock and noticed the Ice Naga had stopped right at the edge of the water. Only the monster's head reached out of the monster and over the snowy ground. Ellis stared the monster down, but it only hissed in displeasure.

It probably isn't able to move normally outside of water.

Ellis thought to himself as he watched the monster glare at him.

"Ha! You're not so big and bad on solid ground, are you?"

Ellis mocked the Ice Naga as he pulled his bottom eyelid down and made a face at the monster that had caused him so much trouble. He wasn't able to fight it currently so mocking it would have to do. It was the reason he almost died, even if it hadn't wounded him directly.

The Ice Naga hissed as it conjured up a massive icicle above its head and sent it flying at Ellis.

Ellis's eyes widened as he quickly ducked back behind the jagged rock and braced himself.

Damn! I forgot it could do that!

BOOM!

The rock shook and part of it crumbled as it blocked the attack from the Ice Naga. A cold frosty mist surrounded Ellis as the ice spike was reduced to nothing.

Ellis hid behind the rock waiting for more ice spikes to come and destroy the rest of the rock but nothing came. After making sure nothing was coming, he slowly peeked his head out around the rocked and saw that the monster had disappeared into the frigid water of the lake. Ellis breathed out a sigh of relief as he left the cover of the rock.

"I'll be back for you, don't worry!"

Ellis hollered out at the frozen lake before he turned and started down the last half of the mountain.