Reforged Chapter 38: Leveling Up Through Monster Slaying

The gnolls at the front fell inexplicably. Their low intelligence couldn't comprehend the concept of progressive damage amplification.

The outermost layer was indeed a flurry of snow, but the slow pace was merely an illusion to deceive the vision of these low-intelligence creatures. As they approached the inner circle, the density of ice shards increased, growing from the size of a thumb to that of a goose egg, and even as large as bricks. These ice shards whistled as they fell from the sky, some even causing violent air turbulence.

The falling ice shards shattered on the ground, and the cold ice crystals filled the air.

The gnolls were unknowingly numbed by the piercing cold, not even realizing that what fell on their heads were not small hailstones but long, almost icicle-like ice shards.

Several foolhardy gnolls thought they could charge through the killing zone created by the ice storm with their small shields, but they met the same fate as their predecessors, impaled by the falling ice spikes.

Marco and his companions initially held their breath, nervously raising their shields and swords as they watched the gnolls attack.

Instead, they saw the gnolls charge under Hogger's roar, then collapse... charge again... and collapse again...

It seemed as though the creatures charging at them weren't the terrifying monsters that could kill them but rather fat pigs being sent to the slaughterhouse.

The group began to notice that the not-so-wide ice storm ring surrounded them without harming them. The density of the ice shards varied according to the intensity of the gnolls' attacks.

It felt like the mage in the carriage could run out of mana at any moment, and the exaggerated defensive circle might collapse. However, that never happened. Each time the density of the ice shards dropped, as if they couldn't kill even one more gnoll, the mage's mana seemed to be miraculously replenished, and the density of the ice shards returned to normal.

Under Hogger's furious roars, the gnolls repeatedly attempted to scatter and regroup, launching attacks against Marco and his companions. But without exception, they became frozen corpses within the ice storm ring.

From their initial trepidation, the group eventually became somewhat numb.

It was as if the creatures assaulting their defensive circle weren't the minions of the "Nightmare of Elwynn Forest" but a group of sheep abandoned by their shepherd in a snowy wasteland.

Some even began to speculate how much bounty the gnolls' claws could fetch.

Marco's son, full of youthful excitement, recklessly extended his sword to test the power of the nearby ice storm.

"No—!" Marco's face changed drastically, imagining his son falling like those foolish gnolls, turned into an ice statue.

After all, in his eyes, not even those famed sky mages or even the Morningstar mages could have such precise control.

Unexpectedly, as the sword extended, the ice storm's circle bulged outward, forming a small outer ring.

"Hey!"

Before he could feel smug, his father suddenly yanked him back.

"Dad, I'm not... hurt?!"

The young man's eyes widened in disbelief. If his father hadn't pulled him back, he would be a corpse by now.

Just a few fingers' width away, a makeshift giant axe made of a flagpole and a stone swept past his face. The sand and ice shards kicked up by the axe's swipe brushed his forehead, leaving several bloody ice shard cuts—he couldn't imagine what would have happened if he had taken the blow head-on.

Probably, his head, neck, and even the theoretically protective helmet would have been instantly obliterated, becoming an indistinguishable mess of flesh and metal.

Marco chastised his son, emphasizing the importance of not underestimating the power of the ice storm. The group continued to watch as the gnolls charged, only to be taken down by the relentless ice storm time and time again.

As the battle persisted, the adventurers slowly gained confidence in their situation, realizing that the mage's power seemed limitless. The ice storm's strength remained consistent, allowing them to focus on their defense rather than being overwhelmed by the gnolls' attacks.

Despite their growing confidence, the group remained cautious, understanding that the situation could change in an instant. The gnolls continued to test the ice storm's limits, searching for weaknesses or a lapse in the mage's concentration. The adventurers knew they couldn't rely solely on the ice storm for their survival; they needed to adapt and work together to overcome the relentless gnoll onslaught.

As the hours wore on, the number of gnoll corpses piled up around the ice storm, creating an eerie frozen graveyard. The adventurers knew they couldn't keep this up forever, but they were determined to use this opportunity to level up and strengthen their abilities.

For now, the ice storm held strong, shielding them from the worst of the gnolls' attacks. But they understood that their true strength would come from their teamwork, courage, and perseverance in the face of danger.

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