Chapter 19 : The Last Winter IV

"It's time to start," blood glimmered in his eyes.

There is a significant difference between the "Nightmare" trial and the "Dream" trial.

Essentially, Nightmare and Dream represent the difficulty levels of the trials, with Nightmare being the hardest. Only individuals who are extraordinarily powerful as mortals are chosen for this trial.

In the novel , even Liam and Emma, who were considered prodigies, were not selected for the Nightmare trial—they didn't qualify.

Only the hero, that one, the firstborn and secondborn of the Vorhelm family, and a few other characters were chosen for the Nightmare trial, which highlights their strength.

In the Nightmare trial, nothing is simulated. Both Jamal and Victor, as well as the One-Eyed Winter, are entirely real, with independent thought and will.

Moreover, this Beast of corruption is particularly unique. The One-Eyed Winter often hunts other Beasts of corruption.

This is why this beast of corruption has been shunned by its own kind.

From the very beginning, he was suspicious of the three creatures imprisoned alongside him in the mountains.

As a result, he killed one of them without hesitation to confirm his suspicion. As expected, they were indeed beasts of corruption.

This specific species of beasts of corruption possesses an extraordinary ability to shapeshift. They can transform into any being—be it human, elf, or even dragon.

Like the One-Eyed Winter, these creatures also lives in cold, mountainous regions.

ROAR!

"Hmm? Looks like it's coming," Daniel raised his head slightly and looked at the mountain.

The sky had turned dark, and now the entire mountainous region was its home. A single mistake would cost him his life.

Unfortunately, death in the awakening process meant death in the real world as well. If he failed, he would lose both his chance for revenge and his second life.

One by one, he picked up the bodies of the two corrupted creatures, carried them to the frozen river, and placed them on the ice.

After glancing around to ensure there were no problems, he retrieved one of the materials he had gathered to build the trap—a liquid known as Black Gold—and drenched the entire surface of the river with it.

"It smells awful."

To make sure the stench of Black Gold didn't trigger the One-Eyed Winter's instincts or make it sense danger, Daniel used a type of leaf called Mistleaf and placed several of them at the four corners of the river.

He then stood back and admired his masterpiece.

"I'm truly a genius," he smirked smugly and then looked up at the dark sky.

"If I'm not mistaken, the Minor mission must be to kill this beast. Although, if this mission is this difficult, Heaven knows how hard the main mission will be."

ROAR! ROAR!

Suddenly, the sound of snapping trees and furious, terrifying roars echoed through the sky.

"It's here."

...

The trees crumbled one after another in its path. Its white fur swayed with the wind.

Its golden eyes gleamed, seeing everything for miles around.

However, its sense of smell was sharper than anything else at the moment. It could already smell the delicious, juicy meal waiting for it.

It moved slowly, the distance to the two fleeing demons shrinking with every step.

They thought they could escape it, but that was just an illusion. The entire mountain was its home.

There was no escaping way.

"Hope. The more hope a meal has, the tastier it will be. And fear... ah, the unmatched seasoning," its deep, guttural voice rumbled.

It could sense the smell of hope and fear. That had to be the scent of the two demons—and possibly the human, right?

"There it is," it murmured as it pushed aside two trees with its head, revealing a frozen river.

A frozen river under the moonlight, resembling a heavenly scene.

In the middle of the river lay the unconscious bodies of the two demons. Their scent was driving it mad.

A mix of fear—a scent it loved. In such a beautiful scene, it couldn't wait to rip them apart with its teeth, chew them to pieces, drink their blood, clean its teeth with their bones, and use their skulls as bowls to drink water.

It stepped forward, its paws and claws cracking the surface of the ice with each step.

"Oh, it's truly delectable," it growled, sinking its teeth into Victor's leg and tearing it off. Blood splattered across its face, painting it with crimson.

After chewing through the first leg, it moved on to the other, then to the stomach, tearing into the entrails.

"Human, do you intend to hide any longer?"

It spoke while licking Victor's heart with its tongue, its voice indifferent yet chilling to the bone.

"I truly don't understand your kind, although fond of devouring other beasts, you seems to prefer only those that resemble humans... Why is that?"

Daniel knew hiding any longer was futile and stepped out from behind the bushes.

"It's because of human organs. We prefer human-like organs to those of others But you humans stink. Eating you is revolting."

The One-Eyed Winter gazed at the first human ever to escape from it.

"You sacrificed your hand to escape. I admire your bravery. And on top of that, you've prepared such a fine meal and this magnificent scenery for me."

"As a token of gratitude, I'll grant you a fast death," it said while cleaning its face with its tongue.

"Thank you for the generosity, but it won't be necessary. After all, the one who will die isn't me."

Daniel glanced at Victor's body. Only the head and a few scattered bones remained intact.

"Heh, make sure you don't regret this later."

Before the beast could launch an attack, Daniel pulled a small piece of wood, no larger than a gold coin, from his pocket.

Although it appeared to be an ordinary piece of wood, it was anything but. This was a fragment of the Pyroash tree—a type of wood that, when in contact with Black Gold, triggers an explosion.

"That…? You human!" Of course, the One-Eyed Winter realized it immediately.