Chapter 25

As the Frost Giant loomed closer, Ruby's heart raced with both excitement and trepidation. The air felt charged, heavy with the promise of battle. She glanced at Guwa, who hovered nearby, her ethereal glow brightening the icy surroundings.

"Guwa, this one looks tough! Think we can take it?" Ruby asked, a mix of eagerness and anxiety in her voice.

"I believe in you, Ruby!" Guwa replied, her voice sparkling with encouragement. "But remember, I only have a little time left before I need to return to the amulet to recharge!"

Ruby bit her lip, glancing back at the towering figure. "Okay, we'll make this quick then! Just stay close, and I'll try to draw its attention!"

"Got it!" Guwa chirped, her eyes sparkling with determination.

The Frost Giant let out a deep, resonant roar that echoed across the icy landscape, causing Ruby to steel herself. "Here goes nothing!"

With a burst of speed, Ruby charged forward, her sword raised high. "<Silver Strike>!" she shouted, unleashing a radiant wave of energy toward the giant.

The Frost Giant brought its massive arm down to swat Ruby away, but she ducked under the blow, rolling to the side just in time. "Whoa, that was close!" she exclaimed, scrambling back to her feet.

"Watch out for its swings!" Guwa called out, her voice laced with urgency. "You need to be quicker!"

"Thanks for the tip!" Ruby grinned, feeling her adrenaline spike. She knew she needed to be strategic. "Let's try to hit it from the sides!"

With Guwa's encouragement fueling her, Ruby darted around the giant, looking for an opening. She delivered quick strikes to its ankles, trying to bring it down to her level.

"<Silver Slash>!" she yelled, slicing into the giant's leg. The magic radiated from her blade, but the giant hardly flinched.

"It's tough!" Ruby panted, glancing back at Guwa, who was starting to dim slightly. "How much longer do you have?"

"Just a few minutes! I'll try to give you a boost!" Guwa responded, focusing her energy. "But I can't maintain it for long. You need to finish this quickly!"

"Understood! Let's do this!" Ruby charged again, her resolve stronger than ever. "Hey, big guy! Over here!" she taunted, dodging another swing of the giant's arm.

The Frost Giant roared in response, turning its attention toward Ruby. She felt a rush of triumph; she was getting through!

"Now, Guwa!" Ruby called. "Use your magic to distract it!"

"<Illusionary Mirage>!" Guwa shouted, creating several ghostly copies of Ruby that danced around the giant, drawing its focus. The real Ruby seized the moment, lunging in for another strike.

"<Silver Strike>!" she shouted, channeling her magic into the blow. This time, the giant staggered back, a deep gash appearing on its arm.

"Yes! It's working!" Ruby cheered, her confidence surging. "We can do this!"

But as Ruby continued her assault, Guwa's light flickered more and more. "Ruby, I need to return now!" she gasped, her voice strained. "I can't maintain the mirage any longer!"

"Just a bit more! I'm almost there!" Ruby shouted back, dodging a heavy punch that sent ice shards flying.

"No! I have to go!" Guwa replied, her form shimmering. "You're doing amazing, but I can't help anymore. You'll need to rely on yourself!"

"Guwa, wait! I—" Ruby's plea was cut short as Guwa's form began to fade, and with a final, shimmering burst of light, she disappeared, returning to the amulet.

"Guwa!" Ruby exclaimed, her heart sinking momentarily. But she couldn't afford to be distracted. The Frost Giant was recovering, and she needed to finish what they started.

"Okay, Ruby," she said to herself, breathing heavily as she faced the giant alone. "You can do this. You've trained for moments like this. Just focus!"

She narrowed her eyes, assessing the giant as it regained its footing. She felt a surge of energy from the previous battles and the adrenaline pumping through her veins.

"I can't let this go to waste!" Ruby shouted defiantly. "<Ice Cloak>!"

The icy barrier surrounded her once more, fortifying her against the giant's attacks. She could feel the magic coursing through her, and with renewed determination, she launched herself at the Frost Giant, dodging its swings and weaving between its legs.

"<Silver Slash>!" Ruby cried out, the blade glowing with power as she struck at the giant's vulnerable spots.

With each successful hit, Ruby felt a rush of confidence. She was no longer just the girl who relied on her companions. She was becoming a warrior in her own right, using every lesson learned to fuel her strength.

"I won't back down!" Ruby shouted, the determination in her voice unwavering. "This ends now!"

With one final strike, she channeled all her remaining magic into her sword. "<Final Silver Strike>!" The blade glimmered with the full force of her Silver Eyes, and Ruby swung with all her might, aiming for the Frost Giant's heart.

The energy exploded upon impact, enveloping the giant in a radiant light. For a moment, everything was silent, the world around her frozen in awe.

When the light faded, the Frost Giant collapsed, its massive form crashing to the ground in defeat. Ruby stood panting, heart racing, looking up at the fallen creature.

She gasped, exhilaration washing over her but, at the same time, she felt a twinge of fatigue from the effort. She glanced at her status window, noticing that her experience points had significantly increased, edging her closer to the next level.

"Time to gather the materials and continue forward," Ruby said to herself, a smile creeping onto her face.

===========

As Ruby ventured deeper into the frozen wasteland of the 59th floor, she felt the temperature drop even further. The icy winds howled around her, chilling her to the bone. Though her silver eyes helped her navigate the blizzard, she knew that every moment spent in the open was a risk.

Suddenly, a loud rumble echoed through the air, causing Ruby to freeze in place. The ground trembled beneath her feet, and from the depths of the snow and ice, a colossal figure emerged. It was an Ice Behemoth, towering over Ruby with glacial blue skin, jagged icicles protruding from its back, and eyes like frozen sapphires that glinted menacingly.

"Great, just what I needed," Ruby muttered, her heart racing as she prepared for battle. She could feel the cold seeping into her armor, her metal gear a disadvantage in this frigid environment. The Ice Behemoth roared, sending shards of ice flying from its mouth, and charged at her with surprising speed.

Ruby's Stats:

HP: 68,500/68,500

MP: 60,500/60,500

SP: 75,900/75,900

With her mind racing, Ruby quickly activated <Ice Cloak> to bolster her defenses against the impending attack. The icy barrier enveloped her, absorbing some of the initial force of the Ice Behemoth's charge. The impact sent Ruby stumbling back, but she regained her footing.

"Alright, let's do this!" Ruby shouted, drawing her sword with determination. She summoned <Silver Strike>, the radiant wave of energy bursting forth as she aimed for the Behemoth's legs, hoping to knock it off balance. The spell struck true, causing the beast to stagger momentarily.

"You're not going to take me down that easily!" Ruby yelled, her confidence growing. She followed up with <Silver Slash>, aiming to capitalize on the momentary weakness of the creature. The spell cut through the ice, creating a dazzling display of energy.

The Ice Behemoth roared in anger, its eyes narrowing as it prepared to retaliate. It swung a massive fist toward Ruby, who barely dodged to the side. The impact created a shockwave, sending snow and ice flying everywhere.

Ruby spotted the giant icicles on the Behemoth's back. If she could break those off, it might weaken the creature significantly. Gathering her resolve, she decided to switch tactics.

"Let's try something different," Ruby said to herself, summoning <Fireball > in her hand. The flames danced brightly, contrasting sharply with the icy surroundings. "Here goes nothing!"

She hurled the <Fireball > at the Ice Behemoth, the spell exploding against its icy form. The creature let out a pained roar as the flames licked at its skin, but it quickly retaliated, raising its arm to unleash a storm of icy shards toward Ruby.

Ducking and rolling to the side, Ruby narrowly avoided the barrage. "I need to keep moving!" she shouted, adrenaline pumping through her veins. She dashed toward the Behemoth again, preparing to strike with her sword while searching for an opening.

As she approached, the Ice Behemoth swung its massive fist again, but Ruby ducked beneath the attack. With a swift motion, she aimed for one of the icicles on its back, channeling <Silver Slash> once more.

The blade connected, and with a crack, one of the icicles shattered, causing the Behemoth to stagger. "Yes!" Ruby exclaimed, feeling a surge of hope. But before she could follow up, the Ice Behemoth turned its attention back to her, its fury palpable.

"Just a little longer!" Ruby shouted, sweat dripping down her brow as she continued her assault. The Ice Behemoth was relentless, swinging its fists and sending icy shards flying. She needed to find a way to end this battle, but each attack was becoming more challenging to dodge.

Suddenly, the Behemoth unleashed a ground-shaking roar, and Ruby braced herself for the next wave of attacks. She could feel the pressure mounting, and with it, her determination flared even brighter.

"I won't back down!" Ruby shouted, gathering her magic once more. "Let's turn up the heat!"