Ethan pulled the elves back with his chains that stood too close to the demonic looking creature. It was easily over two meters tall, its hands more claws of a predator. While Ethan reacted fast the monster was faster, killing three elves in the blink of an eye. He managed to get the rest to safety, his breathing growing laboured as he expended more mana, he got down to one knee and only kept the most basic defense up, his ice soldiers that helped to hold the lines now formed a curved wall in front of him and the elves, they in turn had their bows raised or wands at the ready to cast buffs and heals. One of them threw a blue glowing orb at Ethan and he felt his mana regeneration increase. He gave her a nod before focusing back on their new enemy.

Lorena had pulled back too, now standing in front of Ethan, her broken bow at her feet, the cracked spear in hand. With his raised mana regeneration Ethan he made weapons, spears and shields that looked simple enough but should hold for a while. The soldiers got buffs applied to them, regenerating their cracked bodies while the monster just stood there.

It rotated its shoulders, moved its neck from left to right and took some deep breaths before speaking to them, the elven blood still dripping from its long claws as multiple voices tried to fight for supremacy, the female voice winning out again in the end, with the others lingering in the background.

"We offer you a way out of this situation, our interest lies in the seraphic being behind you, just walk away and nobody will be hurt or you can stay and ignore our warning but then…" the being licked it's claws clean with a long black tongue, dripping with saliva. "...you will all die here and lose everything. Make your choice now."

The elves' postures got tense and they looked at Lorena, she was the oldest and had the most experience in the field but she looked as lost as the others. Protecting the guardian or rescuing her people, both options would lead to death. Torn between both sides Ethan stepped forward confidently, buffs for regeneration swirling around him as he gently grabbed Lorena's shoulder and pulled her back. Taking her place at the front. Ethan would try to defeat this being, while he could use [The Abyss of Winter] he wasn't sure it would even work on the being in front of him.

He took his stance and slammed the ice staff into the ground, a coat of ice spread outward from it, the staff glowing pale blue. Chains crept from the ground, like snakes they moved around. Forming a protective wall between the beast and the elves, his snake-like eyes unflinching as he sized the creature up.

"I'm not sure I can defeat you beast, but I'm sure I can control you…lock you up. I have an ultimatum too. Leave this place and never return or become a prisoner without a chance to escape."

The monster laughed and without hesitation tried to grab Ethan by the throat, its hand coming to a shaking stop as multiple chains wrapped around its arm, holding it away from Ethan. His soldiers acted with him, sword held tight in their cold hands, pressed against the beast's skin, covering its black flesh in frost.

"I'm not strong enough to kill you, but don't worry…we will find a nice spot for you where you can argue with yourself about your failures."

The monster snarled and ripped its arm away from the chains, jumping three steps back and finally it looked at Ethan as a threat, not as a bug that needed to be squashed. His soldiers pulled back, forming a tight wall. Ethan slammed his staff into the ground again, more chains snaking from the ground, big meat hooks getting dragged over the uneven ground. He slowly walked forward, Nora who was wrapped around his shoulder started at the amalgamation.

"Decide monster, I give you the chance to cross this line and claim the price you seek but I will not hesitate to act." He opened his arms wide, the dozens of chains rattled, leaking frozen mana. "Come at me because I'm in control!" he cried his challenge out. The elves formed a wall around the sphere but stayed away, only the mages provided buffs when their mana allowed it.

The monster growled and jumped at Ethan, claws outstretched as it cried in defiance. "Die you worthless mortal! I won't let this price slip away from me! Ascension will be mine!" Its red eyes started at Ethan in hate but he was prepared.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Jumping back two soldiers took his place, while they got crushed instantly it bought Ethan the precious second he needed. The staff in his hand turned into a lance, its tip covered in barbs, he pulled it back, two more soldiers grabbing the long shaft and pushing forward with him. What made the trap succeed was the ton of chains wrapping around the monster's arms, legs, neck and torso. With three people pushing the lance slammed into the chest of the beast, the opening where the heart should be acted as a guide. They managed to penetrate a few inches into its black flesh.

Ethan let go of the lance, the soldiers still trying to go deeper, chains started to rip apart while he created a hammer and with all his might he slammed it on the ending of the lance, the eternal ice holding as it got pushed into the monster's chest.

It gasped, the lance covered in barbs was stuck inside of it. With the eight remaining soldiers Ethan cornered the beast for now, more chains erupting from the ground while he activated his aura and the [Frozen Prison of the Progenitor] at the same time. The elves, equipped with spears or shortswords, streamed towards the monsters, cutting apart tendons and muscles. While it regenerated quickly it couldn't get rid of the meat hooks and lance stuck inside of it.

In the end the evil spirits looked like it was covered in a shell of chains and ice, forced to its knees. While it struggled constantly Ethan managed to contain it for now, the mana regeneration buffs he received made it possible, without it could escape for sure. He was glad that his [Arctic Reinforcement] seemed to be working on his chains too. When he had some mana to spare he created two new soldiers, giving them thick chains with hooks at the end that they pierced through the monsters neck, one pulling left the other right.

Ethan sat down on a block of ice, Lorena rushed over to him and pushed a water skin and some dried meat into his hand, her eyes wandered to the beast and then back to Ethan. "How long do you think this will hold it in place?" She flinched when a chain snapped loudly only for another to appear and take its place.

He looked up to her, sweat dripping from his forehead as small drops of ice, he looked tired but confident. Before answering he ate some meat and chilled the water skin, drinking the now cold water. "A while, with the mages providing mana I can keep going for a while…how long I don't know. As long as needed I suppose." he gently touched her hand, she was bruised and beaten, while Ethan was spared physical injuries as he finally stood in the back like a wizard is supposed to. His channels were strained and he had to balance carefully for what he wanted to use his mana.

Time remaining in the tutorial: 04:20:27:09

Ethan looked at the tutorial timer and sighed, five more days until the portal would open above him. While he wanted to use the last few days to relax he wasn't sure that would happen now. He cracked his neck and noticed another notification waiting for him. Curious, he opened it.

[Eternal Chains of Frostrot(Expert)] -> [Eternal Chains of Domination(Master)]

[Eternal Chains of Domination (Master)]

[Harnessing the unyielding power of eternal ice, the wizard summons unbreakable chains of shimmering frost that serve as their primary tools for control and domination. With a commanding gesture, they unleash tendrils of icy energy that lash out across the battlefield, weaving chains that latch onto enemies, immobilizing and subduing them with relentless precision. These frostbound chains not only restrain foes but also amplify the wizard's presence, forcing enemies into submission and disrupting their movements. Only those stronger or more resilient than the wizard can break free from these icy bonds, making it a formidable tool for asserting dominance, maintaining battlefield control, and suppressing opponents with an unshakeable grip of ice.]

His skill updated, losing his now useless necrotic damage and focusing on his main goal, control over his enemies. Once he accepted the change he felt something change inside of him. It felt like thin chains wrapped itself around his mana channels, he gasped as suddenly the amount of control he needed was diminished, his mana flowed better like the chains helped keep it at a steady pace. He not only controlled his enemies better but also himself. With his main skill now at master rank, a rank he never saw before he was confident he could even kill this beast. He just needed to plan it. His eyes wandered to the Ritualism skill, one of the skills he wanted to upgrade badly, maybe now was the chance.

Smiling he stood up, feeling lighter on his feet as he walked over to the beast. "I changed my mind…you will die here on this very mountain."

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