‎A day later, Kyle set out to complete the task and strike the requirement from his list of utterly meaningless objectives. In all honesty, apart from hunting, he had nothing else to occupy his time with, and this mission merely served as another excuse to stay busy. Yet since it still revolved around hunting, it hardly qualified as anything different.

‎Eventually, Bethel had agreed to let him keep the Essence cores obtained from slaying the Cursed rank Titan types, though he insisted that Kyle bring back their heads as proof of the kills.

‎Setting aside the matter of the two Titan type creatures, the entry requirement, which Kyle knew Bethel had simply fabricated on the spot, assuming he would cower and flee like a frightened cat, was rather straightforward.

‎Fifty Glassfang rats... that hardly counted as a challenge for him anymore. Their only notable advantage lay in their keen sense of smell, particularly for blood. Beyond that, Kyle doubted they even deserved to be classified as Brute type creatures. Perhaps there had been some error in their ranking.

‎'Yeah. That sounds just about right,' Kyle agreed with his own thoughts, nodding as he climbed the hill, a faint grin forming on his face.

‎For this task, he had brought only a single bag and nothing else. Unlike before, his body was free from the mingled scents of blood and dirt, largely because he now bathed daily, ate well, slept comfortably, and was, by all means, living the dream life he had once longed for.

‎It had been nearly a month since he last met the other three. Due to the confidential nature of their mission, they had agreed to act as strangers within the Citadel to avoid attracting suspicion. Any slip could easily unravel their entire plan in an instant.

‎Still, his life wasn't as unbearable as it once had been. The only persistent thorn was the loneliness. He had no one to converse with, and even his gradually improving social skills had begun to fade. After all, the only "friend" he saw every day hardly knew how to respond to him...

‎...Bask. The only thing it ever did when summoned was stare at him like a statue while he talked endlessly, receiving nothing that could spark even the faintest hint of a conversation. After hours of one-sided chatter, he would eventually tire and dismiss the being.

‎Kyle was now surveying the terrain below. Due to a recent environmental phenomenon that had brought about an endless winter, though its intensity had lessened since the first day, the land had transformed into a frozen expanse. At present, it resembled an ordinary winter, one that showed no intention of relenting anytime soon.

‎The ground was thickly blanketed in snow, and the surrounding mountains had become towering white pillars. Even the once magnificent body of water, spanning half the size of an ocean and known for boosting one's stamina by a single point per cup consumed, had now turned entirely to ice. For a fleeting moment, he thought of joking that the beautiful stranger's cousin had come for a visit.

‎However, with no one to share the joke with, he dismissed the thought with a scowl.

‎"Damn it. I didn't realise until today just how unbearably dull my life has become over the past month," he muttered under his breath before sitting down at the edge of the snow-covered hill.

‎Ahead, he could clearly see the two Cursed rank Titan-type creatures roaming the land with slow, thunderous steps, each movement sending deep reverberations through the frozen ground.

‎From this distance, he identified their species as Loderons. They stood nearly twenty metres tall, their bodies encased in thick crimson carapaces that gleamed faintly beneath the pale light. Their limbs were broad and jointed, ending in massive, serrated claws capable of pulverising stone. The armour plating across their forms was uneven and ridged, with jagged lines running down their shoulders and backs. Their narrow, angular faces bore small recessed eyes that glowed dimly beneath their shell.

‎'Ugh. This will be troublesome if even one of them turns out to be a hybrid with an Elemental or Venom trait.'

‎Kyle had once tested his StarGod Twin Daggers against such carapaces before, and they had sliced through with ease. However, the problem was strength. As these creatures grew in power, so too did their natural defences. The one whose armour he had pierced before had been only a Dire rank. These two, on the other hand, were far stronger… or perhaps not?

‎Well, the thing was that he wasn't planning to face the two creatures himself. His true target was the Glassfang rats, while Bask would handle the Titans.

‎Kyle stood up with a faint smirk and murmured under his breath:

‎"Reveal yourself."

‎Behind him, the air distorted, and a tall, shadowy figure emerged, its form solidifying into a being of darkness wielding a massive greatsword. Bask moved to Kyle's side, its attention fixed on the two towering creatures in the distance, the same ones its master was observing with measured curiosity.

‎After a brief silence, Kyle summoned his own weapons and turned away, walking leisurely down the snowy hill. One dagger rested playfully on his shoulder while he twirled the other between his fingers with absent grace.

‎"Slay them and bring back their heads. You may consume the Essence cores," he ordered softly.

‎Without hesitation, Bask launched forward, cutting through the air with such ferocity that the snow erupted into a flurry behind it. Kyle turned back, unable to resist the pull of curiosity, and ran to the edge of the hill to witness the spectacle of Bask descending upon the two Titans.

‎'Oh gods, I wish I had a refreshment to enjoy this scene,' he thought inwardly with deep regret. This was truly a sight deserving an audience.

‎Bask landed heavily upon the snow, sending a short tremor rippling through the ground.

‎Sensing the sudden disturbance in their territory, the two Loderons turned towards the source and released deep, guttural sounds that echoed through the icy air.

‎Their massive claws flexed, opening and closing as they began to advance, each step shattering the frozen ground beneath them.

‎Bask, undaunted, moved forward to meet them, its sword held low and steady as it prepared for the clash.

‎The first Loderon swung one of its claws toward Bask, the force of the attack shattering a section of the frozen ground. Yet Bask had already slipped aside. It stepped in close and lifted its sword in a single fluid motion, severing the creature's arm cleanly. The limb crashed onto the snow and lay still. Without pause, Bask leapt upward, twisting its wrist as it struck again. The blade carved across the Loderon's chest, scattering ashen blood over the snow-laced earth. The weapon sliced through the carapace without resistance, and the creature collapsed in a single motion. After a brief spasm, it lay still.

‎The second Loderon lunged from the side, both claws raised to crush its foe. Bask took a swift step backward, letting the claws slam into the ground with a thunderous crack. The instant they struck, Bask surged forward and swung upward from the waist. The sword pierced beneath the creature's chest and exited through its shoulder in one clean arc. The Loderon froze for a heartbeat, then toppled forward. Bask moved aside effortlessly, avoiding the falling mass.

‎Both creatures lay motionless on the snow. Bask approached the first one, raised its sword, and drove it straight through the head. It repeated the action on the second. When the task was done, it withdrew the blade and inspected both bodies to ensure no further movement. The faint light beneath their shells faded gradually into nothing.

‎Bask then crouched, severing both heads with two precise strokes before absorbing their Essence cores. Holding the heads by the base of their carapaces, it stood silently for a brief moment, its gaze lifting toward its distant master.

‎From the hilltop, Kyle had watched the entire battle unfold. He noted how swiftly it ended and recognised that there had been no meaningful resistance. Bask had carried out his order perfectly. When the dark figure turned its eyes upward, Kyle inclined his head in acknowledgment.

‎Moments later, Bask began its return through the snow, the severed heads of the two Loderons swaying in its grasp as proof of the kill.

‎"Well, time to move to the next phase, baddy."

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