Hajime couldn't help but express an exasperated expression. He'd thought it was a sure hit, but despite the lightning-fast bullet, the target had moved in the split second before the bullet was released, missing. No, that movement was, as Hajime had said, an attempt to dodge.

"Master, it seems to be the same species as the Bachuram of the Oasis. That's not a wall, but a monster in mimicry."

"That seems to be the case. This means... everyone, be careful and treat all surrounding ice as an enemy attack."

Hajime's warning was soon proven to be correct.

“Hooaaaaaaaaaa!!”

As if spit out from the ice wall, a pack of bipedal wolves appeared.

Like Frosthawks, their bodies are composed of ice, with only their eyes emitting a piercing dark red glow. They are approximately two meters long, possess sharp claws, and emit a beast-like growl, making them perhaps bestial werewolves.

During this period, a large number of frost eagles appeared on the ceiling, and frost zombies were chasing them in the passage behind.

The vast space, comparable to a football field, was instantly filled with three types of monsters. Within a blink of an eye, the number of each type of monster swelled to several hundred or even thousands.

Without exception, the Frosthawk that had just been shattered also regenerated.

This is truly an infinite arena where one is forced to fight against endless enemies.

Then the anomalies intensified.

The crackling sound of ice shattering echoed, and at the same time, the ice wall where the magic stone was located bulged violently. Furthermore, the ice wall absorbed the surrounding ice, and its volume increased with each second.

And then, like the sound of a bell signaling war—

“Hooa ...

It opened its half-formed mouth and roared. It was an incredibly powerful greeting accompanied by a physical impact.

“—『Absolute Barrier』.”

In a hurry, Yue used space magic to form a space-blocking barrier.

This was an invisible iron wall barrier that even the highest-level defensive magic "Holy Absolute" pales in comparison, and then it shook violently.

The space shook like waves, indicating the intensity of the impact.

On the other side of the barrier, the monster with the magic stone hidden in its body has completely revealed itself.

White, icy air leaked out from its huge mouth covered with icicle-like teeth.

Every time its massive body took a step, it would vibrate violently. Its massiveness was so great that even pure ice couldn't describe it; its transparency and hardness were like diamond.

It was over twenty meters tall, its body the size of a small mountain. Its back was covered in thick armor like a carapace, and covered in countless icicles like a stingray.

If I had to describe it, it looked like a giant turtle. However, judging by its three pairs of legs, it resembled the six-legged turtle monster Abusod, used by demons, according to what Hajime and the others knew.

Or perhaps, Freed, the Captor, also created Absolde based on this monster—the Frost Giant Turtle.

"It seems this trial is testing us. Will we penetrate that guy's armor and destroy the magic stone first, or be devoured by the monsters first?"

Facing the huge and powerful Frost Turtle that looked down upon everyone, Hajime tapped his shoulder with Shurajan and responded with a beast-like look.

Feeling the chill and pressure emanating from the giant frost turtle, and taking in the surrounding situation, Guanghui and the others paled as Hajime unleashed a pressure like a cascade. As if in response to his roar, a wave of red magic power erupted in a physical impact, shattering the surrounding monsters with a single blow.

I don’t know if it was an illusion, but the Frost Turtle seemed to be shrinking.

Begin to take a step forward.

As if denying its fear of a mere human, the giant frost turtle roared once more. The surrounding monsters echoed it, unleashing a chilling murderous intent.

"Leave the small fry to me. Go ahead."

The enemies surged forward like a tide. Hajime, holding Donal and Shulak, attacked them with his gun-shaped weapons while shouting loudly.

For a moment, Guanghui and the others didn't know who he was talking to. Hajime displayed his incredible skills, destroying dozens of monsters with a single shot. But even now, his eyes were still fixed on Guanghui and the others.

It seems that he gave the Frost Turtle to Guanghui and others.

Seeing Hajime and the Giant Frost Turtle staring at each other, releasing a powerful pressure, Guanghui and the others thought the two monsters would start fighting, so they were even more stunned.

"What are you doing? This is a rare boss-level monster. Don't you just want this opportunity to prove your strength?"

"Yes, that's right, you're right!"

"Tianzhihe has the strongest firepower, so the other three will assist him and use their ultimate attack to destroy the magic stone. Until then, we will deal with the other monsters—if you retreat, I will destroy it in one fell swoop, okay?"

The corners of Hajime's mouth curled up into a defiant smile. A fire of determination burned in his eyes.

"Don't worry! I can do it too! I'll definitely defeat it! Ryuutarou, Shizuku, Suzu! Let's go!"

"Oh! Let's have a good fight!"

"I'll cover you. Watch out for the icicle on your back. I think it has some hidden meaning."

"Leave the defense to me! I'll block all attacks!"

Now was not the time to be intimidated by the monsters' aura. Their powerful voices seemed to embolden their fears. Meanwhile, as if urging them on, a silver flash streaked across the sky. The monsters crumbled to dust, and the ground was dug up, clearing a straight path towards the giant frost turtle.

"Go ahead! Don't push yourself!"

"Kaori, thank you so much!"

Guanghui and the others ran along the unobstructed road.

Suddenly, the dark red eyes of the Frost Giant Turtle emitted a strong and fierce light, and the resulting phenomenon was that the monsters regenerated at a high speed.

However, that action did not seem to be intended to prevent Guanghui and others from approaching.

The evidence was that the Frost Turtle's gaze was fixed on Shi, as if to say: It was Shi, not Kouki, who could threaten it.

"Your opponent is me—"Sky Flash Shock"!!"

Seeing the Frost Turtle's reaction, Guanghui showed an indescribable expression for a moment, and then used his special skill to make the other party look at him.

The slash of light traced a curve, spiraling forward with a powerful impact, striking the giant frost turtle's eye, which shone eerily. The slash severed the eye, while the impact widened the wound.

“Hooaaaaaaaaaa!!”

The Frost Turtle wasn't just injured in its single eye; even a portion of its head was shattered. Just as Guanghui had wished, its consciousness shifted away from Hajime. Its single eye, filled with rage, glared at Guanghui, as if to shoot him dead with its gaze. Then, it opened its mouth and released a breath.

It was a tornado-like, spiraling barrage of shattered ice—Ice Fang Breath. Anyone swallowed by it would be frozen instantly. Even if they managed to escape freezing, they would likely be shattered by the shattered ice.

However, a reliable barrier master would not allow that future to happen.

"Like flowing water, like a whirlwind—'Holy Shot: Dispersion'!!"

The highest-level compound barrier, which spreads ripples and can block and dispel various attacks, becomes more indestructible under the chanting and can block the breath of ice fangs.

A powerful impact erupted, a strong wind blew, and a hell of ice appeared before his eyes, where even the air seemed to freeze. However, the ripples of "Holy Severance: Dispersion" spread, successfully dispelling Absolute Zero's lethal attack.

I can resist the boss-level opponents in the Great Maze.

This fact made Ling's mouth curl up in pride. The certainty that she could fight gave her confidence, and her aura seemed to make her even stronger.

Under Ling's protection, Shizuku calmly analyzed the current situation.

"The head and eyes have regenerated. It seems that as long as the magic stone exists, the body can regenerate infinitely. We can only defeat it with one blow."

Shizuku's gaze shifted to Kouki, as if asking, "Do you understand?" Kouki nodded vigorously in response, "Of course."

"Yes, I'm going to use Kamui. I want to strike with maximum power to buy me thirty seconds."

"Okay, I won't let them lay a finger on Kouki."

That was Koukai's ultimate move, a move that previously took nearly a minute to execute, but now it could be unleashed in half that time. Hearing this, Ryuutarou rapped his gauntlets, a smug smile on his face.

"Everyone, the breath is starting to weaken!"

The time for battle and counterattack has arrived, and the holy sword is raised high, emitting a brilliant light.

"Ryuutarou, Shizuku, I'll leave that guy to you. Suzu, stay by my side. I need to concentrate on the chant."

"Got it! I'm looking forward to that huge ultimate move!"

Afterwards, the clouds and mist dissipated as the breath left, and the snow smoke stirred up by the aftermath rose up, temporarily becoming a veil that obscured Guanghui and the others.

At this moment, Shizuku and Ryutaro used the pure white smoke as cover and rushed towards the Frost Giant Turtle in one breath.

Shizuku was the first to break out of the snow smoke, almost touching the ground. The giant frost turtle didn't know where its target was, so it didn't attack much. Combined with Shizuku's incredible speed, she easily closed in on the giant frost turtle.

Shizuku ran, her ponytail swinging, pulling the black knife out halfway.

"Cut off one leg first, cut it off—"Shimmer"!!"

With a sharp chant, Shizuku drew her sword and swung it. The blade was so fast she couldn't even see it. When she came to her senses, she only heard a sharp clang. Shizuku had already sheathed the sword. The only evidence of her drawing was a black trail across the air.

The trajectory passed through the right foot of the Frost Giant Turtle and the space where that foot existed.

The diamond-thick right foot snapped in two, along with space itself. This slash met with no resistance at all, because theoretically, no substance in the world could withstand Shizuku's slash that could sever space.

“—‘Flashing’! ‘Flashing’!!”

Shizuku didn't pause, transforming into a shadow and sprinting at full speed. Leaving behind her only the words "sever everything," she instantly passed behind the giant frost turtle.

Then, the black knife slowly retracted, and with a clang, another crisp sound rang out. At the same time—

“Gurrua ...

The remaining two legs on its right side were also severed, its massive body unable to bear the weight. The Frost Turtle let out a mournful cry, its massive body falling helplessly. With a loud bang, the ground shook, and the Frost Turtle collapsed to the ground.

The giant frost turtle seemed to harbor resentment towards Shizuku's actions, its dark red eyes flashing with a fierce gleam. To destroy the enemy who had brought it down, the giant frost turtle stretched its neck and bent, glaring at Shizuku from behind.

The storm of murderous intent made Shizuku shudder.

「!?」

Shizuku instinctively leaped sideways. At that moment, countless icicles suddenly shot out from the ground where Shizuku had been. In an instant, the flat ground was covered with deadly ice flowers.

"Don't even think about attacking!"

A moment later, Ryuutarou burst out from the snowy mist, landing beneath the giant frost turtle's jaws. With a powerful roar, he leaped with a force that could have dented the ground, then delivered a powerful uppercut.

The Frost Turtle's head bounced back from the impact, its jaw shattered, and ice fragments flew everywhere.

However──

"Hmm, that's quite murderous!"

The cover was ineffective, the ice flowers continued to bloom. Sharp, spear-like icicles immediately began to jut out from the ground, seemingly chasing Shizuku.

The ice flower spread and grew at an alarming rate, and Shizuku couldn't help but use her "aerodynamics" to escape into the air. In an instant, the sharp tip of the ice flower had expanded to a distance of only a few centimeters from the sole of her shoe.

Shizuku managed to dodge the attack at the critical moment, but before she could wipe the cold sweat off her face, the Frost Giant Turtle's strong murderous intent attacked her.

"Shizuku!"

Ryuutarou's anxious voice seemed far away. Shizuku's mind was completely focused on the Death Scythe in her sight. Indeed, at this perfect moment, three Frosthawks attacked.

This was a simultaneous attack from different directions, the result of perfect coordination under the command of the Frost Giant Turtle. The escape route into the air might be a trap prepared by the Frost Giant Turtle.

"Claw──"

In desperation, Shizuku tried to save herself with Claw Flash. If she could deliver multiple strikes with this power, perhaps she still had a chance... but...

(No, it’s too late!)

Perhaps... no, she could definitely avoid being killed on the spot, she would definitely do it. However, at the very least, she would have to bear the full brunt of the attack from the two eagles, and would inevitably suffer heavy damage.

The extended consciousness laid out fear and enlightenment before Shizuku's eyes.

She felt as if she were underwater, the knife she swung at the enemy in front of her was infuriatingly slow, but she could clearly feel the claws coming from behind and directly above.

In an instant, three red flashes penetrated all the Frosthawks.

The impact crushed them, shattering their bodies. The scattered ice reflected red ripples, like splattering blood.

“Ahem, ahem, what was that just now—”

The aftermath of the impact caused Shizuku to cough a few times, and she blinked at the fierce attack she had seen before.

Shizuku regained her balance and turned her gaze towards the source of the flash. Sure enough, there was Hajime. At a considerable distance, surrounded by enemies and barely visible, Hajime still used his cross-shaped floater and the Mejri to prevent the surrounding enemies from getting close.

Looking closely, Hajime was facing away from this place, holding the Donner in his right hand, with the muzzle of the gun pointed towards Shizuku.

It was crystal clear what he had done, and yet, even knowing that, Shizuku still had to take a breath.

"From that place, he was able to shoot accurately without even looking..."

There were a large number of monsters on the shooting track. At first glance, there were more than twenty Frosthawks between Hajime and Shizuku alone.

Even after the modification, the penetration and destructive power were greatly increased, but if the bullet hit the Frosthawk on the shooting track, it would not reach Shizuku. Even if it could reach her, the trajectory would definitely be deviated.

So, how did he manage to shoot so accurately around Shizuku?

The answer is simple, just don't hit the monster in the middle.

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