TLWD 20

Chapter : 20. The Master of the Snowy Mountain (1)

A contradictory sensation—a mix of terror and exhilaration.

They intertwined, fiercely shaking my spirit.

Breath shortened, overwhelmed by instinctual fear.

My heart pounded like it was going to burst.

Blood surged violently through my body.

All my nerves sharpened. Every sense became hypersensitive, and from within, a strange pleasure began to rise.

I was undeniably feeling the fear of death.

Yet, an inexplicable thrill coursed through my body like electricity. Amid the fear, a twisted satisfaction surfaced.

Even in that moment, my instincts sent out nonstop warnings—but a powerful desire to overcome the crisis smothered all fear.

Unrestrained excitement.

And then it happened.

◆ Sudden Quest [You think you’re that strong?! Follow me to the snowy mountain!] has begun.

==[You think you’re that strong?! Follow me to the snowy mountain!]==
[Objective] – Survive against Gelu Drake.
[Reward] – <Title> unlocked
[Failure] – Death.

A translucent message suddenly popped up before my eyes.

This was a “Sudden Quest,” distinct from tutorial, main, or affinity quests.

As the name implies, a quest that occurs out of nowhere.

Quests only provide direction.

Will I survive by escaping from Gelu Drake?

Or survive by fighting?

How I reach the goal is entirely up to me.

And so is the responsibility of the outcome.

But this quest was a bit different.

The options were virtually forced.

Now that I’d encountered Gelu Drake, the option of “running away” was no longer viable.

The hunger in those eyes said it all.

There was no escaping from Gelu Drake.

That meant I had to fight.

When I refocused, Gelu Drake was calmly watching me.

Its yellow, reptilian eyes rolled in their sockets.

But it didn’t immediately lunge at me.

It wasn’t trying to size me up.

It wasn’t determining whether I was worthy prey.

As the so-called master of the snowy mountain, Gelu Drake had no natural enemies here.

So, this was nothing more than amusement—playing with its food.

In an instant—

Bang!

Gelu Drake slammed its foot against the snow-covered ground.

Incredible speed.

…I reacted too late.

No—more accurately, I couldn’t react at all.

Crunch!

A chilling sound followed as my entire right arm was bitten off.

My [D]-rank Hardened Skin was useless.

There was no saving it.

I immediately clenched my left fist and struck Gelu Drake’s torso as a trade for sacrificing my right arm.

Boom!

It sounded like I’d punched a steel plate. A loud boom echoed.

Gelu Drake staggered.

I quickly retreated while it reeled from the hit.

It didn’t chase after me.

Apparently, the blow had stunned it.

With a strength stat of 22—equivalent to the power of 22 adult men—my attack had been effective.

But the cost was immense.

The bones in my left fist were completely shattered.

My right arm had been entirely torn off.

Now just an empty socket on my shoulder.

It reminded me of Ian…

Wait—his was the left arm.

This wasn’t the time for such trivial thoughts.

Blood poured from the severed limb.

The pain was maddening, overwhelming my mind.

“Urghhh…!!”

I gritted through the agony, and then—

◆ Temporarily blocking pain receptors.

A sudden translucent message appeared, and the unbearable pain vanished instantly.

My dazed mind returned to clarity. I immediately activated my regeneration skill.

◆ Skill [Regeneration (B-)] can restore damaged limbs.
◆ Required nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, phosphorus, iron, sulfur, magnesium…

The list of required nutrients was endless. Not surprising, given that my entire right arm was gone.

But it was okay.

◆ Skill [Nutrient Synthesis (C+)] can synthesize the necessary nutrients.
◆ Surplus calories: 230 kcal.

With the upgraded [C+] Nutrient Synthesis skill, I could create all the nutrients required for bodily reconstruction.

However, the calories were insufficient.

But that wasn’t a problem either.

◆ Retrieving ‘Alakron Flesh’ from inventory.

I pulled out a piece of Alakron flesh I’d stored in my inventory and began chewing.

I had been storing monster meat from hunts over the past two weeks.

Plenty of nutrients.

Gulp.

As the meat slid down my throat, my torn arm regenerated in an instant.

The shattered left fist followed soon after.

With regeneration now at [B-], both efficiency and speed had vastly improved.

Grrrk?

Gelu Drake trembled in shock.

It had assumed I was just human.

But seeing my troll-like regeneration, it now wondered—”Is he a troll?”

Yet, my appearance was nothing like one. It tilted its head, confused.

Grrhh?!

Its expression twisted bizarrely as if seeing an entirely new species for the first time.

I grabbed my sword with my fully regenerated hand.

This fight was winnable.

“Go ahead. Keep biting.”

Give your bones to take the flesh.

Boom! Boom!

The explosions drew Kai’s and the soldiers’ attention.

The blasts echoed across the snowy mountain.

The shockwaves shattered the mountain’s silence, dislodging the snow atop the peaks.

It began subtly…

Then rapidly gained speed and weight.

A massive wall of snow and ice cascaded down.

Rrrrumble!

A thunderous roar shook the mountains, burying the sky in a curtain of white.

An avalanche.

Like an exploding ocean, it rushed downward, consuming everything in its path.

“Uwaaah!”

“Watch out!”

The soldiers panicked.

Shaking ground threw many off their feet.

The avalanche smashed boulders as it barreled toward them.

At this rate, they would all die.

Kai shouted like thunder.

“All units! Get behind me!!”

Infused with aura, his voice snapped the soldiers out of their panic. They quickly gathered behind him.

Once all were assembled, Kai thrust his sword into the ground.

Expanding his aura outward, a translucent barrier formed around the blade.

Then the avalanche struck.

The view turned completely white.

The air filled with snow and icy dust.

Only the force of destruction remained within.

How long passed?

The avalanche finally settled at the base of the mountain, forming a massive white tomb.

Silence returned.

“Holy—!”

“Thought we were dead…!”

The soldiers collapsed where they stood.

Nothing remained where the avalanche had swept through.

“Everyone…! You okay…?”

Kai checked his men.

His golden hair was now dusted in white snow. His hand and voice trembled slightly.

Facing nature’s fury head-on—it was only natural.

No one had imagined this was possible.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say a human had just defied nature.

Kai had suffered major injuries but never ran.

He protected his soldiers, standing against the avalanche.

Had he not blocked it with aura—how many would have survived?

“We’re okay!!”

“We’re completely fine!!”

The soldiers’ eyes shone with deep respect and awe for Kai.

Just then—

BOOM!!

Another massive explosion rocked the snowy mountain.

This time, no further avalanches followed.

But Kai’s instincts screamed—

Do not go there.

“Gelu Drake…!!!”

Someone shouted.

“W-What?!”

“Why is Gelu Drake…!”

The soldiers’ faces went pale.

Everyone knew what that name meant.

Not just them.

Everyone in the Whitewolf County.

Everyone in the northern continent, really.

That creature was beyond a natural disaster.

Clang!

Gelu Drake’s hide didn’t allow the blade to cut in.

But that didn’t mean it absorbed all impact.

The blow made it stagger.

I quickly backed away.

The sword I used was standard issue for the count’s soldiers.

Not flashy, but solid for combat.

Not like that fancy rapier I’d used before.

Even so—I couldn’t cut through.

Not even a scratch.

‘Its hide is too hard.’

It wasn’t just tough. It was solid.

Its hide bore the lineage of a dragon.

Though not equal to true dragon scales—

It still contained a dragon’s genes.

Without an aura sword, I couldn’t cut it.

And I couldn’t use mana, let alone aura.

‘Sword won’t work.’

I had to win with blunt force.

I made the decision quickly and threw the sword.

Gelu Drake didn’t dodge.

Clang!

The sword clanged off its hide, sparks flying.

Honestly, its hide felt like metal.

Even if I beat it to death, I couldn’t win with brute force alone.

But I…

I was no longer some noble brat.

I belonged to the Allied Forces’ Special Operations Unit.

Commander of the Special Warfare Team.

If Gelu Drake had dragon genes—

Then I had every memory and experience of a predator that once led the frontlines.

◆ Activating Skill [Promote Metabolism (E+)]
◆ Strength -25%
◆ Agility & Endurance +10%

Thump!

My neural functions spiked.

The thrown sword didn’t hurt Gelu Drake, but caused hesitation.

That brief pause—

Tap-tap-tap!

I dashed in.

My suddenly increased speed caught it off guard.

Its flank was exposed.

I clenched my fist.

[Promote Metabolism] reduced my strength from 22 to 16.5.

I lost the power of 5.5 adult men.

But this skill could be toggled [On/Off].

Just before the hit, I deactivated it.

My full 22 strength returned instantly.

A full-power blow to Gelu Drake’s ribs—

BOOOOM!!

A deafening crash. Its body swayed.

Crack!

A bone broke.

But not Gelu Drake’s.

◆ Temporarily blocking pain receptors.

A system message dulled all pain.

I looked down to see my fist mangled.

Meanwhile, Gelu Drake only staggered slightly.

It regained balance quickly.

It wasn’t that I punched its ribs.

Its ribs had punched my fist.

Sacrifice bone to take the flesh.

It sounds absurd.

But right now, it’s the best strategy I’ve got.

◆ Activating [Regeneration (B-)] and [Nutrient Synthesis (C+)]

I grabbed more monster meat from my inventory and chomped down.

My shattered fist regenerated rapidly.

Grrrr…

Gelu Drake’s eyes changed.

Just moments ago, it had seen me as prey.

Now…

It recognized me as an equal predator.

A rival that could devour it in turn.

We locked eyes.

Neither of us moved.

A standoff that felt like it would last forever.

I waved my fingers, provoking it.

“Keep biting, I said.”

Even then, Gelu Drake didn’t charge.

Not fear—but definite caution.

But then—

“You scared?”

With that, Gelu Drake’s eyes flared, and it kicked off the snowy ground again.