Chapter 35: Final Victory, Sudden Change |
Chapter 35: Final Victory, Sudden Change
"Ahhhhhh—"
Xu Ning's piercing scream echoed through the cave.
Xia Hong and the others turned to look and immediately felt a chill run down their spines.
His axe had ultimately failed to strike down.
Not only had it failed to strike, but his right eye seemed to have been plucked out by something invisible, leaving only an empty socket. Blood flowed outward from the cavity, covering his face in a horrifying manner.
"Keep it occupied! I'll save him!"
Despite his fear, Xia Hong made a decisive command. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the Frost Beast's mane and leaped onto its back without hesitation. He immediately lifted Xu Ning and threw him down, where Xia Chuan and the others quickly caught him.
"Leader! Don't look at the eye on its back! My left eye was closed so it's fine, but something came out and took my right eyeball!"
Xia Hong took a deep breath and moved along with the Frost Beast's thrashing, carefully avoiding looking down as he groped along its back. Soon, his hand found the location of the golden eye.
"Spread out and pin its limbs! Just for a moment—quick!"
Hearing this, Xia Chuan and the others exchanged glances before discarding their hand axes and rushing forward barehanded. The stone axes couldn't pierce the Frost Beast's defenses anyway and would only hinder their movements.
Lin Kai and Qiu Peng rushed to the rear, grappling the beast's right hind leg together.
Yue Feng and Lu Yang seized the left hind leg.
Yuan Cheng and Xia Chuan moved to the front, each grabbing one of the forelegs.
Roar—!
The distribution was logical, but against the Frost Beast's strength, the six of them were clearly outmatched. The beast thrashed wildly, dragging them across the cave floor. The confined space meant they were repeatedly slammed against the walls within mere dozens of meters.
All six spat blood—either from being trampled or from the impact against stone. Yet none released their grip, teeth clenched to create that crucial moment for Xia Hong.
Xia Hong remained motionless, not by choice but because the beast's movements were too violent. Compared to those holding its limbs, the beast clearly perceived him as the greater threat, deliberately slamming its back and tail against the walls with each charge.
He took several brutal impacts but kept his left hand locked in the mane while his right remained positioned over the eye.
"Don't let go! Just a little longer—it's tiring!"
Xia Hong's shout turned into a snarl.
"I refuse to believe this monster has endless stamina!"
For over half a minute, the seven men endured—trampled, battered, but unyielding. Finally, after another collision with the wall, the Frost Beast paused.
Huff...
It was panting.
Now.
Xia Hong's pupils contracted. Withdrawing his right hand, he drew a five-inch dagger from his waist and plunged it straight into the memorized location of the golden eye.
Thunk!
"Everyone release and retreat!"
Knowing he'd struck true, Xia Hong immediately ordered the withdrawal. The six men disengaged and scrambled back.
Roaaaar—!
As the Frost Beast's agonized howl erupted, a warm fluid enveloped Xia Hong's hand. The beast beneath him convulsed with renewed frenzy.
Now fearless, Xia Hong looked directly at the golden eye. His strike had been so forceful that not only the blade but his entire hand had sunk into the socket. The warmth came from his palm submerged in the eye's fluids.
The pierced eye did more than cause pain—Xia Hong, riding its back, felt the beast's power wane rapidly after the initial burst of frenzied strength. Its movements grew uncoordinated, its strength fading.
Still, Xia Hong remained vigilant, maintaining his grip until the golden eye stopped bleeding and the beast staggered, then collapsed.
Only then did he exhale in relief. Through direct contact, he confirmed—the Frost Beast was dead.
Releasing his hold brought immediate exhaustion.
"Is it dead?"
"Really dead?"
"Dead. Everyone, come over."
Xia Hong's confirmation dissolved the tension. Smiles broke out as the reality of survival set in.
"Hahaha! All those times we avoided it, and it came to us!"
"That was close. Without our leader, who knows how it'd have ended."
"I thought I'd be crushed holding its leg. Only seeing you all hang on kept me going."
"Hahaha! Same here."
Nothing bonds like life-or-death combat. Though everyone bore injuries—some severe—their exchanged glances now carried new depth.
Listening to their relieved banter lightened Xia Hong's mood. But one severely wounded member remained unaccounted for.
"Xu Ning! How's Xu Ning?"
The group immediately turned toward the cave's rear.
"Leader, I'm fine. Seal the cave first—the adults are turning blue, and some children can't hold on much longer."
Despite losing an eye, Xu Ning remained lucid, prioritizing the others' safety.
Xia Hong surveyed the crowd and indeed found adults and children alike ghastly pale from cold. He immediately organized the cave's sealing and fire-making.
The entire battle had lasted under ten minutes. Yet in that brief span, the ordinary camp members had nearly frozen. Even Xia Hong, now that adrenaline faded, felt the cold's bite.
Daytime was truly terrifying.
Directing the more injured—Xia Chuan and others—to rest, Xia Hong led the remaining adults in sealing the entrance. Xu Ning remained grounded, so only the healthier adults assisted.
"Leader, you're hurt too. Rest—we'll handle this."
As Xia Hong carried materials, someone voiced concern. He smiled slightly in response.
"It's nothing serious. Let's hurry—once sealed, we can light fires and end this freezing."
His words stirred visible gratitude among the others.
"Leader, leave this to us! We've got it!"
The middle-aged man who'd spoken stepped forward earnestly, reaching for the wood in Xia Hong's hands.
Xia Hong's eyes flickered, but he relinquished the load without protest.
Then—catastrophe struck.
As the man came within arm's reach, his right fist suddenly shot toward Xia Hong's head in a vicious strike.
The abrupt betrayal sent shockwaves through the onlookers.
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