Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 287 (Part 2):

Helmut stood up on the sled and looked ahead.

Alea asked,

“Is there a lake ahead by any chance?”

If there was, they would need to find a way around it, which would be a problem.

They were maintaining a certain distance from the sacred barrier. They could get further away, but not closer. Because Helmut would be affected.

If they moved farther away, the question was how much of a detour they would need to take. There was no telling where the ravenous underwater demonic beasts might surface.

Helmut answered briefly.

“I don’t think so. Is this sled light?”

“This golem has a weight reduction spell on it. It’ll float on water.”

Even if the ice breaks, it won’t sink. Unless something pulls it down from below. There was a cracking sound from underneath.

Something was moving swiftly under the ice, following the sled.

They could feel a massive presence moving rapidly beneath them.

A wave of water surged up from below, causing the ice to tremble as if an earthquake had struck.

The shadow of the creature beneath the ice darkened the surface. Its presence sent a chill down their spines.

“Fortunately, it seems to be just one. That’ll make it easier to deal with.”

Helmut spoke in a calm voice.

Dealing with one large creature is often easier than several smaller ones.

This northern region belongs to Kantara.

But the northern region is vast. That vast region is further divided into areas controlled by weaker beasts.

This area seems to be this creature’s territory. To be able to throw such a large chunk of ice, it must be quite a strong demonic beast.

“That area ahead is the problem. The ice there will break if we so much as touch it.”

It looked like an area that had just started to freeze. Literally just a thin layer of ice on the surface.

Helmut offered his opinion.

“We should deal with it there. It might throw more ice.”

And he added emphatically,

“It’s persistent. We don’t know how far it will follow if we don’t kill it.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Wait until it’s closest to the surface. Lift the sled a little off the water when that happens.”

“Got it.”

Alea could also support him with her magic, but it wouldn’t be easy.

Even though this place is relatively free from demonic energy due to its proximity to the sacred barrier, the sacred barrier itself also interferes with magic.

‘There’s still quite a bit left in the magic stone, but…’

That needed to be saved for the final moment. They hadn’t yet reached the northern barrier.

Also, crossing the sacred barrier of the central region wouldn’t be an easy task either.

Meanwhile, the sled was running at high speed. And the moment they reached the area where the ice was noticeably thinner.

Kwajik!

Finally, the ice below shattered and the demonic beast chasing them surfaced very close to the water’s surface.

Hideously glittering eyes. Several sharp black spikes stretched up towards the sled.

Long and thick spikes that looked like they could easily crush a human body.

No, now they could clearly see what those spike-like things really were.

“It’s an octopus!”

And Alea chanted the spell she had prepared in advance.

“Wings of the wind.”

A spell that lightly lifted them off the ground. The sled floated up, avoiding the octopus’s limbs.

Helmut drew his sword. Ashen Vis bloomed all over the blade.

The octopus tentacles desperately rose up, trying to grab the flying sled.

The black tentacles, sharp as spears, were covered in countless, eerily sinister suckers.

The tentacles rushed in from all directions. Helmut calmly raised his sword and swung it horizontally.

Slash! Slash!

The sound of flesh being cut rang out in succession. Three tentacles fell into the water, severed in mid-air.

Splash!

Even though it was fighting in its advantageous place, it was no match for Helmut. Its demonic energy couldn’t withstand Helmut’s Vis.

“Octopuses have eight tentacles,” Alea advised.

However, the octopus seemed to have no intention of extending more tentacles.

Kieeee!

With an angry roar, the octopus revealed itself above the water surface. Even if the sacred barrier burned its demonic energy, it was determined to catch these humans.

A tenacious will and anger could be felt from it.

Bizarre eyes were embedded in its body, which was mottled black and red. Alea could declare it the most hideous octopus in the world.

Helmut smiled coldly.

“This is convenient.”

Now that it had revealed itself, he would end its life.

He kicked off the sled and jumped down.

“Helmut!”

Alea shouted at the sudden turn of events. But she didn’t disrupt her magic.

Helmut’s body blocked the sled from view.

Kiee.

Flustered by the unexpected situation, the octopus immediately extended its remaining tentacles towards Helmut.

Intending to devour this pitch-black human first.

Helmut coldly muttered,

“If you wanted to live, you shouldn’t have shown yourself above water.”

His sword sliced through five tentacles and plunged into the octopus’s head.

The moment it was exposed to the holy power in the air, the demonic energy barrier surrounding the octopus’s body was more than half gone. There was no way it could defend against Helmut’s sword.

Helmut’s sword, imbued with ashen Vis, cut through the octopus’s head like slicing soft fruit, with no particular resistance.

It happened in an instant.

When the sword was halfway through, suddenly something hard caught on the tip.

Kak!

Helmut applied force and shattered it. The octopus’s core broke into pieces.

Having lost its source of life, the octopus died instantly. It was an anticlimactic end for something that had so persistently targeted Helmut and Alea.

The holy power in the air quickly purified its exposed body. The black liquid flowing from its body soon turned clear like seawater.

As soon as Helmut finished slaying the creature, he leaped back up toward the sled.

However, his leap fell just short of the sled’s height, and his hand only grazed the edge of the sled.

‘Oh no.’

If this continued, he’d fall back into the water.

But then, a slender hand reached down from above and grasped Helmut’s hand. That hand pulled Helmut up forcefully.

It was Alea.

Of course, she didn’t have such strength, so it must have been magical power.

She frowned slightly.

“You really scared me.”

Helmut replied calmly.

“It’s dead now. Let’s get moving.”

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