The cold energy from the ice magic rapidly spread through Rayder's body, freezing half of him solid.
If not for his Super Speed Regeneration, he would have already become an ice statue.
Even with regeneration, the ice magic continued damaging him, making movement difficult.
With no other choice, he activated the system's medical ability, hoping to purge the ice magic.
The treatment was not cheap—it cost twelve hundred energy points.
For Rayder, that was a massive loss, but regaining control of his body mattered more than conserving energy.
Finally, after consuming that enormous cost, the ice magic was expelled and Rayder regained mobility.
At that moment, the situation changed drastically.
Rayder widened his eyes in shock. The arrow held terrifying power—a blow intended to kill.
Wherever the arrow passed, ghouls were frozen instantly. Even those only grazed by its aura turned to ice and fell like shattered sculptures.
The arrow pierced through the battlefield, carving a path through the horde, freezing time itself.
Ghidorah was unlucky—one of his necks, Da Lang, was completely pierced and frozen solid, the entire head encased in ice like a sculpture.
Fortunately, Ghidorah possessed three heads and three independent consciousnesses.
Aegon and Kevan maintained control of the body, preventing a crash.
Through mental connection, Rayder sensed Da Lang's consciousness was unbroken—still very much awake, filled with rage.
Just then, golden lightning sparked violently across Da Lang's neck.
With a sharp crack, the ice shattered, freeing his head.
He roared furiously, like a beast unleashed.
Rayder immediately felt Da Lang's anger rising and quickly soothed him through mental links, preventing the dragon from turning back to fight the Cold God.
He had barely calmed the dragon when another arrow—another streak of white light—shot toward them.
But Ghidorah reacted instantly, folding its wings and flipping aside.
The arrow passed between Aegon and Im, missing all of them.
Seeing the temporary vacuum created by the arrow's passage, Rayder ordered the dragons to break through the encirclement.
The dragons surged forward with fire and lightning, cutting down two-thirds of the remaining eagles and gryphons in seconds.
Fewer than ten remained—mere moments from being wiped out.
But the Gryphon King had already carried the Cold God deeper into the horde, commanding the undead to part and close in within a few hundred meters of Rayder.
Rayder could see glimpses of her figure through the chaos.
He felt the pressure of death closing in on all sides.
If they were caught now, one rider and three dragons alike would be doomed.
Determination flashed in his eyes.
He had no intention of dying here.
The dragons sensed his resolve and roared, unleashing even more destructive attacks.
Fire and lightning swept the sky, tearing apart the undead one after another.
The Cold God saw them breaking away and grew anxious.
If Rayder escaped, he would become harder to hunt and more dangerous to her long-term plans.
She shrieked sharply, sending commands through magic.
The ghouls surged forward like a black tide.
Rayder's eyes hardened. This was life and death—there was no room to hesitate.
He directed the dragons to attack while drawing weapons from his storage to join the battle personally.
The fight intensified. The ghouls died in droves, though Rayder and the dragons suffered minor injuries.
Still, they fought with only one goal—to break free.
At last, after a brutal struggle, they burst out of the encirclement before the Cold God could close in.
Bloody, exhausted, but alive—that alone was victory.
The outline of The Great Wall appeared faintly in the distance, filling them with hope.
The dragons accelerated sharply, soaring away like lightning.
The Gryphon King struggled to maintain pursuit, falling behind.
The Cold God stood atop its beak, expression freezing the air itself.
She did not give up.
She drew back her bow again—this time with a clear line of sight.
Without hesitation, she fired two arrows in rapid succession—white streaks cutting through the sky toward Rayder.
Just as she prepared to fire a third, her hand suddenly shattered under the strain, turning into ice fragments that scattered into the wind.
Rayder, still watching the rear, saw everything.
He had been ready.
Ãdvåñçé çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn (Gk31)