「Ice Cone Skill EXP +100,000」
'This kind of maneuver can increase Skill Proficiency, too?'
'It really is... practice makes perfect.'
But he had no time for further reflection.
The Giant Snake, having located Lu Cang, immediately reared its head!
It opened its massive maw, spewing a dark liquid from between its fangs!
Seeing the liquid, Lu Cang struggled to move his entire right arm, forming his Magic!
He flung out seven Fireballs!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Fireballs collided with the dark liquid mid-air and exploded!
A boiling black mist rose into the air.
'Is that poison?'
'Is this thing a venomous snake, too?'
WHOOSH!
THUD!
Another Ice Cone crashed down!
It slammed the Giant Snake's head back to the ground just as it tried to rise!
Lu Cang hung suspended in mid-air.
He melted a portion of the giant Ice Cone, carving out a foothold for himself on the cave ceiling.
This relieved the pressure on his arm from supporting his entire body.
'Otherwise, my left arm is going to give out.'
'I've already broken one arm.'
'I can't afford to break the other one.'
The Ice Element was still useful. Lu Cang temporarily covered his right arm with ice. While it couldn't heal the injury, it could at least numb the pain for a short while.
BOOM!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Four massive Ice Cones crashed down in succession!
They pinned the Giant Snake to the ground for the moment.
However, they still hadn't pierced through it.
'A Lord Level creature... it's so much stronger than the other creatures in this cave.'
'It won't die even after being hit by so many Ice Cones.'
'It must be a Dark Element Demon. To deal with a Dark Element Demon, Light Element Magic should be more effective.'
But he had only just learned Cross of Light.
Its current Level was only 39.
Compared to his Ice Cone Skill, which was already Level 91, its Power was leagues behind.
'With such a huge gap, the elemental advantage probably can't make up the difference.'
His Ice Cone Skill was currently his highest-Level spell.
Aside from Magic Tide, which was already Level 100, his Level 91 Ice Cone was the highest.
THUD!
Still, after a total of ten giant Ice Cones slammed into the Giant Snake, its body was completely covered in a layer of frost.
Moreover, pinned beneath the penetrating Ice Cones, it struggled to raise its head several times but failed.
'It seems as long as I keep it suppressed, it will lose its means of attack.'
'I'll succeed as long as I can kill it before my Magic Power runs out.'
However...
Now he had to consider the second problem.
Namely, how to deal with Izparut outside the door.
Iz had suddenly shown his true colors, revealing his malice.
Lu Cang found it hard to understand.
'Why on earth does he want to kill me? Is it so this snake can eat me?'
'That's not entirely impossible...'
'After all, I understand so little about this world. This is an Otherworld; I can't judge things by the logic of my original world. Any motive is possible for him.'
THUD—
Another two giant Ice Cones fell, and the Giant Snake was now too suppressed to move.
Its body, pressed against the ground, was now connected to the floor by a thick layer of frost.
'A Lord Level, huh? Doesn't seem so tough after all. It was just more intimidating at first glance.'
Lu Cang had settled completely into the hollow he'd carved inside the Ice Cone.
'Attacking from the cave ceiling is indeed a great invincibility spot.'
But Lu Cang just couldn't figure out how to deal with Iz outside the door.
'Poison...'
'If he opens the door and comes in again, could poison take care of him?'
'All my Magic was taught to me by Iz.'
'And I only know some Level 1 Spells.'
In the struggle just now, Lu Cang had already realized that his Magic would likely have no effect on Iz.
'Ice Cone and Fireball are my two strongest offensive tools.'
'The only one left is Wind Blade, and even if it's useful, the effect would probably be negligible.'
'I'm better off trying to get something from this boss...'
But just as Lu Cang was contemplating a strategy against Iz, the eyes of the half-dead, suppressed Giant Snake suddenly lit up.
Its eyes turned from pitch-black to blood-red!
The snake's head, pinned by the Ice Cones, suddenly snapped up with immense force!
"HIIISSS!"
Lu Cang never imagined a snake's hiss could be so loud!
The entire cave was vibrating at a high frequency.
His eardrums felt like they were about to burst!
Lu Cang quickly raised his left hand, forming a massive Ice Cone!
He brought it crashing down on the snake's head again!
BOOM!
But this time, the snake's head shattered the Ice Cone!
"It's gone berserk?"
"A second phase?"
He didn't know what exactly was happening!
All he saw was the Giant Snake's tail flash!
BANG!
The next instant, the Ice Cone Lu Cang was in shattered completely!
A huge crater was even smashed into the cave ceiling.
As for Lu Cang...
...he was on the opposite rock wall, drenched in a cold sweat.
In the nick of time, he had formed a second giant Ice Cone.
He had shot himself to the other side of the cave.
「Ice Cone Skill EXP +100,000」
'Heh...'
'This counts for Skill Proficiency too? Does it increase more the greater the danger?'
The Giant Snake "stood" up again, shaking off the layers of frost from its body.
'Looks like I can't afford any distractions.'
WHOOSH!
Its tail whip was fast!
For such a massive body, it had incredible Speed!
BOOM!
Lu Cang once again pinned himself to the side of the wall.
And the spot where he'd just been was now a deep crater, where remnants of frost from the shattered Ice Cone remained.
Those were the traces left behind after the Ice Cone was smashed.
'If I still needed to chant for Casting, I would have been dead already.'
'If my reaction speed had been any slower, I'd be dead too.'
'If I had chosen to attack just now, instead of stopping to think and observe, I would also be dead.'
A true...
...threat of Death.
Lu Cang swallowed hard.
His Magic Power reserves were still being consumed. He originally thought he'd have plenty of Magic Power left after killing it.
But now it seemed...
Lu Cang checked his remaining Magic Power—only about 52% left.
'It might not be enough.'
SWISH!
THUD!
With another tail lash, Lu Cang again used an Ice Cone to pin himself to the opposite wall.
Practice makes perfect.
He was gradually getting the hang of this method of movement.
And this time, while pinning himself to the wall,
he also sent an Ice Cone plummeting from the sky!
THUD!
This strike nailed the Giant Snake right in the head, inflicting a painful blow on the same spot that had already been pierced by an Ice Cone once before!
A double-pierce!
The back half of the giant Ice Cone exploded outward!
Propelled by the shattering of the rear section, the front half plunged much deeper inside!
Immediately after, a wave of cold was released from the tip of the Ice Cone!
Extreme cold pierced directly into its skull!
[Ice Cone Double-Pierce], [Extreme Cold Diffusion]
'The cold is piercing its brain... if its brain is even in this spot...'
But at least after this hit, its tail strikes didn't come immediately, and its movements became sluggish once more.
BOOM!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM—
Lu Cang wasn't the type to let an opportunity slip by. Taking advantage of his opponent's sluggishness, he had no intention of catching his breath!
'Kick 'em while they're down!'
Another five giant Ice Cones came crashing down!
Every one of them aimed for its jaw and skull! This time, Lu Cang was going to smash it to a pulp first.
'Otherwise, who knew if it would enter a third phase, or a fourth...'