Cursed Immortality

With their new companion, Jacob and the team continued their journey toward the tallest mountain. 

As they moved forward, more and more snow monsters started to ambush them. But they were still no match for the group, especially with Charlotte joining the fray as she literally turned them into blood mist with a signal punch. 

She was a peak epic-rank combatant who specialized in close hand-to-hand combat, and Jacob mused that he couldn't kill her without using 25X fluid acceleration. This made him want to consume her heart even more as she might give me even more than both Frugal and Aven combined. 

Still, he controlled his dark urges because she was more useful alive than dead, and he also noticed her deep interest in him from the first day. So, he decided to play along because, as the princess of the Flame Iron Giant Tribe, she had to have inside information he wanted. 

Furthermore, it wasn't like he didn't have hearts to consume. Those snow monsters were pretty tough, and he had already eaten their hearts in secret. 

But as they came closer to the tallest mountain, the snowfall turned into a blizzard, and the temperature dropped so much that the group finally started to feel cold. 

That's why Charlotte came up with the idea to use those snow monsters hides to create clothes, and they were also quite useful as camouflage. In the end, Jacob used his skills to create them, which was quite easy considering his profession. 

After they all wore white fur coats made with the snow monster's hide, the attack on them not only decreased, but for some reason, those snow monsters were avoiding them. 

On the 33rd day, the group meets with an epic-tier-7 dark being, which Jacob personally killed without giving another chance to snatch the kill. 

"Oh, I have never seen you taking the initial before," Charlotte commented with scrutiny. 

Jacob coolly replied as he stowed away the magic core, "I just hate the dark being, don't you?" 

"You seemed to have some personal vendetta." Geko also chimed in with great interest. He felt like a third wheel since Charlotte had joined the group because she always talked with Jacob and completely ignored him, which was not a good feeling. 

Still, he was content as long as that dangerous princess did not cause trouble for him. 

"Something like that." Jacob didn't explain himself any further and looked at the tallest mountain, which was enshrouded in a snowstorm, and it was now only a few miles away from them. Furthermore, only now they saw the sheer size of that thing as it was extremely huge. 

Right at this moment, the group suddenly stopped talking and took their stance as they all felt the ground suddenly shake, which was the first time that ever happened. 

The next moment, a few meters away, two huge claws suddenly bore out from the snow, and a giant snow monster crawled out. Although it looked like the other snow monster, there was a faint blue fur below its neck, and it was two times larger and fiercer than the normal snow monsters they were used to dealing with. 

Moreover, the aura it was giving off was not any less powerful than Geko. But it wasn't over with just one. Five more equally strong snow monsters appeared behind him, and then a small army of normal snow monsters started to crawl and surround the group!

"So that's why there was no ambush for three days. They were preparing for this." Charlotte snickered as fighting spirit shone in her eyes.

Geko frowned gravely, "This isn't the time to admire them. Don't you see that there are even stronger furry bastards among them, and we are terribly outnumbered?" 

Jacob took out his short swords and said, "Well, since they only decided to show up now, this could only mean they don't want us to get any closer to that mountain. This means we are on the right track!" 

The next moment, Jacob charged towards the closest large snow monster as his blades were covered with a blue tint. 

"Hehe, this is what I liked about him," Charlotte mumbled with ecstasy as she also chose a target and her first glow in crimson. 

"Those two battle maniacs!" Geko cussed under his breath as he also picked a target and thrust his golden spear with the wind swirling around its blade. 

However strong as they might be, those large snow monsters were no pushovers. 

They didn't move forward. Instead, they suddenly stepped back and let those small fries take charge. The next moment, they started to mutter something, and ice spikes started to manifest in the air before they all rained down on the group without caring about the collateral damage. 

'So, they can now use ice magic, and they're using these pawns to cast spells…' Jacob squinted his eyes as this situation was turning extremely dangerous, and he knew he had to get rid of those big ones as quickly as possible and his companions has the mutual thoughts. 

The arm guard on his right hand suddenly shimmered in the gray light, and the next moment, a gray barrier suddenly formed around Jacob, and the ice spike crushed onto it. They all shattered with small blasts. It was an advanced epic-rank light shield and very effective against such attacks. 

Thereafter, he started to quickly make his way towards the large snow monster while cutting down anyone that came in his way. 

When the large snow monster realized that the ice spikes weren't working and the danger was almost at his throat, he stopped the spell casting and cast a new spell. 

His large, sharp claws suddenly coated with ice blades, and he clashed them on Jacob, letting loose an angry growl. 

Jacob was already in 10X acceleration, and he could see the incoming in slow motion. He instantly dodged it by sidestep, and the next moment, he kicked the ground, and like a flash, his sword tackled the monster's neck. 

'Smash…' The sound of ice crushing rang in the vicinity. 

The monster's neck was covered with a thick layer of ice, but with the monstrous force behind Jacob's attack, it shattered in an instant, and the next moment, blood-spattered before the large head of the monster was sent flying as his eyes were filled with resentment. 

Charlotte giggled with excitement as she was also surrounded by a black barrier and quickly reached her target. Her fist suddenly caught flame and punched the giant monster's chest. 

'Boomm…' 

A fiery shock wave spread in the vicinity, and the next moment, there was a huge burning hole in the monster's chest as he slowly fell. 

Geko was the most pitiful as he didn't have such a rare treasure, and he was having trouble just dealing with the ice spikes. He roared furiously, "Those monsters!" 

It was unknown whether he was cursing the snow monsters or his own teammates. 

Jacob and Charlotte quickly get rid of the third and fourth one by the time Geko is barely able to kill his first giant monster and seems extremely exhausted. 

Charlotte happily approached Jacob, who was stowing away the giant monster, and exclaimed, "So, you're a water element combatant. No bad." 

Jacob gave her an annoying glance before he turned toward the place where the ambush came from and said, "I think I found their lair."

There was a deep, dark hole in the ice ground!