Cursed Immortality

While the battle between alive and dead monsters was raging fiercer by every passing second, the city was left completely unguarded as every monster was focusing on the southern wall. 

However, within the western wall of the city, a cloaked figure with empty eye sockets was observing everything. He muttered in his husky voice while turning his head toward the ice tower, "I'll be calming the honor of finding this shackle for my king…hmm? What?" 

Suddenly, he seemed to be astounded as he gawked at the vicinity around the tower, and the next moment, blue flames lit up in his empty eye sockets, and his vision magnified like crazy. He just happened to spot two giant figures trying to open the huge ice gates of the ice tower. 

The flames in his empty eyes started to flair as if someone had just thrown gasoline in the fire. 

"Those ants dare to take advantage of this Duke's drudgery?!" His enraged voice buzzed in the empty passage, and the next moment, he started to chant a spell. 

On the other hand, Jacob and Charlotte easily approached the tower doors after all the snow monsters left to defend their home. But who could've thought that the fragile-looking doors, which seemed to be made from a sheet of clear ice, wouldn't budge at all?

"Just what the hell is going on?" Charlotte grunted as the veins on her hands were bulging while she tried to push the ice door using her full force. 

Jacob was in the same situation as the door just refused to open, and he never thought their smooth advance would be halted just because of a damn door. He also didn't spot any keyhole or any rune symbols, which was the most frustrating part about all of this. 

However, before they could think of another method to open this door, they both sensed danger from behind and without hesitation, they lunged on both sides. 

"Boom!" 

The very next moment, out of nowhere, a huge ball of slimy blue substance blasted right where both of them stood a moment ago. But it didn't end with just that because thereafter, an extremely potent smell filled the air while the moment that slimy substance touched the ice surface, it began to melt, creating an even more potent smell instantly. 

"Acid Zombie Poison! I think we've been spotted!" Charlotte exclaimed with trepidation as she looked at the melting ground and the surroundings quickly turning into a poisonous zone. 

Jacob's expression was ridged, "Wasn't that bastard supposed to be dealing with those guys?" 

"Well, it would appear he was paying attention to this tower as well, so someone like us won't try to take advantage of his effort." Charlotte smiled bitterly, but her eyes turned ruthless, "Since he dared to use this poison spell, it could only mean he can't afford to split his monster army right now, nor does he have the guts to confront us head-on. So, let's just use our true force to blast apart this damn door!" 

The next moment, Charlotte's entire body was suddenly caught in crimson flames, and the temperature started to rise as the surrounding ice started to melt like crazy. Moreover, the poisonous fog also burns and doesn't harm Charlotte's giant flame-like form. 

Jacob was astounded because he felt Charlotte was probably ten times stronger than before, and he had never seen her using this before. The temperature continued to rise even more as those flames burned brighter. 

"Flame Spear!" She throws a punch, which seems to have turned into a flaming spear on the ice door. 

"Booommmm…" A huge explosion rang, releasing a crimson shock wave. 

The Puppeteer Zombie Dead Duke, who was preparing his second attack, was stopped as the flames in his eyes fluttered crazily, and he shouted in disbelief, "Why is that livestock using the techniques of that crazy livestock, Gunnar?! Is he around, don't tell me it's the other one?!"

He sounded like someone completely spooked and quickly started to observe Jacob with scrutiny, but to his frustration, Jacob was wearing a hood and mask, so he couldn't confirm if it was Gunnar or not. 

Nonetheless, he no longer dared to underestimate those rats, and he cursed in anger, "Those live stocks don't know their place. Just you wait. Once I'm done with these pests, you'll be the next. So, take good care of the shackle for this Duke! Hihihhi!" The next moment, he started to laugh like a lunatic. 

After Charlotte threw that terrifying punch, she stopped burning like a torch and returned to normal while smoke was still rising from her person. 

However, both of them were shocked when they saw the door not only hadn't melted but it was only cracked and still intact. 

"Just what kind of material it's made of?" Charlotte was shocked and felt her pride had been hurt when the door was only cracked, not blasted apart. 

"My turn." Jacob suddenly moved forward as he threw a punch as well while using 20X acceleration. 

Another blast rang in the vicinity, and this time, ice shards were mixed in the shockwaves. In front of Jacob and Charlotte, a two-meter-wide hole was opened in the ice door. 

"Just what is inside?" Charlotte muttered as she felt chills in her spine when she felt a strange aura coming out of the hole in the door, making her feel a strange sense of fear. 

Even Jacob felt his fine hair stand when the hole was blasted open, and the inside seemed to be completely dark.

Both giants could tell whatever was residing inside was too powerful for both of them. 

"Let's go." Jacob calmed down and moved forward. For him, there was no backing down, and with the appearance of Puppeteer Zombie Dead Duke, he needed to fish this no matter what and as quickly as possible. 

However, Charlotte took a step back and shook her head with a hint of fear, "I think we should retreat. Whatever is inside, it's not something we can take on, and it might be trapped in this place by someone, and those monsters were guarding it. This is no shackle but a mistake."

Jacob frowned. He could understand where Charlotte was coming from, but as someone who knew about the trial mode, he knew exactly what the shackle was, and now he was 95% sure that the beast of direction was inside. 

Jacob solemnly said, "Alright, you hide somewhere. I'll check once, just in case. If nothing is inside, I'll retreat." 

"Are you crazy?" Charlotte glared at Jacob as if he was a madman. 

But before Jacob could reply…

"Roar…" 

Suddenly, a thunderous roar that shook the entire underground city reverberated, and it came from none other than the ice tower!