Chapter 90: Fang Hunt

Bone-white fang chains lightly swayed, reflecting orange-red luster under bonfire light.

The burly figure draped in wolf skin cloak silently stood.

No concealing movements whatsoever, even blocking the cave's only exit.

But none of those goblins just now, extremely sensitive to intruders breaking into their nest, discovered his existence.

As if in their hearts they defaulted that he should be here, was part of the entire cave.

Naturally intentional.

【Barbarian】

【Mourning Frost Oath-Bound】

As someone who'd already completed class change, stepped into the "extraordinary" domain—a true high-tier professional.

Forgan clearly knew that if he didn't restrain his aura and conceal his form.

Even just purely standing here doing nothing.

The forest-cold killing aura condensed from countless prey's dying wails echoing and accumulating.

Would be enough to make these cowardly, thin degraded green-skins before him, like snow rabbits locked by wolf eyes, become stupid things that didn't even know to flee.

From Frost Moss Highlands, barbarian tribes dwelling generation after generation in snowfield depths.

He didn't have erudite, profound knowledge like old scholars in Nyum City's academy, nor understood any "teaching process" or "instruction model."

He only knew.

In the collision and fusion of roars and muscles, what kind of personality someone had, what combat style they were accustomed to, what techniques they possessed, even future potential talent they might reach.

Were all like hot, bright red blood rising from ice and snow.

Clearly visible.

The black-haired youth named "Xia Nan" before him—in terms of combat technique alone, perhaps for the vast majority of laypeople or ordinary adventurers, was pretty good.

But placed among highland tribe people who'd grown up since childhood amid struggles with giant bears and ice pythons, tempered by ice storms.

Not particularly remarkable.

Even the slashing-type combat skill he'd used in battle before, obviously already practiced to "proficient" level, hadn't produced any ripples on his face.

Just basics before obtaining professional level—nothing much to say.

But only one second.

That most insignificant second in the entire battle process.

When Forgan personally watched Xia Nan slip due to moss underfoot, body losing center of gravity.

Yet using the arm shield in his hand to strike the wall beside him, changing his body's falling direction and speed, thereby avoiding enemy attacks.

In the depths of his ice-blue eyes like cold pools, a trace of faint radiance flashed.

"Somewhat interesting."

Wolf jaws crossed, fine silver-white fur on the cloak's surface lightly swaying under breeze.

Restrained aura and presence, like flames, rose once more.

He moved his feet, walking toward the sharp-featured black-haired youth on the field.

......

Brown thick leather boots fiercely stepped down, crushing a goblin eyeball rolling on the ground, splattering viscous liquid.

【Qingsong】 was already sheathed.

I breathed slightly heavily, stepping forward two paces.

Right foot stepping on that goblin corpse pierced through the chest by the sword body, already completely dead.

Both hands exerting force, I pulled up the beheading longsword stuck diagonally in the moist mud with effort.

Sizzle—

The withered body like dry firewood twitched, blood with remaining warmth wrapped in mud spots, brought up by the blade.

Swinging a few times, shaking off filthy blood staining the sword body.

Sheathing.

Battle just ended—not yet time for weapon maintenance.

I just casually wiped my face against a relatively clean part of my sleeve, wiping away a few drops of blood splashed on my cheeks.

Air silent.

I turned around, looking at the scattered goblin corpses on the cave floor.

Inwardly unexpectedly produced a complex, satisfied feeling carrying strong sense of achievement.

Like pus squeezed from a pimple.

No longer troubled by the swelling pain it brought, yet worried about the scars it left.

Recalling when I'd just come to this world, still a complete novice rookie who'd have a blank brain facing two green-skins' ambush, not knowing what to do.

Right now I could already independently clear an entire goblin nest.

Before crossing, even watching others kill a chicken through a screen felt unbearable inwardly;

Now after slaughtering fifteen goblins like livestock, the only negative emotion was just heartache over the plate armor I'd just spent money to repair having a white mark scratched in battle.

Didn't know if this world full of monsters and dangers changed me,

Or if I was actually inherently like this—just that the suddenly changed environment and lifestyle after crossing catalyzed and exposed my inner essence.

"Tap tap."

Fang bone necklace collision's light sound came from my side.

A forest-cold, robust figure came into view.

Still that same silent appearance like ice and rock before, barbarian Forgan slowly walked near.

Inwardly couldn't help producing expectation.

If I hadn't guessed wrong, the battle just now should be some kind of "placement test" he'd conducted to figure out my strength.

Now battle ended, "results" accordingly released.

Which combat skill among those he'd given before suited me should also have a conclusion.

"I changed my mind."

Heavy voice under northern accent came from the air.

"【Iron Wall Whirl】, 【Freylan Spear Thrust】, 【Heavy Shield Strike】, 【Broken Blade Parry】."

"You, none work."

Huh!?

My face couldn't help showing a surprised expression.

Silently opening my mouth, unable to speak.

What meaning?

My exam results didn't pass?

And the barbarian before me as always didn't explain further, only moving his gaze from me, looking at the corpses in blood on the ground around.

Actually what Forgan meant to express wasn't the "doesn't work," "can't learn," "eliminated" I understood.

But expression deviation caused by Common Tongue after passing through northern tribal colloquialization.

In fact, these options the barbarian provided me were all 【Warrior】 direction, suitable for close combat basic combat skills.

As long as you were a normal person, even with terrible talent, you could use time and effort to make up the gap.

Belonged to simple types that the vast majority of adventurers in this world could learn.

Forgan had urgent business.

Coming to River Valley Town was also just brief rest, wouldn't stay long-term.

For combat skills needing teaching, naturally chose those convenient to get started with—after introduction didn't need others' guidance and could quickly master proficiently.

But now, after watching Xia Nan's entire battle performance.

He'd changed his mind.

Not "cherishing talent,"

Even less any "appreciation" type meaning.

Forgan and Xia Nan had only known each other two days, weren't even familiar with each other's names—how could such unnecessary thoughts arise?

Just that a debt of gratitude owed to an old friend made him accept this commission...

Naturally had to complete it wholeheartedly.

Should be self-taught background.

In his view, Xia Nan's combat style didn't have those "routines" among ordinary adventurers.

Many times, movements and reactions purely relied on his body's instincts.

Adapting to circumstances, even sometimes able to throw the weapon in his hand as a thrown prop to争取 time.

In this situation, 【Iron Wall Whirl】 with certain casting requirements, needing fixed body movements and posture coordination, eliminated.

Extremely aggressive.

Although wearing two layers of armor, hand only equipped with a small-type arm shield.

Even using the arm shield to block enemy attacks, still thought to further suppress the opponent, smoothly using the shield's sharp edge to counterattack and advance, rather than slowing rhythm, leaving himself time to catch breath and adjust.

Therefore, 【Heavy Shield Strike】 mainly based on defensive counterattack, suitable for positional warfare, controlling battle rhythm, best paired with large shields, eliminated.

As for 【Freylan Spear Thrust】 and 【Broken Blade Parry】.

The former obviously didn't suit Xia Nan's slashing-dominant habit. The latter didn't match his aggressive style often supplemented with footwork and circling.

Summarizing, "none work."

Just, not unsolvable.

With Forgan's personality, being able to say those words in front of Xia Nan after accepting the old acquaintance's commission.

Inwardly naturally already had an answer.

He lightly raised his hand, touching a certain bone fang pendant on his neck necklace.

Although learning difficulty higher, needing to expend massive effort, but referencing his performance in battle, and that flash of inspiration moment's movements.

"Perhaps, there's another combat skill more suitable for you."

Hearing this, thinking something went wrong, my originally tense heart immediately eased.

Good, good.

Having combat skills to learn was fine.

I had neither channels nor money.

Those seemingly real, seemingly fake combat skill books in the general store—these days had almost driven me crazy with frustration.

As long as I could learn the real thing, anything was fine.

I licked my somewhat dry lips with my tongue, just about to further inquire about related information from him.

But heard from the passage at the cave exit suddenly came a burst of dense footsteps accompanied by shrieks and roars.

My gaze looked accordingly.

What came into view was precisely a bear goblin with robust build and rough reddish-brown fur!

Seemed to have just returned from hunting in the forest. The mace in his thick hand's surface still stained with glaring fresh blood marks.

Behind him, a black-skinned bull beast with its head smashed was being carried by over twenty goblins clustered around.

Knowing tonight had a big meal to enjoy, high-pitched sharp laughter reached my ears.

Inwardly couldn't help understanding.

No wonder this cave was built so spacious, nearly twice as large as the one I'd encountered before.

Turned out to be a goblin cluster that also had a bear goblin chief but with nearly forty green-skins under its banner.

The cave's only exit blocked dead by the massive number of enemies.

The bear goblin's challenge rating as high as "1" far exceeded the range my current capabilities could handle.

Yet I wasn't particularly nervous.

After all, standing here at this time wasn't just me alone.

With the seemingly high-tier professional Forgan present, I should be able to safely escape... right?

In an instant, these days listening to adventurers boast at the tavern, rumors about "barbarians" made me produce a trace of uncertainty.

To really speak of it, although my battle just now already used full force, overall was still fairly easy.

If he mistakenly thought I still had strength in reserve, wanting to use even higher intensity battle to test me...

Chaotic thoughts interrupted by cold suddenly surging in the air.

Forgan glanced at me beside him.

Only leaving one sentence:

"Watch."

Then turned around, walking toward the cave entrance's direction.

Whoosh—

The originally stuffy, foul cave interior suddenly blew a bone-chilling cold wind.

The cold in the air seemed to truly seep through skin pores into tendons, flesh, blood and bone.

Looking at his back, I suddenly shivered.

As if imprisoned in stone walls, the cold wind gradually grew fiercer, even reaching "howling" degree.

Vaguely, some beast's long howling seemed to be brewing within.

Tiny stone fragments fell from overhead, the blood pool gradually losing heat splashed layers of ripples.

The cave was trembling.

I stood behind the barbarian, unable to see his expression.

Aside from the wolf skin cloak moving with wind, only the light sound of bone chains colliding and knocking following his footsteps.

Mixed with rich bloody smell, air driven out from the cave by cold.

Obviously made the bear goblin at the cave entrance realize something wrong.

It let out a low roar, signaling nearby goblins to be alert.

The mace in its hand raised before its chest, yellow-brown eyes revealing fierce and hideous light.

But only stopped there.

Because the next second, accompanying that burly figure appearing in its line of sight.

All life and heat in the passage seemed to be instantly devoured completely by forest-cold killing aura, transforming into stiff, lifeless ice sculptures.

Then, I finally heard clearly that beast cry accumulating in the cold wind.

A wolf howl.

Awoooo—

Stone walls cracked,

The passage floor spread with frost patterns, like countless climbing, winding crystalline ice snakes.

Breath seemed to have ice mist surging.

In my vision, Forgan's figure, like teleportation, disappeared in place.

Immediately after, accompanying doubt surging in my heart came explosive roaring.

"BANG!!!"

Magnificent force tempered under ice and snow storms made air wherever it passed collapse and solidify like a vacuum.

The bear goblin still maintained its just-now posture, drool even still visible dripping from sharp fang ends.

Skin as thick as cowhide first disintegrated.

Crimson blood burst from pores.

Spider-web cracks appeared on the skin surface, then completely broke down, revealing crimson flesh and pale white bones beneath.

Goblins—these low-tier monsters with fragile, thin bodies.

—Light bodies lifted by air waves, like some inferior building block toys. Limbs scattered into fragments in the air, then ground to powder in continued roaring.

Howling cold wind made my forehead hair violently sway.

Before my eyes,

Forgan slowly walked out from the passage, the crimson sand dust mixed with blood foam and ice crystals in the air around him vaguely condensing into a winter wolf head's shape.

The black obsidian small axe at his waist still hadn't been used.

The barbarian from Frost Moss Highlands with cold personality.

Using only his own body, smashed that monster cluster capable of wiping out an entire adventurer squad.

"【Fang Hunt】."

"Learn or not?"

Eardrums aching from shock, blurred words came from the air ahead.

Blood mixed with crystals flowed on the ground, wolf howls still seemed to echo and reverberate overhead.

Adam's apple rolling, I swallowed.

Fiercely nodding.

"Learn!"

Last day of the month!

(Although only 20 minutes left)

But if everyone has extra monthly votes, don't forget~