Chapter 144: Great ice imp

The snow imp tried to fire off ice needles but every single one missed its target. Walker danced around the attacks with ease. As he spun he didn't even use a skill to swipe the scythe down on to the imp. Loading its arm the imp was stunned and couldn't react. Seeing the opening walker moved in again for the next attack. The imp released a blood curdling scream deafening walkers ears. The sound didn't stop his next strike which gladly ended the scream.

Gil and Remey had defeated their own snow imp leaving way to a delightful system message.

' defeated five lesser snow imps

250 exp multiplied to 2500 exp gained'

It may only be a drop in the bucket when experience was involved but it was a step closer to their goals.

Otis had dragged the two snow imps to the group, Stella remained in the sky watchful. Walker quickly stored them away which made Otis fairly grateful, now they could hunt more without needed to head back to drop off their Boone.

" oooo I wish I could fly up that high with Stella...stupid snow imp." The idea of being that high in the sky was scary enough but Elise just seemed jealous.

Midnight huffed in agreement, " oh of course you want to fly up there too, don't worry when I get stronger and your wings grow more we can fly together." Elise and midnight seemed to be closer friends every day, it most likely had to do with the fascination of flying however.

" well after seeing that imp fall from the sky I think I'll stay steady on the ground." Seeing the remnants of the imp Gil didn't even want to consider flying. Thankfully Walker had stored it away so they weren't all reminded.

"Eeeehhhhghueeeeeee" a guttural screech shook their bodies. They were about to make a plan to sweep the area for more imps but it seemed something else had already found them.

Everyone jumped in to defensive stances to get a view of what made the god awful noise. The sounds of cracking ice soon became loud. Double the dice of the snow imps a larger more brutish imp came in to view. It's arms were wrapped in solid blue foggy ice. Claws came to deadly sharp points and its horns were thicker than the other imps. It's steps caused the snow and ice to crack and break, it was much heavier.

' daily quest. Defeat the greater ice imp

Slay the greater ice imp to secure a safe area for the rabbit tribe to forage.

Repeats:

60exp'

The daily quest went completely ignored as the new enemy grew closer.

" leader can you tell what that is?" Su was hoping walker could discern its identity as she prepared herself for some harsh hits.

Otis spoke up not sounding happy at all, " that's a greater ice imp, it likes to boss around the snow imps. This explains the ambush, its skin is much tougher and its strength is very high." This was not the first greater ice imp he had fought but it was never easy to take one down. It's hits were hard enough to knock even him out for some time so the group he was with could easily be killed.

Walker wanted to know more, he hadn't read about this monster front he library and knew they would need to find a weakness. Hoping his appraisal skill would come to the rescue he used it quickly,

' greater ice imp

Due to its enhanced strength it has lost the fine control to create ice needles. Instead it creates crude spears and clubs from ice. It's claws are the toughest ice it can creat easily shredding steel. Piercing it's skin is just as challenging due to its nearly frozen body. Extremely weak to fire elemental attacks it rarely leaves frozen underground caves.'

" it's weak to fire based attacks, Laurence don't summon Bengal if a hit lands it could spell the end. Try and get Hyde to make a small fire, I'll try to use the flames and my skills to counter it. In the meantime Gil use you bows skill to pierce it's legs to slow it down. Remey join Otis and distract it do not get in range it can create ice so ears or clubs. Su you hold back it can break through your armor Instead protect Laurence and Hyde." They mobilized immediately, Hyde naturally roles in to a ball in fear but since he Ha even practicing with Laurence was still able to fire off some quills. Walker pulled out some fire starter from his inventory, he was praising his mother in his head for being so diligent in preparing his first backpack with necessities.

While they painstakingly set up a small fire, the great ice imp had gotten close enough to use its skill creating a large ice club. The ice was jagged and had many protruding shards. It was safe to say that one hit would do more than just knock someone out. Remey and Otis taunted it with shouts while the ran around it. Just narrowly avoiding its swings causing the imp to become angrier.

It's minions had been slain by these weak things and it couldn't help but feel even more rage. The great imp tried to step forward and catch the two running things off guard when it felt a huge amount of pressure in its leg. Protruding from its calf was a green arrow letting off sharp whisper of wind. This pressure drilled in to it slashing its skin. With an increasingly angry roar it stumbled slightly.

Gil felt the loss of mana at this shot but knew he had done well seeing the great imp loose its footing. Holding off this thing was much more important than loosing some mana at the moment. He fired a normal arrow as a distraction, its skin was too tough but Gil knew if he fired back to back wind arrows it would use its tough ice wrapped stems to block, it would be a waste of mana.

Walker saw the rampaging greater ice imp and knew he could give them an advantage. " multi buff!" He shouted to notify everyone as a wave of magic hit them boosting them faster and stronger. Now the battle my dodged attacks didn't even have a chance to hit Remey or Otis. Not that Otis really needed the buff he was extremely fast himself. Laurence had yet to experience this and felt his mind clear a bit, this sped up his fire making with Hyde who finally fired quills on to the tinder they had piled up. Realizing that midnight may try to sneak attack the imp walker gave her a look, " midnight stay here and guard out backs. We can't afford to be attacked by anything else that shows up." This simple order was to keep her away from the imps club but also to keep any other imps from showing up. Who knew how many the greater ice imp controlled.

The small whips of smoke was growing more and more. This was mirrored by the greater ice imps rage, its attacks were more wild causing Otis to resort to the dance of the wild rabbit. Remey had started to retreat knowing she couldn't properly dodge the attacks any longer. Instead she remained farther away throwing handfuls of snow causing it further irritation. Unable to land a hit the greater ice imp used its ability and created a second ice club. This was trouble.

Now having to dodge double the attacks Otis was visibly sweating. He wanted to fall in to dance if the rabid rabbit but he knew if he did he could accidentally cause an attack to land on an ally. Gil seeing this used another wind element arrow burning up more mana, it managed to hit the same leg slowing the imp more. The other arrow had dissipated leaving sliced up muscle exposed. The imp growled as blue blood flowed from its wounds.

The flames had finally sprites from the tinder! Now walker could take his turn to attack. He swapped his scythe for his staff and began to channel the flames in to a ball. Since he had used his evil consuming flames he was able to better shape and direct the flames.

' due to past experience in fire elemental manipulation the skill fire flower has been taken from the flame enchantress system.

Fire flower had been automatically leaned due to user actions in creating the magical attack before the skill was given.

Fire flower- 3mana cost

A compressed seed of flame is created and fired at an enemy. Once contact is made the seed bloom wrapping the enemy in flaming vines. Once incapacitated the flowers bloom causing small explosions inflicting fire damage and burns.'

Feeling a change in the fire he let the instinct guide him. The flames grew no longer needing the tinder and instead being created through walkers mana. They compressed more and more until a small bead of intense heat floated in front of walker. He knew this attack could cause area damage and his ally's would need to retreat. " everyone get back I have a big one coming!" With his warning heard Otis and Remey rushed back to where Su was. The small fire bead shot through the air piercing the center of the great ice imps chest. The attack looked to do no damage whatsoever...