Chapter 170: Shaved Ice

The flame doll cat was darting around in front of the snow golem, the golem was too slow to grasp the small cat in front of it. If it could manage to grab on it could crush this annoyance and be victorious. The size of its hands firmly in fists were like two giant hammers waiting to pound an enemy in to the ground. With its long stride the golem had come in to range of Walker and Gil, knowing this the flame doll cat turned and charged in at the golem, the golem reacted by swatting at it. Its massive fist slammed in to the flame doll no problem causing it to break, a loud bang rang through the plains causing the snow golem to step back uneasy with what just happened.

With the distraction set Gil had begun to target with a wind elemental arrow. He was aiming for its arms so that it would lose some fighting power, if he managed to damage it enough the party could focus attacks on one side to reach the core. While Gil built up his wind elemental arrow Walker released three consecutive fire bolts to take advantage of the temporarily stationary golem. The fire bolts rushed through the air colliding in to the golem's left shoulder. Bits of snow and ice fell from it while steam rose from the golem. There was barely any damage but this was expected. The small bit that fell from the golems body was enough of a start, Walker had also given Gil more time to finish preparing his arrow.

Gil released the wind arrow pushing it to increase its speed before impacting with the golem. Having seen where Walker's attacks landed he aimed for the left shoulder as well. The wind on the plains seemed to mix well with the arrow giving it an extra boost, upon impact the arrow was unable to pierce through the golmes shoulder. But it lodged in to the shoulder causing whipping wind to explode from it, pieces of snow were flew off the golem leaving a decent crater. The shoulder was missing about half of the snow that made it up. This progress was nice but unfortunately to keep it up would cost more mana than they had.

The golem was not very happy about being attacked from long range and began to take larger steps to approach the group. Seeing that its pace increased Walker hurried to create another fire doll, the same cat form of flames began to come in to shape. He wanted to use it to assist in Remey and Midnights hit and run strategy, if the golem was about to land a blow on either of them the flame doll could jump in to take the hit while the other retreated. Gil was forming another arrow but the golem had come too close, Midnight and Remey moved out to start their tactics. Su remained near Gil and Walker, if the golem targeted either while they prepared attacks the fight was over.

The snow golem noticed the two coming towards it and lifted its large fists to try and crush them. Yet as soon as the fists started to come down on them they slit opposite sides. Midnight when towards its damaged left side using her claws to sheer away more snow. Remey ran around it trying to draw its attention. The golem spun following Remey just as she wanted. This left Midnight another chance to strike. The two continued this switching off, however as they were about to try for their next attack the snow golem began to raise a foot. Once its foot was in the air it stomped downwards causing the ground around them to vibrate. The two lost their stride and were forced to take quick steps away from the golem, Walker had just finished his second fire doll sending it in to start up the distraction again.

Remey and Midnight were glad to see this since they had nearly become easy targets while off balance. Returning to close combat the two waited for the flame doll cat to draw the golem's attention, the cat zipped under the golem causing it to reach downward exposing the damaged shoulder. Remey and midnight took this as a good time to unleash a dual attack. Remey came forward with a large right hook aimed at the thinnest part of the shoulder. Midnight came from the opposite direction her claws cleaving away a part of the shoulder as well. Their combined efforts were rewarded by the shoulder giving way, the large left arm of the snow golem collapsing on to the ground. " Walker, while we distract it more, get over here and store this arm! I'll tell you why later!" Remey shouted at Walker who had no idea why she would want to keep a compressed pile of snow, but he dashed forward anyway keeping a sharp eye on the golem.

The snow golem was completely focused on the tree running around and attacking it. Having lost an arm it was aggravated so much so that no other thing than crushing its enemy was its focus. Walker was able to get to the golem's severed arm and store it away, surprisingly the arm had already started to melt leaving a small puddle on the ground. Since the golem was distracted Walker stayed where he was taking careful aim. He sent two more fire bolts at the golem easily striking its left side. Larger pieces of snow were not being broken off since it was constantly building damage to one area of its body. More and more steam rose from the left side of the now enraged snow golem.

Gil began to aim his next arrow at the golem's legs so he could slow its movements even more. Expanding a large amount of his mana the arrow was released, since the golem was closer the arrow reached it much sooner. Lodging itself in to the golem's left foot the arrow tore through bits of snow. The remaining bits of snow that could barely be called a foot made the golem very lopsided, it now leaned down to the left letting Remey and Midnight more easily target the weak side. The two began to dig deeper with each strike breaking larger chunks of snow from the golem each time. This dance went on for some time before the actions of the golem changed.

Acting much more erratic the golem began to swing in a wide arc with its remaining arm. Raising its legs to kick downwards and force the three that rand around its feet back became a constant attack. The golem had sensed its core becoming exposed. Gil had always had a sharp eye and was able to spot the darker blue coloration in a crater of the golem's left side. "Walker see that blue icy spot? That has to be it's core! We need to get that out of its body!"

Easily finding the spot Gil was talking about Walker prepared himself to jump in at the right moment. Midnight and Remey also heard this decided to pick up their pace. Pushing closer to the golem they were met with frantic attacks. The golem knew it was in danger and its instincts to survive took hold over it. The next swing of its arm was not the same attack as before, as the arm was going to miss them it spontaneously detached from the golem. Flying toward them the arm made heavy contact rocketing the two tens of feet away. Walker was instantly moving and his body was acting faster than he could think. Speeding forward he knew if he didn't stop the golem this second it could easily move forward and stomp Remey and Midnight to death.

Walker released multiple fire bolts trying to draw its attention but the golem did not even flinch. The golem knew this was a critical moment, it's instincts screamed to defeat the enemy in front of it or else. Walker witnessing this used all his speed to reach the left side of the golem, plunging his hands forward he wrapped them around the extremely cold blue ice core of the golem. Pulling as hard as he could it refused to budge, the golem continued towards the still stunned Midnight and Remey dragging Walker with it. He braced his legs on the golem's side itself trying to gain leverage to pull the core free, the pain of the core freezing to his palms completely ignored. No matter how hard he pulled the core refused to budge, the golem was painfully close. Walker couldn't help but think of how bad he was failing as a leader, he should be able to protect his companions at any turn. "Come on you stupid oaf!" His entire body jerked tearing at the core, he may not be the strongest person in the party but he would do anything to make this happen. Walker was pulling himself closer prepared to release a fire bolt right in front of himself, he knew if he did so he would be damaged as well but it was worth the risk.