Frostfire Legacy

Chapter 230 Beyond Expectations

Aster and the girls pressed on, hunting any Field Bosses they encountered. Gradually, the girls caught up to Aster's level, but as expected, closing the gap was challenging given the significant difference in their levels.

Since they had slowed their pace, noon passed before they managed to slip past the forest biome. By then, they had hunted over 20 Area Bosses, boosting Tina to level 41 while the others reached a stable level 40.

As for Aster, taking down monsters that were too much for the girls to handle was enough to propel him to level 50 at last.

"Stats to strength..."

This was the first time he'd adjusted the stat to which he was adding points. Finally, it was time to increase his STR! He already had more than enough DEX, and there was no need to boost his WIS any further, especially now that both Crysta and Pyra were under his control. It was time to balance out his stats.

He had wanted to increase his STR for so long... right after receiving his Job Class as a Magic Swordsman. But now, he was no longer a Magic Swordsman; he was ???'s Avatar, a Unique Mythic Job. It was something beyond even a Legendary Job, yet no one but him knew of this for now.

Even the girls were unaware of his class's strange name. After all, they hadn't had time to discuss it in depth due to all the recent events.

"It was a blessing in disguise, though..." Aster sighed.

If he had told the girls—including Lorelai—about his class back then, they would have surely given him no slack. Now that she had turned into their enemy, the lack of knowledge she had was an advantage for them.

As they left the forest, they surged forward with Aster and Argus' AA Express. They only stopped when they found Area Bosses nearby, maintaining top speed and reaching the exit's proximity in under four hours.

"...?"

Aster suddenly stopped.

They were close to the end, right by the border of a plains and forest biome. But for some reason, a bad feeling washed over him, as if moving any further would be dangerous.

It wasn't the first time his instincts had warned him of danger, so he trusted them. He turned to the girls and cautioned them.

"Everyone, I think something's wrong. I'll go ahead with Kali to check. Argus, the rest of you stay put over there. Hide behind the trees."

His protectiveness might have been excessive, but nobody voiced any complaints. They disembarked the cart and moved to the forest's edge, concealing themselves behind bushes and trees.

"I'm ready."

Only Kali remained at his side, checking her daggers, ready for a fight at a moment's notice.

"Let's go." Aster's voice was grim.

They moved cautiously through the forest, careful not to alert anyone to their presence, with Aster even holding his breath. Kali, on the other hand, wasn't using Stealth yet and simply followed a step behind him. They moved quietly toward the edge closest to the Floor Boss area.

As they approached, Aster waved a hand, signaling for Kali to activate her Stealth. Slowly, they edged to the side of a tree and peered out.

'No way...!'

What they saw was far from pleasing. In the space before the portal leading to the 21st floor stood a group of people. Roughly counting, there were at least four parties present, all equipped for a fierce battle.

From their attire, Aster recognized the clans: Dragon's Roar, Ironblood Knights, and Light of Glory. Without a doubt, these were the members protecting Cassy and the others back at the 14th Floor's camp!

"Shit...!"

But time was merciless. Before he could collect his thoughts, a barrage of projectiles—both bullets and spells—rained down on him. Panicking, Aster summoned an ice wall, blocking the attacks, and quickly expanding it into a massive barrier that encircled the area.

A towering ice wall, over 20 meters high and 3 meters thick, formed a ring with a 500-meter radius. It was a desperate move, one that came at the cost of more of his life force.

The numbness creeping into his fingertips, a sign of his dwindling vitality, was a sensation he could never fully get used to.

After sealing his enemies behind the thick ice, Aster turned and ran. Facing them head-on wasn't an option—especially with his ace completely neutralized. Until he figured out how they stopped his freezing wave, continuing the fight was too risky.

*BOOM!*

Aster kicked off the ground, propelling himself forward like a bullet. He followed the path Kali had taken, where the trees had already been cleared by her impact. After a few seconds of airborne travel, he reached a tree obstructing his path.

"Hup!"

With precise control, he used the tree's flexibility to absorb his momentum, then swiftly launched himself toward the ground, wasting no time.

"Aster! Kali, she...!"

As soon as he landed, Cassy rushed to his side, her face filled with worry and panic. "She was sent flying—in a critical condition—so I healed her quickly, but... she's rampaging!"

"I know!" Aster responded urgently. "She's under Lorelai's mind control! I'll deal with her. You girls, get ready to leave immediately!"

"...!"

Though Aster offered no further explanation, the mention of Lorelai's name was enough for Cassy to understand. Still, a part of her was in disbelief—how had they caught up to their group, who were supposed to be days ahead?

Cassy's thoughts swirled in confusion, but she quickly pushed them aside, focusing on the immediate crisis.

Aster moved swiftly, his figure blurring as he appeared beside Kali once more. This time, he deliberately positioned himself in front of her, aiming another punch toward her stomach. However, Kali, wary of being launched like a shooting star again, dodged to the side. She twisted her body beyond a comfortable range, losing her balance slightly.

"Got you!"

But Aster's punch was only a feint. With Kali off balance, she couldn't avoid the follow-up—a precise chop to the back of her neck. A sharp crack echoed, causing Aster's heart to skip a beat, his face turning pale.

Without hesitation, he caught Kali's unconscious body and quickly checked her pulse.

"...She's alive!" he breathed in relief. "Alright, everyone, follow me! I'll explain on the way!"

Cassy, Tina, and Liz were all covered in cuts, evidence of the difficult fight they'd had against the swift Assassin. But there was no time to rest.

Explore new worlds at empire

As soon as they reached the edge of the forest, Aster pulled the EM Cart from his Fanny Pack, quickly getting the girls aboard.

"Here, tie Kali up before you heal her!" Aster shouted, tossing them a rope from their survival kit. He then gripped the cart's handle tightly. "Hold on! We're going full speed!"

With a powerful kick to the ground, Aster launched them forward without holding back.