The One-Eyed Winter looked at the half-dead human with contempt and mockery.
From the beginning, Daniel never even tried to run away, for two reasons.
First, escaping was completely impossible. This monster was one of the best in its rank and was even fast enough to rival higher-ranked beings.
Compared to it, he was just like an ant.
Second—and more importantly—he had no need to escape. His goal from the start was to kill this beast, and to do that, he had to endure this kind of pain.
"Human, are you okay?" Lunaryl stepped out from behind the bushes, revealing herself.
Daniel only glanced at her. At that moment, he couldn't even speak.
"Damn it." Lunaryl placed her hand over the hole in Daniel's torso.
"Oh World Tree, please grant your mercy to your children." A soft light came from her hands, and the wound on Daniel's stomach started to heal.
"What? How is this possible?" But just as quickly, the healing reversed and the wound reopened.
"Hah, little elf, did you really think your pathetic power could counter my Law of Annihilation?" The monster took a step forward and appeared directly in front of them.
Lunaryl's pupils widened in terror. Every cell in her body was screaming death.
She could feel it—she was just one step away from dying. She had never been this scared in her life.
Why? Why hadn't she listened to her mother and stayed out of the Tower? She felt deep regret from the bottom of her heart.
"Don't worry, once I'm done with this human, I'll come for you too. After all, you're the main course."
It struck Lunaryl, sending her flying dozens of meters away.
Daniel, with eyes that could shut at any moment, looked at the One-Eyed Winter.
"I don't like eating humans, but maybe just this once, I'll give it a try because of you."
It licked its lips and stared at Daniel with hunger and appetite.
"Besides, you destroyed my other meal. You have to take responsibility, don't you think?"
It licked Daniel's face with a tongue like a crocodile's, tasting him a little.
In its opinion, while his flavor wasn't as good as beasts of corruption, it wasn't bad either—especially because it could feel hope inside him.
Did this stupid human still have hope of surviving? Truly, just like the Mother Goddess said, humans are arrogant creatures.
"I... I..."
The words barely left Daniel's mouth. All his energy was gone, and death was closing in.
He hadn't expected to end up in such a terrifying situation right at the start.
"Hah, are those your last words, human? Go on, say it."
The One-Eyed Winter grinned with its large, twisted mouth. The smile looked more terrifying than ever.
It leaned in to hear the last words of the human it was about to tear apart and roast with its Annihilation Beam.
"I... I never lose—not in this life..."
Suddenly, the monster's instincts kicked in. A wave of fear hit it. Something deep inside was warning it: its life was in danger.
But before the monster could react, Daniel used the last bit of strength he had to pull out a small ball from his pocket and shoved it into the One-Eyed Winter's mouth.
The beast didn't even have time to speak before the ball—filled with Black Gold—exploded and blew its head to pieces.
Smoke and steam filled the air again.
"Not enough..." Daniel whispered.
He didn't stop. He reached out and pulled the monster's heart out. Because of the earlier explosion, half its body had been destroyed, and the heart was completely unprotected.
He looked at the glowing white heart in his hand and crushed it without hesitation.
The One-Eyed Winter's body collapsed to the ground, lifeless and drenched in blood.
In its final moments, it felt regret.
The Mother Goddess had said one more thing about humans—never underestimate them. Their arrogance isn't without reason.
"Heh..." Daniel was completely covered in blood. A massive hole had been opened in his stomach, and one of his shoulders and arms had been completely torn off.
The skin and flesh of his other arm were badly burned. Pain covered his whole body, and if it weren't for his strong willpower from his past life, his mind would've broken already.
The light in his eyes was fading. He hadn't expected to be so close to death again so soon.
But just then, luckily, a voice echoed in his mind:
[ You have successfully killed a Rank D Monster: One-Eyed Winter ]
[ You gained 121 EXP ]
[ You have leveled up to Rank E ]
[ All your stats have increased ]
------
[ Status Panel: Daniel F. Noir ]
[ Rank: E / (20 / 299 EXP) ]
[ Class: The Fallen Priest ]
[ Class Rank: Transcendent / SSS ]
[ Innate Talent: God's Blood ]
[ Skills:
Fallen Will (SSS)
Crimson Judgment (SSS) ]
[ Stats:
Physical Power: 17 → 40
Spiritual Power: 44 → 80
Intelligence: 134 → 145
Mana: 7 → 20
Endurance: 99 → 180 ]
[ Body Status: Dying ]
[ Mental State: Hopeless and Awaiting Death ]
[ Blessing: The Fallen ]