Frostbite Cold

Achilles stood up with some effort as he looked at the hosts that were lying on the ground and experiencing spasms.

He turned his gaze to the wound on his chest and decided to ignore it for the time being. He was lucky that his body had become stronger than steel now, otherwise, that blow would have severed his arm instantly.

'I still need to tend for it though.'

His pupils darted deep within the woods for a moment before saying:

[Took you long enough.]

Like a response to his words, a graceful figure appeared out of nowhere.

She was the silvery-white-haired beauty that he was so familiar with at this point. The little elf's expression turned guilty and a little sad when looking at him:

[We're sorry...we didn't expect that it would take so long.]

[...Will you forgive us, please?] Sia stared at him with puppy eyes.

Achilles' pupils shuddered for a moment. He soon composed himself and his face became slightly mellow.

He let out a soft sigh as he remembered the plan the little succubus had fabricated.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Moments earlier, prior to the clash between Achilles and the Leechworm.

[We've studied this species a few years back. They're known for their mind-controlling ability to manipulate their hosts.] Sia whispered into his ears.

[Our research has shown that all specimens are vulnerable to one thing...drumroll please.] She paused for a second to create a dramatic effect.

[Extreme temperatures.]

Achilles went silent for a moment in contemplation, then asked:

[So...you're suggesting we attack it with either heat or cold?]

[Bingo! You really understand me, darling.] The silvery-white-haired elf snapped her fingers in acknowledgment.

[Good suggestion, but...Where do we find something that can create extreme temperatures?]

Sia simply smirked. She summoned a blue-white ring on her index finger.

[It's called "Frostbite Cold" — a Tier D artifact. This little girl right here can help us create ice and manipulate the surrounding's atmospheric temperatures.]

Just when Achilles thought that their dilemma was solved, Sia dropped a bombshell on his head.

[There's a teeny tiny problem, though.]

He swallowed his saliva a little, then uttered in a shaky voice:

[What's that?]

[To activate its second enchantment, requires a great amount of essences. And it takes a long time to get to the temperatures to kill the Leechworm. Which means...]

Sia didn't finish her sentence and stared directly into Achilles' eyes.

The latter understood what was going on instantly as he let out a tired breath.

[...I have to be the bait.]

[...We're sorry. But the parasite is very sensitive to changes in the environment. If there isn't anyone to keep it occupied, it will run away immediately.] The little elf touched his cheek a little as she explained.

[Your power will definitely attract that thing and tempt it to either eat you, or parasite you, darling.]

[...But would it be enough?] Achilles asked with some doubt.

[...It has to.] Sia paused a little, then said in a determined voice.

~~~~~~~~~~

Back to the present, inside the forest covered with thickening glaciers.

Achilles grabbed his axe that was nearby and said in an emotionless tone:

[We need to kill these things. There's no telling if they might up to something.]

Sia nodded in agreement as the couple started killing the hosts along with the parasite's bodies one by one.

Achilles had to be extremely careful while killing them, if not, some of their bodily fluid might get on his body, infecting him.

He went to a large ape and chopped his axe down. The head got split in two as the parasite within the pain wailed painfully before dying.

He quickly jumped away dodging the blood and headed to his position

The other parasite's clones seemed to have also sensed one of their brother's disappearance and they crawled around the hosts' brains crazily.

The white-haired beauty slashed another Corrupted's head which killed it instantly.

She didn't bother avoiding the blood as the body disintegrated into smithereens almost instantaneously.

A flood of newfound strength flew inside Sia's soul as her presence grew even more powerful and profound.

'Man! What kind of crazy ability is that?' Achilles glanced at her, feeling a bit dumbfounded.

The duo swiftly killed the abominations until there were only three of them left.

Achilles slightly turned his head to Sia.

[Care to do the honor?]

The elven beauty maintained silence, and then said:

[These three are for you, darling. Use them however you please.]

Achilles shrugged. He walked towards them with steady footsteps.

He channeled his essences, intending to end them all with a single strike.

'All too easy...'

'...Wait! Easy?' He thought as his eyes opened wide in terror.

As if a response to his bad premotion, the three hosts began behaving strangely. They let out ear-piercing roars that seemed to have shaken the earth:

"""GARRGHHHH!!!!!"""

Achilles and Sia were surprised by the sudden event. The duo was confused not knowing that something terrible was coming.

'What is happening?!'

The three hosts' heads were pierced through — even the rusted knight's helmet and the horse's head.

Three giant-size worms squirmed for a while before something unexpected happened.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

They exploded simultaneously leaving behind a pool of blood that for some reason, melted down the three Corrupted's corpses as well.

Eventually, nothing remained but a red stain of blood on the ground — that soon sunk deep inside it like something just sucked the blood.

The silence ensued for a bit more. Achilles turned back to see Sia, who also stared back at him, stupefied.

"What the hell just happened?" Achilles' pupils returned to their black color as he asked, unsure of what was going on.

Rumble!

A slight tremor appeared from underneath, drawing the couple's attention to it.

A second later, a larger tremor shook the ground. And then the earth started shaking crazily as if something was moving beneath it.

Achilles could clearly sense something was rising up from the underground. It was approaching him and Sia at a terrifying speed!

He didn't try to run or move any of his muscles since he had no idea where could it be. Recklessly moving around might cause his life dearly.

[DARLING!] Sia's voices called out to him.

BOOOM!!!