70

Island

At a critical moment, Forseti swiftly activated the Divine Protection Technique. A faint holy light enveloped his body just as the four-horned goat's front hooves struck his chest.

Forseti felt an immense force hit him, and he was sent flying, crashing to the ground as darkness briefly clouded his vision.

The sharp pain in his chest left him gasping for breath, his face contorted in agony.

The four-horned goat was truly Asgard's fiercest beast, its strength rivaled only by the ice beast. Given his current power, confronting such a beast head-on was out of the question; a few direct hits would likely prove fatal.

With astonishing resilience, the four-horned goat was already back on its feet by the time Forseti hit the ground.

"Bah—" It bellowed, nostrils flaring sparks with each breath.

Forseti hastily summoned Shengqi, touching his chest and releasing a burst of holy light from his palm, using a magic fragment aglow with divine energy.

Compared to healing through faith, the Flash of Light spell was far more potent, instantly alleviating the pain in his chest. Yet, the consumption of holy light was substantial, depleting half of his remaining reserves in an instant.

"Bah!" The four-horned goat charged once more.

Forseti slammed his warhammer down onto the ground.

"Sword of Justice!"

A blade of justice infused with holy light and flames erupted from the ground, piercing the four-horned goat's belly.

The creature, still charging forward, was cleaved open by the Sword of Justice, its intestines and blood spilling out.

Most creatures would have been incapacitated by such wounds, but not the four-horned goat. Aside from its head, heart, and bones, it could swiftly regenerate from nearly any injury.

It howled in pain, yet its momentum did not falter as it continued its charge towards Forseti.

Swinging his warhammer, Forseti cast a Trial spell, simultaneously dodging behind a nearby tree.

The Hammer of Judgment struck true, exploding the left eye of the four-horned goat, bursting the eyeball instantly.

Undeterred, the goat rammed into the tree.

"Boom!"

The tree, a massive giant that could easily withstand a single person's strength, collapsed under the immense force of the four-horned goat, splintering into flying debris.

Forseti's mind raced as he considered his options. The goat's vulnerable spots were its head, heart, and bones, but he had already witnessed their incredible toughness. Even with his full strength, defeating it would be no easy task.

It seemed his best bet was to target its heart.

Observing cautiously as he maneuvered, Forseti saw the enraged goat closing the distance rapidly, its cumbersome size making turns difficult but not slowing its pursuit.

During the chase, Forseti witnessed the goat's blown-out eye regenerating before his eyes, the wound swiftly healing.

This regeneration!

As the goat prepared to strike again, Forseti gritted his teeth, extending his left hand and casting another fragment of the Holy Light Shield.

"Shield of Light!"

A blaze of holy light erupted between his fingers, forming a massive shield that stood between him and the charging goat.

Simultaneously, he brought his warhammer down once more.

Another Sword of Justice thrust into the goat's chest and abdomen, piercing deep.

The goat collided with the Shield of Light.

"Boom!"

The holy shield cracked and shattered under the force, dissipating into fragments of light.

Forseti staggered back, realizing his precarious situation. With minimal Holy Light reserves left after the recent bout, continuing the fight would likely endanger his life. He swiftly retrieved a bottle of Swiftness potion and drank it.

"Boom!"

The goat charged again, the shattered remnants of the holy shield dissipating into the air.

Forseti fled into the forest.

Though the goat was faster, it couldn't catch him immediately. Forseti sprinted toward a nearby tavern in Asgard.

Regrettably, it seemed he would miss this year's hunting festival. Forseti sighed inwardly.

"Ow—"

"Ouch-"

A sudden howl echoed through the forest.

Forseti froze, eyes widening in alarm.

Ahead, dozens of gray wolves had gathered, howling in unison, their gaze fixed on him.

What in the Nine Realms!

Solitary wolves rarely attacked humans, but packs were another matter entirely. Survival instinct drove them to exploit any advantage.

Fear gripping him, Forseti swiftly turned and fled. The howls of wolves and the growls of the goat echoed behind him, his heart sinking.

In this moment, he realized adventuring with Tialfi had never posed such danger.

Forseti ran desperately, the landscape blurring past as trees and grass flew by.

Ahead, the vast Sea of Marmora came into view, its waters surrounding Asgard, flowing endlessly into space.

The sea of Marmora was a marvel, its waters seemingly infinite and unending, spilling into space without diminishing.

"Bah!!" The goat's bellow drew closer, leaving Forseti no choice but to plunge into the Sea of Marmora and swim with all his might.

The wolves hesitated at the water's edge, reluctant to pursue. However, the relentless four-horned goat plunged into the sea, determined not to relent.

Having learned a harsh lesson from his encounter with the merfolk, Forseti had honed his swimming skills. While the goat struggled in the water, its bulk slowing it down, Forseti maintained his lead.

He swam onward.

The goat pursued, unrelenting.

Space was almost within reach!

Forseti could faintly discern the shore of Asgard beyond the Sea of Marmora, the stars of space beckoning beyond.

Scanning the horizon, his eyes lit up as he spotted a small island partially submerged, a narrow crevice visible above the waterline.

The crevice was narrow, just wide enough for him to slip through. The goat, however, was too massive to follow.

Forseti swam toward the island, reaching it quickly and slipping into the crevice.

"Boom!"

The goat slammed into the narrow gap, dislodging gravel but unable to squeeze through.

"Heh!" Forseti chuckled.

"Roar—" The goat bellowed furiously, its voice reverberating louder, breath igniting flames that steamed the sea water.

It rammed the crevice repeatedly, but its size prevented any progress.

"Roar-roar-baa-"

Defeated, the four-horned goat gave up and turned away.

Forseti exhaled deeply, relieved to have escaped.

He decided to stay put for a while longer, cautious and vigilant.

The front half of the crevice led to the island's surface, while the rear descended into a cave, the passageway gradually ascending into solid ground.

After floating in the water briefly, Forseti turned and swam into the cave, seeking refuge...

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