Chapter 65: The Traitor Monk VS The Frost Ape (3)

Marcus, seeing the gigantic four-meter-tall white ape before him, immediately assumed a fighting stance and, with a leap, aimed his fist at the creature’s face.

The monstrous primate responded with a direct punch to the old soldier’s face.

With a thunderous crash, their fists collided midair, releasing an enormous surge of magic as both expelled power to reinforce their muscles.

“You’re not so strong without your little helper, are you, idiot?” the old man snapped, tensing his muscles as he tried to overpower the clash.

“Just die already! You’re nothing but a sack of bones that can’t even accept a moment of mercy!” the Frost Ape shot back.

At that moment, with overwhelming strength, the creature won the clash and forced the old man several meters back.

“Did you think I didn’t know you survived? Did you think you fell off the mountain unconscious just out of pure luck? Don’t be stupid, brother! I spared you and didn’t chase you down to grind you into paste because I thought you’d be smart enough to find somewhere to hide…”

The Frost Ape circled the old man as he spoke, as if measuring his body, trying to gauge how much energy he had left and how much damage it would take to end the fight.

“You lie a lot for someone missing his teeth, little Thion… If you wanted me alive, why did you send the wolf riders after me after the avalanche? You didn’t even have the guts to come down the mountain and finish me off away from the cold.”

The old man replied, pain and disappointment in his eyes, as he circled without losing sight of the Frost Ape. These were moments of stalking, searching for an opening, or perhaps forgiveness.

“Foolish brother… The riders I sent weren’t to kill you. I sent my loyal men to guard you until I grow strong enough to take control of the Tower by killing the stupid ice mage who enslaved us,” the Ape said, frowning.

“There you go again with that crap… We swore loyalty to our lord for saving our lives! Does your word mean nothing, or is your life not worth your word, Thion?” the old human shouted in fury before stopping abruptly.

For a second, the ape wanted to look away. Those words wounded his pride, but in his nature and in his memory, pride didn’t put food on the table.

Without another word, the massive primate leapt back, putting distance between them. The aging human began breathing carefully and, gathering his magic, moved his arms as if drawing a magic circle in the air.

On the other side of the frozen plaza, where his bone throne once stood and now only rubble remained, the ape shouted in rage and resignation, accepting his decision.

“I will be the next Lord of the Tower! I will be the next ruler of our kingdom! And now I know mercy is the poison of kings, a poison I will never drink again!”

The Frost Ape named Thion began charging toward Marcus, his face twisted by rage and pain, blood pouring from the bloody socket where his eye once was and from his mouth where his fangs had been.

The old man, bare-chested, watched his gigantic enemy approach, accelerating with every step, cracking the ice beneath his feet and shattering every frozen spike in his path.

“I’m sorry for this ending, dear Thion… I wish I had made the right choice when I had the chance…” the old man shouted as he steadied his body, preparing a strike and gathering all his magic, a magic circle glowing at his feet.

{{Frost Magic X Warrior Monk Art}}

{{Glacier Breaker}}

However, in response to the old man’s cry, the ape only let out a savage roar as icy magic condensed around his fists, forming spheres covered in jagged ice spikes around both hands.

{{Frost Magic X Bestial Art}}

{{Ice Hammer}}

With a ferocious scream, the ape leapt high, raising both arms, ready to bring them down upon his older brother and crush his life in a single blow.

Yet in that moment, in both their eyes, knowing the end was near, there was no hatred, only pain; not for their wounds or their pride, but for being forced to take their brother’s life.

Without looking away, their attacks collided, and another massive explosion of magic erupted. The air froze instantly, and the goblins trying to watch had to scatter and hide.

The houses were left with their walls encased in ice as frost formed violently. A few unfortunate goblins were turned into frozen statues, unable to find shelter in time.

When the shockwave faded and nearly the entire citadel lay beneath a layer of frost and scattered ice spikes, the goblins emerged from their hiding places to see the result of the battle.

Before them, at the center of a crater of solid ice, the brothers stood panting, bleeding.

“That was a good hit… Kukuku,” Marcus muttered before coughing blood onto the ground, his arm, the one that had delivered the decisive blow, completely ruined.

His hand and forearm hung by strips of flesh and skin, the bone shattered; his bicep and shoulder were torn open, exposing bleeding muscle.

“Fuck you… Kuku…” Thion replied, his massive arms gone, replaced by exposed bone and raw red flesh where once there had been muscle and death for his enemies.

“Brother or not, I would’ve preferred to kill you myself rather than leave this world without it being ruled b-by… Kuku… my h-hand…”

Those were the Frost Ape’s final words before he fell onto his back. In his chest gaped a massive hole, so large that what little remained of his heart could be seen, blood spilling out to form a crimson pool.

The goblins, witnessing this, began clapping and pounding the ground, thrilled and ecstatic. Their way of life revolved around combat, casting aside grief or affection; they didn’t care who won, only that blood was spilled.

“I’m sorry… Forgive me, Thion… But if anyone rules this Tower, it will be only my lord. By my honor or my life, but it will be my lord.”

Marcus said this before approaching the ape’s body. His leather boots were stained with the creature’s blood, as were his pants when he knelt beside his brother’s head.

Gently, he closed his brother’s eyes. They did not share blood, nor ambitions, but they had shared a childhood as mountain orphans, raised side by side by their lord.

“How beautiful… Truly… How beautiful…” Ebony said as she emerged from the rubble of a frozen house. The commotion had pulled her from her stupor; despite her strength, she had passed out from the pain, yet her body showed no trace of injury.

“Now that you’ve won your damn duel… You’d better tell me what the hell is going on here!” she shouted angrily as she approached Marcus.

The old man, sorrow in his eyes, rose from the ground and walked toward the blonde girl. Blood still dripped from his shattered hand.

“Girl… I almost forgot about you… You know, I’m not sure whether it’s a blessing or a curse that you’re here, but I suppose at least I can say… Thank you for your help, Visitor from another world.”

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