Era of Players: Death God
Chapter 275 - 275: Ninth Floor

Noah stepped onto the ninth floor, and the air immediately shifted, the cold biting deeper than before. Before him lay a vast ice swamp, an eerie landscape filled with frozen pools and jagged ice formations jutting out from the ground like the teeth of some ancient creature. The ground squished beneath his feet, a deceptive surface that hinted at the treachery hidden beneath the ice.

As he moved cautiously through the swamp, he felt a sense of unease settle over him. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and the distant sounds of hissing and low growls echoed around him. Noah tightened his grip on his sword, the blade glowing with elemental energy, ready to face whatever awaited him.

Suddenly, from the shadows of the murky ice pools, a horde of Ice Lizardmen emerged, their scaled bodies glistening with frost. They were a menacing sight, standing tall on their powerful legs, with long tails that could whip around with deadly speed. Their eyes, bright and predatory, locked onto Noah, and they charged at him with a cacophony of hisses and growls.

"Here we go," Noah muttered under his breath, summoning his energy. He activated his Wind abilities, creating a barrier that swirled around him, lifting his hair and clothing in a burst of air.

The first Ice Lizardman lunged at him, its claws poised to strike. Noah sidestepped just in time, the creature's claws grazing past him as he countered with a swift slash of his sword. The blade connected, the light energy searing through the creature's scales and causing it to howl in pain.

But the horde was relentless. More lizardmen followed, their movements quick and coordinated as they surrounded him. Noah felt a rush of adrenaline as he prepared for the onslaught. He ducked and rolled, avoiding another attack as he activated his Space element, teleporting behind one of the approaching lizardmen.

With a swift strike, he slashed at its back, the energy from his sword igniting as it cut through the creature's defenses. The lizardman fell, but there was no time to celebrate. The rest of the horde surged forward, their eyes filled with fury.

"Enough of this!" Noah shouted, channeling his Wind abilities to create a powerful gust that sent the nearest lizardmen sprawling back. He took a deep breath, feeling the energy building within him, and unleashed a series of rapid strikes. Each slash of his sword was enhanced by the wind, creating a whirlwind of motion that left the creatures reeling.

But the lizardmen were cunning, and they quickly regrouped. One of them, larger and armored in thick scales, charged at him with ferocity. Noah barely managed to dodge its powerful tail swipe, feeling the rush of air as it passed by him. He countered with a quick slash, but the armored lizardman blocked his attack with its hardened scales.

"Let's see how well you fare against this!" Noah declared, focusing his energy as he activated his ultimate ability. "Tempest Fury!"

The air crackled with energy as he summoned a massive vortex of wind, the force of it swirling around him and lifting him off the ground. The ice around him shuddered as the winds howled, creating a storm that engulfed the lizardmen. They struggled against the torrent, their hisses turning to cries of desperation.

Noah directed the vortex toward the larger lizardman, and the winds slammed into it with tremendous force. The creature was lifted off its feet, tossed into the air before crashing back down into the frozen swamp. The other lizardmen were swept away, their bodies colliding with the ice formations as the storm raged on.

With the horde temporarily scattered, Noah pressed the attack, teleporting from one lizardman to the next, delivering swift, decisive strikes. Each blow was enhanced by the wind, the light from his sword illuminating the darkness around him. He felt the thrill of battle coursing through his veins, and with every strike, his proficiency in his abilities grew.

But the lizardmen were not defeated yet. As he fought, he could see the determination in their eyes. They regrouped, their numbers overwhelming as they charged at him once more, claws and teeth bared. Noah felt the pressure mounting as he fought to keep them at bay.

He ducked low to avoid a claw swipe, rolling beneath the lizardman and coming up behind it. He slashed with his sword, but the creature spun around, its tail whipping toward him. Noah barely managed to sidestep the attack, the force of it sending him stumbling back.

"Focus!" he urged himself, feeling the adrenaline spike as he faced the relentless onslaught. He needed to find a way to turn the tide in his favor.

As the lizardmen closed in, he summoned his energy once more, channeling it into a powerful burst. "Gale Force!" he shouted, unleashing a concentrated wave of wind that slammed into the approaching horde. The force of the attack sent several lizardmen flying back, their bodies crashing into the icy ground.

But there were still too many. Noah felt the exhaustion creeping in, his muscles burning from the effort. He had to keep pushing, keep fighting. He focused on his breathing, centering himself as he prepared for the next wave.

The larger lizardman, now back on its feet, charged at him again, its eyes filled with rage. Noah braced himself, raising his sword to block the incoming attack. The creature swung its claws, and Noah felt the impact reverberate through his body.

He countered with a swift strike to its side, feeling the energy surge through him as he connected. The lizardman staggered, but it wasn't finished yet. It swung its tail, aiming for Noah's legs, but he leaped over the attack, rolling gracefully to the side.

With a fierce determination, Noah unleashed a series of rapid strikes, each one enhanced by the wind as he fought with everything he had. He felt the energy building within him, each movement becoming more fluid, more powerful. The lizardmen began to falter, their once-coordinated attacks turning chaotic as Noah pressed his advantage.

One by one, the lizardmen fell, their bodies crashing into the icy ground as he fought on. He could see the fear in their eyes, the realization that they were no match for his relentless assault.

With a final surge of energy, Noah focused all of his power into one last strike against the larger lizardman. "Tempest Slash!" he shouted, the winds roaring around him as he swung his sword with all his might.

The blade connected with the lizardman, and the force of the attack erupted in a brilliant explosion of light and wind. The creature let out a deafening roar before collapsing to the ground, defeated.

Breathing heavily, Noah stood amidst the remnants of the battle, the icy swamp around him littered with the fallen lizardmen. The air was thick with the scent of frost and sweat, and he could feel the adrenaline slowly fading.

[You have defeated Ice Lizardmen – Horde Cleared]

[Experience Gained]

[Soul Ascension Activated – Strength +6, Agility +5]

Noah wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling both exhilarated and exhausted. He had faced a brutal fight, pushing himself to the limits and emerging victorious. His skills had grown stronger with each encounter, and he knew he was becoming more formidable with every challenge he faced.

As he caught his breath, he glanced around the icy swamp, the beauty of the frozen landscape juxtaposed with the violence that had just unfolded.