Whatever doubts Fenris may have had about being on another world were gone the moment he came face to face with this creature.
Jagged ice teeth, spikes on its shoulders, and on its chest, a pulsating blue light.
Despite meeting such a creature for the first time, Fenris knew what this was.
A few days ago…
Fenris flipped through the rough pages of a book—the same book of the traveler who explored the other worlds.
Well, a copy of it anyway.
It would take a few days for Gwendolyn to make the preparations. He wished to go alone.
But Buck wouldn't let him, and neither would Lycan.
He had no idea which world Buck would pick for them to explore, but knowing Buck and his nature, he was destined to get burned.
Might as well be prepared for it.
Fenris flipped through the pages, slowing as he reached a section that intrigued him. A glossary about monsters.
And there were many, with weaknesses and strengths.
He landed on a page about a certain type of monster. Violent embodiments of nature itself.
"An Elemental," Fenris whispered through the cold.
The monster swung a fist down at Fenris.
Fenris evaded, ice spikes erupting beside him.
He growled in defiance. The creature struck again and again, leaving shards of ice everywhere.
While evading the icicles of death, Fenris tried his best to remember what the glossary had said.
"Elements of nature can combat one another."
That was basic knowledge he had even before reading the book. Besides, what did he have to combat ice?
His eyes widened as he came to a realization.
"The rubies. I should have known when Buck handed them to me."
On all fours, he ran, trying to create distance between himself and the ice elemental.
The elemental shot out icicles through its jagged ice knuckles and claws.
Fenris evaded, though some scarred him.Meters away, Fenris scraped his claws in the snow, stopping himself.
He stared dead into the elemental. Trails of ice spikes surrounded him, limiting his mobility.
He waited for an attack. The ice elemental didn't give him any—yet.
"That's right," Fenris whispered. "They're territorial. If I just leave… I should be fine."
Fenris couldn't help but growl at that thought. Maybe it was just his instincts taking over, but he couldn't just let this thing go after it had tried to take his life.
He let out a bark and charged toward the elemental.
It readied itself, multiple icicles forming from the blizzard and gathering into its hands.
Fenris leaped, reaching into his pockets and throwing something at the monster.
It roared in pain as bombardments of explosions surrounded and weakened it.
Fenris landed, one hand full of rubies. He had bought enough time to dig into the enchanted pouch and grab them.
He grinned and threw them all at the elemental.
It screamed and tried to fight back, aiming icicles at Fenris—though weaker than before.
Fenris evaded them easily, his narrow golden eyes glowing as they fixed on the creature's chest.
A dim blue light emanated from it.
He remembered more from the book.
"All elementals have a core. Destroy it, and they fall."
The elemental was weakened, more stone than ice now, and down on one knee. Its ice slowly began to reemerge.
"I have to hurry."
Dashing through the heavy snow, he pounced on the elemental. The giant beast tumbled and crashed onto its back.
"AAAHH!" Fenris screamed as he mauled the creature's chest with his claws repeatedly, like a savage beast.
It cracked, revealing an orb glowing with blue light embedded deep within the chest.
The ice on the creature's body was now more visible than ever. Fenris reached for the core.
"Ugh," he grunted in agony, frostbite traveling from his hand and spreading farther up his arm. But that wouldn't stop him.
He reached again with his other hand and pulled. Through the pain, he yanked the core free and fell into the snow.
With a heavy rumble, the elemental crumbled into the snow.
"Finally… I won," Fenris said, panting and smiling.
It rumbled again. Exhausted, he turned toward the sound.
He found another ice elemental, exactly like the one he had just defeated, staring at him with visible vexation.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Was that your twin?" Fenris said, slightly delirious.
The beast roared at him.
"Oh, shut up!" Fenris stood, exhausted.
The harsh cold finally caught up with him. He could hear the sound of his own heartbeat drumming and slowing down.
His vision became blurry, not just from the blizzard. He chuckled slightly.
"I always thought I'd die by the hunters. Never by a giant ice monster."
He laughed out loud, almost endlessly. But a single tear rolled down his face.
He would fight despite the odds. He had to. But he had one regret.
"I wish I could have seen you one more time… Luna."
The elemental roared and charged toward Fenris. Fenris readied his fangs and claws.
A sharp snapping sound echoed through the storm. The elemental was suddenly in pieces.
He was stunned.
"I'm glad I made it in time," a voice said.
Through the blizzard, and past the shattered elemental, Fenris saw Buck—completely fine and unaffected by the cold. His runed whip elongated, then slowly shrank back to its original size.
"H–how…?"
Fenris collapsed onto the snow. His vision turned to darkness.
He saw the faceless woman again, giving him a necklace. Maybe this time he'd remember her.
He tried, but he never could. Not even now.
The darkness began to fade. He woke up to the sound of crackling and the smell of cinders.
He found Buck tending to the coals of a chimney, a furry blanket draped over him as he lay on a cold stone floor.
"Rise and shine, brother. We have a long day ahead of us," Buck said, smiling.
"Huh?" Fenris blurted, confused. 'Was that all a dream? Is this?'
"Nope," Buck said. He knew Fenris well enough to understand what he was thinking. He pointed in a direction, and Fenris followed it by instinct.
He saw a window pane. Outside, the blizzard still raged.
He let out a grunt as he moved closer to the flame and Buck—but mostly towards the flames. Fire had never felt so good.
"So…" Buck trailed. "Your first monster kill. How did it feel?"
"I survived, that's all," Fenris said, staring at the flames.
"I figured you'd say something like that," Buck said. 'I don't mean to say I told you so, but I was right about us holding hands walking through the portal, wasn't I?'
Fenris didn't need to turn around to see Buck's mocking smirk. He felt it just fine.
"Your runes," Fenris stated, changing the subject.
"What about them?" Buck asked.
Fenris now stared at Buck, slightly frowning. Just before he lost consciousness, he could've sworn he saw them active.
"You're fine," Fenris said, vexed. "Even with the fire I'm still shivering. But you—this seems like a regular day for you. So I'm guessing they're protecting you somehow from the cold."
Buck let out a weak chuckle. "Has anyone ever told you you're a smartass?"
"Has anyone ever told you that you're a pain?" Fenris said, more angered.
"Several, but mostly you," Buck said.
Fenris turned away, his lip quivering.
"Why the attitude, Fenris? I just saved you," Buck said, slightly annoyed.
Fenris let out a loud laugh and began a slow clap.
"Oh yes. My noble hero. Thank you for saving me from the terrifying monster."
He turned back to Buck with a dead stare.
"Is that what you were expecting… brother?"
"Why the attitude? Let's see. I don't know how many worlds there are, but you and your witch sent us to the one where you're immune to its effects. Where I have to depend on you."
"And I can't leave this world without you, because you won't tell me how."
He waited for Buck's response, but Buck didn't give him any. He just stared at Fenris.
Letting out a sigh of frustration, Fenris's gaze returned to the flames. It wasn't like Buck to suddenly stop talking, but he wouldn't question it.
"Don't call her a witch," Buck said in a low tone.
"What?" Fenris asked, shocked, his ears perking up.
Turning back to Buck, he found him wearing a dark, cold expression.
"You heard me," Buck said. He grabbed Fenris by the collar and pulled him close. Buck's eyes didn't glow, but that didn't make him seem any less threatening. "Don't call her a witch."
Although technically Gwendolyn was a witch, it was more of a slur—targeted almost exclusively at female mages in their world.
Fenris twisted his head and stared at Buck, stunned. Was this genuine care for Gwendolyn?
"You can drop the act, Buck. It's just you and me here," Fenris said, unconvinced.
"It's not an act," Buck said, rageful.
"Really? Tell me… have you told her about the others?" Fenris asked.
Buck's eyes shot up and his grip on Fenris loosened.
Fenris pushed Buck away, staring at him with a mocking expression.
"Looks like I hit a nerve."
"That's…" Buck paused, almost petrified. "This isn't like that."
"Could have fooled me," Fenris said.
The blizzard outside died down, leaving the two in an awkward and deadly silence.
Buck looked away and walked to the door, but didn't cross it just yet.
"You wanna leave this place, then follow me. Or don't. Your choice."
He walked away.
Fenris couldn't help but snort at the scene.
"Wow, he's really committed to the part this time."
"I almost feel sorry for Gwendolyn—almost."
Having no choice, Fenris followed Buck into the strange new world.