Monster Hunter from League of Legends

Taking a deep breath, Ashe gradually relaxed, then felt a slight, not-so-strong, coolness spread throughout her body. It wasn't uncomfortable; for the Iceborn, this coolness was no different from soaking in warm water. But...

"Is it because of what I have in my hand?"

Ashe stretched out her hand and gazed at the three beads in her palm. But before she could open her hand, or even loosen her grip on the beads, she felt a chill. Fortunately, Faan was there to protect her and immediately pressed down on Ashe's palm. Only then did Ashe recover and breathe a deep breath.

"This is an ice-resistant bead. It can completely block out the cold and the erosion of ice magic. Of course, it can only block a part of it, not all of it."

"so amazing……"

Even though the coldness had not yet dissipated from her body, after hearing about the effect of the ice-resistant beads, Ashe couldn't help but reveal a deep surprise in her eyes.

"If you like it, I'll give you a few later. This thing has a pretty high sales rate."

Fain said, "Now, the first thing you need to do is keep it close to your body."

Hearing this, Ashe's eyes showed a hint of embarrassment. Because she was still wearing her same sleeveless archer suit, with only a short skirt and animal-skin boots underneath, there was no place to store things.

Noticing this, Faan felt somewhat frustrated. Since this was his first time out at sea, he'd certainly made some inconsiderate arrangements. But then again, the main reason was that it was his first time out with Ashe. If it were Sejuani, she could have simply strung the beads together with string, or done some warm-up exercises before slipping them in.

Just as Faan was about to find a coin purse from the warehouse for Ashe to put away, Ashe thought about it and a hint of shame appeared on her face. Then she quietly stuffed the three beads into the bandage on her chest that was tied with milky mochi to prevent exposure.

"Wait until we get up there... I'll wash it and give it back to you..."

Fain gave a thumbs up and said, "I'll definitely save up a bunch for you later."

"Hmm?" Ashe looked puzzled, but Fan didn't say much. Instead, he took out a hunter scuba diving device from the system space and put it on Ashe. After making sure that Ashe knew how to use it, he held Ashe's hand tightly and then dived into the water.

When entering the water for the first time, Ashe was no different from everyone else, as they all closed their eyes in fear. No, not just their eyes, but all their senses were closed out of fear.

But it was at this moment that the warmth of Faan's hand holding Ashe became particularly obvious.

In the darkness, the touch of Faan's hand made Ashe realize that she was not alone, which made Ashe quickly regain her composure. As a slight warmth passed from Faan's hand to her body, Ashe's tense body gradually relaxed.

Those hands were big and warm.

Tentatively opening her eyes in the water, Ashe found that it wasn't as uncomfortable as she had imagined. Looking at Faan, who was so close, staring straight at her, Ashe couldn't help but feel her heart beating faster.

drawbridge effect.

When people are in dangerous, unfamiliar, or lonely situations, they become nervous, their heartbeats speed up, and their sensory glands secrete more energy. If there is a person of the opposite sex around them at this time, it is easy to mistake this feeling for "heartbeat."

In fact, if someone is watching over you and protecting you tenderly in a dangerous, unfamiliar, or lonely situation, you will indeed feel a strong sense of dependence and love. The so-called hero saving the damsel in distress is a manifestation of the suspension bridge effect.

"How is it? It looks great, right?" Although it was sign language, Ashe understood what Fane wanted to express.

"Ok?"

Ashe, understanding Faan's sign language, blinked belatedly, realizing she had been staring at Faan for far too long. Unlike Sejuani, who would have averted her gaze as if nothing had happened, the gentle Ashe could sense the deep shame bubbling within her.

But just when Ashe moved her eyes away in shame, the next scene that came into her sight made her open her eyes wide again.

For Ashe, this is like opening the door to a whole new world.

The sun's rays filtered through the clear water, illuminating the underwater world. The jagged coral reefs piled up in vast expanses, like an overturned palette. Though the colors were a chaotic mess, they reflected a vibrant, vibrant beauty.

Schools of fish, their scales translucent, swam leisurely through the waters. Schools of silvery white fish darted through the waters. Freedom, tranquility, vastness, boundlessness… These words, often found only in poetry, somehow surfaced in Ashe's mind.

Is this the bottom of the ocean? Why do I feel like I'm in a sea of ​​stars?

Ashe couldn't help but hold her breath. Perhaps this feeling was lonely? But Ashe could feel the warmth coming from Faan beside her.

Just as Ashe was still immersed in the dreamlike scene before her, Fane suddenly came into Ashe's sight.

Bathing in the water, Fahn's black hair slowly fluttered, and his bright eyes were filled with enthusiasm and vitality that was completely different from this tranquil sea.

Under Ashe's puzzled gaze, Fane drew out his long knife and then patted himself on the back towards Ashe.

There was still no sound, but Ashe still understood what Fane meant - hold me tight.

52

Although she didn't know why Faan asked her to do this, but being at the bottom of the sea like a sea of ​​stars and with Faan as the only familiar person around her, Ashe still hugged him obediently.

Oubai's arms wrapped around Fane's neck, but Fane did not move immediately. Instead, she reached out and patted Ash's buttocks, signaling her to hold him tighter.

This made Ashe feel a little ashamed. She looked at Faan timidly and dissatisfiedly, but found that Faan's eyes were staring at a black shadow in the distance and he didn't notice her.

Your attention isn't here, yet you're so intimate... Do you mistake me for Sejuani?

Ashe realized why Faan had suddenly become so close. She wasn't unhappy, but for some reason, the familiar mixture of envy and bitterness crept up on her again.

Seeing that Ashe didn't react, Faan reached out and patted her hard, which made Ashe react quickly, dispelling the chaotic thoughts in her mind and hugging Faan tightly. However, this reaction was obviously a bit too much, and even a little warm sweat overflowed from the cool water.

His eyes were already locked on the sea beast in the distance, and after a brief accumulation of strength, Fane shot out like an arrow - whoosh!

The surge in speed caused the water pressure to increase rapidly. But before Ashe could say anything, a layer of slime enveloped her. It wasn't uncomfortable, more like a breathable membrane—a [Frozen Bag of the Dragon].

As the pressure subsided, Ashe quietly opened her eyes and looked around. Gliding rapidly underwater, the dazzling array of colors made Ashe unsure if this was the Freljord or someplace in a dream. But what puzzled Ashe was why Faan had suddenly sped up?

While Ashe was still thinking, as the speed increased, Ashe soon saw Fane's target - a deeper trench.

However, when he approached the trench, Fane did not go down immediately. Instead, he patted Ashe behind him and pointed to the seabed below.

The colorful coral reefs look like an overturned palette. Around the coral reefs, various kinds of fish swim in groups.

Fish, ones Ashe had never heard of, swam freely in the water. A fish, drawn to a light on the seafloor, instinctively approached, only to be swallowed by a giant fish hidden in the sand. It should have been a brutal scene, but nearby, a red cleaner crab, the size of a loaf of bread, crawled into the eel's mouth. The giant eel, with its sharp jaws, didn't attack, but instead opened its mouth to allow the crab to clean its mouth, allowing the cleaner crab to take advantage of the opportunity and secure a sufficient meal.

The scenes of hunting each other and helping each other appeared at the same time. The unprecedented wonders that came into Ashe's eyes made her eyes widen.

Boxing crabs use the anemone's stinger to defend themselves, allowing the anemone to use it to move underwater, searching for more food. Hard-scaling gobies live in the same small holes as shrimp, digging the holes and the gobies protecting them.

There is also a strange fish with a head like iron felt. It has fins but is stuck to other fish and turtles.

Faan simply watched silently, not attacking even though the fish were right beside him. Though he said nothing, Ashe felt she understood the source of Faan's passion for hunting...

It's not just a passion for hunting, but a process of merging with nature. In the natural cycle itself, Faun is not a destroyer, but a link in it.

Is Faan's hunting actually for better protection?

Ashe suddenly felt that she might understand Faan better than Sejuani.

But at that moment, an invisible wave suddenly erupted from the sea. An undercurrent surged. Fortunately, Ashe had quickly hugged Faan tightly, preventing her from being swept away. Even so, Ashe couldn't help but close her eyes. When she reopened them, she saw a giant sea monster devouring everything around it.

Is this Fane's goal?

This thought surfaced in Ashe's mind. Immediately afterwards, Faan's actions confirmed Ashe's suspicions. Gripping the sharp blade tightly, Faan darted through the water like a swift swordfish, charging towards the sea monster. Lacking experience in underwater combat, Ashe could only hold Faan tightly from behind, trying not to interfere with his movements.

Despite being underwater, Faan appeared to be at ease. It didn't even seem like much effort. Ashe perceived Faan simply darting back and forth beneath the surface, the sharp blade following the current to slice open the python-like sea creature's abdomen. From the surface, the normally azure sea surface was tinged with a tinge of blood. After several minutes, the massive head of the sea creature rose from the water, its nerve-severed body floating above the surface. Its massive form gave the impression of a floating island.

It was hooked and tied to the stern of the boat, and then Fane jumped out of the water holding Ashe and jumped onto the boat.

"I told you there's a big deal here! Now, even if everyone from the Winter Claw tribe shows up, there's enough meat to last them a month!"

Faan's eyes were filled with excitement.

The most glorious moment for a hunter, besides defeating a powerful ancient dragon, is finding and defeating these super-giant or super-small creatures, which hunters often call "big gold and small gold."

It's useless and just provides pure emotional value.

Looking at the excited Faan, Ashe beside him blinked and couldn't help but chuckle.

"what happened?"

Faan looked at Ashe behind him.

In response, Ashe just smiled at Faan, recalling the starry-like beauty he had just seen under the sea. He then glanced at the blood-red sea beside him, and said:

"Sejuani is absolutely right. Hunting is all you can think about besides that kind of thing!"

"Hmm?" Fane touched his chin. "Isn't what she said what I thought it was?"

Hearing this, Ashe blushed, but surprisingly, she didn't become so embarrassed that she couldn't even utter a complete sentence like before. Instead, she hummed softly twice and said, "That's about right."

Seeing Ash's expression, Faan took out a towel and blanket from the system space and handed them to Ash. Seeing this, Ash simply wiped himself, then took out the ice-resistant beads hidden in his clothes and handed them to Faan.

"Won't you take it for a while?" Seeing Ashe's expression, Faan asked, "Your clothes aren't dry yet."

"Although I haven't fully awakened my ice bloodline, it's just that my clothes are wet. It's not a big deal." Ashe said while twisting her sleeves.

Seeing this, Fane thought about it, then took out an insulating pad from the warehouse, lit a bonfire, and put a small pot on the table and poured in hot soup.

"Then you warm yourself by the fire first, we'll be heading back soon!"

"Ah."

Ashe nodded and sat by the fire for a while. Feeling her clothes gradually dry and her body gradually warm, she looked up at Faan, who was busy running around, sometimes at the bow to pull up the anchor, sometimes at the stern to secure the carcass of a sea monster. Suddenly, she felt that this was not bad. After all, once she returned to shore, Faan would be back with Sejuani...

wrong!

Ash suddenly lowered his head.

Why do I think so?

While they were thinking, they saw several burly figures on the shore who had obviously been waiting for them for a long time.

53. The Lost, the Bearman, the Trial

Before reaching the shore, just a slight sense, Fane, who was originally talking to Ashe, stopped talking, and raised his head with an indifferent expression to look at the land not far away.

"what happened?"

Noticing Faan's change, Ashe straightened her expression and placed her hand on the animal bone hunting bow beside her.

"Just leave it to me."

Faan patted Ashe's shoulder, his eyes revealing his passion and desire for hunting.

Arriving on the shore, Fane locked the wolf boat tightly. Seeing Fane's figure, the two burly figures who had been waiting for a long time also came over.

They were all over two meters tall, even towering over the armored Faan. They weren't of ice blood, yet they were bare-chested in the Freljord's chill. Muscles bulged, their bodies connected as one, thick veins exposed. But this was limited to their chests and parts of their arms. On their backs and faces, wild beasts' manes and sharp teeth covered their faces, obscuring their features.

Feeling the "wildness" in Fann's eyes, the two "lost ones" who had been waiting for a long time were also a little surprised.

"How dare you walk straight towards us like this? No wonder that boy was willing to bow down to us and beg for our strength... I like the wildness in your eyes."

After hearing the words of the lost one, there was a hint of amusement in Faan's eyes.

The Lost... no, more accurately, the Bear People. Because they've rediscovered their humanity and reason, and have resolutely or stubbornly chosen to follow the ancient path. Instead of being pitiful creatures who have cloaked themselves in animal skins, their souls torn apart by animal instincts, and forgotten their true selves.

The Ursine are worshippers and followers of Volibear, the Freljord's primal demigod.

Many legends surround the Volibear. Legends say he represents all the destruction, power, and storms that materialize in the land, the unstoppable force of nature and the wrath of the Freljord itself.

Long before the mortal races came to the world, Volibear and his fellow demigods shaped this land. Back then, the Freljord wasn't even called the Freljord, but Volrigard.

According to legend, Volibear's claws tore out the "Five-Forked Fjord" in the Freljord, and his epic battle with the magma serpent Lund formed countless canyons and ravines; and after killing the giant snake, he used its bones to sharpen his claws, and the blood of the giant snake became the first river in the Freljord, and its bones formed the Dragonback Mountains.

To become a follower of Volibear's "wild nature," one must also become wild itself. This process is divided into multiple stages.

In the first stage, they will abandon all civilization and transform into the original "beasts." Their skin will be stained brown with blood. Their hair will be matted with dirt. Their bodies will lose all traces of civilization and become pure "savages."

The second stage is to wait until they have regained enough "wildness" and then cover them with the fur of wild beasts - mostly bears. Then their will will be torn apart by the animal spirits in the fur. In this process, they will lose all reason and self, leaving only the purest wildness, and thus they are also called "lost ones."

That is, people who have lost themselves.

Then, there are these guys in front of me.

Transformed into true bearmen, or monsters. Most bearmen are bizarre hybrids of humans, bears, and other creatures. They were once human, but now completely consumed by the True Beast Spirit, becoming followers and slaves of Volibear and hostile to some civilizations.

Faan did not remember having a grudge with the bear people, and Volibear and Lissandra also had an agreement - humans at least did not set foot in the bear people's hunting grounds, and the bear people would not interfere with human civilization.

but now……

"That kid? Who is he?" Looking at the two bearmen, Faan asked directly, "Is he begging you to kill me? It can't be the Frost Witch herself, right? If she really wanted to, she could do it herself."

"He's a frost witch's dog, who cares what his name is." The bear man shook his head, as if he didn't care about the matter.

After hearing the bear man's words, Fane's face showed a hint of understanding.

Faan hadn't been in the Freljord long, and hadn't caused much trouble. From the Winter's Claw to Avarosa, Faan had clashed with the Warmothers, Gor'kia and Grenna, but only briefly, and each time, he'd taken a large amount of meat. He truly held a grudge...

One is the Frost Priest of Winter's Claw, and the other is the Frost Priest of Avarosa.

This is what a screaming woman is like.

Among them, two of the three Frost Priests of the Winter Claw were killed directly. When the only one was left, Lissandra took over and ended the talks after talking nonsense for a while. Lissandra acquiesced to Faan's behavior, but insisted on her lies. Then the only remaining Frost Priest also took the initiative to leave the Winter Claw, which was a better ending.

As for the three frost priests of Avarosan... or to be more precise, Marukolo, they were booed away by the Avarosan people before they could even take any action.

Especially Marukolo. Although Fane did not fight with him, Marukolo suffered just as much humiliation unilaterally... But Fane did not think there was anything wrong with him, because he did not say a word to Marukolo the whole time. It was Marukolo who could not bear it and ran away.

Now the bear man says it’s the Frost Witch’s dog, so is there any need to guess?