The wind and snow outside the ice crevice seemed to have stopped, but the chill remained bone-piercing.
Aqina, Tatiana, and Iul huddled together like a flock of birds, hiding in their pre-selected observation point.
Behind a large rock covered in snow, they waited quietly.
The chain traps Iul had set up were near the entrance of the passage.
To attract the attention of the opposing squad, they had deliberately used equipment and ration bags captured from the veterans as bait, disguising it as if they had fled inside in a hurry.
“Will they really come?” Tatiana lowered her voice, her hand already gripping her combat knife tightly.
“They will,” Iul said with certainty.
His leg was still throbbing with pain, but his attention was entirely focused on the trap at the entrance.
“The people in the Blood Wolf squad are famously united, and they are especially protective of their own.
If they discover their companions are missing, they will definitely follow the tracks to find them.” Aqina looked at that ration bag and remarked with a touch of amusement, “Tatiana, you placed that ration bag so awkwardly; it’s a bit of a giveaway.” Tatiana muttered in retaliation: “Screw you, you stinking cockroach.
It’s yours that’s awkward.” Aqina didn’t argue back; she was just trying to lighten the somewhat heavy atmosphere.
Thanks to the skill card, most of the injuries on her body had already healed.
However, the previous battle with the Frostarm Lawachurl had consumed quite a bit of stamina, and having fought the veterans immediately afterward, she was truly a bit tired.
At this moment, she was seizing the time to recover.
About half an hour later, there was finally some movement in the distance.
Four figures appeared in the snow.
They were very cautious, and the team spread out in a fan shape.
They kept their distance from each other while also being able to observe the movements in the vicinity.
“They’re here,” Iul said softly.
“I see them, four people.
But they look very cautious; I don’t know if they’ll trigger the trap.” Tatiana counted them, licking her lips nervously.
“It’s exactly the remaining ones, we’ll wipe them all out.” A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Aqina’s eyes.
These four were clearly experienced; they didn’t walk straight into the trap.
Instead, they cautiously circled the perimeter, checking for any ambushes.
One of them squatted down and carefully examined the tracks left in the snow.
Those were the messy footprints they had deliberately created.
“They ran inside,” that person said, standing up and pointing toward the direction of the trap.
Another person warned: “Be careful, it might be a trick.” But the disguised trap was well-made, so well-made that it was truly impossible to see any flaws with the naked eye, and they happened to lack a Vision.
One veteran was the first to discover the dropped ration bag.
“It’s Old Five’s…” he said, bending down to pick it up— “Click!” The ice layer under his feet suddenly shattered.
He couldn’t react in time and fell into a deep pit, the bottom of which was filled with ice spikes.
A shrill scream rang out.
The poor veteran had been turned into a hedgehog before he even knew what happened.
The other three people were immediately alert, but it was too late.
Iul pulled the mechanism he had already prepared, and the snow on both sides collapsed with a roar, burying the two of them.
Only the last one reacted the fastest and retreated rapidly.
But Tatiana had already rushed out.
Flames ignited around her.
Like a meteor, she utilized the power of the fire element to charge straight at the last person.
“Damn crazy woman!” The veteran roared and drew his blade to fight back.
Aqina didn’t go to help; instead, she activated finishing-blow mode.
She first looked at the person who had fallen into the trap.
Finding that the person was riddled with holes but still not dead, she cleanly and neatly fired a crossbow bolt to help end their suffering.
She then looked at the two who were struggling while buried, and ruthlessly stabbed down with her combat knife, blood staining the snow pile red.
There was a saying that Aqina had always firmly believed in.
Being soft-hearted toward the enemy is being cruel to oneself.
Tatiana and the veteran had been fighting for over a dozen rounds, but it was clear he was no match for Tatiana and had fallen behind early on.
However, he resisted desperately, trying to continue stalling.
Aqina had long seen through his intentions.
She shouted loudly: “Hey, uncle, your teammates can’t save you anymore, so you’re on your own.” The veteran didn’t yet know what Aqina had done behind his back and was still resisting stubbornly.
“Once my teammates break free, you’re all dead!” Even Iul felt they were bullying an honest man.
But there was no help for it; who told the other side to have bad intentions first?
Moreover, if you don’t cut the weeds by the root, they will grow again with the spring breeze.
Taking advantage of the moment Tatiana’s powerful attack knocked the opponent’s weapon away, Aqina deliberately taunted him.
“Uncle, your teammates won’t be breaking free.
I already finished them all off just now.” The veteran froze abruptly, not because his weapon had been knocked away, but because he had heard Aqina’s words.
He turned his head sharply in disbelief, looking toward the place where his teammates had been trapped, but he only saw blood seeping out from the snow pile.
Taking advantage of the moment the opponent was stunned, Aqina cut in from the side and smashed her elbow into the back of the veteran’s neck.
The veteran let out a muffled grunt and collapsed to the ground.
The battle was completely over.
Tatiana panted, her flames gradually extinguishing: “Is it solved?” “It’s solved,” Aqina nodded.
“Just now while you were fighting hard, I finished off the others.” Aqina walked over to Iul’s side and looked at him.
“How is your leg?” Iul’s face was pale, but he still forced himself to say, “It’s nothing, it just still hurts a little, it’s fine.” “Let me take a look.” Aqina didn’t take no for an answer.
Ignoring his slight resistance, she squatted down and pulled up his pant leg.
Iul’s lower leg was already swollen.
The skin was an unnatural blue-purple color, clearly from frostbite and crush injuries caused by being pressed under an icicle without timely treatment.
Plus, by forcing himself to walk while setting up the traps, he had aggravated the injury.
“You call this nothing?” Aqina couldn’t help but frown.
“If you don’t treat this leg, it’s going to be ruined.
You’ll become a cripple.” Iul still wanted to be stubborn.
Tatiana cut him off directly: “Shut your mouth, little brat.” She squatted down, fire element surging on her hands, and carefully and gently pressed them against Iul’s swollen lower leg.
The control of the fire element was just right; it could both promote blood circulation and slowly Melt the blood clots caused by the frostbite just now.
Aqina was quite surprised; she hadn’t expected her fire-wielding big sister to have this trick up her sleeve.
Not only did it not burn him, but it also promoted blood circulation—she really had some skills.
Iul winced in pain, but he did feel significantly better.
“This is the first time I’ve known that the fire element could be used this way.” Aqina’s tone was filled with surprise as she gave her a thumbs-up.
“Elemental power isn’t just for fighting.” Tatiana rolled her eyes at her.
“In Snezhnaya, there are plenty of people who know how to use fire to keep warm and heal injuries.” “And this is just a temporary treatment.
The fire element still can’t compare to the grass element; you still need a proper military doctor to treat it.” She helped channel the energy for about five minutes, until the blue-purple color on Iul’s leg had faded a bit and the swelling had eased slightly.
“Alright, Captain Cockroach, the rest is up to you.” Tatiana stood up and went to collect the spoils of war.
Aqina took out clean bandages and a small bottle of ointment from her little bag—these were spoils she had collected; some veterans often carried medicine on them.
She carefully applied the ointment to Iul’s leg and then bandaged it up meticulously.
“It might be a little uncomfortable, but it must be immobilized.” Aqina said, “Your leg bone might have a hairline fracture, so we need to use splints.” She looked around and found two relatively straight branches.
She whittled them flat with her knife, then used the remaining bandages to secure them to both sides of Iul’s lower leg.
Finally, she used a thicker branch to make a simple crutch.
“Try it.” Aqina handed the crutch to Iul.
Iul took the crutch, propped himself up to stand, and walked two steps.
“See, I told you I was fine.” He said smugly.
Aqina looked at his obviously limping gait and raised an eyebrow: “Do you really think you’re fine?” “Of course!” Iul puffed out his chest and held his head high, looking like he wasn’t sick at all.
“I’m just a little unaccustomed to it, I’m actually perfectly fine.” Aqina’s eyes darted, and she suddenly thought of a mischievous trick, the corners of her mouth curling up unconsciously.
She took two steps back, crossed her arms, and said in a tone that was particularly annoying, exaggeratedly so: “If you’re not sick, walk two steps.
If you’re not sick, walk two steps!” Tatiana was counting the nameplates, and hearing her words, she burst out laughing: “Cockroach, what is that weird accent you have?” Iul was also amused by her: “What are you doing?” “Walk,” Aqina continued to goad him, “If you’re not sick, walk two steps and let us see.” Iul found it funny.
But at the same time, he wanted to prove himself even more, so he simply threw the crutch aside: “Fine, I’ll walk!” He stepped forward, trying to walk like a normal person.
The first step, it was okay.
The second step, his leg gave out.
The third step, he lunged forward, about to fall.
Aqina was even prepared, waiting for Iul to perform a classic face-plant.
But the big sister Tatiana on the side was still quite reliable.
She was quick-eyed and fast-handed, grabbing the back of his collar and lifting him up like a little chick.
“Ouch!” Iul exclaimed.
Aqina spread her hands, wearing an expression of “I knew it all along”: “This wasn’t me tricking you into being a cripple; you fell on your own.”