Separation and plans
Fortunately, another skilled logistics worker nearby slapped the massive head that was biting down from mid-air, smashing it to pieces!
Compared to the small number of Ice Skull, what truly sends chills down one's spine is another group of highly dangerous and eerie creatures crawling out densely from beneath the surrounding frozen ground and snow!
The frozen, hard ground around the convoy began to bulge and crack, and hundreds upon hundreds of stiff figures, their bodies turning bluish-purple and reddish-blue, crawled out of the ground one after another.
Their flesh and Flesh were the horrifying color of a living person who had been completely frozen to death by the extreme cold. Their entire bodies were frozen stiff, and their faces were devoid of any features or human features. Only a rough Human Form outline could be barely discerned. They were the extremely dangerous Frostbound Dead of the Northern Territory!
What's even more chilling is the contorted posture of these Frostbound Dead as they charge. After crawling out of the ground, their heads are all tilted back at an extremely bizarre angle, their stiff, bluish-purple bodies looking as if they have been forcibly folded and twisted together. Their limbs and torsos are twisted into an extremely strange posture as they rush towards the convoy like madmen, skimming along the snow!
Looking around, a small number of Ice Skull leaping and attacking from the snow were mixed with a large number of Frostbound Dead crawling out of the ground and writhing wildly. Under the heavy Contamination aura, they gathered into a dark and eerie tide, which surged from all directions towards the convoy blocked at the crossroads like a burst dam.
Sitting in the carriage Leon, who had previously taken Frostcrow Knight classes with Lu Yuan, saw the surging purplish-blue figures and grayish-white monsters outside through the carriage window. His expression changed instantly, and he couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice:
"They're Ice Skull and Frostbound Dead! How can there be so many of them in this godforsaken place? They've all gathered into a bizarre tide!"
Before Leon could finish speaking, and before everyone could recover from the shock of this strange tide, a muffled rumble, as if an earth dragon were turning over, suddenly came from the mountainside that had triggered the avalanche!
The entire canyon floor trembled violently with the roar. Then, to everyone's astonishment, an unimaginably massive and terrifying figure crashed through the snow-covered mountainside, leaping out from the deep permafrost and snow layer. It tumbled and rolled a great distance amidst the swirling snow and bright sunlight before crashing back down into the thick snow layer with tremendous force, stirring up a blizzard!
Even though the Colossus only briefly undulated and landed on the snowy mountainside, everyone could still clearly see its true form thanks to the bright lights of the convoy.
It was a colossal worm-like creature lurking deep within the snowy Northern Territory. Its entire body was a pure, unblemished white, and its massive, tower-like body was composed entirely of concentric rings of fat, bloated flesh.
As it rolled and burrowed in the snow, the layers of fat folds squeezed and writhed, and on the surface of each fold and between the crevices, there were thousands upon thousands of ferocious mouthparts that looked like sharp teeth. Just looking at it from a distance was enough to give you goosebumps!
In Lu Yuan's mind, Oden saw the giant, snow-white, fleshy worm undulating and descending among the distant mountains, and couldn't help but click his tongue, sighing with a subtle tone:
"Good heavens, those guys hiding in the shadows actually lured out this huge creature that's lurking deep in the Snow Mountain just to block your way."
Upon seeing even these terrifying giant insects lurking deep in the snow reveal themselves, coupled with the ever-growing, eerie tide of the Frostbound Dead and Ice Skull, the accompanying knights and attendants outside the caravan immediately realized that this fork in the road had been set up as a deadly trap. If they stayed here and fought this endless stream of strange creatures, the entire caravan would be dragged down to its death. The only solution now was to retreat and change course immediately!
Almost simultaneously, across the towering, thick avalanche barrier, the Stillwater Knight, positioned at the forefront of the main road, immediately sent a striking, azure-blue signal into the night sky. His calm, chilling shout then pierced the howling snow and reached clearly on this side of the snow wall:
"The front line is clear. I'll lead one team to continue the advance as planned. Lanterns and Morning Bell, you two teams, immediately take the flanking bypass!"
Upon hearing the coded signal from ahead, the Lantern Knight and Morning Bell Knight, positioned at the rear, did not hesitate and immediately issued the order to retreat in unison:
"Both teams in the rear, listen up! No need to linger. Everyone immediately retreat, board the vehicles, turn around, and evacuate via the side mountain road!"
The attendants and support staff outside, who had drawn their swords to meet the attack, were already well-trained. Upon receiving the order, they immediately turned their blades and swiftly repelled the several Frostbound Dead that rushed towards them. They then leaped back onto the carriage shafts, pulled hard on the reins, turned their horses around, and drove the two large, heavy carriages along a secluded side road on the side of the fork in the road. In the blink of an eye, they left the surging, roaring, eerie tide and the snow-white giant worms deep in the mountains behind them in the wind and snow.
As the carriage sped off again, Harvey, Leon, and Karin finally let out a long sigh of relief. Recalling the sudden avalanche, the writhing, frantic Frostbound Dead scattered across the ground, and the terrifying, fleshy giant worm that leaped out of the mountain, a hint of shock still lingered on their faces.
However, Blanca and Harvey, who had been peering out the window, quickly noticed something amiss. Looking ahead at the convoy, they saw that the Lantern Knight and the Morning Bell Knight, who were leading the way, showed no sign of surprise or panic throughout the entire process, from being separated by the avalanche to ordering the evasion of the strange tide and taking a detour. Everything they did was perfectly organized.
Harvey withdrew his gaze, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and spoke confidently to his companions in the carriage:
"Look at the Lantern Knight and the Morning Bell Knight ahead. They don't seem surprised at all that we've been intercepted halfway. I think the courtyard was probably prepared for tonight's events."
Upon hearing this, Leon and Karin peeked out again at the smoothly speeding convoy outside, and it seemed to be true.
Led by the Lantern Knight and the Morning Bell Knight, the two caravans continued their journey along this longer, narrower, and more treacherous side road, braving the wind and snow. The entire caravan remained calm and orderly.
Just as the convoy was about to leave the side valley flanked by steep cliffs, the road ahead was blocked once again.
In the middle of the snow-covered mountain path ahead, a vast Formation Inscription lit up without warning. The dim light spread and intertwined rapidly along the snow-covered surface, completely sealing off the narrow mountain path. At the very center of those complex Inscription stood a dozen figures dressed in distinctive wide white robes.