Chapter 49: Returning with a Full Load
Beyond the Wall, the Haunted Forest, near a withered weirwood tree.
"Whoosh… whoosh…"
Amid the howling of the bone-chilling cold wind, countless wights rushed toward Jon and the others like a pack of bloodthirsty beasts.
They converged from all directions, their broken and withered faces seeming to carry silent roars and savage killing intent.
Driven by the strange power of the Others, the blizzard was laced with sharp shrieks like a winter dirge, making one's skin crawl.
Tree branches swayed violently in the gale, cracking loudly as if protesting the sudden devastation.
Seeing Jon charge straight toward him, the mounted Other summoned an even more terrifying blizzard. Yet Jon showed no fear, continuing to swing Longclaw as he attacked his opponent.
Left with no choice, the Other could only summon a massive army of wights. Only behind this living barrier was Jon's advance slowed even slightly.
However, when facing the attacks of Longclaw, the wights still held no advantage.
Jon's physical strength had already reached ten points, and his knight-class level had been upgraded to level five under the system's rules.
Coupled with the support of the Valyrian steel sword Longclaw, many wights could not withstand even a single exchange. Moreover, Jon's strikes were extremely precise, almost always aimed directly at their heads.
It was unclear whether this was due to Jon's overwhelming strength or because Valyrian steel itself carried some strange, inherent magic.
After their heads were severed, the eerie blue flames in the wights' eyes vanished immediately. One should know that in the original history, even when cut into several pieces, wights could still continue attacking.
But Jon had no time to dwell on such questions, because his attention was now completely focused on the two pieces of equipment carried on the Other's back.
The Staff of Recovery and Blizzard.
Although these items could only be considered entry-level equipment within the system, they represented the possibility of staff-wielding casters and elemental casters appearing in this world.
After all, in the game system, such magical items were originally consumables. There was no telling whether, once equipped by system class-holders, these individuals might truly be able to wield the power of magic.
Regardless of whether that possibility existed, Jon had to kill this Other.
One less Other meant one less future threat.
Although the free folk were naturally inclined toward plunder, only a portion of them were truly cruel. By killing some and recruiting others, over time these people could be used by the Night's Watch.
Most people in this world were of the same race as those on Blue Star, and they did not particularly subscribe to the idea of "strength in numbers."
In the eyes of many highborn nobles, common folk were nothing more than leeks or wild grass—things meant to be harvested at will. As long as they were allowed to grow freely, once they grew tall, they could simply be cut down.
"Crack… boom…"
With a wide sweeping strike, Jon decapitated the three wights surrounding him. Three strangely shaped, decaying skulls spun through the air before crashing heavily onto the frozen ground.
"Swish, swish, swish…"
After casually executing a few sword flourishes, Jon leveled Longclaw at the Other. A hint of disdain flickered in his eyes; when he looked at the creature, it was as if he were staring at filth.
Sensing Jon's provocation, the Other let out a sharp hiss, clearly responding to the challenge.
"So these things really do possess intelligence. Of course—they were once human. How could they not?" Jon thought calmly. "Good. Intelligent enemies are easier to deal with."
The Other's reaction made Jon feel more at ease. If it were something mindless like a puppet, it would have been far harder to predict.
Now that he had a clearer understanding of his opponent, Jon could apply a suitable strategy to finish it.
Watching the Other prepare to charge, Jon tightened his grip on the hilt, feeling the faint trace of warmth radiating from Longclaw.
Legend said that Valyrian steel was forged with dragonfire and spells. Perhaps those legends were not without truth—maybe that was precisely why Longclaw could kill a wight with a single blow.
Under the Other's control, the wight horse reared up, gathering momentum.
Then, provoked by Jon, the Other leveled its ice spear and charged like a mounted knight.
Clop, clop, clop…
The skeletal hooves struck the ground, leaving deep marks in the frozen soil. Though the wight horse looked imposing, it was ultimately nothing more than bare bones.
Without muscles to generate force, it was only slightly faster than an ordinary horse—and a low-grade one at that.
It was like comparing a second-hand Alto to an Aston Martin. Add a rider—especially an Other—to that Alto, and it would be even slower.
Still, Jon did not relax. His muscles were taut, his eyes locked onto the enemy, his mind filled with vigilance.
Jon understood better than anyone how terrifying the Others truly were. Even if they often died disgracefully in the television adaptation, underestimating them here would mean death.
Countless people throughout history had died because they underestimated their foes. Whether on the battlefield or in single combat, holding anything back meant a miserable end—much like a certain talkative spearman whose skull was crushed.
Crrrk, crrrk…
As the Other closed in, the sound of ice grinding against ice rang in Jon's ears. Instead of throwing the spear, it wielded it like a lance, aiming straight for Jon's abdomen.
Clearly, the Other knew this weapon was its sole means of victory. If it missed, death would follow.
Clang—bam—crack!
Jon reacted instantly. He darted left with extreme speed, narrowly avoiding the thrust.
At the same time, he swung Longclaw in a counter-clockwise arc, using the momentum to slash at the wight horse's hind leg.
Backed by Jon's terrifying strength, the blade struck solidly. A sharp, crystalline cracking sound erupted as the horse's leg shattered.
Though a wight horse could not compare to a true warhorse, the momentum stored in its charge was very real.
When the blow landed, Jon felt a powerful shock transmitted through the blade, forcing him several steps back.
He nearly lost his footing, but his formidable physique allowed him to stabilize himself.
As the wight horse collapsed into fragments, the Other hissed sharply as it was thrown from the saddle. It scrambled back to its feet almost immediately.
Even then, the ice spear never left its grip.
After regaining its balance, the Other launched a relentless assault, pouring all its strength into a flurry of attacks.
Each strike carried immense force, like the charge of a raging bull. After several clashes, Jon's hands began to tingle with numbness.
Still, he did not retreat. Instead, he countered with agile footwork and sword techniques designed to deflect force rather than meet it head-on.
Each time the Other attacked, Jon skillfully neutralized the blow. If not for the stamina required to continually redirect such force, the battle would have ended long ago.
The stalemate continued. Neither side could gain a decisive advantage. Gradually, Jon felt his stamina waning.
He steeled himself and deliberately feigned exhaustion, retreating step by step.
Sensing weakness, the Other pressed harder.
Just as it believed Jon was about to flee like the other humans, Jon suddenly vanished from its sight.
He hadn't disappeared—he had dropped low with explosive speed.
Using the downward momentum, Jon planted his left hand against the ground and twisted sharply, driving Longclaw upward into the Other's body.
The creature stared at him in disbelief.
Then it screamed.
Under the power of Longclaw, its body fractured piece by piece, finally dissolving into glittering ice crystals that vanished into the air.
"Hahaha!"
"Victory!"
Seeing the Other fall, Eddison Tollett and the others shouted in triumph.
Buoyed by the momentum of this victory, they fought like warriors possessed, swiftly finishing off the remaining wights.
After a brief rest, Jon ordered the remaining Mo Sha Hounds to restrain a smaller wight.
By the time Jon secured it with iron chains, Eddison Tollett and the others had already eliminated the rest.
In truth, wights were only slightly tougher than ordinary corpses. Their weaknesses lay in the head and spine. Without a head, they could not bite; with a broken spine, they became nothing more than two useless halves.
Moreover, Jon had ordered the torches lit from the very beginning, invisibly increasing both their combat strength and psychological pressure.
"Hahaha…"
Looking at the Staff of Recovery and Blizzard now safely stored in his inventory space, Jon laughed heartily.
He was already looking forward to the next dungeon mission.
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