A freezing mist was about to leave the Growing Yeti's mouth, but that mouth was suddenly closed shut by an uppercut.
'That's right...'
The Abominable Snowman stared with hateful eyes as the Devourer jumped back and spread its wings.
'Do your best to kill me. And I'll...'
Wind Blast-
Instantly, both were pushed back by the air pressure released.
Mark's hands touched the snow.
With a back handspring that lacked both the elegance and skill showcased by Elisa many times already, his feet regained the ground.
'The Abominable Snowman. A Title, huh?'
The Monsters stared at one another.
'I'm guessing the Title would show more of an effect, were you a Yeti, and not a Growing Yeti...' Mark thought.
The smile on his face seemed to irritate the Abominable Snowman greatly, as if it could reach his thoughts.
'Oh...'
A Title you don't deserve-
'That must have something with it-'
Not allowing for further reflection, the Growing Yeti's feet moved, leaving a small avalanche of snow every time they did so.
The tense expression it wore made Mark chuckle.
'Abominable... Ugly. It's perfect, Yeti.'
He ran, and his feet had just as much impact on the snow as the Abominable Snowman's.
'With the two of us as ugly as the other, let's decide...'
Dark Corrupting Spear-
'Who's worthy of staying alive.'
A Weapon appeared in Mark's left hand.
'Prove to me...'
Even though he was so used to doing so, he didn't throw the weapon towards the approaching enemy.
'That you want to live!'
The two opened their mouths wide.
[The Title "Abominable Snowman" roars!]
[The Title "Devourer" roars!]
[The Title "Evolving Monster" roars!]
A good distance away, both Elisa and Krista shivered.
Dodge.
Hit.
Dodge.
Slash.
The Grown Yeti left its side open for a second.
And Mark did not hesitate.
The Devourer immediately thrust its Dark Corrupting Spear into that side.
The Abominable Snowman's clenched fist collided with its enemy's skull.
Mark was immediately launched away.
He rolled in the snow multiple times before killing his momentum with both hands and feet.
The Growing Yeti growled at the Beast in front of it.
On all fours, Mark truly looked like a Beast.
He growled as his long tail swayed.
Just when the Abominable Snowman was about to pull the Weapon out of its side, it disappeared.
Or rather, turned into a dark liquid that quickly seeped through the wound.
Mark opened his mouth wide.
Instantly, three Great Fire Balls appeared, forming a triangle.
Slowly but surely, the flames that made them up turned red.
The Growing Yeti raised its arms defensively.
But before the attack was shot,
Fire Control-
The three attacks were condensed into one.
The Abominable Snowman instinctively took a step back.
Fire.
Something it hated.
Something it feared.
A second later, a great explosion covered the area around the Growing Yeti with smoke.
'Shit...'
Mark stared at the smoke without moving.
Blood was going down his nose and mouth.
'A [D+] Ranked Monster with that level of strength...'
Advanced Body Reconstruction-
The bleeding stopped.
The smoke faded, and the Monster that became visible once more was nothing like it was before.
The Growing Yeti's hair had been scorched, giving it an appearance close to that of a large gorilla.
It had lost a hand.
'Thought that would at least take an arm...' Mark smiled nervously.
The Abominable Snowman remained unmoving for a bit, which caused the Devourer to grow more nervous.
The next second, its body started twitching.
'That's right. Show me...'
Quivering.
'What you're capable of. Show me...'
Trembling.
'What I'm Devouring.'
[Your Title "Evolving Monster" is watching the "Abominable Snowman" with sparkling eyes!]
[Your Title "Devourer" is drooling!]
Drop-
Drop-
Drop-
Mark watched the Growing Yeti with his mouth open, without even noticing the saliva going down his mouth.
It simultaneously stopped trembling and moved its gaze towards the white-scaled Monster.
The latter twitched, and the Abominable Snowman growled.
The next second, the ground started shaking.
Mark immediately rose to his feet.
'It's not the ground, it's-'
Around him, the snow started moving.
It rose.
'That's-'
He stood at the center of a palm made of snow.
Mark immediately tried moving.
He couldn't.
His feet had been entrapped by the snow somehow.
Mark spread his wings.
Wind Blast-
Wind Blast-
But it wasn't enough.
A second later, his body was trapped inside the Abominable Snowman's hand.
It squeezed him just hard enough to prevent him from moving.
Only Mark's head remained free.
'Mm...'
The Abominable Snowman slowly walked closer towards the prey he had caught.
'Very cool, Yeti.'
From Mark's palms, Great Fire Balls were conjured.
But they weren't shot.
Their flames were controlled and used to cover Mark's body, freeing him from his restraints.
In his palm, a second Dark Corrupting Spear appeared.
The Growing Yeti continued approaching.
Its eyes, as dark as the scorched hair that covered its body.
The snow behind Mark flew.
The distance was closed in a second.
Kick-
Pierce-
Mark's body was launched a dozen meters away.
'The difference in strength... And weight...'
Two of his ribs had been broken.
Still, he smiled.
Advanced Body Reconstruction-
'Not bad, Yeti.'
The next exchange was the last.
***
"Think... We should just..." Elisa yawned. "Wait for him?"
Krista looked around with half-opened eyes, before laying her head on the snow once more.
"Kay..."
***
With blood going down his mouth and nose, Mark stood.
'Killed by a Monster that I had the strength to defeat, that's the only way I'll let myself get killed.'
He pulled his arm out of the Growing Yeti's chest.
'Killing a Monster... That has the strength to kill me... That's the way I want to kill.'
Thump-
The Abominable Snowman's body hit the ground.
It lay on the snow, tainted by its own blood, unmoving.
Mark breathed heavily.
From above, he stared at the Monster that was slowly bleeding out.
'Can't wait to see... What a full-grown Yeti looks like.'
[You have defeated a Growing Yeti!]
[You have earned 100 Experience Points!]
