I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield Chapter 687 - 504: Mokkala, the Frozen Throne

The depths of the ice cave held an icy pool, emanating a ghostly blue silence. Its frigid waters possessed a bone-chilling cold, and even the very air seemed to be laden with minute ice crystals.

Suddenly, the placid surface of the pool was broken by a violent splash as a man clad in black emerged, desperately fighting for the surface. Just as he was about to cry out for aid, a multitude of pitch-black tentacles shot forth like malevolent vipers, ensnaring his limbs and neck with an unyielding grip.

This entity was a demon akin to a squid, its entire form shrouded in a slimy, black membrane. Its tentacles, adorned with fine barbs, dripped a pale green, venomous poison.

It ruthlessly dragged the man back into the pool's frigid embrace. Its colossal body pressed against him, the black membrane's suction cups latching onto his skin with the force of a vacuum.

A distinct "sizzling" sound emanated from the points of contact. The man could distinctly feel his Spiritual Energy being aggressively siphoned away, his meridians gnawed by unseen entities, causing his entire body to convulse in agony.

"Let me go! Help—!"

The man thrashed with all his might, his fists hammering against the demon's slick exterior, only to sink into its yielding flesh without inflicting any visible damage. His desperate screams slowly dwindled to feeble whimpers. The debilitating weakness from the loss of Spiritual Energy washed over him in relentless waves. His limbs rapidly grew frail, the flush of life drained from his once ruddy cheeks, and his gaze shifted from initial rage to sheer terror, finally settling into a state of numb despair.

The tentacle encircling his neck tightened its hold, extinguishing his final breath. His struggles ceased as his arms fell limply to his sides, his pupils completely dilated.

As the demon released its grasp, the man's lifeless body gently floated to the surface of the pool, devoid of all vitality.

Surrounding the creature, the Demonic Qi surged multiple times, its body swelling beneath the black membrane. Its once murky, multifaceted eyes now blazed with a scarlet hue. Its maw split into a grotesque, exaggerated grin, revealing rows of sharp, knife-like fangs, exuding an aura of cruel delight.

At that precise moment, a muffled "boom" resounded, and the bottom of the icy pool trembled violently. The waters churned with ferocious intensity, expelling a powerful outward surge.

A stone platform, partially submerged in ice, gradually became visible.

Resting at the platform's center was a piece of flesh, roughly the size of a fist. It was entirely black, its surface covered in wrinkles, appearing as if it had been desiccated for millennia. Faint, elusive traces of Demonic Qi emanated from it.

Nourished by the surrounding Demonic Qi, the withered flesh slowly began to unfurl. A crimson light pulsed beneath its surface, and it rapidly plumped and firmed, as if instantly revitalized.

In the very next instant, the flesh broke free from the stone platform's unseen restraint. It transformed into a stream of black-red light, piercing directly into the body of the squid-like demon.

"Roar—!"

The demon unleashed a deafening roar, causing the pool to erupt. The colossal shockwave shattered the surrounding ice walls.

Its aura exploded in power, its tentacles thickening considerably. The barbs ignited with ethereal green demonic flames, causing even the adjacent air to scorch and ripple.

Reaching out, it seized the floating corpse of the man, hoisting it towards its monstrous maw.

The sharp "crack, crack" of breaking bones echoed distinctly within the silent ice cave. Bright red blood cascaded down its tentacles, falling onto the ice and instantly freezing into dark crimson beads.

The demon consumed its prey with ferocious intensity, the scarlet glow in its multifaceted eyes burning ever brighter. Its power grew with every mouthful of flesh it devoured.

Moments later, the man's body was completely reduced to nothing, leaving only scattered remnants of torn cloth floating in the pool.

The demon flexed its tentacles, then turned and began to crawl out of the icy pool, its wet, black membrane leaving sticky trails across the frozen surface.

It paused, the scarlet intensity in its multifaceted eyes fixed upon the cave entrance. Detecting something, its mouth twisted open, its form contorting as it slowly navigated its way towards the ice cave's exit.

...

Within the desolate ice valley, a fierce wind howled, carrying with it shards of ice. Gray-white ice rocks stood like jagged formations carved by blades. Only a colossal wooden statue, reaching a hundred meters into the sky at the valley's center, radiated a potent life force that stood in stark contrast to the frozen wasteland.

This imposing wooden statue was meticulously carved from an unknown, ink-colored hardwood, its grain swirling like coiled dragons. Two luminous Green Crystal Stones were embedded within its eye sockets, fixed with unwavering intensity upon the mountain-sized demon lurking below.

The demon itself resembled a gargantuan bear, its body completely covered in oozing black scales. Foul-smelling Demonic Qi flames spewed from its maw and nostrils, and each of its thunderous steps splintered the frozen earth.

"Suppress!"

From above the wooden statue, a clear command rang out. Dongfang Qi, attired in a flowing blue robe, manipulated intricate hand seals with his fingertips, and the ink-colored wooden statue sprang to life.

It raised a hand as immense as a dwelling, its palm glowing with a faint emerald light. Before its descending blow could land, a multitude of thorny vines, each the size of a bowl, erupted from the ground. Moving with uncanny life, they coiled around the demon's limbs and neck, instantly forming a dense, interwoven net of vegetation around the monstrous creature.

"Roar—!"

The demon bellowed in agony, its Demonic Qi flames flared fiercely, attempting to incinerate the encroaching vines. However, these tendrils, though ignited, refused to burn. Instead, they constricted even tighter, their barbs sinking deeply into the seams between the demon's obsidian scales.

As the wooden statue's palm descended with a whistling gale, a flicker of madness ignited in the demon's eyes. Its entire form pulsed with erupting Demonic Qi, its muscles bulging. Several vines snapped under the strain, but its robust right fist, enveloped in a shadowy demonic luminescence, hurtled forward to meet the wooden statue's colossal palm head-on.

"Boom—!"

The moment the giant fist and palm collided, an immense shockwave erupted. The ice-capped peaks lining the valley walls fractured in response, their echoes reverberating like thunder, endlessly within the chasm.

The demon felt an unstoppable force surge through its arm, its bones groaning under the immense pressure. Its entire being was like an ant being crushed by a colossal boulder, pinned to the ground by the wooden statue's decisive palm strike.

The frozen earth instantly gave way, collapsing into a vast pit several meters deep. From the wooden statue's palm, an unending stream of pale green Spiritual Energy pulsed forth, repeatedly hammering the demon's body like a relentless maul.

The demon thrashed and roared, its Demonic Qi blasting outwards in a dark mist from its body. Yet, it was firmly suppressed by the unyielding Spiritual Light emanating from the wooden statue.