The impact of the Winter Monkey crashing into the frozen sea was immense.

Cracks spread across the frozen sea, and the ice began to slowly split.

Lucien and Simon looked at the Winter Monkey, and their expressions could not help but become solemn when they saw the numerous cuts on the monkey’s body.

Many of the cuts were minor and superficial, but some were serious and could lead to the death of the Winter Monkey if they were not taken care of.

For example, there was a deep cut that stretched from the Winter Monkey’s shoulder to his abdomen.

The Winter Monkey was bleeding profusely, and it was struggling to get up.

Simon and Lucien looked up at First Blade who was standing in the air with an indifferent gaze and with the Winter Monkey’s blood dripping from his four swords.

Lucien looked at Simon with a slightly confused expression.

"What happened? How did everything change?"

Simon narrowed his eyes, then he released a soft sigh.

"One of the main reasons the Winter Monkey was having the upper hand is because he caught that old bastard by surprise, and he was fighting him from a long range."

Simon looked at the Winter Monkey.

"The moment he tried fighting that old bastard up close with those curved ice blades of his, he was definitely going to lose."

"The old bastard is a swordsman with four arms... And I don’t like to say it, but he has some talent with the sword. Fighting him at such close distance means you’re fighting him in his domain."

He shook his head. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"There’s no way the Winter Monkey would win even though the old bastard is badly injured."

’And even though the old bastard is weak compared to Ormon and other Greater Demons I’ve fought in my past life, he was still trained by the Shadowgrave Clan.’

’And the Winter Monkey is still a beast.’

Simon’s eyes flickered with a calculating light when he saw First Blade descending slowly toward the Winter Monkey.

"Hey. He’s about to kill the Winter Monkey."

Lucien said with a worried tone.

He was worried about his life, and he was also worried about the Winter Monkey’s life.

After seeing the Winter Monkey’s battle with First Blade, he knew that it would be a massive loss for him if the Winter Monkey died.

’He’s not the perfect beast I wanted, but he’s so close to being perfect. I can’t lose him.’

Simon glanced at Lucien, and when he saw the anxious light in the eyes of the Frostborn prodigy, he calmly raised a brow.

Then he gestured at the Winter Monkey.

"If you’re so worried, then you should do something."

Lucien was stunned.

"What?"

Simon nonchalantly shrugged, and he said nothing.

Lucien frowned.

"Aren’t you worried about yourself? If he lives, what would happen to you?"

Simon nonchalantly shrugged for the second time.

"I don’t know, but I’m very certain that he doesn’t want to kill me... He’ll most likely kill you though, to hide any witnesses of what he has done."

Lucien’s expression became dark because he knew that Simon was right.

At the end of the day, his life was at stake if the Winter Monkey died.

’And this bastard said he was going to fight with the Winter Monkey. Bloody liar.’

Lucien gritted his teeth, then he looked at First Blade who was now close to the Winter Monkey.

’Should I leave?’

Lucien knew that he had another choice to make other than fighting First Blade, and that was to run.

Even though he knew that Simon was talented and more powerful than a normal Fiend, he was confident in being able to run away from Simon in this environment.

As for First Blade, if he ran away now, the old demon would most likely choose to let him go because of his injuries and so that Simon would also not find an opportunity to escape.

But should he?

Should he abandon the Winter Monkey?

The Winter Monkey was a beast he needed badly, and to capture a Winter Monkey that was so intelligent, that could use chaos runes, that had a Royal Bloodline, and that had an A grade ice affinity was not easy to come by.

In fact, capturing a Winter Monkey was not an easy thing to do.

This Winter Monkey was extremely rare and it met his requirements. However...

Should he risk his life for it?

The gears in Lucien’s mind spun repeatedly, and eventually, he came to a decision.

... He decided to escape.

Although the Winter Monkey was extremely rare and precious, he could still find a similar Winter Monkey or another ice beast that fit his requirements.

But that could only happen if he was alive.

If he died, that was the end.

So, he chose to escape and live for another day.

His eyes flashed with a determined light, then he shifted his gaze from the Winter Monkey to Simon.

However, he got the scare of his life when he saw that Simon was standing right in front of him with the difference between them being a few inches.

"I understand why you chose to run away. It’s the wisest decision you could make, but you see..."

Simon grabbed Lucien’s robe, then he raised him.

His cold sky blue eyes radiated a pressure that made Lucien sweat in this cold environment.

"... I never gave you permission to run."

"Wait. It’s-"

Simon did not allow him to finish his words.

He threw Lucien at First Blade with as much power as possible.

"YLLLUUUUU BWWWASSSSKKKAARRDDTTT!!!"

Lucien cursed Simon loudly, but his words came out strange.

First Blade was about to stab the Winter Monkey’s head to end his life, but he frowned when he saw what Simon did.

"How futile."

First Blade’s eyes flashed with a cold light, then he raised his sword and swung down at the approaching Lucien.

Lucien’s eyes widened in disbelief when he saw that, and he screamed in his heart.

’SHITTTT!!!’

He quickly crossed his arms and coated it with a thick sheet of ice.

First Blade’s expression remained indifferent, and his lips curled into one of disdain and mockery.

But in the next moment, his expression drastically changed and his two arms protruding from his spine moved.

A fraction of a second later...

Clang!

The sound of weapons clashing resounded behind First Blade.

Clang!

Another familiar sound resounded in front of First Blade, but this was a result of Lucien’s shield blocking the sword swing of First Blade.

However, the eyes of Lucien and the First Blade moved to the old demon’s back.

And behind First Blade was Simon standing with an ugly expression.