Investing in My Crippled Wife: Every Return Makes Me Stronger

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Name: Hollow Warden

Rank: 3rd Circle (Peak Stage)

Type: Undead Guardian (Boss)

Affinity: Ice / Decay

[Description]: The remnants of a knight who failed to protect his charge. His body was claimed by the marsh and reforged by centuries of accumulated mana. The flame inside his helmet is the last ember of his soul, twisted into an endless vigil over a kingdom that no longer exists.

[Abilities]:

- Frostbound Aura (Passive): Maintains a freezing zone within a 30-meter radius, causing all enemies to suffer gradual stamina drain and slowed movement.

- Bone Cleaver: The greatsword deals high physical damage and inflicts lingering frostbite wounds. The blade also carries a trace of decay that slows natural and magical healing.

- Glacial Stomp: Slams the ground to create a cone of ice spikes.

- Warden’s Call: Summons Frostbound Husks to assist.

- Frozen Reaving: When health is low, it enters an enraged state. Attack power and speed boost, and greatsword swings create lingering freezing mist that hampers movement.

- Soul Chill (Hidden): Prolonged exposure causes mental fatigue. Those without sufficient mental defenses may experience despair or hesitation.

[Harvest Value]: Warden’s Core | Frozen Plate Fragments | Bone Greatsword

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’Whoa, it really deserves to be the boss.’ Soren muttered inwardly as he quickly inspected Hollow Warden using Advanced Appraisal. ’But-!’

[Quick Step]

Swoosh-!

He narrowly dodged the greatsword as it came crashing down, the frozen ground where he had been standing exploding into a spray of ice shards. The shockwave rattled his teeth even from a few meters away.

Ryan circled wide, his sword blazing as he channeled mana through Star-Fall Edge. He darted in low and slashed at the back of the Warden’s knee, but the rusted plate turned the blow aside with a screech of metal.

The Warden pivoted with surprising speed, bringing its greatsword around in a horizontal sweep. Ryan dropped flat, the blade passing inches above his head, and rolled away before the follow-up stomp could pin him.

Soren used the opening. He thrust Nightfrost into the Warden’s exposed side, aiming for the gap between the chest and shoulder plates. The tip punched through a weakened seam and bit into something solid beneath.

”Grr...” The Warden’s flame flared, and it swung its free arm in a backhanded strike. Soren caught it on Winter’s Barrier; the ice wall shattered but absorbed the impact.

”It’s tough,” Soren called out, skidding backward. ”Just aim for the leg joints.”

”On it.” Ryan’s sword flared brighter, and he pressed the attack. ’Amplification!’

The light along Star-Fall Edge faded, the blade pulling the surrounding mana into itself until only a thin line of darkness remained along its edge. Ryan closed the distance in three quick strides, feinting high before dropping into a crouch and bringing the sword down in a blistering vertical arc.

[Sunless Severance!]

The blade sliced seamlessly through the Warden’s leg just below the knee, dividing rusted plate, frozen sinew, and black ice in one smooth motion. The severed limb hit the ice with a dull crunch, and the Warden pitched forward, its balance gone.

Soren was already in motion as frost coiled along Nightfrost’s edge, spiraling from the shaft to the tip in a tightening coil of pale blue energy. While the Warden struggled to remain upright, Soren moved into its blind spot and swung the spear in a wide crescent arc.

[Glacial Sweep!]

A trail of frost followed the blade’s path, freezing the air itself as Nightfrost carved through the remaining leg. The Warden crashed forward, but before it could fall completely, it drove its greatsword deep into the ice and let out a roar that shook the entire clearing.

”ROOOAR!”

Soren’s eardrums throbbed as the sound slammed into him. His mana flared, coating his ears just in time to stop the worst of it. Ryan shook his head as his own mana flickered.

Crackle~ Crackle~

A hand burst through the surface near Soren’s foot. Then another, a few meters away. Pale fingers curled over the edges of the broken ice, pulling up arms, shoulders, heads.

”Husks?” Ryan became alarmed.

”I’ve got this.” Soren drove Nightfrost into the ground and activated one of its skills.

[Glacial Chasm!]

The black ice spread across the clearing like spilled ink, swallowing the emerging Husks mid-climb. They froze, limbs locked in place, faces caught in silent anguish as darkness enveloped them entirely.

Soren kicked off the ground, Nightfrost raised above him. Ryan followed without a word, Star-Fall Edge igniting in his grip, the flames along the blade burning black.

[Glacial Descent!]

Soren fell first, his spear trailing frost as he plunged toward the Warden’s skull.

[Event Horizon!]

Ryan came a heartbeat behind, his sword drawing in the surrounding light until the edge blazed with condensed darkness. Together they struck, frost and black flame crashing into the Warden’s helmet. The blue flame inside shrieked and guttered, and the armored giant went still.

Cracks spidered across its frame, ice and shadow spreading through every joint until the Hollow Warden shattered into a cascade of lifeless metal, splintered bone, and black ice, then collapsed into the slush with a hollow thud.

The force of the dual impact blew away the surrounding fog, leaving the clearing completely still.

Soren landed lightly on his feet, spinning Nightfrost once before driving the pommel into the muddy ground to steady his breath. Beside him, Ryan brought Starfall Edge down in a slow arc, the dark flames clinging to his blade gradually dispersing into the cold air.

Silence settled over the marsh.

”That was good.”

Soren chuckled as his gaze swept over the surroundings.

Just then, a familiar sound echoed in his head, followed by numerous notification windows.

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....

....

[Equity Stake Liquidated]

[Target: Hollow Warden]

[Stake: 57%]

[Dividend: +700 Refined Mana]

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’...So many.’ Soren scrolled through the windows, tallying the numbers in his head. Between the Lurkers, the Stalkers, the Husks, and now the Warden, the total mana earned from this single raid has surpassed ten thousand. That was more than he would normally get from cultivating for a day.

’Coming here was definitely the right call.’

He dismissed the last of the notifications and turned to Ryan. ”It was a bit weaker than we expected, huh.”

Ryan let out a short laugh, resting Star-Fall Edge across his shoulder as he looked down at the pile of shattered armor. ”Only because we didn’t give it a chance to unleash its full power.”

”Mm.” Soren nodded.

He had told Ryan to aim for the legs for a reason. If the Warden had been allowed to use Glacial Stomp freely and enter Frozen Reaving, the fight would have dragged on twice as long. Taking out its mobility first was the safest play, and it paid off.

”Let’s loot and take our leave.” He added, already moving toward the fallen warden. ”We have to reach our next destination on schedule.”