Crossover anime, and you call this a slice-of-life story?

Lina's face was pale from the cold, and her teeth were chattering. She quickly cast a simple temperature-regulating spell on herself, but the effect was limited.

Baron also activated his battle qi to resist the severe cold.

The three of them, including Hikigaya, fared much better. Their ghoul physical attributes and internal energy made them far more resistant to cold than ordinary people; they only felt a little chilly.

Seeing this, John smiled slightly. Without making any move, a warm and gentle force spread out from him, dispelling the surrounding chill and creating a comfortable, constant-temperature zone.

“Let’s go and take a closer look. Ice Heart Orchids usually grow in extremely cold ice caves or on the tops of snow-capped mountains.”

As John spoke, he strode forward, his footsteps leaving no trace on the snow!

Over the next two days, John led the five men on a trek through the glacier.

As promised, he dutifully played the role of guide and protector, while also generously displaying the formidable strength of a Saint-level expert.

They encountered a pack of "ice wolves" lurking beneath the snow. These wolves were pure white, swift in movement, and possessed sharp fangs. Each one was at the second tier of strength, with the wolf king approaching the third tier. Just as the pack was about to pounce, John merely glanced at them indifferently. An invisible sword intent swept across like a cold wind, and dozens of ice wolves instantly froze, then fell silently to the ground, without a single wound on their bodies, as if their souls had been frozen and annihilated in an instant!

They passed by a seemingly flat ice field, but John suddenly stopped and casually unleashed a burst of battle qi, slicing open a bottomless crack in the ice a hundred meters ahead, revealing a huge ice cave hidden below, filled with sharp icicles.

He explained that this was the nest of the "ice worms," ​​and once you fell in, it was very difficult to survive below the sacred ground.

They also encountered an "Ancient Mammoth Ice Elephant" whose strength had reached the peak of the third tier. It was like a moving small mountain, exuding a suffocating pressure.

Baron and Lina were so frightened they could barely move.

John, however, stepped forward. He didn't even draw his sword; he simply pointed his fingers like a knife and made a slash in the air!

A burst of intensely refined battle qi, seemingly capable of cleaving through space, vanished in a flash.

The ancient mammoth ice elephant let out a terrified cry. Its thick hide and ice armor, which were strong enough to withstand legendary spells, were cleaved open like a hot knife through butter, and it crashed to the ground!

Each move was made with a seemingly casual gesture, yet contained immense power.

John demonstrated the prowess of a Saint-level powerhouse to the five, especially Hachiman and his two companions, through his actions!

The three of them were indeed somewhat moved.

Only Hikigaya witnessed Shangguan Yun's world-destroying power when he made a move.

Although Gin, who usually trains them, is a fifth-tier powerhouse and has reached the legendary realm according to the classification of this world, he did not use any power at all to deal with the three Karami.

The destructive power of a peak Saint Realm expert still amazed the three of them.

Not to mention Lina and her companion, who were witnessing a Saint-level expert's attack for the first time.

The two of them hadn't stopped talking since John made his move; they kept chanting "666" the whole way.

This gave old John a great sense of satisfaction.

During this time, he did find some rare ice-type medicinal herbs and ores, and shared some with Baron and Lina as a way of giving them an opportunity.

He also repeatedly hinted to the three of them that as long as they joined the Empire, such resources would be nothing, and the Empire's treasury contained far better things.

However, to John's dismay, Hikigaya, Kaito Kuroba, and Ayato Kirishima remained calm throughout.

They would marvel at and admire the strength John displayed, carefully observe and learn from his fighting skills and the use of power, and be grateful for the resources and protection he shared, but they would never budge on the offer to join the Lionheart Empire.

Their eyes were clear and firm, as if they had their own path and goals that they had to stick to, and no matter how great the temptations from the outside world were, they could not shake their fundamental beliefs.

John could even sense that the three young men looked at him, a Saint-level powerhouse, with respect and a desire to learn, but lacked the soul-deep awe and longing that should be present in the eyes of supreme power.

It was as if they had seen a wider sky?

'Could it be that the elders of these three are truly some legendary, unparalleled powerhouse?'

"Ugh……"

On the second night of their glacier training, as they rested around a campfire made of special cold-resistant wood that John had lit with his fighting spirit, John watched as Hachiman and his companions silently digested the gains of the past two days, and sighed inwardly.

He knew that he would probably have a hard time breaking down this wall.

The three little ones' willpower was far stronger than he had imagined. That mysterious "senior" probably held an extremely high position in their hearts, or perhaps the forces behind them possessed a depth and cohesion that he could not comprehend.

Forcibly taken away?

He had considered it, but firstly, it didn't align with his principles and his identity as a sword saint; secondly... he had a vague intuition that using force might lead to unpredictable consequences.

These three little guys don't seem as simple as they appear; there's something about them that makes him a little uneasy.

"Very well, we can't force it."

John was ultimately a free spirit; since things were beyond his control, he figured he might as well make a good connection.

Such an outstanding young person has unlimited potential for future achievements. Rather than making enemies, it's better to maintain goodwill.

On the last day, John said to everyone, "The Ice Heart Orchid has a rather special growing location, requiring us to venture deep into the heart of the glacier, near the territory of the Frost Giants. It's not convenient to bring you along. Let's end this glacier training here, and I'll take you back."

Although Baron and Lina were somewhat disappointed, they knew that being able to train safely in this outer area for two days and witness the power of the Holy Domain was already an immense stroke of luck, so they quickly expressed their gratitude respectfully.

Hachiman and his two companions also expressed their gratitude to John. The experience over the past two days had indeed been very beneficial to them, giving them a more direct understanding of the strong and dangerous environments of this world.

John once again enveloped everyone with his Sanctuary power, took to the air, and flew back in the direction they had come from.

John, feeling somewhat conflicted on the return journey, kept thinking about Hachiman and the other two while flying, and didn't rush.

When they flew over the mountain forest that had been destroyed by the aftermath of the battle between Shangguan Yun and the Emperor of the End, a sudden change occurred!

Without warning, an indescribable and irresistible terrifying pressure descended like mountains collapsing!

Chapter 290 Elma

This pressure was vast and domineering, carrying an ancient dragon's might that surpassed all living beings!

It ignores all defenses and acts directly on the depths of the soul, as if it wants to completely crush a person's will!

"puff--!"

John, who was the first to be hit, turned deathly pale and coughed up a mouthful of blood!

He felt like a small boat in a storm, his sacred domain force field, which he was struggling to maintain, was as fragile as paper in the face of this dragon's might, and it was instantly covered with cracks and groaned under the strain!

The Azure Flame Battle Qi within his body was like frozen magma, its circulation extremely sluggish, and even his soul trembled under that pure dragon might!

"This...this is...the Dragon's Might of the Legendary Realm?!"

John was overwhelmed by a storm of fear and disbelief!

This overwhelming pressure... is definitely at the legendary level!

How is this possible?! Why would a legendary dragon appear in this place?

Suddenly, he remembered the rumors from a few days ago.

A powerful stranger and the Emperor of the End clashed here.

I thought it was just a rumor. How could a world-class powerhouse who could fight against someone like the Emperor of the End suddenly appear, aside from those few?

But upon seeing the violently altered landscape and the sudden appearance of this legendary dragon warrior, he believed it.

But it's too late; I might lose my life here today.

"Ugh!"

Baron and Lina, enveloped by John's power, were powerless to resist the aftershocks of the dragon's might. Their eyes rolled back and they fainted completely, their bodies collapsing like kites with broken strings. Had John's force field not been completely shattered, they would have already plummeted to the ground.

Hikigaya, Kaito Kuroba, and Ayato Kirishima all groaned in unison, their faces instantly losing all color. They felt as if a giant mountain was pressing down on them, their bones making a teeth-grinding creaking sound, their internal energy almost completely solidifying, and even breathing became extremely difficult!

They tried their best to steady themselves, but under the absolute suppression of the dragon's might, even moving a finger became extremely difficult. They also fell rapidly into the forest below as the force field collapsed, completely out of control!

"It's over!"

John's eyes were bloodshot, and his heart was filled with coldness and despair!

This powerful dragon was clearly coming for them!

He wanted to fight desperately, to burn his life and soul, to use forbidden techniques to try to save these young people he admired, even if it was just to buy them a chance to escape!

But under the lock of that vast, ocean-like dragon's might, even mobilizing the last bit of battle qi in his body became extremely difficult, as if the weight of the entire world was pressing down on him!

Just as the five were about to crash to the ground like meteorites, and John closed his eyes in despair—

That terrifying dragon's might suddenly vanished!

Although they were still bound by invisible shackles, unable to move and suspended in mid-air, the deadly oppressive feeling had lessened considerably, at least no longer making them feel like they would be crushed in the next second.

A figure appeared silently in the void not far in front of them.

She was a tall and voluptuous woman.

She has hair that gradually changes from black to purple, with natural curls at the ends.

Her skin was as white as snow, and her features were exquisitely beautiful, possessing an inhuman, sculpted beauty.

Most striking were the spiraling, gleaming horn on her forehead and her vertical pupils, like the purest sapphires, which were now coldly watching them with scrutiny, doubt, and an undeniable air of authority.

She wore a magnificent suit of armor that seemed to be woven from blue crystal and mithril, outlining breathtaking curves while exuding an aura of indestructibility.

A faint, icy mist emanated from him, a stark contrast to the scorched earth forest below, ravaged by lightning and destructive power.

John's heart nearly stopped. He recognized the single horn on the other man's forehead—a symbol of some ancient dragon bloodline!

This dragon's strength is definitely above the mid-level of the legendary realm! He has seen very few dragons in his life, but this is the first one so powerful and so oppressive!

Elma was filled with anxiety and confusion.

She followed her former friend Thor, and upon hearing that the fool had gone to challenge Asgard alone and was seriously injured, she immediately left her territory to search for him.

Through the subtle connection between dragons and extensive inquiries, she finally tracked down this area and keenly sensed the residual fluctuations of the hidden spatial passage leading to another world.

Just as she was about to carefully explore the spatial passage, she sensed the presence of several weak humans flying overhead.

She didn't care at first; they were just a few insignificant humans.

Although she was once revered by humans as the priestess of the sacred sea and originally sought to live in harmony with humans, she herself was not actually fond of humans.

She tried to recruit Thor to join her, but their incompatibility led to a fierce war decades later, during which she also destroyed three islands.

Thor accused him of "all of this being nothing but a false peace that humanity has obtained by depending on you."

After this battle, Eruma and Thor parted ways, and Eruma returned to the stronghold of the reconciliation forces, never to have contact with humans again.

However, she, who had been indifferent at first, suddenly caught a clear and unmistakable aura from the three young humans—it was Thor's aura!

Although it was very faint, as if it were just a remnant of a brief contact, it was enough to shock her!

Is Thor with these humans? Or do they know Thor's whereabouts?

Without any hesitation, Elma immediately unleashed her dragon's might, stopping the humans in their tracks.

Her gaze, like a cold searchlight, first swept over John, whose face was pale, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and who looked as if facing a formidable enemy.

He was just an old human man, and he didn't have Thor's aura on him, so we'll skip him.

The other two unconscious young humans, who did not bear Thor's presence, are omitted.

Finally, her gaze settled on the three—Hachiman, Kaito Kuroba, and Ayato Kirishima—who were barely held up by the force field and, despite their disheveled state, remained conscious.

These are the three little guys! Thor's aura is emanating from them!

"Human beings."

Elma spoke, her voice clear and melodious, yet carrying an undeniable authority that resonated deep within everyone's minds, ignoring the language barrier: "You... know Thor?"

The simple question sent a huge shock through John!

Thor?!

The daughter of the End Emperor, the leader of the Chaos forces, and the legendary Chaos Dragon who dared to challenge the God Realm single-handedly?!

How did these human kids get involved with that person?!

Could it be some strange power they possess...?

John dared not think any further, only feeling a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!

If these people are really related to the Chaos Dragon Clan, then everything makes sense!

Why are they so dismissive of my recruitment efforts? Why are they so determined? Could their "predecessor" be the same powerful stranger who fought against the Emperor of the End?

He felt he had discovered a shocking secret.

Chapter 291 This guy... seems a bit slow on the uptake?

The three of them were also startled. They exchanged glances and saw the seriousness in each other's eyes.