Chapter 230: Chapter 229: Ferocious Giant Bear
"Argh!!"
Kase, now in a state of [Frenzy], roared as he swung his massive Giant Axe.
The axe blade wasn’t sharp, but backed by immense power, it still tore through White Frost’s hide. Seeping blood instantly stained its snow-white fur red.
As the attack landed, a blue phantom materialized before White Frost’s claws, attempting to block the great bear’s attack, but it was shattered in an instant.
The moment the massive white bear claw struck Oak Heart, a blue film of light shimmered over the Beastman’s white fur. As a result, the wound White Frost’s claws left on him this time was much smaller.
[Sacred Flame] and [Scorching Ray] struck White Frost in succession, burning several blackened pits into its flesh.
With his vision restricted by his Helmet, Colin, who had rushed into close range, couldn’t see the two great bears fighting at all. The most he could see were two stumpy bear legs and a furry rear end.
After thrusting his sword into White Frost’s flank and injecting all the goblin poison, Colin took a stance and chanted a Spell.
’Enhance... [Emerald Flame Sword]!’
Holding nothing back, Colin unleashed his ultimate attack, viciously hacking at White Frost’s hind leg.
The flaming blade sliced through the great bear’s fur, charring the flesh beneath it black.
He paid no mind to anything else, continuously casting [Silver Light Sharp Words] on White Frost while also buffing himself. His flaming Elf Giant Sword hacked into the beast again and again. As soon as the flames died down, he would reignite them with [Emerald Flame Sword].
Yet the great bear’s body didn’t even flinch.
’It’s like I’m trying to slash the earth with my sword! This is completely useless!’
’But this beast’s Intelligence is surely too low to understand the concept of "laughter." [Tasha’s Hideous Laughter] would be ineffective. And for single-target Damage, none of my other Magic can match my [Emerald Flame Sword] combined with regular slashes.’
’I’m out of better options...’
"AWOO!"
Suddenly, the agonized howl of a great bear reached his ears.
It was accompanied by the sound of tearing flesh, a noise terrifying enough to make one’s blood run cold.
Then, Colin heard a DRIP, DRIP, DRIP from the top of his Helmet, followed by the overwhelming stench of blood washing over him.
He glanced down to see that his feet were already soaked in blood.
Another sound of claws rending flesh, and Oak Heart cried out as he collapsed. A massive gash had been brutally torn open on his back, deep enough to reveal the bone beneath.
"ROAR!"
White Frost let out a furious roar and spun around.
Colin recognized it was turning toward Kase’s position. He quickly cast [Silver Light Sharp Words] again, hoping to weaken White Frost and help Kase hold his ground.
’As an Ancestral Guardian, Kase’s strength lies in protecting his companions, not in direct confrontation... But right now, he’s the only one left who can face White Frost head-on!’
Colin landed another backhanded [Emerald Flame Sword] strike on White Frost’s hind leg.
He could clearly see the great bear planting its hind legs, preparing to lunge.
Kase’s battle cries echoed from ahead. All Colin could do was cast his final [Silver Light Sharp Words] on the Half-Orc, praying he could weather the Fierce Beast’s onslaught.
A few exchanges later, his worst fear came to pass.
The two stumpy bear legs in front of him began to shift. He didn’t need his [Attack Prediction] Specialty to know that White Frost was about to turn and pounce on him.
"Colin!"
Orelia’s cry of alarm was quickly drowned out by White Frost’s furious roar.
The beast was too fast. Colin had no time to dodge.
Two gusts of wind slammed into him from either side. He felt a dull, crushing pain in his shoulders, as if caught in a giant vise. At the same time, the ear-piercing screech of claws scraping against metal echoed from his chest and back.
’The bear is trying to grab me with its claws!’
Colin remembered the wound on Oak Heart’s back—it must have been torn open after White Frost had grappled him. ’If this thing gets a hold of me, I don’t know if my Armor will hold!’
At that same moment, he looked to the great bear’s side and chanted a Spell. A silvery mist instantly appeared.
The pressure on his shoulders instantly vanished.
Before the mist could dissipate, a massive force struck him from behind. The feeling of solid ground beneath his feet vanished once more, and a disorienting sense of weightlessness enveloped him.
Then came a sickening CRACK. The violent impact shot through to his brain, and the world began to twist and spin before his eyes, refusing to come into focus.
Colin quickly realized what had happened.
He’d been sent flying and had smashed his head.
After a moment, he managed to struggle back to his feet, pushing himself up from the ground.
He looked back. Oak Heart was still lying motionless on the ground.
White Frost, however, was not unscathed. Its once-white fur was now almost entirely red. Its body was covered in gashes and blackened pits, riddled with Arrows, and marked with several bone-deep wounds from Kase’s axe.
Kase was still desperately attacking White Frost.
But the great bear paid him no mind. It knocked Kase aside and roared, charging toward the remaining combatants.
Aidan stood at the forefront, Hunting Knife in hand, the Quiver on his back more than half empty. Behind him, Orelia held her Shield defensively in front of Ale.
Behind them lay a thicket of vines and branches; even if they retreated, they would never be able to dodge the charging bear.
’None of those three can take a single swipe from White Frost.’
’If it gets into melee range, they’re dead!’
Colin wanted to use [Misty Step] to get to them, but his head was still reeling from the impact, and he couldn’t grasp the sensation needed for Casting.
Without hesitation, he pulled out a [Weak Healing Potion] and downed it in one gulp.
Just then, Oak Heart, still on the ground, let out another furious roar. He charged at White Frost from the side, pouncing and wrapping his claws around its waist, tearing at it with all his remaining strength.
But his attack did nothing to stop White Frost’s momentum.
It swung a massive paw at the nearest enemy—Aidan, who was standing on the far side, was just within reach.
The young man yelled, swinging his Hunting Knife to meet the incoming Bear Claw.
In the next instant, an ethereal blue Flame ignited at Aidan’s side. Guided by Kase, the ancestors of the Orcs swirled around the young man.
The Shield shattered instantly, and Aidan...
Colin couldn’t bear to watch.
He steadied his mind, and the sensation of controlling the Magic Net flooded back to him.
[Misty Step]!
The silvery mist dissipated, and he appeared above White Frost’s head.
As he cast his last spell, Colin felt that familiar, long-unfelt sensation of his mind being completely drained.
He gritted his teeth against the vertigo, twisting his body sideways. He braced the sword, tucking the pommel under his right arm with his left hand for leverage, while his right hand aimed the blade squarely at White Frost’s back.
Chanting the Spell one last time, his Elf Giant Sword erupted in Flame under the power of [Emerald Flame Sword].
The next moment, propelled by gravity, the blade plunged deep into White Frost’s back.
