Weil watched the unfolding situation nervously, his heart burdened with worry for the embattled knights.
At this moment, the Ice Armor Bear was in a full berserk state, and its overwhelming rage seemed to freeze the very air around it.
Three massive crystal spikes protruded from its back, glowing with an intense, searing blue light.
The air rippled violently under the distortion of extreme heat, making it nearly impossible for the nearby knights to maintain their footing.
The archers' arrows could no longer pierce the Ice Armor Bear's skin.
The frigid flames swirling in the atmosphere would evaporate the arrows mid-flight before they even reached the beast."Phase Two of the plan—initiate!" Lord Louis shouted with authority.The battlefield commander raised his flag, and the signal was swiftly relayed.
The knights broke formation, splitting into multiple small units and fanning out around the Ice Armor Bear.
They moved quickly, avoiding direct confrontation while strategically keeping the beast under constant pressure.
Each calculated provocation pushed the creature further into its berserk frenzy.
Its hexagonal eyes glowed with a deep, furious red, and cold flames leaked incessantly from its massive form."Keep drawing its attention—don't let them close the distance!"
Lambert, the on-site commander, barked over the roar of wind and energy.Every time a knight approached, the bear would respond with a savage claw strike—only to miss as the agile warriors turned and dodged with expert precision.
Each failed attack from the beast only fueled its rage.
Its agonized roars echoed through the silent mountains, shaking the very air.
The crystal spikes on its back emitted ever-stronger heat waves, their hum rising to a deafening pitch.
Violent energy fluctuations reverberated like rolling thunder."Its energy is about to explode!" cried Lilia, her face pale with concern."Hold steady! Don't let up now!" Lord Louis replied, his gaze fixed on the pulsating crystals on the bear's back.Every detail counted now.
Victory—or annihilation—could hinge on a single moment.
The knights' movements grew sharper, their timing flawless.
Their relentless taunts and feints kept the Ice Armor Bear trapped in a spiral of fury.
The tactic—constant harassment from a safe distance—continued to work, even under immense pressure.
Eventually, all nine Ice Armor Bears succumbed to uncontrollable rage.
Their berserk energy overflowed wildly, creating fierce gales that uprooted trees and sent boulders tumbling down the nearby slopes.
The mountain trembled with their fury."Now!" Lambert's eyes lit up—he had seen the opportunity he'd been waiting for.He surged forward with six Elite Knights and twenty-three Formal Knights, each breaking into formation as they launched a coordinated assault.
They charged toward the nine berserk Ice Armor Bears, each one of them roaring and spewing powerful cold flames into the air.
A chaotic maelstrom formed where blistering heat waves clashed with icy winds, creating an almost impenetrable death zone.
Lambert gritted his teeth and raised his longsword, the weapon trembling slightly in his grip from the proximity to so much raw energy.
But he didn't slow down.
Their target was clear: the core of the Ice Armor Bear."Pfft!"Lambert's sword plunged into the glowing crystal core embedded in the beast's back.
His strike was followed in quick succession by his comrades—each targeting a different bear.
The crystal spikes reacted violently.
They flashed erratically and vibrated with wild intensity, releasing torrents of untamed energy.
Suddenly, a blinding shockwave surged outward like a detonation of magic.
The battlefield was engulfed in light and force.
A storm of cold flames spiraled outward, consuming everything."Retreat! Fall back!" Lambert's voice rang out through the maelstrom, nearly lost in the cacophony.The knights withdrew swiftly, narrowly escaping the wave of raw elemental energy.
Smoke clouded the air, and tongues of fire lashed at the scorched earth.
The simultaneous energy discharge from all nine beasts was catastrophic.
The crystal-coated hides of the Ice Armor Bears shattered under the pressure, sending fragments flying in every direction.
The sky turned white with the force of it.
When the smoke finally began to clear, the battlefield was almost unrecognizable.
Yet at the center of the devastation, the bodies of the nine slain Ice Armor Bears lay motionless.
Their immense bulk was intact—though burned and battered—thanks to the resilience of their ice crystal carapaces.
Though the explosion could have easily obliterated weaker beings, the unique composition of the Ice Armor Bears allowed them to retain their forms.
Their jagged crystal spikes—though cracked and fractured—still radiated a sense of threat.
It was over.
Lord Louis stood at the edge of the battlefield, surveying the scene.
He let out a long breath of relief.
Not a single knight had been seriously injured.
Even the horses had been shielded from harm.
Weil and Lilia stood silently beside him, their eyes reflecting the chaotic battlefield with awe and admiration.
They gazed at the battle-hardened knights who moved among the corpses—men and women of flesh and blood who had just felled monsters that once symbolized terror."We can be like them one day… right?" Lilia asked in a soft, hopeful voice.Weil didn't answer with words.
He simply nodded, his eyes burning with determination.
As the echoes of the battle faded, the knights began to recover and reorganize.
They moved methodically to collect the spoils of war.
The once-terrifying beasts now lay still—transformed from enemies into valuable resources.
Each Ice Armor Bear was a treasure trove in its own right.
Teams of knights began butchering the enormous carcasses.
Their meat was thick, springy, and emitted a surprisingly pleasant aroma, almost sweet in the mountain air.
This meat was highly coveted in the southern regions, where it sold for astronomical prices.
More than just a delicacy, Ice Armor Bear meat was an elite-level nourishment.
It strengthened the consumer's body and significantly enhanced their battle qi reserves.
For a knight, a single meal of this meat could be the edge needed in a life-or-death battle.
Other knights were tasked with harvesting the crystal spikes from the bears' backs.
These rare and powerful crystals were prized by alchemists and magicians alike.
Once refined, they could be transformed into potions, magic tools, or even armor enchantments.
Their value in the black market was nearly incalculable.
Lord Louis stood quietly, watching the harvesting operation with mixed emotions.
A small part of him felt regret.
If these creatures weren't so volatile, so inherently unstable, he would have long ago started an Ice Armor Bear breeding operation.
Just one of these beasts could yield enough materials to arm a small platoon—or finance a month's worth of magical research.
The meat, the crystals, the claws, the armored hides—even their teeth—were all valuable.
They were walking gold mines.
But dreams were one thing.
Reality was another.
If he truly tried to raise these creatures, the Red Tide Territory might not last two days before being turned into a frozen wasteland.
Still, watching his knights move skillfully across the field, Louis smiled.
It was a victory.
And victories were meant to be celebrated."Alright, everyone! Stop what you're doing!" he called out suddenly.The knights froze and turned toward their leader."Tonight," Louis declared, "we feast on Ice Armor Bear meat!"A beat of silence followed—then the mountain erupted in cheers."Lord Louis, you're too generous!""This meat is a warrior's blessing!""Glory to our lord!"The cheers became roars. The tension of battle dissolved into celebration.
Laughter rang out across the clearing as knights clapped each other on the back and began preparing for the feast.
Louis allowed himself a proud smile.
These knights hadn't been raised under his banner.
Many had come from other lands, pledged only by oaths of convenience.
But if he provided resources, safety, and victory, their loyalty would deepen.
And he would need that loyalty.
The coming days would bring greater threats—especially the looming bandit suppression mission.
Strength would be their only currency.
And thanks to the feast of Ice Armor Bear meat, his warriors would be stronger than ever.
Tonight, they would rest and eat.
Tomorrow, they would march forward—toward the next battle.
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