FWUUUSSZZTT!
The only sound echoing through the forest was the icy howl of the wind, carried along by a raging blizzard. A thick fog blanketed the woods, shortening visibility to just a few ters ahead, making it nearly impossible to tell directions—Al and Kyle included.
With Putih leading them, the two managed to find several wyvern corpses scattered throughout the frozen woodland. Both imdiately tightened their grips on their weapons and resud following Putih deeper into the blizzard.
[Several Hours Earlier]
Right after the decision was made, Rima shot into the sky toward the south. With a flick of her finger, a do-shaped barrier ford around her body, shielding her from wind and snow. Wrapped in its protection, she glided swiftly through the storm.
After an hour of searching, the thick fog ahead gradually began to fade, and the blizzard weakened. Noticing the change, Rima halted midair.
Hmm… looks like this is where the fog ends. Just my luck—she grumbled in her thoughts.
She shifted direction, turning toward the east.
Two hours later, she reached the edge of the forest, close to the base of the mountains, when once again the fog and snowstorm thinned.
"Not here either… which ans…" she murmured, then turned her gaze toward the north, where the cold sky stretched endlessly.
That's the direction they went… I hope they're safe—her heart tensed.
Without hesitation, she dashed northward.
Elsewhere, Luna experienced the sa. After flying north for a while, the fog thinned, revealing nothing unusual. She turned east and continued flying. Hours passed before she finally reached the sa forest edge near the mountains, where the fog and the storm subsided once again.
Hmm… not here. Then the cause must be sowhere over there—Luna concluded, glancing toward the southern sky.
Monts later, she sped south, cutting through the blizzard.
[Back to Al and Kyle]
Their footsteps were slow and cautious as they waded through the snow-covered ground. More wyvern corpses lay scattered around them, so having crushed nearby trees upon impact.
Suddenly, Putih—who walked ahead—stopped and stared into the fog. Al and Kyle followed her gaze. Another black silhouette appeared ahead, but this one was noticeably smaller than the ones they had seen earlier.
Putih turned to Al, as if asking for confirmation. Al and Kyle exchanged a brief nod, then began walking toward the figure.
As the fog thinned, the shape beca clearer—a white bird lay before them, as white as freshly fallen snow. A blue crown-like crest adorned its head. Its body was covered in deep wounds, stained with crimson blood. The mont it sensed their presence, its sharp eyes rose and locked directly onto them.
Al and Kyle froze. A strange pressure emanated from the creature's gaze—heavy, intimidating—making their hands tremble slightly.
Don't panic, Al. Keep it together—Al repeated inwardly.
"Al, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Kyle whispered.
"Yeah… this creature likely fought and killed all those wyverns," Al replied.
"…"
"So what now?" Kyle asked.
Before Al could answer, a massive pillar of ice—large enough to rival a tree trunk—ca flying toward them.
"!"
The sudden attack caught them completely off guard.
Damn it! We can't dodge this in ti!—Al clenched his teeth.
Right before the pillar struck them, a dark blur flashed ahead.
CLENG! BRUG!
A shockwave burst outward, scattering the mist. Through the clearing view, the figure standing before them was Putih.
With glowing bluish claws, Putih slashed the enormous ice pillar midair, splitting it into several pieces.
"Putih!" Al exhaled in relief.
"You saved us again—thank you," Kyle added.
"Woof!"
Though the danger had passed, the threat remained. The weakening white bird was still staring, and before the situation could calm, the ground trembled. Trees shook violently. Sothing heavy was approaching.
From the fog, a towering figure erged—almost four ters tall—a brown bear with fierce eyes burning with hunger.
GWARR!!
"A bear?! They should be hibernating this season!" Al gasped inwardly.
The bear roared at the injured white bird and charged. The bird tried to summon magic—an icy blue circle appeared above its head—but just as an ice pillar began forming, the magic circle shattered, sending a painful shriek from the bird.
"It failed?! Looks like it ran out of mana," Kyle said. "This might be the end for it…"
Without the spell, nothing stopped the bear's charge.
But before it struck—the direction shifted. A rock whistled through the air and struck the bear's head.
"Al! Are you out of your mind?!" Kyle whispered.
"I know it almost killed us earlier, but I just can't let it die," Al answered firmly.
The bear turned toward them with a furious roar and began charging.
"Kyle, ready?" Al smirked.
"Always!" Kyle replied.
Both raised their weapons, with Putih pouncing forward, teeth bared.
The brown bear swiped its large paw horizontally. Kyle reacted imdiately, raising his shield. Just before impact, the shield burst into golden light.
TENG!
A hexagonal golden barrier ford in front of Kyle's shield, halting the bear's strike.
Oh! The shield… so this is the ability Miss Luna ntioned—Kyle widened his eyes.
[Back at the cabin, earlier]
Among the various items Luna had taken out, she handed Kyle a wooden shield. It was not luxurious—plain, dull, and clearly made of wood.
"This is…?" Kyle blinked in confusion.
"Since I'm a mage, this is useless to . But for soone who uses shields, its ability might awaken in your hands," Luna explained.
A wooden shield? Isn't wood the weakest kind? And what ability?—Kyle wondered silently.
But he quickly dismissed those thoughts.
It's Miss Luna… nothing she gives is ordinary—he thought.
[Back to the battlefield]
And indeed, the shield had blocked the beast's strike flawlessly.
At the sa ti, Putih leapt forward and slashed the bear's face. The beast recoiled, losing its balance and collapsing heavily into the snow. Al and Kyle retreated several steps to reposition.
"You okay, Kyle? That was insane! Do you have new skills you never told about?" Al panted.
"I'm fine. And that thing just now… I think it ca from this wooden shield that Miss Luna gave ," Kyle said while staring at the shield.
Al glanced at it as well, but before they could talk further, the bear roared angrily. It now targeted Putih, who had been clawing its face. With massive swings that shattered trees in single blows, the bear attempted to swat Putih—but Putih was far too agile.
"Kyle! We need to assist Putih. Can you activate that ability again?" Al asked.
"I don't know how! It triggered by itself earlier!"
"Doesn't matter—we can't let Putih fight alone. You ready?"
"After you!"
Both rushed forward again. Kyle planted his stance and raised the shield.
The shield glowed red, releasing rippling shockwaves.
"TAUNT!" Kyle shouted.
The shockwave struck the bear. Its rampaging focus instantly shifted to Kyle. Its eyes glimred red as it let out a furious bellow.
The bear lunged and brought its paw downward. The impact unleashed an explosive shockwave that rattled the air. The forest echoed with a heavy crack as paw t shield.
anwhile, Al flanked from the beast's left and slashed one of its legs.
RWARR!
The bear roared in agony. Al imdiately withdrew. From the opposite side, Putih seized the mont—its claws tearing into the bear's other leg. Another scream erupted and shook the frost-laden forest.
The battle dragged on.
Several tis, both Al and Kyle were sent flying through the snow, but neither received major wounds. The bear, however, was covered in gashes, blood soaking into its fur. Even so—it still stood.
[Several minutes later]
"Hah… hah…" Al gasped heavily, half kneeling in the snow.
Kyle was breathing just as hard.
"I'm almost out of mana… and even with wounds like that, it can still stand," Al muttered.
"My body's getting heavy… I can barely move," Kyle replied, panting.
The towering beast staggered toward them again, raising its massive arm for the final strike. Neither Al nor Kyle could even lift an arm to defend.
Damn it! My body won't move!—Al panicked.
My arms are too heavy—Kyle gritted his teeth.
Just when the deadly strike was inches away, a flash of blue carved through the air.
SWISH!
Putih's energy-claw slashed clean through the bear's forearm, severing it entirely.
RWARRR!!!
The agonised roar shook the entire forest.
Before the bear could react, Putih lunged again—biting the creature's throat. The beast collapsed. And with one rciless motion, Putih tore the entire neck apart.
Blood sprayed into the snow.
The brown bear fell silent.
Al and Kyle collapsed onto the ground, breathing raggedly.
"Hah… hah… finally… It's over… Good work, Putih," Al said, sprawled flat.
"Yeah… who knows what would've happened… without her," Kyle muttered.
While the two were still catching their breath, Putih looked toward the wounded white bird and barked sharply.
Woof!
"What is it, Putih?" Al followed his gaze.
Oh—right!—Al suddenly rembered.
"Kyle! Take out that potion!"
"A-are you sure? That bird almost killed us earlier," Kyle hesitated.
"Yes! I'm sure," Al answered firmly.
Kyle reluctantly handed over a silver-white potion. Al walked slowly toward the wounded bird. Kyle followed behind him.
The bird stared at them. Weak. Breath faint. Unable to resist.
Al knelt and opened the potion cap.
The closer they were, the more their hearts pounded.
Al poured the shimring liquid into the bird's beak.
A soft glow spread across its feathers—its life energy returning. Its eyes widened, and it rose from the snow.
QWAK!!
There was no hostility now. Its gaze was calm… grateful.
Al and Kyle exhaled in relief.
The storm, which had raged since earlier, faded. The fog thinned. Snow began to settle quietly rather than falling violently.
The forest returned to silence.
"The crisis is probably over," Kyle said, smiling faintly.
"And we're still alive… hahahaha," Al laughed weakly.
The calm didn't last long.
A booming roar echoed above.
Both looked up.
Dozens of wyvern silhouettes circled overhead.
"Oh, no…" Al whispered.
Their hearts drumd violently again.
"What do we do now?" Kyle trembled.
"…"
"Kyle… use the signal tool," Al instructed quietly.
Kyle reached into his magic bag and pulled out a small cylindrical launcher. He aid it at the sky and pulled the cord.
FWOOSH!
A flare shot upward and exploded.
DUAAAR!!
A loud burst of light filled the air.
Wyverns screeched in anger. Several wind blades shot downward.
The white bird attempted to conjure a spell circle again—but the mont the magic ford, it shattered. The wind blades fell freely toward Al and Kyle.
They braced for death—
—but two shadows suddenly appeared overhead, hovering gracefully.
A pale barrier spread beneath them, blocking the incoming wind blades effortlessly.
"Are you two alright?" a woman's voice asked.
"Sorry, we're late," another voice followed.
Al's and Kyle's eyes widened.
"Luna… Miss Rima…" Al whispered.
"M-Miss Luna… Miss Rima…" Kyle echoed, his voice trembling.
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