-Grrrr!
-Growl!
-Growl!
With a burst of speed, all the Frostbearanun toward me within the smoke!
'Shit, I exposed myself!' I cursed mentally as I knocked another arrow into my bow however I was too slow they were already near me.
I gritted my teeth and quickly placed the Nightshadow bow in my bracelet and ready myself for close-quarters combat.
"Haaa!"
I stepped into the striking range and let out a fierce battle cry as the FrostClaw Bear swung down its claw at me.
I swiftly sidestepped and evaded the oncoming blow with precision.
Thwam—!!
Seizing the opportunity, I stepped in closer to the mana beast and dropped to my knees before seamlessly spinning on one foot.
In a fluid motion, I aimed a quick, low reverse spinning kick at the giant Bear's leg.
Then—!!
"Arghhaaa!"
As soon as my leg hit the Bear, the impact resonated throughout my body, sending shockwaves of force coursing through my muscles.
It felt as if I had tried to hit a boulder. The sheer impact jarred my bones while the Ice-Claw Bear remained unscathed.
Gritting my teeth, I endured the pain and channelled mana into my fists, causing them to illuminate in the brightest shade of azure.
Without hesitation, I jumped back to my feet and unleashed a rapid onslaught of punches upon the Bear's ribs.
The relentless assault gradually wore down the second Frostclaw Bear. It growled in pain, its movements becoming sluggish as I exploited the weaknesses in its magical defences.
As I thought I was going to win, at that moment the situation turned to worse.
I felt a chill run down my spine. Instinctively, I turned my head around to the left and saw a flurry of huge Ice Shards hurtling towards me with alarming velocity.
".....?!"
Widening my eyes, I bent my knees and pressed my legs against Frost Claw Bear's back.
Then, using its back as a springboard, I propelled myself backwards to evade the incoming Ice Shards.
Thud—
With a resounding thud, I landed a few steps back from my previous position and shifted my focus to my left once again.
There, to my surprise, I spotted a remarkably different FrostClaw Bear.
This one appeared older and had a wooden shaft in its hand. It also wore a shoulder robe crafted from the hide of another Frost Claw Bear.
"A mage?!" I exclaimed out, my luck is worse.
I know that Frostclaw bear could use magic but this is my first time seeing a Frostclaw bear that only uses magic attacks.
This one must be a leader of the pack!
The mage Frostclaw Bear wielded its icy staff with a level of sophistication unseen in its counterparts. The surrounding air seemed to resonate with a faint magical aura, signifying its ability to command the element of ice with a degree of mastery.
The Ice Shard attack from earlier had emanated from this newfound adversary. My gaze shifted between the elder Frostclaw Bear and the two weakened ones I had been engaging. The odds had taken a drastic turn, with a formidable mage joining the fray.
With a calculating expression, the mage Frostclaw Bear raised its staff, summoning an arctic gust that whipped through the snowy landscape. The cold air intensified, creating an aura of frost that cloaked its massive form.
I quickly reassessed the situation, realizing that conventional tactics wouldn't be sufficient against a magical adversary. The elder Frostclaw Bear's eyes glowed with an intelligence not typical of regular mana beasts.
As the mage Frostclaw Bear prepared for its next move, the other two mana beasts, though weakened, renewed their onslaught. Their coordination hinted at a shared consciousness, guided by the mage's commands.