The ice wall shattered as the creature's claws tore through, its momentum unbroken.
Despite Amelia's quick action, the attack still reached Bronn.
In the split second before impact, Bronn twisted his body, dodging a fatal blow, but the creature's limb slashed across his shoulder, sending him flying across the chamber.
His large frame slammed into the stone wall with a heavy thud, leaving a crater behind.
"This thing..." Amelia muttered, her brow furrowing as she watched Bronn pull himself out of the debris.
She couldn't believe what had just happened. Although the ice wall had been thrown up quickly, it should have been strong enough to stop even a peak Astral Bloom warrior's attack.
Yet the creature had easily broken through it and still managed to strike Bronn.
Bronn slowly stood, rolling his injured shoulder as blood dripped from the deep cut.
He glanced at the wound and grinned, excitement flickering in his eyes.
"Now that one hurt," he said, his voice carrying a strange mix of pain and thrill. "You've gotten stronger."
With a deep roar that echoed through the chamber, Bronn's body surged with raw energy.
His skin darkened even further, veins bulging as the wound on his shoulder began to heal, the bleeding stopping almost instantly.
His grin grew wider, a wild light dancing in his eyes as his excitement grew.
"Looks like I'll have to get serious now," he said, the fire in his voice undeniable.
He could feel it, the creature had transformed after emerging from that golden cocoon.
Its power had multiplied, its speed and strength far beyond what he had faced before that transformation.
The creature was no longer just a tough opponent but a true monster now, a challenge worthy of his full strength.
And that only made Bronn more eager.
Fully recovered, Bronn began advancing toward the creature again. The wound on his shoulder had become an inconvenience, and his excitement fueled his power.
This Creature was unlike anything normal; its strength was wild, and feral, and it seemed to grow stronger with every passing second.
Bronn's grin turned savage as he stepped forward, his massive frame radiating raw power. "No training compares to this... a real life and death battle."
The creature, its dark golden form gleaming, let out a low, guttural hiss, hits gem-like eyes locking onto Bronn with a predator's focus.
It no longer hesitated; its next attack came immediately.
With blinding speed, it rushed toward him, its limbs slicing through the air like deadly spears.
But Bronn was ready. His body moved to the side, dodging the first strike by mere inches, his muscles rippling as he prepared to strike back.
His fist glowed with a bluish aura as he swung at it.
Its strikes came faster now, its claws a blur as they slashed through the air, aiming for Bronn's vital points.
Bronn dodged and blocked with sheer brute force, but it was clear he wasn't moving fast enough to keep up.
Each strike got closer, and his heavy breathing showed the toll the battle was taking.
Amelia knew she couldn't wait any longer.
With a quick gesture, she summoned large ice, shaping sharp spears from the moisture in the air.
They hovered around her, sleek and ready. She focused on the Creature's exposed side.
With a flick of her wrist, the ice spears shot forward, aiming for the Creature's unprotected flank.
They hit directly, piercing the dark golden skin with a sharp crack.
The creature screeched in fury as the ice spears lodged deep into its torso, cold mist spilling from the wounds.
The Creature faltered, its movements slowing for just a moment, giving Bronn time to recover.
He wiped the sweat from his brow, grinning. "Thanks for that."
The Creature let out another shriek, its body shaking as she tried to dislodge the ice spears. Its glowing gold eyes fixed on Amelia, and in a blur of motion, it charged toward her.
Amelia stood her ground, gathering more icy spears around hovered around her, ready to strike again.
But before the Creature could reach her, Bronn appeared, intercepting the creature with a powerful punch to the side.
The impact sent the Creature skidding across the chamber, its claws scraping the stone floor as it struggled to regain its balance.
The Creature roared, its body shimmering with the same golden liquid from the cocoon.
Its form started to change, shrinking rapidly.
Its massive body became sleek and slender, its limbs more humanlike.
The grotesque creature from moments ago now stood about the size of an average person, its body deceptively graceful. Only its head remained inhuman, with a glowing halo pulsing with a sinister light.
Amelia's eyes narrowed. "It transformed again."
The air around the Creature grew heavier, its presence radiating intense pressure. It wasn't just raw power anymore—it felt controlled, like something dangerous waiting to strike.
Before anyone could react, the Creature vanished, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Amelia felt the shift in the air before she saw it.
A fraction of a second later, the Creature reappeared right in front of her, claws glowing with golden light, ready to strike.
However, Amelia's icy gaze was already locked onto the creature. She merely whispered. "Reckless."
In an instant, the Creature froze mid-attack, its entire body encased in a solid block of ice.
It stood frozen in place, its arm still raised to strike, now a perfect ice sculpture.