Chapter 303
From above, Lunara observed the bear’s growing frustration. "Good... let it waste its energy". The bear’s icy armor glistened in the weak northern sunlight, but she noticed cracks starting to form along the edges. It wasn’t a creature meant for agility; its strength lay in brute force, and Lunara and Nova could use that to their advantage.
The bear, sensing the shift in tactics, bellowed again, and this time, it slammed its fists into the ground. The impact sent shockwaves through the earth, and massive spikes of ice shot up in all directions, aiming to trap Nova and force him into a confrontation. The wolf dodged with nimble grace, but one of the spikes grazed his side, leaving a deep gash. Red vines pulsed rapidly, healing the wound almost immediately, but Lunara knew they couldn’t afford many more close calls like that.
Lunara dove from the sky, her wings tucked tight against her body for speed. As she neared the bear, she imbued more mana magic into her sword Just as the bear prepared another swipe at Nova, she struck from above, slashing at its back where the armor had begun to weaken.
This time, her blade cut through the thick ice, sending shards flying in all directions. The bear roared in pain, the icy barrier on its back shattering under her assault. But it wasn’t over yet. The beast swung around with terrifying speed, catching Lunara off guard and batting her aside with one powerful swing of its paw.
She crashed into the snow, the impact knocking the wind out of her. Her wings trembled, and she felt a sharp pain shoot up her side where the bear’s claws had grazed her. Nova howled in alarm, rushing to her side, but Lunara gritted her teeth and waved him off.
"I’m fine," she hissed, struggling to stand. "We’re close. We just need one more opening."
The bear, now enraged and wounded, charged toward them with reckless abandon. Its icy armor had begun to crack in several places, and the bloodlust in its eyes made it clear that it was willing to risk everything to end this fight.
Lunara glanced at Nova. "One more time. On my signal."
Nova nodded, his red vines glowing with renewed energy. He darted forward, drawing the bear’s attention once again. This time, however, he wasn’t dodging; he was leading the beast, forcing it to follow him toward a section of the plain where the snow was deep and treacherous.