Chapter 37 - Moon and Flame
Snow exploded beneath the charging army.
Hundreds of Divine Temple soldiers advanced in perfect formation.
War beasts roared as they thundered down the mountainside.
At their head, Gareth lifted his massive war hammer.
"Capture the Beast Sovereign!"
"Leave the princess to me!"
The Frostfang Sabretooth answered with a deafening roar.
The surrounding temperature plummeted.
Ice spread across the battlefield.
---
Kai twirled his black spear.
He looked at Selene.
"Ready?"
She smiled confidently.
"I've been ready since you stepped into my kingdom."
The Crimson Flame Fox grinned.
"I like her."
Ignis rolled his eyes.
"Focus first. Compliments later."
---
The battle began.
Temple soldiers unleashed wolves, hawks, giant spiders, and ice bears.
Kai dashed forward using Spirit Step.
His spear danced through the battlefield.
Rather than striking fatal blows, he targeted weapons and armour, disarming his opponents.
Behind him, the Crimson Flame Fox weaved through the chaos like a crimson comet, creating walls of fire that separated soldiers from their beasts.
"Remember," Kai shouted.
"They're being manipulated!"
"We don't kill unless we have no choice!"
Selene nodded.
"I understand."
She raised her silver sword.
"Moon Frost Dance!"
The Lunar Frost Wolf howled.
Silver-blue ice spiralled across the battlefield, freezing the feet of the Temple soldiers without harming them.
The advancing army slowed dramatically.
---
Gareth laughed.
"You think mercy wins wars?"
He slammed his hammer into the ground.
BOOM!
A wave of shattered ice erupted toward Kai.
The Frostfang Sabretooth leapt through the frozen mist, claws glowing black.
Kai blocked the first strike with his spear.
The impact threw him backwards.
His arms went numb.
"So strong..."
Ignis frowned.
"That beast has been enhanced by corruption."
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts opened.
Battle Analysis
Enemy:
Frostfang Sabretooth
Weakness:
Extreme heat followed by rapid freezing.
Suggested Combat:
Dual-element attack.
---
Kai looked at Selene.
"You can freeze."
She nodded.
"You can burn."
Kai smiled.
"I think I have an idea."
Selene understood instantly.
"You trust me?"
"Completely."
She smiled back.
"Then don't hesitate."
---
The Book glowed brightly.
New Technique Available
Sovereign Combination Art
Requirements:
- Mutual trust between two Beast Tamers.
- Harmonised beast energy.
Probability of Success:
Unknown.
---
Kai and Selene stood side by side.
The Crimson Flame Fox's flames wrapped around Kai's spear.
The Lunar Frost Wolf surrounded Selene's sword with shimmering frost.
Kai reached out his free hand.
Selene took it.
For a moment...
Gold and silver light intertwined.
The fox and the wolf howled together.
The mountain itself responded.
---
"Combination Technique!"
Kai and Selene shouted together.
"Solar-Lunar Spiral!"
A massive vortex of crimson fire and silver ice burst across the battlefield.
Instead of clashing...
The two elements merged.
The flaming spiral struck the Frostfang Sabretooth.
A heartbeat later, the freezing moonlight followed.
The sudden shift from intense heat to extreme cold shattered the layers of corrupted armour covering the beast.
CRACK!
Black crystals rained onto the snow.
The Sabretooth staggered.
Its crimson eyes slowly returned to their natural icy blue.
It looked at Gareth in confusion.
"No..."
Gareth shouted.
"Obey me!"
The Sabretooth took one slow step backwards.
Then another.
It refused.
---
The Book flashed.
Corruption Cleansed
Frostfang Sabretooth
Status:
Freed.
---
The surrounding Temple soldiers froze in disbelief.
"The Iron Apostle's beast..."
"...rejected him!"
Gareth roared in fury.
"You ungrateful animal!"
He raised his hammer to strike his own companion.
Before the blow could land—
A streak of crimson flame shot between them.
The Crimson Flame Fox stood protectively before the injured Sabretooth.
Its eyes burned with determination.
"No beast will wear chains while we still stand."
The freed Sabretooth slowly lowered its head toward the fox.
Not in submission...
But in gratitude.
Far beneath the Temple of the Moon Wolf, the ancient heartbeat grew louder.
THUMP...
THUMP...
Cracks spread across an enormous seal buried deep beneath the frozen mountain.
An ancient voice echoed through the darkness.
"The Beast Sovereign..."
"...has arrived at last."