Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey

Chapter 247: Hunt [4]

-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.

Thwack, Thwack, Thwack, Thwack—!!!

"Gawd!!"

Against my relentless barrage of lightning-fast punches, the bear could only let out a pained groan.

However, even though my attack managed to hurt the mana beast, it was clear that this alone wouldn't be enough to kill it.

Just as I was about to change my strategy and use a different approach to kill it, a sudden movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention.

A second Frostclaw Bear had appeared beside me.

Reacting swiftly, I dodged the incoming swipe of the second Frostclaw Bear's claw, narrowly avoiding being caught in its deadly grasp.

"Haa!" I retaliated with a quick, spinning kick to the second bear's side, creating some distance between us. The alpha Frostclaw Bear was still recovering from my previous assault, providing a brief window to deal with the new threat.

With two formidable foes closing in, I assessed the situation. My mana reserves were depleting rapidly, and the prolonged battle had taken its toll on my stamina. The Mana Coating enhanced abilities offered a temporary advantage, but I needed a more strategic approach to overcome these powerful mana beasts.

But there is no time for that.

Sliding across the snow, I hurdle back of Frostclaw bear while at the same time, evading one of his claws by inches.

Without any delay, I jumped and clasped the bear's neck from behind using a single hand, locking it in a one-handed neck lock.

From what I know, the weak point of the Frostclaw bear is the neck, the neck muscles of the Frostclaw bear are very soft spot. That's why they try to not let any attack hit there.

Using my full strength I started to choke the Frostclaw bear...

As I applied pressure to the Frostclaw Bear's neck, its growls turned into distressed roars. The second bear, momentarily distracted by our struggle, hesitated before lunging towards us.

Feeling the imminent threat, I intensified my grip on the first bear's neck, leveraging my mana-enhanced strength. The struggle between us continued my focus on maintaining the chokehold while dodging the swipes of the second Frostclaw Bear.

The frosty breath of the bears created a chilling atmosphere, and the snow-covered landscape bore witness to our intense clash. Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I sought to exploit the weakness in the mana beast's anatomy.

With calculated precision, I shifted my weight, causing the Frostclaw Bear to lose balance. Seizing the opportunity, I released my grip on its neck and swiftly manoeuvred to evade the incoming attack of the second bear.

With the agility granted by Mana Coating, I slid beneath the second bear's swipe and positioned myself strategically. As it recovered from its missed strike, I unleashed a barrage of kicks and punches at its vulnerable spots, targeting areas where its mana defences were weaker.

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.