"Anna, Ice Wall!" Gunnar order.

Anna raises her glowing staff at the incoming horde. She takes a single breath as her mana discharges from her body. The temperature drops rapidly, air cooling by dozens of degrees. With a grunt, she slams the but of her staff down. Her mana reacts, swarming forward and down into the icy floor. Not a second later, a wall of thick ice rises from below, blocking the passageway.

The wyverns arrive violently, their bodies slam into the wall, creating numerous cracks to form. They recover quickly from their violent impact and immediately start trying to burrow through the ice. More and more cracks form as they do, and just as it seems like the wall will fail, the massive bear arrives. A paw slams into a wyvern, cracking scales, flesh, and bones. The wyverns react like cornered beasts, turning from the wall and attacking the bear.

Claws and teeth strike upon the bear accompanied by the wyverns icy breath. But the Blizzard bear is unfazed. Their fur is resistant to piercing and cold, while their fat is thick enough to absorb impacts. With a larger size and thicker muscles, the bear rips and tears at the wyverns with teeth and claw.

"Be ready to fight. Once the wyverns are thinned, it's our turn." Gunnar warns. The man has a crazed and ready smile.

"Couldn't we run?" Quasi asks, somehow being the reasonable one. "We've got it distracted and we have a wall of ice."

"That ones big and old. It's got scars. I'd bet my axes it's got a core." Gunnar says. "If you're scared, then just stay out of the way. I'll handle this on my own."

"I vhil join you, comrade." Boriss steps ahead of the wolf to join Gunnar with his greatsword raised.

The rest of the crew look to Quasi for guidance. The cat glances at Boriss and pouts. He then takes a good hard look at the bear.

It's big, it's dangerous, and a single swipe of its paw is enough to kill most of my crew. Boriss might survive on account of his armor if he is hit, as can Nepenthes. Auranta has plenty of range too, while Yuto has arguably the best striking power of the group. Everyone else would most likely be a liability.

"Boriss and Nepenthes will support Gunnar. Auranta will support with range. Yuto, I need you in position to use your skill the moment an opportunity presents itself. Everyone else is to stay back."

Orders made, the group silently watches the end of the fight as the last wyvern dies.

"Anna!" Gunnar yells.

The [Mage] taps her staff again, lowering the wall. Before the wall fully lowers, an axe strikes the arm of the bear, followed by Gunnar teleporting to it and slashing with his other. The bear reacts, moving to rip him off, but Gunnar throws his axe on the ceiling and teleports again, repositioning out of the way. The bear rises to its full ten meters in height and swipes, but Gunnar dodges again.

At the same time, Boriss tries to rip into the beast's tendon, but finds it difficult on account of the thickness of skin, fat, and muscle. Regardless, he does cut into the flesh and that gets the bear's attention.

It turns to the Russian, raises a leg, and right before it stomps, a blast of wind slams into its chest. The bear loses its balance and falls back. A moment before it falls, a garden of ice spikes manifest on the ground. Most spikes shatter on the bears fur, but some penetrate deep into the flesh, enraging the beast further.

The beast rapidly gets up, only to meet another axe, this one aimed at its throat. It strikes true, but not deep enough. At the same moment, Boriss once again slices into the same tendon, going even deeper.

As the bear shifts to attack, Nepenthes hangs from the veiling. She drops down on its head and immediately sprays the beast's eyes with a powerful acid before hopping away. Enraged and blind, the bear swings blindly, its claws raking into the walls of ice that surround it. Gunnar once again attempts to cut into its neck, but his axes lack the length and sharpness to get deep enough. Even the runes of cold have little effect on a beast nearly immune to it.

That's when Boriss's third slice reaches deep enough to sever the tendon. The bear goes down, landing once again on a bed of spikes.

That's when Yuto finally moves. He reaches the monster's neck and raises his Odachi.

"Severing Vortex!"

His blade comes down once, then a dozen more times on the bear's neck. With length, runes, and skill, he severs through Skin, fat, muscles, veins, and finally bone.

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Gunnar hangs from the wall using his axe, watching the killing blow. He'd hoped to end the bear himself, but it's clear his axes have weaknesses against such a larger prey. He's sure that with time, he could whittle the bear down.

Throwing his axe, he teleports next to the body at the same moment that the rest of the crew arrive.

"Well done on the kill," Quasi compliments. "I was ready to intervene in case things got dicey, but you guys didn't need my help at all."

Gunnar raises his eyebrow at the cat, unsure how to treat such words of a tiny kitten whose level is at the lower end of an advanced class.

Then again, So is Boriss and Nepenthes, both of whom did a commendable job. The cat may actually be more capable than he's led to believe. After all, he's yet to take to the field.

"We're not out of danger yet. This much noise is going to attract more bears and wyverns, maybe even a worm. Anna, can you sense where the core is?" Gunnar asks.

His compatriot leans on her staff, clearly exhausted by the ordeal. Creating an Ice-wall large enough to block the pass while also fighting the bear is a significant drain on her mana.

Anna turns her head to Auranta. "I'd like to conserve what little mana I have."

Auranta nods. "Of course."

Auranta walks to the corpse and lays her hand on it. She sends her mana like a pulse.

"It's deep in the center, just above the stomach."

Gunnar grimaces in annoyance at the location. He readies his axes to start cutting, but Quasi has different plans.

"Nepenthes, get inside and grab the core." The cat orders.

The Phytonid, a [Druid] who clearly specializes in using Mutation on herself, steps towards the neck. With four serrated organic blades, she rips and tears with precision, entering and burrowing inside. Half a minute later, the Phytonid returns with a blue crystal and not the purple one he'd presumed.

"Too soon," Gunnar murmurs. Considering how strong the bear was, a couple years would all but turn that crystal purple.

"Keep it," The [Frost Lord] says.

"You sure?" Quasi asks. "I'm fine with spreading the profits."

The man shakes his head. "I did little but distract it. Your crew did most of the work." He waves toward where the bear came from. "Now let's move before a worm shows up."

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Leaning on the wall, [Paladin] Breaven watches with arms folded as the [Pilgrims] kneel in worship to the sounds of the [Head Priests] sermons. It is a familiar sight, but also an odd one on account of rumors proven true.

Opposite the cavern of ice rests ten [Mercenaries] with most classes all in the Advanced tier and a single one in the expert. These [Mercenaries] are part of a larger group of twenty- all missing now because they'd passed the barrier and entered the tower.

"Why do you think they refuse to speak to us?" His [Paladin] brother, Grendal, asks. "Do you think they're hiding something?"

"Possibly, though what information we have is very sparse." Breaven replies. "All we have are rumors about people entering towers and the recent words from [Bishop] James."

Grendel snorts. "People entering the tower is one thing, but having a talking cat as the great ones apostle seems a bit too crazy."

Breaven can't help but agree. Entering the tower is one thing, but a talking cat is another. "Regardless, many of the Ecclesiasticus is hanging to his every word on account of his flock witnessing a talking cat."

"That entered the tower and can transform." Grendel adds cheekily. "I bet it was a powerful mage using an illusion spell. "

"Or a Sovereign." Breaven adds thoughtfully. "Honestly, it probably doesn't matter. I doubt a talking cat with the ability to transform and enter the tower is ever going to show up again."

"Holy crap! Gunnar, why is it so warm? I'm cooking inside with all this fur! Someone, rub some snow or ice into me!"

A voice echoes from the entrance. All heads turn in curiosity, with even the sermons halting.

"Wait, nevermind. I'm adapting. All is good now."

From the entrance arrives a small group, led by a broad-shouldered native with frosting axes. Behind him is an assortment of combatants, mages, a monstrous Phytonid, and frost wolf of all things. On the wolf's head is a fluffy cat peering curiously at all those present.

"Gunnar!" The guide Breaven had hired yells happily beside him. "Are you actually working for once?" the man teases.

Gunnar grins at the jest. "Leif, I was testing out my new axes and I thought an audience would be welcome."

The two men walk up to each other and grasp wrists. "Good. I wouldn't want the [Frost Lord] getting responsible now." Leif says.

Gunnar rolls his eyes, but grinning just the same. "Of course not. I wouldn't want the [Guard] getting outclassed. That would be bad for morale."

While the two bicker like old friends, Breaven focuses more on the arriving group. Mostly, his eyes focus on the Phytonid. Generally, their kind struggles heavily when dealing with cold environments so their presence is quite unique. Unfortunately, his curiosity shifts to something even more interesting.

"Gunnar, bro-bond later. I have many questions that need answering."

"Great one's shit!" Grendel curses. "He exists."

Breaven stares, wide-eyed as Gunnar turns to the source of the voice.

"Later." Gunnar answers. "After we set up camp."

Before the cat can say anything more, the murmurs from the pilgrims begin.

"The apostle is here!"

"He's here."

"Has he come to punish the transgressors?"

"The great one sends a messenger!"

Breaven watches as the flock rushes to the cat, the [Head priest] in tow. The wolf growls at the approaching pilgrims stopping them from approaching further.

"Mishka!" The cat yells and slaps the wolf on the head and immediately subdues it. "Don't growl. It's not nice."

Seeing this, the Pilgrims approach closer, stopping meters away. Each and every single one of them kneels, including the [Head Priest]. "Apostle, we welcome your arrival. If there is anything you desire, merely ask."

The cat groans. "Damn it James. I told you not to worship me!"

"Do not worry, apostle." The [Head Priest] raises his head. "[Bishop] James has spoken of your desire for anonymity. As loyal followers of the great one, we will strive to keep information regarding you hidden from those outside the church."

"That's not what I- ughhh. You know what, do as you like. Return to your worship. I have to bother Gunnar for a bit."

The [Head priest] lowers his head. "Of course, apostle." He stands and leads the pilgrims back to worship with the biggest smile on his face.

The sermons continue, this time with far more confidence and spirit.

All while two paladins stare on, confused, slack-jawed, and unsure how to react.

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