Chapter 100: The Second Wave II

Chapter 100: Chapter 100: The Second Wave II

The second wave hit both wings of the Winterbourne mansion.

The number of beasts wasn’t naturally larger.

That wasn’t the problem.

Their ranks had increased.

There were far more C rank beasts among them now.

The Winterbourne elemental users immediately understood the difference.

"Don’t let the C ranks reach the formation!"

"Group Three, move left!"

"Keep the D ranks away from the elders!"

The battlefield became chaotic.

A massive Ice Bear charged forward.

A spear of Ice struck its chest.

Bang!

The beast staggered but didn’t fall.

Another elemental user attacked from behind.

The Ice Bear turned.

Before it could react, an elder appeared beside it.

"Frozen Execution."

A blade of Ice flashed.

The beast’s head fell.

The elder didn’t even stop.

Another C rank beast was already coming.

He raised his hand.

"Ice Prison."

Ice pillars erupted from the ground.

The beast was trapped between them.

Crack!

The pillars closed.

The C rank beast was crushed.

Around him, other elders were doing the same.

Some fought one beast.

Others fought two at once.

The difference in strength between them and the younger elemental users was obvious.

But even they had to take the battle seriously.

There were simply too many C ranks.

Then Cornelius entered the battlefield again.

The moment he appeared, several elemental users instinctively made space for him.

Cornelius looked ahead.

Three C rank Ice Beasts were charging together.

He raised his hand.

"Ice Domain."

The ground froze.

The beasts slowed.

Cornelius stepped forward.

"Ice Lance."

Three enormous Ice lances shot from the ground.

Boom!

The first beast was pierced through the chest.

The second tried to dodge.

A second lance changed direction and struck its leg.

It fell.

Cornelius moved once.

His sword flashed.

The beast’s head rolled across the frozen ground.

The third beast roared and attacked him from behind.

Cornelius didn’t even turn around.

"Frozen Coffin."

Ice covered the beast instantly.

Crack!

The frozen body shattered.

Several younger elemental users stared.

"He’s treating C ranks like D ranks..."

"That’s the family head for you."

"Stop watching and fight!"

The shout snapped them back to reality.

They raised their weapons again.

There was no time to admire him as the second wave kept coming.

Caelia was no different.

She stood at the front of her wing, Snow beside her.

A C rank Ice Wolf lunged.

Caelia stepped sideways.

Its claws passed beside her.

She struck its neck.

"Frost Edge."

A sharp blade of Ice formed along her sword.

Slash!

The wolf’s neck opened.

Before it fell, another beast attacked.

Snow moved.

The Frost Lynx vanished from Caelia’s side and appeared behind the beast.

Its claws struck the beast’s back.

The creature stumbled.

Caelia didn’t waste the opening.

"Ice Spear."

A spear of Ice shot through its chest.

The beast collapsed.

Caelia immediately turned.

"Three more coming!"

Snow growled.

Caelia nodded.

"I see them."

She moved forward.

"Winter Bind!"

Ice spread across the battlefield.

The first C rank beast was caught.

Snow attacked the second.

Caelia blocked the third.

Clang!

Its claws collided with her weapon.

The impact pushed her several steps back.

Her arms went numb.

She gritted her teeth.

Then she smiled slightly.

"You’re stronger than the last ones."

The beast roared.

Caelia’s Ice Aether surged.

"That’s fine."

She stepped forward.

"Frostfall."

Ice exploded beneath the beast.

Its legs were frozen.

Snow attacked from the side.

The beast’s balance broke.

Caelia finished it with a single strike.

Another C rank fell.

The elemental users around her couldn’t help but stare.

This was why Caelia was considered the Winterbourne family’s greatest genius.

Her strength wasn’t the only thing that stood out.

It was her control.

Her timing.

Her ability to fight alongside Snow without either of them getting in each other’s way.

Snow would create an opening.

Caelia would finish the beast.

Caelia would restrict another.

Snow would attack the exposed position.

They moved almost like they had been fighting together for years.

"Lady Caelia!"

"Keep the left side covered!"

"I’ll handle it!"

She immediately answered.

"Don’t chase them. Stay inside the formation!"

The elemental users listened.

The system remained tight.

Nobody was allowed to fight alone unless they were strong enough.

The C rank beasts were separated and surrounded.

The stronger elders dealt with them while the rest supported them.

Some landed the final attacks.

Others kept the beasts occupied.

It wasn’t as easy as the first wave.

But they were prepared.

And they had rested.

Their morale remained high.

"Come on!"

"Keep pushing!"

"We handled the first wave!"

"We can handle this one too!"

The Winterbourne elemental users fought with renewed confidence.

They had already proven that they could survive without Damon.

Now they wanted to prove that they could survive the second wave as well.

But the longer the battle continued, the harder that became.

The second wave refused to end.

One C rank beast fell.

Another appeared.

Then another.

The elemental users began noticing the problem.

Their rotations were becoming shorter.

A group would retreat to recover.

But before they could fully restore their Aether, they were needed again.

"I only recovered half..."

"So did I."

"Doesn’t matter. We’re going back."

An injured elemental user tightened the bandage around his arm.

"Can you fight?"

"I can still move."

"Then move."

They returned to the battlefield.

The injuries were becoming more noticeable.

Cuts appeared across armor.

Some weapons had begun cracking.

Several elemental users had blood running down their arms.

The healers and supports were working constantly.

But they couldn’t keep everyone fully recovered.

There were too many people.

Too many beasts.

And not enough time.

Caelia noticed it.

Her eyes moved across the battlefield.

The rotations were becoming less effective.

The recovery time was shrinking.

The number of exhausted fighters was increasing.

Still, she kept giving orders.

"Group Four, fall back."

"Group Six, take their position."

"Elder Rowan, the eastern side needs help."

"Send two healers there."

Every decision mattered.

Every mistake could cost someone their life.

Caelia kept fighting while commanding the battlefield.