Chapter 163: Encountering the Beast Swarm

Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Encountering the Beast Swarm

Damon looked around at the fallen beasts, then turned toward Shiro.

"That was impressive."

Shiro raised his head, looking rather pleased with himself.

Damon walked closer, examining the remaining ice mirrors.

"They’re incredibly condensed. You can use them to redirect attacks, hide your position, and even create false targets. With enough control, you could turn an entire battlefield into a maze."

He looked at Shiro with genuine excitement.

"And you didn’t tell me about this?"

Shiro tilted his head.

Damon laughed.

"Keeping secrets from me now? That’s not very nice."

Caelia chuckled as she approached.

"Perhaps he wanted to surprise you."

"Well, he certainly did."

Damon studied the mirrors again.

"You’re not using them to their full potential yet, but that’s fine. We’ll work on that. Imagine combining these with Frostbound Sanctuary. You could restrict your enemies with ice while using the mirrors to control where they can attack."

Shiro’s tail moved slightly, showing his enthusiasm.

Damon grinned.

"Good. We’ll practice it properly once we have some time."

He turned toward the others.

"Everyone did well. But we still have a long way to go, so don’t get too comfortable."

Freya gave a playful cry, while Sylphie circled overhead.

Even Caelia looked excited.

The battles had pushed all of them to improve, and the difference was becoming increasingly obvious.

Snow had gained valuable experience against Wind and Lightning Elemental beasts. She was learning how to avoid attacks that could exploit her weaknesses, and her coordination with Shiro had improved.

Shiro had also become more confident in using his Arts together. Frostbound Sanctuary was no longer just a defensive technique for him. Combined with Frost Chains and Ice Mirror, it had become a powerful tool for controlling the battlefield.

Caelia had improved as well.

Her ability to read enemy movements and coordinate with the spirits was growing, and she was beginning to develop more creative ways to use her Ice Arts.

Damon was pleased with the progress.

He had always believed that growth wasn’t just about increasing strength. Understanding abilities, improving control, and finding better ways to combine Arts were just as important.

And now that they had gained more experience, he intended to push them even further.

They resumed their journey, taking advantage of Sylphie’s scouting to avoid unnecessary battles. Whenever they encountered a group that blocked their path, Damon coordinated their response, and the others handled the fight with growing confidence.

As they moved closer to the outside, however, the situation became increasingly grim.

The remains of abandoned camps appeared more frequently. Broken weapons and shattered Aether crystals littered the ground, while signs of violent battles could be seen across the landscape.

They even found the remains of several elemental users near a collapsed ridge.

Caelia slowed down as she looked at them.

The group had clearly been overwhelmed while trying to escape. Their equipment was scattered across the rocks, and deep claw marks covered the nearby ground.

Damon’s expression grew serious.

"The beasts are pushing toward the outside in large numbers."

Caelia nodded.

"And the closer we get, the stronger they seem to become."

"Which means we’re approaching the main route they’re using."

Damon looked toward the storm ahead.

He could sense the growing concentration of unstable Aether, and even Sylphie had become more cautious with her scouting.

They continued forward, but soon the group encountered something far worse than anything they had faced so far.

A massive swarm of beasts filled the path ahead.

There were too many to count at a glance. Different species moved together in a chaotic mass, their roars and cries blending with the thunder overhead. Some were B-rank, while others carried the much heavier presence of A-rank beasts.

They were stronger than the creatures they had encountered earlier, and their movements were far more violent.

Several beasts were already fighting among themselves, but most were moving in the same direction.

Toward the outside.

Damon stopped.

The sheer number of beasts made it impossible to slip past them, and the surrounding terrain offered no safe route around the swarm.

Sylphie flew closer, her expression unusually serious.

Freya’s silver lightning began to crackle more intensely, while Shiro and Snow moved into defensive positions.

Caelia stared at the enormous gathering.

"...That’s a lot of beasts."

Damon nodded.

"More than we can avoid."

He looked at the swarm, studying its movements and the unstable Aether gathering around it.

The earlier battles had been useful training, but this was different.

These beasts were moving with a level of aggression that suggested they had been driven into a frenzy. If they continued toward the outside, the frontline would be forced to deal with an enormous wave of attackers.

Damon tightened his grip.

"Looks like we’ll have to clear a path."

Caelia stepped beside him, her Ice Elemental Aether gathering around her hands.

"Then let’s do it together."

Damon smiled.

"Stay close. This time, we’ll need everything we’ve got."

Ahead, the beasts began to turn toward them.

Their roars shook the ground as the swarm surged forward.

Damon’s eyes narrowed.

The battle was about to begin as the swarm of beasts surged toward them, shaking the ground with every step.

Damon’s expression turned serious as he studied the enormous tide. There were far too many to count, and the number of A-rank beasts mixed among them made the situation even worse.

This was no longer a chance to train or test their abilities. This was the reality of Tempest Hollow.

Beyond the swarm, distant explosions and roars echoed through the storm. The sounds of battle were growing louder, and occasional flashes of elemental energy lit up the horizon.

The human frontline was already fighting.

Damon could make out several figures in the distance, struggling to hold back the incoming beasts. Their formation was stretched thin, and even from here, it was clear they were having trouble containing the tide.

They wouldn’t last much longer at this rate.

’So this is how bad things have become.’

Damon narrowed his eyes.