Chapter 188: Another Ambush

Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Another Ambush

A rumble came from the distance.

Caelia turned.

Another group of beasts was approaching.

This time, there were even more.

Lightning Wolves.

Windrazor Hawks.

A few larger Thunderhorn Beasts moved among them.

Caelia’s eyes lit up as soon as she saw them. And Damon noticed immediately.

"You’re happy about this?"

"The last group wasn’t enough."

Snow lowered herself.

Caelia raised her weapon.

"Let them come."

Damon shook his head with a smile.

"Fine. Just finish quickly. We still have a long way to go."

Caelia’s eyes narrowed.

"Then I’ll finish faster."

The beasts charged. While Caelia moved herself.

"Ice Field!"

The ground froze.

Snow rushed forward, and Caelia followed close behind.

Snow tore through the first line while Caelia created ice walls that redirected the beasts into tighter groups.

"Ice Spear!"

The spears flew.

But a Thunderhorn Beast charged through them. Caelia stepped aside quickly, while Snow attacked from behind.

The beast stumbled and Caelia finished it with a concentrated blast of ice.

"That one was mine."

Snow looked at her, making Caelia laugh.

"Sorry."

The fight continued.

This time, the difference was even clearer.

Caelia wasn’t struggling.

She was enjoying herself.

Her movements were faster, her attacks were stronger, and her control had become much more flexible.

Snow was the same.

The Frost Lynx moved like a completely different beast compared to the one Damon had seen the previous day.

They worked together without getting in each other’s way.

Caelia slowed the enemies. And Snow broke through them.

Whenever Snow left a weakened beast behind, Caelia finished it.

Whenever Caelia trapped one, Snow was already moving toward it.

The final Thunderhorn Beast collapsed after Snow struck its legs and Caelia followed with an Ice Spear through its exposed side.

Silence returned.

Caelia breathed out.

"That was better."

Damon nodded.

"Much better."

"You’ve both improved a lot."

Snow raised her head proudly, while Caelia grinned in response.

"Good."

Damon laughed.

"Alright, enough celebrating. Let’s move."

They continued.

The same pattern repeated over the following days.

They moved deeper into Tempest Hollow.

Freya and Sylphie scouted ahead while Damon followed their direction.

Whenever beasts appeared, they fought.

At first, Caelia and Snow handled most of them.

Shiro only joined when they needed to clear a large group quickly or when a stronger beast appeared.

Damon mostly watched.

He gave instructions when necessary, but he didn’t interfere with every fight.

That was important.

Caelia needed to learn how to use her new strength herself.

Snow needed the same.

And with every battle, they became faster.

Their teamwork improved.

Their attacks became cleaner.

They stopped wasting Aether on unnecessary movements.

Even Caelia began creating combinations Damon hadn’t seen from her before.

Sometimes she froze the ground and let Snow use the slippery surface to increase her speed.

Other times she created ice walls that forced beasts into Snow’s path.

Snow also began using her body more aggressively, taking advantage of her stronger muscles and sharper claws.

The fights that once required effort gradually became simple exercises.

Then they would stop and rest.

After that, they moved again.

Day after day.

Fight after fight.

The Floating Ruin slowly grew closer.

And so did the possibility that they were finally approaching the Zone Heart.

During another short rest, Caelia looked toward the distant ruins.

"We’re getting close."

Damon nodded.

"Yeah."

Snow rested beside her.

Freya sat nearby, while Sylphie floated above them.

Caelia smiled.

"Maybe we actually guessed correctly."

Damon looked toward the Floating Ruin.

"Wouldn’t be the first time."

"You sound very confident."

"I usually am."

Caelia laughed.

"That confidence is going to get you into trouble someday."

"Then I’ll deal with it when it happens."

She shook her head.

"You’re impossible."

Damon was about to reply when he stopped.

His expression changed.

Freya’s nine tails suddenly stiffened.

Sylphie also stopped moving.

Damon felt it through their bond.

Something was wrong.

Caelia noticed immediately.

"What is it?"

Damon raised one hand.

"Quiet."

Snow stood up.

Her ears turned toward the surrounding ruins.

There was no obvious movement.

No beast cries.

No heavy footsteps.

Nothing.

And that was exactly what worried Damon.

His eyes scanned the area before he called out soon.

"Shiro."

The Frost Qilin moved instantly.

A thick wall of ice rose around them.

The next moment...

Boom!

A heavy attack struck the wall.

The entire structure shook.

Caelia stepped closer to Snow.

Another attack hit.

Boom!

Cracks spread across the outside of the ice.

But the wall held.

Damon’s eyes narrowed.

Shiro had reinforced it well.

Much better than before.

His recent evolution had improved both his Aether control and his ability to reinforce his Arts. Damon could feel how stable the ice remained despite the force hitting it.

"Good."

He kept his eyes on the wall.

Another impact came.

Boom!

More cracks appeared.

But they remained on the outer layer.

Shiro’s ice was still holding.

Caelia tightened her grip.

"Are they beasts?"

Damon didn’t answer immediately.

Freya had already sent a message through their bond.

Sylphie had also sensed something from above as well.

Damon finally spoke.

"No."

Caelia’s expression became serious.

Damon looked around the ice wall.

The attacks weren’t random.

And the attackers had chosen their moment carefully.

His gaze hardened.

"Another ambush."

Caelia’s eyes narrowed.

"But..."

Damon nodded.

"Yeah, could be the same desperate group."

The next attack soon struck the ice.

The wall shook again.

Damon remained calm behind it.

But his mind was already working.

Someone had followed them.

Someone had waited until they were deep inside Tempest Hollow.

And judging from the strength of the attacks...

They hadn’t come here to talk.

Damon looked toward the cracks spreading across the ice.

"Looks like we’re finally getting closer to something."

Caelia glanced at him.

"How can you still joke at a time like this?"

Damon smiled faintly.

"Because panicking won’t make the barrier stronger."

Another impact shook the wall.

His smile disappeared.

"But whoever is outside..."

Damon’s eyes became cold.

"...they picked the wrong group to ambush."