Chapter 235 — The Ironhide's Hidden Curse

"Undead bears, advance in formation! Skeletons, spread out and attack from the flanks. Don't let them isolate you. Reform the lines and overwhelm every enemy in your path!"

Evan's commands travelled across the battlefield as he adjusted the formation of his undead army.

The initial chaos had begun to give way to a more organised formation. Undead Terra Bears formed the frontline, using their massive bodies to withstand the living bears' charges, while Skeletons spread along the flanks and attacked wherever their opponents exposed an opening.

The formation was far from perfect. The living Terra Bears still possessed superior strength and Earth Elemental abilities, but Corrupting Touch had changed the cost of every exchange. Even shallow wounds inflicted by Evan's undead carried corruption that steadily consumed their opponents' vitality.

The living bears remained stronger, but every victory was becoming more expensive.

Evan watched the battle with a cold, calculating gaze, raising fallen enemies whenever an opportunity presented itself. His army was losing summons, but the number of living Terra Bears was finally beginning to decrease as well.

That was enough for now.

His real concern remained the enormous creature standing near the cave.

The Ironhide Bear had finally risen from its resting position, yet it had not entered the battle. It watched the conflict with its massive forelimbs planted firmly against the ground, its expression difficult to read beneath the metallic-grey fur and stone fragments covering its body.

Evan had expected the Ironhide Bear to interfere much sooner. Instead, the ruler watched its army fight while its gaze occasionally settled on the corrupted undead.

'Still waiting? What exactly are you looking for?'

The beast had already demonstrated precise control over Earth Elemental energy, and its roar could coordinate more than a hundred Terra Bears into a simultaneous assault. There was no reason to assume those were its only abilities.

Evan had no intention of letting it observe him indefinitely, but neither would he rush into a fight without understanding his opponent.

'Come on. Make your move.'

As though responding to his silent challenge, the Ironhide Bear finally shifted its weight.

Its gaze moved from the battlefield toward the undead army, lingering on the creatures whose claws and weapons carried the black aura of Corrupting Touch.

The beast's expression changed slightly.

Then it began gathering elemental energy.

Evan immediately straightened.

The earth around the cave trembled as dense energy flowed toward the Ironhide Bear. Three boulders began forming above its head, growing larger as the surrounding earth compressed into increasingly dense masses.

Before the boulders finished forming, the shadow beneath the Ironhide Bear stirred.

Evan had been waiting for this opening. The beast's elemental energy was concentrated above its head, and its attention had shifted toward the battlefield.

His lips curved upward.

'There you are.'

The shadow split apart.

Thick, whip-like tendrils burst from the darkness, lashing around the Ironhide Bear's muzzle, forelimbs, and shoulders. Before the beast could react, the tendrils tightened and dragged its enormous body forward.

BOOOOOOM!

The Ironhide Bear crashed face-first into the rocky ground. The impact shook the cave entrance, while the three unfinished boulders crumbled apart above it.

For a brief moment, the ruler of the Southern Region lay pinned against the earth.

He stood several dozen metres away, one hand extended toward the creature. Dark mana gathered around his fingers, flowing through the tendrils as he maintained his hold on the beast.

[Dark Art Mastery]

Through his mastery of darkness, Evan could channel Dark and Shadow Spells with greater flexibility. He had exploited that control to catch the Ironhide Bear off guard—and for one precious instant, it had worked.

'Got you.'

His plan was simple: restrain the beast, close the distance, and attack before it recovered.

The opening had been nearly perfect.

Unfortunately, the Ironhide Bear was no ordinary beast.

The Ironhide Bear planted its forelimbs against the ground. The shadow tendrils tightened, but the beast forced itself upward, cracking the rock beneath its paws.

CRACK!

Its sheer strength tore the restraints apart within seconds.

The Ironhide Bear rose, dust covering its metallic-grey fur. Its furious gaze locked onto Evan, and a wave of killing intent swept across the battlefield.

Evan remained still. He had expected the restraint to fail, but not so quickly. Even so, those few seconds had been enough to prepare his next move.

Evan's shadow stretched across the ground beside him.

Something enormous stirred within it.

A massive figure emerged from the darkness: the One-Eyed Terra Bear, its scarred eye sealed shut and its lone functional eye burning with a deep green flame.

Evan had kept the creature in reserve because its strength and retained Earth Elemental armour made it far more dangerous than an ordinary undead bear. He had planned to save it for a more suitable opponent, but the battle had forced him to change his strategy.

And now, its presence offered him an opportunity.

Evan approached the enormous undead bear and tapped its stomach.

"Throw me toward that bas*ard. Then join the formation and help finish off the remaining Terra Bears. I'll need you later, so return as soon as the battlefield is under control."

The One-Eyed Terra Bear lowered its head in acknowledgement, then seized Evan with surprising care. Its muscles tightened before it hurled him toward the Ironhide Bear.

BOOOOOOOOM!

Evan shot across the battlefield. He twisted in midair and struck the rocky ground a few metres from his target, his boots carving two grooves through the earth as he absorbed the impact.

He rose immediately.

But the Ironhide Bear wasn't looking at him.

Its attention was fixed on the One-Eyed Terra Bear.

As the undead creature turned toward the battlefield, the Ironhide Bear's expression twisted into something Evan hadn't expected.

Recognition—and something far more intense.

The Ironhide Bear's body stiffened, and its claws dug into the ground. A deep growl rolled out of its throat, growing louder until it became a furious roar.

ROOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRR!

The One-Eyed Terra Bear answered with a roar of its own.

It didn't hesitate or retreat. Instead, it turned toward the living Terra Bears and charged into their formation, its earth-covered claws smashing into the nearest enemy.

The surrounding battle shifted around its arrival.

Several living bears were forced backwards as the enormous undead creature tore through their ranks, while the Skeletons exploited the openings it created. The One-Eyed Terra Bear had no intention of wasting time on its apparent old enemy.

It was following Evan's command, and its task was to help destroy the Ironhide Bear's army before returning to the main fight.

The Ironhide Bear, however, seemed to take its presence personally.

Its gaze followed the undead creature as it disappeared into the chaos.

Evan watched the exchange for a moment.

'Well, that's interesting.'

The Ironhide Bear's reaction confirmed Evan's suspicion that the two creatures shared a history. Whether the One-Eyed Terra Bear had once challenged the ruler or belonged to its former group, he couldn't determine.

For now, their history could wait. He had no intention of wasting his opening by standing around and speculating.

He turned toward the Ironhide Bear and activated [Bone Armour]. Bones locked together around his body as Earth Elemental energy reinforced their structure and ice sealed the weaker gaps.

Crimson Edge appeared in his hand, its crimson blade wrapped in Corrupting Touch.

Yet the Ironhide Bear was still glaring toward the battlefield.

'Seriously? I'm standing right in front of you.'

He formed several icicles overhead and flicked his fingers. They shot toward the beast, but the Ironhide Bear swept a forelimb through the air.

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

The icicles shattered against its paw without leaving a meaningful mark.

Its gaze settled on Evan.

The beast's eyes burned with such concentrated fury that the surrounding air seemed to grow heavier.

He raised Crimson Edge.

"Oh, now you notice me."

He activated his lightning enhancement.

Blue-white electricity surged around his legs, and his figure vanished from its original position. In the next instant, he appeared beside the Ironhide Bear's forelimb, Crimson Edge already swinging toward its armoured body.

"Focus on me. I'm not some weak opponent you can ignore."

The blade descended.

Crimson flames surged along its edge, and the corruption wrapped around the weapon twisted violently as it struck the Ironhide Bear's armour.

KRAAAAAANG!

A metallic shriek rang out as Crimson Edge struck the armour.

The flames scattered across the creature's body, but the attack failed to penetrate its outer defence. The earthen armour covering the Ironhide Bear's side broke apart in several places, only for the fragments to fall away and reveal another layer beneath them.

Evan's eyes narrowed.

The damage was real, but limited.

Still, the strike achieved its immediate purpose.

The Ironhide Bear turned its entire body toward him.

At last, Evan had its full attention.

The beast lowered its head, and Earth Elemental energy flowed around its body with a fluidity that made Evan's expression grow serious.

The energy didn't merely reinforce its claws. Dense earth flowed across the Ironhide Bear's body, hardening into armour that shifted with its movements. The chest, shoulders, and forelimbs gained thicker protection, while other sections remained lighter to preserve mobility.

Evan immediately noticed the difference between the Ironhide Bear's armour and the One-Eyed Terra Bear's. The same principle was present, but the ruler's control was far more refined.

'So this is the difference between an elite subordinate and the actual ruler.'

Evan tightened his grip around Crimson Edge.

'And I thought the one-eyed bas*ard was difficult.'

He had nearly died defeating the One-Eyed Terra Bear, even after exploiting vibration sensing, manipulating the environment, and concentrating his flames. Against this ruler, those same tactics might not be enough.

The Ironhide Bear suddenly disappeared.

Evan's eyes widened. For a creature of that size, its acceleration was absurd.

A violent pressure erupted behind him.

His instincts screamed.

Lightning exploded around his legs as he threw himself sideways. A massive claw swept through the space he had occupied a heartbeat earlier.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The ground erupted, leaving a deep trench beneath the Ironhide Bear's strike. Evan landed several metres away, his boots skidding over the broken rock.

He had barely escaped. One delayed reaction would have left him beneath those claws.

Evan glanced toward the battlefield. Corrupting Touch and the One-Eyed Terra Bear were gradually turning the tide, but the living Terra Bears continued to inflict heavy losses.

He couldn't afford to drag out the duel, yet charging blindly against an opponent that fast would be suicidal.

'I need to restrict its mobility first.'

He extended his free hand. Ice mist poured across the rocky terrain, coating the uneven ground in a thin, slippery layer. It wouldn't stop the Ironhide Bear, but even a momentary loss of footing could create an opening.

The beast answered with a roar. Earth Elemental energy surged around its forelimbs, and a volley of stone spikes erupted from the ground toward Evan.

He immediately raised his hand.

[Earth Wall]

The ground surged upward, forming a thick barrier of compacted earth.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The stone spikes slammed into it, blasting chunks from its surface. Cracks spread across the wall, but it held long enough for Evan to draw a breath.

Then he heard the footsteps.

Heavy. Fast. Too close.

'Already?'

The Ironhide Bear had charged straight through the ice mist. Its armoured shoulders ploughed through the remaining stone fragments as it slammed into the wall.

KRAAAAAAASH!

The barrier shattered. The beast's enormous forelimb burst through the collapsing earth, its claws descending toward Evan's head.

He couldn't dodge in time.

A second Earth Wall erupted between them, angled directly into the incoming strike.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The claws smashed into the new barrier. Stone fractured under the impact, but the sudden obstruction disrupted the attack and forced the beast to shift its weight.

Evan seized the opening.

Lightning flashed around his legs as he retreated, putting several metres between himself and the beast before the remaining earth collapsed.

He landed on the icy ground, breathing hard.

The trick had worked.

Barely.

The Ironhide Bear lifted its head, fury radiating from its armoured body. Earth Elemental energy surged around its shoulders, thickening the protective layers.

Evan's expression tightened. He had barely escaped the last attack without inflicting meaningful damage.

Then something caught his attention.

A faint red light pulsed through the cracks in the stone covering the beast's chest.

Evan stared.

The light pulsed again.

Thin crimson lines ran beneath the armour, resembling veins embedded in the Ironhide Bear's flesh. They weren't natural markings; they looked as though something foreign had become part of the creature.

A line from Evan's mission resurfaced in his mind.

Discover the curse mystery behind the forest.

Until now, he hadn't found a concrete clue. But these markings—and the abnormal strength and speed he had just witnessed—could be connected.

'Could this be the curse?'

The Ironhide Bear roared again, and the pressure swept across the battlefield. Its eyes had taken on a feral red glow, while the crimson markings beneath its armour pulsed brighter.

The composed ruler that had watched its army fight was gone. The creature before Evan now radiated barely restrained aggression, as though something beneath its armour was pushing it beyond its natural limits.

Evan tightened his grip around Crimson Edge. Corrupting Touch writhed along the blade, but he couldn't assume it would overcome armour this dense. And if the crimson markings were responsible for the beast's abnormal strength, its explosive speed might only be the beginning.

'Whatever that thing is, it can't be good.'

The Ironhide Bear's forelimbs sank into the earth. Its muscles tightened beneath the armour, and the crimson markings flashed once more.

Evan reinforced his Bone Armour with another layer of earth and ice, bracing himself for the next assault.

He still didn't know what the curse did—or whether the markings concealed a weakness or signalled something far worse.

But one thing was clear.

The Ironhide Bear was already more dangerous than he had expected.

And its power was still rising.