Chapter 237 — The Target of Fury

Evan's attention shifted toward the faint roars coming from the battlefield as he managed to put some distance between himself and the Ironhide Bear.

What he saw made him pause.

The number of living Terra Bears had fallen far more dramatically than he had expected. Only around thirty remained, and most of them were already exhausted or severely wounded. Several lay motionless beneath the feet of Evan's undead army, while others struggled to defend themselves against the relentless attacks surrounding them.

For a moment, Evan couldn't quite understand how the battle had turned so decisively.

Then he spotted the One-Eyed Terra Bear.

The undead beast stood amid the chaos, its massive body drenched in blood. Deep wounds covered its torso and limbs, and several gashes ran across its shoulders, making it look as though it had endured the combined attacks of an entire pack.

In a sense, it had.

Since rejoining the battle, the One-Eyed Terra Bear had killed more than fifty living Terra Bears, fighting alongside Evan's other undead summons. Its overwhelming strength had allowed it to break through enemy formations that would have taken the Skeleton Warriors considerably longer to overcome.

Every bear it brought down weakened the living army's resistance, allowing Evan's other summons to push deeper into the enemy formation.

Even battered and bloodied, the One-Eyed Terra Bear had become the spearhead of his assault.

Evan's lips curved into a faint grin beneath his armour.

'You've certainly been busy.'

The One-Eyed Terra Bear had exceeded his expectations. Even with its body battered and its movements becoming heavier, it continued advancing toward the remaining enemies, its earth-covered claws smashing into any Terra Bear unfortunate enough to cross its path.

Evan raised his hand.

[Necro Heal]

Necrotic energy swept toward the undead beast.

The wounds across its body began closing. Torn flesh stitched itself together, and damaged muscles recovered beneath its fur. The One-Eyed Terra Bear's movements grew steadier as the healing took effect.

It barely paused to acknowledge the restoration.

Instead, it marched forward again, preparing to finish off the enemies in front of it.

Evan watched it for a moment before shifting his attention back to the Ironhide Bear.

The ruler of the Southern Region had heard the weakening growls and desperate roars coming from its remaining subordinates. Its gaze moved across the battlefield, taking in the fallen bodies and the undead creatures advancing through the remnants of its army.

Only a handful of Terra Bears remained.

Most were too injured to offer meaningful resistance, and the undead had already cornered several of them. Their defeat was no longer a question of whether it would happen, but how long they could continue fighting.

Then the Ironhide Bear noticed the One-Eyed Terra Bear.

Its movements stopped.

The crimson glow beneath its chest armour pulsed, and a deep growl rumbled from its throat.

The One-Eyed Terra Bear was leading the final assault, striking down the weakened bears that could no longer withstand its strength. It showed no hesitation, nor did it appear to recognise the attention suddenly directed toward it.

But the Ironhide Bear's reaction was different.

Its enormous body stiffened, and the earth beneath its paws cracked.

Something had stirred within the ruler of the Southern Region.

Evan's eyes narrowed.

'Not again. What is it this time?'

Before he could work out what the beast intended, the Ironhide Bear moved.

It leapt.

The sudden burst of speed caught Evan off guard. The enormous creature crossed the battlefield in a single explosive movement, its body casting a massive shadow over the ground below.

Evan immediately prepared to evade.

But the Ironhide Bear wasn't coming for him.

Its trajectory led straight toward the One-Eyed Terra Bear.

Evan's eyes widened.

"Everyone, retreat!"

His command swept across the battlefield. The undead closest to the landing point immediately scattered, while Evan himself sprang forward, lightning gathering around his legs as he attempted to close the distance.

He was too late.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The Ironhide Bear crashed onto the battlefield.

The impact shook the surrounding ground, throwing loose stones into the air and forcing nearby undead to stumble backwards. A cloud of dust rose around its enormous body, briefly obscuring the point where it had landed.

Evan's heart tightened.

Evan had assumed the Ironhide Bear was rushing to protect its remaining subordinates.

He was wrong.

As the dust settled, he spotted a crushed Terra Bear beneath the ruler's massive body. The creature had already been gravely wounded, but the impact had finished it instantly.

The Ironhide Bear didn't even glance at the corpse.

Its bloodshot eyes remained fixed on the One-Eyed Terra Bear.

Evan's expression tightened.

Whatever drove the beast, protecting its remaining subordinates clearly wasn't its priority anymore.

Evan landed nearby, his gaze fixed on the Ironhide Bear.

The One-Eyed Terra Bear had stopped moving. Its lone green-flamed eye remained fixed on the ruler, while its blood-covered body stood perfectly still.

There was no fear in its posture.

No visible hesitation.

Only silence.

The Ironhide Bear released a low, rumbling growl, its head lowering as though it were trying to communicate something to the creature before it.

The One-Eyed Terra Bear offered no response.

It didn't even shift its stance.

The Ironhide Bear's growl grew louder.

Still, the undead beast remained motionless.

Evan watched the exchange, his expression turning thoughtful.

'What the hell is going on between you two?'

Evan's gaze shifted between the two bears.

The Ironhide Bear had abandoned its defensive position and crossed the battlefield at terrifying speed, ignoring everything in its path to reach the One-Eyed Terra Bear.

Why?

Recognition? Hatred? Or something else entirely?

Whatever the reason, its reaction was far too intense to be ordinary territorial aggression.

And Evan had a feeling that the answer wouldn't be pleasant.

The Ironhide Bear's growl suddenly became a roar.

ROOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRR!

Its forelimbs struck the ground, and a violent surge of Earth Elemental energy spread across the battlefield.

Then it lunged at the One-Eyed Terra Bear.

Evan reacted immediately.

[Bone Cage]

Bones erupted from the ground around the Ironhide Bear, forming thick bars intended to trap its limbs and restrict its movement. More bone structures rose in its path, attempting to intercept the charge before it could reach the undead beast.

The Ironhide Bear barely slowed down.

Its claws smashed through the first cage, scattering bones across the ground. The second structure collapsed beneath its weight, and the remaining restraints broke apart as the beast forced its way through them.

Evan's expression tightened.

He tried to form another barrier, but the Ironhide Bear had already reached its target.

The two enormous creatures collided.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

Their bodies crashed together with enough force to shake the ground beneath them. The One-Eyed Terra Bear was driven backwards, its claws digging deep furrows into the earth as it struggled to withstand the impact.

The Ironhide Bear was substantially larger, standing nearly one and a half times the size of its undead counterpart. Its broader frame and heavier limbs gave it a decisive advantage in direct physical combat.

It seized that advantage immediately.

The ruler slammed its forelimbs into the One-Eyed Terra Bear's body, forcing it down before bringing its claws crashing across the undead creature's chest.

Stone fragments and torn flesh scattered.

The One-Eyed Terra Bear roared as the blow drove it against the ground.

Evan's eyes narrowed.

He had expected the Ironhide Bear to be stronger, but its aggression toward the One-Eyed Terra Bear was becoming difficult to ignore. The beast wasn't merely fighting to eliminate a threat. Its attacks carried a ferocity that seemed disproportionate even for a territorial ruler defending its domain.

Still, the reason could wait.

The remaining Terra Bears were nearly finished, and the undead army was steadily closing around them. Evan needed to keep the battle from descending into another prolonged struggle.

He raised his hand and issued a series of commands.

"All summons, finish the remaining Terra Bears! Don't interfere with this fight unless I order you to. Surround the survivors and eliminate them before they can regroup!"

The Skeleton Warriors and undead bears immediately adjusted their movements, leaving the area around the two enormous beasts clear.

Evan then turned toward the confrontation.

If the Ironhide Bear wanted to focus on the One-Eyed Terra Bear, he would use that fixation to his advantage.

He rushed forward.

As he approached, the damage inflicted on his summon became clear. The One-Eyed Terra Bear's chest had been ripped open by several deep claw marks, leaving a network of wounds across its torso. Its retained Earth Elemental armour had cracked in numerous places, and the green flame burning in its eye flickered as it struggled beneath the ruler's relentless assault.

The Ironhide Bear continued smashing its claws into the fallen creature.

Each strike sent another tremor through the ground.

Evan's expression hardened.

'At this rate, it'll tear him apart before I can make use of him.'

Evan gathered Earth Elemental energy around his fist.

Rock fragments converged, forming a gauntlet nearly twice the size of his previous one. He packed the stone as tightly as he could before coating it in ice, reinforcing the structure against the impact he was about to deliver.

It was crude, heavy, and far from stable.

But he didn't need a perfect weapon.

He needed enough force to make the Ironhide Bear let go.

He fixed his gaze on the beast.

Lightning gathered around his legs.

Then he vanished.

The Ironhide Bear's attention remained focused on the One-Eyed Terra Bear. Its enormous claws were raised for another strike, and its body leaned forward as it prepared to drive its opponent further into the ground.

Evan appeared behind it.

He swung the enormous gauntlet toward its head.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The punch landed squarely.

The Ironhide Bear's head snapped to the side, and its massive body was knocked several metres away from the One-Eyed Terra Bear. It stumbled across the rocky terrain before regaining its footing.

For the first time in several exchanges, the beast had been forced to abandon its attack.

Evan's eyes flashed.

The blow connected squarely.

Cracks raced across the Ironhide Bear's armour, and fragments of compressed earth burst from its head and shoulder. The impact sent the enormous beast stumbling several metres across the rocky terrain, forcing it to abandon its assault on the One-Eyed Terra Bear.

For the first time, Evan had successfully interrupted its attack.

Then the recoil struck.

Pain shot through his fist and up his arm, nearly forcing him to his knees. Deep fractures spread across the enormous gauntlet, threatening to tear the entire structure apart.

Evan gritted his teeth and flooded the damaged sections with fresh ice, holding the crumbling weapon together by sheer force of control.

'Damn it! Even landing a clean hit nearly breaks my arm!'

He had hurt the beast. That much was undeniable.

But if every successful strike cost him this much, he would destroy his own body before he could bring the Ironhide Bear down.

Still, the beast had finally turned toward him.

Its gaze moved between Evan and the One-Eyed Terra Bear, its red eyes burning with an intensity that made the surrounding air feel heavier.

The cracks across its armour began closing.

Earth Elemental energy flowed over the damaged areas, replacing the shattered fragments and restoring the creature's defence within seconds.

Evan's jaw tightened.

'And it heals itself almost immediately. Of course.'

The crimson markings beneath the Ironhide Bear's armour flared.

A violent pressure swept across the battlefield. Cracks spread beneath its paws, and loose stones trembled as its aura surged.

Evan's expression darkened.

This was no longer just a matter of strength or durability. Whatever the crimson markings were doing, the beast was becoming more dangerous by the second.

And he still had no idea how far its transformation would go.

Evan turned toward the One-Eyed Terra Bear.

The undead beast was struggling to rise. Deep claw marks covered its chest, its Earth Elemental armour lay shattered in places, and the green flame in its remaining eye flickered weakly.

It wouldn't survive another exchange like that.

[Necro Heal]

Dark energy swept across the bear, closing its deepest wounds and restoring enough strength for it to stand.

Evan immediately activated another skill.

[Bone Armour]

Bones erupted around the creature, locking together over its chest, shoulders, back, and limbs. Layer by layer, they formed a thick protective shell, leaving its claws exposed for combat.

But Evan wasn't finished.

He extended his hand, drawing scattered rock fragments toward the bear's damaged claws. Earth Elemental energy pulled the pieces together, restoring their shape, while a layer of ice reinforced the unstable structure.

The transformation was complete.

Its natural durability was reinforced by the retained Earth Elemental armour and Evan's newly applied Bone Armour.

Three layers of defence—not enough to make it the Ironhide Bear's equal, but perhaps enough to keep it standing through the next exchange.

It wasn't enough to guarantee victory.

But it was enough to give his summon a chance to fight back.

Evan watched the green flame burning in its eye.

'That'll have to be enough. Otherwise, I don't even want to calculate how many summons I'll have to sacrifice to bring that bas*ard down'

Evan looked toward the approaching Ironhide Bear.

The enormous creature was advancing with heavy, deliberate steps, its crimson markings glowing beneath the armour. Each movement carried a growing sense of pressure, and the earth seemed to respond to its presence.

Evan placed a hand against the One-Eyed Terra Bear's back.

"Now it's time to play a different role for once."

He gave the undead beast a firm pat, his expression serious beneath his armour.

"One-Eyed Bear, I'll leave this one to you."

The summon didn't flinch.

It didn't retreat from the approaching ruler, nor did it show any sign of hesitation. Instead, it lifted its head and released a deep roar that echoed across the battlefield.

Then it began walking toward the Ironhide Bear.

Each step pressed its claws into the ground, leaving deep marks in the rocky surface. Its bone armour shifted with its movements, and the green flame in its eye remained fixed on the enormous creature approaching from the opposite direction.

Evan remained behind his summon, watching as the One-Eyed Terra Bear advanced.

He had spent the entire battle trying to overcome the Ironhide Bear with his own attacks, searching for openings that barely existed. Even when he landed a clean hit, the recoil threatened to cripple him, while the beast's armour regenerated almost immediately.

Continuing like this would only exhaust him.

A faint smile appeared beneath his armour.

'Why am I trying to fight this thing head-on?'

He wasn't a warrior who happened to possess a few undead summons.

He was a Necromancer.

His strength wasn't limited to his own body. It lay in the army he commanded, the abilities he could combine, and the way he could turn a losing battle through the right decisions.

The One-Eyed Terra Bear would take the lead.

Evan would keep it standing.

And together, they would bring the Ironhide Bear down.

Across the battlefield, the last Terra Bears were being overwhelmed. Evan's undead army had nearly secured victory.

But the decisive battle was about to begin.

The One-Eyed Terra Bear stopped before the Ironhide Bear, its bone armour shifting as it lowered itself into a fighting stance. The green flame in its remaining eye burned fiercely.

Opposite it, the ruler of the Southern Region dug its claws into the earth.

Crimson light pulsed beneath its armour, and cracks spread through the ground as its aura surged.

Evan stood behind his summon, lightning flickering around his fingers as he waited for an opening.

The Ironhide Bear was still stronger. Still faster. And whatever power those crimson markings concealed remained unknown.

But Evan had made his decision.

"Show me what you can do."

The One-Eyed Terra Bear answered with a thunderous roar.

The Ironhide Bear roared back.

Then both beasts charged.

The final clash for supremacy in the Southern Region had begun.