Edge Of The Frozen Dawn - A New Life (Volume 1)

The bear's roar tore through the air, a powerful, primal sound that echoed across the clearing like a thunderclap. The ground seemed to tremble beneath the creature's sheer force, and the surrounding trees shuddered, releasing fragments of snow that cascaded down in shimmering waves.

Alynia and Veil advanced side by side, their steps sinking into the fresh snow. Their breaths came short and ragged, forming misty wisps that dissipated into the freezing air. The atmosphere was heavy, oppressive—every movement charged with palpable tension.

Their exhaustion was undeniable. Veil's movements lacked fluidity, his slumped shoulders betraying his fatigue. His breathing was uneven, and his fingers trembled slightly as he struggled to channel what little energy remained.

On her side, Alynia studied their opponent, analyzing every detail, searching for any weakness. But even with her razor-sharp mind, no clear solution emerged. The effort they had expended so far felt insignificant against the relentless power of the bear.

Alynia (thought, frustrated): It's not weakening. Its movements are still precise, as if fatigue doesn't affect it… While we…

She turned her head briefly toward Veil. Her gaze lingered on his face, worn from effort. Yet, despite everything, a spark of determination still burned in his eyes—an unyielding refusal to give in.

Alynia (focused look, slightly mocking): "You're getting tired, Little Wolf. You showed off, but you're not quite there yet."

Veil (breathless but determined): "I'll hold out… as long as I have to."

Alynia raised an eyebrow, a faint but skeptical smirk crossing her lips.

Alynia (stepping aside slightly, teasing tone): "Tsk. Don't act tough. If you collapse now..."

She flicked her gaze toward the bear, a mischievous glint in her eyes and the faintest hint of a smirk playing on her lips.

Alynia (to the bear, sharp tone): "...I'll let you turn him into mush."

The monster charged with its full weight. Its massive paws struck the frozen ground with a force that echoed through the forest, like the pounding of a war drum. Each impact seemed to suck the air from the surroundings, making the atmosphere feel even heavier.

The snow, kicked up by its movement, swirled into thick clouds, obscuring the field of vision. The biting cold intensified, as if nature itself had joined the threat.

Alynia leapt to the left, her agile form carving a fleeting trail through the powder. Veil instinctively followed, darting to the right. His movements were less precise, but he forced himself to keep pace with her, his gaze locked onto the bear.

Alynia (loud, focused voice): "We have to pin it down! If we let it keep moving like this, we'll be exhausted before it is!"

Veil (breathless, steady gaze): "And how do you plan to do that?!"

Alynia stopped briefly, her eyes gleaming with an icy determination.

Alynia (sharp gaze, thinking): "The cold… the snow…"

An idea was taking shape in her mind. She knew the snow wasn't just an obstacle—it was an ally. The water she controlled was all around them, and she needed to use it.

Alynia (calmer, resolute voice): "I'll freeze it. But I need time."

At that moment, the bear suddenly pivoted, swiping its massive paw at a nearby tree. The trunk cracked with a terrifying sound, shattering into splinters that flew in every direction. Snow collapsed into a chaotic whirlwind, further obscuring visibility.

Veil squinted to keep track of Alynia through the storm.

Alynia (thought, calculating quickly): If I can slow it down, we'll have a chance. Little Wolf, just hold on long enough…

She lifted her head, her voice cutting through the tension-charged air.

Alynia (shouting): "Then keep it busy!"

Veil (nodding, determined): "I'll hold it. Do what you need to do."

He cast one last glance at Alynia before locking his focus on the bear, his breathing steadying despite his exhaustion.

Veil (thought, focused): No mistakes this time.

Bending his knees, he gathered his energy and pushed off with renewed force.

BOOM!

The wind exploded beneath his feet, propelling him forward at blistering speed. This time, he managed to maintain a semblance of control over his trajectory, though his balance remained unsteady.

He shot toward the bear from the right, dagger raised.

With a swift motion, he struck at the beast's side, aiming for the areas unprotected by its natural plating. But the blade skidded uselessly against the stone-like armor covering the creature.

The bear let out a frustrated roar, its massive paws pounding the ground with raw power. It swung its massive head toward Veil, pinpointing him as the source of its irritation.

In a sudden movement, it swiped through the air with a deadly paw strike, its precision almost unnatural.

Veil, alerted by the icy gust that preceded the attack, bent his legs and launched himself to the side with the help of the wind.

Veil (thought, panting): Just in time again…

He landed in a sliding motion through the snow, his footing still unstable but enough to keep him from taking a direct hit.

Alynia, watching the scene, narrowed her eyes.

Alynia (sharp gaze, loud voice): "Nice work! Keep it busy!"

She took a step back, repositioning herself just outside the creature's immediate reach. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and slowly raised her hands. Her breathing became steady, almost imperceptible.

The thread of mana stretched into the air around her, capturing every droplet of water that drifted from the surrounding snow.

Tiny particles of moisture floated with an eerie grace, converging toward her hands as if drawn by an invisible force. A translucent sphere of water began to form, slowly rotating above her palms.

Alynia (low voice, focused): "Calm… slowly… denser…"

The fluid movement of the sphere grew more intense. The icy wind thickened around her, carrying the particles into the core of the growing sphere.

Despite its primal rage, the bear seemed to instinctively recognize the growing threat. Its yellow eyes locked onto Alynia, and without hesitation, it charged straight at her, ignoring Veil entirely.

Veil (shouting, panicked gaze): "No, not her!"

Without a second thought, he planted his feet. He took a deep breath, his legs tensed. The wind responded instantly to his call.

BOOM!

This time, he didn't launch himself to evade. Instead, he rushed straight toward the creature, facing it head-on.

His momentum was powerful, his movements fueled by a mix of fear and courage. As he reached the bear, he extended his dagger-wielding arm and struck the massive beast's head with all the force his momentum could muster.

Impact.

The bear let out a deep, guttural growl, staggering back two steps under the force of the blow. Its head tilted slightly, its fierce gaze hardening.

Veil, his feet firmly planted in the snow, panted heavily. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the biting cold. But his eyes burned with newfound intensity.

Veil (shouting): "Now, Alynia!"

She opened her eyes. The water sphere she had formed had grown massive, nearly opaque, spinning rapidly above her palms. A sharp, icy glow radiated from its surface.

Alynia's sphere was ready.

She clenched her fists, lifting her gaze toward Veil.

Alynia (steady gaze, sharp voice): "Use the wind, Little Wolf! Add it!"

Her words cracked through the air like a command.

Still breathless, Veil fixed his eyes on the swirling sphere above Alynia's hands. The suspended droplets trembled as if awaiting the slightest impulse. He reached out, hesitating for a brief moment as a biting cold ran through his fingers.

Veil (thought, determined): The wind… into the water… I can do this!

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The world around him seemed to fade, his senses narrowing in on his own breathing. Each inhale grew deeper, more controlled.

He cast aside his fears, his doubts, focusing only on the force he had begun to tame. He visualized the wind—an unseen thread weaving around him, wild yet ever-present. The icy breeze against his skin intensified as if answering his inner call.

A wave of mana surged through his body, radiating from his core and flowing into his arms. A tingling sensation ran through his fingers as the current of air around him thickened, stirring the snow into a delicate spiral.

Then, with a sharp burst of energy, the wind obeyed.

A stream of air shot from his hands, cutting through the freezing atmosphere and rushing straight toward Alynia's water sphere.

The reaction was immediate.

The water began to swirl violently, absorbing the force of the wind that fused into it. The sphere gradually transformed, shifting from a calm liquid into a whirling vortex. With every rotation, its intensity grew, becoming both fluid and razor-sharp.

The wind, trapped within this aquatic dance, accelerated the rotation, launching invisible blades in every direction. Their passage sliced through the air with a high-pitched whistle, a deadly warning to anything nearby.

The surrounding snow lifted under the unleashed energy, creating a shimmering veil around Alynia. Her silver hair rose slightly, caught in the furious winds. A biting chill coursed over her skin, as if the air itself carried the promise of destructive power.

Alynia (thought, focused): This time… it won't withstand it.

The sphere had reached its peak. It glowed with an icy radiance, every droplet sharpened into a blade-like edge. Alynia straightened, her gaze burning with unshakable determination.

Alynia (shouting): "Take this!"

She hurled the sphere with devastating precision. The raging vortex shot toward the bear at blinding speed, its edges shimmering with lethal energy.

The impact was explosive.

The vortex crashed onto the bear's head with unimaginable force. The frozen whirlwind, infused with devastating energy, shattered the stone-like plating that protected the creature. Cracks spread rapidly across its natural armor, and with an earsplitting crack, the pieces shattered, exposing raw flesh beneath.

The intense cold seeped into its open wounds, freezing its muscles and creeping into its body, ripping a roar of agony from its throat. The sphere, now fully crystallized, detonated in a sudden explosion, sending razor-sharp shards of ice flying in every direction.

The fragments embedded deep into the bear's massive body, forcing it to stagger. Its breathing grew erratic, each exhale a mix of mist and despair.

The beast, howling in agony, reared up one last time, its yellow eyes clouded with rage and suffering. It attempted a desperate charge, but its movements were sluggish and disordered, betraying its failing strength. Each step crushed the snow beneath it, but its target was unclear, its strikes now blind and unfocused.

It let out one final roar—a guttural, haunting cry that echoed through the clearing. Then, with a final, faltering effort, its legs buckled beneath it. The ground trembled as it collapsed with a resounding thud, sending a thick cloud of snow billowing into the air.

Silence fell over the clearing.

Snow began to drift down once more, the delicate flakes swirling in the icy air, as if wrapping the landscape in a blanket of newfound calm. The bear's roar, which had once torn through the forest, faded into nothingness, its echo swallowed by the endless stretch of snow-laden trees.

The silence was heavy—almost suffocating.

Veil remained motionless, his eyes fixed on the massive form of the fallen beast. His breath, still ragged, formed misty trails in the cold air, but he didn't dare lower his guard just yet.

Veil (panting, uncertain): "...Did we… get it?"

Alynia slowly approached the beast, each step measured and cautious. The snow barely crunched beneath her boots, the oppressive silence amplifying every movement. Her sharp eyes scanned the enormous carcass, her claws still extended, ready to strike at the slightest sign of life.

Alynia (thought, wary): Is it really over? What if…?

She stopped a few steps away from the bear's massive head, the cold wind playing with her silver hair. The creature remained motionless. The frozen breath that had once escaped its muzzle was now gone.

After a long moment, Alynia finally let her shoulders relax. Her claws retracted with a faint metallic sound.

Alynia (turning to Veil, faint smile): "It won't move again."

At those words, Veil felt all the built-up tension drain from his body. His legs gave out, and he collapsed backward, landing heavily in the snow. His breathing was labored, but a tired smile stretched across his face.

Veil (exhaling, a smile on his lips): "We did it..."

Alynia joined him quietly, her gaze still lost in the vastness of the forest. She sat beside him, letting her body sink gently into the cold snow.

Their breaths remained uneven, each inhale a reminder of the exhaustion settling into their limbs now that everything was over.

The landscape, calm and pristine once more, had returned to being a sanctuary. Yet, the strain of battle lingered in their muscles, carved into their weary bodies.