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

The bear fixed its piercing yellow eyes on them, a murderous gleam in its gaze. Its deep roar shattered the frozen silence of the forest, ripping through the air like thunder before it charged at full speed. Each of its heavy steps shook the ground, sending large sprays of snow flying in every direction.

Alynia and Veil dove to the sides, barely avoiding the assault. The creature barreled between them, churning up the snow with its brutal charge before coming to an abrupt stop, its massive claws digging deep into the frozen earth.

Seizing the opening, Alynia sprang into action. Her feline-like movements carried her straight to the beast's front left leg. Her claws gleamed for an instant under the filtered light before slicing through the thick fur and tearing into the flesh beneath.

A roar of pain echoed through the clearing, raw and enraged. The bear spun violently, its eyes blazing with unrelenting fury as it searched for Alynia—the source of its agony.

Alynia (shouting, urgent): "Little Wolf, attack or find a way to use your wind!"

But Veil hesitated. The bear, fixated on Alynia, launched itself forward once more. Despite its injury, the creature seemed to ignore the pain, each movement kicking up thick clouds of snow, further obscuring their already limited visibility. A thin trail of blood followed in its wake—a sign that Alynia's strike had landed, though it was far from a decisive wound.

Alynia, swift and precise, dodged each strike with surgical accuracy. She leapt from tree to tree, using the trunks as footholds to stay just beyond the reach of the bear's massive claws. Every evasion brought her closer to danger, but she showed no signs of hesitation.

On the other side of the battlefield, Veil circled the fight, his eyes locked onto Alynia's movements. His breath quickened, though not from exhaustion—he was watching, analyzing.

Veil (thought, focused): Her footing… her balance… The way she moves, it's so… fluid.

A spark of realization shot through him—so obvious, so simple, that he chastised himself for not seeing it sooner.

Veil (thought, sudden clarity): Of course… The mana, my feet, and the wind. I need to connect them. Why didn't I think of this before?

Still running around the bear, Veil smacked his forehead, his frustration bursting out in a nervous gesture.

Veil (thought, determined): Come on, Little Wolf, focus. If Alynia can do all this, so can you. No excuses.

As Alynia kept the bear occupied, Veil started channeling his mana, letting his thoughts drift to the most logical way to activate his impulse: synchronizing his movements with the wind around him.

The idea was clear, but putting it into practice was far more difficult.

Alynia, still locked in battle with the bear, kept glancing toward Veil. Each time, she saw him circling the beast—focused, yet ineffective.

Alynia (shouting, irritated): "Little Wolf, stop running in circles and do something!"

Veil (panting, replying): "I know how to do it, but I just can't!"

He didn't admit it to Alynia, but trying to avoid the claws of a giant bear while attempting to activate an ability he had never used before was anything but simple.

Yet, watching Alynia fight alone against this titanic creature stirred a crushing sense of helplessness within him.

Veil (thought, frustrated): She's giving it everything she's got while I… I need to stop being useless. She trained me, she saved me when she could have let me die. I owe her this.

He came to an abrupt stop, turning toward the bear.

Alynia (screaming, panicked): "Little Wolf, move!"

But Veil no longer heard her. His eyes shut as he focused all his attention on his mana, trying to channel it down to his feet.

The bear, noticing that Veil was no longer moving, slowly pivoted toward him. Its eyes locked onto him, burning with raw fury, before it lunged at full speed.

On the opposite side, Alynia felt a surge of panic rise within her—an unfamiliar sensation she couldn't quite explain.

Alynia (thought, unsettled): What is he doing…? Why isn't he moving?

Meanwhile, Veil could feel his mana stirring. It wasn't chaotic; rather, it was a calming pulse, a rhythm that seemed to synchronize with him. A gentle breeze picked up around his feet, swirling the snow into spirals.

Alynia (screaming, desperate): "Little Wolf, move! The bear is coming!"

The beast was closing in fast.

Three meters.

The wind beneath Veil's feet grew stronger.

Two meters.

A warm sensation spread from his soles, slowly rising through his body.

One meter.

Veil stepped forward, his entire focus locked onto the connection between his mana and the wind.

Alynia dashed toward him, overwhelmed by a fear she couldn't understand.

Zero meters.

The bear, its massive paw raised high, brought it down with colossal force.

BANGGG.

Veil was gone.

He reappeared ten meters away, propelled by a burst of wind that he had finally mastered.

Veil (thought, a brief moment of triumph): I did it…

But his joy was short-lived. The uncontrolled momentum sent him crashing straight into a tree. The impact knocked him backward violently, leaving him dazed.

Alynia immediately rushed toward him, her heart pounding.

Meanwhile, the bear, for the second time, came to a halt, clearly bewildered by what had just happened.

Alynia reached Veil, who was still on the ground, and crouched beside him. Her gaze swept over his exhausted features, but she had no time to dwell on his condition.

Alynia (urgent tone): "Little Wolf, get up. We don't have time."

Veil, still dizzy, struggled to catch his breath. His legs trembled slightly, but with Alynia's help, he forced himself upright. He looked at her with a dazed grin, his eyes shining with an odd excitement.

Veil (breathless, with a flicker of pride): "I did it… Alynia, did you see? I actually did it!"

Alynia couldn't help but smile in return, a glimmer of amusement flickering in her eyes. But that smile vanished almost instantly as a deep growl rumbled behind them.

She yanked Veil up completely, turning to face the bear, which, despite its injuries, was preparing for another attack.

Alynia (serious, with a hint of humor): "That's great, Little Wolf. Now, do it again. But this time, try not to crash into a tree, alright?"

Veil smirked, but the determination in Alynia's eyes quickly pulled him back to reality.

Alynia (firm, commanding): "Distract it. Its legs, Little Wolf. They're less protected. That's where you need to strike."

Without waiting for an answer, Alynia turned and dashed to the right, her agile form vanishing among the trees. Veil took a deep breath, the weight of his mission pressing heavily on his mind.

Veil (thought, focused): That sensation… That warmth. I need to control it. No mistakes this time. One mistake, and it's over.

He moved, his steps deliberate, his gaze locked onto the bear.

The creature hesitated for a moment before locking onto Veil. It let out a roar, its fury ripping through the air before charging at him with raw power, tearing through the snow and branches in its path.

Veil (thought, determined): Focus. Feel the wind. Let it guide you.

He felt his mana stir again—that familiar sensation, like an energy on the verge of bursting free. Just before the bear reached him, he channeled the force and propelled himself to the right, narrowly escaping the attack. The momentum carried him out of reach, leaving the beast's left flank completely exposed.

Alynia didn't hesitate. Leaping from a tree, she struck with deadly precision, slashing deep into the bear's back leg with her dagger.

The resulting roar of agony shook the air around them. The nearby branches trembled under the intensity of the cry, sending cascades of snow drifting silently to the ground.

The bear staggered back, its movements heavy and uncertain. Veil watched, thinking for a moment that it might try to flee. But the creature had other plans.

The beast turned toward a massive tree and reared up, pressing its massive front paws against the trunk. The wood groaned under the pressure, a sinister crack echoing through the clearing.

Veil (thought, alarmed): What is it doing…?

With brutal strength, the bear ripped the tree from its roots and hurled it with shocking precision—straight toward Alynia.

Alynia (thought, alarmed): No…!

She dove to the side, rolling through the snow just in time to dodge the massive trunk as it crashed down with a deafening impact. But there was no time to fully recover. The moment she evaded, the bear—already back on its feet—charged again.

Alynia ran, barely managing to stay ahead, her breath coming in short, sharp bursts from the sheer effort. The beast finally skidded to a stop a few meters away, its eyes burning with a cold, relentless fury.

She reached Veil, panting, her gaze locking onto his.

Alynia (grave tone, breathless): "Little Wolf, we have to end this. If this fight drags on, this monster will wear us down."

Veil nodded, his expression hardening.

For a brief moment, they stood there, looking at each other—both exhausted, both aware of the brutal reality before them. This wasn't just about pushing forward—it was about survival. Every second that passed tipped the fight further in the bear's favor.

Veil felt his muscles burning, every breath becoming a battle. Using his mana to propel himself drained an energy he hadn't yet mastered. This wasn't like shaping a simple water sphere or channeling a basic spell. Every impulse took a toll, forcing him to fight against his own limits.

Alynia clenched her jaw, her mind racing for a solution as she analyzed the massive creature before them. But nothing seemed obvious. Direct attacks weren't strong enough to pierce its defenses, and its sheer speed made any risky strategy a dangerous gamble.

The bear stood still, but its vivid yellow eyes never wavered from them. It breathed deeply, its sides rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Wisps of mist escaped its muzzle, swirling into the freezing air, creating a strange contrast between its apparent calm and the undeniable menace it exuded.

Veil (thought, exhausted): It's not slowing down… It doesn't even seem to feel fatigue. And we…

A tense silence settled over the clearing, broken only by the whisper of the wind and the soft patter of falling snow. Their eyes met again.

The bear, still motionless, subtly shifted its weight—ready to strike.

Alynia and Veil exchanged a final look.

Alynia (low, grave tone, almost a whisper): "Little Wolf, we finish this. Now."

The battle had to end here.