The Forest's Crushing Fist
The next day, Rextar's army began marching toward the clearing OneTon had discovered. Naturally, they weren't splitting into small units for hit-and-run tactics this time. That foolish maneuver had been solely to drain Wendigo's power, not to grind down the warriors' morale.
OneTon's meddling is the only reason we didn't gather our full forces sooner... tch. It wasn't Rextar's imagination that at least a third of the warriors who'd first entered the forest were now gone.
OneTon approached Rextar, who was mounted on a massive wolf. Rextar openly showed his discomfort, but OneTon couldn't care less.
"You're overdoing it. Have you already forgotten whose power you gained yesterday?"
"When you wear armor made from a beast's hide, it's the warrior's ability—not something you thank the beast for."
OneTon marveled at Rextar's shamelessness. He'd betrayed plenty in his time, but it had been ages since he'd encountered someone so worth betraying.
"Fine, have it your way."
"If you're here to test my patience again, get lost. I have an army to command."
"Sorry to disappoint, but that's not why I'm here. I'd like you to pick up the pace."
"...Didn't you just say you weren't here to test my patience?"
Rextar growled, but OneTon shot back with an arrogant smirk.
"You idiot. Did you think I'd tell you to speed up for no reason?"
Rextar, who'd naturally assumed exactly that from this guy who pulled every trick in the book, flinched. He'd figured it was the usual nonsense... OneTon summoned a circling owl with a pitying glance, its eyes swirling with black energy like his fur.
"Scouts via birds and squirrels found no traces. The path to the clearing is confirmed safe."
"...For real?"
"Obviously. Unlike you, I always strive for perfection. Mistakes aren't in my vocabulary."
For someone like that, you sure missed Wendigo and led our precious wolves to slaughter... But Rextar let it slide this time. The intel that the area was clear was useful enough.
"Tell the warriors to speed up."
"Yes!"
The warriors rushed off at the order, and Rextar smirked inwardly. The situation wasn't ideal, but things were flowing well enough. At this rate, victory in the battle was—
He flinched!
A strange energy prickled his back, making Rextar whip his head around. He felt an unsettling gaze. But all he saw was the endless forest and the warriors marching with grim faces.
Rextar sighed inwardly. ...My nerves are on edge.
Believing everything would return to normal once this fight ended, he turned forward again.
Blink.
Deep in the forest, eyes embedded in several trees slowly revealed themselves.
I'm learning a lot from that wolf bastard.
The eyes in the trees naturally belonged to Wendigo. He wasn't content just harassing the warriors with fog. As the saying went, know your enemy and know yourself to win every battle.
Instead of flaunting his power, Wendigo acted meticulously, sparing no effort to gather intel on the enemy—including the beasts under OneTon's control.
The moment he sensed the animals roaming the forest were ensnared by OneTon's shamanism, he grasped their purpose. Conveniently, OneTon's sight-sharing spell was incredibly useful. It let him survey vast distances without moving.
When he first succeeded observing through the trees, Wendigo couldn't help but marvel. Such a handy spell existed!
To think only that boar spirit and the wolf were using something this good.
The boar spirit and OneTon would have spat curses in disbelief if they'd heard. Spirit spells weren't something any spirit could mimic on a whim.
OneTon's animal spells were efficient, backed by the beasts' innate vitality and mysticism. Wendigo's method, however, was brutally crude: shoving mysticism into the ground to infuse the trees, then continuously pumping more to prevent dissipation. In short, it guzzled mysticism like crazy.
Normal spirits wouldn't dream of it. Why waste mysticism on scouting when even battle consumption hurt? But Wendigo rose from his spot, oblivious to how far beyond norms his approach was.
They'll reach here soon.
Wendigo had lured Rextar to this clearing from the start. Naturally, he'd prepared to wipe them out here. To finalize those preparations, he conjured a massive ice spike.
Gripping it with one hand, he aimed at the ground...
"Hup!"
And slammed it down with full force. The mysticism within the spike erupted, spreading through the earth like an explosion. The ice spike acted like a totem, dyeing the surroundings with Wendigo's mysticism. He felt the nearby plants gradually falling under his control.
That was preparation enough. For the first time in a while, he signaled Skadi through her ice necklace.
[Skadi:] Wendigo-nim! Did you call for me?
"...Quick response."
Wendigo marveled at her lightning-fast reply despite himself. It was as if she kept her mind constantly focused on the necklace... Impossible as that was, he brushed it off. Trivial details weren't important now.
"The enemy will swarm soon. Are the warriors and totems ready?"
[Skadi:] Of course! I calculated the totem spacing precisely—no gaps for them to slip through!
"Excellent."
[Skadi:] Hehe, too early for praise! I prepared something special since I hated seeing you labor alone. Look forward to it!
"......"
Wendigo started to smile at her enthusiasm but froze. Memories of her past "preparations" flashed by—her rousing speeches. Even without sweat glands, he felt a cold sweat.
No way she'd do that here. Who is there to rile up?
He acknowledged her oratory skills but figured they were human-level. She couldn't incite beasts, right?
[Skadi:] Wendigo-nim? Is something wrong?!
"No. Just pondering how to express this gratitude. No one like Skadi."
Wendigo regretted it instantly. Compliments like that rarely ended well. Sure enough, ecstatic shrieks echoed through the necklace.
He wanted to cut the link, but Skadi was faster, unleashing a barrage of loyalty and praise. Direct to the mind, he couldn't tune it out.
Wendigo regretted it deeply. They said praise makes whales dance—should've held back!
Something to end this... ah.
Fortunately, escape existed. Through the trees, he sensed the enemies approaching.
[Skadi:] Wendigo-nim? Are you listening to my heartfelt words?
"Sorry. Looks like guests arrived. We'll continue later."
Cutting the link, Wendigo gripped his ice sword and glared at the foes. Who'd have thought facing enemies could feel relieving?
Rextar's army halted at the clearing's edge. They'd spotted Wendigo too.
Wendigo strode forward through the debris, revealing himself. That alone stirred unrest among the Blue Mane tribe.
Rextar flushed at the shameful reaction and spurred his wolf forward.
"I am Rextar, chieftain of the Blue Mane tribe! To the forest spirit: retreat now, and we won't pursue!"
"Rextar of the Blue Mane tribe. I remember you."
Rextar twitched at Wendigo's words. Indeed, their first meeting in OneTon's tent had left an impression...
"Wasn't it you who sold out your tribe to OneTon? Bold for someone who'd abandon honor for a scrap of power."
"...Spirit-like, your insults are sharp. But think I'll fall for that provocation?!"
Seems you already did.
The raw fury contradicted his words. Losing it over a "mongrel" jab...
Wendigo pitied Rextar, but OneTon stepped forward—clearly to help his ally.
"You fool. Falling for cheap taunts? Hardly chieftain material."
My bad. He's no ordinary madman.
...Even now, picking fights with his own side. OneTon was something else.
"Wendigo. I acknowledge your power and authority. You're undeniably this forest's ruler."
"Long tongue. What's your point?"
"My proposal mirrors the mongrel's: no real reason to fight. Why waste precious mysticism on worthless human lives?"
Proposing peace, OneTon summoned birds of prey. Far from ordinary—their bones reinforced heavy and hard, beaks able to shatter rock. These abominations had one purpose: plummet from the sky onto Wendigo!
Strike when he lets his guard down.
As Wendigo approached slowly, OneTon brimmed with anticipation. What face would he make?
"Peace sounds good."
"Exactly. So don't waste mysticism defending trash. Let's truce—"
"But you don't seem interested in peace."
Flinch.
Wendigo's killing intent flared; OneTon clicked his tongue and leaped back.
"Damn it, attack!!!"
The sky-flocking birds dove at Wendigo's head like a meteor swarm. Warriors harbored faint hope: maybe one strike would fell him?
"Not bad spell."
Of course not. His frost-wreathed ice sword grew mid-swing.
Krunch!
By impact, it was too massive for a mere sword. Most birds pulped against the blade. The few that veered off fared little better—frozen feathers sent them crashing uncontrolled.
Unable to inflict damage before becoming paste, OneTon tsked.
"Tch, wasted mysticism. Prepare next—"
"Returning the favor."
"!"
OneTon, rallying beasts, panicked as mysticism surged wildly. An astonishing amount gathered at Wendigo's hand—wasteful to OneTon, who valued his own mysticism over underlings.
He gawked at Wendigo like he'd lost his mind.
"You lunatic! Wasting this much mysticism for humans!?"
Horrified, he sent beasts charging. He didn't know Wendigo's plan but sensed he had to block it.
Too late. Wendigo raised his arm; the ground writhed like a living thing. Warriors, Rextar—even OneTon struggled to stay upright.
"OneTon! What's happening?!"
"I don't know! Shut up and send the warriors—"
"Too late."
Something burst from the churning earth: dozens of trees and hundreds of roots woven into a colossal wooden giant's arm!
OneTon gaped upward, forgetting decorum in awe.
"This... you mad bastard."
"Just using what I learned from you."
OneTon lost his composure at the sarcasm. Equating this to his own feats? If so, Wendigo was the world's craziest spirit.
Trees weren't suited for this—flexible and sturdy, but static beyond growth. Only vast mysticism like a lake's would enable it. No spirit would waste that!
Yet defying logic, the arm grew larger.
"A gift."
The tree giant's iron mace descended on the Blue Mane tribe's heads.