Per, King of the Snow Wolves
"Kwaaaaa!!"
A thunderous roar shook the heavens from deep within the Frost Forest. With that single cry, the surrounding air grew heavy.
"Grr!"
"Grr!"
"Grrrng!"
Over a hundred Snow Wolves howled in response, their eyes fixed on the far side of the forest. Elsid, who had been watching the darkening sky, turned his gaze in the same direction as the sudden roar and the oppressive atmosphere washed over him.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The ground began to tremble. Elsid drew the wooden sword and scabbard from his waist, gripping the Arming Sword in each hand.
"So that's the Dreadnought..."
Before long, something black emerged from the depths of the forest. It was a monster unlike anything he had ever seen. Standing over ten meters tall, it bore massive black wings studded with spikes. Its arms were grotesquely thick and powerful, like those of a gorilla. Yet it had no neck, no eyes, no nose—only a single enormous mouth on its upper body. That gaping maw, lined with dozens of molars and four tusks reminiscent of an elephant's ivory, crushed and devoured every tree and creature in its path as it advanced.
"Grr! It's here! We fight! We win!"
Per bellowed, his simple words echoing as if he were one with his subordinates, speaking for all the Snow Wolves.
"Awo!"
"Awooo!"
"Awooo!"
Over a hundred Snow Wolves stomped and bared their claws, roaring in unison.
"I'm first! Kraaang!"
With that cry, Per charged toward the Dreadnought that had descended from the Frost Forest to the entrance of the Ice Palace. More than a hundred Snow Wolves followed in his wake.
"Shall we get going too? Don't tell me you're getting cold feet now."
"Of course not."
Yuna, who had been watching the scene, dashed forward with a provocative grin. Elsid followed her, smiling as he ran.
"I'm ready for anything."
Concentrating so he could wrap his swords in fighting spirit at any moment, he sprinted toward the Dreadnought alongside the others.
As expected, the first to launch a preemptive strike were the Snow Wolves. They swarmed the massive creature, clinging to its body and tearing into it with claws and fangs.
"Haha! You guys really are the best!"
Yuna laughed with delight at their fearless assault and swung her longsword at the Dreadnought's leg.
Clang!
Her blade bounced off harmlessly, leaving not even a scratch on the black fur. It was as hard as steel.
"Good. That's how it should be."
Yet Yuna showed no surprise, as if she had anticipated this. Smiling with excitement, she retreated a few steps, then charged again—this time thrusting instead of slashing.
Thud.
The attack landed. Her longsword slipped between the steel-like hairs and pierced the creature's flesh.
"Kraaaaa!!"
Blood seeped from the wound as the Dreadnought let out another earth-shaking roar. It wasn't just Yuna's strike—the accumulated wounds from the Snow Wolves clinging to its body had finally driven it into a frenzy.
Thud! Thud!
It stomped violently, shaking the ground, and swung its thick gorilla-like arms for the first time, flinging the dozens of Snow Wolves off its body.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
"Grrrng!"
"Kraaaang!"
With every swing, the wolves were sent flying like autumn leaves, crashing into the snow. At least several dozen were incapacitated in an instant.
'So that's what happens if you cling on recklessly...'
Though he felt sorry for the fallen wolves, Elsid now clearly understood the danger of staying within reach of those arms.
Just then—
"Kraa! What have you done to my subordinates!"
Seeing dozens of his wolves struck down, Per let out a furious roar and charged.
'Reckless!'
Elsid panicked at the sight and rushed to help.
"Kraaaaa!"
But the Dreadnought was faster. It swung one of its tusk-like fangs like a spear, thrusting straight at Per.
'Damn it!'
Elsid slammed on the brakes and stopped. It was already too late. Getting any closer would only drag him into that massive attack.
Whoooosh.
The swing of the enormous tusk stirred up a cloud of snow, obscuring the view.
"Acceleration Qi — Double Axel."
From somewhere came a familiar voice muttering those words. It was barely audible over the wolves' roars, but unmistakable. It was Per's voice.
The next moment—
Shraaaak.
"Kraaaaaaaa!"
A sharp slicing sound rang out, followed by the Dreadnought's agonized scream. When the snow cloud cleared, Elsid witnessed an unbelievable sight.
'He cut it off?!'
Per stood with blue fighting spirit enveloping his claws. Before him lay one of the Dreadnought's massive tusks, severed and bloodied on the ground. Countless slash marks—over a hundred—covered the fallen tusk. In those few seconds shrouded by snow, Per had struck more than a hundred times with his aura-clad claws. His speed was extraordinary.
'So this is the king of a race.'
The Snow Wolves were no longer monsters to Elsid. They were allies in battle, a true race in their own right. The sight of their king, Per, left him stunned.
"You didn't come here just to watch, did you? Don't tell me you joined just to spectate."
Per, claws still glowing blue, spoke toward them as if provoking a response, flaunting that he was unharmed.
"Of course not."
Snapping out of his daze, Elsid charged forward. He wasn't sure how much damage he could inflict, but he couldn't just stand by while everyone else fought.
"Hraaah!"
Reaching the Dreadnought's leg, Elsid grabbed its fur and climbed. He had already sheathed both swords. Using the strength of his arms, he scaled the leg until he reached the creature's oversized mouth. Drawing his blades once more, he struck the broken base of the tusk Per had severed, hammering at it like a drum.
Clang! Clang! Crack.
Cracks began to spread across the remaining tusk. Not enough. Faster. Harder. He swung with the intent to shatter it completely.
After some time—
Crack!
"Kraaaaaak!"
The tusk broke off entirely. The Dreadnought screamed in pain once more and began thrashing wildly. Realizing it was dangerous to stay, Elsid attempted a bungee jump without a rope, leaping away from the monster.
"Bungee~!"
For a brief moment, he recalled his grandfather tying only vines to a rock and dropping him as a joke at the waterfall. Still, the ground below was snow, so he'd probably only get a little hurt—
Thud.
"Grr, are all humans this reckless and fearless?"
"...Who knows?"
Just before he hit the snow pile, Per appeared and caught him. At the wolf king's question, Elsid tilted his head. He and Yuna, who was still swinging her sword with gusto up ahead, were probably the only humans Per had ever met.
"Now then. Shall we keep going?"
Descending from Per's arms, Elsid stared at the Dreadnought. Though they had destroyed one tusk, the wound was nothing compared to its colossal body. To bring it down, they would need dozens more attacks of similar magnitude.
"Let's see what we can do..."
Even knowing this, Elsid's fighting spirit only burned hotter.
"Grr, good. That's what makes a warrior."
Per smiled at Elsid's unyielding resolve and released fighting spirit from his entire body, not just his claws.