Snow Mountain Beasts

Their good luck finally ran out. Since entering the Trelam Forest until now, the group had not encountered a single magical beast. As a result, everyone had become somewhat negligent, completely forgetting that this was a forest full of dangers.

One of Baron Julian's soldiers, while searching, casually chopped off a pine branch with his longsword. Suddenly, he felt as if something had fiercely bitten into his chest, completely numbing it. A white figure swiftly fled from in front of him, and when he looked down, he let out a horrified scream! His heart had been pierced by an ice arrow, hanging from his chest. As everyone approached in alarm, the soldier had already lost consciousness, dead!

"It's a squirrel, I saw it, a white squirrel!" Another soldier nearby shouted in horror, pointing to the bushes in the distance. "Evan disturbed the magical beast when he chopped the branches. It spat out an ice arrow at Evan and then fled. Aren't Green Arrow Squirrels supposed to have weak magic? Why did it kill Evan, why...!"

"That's not a Green Arrow Squirrel," Lady Celine said, examining the dead soldier's chest where the ice arrow had begun to melt. "Green Arrow Squirrels can only shoot water arrows, which can't harm people at all, and their fur should have red and green arrow patterns, not white. This should be an Ice Arrow Mouse, a second-level magical beast. Everyone must be careful and stay away from that mountain." She pointed to the nearby mountain. "As long as we're cautious, the Ice Arrow Mouse's ice arrow speed isn't fast, and we should be able to completely avoid it. But around where the Ice Arrow Mouse lives, there's definitely another, more powerful water-based magical beast, the Snow Cloud Leopard. They prey on these mice but wouldn't mind trying the taste of humans."

The Snow Cloud Leopard was a third-level magical beast that a novice Qi warrior couldn't contend with alone. Baron Milo, fearing further casualties, immediately ordered, "Don't spread out. Several people gather together. Selah, stay by my side." Worried about his daughter, he didn't even trust Lady Celine, the mage, and directly called his daughter to his side.

Julian naturally also called Kyle, who was already pale with fear, together with two intermediate Qi warrior captains, so even if the Snow Cloud Leopard appeared, they could retreat in time. The others also gathered in groups of five or six, remaining vigilant.

It seemed that everyone had forgotten about the orc youth, but Barok didn't mind at all. His vigilance was very keen. In fact, he had already noticed the white squirrel hiding in the bushes but couldn't be bothered to say anything. After all, it was a human who died, and moreover, one of Julian's men. He didn't feel obligated to warn them. And if a few more people died, dealing with Julian and Kyle would be even easier for him.

It was Lady Celine who, seeing the orc youth not joining the others, suddenly spoke to him, "Barok, come with me."

After hesitating for a moment, Barok still approached, somewhat puzzled. After all, Lady Celine's status was noble. Why would she want to protect a lowly orc? But he immediately thanked her, "Thank you, Lady Celine. You are a true noblewoman, possessing all the noble virtues."

Lady Celine chuckled lightly, and Barok suddenly realized that although she didn't speak much, she was a very charming beauty. Could it be that she had taken a liking to him...?

Barok immediately shook his head, finding his thoughts ridiculous. Lady Celine's gaze was clear, without any unusual thoughts. For an orc shaman dealing with souls, he could still discern that. She was indeed a respectable lady.

The dead soldier was temporarily placed aside and would be taken away when they left. They continued to search the red pine forest. Barok noticed that Lady Celine seemed to have something to say to him, but he didn't want to talk to a human mage about anything. So he preemptively asked, "Lady Celine, as far as I know, Green Arrow Squirrels have weak magic, and their magic cores are pitifully small. Apart from being pets, they are worthless to mages. I really can't understand why you would specially come from the capital to the Trelam Forest to capture them?"

"Well, I don't need Green Arrow Squirrels. The reason I want to capture them is just to fulfill a little kid's wish," Lady Celine sighed, showing a sad expression. "My little niece, Lorel, has a strange illness, and her time in this world is running out. She has always had one wish... to have her own pet Green Arrow Squirrel. Green Arrow Squirrels are almost extinct, and they can't be seen in the capital anymore. In order to fulfill this poor child's final wish, it is said that there might still be traces of these squirrels in the Trelam Forest. Even if it's just a rumor, I still want to try my luck."

"But as you can see, there may not be any Green Arrow Squirrels in this red pine forest. After all, two squirrel populations can't coexist in the same forest," Barok said.

"I also know that we may not find Green Arrow Squirrels here, but we have to try. You know, if I go back empty-handed, I really can't face Lorel's pitiful gaze," Lady Celine shook her head, feeling somewhat sad.

Although Barok felt sorry for the unfortunate little girl, he had already promised the Green Arrow Squirrel King not to reveal the whereabouts of their tribe, so he couldn't break his word. He wondered if he could secretly return later and ask the Squirrel King for a squirrel to give to Lady Celine... with so many of his subjects, would he mind losing one or two?

No matter how vast the red pine forest was, there would come a time when the search was complete. Fortunately, although they encountered several Ice Arrow Mice again, no one was injured this time. It seemed that returning empty-handed made everyone quite discouraged. Especially Baron Julian and Baron Milo, one worried that he hadn't flattered Lady Celine well enough, which would upset her, while the other was concerned that his beloved daughter's hope of attending the Platya High Academy in the capital was fading away!

"Look, there's another sizable red pine forest halfway up the mountain. Shall we go there and take a look? Maybe we'll find something!" Julian was unwilling to give up, pointing to the red pine forest on the slope of the snow-capped mountain.

"There's likely high-level magical beasts living on this mountain. Shouldn't we avoid risking it?" Milo hesitated.

"Heh, Milo my friend, we're only halfway up the mountain, not heading to the summit. We won't disturb any magical beasts. Besides, even if we do disturb the beasts on the mountain, we'll have time to retreat. Come on, we're the hosts, we can't disappoint Lady Celine." Julian insisted on going up to take a look.

For the sake of his daughter, Milo no longer objected, and Lady Celine naturally said nothing, thanking the two barons. However, for safety's sake, only a few people went up the mountain this time: Lady Celine, Baron Milo, Julian, two intermediate Qi warrior captains, and Barok! The others waited at the foot of the mountain!

Barok was specifically named by Julian. As for whether the orc youth, who couldn't fight Qi or magic, would have a chance to escape if they encountered a magical beast, that wasn't something a respectable baron should consider! He even wished the damn orc would be eaten by the magical beast!

Perhaps Baron Julian's hopes were fulfilled. The four of them climbed up to the pine forest halfway up the mountain, and before they could search carefully, Barok suddenly raised his head, looking at the towering snow-capped mountain. A strange smile appeared on his lips! His soul was stirred, sensing a powerful presence approaching, giving him a familiar feeling, but the others seemed oblivious, seemingly unaware of anything.

At this moment, the advantages of being an orc manifested, especially as an orc shaman. Barok faintly sensed a faint white figure wandering around the perimeter. However, upon closer inspection, he found nothing, only feeling its slow approach.

Barok quietly moved aside and, using his peripheral vision, saw the faint white figure, hidden behind the white of the snow-capped mountain, getting closer and closer to the two Qi warrior captains beside Baron Julian. Barok mentally counted to three, 'one, two, three...', then heard a strange sound, like slicing through water 'crack'. Although the two intermediate Qi warrior captains had activated their Qi to protect themselves, it was too late. A crystalline ice ring shot out like a spinning wheel, breaking their Qi protection in less than a second. The ice ring started from their waists, neatly cutting them in half!

"Ahhhh... ugh...!" They let out piercing screams, but because their bodies were shattered, the screams abruptly stopped, leaving only the sound of gurgling, blood continuously spewing from their mouths. They were unable to die for a while, crawling on the ground with fear on their faces, their upper bodies unconscious, a chilling sight!

Barok was completely dumbfounded. He finally realized why it felt so familiar! That ice ring, the ice ring shot out, and the already visible magical beast, the wolf-shaped magical beast! It was completely identical to the wolf-shaped shadow in the totem pillar!

"Oh no, it's a sixth-level magical beast, Frost Giant Wolf, everyone, run!" Lady Celine exclaimed in horror. She was only an intermediate-level mage, completely powerless against such a high-level magical beast, unable even to cast intermediate magic in time. She immediately took out a magic scroll, tore it open, and threw it out, igniting a blazing firewall that instantly burned and blocked the Frost Giant Wolf, then turned and fled downhill! Not only was the Frost Giant Wolf's water-based magic formidable, but its speed was also extremely fast, almost on par with the Wind Wolf. Even if Lady Celine was late in escaping, she would be caught up and killed in an instant!

Julian and Milo had already turned and fled upon seeing the Frost Giant Wolf's figure. At this point, Milo, with the strength of a high-level Qi warrior, completely unleashed his abilities, rushing down the mountain at twice the speed of Julian, picking up his daughter and running away. Others also fled for their lives, with no one caring about the chubby and scared Kyle, who was left behind. The boy was so frightened that he wailed loudly... At such times, true nature revealed itself, and who would care about his life or death?

Fortunately, Julian rushed down the mountain, dragging his son along. Though he cursed the stupid, chubby boy's idiocy, he couldn't abandon his only heir, finally escaping far enough!

Only Barok remained in place and did not leave. The Frost Giant Wolf did not chase after the fleeing people but instead stared at the orc before it. Its huge body resembled the most robust steed, covered in a thick layer of snow-like fur. Opening its mouth, beneath the ice pillar-like sharp fangs, it stuck out its crimson tongue, exuding an indescribably fierce and ferocious aura. A circle of ice rings flickered around its body, ready to be released at any moment!

However, neither Barok nor the Frost Giant Wolf showed any intention of attacking. They stared at each other, and Barok had already begun to softly chant totemic incantations, as if standing under a totem pillar. He wanted to try to communicate with this magical beast. Never did he expect to encounter the Frost Giant Wolf in such circumstances... The wolf spirit in his totem pillar was exactly this kind of magical beast. Barok felt that today, he might have a chance to break through his critical point!

Of course, the premise was that he could communicate with the Frost Giant Wolf's soul, gain the beast's trust. Otherwise, he would become the beast's meal!

Orc shamans were sometimes so crazy, completely unaware of their own danger, or perhaps they didn't care. Norman had once told Barok that many orc shamans had been killed by magical beasts while trying to communicate with them. But if successful, the rewards were often immense. Perhaps this was the way of shamanic practice!