51

Ice Beast Cavalry

"Winter is coming?" Ander was taken aback.

Forseti shrugged. "It's nothing, just felt it fit the situation."

Ander sighed. "We really are unlucky. Last time we went to Vanaheim, we encountered a large-scale attack within a few days. Now, we're at risk of annihilation on our first mission to Jotunheim... Let's go."

He waved his hand, leading Forseti to their team of more than a dozen soldiers, already prepared for battle.

Almost simultaneously, the frost giants' large force rushed forward.

"Kill!"

They charged on their ice bears, weapons drawn, and roared into the outpost camp, clashing with the Asgardians.

Ander's team faced eight frost giant bear cavalry. With the help of the Mirror of the Sun, they barely held their ground.

Forseti stood among the soldiers, staff in hand, closely watching the battle.

"Ah!" An Asgardian warrior was stabbed in the chest by a frost giant, letting out a scream.

The frost giant grinned and raised his weapon again. "Go to hell!"

Seeing the wounded Asgardian about to fall, Forseti waved his staff at the critical moment.

"Judgment!"

Holy light shot from the staff, forming an energy spike that flew straight at the frost giant, striking his right wrist.

"Ah--!"

The giant's wrist was pierced, and he screamed, dropping his weapon.

Two nearby warriors seized the opportunity, slashing at the ice bear from both sides. The bear, already distracted and now with an injured rider, had little chance to react. Its head was severed, blood spurting like a column.

The frost giant fell, following his mount to the ground.

With one of the eight bear cavalry down, the situation tilted in Ander's team's favor.

Forseti saw the previously injured soldier was using a healing stone on himself, so he focused on other battles.

Ander and another Asgardian faced the frost giant leader, a burly figure wielding dual battle axes. The leader's ice bear was unusually large, with long, sharp fangs, sometimes roaring bloodthirstily.

Even under the sun's heat, the bear cavalry leader held his ground, fighting Ander and his companion to a standstill.

Forseti moved to a better position. His body glowed golden, making him the second most conspicuous on the battlefield—after the sun.

"Hand of Reckoning!"

The bear cavalry leader was hit, unable to defend or dodge. Memories of sins flooded his mind, stunning him. He then glared at the glowing Forseti.

In the blink of an eye, Ander leaped up, stabbing his sword straight at the giant's throat. The frost giant parried too late and was mortally wounded.

Ander and another warrior quickly killed the now riderless ice bear.

In a short time, two of the eight bear cavalry were dead, including their leader.

However, Ander's team wasn't unscathed. Besides the soldier stabbed in the chest, another had been hit by a mace and lay motionless.

Forseti hurriedly pulled the injured warrior from the fray, casting healing spells.

The soldier quickly regained some mobility, sitting up and wiping blood from his mouth.

"How are you feeling?" Forseti asked.

"Better," the soldier replied.

At that moment, roars echoed. Although human, they were nearly beast-like, full of violent, bloodthirsty aura.

Forseti turned to see berserkers entering a rage, swinging their weapons and rushing at the polar ice beasts. In this state, their strength surged, allowing one to easily fight a bear cavalry.

Under the berserkers' siege, several ice beasts were quickly wounded, bleeding, and becoming more frantic.

Forseti glanced at them briefly, then resumed treating the wounded. After a while, the injured regained basic mobility, picked up their weapons, and rejoined the battle.

Forseti then targeted a one-eyed frost giant.

"Hand of Reckoning!"

The giant was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered, managing to cut off an Asgardian warrior's arm.

"Ah!!" The soldier retreated, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow.

Forseti healed him while keeping an eye on the battlefield. The one-eyed frost giant glared at him with intense hatred.

Forseti thought, *The Hand of Reckoning's effectiveness varies...*

He continued to follow Ander, seeking another opportunity. Almost a minute later, he struck again.

"Hand of Reckoning!"

"Be careful!" the one-eyed frost giant shouted, trying to warn his companion.

But it was too late. The giant was hit and momentarily dazed, quickly killed by two Asgardian warriors.

Seeing the fury on the one-eyed giant's face, Forseti felt a sense of relief.

Ander and his team had killed another bear cavalry, leaving only four remaining.

In contrast, Ander's team had a few injuries but was still strong, shifting the battle in their favor.

The one-eyed frost giant was injured and his ice bear was close to death. Surprisingly, the giant jumped up, ignoring the attacks and the fate of his mount.

He charged at Forseti, eyes blazing with rage. "Damn mage!!!"

Forseti was startled but not panicked.

In the giant's astonished eyes, Forseti drew out a warhammer...