Chapter 19: Battle of the Frost Beasts

Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

As the sound of beastly hooves echoed, Xia Hong and his two companions immediately held their breaths. 

From the west, a massive creature over two meters tall at the shoulder and four meters long slowly approached the torch step by step. Its back was covered in icicle-like spikes, with two prominent tusks raised high. 

Though its fierce eyes remained fixed on the torch, they occasionally darted around to survey the surroundings. Each thunderous step sent snowflakes flying through the air. 

Hidden in the snow pit, Xia Hong felt his heart pound in sync with the beast's footsteps. "A fully grown Snow Mane - this one must weigh over a thousand pounds!"

Compared to the juvenile one they encountered before, this Snow Mane was noticeably larger. Moreover, from its cautious, probing steps, it was clearly far more intelligent than the previous one.

The Snow Mane gradually reached the torch. Just like before, it first sniffed at the flames, experiencing the warmth they emitted. Within seconds, evidently recognizing the torch's benefits, its pupils dilated and its movements became lighter and more relaxed.

"What exactly has this system given me?" Xia Hong thought with growing concern. "It can heal Frost Beasts and make them stronger."

If even a small torch had this effect, what about the Small Fire Pit back at camp? If Frost Beasts discovered it, they would surely go mad.

"Until we're stronger, we absolutely cannot expose the Small Fire Pit," Xia Hong reminded himself before turning his attention back.

The Snow Mane stood before the torch for over ten breaths, growing increasingly excited until it even rested its chin on the flames. Strangely, the fur on its chin wasn't burned - instead, it grew shinier. Xia Hong could clearly sense the Snow Mane's aura had strengthened since approaching the torch.

Afraid of disturbing the entranced beast, Xia Hong dared not look eastward. But as time passed without any sign of the Frost Wolf, he began to wonder. "Is the Frost Wolf too scared to come?"

He already knew the torch only burned for fifteen minutes. Nearly a third of that time had already passed. It seemed this torch would go to waste today. 

Still, it was their first attempt - some waste was expected. 

Just as this thought crossed his mind, a tremendous rumbling erupted from the snowy field. 

Xia Hong turned his eyes eastward but saw nothing. Yet the disturbance in the snow was undeniable. What was happening?

By the torch, the Snow Mane also sensed the vibrations. Its expression shifted from blissful enjoyment to brutal fury. Its gaze turned murderous as it stared toward the source of the disturbance, pupils gradually reddening, its prominent tusks making it look utterly savage.

SWISH!

A sharp sound pierced the air as spikes suddenly erupted from beneath the Snow Mane's feet. The unexpected attack came from directly below, stabbing upward toward the beast's vulnerable belly. 

Despite its intelligence, the Snow Mane never anticipated an attack from beneath. Though it dodged sideways with remarkable speed, a meter-long gash still opened across its abdomen.

As the spikes fully emerged from the snow, their owner was revealed. Xia Hong's face froze when he recognized the familiar Frost Beast. 

It was no special creature - unmistakably a Frost Wolf. 

An adult one this time.

The spikes that had attacked from below were actually the ring of spines around the Frost Wolf's neck. This wolf not only knew to burrow beneath the snow but also how to approach silently before launching a surprise attack. 

While Xia Hong marveled at the Frost Wolf's cunning, the wounded Snow Mane reacted. 

Drip... drip...

Viridian blood flowed from its abdomen as the Snow Mane steadied itself and roared furiously toward the spikes' origin. The piercing sound shattered icicles from nearby trees. 

Eyes burning with hatred, it stared at the Frost Wolf's position, stomped its hind legs, then charged headfirst with incredible speed, covering the distance almost instantly. 

The Frost Wolf clearly recognized the Snow Mane's rage and avoided direct confrontation, retreating beneath the snow before suddenly darting toward the torch that had been knocked away.

"Damn," Xia Hong realized. "After failing its ambush, it's going straight for the prize."

Not just him - the enraged Snow Mane saw it too. 

Compared to its injury, the torch seemed far more important. Without hesitation, it changed direction, lowering its head before charging violently toward the torch. 

At first, Xia Hong thought it was gathering momentum. But upon closer look, he realized the truth. 

The Snow Mane's tusks plowed through the snow as it charged, lifting and scattering the white powder with tremendous force. Its deliberate stomping cleared the snow, exposing bare ground - a deliberate tactic to prevent the Frost Wolf from burrowing. 

The Frost Wolf, still underground, was flung into the air by the Snow Mane's tusks before reaching the torch. Though not large, the impact sent it crashing through a Crimson Frost Tree. 

Yet it immediately scrambled up, crimson eyes locked on the Snow Mane, baring its razor-sharp teeth as its ferocity peaked. With a powerful kick from its hind legs, it launched itself at the Snow Mane. 

The Snow Mane feared no brute force collision. It charged head-on without dodging. 

But the Frost Wolf's pounce was a feint. At the last moment, it dropped low, avoiding the Snow Mane's body to sink its teeth deep into the beast's left hind leg. 

CRUNCH!

The Frost Wolf's bite force proved formidable. 

The Snow Mane shrieked in pain, throwing its head back before attempting to bite its attacker. Missing, it switched to ramming, trying to dislodge the wolf. 

Yet the Frost Wolf, having secured its grip, refused to let go. Dodging with agile movements, it kept its jaws clamped tight. Soon, blood poured from the Snow Mane's leg, and with a vicious tearing motion, even white bone became visible. 

The pain only intensified the Snow Mane's struggles. When ramming failed, its eyes narrowed and it deliberately rolled onto its side, crushing the wolf beneath its thousand-pound bulk. 

What followed was a brutal thrashing - the desperate Snow Mane's tremendous strength and survival instinct had the Frost Wolf bleeding from nose and mouth within moments. Still, it refused to release its grip. 

The Snow Mane's violent rolls continued over a hundred times, yet the Frost Wolf held firm. 

Whether from blood loss or exhaustion, the Snow Mane's movements gradually slowed, its strength waning. 

Only when the flesh of its left hind leg had been torn from shank to thigh, exposing the entire bone structure, did the massive Snow Mane finally collapse. 

The battleground within a fifty-meter radius lay in ruins. Even Xia Hong's position fifty meters away felt the tremors - had their snow pit been any closer, all three would have been flung out. 

Though shocked, this being his second encounter, Xia Hong remained relatively composed. 

But Xia Chuan and Yuan Cheng beside him gaped in astonishment, their exposed eyes filled with shock and terror. They had believed reaching the Lumberjack Realm meant they could at least defend themselves, if not hunt Frost Beasts. 

Now they realized how gravely mistaken they'd been. 

And what happened next would make them doubt their very eyes.