NOVPUB
Chapter 304: 304
But the Yeti was far from defeated. With a guttural roar, it flexed its muscular arms, shattering the vines that held it in place. It swung its enormous staff upwards, aiming for Lunara mid-dive. At the last moment, Lunara twisted her body, narrowly avoiding the full brunt of the swing, but the staff grazed her wing, sending a shock of pain down her side.
She hissed in pain but didn’t falter. Her claws still glowing with icy energy, she slashed across the Yeti’s chest, leaving a deep, freezing wound that spread frost over the creature’s fur. The Yeti howled in agony, staggering back as ice encased the wound, slowing its movements.
Nova took advantage of the Yeti’s vulnerability, leaping into the air with a mighty howl. His form shifted again, his body becoming even larger, his claws sharper. He landed on the Yeti’s back, sinking his fangs into its thick fur, and vines erupted from the ground once more, ensnaring the Yeti’s arms and legs with unrelenting force.
Lunara, hovering in the air, prepared for the final blow. She raised her claw, now glowing with the full power of her ice magic, ready to strike down and end the battle. But just as she was about to descend, the ground beneath the Yeti exploded in a burst of cold energy, sending shockwaves through the snow. 𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑝𝘶𝘣.𝑐𝘰𝘮
The Yeti, in its act of defiance triggered a massive ice eruption, launching shards of frozen earth and snow into the air. Lunara and Nova were caught off guard, both thrown back by the force of the explosion.
The frozen shard grazed both the skin of the princess and Nova. As the snow settled, the Yeti, bloodied , stood tall, its breath a bit ragged, but its eyes still burning with anger.
Lunara landed hard on the ground, her wings tattered but still functional. She gritted her teeth and stood up, her body trembling from exhaustion. Nova, also battered, growled slowly, his eyes fixed on the staggering Yeti.
The yeti once again smirked at both of them as it drummed its chest followed by a loud roar. The huge yeti fell on all four and began rushing towards them.
Getting close, the Yeti raised its huge hand to fall on both the princess and Nova who was now in front of her protecting her. The air above the Yeti head twisted as the werewolf general who had been following behind appeared at the head of the Yeti.
As the general landed on the Yeti head, the monster’s whole body sank like a huge weight was dropped on it. The yeti fell face forwards as its head busted like tomatoes followed by a blood spray that froze into red mist once it touched the air.
The Yeti’s blood sprayed into the cold air, freezing into a fine red mist. The beast collapsed, its body twitching one last time before falling completely still. The ground shuddered under the weight of its massive form
Nova stood up slowly, his eyes narrowing as he shifted back to his wolf form, the tension in his muscles easing slightly. Lunara, still trembling with exhaustion, tried to shake off the pain from the frozen shards that had grazed her skin. Her dragon-like wings flickered slightly, though clearly weakened.
The general leapt from the Yeti’s corpse, landing gracefully before Lunara and Nova. His sharp eyes were fixed on the princess, and despite the cold surrounding them, there was a warmth in his gaze that spoke of experience and authority. He folded his arms over his broad chest, his expression unreadable at first.
"Princess Lunara," he began, his voice calm but laced with a subtle undertone of reprimand. "You were reckless."
Lunara’s eyes flashed in defiance, her body tensing despite her exhaustion. "Reckless?" she spat, her wings flaring slightly as she stood to her full height. "That beast dared to mock us. I acted to put it in its place."
The general’s expression didn’t change, but his tone grew firmer. "And in doing so, you left yourself vulnerable. That last explosion of ice should never have caught you off guard."
Lunara clenched her fists, her claws digging into her palms. "I handled it," she snapped, her voice tight with anger. "I wounded the Yeti, didn’t I? I was ready to finish it."
The general raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by her outburst. "Wounding the enemy is not enough, Princess. You may have power, but power alone won’t win every battle." He glanced briefly at Nova, who had remained silent, his eyes still locked on the general. "You relied too much on your strength in that form."
Lunara glared at him, her breath heavy from both the fight and her barely restrained anger. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice still sharp, though there was a hint of curiosity beneath it.
The general stepped closer, his gaze softening slightly as he spoke. "You chose the wrong form for this fight. As powerful as your dragon-wolf hybrid is, it’s too large and too slow for an opponent like the Yeti. Speed and agility were what you needed to counter its brute strength and ice magic. Had you taken a more nimble form, perhaps the werewolf Form, you could have outmaneuvered it, rather than facing it head-on."
Lunara’s eyes flickered with frustration, but she didn’t immediately respond. The general continued, his tone still firm but with a touch of understanding. "You are a skilled warrior, Princess. But you must learn to adapt. Your raw power is not always the answer. Choosing the right form, the right strategy, is just as important as strength."
For a moment, the cold wind was the only sound between them. Lunara’s wings lowered slightly as the weight of the general’s words sank in. She hated being called out, especially in front of Nova, but she knew the general was right. Her pride kept her silent for a moment longer before she muttered, "I... I’ll keep that in mind."
The general nodded approvingly. "Good. This battle is a lesson. Don’t forget it."
Nova, who had remained stoic throughout the exchange, finally spoke, his voice deep and gravelly. "Next time, we’ll make sure the Yeti doesn’t even have the chance to smirk."
The general gave a small, approving smile. "Indeed. Now, rest and recover."
The princess shifted into her werewolf form, her clothing magically reappearing on her. She pointed at the bear she had killed, now a bloodstained mess from the battle’s casualties.
"I can’t feed Nova with my prey. Can I please have yours?" she asked, giving the general a cute look.
Amused, the general replied, "That wasn’t the deal, Your Majesty. Nova’s growth is your responsibility alone." He stopped suddenly, catching sight of the princess’s puppy-dog eyes.
The air around him shifted as he slowly disappeared. "You can have my prey, but don’t let your father know."
The princess hugged Nova’s neck and said, "Go ahead, Nova. With this, you can become even stronger."
Nova nodded as red, root-like tendrils emerged from his body, reaching toward the fallen Yeti corpse. The tendrils pulsed as they drained the Yeti of its blood, causing the creature’s body to shrivel.
As the Yeti’s body shriveled under the influence of Nova’s red tendrils, the once-mighty creature was reduced to a hollow shell. Nova’s eyes gleamed with power as he absorbed the blood, the crimson energy coursing through his veins, enhancing his already formidable strength. His body seemed to ripple with new life, his fur bristling with the infusion of power.
The princess, still clinging to Nova’s neck, smiled warmly as she felt the bond between them grow stronger. "That’s it, Nova," she whispered affectionately. "With each victory, you become more unstoppable."
Nova gave a low growl of acknowledgment, his eyes glowing faintly as he savored the newfound energy. The tendrils retracted back into his body, leaving the drained Yeti lying lifeless in the snow.
The princess glanced toward where the general had vanished, a smirk playing on her lips. "You know," she mused aloud to Nova, "for someone who likes to lecture me on responsibility, the general can be rather softhearted."
Nova snorted in agreement, though his eyes remained on the Yeti’s remains, his predatory instincts still lingering.
The princess straightened, her werewolf form towering with newfound confidence. "Come on, Nova. Let’s head back before the general changes his mind. We don’t want to risk losing his favor, especially after all that."
Nova padded beside her, his gait more powerful, his steps heavier with the strength gained from the Yeti. He glanced at the princess, sensing her satisfaction with the way the battle had turned out, despite the lecture.
As they walked through the snow-covered field, Lunara’s thoughts drifted to what the general had said. She knew there was truth in his words, and though it stung to admit it, her pride wouldn’t let her dwell on it for long. Instead, she focused on Nova’s growth, knowing that every battle and every kill was another step toward their shared goal: becoming unbeatable.
"I’ll learn," she muttered under her breath, more to herself than anyone else. "But I won’t give up my way." Nova gave her a sideways glance but remained silent.
