[There were more, Ned.]
To aid Ned from the swarm of Kruthik, ICE had to be employed so that Ned wouldn't miss one thing that may result in an error. With ICE on guard, Ned doesn't need to worry about his blind spots.
After he released Fireballs, Ned landed beside Katolin.
The aftermath of the blast from his spell created a cloud of dust that obscured their visions, and so does the beasts. Katolin stood with her limbs acted as her feet while his human feet hangs beside Ned. She towered Ned but that doesn't let her think that she was stronger than him.
Ned had deliberately hit the ground instead of the Kruthiks to let Katolin breathe with ease, and to let the blast make a gap between them. But now that the clouds of dust were about to disappear. Silhouette of protruding spikes were sticking out behind their backs. Ned counted dozens, to his right, another dozen to his left.
