As the icy stillness lingered in the swamp, Bella strode toward the frozen remains of the foxes. Her steps were cautious but deliberate, her crimson hair catching faint glimmers of light against the frigid expanse.
She approached the nine-tailed fox first, her keen eyes analyzing the creature's icy prison with a mix of excitement and determination.
Though not of noble lineage, the beast's core still thrummed faintly with power beneath its frozen shell. The core of a nine-tailed fox, even a lesser one, was a rare and valuable resource for cultivation. Bella's gloved hand brushed against the ice, and with a flick of her fingers, a burst of crimson flame erupted from her palm.
The flames did not clash with Calantha's ice—they worked around it, melting just enough for Bella to reach inside the fox's chest.
