Cold wind blew past the snow deer and Max indicating the last confrontation between them was about to happen and from one look one can see that snow deer also knows that it would die whether it loses or wins the clash between two of them such is this cold white world.
Snow deer put his front leg on snow below its hoof strongly and unleashed the sonic attack that can make one lose their consciousness but the against the mentally strong predator, it proved ineffective and Max only felt buzzing sound in his brain that would last for few seconds only and within few seconds the buzzing sound stopped ringing in his brain.
While Max conjured up the ice arrow out of the thin air aiming straight for the snow's deer head and Max open his fist and pointed his first finger at snow deer and move past him quickly, cutting through the cold wind with air piercing sound of wind getting cut off by the ice arrow and arrive in front of snow deer before it could even dodge and leaving with only option was to take the shot head-on but that would result in its death.
Despite being small and weaker compared to human in front of it, snow deer still have desire to live just like every living being, just before ice arrow would reach its head snow deer conjure up ice barrier in front of it in last efforts to save its life.
Just as ice arrow it broke apart thin ice barrier like glass clear sound of mirror getting destroy resound through the air in surrounding but along with it ice arrow also got broken the broken piece of ice barrier hit the snow deer making its injuries worse than before snow deer start to bleed from the head and falls onto the snow but it still jumps back to its legs and shook its head and start running towards the max.
Just as snow deer gets back on its four legs Max conjure up multiples ice arrows send them towards the snow aiming straight for its weak spot but snow deer run in zigzag pattern and avoiding the most of the ice arrow except for one or two that hit him and just as snow deer close the large distance between them it increases the running speed and leap forward like its whole body is spear and hit him in the chest.
Max flew out in air and land far back and the impact on his chest steals the air from his lungs, he starts gasping for air as he starts to take deep breath as the straight head on attack on his chest is pain it feels as his few ribs bones are broken and blood comes out of his mouth and dripping on the snow.
Max had injuries worse than this before but he didn't expect snow deer to run so fast in last moment that he couldn't even react took dodge or make barrier and mages are also weak against the physical as their body is weak compare to warrior and knights and they can't fight well in close range fight and snow deer removed the distance between them quickly before he could react even though snow deer was in bad condition.
Max is pretty sure that snow deer is much worse condition than him now as he ice arrows are stuck to snow deer body and some of them penetrate deep inside as snow deer couldn't dodge all ice arrows and snow deer doesn't have much strength to left in defend while he still have energy and mana.
Max stood up and looked at the snow deer lying on the snow with injuries all over his body. The snow below its body dyed red from its blood as the blood of snow deer was already attracting other creatures in their surroundings. The sharp chirping sound of birds resound above them. Max looked above the sky and saw a single white and blue colour bird flying in a circle around them in the air, a bird cry going to attract the other birds, animals and creatures far above their power level.
Cause this isn't the normal bird but the crying prey bird, what makes this bird special is it could find dead animals or the animals who are near their end and it would attract other predator nearby with its cry and eat whatever is left by the strong animal or beast as this bird is weak and couldn't defend itself against other but will seek protection from other animals, monster and humans.
Crying prey bird chirping sound is loud enough to cross west distance and the unique cry of it can't be mimicked by others making it valuable companions to have while traveling in wilderness but this bird has its own pros and cons and isn't worth keeping.
Max cautiously looks around his surroundings trying to see if any humans or beast are hiding behind tree or bush as crying prey bird cry must have attracted other animals or the humans who own it and within minutes all the birds and small animals start to make loud noises in their surroundings.
Snow deer look at the human in front of him as its knew the what fates lies ahead of him at this point as snow deer also heard the crying prey bird chirping sound and woods become alive within few minutes all the birds and animals waiting for the right moment to take opportunity of getting bite of snow deer.
Max stood cautiously and ready to launch an attack at the slightest moment he hears or saw in the surrounding, Claude slowly moved forward towards Max as growls and howls of animals in their surrounding getting louder and closer. Max still doesn't know the whereabouts of David and Claude.
As time passes more powerful beast would come here Max can't waste more time he has to make a decision whether to leave snow deer at last moment as snow deer is near to its death or take the bet and finish the snow deer in one blow and fight it out with other beast for his own kill.
Max made up his mind and stretched out his hand to recite spell snow deer and Claude both look at Max but anxious feeling starts to rise up in Claude heart as he saw Max start to recite spell, he doesn't know what spell Max reciting but he had to stop Max now or else something worse would happen.
"Max" Claude screamed out Max's name as it was the only way for him to stop Max as he couldn't run back to him to stop him at the last moment.
Even though screaming would let the beast hiding in his surroundings know about his location, it doesn't matter anymore as Claude doesn't want to lose two persons in one day.
"Max, please stop."
"Max, Don't do this. let it go." Claude said out loud from behind the Max.
Max turned his head to look at where he heard Claude's voice. He turned around and saw Claude gloomy and sobbing face tears are falling from his eyes and his sheepskin cloak is covered with blood and hold Brian axe in his hand but Brian doesn't seem to be around him anywhere near and suddenly bad feeling start to rise up in his heart like something really bad has happened.
Just as he could ask Claude anything he heard the sound of birds cry, animal growling and howling; it seems as if the whole forest has become alive within a few seconds. Even though he didn't see what's going on, he can feel why birds and animals are going wild now as behind him can feel a strong surge of mana gathering like a storm and without even looking at Max knew why this mana is intensified in air.
It wasn't because some strong beast was standing behind him but because snow deer is getting powerful evolution, snow deer evolving on the brink of death is something he didn't anticipate. The bleeding wounds on the snow deer body are healing at a visible rate. The dying beast a few seconds ago has been blessed with new life.
Snow deer white fur are turning soft and beautiful snow white as if it wasn't the end it seems as snow deer head started bulge as small horns start to grow out of them, this antlers edges are sharp like knife edges these antlers are in lightning strip shape and small lightning arc move on antlers crown.
This new evolution has bought lightning element power to snow deer along with ice elements this new element is rarely been seen on snow deer as lightning represent power and dominance that completely different compare to snow deer gentle and submissive nature but thinking back how snow deer keep fighting on for its life till the end, it does make sense for it to unlock this power but why right now brick of death.
This question won't be answered by Max as he hears sounds of footsteps approaching from ahead of him he can see the many silhouette of human figures in shadow that doesn't even try to hide their presences at all.