Kellan and Big Bone emerged cautiously from the cave, the frigid air biting at their skin as they surveyed their surroundings.
The eerie silence that had settled over the forest was broken only by the occasional crackling of frost spreading across the ground.
They knew the [Frostfang Spider] wasn't far—it was out there, waiting, hunting.
Its icy Qi was already seeping into the environment
Casting an unnatural chill over everything as trees and shrubs began to sparkle with frost,
"We can't stay here for long," Kellan whispered, his breath visible in the icy air.
"That thing will freeze us solid if we don't make a move."
Big Bone grunted in agreement, eyes scanning the surroundings.
His gaze fell on a dense thicket of foliage ahead, its tangled mass of branches and leaves offering ample cover.
"There," he pointed. "That spot is perfect for an ambush."
Kellan nodded, understanding immediately.
"We'll use the cover to launch sneak attacks. You'll need to draw its attention while I find a way to strike its weak spot."
Big Bone's jaw clenched.
"You know that thing's as strong as someone at the third level of the Blood Solidification Realm.
I won't be able to hold it off for long."
"I know," Kellan said grimly.
"But if I can land a blow on its abdomen with the [Temporal Fist], I might be able to take it down."
They exchanged a quick look of determination before sprinting toward the thicket.
Every step felt like a gamble, the tension in the air thickening as the frost continued to spread, creeping closer to their position.
Once hidden among the foliage, they huddled together to finalize their plan.
"I'll charge it head-on," Big Bone whispered, his voice low but filled with resolve.
"I'll use [Titan Refinement] to fortify my body, but the moment I get its attention, you better find your angle fast."
Kellan nodded, watching as Big Bone rolled his massive shoulders and took a deep breath.
A dark gray aura began to swirl around him, his Qi crackling with intensity as he activated his [Titan Refinement] technique.
His muscles bulged, veins pulsing as his body hardened, becoming a living fortress of flesh and bone.
"Ready?" Big Bone asked, his eyes gleaming with determination.
"Yeah," Kellan replied, crouching low in the bushes, waiting for his moment.
His heart pounded in his chest as he visualized the strike he would need to make—the perfect timing, the precise angle.
It all had to align, or they'd both end up as frozen corpses.
With a roar that shattered the icy silence, Big Bone charged out of the thicket, barreling toward the spider with earth-shaking force.
The ground trembled beneath him as his dark gray Qi enveloped his body, making him appear like a rampaging titan.
The [Frostfang Spider], alerted by the sudden commotion, snapped its grotesque head toward the incoming threat.
Its multiple icy eyes glittered in the frost-covered forest, locking onto Big Bone's form as it screeched with fury.
The spider's long, razor-sharp legs scraped across the ground, leaving trails of ice in their wake.
Its mandibles clicked ominously, and its frost-covered fangs glistened, promising death to anything that ventured too close.
The clash was immediate and brutal. Big Bone's fists crashed into the spider's legs, sending shards of ice flying in every direction.
The creature hissed, recoiling from the impact, but it quickly retaliated, swinging its razor-sharp limbs toward him with frightening speed.
Kellan watched from the shadows, his breath steady but shallow, eyes darting across the battlefield as he searched for the right moment.
Every muscle in his body was tense, ready to spring into action.
The fight between Big Bone and the [Frostfang Spider] raged on, a chaotic storm of blows and screeches.
Kellan's sharp gaze tracked the spider's movements, his mind racing to anticipate its next attack.
It was a monstrous creature, each of its movements calculated, its frosty legs slicing through the air like jagged blades of ice.
But Kellan knew one thing: every beast had a weak spot.
The spider's abdomen—the vulnerable, unarmored point just beneath its body—was exposed for only brief seconds as it reared back to strike, and even then, the window was minuscule.
He needed to time his strike perfectly.
His fists clenched in frustration as Big Bone battled with the creature, absorbing blow after blow.
They couldn't keep this up for long.
Big Bone roared again, his fists slamming into the spider's frozen exoskeleton with the force of an avalanche.
Ice cracked and splintered with each impact, but the spider's strength was overwhelming.
It pressed him back, its razor-sharp limbs moving faster than the eye could follow.
Each strike from the spider sent shockwaves through the ground, pushing Big Bone to the edge of his limits.
Frost began to spread from its legs, snaking up Big Bone's arms, inching toward his chest, threatening to freeze him solid where he stood.
"Come on, come on," Kellan whispered to himself, gripping his fists tightly.
He had to wait for the right opening.
Then it happened.
The spider lunged, leaving its abdomen exposed for the briefest moment.
Kellan saw his chance.
With a burst of speed, he sprang from the bushes, dashing toward the spider with everything he had.
Time seemed to slow as he focused his Qi, gathering it into his fist.
The [Temporal Fist] glowed with a shimmering light, bending the flow of time around it.
In an instant, Kellan was beneath the spider, his fist hurtling toward its exposed abdomen.
He roared as he unleashed his strike, the energy from the [Temporal Fist] warping the air around him.
The impact was explosive.
The [Frostfang Spider] let out a deafening screech as Kellan's fist connected with its weak spot, the energy from the attack ripping through its body.
Its massive form shuddered, legs buckling as it staggered backward, severely weakened.
Big Bone, sensing the moment of victory, let out a triumphant roar and moved in for the kill.
But just as they prepared to finish the beast off, a voice called out from the trees.
"Are you guys trying to steal our prey from us?"
Kellan and Big Bone froze, their heads snapping toward the source of the voice.
Two figures emerged from the shadows, both wearing matching dark robes adorned with strange symbols.
The duo's expressions were hard and unwelcoming.
Kellan immediately recognized the insignia on their robes—they were from the neighboring Nightshade Clan
The first man, tall and lanky, sneered. "Looks like we've got pests from the Shi Clan here."
The second, a woman and yet more intimidating, stepped forward with a dangerous grin.
"You better scram if you know what's good for you. Leave this place or we'll deal with you after we handle our prey."
Big Bone growled, his fists clenching, but Kellan placed a hand on his arm, signaling for caution.
This wasn't over yet.