As the battle stalled, Arthur realized that time was running out. The fate of the coalition depended on whether he could break the deadlock, and the only way to turn the tide was to secure aid from Airtulan. He grasped tightly the feather of the Wind-Whispering Bird, silently invoking Queen Selena's name before releasing it into the sky. The bird soared, swiftly crossing the vast lands of Eldenia, heading toward the borders of Airtulan.
The bird's speed was remarkable, but given the long distance, it still needed time. The journey from Eldenia to Airtulan was no short one, especially as the bird traversed the dense forests and towering mountains. After two days and nights of flight, the bird finally arrived at the palace where Queen Selena resided. With tired wings, it flew to her window, letting out a sharp call.
Selena gazed at the bird's wings, feeling a surge of complex emotions. The situation in Eldenia had become increasingly dire, and the passage of time weighed heavily on her. She knew that Arthur was facing immense peril, yet Airtulan's tribes were focused on the eastern defense, leaving little room to attend to distant borders. However, she understood that if Eldenia fell, Airtulan would face even greater challenges. This war was not only about Eldenia's future, but also the fate of the entire continent.
Despite this, most of Airtulan's forces were concentrated at the eastern frontier, and only a handful remained to defend the rest. Selena knew she had to seek out stronger forces for support. She thought of a tribe seldom mentioned— the Battle Bear Clan.
The Battle Bear Clan's homeland lay in the frigid northern regions of Airtulan, an area almost perpetually covered in snow. The harsh climate and severe environment had shaped the clan's resilience and courage. The vast icy plains stretched endlessly, with snow-capped mountains towering imposingly, their peaks forever covered in thick ice. Storms were a regular occurrence here, with blizzards and biting winds constantly threatening, and few could survive in such an inhospitable place unless, like the Battle Bear Clan, they possessed extraordinary survival skills.
The villages of the Battle Bear Clan were often built at the foot of rugged mountains or in valleys deep within the mountains, hidden behind natural barriers of ice and impenetrable forests. The temperature remained below twenty degrees Celsius year-round, and in the coldest winters, it could drop to minus fifty. Only a few species could survive in such an environment, and hunting and gathering were extremely difficult. As a result, the Battle Bear Clan had long relied on hunting and warrior combat for survival.
The harsh environment had also honed the clan's skill in battling the snow and ice. Their homes were primarily built from sturdy stone and wood, with thick animal skins draped over the roofs to keep out the wind and preserve warmth. The walls were heavy enough to withstand the cold, and the floors were covered in thick furs. Each household had a powerful stove to heat their homes during the bitterly cold nights. In such conditions, every member of the Battle Bear Clan began learning how to hunt beasts, craft weapons, and combat the sudden onslaught of snowstorms from a young age.
In even harsher conditions, the clan's warriors took part in extremely dangerous activities such as glacier bear hunts and snow mountain hunts. It was said that the warriors of the Battle Bear Clan could engage in hand-to-hand combat with giant brown bears, ice wolves, and snow leopards during cold nights. These animal pelts not only provided warmth but were also valuable resources for the tribe.
The clan's faith was deeply tied to their environment. They worshiped the "Bear God," a deity symbolizing strength and nature. Every year, the clan held a grand "Bear Hunt Ceremony," where the strongest warrior would face off against the fiercest bear in a duel. The one who succeeded in hunting the bear, with the god's blessing, would earn the right to lead the tribe and enjoy unparalleled glory. The bear's skin and bones were not only symbols of honor but were also crafted into armor and weapons for the warriors.
Additionally, the Battle Bear Clan embraced a strong "fatalistic" culture, believing that life was closely connected to nature, and that life and death were determined by the heavens. Many of the tribe members viewed life as part of a battle, with each trial of life and death seen as an opportunity to come closer to the gods and natural forces. To them, death was not an end, but a return to unity with the ancestors and the Bear God.
The leader of the Battle Bear Clan was known as the "Mountain-Splitting Colossus," Argulon Sandryk. This man was a northern legend, a giant with immense strength, a face full of beard, and brown eyes that exuded an unyielding gaze, as immovable as a rock in the eye of a storm, radiating an overwhelming sense of resolve and suffocating pressure.
Argulon Sandryk represented the highest ideals of the Battle Bear Clan culture—absolute strength and unyielding willpower. Every warrior of the clan dreamed of becoming a hero like Argulon Sandryk, one who could change the fate of the tribe through sheer force of will. The Mountain-Splitting Colossus was not only the clan's leader but also a symbol of the indomitable will of the "mountain." The tribe paid homage to him in annual ceremonies, telling his story, and children aspired to be like him, training rigorously to follow in his footsteps.
Argulon's skin, weathered from years of exposure to the cold and battle, was covered in hardened scars. Standing at eight feet three inches tall, his muscular arms were strong enough to easily lift a full-grown bear. Known for his ability to topple mountains with his strength and unparalleled courage, he earned immense fame when, in his youth, he personally conquered a giant brown bear weighing over 4,000 pounds in the northern part of Airtulan. He became the tribe's leader and was regarded as unstoppable once mobilized.
Queen Selena had once fought him personally and knew well the immovable strength of his will and his unprecedented power.
The fight between Selena and Argulon took place after an important tribal council. At the time, Argulon had just become the leader of the Battle Bear Clan, and Selena challenged him to test his strength and resolve.
When the battle began, Argulon Sandryk moved like a giant bear, shaking the ground with each step. He used no weapons, instead launching his massive fists at Selena, with power so immense it seemed as though mountains were collapsing. Selena, light as wind, danced through the gaps in Argulon's brutal attacks, using her agility to counter his blows.
Both demonstrated extraordinary combat intelligence. Argulon used his raw strength to turn the terrain into his weapon, causing cracks to form in the ground, with rocks flying in all directions. Selena, however, used her mastery over the earth to absorb his blows and counterattacked with precision, forcing him to retreat step by step.
As the battle reached its peak, Argulon leapt into the air, attempting to end the fight with a crushing punch. Selena, drawing on the earth's energy, stood firm like a mountain, meeting his strike head-on. With a mighty crash, the ground caved in, and the two stood amid the dust and debris, staring at each other. Argulon's power was awe-inspiring but could not shake Selena's indomitable will. Meanwhile, Selena's agility, while elusive, could not entirely overpower Argulon's suffocating raw strength.
Eventually, both nodded slightly, signaling mutual respect, and ended the battle. This fight not only cemented Argulon "Mountain-Splitting Colossus" Sandryk's legendary status but also earned Selena's admiration. She knew that Argulon was a trustworthy ally, and from that moment on, Argulon respectfully referred to her as the "Will of the Earth."
As she entered the northern lands of Airtulan this time, she felt a sense of unease—this request might bring challenges unlike any she had faced before.
The land was eerily silent, almost oppressive. Selena's heartbeat quickened. Though she had long since experienced the smoke of battle and the carnage of war, the presence of the Battle Bear Clan always left her feeling a unique sense of pressure.
In the distance, the clan's settlements stood unwavering against the cold wasteland. Wooden houses, big and small, dotted the snow-covered plains, their roofs tightly wrapped in thick animal pelts to fend off the bitter wind. Smoke rising from chimneys quickly dispersed in the frigid air, disappearing into the vast white world. Selena squinted her eyes, noticing that the simple yet sturdy structures seemed to embody the very strength of the land itself.
She continued onward, descending from the high ground and stepping onto the hard snow, the crunch of her footsteps breaking the silence. In this quiet world, every sound seemed amplified, as if each step she took shattered the stillness. Her gaze fixed on a group of warriors ahead—tall, clad in heavy fur armor, weapons at their sides, their footsteps firm and determined. They stood in an open area, their presence like a storm ready to burst, the atmosphere thick with tension and anticipation.
"These people..." Selena thought to herself. The warriors before her exuded an extraordinary aura, as if their very existence was meant to challenge fate. This energy did not come from their weapons or armor, but from a deep, inner power—an unmatched determination that emanated from within.