Argulon Sandryk stood with his arms crossed on top of a high mountain in the Bear Clan's territory, looking down at Selena's arrival. His voice was deep and resonant, like the mountain winds, filled with power that echoed across the land: "Earth Goddess, what news do you bring to the Bear Clan?"
Selena conveyed her request to Argulon Sandryk, detailing the critical situation in Eldenia and the looming threat of Strongson's advance toward Airtulan. Her voice was firm, despite the slight nervousness in her heart, but she knew that he was the only one who could help turn the tide of the war.
Argulon Sandryk fell silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Selena as though attempting to see through her eyes and understand the very pulse of the land. He knew the importance of this war—Airtulan's future and the fate of the entire continent rested on this battle. He nodded slowly and finally spoke, his tone deliberate: "Earth Goddess, I respect you, and I respect Airtulan. I will grant your request."
Selena breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Argulon's promise, but she also realized that this legendary ally was not someone who could be easily mobilized. Although the Bear Clan was an unstoppable force, their unique culture and traditions kept them rarely involved in external conflicts. Argulon's promise was undoubtedly a major breakthrough, but Selena knew that to make the entire clan commit to this war, she would need to put in more effort.
Argulon waved his hand, signaling for a few of the Bear Clan's warriors to step forward. They were similarly large, wearing thick fur cloaks, their faces stern, their gazes sharp. Argulon muttered a few words to them, and they disappeared into the mountains like the wind. Then he turned back to Selena and asked in a deep voice, "Do you know why my people follow me? Why this clan stands firm in the north?"
Selena gazed at this mountain-like man and replied slowly, "Not only because you possess great strength, but because you are the symbol of the north. You have protected them, and you've opened the path for their survival."
Argulon smiled in satisfaction, but the smile held a hint of a hidden warning. "That's correct, but this strength did not come without a price. I want you to understand, Selena, what your request truly means. If the Bear Clan marches to war, every tribe in the north will be affected. This is not just our battle; it is a decision for the entire land."
Selena nodded, her gaze unwavering as rock. "I understand. I will not take this promise lightly, nor will I let the Bear Clan pay the price for a meaningless struggle."
Argulon fell silent for a moment. He turned toward the edge of a cliff, the distant mountain ranges rolling in the distance, their snow-covered peaks gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Suddenly, he shouted, "Come! Let me see if you have enough resolve!"
Selena was momentarily stunned but quickly understood his meaning. In the Bear Clan's tradition, agreements were never reached through words alone. Any request required a challenge that transcended life and death to prove one's sincerity. She smiled faintly, removing her cloak to reveal her lithe and powerful frame.
"As you wish, Argulon Sandryk," Selena's voice was clear and strong.
The warriors of the Bear Clan quickly gathered in a circle on the mountaintop, ready to witness the upcoming challenge. Their eyes were bright with anticipation, both surprised by Selena's courage and eager to see whether she could withstand the pressure of the "Mountain-Splitting Colossus."
Argulon stood in the center of the circle, like an immovable mountain, awaiting Selena's attack. She took a deep breath, knowing that this battle was not only to gain the Bear Clan's support, but to prove her sincerity and conviction to them.
The second clash between Selena and Argulon began with the force of a violent storm. They stood on the holy ground of the Bear Clan—on the icy plains at the edge of a cliff, the cold wind howling, making the warriors' cloaks flutter. The surrounding warriors held their breath in nervous anticipation, knowing this battle would go down in the tribe's history.
Argulon wasted no time, his enormous form charging at Selena like a collapsing mountain. His weapon, a massive warhammer forged from iron mined from the coldest of mountains, weighed over a hundred pounds, and each swing could make the earth tremble. He swung the hammer toward Selena, and the ground cracked open as the ice spread out like a spider's web, the enormous shockwave kicking up a blizzard of snow and ice.
Selena dodged with lightning speed, knowing a direct confrontation was nearly impossible. She deftly maneuvered around Argulon's side, looking for an opening. But Argulon's attacks were relentless, each hammer strike leaving deep cracks in the ice, declaring his unmatched strength.
"You are avoiding me, Earth Goddess!" Argulon roared, his voice like thunder. He stomped his foot, and the ground trembled violently, a deep crack spreading toward Selena, forcing her into a corner with no way to escape.
Seizing the opportunity, Argulon leapt into the air, his figure blotting out the sun, like a falling mountain. He raised the warhammer and swung it down on Selena with terrifying force, a blow that seemed capable of destroying the entire battlefield.
In a split second, Selena placed her hands on the ground, summoning the earth's power to form a stone barrier. The moment the warhammer struck the barrier, a deafening crash echoed through the valley. The stone shield shattered, but Selena managed to roll away just in time, narrowly avoiding the deadly blow.
Argulon pressed forward, not pausing for breath. As the Bear Clan's "Titan that Shatters Mountains," every blow he delivered pushed Selena further back. His attacks were relentless, with each hammer strike smashing the ground and sending fragments of rock flying, creating a brutal terrain battle.
Selena was pushed to the brink, her breathing quickening, sweat dripping down her forehead, but her eyes remained sharp. Finally, she spotted an opening—though Argulon's attacks were overwhelmingly powerful, he relied too heavily on strength and underestimated the toll on his stamina.
Seeing Selena dodge again, Argulon snarled, "Enough! Fight like a warrior!" With that, he slammed his warhammer into the ground with all his might, tearing the earth open. He grabbed a massive chunk of ice and hurled it at Selena, the ice tearing through the wind and snow like a meteor shower.
Selena took a deep breath and decided not to retreat but to face Argulon head-on. Using the cover of the falling ice, she weaved through the stones, swiftly closing the distance to Argulon's front. At the last moment, she touched the ground lightly with both hands, using the earth's power to propel herself upward, causing a sharp stone spike to shoot up directly into Argulon's lower body.
Argulon hadn't expected such boldness, and his balance was thrown off, forcing him to stagger backward. Selena seized the moment, leaping into the air with the speed of a falcon, landing precisely on Argulon's shoulder and directing the earth's energy into his body.
There was a tremendous crash as Argulon was knocked back several steps, his warhammer slipping from his grip as his massive form crashed to the ground, creating a deep ice crater beneath him.
The surrounding warriors gasped in astonishment; they had never seen anyone defeat Argulon head-on. Yet, Argulon did not seem ashamed. He slowly stood up, brushing the rubble from his shoulders, and stared at Selena for a long moment before bursting into laughter.
"Ha ha ha ha! Selena, you truly are the Earth Goddess! Your wisdom and resolve deserve the trust of the Bear Clan!" He extended a huge hand, lifting Selena from the ground. She knelt with one knee, her left hand pressed to the earth, as though she had just delivered her final, full-force blow.
Selena smiled faintly, breathless but with a gleam of victory in her eyes. "Thank you, Titan of Mountain Breaking. This battle is not only for Airtulan, but for the future of the entire north."
Argulon nodded, his gaze fierce. "The Bear Clan will fight by your side, Earth Goddess. No matter how many enemies lie ahead, we will stand firm like mountains!"
Argulon then began rallying the warriors of the Bear Clan, and the message spread quickly, gathering over a thousand powerful fighters from the northern families of Airtulan. Under the protection of the Great Bears, each warrior in the clan was a formidable war machine. Under the coordination of Karl, the Bear Clan's strength was nearly equal to any enemy army in the world. Within days, the Bear Clan's army was assembled and ready to march east.
As the leader of Airtulan, Selena had faced countless trials of life and death, but even she felt an overwhelming killing intent as she looked at the thousands of warriors, each with their unique physique. The very earth beneath her feet seemed to tremble in response.
After returning to the clan, Selena personally led a portion of the army, deciding to join forces with the warriors of the Bear Clan and march together to the battlefield of Eldenia. She knew that the support of the Bear Clan would be crucial; only their power could turn the tide of the war at the critical moment.