The ice field had barely had time to settle from the Madam's dramatic arrival when chaos erupted. The moment she landed gracefully on the newly formed ice, her presence did not go unnoticed.
From the dark waters beyond, a great horde of orcas surged forward, creatures spanning the age range of 1,000 to 20,000 years old, their dark forms massive and determined. Their eyes and razor-sharp teeth glistened in the pale light as they closed in on the intruder.
Immediately, half of the crew leaped from The Black Queen and formed a protective circle around the Madam. Their mission was clear: they would ensure she was not overwhelmed by the relentless charge of orcas. The other half of the crew looked toward Dugu Bei, awaiting orders. With the cold wind biting at his face and the frozen sea stretching out in all directions, Bei's eyes narrowed with resolve.
"Follow me!" he bellowed, his voice echoing over the ice. At his command, the men surged forward in unison, leaping off the ship and plunging directly into the fray against the charging orcas.
The moment Bei landed on the ice, he could feel the thrum of raw energy coursing through him. His control over his Devouring Domain had improved dramatically over the past months, and he wasted no time in activating it. With a low, steady breath, he let his will spread outward, drawing energy from every living form in his vicinity. The domain's oppressive aura was dark and insidious. It filled the entire area, stealing the vitality of the charging orcas while improving his own strength. The air around him seemed to shimmer as life force, soul power, and raw energy were siphoned from the creatures, their movements slowing as weakness set in.
The effect was brutal. Orcas, once full of ferocity and power, now staggered under the relentless influence of Bei's domain. Their once-mighty roars were reduced to pained grunts as their bodies weakened. Spurred on by this advantage, Bei seized the moment. He possessed his Martial Soul, the Poison Devouring Spider Emperor, and activated his sixth Spirit Ability without hesitation. With a precise, deliberate motion, he summoned twenty wolf-sized spiders. These monstrous arachnids, each radiating a malevolent energy, erupted from the ether to join the battle, their venomous mandibles glinting under the cold light of the frozen sea.
The spiders did not act as mere distractions; they became extensions of Bei's will. With a series of swift, coordinated strikes, they scurried toward the nearest orcas. Each spider launched vicious attacks, bites that injected potent toxins, legs that slashed through thick hide, and pincers that clamped down with crushing force. The venom from the spiders was no ordinary toxin, it was the corrosive essence of Bei's own spirit, a characteristic of his spiders he didn't dare to use while sparing with his family.
As the orcas struggled to free themselves from the binding grip of the venomous threads, their massive bodies convulsed and shuddered.
Bei advanced, his eyes alight with cold determination. He activated his first Spirit Ability, Venom Thread Bind, and green, iridescent threads shot forth from the tips of his arm blades. The threads whirled around like spectral whips, entangling the orcas and constricting their limbs. With every passing moment, the poison seeped into the creatures, corroding their scales and weakening their muscular structure. One particularly old orca, its body mottled with scars of battles past, let out a piercing shriek as the threads tightened, drawing blood that mingled with the ice.
Meanwhile, his companions on the ice were locked in their own brutal fights. The crew's coordinated attacks created pockets of resistance, but the overwhelming numbers of the orcas demanded that every ounce of strength be poured into the battle.
Dugu Xin and Liu Erlong were watching the battle on the ship. They were meant to stay hidden and save their strength until the 100,000-year soul beast appeared.
On the battlefield, the ice itself groaned under the strain, cracks forming as massive orca bodies collided with the frozen surface. Blood was mixed with the melting ice, creating a macabre picture of violence.
Every strike from Bei's arm blades, every lash of the summoned spiders, added to the carnage. With every enemy that fell, his Devouring Domain grew stronger, its dark tendrils reaching out to harvest the dissipating soul power and life force from the dying creatures. The orcas began to fall one by one, their roars replaced by gasps and the sickening sound of breaking bones, they weren't smart enough to realize that Bei's Domain would become stronger as every minute passed instead of weaker, that was their doom.
But just as victory seemed within grasp, a shiver ran down Bei's spine. In the distance, emerging from the horizon like a dark omen, came the unmistakable signs of the approaching Evil Spirit Orca King. Its massive form could be seen breaking through the dim light, moving with a speed that belied its enormous size.
The sight sent a fresh surge of adrenaline through Bei. He gritted his teeth and shouted, "Their king is coming! Don't let it reach the Madam!"
The crew braced themselves as the ground trembled beneath them. The power of the Evil Spirit Orca King was like nothing they had faced before, a colossal force of nature imbued with ancient, malevolent energy. Its presence threatened to overwhelm even Bei's meticulously built defenses.
With that, the battle's focus shifted. The remaining crew readied themselves for the impending onslaught, their eyes fixed on the approaching shadow of the Orca King. As the dark silhouette of the Orca King grew ever nearer, Bei steeled himself.
As the beast approached, Bei realized the Orca King didn't come alone, some orcas followed him. He looked at the crew and noticed they were already exhausted. He sighed and decided it was up to him to deal with the small fries while Liu Erlong and Dugu Xin dealt with the big guy.
Bei looked at the crew again and said, "Stay back and protect the Madam, you've done our part, leave the rest to us." Then he walked toward the beasts coming in their direction until he was far enough and closed his eyes, mentally preparing for the next battle.
Bei stood there with his eyes closed for four seconds, "I thought you had fallen asleep on the ship, and I was going to have to do all the hard work." He said with a smile on his face. When he finally opened his eyes, Dugu Xin and Liu Erlong were in front of him looking at the incoming beasts like two pillars protecting him.
"Did you honestly think we would lose the fun part?" Liu Erlong joked, but it didn't reach her eyes as she was staring at the Evil Spirit Orca King.
"You did a great job, Bei, now it's our turn. Leave the rest to us." This time, it was Dugu Xin who spoke. But his tone was even more serious than Liu Erlong's.
Bei looked at both of them and just smiled. He didn't need to rest, he had absorbed so much power while fighting the orcas that he felt he could keep fighting for days. But it was still nice to have people caring about his well-being.