The Northern Wolf God teleported again, appearing right behind Cipher. This time, however, Hysilens stepped forward and raised her crimson longsword, blocking the beast's impending bite.
The Wolf God's fangs clamped down fiercely on Hysilens's blade, the sharp teeth grinding against the steel with an ear-splitting screech. Tremendous force surged through the sword, pushing Hysilens backward several meters despite her rooted stance.
Hysilens realized the Wolf God possessed astonishing strength, far surpassing her own. But the next instant, the ice beneath their feet shattered with a thunderous crack, plunging both combatants into the sea.
Without the solid ice to anchor themselves, Hysilens immediately felt the pressure from the Wolf God diminish. Conversely, with the vast sea at her back, the ocean's current surged against her, amplifying her own strength and allowing her to begin pushing back against the Wolf God.
If this were a normal enemy, Hysilens thought, they'd surely release their grip and scramble for the shore right now, wouldn't they?
But the Wolf God showed no sign of loosening its grip, its claws churning frantically in the sea, its expression growing increasingly ferocious. Instead, it relentlessly tried to increase its bite force, resembling nothing so much as one of those rabid dogs Hysilens had seen in her previous life—once they latched on, they refused to let go, even in death.
"If that's how it is..." Hysilens murmured softly. In the next moment, the seawater around her began to shift and transform, gradually coalescing into a massive whale, dwarfing even the Wolf God in size.
As the apex predator of the ocean, the largest whales—Blue Whales—can reach a terrifying length of thirty meters, making them absolute leviathans. Yet the whale conjured by Hysilens was even more colossal, stretching at least a hundred meters long!
Compared to this behemoth, the ten-meter-long Wolf God looked like nothing more than a tiny wolf pup.
The moment the whale materialized, it surged toward Hysilens, its massive maw gaping wide in a display of primordial hunger, as if poised to devour the very heavens and earth.
Simultaneously, Cipher, who had also fallen into the sea, swam frantically to Hysilens's side, wrapping her arms tightly around Hysilens's waist and pressing her body close against hers.
After all, the Wolf God's hatred was now focused on her. If she strayed too far, what if the wolf suddenly teleported again?
As soon as the ice cracked, Cipher had fallen into the sea alongside Hysilens. Unlike Hysilens, who loved the sea, the cat was somewhat afraid of water—or rather, she loathed it, especially when it was so cold. The moment she plunged into the icy water, she began to shiver uncontrollably.
Now, Hysilens's attack covered such a vast area that Cipher remained terrified that the Wolf God might teleport if she strayed too far. The safest place was undoubtedly right next to Hysilens. By sticking close, Hysilens could protect her by simply paying extra attention to her immediate surroundings when the attack landed.
BOOM—!!!
The next moment, with a deafening roar, the whale's attack crashed down. As its jaws slammed shut, it was as if the sky and the earth had collided, unleashing an indescribable force from above and below simultaneously. Like a colossal hydraulic press, the impact struck the Wolf God with crushing force.
Unlike Pan Ming, Hysilens lacked the finesse to temper her strikes. The aftershock alone shattered every inch of ice within a ten-kilometer radius!
The Wolf God was forced to release its grip under the force of the blow, letting out a mournful howl. Its limbs twisted grotesquely as its body was crushed between the whale's jaws and the crushing pressure of the seawater, leaving it utterly immobile.
Seizing the advantage, Hysilens raised her crimson blade high above her head and slashed down at the Wolf God's neck. But her strike passed right through the creature as if it were nothing more than an illusion.
Moments later, the entire crimson wolf began to dissipate slowly, vanishing into thin air before Hysilens's eyes.
"What...?" Hysilens murmured, momentarily stunned. Her first thought was: Did I just defeat a clone or something? But she quickly dismissed the idea. During the battle, she had clearly sensed the divine power and Divinity emanating from the creature—it had undoubtedly been the true form.
But why did it suddenly vanish without a trace?
With this question nagging at her, Hysilens leaped out of the water. The ice she had shattered moments ago was already beginning to refreeze in the frigid air. As she scanned her surroundings, she suddenly felt a gaze filled with hatred lock onto her.
Hysilens immediately followed the source of the gaze, only to catch a glimpse of a red back, resembling a tail, vanishing from her vision.
Clearly, Hysilens' earlier attack had dealt significant damage to the 'Wolf God.' Using some unknown ability, the creature had fled her presence like a wounded beast, fleeing to some hidden corner to lick its wounds while etching the face of its enemy into its memory.
Wolves are notoriously vengeful, and this creature would undoubtedly seek revenge once its injuries healed.
As for why she didn't pursue it, Hysilens knew she couldn't possibly catch up. Even though she had used her ability to strip the seawater from Cipher's body the instant they emerged from the water, Cipher still felt a chill. She clung tightly to Hysilens, instinctively seeking warmth.
This was rather strange. The 'Wolf God' possessed no Authority related to cold, yet Hysilens had also felt a chill when they first arrived. Her gaze swept across the surroundings, finally settling on the iceberg where the 'Wolf God' had stood moments before.
Her recent whale strike had shattered the ice across a ten-kilometer radius, yet the iceberg directly in front of her remained completely unscathed, without a single crack.
However, Hysilens didn't immediately approach to investigate. Instead, she stayed put, letting her other self hold her tight to regain warmth and recover her strength.
Truth be told, even if she had sent Cipher after the Wolf God earlier, Hysilens doubted she could truly kill it. Or, more accurately, she suspected she might have already killed the Wolf God once, only for it to inexplicably resurrect.
Is this perhaps another of its Authorities?
Ultimately, Faith Gods are notoriously difficult to kill. After all, the Wolf God had accumulated millennia of Power of Faith—each sliver of faith fueling its vitality. As long as that power remained, as long as it had Believers, even if Hysilens managed to slay it, the creature would inevitably revive before long.
The best strategy for slaying a Faith God is to first sever its ties to faith, then relentlessly battle it to exhaust its Power of Faith. Once that power is depleted, the Faith God will finally perish.
In other words, the top priority now should be spreading the true faith of the Wolf God, especially among the barbarians of the Former Falcon Clan. We need to convert them immediately!
Just as she was pondering this, Hysilens suddenly shuddered. The reason was simple: Cipher, who was embracing her from behind, had suddenly licked her neck with her cat-like tongue.
Pressed so close, Cipher clung to Hysilens like a large pendant, her head buried in Hysilens' hair. Each breath carried the refreshing scent of the sea, mingled with a hint of fish—a delightful aroma. Involuntarily, Cipher's tongue flicked out to lick the back of Hysilens' neck. After all, what's more natural than a cat licking fish?
...Right?
Since it was ultimately Cipher licking herself, Hysilens didn't say anything. Finally, Cipher buried her nose in Hysilens' hair, took a few deep breaths, and released her grip. Having warmed up enough, she slipped away.
Once Hysilens was alone again, she walked toward the towering iceberg ahead. As she drew closer, she could clearly feel the temperature dropping, though it remained within her tolerable range—not too cold.
Tap-tap~
The crisp sound of high heels striking the ice echoed across the desolate Ice Plains. Moments later, Hysilens arrived before the towering ice mountain. She could clearly see that it wasn't composed of ordinary ice; rather, it seemed to be formed from some kind of crystalline substance.
Bathed in sunlight, the ice refracted a dazzling, crystalline light, creating a breathtaking spectacle. Hysilens extended her right hand, her fingertips gently brushing the peculiar ice. The sensation was akin to touching an ice block with bare hands in the dead of winter—bone-chillingly cold.
Yet this was the Demigod's Body we're talking about. For it to feel this intensely cold meant the ice was no ordinary substance.
"Looks like the Northern Territory still holds some treasures..." Hysilens murmured, raising her longsword and preparing to hack off a piece to send back to Okhema for research.
Meanwhile, the scene shifted to Cipher's perspective. She had returned to the battlefield against the Falcon Clan—or, more accurately, the "rescue operation." A staggering three hundred thousand bodies lay scattered across the frozen ground. If they were just fish, it would take ages to salvage them all. This is even worse, however. This was destined to be a task of sheer physical endurance. In a way, Cerydra's deployment of ten thousand troops seemed woefully inadequate for the task.
It's worth noting that during the earlier battle, a horde of Barbarians had entered a Bloodthirsty Rage. Now, having failed to kill enemies or bathe in blood, they were suffering the backlash of their frenzy. Their bodies had been drained dry, their blood evaporated completely, and they collapsed dead on the spot.
These Barbarians were beyond saving—a harsh reality Dirk couldn't change. He ordered his own Barbarians to focus on rescuing the others. Aria's aura proved invaluable during the rescue operation. The single "Unlimited Stamina" buff alone multiplied the rescue efficiency by an immeasurable degree.
Even so, the rescue operation dragged on for a full day and night. Of the 300,000 Barbarians, all but approximately 4,000-5,000 loyalists to the deceased Jones chose to surrender. Victory crowns the victor, defeat brands the vanquished. With their former Boss dead, joining a new, more powerful leader wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Moreover, Jones had a notoriously short temper. In the Falcon Clan, a single careless word could provoke his wrath, leading to a Blood Sacrifice that very night. Now, these Barbarians rose, hoping their new Boss Imperator, Her Majesty the Empress, would be more benevolent.
The following day, in the Northern Territory Empire, though the vast majority of the Falcon Clan had surrendered, their sheer numbers posed a monumental challenge to integration. With the Northern Territory Empire's total population barely reaching two hundred thousand, absorbing nearly three hundred thousand newcomers would take months, if not longer.
Before the formal integration process began, Cerydra summoned Dirk, Pan Ming, and the four members of Aria's team. She sat regally on an elevated throne, at least a meter high, her arms crossed, and declared, "You have all performed admirably. What rewards do you desire? Speak freely."
Dirk, ever pragmatic, responded first, "Boss Imperator, no need. Serving you is reward enough for me!"
Aria smiled sweetly, her expression radiating innocence. "Once all the Barbarians are integrated into the Northern Territory Empire, no one will starve here anymore, right? That's wonderful! As long as good deeds are done, I'm happy! I don't need any reward either!"
Feidric and Douglas both shook their heads, declining any reward. Truth be told, they had already gained ample benefits from Okhema. Their current mission to assist Cerydra was simply fulfilling Tribios's quest.
Cipher shrugged her tiny hands, needing no further explanation. That left only Pan Ming. Seeing everyone else decline rewards, he humbly stated, "This entire journey was to repay Her Majesty for teaching us how to grow potatoes. I naturally require no compensation."
However, after this round of declarations, Cerydra pursed her lips, her expression slightly exasperated. She had deliberately called this private meeting to distribute rewards, only for everyone to refuse them. What was the point of holding the meeting at all?
After a moment's thought, Cerydra turned to Pan Ming. "Oh, right. I seem to recall hearing that you wished to discuss a trade with me? Why haven't you mentioned it yet?"
Pan Ming blinked in surprise, then lowered his head. "Your Majesty is truly omniscient. It is indeed true."
In truth, Cipher had simply overheard Pan Ming discussing this with Dirk while enjoying some snacks nearby.
A translucent image of scales materialized before Cerydra. "Mr. Monk," she declared, "step forward."