While Sherry and the monster were locked in a struggle, Anis cut in from the flank.
She released a barrage of deadly ice shards. The sharp points streaked through the air, leaving clear trails as they aimed directly for the Ice-toothed Tiger’s heart.
In that moment, Anis felt her judgment was impeccably precise—if it hit, the ferocious beast would be killed or, at the very least, crippled.
But just as she was about to succeed, the unexpected happened!
*ROAR—!!!*
A deafening tiger’s roar rippled outward like a physical force. The moment the ice shards touched the sound waves, they shattered one after another, turning into countless fragments of ice that were swept into the surroundings by the violent air currents.
Even Anis was not spared. She was struck by the powerful sound wave and the swirling air currents mixed within it, causing her to stagger backward.
“Guh…”
She let out a low groan and fell to one knee. Her remaining eye widened in shock at the sight before her, and her heart went cold.
A second Ice-toothed Tiger emerged from the depths of the wind and snow.
It was even more massive than the first, its body covered in heavy frost. Its sharp teeth were exposed, and blue-white magic flowed slowly along its fangs.
That roar was not just a display of power; it was a warning—’Don’t you dare harm my kin.’
Sherry’s expression darkened instantly.
“Damn it, why is there another one?” she muttered through gritted teeth, quickly retreating to Anis’s side to help her up.
“This one is larger and stronger than the previous one. It’s likely a male.”
‘Is he out here protecting his mate?’
The male Ice-toothed Tiger locked onto them like they were its chosen prey, staring fixedly at the two girls. Meanwhile, the female Ice-toothed Tiger quietly circled behind them, forming a pincer attack.
The offensive rhythm they had managed to maintain was completely shattered.
Sherry thought briefly. Provided she didn’t reveal her magical trump cards, she might be able to defeat these two powerful enemies, but she certainly wouldn’t emerge unscathed.
More importantly, she couldn’t guarantee Anis’s safety. As a mage, once Anis was closed in on, the consequences would be disastrous.
“Retreat to the side! We can’t let them flank us like this!!” Sherry made a quick judgment.
Anis did not hesitate, quickly retreating alongside Sherry.
However, the snow, which reached past their ankles and pressed against their calves, was a lethal obstacle. Every step back had to be cautious, or they risked losing their balance and falling.
If they fell, the enemy would never give them a chance to get back up. In fact, whether they would even have a chance to breathe was debatable.
The two Ice-toothed Tigers coordinated perfectly. The male pressured them from the front while the female circled the side, forcing them toward narrower, more dangerous, and untrodden snow.
Sherry held her sword and shield, maintaining a combat stance, but she didn’t dare to initiate an attack—she couldn’t handle both at once.
Unless she used magic.
Anis used freezing magic repeatedly, trying to block the path beneath the beasts’ feet. But no matter how she tried, the tigers simply lifted their paws and crushed the ice with ease.
‘This can’t go on…’ she whispered, gritting her teeth.
Anis could feel her physical functions gradually declining. Between using mana to maintain her body’s movement and using it for combat, the consumption rate far exceeded her imagination.
Her left eye began to ache faintly. This was not good.
“Anis.”
Sherry’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was exceptionally clear.
Anis looked to the side. Sherry was retreating side-by-side with her, but her gaze wasn’t on the Ice-toothed Tigers; it was fixed firmly on Anis’s face.
Those eyes appeared extraordinarily calm amidst the wind and snow, carrying a sort of desperate resolve.
“I need you to help me with something,” Sherry said.
Anis was startled. “What?”
“Give me a little bit of ice mana,” Sherry continued. “Not much, just a little.”
“What are you going to do?” Anis asked, confused.
“This sword of mine was reinforced with ice-attribute magic ore. Injecting a bit of mana into it will activate its full form.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to—”
“Yes.” Sherry interrupted her, her tone firm. “Instead of retreating to the cliff like this, I’d rather take a gamble and blow them away.”
Anis’s heart tightened. Sherry was the one who had hired her as a bodyguard for this trip, so why did it feel like the roles were reversed now?
However, she didn’t have much time to think. Anis took a deep breath and looked at Sherry. “Tell me when.”
The corners of Sherry’s mouth lifted slightly, as if she were relieved. “The moment one of them lunges.”
Not long after the words left her mouth, the male Ice-toothed Tiger in front of them let out a deafening roar. Simultaneously, the female on their side launched an attack!
A feint to distract while the other struck—perfect coordination.
Similarly, Anis chose to believe. The moment she saw the female tiger pounce, her wand lit up with a faint glow.
The knightly sword in Sherry’s hand seemed to wake up. Violent, pure mana erupted from the blade, the air emitting a piercing screech. Even the snow layer centered around her began to dissipate!
Sherry moved.
The power she had suppressed for so long was completely released at this moment. She met the pouncing female tiger head-on, leaped, and swung!
“**SKY-RENDING ICE SLASH!**”
The heavy, powerful blow sliced through the air like a blade through a mirror—a clean decapitation!
The moment she landed, her feet moved in a ghostly dance. She bypassed the male tiger’s front and thrust her sword forcefully into its heart!
Fresh blood dyed the white snow red, and steam carrying the scent of blood was exceptionally visible in the bitter cold.
*AWOOO—*
Seeing his beloved mate killed, the male Ice-toothed Tiger went completely insane.
It lunged at Sherry regardless of the cost, but at that moment, Anis moved too!
“Don’t even think about it!”
Since ice magic didn’t work, she would change it!
Several scorching fireballs flew straight toward the tiger’s ice-made fangs. When heat met extreme cold, there was only one result—shattering!
The intense pain caused the tiger to collapse to the ground. But its reactions were fast; after only a moment’s hesitation, it attacked the two of them again!
Beyond the fangs, it still had sharp claws!
“Too late!”
Sherry naturally didn’t miss the tiger’s fleeting opening. Her figure was like a gale tearing through the blizzard as her blade pierced the tiger’s heart!
The powerful mana exploded inside its body, instantly pulverizing its internal organs.
The battle was over.
Everything happened too fast—so fast that the wind and snow hadn’t yet filled the void.
Once the mana dissipated, Sherry felt her legs go weak. Her whole body fell uncontrollably toward the ground. Anis quickly stepped forward and opened her arms, using her own body as a cushion.
*Boing~*
Sherry’s cheek hit something soft, producing a springy sound.
The exhausted Sherry instantly regained some of her spirit. “Wow, so soft! Big sister really likes this kind of reward. More, more!”
“You—!!!”
Anis wanted to snap back at her, but once the words reached her lips, she decided against it.
Sherry had won this victory by almost burning through her own life force. What did it matter if she was teased a little?