Chapter 73
Julian's POV
Ice shards scattered like rain. Sage leaped from the ice block, landing on the snow and shaking the ice crystals from his body, those glittering fragments sparkling on his gray fur.
He opened his eyes—those ice-blue eyes deep and sharp, like two cold stars.
Before I could speak, my consciousness was pulled back to the real world by a powerful force.
I opened my eyes to find myself still sitting on the cliff, Zachary standing behind me, the light from his hands already dissipated.
His face was somewhat pale, fine beads of sweat on his forehead—clearly the ritual had consumed considerable strength.
"Your Highness." He said breathlessly. "The seal is broken."
I stood, working the stiffness from my limbs. That long-suppressed power was now fully awakened, surging through my veins like an icy torrent.
I could feel Sage's presence, his power, his will, his battle intent.
Finally. Sage's voice sounded in my mind, tinged with teasing. Seems you've finally figured some things out. About that girl—
Shut up. I cut him off mentally. Now's not the time to discuss this.
Is that so? He chuckled softly. We'll see about that.
I ignored him, turning instead to Zachary. "Ready?"
"Anytime." He nodded, battle intent gleaming in his eyes.
I reached for my waist and drew out the Orta Crown.
At this moment, two of the gemstones embedded in it were glowing: one crimson red, representing the fire element; the other ice blue, representing the ice element.
I placed the crown on my head, feeling that ancient and powerful force.
"Time for us to take the stage." I said quietly.
I raised both hands, ice element condensing in my palms, forming two pale blue beams of light.
I thrust both hands downward forcefully, calling out: "Chasm of Frost!"
Two massive ice pillars shot up from the base of the cliff, extending upward at astonishing speed. The pillar surfaces were smooth as mirrors. Zachary and I simultaneously leaped onto the tops of the ice pillars, letting them carry us straight into the battlefield.
In the air, I surveyed the entire battlefield.
Chaos, blood, despair—everywhere wolf packs fought, everywhere blood and death. My gaze swept rapidly across the field, searching for familiar figures.
Then I saw her—Ella's wolf.
She was locked in combat with Seraphina and Aurora, covered in wounds but still not retreating. Her flames were particularly striking on the battlefield, that crimson glow like a banner.
My heart clenched.
But immediately after, I saw an even more shocking scene—Ignis was barely maintaining a flame barrier against the shockwave reflected back by Seraphina using the red canine tooth necklace.
That force was extremely powerful, the barrier constantly trembling.
On the other side, Brian and Gregory were struggling against three wolves—Silver Claw, Black Claw, White Claw, who had formed the Seven Claws Generals' Trinity Formation, their coordination seamless and their assault fierce.
"Big brother!" Zachary suddenly shouted.
Before his words finished, he had already begun transforming mid-air. Bones restructured, muscles swelled, fur sprouted from beneath skin, limbs became claws.
Seeing Zachary's arrival, hope flashed in Brian and Gregory's eyes. They quickly adjusted positions, forming the Trinity stance.
Zachary understood immediately, falling into formation the instant he landed. Three wolves formed a perfect triangle, their auras resonating with each other, their power multiplied.
Nicholas's eyes grew sinister—he clearly hadn't expected Zachary to appear at this moment.
Brian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, revealing a cold smile.
"Shall we begin then?"
Three against three, identical formations on both sides—a true battle was about to commence.
But I didn't linger.
I continued controlling the ice pillar's descent until near the ground. Then I leaped, completing my transformation mid-air. Sage took control of the body, and a gray-white giant wolf landed on the battlefield, kicking up snow.
Without hesitation, I drove the "Chasm of Frost" ice pillar directly into the shockwave released by the red canine tooth necklace.
Ice and fire collided, erupting in blinding light and deafening roar. The ice pillar constantly melted under the shockwave's erosion, but it successfully blocked that lethal force, buying Ignis precious breathing room.
I turned my head toward Ignis.
In that instant, when Sage and Ignis locked eyes, the entire world seemed to freeze.
I could feel that irrepressible tremor within Sage, that bone-deep yearning, that indescribable attraction.
His breathing quickened, his heartbeat like thunder.
Mate.
Sage's voice sounded in my mind, filled with shock, wild joy, and a trace of disbelief.
And across from us, Ignis also growled that word at the same moment—
Mate.