Chương 72: Stone Ring

"Throw out the spiral crown!" Velesa's voice came from behind them. Talia had only just been pushed into the stone ring by Kane and had yet to regain her footing. Hearing the order, she didn't turn around. Her hands quickly undid the rope fastening on the outside of her backpack, tearing free the spiral crown wrapped in mana-isolating cloth.

"Which side?"

"Left!" Talia twisted around and hurled the bundle through the opening at the front of the stone ring. The gray-white package flew over a patch of low shrubs and landed on the loose stones dozens of meters away. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear had already reached the outside of the stone ring. Its body was larger than the biggest covered wagon in the camp. Layer upon layer of gray-black rock armor covered its back and the outer sides of its front limbs.

Its massive shoulders and back almost completely obscured the forest behind it. Every time its paws landed, the ground sank beneath them. At the sound of the bundle hitting the ground, it abruptly turned its head. Its charging body forcibly changed direction. Boom! A tree in its path snapped beneath the impact of its shoulder. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear didn't slow down. It reached the bundle in several strides and slammed down one paw.

The mana-isolating cloth and the spiral crown inside were driven into the loose stones. Several rays of pale golden light shone through the torn fabric. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear lowered its head. Its heavy breath swept across the surface of the spiral crown. The pale golden lines buried within the gray-white bone lit up once again. Strands of mana seeped from the crown and flowed into the beast through its mouth and nose. Velesa retreated into the stone ring. Her longbow was already in her hands.

"Everyone, check your equipment."

"Do not leave the stone ring." Talia stared at the Rock-Marrow Dire Bear in the distance.

"It has the spiral crown." Kane pressed a hand against her shoulder and pushed her one step farther inside.

"Then we'd better hope it leaves once it's finished eating." The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear didn't actually eat the spiral crown. It merely continued absorbing the mana leaking from within. The rock armor across its back began to tremble faintly. One after another, the tiny crystals embedded between the plates lit up. Its breathing grew heavier. Its front paws repeatedly scraped at the ground. The light across the spiral crown gradually dimmed.

When the final strand of pale golden mana was absorbed into its body, the Rock-Marrow Dire Bear slowly raised its head. It didn't leave. Its gray-yellow eyes turned back toward the stone ring. Kane removed his hand from Talia's shoulder.

"Looks like it's still hungry." Velesa watched the bear's movements.

"No."

"Something about it has changed." A pale golden gleam had appeared within its gray-yellow eyes. Golden markings resembling those on the spiral crown had even spread around them. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear lowered its front body again. The grinding of rock armor constantly sounded across its body. It seemed to have entered some kind of abnormal state of agitation.

"Prepare to fight," Velesa said.... The stone ring had not been formed from ordinary mountain rock. Several enormous gray-white boulders rose diagonally from underground, pressing against one another and surrounding a cramped depression. The surfaces of the rocks were covered in dark patterns resembling the growth rings of trees. Some ran straight upward. Others intertwined with one another like wooden fibers that had long since turned to stone. Graywood Rock. No one knew exactly how this kind of rock was formed.

Most hunters in the area believed it might be the result of ordinary rock strata being exposed to underground mana for an extended period. The theory had never been verified. Nor had anyone studied it specifically. Graywood Rock was undeniably hard. But apart from its hardness, no one currently knew what else it could be used for. Ordinary tools had difficulty mining it. And this place was located deep within the Verdant Wilds.

Even if someone managed to break off a few pieces, the transportation cost would far exceed whatever value the material itself might possess. The Free Federation had no shortage of mines. Naturally, no one was going to enter the forest and establish a mining site for the sake of a small, poorly understood rock vein. Bren had once tried using an iron pickaxe. The edge of the pickaxe head had curled. All it left on the surface of the Graywood Rock was an inconspicuous white mark.

That was precisely why he had marked this place as a retreat point. There was a relatively wide opening at the front of the stone ring. The narrowest gap along the side could only fit one person turning sideways. Given the Rock-Marrow Dire Bear's size, it couldn't force its entire body inside. That didn't mean they were safe. The Graywood Rock itself was hard enough. But the soil, loose stones, and natural wedges between the boulders were not. Under repeated impacts, the stone ring would collapse sooner or later.

Bren braced his prototype Tendon-Cord Crossbow against a piece of Graywood Rock.

"It's coming." Velesa rapidly surveyed the area.

"Talia."

"Don't touch the Graywood Rock itself. Compress the soil inside the gaps."

"Kane, stay with her." Then she looked toward Bren and the two guards.

"Only fire at the positions I indicate."

"Don't waste mana." The two guards raised their Tendon-Cord Crossbows. Bren didn't aim immediately. He stared at the Rock-Marrow Dire Bear outside the stone ring as it gradually lowered its body.

"Here it comes!" Boom! All four of the bear's limbs exerted force at once. The ground exploded behind it. Its enormous body accelerated abruptly over an extremely short distance. It was like a heavy covered wagon rolling uncontrollably down a slope. Talia's Mental Power sank into her crystal core. Mana began to circulate. The spell model rapidly took shape. She raised her right hand and abruptly closed all five fingers. The ground in front of the Rock-Marrow Dire Bear suddenly collapsed downward.

Its front paw landed in the depression. Its enormous body tilted to one side. Almost simultaneously. Velesa completed her own spell. A powerful current of air swept in from the side and struck the bear's head, shoulder, and neck. The airflow alone could never have moved a Three-Phase mana-beast the size of a freight wagon. But it had already lost its balance. The direction of its charge shifted again. Boom! The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear's shoulder slammed into the Graywood Rock along the side of the stone ring.

A deep impact reverberated through the entire structure. The soil and ordinary stone around the outside instantly split apart. Large amounts of rubble fell from the gaps. But the main body of the Graywood Rock merely shook heavily once. No obvious fractures appeared across the tree-like patterns on its surface.

"Face!" Velesa shouted. Three crossbow strings vibrated almost simultaneously. Gray-white bone bolts shot from inside the stone ring. One struck the Rock-Marrow Dire Bear's brow ridge and was deflected by the rock armor covering it. Another grazed its nose. The final bolt passed beneath one eye, leaving a bloody line across the softer flesh. The wound wasn't deep. But the Rock-Marrow Dire Bear instinctively closed its eyes and raised one front paw to protect its face.

It failed to launch a second attack immediately.

"Reload," Bren said. The two guards immediately stepped back. Kane kicked a quiver of bone bolts toward their feet. Talia looked at Velesa.

"We stopped it."

"Only the first time." Velesa didn't look back. Outside the stone ring. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear regained its footing. Blood flowed from the wound across its nose. Yet it showed no intention of retreating. The crystals between the armor plates on its back glowed increasingly brightly. The plates ground against one another.

The pieces of armor that had originally been scattered across its shoulders, back, and outer front limbs began to draw together. Their edges interlocked. Within only a few breaths, most of the vulnerable areas along the front of its body had disappeared. Bren raised his Tendon-Cord Crossbow. Then slowly lowered it again.

"Don't rush." The guard on the right had already placed his finger on the trigger. Hearing Bren, he could only stop.

"We can't penetrate it now." Bren stared at the closed rock armor.

"Wait for it to move." The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear didn't charge again. It took several steps closer to the stone ring. Then raised one front paw. Velesa's pupils contracted slightly.

"Spread out!" The paw struck the ground. Bang! The earth outside the stone ring suddenly sank. A deep shockwave spread outward through the underground strata. The entire stone ring shook. Talia stumbled. The spell model she had only just begun constructing was struck and instantly lost stability. Her Mental Power felt as though something had slammed into it head-on. The incomplete spell model scattered. The two guards crashed against the rock wall behind them.

The bone bolts in one guard's hands spilled across the ground. The Graywood Rock itself hadn't shattered. But large amounts of ordinary soil and rubble between the boulders came loose. A dense rolling sound came from overhead.

"Above!" Kane looked up. He grabbed Talia by the shoulder and shoved her to the side. Rubble fell from overhead. Several pieces struck the back armor he wore. He grunted but didn't let go. At the opening in front. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear had already raised one forelimb. Its enormous paw reached through the gap and into the stone ring. Its claws scraped across the surface of the Graywood Rock, throwing out a trail of fine sparks. Kane was about to step forward.

But Velesa had already pulled the wooden case from her back. The seal was torn apart. The lid fell to the ground. The gray-white Bone-Flesh Blade was exposed to the air. The dark-red fascia along its spine contracted slightly. Velesa gripped the handle. Mana flowed into the weapon. The blood-storage structure awakened. The dark-red armament patterns lit up one after another. A blood-red blade aura abruptly extended from the edge. Velesa swung forward. Pfft!

The blood-red blade aura struck the point where the outside of the bear's paw connected to its rock armor. Several plates that had not yet completely interlocked were cut apart. Gray-black blood sprayed from the gap. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear released a deep roar. The forelimb inside the stone ring was abruptly withdrawn. Kane glanced at the Bone-Flesh Blade.

"It's ugly, but it's pretty useful." Velesa lowered the Bone-Flesh Blade again.

"Two uses left."... Antler Camp. The Linked Resonance Ring on Sera's hand had completely lost its glow. The fracture running across its surface remained clearly visible. Elaine hurried out of the medical tent.

"Who's in trouble?"

"The subjugation party." Sera removed the Linked Resonance Ring.

"Southeast." Elaine's expression changed instantly.

"Bren is with them?"

"Yes." Sera turned toward the central tent.

"Bring medicine for internal injuries and damage to mana circulation."

"Prepare a stretcher."

"Everyone assumes the worst." Taun had already put down his account book. He found a folded map among the commission records and spread it across the wooden table.

"Their last confirmed location was west of Scree Slope."

"It normally takes around two hours to reach it from the camp."

"Traveling light at full speed, a little over one hour." Sera moved her finger along the route marked on the map.

"Where is the stone ring?" Taun pointed toward one of the markings.

"Here."

"A retreat point Bren marked before." Marlock had already begun rearranging the guards at the camp gates. He stopped two guards who were preparing to follow them.

"You stay."

"The caravan is still inside the camp."

"The east gate, west gate, and warning posts cannot be left unattended." One of the hunters asked:"How many people are we taking?"

"Two." Sera said:"People familiar with the southeastern routes."

"Everyone else stays." Taun looked up at her.

"Only four people?"

"More people would only slow us down." Sera rolled up the map.

"Elaine isn't going there to fight."

"Our first priority is confirming the condition of the injured." She walked to the innermost section of the central tent. Then moved aside a wooden chest filled with old account books. Behind it was a long, narrow hidden compartment fixed to the ground. There was only one gray token inside. There was no writing on its surface. Only intersecting armament patterns resembling sword scars. Marlock stood outside the tent. When he saw Sera emerge holding the token, his expression grew even worse.

"You're taking the Sword Token?"

"Yeah."

"What about the camp?"

"You defend it." Marlock lowered his voice.

"I can't stop a real high-tier mana-beast."

"The beast-repelling array and the antler warning posts are still here." Sera placed the Sword Token into a leather pouch at her waist.

"If another Three-Phase mana-beast really crashes into the camp right now—""Anything that could be driven away through intimidation alone wouldn't charge directly into the camp."

"And if it dares to break through the beast-repelling array, leaving one Sword Token here might not be enough to stop it anyway." Marlock said nothing more. He turned toward the outer ring. Rowan's workstation was beside the material shed.... Rowan had already heard the commotion in the camp. He remained seated steadily with his legs crossed. His Mental Power was still gathered around the outer edge of the auxiliary core.

The final section of its structure, which had remained unstable throughout the past several days, had gradually begun to close. Only the final trace remained. If he stopped now— It wouldn't erase all of his previous progress. But he had no idea how long it would take to enter the same state again. Footsteps stopped outside the workstation. Rowan opened his eyes. Sera stood there. She had changed into light armor suited for moving through the forest.

Alongside her usual weapons, there was now a long, narrow leather pouch at her waist.

"The subjugation party is in trouble," she said.

"We need Tier 1 combat strength." Rowan looked toward the center of the camp. Elaine was checking the medicines. Two hunters were securing ropes and a folding stretcher to their backs. Taun stood beside the east gate with the route map. Marlock was continuously moving the camp guards around, rapidly organizing an emergency defense. The situation was clearly serious. Otherwise, Sera wouldn't be going personally. Rowan glanced at his wrist. The Möbius Ring remained dim. Its cooldown had not ended.

Sera was Tier 1 Dual-Phase. Whether in direct combat strength, combat experience, or familiarity with the surrounding terrain, she far exceeded him as he was now. Her leaving first would be far more valuable than waiting for him to interrupt his cultivation so they could depart together. Rowan looked back at Sera.

"I'm not going right now." Sera didn't answer immediately. She hadn't expected much to begin with. But every true Tier 1 Mage inside the camp was far too valuable. She couldn't afford not to ask.

"All right." Sera turned away. A cold snort sounded from nearby. Marlock was handing a bundle of short spears to one of the guards remaining behind.

"I told you." He didn't look at Rowan.

"A guest is still only a guest." Sera stopped.

"Marlock." Her voice wasn't loud. Marlock closed his mouth. He shoved the bundle of short spears heavily into the guard's arms, then turned and walked toward the east gate. Rowan didn't explain either. After Sera left with Elaine and the two hunters, the east gate quickly closed again. The commotion inside the camp didn't completely subside. Rowan closed his eyes once more. His Mental Power sank into the auxiliary core. Only the final trace remained.... The stone ring.

The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear raised its front paw for the second time. Talia watched the shift in its center of gravity.

"Left!" Mana surged from her crystal core. She didn't attempt to alter the Graywood Rock. The ordinary ground outside the opening rapidly rose. A low stone ridge burst up beneath the bear's left front paw. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear's body was forced upward. The air current Velesa had already prepared pressed down against its head. The bear paw that had been about to strike the front of the stone ring was forced off course. Bang! The stratum shock erupted along the side. The entire stone ring shook again.

But this time, the front opening did not take the full force directly.

"The breach!" Bren shouted. The gap left by the Bone-Flesh Blade's first attack was exposed again. The two guards and Bren raised their Tendon-Cord Crossbows together. Three bone bolts flew out one after another. The first struck the breach in the rock armor. The second followed immediately. The bear's forelimb paused for an instant. The third bolt was half a beat too slow. The rock armor had already begun to close again. The bolt struck the outer surface of the plate and spun away. The guard on the right swayed.

The Tendon-Cord Crossbow nearly slipped from his hands.

"I can still shoot," he said. Bren glanced at his pale face.

"Fire next time."

"Reload now." The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear roared. It steadied its body again. Velesa saw the crystals between the plates light up simultaneously.

"It's going to strike the ground again." Talia began altering the soil in front of the bear. This time, she didn't create a raised ridge directly. The ground beneath its front paw silently softened. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear raised its forelimb. Its weight shifted to the other side. The ground supporting its body suddenly sank. Its enormous body pitched forward. Velesa stepped forward. The Bone-Flesh Blade lit up for the second time. The blood-red blade aura cut into the already fractured armor plates.

The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear's supporting forelimb trembled violently. The mana that had already begun traveling into the ground became disordered. The paw still struck down. But the shockwave failed to fully form. Only a chaotic tremor passed through the stone ring. Velesa quickly retreated behind the Graywood Rock. She lowered her head and looked at the Bone-Flesh Blade. The dark-red fascia along its spine was contracting violently. The blood-storage structure was nearly dry.

She pressed her thumb against an inspection point on the side. The armament patterns showed no abnormal spreading.

"One use left," she said. Talia leaned against the Graywood Rock, breathing heavily.

"That'll be enough." Velesa glanced at her.

"It had better be." The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear approached again. It didn't immediately activate another spell. Instead, it repeatedly rammed its shoulder and front limbs against the outside of the stone ring. Again. And again. Every impact caused more of the packed soil between the rocks to fall away. The Graywood Rock at the front still hadn't shattered. But several pieces of ordinary stone above them had already begun to loosen. One guard had just finished loading a bone bolt. The ground suddenly shook.

His back struck the rock wall. A soft sound came from his right shoulder. The Tendon-Cord Crossbow fell to the ground. The guard's face instantly turned pale.

"My shoulder."

"Dislocated." Kane dragged him toward the rear.

"You handle reloading."

"Don't raise the crossbow again." The other guard's lower leg had also been cut open by falling rubble. Blood flowed down his trouser leg. He wrapped a strip of cloth around it and remained at the firing position. Bren had already activated the prototype crossbow multiple times. He had more mana than the two ordinary guards. But it wasn't limitless. Each synchronization between the tendon structure and the armament patterns required more effort than the last. He didn't fire again.

He merely braced the crossbow against his shoulder and waited for a truly useful opportunity. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear struck the ground again. This time. Talia was compressing the soil inside a gap that had continued loosening. The shockwave came through the ground. Her Mental Power jolted violently. The spell model slipped out of control. The ordinary stone beneath her feet shifted at the same time. Before Talia could regain her balance, a cracking sound came from overhead.

"Talia!" Kane lunged toward her. Talia instinctively raised her left arm. Several falling rocks struck her bracer. The largest piece knocked her entire body to the ground and pinned her there. A sharp edge scraped across her forehead. Blood immediately flowed down. Her left forearm felt unmistakably out of alignment. Talia gritted her teeth. She didn't cry out. Kane threw aside the rock pinning her down.

"Your arm."

"I can still move it." Talia tried to raise her left arm. It moved only slightly. A wave of intense pain traveled up from her forearm. Kane held her down.

"Don't move." Another impact came from the front opening. Without Talia's terrain interference, Velesa alone had difficulty continuing to alter the Rock-Marrow Dire Bear's attack direction. A section of ordinary rock packed between the Graywood boulders shattered. A new opening appeared along the side. Talia was lying directly behind it. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear's gray-yellow eyes swept through the gap. It saw her.

"Move!" Kane grabbed the leather armor on Talia's back and dragged her away. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear's front paw had already swept through the opening. Kane couldn't completely avoid it in time. A cold sensation passed beside his head. The next instant. Warm liquid flowed down the side of his face. One of his short brown animal ears had been sliced off by the tip of a claw and fell among the rubble. Kane's body swayed. But his hand never let go. He continued dragging Talia backward.

The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear raised its front paw again. This time. Kane had no time to dodge. Talia saw the enormous shadow descending from above. Boom! The load-bearing wedge stone along the side of the stone ring suddenly snapped. A section of Graywood Rock that had been wedged diagonally overhead dropped sharply. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear's front paw struck the edge of the falling rock. The direction of the attack was forcibly pushed aside. The Graywood Rock crashed into the opening.

Rubble and dust surged into the stone ring. Kane seized the opportunity to drag Talia farther back. He finally released her. Half his face was covered in blood. Talia stared at the wound beside his head. Her lips moved slightly.

"Your ear..."

"At least it didn't take the whole thing." Kane wiped away the blood flowing toward his eye.

"Might affect my perfect looks a little, though." Talia didn't laugh. Outside the stone ring, the Rock-Marrow Dire Bear had already begun pushing against the fallen Graywood Rock. Velesa returned to the opening. Her breathing had also become rapid. Only one complete discharge remained inside the Bone-Flesh Blade. Bren looked toward the Graywood Rock that had just fallen.

"It should hold for a little longer." Velesa shook her head.

"It'll come through another opening." As though answering her. An even heavier impact sounded from the front of the stone ring. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear had changed position. Its wagon-sized body once again pressed toward the widest entrance. Talia could no longer maintain her spell. Of the two guards, one had a dislocated shoulder, while the other was nearly out of mana. Bren only had enough strength left to activate the Tendon-Cord Crossbow a few more times. Velesa tightened her grip on the Bone-Flesh Blade.

The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear's head forced its way through the front opening. Sharp rock armor scraped against the Graywood Rock on either side. It opened its mouth. Hot, foul breath surged into the stone ring. Velesa stepped forward. The Bone-Flesh Blade lit up for the third time. The dark-red armament patterns completely drained the final trace of activity from the blood-storage structure. The blood-red blade aura swept horizontally through the narrow entrance. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear turned its head.

The blade aura cut through the uncovered area beneath its jaw and along the side of its neck. A large amount of gray-black blood sprayed across the Graywood Rock. The bear released a deafening roar. Its head abruptly withdrew from the opening. The Bone-Flesh Blade in Velesa's hand dimmed. The fascia along the spine stopped contracting. There was no time to inspect it. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear's front paw had already struck the ground again. The stratum shock spread across the entirety of Scree Slope.

The ground inside the stone ring jumped violently. Velesa had only just completed her attack and had yet to fully retreat. The shockwave erupted beneath her feet. Her entire body was thrown into the air. Her back slammed heavily against the inner wall of the Graywood Rock. Crack. The sound of breaking bone rang out clearly. Velesa fell to the ground. She tried to push herself up. The moment she inhaled, blood flowed from the corner of her mouth.

"Deputy Captain!" The remaining guard rushed toward her. Velesa raised one hand. As though trying to make him stop. Her arm only rose halfway before falling again. Bren glanced at her chest and abdomen. His expression darkened completely.

"Drag her farther inside."

"Kane, protect Talia."

"Anyone who can still draw a crossbow stays with me at the front." The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear approached the stone ring once more. This time. No one could divert its charge.... The light in the forest was already beginning to fade. Two hunters cleared the path ahead. Sera followed behind them. Elaine carried the medical case on her back and had barely fallen behind. Deep impacts continued to sound in the distance. The closer they came to Scree Slope, the clearer the tremors became.

The loose stones on the ground even jumped faintly with every sound.

"Just ahead." The hunter leading the way spoke. The heavy smell of blood was already present in the air. Sera took out the Sword Token from the pouch at her waist. The gray token rested in her palm. The armament patterns across its front did not light up immediately. They circled around a section of collapsed forest. The Graywood Rock stone ring appeared within sight. One side had already partially collapsed. Outside the opening on the other side. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear was slowly lowering its body.

Inside the stone ring. Bren held up the Tendon-Cord Crossbow. The armament patterns across it flickered intermittently. With the mana he had left, it was becoming difficult to synchronize the armament patterns with the pre-tension structure. The remaining guard stood in front of Velesa. Half of Kane's face was covered in blood. Talia leaned against the rock wall, her left arm hanging limply. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear had struck the Graywood Rock so many times that no one could remember the exact number.

Sera stepped forward. Mana flowed into the Sword Token. The armament patterns across the gray token lit up one by one. A mana fluctuation completely different from Sera's own abruptly spread outward. The first. The second. The third. Then a fourth. Four completely distinct mana fluctuations interlocked, forming a complete whole. The aura of a Tier 1 Four-Phase Mage covered the entirety of Scree Slope. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear abruptly stopped moving. Its front paws sank deep into the ground.

Its tensed body did not continue forward. It raised its head. For the first time, its gaze left the interior of the stone ring. And settled on Sera. The Sword Token floated above her palm. Gray armament patterns slowly flowed across its surface. Sera stared into the Rock-Marrow Dire Bear's pale golden eyes. Her voice reached Elaine behind her.

"It won't stay still for long." Sera didn't look back.

"Go in from behind."

"Save them first."