Chapter 157: A Chance to Grow I

Chapter 157: Chapter 157: A Chance to Grow I

Damon glanced at Caelia.

"We should check what’s happening outside the zone."

She looked at him. "You want to leave the Zone Heart for later?"

"Yes. There’s no point rushing toward it if the situation outside is already out of control."

Damon looked toward the distant storm.

"If the beasts have overwhelmed the settlements, we need to help deal with that first. Once things are more stable, we can return and focus on the Zone Heart."

Caelia considered his words before nodding.

It was a sensible approach. They couldn’t afford to ignore the people who were already fighting for their lives, especially when the mutation was pushing the beasts toward human territory.

"Then we should move quickly," she said.

"Exactly."

Damon turned toward his Spirit Elementals.

Freya’s silver lightning crackled softly, while Sylphie continued sensing the chaotic Wind and Lightning Aether around them. Both spirits were well suited to this environment, and their abilities could prove useful as they explored the zone.

Shiro and Snow remained close, prepared to protect the group if they encountered powerful beasts.

Damon looked ahead, then took a deep breath.

He was back in Tempest Hollow, a place connected to his past and the family that had once regarded him as a failure.

But that was no longer the most important thing.

There was a crisis unfolding beyond the zone, and he intended to understand its full extent before making his next move.

Damon raised his hand and pointed toward the distant landscape.

"Let’s go."

The group moved forward, heading deeper into the Tempest Hollow, following the route he had mapped during his previous visit.

He had taken his time exploring the zone back then, making sure to remember the important paths and landmarks. Thanks to that preparation, he had a good idea of how to reach the outside without wasting too much time.

Even so, the journey wasn’t easy.

The natural disasters made it difficult to move at full speed. Strong winds swept across their path without warning, while lightning struck the ground around them. At times, they had to change their route entirely to avoid areas where the unstable Aether had become too concentrated.

Now Damon understood why the representatives had arrived at Winterbourne in such a terrible state.

Even without the beasts, surviving in Tempest Hollow was already a challenge. The constant disasters drained their strength and made every journey dangerous. And with the mutation worsening, things could only have become harder for those defending the zone.

Unfortunately, the beasts soon made their presence known.

A low growl came from the storm ahead, followed by several shadows moving between the rocks.

Damon stopped.

"Gale Shadow Panthers," he said, recognizing them immediately.

A pack of B-rank beasts emerged from the storm. Their dark bodies blended into the shadows, while the wind swirling around their limbs made their movements difficult to follow.

Damon had fought these beasts before. He knew how fast they were, how they hunted in packs, and how dangerous their Wind Elemental Arts could be.

However, his group had grown considerably since then.

He glanced at Caelia, Shiro, and Snow.

"These ones are yours."

Caelia looked at him. "You’re not helping?"

"Not this time. You’ve all grown stronger, so let’s see how well you can handle them."

Damon smiled slightly.

"Besides, we still have a long way to go. I’d rather find out if there are any weaknesses we need to work on before we reach the frontline."

Caelia understood what he meant.

The beasts in Tempest Hollow were different from those they had faced in Frostveil. Although they were used to fighting B-rank opponents, most of them had little experience against Wind Elemental beasts.

Damon wanted them to gain that experience now, while he could still observe and step in if things went wrong.

"Alright," Caelia replied, taking a step forward. "We’ll handle them."

Shiro moved beside her, while Snow lowered her body and prepared to attack.

The Gale Shadow Panthers spread out, their glowing eyes fixed on the group. Their bodies remained low to the ground as they moved from one side to another, searching for an opening.

Damon stepped back.

"Go ahead."

The moment his words fell, the panthers attacked.

Several of them vanished into the surrounding shadows, moving so quickly that even their silhouettes became difficult to track. A sharp whistle cut through the air as blades of wind shot toward the group from different directions.

Shiro reacted first.

"Frostbound Sanctuary!"

A surge of Ice Elemental Aether spread from his body, covering the ground in a wide layer of frost. Ice pillars rose from the earth, while the temperature dropped sharply around the battlefield.

The incoming wind blades struck the frozen structures, breaking some of them apart but losing much of their force.

Before the panthers could adjust, Shiro raised his head.

"Frost Chains!"

Several chains of ice erupted from the ground and shot toward the approaching beasts.

One panther twisted away with incredible speed, but another was caught around its hind leg. The chain tightened and pulled it off balance, sending it crashing into the frozen ground.

Shiro followed up immediately, forming a thick ice spike above the trapped beast and driving it down.

The panther struggled, but the attack landed before it could escape.

However, the others had already moved.

Two Gale Shadow Panthers rushed toward Shiro from opposite sides, their claws coated in compressed wind. Their speed was astonishing, and the distance between them disappeared in an instant.

Shiro barely managed to turn.

A sharp gust struck his side, forcing him to slide across the frozen ground. The second panther leaped toward his exposed flank, its claws aimed at his neck.

"Shiro, don’t let them separate you!" Caelia called.

Her voice cut through the chaos.

Shiro immediately understood.

He slammed one foreleg into the ground, raising a curved wall of ice between himself and the attacking beast. The panther struck the barrier, shattering part of it, but the delay was enough for Shiro to retreat and regain his footing.