Mundane blades and spears rang harmlessly across the Giant Bear’s hide, unable to inflict any damage; in contrast, every swipe of Luger Stonehide’s paw—or even a simple charge—sent anyone struck flying, either left for dead or grievously wounded!
He rampaged straight toward the mage. She, clearly lacking real battle experience, was still rummaging through her disordered spellbook, hesitating over which spell could possibly work against the maddened Giant Bear. It was only when the monster loomed over her that she hastily spoke a new incantation: "Shield!"
A bear paw struck her, and in an instant her delicate body was sent sailing like a severed kite. She crashed to the ground, her innards churning with pain. Even with the protection of Shield, she couldn’t hold back a gut-wrenching cry, vomiting a mouthful of fresh blood.
She was already injured internally.
Hatred flickered in the Giant Bear’s eyes as he stepped forward, intent on eliminating this sole threat. His near-invincible defenses were only thanks to his magical buffs—but those spells, like all magic, had their weaknesses!
First, they could all be wiped away in an instant by a single 3rd-level spell, Dispel Magic. Second, these spells and the Giant Bear totem only protected his body, not his mind—he was still vulnerable to the mages’ control spells!
And even aside from that, elemental damage conjured by mages could still bypass protections to wound him, just as that earlier fireball had done.
The damage was minor but not irrelevant. So however little he cared for ordinary people, these spellcasters must all die at once!
With this thought, he moved in to deliver a killing blow to the mage.
But right at that moment, a flash of argent light suddenly tore through the air and slammed into the giant bear’s skull!
A deafening detonation erupted as Luger’s mind went completely blank. His huge body seized up, nerves shocked into numbness, and he toppled to the ground, unable to move.
As he barely regained consciousness, a sudden wave of chilling cold washed over him as if he’d been cursed—and four lances of violent energy struck him almost simultaneously!
"ROAR—!" ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮※𝓷𝓮𝓽
He distinctly felt his flesh and organs being torn apart in agony. Stoneskin was utterly useless now, and his ancestors’ protection felt powerless, leaving him no choice but to unleash a cry of pure agony!
He was certain this was a spellcaster’s trick—nobody else could break through his defenses.
Rising in abominable rage, the bear turned its ferocious gaze toward the origin of those energy blasts—a white-haired figure, standing at a distance, quietly reciting an incantation, four basin-sized arcane circles spinning above.
And a human, no less!
All the better. Your death is certain.
Luger’s pain and wrath surged at being flayed alive, and as the red-haired mage now lay collapsed and no longer a threat, he barreled toward the white-haired man in a mad charge!
The one who had intervened, of course, was Charles. The fireball’s explosion had drawn everyone’s attention, and glancing over, he discovered—with shock and horror—that the rampaging figure was a giant-buffed bear barbarian.
Bear barbarians, generally, referred to those who followed the path of the totemic warrior, venerating the Giant Bear. On its own, that granted solidly improved defenses, but this particular foe could truly transform into an actual bear!
Now, with the vital force of a true bear, stacking the Giant Bear totem’s defenses, this fellow was nearly invincible on a chaotic battlefield—ordinary weapons were little threat.
And he was currently boosted by an enlarge spell, his strength even greater. If he was left unchecked to slaughter his way through the defenders, the night’s casualties would be beyond count!
He had to be stopped.
And those who could stop him were... himself, Hattie, or Theresa!
But with Hattie and Nidalee busy setting the earth dragon trap, and Theresa still engaged with the elemental beast, only Charles was left to cover the field.
Steeling himself with this responsibility, Charles had just hurled his Storm Warhammer. Now, after drawing the giant’s fury to himself, he let his lips curl up ever so slightly.
If you’re focused on me, your end is at hand.
Buoyed by confidence, he unleashed a second round of Eldritch Blast, four lances of energy smashing into the great bear. While backpedaling to buy time, he drew his pact longsword in his right hand, reciting as he cast his sole 4th-level spell: "Staggering Smite!"
Brilliant magical energies wreathed his longsword. To Charles’s eyes, this bear warrior was already as good as dead.
Barbarians devoted to the Giant Bear totem had resistance to almost all damage—they took half from almost anything. Except one thing: psychic damage.
And Staggering Smite delivered a direct strike to the soul. By rending an enemy’s spirit, it inflicted devastating psychic trauma and terror.
The Giant Bear loomed, its right paw raised for a crushing blow. Charles at last stopped backpedaling, lifted his shield to block, and let the ring on his left middle finger blaze with crimson light: "Awo—!"
A woman’s shriek, cold and fierce, ripped through the battlefield; many of the embattled warriors flinched, ears ringing, glancing over.
They saw a ghastly, black-haired specter, pallid and wild, hovering midair—howling and reaching with both arms to seize the giant bear’s head!
Luger, facing the scream head-on, endured the full brunt of the mental assault. His eardrums seemingly ruptured, his mind split with agony, and his downward swipe weakened considerably!
Charles, his blade wreathed in the Staggering Smite spell, struck down hard even as he recited another: "Shield!"
Both blows landed at once. Charles was hammered sideways by the force, but the giant bear, though unmoved by the hit, found a thin coating of ice now glazing its claw.
That frost was nothing—but in his soul, an unbearable wave of terror and anguish erupted!
Head... splitting... apart...
Soul... torn asunder... organs... withering...
That female ghost will drain away my life—I’m dying, I’m dying!
Utterly defenseless against psychic harm, the bear barbarian let out a guttural roar, his primal terror overwhelming every trace of reason. Oblivious to the fact that within the totem’s protection, the female ghost hadn’t actually drained much of his vitality, he simply bolted, barreling straight back the way he’d come!
Behind him, Charles struggled upright, hacking up blood. The force of that single blow was terrifying—were it not for his pre-cast False Life, Armor of Agathys, and Shield, it might have truly been fatal.
But since he was all right, that meant he could keep pouring on the pressure!
Watching the giant bear’s looming frame recede, Charles quickly refreshed his False Life, then sprinted after him, incanting furiously, unleashing repeated Eldritch Blasts!
You’re finished, bear barbarian!
Four more basin-sized magic circles whirled above him as searing blasts of energy tore across the battlefield, smashing into the fleeing giant bear’s back. Even under his ancestors’ protection, flesh and muscle were instantly flayed away—these strikes cut deep, sending steaming blood gushing forth!
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