In a split second, the gigantic image in the sky conjured by Sihala was riddled with holes.

However, it did not stop the the Winged Storm Bear from attacking.

A single paw smashed onto the ambushers with tremendous force and a surge of unreasonable voltage.

The world shook with chaotic explosion of light and fire.

A groan came from underneath as a deep crater was formed with thousands of Frosthral Barbarians lying within.

After this strike, the great beast started to disappear, seemingly satisfied.

As it faded away, only the pit underneath its paw was left behind. Within, there was complete darkness from the depth, except for the countless eyes that glowed red with bloodlust.

“They’re coming! RUN!” a barbarians from the Snowdrifts’ side hollered with terror.

Before the voice disappeared, a fleet of dark shadows scurried out from the pit and even the veteran soldiers flew into panic.

The Snowdrifts’ barbarians were the first to flee. They grabbed two or three nearest soldiers and ran away at full speed. Fortunately, they are all external practitioners, their wide backs could swing a few people over comfortably.

Their reactions are already lightning fast, however, it wasn’t enough. The Frosthral barbarians rushed out of the pit like wraiths and quickly caught up to those lagging behind.

To those unfortunate ones, the only silver lining was that death came swiftly.

All they saw were glowing red eyes before everything went dark. Even the pain was instant and fleeting.

Esley only managed to sound the retreat a breath after that.

They may heavily outnumbered their ambushers, but it was the only command he could give right now when the battlefield had become a slaughter house. Under the effects of the War God Tattoo, their enemies could shrug off Sihala’s attack like it was nothing, and then pounced upon them like wild beasts.

The Winged Storm Bear avatar that could wipe out a regular army had been ineffective for the first time.

It was terrifying for those facing the barbarians, but as the glimmer of hope flickered away, leafy vines shot out from the abandoned bunkers and entangled the attackers, giving the Saint Empire side a slight chance to get away.

Terrifying roars came from the sources of the plant limbs, and Werebears started rushing out of the buildings and towards their foes. They were flanked at the worst possible position and time.

The Frosthral Barbarians jumped in alarm of the strange creatures. They could recognise with one whiff the deadly technique of the Saint Empire Supreme Commander.

These plants, the shoots of the treant, are nearly unkillable.

As long as Esley is supplying energy, these leafy monsters could regenerate from any damage and continue begging for more punishment. What’s more, their prowess isn’t to be underestimated either.

The Werebear form they take on isn’t just for show but possesses the actual strength of that dreaded creature.

A living thing will need different parts to sustain life, like lungs, blood, energy storage cells, brains, or others. However, the Werebears created by vines were formed solely to attack and absorb nutrients from preys.

Without the need to supply energy for other unnecessary functions, the cost for Esley to maintain these things are at the bare minimum.

Unfortunately, limited by the strength of the vines, the power each Werebear had is capped even if Esley summons fewer copies.

At least this is the case until his contracted Treant becomes stronger.

This is what the prodigy tamer always thought… until he met that mysterious robed man who unlocked his potential and gave him two new creatures.

Now, this technique had become more frightening than ever before,

The Werebear’s drool dripped maws remained in the centre, but on its left and right shoulders were long serpentine necks that ended with large draconic heads.

If one looks carefully, they will discover that the two heads are not the same. One is a Fire Spitting Serpent’s head, while the other is a dragon’s.

The latter is of course the Stone Kirin, a beast with the head of a dragon and the body of a tiger. It is a rare and extremely powerful creature. Even in the celestial realm, they are considered at the top of the food chain.

Legends say that the first beast was a primal tiger instead of the current ruler of beasts – the dragon.

It was strong beyond measure. Beautiful, fierce, and stood high into the heavens as great as the world tree Yggdrasil.

When it first walked the world, it was alone. There were beautiful plants, serene land, and crystal flowing rivers, but it was lonely and craved interaction with another being.

When the Heavenly Laws took physical form and become dragons, the tiger was enthralled.

“Ah, so there are others that could move themselves by will,” it thought.

The primal tiger curious and fearless, sought out the dragons, and eventually made friends with some of them.

At that time, while their friendship was so close that they eventually joined in union.

Their offsprings were the first Kirins and they took the best trait of both species, a creature favoured by the heavens. With the head of a dragon and the body of a tiger.

The first Kirin controlled the elements like second nature, riding the clouds and shrouded by lightning. There were none that held as much control as the Kirin over the Heavenly laws, except only the greatest dragons.

Its form is majestic and filled with power, unrivalled amongst the beasts. Except their father none could withstand a swipe from its claws.

It was unknown what happened, but one day their relationship cracked and the tiger fought fiercely against the dragons. It was valiant and ferocious yet sorely outnumbered, the great beast was eventually brought down and disappeared into the rivers of time.

Only its descendants, the Kirins, were left as testament of its existence.

The Fire Spitting Serpent is not much weaker, with its bloodline just a pinch away from becoming a True Dragon.

Legends says that only the purest of serpents, drakes, wyverns, and wyrms, can receive divine dragon blood to turn into what is called an Imoogi. If it consolidate its powers, refine its blood, and survive for a thousand years, the Imoogi will become a True Dragon.

The Fire Spitting Serpent that Esley receive is already a full-fledged Imoogi in the middle of its transformation.

With the two beasts’ addition to the mix, the Werebear is now a chimera of unreasonable strength.

They grabbed onto their target with powerful arms, then tore into the bodies of the Frosthral Barbarians with beastly gruesomeness. The others that tried to help were attacked mercilessly by the twin heads.

Fire and brimstone littered the battlefield.

However, the tides of battles were held still only for a moment.

“I’m okay?”

Held in mid-air with a draconic head biting on each arm and with blood gushing out from his gut, a Frosthral Barbarian appeared surprised that he felt no pain even as he was slowly being ripped apart.

An enthralled look blossomed on his face and daggers mysteriously appeared in his hands.

“Come… Let us die together today.”

He threw his weapons at his captor, drilling holes through the leafy monstrosity with fearsome speed and penetrating deep into the ground behind.

The Werebear pulled its victim over, intending to end his pathetic life with claws and fangs, but the barbarian met the massive paws with thin human fingers and overpowered the beast.

Crackle and snap, the vines quickly became deformed.

The creature did not have unnecessary functions like pain and it carried on attacking with broken arms but it was naught but useless.

The barbarian pulled viciously, tugging the arms off from the creature, then proceeded to pluck out the heads of the chimera. Holes appeared on his arms and shoulders as the beast chewed on him, trying to rip him to shreds with their fangs.

Though technically these are actually gigantic thorns, but the strength and sharpness aren’t inferior to the real things.

Yet, it was the fangs that broke first.

A few quick punches that seemed like small explosions, cracked and shattered the thorns.

The barbarian did not stop. He continued to rain punches down until the Werebeast was turned into a puddle of slush.

Pleased. The man stood tall and roared in victory.

After letting out all his emotions, he looked down at his side. A see-through hole that continued pouring out blood decorated his thick waist.

He felt nothing. With a thought his muscles constricted and staunched the gush.

The War God Tattoo is far more than he had expected.

*BOOM*

An arrow, fast as lightning, tore through his skull and chipped off a quarter of his head.

It was bloody and gory, but still, he felt nothing.

There is only one good eye left in his head, and he turned it towards the direction of the attack.

An archer stood on top of an Armoured Giant, looking just as astonished as how the barbarian himself felt.

He vaguely remembers that it restores his strength to his prime in exchange of the rest of his lifespan, but it wasn’t a one-time transaction it seems.

Even as his condition turns fatal, he is still as strong as before.

Invincible.

It is truly as the Snowdrifts’ barbarians claimed, with the War God Tattoo covering them, the best solution is to flee.

Even without a full head, the man is still a killing machine. The meaning of the War God Tattoo restoring one to their prime has skewed to extreme proportions somewhere.

Not only can those under its effect fight while bearing grievous wounds, their strength are always at body’s the limits.

This isn’t just the power one has normally, and it’s far beyond what one could perform at the optimum age.

Usually the body operate at much lower energy levels in order to preserve itself but when all restrains are removed, War God is truly a fitting title.