The Glacial Bear stared at Ethan, still sliding back from the impact, and for the first time its face actually showed shock.
It hadn't expected Ethan's strike to be that brutal. That kind of force… it was already beyond what a normal Stage S should be capable of.
The bear licked its tongue, and its aura surged—pure, boiling battle intent.
"ROAR…!"
With that roar, it launched itself at Ethan like a white avalanche. Another massive ice pillar formed in its hands, and it swung down hard, aiming to crush Ethan in one blow.
Ethan blinked away with Teleportation, dodging the strike by a hair, and his poleaxe came whipping back toward the bear's head.
But the Glacial Bear's reactions were unreal.
The ice pillar snapped sideways in a sweep that made no sense for something that big—fast enough that if Ethan committed to the chop, he'd eat the counterblow.
Ethan's reflex was to trigger Absolute Stasis.
He stopped himself.
This wasn't a life-or-death fight. No need to go that far.
