Chapter 98: The Second Winter War (2)

Leifen successfully imprisoned Prince Jaiha. 

Despite Jaiha’s persistent demands to meet Wolfgang, there was no way Emperor Leifen would grant his request.

Now that he had neutralized a potential internal threat, Emperor Leifen wasted no time in launching the operation. 

As soon as his command was issued, the allied forces, receiving their orders through Crystal Orbs, began moving immediately.

The allied army advanced in a three-pronged encirclement, as planned. 

Reports were relayed remotely through the Crystal Orbs supplied by the Empire. 

Fortunately, at the start, the war progressed far more smoothly than expected.

It was true that the Wendigos possessed overwhelming strength. 

However, compared to those encountered during the First Winter War, the current Wendigos seemed significantly weaker in quality.

That being said, “more manageable than expected” did not mean the battle was easy. 

Only fifteen days had passed, yet the number of casualties was already significant.

Among the forces, the Imperial Army was faring relatively well. 

However, the troops from other nations, who had never encountered Wendigos before, suffered far greater losses. 

If not for the Empire’s full support, their casualties would have easily doubled.

Despite knowing the enemy was formidable, Wolfgang couldn’t shake her growing sense of unease.

“There’s no way this is all there is.”

“I agree.”

“There’s no chance in hell that damned ‘Winter’ only prepared this much.”

This wasn’t mere paranoia. 

The Vendetta Legion, veterans of the previous Winter War, could confidently assert that the enemy had more in store.

And soon, their fears became reality.

Reports began coming in that Wendigos, different from those described by the Empire, had started appearing on the battlefield. 

Their deer-like heads were the same, but…

Some were twice as large as normal.

Others were grotesque masses of fused Wendigos, like pulsating piles of flesh, relentlessly charging forward.

Upon receiving the report, Wolfgang clicked her tongue in frustration.

“So that’s what they were talking about.”

“It seems so.”

“It looks even worse than what was described in the reports.”

Before them now stood a colossal monstrosity—a towering mass of flesh, with multiple Wendigo heads grotesquely protruding from its body, as though it had crawled straight out of hell.

The reports had mentioned that, ever since the Winter Queen’s revival, her followers—who had long lurked in the shadows—had begun gathering in the Kingdom.

Perhaps this abomination was one of their creations.

Despite its nightmarish appearance, the Imperial Army remained composed. 

They immediately raised their crossbows, aiming at the towering mass of flesh, and fired in unison.

Arrows made of Sun Iron pierced through the monstrous flesh.

The creature let out a horrifying scream of agony, a sound that shook the very air.

The soldiers winced, clutching their heads.

“Damn it! What the hell is that noise?!”

“My hands and feet are trembling uncontrollably!”

“Don’t stop! Keep firing—keep shooting!”

The officers rallied their troops, urging them to continue the assault. 

However, even weapons forged from Sun Iron struggled to deal significant damage.

At that moment, Wolfgang narrowed her eyes.

Now, it all made sense.

Just as they had studied the Wendigos and devised countermeasures, the Wendigos had studied them in return, learning ways to resist.

In some ways, this made them even more dangerous than the previous Winter King.

The Winter King had been overwhelmingly powerful—so much so that he had mocked humanity, considering them insignificant. 

He had never even bothered preparing for resistance.

And that arrogance had been his downfall.

But the Winter Queen was different.

She had watched from the shadows as her father—once thought invincible—fell.

And she had learned.

She had spent years researching countermeasures against humanity’s strongest warriors.

And the result of her efforts?

The monstrosities standing before them.

Wolfgang let out a low breath.

There was no longer any reason to hold back.

She slowly raised her hand.

Flames ignited in her palm, flickering wildly as they began to take shape—forming into a massive spear of fire.

Then, with all her strength, Wolfgang hurled the flaming spear at the monstrous pile of flesh.

SWOOSH!

The fire lance cut through the air with a deafening roar, striking the abomination head-on.

BOOOOM!!!

The grotesque mass of flesh erupted into flames, exploding like a firework.

The monstrous blood and flesh should have rained down upon the soldiers, but Wolfgang’s fire was so intense that it incinerated everything to ash before it could touch them.

“Do not falter. As long as I stand behind you—”

Victory will be ours.

With those words, the Vendetta Legion surged forward.

They couldn’t afford to waste time fighting in place.

And Wolfgang’s instincts were correct.

The towering flesh monsters were far more troublesome than anticipated.

If they suffered too much damage, they exploded, annihilating everything nearby.

And worse—every piece of flesh that scattered gave birth to new Wendigos.

These creatures were walking bio-bombs.

However, Wolfgang quickly identified their weakness.

If they were completely incinerated, they couldn’t regenerate.

Without hesitation, she continued hurling flaming spears, methodically eradicating the monstrous creatures.

Yet, Leifen was watching this unfold with a grim expression.

“It’s a trap. They’re trying to exhaust your flames.”

“Of course they are.”

“And yet, you’re still choosing to fight directly?”

“Yes. If I don’t step in now, our casualties will be catastrophic. And more importantly—”

“—what does it matter if it’s a trap?”

BOOM! 

BOOOOM!

Another abomination turned to ashes.

Wolfgang clicked her tongue.

She wasn’t stupid.

She knew the enemy was trying to drain her power.

But so what?

Did they really think this was enough to tire her out?

Her power wasn’t so weak that a few battles would leave her drained.

In fact, her strength was so vast that she had to seal it away just to keep it under control.

“Fine. If you want me to burn through my power—”

“—then I’ll show you just how much I can wield.”

And just as she expected—

her energy barely depleted.

Not only was Wolfgang’s strength near-limitless, but she wasn’t fighting alone.

The Vendetta Legion, following her orders, coordinated their attacks, swiftly cutting down Wendigos.

Thanks to their overwhelming firepower, the Imperial Army advanced at an unprecedented pace.

“Is everyone assembled?”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Good. Then let’s begin the strategy meeting.”

Despite their clear advantage, Wolfgang refused to let her guard down.

She had made that mistake once before.

And she would never make it again.

“Drunk on my own power, I once charged ahead recklessly…”

“That was the past.”

“And I have no desire to relive it.”

Gathering her entire command team, including Vendetta Legion officers and frontline soldiers, she began piecing together a new plan.

Because this war—

was far from over.