The Raging Storm

A group of burly bear-men stood on the opposite side of the circular pit, gazing at Yuri and his companion from afar.

Until a ten-meter-tall giant bear arrived, accompanied by the tremors of thunder.

He stood with his feet firmly planted on the ground, reaching towards the sky, his entire body covered in thick fur, and draped in a cloak made of dark clouds.

Thunder drums behind it, and the wind roars in its ears.

His body was covered with countless scars, as if he had been subjected to a thousand cuts and spears.

Those hideous wounds all testify to his bravery and skill in battle.

Upon their arrival, an intense, suffocating killing intent swept over them, as if even the blowing snow carried a pungent, bloody wind.

Anyone who sees him will recognize his name at first glance.

Volibear, the Stormbringer!

Volibear's right eye flashed with blue-white lightning as he stared intently at Yuri: "So, you're the one who wiped out my advance force?"

"If you're referring to that bunch of chickens and dogs from a few days ago, then yes," Yuri provocatively retorted.

To his surprise, instead of provoking the other party, he elicited Volibear's laughter, who beckoned, "Very well, I admire you! If you submit to the storm, I may spare your life."

How about I give you a choice?

Yuri laughed and replied, "Get out of here now, or I'll have roasted bear paws for supper tonight!"

Volibear's face gradually darkened. "You're courting death."

Yuri also became serious, arrogantly saying, "You're welcome to try."

The two men's auras rose steadily amidst the rising thunder, as if coalescing into a tangible storm as they clashed.

Just as the thunder was about to strike, a clear and deep hammer strike suddenly drowned out everything, resounding throughout the battlefield.

Ornn's deep, weathered voice slowly echoed from underground, "Volibear, you've crossed the line."

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Volibear immediately sneered, "Ornn, my brother! I never thought that after two hundred years, you'd still be trapped in your cage."

"If it weren't for this 'cage,' your fate would have been dire."

Ornn warned, "Remember what I said? If I ever see you again, I'll beat you to a pulp!"

Volibear glanced at the cave with a hint of apprehension.

He was a demigod who revered power and destruction, though his strength had gradually weakened over the past two hundred years as blood sacrifices had become increasingly rare...

But the storm never yields!

"Have you never acknowledged them as your followers, or do you wish to continue the battle I fought two hundred years ago?"

Volibear's threat was heard, Ornn fell silent; the cave was now quiet.

"Well then, it's your turn."

Volibear turned to Yuri: "This is your last chance. Surrender to the storm, or it will devour you!"

No one can survive in this world after angering the storm, no one!

"Then you'd better be careful not to choke on my food."

Yuri, as always, had a sharp tongue. After saying that, he turned to Brax and said, "Let's go!"

"Wait for Yuri, let's go together, the gods will..."

"You are the Hearth Family, Brax," Yuri interrupted him calmly.

Brax hesitated, but knowing that staying there would only hold Yuri back, he kept running towards the cave at the bottom of the circular pit.

The bear-men on the opposite side knew they couldn't interfere in the gods' battle, so they chased after Brax one by one.

"Roar!!"

A deafening roar erupted from Volibear's mouth.

In an instant, a gale swept through the dark clouds, and thunder arrived in a flash.

Yuri also leaped from the ground, transforming into phantoms as he soared into the air.

"Boom--!"

A thunderclap erupted as the Devil Bringer, emitting a faint white light, collided with the bear's claw, which was wreathed in raging lightning.

Blue-white electricity attempted to attach itself to Yuri's body along the Devil Bringer, but was shattered into scattered bolts of lightning by the sudden surge of magic.

Both were knocked back by the impact of each other.

However, Yuri's side was a bit more disheveled... his trench coat on his right arm turned to ashes under the lightning.

"Ha ha!" Volibear laughed maniacally, "Foolish mortals, be crushed under the storm!"

Yuri remained unperturbed by Volibear's taunts.

As if stating a well-known fact, he curled his lips into a mocking smile and said indifferently, "You really aren't as strong as the old goat."

"!!!!!"

Volibear's pupils widened instantly, as if flashing with a scarlet, menacing light.

A terrifying magical power erupted from his body, transforming into a terrifying thunderstorm. Even some of his bear-man subordinates who hadn't run far were caught in the blast, turning into a patch of scorched black earth.

The dark clouds above the mountaintop were constantly pounded with thunder, as if representing the wrath of the gods.

Volibear, he's broken down...

I'm going to tear you to pieces!

The raging giant bear, with its four paws pounding the ground, charged toward Yuri like a thunderous chariot.

Don't let its truck-like size fool you; its speed is faster than a rocket.

In an instant, two enormous thunder bear claws slammed down toward Yuri.

Yuri stood there, staring blankly at the claws that kept growing larger in front of him, seemingly unable to dodge them.

But the next moment, a griffin's cry came from nowhere. Yuri, his body glowing with purple lightning, dodged at the last second before the bear's claws struck him, his afterimage and the ground shattering together.

A huge gap has appeared in the bowl-shaped circular pit.

Volibear missed his target and looked around for Yuri's position.

As soon as he turned around, a whip kick came lashing at his head.

Volibear immediately opened his massive, sharp-toothed maw and lunged at Yuri's outstretched leg.

Yuri braced himself with one hand in mid-air, and a blue magic circle appeared. He used the momentum to flip and dodge the attack.

Volibear missed his target and nearly bit his tongue.

But then a tremendous force came from above, and Devil Bringer flashing with white light slammed down on him, knocking him to the ground.

Yuri seized the opportunity to gather his strength again, preparing to give chase.

Unexpectedly, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck down from the sky, engulfing him and Volibear, hitting them directly.

Yuri felt a sudden weight on his back as he gritted his teeth and endured the terrifying electric current.

The power of this lightning was far greater than that of Laxus.

Even with Griffon's purple lightning protecting him, he still felt extremely uncomfortable.

What's worse is that, after that thunderbolt, Volibear seemed to have been recharged.

Its aura grew even more imposing, and it swung a claw at Yuri.

Yuri was completely paralyzed and unable to move at all.

"Bang!!"

Yuri was hit squarely, and only had time to raise his arms to block before he was sent flying and crashed into a distant stone wall.