Wolf's ears twitched to the sound of a piercing shriek.
"Snapper, did you hear something just now?"
"What? I didn't hear anything," Snapper replied to him.
"It sounded like someone was screaming," Wolf said, worriedly. "What if May and Amber are in trouble?"
"There's no time to be worrying about the others right now. If they're really in trouble, then getting to the ice hat is the best way to help them. Just stay focused, and stick to the plan." Wolf nodded in response, returning his focus to Mel, who had already summoned a card.
"Spears of Light!" Mel activated the same card ability she used at the Ferrum Armory, sending a tall light spear toward Wolf and Snapper.
They both narrowly evaded the attack by splitting themselves apart, widely diving into opposite sides of the street.
"Snapper!"
"Yeah, I know!"
Snapper charged at Mel, jumping high into the air before twisting his body to initiate a flying back kick. However, his attack was swiftly blocked by Mel's hand, which tightly grasped Snapper's leg.
What's this strength? he thought, as she mercilessly slammed his body into the ground.
"Gah!" Snapper, whose body was somewhat protected by his chainmail armor, quickly rolled to the side, narrowly evading the impalement of Mel's blade.
He flipped himself up and backed away for a moment.
"Bolt Storm!" From his card, a barrage of bolts were released, darting towards Mel at a high speed.
She successfully deflected each one with her blade, momentarily diverting her attention from Snapper, who used the opening to rush in again.
"What—" Snapper used his formidable speed to completely close the distance between them in an near instant.
Mel, slightly panicked, tried to attack him with her blade, but Snapper ducked in anticipation before swiftly maneuvering into her blind spot and grabbing hold of her from behind.
Having climbed onto her back, Snapper tried to restrain her movements by pulling her towards the ground, however, she still stood firm as a brick wall, unable to budge.
Guess I'll have to try this instead. Snapper wrapped his arms around her neck.
"What are you doing!?" Mel groaned as her opponent began to choke her.
She frantically moved her body around, trying to shake him off while grabbing hold of his arm, but Snapper refused to loosen the tight grip he had on her.
"Now, Wolf!"
After Snapper gave the signal, Wolf began to rush past them, using Snapper's distraction to try and reach the ice hat.
The ice hat!? So that's what they're after. Mel, who now noticed it, watched Wolf run toward the ice hat that was suspended a good distance behind her.
"Nghh!" Snapper poured more strength into his arm, but he could feel his hold weakening gradually as Mel desperately tried to break free.
Dammit, she's too strong. In a moment of sheer frustration, Mel gritted her teeth as she tore away Snapper's grip.
"Shit!"
She took hold of his arm before forcibly swinging his body into the ground.
"GAH!"
She immediately turned to Wolf, who was just mere seconds away from reaching the ice hat.
"Flame Whip!" From Mel's tool card, a tail-like stream of fire emerged, extending toward Wolf from behind.
Almost there, Wolf thought as the proximity between him and the hat gradually began to close.
"Wolf, look out!" Snapper warned.
Wolf stretched his arm out toward the ice hat, but just as his finger was about to make contact with it, the Flame Whip instantly wrapped around his body, completely restraining his movements.
"What—" The whip pulled him back, the heat from the flames scorching his lower torso.
"ARGH!!" he yelled in agony.
"Wolf!" Snapper cried to him, as Wolf's body flew across the air before flinging into a building far behind them.
Snapper watched as Mel began to sprint for the ice hat, unable to get up in time to chase her down.
"Oh no you don't... Vortex Grab!" Upon activating his ability, Snapper stretched his hand out toward Mel and grabbed the air, causing her to freeze just before she could reach the hat.
What is this? Why can't I move? she thought, struggling against the unknown force that compelled her.
"Back of the line, princess!" Snapper threw his hand in a backward motion, also pulling Mel backwards as she flew into the air and crashed into the ground just behind him.
C'mon, c'mon… Snapper limped his bruised body toward the hat. I can make it! he thought.
But once the ice hat was just within his reach, a cone of light suddenly shone brightly upon him.
The 'Patrolling Lights' ability that Jude activated had made its way over to him, freezing him in place before he could reach the hat.
Are you frickin' serious!?
He watched as the other two Patrolling Light orbs began to float behind him in search of a new target.
Jude, that bastard!! he cursed internally.
"WOLF!!" Snapper shouted, hoping that Wolf was conscious enough to hear him. "THAT BASTARD, JUDE, SET A TRAP! YOU'VE GOTTA AVOID THE LIGHTS!"
"Lights...?" Collapsed under a pile of rubble and with streams of blood flowing down his face, Wolf gradually got up to see Snapper, who stood immobilized in the far distance.
He also saw Mel, who began to stand up as her 'Blackening' ability started to wear off, reverting her hair, eyes, and armor back to their original color.
Then, he noticed the beams of light that were steadily approaching them.
I see... So he used 'that' trap card... he thought to himself while studying the eyeballs that seemed to be searching for another target.
Mel, who was already aware of this ability, dodged the beams of light while heading towards Snapper.
I can't let her get to the ice hat! Wolf thought, slowly rising out of the rubble. I guess now's a good time to use it.
Wolf summoned the card that was gifted to him by Quinn Ferrum.
"Manifest: Claw Card!" Wolf felt a heavy thump in his chest, and an odd sensation that burned throughout his body.
With his heart pounding and his blood rushing, his nails sharpened and elongated as his canines did the same.
Wolf held his dagger using his mouth, gripping onto the sides of the handle using his sharp teeth.
He dived into the ground, growling on all fours before breaking into a rapid stride.
Charging forward while dodging the Patrolling Lights that beamed around him, he easily caught up to Mel who seemed to be moving with less haste since her 'Blackening' ability wore off.
Wolf was able to pounce on her, grabbing her leg, which caused her to fall to the ground before she could get the ice hat.
In an attempt to break free of his grasp, she continuously kicked at Wolf's head as he pinned her down.
However, he began to dig his claws into her thigh, piercing through a chink in Mel's armor.
"ARGHHH!" she screamed as she felt his sharp claws cutting through her flesh.
"GET OFF ME, YOU MUT!" She then gave one last desperate kick with all her might, which was able to push her opponent away, freeing her at last.
But Wolf immediately charged at her again. Anticipating his next attack, Mel gripped her sword tightly, and with both hands, she swung her blade at Wolf's neck.
Wolf quickly tilted his head to parry the attack with the dagger he held in his mouth. Mel then twisted her body to deliver a spinning slash from the other side, but Wolf accurately read her movements, ducking the attack before returning with an uppercut aimed at her chin.
Mel narrowly evaded the attack as she tilted her head back, but Wolf jumped into the air, following up with a roundhouse kick to the jaw that sent her stumbling backward.
As blood spewed out of her mouth and leg, she began to chuckle sadistically.
"Thank you for that," she said.
The blood from her mouth and her wound then began to flow into one of her cards.
Wolf, fueled by an untamable aggression, charged at her once more as he let out a vicious roar.
"Blackening!" With the blood stored in her card, Mel was able to reactivate her ability, causing parts of her body and equipment to change color again.
She then sheathed her sword and summoned another card as Wolf dashed towards her.
As he attempted to swing his claws at her, she forcibly grabbed his wrist, and held it in place with an overwhelmingly tight grip.
Wolf swung at her face with his other hand, but Mel effortlessly weaved the attack.
"Manifest: Spiral Drill!" From her dominant hand, she fired a rotating drill that barely missed her opponent's chest as he kicked the ground, sending himself flying into the air.
But Mel used her grip to pull him forward while clenching a fist.
Upon noticing that she intended to throw a punch at him, Wolf opened his mouth to release his dagger before catching it with his left hand and slashing her eye.
"AH!"
She was weakened by the pain and the loss of sight, however, that attack didn't stop Mel as she slammed her fist into Wolf's face, sending him tumbling across the hard ground.
Right after Wolf rolled himself onto his feet, a spear of light flew at him, which he barely evaded.
"Merge!" Two of the orbiting light spears then fused together under Mel's command.
Not long afterward, another spear–much larger than the previous one–soared in Wolf's direction. Realizing he had no time to evade the incoming attack, Wolf activated a new ability.
"Material Manifestation!"
"WHAT!?" Mel was surprised to hear her opponent recite the name of one of her own Birth card ability.
He quickly stomped the ground and a wall of stone appeared before him, shielding him, but still cracking under the explosive impact of Mel's attack.
How is this possible? Mel thought, puzzled by what she had just witnessed.
She wasn't aware of this, but the first time Mel used that ability back at the Collectors Station, Wolf was able to unconsciously copy it using the 'Copy Card' after using Clairvoyance to figure out how the ability functioned.
While behind the wall, the effects of the Claw Card began to fade as Wolf's canine's and claws retracted.
His body began to cool down as he panted, feeling almost completely drained by the aftermath.
That ability is dangerous, he thought while staring at his bloodied palms. It's like I had no control over myself.
He began to stare at the blood stains on his fingers, which he received from Mel's leg.
A sudden realization began to dawn on him.
Shit! The ice hat! He quickly peeked his head from the side of the wall, only to see that everything before him had been engulfed in a large cloud of smoke.
It was just like what happened at the armory, right before Mel disappeared.
Was it a card ability?
Wolf ran into the smokescreen, unable to see anything ahead of him.
"Snapper!" He yelled, but there was no response.
He wandered around aimlessly until he saw something shining in the distance.
The ice hat! He ran towards the light, hoping he would be able to make it in time, but it was too late.
The smoke cleared itself instantaneously, revealing Mel, who held snapper by the neck with one hand, while the other held the cold rim of the glowing ice hat.
"No..."
"You fought well, Wolf. But it appears your efforts were in vain." Mel heartlessly confirmed the situation as the snow began to cease its descent.
They had failed.
"In a few moments, someone from your team will be completely frozen. I wonder who that person will be?"