At the same time, the Woodfang Lion struck again from the shadows, its claws glowing with green energy as it activated its [Verdant Reap] skill, slashing at Nix from behind.
The attack left deep gashes along his back, causing him to roar in pain as he barely managed to twist mid-air to avoid a fatal hit.
Little White leaped forward, activating his [Moonlight Empowerment] skill. His silver fur shimmered as his strength and speed increased under the glowing light filtering through the treetops.
He then lunged at the Woodfang Lion as his claws infused with lunar energy. He swiped at the beast's legs, forcing it to retreat.
However, the two lions worked in perfect unison. As the Woodfang Lion retreated, the Rockfang Lion took over, slamming its paw into the ground to trigger its [Seismic Quake] skill.
The entire battlefield trembled violently as the ground beneath Nix and Little White fractured, throwing them off balance.
Seizing the moment, the Woodfang Lion unleashed its [Thorn Barrage] skill, causing wooden spikes to sprout from the ground in every direction.
Nix growled, flapping his wings furiously to escape, while Little White barely managed to weave through the gaps between the spikes. Despite their evasive maneuvers, both sustained minor injuries as some of the thorns grazed their bodies, spilling their blood.
Nix narrowed his eyes as he panted slightly while looking at the Lions. 'Their coordination is perfect. If we don't figure something out soon, we'll keep getting pushed back.'
Nix growled in frustration as his pride wounded just as much as his body. If they kept fighting separately, they would never gain the upper hand.
The Rockfang Lion and the Woodfang Lion circled them, their golden eyes gleaming with confidence. They knew they had the advantage. They had fought together countless times, their bond forged through years of battling as a team.
Compared to them, Nix and Little White were uncoordinated, their movements disconnected.
As the lions prepared their next assault, Nix and Little White locked eyes for a brief moment. They didn't need words to understand what needed to be done.
The Rockfang Lion, who was standing firm with its massive stone-like fur, let out a deafening roar as it activated its [Earthquake Tremor] skill, causing the ground beneath Nix and Little White to violently shake.
Trees creaked as their roots were torn from the soil, and several large cracks spread across the battlefield. The unstable terrain made it difficult for Nix and Little White to maintain their footing.
Using his superior agility, Little White leaped from one solid piece of ground to another, avoiding the worst of the tremors.
He then activated his [Moonlight Empowerment] skill, his silver fur glowing faintly under the scattered rays of sunlight breaking through the thick canopy.
With his power surging, he dashed toward the Rockfang Lion, aiming to land a decisive blow with his [Silver Fang] skill.
However, the Woodfang Lion was quick to react as It let out a piercing growl and activated its [Vine Snare] skill, summoning countless thick vines from the forest floor.
The tendrils shot up, wrapping around Little White's limbs mid-air, and stopped his momentum entirely. The vines tightened their grip as they attempted to crush him.
"Awoo!"
Little White howled as he struggled against the restraints, his claws slashing at the vines, but they regenerated too quickly.
Seeing Little White in danger, Nix roared as he immediately activated his [Ice Storm] skill, summoning a freezing wind that swept through the battlefield.
Snow and ice swirled violently, and sharp shards of ice appeared, ripping through the vines and freeing Little White. The unexpected dip in temperature caused the Woodfang Lion to tremble, as frost formed on its leafy fur.
Regaining his balance, Little White immediately counterattacked. With a swift flick of his tail, he unleashed [Lunar Slash], sending a crescent-shaped silver energy wave directly at the Woodfang Lion.
The attack struck the beast's side, sending it crashing into a tree, causing its wooden armor to crack upon the impact.
However, the Rockfang Lion took this opportunity to charge at Nix while he was momentarily distracted. With its body reinforced by earth energy, it lunged forward as its claws glowed with golden light while activating its [Crushing Boulder Strike] skill.
Nix barely had time to react as he activated his [Frost Armor] skill, enveloping his body in a thick layer of ice just before the impact.
The lion's claws smashed into him, sending him sliding backward, but the icy protection absorbed most of the damage. Still, the sheer force of the attack left cracks in his armor, and he let out a low growl.
The battle intensified further as the Rockfang and Woodfang Lions began using team-based tactics. The Woodfang Lion recovered quickly and summoned more vines, not to restrain Nix and Little White but to aid its ally.
The vines coiled around the Rockfang Lion's limbs, increasing its mobility and allowing it to leap through the battlefield with unnatural agility for its size.
The Rockfang Lion launched another attack using its [Stone Fang Barrage] skill, sending a flurry of hardened rock shards flying toward Nix and Little White.
Little White used [Light Barrier] to protect himself, but the impact pushed him back. Nix, on the other hand, activated his [Mirror Ice] skill, forming a reflective ice wall that deflected half of the rock shards back at the lion.
Seeing the opportunity, Little White dashed in with incredible speed while utilizing his [Lunar Connection] skill to synchronize his attack with Nix's.
At that moment, Nix breathed in deeply, gathering energy before unleashing a devastating [Ice Breath] skill.
The freezing energy spread across the battlefield, forcing the Woodfang Lion to shield itself with layers of thickened bark using its [Verdant Armor] skill.
Despite the protection, the frost energy seeped into the cracks of the Woodfang Lion's armor, slowing its movements.
Little White capitalized on this moment as he activated his [Silver Eclipse] skill before launching himself at the Woodfang Lion with blinding speed. He bit deep into its side, causing it to let out a howl of pain.