Dungeon of Niflheim

Upon hearing not even a trace of arrogance in his voice the deputy Captains assigned to Frost and their nearby Sergeants couldn't help but smile before responding with their valuable insight.

"Certainly Major, we won't steer you wrong." A Captain by the name of Johnson, a well built beastman of the bear tribe slammed his oversized hand against his chest. The man was nearing middle age, stood well over 2 metres, had white fur lining his skin and a brutal exposed scar marring his chest.

He was a talented and well experienced officer among the War Ursa Battalion's vanguard, a perfect choice to aid Frost in his toe dipping.

"The soldiers under your command Major Frost comprise of 1000 E-ranks, 400 D-ranks, 80 peak D-ranks/ half step C-ranks and 20 full blown C-ranks." 1500 men and women who bravely stood stalwart against hundreds of thousands perhaps even at times millions of enemies without blinking an eye.

"Our duty is to maintain the 7th western defensive line, a duty that you are now beholden to." Johnson explained thoroughly the current situation of their regiment and their assigned duties all while the soldiers at the forefront did battle with the enemy.

Frost nodded his head in understanding. "I'll do my best to not let the 7th western line fall." He felt his blood pumping through his veins as the stench of battle excited him.

It had been too long since he last stood upon a true battlefield.

"Myself or one of the other senior Captains will report the frontline's situation to you every 10 minutes or earlier if a major change takes place." There was a strange cadence in his tone as he said this, a strangeness Frost quickly picked up on.

"Don't worry Captain Johnson I know well enough not to mess with a well oiled machine." He was here to learn ,not screw over the systems already in place among the War Ursa Battalion. He was merely a guest not a true Major.

Captain Johnson let out a breath of relief before once again smiling from ear to ear, he was liking this fresh recruit more and more.

Time passed and after roughly an hour or so since Frost took to the field a change occurred, a change that made him marvel.

A Sergeant assigned to communications with headquarters held her hand up to her left ear as she received orders through a short-range communication crystal.

"Urgent Report!" The young woman's face paled for a second when she heard the order but a moment later she turned around and roared at the top of her lungs drawing Frost and Captain Johnson's attention.

In the same moment that she and many other communications officers moved to relay the urgent orders from headquarters a change could be seen in the far distance.

The frontlines that were overwhelmed with enemy bodies had started to thin, allowing even those on the ground level to see in the distance. And what they saw was not a retreat of the enemy, nor a lack in their numbers but massive blurred figures surrounded by kicked up snow and ice.

"Heavy assault inbound! Headquarters is ordering the use of the Icethorne Bulwark!" The female Sergeant bellowed with a growing smile on her lips, an expression that was mirrored by the other officers. Only Frost was left in the dark.

"You heard her men, prepare to activate the Icethorne Bulwark. Emma, Lucinda, Darius and Mokan move out."

"Yes Captain!" With practised precision the four Captains each of whom were at the very minimum mid C-rank responded with a roar before heading to the frontlines along with their Sergeants and Lieutenants.

"Johnson what's the Icethorne Bulwark?" Frost asked with a frown.

With his impressive eyesight and battle instincts he could feel danger encroaching upon their position.

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"Hehehe you're going enjoy this Major." Johnson responded with a wild smile and mad look in his eyes. He gestured for Frost to gaze ahead, to not miss a single beat.

Within a minute the entire frontline of the War Ursa Battalion had shifted into a special formation. Extra shield bearers moved forward while the axe and sword users retreated back several metres, they were useless in dealing with what was coming.

Dozens and dozens of Captains moved behind the shield bearers and spearmen to take direct command and help enact the Icethorne Bulwark.

By this time the blurred figures were becoming clear as day and the ground upon which Frost and the soldiers stood began to tremble.

Hundreds of massive, hulking monsters, each weighing several tons were charging towards them at great speed.

Mammoths, Three horned rhinos, stone drakes and several other noteworthy monsters could be seen in the line-up. Devasting opponents that posed a significant threat even when alone, yet here they were charging like a regiment of heavy cavalry.

Even Frost with his B-rank strength felt the back of his neck tingle when faced with such a sight yet the D and even E-ranks soldiers under his command bore eager smiles, donning not an ounce of fear.

'What the hell is this Icethorne Bulwark?' He internally questioned, genuinely curious as to what manner of thing could grant such confidence among even the weakest in their number.

"Activate the Icethorne Bulwark!" Suddenly General Katrina's voice roared from the top of the wall and with her decree Boom!

The mighty shield bearers stamped their feet against the ground, placed their shields before their bodies, controlled their breathing and summoned their internal energy.

"Major Frost do you know what a battle formation is?" Captain Johnson teasingly inquired.

"Battle formation?" Frost wracked his brains, searching through his innate knowledge and from what he read in books but all he managed to scrounge up was short, inconclusive information.

Not surprised by Frost's lack of knowledge Captain Johnson proceeded to explain. "A battle formation is a special technique that allows a group of people to pool their internal energy together, linking them into a single unit. And in doing so their strength becomes amplified, far beyond what they can normally summon."

As he spoke a visible, blue coloured energy formed around the shield bearers, spearmen and the assigned Captains at the frontline. This energy wrapped around their bodies before spreading out in search of others, swiftly linking them all up in a chain. Following this those affected had their breathing, muscle movements and even heartbeats sync up, turning them into a single entity, with a single purpose.

Once linked their individual strengths soared, becoming on average half a rank higher before the blue energy coalesced into the shape of a massive and regal looking bear.

"Roooooaaarrrrr!" The energy based bear roared aggressively as its presence continued to grow without end, enacting a pressure similar to that of a dense aura.

"Icethorne Bulwark!" General Katrina shouted.

"Icethorne Bulwark!"

"Icethorne Bulwark!"

"Icethorne Bulwark!"

"Icethorne Bulwark!" Her roar was mirrored by countless soldiers, eager to taste blood.

With their raging bellows the mighty bear transformed, it pooled its essence into the shield bearers at the forefront. Their tower shields shone with a bright blue light before conjuring an inviolable barrier, a thick half metre, transparent screen that screamed invincibility.

Frost was completely blown away by the sight, it felt like a skill yet not at the same time, a strange and intriguing thing that stoked his greed, his desire, he wanted it for his own forces.

Captain Johnson was a good reader of emotions so he easily picked up on Frost's interest but even if he wasn't it'd be strange if the young man wasn't curious…..alas simply desiring something didn't mean you could obtain it. He thus proceeded to dump or at least attempt to dump cold water on the young prodigy's head.

"The Icethorne Bulwark, a battle formation developed by our War Ursa Battalion after decades of effort is a shining example of our unity and high level of skill. Even the simplest of battle formations requires the users to be completely in tune with one another and individually unrivalled in skill. We of the War Ursa Battalion have always focused on quality rather than quantity thus we are able to compete with enemies that outnumber us ten perhaps even a hundred to one without issue. Our experience and dedication allows us to transcend the limits of standard soldiers."

Battle formations, the sign of a truly unified and competent force. Secret techniques that are usually beholden to the military of powerful nations such as the Northrend Empire as only they have the capabilities to meet their strict requirements.

The soldiers of the War Ursa Battalion needed to spend years practising before they could even hope to unleash the lowest level of grandeur of a battle formation such as the Icethorne Bulwark.

Frost hoping to utilise such a formation among his own forces after simply seeing it in person was nothing but a pipe dream. He had no idea of the amount of blood, sweat and tears that went into achieving such a display.

Captain Johnson hoped to convey that wanting to learn and use battle formations was a tall almost impossible order for the young prodigy…. Unfortunately for him Frost wasn't so easily deterred.

'Though I doubt it'd be easy, aren't battle formations perfectly designed for my forces?' He internally analysed, finding that the fact that all his monsters came from the same controlled source and that they maintained a connection to that said source should allow them to easily form connections between one another, instantly achieving the first milestone of a battle formation.

With this thought growing more and more prominent in his mind, Frost's desire grew in concert and a wild smile formed across his lips.

'Seems that I need to start researching battle formations.'