The passage was a labyrinth of stone, its walls smooth and cold, carved with runes that pulsed with faint, otherworldly light. The air was heavy with water qi, a sluggish tide that clashed with my fire qi, making each step a struggle. My body ached, my soul raw from the trial's toll, but I pressed on, driven by the need to reach the surface. The memory of Xu Xie's wary gaze haunted me. What had he seen in me to stir such caution?
I leaned on my sword, its blade scraping the stone, a makeshift cane for my battered body. The system's gifts—Song of Pure Flame, Black Blizzard, Devourer—were power beyond my dreams, but power alone wouldn't save me. I needed to understand this realm, its secrets, and the legacy tied to my sword. Cao Shen's blood ran in my veins, but what did that mean? The dragon's words echoed: "Why have you come to this realm?"
The corridor widened, opening into a cavern of glittering ice, its walls reflecting my haggard face in a thousand fractured mirrors. The spiritual energy was denser here, almost suffocating, as if the cavern held its breath, waiting for my next move. I scanned for threats, my spiritual sense stretched thin, dulled by the oppressive qi. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the faint drip of melting ice.
A distant screech pierced the quiet, chilling my blood. The worms again? I cursed, gripping my sword. My qi reserves were low, but Devourer had proven its worth. If I could kill enough, I might replenish enough to keep going. I moved cautiously, my steps echoing, my senses alert for the first sign of attack.
The screeches grew louder, a psychic assault that clawed at my mind. I flung a spark of fire, illuminating a writhing mass of worms spilling from cracks in the ice. Their dog-sized bodies moved with eerie precision, their snowy fangs glinting, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent. They were fewer than before, but their coordination was sharper, as if they'd learned from our last encounter.
I activated Dance of Embers, my body surging with speed, but the technique drained my qi faster than I could afford. I needed to end this quickly. The cavern's ice pillars offered cover, and I used them, darting between them to avoid encirclement. I lured the worms into a narrow gap, their bodies clogging the space, limiting their numbers. My sword struck with precision, each slash targeting their weak points, qi trickling in with each kill through Devourer.
The worms adapted, some burrowing into the ice, others climbing the pillars to drop from above. I dodged a snapping maw, rolling to the side, and drove my sword upward, pinning a worm to a pillar. Its qi flowed into me, easing the ache in my meridians. I used Flame of Life, healing a gash on my leg, the pain searing but effective. The wound closed, leaving me free to fight.
The battle raged, my sword a blur, each kill feeding me qi. I used the cavern's terrain, luring the worms into traps where ice pillars collapsed, crushing them. But their screeches were relentless, a psychic storm that blurred my vision, threatening to break my focus. I gritted my teeth, channeling Song of Pure Flame to bolster my resistance, the heat in my core pushing back the mental assault.
I spotted a massive worm, larger than the rest, its body pulsing with qi. A leader? If I could kill it, the others might falter. I fought toward it, my sword carving a path, qi flowing in with each kill. The leader lunged, its fangs snapping, but I rolled beneath it, slashing its underbelly. A surge of qi flooded me, my reserves spiking. The smaller worms hesitated, their coordination faltering.
Seizing the moment, I unleashed a burst of flame, incinerating a dozen worms. The leader screeched, a sound that shook the cavern, but I pressed the attack, my sword wreathed in fire. I struck again and again, each hit draining its qi, feeding mine. Finally, it collapsed, and the remaining worms scattered, their screeches fading.
I panted, leaning on my sword, my body trembling. The cavern was silent, the ice pillars scarred from the battle. A faint glow caught my eye—a massive door at the far end, its surface etched with runes. I pushed it open, and it vanished, replaced by stone. I stepped into the familiar icy wasteland, the Frostfort a distant speck on the horizon.
The icy wind stung my face, my body aching, but I ran, craving the safety of the Fort. I encountered two monsters—a living ice clump and a giant white rat, a harug, Li had called it. I tested Devourer on the harug, my sword slicing through its flesh. A stream of qi flowed into me, easing my pain.
+11 Qi
The system chimed, its prompt a welcome sight. I pressed on, the stars lighting my path. In the distance, I spotted figures—humans. I sped up, recognizing a familiar face.
"Kai? You're alive?" Aina rushed toward me, her silver-streaked hair glinting under the starlight.
"We thought you were dead!"
"Aina, I'm so glad to see you," I smiled, exhaustion softening my voice.
"Why are you here?"
"We've been searching for you," she said.
"Come, back to the Fort."
No one asked questions as we trekked, my battered appearance speaking volumes. A smile lingered on my lips, relief flooding me. But a powerful surge of qi snapped me back to reality. A graceful female figure descended, her blue eyes glaring with anger.
"Young Kai, were you so afraid of meeting me that you tried to die?" So Yun said, her voice sharp as a blade.
"You must have something to hide."
My heart sank, a foreign force enveloping me, lifting me into the air. What new trial awaited at the Frostfort, and would my newfound power be enough to face it?