The chamber where Wei had vanished into the shadowed passage lay still, the cracked ice reflecting the faint blue glow of the runes that pulsed along the walls. Qin Mo stood, the Frostflame Core's heat a steady ember against the biting cold, the bells' chime from his pouch a relentless whisper that tugged at his soul. The FFD System buzzed, its warning a quiet hum in his mind.
[FFD System: Frostflame Balance: Heat 38% / Cold 62%.]
The team moved forward, their steps cautious on the icy path, their breaths fogging in the frigid air. Ren trailed behind, his daggers sheathed but his hands clenched, his face etched with a hollow grief that weighed on the group. Yi's frost threads coiled at her sides, her eyes sharp with a mix of determination and concern for Ren. Lian gripped her relic, the rune-carved stone pulsing faintly, a silent guide, while Qin Mo led with his blade ready, the Frostflame Ascendancy tingling through him like a promise of strength.
The tunnel spiraled upward, its walls narrowing, the runes growing denser until they formed a mosaic of ancient symbols that seemed to shift under the light. The air warmed slightly, but the pressure mounted, the bells' chime syncing with a deeper resonance that echoed from ahead. The path opened into a vast chamber, its ceiling lost in shadow, its floor a labyrinth of ice pillars and shattered stone. At the center stood the sixth bell, a massive structure of black iron and frost, its surface etched with runes that pulsed with a sickly green light. The air crackled, the chime swelling into a deafening roar, and a figure emerged from the mist—Wei, his red eyes glowing, the Tax's hold unbroken.
"Ren," Wei rasped, his voice layered with an eerie echo, "this is where you end." Before anyone could react, he raised a hand, and the bell rang, unleashing a shockwave of frost that forced the team to brace. Qin Mo raised the Frostmirror Shield, the barrier flaring to absorb the brunt, though the cold surged, sapping his heat. Yi's threads lashed out, coiling toward Wei, but the ice resisted, the runes flaring as he broke free with a snarl.
"Stay back!" Qin Mo shouted, charging forward with the Frostflame Blade igniting. The blade clashed with Wei's frost-clad fists, sparks flying, and he parried a second strike, the Ascendancy holding his balance. The cold bit deep, testing his limits, but the Frostflow passive steadied him, his movements fluid as he countered with a Frostfang Strike, the icy edge grazing Wei's side. The shard drank the essence, a rush that sharpened his focus, but Wei's runes pulsed brighter, the Tax's power unyielding.
Ren lunged, his daggers flashing as he struck at Wei, his voice breaking. "Fight it, Wei—please!" The blades clashed against frost, sending Ren staggering back, the impact cracking the ice. Wei's red eyes flickered, a hint of recognition crossing his face, but the Tax surged, and he roared, summoning a frost array. Blue tendrils snaked across the chamber, and Qin Mo channeled the Frostflame Surge, the wave of ice and fire shattering the array, the backlash shaking the ground.
Lian stepped up, her relic glowing brighter as she notched an arrow. "This bell ties him to the Tax," she said, her voice steady with resolve. She loosed the shot, the arrow humming with ancestral energy, piercing the bell's base. The impact drew a crack, the green light faltering, and Wei staggered, the red in his eyes dimming. Yi's threads seized the moment, wrapping his legs, pulling him off balance, while Ren darted in, his daggers striking Wei's chest, the blow drawing a hiss of steam.
Qin Mo pressed the advantage, the Frostflame Dominion surging, a resonance of heat and cold that synced with the team's movements. He drove the blade into the bell's crack, the shockwave erupting, shattering the iron. The chamber trembled, the green light exploding outward, knocking the team back. Wei collapsed, the red fading from his eyes, his breath shallow but free of the Tax's echo.
[Devour progress: 27%. Balance: Heat 36% / Cold 64%.]
Qin Mo dropped to one knee, the shard stabilizing, the cold receding slightly. Ren rushed to Wei, cradling him as the runes on his skin faded, leaving him pale but alive. "Wei, you're back," he whispered, tears freezing on his cheeks. Yi retracted her threads, her face flushed with relief, while Lian lowered her bow, her gaze lingering on the broken bell. "The Tax's hold weakens," she murmured.
The chamber's runes pulsed, a new path opening, its entrance framed by cracked ice. The team gathered, their breaths visible, the fight's adrenaline fading into a weary hope. Wei's return mended a fracture, but the bells' chime lingered, a reminder of the trials ahead, each step drawing them closer to the heart of the Tax.