Hummmm—!
An invisible shockwave exploded outward, with Lynn at its center!
The cave shook violently, and loose stones rained down from the walls.
Torren, Jason, and the others were knocked off their feet by the blast, tumbling over one another in a heap.
To their horror, they saw Longclaw erupting with an increasingly intense red glow.
The light was warm and searing, like the first light of dawn.
It was dragonflame and ancient magic!
It was engaging in a silent, ferocious battle against the bone-chilling cold radiating from Lynn!
Red and white—two opposing forces—clashed, entangled, and annihilated each other wildly within Lynn's body.
The crystallization that had been consuming his flesh began to reverse.
Inside Lynn's mind.
The cold will that had driven him to the brink seemed surprised. It hadn't expected this insignificant human to harbor such a hidden power!
However, the power of the dragonflame and the sword's magic was too faint in comparison. The cold will quickly regained the upper hand.
Lynn felt as though he were being torn apart.
His consciousness felt like it was trapped between two massive millstones.
Crushed and ground, over and over again!
The pain far exceeded any torture of the flesh.
"Ahhhhh!"
Lynn finally couldn't hold it back, letting out a guttural roar of agony.
Just then.
[Warning: Host mental entity critical.]
[High-dimensional energy detected causing irreversible damage to Host.]
[Activating Protection Protocol!]
The cold, mechanical voice sounded like the sweetest choir of angels to Lynn's ears!
In the next second.
A power far grander, purer, and utterly defying all logic exploded forth!
It was neither magic nor divine power.
It was more like a strike from a higher dimension!
For the first time, that cold will radiated a clear, distinct emotion.
Fear!
It sensed it—a terrifying, incomprehensible power capable of erasing it from existence entirely!
It tried to flee, to retreat into that dimension of eternal silence.
But it was too late.
The System's emotionless power acted like a giant invisible hand, seizing the cold will.
Then, it began a brutal analysis!
[Analyzing High-Dimensional Energy Entity...]
[Analysis Progress: 1%... 5%... 15%...]
[Warning: Energy level too high. Continued analysis will cause irreversible damage.]
[Aborting analysis! Forcing extraction of data fragments!]
A massive chunk was forcibly torn from that cold will!
Filled with unwillingness and malice, the entity fled in a panic, daring not to show itself again.
With its opponent gone, the magical power from Longclaw slowly calmed down.
Lynn's mental world finally returned to peace.
[Congratulations, Host. New Skill Acquired: Ice Magic]
[Protection Protocol Deactivated]
The System notification chimed in Lynn's mind.
"Magic?!"
Before Lynn could examine it closely, a stream of pure, freezing energy was rudely injected into his body by the System.
It was the power of ice.
But it was no longer violent and malicious like before.
It had become docile and controllable.
It flowed through Lynn's limbs and bones, forming a delicate balance with his own strength.
Inside the cave.
Torren, Jason, and the others watched in stunned silence.
Just moments ago, Longclaw had burst with a final, blinding red flash, and the terrifying frost on Lynn's body had receded rapidly, as if meeting its natural predator.
Lynn's body stopped trembling.
Color slowly returned to his paper-white face.
"My Lord!"
Torren was the first to react, scrambling over to him.
Arya threw herself at him too, hugging Lynn tightly.
She was weeping uncontrollably, her face wet with tears.
Lynn's state just now had truly terrified her.
Nymeria stood by, wagging her tail and hoping for praise, but everyone seemed to have ignored her completely...
Lynn slowly opened his eyes.
He felt as though he had died and come back.
Every inch of his body screamed in pain.
His mind was exhausted.
But he could feel something new inside him.
A cold power that obeyed his every command.
With a thought, a wisp of pale blue mist materialized in his cupped, concealed palm.
The mist swirled in the hollow of his hand.
The temperature around him dropped sharply.
Torren and the others shivered.
"This place is cursed..."
"I'm wearing furs, but I'm freezing..."
Lynn comforted Arya, who was still clinging to him, but his thoughts drifted far away.
If I have mastered Ice Magic, does that mean I can be like the Night King...
Can I raise corpses into wights?
Or turn living men into something stronger... like White Walkers?
Lynn was startled by his own thoughts, but the excitement outweighed the fear.
I must never reveal this secret!
After calming Arya and his men, Lynn's gaze returned to the dragon egg resting on the ice crystal platform.