CHAPTER 47

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The rumbling beneath the outpost grew louder as the night went on, shaking the floor beneath us. By morning, the situation had taken a turn for the worse. Several of the traders who had joined us were visibly shaken, some of them suffering minor injuries from debris falling during the night. The air felt charged with tension, and the Aetheric Flow was thick with unnatural energy. Whatever was stirring below us, it wasn’t going to wait much longer.

I could see the fear etched into Sari’s face as she stood near the entrance, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Even Leira, who had remained composed throughout most of the journey, seemed unsettled. We had faced demons and creatures before, but this... this was different.

“This place isn’t safe anymore,” I said, keeping my voice low as I looked out toward the snow-covered wasteland stretching out beyond the outpost. “We need to move.”

Leira nodded in agreement. “We’ve pushed our luck far enough.”

Several of the traders groaned in discomfort as they shifted around, checking the makeshift bandages that had been wrapped around cuts and bruises sustained during the rumbling. They were in no shape to keep traveling.

“We need to find shelter,” Sari said, her voice shaky. “Someplace safer than this.”

I didn’t disagree. The outpost, with its half-crumbled walls and eerie silence, had become a ticking time bomb. The disturbances in the Aetheric Flow weren’t letting up, and I had a strong feeling that we were sitting directly above whatever was causing them.

After a quick search, we found a nearby cave system tucked away in the cliffs. It was a better option than the outpost—natural shelter with walls of solid stone that would provide better protection from whatever might be coming.

The traders wasted no time setting up camp, relief evident on their faces as they huddled around a fire in the deeper parts of the cave. Sari busied herself tending to the wounded, her hands moving with practiced efficiency as she wrapped fresh bandages and checked supplies. Leira stood by the entrance, her hand never straying far from her sword as she kept watch over the narrow path leading into the cave.

I could feel the weight of their eyes on me—waiting, watching. They knew something was wrong, something more than just the rumblings of the earth beneath us. They looked to me for answers, but I couldn’t give them what they wanted. Not yet.

“You can’t go alone,” Leira said, her voice firm as she approached me, her breath visible in the cold air. “Whatever’s out there... it’s dangerous.”

“I know,” I replied, adjusting the strap on my pack. “But I’m the only one who can explore further. You need to stay here with the others. Keep them safe.”

Leira’s jaw tightened, her eyes narrowing. “And what about you?”

I met her gaze, my expression hard. “I’ll manage.”

She looked like she wanted to argue, but after a long moment, she relented, stepping back and nodding. “Fine. But if you don’t come back...”

“I will,” I said, cutting her off before she could finish the sentence. I didn’t want to think about the possibility of not returning. There was too much at stake, and too many unanswered questions waiting for me out there.

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Sari looked up from her work, concern etched on her face. “Be careful, Niv.”

I nodded, offering her a brief, reassuring smile before turning toward the cave entrance. I didn’t need to remind them of the dangers. They knew, just as I did, that whatever was beneath the ice wasn’t going to wait much longer.

I tightened my cloak around me, feeling the bitter cold bite at my skin as I stepped out into the snow. The wind howled through the narrow pass, carrying with it the promise of something far worse than just a storm.

As I moved away from the camp, the Aetheric Flow surged around me, alive with energy. The deeper I ventured into the Frozen Wastes, the more I could feel the magic of this place coiling around itself, becoming denser, heavier, as if the very land was preparing for something. The stone I had found at the outpost pulsed faintly in my pocket, a constant reminder of the power that lay beneath the surface.

The snow crunched underfoot as I made my way across the barren landscape, my senses heightened, every nerve on edge. The magic here was stronger than it had been before—thick and oppressive, like a heavy fog that clung to the air. The Aetheric Flow was twisted, warped by whatever force lay buried beneath the ice. I could feel it pulling at me, drawing me closer to the source.

It wasn’t long before I found it.

The ground beneath me trembled, and I stopped in my tracks, scanning the area with narrowed eyes. The cliffs loomed overhead, jagged and icy, their sharp edges cutting into the gray sky like frozen spears. The rumbling was louder now, more insistent, and I could feel the magic surging beneath the surface, growing stronger with each passing moment.

I closed my eyes, focusing on the Aetheric Flow. The disturbance was centered just ahead, a few hundred yards beneath the ice. It was faint, but unmistakable. Something ancient and powerful was stirring.

I reached the spot where the disturbance was strongest—a flat, barren stretch of snow-covered ground surrounded by towering cliffs. The air was thick with tension, the wind howling through the narrow pass, but there was no sign of life. No demons, no creatures, nothing.

But I could feel it. The power was pulsing beneath me, just waiting to break free.

I knelt down, pressing my hand to the frozen ground. The magic surged up through my fingertips, a cold, electric shock that made my skin tingle. The Aetheric Flow twisted around itself, coiling tightly, as if it was struggling to contain whatever was buried beneath the ice.

I drew on my Analyze skill, focusing on the magic beneath the surface. I could feel the layers of power, the way the Flow bent and shifted, pulling at the very fabric of the land. Whatever was down there, it was old—far older than anything I had encountered before. And it was waking up.

I stood, my breath visible in the frigid air, and took a step back. The rumbling grew louder, shaking the ground beneath me. Cracks began to form in the ice, spider-webbing out in all directions, and I knew I didn’t have much time.

I activated my auto-dodge, sensing that whatever was about to break free wasn’t going to let me stand there unscathed. The Aetheric Flow roared around me, and then, with a deafening crack, the ground split open.

A massive burst of energy shot up from the ground, sending ice and snow flying in all directions. I leaped back, narrowly avoiding the blast, my heart racing as I watched the ground collapse into a deep chasm.

Out of the darkness, a shadow emerged.

It was massive, towering over me, its form shifting and twisting like smoke. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and the air around it crackled with raw magic. This wasn’t a demon. This was something far worse.

The Wraith of the Deep Ice.

The creature hovered above the chasm, its eyes locked on me. The Aetheric Flow surged violently around it, its power overwhelming, suffocating. I could feel the cold magic radiating from it in waves, freezing the air between us.

I tightened my grip on my sword, my mind racing as I analyzed the creature’s movements. This wasn’t just a fight—it was a test. A test of everything I had learned. I could feel the raw power of the ice magic swirling around me, ready to be harnessed, but the creature wasn’t going to give me the chance to take control easily.

The Wraith moved with incredible speed, darting toward me with a shriek that sent a chill down my spine. I dodged to the side, my auto-dodge skill kicking in just in time to avoid its icy claws.

The battle had begun.