CHAPTER 55

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The clash of fire and ice echoed across the desolate landscape as the beast lunged at me, its massive claws slicing through the air. I dodged effortlessly, Auto-Dodge guiding my movements with precision. The creature’s form, built from both ice and shadow, radiated a power that seemed to be an extension of the very Wastes themselves. But I wouldn’t back down—not from this, not from anything.

I swung my sword, flames roaring to life along the blade, cutting through the air with deadly intent. The fire scorched the creature’s side, leaving a trail of embers as the blow landed. But the beast barely flinched, its icy hide absorbing most of the impact.

It roared, the sound shaking the ground beneath my feet as it reared back for another strike.

“Let’s see if you can handle this,” I muttered under my breath.

I stepped forward, summoning the full force of the Aetheric Flow around me. Flames exploded from my hands, roaring toward the creature in a torrent of heat and light. At the same time, I summoned jagged spikes of ice from the ground, trying to trap it between the two elements.

The beast snarled, its glowing eyes locked on me as it dodged the spikes, slipping through the gaps with unnatural agility. The fire slammed into its side, and this time I saw it—an opening. The flames had weakened a section of its icy armor.

I pressed forward, my mind racing as I tried to take advantage of the moment. I channeled more fire into my blade, swinging it in a wide arc aimed directly at the weakened spot.

But the creature wasn’t going to go down that easily.

With a speed that defied its massive size, the beast lunged at me, its claws aimed at my chest. I barely had time to react, Auto-Dodge pulling me out of harm’s way at the last second. The force of its strike sent a shockwave through the ground, cracking the ice beneath our feet.

I skidded to a halt, my heart pounding in my chest. This thing was fast—too fast for its size. It wasn’t just strength or power; the beast was smart. It had learned from my attacks, and now it was adapting.

I couldn’t just rely on brute force to win this fight. I needed to think.

The Aetheric Flow around me pulsed, responding to the creature’s presence. I could feel it—this thing was tied to the magic of the Wastes, bound to the ancient power that permeated this land. Its strength didn’t come from within, but from the environment itself. That was why it could move so fluidly, why my attacks weren’t as effective as they should have been.

If I wanted to beat it, I had to sever that connection.

I raised my hand, focusing on the Aetheric Flow around the creature. It was chaotic, wild, bending the natural order of magic in the Wastes to its will. But I wasn’t without power here. I could manipulate the Flow too. It would take more concentration, more effort, but I could disrupt its control.

I closed my eyes, reaching out with my mind, feeling the threads of magic that tied the creature to the Wastes. They were faint, almost invisible, but they were there. I grabbed hold of one, pulling it toward me, feeling the resistance as the beast fought back.

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The creature roared, sensing what I was doing. It lunged at me again, its claws glowing with icy magic, but this time I was ready. I ducked under its attack, using Auto-Dodge to guide my movements. My sword slashed through the air, connecting with the same weakened spot on its side. The creature howled in pain as my blade sank deeper into its flesh, the fire burning hotter with every second.

But I didn’t stop there. I summoned a wall of ice behind me, forcing the creature back toward it. The Aetheric Flow shifted, responding to my commands as I pressed my advantage. The ice wall grew, jagged spikes shooting outward, trapping the beast in a deadly cage.

I opened my eyes, focusing all my energy on the threads of magic that connected the creature to the Wastes. They pulsed with power, but I could feel them weakening. Slowly, I pulled them apart, unraveling the magic that bound the creature to the land.

The beast thrashed, its movements growing more frantic as the connection weakened. Its icy claws scraped against the ground, leaving deep gouges in the frozen earth, but it couldn’t reach me. The fire and ice were closing in, trapping it in a prison of its own creation.

With one final pull, I severed the connection.

The creature let out a final, earth-shattering roar as the magic holding it together unraveled. Its body collapsed into a pile of ice and shadow, melting away into the ground. The Aetheric Flow around me stabilized, returning to its natural state as the magic of the Wastes released its grip.

I stood still for a moment, catching my breath. The battle had been intense, but my Auto-Heal had kept me fresh. My mana reserves were as full as ever, untouched despite the relentless casting. I could have fought for hours more if I needed to, but the fight was over.

The Frozen Wastes were quiet once again.

But I wasn’t done yet.

I sheathed my sword, glancing around at the twisted landscape I had created. The ground was scorched in some places, frozen solid in others. Massive spikes of ice jutted out from the ground, remnants of the battle that had just taken place.

I closed my eyes, letting the Aetheric Flow wash over me once more. There was still so much I didn’t understand about this place, about the magic that ran through it. The Frozen Wastes were old, ancient, and their power was tied to something far greater than any single beast or creature.

I had learned a lot from this fight, but there was still more to uncover. More to master.

As I turned to leave the battlefield, I felt a familiar presence stirring in the Aetheric Flow. It wasn’t hostile, but it was powerful—someone, or something, was watching me. I tensed, readying myself for whatever was coming next.

From the shadows, a figure emerged. Cloaked in darkness, its form shifted and warped with the magic around it. It wasn’t the same as the Void Stalker, but it carried the same weight, the same ancient energy.

I narrowed my eyes, watching the figure closely. “Who are you?”

The figure didn’t answer immediately. It stepped closer, the air around it crackling with raw magic. When it finally spoke, its voice was low, echoing in the silence. “You’ve proven yourself in the Wastes, traveler, but there are forces at play you do not yet understand.”

I stayed silent, waiting for the figure to explain itself.

“The Wastes are old, ancient... and their secrets are not easily uncovered,” the figure continued, its tone cryptic. “There are powers at work that watch over this land, and they are watching you now.”

A chill ran down my spine, though not from the cold. The figure’s words hinted at something more—something I wasn’t yet ready to face. I had come here to master the Wastes, to unlock their secrets, but it seemed there were forces moving in the shadows, ones that I hadn’t yet glimpsed.

“You may think your journey is your own,” the figure said, its voice growing fainter. “But the path you walk is part of something much larger.”

Before I could respond, the figure faded into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.

I stood in the silence for a moment longer, my mind racing with questions. What was the figure talking about? What larger forces? It felt like the Wastes were just the beginning of something much bigger than I had anticipated.

But I wouldn’t get my answers here. Not yet.

I turned and continued walking, the snow crunching beneath my feet as I left the battlefield behind. Whatever those forces were, whatever the Wastes held, I would uncover them in time.

I always did.