----------------------------------------
Chapter 9 - Frozen Domain
A sense of relief washed over Kyrios as he stole a fleeting glance backward. The immense golem, once a relentless pursuer, now appeared to have come to a standstill. Its colossal form stood motionless, casting an ominous shadow against the stark cavern.
His shoulders trembled as he drew in a deep breath, filling his lungs with frigid air. In a way, it was liberating to be breathing a different air after the same stale breath for so long. This place seemed to be in a state of eternal winter. The ground was covered in a thick blanket of ice, and he had no idea what lay ahead. The realization dawned upon him like a chilling gust of wind. He had unwittingly stumbled into a bitterly cold place, a hostile realm that could sap his warmth and vitality dry. The biting cold gnawed at his exposed skin, seeping through the layers of his tattered garments and settling deep within his muscles.
[https://i.imgur.com/FImC8uY.png]
Time became his enemy. If he lingered here for too long, his body would surrender to the grip of frostbite. With that thought in mind, he continued on, his mind straining to navigate through the wintery landscape. The glacial region consisted of a myriad of icy formations, some of them connecting to the ceiling. A few of them formed a crude pathway, though the steps seemed perilously slippery.
Cautiously, he skirted around the perilous obstacles, searching for a path that could provide him a semblance of safety. Anywhere with a bit of warmth would suffice. He could figure the rest out later.
Then, in a sudden flurry of motion, the ethereal stillness of the icy domain was shattered. From the frigid depths, a serpent appeared of frost and ice, its sinewy form coiling and undulating with grace. It slithered forward, its icy scales glistening under the pale light, circled him in a menacing dance. Kyrios's heart quickened as he instinctively tightened his grip on his makeshift blades. With a steely resolve etched in him, he braced himself for the imminent clash with this frost-born foe. He knew that a single misstep could spell his doom.
The air crackled with an icy chill as the serpent lunged forward, its fangs poised to strike. Kyrios's reflexes kicked into high gear, his body moving in sync with the serpent's rapid movements. His hand flashed as he swung his blades in a deadly arc, clashing against its icy scales. Sweat mingled with frost upon Kyrios' brow despite the freezing temperature, and his chest heaved with a ragged breath.
The serpent hissed in surprise at the unexpected clash, its fangs missing their mark as it was forced to recoil back. The beast bared its fangs in anger as it reared itself up, coiling around an ice pillar with a swiftness that belied its size.
As Kyrios prepared for another bout, the serpent shot forward, its fangs aimed straight at his throat. He ducked, narrowly avoiding the vicious bite. With the serpent momentarily frozen in place, he struck with his blade, slicing its flesh in an arcing motion. A stream of crystalline blood flowed from the serpent's gaping wound, freezing instantly into a shard of ice. It cried out in pain, thrashing and twisting its body in an attempt to avoid further damage. And with a final attack, Kyrios dug his blades into the creature's body. Its limbs flailed wildly as its life drained out of it, and finally, it shuddered, contorting in its death throes.
- [ Notice ] -
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Kyrios E. Lamina
[ Level ] - 3 + 1 —> 4
[ Class ] - None
[ Species ] - Whisperleaf (Human Host)
Stats:
— Vitality: 16 + 3 —> 19
— Might: 15 + 3 —> 18
— Sorcery: 17 + 3 —> 20
— Aegis: 12 + 2 —> 14
— Swiftness: 15 + 3 —> 18
— Unlock Elite Stats at level 30
Skills:
— Whisperleaf Metamorphosis: Lvl. 1
— Drakewood's Disease: Lvl. 1
— Rejuvenating Claws: Lvl. 1
He shook his head, still not used to the voice of the system. The resonating echo of the system notice reverberated within his mind, leaving him with a tingling sensation that sent shivers down his spine. It was an odd sensation, but he appreciated the power-up. It left him curious about where the system originated from. Magic and runes, even the Rift itself, all felt real, but the system seemed more of an illusion. A void ingrained in people's minds, providing them power—something that shouldn't exist.
Eventually, his wandering thoughts came to an end as the cold air around him shook him back to reality. With a deep breath, he rubbed his arms in an attempt to regain warmth. "I should find a way out."
Kyrios moved through the labyrinthine passages. His senses heightened, and his focus sharpened. He knew better than to underestimate the lurking dangers that could emerge from the shadows at any moment, so his eyes scanned the dimly lit surroundings, searching for any signs of movement or hidden creatures that may pose a threat.
As he ventured deeper into the unknown, his heart skipped a beat when he caught sight of a familiar sight. There, amidst the desolate chamber, the pulsating moss called him once again. And like a moth to a flame, he approached its inviting light.
He was back to tracing the wall, begging that there was no ice golem. The thought made his skin crawl, and his breath shuddered as he hurried. Each step seemed more daunting than the last, but he didn't allow himself to falter.
He made his way through the winding maze of the chamber, eventually finding himself before the entrance to a new path. But stepping inside, he felt an unsettling dread. Crystalline stalagmites hung off the ceiling, resembling the fangs of a monstrous creature. Tiny eggs spanned the cavernous walls, encased within the icy armor of a protective layer of frost.
"What the..." Kyrios murmured, staring at the cluster. Everything about this room screamed of a perfect habitat for those icy predators.
His heart raced as a collective hiss filled the chamber. From the frigid shadows emerged a group of the same serpents he had hoped to avoid. Their dark eyes fixated on Kyrios with unmistakable hunger. The creatures slithered around him, closing in on him as their long tongues slithered from their gaping jaws. He tried to dodge their attack, but the below-zero temperatures had slowed his every movement. The creatures' icy scales glittered as they raised their bodies up, preparing for another deadly strike.
"Damn it," he cursed under his breath, tightening his grip on his blades. "Guess I'll have to fight."
Steel clashed against ice as he fought off the encroaching serpents. His blade sliced from below and up, parrying the serpents' strikes and pushing them back while delivering retaliatory blows. But as the seconds ticked by, he realized the odds were stacked against him. The serpents outnumbered him. Their coordinated attacks became increasingly difficult to counter, especially when he was limited by a slower speed. His muscles ached with gelidity as he struggled to maintain his stance.
With a grim realization, Kyrios made a split-second decision. He disengaged from the skirmish, a flurry of frost and fury, as he recognized the futility of continuing the battle. Kicking away the serpent he had been dueling with, he sprinted in a blind dash. His heart pounded as he struggled to keep up with the cold-blooded creatures' swiftness, but he refused to look back. The icy fangs of his foes gnashed behind him, their bloodthirsty cries ringing in his ears.
Two of the serpents managed to sink their crystalline fangs into him. Their razor-sharp teeth pierced his flesh, anchoring them to his body. Pain jolted through his nerves as they reared up, their strength amplified by the biting cold.
"Aaaargh!" Kyrios cried out, agonized, feeling his legs falter under the weight of the serpents. He grabbed onto the wall, refusing to yield to their strength.
His face twisted in pain, eyes scanning the wintery space for a chance at salvation. And in the midst of this desperate struggle, a sudden rumble reverberated through the chamber. The ground quaked beneath Kyrios' feet as a deep roar echoed through the icy domain, its sheer power almost bringing him to his knees. A tremor surged through the chamber, sending chunks of ice and debris tumbling down from the walls. The impact sent shockwaves through the chamber, dislodging the serpents from Kyrios' body.
Seizing the opportunity, Kyrios sprang into action. He swiftly disentangled himself from the serpents' grasp, enduring the icy bite of the creatures as they scrambled to reclaim him. As they snapped at him, their fangs glittered under the pale light, their saliva frozen in midair as they desperately sought to clamp their jaws on him.
Bloodied but undeterred, he sprinted forward toward the chaos, hoping for the best.