Chapter 5 - Forged in Frost
The air in the rift hung heavy, cold, and unyielding. Each breath Jae-Hyun drew was a calculated decision—a sharp sting of freezing pain that felt like inhaling shards of glass. His boots crunched softly against the frost-covered ground, leaving faint trails in the powdery snow that vanished almost as quickly as they appeared. The rift was alive, pulsating with an unseen energy that seeped into his skin, feeding on his exhaustion and threatening to unravel his resolve.
"Eight hours," Jae-Hyun muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the faint hum of the rift’s energy. "Just eight more hours."
The faint timer flickering in the corner of his vision was both a lifeline and a curse. Its relentless countdown reminded him of the task ahead, the brutal reality that survival wasn’t guaranteed. He tightened his grip on his blade, the familiar weight grounding him. Despite the growing numbness in his fingers, he forced himself forward, every step an act of defiance against the icy terrain and his own failing body.
His summons trailed behind him, their shadowy forms flickering like dying embers. They were weaker now, their strength sapped by the relentless battles and the oppressive cold. Yet, they persisted, mirroring Jae-Hyun’s unyielding will. Each movement was precise, deliberate, as if they understood that even the slightest misstep could mean death. The icy ground beneath them was treacherous, each step threatening to give way to hidden crevices or send them sliding into the jagged frost-covered terrain. The oppressive cold sapped their strength, and every motion had to be carefully calculated to conserve energy. A single moment of hesitation or error could mean not just failure, but a swift and unforgiving end.
Ahead, the landscape shifted. The frost-covered ground cracked and groaned beneath the weight of an unseen force. Shimmering distortions danced in the air, creating an eerie mirage that blurred the boundaries between reality and illusion. Jae-Hyun paused, his senses heightened as he scanned his surroundings. Predator’s Insight activated instinctively, its faint glow highlighting faint tracks in the snow. The air seemed to thrum with tension, each sound amplified in Jae-Hyun’s ears—the crunch of snow beneath his boots, the distant groan of ice shifting. His pulse quickened, his breath forming faint clouds in the freezing air as his senses sharpened. The tracks were deep, their size suggesting a creature of immense weight and power, and a faint tremor in the ground hinted that it might still be nearby. The oppressive silence around him felt alive, as if the rift itself were watching, waiting for him to falter. Deep impressions, far larger than any creature he had encountered so far, led toward a distant cavern bathed in an unnatural blue light.
A warning flickered across his vision:
System Notification: New Objective: Investigate the Source of the Rift’s Energy. Optional: Survive Final Trial.
"Final trial," Jae-Hyun murmured, his lips curling into a grim smile. "Of course."
The cavern loomed ahead, its jagged entrance framed by icicles that dripped with an almost unnatural rhythm. The faint blue glow from within pulsed like a heartbeat, casting shifting shadows across the icy walls. Jae-Hyun stepped cautiously inside, his blade held at the ready. The air grew colder, each step deeper into the cavern amplifying the oppressive chill until it felt like the cold itself was alive, pressing against his chest.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the rift’s energy surged. The ground trembled, and the air became thick with frost-laden mist. Jae-Hyun’s summons materialized beside him, their forms flickering more solidly here, as if the rift’s energy amplified their presence. A low, guttural growl echoed through the cavern, reverberating off the icy walls and settling deep into Jae-Hyun’s bones.
Predator’s Insight flared, and Jae-Hyun’s vision sharpened. A massive silhouette emerged from the mist, its crystalline body refracting the dim light into shards of color that danced across the cavern walls. The creature’s jagged frame was unlike anything he had seen before, its towering presence exuding a malevolent intelligence that set his nerves on edge.
System Notification: Frost Revenant Prime – Rank B.
Jae-Hyun’s breath hitched. A Rank B monster. This wasn’t just a trial—it was a death sentence.
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The Frost Revenant Prime roared, its cry splitting the air with a sound like shattering glass and distant thunder, a deafening cacophony that reverberated through the cavern walls. The sound was suffocating, pressing down on Jae-Hyun's chest as if the very air had turned against him. The force of the roar sent vibrations rippling through the icy ground, dislodging shards of frost and ice from the ceiling above. The impact of the sound alone was enough to make Jae-Hyun’s ears ring, a relentless reminder of the beast’s overwhelming presence. It felt as though the cavern itself recoiled, groaning under the weight of the primal, bone-chilling sound. Jae-Hyun’s summons leapt into action, their shadowy forms darting toward the beast with a ferocity born of desperation. But their attacks were futile; the Revenant barely flinched as it swatted them aside like insects. Each shadowy figure dissolved upon impact, their presence erased in an instant, leaving Jae-Hyun truly alone against the monstrous foe. The Revenant barely seemed to register their attacks, its crystalline arms sweeping through the air and dispersing the summons with terrifying ease. Each shadowy form flickered and dissolved upon impact, their strength insignificant against the overwhelming power of the monster.
Jae-Hyun dodged the first strike, his boots skidding on the icy ground as he closed the distance. His blade glowed faintly with mana as he slashed at the creature’s leg, aiming for a weak point highlighted by Predator’s Insight. The strike connected, sending a crack spidering across the Revenant’s crystalline surface, but it was far from enough to slow the beast.
The Revenant retaliated with a devastating backhand swipe. Jae-Hyun barely managed to raise his blade in time, the impact sending him flying across the cavern. He crashed into the icy wall with a sickening thud, the breath knocked from his lungs. Pain exploded through his body, but he forced himself to his feet, his grip on his blade unwavering.
"If I fall here, it’s over," he muttered, his voice laced with determination. "I have no choice"
The Revenant charged again, its crystalline tendrils lashing out with frightening speed. Jae-Hyun rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a blow that shattered the ground where he had stood moments before. His mind raced, desperate for a strategy as his mana reserves dwindled. The beast was relentless, its every move calculated to crush him.
It was then that a stroke of pure chance altered the fight. With a sharp, deafening crack, a massive shard of jagged ice broke free from the ceiling, plummeting toward the Revenant. The creature, mid-strike, had no time to react as the shard crashed into its shoulder with an earth-shaking impact, momentarily staggering the beast. Jae-Hyun froze for a heartbeat, the unexpected turn of events feeling almost surreal. Disbelief flickered across his face before pure instinct took over. Then, driven by pure instinct and desperation, he charged forward, seizing the fleeting opportunity fate had handed him.
"Now!" he growled, charging forward with every ounce of strength he could muster.
His blade struck the core embedded in the creature’s chest, the impact amplified by the desperation coursing through him. The Revenant let out a final, guttural roar as its crystalline frame shattered, fragments of its body scattering across the icy ground. The glow from the core dimmed, then extinguished, leaving the cavern in an eerie silence.
System Notification: Final Trial Surpassed. Congratulations, Challenger! You have exceeded the survival objective and completed the rift’s ultimate challenge.
Reward: Mythic Relic – Fractured Crown of Ice.
The relic materialized in Jae-Hyun’s hands, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly glow. The system’s description flashed before his eyes:
[Fractured Crown of Ice]
* Lore: Forged from the shattered essence of the Frost Revenant Prime, this relic carries the power of the rift itself. Its icy dominion whispers of an ancient, forgotten war.
* Type: Mythic Relic
* Effect: Reduces damage from all elemental attacks by 30%. Increases mana regeneration by 50%. Grants access to "Frozen Dominion," a temporary area-wide freezing effect.
When Jae-Hyun emerged from the rift, the world outside felt alien. The oppressive cold was gone, replaced by the familiar chill of the forest. Blood trickled from a deep gash on his forehead, his movements slow and labored. His armor was battered, and every step he took seemed to take more out of him.
Ahri run to him, her expression a mix of relief and frustration. "You’re alive," she said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "What happened in there?"
Jae-Hyun didn’t answer immediately. His gaze was cold, distant, as if replaying the events of the rift in his mind. "Nothing you need to worry about," he muttered, brushing past her.
Ahri frowned, stepping in front of him to stop him. "Jae-Hyun, this isn’t sustainable. You push yourself to the edge, and I can see it wearing you down. I don’t know what happened in there, but you can’t keep pretending you’re invincible. Please... be careful."
His eyes met hers, cold and unyielding, like a blade's edge. "Careful?" he repeated, his voice sharp and cutting. "You think I don’t know what I am? That I survived in there because of some grand skill or strength? It was luck, Ahri. Blind, stupid luck." He took a step forward, his voice lowering to a bitter growl. "So don’t stand there and lecture me about being careful when the only thing that kept me alive was chance. Next time, I might not be so lucky."
Ahri’s jaw tightened, her frustration barely contained as she stepped closer. "And what if that’s true? What if next time luck isn’t on your side? Does that mean you give up now? That you stop trying?" Her voice wavered, a mix of anger and desperation. "You’re stronger than you think, Jae-Hyun. Luck may have helped you this time, but it’s not the only reason you survived. Stop punishing yourself for being human."