Chapter 82 - The Seige of Glaciera
The alarm bells echoed across the frozen kingdom.
Citizens hurried into underground shelters.
The massive gates of Glaciera slowly closed.
Archers climbed the crystal walls.
Above them, hundreds of Ice Griffins took flight.
The icy sky became filled with wings.
---
Kai stood upon the northern wall beside Captain Freya.
Beyond the snow-covered plains...
A black tide approached.
Thousands of corrupted beasts charged without fear.
At their centre marched the Frost Titan Ursa.
Each of its footsteps cracked the frozen earth.
Black ice spread behind it like a plague.
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts appeared.
Enemy Analysis
Frost Titan Ursa
Classification:
Ancient Beast
Corruption:
98%
Weakness:
Unknown
Recommendation:
Do not kill unless absolutely necessary.
Objective:
Purification Preferred.
---
Freya looked at Kai.
"You still believe every beast can be saved?"
Kai answered without hesitation.
"As long as its heart still beats."
Freya remained silent.
She had heard those words before...
Many years ago.
---
The Frost Titan Ursa let out a thunderous roar.
The stampede accelerated.
Snow Wolves raced ahead of the main force.
Ice Golems hurled enormous boulders toward the city walls.
"Incoming!" shouted one of the guards.
---
Kai pointed his spear.
"Selene! Left flank!"
She nodded.
Moonlight flashed across the battlefield.
Her blade split the falling boulders into harmless fragments.
---
"Rowan!"
The Ashfang Pack sprinted across the frozen plain.
Working together, they drew the Snow Wolves away from the civilians.
Their coordinated movements resembled a single living organism.
---
Above the battlefield...
Ignis spread his enormous wings.
Golden fire met freezing winds.
Instead of melting the snow...
His flames surrounded the city in a warm protective barrier.
The frightened children below looked upward in amazement.
---
The Crimson Flame Fox leapt from the wall.
Its nine tails expanded into a circle of blazing light.
"Solar Eclipse Blaze!"
A wave of golden fire swept across the battlefield.
Yet...
The flames did not burn the beasts.
Instead...
The black corruption covering dozens of Snow Wolves dissolved.
Their crimson eyes returned to their natural blue.
The wolves stopped charging.
Confused...
They slowly retreated into the forest.
---
Cheers erupted from the city walls.
"It worked!"
"He purified them!"
---
Freya stared at Kai.
"No wonder the Guardians chose you..."
---
But the Frost Titan Ursa continued advancing.
It ignored the purified beasts.
Ignored the city.
Ignored everything.
Its crimson eyes were fixed only on one target.
The World Tree branch that formed the Aurora's hull.
The branch began glowing.
The Book suddenly reacted.
Resonance Detected
World Tree Essence
Detected by Unknown Entity.
---
Kai frowned.
"It isn't attacking Glaciera..."
"It's following the World Tree."
Before anyone could respond...
The Ursa raised both massive paws.
It slammed them into the frozen ground.
BOOOOOOM!
A wall of black ice erupted from beneath the city.
Entire streets froze instantly.
The protective barrier around Glaciera cracked.
---
Deep beneath the city...
Something answered.
A brilliant silver light burst from the Ice Tree at the city's centre.
The entire kingdom trembled.
Freya whispered in disbelief.
"The Royal Guardian..."
"It has awakened."
---
From within the glowing Ice Tree...
A magnificent Silver Phoenix emerged.
Its wings stretched across the entire city.
Each feather shone like a frozen star.
When it cried...
The blizzard itself came to a halt.
The Book trembled violently.
Guardian Identified
Name: Skadi
Title:
Guardian of Eternal Winter
Guardian Number:
Fifth Guardian
Status:
Awakening
Star Fragment:
Confirmed
---
The Frost Titan Ursa roared with fury.
The Silver Phoenix answered with a cry that echoed across the mountains.
Two ancient Guardians faced one another across the frozen battlefield.
Kai suddenly understood.
"The Ursa isn't trying to destroy the kingdom..."
"It's trying to reach Skadi."
The Book displayed a final warning.
Hidden Truth
The Frost Titan Ursa was once...
The Guardian's Protector.
Memory Restoration Initiated...