Chapter 86 - The Broken Chains
The frozen valley shattered.
Countless fragments of ice drifted through an endless void.
Kai felt himself falling.
Not through space...
But through memories.
The roar of the Frost Titan Ursa echoed around him.
Then—
Everything stopped.
He was back on the battlefield outside Glaciera.
---
The Crimson Flame Fox stood protectively before him.
"Master!"
"You returned!"
Kai slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw...
Was the Frost Titan Ursa.
The giant bear remained frozen in place.
Its sapphire eyes had replaced the crimson glow.
Yet the ancient black chains still bound its body.
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts appeared.
Hidden Trial
The Bond Beyond Time
Status: Final Phase
Purification Progress:
81%
Remaining Objective:
Destroy the Ancient Chains.
---
The Silver Phoenix, Skadi, descended beside the Ursa.
Instead of attacking...
She gently pressed her forehead against the bear's.
A soft silver light flowed between them.
For a brief moment...
The chains stopped moving.
---
Captain Freya stared in disbelief.
"They remember each other..."
After thousands of years...
Guardian and Protector still recognised one another.
---
Then the chains screamed.
Not with sound.
With rage.
Black lightning erupted across the battlefield.
The ground split apart.
Massive spikes of black ice burst from beneath the snow.
Several soldiers were thrown backwards.
"I'll protect the civilians!" Selene shouted.
She and Rowan rushed toward the collapsing city gates, leading rescue efforts.
Above them, Ignis unleashed waves of golden fire, melting the black ice before it reached the shelters.
---
Kai stepped toward the Ursa.
The chains immediately reacted.
Hundreds of dark tendrils shot toward him.
The Crimson Flame Fox met them head-on.
Its nine tails blazed with emerald-gold fire.
For the first time...
The flames did not burn.
They wrapped around the chains like warm sunlight.
---
The Book glowed brightly.
New Ability Unlocked
Sovereign Flame
Effect:
Burns corruption...
Never life.
---
Kai smiled.
"So this is the true power..."
He placed his hand upon one of the chains.
"Sovereign Flame."
Golden fire spread across the black crystal.
Instead of exploding...
The chain began dissolving peacefully.
Like ice melting beneath the spring sun.
---
Far away...
Within the hidden fortress of the Eclipse Court...
The Golden King suddenly stood.
"The Sovereign Flame..."
"So the Book has finally remembered."
Lucien looked surprised.
"Is that dangerous?"
The Golden King smiled faintly.
"It is the one flame..."
"...the Chain Sovereign cannot command."
---
Back in Glaciera...
The first chain shattered.
A deafening roar echoed across the mountains.
The Ursa collapsed onto one knee.
Not from pain.
From relief.
Its body began changing.
The jagged black armour covering its fur crumbled into dust.
Its natural white coat returned.
Brilliant sapphire markings spread across its shoulders.
The corruption continued to fade.
---
Corruption Status
98%...
72%...
41%...
18%...
---
The remaining chains fought desperately.
They wrapped around the Ursa's heart.
The Book flashed crimson.
Warning
Core Chain Located.
Destroying it incorrectly will destroy the Protector's life force.
---
Kai closed his eyes.
"There has to be another way."
The Fourth Star Fragment responded.
The emerald spark within him glowed warmly.
Suddenly...
He understood.
"The chains aren't feeding on his body..."
"They're feeding on his guilt."
Kai walked to the bear's side.
"You carried this burden alone for eight thousand years."
He placed a hand over the final chain.
"You don't have to anymore."
Skadi spread her magnificent wings.
A single silver feather drifted onto the black crystal.
The Ursa looked into Kai's eyes.
"Will... you remember us?"
Kai nodded.
"I promise."
"The world will know who truly protected it."
The final chain cracked.
A brilliant pillar of emerald and silver light erupted into the heavens.
The last fragment of corruption vanished.
---
Hidden Trial Complete
The Bond Beyond Time
Reward Granted
The Frost Titan Ursa has been freed.
Guardian's Trust:
Maximum
---
The enormous bear slowly stood.
No longer a monster.
No longer a slave.
It bowed its head before Kai.
Then, to everyone's surprise...
It bowed to the citizens of Glaciera.
As if apologising for the destruction it had caused while under another's control.
Many of the citizens wept.
Captain Freya lowered her spear.
"Welcome home..."
"...Old Guardian."
At that moment, the Book displayed one final notification.
New Companion Available
Guardian's Protector
Frost Titan Ursa
Status:
Will answer the Beast Sovereign's call...
...when the world faces its darkest winter.