Chapter 537: Ice Corpse King
Third Person’s POV
As she moved, she raised her hand slightly and gestured toward the still recovering armored aura master, silently instructing him to follow.
Understanding her intent immediately, he did not hesitate and pushed himself forward, following her back toward the island despite the lingering fatigue and strain within his body.
When the two reached the island, the armored master’s eyes widened slightly as he finally noticed the presence of the dark blue coffin resting at its center.
He had completely failed to perceive its existence earlier due to the intensity and chaos of his battle with the demonic snake.
The object radiated a strange and unsettling aura, one that immediately drew his attention and stirred a quiet unease within him.
Once everyone had gathered again upon the island, the blue-haired woman turned toward Arlene.
Her expression was steady as she began to recount everything that had occurred, starting from the moment she had sensed the hollow and depleted nature of the frost soul orchid, to the instant she had destroyed it and revealed the hidden coffin beneath.
She spoke calmly but with precision, explaining how the visible vitality of the herb had been nothing more than a facade, and how the faint blue vein-like patterns on the coffin indicated that the essence of the orchid had been continuously siphoned away by whatever lay sealed within it.
As her words flowed, the atmosphere grew heavier as the implications of her explanation slowly settled upon the minds of those present.
When she finally finished, she paused briefly and took a slow breath, her gaze shifting toward Arlene as she carefully observed her reaction.
Seeing the shock, disappointment, and confusion in her eyes, the blue-haired woman didn’t know what to say.
All of it reflected in the young princess’s eyes as her gaze remained locked on the mysterious coffin.
But then, slowly, those emotions began to shift and twist into something sharper and darker as traces of anger and resentment filled her mind, along with a growing sense of unease toward the unknown as regret started filling her mind about this expedition.
Seeing this change, the blue-haired woman’s expression turned more serious, her eyes narrowing slightly as she continued in a heavier and more deliberate tone,
"And I suspect that whoever placed this coffin here, and planted that wondrous herb above it, was an immensely powerful expert, someone who planned all of this with intent."
Her voice lowered slightly as the weight of her words deepened.
"This is not something that was done in haste or by chance, but rather a carefully constructed arrangement and a scheme that has likely been in motion for hundreds of years."
Hearing the words "hundreds of years," a visible ripple passed through the group as everyone drew in a sharp breath almost simultaneously.
The young maid instinctively raised her trembling hands to cover her mouth, and her eyes widened as they began to quiver with a mixture of fear and disbelief as she stared at the dark blue coffin as if it had suddenly transformed into something far more sinister than before.
The atmosphere seemed to grow even colder and creepier, not because of the cavern, but because of what that implication meant.
"Also," the blue-haired woman continued, her voice steady yet noticeably more serious now, "even with my strength and cognitive perception, I cannot determine whether the being sealed inside this coffin is alive... or not."
Her words fell slowly, each one pressing down on the group like an invisible weight.
"What do you mean by that, Aunt...?"
Arlene finally spoke, her voice quieter than before, carrying a faint but unmistakable edge of unease as she asked her question.
This time, she addressed her aunt properly without hesitation, as if the gravity of the situation and the blue-haired woman’s strength had forced her to cast aside her earlier resistance.
There was a foreboding tone hidden beneath her calm voice, as though a part of her already feared the answer she was about to hear.
The blue-haired woman’s gaze lingered on the coffin for a brief moment before she replied,
"It means that the one who constructed all of this, this hidden arrangement, this long-term design, might not have done so for mere preservation or concealment.
Instead, they may have been cultivating something... something far more dangerous, most likely an Ice Corpse King."
The moment those words left her lips, the already pale faces of those present lost even more color, as if the blood had drained from them entirely.
Their expressions stiffened as a deep and instinctive fear surfaced within their hearts.
The name itself was taboo in the hearts of the people of the Northern Glacial Region, as it was steeped with the weight of a bloody and dark history.
Before anyone else could react or speak, the armored aura master stepped forward, his expression hardening as he straightened his posture, his presence regaining a firm and resolute edge as he spoke in a steady and unwavering voice,
"If that is the case, then I will stand and fight that Ice Corpse King with all my strength, my lady. You need only give the command."
His tone was sincere and resolute, carrying the weight of duty and pride that a knight should have.
Hearing his words, a faint smile appeared on the blue-haired woman’s lips, though there was a hint of amusement hidden within it as she cast a sideways glance at him, her eyes narrowing slightly as she responded in a light yet subtly sarcastic tone,
"And why do you think I assisted you in dealing with that demonic snake just now, and brought all of you here in the first place?"
Her voice carried a soft, teasing edge as her gaze shifted briefly toward Arlene.
"It was precisely so that you could fulfill the role you were sent here for by my dear elder brother, which is to protect my niece."
Hearing her response, the armored master did not show any sign of embarrassment or discomfort, nor did he attempt to argue or justify himself.