Chapter 128: Frost Behemoths
The ice path grew narrower as they descended deeper into Ao Shun’s realm. What had begun as a comfortable walkway now thinned to a precarious ledge barely wide enough for a person to travel. As Grim walked he could feel the slick surface shift slightly beneath his weight.
"The ice is less stable here," Bi’an warned from ahead.
Grim glanced at the dark water that surrounded their path on both sides. The cold was becoming more intense with each step downward, a penetrating chill that seemed to reach into his bones. His breath clouded heavily before him, crystallizing in the frigid air.
"Does everyone in this realm live in such cold?" Grim asked, trying to distract himself from the increasingly treacherous footing.
"Many do," Suanni replied from behind. The heat that Suanni genrated from his body kept Grim warm enough. "But the denizens of the North Sea are adapted to it. What you find unbearable, they find invigorating."
The path took a sharp turn, revealing a vast open space ahead. Unlike the ledge they’d been following, which hugged the cavern wall, this next section crossed directly through the middle of an enormous underwater chamber. The ice path here was suspended over a dizzying drop, with nothing but dark water hundreds of feet below.
"Mind your step," Bi’an cautioned unnecessarily. "This crossing is known as the Frost’s Breath. The winds that blow through here can be unpredictable."
As if summoned by his words, a gust of freezing air swept across the path, forcing Grim to crouch lower to maintain his balance. The wind carried tiny ice crystals that stung his face like miniature needles.
They continued across the suspended pathway, moving slowly due to both the narrow footing and the intermittent gusts of wind. Grim kept his eyes fixed firmly on the path before him, knowing that looking down would only make his progress more difficult.
But a movement in the darkness below caught his attention despite his best efforts. Something massive was shifting in the depths.
"What was that?" Grim asked, unable to keep a note of concern from his voice.