NOVEL WEB Chapter 4: The Arctic Sovereign
Ethan's POV
When I came to my senses, the biting chill in the air snapped me fully awake. I found myself standing in a breath taking, surreal space. A hall-sized ice domain, shimmering with an ethereal glow. The ceiling stretched forty meters high, with crystalline icicles hanging like frozen swords of light. The walls, smooth as mirrors, reflected a ghostly blue luminescence, making the room appear larger and more otherworldly.
At the heart of this icy expanse stood a throne on an elevated altar, both carved from the purest ice, radiating an aura of majesty and power. Floating just above the throne was a scroll, its material translucent yet glowing faintly with a cerulean hue. A sense of awe and trepidation filled me as I stared at the mesmerizing sight.
As reality set in, panic briefly surged within me. There were no doors, no windows and had no discernible means of entering or leaving this place. Was I trapped? But I pushed the fear aside, forcing myself to focus. I had been brought here somehow, and if there was a way in, there had to be a way out. My instincts told me that the answer lay with the throne and its enigmatic scroll.
Cautiously, I approached the altar, each step crunching faintly on the frost-laden floor. My breath fogged the air as I reached out to touch the altar's steps. They were impossibly smooth and ice-cold, sending a chill up my arm. Steeling myself, I ascended the stairs, my eyes never leaving the floating scroll.
When I stood before the throne, my curiosity got the better of me. I reached out and touched the scroll. It was cool and smooth, like polished glass, but as I unrolled it, my heart sank as it was blank. Disappointed and confused, I hesitated, then felt an inexplicable urge to sit on the throne. The air around it seemed charged, humming softly as if alive.
The moment I lowered myself onto the icy seat, a searing flash of light erupted before my eyes. My surroundings dissolved, and an overwhelming force pulled me into a new realm.
I found myself atop a towering snow-capped mountain, the world stretching endlessly below me. The wind howled like a living creature, tugging at my clothes, but I felt no cold. I was moving on a steep mountain slope with all my focus on not falling in the icy depths beside me. When I reached the peak I was stunned as I faced the other side of the mountain where a clash of titanic proportions unfolded.
Before me, an immense ice dragon roared, its voice a symphony of wrath and majesty. Its silvery-white scales glistened like diamonds, reflecting the pale light, and its powerful wings stirred hurricanes of snow with every beat. Its opponent was no less awe-inspiring, a colossal wolf with silvery fur that gleamed like starlight. A crescent-shaped mark on its forehead pulsed with an otherworldly glow, and its piercing blue eyes burned with feral intensity.
The air trembled as the two titans collided, their attacks tearing through the very fabric of the land. The dragon inhaled deeply, its chest swelling, before unleashing a torrent of icy breath. The wolf darted through the air with impossible agility, narrowly evading the attack, though its hind legs were caught, encased in shimmering frost.
The wolf howled in pain, but it wasn't finished. Light began to coalesce in its maw, forming a sphere of blinding white energy. The crescent mark on its forehead flared, infusing the sphere with a swirling constellation of spinning shards. The energy was palpable, a gravitational force that seemed to draw in everything around it.
Meanwhile, the dragon reared back, gathering its own energy. Its icy breath condensed into a brilliant blue beam that shot forward like a spear. The wolf released its attack at the same moment, and the two forces collided in a cataclysmic explosion. The impact blanketed the valley in a blinding storm of light and frost, obliterating everything in its wake.
As the vision faded, a voice echoed around me, deep and ancient.
"What you have seen is a memory. A moment from my life when I encountered the Ice Dragon. That battle changed the fate of the Mistborn family. The dragon perished, and I claimed this treasure. It is a technique so rare and powerful it has no equal among the human race: the Arctic Sovereign Immortal Body.
"This art is a gift but also a curse. Its power is unparalleled, but its existence must remain a secret. If word of it were to spread, it would bring annihilation to the Mistborn family as the only thing stopping the human race from unifying this world was their weak bodies. Beware, my descendant, of the Luminous Cradle Empire in the Central Lands. Their greed and sinisterness knows no bounds."
The voice faded, leaving behind a profound silence. Suddenly, the scroll disintegrated into a stream of light that flowed into my forehead. A sharp pain seared through my mind, and silver-white words appeared in my consciousness: Arctic Sovereign Immortal Body.
When I woke, I was back in the dark corridor. My heart thumped wildly, both from the thrill of the discovery and the weight of its implications. I had stumbled upon an unparalleled opportunity, but also a great responsibility. This technique could change my destiny, but only if I used it wisely.
Steeling my resolve, I moved toward my room, my footsteps quiet against the cold stone. The shadows swallowed my figure, and my figure melted in the darkness.