The Crystal Palace's corridors gleamed with frost-lit torches as Aelar Frostveil strode through them, his dark blue frostweave armor freshly patched, silver-white ponytail tied tight. Dawn's light filtered through ice windows, but the rune-stone's pulse in his pouch cast a shadow over the morning—Jorin's betrayal yesterday proved the Order had claws inside, and Aelar meant to rip them out. Kaelith padded beside him, silver-streaked fur bristling, glacial eyes darting—his growl echoed off the walls, sensing deceit in the air.
Elara Glintfrost caught up, her pale blue tunic crisp, staff clicking against the stone floor. The Stalker core half pulsed in her grip, sharpening her stride. "You're storming around like a blizzard," she said, voice low. "Plan?"
"Find the rats," Aelar replied, glancing at her. "Sylvara's scans—start with the guard barracks. You're with me."
Torin Iceblade joined them, his Frost Boar, Gruk, snuffling at his heels, icy spines glinting from the core boost. "Gruk's nose says trouble," he grunted, spear in hand. "Where first?"
"Barracks," Aelar said. "Theron's mustering the clans—we clean house now."
"Sylvara, recheck Elara, Torin," Aelar thought.
Target: Elara Glintfrost
Ascension Tier: Master (Level 7)
Stats:
Strength: 42 (+2)
Agility: 60 (+2)
Intelligence: 65 (+1)
Mana: 105 (+5)
Skills: Frost Weaving (Level 7) Mana Focus (Level 5) Staff Combat (Level 4)
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Target: Torin Iceblade
Ascension Tier: Master (Level 8)
Stats:
Strength: 66 (+2)
Agility: 52 (+2)
Intelligence: 44 (+1)
Mana: 60 (+2)
Skills: Spear Mastery (Level 7) Beast Synergy (Level 5) Endurance (Level 5)
Companion: Gruk
Stats: Strength 72 (+2), Agility 46 (+2)
"Elara, sparring later—build your strength," Aelar said. "Torin, keep running Gruk—speed and mana next."
Elara smirked. "Still bossing?"
"Still winning," Aelar shot back.
The Spy Hunt
The barracks buzzed with guards—thirty strong, sharpening blades, tending mounts. Aelar entered, Kaelith growling low. "Sylvara, scan the room," he thought.
Targets: Multiple (Order Spies Detected)
Identities: Guards Kael, Mirra
Ascension Tier: Master (Level 2)
Stats (Average):
Strength: 40
Agility: 50
Intelligence: 20
Mana: 25
Skills: Dagger Mastery (Level 3) Stealth Step (Level 2) Frost Sting (Level 1)
"Kael, Mirra—step forward," Aelar called, voice sharp.
Kael—a broad Ice Elf with a scar over his eye—froze near the bunks, hand twitching. Mirra—a wiry woman with short black hair—halted by the door, eyes narrowing. "Something wrong, prince?" Kael asked, tone too smooth.
"Yeah," Aelar said, drawing his sword. "You." Glacial Chains snapped—fifteen tendrils arcing, not slashing but coiling their legs—they stumbled, daggers flashing with Frost Sting.
"Traitors!" Elara shouted, Frost Weaving a frost net mid-air—it fell over Mirra, pinning her as she cursed, "You'll burn for this!" Elara's staff swung with Staff Combat, cracking her arm—ice sparked, blood dripping.
Torin roared, "Gruk, charge!" The Frost Boar's Spine Charge tackled Kael, spines grazing—Torin's Spear Mastery thrust, pinning his shoulder to a bunk. "Talk, scum!" he bellowed, Beast Synergy syncing Gruk's bite to his leg.
Kael laughed, "The Depths rise—too late!" Aelar's Frost Shroud cloaked him, mist slowing Kael's Stealth Step—he darted in, Ice Crafting a spiked gauntlet, Swordsmanship punching his chest—ribs cracked, frost-blood spraying. "Who else?" Aelar demanded, Frost Bite snapping at his arm—mana surged back, Kael gasping, "Dozens—everywhere!"
Mirra broke free, dagger slashing Elara—she dodged, agility shining, Mana Focus launching frost shards—two pierced Mirra's chest, "Die quiet!" Elara snapped. Torin's spear finished Kael, Gruk trampling the corpse.
Aelar panted, chains retracting. "Sylvara, update."
Host: Aelar Frostveil
Ascension Tier: Grandmaster (Level 10)
Stats:
Strength: 95
Agility: 105
Intelligence: 78
Mana: 155
Skills: Frostborn Legacy (Innate, Level 6) Glacial Chains (Level 10) Frost Bite (Level 3) Frost Shroud (Level 6) Mana Manipulation (Level 10) Ice Crafting (Level 8) Swordsmanship (Level 10) Beast Taming (Level 5)
The Beast Strikes
A roar shook the palace—stone pulsed violently. Aelar rushed outside, Elara and Torin following, Kaelith bounding ahead. "Sylvara, scan!"
Target: Frost Chimera (Prime)
Race: Magical Beast
Beast Tier: Prime (Level 9)
Stats:
Strength: 70 Agility: 55 Intelligence: 15 Mana: 50
Skills: Triple Strike (Level 3): Three-headed attack—bite, claw, tail. Ice Breath (Level 3): Freezing exhale. Mana Burst (Level 2): Explosive mana pulse.
A Frost Chimera crashed into the courtyard—three heads (wolf, bear, eagle), ice scales shimmering, tails lashing. "Order's toys!" Aelar shouted. "Elara, blind it! Torin, Gruk—left head! Kaelith, right—I'll center!"
The Chimera's Triple Strike lunged—wolf bit, bear clawed, eagle's tail stabbed. Aelar's Mana Manipulation steadied him, Frost Shroud cloaking as he dodged—Ice Crafting a spiked wall blocked the claw, shattering under the bite. "Three heads, huh?" he taunted, Swordsmanship slashing the wolf head—scales chipped, frost-blood spraying.
Elara spun, "Eyes off!" Her Frost Weaving conjured a frost mist, Mana Focus blinding the eagle—her staff swung with Staff Combat, cracking its beak. "Screech now!" she yelled, dodging Ice Breath—frost grazed her leg, chilling.
Torin roared, "Gruk, smash!" The Frost Boar's Spine Charge rammed the bear head, spines sinking—Torin's Spear Mastery thrust, Beast Synergy piercing its jaw. "Chew on that!" he bellowed, Endurance soaking a claw swipe, Gruk biting its neck.
Kaelith's Frost Howl stunned the wolf head, Blizzard Charge tearing its throat—Ice Armor deflected a tail stab. "Good boy!" Aelar shouted, Glacial Chains coiling the eagle's neck—not binding, but yanking it down—he leaped, Frost Bite sinking into its eye—mana surged, bitter and cold. "One down!" he roared, crafting a blade mid-air, slashing its neck—head lolled, blood gushing.
The Chimera's Mana Burst flared, snow exploding—Elara's frost mist held, "Not enough!" she snapped, weaving a frost spear to pierce the bear's chest—scales cracked. Torin's spear followed, "Break, beast!"—Gruk's charge crushed its ribs. Aelar's chains lashed the wolf, Swordsmanship severing its head—two down.
The bear roared, Ice Breath blasting—Aelar rolled, crafting a shield, frost shattering it. "Finish it!" he yelled, chains spiraling like spears into its eyes—Elara's spear pierced its throat, Torin's thrust its heart, Gruk's ram toppling it. The Chimera fell, a purple core rolling free.
Aelar claimed it, mana surging. "Sylvara, update."
Host: Aelar Frostveil
Ascension Tier: Exalted (Level 1)
Stats:
Strength: 100 (+5) Agility: 110 (+5) Intelligence: 80 (+2) Mana: 160 (+5)
Skills: Frostborn Legacy (Innate, Level 7): Godlike ice affinity evolves. Glacial Chains (Level 10) Frost Bite (Level 3) Frost Shroud (Level 6) Mana Manipulation (Level 10) Ice Crafting (Level 8) Swordsmanship (Level 10) Beast Taming (Level 5)
Journey's Start
Aelar tossed the core to Elara. "Split it—Torin's half. Strength for you, speed for him."
Elara caught it, grinning. "Exalted, huh? Fancy."
"Earned," Aelar said, wincing at his chest. "Theron—courtyard, now!"
Theron arrived, Ursok lumbering behind. "Spies and beasts," he said, eyeing the Chimera. "Depths are stirring—ride today."
Aelar nodded. "Squad's ready—Elara, Torin, twenty guards. We hunt the Depths."
Torin grunted, absorbing his core half—Gruk snorted. "Let's end this."
Elara followed, mana flaring. "No more surprises."
The stone pulsed, a call to war—they mounted, Kaelith leading south, the Depths looming in the frost.