Chapter 14: Ambush of Ice
The icy winds howled across Frostbane Isle, swirling snow into blinding gusts as the Embarkers pushed deeper into the island's frozen wilderness. Towering glaciers loomed like jagged statues of a forgotten age, casting long shadows that moved with the drifting sun. The cold was merciless, biting into skin and bone alike—yet the crew pressed on, unfazed.
At the front of the group, Pol and Kaiden walked steadily. Neither wore winter gear. The snow clung to Pol's blue shirt and black cloak, but he didn't flinch. Kaiden, ever stoic, marched beside him, Pol's blade sheathed at his hip and eyes sharp on the horizon. Behind them, the rest of the Embarkers trudged through the snow, bundled tightly in heavy cloaks. Their crystal communicators—newly crafted—glowed faintly in their hands.
"This place is dead quiet…" Sorin muttered, scanning the landscape.
"It's always the quiet ones," Lamin replied, resting his hammer on his shoulder, grinning through the cold.
But Nira's eyes narrowed. She had already stopped. Her breath came out in slow clouds. "Something feels off."
Everyone froze.
And then the ground trembled.
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The First Encounter
Without warning, the cliffs above them erupted in movement. Figures leapt down from the icy ridges—silent, sharp, and swift. Their bodies were clad in jagged frost armor, their blades radiating a cold blue shimmer. As they landed, the temperature around them plummeted.
"Ice Warriors!" Arlen's voice rang out. He was already drawing his blade.
Chaos snapped into motion.
The crew formed up quickly, shoulder-to-shoulder. "Defense pattern!" Kaiden barked, his voice sharp, firm. He stepped forward, drawing Pol's blade in a single fluid motion. "They're not ordinary soldiers. These are trained killers."
One of the warriors rushed Sorin, only to be stopped by a bolt between the eyes. Another lunged at Sonia, but Mirae stepped in, sweeping the legs out from under the attacker and cracking a shield against his head.
Pol moved like a storm. His fists ignited in bursts of flame, the snow beneath him melting in swirls of steam. With each blow, he countered the ice blades with raw fire, turning their magic to vapor. One warrior slashed at his side, but Pol ducked under the strike and drove a burning fist into the soldier's chest, sending him skidding across the ice.
"Too slow," Pol muttered.
Lamin spun his hammer overhead and brought it crashing down onto the enemy's sword, shattering it like glass. "Nice try, snowflake!"
Kaiden danced through the battlefield, each strike of Pol's blade precise and lethal. His movements were a blend of cold calculation and raw instinct. He sidestepped, countered, and struck again, never wasting energy. Yet amid the frenzy, his brows furrowed.
"These guys…" he muttered, slicing through two more warriors, "they're strong—but they're holding back."
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Kaiden's Suspicion
The last of the Ice Warriors collapsed with a muffled thud into the snow. Silence fell again, the battlefield quiet save for the wind and the hiss of steam rising from scorched ground. The Embarkers regrouped, panting and alert. Frost clung to their boots and blades.
Kaiden sheathed Pol's sword and narrowed his eyes. "That was too easy."
Arlen stepped forward, his expression just as grim. "They were from the 400th Captain's division… and they went down too quickly."
"It felt… staged," Kaiden added.
"They were probably just weak," Pol said, wiping his hands on his cloak. He grinned, always confident. "Or maybe we're just that strong."
Kaiden didn't laugh. "Pol, I'm serious. The Order doesn't send men like this without purpose. This was either a delay tactic or a distraction."
Pol clapped a hand on Kaiden's shoulder. "Then let 'em delay. If it's a trap, we break it. That's what we do."
Kaiden exhaled slowly, not entirely convinced. But he nodded, scanning the terrain one last time. "We move. But stay alert."
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The Road Ahead
Their breath misted in the cold as they resumed the march. The snow crunched underfoot, and the sky darkened with gathering clouds. The battle behind them lingered in everyone's mind—but something darker now stirred beneath the surface.
The trail curved upward, leading toward a distant icy ridge. And just ahead, half-buried under centuries of frozen layers, stood a vast frozen cavern. Its mouth was hidden in the cliffside, obscured by stalactites of ice that glimmered like fangs.
No words were exchanged as the crew came to a halt.
The wind howled again—this time like a warning.
And as the Embarkers stared at the cavern's shadowed entrance, none could shake the feeling that the true storm… had only just begun.
End of Chapter 14
Next In Chapter 15:Into The Frozen Abyss