"Blood cannot cleanse what is carved into the soul." – Unknown Prophet
The frost bites deep, and the Scions face a god's ruin in a frozen hell.
Trial Four thrust the siblings into the Gate of Eternal Frost, a realm marked as Gate 2 after Gate 1—a trial of molten despair—was obliterated by divine wrath, its remnants swallowed by celestial fury, leaving this tundra as the next challenge. The air shimmered with an aura of frozen divinity, splitting them across dimensions. Some entered the Celestial Crucible, a vast icy arena of cracked celestial ground, its surface glistening with frozen blood, overseen by the Frostvein Sovereign—a towering figure of ice and shadow, its voice like cracking glaciers booming, "Fight, or be entombed!" Ethereal Reavers—skeletal spectators with hollow wails and tattered cloaks—hovered, their eerie cries echoing. Ages unchanged—Kain 11, Vespera 11, Lyric 1, Zynia 6, Isolde 1, Sablon 6—their sigils crackled with icy energy. Sablon, catching his breath, muttered, "Why the hell's this Gate 2 and not 1? Did we miss something?" The Frostvein Sovereign's cold laugh answered, "Gate 1 fell to the gods' rage—your trial begins where it ended." Isolde in the Shadow Tundra Dimension The tundra stretched endlessly, snow crunching under Isolde's feet, the air biting with frost. Her Crystal Scorpion skittered, its tail gleaming. A Frostmind Overseer AI (pale, crystalline form, power: mind freeze, locking thoughts with icy pulses) and Icefang Behemoths (massive wolves, power: icy claws that shred and freeze) emerged, the AI directing the Behemoths to flank her in a coordinated assault. The AI hissed, "Little bitch, your envy freezes here!" Isolde ducked as a Behemoth's claw slashed, tearing her sleeve, blood freezing on her skin. She screamed, "Fuck you!" and commanded her Scorpion to strike with Frost Sting (icy venom slowing enemies), its tail injecting a Behemoth, halting its charge. She cast Envy's Icebind (shadows freezing limbs), trapping the AI, but it shattered free with a mind freeze, locking her thoughts. A Behemoth bit her leg, spraying blood, and she staggered—They'll pay, coldly. In the frost's blur, she felt a pang—Is Kain hurting too?—before focusing again. After 15 minutes, the Frozen Celestial Worm (colossal, segmented, power: glacial breath freezing the air) rose, syncing its blizzard with the AI's commands to the Behemoths. The AI taunted, "You're meat for a god!" Isolde's Scorpion distracted with Frost Sting, and she unleashed Envy's Dominion (shadow-ice vortex), ripping the Worm's segments apart, blood and ice mixing. The AI's mind freeze weakened, and her Scorpion's final Frost Sting pierced its core, shattering it. Weapons—Icy Spear and Frost Cannon—fell, pulsing with comet light. The AI's dying words: "It was a fallen god… betrayed by its kin." Kain in the Celestial Crucible Kain stood in the arena, the Reavers' wails chilling his spine, the Frostvein Sovereign's gaze piercing. A Glacial Sentinel AI (armored ice giant, power: frost shards that pierce and immobilize) and Snowreaver Trolls (hulking, power: icy fists crushing bone) charged, the AI ordering the Trolls to overwhelm him in unison. The AI sneered, "Proud fool, kneel!" Kain parried a troll's fist, blood dripping from his knuckles, and his Grimscale Drake spat Icy Maw (freezing breath), halting a Troll. He roared, "I'll crush you, shitheads!" and cast Dominion Frostlash (golden ice-chains), icing the AI, but it shattered them, shards cutting his cheek. A troll smashed him down, cracking the ice, and he gasped—I'll prove my worth. A sharp pain stabbed his chest—*Vespera's in agony?—*then faded as he refocused. The Worm emerged, its breath freezing the air, coordinating with the AI's shard barrage. The villains smirked, thinking him done. Kain grinned, his Drake coiling with Icy Maw, and unleashed Dominion Apex (ice-chain blast), tearing the Worm apart, blood painting the arena red. The AI fell, and Kain's upper hand prevailed—My pride rules. Weapons—Icy Spear, Frost Cannon—dropped. The AI rasped, "A fallen god… cast down." Vespera in the Inferno Tundra Dimension Vespera faced a Blizzard Tyrant AI (storm-wreathed figure, power: icy tempest blinding and freezing) and Frostbite Harpies (winged, power: razor talons slicing), the AI guiding the Harpies' dives in a synchronized attack. Snow stung her eyes as she cursed, "Fuck this cold!" Her Cinder Wraith screeched Flamechill Burst (flame-ice hybrid melting wings), downing a harpy, blood steaming. She cast Inferno Wrath (flames clashing), but the AI's tempest overwhelmed her, freezing her arm. She fell, raging—I'll burn myself to ash for this. A fleeting vision of Kain's Drake flashed—*Is he fighting?—*before the storm swallowed it. The Worm loomed, its breath searing her lungs, synced with the AI's storm. After 20 minutes, she roared, "Die, you frozen fuck!" and unleashed Inferno Ascension (fiery pillar), melting the Worm's core, gore splattering. The AI's tempest faltered, and her Wraith's Flamechill Burst tore its throat out. Weapons—Icy Spear, Frost Cannon—gleamed. The AI gasped, "A fallen god… forsaken." Lyric in the Chaos Tundra Dimension Lyric danced, the Tempest Mind AI (swirling vortex, power: reality distortion warping space) and Glacial Sprites (tiny, power: icy blades cutting deep) attacked, the AI directing Sprites to swarm in a coordinated flurry. Her Shadowflit Owl hooted Chaos Frost (freezing chaos blast), stopping a sprite mid-flight. She giggled, "Wheeee, fun!" casting Chaos Weave (light daggers), shattering sprites, blood crystallizing. The AI taunted, "Silly brat, you're lost!" Its distortion twisted her leg, and she winced—Even gods can't stop my fun. The Worm rose, its breath a chaotic storm, synced with the AI's warp. After 18 minutes, she sang Harmonic Shriek (sonic wave), shattering the Worm's segments, ice and blood exploding. The AI's vortex collapsed, and her Owl's Chaos Frost pecked it to death. Weapons—Icy Spear, Frost Cannon—fell. The AI whispered, "A fallen god… broken." Zynia in the Fury Tundra Dimension Zynia battled a Iceshard Commander AI (armored, power: freezing shards piercing armor) and Frostgore Yetis (brutal, power: icy horns goring), the AI commanding Yetis to charge in a relentless assault. Lava hissed against snow as she shouted, "Fuck off!" Her Blazefury Wolf used Molten Fang (melting bite), downing a yeti's arm, blood steaming. She cast Fury's Blaze (scorching flames), but shards pierced her side, and she bled—I'll shield them, no matter the cost. As her lungs froze, she screamed—then in the blur of frost, she saw Lyric's owl soaring, far off, for only a blink. Were they still alive? The Worm emerged, its breath freezing her lungs, coordinated with the AI's shards. After 25 minutes, she unleashed Fury's Eruption (volcanic blast), ripping it apart, gore painting the snow. Her Fury's Ember Pulse (molten light) stunned the AI, and her Wolf's Molten Fang tore its chest open. Weapons—Icy Spear, Frost Cannon—dropped. The AI croaked, "A fallen god… fallen." Sablon in the Lust Tundra Dimension Sablon faced a Chillheart Manipulator AI (seductive shadow, power: time drain aging victims) and Iceveil Sirens (hypnotic voices, power: mind control), the AI directing Sirens to sing in a hypnotic chorus. Silk whipped as he smirked, "Choke on this, bitches!" His Nightshade Lynx used Venomfrost Claw (freezing venom), silencing a siren's throat, blood icing. He cast Lust's Allure (silk lashes), cutting deep, but the AI drained him—I'll charm my way out of this fear. A faint memory of Isolde's voice echoed—*Is she safe?—*before fading. The Worm loomed, its breath chilling his bones, synced with the AI's drain. After 22 minutes, he laughed, "Fuck you!" and unleashed Lust's Dominion (shadow whips), eviscerating the Worm and AI. His Lynx's Venomfrost Claw finished the AI with a fatal bite. Weapons—Icy Spear, Frost Cannon—shone. The AI hissed, "A fallen god… betrayed." As the Worm's final segment collapsed, a blinding flash of light erupted, the Celestial Crucible trembling. The icy arena vanished, leaving Kain and others within it standing on barren tundra, weapons in hand. The Reavers' wails faded into silence. Did it vanish forever, or will it return? The air hung heavy with suspense. The Chainseer appeared, necrotic tendrils writhing, intoning, "I see they will soon be able to fight me. How delightfully deadly—your blood will paint my chains, your screams my symphony, your souls my feast." Deep in another dimension, a shadowy figure watched, its sinister smile gleaming. "I see their power festering—soon the one who betrayed them will choke on their hollow revenge, and when they do, I'll feast on their tortured flesh, you vile maggots," it purred, malice dripping. The ice melted, but not peace—beyond the frost, a crimson horizon cracked open.