Gray lay flat on the icy floor, lungs burning as he forced himself to stay awake. Above him, the ceiling of ice shuddered. Dusting frost broke away in thin sheets, cascading down like glass splinters. For a moment, he feared the whole place would collapse and bury them beneath the altar chamber.
The beheaded drowned shuffled past. Its wet, slippery steps echoed across the silence, the sound oddly alive despite the absence of its head. The others stared in mute confusion, weapons raised but motionless, none daring to strike. The drowned's body moved as if compelled by something beyond itself. It dragged across the chamber floor, water streaking in its wake, and came to kneel before the Altar of Ice. Slowly, it clasped both hands together and raised them high, as though in prayer.
The temperature dropped. Frost licked across the walls, crawling over the carvings of the altar. Even the air in Gray's chest stung as he exhaled.
Then came the sound, bubbling, wet, alive.
From the great bowl at the altar's heart, the liquid convulsed. A massive hand shot out, crystalline, dripping, the ice forming claws curved like hooks. It gripped the rim of the bowl, cracking the edge. Another hand broke free on the opposite side, the same grotesque nails digging in.
A head rose from the churning surface, slow and deliberate. The liquid streamed off its crown in sheets as the rest of the body followed, climbing out with deliberate strength. What emerged was monstrous.
The creature looked like a nightmare carved from living ice, its entire body sheathed in a jagged, semi-liquid frost that shimmered like the hide of some frozen beast. Its surface rippled with shifting cracks, dripping water and shards of dark-blue ice as if it was solid and melting. Spines of translucent icicles jutted from its back like cruel armor, each one glinting in the dim light. It's two sunken eyes were not eyes at all, but hollow sockets glowing with an endless, drowning blue.Clinging to its torso and arms were limp cryovigils, frozen hands strung together by frost-thread hair, each bearing a sealed eye that seemed ready to snap open at any moment.
Then the creature's mouth split open. The line carved across its face from one edge to the other, lined with rows of sharp, claw-like teeth. Gray gagged at the sight, bile threatening to rise.
And worse...the beast carried a face.
On the side of its head, trapped beneath the ice, was the half-frozen visage of the burly man who had disappeared earlier. His eyes were wide in shock, his last moment sealed in frozen horror. The beast's surface rippled, a thin sheet of frost sealing over him until nothing remained visible.
The monster stepped forward. Liquid spilled from its body, streaking down the altar steps. It flexed its clawed hands as though discovering them for the first time. Then, its gaze shifted to the bowl it had climbed from. Leaning over, it stared at its own reflection.
Its shoulders trembled. A low groan rose in its chest, swelling into a roar.
The sound shook the chamber like thunder. The altar quaked, walls rattling, frost breaking loose in chunks. Adel, standing too close, fell backward onto the ice. The beast screamed with both arms spread wide, its voice filled with despair and violence.
It lowered its gaze. The drowned knelt still before it, headless, hands raised in silent worship.
The beast moved. One massive step, then another, its shadow engulfing the drowned.
The drowned's body bent, bowing deeper, hands trembling in reverence.
And the beast stepped down on it.
The drowned crumpled, flesh and bone dissolving instantly into a slurry of water and blood that pooled across the floor.
The monster turned its gaze, looking at everyone standing in the chamber. Eventually, it's gaze settled on Gray.
His blood ran cold. He tried to move but pain screamed through his leg. The beast crouched, claws digging into the altar steps, and then lunged. The world blurred.
Gray scrambled upright, forcing his broken leg to obey, and hurled himself to the side. Agony ripped through his muscles as he crashed against the wall. The beast struck where he had been lying, claws gouging a crater into the floor.
"Move!"
Orrin's voice cut through the chaos. Strong hands seized Gray's shoulder, dragging him backward with desperate speed. Gray's ears rang, his chest burning, but he let himself be pulled.
"What in the hell is that thing?" Orrin shouted, his voice breaking. "Why is it so—so violent?"
Gray opened his mouth but no words came. His heart pounded, mind split between the unbearable pain and the monster's looming presence. He knew. He could feel it. This creature was unlike the pale maw, the spider brood, or even the corrupted tribe leader. It wasn't just powerful. It carried a sense of authority, of dominion, like the altar itself had birthed its master.
"Keep your guard up!" Lira's voice rang across the chamber. Her blade flared with flame, reflecting in the beast's empty eyes.
Adel's own voice quivered with disbelief. "The altar—it was for this. They were sacrificing drowned, their own kind. If Gray hadn't—" She stopped herself, horror settling on her face.
Gray shivered. What was that liquid? What did it create, that could absorb men whole and spit them back as this?
'This... is really bad...' No matter how Gray tried to calm himself he failed. The cold feeling of dread washed over him several times, as if trying to freeze him to death.
Then, the smoke parted, and the sight before them burned into every memory.
The beast stood with Aurelle in its claws. His limp form dangled, eyes open, awake now. His face was not fear or fury, but pain, a deep, crushing pain that made his body twitch. He struggled against its grip, ice creeping across his skin.
The beast tilted its head, studying Aurelle's face. Its jaw unhinged wider, preparing to bite down.
An arrow sliced through the air.
It struck the monster's chest and skittered away, deflected by its icy hide. The sound drew its attention.
Renn stood at the far edge, ice bow raised, chest heaving with rapid breaths. His eyes were wide, teeth clenched, but his aim never faltered.
"Over here," he rasped, already reloading.
Everyone wanted to call him a fool, but no one spoke. They knew. If Aurelle died, the rest of them would be next.
The beast dropped Aurelle. His body slumped to the ground.
Slowly, the monster tilted its head, curiosity burning behind its hollow gaze. Then it roared again and charged.
"Gray!" Orrin shoved him aside with both hands, forcing him away from the path. "You can't fight like this! Stay back!"
The beast leapt, both claws raised high, and smashed them down into the floor. The chamber cracked open beneath the blow. Ice shattered in jagged bursts. The others scattered, narrowly escaping the crushing strike.
It was on them again instantly. Claws swept toward Orrin. He braced, barrier flaring as runes snapped into place. The impact nearly broke his arms. He staggered backward, veins bulging from the strain and steam rising from his skin.
Adel's figure flickered above. She had climbed high into the chamber, clinging to the roof like a shadow. The beast looked up, eyes narrowing, then bent its legs and jumped.
Its fist slammed toward her. She kicked off the wall, flipping down as the punch split stone where she had been.
Cracks spidered through the ceiling. Chunks of ice fell in showers, and the monster clung to the wall, crouched and crawling like some grotesque spider. It launched downward with terrifying speed.
Korr stepped forward with his axe, roaring as he swung upward to meet it.
The beast crashed onto him. Everything went quiet.
It's leg pinned him to the ground, the weight crushing his chest. His hammer slipped from his grip as he coughed blood. He strained, pushing with both arms, but the creature's strength was overwhelming.
His skin sizzled. The ice burned where it touched him, creeping across his armor.
"Korr!" Lira sprinted in, blade raised. Flame roared along its edge as she cut for the monster's side.
The beast twisted, evading just enough. Her blade kissed it's arm instead.
A hiss followed. The ice sizzled, melted in rivulets. The monster froze, staring at its own flesh. It raised its arm to eye level, watching as flame-chewed cracks crawled across it's surface. Then its gaze slid to Lira, her weapon still blazing.
Its expression was unreadable.
Then, on its torso, the limp cryovigils twitched. One by one, they lifted their hands, string-like strands of frost tightening as their eyes peeled open.
They all turned toward her.
Lira's heartbeat thundered in her ears. Her chest seized, breath caught, every instinct screaming that their attention alone was a death sentence.
She tried moving her body but found herself unable to. No matter how much she struggled.
Gray cursed, his voice raw and echoing."Don't look at the eyes! If you do you'll get paralyzed!"
The chamber fell into silence, broken only by the echo of his words.
And the beast moved towards Lira