The tower's depths spiraled into a cavern of jagged ice stalactites, their tips glistening with a cold that stung Qin Mo's exposed skin like tiny needles. His breath clouded in the frigid air, each exhale a visible struggle against the chill that gnawed at his bones. The Frostflame Core pulsed faintly in his chest, its heat a fragile barrier against the encroaching frost. The FFD System chimed softly, its warning cutting through the silence.
[FFD System: Frostflame Balance: Heat 45% / Cold 55%. Frostborn Hunt pack, 30m ahead, threat level: High.]
Qin Mo's hand tightened on his blade, the Frostfang Strike tingling with readiness as he peered into the shadows. The air thickened, and then three frostborn hunters emerged, their hulking forms moving with a predator's grace. Their claws glinted like shards of moonlight, and their red eyes locked onto the team with unyielding hunger. The lead hunter lunged, its roar echoing off the cavern walls, and Qin Mo met it head-on, his blade igniting with a swirl of ice and fire.
He drove the Frostfang Strike into the hunter's chest, the impact sending a spray of frost exploding outward, the creature's icy flesh parting under the blow. The shard drank in the essence, a rush that steadied his stance, but the other two hunters closed in fast. Yi was already moving, her frost threads spiraling out like silver webs, lashing around the second hunter's legs and yanking it off balance with a satisfying crunch. "Keep it steady!" she called, her voice sharp with focus as she strained against the beast's strength.
Ren darted to her side, his daggers flashing in a blur of steel as he carved into the third hunter's throat, the cold vapor leaking from the wounds hissing against the warmth of his blades. The pack retaliated with a unified growl, their claws raking the air as they summoned a frost array. Blue lines snaked across the cavern floor, coiling toward Qin Mo like living tendrils, their chill seeping into his boots. He activated Frostmirror Shield, the new skill flaring with a translucent barrier that deflected the icy chains, though the effort left his arms trembling.
Lian seized the moment, her bowstring singing as she loosed a volley of arrows. The shafts pierced the lead hunter's skull with a crack, the beast collapsing in a heap of shattered ice. The second hunter broke free of Yi's threads, charging with a snarl, but Ren was there, his daggers driving into its side, forcing it back. Qin Mo finished it with a second Frostfang Strike, the blade sinking deep, the hunter's essence flooding into him with a surge that made his vision blur.
[Devour progress: 10%. Balance: Heat 42% / Cold 58%.]
He staggered, the cold biting deeper into his limbs, but a warmth followed—a sharpening of the Frostfang Strike, its edge now cutting with a precision that felt almost alive. Qin Mo steadied himself, wiping frost from his brow, the shard's power settling into a new rhythm. Yi retracted her threads, her chest heaving as she wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead. "These things are getting stronger," she said, her tone laced with concern. "They're not just guarding—they're hunting us."
Ren nodded, his eyes scanning the cavern's shadows, his expression tight with anticipation. "Wei's close," he said, his voice low but firm. "I can feel him out there." Lian lowered her bow, her gaze lingering on the fallen hunters, her fingers brushing the relic at her side. "These beasts are tied to the towers," she murmured. "My family's warnings spoke of this."
A chime rolled through the cavern, sharper and more insistent than before, the bells' pull intensifying until it felt like a physical weight on Qin Mo's chest. He clutched the pouch at his side, the shard's heat flaring in response, a defiant spark against the cold. Ling Shou's voice cut through the tension, his frost-white robes catching the dim light as he stepped forward. "The hunt feeds the towers," he said, his tone grave. "Every kill strengthens their hunger. We're running out of time."
The team exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of his words sinking in. Qin Mo's mind raced—Wei's presence, the towers' purpose, the bells' claim—all tangled into a knot he couldn't yet unravel. The cavern's shadows seemed to deepen, hiding more threats, and the faint sound of shifting ice hinted at what might come next. He nodded to the team, his resolve hardening. "Let's move," he said, his voice steady despite the chill that clung to him.
As they pressed deeper, the stalactites loomed overhead, their tips glistening with a cold that promised more danger. The bells' whisper grew louder, a relentless call that tugged at the shard, and Qin Mo knew the hunt was far from over.