Deep down in the cove, Kael asked Veyra, "You know where they're hidden? Tell me, and we can get revenge for your brother, the Metal King. If you die in battle, the boss will be upset. And I know you, Veyra—you'll want to kill them. The boss won't like it. He said bring them back alive."
"Kael, I can handle things alone," Veyra said. "It is my brother that died, not yours. And me? I will die fighting my love."
"No, it does not have to be like this, Veyra. Wait—do not follow me!"
"Kael, I am warning you."
Kael watched Veyra's figure disappear into the swirling frost, her silhouette vanishing like smoke in the biting wind. The cove fell silent again, the tension lingering like the echo of a storm yet to come. Every step she took seemed to draw the chill deeper into the world, and even Kael felt the weight of her resolve.
Far away, in the monastery, Prince and the others trained under the icy light of dawn. Frost crept along the edges of the windows, unnoticed at first, until Praise's eyes caught the subtle shimmer.
"Do you feel that?" she asked, voice tight.
Prince paused, his shapeblade morphing into a staff in one smooth motion. "Yes… someone's coming. And it's not friendly."
Jed shifted uneasily, his armor adjusting to his partial beast form. "It's her," he growled, low and tense. "I can feel it. The air… it's wrong."
Lammy tightened his grip on his wand, the runes along his bullet-proof jacket glowing faintly. "We've trained for this," he said, trying to steady his own racing heartbeat. "But it feels… heavier than anything we've faced."
Outside, the wind picked up, carrying shards of frost that danced like tiny blades. The snow swirled violently at the edge of the courtyard, forming a wall of white. From within it, a figure began to take shape—tall, poised, and impossibly calm. Ice crystals drifted lazily around her, each one catching the light like a sharp promise.
Prince raised the shapeblade, voice steady. "Team… remember what we practiced. Trust your skills—and each other."
The heroes exchanged nods, fists tightening, weapons ready. The first strike was only moments away.
As Veyra reached the mansion, Kael hid behind a tree and watched, heart pounding. Without hesitation, Veyra summoned an army of ice soldiers, their forms sharp and gleaming in the cold light.
Suddenly, ice spikes rained down upon the mansion. Jed shouted, "We're under attack!"
One of the spikes struck Praise in the leg, sending her crashing to the ground.
"Praise!" Prince yelled, panic lacing his voice.
Lammy rushed forward, wand glowing, and channeled healing magic to mend the wound. Praise's eyes fluttered open, pain easing slightly, thanks to Lammy's spell.
Prince turned to the team, eyes blazing with determination. "Gear up! Attack now!"
Prince gripped his shapeblade, its form shifting smoothly from staff to sword as he charged forward. The ice soldiers moved in unison, their frozen limbs striking with deadly precision. Jed transformed, his armor stretching seamlessly to cover his beast form, and leapt into the fray, claws tearing through the icy ranks.
Lammy stood back briefly, assessing the battlefield. His wand glowed as he cast a protective barrier around the injured side of the mansion, shielding them from falling spikes. "Focus on the gaps!" he shouted. Sparks of fire and flickers of frost intertwined, dissolving some of Veyra creations before they could strike.
Praise winced as she stood, testing her leg. The rune-infused gauntlets glimmered as she channeled energy into a swift series of strikes. Each blow shattered ice soldiers in a burst of frost and light, her boots keeping her agile despite the pain.
Prince moved with precision, coordinating their attacks with the shapeblade's changing forms. A shield to block incoming spikes, a spear to pierce the enemy lines, then a blade to cut a path through the advancing army. "Jed! Cover the left flank! Lammy, reinforce the barriers! Praise, go for the soldiers near the entrance!"
Jed roared, transforming further into beast form, and his adaptive armor expanded. He charged, knocking soldiers aside like ragdolls, his movements perfectly timed with Prince's maneuvers. Lammy twirled his wand, summoning a wall of fire that met a barrage of frost, each clashing elemental wave pushing the army back.
The heroes fought with synergy—each attack flowing into the next, a living testament to their training. But Veyra was not idle. From a distance, she floated above the courtyard, her eyes glinting coldly. With a flick of her hand, more ice spikes cascaded down, forcing the team to split their focus.
Prince shouted, "Don't let up! Keep moving! We need to wear her down!" His shapeblade sliced through the ice soldiers with precision, but he knew this was only the beginning. Every strike was met with resistance, every victory temporary.
Praise dodged another falling spike, grimacing at the ache in her leg. "I'm fine!" she yelled, pushing forward. Lammy reinforced her with a quick barrier and healing aura, then pivoted to counter a charging soldier. Jed roared again, throwing an entire line of ice soldiers aside with a single swipe.
The battle raged across the courtyard, the mansion shuddering under the assault. Snow swirled violently, ice forming and shattering around them. And through it all, Veyra watched, calculating, waiting.
Prince clenched his teeth, glancing at his team. "We're holding… but this isn't over. We need to prepare for her full strength."
The team regrouped briefly behind a shattered wall, catching their breath and tending minor injuries. The first wave of soldiers had been repelled, but the air was heavy with tension. Every hero knew that this battle would not end tonight—it was only the opening, a test of their training and resolve.
**
They stood amidst shattered ice and debris, chests heaving, weapons still in hand. Frost glittered on the broken stones, the mansion battered but still standing.**
Veyra's presence lingered, unseen but palpable, her chilling aura pressing down like the weight of an approaching storm. The snow swirled violently around the courtyard, hinting at more danger to come.
Prince tightened his grip on the shapeblade, glancing at his team. "We've held them off… for now," he said, voice low but resolute. "But this isn't over. She's stronger than anything we've faced, and she's just warming up."
Praise adjusted her gauntlets, testing her leg and nodding grimly. Jed's armor shimmered faintly as he shifted back to human form, and Lammy's wand glowed with residual magic energy. Together, they shared a silent understanding: the real battle was yet to come.
From the swirling snow, a faint glimmer of ice caught Prince's eye—Veyra's silhouette, watching, waiting. knowing that the storm is here .
And when it did… only the strongest would survive.