Chapter 114: The Frozen Threshold
The air was no longer just cold; it was a weapon. High atop the jagged peaks of the Northern Frost-Spire, the world was a void of white and grey. Violent, freezing winds roared across the frozen mountains, carrying with them a relentless snowfall that threatened to bury anything that stood still for too long. Below, the ground was hidden under feet of ancient ice, and every breath felt like inhaling shards of glass.
Mina Kimo led the way, her silhouette barely visible through the swirling blizzard. Behind her walked Ren Vority, and following them were seven elite Vaners, all clad in heavy, insulated tactical suits. These suits were masterpieces of engineering—thick, pressurized, and reinforced with Vane-conductive fibers to protect the wearer from the lethal temperatures.
Mina stopped for a moment, shielding her eyes from the wind. "I never imagined the High-Ups would send us here for our first mission," she shouted over the gale. "This place is a graveyard."
"You aren't the only ones sent to this frozen hell," a cold, familiar voice echoed from the shadows of a nearby ice formation.
Out of the white mist stepped Adam Lee. Behind him stood his own squad—eight Vaners, looking like iron statues in their heavy gear. The rivalry between the two teams was palpable, even through the thick layers of their suits.
Mina sighed, her breath forming a thick cloud of frost. "Adam. I should have known you'd be here."
"The King doesn't take chances, Mina," Adam replied, his voice devoid of any warmth. "Team A and Team B have separate sectors. My team will take the western ridge. You take the valley behind the peak."
Mina nodded stiffly. "Fine. From here, our paths diverge. Do your job, Adam, and stay out of our way."
"Gladly," Adam replied. With a sharp gesture, he led his team into the blizzard, disappearing toward the cliffs.
Once they were gone, Mina pulled out a rugged, holographic map. The blue light flickered weakly in the cold. "According to this, we need to cross the mountain pass. The reports say the Giants—or Titans, as the locals call them—have been spotted gathering in the valley on the other side. Is everyone ready?"
The seven Vaners behind her slammed their fists against their chests. "Ready, Captain!"
"Then let's move," Mina commanded. "We have a long trek ahead of us."
Flashback: The Leap of Faith
As they trudged through the deep snow, Ren's mind drifted back to forty-eight hours ago. He remembered the cold floor of the jail cell and the moment Mina had helped him stand.
Mina had taken Ren directly to Miss Hima's private chambers. The atmosphere had been tense, the air vibrating with Hima's overwhelming pressure.
"Miss Hima," Mina had said, her voice steady despite the fear in her heart. "Ren has agreed. He is ready to serve as the Lite Leader for Team A. He knows his tactical experience is the only thing that can guarantee our victory."
Hima had looked at Ren for a long time, her eyes like twin daggers. "Are you certain, Mina? Are you absolutely sure this 'Butcher' won't turn his blade on us the moment we look away? Betrayal is in his blood."
Mina had hesitated for a fraction of a second. In her mind, she thought: Ren might still hate me. He might still want to kill me for what happened at the plains. But I have to believe in the man I know. I have to trust him, or we all die.
"I trust him with my life, Miss Hima," Mina had declared, her eyes locked onto the High-Up. "He is on our side now. You don't need to worry."
Hima had finally smirked. "Very well. I will hold you personally responsible for his actions, Mina. Don't make me regret this."
The Silent Connection
Back in the present, the storm was intensifying. The temperature had dropped so low that even the tactical suits were struggling to maintain internal heat.
Ren walked a few paces behind Mina, his sapphire eye pulsing faintly. He wasn't just looking at the terrain; he was feeling it. Through the Soul Connection—the link they had formed when he transferred his energy to her in the bunker—he could feel Mina's physical state.
He noticed that her movements were becoming sluggish. Her footsteps were heavy, and her breathing was shallow.
Mina was from a high-class, wealthy family. She had spent her life in climate-controlled mansions and elite Academy halls. She had never experienced true, raw survival in a place like this. While her tactical suit was designed for combat, it wasn't a luxury garment. It was stiff, heavy, and focused on protection rather than comfort.
Ren could feel the cold seeping into her bones. He could feel her shivering—not just from the wind, but from a deep, internal exhaustion. She was pushing herself to be a leader, trying to show no weakness in front of the team, but the Soul Connection told a different story. To Ren, her energy felt like a flickering candle in a hurricane.
She's freezing, Ren thought, his eyes narrowing as he watched her stumble slightly. She's trying to act tough, but she's hitting her limit. This suit... it's built for Vaners who are used to the front lines. She's never felt pain like this.
Despite his vow to kill the King and his anger toward the system, Ren felt a pang of something he couldn't quite name. He knew that if she collapsed here, the mission would fail and the Titans would tear them apart.
Ren stepped forward, closing the gap between them. He reached out, his gloved hand hovering near her shoulder, but he hesitated. He remembered the blood in his mouth and the betrayal on the plains.
But then, he felt a sudden spike of cold from her—a shiver so violent it vibrated through the link.
Ren moved. He didn't say a word. He placed his heavy hand on her shoulder, steadying her. Through the touch, he began to subtly channel a small, controlled amount of his own Vane energy—not to control her, but to generate warmth.
Mina gasped, her head snapping toward him. Through the frosted visor of her helmet, she saw Ren's sapphire eye glowing with a soft, protective light. She felt a sudden wave of heat wash over her, starting from where his hand touched her and spreading through her entire body.
"Keep walking," Ren's voice came through the private comms, sounding gruff and tired. "Don't stop. If you stop, you die."
Mina didn't argue. She leaned into his strength for just a second, the warmth of his energy saving her from the brink of hypothermia. "Thank you... Ren," she whispered.
"Focus on the map," Ren replied, pulling his hand away but staying close to her side. "The Titans are waiting. And they don't care how cold you are."
As they crossed the final ridge, the valley opened up below them. And there, through the veil of snow, they saw them.
Massive, grey shapes moved through the valley, their heads reaching the height of the lower cliffs. The Titans were there—dozens of them, their mindless eyes searching the white void for their next meal.
The mission had truly begun.