"Again!!"
Bam!!
"Again!!"
Bam!!
In the courtyard of the Ice Queen, Carmilia, was a harsh and unforgiving place. Surrounded by towering walls of ice, the air itself seemed to freeze with every breath. Snow swirled constantly in a controlled storm, a testament to Carmilia’s mastery over the element. In the center of the courtyard, Lila stood, her body trembling with cold and exhaustion, yet her eyes remained determined.
Before her, Carmilia watched with a cold gaze, her expression unreadable but for the faint glint of impatience in her icy blue eyes. The legendary Pillar of the Pace Setter Academy, known for her brutal training methods, stood like a statue of frost, her mere presence chilling the air further.
"Again," Carmilia commanded, her voice as sharp and cold as the wind that bit into Lila’s skin. "Form the Ice Jade in your mana flow, and this time, do it properly."
Lila’s breath came in ragged gasps, her fingers numb as she tried to channel her mana. She closed her eyes, focusing on the flow of energy within her. The concept of the Ice Jade was delicate—a perfect, crystalline form of ice magic that required absolute control and precision. Any mistake, and the mana flow would collapse into raw, uncontrollable frost.
Bam!!
But as hard as she tried, the moment Lila neared the formation, the energy shattered, turning into a burst of cold mist that swirled harmlessly around her. She winced, knowing what was coming.
Carmilia’s voice was like a whip. "Pathetic!" she spat, her frustration palpable. "You lack focus, Lila. How can you even think of mastering this art if you cannot form a simple Ice Jade? Your emotions cloud your mind, and they will be your downfall."
Lila opened her eyes, biting back her frustration. Her hands clenched into fists, but she didn’t respond. She knew better than to argue with Carmilia.
The Ice Queen stepped forward, her cold gaze piercing into Lila’s. "Do you think Kaelen will be impressed with this level of skill? Do you think you can protect him with such weakness?"
At the mention of Kaelen, Lila’s heart surged. Her childhood sweetheart, the one person she wanted to stand beside, to be worthy of. The mere thought of him strengthened her resolve, and she straightened her posture, eyes flashing with renewed determination.
Carmilia raised an eyebrow, noticing the shift in Lila’s demeanor. "Good. Use that," she said, her tone less biting but still cold. "But do not mistake passion for power. You must control it."
Lila took a deep breath and closed her eyes again, focusing on her mana flow. She felt the coldness seep into her veins, but this time, instead of letting it overwhelm her, she embraced it. The image of Kaelen, his steadfast resolve and gentle smile, fueled her concentration. She wouldn’t fail—not again.
Slowly, she shaped the mana within her, guiding it carefully, forming it into the intricate structure of the Ice Jade. Her body shuddered as the cold became more intense, but she didn’t falter. She could feel it—the delicate, perfect formation of ice. It was so close.
Bam!!!!
But just as she neared the final step, a sharp pain shot through her, breaking her focus. The Ice Jade shattered once again, dissolving into a cloud of frost.
Lila gasped, stumbling backward as her knees hit the frozen ground. The sting of failure was more painful than the cold biting into her skin.
Carmilia let out an exasperated sigh, her patience clearly wearing thin. "Incompetent," she muttered, turning her back on Lila. "If you cannot even form the Ice Jade, then perhaps you’re wasting my time."
Despite the harsh words, Lila pushed herself to her feet, her body trembling but her spirit unbroken. She wiped the frost from her face and squared her shoulders.
"I’ll do it again," she said, her voice steady despite the fatigue. "I won’t give up."
Carmilia paused, her back still turned. For a moment, there was only the sound of the swirling wind.
"Fine," Carmilia said coolly, her tone neutral. "But remember, Lila—determination alone is not enough. Master this, or you will never rise beyond mediocrity."
Lila nodded, her resolve unwavering. She would keep going, no matter how many times she failed. For Kaelen. For herself.
And with that, she prepared to try again.
...
While Lila was repeatedly being taken to ice hell and back, Kaelen and the others pressed on deeper into the Slippery Valley, the air growing heavier with each step they took. The oppressive mist clung to their skin, and the rocky terrain beneath their feet was slick with moisture, forcing them to move cautiously.
Guinevere, as the group’s leader, walked ahead, her senses sharp and her fire magic ever-present in her hands, casting flickers of light that barely cut through the dense fog.
"Are we going the right way?" Ethan asked, his voice low but anxious. He glanced warily at the jagged walls of the valley, which seemed to close in on them the further they went.
Guinevere didn’t respond immediately, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed their path. The winding nature of the valley had made it difficult to keep their bearings, and though her instincts were sharp, the twisting paths and looming shadows made everything uncertain.
"I’m sure we’re close to an exit," she muttered, though there was an edge of uncertainty in her voice that didn’t go unnoticed by the others.
Kaelen, walking beside her, exchanged a glance with Sofia, who had been unusually quiet. "We should trust her," he said, though even he could feel the growing unease in the air. The valley was playing tricks on them—the echoes, the distant sounds, the eerie stillness.
Morris, a few paces behind, couldn’t shake the feeling that they were walking deeper into danger. "Something’s off about this place," he whispered to Ethan, who nodded in agreement.
Suddenly, Guinevere stopped, her eyes widening as realization struck. "Wait," she said, her voice tight with tension. "This isn’t the right way."
Before anyone could react, the ground beneath them began to tremble—faint at first, but growing stronger. The familiar sound of slithering echoed all around them, louder and more threatening than before. The mist parted, revealing a sight that sent a cold chill down their spines.
From the shadows ahead, a massive figure emerged—the leader of the Obsidian Pythons. Its obsidian scales gleamed in the dim light, each one as black as night, and its glowing amber eyes fixed on the group with cold, predatory intent. The sheer size of the beast was staggering, dwarfing the Elite-ranked python they had faced earlier. This one was Advanced-ranked, a far greater threat.
And behind it, its followers—several Elite-ranked Obsidian Pythons—began to encircle the group, their bodies coiling and shifting as they cut off any escape routes.
Kaelen’s heart pounded in his chest as he instinctively raised his sword, the weight of the situation crashing down on him. "Guinevere…what did we just walk into?"
Guinevere’s face tightened with regret and frustration. "I…I miscalculated," she admitted, her voice filled with tension. "We’ve walked right into their den."
The leader of the pythons reared its massive head, its eyes glowing brighter as it hissed, the sound echoing menacingly through the valley. It was far larger than any of them had anticipated—easily twice the size of the python they had fought earlier. Its body rippled with strength, each movement smooth and calculated, as if it was in no rush to strike.
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The smaller pythons—though still formidable—closed in, their fangs bared and their scales glinting in the dim light.
Morris swore under his breath, gripping his scepter tightly. "This is bad—really bad."
Sofia raised her hands, already preparing a spell. "We’re surrounded," she whispered, her voice tense. "There’s no way out."
Guinevere, her fire magic crackling in her hands, took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She glanced at Kaelen, then at the others. "We’ll have to fight our way through," she said, though the doubt in her voice was hard to miss. "But this one… it’s stronger than anything we’ve faced."
The leader of the Obsidian Pythons flicked its forked tongue, tasting the air, its gaze never leaving them. It coiled its massive body, preparing to strike. The smaller pythons hissed in unison, as if awaiting their leader’s command.
Kaelen felt the weight of the moment, his pulse racing as the enormity of the threat sank in. This was no ordinary confrontation. They were outmatched, surrounded, and deep within enemy territory.
For a moment, silence fell over the valley, the only sound the faint slithering of the pythons surrounding them. Then, with a deafening roar, the leader of the Obsidian Pythons lunged forward, its colossal form moving with terrifying speed toward the group.
Guinevere reacted instantly, throwing up a massive wall of fire in an attempt to slow the beast down. Flames roared to life, casting harsh shadows across the valley, but the python crashed through them, barely fazed by the heat.
"We can’t take this thing head-on!" Ethan shouted, his short blades already drawn, his eyes scanning for an opening.
Morris stood back-to-back with him, scepter ready, his voice grim. "Then we better figure something out fast."
As the smaller pythons began to close in, Kaelen stepped forward, his sword glowing with a faint light as he prepared to strike. His mind raced—this wasn’t just about survival anymore. They were trapped, and if they didn’t act quickly, they wouldn’t make it out of the Slippery Valley alive.
"Stick together!" Kaelen shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We can’t let them split us up!"
Guinevere, her flames swirling around her, nodded. "We need to focus on the leader! If we take it down, the others might back off!"
But as the massive Obsidian Python coiled once more, its glowing eyes burning with cold fury, Kaelen knew this battle was far from over.