Ethan walked down the steel corridor to the mission room. Bee sat at the center console, multiple screens glowing around him.
"Bee," Ethan said.
Bee turned, antennae twitching slightly. "What's up?"
"Do you know where the coldest place on Earth is?"
Bee squinted. "Why?"
"I don't know. I'm just… curious."
"You planning to go there?"
"No, haha. I'd be dead, I reckon."
"Yeah, you would," Bee chuckled. "But yeah—I do. The coldest recorded place on Earth is at a high ridge between Dome Argus and Dome Fuji on the East Antarctic Plateau. Coordinates: around 81.8°S, 59.3°E. Temperature there once hit minus 98.6 degrees Celsius. Practically uninhabitable."
"That's very interesting, Bee."
"It is," Bee said with a grin. "Only the hottest guy can survive there."
Ethan smirked and left the room, heading back to his quarters.
Inside, he paced. How can anyone survive that? Is this some kind of trap from Duy? But… my heart wants to go.
He sat on the edge of his bed, holding Yuki. "Yuki… will you keep me warm?"
From deep within his soul, Yuki's voice replied—calm, unwavering.
"Yes. I will."
The blade's ancient runes flared to life, glowing with fiery heat.
Ethan stood. "Then let's go."
He suited up in his armor, the plating locking into place with a hum. Opening the launch bay, he activated his flight systems and shot into the sky, slicing through the atmosphere like a missile.
This was the longest journey he'd ever attempted—from Hanoi to Antarctica. The cold wind howled outside his helmet, clouds turning to frost.
As he passed over Russia, a warning beep echoed in his helmet.
"Power level: 12%."
"Damn it…"
Suddenly, Yuki's flame blazed brighter. The sword flew into his hands, and he felt a surge of heat. Yuki pulled him forward, accelerating them both toward the icy wasteland.
They arrived. The coldest place on Earth.
Snow blasted against his visor. Whiteout conditions. Zero visibility.
Ethan landed with a heavy thud. "It's so cold, Yuki…"
Yuki's blade radiated warmth, pushing back the frost. But then the blizzard intensified, a violent storm swirling like a vortex. A sudden gust launched Ethan into the air. He screamed as he spun uncontrollably.
Yuki was torn from his grip—flung into the darkness.
Then everything went black.
His armor, drained, crashed hard into the snow. Silence.
He lay there for a long time.
Eventually, Ethan stirred, eyes fluttering open. His suit—gone. Yuki—gone.
He was inside an icy cavern, breath misting in the air. Crawling forward, he reached a dead end.
Then—four figures emerged from the mist. Draped in long white robes, their faces obscured, neither male nor female—yet somehow both.
A voice echoed.
"Do you wish to remember your past life?"
Ethan's breath hitched. "Yes. I do."
They gestured to a crystalline cage of ice.
"Then step inside."
With no options left, Ethan entered.
The ice flared with fire. A voice rumbled through the chamber.
"The strongest flame is born in the coldest place. Embrace what you truly are."
Fire surged from the floor, surrounding Ethan. He screamed.
"AHHH!"
His flesh burned away—skin, muscle, bone, all reduced to ash.
The four figures raised their hands. Power flowed from their palms.
"Reborn," they chanted.
From the ashes, a spark. Then fire. It took form.
A humanoid shape emerged—blackened at first—then slowly, skin and muscle reformed. Ethan was being remade.
And with that, memories rushed in—images of his son, of Duy, of a family lost.
Tears streamed down Ethan's face. "It was our fault. We abandoned Duy… I'll make it right. I swear I will."
The fire around him died out. He stood, fully reborn.
"Welcome back," the voices said in unison.
"Now go. Save him."
Suddenly, Ethan felt something new—a sixth sense. He could feel Duy. Something was wrong.
With a shout, he summoned his suit and Yuki. They flew to him like loyal companions.
Clad in armor, sword in hand, he turned to the four figures.
"Thank you. For everything."
Then Ethan took off, blazing across the frozen sky toward the one he once failed—ready to save him.