The chamber's ice cracked, bell runes pulsing wildly, their blue light flickering as the altar crumbled. Qin Mo's shard burned, its heat a faint pulse, the cold overwhelming his veins. Yi, Ren, and Lian stood close, the FFD System's warnings urgent, the bells' chime a relentless summons to the mountain's heart.
[FFD System: Frostflame Balance: Heat 12% / Cold 88%. Scan: Silent Tax ritual core, 20 meters below, threat level: Lethal.]
Ren's daggers glinted, his voice steady. "My brother's down there. I'll find him."
Lian's bow was ready, her eyes hard. "My family died to stop this. We finish it."
Yi's threads hovered, her face pale but resolute. "For my village. No more sacrifices."
The floor split, revealing a descent into a frozen abyss, its walls glowing with bell runes. A sect enforcer emerged, azure robes glowing, blade drawn, jade token pulsing red. "Core-bearer," he sneered, "the Tax claims its due."
[FFD System: Sect enforcer detected. Frostfire aura active. Heat loss: 25%. Balance: Heat 10% / Cold 90%.]
The enforcer struck, blade weaving blue flames, frost trailing like smoke. Qin Mo dodged, Frostflame Blade flaring, ice and fire clashing with the enforcer's strike, sparks flying. Lian's arrows pierced his arm, slowing him, while Yi's threads bound his legs, snapping his stance.
Ren's daggers slashed his token, disrupting its pulse, but the enforcer summoned a frost array, lines pulling at Qin Mo's shard. He activated Eagle Eye, spotting a bell rune in the enforcer's chest—the ritual's anchor.
[FFD System: Ritual anchor detected. Devour progress: 15%. Balance: Heat 9% / Cold 91%.]
Qin Mo unleashed Frostflame Blade, the mix of ice and fire cutting through the array, striking the rune. The enforcer fell, a bell fragment dropping, glowing blue. Qin Mo grabbed it, the shard absorbing its cold, heat flickering briefly.
[FFD System: Bell fragment absorbed. Silent Tax resonance: 88%. Binding risk: 78%.]
The abyss opened wider, runes pulsing, the bells' chime deafening. Yi steadied Qin Mo, her threads firm. "You're fading, but we're with you."
Lian notched an arrow. "My family's fight ends here."
Ren gripped his daggers. "For my brother."
Qin Mo stood tall, the shard burning defiantly. "We defy the Tax."
The FFD System chimed, urging them into the abyss.
[FFD System: Silent Tax resonance: 90%. Core trace: Abyss center.]
The runes flared, the bells' chime a call to the final stand.