The abyss's heart was a frozen cathedral, its ice spires towering like the ribs of some ancient beast, bell runes pulsing blue across their surface. Qin Mo's shard burned, a faint ember against the cold flooding his veins, the FFD System screaming warnings as the bells' chime became a deafening hymn. Yi, Ren, and Lian stood close, their faces etched with resolve, the weight of their losses heavy in the air.
[FFD System: Frostflame Balance: Heat 10% / Cold 90%. Scan: Silent Tax ritual core, 50 meters ahead, threat level: Lethal.]
Yi's threads trembled, her eyes blazing with vengeance. "My village burned for this. I'll see it end."
Lian's bow was taut, her voice steady. "My family's relics led here. The Tax stops now."
Ren's daggers glinted, his gaze fierce. "My brother's in there. I'll bring him back."
A shadow loomed—a frost god's avatar, a towering figure of ice and flame, its eyes red with bell runes, wielding a spear of frostfire. Its strike shook the cathedral, ice shards raining like blades. Qin Mo dodged, Frostflame Blade flaring, ice and fire clashing with the spear, sparks flying.
[FFD System: Frost god avatar essence detected. Heat loss: 30%. Balance: Heat 8% / Cold 92%.]
Lian's arrows pierced the avatar's arm, frost cracking, while Yi's threads wove a net, slowing its spear. Ren's daggers slashed its side, blood freezing mid-air, but the avatar's frostfire aura burned hotter, melting Yi's threads.
Qin Mo unleashed Eagle Eye, spotting a bell rune in the avatar's chest—the ritual's heart. Frost Fang bit deep, icy teeth tearing frost, but the cold overwhelmed him, vision blurring. He activated Frost Veil, shielding himself, but the bells' chime synced with his shard, pulling like a chain.
[FFD System: Binding attempt detected. Resistance: 55%. Balance: Heat 7% / Cold 93%.]
Yi's threads regrouped, binding the avatar's legs, while Lian's arrows struck its eyes, blinding it. Ren's daggers carved the rune, cracking it. Qin Mo's Frostflame Blade struck true, piercing the chest, the shard devouring the avatar's essence, cold surging like a tide.
[FFD System: Avatar essence absorbed. Devour progress: 25%. New skill: Frostflame Pulse (Prototype). Balance: Heat 6% / Cold 94%.]
The avatar collapsed, its spear shattering, a bell fragment falling, glowing blue. Qin Mo grabbed it, the shard straining, heat flickering.
[FFD System: Bell fragment absorbed. Silent Tax resonance: 92%. Binding risk: 80%.]
Yi steadied him, her threads firm. "You're fading, Qin Mo. Hold on."
Ren's voice was raw. "My brother—he's next."
Lian notched another arrow. "We end this god's shadow."
The cathedral shook, runes pulsing, the bells' hymn a call to the final debt.
[FFD System: Silent Tax resonance: 94%. Core trace: Cathedral center.]