The altar's ice split, revealing a frozen heart—a massive crystal pulsing with bell runes, its blue light blinding. Qin Mo's shard screamed, its heat a dying ember, the cold freezing his blood. Yi, Ren, and Lian stood close, Ren cradling his brother, the FFD System's warnings a desperate cry.
[FFD System: Frostflame Balance: Heat 4% / Cold 96%. Warning: Silent Tax heart active, threat level: Lethal.]
Yi's threads trembled, her voice raw. "This is it—their god's heart. My village died for this."
Lian's bow was ready, her eyes cold. "My family's relics end here. We shatter it."
Ren's daggers glinted, his brother's breathing faint. "For Wei. No more sacrifices."
The heart pulsed, summoning a frost wraith—a spectral figure of ice, its eyes red with rune-light, wielding claws of frostfire. Its slash shook the cathedral, ice shards flying. Qin Mo dodged, Frostflame Blade flaring, clashing with the claws, sparks mixing with frost.
[FFD System: Frost wraith essence detected. Heat loss: 30%. Balance: Heat 3% / Cold 97%.]
Lian's arrows pierced the wraith's arm, frost cracking, while Yi's threads bound its claws, slowing it. Ren's daggers slashed its side, but the wraith's aura burned, melting the ice beneath.
Qin Mo unleashed Frostflame Pulse, ice and fire bursting, staggering the wraith. Eagle Eye spotted a bell rune in its core—the heart's anchor. Frost Fang bit deep, icy teeth tearing, the shard devouring its essence, cold overwhelming.
[FFD System: Wraith essence absorbed. Devour progress: 20%. New skill: Frostflame Shield (Prototype). Balance: Heat 2% / Cold 98%.]
The wraith fell, a bell fragment dropping, glowing blue. Qin Mo grabbed it, the shard straining, heat fading.
[FFD System: Bell fragment absorbed. Silent Tax resonance: 98%. Binding risk: 90%.]
Yi steadied him, her threads firm. "You're freezing, Qin Mo. Don't let it win."
Lian notched an arrow. "The heart—it's the last stand."
Ren held his brother, eyes fierce. "For Wei."
The heart pulsed, runes flaring, the bells' song deafening. Qin Mo stood, Frostflame Shield flaring—a mix of ice and fire. "We defy it."
The FFD System chimed, urging the final strike.
[FFD System: Silent Tax resonance: 99%. Core trace: Heart center.]
The cathedral shook, the bells' song a call to ruin.