The peak of the second tower opened into a vast, windswept platform, the air so cold it stung Qin Mo's lungs with every breath. The mist parted just enough to reveal a towering figure at the center—a frostfire guardian, its form a breathtaking clash of blue flame and jagged ice. Its spear crackled with energy, the head wreathed in a halo of frostfire that danced like a living thing. The FFD System blared a warning, its tone urgent in his mind.
[FFD System: Frostflame Balance: Heat 35% / Cold 65%. Threat level: High.]
Qin Mo's heart thudded as he gripped his blade, the Frostflame Core surging with a mix of heat and cold that set his blood racing. The guardian's glowing eyes locked onto him, and with a guttural roar, it charged, its spear slashing through the air. He dove aside, the weapon's edge grazing the ice where he'd stood, sending a spray of shards into the wind. The impact shook the platform, and he rolled to his feet, the shard's heat flaring to counter the chill seeping into his bones.
"Spread out!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the howl of the wind. Yi darted left, her frost threads spiraling like silver snakes, while Ren flanked right, daggers gleaming. Lian notched an arrow, her stance steady despite the gusts, waiting for an opening. The guardian swung again, its spear carving a arc of frostfire that forced Qin Mo back. He countered with the Frostflame Blade, the clash sending sparks flying, the heat of his strike melting patches of the guardian's icy armor.
Yi's threads lashed out, wrapping around the guardian's arms with a crackle of energy, pulling it off balance. The beast snarled, its flame flaring brighter as it yanked against her hold, but Ren seized the moment, darting in with a flurry of dagger strikes. His blades scored its legs, drawing hisses of steam, though the ice reformed almost instantly. The guardian roared, thrusting its spear downward, and Ren barely rolled away, the impact shattering the ice where he'd been.
Lian's arrow flew, piercing the guardian's shoulder with a sharp thunk, the shaft quivering as frost spread around the wound. The beast turned, its eyes blazing, and swung its spear in a wide arc, forcing the team to scatter. Qin Mo felt the cold bite deeper, his Frostflow passive struggling to keep up, but he pressed forward, channeling the Frostfang Strike. The blade sank into the guardian's side, the icy edge cutting deep, and the shard drank the essence in a rush that made his vision swim.
The guardian staggered, its flame dimming, but it wasn't done. With a bellow, it summoned a frostfire wave, a wall of blue flame and ice surging toward them. Qin Mo raised the Frostmirror Shield, the barrier flaring to absorb the brunt, though the heat drained from his limbs. Yi's threads pulled her clear, while Ren ducked behind a jutting ice spire. Lian leapt aside, her arrow loosed mid-air, striking the guardian's chest. The impact staggered it, and Qin Mo charged, driving the Frostflame Blade into its core.
The guardian's roar cut off as the blade pierced through, a burst of frostfire exploding outward. The shard devoured the essence in a torrent, the rush overwhelming yet exhilarating, and Qin Mo felt a shift—a breakthrough in the balance that set his nerves alight.
[Fusion Stage initiated: Heat 40% / Cold 60%. New skill: Frostflame Surge (Prototype).]
The guardian collapsed, its form dissolving into a mist of frost and flame, the platform trembling as the tower seemed to sigh. Qin Mo dropped to one knee, the new skill tingling through him—a surge of power he could feel building in his chest. Yi rushed to his side, her threads retracting, her face flushed with exertion. "You alright?" she asked, her voice rough but relieved.
He nodded, catching his breath, the cold receding as the shard stabilized. Ren sheathed his daggers, wiping sweat from his brow, his eyes still scanning the mist. "That was too close," he muttered, his mind clearly on Wei. Lian lowered her bow, her gaze lingering on the dissipating frost. "The relics spoke of guardians like this," she said. "Each one a test."
Ling Shou approached, his robes stained with blood, his face pale but steady. "The towers are alive," he said, his voice low. "Each victory wakes them further. We need to keep moving." Qin Mo rose, the Frostflame Surge humming within him, a promise of greater strength. The wind howled, the bells' chime from his pouch growing louder, and the platform's edge revealed a dizzying drop into the mist below.
The team gathered, their breaths visible, the fight's adrenaline still coursing through them. The tower's pulse quickened, the runes glowing brighter, and Qin Mo knew the ascent was far from over. The guardian's defeat was a milestone, but the shadows ahead hinted at trials yet to come—trials that would push them to their limits.