William's antler buzzed.
Not a gentle vibration—a violent, metallic hum that rattled the frozen desert street. The black antler Yuki-Onna dropped skidded across the ice like it was alive, then snapped onto William's own antler with a sharp CLACK.
Camelio jumped. "WHY IS IT DOING THAT—?!"
Corr screamed, "WILLIAM YOUR HORN IS EATING OTHER HORNS—!!"
William didn't answer.
Because his antler grew.
A small, dark branch sprouted behind it — twisting, curling, pulsing with green light. The ground beneath him cracked as roots pushed through the frost.
A voice whispered in William's ear.
Smooth. Ancient. Commanding.
"Why do you ASK the plants…
When you could COMMAND them?"
William staggered, clutching his head.
Hope reached for him. "William—?"
But before she could touch him—
Gudan dropped to his knees.
The ground around him froze instantly, spreading outward in jagged patterns. His breath turned to mist. His eyes glowed pale blue.
A tiny party hat floated down from nowhere… and landed perfectly on his head.
Camelio blinked. "Is that— a PARTY HAT?!"
Corr whispered, "Oh no. Oh no no no—"
Gudan's voice deepened, layered with something ancient.
"Run."
His frost exploded outward.
"I am the Ice God.
Call me… Kori."
Kori looked around slowly, as if waking from a long sleep.
Then he vanished.
A streak of frost tore across the ground as he dashed toward William's dropped Seamcatcher.
He grabbed it—
froze it—
shattered it.
Then he dove underground.
The sand cracked open as ice claws formed around his hands. He tunneled beneath the earth, freezing minerals, ores, and stone as he passed.
The ground rumbled.
Then, Kori erupted from the ground, holding a monstrous weapon.
A double‑headed axe, forged from frozen ore and divine frost.
Two crescent blades curved like moons. Edges glowing with pale blue runes, a spine‑haft of crystal ice Frost steam hissing from every strike
He slammed it into the ground.
A dome of ice erupted around him and William, sealing them inside.
Only them.
Kori pointed the axe at William.
"We will fight.
I do not know your strength.
So go… all out."
Then he rushed forward.
Kori grabbed William by the neck and slammed him into the ground.
William bounced off the ice like a ragdoll.
Before he could land—
CRACK.
Kori struck him with the axe, launching him upward to the top of the barrier.
As William flew upward, the world around him darkened.
A forest.
Animals watching.
Wind whispering.
His own voice echoed:
"Command.
Conquer.
Win."
William shouted midair:
"GRAB!"
A massive wooden hand burst from the ground, its fingers twisting like living branches.
It grabbed Kori and hurled him across the dome.
William landed, skidding, and slammed his palm into the ice.
"RISE!"
Roots tore through the frost.
Wood spiraled upward, forming armor around his arms and chest.
Vines wrapped around his legs like greaves.
He charged.
William summoned his plush horse.
But now, infused with nature, it grew into a wooden cavalry mount with a cotton mane and bark armor.
He mounted it, halberd glowing green.
He charged Kori at full speed.
The spiral tip struck—
It punctured Kori's shoulder, frost exploding outward.
Kori roared and swung his axe.
William blocked.
They traded blow after blow, sparks of frost and wood flying.
Their weapons clashed—
Kori grinned.
"Spiky tip."
His axe shifted—the blade sprouting ice spikes.
He impaled William's horse.
The mount dissolved into cotton and wood splinters.
Ice thorns shot out, grabbing William's arms and legs.
Kori summoned a ring of ice spikes around him—
They shot forward.
William was struck, frost ripping across his chest.
His antlers grew, twisting upward like branches.
Cotton animals—rabbits, foxes, and birds—swarmed out of the antlers, attacking Kori.
William pulled back his fist—
Kori covered William's mouth with ice.
"Silence."
Then he gut-punched him.
Once.
Twice.
Ten times.
Twenty.
Each hit launched William higher until he slammed into the top of the barrier.
Cracks spread across the dome.
Kori looked up.
"Oh.
Oh that nasty little bomb is back."
He smirked.
"That was a nice time.
Bye‑bye."
The barrier shattered.
Gudan collapsed out of the ice god form, landing on his hands and knees.
His mouth was covered in ice, but he could still talk.
His hand was permanently frozen, same as his jaw.
He looked like a monster.
And he whispered:
"William…
I'm… sorry."