The sound of heavy panting broke the silence of the cabin. Elliott, exhausted, staggered toward a chair near the fireplace.
He collapsed with a long sigh, his chest rising and falling as if he had just carried the weight of an entire army.
—Using Guilo's time magic drains a lot of mana... —he murmured, resting his elbows on his knees, his forehead beaded with sweat.
Kogorō, still in disbelief, turned to him with a frown.
—Did you say... time magic?
—Exactly... —replied Elliott without even lifting his gaze—. Since Jiro and Ardan wouldn't stop fighting... I had to take action. So I summoned a magical beast I have a pact with.
The silence was brief, interrupted by Jiro's hoarse voice, who looked at Elliott with respect.
—I don't know what a magical beast is, but... thank you for stopping us.
Kogorō crossed his arms and shot him a glare.
—You should be apologizing, not thanking him, idiot...
At that moment, the creak of sheets caught everyone's attention. Ardan, who had been lying on the bed, slowly sat up. His eyes, gray and cold as steel, scanned the room with a mix of distrust and disdain.
—It's clear I don't fully know what's going on here... —he said in a dry voice—. But I don't trust you.
A soft groan cut through the air.
—Where... am I?
Saria opened her eyes suddenly, her gaze trembling as she observed her surroundings. The old wood of the cabin, the fire crackling in the hearth, and the unfamiliar faces before her. She sat up with difficulty.
Then, Ardan changed completely. His hardened, cold expression crumbled like a shattered mask. He rushed to his sister and hugged her tightly, eyes filled with tears.
—Oh, Saria! I'm so glad you're okay, little sister... I was so worried... —he said while holding her hands, touching her face, checking every part as if to make sure she was really alive—. Hey, are you okay? Did you get hurt? Are you injured?
Kogorō, Jiro, and Elliott couldn't hold back:
—SO BIPOLAR!
Saria smiled faintly and stroked his arm.
—It's okay... I'm fine —she said as she got off the stretcher and stood up. Then she looked at Jiro and bowed respectfully—. I'm indebted to you, Jiro. Thank you for saving me and my brother.
Ardan scoffed in disgust.
—Why are you thanking this fool...? We don't owe these morons anything...
—Says the guy who tried to kill me! —Jiro replied acidly.
—Brother! —Saria exclaimed, giving him a few light slaps on the cheek—. You should be more grateful. They saved us from freezing to death out there. Come on, —she added, looking at him intensely— come on, Ardan... apologize to them.
With wounded pride, Ardan turned his face away.
—I would never stoop so low before the enemy... zero apologies...
Saria pouted with a tender but firm expression.
—Ardan... I order you. Apologize.
Before Ardan could reply, Jiro stepped forward with a kind smile.
—It's fine, Saria... There's no need for them to apologize...
Kogorō raised an eyebrow with concern.
—No way...
Suddenly, a flame wrapped around Saria's fist.
—APOLOGIZE, ARDAN!
An explosion of fire rocked the cabin. From outside, in the middle of the snowstorm, a scream echoed:
—AAAHH!! IT BURNS, IT BURNS!!
Minutes later, Ardan was kneeling, his head blackened and steaming. His words came out in a trembling whisper:
—I... offer my apology...
Jiro, Kogorō, and Elliott nodded with wide eyes, shrinking back as if faced with a force of nature. Elliott murmured softly:
—Better not make that girl mad...
—Totally agree... —the other two added in unison.
Once calm returned, Saria and Ardan sat down gracefully. Saria spoke with a serene smile.
—Now I'll introduce myself more formally —she said, casting a firm glance at Ardan, who shrugged—. My name is Saria Hachigane. He is my brother, Ardan Hachigane. We are from the Hachigane Clan.
Jiro, confused, furrowed his brow.
—Hachigane...? Hachigane...? Wait... that name sounds familiar. Hold on... are you from the same world as me?
Saria opened her eyes in surprise.
—The same world? I don't know... maybe.
—A clan that crafts and transports weapons and katanas, right? —Jiro continued—. In different countries and towns... I know your symbol. My grandfather received a shipment of katanas and arrows from your clan a long time ago...
Saria lit up.
—Yes! Everything you're saying is true! Haha. We specialize in that kind of thing.
—What a coincidence... —Jiro whispered, with a warm smile—. We're from the same world and we've met here.
—We came to this other world thanks to a universal compass —Saria explained—. We arrived through a weaving temple near our country...
—Saria! —Ardan interrupted, angry—. You're revealing too much information. Don't forget what we agreed on!
—Oops... I'm really sorry —she replied, placing a finger to her lips.
Ardan stood up abruptly.
—Well, it was nice meeting you, but we're out of here —he growled, gathering his things—. Let's go, Saria...
As he headed toward the door and slowly opened it, Elliott stepped forward.
—Don't go through that door!
Jiro ran over, slamming it shut before Ardan could cross.
—Get out of my way, idiot! —Ardan shouted.
—Call me whatever you want... —Jiro replied, standing firm—. But I can't let you go out there.
—Let him go —Kogorō said indifferently—. We don't need a jerk like him anyway...
Saria looked at her brother with concern.
—Ardan... I think you should listen to them...
—I don't have time for this... —Ardan grumbled.
Elliott then approached with a small rock in his hand.
—See this?
Without another word, he slightly opened the door, tossed the rock into the icy wind, and they all watched as it froze completely within seconds, encased in a layer of crystalline ice.
Elliott shut the door tightly and looked at Ardan with serious eyes.
—This... is what will happen to you if you go out that door.
Ardan froze. His pupils shrank as he stared at the ice trembling in Elliott's palm.
—What the hell is going on in this world...? —he murmured, face pale.
And in that instant... silence returned to the cabin, though this time, everyone knew that this world did not forgive recklessness.
The silence inside the cabin was broken by the sharp sound of a frustrated blow. Ardan, with clenched teeth and furrowed brows, stepped back and muttered with a sharp gesture:
— I don't understand this...
His hands rushed toward his bag, from which he pulled out a strange object: a small compass with a glowing orb embedded at its center.
Inside the crystal, tiny stars moved slowly as if they were living fragments of a miniature cosmos. A living universe locked within an artifact. Everyone remained silent, watching the marvel.
— I need to know where we are right now — he said firmly, raising the object to eye level — Universal Compass... give me the information of this universe.
The crystal began to glow with a hypnotic resonance. Small waves of energy spun within the orb, displaying countless planets, star systems, and vast infinite galaxies aligning in perfect patterns. Jiro, amazed, whispered:
— So this is... a universal compass...
The crystal rotated, tracking and monitoring infinite, countless celestial bodies. It was like watching the very heart of the infinite universe beating. But suddenly, something changed.
— Now! — shouted Ardan, with sudden urgency.
But just as the compass reached a point of stability, it began to freeze. A layer of frost quickly spread over its surface, as if time itself had stopped inside it. Saria, startled, stepped forward and snatched the compass from his hands, throwing it to the ground.
The object hit the floor and froze completely in a second. The silence that followed was even more chilling than the frost.
— What... what happened? — murmured Ardan, crouching slowly, his face distorted — No... this can't be...
Elliott, observing with uncertainty, replied:
— What happened?! — asked Saria Hachigane in horror.
— I don't know... I've never had a universal compass... — said Elliott, confused.
Ardan examined the frozen crystal with incredulous eyes, and his voice turned shaky:
— Impossible... this can't be...
— What's going on, Ardan? — asked Jiro, approaching.
— Not only this is frozen... — Ardan looked up, pale — The entire universe is! The sun is out... the galaxies have stopped moving... the planets are covered in glaciers... the stars, extinguished... Everything! The whole universe is frozen!
A deathly silence took hold of the room. The idea was inconceivable.
Ardan stepped back, breathing heavily.
— Calm down... calm down... — he told himself while clutching his head.
— Ardan... — murmured Saria, worried — Please, calm down...
Then, the frozen compass on the floor made a small frost explosion. A ring of ice spread across the wooden floor, freezing part of it and creating small frost pines that sprouted like crystal needles.
— This is insane — said Elliott, raising his voice — The power of the Hail King is such that his curse has frozen the entire universe... I think when he said no one would escape him, he meant it.
— No way... — whispered Jiro — Then... are we completely cornered?
— It's true... — confirmed Kogorō, his gaze dark.
The tension became unbearable. But in that silence, Jiro closed his eyes. He remembered the faces of his mother, his grandfather, his village, his father lost in time. And in the middle of that memory, his determination surged with the strength of an inner roar.
— I can't let myself be defeated by a simple universal storm... I have to do something...
He stood up suddenly, his energy firm and resolute.
— Listen to me! I know this has you all worried...
— The word "worried" is an understatement, kid — interrupted Elliott.
— I know — said Jiro — But sitting here isn't a solution. Not for me... I have a goal. I have to reach the Spirit Kingdom.
Ardan looked at him, surprised. Did he say... Spirit Kingdom?
— I'm not going to stay here and watch time pass while out there I could find a solution... I'm going to face the Hail King if I have to. This hell of ice has to end.
— What you're saying is suicide! — snapped Elliott — You want to go out there?! Didn't you see what happened with that rock?!
— I know... — said Jiro — But I withstood the cold when I went to rescue Ardan and Saria...
— That was when the storm had just begun — Kogorō intervened — Now it's at its peak. Even I, a spirit, am not immune!
— But it's our only way out. And someone has to take the first step.
— HE'S CRAZY! — shouted Elliott, Saria, and Kogorō at once.
Then, Ardan stood up with strength and seriousness.
— I never thought I'd say this, but in part you're right, kid... And I'm coming with you.
— I'm glad you want to come too, Ardan... even though you tried to kill me three times...
— Details — said Ardan, averting his gaze.
— Damn... — sighed Saria — I don't want to put myself in danger, but... I'll come too. For you, Ardan...
— So young... and so eager to die — grumbled Elliott.
Kogorō floated toward them in resignation.
— I'd prefer you died frozen... but I have no choice. I'm coming too...
Elliott sighed deeply.
— Something tells me I'll end up alone again...
Without another word, he tossed several thick coats with reinforced furs.
— If you're going to dig your popsicle grave, at least do it in style.
— And these coats...? — asked Jiro, buttoning his.
— They're coated with a layer of mana. Not ordinary. They'll help you withstand the cold... if you dress properly.
The kids thanked him with a strong "Thanks!", except for Kogorō, who looked offended.
— And what about me? Should I freeze?
— You're in luck — said Elliott, pulling out a jar of sparkling dust — This is starlit snow. Its effects last seven days. It'll make you immune to the storm.
He blew the dust onto Kogorō, and his color changed to a bluish white.
— What did you do to me?
— Helped you. Be glad I didn't skewer you with a lance...
— YOU WERE GOING TO DO WHAT?! — yelled Kogorō at Jiro.
— Nothing... just an idea — replied Jiro, feigning innocence.
Elliott, laughing, pulled out a dimensional key and placed it on the door.
— I can only take you as far as the Giant Bridge. Beyond that, the storm blocks dimensional magic. Cross the bridge, go through the White Forest... Watch out for the frozen undead... and continue to the Winter of Eden. There you'll find the Hail King... and the Weaving Temple.
Saria swallowed hard.
— Saying it sounds easy, but... it's going to be a very long road...
— I know... and I'm sorry I can't go with you.
— You helped more than you think — said Jiro with gratitude.
— Enough talk — said Ardan, opening the door — We don't have time.
A white storm greeted them. In front of them stood a massive bridge covered in glaciers. Beyond it, only the white unknown.
Elliott waved from the threshold.
— Take care... and good luck...
They raised their hands to say goodbye. The door closed... and Elliott vanished.
Jiro looked at the bridge. The wind struck his face, but his heart was calm.
— Now let's move! — he said.
And the journey toward the Winter of Eden... began.
Beyond the white and infinite veil of the frozen storm, where the wind howled like ancient laments between the cracks of time, stood an unmoving figure, seated on the throne of sepulchral silence.
The world around was a glacial desert of never-melting ice, a frozen eternity that knew only one law: that of the Hail King.
His armor was covered by centuries of frost, as if death itself had woven into it its deepest breath. Each metallic fold of his armor was a reliquary of perpetual winter.
And there, between the dark slits of his helm—corrupted by age and oblivion—two bluish eyes shone, as cold as the void between galaxies, burning with a silent, merciless, eternal malice.
He was seated on a frozen throne that rested not on stone or earth… but on the very skeletal head of a titanic dragon, whose broken fangs stretched like towers toward the gray sky, and whose vertebrae formed the sacred and forbidden path to the throne.
The dragon's skull was more than a relic: it was a palace of bone and ice, a symbol of the King's absolute dominion over all that once breathed.
And then, the King rose.
His steps echoed like funeral bells. With each stride, the skeletal path was covered in new frost. Spikes of ice, sharp as spears, burst forth, piercing the already frozen surface as if responding to the abyssal power that dwelled within him.
The cracks in the ice whispered ancient tongues, songs of defeat, and the winds bowed to his will.
The Hail King advanced, step by step, to the summit of the skull, where the horizon of his dead kingdom opened before him.
Down below, they waited.
An inert horde, an army halted by time. They were skeletons of ice, of withered flesh, of forgotten stories.
Empty armor with frozen helms and sunken eyes, where only a blue fire of eternal magic burned. And not only men—beasts as well.
Immense bears with broken and disfigured faces, fangs covered in frost, with empty eyes like mirrors of death. Warriors and victims. Kings and slaves. Men and creatures. All… his.
The King extended his arms, covered in frozen plates, and then his voice emerged.
A hollow, dreadful voice, cracked like the echo of a tomb beneath a frozen lake. A voice that seemed to drag a thousand winters with it.
—Rise…
And the ice trembled.
From the depths of eternal snow, the forgotten shadows began to move. Armor shook, helms lifted, bony hands gripped frozen swords and spears. The ice cracked, shattered, and rose.
The dead bears roared without throats. Fallen bodies once again held their weapons. It was a symphony of revived death. A silent cry from the abyss, obeying their only and eternal master.
An infinite legion of frozen undead rose before him, the Hail King… the Emperor of Frost.
Then, with sacred solemnity, he drew his sword.
The blade was not of metal, but of enchanted ice. Forged by the power of forgotten runes, engraved by tongues that no longer exist, its edge was sharper than silence itself.
The blade glowed with an ancestral resonance. Each rune pulsed with a blue glow, as if its own story awakened in the presence of an equal.
Because somewhere…
Far away, beyond the abyss, beyond the storm…
Jiro walked with his group across a colossal bridge of ice and stone. And on his back, it shone—the Higetsu no Yari.
The crimson spear also resonated, as if responding to a call, to a shared vibration between ancient souls. Its red glow danced with an intensity never seen before.
And the Hail King felt it. He looked at his sword and murmured with a mix of disdain and curiosity:
—There is another one… a wielder of a primordial weapon… besides me.
His fingers gripped the frozen hilt of his sword, and his voice grew deeper, graver… more final.
—Whatever you come for… I'll be waiting here.
—When you arrive… I will bind your soul to eternal frost.
The echo of his promise did not fade… it pierced the air like a sentence.
And then, he turned his back to his army, gazing toward the horizon where he knew, deep within the ice, that his enemy was drawing near. Then, the hollow eye sockets of the dragon's massive skull began to light up…
Two eternal blue orbs ignited like frozen suns.
And the entire tundra was enveloped in their light, freezing all in its path… an age of ice was rising. And the Hail King…
Was already waiting.