Noah's POV
[Domain Expansion]
The moment those words left Lyra's lips, the world fell into a haunting silence. She hovered mid-air, her once-dark hair now a radiant shade of icy blue, and her eyes glowed like freshly fallen snow under moonlight.
[The Frozen Heart of Eternal Winter]
She wishpered again.
Snow and ice enveloped her body, transforming her outfit into a shimmering gown of frost. From her back, two thorn-like wings emerged—sharp, elegant, and breathtaking—giving her the appearance of an ice goddess descended from the heavens.
Around her, the battlefield warped. Ice and snow surged and collided, as if nature itself was locked in a silent war for control. The space beneath her had become a radiant, glowing blue stage, while ice bolts struck the land like lightning, and gentle snowflakes drifted down in an eerie harmony.
At the heart of it all pulsed a massive frozen heart, suspended high above in the sky. Each beat of that crystalline core sent waves of bone-chilling cold across the landscape, making my breath hitch and my spine shudder.
Without sufficient mana shielding or innate resistance, any living being would be frozen solid in seconds.
If Layla's domain was dark and terrifying… Lyra's was cold, cruel—and stunningly beautiful.
"It's beautiful," Scarlett whispered in awe.
"I agree," even Layla admitted, her voice tinged with reluctant admiration.
But this wasn't the time to admire beauty. Not yet.
"Lyra, start melting the ice!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the chilled air.
She nodded without hesitation. Raising her hands, she focused her mana, and the surrounding ice and snow began to swirl and compress into a single, glowing orb.
The orb shone with blinding brilliance before releasing a concentrated beam of warmth down into the frozen earth, melting it with astonishing speed.
I clenched my fists. The moment was coming. My part was next.
"Eva," I called out to my system. "How much deeper do we need to go?"
[Approximately 200 meters.]
I exhaled sharply. "Tell me, Eva… how do I save her?"
I knew this wouldn't be simple. If it was, I wouldn't be this terrified.
[Host, if you want to save her, you must first preserve the body. One wrong move, and it will shatter like fragile ice.]
My heart skipped a beat. Her body was still alive… but completely frozen. Then maybe—just maybe—I had a chance.
"What comes after that?"
[Afterward, you must activate the life source located at her neck.]
"How do I activate it?"
[…Find out yourself.]
"Damn it." I cursed under my breath, frustrated. Sometimes I swore this system enjoyed toying with me. Was it hiding something? Planning something? I couldn't tell—not yet.
"Noah, it's melting!" Scarlett exclaimed, pointing toward the widening pit.
"Who's going in?" Layla asked, glancing between us. It was the question we all dreaded. Lyra had to maintain the domain, so it was up to one of us.
"I'll go," I said without hesitation.
"Noah… are you sure?" Scarlett asked, concern lacing her voice.
"Yeah. I'll send my clones," I explained. "They can use my abilities—perfect for this kind of delicate job."
"Oh? You clever little thing~ I was worried for nothing," Layla teased with a wink.
"Good luck," Scarlett said gently.
I turned and made my way toward Lyra. She was still mid-air, still channeling her domain, her presence like a statue carved from eternal frost. The ice was melting rapidly now.
"Just a little more, Lyra," I muttered.
Focusing my mana, I summoned five clones.
"Astral Mirage: Clones."
Five versions of me appeared instantly, each radiating the same determination.
"Alright, boys. Get to work."
They didn't need instructions—they were part of me. One used wind to glide downward. Another summoned vines of nature to stabilize descent. One unfurled blazing wings of fire for illumination and warmth.
Each moved with precision, diving into the melting abyss.
And I knew—without a doubt—I could trust them.
Because they weren't just copies.
They were my will made manifest.
The clones descended swiftly, their combined elements illuminating the once-dark crevice. Steam hissed upward as fire met melting ice, and vines slithered along the jagged walls to keep them stable.
The deeper they went, the more the temperature dropped—unnaturally so. It was like descending into the heart of winter itself.
Even with their resistance, I could feel their pain—our shared link transmitting the biting cold that scraped against their skin like blades.
[Fifty meters left], Eva informed me.
The hole had grown wide enough to swallow a house., and yet the frozen beauty within it remained untouched, waiting like a silent guardian at the bottom of a crystal tomb.
And then, I felt it.
My clone—the first one to spot her.
There she was.
A women frozen in time, her body lying at the center of the ice, curled in on itself. Her skin was pale, her eyelashes frosted white, and around her neck shimmered a faint red gem—the life source Eva mentioned.
"She's here," the clone whispered through our link.
The others halted, surrounding her, careful not to let the heat or pressure break the delicate balance of the ice.
"Scan the surrounding structure. Any pressure cracks?" I asked aloud.
[Minimal. The ice is stable, but extraction must be surgical. Recommend wrapping her in a protective mana cocoon before touching her.]
I nodded. "Do it," I commanded.
The clones moved as one. Layers of mana enveloped the frozen body like a second skin—soft, protective, warm. Slowly, steadily, one clone extended a hand and began to lift her, gently, like holding glass.
A high-pitched crack echoed through the tunnel.
"Careful!" I barked. "Ease the mana pressure!"
The clone paused, adjusted, and then—
The ice receded just enough.
She was free.
The mana cocoon kept her stable, and the clones began the ascent, one holding her, the others guarding.
I exhaled, my heart thudding painfully in my chest.
She was alive.
She had to be.
The moment they emerged from the hole, Scarlett rushed forward, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"That's her?"
"Yes," I replied, stepping forward, gaze fixed on the women in the cocoon.
"Revive" a green light, covered her body, healing the wound on her chest and any other injuries.
Now her body was back to normal condition, compared to her frozen state, even the pale skin is returning to normal slowly. Blood flow is starting again.
That's good.
1st step done, now.
"Eva—next step."
[Place the life source at the center of her chest. Then infuse it with your mana. Not too much, not too little. You only get one try.]
"Understood."
I stepped closer. The gem around her neck pulsed faintly, as if waiting. I reached out, placing a trembling hand over it. The moment my fingers brushed the gem, I felt it—life. Weak, fragile… but still present.
I channeled my mana, steady and calm. Not forceful. Not greedy. Just enough to guide the dormant flame within her.
The gem pulsed—once.
Twice.
And then—
BOOM.
A shockwave of frost and light erupted from the gem, forcing everyone back. The clones vanished instantly. I covered my face with my arm as snow and radiant cold swept over us.
When the storm calmed… she was floating in the air.
Unconscious. Alive. Breathing.
The ice around her cracked away like shedding skin, revealing her unblemished form beneath.
I looked up, heart pounding.
"I did it…"
Scarlett gasped softly. "She's… beautiful."
"She's alive," I whispered.
—To be continued..