Arcane Drifters – Chapter 97: "Nolan – The Frozen Fire Awakens"
The skies above the continent of Auridra were storming.
Ice shards rained from the clouds like arrows. Cities were buried in snow. People ran through the frost-blasted streets, chased by monstrous shadows.
The Ice Arcane Generals had arrived.
And no one was there to stop them.
Except one.
---
In the center of the frozen city square, a lone figure stood with a cracked sword in one hand and frost climbing up his arm.
Nolan.
Not a legend. Not yet.
Just a Drifter student—cut off from his team. Cold, wounded, and outnumbered.
All around him, the ice monsters moved closer.
The leader, AR-33, a frozen giant with glowing sapphire eyes, raised his hammer.
> "Fall, fireless boy. Your warmth means nothing here."
Nolan coughed, falling to one knee. His breath steamed in the air. The last family he had protected hid behind a collapsed bus.
He heard their cries.
He saw the fear.
> "I'm not… ready," he whispered. "I'm not like Shen or Kenya…"
But his heart spoke back:
> "You don't need to be them. You're you."
---
He gripped the sword tighter.
The frost on his hand cracked.
From deep inside him, something shifted.
The ice in the air began to spin.
The Arcane Generals looked confused.
> "What is this? Temperature rising?"
---
Suddenly, the ice melted around Nolan in a perfect circle.
His body pulsed with blue-orange flame. His eyes flashed silver.
Above his head, a strange double mark appeared — flame and frost crossing in one symbol.
> "I'm not fire."
"I'm not ice."
"I'm everything in between."
"DUAL ELEMENT MODE – FROZEN FIRE AWAKENING!!"
BOOM!!
Steam burst from the ground. Flame danced in harmony with ice across his arms. His sword reformed — half crystal, half blazing steel.
Nolan launched forward, faster than sound.
SLASH!
One general turned to ash.
He spun, created a circle of frozen flame, and cut down five more.
His voice echoed with power:
> "You want cold? I'll show you how fire lives inside it!"
---
AR-33 swung his massive hammer — Nolan caught it barehanded.
Steam exploded.
Then—
> "GLACIAL BURN STRIKE – NOVA CROSS!"
A spiral of burning frost crushed the general's body into pure crystal dust.
Silence fell.
People peeked from shelters.
Snow stopped falling.
And from that moment…
The frozen world had a new protector.
His name…
Nolan.
---
Chapter End