Scene One: The Awakening of Ice and the Dragon
The Ice Master lay on the ground, his body half-buried beneath a thick layer of snow. He opened his eyes slowly, heavily, meeting the blinding white light while a dull roar vibrated in his ears, quickly turning into a terrifying, deep bellow.
He swiftly shook the snow from his face and sat up, unsteady. When his vision cleared, he gasped silently. Before him, a giant dragon patrolled the area, its eyes burning with malice, searching hysterically for its prey, spewing massive sheets of flame that turned the white snow into thick steam.
With quick instinct, he jumped to his feet and gripped the hilt of his sword, his eyes scanning the horizon anxiously: "Where are you?"
He searched for the eagle, Sora. A moment of doubt crept into his heart: Did the creature abandon me and flee?
Suddenly, the ground beneath his feet trembled. From the heart of the solid ice, the surface violently split open, and Sora burst out with his massive wings, shattering the frozen layer and scattering shards everywhere.
The Ice Master looked at him, a sardonic smirk playing on his lips as he dusted off his shoulder:
— "You old man! You're not dead yet? I would have been relieved to be rid of you, you 'womanizer,' and saved your food money for something more useful."
Sora glared back sharply, as if understanding the insult, then puffed up his feathers proudly.
The Ice Master waved his hand dismissively:
— "Well, never mind, since you're still alive... Can you fly, or do I need to carry you like a child?"
Sora spread his wings fully, letting out a cry of defiance, and launched like an arrow toward the Dragon.
As soon as the Dragon saw the eagle move, it went mad, charging and spitting fireballs that Sora evaded with astonishing aerial acrobatics, successfully luring it into a flat, open field.
At that moment, the eagle flew in a straight, low line, with the Dragon behind it, its jaws inches from snapping shut.
Suddenly, a cold blue light flashed, a swift streak aimed at the Dragon's neck.
— "Hey, you lizard!"
The Ice Master shouted, standing firm, his sword glowing with terrifying power. The blade had expanded to become a colossal sword made of "Fine Ice," yet weighing as much as a mountain.
— "We've wasted enough time playing this chase game. It's time for you to disappear."
He brought the sword down in a single, decisive slash. The blade passed through the Dragon's neck with an eerie smoothness. Silence reigned for a moment, then the enormous head dropped, followed by the body, hitting the earth and causing a small earthquake.
The Ice Master sighed wearily as he returned his sword to normal size:
— "That was a truly annoying Dragon. The one who sent it is probably hiding in the village. We need to hurry."
Scene Two: Hell in the Camp
On the other side, Andre was frozen in place, his eyes wide with horror. That was not Emily. Her body was completely transformed; demonic features, a black aura, and not an ounce of humanity left in her eyes.
Emily lunged at him like a raving beast. Andre raised his arms in a desperate defensive movement, taking a blow that sliced his skin, sending him stumbling back in pain. He drew his sword and began desperately blocking her relentless onslaught. She attacked savagely, then suddenly, she focused her Mana at her feet and shifted her trajectory with impossible flexibility, bypassing Andre and heading straight for the Mother clutching her child.
— "No!" Andre screamed, extending his hand, but he was too slow to catch her.
Suddenly, crimson chains made of Blood erupted from the ground, binding Emily's limbs powerfully, pinning her in place.
Julian appeared, sweat pouring down his forehead:
— "Are you alright, Madam?"
The Mother nodded in terror: "Yes... thank you."
Julian turned towards the child, where the second shock awaited. The child, who possessed healing powers, had also acquired demonic features, but was eerily calm.
Julian spoke in a trembling voice:
— "Madam, this child is a danger to you now... we must take him until we find a solution."
The Mother cried and pleaded: "No, please... don't take him!"
Andre interrupted, panting:
— "Vice Captain, the child recognized his mother and calmed down; he didn't hurt her. The real danger is Emily!"
Julian looked at the shackled demon, his brows furrowed: "Emily?!"
Before he could process the news, they heard a shattering sound. Emily, with superhuman strength, had smashed the blood chains! Not only that, but she gathered the scattered blood and molded it around her hands.
— "She... she's using Blood Magic?!"
Emily launched sharp blood arrows. Julian and Andre parried them with their weapons and advanced towards her through the barrage of attacks. Julian moved close and aimed a blow with the pommel of his sword to knock her unconscious, but her body suddenly liquefied into a puddle of blood and disappeared!
The two stood frozen, backs to each other, searching in every direction.
She suddenly reappeared out of nowhere and hurled dense blood spheres. Andre blocked them, but the blood adhered to his clothes and weapon, then began to move on its own, intertwining to form a giant hand that squeezed the throats of Andre and Julian, lifting them into the air.
With great difficulty, they tore free and fell, only to find Emily standing directly in front of them. She delivered a double, crushing punch to the chests of both men, hurling them backward to smash the wooden wall of the hut. Before they could catch their breath, the blood wrapped around them like a constricting snake, lifting them higher and squeezing their ribs fiercely.
Emily stood there, laughing a hysterical, distorted laugh. From a distance, Maurice watched the scene with a wide smile and eyes gleaming with madness:
— "Amazing... utterly amazing! That girl copied the ability of duplication and Blood Magic... Man, just thinking that the blood of demons flows in her veins makes me tremble with delight!"
Scene Three: Wind Intervention and the Desperate Plan
As Andre and Julian struggled for their last breath under the pressure, sharp wind blades cut the blood restraints, severing them. Both men dropped to the ground, coughing and sputtering.
Iris landed gracefully:
— "Are you alright, Andre?"
— "Yes, Iris..." he replied, his voice hoarse.
Iris looked at the demoness: "Is this why the villagers are turning into demons?"
Folak (Julian) responded sadly: "No... it's Emily."
Iris took the news like a lightning strike, but she was a trained fighter. She suppressed her emotions, raised her hand, and formed a swirling wind barrier around Emily, trapping her.
But the surprise left them speechless. Emily touched the tumultuous wind wall with her fingertip, and the barrier immediately vanished! Then she raised her hand, forming a storm of wind even stronger and more violent.
Iris cried out: "Impossible! She's using my power, and with higher efficiency!"
With a single movement of her hand, Emily unleashed a massive current of air that pinned everyone against the back wall like rag dolls.
She turned towards the Mother and child, shaped a compressed spear of wind, and launched it to pierce them.
But out of nothing, Oliver appeared, teleporting instantly in front of the Mother, blocking the attack with his body and shield.
Harold seized the opportunity and attacked with fireballs, but Emily dodged them lightly and canceled the wind pressure, freeing the others.
Emily used Instant Teleportation—Oliver's ability—and appeared next to the Mother. Oliver instantly teleported to block her.
She teleported again next to Julian, who managed to parry her.
She was smiling... a wicked, demonic smile, as if she were merely playing with them.
Andre shouted: "Listen! I have a plan!"
He explained it quickly, and everyone moved to execute it.
Andre advanced as bait, and Emily countered with wind cutters. He dodged some and parried others with difficulty. When he reached her, she used Fire in her fist! Andre gathered his modest energy and clashed with her, but the difference in power was huge, and she punched him away.
Emily exploited Andre's airborne state to finish him, but with a rapid reflex, Andre yelled: "Now!"
Julian attacked from the rear, prompting Emily to teleport to another spot... only to find Oliver waiting for her at her point of arrival!
She erupted volcanic Lava from the ground to force him away, but he teleported above it and attacked.
She retreated, only to find Iris setting up another wind barrier.
Emily suddenly transformed into a liquid of blood, leaving everyone stunned... it was a Clone!
The real one appeared behind Andre to stab him, so Harold fired a stream of fire to drive her away. She moved to an elevated spot, and as she watched them, a gigantic ball of lava fell on her from above.
Harold responded by shaping a fire dragon, and the two forces collided, causing a massive explosion.
Exhausted, Harold dropped to his knee. Emily materialized before him, stabbed him in the shoulder, and disappeared amidst the cries of his comrades.
She tried to appear next to Julian, but he was prepared. He struck the ground with his sword, turning the earth beneath her into a sticky pool of blood that trapped her feet. At the same moment, Iris tightened the wind restraints around her, and Julian's blood ropes emerged to bind her completely.
Scene Four: Betrayal and the Ice Master
Emily stood writhing; this time, she seemed truly pained.
Julian said, panting: "Don't try... the Blood Spears bind your energy pathways, you won't be able to use our powers anymore."
He looked at Andre with regret: "I'm sorry, Andre... but it had to be done."
Andre looked at his shackled friend, his heart twisting in pain, searching for a way out.
Suddenly, a demonic voice whispered in his mind:
"I can heal her... restore her humanity."
Andre responded mentally: "What? You? Really?"
"Yes... but two conditions. First: give me your body now. Second: beware of the demons behind you."
Andre frowned and turned: "Demons behind me? There are only my friends..."
The words froze in his throat.
He turned to find his comrades—Julian, Oliver, Harold, and even Iris—their features changed, their eyes glowing with the same demonic sheen, their skin beginning to decay. They had all transformed!
In the instant he turned, the barrier around Emily dissolved. Andre was alone, trapped between Emily on one side and his transformed friends on the other.
Before he could fully register the betrayal, he took a powerful kick from Julian that sent him flying. Before he could fall, Oliver teleported above him, aiming his dagger at his heart.
Andre narrowly dodged it, only to roll and find Emily right in front of him, raising a massive blood sword to strike him down.
"It's over..." Andre thought.
But suddenly... an eerie silence fell.
The temperature dropped sharply. Pristine snowflakes began to fall from the sky... and in an instant, everything froze. Emily was frozen with her sword raised, Oliver mid-leap, and Julian mid-shout.
From the sky, The Ice Master descended quietly, landing lightly in front of the stunned Andre.
He looked around at the ice statues that were Andre's friends, then turned to Andre with a reassuring half-smile:
— "Sorry I'm late, kid... Now, leave it to your Captain."