Everfrost Horn

The stone walls on both sides of the secret passage are not decorated with stone carvings in the style of Northern Nobles, but with murals.

It was painted with some unknown red pigment, using the simplest lines to depict a scene full of primal Life Force and immense power.

In those murals, one could seemingly discern Frost Giant wielding weapons, horns, humans, and blizzards. According to later investigations by court scholars, these murals were a way for the Val Barbarians to record history, a fact that Oliver, a descendant of the Val Barbarians, was also aware of.

Clearly, these murals in the tomb, in their original form, record a true story.

"Frost Giant, Horn, Blizzard..."

"This is..."

Duke Oliver muttered to himself, as if he vaguely remembered the story.

He continued walking along the secret passage until he finally reached the end, where he found a separate tomb chamber.

There were no luxurious burial objects inside, only a large horn.

The horn appeared to be made of leg bone, its slightly yellowed surface glossy, and it was carved with bold and imposing inscriptions, like an artifact from an ancient, barbaric era. A chilling light emanated from the gaps in those inscriptions, sending a shiver down one's spine.

It was not like a horn, but like a silent glacier.

Upon seeing the horn, Duke Oliver was first stunned, then overjoyed.

He finally understood that the story passed down through generations was real.

"The Everfrost Horn".

Duke Oliver murmured the name to himself.

The Norton Family claims that their ancestor was a Frost Giant.

At that time, the surname Norton did not exist. This Frost Giant was named "Everfrost" after the tribe, Gahe Everfrost.

This Frost Giant, unable to bear the desolate environment of the glacial plateau, coveted immense power. So, while his people were out hunting, he killed the guards of the sacred site and stole the tribe's sacred artifact capable of controlling frost and snow— the Everfrost Horn. He blew the horn, and an endless blizzard cut off the road behind him, allowing him to escape his pursuers and reach the warm south.

In the southern Storm Highlands, the naturally tall and strong Frost Giant became the most powerful Fighter, conquering the entire barbarian tribe by force and creating the Val Tribe, thus continuing the bloodline of the Frost Giant to this day.

However, it is said that when that horn is sounded again, the Frost Giant from the far Great Glacier will hear the call of their ancestors, hunt down the offspring of the rebel, and spare no effort to go south to retrieve this sacred object.

"Damn Red Dragon, since you won't let me have an easy time—"

"Then bear the wrath of the Frost Giant! I will drag you all down with me!"

Grand Duke Oliver stared at the enormous horn, a ferocious smile spreading across his face.

These Frost Giant, also known as the Everfrost Tribe, come from the Vahalla Glacier, the northernmost part of Anzeta, a place known as the "Frozen Forbidden Land." Every so often, they migrate south to plunder during blizzards. However, this timing is not fixed; the interval may be a few years, or it may be decades or even hundreds of years.

Sixty years have passed since the last "Frost Scourge," the southward invasion of the Frost Giant. That Frost Scourge caused devastating losses to the the North kingdoms, destroying several cities, killing and wounding tens of thousands, and turning the Storm Highlands into a complete no-go zone for humans.

In other words, the Duke of Oliver holds the key to a "Frost Scourge".

He could unleash a catastrophe that would engulf the entire the North with just a blast of his horn.

However, the thought that his life would be in danger after the horn was sounded caused a look of hesitation to appear on Duke Oliver's face.

He valued his life highly, and he would never risk his life to retaliate against the enemy unless he was in dire straits.

This time, however, the Duke of Oliver seemed to see a turning point in things.

"Perhaps I can use the Everfrost Horn to threaten the Embers of the Burned Kingdom and maintain the status of the Norton Duchy."

"I can even gain more benefits and improve my status."

"Let's get our hands on it first."

Thinking of this, he tried to touch the surface of the bone horn, ignoring the bleeding wound on his hand.

"Buzz—"

A heavy, low rumble resounded, and the horn was sounded! This was the sacred bloodline artifact of the Frost Giant! The sound was like a battle cry from the wilderness, mixed with the howling of a snowstorm, echoing throughout the entire Anzeta Great Wasteland.

Instantly, the inscription flashed with a dazzling cold light, resonating with the bloodline of the Frost Giant and transmitting the immense frost power from the progenitor of the Frost Giant into his body, making Duke Oliver feel that his body was filled with endless power.

Through those cold lights, he seemed to see the ancient war between giants and dragons, where the Frost Giant, as huge as mountains, blew their horns, summoning endless wind and snow, turning the Red Dragon in the sky into an ice sculpture.

Oliver saw this as both ancient history and a harbinger of the future—possessing this power, he might truly be able to Contend Against the dragon.

"This, this kind of power."

"That's incredible."

Duke Oliver spread his fingers, and a stream of cold air mixed with snowflakes flowed out from between them.

He clenched his fist again, and an ice spike appeared in front of him.

A blinding cold light appeared in Oliver's pupils, his body was covered with constantly flashing runes, and his body suddenly swelled to more than four meters tall, his skin turning into a glacial blue.

At this moment, he was like the master of frost and snow disasters, even able to control glaciers and conjure up blizzards out of thin air.

This unexpected gift gave him unparalleled confidence, and he finally understood how his ancestors had conquered the entire barbarian tribe.

"I really don't know why our ancestors kept this secret."

"This is wonderful."

Oliver suddenly burst into wild laughter.

With his laughter, howling snowflakes surrounded him, and the blizzard intensified.

"From now on—"

"I no longer need any support!"

"What Embers of the Burned Kingdom, what Bosque Duchy, the entire the North, the entire Anzeta will tremble before this power! This place will be my empire!"

"I am the blizzard! I am the natural disaster!"

Ice spikes pierced the ground, tearing a deep crack in the earth. Duke Oliver, who was now nearly indistinguishable from a true Frost Giant, rode the Ice Storm and flew out of it.

"This, this is."

Oliver's bodyguards were stunned and stood frozen in place, unsure how to react.

But they were quickly turned into ice sculptures in the howling wind and snow.

"The lives of these mortals are like ants to me now."

"Fleeting."

Oliver coldly looked down at the ice sculptures, showing no regard for their past as his subordinates. Instead of feeling any regret, he nodded with considerable satisfaction.

Dear readers, please don't get PSD! I've already promised there won't be any of those kinds of plot points. Emmm... how could a bunch of low-level, nouveau riche characters possibly beat the protagonist...?