The Forgotten Place

A Forgotten Place: The Domain of Extreme Cold. In the vast abyss of the universe, there exists a place seemingly abandoned by both time and life—a forgotten corner, the absolute pole of cold. The chill here transcends all known definitions, an extreme low temperature capable of freezing even the soul.

As you approach, the first thing you notice is the shift in light. Sunlight here seems feeble, like the final gasp of a dying man. Light struggles to propagate through the frigid air, its energy severely compressed; bright, warm colors are stripped away, leaving only a bleak, grayish-white hue. Each ray of light is like an Elf imprisoned by the cold, struggling in vain, unable to break free from these icy shackles. They refract and scatter through ice crystals and thin atmosphere, forming eerie halos that bring no vitality, only an added sense of gloom.

The atmosphere is thin and frigid, every gas molecule like a frozen corpse suspended in the void. With almost no heat transfer, the cold here is pure. Attempting to breathe feels like countless steel needles piercing your lungs, instantly siphoning the heat from within you. Every breath brings intense pain, as if life itself resists this icy onslaught. In such an environment, ordinary life forms cannot survive; even microorganisms capable of thriving in extreme conditions are instantly frozen into lifeless ice particles.

The terrain of the Domain of Extreme Cold is a vast, boundless Ice Plain. This is not the smooth surface one might imagine, but a landscape piled high with countless massive blocks of ice. Some resemble mountains piercing the sky, their sharp peaks etched with complex patterns—scars left by time and cold, like mysterious scrolls chronicling an ancient history. Others take on bizarre shapes, as if twisted by some immense force, crushing and colliding to form intricate labyrinths. Within this maze of ice, the cold grows more potent, as if every corner hides a frost-beast waiting to devour all.

Deep within the Ice Plain lie massive ice chasms. These rifts are bottomless, filled with a biting chill in the darkness. Their edges are jagged ice blades, glistening like the scythes of death. Approaching them, one hears the whistling of wind from the depths, a sound like the wailing of countless souls, chilling to the bone. Occasionally, chunks of ice break from the edges, shattering as they fall, the crisp, cold sound the only music in this dead, silent land.

The cold here affects not just the material world, but time and space itself. Time seems to slow, each passing second stretched indefinitely. This distortion is not directly perceived but manifested through the transformation of matter. Ice crystals grow at an agonizingly slow pace, like an animation caught on pause, changing at a rate almost impossible to detect. Space, too, is compressed by the cold; distances blur, and one can never accurately judge the gap between themselves and surrounding objects. This spatial illusion renders the place all the more inscrutable.

In this forgotten place, there may once have been a glorious history. Perhaps at the dawn of the universe, this was a center of converging energy, where immense power gradually solidified under extreme cold to form this unique world. Or perhaps it was the cradle of an ancient civilization that developed unique technology and culture upon this frigid soil. Yet, as time passed, some unknown catastrophe caused the temperature to plummet, extinguishing all life and civilization, leaving behind only these icy ruins, waiting for one destined to unveil its mystery.

In some corners of the Ice Plain, ancient architectural remnants can still be found. Most are buried in snow, with only broken silhouettes exposed. Their architectural style is peculiar, unlike anything known to us. Some resemble giant beehives of Cold Crystal, composed of countless hexagonal chambers with walls carved in mysterious symbols and patterns. These symbols seem to contain ancient knowledge, yet due to the erosion of time and the ravages of the cold, they have become blurred. Other ruins resemble massive ice castles, with tall, thick walls featuring various watchtowers and fortifications—now mere frozen ruins, silently recounting a long-lost splendor.

In this Domain of Extreme Cold, energy takes on a unique form. The cold itself serves as a carrier of energy; it is not the heat or electricity we know, but a special energy based on frigidity. This energy can instantly freeze matter to below absolute zero, fundamentally altering its molecular structure. When this energy accumulates to a certain degree, it forms a substance known as "Cold Crystal." Cold Crystals are transparent, containing powerful cold-energy like a small, frozen bomb. Once stimulated by external factors—such as high heat or violent impact—the internal cold-energy is released instantly, triggering a terrifying explosion that shrouds everything in extreme cold.

In this frozen world, peculiar phenomena occasionally occur. At specific moments, when cosmic energy fluctuations resonate with the cold-energy here, a magnificent sight known as the "Cold Aurora" appears in the sky. Unlike the auroras of Earth, the Cold Aurora is more monochromatic, a deep, icy blue. It dances across the sky in lines resembling ice silk stirred by a cold wind, elegant yet freezing. Wherever the Cold Aurora passes, the temperature drops sharply; even objects already frozen become harder, as if the entire world is being reshaped by its baptism.

However, exploring this forgotten Domain of Extreme Cold poses immense challenges. First is the temperature; existing insulation technology is virtually useless here. Even the most advanced cold-suits cannot withstand this chill for long. At such low temperatures, metal becomes brittle and electronic devices fail rapidly. Second, the complex terrain and spatial distortion make it easy to lose one's way; once trapped in the labyrinth of the Ice Plain or near an ice chasm, survival is nearly impossible. Furthermore, the unpredictable eruptions of cold-energy and the appearance of the Cold Aurora are lethal hazards that can bring disaster to any explorer at any moment.

Despite this, brave explorers are still drawn by the mystery, attempting to unveil its veil. They pilot specialized ships, wearing cold-gear improved through countless iterations, heading toward this pole of cold. These explorers come from different planets and races; some seek lost civilizations, others study the unique form of cold-energy, and some simply satisfy their curiosity for the unknown. Yet, most vanish without a trace, becoming just another forgotten story of the Domain of Extreme Cold.

At the very center of the Domain of Extreme Cold lies a mysterious existence known as the "Core of the Cold Abyss." It is the heart of this frozen world and the source of its cold-energy. The Core of the Cold Abyss is wrapped in layer upon layer of ice and cold-energy; no one knows what it truly looks like. Legend says it holds the ultimate secret of the universe. If one could unlock it, they might grasp the most powerful force in existence and even alter the fate of the cosmos. But this legend has also lured countless explorers to their deaths, for approaching the core means facing the most extreme cold and the most potent cold-energy—a power the soul itself cannot withstand.

In this forgotten place, cold is the king that rules all. It ruthlessly devours everything—matter, life, time, and space. This is the coldest corner of the universe, a world sealed by ice, waiting for the day some being with enough courage and wisdom arrives to break the seal and reveal the secrets hidden beneath the frost. Until that day comes, the Domain of Extreme Cold will continue to exist in solitude at the edge of the universe, exuding its chilling aura, forever remaining an enigma.