Frost Dirge (Part 2)

"Alasong completed the evil ritual. Frost City has been transformed into a projection of the Abyssal Frost Plane. I have slain the projection of Demon Lord Gaogen, but as long as the Frost Plane's projection remains, Gaogen's projection will revive."

"You must lead the surviving people from the Sander Plateau before Gaogen's projection revives. This is your destiny. Go to Salia. In the south of the Salia Peninsula, I grant you new land. There, you shall establish a new city-state."

"But..." Rhonamuth wept bitterly. The gentle light could not soothe the pain in his heart.

"Father... is there truly nothing that can be done for Father? Is there no way to completely drive the demons from Frost City?"

"My son, every person and every city-state has its destiny. Even gods cannot fully control fate."

"Do not grieve for your father. He will live eternally in my realm. When you fulfill your own destiny and become a Legendary Hero, I will bring you into my realm. Our family will remain together forever on Mount Kaya."

The light drifted into the sky, and the voice grew increasingly ethereal. After circling Rhonamuth a few times, the little sprite lightly flew toward the battlefield between humans and demons.

A phantom was drawn forth. It was Aleias. He smiled at his son, waved, and vanished into the sky alongside the little sprite.

As Ace watched the scene before him gradually fade, the shock in his mind did not lessen. This was a world with gods. Though they had certain limitations, they truly existed—and they were immensely powerful.

This world was in a true Mythic Age, an age of legends of gods and heroes. By the framework of the novels from his previous life, this was at least a medium-magic, perhaps even high-magic world. It was extremely dangerous.

A simple classification of the known levels of power: mortals stood at the bottom, followed by nobles who had awakened the power of their bloodlines, then Heroes, Great Heroes, Golden Heroes, Legendary Heroes, and finally the incomprehensible gods, the source of heroes.

This world had gods, heroes, demons, and monsters in the wilderness, yet it offered mortals no path to transcendence.

An intense sense of helplessness and unease enveloped Ace. He longed to grasp his own fate, to seize fate by the throat rather than passively accept its arrangements.

The memories of being a researcher in his previous life made him resolve to research, analyze, and summarize—to uncover the secret behind the transcendence of extraordinary beings and carve out a transcendent path for himself.

A new scene began. Rhonamuth led Frost City's remaining residents, following the Elegant Goddess's guidance as they fled all the way to the coast.

Behind them were pursuing Ice Demons. Before them stretched the vast sea. They had been driven into a dead end.

Rhonamuth looked somewhat disheveled, but his eyes blazed with light.

He turned to face the demonic pursuers. Alasong was leading them after him with a savage grin. He had already fallen into demonhood and sprouted the wings of a High Demon.

"Alasong, not only did you slay the king, you utterly betrayed the Frost God as well. Are you not afraid that divine might is like a prison, that frost will punish you?" Rhonamuth shouted.

"Frost is not something you can fathom. I bear Frost's mission upon my shoulders. Everything I have done is worthy of my bloodline."

Alasong grinned viciously. "My dear prince, let me end your destiny here. I shall play a dirge for you and send you to reunite with your parents."

Rhonamuth turned toward the sea, and a gentle whisper appeared by his ear.

"Rhonamuth, Rhonamuth, raise your sword and strike the sea."

He raised the sword in his hand beyond his control and slashed at the ocean. Boom!

The seawater split in two along the path of his sword. Rhonamuth led the remaining residents onto the seabed.

Elegant, sacred music began to play. After they passed, the seawater naturally flowed back together.

Alasong led the demons to the shore, roaring at them in the demon tongue. Then they formed a bizarre ritual that radiated a strange rhythm. Accompanied by Alasong's deep hiss at its center, the seawater instantly froze.

Apart from Alasong, the Ice Demons rushed toward the crowd in a frenzy. At that moment, the frozen ocean suddenly shook violently.

"Who is it!"

"Who dares disturb the slumber of the Child of the Ocean, the great Pontos? Ignorant ones, you will pay the price!"

With that furious voice, the entire ocean flowed into the shape of a colossal giant. As easily as picking lice, he crushed the demons to death. Seeing this, Alasong flew away without looking back.

The current giant casually hurled an enormous water cannon, smashing Alasong until he coughed blood from grievous wounds. In a buzzing voice, he said, "Then I shall help you fly higher and farther."

Mysterious power surrounded the crowd, keeping out the seawater. The giant lowered his body and thrust his head into the exposed seabed. Looking at Rhonamuth, he said, "Media's power... are you her son?"

Rhonamuth was somewhat nervous, but responsibility drove him onward. Summoning his courage, he said:

"Honored Child of the Ocean, I am the son of the Elegant Goddess. My people and I disturbed your rest, and we deeply regret it. You overlooked our offense and helped us defeat the demons. You are so great, so merciful. We do not know how to thank you."

"Hahaha!"

"What a smooth-talking boy. But you cannot dismiss me so easily. Fate will make you the ruler of a state, and you must offer me the gratitude of a king," said the current giant.

"Honored Child of the Ocean, what do you require?"

"I require you to build me a temple in your new city-state." The giant's eyes, formed from ocean currents, stared at Rhonamuth.

"My son, promise him a fishing port. Build the temple, and worship him forever." The gentle whisper sounded beside Rhonamuth's ear.

"I would be honored to serve you." Rhonamuth smiled and bowed deeply.

"When I establish a new city-state in the Promised Land, I will certainly set aside a fishing port to build your temple and worship you for generations. I hope the great Child of the Ocean can grant us a little insignificant aid and help us reach Salia safely."

"Hahaha! I agree. I grant you a hundred years of friendship. This is an Island Beast. You will safely reach the Promised Land upon its back."

The giant thrust his massive hand into the depths of the sea and pulled out a giant turtle carrying an island on its back, pressing it onto the exposed ground.

"Thank you for your generosity, great Child of the Ocean."

Rhonamuth led everyone onto the giant turtle. The image gradually blurred, then rapidly changed.

They landed upon an unfamiliar land. A brand-new city-state rose from the ground. Time raced by; the city-state grew increasingly prosperous. Barbarians submitted, monsters were beheaded, and countless adventurers and immigrants from civilized nations were drawn there.

The viewpoint suddenly rose, looking down upon the city-state from above. It was orderly and vibrant.

Then it abruptly plunged, returning to City Hall Plaza. A ball of gentle light rose from the temple. Within that light, sacred white hands held a crown of olive branches crafted from pure gold and solemnly placed it upon the head of Grandson Tedius Medea, who knelt on one knee.

Then the light rose, taking Rhonamuth with it as it vanished into the midnight sky.

Divine Right of Kings!

This was a Mythic Age where humans and gods coexisted, an age where transcendence decided everything. Looking at the cheering crowd and Romon, whose face was covered in tears, Ace deeply felt the helplessness of mortals.

Only by striving for Citizenship and gaining more knowledge of the transcendent could he have even the slightest chance to seize fate by the throat.

It was already deep into the night. Ace tossed and turned, the scenes he had witnessed that evening flashing endlessly through his mind.