The sacred warship's pale golden shield pierced the morning mist as it slowly docked at the Frozen Ruined Capital. On the wharf, Elder White and Elder Aila were already waiting with the Holy Spring knights and the Elf Guard. Behind them, ten dwarven blacksmiths carried a "fallen star iron sealing chamber" half a person's height-its surface was covered in sacred runes and natural patterns, a container specially made to hold the Evil Bone Core.
"Loran! You've come at just the right time!" Elder White hurried up to the bow, the Holy Spring crystal in his hand giving off a steady glow. "The core's seal stirred again last night. Fortunately, we reinforced it with Tree of Life sap and kept the evil power from leaking out. But I can feel the Matriarch's consciousness still trying to infiltrate the core. We must transport it away as soon as possible!"
Elder Aila picked up where he left off, pointing deeper into the ruined capital. "We've placed three barriers around the core: the Holy Spring barrier on the outside, the Nature Barrier in the middle, and the water-pattern barrier the Swamp Spirit Clan left behind as the innermost layer. They can suppress the core's fluctuations for now. But we must be especially careful during the transfer. Once the barriers open, the Matriarch may well seize the chance to attack."
Loran nodded and immediately assigned everyone their tasks. "Chief Tongchui, take the craftsmen and secure the sealing chamber on the warship's lowest deck. Reinforce it with fallen star iron chains. A Ze, you and the Water Whisperer set up water-element shields around the chamber to prevent evil power from spilling out during the transfer. Liya, you and Elder Aila prepare your power of nature, ready to fill any gaps in the barriers at any moment. Lei Lin, Snow Spirit Qilin, you're on guard duty. Icefield Wolf, follow me to the core's location. We'll escort the core together!"
Everyone moved swiftly. Loran followed Elder White through the frozen streets. Traces of the earlier battle still lingered on the ruined capital's ice, and fragments of Evil Bone crystallization, purified to a pale white by the Holy Spring's power, glimmered in the morning light. Around the raised platform where the core lay, the three barriers intertwined into membranes of pale gold, emerald green, and pale blue light. At their center, the Evil Bone Core hovered in midair. The black markings on its surface were fainter than before, yet a hint of dark red showed through-the fragments of the Matriarch's consciousness were writhing.
"Prepare to open the barriers!" Holding the Holy Spring crystal, Elder White poured in his power at the same time as Elder Aila. The three barriers slowly dissipated, and the Evil Bone Core's pale purple halo instantly expanded. The fluctuations of evil power in the air abruptly intensified. Snow Spirit Qilin's ice talisman immediately lit up red, and luminous white frost mist condensed into a protective layer around the core. "The Matriarch is reacting! Transfer it, quickly!"
Loran immediately gathered the power of three elements, forming a cradle of light beneath the core. He carefully lifted it and moved toward the wharf. Icefield Wolf followed close behind, golden claws scoring shallow marks in the ground while watching their surroundings warily-from beneath the ruined capital's ice came faint cracking sounds, as though something were breaking out of the earth.
"Watch your footing!" Icefield Wolf suddenly growled and lunged to Loran's side. The ice split open in an instant, and an arm covered in black-purple scales burst out of the earth. Sharp bone claws tipped the arm, reaching straight for the Evil Bone Core! "It's an Evil Bone Abyss Guard! The Matriarch summoned it!" Snow Spirit Qilin shouted, turning the frost mist into ice blades that slashed at the guard's arm.
The ice blades struck the guard's arm but left only a shallow mark-the evil bone beneath its scales was exceptionally hard and shimmered with the black light of abyssal evil power. More guards emerged from beneath the ice. They were similar in build to humans but had no facial features. Small Evil Bone Crystals were embedded in their chests, and they gripped evil bone spears whose tips could spray black-purple evil mist.