Chapter 134: Frozen Ruins of Austerra
Far in the distance, residents living on the outer edges of the kingdom stirred from their sleep as the deafening blast reached their homes.
Windows rattled, doors shook on their hinges, and a cold shockwave swept through the countryside like a ghostly tide.
The air itself seemed to freeze, clinging to their skin with a bite sharper than winter’s breath.
"Oh my..." one woman gasped, her hands trembling as she clutched the edge of her shawl tighter around her shoulders.
Voices rose in unison as men and women stepped outside, staring toward the horizon. What had once been the bustling capital of Austerra now appeared like a frozen tomb. The city, once filled with laughter, warmth, and vibrant life, was blanketed in jagged ruin.
Towering ice spires rose like thorns against the night sky, their edges glinting with a cruel, pale blue light. From even kilometers away, the destruction was clear.
The walls of homes had been torn apart, noble manors crushed beneath the weight of frost, and streets split into icy trenches.
And faintly, carried through the frozen winds, came the sound of cries for help.
Distorted voices rose, only to be drowned out by the rumbling of buildings collapsing into rubble beneath the weight of unnatural frost.
Inside a modest house at the edge of a village, a mother clutched her chest as fear crept across her face. She had heard those cries too.
"Mother, what is going on? Why is it suddenly so cold?"
A boy, no older than four, padded barefoot into the room, his round eyes blinking against the chill. His little hands rubbed at his arms as goosebumps dotted his skin.
The woman’s lips quivered as she turned to him.
"I... I do not know..."
She clenched her fist tightly, her knuckles white with dread.
Another child, younger, stumbled out from the shadows of a doorway, dragging a blanket behind him.
He reached for his mother’s hand with wide, innocent eyes.
"Where is Dad?" he asked softly.
Her throat tightened.
"He is... in the capital. He is fighting the bad people."
"When is he coming back? Will he bring pork again when he gets back?" the younger boy asked, hope flickering across his small face.
The mother could not bear it.
Huhuhu~
Her knees buckled, and she pulled both children into her arms, holding them close against her chest as her tears fell down.
Their warmth was fragile, fleeting. She shut her eyes, tears welling despite her best effort to remain strong.
"I... I do not know..." she whispered, her voice breaking as her children clung tighter to her dress.
Deep inside her heart, she prayed,
’Please, anyone, save Austerra!’
...
Back at the heart of Austerra, the once-proud castle stood as a frozen ruin.
Where there had been gilded walls adorned with banners of heritage and grand ornaments celebrating centuries of history, now jagged icicles protruded like spears, piercing even the castle’s solid stone foundations.
The very air shimmered with frost.
The spell cast by the Dark Fate had cost the lives of at least fifty men in an instant, but its reach had been catastrophic.
The frozen explosion had torn through the capital with merciless precision, demolishing homes, markets, and monuments alike.
Fortunately, most of the population had fled in the first hours of the attack, abandoning their livelihoods for a chance at survival.
Those left behind were few, mostly greedy merchants unwilling to part with their riches, arrogant civilians who believed they were untouchable, or stubborn soldiers who stayed behind to defend their land.
Of the many wyvern riders who had soared valiantly into battle, only three remained alive, barely clinging to consciousness.
Their defensive spells and the bodies of their loyal wyverns had absorbed most of the blast, leaving them broken but alive.
The expressions on their faces were empty, their eyes wide and lips trembling. Even minutes later, none found the strength to speak.
They had stared directly into a nightmare.
Rough estimations said the spell had taken at least two thousand lives.
Deep within the frozen ruins, King Auborn and his men stood inside a massive magic circle that flickered faintly with protective light.
They had activated it moments before the explosion, warned by the unnatural surge of mana in the air and the scattered Thugnakan stones planted around the capital.
The King’s men looked pale, some trembling as they beheld the horror outside. Many had gone silent, their lips parted in disbelief.
But King Auborn himself stood calm, his face unreadable.
Good... everything according to plan, he thought, his eyes narrowing as frost reflected in them like mirrors.
He was, after all, a secret pawn of the Dark Fate. Their chaos was his design, and he welcomed the devastation.
"This... This is despicable!"
A knight commander fell to his knees, clutching his helmet in despair. His voice shook.
"My King, who could have done this?"
"The Dark Fate!" another knight spat, his eyes blazing with fury and fear.
"It must be those madmen! They have been seen in Austerra these past months. I knew it they are up to no good!"
"How could they do this to us?" a soldier cried, clutching his chest.
"My family... my wife and children!"
At the thought of their families, panic spread like wildfire. Many of the King’s men abandoned their posts, breaking into a sprint toward the wreckage of their homes.
Instead of stopping them, Auborn turned away, walking calmly in the opposite direction.
"My King, where are you going?" one soldier shouted.
"We need you! Please, lead us!"
A group of men moved to block his path. Their eyes were desperate, filled with betrayal.
Auborn’s voice rang cold.
"Are you fools? Can you not see? There is no more Austerra. From this moment forward, I am not your King."
Gasps erupted. One commander, eyes bloodshot and face twisted in grief, stepped forward with his sword already drawn. His family had been lost to the frost.
"This happened because of you!" the commander roared.
"You let the Dark Fate roam freely despite our warnings!"
He pointed his blade, voice shaking with rage. "Admit it! Are you one of them?"
Silence filled the air. All eyes locked on Auborn. Even the wind seemed to pause.
Then, Auborn smirked. "So what if I am?"
Shock spread through the soldiers. Some staggered back, their mouths hanging open, while others—those with sharper intuition—merely lowered their heads in grim confirmation.
"I knew it," one muttered bitterly.
"Surround him!" the grieving commander shouted, his eyes blazing. "A King who betrays his people deserves only death!"
Blades and staves were raised. Soldiers and mages alike turned their weapons against the man who had once been their leader.
"Do not move! You are under arrest!"
But Auborn’s hand was already in his cloak.
Now that the secret is out, there is no need to pretend, he thought coldly.
He drew out a small, marble-sized Thugnakan crystal and lifted it into his palm. His lips moved in a quiet chant.
[Freezing Thorns]
The ground beneath their feet lit up in a blinding glow. In an instant, spikes of ice erupted outward, sharp and merciless.
"AGHK!"
"UGH!"
Soldiers screamed as ice tore through armor and flesh alike. Blood stained the frost as men were impaled where they stood, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"Retreat!" the commander shouted, but wherever they turned, more ice erupted, jagged spears waiting for them.
"Blast them apart! Fight back!"
Explosions rang out as fire and lightning clashed against ice. For a few, their spells shattered the thorns and bought them seconds to escape, but it was too little. Out of thirty men, only a handful survived.
Amid the chaos, Auborn withdrew a teleportation stone from his cloak, its surface glowing faintly.
Father... you were brilliant.
To orchestrate this destruction... The whole empire will tremble. And soon, the final blow will fall.
He looked up at the cloudy night sky and whispered,
"The fate of the Wha-lah Empire will soon be broken."
And then the earth itself trembled.
GROOOOAR!