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Arrival at the Ice Kingdom
As late afternoon approached and the sky was swept with a freezing, bluish-orange hue, Ken’s vanguard finally arrived before the colossal gates of the Ice Kingdom’s capital. The moment they crossed the main threshold, they were instantaneously encircled by a phalanx of elite guards, who escorted them directly toward the main palace to seek an audience with the King.
Shortly after, a high-ranking soldier with a towering, muscular physique strode toward them. His footfalls were heavy, and his resonant baritone sliced through the frigid air like a thunderbolt. “You have finally returned. His Majesty the King is already awaiting you in the throne room,” he declared with a rigid visage, assuming the lead to guide the vanguard.
”Understood, General,” Uncle Tom replied, signaling the others to follow the heavily armored general’s steady pace.
Hmmm… A General possessing the might of a 10-Star Seal Cultivator debasing himself to act as a mere guide? A rather meticulously crafted theatrical welcome, Ken mused, a faint smirk laced with profound sarcasm curling his lips.
Upon stepping into the majestic throne room, which was adorned with towering ice crystal pillars, a bone-piercing chill immediately assaulted them. The entire vanguard synchronously lowered their bodies, offering a martial salute to the middle-aged man seated upon the throne.
The King of the Ice Kingdom appeared deeply fatigued. He was flanked by two personal shadows standing as rigid as stone statues on his left and right. One of the guards possessed a colossal, muscle-bound frame, while the other held a balanced posture mirroring the King’s own.
Disregarding all absolute royal protocols, Princess Elisha immediately sprinted across the silk carpet. “Royal Father! I missed you so much!” Elisha cheered, throwing herself forward to tightly embrace her father’s knees.
The heavy tension etching the King’s visage instantaneously melted away, replaced by a warm smile brimming with profound relief. He stroked his daughter’s hair with trembling hands. “Thank the heavens… Are you completely unharmed out there, my child?” he asked, his tone laced with an anxiety he could not conceal.
From his standing position, Ken’s piercing eyes scanned the energy signatures of every single individual within the chamber. This King’s foundational prowess actually rests at the zenith of a 5-Star God King. However, there is a bizarre anomaly obstructing his meridians… it appears the aura of his power is being forcibly suppressed, or perhaps he is being slowly poisoned! Ken analyzed in absolute silence. His gaze then shifted to the two guards flanking the throne. Meanwhile, these two personal shadows possess the might of 1-Star God Kings. Interestingly, the luminescence of their Star Seals is absolutely identical: 6 sapphire-blue seals, and the remaining 4 seals radiating pure golden light.
”Elisha, how are you? Are you hurt anywhere?”
A melodious yet frigid voice shattered the silence. An exquisitely beautiful but haughty maiden, draped in grand robes bearing the snow crest, had just stepped into the throne room, accompanied by a young noble.
”Relax, Big Sister! Father! I am perfectly fine, not a single hair on my head has fallen. Look!” Elisha explained, twirling around to proudly display herself to her two family members.
The maiden addressed as Big Sister let out a sigh of relief, then turned to a female guard. “Auntie, take Elisha to the inner chambers to meet the Queen Mother this very instant,” she commanded, leaving no room for defiance.
”As you command, Princess,” the female guard replied. She immediately took Elisha’s hand and guided her away from the tension-filled throne room.
Ken narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the maiden. …So she is Elisha’s biological older sister. The energy within her mortal shell indicates she is a 6-Star Seal Cultivator. Meanwhile, the noble youth accompanying her sits at the 8-Star Seal level. Not bad for youths on this continent, Ken judged silently.
However, the tranquility of the reunion was instantaneously pulverized.
”Soldiers! Seize this vanguard and drag them to the subterranean dungeons immediately!” commanded the general who had escorted them in, his voice echoing against the walls of ice.
Hearing the abrupt edict for their arrest, Uncle Tom was profoundly startled. He hurriedly stepped forward and dropped to his knees. “Your Majesty! If I must bear the sentence of death, I am ready to be apprehended! However, Princess Diyah is entirely innocent in this matter. I beg for your absolute justice, please release her!” Uncle Tom pleaded, his voice hoarse.
Diyah stared at Uncle Tom’s broad back with a gaze overflowing with agony, as if screaming, ‘What are you doing, Uncle? Do not sacrifice your own life!’ Diyah then shifted her gaze, looking straight at her father. “Your Majesty, I beg of you… please listen to our testimony first before passing judgment,” Diyah spoke up, joining the plea for justice.
The King remained frozen in silence, his eyes radiating a painfully heavy dilemma.
Before the King could utter a single syllable, another general clad in even more extravagant armor emerged from behind a pillar. “There is absolutely nothing left to explain, Your Majesty! An act of negligence that endangers the life of a royal heir, Princess Elisha, is a violation and a high treason against the kingdom. Whosoever is involved deserves to be executed!” he pressed, attempting to suppress the King’s absolute authority.
”General Lamarr, where have you been? This is your jurisdiction, deal with these criminals,” the first general, named Bonar, spoke up, handing over the authority of execution.
”Naturally, General Bonar. I had to resolve several crucial matters in the western sector earlier,” General Lamarr explained with an arrogant smirk. He pivoted his body to face the ranks of armed soldiers. “Soldiers! What are you waiting for? Drag them to the dungeons this instant!”
Ken crossed his arms over his chest, analyzing the situation with absolute serenity. …These two generals possess the exact same sapphire-blue Star Seals as the King, and their power levels have breached the boundary of 4-Star God Kings. So far, I have yet to witness a single high-ranking official here who has successfully condensed a blood-red Star Seal. Hahaha, it seems if they were to catch a glimpse of Fubao’s arm, they would brand my disciple as an abyssal monster of darkness, Ken mused, silently mocking the standard of power upon this frozen continent.
Seeing the soldiers beginning to encircle them, Uncle Tom could only lower his head in absolute resignation. On the other hand, Princess Diyah stood paralyzed. Her beautiful visage paled significantly beneath her veil. What do we do… Why has the situation deteriorated into such chaos? Diyah thought, haunted by mounting terror.
Amidst the suffocating tension, Ken exhaled softly. A faint, lethally cold smile was painted upon his lips. He took a single step forward, positioning himself directly in front of Diyah as an impenetrable aegis.
”If even a single one of your fingertips dares to graze the fabric of Princess Diyah’s robes… I will ensure every single one of you dies before you can even blink,” Ken threatened. His voice was flat, yet it froze the air within the chamber far more absolutely than any ice magic ever could.
Feeling a pure, unadulterated aura of death crushing their vocal cords, the soldiers who were about to advance instantaneously froze in their tracks. The hairs on the backs of the palace elders’ necks stood on end upon hearing such a staggering display of arrogance.
Ignited by absolute fury at seeing a mere commoner daring to hurl threats within the throne room, Elisha’s older sister—Princess Julia—lunged forward. With lightning-fast movements, she unsheathed her silver rapier and pointed the razor-sharp tip mere inches from Ken’s throat.
”A filthy guard like you possesses absolutely zero right to meddle in the laws of our kingdom!” Julia hissed, her gaze as sharp as glacial ice, fully prepared to slit the throat of the ungrateful youth.
Ken did not even blink at the blade resting against his neck. Instead, he stood entirely paralyzed. The focus of his eyes was not anchored upon the tip of the sword, but rather upon a unique crystal necklace hanging around the princess’s neck.
That necklace… So it is you! My deduction was correct… You are indeed a Princess. The Ice Princess from my past! Ken’s soul roared, the fragmented memories of his past finally finding their anchor.
He then stared directly into Julia’s eyes with absolute tranquility. “I believe you should be far more careful wielding that blade, Princess. That object might end up injuring you instead,” Ken warned, entirely un-intimidated by the steel resting against his Adam’s apple.
Witnessing the situation teetering on the edge of bloodshed, the noble youth who had been accompanying Julia hurriedly stepped forward and gently pulled the maiden’s shoulder. “What are you doing, Julia? Calm yourself, do not soil your hands here,” the youth urged, soothing her. “Darling, come, let us step back. Let the generals dispose of these rats.”
Julia!… And that youth just addressed her as ‘Darling’?! Ken thought. Something within his chest fluttered bizarrely, a jarring realization that the girl he had desperately searched for over the years had now found another harbor.
”Seize them all! Do not waste another second!” General Lamarr bellowed, reiterating his command with blazing wrath.
As the heavily armored soldiers forced themselves to take another step toward Princess Diyah, Ken’s eyes turned entirely devoid of warmth.
SWOOSH!
The void near his hand rippled, and from his Star Ring emerged a colossal Chain Sword drenched in suffocating killing intent. BLAAAM! Ken violently slammed the heavy greatsword into the crystal marble floor right beside Diyah, sending a spiderweb of deep fractures sprawling in every direction.
”I have already warned you. If you have grown tired of breathing… take one more step,” Ken growled, his right hand gripping the hilt of his colossal blade, fully prepared to unleash an absolute massacre within the throne room.
Diyah could only remain muted in stunned silence, staring at Ken’s broad back as he shielded her. Brother Ken… what exactly are you attempting to do by defying the entire royal court? Diyah thought, her heart hammering wildly, overwhelmed by a profoundly confusing concoction of absolute safety and immense dread.
Seeing a colossal armament unsheathed within the throne room, the veins on General Lamarr’s forehead bulged as if ready to burst. “Insolent! How dare you draw your weapon and hurl threats before the very visage of the King! This is high treason!” he barked, preparing to summon the entirety of his cultivation power.
However, from atop his throne, the King’s eyes narrowed as he recognized the profoundly unorthodox design of the weapon. “What is your name, Young Man?” the King spoke from his seat. Though his voice sounded raspy, the absolute authority of a continental sovereign could not be veiled.
Ken cast a sideways glance toward the throne without loosening his grip on the sword. “Did you not hear what your daughter just declared, King? Your daughter branded me a filthy guard. So, consider me merely a guard,” Ken replied, his tone dripping with razor-sharp sarcasm.
Terrified that Ken’s arrogance would court an execution sentence, Princess Diyah spontaneously reached out and tightly grasped Ken’s left arm. “Brother Ken… I beg of you,” Diyah whispered, her pleading gaze urging him to smother his wrath and exhibit a sliver of courtesy.
Feeling Diyah’s touch and witnessing her gaze, Ken’s hardened resolve softened marginally. He offered a faint nod, comprehending the princess’s intent.
”Your Majesty, please forgive us,” Diyah finally spoke up, commandeering the situation. “This man is Lord Ken, the Supreme Leader of the Siama Alliance. During our return journey, our vanguard was lethally ambushed by a horde of Fire Elephant Bandits. Had it not been for Lord Ken, who happened to be passing by and slaughtered the enemies to deliver us, we would never have been able to return here drawing breath, Your Majesty.”
”The Siama Alliance?!” The King flinched slightly, his eyes widening in shock before eventually curving into a profoundly meaningful smile. “I truly never anticipated that destiny would guide the god of war from that legendary faction to grace my palace,” the King replied, his oppressive aura instantaneously thawing.
The King then looked at his daughter with utmost seriousness. “Diyah, even so, do you not realize that your blunder in bringing your young sister to sneak beyond the kingdom’s borders was an absolutely fatal one?” the King reprimanded, demanding accountability.
Hearing the reprimand, Diyah furrowed her brow. She felt a missing link in the chain of events. “Forgive me, Royal Father. But I absolutely did not consciously bring Elisha out of the palace. In the missive I dispatched via the spiritual messenger pigeon last night, did I not detail everything precisely, explaining that Elisha had snuck—”
”Absolute drivel, Your Majesty!” A booming voice severed Diyah’s explanation. A commander of the palace guard stepped forward with towering arrogance. “Not a single missive was received or logged by the sentry outposts last night! Princess Diyah is blatantly lying to cover up her treasonous blunders, Yo—”
The guard commander’s sentence was never completed.
SWOOSH!
In a thousandth of a second, Ken condensed his energy. His mortal shell flickered like a phantom, shattering the limits of velocity perceivable by the naked eye. Before a single general could even register a reaction, Ken was already standing directly in front of the guard commander. With one devastating, perfectly placed strike, he pulverized the soldier’s chest, driving him violently into the floor. Simultaneously, the bladed tip of Ken’s chain sword had embedded itself inches deep straight through the soldier’s chest, flawlessly pinning his body to the glacial marble.
”Filthy traitors like you possess absolutely zero right to interrupt the words of a Princess,” Ken hissed lethally. He pressed the hilt of his sword deeper, forcing a helpless, muffled shriek from the pinned soldier. Ken slowly turned his head toward the royal officials, radiating an unbelievably dense killing intent. “Please resume your explanation, Princess. If any other flies dare to sever your words again, allow my blade to tend to their tongues.”
The brutal, lightning-fast execution froze every single occupant of the throne room in sheer terror. Not a single soul among them had anticipated that someone would possess the audacity to spill blood directly before the King. Acutely aware of the terrifying reputation and the colossal name of the Siama Alliance circulating the continent, not a single general dared to make a reckless move.
Hah! That guard commander possessed the foundational strength of a 6-Star Cultivator… Yet this youth managed to slam and paralyze him as effortlessly as flipping his palm?! Princess Julia’s soul quaked in absolute horror. She subconsciously swallowed hard, only now realizing the astronomical stupidity and recklessness of her action when she pointed her sword at this monster’s throat mere minutes ago.
The suffocating silence provided the necessary space for Diyah to conclude her defense. “As I was attempting to explain… Elisha secretly snuck in and concealed herself within a supply crate in the carriage. We only discovered her presence once we were significantly far beyond the Water Kingdom’s territory…”
After absorbing the complete, unadulterated truth from his daughter, the King nodded in understanding. His visage turned exceedingly grim. “General Lamarr,” the King called out, his voice now as heavy as cosmic steel. “I demand that you thoroughly dismantle this misunderstanding immediately. It is glaringly obvious that there are filthy elements within this palace intentionally sabotaging our communication networks to ensure my daughter’s missive never reached my hands, deliberately orchestrating mass panic within the capital!”
The King drew a deep breath, suppressing a sharp pain in his chest. Thank the heavens this lethal chain of misunderstandings was halted in time. This youth named Ken… his instincts are utterly terrifying, the King mused, gazing at Ken with profound evaluation.
General Lamarr appeared flustered, his visage instantaneously draining of color. “A-as you command, Your Majesty! However… even so, this foreign youth has assaulted and tortured our officer to the brink of death within the throne room! He has blatantly desecrated the laws of ice. He must still be apprehended to answer for his crimes, Your Majesty!” General Lamarr attempted to redirect the focus, entirely unwilling to let Ken walk away unscathed.
”Lamarr is correct, Your Majesty. The pride of our kingdom will be trampled into the dirt if we allow this insolence to slide!” General Bonar added, backing his comrade.
Hearing the utterly ridiculous arguments of the two generals, Ken yanked his sword from the soldier’s chest, letting the crimson blood drip from its blade, before throwing his head back in a thunderous, mocking laugh.
”Hahaha! The two of you are truly blind, idiotic generals,” Ken mocked without a shred of mercy, aiming the tip of his bloodied sword at the visages of the two generals. “You should be prostrating yourselves and thanking me! I just executed your dirty work by skinning a treacherous parasite from the Fire Kingdom nesting within your own palace!”
”Insolent! What baseless accusations are you spewing?!” General Bonar barked, his patience having truly breached its absolute limit.
Without wasting another breath, Ken kicked the violently convulsing body of the soldier beneath his boots. With a single, targeted sweep of his energy, Ken forcibly shattered the high-tier illusion seal concealing the true identity beneath the soldier’s armor. Instantaneously, a cursed tattoo in the shape of a black flame was glaringly exposed upon the soldier’s right arm.
”Open your eyes wide. Is that not the absolute brand of the Fire Kingdom’s domesticated hounds?” Ken turned away in sheer disgust, walking away from the treacherous soldier and stepping back to Princess Diyah’s side.
Dammit! How could this wet-behind-the-ears youth read and shatter a high-tier illusion seal with a single glance?! General Lamarr’s inner voice screamed, cold sweat drenching his spine.
”The surprises do not end there…” Ken rotated his Spatial Ring. WHOOSH! Several piles of crystal dust and the rigid corpses of the bandits who had ambushed Diyah’s vanguard the previous night were unceremoniously dumped into the center of the marble chamber.
”These individuals are the syndicate of bastards who ambushed your princess’s vanguard last night,” Ken declared with a resonant voice. “Every single one of them was garbed in the uniforms and armor of Ice Kingdom Soldiers to frame another faction. But ironically… deeply embedded beneath their skin lies the absolute symbol of loyalty to the Fire Kingdom!” Ken exposed the lethal conspiracy right before the eyes of the entire royal court.
Witnessing the undeniable proof of such putrid treason, the King’s eyes widened to their limits. His heart suffered a brutal blow, realizing just how rotting and fragile the foundation of his kingdom truly was. “Lamarr!! How could your primary defense headquarters be infiltrated by this many traitors without you noticing a single thing?!” the King roared, his eyes piercing General Lamarr with absolute wrath.
The King then turned toward his personal shadow guard. “Hameng! I command you to intervene. Assist Lamarr in meticulously unearthing this network of traitors within the palace down to its very roots!” the King decreed, brilliantly fracturing Lamarr’s authority so he could not seamlessly cover his tracks.
”As you command, Your Majesty,” General Hameng replied with a low, lethal baritone.
General Lamarr swallowed hard, his entire mortal shell tensing up. “U-understood, Your Majesty. I swear to resolve this as swiftly as possible,” he answered nervously. He immediately pivoted his body toward his legion. “Soldiers! Quickly drag this treacherous trash to the interrogation chambers!” he commanded in a panic, attempting to maintain a facade of strict authority before hastily storming out of the throne room to save face.
Heavens, thank the gods Lord Ken is on our side. Otherwise, our lives would have undoubtedly ended on the gallows today, Uncle Tom thought, flashing a profoundly relieved smile while clutching his chest.
Observing that the diplomatic crisis and the lethal threats had been successfully neutralized, Ken sheathed his Chain Sword. “Very well, since this theatrical farce has concluded and there is absolutely nothing left to discuss with me, I beg my leave,” Ken stated as he turned around.
”Your Majesty, Princess Diyah, Uncle Tom. I require a chamber to rest,” Ken excused himself curtly. He cast a fleeting glance at Diyah. “If you require my assistance for something of absolute urgency, simply summon Kirin. That monster is spiritually linked to me.”
”Hmmm, very well. I understand. Thank you immensely for everything you have done today, Brother Ken,” Diyah replied, returning his gaze with a sweet smile overflowing with gratitude.
Shortly after Ken’s silhouette vanished down the palace corridors, Elisha jogged back into the throne room, swiveling her head in confusion as she searched for her hero. “Sister Diyah! Where did Brother Ken go? Why did he disappear?” she asked, tugging at the hem of her sister’s gown.
”Brother Ken has already departed, darling. He is extremely exhausted and requires time to rest in his chambers,” Diyah answered gently.
Hearing that, Elisha nodded in understanding. “Umm, alright.” However, the little girl’s focus abruptly shifted sharply toward her father. She placed her hands on her hips and marched toward the throne with a feigned, fierce expression. “Royal Father! Have you bestowed an outrageously luxurious gift to him as a token of our gratitude?!” she interrogated the King.
Realizing his negligence in appreciating the hero because he was too utterly consumed by the treasonous revelations, the King coughed awkwardly. “Ahh… Father hasn’t had the opportunity to bestow any gifts upon him yet, Elisha. That youth simply departed before Father even had the chance to open the royal treasury. So, Father has indeed not rewarded him yet,” the King explained, attempting to defend himself.
Elisha puffed her cheeks in absolute annoyance. “Father, you are so lame and stingy! That Great Big Brother risked his own life to save me and Sister Diyah from those villains! Furthermore, Brother Ken has already given me so many invaluable gifts! Just look at one of them!” Elisha babbled, scolding her father relentlessly.
With a visage brimming with absolute pride, Elisha snapped her tiny fingers and summoned her beloved spiritual monster from her dimensional space.
Instantaneously, an elegant, glossy silver-furred wolf materialized and affectionately nuzzled Elisha’s hand.
”Hah! I-is that… a Heavenly Star Monster?!” The King flinched so violently he nearly leaped from his throne, his eyes unblinking as he stared at the astronomically rare primordial monster race.
”That’s exactly right! His name is Kirin, and he has forged a lifelong Contract Seal with me!” Elisha proudly climbed onto Kirin’s back. “Kirin, show Father! Grow big!”
In a flash, Kirin’s mortal shell expanded to ten times its size, assuming the Ten-Tail form, its massive frame nearly brushing the ceiling of the throne room.
”Look, Father! Kirin is extremely smart at adjusting his body size. And now… show your Combat Mode, Kirin!”
A soul-quaking roar echoed. Kirin’s colossal body was instantly encased in golden-crimson scale armor, radiating a killing intent and a terrifyingly scorching heat that effortlessly rivaled the auras of the generals within the chamber.
”How about it, Father?! Super amazing, right?!” Elisha continued to flaunt her new pet, thoroughly savoring the dumbfounded expression on her father’s face. “Remember this, Father! You must find the most spectacular treasure to reward Brother Ken! If you don’t, Kirin and I will smash the doors to your bedchambers tonight! Hahaha! I’m going to catch up with Mother now, Father!” Elisha threatened mischievously with a joyful giggle, before riding Kirin straight out of the palace.
”Hah! What a mischievous child… How dare she threaten her own father with a monster,” the King murmured, shaking his head as he humored the parting jest of his youngest daughter. However, the King’s visage instantly morphed into profound seriousness as he looked at Diyah. “Diyah, tell Father the absolute truth… was that sacred monster truly given to her completely free of charge by that youth named Ken?” he asked to confirm.
”It is the absolute truth, Royal Father,” Diyah nodded with unwavering certainty. “Brother Ken gifted it without a shred of hesitation so that Kirin could accompany Elisha and me during our travels. Brother Ken even offered an absolute guarantee: with Kirin by Elisha’s side, even if we are besieged by enemies at the God King level, Kirin possesses the absolute instinct and velocity to escape to safety,” Diyah explained, emphasizing the unfathomable value of the gift.
The King exhaled a long, heavy sigh, massaging the bridge of his nose which had suddenly begun to throb. “Heavens… Very well, Father must wrack his brain to uncover exactly what kind of royal heirloom could possibly be worthy enough to repay this debt,” the King murmured with an intensely complicated expression.
”You must understand, Diyah… possessing a Heavenly Star Monster that is spiritually tamed and obedient like that is not something that can be quantified with gold or diamonds. In the cultivation realm, even a god-tier beast tamer generally must expend over twenty years merely to coax an ordinary Star Monster into forging a contract. For a race as exalted as the Heavenly Star Wolf? The subjugation period could potentially demand hundreds of years of soul-torturing agony!” the King explained, unearthing the true, staggering value of the monster.
”I fear my kingdom may not be capable of providing a material reward that even begins to equate to the value of that beast. It seems… starting today, this palace bears an unpayable life debt and a debt of gratitude to that youth,” the King revealed, leaning back against his throne with a resigned smile overflowing with profound reverence.
Hearing her father’s exposition, Diyah’s heart fluttered violently. To think the price of a Heavenly Star Monster is so mythical and invaluable… And Brother Ken, without a single second of hesitation, surrendered it completely free of charge merely to erase Elisha’s fears and alleviate my burden of carrying her? Just what kind of man are you truly, Brother Ken? Diyah mused, harboring a profound awe and a warm feeling that was taking deep, unshakeable roots within her heart.