The goddamn

I suddenly opened my eyes, and the frost that was engulfing me moments ago seemed to be replaced by a suffocating heat. The ground under my feet was uncomfortably hard and warm.

But before I could comprehend what had happened, I felt a strong grip grip grip on my neck, lifting me off the ground as if I was nothing.

His grip was strong as usual, pushing me into the cold stone wall. I tried to breathe, but the air was as heavy as a rock crouched on my chest. I didn't need to look to know who it was; the sound, the smell of ash and burnt skin that always accompanied him, was enough. tyrwin.

Tyrwin raised his distorted face with a wry smile, so close to my face that I could smell the ash lingering in his robes. "I thought you had run away, but you came back as a pet dog to his master. Pathetic, as you always were."

I lowered my gaze slightly, just a slight movement, and then raised an eyebrow with a faint smile. "Strange, I thought you were going to say something new this time."

His expression froze for a moment, before tightening his grip on my neck, squeezing even more. "You're more shameless than I remember."

I looked at him, my voice calm, like I'm telling a silly joke: "Maybe because you're more weak than I remember."

He didn't show the anger in his eyes clearly, but he was there, sneaking around at the corners of his face. He threw me to the ground as a worthless doll, and then stood staring at me from above.

I saw the flaming sword on his waist was shining with an orange color, just like the flame that extinguished my parents' lives.

"That sword..." He said it faintly but heavy in the sense, as if to make a death sentence. "You know him, don't you "

His question cut my thoughts like a knife. I didn't answer, but my gaze was fixed on him.

I slowly got up. I didn't take my eyes off the sword. "Yes. I know him."

"This was the property of my uncle. The man who put an end to your parents' chaos. He said they dared to disobey the system. But they were weak, just like you."

He took a step closer to me, his eyes narrowing with his usual doubts. "He ended your parents' life. Remember their screaming their absurd defense about you It must have been a really miserable sight."

I laughed.

My laughter was quiet, but her voice broke through the void between us as a sudden stab. "Miserable I said in a relaxed voice, my eyes glowing with endless coldness. "Yeah. They were stupid."

Tyrwin paused for a moment, disbelief evident on his face. "What did you say "

I raised my hand, lazily pointing at the sword. "My parents... They thought that their sacrifice would mean something. that their lives will equal my survival. But look at me now, what has changed "

The calm I spoke wasn't normal, even for me. But the coldness I gained from the Ice World became a part of me. I could see the shock in his eyes, how Tyrwin's confidence started to shake in front of my calmness.

"You know, Tyrwin You're right. My parents were stupid. I didn't get it then, but now..." I paused for a moment, smiling coldly. "I realize they chose the wrong ending."

Terwin laughed this time, the sound of his ignorant laugh filling the basement. "I didn't expect this confession from you. But it doesn't matter. I'm still the same weak child I've always been. And now..." He pointed to the sword, as if the whole scene is a trivial game for him. "Let me finish what my uncle started."

I lifted my head, my eyes meeting his eyes directly for the first time. There was something new in my gaze, something that made him step back subconsciously.

"Tyrwin..." I uttered his name slowly, as if to taste it for the first time. "It's okay. Try."

I drew a small, cold, lifeless smile. I felt the coldness in my veins, that coldness I learned from the Ice Dragon World. I knew I didn't need to fight here. This is not the time to win... but the time to show.

"I might just be a Level-Novis Magician but I own a Level-Four Magic Weapon." Tyrwin said cockily.

Tyrwin didn't wait. He raised the sword high, his flame dancing like he was bloodthirsty. But before he moved an inch, the spear shot out.

He broke through his right arm holding the sword, the blood splattered as a fountain, and his scream echoed in the stone hall.

Tyrwin retreated with unstable steps, staring at his injured arm and blood dripping profusely from it. "Who ! Who dares?!"

I smiled softly, taking advantage of the opportunity was immediate. "You're the one who should tell me Tyrwin. Who is the traitor who told you about my place "

He pressed his wound violently, his burning eyes meeting mine. "Why do you want to know? "

I approached him calmly deadly, as if the scene meant nothing to me. "You're here asking the wrong questions, Tyrwin. The real question is from the traitor who sold me to you?"

He continued to press his wound with his other hand, his voice dripping sama and pain. "Guchou... He knows everything about you."

I laughed again, this time my laughter was like ice penetrating everything. "Gushou?" I don't mean him.. If he knew about me, he would have moved a while ago."

He got up. Pain burns his features, but he gathers all his strength and exhales a fiery breath in my direction.

I calmly raised my hand, the words coming out like a whisper of death. "The icy tomb."

Tyrwin screamed, seeing the ice crawling over his feet. His cries were a mixture of rage and terror.

"What... What's going on?"

She smiled softly. "Nothing. I'll just make a nice grave for you...with you in it."

The ice began to creep up and slowly cover his body. Tyrwin tried to resist. He opened his mouth and exhaled red flames, but they did nothing but melt the outer surface of the ice, which remade itself even more quickly."This... This is not your power. You are... A magician?"

I approached him, the cold surrounding us, the atmosphere becoming suffocating from the growing terror in his eyes. "Tell me, Tyrwin..." She paused for a moment, then whispered with a dead smile: "What would you do in the face of a wizard with a sixth level magic book... and unlimited mana?"

Unable to hide his shock, he tried with all his might to summon a flame from within, but the flames were extinguished before they left his mouth. The ice crawled further.

I stood in front of him, contemplating the scene. I was in no hurry.

I was watching how little by little his face freezes, how his tears turn into small crystals stuck on his cheeks. It was like watching a painting being painted in front of your eyes, but the only difference was that this painting was made by my own hands.

"Stop this... Stop him!"

His words were confused, choked. I looked at him without moving, without hesitating.

"Why?""I said quietly, my voice was like a cold wind crossing an endless void.

The ice has reached his trunk now. He was squeezing his chest, choking his breath, turning his cries into miserable whispers. I saw something new in his eyes. It wasn't just horror... It's a realization. Realizing that he can't do anything.

When the ice reached his chest, he stopped resisting, looked at me with eyes full of amazement and fear. He whispered in a broken voice: "do... Are you cursed"

Time stopped for a moment at his words.

Cursed?

I stopped for a moment. A distant voice whispered in my mind:

[Cursed or blessed!... Only you can decide that.]

She smiled a smile as cold as death.

"No. I'm THe goddamn. "

The ice climbed his neck now. His face was completely freezing. The last thing I saw was the look in his eyes, a mixture of horror and despair that turned into a silent scream etched in ice crystals.

I took a step closer. I reached out and touched the ice covering his face. It was cold, but it made me feel warm. The warmth of victory.

"Beautiful... Isn't it!"

From among the shadows came the voice. Cheerful, sarcastic, but familiar.

"What a freezing party! White, you were gonna tell me before you started the show."

He turned slowly, without haste. There he was, Claudius, with his usual smile and playful features, but he was holding the spear that pierced terwin as if it were just a toy.

"But really, what kind of Demons have you become, my friend?""

His question made me smile, a cold smile but not devoid of meaning. I looked at him for a moment before saying: "We'll talk a little, Claudius. Then I'll go take care of a traitor... A traitor among my family."

She turned towards the frozen statue of terwin. For a moment, I felt as if the coldness inside me grew stronger.

"But before that..."I said quietly, and looked at Claudius. "Tell me, Did you enjoy watching?""

Claudius sat on a nearby stone, resting the spear on his shoulders as if on a picnic. He laughed lightly and said, " sure, it was a great show. But I'm more interested in what you're going to tell me."

She smiled again, and then sat down opposite him. I knew that what I was going to say to him now would only be the beginning.