The Crimson Legacy (In Progress)

Chapter 6: Ice and Blood

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The cold had become unbearable. Each breath Clara drew was like inhaling shards of glass, the freezing air cutting deep into her lungs. The room was no longer just cold—it was a frozen wasteland, blanketed in ice and snow, with jagged spikes piercing through the ground like the teeth of some terrible beast. The walls, once stone, were now encased in frost, the temperature plunging with every passing second. Her cloak was torn, her body bleeding from multiple wounds, her movements slowing as exhaustion set in.

Frostheart stood across from her, his trident still crackling with power, the frozen weapon leaving trails of cold mist in the air.

He was relentless.

Every strike he delivered was faster, more precise, and carried with it the force of a glacier, crashing through anything in its path.

Clara's body screamed with exhaustion, her limbs growing heavier with each passing second. Every block, every dodge, drained more of her strength, and she could feel the cold seeping into her bones. The relentless pace of the fight was wearing her down.

Her cloak was torn, and blood dripped steadily from her wounds, leaving dark streaks on the ice-covered floor. Frostheart knew he was winning.

Clara ignored his taunts, focusing all of her energy on the next strike, the next parry. But Frostheart's movements were too quick, too precise. With each attack, his strikes grew faster, his footwork sharper. Clara managed to deflect another blow, but the force behind it nearly knocked her off balance.

Suddenly, Frostheart lunged forward with a speed she hadn't expected, his trident aimed straight for her chest. Clara barely twisted out of the way, the icy blade grazing her side. Pain flared, and she hissed in response, clutching her side as blood seeped through her fingers.

"Pathetic," Frostheart sneered, circling her like a predator, his ice-blue eyes gleaming with cruel delight.

"Is this all the Shadow Coven has been hunting? A broken little girl hiding behind a mask? I'm bored, Shade."

Clara's jaw clenched. Her dagger felt heavy in her hand, and her telekinetic energy was flickering, weakened by the constant effort to defend herself. She couldn't keep this up much longer. The ice beneath her feet cracked as Frostheart took another step forward, his trident glowing with cold energy.

"You'll die here" he continued, spinning his weapon lazily, confident in his victory.

Clara didn't respond, but the cold fury building inside her flared brighter. Her movements, though slowing, were still precise, her eyes scanning the battlefield for any opening. She knew she couldn't beat him head-on, not in this environment. His power thrived in the cold, and she was bleeding out, losing ground with every second. But there was still one last thing she could do.

Frostheart smirked, raising his trident high. "Fine. I'll make it easy for you."

He brought the weapon down with a deafening crack, sending another surge of magic through the frozen ground. Massive spikes of ice erupted from the floor, hurtling toward Clara in a deadly wave. She leapt aside, narrowly avoiding being skewered by the icy spears. But the ground beneath her gave way, and she stumbled, landing hard on her injured leg.

A cry of pain escaped her lips as she crumpled to one knee, her blood splattering across the snow in deep crimson streaks. Frostheart was upon her in an instant, his trident raised for the killing blow. Clara barely had time to roll out of the way as the icy weapon slammed into the ground where she had been, shattering the stone beneath it.