Morning came and the slayer was escorted to the outskirts of the village to the direction of the mountain he sought. The warrior pointed to the sky and Slayer could see a blue star shining bright in the sky. The warrior then left, going back to the village. Slayer tightened his supply bag and fur coat pulling his hood up. He then started walking through the frozen tundra.
He trekked through the snow for a long time keeping an eye on the star at all times keeping it in front of him and kept his path walking towards it. 'I wish I could use flight greaves I took from the Light King. But it wouldn't be smart. Damn item saps so much chi flying for now. But would make this endeavor quicker' he thought annoyed at the snow. He sighed and kept walking through the snow.
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Behind him in the distance a shadowy hulking figure stalks behind him. Keeping its distance. Camouflaged by the snow. It's glowing blue eyes staring at the Slayer. Its consciousness linked to a far off individual sitting upon a throne made of ice and rock. A blue star hovering not far above him. Seated is a blue man with tattoos and white hair. Upon his face was a smooth white mask with two eye holes and his mouth was uncovered allowing his white braids of his beard to dang freely. The mask had three spikes like a crown coming off the forehead. Resting upon his lap was a hammer and chisel both made from lustrous silver metal, intricate designs etched into the art tools. His eyes were closed as he stared through his familiar at the Slayer, "So this is the boy everyone is up and arms about. Rank 4 Demigod, and from what I can see two elements, with an ability to forge from chi. His mind is still Rank 3 so that helps with his Mind Palace having limits to mind power. Shame I was expecting some giant monster. Piss ant kings up and arms?" he sighed.
"Instead I have a young man who is short and lacking real power. I'm half tempted to let the boy go and come back when he's stronger. Eh! I'll fight him and kill him so that miserable fool is seen as a coward. How did I even think joining their faction would be beneficial to me? I'm half tempted to change sides. They could use an ally right now, or can join the cocksuckers who sit on their thumbs refusing to even pick a side? Yes, maybe they're the smart ones" he scoffed to himself. Speaking to no one else upon his mountain. His mental state seemed to be on the border of insanity. Or merely one who thinks it is allowed. But if insanity one would presume from a violent life and isolation. He opened his blue glowing eyes and stood from his throne. He held a hand flat out palm down in front of him. Snow then swirled around him as it solidified into a perfect cuboid of ice. He held the chisel in his right hand and hammer in the left.
He then started to sculpt a beast from nightmare pouring chi into each strike of the hammer. The intricate designs in the chisel were glowing bright blue with chi that flowed into the creature being sculpted. The image itself started to take on a figure of its own forming into a gorilla with four harms with porcupine like hair coming off its back. Mouth had two rows of tusks to accompany its sharp teeth. Its face is fierce as it forms defining features with white fur, blue skin, bulging muscles, and a glint of a mind. It was no longer an ice carving. It was a breathing creature that kneeled in front of the Winter King that placed a hand on its forward, sending chi into its body making seals form to be a function of an automaton. "I'll send the ones I already have made. I've been preparing for this day longer than those fools. I've continued to grow and train for centuries waiting for when I face my next Slayer. I'm a Rank 6 Titan, " he said with a grin.
"Every part of this land is mine to do with as I see fit. My people here have been treated well. Yes they worship the ground I walk on. But who can fault them!" He said talking to his creation. "The tribes here only see power as a thing to respect. That is all! Would you believe I descended from one of those tribes? Chosen by the World long ago my tribe has forgotten" he stared out at the roaring blizzard obstructing all sight of the base of the mountain. "Yes…honestly I've let my worship lead to blood sacrifices from battles raged between the tribes. And I've grown bored" he sighed.
He crossed his arms behind him. "A good fight would make me happy. Bring it boy" he said out loud.
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Slayer battled the snow till he came to the base of the mountain. He looked up seeing that the star was bigger and brighter now. On the right side of the base of the mountain he could see stairs cut into the mountain leading up. He turned to walk towards them, but stopped in his tracks. He could feel the presence of chi from his mind. He turned and a beast emerged from the snow. It has white hair and four arms and has the looks of a giant mutant gorilla. It began to roar coming at him.
He dodged the beast and the creature hit the mountain with a giant boom. Manifesting a red hammer with his weapon forge ability he then smashed the mutant gorilla with all his might. The beast then bursts into ice shards. 'Ice?' Slayer thought as he felt another presence and two more following behind. One came into view as the same type of gorilla as before. The other two were lions with bull horns and a snake for a tail. They had large tusks coming from two rows of jagged teeth.
They roared as they came at Slayer. He stomped his foot and a line of fire came from his foot blowing up the three monsters. They exploded into ice shards.
Slayer then felt hundreds of presences coming down the carved stairs off the mountain. He manifested an ax and a long broadsword. He ran forward up the stairs to the army of monsters and abominations coming at him. 'Time to go to work' he thought. He then ran up the stairs. As he ascended the cold became more pronounced. He pushed flame chi through his veins to keep his body warm. He then made contact with the first monster.
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Slayer stumbled forward, his wounds were healing, but he was covered in wounds. He was only half way up the mountain. The swarm had ceased and he was left alone on the slope. They lined the sides of the stairs standing motionless. His coat was gone. His efforts with the flame chi keeping his body warm was focused elsewhere during his fight. He was very cold as he shivered. But the cold was comforting to his bruised body. He cupped his left hand, manifesting a small flame to keep him warm as he slowly walked up the stairs. 'No. I will let rage fire me up! I refuse to let this King beat me!' he screamed in his mind. He gripped his crimson broadsword. He could see the finish line up ahead seeing the end of the staircase.
When he finally got to the top he was blinded by a blue star hovering not far from the peak. Below was a throne made of ice and rock. Seated was the Winter King. In his hands he held a hammer and a chisel. "So my works of art were not enough to kill you I see?" The king smiles as he says this. "Good! You're no ordinary young man are you?" he grinned, staring at the battered Slayer. "So you're the slayer I've been hearing about from the other Kings of the Realms?" He stood up cracking his back. He clasped the hammer and chisel to his belt as he began to pop his knuckles. "See! I'm not worried. I believe in a good fight. I'm a berserk by nature, artist by trade, and king by fate. I've fought many that stand where you're standing. King Slayer's or not. Warriors that have come and gone over the centuries. Hell, I even welcome it! But over the centuries they all end their journey here! I even collect their skulls! Wanna know what number you'll be?" The king says smiling. "I don't care," Slayer says, clenching his sword and manifesting an ax. "You're not as much fun to talk to as the others? Shame!" He pouts. He chuckled, "Feeling alright? You look a little cold?" He pointed to the star above him. "See that's called the Frozen Star. It's what makes this place the Ice Realm. Further you come to it the colder you'll be. No worries, best we warm you up right?" The Red Demon fought through the cold. He wasn't wrong. His body felt stiff and the pain was numb. But also was a hindrance to his movements.
With a wave of his hand snow swirled around his hands as they formed a beautiful battle ax made of ice. It then started to glow blue. "You named your soul weapon yet?" Slayer felt surprised seeing this and seeing a fellow Forge user. "See, people like us have the fortune of creating our own. We don't need to commission its creation from alchemic black smiths?" Slayer looked taken aback slightly hearing this. "Surprised? You're not the only one with Forge power! Let me introduce you to my soul weapon, Draugr Bite" With a slash from the ax blue energy froze everything in its path. Slayer dodged to the left to escape its path. Part of his cape froze. He dashed it down as it broke away solid. He dodged the attack of the blade and parried away with his ax and attacked with his broadsword. After a clash of blades he was kicked to the side rolling away. 'Damn him!' Slayer thought getting to his feet ready to battle on. The rage burned with him. 'I'm warmed up now!' He thought.