On this day, what had begun as a warm and sunny morning in Yao City was abruptly interrupted by a chilling wind. Dark clouds gathered in the sky, and snowflakes began to fall—an unusual sight for a place that rarely experienced such weather. Initially, the novelty of the sudden cold brought some excitement to the townsfolk, but as time passed, the negative effects of the cold began to spread. Families accustomed to the warmer climate of southern Aelras typically lacked sufficient winter clothing and rarely lit fireplaces for warmth like those in the frigid north.
At the heart of this cold, in the northern section of the Inlay River, the once-thundering waters began to freeze over with thick ice. Not only was water transport severely impacted, but daily life was also thrown into disarray. The cause of this severe cold, Danys, was currently in a deep slumber, her ice phoenix powers manifesting as a bizarre weather phenomenon. Fars had not anticipated that Danys's ascension would bring about such a drastic change in the climate, capable of altering the weather in the region. The last time he had been completely frozen in the cold pool due to Danys's hatching, he had been unaware of any external phenomena. But this time, he was acutely aware, as his perception expanded along with the cold, as if the ice and snow had become his eyes.
His instincts told him that this snowfall was likely connected to him, as the two icy runes within his consciousness had become uncontrollably active since Danys fell asleep. Fortunately, having ascended from a vampire viscount to a count, he had managed to gain control over the three dark runes in his mind, which allowed him to break free from the previous reliance on just the two icy runes.
**Charm** was the first rune Fars comprehended during his ascension, and it was the most active and firmly grasped. The most common and representative innate ability of the bloodline of the Hill family was charm. After furthering his understanding of this ability, Fars gained deeper insights into its nature. Every sentient being harbors desires and fears. The Eye of Charm can touch the deepest strings of the heart, leading one into a state of confusion from which they cannot escape. This opens the door for gradual mental control, allowing him to temporarily manipulate their bodies for his own purposes. Of course, the success of this charm depends on the power disparity between the two parties and the willpower of the target.
**Weakness**, however, was a rune that Fars had not anticipated. He had always relied on the magic circle to activate the runes in his consciousness, without fully understanding the power represented by each rune. The effect of weakness manifests as a dual diminishment of both spirit and body. This state can be dispelled, but the church, the old adversary of the vampires, excels at purification. While there are spells in the magical system that induce a state of weakness, the effectiveness ultimately depends on one's understanding of the underlying principles. Simply reciting spells without mastery yields far less impact than one who truly grasps the law. Thus, Fars now had a means to temporarily limit the strength of opponents of considerable rank.
**Bloodlust** was another rune that, upon delving into it, awakened a primal urge for violence and slaughter deep within him. This law, which even influenced his own sanity, filled Fars with a sense of dread. However, entering a state of bloodlust significantly enhanced his power. The overwhelming magical energy tempted him to lose himself in the ecstasy of newfound strength. Strangely, once bloodlust was activated, the two icy runes, which had become somewhat uncontrollable, formed a suppressive force against the bloodlust, providing a safeguard for his mind to prevent him from becoming lost in it. The blood control ability he gained upon ascending to viscount also belonged to this law, allowing him to bestow bloodlust upon others. Sometimes, applying bloodlust to an enemy temporarily boosts their strength, but it can easily lead them to become lost in their own violent power—a double-edged sword that, if used wisely, can yield unexpected results.
Over the course of more than ten days, Yao City fell into a state of desolation. Few pedestrians could be seen on the streets, as most stayed indoors to keep warm. Some noticed that the icy grip of winter extended only around Yao City; once they traveled a hundred miles south or north, the climate returned to normal. As reports of frozen beggars and homeless individuals began to surface, many chose to temporarily flee Yao City to escape the cold.
"Master, how long do you think this unusual cold weather will last? Could it be man-made?"
The old city lord personally visited Galisi the mage at the Yoseta Tower, hoping to find some answers. A brief cold snap would not significantly impact their lives; they had plenty of thick furs and firewood for warmth. However, if this situation persisted for too long… It was better to find the root cause and resolve it sooner rather than later. The worst-case scenario was that his suspicions were correct—that this was the result of a deliberate spell. Such power to alter the climate over a hundred-mile radius could only be wielded by legendary figures.
Galisi and the old man had known each other for twenty years, and recently, the old mage had done a significant favor for the Magic Guild, making him exceedingly polite. Extreme weather rarely occurred; it was often man-made or accompanied by the emergence of extraordinary beasts or treasures. Regardless of the cause, it was bad news for Yao City. If a legendary powerhouse was indeed behind this, one had to wonder why they would target Yao City. This required further investigation. Even if it were a rare treasure or a naturally extraordinary beast, such phenomena were beyond the reach of mages like him. The emergence of a treasure near the Andun Principality two years ago had drawn numerous powerful figures, resulting in volcanic eruptions and widespread devastation. If such a calamity were to occur near Yao City, it could spell disaster for the city.
"Your Excellency, you are quite right. I have also ventured outside the city to investigate. The source of this cold weather seems to lie within the fog zone, and it is likely man-made. However, I must humbly say that we cannot interfere with the actions of such powerful beings."
The old mage sighed deeply, laying out the facts. They were all reasonable individuals, and their guesses were similar. With no outsiders present, it was better to be direct.
"Does that mean Yao City is in peril? I never imagined that after decades of being city lord, I would manage to govern Yao City so prosperously, only for it to face disaster…"
As he spoke, the old man's voice trembled, and he struggled to continue.
"Do not worry, my lord. We can only observe the situation for now. Perhaps in a few days, the phenomenon will dissipate. I will go investigate once more."
"We can only do what we can, Master. Please take care of this matter. Sigh!"
The raging cold wind did nothing to disperse the fog. Another unexpected visitor arrived at the fog's edge, first bowing respectfully in a standard mage's greeting. He began to flatter the fog with sweet words, loudly proclaiming his intentions. He was convinced that a legendary master resided within the fog, never suspecting that the one hiding inside was Fars, the vampire he had chased to the river.
This was already his fourth visit in recent days. Since Fars had awakened from his slumber, he was well aware of who was outside. Yet, he had never responded. If the man believed he was dealing with an unapproachable powerhouse, then so be it; it spared him from further interruptions.
A few days later, Fars felt a stirring within him and opened his eyes, empowered by Danys. The aura emanating from him radiated outward from the coffin, sweeping over all living beings.
A massive ice-blue beam shot into the sky, and Danys floated upward with the light, her small form gradually unfurling. Surrounding her was a colossal phantom of an ice phoenix, enveloped in swirling black flames. Creatures within a thousand-mile radius felt the ancient bloodline of the phoenix, and lesser birds and beasts were compelled to kneel and tremble in fear. After surveying the area, the phoenix phantom slowly dissipated, revealing Danys once more.
At this moment, Danys was no longer the petite figure that had perched on Fars's shoulder. Her previous form had been difficult for many to recognize as a phoenix, but now, she resembled a smaller version of the massive phoenix phantom, with a magnificent and elongated tail and an ice-blue crown atop her head. No one could mistake her identity. Though she was a scaled-down version of the ice phoenix, her stature approached two meters, and her wings spanned nearly ten meters. Danys seemed a bit unaccustomed to her larger form, swirling in the air for a moment before adjusting. She flew down and affectionately nudged her head against Fars's chest. Fars opened his arms and managed to embrace her head, helplessly patting her as he said:
"My Danys has grown so big! I won't be able to carry you anymore."
Upon hearing this, Danys appeared somewhat displeased. She pecked Fars twice in a sulky manner, and her body was enveloped in a glow, gradually shrinking back to her original size, though her form remained unchanged. Since Danys could still adjust her size, Fars resigned himself to picking her up again.
**Rune of Extreme Freeze**: Instantly lowers the temperature within the casting area, freezing everything in an instant.
**Rune of Cold Wind**: Temporarily alters the climate laws of the area, summoning cold winds and bringing a bitter chill.
These were the two icy runes that Fars further comprehended after Danys's ascension. The Extreme Freeze rune seemed more suited for combat, while the Cold Wind rune was better for gradually creating an environment conducive to battle, reminiscent of the domains mastered by legendary figures.
With mastery over five runes, Fars's magical power grew steadily. If one were to judge solely by his aura, no one could doubt his identity as a mage. Even a seasoned mage would typically only master three to six runes after years of study. Yet, Fars understood that he could still only be considered a high-level mage; one rune remained dormant, leaving the entire magic circle feeling incomplete. Only when the final rune, derived from the Derlon bloodline, awakened could he truly step into the ranks of mages worthy of the Yashia Moon badge.