Hidden within a glacial cave, there was a room of ice gleaming with mystical allure. Fashioned from ancient ice, its walls were decorated with frosty symbols and gleaming statues of revered gods. Blue flames flickered on icy torches, casting ethereal shadows. At the center lay a grand ice throne, sculpted with intricate patterns that seemed to dance as the light shifted. A man was seated on the throne, his eyes glowing with a faint blue light. He sensed someone approaching and turned his face to the entrance.
A boy in his late teens walked in, dragging Grey's unconscious body behind him. "I've done as you requested, Ghelgath. Here's the boy," the teenager said.
"Good job," the man referred to as Ghelgath replied.
"It amazes me that you can emit such an intense aura even if this is just your soul essence," the boy said, eyes filled with admiration.
"I am the Dragon Lord, after all. What else do you expect?" Ghelgath said calmly.
"When is your resurrection? Haven't I proven myself as a worthy vessel yet?" the boy asked, frustration evident in his voice.
"Soon, little one, soon... but you must prove yourself once more to me," Ghelgath said.
"What... What is it? Just say the word, I'll do anything, my Lord," the boy said, kneeling on the floor with his head bowed.
"Kill the former vessel and complete her former assignment," Ghelgath spoke.
"That's no job for me. She's too weak for me to handle myself. As for her former assignment to eliminate the brat, that's easier than drinking water," the boy said in irritation.
"I agree with you on the former vessel not being worth your time, but I must warn you about the boy she was assigned to kill. Be careful; he's no ordinary being," Ghelgath advised.
"No... ordinary being?!!! You mean that brat Lukas?" the boy said, his irritation increasing.
"I have spoken. Now go and prove yourself worthy," Ghelgath commanded.
"Hmph, yes, my Lord," the boy said as he turned around, leaving Grey's body on the ground. He opened a portal and disappeared.
"Now... well..." Ghelgath mumbled to himself as he stood up from the throne and walked toward Grey's body. Suddenly, a man appeared in front of the body, staring at Ghelgath. He had a long grey beard and his eyes glowed as he spoke. "I've fulfilled the end of our deal... now it's time for you to fulfill yours," the man said.
"Edwin Grey... what brings you here?" Ghelgath said with a subtle smirk.
"What brings me here? I don't have time to play mind games with you, Ghelgath," Edwin said.
"You didn't deliver the boy to me, did you?" Ghelgath said, pointing at Grey, who was still unconscious.
"But wasn't it because of the order I gave to him to return home that you were able to take him?" Edwin said furiously.
"Listen carefully, Roshan, or Edwin as you now call yourself. Our deal was that if you delivered the boy to me, I'd grant you full control over the body you now possess, wasn't it?" Ghelgath asked.
"Yes," Edwin replied.
"Did you deliver the boy to me?" Ghelgath asked.
"No, I didn't, but..."
"There are no buts," Ghelgath cut Edwin's words off. "Our deal is over," he added.
"How dare you!!!" Edwin roared as he pounced forward.
Ghelgath moved with an almost lazy grace, raising a hand. A wall of ice surged up from the ground, blocking Edwin's advance. Edwin smashed through it effortlessly, his body morphing as he charged, his fists turning into massive stone hammers.
With a thunderous roar, Edwin brought his hammers down toward Ghelgath, but the Ice Lord sidestepped, conjuring a spear of ice in his hand. He thrust it forward, catching Edwin in the shoulder. Edwin grunted in pain but shrugged off the blow, his skin hardening into rock to push the spear out.
"Impressive," Ghelgath said, a cold smile on his lips. "But not enough."
Edwin swung a massive fist, his arm elongating and morphing into a spiked club. Ghelgath leapt back, the club smashing into the ground and sending shards of ice flying. As Edwin pursued, Ghelgath retaliated with a wave of frost, freezing the ground beneath Edwin's feet. Edwin slipped but quickly morphed his legs into powerful roots that dug into the ice, anchoring him.
"You'll have to do better than that," Edwin growled, summoning a massive boulder and hurling it at Ghelgath. The Ice Lord shattered it with a single punch, sending icy shards back at Edwin. Edwin raised an arm, morphing it into a shield, but several shards still pierced his stone skin.
Ghelgath's eyes flashed with amusement. "You think brute force will save you?"
With a swift motion, Ghelgath conjured a storm of icicles, each one as sharp as a dagger. They flew at Edwin from all directions. Edwin braced himself, his body morphing into a solid stone fortress. Most of the icicles shattered against his defenses, but a few found their mark, embedding themselves in his limbs.
Edwin roared in pain, his fortress form cracking. He reverted to his normal shape, pulling out the icicles with a grimace. "Enough!" he bellowed, the ground beneath him rumbling as he summoned the full power of his earth magic.
Massive stone pillars erupted from the ground, converging on Ghelgath. The Ice Lord merely chuckled, raising his hands. A barrier of ice formed around him, the pillars smashing against it but failing to break through. With a flick of his wrist, Ghelgath sent a wave of frost through the pillars, freezing them solid before shattering them into countless pieces.
Edwin staggered back, breathing heavily. His body was littered with cuts and bruises, but his resolve was unbroken. He charged once more, his fists morphing into jagged blades. Ghelgath met him head-on, their clash sending shockwaves through the cavern.
Ghelgath took three hits, each one staggering him but failing to stop him. Edwin's fourth blow, a powerful uppercut, sent the Ice Lord sprawling. But before Edwin could press his advantage, Ghelgath's eyes glowed with an intense blue light.
"Enough of this," Ghelgath intoned, his voice echoing with a cold fury. He raised his hand, and a massive ice spike erupted from the ground, impaling Edwin through the chest.
Edwin gasped, his body reverting to its human form as he collapsed to his knees. "You... betrayed me..." he croaked, blood staining the ice beneath him.
Ghelgath stepped forward, his expression cold and unfeeling. "Our deal is over, Edwin. You failed."
With a final, disdainful look, Ghelgath turned away, leaving Edwin to his fate as he walked back to his throne. The blue flames flickered, casting eerie shadows as the glacial cave returned to its quiet, deadly stillness.
"So this is the power of the Dragon Lord," Edwin said as he removed his body from the icicle.
"No, this is just my soul essence," Ghelgath said as he sat back on his throne.
"We'll meet again, Ghelgath. I'll be back," Edwin said as he disappeared.