[Host has received a gift package upon System initialization. Does host want to open it? Yes/No]
Ren felt a spark of excitement at the system's prompt; the message sounded almost too good to be true.
[As a welcoming gift, the Host is awarded 1 Primordial Points. This ticket allows you to spin a gacha, offering a chance to summon spirit maids, butlers, pets, princesses, queens, and, if luck is on your side, even the Elemental Goddess herself.]
"Wow, this is interesting. Let's test my luck today!"
With ear-to-ear smile spreading across his face, Ren eagerly tapped [Yes] with his fingertip.
*Click*
[1 Primordial Point received.]
[1 Primordial Point used in Gacha spin. Initializing Gacha spin...]
The screen whirred to life like a gacha machine, spinning rapidly through portraits of elegant figures—noblewomen in refined gowns, maids in intricate uniforms, and butlers in stylish attire—all blurring together in a dazzling display as the reel spun vertically at high speed.
Finally with the spinning getting slower and slower, it finally stopped and then he heard the heart slipping System notification.
[Host has received a Legendary level summoning card, The Frost Princess. Does host want to redeem the summoning card?]
[Yes/No ]
[Warning: Notorious nature detected. Host may face challenges in fully subduing the Frost Princess to your wishes.]
A card appeared before Ren, bearing the image of a woman with frost-colored hair, pale skin, and a face divinely sculpted, like a goddess. Several other notifications popped up beside it.
'Notorious nature… subdue her? Now that sounds interesting. But… do I even have a choice here? I don't know when I'll get another summoning card, and with my kingdom in the state it's in… I don't exactly have other options. Plus, she is… very beautiful. *cough* *cough* I mean, pretty.'
"Alright, let's do this!"
As if preparing for a life-altering decision, Ren slowly tapped [Yes]. And then, it happened.
[Initializing the summoning of Frost Princess… 3… 2… 1…]
A blinding light filled the room, followed by a sudden, powerful gust—a freezing blizzard that nearly flung him backward toward the window.
"Hooolllyyyyy moooolllyyyy, what's going on?!"
The freezing wind tore through the room, biting into his skin like a gust straight from Antarctica. After what felt like an eternity, the blizzard finally subsided, though the icy chill lingered in the air.
As the freezing fog finally cleared, Ren should have felt excitement at the sight before him. After all, the immense power radiating through the room belonged to his newly summoned spirit. But instead of any sense of triumph, he found his surroundings nearly encased in ice, transformed by the overpowering presence of the Frost Princess herself.
It might have been bearable if things had stopped there, but whether by sheer misfortune or simply her notorious nature, his situation was far from under control. His legs were frozen solidly to the floor up to his knees, and his hands—gripping the edge of the bed to steady himself—were also encased in ice, trapping him just above his wrists. He struggled against the chill but felt the frostbite creeping deeper into his skin, forcing him to question just what he'd summoned into his life.
What now stood there couldn't just be called a girl but rather a divine entity, sculpted from winter itself, with an innocence that softened her ethereal beauty. Her frost-colored hair cascaded in gentle waves, catching glimmers of silver as it flowed past her shoulders. Her icy blue eyes, though serene and captivating, held a hint of childlike wonder, giving her an unexpectedly gentle aura. She wore a gown of pale blue and white, simple yet graceful, adorned with delicate frost-like patterns that shimmered with each step. A slender silver tiara rested upon her head, and a single blue gem hung from a chain around her neck, catching the light like a frozen droplet. Wrapped in both elegance and innocence, she embodied the chill and purity of winter.
As her consciousness gradually returned, her gaze drifted across the room, taking in her unfamiliar surroundings before finally settling on him.
Her head tilted slightly, her expression one of innocent confusion, like a child staring at an ancient script they were somehow expected to understand. She studied him, seemingly trying to make sense of who he was and why he was there.
Then, as though hit by the force of a thousand asteroids, her eyes narrowed, pupils sharpening to pinpoints in an instant. With a swift, silent *whoosh*, she disappeared, moving so fast that it happened in less than 1/10,000th of a second. The frozen vapor surrounding her lingered in the air, almost as if her presence still held it suspended. But then, as if remembering the pull of gravity, the frosty mist began to drift, slowly falling to the ice-laden floor beneath.
Before the second had even fully passed, she appeared right in front of him, her fist clenched tightly, ready to drive through his chest, her eyes glinting with a fierce, simmering rage.
In that tense, frozen moment, he saw everything with perfect clarity yet was paralyzed, unable to react. Her fist hovered, but instead of striking, she leaned in close, her icy breath grazing his ear as she whispered,
"Your mana core... looks like it's just waiting to be crushed."
Her words left his mind blank—not from the freezing cold, but from pure fear. With the memories of this body's original owner, he understood just how valuable a mana core was.
In this world, the mana core was like a second heart. Instead of pumping blood, it circulated mana throughout the body. If it was damaged or destroyed, a person would be left weak, like someone who'd lost nearly all their blood. They'd be unable to use magic ever again and would spend the rest of their life far more vulnerable than an ordinary person.
Her fist connected with his body, but to his surprise, he neither shattered nor had a gaping hole in his chest. For a moment, he felt whole—until the truth sank in, and his world seemed to crumble.
An intense, icy pain radiated from his crippled mana core, as if it had been plunged into the coldest depths imaginable. He could feel it freezing over as her powerful, chilling mana seeped into him.
"Aaaahhhh!"
It was then that he fully understood the excruciating pain the former owner of this body, Ren Valtheria, had endured for months. His mana core had been constantly penetrated and drained, used as a pure mana generator, day and night, until it finally collapsed completely. The thought alone made his blood run cold as he realized the torment that had been forced upon him.
After what felt like an eternity, the unbearable pain gradually faded, replaced by a strange sensation that made his head spin. His mana core, once crippled, was now flooded with an icy mana that felt unlike anything he had ever felt before. It wasn't just cold—it was as if the essence of frost itself had taken root within him. The mana flowed through his body, moving through his veins with an eerie familiarity, like it was his own, but at the same time, something foreign.
As the minutes passed, a deep calm began to settle over him—too calm, almost unnaturally so. It wasn't just relief from the pain; it was a heavy, soothing peace that seemed to envelop him completely. A feeling of satisfaction, almost like a reward, washed over him. It was as if he had emerged victorious from a long, exhausting battle, sinking into warm water after defeating a powerful enemy. Despite the strange, overwhelming cold that still lingered, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment, as though something had changed within him, something powerful yet unsettling.
'What the f**k!!!'
As Ren slowly regained his senses, his mind short-circuited from the overwhelming sensation of something soft and squishy pressing against his face. The familiar scent—the same one he'd inhaled when the Frost Princess leaned in before what seemed like a punch—flooded his senses.
It didn't take long for him to realize his position. His face was buried in her bosom, and her hand was wrapped tightly around his back, holding him close as though she were a mother clutching her child in a less-than-ideal situation.
___________________________
(A/N: Hey, wonderful readers! I hope you're enjoying the journey so far.
I know it has been pretty long since the last chapter because I was not in good condition because of some health problem.
Your feedback means the world to me, so please drop a comment to share your thoughts, theories, or what you'd like to see next! Consider donating power stones if you feel generous and want to support my work.
They help me keep the creative juices flowing and bring you even more exciting content. I appreciate your support.)