The snowstorm gradually subsided, and the night on the icefield became silent. Jack, Sarah, Tom, and Eric peeked out from their makeshift shelter. The faint blue glow still flickered throughout the abandoned city, the runes lingering on the walls like ghosts, seemingly waiting quietly for them to come.
"It's about time. We need to keep moving," Jack said softly. He put away the crystal and looked at the others. Sarah nodded, and Tom and Eric said nothing, swiftly gathering their supplies before setting out again on their dangerous and unknown path.
They slowly traversed through the ruins. Around them were shattered stone walls and snow-covered ground. It was evident that this had once been a grand city, but now, only ruins remained. With each step, they could feel a mysterious force watching them, as though it emanated from beneath the ground, hidden and majestic.
Sarah suddenly stopped, her eyes caught by a distant light. The glow was different from the surrounding blue light—it was a radiant ice-blue, more pure and more mysterious.
"What's that?" Sarah pointed in the direction of the light, her voice filled with curiosity.
Jack followed her gaze and saw that the light seemed to come from a building half-buried in snow. The structure was more intact than the other ruins, appearing to be some sort of temple. Its entrance was carved with intricate runes that glowed faintly with an ice-blue light.
"Maybe it's an altar… or some kind of ceremonial site," Eric guessed hesitantly, uncertainty in his eyes. They had witnessed the mysterious power of these runes before, and this discovery could mean danger, though it might also hold critical information.
Jack nodded. "We have to take a look inside. There might be something here we need."
They cautiously approached the building. The entrance was flanked by tall, imposing stone pillars, and the glowing runes gave the entrance an otherworldly feel. Jack went ahead and pushed open the partially ajar stone door, and a gust of cold air rushed at them. Inside, the world was silent and deep, like a sanctuary isolated from the outside.
Entering the building, the sight made them hold their breath. It was a spacious hall, with a massive ice altar standing at its center. Suspended above the altar was a blue crystal, slowly rotating and emitting a soft glow. Around the altar, the walls were covered with runes and ancient carvings depicting what appeared to be ritual scenes.
"These murals…" Sarah approached the wall, studying the ancient carvings. "They depict some kind of sacrificial ritual, as if people were praying to some being."
"The Ice God," Tom whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "They were worshiping the Ice God… or trying to awaken it."
Jack frowned and looked up at the crystal in the center. He had a sense that it was somehow connected to the Heart of Annihilation they had found earlier. The crystal emitted the same blue light, yet it conveyed a sense of deep cold, as though it embodied the power of the entire icefield.
"This crystal… it could be the core of these runes and the power of the icefield," Jack said quietly, moving closer to the altar. As he approached, he felt a growing pressure, an invisible force seemingly trying to keep him away.
Eric gripped his flashlight tightly, his gaze wary as he scanned the surroundings. "Are you sure we should do this? That thing doesn't feel right."
Jack didn't look back. His instinct told him that this crystal was crucial. He had to understand its purpose, find a way to solve the mystery. Slowly, he reached out, and as soon as his fingertips touched the crystal, a rush of icy power surged into his body.
He felt a wave of dizziness. Countless images flashed through his mind—scenes of people performing rituals in the snow, whispers echoing in his ears, as if trying to communicate something. He struggled to make sense of the images but found his vision blurring and his body freezing.
"Jack!" Sarah shouted, rushing forward to pull him back.
Jack snapped out of it, collapsing to the ground, his forehead covered in cold sweat. He panted heavily, staring at the floating crystal, shock evident in his eyes.
"It was… showing me memories of the past," Jack said softly. "Those people… they tried to control the power of the Ice God, but they failed… This crystal is the core of that power."
Sarah supported Jack, her gaze fixed on the crystal. "So… can we use it? Can it help us find a way out?"
Jack shook his head. "I'm not sure… but we have to try. Maybe it can lead us to the real answer."
Eric and Tom exchanged glances. Though they were filled with fear and uncertainty, they knew they had no other option but to continue following Jack and Sarah, pursuing the secrets of the runes and the Ice God to find a way out.
"Maybe we can use the Heart of Annihilation to neutralize the power of this crystal," Tom suggested suddenly. "Like we did before. Maybe it can weaken the Ice God's influence over us."
Jack nodded. He pulled out the Heart of Annihilation, its blue glow shining brightly in the light of the altar. He moved slowly toward the floating crystal. The Heart began to emit a low hum, as if resonating with the power of the crystal.
As the Heart of Annihilation approached the crystal, the runes around the altar began to flicker, and the blue light grew increasingly dazzling. The entire hall was filled with a strange energy, the whispers growing more urgent, as though resisting their actions.
"Get closer!" Sarah shouted, holding onto Jack's arm tightly.
Jack took a deep breath and extended the Heart toward the crystal. The moment his fingers touched the crystal, a surge of energy burst out between them, and the blue light in the hall became blinding. The runes twisted and struggled under the force of the energy.
Suddenly, a massive shockwave erupted from the crystal, sending the three of them crashing to the ground. Jack felt intense pain, but he also sensed that the oppressive force in the air was beginning to dissipate. The whispers started to fade.
When the light finally dimmed, Jack forced his eyes open and saw that the crystal had lost its glow, hanging silently in midair without emitting any energy. The runes around the altar had also dulled, as if they had lost their source of power.
"Did we… succeed?" Sarah asked, gasping for breath as she got to her feet.
Jack nodded. Though his body still ached, he could tell that they had temporarily suppressed the power. He stood up and looked at Eric and Tom. "We need to leave this place now. The crystal has lost its power, but I don't know how long it will last."
Eric and Tom nodded. They quickly gathered their gear, preparing to leave the mysterious building. They knew this was only a temporary victory—the power of the Ice God still lurked deep within the icefield, and their journey was far from over.
"We keep moving. We have to find Anna. We can't give up yet," Jack said determinedly, his gaze unwavering.
They stepped out of the building, under the starry night sky of the icefield. The wind had stopped again, and the world seemed peaceful and profound. But Jack knew that beneath this tranquility lay an even deeper darkness. They had to find hope in that darkness and face the unknown challenges ahead.