The radius of the giant sacrificial ground is as long as one kilometer. Each of the silvery moonstone floor tiles is engraved with intricate runes, and a thin layer of frost covers them like a glittering and translucent veil.
The cylindrical walls are smooth-hewn rocks, fixed by hideous ice.
A faint beam of light projects down from the translucent ice-colored dome. At the center of the sacrificial ground is an iron-colored giant sword covered with frost. The blade is pointing downward and deeply inserted into a stone disk. Four chains connected to the rock walls are wound around the blade and the hilt, and the surfaces of the chains are also covered with frost.
Beneath the long grayish-white cloak, the fair and delicate little feet, which were red from the cold, were making a splashing sound as they walked across the frost on the moonstone surface.
It took Daphne quite some effort to finally reach the giant sword named "Winter's Lament". The one-kilometer journey was extremely arduous for her, and the inside of the newly acquired cloak was completely soaked.
Fortunately, the warming effect of the snow velvet cloak belonged to the realm of magic. Constantly absorbing the cold air around basically meant that an invisible mini air conditioner was turned on beside her, which could protect Daphne from severe frostbite.
In the game, "Frostbite" was just a negligible debuff, but in reality, it might lead to necrosis and amputation.
Daphne's skin was fragile, delicate, and sensitive. Without the snow velvet cloak, she probably wouldn't dare to step out of that secret room. It was really too cold outside.
The place under her feet was the battlefield where players fought against the "Mortal Incarnation of Alsuga", the final boss of the "Frozen Mausoleum of Alsuga" dungeon.
After passing through all the previous levels and arriving here, Alsuga would condense his will into a physical incarnation, draw out the "Winter's Lament", and engage in battle with the players.
After defeating his incarnation, the giant sword would return to the stone disk.
This didn't mean that players could completely defeat Alsuga. As the God of the Dead and the King of the Ice Tomb, Alsuga was immortal. He would be resurrected again and again, and only his will-condensed incarnation would fall.
Daphne had entered through the back door, so naturally, she couldn't trigger the boss battle. Moreover, it wasn't yet the time of the Final Dusk, and Alsuga was still sleeping soundly. If a mosquito flew over at this time, he would probably be too lazy to bother with it.
However, today Daphne was going to take a bite right on the forehead of the King of the Ice Tomb, giving this great God of the Dead a big bump.
She put the amulet necklace around her neck, stuffed the gold coins into the inner pocket of the cloak, and then showed the ring on her index finger.
The black-purple gem immediately established a faint connection with the frost-covered giant sword, and a wisp of dark green smoke drifted like silk.
"I request an audience—" Daphne deliberately raised her voice, but even so, her voice was still sweet and delicate, "Great King of the Ice Tomb, Alsuga!"
The moonstone floor tiles under her feet began to tremble violently, and the four chains wound around the "Winter's Lament" broke one by one.
The whole ground suddenly sank by an inch.
Daphne noticed that within a radius of about five hundred meters centered on the stone disk, the moonstone floor and the surrounding area had sunken and become misaligned. It turned out that the center of this sacrificial ground was a huge elevator.
What was going to happen next was a sight never seen in "COG". Daphne couldn't help but feel bothexpectation andmentally disturbed in her heart.
No player had ever seen the true form of the King of the Ice Tomb. However, the violence and hatred shown by his mortal incarnation were enough to leave a deep impression on every player.
The descent process was long, and the surroundings were pitch-dark, with a cold air lingering around.
As the elevator continued to descend, the faint light from above seeped into this underground space. After several reflections, it actually illuminated this place as bright as day.
There was ice everywhere.
Everything Daphne could see was light blue, hard ice. Even the intense sunlight of the solar corona couldn't melt them. This land and this mountain range stood firm relying on the ice layer that filled the crust of the extreme north.
Ice tomb.
This word was really fitting.
The sleeping place of Alsuga was indeed a tomb made of endless ice.
When the elevator finally reached the bottom, the slight feeling of weightlessness made Daphne feel a bit dizzy. It took her a few seconds to regain her composure.
The "Winter's Lament" that was deeply inserted into the stone disk trembled twice and suddenly dispersed into light blue light particles and disappeared. Those light particles flew all the way as if they were guiding Daphne forward.
Daphne looked around. The vast expanse of ice was endless, and the unseen areas were all deep and dark.
It seemed that she could only follow and walk forward to have a look.
When she came to the dividing line between the moonstone floor and the ice permafrost layer, the ice here was so pure that it could even be used as a mirror. Daphne could clearly see her own reflection.
She was still not quite used to being such a beautiful girl. She even felt a bit shy when looking in the mirror.
But that wasn't the point. The point was, was she really going to step on the ice barefoot?
Daphne hesitated. She could already feel the biting cold just by standing here. If she stepped directly on it, she might get stuck to the ice surface and couldn't even tear herself off.
The light blue light particles swayed up and down as if urging Daphne to hurry up.
"Let's give it a try first." She stretched out her small, round toes that were like pearls and gently touched the surface of the ice permafrost layer. "Hmm, surprisingly... it's only a little cold?"
Daphne really underestimated the cloak on her body. If it said there was no feeling of cold, then there was really no feeling of cold. No wonder everyone said that the fewer the words, the stronger the effect. It seemed to be the truth.
With that, she felt relieved and took a step forward. Daphne successfully stepped onto the ice permafrost layer and followed the floating light particles forward.
Heavy breathing sounds.
Daphne subconsciously turned around.
But she saw nothing. The ice field behind her was still empty and vast.
The ice layer in front was no longer smooth. Several deep gullies that were almost as tall as two people crossed continuously. Daphne estimated that she couldn't climb out if she got in, and the width was not something a weak woman like her could jump over.
Were these... claw marks?
Seeing this scene, Daphne couldn't help but gasp.
The heavy breathing sounds came from behind again. The biting frost wind of the winter flowed in this inhalation and exhalation, and crystals of frost also formed in the dark red hair of the half-blood girl that was floating in the air.
"Despicable half-blood, who allowed you to put on my fur?"
Deep and hoarse, accompanied by heavy breathing, just like the panting sound when a wild beast shows hostility.
The question was filled with anger and ferocity.
It seemed that if the answer didn't satisfy it, she would be torn to pieces in an instant.
Even without turning around, Daphne knew that the one standing on all fours and looking down at her from a high position behind her was Melville, the leader of the once Snowy Plains Gray Wolf pack and the mount of Alsuga, the King of the Ice Tomb.
Those deep claw marks were left by it. Legend had it that Melville's body was as huge as a mountain, and it was its breath that brought the eternal night winter to the Northlands.
Daphne raised her right hand and showed the ring to the rear. The black-purple gem was particularly conspicuous in this land full of ice.
"I want to see your master, not you." Her voice also became low.
"Lowly beast."