Chapter 103: Chapter 85: The Abyss of Extreme Cold! The King’s Test!
"Is this the Kingdom of Etel?"
"It seems decent enough."
Hovering high in the sky, Rhode gazed down at the castle below.
The castle bustled with activity, people coming and going along the frost-covered streets. Despite the harsh winter chill, the expressions of the residents were calm, even content.
From this alone, it was clear that Count Ettel, while perhaps not an extraordinary ruler, was at least a competent one.
Rhode had seen countless lords in his travels, many of whom treated their subjects as mere tools for generating wealth. For a noble to ensure their people had food and shelter was already a rare blessing in this world.
His sharp gaze soon locked onto a faint trail of familiar magic.
"Found you, Yulia," he murmured, a hint of amusement in his voice.
A Cold Reunion
Within the castle, Yulia stood, her posture as aloof as ever. She sensed Rhode's approach long before he arrived and greeted him with a frosty glare.
"You vanished for so long," she sneered. "Did you get lost in some fairyland and couldn't bear to leave?"
"There's no such thing as fairyland," Rhode replied flatly. "If you wish to see one, I could show you something similar."
Yulia rolled her eyes, unconvinced. "You speak as if fairylands are your personal garden, accessible at will."
Without further ado, Rhode extended his hand and enveloped her in a swirl of golden light.
When the light faded, Yulia found herself in a realm unlike any she'd seen—a world of black and gold, vast and surreal.
"Is this… Wonderland?" Yulia's disdain turned to astonishment as she surveyed the dreamlike scenery.
"No immortal paradise exists," Rhode said, his tone calm but firm. "Even gods must rely on mortal faith to sustain themselves. If there were a true fairyland, where mortals could live forever, then what need would there be for gods? Such a place would defy their very existence."
Yulia listened in silence, the weight of his words gradually sinking in.
The Cleansing
Though their reunion had been long overdue, Rhode quickly noticed the lingering corruption in Yulia's aura. Without hesitation, he began the exorcism ritual.
One by one, he cleansed the dark energy that had accumulated within her during their time apart. However, as word spread, others in the castle came seeking his aid, forming a line that stretched late into the night.
By the time he finished purifying the last afflicted soul, the sky had turned pitch black.
"Exorcism is truly a taxing chore," Rhode muttered, shaking his head. If not for his immortal body and the tempered proficiency of the Sun Spear, he might have been overwhelmed.
Gossip at the Tavern
Needing a break, Rhode ventured into the local tavern. The warm atmosphere was a welcome respite from the chill outside.
Villagers, flushed from drink, spoke in loud voices.
"Did you hear? His Majesty has raised the difficulty of the test at the queen's suggestion."
"That vile woman again! She's clearly trying to stop the princess from marrying anyone."
"Our wise king, blinded by her poisonous charm… What a shame!"
Rhode smirked at the overheard gossip. The queen's reputation was evidently in tatters. Still, none of it offered him any useful information.
After some idle eavesdropping, he returned to his lodgings to rest.
A Divine Reward
The next morning, Rhode rose early, standing by the window as the first light of dawn crept over the horizon.
"Sign in."
A chime resonated in his mind:
Ding! Sign-in successful!
Reward: God's Grace (Tornado).
Effect: Absolute defense granted by the Supreme God, wielded by the four-winged angel Sariel.
A faint, invisible whirlwind enveloped Rhode's body. Curious, he tested its power by summoning a dark demon spear and attempting to pierce himself.
Shatter!
The moment the spear struck, an invisible force obliterated it. The surrounding air surged violently, the protective tornado reducing the weapon to dust.
"The Grace of the Tornado… Its defense surpasses even the Sun's Grace," Rhode murmured, satisfaction glinting in his eyes.
The King's Test
Later that day, a commotion stirred outside the castle. Rhode watched as armored knights posted a decree at the city gates.
"His Majesty the King has declared: To win the hand of Her Royal Highness, Snow White, one must complete four rigorous trials. Those who succeed will inherit the crown and all of Count Ettel's holdings."
The first test was to retrieve four gemstones hidden within the Abyss of Extreme Cold, a perilous frozen wasteland to the north.
The Abyss of Extreme Cold
Rhode spread his dark wings and soared towards the abyss.
From the sky, he beheld a vast expanse of glacial ice, shimmering like a frozen sea under the sun. The abyss was ancient, shrouded in mystery and legend. No one knew its origins, but its icy grip had endured for millennia.
Four ancient ruins dotted the area, each teeming with monsters—some even of legendary strength.
Rhode descended near the nearest ruin, the massive icebergs glinting ominously beneath him.
"An iceberg that never melts?" he mused, curiosity piqued.
Raising a finger, Rhode summoned the power of the sun. A blazing orb emerged at his fingertip, its searing heat cascading onto the ice.
The flames burned with divine intensity, but the ice resisted, refusing to yield.
"This ice… It's more stubborn than gods," Rhode murmured, intrigued. He extinguished the flames with a wave of his hand, deciding to leave the mystery for another day.
Ahead, the ruins beckoned.
"Time to find that gemstone."
With a powerful beat of his wings, Rhode soared towards the ancient city, the shadows of the abyss closing in around him.
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