Chapter 22
Leaving the Desert
The golden desert slowly faded behind them.
For many days, the endless dunes had been their only world.
Wind carried warm sand across the land like waves in a silent ocean.
But that world was now behind them.
Ran and Mariya walked across a narrow stone path that led toward the north.
Behind them, the ancient Wind Temple stood half buried beneath the desert sands.
Its blue energy still glowed softly under the setting sun.
The temple had finally awakened after centuries of silence.
But its awakening had also revealed a dangerous truth.
There were more temples.
Much more.
Four ancient temples were said to exist across the world.
Each one guarded a different elemental power.
Wind.
Fire.
Ice.
And Sky.
The Wind Temple had chosen Mariya.
But the Guardian Spirit had warned them before disappearing.
The next temple was hidden far away.
Deep within the Frozen Mountains.
A place where storms never stopped.
A place where the cold could freeze even the strongest warrior.
Ran adjusted the strap of his sword on his back as he walked.
The road ahead looked long.
Mariya looked back one last time.
The desert wind brushed gently against her face.
"It feels strange," she said quietly.
Ran looked at her.
"What does?"
She looked at the glowing crystal in her hand.
"The temple's power."
"It's like… the wind is always with me now."
The crystal gave off a soft blue light.
Ever since the temple awakened, Mariya could feel the movement of the wind everywhere.
The air whispered to her.
The desert breeze carried distant sounds.
Sometimes she could even sense danger before it arrived.
Ran smiled slightly.
"That sounds useful."
Mariya laughed softly.
"Yes… but also a little overwhelming."
She looked toward the distant horizon.
Dark clouds were forming far away.
Beyond them were forests and mountains.
The north.
Where their next journey waited.
Ran stopped walking for a moment.
He looked at the sky carefully.
The wind direction had changed.
The warm desert air was slowly becoming colder.
"We should move faster," he said.
"The temperature is dropping."
Mariya nodded.
They continued their journey.
The desert ground slowly changed into rocky terrain.
Small hills appeared.
Then dry grass.
Then patches of trees.
By the second day, the desert was completely gone.
Green forests stretched across the land.
Tall trees swayed gently in the cool wind.
Birds flew through the sky above them.
It felt like a completely different world.
But something still felt strange.
Mariya could feel it.
The wind here was different.
It was colder.
Sharper.
Like it carried secrets from the distant mountains.
On the third day of travel, they reached a small mountain village.
Snow had already begun falling lightly.
The villagers looked surprised to see travelers coming from the desert.
Ran and Mariya stopped near a small wooden inn.
A group of villagers gathered nearby.
One old man stepped forward.
His beard was covered in snow.
"You two came from the south?"
Ran nodded.
"Yes."
"We're heading north."
The villagers exchanged worried looks.
The old man shook his head slowly.
"Then you should turn back."
Mariya frowned.
"Why?"
The old man looked toward the distant mountains.
They were barely visible through the clouds.
"Because the Frozen Mountains are waking up."
The wind suddenly grew stronger.
Snowflakes began swirling through the air.
The old man's voice became serious.
"Strange things have been happening there."
"Snowstorms appearing out of nowhere."
"Creatures made of ice roaming the forests."
Ran and Mariya looked at each other.
Ice creatures.
That confirmed something important.
The Ice Temple must be nearby.
Ran spoke calmly.
"We have to go there."
The villagers looked shocked.
"You don't understand," the old man said.
"No one returns from those mountains anymore."
Mariya stepped forward confidently.
"We will."
The old man stared at them for several seconds.
Then he sighed.
"Then at least stay here tonight."
"The mountain storms are dangerous after sunset."
Ran nodded.
"That sounds wise."
That night, the wind outside the village howled loudly.
Snow fell heavier and heavier.
Ran sat near the fireplace inside the inn.
He sharpened his sword quietly.
Mariya stood near the window.
The snowstorm outside was growing stronger.
But through the swirling snow she could see something.
Far away in the distance.
A shadow rising above the clouds.
A massive mountain range.
The Frozen Mountains.
Her crystal suddenly glowed softly.
The wind whispered around her.
A cold voice seemed to echo through the storm.
Something ancient had noticed them.
Something hidden deep within the mountains.
Mariya stepped away from the window.
"Ran."
He looked up.
"What is it?"
She spoke quietly.
"I think the Ice Temple already knows we're coming."
Ran stood up slowly.
He placed his sword back on his belt.
"Then we shouldn't keep it waiting."
Outside, the snowstorm continued growing stronger.
Far away across the frozen mountains…
Unknown eyes were already watching Then
Entering the Frozen Mountains
Morning arrived slowly in the small mountain village.
The storm from the night had finally calmed down.
Fresh snow covered the entire village like a white blanket.
The rooftops of the wooden houses were buried under thick layers of snow.
Thin smoke rose from chimneys as villagers started their daily work.
Inside the small inn, Ran woke up early.
He stepped outside and took a deep breath.
The air was extremely cold.
Much colder than the desert winds he was used to.
His breath turned into mist.
He looked toward the horizon.
And there they were.
The Frozen Mountains.
Huge jagged peaks rising into the sky like ancient giants.
Their tops were hidden behind thick gray clouds.
Even from far away they looked intimidating.
Dangerous.
Mariya soon joined him outside.
She wrapped her cloak tightly around herself.
"It's freezing," she said with a small laugh.
Ran nodded.
"It will only get colder from here."
The crystal in Mariya's hand gave off a faint blue glow again.
Ever since the Wind Temple awakened, the crystal reacted to powerful energy.
And right now…
It was reacting strongly.
Mariya looked toward the mountains.
"I can feel something there."
Ran followed her gaze.
"The Ice Temple?"
"Maybe."
"But it feels… alive."
Before they could talk more, the old village man approached them again.
He carried a thick fur cloak.
"You'll need this," he said, handing it to Mariya.
"These mountains don't forgive travelers who are unprepared."
Mariya smiled kindly.
"Thank you."
The old man looked at them seriously.
"Be careful."
"The storms are not the only danger in those mountains."
Ran raised an eyebrow.
"What else is there?"
The old man lowered his voice.
"Creatures."
"Ice wolves."
"Frozen spirits."
"Some people even say an ancient guardian protects the mountain temple."
Ran and Mariya exchanged a quick glance.
That confirmed their suspicions again.
The Ice Temple was definitely real.
After thanking the villagers, they prepared for the journey.
Their path quickly left the village behind.
The forest became thicker.
Tall pine trees covered with snow surrounded them.
The sound of their footsteps crunching through the snow echoed softly.
At first the journey felt peaceful.
Sunlight reflected off the snow.
The air smelled fresh and clean.
But the deeper they walked into the mountains, the colder it became.
The wind slowly began howling between the cliffs.
By afternoon, snow began falling again.
The path started becoming difficult to see.
Ran walked ahead carefully.
"Stay close," he said.
"These paths can disappear quickly."
Mariya nodded.
Her crystal suddenly pulsed again.
A stronger glow than before.
She stopped walking.
"Wait."
Ran turned around.
"What happened?"
Mariya looked around slowly.
The wind had changed again.
The snowflakes were moving strangely.
Like something invisible was controlling them.
Then she heard it.
A whisper.
Very faint.
Almost impossible to understand.
But it came from the wind itself.
Ran noticed her expression.
"You hear something?"
"Yes."
"What?"
She looked toward a narrow mountain valley ahead.
"Something is watching us."
At that exact moment—
A loud CRACK echoed through the mountains.
Both of them looked up instantly.
Snow slid off the cliffs above them.
The ground trembled slightly.
Ran grabbed his sword.
"That didn't sound natural."
Then they heard it.
A low growling sound.
Deep.
Animalistic.
The sound echoed through the snowy forest.
Mariya slowly turned toward the trees.
A pair of glowing blue eyes appeared in the darkness.
Then another pair.
And another.
More shadows moved between the trees.
Ran tightened his grip on his sword.
"Looks like the villagers were telling the truth."
The creatures stepped out into the open.
Massive wolves made entirely of ice.
Their bodies looked like frozen crystals.
Cold mist escaped from their mouths as they breathed.
Their glowing eyes stared directly at Ran and Mariya.
There were at least six of them.
Ice Wolves.
Mariya whispered quietly.
"These must be the Frozen Beasts."
The largest wolf stepped forward.
It let out a terrifying howl.
The rest of the wolves spread out around them.
They were surrounding their prey.
Ran slowly drew his sword.
Blue Guardian energy glowed across the blade.
"Well…"
He stepped forward calmly.
"Let's welcome ourselves to the Frozen Mountains."
The first wolf attacked instantly.
It leaped through the air with incredible speed.
Ran swung his sword.
CLANG!
The blade collided with the creature's icy claws.
Ice shards exploded across the snow.
But the wolf landed smoothly and attacked again.
Another wolf rushed toward Mariya.
She raised her crystal.
A gust of wind blasted forward.
The wind pushed the creature back across the snow.
But the wolves were fast.
And they were not afraid.
The leader wolf howled again.
The entire pack attacked at once.
The peaceful forest suddenly turned into a battlefield.
And this was only the beginning of the Frozen Mountain trials.
Battle with the Ice Wolves
The frozen forest had turned silent for a brief moment.
Snowflakes drifted slowly through the cold mountain air.
But the silence didn't last long.
The leader of the Ice Wolves let out a deep, terrifying howl.
The sound echoed through the mountains like a warning.
Then suddenly—
The wolves attacked.
Two Ice Wolves rushed toward Ran at incredible speed.
Their icy claws cut through the air like sharp blades.
Ran moved instantly.
His sword flashed with blue Guardian energy.
CLANG!
The first wolf's claws collided with his blade.
The impact sent shards of ice flying in every direction.
The second wolf jumped from the side, trying to strike his back.
Ran quickly spun around.
SLASH!
His sword cut across the creature's icy body.
The wolf crashed into the snow, sliding several meters away.
But it didn't stay down.
The creature slowly stood up again.
Cracks formed across its frozen body.
Then the cracks sealed themselves with new layers of ice.
Ran frowned slightly.
"They can regenerate…"
Another wolf leaped high into the air and attacked from above.
Ran jumped backward just in time.
The wolf slammed into the ground where he had been standing.
Snow exploded across the forest floor.
Meanwhile, Mariya was surrounded by two other wolves.
She raised the crystal in her hand.
The wind around her suddenly began spinning.
"Wind Shield!"
A powerful gust of wind exploded outward.
WHOOSH!
The wolves were pushed back several meters.
But they quickly regained their balance.
These creatures were not ordinary beasts.
They were guardians of the Frozen Mountains.
The leader wolf slowly walked forward again.
Its glowing blue eyes focused on Mariya's crystal.
Almost as if it recognized the energy.
The wolf growled deeply.
Then it charged again.
Ran rushed forward to intercept it.
Their movements were incredibly fast now.
Ran swung his sword with powerful strikes.
Each clash echoed through the snowy forest.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Ice claws and steel blade collided again and again.
Finally Ran gathered energy into his sword.
The blue glow became brighter.
"Guardian Slash!"
He swung the blade with full power.
BOOM!
A shockwave of energy blasted forward.
The leader wolf was thrown across the snow.
Its icy body shattered into dozens of pieces.
The other wolves suddenly stopped attacking.
For a moment they looked confused.
But then something strange happened.
The shattered ice pieces began moving.
The fragments slowly gathered together again.
Within seconds—
The wolf rebuilt itself.
Ran sighed.
"Well… that's annoying."
Mariya laughed slightly.
"Looks like this fight won't be easy."
Suddenly the wind changed again.
A stronger snowstorm began forming around them.
The snow in the forest began swirling rapidly.
The wolves howled loudly.
But then something unexpected happened.
A sharp blue flash cut through the snowstorm.
One of the wolves suddenly froze solid.
Ran and Mariya both looked up.
Someone was standing on the rocky cliff above them.
A tall warrior wearing armor made from ice crystals.
A glowing spear rested in his hand.
His eyes were calm but powerful.
The warrior jumped down from the cliff.
He landed between Ran and the wolves.
The snow beneath his feet froze instantly.
The wolves backed away slightly.
As if they respected him.
The warrior pointed his spear toward the pack.
"That's enough."
His voice was strong and cold like the mountain wind.
"You've tested them long enough."
The wolves slowly stepped back.
Their glowing eyes still watched Ran and Mariya.
But they did not attack again.
Ran lowered his sword slowly.
He looked at the mysterious warrior.
"Friend or enemy?"
The warrior turned toward them.
For a moment he studied both of them carefully.
Then his gaze stopped on Mariya's crystal.
His expression changed slightly.
"So it's true…"
"The Wind Temple has chosen a new guardian."
Mariya looked surprised.
"You know about the temples?"
The warrior nodded slowly.
"My name is Aarav."
"I am the protector of the Frozen Mountains."
He pointed his spear toward the distant mountain peaks.
"And the guardian of the Ice Temple."
Ran smiled slightly.
"Then we finally found the right place."
But Aarav's expression remained serious.
"You found it…"
"But you may already be too late."
The wind howled loudly across the mountains again.
Dark clouds gathered above the frozen peaks.
Something dangerous was approaching the Ice Temple.
Arrival at the Ice Temple
The cold wind roared across the mountain valley.
Snow continued falling around them like white ash drifting from the sky.
Ran slowly lowered his sword.
The Ice Wolves had stepped back into the forest shadows.
Their glowing blue eyes still watched from a distance, but they no longer attacked.
Standing between them and the wolves was the mysterious warrior.
Aarav.
His armor shimmered like frozen crystal under the pale mountain light.
The spear in his hand glowed faintly with icy energy.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
Only the wind moved through the trees.
Finally Ran stepped forward.
"So you're the guardian of this place."
Aarav nodded calmly.
"These mountains have been under my protection for many years."
His gaze shifted toward Mariya's glowing crystal.
"The Wind Temple chose you."
Mariya held the crystal tightly.
"Yes."
"We awakened it in the desert."
Aarav looked toward the distant mountain peaks.
Then he spoke slowly.
"Then you must already know what is happening."
Ran crossed his arms.
"The other temples are awakening."
Aarav nodded.
"The Ice Temple is next."
He turned and pointed toward the mountains.
Through the falling snow, the massive peaks of the Frozen Mountains could now be seen clearly.
One mountain towered higher than the others.
Its summit was hidden in swirling clouds.
"That mountain," Aarav said.
"The Ice Temple lies inside it."
Mariya stared at the distant peak.
Even from far away she could feel a powerful energy coming from it.
Cold.
Ancient.
And alive.
Her crystal glowed brighter again.
"The temple is reacting to us."
Aarav's expression became serious.
"Yes."
"But that is not the only reason."
Ran looked at him carefully.
"What do you mean?"
Aarav's voice lowered.
"Because something else has already entered the mountains."
The wind suddenly howled louder.
Snow began swirling across the valley.
Mariya felt a chill that had nothing to do with the cold.
"You mean…"
Aarav nodded.
"Victor."
Ran's eyes narrowed.
"So he came here first."
Aarav began walking toward the mountain path.
"You should follow me."
"If Victor reaches the temple's core…"
"Everything in these mountains will freeze forever."
Ran and Mariya quickly followed him.
The path became steeper as they climbed higher.
Snowstorms became stronger.
Sharp icy winds cut across the mountain cliffs.
Several hours passed as they climbed deeper into the Frozen Mountains.
The forest slowly disappeared.
Now only ice-covered rocks surrounded them.
The sky had grown darker.
The air became extremely cold.
Even breathing felt difficult.
Finally Aarav stopped walking.
They had reached a narrow ridge between two cliffs.
He pointed forward.
"Look."
Ran and Mariya stepped closer.
Through the falling snow they saw something incredible.
A massive frozen structure carved directly into the mountain.
The Ice Temple.
It looked ancient.
Gigantic pillars of blue ice supported the temple entrance.
Huge statues of warriors stood on both sides of the gate.
Their bodies were carved from frozen crystal.
The entire temple glowed with soft blue light.
Mariya whispered in amazement.
"It's beautiful…"
But Aarav's face remained serious.
"Something is wrong."
Ran immediately noticed it too.
The temple's energy felt unstable.
The blue light flickered strangely.
As if something inside the temple was disturbing it.
Then suddenly—
The ground trembled.
A deep rumbling sound echoed from inside the mountain.
Snow slid down the cliffs around them.
Mariya looked toward the temple entrance.
"I can feel it…"
"The Ice Spirits are waking up."
At that exact moment—
Blue lights appeared in the air around the temple.
Dozens of glowing figures slowly formed from the snow.
Spirits made of ice and wind.
Ancient guardians of the temple.
The Ice Spirits had awakened.
They floated silently around the temple gates.
But instead of attacking—
They turned toward Mariya.
Their glowing eyes focused on her crystal.
One spirit slowly moved closer.
Then another.
Soon dozens of spirits surrounded her.
Ran stepped forward protectively.
But Aarav raised his hand.
"Wait."
"They're not enemies."
The spirits bowed their heads slightly.
A deep ancient voice echoed through the frozen valley.
"The Wind Guardian has arrived."
Mariya looked surprised.
"They recognize the temple energy."
Aarav nodded.
"Yes."
"The temples are connected."
But before anyone could say more—
A dark shadow moved across the snow near the temple entrance.
Ran immediately turned.
"Did you see that?"
Aarav's expression turned grim.
"Yes."
His grip tightened on his spear.
"We are not alone here."
Far away near the temple gates…
A group of dark figures moved silently through the snow.
Soldiers wearing black armor.
And standing in front of them…
A tall figure surrounded by dark energy.
Victor.
He slowly looked toward the mountain ridge where Ran, Mariya, and Aarav stood.
Even from that distance, they could feel his presence.
Victor smiled faintly.
"So… the guardians finally arrived."
Ran tightened his grip on his sword.
The next battle was about to begin.
The war for the Ice Temple had started.
And the Frozen Mountains would soon witness a battle that could shake the entire world.