Immortal Ice Empress: Path to Vengeance

Chapter 756 Prime Disciple Competition: Portal

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As chaos raged on the human side of the fallen barrier, deep within the heart of the beast territory, a significant ritual was underway. At the center of this ritual was a vast lake, its waters shimmering with an iridescent hue, surrounded by ancient stones carved with runes. The beasts called it the Lake of Ascendancy, the very nexus of their realm.

In a semi-circle around the lake, twelve elder beasts chanted in unison, each representing a specific element of the world. Their voices intertwined, harmonizing in an eerie yet enchanting symphony, which was both a plea and a command to the powers that be. They were attempting to open the Secret Realm, an event they referred to as the Primal Ascendance Convergence.

The Wyrm, a great elder and the guardian of the beasts' secrets, hovered over the center of the lake. As the chants grew in volume and intensity, and the Qi increased in density, the lake's waters began to swirl, creating a colossal vortex. At the core of this whirlpool, a portal started to form, crackling with energy and revealing glimpses of a world beyond.

Lunara, a majestic Firebird draped in flames of gold and crimson, turned to the Naga Serpent, Vhal. "The Primal Ascendance Convergence must succeed. We may never get a chance like this again."

Vhal, his scales reflecting the azure luminescence of the lake, nodded solemnly. "We've waited too many years for this. Everything is in place. We must seize this chance to enhance our strength, especially now with the barrier broken."

However, not all was going as planned. Disturbances from the ongoing battle were causing disruptions in the flow of energy. Every time a beast fell, the elders felt a jolt, throwing off the delicate balance required for the ritual.

A sudden explosion echoed through the realm as Aelina's massive lightning bolt destroyed the barrier. The shockwave disrupted the chant, causing a massive backlash of energy. The elders struggled to maintain the ritual, and the portal at the lake's center became unstable.

"NO!" The Wyrm roared, his voice filled with desperation. He plunged into the vortex, attempting to stabilize the portal with his immense power.

A gust of icy wind blasted the area as a Glacial Seraphhound named Freyja stepped forward. Her howl, imbued with Qi, merged with the elders' roar, bolstering their strength.

Yet, the portal continued its rapid destabilization, pulsating erratically and threatening to implode.

The Earthen Equus Leader, Gorun, stomped his hooves, summoning earthen barriers to shield the elders from the imminent explosion. "We must retreat!" he yelled.

However, Lunara, her eyes filled with determination, spread her wings and flew directly above the vortex. "Together!" she cried out, "Our realm, our legacy, depends on it!!"

Heeding her call, the beasts united in spirit and power, sending their energies to the faltering portal. The vortex, reacting to their combined strength, began to stabilize slowly.

The battle outside, the human's invasion, the broken barrier - everything seemed distant as the beasts focused solely on the Convergence.

As moments turned into what felt like hours, a brilliant light erupted from the lake, consuming the entire realm. When it subsided, the portal stood firm, revealing the Secret Realm - a place of untold power and potential.

The Wyrm, now on the opposite side of the portal, nodded in approval. "The Primal Ascendance Convergence is complete."

Lunara descended gracefully beside Vhal, her wings retracting and flames subsiding. The once tumultuous scene around the Lake of Ascendancy had been replaced with a serene stillness, the gentle ripples on the lake reflecting the myriad stars of their realm.

"It's done," Vhal whispered, the weight of their accomplishment heavy in his voice.

Lunara nodded, her gaze fixed on the shimmering portal. "It is. But our true challenge begins now."

Vhal gazed at the lake's gentle waves before he looked off into the distance, his thoughts veering toward the oncoming human invasion. "Tsk. Damn humans! Their audacity knows no bounds!"

Hearing his words, the others remembered that they were being invaded right now and turned solemn. 

However, most of them were unable to leave since they had to ensure that the portal remained stabilized while also providing a constant stream of energy to it. Only after all the beasts who were worthy enough entered the Primal Ascendance Convergence would they be free from their duty.

But, because of the humans, they were now behind schedule. 

"What should we do about them?" Gorun asked, breaking the silence.

"..."

Truthful, they didn't know. They could send out a few more Rank 10 beasts, or even all of them, but they all understood that was hardly a solution. 

If they just needed to take care of the disciples from the human side, another few Rank 10s would be more than sufficient. However, the real problems were the Sect Masters.

Alexander and Aelina were within the Top 5 strongest humans on the Continent. They wouldn't go down without a fight, which would take way too much time and cost too many lives in the process.

Divine Sea Realm and Rank 10 existences were akin to walking catastrophes, and now that the Divine Sanctum Barrier was destroyed, there was very little left to protect their homes and Clans.

A fight with them, this close to their home, along with the very reason for their immense strength, was the worst possible outcome.

"I'll deal with her." The Wyrm suddenly spoke up, his voice slow and ancient. 

They turned to him, a bit surprised, but didn't dare to argue with him. As the strongest among them, his word was law.

"Keep the portal stabilized. I'll return as soon as possible. Make sure all the Clans and their cubs are ready to enter by the time I get back."

"Understood!"

As The Wyrm prepared to depart, his massive form began to morph and reduce, shifting into a sleeker, human-like figure – a form easier for combat and negotiation. The others watched him, a mix of hope and concern in their eyes. They were well aware that this wasn't just a battle of strength; it was a battle of ideals, of worlds, and of understanding.

Before leaving, The Wyrm turned to Lunara. "If they seek to understand, offer them that chance. But if they threaten our existence, do not hesitate to protect our legacy."

Lunara nodded, her fiery eyes reflecting the weight of the responsibility. "We will safeguard our realm and hope they can see reason."

The Wyrm then glanced at Vhal, the trusted Naga Serpent, his gaze deep and unwavering. "Keep them together. Unity is our strength now more than ever."

With a final nod, The Wyrm surged forward, leaving a trail of residual Qi in his wake, moving towards the battlefront and the oncoming clash with the human Sect Masters.

Back at the lake, the beasts worked diligently, stabilizing the portal and readying their clans. But with The Wyrm's departure, an undercurrent of unease threaded through the air. 

***

On the human front, Alexander, with his broadsword gleaming, sensed an overwhelming surge of power approaching. "So, he's going to show up, after all," he muttered, his battle-hardened eyes narrowing.

Beside him, Aelina, her robes fluttering, responded, "The Wyrm. I've heard tales, but never did I imagine we'd stand face to face."

Alexander smirked. "Ready for a dance with the legendary Elder?"

Aelina chuckled, her fingers sparking with residual electricity. "Always."

But as The Wyrm approached, he did not immediately attack. Instead, he halted a few meters away, his eyes scanning both Alexander and Aelina, along with the other three. "Why have you come to disrupt our sacred ritual? Is the greed of humans truly boundless?"

"Hmph!" Alexander snorted, not fazed by the immense power of the Wyrm, "No need to act all high and mighty. We, humans, might be greedy, but aren't you the same? You really want to keep this entire Secret Realm to yourselves? Isn't that a bit much?"

The Wyrm, now in its human form, standing at over 3 meters tall, stared down at them with narrowed eyes.

'Seems like somehow this information was leaked.' He concluded. However, now wasn't the time to deal with that.

"We had our reasons." The Wyrm replied with a shake of his head, "But I'm sure you don't care about them. What you want is access to it, correct?"

Alexander, Flora, Ghost Reaper King, and Damon all nodded while Aelina crossed her arms, staring at the beast.

"Very well," He nodded, shocking them to the core.

'Huh? Was it really that easy?' They all thought, including Aelina, but they instantly became skeptical.

"I'll even allow you and your disciples to loot the place dry and kill as many of my subjects as you want. That is, if you can."

"This will be the last time, anyways…" He added, causing their expressions to change, despite not knowing what he meant.

With a wave of his hand, a wave of Qi swept across the battlefield, freezing every human and beast in their place, stopping the conflict. 

None of the Sect Masters reacted as they didn't feel any hostility from the Wyrm, just annoyance, reluctance, and acceptance.

"Now, let's cease this useless conflict and follow me. It's about time to enter the portal." He turned around and walked back into his home. 

Simultaneously, every beast on the battlefield, whether they wanted to or not, followed behind him without question.

Aelina and the other Sect Masters looked at each other for a moment, confusion clear in their eyes. They were taken aback at how lightly the Wyrm treated this situation but were a bit disturbed at how easily it took control of the situation.

With a shrug, Aelina assumed her usual smile and caught up to the Wyrm, followed by the four others.

Whether this was a trap or genuine, they would figure it out after they entered the place.