Way of the Knights

Chapter 354 - Frozen Thoughts

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The tunnel that Raven chose had an upward slope. He continued walking until he eventually reached the end, arriving at another open space and seeing five more tunnels. 

Raven chose the middle tunnel and found himself on an upward slope once more. He once again ended up at an open space with five more tunnels but this time, something was different. 

*Whew*

As Raven exhaled, he saw that his breath had turned into white mist as soon as it left his mouth. He wasn't bothered by the coldness of this place at first but as he moved from room to room, the temperature is constantly dropping. 

This scenario occurred five more times until the moment Raven was expecting, finally arrived. 

*Rumble*

The whole tomb trembled, snowflakes fell from the ceiling and cracks started appearing on the floor. Raven sighed and watched how his breath turned into white mist. He then shook his head and sat on his knees. 

The rumbling around him intensified but instead of searching for a safe place to hide, Raven decided to remain calm since he already had an idea of what's going to happen. He took out an hourglass and placed it beside him. He then closed his eyes and waited for the moment to come. 

*Whoosh!* *Whoosh!*

Out of nowhere, the winds inside the tomb kicked in and the temperature started dropping at a dangerous pace. Raven dropped all of his defenses down and allowed the winds to assault his entire being. 

While it doesn't make sense why would a fearsome gale of frost occur inside a closed space, no one's in the position to question it since he's also intruding the tomb of an Emperor. 

The freezing winds blew non-stop, and Raven did nothing to protect himself from it. His body instinctively shivered as he felt the biting cold assaulting his body. He sank into a deep meditation and let everything happen naturally. 

As time went on, Raven's body was freezing in a visible pace. Frost started accumulating on his body and his complexion was turning paler and paler. Eventually, he was completely frozen from head to toe. His heart stopped beating and his blood was completely frozen solid. Any human touch would literally cause him to become snowflakes, that's how vulnerable he is right now. Eventually the freezing winds stopped and everything sank back into silence, only there's one more ice sculpture inside the tomb. 

It was safe to say that Raven's in a cryostasis right now. He's not really dead, but he absolutely could not move or even defend himself right now. 

With the permission from the Ice Emperor himself, the Everlasting Snow Sect placed an Ascension Platform in this tomb, giving anyone who comes here a chance to join their sect should the pass a certain trial. 

The said trial is simple. Search the Ascension Platform, once someone arrives there, their sect would be notified and they'll contact the prospective disciple. But of course there is a catch, how can an Ancient Sect just allow anybody to reach the ascension platform and join them? 

Once a day inside the tomb, an ancient art will be casted. This art will cause everything inside to be frozen from inside out. This Ancient Art is named Breath of Absolute Frost, and is one of the most prized possession of the sect. 

This art is not meant to kill any trial challenger, it is a test. This art will freeze them for a period of time, which depends on how long they have stayed inside the tomb. After the Freezing Period is over, the tomb will enter a Thawing State, and this is when the trial challenger will be thawed and would be able to move once again. 

The Breath of Absolute Frost is not meant to be resisted. It doesn't matter how much resisting a trial challenger does, the breath won't stop until they're frozen. Resisting will only cause them to be exhausted since they will just be delaying the inevitable, plus their are also taking risk of actually dying since exhaustion will cause them to become unconscious, and once they embraced the sweet touch of sleep, they'll never wake up. 

Staying active inside the tomb for one day to one week, will cause them to be frozen by the art for a whole day. One week to less than a month, they'll be frozen for an entire week. More than a month to less than three months, they'll be frozen for two weeks. More than three months to less than six, they'll be frozen for an entire month. More than six months to less than a year, they'll be frozen for two months. 

Staying active for more than one year inside the tomb, will cause the challenger to be frozen for six months straight.

Which means that Raven could move just fine for a whole day, but once the day is over he'll freeze. He then had to wait until he's thawed to move again, this is the cycle for the first week. Next week, he'll be able to move for a whole day, then freeze for an entire week, wait until he's thawed and move again. 

This is what makes the Frozen Tomb dangerous. The Breath of Absolute Frost is irresistible, and even if it doesn't mean to kill anyone, just being inactive for a long time will cause anyone to lose themselves and fall to an eternal sleep. 

Rushing ahead is not a good choice either since the ancient art accelerates its casting time depending on how fast one moves, a speed limit of some sorts. Raven had no idea how the conversions work for that but it's enough to pass the message. 

Endure.

This is what the sect wants for it's challengers to do. They want someone who's will is tough enough to endure being frozen for long periods of time while keeping their consciousness intact. 

If this was any other day, Raven would've been completely fine taking his sweet time inside this place. Having knowledge of how this place works and knowing himself, this place isn't threatening to him at all. But it just so happens that he's in a tight schedule. 

His next destination, the Sun Temple of the East, only appears during the 9th hour of the 9th day of the 9th Month. This only happens once a year and the temple will only show itself for five minutes before disappearing.

It is currently the 3rd month of the Lunar Calendar. He had to hurry since he also have to consider how much time it will take for him to arrive at the location of the temple. 

Unfortunately, he couldn't blitz through this place due to the restrictions. He even found himself wondering if his decision to go through this place first was the correct decision. It might've not been a bad idea to go to the east first and wait until there until it appears, get the thing he needs there and come here. 

But he's already here at the Frozen Tomb so there's nothing he could do. 

'I'm really missing home way too much huh…' He thought while he's immersed on deep meditation. 

Raven couldn't help but sigh inwardly as he realized this. Ever since he saw Luna and his friends, he had this urge to ran back home and rest. 

It's not like he's not used to loneliness since that's literally what he felt during majority of his previous life. He could endure loneliness just fine, but since this is his new life, it raises the question 'Why should he feel lonely?' 

Unlike his previous life, everyone he knew and loved are alive. He didn't have to hold back in showing his affections. There's no reason for him to feel regret and feel alone anymore since they are all alive and well. He could be selfish and stay with them for long periods of time, but he also knew that doing this will just place them in danger. 

He really want to spend more time with them, but the situation won't just allow it. He can't afford to rest, because the moment he does, he will lose them all once again. 

Raven vowed, never again. He swore that he will not lose them again. 

The pain and suffering he felt during his past life, he doesn't want to go through all of that again. He had lost count on how many time he had nightmares about that event and how many sleepless night he had to endure just because they won't stop. This was the most difficult Inner Devil to get rid of.

Even if no one blamed him for what happened, he still felt responsible for their deaths. He couldn't even kill himself even though wanted to since he wanted to honor the last words of his parents. They wanted him to live on. 

Which is why in this new chance he was given, he will gladly take charge and responsibility. Anything to keep them away from harm, even at the cost of his own self, he would do it without looking back. 

He promised himself that he's not letting them out his grasp, ever again. Raven had the knowledge and materials to make sure that he could achieve his goals. All he need is time and effort. 

'Being a Knight is being responsible. I'll carry the burden of the entire world just to make sure that you guys will be safe.. That is my way.'