The Forsaken Heir's Ascension
Chapter 103: Ice Phoenix Trials: Serpents, Snowstorms, and the Ninth Column

Chapter 103: Ice Phoenix Trials: Serpents, Snowstorms, and the Ninth Column

Pain exploded in his limbs, racking his body.

He screamed.

And burst out from the shadows.

The snowstorm slammed into his face. A bone-deep shudder tore through him. He narrowed his eyes—

Nothing.

Visibility was zero.

Then a voice came from the storm, calm:

"So, I caught a sneaky little mouse in my trap, huh? Good thing we laid one that squeezes shadow users right out."

Alex turned toward the sound, eyes cautious.

The voice came again, smug:

"Don’t bother trying to see. You won’t. We were born in the Ice Domain. This snowstorm? It’s like a child’s play to us."

Alex growled back, "I knew it—you bribed the Umpire to win?"

A scoff.

"Listen to the commoner trash. Why would we bribe anyone when victory is already assured?"

Alex crept slowly through the blinding snow following the sound of the arrogant boy.

"How do you know that?"

The voice rose with arrogant pride.

"Is there even a doubt? We’re from the Ice Phoenix Clan."

Through the swirling storm, Alex spotted the faint silhouette of a boy—standing arrogantly, unaware of how close Alex had gotten.

In one motion, Alex dismissed his dagger and pulled out his spear.

Serpent’s Fang Technique!

The spear struck like a serpent.

Squelch!

Steel met flesh.

The spear pierced the boy’s abdomen clean.

The boy stared, eyes wide in disbelief, as warm blood splattered across the pristine ice.

He screamed, clutching his abdomen. "You—!"

Thud!

He collapsed.

Alex walked past him without looking back.

A voice echoed across the battlefield:

"1—DEFENDER INCAPACITATED."

High above the roaring arena, in the VIP regal booth sealed behind pristine glass windows, sat the Ice Phoenix Matriarch.

The luxurious seating, draped in soft silks and rare furs, was silent compared to the chaos below. From this height, the entire battlefield stretched out like a game board—every movement, every clash, every scream, visible in perfect clarity.

Beside her sat the Principal, composed.

The Ice Phoenix, serene, watched the action below. Her snow-coloured eyes shimmered with intensity.

Without shifting her gaze, she asked softly,

"Is that boy named Alexander?"

The Principal gave a solemn nod. "Yes. He is the talented one."

She didn’t respond and simply watched, her snow-colored eyes twinkling.

Selene’s POV

I crossed into the third column.

The snow wasn’t a hindrance—not yet. But the ice piled above my knees slowed my movement.

Still, something didn’t feel right.

Like some ferocious monster was watching me.

I crept forward, eyes wary. Then—

Something came flying at me from the side.

I ducked instinctively, crouching low.

A sharp gust of wind and snow whipped past, but I saw nothing.

Only the storm howling in the air.

But I felt it.

Something had tried to strike me.

I looked around carefully, every step cautious now. The crunch of ice beneath my boots echoed in the stillness. Then—

It appeared.

A silhouette.

Like a bird—swooping toward me.

This time, slower. I could see it.

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

I immediately stepped aside and rolled on the icy ground.

Thud.

A white panther landed where I had just stood, its body crystal white, its breath steaming in the freezing air.

Then a voice—light, mocking—cut through the blizzard like a blade.

A girl’s laugh.

"Selene, you’ve become sharper."

I gritted my teeth, fists clenched in fury.

"Elena. So it was you."

I drove my elemental energy down through my feet into the ice.

The ground shimmered.

Then—rising from frost—appeared a creature of crystalline beauty: Ice Deer.

I leaned down and whispered into its ear, "Go play with her. I’ll send others to join you soon."

The deer nodded as if it understood. It bounded through the snow toward Elena.

Then I summoned more power. This time, a tiger.

Fast and ferocious.

The tiger appeared, carved of gleaming ice, its breath crackling in the frozen air.

It growled and stood at attention.

I crouched beside it, whispering the same command.

It roared softly, then charged, following the deer’s trail toward our enemy.

From somewhere in the storm, I heard Elena’s furious voice.

"How can you already form the monsters?!"

Her scream echoed like music to my ears.

I smiled grimly and stepped forward to the fifth column.

A voice echoed across the arena:

[1 – DEFENDER INCAPACITATED]

"She couldn’t even put up a fight."

As I stepped into the Zone of the Fifth Column, an immense pressure weighed down on my body.

"Arghh... it feels like a mountain is pressing on me."

I gritted my teeth and began circulating my elemental energy around myself, managing to negate a portion of the crushing force.

My knees trembled as I stood, and I moved forward with great effort.

Crunch.

My foot sank into the ground, all the way up to my knee.

"Ahhh! It’s taking everything I have just to move a little!"

WHISTLE BLEW

"15 MINUTES REMAINING!"

The announcement echoed across the zone. I muttered to myself, "I have to move faster..."

Then a voice came, sharp and arrogant.

"Ice Phoenix Princess, it’s hard to move, isn’t it?"

I turned toward the direction the voice came from, squinting into the foggy, pressure-filled haze. The visibility was terrible.

"It’s my own invention—Ten Times Gravity Trap," the voice bragged again.

My fists clenched.

Are all people from the Ice Phoenix Clan this arrogant? Or was I just never on the receiving end before...?

Then came another sound—crunching ice, but these steps were lighter... faster.

Someone was moving swiftly behind me.

I turned, my heart suddenly lighter when I saw who it was.

He’s here.

A small smile tugged at my lips. Should I call out to him? Or just stay still and let him notice me on his own?

The latter sounded better.

I looked forward and pretended to push on.

Soon enough, Alex appeared beside me.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

I turned toward him.

His eyes... they really are beautiful.

Focus, Selene.

Acting a bit surprised, I replied, "Oh! Alex—yes, I’m okay... I think."

He raised an eyebrow, glanced ahead, and said, "Let’s move. We don’t have much time left, and we’re only halfway through."

He stepped forward, his broad back somehow radiating strength and reassurance.

As he walked, the pressure around me seemed to lessen. I picked up my pace and followed close behind.

Then came that arrogant voice again, slicing through my moment of peace like a blade.

"I’d heard rumors that the Ice Phoenix Princess was following around a commoner. Now that I see it with my own eyes... I feel disgusted, as a member of the Ice Phoenix Clan."

My fists clenched, my nails digging into my palms.

What the hell do you even know about the Ice Phoenix, you bastard?

Another jealous male, chasing me just for my body. That’s all you are.

Oh god, how I wanted to kill people like this—or at least, torture them until they begged for death.

Oddly, with that thought, my anger melted away.

I picked up my pace, moving past Alex without a word.

There he was.

His silhouette flickered behind the icy veil.

I stepped forward, elemental energy surging within me. Lances of ice rose up, whirling mid-air with a controlled spin as I infused more power into them.

Then I lunged.

Snow muffled my movements—I channeled energy through my feet to glide soundlessly.

I didn’t need to hold back. Not for this one.

With a sharp smile, I hurled my lances at him.

He was fast—rabbit-fast—dodging them with skill.

But I wasn’t done.

More lances shot from the snowstorm, like hidden projectiles.

Thud!

Thud, thud, thud, thud—

A relentless downpour of ice.

Then—

Squelch!

"AHHHHHHHHH!"

One found its mark, piercing his thigh. He crashed into the snow, painting the pure white ice a stunning crimson.

My smile widened without me even realizing it. But I didn’t care.

I turned back to look at Alex.

His eyes met mine—wide with surprise.

A strange pride bloomed in my chest.

"Come on, let’s go," I said calmly, stepping forward, taking the lead as we crossed into the Sixth Column.

We moved in sync after that, flowing like a single current. Supporting one another. Together, we passed through the Sixth... the Seventh... Eighth... and Ninth.

With him, everything felt easier.

Almost... enjoyable.

Then, as we reached the edge of the final zone, a loud voice rang out:

"5 MINUTES REMAINING!"

As I stared ahead, a figure emerged through the swirling frost—a girl with short, silvery-white hair, like freshly fallen snow under moonlight.

She held two swords, in her small hands yet emanating a dangerous aura. Their blades gleamed with a chill deeper than the air around us, and their handles were pristine white.

I gritted my teeth instinctively, a familiar fury rising in my chest.

"Diana..." I whispered.

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