Immortal Ice Empress: Path to Vengeance

The darkness enveloping Mira slowly lifted, revealing a monumental sight.

An immense mountain loomed before her, its peak obscured by a thick blanket of clouds, shimmering faintly with hidden energies.

This colossal structure was the Ascendance Zone, where trials upon trials awaited those daring to ascend.

Mira, standing at the base of the mountain, could barely fathom its massive scale. The atmosphere here was dense with ancient power, the air crackling subtly with latent energy.

It was clear that every inch of this mountain, from the rocky soil underfoot to the unseen peak above, was steeped in mystery and danger.

Suddenly, Mira sensed immense danger coming from above and subconsciously slipped into her Progenitor Form, her Qi flaring wildly as she disappeared from her position.

*BOOOOOOM!*

A massive, fiery meteor crashed into the ground where she previously stood, creating a giant crater and reducing everything around it to dust.

'What the fu-?!' Mira glared at the sky, only to see a giant Earthen Wyvern circling above her head. To make matters worse, it was a Mid-Stage Rank 9 Beast!

She didn't even have the time to be shocked as the thing dropped another two meteors on her head.

'This fucking…' Killing intent leaked out of Mira's eyes. She activated her Paragon Wings and shot in another direction at speeds that made her seem like she was teleporting.

*BOOOOOOM!**BOOOOOOM!*

The ground around her erupted from the violent collisions, nearly sending her spiraling from the impact alone. However, she remained steady and took out her scythe, ready to counterattack.

Surging Primal Energy into her icy-blue tail, she increased the strength of her ice by 400% before coating her Scythe in it.

With a fierce glare directed at the looming Earthen Wyvern, Mira swiftly contemplated her next move.

Drawing from the torrential wellspring of energy within, Mira sought to channel and consolidate the raw, dynamic power of her Progenitor Form into something more focused and devastating.

She could sense the streams of elemental Qi within her — cold as the deepest winter and sharp as the most refined blade.

As she circled through the air, dodging yet another meteor hurled by the indignant Wyvern, inspiration struck her like a lightning bolt.

'What if I could combine the destructive cold of my ice with the unyielding hardness and cutting edge of a diamond? Then, build off of that?' She pondered rapidly.

Without a second's delay, Mira began refining her understanding and control of her Progenitor Form's energy. She channeled the icy Qi into her scythe while simultaneously infusing it with another layer of condensed Earth energy, making it hard and unyielding, akin to a precious diamond.

The air around the scythe began to distort as the temperatures plummeted to extremes, and the weapon itself started to gleam with an ominous, cold light.

With an audible snort, Mira lunged towards the Earthen Wyvern. Her newly empowered scythe traced an arc of freezing light through the air, releasing a shockwave of cold so intense that the very atmosphere seemed to solidify and crack under its influence.

The Wyvern roared, sensing the incoming threat, and attempted to evade the devastating strike. However, Mira's speed and precision, enhanced by her Progenitor Form, along with the beast's massive size, left no room for escape.

With a thunderous crash, the scythe connected with the Wyvern's tough hide.

To Mira's satisfaction, the hide that could withstand meteors and elemental onslaughts showed signs of damage under her scythe's cold, hard bite. It wasn't much, but she was already proud that she could damage such a creature.

Mira didn't relent; her eyes flickered with determination as she wielded her scythe, driving it deeper into the Wyvern's hide with each successive strike.

Each movement was fluid and precise, a dance of absolute control and unleashed power, as she tapped further into her Progenitor Form's potential.

It wasn't long before the once mighty Earthen Wyvern roared with dissatisfaction and took off in another direction, not bothering with this annoying yet powerful prey.

Mira didn't try to chase after it as she was slowly forced back to the ground, possibly due to some restrictions within the Ascendance Zone.

After landing on the ground, she canceled her Progenitor Form, swapped back to her Hybrid, and took a few deep breaths.

Although that battle was short, it was exhausting, considering she had to use every ounce of power just to make it leave.

'Haa… What a grand welcome.' She sighed, shaking her head as her expression became indifferent.

With a determined glare set towards the summit of the imposing mountain, Mira began her ascent, her every step deliberate and cautious.

The terrain was treacherous, offering not a moment of reprieve, with jagged rocks and unstable ground awaiting the unwary.

An oppressive aura enveloped the area, thick and suffocating, bearing the weight of thousands of years on top of her.

Mira could sense the energies swirling and colliding around her, akin to invisible, turbulent currents that sought to impede her progress.

Nevertheless, after her recent upgrade, she wouldn't be stopped by something like this, especially when she had to face something like the Abyssal Torment Steps.

As she climbed higher, the challenges grew more potent and numerous. Hidden pitfalls appeared without warning, releasing bursts of elemental energy, while mysterious creatures emerged from the crevices and caves, eyes glowing with hunger.

Each presented a trial of its own, a testament to the endurance and wit of the climber, demanding Mira to tap deeper into her wellsprings of strength and cunning.

However, even for a cultivator of her caliber, there was a limit to what she could handle alone.

Just as she crossed a particularly dangerous ledge, a roar that seemed to shake the very heavens and earth resounded through the mountain, sending shockwaves of terror and anticipation through every fiber of her being.

Turning her gaze upwards, Mira's eyes widened with shock and a flicker of dread as she beheld a colossal creature descending from the higher reaches of the mountain. It was a massive White Tiger, something she never thought she'd see here.

Its presence was awe-inspiring, an embodiment of primal might and elemental fury, and its eyes - oh, those eyes - bore into her very soul with a gaze as ancient and unfathomable as the stars themselves.

A Rank 10 beast stood before her, casting its enormous shadow upon the precarious path. It was a creature of legends, and Mira could sense the vast chasm of power that lay between them.

Faced with such an insurmountable adversary, doubt and uncertainty began to creep into Mira's heart, casting their chilling tendrils upon her resolve. She was powerful, yes, but against a Rank 10 beast? The odds seemed insurmountably stacked against her, even with her Black Tail.

'Not that I have that much lifespan to expend anyways.' Mira released a bitter chuckle, realizing that her strongest trump card wasn't useful in this situation. 'Just my fucking luck, huh.'

Yet, just as the atmosphere grew tense with impending conflict, a familiar and comforting energy signature brushed against Mira's senses. It was like a gentle breeze amidst a raging storm, a beacon of light within the oppressive darkness.

With a flash of brilliant light, a figure appeared beside Mira, standing tall and graceful.

Ash-colored hair cascaded like a silvery waterfall over her shoulders, framing a visage of serene beauty and undeniable strength. Amethyst eyes, deep and knowing, surveyed the surroundings before settling on Mira with a mixture of relief and sternness.

"Aelina…" Mira muttered with a hint of relief. She didn't want to do something irreversible, after all.

However, the woman didn't look much different compared to before they entered, making Mira a bit confused, but she didn't comment on it.

"Seems like you've landed yourself in quite the predicament, Mira," the Sect Master of the Battle Maiden Sect observed with a hint of amusement and concern. Her gaze shifted towards the looming Rank 10 beast, acknowledging its presence with a nod. "Wow~! A Rank 10 beast this time? You're truly skilled at making enemies! What'd you do to make it so angry? Piss on its children or something?"

Mira almost face-palmed, but her expression remained indifferent. She scoffed at her questions. "Nothing. I was just existing."

"...Makes sense." Aelina nodded without much thought.

"..."

With a smirk, Aelina directed her gaze back towards the colossal White Tiger that had been silently observing their exchange. The air around it seemed to ripple with suppressed energy, and its eyes glinted with a mixture of curiosity and primal ferocity.

"Quite a magnificent creature, isn't it?" Aelina commented nonchalantly, though her eyes bore into the beast with unyielding intensity. "But as splendid as it is, I have no interest in fighting this beast."

With a subtle gesture of her hand, Aelina exuded an aura that washed over the surroundings like a silent, tranquil wave. It was a gentle yet commanding energy, brushing against the colossal beast's consciousness with the softness of a feather yet carrying an undeniable imperative.

The White Tiger stared at Aelina for a few breathless moments, its eyes narrowing as if scrutinizing the woman before it.

Then, as if acknowledging something unspoken, it gave a slight nod before turning away. With a graceful leap that belied its immense size, it disappeared into the upper reaches of the mountain, leaving the two women alone on the precarious ledge.

Mira blinked, watching the retreat of the formidable Rank 10 beast with confusion. "What did you…"

Aelina interrupted with a knowing smile, "Sometimes, strength isn't displayed through brute force, Mira. But I guess you could say that it acknowledged its defeat before the fight could begin."

Before Mira could ask what she meant, Aelina gave a subtle smile and began walking. "Let's get away from here. We wouldn't want that kitty to come back, now would we?"