Reborn as the Last van Ambrose-Chapter 129: Ice Sentinels

The tunnel’s upward slope gradually leveled out, opening into a wider chamber. The temperature, already frigid, dropped even further. Grim’s breath no longer just clouded before him but crystallized entirely, tiny ice particles falling from the air where he exhaled.

"Be ready," Bi’an warned in a low voice. "The sentinels will be waiting for us."

They had barely taken three steps into the chamber when the air shimmered around them. What Grim had mistaken for ice formations along the walls began to move. Figures detached themselves from the frozen surfaces, stepping forward.

The Ice Sentinels of Ao Shun stood before them—tall, humanoid creatures with skin so pale blue it was nearly translucent. Beneath their skin, Grim could see the faint outline of veins, appearing to be formed from different densities of ice. Their eyes were completely white, without pupil or iris, and seemed to glow.

Five sentinels had materialized, each holding a weapon formed entirely of ice—spears and curved blades. Despite being made of Ice. They moved as if they were humans. Nothing was rigid, everything looked smooth when they walked.

"Travelers," one of the sentinels spoke, its voice resonating like ice cracking on a frozen lake. "You trespass in the realm of Lord Ao Shun, Dragon King of the North Sea."

"We come in peace," Bi’an replied, stepping forward. "I am Bi’an, fourth son of Ao Guang, Dragon King of the East Sea. This is my brother Suanni, eighth son of Ao Guang. We seek audience with our uncle." freёweɓnovel.com

The sentinel’s white eyes narrowed as they shifted to Suanni. "You bring fire to the realm of ice. This is an affront to Lord Ao Shun."

"The fire was necessary to repel a frost behemoth that attacked us," Suanni explained. "We meant no disrespect to your lord."

The sentinel’s gaze moved to Grim, and the temperature seemed to drop another few degrees. "You bring a human into the sacred depths. Another transgression."

"This human is under our protection," Bi’an said firmly. "He assists us in an important matter concerning all the sea realms."

The lead sentinel stepped closer to Grim, leaning down to study him with those unsettling white eyes. Grim met its gaze steadily, refusing to show discomfort despite the painful cold radiating from the creature.

"A human, one with a stormg affinity for water." the sentinel observed, a note of surprise in its crystalline voice. "But he is still human. Lord Ao Shun has forbidden anyone in his domain since the dispute with your father."

"The dispute that remains unresolved after a century," another sentinel added, contempt evident in its tone.

Bi’an’s expression hardened. "We are aware of the tensions between our father and uncle. However, I invoke the Ancient Right of Passage for Royal Blood. Even in times of disagreement, the bloodline of the dragon royalty may travel the four seas on matters of importance."

The sentinels exchanged glances, a silent communication passing between them. The temperature fluctuated as they deliberated, ice crystals forming and melting on the chamber walls in response to their shifting emotions.

"The Ancient Right cannot be denied," the lead sentinel finally acknowledged, though it sounded displeased. "But it extends only to dragon-kin. The human has no such protection."

"He travels as our companion," Suanni interjected. "Under dragon law, that extends our protection to him."

"Only if you claim full responsibility for his actions," the sentinel countered. "Do you, sons of Ao Guang, claim responsibility for this human in the realm of Lord Ao Shun?"

"We do," Bi’an stated without hesitation.

Grim glanced at Suanni, surprised by the easy acceptance of such responsibility. Claiming accountability for another’s actions was no small matter.

"Very well," the sentinel said, its voice like grinding ice. "We will escort you to the lower audience chamber, where you may request formal passage to Lord Ao Shun’s court."

"Lower audience chamber?" Suanni questioned. "Royal visitors are traditionally received in the upper halls."

The sentinel’s mouth curved in what might have been a smile on a human face, but on its features appeared more like a crack spreading across ice. "Times change, son of Ao Guang. The royal visitors from the East Sea are no longer granted direct access to Lord Ao Shun’s presence. The lower audience is all that is available to you."

Bi’an bristled visibly, but kept his tone controlled. "We accept your escort."

The sentinels moved to surround them—two in front, two behind, and the leader to one side. As they formed this arrangement, Grim noticed their weapons subtly changing shape, growing longer and sharper.

"Follow," the lead sentinel commanded, turning toward a previously hidden passage that opened in the chamber wall.

As they walked, Suanni moved closer to Grim. "The lower audience chamber is typically reserved for common petitioners," he explained quietly. "Directing us there is a deliberate slight."

"Will it affect our ability to find Jiaolong?" Grim asked.

"It will delay us, at the very least," Suanni replied. "And place additional obstacles in our path."

The passage they followed sloped downward, taking them deeper into the frozen realm rather than toward its central palace.

"Your uncle seems to have a different philosophy than your father," Grim observed quietly.

Bi’an nodded. "Ao Shun believes in strength above all. Where my father seeks balance between the seas and the human realm, our uncle believes the waters should rule over land-dwellers, not coexist with them."

"Don’t forget the steam buns," Suanni added, with the barest hint of humor in his voice.

One of the sentinels turned its head sharply. "You would do well to speak with more respect of matters you do not understand, fire-bringer."

They continued in silence after that, the passage growing narrower and colder. Strange formations of ice appeared along the walls. Spikes started to grow out the wall as they passed.

The passage eventually opened into a much larger space—a vast cavern with a high ceiling supported by columns of ice. The floor sloped gently toward a central depression filled with dark water that steamed in the freezing air. Around this pool, more ice sentinels stood.

But what drew Grim’s attention were the figures standing in niches along the walls—or rather, frozen within the walls themselves. Human figures, mostly, though some appeared to be other sea creatures he couldn’t identify. And the other bodies that Grim could make out, Grim didn’t recognize what they were. Each was perfectly preserved in clear ice, their expressions fixed in moments of terror or pleading. Some appeared to have been frozen for centuries, while others looked more recent, their clothing still recognizable as modern.

"What is this place?" Grim asked, unable to keep the shock from his voice.

"The Hall of Trespassers," the lead sentinel answered, a note of pride evident in its crystalline voice. "Those who enter Lord Ao Shun’s domain uninvited or who violate our laws are preserved as reminders of his justice."

Grim studied the frozen figures more carefully. Some appeared to have been attempting to flee when the ice took them; others kneeling down trying to surrender. All of them, however, shared the same wide-eyed expression of someone facing their final moments.

"They’re still alive, aren’t they?" Grim realized with growing horror.

The sentinel’s icy smile widened. "In a manner of speaking. The ice of the North Sea preserves them perfectly. They do not age nor do they die. Some have been contemplating their transgressions for millennia."

"This is not justice," Suanni said quietly. "This is cruelty."

"Your opinion was not requested," the sentinel replied coldly. "Remember that you walk here only by the Ancient Right."

They were led to the edge of the central pool, where an ornate chair formed entirely of ice stood on a raised platform. No one sat there, but the sentinels arranged themselves around it as if an invisible presence occupied the seat.

"You will wait here," the lead sentinel instructed. "A representative of Lord Ao Shun will attend to your petition when it pleases him to do so."

Without further explanation, the sentinel moved to join its companions at the edges of the room, becoming almost indistinguishable from the ice formations around them.

Bi’an turned to Grim and Suanni, keeping his voice very low. "We are being deliberately delayed. They will make us wait long enough to be uncomfortable."

"How long might that be?" Grim asked.

"Hours," Suanni replied. "Perhaps a day."

Grim looked again at the frozen figures in the walls—humans who had trespassed, now trapped for eternity in conscious ice. A chill that had nothing to do with the temperature ran through him.

"And if this representative denies our request to see Ao Shun?" he asked.

Bi’an’s expression was grim. "Then our pursuit of Jiaolong becomes significantly more complicated."

"Could we continue without permission?" Grim pressed.

Suanni glanced meaningfully at the frozen trespassers. "Only if you wish to join them."

The three of them fell silent. In the center of the pool, the dark water began to stir slightly, small whirlpools forming on its surface.

The water in the pool rose up, forming a column that gradually took shape. It looked similar to the ice sentinels but more refined. It began to glow bright blue before settling. It shifted from ice, to water, and settled when it turned to what looked like a human.

"I am Xu Wu," the ice figure announced, its voice deeper and more resonant than the sentinels’. "First Minister to Lord Ao Shun, Dragon King of the North Sea." Its cold gaze swept over them. "State your purpose in the realm of ice, sons of the East... and human." He crossed one leg over the other and rested his head on the palm of his face as he tilted his head.

The way it said "human" made the word sound like a disease.