Reborn as the Last van Ambrose-Chapter 130: Dragon King of the North Sea

Xu Wu studied them with his emotionless eyes. His posture was relaxed but his gaze was intensely focused on Grim. "So, sons of Ao Guang, you claim to pursue your wayward brother through my lord’s domain without prior permission or formal announcement."

"The circumstances required swift action," Bi’an replied. "There was no time to ask for permission."

Xu Wu’s expression remained impassive. "And yet you had time to collect a human companion. Curious, where your priorities are."

"The human is essential to our mission," Suanni interjected. "He has faced Jiaolong before."

"Has he indeed?" Xu Wu’s eyebrow arched slightly. "How interesting that a mere human would survive such an encounter."

Grim met the minister’s gaze steadily. "I wouldn’t describe it as surviving so much as postponing an outcome."

A flicker of something... perhaps amusement crossed Xu Wu’s face before vanishing. "Well stated." He rose from his seated position. "Lord Ao Shun will decide your fate. Follow me, and touch nothing. The North Sea does not welcome uninvited guests."

He led them away from the Hall of Trespassers. The frozen faces in the walls seemed to watch their departure with desperate, pleading eyes.

The passage beyond sloped upward, growing steadily colder as they ascended. The ice formations in the walls became more elaborate. Intricate patterns spread across the walls like frozen lace.

"The North Sea archives," Xu Wu explained. "History preserved in ice. More accurate than your scrolls and considerably more durable."

Grim studied the images as they walked. Dragons commanding vast armies of sea creatures, creating devastating storms, and freezing entire fleets of ships.

The passage widened into a grand corridor lined with columns of clear ice. Inside each column, Grim could see sea creatures suspended. Some looked familiar, and some he couldn’t tell what they were. Unlike the trespassers in the hall below, these specimens appeared to be scientific samples rather than punishments.

"My lord has an interest in all forms of sea life," Xu Wu commented, noticing Grim’s attention. "His collection spans a millennia."

The temperature continued to drop as they climbed higher.

Without comment, Suanni moved closer to Grim, the heat radiating from its body created enough warmth for Grim to be comfortable. Xu Wu noticed this but said nothing, merely quickening their pace.

After what seemed like hours of walking through increasingly elaborate ice passages, they arrived at a massive set of doors formed from a material that resembled ice.

"The outer chamber," Xu Wu announced. "Prepare yourselves to address Lord Ao Shun with proper respect. The Dragon King of the Northern Sea does not tolerate impertinence."

The doors swung open silently despite their enormous size. Beyond lay a vast, circular chamber carved from what appeared to be a single massive glacier. The ceiling soared hundreds of feet overhead, coming to a point like an inverted mountain. The walls were smooth and polished so well you could see everything in the room like they were mirrors.

What struck Grim most was the emptiness of the space. Unlike the elegant palaces of the Celetis Empire, with their elaborate decorations and displays of wealth, this chamber was almost entirely bare. No furniture, no ornaments, no attendants bustling about. Only a raised dais at the far end of the room, upon which sat a simple throne of ice.

And on that throne sat Ao Shun.

The Dragon King of the Northern Sea had assumed a form that was neither fully dragon nor fully human, but something in between. He stood at least twelve feet tall. His skin was covered in scales that looked like polished silver. His eyes were vertical pupils, and horns of crystal-clear ice came from his forehead and curled back over his head.

As they approached, Grim noticed the air around Ao Shun was significantly colder than the rest of the chamber.

"Nephews," Ao Shun spoke, his voice resonating like ice cracking over a frozen sea. "You enter my domain unannounced, bringing fire and human flesh into my sanctum. Explain yourselves before my patience freezes entirely."

Bi’an stepped forward and performed a formal bow.

"Honorable Uncle, Dragon King of the Northern Sea, Master of Ice and Storm, we come seeking your wisdom and assistance. Our brother Jiaolong has fled our father’s authority and causes harm in realms where he has no right to tread."

Ao Shun’s expression remained impassive, but the swirling ice around him intensified slightly. "And this concerns me how? The disciplining of Ao Guang’s offspring is hardly my responsibility."

"Jiaolong passed through your realm, Uncle," Suanni said. "We tracked him out of duty to our father."

"This is the human you drag through my domain?"

Grim met the Dragon King’s gaze despite the discomfort. The ice in his eyes seemed to pierce through him.

"Introduce yourself, human," Ao Shun commanded. "Few of your kind have ever stood before me."

"I am Grim van Ambrose, Imperial Defender of the Southern Shores. I encountered Jiaolong when he brought destruction to human settlements under my protection."

"Ambrose," Ao Shun repeated, the word forming ice crystals in the air before him. "That bloodline has interfered in dragon matters before."

With a casual gesture, Ao Shun extended his hand. The ice floor before Grim suddenly liquefied, the water rising up to form a perfect sphere hovering at eye level. Within the sphere, Grim could see his own reflection, but as he watched, the image shifted, becoming the face of an older man.

"The resemblance is... unfortunate," Ao Shun commented. With another gesture, he closed his hand, and the water sphere instantly froze solid before shattering into thousands of tiny fragments that tinkled to the floor.

"Why have you brought this human to me?" Ao Shun asked his nephews. "If you seek my aid in disciplining your brother, you choose poor companions to plead your case."

"The human has water affinity, Uncle," Bi’an explained. "Stronger than most of his kind. He was able to survive confrontation with Jiaolong."

"Water affinity." Ao Shun’s tone was dismissive. "A candle claiming kinship with the sun."

With a sudden, fluid movement, Ao Shun rose from his throne. The ice storm around him intensified, small shards cutting through the air.

"Show me," he commanded Grim. "Demonstrate this... affinity."

It wasn’t a request. It was a test with the clear implication that failure would be unpleasant.

Grim centered himself and just stared at Ao Shun.

"Celestial Mist: Ethereal Mist," he said quietly.

Mist began to seep from Grim’s body.it slowly began to cover the entire room.

Ao Shun’s eyes narrowed as he observed the technique. Without warning, he extended his hand toward Grim, not touching him but clearly probing with his power.

"Interesting," the Dragon King said. "Three mana hearts. But, two of them can hold much more mana than they should be able to." His gaze intensified. "The Celestial Mist techniques. My brother has been too friendly."

The mist around Grim dissipated as Ao Shun’s power pressed against it.

"Where did you learn this?" Ao Shun demanded.

"It is my family’s sword art," Grim replied. "Passed down through generations."

Ao Shun leaned back in his throne, his expression unreadable. "Your family. Of course." He made a dismissive gesture.

"Now, tell me why I should not simply freeze the three of you where you stand for trespassing in my domain without proper invitation or announcement."

"Because Jiaolong has stolen something from you, Uncle," Bi’an said quietly. "Something he should never have been able to access."

For the first time, Ao Shun’s expression changed. His eyes narrowed.

"Explain," he commanded, and the single word caused ice to form on Grim’s eyelashes.

"We have reason to believe Jiaolong entered your realm with purpose, not merely passing through," Suanni said.

"And what would you know of such matters?" Ao Shun’s voice was dangerously soft.

"Only what we observed in our pursuit," Bi’an replied carefully. "He knew where he was going within your realm."

A heavy silence fell over the chamber. The temperature dropped so low that Grim could feel his skin beginning to crystallize. Even Suanni’s natural heat seemed to struggle against the intense cold.

"If what you suggest is true," Ao Shun finally said, "then our conversation must continue. But not here."

He rose once more, and this time his form began to change. His humanoid shape elongated, scales spreading to cover his entire body as limbs transformed into claws and his neck extended. Within moments, a full dragon stood before them. His size was overwhelming in the confined space, though the chamber had seemed enormous before.

"Follow," he commanded, his voice now deeper and more resonant. "And should you deceive me, know that your final moments will last centuries."

With that, Ao Shun moved across the chamber without touching the ground. He was a true dragon that could fly. A section of the wall opened as he approached, revealing another hidden passage.

Bi’an and Suanni exchanged glances before following. Grim hesitated only briefly, then walked after them, feeling Xu Wu’s cold gaze on his back as they left the empty palace chamber behind.