The wind in the Eternal Winter Forest sliced through flesh like blades, and Leon pulled his furs tighter as he looked up at the towering ancient trees. Their branches were encrusted with thick layers of ice, reflecting the pale sunlight with a cold, sharp glow. The air was filled with an eerie stillness—silent and deathly cold.
"According to the guidance of the *Core of Thunder*, the *Eye of Frost* should be hidden in the 'Crystal Shrine' at the heart of the forest," Elara said, unfolding a map drawn on beast hide. Glowing ink traced a winding path through the frozen terrain. "But ancient texts warn that the shrine is guarded by frost giants corrupted by the Shadow Covenant."
"I'll scout ahead," Garrosh muttered, lifting his axe over his shoulder before crouching into the brush. Leon and Tom followed closely, while Elara took the rear, her bow already nocked with a wind-element arrow.
They hadn't gone far when a deep growl echoed from ahead. Leon pushed aside some branches and saw a frost giant nearly ten feet tall swinging a massive ice axe. It stood at the entrance of a narrow ice bridge, its blue-gray skin covered in thick armor of ice, its eyes glowing with icy blue light.
"It's a frost giant!" Tom gasped, instinctively tightening his grip on the rune crossbow.
"Stay calm," Leon whispered. "Remember, the Frost Trial tests wisdom—not strength." He studied the giant's movements carefully and noticed that each step it took left cracks in the ice beneath its feet, oozing black liquid—the mark of chaos corruption.
"It's been tainted by the Shadow Covenant," Elara murmured. "We need to purify the chaos energy within it—not destroy it."
Leon nodded and retrieved the *Core of Thunder* and the True Form of the *Heart of the Flame Dragon*. Both relics trembled slightly in his hands, as if responding to something unseen. Taking a deep breath, he gathered the power of the four elements and stardust in his palm, forming a radiant sphere of multicolored energy.
"Now!" Leon shouted, hurling the energy sphere at the giant. Upon impact, blinding light erupted. The ice armor shattered, and the dark fluid oozed out, purified into clear droplets under the radiance.
The giant roared in pain, clutching its head and collapsing to its knees. Seizing the moment, Leon stepped forward and pressed a crystal inscribed with purification runes into the wound on its chest. The crystal emitted a soft white glow, and the giant's eyes gradually returned to their natural icy blue.
"Thank you, Elemental Bearer," the giant spoke in a voice like cracking glaciers. "I am Haskar, guardian of the Ice Bridge. The Shadow Covenant used chaos energy to control me, forcing me to guard the path to the Crystal Shrine."
"We seek the *Eye of Frost,*" Leon said earnestly. "It is key to saving Azlan."
Haskar nodded, rising to his full height, shaking the ground beneath him. "Follow me—I will lead you to the shrine. But beware, there is a powerful shadow guardian inside. It is Arthus's final defense."
Crossing the ice bridge behind Haskar, they reached a vast frozen plain. At its center stood the Crystal Shrine—an altar built from massive ice blocks. Atop it rested a glowing blue crystal—the *Eye of Frost*. Surrounding it, however, was a floating figure made entirely of shadow energy. It held two swords and hovered silently in the air.
"That is the Shadow Guardian," Haskar said grimly. "It has no physical form—it can only be harmed by pure elemental energy."
Leon inhaled deeply, turning to his companions. "Elara, use wind to disrupt its flow. Garrosh, draw its attention with your axe. Tom, watch for its energy nodes."
"Understood!" they all replied in unison.
Elara struck first, loosing a wind-element arrow. The shaft transformed into a gust of storm-force wind, slamming toward the guardian. Sensing danger, the creature slashed its swords, cutting the wind apart with a wave of darkness.
At the same time, Garrosh charged forward with a roar, swinging his axe. It passed harmlessly through the guardian's body. In response, the shadow lashed out with a wave of dark energy, sending Garrosh flying into an ice wall.
"Garrosh!" Leon rushed to help him up.
"I'm fine," Garroch spat blood from his mouth. "It has no solid form—physical attacks won't work."
Leon frowned, thinking hard. No physical form—only elemental energy could hurt it… Suddenly, he recalled something. He looked at the *Heart of the Flame Dragon* and the *Core of Thunder* in his hands, then at the *Eye of Frost*. Perhaps only by harmonizing fire, thunder, water, wind, and frost together could they defeat this foe.
He placed both relics on the altar and joined his hands in focus. He felt the resonance between the four elements within him and the frost around them. A surge of immense power began to build.
"Now!" Leon's eyes snapped open, and he thrust his hands forward. A torrent of combined elemental energy—fire, lightning, water, wind, and frost—shot forth, striking the shadow guardian.
The entity sensed the threat and crossed its swords to form a barrier of darkness. But this time, the energy pierced straight through. The guardian let out a silent scream, its form flickering, then dissolving into wisps of black mist.
As the guardian vanished, the shadow seal on the *Eye of Frost* lifted. The crystal glowed softly, pulsing with life. Leon approached and gently lifted it. The moment he touched it, a chill spread through his body, resonating with the other elemental powers within him.
"We did it!" Tom cheered, a bright smile spreading across his face.
Elara exhaled in relief, her jade-green eyes shining with warmth. "Now we have three sacred relics."
Leon nodded and turned to Haskar. "Thank you. You've done much for Azlan."
Haskar shook his head. "No, thank *you*, Elemental Bearer. You freed me from the Shadow Covenant's control. I am free again."
Just then, the dragon egg in Leon's pouch began to vibrate violently. Its shell markings flared with brilliant light. Leon quickly pulled it out and watched as a new clue appeared—a vast desert with an ancient pyramid at its center.
"Our next destination is the 'Storm Sea,'" Leon said firmly. "To find the *Core of Earth*."
Elara examined the map, frowning slightly. "The Storm Sea lies at the southernmost edge of Azlan. It is constantly shrouded in sandstorms, and legends say ancient sand titans guard the pyramid."
"No matter the danger," Leon said resolutely, "we must go. Arthus won't give up easily—we must find all the relics before he does and stop the Chaos Egg from hatching."
Garrosh clapped Leon on the back, his expression fierce. "The orcs never retreat. We'll follow you to the end."
Tom nodded firmly. "I want to see Arthus defeated too."
Leon looked at his companions, gratitude and resolve swelling in his chest. He knew the road ahead remained treacherous—but as long as they stood together, no force could stop them.
As they departed the Eternal Winter Forest, Haskar stood at the ice bridge, watching them leave. Leon glanced back one last time at the snow-covered land, silently praying that Azlan would soon be freed from the Shadow Covenant's grasp and bathed once more in light.
Already, the winds of the Storm Sea howled in the distance, calling them onward. The trial of the *Core of Earth* awaited.
Leon tightened his grip on the three relics, feeling the elemental forces surging within him. With steady steps, he marched toward the next chapter of their journey.
This was no longer just about revenge—it was about protecting every life on this land.
And so, the final pages of Volume I turned, as the young Elemental Bearer and his allies prepared for the trials yet to come.
The true epic had only just begun.