Frostfire Legacy

Each step Aster took cracked the thin ice covering the ground. Even the thick wall of ice ahead of him was unable to hold him back, melting like styrofoam dropped with acetone!

Of course, it wasn't simply due to the passive effect of his Carved Seal, but because he just finished casting the reverse, melting the ice before he reached it.

"So... Who among you has bounties?" He asked as soon as he came close enough for his voice to be heard. "Come on, raise your hands if you have one."

"..."

Of course, none of them raised their hands. Rather, they couldn't! Their bodies were half frozen, including their hands, which were enclosed in thick ice!

"None? There's no way that's true."

Aster pulled his Holo-tablet and started scanning the face of the one closest to him. After a bit, the scanned image was cross-referenced to the downloaded data from bounty lists. However, the first one was just a normal wanted person, without any bounty on his head.

"You're useless. Next."

*BANG!*

He didn't forget to punch a new hole in his head before moving on to the next one. His actions were so fluid that the rest of the kidnappers were flabbergasted! It was as if killing for him was the same as breathing—as natural as could be!

"Oh, if someone can tell me who has a bounty other than those with bounties themselves, of course, then I'll spare your life." He added it as if it were just an afterthought.

"T-This guy to my right! He's boasting that his bounty has increased again! Please spare me!"

"Khun, you bastard!"

*BANG!*

Aster shot one more time—at the man who tried to trick him, telling a lie. "The man you indicated wasn't on the bounty list, and so are you." He explained it clearly to the rest.

"H-Herald Gunlicker! The guy at the front! He's got a bounty of 3 million Tels!"

"Hera—! Damn, Gener! Melcher Gener! He's a wanted criminal with a bounty too!"

"Tyrone, you bastard! You got a bounty too, don't you?!"

Soon, chaos unfolded. Names were called, and angry voices countered, echoing loudly. Aster marked all of those who were indicated to have a bounty and sliced their heads off. One after another, for a total of ten heads.

Of course, he didn't forget to get proof of the kill.

He lined up the heads he cut off before the frozen goons and started to capture them in a single continuous video, including the scared expressions on their faces and the worried looks of the remaining kidnappers.

After taking proof, he then returned his holo-tablet into his pocket before walking past the frozen enemies.

"H-Hey! Release us!"

"No! You promised you'd let us live!"

"It's cold. It hurts... I don't want to die!"

Voices begged him, trying to call for his attention, but Aster didn't even bother turning his head or lending an ear. He didn't lie, of course. He let them live, but only a little longer.

'I wasted too much time." Aster sighed, standing at the furthest frozen enemy's position. "Time to wrap it up."

The seal on his right hand glowed in blue once more, a telltale sign that he was about to activate it. He raised his hand, palm pointing forward, as he set the range to the maximum range, just barely reaching the edge of the bandit's camp.

He set the height to be as tall as the tents and the width to be the entire camp, so there's no escaping it!

"Freeze..."

With a casual whisper, a frigid wave surged, freezing everything within range. The grasses, the fence, the tents, and even the flames from the torches and campfires were frozen!

Most of all, the remaining kidnappers, still loitering within their camp, and the few that rushed to recapture the escaping adventurers, were caught within range!

"Phew..." He let out a sigh, his mind relaxing for a little. "With this, we should be safe now."

He inserted both hands into his windbreaker's pockets as he started walking forward. He entered the camp, checking on the aftermath of his actions, and made sure that nobody was able to survive the freezing.

Ice sculptures were everywhere, with expressions warped in primal fear. Some were stuck standing still, staring ahead blankly, while others were frozen in the middle of trying to run away.

"..."

Seeing the lives that he took without much effort, his heart didn't even flutter. It was as if he was simply looking at the scenery, neither feeling guilty nor rewarded.

Soon, he reached halfway through the camp and saw the pillar where the adventurers had been held captive before. Seeing that it was now empty, with frozen corpses lying around, he knew that Cassy and the others had succeeded in rescuing the adventurers.

"Star!"

"Huh?"

And just as he neared the other end, a familiar voice called to him. Cassy was on the other end of the fence, sitting together with the rescued adventurers and looking at him with relief.

"So you were safe!" She exclaimed, her voice slightly shaking.

He moved further forward before seeing everyone present. Cassy, standing close to the frozen area, Kali, keeping a vigilant gaze toward the nearby forest, Tina, who was seemingly jittery, wanting to dash to Aster's embrace, and Liz, who was talking to the freed adventurers, reassuring them.

Everyone was also safe!

"..."

Although it was a scene that would normally make him smile in relief, such a thing never appeared on his face. His heart remained unmoved, as if it were frozen still.

'What's happening to me?' Aster wondered, realizing that his current state was not normal. 'I should visit the hospital for a checkup later.' He decided.

"Everyone's accounted for, right? Then, let's head back."

Although it wasn't his intention, even his tone became cold and commanding. Other than Tina, who liked this version more, and Liz, who hadn't been with them long enough to notice, Cassy and Kali started to figure out that something was happening to Aster.

The two looked at each other, nodding their heads, and conversed without exchanging words.

Kali and Cassy moved at the same time. Kali was walking casually, but her posture was one where she could draw her daggers at any moment. For Cassy, she was whispering the chant for another spell.

When she reached Aster, planting a hand on his shoulder, she smiled and whispered. "Intermediate Heal!"

At that moment, he felt that his head became clearer, like a fog was lifted from his mind. His senses return to the usual, with his emotions coming back.

"I, I..." Aster stuttered.

At that moment, his hands started to shake, the guilt from his previous actions—mercilessly taking other people's lives—coming to bite him.

But like a soothing mother, Cassy pulled him into her embrace.

"It's fine, Star. You just did what's right..." She whispered in a gentle tone while patting his head pressed against her chest.

Aster listened to her voice and closed his eyes. Right then, his consciousness was cut off.

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