"No, Seraphina usually keeps to herself even when we share stories about each other, so it's hard to figure out her likes and dislikes. How about we ask Crystalia, Elysia, and the others? They might know something we don't," Ingrid responded, her expression turning into a frown.
Derry let out a yawn. "When you guys try to talk to them and find out what Seraphina knows, let me know so we can figure out how to arrange it. Also, before Orion makes the announcement tomorrow morning, I think it would be better for somebody to inform Gina beforehand to avoid feeling too bad or beating herself up. I am going back to my room to rest," she added, bidding Ingrid and the others goodnight before exiting the room.
Once Derry left, Ingrid shook her head before refocusing on Vivian and Celia. "Since it would be too suspicious if we all went to ask at the same time, which one of you wants to volunteer?" she inquired.
Celia and Vivian exchanged a brief glance before Vivian let out a heavy sigh and diverted her gaze. "Fine, I'll go," Vivian responded.
…....…
Far from the Aegis of the Arctic Deity's divine protective barrier, the expanding portal tore through the atmosphere, causing the air to quake, expand, and contract with immense pressure.
This portal surpassed the previous portal that had ripped open space within the Village.
However, despite the chaos outside, Aegis of the Arctic Deity was fully engrossed in maintaining his barrier and deciphering the puzzles within the Village Chief's compound, which demanded his complete attention.
However, even if he had noticed, he could not have done anything because it was already too late.
BAANNNGGG!!
The portal reached its maximum expansion and finally stabilized, shattering the space around it like shards of broken glass that spread out and halted a few meters away.
Suddenly, a slender figure emerged, standing as tall as three meters. Her skin was as light as wispy clouds, and her hair billowed like wind-blown clouds. She wore a robe woven from ethereal clouds, and whirls of air swirled around her form. Her eyes shimmered with the colours of a sunrise sky, and feathery wings of translucent air extended out from behind her back.
As she stepped out of the portal, she examined her surroundings with a playful glint in her eyes before shifting her attention back to the portal as another figure emerged.
Next, a massive humanoid figure appeared, towering at three and a half meters. His body seemed made of swirling water and liquid currents, and he was dressed in armour with aquatic symbols, shimmering pearls, and coral formations. His form constantly shifted and undulated like a vast ocean, with droplets of water pouring from his body.
His eyes shone with an aquatic blue hue, giving him the appearance of a god born from the ocean. Despite his imposing appearance, his expression remained calm as he surveyed his surroundings.
As another figure emerged, standing at the same towering height of three meters, his ashen skin seemed to crack and distort open at irregular intervals, revealing dark chasms before quickly returning to normal. His eyes gleamed with irises tinted in an inky dark hue, even at night.
He wore a tattered armour that seemed to distort alongside his body, with patterns shifting and changing unpredictably. His focus immediately locked onto the Vylkr-infused clouds in the distance, his eyes filled with intense interest.
Next to him, another figure emerged, her skin as pale as freshly fallen snow, adorned with intricate frost patterns that shimmered like ice crystals. She wore a flowing gown made of shimmering ice, complemented by frost-covered armour plates that seamlessly blended with their icy form.
Glacial spikes protruded from her shoulders, frosty tendrils wrapped around her arms like serpentine guardians, and their hair poured down like icy tendrils, reflecting the colours of the northern lights. Her irises were shaped like delicate snowflakes, and her eyes gleamed with an otherwordly frosty glow.
The figure looked around with a serene yet fierce demeanour, taking in her surroundings like the others.
"It appears that's where the Vylkrspawn bringer met its end," remarked the man with ashen skin, gazing at the vast territory in the distance, protected by a Divine shield.
He then directed his attention to the molten lava ravaging the land and the Vylkr vines below.
"That might be what caused the emergence of the Vylkr veil phenomenon. Does anyone want to cool this down? It's hard to watch our brethren writhing in agony," he added, turning to his companions hovering in the air beside him.
"I'll handle it," said the woman with skin as light as clouds.
However, an icy voice cut through the air before she could act.
"There's no need to cause a ruckus; I'll take care of it," the woman with skin as pale as snow interrupted. She briefly acknowledged the other woman before descending slowly toward the ground.
The moment her feet touched the immense wave of molten lava, an icy aura radiated from her, piercing through the molten mass and instantly halting its flow. Under her influence, the molten lava began to transform into waves of icy sculptures until the aura exploded outward, creating a storm of icy chills that spread in all directions.
It froze the molten lava and the burning flames instantly, completing the transformation before her feet firmly touched the ground.
The other three figures gradually landed nearby, their feet touching the icy-sculpted molten lava as they observed the icy storm expanding into the distance.
"Three of us will head towards that territory to confront the god protecting it, as he might have been the one to defeat the Vylkrspawn bringer. We don't know how many gods are present here, so we must be extremely cautious to ensure nothing goes wrong," said the man with ashen skin.
"Grylen, you'll take care of the artefact and ensure its formation is completed before seizing it," he added, shifting his attention to the woman with skin as light as clouds.
"Okay, I'm on it," Grylen smiled before glancing at the others.
She bowed slightly toward them before her body transformed into wisps of clouds, gradually disappearing into thin air.
