Leon’s body continued to fall deeper into the river water. His eyes were closed. The tips of his fingers and lips were slowly growing pale and slightly green. He didn’t move, didn’t resist. If anyone saw him from afar, they would think he was dead. But if someone looked closer, the slow rise and fall of his chest could be seen. He was still breathing. Even under the water.

And beside him, the glowing panel.

[The Host is being exposed to extreme cold.]

[Cold Resistance has increased drastically.]

[Cold Resistance: 58%]

[Cold Resistance: 60%]

[Cold Resistance: 62%]

[The Host is being exposed to very extreme cold. The bloodline is struggling to adapt to the change due to the high rate of progression.]

[The bloodline is struggling to adapt.]

[Adaptation speed exceeding safe limits.]

[Cold Resistance: 67%]

Leon’s body started to freeze, a layer of ice materializing over his body.

[Host’s life is in danger.]

[Leave the place immediately to avoid the death penalty.]

[Leave the place immediately to avoid the death penalty.]

Notifications started to spam with a red glow.

The surroundings were dark. Leon’s body continued to vanish in that darkness, the ice layer growing thick around him.

And finally, his breathing stopped.

[Host is dead.]

Leon’s body kept going deeper. The notifications stopped. The panel dimmed.

....

....

Suddenly....

A tiny white particle in the distance. It grew bigger as Leon’s body continued to fall. It looked like a beacon of light rising and driving away the darkness.

The ground under water. And in a giant boulder in that ground, a sword was embedded. The sword stood like an ancient being, radiating a divine aura.

It had a sleek yet intimidating design. Its blade was long and snow-white, glowing faintly like frozen crystal. Thin silver patterns ran along the surface, giving it an elegant but deadly appearance. Despite its beauty, the edge looked sharp enough to split steel effortlessly.

The guard was pitch-black, shaped like twisted wings or thorned branches stretching outward from the hilt. At the center of the guard rested a glowing blue gem that pulsed faintly like an icy star.

The hilt itself was wrapped in dark leather, forming a firm grip, while the pommel ended in a sharp metallic point, adding to the weapon’s ruthless aura.

As Leon’s body got closer... The sword suddenly moved. At first, it felt like a hallucination. Then it moved again, starting to tremble slightly. And finally... It started shaking violently as Leon’s body got even closer.

Then suddenly...

Whoosh!

It flew away, the boulder shattering into pieces. The sword streaked through the water and shot toward Leon.

Creek!

Schlk!

The tip shattered a chunk of the ice layer covering Leon and stabbed his chest.

The dimmed panel glowed again.

[Foreign object detected.]

[Foreign object is reacting to Host’s bloodline.]

A blinding light erupted from the sword as white lightning zigzagged through the white blade and entered Leon’s body.

The lightning struck Leon’s heart. It had stopped moving, but suddenly, it pulsed. A huge surge of energy erupted inside Leon’s body.

The heart... It moved once. Then again. And again. Finally, with a rhythm.

[The Host is successfully revived.]

[Foreign object is reacting to Host’s bloodline.]

[Host bloodline ’Abyssal Adaptation’ is functioning 20% faster.]

[Host bloodline ’Abyssal Adaptation’ is functioning 40% faster.]

[Host bloodline ’Abyssal Adaptation’ is functioning 70% faster.]

[Host bloodline ’Abyssal Adaptation’ is functioning 100% faster.]

[Cold Resistance has increased unimaginably.]

[Cold Resistance: 70%]

[Cold Resistance: 74%] 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Leon’s body finally hit the bottom. Frost covered his whole body, including the sword.

But notifications continued to spam.

[Cold Resistance: 80%]

[Cold Resistance: 85%]

Even inside the ice barrier, the sword was emitting a heavenly glow.

[Cold Resistance: 92%]

The ice barrier around Leon grew thicker. The environment was so cold here that any living being, if exposed, would freeze instantly.

And then it happened....

[Cold Resistance: 100%]

The moment the notification appeared, the sword burst out of the ice barrier, shattering it instantly.

It spun in the water before Leon’s unconscious body.

And then....

It shot forward like a meteor.

Leon’s hand suddenly rose as if being pulled by the sword. And the hilt of the sword slammed into Leon’s palm, nestling in there.

Leon’s fingers wrapped around it on their own. The moment it happened, a brilliant light shot upward from Leon’s body. It pierced the water’s surface and shot toward the sky, illuminating the entire horizon.

Monsters were lurking in different corners of the ’Frozen Tear’ territory. All their eyes snapped toward this brilliant light. Far from the river, the giant serpent was looking at it. Then its body suddenly squeezed and changed into a human, hovering in the air. A female, to be exact. She landed gracefully in the snowy land.

"Master???" Her lips trembled as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Inside the cave, Emily and Sol noticed the light, too. It was as if a sun was descending upon the hidden realm. But instead of unbelievable heat, it was spreading warmth.

Under the water, Leon’s eyes slowly opened. He couldn’t help but look at the sword in his hand with a bewildered expression.

’This sword! Where am I?’ He wondered. Then slowly all the memories surfaced in his mind.

’That beast! I thought I was dead. How am I still breathing?’ Before his thoughts could spiral further, notifications started spamming in the panel before him.

[Host’s bloodline has evolved.

Bloodline: Abyssal Adaptation

Class: Normal > Uncommon]

[Host has reached 100% cold resistance. Host has achieved cold immunity.]

[Host’s physique has evolved due to achieving cold immunity.]

[Physique: Heaven-Devouring Physique

Level: 1 > 2]

[Benefits of Heaven-Devouring Physique Level 2

1. The host can absorb cold and refine it into energy

2. The ice element has awakened. The host can now use the ice element to cast magic.]

[Host’s mana has unlocked.]

Leon froze for a moment. Shock, excitement, all swirled inside him.

[Host: Leon Bale]

[Cultivation Rank: Martial Apprentice — Level 2

Physique: Heaven-Devouring Physique — Level 2

Bloodline: Abyssal Adaptation

Bloodline Class: Uncommon

Bloodline Effect: Gradual exposure to elemental pressure enables Adaptation Mode, allowing the host to develop resistance and eventual immunity to that element. Adaptation speed + 100%

Soul Status: Nil

Special Ability Awakened: Berserk Mode

Elemental Affinity: Ice]