Shadow Weaver: Sole Heir Of The Night-Chapter 166: Ice Wall Rankings

The next day

Inside the main walls, Enzo and the rest slowly made their way out into the open courtyard. The stone beneath their boots was cold, still holding onto the night’s breath, as if dawn itself was hesitant to settle here.

Ahead of them stood the castle steward. His back was straight, his posture relaxed to the point of arrogance, rough gray hair barely shifting despite the wind weaving through the open space.

"Tyrant," Enzo muttered under his breath, his eyes lingering on the man longer than necessary.

In this era, age meant almost nothing. Once someone reached complete maturity, time loosened its grip.

Wrinkles faded, flesh hardened, and the body slowed its decay unless one was truly ancient or carried a dangerously low amount of registered time.

Whether the steward was thirty years old or two hundred, Enzo could not tell.

Power, however, was unmistakable.

"That’s..." Zeke frowned, his casual expression tightening as his gaze slid to the side.

A familiar silhouette stood beside the steward.

Leon.

"He’s not alone," Enzo said quietly, his voice low.

Around them, at least fifteen guardsmen had formed a loose perimeter. Their boots were spread evenly, weapons half drawn, eyes sharp as they scanned every shadow and rooftop.

They weren’t escorting.

They were bracing.

"Good morning, Guard Commander. How was the night?" Enzo asked, a bitter curve touching his lips as his gaze swept over the armed men.

Leon’s presence alone explained everything.

He was afraid.

Afraid that his sister would still strike.

The thought was almost ridiculous. This was a tyrant’s domain, guarded by a steward whose presence alone bent the air. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Yet Leon had still brought soldiers.

Was he really implying that Liana would attack even now?

"It was fine," Leon replied, nodding once. "Today will be fine too."

The words sounded rehearsed.

If they stayed within the walls, Leon could suppress his siblings through authority and fear.

Once they stepped outside, all of that vanished.

Out there, blood decided everything.

"A fine day is always welcome," Enzo said, then turned his gaze to Titus.

Titus stood quietly, a black briefcase clenched in his left hand. His grip never loosened, knuckles pale, as if the object itself carried weight beyond its size.

They were ready.

If violence erupted, they would strike first. Cause damage fast. Force intervention.

"Alright," the steward said lazily, already turning his back on them. "Let’s head to the castle."

His steps were unhurried, almost mocking, as if none of them mattered enough to acknowledge.

As they followed, Enzo lowered his voice.

"Liana the Wolf. I managed to dig up some information on her."

He paused, eyes forward.

"She’s well known. High standing in the Ice Wall Rankings."

On Gaia, within the Ice Kingdom, those rankings were no joke.

They were a list of names belonging to the younger generation. Individuals forged in combat, sharpened through blood, ambition, and brutal talent.

The board existed for one reason.

To feed the royal factions.

A tool for identifying future weapons, pawns, and leaders in their endless internal wars.

"She’s ranked sixty eight," Enzo continued. "Leon is seventy five."

Silence followed.

That alone explained Leon’s restraint.

"Huh," Zeke muttered, a sly grin slowly creeping onto his face. "I wonder where I’d land."

He glanced toward Titus, eyes sharp beneath the humor.

Titus had seen more than either of them. If anyone understood the board, it was him.

"The rankings are determined by a strange construct," Titus said calmly. "A board no one fully understands."

"The moment a ranked individual is defeated, their name disappears."

"And the victor takes their place."

Zeke’s grin widened.

"I’ve heard of Liana the Wolf," Titus added. "Never met her before now."

"Notice the Snowfall family. Ice based talents run deep in their blood."

Titus wasn’t a Snowfall, but his rise had placed him close enough to learn their secrets.

"Anyway," he finished, turning away, "you’ll need to defeat a ranked name if you want a spot."

"Hmmm," Zeke hummed softly.

"Sounds like today might be perfect."

He looked at Enzo, eyes glinting with open provocation.

"What do you think? Want to carve your name into the super world?"

The words were reckless. Dangerous.

Losing a ranker was never taken lightly. Even disliked figures were valuable assets.

"Shut up, Zeke," Enzo snapped. "This isn’t the time."

He felt it then.

The steward’s gaze lingered on him for just a second too long.

Cold. Measuring.

The castle loomed ahead.

Their priority was clear.

Getting caught between Leon’s fragile authority and Liana’s madness would be suicide.

"Eh, sure," Zeke shrugged, unfazed. "Relax."

"It’s not that serious."

"Just a ranking."

"Anyone can end up on it."

Of course, even those words did not sit well with the people around them, but no one spoke.The tension was swallowed in silence as they continued forward, boots echoing against frozen stone until the looming castle gates came into view.

There was no one waiting to open them.No guards. No servants. Not even wandering civilians lingering near the entrance.

The space before the gates felt hollow, stripped bare, as if the castle itself had decided to hold its breath.

"Remember, young ones," the steward suddenly said, his voice calm and detached."Property damage is a crime here in the Ice Kingdom. Control your strength, or you will be arrested."

As he spoke, his hands slowly slid free from the folds of his robes.

The air screamed.

Three violent gusts tore forward in rapid succession, slamming into him before the words fully settled.The steward was forced back, boots scraping against stone as he raised his arms, blocking each strike with precise, economical movements.

"Not surprising," Leon muttered, shaking his head.

With his left hand, he summoned a halberd.The weapon formed instantly, icy runes flickering along its shaft as he slammed it into the ground three times.

The sound rang out like a signal.

A moment later, his men moved as one, closing ranks around him and forming a dense perimeter. Shields angled. Weapons ready. Eyes locked forward.

"Liana," Leon called out mockingly, his voice carrying across the empty space."You really should learn how to respect people. This isn’t how you make friends."

A figure stepped out from between two buildings.

She had a buzz cut, pale hair cropped close to her scalp, frost clinging faintly to her skin. Two men flanked her, their expressions dull and obedient.

"Friends?" Liana repeated, genuinely puzzled.She tilted her head slightly, studying Leon as if he had said something strange.

"What are you talking about? I have friends."

Leon scoffed.

"You mean those two?" he said, eyes sharp with contempt."Your brain dead elder brothers?"

"The ones with no future. The ones who have no choice but to kneel and kiss your feet?"

From the side, Enzo, Zeke, and Titus all frowned.

This was no simple rivalry.There was real rot here.

"Hey," Zeke suddenly snapped, stepping forward."Cut that shit out. If we’re going to fight, then fight."

His irritation was raw, honest.

They might have thought he was joking, but he wasn’t.If these two clashed now, his chance at the rankings would vanish.

"He’s right," Liana said flatly, her gaze never leaving Leon.

"I’m not fighting you."

She sneered faintly.

"You’re boring."

"Save it for the Hunter Games," she continued."Then I’ll beat you so badly even Father won’t recognize you."

The air froze again.

Leon looked annoyed, but not enough for it to settle fully.Instead, he smiled faintly and gave a casual shrug, as if the situation amused him more than it bothered him.

His gaze shifted toward Enzo, and he leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice.

"Your friend has a death wish," Leon muttered."Liana isn’t playful. She won’t test him. She’ll cripple him."

There was no exaggeration in his tone.It sounded like a simple fact.

"I hope he knows what he’s doing."

Leon was willing to fight Liana for their sake.She was his sister.

If he wanted to deal with her, he could do it any day.There was nothing special about today.

But if Zeke failed.

Leon’s smile thinned just a little.

"It’s fine," Enzo said, shrugging."I wouldn’t convince him otherwise."

That much was true.

Once Zeke set his mind on something, words meant nothing.Warnings bounced off him like rain against steel.

What Enzo didn’t say was the rest.

He wanted this.

More than anyone else here, Enzo wanted to see Zeke fight at full power.Unrestrained. Unfiltered.

Win or lose, it didn’t matter.

He would support the fight regardless of the outcome.

After all, this wasn’t their final hand.

They still had several tricks tucked away, waiting for the moment things truly went wrong.

"You’re first I assume? Or do you want a free far all? I’m willing to participate either way" seeing Leon step back Liana smiled.

She didn’t want to fight him just yet either, as for Enzo and Zeke they were more or less prey, sacrificial lambs for her to feel the true essence of the lokian faction.