The Absolute Zero Ice Source had just awakened—still raw, untamed, and far from being ready for actual combat.
Arthur's strength had always been leagues beyond Adam's—a hundred times greater, at the very least. Naturally, it followed that the power of his Absolute Zero Ice Source would reflect that overwhelming gap.
If Adam's magical energy could be compared to a pool, then Arthur's was a vast, clear lake—deep, boundless, and serene in its deadly calm.
Recalling the knowledge buried deep within his mind, Arthur began to circulate his magic. A faint glow pulsed around him as a spell circle gradually began to form beneath his feet.
With his current level of mastery, this technique was well within his capabilities.
"The Absolute Zero Ice Domain—Descend!"
At his command, a massive magic circle unfolded beneath him, etching glowing runes into the ground. The temperature dropped instantly, falling at an unnatural rate. Frost raced across the earth, and a biting chill swept through the air.
The very ground began to freeze solid. Trees crystallized into towering monuments of ice. Pillars erupted from the earth, transforming the landscape into an otherworldly domain—a frozen battlefield sculpted from pure magic. The once-familiar terrain had been entirely reshaped, now resembling the legendary battlefield of ancient ice wizards.
With a single step, Arthur vanished—then reappeared instantly in front of one of the massive ice pillars. His right fist clenched tightly, magic surging through his veins.
Without hesitation, he struck.
The thick pillar shattered into thousands of shards under the force of his punch, the explosion echoing through the icy field. Empowered by immense magic, the blow was devastating—more akin to a force of nature than a mere attack.
This was the power Arthur now wielded.
For generations, the Frost-Heart Family and the Ember Family had stood in opposition. Despite their rivalry, neither had gained the upper hand. They were, by most standards, evenly matched.
The Ember Family possessed the Emberforge Heart Flame, a powerful elemental core that had a relatively high awakening rate.
Yet, despite most members of the Frost-Heart Family not awakening the Absolute Zero Ice Source, they remained on par with the Ember Family.
The reason? The Heart of Frost—an ancient inheritance born of a powerful wizard bloodline.
Those who possessed it boasted not only vast reserves of magic power but also a natural affinity for control and resilience. Their healing abilities far surpassed those of ordinary mages, making them formidable even without the Absolute Zero. The Ember Family shared similar advantages, and it was only through elemental opposition that the balance between the two families was maintained.
And now, Arthur stood at the peak of this legacy—his power tyrannical and unshakable.
Through the frosted window of the training chamber, he observed Adam diligently practicing his newly awakened Absolute Zero spells. A faint smile touched his lips.
"Not bad," Arthur murmured, pleased. "He's progressing faster than I expected."
Adam, despite just awakening his Ice Source, faced no obstacles in grasping its fundamentals—a rare and promising sign.
Satisfied, Arthur shifted his focus.
With a single thought, he vanished, transitioning to another dimensional space.
After all, he hadn't forgotten—he had another disciple to attend to.
Scene Shift: Ember Family Courtyard
"Damn it… why does it feel like I have less and less magic power these days?"
In a courtyard deep within the Ember Family compound, Wilson Ember frowned, his brows knit in frustration. His voice was laced with irritation and confusion.
Unlike the Frost-Heart Family, whose members were often born with an abundance of magic, the Ember Family lacked such an innate advantage. They compensated with refined techniques and relentless training—but even so, their magic reserves were not infinite.
For the system that linked the heirs of magic, the Adam node had not shown any noticeable decline. But Wilson's own reserves? They were unmistakably shrinking.
Though the reduction was slight, it had been consistent throughout the past week—a troubling pattern.
"I can feel myself growing stronger during training… so why is my magic decreasing?"
"It's like… something is draining it away."
His eyes narrowed as he sank into thought, trying to identify the source of the disturbance.
Then—he felt something.
"Hm?"
An unfamiliar aura pricked his senses. Wilson's head snapped up, sharp as a blade, his instincts roaring to life.
In one fluid motion, he drew a flame spell circle, and fire burst into existence at his palm.
Whoosh!
The fireball shot through the air toward an ancient tree on the far side of the courtyard.
And there—standing silently on a high branch—was a figure clad in a black robe, etched with glowing magic runes.
His gaze was calm. Watchful.
Unblinking.
Arthur.
Wilson's heart leapt, adrenaline spiking. The fireball hurtled toward the intruder, only a fingertip's length away—far too close to dodge.
But then…
The fireball passed through Arthur's body.
No impact. No resistance.
As though he were nothing but air.
Wilson's breath caught. A cold sweat broke out across his brow. The sight defied all logic. No illusions, no defensive shields—just a complete bypass of reality.
"Is he a spirit? No… a god?" Wilson thought, alarm bells ringing in his mind.
He gritted his teeth and glanced around. No one was nearby. No guards, no servants. Only his younger brother Kevin was within shouting distance—but even that offered little comfort.
The figure spoke at last.
"Become my disciple," Arthur said softly, his voice cutting through the tension like frost through fire.
"What?"
Wilson blinked, taken aback by the simple request.
Despite his shock, he quickly steadied himself. The aura around Arthur was intimidating, yes—but not hostile. There was no killing intent.
Wilson's wariness lessened slightly.
Still, he responded with a scoff.
"My teacher can't be just anyone," he said coolly.
It wasn't arrogance—it was conviction.
Wilson had never taken a master, not even once. Why should he, when his father—Tom Ember—was the strongest wizard in the family? The patriarch of the Ancient Ember Lineage. A man whose spells could overwhelm peak-tier wizards with ease.
"I already have the best teacher," Wilson added. "Why should I settle for a stranger without an Emberforge Heart Flame?"
Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly, understanding his hesitation.
"Do you think I couldn't defeat your father?" he asked.
To be fair, even Arthur himself wasn't entirely sure how he measured against someone like Tom Ember. A man capable of leading an entire magical clan in times of conflict had to be near the level of a Title Wizard—a fearsome power indeed.
But in front of a potential disciple, Arthur would not show weakness.
"Yes," Wilson replied flatly, without pause.
He crossed his arms, chin raised.
"I don't know how you got here without being detected. But my father, the head of our Ancient Ember Family, can defeat peak wizards with only a few spells. You really think you can compare?"