Chapter 159

The king’s inspection continued quietly.

Shopkeepers.

People walking along the road.

Festival-goers enjoying themselves.

When the king casually tossed out a probing question, they all showed reactions of understanding and respect for the king’s choice.

“I don’t get it.”

“What do you mean, Your Majesty?”

“Where in this world are there fools stupid enough to follow someone knowing they’ll die?”

“It’s about respecting a parent’s decision. Isn’t the king like a father?”

“What kind of father would push their child towards death?”

“The child understands too—the consequences of a father’s wise decision.”

“Stupid children…”

“Don’t even the wisest fathers allow their kids to act a little dumb sometimes?”

The king chuckled wryly.

The tears streaming down his face were unintentional; they just flowed naturally.

“Let’s keep things like this until the end.”

“Isn’t that already decided?”

“If the children are following their father, we can’t show them any weakness.”

“You’re already an incredibly wise father who made the best possible decision.”

“If only that were true…”

And with that, the scene transitions.

Time flows quickly.

Had it been merely three seconds? Suddenly, three days had passed, and the entire kingdom was resisting under a haze of green smoke and the threat of some massive being.

The barrier surrounding the palace.

The camera switches to a terrace overlooking the chaos below, where a few figures gather. There’s the king from before and the minister who assisted him. Also present is someone who looks like a mage and a knight clad in armor.

“How’s the situation?”

“As expected, it’s tough.”

“Yeah. This isn’t what we hoped for, is it?”

“Then… shall we proceed with our preparations?”

“After countless ages, isn’t it better to place hope in something?”

“As you command, your noble will shall be fulfilled.”

The barrier is violently struck by the entity.

Through the fog, a vaguely visible form emerges—it’s a colossal frost giant encased in ice.

A destroyer of worlds, a bringer of global reset: the Frost Giant.

The king considered himself far removed from holiness or sanctity. All he wanted was for the people and ministers under him to eat well, live happily, and chase their dreams.

He never intended to sacrifice himself for the world.

It just… happened.

“Is the evacuation complete?”

“They’re all safe.”

“Good… you’ve worked hard.”

“Yet you speak such words when I’m prepared to serve you forevermore. How could you say such things?”

The knight kneels humbly, pledging loyalty. The king smiles faintly as he steadies his trembling body against the frost giant’s roar.

“Huge, isn’t it?”

“It’s the mythical existence destined to destroy the world.”

“Why does something like this appear in our era?”

“Fate, perhaps…”

“How cruel fate truly is.”

As the king mutters these words, he slowly descends.

Deeper underground…

In a hidden location filled with mages and sorcerers, at the center of a vast magical circle, the king quietly announces the beginning.

“Begin.”

Incantations fill the air, and torrents of magic power surge as everyone unites in one desperate wish—to summon the frost giant.

The ritual succeeds. The frost giant appears before them, and an intense cold spreads uncontrollably from its core.

The mage standing at the center freezes instantly. The thick barrier resists but begins to frost over, gradually solidifying.

[Pointless.]

“Do you truly believe that?”

[A futile struggle. Accept the icy rest peacefully.]

“Can we? In a world where warmth still breathes, how could we let this happen?”

[Do you trust the barrier? It’ll fall within a day—weak and fragile.]

“If it lasts a day… then our mages have done their job admirably.”

[…]

“Look at your arm.”

The giant’s gaze shifts to its own hand, which starts turning white despite being indestructible. A faint smile forms on its lips.

[How…]

“Curious?”

[How could mere humans accomplish such a feat?]

“It’s because we’re human. Sometimes unpredictability leads to miracles—that’s the charm of humanity, isn’t it?”

Saying this, the king smirks contentedly.

[Do you think this will last forever?]

“It will endure.”

With determination, the king stands before the giant, separated only by the barrier. Their mutual hostility grows into fierce enmity.

[Once this ends, your doom will come. Wait joyfully.]

Thus saying, the giant gleefully freezes solid. Still, a chilling aura leaks silently from within, indicating that its entrapment hasn’t ended everything.

The king smiles knowingly, having anticipated this.

“Please help me.”

“The magic circle will freeze solid, sustaining itself indefinitely.”

“Right. This must end here. Though it began elsewhere, it should conclude according to our methods. We must finish it ourselves.”

The king created a magic circle powered by freezing energy. As long as the frost giant emits cold, the circle operates endlessly, weakening its resistance while keeping it frozen.

The source of the giant’s power—the endless winter it exudes—ensures the phenomenon continues indefinitely.

“Shall we ascend?”

“I’ll accompany you.”

“Everyone, return to your posts. Act normally. As always.”

“I gladly follow.”

The king ascends to the highest floor of the castle with his minister. Sitting casually on the throne, he rests his chin on his hand and gazes outside.

“In that position, your back might hurt when you try to stand later.”

“This feels comfortable to me.”

“Then I’ll stand upright for my health.”

“Sure. Let’s compare who’s healthier when we wake up.”

Cold engulfs them unnoticed. The barrier wasn’t eternal; their best effort was merely to weaken the giant’s resistance. Freezing winds blanket the land, and their world freezes without warning.

Thus, the story concludes. Opening my eyes, I see two frozen figures before me: the king resting his chin, and his loyal minister.

What a tale.

Naturally, curiosity arises. What kind of being is the frozen giant in the basement?

My steps lead me to the palace basement. Each step brings dense fog, and the cold is unbearable. Extreme frost wraps around me.

Descending slowly, I find a massive block of ice surrounded by glowing magical runes. The living magic circle dazzles my eyes, enclosing the completely frozen giant. Every faint pulse from its heart-like core releases waves of cold.

“So the story was true.”

The magic circle maintains the cold. Parts of it flicker, showing signs of wear, proving that nothing lasts forever.

[Guest has arrived.]

The grumbling voice originates from the giant.

Just as described in the king’s tale, the same voice now speaks directly to me.

“How did you awaken?”

[Frozen merely in body. My consciousness remains supreme.]

Pride fills the giant’s words.

“I have a question.”

[Hmm… impressive endurance against my cold.]

“Will you answer if I ask?”

[Ah… not much time left. My physical form will soon awaken.]

Ignoring my question, the giant repeats itself, so I abandon curiosity and check its identity through the system.

[Frost Giant]

[Bringer of the world’s end. Catalyst for the ‘game’s’ bad ending.]

“…?”

The mention of a game’s bad ending sends shivers down my spine. Though I don’t sweat, my back feels damp.

What does this mean?

Does calling this world a ‘game’ imply something?

Or does it refer to the previous world?

Perhaps the Valley of Starwind—a game where this being triggered a bad ending?

I regret not exploring thoroughly during my last playthrough. If I’d visited Eternal Shadows even once, I might’ve understood this better.

“You.”

[Ah… praise the coming season of frost.]

“O Frost Giant, bringer of the world’s end.”

[Have you come for me?]

“What does the game’s ending signify?”

[Ah… the land of frost lies ahead. The future will be unbearably cold and dark.]

Ignoring my question, the giant resumes its rant. Biting my lip, I approach cautiously.

What should I do?

No, there’s no need to hesitate. My task is now clear.

This being is undoubtedly a powerful enemy beyond my resistance.

Judging by its essence and energy, it rivals or surpasses even the Fairy King. The fact that it was frozen and sealed feels miraculous.

“Hmm…”

But attacking a stationary target is certain. Even transcendent beings like the Fairy King or dragons couldn’t evade this type of assault.

What I’ve realized:

Eternal time flow. If accelerated infinitely, could immortal and undead beings maintain their forms?

Even stars in the universe have lifespans.

I imbue my sword with time.

[Useless. Endless attacks leave no mark on me. I am immortality incarnate, the world’s winter.]

The process of weathering and crumbling.

Though weak against natural disasters, my effectiveness against entities like this is undeniable.

This confidence stems from profound insight and accumulated experience.

Swinging my sword, I sever the giant’s arm.

[…]

The chatty giant falls silent. The annoying noise stops.

Enjoying the sudden silence, I admire my work.

The severed arm disintegrates into dust, symbolizing the death of eternity.

[How…]

“Perfect.”

There’s no reason to keep a catalyst for a game’s bad ending alive.

Are there others like this?

I didn’t plan to explore much, but I may need to move faster now.

What bad endings exist in a healing game anyway?

I just want to spend peaceful time with my family.

Anything could happen.

Maybe this being will remain sealed forever. Or maybe it’ll awaken in my great-grandchildren’s time, centuries or millennia from now.

Still, precautions are necessary.

“Goodbye.”

[After winter… will spring come?]

“Yeah. After winter comes spring. It’s a good season.”

[Ah…]

I stab the giant with my sword, unleashing infinite acceleration of time. The endless flow reduces the giant to a pile of dirt.

Even giants meet their end eventually. Few can escape the passage of time.

The cold ceases.

The system informs me that I’ve cleared Eternal Shadows and received rewards: Mirror Clone and Mirror Space skills.

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