Entropy Erosion Cycle: Absolute Zero

Chapter9: The Frigid Path of Entropy

The passage toward the far north proved far more arduous and protracted than Lu Shang had ever conceived. Since their departure from the ravaged settlement, their small band had embarked upon a desolate route, virtually untrodden by human feet. The biting gale, akin to a myriad of icy daggers, relentlessly lashed their faces, stealing away the last vestiges of warmth from their bodies. Beneath their feet, the terrain was a treacherous expanse of thick snow and unyielding ice, rendering each step an arduous undertaking.

Karl, leading the vanguard, navigated their course with the seasoned expertise of a wilderness veteran and an intimate understanding of the northern topography. The other Resonants contributed their unique abilities to the collective effort. Those wielding pyrokinesis conjured meager flames that flickered around the group, offering a futile defiance against the encroaching frost. Water manipulators diligently melted the accumulated snow into potable water, while the plant whisperer tirelessly sought out hardy, frozen flora capable of providing rudimentary sustenance.

Lu Shang walked in the heart of their formation, his hand clasped firmly around Xiao Ya's. Despite her frail physique, the young girl displayed a remarkable resilience, her small form steadfastly trailing behind Lu Shang. Her face was flushed crimson from the cold, yet complaints were seldom uttered. The Prophet's sacrifice had dealt her a profound blow, but she had also internalized Lu Shang's words: she must grow stronger to honor the Prophet's legacy.

Amy remained Xiao Ya's constant shadow, her healing touch periodically warding off the biting chill and ensuring the girl's well-being. She cared for Xiao Ya with a maternal tenderness, as if the child were her own.

Lu Shang's physical condition was far from optimal. He had endured the brunt of a heavy-ordnance aircraft's energy assault to shield the Prophet, a selfless act that had accelerated the depletion of his internal Entropy Counter, leaving him susceptible to waves of debilitating weakness. Yet, he understood his pivotal role as a linchpin of their group. He had to persevere to safeguard Xiao Ya and the others.

They had been trekking for three days and three nights without respite, the surrounding environment growing increasingly hostile. The temperature had plummeted to several dozen degrees below zero, their exhalations instantly crystallizing into ephemeral plumes of white vapor. Ferocious winds whipped the snow from the ground, forming blinding white vortices that obscured the heavens and rendered orientation nearly impossible.

"We must find a place to rest; everyone is nearing their breaking point," Karl's voice conveyed a palpable weariness.

They discovered a sheltered hollow nestled against a mountainside, where colossal boulders offered a modicum of protection from the relentless wind. The Resonants worked in concert to clear a relatively clean patch of ground, upon which they kindled a few feeble bonfires.

Lu Shang and Xiao Ya huddled together, sharing a meager, frozen ration bar. Xiao Ya's small frame trembled despite her layers of clothing, and Lu Shang embraced her tightly, attempting to impart some of his remaining warmth.

"Uncle, when will we reach the Valley of Silence?" Xiao Ya's voice was raspy with cold.

Lu Shang gently stroked her hair. "Soon, Xiao Ya, we've covered most of the distance. Just a little longer, and we'll be there."

He knew his words were merely a comforting fabrication. In truth, he possessed little concrete knowledge of the Valley of Silence's precise location or the length of their remaining journey. Karl was navigating based on the Prophet's fragmented clues, having only a general sense of direction. In this vast and desolate expanse of the far north, they were akin to a solitary skiff adrift on an immense ocean, perpetually vulnerable to losing their way.

After a brief respite of approximately an hour, they resumed their arduous trek. The blizzard intensified, reducing visibility to near zero. They were forced to rely on Karl's seasoned instincts and rudimentary navigational tools to navigate the treacherous, snow-laden terrain.

As they struggled onward, Lu Shang suddenly perceived a familiar surge of energy. It was a chillingly potent force, strikingly similar to his own "Vacuum Decay" ability, yet possessing a more refined and formidable quality.

He abruptly halted, his senses on high alert as he scanned their surroundings.

"What is it, Lu Shang?" Karl, noticing his sudden stillness, inquired with concern.

"I've detected a significant energy fluctuation nearby," Lu Shang stated, his brow furrowed in contemplation.

Karl and the other resonants immediately adopted a posture of vigilance, each unleashing their respective abilities in an attempt to perceive their surroundings with greater clarity.

"I sense it too," remarked a resonant with the power to manipulate ice, a look of astonishment etched upon his face. "The energy is freezing, and it carries a… sense of stillness."

"Could it be that we are nearing the Valley of Silence?" Amy ventured a guess.

Lu Shang shook his head. He sensed that the energy signature was not naturally occurring; rather, it emanated from a powerful individual. In this desolate, far-northern wilderness, who else besides their group could possess such formidable cryokinetic abilities?

Just as their minds grappled with this perplexing question, a nebulous figure materialized from the swirling snowstorm ahead. It was an individual cloaked in a long, white robe, their form gaunt, their hair and beard the color of freshly fallen snow. They stood alone amidst the tempest, seemingly confused with the environment with the very elements.

"Who goes there?" Karl called out, his voice laced with caution as he subtly signaled the other resonants to prepare for potential combat.

The figure slowly turned, revealing an aged yet serene countenance. Their eyes, deep-set and luminous, seemed capable of piercing through the very fabric of their beings.

"You are travelers from the south, are you not?" the elder's voice resonated with the chill of the arctic wind.

"We are Resonants, journeying to the Valley of Silence," Karl replied with measured prudence.

The elder's gaze swept over Lu Shang and Xiao Ya before settling intently upon Lu Shang. "Your ability… it is… singular."

A wave of surprise washed over Lu Shang. He had not anticipated that this enigmatic elder would discern the nature of his power so readily.

"Who are you? And what brings you to this forsaken place?" Lu Shang inquired.

"I am the Guardian of the Valley of Silence," the elder stated calmly. "I have been awaiting your arrival for some time now."

Lu Shang and Karl exchanged bewildered glances. The elder seemed to possess prior knowledge of their purpose, and their sudden appearance was shrouded in an aura of profound mystery.

"The Guardian? You know us?" Lu Shang pressed.

The elder offered a subtle nod. "The Prophet, in her final moments, contacted me through a unique resonant connection. She foretold the arrival of a group of Resonants from the south, among them one who wields the power to halt the vibration of particles, and a child with potent psychic abilities."

Both Lu Shang and Xiao Ya were taken aback by this revelation. They had not imagined that the Prophet's foresight extended to this very encounter.

"Then… can the Valley of Silence truly aid us in our struggle against the Ouroboros?" Lu Shang asked with fervent anticipation.

A faint smile touched the elder's lips. "The Valley of Silence was established by the first Resonants as a sanctuary, a refuge from the turmoil of the mundane world. Within its confines, we have preserved ancient knowledge and power, which may indeed offer you a path to confront the Ouroboros."

"Really? That's wonderful!" Xiao Ya exclaimed, a spark of hope igniting in her eyes.

"However," the elder continued, their gaze shifting to Lu Shang and Xiao Ya, their expression now imbued with solemnity, "entry into the Valley of Silence is not granted without trial. You must demonstrate that you possess the requisite strength and resolve to bear the responsibility of confronting the Ouroboros."

"We are willing to face any trial!" Lu Shang declared with unwavering conviction.

The elder nodded. "Very well. Follow me; the Valley of Silence lies just ahead."

The elder turned and began to walk slowly into the swirling snow. Lu Shang and Karl exchanged another look before leading the other Resonants to follow closely behind.

Under the elder's guidance, they traversed a landscape dominated by colossal glaciers and precipitous peaks. The surrounding vista was a monochrome panorama of ice and snow, an ethereal expanse of white and grey. They could feel the energy fluctuations in the air growing increasingly intense, the pervasive sense of cold stillness becoming ever more palpable.

Finally, they arrived at the precipice of a vast chasm concealed amongst the towering mountains. Sheer ice walls formed the canyon's flanks, their surfaces draped in thick layers of ice that shimmered with an incandescent brilliance under the diffused sunlight. The depths of the chasm were shrouded in a swirling mist, obscuring any view of what lay beyond.

"This is the entrance to the Valley of Silence," the elder announced, gesturing towards the misty depths. "To gain passage into the valley, you must demonstrate your true resonant power."

With these words, the elder slowly raised their hands, and a potent cryokinetic energy began to emanate from their being. The ambient temperature plummeted precipitously, and the moisture in the air instantly coalesced into countless minute ice crystals that danced in the air, forming a mesmerizing blizzard of frost.

"Use your abilities to resonate with this ice and snow. Only then will you find the path that leads to the Valley of Silence," the elder's voice echoed through the swirling tempest.

Lu Shang inhaled deeply, closing his eyes as he focused on perceiving the icy energy that enveloped them. He attempted to meld his own "Vacuum Decay" ability with the surrounding cold, seeking a harmonious frequency within the chilling symphony.

Xiao Ya also closed her eyes, her psychic tendrils reaching out like invisible filaments, extending towards the ice and snow. She could sense an ancient and formidable power residing within the frozen landscape, a power that resonated deeply with her own mind.

The other Resonants, in turn, unleashed their unique abilities, each striving to establish a connection with the surrounding ice and snow. A kaleidoscope of diverse energy signatures intertwined within the chasm, creating a spectacle both magnificent and enigmatic.

After what felt like an eternity, Lu Shang finally sensed a peculiar resonance between the energy within his own body and the icy environment surrounding them. He abruptly opened his eyes, and with a decisive sweep of his hands, a beam of icy-blue energy erupted from his palms, merging seamlessly with the swirling blizzard before them.

In the next instant, the snowstorm ahead seemed to be rent asunder by an unseen force, revealing a clear passage that led into the depths of the chasm.

Simultaneously, Xiao Ya's eyes fluttered open, now shimmering with an inner luminescence. With a focused exertion of her mental power, she guided the surrounding ice and snow, shaping them into a series of intricate sculptures that lined the newly revealed path, resembling silent sentinels of welcome.

The elder observed their efforts, a look of serene satisfaction gracing their aged features. "Well done. You have passed the trial. Welcome to the Valley of Silence."

Lu Shang and Karl exchanged a look of relief before leading the other Resonants along the path carved through the blizzard, venturing into the Valley of Silence. The vista within the chasm gradually came into focus, revealing an ancient village nestled at its far end, blanketed in snow. The dwellings were constructed from colossal blocks of ice, their surfaces crystalline and translucent, radiating a dreamlike luminescence under the faint sunlight that filtered through the swirling snow.

Lu Shang knew they had finally reached their fabled destination. Here, they might discover the strength to confront the Ouroboros, perhaps unveil the secrets of "Zero Scar," and possibly even find a way to alter the destiny of their entire world. The frigid path of entropy had been arduous, but they had finally glimpsed a glimmer of hope. Little did they know, however, that at the very moment they stepped into the Valley of Silence, the Ouroboros'stracking party had already begun to close in, and a far more intense conflict awaited them just beyond the village's icy embrace.