Chapter 05 :The Ice Kingdom: Test of Strength

As Abdul Karim walked through the icy corridors of the castle, he felt a strange sensation that something was watching him. With each step he took, a peculiar echo resonated through the halls, but the sound wasn't natural. At times, he could hear faint whispers, as if hidden voices were moving between the walls of the castle, as if something invisible was circling around him.

As he continued moving forward, he noticed something unusual. A fleeting shadow passed quickly over the icy walls, but it disappeared every time he looked directly at it. With every step he took, he could feel something move in the distant shadows, something unseen but present with great force. The air felt thick, as if it was charged with something strange.

The further he went toward the main hall, the more the strange sounds increased. The icy walls emitted a faint light, but in some places, the light would suddenly change, as if something was manipulating the shadows. Abdul Karim wondered to himself if there was something hidden, something deeper than just the walls and icy corridors, watching him from the darkness.

Suddenly, Abdul Karim stopped in front of the main hall gate, feeling something strange, as if the atmosphere had changed abruptly. In that moment, he sensed arrows being aimed at him at great speed, as if coming from all directions. He quickly turned around in an attempt to escape, but soon realized there was no way out. But suddenly, in an unexpected move, he leaped powerfully toward the icy ceiling, narrowly avoiding the arrows that passed beneath him in the last second.

He clung to the ceiling as if he were a spider, sticking to the ice with his hands and legs in an unnatural position. His heart raced, and his eyes darted around, scanning for any approaching danger. While remaining stuck in place, he looked around in awe.

Abdul Karim (amazed):

"What in the name of God... How did I do that?"

Then he burst out laughing sarcastically, commenting on the situation:

Abdul Karim (smiling lightly):

"This reminds me of the Spider-Man movie. Are we in a movie world now?"

While Abdul Karim was still searching for the source of the arrows, the ground beneath his feet suddenly began to tremble. Suddenly, four terrifying dwarfs emerged from the shadows, rushing from the icy walls and clinging to the ceiling of the hall. They resembled beings from another world, with small, distorted bodies and faces that were wrinkled, as if they had been petrified from ancient times. Their eyes glowed with a dark red hue, emitting strange sparks as if they were feeding on the very darkness itself.

Their features were terrifying, with sharp, pointed teeth gleaming in the dim light, and their hands were deformed with long fingers resembling sharp talons. Their feet were equipped with deadly claws, anchoring them to the ceiling like spiders, moving with fluidity and calm in the space around them.

Before Abdul Karim could react to the scene, the first dwarf shot a fiery arrow toward him, followed by the other three, who launched their arrows with incredible speed. But Abdul Karim, driven by the will to survive, suddenly leapt toward the icy floor, dodging the arrows that were rapidly approaching him. Immediately, they all jumped after him, ready to attack.

But Abdul Karim was faster than they could catch him. He swiftly dodged the arrows with incredible agility, moving forward and drawing a strange golden sword from his belt. The sword was gleaming, emitting an eerie light, with a sharp and cylindrical blade, adorned with mysterious engravings along its edge. The sword seemed like an ancient magical artefact, but it was filled with power.

As the arrows closed in on him, he raised the sword with astonishing speed, deflecting them one by one. Then, with a strange surge of power from the sword, he delivered a single decisive strike toward the arrows, causing them to scatter in the air and sending fiery sparks flying from the blade, as if the sword itself were controlling an invisible force, shattering everything in its path.

In that moment, the hall fell silent. The four dwarfs slowly pulled back, staring at Abdul Karim in disbelief, as if they hadn't expected him to survive the attack.

First Dwarf (in a low voice, speaking in a strange tone):

"This sword... How did he get it? No one is supposed to touch it."

Second Dwarf (mockingly, with a sarcastic tone):

"Does this human think he can defeat us with this ancient sword?"

Abdul Karim (astonished, looking at the sword):

"What? Where did this sword come from?"

He then looked at the sword in his hand, wondering about the power it contained. As the dwarfs slowly retreated, step by step, he felt something strange happening to him. It was as though the sword was telling him what to do.

Third Dwarf (challengingly):

"You've entered our land, and you will leave it only dead."

Abdul Karim (with determination, raising the sword confidently):

"I won't let that happen."*

As the hall filled with silence after the challenge issued by the third dwarf, Abdul Karim rushed forward with swift and decisive steps. In his hand, the golden sword emitted a strange light, as if an unseen force was guiding him.

The first dwarf was the first to attack, firing a fire arrow with tremendous speed. But Abdul Karim was faster; he thrust the sword with great force, causing the arrowhead to collide with the sword, resulting in a sudden explosion. Sparks flew into the air, igniting the room with red and orange hues. At that very moment, Abdul Karim leapt upwards like lightning.

While in the air, a fierce sound echoed from the second dwarf, who fired another arrow toward him. But Abdul Karim, by guiding his sword, deflected the arrow off its path and smiled as he felt an increasing power from the sword.

He then descended quickly to the ground, his foot slightly shaking from the force of the fall, but he regained his balance in an instant, facing the third dwarf, who was smiling in mockery.

The third dwarf would not give him a chance; he fired another arrow, this time poisoned. But it wasn't enough to intimidate Abdul Karim. With a swift movement, he used the sword again to break the arrow mid-air, then took two steps forward towards the third dwarf and raised the sword high.

Meanwhile, the fourth dwarf, who had been watching from the ceiling, leaped forward, attempting to seize the opportunity to strike Abdul Karim from behind. But Abdul Karim had anticipated the trick, quickly spinning mid-motion to face him. In that moment, he thrust the sword with full force, and it collided with the fourth dwarf's sword mid-air, shattering it into ice shards.

The sound of the fourth dwarf's scream echoed through the hall, as the shattered ice rained down to the ground like cold raindrops.

Abdul Karim (breathing heavily, preparing for the final strike):

"You won't defeat me this way."

Before the dwarfs could respond, Abdul Karim threw himself forward, striking the third dwarf at his weak spot, killing him instantly, as he felt the flow of the mysterious sword's power surge through his body.

After the third dwarf fell to the ground, torn apart by Abdul Karim's powerful strike, the hall became quieter, but the tension still lingered in the air.

The first dwarf, still standing firm, looked at his fallen companions, then turned to Abdul Karim with a challenging gaze, as if that look was his last act of resistance.

First dwarf (in a low voice, filled with anger):

"You won't let us leave in peace, will you?"

Abdul Karim (confidently, raising his sword):

"I will show no mercy to those who seek to kill me."

In that moment, the second dwarf, who had been watching the battle from the side-lines, decided to attack once again. He fired a poisoned arrow towards Abdul Karim, but Abdul Karim, having become stronger thanks to the mysterious sword, moved his sword in a swift and precise motion, breaking the arrow mid-air before it could reach him.

Second dwarf (in astonishment):

"How? How did you do that?"

Abdul Karim (in a calm yet imposing voice):

"This sword is not just a tool. It is a power that only those who wield it can understand."

Then, in a flash, Abdul Karim moved like lightning, delivering a fatal blow to the first dwarf. The golden sword pierced his heart, sending a final shudder through him before he collapsed to the ground, unable to resist.

As for the second dwarf, who had begun fleeing toward the icy wall of the hall, he met the same fate. Abdul Karim charged toward him with swift steps, raised the sword high, and struck him with a deadly blow from behind, causing the ice in the hall to shatter into thousands of tiny fragments.

At that moment, silence filled the hall. The ruins and shattered ice scattered across the ground, while Abdul Karim stood amidst the destruction, contemplating the sword in his hand.

Abdul Karim (in a low voice, staring at the sword intently):

"What is this sword? And what power does it possess?"

But he quickly pushed these questions aside from his mind and refocused on the task ahead of him. At that moment, he felt something strange growing inside him. This battle was just the beginning, and the path ahead was filled with challenges he had never imagined before.

As Abdul Karim stood amidst the destruction left by the deadly battle, he took a deep breath before heading towards the main hall gate. The gate was massive, made of pure ice, adorned with intricate carvings and mysterious symbols that emitted a faint glow in the darkness. He gently pushed the gate, and it opened with a soft creak, as if it feared disturbing the silence that had settled in the hall after the battle.

As Abdul Karim passed through the gate, he found himself in a strange hall, vast and chillingly cold. The walls were covered in transparent ice, reflecting light in an unusual way, making the place appear as if it were inside the heart of an ice mountain. The floor was covered with smooth, icy ground, resembling a frozen lake, which added an eerie touch to the space. There were no guards or barriers—only an oppressive silence, as though the hall had been completely emptied long ago.

Abdul Karim continued forward, his footsteps echoing in the silence, carrying his golden sword over his shoulder as if he were a great warrior returning from a historic battle. His eyes gleamed with determination and confidence as he stepped toward his goal, surrounded by mystery and threat.

Then, at the far end of the hall, Abdul Karim saw what he had been expecting. In the distant corner, upon a throne carved from ice, sat the queen. She was a young woman, seemingly in her mid-thirties, yet her beauty was unique and extraordinary. Her features were soft and elegant, with sharp green eyes that reflected great mystery, as if she knew something no one else did.

What caught Abdul Karim's attention most, however, was her white hair, which was smooth and glossy like snow. The hair cascaded down her back in flowing waves, as if it captured the light of the strange hall in a magical way, adding an aura of sanctity and enchanting beauty to her.

The queen sat there quietly, without any sign of fear or anxiety. She looked at Abdul Karim with her piercing gaze, as if waiting for his arrival.

The atmosphere in the hall was charged with mystery, as though time had stopped at that very moment.

When Abdul Karim entered the hall, where the queen sat on her icy throne, her piercing green eyes glistened, and a mysterious smile formed on her lips, as if she were hiding secrets that no ordinary person could uncover. As she greeted him, she spoke with a tone of curiosity and playful teasing, still gazing at him with an intense stare:

"Welcome to the Kingdom of Ice. Have you come here to pledge your loyalty to me, or are you here to kill me, as you did with the dwarves?"

Abdul Karim replied in surprise, raising an eyebrow in disbelief: 

"How did you know that?"

The queen answered calmly, moving her hand gracefully as if trying to convey an unspoken message:

 "Because I have seen everything. My vision is keen, capable of seeing across great distances, or even through closed walls. Now, what will your choice be? Will you kill me, or bow before me? Or will you ask me to answer some questions?"

Abdul Karim was somewhat confused, but his curiosity was stronger. Watching the queen closely, he replied:

"Questions? Yes? What's happening to me? I feel something strange inside, something that makes me want to give my heart a chance, settle down, and start a family like other humans. Does it have anything to do with this place?"

She didn't answer him directly, but instead smiled lightly, her gaze carrying something that Abdul Karim had not fully grasped at first. There were those deep looks that stirred an inexplicable feeling inside him, as if she were speaking to his mind without uttering a word.

"First, tell me... why did you come here? Were you looking for something specific? Do you have a mission that needs completing?"

Abdul Karim, still gazing intently into her eyes, responded in a deep voice, as if talking to himself:

"I came here searching for the Sage, the one they speak of, the one said to have answers to all the questions we have yet to find answers for. Perhaps he's the only one who can help me with the strange sword I carry... and with my life, and the strange things happening to me."

The queen looked at the sword with admiration, her eyes sparkling slightly. She then responded in a soft tone, but one carrying complex emotions:

"The Sage? He is indeed a strange person, moving from place to place. But if you're looking for him, you'll need to journey deeper into the land of ice. You'll face hardships beyond what you expect. Perhaps you'll find him... but you won't be alone on this path."

As she spoke, she gave him a glance that Abdul Karim couldn't ignore. It was more than just curiosity... It seemed to carry a sense of subtle admiration, while her lips moved with those whispers that, had he listened closely, would have made him feel something more than just words.

She asked again, her eyes never leaving his:

"Do you think you're ready for what's to come? Do you know that your path will be fraught with dangers, and that the Sage may not be easy to find?"

Abdul Karim didn't know how to answer this question, but he felt something strange in his chest, as if something was growing inside him with every word she spoke. In his mind, a voice whispered that there was more than met the eye.

He finally responded in a firm voice, despite an unexpected hesitation in his heart:

"I am ready. No matter the challenges, I will go down this path. I will find the Sage and the way I need."

The queen smiled a wide smile, as if hiding something behind that smile, and then spoke politely, as if her words carried emotions she hadn't fully revealed:

"Then, you must have courage, Abdul Karim. If you wish to find the Sage, you must be ready to give up many things... even a part of yourself."

Then, in a very low voice, she added:

"And perhaps you'll find more than you expect."

Her last words carried a hint of subtle allure, as if leaving room for an indirect interpretation of her feelings toward him, without being entirely direct or clear.

As Abdul Karim was watching the queen calmly, immersed in her cryptic words, he suddenly felt something strange behind him, as if a cold breeze had passed by his side. Before he could turn his head, he felt a cold blade press directly against his neck.

His heart raced, as if time had stopped for a moment. When he slowly turned, he discovered a young soldier standing behind him, her sharp eyes and sword drawn against his throat. She had crept up on him so stealthily that he hadn't noticed her presence until the blade was at his neck.

The soldier (in a calm, stern voice, with a hint of mockery): 

"Unfortunately, this is where your journey ends."

Abdul Karim (confidently, staring into queen eyes): 

"Who are you? And why are you doing this?"

The soldier (smiling coldly): 

"I am the guardian of this place. Don't think you're the only one who can sneak around here."

Abdul Karim noticed that the queen was watching the scene calmly, as if she was indifferent to what was happening. Her eyes still held that mysterious smile, but there was something in her gaze that made him feel like this wasn't a coincidence.

Abdul Karim (calmly, his voice focused): 

"Wasn't I supposed to be the guest here? Why all this?"

The soldier (measuring him with a sharp look, as if trying to analyze his actions):

 "You are not a guest here. We don't welcome visitors to our kingdom so easily."

Abdul Karim (with a sudden movement, lifting his head and facing the soldier without taking a step back):

 "So, is this my fate? To die here?"

The soldier (with a slight smile on her lips, waving her sword):

 "You still don't understand. Not everything ends the way you want."

As the words hung between them, Abdul Karim began to feel something unfamiliar in his chest. This was not the challenge he had expected, but he knew this moment would be crucial in determining whether he would survive or be lost in the unknown.