Chapter 55: The Mutation of the Alien Soul

Shingin lay sprawled on the grass, staring at the crimson pool before him—his own blood staining the earth. Some of it had already coagulated into deep red scabs, but more continued to seep out, soaking his fingers. His consciousness wavered, his entire body feeling as though it were sinking into an abyss of ice. The cold seeped from his wounds, spreading through his veins, sapping the last remnants of warmth.

Amid the haze, a vivid memory rose from the depths—a night bathed in blood-red light. In his mind, a boy with fiery hair brushed past him, exuding a chilling aura that felt like frost biting at his soul. The fear he felt then was etched deep into his spirit. But the cold now was no illusion. It was real, tearing at his body and his will.

The water-blue glow of Shingin's alien soul dimmed, its light faltering. Yet, in its place came an eerie chill. The grass surrounding him began to frost over; the damp soil hardened into ice. Even the air seemed saturated with the bitter sting of winter.

Watcher 23 and Watcher 25 stood a short distance away, sneering as they observed the broken figure of the "leader." Watcher 25 chuckled, his voice brimming with mockery. "Take these two women back. They'll make excellent fodder for my pets."

"Shingin! Are you alright?!" Riyugi's cry pierced through the fog clouding his mind, a beacon of light dragging him from the abyss. His body trembled faintly as he forced his eyes open. Through his blurred vision, he saw Riyugi and Myouka bound tightly by a swarm of serpents, tears streaming down their faces.

Annoyed by the incessant cries, Watcher 23 raised his dagger, aiming it at Riyugi's forehead. "You're too loud. Time to shut you up!"

"They can't get hurt!" A single, unyielding thought surged through Shingin's mind, pulling him back from the edge of death.

Just as the dagger's tip was about to pierce Riyugi's brow, a sudden wave of icy cold swept through the air. Frost spread rapidly over the ground, freezing the soil solid. Watcher 23 froze mid-motion, instinctively turning his head. His pupils constricted in shock.

A radiant, snow-blue light erupted from Shingin's body, surging with a glacial intensity. Frost expanded outward, blanketing the battlefield in its chill. Sensing the danger, the serpent swarm hissed and scattered in retreat.

Slowly, Shingin rose to his feet, his body battered and bleeding, yet his gaze was sharper and colder than ever before. His voice, low and commanding, carried an unmistakable edge of authority. "Release them."

The mocking smirks vanished from the faces of Watcher 23 and Watcher 25. A deep, primal fear gripped them, driving them to step back involuntarily. The oppressive aura emanating from Shingin froze them to their cores.

"This... isn't normal…" Watcher 23's voice quivered.

Watcher 25 clenched his jaw, forcing himself to suppress the fear gnawing at his chest. With a roar, he bellowed, "Snakes! Attack!"

The swarm of serpents surged forward like a tide, aiming to engulf Shingin completely. But Shingin merely lifted his head, his expression unchanging.

The snow-blue light around him flared. In an instant, the wave of serpents froze mid-attack, transformed into crystalline sculptures of ice. The frosted statues stood motionless for a heartbeat before shattering into countless shards, scattering like snowflakes. The ground, the nearby trees, and even the air seemed locked in a wintry grip.

"Impossible!" Watcher 23 gasped, his voice trembling.

"That's… a mutation?" Watcher 25 muttered, his pupils narrowing to pinpoints.

Watcher 23's expression twisted in panic. "His alien soul… it's evolved!"

"Quick! We can't let him fully harness that power!" Watcher 23 barked, his voice laced with desperation.

But before they could act, an icy tempest burst forth. The frigid wind swept over the battlefield, immobilizing them in place. Their limbs froze, and even their breaths turned to frost, hanging in the air.

"I told you. Release them." Shingin's voice was colder than the winter storm, each word a blade slicing through their resolve.

Watcher 25 struggled to maintain his composure, but the oppressive cold crushed his thoughts. Trembling, he growled, "Do you really think this is the end? Fools!"

The ground cracked open as Watcher 25 summoned a hidden reserve of serpents. Black shadows slithered forth, their hissing cries reverberating through the frostbitten air.

Shingin remained unmoved. The moment the serpents entered his domain, they froze solid, reduced to lifeless statues of ice. His alien soul had completely transformed, radiating an aura that distorted the very fabric of the battlefield.

Realizing the futility of resistance, Watcher 25 turned to flee. Shingin's eyes narrowed. With a flick of his hand, a blade of icy light shot through the air, severing Watcher 25's escape. The Watcher screamed as he collapsed to the ground, his legs encased in frost. The wounds froze instantly, preventing even a single drop of blood from spilling.

"You won't escape," Shingin declared, his tone resolute and unyielding. Towering over the kneeling Watcher 25, his gaze bore down with an icy finality.

Nearby, Riyugi and Myouka were finally freed from their bindings. Though their bodies still trembled from the ordeal, their eyes were filled with awe and disbelief. Riyugi stepped closer, her voice trembling. "Shingin… is it still you?"