Jotun's Wrath

The jagged cliffs of Gjallar's Cradle gave way to an imposing sight—the Temple of Jotun's Wrath, its frost-encrusted spires reaching toward the overcast sky like claws scraping at the heavens. The ancient structure was a marvel of frost giant engineering, its walls carved from enchanted ice and inscribed with runes that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. Velkharion stood at the temple's threshold, gripping Crimson Fang tightly as his piercing gaze took in the intimidating sight.

"Level 50…" Velkharion muttered under his breath, checking his stats. After defeating Jokthal the Frigid, he had leveled up to Level 46, but the challenges ahead promised to push him far beyond his limits. He cracked his neck, the timer in his HUD ticking downward: 23:43:21.

The temple radiated a chilling aura, and the blessings Velkharion had received from the old gods shielded him from the debilitating frost debuff that would have crippled most adventurers. He took a deep breath, channeling mana into his hand as he invoked: "Second Tier Rune Magic: Frostgate Passage."

A glowing rune appeared before him, opening a shimmering portal that transported him inside the temple's entrance hall. The oppressive cold grew even heavier, but Velkharion pressed forward.

The entrance hall of the temple was vast, its icy walls illuminated by faintly glowing sconces. Ancient statues of frost giants lined the room, their towering forms frozen mid-swing, as if locked in an eternal battle. As Velkharion stepped forward, the statues began to stir. Their eyes glowed with frost energy as they broke free from their icy confines—these were the Frostborn Sentinels, the temple's guardians.

Velkharion didn't waste time. He raised his sword and charged into the fray. "Fourth Tier Magic: Writhing Briar Bastion!" he chanted, the ground erupting with glowing thorn-covered vines that lashed out at the sentinels, entangling their limbs and slowing their movements.

Effect of Writhing Briar Bastion: Immobilized targets for 12 seconds.

As the sentinels struggled to break free, Velkharion invoked another spell: "Maximize Magic: Explosive Ice Spears!"

Three crystalline spears materialized in his hand, glowing with fiery energy. He launched them at the nearest sentinel, the explosions tearing through its frost-forged armor and shattering its icy core.

Damage Dealt with Explosive Ice Spears: 220 Magic ATK per hit.

The remaining sentinels retaliated, their massive blades slicing through the air and sending shockwaves of frost toward Velkharion. He countered with Third Tier Rune Magic: Veil of Stormcall, summoning a glowing shield of rune-etched winds to deflect the incoming attack.

Effect of Veil of Stormcall: Reduced incoming damage by 50%.

The battle was grueling, the sentinels coordinated and relentless in their assault. But Velkharion's agility and spellcasting versatility allowed him to stay ahead. He finished the fight with a powerful dual strike, activating Warden Duelist's Twin Blade Tempest to deliver rapid, devastating blows.

As the last sentinel crumbled into icy fragments, Velkharion's HUD updated:

Level Up: 47.

He sheathed Crimson Fang, exhaling heavily as he surveyed the room. The entrance hall was silent once more, save for the faint hum of magic emanating from the glowing runes on the walls. Velkharion stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a sealed door at the far end of the hall.

"Guess there's no turning back," he muttered, invoking Rune Master's Carve Rune: Passage Key to unlock the door. The runes shimmered brilliantly before fading, and the massive doors slowly creaked open to reveal the next chamber.

Beyond the entrance hall lay the Rune Puzzle Chamber, a maze of interconnected passageways filled with glowing frost runes. The air was heavy with ancient magic, and Velkharion could feel the energy pulsing through the walls. To proceed, he needed to decipher and activate the runes in the correct sequence—a task that required both precision and speed.

Velkharion stepped forward, focusing on the first rune. He invoked: "Second Tier Magic: Verdant Rune Catalyst."

A glowing vine-like sigil appeared in his hand, amplifying his ability to connect with the runes. The runes shimmered, rearranging themselves into a decipherable pattern.

The puzzle grew increasingly complex as he navigated the chamber, with magical traps activating if he lingered too long on an incorrect sequence. Velkharion relied on his reflexes, dodging bursts of frost energy and using Teleportation Rune: Frostgate Passage to maneuver past barriers.

Finally, after a painstaking effort, the last rune activated, and the chamber trembled as the passage to the Sanctuary of the Frozen Blood opened.

The temple's innermost chamber was vast and foreboding, the sanctuary coated in layers of shimmering frost. Massive icicles hung precariously from the ceiling, and frozen rivers crisscrossed the floor. Waiting at the far end was the final obstacle of the temple—the Icethorn Golems, three massive constructs forged from enchanted ice and iron.

The battle began immediately as the golems came to life, their glowing cores radiating raw frost energy. Velkharion invoked: "Fourth Tier Magic: Writhing Briar Bastion," summoning thorn-covered vines that lashed out at the golems, but their sheer power allowed them to break free quickly.

Velkharion switched tactics, channeling rune magic into Crimson Fang. "Runic Engraving: Emberlash Blade!" Flames engulfed the greatsword as he charged, delivering precision strikes to the nearest golem's core.

Despite his efforts, the golems coordinated their attacks, forcing Velkharion to retreat and reposition. He invoked **Sixth Tier Magic: Bloomstorm of Sovereignty**, engulfing the battlefield in cascading petals of fire and frost that battered the golems and restored his HP.

Damage Dealt with Bloomstorm of Sovereignty: 300 Magic ATK.

Healing Effect: Restored 20% HP.

The golems fell one by one, their cores shattered by Velkharion's relentless assault. As the last construct crumbled, the chamber grew quiet, and Velkharion's HUD updated again:

Level Up: 48.

With the final trial complete, Velkharion stepped through the newly opened passageway into the Sanctuary of the Frozen Blood, where he could feel the presence of something far more powerful waiting. He paused for a moment, gripping Crimson Fang tightly as his HUD displayed the timer: 22:31:12.

"This is only going to get harder," Velkharion muttered, his gaze locked on the distant figure of Ymirion, the son of the Frost Giant King, seated on a frozen throne.

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