A line of guards, weapons raised, charged through the gaping hole in the gates.
"Hmph. Annoying," Alice muttered, her tone more inconvenienced than alarmed.
The ground beneath the charging guards began to frost over rapidly.
Jagged pillars of ice erupted from the stone, impaling and encasing the surprised attackers in frozen tombs.
The sudden, brutal display of her power created an eerie stillness in the immediate vicinity.
"Path's clear," Alice stated, her sword still trailing faint wisps of cold air.
"Let's not stand around."
Rel nodded and was already leading the way through the shattered gates.
"Agreed. Keep moving. We need to secure the inner perimeter before reinforcements arrive."
Jan and Valencia moved swiftly, flanking Rel, their weapons still at the ready.
Bazz followed suit as his heavy gauntlets shook with power, while Camila, Lyra, and Jae kept a watchful eye on their surroundings as they entered the eastern sector of the fortress.
