NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 81: The Symbiotic Contract
Chapter 81: The Symbiotic Contract
The icy breath continued to spread, as snowflakes began to form a massive storm. The entire world seemed to turn white as the storm expanded, engulfing everything in its path.
On the Periphery
Thor and his group watched the scene unfold with mounting tension.
At the Heart of the Canyon
In the world now completely made of wind and snow, a gigantic vortex took shape. At its center, a mass of extraordinarily pure, highly condensed water element formed—distinctly different from ordinary water elements. It carried an intense chill, capable of freezing everything it touched.
Anna slowly advanced, her protective magic shields having already shattered fourfold, leaving only a faint, fragile layer. Yet she pressed forward, step by step.
"Crack!"
A faint sound echoed as the final magical shield shattered. Ice began to spread across her body.
“Great Goddess of Life, please hear my call. The summoning of the child of nature, the opportunity for symbiosis with all living things!” Despite her lips turning blue with cold, the girl’s voice continued to ring out. Her words, though soft, seemed to carry a certain power, cutting through the storm and distance, reaching the vortex.
In response, the faint, ethereal figure within the vortex solidified slightly. Yet, just as this happened, Anna's body began to freeze, her movements halting as the extreme cold started to encase her from the skin outward.
"Is it impossible to succeed?"
This was the final thought in Anna's mind before her consciousness seemed to fade completely.
But at that very moment—
"Buzz!"
A ripple suddenly spread out. From the center of the vortex, a light blue magic circle flared to life. Simultaneously, a similar magic circle appeared beneath Anna's feet, enveloping her frozen figure.
As these two circles lit up, an immense energy gathered—not just water element, but a higher form of ice element.
"Boom!"
The storm intensified, and the extreme cold began to converge rather than spread. Everything around them began to freeze solid. Even the Life Force that sustained them seemed to be losing its efficacy.
On the Periphery
"My lord, we must leave immediately!" one of the knights urged with difficulty.
"Yes, my lord, the cold is intensifying, and the magical shields are failing," another knight added anxiously.
"Wait a bit longer!" Thor gritted his teeth, casting a glance at the flickering shield before making his decision.
Despite their mounting anxiety, the knights could do nothing but wait.
Time continued to pass.
"Crack!"
Another magic shield gave way, shattering into pieces. Only one shield remained, and it was expected to break within a few breaths. But then, unexpectedly, the surrounding wind and snow began to diminish. The extreme cold that had permeated the area seemed to retreat, or rather, it was being drawn inward toward the center.
"This... what is happening?" Thor quickly noticed the change, a glimmer of hope appearing in his eyes.
He wasn’t the only one; the others quickly realized what was happening as well, exclamations of surprise echoing around him. Thor, however, paid them no mind, his eyes fixed intently on the center of the storm.
As if confirming his thoughts—
"Buzz!"
A ripple spread out, followed by a light blue magic circle expanding across the sky. Then a second magic circle appeared, glowing with a cold, icy light, enveloping the entire sky.
The wind and cold disappeared completely in that instant. Anna's body floated into the air, encased in the light blue magic circle.
One minute later, a small, light blue figure shot out from the other magic circle, darting toward Anna.
"Buzz!"
The magic circle seemed to activate, and a massive surge of ice element erupted. The disguise Anna had been wearing faded away, revealing her true form: fair skin, delicate features, pointed ears, and a long, light blue dress adorned with intricate designs. Around her, dense ice elements danced, while above her head, a small, ice-blue figure floated, exuding an aura of joy.
The figure resembled a miniature human, with skin that was crystal-clear and transparent. It was only the size of a palm, wearing a double-layered, intricately woven crown. Its inner ears, body, and tail were adorned with diamond-shaped, dark blue spots, contrasting sharply with its light blue skin. Its small hands and feet were also dark blue, as if it were wearing boots. Behind it fluttered two pairs of light blue wings, which beat softly, making it appear extremely cute.
At this moment, the tiny figure joyfully circled around Anna.
"From now on, we are partners. May I give you a name?" Anna opened her eyes, her beautiful face lighting up with excitement.
“Yes, we are partners,” the ice sprite responded, its voice filled with glee. Newly born, it was curious about everything.
"Then, I’ll call you Nico. My name is Anna," Anna said with a smile.
“Nico has a name now! Anna! Anna!” the ice sprite repeated joyfully.
Anna couldn’t help but smile as well. Having signed a symbiotic contract with the ice sprite, she had now fully transformed into an elf, or rather, into something akin to a natural sprite herself, no longer a half-elf. Her magical abilities had been greatly enhanced, and she even felt capable of mastering higher-level magic.
And the benefits didn’t end there. There were things that even she could not fully comprehend yet. The symbiotic contract, as the highest form of contract, held unimaginable benefits, especially when it was with a natural sprite.
Her gaze involuntarily drifted to Thor in the distance. Her heart stirred, and she made a decision.
"Nico, I need to form a symbiotic contract with someone very important to me. Will that be okay?" Anna asked, looking at the joyful ice sprite.
“Of course! If they are important to Anna, they are important to Nico too,” the ice sprite responded with a cheerful smile, its trust in Anna unwavering.
Anna nodded with a smile, and the next moment, surrounded by ice elements, she began to float toward Thor.