"Stay away! That ice will freeze you!" someone from the crowd shouted, warning the others. But panic had already overtaken them, causing their steps to become chaotic and aimless.
The ground around the Ascension Stairs was now covered in a layer of slick, hard ice. Frost began to coat the steps one by one, until the entire staircase resembled a shimmering glass sculpture. Light snow fell slowly from the sky, covering the area in a beauty that felt ironic amidst the chaos. To those present, the scene was more like a frozen hell than a winter wonderland.
In a short time, barely a minute, the entire area within a 50-meter radius of the Ascension Stairs had transformed into an icy landscape. The people trapped within the radius could not resist; their bodies froze like statues, their faces locked in expressions of fear or confusion.
From a distance, those standing more than 50 meters away could only watch the scene in horror. In their eyes, a woman stood floating, surrounded by glimmering ice. Her arms were crossed in front of her chest, and her sharp gaze surveyed everyone now frozen.
"Unbelievable... how did these people manage to anger Miss Hana? What did they do?" a middle-aged man asked in disbelief. His face was filled with fear as he hugged himself, as if the cold could reach him as well.
"Be quiet, lower your voice!" someone nearby whispered. His eyes were fixed on Hana's figure, full of caution and respect. They dared not make a move that might draw the woman's attention.
Meanwhile, an old man named Zai stood trembling, staring at the Ascension Stairs now enveloped in ice. His face was pale, and his eyes were filled with fear. He was both a servant and bodyguard to the young man who now appeared frozen on the second step. His mind raced. If Hana decided to kill everyone in the area, what could he do? Nothing.
"Lady Hana, please release them..." Zai prayed silently, his dim eyes full of hope fixed on the figure of the woman floating in the cold air.
His prayer was so intense, as if relying on every last shred of luck he possessed. Yet he knew, even with the influence of the powerful family behind the young man, their strength was nothing compared to Hana's. As a core member of the World Market Trade Alliance, Hana was like an unshakable deity. Before her, that wealthy family was nothing more than a speck of dust easily swept away by the wind.
One word escaped Hana's lips, sharp and cold, piercing to the bone. Her commanding gaze shifted to those still standing outside the frozen radius. Their faces were pale, their eyes wide, but none dared to look away from her.
"Have you forgotten where you are?" she asked, her voice laced with restrained anger. She waited for their answer, as if testing their courage.
"No, Lady! We are in the Divine Sky Realm!" one of them shouted hastily.
"We are in the realm of the gods, Miss Hana!" added another, his voice trembling.
One by one, they answered, racing to speak first. None dared to remain silent. With the power Hana had displayed, they knew silence would be a foolish decision.
Hana looked at them sharply, allowing a moment of silence before speaking again.
"Remember," she said firmly, "you must conduct yourselves properly. Never forget to continue growing stronger."
She glanced at them one by one, ensuring every eye was fixed on her. These people, she thought, did not see her as the guardian of the Ascension Stairs. They were simply rushing in because the system had granted them access. They were too careless, too arrogant, as if this world belonged to them.
"If this had happened elsewhere, in the realm of other beings, you would all be dead on the spot for such trivial negligence," she continued. Her words carried a subtle threat but also a sincere warning.
Hana's voice deepened as she continued. "Remember, this is not Earth. In this world, there are no laws to protect you if trouble arises. Here, strength is the law itself."
She paused, letting her words sink in. The atmosphere around them grew heavier. Light snow continued to fall, but no one dared to move.
In her heart, Hana wasn't just giving a lecture. She had learned much from her experiences, especially in tasks assigned by Lein. She was often sent on missions outside the Divine Sky Realm, to places where injustice was the norm and the strong always oppressed the weak.
She didn't want the people of Earth to become like those weaklings—or worse, to become a source of trouble simply due to their lack of respect for the strong.
"Do you understand?" Hana ended her lecture with a sharp shout, her voice echoing through the frosty air.
Their responses were unanimous, like a choir formed out of fear and respect. To ordinary ears, it might sound like empty cries. But Hana could see beyond that. In their eyes, she saw sparks of determination, tiny flames beginning to ignite. Perhaps, just perhaps, they could become better than she feared.
Hana nodded in satisfaction. Of course, she wouldn't kill these people with her ice element over such a trivial matter. After ensuring her moral lesson was received, she waved her hand, dispelling the ice that immobilized them.
In an instant, all the ice vanished. Thin white mist swirled before being absorbed into the immense power surrounding Hana. The people who had been frozen collapsed to the ground, helpless, their bodies shivering, some writhing slowly as they tried to move stiffened limbs. Their pale faces showed relief, though the pain in their bodies was still very real.
Being frozen for a few minutes by Hana's ice element was enough to cause physical damage. The extreme cold attacked their body tissues, and pain surged as blood slowly began to flow again. Yet they were all still breathing, a miracle in such a dire situation.