As dusk approached, a seaside port in Rhea was gradually enveloped by a soft, golden glow.
The setting sun slowly sank, tinting the sky with warm shades of orange and red, a golden afterglow spattering the sea surface, glittering as if countless tiny fragments of gold danced among the waves.
Within the harbor, fishing boats successively returned, each leaving behind a graceful arc on the sea, filling the entire port with a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.
Among the many fishing boats, one concealed a middle-aged man in a black cloak.
The captain spoke with tense expression, "Your Excellency, we're about to enter the harbor, let's meet here again in a week, and I will take you and Mr. Savoie away."
The middle-aged man had a profound look in his eyes and his face was calm and resilient, like a rock weathered by the years, radiating a unique charm.
His body was slightly overweight, but it didn't seem cumbersome; on the contrary, it conveyed a sense of steadiness and strength. His steps were firm and strong, and his broad, powerful hands revealed a toughness borne from a life of trials.
He was Chris's best friend since childhood, the first Daybreaker, later a soldier chief of the Fischer family. Under Byrne's guidance, he had married a silver descendant elder and fathered a child, eventually becoming the behind-the-scenes controller of the silver descendants on the East Coast Province.
Surpassed on the Path of Calamity by the temperamental "Savoie," a younger Daybreaker infiltrated into the Royal Army, Archibald was just a step too slow to reach the rank of "Flaming Knight," which was the 3rd Rank.
Now Archibald was a middle-aged man with greying temples, nearing fifty years old.
He often looked back on the past, and deep down, he was very clear about one thing.
He would never have the chance to reach the 5th Rank.
But the Archibald of today had learned to make compromises in life, knowing that some things can't be forced, and he had finally mastered the power of the 3rd Rank "Flaming Knight."
As long as he completed the ritual, he would be able to advance to the 4th Rank on the Path of Calamity, Hand of Austere Winter.
"Savoie, which of us will succeed first?"
"Without the knowledge given to us by the gods in the last few years, detailing the exact methods and content of the ritual, I probably wouldn't even have the chance to reach the 4th Rank in my lifetime."
As long as a heart keeps generating intense emotions and causing various disasters that impact others, an Extraordinary Exponent on the Path of Calamity can go farther and farther.
Therefore, over the years, Archibald had been leading teams on the White Sea, responsible for eradicating various non-compliant natives and annihilating pirates, his Spiritual Power as a Consecution exponent had significantly quickened.
Now, he only had one thing to do: complete the promotion ritual!
The name of the 4th Rank on the "Path of Calamity" was "Hand of Austere Winter."
Archibald left the harbor and, concealing his identity, came to a snow mountain near the eastern part of Rhea.
In front of this magnificent white snow mountain, nature's grandeur and mystery were perfectly exhibited; the mountain soared into the clouds like a sword thrusting into the sky, its majestic presence inspiring awe.
The snow-covered mountain was blanketed in thick, pure, and sacred snow, twinkling in sunlight like numerous diamonds set atop the mountain, casting a captivating glow.
Beneath the mountain, Archibald raised his head to see the clouds above the peak disperse, revealing the true face of the snow mountain. The pure white mingled with the profound blue of the sky to form a magnificent panorama.
After a while, the clouds gathered again, shrouding the snow mountain in a misty, mysterious veil.
"This white snow mountain is a masterpiece of nature."
To complete the promotion ritual, Archibald ventured alone into the snow mountain.
Deep within the towering snow mountain lay a spectacular ice river, resembling a silver giant dragon, winding through the mountains, sparkling with a mysterious light.
The sunlight, filtering through the mist, shone on the surface of the ice river, reflecting brilliant colors. The ice blocks within pressed and collided against each other, creating a crisp sound.
Standing near the ice river, Archibald could feel the grandeur and majesty of nature, as well as a profound recognition of the insignificance and reverence that humanity holds in the face of nature.
The biting cold seeped relentlessly into his body.
He took a deep breath, stripped off all his clothes, and without hesitation, plunged into the icy river.
At that instant, the icy water pierced his skin like needles all over his body, Archibald's breathing became rapid, but the determination in his eyes did not waver in the slightest.
Ordinary people would likely die in moments, he strenuously swam through the ice river, each contraction of his muscles accompanied by the intertwining of cold and pain, as if the icy water sought to devour all his heat and strength, but Archibald's heart remained as firm as rock, constantly telling himself, he must endure, must last until the final moment.
An entire hour passed, his limbs gradually numbed, but he still clenched his teeth and swam forward with all his might.
I can't do this anymore...
The sudden thought deflated Archibald, he violently tried to continue moving his body, but it felt as if there was a heavy weight tied to him, completely unable to swim freely.
Should I use flame, that could save me, but the ritual would fail...
Just then, he saw a shadow at the bottom of the river, which he gradually made out clearly.
It was Savoie's body!
A few days ago, Savoie arrived at this snowy mountain before him, but after entering, he never came out again, in fact, Archibald had already predicted this in the depths of his heart.
His heart felt heavy, as Savoie, a younger member, had once surpassed him on the Path of Calamity, and it had always been an uncomfortable matter in Archibald's heart, even feeling inevitable jealousy deep inside.
However, at this moment, Savoie, whom he regarded as the greatest rival in his life, had died here due to a failed advancement ritual.
Until the very end, Savoie hadn't given up on the ritual, hadn't used the Flaming Knight's extraordinary power...
A strong wave of sorrow swept over him, along with rage and strength.
Finally, he swam across the entire ice river and struggled to stand up from the water, his body so stiff he could hardly move, but his heart was filled with the joy of victory.
Archibald stood on the bank, letting the cold wind blow against his drenched body, his heart brimming with pride and satisfaction.
He looked toward the river.
After bringing Savoie's body back to Nasir, he finally reached the 4th Rank "Hand of Austere Winter."
Archibald's physical aptitude increased by 150, Spiritual Power by 50, and he also gained two extraordinary powers, "Ice Solidify" and "Winter's Might"
The former allowed him to be enveloped by absolutely hard ice, enter a state of forced hibernation, and emerge from it after a long sleep, and even conventional Monarch powerful experts would find it difficult to easily break through that hard ice.
The latter gave Archibald the ability to manipulate ice, able to instantaneously create an icy winter wonderland within hundreds of meters.
After returning to Nasir City, he silently stood by a newly dug grave, his face etched with the marks of time, his eyes filled with endless sorrow and resolution.
Archibald held a handful of soil in his hand, resolved to scatter it over the resting place he had prepared for his friend.
"Rest in peace, Savoie."
His silhouette stretched long in the sunset's afterglow, lonely and desolate, his face without tears, but his profound eyes were full of unspeakable grief.
He bowed his head and slowly sprinkled the soil into the grave, each grain carrying his reluctance, bidding his final farewell to his friend.
The air around seemed to freeze, with only the occasional call of birds and the rustling of leaves in the wind, Archibald took a deep breath, his eyes becoming even more firm and resolved.
He stood up and gently dusted off his hands.
"Maybe this is the fate of us Extraordinary Exponents, sooner or later, each of us will die, Savoie... I don't know when I will die, but I know what I will die for."
"I won't die of old age, I will surely die fighting for the Fischer family and the Dawn Church, believe me!"