Conquering His Cold Heart

Costa, Davros and the frost giants that followed them lay cut up across the ground, their blood swiftly dyeing the snow red.

A strong smell of iron assailed the nostrils of the awed soldiers, the sight of such powerful enemies being cut to ribbons in a matter of seconds set their hearts ablaze. Passion, loyalty and excitement ran rampant through their bodies, instantly quashing the frigid cold that constantly assailed them as well as the fear that grew within a few minutes prior.

There was a stunned silence for a few seconds as the soldiers registered what happened but following that was a cheering roar and a fierce outburst of stamping as the men and women raised their fists in triumph, they would get to live another day.

The bear beastman, the soldier who appeared like a lightning bolt and carved up the mighty frost giants scanned the celebrating soldiers with a harsh gaze. He stopped as soon as he found the female sergeant.

"Sergeant what is the meaning of this?" He asked in a tone that would make even the most fearless warrior shiver.

The female sergeant who was named Olive shivered as she looked upon the large man. He appeared far larger to her than even the frost giants. Her heart instinctively tightened, and her voice passed through her lips with a nervous stutter.

"G...General Band…do sir." To help calm herself down she took a breath and performed a military salute, placing her right arm across her chest. This was the first time she'd ever been in such close proximity to one of the fortress' generals thus she was naturally nervous regardless of the current situation.

"Apologies General Bando for using a pink distress flare but the situation was truly very urgent." Knowing that her own and the lives of her subordinates didn't come close to warranting the use of such a prized flare Sergeant Olive looked at Avira before swiftly introducing her.

"General this is Princess Avira Northrend the Princess of the empire and the one the Duke has been waiting for." Olive bowed her head in salute as she waited the man's response.

General Bando's eyes narrowed upon hearing Olive's words, if what she said was true then using the pink flare was the right call.

His gaze was thus directed towards Avira who had been silent all this time.

Avira was currently in deep thought as she was momentarily blown away by the General's prowess.

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"…Prin….c…."

'With his strength then surely….'

"PRINCESS!!" Avira was fiercely drawn out of her thoughts by a loud roar infused with aura.

Rattled by the sound she blinked her eyes repeatedly before locking eyes with General Bando and in that moment everything seemed to click.

"Greetings sir I presume that you are a General under Duke Runak correct." She displayed a polite royal curtsy that looked rather strange with her current garments but nonetheless evoked a sense of nobility.

"Correct I am Icethorne's newest General, Jared Bando…are you Princess Avira?" The scrutiny never left the man's the eyes.

"I am, Princess Avira Northrend, daughter of Franz Northrend and Amelia Northrend, Princess of the Northrend empire and rightful heir to the throne." Avira raised her head and stared directly into General Bando's eyes without any trace of fear or subservience.

The General internally smiled, pleased with her response, she passed the initial checks at least.

"Do you have proof?" Regardless of how well she presented herself or how accurate her appearance was without the imperial token her identity could not be confirmed immediately.

"You mean this." Avira pulled the imperial token granted to her by her father from her clothes and the moment she did General Bando descended to his knees and saluted.

"General Jared Bando greets the princess and future Empress." His frown and scowl were completely gone from his expression. Instead he bore a gentle smile and a clear look of relief.

His gaze darted towards Sergeant Olive. "Congratulations Sergeant you and your team have performed a great merit, well done."

"We were merely performing our duties, General." Replied Olive.

"Well said Sergeant. I'll send for another patrol to recover our lost comrades and see to it personally that they each receive an honourable burial."

"Thank you General." Tears streamed down Olive's eyes as she remembered her lost comrades, the men and women who bravely gave their lives in battle.

An honourable burial was an act that would bring great glory to the deceased and their family. The family of the deceased would receive a generous stipend for the next 30 years and would be exempt from taxes for the next 2.

On top of that any member of the family that wished to join or train for the military would be immediately accepted after a simple interview, allowing them to bypass the usual tests and trails.

To be deserving of an honourable burial one must die with great honour on the battlefield and successfully perform a deed of substantial merit. Protecting the Princess of the Northrend empire against a vastly superior foe certainly met such a requirement thus General Bando was not acting beyond his station.

"Sergeant see to your wounded while I escort the princess to the fortres….

"General wait!" Avira suddenly interrupted Jared, puzzling him.

"Princess is there something wrong?"

Avira shivered as the image of a young man came to the forefront of her mind. She clenched her fists to the point that her knuckles audibly cracked, and her face donned an almost begging expression as she looked up at General Bando."

"Please…please save my friend".

Several tens of kilometres south.

Don! Boom! Schwing!

Loud sounds of objects clashing against one another and cutting through the air reverberated throughout the surroundings.

Within a loose circular wall of giants two opponents were facing off against each other with wild abandon.

One was a massive hulking frost giant standing over 12 metres tall, armed with a large hammer while the other was an elf like man with devilish good looks and a sharp glaive in hand.

The frost giant sported dozens of 'shallow' cuts all across her body that constantly leaked small streams of blood. Adding in her already prominent scars the woman looked as though she was covered in spider webs, like a fractured vase. Alas her wounds were only superficial at best, even the blood loss was relatively minor.

Her arteries and vulnerable areas were all protected by her bestial armour that despite valiant efforts on her opponent's part remained solid.

She was however in quite a bit of pain whenever she had to make any large movements. Everywhere stung but her strength was still there as was the wild smile on her lips. A smile that was now covered in blood making her look all the more fierce.

However it wasn't her blood that dripped across her lips and danced on her tongue, delighting her taste buds. No the delicious blood came from her opponent, from Frost.

The young dungeon core stood across from the hulking giant, his glaive stabbed into the snow beneath to support his wounded body. His right arm hung loosely by his side, mangled and dripping torrents of blood.

Bella first shattered his bone with a precise blow of her hammer before following up with a tight grasp and brutal twist. The pain was so intense that he could barely see straight, and he couldn't even remember how he got away from her but somehow he did. The arm was miraculously still attached to his shoulder but completely useless, he couldn't even wiggle his fingers.

That was probably the most graphic injury he bore but the rest of his body wasn't much better. Ribs were broken and shattered, muscles were torn apart and his entire body sported distinct dents, it was a miracle he could even stand at all. Sheer will and stubbornness were all that supported him by this point.

"Cough, cough!" Frost violently coughed up blood and even a part of his lungs that had been shredded apart. His entire body was in extreme pain and his vision was obscured by shadows and a bloody screen yet still he stood defiant against his opponent, not giving a single opening.

He may look vulnerable, like someone who could be blow over by the simplest of breezes, but Bella had learned the hard way that he was still a threat.

The large frost giant raised her hand to her cheek and left eye, a gnarly gash could be seen missing the vital organ by just a few millimetres. Just when she thought her prey was out of gas and ready to be put down he lashed out with a thrust so quick and devasting that she could have nearly lost half her face it wasn't for her uncanny instincts.

Thus despite her overwhelming superiority she remained stationary, glaring at her opponent, waiting.

Time dragged out slowly, each second feeling like minutes or even hours but neither one of them moved a muscle. Their bodies remaining constantly taught.

Frost couldn't make any moves given the state of his injuries, all he could do was wait patiently for her to come to him whereas Bella was remorse to risk serious injury against a foe that was on his dying breath. As long as she waited long enough his body would eventually succumb to his wounds and he would no longer have the strength to lash out with one final blow.

"Urgh!"

The moment Bella was waiting for came without warning. Frost suddenly groaned and fell to his knees, his legs no longer able to support his weight.

Bella's smile stretched from ear to ear upon witnessing such a sight, finally the man had succumbed.