Dungeon of Niflheim

Chapter 708 The barrier between ranks

"It's not wise for you know everything as that may in fact limit your own path but I guess I can reveal the basics." After an intense training session Maya decided to answer Frost's query, allowing him to know the basics of what separated the upper ranks.

"Now that you've reached B-rank you probably understand that the main dividing factor between C-rank and B-rank is being able to utilise and harness your own aura." Maya applied a rudimentary version of aura for display purposes.

"Following that by training your control over this newly grasped power and increasing its strength and internal capabilities you can rise upwards through the B-rank. Of course your weapon mastery and or spell mastery also plays as significant part, but aura is the key.

Through enhancement of your aura you can empower your chosen weapon, cast higher circle spells and even improve the state of your body as well as pressure those weaker than yourself. This is the B-rank." Maya continued to display some more advanced versions of B-rank level aura, several of which Frost was unable to grasp at his current level.

"Now for A-rank." Suddenly the pressure Frost felt intensified to an extreme level, Maya's aura became dense, practically corporal in nature.

"To reach the A-rank one must be able to manifest their aura externally without the aid of skills, spells or instruments. To do this their aura must reach a certain level of density and quality. Can you feel the difference?"

"Yes it feels like the difference between a gas and a liquid." Frost strained his senses to understand the pressure placed on his body and the change in Maya's aura.

"Not a bad analogy, you're right the aura is in a completely different state which allows me to do something like this." With a flick of her wrists invisible chains wrapped around Frost's body, holding him in place. She urged him to struggle free but he felt not even the slightest give.

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"A-ranks can externalise their aura into whatever form they can imagine. Chains, swords, blades, arrows, walls, shields as long as their control and reserves are deep enough anything can be generated.

The higher they reach in the A-rank the more diverse and solid their projections become, for example the chains I'm binding you with now are equivalent in strength to a 4 star weapon." Frost couldn't help but thank his lucky stars at that moment, grateful that the A-rank assassin Sedrick sent after him was too cocky, giving him enough time to summon his super strength girlfriend.

Maya let the information sink in for a few seconds before continuing onto the S-rank, a rank that was practically fable within the civilised world.

As Frost was acclimatising to the pressure of an A-rank's aura his surrounding suddenly changed and a pressure completely eclipsing what he felt previously forced him prone against the floor. He heard the howling of wolves and his body formed thick ice crystals across his skin as the temperature plummeted.

He felt as though he was teleported to the deepest reaches of the glacial mountains and unable to provide even the slightest degree of resistance. Thankfully the feeling only lasted for a second or two before he was back in the training room.

Maya stood with a wide grin on her lips and asked, "Well young master how does it feel to experience the power of a domain?"

"A domain?" He asked, his body still shivering from the intense cold.

"Yes, it's what separates A-rank and S-rank. For one to reach my rank they need to grow their aura to the point where they can manifest a domain, an area of influence in which they have complete and utter control. Though domains differ between individuals the core essence remains the same, within the sphere of influence that is their domain they are Gods who can control every aspect of that space."

"…So that frigid world?"

"Yes it was the manifestation of my domain and something that not even a person at the upper levels of A-rank could ever hope to escape from. The moment you find yourself trapped within an S-rank's domain you're practically finished.

The only way you can survive is if you can manifest a stronger domain, one that can eclipse theirs and overwrite their control of the surrounding laws." Maya emphasized the futility of resistance, S-rank wasn't something that could be overcome with brute strength or numbers.

Back to the present.

Frost could feel that Duke Runak was very close to forming his own domain, as though he was but a single step from achieving it. His already great respect for the man became even greater as his strength washed over him without mercy….he was truly strong.

'Monster' Katrina kept a close eye on Frost the entire time, curious to see how he'd fare against the Duke's unbridled strength.

What she didn't expect to see however was a growing smile on the young man's lips, it was obvious that his body was struggling against the pressure but instead of turning submissive in the face of overwhelming power he was growing excited and staring straight at the source.

'The rumour must true.' Katrina had read the intelligence reports regarding Frost, a skilled prodigy with a lot of potential but even if he was the most talented kid in Nova he still shouldn't be able to stand firm against the Duke's aura. The only way he could accomplish this, is if this wasn't his first time experiencing an aura that at the very peak of A-rank.

In the reports she read there was an unverified rumour that Frost was protected by someone at the S-rank, a level that no one in the entire empire had been able to reach. She believed it to be utter nonsense, an opinion based on the skewed perspective of those in the lower ranks….at least until now.

The way Frost's gaze was unfazed by the pressure meant that in his eyes such pressure was normal perhaps even considered weak. She quickly reevaluated Frost, placing him on an even higher pedestal, unfortunately this only made her want him more.

The other Generals were similarly impressed by Frost's conduct but not as much as Katrina who along with Jessica was the most senior of the War Ursa Battalion's Generals, even the Duke himself was half a generation younger than the two of them.

Thankfully the sudden outburst receded in a matter of seconds otherwise Frost may have fainted while standing up. Duke Runak briefly glanced at the young man with praise before locking eyes with Avira, waiting for her answer.

"Huuuuu I'll start from the beginning." Avira let out a deep breath before regaling to Duke Runak the entire story, starting several weeks prior to the Emperor and Empress' deaths before ending with her long journey with Frost through the Glacial mountains.

General Jared and Danielle arrived during the midpoint of the story, the two of them were the youngest and most rookie of the War Ursa Battalion's Generals and were supposed to be on duty tonight but Duke Runak wanted no interruptions thus he ordered Jessica and Vox to replace them.

"While Frost held back the frost giant leader, Borris, Kiba and myself ran towards Icethorne in an attempt to run into a patrol squad. Thankfully we came across Sergeant Olive who after learning of my identity risked her life along with her squad mates to protect us until General Bando was able to arrive and decimate the enemy….

That probably sums up everything that happened Uncle." Avira felt weak in the legs after telling her entire tale, she really endured a lot just to get here.

"Unfilial bastards!!"

"Unworthy trash!"

"How dare they plunge the empire into chaos." The Generals were up in arms, filled with righteous fury. Even Katrina who never let her anger control her was clenching her fists to the point that blood was seeping through her fingers.

Slap! Duke Runak loudly slapped the metal table bringing a stop the their ranting .

"The first Prince is guilty of patricide, matricide and treason of the highest degree.

The second prince is also guilty of treason of the highest degree, I Duke Oscar Runak, ruler of Icethorne and War Marshall of the War Ursa Battalion declare his support for Princess Avira Northrend, she is the rightful heir to the throne, and we shall not accept another." Duke Runak loudly declared, firmly stating his stance in this royal war.

The fortress of Icethorne would obey the Princess and no one else.

Tears streamed down Avira's cheeks as a weight was lifted from her heart, she now had a solid backing.

"Little V, Icethorne will always be a sanctuary to you, a haven where you can be free from the machinations of your deceitful siblings. Please rest and recuperate here until you can work out your next steps." That weight that had just been lifted dropped back onto her heart. The Duke's words were gentle and warm but rather strange as though he was avoiding something.

"…Eh?...next steps?... Aren't they obvious?" In a flustered manner Avira reached into her dress and retrieved the imperial token that her father handed to her.

"I need you to help me take back the throne uncle! This imperial token that was handed to me by my father." She waved the token in the air before slamming it down on the table.

" Acts as his decree, I need the War Ursa Battalion and you as a long standing Duke of the Empire to help fight against Randolph and Sedrick." Her forces were but a drop in the bucket compared to her brothers' as was her standing amongst the nobility. She needed Duke Runak's military might, provisions and influence if she wanted to stand on even remotely equal footing.