Chrono-God

The Descent into Ice

The world tilted as Jerry plunged into the depths of the frozen chasm.

The moment the ground had given way, he had barely managed to twist his body midair, his instincts kicking in before his mind could fully process what was happening. The cold wind howled past his ears as he tumbled, snow and ice scattering around him.

Above, Janice's voice rang out in alarm, but there was no time to respond.

Think. Act. Move.

He reached inward, tapping into the bond.

Vrkane!

The massive wolf's awareness surged into his mind. A second later, Jerry's body twisted, his bones shifting, fur sprouting along his forearms. His nails elongated into dark claws, his pupils narrowing into sharp, predatory slits. His senses sharpened—he could hear every cracking piece of ice, feel the subtle changes in air pressure.

Shift complete.

The moment the change took hold, Jerry kicked off a jagged ledge, using his newfound agility to propel himself toward the far wall of the chasm. His claws dug into the ice, slowing his descent as he slid downward, his muscles straining from the force.

Not enough.

The ground below was still too far.

Jerry growled, his breath misting in the frigid air, and reached out to Bengala.

The saber-toothed tiger's raw power coursed through his veins, thickening his muscles, reinforcing his grip. His nails reshaped into hooked claws, and he pushed, launching himself sideways onto a flatter stretch of ice. His feet hit the ground hard, but he managed to steady himself just as the last of the collapsing snow rained down behind him.

Silence.

Jerry exhaled, his breath coming in heavy bursts. He flexed his fingers, willing the shift to recede. His fur melted back into skin, his claws retracting. The energy of his bonded companions settled inside him once more, leaving only the lingering pulse of their presence.

He straightened, glancing around.

The chasm wasn't just a natural formation.

It was carved.

Glacial blue walls stretched upward, their smooth surfaces untouched by time. Massive stone pillars, half-buried in ice, stood in eerie formation, each one covered in symbols he didn't recognize. A ruined civilization, lost beneath the frost.

Aviana screeched from above.

Jerry looked up to see her circling the chasm, scanning the depths with sharp, golden eyes.

Anything? he sent through the bond.

A pause. Then, her response. Not alone.

Jerry's jaw tightened. Of course not.

He reached for his swords.

The twin blades hummed in his grip as he drew them free, their weight familiar, comforting. The massive curved tooth of Bengala's mother gleamed in the dim light, its serrated edge made for tearing through flesh. The obsidian-black claw of Vrkane's mother pulsed with barely contained energy, its sharpness absolute.

Jerry took a slow step forward.

The air shifted.

Something moved.

He pivoted, muscles coiling as shadows slithered through the ice. They crawled along the walls, thick tendrils of abyssal blackness, creeping closer with every passing second.

A familiar, sickening presence.

Jerry's grip tightened on his swords. "Figures," he muttered.

From the darkness, glowing yellow eyes blinked open.

And the abyssal beasts charged.

---