Building My Empire in the Frozen Apocalypse (Riley Carter) novel Chapter 657

PineappleBeer took a step forward and stared at the crescent carving.

+5 Free Coins

“We have to wait for the light to shift to the moon’s backside on this one. Pressing it any other time won’t work.” She lifted a hand to point at the pillar. “Timing’s super tricky here. Don’t rush it.”

Riley studied the stone surface carefully.

The silver light hovering over the crescent wasn’t fixed in place. It drifted back and forth across the inner and outer edges like thin mist. This pillar was definitely far trickier than the previous four pillars.

She fell silent for two seconds.

“Tell me when, and I’ll press.”

PineappleBeer didn’t argue this time.

They stood in front of the pillar together, one watching the light flow, the other holding her hand ready.

Standing nearby, TartKing muttered quietly, “This low–key feels like a master teaching a student how to trigger a mechanism.”

“You can learn too,” PineappleBeer said.

TartKing shook her head quickly. “Nope, I’ll pass. I’m great at opening treasure chests, not touching stuff that looks one wrong move away from exploding.”

Riley held her fingers hovering just above the crescent pattern.

PineappleBeer’s breathing softened as she fixed her gaze on the floating light mist.

“Hold on a little longer.”

The silver light slid from the crescent’s inner edge all the way out, then slowly drifted back toward the moon’s rear side.

PineappleBeer’s fingers tightened slightly.

“Now”

Riley pressed down at once.

The crescent carving flared bright silver, and a thin beam of light shot straight toward Riley’s wrist from the pillar.

Riley saw it coming. She twisted her wrist and blocked the attack cleanly with her Pioneer’s Wristguard.

A clear ding rang out. The light beam bounced off the wristguard, hit the silver lines on the ground, and sparked faintly.

TartKing instantly raised her staff, ready to heal.

Riley shook her wrist casually. “Just a tiny trap.”

A faint pale mark lingered on her skin, but it didn’t break the surface at all.

1/4

Chapter 657 The Cracked Ring’s Hidden Danger

TariRitig frowned at the sight. “You call that tiny?”

“I’m not even hurt.”

Riley dropped her hand.

“Sixth pillar.”

The sixth pillar was carved with a cracked ring.

+5 Free Com

Unlike the other patterns, this ring was split open. A tiny black dot was embedded in the gap, looking like a dark pupil or a miniature hollow opening.

The second PineappleBeer’s eyes locked on that black dot, her whole body stiffened noticeably.

TartKing stepped forward half a pace in alarm.

“Pine? You okay?”

PineappleBeer raised a hand to press her temple.

“I’m fine.”

Her reply came too fast, so rushed it didn’t sound convincing at all.

Riley didn’t push her to answer.

The silver lines around the cracked ring pillar began slowing down. The already lit pillars nearby hummed softly one after another. The central stone lamp on the altar remained unlit, but a cluster of tiny silver embers had gathered at its wick.

PineappleBeer’s vision flickered.

She was no longer looking at the altar in front of her.

She saw the same black stone platform, the same seven pillars, and countless shadowy figures gathered outside the altar. Shouting and fighting echoed all around. Bodies lay on the ground, silver lines covered in fresh blood. A dark door in the distance kept opening and closing endlessly.

She tried to see what lay beyond the door, but a sharp, tearing pain stabbed through her mind out of nowhere.

PineappleBeer let out a quiet groan and grabbed the edge of the pillar to steady herself.

Riley stepped forward in an instant, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her firmly away from the cracked ring pillar.

“We’re stopping here.”

PineappleBeer’s fingertips turned cold, and sweat dotted her forehead.

TartKing’s healing landed on her immediately. Her Warm Feather Blessing Charm flared to medium brightness, stacking layer after layer of calming effects. The green healing light restored her stamina, and the pale golden blessing dulled the throbbing pain. Even so, the sharp ache tearing deep inside her head refused to fade completely.

PineappleBeer gritted her teeth and steadied her breathing for several seconds.

24

Chapter 657 The Cracked Ring’s Hidden Danger

+5 Free Coins

The tracked ring.. we need to seal the gap.”

Riley stared at her. “We’re not doing this now. Rest first.”

“We can’t wait too long.” PineappleBeer’s voice came out hoarse. “The silver lines are in this cycle right now. If we miss it, we’ll have to start all over again.”

Tartking grew anxious. “So what if we restart? Don’t push yourself like this!”

PineappleBeer lifted her head. Her face was deathly pale, but her eyes were sharp and clear.

“I saw a door far away just now.”

Riley’s fingers tightened slightly.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify