Survival Queen of the Frozen Wastes novel Chapter 677

Chapter 677 The Starlit Staircase

Her steps were perfectly precise.

So precise, it looked like she’d walked this path hundreds of times before.

+5 Free Comp

TartKing stiffened up at first while being led along. After realizing they weren’t touching any of the frozen flames, she slowly relaxed a little.

Right after they stepped past the doorway, PineappleBeer came to an abrupt stop.

She stared down at her own hands, holding one of each of theirs.

The soft, warm look on her face faded away, leaving her eyes blank and empty.

She let go of their hands.

“I just…”

“It’s fine,” TartKing cut in quickly. “You led us perfectly just now.”

PineappleBeer glanced at her.

Afraid she’d start apologizing again, TartKing rushed to add more.

“And you were really gentle a second ago. Kinda creepy, but it was nice. I actually like that side of you, Pine.”

PineappleBeer fell silent for two full seconds.

“Thanks for the compliment.”

Her tone turned cold again, back to normal.

TartKing actually smiled at that.

“There we go. That’s the Pine I know.”

Riley didn’t say a word.

She pulled her right hand back, still able to feel the faint cold leftover from PineappleBeer’s palm.

PineappleBeer’s condition was getting worse.

It wasn’t simple mind control or possession.

It was like countless versions of her, from different timelines and lost memories, were piling on top of her current self layer by laye

Impatient Pine, gentle Pine, sweet Pine, cold Pine–all of them were fighting to control her body and reactions.

And the shadows beneath their feet kept drifting deeper into the mountain, converging nonstop.

Riley’s gaze drifted to the end of the tunnel.

Chante: 317 The Starlit Staircase

They were getting really close to the source.

• Free Come

After passing through the flame door the inner fountain space suddenly opened up into a massive cavern.

A broken platform stretched out ahead of them. Right in its center floated a frozen burst of pure light.

The light was enormous, like a surge of underground energy had erupted upward and been forced to a dead halt mid–explosion.

It shimmered silver–white, rimmed with dark crimson fire. Countless tiny fragments floated all around the flames.

There were metal scraps, monster bone shards, broken gear pieces, and transparent crystal bits with no identifiable material makeup.

All of them hovered in place around the light core.

Some spun slowly in tiny circles.

Others stayed perfectly frozen.

TartKing tilted her head up to stare at the light cluster, her voice shrinking to a nervous murmur.

“If this thing blows up for real… we’re done for, right?”

PineappleBeer stood before the light core, her face turning even paler.

Every shadow at her feet stretched long in that exact moment.

They swept past Riley and TartKing, crossed the broken platform, and streamed straight toward a dark hidden opening behind the light core.

The entrance was tucked behind the bright glow, nearly impossible to spot if you weren’t looking for it.

Riley circled carefully along the platform’s edge.

Time grew even more unstable right next to the light core.

Every step they took made some of the floating fragments resume normal speed, zipping right past their sides.

Riley blocked two incoming shards with her axe blade. TartKing swatted another away with her greatsword.

One transparent crystal fragment darted toward PineappleBeer’s shoulder, only to be gently deflected by the silver threads on her Shadow Rift Gloves.

PineappleBeer watched the crystal drift away and whispered softly, “They recognize me.”

“Who does?” TartKing asked immediately.

PineappleBeer’s eyes locked on the central light mass.

“Everything here.”

Riley didn’t let her linger any longer.

“Keep moving”

10:22 am

Chapter 677 The Starlit Staircase

The three of them circled the frozen light core and finally got a clear view of the hidden entrance.

It was a gigantic staircase leading straight down.

The steps were wide, carved from black stone lined with thin silver wiring.

Most of the silver lines were snapped and broken, though a few still glowed–faintly with light.

There were no railings on either side, only endless, bottomless darkness beyond the steps.

The staircase descended endlessly downward.

Instead of the usual dim underground gloom, the space far below shimmered with faint starlight.

Tartking stood at the top of the stairs, glanced down, and tightened her grip on Her staff instantly.

“This place is way too huge.”

Riley turned to check on PineappleBeer.

The scattered shadows at her feet had completely settled now.

All of them streamed down the staircase like a dark river, flowing slowly across the stone steps.

PineappleBeer herself stood calmly at the top, her expression steady and quiet.

“Let’s go down.”

Riley stepped onto the first stair.

The stone held firm, no sign of collapsing.

She descended step by step.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify