Frostborne Returns: Invincible Snow Lord

Chapter 3: The Lost Crest

The black chest sat silently before Kael, its dark surface gleaming faintly under the moonlight. The metallic lid had already creaked open, revealing its contents — or rather, the system displayed them neatly before him. A translucent screen floated in the air, listing each reward in crisp, glowing letters.

[Bonus Chest Rewards:

— Emperor’s Black Card

— $100,000

— 1,000 System Points

— Meal Box

— Mysterious Crest]

Kael’s gaze swept across the list, his expression calm yet unreadable. After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“What… is all this?” His voice was low, steady, with a hint of the authority he once held as crown prince.

Ding!

[System Notice: These are rewards for the Host’s successful system activation. Physical items can be accessed with the command: "Manifest." To return items to storage, use the command: "Store."]

Kael’s brow furrowed slightly. Manifest? Store? The terms were unfamiliar, but he committed them to memory. His eyes settled on the first item — the Emperor’s Black Card. Intrigued, he uttered the word softly.

“Manifest.”

A soft shimmer filled the air. Before his eyes, a black card materialized, hovering briefly before falling gracefully into his waiting hand. The card was made of obsidian-black metal, its surface smooth and cool to the touch. Golden script gleamed along its edge, forming ancient runes that shifted and danced under the light. Across the center, written in bold, elegant gold letters, were the words:

"Emperor’s Black Card."

Kael turned the card over, feeling its weight. It was unlike any currency or artifact he had known. “What is this?” he asked quietly.

Ding!

[Item: Emperor’s Black Card — Connected to a private account created by the system for the Host. All earnings and rewards are deposited into this account. The card allows access to these funds in any form of modern commerce. No spending limit exists beyond the account balance.]

Kael’s eyes narrowed. A private account? Modern commerce? The terms meant little to him. Though he had ruled over vast wealth in his time, this “bank” concept eluded him.

“Where does this account reside?” he asked.

[System-generated banking institution — invisible to modern authorities. Accessible only by the Host.]

Kael studied the card once more. It was a symbol of power — perhaps not in the way he once understood, but power nonetheless. He curled his fingers around it, then paused. His tattered robes had long since lost their dignity, and he had no desire to risk losing something so precious.

“Store,” he commanded.

The card shimmered and vanished. Kael inclined his head slightly. “Convenient.”

His attention shifted to the next item — 1,000 System Points. No object manifested, but Kael noticed a new counter at the corner of the system screen.

[System Points: 1,000]

“What use are these points?”

[System Points are a digital currency within the system. They can be spent on abilities, enhancements, artifacts, and more. New functions will unlock as the Host progresses.]

Kael nodded, taking the information in stride. His gaze moved down the list, landing on the Meal Box. Hunger gnawed at him, a sharp reminder of how long he had been asleep. Still, he pushed the sensation aside. There was time for food later.

At the very bottom of the list, Kael’s eyes landed on the final reward — the Mysterious Crest. The moment he saw it, his breath caught. His pulse quickened. The system’s description was sparse:

[Mysterious Crest — ???]

Frowning, Kael whispered, “Manifest.”

A soft hum filled the air as the object appeared before him — a silver crest, intricately carved with frost-like patterns. At its heart rested the unmistakable sigil of the Everfrost Empire, glimmering faintly beneath a layer of frost. His hands trembled as he picked it up, feeling the cold metal against his palm.

“…Impossible.” His voice was barely audible.

The Everfrost Crest.

It had belonged to his father, the previous Emperor. The very emblem of their dynasty — a symbol of unyielding authority and eternal winter. Kael clenched his jaw. This should have been buried with him.

“System,” he said softly, “why is this here?”

The system remained silent. No chime, no explanation. Only the distant howl of the wind answered him. Kael’s grip tightened on the crest, emotions warring beneath his composed exterior. He drew in a slow breath, calming himself. There would be answers. Eventually.

A low growl echoed through the ruins. Kael blinked before realizing the source — his own stomach. He sighed, storing the crest and rising to his feet.

He wandered through the ruined city, the cold wind biting at his skin. Towering buildings, long abandoned, loomed overhead like silent sentinels. Glass and steel had weathered the ages, leaving behind a skeletal landscape of shadows and ice.

Eventually, he found shelter in a crumbling structure, its walls still sturdy enough to keep the wind at bay. Sitting against the wall, Kael whispered, “Manifest.”

The Meal Box appeared before him — a simple, rectangular container. He opened it, revealing a plain yet nutritious meal. To anyone else, it would seem ordinary. But for Kael, who hadn’t tasted food in 1,500 years, it was a feast. He ate slowly, savoring each bite, his regal demeanor never slipping even as hunger gnawed at him.

When the meal was done, Kael leaned back, exhaling softly. Then—

Ding!

A new notification appeared.

[Main Mission Issued: Find Nearby Civilization]

— Time Limit: 24 Hours

— Failure Consequence: Death from exhaustion and starvation

— Rewards:

— $50,000 Deposited to Account

— 500 System Points

— New Skill: Sovereign’s Insight

— Modern Knowledge Package (Includes business, finance, and economy basics)

Kael’s eyes narrowed as he read the rewards. Sovereign’s Insight? The system explained:

[Sovereign’s Insight: Grants the Host the ability to perceive key details about others, such as name, background, intelligence, height, and favorability towards the Host.]

A flicker of interest crossed Kael’s features. A skill worthy of a ruler. He rose to his feet, brushing the dust from his robes.

"Twenty-four hours… Fine."

The ruins stretched endlessly before him. Somewhere out there lay the remnants of civilization. Kael stepped into the darkness, each stride confident, regal — a prince reclaiming his domain.

Yet as he moved, a shadow flickered behind him. Silent. Watching.

Kael paused, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness. For a moment, he saw nothing. But the weight of unseen eyes lingered in the air.

He continued forward, the wind whispering through the ruins.

Behind him, the shadow moved.