Odyssey Of Survival-Chapter 80 Alice’s Domain

The instant Nate stepped through the shimmering portal, the cold slammed into him like a tidal wave. He gasped sharply, his breath crystallizing in the frigid air. It was nothing like the last time he had been here—it was worse. The cold dug into his skin, wrapping around his bones like icy tendrils, seeking to drain every ounce of warmth from his body.

He immediately summoned his fire, letting it flare up around him like a protective aura. The flames danced along his arms and shoulders, shielding him from the merciless cold. The relief was immediate, and he let out a slow breath, watching as the warmth from his body clashed with the icy air, creating a thin mist around him.

Then he turned to Alice.

She stood there, utterly still, staring at the vast expanse of the ice world with something close to awe. Her long, white-blond hair shimmered under the pale light of the frozen landscape. Her deep blue eyes seemed to glow, as if absorbing the very essence of the cold around her. He could visibly see her breath, but unlike his, which clashed against the environment, hers blended into it seamlessly.

Alice took a slow, deep breath. Then another.

A smile spread across her face. "Just by breathing… I can feel my powers growing."

Nate raised an eyebrow. That was unexpected. But it made sense. This world, this place of ice and endless winter—it was the perfect environment for her abilities.

He smirked. "Guess bringing you along wasn’t a bad choice after all."

Alice turned her gaze to him, her eyes filled with an excitement he had never seen before. "You don’t understand, Nate. This is—this is insane. It’s like…" She flexed her fingers, and immediately, the snow beneath her feet responded. Ice spread outward in delicate patterns, forming intricate, frost-covered structures that pulsed with energy. "It’s like I can’t run out of stamina. Like there’s unlimited power here for me to draw from."

That caught Nate off guard. If Alice could tap into this world’s energy freely, it meant she was far stronger here than she had ever been before.

Before he could comment, she raised her hand, and in the next instant, a sleek, shimmering ice hoverboard rose from the snow. Its surface was smooth and flawless, reflecting the frozen sky above like a mirror.

Nate blinked. "Since when could you do that?"

Alice grinned mischievously. "Since now." She hopped onto the hoverboard, balancing effortlessly. "C’mon, hop on."

Nate crossed his arms. "I can fly."

Alice’s grin widened. "Suit yourself."

Without another word, she shot forward, the ice hoverboard gliding over the snow at an incredible speed.

Nate exhaled sharply. Fine. If she wanted a race, he’d give her one. He bent his knees and launched himself into the air. Flames erupted from behind him, propelling him forward like a comet streaking across the frozen sky. The warmth of his fire left a golden-red trail against the icy blue world. In no time he pass Alice and even left her behind

Alice looked back, watching him gain speed. "Not bad," she teased.

Then she leaned forward slightly. Her hoverboard responded instantly, accelerating at an unnatural speed. Within seconds, she not only caught up to Nate—she passed him.

Nate narrowed his eyes. "Oh, hell no."

He pushed himself harder, the flames intensifying, but no matter how fast he went, Alice remained ahead. He could see the pure thrill on her face as she glided through the air effortlessly. She wasn’t even trying.

This world… it was boosting her beyond anything he had expected.

They had been flying for an hour straight. To Alice, it felt like nothing—but Nate wasn’t built for this world. The constant exertion, even with his fire shielding him, was starting to take a toll. His breathing grew heavier, his muscles burned, and despite the freezing temperature, sweat glistened on his forehead. The moment a drop detached from his skin, it crystallized into ice and shattered midair.

He clenched his teeth. He hated this. He hated that Alice was barely breaking a sweat while he was struggling to keep up.

Then, suddenly, his fire sputtered.

His body jerked midair, and before he could react, the flames behind him flickered out completely. His speed dropped in an instant, and gravity took over.

"Shit."

He plummeted. The wind roared past him, the frozen ground rushing up to meet him at a terrifying speed. At the last moment, he twisted his body, trying to brace for impact.

He slammed into the snow. Hard.

His body rolled several times before he finally skidded to a stop. Snow exploded around him, coating him in a fine layer of frost. He groaned, forcing himself up onto his hands and knees. His whole body ached, and his limbs felt heavy.

Alice, who had been ahead, finally noticed. She immediately turned her hoverboard around and glided back toward him.

She hovered above him, smirking. "Tired already?"

Nate shot her a glare, still catching his breath. He wiped a hand across his forehead, only to realize his sweat had frozen into tiny ice flakes.

Alice snickered. "Aw, poor fire boy."

Nate groaned and collapsed back onto the snow. "Shut up."

Alice smirked, her hands resting on her hips as she looked down at Nate, who was still sprawled in the snow. "Your pride is really concerning, you know that?" she said playfully, her voice carrying a teasing lilt. "Just hop on so we can reach wherever we’re going faster. Or do you enjoy lying around in the cold?"

Nate groaned, his breath visible in the frosty air as he stared up at the endless blue sky above. There were no stars, no moon, no sun—just an infinite expanse of pale blue that seemed to stretch on forever. It was eerie, yet strangely calming. He sighed, realizing that Alice had a point. If they were going to uncover the source of the ice being, they needed to move quickly, and wasting energy on flying himself didn’t make much sense. Continue your adventure with novelbuddy

"Fine," he muttered, pushing himself up from the snow. "But if this thing breaks, I’m blaming you."

Alice rolled her eyes, though her lips curled into a small smile. "It won’t break. Just get on."

Nate brushed the snow off his clothes and walked over to the hoverboard, eyeing it skeptically. It was sleek and shimmering, its surface covered in a thin layer of frost that seemed to glow faintly. He stepped onto it, the board wobbling slightly under his weight.

The hoverboard lifted off the ground, but Nate immediately struggled to keep his balance. Even after Alice froze his feet to the board, he swayed precariously, his arms flailing as he tried to steady himself.

"Stop moving so much!" Alice scolded, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice. "You’re going to make us crash."

"Well, maybe if this thing wasn’t so—" Nate started, but his words were cut off as the board jerked forward, sending him stumbling backward. He instinctively reached out, grabbing onto Alice to keep from falling.

"Hold on to me," Alice said quickly, her voice softer now. Her cheeks were tinged with pink, though Nate couldn’t see her face from where he stood. "Maybe that’ll help."

Nate hesitated for a moment before wrapping his arms around her waist, his hands locking gently around her stomach. The moment he did, he froze, his mind momentarily short-circuiting. Alice’s back was pressed against him, and he couldn’t help but notice the curve of her figure—specifically, the way her curve seemed to fit perfectly against him. The fabric of her outfit did little to hide how soft and shapely she was, and Nate felt his face heat up despite the freezing temperatures.

Alice, for her part, seemed to stiffen slightly, though she didn’t say anything. The hoverboard sped forward, gliding smoothly over the icy terrain, but Nate was barely aware of their surroundings. His thoughts were a chaotic mess, torn between the need to focus on their mission and the distracting warmth of Alice’s presence.

"Uh… so," Alice began, her voice slightly strained, "how much farther do you think we have to go?"

Nate cleared his throat, his tone deliberately casual. "Not sure. But we’ll know when we get there."

The two fell into an awkward silence, the only sound the hum of the hoverboard and the rush of wind as they sped through the icy world. Nate tried to focus on the landscape ahead, but his mind kept drifting back to the way Alice felt in his arms. It was a strange mix of comfort and tension, and he couldn’t decide whether he wanted the ride to end or last a little longer.

As they ventured deeper into the frozen expanse, the air grew colder, and the terrain became more treacherous. Jagged ice formations rose like towers around them, and the ground below was a patchwork of frozen rivers and deep crevasses.

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"We are getting closer" Nate said as he looked up ahead

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