SSS Frost Sovereign: Rewinding The Apocalypse!-Chapter 36: Decision

Icard rushed back home later that day after spotting scorch marks from afar.

His eyes widened the moment he saw them.

It had to be Eric.

"What happened?!" he shouted, running inside.

Everyone was gathered in the living room where Eric lay on the floor.

Icard hurried to his side, immediately recognizing the state he was in. Parts of Eric’s body were blackened, his shirt torn open, heat still radiating faintly from his skin.

’What the hell? Was the opponent too strong?’ Icard thought to himself.

Eric’s breathing was ragged and uneven, but he was conscious. Just extremely weak.

"Someone attacked us," Alia said.

Icard’s expression darkened at once and his jaw tightened as his gaze sharpened.

The attacker was still unconscious, restrained heavily in the basement with layers of reinforced metal. Those were Reya’s work.

Icard went to look at him once. And the moment he did, understanding settled in.

"He was forcefully empowered," Katar said, tail stiff, ears angled sharply. "A bluff. A sudden activation of overwhelming power that can cost the user their life."

Icard clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms.

’I didn’t expect him to move first,’ he thought. ’He’s already targeting me, and we haven’t even met yet.’

He forced himself to breathe and calm down.

"I think I know who did this," Icard said.

Everyone froze.

Reya looked up sharply. "What do you mean?"

"Someone made him like that," Icard continued. "And I think I know who it is."

Katar’s eyes narrowed. "Does this have anything to do with the core stone thief you stopped?"

"Yes," Icard replied. "And I think I know who it is."

Silence followed.

"Who?" Katar asked, his posture tightening, irritation clear in the way his tail flicked.

"His name is Wester," Icard said. "I don’t have solid proof yet, but I’m sure it’s him."

Katar’s expression sharpened.

"I see. Then he has controlling abilities," he said before turning to the others. "I wanted to warn you all earlier. You must not be wary of avarices alone. Their keepers are far more dangerous. They are very good at playing pawn games."

Icard already knew that.

This was a complex type of force like Alia’s, related to certain types of manipulations.

This made Wester the first and one of the most complicated avarices they ever dealt with.

Wester had the potential to become a force too difficult to overcome in the future.

And because of that, Icard made a decision there.

---

Later that evening, he arrived at the place Albert occupied.

It was a large compound designed for training, gathering, and discussion. A place for the mayor’s men and those seeking to join his military.

Icard stood outside for a moment.

From there, he could already see Wester among them.

’As I thought,’ Icard said inwardly. ’He’s already here.’

A group of men surrounded Wester, laughing and talking among themselves as they gathered in one spot.

Icard stood at a distance for a moment longer, before he walked forward.

He kept his expression calm, forcing his emotions down as he approached. Wester noticed him almost immediately and recognized him at once.

Icard stopped a few steps away.

One by one, the laughter faded. Conversations died as the men turned their attention to him, silence settling over the group.

"Hey, you got a problem?" one of them asked, stepping forward and blocking Icard’s view.

A slow, sly grin spread across Wester’s face.

"It’s alright, Karl," Wester said as he stepped out from the group. "I know him."

"You do?"

Wester moved closer, studying Icard openly now. Standing beside him was the Erwald, Seban.

From a single glance, Icard could tell that Wester had secured himself a position here. And more than that, Wester had already gotten quite strong.

It showed in the way he stood, the confidence in his posture and the subtle pressure in the air around him.

While walking earlier that day, Icard had heard rumors of people going missing.

The same thing had happened during his first turn. Back then, Wester had admitted it himself - that he had killed them all.

And at that time, Icard had not stood much of a chance.

And now?

These men stood behind him instinctively, influenced and loyal. If Icard made a single move, they would swarm him without hesitation.

But Icard had no intention of fighting here and Wester clearly understood why he was here. Still, he smiled wider.

"So how did you know it was me?" Wester asked.

Icard did not answer.

He stared back at him, eyes cold, anger tightly restrained beneath a calm exterior. The kind of look that promised violence without needing to show it.

"Hmph. Bryan was one of my strongest," Wester continued. "I didn’t think you’d take him down so easily. Not without a single scratch."

Hearing Wester’s voice again made Icard’s fingers twitch, but he kept his composure.

"I didn’t take him down," Icard said.

For the first time, Wester’s grin faltered. His brows lifted slightly, genuine surprise flashing across his face before he masked it.

Before he could respond, Icard spoke again.

"I heard the mayor is planning another raid."

Wester’s eyes narrowed.

"We should settle this outside," Icard continued. "I’m sure that would be better for you too. You know what I mean."

He turned away without waiting for an answer.

"And one more thing," Icard added, stopping briefly.

He glanced back over his shoulder.

"Don’t try that again. Or I won’t mind killing you in front of everyone."

"You said what?!" one of the men snapped, moving forward but Wester raised a hand, stopping him.

He watched Icard walk away, expression unreadable.

’You cocky bastard,’ Wester thought.

"That kid... something’s off about him," Wester muttered. "I knew it when I first saw him, but I didn’t think it was this bad."

"How in the world did he know it was us?" Seban said quietly. "We should be careful."

Wester scoffed. Icard’s unpredictability barely made him nervous as it should have.

"I’ve gotten far stronger. There’s no way he’s a match for me," he said, though his eyes remained sharp. "Still... maybe he’s right. Outside would be better."

A slow smile returned to his face.

"That fool probably thinks it’ll be like last time."

He chuckled softly.

"It’ll be much cleaner out there," Wester added. "Much easier to get rid of everyone at once."

With that, he turned back to his men, the conversation slowly resuming as if nothing had happened.