Arcane: Twin Cities Mechanic

Due to the seal, Gregor couldn't stray far from his frozen corpse. When he tried to fly toward the Frostguard Citadel, he was forcibly repelled, and this was precisely why. The arcane seal magic, derived from the World Runes, had entirely bound him to this place. If he attempted to forcibly tear it apart with magic, it could annihilate his very soul. 

Even Li Lin had no solution—unless he retrieved the World Rune from Demacia. 

After careful consideration, or perhaps out of loyalty to his duties, Gregor gave up the idea of confronting Lissandra face-to-face. Instead, he entrusted Ashe, Sejuani, and Li Lin with his own share of resolve: the traitor must be slain. 

His soul returned to the frozen stone pillar as the six rune-inscribed stone tablets sank into the underground platform, soon to be blanketed by the falling snow. 

The anti-gravity device and engine activated, and Li Lin, along with Ashe and Sejuani, flew straight toward the bridge forged by Ornn. 

This bridge had many names among the people: "The Trial Grounds," "The Murder Bridge," "The Citadel Bridge," and "The Wailing Arch." But those who had dealt with the Frostguard knew it was commonly called "The Bridge of Sorrow." Thousands of Iceborn had perished there, sacrificing themselves to resist the Watchers. 

Of course, the history they knew was only what Lissandra had deliberately spread. The true events were recorded in a single manuscript, written by Lissandra's most trusted follower and now hidden deep within the Frostguard Citadel. 

The bridge spanning the chasm wasn't the only one. The Bridge of Sorrow was merely the primary, most prominent one. Stretching from north to south, over a dozen bridges crossed the gorge, some far below the cliffs, connecting structures carved into the glacier. 

The thick mist rising from the Abyss engulfed most areas, and many of these bridges had been intentionally sealed off by the Frostguard, likely to restrict access to the Frostguard Citadel. Only one open bridge remained, situated a few hundred meters away from the Bridge of Sorrow. 

Although Li Lin's mechanical army could easily crush Lissandra and her Iceborn forces, he chose to land at the bridgehead, avoiding direct confrontation. 

Even the pinnacle of elemental magic—True Ice crafted by the demi-god Anivia and the bridge forged by Ornn as a sealing node—could not fully contain the Void Watchers. Over thousands of years, the True Ice beneath the Abyss had been nearly corrupted. Without Lissandra's constant collection of dreams to sustain the Watchers' slumber, they would have long since broken free. 

She was the lynchpin of the seal, and unless absolutely necessary, Li Lin did not want to escalate conflict with her. 

His current visit was primarily to negotiate. He planned to implement the "Great Wall Project" near the Howling Abyss and the Frostguard Citadel, establishing the first line of defense. 

The trio descended before the bridge, their armor transforming into ordinary attire. 

Guarding the main bridge were two male Iceborn, shirtless and expressionless, wielding long spears tipped with True Ice. Their scarred, muscular bodies told of countless battles. 

When they saw Li Lin, Ashe, and Sejuani approaching, they showed no alarm, nor did they raise their weapons. It was as if they had anticipated their arrival. 

Li Lin gave Ashe a glance, signaling her, but before she could introduce herself, one of the Iceborn stepped forward. His cold eyes swept over the trio. 

"She's already expecting you," the man said casually, stepping aside with his companion to make way. 

Both Ashe and Sejuani were puzzled, and even Li Lin was briefly surprised. However, he quickly understood. 

He had broken Lissandra's magic used to seal the stone tablets and manipulate Gregor's memories. There was no doubt she had left behind a contingency plan. 

With Gregor's situation exposed and Ashe's urgency to unify the Freljord, seeking Lissandra was inevitable. She had undoubtedly prepared for this moment. 

Unlike the hesitant Ashe and Sejuani, Li Lin strode confidently ahead, passing between the two guards. 

The two war mothers quickly caught up, walking shoulder-to-shoulder with him as they stepped onto the Bridge of Sorrow. 

Along the way, they encountered many Frostguard soldiers, each steadfast in their posts. None paid the intruders any mind, as though their presence had been long expected. 

Crossing the hundreds of meters of the Bridge of Sorrow, they arrived at the towering gates of the Frostguard Citadel. Massive chains extended from either side, pulling up the gates crafted from metal and stone, encased in a layer of True Ice. Behind the gates lay a magical teleportation array. 

Following their guide, Li Lin, Ashe, and Sejuani stepped into the center of the rune-inscribed arcane circle. A wave of disorientation struck as the teleportation magic activated. When they regained their bearings, their surroundings had transformed. They stood within the Frostguard Citadel, deep in the glacier. 

The temperature was frigid, far colder than the blizzards outside. The main hall of the citadel was a towering chamber, nearly eighty meters high, perpetually shrouded in a dim ice-blue glow. The icebound floor was riddled with massive interlocking granite blades, half-buried, each exuding a menacing aura. Beside each blade stood a Frost Priest clad in ceremonial robes, silently awaiting orders. 

These blades were the culmination of centuries of Lissandra's craftsmanship, her ultimate weapon against the Void Watchers. The Frost Priests remained ever vigilant, ready to act the moment an alarm was raised. 

This was a miracle of human perseverance and magic, vastly different in nature from the technological marvels Li Lin had created. 

Sejuani was stunned, while Ashe, having seen Li Lin's recordings of mech battles against the Void, was less shocked but equally awed. 

At that moment, a man in a floor-length ice-blue robe and a triangular headpiece approached. Bowing respectfully, he addressed the trio. 

"My name is Draklon Blizzard. Our matriarch, the Lady of Ice and Shadow, awaits you. I will guide you to her." 

Without further explanation, Draklon turned to lead the way. "Speaker Li Lin, War Mothers Ashe and Sejuani, please follow me." 

Li Lin found the name Draklon vaguely familiar but couldn't recall the details, even with his enhanced intelligence. As Draklon led them, Li Lin activated his *Data Mind* and finally uncovered the man's identity. 

Draklon was one of the highest-ranking clerics of the Frostguard Citadel, directly answering to Lissandra herself. 

Lissandra had sent her trusted aide to greet them—clearly, she took their visit seriously. 

The Frostguard Citadel was far larger than it appeared from the outside. Built into the glacier and mountain range, its interior boasted countless expandable spaces. After passing through several teleportation arrays, they finally arrived at the citadel's core hall. 

At the end of the hall stood an immense frozen throne, directly facing the entrance. Sitting upon it was a woman cloaked in an elaborate ice-blue robe, her triangular headpiece even more imposing than Draklon's. 

Her right arm rested on the throne's armrest, her hand propping up her chin. The sleeve slid down to reveal pale, ice-blue skin, resembling armor crafted from True Ice. With just a sweeping glance, she emanated a soul-piercing chill. 

Ashe and Sejuani instinctively felt tense, while Li Lin narrowed his eyes, meeting the woman's empty, eyeless gaze beneath her headpiece. 

Lissandra spoke, her voice cold yet languid, as though she had just awakened from an eternal slumber: 

"Welcome to my citadel, heirs of Avarosa and Serylda… and you, Li Lin, the world's chosen child."\

(End of Chapter)

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