They continued to travel down deeper and deeper into the dungeon as it seemed to get colder by the moment. They had soon reached the next floor as inside was a japanese styled chamber where a woman sat in a kimono, her skin incredibly pale.
"David, isn't that…" Ace said.
"Yeah… That's definitely a yuki-onna." David said.
"Hmhmhm. Welcome." The Yuki-Onna laughed as she looked at the group with her golden eyes.
"Are you a guard here at this dungeon?" Hope asked.
"That question has an obvious answer, Hope, of course she's a guard." Frosta said.
"My Master has been expecting you, but if you wish to meet her, you must prove yourselves." The Yuki-Onna said.
"Hold on, we don't really have to fight." Frosta said.
"I am one of the 3 frosts...in order to reach our master...you must pass all three. You already slayed the Frost Leopard." she said.
"I wasn't too happy about that one. I kind of underestimated this place that time." David said. "But what the heck? I learned the basics of my Arctic Style from a Yuki-Onna anyway."
"Hold on, master. Let me fight her this time." Francisca said.
"Honestly, I could care less on who fights me...it'll end the same anyway." the Yuki-Onna said as she got up.
"You're right… It will." Francisca said as she got her labrys out.
The Yuki-onna blew cold air as icicles formed around her as she fired them all at Francisca.
Francisca responded in kind by spinning while swinging her axe and forming an ice tornado.
"Impressive...but can you do this?" the Yuki-Onna said as snow started to blow before it formed into a large golem as it pulled back a fist.
"No… but…" Francisca said, sending the tornado into the golem as it collapsed into snow. "Not bad, don't you think?"
"Oh...we aren't done yet." the Yuki-Onna said as arms formed from the snow as they attempted to pummel Francisca as she dodged. "Creation, manipulation, artillery...all these things and more are what all true ice masters of this universe can accomplish."
"I see. To tell you the truth, my master and I have put our own spins on the style to make them more unique. And yet, neither of us knew what it truly meant to be masters of the art." Francisca said.
"Well...if it adds incentive...one of the treasures of this dungeon...are sacred documents that detail all the methods of using a number of ice based abilities." the Yuki-Onna said.
"Just like the one we saw in the Flame Universe for fire abilities." David said.
"If that is the case...then we're definitely clearing this dungeon now." Francisca said as the ice around her intensified as it bombarded the Yuki-Onna, much to the latter's surprise.
"N-no way… Your ice is stronger than mine already?" the Yuki-onna asked. "It seems the boy's master has taught you both well." she said as she slowly started to vanish into snow. "You've proven your worth. You may pass. But beware...the final frost...is not one that can be reasoned with." she said before vanishing into snow.
"Well, that was quite the warning." Captain Cold said.
"Yes, we should definitely expect something with much more ferocity now." Cheetah said.
"Something ferocious that is aligned with the element of ice? Well, I can think of two potential options at the moment." Double D said as the group marched to the next room. "One is a yeti, and the other is a-"
A roar cut the boy off as standing in the middle of the next room was a large spindly creature wearing a deer skull.
"Wendigo…" Hera said.
"Creatures that are the embodiment of gluttony, and greed." Spade said. "They aren't very resistant to fire."
"True but these creatures harbor great speed and inhuman strength. Also...they mainly eat human flesh." Sheer said.
"Yeah, good to know." Sachiko said.
"So how do we do this?" Saki asked.
"They may be powerful but they are almost blind. They only have their sense of hearing and smell to go on." Hera said.
"So, don't make any sudden movements." Cheetah said.
"Stay put, got it." Bow said.
"Hmm...actually...we may be able to fool it." Hera said. "Teba, Revali...do you two happen to have any fire arrows on hand?"
"Yes. Freshly stocked, too." Revali said.
"I want you to fire as many as possible close to the Wendigo as possible...we're going to trap it." Hera said.
"So if we use the heat to distract it, we might be able to get the drop on it." Cheetah said.
"Sounds like you have things figured out. Ready, Master Revali?" Teba asked.
"Please...I'm always ready." Revali said. "Fire!" he said as they both fired Fire Arrows into the air as they landed and encircled the Wendigo as it hissed and roared.
"Good...it's trapped. Now...for the final nail in the coffin." Hera said. "We're going to destroy it."
"One Bomb Arrow primed." Bow said notching one. "Your goose just got cooked." he said, firing it as it fired at the Wendigo but not before catching fire, creating a huge explosion, leaving only the skull it had been wearing on the ground.
"Oof… Definitely not a good look for it." Kentaurosmon said.
"Complete obliteration never is." SE noted. "Well, that's all three frost guards defeated."
"Meaning…" Gray said as the gate opened. "We can finally meet this master of theirs."
The group walked through the open gate, finding themselves in a wide open room, the ice carved into the shape of a throne room. Strangely, bits of ice littered the floor around them.
"Well, this is the place… so where's the master?" Undyne asked.
"I don't know, but whoever they are, they don't do a good job of keeping this place clean." ZS said, picking up one of the broken pieces of ice. "You'd think a place this regal would - oh my god!"
"What, what's wrong?" Pearl asked.
"This is… this is an eye!" ZS said, holding up the ice shard which was, indeed, in the shape of an eye. "What happened here?"
"I happened." a voice from above said, causing the group to look up to see a man standing in an alcove above them. The figure jumped down, allowing the group to see that he was dressed in a blue colored tux, his eyes hidden by a blue face mask.
"Are you this dungeon's master?" Theo asked.
"Ah, I'm afraid not, my friend." the figure said.
"If you're not, then get out of here. You're just wasting time." David said.
"Don't get hasty...especially considering he was following us since we walked in." Lycan said.
"So, you noticed something amiss as well." Cheetah said.
"My sense of smell picked something up. I thought it was my imagination...looks like I was wrong." Lycan said. "So...if you aren't the dungeon's master...who are you?"
"You may call me Celsius, the Cavalier of Cold." the man bowed. "I'm an artist, here to expand my repotair with the secrets inside this dungeon. It is truly a pleasure to meet you all."
"Wait a sec… I've heard of you!" Scarlet said. "You're the madman that freezes people solid in Cross-World's version of Paris!"
"Mad, you say? Why, I merely use the canvas the world provides. It is not so different from the sculptor shaping clay." Celsius responded.
"Oh god… One of THESE guys…" David groaned.
"Look, buddy, as much as we'd like to hear about your warped way of seeing the world, we're kinda busy here." Mark said.
"I'm only going to warn you one more time, whoever you think you are… Get. Out. Now." David warned.
"Trust us buddy, you do not wanna cross David. He hates guys like you, the kind of people who view themselves as artists while killing stuff." Hope said.
"What a coincidence then." Celsius replied. "You see, I came here at first to claim the treasure of the dungeon, but then I saw you all… what a lucky twist of fate."
"Fine, fine… If I fight you, will you FINALLY shut up?!" David asked.
"Only if you stop holding back, child." Celsius said. "You could do so much with that power of yours, become an artist like me, and yet you limit yourself. What a waste."
"David...don't bother with this guy." Gray said, stepping forward. "I think it's time you got to see what real art is."
"Hmm… very well then. An exhibition before I craft my ultimate piece. Let us begin!" Celsius declared, forming a rapier from ice in his hand.
"Ice Make...Lance!" Gray said, creating a lance as it collided with the rapier as both broke apart.
"You see how fragile the ice is." Celsius said, leaping back and making a rose out of ice. "Life is no different!" he declared, throwing the rose at Gray, following up with more roses launched at him.
'Ice Make: Shield!" Gray said, creating a shield of ice as the roses bombarded against it. "Now Ice Make: Cannon!" he said creating an array of cannons as they fired on Celcius.
Celsius didn't flinch merely snapping his fingers before the ice beneath him rose up, launching him into the air before the cannonfire hit. Twirling above, the madman created a pistol, shooting ice-made bullets from it. "HA! Right in the...eh?"
"Well...that's one thing about you…" Gray said, showing the bullets caught in his teeth. "Your ice tastes like crap." he said as he ate them.
"What? How? You're not a Dragon Slayer! You can't gain power from-!" Celsius sputtered.
"Yeah...I'm not a dragon slayer." Gray said, tossing his jacket off as his mark appeared. "I'm a Devil Slayer."
"Devil…?" Celsius said in confusion before he composed himself. "N-No matter, I'll overcome you yet. Behold, my greatest work!"
Celsius clapped his hands twice, causing the room to shake before his body started freezing over and growing, until he towered over Gray.
"Ice Titan!" Celsius declared. "It's been quite some time since I've used myself as an art piece!"
"Is he serious?" Leviathan asked.
"Wow...gotta admit...that would have left me shaking." Gray said calmly. "However...that doesn't frighten me." he said as the ice around the room began to morph and change before taking the form of large knights that stood behind him and equaled Celsius in size. "Ice Make: Heavy Knights!"
"I-Impossible!" Celsius exclaimed. "Your technique surpasses my art?!"
"Yeah...about your so-called art...it sucks." Gray said as the knights charged into Celsius, breaking apart his Ice Titan and sending him crashing to the ground, falling unconscious. "Maybe for now...go take some life classes."
"Nice job, Gray. About time someone shut him up." Scarlet said.
"I'm glad he's dealt with, but I can't help but worry if he already dealt with the Dungeon's Master." Hope said.
"Nah, if Gray was able to beat him easily, I seriously doubt someone like him could've done it. Besides, this place is still up, isn't it?" David asked.
"Yeah, it would've started collapsing by now." Ace added as a large door stood before the group.
"I can smell it… The real guardian of this dungeon is beyond this door." Cheetah said.
"Yeah, that guy was just a bump in the road, but this is where the real battle begins." David said.
"Let's not keep her waiting then." Simon said.