At the ridge's base, the ice cracked beneath their feet.
Lyne caught Sightless's sleeve. "Look—something frozen inside."
Beneath translucent blue, an Odachi rested—long as she was tall. Silver-white, sharper than steel, still as the mountain itself.
Sightless's gaze hardened. "That sword could cleave this mountain in two. But blades like this don't wait frozen, free. Whoever wields it must swear an oath."
Lyne's voice was steady. "I swear. This blade will spill blood only for justice."
Sightless stepped back. "Then shatter the ice."
She struck hard. The ice shattered, spilling soft light, revealing the gleaming Odachi.
A whisper echoed:
[You have acquired a counterfeit forgotten Odachi]
Lyne's eyes narrowed. "You knew it was fake?"
"Of course. No true weapon waits like fruit ripe for picking. The real Odachi lies deeper, hidden."
Before she could respond, the wind stilled.
From the shadows emerged a colossal white serpent—scales like fresh snow, eyes glinting like frozen glass.
Lyne froze. Sightless stepped forward, cold and unflinching.
"I will walk this forgotten mountain. Slither away… or be forgotten."
The serpent paused, then slipped silently back into darkness.
The voice returned:
[You have acquired the true forgotten Odachi]