Steve's heart pounded in his chest as he sprinted, his every muscle straining under the weight of Kath on his back. The Arcis, their twisted metallic forms a grotesque mockery of humanity, lunged at him with frenzied desperation. With each attack, Steve swung his hammer, the weight of it connecting with strong armor, felling the creatures that dared to impede his progress.

Through the flurry of violence, Steve caught glimpses of Joanne, her figure flickering in and out of his vision as she weaved through the streets of the Unseen City. He couldn't afford to lose sight of her, not when his daughter's life hung in the balance.

Finally, he burst into a small clearing, the snow-covered ground dotted with a handful of trees in what looked like a public park, as no Arcis was following him.

As he entered the clearing, he found the dead bodies of several people covered in piles of bloodied snow. “Close your eyes,” He ordered Kath, so she did. He knew that these people had not died at Joanne’s hands but most likely under Alice’s summoned monsters.

He continued, trying not to think too much about what he just saw. The air was frigid, biting against his skin as he surveyed his surroundings. To the south, the frozen expanse of Lake Tuoni stretched out before him, its icy surface shimmering under the pale moonlight.

And there, by the lake's northern shore, stood a creature of legend and terror, a dragon his daughter had summoned, somehow—a Wockjeibaa. The colorful feathers on its scaly body perked up as it purred like a cat. Its snake-like body bowed at her in reverence as it pierced the ground with its three pairs of claws.

Alice stood beside it, her gentle touch soothing the beast as it nuzzled against her. Relief washed over Steve as he called out to her, his voice echoing through the tense silence.

"Alice!" He shouted; his voice tinged with urgency. He carefully set Kath down, Kath’s resilient spirit shining through as she stood resolutely by his side.

"Where's Joanne?" Kath asked, her concern evident, but Steve's focus was on Alice. He knew he had to save his daughter, no matter the cost.

The Wockjeibaa roared, its massive wings unfurling with a thunderous flap that sent a gust of wind sweeping through the clearing. The air itself seemed to convulse around Steve and Kath as if the very elements were aligning against them. And then the dragon unleashed a barrage of blue fireballs, a deadly firestorm hurtling towards them.

In a desperate act of defense, Steve summoned forth a shield from the ring De Hard had bestowed upon him. The ethereal barrier materialized before him, a shimmering silvery light of protection that covered both himself and Kath, shielding them from the searing flames. The heat licked at the edges of their barrier, the snow around them melting into steamy puddles as the cold clashed with the dragon's fiery assault.

Alice's presence caught Steve's attention once again. She raised her hand, her fingers curling as if grasping at something invisible. And then, in a breathtaking display of power, a blue scythe materialized in her grasp. Its blades, curved like a crescent moon, glowed with an otherworldly radiance.

Steve's eyes widened, awe and trepidation mingling within him. He had known Alice possessed abilities beyond human comprehension, but witnessing her command over such a fearsome weapon and that creature was a revelation.

As the moon bathed the scene in its ethereal glow, Steve tightened his grip on his hammer. He knew that the battle ahead would be fierce, that the odds were stacked against him. But he also knew that he would fight with every fiber of his being, for his daughter, and for the world they held dear. He needed to bring Alice back, no matter what.

Steve took a deep breath, his heart pumping with adrenaline. Nothing would stand in his way. With a silent vow, he prepared himself and ran forward.

In the blink of an eye, Alice materialized behind Steve, her presence sent a cold shiver down his spine. ‘How did she do that?’ He thought. The shield De Hard had bestowed upon him reacted instinctively, blocking her every attack. Her voice, once filled with warmth and laughter, now trembled with a mix of anger and despair.

"I hate you," Alice mumbled, her words laced with the weight of sorrow. Tears streamed down her face as she continued her relentless assault, each strike met with the solid defense of the shield.

Steve listened to her cries; his heart heavy with the pain she carried. He knew deep down that this was not the Alice he had come to know and love. She was lost, consumed by forces beyond her control.

"Tempus fugit, sicut nubes, quasi naves, velut umbra!" Alice chanted; her voice filled with a haunting power.

From the depths of the shadows, a sundial emerged, its once elegant form now marred by ruin, mirroring the destruction he found in the court palace. Clocks and watches materialized in a chaotic dance, their broken forms littering the landscape.

Steve's heart sank as he surveyed the scene, memories flooding back to when he and his daughter had first arrived in the city. Clocks and watches adorned every corner, their steady ticking a reminder of the flow of time. But now, they lay broken and still, their very essence stripped away.

"Help me!" Alice's desperate scream pierced through the chaos. The ground quaked beneath their feet as massive tree roots burst forth from the ground, their immense power shaking the very foundation of their reality. In an instant, they were transported from the universe of clocks and watches back to the harsh reality they once knew.

“Steve,” Kath called, covering behind Steve. “Every time she summons that sundial, she calls forth another dimension. That’s how all these creatures in the city appeared.”

“Shit!” Steve groaned.

Alice's attacks continued; her strikes fueled by a maelstrom of emotions. Steve held his ground, the shield bearing the brunt of his daughter’s assault. The tree roots rose higher, tearing through the earth and demolishing the small hut that had stood by the frozen lake.

“Alice!” Steve shouted, pushing back against Alice's onslaught with his shield. But in a moment of distraction, a root struck him from the side. He managed to get out of the way, but not without consequence. Pain seared through his arm as the jagged edges of the root left a deep laceration.

Another root struck Kath, sending her flying a few yards. “Kath, are you OK?” Steve shouted, Kath groaned in pain without saying a word.

His breath caught in his throat, his wound throbbing with each heartbeat. But he refused to succumb to despair. Gritting his teeth, he focused on the task at hand, his mind racing with strategies to overcome Alice's anguish-fueled attacks.

As Steve's heart pounded in his chest, his eyes widened in terror as he caught sight of the looming shadow above him. The dragon, its maw wide open, descended upon him with a hunger that sent chills down his spine. Fear gripped him, threatening to paralyze his every movement.

But just as the dragon's jaws were about to close around him, a strong grip seized his torso, yanking him backward with a force that sent him tumbling several dozen feet away. Gasping for breath, he realized he was still alive, saved by the intervention of a stranger.

The mysterious newcomer, Aran, stood before him. Steve felt a surge of gratitude wash over him as he found his footing, the weight of his purpose settling upon his shoulders once more.

"I will distract the dragon," Aran said, his voice steady and resolute. "Help your daughter!"

With a nod of understanding, Steve watched as Aran readied a crossbow and sprinted towards the lake. The newcomer's movements were swift and precise, each bolt fired with deadly accuracy. The dragon, enraged by the barrage of projectiles, turned its attention towards Aran, its massive form lurching forward in pursuit with Alice riding on its neck.

Emboldened by Aran's selfless act, Steve pushed aside the pain in his flank and focused on the task at hand. He couldn't let fear consume him, not now. With a renewed determination burning in his eyes, he sprinted towards the heart of danger, his every step fueled by a father's love and a desperate need to protect.

As Steve neared the frozen lake, the clash of the steel bolts against scales filled the air, accompanied by the roar of the dragon. Aran fought with agility and skill that left Steve in awe, each shot from his crossbow finding its mark with deadly precision, piercing the thick dragon's thick skin.

But Steve knew that time was running out. With a surge of adrenaline, he ran into action, summoning all his strength and courage. He would face the dragon head-on, risking everything. As he approached, the dragon turned its attention towards him, its eyes filled with fury and hunger. Steve could feel the heat of its breath, the intensity of its bloodshot eyes threatening to consume him. But he wouldn't back down.

With a battle cry that echoed through the night, Steve lunged forward, his hammer raised high. Blow after blow landed against the dragon's scales, each strike fueled by a desperate determination. The creature fought back with a ferocity matched only by its size, but Steve persevered, his every movement calculated and precise.

Meanwhile, Aran continued to shoot at the beast, his agility allowing him to evade the reptile's deadly claws and teeth.

Together, Steve and Aran waged war against the creature. As the moon rose in the sky casting its glow, Steve's heart burned with a mixture of fear and determination. As the dragon's enraged roars echoed through the frozen landscape, Aran and Steve stood side by side. The air crackled with tension as the dragon lunged forward, its massive wings casting a shadow over the battlefield.

Aran swiftly nocked an arrow onto his crossbow, his movements fluid and precise. With steadfast focus, he unleashed a volley of projectiles at the dragon's lower limbs, each shot finding its mark with deadly accuracy. The dragon recoiled in pain; its scales pierced by the relentless assault.

Not to be outdone, Steve hefted his hammer. With each swing, the weapon connected with bone-jarring force first at the dragon’s left arm then at its lower jaw, each blow resonating through his arms and into the dragon's thick hide.

The dragon fought back with a fury matched only by its immense size. It whipped its tail, sending gusts of wind that threatened to knock Aran and Steve off balance. Standing on its lower limbs it used its other four claws as it swiped through the air, the sheer force of its movements leaving deep furrows in the frozen ground.

But Aran, nimble and agile, evaded the dragon's attacks with a dancer's grace, his movements a mesmerizing display of skill. He ducked, weaved, and rolled, narrowly avoiding the dragon's relentless claw attack. With each dodge, he found an opening to unleash another volley of arrows, his shots finding their mark with uncanny precision.

Steve, fueled by a father's love and an untiring determination, stood his ground against the creature. He parried the creature's claws with his shield, the impact reverberating through his entire body. With each strike, he sought weaknesses in the dragon's defenses, aiming for its eyes, throat, and vulnerable joints.

Aran’s and Steve’s movements became synchronized, a seamless coordination of offense and defense. They anticipated each other's actions, covering each other's blind spots, and exploiting every opportunity to strike at the dragon's joints.

The dragon's fury intensified with each passing moment until it breathed fire. Its breath was a searing inferno that threatened to consume them all. But Steve and Aran pushed through the flames taking cover behind the shield.

With a final surge of strength, Steve delivered a crushing blow to the dragon's jaw, causing it to stagger back in pain and confusion. Seizing the opportunity, Aran unleashed a volley of arrows that found their mark in the creature's vulnerable underbelly. The dragon let out a thunderous roar, its mighty form crumbling to the ground.

A triumphant cry escaped Steve's lips as he and Aran stood victorious. Their bodies were battered and bruised, their breaths ragged, but their spirits burned with hope. They knew the battle was far from over the dragon wasn’t killed yet, but in that moment, they reveled in what they had achieved together.

Steve approached the hurt and fallen yet still-breathing dragon. He desperately called out for his daughter, Alice. With a swift jump, she effortlessly evaded his grasp and gracefully landed behind him. A surge of vibrant, golden light engulfed her scythe, illuminating her blank expression. In a single, fluid motion, Alice swung her weapon with the finesse of a seasoned athlete, connecting with bone-crushing force against Steve's vulnerable right side.

The impact was nothing short of devastating. Agonizing pain exploded through Steve's body, his right arm breaking under the overwhelming force. Helplessly propelled through the air, he hurtled towards the icy surface of the lake, the brittle ice shattering upon his descent. Plunging into the frigid depths, Steve's desperate gasps for air were replaced by a cruel mixture of blood and freezing water. Darkness descended upon him, his vision fading into an eerie abyss.

As Steve succumbed to the numbing embrace of the frozen water, his consciousness waned, leaving behind a haunting silence in the wake of his tragic demise. He sank.

The frigid water penetrated his clothes, seeping into every fiber, as if trying to penetrate his very soul. It clung to his skin like a relentless predator, draining the warmth from his body. He shivered uncontrollably as his fingers grew numb, struggling to maintain a grip on reality.

As the bitter cold surrounded him, Steve's thoughts spiraled into darkness. The chill crept into his mind, freezing his thoughts, and a deep sense of failure settled over him like a heavy cloak. It weighed him down, pressing against his chest, making each breath a struggle.

Glimmers of memories flashed through his mind, fragments of a life he had once known. He saw Alice's face, her innocent eyes filled with joy, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. He had promised to protect her, to be the family she needed, but now he found himself drowning in a frozen lake far away from home.

"I'm sorry, Mia," He whispered his wife’s name, the words carried away by the currents. "I failed Alice, just like I failed you."

His mind drifted to his sister, Alice's real mother, who had entrusted him with her daughter's care. The weight of that responsibility felt heavier than ever, and he couldn't escape the guilt of falling short.

"I promised to protect her, to be the family she needed," Steve thought with regret. "I let you down, Alice. I'm so sorry, Rose."

But then, a strange phantom voice echoed in the recesses of his mind, a faint whisper encouraging him to survive. It was a voice that cut through the darkness, a glimmer of something otherworldly.

"Steve, don't give up. You have more to do," The voice urged, resonating with an unearthly energy.

Despite the depths of despair, a flicker of determination sparked within Steve. He struggled against the numbing cold, propelled by the mysterious encouragement echoing in his ears. The icy water couldn't claim him yet.

As he fought against the pull of darkness, memories of Alice's laughter, Mia's smile, and Rose's trust surfaced like fragments of a shattered reality. The voice persisted, urging him to push beyond the pain.

With a surge of strength he didn't know he possessed, Steve kicked against the water, propelling himself towards the surface. The frozen lake resisted, but he clawed his way through, driven by an otherworldly force and the desperate need to set things right.

His body ached, every muscle screaming in protest, but he refused to give in. The bitter cold continued to gnaw at him, threatening to consume him entirely, but he pressed on. The voice whispered in his ear, guiding him, coaxing him to fight against the odds.

And then, like a glimmer of hope in the darkest night, Steve's hand broke through the icy surface.