Chapter 9 - chapter 5: part of past that I can’t forget(2)

It wasn't long before our group reached distance where we could no longer see Moltier city no that is not right description because of snowstorm I can't see five step ahead of me at all 

"Stay close to each other if you get lost use emergency lights to go back to Moltier city" our squad leader shouted due to snowstorm hearing was hard his voice was happens to be loud enough for all of us to hear 

"*sigh* I guess I'm getting better at this" right now order to walk around with my squad i needed to use magic shield technique to shield myself from both magic pressure and snowstorm but thing 

Ugh 

The magic shield technique I'm using is currently not functioning effectively. When I attempt to use it while walking, I find it very challenging. This difficulty proves to me time and time again just how much of focus or mastery and it is difficult to maintain while in motion. In contrast, I have observed extraordinary monsters using this technique effortlessly during combat. That scene is still lingering in my memories time and time again it highlights the exceptional skill and proficiency these monsters possess, as they can execute the technique seamlessly even in the midst of battle.

Currently, my ability to create a barrier with this technique is limited. The barrier i manage to form is very thin and has holes in it, indicating that it does not provide adequate protection. This proves that I a need for improvement in my technique and understanding of how to harness the magic effectively. To enhance my proficiency, I need to practice more, focus on stabilizing my stance, or seek guidance to better control the magic and create a more solid and reliable barrier. 

But I haven been trying that for moment I get in to Moltier city and this is highest level I reached 

Numb numb 

I glanced at my side, and to my surprise, Lucky was standing there, munching on his snacks. He doesn't even using magic shield technique. Well that is understandable since he's a rank 5 monster, while rank 4 monsters can live in Frostland environments like nothing. And most Frostland monsters are quite adapted to this environment, they still use the magic shield technique to travel around Frostland. This guy, however, was just standing there and walking casually. 

"…lucky," I mumbled unconsciously, and it was enough to reach Lucky. He looked at me confused. 

He probably assumes I called him, so why not take advantage of his availability and give him a job? 

"What's it Sans?" Lucky glanced at me with his still confused expression. 

I chuckled a bit and walked closer to him "you remember the bet, right?"

Lucky appears even more perplexed, judging by his expression, I can sense that he's wondering why I'm asking this. 

In Moltier City, Lucky had challenged me to a bet. His eyes were gleamed with mischief, and The rules of bet was simple: if he could make me laugh, i can ask any form of demand so he had to make me laugh. That was it. No stakes, no intelligence just his relentless desire to pierce my calm exterior.

He started with his usual antics, swinging his ice cream as if it were a sword, declaring himself the "Champion of Laughter." Chairs were climbed and nearly toppled, feathers from his fluffy collar drifted like small, dark clouds around him. His delivery was absurd, his jokes clumsy, and yet… I stayed silent. I felt like a fortress, unmoved.

I have to wonder why I guard my laughter so fiercely. Perhaps I've lived too long in quiet observation, buried in meditations and duties. Lucky always accuses me of having no hobbies, of letting life pass by while I sit in stillness. Maybe he's right. Maybe I've been waiting for someone like him to remind me that life isn't only about having just one big goal.

Then, came the moment that broke me. Lucky had delivered his last joke, and it failed spectacularly. He froze, his horns tilting downward, his tiny mouth caught in a pout that was both pitiful and adorable. He looked like a lost kid-small, defeated, and somehow perfect in his vulnerability. My lips twitched. My chest shook. And before I could stop myself, laughter spilled out of me, rolling into the air and echoing against the metal streets.

Lucky lit up like the first sun-ray over a frozen field. He twirled in victory, shouting, "Ha! I won!" His joy was so genuine, so alive, that I couldn't help but laugh harder.

But by the rules, I was the winner—I had resisted for so long. But in truth, Lucky had won everything that mattered. He reminded me that moments of levity are as vital as breath, that he carries, a load noisy warmth that almost never fade

Even right now, that laughter still hums softly in my chest. With those being said I stopped my magic shield technique 

"I know I'm not great with my magic shield, and it's taking a toll on my body. And I need your help with this" I said to him which from his face it seems he is wondering what am I asking but soon face of realization appears on his face 

"Hmm, wait… ohhh, okay, no problem," Lucky said warmly and energetically, his snow-white hair bristling with enthusiasm. Even under the raging snowstorm, his inverted black eyes with their tiny white pupils gleamed with that unmistakable confidence—a quiet proclamation that he was a rank 5 monster, a powerful monster who could stand against the island destroying beasts and not flinch. 

Then I laid down the words that froze him in place. 

"Till this expedition ends."

His playful aura shattered, replaced by a blank, stunned expression. His horns tilted back slightly, his jaw slackened, and for a heartbeat he was a snow-carved statue in the blizzard. That face—the perfect mixture of disbelief and betrayal—triggered a small laugh from me. I reached into his snack stash, plucked one, and crunched it loudly. That sound alone seemed to pull him back. 

With a dramatic sigh, he raised his hand, and a humming barrier flared into life around us. Snow and wind bent away, swirling along the curved surface as warmth enveloped me. 

And then, Lucky began his long march. For whole day. The whole day of shielding. 27 hours of enduring the Frost Zone at its most merciless.

I couldn't help but compare him to myself. My thoughts drifted back to the first time I tried to maintain a magic shield in the Frost Zone. The memory cut like ice the wind slamming against me, my trembling fingers barely holding the spell, the barrier flickering like a dying ember. I'd taken a single step, and it shattered. The cold had swallowed me instantly, leaving me on my knees, gasping in pain and loss of stamina to continue . I had felt small, weak just a peak rank 2 stage who recently breakthrough rank 3 monster clawing for goal that is nearly impossible for someone like me and feeling of unworthiness wash over me for while but his presence kinda push them away. 

Lucky. His barrier wasn't fragile. It was layered, stable, and in term of width it was like I have no words to describe. It flexed with the storm's fury, rippled when snow laden gusts struck, and absorbed the magic pressure like it was a casual inconvenience. I marveled at how effortlessly he wove it: an outer deflecting shell, a pulsing inner membrane, and an invisible stabilizing current that made the entire thing feel like a breathing, protective creature. 

"This is the difference" I thought, my chest tight with conflicting feelings. "This is what power of rank 5 are yet I need to go beyond them."

Hour after hour, Lucky trudged forward. Coldness clung to his horns like silver crowns, his feathered collar sagged under the weight of ice, and sweat steamed faintly off his body in the freezing air. Yet his steps never stopped, and the barrier never faltered. Watching him, I felt the sharp ache of jealousy settle in my chest. His superiority was undeniable. Every step he took reminded me of the gulf between us—a gulf carved by talent, strength, and sheer willpower.

And yet, that same sight stirred something warmer. It was painful to witness him embody the power I lacked, but it was also… inspiring. His talent and personality lit a spark in me, a reminder of why I endure, why I keep pushing despite my failures. "If he can carry this weight for whole day hours, maybe one day I can carry my own for one."

By the seventh hour, Lucky's steps had slowed, his breath puffing in heavy clouds, his body slick with sweat beneath his winter gear. Steam rose off him like he burned with inner fire, and the storm still bent to his will. I trailed behind him, my small frame moving easily in his wake, sheltered and safe because of him. 

I felt both humbled and challenged. "Lucky is truly… an extraordinary" I thought as the barrier pulsed like a living heart around us. "He is everything I want to be… and small reminder to me of how far I have yet to go."

Even though, as the blizzard rages and the Frost Zone whispers of my limits, I find myself reflecting on the weight I carry within. I cannot ignore the hollow ache of my own weakness, the quiet truth that my talent feels so small against the vastness of my goal. The distance between where I stand and where I dream to be is immeasurable—like the gulf between mortal and celestial beings. I feel it in my bones, in every labored breath of magic I can barely sustain.

Yet, within that jealousy, there is a flicker of hope. Watching him endure, I am reminded that the path is not impossible. If he can bear the weight of the Frost Zone with unwavering steps, perhaps I, too, can learn to carry my own burdens. Perhaps my slow, quiet climb will still take me to the heights I seek. My pace may be mortal, my reach may falter, but the ember of my will is still alive.

I tell this to myself in order to remember that even in my weakness, I am not lost. Jealousy is only the shadow of yearning, and hope is its light. One day, I will break through the frost—not as swift as Lucky, not as glorious as the celestial ones but as myself.

This is what I'm feeling as we draw closer to our destination. Unlike the previous expeditions, where we delved into the depths with a sense of uncertainty and caution, this time we are determined to leave no stone unturned. We will scour every inch, every crevice, and every hidden corner with an intensity and thoroughness that has never been seen before. Our resolve is unyielding, and our mission is clear: we will absolutely look for everything, leaving nothing behind. The anticipation is palpable, and the stakes are higher than ever. This is not just another journey.

Soon we reached the specific mountain in this frost zone Temperature here mostly Averages −75°C with wind chill exceeding −110°C. Immediate exposure is dangerous without magic shield technique. And weather here are Continuous snowstorms dominate the region. Visibility often drops to 1–2 meters. Storm cycles fluctuate hourly, brief lulls lasting 5–10 minutes at most. Wind here very dangerous and painful as wind speeds averaging 40–60 km/h. Snows are hard as ice and with its speed it is capable of injuring monster in long term exposure 

This brought first moments I have came to frostland when I came here first it almost killed me but since I have came here other professionals I was safe but it was very painful 

And compacted snow over jagged ice layers; depth varies from 0.5 m to 3 m. Hidden crevices common—recorded one fissure approximately 12 m deep at coordinates at mountain. Unstable surfaces and whiteout conditions make navigation hazardous. Travel is best done in squads with tracking markers or emergency lights as it is most safest method.

And ice tree unlike ancient forest frost zone is full of Ice Trees Height ranges 10–18m. Structures are crystalline, semi-translucent, and highly volatile. And that a single heavy impact can trigger an explosive fragmentation, scattering shards across a 15-meter radius those are what most newcomers are thought in their first day. however right now I need to find frost fungus with Lucky it is usually grown in caves and how it lives is kind impressive it basically live with beast it support young beasts to grown up and when they dies of old or fatal illnesses or injuries frost fungus absorb them and dissolve everything of beasts and how it endure that long simple nature energy leaking it is in every ice tree they release those energy to air and frost fungus is very skilled at absorbing them but we use it for different purposes it Emit faint green light but we use it as natural light sources or multi-purposed plant in order to use it as light we lend those frost fungus our magic energy which is not nature energy but can replace it for time two hours.

As frost zone it hold higher rank of beasts most lowest rank is rank 2 other than that there is no rank 1 monster however our group must be careful of rank 4 and 5 because while we explore those rank 4 and 5 beasts will continue to fight us and weaken us till we will be overwhelmed fortunately it will be not like red pain ant beasts they will not swarm us but still possess threat 

From what i know this mountain we are searching is shown to be occupied by rank 5 beast land devastator crocodile beasts which is one of the durable and has one shot bite so we need to be aware of them since they are highly territorial, and as rank 5 even under frost zone's magic pressure they can shook city size area easily 

And magic pressure here is whole another level I means I have sufficient understanding of magic pressure as it is a fundamental phenomenon in the Frost Zone, shaping its ecosystem, influencing combat strategy, and defining the limits of powers. It is not merely a passive force but an active, suppressive, and reactive layer of environmental magic that permeates every inch of the region. Understanding it requires evaluating its nature, sources, and effects on monsters, beasts, and magic energy.

Magic Pressure is the manifestation of concentrated, active nature energy in the environment, which interacts with any foreign magic energy. It functions as a semi-conscious force that resists manipulation and suppresses all forms of external magical activity. In essence, the denser the natural energy in a region, the greater the Magic Pressure exerted.

And from my understanding nature energy is not inert; it constantly flows, shifts, and attempts to destabilize anything that trying to cast magic.

Magic Pressure in the Frost Zone emerges from the unique convergence of environmental and planar factors. One such factor is frost zones, which serve as natural reservoirs where raw nature energy accumulates. This energy is further compressed by surrounding ley lines, resulting in higher Magic Pressure. Additionally, continuous snowstorms and glacial formations enhance elemental resonance. The interplay between ice and wind elements, combined with nature energy, creates a dynamic and suppressive field.

And there is silver storm although it is far away from happening and never seeing it I learned it from guild manager Twice a year, lunar cycles and auroral flares spike Magic Pressure by 30%, creating the infamous Silver Storms that can render mid-rank expeditions impossible.

Magic Pressure impacts monsters and beasts practitioners according to three primary factors: rank, control, and endurance.

One of those negative effects being suppression of magic energy flow spells take 150–250% more energy to cast which makes High-speed casting is prone to collapse due to ambient destabilization. and here only guild managers can use magic shield technique without much problems others can even Lucky right now his magic shields require triple-layer construction to resist erosion.

And most disadvantageous of all is that magic energy kinda effects physical body as well since our body is made of magic but magic pressure has no effect on beast's body because of that we need to avoid any beast as much as possible since beasts can rely more on physical strength, weigh to overpower monsters while we can't do anything but our group fighter type monsters can fight back against most beasts their own rank, but magic type monsters kinda get useless.

Looking at mountain I can't help but remember guidance of leader and my accumulation of knowledge about magic pressure 

One from most obvious Constant background suppression. Predictable but exhausting over long durations.

And effects that occur during special snowstorms or beast clashes. Magic flows become turbulent, causing spontaneous spell disintegration.

And one I need to careful of. The rare surges which active nature energy condenses momentarily, often triggered by beast battles or environmental shifts. These pulses can physically knock down unprepared monsters.

And most rarest of all A unique form where the Frost Zone's energy synchronizes with a monster's magic. This can either amplify or catastrophically overload magic casting if not stabilized.

And at an end of day magic Pressure is the invisible law of the Frost Zones a symbiotic guardian of the land that tests all who enter. It enforces adaptation, creativity, and respect for the natural order, making survival as much a battle of will and ingenuity as raw power.

I can't help but admire beauty of it all even after recalling all those knowledge so with Lucky we goes to search for cave to find frost fungus 

While we were walking Lucky talked the whole way, joking about snowflakes landing on his horns and how he wished for ice cream even in this cold frost zone. His energy was infectious, but I stayed focused, reminding myself that our goal was to find a cave and secure frost fungus for the guild.

However the higher ground of mountains we went, the heavier the magic pressure became. Each step felt like wading through an invisible current, sapping my stamina. My barrier wavered, and so with no other choice I had to ask Lucky for help. His expression when I told him he'd be shielding us " until the expedition ends means not just traveling but through whole journey" was priceless—a perfect blend of disbelief and betrayal. I laughed, something that rarely happens, and it surprised even me. 

With Lucky's magic shield technique he created barrier surrounding us, I found myself observing more easily and effectively trying to find possible places where cave might be. The ice trees shimmered like crystalline spires, dangerous and beautiful, ready to explode if struck. Hidden fissures in the snow kept me alert. Lucky, meanwhile, hummed to himself, tossing snacks into his mouth as if the magic pressure didn't exist. Watching him, I felt a pang of jealousy at his effortless strength, but also a quiet admiration.

Before we realized it, we had already spent hours trying to find a cave to collect frost fungus. However, we found a cave nonetheless. Usually, most caves in mountains are empty when there's a rank 5 beast, so it was likely that there wouldn't be any beast. Nevertheless, I stayed cautious because, on my second expedition, I believed this statement too much and accidentally forced a fight with a rank 3 beast. Fortunately, Lucky was close by then. Ever since that expedition I always check a cave before dropping my guard.

Soon, he managed to get through the cave opening and went deeper. However, just like I had anticipated, sunlight couldn't penetrate very far. In just a few steps, Lucky and I were plunged into complete darkness. But not long after, the walls of the cave pulsed with green lights, which I recognized as the light emitted by frost fungus spores. 

"We are close to finding enough frost fungus, and from the depth of how early this came and how much this can possibly be, I can say we have about a week's worth." I exclaimed, feeling quite pleased as this was my first time discovering such a quantity. During my first expedition, I found only enough for a day, and in my second, I found similar amounts. The following few expeditions yielded no more, but this time, I found a week's worth. It's truly surprising and satisfying. 

Lucky continued to munch on his snacks, giving me a thumbs-up. However, I could sense that he was quite tired. That's understandable after all it's my fault that he's so exhausted.

As we ventured further, I felt the magic pressure gradually diminishing. And I knew the cause was the frost fungus. These fungus are so lethargic that they induce a similar drowsiness in the surrounding natural energy. Given that magic pressure is essentially a measure of the vitality of nature energy so it was inevitable that it would become less active. 

The cave wall start to wide as we walk, soon natural light fade only veil of frost fungus glow working as our source of light.

The high ceiling above me disappeared into darkness, only to reappear as light reflected off icicles hanging like the teeth of a frozen giant beast. Some icicles were thin like needles, while others were thick like tree trunks. I had to be careful around them, a loud noise could cause them to fall down, potentially killing me. Fortunately, I was with Lucky, so I wasn't too scared, but I still thought it was better to be cautious. Then, water dripped from the frozen stalactites, freezing mid-air before shattering on the cold ground. The air was cold and carried the faint smell of minerals, old earth, and the sweet scent of frost fungus.

We were getting closer, and the temperature was warmer than outside, indicating the presence of frost fungus. 

As we delved deeper into the cave, it split into numerous paths, each twisting and turning like the other caves I had explored. The complexity of the cave was akin to the intricate veins of flesh. Some tunnels were narrow, forcing us to walk in single file. Lucky's barrier brushed against the walls, sending ripples of light across the icy surface. In contrast, other tunnels opened into vast halls where the far wall was obscured. Despite the presence of magic pressure, it was subdued by the cave's embrace and the frosty fungus spores that floated like green fireflies.

As we ventured deeper into the cave, its vitality intensified. Frost fungus formed dense clusters on the walls and ceilings, creating luminous terraces that illuminated the tunnels. Some of the fungus crafted intricate web-like patterns, while others resembled thick mushroom shelves pulsating with energy. As Lucky and I continued our journey, we observed the fungus roots extending like veins, penetrating the icy floor and vanishing into deep crevices. These roots emitted a faint glow, transmitting energy through their extensive network, and I have always been awed by the serene ecosystem flourishing within this frozen cathedral.

Sometimes, the cave surprised us with natural wonders: a frozen lake that mirrored everything perfectly, its surface covered with frost patterns that seemed deliberate—as if the cave had its own language in ice. In another chamber, huge crystal pillars rose from floor to ceiling, each humming with trapped magic energy, resonating when Lucky touched them. The sound vibrated through me like the some giant's growl.

We found caverns where frost fungus formed entire groves—large circular fields of glowing growths that bent gently under their weight. They seemed to breathe in rhythm, taking in nature energy from the air and releasing a calming presence that quieted even the restless snow outside.

This was our goal the frost fungus it was totally green it pulsed like alive heart moving however disappointment was still there as this just 4 days worth fungus it still I felt satisfied for it is biggest amount of frost fungus I ever seen so I'm quite satisfied 

"Let me take them for you. You've been using the magic shield technique for quite some time, and I can imagine it must be quite exhausting. Your magic energy might be running low, so why don't you rest here for a while? I'll carry the frost fungus," I said, turning to Lucky. He seemed genuinely happy, as he fell backward with a smile and gave me a thumbs up before he fell down to the rocky ground just two seconds later. 

I rolled my eyes as I walked towards frost fungus. I step quietly into the frost fungus grove, the soft crunch of snow under my boots fading into the stillness. 

The cavern glows with a gentle green light, the frost fungus spreading in clusters along the walls and ceiling like living lanterns. 

Cold air wraps around me, but it feels calm rather than harsh, carrying the faint scent of ice and minerals. 

In this moment, I feel like I've entered a place where time moves slower than usual just like other times, and it is beautiful to me. 

I kneel by the first cluster of fungus. 

Its glow is steady, its roots reaching deep into the frost, and there was skull of beast covered by frost fungus and I can almost feel the quiet pulse of nature energy flowing through it. 

I run my fingers over the surface and harvest a single piece. As I look at both frost fungus and skull, imagination came to my mind a young vulnerable beast it once nourished—a small, fragile creature, perhaps taking its first steps beyond its den, filled with the strength the fungus gave. 

A soft gratitude rises in me, for both the fungus and the life it supported. 

I rise and take a few careful steps to the next cluster, where the fungus blooms around a ribcage half-buried in the frost. The bones are pale and brittle, hugged by glowing tendrils, as if the fungus is cradling the remains like an old friend. 

I pluck two pieces here, slow and deliberate, and I can't help but think of the beast's journey. 

Perhaps it once thrived on this very energy, roaming the Frost Zone with vitality, until age, illness, or a fatal injury brought it back to this quiet home. 

It's beautiful how, regardless of the beast, they instinctively return to their birthplace as they sense their end approaching. 

Further in, the cavern opens into a wide hall where the frost fungus thickens, climbing the walls in luminous terraces. 

The air here hums faintly, a low vibration of nature energy, and the magic pressure is lighter, gentler, as if the grove itself shields its guests. 

Here, spores float like tiny fireflies, casting soft halos of light. 

I kneel before a patch of small, trembling fungi and harvest them with care, each one no bigger than a fingertip. In my mind, I see the young beasts they will feed, tiny hearts beating strong with borrowed energy, destined to grow until one day they, too, will return to give back the life they were lent. 

I pause to look around the chamber. Bones of all sizes lie scattered under frost—ribs like archways, spines curled like question marks—and each one glows faintly where the fungus has embraced it. 

It is a silent, eternal conversation: the beasts give their final breath, and the fungus receives it, weaving that life into new growth. I feel humbled, honored to share in this rhythm, to take only what I need while leaving the heart of the grove untouched. 

I continue my harvest slowly, pairing each careful movement with reflection. One fungus for the beast that ran swift through the snow. Another for the one that lay here in its final rest, giving back to the land that nurtured it. 

I take a handful from a cluster high on the wall, imagining the generations it will sustain later, the cycle stretching far into the future long after I am gone. 

When my pouch is full, I remain kneeling for a while, watching the soft green light ripple across the ice. Although I have seems things like this for quite some time it is still beautiful

The grove feels like a living heart, beating quietly beneath the Frost Zone, reminding me that life here is never wasted—it simply changes form, endlessly returning. 

I glance at my pouch with a sense of gratitude, then gently turn around and walk away. I move carefully, knowing that each frost fungus I step on could end the potential life of a beast in future.

When I finally reached laying Lucky I look at behind, the grove glows on, feeding young beasts and cradling the fallen, an eternal cycle of giving and returning. 

With satisfaction and gratitude I turn around to leave with Lucky 

…

In the deepening dusk of the Frost Zone, the first thing I saw was the soft glow of our squad's camp in the distance. Against the vast, frozen expanse, the cluster of tents looked like a constellation fallen to the ground—lanterns and rune lights flickering gently, their colors blending into the snowstorm's veil. The faint shimmer of the barrier pylons surrounded it like a protective halo, their pulsing runes marking a safe haven in the endless white.

The sun had dipped fully beyond the jagged ridges, painting the snow in the last remnants of twilight. Each step toward the glowing camp felt like walking toward warmth and safety, leaving behind the cold silence of the mountain caves. Through the snow-laden wind, I could see the tents arranged in a semi-circle, their enchanted fabric glinting under the lantern light, sturdy and unmoving in the bitter night.

As Lucky and I drew closer, the perimeter runes flared faintly, acknowledging our approach. Crossing the barrier was like stepping into another world—the wind softened, the cold dulled, and the faint hum of magic wrapped around us like a comforting cloak. The central fire pit, fueled by magic fire, flickered softly, its heat spreading in an invisible wave that reached even the tents at the edge of the camp.

Inside the camp, the squad was already busy with their routines. Fighter-type monsters patrolled the perimeter, their breath forming clouds in the cold air, while two mages knelt by the fire, heating water in an insulated pot. Steam rose up and curled into the night, catching the light of the lanterns before fading into the dark sky. I could hear the soft clinking of armor being checked and the muted rustle of supplies being organized in the storage tent.

Lucky immediately flopped onto a crate near the fire, his snow-white hair falling over his horns, a contented sigh escaping him as he pulled out another snack. He waved lazily to one of the mages. "We're back! Got a nice haul of frost fungus!" His voice carried both pride and exhaustion, the result of maintaining the magic shield for the whole expedition.

I moved into the heart of the camp, where the snow was packed down into firm paths between the glowing tents. The central area was a small village in miniature, quiet yet alive with the rhythm of a well-trained squad. I entered the supply tent, the warmth inside instant and comforting, and gently placed the glowing frost fungus into an enchanted crate that would keep it alive and vibrant for week .

When I stepped back into the cold night, the sight of the camp. Tents stood like sentinels against the dark, the fire's glow reflecting off the snow, and the barrier pylons pulsed with life. Lucky was half-asleep by the fire, his feathered collar puffed up like a dark cloud. Around us, my squadmates moved with calm efficiency, preparing for a night of rest under the frozen stars.

I stood for a while, breathing in the crisp air, before finally lying near the fire. Our little fortress of tents, glowing softly in the vast Frost Zone, felt like a heartbeat in the snow—a place of warmth, safety, and belonging amidst the endless winter.

Without much thought I started to meditate Sitting around a comfortable position then I closed my eyes and focus on my breathing slow, steady inhales and gentle exhales. 

Then I needed to visualize the core of myself, the part that feels like both my mirror and my reflection. So when I find core I start to exhale and inhale for few times to feel like core is exhaling and inhaling then I focus part where core exhale and it feels like I can exhale forever without inhaling, magic energy flow out from my body, like mist or a soft river spilling into the air. 

Soon, the magic energy started to fill my surroundings within a one-meter radius. I made core exhale endlessly. Soon, my magic energy started to get a little more distant for me to control, and I needed to my will of magic to gather them around me it. Then I instructed myself what to do in my mind to tell my will of magic and every instruction started to echo. I start to control them with my will of magic, not by force but by intention, shaping its current.

Soon, my surroundings were covered in blue weaves, constantly changing shapes. However, I had control over them. With a brave inhale, I instructed them once again, this time to ascend in stages. I told them to fill my stage, and soon enough, all that magic energy started to suck into my body as I felt it filling the gaps within me.

I attempted to contain the magic within those gaps in my body, mentally commanding it to control my will. However, it proved incredibly challenging, as the will of magic mirrored the mind of a monster. Eventually, some of the magic energy lost control and dissipated, leaving me with only half of the magic energy I had gathered.

Being in the frost zone, the remaining half that had not lost control began to solidify and transform into magic, becoming a part of my body and filling the gaps within. Currently, I am at the average stage, but some of my magic energy has progressed to other stages and has become magic there. This is undesirable, but I have no choice but to accept it. Fortunately, due to the immense magic pressure, the magic energy in the average stage solidified rapidly, within just two hours.

But not long after I reached my limit of mind so I stopped meditating but I already filled most of magic in average stage so not bad. But when I turned around, I saw Lucky fallen asleep. 

"This guy…*sigh* Where is his tent?" I got up and walked to Lucky, trying to get him to his tent. But compared to him, I was small and couldn't lift him. So, I resorted to another method—the one of traits I had gained from my breakthrough to rank 3. 

I utilized my innate trait, which was weak due to my average stage, but it still proved effective. I employed the same method in meditation to obtain magic energy, but this time, I exhaled and inhaled through my core, but not to gather magic energy. Instead, I maintained a consistent cycle of exhaling to acquire magic energy and inhaling to absorb it into my body, similar to how blood circulates. This process activated my trait, and magic energy never left my body. At most, it reached my clothes, then shrunk back, and again reached my clothes, like heartbeats. 

I call it bone-bending, a since trait born from the body. I knew I'd develop something like this, so I commanded my will of magic to use my newfound ability. Will of magic is most crucial and essential for monsters, serving both as a fighting tool and a means of ascension. It acts as a remote control over all magic and magic energy. Since Innate traits are extensions of nature within the body, and since the body is composed of magic, it can control them. 

As intended, I infused the ground with my magic energy and utilized my innate ability to transform it into any form of bone I desired. Bones materialized from the ground as a result. 

Lucky's body was lifted slowly by my bones, and I pulled him to drag him to his tent.

After I put him to his tent I goes to mine and sleep as well since tomorrow I will be quiet busy 

…

Although the sun emerged, the situation remained largely unchanged. The brightness increased slightly, but I can barely see a few steps ahead due to the snowstorm obstructing my vision. Unlike other frost zones I've explored, the ice trees here resemble ordinary trees. Just as ancient forests tree exhibit variations in shape and design, these ice trees also display similar differences. 

Today, I have a mission to travel deep into the heart of the mountain to find the elusive hive root, a unique ice tree. While not an uncommon sight, the hive root is a remarkable tree that spreads its roots far and wide, forming a network that connects to other young trees. This network can span a range to a small city divide, although I must admit that this is an exaggeration. Nevertheless, it remains the most accurate description I can provide. 

This time, I'm alone because Lucky is preoccupied with battling rank 4 to 5 beasts alongside other rank 4 monsters. Since those beasts have detected our presence, they're hunting monsters. While all the attention of the rank 4 to 5 beasts is focused on our strongest monsters, other monsters like me, who possess an innate trait to teleport and become invisible, this was the optimal strategy we could have employed. 

I'm quite familiar with this strategy, as we employ it on all our expeditions. However, I can't help but miss being with Lucky. He used his magic shield technique to protect me, which made traveling easy. Now, I have to rely on my own magic shield technique, which is so ineffective that I've decided it's better to endure the environmental toll on me and focus all my concentration on finding the hive root.

And it was very painful but as I'm focus all my attention on finding hive root it became easier to observe my surroundings and most importantly it was able to see me beast that looking at me

Howl!

"It seems there was more than one beast looking at me "

Howl howl howl

"Okay it is definitely dude"

Howl howl howl howl howl howl

"Oh uh this is too many"

"When there's this much, all I can do is…"

Run 

I run 

I run as fast as I can, running between trees faster than I ever have before. This change is due to reaching rank 3, which has made my physical body more durable and stronger, and has also increased my stamina. 

With each step I was getting more faster but accidentally trip on snow whenever I run too fast beast they are whole different story they have been adapted to live in this environment so they were getting close to me faster than I can run although I can use my innate traits which is teleportation I can go to base but I'm not on that at point to use it but I'm will use it when necessary 

Then sudden idea popped to my head 

"This could work"

Amidst a swirling tempest, where the very air pulsed with nature energy, attempting to suppress me, I embarked on a mental odyssey to fully awaken and amplify my innate traits. Similar to meditation, I let my core exhale, but this time, with each exhale, I also let my core inhale, absorbing magic energy into my body, not as means of filling gaps of magic but akin to blood flowing through veins. This ensured that my innate traits were thoroughly saturated with the potent magic energy coursing through my body, as blue light pulsed like heartbeats emanating from my body. As the colossal tree loomed ominously in my path, I deftly spread my magic energy across the ground beneath my feet, a shimmering veil of power that danced with anticipation.

Drawing upon my limited yet burgeoning experience with force, and driven by a palpable fear of the overwhelming surge of magic energy that could potentially consume me, I deftly employed my innate trait of bone-bending. With a focused surge of magic energy, I transformed a section of the ground into a singular, massive bone, a formidable structure that rose with a commanding presence. This newfound leverage propelled me upward with a velocity that supported me temporary, allowing me to ascend to the elevated branches of the tall ice tree, which soared beyond the reach of the ferocious beasts that roared in frustrated impotence far below.

Undeterred by their primal fury, I did not decelerate. Instead, I harnessed my bone-bending once more, this time on the delicate branches of the ice tree, leaping with a calculated agility that belied the precariousness of my situation. The frost-heavy limbs trembled beneath my weight, sending shards of ice cascading into the blizzard below like a crystalline rain. Each leap was a symphony of magic energy, a burst of power that flowed through my bones, allowing my feet to grip the crystalline surfaces with unerring precision, propelling me to the next tree with a grace that was both fluid and safe enough.

The ice trees became my ethereal path, a frozen web suspended in the sky, each landing a resounding crack that echoed through the white storm like a thunderous applause. The wind, a relentless adversary, bit at my bare bones as if I were a comet streaking through the snowstorm, urging me to go as fast as I could. I pushed forward with more force, my arms adjusting mid-air me with burst of magic energy, my digitigrade legs absorbing the shock of impact with a resilience that was both innate and honed through relentless practice.

Below, the beasts, driven by a primal rage, slammed into the trunks of the trees, shaking loose ice and snow in small, explosive eruptions that punctuated the storm. Yet, I remained ever ahead, moving in a rhythm that was both forced and necessary it was chaotic but it was enough, my shadow a fleeting specter dancing above their reach. Frost clung to my bones, imbuing me with a faint, otherworldly glimmer in the dim light that filtered through the storm.

Reaching a taller tree, I crouched on a swaying branch, my senses attuned to the subtle shifts in the environment. The next branch, weakened by my passage, cracked ominously underfoot, forcing an early leap. With a swift twist of my body, I channeled bone-bending with concentrated magic energy, forming a small bone spur on the next branch. I seized it with a deftness that was born of necessity, stabilizing my landing as snow cascaded around me in a delicate, swirling dance.

The beasts crashed into the tree behind me, their roars swallowed by the wind, their pursuit now a fading echo. They were slower now, their heavy steps pounding a rhythm that was losing its urgency. With a burst of magic energy, I vaulted once more, weaving between the branches with a speed that was both fast and wasn't facing twist and difficulty. Frost fungus spores drifted through the storm, glowing faintly as I passed, their luminescence a testament to the magic that permeated the air.

This treetop sprint was more than mere escape; it was a crucible of learning, a test of my mettle that demanded everything I had to give. Every leap honed my bone-bending, refined my control, and sharpened my ability to calculate my next move with precision. With each branch I traversed, I began to sever my chasers, each leap a testament to my growing adaptability and the relentless pace of my movement.

In after while, I glanced over my shoulder, I observed that there was absolutely nothing in sight that could offer me a semblance of relief or comfort. Overcome with fatigue and a sense of hopelessness, I stumbled and collapsed against an ice tree sitting down in its branch.

"…*gasping* I hope there is no beast that will chase me *gasping* like this but whenever, I believe…*inhaling* I am quite close to the hive root because the absence of a weak ice tree here suggests the possible existence of a hive root."

Forgetting about my body, I looked around with a determined will to find the hive root. I began my search in the area, but whenever I ventured into frost zones, regardless of their differences, all the ice trees stood like watchful sentinels. Their crystalline trunks glimmered faintly in the stormlight, pulsing with the slow heartbeat of nature energy. I knew from experience that finding the hive root was never a matter of simple luck—it demanded patience, observation, and the ability to decipher the subtle language of the ice trees.

My first trail misled me almost immediately. A shallow curve in the snow, faintly glowing and I thought it the vein that pulsed with magic energy, seemed like the start of a root's network. I followed it for nearly half an hour, weaving between the leaning trees, only to find a hollow patch of snow collapsing under my hand. Beneath lay nothing but jagged ice and cold emptiness. I exhaled slowly, the sound swallowed by the wind, and turned back.

The second trail was no kinder. This one led me along a spiraling pattern of ice trees whose branches seemed to point toward a central locus. Their translucent limbs swayed gently, whispering against one another like conspirators. My steps were slowed due to tiredness and observation of my surroundings, the snow crunching softly beneath me. But when I reached the supposed center, there was only a dead clearing—an illusion of symmetry, a trap for those who sought easy answers.

Instead of searching immediately after pausing on one ice tree, I tried to find something that would guide me. However, just one ice tree wasn't enough. Each one was alive, with a column of enchanted frost forming its trunk and branches bending and twisting as if they could sense the world around them. I observed the subtle movements: a branch leaning against the wind, a shimmer running down a trunk as if in quiet communication with the ground. Gradually, I began to discern a pattern. The true hive root didn't reveal itself in straight lines or easy signals; it wove its network in spirals and fractures, making it increasingly difficult for me to locate. 

By the third trail, I had adjusted my approach. I watched the interplay of light within the trees, tracing the faint pulses that ran from one to another. I followed the smallest hints: the way snow seemed firmer in certain arcs, the alignment of branches that subtly curved inward, the faint hum beneath my boots when I paused to listen. Yet I find them to be false with frustration I decided to rest little as I start to analyze what I have seen and my previous experience till multiple false with each minute till one path emerged. So I followed that path

Hours passed before I finally reached a clearing where the ice trees grew in a perfect circle, their branches arched like an ice crown. In the center, the snow was untouched, smooth, and resonant with a low vibration I could feel through my gloves. I knelt and pressed my palm to the frost. Beneath the cold surface thrummed the hive root—a slow, deliberate pulse that tied every living ice tree together. After all the false trails and quiet failures seeing this I felt joy as I fall down to rest little more once again.

I get up little but still sitting, letting the hum of the hive root settle into my hearing. Here, among the living ice, patience was the only key. I wasn't a genius, but in this place, persistence and careful eyes were enough.

I walked towards the center, feeling the intensity and violence of the nature energy growing stronger as I drew nearer. However, this wasn't my first encounter with such situations. Without hesitation, I retrieved the frost fungus from my pouch and began channeling my magic energy into it. It absorbed a small amount of magic energy before ceasing to move. Soon, I felt the magic pressure that had been building up around me becoming lighter.

This was one method of utilizing frost fungus. These plants are notoriously sluggish, and their inherent lethargy extends to the surrounding natural energy, rendering it inactive as well. This phenomenon provides an opportunity for creatures like myself to evade the overwhelming magic pressure that typically surrounds us. However, this effect is temporary. Once the frost fungus on my hand succumbs to the dominance of the hive root, it will take approximately five minutes to do so, which is more than sufficient time for my purposes. I navigated effortlessly through the meticulously arranged ice trees, making my way to the hive root. My small stature allows me to squeeze through the narrow spaces without encountering significant difficulty. 

Soon I reached the hive root, a crystalline sentinel encircled by the eternal frost. Its trunk rose like a pillar of glass, and its leaves shimmered with the union of magic energy and nature energy. Seeing this saying of this hive root came to mind 

"hive root is the Eye of Winter, a heart that does not beat for itself but for the will of the land, which is held by hands no mortal monster can see."

The snow drifted silently, swirling in slow arcs around the grove. Yet I continued remembering those saying "Each flake was a soul returning, the Frost Zone's quiet harvest, proof that life is only ever borrowed and must be returned."

I knelt and pressed my palm to the frozen ground, feeling the pulse in its roots. "That pulse was no heartbeat—it was a leash of fate, a rhythm dictated by the unseen shepherd that guides both beasts and nature."

There is even legends whispered through the frost that when beasts die, their essence travels through the hive roots to the heart of the world. 

"Even death here is not a release, but a return to the unseen hand that writes all beginnings and endings."

A vision unfurled in my mind as I've hive tree influence me with its magic energy giving memories it about one of legend "a young beast born beneath a glowing branch, living brightly before falling to the snow, its life curling into the roots. 

"Its freedom was a dream, for the circle had already been drawn; life blooms only where the hand allows, and it closes the circle when it wills"

When I get out of vision I wasn't surprised this happened few times before so without much thought I touched a single leaf, the world hummed in a tone older than words. 

"The hum spoke of a covenant: nature keeps the cycle, and all power is but a reflection of something greater, holding the strings of existence."

I rose and turned away from the hive root, its glow fading behind me like a distant star. 

"Life and death are rivers, and all rivers flow toward the same hidden sea—the hand that moves them is never seen, yet always felt."

As the memories of legends and visions bestowed upon me by the Hive Root began to fade, I strategically placed frost funguses around it. These fungi exerted a forceful and overwhelming influence on the Hive Root's dominant magic pressure, causing it to have a wide-ranging effect.

I gently release the spores of the frost fungus into the air, where they appear to defy gravity, floating with an ethereal grace. The spores remain tightly clustered, forming a spherical mass of vivid green that drifts peacefully through the air, never dispersing. I place my hand among them and channel my magic energy which infuses each spore. The vibrant green transforms into a brilliant blue, weaving intricate patterns into the surrounding atmosphere. Gradually, the blue fades, and the spores return to their vibrant green hue. After a moment, I repeat this enchanting process, and soon, I am doing so almost instantaneously, continuing this mesmerizing cycle.

While coming at every 140 steps distance I have spread spores then another 140 steps distance and spread spores this way I had made conduit for my message this is quite similar to how receiver glass take magic energy weaves and strength it but instead of those, the spores are strengthening my weaves that I created recently and next spores then next creating chain reaction till it reaches the base 

I have send weaves at controlled frequency that can be translated into "I found mine" 

So I kinda decided to rest here as I sit in stillness, letting the snow and wind fold over me like a heavy, endless quilt. The Frost Zone hums with its ceaseless white noise—wind clawing at the ice, snow sighing against my face, the low, distant groan of trees shifting in the cold—but within it all, there is a deeper silence. One that presses against my chest and settles into my bones. I rest here, and I wait. There is nothing to do. Nothing to distract me but my own thoughts, and perhaps that is the heaviest thing of all.

I have always been a lazy monster at heart. Not the comfortable, content sort of lazy, but the kind born from exhaustion that lingers even in youth, when life asks too much and gives too little. My whole existence has been a careful dance of avoidance—avoiding pain, avoiding memory, avoiding the parts of myself that threaten to rise when I stop moving. For a long time, I hid in stillness, pretending my quiet was a choice. But life has a way of forcing the still into motion. Tasks piled upon me, duties reached out with cold hands. And I ran into them willingly, because busyness became its own hiding place. Work became my shield, a way to drown the echo of grief in the monotony of effort. I turned myself into a tool, a machine that performs, because if I stopped for too long, the memories would settle over me just like this snow.

Once, a different version of me would've cracked a joke about that—maybe laughed at the irony of being a skeleton of a monster dressed in obligations, a comedian buried in ice. I liked being that guy. I liked making small, stupid jokes that turned the world less sharp for a moment. But grief has a way of sanding down the edges of humor until it's too dull to cut through anything. Loss came to me like frost, creeping in quietly and then freezing everything solid. My laughter grew rare, and my jokes felt like echoes of a life that wasn't quite mine anymore. Even now, when I think of something funny, I hear it in a muted tone, like it's coming from somewhere far away. I sometimes wonder if I stopped laughing because it hurt too much to sound alive.

And so I sit in this stillness, waiting, letting that truth breathe around me.

The snowstorm feels like a metaphor I don't have the energy to untangle. I rest with my back against a jagged ice tree, my body small against the endless white, and I think about how much I resemble the Frost Zone itself. I am quiet, and in that quiet is a weight—a history of moments that no longer move, frozen in place like the bones of old beasts beneath the snow. I am loneliness, stretched thin across years. I am silence shaped like a person.

I think about the life I might have had if I let myself be soft. If I let myself stay still without running. But I was never brave enough for that. It seemed easier to become busy than to face the still parts of myself. Easier to bury everything under work, under tasks, under duty, than to sit in a room where laughter used to live and feel the absence ring in my ears. The Frost Zone feels like that room—vast, empty, too cold to ever be home—and yet, in some quietly perverse way, it understands me.

Time slips. I don't know how long I've been here, resting, letting the wind carve lines of frost along my armor. My mind drifts between memory and nothing. I see images of myself in a past that feels like another monster's life: sitting with a friend, laughing so hard I couldn't breathe; lying in the sun, half-dozing, with no weight in my chest; running along rooftops just because it felt like flying. Then the laughter fades, and I see the other me—the one I became after the world got colder. That one moves like clockwork, meditates in silence, works because if he stops, he crumbles.

I wonder which one is closer to the truth.

The wind howls, and I almost imagine it's laughing at me. Or maybe it's laughing with me, in the way old grief does when it knows it's won. I let my gaze drift across the horizon, a blur of white and grey, and I recognize something profound and sad: I am the sort of monster who waits for life to arrive, even as I run from it. I am the sort of monster who hides my humor behind fatigue, who turns laziness into a shield and stillness into a mask. And in this moment, I realize that the longer I wait, the more I become part of this landscape.

Perhaps that is the truth of me. Not the monster who fights, not the one who jokes, not even the one who works to outrun his own heart. I am just wanderer in Frostland a quiet shape in an unending silence. And maybe I always have been.

The thought doesn't hurt as much as I expected. It just feels… inevitable.

I close my eyes and let the snow fall. If I listen closely, I can almost hear my own stillness responding. Until spores in the air begin to turn blue spontaneously, fade, and then reappear in patterns that form their own code. 

"EMERGENCY!!!" I read those code which translated into emergency 

"Something happened at base!" I immediately got up and used another innate trait I had gained when I became rank 2 the teleportation. I poured all my magic energy into this innate trait, which drained my entire magic energy almost immediately. However, due to my panic, the quantity of magic energy that came from core increased so much that I was able to easily utilize my innate trait to teleport.

Ting ting! 

I appeared at base but tents were all destroyed and magic fire is already exhausted but it was pushing away magic pressure without much thought I run looking for other monsters 

The our base had become a living battlefield that I wasn't able recognize at first glance.

As I stumbled into the ruins of our base, the storm was already tearing at the land. Snow slashed sideways like knives, and the air was full of glittering shards from shattered ice trees. Tents were ripped to ribbons, the perimeter pylons broken and dark. Without their protection, the magic pressure pressed down harder than ever, every breath ragged and sharp against me. The ground beneath the snow was unstable; I could feel faint tremors even before I reached the battlefield.

BOOM

Snow erupted upward in a blinding geyser. The ground shook so violently that I had to brace against a half-buried crate to keep from collapsing. 

BOOM 

Another shock followed, louder, and a fissure tore open right where I had been standing moments ago, swallowing broken timbers and frozen debris into the black depths below. And distant rumbles warned me that the land itself was waking up.

I pushed forward through the blizzard until the trees parted, and I saw the true catastrophe.

Six rank 5 beasts were locked in a battle that was tearing the world apart.

The Glacier Maul Ape beast hammered its fists into the snowpack, and each strike sent cracks spiderwebbing outward through the ice. The ground heaved like water beneath its blows, and the shockwaves dislodged massive icicles from the trees, which fell like spears into the battle below. Opposite it, the frost Carapace Lizard beast whipped its crystalline tail in wide, lethal arcs, cleaving through ice trees. Each tree exploded into a shower of shards, and the collapsing trunks set off chain reactions, toppling nearby trees in a cascading series of detonations.

Above, the Sky Ripper hawk beast cut through the storm, its tattered wings twisting the blizzard into violent cyclones. When it dove, the force of its descent sent snow and ice peeling off the ridges in sheets. Its talons scraped across the back of the Icehide furylord Mammoth Beast, and the mammoth bellowed, stomping the earth with a force that split the battlefield in two. Fissures tore open, releasing deep groans from the frozen earth, and the shock triggered an avalanche from the slope above.

The Abyss icebreaker Serpent beast erupted from beneath the snow with a roar, its massive body displacing so much snow that the battlefield lurched under the shifting weight. Its emergence created a sinkhole, pulling down broken trees and spilling snow into the abyss. Across from it, the Frost screamer deer beast sprinted along the unstable ground, its glowing antlers casting arcs of frost energy that carved the battlefield into jagged trenches.

The chain reactions were constant and escalating.

Each stomp from the mammoth beast split the ground further; every roar of the serpent hollowed the snowpack beneath, creating collapsing pits. The hawk beast wingbeats kicked up whirlwinds that threw ice shards like shrapnel. Exploding ice trees triggered avalanches that buried entire sections of the battlefield, forcing beasts to burst free or disappear under tons of snow. I watched one avalanche sweep across the Glacier Maul Ape beast's legs, locking it in place just long enough for the Lizard beast to slash deep into its thigh.

Even I wasn't safe. As I crept closer, a fissure opened beneath me with a deafening CRACK, and I had to hurl myself forward as the snow collapsed into a black void. The shockwave of the mammoth beast's next stomp nearly knocked me in.

Through the storm and chaos, I spotted our squad. Two fighters crouched behind the shattered remains of a pylon, their armor cracked and frosted. A mage monster lay half-buried and unmoving, his barrier gone. And in the center of the maelstrom, Lucky stood, his triple-layered barrier flaring against the storm. Frost clung to his horns, his breath steamed in the freezing air, but he held the line, refusing to yield.

The Glacier Maul Ape slammed the ground again, the mammoth retaliated with a stomp, and the resulting tremors split the battlefield into collapsing shelves of snow and ice. Avalanches thundered down from three directions at once, burying half the combat zone. Ice trees toppled in chain reactions, their explosive shatters sending waves of shards like glass rain. The serpent burst through the snow to escape burial, and its mass triggered another sinkhole, dragging debris and snow into the earth.

The Frost Zone itself was unraveling under the weight of this battle, and I could feel that one wrong step meant death.

Fear gripped me tightly, causing my body to instinctively multiply the use of my magic energy by three times. Despite this surge, I sprinted towards a fallen monster. Its armor was shattered, and its body was gradually disintegrating into dust, a clear sign that the creature was on the brink of death. Determined to save it, I quickly extracted a frost fungus from my inventory. This particular fungus had a crucial function: it could seal wounds caused by magic within the body, potentially saving the creature just in time. 

With urgency, I activated my teleportation ability to transport the dying monster to a safe location. Without wasting a moment, I teleported back to the battlefield to assist the other monsters. However, the repeated use of my teleportation had taken a toll on my magic energy reserves. After performing five teleportations, I found myself at the very limit of my capabilities. 

As I surveyed the scene, I noticed other rank 4 and 5 monsters engaged in fierce combat. A wave of fear and helplessness washed over me, intensifying my emotions. Although our souls possess the potential to generate nearly limitless magic energy, they require emotions to fuel this creation. In that moment, my soul was transforming my fear and anxiety into raw power. It was as if my inner turmoil was being harnessed to amplify my innate traits and power, providing me with the strength I desperately needed at that critical juncture. What more could I ask for in such a dire situation? 

The storm-swept battlefield was chaos incarnate. Tremors from the clashing giants rippled across the Frost Zone, each impact sending fissures clawing through the ice. The air vibrated with roars and the shattering of trees, explosions of crystalline shards cascading like frozen rain. 

I sprinted through the maelstrom, my magic energy surging under the weight of fear and urgency. Every heartbeat was a drum of survival, every step a gamble against collapsing ground. My mission was clear: save the fallen monsters before the battlefield consumed them. But each attempt was a trial. 

A fissure split open beneath me without warning, forcing me to hurl myself forward. My claws dug into the brittle snow as an avalanche of debris roared behind me. In the blur of motion, I found a rank 3 mage monster, armor shattered, body fading to dust. With trembling hands, I pressed frost fungus against their wounds and channeled energy, stabilizing the dying spark within. My trait flared, and I teleported them to safety, leaving only a puff of snow in my wake.

The battlefield had no mercy. Mammoth stomps and serpent eruptions tore the land apart, ice trees detonating in chain reactions. Above, the hawk beast's gales flung shards like knives. Each rescue grew harder—navigating falling ice, leaping over sinkholes, enduring the crushing magic pressure that threatened to break my focus. My magic energy burned away, and fear became my fuel.

Lucky's triple-layered barrier glimmered in the distance, a beacon amidst the chaos. He held the line for our squad, but the beasts' fury shook even his formidable defense. I teleported again and again, snatching allies from death's grip, until the strain clawed at my soul. Five saves. Five lives pulled from the jaws of the beasts. Each return to the battlefield tested the limits of will and bone.

Then the worst came a mammoth beast's stomp and the ape beast's slam collided in unison, shattering the ground and burying half the field under avalanches. I stood in that white hell, magic energy flickering, surrounded by a battlefield alive with destruction, knowing that saving one more life meant risking everything. My heart ached with the weight of each decision, the fear gnawing at my soul as I steeled myself to act.

Yet I stepped forward.. Even as the fight between monsters and beasts raged, even as the land itself tried to swallow me, I would not abandon them. The thought of leaving them behind to their doom was unbearable, a torment that drove me on despite the odds.

Before I could even take another step towards that monster, something astonishingly swift intervened, snatching the monster away in the blink of an eye. In its rapid departure, it left behind a shimmering trail of ice shards that scattered across the ground, momentarily bewildering me. My initial hope was that this might be another monster, but soon, I was met with the unmistakable and awe-inspiring display of pure magic energy from a nearby area. The air crackled with energy, and the ground seemed to hum with the power of the spell. It was as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for what would come next.

Without a moment's hesitation, I focused my innate trait and teleported to the source of this magic phenomenon. As I materialized at the location, I was relieved to see that the monster had indeed been saved from its imminent demise. But soon I realized that monster was in an even more dire state, far worse than I had seen. A massive, jagged slash mark marred his chest, bleeding profusely and leaving him teetering on the brink of death. His labored breathing and the pallor of his skin were clear signs of his critical condition. It became clear to me that whoever had saved this monster had left this mark.

Desperate to save him, I rushed to his side, my will pounding with urgency. I reached into my satchel with trembling hands, each movement heavy with the gravity of the situation. My fingers fumbled as they grasped my frost fungus, a small but precious glimmer of hope amidst the despair. With trembling hands, I applied the fungus to the slash mark, whispering a prayer as I did so, hoping against hope that it would work its magic and bring him back from the edge.

Despite my fervent efforts and the powerful properties of the frost fungus, my attempts were tragically in vain. The monster's condition continued to deteriorate, and before my very eyes, he began to disintegrate into dust, his form dissolving into nothingness. I watched helplessly, a wave of devastating loss crashing over me as I realized that I was powerless to save him. The loss was profound, leaving me standing alone amidst the remnants of what could have been a successful rescue, my heart shattered into a million pieces by the grief that consumed me.

Then fear came to my mind as I used my teleportation once again, this time not to the battlefield but to the place where I bring monsters that I save.

Ting ting!

I materialized in the place, but I was met with a sudden rush of pure magic energy as I closed my eyes for moments, then opened them soon after.

Fear had come true, and guilt washed over me as I saw dust everywhere. At the center of it all was a beast. Its overall body was small, slender, bipedal creature with a bright white, bioluminescent glow. And its head, they have large, expressive, solid black eyes and long, mobile ears similar to a hare or caracal. Two small, blunt horns or crests sit between the ears. And most observable was the long, thin arms with three-fingered hands and powerful digitigrade legs that look like a cat's, ending in small hooves or paws. It had a tail, a long, flexible, and slightly tufted tail that helped with balance during their acrobatic movements. And all of its body was covered in fur that radiates light. It was the IT, Imertia Tomura, the legendary beast that has no record. 

It murdered every monster I had just saved, disregarding everything I had released. I unleashed a torrent of magic energy towards it, but it vanished instantly before my blast reached halfway. Then, I spotted IT on another ice tree, glaring at me like as if it is amused. This fueled my anger as I used bone-bending to leap higher and unleashed another blast of magic energy, but IT vanished once more, as if it were teleporting. 

The Frost Zone was alive with death. Snow tore sideways in the howling wind. Shadows of titanic beasts loomed through the blizzard, their roars shaking the frozen earth. I sprinted, a skeleton monster rattling through the white, bones glowing faintly blue under the crushing weight of magic pressure.

Ahead, IT flickered like a living star. Its bioluminescent fur left streaks of light through the storm, its tufted tail swaying as it leapt between ice trees. Black eyes glinted back at me for a heartbeat before it vanished, reappearing higher, further, faster. I chased, driven by instinct and obsession.

My bones groaned under the strain. Digitigrade legs dug into the snow, claws scratching ice. Bone spurs erupted from the ground to launch me higher. I leapt, caught a branch, swung, and hurled myself forward. Every second was a becoming harder to endure. My core flared, exhaling magic energy in pulses that surged through my frame. 

The world tried to kill me with every step. But The Glacier Maul Ape beast slammed its fists into the snowpack below. Shockwaves traveled up through ice trees, rattling my joints. I staggered, but I caught myself, and kept running. Soon The Sky Ripper hawk sliced the air above, turning the blizzard into a whirlwind that nearly ripped me off the branches. Shards of ice slashed across my arms and skull. I didn't stop. I couldn't. IT was always just beyond reach. The Frost Zone howled with death and betrayal.

I sprinted through the storm, my skeleton body glowing with blue bones, magic energy pounding through me like a second heartbeat. Snow slashed sideways, ice trees groaned and detonated as titanic beasts clashed in the distance. Their roars vibrated through the frozen air, shaking the land like war drums.

"I can't lose it. Not now. Not after everything."

Ahead, IT a small, slender, bioluminescent beast flickered like a ghost. Its black eyes cut through the storm with rage and awareness. Each leap was impossible grace: digitigrade legs coiling and releasing, tail swaying for balance, long arms stretching to catch branches. It left a luminous trail that lured and mocked me.

I chased. My bones clattered with each leap, claws scraping against ice. Bone spurs erupted from the ground, launching me higher. I swung from branch to branch, snow clinging to my skull, frost biting into my joints. My core exhaled magic energy in violent pulses, propelling me forward.

"Keep moving. Don't think. If I stop, I'll remember their faces."

From afar, the Glacier Maul Ape beast slammed its fists into the snowpack, sending tremors up through the trees. The Icehide Furylord Mammoth beast stomped, splitting the ground into jagged fissures, avalanches cascading down. The Sky Ripper hawk beast dove overhead, turning the blizzard into a horizontal cyclone. Every step I took was a battle with the living storm.

A branch cracked beneath me. I felt panic flaring but bone-bending saved me. A spike erupted from a trunk, letting me spring forward again.

"One mistake and I die. One mistake, and I will lose IT."

Yet soon this chase started to become something different this was worst thing I could asked right now 

The chase became a blur of motion and agony. My bones groaned under strain, joints screaming as I hurled myself through the canopy. Blue fire seeped from my frame as I burned my very will to go faster.

"Stop there!" I roared into the howling void. My voice was devoured by the storm.

I can hear my own fear echoing in that roar. I can taste the guilt in every breath.

Every leap was a heartbeat of survival; every teleport a knife to my soul. The battlefield below was chaos incarnate: avalanches thundered, fissures yawned open, and roars of titanic beasts swallowed the world. I felt small, hollow yet relentless.

"I refuse to let it disappear into the storm. Never!"

Snow exploded beneath my leaps. Branches shook loose a rain of glittering shards. My hollow chest ached with guilt and rage. Every glimpse of IT felt like hope slipping through my fingers, every vanish a knife twisting in my core.

"They died because I was slow. I will not be slow this time."

Then, the world turned. A mammoth's stomp collided accompanied by the ape's strike on the battlefield shattered. Avalanches roared in three directions. Ice trees splintered in chain reactions. The ground convulsed beneath me, and I lost sight of IT.

"No… no, no, no!" My scream was torn apart by the blizzard.

"It's gone… I failed them." Grief and anger consumed me, but soon, a surge of magic energy cover me, surpassing my own control. 

I skidded to a halt on a swaying branch, claws digging in, magic flickering weakly. My chest heaved. The blue glow of my bones dimmed. Rage, grief, and helplessness crashed over me in a single, crushing wave.

"…I'm so deeply sorry, if only I had been a bit wiser, I might have seen it sooner and stopped this from happening."

I crouched in the treetops, surrounded by a world alive with death—roaring beasts, collapsing snow, and an endless white void. Slowly, I descended, my body heavy with failure. Each step back toward the battlefield felt like walking under the weight of my own soul.

The chase had come to an end, and I found myself in a state of unstable emotions that I have come to recognize well over the years. This sensation, which I have experienced numerous times before, has taught me to remain composed and not allow myself to be overwhelmed by the emotions that often accompany such moments. Instead of letting the guild and grief take control, I took a deep breath and allowed myself to process the situation with a clear mind.

Bang! bang! bang!

Back Lightning struck, but it didn't originate from the sky. Instead, it emanated from the ground. Recognizing this as Lucky's spell, I realized I need to help. With renewed determination, I used my teleportation once more to reach the battlefield. 

The scene before was pure chaos. Despite the presence of peak-rank 4 stage monsters, they were barely able to keep up single rank 5 beast. Our squad leader, Lucky, along with two other members, were also rank 5, but they were facing a 6 rank 5 beast. It was an unfair situation, but we had no choice but to fight.

Snow and wind clawed at my bones as I crouched on the splintered remains of an ice tree, blue light leaking from my joints with each exhaled pulse of magic. The battlefield below was a living nightmare—six rank 5 beasts tearing at the land, their roars shattering the air, avalanches cascading off the mountainside. My rank 3 body felt impossibly small, a skeleton frame against a world of titans.

I tried to help, but all I could do was watch. Every attempt to strike with magic was swallowed by the storm or deflected by the beasts' raw power. My bone-bending created spines and spears, but the scale of their bodies made my efforts seem like splinters cast into a flood. Fear gnawed at me, threatening to crush the careful calm I clung to. I could not fight them head on but I could think.

"I need a plan. One chance. One perfect strike." I whispered to myself, my empty jaw clattering softly in the cold.

Below, Lucky's triple-layered barrier flared as the Glacier Maul Ape beast slammed the ground, sending fissures racing outwards. The Sky Ripper hawk swooped low, scattering shards of ice. The battle was chaos incarnate, but I watched the pattern in their madness. Every beast had rhythm, even in violence.

Then I saw it.

The frost Carapace Lizard beast moved with a predictable whip of its crystalline tail—a devastating strike that left its neck exposed for a brief heartbeat after each swing. If I could force its body to overextend into a trap, we might have a chance.

Snow and magic pressure crushed against my bones, the blizzard swallowing the world as six rank 5 beasts tore the battlefield apart. I was nothing more than a rank 3 skeleton monster—but I refused to let that be the end of me. My empty sockets scanned the chaos, blue light flickering inside, fear and guilt fueling the magic energy that pulsed through my frame.

I crouched on the splintered remains of an ice tree, bone spurs anchoring me against the wind. Below, Lucky's triple-layered barrier flared against a storm of claws, tails, and avalanches. The Glacier Maul Ape beast hammered the ground again, fissures rippling outward. The Icehide Furylord Mammoth answered with a stomp that split the snowpack, triggering another avalanche. The Sky Ripper hawk swooped low, scattering ice shards like blades. 

I could barely move without dying. If I jumped down, I'd be crushed. If I struck recklessly, I'd be ignored. My magics were nothing against the titanic scale of this violence. Fear gnawed at me, but I forced my thoughts to sharpen into a single line I need a plan.

It came to me, crude and desperate Frost fungus.

I had carried it for light, for survival, for saving monsters' lives but it had another property. It could disturb flow of magic energy with beast and with that I can give lucky chance to take down one beast and that is more than enough.

I darted through the trees, leaping from branch to branch with bone-bending I bursts of speed. My body rattled with the effort, teleportation and adrenaline flaring in my core. I reached into my pouch and scattered frost fungus spores into the air, infusing them with magic energy. They glowed green, then blue, forming a cluster that drifted lazily through the storm.

I've tried my best to get close to one beast. I need to bring down our rank 5 beasts. None of us are bird monsters, so we can't fly. Although Lucky can cast his lighting spells, it will take a toll on his body, making him tired and weakening his battle strength. I need to take down the Sky Ripper hawk beast as fast as possible. 

With that said, I observed this hawk beast. It was white and covered in ice feathers, yet it was flying at incredible speeds through the air, traveling from one place to another with such velocity that I could barely make out its outline. The snowstorm was so intense that it completely obscured my vision, leaving me to see only its movement. However, I noticed a distinct pattern in its attacks. Whenever Lucky used his magic on the Frost Carapace Lizard beast, the hawk beast would swoop down and strike him. This observation suggests that the hawk beast possesses exceptional vision, capable of spotting Lucky even amidst the snowstorm. But also means it can see me I try to stick frost fungus.

My mind was in a state of chaos whenever I discovered a method that can stick to that hawk beast was proven to be failure during the initial analysis. 

The Frost Zone's silence pressed against me, and my thoughts flowed like the wind scattered, frigid, restless. I could not stop thinking of plans, as if each idea was a branch I clutched to avoid sinking into the white void.

First, I thought about watching. Maybe if I watched long enough, if I traced every movement of the beasts, I could find the rhythm in their chaos. I imagined their steps as notes in a song, each roar and strike a beat I could exploit. If I waited for the perfect moment, perhaps I could strike. But the snow swallowed patterns, the wind erased meaning. No matter how I stared, the world remained a blur of death and movement. That plan dissolved.

Then, my mind turned to movement. If I couldn't outthink them, maybe I could outpace them. I imagined my bones leaping from ice branch to branch, bone-spurs launching me higher, teleportation snapping me closer to IT. If I just did not stop, if I just burned everything I had, I could close the distance. I saw myself landing on its back, ending the chase in one decisive moment. But each leap felt heavier, each teleport more hollow, and hawk beast danced ahead, always faster, always out of reach. That plan cracked and fell like the ice under my feet.

Next came ingenuity. Frost fungus. A tool I knew like a friend. If I spread spores and infused them with my magic energy, I could disrupt the battlefield, create a chain of influence, make the beasts stumble. My mind painted visions of the hawk beast faltering mid-flight, of Lucky seeing the opening and striking true. But the storm reminded me of scale; my little blue and green lights were nothing against the endless white. The plan scattered with the wind before it could take shape.

Each plan I formed felt sharp in my mind, but brittle in reality. They all broke the moment they met the enormity of the Frost Zone and its beasts. As I crouched in the branches, my mind did not stop planning. It spun possible paths like threads of frost on a window—delicate, temporary, ready to be shattered by the next roar, the next collapse.

And yet, even in failure, my thoughts whispered of new ways

Perhaps a plan where spores form a living network, guiding me instead of just distracting.

A plan where my bone-bending builds paths and perches, turning the trees into my allies.

Or a plan where I stop chasing alone and weave my actions into Lucky's strength, making my small movements part of something greater.

I think in plans because if I stop thinking, the cold will take me. My thoughts are my warmth, my movement, my shield against the howl of the Frost Zone.

"Wait this could work but It will give Lucky too much pressure when he is already in pressure"

Although I devised a plan to attach frost fungus to the hawk beast, rendering it incapable of fighting, I must admit that relying heavily on Lucky's success is risky. If he fails, I risk killing him by exerting excessive pressure. However, if he succeeds, it would mean that our squad has the potential to turn the tide of this battle. 

My mind is torn between two relentless paths, each demanding my unwavering attention. One path urges me to cling to my current plan, to push forward with determination and resolve. The other path tempts me to explore new possibilities, to seek out alternative strategies that might lead to greater success. Yet, the weight of indecision presses heavily upon me, for waiting longer means risking the loss of opportunities that could slip through my fingers like grains of sand.

Doubts and fears claw at my consciousness, their presence a relentless storm that batters my resolve. They weave a tapestry of uncertainty, each thread a reminder of the potential pitfalls that lie ahead. The intensity of these emotions is like a physical force, striking me with such ferocity that my very bones tremble. It's as if I am a fragile glass, vibrating violently under the assault of my own inner turmoil. The struggle is consuming, a battle waged within the confines of my mind, where every decision feels like a matter of life and death. 

But I memory of long past get to me making stick to current plan 

I breath for few seconds to calm my mind panicking means I'm most likely going to fail some parts of plan 

"I'm ready!" With that being said I prepare to teleport, my core becoming the center of my attention, exhaling magic energy in steady pulses. Each breath creates a rhythm, spreading my magic energy outward like letting out my breath, then pulling it back feels like taking breath inhaling.

The strain begins when I activate my innate trait. My magic energy run through my body like veins pulsing with blood but instead of blood it magic energy and veins are magic that make my body, so next stage begins as I used my will of magic to choose place but the farther I reach, the more magic energy it needs my body so with those being ready I tell my will of magic to teleport 

Ting ting!