The grappling wire violently reeled upward through the storm.
Snow and freezing wind battered Kiraya and Cynthia from every direction as they shot toward the upper cliffs of Dragon's Peak.
Below them—
the mountain disappeared beneath layers of blizzard and mist.
Above them—
explosions echoed endlessly.
Ice shattered.
Roars shook the skies.
And then—
they arrived.
BOOOOM
The grappling hook detached as both girls crashed behind a massive rock formation near the edge of the upper summit.
Snow exploded around them.
Kiraya rolled across the icy ground before stopping herself with one hand.
Cynthia slammed face-first into the snow.
"Owowowowow—!"
Auram landed beside them moments later.
Unlike the two girls—
he landed perfectly.
Silently.
The frozen ground cracked beneath his armored feet.
Kiraya slowly lifted her head—
and froze.
"…What the hell…"
The battlefield before them looked unreal.
The entire summit had become a warzone.
Gigantic icebergs floated through the storm like falling meteors.
Frost Wyverns filled the skies.
The Frost Wyvern Queen roared from above the blizzard clouds—
her wings covering the moonlight itself.
And in the center of all of it—
Rio was fighting midair.
Cynthia's mouth slowly fell open.
"…She's… flying?"
"No."
Kiraya narrowed her eyes.
"She's using the icebergs."
Rio leapt across the battlefield at impossible speed.
One moment—
she stood atop a falling iceberg.
The next—
she kicked off it and sliced through a Frost Wyvern's neck.
Blood scattered across the snowstorm.
Another iceberg hurtled toward her.
Rio spun midair and landed on it perfectly before immediately jumping again.
Every frozen projectile launched by the Queen—
every falling shard—
every drifting chunk of ice—
had become footing.
A battlefield.
A staircase through the sky.
The Frost Wyvern Queen roared again.
Dozens of Frost Wyverns descended together.
Rio immediately drew her Imperial Saber.
SLASH
One Frost Wyvern lost its head instantly.
She ducked beneath another.
Spun.
Pierced upward.
Then kicked off its corpse to dodge a massive iceberg flying toward her face.
Cynthia stared blankly.
"…That's impossible…"
Kiraya quietly muttered—
"…That's Rio."
Another explosion shook the summit.
Auram stepped forward.
"I will handle the surrounding Frost Wyverns."
Kiraya immediately looked at him.
"Wait."
Auram glanced sideways.
Kiraya clenched her fists.
"I can still fight."
Auram stared at her broken armor.
Her bloodied body.
Her shattered weapon.
Then replied calmly—
"No."
And jumped.
BOOOOM
The frozen ground exploded beneath him.
Auram launched directly into a group of descending Frost Wyverns.
Golden light erupted across the sky moments later.
Kiraya grit her teeth.
"…Damn it."
She slammed her fist against the rock beside her.
"I hate this."
"I hate standing here while she fights alone."
Cynthia quietly watched her.
Then sighed softly.
"…Kiraya."
Kiraya looked over.
Cynthia's expression became serious.
"Promise me something."
Kiraya blinked.
"What?"
Cynthia lowered her voice.
"What you see here today…"
"…do not tell Oblivion Pledge."
Kiraya stared at her.
"…Why?"
Cynthia slowly looked down at her own hands.
"My skill…"
"…it's not something I show people."
Kiraya narrowed her eyes slightly.
Then nodded.
"…Alright."
"I won't tell anyone."
Cynthia smiled faintly.
"…Thanks."
Then she extended her hand.
"Give me your weapon."
Kiraya blinked.
"My sword?"
Cynthia nodded.
Kiraya slowly looked down at the broken remains of Lionheart.
The blade had snapped almost halfway during the earlier battles.
Even now—
frost still covered parts of the fractured metal.
Kiraya hesitated slightly before handing it over.
Cynthia carefully took the broken weapon.
Then looked back toward Kiraya.
"Do you have any unused ranged weapons?"
"Anything."
"A firearm."
"A launcher."
"Even a damaged one."
Kiraya thought for a moment.
Then opened her inventory.
A long-barreled gun materialized in her hands.
An older model rifle.
Unused.
Cynthia took it carefully.
Then—
her eyes narrowed.
Blue light began glowing around her body once more.
Kiraya immediately recognized the skill activation.
[Unique Skill: Armament Transfiguration]
The glowing blue quill appeared again in Cynthia's hand.
This time—
the mana pressure was much heavier.
The broken sword floated into the air.
The rifle followed beside it.
Then Cynthia began writing glowing scriptures once more.
One.
Two.
Three.
Five.
Ten.
Twenty.
The air itself filled with floating magical formulas.
Kiraya stared in shock.
"…There's more than before…"
Cynthia's expression became focused.
Completely different from her usual timid self.
"This isn't simple reinforcement."
"This is reconstruction."
The scriptures wrapped around both weapons.
The rifle began breaking apart.
Metal fragments floated into the air.
The broken sword glowed brilliantly.
Then—
the pieces began merging together.
The barrel fused directly into the center of the blade.
Mechanical components reshaped themselves along the hilt.
Blue magical lines spread across the weapon's surface.
The broken edge reconstructed itself—
larger.
Heavier.
Sharper.
The weapon transformed completely.
What emerged—
was no longer a sword.
And no longer a rifle.
It was a massive greatsword infused with a firearm mechanism directly within its core.
The blade radiated blue light.
The barrel sat perfectly aligned along the weapon's center.
A glowing lion crest appeared near the hilt.
Kiraya's eyes widened slowly.
"…What…"
Cynthia lowered the glowing quill.
Sweat rolled down her face.
Then she smiled weakly.
"Lionheart…"
"…The Crusader Great Gunblade."
Kiraya stared at the weapon silently.
Then carefully grabbed it.
The moment her fingers touched the hilt—
a system notification appeared.
[Armament Transfiguration Successful]
[Weapon Created: Lionheart — The Crusader Great Gunblade]
[Classification: Rare Hybrid Weapon]
[Special Effects:]
• Converts defensive energy into explosive shell force
• Enhanced shield-breaking capability
• Holy-impact rounds available during skill activation
• Durability synchronized with wielder mana
Kiraya's jaw slowly dropped.
"…You made this… right now?"
Cynthia awkwardly scratched her cheek.
"…Yeah…"
Kiraya looked at the weapon again.
Then at Cynthia.
Then back at the weapon.
"…You're terrifying too."
Cynthia puffed her cheeks slightly.
"That's the second time someone said that today."
Above them—
another roar shook the heavens.
The Frost Wyvern Queen unleashed another storm of icebergs.
Rio continued dancing through the skies alone.
Kiraya slowly stood up.
This time—
without struggling.
The glowing potion Cynthia gave her earlier continued restoring her body.
She gripped the massive gunblade tightly.
Then smiled.
"…Alright."
A shell-loading sound echoed from within the weapon.
CHK-KRRRK
Kiraya's grin widened.
"…Now this feels more like me."
Cynthia smiled proudly.
Then the two girls looked upward toward the storm.
Toward Rio.
Toward the Queen.
And toward the battlefield waiting above them.
The summit of Dragon's Peak had become a battlefield swallowed by blizzards.
Icebergs crashed endlessly from the heavens.
Frozen winds screamed across the cliffs.
And above the storm—
Rio continued fighting the Frost Wyvern Queen alone.
Kiraya stood behind the massive rock near the cliffside edge, gripping the newly reforged weapon Cynthia had created.
The heavy great gunblade rested against her shoulder.
Blue light pulsed faintly along its barrel.
Kiraya grinned.
"…Still can't believe this thing is real."
Beside her, Cynthia remained crouched while adjusting several crafting tools from her inventory.
"Hurry up and test it already!"
Kiraya smirked.
"Gladly."
A Frost Wyvern suddenly descended through the blizzard.
Its jaws opened—
frost breath gathering instantly.
Kiraya immediately raised the weapon.
The mechanical barrel inside the blade rotated with a loud metallic click.
CHK-KRRRK
Then—
she pulled the trigger.
BOOOOOOM
A massive shell erupted from the barrel.
The recoil alone cracked the frozen ground beneath her feet.
The Frost Wyvern's entire torso exploded apart midair.
Blood scattered across the snowfall.
Cynthia's eyes widened.
"…That strong?!"
Kiraya stared at the weapon in awe.
"…This thing's insane."
Another Frost Wyvern descended.
Kiraya swung the massive gunblade sideways.
The weapon transformed again.
Holy energy gathered around the barrel.
She fired once more.
BOOM
The shell pierced directly through two Frost Wyverns at once.
Their corpses spiraled down the mountain.
Kiraya laughed loudly.
"THIS IS AMAZING!"
Cynthia puffed her chest proudly.
"Of course it is."
"I made it."
Above them—
Rio continued leaping across falling icebergs while clashing against the Frost Wyvern Queen.
The Queen roared furiously.
Its wings spread wide—
and dozens of frost blizzards condensed around its body.
Rio immediately sensed danger.
"…Not good."
The Queen unleashed the attack.
Multiple compressed storms shot downward simultaneously.
Rio sliced through the first.
Dodged the second.
Jumped over the third—
But the fourth—
came from directly behind.
BOOOOM
The frost blizzard slammed directly into Rio.
Her body was swallowed by ice and snow instantly.
"RIO!"
Kiraya yelled.
Rio crashed violently through multiple icebergs before slamming into the frozen ground near the rock formation.
The impact shattered the earth beneath her.
Snow exploded everywhere.
Cynthia immediately rushed toward her.
"Rio!"
Rio coughed violently.
Blood stained the snow beneath her.
Her armor had visible cracks now.
Frost covered her shoulder and left arm.
Above the skies—
the Frost Wyvern Queen roared triumphantly.
Multiple Frost Wyverns descended together toward Rio's position.
Kiraya immediately raised the gunblade—
But suddenly—
golden light exploded overhead.
Auram appeared like a falling meteor.
BOOOOOOM
His blade slammed directly into one of the Frost Wyverns.
The creature exploded into blood instantly.
Auram immediately intercepted the remaining Frost Wyverns and the Queen.
Golden aura erupted around him as he clashed against the descending monsters.
The Queen shifted its attention toward Auram instead.
The skies exploded into chaos once more.
Kiraya quickly knelt beside Rio.
"…Can you beat that thing?"
Rio slowly pushed herself upward.
Breathing heavily.
Exhausted.
But smiling.
"…Who knows."
Kiraya frowned.
"That doesn't answer my question."
Rio wiped blood from the corner of her mouth.
"…Ryota isn't here with me."
Kiraya froze slightly.
Cynthia looked at Rio silently.
For the first time since meeting her—
Rio genuinely looked uncertain.
Not weak.
Not scared.
But incomplete.
Cynthia carefully spoke.
"…Then let's retreat."
"We already survived."
"We can come back later."
Rio slowly shook her head.
"…I can't."
Kiraya stared at her.
Rio tightened her grip on the Imperial Saber.
"I can't go back until we get enough Frost Wyvern Sap."
Cynthia blinked.
"…For the sword?"
Rio nodded quietly.
"I hurt his feelings."
The wind howled softly around them.
Rio looked downward briefly.
"…I didn't realize how important that weapon was to him."
"It was the first thing I ever gave him here."
"And I acted like replacing it was easy."
Kiraya quietly listened.
Rio slowly stood again despite her injuries.
Snow drifted across her crimson eyes.
"Even if it kills me…"
"…I'm not leaving until I get the sap needed to fix Ryota's sword."
Silence filled the cliffside.
Cynthia stared at Rio.
Then slowly smiled.
"…Leave the sap to me."
Rio looked over.
Cynthia adjusted her glasses nervously.
"If you can buy us time…"
"…I'll gather everything you need."
Rio stared at her for several seconds.
Then smiled softly.
"…Thank you."
Without another word—
Rio turned.
An iceberg fell from above.
She jumped onto it immediately.
Then another.
And another.
Climbing directly back into the battlefield toward the Frost Wyvern Queen.
Kiraya watched her disappear into the blizzard.
"…She's ridiculous."
Cynthia quietly nodded.
"…Yeah."
Then Cynthia opened her inventory.
Multiple tools appeared around her.
Glass jars.
Small knives.
Harvesting daggers.
Metal extraction pins.
Ropes.
Kiraya blinked.
"…You carry all that around?"
Cynthia proudly nodded.
"A proper crafter is always prepared."
She then grabbed a thick rope.
Blue light glowed around her hand once more.
[Unique Skill: Armament Transfiguration]
The glowing blue quill appeared again.
Cynthia quickly wrote several scriptures into the air.
The glowing symbols entered the rope.
The rope immediately transformed.
Metal hooks formed around its surface.
The fibers hardened.
The entire thing became semi-automatic.
Kiraya stared.
"…You can enchant literally anything?"
"Mostly."
Cynthia swung the rope skillfully.
Then threw it outward.
The hook wrapped perfectly around a dead Frost Wyvern corpse lying near the battlefield below.
The rope instantly tightened.
Cynthia planted her feet into the snow.
"…HNNNGH—"
Kiraya immediately helped pull.
Together—
they dragged the Frost Wyvern corpse toward the cliffside.
The corpse slid violently across the snow before stopping near them.
Cynthia immediately got to work.
Her expression became completely focused.
Precise.
Professional.
She carefully cut near the Frost Wyvern's frozen glands before inserting several extraction pins.
Blue liquid slowly began flowing out.
Frost Wyvern Sap.
Cynthia quickly collected it inside a reinforced jar.
Kiraya watched in amazement.
"…You really know your stuff."
Cynthia smiled proudly.
"Of course."
"This stuff sells for ridiculous prices."
The skies exploded again overhead.
Rio and Auram continued fighting the Queen and the remaining Frost Wyverns.
Icebergs continued falling everywhere.
Kiraya immediately raised the gunblade again.
A Frost Wyvern descended toward them.
BOOM
Kiraya blasted its head apart instantly.
"Keep harvesting!"
"I'll cover you!"
Cynthia nodded quickly.
They repeated the process again.
And again.
And again.
Each time—
Cynthia used the enchanted rope to drag another corpse toward them.
Kiraya defended her nonstop.
Shells thundered across the mountain.
Frost Wyverns crashed from the skies.
The Queen roared furiously above.
And amidst the chaos—
four glass jars slowly filled with glowing blue Frost Wyvern Sap.
Cynthia carefully sealed the fourth jar.
Then exhaled heavily.
"…Done."
Kiraya looked down at the jars.
Even through the storm—
they glowed beautifully.
The exact material Rio had risked her life for.
For a single sword.
For a single apology.
Kiraya slowly looked back toward the skies.
Toward the girl still fighting above the blizzard.
Then quietly smiled.
"…Ryota, You are one lucky guy."