Before leaving the cave, Li Hao turned back one final time.
The massive body of the fallen Ice Flame Tiger lay silently in the depths, its presence still lingering in the cold air. Even in death, it carried a sense of dignity and power that could not be ignored.
Xu Mei stood beside him. "It must have been strong."
"It was," Li Hao replied quietly.
The wounds on its body told a story—not of weakness, but of a battle that ended too quickly.
Li Hao's gaze hardened slightly.
"Strength alone isn't enough," he said.
Without another word, he turned away.
But the image remained in his mind.
A silent reminder of what awaited those who stood at the peak.