"Don't just stand there. Go in."
Sylvaris Noct stared at the tower before him. The majestic building stretched so high it pierced the clouds. Its sheer presence inspired awe in anyone who looked at it.
Sylvaris' face remained blank as he focused on the entrance. Contrary to the tower's grandeur, the doorway seemed ordinary—just a wooden door. He pushed it open slowly, imagining that even a little more force would have shattered it.
"Keep in mind..." Sylvaris paused, turning to the man next to him.
The man's cold expression didn't change as he continued.
"This is a solo quest. Even the people you went in with are not your teammates."
A gentle wind brushed Sylvaris' face. He brushed a strand of silver hair aside, a small gesture of habit.
Survival had been ingrained in him since childhood, and he would stick to his principles without being told.
Silently, Sylvaris stepped forward. The man's last words followed him:
"You have to be selfish if you want to survive a bit longer."
As Sylvaris crossed the threshold, a sudden dizziness hit him. The entrance warped around him, and in the next moment, he found himself in a frozen forest. Snowflakes drifted lazily, coating countless trees in ice.
His palm instinctively went to his shoulder, rubbing it slowly.
"It's cold," he muttered, eyes scanning the surroundings with methodical precision.
A faint glow appeared, and writing materialized in his vision:
[Participant: 11,827,906]
[Ice Sovereign's Tower]
[Quest details: Find and kill 10 snow wolves, or survive the night]
[Quest reward: Administration of the full system, Arcane energy control, and talent unlocked]
[Quest penalty: Death]
Sylvaris read it in less than a minute. Unlike most children from the outer region, he had been taught to read by Old Man Tyler.
The system used Moonspan, the most common language in the world. He wondered how the others who couldn't read would fare.
'I have to either hunt down 10 snow wolves or survive the night,' he thought, recalling what he had been told. 'The Snow Wolf King roams this territory. An E-rank. No way I survive if I encounter it… I'll have to rely on luck.'
A glint of steel appeared in his eyes. 'Luck isn't something I depend on.'
He dipped his hands into his bag and pulled out a dagger. Its jagged edge looked ordinary, but to him, it was priceless—a companion that had carried him this far.
'No time to waste. By evening, wolves will scatter. Then surviving the night will be the only option.'
He moved forward, close to the frozen trees, covering his blind spots. The snow made climbing impossible for the wolves, giving him a slight advantage.
Soon, he spotted footprints branching in three directions. He picked the freshest trail and quickened his pace.
"Snow wolves don't move in packs, but within their territory, I should find at least 15," he calculated.
Minutes passed. Still no wolf. Then, as if on cue, he noticed one digging a hole.
Sylvaris froze, studying the environment. The wolf hadn't noticed him. He crept closer, hugging the trees. At five feet, the wolf's ears twitched. Its gaze locked onto him.
He dashed forward, slashing. The wolf leapt, fell, and charged. Sylvaris didn't panic. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the hole—dozens of smaller wolves.
He leapt back just in time, evading fangs. 'It's injured… and protecting its young.'
The snow wolf's left paw hindered it, giving him a narrow window. He exploited it relentlessly—slashing, weaving, striking, until the wolf staggered back, weakened. It limped toward the hole, shielding its offspring.
A strange light flickered in Sylvaris' eyes, but he clenched his teeth, determination hardening his expression.
'I'm sorry, but it's either you or me.'
He approached cautiously and slit the wolf's neck. A notification appeared: "Snow wolf slain." Twelve smaller wolves emerged from the hole. He took a deep breath, stabbing one. Another notification appeared: "Snow wolf slain."
'I'm sorry,' he whispered, bracing himself for the hunt.
Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. He leapt forward instinctively—an enormous ice spear smashed into the snow where he had stood.
"I was Careless!" he muttered, eyes scanning.
From the swirling snow emerged a massive wolf, over two meters tall. Its gaze was calm, almost bored
, yet Sylvaris felt death brush against him.
"This is the Snow Wolf King."