Chapter 77: Navigating the Frozen Expanse

While braving through the fierce snowstorm, we discovered a small cave.

It appeared to be an abandoned place, no longer inhabited by monsters, so it was naturally chosen as our base camp.

“It’s snowing even harder.”

Selion remarked as we unpacked and set up the tents.

Her gaze was fixed on the cave’s entrance.

Just as she said, the snowstorm was intensifying with every passing moment.

The wind was sharp and biting like a blade, and the swirling snowflakes were so dense that visibility was nearly nonexistent.

“Get some rest until the snow lets up.”

There was no sign that the harsh snowfall would subside anytime soon.

Everyone realized we’d likely be stuck here for several hours.

The adventurers began removing their gear and settling into more comfortable positions to rest.

Some bundled up in thick clothes to endure the cold, while others brewed hot water or tea to keep warm.

“Seris?”

“Huh? Yes?”

I was staring blankly outside when Selion approached me.

In her hands were two cups with steam rising from them.

“Aren’t you cold?”

At her question, I looked around. Everyone but me was bundled up in thick clothing to stave off the cold—Selion included.

“I’m fine. I’m pretty resistant to the cold.”

“You’ll catch a cold if you’re not careful.”

Selion sat beside me and handed me one of the cups. Inside was a steaming bowl of soup.

“Thank you.”

The seemingly endless snowstorm finally began to weaken as late evening approached.

Though darkness had descended over the white expanse, Selion started gearing up.

Watching her, I asked, “Are you planning to move now? It’s so late.”

“You never know when it’ll snow again. I want to gather as much information as possible while we can.”

“Hmm…”

At her response, the team members exchanged glances and reluctantly began readying their gear.

Selion shook her head and said, “I’m not forcing anyone to come. We’re not going far.”

Despite her assurance, no one opted to stay behind.

After all, with Selion—the temporary leader of the team—deciding to venture out, it would be awkward for anyone to stay and rest.

I, too, began gathering my belongings.

“Ah…”

Seeing everyone preparing, Selion sighed lightly and then called out the names of a few team members, including mine.

“Alright, everyone I just named will come with me. The rest of you, stay here and rest. We won’t be going far.”

Since we wouldn’t be traveling far, there was no need to ride Nightmare.

I stroked the head of my Nightmare, which was lying on the ground, before getting up.

“Stay here and behave, alright?”

Snort

In the end, the late-night expedition group consisted of five members.

After confirming her chosen team, Selion smiled in satisfaction and led the way out of the cave.

Crunch.

As soon as we stepped outside, a pure white world unfolded before us.

The soft wind carried tiny snowflakes, scattering them delicately, while the occasional cry of monsters echoed faintly in the distance.

“It’s really piled up…”

I muttered while scanning the surroundings.

But as I took a step forward, my leg suddenly sank deep into the snow, burying half my body.

Frowning, I glanced around, only to see Selion and the others staring at me with blank expressions.

Crunch.

I wriggled my leg around in the snow until I found solid ground beneath it.

Digging through the snow, I made my way toward Selion.

However, before I could reach her, my leg sank again, this time even deeper.

Once more, half my body was buried in snow.

Being stuck in the snow wasn’t much of an issue for me, but the way my teammates were looking at me started to bother me.

Why were they all trying to stifle their laughter?

Even Selion seemed to be holding back a chuckle.

“Uh, Seris?”

“Yes?”

“Can you move?”

Instead of replying, I demonstrated my ability to move by walking forward.

However, my leg sank into the snow once more—this time even deeper.

“I can move just fine.”

“…I see.”

It must have been a ridiculous sight—my head sticking out of the snow as I declared that I was fine.

A few teammates turned their heads away, their shoulders shaking as they struggled to contain their laughter.

I furrowed my brows.

At this rate, my image would be completely ruined—just like how I was buried in the snow.

In the end, I had no choice but to call for Nightmare.

“Nightmare!”

Nightmare responded immediately to my call.

In no time, it squeezed its large body through the cave’s narrow passage and bounded toward me like an excited puppy.

Snort.

The creature approached, gazed at me for a moment, and then gently grabbed the back of my collar with its snout, pulling me out of the snow.

Riding Nightmare would save me from the humiliation of sinking into the snow again.

After brushing the snow off my body, I climbed onto its back.

“Let’s head out now.”

Although there was a brief delay, Selion quickly gathered herself and began leading the team forward.

The thick blanket of snow made it difficult to see where we were stepping, so we had to tread cautiously.

Suddenly, a cold wind blew down from above.

Snowflakes danced in the wind, creating a vision of white waves rippling across the snow-covered expanse.

The direction of the wind felt strange.

As far as I knew, naturally occurring wind did not flow from top to bottom.

I wasn’t the only one who noticed the abnormality.

The team members, who had been scanning the surroundings, began to look up at the sky one by one.

“That’s…”

Someone’s murmuring trailed off into the air.

Frowning, I focused on the fluttering object in the sky.

Judging by the flapping of its spread-out appendages, they appeared to be wings, but the distance made it impossible to discern the details.

As time passed, the wind grew stronger, and the flying object drew nearer, becoming larger and more distinct.

“AH…?”

[SCREEECH!]

A piercing, shrill cry echoed from above.

That was when I realized the approaching figure was no ordinary bird.

It swam through the dark sky—a massive blue bird.

The long decorative feathers trailing behind its head shimmered like ice, and its two pairs of wings alternated in generating icy gusts of wind.

“Everyone, take cover!”

Selion’s warning barely finished before the team scattered in all directions.

I quickly pulled Nightmare’s reins.

At that moment, the enormous bird descended from the sky and struck the ground.

Boom!

The earth trembled as though a massive earthquake had hit, and the snow scattered everywhere, rising into the air and blurring visibility.

Amid the swirling snowstorm, a monster’s roar mixed with the piercing scream of a human.

[SCREEECH!]

“Aargh!”

The sound signaled the bird’s successful hunt.

As if satisfied, the massive bird flapped its enormous wings, creating a violent wind that threatened to blow everything away.

Whoosh!

The fierce gusts felt like they could lift my body, but at least they cleared the blinding snow, revealing the surroundings once more.

[SCREEECH!]

The moment the bird’s full form became visible, it soared into the sky.

Dangling limply from its massive claws was an unknown teammate, swaying precariously.

My decision was swift and without hesitation.

I immediately yanked on Nightmare’s reins, charging toward the enormous bird.

The scenery blurred as we picked up speed.

The wind slicing against my cheek felt like sharp blades.

Nightmare had long surpassed the speed of the wind.

As we neared the bird, I drew my sword from behind and swung swiftly, but my attack didn’t connect.

At that moment, Nightmare changed direction and leapt skyward.

A white crystal platform appeared in midair in front of Nightmare.

The creature could step on these crystal platforms up to five times.

That meant I had five chances to chase down the massive bird.

Tap-tap!

Each time Nightmare’s hooves struck the crystal platforms, the distance to the bird closed rapidly.

Tap!

After three steps, Nightmare caught up with the enormous bird and leapt onto its back.

Thud!

[SCREEECH!]

The giant bird seemed startled by the sudden rider and began to twist its body wildly.

Its four large wings thrashed through the air, creating violent storms.

Crack-crack!

But Nightmare didn’t falter.

It firmly planted its crystal legs into the bird’s body, anchoring itself.

I immediately tied myself to Nightmare with a rope and leapt downward—to rescue the teammate clinging to the bird’s leg.

The massive bird twisted its body relentlessly, trying to shake off Nightmare.

Naturally, I was shaken about in the process as well.

“Ugh!”

I gritted my teeth and swung my sword toward the bird’s leg.

Though the shaking made me miss several times, I eventually managed to cut halfway through its thick leg with the sharp blade.

Crunch!

[SCREEECH!]

With a spray of crimson blood scattering through the air, the limp teammate fell from the bird’s grasp.

I reached out desperately, but my short arms couldn’t reach him in time.

Frowning, I pulled on the rope to climb back up to Nightmare.

With the mission accomplished, it was time for us to retreat.

After mounting Nightmare, I looked down at the ground, which had grown distant.

The massive bird, still writhing, continued to ascend higher.

At this rate, we’d reach the clouds—or even the stratosphere.

Without hesitation, I swung my sword at the bird’s enormous wings.

Slash!

One pair of its wings was entirely severed. Unable to maintain flight, the bird began plummeting downward.

[SCREEECH!]

The bird’s mournful scream echoed futilely in the sky.

Falling along with the bird, I waited for the right moment before pulling Nightmare’s reins.

Crack!

The crystal that had connected Nightmare to the giant bird shattered.

As white crystal fragments scattered and obscured my vision, Nightmare began descending toward the ground.

Tap!

Tap!

Then, just as I prepared to slow our descent with magic, my heightened senses detected danger.

Turning my head quickly, I saw it—the falling bird gathering a massive amount of mana in its mouth.

“Damn it…!”

The blue bird, now wingless, was glaring straight at me and Nightmare.

I immediately unleashed mana across my entire body, forming a thin protective barrier.

Just as my body began to glow faintly from the intense mana surge, the bird opened its mouth, unleashing a beam of blue light.

KRAKOOOM!