The storm above Dragon's Peak had only grown fiercer.
Snow spiraled endlessly through the skies.
The battlefield trembled beneath the roars of Frost Wyverns.
And amidst the frozen chaos—
Cynthia finally sealed the fourth jar of Frost Wyvern Sap.
Her hands trembled slightly from exhaustion.
"…Done."
The glowing blue liquid shimmered beautifully inside the reinforced glass.
Four jars.
Enough to repair Ryota's sword.
Enough to preserve the weapon that meant so much to him.
Cynthia immediately stood up and yelled toward the battlefield above.
"RIO!"
Her voice echoed across the mountain.
"I'M DONE!"
The moment the words left her mouth—
everything went silent.
Kiraya's eyes widened instantly.
"…Cynthia."
The Frost Wyvern Queen slowly turned its massive head.
Its glowing icy eyes locked directly onto them.
The surrounding Frost Wyverns stopped moving.
Then—
the Queen roared.
SKRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!
The entire summit shook violently.
The roar blasted snow away like an explosion.
Cynthia immediately froze.
"…Oh no."
Above them—
Rio's eyes widened.
"…Crap."
The Frost Wyvern Queen folded its wings—
then descended.
Massive winds exploded downward as it landed directly before the cliffside.
BOOOOOOM
The ground cracked instantly.
Snow erupted everywhere.
The Frost Wyverns landed beside it one after another.
Ten.
Fifteen.
More.
A pack surrounding the Queen itself.
Kiraya immediately raised the Crusader Great Gunblade.
Cynthia stepped backward nervously.
Auram slowly walked forward.
But before any of them could move—
Rio landed directly in front of them.
THUD
She stood between the Queen—
and everyone else.
The Queen lowered its gigantic head.
Its icy breath froze the air itself.
Then it roared directly at Rio.
The force alone nearly knocked Cynthia backward.
Kiraya grit her teeth.
"…This thing's pissed."
Rio slowly exhaled.
Then glanced sideways.
"Cynthia."
Cynthia blinked.
"…Y-Yeah?"
Rio smiled faintly.
"Good work."
Then Rio turned back toward the Queen.
The Crimson Bloodmoon materialized in her hand.
The crimson saber glowed brilliantly against the blizzard.
The Queen immediately opened its jaws—
ice breath beginning to gather.
But Rio moved first.
She swung her blade upward.
[Sword Skill: Moonlight Melody]
A massive crimson crescent slash erupted from the Crimson Bloodmoon.
But—
it wasn't aimed at the Queen.
Kiraya's eyes widened.
"…Wait."
The attack flew past the monsters—
and struck the snow-covered mountain wall above them.
BOOOOOOM
The entire cliffside exploded.
Snow cracked violently across the upper mountain.
Massive fractures spread everywhere.
The Queen immediately sensed danger.
Its eyes widened.
Rio however calmly raised her hand.
The pendant around her neck began glowing.
The Pendant of Eternal Grace.
The linked relic.
Rio activated it.
A system notification appeared before her vision.
[Activate Epic Equipment Effect]
[Using Linked Skill tied to Soul Echo]
Rio quietly whispered—
"…Ryota."
Then—
black-and-white chains briefly manifested around her arm.
A familiar energy surged through her body.
The aura around Rio shifted.
The ground beneath her feet cracked.
The system announcement appeared immediately.
[Activating Player Ryota's Skill: Scalular Impact]
Kiraya's eyes widened.
"…No way."
Rio pointed toward the distant Moonlight Melody slash still embedded deep within the mountain.
Then activated the skill.
The force behind the attack—
multiplied instantly.
Amplified.
Compressed.
Then released.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
The mountain exploded.
Not shattered.
Exploded.
The entire upper cliffside collapsed at once.
An ocean of snow broke free from the mountain.
The avalanche began descending instantly.
Cynthia stared upward in horror.
"…That's not an avalanche…"
"…That's a natural disaster."
The Frost Wyvern Queen roared furiously.
The Frost Wyverns panicked immediately.
But it was too late.
Tons upon tons of snow thundered downward.
The entire mountain shook.
Rio immediately turned around.
And yelled—
"RUN!"
A new system notification appeared before her eyes.
[Soul Echo Cooldown Activated]
[Pendant of Eternal Grace — Soul Echo]
Unavailable for: 71 Hours 59 Minutes
Rio immediately sprinted toward the cliffside edge.
Kiraya grabbed Cynthia's arm.
"MOVE!"
But before either girl could jump—
Auram suddenly appeared behind them.
Without hesitation—
he grabbed both girls under his arms.
Cynthia screamed.
"WAIT WHAT—?!"
Auram jumped.
BOOOOM
The cliffside shattered beneath his feet.
All three of them launched off the edge of Dragon's Peak.
The avalanche descended immediately afterward.
The world became white.
Snow consumed everything.
The Frost Wyverns disappeared beneath the frozen wave.
The Queen roared furiously somewhere within the collapsing storm.
Massive icebergs shattered apart.
Entire trees vanished beneath the avalanche.
Auram continued descending downward through the blizzard while carrying both girls.
Kiraya looked upward.
And barely saw Rio still running across falling debris behind them.
"…RIO!"
Rio immediately jumped off a collapsing iceberg.
The avalanche chased directly behind her.
The mountain itself was collapsing.
Ice.
Snow.
Stone.
Everything came crashing down together.
Rio's eyes narrowed.
Then—
she leapt off the edge.
The avalanche thundered past above her moments later.
The sound alone shook the mountain range.
Auram landed first.
BOOM
He crashed into a snow-covered slope lower down the mountain.
Kiraya and Cynthia rolled violently across the snow beside him.
Moments later—
Rio crashed nearby.
Sliding across the frozen slope before stopping against a tree.
The avalanche continued roaring above them.
Like an endless white tsunami consuming Dragon's Peak.
For several seconds—
nobody spoke.
Only the sound of destruction echoed across the mountains.
Then finally—
silence.
Snow slowly drifted downward.
Cynthia shakily sat up.
"…Did…"
"…did we survive that?"
Kiraya looked upward toward the buried summit.
"…I think we just buried an entire army."
Auram quietly stood beside them.
Still perfectly calm.
Rio slowly pushed herself upward.
Completely exhausted.
Covered in snow.
Her breathing uneven.
But smiling.
"…See?"
Kiraya stared at her.
"…You're insane."
Rio laughed weakly.
"…Yeah."
Cynthia suddenly remembered the jars.
Her eyes widened.
She quickly checked her inventory.
Then immediately sighed in relief.
"The sap survived."
Rio's shoulders relaxed instantly.
"…Good."
Kiraya looked at Rio carefully.
"…You really went this far…"
"…for a sword?"
Rio quietly brushed snow off her Crimson Bloodmoon.
Then looked toward the distant horizon.
"…Not just a sword."
A soft smile appeared on her face.
"…Something important to someone important to me."
The snowfall quietly continued around them.
And for the first time since climbing Dragon's Peak—
the battle was finally over.
The trip back to the village was painfully slow.
Snowstorms still raged around Dragon's Peak.
The wind howled endlessly across the mountains.
And every single step hurt.
Kiraya walked while using the massive Crusader Great Gunblade as support.
Even with the glowing potion Cynthia had given her earlier—
her body still ached from the fall and the nonstop fighting.
Beside her—
Cynthia looked equally exhausted.
Her mana reserves were nearly empty after repeatedly using Armament Transfiguration.
Even Rio—
who usually walked ahead calmly—
looked visibly tired.
Her movements were slower.
Her shoulders slightly lowered.
The three girls quietly descended the frozen mountain path together.
None of them had the energy to talk much anymore.
Only the sound of snow crunching beneath their boots echoed through the storm.
Eventually—
the snowy village at the foot of Dragon's Peak finally came into view.
Warm lights glowed from the buildings.
Smoke drifted from chimneys.
NPC villagers wandered through the streets carrying supplies and firewood.
Compared to the chaos of the mountain—
the village felt strangely peaceful.
The moment Kiraya stepped near the central quest board—
a system notification appeared.
[Quest Completed]
[Frost Wyvern Elimination Request]
Quest Issuer: Northern Livestock Association
Rewards:
• 28 Copper Coins
• Reputation Increase with Northern Village
• Eternity Lions Guild Contribution Increased
Kiraya stretched her sore shoulders.
"…Finally."
Rio meanwhile immediately headed toward the blacksmith shop.
The moment they entered—
warm heat greeted them.
The sound of metal clanging echoed softly inside.
The old blacksmith looked up from his workstation.
Then his eyes widened slightly seeing the jars.
"…You actually got them."
Rio walked forward silently and placed the four jars of Frost Wyvern Sap onto the counter.
The glowing blue liquid illuminated the workshop faintly.
The blacksmith slowly removed his glasses.
"…This much sap…"
"…Did you hunt the Queen or something?"
Rio awkwardly looked away.
"…Something like that."
Kiraya immediately burst out laughing.
"Something like that she says."
"We nearly died!"
Cynthia nodded repeatedly.
"MULTIPLE TIMES."
The blacksmith looked between the exhausted girls.
Then quietly sighed.
"…Kids these days are terrifying."
He carefully picked up the jars.
Then nodded firmly.
"Alright."
"Leave the sword to me."
"I can preserve the weapon properly now."
Rio visibly relaxed.
"…Thank you."
The old man gave a small grunt before disappearing into the back workshop.
The moment he left—
all three girls simultaneously collapsed into nearby chairs.
"…Ugh…"
"My body hurts…"
Kiraya leaned her head backward dramatically.
"My spine is gone."
Cynthia slowly melted onto the table.
"My mana…"
"…I can physically hear it crying."
Rio quietly sat beside them.
Her arms resting on the table.
For several seconds—
nobody moved.
Then suddenly—
Rio's eyes widened.
"…Wait."
Kiraya blinked.
"What?"
Rio slowly looked toward Cynthia.
"…The Frost Wyvern hides."
Cynthia tilted her head.
"…What about them?"
Rio's expression stiffened.
"…You came all the way here for the hides."
Silence.
Then Rio slowly lowered her head.
"…We forgot."
Cynthia blinked.
Then immediately waved both hands.
"Oh no no no it's fine!"
"Seriously!"
"You guys already helped me a ton!"
Rio however still looked guilty.
"We literally fought a mountain-sized disaster and somehow still forgot the main reason you came."
Kiraya suddenly snorted.
"…Actually."
Both girls looked at her.
Kiraya casually reached beside her chair and tossed a large leather bag onto the table.
THUD
The sheer weight shook the wood slightly.
Cynthia blinked.
"…What's that?"
Kiraya smirked.
"Open it."
Cynthia slowly untied the bag.
Then froze.
Inside—
were stacks upon stacks of Frost Wyvern hides.
Perfectly preserved.
Cleanly harvested.
Her eyes widened.
"…Wait…"
"…WAIT."
Kiraya crossed her arms proudly.
"Sixty pieces."
Rio and Cynthia stared at her in complete shock.
"Sixty?!"
Kiraya laughed loudly.
"Unlike a certain someone—"
she glanced directly at Rio—
"I actually took my time scavenging the corpses while we climbed the mountain."
Rio immediately pouted.
"I was busy fighting for my life."
Kiraya grinned.
"And I was busy looting."
Cynthia slowly lifted one of the hides with trembling hands.
The material quality was incredible.
Even by crafting standards—
this amount alone was worth a fortune.
"…K-Kiraya…"
"Are you serious?"
"You know how expensive these are right?"
"You could make so much money selling them."
Kiraya shrugged casually.
"All yours."
Cynthia blinked repeatedly.
"…Why?"
Kiraya looked toward the massive Crusader Great Gunblade leaning beside her chair.
Then smiled.
"Consider it payment."
"For fixing my weapon…"
"…and making it ten times cooler."
Cynthia stared at her silently.
Then smiled brightly.
"…Thank you."
She immediately stored all sixty hides into her inventory.
Even Rio looked impressed.
"…That's actually a crazy amount."
Kiraya smirked proudly.
"See?"
"I'm useful too."
Rio laughed softly.
"…Yeah."
For the first time since leaving Dragon's Peak—
the atmosphere finally felt relaxed.
Comfortable.
Warm.
Then suddenly—
Cynthia looked toward Rio again.
"…Hey."
Rio blinked.
"What?"
Cynthia leaned forward slightly.
"We're still waiting for the blacksmith anyway…"
She slowly raised her hand.
Blue mana faintly shimmered around her fingertips.
"I still have enough mana left…"
"…to use my Unique Skill one more time."
Kiraya immediately sat upright.
"…Oh?"
Rio narrowed her eyes curiously.
Cynthia smiled nervously.
"So…"
"…do you maybe have anything else you want modified?"