Crack.

The sound of ice cracking was heard from the center of the square for the second time. Lian did not hesitate for even a moment.

His gaze fixed on that massive ice monster frozen in the middle of the square. Then he said in a completely serious tone.

"If that thing wakes up, we cannot defeat it."

For the first time, Seris did not disagree. The silver-haired girl just stared at the frozen ice monster for a few seconds, then shook her head.

"I think so too."

And that alone was enough. Seris was not the kind of person who was afraid of anything. If she herself had decided to retreat, it meant that creature was truly dangerous.

A level 19 Fallen monster is not something they can handle. This monster is so powerful that it could kill that Fallen Wolf with a single hit.

They were not stupid enough to fight such a monster.

Both of them left the square silently. The massive monster remained motionless.

The city was still submerged in silence. Snow quietly settled on the frozen streets. Massive crystal buildings stood on both sides of the path.

Statues of unknown warriors could be seen in different corners of the city.

Everything was frozen. Everything was dead. But the further they went into the city, the stranger they felt.

"Footprints."

Lian suddenly stopped. Seris also looked down. On the fresh snow, there were footprints. But these footprints did not belong to just one creature.

Some looked like wolves. Some looked like reptiles. Some were so strange that they could not even be identified.

And more interestingly, the footprints were fresh. Very fresh.

"We are heading toward where the monsters probably are." Lian frowned.

"Stronger than that Titan?" Seris asked.

"I am not sure, but I doubt it." He thought for a moment and then answered. It is unlikely that a monster stronger than that Fallen monster is near here.

"But that is not the important question. The important thing is, what does that castle have that makes all the monsters go toward it?" Lian added.

Monsters do not go toward one point for no reason.

They continued on their path. Through narrow streets, past collapsed buildings, past squares that were probably once the center of life in this city.

But no creature could be seen. No sound, no movement, no sign of life. The only thing that existed were the many footprints.

Footprints that increased more and more the further they went. As if hundreds of different creatures lived in this city.

But none of them could be seen. And that was even scarier.

A few minutes later, they saw the castle. In the distance, in the heart of Frostheart, a massive castle made of ice and crystal. Its towers were hundreds of meters high.

Walls that shone even through the blizzard. And a blue light that shone from the highest tower up to the sky.

"If there is anything valuable in this city, it is there."

"Probably." Seris agreed.

So they continued on their path toward the castle. But at that moment, the footprints suddenly ended.

As if the creatures of the city did not dare to go further from this point. Lian noticed this.

And that made him feel bad. But before he had time to think... a sound was heard from behind them.

Crunch.

Crunch.

Crunch.

The sound of footsteps on snow. A lot of them. Very close.

Seris immediately turned around. Her eyes narrowed.

"We are getting visitors."

Shadows dropped down from the icy roofs.

One.

Two.

Five.

Ten.

Fifteen.

Within a few seconds, the street around them was filled. Lian stared at the creatures in front of him.

Bodies that were almost human. About two and a half meters tall. White skin covered in frozen fur. Massive horns like a deer’s. Hands with long, deadly claws.

But the worst part was their faces. Faces that looked human but were not complete. As if something had tried to imitate a human and failed.

[Frosthorn Stalker]

[Rank: Normal]

[Level 10]

[Frosthorn Stalker]

[Rank: Normal]

[Level 11]

[Frosthorn Stalker]

[Rank: Normal]

[Level 10]

"Fifteen monsters, but instead of being a threat, they look like a reward." Lian chuckled.

They needed to increase their power somehow. And what better way than these monsters? They were like free prey walking into the lion’s mouth.

Seris smiled a little. But her eyes shone. Finally, she could fight again and release her anger on these poor creatures.

And then the monsters attacked.

Everything exploded. The monsters charged from all four sides with terrible speed.

Lian moved.

BOOM!

His fist hit the first monster’s face directly. The sound of bones crushing echoed in the street. The monster was thrown several meters back.

But before it could hit the ground, Lian appeared in front of it.

Second hit.

Its neck broke. The corpse fell on the snow.

[You have killed a level 10 Frosthorn Stalker]

[4 Stat Points gained]

[Congratulations, you have obtained a Talent]

But there was no time to stop. A claw came toward his neck from behind. He ducked, turned, and drove his elbow into the monster’s chest.

Bones crushed. Icy blood sprayed on the snow.

[You have killed a level 10 Frosthorn Stalker]

On the other side.

Seris moved like a crazy storm. She had no sword, but her body itself was a weapon.

Fist.

Knee.

Elbow.

Each hit put one of the monsters on the ground. But their number was high.

Too high.

The monsters attacked nonstop. The more time passed, the more wounds they had.

But it did not matter how many there were. Unfortunately for them, they had run into monsters among humans. The creatures that thought they were hunters had now become the hunted.

And as expected, the monsters realized what a mistake they had made. They thought they had found easy prey.

But they did not know that they had run into butchers.

Ten minutes later, the last Frosthorn Stalker fell to the ground. Lian’s chest was rising and falling. Blood had dried on his fists.

Seris was also standing a few meters away. She was breathing heavily, but a small smile could still be seen on her face.

System notifications appeared.

[You Have Killed A Level 9 Frosthorn Stalker]

Several notifications appeared one after another. But Lian did not even have a chance to look at them, because Seris suddenly frowned.

"They are coming." Seris looked at the icy streets, at the buildings, and at the darkness between them.

"A lot of them." She then said quietly.

Lian could also feel the many presences coming toward them from all sides. Their presences were not scary.

But there were so many that they could completely surround them.

At that moment, a howl echoed in the distance. Then another. Then dozens more.

Then the sound of roaring and footsteps was heard from all directions, from all parts of the city. As if their fight had woken up all of Frostheart.

"Run!" And both started running.

They ran through the icy streets, past abandoned buildings, through snow-covered squares. And all the while, the sounds were getting closer.

More monsters had woken up. Many more. Dozens, maybe hundreds. They did not want to wait to find out exactly how many there were.

So they just ran toward the castle. The only possible destination. And finally, they reached it. But at that moment, they stopped. Because in front of the massive castle gate, a pack of ice wolves was standing.

More than twenty wolves. Bodies covered in ice crystals. Fangs so big they looked like small horns.

From their foreheads, a very sharp horn that looked like it was made of steel stuck out. Their eyes were completely icy and bright.

And in the center of the pack, a massive monster stood. About five meters tall. Three tails hanging from its back. Blue eyes staring directly at them.

System notifications appeared.

[Frostfang Alpha Wolf]

[Rank: Normal]

[Level 15]

Then more notifications appeared.

[Frostfang Wolf]

[Rank: Normal]

[Level 14]

[Frostfang Wolf]

[Rank: Normal]

[Level 14]

[Frostfang Wolf]

[Rank: Normal]

[Level 13]

Lian looked forward at the wolves. Then behind him, at the streets where the sounds of monsters were getting closer. But after a certain point, they stopped.

As if they did not dare to come further. And now he understood why the monsters did not dare to come near this castle. Because it was surrounded by a pack of monsters.

There was no way to escape.

But was there even any need to worry?