"No. No. No. There are at least fifty of them. What kind of place is this? We’re all going to die... we’re all going to die!"

Alex shouted in fear.

Noah didn’t say anything. He didn’t move either. His entire body had gone rigid, frozen by the sight before him. A single tyrant bear had already pushed them to the brink of death.

And now... There were at least fifty.

Only one thing awaited them. Death.

Leon forced his battered body upright. Beside him, the corpse of the tyrant bear began to disintegrate, its massive form dissolving into drifting particles of light — leaving behind a single, gleaming monster core.

Leon bent down and picked it up slowly... He swallowed it without wasting a single second. All the while, his gaze remained locked on the advancing horde.

[You have absorbed Qi.]

[Qi: 1,000,000 / 2,560,000]

The panel shimmered before him. Leon frowned slightly at the notification. ’The tyrant bear wasn’t any weaker than the dungeon boss I defeated... so why is it giving less Qi?’

He had expected a breakthrough — another step forward in strength. But it didn’t happen.

And he had no idea why.

Low, guttural growls echoed once more as the ice bears drew closer, their presence pressing down like a suffocating weight. Leon slowly tightened his grip on the sword, lifting it once again.

Alex, somehow snapping out of his panic, scrambled to his feet and rushed toward Noah.

"We need to run," he said urgently.

"Now."

"Hey, you!" Noah shouted at Leon. "Let’s run! We can’t win against them!"

Leon stood still for a brief moment, hesitation flickering in his eyes. ’I don’t think I can beat them... But if I could... those monster cores... I could break through four, maybe five levels...’

"What are you waiting for? Move!" Alex snapped, urgency cutting through his voice.

Leon glanced at the approaching horde one last time — then turned and sprinted toward them.

"Let’s go!"

Alex rushed to Meridith’s side and hoisted her limp body onto his shoulder. Leon bent down and lifted Willow. Without another word, the three of them bolted in the opposite direction.

Behind them, the horde surged forward, relentless — like predators unwilling to let their prey escape.

Leon had no trouble carrying Willow. His pace remained steady. But Alex began to fall behind. So did Noah — even without carrying anyone.

Leon glanced over his shoulder. The monsters were closing in. Eighty meters.

At this rate, they wouldn’t even need five minutes to catch up.

Leon gritted his teeth. "Give her to me," he said to Alex. "Take Noah and run faster."

"Can you carry both?" Alex asked, breath ragged but feet still moving.

"Yes. Hurry. We don’t have time."

Alex veered closer and shifted Meridith onto Leon without slowing down. Then he moved to Noah, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him forward as they picked up speed.

Leon adjusted his grip — now carrying both women. Even then... He was still faster. They followed a downward slope, sprinting with everything they had.

The shrinking gap began to stabilize. Then... slowly... it widened.

But none of them felt relieved. Their faces remained grim. ’We can’t keep running like this forever,’ Leon thought. ’We need a way out.’

Leon was still trying to figure out a way out when a crashing sound reached his ears.

He turned his head sharply to the left...

Noah had tripped on something and fallen.

Alex immediately grabbed him and yanked him back up, forcing him forward again. But the fall had taken its toll. Noah’s movements slowed, his steps faltering.

"Noah, pull yourself together, or we’re all going to die!" Alex shouted, urgency laced with desperation.

But it was too late. Sensing weakness in their prey, the tyrant ice bears surged forward with renewed ferocity. Their speed increased, their massive bodies storming across the ground as it trembled beneath them.

Leon came to a halt and turned back.

’Damn it... what do I do? Should I just leave them and run? I don’t even know them...’

His jaw tightened. ’But they... they’re not bad people. That kid even tried to help me — without any power.’

Leon closed his eyes for a brief moment and let out a slow breath. ’What a pain... I just hope I make it out of this alive.’

He gently lowered Meridith and Willow onto the ground. Alex and Noah stopped as well, confusion flashing across their faces.

"Take them and go," Leon said, not turning back. Carefully placing both women down, he straightened and began walking toward the oncoming horde.

Each step was steady. Deliberate.

"Wait... you don’t mean..." Alex started but his voice trailed off.

The distance closed rapidly. Ten meters.

Seven. Leon could see their claws gleaming dangerously in the daylight.

Five...

Leon pulled the sword out again. His grip tightened around the hilt.

"You..." Noah opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.

But just as Leon was about to lunge forward, just as the horde was ready to pounce on him....

BOOOOOM!

A violent explosion erupted between them, sending snow and debris blasting into the air, forcing the horde to halt.

A voice rang out...

"This way! Hurry!"

Leon’s head snapped toward the source. On a raised ridge to the left, a man in his mid-twenties stood atop the snowy ground beside a tree, gesturing urgently for them to come.

For the first time since the nightmare began.

Alex and Noah saw something other than death.

A human. Hope flickered in their eyes. Alex quickly hoisted Meridith back onto his shoulder. Leon, who had been ready to stay behind and buy them time, hesitated for only a fraction of a second — then made his choice.

He grabbed Willow and sprinted toward the man. In a place like this, the presence of another human was... suspicious. But between a horde of fifty tyrant ice bears... And one unknown man... The choice was obvious.

Alex, Noah, and Leon rushed toward the figure by the tree. Behind them, the horde surged forward once more. But the mysterious man calmly tossed something into their path...

A small object spun through the air.

Then...

BOOM!

Another explosion tore through the snow, forcing the beasts to halt yet again. All three reached the tree without slowing, still carrying Meridith and Willow.

"This way," the man said sharply, already turning. Without waiting, he bolted toward the back. Leon and Alex exchanged a brief glance...

A silent agreement. Then, without another word, they followed him, Noah, right behind.

Running toward something unknown.

But anything... Was better than certain death.