Outside the dungeon...

The members of Jasper’s guild had finally finished killing all the monsters that were coming out from the gate.

Jasper looked at the foot of the slope where Noah and others were. The place was empty now. Now human. No monster.

"He finally listened and moved to safety."

He muttered with a weary sigh. Then he looked at the bright noon sky.

"He’s been growing more desperate lately, Father. Where are you? I hope you’re still alive."

Jasper whispered.

Suddenly...

He noticed someone was rushing toward him. A man wearing a classic coat stopped in front of him. He was breathing heavily.

"Guild master, is it over? Where’s Noah?"

He asked anxiously.

Jasper frowned immediately at that. "What the fuck do you mean, where’s Noah, David? Didn’t he already leave this area?"

"Leave?"

David’s face turned pale.

"N-No... I’ve been standing outside this entire time. I was looking over the whole area. No one left this place."

Jasper’s face turned pale. ’Then... then where are they?’

Meanwhile, in the hidden realm...

Alex sat against a tree. His face looked gloomy and exhausted.

Meridith and Wollow’s unconscious bodies lay beside him.

The mysterious man was standing at the edge of the cliff. He was silently staring at the vastness below.

His expression was twisted slightly. Was it grief over Leon and Noah falling from the bridge... or something else entirely?

Whatever it was... One thing was certain. He wasn’t satisfied.

"We should move and head toward the safe zone. We’re no longer in immediate danger. Our magic has returned. But... It’s not uncommon to meet a ferocious beast here."

Finally, the man said.

Alex lowered his head.

"But... what about them?"

"They’re dead. If the fall didn’t kill them... The cold will. There’s no way to save them."

The man replied coldly.

Alex fell silent. After a long moment, he finally nodded unwillingly.

He lifted Meridith onto his back while the mysterious man carried Willow. Thankfully, both female hunters were still alive. The two of them began to move without another word. They were heading in the opposite direction of the broken bridge.

Somewhere at the foot of a colossal mountain...

Two figures lay motionless in the snow. They were none other than Leon and Noah.

Time passed. But none of them moved. Their bodies were drenched in blood. Icy snow covered most of their bodies. Their skin was slowly turning pale green due to the cold.

Then suddenly...

Leon’s eyelashes trembled. He slowly opened his eyes. His sight was blurry at first. But gradually, the world around him became clear. White.

Nothing but endless white. Snow covered the entire land as far as the eye could see. Even the trees and rocks had not been spared by the freezing cold.

[Spiritual Energy Detected. The Host can now cultivate and absorb the spiritual energy present in nature.]

The familiar notifications began appearing across the system panel once again.

[The Host is being exposed to extreme cold.]

[Cold Resistance has increased slightly.

Cold Resistance: 3.67%]

Leon ignored the notifications for the moment and slowly forced his battered body upright. "Where... am I?" He looked around in confusion before the memories of the collapsing bridge came flooding back. His gaze quickly shifted toward Noah’s motionless body lying nearby.

"Damn... I hope he’s not dead." Every movement sent waves of pain through Leon’s body, but he still forced himself forward. Gritting his teeth, he crawled to Noah’s side and checked his pulse. A moment later, he let out a relieved breath. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"He’s still alive... barely."

Leon immediately called out. "System."

[Yes, Host?]

"Is there any healing medicine I can buy from the inventory?"

[Affirmative.]

"Show me the list."

Names started to appear one after another in the translucent panel.

[1. Normal Grade Recovery Pill

Description: Instantly heals minor wounds, bruises, and small cuts.

Price: 10 Spirit Coins]

[2. Uncommon Grade Vitality Pill

Description: Instantly heals moderate injuries that would normally require months to heal.

Price: 30 Spirit Coins]

[3. Rare Grade Regeneration Pill

Description: Instantly restores any external injuries and damaged flesh.

Price: 200 Spirit Coins]

[4. Elite Grade Restoration Pill

Description: Fully restores both internal and external injuries.

Price: 1000 Spirit Coins]

[5. ...]

[...]

[...]

A long list of medicines continued downward, but Leon’s attention had already locked onto the fourth item. The Elite Grade Restoration Pill.

"That one," Leon said immediately. "I’ll take the fourth pill."

[Purchase Confirmed.]

A soft blue light flickered in the air. Moments later, a pale azure pill materialized above Leon’s palm, radiating a faint medicinal aura.

"This should be enough..." Leon carefully placed the pellet against Noah’s lips. But making an unconscious person swallow a pill... Was far easier said than done.

Leon tried pushing the pellet deeper into Noah’s mouth with his fingers, but it was useless. He lifted Noah’s head slightly and tried again. Still nothing. Gritting his teeth, Leon slammed his fist lightly against Noah’s chest several times, hoping the impact would force him to choke and swallow the medicine.

But once again... Nothing happened.

The freezing cold was slowly numbing not only Leon’s body, but his mind as well. His thoughts were becoming sluggish, as if the icy temperature itself was robbing him of the ability to think clearly.

How was he supposed to save Noah?

Unbeknownst to him, from a distant snow-covered ridge, two figures were silently watching him.

One was a boy around Noah’s age, dressed in combat attire with a sword hanging at his waist.

Beside him stood a young woman clad in elegant robes. Golden hair rested gently upon her shoulders, swaying softly with the freezing wind. Even amidst the merciless cold, her beauty remained breathtaking, carrying an almost untouchable elegance. Yet beneath that graceful appearance was a pair of calm eyes filled with strength and unwavering resolve, making it clear she was far from fragile.

"What is that guy trying to do, sis?" the boy asked cautiously. "Could he be one of Harold’s spies searching for us here?"

The young woman didn’t answer immediately. She simply continued staring at Leon in silence, watching his desperate attempts to save Noah.