The cold felt sharper now, an invisible weight pressing against Jace's body as he stepped away from the wyvern's remains. His breath was shallow, each exhalation fading as a mist into the frigid air. The Crystalheart Root rested in his hands, its translucent surface pulsing faintly with an inner light. A faint hum seemed to emanate from it, almost as if it were alive, responding to the life around it.
The plateau was silent, save for the whispering wind that carried a hint of victory and foreboding. Jace turned his gaze toward the jagged cliffs ahead. Somewhere beyond, there were more ingredients, more beasts, and more trials. His body was weary, but the surge of frost energy from the wyvern's core still burned in his veins, an unyielding reminder of what he had overcome.
He tucked the root into his pouch and adjusted his grip on the Blade Panther claws. Moving was instinctual now. One foot in front of the other, avoiding the loose frost-covered rocks as he made his way back to the cliff's edge.
The descent would be no less dangerous than the climb.
The first few meters of the climb down tested every ounce of his focus. The frost on the rocks made them treacherously slick, and the howling wind pushed against him, threatening to unbalance him at every step. He drove his claws into the cracks to stabilize himself, the cold biting through his gloves.
A shadow passed overhead, and instinctively, Jace froze. His hand gripped the nearest hold tightly as he scanned the sky. A smaller wyvern, its silhouette slicing through the pale clouds, circled above. Its wings glinted with the same crystalline sheen as the beast he had just slain.
Jace gritted his teeth. It wasn't as large as the Frostfang Wyvern, but it didn't need to be. In his current state, a fight against another predator—especially mid-descent—would be suicide.
He held his breath, pressing his body close to the cliffside. The creature hovered for a moment longer before letting out a shrill screech and diving into the distance. Jace waited until the sound faded completely before resuming his climb.
Hours passed as he descended further, the harsh environment giving way to the familiar humidity of the jungle below. The frost clinging to his armor began to melt, droplets running down his forearms as the air grew warmer. His footing became steadier, though the undergrowth at the base of the plateau presented its own challenges.
When he finally reached solid ground, his legs buckled slightly. He caught himself on one knee, exhaustion spreading through his body like a dull ache. The lingering energy of the Iceheart Core was all that kept him from collapsing outright.
Through the dense foliage, the faint glimmer of his base camp's lightstones came into view.
The camp felt almost foreign after the chaos of the plateau. The simple tent and fire pit, once sources of comfort, now seemed inconsequential compared to the sheer scale of the challenges he had faced above. He dropped the pouch containing the Crystalheart Root onto the table, his muscles protesting every movement.
The System activated with its usual cool efficiency, the interface hovering in his vision.
"Objective complete. Crystalheart Root obtained. Analyzing… Confirmed as Tier 2 apex ingredient. Consuming the root will enhance frost abilities and unlock a unique skill."
Jace hesitated. He knew the process well by now—the surge of power, the searing pain as his body adjusted to the new abilities. Yet, each transformation left a mark, not just on his body but on his very sense of self.
Sitting by the fire pit, he removed the root from the pouch. Its light seemed brighter now, pulsating rhythmically as though mirroring the beat of his heart.
He clenched his jaw and brought the root to his mouth. The crystalline structure shattered easily, releasing a wave of icy liquid that flooded his senses. Pain erupted almost immediately, a cold so intense it felt like fire burning through his veins. His vision blurred, his surroundings melting into a haze of light and shadow.
Time seemed to stretch endlessly as the transformation took hold. The pain gave way to clarity, his senses sharpening beyond their normal limits. When the haze finally lifted, he found himself lying on his back, staring at the canopy above.
His hands flexed involuntarily, frost forming on his fingertips. A strange sensation coursed through him, like the memory of the wyvern's icy breath imprinted in his mind. The System's voice echoed softly in his thoughts.
"Upgrade complete. Frost Resonance: Tier 3. New skill unlocked: Glacial Domain."
Jace sat up slowly, his breathing steadying as the details of the skill flowed into his consciousness. Glacial Domain wasn't just an attack—it was an environment, a manifestation of his will that turned the very battlefield into a frozen wasteland under his control.
He clenched his fists, the frost dissipating into the humid air. The apex predators of this world had been formidable, but he could feel himself moving closer to standing among them.
As the night deepened, the jungle seemed quieter, the usual rustlings and calls of nocturnal creatures subdued as though the land itself recognized a shift in balance.