~ An hour before Leier relayed the news of the enemies' retreat to Henry. ~
Throughout the whole journey, Elton's eyes remained fixed on the path leading to the mountain's peak, while his soldiers followed his trails, leaving deep footprints on the endless snow. The tough seven-mile uphill march had taken its toll, reducing Luak's group to less than half of their original size as those who couldn't keep up were either dead or left unconscious somewhere along the way.
The First Stage Warriors were visibly exhausted as their faces turned blue from the struggle to breath in the thin surrounding air. The steep terrain and the fatigue forced them to constantly use their hands for support, and as a result, their unprotected fingers were gradually turning black, frostbite spreading through their hands. Even those in the Second Stage found it difficult to fill their lungs completely, relying on their limited Mana to maintain body temperature and activity.
