As he ascended the mountain, it became increasingly slippery due to the accumulating snow with every step. The climb grew riskier as each foothold required careful consideration.
"Carefully... Let's proceed slowly."
He carefully placed each step, recognizing that a simple slip could lead to a dangerous fall. However, with Rie keeping a watchful eye, the risk wasn't as significant as one might assume.
He was cautious not only because of the potential pain from a slip but also because Rie wouldn't assist with minor mishaps, and he certainly didn't want to risk hitting his head.
Despite wearing thick clothing, the cold wind made him shiver as it swept past.
"These damn shoes, are they even remotely useful? I've almost slipped seven times because of these pieces of crap..."
Frustration replaced fear as he became accustomed to the frequent slips.
"Now, let's see if my equipment is worth the money at all..."
The biting wind swept through the icy canyon as he neared the towering ice wall, their breath creating frosty clouds. Armed with ice axes and crampons, he anchored himself to the frozen surface, the sharp crunch of spikes against ice resonating in the crisp air.
"It's freezing,"
With each swing of his ice axes, he meticulously carved out footholds and handholds, tackling the demanding verticality of the frozen wall with both precision and strength—luckily, he possessed both
"Ahh- Damn,"
The ice beneath his crampons occasionally crumbled, posing additional challenges during the climb.
"Magnificent, isn't it? Unfortunately, it's not a tourist destination more like it can't be one."
As the view expanded, a breathtaking forest landscape unfolded beneath him, with distant peaks cloaked in snow.
From that height, the forest resembled a congregation of green ants, the entire expanse unfolding before his eyes in a breathtaking panorama of beauty.
*crackle*
Occasional cascades of ice shards marked their progress, the sound reverberating through the frozen amphitheater. The crisp air filled with the metallic tang of ice as they continued upward.
"Phew, made it safely," he felt accomplished for the first time in a while.
After scaling the steep ice, he found himself on an ice plain equivalent to size of an avarage volcano opening. This plain served as his reward for conquering the challenging ice wall, a struggle akin to that of a mountain goat.
"I was pretty lucky not to encounter a single predator throughout my entire journey here," he expressed relief.
Indeed, luck was on his side, considering the forest's reputation as one of Mulan's most dangerous. Although it only harbored low-ranking and timid monsters in vast numbers, lacking the high-ranking major hazards, such as the monsters found in other forests. This fact also explained his reluctance to travel at night, as the forest became a haven for creatures like goblins during nighttime. As a swordsman of moderate rank, facing hordes of goblins without the ability to eliminate them swiftly would be perilous.
In simple terms, he would be overwhelmed by these low-rank monsters if he dared to travel at night without the strength to eliminate a horde of them in a single strike.
As he gazed ahead, three peaks loomed, each surpassing the last, albeit marginally. The dense mist surrounding them concealed his surroundings, adding an air of mystery to the ascent.
"Now, the novel mentioned the nurture core can be found on the second tallest peak here, but the mist makes it challenging to determine which one is tall or short,"
He attempted to distinguish the peaks by squinting, but as expected, it proved futile. He resorted to engaging his mind, attempting to recall more information from the novel to identify the correct peak.
"Nah, nothing's coming up in my mind. Let's keep moving; checking all these peaks would take too long but I don't got any other options now."
He resumed his journey through the area, and despite the slippery ice-covered terrain, the expansive field allowed for relatively easy movement.
"The novel mentioned hot spring and a cave with a really cramped opening, only big enough for a single person like me to fit through close to it, so let's get going."
He circled around the first peak, but there was no sign of a hot spring—just a snow-covered summit with an unknown depth of snow causing minor frostbite to his feet.
Surveying the first peak complete, he moved on to the second. Climbing to its peak, he descended to take a round, realizing that a view from just the summit wasn't sufficient, unlike the previous peak.
Unfortunately, luck eluded him again; he couldn't find the hot spring on the second peak despite thorough exploration. It became evident that the last peak held the hot spring.
"There we go, just as the novel described—the narrow opening close to the hot spring."
As he circled the side of the peak after discovering, he discovered an extremely slim opening hidden beneath a layer of snow, nearly invisible unless examined closely.
With his small hands, he cleared the snow from its surroundings, revealing the cramped opening, barely a couple of inches larger than his size.
"I'm sure I'm not claustrophobic, but isn't it way too cramped, even for me? I might get stuck, and there's no step-daddy out here too—ahh, no homo," he chuckled, dismissing the odd thought that crossed his mind as he observed the tight opening.
"Well, if he could enter it, then I can too. It's not like the entire way is like that, only the starting few meters," he encouraged himself, taking a few deep breaths.
He assumed a prone position and began to slither into the opening like a snake, with snow finding its way inside his clothes, providing an unintentional icy massage he didn't particularly enjoy.
"Boy, I would have liked to enjoy the hot spring myself because I never did in my previous life, but what can I do? I got no time for leisure stuff."
Entering the cave, it grew dark, prompting him to use a flashlight to illuminate the surroundings.
"Let's continue again now."
*****
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