As Owen and his group made their way back to town, they couldn't help but notice how the base of the ice mountain remained unchanged, swarmed with an overwhelming crowd that seemed to defy the passage of time.
Owen, however, was not in the mood to mingle or delay.
His primary focus was on consuming the Life Fruit to heal and enhance his avatar, which, despite having recovered from its severe injuries, was still not capable of wielding his true strength in full measure.
The appearance of several shadowy figures blocking their path quickly shattered the brief calm.
Owen's heart sank as he realized his fears were materializing — the man in blue had wasted no time in summoning reinforcements for a swift retribution.
Without hesitation, Owen instructed Melita to lead the others away, entrusting her with the safety of the little Ice Soul Beast and emphasizing the urgency of their escape.
