The cold wind bit at Dakota's skin as he stood at the edge of a towering cliff, gazing up at the colossal mountain before him. Its peak was obscured by thick, swirling clouds, as if the heavens themselves conspired to keep intruders away. But Dakota was no ordinary intruder.
With a deep breath, he tightened the straps of his cloak and adjusted the sword at his waist. His journey had brought him here—to the Mountain of terrors, the tallest peak in the world, where only the most dangerous creatures roamed. But more importantly, at its summit, the Devil of Envy waited.
Dakota:
"One less devil to worry about. One step closer to victory."
The Devil of Envy was one of the last remaining threats to humanity, aside from Blazer and Fianna. Unlike the other devils, who relished destruction openly, the Devil of Envy was known for his cunning. He had built a secret fortress atop this mountain, using its natural defenses to deter anyone foolish enough to challenge him.
But Dakota wasn't just anyone.
He had two reasons for coming here. The first was simple: eliminating the Devil of Envy would cripple the enemy forces, making the final battle against the devils easier. The second was far more personal—defeating the Devil of Envy would grant him extreme luck, an ability he desperately needed for what came next.
Dakota:
"If I get that luck… then I'll be able to get the item I need."
He didn't dwell on the thought. There was no point in worrying about what came next when he had an entire mountain to climb.
With a final glance at the peak, he stepped forward.
The ascent was treacherous from the very beginning. The terrain was steep, with jagged cliffs that jutted out at unnatural angles. The air was thin, making each breath feel heavier. But Dakota moved with precision, scaling the rock face effortlessly.
Hours passed. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the mountain. As he climbed higher, the temperature dropped, and the once solid ground beneath his feet turned into thick layers of ice.
Then, the first obstacle appeared.
A low growl rumbled through the air. Dakota stopped, his golden eyes narrowing. From the mist ahead, three Frostfang Wolves emerged, their fur as white as the snow around them. Their breath was visible in the cold air, glowing with an eerie blue light—ice magic.
Dakota smirked.
Dakota:
"Small fry."
The wolves lunged, moving with unnatural speed. Their claws extended, glowing with freezing energy meant to tear through flesh and bone. But before they could even get close—
Slash!
A single swipe of Dakota's sword cut through the air, and in the next instant, the wolves collapsed, lifeless. Their bodies hit the icy ground, the frost in their fur melting from the heat of his blade.
Dakota:
"Pathetic."
He continued forward, undeterred.
Further up the mountain, the storm intensified. The wind howled, snowflakes whipping against Dakota's face. He remained unfazed, his movements calculated as he advanced toward the summit.
Then, the ground beneath him trembled.
A massive crack split the ice apart, and from the depths of the mountain, a monstrous Ice Serpent emerged. Its body was covered in shimmering ice, reflecting the light of the setting sun. Its glowing blue eyes locked onto Dakota, and with a deafening roar, it lunged.
Dakota leapt back just in time as the serpent's fangs crashed into the ground, shattering the ice beneath it. The beast reared back, preparing to strike again.
Dakota (grinning):
"Now this is more like it."
The serpent lashed out with its tail, aiming to crush Dakota in one swift motion. But he was already moving. With a burst of speed, he dashed forward, dodging the attack with ease. His sword ignited with a burst of flames as he slashed through the creature's icy scales.
The serpent let out an ear-piercing shriek, its body thrashing in agony. But Dakota didn't give it a chance to recover. He jumped onto its back, running along its spine before plunging his sword deep into the back of its skull.
With a final, shuddering cry, the serpent collapsed, its frozen body cracking apart as it hit the ground.
Dakota exhaled, flicking the blood from his blade.
Dakota:
"Still not enough to slow me down."
He turned and continued his ascent.
By the time Dakota neared the summit, the sky had turned black. The air was so thin it was almost suffocating, but he remained steady. He was close now—he could feel it.
But then, something changed.
A pressure unlike anything before settled over the mountain. The very air vibrated with power, and the ground trembled beneath his feet.
Then, from the swirling snow ahead, a colossal figure emerged.
It was a Frost Titan—a being made entirely of ice and stone, standing over thirty feet tall. Its glowing blue eyes locked onto Dakota, its massive hands curling into fists. The very presence of the monster was overwhelming.
For the first time since setting foot on this mountain, Dakota stopped.
Not because he was afraid.
But because, for the first time, something actually looked interesting.
The Frost Titan let out a deep, resonating growl, and then—it charged.
Dakota smirked.
Dakota:
"Let's see if you can entertain me."
The battle had begun.
Dakota thinking: finally the first interesting monster in this mountain, well I don't think he will bring me much trouble even if he is a titan. Plus there are much more dangerous monster here, there are even Devil's here including the devil of envy... Let's hope I don't get too injured before I face him, because I might die if I get too injured before I face him. So I'll have to avoid getting injured, and make sure not to get too exhausted before I face him. Got to make sure that I be at full energy and strength to face him, well at least he's not as strong as blazer and fianna, so I should be able to kill him without using my full power.