The cliffs grew closer with each passing step, their jagged peaks looming like the frozen fangs of a slumbering beast. The air was heavy, colder than before, and filled with an oppressive silence that gnawed at Aria's nerves. The Frost Minks huddled against her, their soft chirps barely audible above the faint crunch of snow beneath her paws.
"This place keeps getting worse," she muttered, her sharp blue eyes flicking to every shadow.
Xuan Hao walked beside her, his blade resting against his shoulder. His dark robes were flecked with frost, his breath visible in the frigid air. "You said that about the ravine too," he said, his tone light.
Aria growled softly, her claws scraping against the ice. "I meant it then, and I mean it now."
He smirked faintly. "At least you're consistent."
---
The Frost Mink on her back squeaked softly, nudging her neck as if to comfort her. Aria sighed, her tail flicking sharply.
"Relax," she muttered. "If something jumps out, I'll deal with it."
The mink chirped again, its tiny claws gripping her fur tightly.
"You're a clingy little thing," she muttered, glancing over her shoulder.
Xuan Hao chuckled, his dark eyes glinting faintly. "You're good with them. Natural maternal instincts, maybe?"
Her sharp blue eyes blazed as she shot him a glare. "Say that again, and I'll show you my instincts."
---
The terrain grew more treacherous as they approached the cliffs. The ground was uneven, littered with jagged shards of ice that made every step precarious. Aria's claws flexed instinctively, gripping the frozen surface as she moved.
"System," she thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "How far are we from stable ground?"
"Estimated distance to stable terrain: 5 kilometers. Current terrain stability: 50%."
Her fur bristled. "Fifty percent? That's basically a death sentence."
"Probability of collapse remains moderate. Continued caution advised."
She growled softly, her claws scraping against the ice. "You really know how to inspire confidence."
---
Xuan Hao paused, his dark eyes narrowing as he scanned the horizon. "Do you feel that?"
Aria tensed, her sharp blue eyes flicking to the shadows ahead. "Yeah. Something's off."
The Frost Minks chirped nervously, their tiny bodies trembling as they pressed closer to her.
"Stay behind me," she muttered, her claws flexing. "And don't wander off."
---
The wind picked up suddenly, carrying with it a faint, haunting wail that sent shivers down Aria's spine. The sound wasn't natural; it was layered, almost like a distorted melody.
"What is that?" Xuan Hao asked, his tone sharp.
"Trouble," Aria growled, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Always trouble."
---
The ground beneath them trembled, faint at first but growing steadily stronger. Cracks spidered across the ice, radiating outward like a web.
"System," Aria thought, her claws digging into the ground. "What's happening now?"
"Subterranean energy detected. Probability of hostile emergence: 70%."
Her fur bristled. "Seventy percent? You couldn't have mentioned that sooner?"
"Energy signature only recently identified."
She growled softly, her tail lashing. "You're useless sometimes, you know that?"
---
A deafening roar shattered the air, reverberating across the cliffs like an avalanche. The Frost Minks chirped frantically, scrambling to hide behind Aria as the ground beneath them split open.
A massive creature burst through the ice, its enormous body covered in jagged, frost-encrusted scales. Its four glowing eyes locked onto them, radiating malice.
"System," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes blazing. "What is that?"
"Hostile identified: Glacial Behemoth. Extreme durability, enhanced strength. Weak points: Eye clusters and underbelly."
Her claws flexed. "Of course it's another oversized monster."
---
The Glacial Behemoth let out another earth-shaking roar before charging, its massive claws tearing through the ice as it closed the distance with terrifying speed.
Aria activated Spirit Step, phasing out of its path just as it slammed into the ground where she had been standing.
"Spirit Step Mastery: Enhanced precision and reduced cooldown detected."
She reappeared beside the creature, her claws glowing faintly as she struck its flank. The scales were tough, her attack barely leaving a mark.
"This thing's armor is insane!" she growled, darting out of the way as the behemoth swiped at her with its massive claws.
---
Xuan Hao moved in, his blade glowing crimson as he delivered a powerful strike to the creature's foreleg. Sparks flew as the blade met the hardened scales, the impact sending a shockwave through the ground.
"This isn't working," he muttered, dodging the creature's tail as it swung toward him.
"System," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "What's the best way to deal with this thing?"
"Recommended strategy: Exploit identified weak points. Coordinated strikes required to expose underbelly."
Her tail lashed. "Easier said than done."
---
The Frost Minks chirped nervously, their tiny bodies huddling together as they peeked out from behind a jagged ice formation.
"Stay there!" Aria barked, her sharp blue eyes blazing as she darted toward the behemoth.
She activated Lunar Veil, disappearing into the shadows as the creature's glowing eyes scanned the battlefield.
"Lunar Veil Mastery: Improved stealth efficiency and increased strike precision detected."
Reappearing beneath the behemoth, she aimed for the vulnerable cluster of eyes on its underside. Her claws raked against the soft flesh, drawing a guttural roar from the creature.
---
Xuan Hao seized the opportunity, his blade glowing with crimson energy as he delivered a devastating strike to the behemoth's exposed underbelly. The creature howled, its massive body writhing as blood splattered across the snow.
"Keep hitting it!" Aria called, her claws glowing faintly as she struck another cluster of eyes.
The behemoth lashed out in desperation, its claws smashing into the ground with enough force to send cracks spidering through the ice.
---
The final blow came as Aria leaped onto the creature's back, her claws driving into the vulnerable spot at the base of its skull. The behemoth let out one last, pitiful roar before collapsing into the snow, its massive body twitching briefly before falling still.
The Frost Minks chirped hesitantly, their tiny eyes wide as they crept toward her.
"It's over," she muttered, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. "For now."
---
Xuan Hao wiped his blade clean, his dark eyes glinting faintly. "You're getting faster," he said, his tone light.
Aria growled softly, her tail flicking. "And you're still irritating."
He smirked faintly, shaking his head. "At least I'm consistent."
---
The group pressed on, the cliffs now looming directly ahead. The air grew colder, the oppressive silence returning as the battle's echoes faded into the distance.
"For now," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing, "we've survived. But there's no guarantee what's waiting at the cliffs will be any better."