Chapter 32: Dungeon (6)
The team trekked along a snowy path toward the sun, which hung low in the sky. Along the way, the same ice zombies ambushed them from every angle, using snowdrifts and thick trees to their advantage.
Before long, the ice zombies grew more cunning, pelting Blake and his party with ice chunks. These projectiles posed a serious challenge for everyone except Blake and the tank. The tank could simply crouch behind his shield; wearing a helmet like Blake, he endured fewer injuries than Silver Dash.
Silver Dash, however, was covered in bruises—red and purple blotches standing out on his head from repeated blows. The ax-wielding woman fared only marginally better, anger etched across her cut and scraped face.
Meanwhile, Blake either sliced the snowballs apart or caught them outright. Still annoyed with Silver Dash, he occasionally hurled a snowball back, smacking the man's head.
Blake's skill increased his stats based on how many enemies targeted him. He used this to gauge the number of ice zombies hidden nearby, counting the snowballs flying at his teammates.
"Just… come out… come out already…" Silver Dash muttered impatiently.
He wanted the ice zombies to reveal themselves. Eventually, the monsters split into two groups—one melee, the other ranged. Silver Dash and his ax-wielding partner promised to handle the melee creatures, while their mage aimed at the ranged foes.
Blake volunteered to help anyway.
Though Silver Dash brushed off Blake's advice, Blake still coordinated with the entire group. He had no intention of winning them over; he just wanted to reach the boss as soon as possible and move on.
In time, Silver Dash got his wish. Ice zombies converged on them, dragging the party into a chaotic struggle. Their grades as
Breaking away from the main fight, Blake ventured into the snowy forest, snow melting around him under Sol's aura. Soon, he spotted three ice zombies bombarding his companions with jagged snowballs.
Hearing his footsteps, the zombies swiveled toward him. Instantly, they dropped to all fours like feral beasts and disappeared beneath the snow. Moments later, three snowballs whizzed at Blake from below.
He deftly sliced two and caught the third, returning it with far more force.
[-105 HP!]
"Fighting ice with ice," he muttered, smirking.
Switching tactics, Blake used the flat of his blade to catch incoming snowballs. He followed the zombies' movements, pinpointed where they lurked, and threw their own snowballs right back at them.
Working alone in this patch of forest, he let Beatrix join in. Her aim with the snowballs inflicted far more damage on the ice zombies than his did.
"That's a companion I can rely on," he said, prompting Beatrix to curtsy before slipping back into his shadow.
He might've been imagining it, but he could've sworn she swayed slightly, akin to how Sol did whenever he was in a good mood.
Rejoining his companions, Blake announced, "Done."
They nodded and continued onward beneath the waning sun. Unlike the gatekeepers' trial, this dungeon wasn't particularly remarkable. Its mechanics were straightforward, emphasizing teamwork and readiness.
Though ice zombies could be annoying and tricky, each had exploitable weaknesses. Even the stronger ones fell quickly if a party cooperated effectively.
After a few more skirmishes, Blake and his party finally arrived at their destination. It bore no resemblance to what they had seen online.
"A mansion?" Silver Dash asked, confused.
According to the guide, a zombie should've guarded a small graveyard, and defeating it would unlock the Eternal Winter Graveyard. Instead, the group stood before a sprawling mansion in nearly pristine shape—albeit blanketed under countless years of snow, icicles hanging like prison bars from the roof.
Silver Dash and his friends immediately brightened, hoping they might find a fortune inside—enough to let them game full-time.
'…What about the sick mother?' Blake wondered privately.