Chapter 10

Initially, Ethan didn't understand why Clovis spoke of the Frozen Peaks with such trepidation. They were merely some frozen mountains. The equivalent of Mount Everest in this world. What could be so different and special about them? However, he now realized.

The level didn't make a difference. Whether it was 5, 50, or 200, it didn't matter what level you were at; at some point, your body would be overtaken by the cold air that composed the local atmosphere and start to freeze from the inside out.

When his bodily resistance began to be overwhelmed by the amount of cold air inside, the first to give in were the fingers of his hands. The tips of his fingers started to stiffen and hinder his handling of the sword, clearly showing the influence that place was having on him.

"This could become dangerous..."

For many born in that world, even if they were simply thrown atop the Frozen Peaks, death would reach them before they could even make it to the foot of the mountain.

However, if they were born with a reasonably high level, thus possessing a vast amount of mana, escaping the place would become possible. But the amount of mana spent would be so exorbitant, both to contain the cold air and to reduce the time spent in the place, that they would have at most a few more years of life.

"This experiment has gone too far... I'll have to admit Clovis was right after all."

Not only his fingers, but Ethan's wrists also presented a mirrored appearance, with a slight bluish tint over the skin. There seemed to be small pieces of thin crystal layers on his skin, shimmering when they met the light.

Mana inside Ethan began to circulate, raising his body temperature and expelling the trapped cold air. An incredible amount of mana was being spent to maintain that process.

"...He's definitely going to love it when I do this..." murmured Ethan, smiling as the cold air escaped from between his lips.

The ice over his wrists and hands began to melt and ran through his fingers. His skin, which previously carried a bluish hue, now returned to normal, showing his natural brown tone.

Along with the progress to the top of the mountain, the incredible intense and continuous expenditure of mana persisted without rest. This was an incredible feat, not just for someone at level 222, but for a summoned being. After all, only the summoned could accomplish such a feat.

Upon birth, the inhabitants of the "fantasy world" are born with a unique level and a fixed amount of mana that cannot be changed no matter what they do. Making it impossible to use so much mana so "carelessly".

Their levels do not increase even after killing dozens of monsters, and their mana is spent even on the simple task of breathing. A world where your birth level dictates your strength and your role in society. A world where even royalty must meet certain requirements to maintain power.

Should the king's son not meet the prerequisite to become the successor, it doesn't matter if it's the son of a baron or a mere commoner, the one who can fulfill it will take his place.

Obviously, in a world where level signifies strength and strength defines your position in society, even if the prince meets the prerequisite to become the successor, if someone stronger appears, regardless of social class, that someone is the one who will become king.

However, this small system where the strongest reigns does not include the summoned, after all, how great is the disparity of strength between someone who cannot evolve no matter how much they try, to a being that can not only evolve infinitely but also has the option to recover spent mana by absorbing the mana from the environment?

The knowledge about the superiority of the summoned is not something new. It's been millennia since the inhabitants of this world realized their inability to fight against these beings.

It was even before the emergence of the Frozen Peaks, when the "first" came to this world, the one who was not summoned. The being that everyone knows as the first and only King.

"This is truly incredible... A unique sight."

As the snow around is lifted by the wind and dragged toward what seemed like an endless abyss, Ethan's eyes scan the environment with admiration.

Before him, a magnificent view unfolds: a vast ice field stretches out like a painted canvas before his eyes. The peaks of the mountains form a towering structure, similar to an unfinished dome of ice.

Their tips converge to a single central point: a large blue lake that rests in the heart of the ice field, resembling a giant forest made of crystal trees.

The crystal forest is crossed by four rivers that flow from the various peaks and in different directions, finally pouring into the central lake. From the tips of these mountains, the blue liquid gently flows, blending into the vast volume of the lake. But this liquid is not water.

Ethan's perceptive eyes, in the small space between two of the enormous mountains, saw something strange. Far away stands a structure resembling a great wall. Is it just another mountain? Or is there something more beyond those peaks?

As the snow was carried by the wind and Ethan continued his journey toward the beginning of the mountain, his curiosity intensified even more.

What exists beyond these mountains? He wants to know.

Just as he is curious about the sea behind the demonic castle.

What do those waters hide? Is there something beyond them? Ethan lost himself in thoughts about this for an entire week, while trying to forget the events that occurred in the village near the canyon. In the end, he couldn't.

Something interesting to remember is that the Frozen Peaks are filled with dangerous creatures. Bloodthirsty beings eager to find their next prey. Ethan dodged several along the way up to that point.

But why was there not a single monster where he was?

How could there be not a single creature, not even those that dominate the local food chain, at the top of that mountain?

As he descended, indeed, the beasts began to emerge. But this only happened after he had passed halfway down the mountain.

"Boom!"

While descending the mountain, a sudden explosion caught Ethan's attention. From where the explosion originated, steam rose like a cloud towards the sky. The nearby crystal trees were no more, and the snow around them was melting at an extremely slow pace.

Keeping in mind that a broad view would be ideal for analyzing the situation, instead of walking, Ethan flew towards the location of the explosion.

"..."

There were no monster bodies nearby, nor even snow. Just a large hole whose ground still seemed warm and the cause of the explosion.

"...So she's still alive..."

More monsters were approaching at an accelerated and steady pace. But with confident eyes, the heroine raised her hands while facing the creatures.

She had no weapons in her possession. Was she planning to fight solely with her fists? Was the previous explosion the result of a punch? Ethan found himself curious as he watched the situation unfold.

First came a wolf, leaping towards her with its large teeth bared.

It wasn't strength or brutality. With a smooth and swift movement of her feet, Elizabeth dodged the beast's attack and touched its belly as it passed by her.

"Huh? What's this..."

Before touching the ground, the creature's coloration changed. Its white fur was engulfed in an intense crimson red glow. The same glow that erupted from its eyes, ears, and mouth before the monster exploded completely, leaving no trace behind.

"So the problem wasn't solved..."

In her hands, as a wendigo approached along with three others of its kind, Elizabeth created a bright ball. The sphere was launched. Along its path towards the creature, wherever the small ball passed, trees were destroyed and nearby ice melted.

"Boom!"

A new explosion was created the moment that ball approached the creatures. Creating another hole in the ground and leaving no trace around.

"But she found a way out nonetheless..."

What would happen next was obvious. It would basically be a loop, where she kills some monsters, creates a small explosion to attract nearby creatures, and repeats the process again. A beautiful way to level up.

Anticipating what would happen, Ethan turned to leave. He couldn't help but smile as he said, "...Rejoice... Maybe you still have some chance."

As the physical distance between the two heroes increased with Ethan's departure, the distance between their levels only decreased as Elizabeth continued to eliminate monster after monster for a longer period than she expected. Becoming the first to spend more than a week continuously in those mountains.

***************

"Listen... I'm not joking." said Aiden, gritting his teeth as he crossed the canyon destroyed by the skies. "Don't tell Carlos about this under any circumstances, understood?!"

The mixture of fallen trees from the Great Forest and snow from the Frozen Peaks still lingered within the canyon, once the border between the realms of Camelot and the Demoniac.

"I've told you to stop saying that." replied Clovis, sighing. "It's your fault anyway."

"My fault?!" exclaimed Aiden, in an irritated tone, his eyes boiling with anger. "You're the one who kept fooling around with that damn knight! And he shouldn't even have been at level 50. He wasn't even a real knight!"

"Yeah, and yet you got hit by him..."

"You... You..."

"Alright, that's enough. Let's stop this." said Riley, sighing as he separated the two demons. "You've been on this same subject for hours."

The trio returned triumphantly home. There hadn't been any major issue during the small mission they had set out to do.

Now as for the "minor issues"... Echoing through the canyon was the sound of a medium-sized animal. The lowing of a cow that Aiden was seen carrying in his arms.

While in the center of the small town bordering the Frozen Peaks, destruction was the only thing left in the simple mansion of that poor baron.

"At least I didn't lose control and destroy that miserable fellow's property..." taunted Aiden, smiling shamelessly.

The response? A kick to the cow's rear that sent it flying towards the destroyed canyon. Aiden quickly flew to catch it, shouting; "You bastard!"

"Hey! Didn't I tell you to stop?!" exclaimed Riley, quickly flying after his two companions.