The wind howled across the barren expanse of the tundra, sweeping snow into swirling eddies that danced around jagged ice formations and skeletal trees encased in frost. The overcast sky loomed like a suffocating blanket, adding to the oppressive atmosphere of the frozen wasteland.

Milo stumbled onto his feet, his body wracked with shivers as the biting cold tore through him. He gasped, his breath forming frosty clouds that dissipated into the frigid air. Panic rose within him as he took in the unfamiliar surroundings.

"Oh no," he muttered, his teeth chattering with every word. "Where am I?"

He scanned his surroundings, looking for his companions. "Alexis," he shouted to no response.

"Marco, can you hear me?"

"Xu Wei, where are you guys?"

His shouts were meaningless, and slowly realization crept in. He was all alone.

He wrapped his arms around himself, trying to conserve what little warmth he could muster. His eyes darted around, searching for any sign of life or shelter in this forsaken place.

"Focus, Milo," he told himself firmly, shaking off the paralyzing fear that threatened to consume him. "You've faced worse than this. You can survive."

His instincts kicked in, urging him to move, to find warmth and refuge before the elements claimed him. As his legs carried him through the snow, Milo felt the reassuring weight of his tribe's teachings grounding him. The Samun Prai had trained him well – they'd made him strong, resourceful, and adaptable. He would not let them down now, even if he was in an environment completely foreign to him.

"Survive," he whispered, his voice barely audible above the howling wind. "I must survive."

As he trudged through the knee-deep snow, Milo couldn't help but feel a pang of longing for the lush, vibrant jungle of Chiang Hai. The tundra's desolation was a stark contrast to the life and vitality he'd known all his life.

"Nothing lasts forever," he reminded himself with a chuckle.

"Damn cold," he muttered under his breath, clenching his fists to keep his fingers from going numb. "Can't let it get to me."

A low rumble suddenly shook the ground beneath Milo's feet, the tremors traveling up his legs and setting his teeth on edge. His instincts screamed at him to move, to run – but there was nowhere to hide on this frozen plain.

"Show yourself!" he shouted into the wind, his voice defiant despite his quaking knees. "I'm not afraid of you!"

The tundra seemed to answer him with a deafening roar, echoing through the icy expanse like the howl of a vengeful spirit. The noise sent chills racing down Milo's spine, and he knew deep down that whatever lurked out here was far more dangerous than any creature he'd faced.

"Come on, Milo," he whispered to himself, swallowing hard. "You've survived worse than this. Just keep moving away from that sound."

As if summoned by his words, the monstrous ice troll emerged, its piercing blue eyes locking onto Milo with a chilling intensity.

The ice troll towered over the frozen landscape, its colossal form casting an ominous shadow across the tundra. Its crystalline skin glistened with frost, a deadly beauty that belied the danger it posed. As it lumbered forward, each heavy thud of its massive limbs sent tremors through the icy ground. Its malevolent expression locked onto Milo, hungry for the kill.

"Stay back!" Milo warned. "I won't hesitate to defend myself!"

The troll responded with another earth-shaking roar, its crystalline skin shimmering with frost as it lumbered toward him, intent on making him its prey.

"Alright then," Milo growled, summoning every ounce of courage he possessed. "Let's dance."

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As the troll charged, Milo focused on the swirl of mana in his body. An idea popped into his head, he needed to shapeshift into something more fitting to his new environment.

He harnessed the power within, transforming into an arctic fox with a burst of shimmering energy.

Milo had barely enough time to register the transformation before the troll was upon him. He leapt out of its grasp just in time, turning and sprinting away as fast as his legs could carry him. The fox shape had been a brilliant idea – it allowed him to slip between icy pillars, zig-zagging between them in an effort to evade the monster's swiping claws.

"Can't catch me that easily," he said as he evaded the troll.

The troll roared in frustration, unable to keep up with Milo as he raced across the tundra.

The troll hurled a massive icy pillar at Milo, the frigid projectile grazing past him with a searing pain that shot through his side.

"Come on, think!" he urged himself. "There's gotta be a way out of this!"

"Damn," Milo muttered under his breath.

"Can't outrun this thing forever!" he thought, his breaths came in ragged gasps that formed frosty clouds before him. His focus darted around the desolate landscape, searching for any means of escape.

"Focus, Milo," he reminded himself, willing his legs to move faster through the knee-deep snow. The relentless troll pursued, snarling and enraged, mere steps behind him.

"Get away from me," Milo cried out in desperation, the words torn from his lips as he leaped over a jagged ice formation. The troll's thunderous roar echoed through the tundra, a chilling reminder of its lethal intent.

"Got to use what I've got," Milo thought fiercely. He knew that if he could just find a way to outmaneuver the beast, he might have a chance.

"Almost there..." He gritted his teeth, his muscles burning with exertion. The troll's hot breath bore down on him, filling the air with a rancid stench that threatened to choke him. But he refused to quit.

"Can't die here. Won't die here," he vowed, determination flaring within him like wildfire. As the troll lunged for him, Milo dug deep and called upon every ounce of his resilience.

"Come on, you bastard!" He swung around a frozen tree trunk, barely evading the troll's outstretched claws.

"Almost there..." His heart hammered in his chest, adrenaline pumping through his veins. The troll roared in response.

"Please, let this work!" Milo begged silently, drawing on every bit of strength he had left.

"Leap, and live," the mantra repeated in Milo's mind as he raced across the frozen landscape.

"Come on, Milo! Just a bit more!"

"Almost there... almost there..." He glanced back for an instant, only to see the troll's malevolent glare locked onto him. The sight sent a shiver down his spine, spurring him to push through the pain and exhaustion.

"Can't stop now!" He forced his legs to move faster, feeling the icy wind whip against his face, stinging his eyes and numbing his skin.

"Think fast, think fast!" With every thud of the troll's heavy footfalls, Milo knew he was running out of time.

He pondered, scanning the jagged ice formations surrounding him for any potential advantage.

As the chase continued, Milo spotted a potential escape route—a narrow crevice between two towering ice pillars. Summoning all his might, he sprinted towards the opening, hoping to somehow slip through before the troll could reach him.

"Here goes nothing!" He threw himself into the gap, barely squeezing through. The troll, enraged by Milo's evasion, attempted to follow but found itself unable to fit through the confined space.

"Ha! Gotcha!" Milo breathed a sigh of relief, allowing himself a brief moment of triumph. But he knew he couldn't afford to linger. He had to keep moving.

"Survive first, plan later," he reminded himself, his heart still pounding in his chest.

Suddenly, the ground beneath him gave way, and Milo found himself skidding to the edge of a sheer cliff. His heart sank as he realized he couldn't halt in time. He fell into the abyss, plunging headfirst into the unknown.

As he plummeted, the icy tundra rushed up to meet him with alarming speed. The jagged rocks and snow below loomed closer and closer, promising a brutal collision.

His small, agile form hit the snow-covered ground with a jarring impact, the force of the fall sending him tumbling head over tail. Even as an arctic fox, the pain was intense, and he couldn't suppress a whimper as he skidded to a halt. Gasping for breath, he shifted back into his human form, clutching his wounded side.

"Damn," he groaned, wincing as he tried to sit up. "That hurt more than I thought."

Despite the pain, Milo knew he couldn't afford to stay still. The troll might still be searching for him, and he had no idea what other dangers lurked in this frigid wasteland. He forced himself to his feet, gritting his teeth against the agony that shot through his body.

"Alright, Milo," he whispered, trying to keep his spirits up. "Just gotta keep moving."

He stumbled forward, each step a struggle as he forged a path through the snow. His breath came in ragged gasps and his teeth chattered uncontrollably. But he refused to give in, driven by the same resilience and determination that had carried him through countless challenges before.

"Can't let this beat me," he thought, his mind racing as he tried to come up with a plan. "Gotta find shelter, warmth... something."

As Milo trudged on, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the bleak landscape that surrounded him.

But for now, Milo had no choice but to keep moving, his wounded side throbbing with every agonizing step. He didn't know what awaited him out here in the frozen wilderness, but one thing was certain – he wasn't about to give up without a fight.