The cold was suffocating.
Alden stood at the entrance of the Snowfield Dungeon, his breath forming small puffs of mist in the frigid air. The towering walls of ice reflected the dull light from the frozen sky, creating an eerie glow that bathed the landscape in a pale blue hue.
Shiranui, his nine-tailed fox, stretched beside him, his tails swaying as he sniffed the cold air.
"So, a week in this frozen wasteland?" the fox mused, his golden eyes gleaming. "You really enjoy making things difficult for yourself, don't you?"
Alden chuckled, tightening his coat. "Difficulty makes you stronger. Besides, the mana cores here are purer—worth the effort."
"And you need them to fuel that ridiculous power of yours," Kurenai, his sword, added, her voice filled with sharp amusement. "At least this time, you're actually training instead of scheming."
Alden smirked but didn't deny it. He had planned this carefully. A week of uninterrupted dungeon hunting would give him not only mana cores but also a chance to hone his combat skills further.
Checking his storage ring, he confirmed his supplies—rations, potions, extra daggers, and a cloak designed to regulate body temperature. Everything was ready.
With a deep breath, he stepped forward.
The Snowfield Dungeon welcomed him with an icy embrace.
The dungeon was vast. Snow-covered plains stretched endlessly, interrupted by jagged ice formations and frozen forests. A chilling wind howled through the landscape, carrying an unnatural stillness.
Alden moved carefully, his Shadow Step Footwork allowing him to glide effortlessly across the snow without sinking too deep. His senses were heightened, his Mana Perception picking up faint disturbances in the air.
Then—movement.
A blur of white shot toward him from the snow. Alden barely had time to react before a pair of red eyes locked onto him, and a creature lunged from beneath the frost.
[Frostfang Wolf – Rank D-]
Alden twisted his body, dodging the snap of its powerful jaws. The wolf, its fur shimmering like crystal, landed lightly on the snow, its breath visible in the frozen air.
It growled, circling him.
Alden drew his katana, Kurenai, the crimson blade gleaming against the icy backdrop.
"Hmph. A wolf? How boring." Kurenai's voice was unimpressed.
The Frostfang Wolf didn't wait. It pounced again, claws outstretched, aiming for his throat.
Alden sidestepped, his sword flashing.
—Slash!
Blood sprayed onto the snow as Kurenai's edge cut through the wolf's leg. It yelped in pain, but before it could retreat, Alden activated Telekinesis.
The dagger on his belt shot out, controlled by his mana, and pierced the wolf's throat.
It collapsed instantly.
Alden exhaled, stepping forward to retrieve the mana core from its chest. The small, glowing blue crystal pulsed in his palm as he absorbed the cold energy radiating from it.
"First kill. That was clean," Shiranui noted, his tails flicking. "How does the mana feel?"
Alden rolled the mana core between his fingers, studying it. "Colder than usual. But the purity is high."
This dungeon was different from the forest. The mana was denser, making each core more valuable. If he kept this up, he'd have a decent stockpile within a few days.
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---
Alden continued forward, encountering more monsters along the way.
Frostfang Wolves – Pack hunters that relied on speed and coordination.
Frozen Stalkers – Camouflaged creatures that lurked beneath the snow, waiting to ambush prey.
Glacial Serpents – Ice-covered snakes with venom that could freeze the bloodstream.
Each battle sharpened his weapon proficiency. His dagger art, assisted by Telekinesis, allowed him to control multiple weapons at once, striking from angles his enemies didn't expect.
His Phantom Edge Sword Style blended offense and defense, letting him counter the unpredictable attacks of the beasts.
And through it all, he collected mana cores, steadily increasing his stockpile.
---
As the first day drew to a close, Alden found shelter beneath a frozen overhang. He set up a concealment barrier, reducing his presence to avoid unwanted attention from dungeon predators.
Shiranui curled up beside him, his fur radiating warmth.
Kurenai remained at his side, her energy humming faintly.
Alden stared at the mana cores he had collected.
"This world really is different from the game," he muttered.
The difficulty was increasing—small changes at first, but undeniable. The orc they fought before was proof of that.
If the game was shifting toward hard mode, then everything would escalate. Enemies would be stronger, threats more severe.
He needed to adapt faster.
With that thought, he closed his eyes.
Tomorrow would be another long day of hunting.
Chapter – The Icebound Guardians
The second day in the Snowfield Dungeon began with an eerie silence.
Alden moved through the frozen wasteland, his boots crunching softly against the snow. The air was sharp, biting at his skin despite the protective enchantments in his cloak. Shiranui padded beside him, his tails swaying, while Kurenai remained strapped to his back, humming with restrained power.
His goal today was simple: find stronger prey.
The Frostfang Wolves and Glacial Serpents had been good training, but they weren't enough. If he wanted to gather high-quality mana cores and refine his combat skills, he needed to seek out bigger threats.
And then—he found them.
---
Alden stopped atop a ridge, overlooking a frozen valley. Scattered ruins lay below, partially buried under centuries of snowfall. Massive, jagged pillars of ice jutted out of the ground, surrounding what appeared to be an ancient altar.
And in the middle of the ruins stood four massive figures.
Icebound Golems. Rank D.
They were monstrous—each standing nearly three meters tall, their bodies composed of compacted ice and stone. Their glowing blue cores pulsed from within their chests, visible through cracks in their icy frames.
Unlike beasts, golems were mindless constructs, but that made them no less dangerous. Their sheer durability and raw strength made them nightmares to fight, especially for lower-ranked hunters.
Alden's eyes gleamed behind his sunglasses.
"Perfect."
---
Alden descended the ridge without hesitation, his movements smooth and controlled. As he approached, one of the golems turned, its core flaring ominously.
Thud.
The ground trembled as it took a step forward. The others followed, their hulking forms casting long shadows across the ruins.
Alden exhaled. Then—he moved.
—Dash!
His figure blurred as he activated Shadow Step Footwork, gliding across the ice with unnatural speed. The nearest golem swung a massive fist, aiming to crush him in one blow.
But Alden had already predicted it.
He sidestepped, feeling the rush of wind as the strike barely missed him. His katana, Kurenai, flashed out.
—Slash!
A crimson arc split through the air, cleaving into the golem's leg. Ice shattered, but the golem barely flinched. Instead, it swung its other arm, trying to catch Alden mid-movement.
He dropped low, sliding under the attack.
"Tough bastard."
Telekinesis activated.
A dagger shot out from his belt, spinning through the air before lodging itself into the golem's chest, right next to its core.
Alden clenched his fist—Mana Transfer.
The mark on the dagger glowed, siphoning mana from the golem's core.
The golem froze momentarily, its movements slowing as its energy was drained. Taking the chance, Alden dashed forward and drove Kurenai straight into the crack on its chest.
—Shatter!
The core fractured.
The massive construct crumbled, collapsing into chunks of ice and rock. Mana surged into Alden's body as the core shattered, replenishing the energy he had used.
One down. Three to go.
The remaining golems didn't stop. If anything, they grew more aggressive, their cores flaring with intensity. One of them raised both hands and slammed the ground.
—Boom!
A shockwave of ice and snow erupted outward, forcing Alden to leap back.
Another golem ripped a chunk of ice from the ground and hurled it toward him. The massive projectile sped through the air, too large to dodge completely.
Alden activated voidstep.
Part of his body shifted, phasing out of reality.
The ice boulder passed through him harmlessly, crashing into the ruins behind.
Shiranui watched from a safe distance, his golden eyes narrowing. "Using voidstep so freely... you're getting reckless."
Alden smirked, landing gracefully on the snow. "I have mana cores to burn."
Two golems charged him at once.
Instead of retreating, Alden lunged forward, using Telekinesis to launch his daggers at their cores. One golem managed to block the attack, raising an icy arm to deflect the dagger. The other wasn't as lucky—a dagger embedded itself near its core, draining its energy.
Alden seized the opening.
—Phantom Edge Sword Style.
His katana flashed, striking multiple times in rapid succession. His movements were precise, each strike aimed at the golem's weak points. Cracks formed along its icy body before—
—Shatter!
The second golem collapsed, its core breaking apart in a burst of blue light.
Two left.
The last two golems roared, their cores pulsing dangerously. The mana in the air thickened—they were overloading.
Alden's gaze sharpened. If they self-destructed, this entire area would be buried in ice.
He had to finish them now.
"Time to test something new," he muttered.
Alden focused, his Telekinesis stretching out. He grabbed onto the daggers he had thrown earlier—not just moving them, but controlling them with precise intent.
His daggers rose from the snow, spinning wildly in the air.
With a flick of his wrist, they shot forward, slicing through the air like deadly projectiles.
One dagger buried itself deep into the third golem's core, while the other dagger sliced across the last one's leg, destabilizing it.
Alden followed up instantly.
Lunar Severance.
His katana glowed crimson, and with a single, devastating slash, he cleaved through the third golem's chest. The core ruptured, and it crumbled instantly.
One left.
The final golem, weakened but still dangerous, charged him in a last-ditch attack.
Alden didn't even hesitate.
He extended his hand—Mark of Connection activated.
The dagger embedded in the golem's leg flared, transferring mana directly into Kurenai.
With a final slash, Alden severed the golem's head, ending the battle.
As the last golem fell, silence returned to the ruins. The once-grand battlefield was now littered with shattered ice and broken stone.
Alden sighed, his breath visible in the cold air. He walked over and retrieved the mana cores, feeling their power pulsating in his hands.
Shiranui approached, his tails flicking. "You're reckless, but I can't deny your skill."
Kurenai hummed. "That last fight was impressive. You're getting better."
Alden chuckled, rolling his shoulders. "That's the point."
With the battle over, he turned his gaze toward the deeper parts of the dungeon.
There were stronger foes ahead.
And he was ready.